The guerilla position is about as packed as a jar of olives. This thin stretch of corridor is crammed tighter than Ron Jeremy’s jock-strap. Every single member of both the IWC and the UWA rosters, are lined up and waiting. What for? The commentators answer that question, their voices superimposed over this imagery.
Greyson: We are live from the San Siro in Milan, Italy, the home of Last Stand.
Sparkles: Our first pay-per-view of 2016 and without a doubt one of the biggest events in wrestling.
Frankie: It’s bigger than my….
Greyson: Don’t you start, Frankie…
Frankie: If I did it would take me about three and a half hours to finish, just ask your sister.
Greyson: My sister died a long time ago.
Frankie: Yeah, well what do you think killed her….hahahaha.
Sparkles: Gentlemen-gentlemen PLEASE. You know it’s pretty bad when a pink puppet has to be the voice of reason.
Greyson: You’re right-you’re right let’s get back to the topic of Last Stand, where tonight we’ll be witnessing the annual Rumble bout.
Sparkles: Both the IWC Riot and the UWA brands come together under one umbrella, for the very last time, to compete against one another in the over the top rope Rumble with the winner moving on to challenge for the World Championship at Invictus or Olympus.
The camera remains fixed on all the members of both the IWC and UWA rosters anxiously idling about in anticipation of the massive opportunity just described by the commentators.
Greyson: There you see the talent that will be involved in this evening’s Rumble, and throughout the night each of these men and women will learn what spot they’ll be entering that match in.
Sparkles: Each of these competitors will discover their fate as they prepare for the 2016 Last Stand RUMBLE.
Frankie: Which of these mofos win tonight and move onto main event IWC INVICTUS or UWA OLYMPUS!?!
The opening video of Last Stand commences with the familiar theme music lifted from the hit television series the 6 Million Dollar Man. That’s not the only thing the audience hears, as a voice begins to speak over the images of head x-rays.
Voice: Gentlemen, we can build them, we have the technology, we have the capability to make the perfect Invictus or Olympus main eventer.
There are a bombardment of clips featuring a full body diagnostic scan interspersed between scenes of surgeons operating. The patient’s arm is being removed and now replaced with a cybernetic enhanced limb. This footage cuts away to show the recovered patient in a jump suit, straining to lift 300 pound weights.
Voice: Who will be that main eventer?
The footage cuts back to computer renderings of a body’s physiology being mapped out.
Voice: We need them to be better, stronger, faster.
There are a number of clips showing a body being dissected, the inner components replaced with mechanical devices. The footage then jumps to scenes of someone running on a treadmill, building up their cardio. The runner is developing such incredible speed that the treadmill almost breaks. Finally we see the face of this would-be track star, and it’s the face of Ryan Watson. The 6 Million Dollar Man theme song really kicks in at this point as the footage on the screen showcases competitor Johnny Kingdom running down a street with superhuman speed. The next image shows another famed IWC combatant, Andre Jordan lifting three times his own body weight as he powers a massive set of weights over his skull. Marina Valdivia is shown springing into the air with a cheesy sound effect that indicates that she’s achieved significant height on her leap. The next image features Lexy Chapel delivering a punch so powerful to the chest of a mugger that it sends them flying off camera.
Voice: Better, stronger, faster.
A wall comes crashing down as Selena Frost walks right through it like the whole thing were fabricated out of toilet paper. She breaks right on through to the other side with such little effort it would make Kool-Aide envious.
Voice: We will build a perfect Invictus or Olympus main eventer….
The audience gets another compilation of clips that show the human anatomy mapped out on a computer screen. Here’s an image of Julia Braddock catching a knife being tossed in her direction and then bending back the blade with her bare hands. The footage jumps to Riddick chugging beer, not out of a can, or a bottle, but out of a keg. He tips it back like it were weightless and then throws it back over his shoulder like it were as light as a feather.
Voice: Better, stronger, faster.
The 6 Million Dollar Man theme is wailing away at a louder decibel. There are even more scenes that depict robotic pieces being inserted beneath human flesh. Then there are shots of an obviously enhanced Danny Darko easily jumping over a car that is barreling in his direction, then landing in the exact same spot that he initiated his leap from. The next scene shows a burning building that Chris Davids comes moseying out of with arms weighed down by the six coughing victims he just rescued from the smoldering tomb.
Voice:….the perfect Invictus or Olympus main eventer….
The final clips show all those IWC competitors, be it from either the Uprising or the Riot brand, converging in the center most point of a laboratory. They draw closer and closer to a wrestling ring.
Voice: After all these enhancements, there is one final test to ensure we build a better, stronger, faster Invictus or Olympus main eventer….
All those grapplers shown in earlier scenes depicting their augmented abilities give one final display of their skills via being pitted against one another. The 6 Million Dollar Man theme is still playing in the background as we see Andre Jordan military press the body of Selena Frost above his head. We then see Selena tossed at Danny Darko, only to have him effortlessly leap into the air and over the body hurdling towards him. Riddick is featured throwing a beer keg with one arm at the face of Julia Braddock, his movements synchronized to 6 Million Dollar Man sound effects. Much like the knife Julia was shown catching earlier she simply nabs the keg out of the air. She then flattens that hundred pound plus keg between her hands. In another section of the ring Lexy Chapel is depicted giving such a powerful kick to Chris Davids that it actually lifts him off of his feet and sends him hurdling towards the camera.
Voice: Who will be the perfect Invictus or Olympus main eventer?
The show is go. The feed goes live to the interior of the San Siro stadium where the Italian crowd is letting out a roar loud enough that even Helen Keller would tell them to quiet down. The reception only gets louder when the fireworks go off around the set which has been designed to resemble an enormous doomsday clock. It is cycling down from ten to zero and then repeating the process over and over again. Beneath the clock there is a tumbler, filled with numbers to be selected throughout the evening by all set to participate in the Last Stand Rumble.
Sparkles: Here we go.
Frankie: In the words of my patron saint, Marvin Gaye, ‘let’s get it on.’
Greyson: Oh it’s on, Frankie, we’ve got TWO World Championship matches slated to go down tonight on top of a true survival of the fittest, the Last Stand Rumble.
Sparkles: We’ll find out who’s going to be defending the World Titles headed into Invictus and Olympus, and we’ll also find out who’s going to be challenging for one of those titles when the Rumble is done.
Frankie: Tonight is the most unpredictable night of the year. But let’s stop buttering it up like one of the eighty seven biscuits that gets shoved down Kevin James’ throat every hour to keep him from eating children, and let’s start this show.
Greyson: To do that we’re going to turn things over to our broadcast colleagues from the Uprising brand.
TINA VALENTINE © VS. ALANA STARR ©:
NO LIMITS TITLE & X-CLASS TITLE UNIFICATION
Hunter: Here we go then, it’s time for our first match of the evening, and what a way it is to kick off, a huge unification match that will see the No Limit’s title be no more, and one of these two ladies become the UWA X-Class Champion.
Mackie: It’s a match worthy of Main Eventing any PPV, as both these two have been on a tear of late.
Hunter: For sure…Alana has almost captured the world title on several occasions, and is the longest serving champion on the roster. Whereas Tina has been world champion, if only a co-holder, and has been a revelation as the No Limits belt holder.
The spotlight starts to shuffle through the entrance as the arena goes dark. Some huge red curtains drop down in the front of the entranceway and a carpet is rolled out. Suddenly the tunes of “I’m A Good Girl” by Christina Aguilera begins to play as suddenly 6 girls dressed in outlandish Burlesque lingerie out fits walk and starts to dance in the old tradition. The fans look on as the music continues….
The dress is Chanel, the shoes YSL
The bag is Dior, Agent Provocateaur
My address today, L.A. by the way
Above Sunset Strip, the Hills all the way
My rings are by Webster, they make their heads twirl
They all say “Darling, what did you do for those pearls?”
What?! I am a good girl….
The screen shows the word “Sexy GOOD” as the gorgeous Alana Starr walks out in her wrestling tights but wearing a burlesque jacket and hat followed by Ethan von Aaron in a tux and top hat with a cane, the two dance for a moment on stage before he bends her backwards and plants a huge kiss on her. Holding hands the two make their way to the ring as the Burlesque dancers continue to dance on the stage as the GOOD Couple walk together hand in hand as the theme continues to play…..
B.H. I adore, Rode-O L’amore
Breakfast Polo Lounge, and poolside for sure
The Chateau for cocktails, the Courtyard at nine
Dan Tana’s for dinner, the Helen’s* divine
You know I have found, the word’s gone around
They all say my feet never do touch the ground
What?! I am a good girl….
Alana and Ethan get to the ring; he helps her to the mat and then holds the ropes open for her to enter the ring. The GOOD Girl dances a little and poses in the middle of the ring stretching her arms out allowing Ethan the chance to take off her jacket and hat. She smiles at Ethan and kisses him again before climbing the ropes and flipping into a standing moonsault. She smiles at the crowd as Ethan applauds waiting for the match to start as the theme starts to fade……
You know I have found, the word’s gone around
They all say my feet never do touch the ground
What?! I am a good girl….
I am a good girl!
Hunter: Alana Starr is the only person who tonight won’t have to draw her number from on the stage as she is scheduled to be the final competitor entering the Rumble
Mackie: And regardless, that is a huge advantage, especially after what will have been a difficult match here
Hunter: If anyone is capable it’s her…especially with Ethan having her back
”One Step Closer” by Linkin Park hits the airwaves and the crowd boos once Tina Valentine appears on the stage. Tina just scoffs at the reaction that she’s getting as she starts to make her way down the ramp, more focused than she has ever been to attain what she feels belongs to her. Her eyes continue to be locked on the ring the closer she gets to it. She gets in that ring, displaying a heightened sense of arrogance while doing so. She climbs to the top rope to soak in even more boos from the fans that can’t stand the sight of her and she adds to it by giving them a few seconds of lip service before getting down to the mat and focusing on the task ahead, shrugging off Alana who says something inaudible to her
Hunter: It’s been a rough few weeks for Tina, she’s lost all the people that cared about her and it looks like now more than ever before she stands alone.
Mackie: That rant from Myra was unacceptable; it was nothing short of a public flogging
Hunter: You mean a little like what Tina did to Kloe?
Mackie: No, because Kloe asked for it
Hunter: And Tina hasn’t? Don’t get me wrong she has all the talent in the world but as a woman, sometimes her actions are unbelievable. She needs to calm down, and focus on her career, before it’s all taken away from her.
Tina looks out over the crowd, resting on the ring ropes and shaking her head at her reaction. She then turns to face Alana, who smirks as the bell rings.
Hunter: This is it then, Unification Match with the X-Class and No Limits titles on the line.
The two women walk to the center of the ring, both of them talking to each other, obviously continuing the tirades that have gone on between the two of them over the past year. Tina nods her head as Alana speaks, and then Tina takes a turn, pushing Alana away from her. Starr explodes with a huge knife edge chop, and then another, before grabbing Tina’s wrist and whipping her towards the ropes. As Tina returns, Alana goes to lock in her head, but Tina slips out and lands a right hand of her own. A second right is blocked by Alana, who then lifts her knee, Tina dodging out the way and avoiding the impact. Alana spins around and evades a Crescent Kick from Tina, Alana grabbing the leg and then sweeping Valentine’s standing leg, Tina falling to the canvas. Alana then drops to the canvas, pulling back on Tina’s ankle.
Mackie: Ankle Lock from Alana Starr, slowing the match down early after that quite flurry of action.
Hunter: But Tina is already reaching for the ropes.
Alana has the Ankle Lock in tight but simply by moving her position Tina is able to grab the bottom strand, the referee telling Alana to break the hold. Alana, perhaps predictably, doesn’t do it straight away, and the referee has to count
1…
2…
3…
4…
At four Alana let’s go, and Tina immediately jumps to her feet, Alana running in with a Clothesline which Tina ducks under, pulling the top strand down and Alana almost going over the top rope. She puts on the breaks however and as Tina turns around, Alana leaps in the air and grabs the back of Tina’s head, dropping her jaw onto the top of her shoulder
Hunter: Stunner from Alana and here’s the count
1…
Tina kicks out almost immediately, and rolls out the ring and to the outside. Ethan walks around, and mocks her, as Alana sits on the second strand inviting her in.
Hunter: This is where Tina would normally have someone to go to for advice, but she’s all alone right now
Mackie: Tina is going to be fine, don’t you worry about her.
Tina walks around the ring and then gets in on the opposite site. Straight away the pair of them ties up, jostling for position, until it is Alana than pins Tina in the corner. The referee breaks it up, and as he does, Tina goes for a cheap shot, but Alana sees it coming a mile off, evading it easily. As the referee spins around to Tina to admonish her, Alana slams a huge forearm into her face, sending her back into the corner, before leaping up and with her feet on Tina’s thighs, falls backwards and flips her over and into the center of the ring. Alana then nips up onto the second rope and leaps from that position, landing with a leg drop across Tina’s chest. Immediately she grabs the leg and pulls it towards her, the referee moving in to count.
1…
Tina gets her shoulder up, Alana nipping up and helping her to her feet, before spinning around and whipping her hard into the corner. She then runs in, looking for a Splash, but Tina nips out of the way, Alana landing face first on the turnbuckle covering. As Tina goes to grab her wrist, Alana shrugs her off, and then rakes her across the eyes, Tina struggling to see. Alana then grabs her wrist and whips her into the ropes, scooping Tina up on her return and slamming her into the mat.
Hunter: Scoop Slam from the X-Class Champion, Alana Starr at the moment the aggressor in this match.
Mackie: This match is obviously not under No Limit’s rules, and I think Tina is struggling because of that
Hunter: Are you saying that she is only a hardcore wrestler now?
Mackie: Not at all, but it’s been all that she is used to recently.
Alana picks up Tina again, but this time it is Tina who slips away, bouncing off the ropes and crashing into Alana with a Body Block. Alana staggers but doesn’t go down, so Tina runs, hitting the ropes and then jumping in the air, her foot striking the back of Alana’s head and sending her through the ropes and to the outside. The place erupts in jeers as Tina stands in the middle of the ring with her arms aloft, as Ethan helps Alana to her feet
Hunter: That Jumping Enziguri from Tina Valentine has evened up this match, and now it’s Alana taking some time out
Mackie: That’s the thing with Tina Valentine, she can strike from anywhere, and Alana will have to watch for that.
Alana slides back into the ring, and straight away Tina is on her, stomping her in the kidneys as she tries to get up. Tina lifts Alana up and throws her arm over her shoulder, before trying to lift her into a Suplex. Starr blocks the attempt however, putting her leg between Tina’s, and then goes for one her, lifting her up. Tina however slides behind her, and grabbing Alana’s hair falls backwards, slamming her into the mat. Tina then heads towards the turnbuckle, ignoring Ethan Von Aaron who tries to distract her, and climbs to the very top. But Alana gets to her feet, Tina leaping over her as she comes running into the corner. Alana spins around, giving Tina the opportunity to kick her in the stomach, before hooking in her head. She then leaps up onto the second rope, and using the spring from them, spins around Alana’s body and drives her head into the canvas. The fans jump to their feet, not in appreciation, but to give Tina even more boos.
Hunter: I can’t believe that Alana Starr is actually the fan favorite here…Tina really is that hated by these fans right now.
Ethan gets up onto the apron, and the referee heads him off, telling him to get down. Tina picks Alana up, and with her arm around her neck, spins around, driving Alana into the mat
Mackie: Swinging Neck breaker from Tina Valentine, and there’s the pin
1…
2…
Alana kicks out at two to a tremendous ovation from the crowd. Tina however goes immediately for another pin
1…
2…
Alana kicks out again, Tina pulling Alana to her feet and bouncing off the ropes, spinning around and landing a right hand on Starr’s jaw.
Hunter: Discus Punch from Valentine, Starr is down
Tina motions that it’s over, and drops down, hooking the leg
1…
2…
Alana Starr kicks out again, Ethan sighing with relief at ringside. Tina gets to her feet and shows the referee three fingers, the referee predictably responding with two. Behind Tina, Alana reaches up and pulls Valentine into a small package
1…
Tina kicks out, Alana rolling backwards and to her feet. Tina goes running it but Alana is quicker, and leaps in the air, catching Tina on the chin with a Spinning Hell Kick. Tina hits the floor and Alana quick as a flash gets to her feet, leaping in the air and landing with a Leg Drop across Valentine’s chest. She stands, and then leaps again, landing a second leg drop. With a look out over the crowd, she puts three fingers in the air and then leaps a third time, a third leg drop landing on Tina’s chest. Alana scrunches her nose up at Ethan who blows her a kiss, Alana dropping down into the cover
1…
2…
Tina kicks out, Alana looking more than a little confused. She lifts a dazed Valentine to her feet, and lifts her up onto her shoulder, standing there for a few seconds before dropping her down onto her knee, and allows her to drop to the apron
Hunter: Fireman’s Carry Gut Buster from Alana, Tina’s in trouble here.
Mackie: And there’s the cover
1…
2…
Tina kicks out again, Alana screaming in annoyance, as she picks Tina up once again and whips Valentine into the corner. She walks to the opposite side and then runs in, somersaulting into a headstand and then springing into the corner. Tina however nips out the way, and the splash from Starr is unsuccessful, and before Alana can recover, Tina grabs the back of her head and bring it forwards, before falling back onto the mat, driving her face into her knees
Hunter: Out of nowhere, the double knee face buster has levelled Alana Starr. Is her X-Class Championship reign over?
Tina rolls over and drapes her arm over Alana’s chest, the referee dropping into position.
1…
2…
Alana Starr to the delight of the fans, and indeed her husband Ethan, finding a way to kick out of the pin and save the match. Tina’s face contorts as she literally drags Alana to her feet, and raises her hand
Hunter: This is it, Valentine’s Heartbreak…she hits this, we are over
Tina leaps in the air, but Alana shifts her weight and falls forwards, pinning Tina’s shoulders to the mat
1…
2…
Tina kicks out just in time, but Alana leaps in the air, and lands with a fist, which smashes into Tina’s face, Once again she covers
1…
2…
3…
No, Tina kicks out at the last possible moment, the fans looking on in disbelief. Alana picks Tina up and bails her into the ropes, looking for a drop kick but Valentine grabs the ropes, stopping her from rebounding. Alana jumps to her feet, just as music hits over the PA system, Tina staring up the ramp with horror as Callista Christos appears
Hunter: Oh my God, Christos is finally going to take her pound full of flesh on Tina Valentine.
Tina stares at Callista, not knowing what to say, but Alana runs in and bounces off the ropes, stepping up onto Tina’s chest. Tina cannot react in time, and Alana’s foot smashes into the back of Valentines head, cleaning her out. On the ramp, Christos simply laughs, nodding her head, before heading back
Mackie: What the hell?
Hunter: Christos was just playing games, Alana takes advantage of that…and here’s the cover
1…
2…
3…
The San Siro erupts, Alana rolling out the ring and into Ethan’s arms. Ethan kisses her, and then runs over to the announce table, picking up both the X-Class and No Limit’s title belts. He places both of them on her shoulders, and then they both back up the ramp, as Tina Valentine starts to come to. Tina stands up, and looks at the referee, only now realizing what has happened. She then looks up the ramp, Ethan and Alana stood, Alana now holding both titles aloft.
Hunter: Alana Starr has done it; she has unified the titles and is officially the UWA X-Class Champion. The longest reign continues here tonight, Alana Starr beating Tina Valentine
Mackie: Alana was in charge, she had the momentum in this match, but Callista Christos with the distraction was the defining moment.
Hunter: Cannot argue with that, but now, can Alana use that momentum to come away with the World title shot as well
Tina is holding her head in her hands in disbelief. Her eyes widen, as Roar hits over the PA system, and her former mentor, Kloe Masters appears at the top of the ramp.
Mackie: Oh my fucking God…Kloe Masters is here, and listen to that ovation
Hunter: She was one of the most hated women on the roster…but right now she is the most loved. And look at Tina’s face; she cannot believe what she is seeing.
Kloe smiles, and lifts a mic to her lips.
Kloe: Oh dearie, dearie me…funny how things turn out isn’t it? See, on one hand, I get my ass handed to me on a silver platter, but end up being happier than I have in year, spending time with my children without having to listen to your mindless witterings, and on the other you’ve lost EVERYTHING, even the woman that you put your faith in, and cast me to the side for
Tina: I don’t need this Kloe…
Kloe: I don’t give a shit if you need it or not. I didn’t NEED dropping on my head, but heck that happened. See, the thing is, I’m still in contract to the IWC, and am until the 1st of March, and Mr Helms, well, let’s just say that he’s not that enamored with you at the moment either, after your little twitter spat. So, between us, we decided…a Gauntlet for you to keep your job, it’s not really that fair is it?
Tina looks up the ramp, confused.
Kloe: Oh, no need to look confused Tina…I’ve always done what is best for you…it’s what I do. No, there won’t be a Gauntlet, and you won’t be fighting for your job. No, on the very first edition of Outbreak, you’ll be fighting for your life when you face off against…CALISTA CHRISTOS!!!
Hunter: Oh my God, it just gets worse and worse for Tina Valentine, now she has to face up to her demons…all thanks to Kloe Masters
Kloe waves at Tina who is simply in shock, before leaving through the curtain, leaving a horrified Tina in the ring.
After the red hot action in the ring it’s time for the IWC to TRY and cool things down a little, though that’s the equivalent of trying to stop molting lava with a bucket of water. Cameras cut to the stage where the tumbler that was seen at the start of the show remains, though it’s now joined on the set by two of the most powerful and influential figures in the IWC. On one side of the tumbler stands the Uprising, soon to be UWA, brand General Manager David Helms, on the other side there’s Riot show runner Karen McBride. The stage isn’t the only thing these two share, because they also share a mutual distrust of one another. A distrust that only deepens the longer these competitors spend time together.
Greyson: Well it looks like commentating duties are being turned back over us Riot guys.
Frankie: The only ones who SHOULD be calling the action this evening.
Greyson: Speaking of action, we just saw a tremendous bout in the ring to start off our Last Stand pay-per-view, and coming to the stage are two people responsible for booking that match and so much more still to come this evening.
Sparkles: Principle Owner and Riot GM Karen McBride is side by side with UWA GM David Helms for the first time in either of their storied careers. And what brings them together is that tumbler on the set that will be used by their respective rosters to select spots in the Rumble.
Frankie: I’m surprised Helms can handle the stench. McBride smells worse than lutefisk wrapped in limburger cheese.
Greyson: Oh you just say that because McBride has imposed strict sanctions on your friends in Monarchy.
Frankie: No, I say it because McBride walks around smelling like month old gym socks that were used to treat a yeast infection.
Greyson: That’s about enough of that. We’re not here to listen to your biased opinions of McBride, who is simply doing her best to stop the most power hungry group in the IWC. I applaud McBride for standing up to the Monarchy, and I also commend David Helms for the work he’s been doing over on the Uprising brand since being named their General Manager.
Sparkles: He’s done a real bang up job, even though he won’t return any of my fan mail.
Greyson: If you would stop sending him pairs of your underwear I’m sure Helms would be more inclined to respond.
There is only one thing on Helms’ mind right now, and it sure as hell isn’t Sparkles’ undergarments.
Helms: What’s up to all the players here in MILLLLLAAAN ITALLLLY!!??!!
The fans are almost frothing at their mouths like Cujo when seeing some of that sweet-sweet Dee Wallace.
Helms: Judging by that match you just saw (points to the ringside area where Ethan Von Aaron and Alana Starr are celebrating while Tina Valentine bemoans all that just befell her), the bar is already right here (holds his outstretched hand over his head), and it’ll keep getting higher and higher and higher (his hand keeps elevating) the closer we get to the RUMBLE. THE most important match in the careers of everyone who competes as part of my UWA roster, and as part of McBride’s IWC roster….
Karen: That’s because the winner gets an opportunity unlike any other. The opportunity to go to IWC Invictus or UWA Olympus and compete in a historic main event against their respective company’s World Champion.
McBride got her words in right before her voice could be drowned out by the screaming fans.
Helms: But it’s not going to be an opportunity that comes easy. A chance this HUGE is going to take a HUGE effort to earn it.
Karen: Two competitors will start the Rumble, and every two minutes after another will enter until 20-30-maybe even FORTY, who knows how many have entered the ring. Eliminations occurring via being thrown over that top rope with both your feet smacking the floor.
Helms: Until there is one…Just one person left in that ring (points to the very ring that Ethan Von Aaron and Alana are celebrating outside of). A person who instantly becomes the envy of every single wrestler world-wide. Because that fortunate son of a bitch…or daughter of a bitch…goes to IWC Invictus, or UWA Olympus to challenge for the World Title.
Karen: Alright-alright-alright already, I think we’ve bored them enough with facts they already know. Let’s get to why we’re out here. (Pats her hands on the tumbler at her side) In this tumbler are a lot of things that my colleague David Helms is very familiar with…tiny balls.
Helms: (Chuckling) For once there not the type of tiny balls you find constantly being inserted into Mrs. McBride’s mouth.
Karen: (Smiling) So that’s how it’s going to be?
Helms: You started it.
Karen: In those balls are numbers, and those numbers are the spots that the guys and girls competing in the Rumble will enter at.
Helms: Speaking of those guys and girls, we’ve left them waiting long enough haven’t we? Let’s start bringing them on out here and let’s have them draw their numbers. What do you say, McBride?
Karen: By all means.
Helms: Alrighty then, I know there’s one guy back there itching to find out what spot he’ll be coming in at. So the first person I’m inviting out is a member of my roster, aaaaand a personal favorite of yours truly to win tonight’s Rumble….
Karen rolls her eyes.
Helms: CHRIS BY GAHD DAVIDS!
The response is one of biblical proportions for the great Chris Davids. It’s like God himself parted the crowd and hurdled a lightning bolt right into the middle of the San Siro stadium. The fans are absolutely electrified at the image of a smiling Davids lunging through the curtains and to the stage.
Greyson: Chris Davids, an absolutely TREMENDOUS in ring talent, and a potential Rumble winner tonight.
Sparkles: Sparkles has missed seeing Jesus ever since he was drafted over to the Uprising brand.
Greyson: Where his career has been on a definite upswing. It was just a few months ago that we saw him take World Champion Vanilla Skyy to her breaking point.
Frankie: Pfft…yeeeeaaah, he gave Skyy a challenge alright. But Chris has a problem, a serious medical problem actually.
Greyson: What’s that?
Frankie: Choke-itus. It’s a condition suffered by guys like Davids and by any woman who goes down on me.
Greyson: Well hopefully it’s not a condition that flares up tonight. The Rumble is the chance of a lifetime for Chris, a chance for him to get one more shot at Skyy and that World Championship.
Chris has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand like his skin were made of chocolate ice-cream. Right now that hand is inching closer and closer to the tumbler that has so many numbers tucked away inside. But Chris suddenly gets reluctant to take one of them. Although Helms has the door opened to the tumbler, Chris isn’t reaching through it and he isn’t doing what brought him to the stage. Yes his fingers reach for the numbers but they keep pulling back. He won’t pick until he’s found the PERFECT ball that presumably holds the PERFECT number.
Helms: (Irritated) Would you just pick already!
Chris doesn’t reach for a ball, he reaches for his heart.
Chris: Fine-fine….
Now he’s putting his palms out towards Helms before finally putting one of those palms in the tumbler. He pulls out a ball, pops it open and with shaking fingers extracts the number inside. As he unfolds the paper said number is written on he’s holding it as far away from his body as possible. He nervously closes his eyes, unwilling to read what he’s selected.
Helms: Well?
Chris: You….you do it.
Although Helms feigns aggravation, he’s quietly amused by all of this. In an indignant manner he snatches the paper from between Davids’ fingers, reads it and then whispers a number to his roster member. Whatever he just told Davids has the performer looking like he just heard that the Miz was burned on top of a stack of Santa’s Little Helper DVDs. He not only smiles on his way to the back but shows further excitement by leaping into the air and clicking his heels together.
Karen: He looked happy.
Helms: He looks like he just saw Meagan Fox bending over to pick up a pencil.
Karen: But ya know what, he’s not gonna be very happy when a member of MY roster tosses him over the top rope in route to winning the Rumble.
Helms: Confident aren’t we?
Karen: You would be too if you had guys like the one I’m about to invite out here on your roster. It’s time now for a member of the Riot brand to come out and choose their number. So without further….
Ethan: Hold that thought A-Cup.
It’s not someone coming from the back that marches to the stage in order to draw their number, it’s someone who is coming from the ring. Ethan Von Aaron is still supporting an exhausted Alana Starr after her grueling confrontation with Tina Valentine, but before he could get her backstage he just had to stop and just had to hear the sound of his own voice.
Ethan: You know aaaaalll of this (points to the tumbler, McBride and Helms) it’s all grade A Bull….
Alana: (Growling) Laaaaanguuaaage.
Ethan: Grade A BOLOGNA! All this drawing numbers brouhaha is about as pointless as porn without bush shots. Cause it don’t matter who enters the Rumble, and it don’t matter what spot there in. There’s only one person competing in tonight’s Rumble destined to win it, and she already knows what number she’s coming in at. Ain’t that right, puddin’-pop?
Puts a finger under Alana’s chin and strokes it. And if there’s one thing Ethan possesses a talent for, it’s stroking things.
Ethan: She’s got the last spot and the only spot that matters.
Helms: You know Ethan, you’re slated to compete in the Rumble tonight as well. Soooo what’s going to happen if you and Alana are the final two in the ring?
Ethan: I’ll pull a Leo and let her have the entire door even though I KNOW I could fit my slim ass on it right beside her. I’ll gladly sacrifice myself for my wife. Cause I’m a chivalrous….honorable….noble….
A smirk SETS on Alana’s face while her body SETS off towards the backstage area. Although she’s walking off Ethan is staying put. He keeps watching her leave, tilting his head to make sure she’s made it entirely through the curtains and is out of range to hear him.
Ethan:….respectful…(looking even closer at the curtains that closed behind Alana’s back)….quick (turning to Helms). Let me draw my number.
He snaps his fingers in order to speed the whole process up. Although Helms doesn’t take kindly to being ordered about, he still turns the tumbler before finally opening it. Ethan all but shoves Helms out of the way in order to grab his number. His hand shoots into the tumbler but…..
Orlando: Don’t go worrying needlessly about the Rumble….
Ever heard Italian curse words? Well you do right now. There are about a thousand of them directed at Orlando Cruze as he comes waltzing on out from the back. Riot Principle Owner Karen McBride is frowning fiercely at the sight of this Monarchy member crashing the proceedings. Much like Cruze and fellow stable-mates have done the past few months he disrupts the show. Ethan wishes he had heat ray vision as his eyes focus on the Phenom.
Orlando: Because if your brain wasn’t so poisoned after years and years of abusing every hair care product known to man, you would realize that you’re not going to make it through your Last Man Standing match against moi later tonight. So don’t even fret about the Rumble or where you’ll be entering it.
Ethan: (Folding arms over his stomach, kicking back his head and laughing about as fake as he possibly can) HAHAHAHAHAHA. Lando-Lando-Lando, I swear man, you need your own laugh track, because you are soooo an early nineties sitcom.
Orlando: I don’t even want to know what the hell you mean by that. And we all know the only sitcom you watched back in the nineties was Full House.
Greyson: Ethan Von Aaron and Orlando Cruze battling it out with words.
Sparkles: But later tonight they’ll be killing each other in a Last Man Standing bout.
Frankie: Whoa-WHOA…..is there something wrong with being a fan of Full House?
Ethan: (Looking deadly serious) You know what Lando (taking a few threatening steps towards Cruze), you can insult me, you can insult my legacy, but I’ll be damned if I let you slander Full House! That is….that is….SO RUDE!
Orlando is literally taken aback by this statement.
Orlando: I didn’t come out here to talk sitcoms with you, I came out here to remind you that later tonight I’m going to end what’s left of your career, AAAANND to draw my spot in the Rumble. Cause unlike you, I’ll actually be able to compete in it after our Last Man Standing bout is done. (Swinging the back of his fingers towards Ethan) So kindly step back so that I can get this out of the way.
Although his hand starts towards the tumbler he never gets a chance to reach inside of it. Ethan grabs him by the wrist and holds tight to it.
Ethan: No way Jose…..(Orlando rips his wrist free)…I’m not letting you upstage me in our Last Man Standing match later tonight and I’m not letting you upstage me right now. I’M drawing my number.
Ethan makes a grab for the tumbler but he pulls back an empty hand. Orlando prevents him from making his selection.
Orlando: CUT…IT…OUT! (Yes Orlando even pantomimes cutting through the air like his fingers were scissors) I’M going to pick my number and there’s not anything you can do about it….
Ethan: You’re in big trouble, mister! (Wagging his finger in Orlando’s face) You know what? Why are we waiting till the Last Man Standing match to settle our problems? How about we do this thing, and do it right now?
Orlando: You got it, dude.
Ethan: Have mercy.
The comment is punctuated by a punch that drills Ethan right across his jaw. Ethan responds with a knee to the Phenom’s bread basket. A side headlock is latched onto Orlando’s neck and the submission is employed to drag him down the ramp. Uprising GM David Helms looks over the tumbler at Karen McBride, and the two simultaneously shrug.
Helms: Fine….get a ref out here!
ORLANDO CRUZE VS. ETHAN VON AARON:
LAST MAN STANDING
Hunter: Finally we are here, a match that possibly everyone has been waiting for…Ethan certainly has
Mackie: For sure, Ethan has wanted this match ever since Orlando had the audacity to ‘pass the torch’ to someone other than him…wasn’t it Axl Evermore?
Hunter: I believe so. I’m sure many people thought this would never happen, but finally, it’s on, Ethan von Aaron and Orlando Cruze brawling it out right from the very start.
Mackie: Just to clarify, this is Last Man Standing, you have to put your opponent down for a ten count, and literally anything goes. Your opponent can’t get up before ten, he loses
It doesn’t take long for the fight that started on the ramp to reach the squared circle. Once inside Ethan slams Orlando with a right hand, and then another, before drop kicking him into the ropes. Ethan runs in, looking for a body block but Orlando explodes with a Clothesline which almost takes Ethan over and into a somersault. Orlando leaps in the air, and misses with a leg drop, and as Orlando sits up Ethan drop kicks him in the face laying him out. Ethan then leaps onto the ropes and springboards backwards, landing across Orlando with a Lionsault. He gets to his feet, and hurls abuse in Orlando’s face, before laying across the ropes and mocking the Icon. Orlando gets to his feet, and stretches out his neck, Ethan sliding off the ropes as Orlando runs in. Orlando throws a punch which Ethan ducks underneath, and nips behind him, slapping Orlando across the back of the head. Orlando turns and tries again, this time Ethan doing a matrix like maneuver to get out of the way. Orlando tries a boot, but again Ethan side steps, Orlando then lunges forwards and missing again, before spinning around, Ethan landing a huge right hand, Orlando falling backwards and into the ropes, tying himself up leaving him helpless.
Hunter: Orlando try as he might can’t land anything, Ethan just too quick for him
Mackie: That was some Jackie Chan shit right there
Ethan slaps Orlando around the face, and then again. Orlando tries to escape, and then pulls the time keeper off his chair, and throws the chair in the ring.
Hunter: Ethan looking to end this early, and at the moment Orlando cannot get out the ropes
Ethan lifts the chair, and walks towards Orlando, the referee finally releasing him just in time for him to boot Ethan in the gut, Ethan dropping the chair. In one swift move, Orlando hooks him around the head and falls backwards, driving Ethan’s head into the steel chair.
Mackie: From out of nowhere, the DDT on the steel chair…wow
Orlando points to Ethan and the referee starts to count.
1…
2…
3…
4…
5…
6…
Ethan pulls himself towards the rope and up right, Orlando immediately steaming in and clotheslining him over the top rope and to the outside, Ethan landing hard. Orlando slides out the ring and motions once again, the referee starting the count
1…
2…
3…
4…
Ethan gets up on the apron, Orlando grabbing the back of his head and looking to slam his head into the steel turnbuckle post. He runs towards it, but Ethan lifts his foot, pressing it against the turnbuckle and stopping, before spinning around and driving his knee into Orlando’s stomach. Orlando bends over in agony and Ethan hooks him around the head, using the apron as leverage he nips up and spins around, driving Orlando’s head into the arena floor
Hunter: Ooohhh, what a shot from Ethan, Tornado DDT onto the concrete, Orlando is out!!!
1…
2…
3…
4…
Orlando starts to stir, holding his head he pulls himself up on the steps. Ethan runs across the apron and leaps, landing a Famasser across the back of Orlando’s neck, driving his face into the steps
Mackie: Huge shot from Ethan Von Aaron, Orlando once again laid out on the canvas
1…
2…
3…
Ethan turns to the crowd, pointing at Orlando
Ethan: THAT’S your Icon…really? I’m the mutha fucking Icon baby.
4…
5…
6…
Orlando is somehow up again, Ethan steaming in and slamming into Orlando, knocking him up and over the security barricades and into the crowd.
Hunter: They are getting up and personal with the fans here and Orlando at the moment not sure where he is.
Ethan picks Orlando to his feet and lands a right hand, Orlando reacting with one of his own which staggers Ethan, but not enough to stop him from going for a kick to the stomach. Orlando catchers his foot however but Ethan is way to kick, spinning around and catching Orlando with a mule kick. Orlando hits the floor hard, and starts crawling towards the exit. Ethan mocks him some more, laughing at Orlando’s predicament.
Hunter: Ethan well and truly in control, and he knows it Dave
Mackie: Ethan’s quickness has been a major difference thus far, Orlando needs to find a way to combat that.
Orlando pulls himself on the exit door, turning around to see where Ethan is just in time for Ethan to run and cut him in half with a Spear out of nowhere, the shot sending Orlando and Ethan crashing through the exit and into the corridor.
1…
2…
3…
Ethan: Come on Lando, give it up
4…
Orlando tries to pull himself up on a window ledge
5…
He gets his legs underneath him, and although unsteady the referee stops the count.
Ethan: If you would excuse me babe…
Ethan grabs the back of Orlando’s head and smashes it through the glass window, the glass splintering around them. For a moment Ethan just leaves Orlando there, his body resting on the windows ledge, but then he grabs the back of his neck and pulls him backwards, slamming his spine and the back of his head onto the concrete
Ethan: Count him
The referee moves in, Ethan smiling once again as he stands over the broken Orlando Cruze.
1…
2…
Hunter: Surely that’s enough…surely
3…
4…
Orlando rolls onto his back, and for the first time we see the damage caused by the window, blood seeping down his face
Hunter: Orlando busted open after that window shot, and Ethan looking very pleased
Mackie: So he should, he’s dominated this match thus far
5…
6…
7…
Orlando sits up, Ethan’s eyes widening, even more so as he puts his legs underneath him, and gets to his feet. Ethan runs across the corridor, but Orlando meets him, ducking under his right hand and placing a hand across his chest lifts him, before dropping him spine first across the windows ledge. Ethan seems to bounce off the ledge and through the window’s opening, and into the backstage catering area.
Hunter: Did you see that? The angle of his spine on impact…he could have just broken his back right there.
Mackie: Desperation move from Orlando, but effective…what a shot
Orlando is on his knees, and pulls himself to a vertical base, ignoring the comments from the fans. The referee moves in position and starts to count
1…
2…
3…
Ethan starts to move, his hand going to his back that is obviously damaged
4…
5…
6…
With some effort, and a grimace as he tries to ignore the pain, Ethan pulls himself up using a table that has a variety of cakes on it. Just as he does it, Orlando climbs through the window, and grabs him by the hair. He pulls him up and then wraps him up around the waist, lifting him upside down and into a Suplex, delaying him there.
Hunter: What strength from Orlando…this has to be destroying his back here.
Orlando finally completes the move, Suplexing him straight through the table of cakes
Mackie: Whoa…all that cake wastage, Rachel Tatum Lee would be pissed if she was here. Imagine the look on Greg Cherry’s face right now if he worked for us.
Orlando takes his finger, and wipes some of the cream off Ethan’s face
Orlando: Nice…count him.
1…
2…
3…
4…
5…
Ethan starts to stir, and crawls away from the carnage, Orlando stalking him and waiting for an opportunity.
6…
Ethan reaches the wall, and starts to pull himself up
7…
8…
9…
He gets to his feet, the crowd going absolutely ballistic. Orlando isn’t too pleased either, and he runs in, looking to dive his knee into Ethan’s already damaged spine. In his haste however, he doesn’t see Ethan unhook the fire extinguisher that he had used to pull himself up, and he spins around, slamming the full extinguisher into the side of Orlando’s head. For a moment Orlando looks stunned, but then he pretty much collapses to the floor, Ethan only just being kept upright by leaning on the wall. The whole of the catering area seems stunned by what they have just seen; the whole arena is also in totally shock.
Hunter: Orlando must have thought he had that with the Suplex, but Ethan ever the opportunist has once again pulled something out of the bag
Mackie: There is no way that Orlando Cruze isn’t unconscious right now…no way.
Hunter: Here’s the count…
1…
2…
3…
There is no mocking from Ethan this time, as he concentrates on staying upright himself
4…
5…
Amazingly, Orlando starts to move, and he reaches for the coke machine to try and get up.
6…
7…
8…
Orlando somehow gets to his feet, the fans in the arena showing their appreciation with a Lando chant.
Hunter: This is an unreal performance from these two individuals
Mackie: That’s why they are known as legends Paul, right here in the twilights of their careers they are still giving everything.
Ethan pushes himself from the wall as Orlando stands with his back resting on the coke machine. Orlando doesn’t even seem to have the first clue where he is, and Ethan knows that. He fires off his Super kick, the Epic Fail, which would have won this match no doubt…had it hit. Orlando gets out of the way at the last possible moment, Ethan’s super kick going straight through the glass, his foot jamming in the shelves.
Hunter: Ethan is stuck, but Orlando is out of it, he can’t take advantage
Ethan pulls his leg back, and then even more vigorously his foot coming free and Ethan falling to the floor. However he brings the machine with him and it topples over, narrowly avoiding Ethan by inches.
Hunter: Ethan and Coke Machines just don’t go together
Mackie: He got out the way, but both these man are down, exhausted.
Hunter: And don’t forget Dave, both are scheduled to compete later on tonight in the Last Stand Rumble.
Mackie: Not a chance…these two are dead on their feet, it’s not going to happen.
Orlando picks Ethan up to his feet, and pretty much bails him through a doorway, which finds them in another corridor. The pair of them trade right hands, neither of them even bothering to block now, each shot finding a home. They fight though another doorway, Ethan ducking under a shot and lifting Orlando, dropping him with an Atomic Drop that see’s Orlando falling into the Gorilla Position backstage, plenty of the wrestler stood around and watching.
Ethan: See, this is how you put on a show. I’m even dragging this sorry son of a bitch to a decent match.
Ethan picks Orlando up to his feet, but Orlando slams his head into Ethan’s face, his eyes watering on impact and temporally blinding him. Orlando then lifts him up, and carries him through the curtain, the fans exploding with noise as they appear, Orlando dropping Ethan onto the top of the staging with a brutal power bomb. Ethan lies on the stage, his arms outstretched, as the referee moves into position
Hunter: That has to be it, surely
1…
2…
3…
There are many within the arena actually begging Ethan to get to his feet; Orlando just looks on, resting against the huge Last Stand structure.
4…
5…
Mackie: Ethan’s moving, but can he beat the count?
6…
7…
He grabs a hold of the scaffolding, pulling but not having the strength
8…
9…
With a huge roar, he pulls himself up, just beating the count. Orlando closes his eyes in disbelief that the match isn’t over, and the noise in the San Siro cranks up another notch.
Hunter: These fans are being treated to an absolute classic, we’ve waited 8 years for this, and neither of these individuals has let us down.
Orlando says something to the referee who shrugs his shoulders, Orlando shaking his head and walking over to Ethan, slamming a right hand into his face. Orlando goes for it again, but this time Ethan ducks, Orlando’s fist smashing into the scaffolding. Orlando stagger’s holding his wrist, and that is all Ethan needs to fire off the Super Kick, catching Orlando under the jaw
Hunter: OH…MY…GOD
Mackie: EPIC FAIL!!!!
Lando collapses to the floor, but Ethan doesn’t motion, and instead he starts to climb the Staging.
Hunter: He’s not done…he wants to make sure Mackie
Ethan gingerly gets to the top, the fans watching in anticipation, Orlando still having not moved. He looks down, the Last Stand logo behind him, and holds his arms aloft
Hunter: That’s got to be twenty five feet plus Mackie…he cannot try this, surely?
Mackie: He’s going to, he promises a moment, and this is going to be it.
Ethan leaps, and he arms and legs outstretched, before crashing onto the prone body of Orlando Cruze. The San Siro erupts as both Orlando AND Ethan lie motionless.
Hunter: They are both dead…they cannot continue
Mackie: I’ve not seen anything like that in my life
The fans look on, the referee not sure what to do, but thankfully, Ethan holds up an arm, and pulls himself up to the referee, dragging himself up and using the referee for leverage. Once up, he almost falls back down again, only the staging stopping him from doing so. He nods, even that seeming to be an effort, the referee beginning the count.
1…
2…
Hunter: No way is he getting up here…no chance in hell
Mackie: They have been through hell and I have to agree…Lando is done
3…
4…
5…
Amazingly Orlando starts to stir, and heads towards the giant speaker
6…
7…
The fans roar him on, and even Ethan watches with interest.
8…
9…
He gets to his knees, and then with one final effort, gets upright. The fans go crazy, but Orlando doesn’t have time to celebrate as Ethan runs in, looking to send him sprawling from the top of the stage and to the arena below. He storms in, Orlando stopping him with an instinctive right hand out of nowhere, before then placing his arm across his chest.
Hunter: No!!!
Paul knows what is coming, and so does the entire arena and Orlando spins and leaps from the stage, driving Ethan into the arena floor ten feet below. The crack on impact is heard around the San Siro, as both men once again lie broken.
Mackie: C4 from the top of the stage…NOW they are dead.
It seems the referee agrees as well, as he does wait for any indication, and starts to count both men.
Hunter: Even the referee has had enough, he cannot see these two put themselves through anymore and it willing to count them both out
1…
2…
Mackie: He can’t do that…where’s Helm’s dammit, let them fight?
3…
4…
Hunter: No movement at all…these two are done…call it now referee
5…
6…
Orlando lifts his head, and looks over at Ethan who is still down
Hunter: No way, how the hell is he doing this?
7…
Orlando gets to his knees
8…
Hunter: He’s up, somehow Orlando has gotten up, and Ethan is moving
9…
Ethan gets to his knees, pulling himself up on a nearby box
Hunter: This is amazing, no way can he get up from a C4 from there…NO WAY!!!
He has you know, Ethan Von Aaron with all the courage he can muster, drags himself up just before the ten count
Mackie: I can’t believe it, these fans cannot believe…and to be honest, I don’t think Orlando and Ethan can believe that they are both standing.
Orlando may be banged up but he still manages to run in and almost rips Ethan’s head off with a clothesline. The impact sends Ethan flipping over the crate her had been leaning on and into the floor. The banged up Von Aaron crawls across the concrete and towards the barricade, employing it as a crutch. He no sooner gets his legs under him before the crate he had been leaning on earlier is thrown towards his head. Ethan steps out of the way and the crate cracks the barrier instead.
Orlando doesn’t need to use the barrier to crush Ethan’s head, he’ll use his own fists. He dashes towards Ethan and right into a hip toss, one that brings Orlando’s back down across the top of the barricade. A grimace comes across Orlando’s face as he bounces off of the barricade and rolls to the floor. Before the referee can start the ten count Orlando is rising painstakingly back to his feet. He gets up just as the steel boom that holds a camera is pushed, pushed by Ethan right into an impact with Orlando’s forehead.
Mackie: AAAAH!
Hunter: Ethan just lowered the boom on Orlando!
Mackie: The referee starting his count, is this over?
The referee proceeds with the count on a laid out Orlando, who is clasping at his forehead.
1
2
3
4
5
Much to Ethan’s chagrin, Orlando is starting to inch his way up from the ground. Ethan is about to do something to stop Orlando’s ascent. He grabs Orlando by the back of the head then runs him towards the wall supporting the stage, cracking his skull off of it. He then Irish whips Orlando along into the barricade, his ribs smashing the steel and the collision sending him flipping over into the stands. Ethan is following after him, stepping into the audience and popping the chin of Orlando with jab after jab. The two fight their way up a flight of steps that cuts through the crowd jammed into the San Siro arena.
Hunter: Their fighting out amongst the people. Who knows where this brawl will take them.
Mackie: It might go out of the arena, who knows.
The brawl has taken them up several floors and now instead of moving higher and higher they fight to the side. They are making their way through a thin isle that cuts through the screaming crowd. Ethan picks up one of the chairs and throws it straight into the upper back of Orlando, the impact knocking him silly. He finally ends up at the very end of this isle, hovering high above the ground….no, above a number of objects that seem to stacked and draped in black clothe. Although Ethan can barely breathe he still summons the wind to shout. He cries out to the official who is standing far below at ground level and although that ref doesn’t work for Ethan he still does as requested. The tarp is torn away from the objects beneath Ethan and Orlando, revealing several stacked tables.
Hunter: What’s this?
Mackie: It looks like Ethan had something special set up for this Last Man Standing match.
Hunter: Tables, a whole stack of them waiting to be used. That’s why Ethan led Orlando to that area of the stands.
And it’s why Ethan will be sending Orlando flying off of it. He nails one punch after another across Orlando’s brow, knocking him to the edge of the stands, precariously poised high-high-HIGH above the tables. Orlando won’t be much longer, because Ethan is swinging around right into the Epic Fail. His boot grazes Orlando’s scalp, the Icon bends at just the right time to catch Ethan’s knee against his shoulder and back drop him. Ethan flies out of the stands, tumbles from great heights and crashes to extreme lows when he goes through not one, not two, but THREE tables. Ultimately his body smacks the concrete.
Hunter: OOOOH-M-G!
Mackie: Ethan sent all the way, ALL THE WAY, through those tables and to the floor.
Hunter: His plan failed him this time.
The fans inside of the San Siro are filling the arena with a reaction that rattles the very foundation of the arena. The screams are only getting louder when the referee starts his ten-count.
1
2
3
4
Ethan isn’t moving one inch as he lies amongst so many broken fragments of table.
5
6
7
Orlando gets to his feet in the stands, using the railing to get his balance and then looking down at his handiwork at the body broken amongst the tables.
8
9
A body that STILL isn’t moving.
10
A body that just failed to get up before the ten count.
Hunter: Ethan couldn’t do it. He couldn’t get up after going through all those tables!
Mackie: Meaning that this one is DONE.
Hunter: Amazingly Orlando procures a win after this grueling, BRUTAL confrontation!
Mackie: One he definitely had to earn.
A bag of ice is not going to do very much to mend the injury in Katelyn Buehler’s shoulder. Nevertheless she puts it to use, the World Champion employing whatever tactics she can to bring down the inflammation before she sets out to defend her title in a triple threat bout. She goes on icing her arm while pacing her dressing room, though she won’t enjoy her self-imposed isolation for much longer.
Douglas: You had no right!
Destiny: She should know….
The sounds of a quarrel filters into the room and descends upon Katelyn’s ears. Like a moth to a bug light, Katelyn finds herself drawn to her doom. She steps towards the open door and peers out into the hall where her agent Dan Douglas is in the midst of an argument with her friend Destiny Nichols.
Destiny: You’re the one in the wrong here, Dan, don’t you see that?
Douglas: ME? I’m the only person who’s protecting her. Can’t YOU see that?
Destiny: By brainwashing her? By turning her into a friggin sleeper agent?
Douglas: I’ll do what it takes to keep Katelyn safe….
