Culture Blues

The 90s Badass Tournament: Omega Sector Preview

The Tournament pits 64 of the most badass characters from 90s cinema against one another in a single elimination tournament.

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Important Links:
Introduction and Rules
#1 Seeds
Omega Sector Preview
Langley Preview
Pacific Coast Highway Preview
USS Missouri Preview

As we reveal the Omega Sector region of The 90s Badass Tournament, we quickly find that #1 seed Harry Tasker has more to contend with than just his marital problems. Of all the regions, Omega Sector seems the most stacked with lawless types. There's a schizophrenic anarchist, a bank-robbing surfer, an old-fashioned bandit, a psychotic super-fan, a well-read cannibal, an international kingpin, and a criminal so nefarious Los Angeles sentenced him to permanent deep-freeze. Will Tasker be able to wade through this menagerie of maniacs to make it to the Final Four? Or, will one of the two returning 80s Tournament veterans make a play for the regional championship?

1. Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger, True Lies) vs 16. Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates, Misery)

As one of the world's most skilled spies, Harry Tasker has proven that he can easily break out of captivity, even mocking his captors by describing his plan moments before it unfolds. This would seem to give Annie Wilkes, whose only discernible talent is torturing captive men, almost no chance of coming out on top in this match-up. Still, Tasker is an unstable #1 seed who needs to make sure he takes care of Wilkes quickly and decisively to impress the experts.

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8. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, Silence of the Lambs, etc) vs 9. Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis, The Last Boy Scout)

Joe Hallenbeck has no problem facing down cheap muscle and two bit thugs, but it's unlikely he's ever seen the kind of calculating and unnerving villainy that serial killer/foodie Hannibal Lecter brings to the table. Then again, Lecter's probably never bothered to kill someone as self loathing and self destructive as the burnt out, down on his luck, perpetually hung over private eye. They may not have much in common, but there is one thing these men undeniably share: the ability to annoy the shit out of anyone they spend significant time with just by flapping their lips. Hallenbeck's one line barbs are much less probing than Lecter's clinical personality vivisections, but they sting no less. This could be one of the most verbose and least brutal first round match-ups.

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5. Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, etc) vs 12. Verbal Kint (Kevin Spacey, The Usual Suspects)

Last year, Sarah Connor was upset in the first round due in no small part to her unwillingness to murder teenage boys. The moral conundrum won’t be in play this year as Connor takes on criminal mastermind Verbal Kint. Considering the scope of his international empire, is it out of the realm of possibility that Kint has some involvement with Cyberdyne? Now that we think about it, we don’t have much reputable information on Kint, or his legendary alterego. Will that air of mystery play to Kint’s advantage? Or will a tougher Connor make that fake limp of his permanent?

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4. Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes, Demolition Man) vs 13. John Mason (Sean Connery, The Rock)

These two cons took very different paths to this tournament. Mason ended up on the right side of the law, helping to stop a lethal VX gas attack. Phoenix was uploaded with a bunch of new skill-sets and went straight up maniac in the future. Mason's a born survivor, but Phoenix takes pleasure in snuffing out the most stubborn flames. Mason faces an uphill battle for sure.

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6. Jack Traven (Keanu Reeves, Speed) vs 11. Bodhi (Patrick Swayze, Point Break)

Doesn’t it seem like these two hotshots were meant to be together? Rumor has it that the selection committee was extremely impressed with hero cop Jack Traven’s quick-thinking during Santa Monica’s famed exploding bus incident. But, are defusing bombs and looping hidden camera footage skills that are transferable to The Tournament? Bodhi, on the other hand, seems like a potential dark horse. For the thrill-seeking bank robber, The Tournament just might be the rush he’s spent his whole life chasing. Just remember – if you want the ultimate, you’ve got to be willing to pay the ultimate price.

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3. Chan Ka Kui (Jackie Chan, Supercop, etc) vs 14. Tyler Durden (Edward Norton, Fight Club)

Supercop Chan Ka Kui was one of the big surprises of the 80s Badass Tournament, his speedy fists and feet carrying him all the way to the Elite Eight. This year, the experienced Chan has drawn the schizophrenic Tyler Durden in the first round. Durden’s inhuman tolerance for physical abuse and his savage distaste for authority figures could make the Project Mayhem front man a surprisingly tough opponent for Chan, that is, if Durden can avoid shooting himself in the face before the fight begins. The question that will likely determine this match: where is Durden’s mind?

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7. Wong Fei-hung (Jet Li, Once Upon a Time in China) vs 10. Riley Hale (Christian Slater, Broken Arrow)

Wong Fei-hung is a natural leader of men, and Riley Hale is the consummate student. These two might enjoy a rewarding mentor-mentee relationship if they weren't scheduled to do battle. Wong Fei-hung is one of the best martial artists in the field and one of the most agile competitors in this tournament's history. He'll surely attempt to overwhelm Hale physically before he has a chance to put his extensive survivalist skills to use. However, once Hale is out in the open, he may have the chance to teach the master a thing or two.

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2. Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) vs 15. Ray Quick (Sylvester Stallone, The Specialist)

Many Tournament analysts have wondered how Ray Quick, a master hitman capable of shaping explosions to limit collateral damage, could tumble all the way down to a 15 seed. There’s speculation that it has something to do with the highlight reel he sent the selection committee, allegedly just 3 minutes of horrifying shower sex with May Munro. As punishment, Quick must contend with Robin Hood, an outlaw legendary for his archery and his ability to avoid a trap.

Will top-seeded Tasker make it to the Final Four or will he be bested by one of this region's many psychos? Will Connor make it past the first round this year? Who has the best chance at an upset? Make your case in the comments! The judges are listening.

Tagged as: 90s action movies, badass tournament, who would win in a fight