Staff Writer Andy Mancini handicaps the participating Tag-Teams

Team Name: "Snakeman" Deven Michaels and Brandon Morgan
Home Promotion: AWA-MWA
Representing: Northern West Virginia, Southeastern Ohio, and
Western/Central Pennsylvania

Inside Info: While scouting a tournament such as this, one will
occasionally run across a wrestler or a team or who immediately grabs
his or her attention. The team from West Virginia-based MWA promotion
definitely fits that description. Unlike the other teams, in which
the members are representing their home promotion, Michaels and
Morgan actively and proudly represent their home faction. Yes, that's
right. Faction. On one side of the fence we have New Breed Wrestling
heavyweight champion Brandon Morgan. On the other side sits
thoroughly unpredictable "Snakeman" Deven Michaels. Not only is
Michaels representing the rival West Virginia Wrestling Association,
he is the protégé of the legendary Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Are
Morgan and Michaels capable of working as a solid, cohesive unit, or
will their many differences ultimately do them in?


Team Name: Logan and Glory
Members: Brian Logan and Justyn Glory
Home Promotion: AWA Apex and AWA/WSWF
Representing: Southern West Virginia, Virginia, Eastern Kentucky,
Northern Ohio, and Connecticut

Inside Info: One is from Connecticut, the home of power, wealth,
privilege, and a certain family that wrestling fans everywhere are
familiar with. The other is from West Virginia, home of coal mines,
steel mills, "blue collar" work ethic, and Loretta Lynn. One preaches
honor and respect. The other is the proud inventor of the "Cluck Like
a Chicken" match. They have never tagged together before, and
frankly, hate each other with a passion. Simply put, this is the
real "wild card" team in this tournament. If Justyn Glory and Brian
Logan are able to set the personal feelings aside, they might be able
to make a real impact on the tournament. If not, it might
spell "doom" for their chances.


Team Name: Hell's Fire and Barbed Wire
Members: Dick Foley and Timber
Home Promotion: AWA Power Pro
Representing: The Carolinas

Inside Info: Ladies and gentlemen, the inmates have officially left
asylum. Hell's Fire and Barbed Wire, individually known as "Hardcore
Hero" Dick Foley and "The Insane Lumberjack" Timber, are not
necessarily interested in having a "wrestling match." Instead, they
were thinking of having something along the lines of a
sanctioned "savage beating." If Foley and Timber are able to keep
their true natures in check (and that, folks, is a big "if"), the
other competitors don't even stand a chance. After all, two-by-four
covered in barbed wire beats a headlock or a toe hold every time.


Team Name: The Heartbreak Express
Members: Sean and Phil Davis
Home Promotion: AWA World-1 South
Representing: Georgia

Inside Info: Any "average" team can be crowned the champions of a
state or a promotion. It takes someone special to be the named the
champions of an entire set of islands. In addition to their numerous
tag title reigns in Florida and Georgia, Sean and Phil Davis are also
the reigning tag team champions of the Cayman Islands. Clearly, the
Heartbreak Express understand how complex and varied tag teams can
be. But are they ready to take on nineteen of North America's best
teams?


Team Name: Team Vision
Members: Chasyn Rance and Mister Saint Laurent
Home Promotion: AWA Worldwide
Representing: Florida

Inside Info: They have the size advantage. They have the talent. They
even have the support of "The Living Legend" and self-
proclaimed "undefeated AWA champion," Larry Zybysko. And now is the
time for them to show the world what exactly Team Vision can do. On
one end we have "Not Cocky" Chasyn Rance, the up-and-coming high
flier and perpetual "thorn in the side" of former Tag champs Kirby
and TJ Mack. On the other sits Mister Saint Laurent, a the human
equivalent of a brick wall. Will they be able to overcome eighteen
teams and on-again, off-again partner Noah Lott? Time will tell.


Team Name: American History Next
Members: "Metalhead" Steve Stone and "Hardcore" Craig
Home Promotion: AWA Brew City
Representing: Indiana

Inside Info: During the week, Craig is the textbook definition
of "average guy" - an union pipe fitter with his own friends and
credit cards and keys. But on the weekends... that's another story
altogether. Along with his partner, "Metalhead" Steve Stone, Craig
becomes the walking, talking version of the word "hardcore." Craig
and Steve seem to have an advantage, as their "hardcore" lineage
tends to separate them from the rest of the teams. Still, one's
greatest asset also tends to be his or hers greatest weakness. Will
the two average guys from the Midwest prevail with their "hardcore"
styling, or it lead them down the path to ruin?