Destiny: Even when it’s against her will?
Douglas: If that’s what it…..
Katelyn: What are you two arguing about NOW?
Douglas is startled by the eavesdropper. He tries not to show it, wearing a smooth smile as he twists to the doorway where Katelyn is stood.
Douglas: Nothing to concern yourself with.
Katelyn: You two have been ‘tense’ lately. (Smiling) Sexual tension?
The mere insinuation makes Destiny’s skin turn green.
Destiny: Yuck.
Douglas: Don’t be silly Ka….(turning to Destiny) what do you mean, YUCK?
Katelyn: So what are you two arguing about?
Douglas: Just a difference of opinions is all….
Destiny: You don’t remember?
Katelyn: Huh? What am I SUPPOSED to remember?
Destiny: You really don’t remember what I told you two weeks ag….
Douglas: It’s not important, but I’ll tell you what is, making sure your arm (looks at Katelyn’s injured shoulder) holds up during your World Title defense.
Katelyn: Then it’s time for you to work your magic.
The very talisman that possesses hypnotics powers is already out of Douglas’ pocket and in his hand.
Douglas: (Opening palm and gesturing to the room Katelyn is stood in the doorway to) After you.
Katelyn walks back into the room and Douglas follows. Destiny is trailing behind them but she is stopped in the hallway, Douglas’ hand pressed to her shoulder.
Douglas: I think it would be best if you stayed out of this.
Before Destiny can argue she finds the door closing straight in her face.
We cut to backstage, and Ambrosia, the Harlequin of Hardcore, walking through the corridors, a large box in her hands. It isn’t long till she finds a member of the staff, and stops him in his tracks
Crew: Can I do something for you Miss Ambrosia?
Ambrosia: Just Ambrosia, it’s not Sunday. Or Snookum’s, I like it when people call me snookum’s. Go on…do it.
Crew: I…
Ambrosia: Look, at the moment I’m being playful. Don’t change my mood ok? Do you know what I’m like when I’m angry?
The crew member shakes his head
Ambrosia: I’m like a pit-bull…
Crew: OK…
Ambrosia: Chewing on a wasp.
Crew: Right?
Ambrosia: Sliding down a razor blade
The crew member raises his eyes
Ambrosia: Into a tank of venomous cobras…does that sound in any way fun to you?
Crew: No Miss…I mean snookum’s
Ambrosia: There you go. Seeing as you are my new BFF, I need you to do me a favor, can you do that for me?
Crew: Yes
Ambrosia: Good, I want you to take this box, and deliver it to my lover Riddick. You think you can do that?
The crew member nods
Ambrosia: Only Riddick, that’s important
Crew: I’ll see to it
Ambrosia: Good, and when you’ve done, come and find me. Got something else you can do for me
The crew member nods, and makes his way down the corridor.
Ambrosia: Tonight is going to be such fun. I can feel it.
The camera forces every viewer to look up high-high-HIGH to the top of a ladder. The way it’s presented makes for an imposing visual, but the woman that’s walking around it is NOT intimidated. Marina Valdivia circles the ladder, staring it up and staring it down. She even tests it by stepping under the ladder, grabbing either of the rungs at her sides then shaking them to ensure everything is stable.
Sparkles: Looks like Marina Valdivia is getting herself geared up for the Stairway to Hell match.
Greyson: A bout with dire implications for Marina. She takes on New Eden’s Cassidy Haze, and should she lose that match then she’ll be out of tonight’s Rumble. Potentially throwing away her dream of earning a World Title opportunity at Invictus.
Frankie: Like she’ll stand a chance in hell of winning the Rumble anyways after she gets torn to shreds by Cassidy Haze. She’ll walk into the Rumble in worse shape than any woman who accepted a drink from Bill Cosby.
Greyson: We’ve got that Stairway to Hell bout, we’ve got Ambrosia versus Riddick inside of Hell in a Cell, and we’ve got Selena Frost to face Desmond Drake for her Queen of Wrestling Title. So much still to come tonight.
Cameras cut back to the pay-per-view set, back to the tumbler, and back to the two authority figures stood on either side of it. UWA GM David Helms and IWC Principle Owner Karen McBride remain optimistic in spite of everything they’ve seen throughout the night.
Hunter: Alright, can it IWC commentary team, leave the rest of the night to the professionals.
Mackie: They couldn’t turn it over to us a moment sooner.
Dollar: Looks like our head honchos are ready to call out a few more participants in tonight’s Rumble.
Mackie: Well go ahead Hunter, run on up there and grab your number out of the tumbler.
Hunter: No thanks. I’ll pass.
Hunter: Earlier on Uprising’s own Chris Davids came out and selected his spot and he looked pretty damn happy about it.
Mackie: Same couldn’t be said for either Ethan Von Aaron or Orlando Cruze.
The tumbler keeps rotating, mixing up all the numbers inside literally while Helms and McBride are mixing up figuratively.
Karen: Here we go again. Milan (gets the good ole’ fashion cheap pop), it’s time to bring out two more Rumble participants to select their numbers, and…..
Helms: Karen (stepping directly in front of the Principle Owner), we’ve spent enough time together tonight to be on a first name basis, right?
Karen: I doubt it would matter if I disagreed.
Helms: Right. Anyway, before you bring anyone out here and they take their number, I’ve got a bit of an announcement to make. Now far be it from me to grandstand….
Karen: Really?
Helms: But I think the next person who draws their number should be the NEWEST member of the UWA roster….
Drew Bryant: I do apologize for this interruption.
There is a largely mixed reaction directed at the Majority Owner of the IWC AND the UWA, the man who pushes more buttons than an IT specialist. Drew Bryant looks strangely relaxed as he’s pushed along on his wheelchair to the stage. His lady love Kitty Buehler steers him straight into the spotlight.
Mackie: To what do we owe the honor of having our esteemed President Drew Bryant out here?
Dollar: Pay raises for everyone! HAZZAH!
Hunter: Like you NEED a pay raise?
Dollar: Right now I own a Hawker 800XP, but with a little extra income I can buy a Gulfstream G280.
Hunter: I feel so bad for you, Johnny.
Bryant soaks in the lukewarm response from the thousands of Italians in attendance. He does not however, pretend to notice the disappointment of either McBride or Helms, who were right in the midst of business.
Bryant: Let me reiterate just how sorry I am for barging my way into the spotlight, but I did hear someone say something about…grandstanding….
Mackie: Pfft, he can’t even STAND at all.
Hunter: Quiet you, or I’ll bring out the muzzle again.
Bryant: And no one grandstands better than Drew Bryant, the owner of both the UWA and the IWC…
Helms chuckles and McBride shrugs.
Bryant: Spotlight mongering isn’t what brings me out here though, even if I do possess a certain flare for it. No, I’m here not to distract from this moment but to enhance it. You fans in attendance tonight, and those watching from all corners of the world, may not appreciate the fact that this is the final time that the Uprising and Riot brands will be competing beneath the same umbrella. After tonight we embark on a brand new journey, one that will see the Uprising roster go from a brand that operates under the IWC, to its very own fully funded, fully fledged federation, fully rechristened as the Uprising Wrestling Association….or UWA for those who LOVE abbreviations. My baby is growing up.
Hunter: That was huge news for us on the Uprising roster.
Mackie: Feel bad for everyone over in IWC, they’ll never get a chance to be in the same building with yours truly again.
Dollar: Is it too late to sign with Riot then?
Mackie: Oh hardy-har-har.
Bryant: So this is it, the final night that you, David Helms, and you, Karen McBride, will be working together, and the very last time I’ll be wheeled out and put on display for the IWC. After this pay-per-view I will be selling my 75% stock in the IWC, and putting all my capital and all my resources behind the UWA. I want to create my own unique legacy, and the UWA will grant me the opportunity to do just that. I hope everyone watching joins both myself and the Uprising roster on this new and exciting venture…..
Helms: Alright-alright Bryant, if you’re done sounding like a glorified infomercial, I got some business to handle.
Bryant grins and extends a hand towards Helms as if to imply that the pulpit is once again his.
Helms: Before you came out here I was right in the middle of making my OWN statement, one that’s going to ensure that the UWA kicks off with an explosive premier.
Bryant: Liking the sounds of this already.
Helms: Now far be it from me to cut the legs out from under a competitor….
Bryant: (Growls) Careful….
Helms: Oh (gestures to Bryant’s wheelchair) erm…poor choice of words. Anyway, I wasn’t hired just for my looks, although I’m sure they played a part, what I was hired for is my cunning and my savvy. Characteristics I’m sure every fan of the new UWA will appreciate when I unveil the talent that I just coaxed over from the IWC….
Karen: Excuse me?
Helms: Now-now, before you get into an uproar, your crew have been dropping less than subtle hints that you pilfered one of my top stars and you’ve yet to do me the courtesy of telling me who that talent is, so you’re just getting a taste of your own medicine.
Karen doesn’t have to like this, but she does have to deal with it.
Helms: So with that said, it’s just about time for me to introduce to the world, the newest member of the UWA. A FORMER World Champion….
Karen REALLY doesn’t have to like this.
Helms: Why don’t you come out here and draw your number for the Rumble……SERENITY.
Hunter: GOD…IN….HEAVEN.
The commentators aren’t the only ones surprised as former IWC World Champion Serenity makes her way to the stage. The depraved young lady smiles ever so cynically at the likes of a stunned Bryant, a stunned McBride and a stunned audience. She even offers them all a regal like waving of her hand before that hand ends up reaching into the tumbler. She takes out her number, examines it and then winks in Helms’ direction.
Mackie: THIS IS HUGE!
Dollar: Wow….I mean…WOW….Serenity is coming to the UWA? That is so unreal. There hasn’t been a debut this big since I showed up at the Uprising commentary booth.
Hunter: This is a MAJOR talent acquisition.
Mackie: I take back every negative thing I was GOING to say about Helms. He’s given us a former World Champion.
After selecting her number from the tumbler, Serenity blows a kiss at McBride, and then tussles the hair on top of the wheelchair bound Bryant. He doesn’t look all that pleased that another member of New Eden, the very same collective of psychopaths who took away the use of his legs, has just joined HIS UWA.
Karen: Congrats Helms…well played.
At least McBride is a good sport. She even offers a half-hearted clap for Helms after Serenity has vanished into the backstage area.
Karen: I gotta commend you. I didn’t see that one coming.
Helms bows oh so gracefully.
Karen: Serenity definitely gives the UWA a leg up….
Bryant: Excuse me!?!
Karen: Erm, bad phrasing. Anyway, she gives the UWA a BOOST headed into the Rumble later tonight. Buuuut I’m afraid that even she’s not going to stand a chance against the next member of the Riot roster I’m inviting out to draw her number….the Snow Queen Selena Frost.
It takes a moment for the crowd to get over their shock after Serenity’s defection to UWA, but they finally begin to cheer their heads off at the sight of Selena Frost. The rightful Queen of Wrestling Champion, sans title belt, comes to the stage and absorbs the sound of thousands and thousands chanting ‘we believe.’
Hunter: Karen isn’t kidding, Serenity is going to have a tough time tangling with the likes of Selena Frost in the Rumble.
Mackie: And Selena’s gonna have her hands full when she takes on Desmond Drake for possession of the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Dollar: Whoa…hahahahaha…hold on…hahahaha…time out. Did you just imply that Desmond Drake was going to be a THREAT to Selena Frost?
Mackie: Hey, I watch Riot, sometimes, and over the last two shows Drake has managed to leave with Selena’s Queen of Wrestling Title. He’s like water, he just keeps slipping right through Selena’s fingers.
One thing that will not slip through Selena’s hand is the number that she is drawing from the tumbler. She throws the tiny plastic ball into the air and then swats it aside like Mr. Perfect displacing a piece of bubble gum. The number she took from it is examined and it brings a smirk to her face. That grin widens when McBride whispers something into Selena’s ear.
Karen: Best of luck.
Selena: (Grinning at McBride) I don’t need luck…I’ve got BELIEF.
Selena heads down the ramp and towards the ring where before she fights in the Rumble she will be competing for possession of her Queen of Wrestling Title.
Hunter: Well guys, as I understand it, Selena’s match against Drake is coming at us right now.
Dollar: Is Selena going to finally get back her Queen of Wrestling Title?
Mackie: Noooooot happening.
Dollar: Not if Dessie D hides behind all those masked assassins he’s been using to get the better of Selena.
If there’s one visual we don’t need it’s a close up on Desmond Drake’s face. Although half of his skull is hidden under a gray bandana, unfortunately his weasely smirk is still visible. So too is the stolen Queen of Wrestling Championship that sits over his shoulder. His short stature seems to take up a lot of space in the backstage area with a number of gray steel beams lining the walls behind him. Sadly there is not much to detract from the sight of his grin.
Drake: Selena Frost BELIEVES she deserves the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Drake rolls his eyes.
Drake: Selena Frost BELIEVES that she earned the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Drake makes a jerking off motion.
Drake: Selena Frost BELIEVES that she can take the Queen of Wrestling Title from me.
Drake unleashes a bellowing laugh.
Drake: Selena Frost BELIEVES a lot of things, but the power of belief won’t save her from REALITY. See, I’M reality. And reality is going to remind Selena that she never deserved to hold the Queen of Wrestling Title. Reality will prove to Selena that she did not EARN this title. Reality is going to keep her from getting her filthy, icy hands on the belt. In reality, the great, honorable Silas Mason entrusted me with the duties of christening a brand new Queen of Wrestling Champion, and I did not GIVE the title to Selena, so I’m not about to let her TAKE it.
Drake looks past the camera.
Drake: That’s where you come in.
Said camera turns to bring two ladies into view that are bedecked in head to toe leather ensembles, their faces buried beneath ski masks. Though their identities are shrouded, their motives are clear.
SELENA FROST VS. DESMOND DRAKE:
QUEEN OF WRESTLING TITLE
There’s a bounce in Selena Frost’s step as she bounds from one set of ropes to another. Obviously the Snow Queen is very enthused at the thought of a potential confrontation with Desmond Drake, a fight that will culminate to the return of her Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Greyson: Selena Frost is anxious for this one guys.
Sparkles: This is a huge night for her. She’s got this match against Desmond Drake to look forward to, and then she’s got the Rumble coming up later tonight.
Frankie: She’s biting off way more than she can chew. It’s like when Gabourey Sidibe tries to fit an entire lobster in her mouth, it’s just not gonna happen.
Greyson: Selena has been aching to get her hands on Drake ever since HE got HIS hands on the Queen of Wrestling Championship. He stole the title from Selena and has thus far been able to elude her ever since.
Selena comes to a rest in the middle of the ring where she crouches down and puts hands on her knees. Her eyes are fixed on the stage where the reviled Desmond Drake is now standing, her belt over his shoulder.
Drake: Let’s get one thing straight here lil Mrs. Icy Britches…..
Drake just won’t stop talking, not even as he walks towards the ring.
Drake: You must have frost bite in your brain if you think you’re leaving with the title tonight. Face REALITY, you haven’t gotten the belt from me yet and you won’t get it from me now. I’m like….hmmm….how can I describe it in a way YOU would understand? Oh yeah, I’m like ICE….I’m just too slick!
In Selena’s mind that’s about to change. But there’s a separation between what her mind wants and what her body can deliver. Two figures slide into the ring behind Selena and try to debilitate that body. These individuals are clad in black clothing and equally as dark ski masks. They pounce on Selena, dropping her to the canvas and pinning her beneath their boots.
Greyson: Not again!
Sparkles: For weeks Drake has been bringing in one masked woman after another to attack Selena, and now there’s TWO of them.
Frankie: Who’s under those masks this time? The Olsen twins?
Greyson: Whoever they are, they got the drop on Frost.
Yes Selena was dropped, but she will rise.
As one of the masked attackers sends her boot hurdling towards Selena’s skull it’s caught. The Queen of Wrestling Champion grabs her assailant around the ankle and then pushes the foot away from her skull. That leg swings right along into the waiting arms of her partner in crime. The other masked attacker finds her own leg caught, trapped in Selena’s clutches. The Champion hits a dragon screw whip, sending one person flipping over, wait, not one but TWO people. As the masked lady goes crashing to the ring she holds tight to her associate’s leg, pulling her over as well. A double dragon screw leg whip sends both of Selena’s assailants to the canvas.
Sparkles: They couldn’t keep Selena down for long.
Frankie: Where does Dessie get his henchmen? The discount cart at K-Mart?
The double dragon screw whip has either masked lady agonizing, though if they thought they were in pain before they have no idea what they’re in store for next. One is starting towards her feet before Selena snatches them around the neck, locking in the front chancery as a precursor for the Icebreaker.
Greyson: The Icebreaker is about to finish off just one of these ladies.
Frankie: It won’t help her, cause once Dessie D gets in there it’s all over.
Drake isn’t going any further than the apron, frightfully watching as Selena prepares to execute the implant DDT. Although Drake isn’t going to stop her, a few more of his ‘friends’ might. Just when Selena has turned the tide against her attackers, not one, not two, but THREE more assailants in ski masks come barreling from the crowd and into the ring.
Greyson: There’s even more?
Sparkles: Now there’s three masked ladies jumping out of the crowd!
Frankie: Dessie D must buy his henchwomen in bulk.
Sparkles: Sparkles wonders if they’re like the fembots in Austin Powers. Be wary of the gas shooting from their nipples, Selena.
It isn’t gas or nipples Selena has to defend herself against. One woman jumps on Selena’s back and latches on a sleeper hold while another is kicking her straight in the ribs. The lady that Selena WAS going to hit with the Icebreaker has freed herself and is now getting some retribution on Frost by slapping her upside the cheek with some punches. The fright that Drake exhibited moments ago is replaced with a grin bigger than the height of his own body.
Drake: Finish this already!
He orders, watching as one of the five ladies lifts Selena up onto her shoulders in an electric chair drop position. She positions Selena for another of the attackers, who is presently scaling a turnbuckle.
Greyson: Doomsday Device coming.
Frankie: And it WILL be Selena’s doomsday.
The masked woman perched on the turnbuckle comes flying off into a clothesline that collides with Selena’s throat. The impact sends Selena flipping off the shoulders she was loaded on top of and down to the ring where she is held firmly in place. Two of her attackers have dropped down and are holding Selena’s ankles and wrists to the canvas, trapping her and exposing her to the next move intended to cripple her chances of regaining the Queen of Wrestling Title and cripple her body. There’s a masked woman stood on the top rope, waiting to go airborne with her landing zone designated as Selena’s ribcage. She comes flying off into the elbow drop, and it connects, with the small of one of her own partners’ backs. Selena sits up and causes the woman who was holding onto her wrists to be pulled into the flightpath of the elbow that was hurdling in Frost’s direction.
Drake’s face starts to resemble the color of milk. Terror creeps into his eyes when he watches Selena roll back and onto her feet before leaping into a stereo clothesline that takes down two of his bodyguards. Although three of her masked attackers have been taken out, there’s still two more waiting in the wings to get the drop on her. Their forearms smack across Selena’s back and drop her to her knees. The blows keep on coming and keep on wearing the Champion down.
One of the masked woman take Selena under the chin and pulls back to keep her face exposed to the boot that comes hurdling towards it. The other lady in black responsible for Selena’s injuries looks to exacerbate them. She comes charging in and hits a kick straight across…THIN AIR.
Selena avoids calamity at the last potential moment, slipping back through the arms of the woman who was holding her and avoiding the boot that was on the verge of cracking her in the cheek. Selena goes on slipping, ending up traveling through the legs of her captor and then ending up outside of the ring. She has no intention of returning to the squared circle, instead she’s running around it to get her hands on the man who was immensely enjoying her misery.
Sparkles: Selena’s after Drake!
Greyson: She’s right on his heels.
Frankie: Would one of the fifty million ladies in the ring do something to actually help Drake?
That’s just what they’re doing, scrambling over one another as they go to help Drake. He helps HIMSELF to the best of his abilities by doing what he does best, running like he’s in a neck to neck race with Jessie Owens. He’s bolting up the ramp and doing so with Selena’s Queen of Wrestling Title still in his grips. But Selena is right there behind him, her longer legs making it possible for her to catch up with Drake and ALMOST get her fingers around his neck. Somehow Drake slips out of Selena’s clutches and makes it into the backstage area.
Greyson: Crap, Drake does it again…
Frankie: Told you Selena wouldn’t get back her Queen of Wrestling Title.
Sparkles: Drake is just too elusive, and those ladies in masks provided the perfect distraction to allow him to scamper away with…..
Greyson: Don’t say ‘with his tail between his legs,’ cause we all know that Drake has NOTHING between his legs.
Cameras have transitioned to the outside of a locker-room designated for Monarchy. The sounds of loud music can be heard filtering out from the room and into the hallway. It appears as if some type of party is ongoing within the confines of the dwelling where Monarchy have set up shop.
Greyson: What’s going on here? Are Monarchy having some type of party?
Sparkles: Certainly sounds like it.
Frankie: They’re in a rather festive mood, and they have every right to be. Later tonight one of their own Taylor Chase challenges for the World Title in a triple threat match.
Greyson: Then she SHOULDN’T be partying right now.
Frankie: Shouldn’t she be? She knows it’s a foregone conclusion that she’ll be beating Mika Kozlov and Katelyn Buehler later. We’re going to see a new champion crowned, and Tay-Tay will be her name. Let’s get the party started.
Monarchy are already on it, hence the sounds of raised voices and even louder music pumping out from their dressing room.
Darkness. Pure darkness, and maybe just a slight smidgeon of malice. That’s what you see in the eyes of Cassidy Haze, eyes surrounded by cavernous sockets as deep as they are shadowy. Her pupils, black and dilated, are fixated upon an item that remains out of view. Like a vulture that hovers over carrion, Cassidy circles and circles an unseen object, an object that satiates her lustful cravings for chaos. Soon that object centered in the corridor where Cassidy paces is brought up from a table and positioned in front of the camera. Suddenly everyone wishes they hadn’t found out what tickled Cassidy’s fancy, because what she has in her grips is a board wrapped in barbwire.
Frankie: Oh shit on a shingle.
Greyson: Cassidy Haze admiring that barbwire board.
Sparkles: It’s gonna be hung above the ring during Cassidy’s match against Marina Valdivia.
Greyson: The only way to reach it will be via climbing a ladder.
Frankie: Stairway to Hell still to come later tonight.
Cassidy continues to admire the barbwire and Cindy Todd admires her pledge. The leader of New Eden approaches her pupil and graces her cheek with the back of her knuckles.
Cindy: You WILL win tonight. You WILL keep Marina out of the Rumble. Because if you don’t, what Marina does to you will be nothing compared to what I do.
Cameras return to the interior of the arena, fixated on a demonic structure, the epitome of hardcore….a Hell in a Cell. It looms high over the squared circle but at any moment it will make its descent and surround two of the most vicious athletes to ever lace up their wrestling boots.
Mackie: Speaking of hell, our ‘pals’ over in the IWC might have a Stairway to it, but we got a cell designed to encase it.
Hunter: We’ve got ourselves a Hell in a Cell match still to come later tonight when the ‘Harlequin of Hardcore’ Ambrosia battles the malcontent Riddick.
Dollar: It’s gonna be a bloody night setting the stage for the Rumble still to come.
Hunter: The Hell in a Cell just one of several high profile bouts to come this evening, that along with the eagerly anticipated Uprising World Title match that will pit champion Vanilla Skyy against challenger Gavin Taylor. And speaking of that match, we’ve got broadcast colleague Sallie standing by to talk with Gavin on the eve of his huge championship opportunity.
A microphone toting Sallie occupies a backstage corridor where she anticipates an interview with number one contender to the Uprising title, Gavin Taylor.
Sallie: Thanks fellas. I’m standing by here just outside of the dressing room of Gavin Taylor, who later tonight will challenge for the Uprising World Championship. It was just a few weeks ago that we saw Gavin take the champ Vanilla Skyy to her absolute physical limit only to come up short of capturing the gold. Will tonight be a different story? We’ll find out what the challenger intends to do differently when I ask Gav….in…….Tay…..lor….
Sallie turns into a stammering mess when finding herself in the presence of three of the most imposing figures to ever haunt the halls of the IWC. The beast Decay, the demure but demonic Eve, and the ghostly Ba’al, descend upon the correspondent and surround her. Sallie looks nervous to say the least to find herself in the company of the Sinistry.
Ba’al: You yearn for an interview….?
Sallie reluctantly nods her head.
Ba’al: Then dear girl, you should not desire to interview a worthless man like Gavin Taylor. You should interview someone with MERIT….
His finger points into the camera.
Ba’al: Interview someone who MATTERS. Interview OUR (gestures to the Sinistry) unstoppable Vanilla Skyy.
Decay strong-arms Sallie right out of camera’s shot and down a corridor. The camera remains positioned on the doorway that leads into Gavin Taylor’s dressing room. Apparently we will not be hearing from him after-all.
Tabitha: I’ve been receiving death threats.
A chilling comment from a haunting woman. Tabitha Silverstone stands in a corridor talking to someone stationed just behind the camera, giving them all the deadly details. For an agent who is apparently being threatened she sure looks confident and speaks without even the faintest hint of fear.
Tabitha: For weeks now she’s been stalking me, threatening me, threatening my clients. I’m more worried about them than I am myself, to be honest. Marina and Andre, the two of them mean everything to me, and she’s-she’s trying to take them down a very dangerous, no, deadly path.
Voice: Why didn’t you go to management about this?
Tabitha: Because they’ve put me in harm’s way repeatedly. They let people assault me over and over again even though I’m NOT a trained wrestler. Now they’re sitting on their hands while I’m being threatened and physically assaulted AGAIN. This time it’s different though, I’m legitimately worried for my life, and for the life of my clients. You’ve GOT to help me.
The camera finally turns and brings the man that was talking to Tabitha into view, and that man just so happens to have a police shield hanging from the chest pocket of his jacket. He puts away his small notepad and his hand comes to a rest on the holstered pistol.
Officer: Who’s making these threats against you?
Tabitha: (Taking a deep breath) Victoria…..Victoria Salinas.
Karen: That was a shrewd move, Helms.
Whispers IWC Principle Owner Karen McBride, still not very happy that UWA GM David Helms managed to out maneuver her moments ago. The two remain on either side of a tumbler, and it’s probably a very good thing that it separates them given the state of McBride’s mind. Helms just stands there on the stage grinning and giving himself a mental pat on the back for managing to woo one of McBride’s talents away from her brand.
Greyson: Karen McBride and David Helms still out here overseeing their respective rosters as they draw their numbers….
Sparkles: But who’s going to oversee the overseers? Cause they look like they’re about to go at it themselves.
Frankie: Awww, is poor wittle baby McBride all sad cause UWA stole Serenity from our brand? Here’s a hanky for her eyes, and if she needs to suck on something I got that taken care of too….
Greyson: Frankie, you really must not value job security.
Karen takes a breath, gets over the loss of one of her talents and gets back to business.
Karen: Oh well (sigh), the night isn’t over, still plenty of time to put the ball back in my court.
Helms: I do enjoy a friendly challenge of one-upmanship. So by all means, why don’t you just go ahead, stop hinting around and just reveal who it is you managed to steal from the UWA roster? Your employee Mark Comeau already hinted at it several weeks ago.
Karen: Hmmmm….naaaaah….I think I’ll wait for just the right moment. And that moment isn’t right now darling. Instead what I’ll do is bring out another member of MY roster to draw their number. Meaning you’re just going to have to wait MISTER.
Helms rubs at his temple with one hand and then gestures towards the back with the other.
Helms: Well bring them on out.
Karen Alright…ladies and gentlemen (turns to the crowd), at this moment please welcome another IWC talent set to compete in tonight’s Last Stand Rumble….Flash Silver.
The self-appointed terrorist hunter and ultra-patriotic Flash Silver responds to his introduction. Although his neck is wrapped in a collar nothing is going to keep him from selecting his number from the tumbler on the stage and then competing in the Rumble itself. Well…nothing except for the brutal thrust kick that nails him right in the back of his previously injured neck. Flash is instantly rendered a drooling mess as he falls flat on his face, landing at the feet of the woman who just blindsided him from behind. That woman is the Queen of Chaos, Cindy Todd.
Greyson: Flash Silver blindsided…blindsided by CINDY TODD!
Frankie: The Queen of Chaos has just descended upon us, which means we’re all pretty much….fucked.
Sparkles: Why is Cindy attacking Flash?
Frankie: Really? REALLY? You think Cindy NEEDS motives for anything that she does?
Greyson: Cindy is in an even more destructive mood than normal. Her group New Eden seems to be unraveling. First her former follower Mika Kozlov throws a fireball into her face three weeks ago and now tonight her Princess of Chaos, Serenity, has just went over to the UWA.
Frankie: Ooooh great, Cindy in a bad mood? That’s like a nuclear bomb with anger issues.
Surprisingly Cindy doesn’t look angry, in spite of the fact that she nearly beheaded Flash with a superkick. She steps over the body of the fallen patriot and moves towards McBride.
Karen: What the hell is this?
The angry owner is pointing down at Flash and then back at Cindy.
Karen: Who do you think you….
Cindy: You KNOW who I am. (Stepping up straight into McBride’s face) And you KNOW what I am capable of.
The threat isn’t very subtle.
Cindy: I’ve come out here with something to say, and you will NOT interrupt me.
Instead of approaching McBride, the attention of the Queen is focused on Helms.
Cindy: I believe you owe me your eternal gratitude.
Helms: My grat….
Cindy: Did I not specify that you were to remain QUIET when I speak? If it weren’t for me, Serenity wouldn’t have come to your UWA.
A surprising statement to say the least.
Cindy: Serenity didn’t defect, she was SENT. I gave her a very special mission, a mission that required her departure from the Riot roster. But don’t fret McBride….
In a seductive manner Cindy extends her hand and slips it under the chin of the Principle Owner, stroking her jaw.
Cindy: The void that Serenity left behind will be filled. I promise that I will have a NEW follower coming to the IWC….
Helms: Enough…(Helms waves his hands in front of Cindy)….We’re not going to play your games….
Cindy: (Smiling) As if you have a choice in the matter. You have less options than all those who compete in tonight’s Rumble. Their only fate is to be tossed over the top rope and suffer elimination at my hands.
The tumbler is opened and Cindy removes her number. The ball it’s encased inside is squeezed so tight in her palm.
Cindy: You Helms, have less options than Marina Valdivia, who will be like all those in the Rumble this evening, she will know the joys of the SUFFERING.
The moment that Cindy finishes her sentence the lyrics of Cassidy Haze’s theme music start to filter through the loud speakers. Cindy doesn’t even turn to face the entry way behind her back that Cassidy Haze is now stepping out of. The New Eden member steps to her Queen’s side and then listens to the instructions that Cindy whispers into her ears. Cassidy then takes off for the squared circle where she will compete in a Stairway to Hell bout.
Frankie: Ohhh this is gonna be good.
Greyson: Good? No, more like ghoulish.
Sparkles: Cindy Todd sending one of her disciples of chaos down that ramp to compete against Marina Valdivia in the Stairway to Hell match.
Greyson: Marina loses, she’s out of the Rumble. But if Cassidy Haze wants to make it happen, she’s gotta go it alone. The rest of New Eden are banned from ringside.
CASSIDY HAZE VS. MARINA VALDIVIA:
STAIRWAY TO HELL
As Cassidy makes her descent down the ramp her Queen Cindy is backing through the curtains. Before she completely vanishes she pauses to take a look at the Principle Owner, the very woman responsible for banning her from ringside during this Stairway to Hell bout.
Cindy: I’ll be nice…..for now.
Cindy adheres to the rules of this bout, staying away from ringside and instead walking to the back. Haze now stands alone in the center of the squared circle and is looking at the weapon that is being clasped by a referee. The barbwire board that will be dangled above the ring is presently in the clutches of the official. The ref wraps the board in a cable and then watches as it rises from his hands and towards the heavens where it will be used to unleash hell. Haze has fallen to her knees in the middle of the ring, looking up at the 2×4 in a trance like state. She almost drools at the thought of putting it to use. Although her nose is still bruised, having suffered a fracture two weeks earlier, she can almost smell the scent of Marina’s blood yet to be spilled.
Frankie: Prepare to watch Cassidy turn into a tick, cause she’s gonna be draining every last ounce of blood from Marina’s body.
Greyson: There has been a lot of bloodshed during the build into this war. It was back at the End of the Year Special that Cassidy Haze returned to the IWC by ambushing Marina mere moments after she had endured a brutal Cartel Chaos bout.
Frankie: She cracked Marina right in the back of her noggin with a barbwire bat.
Sparkles: But Marina got just a smidgen of retribution three weeks ago when she broke Cassidy’s nose with a ladder.
Greyson: It may not be a SMIDGEN of revenge that Marina gets here tonight.
Frankie: Cause she’ll get no revenge at all. She’s doomed. Doomed. DOOMED.
Greyson: Take it down a notch, Frankie.
Haze’s knees are rooted to the ring and her eyes are glued to the barbwire high above it. It may not be much longer before she puts that weapon to use. In fact, she’s not even going to wait for her adversary’s entrance or the ring of the bell, she wants her hands on that barbwire and she wants it RIGHT NOW. Haze rolls from the squared circle and won’t be returning to it without a ladder in hand. Haze slides the weapon in, slides herself in and then begins to set the ladder right under a far more appetizing device of destruction. The crowd is crying out at the sight of Haze ascending towards the barbwire bat.
Frankie: Heh, this is genius.
Greyson: Haze isn’t even about to wait for the bout to start, or hell, she won’t wait on her opponent to make her entrance either, she’s going straight after the barbwire.
Sparkles: If Sparkles were Marina, I wouldn’t even bother to make my entrance then cause Cassidy’s got a brutal greeting waiting for her.
Frankie: If I were Marina, I’d wear a paper bag over my head, constantly. Actually, swap the paper bag with a plastic one.
It won’t be paper or plastic….or BLOOD….that is warn on the brow of Marina, not if she has anything to say about it. Well, it won’t be anything she says, it will be something she does. To the tunes of ‘Glamorous’ playing over the PA system, Marina comes running down the ramp. With the momentum of Speedy Gonzalez and with the urgency of the Roadrunner evading Willie Coyote, Marina hustles towards the ring.
Greyson: Marina desperately getting to that ring to stop Cassidy.
Sparkles: She might not be moving fast enough.
Frankie: Barry Allen she is not….hell, she’s not even Bart Allen….no, she’s not even Jay Garrick.
Sparkles: Sparkles has no idea who any of those people are? Is that the names of the Backstreet Boys?
The barbwire bat is just within Cassidy’s reach, her fingers almost grasping the weapon that will be instrumental in so much blood-loss. Cassidy may not get hold of the board, but Marina does get hold of her opponent’s ankles. With one good tug she drags Haze down from the ladder and to the middle of the ring, where much to the dismay of the audience she ends up landing straight on her feet. Haze quickly swings one of her feet around and catches Marina straight upside the temple with a kick, the blow sending her reeling into the ladder. Marina uses it to keep her balance, and soon uses it to her advantage.
The murderous Haze comes plowing along into her opponent’s back, diving into a spear. However, Marina sidesteps her at the last second and Cassidy goes flying past her and not into the ladder but THROUGH it.
A surprised Haze finds herself extended all the way through the ladder, legs dangling out of one side, her head out of the other.
Sparkles: Oh Gouda, Cassidy is stuck…stuck in the ladder.
Greyson: Which opens up a world of possibilities for her opponent.
Frankie: And not good possibilities either.
Marina goes hurdling into her opponent’s prone face with a basement dropkick. The shot knocks her nearly unconscious, causing Haze to go limp as she lies across the rungs of the ladder. Marina realizes that with Haze caught that she’s got a major opportunity, climbing the ladder and even putting her boot to the shoulder blades of her adversary as she ascends. She steps off Haze in order to get closer and closer to the barbwire above the squared circle.
Although Marina’s hands are mere inches from the board she can never take it into her possession, cause her foot is nabbed like it were caught in a bear-trap. Haze may still be stuck in the ladder but she’s able to get a hold of Marina’s leg. She gives it a yank so forceful that it pulls her right back down to the ring. Marina shows cat like reflexes in order to land on her feet and then displays quicker reflexes when she latches onto her opponent’s neck. Marina pulls Cassidy until her ankles are the only thing still draped over the ladder, but even they won’t be on the rungs for long. Marina hits a Tower of London style diamond cutter, dragging Cassidy’s face straight down to the canvas.
Sparkles: OOOOH golly, what a neck breaker!
Greyson: Haze dumped right on her face.
Frankie: That can’t do any favors to that nose she had broken three weeks ago.
The cutter sends Haze rolling from the ring and to the apron, putting herself as far away from the ladder. Haze might move away from it, but Marina is ascending it. She climbs the rungs and is almost at the top before she comes plunging to whole new depths. Marina looks down just in time to spot Cassidy, who has crawled into the ring and latched onto the legs of the ladder. She is trying her best to push it over and send the California All-Star tumbling all the way down off the top. Marina’s been there, she’s suffered that, and she’s not going to let it happen again.
Marina doesn’t go tumbling down she reaches down, grabbing Haze by the hair. She pulls her to her feet and puts a leg across the back of her opponent’s head, going for a modified bottoms up. The fans squeal in anticipation as Marina leaps off the ladder to hit the move, unfortunately her target keeps her footing. Haze displays her strength by countering Marina’s attempted maneuver, carrying her across the ring and throwing her clear over the top rope. Sadly Marina doesn’t have the chance to brace herself before her back smacks and smacks HARD into the ringside mats.
Greyson: Crash landing!
Frankie: God, Haze is freakishly strong.
Greyson: Like THAT’S the only thing freakish about her?
An addled Marina is using the apron to stand up before she’s kicked away from it. Haze hits a dropkick through the ropes that sends her victim hurdling into the barricade. Surprisingly Marina rebounds from the barricade, bouncing back towards the ring that her adversary is flipping off of. Haze leaps from the apron and into a blockbuster neck-breaker.
The strain on Marina’s neck has it on the brink of snapping, but Haze is going to make sure that it doesn’t just snap, it breaks clean in half. She’s going to use the steel steps in order to make that happen. She separates the upper and the bottom halves, using the lower section as the ultimate weapon. She leans that section of steps diagonally against the barricade and then prepares to introduce a body into it. She pulls Marina from the ground and then Irish whips her towards the steps slanted against the barrier. Right before she hits the steel Marina shows remarkable athleticism by jumping straight over it. She clears the stairs, clears the barricade and lands out amongst the people.
Cassidy comes hustling towards her adversary, only to run right into a forearm that smashes her upside the mouth. The blow to the kisser has rattled Cassidy to such an extent that she has no idea that Marina has made her way through the crowd and is now standing beside her on the opposite side of the barricade. Marina comes flipping over the barrier and into a head scissors, wrapping her legs around Haze’s neck. All that’s left to do is simply drop back and complete the move, but Haze isn’t letting that happen. Instead she keeps Marina on top of her shoulders, and holds her there until she’s run across the mats and flung her into a powerbomb. Marina goes flying back first straight into the steps leaning against the barricade.
Sparkles: Cassidy just broke her…She just broke Marina into a thousand pieces.
Frankie: She powerbombed her ass straight into those steps!
Sparkles: Now that ass has an even bigger crack in it than before.
The collision with the stairs has Marina looking as helpless as a deer stood between the headlights of a car….but it’s more like a locomotive that’s barreling towards her at the moment. Cassidy comes running towards her adversary and then forward flips into the cannonball, crushing Marina between her body and the steps.
Frankie: CAAAAANNOOONBALL!
The barbarism exhibited by Haze is only getting worse the longer and longer this bout continues. We see her depravity yet again as she decks Marina across the brow several times and then takes her by the ears. The back of Marina’s head is swung repeatedly into the stairs that she was seated up against. The multiple impacts with the stairs have Marina’s skull right on the point of splintering into a thousand broken fragments of bone.
Cassidy: The suffering! THE SUFFERING!!
Cries out the crazed Haze. We’ll see just how mentally unstable she is when Haze puts Marina’s face UNDER the steel steps her skull was being crushed against. The arch of the stairs are wedged against Marina’s mug and the steps are positioned vertically. Cassidy brings another toy into this battle, a steel chair, and it’s one that she swings straight into the top of the steps. As a result the stairs are driven down straight into Marina’s face. Cassidy keeps swinging the chair again and again and again into the steps, pushing the other side into her adversary’s forehead.
Frankie: If Cassidy doesn’t stop this then Marina’s face is gonna look worse than Sarah Jessica Parker’s. Ewwwww.
Sparkles: Sparkles just threw up in his mouth.
Frankie: Seriously, the Crypt Keeper will look better than Marina before Cassidy is through with her.
And Cassidy isn’t through yet. A chair and steel steps aren’t the weapons Cassidy came here with the intention of utilizing. She returns to the ring and quickly approaches the ladder set up in the center of it. She scales as fast as her war torn body will allow in order to reach the barbwire board that is hanging from the scaffolding. She reaches up for the board and she almost has her hands wrapped around it. Just as she is on the verge of acquiring her most prized possession she finds herself descending the ladder and in a hurry. Marina has come leaping off the top rope into a dropkick that nails the ladder under Cassidy’s feet, knocking her all the way from the top and all the way down to the ring below. The impact is downright fatal, Cassidy’s back withstanding the brunt of the collision.
Greyson: BIG FALL.
Sparkles: And a bad landing.
Frankie: Cassidy landed straight on her ass, which was already a pretty narrow behind to begin with.
Sparkles: It won’t be after that landing.
The ladder that Cassidy just tumbled from is still open even though it’s fallen completely over onto its side. It’s positioning is going to prove very advantageous….for Marina. She drags her opponent off the ring and then gives Haze a reverse suplex, a reverse suplex that drops her ribs right on top of the spreader assembly of the ladder.
Frankie: Yikes, she was just dropped straight on her womb.
Greyson: Thank God for that, I think we can all agree that Cassidy bringing offspring into the world would be worse than Rosemary’s Baby.
The spreader assembly continues to support Cassidy’s ribs, finding herself draped over them. Her adversary is stumbling towards the nearest turnbuckle, scaling it all the way up to the top and then flying off into a double stomp. She drives her boots into Cassidy’s back, slamming her ribs down even further into the spreader assembly. A coughing and gagging Haze looks like she’s about to spew out blood due to her internal injuries. Marina is more consumed with inflicting external wounds however.
Marina knocks Cassidy down off the spreader assembly and then grabs the legs of the ladder, standing it up to position it straight under the barbwire board. It may take her some time to do it but Marina climbs as fast as her battle tested body will let her. She’s verging closer and closer to the barbwire, hands extending out to take down the weapon. She’s ALMOST got it…but ALMOST is as close as she gets. Just before Marina can take down the barbwire bat she finds her wrists caught on something and that something are the hands of her adversary. Cassidy has climbed up the opposite side of the ladder and is now holding tight to the wrists of her opponent. She pulls on those wrists in order to drag Marina’s face forward straight into the rungs of the ladder. She then pulls AGAIN, slamming Marina’s skull into the ladder a second time, then a third and a fourth time. Finally Marina’s wrists are freed but only so that Cassidy can take her by the hair instead. She pulls until Marina is dragged over the ladder and loaded onto her shoulder.
Greyson: No….oh God no….
Sparkles: Don’t do it Cassidy.
Thousands of voices cry out simultaneously as Cassidy prepares to hit a Michinoku Driver from the very top of the ladder. But Marina isn’t about to let her Rumble ambitions…no…her career come to an end like this. She nails an elbow into Cassidy’s temple, and then does so again until she’s able to squirm out of her opposition’s arms. She comes down onto the opposite side of the ladder as her opponent and then reaches up for the barbwire board. She’s got it, but she’s not pulling it down. A thumb digs straight into her eyes, blinding her and leaving her unable to block what follows next. Cassidy takes Marina by the back of the head and now leaps from the ladder into a one handed bulldog.
Greyson: OOOOOH!
Sparkles: That was the NASTIEST bulldog that Sparkles has ever seen.
Frankie: I told you! I told you all that Marina would be in no condition to compete in the Rumble even if she does win this.
Greyson: For the first time in your life, you’re right Frankie.
Frankie: Good, I was right before you lost your virginity.
Marina’s landing was every bit as devastating as one would think. The collision with the canvas has just inflicted irreparable damage on her face, a face that Cassidy feels justified in assaulting given the injuries Marina inflicted on Haze’s nose three weeks earlier. That last move took something out of Cassidy as well, just not enough to keep her down for long. She takes the ladder, closes the spread assembly and then places the structure in the turnbuckle. Banged up as she may be Cassidy pulls her opponent up to her feet and puts absolutely all of her strength into an Irish whip, sending her adversary flying back first into the ladder. Marina hits the rungs with so much force that she actually goes flipping up and over them. Eventually she comes crashing down onto the apron where all her effort is put into convalescing her wounds.
The strain of her impact with the ladder has taken a tremendous toll on Marina, who is now employing the ropes to reach her feet. She’s finally standing on the apron and just in time to catch a ladder as it comes flying towards her face. Cassidy has taken the ladder away from the turnbuckle and is throwing it over the ropes at her adversary. Somehow her opponent has the wherewithal to catch the rungs right before they crack her in the mug. She only makes one mistake though, she is still holding the ladder instead of tossing it aside. This allows Cassidy an opportunity to springboard off one set of ropes, twist in mid-air and dropkick the ladder straight into Marina’s face. The sickening sound of steel hitting skull echoes throughout the arena and the pain from that collision reverberates through the victim’s head. Marina twists from the apron down to the floor where she will no doubt languish. Meanwhile the ladder that smacked her in the mouth has fallen back into the ring and fallen back at the feet of her opponent.
Cassidy puts the ladder up and places it under the barbwire bat swaying high above the ring. After the multiple injuries she’s sustained in this match it takes a struggle for Cassidy to climb but that’s just what she does. She ascends each rung closer and closer to the barbwire board until at very last her hands are wrapping around it. Haze takes down the board, and that means one thing, that her opponent is in for some real SUFFERING.
Greyson: Oh no, ooooooh no, Haze has got it, Haze got that barbwire board.
Frankie: Someone give Marina a white flag to wave. Here, she can use one of my socks.
Greyson: Please don’t take your shoes off, the fragrance is worse than tear gas.
Sparkles: It smells like that cheese that expired two months ago Sparkles found in the back of the cabinet.
Greyson: Which you still ate by the way.
There’s only one thing that Cassidy can smell, the odor of the blood that is about to ooze from Marina’s veins. She descends the ladder with barbwire in her hands and approaches the ropes that separate her from her adversary. An unsuspecting Marina is leaning her back to the apron and pawing at a face that was just crushed by a ladder. Though now that face is about to be hit by something else, the barbwire board that is lowering towards it. From the ring Cassidy is leaning over the ropes and trying to place the barbwire board that is extended between her palms straight into her adversary’s face. The weapon is about to rip into her flesh but Marina realizes the calamity she’s in store for. She reaches out and grabs the board, pushing it back from her face, refusing to see chunks of her flesh hanging from the barbs.
Greyson: Marina fighting it, fighting it for all she’s worth.
Sparkles: She’s been on the receiving end of that barbwire board several times in the past.
Frankie: And the end results haven’t left her looking very pretty. Not that she started out that way *snorts.*
The board is just inches removed from Marina’s skin but she’s still summoning the strength to hold it back. With all the remaining strength that Marina can summon she pulls the barbwire wrapped weapon down and as a result pulls the holder of it over the ropes. Cassidy ends up landing right in Marina’s arms, dangling upside down in a tombstone position. Before she even has a chance to counter her head is being driven straight into the thin ringside mats.
Greyson: OOOOH SWEET BABY JESUS!
Sparkles: A tombstone piledriver completely out of nowhere!
Greyson: And-and-and it ended up driving Cassidy’s head into the mats….which provide very little cushioning.
The tombstone into the ringside area has left Cassidy in maybe the worst shape she’s ever been in, and yet amazingly she’s starting to move, she’s starting to….to….ascend? Yes, Cassidy is already starting to get up in spite of the deadliest of landings on top of her skull. Meanwhile her opponent Marina is throwing the barbwire 2×4 into the ring and then she’s throwing Cassidy inside as well. It’s already been a long and brutal night for Marina, but she’s about to make it much longer for her rival. She springs up onto the top rope then goes sailing across the ring into a twisting back elbow that nails her opponent in the chest. Cassidy is knocked flat on her back for a moment, surprisingly she’s trying to get back on her feet, unaware that she’s putting herself in a precarious predicament. Marina is running into the ropes in front of her adversary, springing from the middle cable and then hitting a corkscrew crossbody.
Greyson: Corkscrew crossbody splash by Marina. She is building some momentum.
Frankie: Use the damned barbwire board you friggin idiot.
Sparkles: Marina might not need it at this point.
Greyson: Especially if she hits THIS.
What is ‘THIS,’ it’s the California Splash, that’s what THIS is.
She is making her way up the turnbuckle with the intention of flying off into the 450 splash. Marina is up on top and she goes diving off, but it’s NOT into the 450. Instead she has to leap frog over the head of her inbound adversary. Haze comes running across the ring and tries to knock Marina off the corner, instead she comes flying off the corner of her own volition. She lunges over Cassidy and lands on her feet while her opponent lands on something else. Cassidy leaps onto the very turnbuckle that her opponent sprung from a second ago. Now it’s Cassidy who is leaping out of that corner, twisting in mid-air to hit some type of splash on her adversary. A splash is made alright, the splash of Marina’s elbow across the bridge of Cassidy’s nose. A corkscrew forearm smacks Cassidy right between the eyes, swatting her out of the air and then down to the ring. Marina rolls to her knees, hands on her thighs and smile coming across her exhausted face.
Greyson: Ever since that tombstone Marina hit outside of the ring she has been absolutely cooking in this bout.
Frankie: If ya smeeeeeeelllll what the Marina is….
Greyson: DON’T!
Sparkles: Copyright infringement, Frankie, copyright infringement.
The only thing that just infringed was Marina’s forearm on Cassidy’s face. There’s about to be a lot more than infringes on Cassidy though, and it’s barbwire. The board that once hung above the ring is now being taken off of it and placed right across Cassidy’s forehead. No, wait, somehow Cassidy still possesses the wherewithal to reach up and block the barbwire from slicing right through the flesh on her face.
Greyson: The roles reversed here. Earlier Marina was fighting to keep that barbwire from mangling her face, but now it’s Cassidy who’s fighting it.
Frankie: Both Marina and Cassidy know just how much that barbwire hurts. It’s like sitting on a cactus. Though Cassidy might actually consider that a form of entertainment.
Sparkles: It’s not as entertaining as it sounds. Sparkles has tried it.
Before Cassidy’s face can become nothing but a pin cushion she forces the barbwire away from her skin and starts to rise from the ring. Both Marina and Cassidy rise to their feet with the barbwire 2×4 between them, both ladies in a tug of war for possession of the weapon. Marina actually pushes the board towards Cassidy, still trying to drive the weapon into her flesh. Cassidy is backed up into the turnbuckle, leaning against it as the barbwire gets closer and closer to her skin. Finally Cassidy lets the board go, but that’s not to say she’s going to let the weapon rip into her flesh. The barbwire goes flying towards her but Cassidy has slid down out of the way avoiding a collision with it. On her way down she grabs Marina by the waistband and gives it a yank, dragging her opponent forward right into the turnbuckle. Wait, Marina doesn’t just hit the corner, but she hits the barbwire board that she had her hands on. Marina bounces off the barbwire and then staggers back pawing at her lacerated and now bleeding chest. She’s so focused on her CUT skin that she doesn’t realize her legs are being CUT out from under her. Cassidy hits her with a lightning spiral, driving the back of Marina’s head brutally into the canvas.
