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Crisis of Confidence! Is Team Dean Machine Falling Apart?

Posted: Jun 13th 2017 By: Michael Hunt

They say that when you are on top, there is no where to go but down.

For the bulk of the first half of 2017, Team Dean Machine have displayed their dominance as the best tag team in BPPW. They are two-time BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions and have driven off challenges from many other teams that have come through, looking to take those titles away.

Despite their youth and relative inexperience, the Dean Brothers have backed down from no one and welcomed the challenges that each week brought them in Sapulpa or Tulsa BPPW events. But approximately one month ago, the first cracks appeared in the Dean Machine unity when the Rising reunited and challenged Christopher and Jerry for the BPPW Tag belts. While TDM were successful in retaining, they did so by DQ due to the Rising sending a violent message to them in the form of kendo sticks and customized canes.

Last week, The Rising defeated Legion to become # contenders to the Oklahoma Tag Team Title. And they wasted no time in demanding their title opportunity. So this past Friday The Rising and Team Dean Machine met for the first time 2-on-2. The match was lengthy and both Christopher Dean and Jerry Dean were physically challenged and punished by the more dominant Riker and Matt Durden. But as is typical for the Deans, they never gave up. They always kept fighting. And that was when things got a little controversial.

Sensing that they were not going to be able to force the Deans to submit or to put them in a pinning situation in the normal way, The Rising produced a roll of duct tape. Then, despite the protests of the referee, they duct taped Jerry Dean to the top rope in his corner. This left Christopher Dean at a handicap, but even facing this scenario, Christopher did not give in. And credit goes to Jerry as well for continuing to try and tag his brother, even though he was basically immobilized into his corner.

The duct tape proved to simply be part of a distraction. While referee Ben Kelly was preoccupied trying to remove the duct tape from Jerry's wrist, The Rising once again produced a kendo stick. They then hung Christopher in the Tree of Woe and beat him in the midsection. Shortly after that, while his brother was still helpless to look on, Christopher was pinned and the Oklahoma Tag Team Titles were in the hands of The Rising.

The next night, both Deans were scheduled for singles competition. Jerry Dean opened the show against Brandon Groom, who brought with him an entire groomsman party including Rachel Starz and Best Man, Jonah Turk. Jerry had Christopher with him as well, but the numbers factor woudl shortly come into play. Towards the end of the match, Jerry hit Groom with a cannonball in the corner. Groom then rolled out of the ring and Jerry pursued, but Groom grabbed him and threw him to Turk, who clobbered him in the face, earning the DQ.

This outside interference prompted BPPW Commissioner C. M. Burnham to make it clear to all competitors that a later match between Turk and Christopher Dean would see everyone banned from ringside. However this did not deter Brandon Groom from coming and and interfering, earning the DQ for Turk. Groom then proclaimed that he and Turk were the best tag team in the state and it looked like the Deans wanted to match up with them. Groom and Turk teased getting into the ring to face off with TDM, but backed down. However Burnham would not allow them to get away scott free. He said that since it was obvious that Groom and Turk wanted to involve themselves in the business of the Deans', then he would set up a special match after intermission where both teams would face each other. He then ordered security to escort Groom and Turk back to the locker room, much to the protests and dismay of both men.

After intermission, both teams arrived and the match was on. But once again, referee Ben Kelly caused some controversy, preoccupying himself with one Dean brother and allowing a double team by the so-called "Bachelor Party" on the other allowing Groom and Turk to have their hands raised in victory.

All the Deans have asked is that sides are even and fair. But that seems to be getting more and more difficult these days. Rumour has it that the Deans are lobbying for a title rematch this Friday in Sapulpa against the Rising, but they want a stipulation added to ensure a fair outcome. Whatever the case, the Deans certainly need to get back building momentum if they intend to maintain their position as the most dominant tag team in BPPW in 2017.