It seems the TNM World Tournament (which I hope you've all been reading with great anticipation) took a two month break! Yeah, I've had a lot on and I haven't been able to file the south east region of the tournament...until NOW! Yes, the time is now. It's time to roll out the smart cap, hit the booze, and start the south east region of the TNM World Tournament. Here's the primer, which I leave in every TNM World Tournament column:

There are four regions (like Coale's version): northeast, far east, south east and south. I've included some unused or unsigned ECW talent in the south east (or WCW) region. Unlike the Wrestleline one, I've decided to include injured wrestlers. Now I can include Kenta Kobashi. My version is mainly centered around wrestlers with the best work-rate in each region, but, as you can see, there are some exceptions.

This week I'll be siming the south east region using TNM. Naturally, I'll be siming the whole tournament with TNM (probably the best wrestling sim around). So, without further ado, here are the seedings for the TNM World Tournaments far east region:

1. Bill Goldberg
2. Scott Steiner
3. Booker T
4. Jeff Jarrett
5. Sting
6. Lance Storm
7. Billy Kidman
8. Mike Awesome
9. Rey Misterio Jr.
10. Rob Van Dam
11. Kanyon
12. Chavo Guerrero Jr.
13. Shane Helms
14. Steve Corino
15. Kaz Hayashi
16. Disco Inferno

Introduction to northeast region

This, the WCW region, will be an interesting one. Goldberg stands at the top of the seedings, and, as always, he'll be a hard man to beat. There's competition at the top in the form of Scott Stenier, Booker T, and Jeff Jarrett, as well as a returning Sting. But don't count out the mid-carders like Misterio Jr., Rob Van Dam, and Lance Storm.

The Tournament

Round 1:

Chavo Guerrero Jr. pinned Billy Kidman after a Frankensteiner in 0:11:54.
Rating: ** 1/4
This match could have been better, but it sure got the attention of the fans and set this standard for this region of the tournament.

Rob Van Dam pinned Booker T with the Five Star Frog Splash in 0:12:34.
Rating: *** 1/4
Great match here, and a surprise upset.

Kanyon pinned Jeff Jarrett with the Flatliner in 0:11:46.
Rating: 3/4*
Okay match. Nothing too good, and nothing too bad.

Scott Steiner and Kaz Hayashi battled to a double pin in 0:10:25.
Rating: ***
Good match. Stenier and Hayashi did well to make this Heavyweight vs. Crusierweight match something to remember.

Bill Goldberg pinned Lance Storm with the Jackhammer in 0:15:14.
Rating: * 1/4
It went on for a while, ending with a Goldberg win.

Mike Awesome pinned Rey Misterio Jr. with the Awesome Bomb in 0:10:40.
Rating: *** 1/4
Great stuff from Awesome and Rey Misterio Jr.

Shane Helms made Steve Corino submit to a chokehold in 0:09:32.
Rating: ** 1/2
A good match with a brutal ending.

Sting pinned Disco Inferno after a powerslam in 0:09:28.
Rating: 3/4*
Sting becomes the final Queater Finalist with this below average match win over Disco.

Chavo Guerrero Jr. pinned Rob Van Dam after a German suplex in 0:11:07.
Rating: *** 1/4
Chavo gets the better of Van Dam in this great match. Kanyon won via default.

Mike Awesome pinned Bill Goldberg with the Awesome Bomb in 0:15:16.
Rating: * 1/2
Awesome gets the shock win in a less than impressive match.

Sting pinned Shane Helms after a flying cross body press in 0:01:39.
Rating: 3/4*
Sting takes a quick win in a mediocre match.

Chavo Guerrero Jr. pinned Kanyon with the Tornado DDT in 0:14:06.
Rating: ** 1/4
Chavo continues to impress with this good win over Kanyon

Sting pinned Mike Awesome after a back suplex in 0:10:52.
Rating: ** 3/4
Sting and Awesome pull out a good performance each to make the Semi Finals memorable.

Sting pinned Chavo Guerrero Jr. with the Scorpion Death Drop in 0:13:58.
Rating: ***
Sting gets the fitting win to win the region.

Chavo Guerrero Jr's fairy tailesque voyage during this region lasted until the Final, where Sting hit him with a Scorpian Death Drop for the victory. Not many people get up from that. Mike Awesome also impressed in this stage of the tournament. Awesome took a commanding win over Rey Misterio Jr. (in one of the best matches of the region) and then built onto that with a win over Goldberg (one of the upsets of the region).

But this region belonged to an impressive Sting, who advances to the Finals of the tournament.

That's all for the tournament this time around. Next time, the south region of the tournament kicks off.