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Post by mandalorian on Oct 25, 2024 21:08:04 GMT
 Live from the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Sunday 17th November, 2024. Only on the WCNetwork  THELAUNCH-PAD.
MATCH ONE | 1/20.
Vengador vs. Nick Williamson.
Singles Match.
Match Writer: Dubb.
| | Vengador was able to put one in the ‘W’ column last week in Meltdown XLV’s main event, when he teamed with Michelle von Horrowitz and ‘Ton Tonton’ J.J. JI! to defeat Alejandro Giunti, Luna Piper, and Jin-Ho. Although this constitutes a victory over the current FWA Trios Champions, it doesn’t appear that Vengador’s makeshift team will be challenging for those titles any time soon, with his relationship with ‘Ton Tonton’ growing whilst MvH watches on mistrustfully. He will open up proceedings on the Lights Out ‘Launch-Pad’ show, against one of a slew of recent FWA signings. Nick Williamson will make his debut in Puerto Rico, and will hope to prove himself at the expense of the bounty hunter. |
MATCH TWO | 1/20.
Jason Jetta and Ryan St. James vs. TR1CK OR TR4SH (Juan Tothrefor and Halloween Knight).
Tag Team Match.
Match Writer: Man.
| | The team of Juan Tothrefor and Halloween Knight, two thirds of TR1CK OR TR4SH along with Trash Mammal, faced disappointment during Fallout 045, where they were unsuccessful in their efforts to reach the Elite Tag Team Classic’s Redemption Bracket final. This was the second back-to-back defeat for the former FWA Trios Champions, who will be desperate to bounce back on Lights Out’s ‘Lauch-Pad’ pre-show. Their opponents are debutants Jason Jetta and Ryan St. James, who signed with the company over the last fortnight and have thrown their hats into the ring in the tag team division. This proving grounds match-up won’t be easy, though, with Jetta and St. James readying to face a pair of former champions with a point to prove. |
MATCH THREE | 1/20.
The Lumberjacks (Doug LuPone, Dan LuPone, and Lucy LuPone) vs. NTR Dojo (Traffic Cone #2, Jhunha, and Owen the Intern).
Trios Match.
Match Writer: oz/huh/tig.
| | The NTR ‘takeover’ of Meltdown XLV didn’t go exactly to plan for the supergroup, with FTN showing up towards the end of the show to take back control and lay waste to the interlopers, as well as their hangers-on. Traffic Cone 2, Jhunha, and Owen the Intern were amongst those who felt the wrath of Peacock, Black, and co. Two of them were able to pick up a pinfall victory earlier in the night, though, with Traffic Cone 2 and Owen the Intern triumphing over Aaron Harrows and Brooklyn Steiner of Cinematic Universe, albeit by disqualification. In fact, this was only the latest in a string of victories for the henchmen of Toner and Diamond, and they will be hoping to continue that moment in the Launch Pad’s main event. Standing in their way, though, are the LuPone siblings, whose fortunes have not been as good in terms of wins and losses recently. Dan, Doug, and Lucy will hope to turn that around, especially now that Vox Potentis have proved that NTR aren’t invincible. |
OPENING MATCH | 1/60.
FTN (Chris Peacock and Alyster Black) [c] vs. Vox Potentis (Jean-Luc Watkins and Konchu Hao).
Tag Team Match for the FWA World Tag Team Championships.
Match Writer: Man.
| The last six FWA television shows have been dominated by the Elite Tag Team Classic’s second volume, consisting of eight teams vying to challenge FTN for the FWA World Tag Team Championships. When they entered, many saw Jean-Luc Watkins and Konchu Hao as long-shots, even if both of them have held singles gold in the company (as well as tag team gold for Hao, alongside his other partner Cyrus Truth). This was primarily due to ringrust, with Watkins not having been a regular performer in the FWA since 2017, and the team - since dubbed Vox Potentis - had to heavily rely on ‘the Mad Wizard’ as they picked their path through the tournament and eventually emerged triumphantly. They overcame Aaron Harrows and Brooklyn Steiner of Cinematic Universe in the first round, Trash Mammal and Halloween Knight of Trick or Treat in the semi-final, and - perhaps most surprisingly - Danny Toner and Nova Diamond of NTR, but perhaps there most difficult task is still ahead of them in the form of the champions.
Those champions are Chris Peacock and Alyster Black of FTN, who are currently enjoying their second reign, having defeated the makeshift team of Danny Toner and Randy Ramon at August’s Back in Business. They are yet to have defended the championships, instead waiting patiently for the tournament to unfold and their first challengers to be selected. That is not to say that FTN have been idle, though, with Black and Peacock instead embroiled in the opening throes of a war with NTR. The champions scored their first major victory of this conflict last week on Meltdown XLV, where they arrived in Miami to put an end to NTR’s takeover shenanigans and lay waste to the dojo members. A future entanglement between those two teams will have to wait, with FTN now forced to focus instead on Vox Potentis, men who have crossed their paths previously. Alyster Black was required to defeat Jean-Luc Watkins (and duly did) to earn the shot that led to his historic X title reign, whilst Konchu Hao and the Dark Roads Alliance have been a constant thorn in FTN’s side, although recent events have seen tensions somewhat thawed between the two groups. |
SECOND MATCH | 1/20.
DUDE-! vs. Mike Parr.
Singles Match, #1 Contendership for the FWA Television Championship.
Match Writer: supinesnake.
| Following the events of Meltdown XLV, Jon Russnow made the decision to book this singles match for Lights Out, where the winner will challenge for the FWA Television Championship over the festive period. For its combatants, Russnow chose DUDE, who debuted in the company only six weeks ago but has already impressed during his short time here, and stalwart Mike Parr, who - we shouldn’t forget - once fashioned himself as a Television Champion years before Shawn Summers would inaugurate the official title.
