LCW Showdown Television Preview April 1, 2009: An Evil Empire Taking Formation!

At the end of last week's edition of LCW Showdown, Tony Schiavone watched from the broadcast booth and said, “We are witnessing the rebirth of an evil empire!” This comment was in reference to LCW Chairman of the Board Ted Turner, LCW General Manager Eric Bischoff, Bill Goldberg and Diamond Dallas Page joining forces only moments earlier. It was back at the LCW Breaking Point pay-per-view that Turner introduced Goldberg to Legends Championship Wrestling, when he speared LCW Universal Champion Magnum TA, and it was last week that Diamond Dallas Page aligned himself with the new faction. Earlier in the evening, DPP went on a Diamond Cutter rampage, hitting LCW International Champion Tully Blanchard's valet Baby Doll with the deadly move. No one saw DDP aligning himself with the Turner Administration, though. This week on Showdown, as the build toward the LCW Torment pay-per-view on April 12th continues, and the main event set: LCW Universal Champion Magnum TA vs. Goldberg for the title, what will go down, as Turner's power-hungry group continues to strengthen?

It was announced last week that an eight-man tournament would be held this coming week on Showdown, to determine the next contender to LCW Television Champion Wildfire Tommy Rich. The first two men officially announced for the match were Hollywood John Tatum and Austin Idol. Both were added to the tournament by LCW General Manager Eric Bischoff, after neither man could decide who would be Tatum's first challenger. As announced on LegendsChampionshipWrestling.com this weekend, former LCW Television Champion Brutus The Barber Beefcake, Ken Patera, Abdullah the Butcher, Iceman King Parsons, Killer Khan, and Don Muraco will fill out the rest of the contenders tournament. With six other hungry Legends all vying for the same goal, will either man even make it to the match?

Last week, new LCW United States Champion Rick Martel took on former Strike Force partner, turned bitter rival Tito Santana in a rematch from their Breaking Point pay-per-view match, in which Martel became the LCW United States Champion. However, given the state of Santana's back, LCW General Manager Eric Bischoff wouldn't allow the match to be sanctioned. During the course of the match, Martel deliberately attempted to permanantly injure Santana, by driving him back first into the ring post. As Martel attempted to continue the beatdown after a countout victory, Magnificent Don Muraco came down and helped Santana. What will come of this, and what condition is Santana in? Tune into Showdown to (hopefully) find out.

One Man Gang and King Kong Bundy became the new number-one contenders to the LCW World Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys last week, by winning a 12-team battle royal. However, they didn't have much time to celebrate, as The Raging Bull Manny Fernandez attacked the tandem with a steel chair. This was coming off Fernandez being attacked by Bundy following his match with Gang at the LCW Breaking Point pay-per-view. As announced on Twitter this weekend, the LCW Board of Directors announced that One Man Gang and King Kong Bundy would face the Hart Foundation, the team they last eliminated from the battle royal last week, on this week's edition of LCW Showdown.

The situation involving Maw Bass's boys, the Long Riders and Col. Robert Parker's tag team of Dirty Dick Slater and Cowboy Bob Orton took another interesting turn last week on LCW Showdown. It was during a triple threat tag team match (also involving LCW World Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys) that Orton, Slater and the Long Riders brawled on the outside of the ring, causing the match to end in a no contest. With both teams wanting a shot at the belts, and Col. Robert Parker and Maw Bass at each other's throats, how will this situation be resolved?

Last week, Mr. Fuji opened up a challenge to any Legends Championship Wrestling tag team, for them to step up and face LCW United States Tag Team Champions The Powers of Pain this week on Showdown. Who will accept the offer?

“Wrong” by Depeche Mode, from their new album, Sounds of the Universe, is the official theme song for the LCW Torment pay-per-view, Sunday, April 12, 2009, only on LCWTorment.com.