Team Name: The Soul Shooters
Members: Dru and Q Skills
Home Promotion: AWA Brew City
Representing: Wisconsin

Inside Info: The Soul Shooters, the self-described "hottest tag team
in professional wrestling," have proven themselves as the undisputed
kings of the Wisconsin tag team ranks. In just a few months, Dru and
Q were able to take down three of the top teams in Brew City
Wrestling – The Doomsayers, American History Next, and Thumper and
The Milkman – to achieve the dream of tag team gold. Will they be
able to overcome eighteen of the best tag teams in the AWA, or will
their opponents figure out their "magic" once and for all?


Team Name: Boz and Young
Members: Ryan Boz and Silas Young
Home Promotion: AWA Slam
Representing: Illinois and Indiana

Inside Info: If one would look up the term "rising stars" in the
dictionary, there is a good chance that he or she will see the
smiling faces of Boz and Young. Veterans of several different
promotions and tag teams throughout the Midwest, Ryan Boz and Silas
Young know the wrestling business. The can work a hardcore match.
They can do technical wrestling. They can pull of power moves if
needed. Simply stated, Boz and Young know what they are up against,
and they are no doubt up to the challenge. It wouldn't be surprising
to see these two men completely dominate the proceedings.


Team Name: The Junk Squad
Members: "Playboy" Pete Huge and "Simply Sexy" Kleck Michaels
Home Promotion: AWA Pro Wrestling Rush
Representing: Minnesota

Inside Info: Simply put, these two men are true professionals. Three,
four, five at a time... it doesn't matter to them. They could go all
night long if they wanted to. They can play it safe, or they can do
it with absolutely no protection whatsoever. That's right, they're
hardcore! No one is ever left at the door and everyone is always
guaranteed a good time when The Junk Squad is around. Minnesota
already knows full well about the charms of Huge and Michaels. It is
now time for them to take "nationwide," as they say. Do they have the
endurance to go "all the way?"


Team Name: The Doomsayers
Members: Dinn T. More and Brandon Tatum
Home Promotion: AWA Brew City
Representing: Missouri and Kansas

Inside Info: Without a shadow of a doubt, Dinn T. More and Brandon
Tatum two of the most hated men ever step into a Brew City Wrestling
ring. They were booed, they were jeered, so they... they moved the
team?! Yes folks, you heard it right. More and Tatum moved the
Doomsayers base of operation from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to St. Louis
Missouri - home of the legendary Harley Race. Will the Doomsayers be
able to overcome Milwaukee's "warm welcome" and take the titles back
to Harley and Missouri?


Team Name: Knight Vision
Members: Rowdy Knight and "Lightning" Blind Mike
Home Promotion: AWA-RMCW
Representing: Colorado

Inside Info: Knight Vision is by far the most unlikely and at the
same time, inspirational teams in this tournament, thanks to the
inclusion of one man: "Lightning" Blind Mike. As his name suggests,
Mike is legitimately blind. But, as his inclusion also suggests, he
is not going to let a "minor inconvenience" such as that stand in his
way. His partner is RMCW Champion Rowdy Knight – the last person one
would ever want to meet in a bar fight. Together, Knight Vision has
more than capable of surprising everyone and making the
tournament "theirs." They have the talent, the skills, and definitely
the heart to make it happen.


Team Name: Kaimana and Micah
Members: "Mr. Family Entertainment" Kaimana and Micah Taylor
Home Promotion: AWA Hawai'i
Representing: Hawaii
Inside Info: New AWA president Linda Bade is usually considered the
poster woman for the word "impartiality." Always fair, always "down
the middle," never wavered for a moment. That was until "her boys"
decided to give the tournament a try. Kaimana and Taylor are
considered to be the heavy favorites of this tournament due to their
size, experience, and of course, for their "friends in high places."
Still, President Bade has personally assured both Dale Gagne and the
Board of Directors that a title win would be due to athleticism,
not "executive cheating." Are Kaimana and Micah Taylor able to go all
the way? Can they win "the big one?"


