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New Age Syndicate = Tag Team Underachievers!

Posted: May 22nd 2011 By: CMBurnham

Fate finally seemed to have fulfilled its role when BYEW Tag Team Champions The New Age Syndicate defeated Greatness on Demand for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles. As the longest intact tag team in Oklahoma, Scott Sanders and his twin brother Shawn Sanders seemed destined to hold those titles. But for almost 5 years, the gold had eluded their grasp. The way they won the belts was certainly controversial. And now that they have them, it seems that the pressure of being dual champions may be too much for the brothers from New Jersey.

The Syndicate defeated Rage Logan and Damon Windsor at the beginning of April for the titles, after two singles matches between the members of the respective teams resulted in No-Contests. A well-timed kendo shot by one Sanders twin allowed the pinfall and the twins showed just how little respect they had for anyone by attacking referee Crazy Charlie after the match. And at the next show, they cockily walked in prepared to face off against whoever was planted in front of them. What they didn't expect was to across the ring from the SWCW Tag Team Champions, Brandon Moxley & ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion Se7en. Although none of the Tag Team titles any of these men held were on the line, a level of pride certainly was as a de facto recognition as the best tag team in the Oklahoma City area was certainly at stake. In the end, the Syndicate set Moxley up for a double team move, but Moxley elbowed his way out and Se7en schoolboyed Scott for the win. The Syndicate were irate at the loss and again decided to attack a referee in retaliation. A swift and brutal pummeling of Brock Landers ended when Greatness on Demand arrived and ran the Syndicate off and Logan & Windsor announced that, because they could no longer wrestle in MSWA thanks to the behind-the-scenes actions of MSWA commissioner Shawn McKeaigg, they were giving their rematch to Brock Landers, who would be allowed to pick a partner of his own to face the Syndicate in two weeks.

Due to some facility issues, two weeks turned into a month and Landers informed MSWA management that his partner would not be able to make it on that date. So he accepted a singles match against Sean Stevens which he won when SWCW All-American Champioin Rudy Edwards provided some ill-timed distraction, allowing Landers to hit a spinebuster for the cover. Meanwhile, Drake Gallows took on Shawn Sanders in a singles match, but as many fans know, no singles encounter is truly one-on-one when you're dealing with the Syndicate. Scott Sanders hung around at ringside and again referee distraction, this time on George Knight, allowed the kendo stick to be brought into the ring. A submission hold was put on Drage and while he fought as best as he could, ultimately he passed out from the pain. Once again, the bully tactics of the Syndicate took over and a 2-on-1 beatdown began until Crisstopher Crow came to the rescue. Crow said that, in this business, it's sometimes hard to seperate business from personal and that what they had done was personal. He then revealed to the MSWA audience that Gallows was his brother and challenged the Syndicate to a Tag Team Title match. The Syndicate said they would respond later and walked away, but as soon as they got to the back, Brock Landers returned and said that he had talked to management and that there WOULD be a Tag Team Title match that night. Originally it was supposed to involve him and his partner and while his partner wasn't there, Landers would still be involved. He then took off his shirt to reveal a referee's uniform and announced that he would be the referee in the tag team title match for the main event.

With all these cards stacked against them, the Syndicate saw no option except to take the cheap way out and preserve their titles by getting intentionally disqualified. Scott Sanders attacked Gallows with the kendo stick and another post-match attack left both Crow & Gallows laying in the ring. It certainly seems like the Sanders are overwhelmed with the challenges facing them. Gallows & Crow have a legitimate arguement for receiving another title shot. Moxley & Se7en have certainly earned one for their non-title win. Brock Landers still has a guaranteed title shot with his mystery partner, whoever that may be. And as if having the MSWA Tag Team titles wasn't enough, it shouldn't be forgotten that the Syndicate are dual champions and will be defending their BYEW Tag Team Titles on June 4 against the veteran team from Kansas of Devan Scott & Bigg Dogg, collectively known as the Irish Pain. Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders wanted desperately to be thought of as the greatest tag team in the Oklahoma City area. They now have the gold to substantiate that claim. What they need is live up to the expectations.