The controversy surrounding Denis Cyplenkov's Legacy Hammer

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The controversy surrounding Legacy Hammer is gaining momentum. After his crushing victory against Leonidas Arkona in the left arm at King of the Table 12, Devon Larratt publicly expressed his desire to face Denis Cyplenkov to take the famous Legacy Hammerfrom him, which he has held since 2018. According to Devon, Denis does not respect the concept of the Legacy Hammer, which requires the holder to defend his title against a worthy opponent .

Faced with this situation, Devon offers Denis 2 options: defend his title against a contender such as himself, or relinquish the Legacy Hammer to Artyom Morozov, the current East vs West left-arm world champion.

Devon Larratt banned from Instagram

The prolonged silence of Denis Cyplenkov in the face of requests from Devon Larratt transformed a simple challenge into a real saga. Frustrated by Denis' inaction, Devon became more and more insistent, going so far as to flood Denis with private messages and repetitive Instagram stories, hoping to provoke a reaction.

However, Denis seems to want to remain silent, refusing to engage in a public war. This attitude has increased the frustration of Devon, who does not understand why Denis does not respect the concept of the Legacy Hammer. Devon recalls that when the hammer was passed on in 2018, Denis received a letter detailing the rules, including the obligation to defend the title.

Here is the content of the letter sent with the hammer to Denis Cyplenkov:

Here in North America from 2014-2017 we had high hopes that the WAL would unite the world of armwrestling. In 2016 the WAL crumbled. Many of us didn't turn to the Championships anyway as we had all put in so much energy into the preparation. I put up both my Hammers from previous years for anyone who would defeat me. It is my hope that these hammers move forward from champion to champion. Perhaps in 50 years, these hammers will have much more meaning than what they are today. The hammer is now yours. Do with it what ever you like. It is not a WAL hammer. It is yours to do whatever you like with. Make any changes/alterations you like. I have held it since 2019. My name is scratched underneath with the part where it began. I would suggest you write your name, and the date, and the place where you won it in some fashion. Denis Cyplenkov... I wish you all the best in life. You are a great champion and an inspiration.

Letter from Devon sent to Denis in 2018

However, Devon's insistence on social media ended up causing a reaction... but not the one he expected. Instagram has decided to ban Devon Larratt's account. Concretely, his current followers can still see his publications and his stories, but his account is now invisible to new users, thus limiting his reach. This banishment adds a new dimension to this feud which continues to escalate.

Artyom Morozov's stance

While he is considered the most deserving armwrestler to hold the Legacy Hammer - left arm, Artyom Morozov recently distanced himself from this emblematic trophy. On Instagram, Artyom shared a photo of himself holding up his East vs West belts, with the caption: “These belts are the greatest prizes in the world in arm wrestling! ».

This statement did not go unnoticed, especially after a user suggested in the comments that he “take the Legacy Hammer WAL from Denis and defend it.” Artyom’s response was scathing: “Why would I need the hammer of a non-existent league? ».

This comment seems to make it clear that Artyom is completely disinterested in the Legacy Hammer, and is siding with Denis Cyplenkov in this controversy.

As a result, Devon Larratt decided to “unfollow” Artyom on Instagram, a gesture that was quickly reciprocated. This change in the relationship between the two athletes suggests growing tensions, as Artyom now seems more in tune with Denis, thus downplaying Devon's efforts to revive the Legacy Hammer.

Engin Terzi, founder of East vs West, reacts to the controversy

Engin Terzi, iconic figure and founder of East vs West, recently shared his views in a video regarding the controversy surrounding the Legacy Hammer. He welcomed the idea of ​​Devon Larratt, believing that the concept of the Legacy Hammer was excellent, although he would have preferred that the trophy did not come from the WAL league, but that it was created specifically for this occasion.

However, as the founder of East vs West, Engin recalled that it already has its own rewards, including the prestigious world championship belts, which symbolize the highest level of competition in arm wrestling. He clarified that this rivalry between Devon and Denis around the Legacy Hammer does not concern him in any way and that he has no role to play in this feud.

In this same video, Engin Terzi presented a new reward for East vs West: the East vs West Gauntlet. This trophy will be awarded to the best athlete in the competition. Engin insisted, however, that the Gauntlet is not designed to replace the Legacy Hammer, as it represents a completely different concept. The Gauntlet is exclusively for East vs West and King of the Table competitions, two closely related organizations. If East vs West were to ever end, the last holder of the Gauntlet would keep this trophy, unlike the Legacy Hammer which must be passed from champion to champion.

Who's right, who's wrong?

Devon Larratt's frustration with the Legacy Hammer held by Denis Cyplenkov is understandable. After all, the concept behind this trophy is based on a tradition of defending the title, and Denis seems to ignore this rule by refusing to answer Devon's calls. For Devon, this lack of defense distorts the spirit of the Legacy Hammer, leading him to demand an answer. However, if no one other than Devon asks Denis for the Legacy Hammer, it perhaps shows a lack of interest from the armwrestling community in this trophy like Artyom, the rightful successor.

This is why it is also relevant to ask whether the Legacy Hammer still has any real value today. This trophy, from the WAL league, was designed at a time when this organization aimed to become the world reference in arm wrestling. However, the WAL failed to establish itself, and it is now East vs West, with its own rewards such as world champion belts, which dominates the international scene. The recent introduction of the East vs. West Gauntlet by Engin Terzi only accentuates this idea: the Legacy Hammer could well be relegated to history.

If no other athlete, apart from Devon Larratt, supports the Legacy Hammer initiative, then it loses all its meaning. After all, it is the champions themselves who continue the traditions in sport. Without their collective support, even the most prestigious of trophies can end up being forgotten.

But this saga is far from over. Denis Cyplenkov and Devon Larratt will both be at East vs West 15 on November 2. This may well provide Devon with the long-awaited opportunity to settle this matter face-to-face and perhaps, finally, receive answers to his many questions.

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