Team Name: The Thumper and The Milkman
Members: Frankie "The Thumper" DeFalco and Jake "The Mikman" Milliman
Home Promotion: AWA Brew City
Representing: The Old School

Inside Info: Those who follow the AWA know that Team Zybysko
ultimately won the "Team Challenge" series. While Zybysko is largely
credited for the win, he was not person who physically got the final
pin. That man is none other than Jake Milliman. He has wrestled
against the some of AWA legends – Nick Bockwinkel, Larry Zybysko,
Sgt. Slaughter – and has lived to talk about. If that wasn't
enough, "The Milkman's" partner in crime is Frankie "The Thumper"
DeFalco, Wisconsin wrestling legend and owner of Milwaukee's Brew
City Wrestling promotion. Will the two veterans be able to show the
younger teams how it was done in the "old school?"


Team Name: Noah Lott and ???
Home Promotion: AWA Worldwide
Representing: Himself!

Inside Info: No partner? That's not a problem for the "Picture of
Perfection." In fact, AWA's resident evil genius claims the doesn't
even need a partner, thanks to the status of Kirby and TJ Mack. With
Team Macktion on the "injured reserve," Noah believes that the only
things standing in his way are two days. Can he make it through, or
will his "mystery partner" throw the proverbial "monkey wrench" into
his plans?

Team Name: Bad Rad 3000
Members: Alex Silvia and Simon Falcon
Home Promotion: AWA Quebec
Representing: Quebec

Inside Info: Alex Silvia and Simon Falcon have something to prove.
They're young- youngest team in the tournament, in fact – but that
doesn't mean that they are not ready. Not in the least. In fact, Bad
Rad
3000 see this as their opportunity for greatness. It is their chance
to
prove once and for all that they can indeed thrive in the
international
spotlight and make French Canadians everywhere proud once again. Will
they be able to pull it off, or will their relative inexperience come
through?



Team Name: Canadian Extreme
Members: Kryss Thorn and CK Sexx
Home Promotion: AWA Ontario
Representing: Ontario

Inside Info: When one sees the swagger and skill of Canadian Extreme,
he or she might be reminded of another legendary team that once
called
the AWA ring home – The Midnight Rockers of Shawn Michaels and Marty
Janetty. Like Michaels and Janetty, "Extreme" members Kryss Thorn and
CK Sexx has everything a team needs to be considered a champion in
the AWA.

Still, the Midnight Rockers didn't have to plow through eighteen
other
teams in a two-day period in order to get to that point. If they can
make it to the second round, there is a good chance that the tag team
titles will be relocating to Ontario.


Team Name: Team Elite
Members: Sonny Roselli and Larry Huntley
Home Promotion: AWA North Atlantic
Representing: New England and New Brunswick

Inside Info: They are six-time tag team champions in both New England
and Eastern Canada area. They have held more singles titles in the
past
few years than the normal wrestler would hold throughout their entire
career. Now, they are prepared to go for it all. "The Italian
Superman"
Sonny Roselli and "The Enforcer" Larry Huntley, collectively known as
Team Elitle, feel they have what it takes to take the gold. Taking
into
account their veteran status, as well as utter dominance of the New
England scene, Team Elite could easily be considered one of the
"favorites" of the tournament.


Team Name: The Lumberjacks
Members: Jake and Jack Molson
Home Promotion: AWA/WSWF
Representing: New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania

Inside Info: They were a force to be reckoned with in the early
1990's. Jake and Jack Molson were one of the most feared and
respected
tag teams in the Northeast independent scene. Sadly, time, along with
that infamous force knows as "creative differences," ultimately drove
them apart. But now, at the request of of former manager and World
Star
Wrestling promoter Johnny Glitter, Jake and Jack have returned to the
tag team ranks to go for it all. They have the ability and the
notoriety
to go far, but one has to keep in mind the fact that they have just
reunited. Their years apart might wind up being hindrance to the once
dominant team. Will they be able to achieve their former glory?


Team Name: "Superstar" Rocky Styles and Matt Mangle
Home Promotion: The Wrestling Federation (AWA-TWF)
Representing: Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware

Inside Info: Their hatred knows no bounds. For over five years now,
Matt Mangle has been obsessed with getting the TWF Heavyweight title
off of the waist of one "Superstar" Rocky Styles. Their feud became
so
violent, so heated that the promotion actually had to go on a nearly
four-year hiatus to let all parties "cool down." Still, the lure of
world-class gold proved to be too much for these two world-class
competitors. If Styles and Mangle are indeed able to put their
personal
feelings aside, we might end up seeing the titles calling
Phoenixville,
Pennsylvania home.