These two men have had very different fortunes as of late. DUDE’s impressive performances against fellow debutant Lexi Lemonis and, last week, Captain Righteous, and it will have doubtlessly been this victory that marked him out to Russnow as a potential challenger for the championship currently held by XYZ. Righteous, after all, will challenge for that very title later in this show, and DUDE’s win over the superhero has ostensibly shot him to the front of that line. He faces his toughest challenge yet, though, in Mike Parr, who has found himself out of form recently, following up a victory over Vengador with defeats in the Golden Opportunity match and against XYZ on Meltdown XLV. This disappointment was compounded by a post-match attack from Ryan Rondo and NTR, with this match a much-needed opportunity for ‘the Prodigy’ to get himself back on track. |
THIRD MATCH | 1/20.
Katsu vs. Michelle von Horrowitz.
Singles Match.
Match Writer: beavie.
| At the recent 19th Anniversary Show, Katsu recorded the biggest victory of her FWA career when she outlasted five other competitors to win the Steel Roulette match. Her prize for surviving the chamber is the Golden Opportunity briefcase, which entitles her to a shot at the FWA World Championship at a time of her choosing over the next year. The Kitsune Warrior appeared on the beach in Cuba to talk to the fans, expressing her interest in a match at Lights Out and alluding to a patient attitude towards her briefcase. She then walked directly to Jon Russnow’s office, in the hopes of securing a contest that would test her readiness to challenge for the company’s biggest prize.
Before she reached the authority figure, however, Katsu ran into Michelle von Horrowitz, a woman she was defeated by two years ago in the infancy of her FWA career. Since her victory over Shawn Summers at Back in Business, Dreamer went onto avenge a loss to Chris Peacock (albeit in less than satisfying circumstances) and a win in the trios division alongside Vengador and Ton Tonton. She too was without a clear plan for Lights Out, and took the opportunity to challenge Katsu to this singles contest in Puerto Rico. After some gentle verbal sparring, the Kitsune Warrior accepted her offer, setting up her first match since her victory in the chamber. |
FOURTH MATCH | 1/30.
Cyrus Truth [c] vs. ??.
Open Challenge for the FWA North American Championship.
Match Writer: dijo.
| | Cyrus Truth earned his latest silverware at Back in Business, where he triumphed in a four-way match to reclaim the FWA North American Champion, defeating Katsu, Mike Parr, and then-champion Bryan Baxter. He has not yet defended the championship, and no potential challengers were immediately clear when we got to the ‘go home’ show in Cuba. The Exile took matters into his own hands on Fallout 025 (after being the subject of a series of jibes on commentary by NTR on Meltdown XLV for ostensibly evading a defense), heading to the ring and making his plans for Puerto Rico known. He will indeed be putting the FWA North American Championship, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the company, on the line against a mystery opponent, with an open challenge outlined by Cyrus Truth and approved by authority figure Jon Russnow. |
FIFTH MATCH | 1/20.
Danny Toner vs. Jackson Fenix.
Singles Match.
Match Writer: Jimmy.
| | NTR have let their feelings known on a large cross-section of the Fantasy Wrestling Alliance over the past two months, and Jackson Fenix and Nate Savage of the Undisputed Alliance haven’t escaped this ire. On Meltdown XLV, though, Fenix was one of several FWA stars to start to show some form of resistance, albeit currently uncoordinated and fragmented. Jackson took to the microphone and let Diamond, Toner, and the extended NTR Dojo know that the Undisputed Alliance have no fear when it comes to the interlopers, and would be happy to face any of them if Lady Luck should wish it in the upcoming Fallout Eliminator Tournament. Authority figure Jon Russnow, however, considered Fenix’s words and decided that there was no reason to wait for this encounter, given NTR’s defeat in the Elite Tag Team Classic. Thus, this singles encounter was set up, with Fenix defending his team’s honour - as well as that of the company - against one of the leaders of the invading force.. |
SIXTH MATCH | 1/30.
XYZ [c] vs. Captain Righteous.
Singles Match for the FWA Television Championship.
Match Writer: supinesnake.
| The FWA Television Championship features a contradictory look at superhero personalities within the pro wrestling world. On one hand, Captain Righteous has busted through the FWA doors with a mixture of abrasive confidence that many say is cockiness. Captain Righteous truly feels his acts are "righteous", and he has left a trail of victims in his early days as an FWA competitor.
Meanwhile, XYZ is in the most depressed state that we've seen, which is quite alarming considering it began when he won the Television Championship, his first singles championship in wrestling. The odyssey of XYZ's "mother" being a fake, the Menage leaving him due to his shift in loyalties and trust, and the heartbreak he has already endured before has been a tough watch, and it has resulted in a broken spirit from our enigmatic cloth-wearing galactic traverser. Captain Righteous has expressed his disappointment -- even disgust -- at the way XYZ carries himself. He has asked for a worthy challenge, and a worthy champion, to make taking the belt a fulfilling endeavour. XYZ has simply asked for the Menage to come back. Can the champion rally, or will Captain Righteous easily dispel the only other superhero in the FWA like he seems primed to do? |
SEVENTH MATCH | 1/30.
Tommy Bedlam [c] vs. Blair Ravenwood.
X Rules Match (no DQ, no countouts, and falls count anywhere) for the FWA X Championship.
Match Writer: Tommy.
| After returning at Back in Business XVII, Tommy Bedlam entered himself into the X4 and was able to reclaim his X Championship with defeats of Aaron Harrows, and with the help of Blair Ravenwood, the champion Trixie Bordeaux. Bedlam, now a two time X Champion, has established himself as one of the most hardcore in the business. With a newly designed X Championship, splattered in blood, Bedlam is not looking to lose his newly reacquired belt any time soon. And yet he has a challenger, the new "Queen Bee" Blair Ravenwood. Since losing to Kleio De Santos and Trixie Bordeaux at Back in Business XVII herself, she has kicked off her solo career with a bang. After defeating Sawyer in an X Rules match she earned the right to challenge Tommy Bedlam for the title. If anyone was questioning whether or not Blair Ravenwood was extreme enough to hang in the X Division, her actions in the X Rules match against Trixie Bordeaux should have silenced any doubters. Blair shattered Trixie's leg by slamming it in between a steel chair and some steel ring steps, resulting in Trixie's immediate departure from active competition for the foreseeable future.
