What do 14 out of 23 playoff games, 6 out of 12 championship games, and 2 out of the top 3 ranks in the all time standings have in common? They all include either Terry or Ben or both. Clearly, both are among the best that have ever played this game. And now, they will battle to determine who becomes a three-time champion. Only one other person has accomplished that feat... Austin, whose record setting 364-day championship reign comes to an end tomorrow night. A Terry victory would continue the recent string of him and Austin being the only ones who win the championships. A Ben victory would be his first since Season 6. Ben won in Season 1 also, so him winning would really be an Old School ending for this game.
This whole thing started with a small, four person, total points based league that featured no one from the first season except for Austin. After four weeks and a single pay-per-view, Austin won that mini league. It was that night that we decided to add more players and structure everything more like fantasy football. The rest is history...
The first season filled with weapon-based points, questionable signature moves, and the Bootista incident. Season two with the NXT scores, waiver wire disputes, and a John Cena-lead championship. Seasons three and four dominated by Roman Reigns until Daniel Bryan saves the day in Season five. New faces, division-based standings, and bye weeks of season six followed by an all-rookie championship in season seven. Then, there was season eight with its two mega teams and ridiculously high scoring final match. Season nine with its weird pay-per-view scoring allowed a team with a losing record to win the title... and then it ended for a while.
At the end of season nine, I was burned out and not happy with the way things were going. I ended the league but as time went by, I wanted to bring it back. So, there was season ten-the start of a new era. A new era which has been completely dominated by Terry and Austin. The new championship belt hasn't even been held by anyone else yet.
I can say I am very happy with the current status of the league and I intend to keep it going for a long while at least. Next season is right around the corner but for now, let's go 'Old School' and celebrate these five years we've had already!
Season 5 marked the end of a three-season run where the teams remained the same from season to season. For all three of those seasons, Terry had Seth Rollins on his team. The draft for Season 6 was conducted on the night of WrestleMania 31. Ben drafted Seth Rollins and then went on to defeat Terry with Seth Rollins to win the Season 6 Championship.
Ben:72 beat Terry:50 (Money in the Bank, 2015)
At the time, this crowned Ben as the first ever two-time champion. Which made him objectively the greatest of all time. And Terry's inability to beat Ben was a common theme up to that point. But, Terry didn't need to beat Ben to be one of the best. He'd proven that already with his Season 2 victory.
Then, Season 10 came along and Terry added himself to the list of two-time champions. Both he and Ben were the two best... but who was better? That was the question when they faced off in the Season 11 playoffs. Ben as the heavily favored #1 team and Terry as the underdog #4 team. Terry won 71-58.
For the third time in thirteen seasons, Ben faces Terry to determine the greatest of all time. Ben won the first time, Terry won the second time... who wins the third time?
The champions of Seasons 1 and 2 face off... I can think of no better finale to a season called 'Old School'. Will Terry win as an 11-point favorite? Or will Ben avenge his upset loss in Season 11's playoffs and win his first championship in seven seasons?
