24/01/10 -
SEVEN UNRESOLVED ISSUES FROM 2009 – Part V
For the best part of two years, Dan Moore and Chase
Griffin were part of an amazing tag team that helped
revitalise the whole division in Explosive Pro Wrestling. Now,
that team is no longer.
In 2007, Dan Moore to the giant step from being a referee to a
wrestler as he got himself physically involved in the feud
between Jamie Jurah and the European Union. That
feud would also see Jurah introduce a new wrestler to his
‘Jurahnaughts’. That man was Chase Griffin and although
Jamie would soon dump both wrestlers from his stable, the team
of Griffin and Moore was here to stay.
Their chemistry in the ring was apparent immediately and after a
short run as a team, they claimed the EPW tag team titles in a
four way tag match at Evolution 2008.
As big a shock as their victory was, they continued to defy the
odds by holding onto the gold right through out the remainder of
2008.
In the search for greater challenges, they invited their good
friends, Alex Kingston and Shane Haste to make a
run at the gold. Moore and Griffin thought that facing greater
competition would make them even better champions. They were
half right.
The four match series with the Blitz Team helped elevate
Moore and Griffin to a whole new level as a team. It also saw
them claim Match of the Year honours for their amazing
effort in a Tables Match at Evolution 2009.
But it cost them their titles and in the long run, their team.
Their inability to regain the belts led to frustration and they
decided to search for success in the singles arena. Both put
their name forward for the Invitational Tournament and
were thrilled that they both made the cut for the nine man
tourney. However, they soon found out that they would be first
round opponents.
“I think the whole locker room was a little shocked at how quick
Dan was to double cross Chase to get himself a semi final spot
in the tournament,” said former EPW champion Davis Storm.
“They were a team in a three way match. Surely they could’ve
formed a strategy that would see them both get through.”
The issues between the two of them seemed to grow as Moore’s
interference cost Griffin a match against Devlin Reeves.
This coupled with Dan’s ever growing ego made for a powder-keg
that could explode at any time.
“I think it took us all by surprise that it finally boiled
over,” quipped Jay Taylor. “We got so used to them
arguing all the time that we kinda thought that if they won at
RE-AWAKENING
and got back in the tag title hunt that it would all just blow
over.”
Right after he turned his back on Griffin, Moore took his bag
and left the Craigie Leisure Centre. He has not been seen or
heard from by EPW management since.
When asked for a comment at Kristmas Kaos,
Chase politely declined but the mere mention of Dan’s name
seemed to grate him. With over two months to think about it, it
will be interesting to see how Griffin responds when Dan returns
to EPW in 2010.
Will they simply go their separate ways? Or are we about to see
what happens former tag team champions go to war with each
other?