Both stars now are coming into Lights Out with stalled momentum. The Queen Bee due to being suspended by Jon Russnow for a show cycle, thanks to her attack on Trixie, and Tommy Bedlam due to taking a singles loss to Jackson Fenix. To further complicate things, both stars may be without their managers when the bell rings. We know that Saint Sully has been banned from ringside by Jon Russnow for this match, due to him attacking both Tommy Bedlam and Trixie Bordeaux. Rumor has it, Tommy Bedlam may have told his manager Rocco Sullivan to keep his distance as well. Whether or not we'll actually see any Sullivans appear is up for debate. In a division where we have seen some truly brutal things, this is a match where two competitors may just push each other to their limits. The question will be...who can withstand the pain more? |
EIGHTH MATCH | 1/20.
Eternal (Keres and Nova Taylor vs. Cinematic Universe (Aaron Harrows and Brooklyn Steiner).
Tag Team Match, #1 Contendership for the FWA World Tag Team Championships.
Match Writer: Welsh.
| Although Cinematic Universe and Eternal suffered exits from the Elite Tag Team Classic in the first round (to Vox Potentis) and the semi-final (to NTR) respectively, each team has earned another chance to challenge whoever emerges from Lights Out with the FWA World Tag Team Championships. Cinematic Universe earned their spot in this ‘Redemption Bracket’ final with a win over the Undisputed Alliance, whilst Eternal posted their place last week on Fallout 045 by triumphing over an altered version of Tr1ck or Tr4sh. Aaron Harrows and Brooklyn Steiner provided commentary on that match-up, and weren’t shy about letting their feelings on their Lights Out opponents clear – regardless of who that ended up being.
For Eternal, the viewer might question whether this Redemption Bracket final is at the forefront of their focus. On Meltdown XLV, two days before their match against Tr1ck or Tr4sh, Keres was spotted in the backstage area, laying out Xperienx Xtacee in a vicious and ostensibly unprovoked attack. There is also the reappearance in the FWA of Lizzie Rose, who showed up during Fallout 045 for a reunion with Gabrielle after ‘the Goddess’ appealed for help. Given Rose’s history with Keres and Nova, one would think Eternal will also have an eye on developments concerning the woman once known as Elizabeth. Doubtlessly, Harrows and Steiner of Cinematic Universe will hope to exploit those distractions, and emerge as the next challenger to FTN, or the first to Vox Potentis.. |
NINTH MATCH | MAIN EVENT | 1/60.
Jeremy Best [c] vs. Gabrielle.
Friends With Benefits Match for the FWA World Championship.
Match Writer: Dubb.
| After a successful title defense at Back in Business against Krash, a new number one contender would be decided when Gabrielle defeated Trixie in the Main Event of Meltdown XLIII, earning the former FWA World Champion and Hall of Famer another shot at the gold at Lights Out. Jeremy would then invite Gabby to the first ever edition of “Jeremy’s Playdate.” Gabby should accept the invitation, but was not interested in playing Jeremy’s games - both literally and figuratively. Jeremy’s attempts to guilt Gabby into focusing on helping her friend Lizzie Rose instead of going after the title failed which lead to Jeremy’s challenge of the first ever, Friends with Benefits Match. The rules of the match will allow a designated “friend” to get involved in the match legally at random intervals during the match.
While Gabby accepted, the question became who would she have in her corner. Jeremy certainly has plenty of choices with the Friendship Wrestling Alliance, but who could Gabby count on? After a tease of a Black Carmel reunion, it was a plea to Lizzie Rose, who we last saw mentally unstable during her tenure inside the TORN Universe. At Fallout 045, Lizzie Rose would in fact return to save Gabby from a beatdown at the hands of Jeremy’s FWA - returning as Lizzie Rose, not Elizabeth Rose, and a hug between the two friends turned rivals turned friends again - setting the stage for Lizzie Rose to be Gabby’s Friends with Benefits in this World Championship Match. |
The promo deadline is Monday 4th November at 23:59, Pacific Time. Which is Tuesday 5th November at 03:00(am), Eastern Time. Which is Tuesday 5th November at 08:00(am), UK. Which is Tuesday 5th November at 11:00(am), Istanbul. Which is Tuesday 5th November at 19:00, Melbourne. Please note that daylight savings skullduggery affects all listed time zones except for the enlightened ones in Turkey. I believe that these are correct but, in the case of any errors, the latest time listed above is the final deadline for promos. There are no extensions, but you’ve got a day longer than normal so YOU’RE WELCOME. GLHF! |
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bongo
FWA Wrestler
Posts: 37
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Post by bongo on Oct 26, 2024 6:48:09 GMT
#justiceforTXT
#realtrioschamps
#toospookyforthemainshow
#toomanyhashtags
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Post by Ͳɾì×ìҽ βօɾժҽąմ× on Oct 26, 2024 6:52:09 GMT
#justiceforTXT #realtrioschamps #toospookyforthemainshow #toomanyhashtags You forgot a couple of hashtags… #secondbesttrioschampsever #coventhegoats There. That’s better. 😜 |
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beavie
FWA Wrestler
Posts: 114 
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Post by beavie on Oct 26, 2024 13:09:48 GMT
#justiceforTXT #realtrioschamps #toospookyforthemainshow #toomanyhashtags They tried to be spooky against an Eldritch horror. |
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Post by Dubb on Oct 27, 2024 1:34:03 GMT
#justiceforTXT #realtrioschamps #toospookyforthemainshow #toomanyhashtags You forgot a couple of hashtags… #secondbesttrioschampsever #coventhegoats There. That’s better. 😜 #notindiscordsoyourvoicedoesntmatter |
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Post by Ͳɾì×ìҽ βօɾժҽąմ× on Oct 27, 2024 3:52:58 GMT
You forgot a couple of hashtags… #secondbesttrioschampsever #coventhegoats There. That’s better. 😜 #notindiscordsoyourvoicedoesntmatter 😔 |
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beavie
FWA Wrestler
Posts: 114
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Post by beavie on Oct 28, 2024 13:49:19 GMT
Did this out of boredom on a few weekend nights. Do they need to actually be used? Nah. Hope ya enjoy. May do the Launch Pad, but I do not think I'll be able to give the Pylon the justice he deserves. |
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Post by mandalorian on Nov 5, 2024 12:36:19 GMT
As promised in the discord, here we go. Doing three at a time, choosing at random:
Mike Parr:
I’ve said it before when it comes to the ‘sit down and talk to the camera’ promos that it is a very hard skill to get right in the context of being a graded piece of work. That being said, I think you’ve nailed it here, Prod. Everything came off as raw and believable. Mike’s ruminations about why he was targeted and then the frustration building to the anger about the moment itself being just moved on from on the show was a very strong build up. I liked that the setting he was given was not something that the FWA would hand to the main eventers, and that the piece itself was almost a building block and stripped back. Very representative of where Mike is at. I do feel the last parts about the opponent was the weakest area as it did kind of feel like it was there because it had to be, but I understand it and it also led to the very killer closing line. Despite the fortunes as of late, I am getting the feeling through your writing that you are starting to get back into the feel of things and into a bit of a groove. I dig it a lot and win or lose, am excited to see where Parr goes next. You’ve grown him into someone we can root for, and not just because he’s down on his luck. The character is there and you achieve your job of earning Mike sympathy. Short but very very sweet. Nicely done.