Sparkles: Things have just taken a deadly turn for Marina!
Greyson: First her chest hit the barbwire and now she’s just endured the lightning spiral!
Frankie: Haze has used that move to finish off a lot of her opponents.
Greyson: Is Marina gonna be another one of them?
Marina has endured excruciating pain and is now about to endure excruciating humiliation. She’s caught in a jackknife cover by Haze.
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The fans are screaming as loud as their lungs can possibly allow when Marina gets her shoulder up off of the canvas.
Greyson: The lightning spiral, the impact with the barbwire….
Sparkles: It wasn’t enough to keep Marina out.
Frankie: No it wasn’t, but Cassidy looks like she sees something that WILL keep Marina out.
Like a cat crawling towards a mouse Cassidy moves to the barbwire board that just lacerated her rival’s chest. Cassidy licks the speckles of blood on the barbwire and gets a euphoric response from the taste.
Cassidy: Yummy.
The board is pulled back over her head and now goes swinging towards Marina’s body. The barbwire is about to tear even more skin from Marina but instead all it tears is the canvas she was lying on. Marina rolls clear and the weapon hits the ring. An angered Cassidy finds it difficult trying to free the barbwire from the ring that it’s now embedded into. Marina takes advantage of her adversary’s preoccupation with the board, running across the ring into the ropes. She ricochets off and comes right back into Cassidy….no….into a LADDER. Cassidy gave up on the barbwire 2×4 in order to pick up another weapon that was in the ring, the ladder, and she is now throwing it right into Marina’s face. The steel rungs bounce hard off of Marina’s face and the impact causes her to absent mindedly turn towards the barbwire 2×4 that is still stuck in the canvas. Suddenly Cassidy jumps in behind Marina, catches her by the back of the head and hits her with a one handed bulldog that drives her face straight into the barbwire board.
Greyson: NOOOO!
Frankie: Hahahaha *clapping* that was great, that was GREAT!
Marina’s punctured face bounces off the barbwire and she flips onto her back. Blood is rolling down her forehead and her chest is being covered by her opponent. Cassidy hooks Marina’s leg and growls at the referee until they make the count.
Greyson: Cassidy with the cover after Marina’s face bounced off the barbwire.
Sparkles: If Marina can’t kick out then she’s just lost her opportunity to compete in tonight’s Rumble.
Frankie: “If?” “If” she can’t kick out?
It seems all but a certainty that the three count is coming.
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But Marina has made a career of defying expectations, which is exactly what she does again when she kicks out.
Frankie: *Sigh*
Cassidy snarls when she sees the ref stick two fingers in her face.
Greyson: No Cassidy, it’s not over. You have not bumped Marina out of the Rumble.
Frankie: Marina’s only making Cassidy angry, and you wouldn’t like her when she’s angry.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t like her when she’s not angry.
Frustration is building in Cassidy, who has hold of Marina’s bangs. She begins to punch the gash in her opponent’s forehead over and over again, opening a laceration even further. Blood is dribbling all down Marina’s cheeks, slowly transforming her face into a crimson mask. Cassidy is about to make sure Marina’s mug looks like hamburger when she pulls her over so that her cheek is rested on the barbwire.
Greyson: Uh-oh, we saw Cassidy do this several weeks ago to her own sister.
Sparkles: She curb-stomped Emily’s face into barbwire and we haven’t seen her since.
Frankie: Please oh please oh please let Marina go into hiding after she gets a curb stomp of her own.
Cassidy puts her boot between Marina’s shoulder blades and she pushes…pushes Marina’s face down directly into NOTHING. To the delight of everyone in the San Siro arena Marina manages to reverse the curb stomp and she does so into drop toe hold. Cassidy falls flat on her face and then finds herself on the receiving end of the Cali Killer. The whole building is rattling as Marina bridges back over her opponent into her version of the Muta Lock.
Greyson: She got it locked in! Marina’s got the Cali Killer applied!
Sparkles: Is Marina gonna do what no one else has ever done and force Cassidy to tap out?
Frankie: Don’t you do it, Cass, just think what your Queen Cindy Todd would do to you if you submit.
Cassidy’s roars are bone chilling and blood curdling, but one thing she will not shout are the words ‘I QUIT.’ Instead of tapping the canvas with her palm she reaches out, grabbing hold of the barbwire 2×4. As Marina exerts all her strength and applies so much pressure on the submission she has no idea that her adversary is grabbing the barbwire and reaching back with it. The weapon grinds right across Marina’s forehead and the second it does the submission is broken.
Sparkles: That’s one way to break out of a hold.
Frankie: The smartest way I’ve ever seen.
Blood continues to trickle, now with more force, down Marina’s face after the barbwire was once again employed on her. She clasps at her mutilated flesh while rolling around and flopping about on the canvas. All the while her rival Cassidy is using the barbwire board as a crutch in order to get back to her feet. She then throws the board down with the intent of using her own hands to mutilate her adversary. She drags Marina up from the canvas and then throws her right into a turnbuckle. Marina no sooner hits the corner before she has to contend with the force that is barreling towards her. Here comes Cassidy and there goes Cassidy. To the surprise of everyone Marina gets her foot up, driving it right into Cassidy’s face. No…wait, Cassidy catches the boot that was about an inch removed from her chin, blocking it from connecting with her jaw. It seems that Cassidy has only staved off the blow intended for her skull though, because now Marina’s planted foot launches into the air and swings into an enzugari that smacks Cassidy in the temple. The blow knocks Cassidy flat on her back and allows a bleeding but resolute Marina an opportunity…a GOLDEN opportunity to get to the top rope.
Greyson: She’s gonna go for the 450 again.
Sparkles: Will Marina be successful with the California Splash this time?
Frankie: Nooooot likely.
Marina was about half way up the corner with her back to the ring before she’s made to pay for turning that back on her opponent. Cassidy blasts Marina right over the spine with a clubbing blow, shutting down her upward momentum. The conniving Cassidy starts up the turnbuckle beneath her opponent now, reaching the middle rope before wedging a shoulder into her adversary’s kidneys.
Dreaded is exhibited by the audience as Cassidy prepares to conclude this brutal Stairway to Hell match and end Marina’s hopes of competing in the Rumble later tonight. Cassidy lifts her opposition into…we never find out…because whatever she had planned has been countered. Instead of being dragged off the turnbuckle, Marina leaps from it. She jumps off the middle cable and then lands on top of Cassidy’s shoulders before hitting an inverted hurricarana. Not only is Cassidy plucked off the turnbuckle but she comes down head first straight on top of the barbwire board.
Frankie: (Squealing) AAAAAAAH!!
Greyson: Un-be-lievable!
Sparkles: Cassidy spiked, not just on her head though…
Frankie: Yeah, cause she landed on the friggin barbwire 2×4 too!
Greyson: Marina could go for the pin, but she’s not-she’s not done.
No she isn’t. Marina might be plagued with injuries and suffering some minor blood loss but she still isn’t finished. She’s returning to her feet and she isn’t doing so empty handed. She’s got hold of Cassidy’s ankle. The crowd knows what’s coming, hence why their cheering their heads off. Marina looks through the blood on her face at all those adorers pleading with her to lock it in. That’s just what she does, rolling a brutalized Cassidy onto her stomach and then trapping her in the Cali Killer.
Greyson: She’s got it cinched in!
Sparkles: The Cali Killer is applied again!
Frankie: You better fight through this Cassidy, you better keep Marina out of the Rumble….or God help you.
Greyson: Actually I don’t think even God can help her when Cindy’s got her in her sights.
There is only one thing in Cassidy’s sights at the moment, the only thing that can free her from this muta lock variant. In desperation she reaches out for the very same weapon that was used to escape this hold the last time.
Frankie: There you go Cassidy, there’s some resourcefulness.
Greyson: She’s got that 2×4 again.
Sparkles: How is she even doing this after she was just given that inverted hurricarana off the turnbuckle?
Cassidy shows remarkable resiliency as she overcomes her pre-existing injuries in order to reach back with the 2×4 and attempt to embed it into Marina’s flesh. However, much to Cassidy’s chagrin she finds Marina TAKING the 2×4. A despondent Cassidy has just handed over a weapon that will all but seal her fate. Instead of interlocking her hands under Cassidy’s jaw in order to apply the Muta Lock, Marina uses the barbwire board, putting it right across Haze’s chin.
Greyson: The Cali Killer WITH the barbwire 2×4!
Frankie: How the hell did that happen?
Marina applies the Cali Killer and uses the barbwire to pull back on Cassidy’s head, the weapon tearing and ripping the flesh from her opponent’s face. There’s only one option available for Haze at this point, tapping out and tapping out instantly.
Hunter: It’s over…My God it’s over!
Frankie: Did Haze just tap out!?!
Sparkles: She did. She had no other recourse but to.
Hunter: Marina is going on to compete in the Rumble. She’s done it. She’s finally put New Eden behind her.
An expression of pain is etched in the lines of Marina’s face, what can be seen of it behind the blood that has dribbled down over her cheeks. It was an exhaustive pursuit but she did it, she managed to overcome one of her toughest opponents to date. She may be languishing, but soon she’ll be celebrating, and she’ll be aided in doing so by her trusted friend Victoria Salinas. Into the ring slides Victoria, who is quickly leaping to Marina’s side and cradling the head of her ally.
Frankie: And here comes the meddling biotch.
Greyson: Victoria Salinas out here to help her bud Marina enjoy the fruits of her labors.
Frankie: You hit the nail right on the head there, these two are clearly a couple of ‘fruits.’
Sparkles: Careful. You’ll have GLAAD in an uproar.
Frankie: Fuck all this PC bullshit. And fuck the two ladies in the ring right now.
Greyson: Like you haven’t tried?
Frankie: And fuck pepper-spray too.
Yet another in a series of career defining victories is enjoyed by Marina. At the moment she’s helped to her feet by Victoria, who has transformed herself into a makeshift crutch. She and Marina are so indisposed with commemorating this moment that they don’t even notice an unwelcomed well-wisher entering the ring. That person is Marina’s estranged agent Tabitha Silverstone.
Greyson: Oh come on now, what’s Tabitha Silverstone doing out here?
Frankie: Her client just won a huge match, doesn’t she have the right to celebrate with them?
Sparkles: Is Marina still Tabitha’s client? Sparkles doesn’t think so. Pretty sure they officially parted ways after it was revealed that Tabitha was behind the kidnapping of Marina’s friend, Andre.
Greyson: A revelation that Victoria was the one responsible for bringing to light several weeks ago.
Tabitha doesn’t care which of her secrets were unveiled weeks ago, all she cares about is joining Marina in this moment. She steps towards her client and reaches out with arms wide open. Those arms never reach Marina, because it’s Victoria’s palm that is holding her back. Victoria gives Tabitha a light shove back and then returns her attention to supporting the banged up Marina. A look of indignation comes to Tabitha’s face, one that is getting closer and closer to Victoria’s ear. Something is whispered….and what that something is obviously sets Victoria off. She turns to Tabitha and doesn’t give her a gentle push this time, no, instead she knocks her straight on her ass.
Sparkles: Oh-ho-ho.
Frankie: Why’d she do that for?
Greyson: Victoria giving Tabitha precisely what she deserves.
Frankie: That’s assault!
Victoria stares down angrily at a shocked Tabitha. The moment that Victoria turns her back on her and returns to the side of her former client, a grin starts to come across Tabitha’s face.
The camera is centered upon a doorway, which leads to Monarchy’s dressing room. There’s the sound of loud music filtering out into the hallway as well as raised voices. The culprits are about to be discovered because backstage correspondent Mark Comeau will boldly go where no man has gone before. He stands just in the corridor clasping a microphone and moving towards the doorway.
Comeau: It’s been one of the biggest nights of the calendar year to say the least, and although we’ve seen quite a few high profile matches here at Last Stand, there’s a lot more still to come. A considerable amount of buzz is circulating around the triple threat match for the IWC brand World Championship. I’m here now to get an interview with one of the three athletes set to compete in that match, Monarchy’s own Taylor Chase…..
Selena: Where is he?
Comeau’s heart doesn’t just jump into his throat, it feels like it’s about to go springing right out of his mouth. He is given quite a startle at the sight of the Snow Queen Selena Frost bearing down upon him. The rightful Queen of Wrestling Champion happens upon Comeau, though he’s not the person she’s looking for. That much becomes evident when we see Selena peering under a table.
Selena: Where’s he hiding?
Comeau: I can only assume you’re talking about Desmond Drake?
Selena: No, I’m talking about Steve Urkel. Of course I’m talking about Drake. The little sawed off runt ran away with MY championship.
Comeau: Sorry, but haven’t seen him.
Selena: (Putting a palm over her mouth and taking a deep breath) There’s no need for YOU to be sorry. There’s only one person who’s going to be sorry by the end of the night, and that someone is Desmond Drake. He thinks he can run…nope, I’ll catch him eventually. He thinks he can hide….that’s not happening, because I’m not the only one who wants to see his arm locked in my Frost Bite. There are a lot of my believers out there, people who want Drake’s puny arm to snap, and want that Queen of Wrestling Title back around my waist.
Comeau: I’m one of the many who would LOVE to see that.
Selena: Well don’t worry, you, and all the other believers will get what they want, and I’ll get what I want too. Drake may think that I don’t deserve the championship, but I know what I deserve, and I know what Drake deserves too. A wintervention is com…..(looking down the hall)…..YOU!
The camera turns to look over Comeau’s shoulder at the sneaky Desmond Drake, who is hiding at the end of the hallway. He gives away his location by peeking out from behind a stack of boxes, nervously looking towards the woman who has been pursuing him throughout the night. The chase continues, Selena going after Drake, who takes off with her Queen of Wrestling Title still hung from his arms. As this all goes down Comeau stands there watching, jaw agape. He’s so fixated on this game of cat and mouse that he doesn’t hear the door opening behind him nor does he see Monarchy member Kat Kelly emerging from the confines of her group’s dressing room. Both the Kat Kelly Championship and a Tag Team Title belt hang over either of her shoulders as she draws nearer to Comeau.
Kat: Maaaark….I knew I recognized that ass…
A slap is given to Comeau’s backside, resulting in his heart skipping a beat.
Comeau: Eeeeeassy….
Kat: Oh, I forgot, I can look but I can’t touch.
Comeau: Right-right.
Kat: I have problems with that. So what brings you here to Monarchy’s (mutters in disdain) dressing room?
Comeau: I was hoping to conduct an interview with Taylor Chase on the eve of her…..
Kat: Triple threat World Title match? Yeah-yeah-yeah, well that’s not happening. Tay’s too indisposed at the moment.
Comeau: Indisposed?
Kat: She’s livin la vida loca. She’s hosting her own soiree…and it’s not like the superkick soirees that my partner Lexy and I have. Speaking of which (looks around), have you seen Lexy anywhere?
Comeau: What do I look like? Dog the Bounty Hunter? Why does everyone just assume I know where everyone else is?
Kat: Chiiiiiillll….(Kat puts her finger to Mark’s lips).
Comeau: (Pushing Kat’s finger away from his mouth) And why is Taylor having a party? Shouldn’t she be focusing on her World Title match against Katelyn Buehler and her own sister Mika Kozlov?
Kat: Hahahahaha, why would she NEED to?
Comeau: Because the two of them are out for her blood.
Kat: Mark-Mark-Mark, you’re almost TOO adorable some times. Listen sweet-pea, Tay is partying because she knows that there is no chance in hell that she doesn’t walk out of Last Stand with the World Championship.
Comeau: But….
Kat: Maaaaark, I’m taaaalking.
Comeau groans but otherwise remains silent.
Kat: Tay’s going to be a FOUR time champ by the end of the night, and me, or maybe Lexy, or maybe Watson, or maybe Orlando, or maybe Alistair, at least ONE of us in the Monarchy are going to win the Rumble.
Comeau: Well in my humble opinion Tay is counting her chickens before the eggs have hatched.
Kat: Relax, Tay’s got this.
Comeau: Alright then, let’s talk about something else…
Kat: Absolutely, I love our conversations Comeau.
Comeau: While I have your ear….
Kat: Like that’s the only part of me you want.
Comeau: Ugh, like I was saying, while I got you here, I have to ask, what’s up with all this censorship….?
Kat: Hold up, let me stop you RIGHT THERE. Don’t you go and make the fatal error of mentioning the name of ‘she who will not be named.’
Comeau: It’s not like I can, you’ve went out of your way over the past few weeks to have Ra…*BEEP* name bleeped out whenever it’s mentioned.
Kat: And what? That makes ME a bad person? Does everyone just forget that she who will not be named walked out on this company? That she who will not be named QUIT the IWC because she was having a temper tantrum? People like her should not be honored with remembrance, they should not be revered in hindsight. Such disgraces should be wiped away from the collective memory banks of all those pervy geeks watching all around the world. That’s why no one will ever be able to mention her name again, and why I’ve redesigned the NHB Title (lifts the Kat Kelly Championship). This belt USED to honor that redneck skidmark, but now it honors class, the Kat Kelly championship honors grace, poise and elegance….
Comeau: I’m sorry, but this is just WRONG.
Kat: Oh?
Comeau: The NHB Title has a storied history. Rac…*BEEP*…defended that belt for TWO YEARS. It’s a record that SHOULD be….
Kat: FORGOTTEN. And believe me, it will.
Comeau: Well, individuals like Aaron Harrison and Mya Denton would STRONGLY disagree with you.
Kat: Do you think the opinions of ‘she who will not be named’s’ former underlings matter to me?
Comeau: Considering that Harrison is determined to take that belt (points to the Kat Kelly Title) from you, I think it WOULD matter.
Kat: They don’t. Harrison doesn’t matter. Mya doesn’t matter. And she who will not be named doesn’t matter. I promise, by the end of the night, each and every one of them WILL be forgotten. Now if you’ll excuse me, I got other business to attend to.
The injuries inflicted on Marina Valdivia are pretty serious, but they aren’t serious enough to keep her sidelined from all the drama. She’s sitting on a folding chair in the back with a towel to her brow, trying to constrict the blood that threatens to come oozing from one of multiple contusions. She is soon joined by her confidante Victoria Salinas, who is holding out a Styrofoam cup of water.
Victoria: That’s some high quality H20.
Jokingly informs Victoria. She doesn’t get so much as a snicker from Marina even when dropping a few Bobby Bushay lines.
Marina: Viccy, you got great bedside manner, but you’re comic timing leaves something to be desired.
Victoria: I’ll work on it. And I’ll work even harder to keep Tabitha from meddling in your business.
Marina literally throws it the towel. The cloth she had been using as a makeshift bandage is tossed to the floor.
Marina: I’m tired of talking about Tabitha….I’m through with her, COMPLETELY. I don’t want to hear one more thing about her, at all. Next person who brings her up is gonna get a good firm kick in the ass. All I want to think about right now is the Rumble.
Victoria: Fair enough. Guess with the two of us being in there tonight we should talk about some type of strategy….
Andre: Daaaaammmn sweetheart….
In walks another of Marina’s best friends, Andre Jordan. The famed athlete comes to a crouch beside Marina with her hand rested on her shoulder.
Andre: What you just did to Cassidy was COLD.
Marina: Was it?
Andre: Loved every minute of it.
Marina: Glad I could put a smile on your face.
Andre: Now that you’re done with her, and with New Eden, you can start thinking about other problems you’ve been putting off.
Marina: Yeah, like the Rumbl….
Andre: Like Tabitha Silverstone.
Marina’s face goes redder than the blood that is trickling from it.
Marina: With all due respect, Dre, I know she had you kidnapped, I know she betrayed your trust, but personally speaking, I’m already finished with her. I’ll have no further dealings with that two faced manipulator.
Andre: I’m glad to hear you’re doing your part, and don’t worry, (pulls something from his pocket) I’ll be doing mine.
A letter is revealed in Andre’s palm, one addressed to Tabitha Silverstone.
Riddick is in his dressing room preparing for his match with Ambrosia later in the Hell in the Cell. As he warms up, the crew member appears in the doorway, still carrying the box
Crew: Mr Riddick?
Riddick: Of course
Crew: I’ve a box for you
Riddick: I can see that, where the fuck did it come from?
Crew: Ambrosia, she said I had to make sure you got it.
Riddick: I see, well you’ve delivered it, now fuck off.
The crew member hurries away, leaving Riddick with the box
Riddick: Probably a box of vipers or something…I should have made that punk open it.
He tears the tape covering it, and very slowly opens the box, leaning backwards in case something leaps from it. When nothing happens, he peers inside, looking even more confused than he was in the first place.
Riddick: What the fuck?
He pulls out a huge vibrator, pink and close to a foot long, Stanley written on it in black marker pen. Riddick’s eyes almost pop out of his head. He reaches inside again, and this time pulls out a black baby doll nightie, holding it up against himself and shaking his head.
Riddick: Not my color
He reaches in again, and pulls out some anal beads, some lubricant, and then a copy of the Kama Sutra, and then finally a piece of paper, the words on it he reads out loud
Riddick: ‘It’s going to be an exciting night tonight lover, and it doesn’t end with the Cell. Afterwards Riddick…that is when the fun will really begin.’
Riddick screws the letter up, and throws it back in the box, packing all the toys back into it.
Riddick: You want to fucking play sweetheart…I’ll play.
All attention has turned from the gifts delivered to Riddick to the gifts about to be delivered by the woman in the ring.
Wilde: Boooooy it’s been oh sooooo long.
Stood in the center of the ring is Jessica Wilde, microphone in her hand and smile on her hand. Amassed around her are a number of her fellow Sinistry members. There’s the masked maniac Executioner, the sophisticated sociopath Benjamin Flynn, and the sadistic servant Siqua, each of them surrounding Wilde and listening keenly to her words.
Wilde: I haven’t taken on ring announcing duties since….god….it’s been years, but tonight everything comes full circle. I guess you can say I’ve gone back to where it all started for me.
Mackie: Sinistry has taken over the ring.
Hunter: And they sent our normal announcer packing.
Dollar: Yeah, it took one look from Siqua to send them running with something squishy in their underpants.
Hunter: But WHY is the question we should be asking.
Dollar: Not only did they take over our ring, but we still haven’t seen our broadcast colleague Sallie since she was abducted backstage by Sinistry as well.
Hunter: What are they up to?
The vocal proponent of the Sinistry is getting to that.
Wilde: But in all the time I spent as a ring announcer never did I have the opportunity to introduce someone that I respect so much, someone that I flat out IDOLIZE, and someone who is DESERVING of such adulation. I’ve introduced World Champions. I’ve introduced hall of famers. I’ve introduced living legends. But I have never introduced a talent the likes of the woman who is about to come down that ramp. A woman who epitomizes everything that wrestling stands for. A woman who makes all those worlds champions, all those hall of famers, all of those living legends I talked about earlier, look insignificant.
A deep-deep breath is summoned.
Wilde: Ladies and gentlemen, it is with tremendous honor that I introduce THE Uprising World Heavyweight Champion….VANNNNNIIIILLLLAAAAA SKYY!
The reaction is…well….a reaction that the likes of Vanilla Skyy deserves…one that she’s EARNED. Walking through the curtains is a woman who doesn’t get much in the way of fanfare considering her choice of associates. One of those associates is shadowing her on the way to the ring at that very moment. Aiken Frost stands behind Skyy and matches her stride down the ramp. Once in the ring Skyy comes to a stop in the center of the semi-circle formed by her Sinistry compatriots. She might be joined in the ring by her fellow sycophants, but the thousands of Italians in the audience are evidently not supporters.
Aiken: My beloved Mrs. Skyy….
Aiken stands at Vanilla’s side and puts his palm upon the World Title belt that is rested over her shoulder.
Aiken: My esteemed champion of SIN, this evening may be headlined by the Rumble, but we refuse to allow this federation to simply ignore you, and the match that should be at the top of the marquee, your championship defense against Gavin Taylor.
Although Skyy couldn’t agree more one couldn’t tell by the blank and rather emotionless expression upon her face.
Hunter: I’m still appalled by the fact that Aiken Frost is now in the corner of Vanilla Skyy and her younger sister Violet. I really thought Vanilla was a champion’s champion, one we could all respect and appreciate.
Mackie: Why can’t we?
Hunter: Because she associates herself with the likes of this malicious mastermind Aiken Frost, who with the aid of his brother manipulated the IWC and seriously jeopardized the future of the federation.
Mackie: I’m still waiting for you to give me a reason as to why I shouldn’t respect Skyy.
Aiken: You, unlike many of those scheduled to compete in the Rumble are a WRESTLER. It’s your aptitude in this ring that should be honored with TRUE main event stature. Unfortunately those in positions of power are blind to this fact, they dishonor you by insisting upon airing the Rumble as the final match on this evening’s card. But they will regret this fact when the Rumble begins to hushed and persistent silence. The crowd will be too shocked, too appalled, and too broken after they witness what you do to your challenger this evening.
Skyy’s cold heart melts with every word uttered by Aiken.
Aiken: In proper recognition of that bout, I believe you should be given a fitting venue in which to hype the decimation that awaits Gavin Taylor. That is why my brother has taken it upon himself to bring you an interviewer that will come to this ring and provide you an outlet for your deadly thoughts.
Aiken’s palm extends out towards the entry way which is now occupied by the before mentioned brother, Ba’al, his enormous bodyguard Decay, his protégé Eve, and the woman caught between all of them, correspondent Sallie. The horrified interviewer is coerced towards the ring, her tiny biceps trapped in Decay’s huge hands.
Dollar: Come on you sickos, take your hands off of Sallie.
Mackie: Let me put my hands on her instead.
Hunter: Sinistry has abducted our broadcast colleague and are actually forcing her to come to this ring and given an interview to our World Champion.
The belt glistens over Skyy’s shoulder and sweat glistens across Sallie’s brow. She nervously stands across from the woman she’s supposed to interview but finds it hard pressed to ask any questions.
Vanilla: Don’t be nervous.
Assures Skyy in a mockingly compassionate tone.
Vanilla: You’re amongst friends.
That’s not a very calming comment considering those friends are the type who would eat their own young if it ensured their own survival.
Sallie: Um-um-um, Skyy….
Vanilla: Go on dear.
Sallie: Tonight, you’re-you’re supposed to defend that World Title (points at Skyy’s belt) against a challenger that has proven in the past that he can take you to your limit, Gavin Taylor. Do you intend to change anything about your strategy now that you head into round two?
Vanilla: Why would I do something so foolish?
Sallie: Because, well, Gavin almost….
Vanilla: He took me to my limit, yes, but that’s ALL he did. He may have made me break a sweat, but he did not break my will and he did not take my title (lifts the championship off her shoulder). I’m simply a better wrestler than Gavin, a fact he’s too stubborn to accept. So I don’t have to change anything, it be stupid to alter a winning formula, wouldn’t it?
Sallie: That’s ummm a fair point, but here’s the lone hiccup. Many would argue that you did NOT outwrestle Gavin during your last defense against him. In fact, and I apologize if this comment offends you, there are a lot of critics who say that the only reason you defeated Gavin is because Willow Wilkes interfered in your title defense.
Skyy’s otherwise pasty cheeks suddenly burn bright red.
Sallie: There’s been a lot of speculation that without outside inference, from the likes of Willow or the Sinistry, that you can’t beat Gavin.
Like the flip of a switch Skyy suddenly becomes composed.
Skyy: Is that what THEY say?
Sallie: It’s popular conjecture, yes.
Skyy: These critics you speak of, have any of them actually stood in a ring with me?
Sallie: No, at least not to my knowledge they haven’t.
Skyy: So then, what merit do their words have? They don’t know what it’s like to face me, and if they did, they would know just how doomed Gavin is later tonight. Of course they think Gavin stands a chance, because they’ve never felt the force of my White Out (points to the boot that delivers her patented pump kick), they’ve never had me hit them with the 30 Days of Night, so it’s no wonder they have such high hopes for my challenger. But….but maybe YOU (puts hand on Sallie’s forearm), could help me show those CRITICS why I don’t need Willow Wilkes jumping out of the crowd and ambushing Gavin to retain my title. Maaaaybe you can help me demonstrate to the nay-sayers the potency of my offence and just how powerless Gavin is against it.
Sallie: I’m not following y….
A lightning fast White Out is unleashed by Skyy with such unholy force that it almost rips the head clean off the poor correspondent’s head. Sallie goes flipping over backwards after being nailed with one of the most devastating moves in Skyy’s arsenal.
Hunter: HEEEY!
Dollar: Oh that was sick!
Mackie: Poor Sallie never saw it coming. She’ll be just like Gavin Taylor tonight.
Hunter: That was completely uncalled for. Vanilla Skyy had no right to do that.
Skyy feels entitled to do a lot, be it kicking Sallie in the head or standing over her lifting the World Championship high above her fallen victim. The jeers of the crowd instantly turn to screams of delight when seeing the man slated to challenge Skyy for the title barreling down the ramp. Gavin Taylor runs and runs as fast as he can for the squared circle, but he doesn’t come alone, cause guess what he’s got with him? A STEEL CHAIR, that’s what.
Hunter: There’s Gavin!
Dollar: And Gavin’s got a chair!
Mackie: Look at the Sinistry scramble.
It isn’t until a chair shot collides right with the upper back of Decay that the rest of Sinistry quickly vacate the ring so as to avoid a similar fate. Skyy is not amongst those who exit the ring, instead she faces off with the dangerous man stood before her even though he has a chair extending from his hands. Gavin points at the title that Skyy is distracting him with. The belt and the woman who holds it have Gavin so fixated that he doesn’t even see Executioner sneaking up behind him. The seven foot masked behemoth blasts Gavin right over his shoulder blades with a forearm before spinning him around into a goozle.
Hunter: Watch out Gavin.
Mackie: Too late.
Gavin is about to take an eight foot plunge when he’s lifted as far as Executioner’s arm will extend above his head. The chokeslam never materializes however, because Gavin’s knee cracks his would-be attacker straight under his jaw. Executioner’s grip is broken and that might not be the only thing as it comes to the giant that is broken. A powerful, skull cracking blow is unleashed with the chair in Gavin’s clutches. It’s a blow so powerful that it sends Executioner staggering back, falling through the ropes then landing at the feet of the rest of the Sinistry. Well, not every member of Sinistry is waiting there to catch Executioner, because Jessica Wilde is on the apron and is waiting to get the drop on Gavin. She goes leaping through the cables and aiming her shoulder at Gavin’s back, but what she connects with instead is his shoulder. Gavin turns around just in time to catch Wilde around the neck and then hit her with a rope hung diamond cutter.
The Cubic Zirconium Cutter drives Wilde’s face down straight into the chair that was dropped to the canvas. Upon witnessing this brutal maneuver unleashed upon one of Sinistry’s stalwarts, Ba’al and Aiken make sure that their World Champion will not be left in the same condition as Wilde. They have their hands around the ankles of Vanilla Skyy are pulling her to the outside of the ring. She drops down between the Frost brothers and joins them as they back away from the destructive force in the middle of the ring.
Hunter: Gavin Taylor throwing some serious heat on the fire of what already promised to be a barn burner of a match between he and Vanilla Skyy later tonight.
Dollar: It’s gonna be more than a barn burner now, when Gavin challenges Skyy for her title it’s gonna get so hot it’ll melt the whole damned city of Milan.
Mackie: Gavin has absolutely no appreciation for what he’s just brought on himself, no appreciation at all.
Gavin divides his time checking on the condition of Sallie and warning the woman who put the correspondent in this condition. He glares over the ropes straight at Vanilla Skyy, and straight at the World Title that is hanging over her shoulder. However, his focus is suddenly redirected.
Hunter: Hey wait a minute, is that who I think it is? Look in the crowd.
Mackie: I try not to look any of these fans straight in their faces.
Dollar: That’s not just any fan Hunter is talking about though.
The person in the crowd is not a fan, especially when it comes to Gavin Taylor. The woman who glares at the challenger for the World Championship is the very same person who cost Gavin his first crack at the belt. Willow Wilkes has just emerged from the bodies gathered behind the barricades and has stopped once she’s reached front row seating. She leans with her forearms pressed to the top of the barrier, eyes ever trained on Gavin’s face.
Hunter: Willow Wilkes is here.
Mackie: She cost Gavin Taylor the World Title several months ago.
Dollar: She had no business interfering in that title bout, she wasn’t under contract.
Mackie: Well she’s got one now.
Dollar: A TEMPORARY contract though. If she wants it to be long term I would suggest she steer clear of Gavin.
Mackie: That’s not happening.
Wilkes continues to eyeball a man she is no stranger too, and a man who wants to be closer to her….or at least get his fists closer to her face. Gavin exits the ring and approaches the barricade that separates him from Wilkes. However, the barrier isn’t the only thing that blocks him from getting at Wilkes, because there are now a handful of security guards keeping Gavin from getting to the former ULW World Champion. A grin comes to Wilkes’ face as she backs up the steps and looks over the shoulders of the security guards who prevent an altercation between Taylor and herself.
Mackie: Gavin better be grateful that security was here.
Hunter: Security better do more than just keep Gavin away from Wilkes, they better make sure that Wilkes doesn’t interfere in Gavin’s World Title match later tonight.
A red faced Gavin stares past the guards who are restraining him, his bulging eyes ever fixed on the woman who screwed him once, a woman he will not allow to screw him twice.
It’s felt like an eternity since Destiny Nichols was rudely denied access to the dressing room of her best friend, Katelyn Buehler. She is still standing in the hallway, pacing in front of the room where Katelyn was dragged by her agent Dan Douglas for the purposes of warping the IWC brand World Champion’s already highly manipulated mind. At last the door to the room opens and the results of Douglas’ brain washing efforts are revealed. Although earlier in the night Katelyn Buehler looked like she was barely able to lift an arm without screaming out in pain she now looks like she could lift an entire Rikishi above her head without so much as wincing. Katelyn walks on out with the World Title over her injured shoulder, showing not even an iota of the pain that once debilitated her.
Destiny: Kate….are you….
Douglas: She’s just dandy.
Ensures Dan Douglas, who has just emerged from the room with the source of his power in hand, a golden talisman.
Destiny: What did he…?
Douglas: I had a long talk with our champ, a talk that helped her forget all about her pain.
He really is proud of himself and proud of his abilities to remove the pain from Katelyn’s mind. What he replaced that pain with were some pretty rosy thoughts, evident by the big smile plastered across Kate’s face.
Katelyn: Ya got nothing to worry about girlfriend, I’m feeling WONDERFUL.
Destiny: You feel wonderful? You almost had your arm taken off three weeks ago by Tay and Mika.
Katelyn: Doesn’t feel like it.
Although her shoulder is still discolored she can move it effortlessly.
Destiny: Is helping Katelyn block out her pain ALL you did for her?
The question is aimed at Douglas, and it’s delivered with a highly suspicious tone.
Douglas: Relax….
Katelyn: What are you guys yammering about?
Douglas: Nothing that should be concerning you. Just keep focused on the World Title match. Now that your body is ready, let’s make sure your mind is too.
Douglas leads Katelyn as far away from Destiny as possible. This time Destiny isn’t the only one standing behind and watching her friends walk off. Stood at a distance, peering around the corner and into the hallway where this whole scene just unfolded is a person very familiar with Katelyn, and that person is Lexy Chapel.
Lexy: (Whispering) The plot thickens.
We’re back inside of the arena and attention is back on the tumbler on the stage, a tumbler surrounded by authority figures. Principle Owner Karen McBride and GM David Helms are on either side of the tumbler that holds so many numbers still waiting to be selected by the entrants in this evening’s Last Stand Rumble.
Karen: So that’s how your champions conduct themselves?
McBride is gesturing to the ring where the World Champion of the UWA brand just assaulted a helpless member of Helms’ staff.
Helms: Karen, you’re hardly one to judge considering your entire security staff were ambushed by Monarchy just a couple weeks ago.
Karen: Good point. So how about we stop all this childish bickering…..
Helms: It’s nice to see you can concede defeat when you know your waging a losing battle.
Karen: I’m sorry?
Helms: Face it Karen, I’ve bested you on the mic just like I’ve bested you in the talent relations department. Sure, you can hint around all you want about bringing a new talent to IWC pilfered from my brand, but we all know it’s nothing but big talk. I on the other hand, have delivered. I brought the goods by acquiring Serenity, a former World Champion, who will now exclusively compete on MY roster.
Karen: Congratulations. You want a medal or something?
Helms: Your envy is the only medal I need. Although, I wouldn’t mind you throwing in the towel not only when it comes to mincing words with yours truly, I think you should just go right ahead and pull all of the members of your roster from the Rumble tonight. I mean, it’s not like they stand a chance, especially when they’re going up against the stars I’ve got participating.
Karen: Go ahead, go on being so smug, because it’s just going to make it all the more gratifying for me when I see that smirk wiped off your face. You can only live in denial for so long Helms, because eventually you’ll have to accept that talents like the one I’m about to bring out here right now is going to win the Rumble after throwing some of your roster over the top rope.
Karen sighs as she turns to the entry way beside her.
Karen: Now I may not be on the same page with the woman I’m about to bring out here but…..
Suddenly Kat Kelly’s entrance music comes ripping through the loud speakers and it cuts off Karen right in the middle of her speech. The crowd are just as unforgiving as the Principle Owner over this interruption. But Kat Kelly is totally obtuse when it comes to the hatred said interruption inspires.
Frankie: Yes! Yes! YES!! It’s the reason I draw breath into my lungs, it’s the reason I thank God that I wake up every morning, it’s Kat Kelly!
Greyson: Yeah, we noticed, and I also noticed that she just disrespected her boss almost as much as she’s disrespected the memory of Ra…*BEEP*. You know, that’s REALLY starting to get on my nerves.
Sparkles: Kat censoring us from ever mentioning, well, Sparkles can’t say her name, but let’s just say it rhymes with Blachel Batum Bee.
Greyson: She’s censored us from ever saying the true name of the person you just referenced, and she censored Karen McBride from giving a proper introduction.
That’s not all Kat does, because although she’s here to draw her number from the tumbler she’s got a little something she wants to say first. The microphone that WAS in McBride’s hand will suffice in allowing Kat to clear her mind.
Kat: I don’t need an introduction, least of all by the likes of YOU (digs finger into Karen’s chest). These people haven’t forgotten me, they haven’t forgotten their KAT KELLY CHAMPION! (Lifts the Kat Kelly Title off her shoulder and into the air) They’ll NEVER forget who I am, Karen, because unlike you, all these Sylvester Stallones in attendance tonight (draws heat for comparing all Italians to Stallone) recognize talent when they see it. Babe, they don’t get more talented than me.
McBride can only roll her eyes.
Kat: I’ve erased ‘she who will not be named’ from the IWC, and right now I’m about to erase the chances that anyone else competing in the Rumble had of winning that match. I’m going to draw my number and get to the back so I can continue partying with the soon to be World Champion, Taylor Chase. So why don’t you turn that little crank on the tumbler, then pop it open and let me take my num…..
Before McBride can do any of the things she was just ordered to do she has to clear out of the way of the body that goes tumbling down to her feet. Kat is suddenly driven down to the ground by none other than Aaron Harrison and Mya Denton.
Frankie: What!?! Why are these bottom feeders attacking the love of my life?
Greyson: Those aren’t bottom feeders, Frankie, that’s Aaron Harrison and Mya Denton, two people with a very close connection to…..she who will not be named.
Sparkles: Last time we saw Harrison and Denton anywhere near Kat they were trying to take that belt formerly known as the NHB Title away from her.
Frankie: It’s the Kat Kelly Championship dammit, and neither Denton nor Harrison have any right to get their dirty hands on it.
They’re about to get their hands on it alright.
Harrison: Grab it!
Harrison directs his orders to Mya and directs his finger towards the Kat Kelly title that is lying on its namesake’s arm.
Harrison: GRAB IT DAMMIT!
Strangely enough Denton looks reluctant to follow through with the end goal. She looks at the belt but she’s yet to take possession of it.
Harrison: What’s wrong with you?
A fed up Harrison reaches down for the gold and it isn’t until he gets his fingers on the strap that Kat’s comrades come to her aid. Out rushes Alistair Taylor and Ryan Watson. Monarchy are coming to the stage and are immediately coming to blows with both Harrison and Denton. A huge brawl has exploded on the stage and in the process of it the belt that brought all these people out here has fallen back into Kat Kelly’s hands. She picks up her title and she takes off with it to the backstage area.
Greyson: Kat escaping with her title while this donnybrook goes on on the stage.
Frankie: Thank God.
Sparkles: Harrison and Denton once again so close to claiming that NHB Cham….
Frankie: IT’S THE KAT KELLY CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
Kat isn’t the only one who goes spilling through the curtains into the backstage area. There are a long line of bodies battling it out through the curtains and into the guerilla position. Harrison is still trading blows with Alistair and Denton is decking it out with Watson as they take their brawl off stage. There are only two bodies left on that stage now, a stunned Karen McBride and a smiling David Helms.
Helms: What were you saying about my ‘inability to control my roster?’
Karen can only groan in response to Helms’ statement.
Helms: Why don’t I show you how this is done?
Where Karen failed to control the combustible elements of his roster, Helms will contrastingly succeed.
Helms: Will the next member of MY roster please come out here to select their number?
It takes little more prompting to get Cassius DeLight to make his entrance. The theme of ‘Business Time’ is playing over the loud speakers and on cue there’s Cassius. Though when he comes to the stage he doesn’t look like the party animal, or the fun loving good sport that we’ve seen in recent weeks. What we’re looking at is a far more intense athlete, one with a point that has to be proven, at any cost.
Greyson: Here’s a young man with incredible upside.
Frankie: You forget one thing, Lovejoy, this guy is an UWA talent. He has NO upside.
Sparkles: Not true. Just look at that head of hair. Sparkles could live in there. Wonder if I’d get cable.
Greyson: Sparkles was right, partially. Cassius is a skilled athlete who has proven over and over again that he’s got what it takes to win in clutch matches.
Frankie: But what clutch matches HAS he won?
Greyson: He could win a BIG one here tonight if he’s victorious in the Rumble.
Frankie: Again, you’re forgetting he’s an UWA talent, he doesn’t stand a chance.
Cassius’ odds of victory in the Rumble could be radically improved based on the number he’s come to the stage to draw. He looks down at the tumbler and then towards the man who just opened it up for him.
Helms: By all means, reach on in there and take your number.
That’s precisely what DeLight does, reaching out, reaching into the tumbler and extracting his number. He doesn’t even pop the ball its inside to see what spot he’ll be coming in at during the Rumble this evening. Instead he just stares ever seriously straight into Helms’ face.
Helms: See Karen, that’s how business is supposed to be conducted, no shenanigans, no chaos, just straightforward….
The microphone is suddenly wrestled from Helms’ hands and finds its way to DeLight’s lips.
Cassius: We’re not finished here yet.
Helms: (Indignantly) Oh we’re not?
Cassius: Listen Helms, no disrespect intended, but I didn’t earn this.
Helms: What do you mean?
Cassius: I can’t put it any clearer than that could I? I haven’t EARNED this. What matches have I won? Who have I beat to get into the Rumble tonight?
Helms: Well, to be fair Cassius, with the exceptions of Alana Starr and Marina Valdivia, nobody won any qualifying matches to get into the Rumble….
Cassius: And nobody but me sees a problem with that? What’s to keep all these people (gesturing to the San Siro crowd) from believing I’m still nothing but a joke? You know what, I’ll open this up to a poll. (Turning from Helms to the fans) Who here tonight thinks I stand a chance to win the Rumble tonight?
There’s a split reaction, though the cynics outweigh DeLight’s most loyal fans.
Cassius: See what I mean. I’ve given these fans no reason at all to believe in me, to believe that I’m nothing more than a wasted spot in this year’s Rumble. That’s about to change though.
Cassius walks past Hems and towards the ring with a microphone and his number in tonight’s Rumble still in his hands. Once in the squared circle his motives become a bit clearer.
Cassius: How are people going to take me more serious? Well how about I do what just about no one else in the Rumble has done tonight, I’ll EARN my way in. If there is anyone back there who wants to be in the Rumble but weren’t given a number, here’s your golden opportunity. I’ll put my spot on the line against anyone back there who wants a crack.
Frankie: Is this guy friggin serious? I think all the hairspray he uses has saturated into his brain.
Greyson: This is a bold move by Cassius DeLight, and I actually respect his decision here. He wants to earn his way into the Rumble.
Frankie: The idiot has a golden ticket in his hands, which is also the nickname for my penis, and I wouldn’t put my cock on the line so Cassius shouldn’t put his number at risk either.
Greyson: What in the fuck are you talking about?
Frankie: I don’t know, I kinda got lost after I started talking about my dick.
Sparkles: This is a very risky and bold move by DeLight, but as we’ve seen over on Uprising this guy has gotten a lot more serious about his career.
Frankie: Well he just sabotaged it.
An attentive Cassius watches the entry way, anticipating someone, ANYONE’S arrival.
Cassius: You know chances like these don’t come around very often, don’t waste this…..
Damion: Baaaaaad decision junior.
Warns the last person anyone expected to accept this challenge. Damion Sommers, a man fired from the UWA a scant two weeks earlier has just stormed to the stage.
Greyson: Damion Sommers? If I’m not mistaken wasn’t this guy fired two weeks ago?
Sparkles: As far as Sparkles can remember Sommers lost a loser leaves town match on the last Uprising. He shouldn’t be here tonight.
Greyson: Nor should Willow Wilkes be in the front row, but that didn’t stop her from being here and losing his job hasn’t stopped Sommers from showing up either.
Helms ain’t happy, he ain’t happy one bit with Sommers being in attendance in spite of losing his job.
Helms: Damion, you’re not supposed to be….
Damion: I don’t give a flying fuck where I’m supposed to be. Two weeks ago you let someone who shouldn’t be making matches force me into a loser leaves town bout. That isn’t fair!
Helms: Weeeell you do kind of have a point there.
Damion: So make it right. Let me go down to that ring and fight not only for my career but for a spot in the Rumble. Give me one more opportunity…..just ONE MORE opportunity.
Cassius: Give the man a chance, Helms.
Helms: Alright-alright-alright, fine-fine-fine. If Cassius wants to defend his number in the Rumble, and you Sommers want a chance to get back on the Uprising brand, then we’ll kill two birds with one stone. I’m making it official, DeLight versus Damion and whoever wins gets into the Last Stand Rumble….that right there is what you call a booking MAGIC BULLET.
He winks towards Karen McBride who has been standing there impatiently, watching this whole scene unfold and pretending to jot down mental notes.
DAMION SOMMERS VS. CASSIUS DELIGHT:
RUMBLE SPOT ON THE LINE
The ring is occupied by more than just Cassius DeLIght and his customary smart-ass demeanor, because now he’s got the company of Damion Sommers and a referee. The official presides over this impromptu bout that both men desperately need to win.
Mackie: I guess we’re getting the honors.
Hunter: Suppose so.
Dollar: Wouldn’t it be so much smarter to just let us call all of the action tonight instead of having the Riot commentators louse it all up?
Mackie: No-no-no, that would be…..what’s the word I’m looking for here?
Hunter: Intelligent.
Mackie: Oh yeah, but I’ll tell you what’s not intelligent, Cassius DeLight putting his spot in the Rumble on the line against a guy who just got fired on the last Uprising.
Hunter: Well if Cassius wins he’ll feel like he’s earned a bit more respect going into the Rumble, and if Damion wins he not only gets into the Rumble, but he gets his job back.
Mackie: Face it though, be realistic. Damion has everything to win here, but Cassius has everything to lose.
The bell sounds in the background as Damion and Cassius tentatively tie up in a collar elbow. The submission is short lived as Cassius switches around behind his opponent and applies a hammerlock. That hold is transitioned into a side headlock followed by a takedown. He keeps Damion down and pressure on his adversary’s neck. The oxygen deprivation does not thwart Damion, who is determined to get back a job he was unfairly fired from. He wraps his legs around Cassius’ neck and applies a head scissors submission. Cassius twists his body around until he’s on his knees and until his body has formed a perfect straight line with his opponent’s. Now Cassius flips forward out of the head scissors hold and into a jackknife cover on Damion.
1
The pin is a very short lived one, because Damion shows some remarkable upper body strength by bridging both he and Cassius off the canvas. The two reach their feet and then Damion swings himself around into a dominant position, straddling the head of his adversary before performing a lightning fast pulling piledriver.
Hunter: Cassius just driven down right on top of his head with a snap piledriver!
Dollar: A SNAP piledriver that may have just caused a SNAP in DeLight’s neck.
The piledriver is followed by a quick lateral press, Damion hoping to make magic happen and in record time.
1
2
A shoulder launches off the canvas and it keeps Cassius from losing out on the Rumble later tonight. A disappointed Damion scowls at the referee before hurdling his fist at his opponent. He drags Cassius up and into an abdominal stretch, but what he’s really doing is exposing the ribs, exposing them to a barrage of clubbing blows. Finally he headbutts Cassius right between the ribs and nearly fractures them on impact. He then puts his hands to his adversary’s spine and shoves him along into the ropes. Cassius bounces off the ropes and comes running right back into a knee that lands against his gut. The shot sends him flipping right over, landing right on his backside and clasping right at his banged up abdomen.
Of course Cassius isn’t the only one going after his ribs.
Damion drops down behind DeLight, grabs his arm and places it in a modified overhead top wrist lock. All the while he punches and punches and punches at DeLight’s ribs. He even takes the point of his knuckle and just begins to twist it between the ribs. Finally Damion wraps an arm around Cassius’ stomach and deadlifts him from the ring then into a Canadian back breaker across his knee. The moment that Cassius falls off the leg of his opposition said opposition falls across Cassius’ chest.
1
2
Again Cassius has to dig deep into the reserves of his strength to get his shoulder up, but that’s just what he does. This aggravates Damion, who is fighting for so much, not just a spot in this evening’s Rumble, but to get back his job in the UWA. He does everything in his power to make that possible, including dragging Cassius to his feet and giving him a stiff kick to the gut. The blow sends his opponent stumbling back into the corner, falling against it. A running knee that connects to his gut ALMOST knocks him down off his feet.
It unsettles Damion seeing his opponent STILL upright, so he takes off into the opposite corner to build momentum behind yet another blow. Damion runs the length of the ring and goes for the clothesline on Cassius’ throat but instead charges straight into a kick to the face. The impact sends Damion stumbling back but trying to maintain his footing, which is going to be impossible when his adversary comes flying off the middle rope into a dropkick.
Hunter: Cassius getting his head back in this.
Mackie: He had better if he wants to keep his spot in the Rumble tonight.
Dollar: He’s really put himself behind the eight ball, he’s in the same position that Marina Valdivia was earlier tonight, only unlike Marina, he risked his role in the Rumble WILLINGLY.
The dropkick on his chest has sent Damion rolling along the canvas and eventually back to his feet. He then stumbles straight into a spinning heel kick that smacks him in the teeth. Once again Cassius has taken his opposition down to the ring and will do so once again. As soon as Damion gets back to his feet he’s removed from them yet again via a running clothesline across the throat. This time Damion isn’t getting right back up, it’s impossible considering that Cassius is dropping across his chest into the lateral press.
1
2
A kick out keeps Damion’s hopes of regaining his IWC career alive. He forces himself up to his feet where he’s taken by the neck and on the verge of being laid out with a DDT. Damion won’t let that happen, he twists himself free from the front chancery and then drags his opponent into a short arm clothesline. That lariat is ducked as DeLight takes off into the ropes. As soon as Damion turns around he finds himself laid out with a spear to the mid-section, driving him down to the ring and driving all the air out of his lungs. Cassius makes another cover.
1
2
Another cover that gets kicked out of.
Mackie: Action staying fast paced.
Hunter: These two are going to keep throwing everything they’ve got at each other here, they can’t afford to slow down.
