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FIGHTT PRO “Episode 0: FIGHTT Insider”
6/6/23 - IWTV.live
Co-owner Ernie Osiris & Pelle Primeau are your hosts. They talk about the concept of FIGHTT Pro, how they are trying to get back to a more grounded form of professional wrestling combat, free of the silliness. FIGHTT itself stands for: Fiercely Independent Grappling Hybrid & Tag Team Profession Wrestling.
Jason Heat gives us the rundown of the rules of combat. There are three divisions: Grapplers Division, Hybrid Division, Tag Team Division. Everyone’s goal is to rise up the ranks of their divisions, scoring points with wins, scoring more points with certain types of wins.
Every division will have alternates, people who aren’t on the official scoring roster but can earn a spot by impressing in exhibition bouts, ready to slot in if a roster member is injured during the season.
The Hybrid Divison will choose its champion through point scoring and a season ending playoff tournament…but also they have a thing called the Premier Contenders Track, which is effectively a week-by-week gauntlet. You gotta win it to stay in it, if you get me. This is a lot of setup. They set up 11 weeks of content, season and tournaments included.
Back to Pelle…and he’s with Prince Nana, who is the co-owner of the promotion. They talk a little about Nana’s excitement for what his creative vision is…but we gotta get to the FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS for each division.
Rhett Titus (Hybrid)
World Famous CB (Hybrid)
Gabby Ortiz (Grappling)
Anthony Bennet (Hybrid)
Will Ferrara (Hybrid)
Eli Isom (Hybrid)
Dawgnation (Tag Team)
Logan Easton Laroux (Hybrid) (yesssss)
Damaris Dawkins (Grappling)
Matt Quay & Leo Sparrow (Tag Team)
Tony Deppen (Premier Contender)
Delirious (Primier Contender)
Tiny Tanaily (Division Alternate)
Colby Corino (Divison Alternate)
Ryan Mooney (Divison Alternate)
Exciting list but I’m a little confused now but let’s wait it out. We have some sponsor commercials before Pelle is back with Mitch Franklin, who is going to go through the core rules:
We got a three foul system in play. One warning and then three fouls will lead to a DQ. They mention participants having red wrist bands to put check marks on so the ref never loses track of the fouls. <heel mind raises an eyebrow>
So what’s the code of conduct?
No targeting eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth and hair.
No manipulation of an opponent’s ring gear.
No closed fists.
No using the ropes for leverage.
No leaving the ring under your own power, that includes dives.
No slams to the floor.
No using the posts.
For the tag team division, all of these apply but there are NO SUBMISSION victories. That’s a curious choice? Also considered violations are not tagging in properly and a partner coming in to break up a pin.
For the Grappling division, there are NO PINFALL victories. Submissions are the goal here (as are the typical stoppage, count out, forfeit and DQ). Violations for this division include rope breaks and using the ropes to break a submission. Jumping off the top rope is also a violation in the Grapplers division.
That said, all divisions have the typical instant DQ fare: attacking a ref deliberately, outside interference, groin shots, weapon or table use and not breaking on a five count. That said, all of these allow for a first offense and then an instant DQ for a second occurrence.
Also, if you get DQ’d -> the penalties also include Point deductions, loss of rank, loss of titles, potential suspension and even termination from FIGHTT PRO. Am I watching a employee new hire video?
Pelle is introducing an exhibition match they say is a good example of the kind of action we’ll expect to see in the weeks to come.
Hybrid Divison Exhibition Match: Ryan Mooney vs LSG
The commentary team says this match is part of a Scouting Series, looking for prospects for the FIGHTT roster. Seeing as Ryan Mooney was an announced alternate, I have some predictions about the result here. This match appears to be emanating from a “Super Krazee Pro Wrestling” venue.
The bell rings and we get a handshake. This is very fast technical graps back and forth early, no clear advantage. LSG is sent to the floor and Mooney torpedos out, drawing a warning. It was a risk that almost pays off with a two count.
LSG with a big clothesline out of the corner and a near fall. Mooney is shook and LSG is trying to grind him out. Mooney with the quick reversal and tries to steal the rollup. LSG keeps the heat on, trying to slow this down. We hit the five minute mark as Mooney starts firing back. LSG with a cravat but Mooney slams him back. Handspring enziguri! Sunset flip bomb into the corner! Falcon arrow for two!