XYZ:
Before I comment on the promo, I recall at the end of Golden’s final run you said that you were going to be properly sinking your teeth into XYZ. I think that this year, he’s up there for Character of the Year for me, you’ve built his story up into different chunks and it all has flowed from one place to the next. It’s been established in the past that XYZ is a tragic character but this was ramped up to 100 here with him on the bridge and feeling like he had no other choice given his loneliness. This was another very good story beat in his arc. My main critique is that I wanted more, I think a bit of introspection about how he’d feel about winning this match or losing his championship would impact his state of mind. Given he was already at the bottom, did the match actually matter? That being said though, you made me feel things and that’s the point after all! I resonated a lot with this one and the glimmer of hope brought on by the dog was necessary and the clouds starting to move at the end to signify that he’d be carrying on was very strong symbolism. I do see XYZ mixing it up with the big boys sooner rather than later and I’m all for it.
Cinematic Universe:
Trailer to start with was very fun, I like it when the larger universe (pun not intended) and its impact is referenced. I thought Dubb had Toy Story monopolised? If you guys do a Community promo you’re in trouble. Really like the concept of the characters being toys and Andy being naturally drawn to the more interesting looking ones. Eternal wanting to infect people with their powers is standard fare and fitting for them. The evil toys bumming everyone out as their power was quite funny, with the stronger toys not being as affected by it. Harrows shone in this one for me, which I liked as he got his moment of triumph and stood out as the hero of the story but I would have liked to have seen more from Steiner. I liked the presentation a lot, with the darker Toy Story wallpaper. Andy waking in on the toys moving was a funny note to end on as well. I dig this team a lot and this was another fun instalment in their saga.
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Post by mandalorian on Nov 5, 2024 18:46:55 GMT
Jeremy Best
When you first told me that this is the concept you were going for, I burst out laughing at just the graphics you’d made. Then we have the actual promo and this was a hoot. The video titles were hilarious and I’m not sure where you became so familiar with how these kind of websites work… Obviously given Gabrielle’s extracurricular activities, it made perfect sense to use this as a base for the promo. Another touch which I do not know if it was intentional or not was the use of the second person in the opening. Krash’s Mile High 2021 promo immediately jumps to mind and given the linkages here with him and Best, it makes a lot of sense.
You always give so much heart to Jeremy in the promos. If one were to read this in isolation without knowing his history then you’d have the purest soul imaginable but knowing what we know adds an amazing sinister undertone to his quest for a friend for his match. I liked all of the interactions we had here but the Tonya sections were my favourite I think. The other highlight was the closing moments with Sir Stache; you created an interesting conundrum with whether Jeremy should choose his best friend or who would be the most capable when it comes to helping him retain his championship. I think for me there was a bit too much on Lizzie when comparing how much there was on Gabrielle, but given Lizzie is involved in the match it does make sense to have her as a focus. The graphics and presentation were very strong, although I don’t think we needed the menu on the left of every page but I’m just nitpicking now - I’m trying my best to be balanced here to give both sides - but given that’s all I can come up with shows how enjoyable this promo was. Not read Gabrielle yet but I’m sure the big guns have come out (pun intended this time) but this would stand up as a strong world title defending promo against anyone.
Jackson Fenix
I think Fenix took a big stride to cement himself as an out-and-out face with his actions on Meltdown (being the only person other than FTN to stand up to NTR) and this solidified his standing as one of the good guys here. I liked how he had the nagging voice of his evil self as a constant nuisance in his ear and also as a reminder of where he has come from. It is a smart way of displaying his growth. I liked the section at the end relating to Danny Toner and the creation of the links between Fenix and Danny. The twist with him knowing that he will probably have to play dirty to beat Toner was a nice one, even if it means reverting back to the sleazeball persona. Interested in the fallout from this and whether win or lose Fenix decides to go to this well more frequently when the time is right. I think the stuff about Xtacee was good to note but I’d have liked to have seen a bit more on this thread and about how Fenix is going to follow up on that, if at all. Another solid effort here, Jimmy.
DUDE-!
The character portrayal here was very strong, and I grinned throughout the entire section about the plate. The riff by the podcast hosts was also on point, I could literally hear Jim Cornette as I was reading it. I think it was good that DUDE at least acknowledged that his style and motivations would rub people up the wrong way and I enjoyed him going off on one at the end. I think a bit more attention to Parr wouldn’t have gone amiss here - would DUDE be sympathetic to his losing streak? Think there was scope to do a bit more with a thread like that but ofc time was a constraint as we’d discussed privately. I think it’s fine DUDE doesn’t care about the title implications of this match, though. Him being able to teleport as canon now is something fun to work with too going forward. This was fun. DUDE is fun.