So they don’t. The action remains accelerated as Cassius forces Damion up to his feet and into another attempt at the DDT. Once again Damion manages to avoid the blow, powering his shoulder into Cassius’ ribs and then shoving him back across the ring. Eventually Cassius’ back hits the corner and the attempt at the chancery is broken. Damion backs away from his adversary and then dashes into a clothesline. However, Cassius gets his boots up only they don’t hit his opposition. This time Damion catches Cassius’ feet before they smack him in the mug. He then throws them aside, causing Cassius’ legs to fly through the ropes and for him to end up seated across the middle strand. A forearm smashes him right between the kidneys, and it won’t be the last blow suffered to his back. Cassius is yanked off the ropes and then into a twisting Regal suplex with the bridge.
1
2
Cassius just barely budges his shoulder from the ring to keep from losing out on participating in the Rumble tonight. Damion looks beside himself, honestly believing that victory was in his grasp. Victory continues to elude him however, but it might not much longer if he hits what he’s got on his mind next. He forces Cassius to his feet and then into the air with a tiger bomb transitioned into an over the knee back breaker. Cassius can’t withstand much more in the form of punishment like this. He tries to put some separation between himself and Damion but he doesn’t get very far.
A handful of his hair is used to drag him back to the middle of the ring and back to his feet where a punch drills him right between the eyes. The shot sends Cassius spiraling around so that his back is facing his opposition. Said opposition places Cassius in a full nelson but not for very long. Cassius squirms through the arms that were trapping him, falls to the ring and reaches up with his legs, wrapping them around Damion’s waist then pulling him down into a roll up.
Mackie: Cassius one slippery son of a bitch.
Dollar: Did he just slip his way into a victory?
1
2
NYYYOH! Damion kicks out before he is unceremoniously bested. The moment the pin is kicked out of Cassius is hurrying to his feet only to be leveled by a throat demolishing clothesline. Once his opponent is taken down Damion makes a throat cut taunt with his thumb, signifying that the end is nigh. A handful of hair is used to pluck Cassius off the canvas and then into a torture rack position.
Mackie: Looks like DeLight is about to regret putting his spot in the Rumble on the line.
Hunter: He’s about to miss out on a major opportunity.
Just as Damion is about to drop down into the torture rack back breaker Cassius counters. He drops down off the shoulders of his opponent, landing right in front of him and trapping Damion’s head in a front chancery in the process. That DDT he had been looking for throughout this contest connects, driving Damion down straight on top of his skull. The impact SHOULD have knocked Damion unconscious but instead it has him popping back up to his feet with a sickening grin on his face. He slaps himself to both cheeks and lets out a bone curdling laugh before unleashing a thrust kick straight to Cassius’ jaw. The blow sends Cassius stumbling back and falling against the ropes. Those cables sends Cassius bouncing back towards Damion, who sets up for a back drop….but sets too early. Cassius reverses the back drop attempt by stepping over the head of his opponent and then lifting him up into the Cashing Out. The package piledriver drives Cassius’ head nearly though the ring.
Dollar: Oooooh daddy, Cassius just dropped Damion straight on his noggin!
Hunter: The Cashing Out connects, but it will pay off?
That question is answered when Cassius hooks both of Damion’s legs and the ref makes the count.
1
2
There was no chance, no chance in hell that Damion was kicking out after the Cashing Out, the pinfall as academic as a scene from an economics course taught by Ben Stein.
Hunter: Cassius retaining his spot in the Rumble.
Dollar: Hope he feels like he earned it now.
Mackie: The only thing he’s earned is a kick in the balls for being as dumb as fuck. You don’t put Baby in the corner, you don’t want to see Bruce Banner get angry, and you don’t put your spot in the Rumble on the line.
Dollar: Got to feel bad for Damion Sommers…..wait….no I don’t, so I won’t.
It was a grueling bout but Cassius has just emerged victorious from it and with his spot in the Rumble. He rises to his feet with his arm raised aloft by the official, enjoying the spoils of a hard-fought victory, though he doesn’t look like he’s living it up to the extent that he should.
Hunter: Cassius still looking as intense as ever.
Dollar: He’s gonna need to channel all of that intensity into the Rumble later tonight.
Hunter: A Rumble that he truly just earned his way into with this victory here.
The halls continue to be stalked by the Queen of Wrestling Champion. A CHILLINGLY ferocious Selena Frost is making her way down the corridor with her eyes examining her surroundings, searching for a certain Desmond Drake and the title belt that he stole from her. The Riot brand commentary team can be heard in the background.
Greyson: Well Uprising’s Cassius DeLight just ‘retained’ his spot in the Rumble tonight, but what Riot’s own Selena Frost is trying to do is ‘reclaim’ her Queen of Wrestling Title.
Sparkles: Earlier on she was supposed to face Desmond Drake for the belt, but he used his army of masked female assassins to distract Selena long enough for him to escape her and to escape with her belt.
Frankie: Selena might as well as just give up. She may have the face of a bloodhound but she’s not going to be able to sniff out Drake’s location.
Selena goes on silently searching for the elusive Drake, her hunt taking her off camera. The show doesn’t cut away from this location though, the camera remaining fixated on a garbage can with a push door lid. Said door slowly begins to open from inside and the viewers can now see the face of Desmond Drake cautiously peering out of his hiding place.
Sparkles: Look-look, its Oscar the Grouch.
Greyson: That’s Desmond Drake, Sparkles.
Frankie: He had to hide in the garbage can to throw off the scent trail.
Greyson: It’s fitting that Drake would be hiding in garbage seeing as he’s a piece of trash.
Sparkles: Well he won’t be able to hide from Selena forever.
There are loud boisterous tones and even louder music filtering out of Monarchy’s dressing room. Anyone within the proximity of at least half a mile could hear the party that is happening just beyond the door that one Mark Comeau is stood just outside of. The correspondent looks annoyed the longer he has to wait to get his interview with Taylor Chase, a fixture of Monarchy and a woman slated to challenge for the Riot brand World Title this evening.
Greyson: Selena searching for Drake, and our broadcast colleague Mark Comeau waiting for an interview with Taylor Chase.
Frankie: If he even thinks of being a gatecrasher, I’ll make sure he pays for it. Tay is in the throes of a party to honor her impending World Title win and Comeau is not to be a party pooper.
Sparkles: Tay and Monarchy getting a little ahead of themselves, aren’t they? She’s still got to defeat her twisted sister Mika Kozlov and her greatest IWC rival Katelyn Buehler, THEN she can start partying.
Frankie: You make it sound like it’s NOT a forgone conclusion that she’s gonna wipe the floor with those two.
Greyson: Because it’s not a forgone conclusion, and hopefully Comeau can remind her of that when he finally gets into her dressing room to conduct this friggin interview.
The crew member runs up to Ambrosia, looking more than a little flustered from the running around. Better that than the alternative however.
Ambrosia: Ah, it isn’t my little assistant. Did you give him my little present…I’ve just realized I don’t know your name
Crew: It’s Darren
Ambrosia: Darren!!! I can’t have someone helping me with the name Darren, who’s called Darren these days anyway? Anyway, did he looked impressed
Crew: I’d call it confused to be honest
Ambrosia: Confused…that’s good. Did he look horny?
Crew: Excuse me?
Ambrosia: Was there a bulge in his trousers, did he masturbate into my lingerie?
Crew: I didn’t hang around to find out
Ambrosia: No matter, I want you to do one final thing for me. Give him this letter for me
Crew: Couldn’t you have given me the letter before?
Ambrosia: No, and unless you gain some kind of pleasure me hanging you from that doorframe by your testicles, I’d suggest that you don’t question me. Now, give him the letter.
She hands him the letter, Darren walking out the room shaking his head.
Ambrosia: Honestly, what do you have to do to get decent staff these days?
When cameras return to the interior of the San Siro, they are focused not on the ring but the Hell in a Cell that hangs above it. The commentators are overheard in the background hyping what will take place inside of those five sides of steel, this house of chaos.
Greyson: Who knows what Ambrosia is up to now?
Sparkles: We’ve been seeing her play some mind-games with her opponent for later tonight.
Greyson: Mind games she might just live to regret when she takes on Riddick inside of the Hell in a Cell. A match that is not going to be for the frail of heart.
Frankie: People with weak bladders better stay the hell away from the television when that match gets started. I’m telling ya, it’s gonna be bloodier than anything ever directed by Meir Zarchi or Dario Argento.
Greyson: Did you just IMDB both those names?
Frankie: Shut your filthy prostitute mouth.
If anything could draw the focus away from the Hell in a Cell it would be the woman now making her entrance to the ring far below it. The tracks of “Satisfied” by Social Code start to play over the loud speakers and that means the world is about to be graced by the Riot brand World Heavyweight Champion Katelyn Buehler. The reaction only gets louder when the show no quit superstar comes striding through the curtains with the title over a shoulder that SHOULD be wrapped in layers of bandaging and braced. Instead that shoulder bares the weight of her title and raises effortlessly in order to lift her title high above her head.
Greyson: This is unexpected. We weren’t supposed to see Katelyn Buehler….YET.
Sparkles: As we touched upon a few seconds ago….
Frankie: You don’t want to know what I was touching a few seconds ago.
Greyson: You’re right, we don’t.
Sparkles: Like Sparkles was saying, we just saw our friend Marky Mark Comeau trying to get a word with one of the challengers for Katelyn’s title in our triple threat main event, but we won’t have to wait to hear from the champion herself.
Greyson: Katelyn headed for the ring and boy does she look to be in really good shape.
Frankie: Perv.
Greyson: No-no, I mean, she looks very healthy.
Frankie: That sounds less pervy, how?
Greyson: I’m just trying to say I’m shocked is all, surprised how good her shoulder looks after what Mika Kozlov and Taylor Chase did to her only a few weeks back.
Frankie: That was nothing compared to what her challengers will do to her tonight.
Once in the ring Katelyn takes a mic but she doesn’t get a chance to use it, The fans are just too damned loud.
Fans: KATELYN! KATELYN! KATELYN!
Instead of trying to silence her supporters Katelyn apes them on, holding out the mic so it can catch and amplify their screams. Finally the mic returns to her lips.
Katelyn: Wow…..just…yeah…WOW!
The crowd indulges even more full on monkey-balls madness.
Katelyn: I haven’t seen people this hyper since my little girls got into that bag of sugar. Boy, you people sure do know how to make a lady feel welcomed.
Some in attendance even start to sing Katelyn’s theme music much to the champion’s amusement.
Katelyn: Yaaaah, leave that to the professionals please. (Chuckles) It sure sounds like you people are ready….Ready to see me get in this ring and kick some spoiled entitled ass!
Yup, they are, hence why they are egging Buehler on.
Katelyn: Before you get to see my elbow break what orthodontists spent years fixing so that Tay-Tay wouldn’t have the type of smile only backwoods hillbillies find pretty, I’ve got to get that whole ‘cheap pops’ thing out of the way. Sooooo, here we go, let’s namedrop the city we’re in tonight, and let’s hear you people scream your asses off. MILAN…
Here come the screams that were requested.
Katelyn:…SCREAM BABY SCREAM!
They don’t have to be asked twice.
Katelyn: I gotta say it, this city is friggin AMAZING! I’ve always heard that Italy was a special place, but now I see just how special it is first hand. And it’s gonna hold a very-very SPECIAL place in my heart after tonight. Oh, by special I don’t mean the type of special Mika Kozlov scores on her IQ tests. No-no, I’m talking the sentimental type of special. Because after tonight I’ll have slayed my dragon. See there’s just one fire breathing bitch with a deeper voice than Smaug that I haven’t been able to bring down, and her name is Taylor Chase.
Here comes the obligatory heat.
Katelyn: I’ve looked for but I haven’t found that one weak spot on her scaly belly that will slay her. For two years every single time we’ve crossed paths she’s left me looking like Lake-town, but here in Milan (pauses for another cheap pop) the curse will be broken. The two year curse will finally end. I’ll grab my black arrow, I’ll plunge it through that thick belly of hers and I’ll beat both her and her sister to retain my World Ti….
Tay: SCREEEEECH! PUMP DEM BREAKS GIRLY!
Kate’s eyes go to the same place that everyone else’s do, to the Cartel-tron positioned over the PPV set. On the screen we see Taylor Chase speaking from the confines of her lavishly decorated dressing room. The walls are graced with a number of party banners reading ‘Congrats Tay,’ and ‘Tay all the way.’ Of course the room isn’t the only thing decorated. There is also a cone shaped party hat sitting on top of Tay’s head and we can see a party horn in her hand.
Tay: Don’t you do it again, Pasty Katie. Don’t you go out there and make promises you couldn’t possibly keep.
Katelyn’s face is showing some color, red to indicate anger.
Tay: Everyone knows you’re destined to live in my shadow, just like Italy lives in Brazil’s shadow when it comes to the World Cup.
No…she….didn’t. The crowd wishes they weren’t frisked for guns before they came into the arena tonight.
Tay: Give up already. Face the truth. Wait-wait-wait, how does that silly little prayer start that you’re supposed to recite as part of your NA recovery?
Oh noooo, Tay just went there, she just took a stab at Kate’s past….and we’re talking far-far past… substance abuse issues.
Tay: (Hamming it up) God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. (Rolling her eyes) Is that right? Well maybe you should listen to that part, because well, we all know there are no other aspects of NA that you honor.
Katelyn can only stand there in the ring and shake her head as Tay verbally brutalizes her from the security of the dressing room.
Tay: Accept that you cannot beat me, Kate. I’m always going to be the face that runs this place, and you, you’re always going to be the ass end of this federation. I’m number one, you’re clearly number two, I mean, you do take it in the same place that number 2 comes from, am I right? Hahahahaha. So why don’t you just save yourself the embarrassment of failing AGAIN, and-and-and you know what, why risk having me reinjure your shoulder for what, the millionth time? Just lay down that title of yours and I’ll send one of my friends out to pick it up. That way, I won’t miss a moment of my victory celebration. See, win-win for everyone….but more win for me obviously. Because well, winning is just in my DNA.
The comment is punctuated via a mighty blow into the party horn Tay’s been holding.
Katelyn: As full of it as you are Tay, and believe me, you are…full….of….it, you did get one, just one thing right. ‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change’ is part of the NA prayer, buuuut, you neglected to mention the second part. “Courage to change the things I can.’ And believe me, I do have the courage to finally beat you later tonight. Oh and the courage to ruin your party, right now.
On that note Kate goes rolling from the ring. She is intent on being a woman of her word, marching up the ramp with title griped in fists that are clinched, on the verge of crashing Tay’s party by crashing into Tay’s face. Just as Katelyn reaches the top of the ramp a halo of fire starts to form on the ground directly in front of her. Kate stops cold in her tracks as the flames rise before her. Though fire isn’t the only thing that rises through the steel. There is a figure seated Indian style in the center of this ring of flames. Mika Kozlov.
Frankie: Oooooh snap.
Sparkles: It’s the fire-demon Mika Kozlov.
Frankie: And something tells me she’s tired of being ignored.
Greyson: Katelyn attempting to ruin Tay’s victory party, but both ladies have forgotten that Mika is part of the Riot brand World Title match too.
Frankie: Not wise to forget about her, two weeks ago she almost manipulated her way into taking out both Katelyn and Taylor in the same night.
The wall of fire keeps Katelyn away from Mika, who is sitting casually in spite of being parked right in front of a bear more ravenous than one chomping on Leonardo Dicaprio.
Mika: (Wagging her finger slowly back and forth) Tisk-tisk-tisk. Now-now-now, you and my sestra are not being very nice forcing me to sit at the kiddies’ table.
Katelyn: Believe me, Mika, you don’t WANT to be in this conversation.
Mika: Oh but I do. Are you forgetting that I’m challenging for your World Title tonight too? Hmmmm? Have you forgotten that I snapped your arm three weeks ago? Have you forgotten that the last time you lost to Tay-Tay, it was because of me? Have you forgotten that fire ball that I threw in Cindy Todd’s face….?
Katelyn: What does your lover’s quarrel with Cindy have to do with me?
Mika: All Cindy ever did was annoy me, but you, you’re keeping me away from the World Championship. Soooo, you figure it out, connect the dots mishka…
At this point Katelyn would gladly risk walking right through the fire that forms a protective barrier around Mika.
Mika: (Speaking in an almost singsong voice) People ignoring me because they are so focused on my sestra is starting to get reeeeaaal annoying. I’ve run into that problem all my life. Buuuut hey, I can accept some responsibility, maybe I’m to blame for this. Maybe I haven’t done enough to make myself stand out as your biggest threat?
A blast of fire is suddenly spewed from Mika’s mouth and sent hurdling towards the champion’s face. Luckily Katelyn possesses reflexes fast enough to avoid being subjected to the searing of her flesh. She lifts the World Title belt into the air and uses it as a makeshift shield, protecting her face from the force of the blast.
Greyson: Whoa-WHOA! Mika ALMOST just spat that fireball right into Katelyn’s mug.
Sparkles: Just like she did to Cindy Todd two weeks ago.
Frankie: Did some of the fire get to Katelyn?
Greyson: I think she blocked it with her title belt.
Frankie: Damn.
The title drops out of Katelyn’s hands, her fingers slightly singed by the plume of fire that was intended for her face. Now the only thing that is burning is the intensity in her eyes as they focus on Mika, who waves goodbye to the champion. The elevator she used to rise up through the stage now begins to descend, lowering her down through the ring of fire. Katelyn is about to go jumping right through those flames in order to get her hands on Mika, but luckily Dan Douglas interferes. Katelyn’s agent runs from the back, maneuvers his way around the fire and gets to his client right before she has a chance to go jumping into the blaze. He holds Katelyn back from the flames and from the even more dangerous figure in the center of them.
Sparkles: Pun intended here, Mika just added fuel to the fire….
Frankie: Stop-stop….good God stop!
Greyson: That was pretty bad Sparkles, almost as bad as what Katelyn, Mika and Taylor are going to do to each other in the triple threat World Title match tonight.
There’s another blow into the party horn as Tay-Tay truly lives up her pre-victory celebration. It isn’t long before she’s joined in the Monarchy’s dressing room by two figures who made quite the splash in their debuts just a few weeks ago.
Tay: Ladies, it looks like the black sheep of our family is up to no good again.
Cameron and Madison Chase, two more members of the highly influential Chase family stand shoulder to shoulder in front of their sister.
Cammie: Pffffft, as if we’d expect anything else from….
Maddie: Whoa-whoa-whoa….(stepping between her sisters with palms held up)….since when do we have a ‘sheep’ in the family? Dad didn’t, you know, do something strange to a farm animal did he?
Cammie: Maddie, (pinching the skin between her eyes) no….just….no. Stand over here while the adults speak, okay?
Gently guiding Maddie out of the way.
Cammie: (Addressing Tay) So what’s on the agenda for tonight? More wild and wooly escapades?
Tay: Absolutely. This is a night of celebration after-all (blows into the party horn). It just warms my heart knowing that you two, my favorite sisters in the whole wide world, are here to celebrate this milestone with me.
Tay puts her arms over the shoulders of Maddie and Cammie, hugging them both.
Tay: Tonight I become a FOUR TIME World Champion.
Maddie: (Clapping giddily) Yaaaaay!
Tay: I put Kate and Mika in the past once and for all, then the First Lady of Professional Wrestling moves on to the FUTURE…..
Maddie: REALLY? The FUTURE? Cause I made a flux capacitor if that’ll help.
Cammie: For the last time Maddie, you cannot make a flux capacitor out of rigatoni noodles!
Maddie: HEY! If Albert Einstein can create electricity by flying a kite, I can master time travel with rigatoni!
Tay: Ladies-ladies PLEASE! Let’s not forget the focus is supposed to be on ME!
Maddie & Cammie: Sorry.
Tay: Now just so there’s no room for error, you two understand what your role is tonight, right?
Cammie: You know I do, but Maddie probably needs to be told once or twice more.
Tay: Fine, we’ll go over this one…more…time.
Cammie: Just make sure you talk very slowly. For Maddie’s sake.
Maddie: And talk with a pirate accent.
Tay: Why?
Maddie: Because it would be funny, stupid.
Apparently it will take more than getting shoved on her ass to slow Tabitha Silverstone down. In fact, the push that she was given by Victoria Salinas earlier tonight seems to motivate rather than debilitate the agent. Her gums are flapping faster than ever before as she speaks directly to the very same detective she was conversing with earlier tonight. The venue may have changed, substituting one backstage corridor for another, but the topic of conversation remains the same.
Tabitha: So what do we do now?
Detective: Well that all really depends on you. If you’re willing to press charges then…..
Before the Detective can even finish his sentence Tabitha’s hand is going up in front of his face. Though her eyes never rise to look into his, instead their ever fixed on an envelope held in her opposite palm. That envelope is the very same one that Andre Jordan was seen in possession of earlier tonight, one he addressed to his estranged manager.
Tabitha: You better believe I’m pressing charges.
Riddick is walking through the corridors, his match getting closer. He looks like he is ready to fight, the events of the evening just firing him up even more. As Darren approaches, his look changes not to anger, but to murderous intent.
Riddick: I swear son, you play any more games, and I guarantee I will tear you apart.
Darren: I’ve just got this letter, I’m just the messenger.
Riddick: Just give me the letter
Darren hands over the letter, Riddick snatching it from him.
Riddick: Now fuck off.
Riddick unfolds the letter, and reads it, his eyes widening even more.
Riddick: ‘You’ve been stressed; I know how much this match is getting to you and how much you want to get your hands on me. So, meet me in the storage room…fifteen minutes, and I’ll help you relieve that stress.’
He looks at the letter in disbelief
Riddick: I’ll be there…but it won’t be for relief.
Attention has returned to the interior of the San Siro stadium where at that present moment something is at last being done to contend with the disconcerting presence of Willow Wilkes. The former ULW World Champion who had been standing in the front row for much of the night won’t be there for much longer. She wanted an up close and personal view of the Uprising World Title match scheduled to happen in a moment but instead what she gets up close and personal with are a contingent of security guards. Under the auspices of UWA GM David Helms a battalion has been dispatched to deal with Willow before she even has the opportunity to stir up any trouble.
Hunter: Looks to me like something is finally being done about Willow Wilkes.
Dollar: Couldn’t come a moment sooner considering that we’re seconds away from the Uprising World Title match.
Hunter: She interfered in the last one, costing Gavin Taylor the title, she’s not being given the chance to do it a second time.
Mackie: This is bull. Helms invited her to be part of this event, and now he’s having her escorted away from the ring?
Hunter: Helms invited her to participate in the Rumble match tonight, NOT to run interference during the World Title match.
Every precaution is taken to ensure that the UWA World Title bout happens without incident. David Helms is watching from the stage as security walks on either side of Wilkes in the process of escorting her up the steps and to the backstage area. Much to everyone’s surprise Wilkes cooperates. In fact, it’s her willingness to follow the rules that strikes so many as so unsettling. Even Helms looks a bit unnerved by the ease in which the guards lead Wilkes away from ringside. Though he doesn’t spend much time dwelling on it, as the show must go on. He turns back to look over the tumbler that is still planted on the stage between himself and IWC Principle Owner Karen McBride.
Helms: Here we are Karen, on the cusp of our first of three main events.
Karen: I’d have to be lying if I didn’t say I was eager to see your booking prowess at its absolute best.
Helms: Oh yeah, cause Gavin Taylor and Vanilla Skyy are about to give us a match for the title that epitomizes everything that the Uprising brand is about, and what the UWA is going to stand for. But before we get to that bout, I think we should go ahead and bring out the next set of talents to draw their numbers from our handy tumbler here (smacks his palm on the top of the tumbler).
Karen: Ya’ know, since you’ve been such an all-around swell guy tonight, why don’t you go right ahead and bring out a member of your roster?
Helms: That’s being a team player. Alright then, I know there’s been someone waiting in the back who is dying to know where she stands this evening….So Marie Jones, the wait is over.
The crowd gives quite the ovation for the leader of the Ginger Nation, and co-holder of the Uprising World Tag Team Titles. Marie Jones enjoys hearing cheers far more than the cacophony of heckles that once accompanied her. She smiles warmly in response to the favorable reaction that both she and her partner Sophie James receive the second the two of them hit the stage.
Mackie: I’ve always wondered, do the curtains match the…..
Dollar: Keep on wondering that…to yourself.
Hunter: Marie Jones out next to draw her number for the Rumble this evening, and many have already inferred that she’s an odds on favorite to win it tonight.
Mackie: The only part of that statement those people got right was the fact that Marie is ‘odd.’
Hunter: No, the only thing that’s odd is the fact that Marie has yet to capture a World Title in her entire IWC tenure. I mean, she’s always been RIGHT THERE, right at the cusp of taking the championship, but for some reason it just hasn’t happened.
Dollar: Yet! She wins the Rumble tonight and then that momentum might just be the last push she needs to win the World Championship.
As Marie and Sophie approach the tumbler the lid is opened and all the numbers are now at the disposal of the red haired warrior. There is no hesitation shown by Marie, who reaches on in and takes a number right on out. She and Sophie huddle together and hunch over the ball that is popped open to reveal the number inside. Helms tries to get a better look but he gets the Heisman, Sophie putting a palm to his chest and keeping him at arm’s length. Once she and Marie see the number that was selected their cheeks become redder than their hair. Marie is all smiles as she turns towards Helms and politely requests the use of his microphone.
Marie: Do me a favor.
Helms: Depends.
Marie: You just give Gavin and Skyy a message on behalf of the Ginger Nation.
Helms: Doubt they’ll listen.
Marie: Oooooh they’ll listen alright. Because they’ll want to hear who the next challenger is going to be for the UWA Championship. Here’s a hint, they have red hair, ravishing good looks, and the cutest freckles on the planet. No, not Seth Green…..it’ll be Marie Jones.
The Phoenix and the Motor City Bitch are in high spirits, or at least they were before Gavin Taylor’s theme music hits the loud speakers and he just comes walking right through them….literally. The two ladies have to jump back on account of a fired up number one contender storming between the pair as he moves down the ramp, microphone being taken from the hands of Marie in the process.
Gavin: Two years….two years I’ve waited on this night….on this opportunity to prove that I’m an All-Star….that I’m the Best Wrestler in the Universe….that I’m the Franchise Player….and nicknames aside, that I’m a WORLD CHAMPION.
VANILLA SKYY © VS. GAVIN TAYLOR:
UPRISING WORLD TITLE
Hunter: Finally we are here Dave, the match that we have all been waiting for, especially Gavin Taylor. And it’s for the UWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Mackie: After the aborted match a few weeks ago, Gavin has been counting down the moments since Uprising when he found out he would get another shot at it. And you can tell that these fans are ready too.
Hunter: Who is going to begin the new era, when UWA branches out on its own, as the Champion? Vanilla Skyy, or Gavin Taylor.
The lights around the arena begin to flicker as “Whoa Is Me” by Down With Webster starts to play over the arena.
Whoa is me
I’m so whoa
See me decked out from my head to my toe
Whoa is me
I’m so whoa
Everywhere I go I’m a one man show
And the song continues…
Gavin has dropped the microphone at the stage and continues down the ramp, looking far-far more intense than normal as he prepares for the biggest bout of his career.
Say whoa (whoa)
The more I feel it whoa (whoa)
The more I need it whoa (whoa)
You say whoa
Whoa is me
I’m so whoa
Gavin hops right into the ring where he’s already dispensed some justice against the Sinistry earlier tonight, and now looks to take their World Championship.
The song continues…
I cheated to get what I got
Stepped all over you self for my spot
I bet you I’m winning, I bet that you’re not
I bet you don’t see me, I bet you get caught
Gavin opens his jersey, sliding it off his shoulders as he stretches his arms out.
Turning around, he bounces back off the ropes looking up the ramp, eager to get this match underway
Hunter: The All Star has claimed that he was the only person that should be challenging, and he’s done it for several months now. Honestly, can he do it here tonight?
Mackie: Of course he can. I’m not going to lie, Vanilla Skyy is one heck of a competitor, one of the very best, but Gavin Taylor can beat anyone on his day. And Vanilla is well aware of that
Hunter: It’s a really tough one to call no doubt
The sounds of a blizzard can be heard…..
The arena goes dark with only one white spotlight at the entrance way……
it begins to snow inside as the fans look up……
The drum beats begin to play…
Suddenly the screen comes on with a woman holding her hair and screaming, the screen changes to many vantage points….
As “U & UR Hand” by Pink blasts through the arena, Vanilla Skyy comes out from behind the curtain. She looks around the arena as she slowly walks to the ring….
She looks at the fans as she just keeps her focus on the ring. Vanilla jumps up to the apron and she does a back flip over the ropes and into the ring…
She stands in the middle of the ring, puts her hands together in a handgun motion and aims into the camera….
She walks to the corner and sits on the ring floor and rests against the turnbuckle now for the first time turning her attention to Gavin Taylor.
Hunter: The World Champion, arguably the best wrestler in the UWA…it’s a shame we will never see the Uprising and RIOT champion face off.
Mackie: You still might, UWA will still be a part of the Triad and there are always rumblings of a tournament to decide who truly is the best. But tonight you can bet Vanilla isn’t giving that any thought, and that her only mission is to get out of the San Siro with her title reign intact.
Hunter: You can feel the electricity in this place right now, they know that history is about to be made. And following on from everything that has already happened tonight, you’ve got to say this is one heck of a way for the current incarnation of IWC to bow out. This is it and there is our bell, we are underway
Vanilla and Gavin both walk to the middle of the ring, and stalk each other, neither of them making a move on the other. Gavin smirks at Vanilla, taunting her and motioning to a belt around his waist. Vanilla just scoffs at that, and the pair hooks up, Gavin pushing Vanilla back to the corner. The referee moves in to break them up, but Gavin already breaks the hold and takes a couple of steps back, his hands held up. They hook up again, and again Gavin holds the strength advantage and this time pushes her back into the ropes, before looking for a hip toss, Vanilla acrobatically landing on her feet. Gavin then runs in with a lariat which Skyy ducks underneath, Gavin bouncing back and leaping in the air, looking for a flying forearm, but Vanilla ducks again, Gavin hitting nothing but fresh air. Vanilla is on him immediately, tying him up in an arm bar, which Gavin spins through, reversing the move and forces Vanilla’s arm up her back. Vanilla tries to grab the back of Gavin’s head but is unable to, but then spins out herself, pushing Gavin into the ropes and then as he bounces back, lifting him up and into a back drop, and straight into a pin
1…
Gavin kicks out straight away, Vanilla immediately locking his head in, and dragging Gavin to his feet. Gavin forces her backwards and rams her into the turnbuckle, but Vanilla keeps holds, and jumps up onto the first strand, leaping from it. Vanilla is looking for a bulldog, but Gavin puts his arm underneath her and carries her into the center of the ring before dropping her onto his knee, an atomic drop sending a shudder up her spine. Gavin then kicks her in the stomach, Vanilla doubling up which allows Gavin to grab her around the waist and plant her in the center of the ring with a Snap Suplex. Gavin then bounces off the ropes and leaps in the air, landing across her chest with a Leg Drop.
Hunter: The early running was made by Vanilla, but Gavin now in control, and she felt that leg drop for sure.
Gavin picks Vanilla to her feet and then whips her into the corner, Vanilla’s spine crashing into the turnbuckle. He then runs in, leaping in the air, but missing with the Stinger Splash as Vanilla nips out of the corner. As Gavin staggers, slightly dazed by the impact, Vanilla bounces off the ropes, and goes for the White Out, Gavin Taylor seeing it just in time to duck underneath it, his eyes wide open with shock. Vanilla holds up her hand, the smallest of gaps between her thumb and forefinger
Mackie: Vanilla showing Gavin Taylor just how close that was. Vanilla almost shocked Taylor with the White Out early doors
Hunter: That’s the thing with Vanilla Skyy, you never know where she can hit you from, and so you have to be constantly on your guard.
Vanilla runs in with a raised knee which Gavin gets out the way off, grabbing Vanilla around the head he then pulls her into the center of the ring, torqueing on the head lock before running into the rope, jumping onto the second one and then spinning around. Taylor is looking for a bull dog as well, but Vanilla nips out the back of the head lock, and then drives her forearm into the back of Gavin’s spine. Vanilla then bounces off the ropes and executes the move again, this time dropping Gavin down to one knee. Vanilla then hits the ropes for a second time, and leaps in the air, looking to drive her knee into Gavin’s temple, but Gavin jumps up, and out of nowhere wraps his arm around Vanilla’s neck and drives her into the canvas.
Mackie: Real Men Use Lariat’s out of nowhere, Vanilla dropped by one of Gavin Taylor’s signature moves.
Hunter: What a shot, but now he needs to pin her
Gavin adjusts his position and pulls back on Vanilla’s leg
1…
2…
Vanilla kicks out to the delight of her fans, Gavin picking her up and bailing her into the ropes, before nailing her with a knife edge chop
Hunter: Did you hear that?
Mackie: Not as much as Vanilla felt it
Gavin hits her with another chop, and then a third, Vanilla backing into the corner. Gavin drags her out of that corner and throws her arm over his shoulder, and with his leg between hers pulls back for all her is worth
Hunter: Abdominal Stretch from Gavin Taylor, really going to work on Vanilla Skyy now and showing exactly why he should be involved in the title picture.
Mackie: If Vanilla didn’t know she was in a match already, she does now.
Vanilla is asked by the referee if she wants to quit, but Vanilla shakes her head vigorously and makes a move for the ropes, trying to get to safety.
Hunter: Vanilla Skyy will not quit…no danger there
Mackie: She might not have a choice against Gavin Taylor
Vanilla continues to edge closer to the ropes, her finger tips almost touching the strands. Finally with one massive effort she grabs the ropes, the referee immediately telling Gavin to break. This time he doesn’t straight away, and the referee has no choice but to count
1…
2…
3…
4…
Gavin finally let’s go, the referee immediately admonishing him. This distracts Gavin for long enough however for Vanilla to barge past the referee, who doesn’t see her rake his eyes with her nails. Gavin immediately goes to his eyes, the pain agonizing, but all this does is open up his stomach, Vanilla driving her shoulder into his mid-section, before lifting her knee up into his face. As Gavin reels from the onslaught, Vanilla grabs him around the throat and spins around, dropping Taylor into the canvas with a Spinning Neck breaker. Straight away she goes for the leg, unbeknown to the referee using the tights for leverage
1…
Mackie: Oh come on referee she’s got the tights
2…
Gavin Taylor manages to kick out, Vanilla springing up and smiling at Gavin who remonstrates with the referee, pulling at his tights.
Hunter: Taylor not happy that the referee didn’t see that
Mackie: And rightfully so…but of course it’s different when Vanilla cheats right?
Vanilla rubs her eyes, mocking Gavin Taylor for crying to the referee. Gavin doesn’t take kindly to this and runs in, Vanilla easily ducking under Gavin’s right hand and as he spins around hitting one of her own, before leaping up and drop kicking Gavin into the corner. She then walks to the center of the ring and pats her arm, before running in, looking for the Clothesline in the corner. Taylor has scouting it however, and he drops, lifting up with a devastating European Uppercut which lifts Vanilla off her feet and lays her out in the ring. The fans are on their feet; the place split almost straight down the middle with boos and cheers.
Hunter: What a shot out of nowhere, Vanilla Skyy was going for that Clothesline in the corner, but Gavin exploded with a European Uppercut…the Champion has to be out here
Gavin drops to his knees, and pins Vanilla’s shoulders to the mat
1…
2…
Vanilla kicks out to a tremendous ovation, Gavin immediately picking her up and Irish whipping her into the ropes, whilst he bounces off the opposite side, a running High Knee catching Vanilla fully on the jaw. Vanilla runs onto her backside, as Gavin hits the ropes to her side, this time leaping in the air and catching her fully on the temple with his version of the Shining Wizard
Hunter: All: Star Maker from Gavin Taylor, he might have this here.
Mackie: He might, but he’s going up top to make sure, Vanilla Skyy’s title reign in real trouble here.
Gavin reaches the top, and holds his arms aloft, the fans going bananas. He leaps, looking for the Splash to end this match, a splash that possibly would have won the match if it wasn’t for Vanilla Skyy bringing her knees up at the last possible second. Gavin lands stomach first, and are left on the canvas holding his stomach, the pain almost unbearable. Vanilla Skyy however crawls to the ropes, and pulls herself up in the corner, looking down at Gavin Taylor. Taylor rolls, almost to the ropes, and Vanilla sees this, running across the ring and executing a Baseball Slide that sends Gavin straight through the ropes and to the outside. Vanilla immediately follows him, and shaking her head to get some sense back, she picks him up to his feet, ramming his head down hard on the steel security barricade
Hunter: Ohhhh, Vanilla getting aggressive now it seems. She’s had enough.
Mackie: But the referee is counting.
1…
2…
Vanilla whips Gavin into the steel turnbuckle, Gavin just getting his hand up in time to block the inevitable impact. Vanilla runs in, but is met by a shoulder block from Gavin
3…
4…
5…
Vanilla leaps into the air, catching Taylor around the back of the head with an Enziguri, almost sending him over and into the fans
6…
Vanilla grabs Taylor, and once again goes to ram him into the turnbuckle, but Gavin stop’s himself, and lifts Vanilla up, falling backwards onto the apron with a back body drop on the steel ramp
Hunter: Ooooo that’s going to hurt, referee is up to seven
7…
Gavin grabs onto Vanilla, and bails her into the ring
8…
And then he follows her in, stopping the count, before immediately stomping on the World Champion. Vanilla tries to cover up, and the referee admonishes him some more, Gavin taking offence and taking his eyes off Vanilla. Vanilla is up, and sneaks behind him, locking in his arm and with one arm around Gavin’s throat, executing the Triangle Choke
Hunter: Oh my days, Vanilla Skyy with the Triangle Choke, Gavin has GOT to get to the ropes and fast.
Mackie: You think?
The fans are going crazy, and the referee checks the hold, making sure it is legal whilst at the same time asking Gavin if he wants to quit. Gavin predictably refuses and shuffles a little bit closer to the ropes
Hunter: Taylor refusing to quit, the fans loving this match up, Vanilla giving this submission everything she’s got. This is a world championship match ladies and gentlemen.
Mackie: Taylor is almost there Paul, just a little bit further.
Gavin reaches but still isn’t quite there, but thankfully he shifts his body position and makes to put his foot on the bottom rope. The San Siro erupts as the referee tells Vanilla to let go, but she outright refuses
1…
2…
3…
4…
5…
Vanilla still doesn’t let go of the move, and the referee shouts at her, demanding she release the hold
Referee: Let it go Vanilla…I’m warning you
1…
Mackie: He’ll DQ her
Hunter: Right now, I don’t think she cares; she cannot lose the title on DQ.
2…
3…
Hunter: This is majorly aggressive from Vanilla…Gavin is about out of it
4…
Vanilla releases the hold finally, and jumps to her feet. The referee points his finger at her, but she pushes him away, mounting Gavin and slamming her fist into his face.
Hunter: We’ve not seen her this aggressive in a long time
Mackie: She’s the champion, and Gavin Taylor is a threat…she knows she has to be aggressive to get it done.
She grabs the back of his head and slams it into the canvas, and then again, before pulling him up and bailing him into the ropes. On Gavin’s return, she nails him with a Spinning Roundhouse Kick, reminiscent of the one Gavin himself uses
Mackie: Did she just do the Dependable Roundhouse?
Hunter: I think she did, and Taylor took the full brunt of it as well
Vanilla nips down, and hooks Gavin’s left arm in a leg scissor, and wraps her hands around his face. She pulls back for all she is worth, Gavin Taylor howling in agony, and trying to ignore the pain that is surging through his upper back and lower neck.
Hunter: She calls this Zero Below…no way is Gavin Taylor getting out of this, not a chance in hell
Mackie: It does look like curtains for Taylor, after what has been an amazing match up.
Hunter: Come on Gavin, fight this…
Boo’s ring out over the San Siro, as eye’s catch sight of the top of the ramp, Willow Wilkes walking out to an eruption of noise. Vanilla lets go of Taylor and gets to her feet, standing at the ropes and daring Willow to come down. Wilkes shrugs, and does start to make her way down the ramp, the referee sliding out the ring to head her off.
Hunter: Oh come on Willow, you ruined the last match between these two, don’t do it again
Mackie: She made quite the impact here without having ever wrestled a match and it looks like she is going to do it again.
The referee stands in her way, telling her to go to the back
Hunter: Yes, that’s right referee…send her away. HOLY SHIT!!!
The camera pans back to the ring, where Vanilla Skyy is stood, focused on Willow. She doesn’t see the figure behind her that taps her on the shoulder. Vanilla spins around, and Serenity nails her in the stomach, before lifting her up onto her shoulders
Hunter: No referee…look
The referee isn’t looking, and Serenity lifts her up and spins, hooking her head as they drop, Serenity nailing the Uprising World Champion with an F5. She quickly slides out the ring and through the fans, as Willow holds up her hands and starts to back off, the referee heading back to the ring
Hunter: I don’t believe it; Vanilla Skyy is out, thanks to Willow and Serenity
Mackie: And look, Gavin crawling into a cover
Hunter: He doesn’t know what happened
1…
Hunter: No, not like this
2…
Mackie: New champion Paul
3…
The San Siro erupts, Gavin Taylor rolling away from Vanilla Skyy, and sitting in the corner. He looks at the referee with total and utter disbelief as the he puts two fingers in the air, Vanilla kicking out JUST before the three count.
Hunter: Unbelievable action…Vanilla Skyy escapes, Gavin Taylor was almost the world champion right there.
Gavin is breathing heavily in the corner, as Vanilla crawls to the ropes, and attempts to pull herself up.
Hunter: These two have put on an unbelievable performance, but they are feeling it now.
Gavin walks over to Vanilla and stamps his foot down into her kidneys, and again, driving his foot hard into her body. He then picks her up, hooking her around the waist. Vanilla slides out and behind Gavin, and then as he turns around instinctively kicks him in the midsection, before this time grabbing a handful of tights. As she goes to lift Gavin however he manages to escape out the backdoor, bouncing off the ropes and looking for the Huge Lariat, Vanilla ducks, Gavin hitting the opposite strand and hurtling back. As he comes back, Vanilla leaps in the air, the Bicycle Motion behind following by her foot crashing into Gavin’s face, both of them hitting the mat hard.
Hunter: WHITE OUT!!! WHITE OUT!!!
Mackie: She caught him…but she’s down as well. These two are absolutely dead on their feet.
Hunter: Vanilla can’t take advantage of the finisher; she has nothing left to give.
Mackie: And the referee has no choice but to count them both…don’t tell me we are not going to get a winner again?
1…
2…
3…
4…
Hunter: This is not looking good, and that is a stupidly long count
Mackie: He doesn’t want to end this match again without a clear winner.
5…
6…
Hunter: Still no movement, I don’t believe this not again
7…
8…
The referee seems to slow down even further, really hanging on the last count
9…
To a huge eruption Vanilla Skyy lifts her arm and places it across Gavin’s chest
1…
2…
3…
NOOOOOOOO, Gavin Taylor lifts his shoulder from the mat, the duration between the move and the pin just too long
Hunter: Taylor kicks out, I don’t know how but he did, and Vanilla is pulling herself up on the ropes. Taylor is trying to get to all fours.
Vanilla traps Gavin’s arm in a leg scissor, and then wraps her hands around his face, pulling back for all she is worth
Mackie: Taylor is trapped, in the center of the ring, he has nowhere to go.
Hunter: He’s got to tap out…he has to
Vanilla continues to pull back on the move, the pain in his in his upper back so intense, and Gavin’s hand hovering over the mat
Hunter: He’s going to tap…she’s got him
But Gavin refuses, his eyes closing as Vanilla applies even more pressure.
Hunter: He’s out…Taylor has passed out
The referee checks on Taylor, and then calls for the bell, the San Siro erupting
Hunter: Vanilla Skyy retains, Gavin Taylor showing such courage, such determination and refusing to tap out, but the pain just got to be too much.
Mackie: I don’t believe it, what a performance from these two individuals…I have to tip my hat to both of them
Vanilla pulls herself up as Gavin comes to, the referee passing her the title belt which she holds aloft. Gavin sits in the corner, watching Vanilla intently as she celebrates with the fans
Hunter: Gavin Taylor came so close, but tonight belongs to Vanilla Skyy. She will kick off the UWA as its World Champion after one heck of a fight.
Gavin rolls out the ring and starts backing up the ramp, the fans applauding his efforts as he does. Although disappointed he turns, and nods his head towards Vanilla, before going through the curtain.
Mackie: Another title victory for Vanilla Skyy…can anyone take this belt from her?
Hunter: I don’t know, but for now she makes history and ends the IWC era as the Uprising World Champion.
Vanilla climbs a turnbuckle and lifts the belt, a huge noise accompanying her.
Hunter: What a champion, and what a challenger…and what a way to head into UWA…can one of our own go to win the Rumble?
Fire burns very-very slowly from the tip of a knotted up piece of paper to the other end held in Cindy Todd’s fingers. In recent weeks she’s become very acquainted with fire, considering that just a few weeks ago she had a ball of flame thrown into her face.
Cindy: I can see why Mika has such an affinity for this.
States the ever calculating Queen of Chaos as her fingers get closer and closer to the flames that have burned to within mere centimeters of her skin.
Cindy: It has so many endearing qualities. Doesn’t it?
She turns her head to speak to the two figures also joining her in the corridor. One such individual is indistinguishable thanks to the black hood and cloak that hangs over their head and their body, concealing their identity. The other individual is being held down by this shrouded figure, her wrists caught in the clutches of her captor, and her stomach bowed over a stack of cinder blocks. It’s her back that is the most visual part of her anatomy, considering that the wrestling gear that once covered it has been ripped away to expose the skin beneath. That skin has been ripped in a number of places and blood is rolling down from the gashes.
Cindy: Mika has made fast friends of fire and I. Now I just got to arrange a playdate between Mika and an old pal of my own.
A barbwire bat is raised into view, the very same weapon that was employed in the Stairway to Hell match earlier tonight. Of course that bout was lost by the very same woman who is currently being forced to kneel over cinder blocks as she’s subjected to multiple lashings. As Cassidy Haze is flogged for her failures earlier in the night she does not cry out in pain, she does not shed a tear, she just kneels there and takes it. Cindy steps towards her torture victim, but it’s not Cassidy that she’s concerned with, it’s the hooded figure holding her in place.
Cindy: Do you think Mika can learn to get along with my friend, like I’ve learned to get along with hers?
The hooded figure nods.
Cindy: Maybe you’d like to help me.
The 2×4 is extended towards this mysterious individual, who takes her hands away from Cassidy’s wrists in order to accept the weapon.
Cindy: It’s time for us to start a fire….
Hooded Figure: Hmmmm…that sounds fun, but you know what sounds even better? (The hood starts to pull back from her face) Starting a scandal.
The face of Cassandra Mason now peaks out from behind the shroud and her playful smile is no longer veiled in darkness.
The Rumble is getting oh so close, and Susie Moore has caught up with one man very hyped to compete in it. If the backstage correspondent could stand, or to be more accurate if she were willing to get off her motorized rascal, she might join Andre Jordan in pacing back and forth through the interview zone. Instead of getting up though, she just sits there and watches Dre like he were a ping-pong ball bouncing from one end of a table to the other.
Susie: Dre, you’re making me sea-sick.
Finally Andre stops pacing and whips around towards Susie, acting as if he just now noticed she was present. In that instant he flicks back the hood of his sweatshirt so he can get a better look at the bubbly correspondent.
Andre: I’m sorry, I’m just a liiiiitlllle amped up.
Now Dre is hopping in place and thumping the side of his fist against his chest.
Andre: The Rumble has got my heart beating like a mile a minute…and look….look at my skin….
Instead of pulling back his hood he pulls back the sleeve of his shirt to reveal his outstretched forearm.
Andre: Look at those….see ‘em, those are goosebumps. Honest to God goosebumps.
Susie doesn’t just look at them she feels them.
Susie: Ewww, your arm feels all smooth and stuff. I like it.
Wisely Andre pulls his arm as far away from Susie as possible.
Andre: When that Rumble rolls around I just start getting….(Dre’s whole body shivers)….that burst of sheer, rrrraaaawww adrenaline….I just get that RUUUUUSH. You feel me?
Susie: I just did.
Andre: No, I mean….Never-mind. Listen Susie, there’s a reason I’m just so damned worked up, because I know every year when the Rumble comes, it’ll bring out the absolute best in everyone who goes to that ring.
Susie: Yourself included. I mean, in the past two Rumbles you’ve put on some of the best performances I’ve ever seen. Two years ago you started off number two in the Rumble and you lasted well over an hour, then the year after that you lasted even longer.
Andre: You’re right. I’m surprised to hear myself say that, but you’re absolutely right. It seems like year after year I hit that ring and I put on a show that will be remembered for a long time, but tonight, I want to put on a show that’s remembered for a LIFETIME. I’m tired of just being the guy who has a great performance in the Rumble, I want to be the guy who wins it.
Susie: Well in spite of our run ins in the past, you have my support.
Andre: You know what Susie, I can’t apologize enough for what I did to you all those months ago, I really am sorry, but I won’t be sorry when it comes to doing whatever….and I mean WHATEVER it takes to stand on that middle rope after the Rumble is over and to point at the Invictus sign hanging from the rafters.
Andre gives a preview of what that’s going to look like, pointing off into the distance with Susie squinting to see what he’s gesturing towards.
Andre: As epic as that moment sounds, and as awesome as it would feel, you know what would be the icing on the cake?
Susie: Buttercream?
Andre: What?
Susie: Vanilla?
Andre: Huh?
Susie: Chocolate?
Andre: No-no….
Susie: Damn. Can I guess again?
Andre: I’ll save you the trouble. The icing on this cake, would be if I were to not only cross paths with the (says with disdain) ICON Orlando Cruze, but throw him right out of my path by tossing him right over the ropes.
Susie: Awww, that’s not nice, Orlando did buy me this rascal.
She joyfully beeps the horn.
Andre: True, but he’s also partially to blame for you needing one. Tonight he answers for that and everything else he’s put myself and so many other people through. He might’ve done everything in his power to avoid a fight with me in the past, but save for eliminating himself from the Rumble, he’s not going to be able to run from me should he be in that ring when my music hits and I make my way down that ramp. Orlando has managed to avoid me before, he’s capitalized on the distractions caused by my FORMER agent Tabitha Silverstone, and the psychotic fixation that Mika Kozlov has had on me. But those distractions are no more….
Susie: Whoooooa, hold it. What do you mean when you refer to Tabitha as your FORMER agent? Are you two on the way to Splitsville?
Andre: We’re there already. The moment I found out that Tabitha was behind my abduction by Mika and her big hairy ox Borislav, our business relationship reached its end.
Susie: Awwww.
Andre: Do I wish she and I could part on better terms. Of course.
Susie: How did you tell her?
Andre: Well….(smirks)….I took a page from Tabitha’s book and I decided to write her a letter.
Susie: Well that was thoughtful of you…..
Susie goes as pale as she goes mute. The rascal she’s seated on begins to back up very slowly from a confused Andre. It isn’t until he sees that Susie is looking past him that he realizes he’s not the one she’s backing away from. Andre turns around to find himself looking straight into the face of Borislav.
Borislav: From Mika….
A heart shaped Valentine’s Card is held up by the brute who oh so faithfully serves Mika.
Andre: From Mika (taking the card)? Well this….is from me.
A punch nails Borislav right across the jaw, followed by another shot, and then another and then another. The blows have Borislav teetering back on his heels. His chest is then lit up with knife edge chops. Dre is just unloading on the man who abducted him several weeks ago.