LSG loses his leg and Mooney kicks at the limb and tries a half crab. LSG crawls for the rope…he tries a rollup! Mooney with a headbutt folds him in half. LSG catches a handspring into a facebuster…LSG with a springboard cross body and gets the pin! Oh my!
Winner: LSG
Mooney offers a handshake of respect but LSG barely shakes it before he storms out. Back to the commentary table, Mitch Franklin breaks down Mooney’s use of drawing the violation to gain a tactical advantage.
Prince Nana is back with our SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICKS:
Janai Kai (Grappling)
The Mecca (Hybrid)
Breaux Keller & Action Andretti (Tag Team)
Moses (Hybrid)
The Busky Brawlers (Tag Team)
Gia Scott (Grappling)
Tony Leyenda (Hybrid)
Harleen Lopez (Grappling)
Miles Penn (Hybrid)
Matt Hayter (Hybrid)
Tim Spriggs (Premier Contender)
Victor Benjamin (Premier Contender)
LSG (Division Alternate)
Bobby Shields (Division Alternate)
Vinny Pacifico (Division Alternate)
Time for a dive into the rankings system.
Win/Loss records and point totals will determine the pecking order. The Top Five at the end of the season make it to the playoffs. Also, if there is a TIE for a ranking, your draft pick number is used as a tie breaker. <eyebrow>
As mentioned before, method of victory determines your points scores. Ref Stoppage, Standing 10-Count TKO or a full-on KO nets 4 points. Pinfalls and Submissions get 3 points. Count Outs, Forfeits or Multiple Violations get 2 points. Fighters get 1 point for a time limit draw…but an extra point is on the line for whoever has fewer violations.
As for deductions, it’s all DQ’s. No one gets any points, even the winner. Hence, the stiffer penalties.
Number One draft pick Rhett Titus is here. I guess he wins all ties? He plans to win throughout the entire season. Pelle asks why FIGHTT PRO is a good fit for him. Titus says no one follows the rules anymore. Rules have lost their sway. Titus says Mitch Franklin is going to lay down the law and actually enforce the rules. Titus has no plans to break any of them. Pelle talks about Titus never breaking the glass ceiling of being THE GUY…but here is his chance to do so. I can’t overstate how awkward these desk interview segments feel.
Nana is back for the Final Round Draft Picks:
Trish Adora (Grapplers)
Primal Fear (Tag Team)
Killian McMurphy (Hybrid)
Persia Pierce (Grapplers)
Rayo (Hybrid)
Savannah Evans (Grapplers)
Dominick Denero
Skid Row (Tag Team)
KZT (Grapplers)
Lost Boyz (Tag Team)
Erick Stevens (Premier Contender)
Devantes (Division Alternate)
David Moses (Division Alternate)
Big Dan Champion (Division Alternate)
Myles Hawkins (Division Alternate)
Pelle and Prince Nana talk about this stacked roster. They talk about how the three divisions will have their champions but the season ending winner of the Premier Hybrid Gauntlet will also be awarded a championship, and this one is dedicated as a memorial to Jimmy Rave. Pelle and Nana are clearly emotional talking about this. Pelle shares a personal story, about how he loved Rave growing up, and how influential he was on Pelle’s career. We get a lot of old ROH/CZW era photos of Jimmy through this.
Nana announces that starting Tuesday June 13th, FIGHTT PRO will be debuting and running live every week for the next 11 weeks on IWTV!
We end this introductory hour and while I’m a little drunk on rules and semi-awkward interview segments, I’m definitely CURIOUS how this is going to play out live starting next week. I’m not going to judge the promotion by this hour…but this was a LONG HOUR, going through a lot of rules, ranking systems, draft picks and one quick match. The live episodes absolutely need to focus on the action…but I suspect they will.
It’s definitely clear the “Grapplers” Division is their women’s division but there is a clear lean in their picks towards good technical workers and strikers. I expect some good drag out fights in that group. Overall though, I always have concerns with wrestling promotions that lean into highly specific shoot-style rules, if only because I’ve seen so many cases where those rules get thrown out the window or just straight up forgotten. But between Nana and Rhett talking about the promotions commitment to preserving the code of conduct, let’s see how this plays out in the weeks to come, live on IWTV.
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