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beavie
FWA Wrestler
Posts: 114
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Post by beavie on Nov 5, 2024 21:15:25 GMT
I'll join the feedback train by starting with the new people. For feedback I'll try to focus on the typical scoring areas and try to point out some positives to build on and how it did in terms of introducing me to these new characters. For our tag team, it'll be individual, and a few "Team notes." Jason Jetta:First, I like the character portrayal to start, focusing on Jason, who I kind of see as a young punk rockstar, hot-headed, but overall not a bad person, making the tough choice to go for his wrestling career over his band. You establish his bandmates (or soon to be ex-bandmates) and if you use them more, you have that connection to grow, develop, and change that universe as he goes through his wrestling career. Then of course there is father issues too. Christian Cage would like to know your location. Him lashing out at Jason's decision to leave the band to focus on wrestling, his friends try to "stick up" for him, even if they may miss him in the band. Then lashing out after his father brings up his mom. While I think it is hard to score high on "Character development" for an intro promo, a lot of this stuff sets in motion future promos, so I think you did good in that regard as well. Presentation also seems good as well, I didn't get any glaring issues, though it is always handy to double check with a spell-check. Another thing that's taken account is "creativity." Which can be anything from theming, to an out of this world insane promo, etc. This is very grounded, focused more on establishing Jason's world, so it doesn't need to be super over the top. I think over time as you get more comfortable with him, the style here, that stuff can/will come. May you not have to jump as deep into the fire as I needed to. The only area I think was "lacking" was match focus with the match being mentioned, it being his first match, but not mentioning the opponents or doing anything else to sell it. Something I've learned is it can be tricky sometimes to balance the "I have individual stories to push forward" while also "Selling the match" needs, but it can be done. Though I think this is not a major concern for a first promo, especially when you are learning the fed and the characters. Hell, I joined in the WS era so I was missing a lot of stuff in the WC era I'm still looking back on. But what I've tried to do with this category is sometimes take inspiration from the opponents (For this show, see Dubb's promo as Jeremy Best), maybe the relationship with the other character as you get your feet in this universe (I did that a bit in my Fallout Anniversary promo, using interactions Katsu has had with others/people near them) or even the match itself could be a theming point (Cyrus Truth's own promo in that match, Russian Roulette vibes for the Steel Roulette). This stuff also can bleed towards the creativity category as well. So a promo does not need to be Lord of the Rings epicness to be considered creative and building both your narratives and the match. Genuinely, I'm pretty happy with this for a starting promo. Stuff to "consider down the road" but you've successfully laid the groundwork for Jason's world and I think you're in a position where you can build a fun cast of characters. Ryan St. James:I'll try not to repeat the same stuff as Jason, but I do enjoy the narrative of the independent wrestler, but not just going "OH YEAH, I AM AN INDY GOD!" You show him kind of having a less than luxurious lifestyle, dealing with the shady bookers. For Katsu I focus a bit on her stuff at home in Japan, so it is nice to see the world of wrestling "expand" slightly. Then the meeting of Jason at the end, the tag team name being his nickname, interesting surprise that they are not an already "fully established team." But there is a mentor/mentee relationship. I like that it was touched upon a bit in your promo. An example from our tag champs, they have done a great job developing the relationship between Chris Peacock and Aylster Black, from unlikely friends to being different, but brothers, and Alyster leaning into the antics. (Their Brotherhood promo from BIB, great stuff if you want to see an example, bring a tissue though). A couple of things, for presentation I think the dialogue could be smoother. So that can be touched up upon. Things like using some commas, (<-like this) and reading it back as you write to make sure it comes out like you think it should. Grammar is a point I know I need to work on, so once again, double check it. I also think the Name: Dialogue format may not be the fav of some here. It can work for some promos, this I'm not as sure about. This I think it is a matter of taste. But, much like Jason, you've began to set up your world/universe and I think a lot of this stuff will get better and better as you move along. Any time you are in a new fed, it can take some time to adapt to the style. Two years in and I'm still learning FWA's stuff. From what I see there is that solid base where you can grow upon and your promo gives you a good starting point. General for the Team:Good first outing. In the future, when you are tagging together, don't be afraid to have a promo together. Even when singles characters team up here, there's a decent chance we promo together. It is not a requirement, but especially when you have a tag team, being able to have the characters interact together can do a lot for character development, improving as a writer by being able to bounce off someone, and showing people why the TEAM is important while keeping individual threads going. Typically for judging a tag match, it is the average promo score that wins. So say if one team does a promo each and the other does a team promo, then it could be something like: Team 1 Member A: 30.7 Team 2: 30.4 Team Member B: 29.8, so in that case, team two would win. It could obviously go either way and I think if you wanted to establish your individual characters first, then I understand the choice to go two individual promos for round one. And sometimes maybe it'd be good to do individual promos to mix things up. So in the end, I'm just throwing it out as an option. Second: If you are using google docs, convert the promo to a PDF and upload that. Typically you need to do a PDF because otherwise, it technically can be edited. So what I do is once I am done after much existential dread hit save as PDF, then I have a folder on my Google Drive for promos. I upload the PDF there, and set it to "Anyone with the link can view" and post that link. That way it is considered "Final" once posted, and you won't accidentally change something and get DQ'ed. Now, NICK! Nick Williamson:So why is there a punching bag in the alley, and why is it dusty when it is raining? Apart from that. I like the idea of the setting, creating something which, in theory, matches the mood of the character. Dark, hate-filled. Then the family photo at the end is a cool visual, trying to tie it to Vengedor's backstory and character. Him honouring his lost brother. But this promo was relatively short and I didn't feel like I could really sink my teeth into who Nick is as a character. I got some intensity from him, but that is about it. I'll also point to grammar. There were several mistakes throughout and that can ding a promo a bit. Apart from that I didn't mind the dialogue, if this was a segment on Meltdown/Fallout and he was calling out a rival/future opponent, I'd say mission accomplished. But for a match RP it is a bit limited and will not score super high, especially for the creativity side of things. I also think for a first promo in a new fed, whether a match RP or even a segment, you should introduce your character a bit. For Katsu, I had her debut segment on a show be an interview, and set a base. But I think for a match RP, you can look to what both Ryan and Jason did. Even if we don't know every ounce of their character's, we get a sense of their world, personality and an idea of why to care about them. All I