All cameras have returned to the ring just in time to capture the Hell in a Cell that is starting to lower towards it.
Mackie: Looks like it’s time for all the psychological warfare that been waged between Ambrosia and Riddick to turn PHYSICAL.
Hunter: The two are on the cusp of stepping inside of the devil’s labyrinth and indulging their darkest, most macabre desires.
Dollar: This is gonna get real freaky…real-real fast.
Mackie: Things have already been freaky between these two backstage. And speaking of freaky, we’ve got Karen McBride up there on the stage ready to call out another of her pathetic minions.
Dollar: Well let’s get that over with so we can at last see this Hell in a Cell match get underway.
It’s going to take a lot to veer one’s attention from the Hell in a Cell surrounding the squared circle, but dammit if Karen McBride won’t give it the ole’ college try. There she is again standing on the stage alongside David Helms with only the tumbler between them.
Karen: I know what you’re all asking yourselves right now. Just how much talent can be crammed into one Rumble match? The answer might just surprise you. Helms and I have been bringing out athletes all night long to draw their numbers, but we’ve not even begun to scratch the surface of all the sheer star power competing tonight.
Helms: All of them fighting for either a shot at the IWC or UWA at the most auspicious events of our respective federations.
Karen: David….Dave-o….Daverino……I know you’re still thinking that you’ve got me bent over a barrel. And while it may be true that you took one of my top stars, and you’ve flaunted a SLEW of great talents from your roster by bringing them out to draw their numbers, I’m not waving any white flags just yet. Need I remind you that….
Helms: You’ve reminded me more than enough that you’ve got one of my talents in your back pocket.
Karen: Awww come on, be a good sport, let me rub your nose in it just one last time.
Helms: Just call your next Rumble participant out here so that we can get to the Hell in a Cell already.
Karen: Alright, keep your pants on…
Helms: Don’t concern yourself with the state of my pants.
Karen: (Turning to the entry way) Andre Jordan….STEP ON UP!
Karen advertised Andre Jordan to a rabid fanbase, but she damn sure didn’t deliver.
Helms: Weeeee’re waaaaaiitiiiiing.
Karen: Um, I’ll try this again. Andre Jordan….COME ON DOWN!
Nope, that didn’t do it. There’s still no Andre.
Helms: He’s not showing Karen, and honestly, I can’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to risk embarrassing myself in the Rumble either, which would happen when one of my UWA guys or gals sent Dre flying over the ropes.
Karen: Dre is not the type of guy who backs down from a challenge even if it does risk his health or his pride. I’m sure he’s not out here for a very good rea….
That reason is revealed, and yes it was a good one, cause before Karen can even finish her sentence she has to dive out of the way of a body sent flying to the stage at the hands of Andre Jordan. A huge right hand has just floored Borislav, putting him down to the ground and sending him rolling to the feet of McBride and Helms. The pair are yet again forced to get out of harm’s way and in a hurry to avoid another brawl that has just been taken to the stage. A growling Andre follows the man he just assaulted in the back and just beat all the way out here to the set.
Hunter: There’s Andre….
Mackie: And he brought Borislav along with him? How thoughtful.
Dollar: We just saw Andre beating the crap out of Borislav backstage and now we get to see him do it right here in front of us.
Hunter: Mika Kozlov is probably regretting sending her bodyguard to talk to Andre now.
Dollar: If she doesn’t regret the order, then Borislav damn sure regrets following it.
The multiple blows Borislav has withstood are not enough to keep him floored. He rolls along straight to his feet and then narrowly avoids the punches that Andre aims at his face. The blows are ducked as Borislav shoves his way past Andre and staggers along towards the curtains. To the shock of everyone this powerhouse, this juggernaut, this giant mass of muscle is running?
Dollar: Borislav hightailing it? Seriously?
Hunter: He’s running away faster than Desmond Drake. The two of them should get into a sprinting competition.
Mackie: That’s all Riot guys do….they run from a fight.
Andre Jordan definitely didn’t run, not away from Borislav, and not away from the tumbler that he was called to the stage to reach into. After making sure the coast is clear and there is no Borislav in sight, Dre completes what he was called out here for, grabbing his number out of the tumbler. Dre isn’t even looking at it, not that he’s given much of a chance to. His eyes are veering towards Borislav, who just reemerged from the back, not with violence in mind, but with a heart in his hands. The very same Valentine’s card he TRIED to bestow backstage is once again carried towards Dre, but he’ll have none of it.
Borislav: From Mika….
Once again Dre’s fists smack across opposite sides of Borislav’s cheeks, knocking him towards the edge of the set and ultimately off of it. Borislav drops down to the ground, lands on his feet and then stumbles away from a man who isn’t letting him get away. Dre jumps off the stage into a axehande elbow across the back of Borislav’s neck. He then lands some more strikes across the Russian’s cheek as the two fight their way around the set and then into the backstage area. Cameras go back to Helms, who is pawing at the back of his neck and trying to select is words wisely.
Helms: What the hell was that all about?
Karen: Oh, you know how it goes, another day at the office.
Helms: Fair enough. If we’re talking business, let’s get to it then. I’m inviting another member of my roster out and it just so happens he’s about to face off against Ambrosia inside of the Hell in a Cell. (Looking towards the entry way) Riddick…..let’s do this.
It’s now that Helms discovers Karen’s pain. In spite of being called out Riddick never shows up.
Helms: Yikes, soooome coincidence.
Karen cannot help but to smile.
Karen: Isn’t as easy as it looks is it?
Helms: Come ooooon Riddick, time is money (tapping an imaginary wrist watch). You got a number to grab (points to the tumbler), and a cell to compete in (gestures to the cell around the ring). Don’t keep us all waiting.
Riddick stands outside the storage room, his hand on the handle to the door. He opens it, and peers inside the darkness, before stepping inside.
Riddick: I know you’re in here Ambrosia…enough of the games, this ends, right now.
Riddick then feels a hand grab his wrist, and push him down onto a chair. Quick as a flash he feels his arms being bound behind his back, then a voice through the darkness
Ambrosia: It doesn’t have to be this way Riddick, we could have such fun you and I.
Riddick feels someone walk in front of him, and then what feels like breast’s pressed into his chest.
Ambrosia: I know you want to fight me, but imagine, what it would be like to fuck me
Now it’s another sensation, as he feels her sit on his lap, her legs either side.
Ambrosia: You have imagined it haven’t you Riddick…you can’t fool me
Riddick feels lips press against his, the light switching on and illuminating the room. Riddick’s eyes become accustomed to the light and he sees the woman sat on his lap, probably about seventy years old. By the door is Ambrosia, a huge grin on her face.
Ambrosia: Oh Riddick, I didn’t know you were one for milfs.
Riddick: Get the FUCK off me…
In his efforts to get her off, he falls backwards, the chair splintering
Ambrosia: I’ll see you in the cell Riddick
She walks out the room laughing with the woman, leaving Riddick in the room alone. He wipes the lip stick of his lips, and almost vomits, before snarling at the door.
Riddick: I’m going to fucking tear you in half bitch…mark my words.
RIDDICK VS. AMBROSIA:
HELL IN A CELL
Cameras return to a ring surrounded by the Hell in a Cell and there are now two enemies bound and determined to get one another trapped inside.
Hunter: It’s been one of those nights already, and there is no sign of any letting up. That eerie music and the lights flashing…oh, and that huge structure descending means only one thing
Mackie: Ambrosia and Riddick are about to engage in a bloodbath.
Hunter: You’re not kidding either, this, I think you can call it a feud, has been weird since day one, Ambrosia seemingly in some way obsessed with Riddick.
Mackie: And David Helms realized there was only one way this could end…in the Hell in the Cell. Look at it Paul, it just gives me the creeps
Hunter: It takes years off careers Mackie no doubting that
The screen cuts into static and then a cacophony of different grotesque and bloody images, mixed with headlines from various newspapers of murders, mutilations, rapes and wars as “Feisty Cadavers” by John 5 begins to play.
Stepping out onto the stage, Ambrosia grins sadistically, letting out a scream to the sky as she cracks her neck to the left and right before walking down the ramp, rubbing her hands while a huge grin forms across her face, an almost gleeful look at the carnage that could await.
Announcer: Making her way to the ring, from Lexington, Kentucky, she is the “Harlequin of Hardcore”……AMBROSIA!!!
After her introduction, Ambrosia walks around the ring like a predator surveying the Cell before rolling in under the bottom rope. She looks out at the crowds as she leans forwards on her knees, using the ropes as bars as if she were jailed within, licking her lips hungrily and sneering.
Getting back up to her feet, Ambrosia walks to the corner and steps up on the turnbuckle, grinning sadistically at the fans. Bringing her hands out to her sides, she mocks the fans and then drops back down to the ring before dropping to her knees and letting loose a guttural screams.
Hunter: Strange, Immoral…these are just a couple of words you could use to describe her
Mackie: I’m just going to use dominant. She can hurt Riddick, and I think Riddick knows it.
The lights go out in the arena and a blood red spotlight hits the entrance way as Evil Ways by Blues Saraceno the Justice Remix hits over the loud speaker. Riddick slowly saunters out to the music and without stopping he walks down the aisle with an intense look on his face and a sneer towards anyone who catches his eye. Boo’s rain down from every corner of the arena, but Riddick pays them no attention, almost seeming to enjoy the hatred. Riddick then rolls under the bottom rope and sits up with his hands on his knees and a cold, blank look on his face. He gets up slowly and raises one arm in the air, bringing an even bigger reaction from the capacity crowd
Hunter: Love him or hate him, Riddick is made for a match like this, it suits him down to the ground
Mackie: Not going to argue with that for one second. However, the same could be said for Ambrosia, who I’m hearing the last time she was in this structure set a man alight
Hunter: I think Riddick has been strangely intrigued by Ambrosia, his need to hurt her in some way…erotic
Mackie: I don’t know about that, but I can guarantee there will be no fun and games tonight…no chance.
The Cell continues to descend, finally hitting the arena floor to a huge reaction from the crowd. In the ring Ambrosia licks her lips, as Riddick bounces off the ropes
Hunter: There is our bell…this one is underway, Pinfall or Submission is the only way to win this match, and of course it’s no disqualification.
Riddick walks to the center of the ring cracking his knuckles, as Ambrosia waits in her corner seductively. Riddick motions for her to join him, but Ambrosia beckons Riddick with her finger
Hunter: Already the mind games Dave
Mackie: Of course…that’s what these two have always been about.
Riddick runs in, but Ambrosia ducks under the clothesline, retaliating with a knife edge chop, and then another. She then goes for an Irish Whip but Riddick reverses it and it is Ambrosia who hits the ropes. As she comes back, Riddick scoops her up and slams her into the mat, straight away hooking her around the jaw and into a head lock. Ambrosia doesn’t hang around though and is quickly to her feet, and rams her elbow into Riddick’s stomach, and then again, and then a third time until he lets go. Ambrosia then bounces off the ropes and hits Riddick with a Body Block which staggers him. Ambrosia then bounces of the ropes, and this time nails Riddick with a Clothesline. As Ambrosia bounces off the rope again, this time Riddick ducks under the shot and reaches back, dropping to the floor and bringing Ambrosia’s head down on his shoulder with a Stunner.
Hunter: Oooo, what an impact there…Ambrosia felt that
Mackie: Talk about quoting the obvious…where’s Johnny when you need him?
Riddick is quickly to his feet, and drags Ambrosia to hers, lifting her up and onto his shoulder before walking over to the ring ropes and callously dumping her to the arena floor. Ambrosia hits the mats hard, the air driven from her lungs. Riddick rolls under the bottom rope and picks Ambrosia to her feet, pushing her backwards so her spine is against the ring. He then drives his shoulder into her stomach, and then again, before grabbing her around the waist and spinning around, throwing Ambrosia into the steel mesh.
Hunter: Riddick in the early ascendancy here, Ambrosia taking some punishment
Mackie: I think you have to hurt Ambrosia for her to wake up
Riddick grabs the back of Ambrosia’s head, looking to ram it into the mesh, but Ambrosia blocks it, getting her hand up, before driving her knee into Riddick’s stomach, before bringing it up once again and into his face. Riddick staggers backwards from the impact, as Ambrosia leaps in the air, bringing her fists down on the top of his head.
Mackie: And now Ambrosia fighting back, proving just how tough a cookie she is
Riddick tries to put Ambrosia away, but she is relentless, and she hits him with a right hand, and then another, till Riddick’s back in against the Cell. Ambrosia then runs in, and leaps into a Spear, but Riddick is too quick and sidesteps, Ambrosia’s face cutting into the cell. As she rolls onto her back, the camera focuses on the lacerations on her cheek, both on the right hand side. She doesn’t have time to worry about that however as Riddick is already picking her up, and slamming her face into the steel ring steps, Ambrosia not sure where she is right now. Riddick then grabs her by the seat of her tights and bails her into the ring, before lifting the apron and rummaging underneath the ring.
Mackie: Riddick looking for a weapon folks…and it’s totally legal
Hunter: Yeah but it’s a cell…isn’t that weapon enough?
Mackie: Obviously not.
Riddick finds a Kendo Stick and lifts it aloft, before slamming it onto the steps
Hunter: Uh ho…
Mackie: You can see his intentions, this is not good
Riddick rolls under the bottom rope and tilts his head, watching Ambrosia as she gets to her feet using the ropes. The grin on Riddick’s face tells its own story, and he advances, the Stick held aloft. But Ambrosia suddenly kicks her full on in the groin, Riddick’s eyes rolling to the back of his head as he drops the Kendo Stick and drops to his knees. Ambrosia then runs her finger along one of the cut on her cheek, tasting her own blood, before picking up the Kendo Stick. She holds the stick against her cheek, the blood staining it, before she in one movement brings the stick down on Riddick head, the crack heard around the arena. She then does it again, and then slams it into his back, a huge red mark instantly appearing
Hunter: Ambrosia going to town on Riddick now, and Riddick defenseless after that low blow. I’ve got to say, Ambrosia is probably being even more aggressive here tonight
Mackie: These rumors abound that due to her Father’s incarcerations in Prisons and Hospitals alike, Ambrosia hates cages…and this is one of the most horrific cages of them all
Riddick rolls to the relative safety of the outside of the ring, but Ambrosia follows him, and brings the stick down on Riddick’s fingers as he tries to stand up using the apron. Riddick growls with pain, as Ambrosia then drives the stick point first into Riddick’s stomach. As he stands, she drives her shoulder into his midriff, looking to send him backwards and into the cage, but Riddick slams on the brakes, and then lifts Ambrosia around the waist. Following backwards he releases Ambrosia, who crashes into the Steel Mesh upside down and spine first, before landing really awkwardly on her neck. The crowd is on their feet, the release Suplex devastating Ambrosia inside the Cell.
Hunter: What a counter from Riddick, Ambrosia felt the shot, and then landed awfully on the arena floor; she could have broken her neck Dave
Mackie: But Riddick doesn’t give a crap about that, look.
Riddick pulls Ambrosia up, really struggling to get her upright. He then pulls her up onto the steel steps, and rams her head between his legs.
Hunter: Look at that look on his face, he’s enjoying this
Mackie: He’s got a girl between his legs, of course he is.
Riddick motions for the DDT, but with a huge scream Ambrosia lifts her head, and flips Riddick over, Riddick crashing onto the arena floor.
Hunter: Ambrosia dodging a bullet there, this could have been over.
Mackie: But now what is she doing?
Ambrosia is now rummaging under the apron, and she pulls out a bag.
Hunter: We’ve seen this before Dave…the bag of tricks as she likes to call it…bag of tacks to us.
Ambrosia rolls Riddick into the ring, and then holds the bag aloft, the fans cheering, knowing what she is about to do. She opens the bag and then throws the tacks across the mat, making this match even more deadly than it already is.
Hunter: Ambrosia has just made this match five times more dangerous if that was possible.
Riddick gets to his feet, but immediately Ambrosia is on him, and she kicks him into the stomach, dragging his arms up and placing his head between her legs. She then leaps in the air, and drives Riddick’s head into the mat, and indeed the thumb tacks, the camera panning into Riddick’s face, several of the tacks stuck in his cheek and forehead. Ambrosia doesn’t hang around however, and slams her foot into his face over and over before dropping down, pinning his shoulders to the mat
1…
2…
Hunter: Riddick kicks out, but the pain he must be feeling right now…just wow. And there was that unadulterated aggression from Ambrosia again. She’s in danger of losing it altogether here
Mackie: And now where the hell is she going?
Ambrosia has the Kendo Stick once again and is climbing the turnbuckle. But from behind Riddick sneaks up, and lifts her off the turnbuckle, dropping backwards and slamming her with a back body drop into the tacks. Ambrosia lets out a scream of agony, as now Riddick hooks the leg
1…
2…
Ambrosia kicks out, but Riddick mounts her, and forces the stick down on her throat, choking the life from her.
Hunter: Oh come on referee…get in there. This isn’t HOW, we don’t murder people here
Mackie: Cheap shot Paul
Hunter: I know this
Thankfully Riddick releases Ambrosia from her predicament, but ruthlessly brings his elbow into the side of her temple, and then again, Ambrosia bordering on the unconscious.
Hunter: Those MMA style elbows really hitting their mark, Ambrosia needs to get out of this.
Riddick lifts Ambrosia to a vertical base and then whips her into the ropes. On her return he lifts her up, and then falls backwards, howling with pain from the tacks embedding in his skin, but at the same time hanging Ambrosia on the top rope. Riddick reaches back, pulling out the tacks he can reach, before pinning Ambrosia once again
1…
2…
Ambrosia kicks out, and Riddick lifts her up, bailing her through the ropes and to the outside.
Hunter: This match has been everything we expected and so much more…two competitors putting everything on the line.
Mackie: Not a lot of wrestling in this match up that’s for sure, just a pure old fashioned shoot out.
Riddick pulls Ambrosia up, and scoops her around his waist, standing just above the ring steps. He drops, landing a Sidewalk slam on the ring steps, Ambrosia’s spine taking ALL the impact. Riddick picks out a few more tacks, and then starts to climb the inside of the cage, Ambrosia laid out on the steps.
Hunter: Now what the hell is going to happen, Riddick climbing the cage…Ambrosia out of it? I dread to think.
Mackie: I think I know
As he reaches the top of the cage he slaps his forehead a couple of times, before looking down as Ambrosia who still hasn’t moved. The electricity in the building builds as he hangs onto the cage, before leaping from it, looking for a Diving Head-butt. At the very last possible moment, Ambrosia rolls off the steps, Riddick crashing into the steps, his forehead taking every ounce of impact. The fans are on their feet, as Ambrosia lies on the arena floor, Riddick motionless by her side.
Hunter: No count outs Dave…the referee is powerless.
Mackie: Ambrosia is moving…on my God, I cannot believe this.
Ambrosia gets to her knees, trying to get some semblance of where she is. Ambrosia looks down at Riddick who still hasn’t moved, and rolls him onto his back. Immediately the camera catches the huge cut that snakes across his forehead, blood still gushing from it and pooled on the arena floor.
Hunter: Oh God…that is horrible
Mackie: I’ve commentated on this industry for a long time, and that has to be one of the worst cuts I have seen.
Ambrosia leans over Riddick, looking at the cut, sneering as she gets closer and runs her tongue along it.
Hunter: Ewww
Mackie: She is one sick, sadistic puppy…no arguing that
Ambrosia seems to like the taste of Riddick’s blood, and she lifts Riddick up, and with some struggle rams his bloodied head into the steel mesh, the mesh ripping into Riddick’s skin once again.
Mackie: She is totally relentless
Riddick drops to one knee, but then staggers upright
Riddick: COME ON YOU FUCKING BITCH!!!
Hunter: What the…?
Riddick motions for her to attack, Ambrosia blowing him a kiss before running in, slamming a forearm into his face. Ambrosia lifts her arms aloft, but once again Riddick gets up, and again, motions for her to attack.
Mackie: Riddick is totally, bat shit crazy
Ambrosia runs in, and goes for a Clothesline, but Riddick manages to duck. As he spins around however, Ambrosia drops to her knees, and bites, yes, bites Riddick in the groin. Ambrosia pulls away, blood covering her mouth, almost snarling, before running in. Riddick ducks underneath a right hand and then lifts Ambrosia into a fireman’s carry, using every last ounce of strength he has. He spins around, and accidently smashes Ambrosia’s skull into the steel ring post, before running forwards and driving Ambrosia’s skull into the steel mesh. He then takes a couple of steps back and does it again, this time dropping Ambrosia to the floor, his legs giving way as well.
Hunter: This is off the chart
Mackie: And Ambrosia is busted open as well, those mesh shots have done the damage, but Riddick is in no state to take advantage.
Hunter: He’s lost a lot of blood; his strength has to be sapped. I don’t know how any of these competitors are still conscious.
Mackie: The courage these two have shown tonight is unbelievable, and really fitting of the very last dual brand PPV.
Riddick is the first to move, and wipes the bloods away from his face, and pulls himself up on the apron. The effort to do so is extraordinary, and it is with almost disbelief that he sees Ambrosia getting up as well. She crawls up the ring steps, until she is somehow able to put her legs underneath her, and she throws her hair away from her face, her eyes meeting Riddick’s. For a moment, the tension is unbearable, until finally, and amazingly, the pair of them smile at each other through bloodied teeth, Riddick even going as far as to give Ambrosia a respectful nod. The respect doesn’t last however, as they walk towards each other and start to trade blows, the both of them taking turns to land hammer blows.
Hunter: I cannot believe that I’m seeing…they should hate each other but there seems to be a respect.
Riddick seems to take the ascendancy, and lands a right, then a left, Ambrosia’s head snapping back on her shoulders. Riddick then leaps in the air and rocks her with a Huge Superman Punch which sends her back, and towards the Cell, her back towards it. Riddick picks up the steel steps and runs forwards, driving them into Ambrosia, the Cell buckling, and then breaking, Ambrosia and Riddick breaking through and to the outside.
Crowd: THIS IS AWESOME CLAP CLAP CLAP THIS IS AWESOME
Hunter: This is unbelievable Dave
Mackie: I know…can we please employ people who make cells stronger?
Riddick gets to his feet and picks up Ambrosia who is totally out of it, but all of instinct she drops to her knees, dropping Riddick’s head on top of hers. She then rams his head into the steel security barricade, before heading to the Cell and starting to climb
Hunter: And now where is going?
Mackie: She’s going to the top Paul, and it looks like Riddick is following.
As Ambrosia gets halfway up, Riddick gets to his feet and starts to climb. Ambrosia reaches the top and then rolls on her back, before getting to her feet and trying to stamp on Riddick fingers as he reaches the summit
Mackie: That is a long way to fall Paul…he wouldn’t survive that, no way.
As Ambrosia brings her foot down, Riddick sweeps her feet away, and as she loses her balance and falls onto the Cell, he uses that opportunity to pull himself up. Ambrosia rolls backwards before nipping up to an upright base, but Riddick is already there, and he drives her face into the machinery that brought the Cell down from the rafters. The blood starts to flow from her already lacerated head, and she loses her balance, almost falling from the Cell to the arena floor.
Hunter: That was nearly curtains; it’s very precarious up there
Mackie: I can’t believe this match is still going, I really can’t.
Hunter: What the hell is Riddick doing?
Riddick takes a few steps back, patting his forearm
Mackie: He’s going to Clothesline her from the top…we are about to witness a death
Riddick runs in, looking for the Clothesline which Ambrosia ducks instinctively ducks underneath. Riddick just manages to stop himself from tumbling from the top, putting on the brakes, but then realizing his predicament spinning around. Ambrosia from nowhere fires off her Super Kick which catches Riddick under the jaw, and sends him flying from the top of the cage
Mackie: INCOMING!!!!!!
Hunter and Mackie scurry away, as Riddick crashes straight through the announce table, and lays in amongst the splintered table. The arena is in absolute shock, including Ambrosia who kneels on top locking down. It takes a moment for the announce team to retrieve their headsets, until eventually they speak
Hunter: Can you hear us…on we on?
Mackie: Did you just see that shit…Riddick is broken, he hasn’t moved a muscle.
Hunter: And Ambrosia is climbing down…
She gets about halfway down the cage, before stopping, a look of total and utter horror on her face. She leaps from that position and splashes across the prone body of Riddick, squealing as she does.
Crowd: HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!!!
Ambrosia holds her midriff, obviously in pain herself, until she grabs the leg of Riddick and pins his shoulders
1…
2…
3…
Riddick doesn’t have the strength to escape, and they both lay amongst the wreckage as the EMT’s rush down to ringside.
Hunter: Ambrosia wins it, Ambrosia gets through this match tonight, but at what cost.
Mackie: These two put their bodies on the line, and then some to get the upper hand…what a match
Ambrosia gets to her feet to a roar from the crowd, and she makes her way around the ring, her legs almost buckling.
Hunter: I can’t believe she is still standing…and thankfully the EMT’s are helping her. She deserves this reaction right now
Two EMT’s get either side and help her up the ramp, as the others look after Riddick, looking to place his on a back board.
Hunter: I think there is some real concern here for Riddick…is he scheduled to be in the Last Stand Rumble?
Mackie: If he is…I dread to think what will happen.
Riddick pushes the EMT’s away, and tries to pull himself up on the barricade, the fans actually giving him some applause as he now makes his way around the ring, collapsing to his knees halfway around. This time the EMT’s do indeed get their way, and get him onto the stretcher, and up the ramp.
Hunter: Riddick just fell from nearly twenty five feet, how the hell was he still walking?
Mackie: I have literally no idea…
Hunter: This feud has just come to a brutal and bloody end…who knows what will happen next…when Last Stand continues.
The camera cuts to Riddick and the EMT’s heading through the curtain
It’s almost time, the Rumble is just seconds away and apparently Marie Jones is really liking her placement in it. She sits in the locker-room overlooking the number she drew from the tumbler moments ago. Meanwhile her partner Sophie James lingers in the background. Marie wearily glances back over her shoulder.
Marie: Sooooo, you gonna give me one of those win one for the gipper speeches?
Sophie: Wouldn’t that be just a wee bit predictable? Besides, from the looks of it (pointing to the number in Marie’s hand) you don’t need any speeches. Thoooough I could start singing Eye of the Tiger if you REALLY need the motivation.
Marie: Ehhhhh, I’m good. Besides, I’m more of a Hearts on Fire kinda girl.
Sophie takes a seat next to Marie and takes on more of a serious disposition.
Sophie: I know you can do this Marie. Last year you made it to the final three in the Rumble
Marie: Weeelllll final two, depending on who you ask.
Mason: Wouldn’t count on repeating that type of performance this year….
Eyebrows arch about as close as they can possibly get to the hairlines of Marie and Sophie. Neither lady is quite sure what to make of the man who just marched into the locker-room, a spandex clad Mason Van Stanton. It isn’t often that we see Van Stanton in wrestling attire, and that’s for very good reason considering his arms and legs are thinner than cornstalks. The only part of his anatomy that seems to be flattered by this tight fitting singlet happens to be in the crotch region, wait….no, that’s a giant protective cup he’s got stuffed in that area.
Mason: You see, Marie, you don’t stand a chance of lasting till the final three in the Rumble, or winning the Rumble. Look at this…LOOK AT IT!
He points to his arm and the nonexistent bicep.
Mason: You think you can match up with THIS? Not happening.
He flexes his bicep, which resembles nothing more than a raised mosquito bite protruding from flesh. A kiss is planted on that muscle, or what little bit of muscle is visible.
Mason: See you out there…..or wait, you better hope I DON’T!
Almost before Mason can make a full exit from the locker-room Marie and Sophie burst into a fit of hysterics.
Sophie: I needed that.
Marie: You know he was being serious, right?
Sophie stops laughing.
Sophie: That’s…..sad.
Cameras go straight to the set where David Helms and Karen McBride remain. The pair are clearly appalled by the levels of sheer barbarism they just witnessed within the Hell in a Cell. Luckily neither of them have a squeamish stomach, meaning they can continue on with the task at hand. The tumbler keeps spinning between them and goes on getting emptier and emptier the closer we get to the Rumble.
Helms: It’s not often that I’m rendered….speechless. (Gestures to the Hell in a Cell and the ring that it once surrounded) What we just saw defies words.
Karen: I can think of one or two….Disgusting. Depraved. Demented. Deranged.
Helms: Yeah, but those words really don’t give what we just witnessed in that Hell in a Cell justice, now do they?
Karen: And to think, we’ve still got even more yet to come. Because in a few minutes the Rumble is FINALLY going to happen.
The crowd cannot wait….they want the Rumble and they want it right frackin now.
Helms: Alright-alright-alright, we’re getting real close to the Rumble now Karen, which means our working relationship comes to an end.
Karen: Yeah?
Helms: So wouldn’t now be a good time to let the genie out of the bottle?
Karen: I’m afraid I don’t…..oooooh, you want me to go ahead and reveal what chess piece I took off your board.
Helms: Enough beating around the bush, just drop the axe already and let me know who you lured away from my roster?
Karen: You little eager beaver you…nuh’ uh….not happening….
Helms: Karrrreen….
Karen: No-no, don’t try sweet talking me. I’ll reveal my latest talent acquisition when I’m ready to do it. Right now you and I have a few more members of our respective rosters dying to get out here and draw their numbers. Sooooo, let’s not leave them waiting any longer.
Helms: You’re going to tell me who you cherry picked from Uprising.
Karen: What I’m going to do is call out another entrant in tonight’s Rumble and that person is…
Obviously not the one she was thinking it would be. One can see the lines of distress become far more pronounced in her face when she hears the lyrics of Miss Jon’s theme music pumping through the loud speakers. Karen’s heartbeat is quickening at the sight of the planet sized Miss Jon stomping to the stage with her agent Martin Howe III orbiting about her body. Jon and her satellite head right towards the tumbler and the unfortunate Principle Owner stood beside it.
Howe: Mr. Helms (shaking Helms’ hand), Mrs. McBride (taking Karen’s fingers and forcing them to his lips), we know we’re not who you two were expecting, but we just had to come out and commend you both on producing what has been a fantastic event thus far. Especially you, Mrs. McBride….can we call you, Karen, I think we’re close enough to drop formalities now, right?
Karen: I don’t think so, and I don’t think I appreciate this interruption…..
Surprisingly McBride does not shy away from the monstrous Miss Jon, who damn near crushed her face several weeks ago with an ‘accidental’ spinning back fist.
Howe: Oh I’m sorry, no-no-no, please don’t misrepresent our intentions. We’re not out here in order to stir the pot, or to grandstand, or for any motive other than doing you a solid Karen.
Karen: I’m eager to hear an explanation.
Helms: Aren’t we all?
Howe: I know you’re still leery to trust Miss Jon and I after that unfortunate miscommunication several months ago….
Karen: Miscommunication? Your client almost knocked out my bicuspids.
Howe: And I assure you that Miss Jon is very sorry that she did that. But I believe we have more than made up for our past transgressions. My client has proven that she has turned her life around, and rather than continuing to be an agent of chaos, she is now a bringer of peace. She only wants to help, which is why we’re here. Three weeks ago Miss Jon offered her services to be a peace keeper, and after what we just saw happen out here with Andre Jordan, we know those services are desperately needed. Therefore, Miss Jon and I will remain right here (points to the stage under his feet), until the Rumble commences to ensure that there will be no further violence threatening you’re well-being…Boss
Karen: As much as I appreciate that….
Howe: Just let me remind you that we only ask for one thing in return, your consideration when it comes to the title matches that Miss Jon has patiently been waiting on for several months now.
Karen: I’m not….
Helms: As entertaining as this all is, I still have a member of my roster eager to draw their number from the tumbler. So if you three don’t mind, I’m going to bring him on out.
Karen gives a very distrusting stare to Miss Jon and Howe, but opts to deal with them later instead of creating a scene now.
Helms: Danny Darko….the stage is yours.
And he doesn’t wait to take it. Darko’s theme music is playing over the loud speakers as he makes his way out through the curtains. His focus only briefly veers to the murderous Miss Jon stood beside the entry way and the annoyingly arrogant agent hovering about. Ultimately Darko’s attention is on the tumbler that Helms has taken the liberties of opening on his behalf.
Greyson: Another huge prospect for the Uprising roster coming out here and selecting his number.
Frankie: Danny Darko’s chances of winning the Rumble tonight are about as slim as him modernizing that haircut of his.
Sparkles: Why mess with what works? Darko’s a sleek looking son of a bitch.
Frankie: Nothing works for Darko, Sparkles. His marriage to the Uprising World Champion is over, and he’s lucky to even still be walking around after he was beaten half to death by Trinity Street.
Greyson: Luck has nothing to do with it, the man is just incredibly tough and equally as resilient. Darko has survived a lot, and he’s more than capable of surviving until the finals of the Rumble this evening.
Sparkles: Could the sleek Danny Darko be the next Rumble winner and move on to earn a shot at the UWA World Championship?
Darko extracts a number from the tumbler but that’s not all he wants. He requests the use of Helms’ microphone.
Darko: Don’t worry, I’m not going to say or do anything hinky….
Howe: I wouldn’t advise it.
Miss Jon steps up behind Darko, threatening to impose her will all over him. Darko merely smirks in response to the ever present threat of this enormous monstrosity.
Darko: Relax Big Time, I’m not going to cause any trouble. I just want to say that my motives for winning the Rumble tonight are strictly altruistic. I owe an immeasurable debt to Vanilla Skyy, and it’s one that someday in the future I hope I can repay. (Looking down at his number) Maybe winning the Rumble will go a long way in making amends to Skyy….
Frankie: Yuck. Even more of this do gooder brouhaha?
Sparkles: Sparkles has no idea what Darko is talking about.
Greyson: That makes three of us.
Darko: But Skyy is in my future, there’s someone else who needs my help right here in the present.
As promised Darko does not cause a stir, he maintains civility on his way into the backstage area.
Helms: Well, how about that? No violence, no chaos, no interruptions….
Karen: I’m just as surprised as you are. Maybe it’s the start of a trend.
Helms: Better late than never.
Howe: You can thank Miss Jon for keeping Mr. Darko in line.
Karen: I don’t need your help, and furthermore….
The booming sound of a party horn echoes all throughout the San Siro stadium. Karen couldn’t look any more aggravated when hearing this sound and when seeing the two people responsible for producing it. Out from the back strolls Madison and Cameron Chase, and they are all decked out for some festivities. A cone shaped hat sits on Maddie’s head and a party horn protrudes from Cammie’s lips.
Frankie: Hoooolllly Jesus, it’s the Chase sisters. How much am I drooling?
Sparkles: Don’t worry, Sparkles brought along this bucket for you.
Greyson: We saw Cameron and Madison Chase return to the IWC three weeks ago to aid their sister Tay-Tay. But their roles moving forward have yet to be explained.
Sparkles: Well maybe Tay-Tay will embellish.
Frankie: No explanation needed, just enjoy and savor this moment. We’ve got three…ooooh golly….THREE Chase sisters. It looks like that birthday wish I made last year finally came true.
Frankie’s wishes aren’t the only wishes the Chase sisters are here to fulfill. Much to the dismay of McBride, Helms, Miss Jon and Howe, it would appear that Madison and Cameron have commandeered everyone’s attention.
Maddie: Party time….excellent….
Cammie: Alright peeps, settle down-settle down-settle down, save up your energies, because we know with those heavy guts of yours and those clogged arteries that you can only stand so much excitement.
Maddie: You’ll need all that energy to cheer for our sister, the woman who brought us here, the woman who is about to win the Riot World Championship, the woman who is taking Cammie and I out for slushies in celebration.
Cammie: Less about the slushies and more about Tay, okay?
Maddie: I can go on for hours about slushies.
Cammie: Before you people get Tay, before you people see her win the World Title, before she indulges the masturbatory fantasies of a worldwide viewing audience, some introductions….or I guess some re-introductions are in order. If you’ve forgotten who either my sister or I are, then you really need to choke to death on a corndog right now.
Maddie: That’s almost happened to me so many times.
Cammie: This (gesturing to Maddie) is America’s Sweetheart, THE most charismatic wrestler living today, this is Madison Chase!
Maddie hops around excitedly clapping for herself.
Maddie: This (gesturing to Cammie) is the Alpha Bitch, this is Cameron Chase!
Cammie employs a bow with one arm swept out to her side and other extended across her stomach.
Maddie: And when combined with our sister Tay-Tay, we form ULLLLLTTTRA CHASE!
Cammie: The Chase sisters together mean there’s a world of hurting coming the IWC’s way.
Maddie: It’s gonna be so much fun.
Cammie: That fun starts right now. In a minute Tay-Tay will be on her way, and Maddie and I are going to make sure she walks out of Italy as a FOUR time World Champion.
Maddie: We’re gonna help her, and she’s gonna help us.
Cammie: No one is going to stand in the way of that either. Right McBride?
The Riot Principle Owner hasn’t had a very good working relationship with Taylor Chase or Monarchy, and it would appear that she’s not going to get along with Maddie or Cameron too. Right now Karen just keeps her cool and keeps out of the way.
Maddie: Enough about you though, McBride. This is an A-B conversation, so C your way right out of it.
Cammie: The moment is here, the moment is now, it’s time for the party to get started, and the honored guest of this evening’s festivities, the soon to be World Champion…..TAAAYLOR CHASE!
The crowd isn’t nearly as enthusiastic as either of the Chase sisters. The lyrics of “Boss’s Daughter” are playing over the PA system and when Taylor Chase makes her way out from the back she gets the reaction she truly deserves. There is a roar of such disapproval that Tay remains oblivious to. She steps between Maddie and Cammie, and then all three simultaneously blow kisses to the crowd. Soon thereafter they interlock arms and walk side by side by side down the ramp.
Frankie: I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am right now. Having all three Chase sisters come to the ring together is like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving all rolled into one package.
Greyson: You might be excited to see the Chase sisters, but I’m excited to see the triple threat World Title match that Tay is scheduled to compete in coming up ne…..
Karen: Waaaait a minute.
McBride wasn’t going to bite her tongue forever, instead she’s going to put her teeth into something else.
Frankie: Stay out of this McBride, or I’ll have no other option but to kick you straight in the cunt.
Greyson: It looks to me like Karen has stood back and watched enough of this unfold.
Sparkles: There’s been way too much chaos under her watch tonight already.
An incredulous Karen steps to the top of the ramp, looking down at the three Chase siblings who were already at the halfway point.
Karen: You three ladies give a whole new meaning to the word ‘delusional.’
Maddie: Ha! Jokes on you, Karen, because I don’t even know the original meaning of that word.
Tay and Cammie bury their faces in their palms.
Karen: If you thought I was just going to stand here and let you two (pointing out Cammie and Maddie) interfere in your sister’s World Title match, then you’ve got more than just a screw lose. As of this moment, Cammie, Maddie, you’re both barred from ringside during this title bout.
Cammie: You cum guzzling….
Tay grabs her sister by the forearm and tries to quell her anger.
Tay: Alright then, why don’t you send security out here to remove my sisters…..ooooh, that’s right (smirking), you’ve got NO security. At least none that are willing to tangle with Monarchy. Ain’t that so?
Just when it seems that McBride has been forced into a corner, it’s Martin Howe III and Miss Jon who come out swinging.
Howe: You don’t have McBride in quite the pickle you think you do.
Puts a hand on Karen’s shoulder before it’s swiped away.
Howe: She might not have security, but what she does have is a PEACE KEEPER. Miss Jon, (looks at his massive client) do Mrs. McBride a favor and escort these two ladies away from the ring.
Miss Jon makes her way down the ramp, drawing nearer and nearer to Cammie and Maddie. Both Chase sisters are gearing up for a fight, only the situation never has a chance to escalate into a full scale brawl. Tay doesn’t just take Cammie by the arm this time, she also grabs Maddie by the wrist.
Tay: Relax. I’ve got this.
After getting the nod from Tay both Cammie and Madison willingly walk off. Miss Jon follows the two all the way up the ramp and into the backstage area. Before they vanish completely through the curtains Maddie and Cammie share a few choice words with McBride. Tay walks alone to the ring with a smile still on her face, confident in her abilities to win this World Title bout even without the aid of her siblings.
Frankie: I swear, I’m gonna punch Karen directly in the ovaries.
Greyson: Tay’s going it alone, she doesn’t even have her sisters or Monarchy with her this time.
Sparkles: That’s just how it should be. Because now we’ve got a FAIR triple threat bout for the title.
Frankie: You call this FAIR? This is about as biased as biased can be!
KATELYN BUEHLER © VS. MIKA KOZLOV VS. TAYLOR CHASE:
RIOT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Although Tay should be annoyed, she isn’t. It doesn’t bother her that her sisters were barred from ringside, ever confident in her own abilities to get the job done. In fact, she doesn’t even watch her sisters escorted to the back by Miss Jon and instead fixates on her fingernails.
Frankie: In spite of all the torment Tay has been put through by the IWC top brass, she looks totally unaffected. Isn’t it amazing?
Greyson: No, it’s not amazing, it’s just as McBride said, it’s ‘delusional.’ Tay is delusional if she’d rather stand here fixing her nails than mentally readying herself for what her opponents are going to throw at her.
Sparkles: The last time Tay fought Mika Kozlov it was in a Barbwire Steel Cage match that set the bar at a whole new high for violence.
Frankie Yeah, but who won? Tay, that’s who.
Greyson: The last time Tay took on our World Champion Katelyn at the End of the Year Special, Buehler survived everything that Tay threw at her.
Frankie: Yeah, but who won? Tay, that’s who.
Greyson: There’s no doubt that she’s had success against both of her opponents in singles competition, but in triple threat action there’s no telling how well she’ll fair.
We’re about to find out as the tunes of “I Started A Joke” begin to play over the loud speakers. Fear is exhibited from everyone in the San Siro stadium and for good reason, because the highly unstable, every bit deranged Mika Kozlov is on the cusp of making her entrance. Now Tay starts to feign some interest in something other than her nails.
Greyson: The vicious and volatile Mika Kozlov making her entrance to the arena, hence the goosebumps all over my arms.
Sparkles: Sparkles’ hair just turned white.
Greyson: It’s always been white.
Sparkles: Oh, well, it’s whiter.
Frankie: You guys knock it off, you got nothing to worry about, Tay is going to neutralize her sister, just like trailer park Kate used that title belt to neutralize that fireball Mika tried to spit in her face earlier.
Greyson: Mika didn’t take too kindly to being overlooked and she did something to make sure the focus was right back on…..uhhhh, speaking of which, I’m hearing that something is going down right now between Mika Kozlov and our World Champion backstage.
There hasn’t been a bell, but there is already some violence. The triple threat World Title match hasn’t commenced, however, two thirds of that bout aren’t about to wait to get physical. Mika Kozlov and Katelyn Buehler are trading strikes with one another as they spiral through a corridor. Meanwhile Katelyn’s agent Dan Douglas is standing in the background clasping to a talisman and enjoying the fight he’s witnessing. He’s very happy, much like thousands of others, to see Mika getting exactly what she deserves. Katelyn dishes out the punishment that her rival has coming her way, swinging forearm after forearm across the back of Mika’s head. Kozlov responds with some haymakers, cracking Katelyn across either cheek.
Greyson: Looks like Mika and Katelyn are picking up right where they left off earlier.
Sparkles: They just couldn’t wait any longer could they?
Frankie: They were about to fight each other in like ten seconds.
Greyson: That was ten seconds too long after everything these two put each other through building into this title match tonight.
The power of Mika’s punches have Katelyn reeling back on her heels and almost losing her footing. Here comes Mika’s knuckles flying at her adversary’s jaw, no, flying right past it. Somehow Katelyn is able to side step the punch hurdling at her skull and then take the advantage. She grabs the back of Mika’s head and gives her face a CRUEL introduction to a nearby catering table. The impact rattles the brain of Katelyn’s demented foe and sends Mika twisting along into the guerilla position.
Greyson: Their coming our way guys.
Frankie: Why don’t they just fight it out in the back and let Tay have the World Title forfeited to her?
Greyson: Because all your dreams do NOT come true.
KATELYN BUEHLER © VS. MIKA KOZLOV VS. TAYLOR CHASE:
RIOT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The curtains on the stage have flung open and Mika Kozlov’s body is stumbling through them. She looks dazed by the punches but is going to be downright dead on her feet after being stricken with a thrust kick. The World Champion continues to unleash her wrath on Mika, as Katelyn smacks her upside the head with a kick so forceful that it sends her rival cascading to the stage.
Greyson: There’s going to be nothing left of either of these two before the World Title match even gets underway.
Tay likes the sound of that and enjoys what she’s seeing even more. She watches from the ring as Katelyn stands over Mika and repeatedly blasts her crawling prey over the upper back. Meanwhile, just behind Katelyn’s back something starts to form that would take her attention off her opponent if she had noticed it. Fire….a ring of it, starts to ascend through the steel and nip at the heels of the Champion.
Sparkles: What in the….is that fire?
Greyson: What’s causing this?
Frankie: There’s fire coming out of the stage, the very same type of fire Mika tried to throw in Katelyn’s face earlier.
Greyson: Mika HAS to be responsible for this.
It isn’t until the fire kisses Katelyn’s ankle that she realizes what’s consumed the stage. She turns away from Mika and towards the blaze that has risen all the way to her knees. Katelyn manages to step back and avoid being consumed by the flames, flames that surround a vacant and deep pit. The depths of this hole are about to be discovered. Suddenly Tay comes running up the ramp, only to come to a stop at the mid-point once she’s gotten Katelyn’s full attention. This distraction allows Mika to regain her footing and run in behind a unfocused Katelyn, nailing her with a double axehandle so forceful over the upper back that it sends her tumbling through the ring of fire and into the hole that it surrounds.
Greyson: MIKA JUST…OH GOD SHE JUST….
Sparkles: Threw Katelyn straight into the pits of hell.
Frankie: Katelyn sent to hell like the demon she is, and now the angelic Taylor’s odds of winning the title have just soared to whole new….
Greyson: Ugh, shut up Frankie.
Sparkles: What has Mika done? Why did she throw Katelyn in that fire?
The screams within the San Siro are downright harrowing at the sight of Katelyn’s body flying through the fire and into the shallow grave. This demise gives new life to either Mika’s or Tay’s title ambitions. They continue right where they left off all those months ago in the Barbwire Steel Cage, trading punches right off to the side of the ring of fire. Mika and Tay go on exchanging shots much to the delight of the thousands in attendance. The brawl keeps on going all the way down the ramp, but doesn’t spill over into the ring, instead it spills right over into the audience.
Greyson: Their going at it! Tay and Mika! Mika and Tay!
Sparkles: These two have been on a lifelong collision course.
The fans have to get out of the way and get out of the way in a hurry as Tay and Mika brawl right out amongst them. Much to Tay’s dismay she finds herself overwhelmed and out matched by the sheer power and velocity of Mika’s punches. The blows finally knock her totally off of her feet and onto her seat, landing across the lap of a stunned, but appreciative fan. That lucky young man isn’t nearly as fortunate as he thought, because a chop is delivered with such force across Tay’s chest that it knocks both she and the man she was seated on top of to the floor.
Frankie: I’m gonna punch Mika in the fallopian tubes and then kick that fan who just molested Tay right in his colon.
Greyson: At this rate you’re going to be fighting the entire world, Frankie.
Frankie: I’ll burn the whole damn world down just for Tay-Tay.
Sparkles: Even Sparkles?
Frankie: Especially Sparkles.
Tay crawls away from her cackling sister while rubbing at the blister formed across her chest. Crazed laughter emanates from Mika as she picks up a chair and sends it hurdling right into her sister’s lower back. The blow makes Tay rear back on her knees while Mika takes her under the jaw, pulling back to expose her face to the barrage of right hands.
Mika: Hahahahaha, just like old times, right sestra?
A mouthful of Tay’s forehead is chomped down on, Mika gnawing at her face. She then picks up another chair and throws it with all her strength straight into the back of Tay’s head.
Frankie: Someone disqualify Mika and then put her ass in the electric chair.
Sparkles: This match hasn’t officially started yet, Frankie, meaning there are no rules.
Frankie: There should be at least one rule, don’t touch Tay’s face!
The multiple strikes on the skull have Tay all out of sorts as she absent mindedly crawls up a flight of steps. There is no rest or no escape, Mika right after Tay, leading her up from the steps and then into a scoop slam….a scoop slam right on top of the steps.
Tay’s eyes are bulging straight out of her sockets as she sits up on the stairs that her back was just broken across. Laughter fills the ears of Mika’s latest victim, followed by the sounds of mocking screams. She’ll make Tay scream even louder when she grabs a chair and places it across the small of her adversary’s back. Once again Tay is scoop slammed, this time not only across the concrete floor, but across the chair that has been extended across her kidneys. The double impact is so severe it leaves Tay incapable of breathing let alone worming her way off Mika’s hook. The deranged clown princess reels her fish in and it won’t be one she throws back, instead it’s one she sends flying over the barricade to the ringside area.
Greyson: At least those fans are out of harm’s way.
Frankie: But not my pwecious Tay-Tay. Someone do something to get this psychopath off of her.
The old saying is true, there’s no rest for the wicked, and Tay is about as wicked as wicked can be. She desperately grabs at the barricade she was just thrown over, using it to stand up. Unfortunately that barrier is used against her, as Mika reaches over it from her stance in the crowd, takes Tay around the neck and hits her with a stunner. Tay’s jaw smacks off the barricade and closes her mouth….thank God.
A confused Tay stumbles towards the ring pawing at her chin before she ends up pawing at the ropes. She rolls inside the squared circle and hopes that maybe in the ring she’ll get a precious few moments of reprieve. Not happening, Mika is still after her. She climbs over the barricade and does so with a steel chair in her hands.
Frankie: McBride needs to do something about this psychopath.
Greyson: There’s nothing she can do.
Sparkles: She can scowl disapprovingly. That’s something.
Greyson: This match looks like it’s going to take the route that Tay’s and Mika’s encounter at the previous Last Stand took.
Frankie: Don’t you dare remind us of that match.
Greyson: It was just last year that Mika defeated Tay for the World…..
Frankie: I said don’t bring it up!
The demented chuckles keep coming from Mika as does the violence. She climbs to the apron and then bends through the ropes, trying to get herself and the chair she’s holding inside. But just then, when she’s half way through the ropes, Mika finds herself on the receiving end of a senton bomb. Tay leaps to the top rope, springs off and flips forward, crashing straight into Mika’s upper back. The senton sends Mika falling forward to a ring where she will now be the one who’s victimized.
Greyson: Oh what a senton!
Frankie: Did you see that? Did you see that? Tay suckered her in.
Sparkles: Yeeeaaaah, so the beating Tay was getting prior to that senton was all just a set up?
Frankie: EEEEXXXXXACTLY.
The beating that Mika is getting right now ISN’T any part of a set up. Tay launches punch after punch after punch across the bridge of Mika’s nose. The jabs only stop so that Tay can stick two middle fingers right in Mika’s face.
Tay: Haven’t you heard? I’m Miss Must-See, the First Lady of Professional Wrestling, the NEXT World….
One of those middle fingers finds its way right between Mika’s teeth. She bites down and bites down hard, causing Tay to stop making obscene gestures and start crying out in anguish. She stands up with Mika seated in front of her, still chomping away at her opponent’s finger. Suddenly Tay swings around and cracks Mika straight upside the temple with a buzzsaw kick. The strike should result in Tay being released from the jaws of her sister, but it hasn’t. It appears that Mika has the biting strength of a Pitbull, not letting up until she’s gnawed Tay’s finger completely off. However, Tay is not willing to part with any of her body, not one bit. She backs up towards the corner dragging Mika and the teeth that are dug into her finger along for the ride. The two reach a turnbuckle where Tay leaps back to the middle rope and then flies off, catching Mika around the neck, hitting a tornado DDT. Finally Mika’s teeth release her sister’s finger, allowing Tay to roll away and to reach the ropes. She gets to the apron only to leap off of it, landing on the top rope before flying off into a double knee stomp that hits the seated Mika right in her chest.
