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DOX Use Losses As Learning Experiences

Posted: Aug 26th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Their careers are less than a year old, but already Dawn of Extreme have become one of the top tag teams to contend with in ComPro. Pernennial contenders to the ComPro Tag Team Titles, they've come close to winning them on several occasions, but fallen short each time. But even if they haven't won, they've still considered it a learning experience. And now, they high-flying stars have started to travel around the state, looking to gain some experience on the road.

In the past week, Ty Thunder and Crucifer have had 5 matches in 4 different federations (6 if you count their participation in a battle royal). A week ago Friday, they were the first to receive a title shot against TOPW Tag Team Champions The Texas Outlaws. In a huge contrast of styles, the big burly Outlaws used their size, power and experience edge to overcome the energy and speed of their challengers. But after defeating DOX, Bobby Burns & J. W. Hardin took the microphone and complimented them, saying they showed determination. They offered them an immediate rematch against their partners, MWA Tag Team Champions Texas, Inc. Though they were heavily beaten, DOX knew they were being given an opportunity and agreed. They'd faced Bernard Funk and Tim Rockwell before and did their best to match ring wits with the 2-time Tag Team of the Year. Unfortunately, it wasn't their night as once again, they found themselves on the losing end. No tag team titles on this occasion.

Two days later, DOX made their debut in SWCW, participating in a Battle Royal at the beginning of the show to determine the #1 contender to the SWCW Title. With bodies flying everywhere, it was hard to keep track of the action, but DOX were eliminated in the first half of the match and the eventual winner was SWCW Tag Team Champion Bud Barnes. Later in the show, though, Thunder & Crucifer got their chance to shine.

2/3 of Nemesis, Rage Logan & Xavior, had just proposed a 6-man tag team match against David Kyzer, SWCW Luchadore Champion Se7en and SWCW Cruiserweight Champion and ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion Sage. That challenge had been accepted for August 30 and Logan and Xavior then stood in the ring and issued an open challenge to any team in the back. Seeing an opportunity, DOX ran to the ring, but weren't met with the reception they would have liked. Nemesis referred to them as the "backyard wrestlers from Tulsa" and generally treated them with disdain. But DOX wasn't going to be ignored and they prepared to meet in tag team competition. Both teams utilised high flying moves and while DOX was impressive, the cohesion in the newly formed version of Nemesis, combined with their willingness to do anything they needed to in order to win, sealed the young team's fate. DOX found themselves once again on the losing side at the end of the day, but again, took it as a learning experience and moved on.

This past Friday, Ty Thunder and Crucifer were booked for singles competition at the 412PE event in Jay, OK. Both men had stiff challenges as Crucifer took on Fuel and Thunder faced Jon Cross. Neither man had great experience in singles competition, but the strangeness of the situation seemed to get to Crucifer a lot more than it did Ty. Crucifer brought a heretofore unseen side of his personality, taking his frustrations out on the crowd and being belligerent to anyone around him. Essentially evenly matched in size and power by Fuel, Crucifer seemed to believe that the best way to get an advantage was to take ones he could find, in other words, cheat. But Fuel was prepared for this and fought relentlessly, countering the high flying moves that would have caught just about anyone else by surprise. All the cheap shots and illegal tactics proved to be for naught as Fuel connected with a superkick for the win.

It was a somewhat different story for Ty Thunder, who had what some believe to be the best match of his career against Jon Cross. Cross brought his arrogance in full swing to the show and was not phased by the youthful exuberance of Thunder. Again, both men were fairly even in terms of size and power, so Cross resorted to the cheap tactics, but unlike Crucifer, Cross had better experience in using those tactics. It seemed like perhaps Thuder would pull a major upset as time and time again, he was pinned but somehow escaped out the back door at 2 1/2. Eventually, Ty's luck ran out as he went to the top rope for a big splash. Cross kicked referee Juston Talley into the ropes, causing Thunder to land crotch-first on the top turnbuckle. Cross then picked Thunder up for a DVD and got the win. Once again, Dawn of Extreme left beaten but not unbowed.

By this point, it would be understandable if DOX were just to hang it up. In 4 different matches, despite singles or tag team status, they just couldn't chalk up the win. But that's the difference between them and other tag teams. The don't quit. And it paid off for them this Saturday as they faced Legion 13 in tag team competition. The previous week, DOX had teamed with Tyson Armstrong and lost to L13, who were teaming with Ray Martinez. Martinez was conspicuous by his absence, but DOX didn't care where he was. They just wanted to show that they could win a big match and they set out to prove it. While Dutch Hagen and Jesus Rodriguez are both excellent technical and power wrestlers, they had no chance to keep up with the speed and agility of DOX. Over a week's worth of frustration was pent up and released in this match as DOX saw all their opponents' faces in the faces of Legion 13. Finally, after a week of striving and coming up short, DOX was able to secure a win over the former tag team champions, moving themselves another step up the ladder and gaining a huge moral victory for themselves and their career.

They still have a long way to go, but if they continue the way they are, Dawn of Extreme are certain to be wearing tag team gold before too much of 2010 has passed (maybe even earlier). The chance to compete around the state is one of the best any young wrestler can take and DOX are trying their best to use the opportunities given to them. If you haven't seen them yet, just wait, because they may be coming to an arena near you. If so, look up and don't blink or you just might miss them.

Tags: Dawn of Extreme, ComPro, Ty Thunder, Crucifer, TOPW, The Texas Outlaws, Bobby Burns, J. W. Hardin, MWA, Texas, Inc., Bernard Funk, Tim Rockwell, SWCW, Bud Barnes, Rage Logan, Xavior, Nemesis, David Kyzer, Se7en, Sage, 412PE, Fuel, Jon Cross , Legion 13, T