learned was he hates his family. Can be a good part of the character's story, but also not an entire gimmick. Thinking through, trying to stick to the root of your promo idea, here's what I maybe would have done. Like you did, set the scene a bit. But also since this is your character's introduction, even before he speaks, maybe focus one some details about him. Does he walk a certain way? What is he wearing? Is he intense? Is he cold and distant? "Oh? He has a briefcase in his hands?" Set the tone. Then make sure we get introduced to the character in some way. What they're after, or "Hi, I am Nick Williamson, welcome to Jackass." Then, even if you are doing a monologue, let it flow. Get some themes, show the person, the character, the message. I'm not even joking, the family angle, even if you primarily did it as a monologue, could be a cool angle to go with if you ran with it a bit more. We learn Nick needs no family. Why family makes someone weak. Vengedor, seeking vengeance for a man long gone is pointless. To wrap this up, I think there is something to build upon. I can pull out ideas from this piece and think "Okay, there's something." As I said to the others, this takes time. Think through what you want Nick to be, and just work and develop.  |
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Post by mandalorian on Nov 6, 2024 12:02:55 GMT
Nick Williamson
So, as promised. I’ll start by saying that I think you’ve got something here. I like the premise that you’ve introduced for the character as someone who fundamentally just wants to prove himself but is also a complete loose cannon. Attacking the security at the end of the promo was an interesting touch and gives a real world (as in, outside the promo - I’m not going to call the police irl) possible implication for Nick’s actions and choices. Big plus points for you taking the time to research your opponent and using that as part of the dialogue. Despite the briefness in terms of length, that shows that you’ve put some effort into this and that will stand you in very good stead going forwards as you face people that you’ve never heard of before. I think beavie makes some good and helpful comments in her post above on how you can add some extra lines and comments here and there to help us learn a bit more about Nick. I think this is a very decent start for Nick and I’m interesting in seeing him getting more involved in the FWA. Nice work.
Cyrus Truth
You touched on it in the discord and I agree, it was a new challenge for you to write a promo without a specific opponent to focus on and study, to ultimately deconstruct their character. That being said, I think you rose to the challenge and then some. This was a very enjoyable read and I think your approach of focusing on specific traits of what could make a person (or challenger) strong and then showing how each one has its own drawbacks (such as strength often being complimented by a lack of smarts) and then Cyrus overcoming them in creative ways, was a very strong one. Cyrus had the intuition to know that people were coming for him but he didn’t know who or when and as a champion, that is a relatable position to be in. Everything flowed well and it all came together and made sense in the end. Another very strong piece here from you.
Eternal
Keres collecting trophies from people she has bested is a great facet to her character (also very happy mod that something I wrote in a match is used to further a character - Juan will be coming back for that mask sooner or later). Her taking people out so they’re not threats to her or she can’t be hurt is great as well. The movies and script motifs made a lot of sense and worked very well, with Steiner and Harrows fitting the roles you gave them well - should have had Steiner stuttering to represent him stopping and starting at the beginning of the year. I think Keres and Nova were both portrayed very strongly and I liked the references to the outside and wider world. I personally wouldn’t have devoted so much time not having Keres or Nova appear at the beginning of the third section as imo they should be the focus pretty much the entire time, but the conclusion at the end of it was strong and I’m a sucker for a cold closing line and you gave me one. Lots of good stuff here.
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Post by mandalorian on Nov 7, 2024 14:18:32 GMT
Vengador
A shorter, reflective piece here from Vengador. I liked that he almost defaulted to isolating himself after spending time together with others, but it was interpreted as abandonment almost. Vengador strikes me as still trying to find himself a proper place on the roster after now finally finding some joy in the FWA, albeit small. The shift of focus towards honouring his brother is nice and the comparison to the opponent being similar to how he used to view himself was clever. Would have liked more as I think you alluded to yourself in the staff room, but this short piece still packs a punch.
Katsu
I was thoroughly entertained by this promo. I think it went from strength to strength in terms of building to the point of it all and then it peaked with the final two sections with Katsu’s inner monologue during her confrontation with Michelle and then with Tulip and the bear. The first loss to Michelle being the jump point for Vampyra exiting the building and it just sticking with Katsu since then really put over the importance of the match for Katsu and the realisation that Michelle had her own person that she could never get one over on properly (up until recently Chris Peacock would have worked here too!) and then becoming more confident of her chances was good. She came to a realisation that Michelle can be vulnerable and has her own issues, and this put Katsu’s own worries into a bit of perspective. Only real issue/gripe for me is presentation related, only as (it might just be my eyes) the font colour for Katsu’s speech on the non-white background was a bit hard for me to read on my phone but again that could be a skill issue on my end. I’ll say again that this was thoroughly enjoyable and I think with this and GO you’ve found the right balance with how to present Katsu in the promos and with the briefcase in hand, you’re hitting your stride at the right time.
Blair Ravenwood
This was a very fun promo. Before I say anything else, the fact that you first made me laugh with Moore, then again with Drake and then AGAIN with [REDACTED] was brilliance. Amazing escalation of the humour in the alternate reality. But all of the funny stuff aside, I like the journey that Blair went on here in terms of her character. Celestia is one of the few people she actually cares about and after coming to her realisation, she acts on that. It’s very effective without jumping through lots of hoops. Presentation wasn’t completely clean with some colouring missed but nothing to massively detract from the overall reading experience and was likely down to time. Blair has emerged as a serious player here with this one in my books Anything that sticks it to Toner is a plus in my book. Great job here, Sully.
Danny Toner
This gave us a real and proper look into how NTR works and as I think the rest of us suspected, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I think with just a couple of things going off kilter and causing this kind of reaction from Danny, shows how far gone he is and perhaps truly always has been. The selfish trait that runs through him comes to the fore here at the expense of literally everyone else around him, instigated by Fenix defying him and NTR. You did a great job of building up sympathy for each of the young boys (JK can still go fuck himself though, Peacock wants his eyeballs) and making Danny look like an astronomical prick at the same time. The fact that the start of the promo actually seemed to be leading us down the course of him actually showing some vulnerability before the alcohol completely did all of that away was great too. Plenty of different ways you can go with this here and the potential shift in the group dynamic with the young boys but also Nova and Rondo. Great work here man.
