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Future's End! Johnny Z Joins Future Hall of Famers, Closes Doors of IZW

Posted: Jul 22nd 2016 By: CMBurnham

The Future is now!

IZW has always described their iPPV "Evolution" as when IZW takes the next step in development. But that step simply showed that much of what Charles Darwin theorised so many years ago was true as the dominant forces in IZW were successful. And those dominant forces belonged to the Future Hall of Famers.

The night began with IZW Women's and MSWA Ladies Champion Skylar Slice defending her IZW title against Erica. Slice had proven herself to be just what she was advertised as: Dominant. And while Erica always posed the biggest threat to her, she had so far been unable to wrest the new title belt from the champion. Interference from Nathan Estrada backfired and it looked like Erica was on her way to victory when Slice reversed an attempt at Sliced Bread #2 and turned Erica over into a BackSlice, capturing the victory and retaining that gold in the camp of the FHOFers.

The next match saw Estrada taking on Maddox Jones and Angel Camacho to determine the #1 contender to the IZW Impact Division Title. Camacho was certainly the odds-on favourite as he was a 2-time former champion and had the size and experience advantage. Even Jones had to be looked at as having some natural advantage over Estrada, being a second-generation competitor. But it was Estrada who picked up the scraps after Camacho hit a Samoan Drop on Jones. Estrada, who had been lurking outside the ring for a time, slid in, dropkicked Camacho out of the way and pinned Jones to pick up the victory. While not a full-fledged member of the FHOFers, this victory certainly had to have gained him some respect in their eyes.

IZW Tag Team Champions The Diamond Dogs were supposed to defend their titles against Nemesis, but video showed Rage Logan incapacitated and unable to compete. That did not stop Damien Morte from coming to the ring ready to take on both Luke Langley and Graham Bell at the same time. But Morte would not have to face the Dogs alone as Jermaine Johnson came out to stand beside him. While Johnson and Morte had issues from the previous week, when Morte blew mist in the eyes of Johnson in order to pick up a victory, they put those differences aside and tied to relieve Bell and Langley of those tag team titles. Ultimately, it was their inexperience as a team and a massive moment of miscommunication that cost Morte and Johnson the match as once again the mist came into play and once again, it went into the eyes of Johnson. That was all the Diamond Dogs needed to score the win and maintain control of the Tag Team Titles for the FHOFers.

But the real capstone of for the faction occurred in the main event. It was advertised as a Triple Threat Match with IZW Champion Double D defending against Jordan Jacobs and the newest member of the Future Hall of Famers. But Shawn McHale refused to reveal who that newest member was and even used his powers as co-commissioner to order the match to begin without that third member present. D and Jacobs had an outstanding match, each using the moves and strategy that had gotten them where they were. On many occasions, it appeared that Jacobs was about to capture the one title that eluded him his entire career. On many other occasions, it appeared D was about to continue his third reign uninterrupted.

And then, the music hit and Convict came through the curtain.

With Shawn McHale accompanying him, it was obvious that Convict was the newest member of the Future Hall of Famers. Convict entered the ring and easily destroyed both of the other competitors, who were physically exhausted after a highly competitive match. Convict then made the pin and became a 2-time IZW Champion.

But the shocks did not stop there. The lights dimmed and the video for Johnny Z began to play. Fans became excited as they awaited their saviour to emerge and to fix this problem. But when Z came through the curtain, he was not dressed to compete. He was not dressed as he normally appeared. Adorned in a 3-piece suit, very reminiscent of Brad Michaels, Z slowly made his way around the ring and then entered. Immediately upon entering, Convict knelt before him and handed him the IZW Title. And Shawn McHale officially announced him as the new IZW Champion. For McHale, it was the ultimate coup as he had brought the two most powerful entities in IZW into his fold.

Sadly, we will never know the reason for the decision Johnny Z made that night, as on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, Johnny Z announced that IZW was closing the doors for the final time. So for IZW and its stars, the future had come to an early end. But their legacy of entertainment over the past 12 years will never be forgotten. And the FHOFers close the doors on top, proving that you can not fight the future.