Frankie: Beautiful….just damned beautiful.
Greyson: That WAS an impressive move by Tay.
Frankie: What? Oh yeah, sure it was, but I was referring to my reflection I just saw in this nickel.
The double knee stomp leaves Mika susceptible to the pin that now follows, Tay on the brink of becoming a four time World Champion. The referee is on the scene to make a count that would result in a historic title win.
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Thousands upon thousands take a collective gasp when witnessing Tay come within a fraction of a second of regaining the World Title. Much to her dismay Tay finds her pin kicked out of, Kozlov getting her shoulder up just in time. Tay is so aggravated that she throws aside strategy in favor of just straight up choking her opponent with both hands. She is actually strangling the life out of the laid out Mika, who can only lay their laughing. Though Mika might not be giggling when she learns what’s happening just a stone’s throw away from the squared circle.
Focus has shifted to the set for the pay-per-view where a circle of fire is still rising up from the stage. But down far below it the wall that leads up to the stage begins to buckle. Now we can see a foot kicking at the wall with enough force to send the entire thing toppling over. The wall falls down and reveals that Katelyn Buehler is standing behind it.
Greyson: Katelyn! Katelyn Buehler is fighting her way out from under the stage.
Frankie: The bitch is still alive?
Sparkles: And kicking…..literally.
Greyson: She just took down that whole wall on the set.
Frankie: She shouldn’t be capable of doing that, she shouldn’t even be capable of breathing after she was thrown in that ring of fire.
Although Katelyn is a little worse for wear she staggers out from under the set and drags herself towards the ring. Tay sees her coming and Tay does something to stop her. She rolls from the ring then barrels to the ramp-way where she intends to make quick work of her battered prey.
Tay: You should stay down on your back. That’s where you’re most comfortable, right?
Tay is about to put Kate on her back rather she likes it or not, swinging a punch…one that is BLOCKED. Kate counters the punch into one of her own, smashing Tay under the jaw, then doing it again and again and again. Each shot knocks Tay along towards the barricade before eventually sending her flipping over it with a powerful thrust kick. Katelyn turns in a circle then screams at the audience, getting them all rallied up. Finally her attention turns back to her greatest IWC rival, the banged up Tay standing in the crowd.
Kate runs at the barricade, leaps on top of it and then flies off into a Lou Thez Press. She crashes down on top of Tay and sends her tumbling back into the front row of chairs. Both ladies go through the steel and all the way to the floor and once on the ground Tay finds herself plastered across the kisser with one punch after another.
Sparkles: Tay just can’t catch a break.
Greyson: I don’t know about that, it looks like her face may have caught a break at Kate’s hands.
Frankie: That wasn’t funny, that wasn’t funny at all. You should apologize right now for that comment.
Each jab across Tay’s face brings Katelyn closer to the retribution she’s been after for months upon months. She stands up with Tay’s hair in her hands, leading her along on her knees towards a set up chair. Tay tries to block it but can’t get palms between her face and the chair that it’s being swung into…again and again and again. These blows are crushing the beautiful bone structure of Tay’s mug and giving Katelyn such grim satisfaction.
Frankie: Security? SECURITY!?! Get out here and help Tay-Tay!
Greyson: Don’t you remember what Tay said before this match started? Security will never interfere in Monarchy business again.
Frankie:……I hate you.
Not as much as Katelyn hates Taylor. She leads her opponent up and into a back breaker straight across the very same chair that Tay’s face was just being bounced off of. Although Tay has shown incredible durability and resiliency in past encounters she can’t withstand much more of the punishment being inflicted on her by both opponents this evening. Katelyn just keeps on giving a beating, dragging her adversary off the ground and then flinging her over the barricade. Tay lands at ringside where she is given no time to heal up. She climbs into the squared circle where rest is not an option. Katelyn continues to go straight after her, jumping to the apron and then bending through the ropes. She makes it about half way through the cables and that’s about as far as she’ll get. Tay sees her coming and does something to stop her, leaping into the air and catching Kate with the code breaker. Katelyn’s face bounces from her opponent’s knees and the collision sends her twisting back down to ringside.
Frankie: There you go Tay-Tay, there you go! Now stay on….AAAH!
Tay stands up and twists into the KILLING JOKE. It seems she’s totally forgotten about the second of her adversaries and Mika will make Tay pay for that. She grabs Tay around the head and bridges her back into position for a version of the Sister Abigail. Just when it looks like that move is about to materialize it goes up in dust. Tay twists out of the Killing Joke and then turns to face Mika’s back, giving her a shove so forceful it sends her flying towards the ropes…no…flying THROUGH the ropes. Mika leaves her feet and dives to the outside of the ring, crashing like a heat seeking missile right into a staggering Katelyn at ringside. Both ladies fall hard to the floor and leave only Tay stood in the center of the ring.
Greyson: Mika turning disadvantage into a devastating dive.
Sparkles: She’s such a resourceful minx…..YYYIIKKKES!
Just as Mika and Katelyn stand up at ringside they find themselves taken down when Tay comes flipping out of the ring and into a senton plancha that knocks both of her adversaries to the floor. Tay rolls right off their shoulders, landing on her feet and then falling forward into the barricade where she screams to the distressed crowd.
Tay: IT PAYS TO BE TAY!
That gorgeous dive is followed by something that isn’t easy on the eyes. Tay cracks Mika’s face off the apron. She then turns to Kate and cracks her face off the steel stairs. She finally throws Katelyn into the ring, ending up on her back mere centimeters from the ropes she was just tossed under. Tay leaps from the apron, holds tight to the top rope and twists around into an elbow drop right across Katelyn’s chest. Tay then pops up to her feet, grabs hold of the top rope, leaps over it, twists so that she lands on the apron before running across it and hitting a punt on the face of a recovered Mika. Although Mika was standing on the ringside mats the punt to her face knocks her onto her spine.
Tay’s attention returns to Katelyn, turning around on the apron to face the ring. She grabs the top rope and jumps over it, flying straight into Kate…straight into her shoulders. The World Champion pops up to her feet in time to catch the airborne Taylor in a fireman’s carry. Tay tries to squirm out of her opponent’s clutches, but that’s not happening, not until she’s sent flipping over the top rope with a death valley driver. Tay flies over the cables and then comes crashing down back first right on top of Mika’s shoulder. The two collapse to the ringside floor, all thanks to a defiant World Champion.
Greyson: Katelyn holding her own in there, which is shocking considering the extent of her shoulder injuries.
Surprisingly Tay is the first to start moving, climbing up instinctively to the apron. Katelyn is right there waiting on her, reaching from the ring through the ropes and grabbing Tay by the hair and starting to force her back into the squared circle. Suddenly Tay lashes out though, catching Kate by the arm and then falling to the floor, snapping the World Champion’s shoulder off the middle rope.
Sparkles: You shouldn’t have brought up that injured shoulder.
Frankie: I think Tay just heard you.
The impact with the rope has exacerbated Kate’s injury and the ricochet has sent her spiraling back towards the center of the ring. She doubles over her arm, though Katelyn will regret doing so when Mika runs in behind her, grabs the back of her head and throws her along through the ropes shoulder first into the ring post.
Greyson: Now Mika going after that shoulder too.
That’s not all Mika goes after. She pulls a doubled over Katelyn away from the turnbuckle and then throws her shoulder first right through the ropes and right into the ribs of Tay. The collision sends Tay flying off the apron and to the arena floor while Katelyn bounces back into the waiting arms of her adversary. Mika wastes little time spiking Katelyn on top of her head with the double arm DDT. The Dos-vi-Dania is about to finish Katelyn off, but Katelyn didn’t get this far to fail now. She spins her way out of the double arm DDT, turns to Mika’s back and gives her a shove. Mika is sent hurdling towards the ropes….no…she’s sent ONTO the ropes. Before she can hit the cables Mika jumps onto the top one and then lunges off into a springboard shooting star press, coming down right on top of Tay at ringside
Frankie: OH NO!
Greyson: Mika with another dive to the outside, this time taking out Tay-Tay!
Sparkles: What a dive it was, a frackin’ shooting star press.
The World Champion sees that both of her adversaries are down and she’s about to make sure they stay that way. Here she comes, hustling towards the ropes and preparing to leap through them. It isn’t her body that goes through the cables though, it’s Mika’s. She flies between the strands and catches Katelyn around the hip, pulling her over into the school boy. That pin is quickly transitioned into….A FUJIWARA. Mika leans back on Katelyn’s shoulder, putting so much strain on it that it could separate at any moment.
Greyson: Mika going back to the arm.
Sparkles: For maybe the last time.
Frankie: Get up Tay, stop this before it’s too late.
Greyson: She might not have any time, given Kate’s preexisting injuries and the torque that’s being put on them right now.
Pain is etched in the lines of Katelyn’s face but she’s not giving up, she’s not surrendering her World Title. She pulls and she pulls and she pulls herself along towards the ropes, her only means of salvation.
Mika: Be a good little girl and tap out!
Demands Mika as she applies even further strain on the shoulder of the champion. Katelyn won’t adhere to Mika’s request, reaching out with her foot and placing it across the bottom rope. The official makes a five count, eventually forcing Mika to break the arm bar….though Katelyn’s shoulder might end up being the thing that’s broken. From ringside Tay reaches under the ropes, grabs Kate by the ankle and tugs, dragging her out of the ring and to the floor before putting her arm in a hammerlock then tossing her shoulder straight into the ring post. Katelyn’s arm bounces off the post and she takes a tumble to the floor. All the while Tay is turning her back to the ring in order to put her focus on the laid out Champion.
Tay: Go have some meth and you’ll feel as fresh as a daisy.
Tay isn’t about to feel FRESH when Mika’s boots come flying out of the ring, sliding under the ropes and into a baseball dropkick. Those boots and that dropkick never strike paydirt, Tay side stepping the move at the last second. Mika lands on the mats right in front of Tay and then comes running towards her sister only to be caught with a spinning powerslam, one that drives the small of her back right into the edge of the apron.
Sparkles: GRUESOME!
Frankie: Party time, excellent! Wooooo-woooo-wooooo.
Greyson: Tay getting back into the driver’s seat.
Frankie: Normally I wouldn’t endorse seeing women behind the wheel of a car, but Tay probably makes NASCAR pros look like Asian drivers.
Greyson: I lost count of how many offensive comments were just in that one sentence.
Mika’s spine hit the ring apron and now Kate’s chest collides with the ring post. Tay drags the Champion off the ground and lifts her into a stalling vertical suplex position before running forward and jamming her upside down body right into the steel post. For the first time in their lives Katelyn and Mika have something in common, the agony they are both exhibiting at ringside. A smiling Tay aggravates more than her opponents, she takes a stab at the crowd by curtsying much to their disapproval. She then returns her attention to Katelyn, rolling the champion into the ring. Tay follows alongside her adversary with her boots leading the way, a front dropkick smacking Kate in the shoulder and arm. Katelyn rolls to the middle of the ring and then right onto her feet, where she unleashes a primal roar.
Greyson: That kick only fired Katelyn up.
Sparkles: She was almost on fire literally a few minutes ago.
The intense Katelyn runs right towards Tay and into the lariat, one that is thwarted by her challenger. Tay swings around the arm that was aimed at her head, puts that arm into a hammerlock then gives Katelyn a back drop suplex right on top of it. Katelyn sits up and grimaces as she reaches for the arm that is now being folded over behind her neck. An overhead top wrist lock is applied on Katelyn and the move is debilitating an already injured limb.
Frankie: Come on now, tap already and just give Tay her fourth title reign.
Greyson: There’s only one thing that Katelyn is going to give Tay, and that’s the beating of a lifetime.
Frankie: Pfft….as if.
Sparkles: Did you just go all valley girl on Lovejoy?
Once again Katelyn finds herself in a position that no defending champion would want to be subjected to. She’s got her injured arm trapped in the overhead wrist lock but her heels are getting closer and closer to the ropes. She extends her foot for the cables only for it to drop just short. There’s only one way out of this predicament and it’s to fight her way free. She starts to stand up still trapped in the overhead wrist lock with Tay exerting all the pressure that she can. Finally Kate stands only to suddenly fall forward, using her trapped arm to flip Tay over her back and send her rolling across the canvas.
Tay ends up on her feet and runs right into the ropes, jumping up onto the middle cable. She’s about to spring off only to find her feet flying THROUGH the strands as opposed to landing on them. From ringside Mika has reached up and grabbed the middle cable, pulling down on it just in time to cause Tay to go tumbling through the strands, landing viciously on her back across the floor.
Once again the fans are forced to listen to Mika laugh as she points and she skips around her laid out sister. She stops laughing and she stops skipping when she sees Katelyn flying over the top rope and into a crossbody, crashing into Mika and driving her down into the ground.
Frankie: Well, pigs really can fly.
Greyson: Enough, Frankie.
Frankie: Seeeewwweee.
Greyson: I said ENOUGH.
Katelyn works through the injuries to her arm in order to pull Mika right up onto it. She hits a running powerslam that would make Davey Boy Smith envious. Although Mika isn’t driven into the mats, she’s driven right into her sister’s solar-plexus. Katelyn does double damage and she hopes that will be enough to finish one of her dangerous opponents off. She throws Mika into the ring, slides in and makes the cover.
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Mika’s not finished that easily, she gets her shoulder up. That’s not the only part of her that ascends though, Mika is already working her way to her feet before Katelyn slips in from behind going for the lightning spiral. Before the SLO can be delivered an elbow is driven into Kate’s temple, followed by another shot and then another, delivering however many shots it requires to free Mika from her present predicament. She gets lose from the SLO and then delivers a high knee to the face of her crouched opponent. Kate rears back on her heels while Mika runs forward into the ropes, ricochets off and then comes charging into a lou thez press…from her opponent. Katelyn drops down on top of Mika, unloading with punches across her temple.
The strikes conclude as a result of Taylor’s interference. She runs into the ring, grabs Kate by the back of the head, drags her off Mika and then throws her out through the ropes. Kate hits the ground and Tay looks to hit Mika. A grinning Tay closes in on her sister then crouches down to make the cover. It’s just then that Mika reaches out and grabs Tay by the hair, pulling her down into the small package.
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Tay rolls out of the cover then comes running back towards her sister only to get dropkicked right on the button. The hit sends Tay staggering back but doesn’t take her down. That’s why Mika is barreling towards Tay with the intent of taking her off of her feet and keeping her off of her feet. Her attempt is unsuccessful because Tay catches Mika in a tilt a whirl back-breaker.
The battered three time champion starts to crawl into the lateral press. Before she can make the cover she finds her pin attempt thwarted. Katelyn has returned to the ring, has grabbed Tay by the back of the head, ran her at the ropes and thrown her through. Katelyn’s attention turns back to Mika and to making the cover. She starts to crouch down and into the pin only to find her legs caught in her opponent’s arms. Mika pulls Kate’s feet out from under her and then flips forward into the jackknife cover.
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Katelyn puts all she’s got into the kick out.
Sparkles: Mika almost suckering another of her opponents into a pin.
Frankie: She is such a tricky little minx, isn’t she?
Greyson: I can think of a few more words I could use to describe her.
Katelyn hopes one of those words will be ‘deformed,’ because that’s just how she’s going to leave the psychotic pyromaniac. She runs forward into a fist that Mika successfully blocks via her spinning back elbow to her adversary’s cheek. The blow sends Katelyn spiraling completely around, turning back to face Mika and the front chancery that is being locked in. Mika lifts Kate into a vertical suplex only to drop her opponent’s ankles onto the top cable and then hit a snap rope hung swinging neck breaker. Katelyn is driven onto the back of her head and the impact has knocked her unconscious. Before Mika can go for the pin here comes Tay back into the ring to break it up. However Mika sidesteps the inbound Tay, grabs her by the back of the head and runs her at the ropes, throwing her over. This time instead of being sent crashing into the floor Tay floats over the strands and lands on the ring apron. She then grabs the top rope and pulls herself over, flying towards Mika. Only in mid-air Tay finds herself caught around the neck and with her feet draped across the top rope she’s hit with an over the shoulder jaw breaker.
Mika makes the quick cover with her hopes set high.
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Those hopes are crushed when Tay gets her shoulder up to keep the title off of her sister’s waist. Instead of being annoyed Mika is vengeful, she stomps and stomps and stomps at every inch of Tay’s body. The Garvin style stomp fest is punctuated by pulling Tay up to her seat and then cracking her across the forehead with a running kick. Two more boots ram into Tay’s ribs when Mika jumps into the double stomp. That blow to the abs isn’t enough for Kozlov, she won’t stop until Tay’s ribs are gelatin. She runs into the corner, climbs it and ends up on the top only to come off with another double stomp, this time from the highest elevation. Her boots end up coming down right into….the ring, Tay rolling out of harm’s way at the last second.
The second Mika’s boots hit the canvas she drops into a forward roll, one that takes her right into the waiting boot of the World Champion. Mika ends up on her feet but gets a taste of Katelyn’s foot when a thrust kick nails her under the jaw. Somehow Mika is still standing but Katelyn swings around behind her and locks in a rear waist lock. Before Katelyn can presumably hit a German suplex Mika runs towards the ropes, dragging Katelyn along behind her. The two hit the ropes, bounce off and fly back, Mika using the momentum to swing around behind Katelyn and reverse the waist lock. Mika drops to the ring and rolls Katelyn over until they’re both on their feet and a Chaos Theory style German suplex is about to unleashed. Unfortunately for Mika that suplex never happens because Tay lunges in from behind, catches Mika the second she’s rolled onto her feet and pulls her down into the back stabber. Mika bounces off the knees of her rival and then stumbles into the arms of another. Katelyn catches Mika, hoists her into the air and then spikes her with the small package driver.
Sparkles: Small package DRIVAH!
Greyson: And Mika landed right on that head. She’s finished after that.
Frankie: Do something Tay, do anything, mystify and paralyze your opponents by flashing them your boobs.
Tay won’t need to do that, instead she’ll take another approach.
As Katelyn hooks up Mika for the pin she does not notice Tay slipping in from behind her.
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Tay pulls Katelyn out of the small package and onto her stomach where her arms are then hooked up and placed in the TTYL.
Frankie: HAHAHAHA YEEEES!! It’s locked in, Tay’s got it locked in, the TTYL!
Greyson: The very same move that Katelyn passed out in back at the end of the Year Special.
Frankie: Just go to sleep Katelyn, take a nap and it all be over!
Passing out is a tempting prospect but Katelyn would rather stay conscious and suffer rather than faint and lose her title. There are not a lot of options for Kate at this point though, because Tay has her version of the Rings of Saturn locked in so tight that the champion has no other recourse but to submit. It’s just impossible for Katelyn to utter those words, the phrase ‘I Quit’ being entirely foreign to her.
Frankie: Come on Katelyn, just two words, two words is all you have to say and it’ll be over.
Sparkles: She can’t bring herself to say it though Frankie. Katelyn’s never said it before and she won’t say it here tonight, even when she’s in the TTYL.
Greyson: She might not have to, look at her foot guys.
Frankie: I thought I was…oh no, my bad, that’s her face.
The reason attention is being diverted to Katelyn’s boot is because it’s extending out towards the ropes. Although both of her arms are tied up her foot isn’t, and it may be all she needs to reach those cables. Unfortunately her toes fall just short of the strands before being pulled away from them entirely. Tay tucks into a sideways roll and pulls Katelyn along with her, dragging both their bodies to the middle of the ring where the TTYL is locked in tighter than ever with no possibility of an escape.
Greyson: Katelyn in the wrong part of town.
Frankie: Just like when I accidently end up at Blue Oyster.
Greyson: Accidentally?
Sparkles: There was nothing accidental about what Tay just did, that was a smooth move from a soon to be FOUR time World Champion.
Sweat streams down over the screaming face of the World Champion, who realizes that she can’t hang in there much longer. It’s all coming to an end, her title reign, and maybe her career, it’s all over. There is no way that Katelyn can escape the TTYL, at least on her own.
Although Mika is in a bad way herself she employs what little strength she has left to grab Katelyn’s ankle and pull until it’s under the bottom rope. Mika flops down on her knees at ringside after exploiting what was left in her reserves to keep this title bout going.
Greyson: Mika saving Katelyn….
Sparkles: No, she saved the World Title.
The referee is shouting at Tay, telling her to release the hold but she won’t do it….She outright refuses. In fact when ordered to do again she spits at the official and almost puts a goober right in his eyes. The referee warns Tay one last time but she’s still not letting lose on the TTYL. There’s only one way the hold is going to be broken, and it’s not of Tay’s own volition. Her hair is grabbed and yanked with enough for pry her off the World Champion.
Mika has climbed up onto the apron and is reaching into the ring through the ropes, latching on to Tay’s luscious locks and giving them a tug. Mika stands up on the apron and grabs the top rope, about to come flying over them into her sister, but instead her sister is coming for her. Tay rolls over backwards into a headstand then extends her legs out over the top rope, wrapping them around Mika’s neck. She gets Kozlov’s head trapped between her shins and won’t let go.
This predicament only ends up benefiting one person though, and that’s the champion. Katelyn nails a thrust kick on Mika’s face while it was still trapped between Tay’s shins. The kick sends Mika collapsing to the floor and causes Tay to roll back to the middle of the ring, ending up on her seat…not for long. Another thrust kick is unleashed by the World Champion, this one blasting Tay between the eyes. After nailing the second scintillating kick Kate turns and drops into a lateral press on the challenger’s chest.
Greyson: Is this the moment that Kate has been waiting on for years?
Sparkles: Has she just slayed her dragon?
Frankie: No one, especially not Katelyn will slay the Tay.
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That dragon still sores and still destroys, Tay getting her shoulder out from under Katelyn. Pain wells up behind Katelyn’s eyes as she looks at the two fingers the ref holds in front of her face. Those fingers get a lot closer to Katelyn, in fact the official’s whole body is hurdling towards her. It’s Mika who makes this introduction between the ref and the champ, sliding into the ring behind the zebra and pushing him into the jaws of the lion. The official and Katelyn smack heads, the champion falling to her back but not staying on it like Lindsey Lohan when rehearsing for a film. Mika grabs Katelyn around the neck, bridges her up to her feet and then spirals right along into the Killing Joke.
Sparkles: RIGHT ON HER FACE! Katelyn spiked right on her face!
Greyson: The Killing Joke at last delivered.
Frankie: I refuse to believe Mika’s going to do it two years in a row.
Mika drops and makes the cover on Katelyn, looking to repeat history by winning the World Title at her second straight Last Stand. She should be hearing the referee smack the canvas, but instead she hears the referee whimpering. He’s sitting on his knees in the corner of the ring rubbing at the wound on his forehead. Mika shouts at him to do his job, but it’s impossible for him to do anything other than request a Tylenol for his headache. That migraine is about to get a lot worse now that Mika is grabbing him by the hair and pulling him out of the corner where he was seeking refuge. He’s now bent back and placed in position for a Killing Joke.
Greyson: This isn’t going to help Mika.
Sparkles: No, but hitting the ref with the Killing Joke will make her feel better.
Frankie: This woman is out of her flipping gord.
Laughter proceeds Mika’s Killing Joke, as does the tongue that she extends into a lick across her next victim’s brow. Before the referee can be slammed on his face he’s freed from his pending doom, and it’s Tay he has to think for the rescue. She bridges Mika back into a dragon sleeper and then lifts her into an inverted suplex. It’s not a suplex she has in mind though, because she transitions Mika into a fireman’s carry and now prepares to hit it, and that ‘it’ is the True Story.
Frankie: If she hits this it’s over.
Sparkles: We’ll have a new champion crowned here at Last Stand.
Into the air Mika is thrown and down she comes…..into a counter that takes the form of a back-stabber. Mika transitions out of the Go to Sleep and grabs Tay by the shoulders on the way down before ultimately spiking her kidneys straight on top of her knees.
Frankie: OUCH! My poor baby.
Greyson: Mika with some retaliation for the back stabber Tay gave her earlier in this match.
Tay’s back bounces off of Mika’s knees and now she’s back on her feet, surprisingly staying upright as she staggers along into the ropes. Mika is getting to her feet and fast with a smile on her face that turns to a frown when she sees Tay bouncing off the cables and then leaping into the TKO. Tay’s knee cracks Mika right in the mouth, knocking her flat on her back with her sister coming down beside her.
Frankie: YEEEESSS!
Sparkles: That was nuts.
Greyson: TKO outta nowhere!
Frankie: NEW CHAMP! NEW CHAMP! NEW CHAMP! Make the cover.
That’s precisely what Tay is doing, draping herself across her sister’s chest in the process of making history. The referee is disorientated still but drops down and makes the count nevertheless.
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The official’s hand comes down, just not into the ring. At the very last possible second the official finds himself dragged by the ankle out of the squared circle, spilling with a splat to the arena floor. The crowd is gasping, their mouths hung open at the sight of Katelyn pulling the ref out of position to finish making his count and doing so just a second or two removed from losing her championship.
Frankie: I’m gonna kill her!
Sparkles: Katelyn may have just killed herself in order to break that pin.
Greyson: She used whatever she had left inside to do it.
The Killing Joke continues to plague Katelyn, explaining why merely pulling a ref away from the ring took so much out of her. She falls onto her knees right beside that official at ringside and now she’s trying her absolute best to summon the strength to get back inside of the squared circle. It digs down into places she never knew she possessed in order to climb up onto the apron. Her mouth is open wide as she desperately sucks in air, providing fuel for her weakened muscles. Finally she gets into the ring, but not of her own accord. Suddenly Tay grabs the top rope Katelyn was holding and gives it a yank, resulting in the champion being launched over the cables and onto her challenger’s shoulders. The crowd cries out in anticipation of seeing Taylor deliver the True Story.
Greyson: She couldn’t hit it on Mika, will she hit it on Katelyn!?!
Frankie: Deliver it Tay! Deliver it and be done with Katelyn once and for all!
Tay is just about to launch Katelyn into the True Story but all of a sudden the champion surprises her opponent by sliding off her shoulders. Katelyn lands behind Tay and then spins her around right into the THRUST KICK….noooo….Tay grabs the boot headed for her jaw and pushes it away with enough force to send the champion spinning into a completely 360. Tay steps forward to take advantage, walking right into Katelyn just as he spins around and nails the challenger with the KTFO.
Sparkles: KTFO! KTFO!!
Greyson: OUTTA NOWHERE!
Frankie: If I had a vagina I swear to God it be bleeding right now.
Katelyn is exasperated, she’s hurting, every inch of her is killing her but she still finds the strength to crawl into the lateral press on her greatest rival.
Greyson: Has the roaring elbow finally done what Katelyn has been after for the past two plus years?
Sparkles: It’s GOT to be enough.
That may very well be true, but it’s not like there’s a referee to make Katelyn’s ultimate dream reality. He’s still laying at ringside, trying to recover from his fall, which means that there is no one to count Tay’s shoulders to the canvas,
Frankie: Hahahaha, I love it! I LOVE IT! That dumb bitch Katelyn knocked the referee out.
Greyson: Which is a real shame, because it looked like she may have finally done enough to pin her greatest rival.
Frankie: Bullshit, Tay would have kicked out at a one count.
Greyson: I find that hard to believe considering she still hasn’t moved after taking that KTFO.
With a sense of urgency Katelyn throws the referee back into the squared circle. Upon re-entering the ring the Champ’s first order to business to crouch down and wait….wait for Tay to stand….wait for the opportunity to strike…wait to retain her title after nailing a second KTFO.
Greyson: If Katelyn hits this it will finally-FINALLY be over.
Before Katelyn can do it, before she can deliver a second and maybe FINAL KTFO, she finds her plans fizzling out when another of her challengers comes flying off the top rope behind her. Mika dives off the turnbuckle behind Katelyn and hits her with a front dropkick right between the shoulder blades. The blow sends Katelyn flying right along into the ropes….wait…she’s doing a HEADSTAND into those ropes. The back of her legs hit the top cable and they launch her back into the Lethal Injection on Mika.
Greyson: LETHAL INJJJJJJECTION!!
Frankie: What!?! How!?! HOOWWW!!!???!!
Sparkles: Get your fingernails out of Sparkles’ arm!
As Mika’s face hurdles into the ring Tay goes rolling out of it. It’s exhausting all of Katelyn’s reserves to do it but she’s crawling across the squared circle and narrowing the gap between herself and the unconscious Kozlov. A cover seems inevitable, Kate standing up sluggishly in order to expedite the process. She’s getting closer and closer to Mika and verging on a pin, about to be reunited with her World Title. That’s EXACTLY what happens, because Tay-Tay has re-entered the ring and is running across it swinging the World Championship right into Katelyn’s temple.
Greyson: NOOOO!
Frankie: The title off of Katelyn’s skull. You’ve got this Tay. You’ve finally done it!
Every inch of Tay’s body hurts but she’s not going to let that stop her from making the cover. She falls back first over Kate’s chest and hooks her leg while the referee at last comes through.
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Greyson: Not this way.
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Greyson: Don’t tell me it’s going to end this way!!
The hand comes down again and the cries become absolutely deafening, all because Katelyn’s arm has just jumped up off of the canvas. Tay’s eyes are wider than they have ever been before as she sits up and listens to the thousands and thousands in the San Siro screaming her opponent’s name.
Frankie: WHAT!!??!!
Greyson: Katelyn somehow, someway, against all possible odds just kicked out.
Frankie: WHAT!!??!!
Tay’s shaking fingers are running down over her face, as her mind finally grapples with the fact that Katelyn kicked out. She channels all that fury, all that rage into her next maneuver….and it’s NOT a wrestling maneuver. Tay rolls out of the ring and staggers towards the time keeper. She grabs them by the throat and drags the old man out of his seat, throwing him aside so she can use his chair for something other than sitting.
Greyson: Oh no. Oh God no.
Sparkles: Katelyn has hung in there through a lot, but how can she possibly survive this?
Frankie: Finish this Tay finish this and claim what’s rightfully yours.
Much to the surprise of everyone, maybe even Katelyn herself, the Champion is working her way up to her feet. She employs the ropes to stand upright before finally pushing off of them. She turns back to the center of the ring just in time to be greeted with a steel chair right between the eyes. Tay summons all of her power to swing the steel across the Champion’s brow.
Greyson: Damn you Tay, damn you….
Frankie: Take that back right now!
Greyson: I will not. Her actions are inexcusable.
Frankie: I don’t hear a bell, do you? That must mean this is ALL legal.
Greyson: No, it must mean the referee is still too banged up to realize what’s happening.
Tay would go for the pin but she’s got one last person she wants to introduce her steel chair to first, and that person is her sister Mika. From the corner of her eye Tay spots Mika pushing herself up off of the canvas, desperately trying to come through after being hit with the Lethal Injection. Tay is going to make sure Mika NEVER recovers, and she’s going to use the steel chair to do it. With the chair raised back over her head Tay comes running towards Mika and swings. But it’s not the chair that swings, it’s Tay’s body. She’s caught around the neck and she’s spun around right into Mika’s Killing Joke.
Greyson: Another Killing Joke! ANOTHER KILLING JOKE!
Frankie: I…..I….
Sparkles: I’m shocked too, so shocked I forgot to refer to myself in the third person.
Frankie: I cannot believe this is happening. Someone tell me it’s not true.
Greyson: Mika is closing on becoming the World Champion for the second time in her career.
Every inch of her body is traumatized but Mika starts to crawl, dragging herself along towards Tay on the cusp of covering her sister and becoming the World Champion. Her arm extends away from her sweaty, broken body and towards her clearly unconscious opponent.
Frankie: Somebody has GOT to stop this.
The referee is already dragging himself across the ring and into position to make a count when Mika gets the cover. Everything is playing directly into Mika’s favor….or at least it was until the lights in the arena go out.
Greyson: Ooooh fiddlesticks.
Frankie: What-what-what-what’s going on?
Sparkles: Sparkles is-is frightened. Time to call out my personal security.
Greyson: Put your GI Joe action figures away.
The fans anxiously wait to find out what’s going on under this veil of darkness. After waiting on pins and needles, with their hearts in their throats, the lights finally come back on and reveal that Mika is no longer in an advantageous position. Actually, she’s at the biggest disadvantage she’s ever been in. She finds herself in a position she’s never been in before, her whole upper body wrapped in a cocoon of barbwire. And it’s all thanks to the two individuals currently standing on either side of her, those figures being Cindy Todd and….Cassandra Mason?
Frankie: WHAT….IN….THE…HELL!?!
Greyson: What are we seeing here?
Sparkles: It’s New Eden, and they’ve-they’ve got Mika all wrapped up in BARBWIRE!
Greyson: I have NEVER seen anything like this before.
Sparkles: This is a whole new level of depravity.
Frankie: It’s revenge is what it is. Cindy is getting revenge for that fireball Mika threw in her face three weeks ago.
Cassandra Mason, who was revealed earlier in the night as the newest initiate of Cindy’s brood, does the honors of handing a steel chair over to the Queen. One of TWO steel chairs, there’s another, and that one stays in Cassandra’s hands.
Cindy: You want a scandal?
Cassandra licks her lips.
Cindy: Let’s give them one.
Cindy swings the chair down into the barbwire all wrapped around Mika and then Cassandra follows up with a shot of her own.
Greyson: This is sickening!
Sparkles: Cassie Mason and Cindy Todd are DESTROYING Mika.
Greyson: Why is Cassie doing this?
Sparkles; She must be who Cindy was talking about when she said she was bringing a NEW member of her group over to the IWC.
Greyson: You know none of that matters right now….because Mika is being decimated.
One chair shot follows another, smacking it Mika over and over and over again. She rolls from side to side, trying to fend off the blows but unable to lift her arms to protect herself because of the barbwire that binds her. There is nothing that Mika can do other than lay there and bleed, externally and internally. There’s no telling how many wounds have been inflicted on her as this barrage of chair blows continue to mangle her body.
Greyson: These two are being absolutely merciless!
The chair Cassandra was swinging falls to the ring that she traverses. She grabs Katelyn by the arm and tugs it until she’s dragged over the broken, bloodied and shattered body of Kozlov.
Greyson: What are they doing now?
It isn’t until Katelyn has been left splayed across Mika’s punctured and lacerated torso that New Eden leaves. They slide through the ropes to the apron where they get a very-very close look at the results of their handiwork. They watch with depraved smiles on their faces as the referee comes through in time to see Katelyn pinning Mika and to make the three count.
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The referee’s hand FINALLY comes down against the ring and at long last brings to an end one of the most intense World Title matches in recent history.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler retains…Good God she’s retained.
Frankie: I’m beyond speechless, but that won’t keep me from talking because the sound of my voice gives me an erection.
Sparkles: It has the same effect on Sparkles.
Greyson: That was a hell of a match. Maybe the most intense of Katelyn’s career, and in the end she walks out with the title.
Frankie: Don’t be crazy. NO ONE is walking out of here after what New Eden just did.
Sparkles: Especially not Mika.
Greyson: I’ll say it again, I have NEVER seen anything like what New Eden just did to Mika Kozlov.
Katelyn can BARELY bring herself to do it but she sits up and takes the World Title off the canvas. She is so concussed by the shots she took to the skull that she’s not even cognizant of the fact that she just retained her title. She doesn’t even realize that she’s rolling out of the ring until she’s collapsed to the mats. Meanwhile one of her challengers, Tay is finally starting to regain her senses after taking the Killing Joke. She starts to stir upon hearing the lyrics of Katelyn’s theme music playing over the PA system. We can almost see her skin squirming when she realizes that Buehler is leaving here with the World Championship.
Greyson: What a match. What…a….match.
Sparkles: The most grueling of Katelyn’s career.
Greyson: The most grueling of all three of these ladies’ careers.
Sparkles: Somehow, by some hook or crook Katelyn emerges from this with the World Title.
Frankie: My poor Tay-Tay.
Greyson: Poor Tay-Tay? Try poor Mika. She might never be the same after what New Eden just did to her.
There are presently several stagehands in the ring working to cut away the barbwire that is all wrapped around Mika’s body.
The camera opens on a tiny but a very-very important piece of paper. It’s held in Lilith Evans’ fingers and the number written on it captivates the veteran so. In fact she’s so enthralled by this scrap that has her spot in the Rumble written on it that she doesn’t even see the people moving in around her. It isn’t until the breaths of Executioner are felt across the back of her neck that she finally looks up from the paper and sees her fellow True Sinistry members crowded around her in the locker-room. Eventually Lilith makes eye contact with Jessica Wilde, and it’s a disapproving Jessica Wilde.
Wilde: Nervous?
Lilith doesn’t know how she should respond to that question, forming a tentative smile.
Lilith: I guess so.
A wincing Wilde, still feeling the pain from the Cubic Zirconium Cutter she suffered earlier, reaches out and pats Lilith on the shoulder.
Wilde: Don’t worry, you got nothing to be nervous about.
Lilith: Thanks.
Wilde: Because you’re not going to be in the Rumble tonight.
The piece of paper that Lilith WAS holding is now in Wilde’s hand.
Lilith: Wait (continuing to smile), you’re-you’re not serious, right?
Wilde: You mistake me for someone with a sense of humor.
Lilith: I don’t…..get this. Why are you….?
Wilde: Where were you when Gavin was giving me that cutter out there? When Executioner was getting his head smashed in by a steel chair?
Lilith: I was getting ready for the Rumb…..
Wilde: EXACTLY. If the Rumble is your number one priority, then you’re priorities are aaaaall wrong. You forget yourself missy, you’re role from now until you’re rotting six feet under is to protect me, and to protect the interests of the True Sinistry. No personal ambitions are to get in the way of that. Don’t you understand?
Lilith: But….
Wilde: (Balling up the paper and throwing it into Lilith’s chest) Maybe keeping you out of the Rumble will finally get through to you.
Though Wilde walks off her masked giant lingers behind. He awkwardly grabs a strand of Lilith’s hair and rubs it in his fingers in the process of backing away. An annoyed, a creeped out, and a disheartened Lilith looks down at the crumpled piece of paper at her feet.
Darko: Sad, very-very sad.
Lilith looked up from the paper and to the man who just stepped into the locker-room. Danny Darko, an individual who has taken a keen interest in both her future and her present has just stopped at her side.
Darko: No, pathetic.
Lilith: I know, I’m a total waste.
Darko: That’s not what I’m talking about. What’s pathetic is the fact that True Sinistry thinks so little of you.
He stoops and picks up the wadded paper.
Darko: It’s time their opinion of you….changes.
This time the paper isn’t thrown at Lilith, it’s placed in her palm and Darko closes her hand around it.
There’s just a few moments now before the Rumble, meaning that the Uprising GM David Helms and the Riot Principle Owner Karen McBride have to work quickly. The two are still on the stage and still have the tumbler dividing them, one that holds so many numbers that have yet to be picked for the Rumble this evening.
Helms: Well Karen, parting is such sweet sorrow, but it looks like our time together is up.
Karen: I shed my tears on the inside.
Helms: I’m sure you do. It’s hard to believe after all this time we’ve spent together, the friendship that we’ve developed, that after tonight we might not ever seen each other again.
Karen: I’ll find a way to get over it.
Helms: You know what I would hate though? What would just stick in my crawl? If we parted on less than amicable terms.
Karen: Agreed.
Helms: So how about we bury the hatchet?
Karen: I’m fine with that.
Helms: And you can make sure we stay on each other’s good side by telling me who it is you stole from my roster.
There it was, Helms’ ulterior motives made plain as day. This request causes Karen to laugh and laugh and laugh. Does she give Helms the answer he wanted? No, instead she just goes on laughing, laughing, laughing, and, you guessed it, laughing.
Karen: That was smooth, Helms, real smooth.
Helms: I’ve been told before that I possess a certain ‘swag.’
Karen: I almost want to tell you, but, well, I’ve kinda been sworn to secrecy.
Helms: Ever heard of the term cop-out?
Karen: You can call it what you will, but it’s nonetheless true. The newest member of my roster wants to keep their identity secret until the Rumble this evening. But there’s one person on the roster who I know isn’t a fan of cloak and dagger tactics. A man who has a certain love for the spotlight. A man who I’m about to call out here to take his number before he puts on an absolute show here in the Rumble. I’m talking about Joooooohnnny Kingdo….
’Unsettling Differences” starts to play over the loud speakers and this is NOT the theme music of Johnny Kingdom. The fans were advertised a wrestling legend but what they get is an infamous rookie. The curtains open to reveal a smug Ricky Holt leading a pantheon of punishers to the stage. Stood behind him are Eric O’Flaherty drinking down the contents of a beer bottle and swinging a baseball bat like a windmill at his side, while Teiji Shintaro crawls along the ground on his palms with a railroad spike clinched between his brown teeth. The commentators get in a reaction to this unexpected and unwelcomed interruption.
Greyson: As has been the motif of the night, another Rumble drawing has just gone horribly awry.
Sparkles: We were advertised Johnny Kingdom but instead we’re getting Teiji Shintaro, Ricky Holt and Eric O’Flaherty, this ultra-violent trio.
Frankie: It’s a trade UP in my opinion.
Greyson: You’re telling me you’d rather take a man covered in shit than Johnny Kingdom?
Frankie: There’s a difference?
The crowd obviously thinks so, hence why their booing these three depraved souls out of the arena. The endless cacophony of the outraged does not stop Holt from saying what he came to say.
Holt: Now don’t go hating me because you think I’m stealing Johnny Kingdom’s spotlight. I’m not. The truth is Kingdom is too busy taking a nap backstage to come out here and draw his number.
The boos only get louder and Holt’s shoulders are only getting closer to his earlobes.
Holt: What? I’m not lying. I’m totally serious. Kingdom is an old man, and he’s a weak man, and old weak people like to take naps in the middle of the day. But guys such as myself don’t need sleep. We can keep going, we can keep bringing the violence 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That’s why men such as myself and Teiji Shintaro are tailor made for the Rumble. We’re built for endurance.
Finally Holt approaches the tumbler.
Holt: So why don’t you let the odds on favorites select the only numbers that matter in tonight’s Rumble?
Begrudgingly Karen opens the tumbler and Holt is reaching into it to take not only his number but Teiji’s as well.
Holt: I’ll do the honors for you, Teiji.
Shintaro doesn’t put up an argument, he just keeps on kneeling there on the stage with the railroad spike in his teeth. He, as well as the rest of the world, watch as Holt takes two numbers out of the tumbler.
Holt: Alright….
He carefully takes a look at BOTH the numbers he selected. He cringes at one and smiles at the other.
Holt: This one is yours (hands over the number that gave him cause to wince), and this one is mind (holds onto the number that brought a smile to his face).
Although Teiji might behave like a savage, he does not have the IQ of one. He knows when he’s getting the raw end of the deal and he does something about it. He doesn’t take the number being given to him, he reaches for the one that isn’t. He grabs Holt’s far wrist and tries to wrestle the number out of his palm.
Holt: Whoa-whoa, what the hell are you doing?
Teiji finally gets the number HE wanted, and once he sees it a demented grin forms on his feces smeared lips.
Holt: Where the fuck do you get off…..?
Although Holt is trying to take back his number Teiji isn’t letting him get anywhere near it. He pushes Holt back and holds tight to the scrap of paper he stole from his teammate.
Holt: You’re going to give me back that number or God help me….
Teiji isn’t giving nothing back, and may regret his stubbornness. Holt hauls off and slugs his own friend right in his jaw. The blow knocks the Terror almost out of his shit stained underwear. Teiji isn’t offended by the blow from his associate, actually he seems to love it. He responds with a shot of his own, hitting a headbutt on the bridge of Holt’s nose. The two now tackle one another down to the floor and roll around trading haymakers. As his clients brawl Eric O’Flaherty stands over them smiling and actually eggs them on. He even takes what’s left in his beer bottle and starts to pour it over his associates.
Frankie: These two are a team?
Greyson: They don’t look like it right now.
Sparkles: Sparkles guesses that they got tired of waiting to get the violence party started.
Greyson: They’ll have plenty of opportunities to find some new victims later tonight when they compete in the Rumble.
There’s one man who’s had more than his fair share of encounters with Ricky Holt and Teiji Shintaro, that man’s name is Matthew Bowden. At the moment he’s standing in a hallway, his shoulder leaning against the wall while a cell-phone is raised to his ear.
Bowden: Start printing the t-shirts, at least make a thousand of them, because I’m telling you, Helen, their going to be selling faster than a Kardashian opens her legs for an ex NBA star.
A confident Bowden lifts the paper with his spot in the Rumble written on it.
Bowden: Yup. Got myself the pick of the litter. So you can be damned sure those ‘Matthew Bowden: 2016 Last Stand Rumble Winner’ t-shirts are going to sell out fast. (Pauses and listens to the phone) Wait. What do you mean thy charge by the letter? Ooookay, can we shorten it? Maybe we can just use abbreviations, like ‘M.B.16.L.S.R.W…’
Kingdom: What the hell is all this racket about!?!
A door a few inches away from Bowden flies open and a groggy Johnny Kingdom steps out. He lets out a loud yawn and stretches his weary muscles before snatching a sleeping cap off the top of his head and throwing it aside.
Kingdom: Can’t a man catch a few minutes of shut eye around here? Jesus Christ.
Kingdom all but ignores Bowden as he walks right past him. However, Bowden can’t help but to pay attention to Kingdom, watching him storm down the hallway.
Bowden: Pfft….old people.
Kat: Can you believe those…..those…..FUCKERS…put their hands on my Kat Kelly Championship.
Kat Kelly will protest to anyone who will listen, but luckily it’s just Ryan Watson and Alistair Taylor forced to hear her out at the moment. The Monarchy members stand just outside their dressing room where a party WAS happening moments ago, but that festive atmosphere is no more. There is little for Monarchy to celebrate, but a lot for them to complain about.
Kat: Look at it (holding up a belt with her picture plastered over the gold plate). They got crud all over it, all over MY championship. This belt is supposed to be about class, it’s supposed to be about elegance and sophistication. It’s supposed to embody everything that the NHB Title wasn’t, and not what ‘she who will not be named’ was all about. I’ll be damned…damned says I….if I allow her underlings to reduce this title…..
Alistair: Kat-Kat-Kat…..
Alistair puts his hands on Kat’s shoulders in an effort to calm her down.
Alistair: You don’t need to worry about either Aaron Harrison or Mya Denton ever again. If they didn’t get the message earlier tonight when I put my fist down Harrison’s throat, I’ll make sure it gets through their thick skulls that they are never to touch your belt again when I throw them out of the Rumble.
Watson: And the Gobshite will be right there to make sure everything Ally just said, comes true.
Kat: Thanks guys, but you know what? I plucked this title (holds up her belt) out of obscurity and instead of letting it get dragged back down into the muck and the mire I’ll do something about Harrison and Mya MYSELF.
Orlando: She might not want your help, but we can use it.
Pain, maybe the worse she’s been in in her life, is exhibited by Taylor Chase, who has turned her husband Orlando into a makeshift crutch. He is helping her down the corridor and towards their compatriots. Alistair is quick to jump under Tay’s opposite arm and to help support her.
Trinity: What happened out there?
The door to Monarchy’s dressing room opens and one of the group’s founding members peaks out. Trinity Street steps into the hall and is instantly bombarded with imagery that only serves to aggravate her.
Trinity: Give her here.
Alistair and Orlando surrender Tay to the waiting arms of Trinity. She props up the First Lady of Wrestling while leading her towards the dressing room.
Trinity: Don’t fret about what just happened out there my dear. You WILL walk out of this arena with your head held high.
The door slams behind Trinity’s back, shutting out the rest of Monarchy. Although Orlando wants to go in and check on his wife he hesitates for a moment, because there’s a discussion he needs to have as well, and it’s with Ryan Watson.
Orlando: Hey mate, remember how you helped me three weeks ago.
Watson’s smile is the only answer that’s needed.
Orlando: I was hoping you could help me out again here tonight.
There’s exhaustion, there’s pain, and then there’s what Katelyn Buehler is suffering at the moment. The IWC World Champion is caked in sweat and swelled with bruises, in quite possibly the worse shape we’ve seen her in after defending her title in a grueling triple threat bout. Correspondent Mark Comeau is here to get her reaction to her hard-fought victory.
Comeau: Katelyn, first and foremost, I have to say congratulations on remaining the IWC World Heavyweight Champion.
Katelyn blows a strand of hair from her face before she responds.
Katelyn: (Wryly) Thanks.
Comeau: How does it feel knowing you defeated not one, but two of your greatest challengers to date?
Katelyn: Well I’ll tell you this much, I’d feel a whole lot better if my win had come at Tay’s expense, and without the outside interference of New Eden. But I guess I’ll have to slay the Tay at a later date, which won’t be at Invictus.
Comeau: In a few moments we’re going to find out who you’ll be facing at that event. We’ve got the Rumble just around the corner and to the victor goes the opportunity to battle you for the Championship.
Katelyn: Believe me, in spite of what just happened out in that ring, I’m eager to find out who that special someone is going to be. Because I’m not the biggest fan of blind-dates, I like to put a face to whoever I’ll be spending a night with.
Comeau: You’ll find out who that is in just a…..
Lexy: Where is it old man!?!
Comeau and Kate whip around to the source of not only screams but the sounds of a scuffle. A beating is being delivered by Lexy Chapel and the man we’ve come to know as Reggie. The two put their boots into the body of their defenseless prey, Dan Douglas. The sight of this assault on her agent has Katelyn abandoning her interview, setting aside her pain and hobbling down the hall. She can’t reach Douglas before her attackers find what they were looking for.
Lexy: Stop right there!
A talisman is torn out of Douglas’ jacket pocket and held out front. Katelyn stops as cold as a glacier when seeing the medallion, finding herself instantly enchanted by it.
Lexy: Good…..verrry good.
Lexy squeezes the talisman tight while putting her hand on the World Champion’s shoulder.
Lexy: Now lift your foot.
Katelyn’s boot rises and stays in the air until Lexy allows her to lower it.
Lexy: Hehe, (smacks the side of her fist down on the Champ’s bicep) WICKED.
The hunt continues. Selena Frost is still tracking down Desmond Drake, searching for him high, and especially low. Her journey takes her down yet another in an endless slew of corridors. In this particular hallway is a fan dressed in a trenchcoat and fedora, puffing on a pipe.
Selena: Excuse me.
She talks to the man blowing a little smoke out of his nostrils.
Selena: Have you seen a little fella about yay high (holds open palm down very close to the ground), holding a title belt twice as big as he is running through here?
The pipe puffing gent doesn’t answer with words and instead just shakes his head ‘no.’
Selena: Thanks for your help anyway.
The Queen of Wrestling Champion walks off to continue her search for her stolen title belt and the little scamp who pilfered it from her. The second Selena vanishes the fan she just talked to is free to open his trenchcoat. Don’t get squeamish, he’s not flashing anyone, though that probably wouldn’t be as bad as what he does reveal between his legs. Desmond Drake steps out from between the gentleman’s knees.
Drake: Thanks bud.
A twenty is handed to the man who just hid Drake under his trenchcoat.
Selena: AH-HA.
Drake almost jumps out of his skin and juggles the Queen of Wrestling Title belt when he’s spotted by Selena. The horrified Drake takes off running with Selena catching up with him and catching up with him fast, the benefits of having longer, adult length legs.
It remains to be seen if Selena Frost will catch up with Desmond Drake because all attention is turning to the ring where announcer Thomas Boll is standing and waiting to handle the biggest announcement of the night.
Boll: Lady and gentlefolk, it is now time for the 2016 LAST STAND RUUUUMBLE!