MvH:
Alrighty, I seriously fuck with this setting. Fantasy worlds obviously isn’t an original concept but I think this one stands out simply for how well the setting was presented and how much life was put into it. I was a bit concerned at one point that perhaps a bit too much time was being devoted to it but once I realised that it all made sense and was worthwhile investment. I think using the backdrop of the NTR vs FWA angle and how it has implications on the motivations and actions of the characters here was very well done. Michelle was positioned as a bit of an outsider to it all when the truth is she has very intimate and deep relationships (good and bad) with the majority of the leaders of both sides of the conflict; if I could have changed anything I think it would have been this but that is quite a minor thing. It does also work as a bit of commentary to how she has not been at the forefront and involved in the major feuds for a while now (it is withholding of you that you could slap us all around and hold every title forever if you wanted to). I think Katsu was portrayed well here in terms of her motivations and feelings, definitely depicted as someone who has learned a lot but also still a lot to learn. But yeah this was awesome and I didn’t expect anything less in all honesty. This match has really delivered in terms of promos and it’s a shame that one of them has to lose.
Gabrielle:
A trip down memory lane makes a lot of sense here for Gabrielle as she continues to rebuild her self confidence on the wrestling side of things. You portrayed her as one of the experienced heads and I liked that she felt like someone who is supported in all aspects of her life now and after everything that’s happened in the last few years, as finally ready to make that extra step and go for the big one again. I think it was good that Lizzie was covered given the connection but I’d have liked a bit more about Best personally, as his traits are definitely similar to some of the people that Gabrielle would have encountered in her various lines of work and some connections were to be made there. Since I’ve been a part of the FWA, Gabrielle has been one of the standard bearers for character work and character progression and so I was not surprised to see those areas shine the most here. It has been very fun to follow her journey and move from weakness to strength. Definitely a promo worthy of the top spot on the show.
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I’d said in the discord I was not going to pass comment on promos posted by people I’m facing but from what I’ve read, both Vox and the new guys did a great job and tough efforts to beat. This was a very strong round of promos for sure and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the chance to read and review them all. Great work all round team.
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beavie
FWA Wrestler
Posts: 114
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Post by beavie on Nov 7, 2024 22:47:02 GMT
I'll add a handful more promo reviews in. I'll go with two mods this round, and one person with a unique challenge. Maybe I'll do more another day. FTN:I gave some thoughts privately to one of them, so I'll say it again here and maybe a few extra details. This promo in some way reminded me a bit of my own from this show, the characters looking back with us learning extra context about their entire journey and goals. Though, while I had the "Dream world" with Tulip and some metaphor, they decided to use the both loved and hated CUM TRUCK. It breaking down, using that to spark conversation (before it sparked at the end, haha) with the team putting it down, but also kind of realising in the end, if they want to reach their goals as a team, and maybe fight NTR and their opponents long term, they may need to at least tone down their juvenile side. So I think for the Character development side was great and I'd give it a great creativity score for theming too. Match focus, while the decision to have it take place before the match to determine #1 contenders in story could be a "risk" the tournament itself and what it and the entire NTR/FTN war means was at the forefront early on, so if I was grading (I'm not) I'd probably still score it well for that. I also think it did help the story in a way too. In kayfabe (Though in shoot, two HoF caliber handlers, makes total sense they'd go far) they are an underdog team with an inactive wrestler who is primarily a commentator on the team. Then you kept continuity with the Cyrus/Konchu feud and even Allen Price in there. Then the ending was in a weird way touching, even if the "Maybe we shouldn't solve our problems with fire" line made me laugh out loud and is advice at least a third of the roster may need to learn. Then the ending too was a nice touch with the teaser for the Fallout Eliminator. Lowkey hope Rawr is in it too even though I know he's been comfortable as a tag guy now, it'd be nice to see what he'd do since I think the last time he cut a promo for a singles match was around the time he was last world champ. Could be an interesting story arc for Aly. Vox PotentisThe overall story of the promo gave me vibes of the Hunger Games promos/style I've seen a couple of times, though this time a "hunt." I think this furthered along a lot of Jean-Luc's whole arc during the tournament with his WIZARD tag partner helping him train and that part shined. Also Puerto Rico being garbage joke, less funny reading it after the Election results because the Asshole who said it somehow is going to be back in power (Though I admit I did consider that in my own promo as Katsu).I will also give a lot of credit where it is due, the scene setting for this is great. I think SS has always had that in spades and think it shows what happens with people teaming up for promos, you draw on each other's own strengths. Though on the note of CD, the most minor... minor nitpick is if I'd point to "who has the most focus" in that regard, it'd be Jean-Luc over Konchu, but I still felt Hao trying his best to get Jean-Luc ready, and getting confidence in him. The hunt too I felt was a nice metaphor just in general for the chase for a title, the hunt for it, even though the FTN "replacements" with over the top versions of their personalities only appeared near the end. That chase for gold was done throughout the entire thing which fills the "match focus" quota. The ending too with Hao basically going "This is not it" to Watkins was a nice sign of that character's confidence in Watkins that they'd potentially win, or at least do well enough to stick around. Showing support for his partner. Really, to echo what Man said in his own feedback to your promo in regard to the match, it stinks that one team would have to "lose" here. Really great work from the two of you here, and to Man and Rawr. The tag division may have quite a few sharks now since we have you guys, NTR, Gip and Willis seem to be clicking as a team, and Jonny and I are doing what we can to compete. Cyrus