Hello Schmoedown fans, Tim here with the second part of our preview into the Atlanta live event. This Saturday, one of the biggest main events ever staged takes the spotlight for the most coveted title belt in this league: the Movie Trivia Schmoedown Championship. The best of now begins his title defense against the undisputed best of all time, in what will be his greatest challenge in his Schmoedown career. It’s not just the very best of The Finstock Exchange, it’s the very best of us. However, supposed tensions within the faction and controversy threaten to rip the top faction in this league apart during the main event. There are so many questions from this and how each will give their all in this main event.

It’s Ben “The Boss” Bateman versus “Dangerous” Dan Murrell for the Movie Trivia Schmoedown Championship of the World!

After winning the title shot at the Triple Threat Match in Brooklyn last month, there is little doubt that “Dangerous” Dan Murrell is still the undisputed GOAT. This Saturday, Murrell is going to Atlanta, Georgia to try to win the Singles Championship for the fourth time. In just the start of this season, he has shown that he’s still on top of his game. His resume so far has been spectacular: three-time Singles Champion, Current Teams Champion, last year’s Free 4 All winner, and numerous title defenses. The only accomplishment that he hasn’t attained is this: becoming a multi-belted champion. When you think of this, it’s really unbelievable that the greatest competitor of the Schmoedown has not been able to simultaneously hold multiple belts already. Then again, better now than never. Should he win this Saturday, Dan Murrell will not only be the first four-time Singles Champion, he will also be the fourth double-belted champion in the history of the Schmoedown. They are all extra additions to his already stellar resume.

For Murrell to win the title over his fellow stablemate, there is little that he needs to change up. Just continue to be who he is: the unstoppable answering machine and not get distracted. We have seen numerous times how he wins his matches, and also how he loses his matches from several matches throughout his career. This is his best opportunity to extend the lead much further than before by winning the title for the fourth time, but can he be able to face the new superstar champion?

It has taken some time since his debut in 2017, but Ben Bateman’s perseverance and confidence in himself finally paid off when he defeated Paul Oyama to become the Movie Trivia Schmoedown Champion at last year’s Spectacular. That victory affirmed his place in the Exchange, his status as one of the very best in the league, and the pay-off after years of struggling to break his personal barrier after years of ups and downs.

Now entering his fourth season as the Singles Champion, Ben begins his title defense with a very tall task in front of him: the task of defeating Dan Murrell to remain champion. This is a challenge anyone wants to have when they enter the Schmoedown, but only a few have pulled it off. Ben Bateman seeks to be one of the very few. For him to pull it off, he’s has to play the very best game of his Schmoedown career. When I say the very best game, I mean that he needs to stay in pace with Murrell, stack those right answers, find momentous opportunities and don’t fall behind. That is what he will need for throughout all five rounds as I see this match going all the way. Should Bateman be able to defeat Murrell, he will be able to give Murrell his first ever loss in a live event as his opponent is as of now unbeaten at live events. In fact, Dan Murrell is at 6-0 at live events. This puts a lot of pressure on Bateman to keep up with Murrell and beat him on the crucial questions to keep his title. This is a moment not many have been able to get to, but Ben has this moment to show that he can hang with the absolute best of the best.

So far, this should be a fun match for the Exchange because of how the title belt will stay in that faction and the numerous amount of points regardless of who wins. It should be, but it isn’t. If you haven’t been following the behind-the-scenes of the Schmoedown lately, there was a huge controversy that brewed in the faction regarding which member will manage Murrell and Bateman. So huge that it included opinions and thoughts from almost every competitor, manager, and personality. From the analysis of Frank Janisch, Ben Bateman commented on the disadvantage of Tom Dagnino managing him while John Rocha manages his partner Dan Murrell. Dagnino didn’t know about those comments until he heard them on SEN Live/Backstage. What it led to was a mess of communications when Tom announced on an episode of The Reilly Roundtable that there will be no managers for the main event, leaving Bateman, Murrell, and Rocha confused and frustrated. This from looking at my perspective was somewhat concerning, but in the end they all compromised and got on the same page with the agreement that Tom Dagnino will manage Ben Bateman and John Rocha will manage Dan Murrell for this championship match. I’m glad it was resolved, but miscommunication before the main event that should be their celebration of this faction has shaken The Finstock Exchange. This is why Roxy is hoping that her player Alex can take the win away in the opening Innergeekdom matchup so there will be seeds of tension. No matter how confident they are that it’s resolved, what took place may bring an ambiance of dread as Bateman goes toe-to-toe with Murrell. This could lead to further cracks, or maybe a mutual agreement and resolve to communicate better.

No matter what surrounds this matchup, the main event of Atlanta will showcase the very best of us. Two competitors who have worked their absolute best to get to where they are now, and now they face-off for movie trivia superiority in front of a sold-out crowd. Between Bateman and Murrell, depending on how Bateman utilizes his strategies, it could sway the outcome. However, Murrell is undefeated at live events, he has the vastly bigger championship experience, and he will remain undefeated at Atlanta to claim the title for the fourth time and become the fourth double-belted champion. This is a battle you absolutely do not want to miss! It’s the best of now versus the best of all time for the Movie Trivia Schmoedown Championship of the World live in Atlanta!