The San Siro stadium rattles with the enthusiasm unleashed by the audience.
Boll: This match will start with two athletes in the ring. Every two minutes thereafter another competitor will join them. Eliminations can only occur once someone has been thrown over the top rope with both of their feet hitting the floor. The final athlete remaining in the ring will go on to challenge for the World Championship at either IWC Invictus, or UWA Olympus!!
Boll no sooner gets out of the ring before the bell sounds in the background.
Frankie: It’s about time.
Hunter: Yes it is.
Frankie: Whoa-whoa, wait a minute, Greyson, did you put on weight?
Hunter: I’m not Greyson Lovejoy. Obviously the wrestlers from the UWA and the IWC aren’t the only members of either roster that are going to be mixing it up tonight. You and I have been chosen to split commentating duties for the Rumble.
Frankie: Fair enough. This relationship will work just fine as long as you sit back, keep your mouth shut and let me handle the bulk of the work just like I always do.
Hunter: You do realize the story here isn’t about you and I, right?
Frankie: Since when?
Hunter: We’re moments away from finding out who is going to start out the Rumble, and who very well could win it. I’m excited about this Frankie, we’re about to see who’s going to main event Invictus or Olympus. This is exciting. This IS HUGE!
Frankie: Keep it in your pants, Greyson. Calm down.
Hunter: I’m NOT Greyson Lovejoy!
2016 LAST STAND RUMBLE
Everyone attentively watches the entry way, just DYING to know who is going to be the very first entrant in the Rumble. The wait isn’t long because here comes the lyrics of Ethan Von Aaron’s theme music. There is quite the rabble at the sight of Ethan, banged up body and all moving through the curtains to the stage. The injuries he suffered in the Last Man Standing match earlier tonight won’t stop him from showing off on the stage by doing some pelvic thrusts and pointing to his….chin?
Hunter: UWA’s own Ethan Von Aaron the first man out in the Rumble.
Frankie: Fortune definitely didn’t favor Ethan, and that’s sad considering that he’s one of the few UWA talents I can actually tolerate.
Hunter: He’s got to be aching after his Last Man Standing match against Orlando Cruze earlier tonight, but he’s courageously competing in this Rumble nevertheless.
Frankie: Kinda ironic isn’t it? Ethan’s wife Alana Star is coming out last in the Rumble, so it’s only fitting that Ethan comes out first.
Hunter: How is that fitting?
Frankie: I don’t know, it was just something to say.
Once in the ring Ethan continues to do as Taylor Swift suggested and shake it off. He just tries to walk off his pre-existing injuries in order to do the unthinkable, survive from the number one spot to go on and win tonight’s Rumble. He does a little shadow boxing before grabbing at his shoulder and wincing in pain.
Hunter: Ethan has got a steep hill to climb. Let’s see who’s going to be the first person to stand in his way of winning the Rumble. Who drew number 2?
Once again the crowd is attentively watching the entry way in rabid anticipation. Their wait pays off when the opening lyrics of ‘Phenomenal’ hits the loud speakers. Lo and behold it’s revealed that Orlando Cruze is the man who selected number two. He steps through the curtains looking a little worse for wear but the Phenom isn’t holding anything back. The only thing he holds are his ribs, having one arm extended across them while the other arm is used to raise his pointed finger at his flapping gums.
Hunter: ORLANDO?
Frankie: Orlando Cruze is number 2?
Hunter: I certainly did not see this one coming.
Frankie: The two guys who tore each other apart in that Last Man Standing match at the start of the night are ending the night fighting it out once again in the Rumble.
Hunter: Now this IS fitting.
Frankie: Can we both just agree that neither one of us know what the word ‘fitting’ means.
Orlando Cruze continues to run his mouth as he makes his way down the ramp and draws nearer to a stunned Ethan Von Aaron waiting for him in the ring. Ethan pivots between feet, and throws some more punches at the air to show that he’s ready and raring to go another round with Orlando.
Ethan: Come on….let’s go…get yourself in here and let’s….
Suddenly a big punch nails Ethan right in the back of his head. The blow is delivered by Monarchy member Alistair Taylor.
Hunter: HEY NOW!
Frankie: Monarchy sticking together yet again.
Hunter: Where did Alistair Taylor come from?
Frankie: The most glorious vagina ever.
Hunter: I mean where did he come from just now?
Frankie: Wherever he was hiding it paid off, because he got the ambush on Ethan.
Hunter: This is bullshit, he’s softening Ethan up for fellow Monarchy member Orlando Cruze.
Alistair drags Ethan up off of the canvas only to drive him straight back down to it with the overdrive.
Hunter: This is such bullshit.
Frankie: Oooh quit crying, like Ethan wouldn’t have done the same thing if he had thought of it first.
Right now the only thought on Ethan’s mind is the pain he’s in. Pain Alistair just left him in. After doing the damage Alistair vacates the ring, rolling out and walking towards Orlando Cruze now stood at the base of the ramp and snickering. He and Alistair bump knuckles before heading in opposite directions. As Alistair walks away from the ring Orlando goes sliding right into it. Laughter comes from the Phenom as he spits into his palms, rubs them together and then reaches down grabbing hold of Ethan’s hair. He takes his time dragging Ethan up from the ground before pointing at the ropes.
Frankie: It’s academic now. Sorry Ethan, wrong place, wrong time.
Ethan can barely stand but he won’t have to for very long. He’s thrown off, flung over the ropes and the outside of the ring.
Frankie: Goodbye Ethan Von….
Hunter: Not so fast.
To the disbelief of everyone in the arena Ethan grabs the top rope on the way over and lands on his seat across the apron.
Hunter: He’s hanging in there.
Frankie: HORSESHIT!
There’s no shit, be it equine or other, Ethan IS still hanging on. Amazingly he gets back to his feet on the apron and does so just in time to catch a surprised Orlando with a shoulder block through the ropes. Orlando is doubled over clasping at his ribs while Ethan clasps at something else, the cables he’s pulling himself over. He catches Orlando by the hips on the way over and then drags him down into the sunset flip…a sunset flip that Orlando rolls right out of. Orlando is back on his feet, grabs Ethan by the legs and steps through them. Ethan is then rolled over to his stomach where he’s trapped….trapped in the sharpshooter.
Frankie: He’s got it locked on…..hahahahaha…sharpshooter applied on Ethan.
Hunter: After everything that he’s gone through tonight this HAS to be the worse pain Ethan’s ever been in.
Frankie: All of which could have been avoided if Ethan had allowed Orlando to throw him out.
Hunter: Come off it now.
The anguish is excruciating and Ethan just doesn’t know how much longer he can tolerate it. Tapping out wouldn’t mean he’s eliminated but he still doesn’t want to give Orlando that satisfaction. Luckily for Ethan the timer has just started meaning that another athlete is about to come down the ramp and presumably help him.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4….
Hunter: Another competitor about to hit the ring.
Frankie: And this couldn’t come at a better time for Von Aaron.
Hunter: By the grace of God it seems he’s gonna have some help combating Orlando.
Cruze doesn’t even concern himself with the countdown clock, he’s so focused on hurting Ethan nothing else matters. But something is about to.
…2, 1….BUUUUUZZZ!
A loud buzzer goes off all around the arena just before the tunes of “We Own It” plays over the PA system.
Hunter: OH….MY….GOD!
Frankie: Damn-damn-damn….
All the color goes out of Orlando’s face when he hears the entrance music of ANDRE JORDAN. His eyes are bulging out of their sockets as he whips around to the stage and sees Andre stepping out from the back. Dre receives tremendous fanfare upon reaching the set where he then proceeds to slowly pry back the hood of his sweatshirt from his face. He lets Orlando get a good long look at a glare so chilling it could put ice the Phenom’s veins.
Hunter: Orlando can’t believe it. He’s about to be face to face with the one man he did NOT want to run into during the Rumble tonight.
Frankie: Pfft…Andre has been running from a fight with Orlando for months…..
Hunter: Oh don’t you dare. I’ve been watching Riot and I’ve seen Orlando do everything he can to avoid a fair fight with Andre.
Frankie: Well it’s a moot point right now, cause these two are FINALLY going at it. Orlando is FINALLY gonna get a crack at Andre, and this time there are no skirts for Dre to hide behind.
Orlando is shaking his head once he gets a good long look at the fierce eyes of his rival. Andre methodically starts down the ramp, savoring every step he takes towards his greatest IWC rival. What he doesn’t savor is the megaphone that just cracked him right in the back of the head. The whole building turns and turns quickly when seeing Monarchy’s Ryan Watson running out through the curtains, dashing down the ramp and getting the drop on an unsuspecting Andre.
Frankie: HAHAHAHA-AAAAH-HAHAHAHA!
Hunter: AGAIN!!??!!
Frankie: Another member of Monarchy laying out another of Orlando’s opponents in the Rumble.
Hunter: I knew Monarchy was going to have a negative effect on the Rumble, but dammit, I didn’t know they were going to cause such chaos so soon.
Watson continues to cause that chaos by driving the megaphone he’s holding into the shoulder blades of Andre a second time. Even though Dre is down Watson keeps smacking him again and again and again with the megaphone. The megaphone is dropped so that Watson can scoop Andre off the ramp and then drive his skull down into the steel with an evenflow DDT.
Orlando is really enjoying what he’s seeing in the ring, that is until he turns and walks right into a dropkick to the face. Somehow Ethan has recovered and done so in time to lay his rival out with this kick.
Hunter: Ethan is back up and he’s fighting.
Frankie: What the hell? I thought Alistair finished him off.
Hunter: Apparently not.
Ethan doesn’t stop with a dropkick, he pulls Orlando up from the ring and smacks him across the forehead with a punch. He then hits a chop across Orlando’s chest that sends the Phenom almost out of his boots. Orlando falls back against the ropes and now Ethan hits him with another dropkick that sends him ALMOST over the cables.
Frankie: AH…Oh thank God.
Hunter: Ethan almost eliminating Orlando.
Orlando falls THROUGH the ropes and to the apron. As Orlando clings desperately to the cables, his teammate Ryan Watson goes on putting boots to the back of an unconscious Andre on the rampway.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5….
Hunter: The countdown clock commencing again. Hopefully we can get someone out here to help Andre Jordan. He’s in a bad-bad way after that beating he just received from the bullhorn.
Mackie: Screw Andre, it’s Orlando who needs help.
…4, 3, 2, 1….BUZZZ!
There’s the buzzer again and who is it that was just given their cue to head for the ring? Someone who won’t have to make a very long run. Ryan Watson stops beating on Andre and slides into the ring so he can start beating on Ethan instead.
Hunter: Dammit, it’s Ryan Watson.
Frankie: The Godshite? Awesome. That means Monarchy has the advantage…..
Hunter: Yes, we know EXACTLY what that means and we do NOT have to like it.
Frankie: Of course you do. You have to shut your mouth and take it, just like my prom date.
Watson looks to make quick work of Ethan, throwing a jab that much to his chagrin is blocked. Watson is even more surprised when he’s caught in the ribs with a spinning back heel kick. The shot doubles Watson over and then exposes the back of his skull to a step up enzugari. The strike connects right on point and sends Watson spiraling along into the ropes, falling against them for support. Ethan sees an opportunity and has to strike at it while he can. He builds momentum by running straight into a lariat aimed at Watson’s throat, intent on sending his target back flipping over the ropes, eliminating him from the bout. Just as Ethan is about to hit the clothesline it’s a forearm that connects instead. Orlando has rolled back into the ring and done so just in time to deliver a devastating elbow smash across Ethan’s temple. The shot sends Ethan spinning in a full circle, turning back to face Watson….to face HIS boot. Orlando’s Monarchy teammate cracks Ethan in the top of his skull with the Pele Kick.
Hunter: Ethan really not fairing too well out there right now.
Frankie: He wouldn’t be doing very good even if Monarchy didn’t have the number’s advantage. As much as I respect Ethan, he’s still a UWA talent, and that automatically decreases his odds of winning the Rumble.
Hunter: That is the biggest crock I’ve ever heard…
Frankie: No, the biggest crock you’ve ever heard was when the doctor held you by the ankles just outside your mom’s womb and said ‘it’s a boy.’
Ethan’s arms are clinched and held behind his back by Orlando so that Watson can unload with stomps and punches across the exposed mid-section. Watson then takes over holding Ethan so that Orlando can get in a few strikes. With his arms pinned behind his back Ethan is unable to block the repeated punches Orlando nails straight across his brow.
Monarchy have got their jollies wearing Ethan out, but now the time has come for grown men to part with their toys. Watson and Orlando take hold of Ethan’s wrists and start to run him along towards the ropes, throwing him over in order to eliminate him from this match. But Ethan resists, grabbing the cables and clinging to them tight to resist going over.
Hunter: Monarchy almost throwing Ethan out but he’s still hanging on.
Frankie: Exercise some of that world famous intelligence you’re known for Ethan and just let go. You don’t want to stay in there and keep taking this beating from Monarchy.
Hunter: Speaking of beatings from Monarchy, EMTS are finally out here to help Andre.
Although he’s reluctant to accept aid Andre has no choice, he’s obviously on dream street, EMTS are assisting him up the ramp after all the strikes he took to the back of his head with a megaphone. His legs keep buckling under him and he keeps falling back down, requiring the EMTS to put a little more muscle into holding him up.
10, 9, 8, 8, 7, 6, 5….
Frankie: Andre got extremely lucky he didn’t make it into that ring with Orlando.
Hunter: Well hopefully our next entrant WILL make it into the ring and actually get a chance to compete in the Rumble.
….2, 1…..BUUUUUUZZ!
There’s the buzzer and here’s the next participant in the Rumble. Hairspray bombards the entry way before Franz can even make it out from the back. So much chemical is being employed on his skull it would make a normal man nauseous and maybe that will work out to the benefit of this member of the Hair-Doodes.
Frankie: Who let Franz into the Rumble?
Hunter: Probably the same person who let YOU into the Rumble last year.
Frankie: Nobody likes moxie.
Franz keeps on dousing his head in hairspray as he moves down the ramp in his leopard print leather pants. He throws off his fuzzy fedora and then slides into the ring where he doesn’t even get a chance to put his boots under him. Already Watson and Orlando are on him, stomping and stomping and stomping away at the back of his skull. It isn’t until Monarchy lets Franz up that he’s allowed to stand on his own two feet. He’s pulled up and then flung along into the ropes, caught on the rebound with a hip toss by Orlando into a back breaker across Watson’s raised knee.
Hunter: Monarchy continuing to work fabulously as a team here.
Frankie: They have such a sound strategy, Monarchy works together to get rid of the rift-raft and then we’re guaranteed that one of them will move onto the Invictus main event.
Franz is seemingly the first of many Monarchy victims. He’s pulled off Watson’s knee and then hit with a Russian leg sweep. He keeps hold of Franz while rolling backwards out of the leg sweep and onto his feet. Franz is stood up as well, but only so that Watson and Orlando can take him by his oh so precious hair, run him at the ropes and toss him over to the outside.
Hunter: Franz is gone.
Frankie: The first man eliminated from the 2016 Last Stand Rumble.
Hunter: He won’t be the last one. Monarchy has a lot of future victims waiting in the wings.
Actually, they forgot about one they still had in the ring with them already. Ethan Von Aaron reminds his adversaries of his presence, nailing an unsuspecting Orlando with a punch between the eyes. He then turns and hits Watson with a shot as well. He’s got both men teetering on their heels.
Hunter: Look at Ethan fight. He’s going against Monarchy all on his own.
Frankie: And this is after he was in a brutal Last Man Standing match against Orlando earlier in the night.
Ethan hits a wild punch straight across Orlando’s jaw, finally taking him off of his feet. Now Ethan’s elbow is directed at the top of Watson’s head. He goes for a bionic elbow and successfully hits it. The blow stumbles Watson but does not take him off of his feet. So Ethan builds some momentum, running into the ropes and ricocheting off so he can channel all his power behind a lariat. Unfortunately all that momentum carries him along right into STEREO SUPERKICKS. Orlando and Watson steal a page out of Wicked Intent’s playbook by hitting their own Superkick Soiree. Two boots crack right under Ethan’s jaw, and the stiff shot sends a disorientated Von Aaron falling back through the ropes. That’s when his shins hit the top cable, catapulting him back up to his feet and then into a stereo NIGEL.
Hunter: A double Nigel!
The rebound clothesline catches BOTH Watson and Orlando across their throats, driving the two down. There a lot of things surprising about this, the fact that Ethan is still fighting, the fact that he’s fighting with more heart than ever, and the fact that the fans are actually applauding him as he does it. Ethan is just on fire right now, jumping to his feet, slapping either side of his chest and looking to parlay his momentum into the Epic Fail. He backs into a corner, stomps his foot and readies to unleash the spinning superkick on whomever stands up first.
Frankie: This is not happening. I refuse to believe it. This is some type of illusion brought on by all those mushrooms I ate back in high-school.
Hunter: You ate mushrooms in high-school.
Frankie: Well…actually Mario did, but I was the one controlling him while he did it.
Hunter: Rather you accept it or not, Ethan is about to unload with the Epic Fail, and I can guarantee that it will be Orlando’s jaw that he’s aiming at.
Orlando struggles and strains to get up to his feet, exhausting himself just to stand. And for what purpose, so he can get his jaw crushed by Ethan’s Epic Fail? Seems so. Orlando turns around and walks right into the superkick that Ethan is spinning around to unleash. But Watson jumps in front of a bullet. Well, actually he jumps shoulder first into the crease of Ethan’s planted foot. Ethan falls back as his leg buckles around Watson’s shoulder.
Frankie: That is teamwork at its absolute best.
Hunter: It’s sickening is what it is.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Ethan tries to fold up his leg and cradle himself around it but Orlando is right there, latching onto it. Once again Ethan finds himself rolled to his stomach and placed in the sharpshooter. Orlando rears back on the hold as far as he can, doing significant damage to the legs and the small of his rival’s spine. At the same time Watson is grabbing Ethan under the jaw and straddling his upper back, placing him in the camel clutch.
Frankie: Sorry Ethan, but seriously bruh, you should have let Monarchy toss you earlier on. Ya brought this on yourself.
….4, 3, 2, 1……BUZZZZ!!
The countdown clock on the big screen cycles to one and the fans hope that all this hype isn’t building to ANOTHER member of the Hair-Doodes heading for the ring. Well we do see another entrant with a fixation on his hair, but it’s a man a bit more prolific to the wrestling universe. The Transformers theme of “More Than Meets the Eye” plays over the loud speakers and the crowd goes apeshit in reaction. The man who makes his way out from the back is former IWC World Champion, HURSE!
Frankie: WHAT!?!
Hunter: That’s-that’s-that’s HURSE! It’s HURSE!
Frankie: WHAT!!??!!
The San Siro stadium certainly didn’t expect this, especially considering the last time they saw Hurse he was brooding around with the True Sinistry and calling himself Harbinger. The goth image has been shed and Hurse is back to his beloved appearance, but he is back in the same shape that took him to title wins? We’re about to find out. Hurse jumps up to the apron and Orlando is the first to go make a move towards his former nemesis. He runs across the ring only to have Hurse baseball slide from the apron under the cables and through Orlando’s legs. He then stands up behind Orlando, waits for him to turn around and then catches him around the neck. Watson looks to break up whatever Hurse is trying to hit, dashing in and grabbing one of boots. No, wait, Hurse is putting that boot willingly to Watson’s chest and then pushing off so that he can flip back and hit the More Than Meets the Eye. The Standing Sliced Bread connects to a thunderous ovation.
Hunter: Yes! Yes Hurse taking out Orlando!
Frankie: What in the hell is he doing here? Orlando wasn’t ready to fight Hurse. This isn’t right. This isn’t fair! This-this-this is hinky!
Hunter: What the hell does hinky mean?
Frankie: I don’t know I’m just shouting things. I just know it’s not FITTING.
Hunter: Don’t start that again.
Watson will avenge his teammate, catching Hurse the moment he gets to his feet. Before Hurse can even get all the way up he’s hit with a kick to the gut that keeps him folded over. Watson hooks both of his adversary’s arms and sets to deliver the Insubordination Rules.
Frankie: End it Gobshite.
Hunter: This is amazing. I never thought I’d see the day that Ryan Watson and Hurse were in the same ring together.
Frankie: They won’t be very much longer.
Watson lifts his opponent….no….WATSON is lifted. Ethan sneaks in behind him, catches Watson by the shoulder, breaks the attempt at the Insubordination Rules and tries to break his opponent’s back in the process. He lifts him into a suplex only to have Watson flip over, landing on his feet and then taking off into the ropes. He runs straight at Ethan only to find that his target does not stand alone. Ethan and Hurse have just interlocked hands and have just delivered a stereo clothesline.
Frankie: What-what-what-what the hell is going on here?
Hunter: I’ll tell you what’s going on here. Rinse & Repeat are back together baby!
No sooner do they deliver the stereo clothesline than Hurse and Ethan take notice of the crowd’s electric reaction. The two spin in circles, looking out over the crazed audience and then back at one another. Both men grin, nod and then bump knuckles before running at the Monarchy members in opposite corners of the ring. Ethan has scaled the corner with Orlando beneath him and is unloading with punches across his brow. On the other end of the ring Watson finds himself subjected to jab after jab from the man stood on the ropes in front of him, Hurse just teeing off on his mug.
The countdown clock starts again.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6….
Hunter: I don’t know how this match could get any crazier than it is right now, but we’ve got another entrant on their way out here.
Frankie: Good God I don’t even want to know who’s coming out next after this latest debacle.
Hunter: Still can’t believe ex tag team partners Ethan and Hurse have reunited.
….4, 3, 2, 1….BUZZZ!
There’s that buzzer again which indicates that we’ve got another potential twist coming our way. An American flag shows up on the Cartel-tron with a bald eagle superimposed over it. This patriotic display can only mean that Homeland Security’s biggest advocate Flash Silver is making his way out from the back. Although Flash took a nasty lashing earlier that night by Cindy Todd, he still manages to drag himself to the stage. He’s very careful to protect the neck that’s wrapped in a collar as he descends down the ramp.
Hunter: Oh for Christ sakes, just go home Flash.
Frankie: Heeey now, don’t sell Flash Silver short. This man bleeds red white and blue, he’s got the power of patriotism pumping through his heart.
Hunter: He’s lucky that heart didn’t get cut out of his chest earlier on tonight when he collided with Cindy Todd.
Flash heads on straight down that ramp with the same motivation he shows when running for a voting booth. He slides inside the ring and runs right across it, dropkicking Ethan in the lower back. Unfortunately for Ethan he was standing on the ropes when this dropkick happened, meaning he was just sent flipping over the cables and falling to the outside of the ring. But he doesn’t fall all the way to the floor, instead it’s the apron he lands across, staving off elimination.
Hunter: Oh man, that was INCREDIBLY close to being an upset elimination.
Frankie: See, that’s the power of patriotism.
We get another display of said power when Flash runs at Orlando, who WAS standing in the corner being subjected to punch after punch from Ethan. Now it’s Flash who is about to hit those punches, or at least he would if Orlando didn’t thwart him at the last second. Orlando ducks, catches Flash coming in and then backdrops him over the ropes. Before he can take a plunge to the outside mats Flash grabs the top rope and puts his feet to the apron, saving himself. Orlando didn’t have the same luck, failing to save himself from the running heat seeking dropkick that Hurse nails him in the skull with. The blow rattles the Monarchy member enough to knock him from his feet and to his seat.
At that exact same time Flash turns on the apron to face the man he ALMOST eliminated a few seconds earlier. He runs right into Ethan….right into Ethan’s EPIC FAIL. The twisting superkick crushes Flash’s face and the impact sends Silver twisting as well, twisting all the way to the floor.
Hunter: What were you saying about the power of patriotism?
Frankie: What did I say about your moxie?
Flash remains out cold at ringside and Ethan hopes to leave a few more people in the same condition. Namely the man coming across the ring and bearing down right on him. Watson attempts to eliminate Ethan from the Rumble by springing from a perpendicular set of middle ropes and then twisting into a springboard dropkick. However, right before he can hit that kick Watson is caught in mid-air, Hurse dragging him down into a fireman’s carry. It seems Hurse is about to deliver a DVD only to have that move countered at the absolute last possible second, Watson slipping free and landing on his feet as opposed to on his back. He comes down behind Hurse and then shoves him along right into the ropes that Ethan is standing on the opposite side of. Before the two can collide Ethan leaps to the top rope and springs off, leap frogging over Hurse and then flying into an axehandle elbow. He hits Watson right across the top of the skull, taking him down to the ring.
10, 9, 8, 7….
The countdown is ongoing as is the violence. Hurse comes running out of the ropes he was just sent hurdling into and charges straight into his close friend’s hands. Ethan throws his former tag team partner high into the air then steps out from under him as he descends into a big splash onto Watson’s…..no….Watson rolls clear and as a result Hurse smacks the ring chest first. Ethan tries to succeed where his friend failed, flipping back into a standing moonsault aimed at Watson yet proving just as unsuccessful as Hurse, smacking the ring much as Hurse did.
Hunter: Five seconds from another body joining the fray.
Frankie: Come on, give us another Monarchy member baby.
Hurse was able to get back to his feet while Ethan struggles to get off his hands and knees. It’s Watson who takes advantage of the way his opponents are positioned, running across the ring, stepping off the small of Ethan’s back and launching himself into a shining wizard on a standing Hurse’s face. The strike sends Hurse spiraling absent mindedly right into a double A spinebuster unleashed by Watson’s associate Orlando.
….4, 3, 2, 1…..BUZZZZ!
There is quite the boom of excitement when Business Time plays over the PA system and Cassius DeLight emerges from the back.
Hunter: It’s time to LIGHT it up…actually, wait, it’s time to DE-light it up.
Frankie: You really want to make me vomit, don’t you?
Hunter: We saw just how fired up Cassius DeLight was earlier tonight, let’s see if he can bring this newfound intensity into the Rumble.
They don’t have to wait very long to find out, cause once Cassius is in the ring he’s already dashing straight into the Business Time, a spear that almost cuts Watson in half. This lethal impact is followed by another one, the second Cassius gets to his feet he springs across the ring and nails a SECOND spear, this time to the ribs of Orlando. It feels like the Phenom is about to gag on his lungs. Cassius keeps putting the hurt on everyone in the ring. He catches Ethan with a spinning heel kick, driving him down to the ring then taking off into the ropes. He drops down into the Bankroll, flipping into the rolling thunder splash, but when he lunges out of his roll he’s caught in mid-air with a dropkick by Hurse.
Frankie: That’ll put an end to your momentum.
Hunter: Cassius pretty much just rolled right into a brick wall.
The kick unleashed by Hurse sufficiently shut down Cassius, who is now thrown into the turnbuckle. On the other side of the ring Ethan is dragging Watson into another corner and then dropping down to all fours. Hurse and Ethan show continued teamwork as one springs off the back of the other. Hurse runs in and steps off Ethan’s spine in order to hit a leg lariat on Watson in the corner. Meanwhile Ethan is rolling to his side across the ring and ending up on all fours just a few inches removed from Cassius, who is still standing with the aid of the corner. The turnbuckle won’t be enough to support him should Ethan and Hurse follow through with what they have planned. Hurse runs across the ring, steps off the small of Ethan’s back and launches himself right into his adversary’s SHOULDER. Cassius jumps off the middle rope and catches an airborne Hurse with a SPEAR.
Hunter: OOOOH DAMN! Spear in mid-air.
Frankie: Retaliation.
Now Cassius is all over Hurse’s long time bud, drilling Ethan again and again over the upper back. He then pulls his opponent by the hair towards the ropes, throwing him over the cables. However, Ethan refuses to go over with such ease, wrapping himself around the top rope with both arms while crossing his legs on the middle strand. Cassius keeps blasting and blasting and blasting him across the kidneys, trying to break his grasp on the strands. Since that proves ineffective Cassius puts his head into it, delivering one headbutt after another to Ethan’s ribcage.
10, 9, 8, 7…..
Everyone in the arena waits for the entrance of the next participant in the rumble, save for one individual. A confused audience watches as Damion Sommers comes running down the ramp and right past the security guards who are trying to stop him.
Hunter: What the hell is Sommers doing out here AGAIN!?!
Frankie: When is he going to get a clue? He’s not a wrestler anymore. Go to Wal-Mart and start bagging my groceries already.
Hunter: Earlier on we saw Damion try to get his job back only to lose against Cassius DeLight, I think he’s out for some payback.
Frankie: Ladies and gentlemen, Damion is NOT the next entrant in the Rumble. He doesn’t even have a job here anymore.
Cassius doesn’t see Damion until it’s too late. Sommers is all over him, pummeling him with clubbing blows and kicks to the thighs. He then backs up and gets a running start behind a forearm only to have Cassius side step the clown painted attacker, grab him by the back of the head and throw him over the top rope. The moment Damion hits the floor security are all over him, dragging him towards the backstage area.
….4, 3, 2, 1….BUUUUZZ!
Hunter: There goes Sommers and now we’ve got a LEGAL entrant coming out here to compete in the Rumble.
Who will that entrant be? It’s when the theme music ‘Apocalyptic” hits that the fans get their answer. Victoria Salinas emerges from the backstage area amidst one of the loudest ovations of the night.
Hunter: Listen to this reception for Victoria Salinas. She’s got the crowd behind her.
Frankie: Yeah, she’s no stranger to having guys behind her.
Hunter: Don’t even. Victoria is getting these fans screaming, but will they still be chanting her name by the end of the Rumble?
Frankie: I’d never chant her name, it has too many damned syllables, I’d get out of breath.
Although Victoria hasn’t even reached the ring she’s already encountering some competition. Damion Sommers breaks away from security and barrels up the ramp right into Victoria. She has to think fast and react even faster. She bends down and catches Sommers with a back drop that sends him flipping over and slamming back first into the steel ramp. Victoria then takes off towards the squared circle, climbs to the apron and keeps on climbing until she’s on the top rope. She comes flying off and crashes straight into the Orlando’s chest.
Hunter: No surprise here, Victoria going directly after Monarchy.
Frankie: Wait-wait-wait, she actually thinks she’s significant enough to matter to Monarchy?
Hunter: I think she matters to Orlando Cruze right now, or at least the pain she just put him in does.
After the crossbody Victoria pops back up and no sooner gets to her feet before being forced to combat a leg lariat. Watson comes at her swinging his calf around but failing to hit his target. Victoria has ducked, run forward into the ropes, ricocheted off and is now building momentum behind a clothesline. This time Watson ducks down and Victoria goes dashing past him straight into the European Uppercut that awaited her jaw. Orlando bided his time until she was within range and then cracked her upside the chin the moment she got in arm’s length. The shot knocks Victoria back and now Orlando looks to take her out with a superkick. Surprisingly Victoria is able to drop into a baseball slide, slipping under the boot bound for her jaw and then popping up to her feet just in time to catch an incoming Cassius. She puts her boots to his ribs, grabs him by the back of the head then falls back, monkey flipping him right into a STEREO clothesline that connects with both Watson and Orlando.
Hunter: That worked nicely.
Frankie: Victoria simply got lucky. That’s all. Just you wait until Monarchy get their second wind and make her pay for all of this.
That’s just what Monarchy seem to be doing at the moment, collecting themselves. They merely watch as Victoria joins Cassius in an effort to push Ethan Von Aaron over the ropes, eliminating him from the Rumble. Hurse won’t let that happen, running in and hitting a jumping knee to Victoria’s back. The collision sends her flying forward into the ropes and then THROUGH them. Fortunately she does not go over the cables on her descent to the outside of the ring. Cassius might not be so lucky as he’s spun around, taken by the back of the head and run the length of the squared circle. Hurse throws Cassius over the cables….
Frankie: He’s gone, Cassius is out!
Hunter: No-no-no, he’s holding on.
Astonishingly Cassius grabbed the rope on his way over and lands safely on the apron. Hurse dashes across the ring in order to knock him off only to have Cassius hit a forearm smash. The blow sends Hurse twisting down to the canvas, landing on all fours. Cassius is lured into a false sense of security, because he may have saved himself momentarily, but his protection won’t last forever. Ethan Von Aaron runs the length of the ring, steps off of Hurse’s back and launches himself into a dropkick that nails Cassius in the chest. The shot knocks his feet off the apron and ALMOST sends him to the floor. Yet again Cassius manages to grab the ropes and keep from being eliminated.
10, 9, 8, 7….
The clock is cycling down, meaning someone is about to fling themselves into the fray. As we wait to find out who that is the action continues inside of the ring. Ethan and Hurse are right in the thick of it.
Ethan swings around into the Epic Fail aimed at his favorite target, Orlando Cruze. Once again his attempt to deliver the spinning superkick is thwarted, Cruze catching the kick bound for his jaw and then shoving it away. Ethan is unable to stop his boot as it swings around colliding with the temple of his own associate. Hurse is knocked unconscious and it was Ethan who was responsible for making that happen. He looks strangely conflicted by what he just did, but doesn’t have much time to deal with the guilt. He turns back towards Orlando and Watson, who unleash a SECOND stereo superkick.
…3, 2, 1…..BUZZZ!
Frankie: I feel really bad for whoever’s coming out here next. They have to contend with Monarchy.
Hunter: Who have retaken control of this match.
Frankie: I don’t need you to finish my thoughts for me.
Hunter: Believe me, insight into your mind is the last thing I want.
Ethan is out and now so is Victoria Salinas. The moment she got back to the apron she gets cracked in the face with a superkick through the ropes by Watson, knocking her straight to the floor once again. She doesn’t get a chance to see what everyone else does, the next entrant headed into the Rumble. The theme music of ‘We Own It” sparks an uproar from the audience.
Frankie: Oh no…..ooooh God no…..
Andre Jordan comes staggering out from the back to a deafening roar from the audience. He’s got one hand on the back of his neck and another clinched to his side, but soon both those hands will be around Orlando’s throat.
Hunter: Andre’s coming out here again?
Frankie: This is just pathetic. What does he think he’s going to accomplish?
Hunter: He tried to enter the Rumble earlier but got blindsided by Ryan Watson. And we all know it was Orlando Cruze who put out that hit.
Frankie: Are you kidding me? Orlando has been itching to get his hands on Andre, but somehow Dre always finds a way to avoid fighting him.
Hunter: That’s about to change right now.
Orlando is surprised to say the least that Andre is coming back down that ramp. Nevertheless the Phenom gets in a fighting stance, gesturing for Dre to bring it. That’s precisely what Andre is about to do, marching down the ramp to finish what started between himself and Orlando so long ago. He is almost there before finding his progress halted when a kendo stick smacks him straight between the shoulder blades. Once again Andre is ambushed, this time by Monarchy member Alistair Taylor.
Hunter: NOT AGAIN!
Frankie: Hahahaha oh my God dude, this is fucking hysterical.
Hunter: Andre being jumped by another member of Monarchy.
Frankie: A member he’s no stranger with.
In spite of taking two crushing blows from the kendo stick, Andre is trying to work his way up from the ground only to get a third and maybe the most fatal blow of all right across the back of his neck. Andre goes so limp not even Bob Dole’s favorite medication could help him. The audience might be screaming for Andre to get up but Monarchy are enjoying the sight of him staying down. Never before has Orlando been so entertained, though that joy is short lived. He’s spun by the shoulder into a fist unleashed by Cassius DeLight. Punch after punch drives Orlando back and a jumping knee to the cheek finally floors him. Cassius is about to go on giving this beating only to have Monarchy continue to watch one another’s backs, Watson intervenes with a step up enzugari. He smacks Cassius in the skull and sends him flopping to the canvas. Watson then pops back up to his feet throwing his arms out to his sides and showing off for a very unappreciative audience.
10, 9, 8, 7….
No one is paying attention to Watson’s grandstanding, they’re all focused on Andre, who to the amazement of all is crawling down the ramp. His attacker vanished to the back no longer preventing him from bringing his injured body towards the ring, so now it’s up to EMTS to stop him. Several are amassed around Andre, blocking him from getting into the squared circle after the damage that was inflicted on him before he could even get in the Rumble, thanks to not one but two ambushes. Watson sees Andre on all fours at ringside, and the image is funnier than any Seth McFarlane production that the Gobshite has ever seen. He approaches the ropes and leans over them, pointing down at Dre.
Watson: Get it through your head boy, you are not getting in this ring.
Watson is through getting his jollies at Andre’s expense, turning away from him and walking straight into the EPIC FAIL. The building erupts at the sight of Ethan cracking the jawline of Watson with the spinning superkick and sending him flying back into the ropes. Watson’s back hits the ropes and then a clothesline hits his throat…a clothesline unleashed by Victoria Salinas. She has recovered from the superkick that floored her at ringside then rolled into the squared circle in time to unleash a dashing clothesline on Watson’s throat that sends him flipping back over the cables to the outside.
Frankie: NOOO!
Hunter: Watson-Watson is out, he’s out of the Rumble!
Frankie: Not cool!
….3, 2, 1…..
The countdown clock has reached zero and once again the theme music of the Hair-Doodes is playing over the loud speakers. It’s Froderick’s turn to represent the stylists turned tag team specialists. He divides his time walking down the ramp and tweezing his eyebrows. He may not care what’s going on down at the base of the ramp, however the rest of the crowd certainly does. Although Watson’s jaw is killing him there’s something else he yearns to be killing. He pulls Andre up from the ground and then blasts him around the temple with a forearm. After suffering two prior assaults at the hands of Alistair and Watson himself, Dre isn’t able to put up much of a defense. EMTS try to get in the way to stop another beating but Watson throws them aside and keeps going after Andre. With each blow he lands on Dre, Watson looks back over his shoulder at the ring where Victoria is watching.
Watson: You did this!
Watson swings around and clobbers Andre in the cheek once again. Victoria has seen enough, starting to exit the ring to assist her friend and she’s given a little help in her exit from the ring. Suddenly Cassius runs in from behind Victoria, grabs her by the shin and lifts, sending her forward flipping over the cables.
Frankie: That’s right, get that bitch out of there!
Hunter: Not yet, Frankie, she’s got a grip on those ropes.
Frankie: Then bite her damn fingers!
Much to the relief of the audience Victoria has landed on the apron and is holding the top rope. She is trying to get back up and back into the ring only to have her foot snagged on the arms of Froderick. The Hair-Doode tries to make a sneaky elimination by standing at ringside, reaching up and giving Victoria’s leg a yank that would pull her right down to where he’s stood. Victoria isn’t about to let that happen, sliding around on her seat and then putting both boots to Froderick’s chest, kicking him down flat on his ass.
Inside of the ring Orlando is fuming over the elimination of his partner Watson, and he’s about to do something in retaliation. He is all over Ethan, pummeling him with punches across the gut and chops across the chest. A European Uppercut collides with Ethan’s chin and the blow sends the recipient flying into the cables. Although his bell is rung Ethan still manages to wrap himself around the top rope and keep from going over. Orlando is determined to break Ethan’s grasp on the ropes and eliminate him. He’s got both of Ethan’s ankles and is lifting them, causing Von Aaron to hang upside down over the apron.
Hunter: Ethan is on the verge of going, he’s about to be eliminated.
Frankie: Someone help Orlando get Ethan out of there already!
It looks like Cassius heard Frankie’s request, stepping in and joining Orlando in an effort to send Ethan packing. It seems inevitable that both men will send Ethan crashing to the floor, or at least they would if not for the interference of Hurse. Once again he comes to Ethan’s aid, pulling Cassius around into a punch that topples him to the canvas. He then goes after Orlando, twisting him into a boot to the ribs before snatching him by the back of his head. It appears that fates have been reversed because Orlando is now the one on the verge of being tossed out. He’s run across the ring and is about to be thrown over the ropes only to have him weasel his way out of a potential elimination by swinging around to Hurse’s side, taking him by the back of his skull and throwing him over the ropes. Just before Hurse can take the plunge all the way to the ground he manages to grab the top cable and hold it so tight it puts callouses in his palms….yes, that’s the only reason he’d have callouses.
An aggravated Orlando kicks and kicks at Hurse’s hands, trying to break his grasp on the ropes. Before Orlando can finally send his life-long nemesis packing, this attempt at eliminating Hurse is thwarted by Ethan. The favor has been returned, Ethan helping his old friend just like Hurse did earlier when he kept Von Aaron from being tossed. Ethan clotheslines Orlando to the back of the neck, dropping him to the canvas. After taking down his rival Ethan goes to help his friend up. He reaches over the cables and grabs Hurse by the arm, trying to drag him back into the squared circle. He’s got Hurse half way in but it’s all of Ethan’s body that goes out when Cassius DeLight runs in from behind him, grabs both of his legs and lifts. To the shock of everyone, Ethan in particular, he’s sent forward flipping to the outside of the ring.
Hunter: WAIT!!
Frankie: It’s done, it’s over Ethan is finito!
Hunter: Ethan trying to help Hurse and it caused him to drop his guard.
Frankie: It caused him more than that, it caused him to be eliminated!
10, 9, 8…
The countdown to the next entrant isn’t the only thing drawing to an end, so too is Ethan’s sanity. He sits there on his knees at ringside, eyes bulging straight up out of their sockets. He can’t believe he was just eliminated, that he was just sent packing from the Rumble. This won’t stand, someone has to be held accountable, and that someone has to pay. Back in the ring Cassius is dragging Orlando up from the canvas and the two are trading forearms with one another. Neither man has any idea that Hurse is springing up onto the top rope and flying off into a stereo dropkick. Cassius AND Orlando are knocked to the ground but one of them won’t stay down for long. It’s Orlando who is dragged up from the ground by Hurse and placed in position for the Lysol Injection. The pedigree is about to plant Orlando’s face into the canvas but instead it’s a chair that is planted right between Hurse’s eyes….a chair just swung by Ethan.
Hunter: HEEEEY!!
Frankie: What in the hell?
Hunter: Ethan just…..Ethan just….he just smashed his friend right in the head with a chair!
…..3, 2, 1….BUUUZZZZ!
The crowd cringes at the sight of True Sinistry member Benjamin Flynn making his way out from the backstage area.
Hunter: Benjamin Flynn making his Rumble debut here tonight much like so many talents….
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, Flynn coming out here, but Greyson, do you see what’s going on in the ring right now? Ethan just stabbed his bestie in the back.
Hunter: Actually he broke his face with a chair. And my name is NOT Greyson!
That blow from the chair has put a giant cut in Hurse’s scalp, his face awash with blood. The man responsible for this sinks his hands into his friend’s now red hair.
Ethan: It’s all your fault…..(growling)….You’re a WEAKNESS!
Hurse is in no condition to put a stop to it as he’s run across the ring and thrown over the top rope. He crashes straight down onto the floor where he now lies lifeless.
Hunter: Now Hurse has just been tossed over the ropes!
Frankie: Serves him right, he came back to the IWC to steal Ethan’s thunder and….
Hunter: Don’t hand us that BS.
A red hot Ethan exits the ring amidst a tidal wave of hate from the crowd. Eliminating Hurse from the Rumble wasn’t enough, he wants to eliminate him from life. He pulls Hurse up from the ground, takes him by the back of the head and runs him face first straight into the ring-post. Ethan steps around to the opposite side of the post grabs Hurse’s wrists and begins to yank him forward, repeatedly ramming his nose into the steel again and again and AGAIN.
Hunter: Enough Ethan….
Frankie: Enough? Hurse cost Ethan a shot at the World Title!
Hunter: What are you talking about? Hurse tried to help….
Frankie: Don’t slap my ass and tell me you were taking my temperature. We all know what Hurse was REALLY out here doing.
While this beatdown happens outside of the ring Benjamin Flynn unleashes one of his own inside of the squared circle. The sociopath goes straight after Victoria Salinas, joining Hair-Doode member Froderick in stomping at her as she leans against the turnbuckle. The pair only work together for a moment before Flynn grabs Froderick and pulls him around into a straight kick to his throat. Flynn then turns away from him and runs straight at Victoria, leaping into a big splash that nails her in the chest. Meanwhile at ringside Ethan has Hurse’s face, a bloodied mangled face, propped up against the corner post. Ethan steps around behind his friend….no…his victim, stomping a foot against the mats.
Hunter: Wait-wait-wait, Ethan, don’t do this…please don’t!
No matter how many people may plead with him their cries fall on deaf ears, Ethan follows through with his plan, hitting the Epic Fail. Hurse’s face is crunched between the turnbuckle post and Ethan’s boot.
Hunter: Oooooh God no! He killed him, he fucking killed him.
Frankie: Ethan just treated him worse than Captain Hadley punishing a whimpering prisoner.
Although Ethan is still shaking like a teapot left on the kettle way too long he walks away from what’s left of his friend. That friend’s blood drips through Ethan’s fingers as he backs up the ramp snarling and growling. The EMTs who helped out Andre earlier this time tend to Hurse’s multiple injuries.
Those EMTS are going to have their work cut out for them considering that a very dangerous and deadly man like Benjamin Flynn is now in the ring. He’s going straight after Cassius, stacking him up in the corner and pounding away at either side of his mid-section with punches. He then delivers a step up knee strike on his opponent’s jaw, rattling Cassius enough to set him up for a bulldog.
Cassius is pulled along out of the corner but it damn sure will not be into the bulldog. He pushes Flynn off and sends him staggering to the middle of the ring. This is where Flynn stops, spinning back to his foe and just in time to see Cassius lunging into the spear. His shoulder connects, just not with Flynn’s ribs. At the last second Flynn leaps into the air, Cassius flies past him and his spear cuts through the unsuspecting Froderick. The spear takes down the Hair-Doode, who upon impact with the canvas pops back up to his feet clasping at his almost fractured ribs. Froderick falls back against the ropes and now Cassius runs in striking him under the jaw with a boot. The blow sends Froderick flipping to the outside of the squared circle.
Hunter: There goes any chance of seeing the Hair-Doodes main event Invictus.
Frankie: Yes, because that’s what we were ALL hoping to see.
No sooner does Cassius eliminate Froderick before being forced to contend with Flynn yet again. Flynn comes charging in, takes Cassius by the hair and leads his opponent’s face along right into the turnbuckle. The collision with the corner has Cassius all disorientated as he turns his back to the very corner he was just smashed against. The turnbuckle won’t be the worst thing that smashes into Cassius’ skull though, because now Flynn’s boot is about to collide with it. He’s just about to hit a running yakuza kick in the corner before someone jumps in the way of his prey.
Once again Damion Sommers has invaded and interrupted the proceedings. He’s all over Cassius, punching and punching away at the skull of the man who cost him his career earlier tonight.
Hunter: Sommers? Again?
Frankie: They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. So this guy must be as crazy as they get.
Hunter: How many times is Cassius going to have to throw him out of here before security finally keeps this clown prick from interfering in the Rumble?
10, 9, 8….
This time it won’t be Cassius who sends Damion packing. Flynn doesn’t like to share his victims, so he drags Damion away from his chosen prey before throwing him over the top rope and with some force. Damion flips completely over on his way out and his face smashes against the mats. Now that Damion is out of this match, hopefully permanently, Flynn is free to go back after his original target. He runs straight at Cassius then jumps into the step up knee strike aimed at his face. That knee never hits that face, instead it collides with the corner. Cassius moves out of the way just in time, causing Flynn’s knee to miss his skull, hit the turnbuckle and then go falling right over it. Flynn hits the ringside mats amidst screams from the crowd.
Hunter: Flynn eliminated by…
Frankie: Himself. Glad to see I’m not the only one who enjoys some self-abuse.
Hunter: Which has thinned the herd down to three…for now.
Victoria, Orlando and Cassius are the three stragglers remaining inside of the squared circle, each of them already looking pretty depleted.
…5, 4, 3….
Two of those competitors are about to look even more depleted. Cassius is the first to get a belly full of steel. The chair that was used by Ethan Von Aaron to assault his ‘friend,’ has been found by Orlando Cruze, who instantly puts it to use on Cassius and then on Victoria. An unsuspecting Victoria doesn’t get a chair in the ribs but right over the upper back.
Hunter: Put that damn chair down Orlando!
Frankie: No rules in the Rumble.
….2, 1……BUUUZZZZ!
The countdown clock is done but Orlando doesn’t care who the next entrant in the Rumble is going to be. In fact, he looks almost casual in the face of danger. He puts the chair he just employed as a weapon to a different use. He parks himself in it and gets relaxed, looking oh so casual as he gestures to the back. But he doesn’t look casual anymore when the theme music of Miss Jon comes thumping through the PA system.
Hunter: Ooooh this isn’t good for anyone in that ring right now.
Frankie: Leonardo Dicaprio being mauled by a bear is going to be nothing compared to what we’re about to see. Run Orlando, RUN!
The beastly Miss Jon now starts down the ramp with her agent Martin Howe III orbiting in satellite around her. Although Howe looks at his client with pride, Orlando looks at her like she was death leading the four horseman of the apocalypse. He gets himself ready to do what no else has, DEFY DEATH. He picks up the chair he was sitting on and rears it back over his shoulder, swinging the steel at Miss Jon’s head the moment she’s stepped over the ropes to get in the ring. The chair hits…Miss Jon’s fist. She punches the steel with enough force to send it flying right out of Orlando’s hands.
Frankie: NO! There just went Orlando’s equalizer!
Hunter: Howe said that his client was going to be a peace keeper and we’re seeing her fill that role nicely.
Frankie: I ain’t buying it.
Orlando’s hands are killing him after that chair was just punched out of them. He is so consumed with the agony in his fingers that he absent mindedly turns around right into the hand waiting to goozle his throat. Miss Jon grabs him by the larynx and gives it a tug, pulling him into a gorilla press. The arena screams at the sight of Miss Jon showing tremendous strength in the process of slamming Orlando down to the ring with the military slam. With Orlando out of her way Miss Jon moves towards the steel chair that he employed as a weapon moments ago. Jon picks up that chair, staring into it with an enthralled gleam in her eyes.
Hunter: Miss Jon is dangerous and deadly enough, but now she’s got a chair.
Frankie: Someone get security in there to stop her.
Hunter: It’s like you said, Frankie, the chair is legal under Rumble rules.
Frankie: When did I say that? I never said that. Don’t put words in my mouth.
Miss Jon trembles at the sight of the chair, it has her so mystified. Stubbornly her eyes pry themselves from the steel and towards a potential victim. Victoria Salinas is using the ropes to reach her feet and pawing at her back, which already took one blow from the chair. Will it take another?
Frankie: Yes, go after Victoria, forget about Monarchy, forget about Orlando.
Hunter: Looks like Miss Jon is going back to her old ways, going back to being the Destroyer of Beauty. Which is a shame, she’s made such strives to repair her image after she ‘accidentally’ struck Principle Owner Karen McBride a few weeks ago.
Frankie: McBride had it coming, and so does Victoria.
It would appear Miss Jon has honed in on one of the most beautiful of the beautiful, the vivacious Victoria. The chair held by the beast is swung….swung right over the ropes, being tossed out of the ring.
Frankie: What are you doing Jon?
Hunter: Surprisingly she’s doing the right thing.
Doing the right thing might turn into making the wrong decision. After throwing out the chair Miss Jon turns around towards Cassius and the spear he’s dashing across the ring to hit on her. He dives right into Miss Jon’s clutches. She catches him coming in by putting his head under her seat and then using his momentum to lift him up straight into her devastating sit-out powerbomb.
Hunter: Up Yours, Bobby Walker!
Frankie: Cassius not too DeLighted about that. Ooooh-hahahahahahaha.
Hunter: How long have you been waiting to say that?
Frankie: Literally all night long, Greyson.
Hunter: I AM NOT GREYSON LOVEJOY!