Truth:This I figured I would read since you have quite the challenge of a match where your character, either in kayfabe or in shoot (I don't know if there was a already picked opponent or it was genuinely open challenge, either way, tag tournament and facing one of the best, I personally was like "NAH, I'M NOT GONNA EVEN ASK! IF IT IS OPEN LET SOMEONE ELSE GO FOR IT!") doesn't know who he is facing. This is sort of a challenge similar to Carnal Contendership, you know a match you managed to win twice, where the match/challenge itself may take center stage with any personal arcs over one person. Okay, first of all, figured Cyrus would take his coffee as Dark Roast, just a bit bitter, like Cyrus himself. And insert a " You talk too much." I think, apart from the beginning narration and the end, the match focus feels more metaphorical. Him meeting different members of this Russian gang, each trying to take advantage/manipulate him in different ways, verbal threats, charm/seduction, and through torture. This sort of feels like an open challenge in that anyone can show up, anyone can step up to fight him and he'd have to be ready for anything. He struck first, he embraced aseuxuality (haha) and he had to out smart someone. Then the meeting with the Russian gang's Czar as I call him, trying to give him a lesson. A man and his family, trying to teach, could be a bit metaphorical of Cyrus Truth needing to potentially be open to the new generation as someone who has done it all in FWA, make sure they are ready to take the crown of him, but also Cyrus admits that, while the traits of those who tried to fight him are useful, they need an "iron will" to be able to bear the weight of being champion. So, without being able to mention a specific opponent, you've been to metaphorically tell a lot of themes relation to the match. So with your challenge, mission accomplished. The story also was fun, gritty, and creative. Though Cyrus, be careful, the Russian's don't need any more inroads in the US, if you know what I mean. I think if there is something which could be a touch "weaker" in the grading criteria, I feel the Character Development felt more like affirming Cyrus' ideals/nature rather than expanding on it. But then again that may still be seen as being able to get that covered. And near the end there was some narration coloured red in Cyrus' dialogue, so that is a lil' error which frankly, I've done dozens and dozens of times too. Despite the challenge of not having an opponent, I think you navigated that damn well. Of course I don't really know how an opponent would do since this likely is a case of a secret promo, but I think you should be happy with what you did. Now if you will excuse me, I'll be hugging Pokemon plushies, playing Minecraft, and drinking wine. |
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tig
FWA Wrestler
Posts: 17 
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Post by tig on Nov 17, 2024 12:03:52 GMT
Yo, gonna start running this for funsies. If anybody is interested I'll keep running tabs and announce an overall prediction winner post Back in Business next year. If nobody is interested - fuck you. Obviously, mods know the results so can't partake. I'd kindly ask for an honour system to be implemented where 1) if you are the match-writer/know the result, please don't predict/spoil and 2) don't predict your own match. It'll be weighted totals so it won't effect your overall score. Have fun.
FWA Predictions League - Season 1
Event 1 - Lights Out 2024
Vengador vs Nick Williamson
Jason Jetta & Ryan St. James vs TR1CK OR TR4SH
The Lumberjacks vs NTR Dojo
FTN vs Vox Potentis
DUDE-! vs Mike Parr
Katsu vs Michelle von Horrowitz
Cyrus Truth vs ??
Danny Toner vs Jackson Fenix
XYZ vs Captain Righteous
Tommy Bedlam vs Blair Ravenwood
Eternal vs Cinematic Universe
Jeremy Best vs Gabrielle
To enter, simply bold your predicted winner. This is all you have to do, but reasoning is also a fun, optional thing.
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My predictions
Vengador vs Nick Williamson - A tough one to call but I think Dubb did enough in the Vengy promo to seal the win here.
Jason Jetta & Ryan St. James vs TR1CK OR TR4SH - I really liked the new boys efforts here and think they will win in their debuts.
The Lumberjacks vs NTR Dojo - Match I'm involved in/know the winners.
FTN vs Vox Potentis - This could easily go either way but I think the Vox promo just ever so slightly pips a fantastic FTN effort.
DUDE-! vs Mike Parr - I kinda went back and forth on this a bit but settled on Parr. I think his dialogue and directness is very strong in his promo.
Katsu vs Michelle von Horrowitz - Two strong pieces of work but I had mentioned in the discord that MvH promo is currently in my reckoning for Promo of the Year so I have to predict MvH here despite a good Katsu promo.
Cyrus Truth vs ?? - On paper, the toughest match to call by nature of a mystery opponent. However, I felt the Truth promo was very strong and seeing that, without even knowing what it is up against, I fancy Truth here.
Danny Toner vs Jackson Fenix - my own match.
XYZ vs Captain Righteous - unless I'm wildly mistaken, Righteous was unable to get a promo out.
Tommy Bedlam vs Blair Ravenwood - see above but replace Righteous with Bedlam.
Eternal vs Cinematic Universe - the two prettiest promos on the show and both are really stellar. This is as hard to call as the tag title match imo. Sighing because I'm not sure but going to pick Eternal.
Jeremy Best vs Gabrielle - ETE with a very worthy main event world title promo, but I feel like Best nicks this just about.
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Post by Ͳɾì×ìҽ βօɾժҽąմ× on Nov 17, 2024 12:22:32 GMT
I’ll probably not to thoughts for every single one, since admittedly I haven’t read every promo for every match etc, so some of them are just guesses and it’s pointless repeating that, lol. But where I feel like it, I’ll say a few words if something springs to mind.
Vengador vs Nick Williamson
Jason Jetta & Ryan St. James vs TR1CK OR TR4SH
The Lumberjacks vs NTR Dojo
FTN vs Vox Potentis
DUDE-! vs Mike Parr
Katsu vs Michelle von Horrowitz
Cyrus Truth vs ?? - This one is a complete gamble, lol. I’ve no idea who the mystery opponent is, but fuck it, I’m flipping that coin 😂.
Danny Toner vs Jackson Fenix
XYZ vs Captain Righteous - Shame Righteous had to no-show. I think he’s been really strong up to this point, so I thought he had a great chance in this match. Hoping he comes back strong 💪.
Tommy Bedlam vs Blair Ravenwood - It’s a shame Tommy had to no-show (could’ve done that at BIB, the bastard 😂😜).
Eternal vs Cinematic Universe - I’m match writer for this one, so I know the result.
Jeremy Best vs Gabrielle
I’m really digging this idea, BTW, Tigster. 💪 It’s something fun to do outside of actually competing, and a little added incentive for someone like me who isn’t active to try to keep up with the goings on a little better throughout the year.
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