Miss Jon has dropped Cassius via the powerbomb and now her crosshairs are sighted on Victoria. But Victoria isn’t going down without a fight. She comes away from the ropes and she does so swinging, her legs connecting with either side of Miss Jon’s girth. The shots keep on coming and have Miss Jon stumbling, finally a spinning back heel kick doubles her completely over. Victoria has got Miss Jon in a precarious position setting her up for something even more precarious. Momentum is built after ricocheting from the ropes and diving right into a BRICK WALL. The bulk Miss Jon carries around is put right into Viccy’s airborne body and the collision sends her flying back with such force that she is almost goes out of the ring.
Frankie: Those huge flotation devices on Miss Jon’s chest just did some serious damage to her opponent. How big are those things, quadruple D?
Miss Jon isn’t through turning her body into a weapon. Her eyes are now set on Orlando leaning against the corner, a position he does not want to be in. Miss Jon’s enormous body comes crashing into him with the speed of a locomotive. Every inch of Orlando’s body is engulfed in Miss Jon’s ample mass, and now that smashed body gets a big old hip toss out of the corner. Orlando is launched so high into the air he can probably see his house. What goes up must come down and it happens with a nasty crash landing.
10, 9, 8, 7…..
The brute who is imposing her will all over everyone in the ring comes lumbering towards Victoria, nabbing her by the hair then leading her up into a headbutt. She does the same thing to Cassius, headbutting him from his feet to the ground. She starts to go after Orlando like a T-Rex pouncing on a chained goat, but he’s fleeing from the ring and doing so faster than he ever has before. Miss Jon isn’t happy about this, but there are plenty of other victims still at her disposal. However, there are two more morsels she didn’t anticipate having the chance to chomp down on. Cammie and Maddie Chase have just popped up at ringside, the pair jumping to the ring aprons at either side of Miss Jon, screaming to get her attention.
Frankie: It’s Team Chase, look Greyson, it’s Team Chase.
Hunter: I see them, and I’m not….
Frankie: Or maybe I should call them the Mega Hotness Strike-force, or the Erotic Express….
Hunter: If these two are tangling with Miss Jon then the only thing you can call them is VICTIM.
Frankie: These two are gonna make Miss Jon regret escorting them away from the ring during their sister’s title bout earlier tonight.
Miss Jon’s enormous hands reach out for Cammie’s throat, engulfing it in her palms. She starts to strangle the bitch right out of Cammie but doesn’t get the chance to choke the life from her. The very same steel chair she avoided earlier comes swinging into her back. Orlando has returned to the ring and is slamming the chair off of Miss Jon’s spine not once, not twice, but three times. Miss Jon starts to fall forward over the ropes but avoids taking a full tumble to the outside. She turns around and now exposes her face to a shot from the chair. Orlando hits her a second time with the steel right between the eyes.
…3, 2, 1….BUZZZZ!
The countdown clock has just ended, and the only thing louder than the buzzer that proceeds it is the ovation for Marie Jones. From the back emerges the Ginger Nation’s proudest proponent, who continues to feed off the elation from the audience.
Hunter: Our red headed warrior Marie Jones made a HUGE splash one year ago at Last Stand, will she make a bigger one tonight by winning it?
Frankie: There are WAY too many Uprising talents in this match if you ask me.
The crowd continues to cheer Marie’s entrance but there are a few who boo what’s happening in the ring she’s headed towards. Orlando is still wearing out Miss Jon with the steel chair. Now he smacks it right along into the top of her skull. The force of the shot has Miss Jon leaning back over the ropes and right on the verge of elimination. Orlando steps back and puts all his might behind another swing of the chair only to have his weapon caught, caught right in Miss Jon’s hands. A boot then lands across his stomach, the force of the beast’s kick launching him back across the ring.
Hunter: It looked like Miss Jon was about to go over those ropes, but she stopped that from happening just like she stopped Orlando from hitting her in the head with that chair again.
Frankie: And now….oh shit…now Miss Jon has the chair in her hands!
That chair continues to mesmerize Miss Jon, holding it front of her face and almost drooling at the image of it. She’ll be drooling alright, mostly because she’s about to go braindead. A double dropkick is unleashed by both Victoria and Cassius at the same time, all four of their boots hitting the chair and driving it right back into Miss Jon’s face. The chair bounces off Miss Jon’s head and as a result she’s knocked back into the ropes, falling over them to the outside.
Hunter: OH WOW! Miss Jon is out! She’s-she’s-she’s been knocked over the cables.
Frankie: Thank you Cammie and Maddie for making this possible.
Hunter: They distracted her and it led to Orlando, Cassius and Victoria assembling the most unlikely team in history to send Miss Jon over those ropes.
Volcanos look less heated than Miss Jon. The moment she realizes she’s been knocked out of the ring she starts to steam. Although her agent Howe is every bit as angry as his client he’s got a better cork on his emotions. He tries to reason with Miss Jon, but all reason just went out the window when she sees Madison and Cameron Chase backing up the ramp. Maddie laughs while Cammie rubs at her throat and stares scornfully at the beast who is moving towards them.
Hunter: Miss Jon going after the Chase sisters yet again.
Frankie: Just let her try something with either Cammie or Maddie, they’ll make her regret it.
The Chase sisters vanish to the back with Miss Jon nipping at their heels. Although Howe is shouting into her ear as loud as he can there’s nothing he can say that is going to calm her down. The only thing that will give her any tranquility is the blood of the Chase family on her hands. Miss Jon and Howe have disappeared, allowing the crowd to focus on what just appeared in the ring. Marie Jones has grabbed hold of Cassius and is twisting him around into a diamond cutter. The ring rattles as does Cassius’ skull as he bounces up from the ring onto all fours. Victoria sees Marie from the corner of her eye and then delivers a dropkick straight to the collar of the ginger. The blow sends Marie staggering back into the side of a crawling Cassius, causing her to trip over him. Instead of falling Marie rolls, landing on her feet on the opposite side of Cassius and then using him as a launching pad. She steps off Cassius’ back and launches herself into a hurricarana, flipping Victoria across the ring.
Hunter: Marie looking red, pun-intended, hot in there right now.
Frankie: The only thing red on her is going to be the red in her cheeks when she’s tossed over those ropes.
Hunter: Don’t be so quick to make that assumption. She came so close, sooooo close to winning the Rumble last year, so she’s definitely shown she has what it takes to survive in a match as unpredictable as this.
At that point in time Marie is doing a lot more than merely surviving. Her fists are landing on either side of Orlando’s skull, batting the Phenomenal Cruze backwards across the ring. He’s barely able to hold himself up and he won’t be able to any longer when Marie sets up for the diamond cutter. Marie is just about to snap her opponent’s neck only to find this cutter countered. Much to her chagrin she’s pushed off the cutter and sent flying towards the corner thanks to Orlando. Just before she hits the turnbuckle Marie jumps into it, landing on the middle rope and then flipping back. She lands straight on Orlando’s shoulder with a moonsault that sends him crashing into the canvas.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6….
The Cartel-tron lights up with the countdown clock while Marie lights up her opponents. She’s dragged Orlando to his knees and is smacking him upside the brow with a barrage of punches. All the while she’s leading him towards the ropes, leaning him against the cables and trying to push him over to the outside. Somehow Orlando is holding on and Cassius is doing the same. On the opposite side of the ring Victoria has Cassius’ back leaning against the ropes, is bent under his legs and is lifting them, trying to flip his adversary over the cables. Neither Cassius nor Orlando are going over the ropes, DeLight holding tight to the ropes and Orlando digging his thumb right in Marie’s eye. A blinded Marie stumbles back across the ring pawing at her eyes while Orlando’s fist looks to pulverize her face. Like a blind Matt Murdock, a visually impaired Marie ducks the punch headed for her face then takes off into the ropes. She leaps through them to the apron and then grabs the top strand before leaping onto it. She then flies off right into Orlando, or more accurately right into the chair he just picked up and he just pitched into her face.
Hunter: The chair AGAIN being used by Orlando.
Frankie: Well if his opponents are so insistent on cheating then he might as well as stoop to their level.
..3, 2, 1…..BUZZZ!
A just plain exhausted Orlando uses the steel chair as a crutch at this point but is ready to swing it at a moment’s notice. He’ll definitely need to employ it as a weapon when the next entrant in the Rumble is announced. The tunes of “We Own It” are playing over the loud speakers, getting a MASSIVE reaction that sends chills down Orlando’s spine
Frankie: You’ve gotta be friggin kiddin’ me!
Hunter: Could it be? Could it be that Andre Jordan is going to try and come out here again?
Frankie: Hasn’t he been beaten down enough by Monarchy every time he’s tried to get in that ring?
Instinctively Orlando picks up the chair as he turns to the entry way, waiting to use the weapon should his rival Dre actually make it into the ring this time. He waits and waits and waits for Dre to stubbornly make his way out through the entry way, however there’s only one man who emerges from the back and it’s Orlando’s teammate rather than his foe. A confused Alistair Taylor is stood on the stage holding a kendo stick in his hands that he doesn’t get a chance to use for a second time.
Hunter: Well where is Dre?
Frankie: Guess the scarecrow found himself a brain.
Hunter: I hope he decided to stay in the back and convalesce rather than try to get in that ring again. As you can see Alistair Taylor was waiting to jump him AGAIN.
A snide grin slowly comes to Orlando’s face as he lowers the chair to his side, obviously thinking that there is going to be NO Andre coming down the ramp. Well he’s partially correct, because Dre doesn’t come down the ramp, instead he jumps out of the crowd. The fans are going berserk as Andre slides into the ring then barrels towards Orlando, who has the chair in his hands ready to swing. He never gets the opportunity because he’s tackled down to the ring and the chair he was holding falls right beside him.
Hunter: Andre is finally in there and he’s all over Orlando!
Frankie: How come nobody is putting a stop this!?!
Hunter: Andre has been waiting for this. He’s been waiting for this all night long. And he did the smart thing by coming from the crowd rather than from the back, preventing being jumped for a third time.
Dre’s fists go on lighting up Orlando’s face, cracking the bones beneath the cheeks that are being struck. Meanwhile on the other side of the ring Victoria and Cassius have formed an unlikely duo, the two pulling Marie up off the canvas and now attempting to eliminate her. Their arms are wrapped around either of her shins and they’re lifting but their potential victim is holding the ropes with the force of a bear trap clamping onto a leg.
Hunter: Marie fighting to keep from being eliminated and Orlando fighting for survival.
Andre just keeps punching Orlando’s face until his skull turns into mush. Finally Orlando manages to push Dre off and roll away. He doesn’t get very far before Dre is on top of him, delivering rapid fire forearms across the back of the kneeling Phenom. It seems Orlando’s only recourse is to roll entirely out of the ring, which is exactly what he does. He’s out of the squared circle but it isn’t any safer beyond the cables than it was inside of them. Andre catches up with Orlando at ringside, busting his face with a clinched fist. The shot sends Orlando staggering back into the steel steps and then falling over them to the floor.
Hunter: Andre just beating the hell out of Orlando.
Frankie: Monarchy have got to do something about this!
Hunter: Dre’s not gonna stop, not until he’s left Orlando in pieces.
The stairs that Orlando just went flipping over are now dissected so that the lower section can be exposed. Andre pulls Orlando up from the ground and now into position for the Tide Turner…a Tide Turner to be delivered onto the lower section of steel.
Hunter: He’s gonna drop Orlando with the Tide Turner into the steps!
Frankie: Noooo! Aren’t there laws to prevent this type of brutality?
Orlando is heaved into the air but he’s damn sure not going to be dropped into the stairs. Instead he slips right off Orlando’s shoulders, lands behind him and then hurries along towards the ring, rolling back inside. If he thinks that’s going to protect him then he’s wrong…..dead wrong. Dre follows Orlando inside, sliding in and going after his prey, who can now only crawl to safety. That safety takes the form of a lariat unleashed by Cassius, catching Andre totally off guard.
Frankie: Cassius with the lariat.
Hunter: Unintentionally saving Orlando in the process.
After laying Dre out with the lariat, he’s now going to throw Dre out over the top rope. He pulls Andre up from the canvas and leads him to the ropes, right on the verge of potentially throwing him over. Just as the two get within range of the cables Dre slips right out of Cassius’ hands, gets behind him and then delivers the Tide Turner!
10, 9, 8, 7…..
Orlando sees the Tide Turner delivered and now he has to think of a way to prevent himself from falling victim to it. As Andre closes in on him Orlando picks up the chair he’s used several times in this match and drives the edge of it right into Jordan’s throat. The blow sends Dre staggering back, clasping at his neck. Now he’s at Orlando’s mercy. The Phenom lifts the chair and comes charging in, running along straight into Andre’s Get Got. The spinning powerslam catches Orlando totally off guard and herniates so many disks in his back upon impact with the canvas. But if you think that’s going to be enough to keep Orlando down, then you…are….an….idiot.
Frankie: This is just going disastrously for Orlando ever since he was ambushed by Andre. Seriously, where does Dre get off ambushing an honorable man like this?
Hunter: An honorable man? Orlando had Andre jumped twice before he could even get into the Rumble.
Frankie: You don’t know that Orlando had ANYTHING to do with that. Stop spreading such libelous gossip or I’ll smack you in the penis.
….3, 2, 1…..BUZZZ!!
There it is again, the buzzer indicating that yet another star is embarking for the ring, and this entrant wastes little time getting to the ring. Jessica Wilde moves quicker than Speedy Gonzalez in order to reach the squared circle.
Hunter: Jessica Wilde….get ready to Rumble!
Frankie: Good, get in there and help Orlando.
Hunter: I uhhhh doubt that’s her intention.
Wilde’s intentions become pretty transparent when she slides into the ring and goes straight after Marie Jones. As if Marie didn’t have a difficult enough time contending with Victoria, now she’s got Wilde all up in her grill. She channels all her hostility behind the mad-dash she makes at Marie only to have that momentum turned against her. Marie reacts quick enough to catch Wilde with a boot to the gut, doubling her over and putting her head in position for a side headlock driver. Just as Marie is about to drive Wilde’s head through the ring, Jessica makes a surprising counter. She hits a drop toe hold on Marie, planting her face into the ring and then attempting to drive it into that ring with even more force. Wilde rushes into the cables at Marie’s side in order to build speed behind the Scarlet Letter. The curb stomp variant never connects on account of the top rope being low bridged. Cassius was lying on the apron and waiting for an opportunity just like this, pulling down the cables and causing Wilde to go flipping over them.
Hunter: Wilde ALMOST gone from the Rumble already!
Frankie: She’ll have to dig herself in like a friggin crab on Lindsey Lohan’s bush if she wants to survive in this one.
The ropes are held tight by Wilde, who starts to stand only to find her head trapped in her adversary’s clutches. Cassius once again catches her off guard, this time applying a front chancery and preparing to hit her with a DDT on the apron. Instead what’s hit on the apron is a low blow. Wilde drops to her knees and throws a forearm straight into Cassius’ groin, swelling the most important part of his anatomy. That’s not all that swells, because Wilde’s confidence is swelling as well, which is why she’s so boldly leaping to the top cable then flying off towards an unsuspecting Marie. Or at least Marie LOOKED unsuspecting. Actually she was like a trap lying in wait and that trap is sprung, Marie jumping and catching Wilde in mid-air with the diamond cutter.
Frankie: YOUCH! Wilde not off to a good start.
The cutter has laid Wilde out and now Marie is coaxing her up to her feet with the intent of throwing her lifeless body out of the ring. An exasperated Victoria is the only thing that blocks Marie from fulfilling her plan. She nails a punch across Jones’ brow, knocking her back towards the ropes, falling against them and now finding herself on the cusp of being thrown over them. Victoria bends down under her opponent’s knees, placing them over her shoulders and lifting. Although Marie is trying to fend off Victoria it’s no easy task, and Cassius isn’t helping at all. He steps across the apron behind Marie and grabs her under the jaw, pulling back on it, causing her to come even closer to taking a flip to the outside.
Hunter: Everyone working in consortium to toss Marie.
Frankie: Looks like she won’t be lasting till the final three this year.
Marie’s struggle becomes tougher and tougher the more that both of her opponents combine their energies into eliminating her. She’s not the only one in dire straits though, Orlando finds himself in bad way, verging on taking a tumble over the ropes as well. Andre has him leaning back against the turnbuckle and is lifting one of his legs, bound and determined to send Cruze flying over the corner and to the outside. Only Orlando isn’t going anywhere, and Maddie and Cammie Chase are here to make sure of that. Once again the two newest members of Monarchy, and the sisters of Orlando’s wife come running down the ramp and leaping to the ring aprons.
Frankie: Team Chase is here to save the day yet again.
Hunter: Why can’t Monarchy just stop interfering like this? They’re ruining this Rumble!
Frankie: Ruining it? Are you joking? They’re RULING it.
Cammie and Maddie continue to create a stink and as a result distract Dre. They keep him so preoccupied that it allows Orlando to slip in from behind, grab him around the thigh and lift, attempting to push him over the ropes and to the outside of the ring. It appears that Cammie and Maddie are pleased with themselves, but Karen McBride isn’t happy with what she’s seeing at all. The Principle Owner is making her way down the ramp and she’s voicing her displeasure as loud as she possibly can.
Frankie: Haven’t we seen enough McBride for one night?
Hunter: The Riot Principle Owner coming out here to do something about Cameron and Madison Chase. She’s not about to watch Monarchy make a mockery of this Rumble.
…10, 9, 8, 7….
The only thing louder than the crowd chanting along with the clock is Karen’s screams into the faces of the two ladies who just can’t stop interrupting this bout. Although neither Maddie nor Cameron look intimidated, giving just as good they get. They shout right back into Karen’s face, warning her what will happen if she doesn’t shut her mouth. But they stop threatening McBride when something far more threatening appears at the top of the ramp. Miss Jon is marching with her agent Martin Howe III walking right beside her.
Hunter: We’ve got another entrant about to come out here, but that entrant is NOT Miss Jon.
Frankie: Then what the hell is she doing out here then?
Hunter: Continuing to play Peace Keeper from the looks of it. Plus the Chase sisters contributed to her elimination earlier in the Rumble.
Karen is so preoccupied with the Chase sisters that she doesn’t even see Miss Jon coming until the beast gives her a light shove aside. Cammie and Maddie won’t be shoved, nor nudged, they don’t give Miss Jon a chance to put a hand on them. The pair back off from the big Miss Jon, all the while poking fun at her. Though they poke fun from a DISTANCE.
Hunter: Well if Karen McBride had any doubts about rather Miss Jon can be trusted I think she just proved that a leopard really can change its spots.
Frankie: It be more like an elephant changing its tusks.
….3, 2, 1…..BUZZZZ!
There’s quite the reception for Lilith Evans as she starts a slow descent down the ramp.
Hunter: It looks like Lilith Evans just made the boldest decision of her career….
Frankie: More like the worse decision of her career.
Hunter: She was all but told by her True Sinistry ruler Jessica Wilde not to compete in the Rumble this evening, but here she comes.
Actually Lilith stops at the middle of the ramp to give her choice one final thought. There’s someone else in her proximity who isn’t quite as indecisive. Miss Jon is still watching the Chases sisters scurry away while she backs up towards the ring. Just then, with a knee jerk reaction, she reaches under the ropes from ringside and grabs the ankles of Cassius DeLight and Victoria Salinas, pulling their legs out from under them. She drags both their bodies out of the ring and then drives their skulls together with a headbutt.
Hunter: What the hell!?!
Frankie: Miss Jon just snapped.
Victoria is thrown with such force at the barricade that she flips completely over in the process of crashing against the steel. Cassius takes a similar journey with just as nasty of a destination. Miss Jon has just sent him careening towards the stairs and then smashing against them.
Karen: What are you doing!?!
Principle Owner Karen McBride seems just as shocked by Miss Jon’s actions as everyone else in the arena. She watches with jaw agape as the beast simply ignores her and rolls into the squared circle. A referee tries to stop Miss Jon only to be swatted away like a gnat. That’s not the last person she’s about to crush like a bug. Miss Jon barrels towards a brawling Andre and Orlando and indiscriminately crushes them both with a big splash. She then drags Andre out of the corner and heaves him up into a spinebuster.
Frankie: The big bitch has finally lost it.
The wrath of Miss Jon continues to be delivered on everyone in her view. It appears Marie Jones isn’t going to be the next caught in this tidal wave of chaos. She swings her fists upside Miss Jon’s skull, delivering jab after jab on the big woman’s jaw. She then lunges into the air, catches her around the neck and goes for the Ava Marie. Just then Miss Jon stands up straight, lifts Marie to her shoulder then throws her almost the length of the ring before she ultimately comes down on her back.
Hunter: Marie almost sent flying to the other side of the hemisphere.
The monstrous Miss Jon sets her sights on Jessica Wilde, engulfing her throat with both hands and strangling the life from her body. That’s when Lilith Evans makes a very bold decision, leaping into the ring then onto Miss Jon’s back. She applies a sleeper hold with all her arm strength, trying her best to choke out this behemoth. Needless to say she is unsuccessful. Lilith is grabbed by the hair and it’s yanked with such force that she’s sent flipping over Miss Jon’s shoulder. Where she comes down is perhaps the worst part of it, crashing directly into Jessica Wilde. The two hit the canvas, landing at the tips of Miss Jon’s toes.
Hunter: Looks like Miss Jon has completely taken over the Rumble.
Frankie: Not like any of the participants can stop her. You saw what she just did to every single one of them.
Hunter: We’re seeing her true colors.
Frankie: Yeah, so much for all that Peace Keeper bullshit.
Although Karen McBride is outraged it’s not as if she’s very surprised. She’s had her suspicions about Miss Jon, and they were just confirmed. The Principle Owner shows her backbone by grabbing Miss Jon’s trunk thick arm and giving it a tug. The beast whips around with fire in her eyes and that fire might just burn McBride.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6….
Miss Jon and Karen McBride continue to have a stare down every bit as tense as the skin on a face-lift patient. It looks like things are about to get physical, very-very physical.
Frankie: Ooooh daddy, this is great, this is sooooo perfect. The two ladies I hate more than anything are about to get it on and hopefully they both go DOWN!
Hunter: McBride putting her foot down and flexing her authority.
Frankie: You think McBride can stand up to Miss Jon? FUCK NO. Nobody from THIS earth can fight Miss Jon.
McBride points to the outside of the ring, demanding Miss Jon leave but the beast isn’t going anywhere. She still stands there with her breaths snarled, smoke almost seeping from her nostrils. Her fingers are balled up into fists and stay at her sides, but they yearn to collide with Karen’s lips. This time her agent Martin Howe III refuses to intervene, standing at ringside and assuming the role of a man watching an execution.
…3, 2, 1….BUZZZZZ!
There’s the call from the governor saving McBride. The arena lights starts to dim down and hives start to form on the flesh of every fan in attendance. Hairs rise, instantly turning white when the tracks of ‘Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer’ start to play over the loud speakers.
Hunter: Wait just a minute….
Frankie: Uhhhh, this-this-this can’t mean what I think it can, can it?
Hunter: That music, that music belongs to the inaugural winner of the Last Stand Rumble, a man we haven’t seen in almost two years! Could it be Legion?
In an act that defies the fundamentals of physics, an arm comes reaching up through the steel grating on the stage. A BLUE ARM. That arm connects to the broad shoulders that come peeking out through the set as well. Soon all gives rise to the face, the face of Kalinda!
Hunter: That’s not Legion…that’s-that’s Kalinda!
Frankie: The friggin dimensional jumping dragon?
Hunter: Yes, the creature of otherworldly origins makes her return to the IWC competing in the Rumble.
Frankie: This match does draw out all the weirdos and wackos.
The woman who weighs nearly half a ton employs every mannerism associated with Legion, save for one motion distinct to herself, the slashing of her tail from one side of her body to the other.
Frankie: What’s with this entrance? Is she like impersonating Legion?
Hunter: I don’t know if she’s so much impersonating as she is channeling the nightmare.
Focus has returned to the squared circle where the fierce Miss Jon is waiting. Her wide eyes burn a hole through Kalinda, who steps over the ropes and goes mono-a-mono with the equally as massive menace. Now McBride IS surprised, finding herself caught between Miss Jon and Kalinda, an immovable force and an unstoppable object.
Hunter: Never in a million years did I think we’d see this. Miss Jon squaring up with the only lady who could physically match up with her.
Frankie: I really hope that the ring is reinforced causes there’s gotta be over a thousand pounds in there right now.
McBride has employed some wisdom, getting out of the ring and watching as Kalinda and Miss Jon square off. Like the collision of two meteors the red eyed Kalinda makes impact with the brutal Miss Jon.
Hunter: Here we go! Their going at it! Their going at it!
Miss Jon swings her huge knuckles into the cheek of Kalinda, turning it from blue to red. However, Kalinda gives just as good as she receives. Her fists nail Jon under the jaw, and much to the beast’s dismay the blows have her reeling back on her heels. A growl comes from Jon at the same time that an uppercut is unleashed to her beak. Kalinda is staggered back by the shot before she responds with one of her own. However, it will NOT be a strike unleashed by her fist, it will be one provided by her tail. She swings around with her massive tail hurdling towards Miss Jon….hurdling towards but never connecting. Miss Jon drops down out of the way right as the tail comes flying over her and narrowly misses her head. Jon now ends up at ringside, looking wide eyed and angry that a tail almost cleaved her head from her shoulders. This all goes down to the delight of thousands, but to the disapproval of one. Martin Howe grabs his client at ringside. Obviously he’s the only one who DOESN’T want to see this altercation continue.
Howe: You’ve got nothing to prove here. Not against this….(detestably)…THING.
Miss Jon knows that Howe is right, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to crush Kalinda’s skull. Nevertheless she acquiesces to the requests of her agent, allowing him to pull her away from Kalinda and away from the ring. The crowd isn’t happy about this, Kalinda isn’t happy about this, and Miss Jon isn’t happy about this, but it’s happening nevertheless.
Hunter: We’ve seen our fair share of Rumble shockers, but this HAS to be the biggest.
Frankie: Literally.
Hunter: Miss Jon may have finally found someone who could pound for pound match up with her.
The snarling Miss Jon backs up the ramp never breaking eye contact with Kalinda. It would appear that this fixation is reciprocated, Kalinda glaring at her adversary much to her detriment. Orlando Cruze limps in form behind Kalinda and delivers a powerful forearm over her shoulders. The blow knocks Kalinda forward into the ropes and now Orlando starts to stomp at her mid-section, trying to soften her up in order to eliminate her.
In order to send the dragon packing it’s going to take more than stomps. That’s why Orlando is charging in with a lariat that would certainly send Kalinda flipping to the outside. But instead it’s Orlando who flips like a coin at the start of an NFL game when a tail smacks his feet right out from under him. Kalinda uses her fifth limb to knock Orlando heels over asshole, sending him flipping down and to the canvas. Where Orlando failed Wilde hopes to succeed. She’s climbed up onto the ring apron and is now springing to the top rope, flying right into her opponent, that is, her opponent’s waiting hand. Kalinda re-enacts one of the many moves synonymous with Legion, applying a straight chokehold on Wilde.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Hunter: When will Wilde learn to stop coming off those ropes?
Frankie: It’s worked out about as well as masturbating using superglue as lubricant. That was an awkward Saturday night.
Wilde flails her arms around frantically while the oxygen is cut off to her head. Amazingly she’s still capable of doing one thing even in this state of utter distress, and that something is gesturing for the help of her follower Lilith. Evans watches this scene unfold but has no idea what to do about it. That is until she looks down and realizes that there’s a steel chair laying at her feet. She picks it up but has yet to use it, looking between the weapon and Kalinda’s back. Her eyes going from one to the other.
Frankie: Use the chair already!
…4, 3, 2, 1….BUUUUZZZ!
A growling noise is heard from the stage, and these growls leads to groans. The arena does not react kindly to the sight of Executioner hustling down the ramp.
Hunter: Here comes yet another mass of humanity running down that ramp. That’s Executioner, Jessica Wilde’s most loyal subject.
Frankie: Definitely gives the True Sinistry a bit of a number’s advantage.
Said number’s advantage might not matter for much when contending with Kalinda, a dragon capable of fending off entire villages of attackers. Executioner grabs Kalinda by the hair and pulls it until she’s forced to release Wilde’s blood-red throat. Now it’s Kalinda’s throat that is going to turn a different shade when Executioner’s hand slaps down around it. He tries to give her the chokeslam but Kalinda won’t let it happen, both her weight and her resiliency keep her from suffering this devastating slam.
There is action going on all around this struggle between Executioner and Kalinda, with Cassius DeLight pushing Andre Jordan over the ropes, trying his best to eliminate him, and Victoria Salinas and Marie Jones now teaming up in an effort to toss Orlando Cruze from the squared circle. Focus continues to go back to Kalinda as the dragon nails a back elbow across Executioner’s cheek, several of them actually until his grip on her throat is broken. Kalinda could annihilate the masked man at this point but suddenly finds a steel chair slamming across her back. The weapon wasn’t employed by Lilith, it was just used by the woman who snatched it from Lilitha’s hands, it was put to use by Wilde.
This strike to her spine has Kalinda crouching forward and falling against the ropes, and one more shot from the steel could potentially send her over. Though the True Sinistry has an advantage, they don’t capitalize on it, all because of some petty in fighting. Instead of swinging the chair at Kalinda, Wilde is jabbing it into the ribs of her subordinate Lilith.
Wilde: You’re useless!
Wilde thinks Lilith is just as useless as the efforts of Andre to remain in the Rumble. He’s still fighting to stay in the ring but it might just be in vain. Cassius is exerting all the strength he has in himself to send Dre packing from the Rumble, already having him hanging upside down over the ropes. Dre holds fast though, keeping in this bout in spite of everything his body has endured. Cassius realizes he’s got another option, taking off into the far ropes, ricocheting from them and then building momentum into a spear. He flies right through the ropes, hurdling himself towards an upside down Dre though that’s not what he connects with. Andre moves out of the way and Cassius flies under him before ultimately plummeting face first into the floor mats.
Frankie: Cassius is gone, he’s eliminated, he’s….
Hunter: No-no-no, he went THROUGH the ropes, not over them Frankie.
Frankie: If you enjoy your attachment to your scrotum, you won’t correct me again.
10, 9, 8, 7….
While Cassius is collecting himself outside of the ring the True Sinistry is falling apart inside of it. Executioner is preoccupied pummeling Kalinda with strikes, but behind his back his leader Wilde is preoccupied verbally punishing Lilith.
Wilde: You weren’t even supposed to be out here! I revoked your right to compete in this Rumble, but you defy me. You defy me every chance you get! I’ve almost reached the end of my patience with you. Now LEAVE!
Wilde points to the back, insisting that’s where Lilith must go. The downtrodden Lilith lowers her head and her pride, she knows she’s got no other alternative but to do as she’s told. With reluctance she approaches the ropes, stopping as she slips between them to look back and confirm that this is really what Wilde wants. There’s no doubting it, Wilde keeps on pointing towards the backstage area and Lilith begrudgingly heads that way.
…3, 2, 1…BUZZZZZ!!
The buzzer stops sounding but we don’t see someone making their way down the ramp, we see someone moving up it. Lilith is walking to the back, or at least she was until the music of Danny Darko streams through the loud speakers and he comes waltzing on out from the back.
Hunter: And there’s one of the most unpredictable entrants in tonight’s Rumble. Danny Darko, you never know what this guy is thinking, or what he’s plotting.
Frankie: Because his brain is so diseased and warped. It would have to be if he were such a proud proponent of the UWA roster.
Hunter: He could potentially be the next challenger for the UWA World Title, which would be the ultimate reward for said loyalty.
Right now it’s loyalty being tested. Darko stops about half way down the ramp and seizes hold of both of Lilith’s shoulders. Instead of letting her leave he turns her back around to face the ring, pointing at it.
Darko: No-no-no, you’re not going anywhere!
Darko leads Lilith by the shoulders towards the ring,
Hunter: Darko has taken a vested interest in Lilith Evans, and now he’s actually dragging her back to the ring.
Frankie: Why can’t he stay out of other people’s business? The last time he stuck his nose where it didn’t belong, Trinity Street nearly cut it off.
There’s only one person that Darko has any business with at the moment and it’s Jessica Wilde. He leaves Lilith at ringside in order to leap to the apron and shout at another woman currently in the ring. Wilde isn’t listening to anything Darko has to tell her, instead she just wants to listen to the fist of her subordinate Executioner as it bursts the capillaries in Danny’s face. The seven footer silences Darko by reaching over the ropes and latching a hand around his throat.
Frankie: Darko’s gonna set a new record for being eliminated from the Rumble.
Hunter: Yeah, cause he’s not even going to be able to get in there.
Darko leaves his feet, but it’s not because he’s going to be hit with any chokeslam. Instead his foot goes flying over the top rope into a kick that smacks Executioner right in the kisser. The blow to the lips hits with such force that it sends Executioner whirling around into a powerful thrust kick unleashed by Kalinda. The blow not only collapses Executioner’s jaw but sends him flying back over the ropes.
Hunter: Kalinda almost kicking Executioner’s head off his shoulders….
Frankie: And she DID kick him over the ropes. Bye-bye Executioner.
At ringside we can see Lilith cringing as she sees one of her ‘teammates’ falling to her feet. She’s given even further cause for dread when seeing Darko and Wilde going straight at one another’s throats. The two are no longer exchanging words, their exchanging fists, the two brawling back and forth.
There are quite a few other fights presently ongoing as well. Marie Jones and Victoria Salinas have stopped working in consortium to eliminate Orlando, and have started teeing off on one another. Victoria grabs Marie by the bangs, pulling her into a headbutt. That grip on Marie’s hair is employed to drag her into a front facelock. Victoria lifts Marie into the vertical suplex in order to throw her over the ropes. Sadly for Victoria, her plans to eliminate Marie via suplex don’t turn out as she had planned. Marie slips her head out of her opponent’s clutches and then goes floating over the ropes, landing on the ring apron, not going anywhere near the floor….hopefully not for a long time.
Victoria swings around into a punch aimed at her opponent’s face only to have Marie drop down into a baseball slide from the apron right through Victoria’s legs. Just then Orlando comes in running, right past the laid out Marie and towards the turned back of Victoria, grabbing her by the waist band and using it to throw her over the ropes. Right before she takes a tumble to the mats Victoria manages to grab the top rope, float over and land on the ring apron.
Victoria narrowly avoids elimination, for the time being. Orlando will make sure she doesn’t survive much longer, he runs in and right at Victoria, going for a shoulder to her ribs. Victoria is much craftier than Orlando gave her credit for, she jumps into the air and goes rolling not only over the ropes but over the stooped back of her attacker. Although Victoria avoided elimination she did not avoid a superkick. Marie was waiting on her and hits the kick with such force that it sends Victoria stumbling back towards the waiting arms of the Phenom. It annoys Marie that Victoria is still upright, so now she tries to do something about it. She unleashes ANOTHER superkick, but this time Victoria ducks and the kick nails the temple of the man stood directly behind her. Orlando is sent flipping sideways over the ropes….
Frankie: NO! Oh thank God!
By sheer luck Orlando comes down to the ring apron and avoids a pratfall to the floor.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6…..
The countdown clock is going while in the ring while Andre and Cassius abandon the quarrel that had been waging between them in order to set their sights on Kalinda. The pair try to eliminate her but Kalinda avoids such calamity. She catches Dre coming in with a punch straight to the jaw and then grabs an inbound Cassius, throwing him over the cables. Fortunately for Cassius he possesses the reflexes to grab the top rope as he goes over and then shows flexibility by skinning the cat back into the ring. His legs enter the squared circle first and they end up on top of Kalinda’s shoulders. The dragon drags him back into the ring via the Alabama Slam.
…3, 2, 1….BUZZZZZ!
There’s the alarm and here comes an athlete that has the crowd’s pulse pounding. Johnny Kingdom moves to the stage amidst the lyrics of his theme song ‘Wake Up’ wailing through the speakers.
Hunter: There he is a FORMER World Champion, a legend in this industry, Johnny Kingdom.
Frankie: If he gets in that ring he’ll wish he had stayed just a legend.
Hunter: This is the first time in two years that Kingdom has competed in the Rumble, will he get another shot to prove his immortality here tonight?
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, it be a big feather in his cap if Kingdom comes back, wins this Rumble then goes on to main event Invictus.
Hunter: With the title up for grabs.
The Team Leader moseys on down the ramp listening to the squeals of the crowd, which have gotten damn near deafening at this point. He lives it up on the way into the ring where Marie is waiting for him. She comes charging in only to go flipping inside out when she’s hit with the roaring clothesline. The blow to the throat has Marie corkscrewing through the air. Kingdom no sooner dishes out that pain before serving another feast of fury to an inbound Andre. The Team Leader catches him with the tilt a whirl straight into a back breaker. Of course Kingdom isn’t through yet, he can’t afford to be. Orlando catches Kingdom from behind and looks to unleash the German suplex. However, Kingdom reverses by swinging around to Orlando’s side, grabbing his arm and forcing him to the canvas, applying the Lesson in Leadership.
Hunter: Kingdom is lighting up everyone in that ring.
Frankie: Let Orlando go….There’s no sense in this…LET HIM GO!
Hunter: Are you doing a Frozen musical?
Frankie: The fact that you can recognize Frozen musicals makes me question the presence of your testicles.
Orlando is roaring in pain while Kingdom is roaring with intensity. A few feet away from him the crowd watches as Kalinda channels her muscle behind throwing Cassius out of the squared circle. She has him dangling over the ropes but can’t get him down to the floor. This life or death struggle between Cassius and Kalinda isn’t the only focal point, because Wilde and Darko go on duking it out. All the while Lilith is watching the two most influential figures in her career battle tooth and nail. Wilde brings an end to this fight when she drives her knee against Darko’s abs, doubling him over. She then steps back to get a running start behind a punch only to have Darko leave his feet and go for the Darkolator. The corkscrew kick never gets a chance to be delivered because Wilde leaps back out of the way in the nick of time. Unfortunately she trades one precarious predicament for another. She falls back against the ropes and puts herself in position for Darko to come running in and hitting her with a lariat across the larynx. Wilde goes over the ropes only to grab them at the last second, keeping her feet from hitting the floor.
Hunter: A couple of close calls here. Wilde almost out and Cassius fighting to keep from being eliminated as well.
It appears that Darko is about to send Wilde packing rather she holds onto the ropes or not. He starts to kick at her through the ropes, wedging his boot to her throat and pushing. In spite of being choked Wilde manages to squeak out a few screams.
Wilde: LILITH! LILITH!!
Although Lilith had remained an impartial observer she can no longer play both sides of the fence. She finally slides back into the ring and begrudgingly grabs Darko by the back of the head. She then drags him away from Wilde and much to her distress tosses him over the cables. Somehow Darko grabs the strands and keeps his Rumble ambitions alive.
Frankie: Lilith just stabbed Darko in the back.
Hunter: She had no choice in the matter, Wilde controls her.
A smile is stretched across Wilde’s face as she steps to Lilith’s side, patting her on the shoulder.
Wilde: Good….very good.
Wilde continues to give her follower a proverbial pat on the back before slipping her hand across Lilith’s neck. There are no reflexes fast enough to stop what happens to Lilith as Wilde catches her off guard by charging her at the ropes and throwing her over. Lilith crashes all the way to the floor, eliminated from the Rumble.
Hunter: OH COME ON!
Frankie: Wilde punishing Lilith’s insolent ass.
Hunter: Lilith saved her and what did she get in return? Wilde threw her out of the Rumble.
Frankie: She should have come to Wilde’s aid a lot sooner.
A stunned Lilith sits up at ringside, glaring into the ring where Wilde is shaking her head and mouthing off.
10, 9, 8, 7…..
With the countdown clock reappearing on the Cartel-tron it looks like the next entrant it’s cycling down to will be heading into a ring controlled by Johnny Kingdom. The Team Leader has broken away from Orlando in order to run the length of the squared circle and hit a step up knee strike to the jaw of Andre Jordan, who was leaning against the corner. Kingdom turns back to another figure stood in the diagonal corner, Kingdom runs straight at Victoria and then jumps into another step up knee strike. Surprisingly Victoria avoids the knee to her face, dropping down out of the way. Kingdom ends up kneeling on the top rope as Victoria leaps into a dropkick that nails him straight in the lower back. The impact sends Kingdom flipping over the cables but coming down on the steel steps at ringside rather than the floor.
Hunter: That was as close as close could possibly get.
Frankie: Ahhh dammit, Kingdom was THAT close from elimination.
…3, 2, 1….BUZZZ!
The crowd lets out a piercing roar at the visual of Aaron Harrison moving down the ramp. The tough as nails veteran embarks for the squared circle where there are a bountiful supply of bodies for him to victimize. Harrison sets his sights on just one victim at the moment, and it’s Wilde. He spins her away from the ropes she was staring over, admiring the elimination of Lilith, and forcing her to look right at the canvas that she’s being DDTed into.
Hunter: One of the most dangerous men in professional wrestling has just entered the Rumble, and it meant bad things for Jessica Wilde right out of the gates.
Frankie: It’ll mean bad things for my digestive track too, my stomach turns every time I see Harrison anywhere near a ring.
Hunter: Well he’s in there and in my opinion, he stands a strong chance of winning the….
Frankie: Don’t even go there. This guy isn’t winning the Rumble, and he’s not going to Invictus. And you want to know why? Cause Kat Kelly and the rest of Monarchy are going to make him pay for trying to steal the Kat Kelly Championship, and they’re going to make him pay with his career.
Harrison might just have a career defining moment when he runs the length of the ring and nails Kalinda in the back of her head with a lariat. The blow knocks her into the ropes, though she doesn’t go over them and instead turns her back to the cables. Another lariat is nailed across her throat by Harrison, yet it still isn’t enough to take her to the outside. So Harrison gets yet ANOTHER running start into yet ANOTHER lariat. Somehow Kalinda continues to hang tough, refusing to take the fall to the floor.
Remaining in the ring is going to get a lot tougher when Marie joins in on this assault. She runs past Harrison and runs right into a dropkick that nails Kalinda on the jaw. Now Kalinda is leaning even further back, her spine arched over the strands. Just as Marie rolls out of the way Victoria comes dashing past her and leaping into a heel kick that collides with Kalinda’s cheek.
Hunter: This is the smartest strategy everyone in that ring can employ. Team up and take out Kalinda.
There’s only one person presently in the Rumble who cannot join in on trying to eliminate Kalinda and that’s Johnny Kingdom. When he was sent falling to the outside of the ring his knee smacked against the steel steps and folded up under him the wrong way. He now sits in the corner huffing and puffing through the pain that runs through his leg. In fact he’s rolling out under the ropes and hobbling gingerly on his leg while the ringside doc steps in to check on him.
Hunter: Well this isn’t good news for Kingdom, it looks like he might have injured his knee when it came down on the steps.
Frankie: Then he won’t get the chance to join everyone else in turning Kalinda into a piñata.
Right now it’s Cassius who is getting in his swings on Kalinda. He comes running straight into a big boot that smacks the dragon across the jaw. The moment Cassius clears out of the way Darko comes flipping past him and then delivers the Darkolater on Kalinda. Finally she’s starting to fall back over the cables and it looks like her night is done. Now it’s Jessica Wilde’s turn. She shakes off the DDT she suffered a moment ago and starts to build some speed behind a lariat on Kalinda…..Only to stop in mid run, turn and instead clothesline Marie Jones down to the canvas.
Frankie: Hahahahaha, I love it! I love it! Wilde refusing to be a team player.
Wilde no sooner knocks Marie to the ground before Cassius runs in from behind and hits her with a double axehandle to the back of her skull. Wilde is sent flying into the ropes and through them, twisting to the ring apron. With Wilde taken down the rest of the roster in the Rumble can go back after Kalinda. So Cassius, Darko, Victoria and Harrison come running towards Kalinda, gather around her and try to force her over the ropes. But just then, with a display of her inhuman strength, Kalinda shirks everyone away, sending them flying to all corners of the ring.
Hunter: They’re not able to get Kalinda out even after everything they just hit her with.
An exhausted Cassius and an equally as banged up Victoria are getting back to their feet only to find themselves on the receiving end of a stereo lariat. Kalinda runs across the ring and knocks them both flat on their backs.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5…..
Darko runs in and leaps at Kalinda’s back, hitting her with a dropkick between the shoulder blades. The blow sends her staggering forward into the ropes, ricocheting off then twisting herself around into a tail whip. Her tail crushes Darko straight in the ribs and drives him down flat on his back.
Hunter: Kalinda is downright dominate in that ring right now.
Franke: She’s a 500 pound dragon, who the hell besides Peter MacNicol can contend with her?
Hunter: Really? A Dragonslayer reference? That’s going WAAAY back.
Kalinda keeps her head on a swivel, turning just as Wilde returns to the ring and jumps straight into her arms. Kalinda catches her then flips back into a moonsault fallaway slam.
Hunter: Another homage to Legion.
Frankie: This isn’t an homage, it’s almost like Legion is inside of Kalinda. And the thought of that suddenly has me feeling warm under the collar.
Hunter: Please stop taking your shirt off, Frankie.
Kalinda stands tall and mighty over just about everyone scattered around the ring, resembling a truly imposing…no…unconquerable force.
…3, 2, 1….BUUUZZZZ!
It now falls on just one…one athlete to stand up against Kalinda, and whoever comes out from the back had better hope they have the mite to battle a beast as unstoppable as the world traveler. Unfortunately for Kalinda she might have finally met her match. The tunes of ‘Money, Money, Money’ are playing over the loud speakers as Donald Trump himself comes waddling out from the back.
Hunter: Uuuuuuh….
Frankie:….Huh.
The front man for the Republican Party navigates his way towards the ring while handing off a number of brochures to the front row fans. Each brochure highlights a number of his campaign promises that are every bit as full of deception as the hair on top of his head. He then high fives a couple of the very confused onlookers before finally walking away from his fans and towards the ring. Following behind him and walking single file down either side of the ramp are two battalions of secret servicemen.
Hunter: I have officially seen it all.
Frankie: Donald Trump looking to have the same success here in the Rumble that he’s had in his campaign for the presidency.
Hunter: God help us all if he wins either.
It’s unclear rather Kalinda is a fan or foe of Trump, who has taken the very bold risk of entering the ring with her. As if standing vie a vie with Kalinda wasn’t courageous, or ignorant enough, Trump now approaches her with a campaign button in his hand. He is just about to pin that button Kalinda’s chest but his hands fall far short of her sternum. Kalinda reaches out, grabs Trump by the throat with both hands, deadlifts him from his feet and then throws him right over the cables and right into the secret serviceman gathered at the base of the ramp.
Frankie: Thanks Kalinda.
Hunter: Trump is eliminated!
Frankie: This won’t make Marie Jones happy, she had a chance to stand in the ring with the GOD OF THE GINGERS.
Hunter: Kalinda just made sure that wasn’t going to happen.
Kalinda watches as Trump and his secret service gather themselves at ringside. Behind her huge back we can see Aaron Harrison getting back to his feet, leaning on the ropes for support. His proximity to the cables comes back to haunt him. A set of hands reach under the ropes, grab Harrison by the ankle and gives him a tug, dragging him from the squared circle. Before Harrison has a chance to react, his face is being smashed with the Kat Kelly championship.
Frankie: I knew there was a reason my Frankie senses were tingling.
Hunter: Kat Kelly…Kat Kelly is attacking Harrison! Where did she just emerge from? I didn’t see her enter the Rumble.
Frankie: Does it matter? This is all retribution for Harrison’s attack on Kat earlier tonight.
Hunter: Harrison was trying to take back the NHB Championship that Kat has rechristened and used to disgrace the former Champion, Rach…*BEEP*…Really? We’re still bleeping out her name?
Frankie: Why shouldn’t we? Her name deserves to be bleeped out just as much as Harrison deserves another crack upside the skull with that title.
Harrison has been dropped thanks to the blow from the Kat Kelly title he just received straight to his brow. He won’t be the last one to get a shot from the gold. Kat rolls into the ring under the ropes and runs right across it, driving the plate of her belt into the back of Kalinda’s head. Finally the dragon has been driven down, falling to her elbows and knees. Kat remains stood tall above her and over the many others in the ring while lifting her title over-head.
Kat: CLASS! GRACE! SOPHISTICATION!
Kat turns around and runs straight at Andre Jordan, smashing him the cheek with her title belt.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Kat: POISE! PERFECTION! ELEGANCE!
From the corner of her eye Kat spots a worn out Cassius getting back to his feet and she takes him right back down with a shot between the eyes with the belt.
Kat: BEAUTY! BRAINS!
Speaking of brains, Darko’s are knocked out when the Kat Kelly Championship rams against his skull. After laying out another victim Kat returns to the middle of the ring with the belt she has employed repeatedly as a weapon raised over her head.
Kat: That’s what this title represents NOW. The NHB Championship is dead, and relics like this pustule (gestures to Aaron Harrison crawling into the ring), will never resurrect it!
..4, 3….
Kat crouches at the knees like a….well…cat….ready to pounce at a mouse. She toys with that mouse by shouting straight at Harrison.
Kat: She’s gone! She’s just like Han Solo, she’s never coming back.
The belt in her hand is swinging towards Harrison’s skull.
…2, 1….BUUUUZZZ!
That belt along with so many hearts stop when the lyrics of ‘Blue’ start to play over the loud speakers, meaning only one thing.
Hunter: IT-IT-IT CAN’T BE!
Frankie: No….don’t tell me…don’t tell me SHE’S back.
Hunter: There’s no way this is happening. Rac….*BEEP*…hasn’t been seen in months. Is she-is she-is she really back.
It certainly looks like Kat believes that’s the case, hence the sweat rolling down her cheeks and the size of her eyes as they veer towards the entry way. The crowd is watching excitedly, their adrenaline surging at the prospect of seeing Rachel Tatum Lee return to the IWC and avenge the systematic destruction of her legacy at Kat Kelly’s hand. Finally a figure emerges from the back, and much to the crowd’s delight….no…their DISGUST…that figure is a laughing Alistair Taylor.
Hunter: Waaaaaiit a minute….
Cameras cut back to Kat who is doubled over in a fit of laughter.
Frankie: HAHAHA, they got you, Greyson, they totally fooled you and all the other idiots in the arena.
Hunter: First off, they got YOU too, and secondly, my name is NOT Greyson.
Frankie: Shut up Greyson, this is amaze-balls. Monarchy swerved the hell out of us.
Hunter: I guess it’s not Rac…*BEEP*….coming to the ring to compete in the Rumble, its Alistair Taylor.
Tears of laughter are wiped away from Alistair’s cheeks as he descends to the squared circle where his partner Kat is equally amused. She rolls out to greet Alistair at the base of the ramp, rubbing the incorrigible scamp on the back of his neck and then pointing at Harrison in the middle of the ring.
Kat: You know what to do big boy.
The second that Alistair gets in the ring his hands are locking around Harrison’s skull, a head that has already been bashed with a title belt. Although Harrison can barely get his legs straightened under him he’s forced to his feet, knees wobbling like trees hit by hurricane force winds. Alistair points at the ropes as if calling what hole he’s going to sink a billiard ball into. Harrison is that billiard ball and he’s about to be SUNK. Alistair charges him with ease at the ropes, but he doesn’t have as simple a time sending him flying over those cables. Right before he goes over Harrison reveals that he was a possum no longer intent on playing dead. He surprises Alistair by taking him by the back of the head and throwing HIM over to the outside.
Frankie: AAAAAHHHH!!
Hunter: Oh WOW!
The moment that Alistair’s ass hits the ground his rage hits the roof. He sits there on the outside mats with eyes bulging from their sockets and his jaw hung all the way down to his knees. He can’t believe he was just eliminated, his hands ripping at his hair once he turns back to the ring and sees Harrison peering at him through the ropes.
Frankie: That didn’t just happen.
Hunter: Alistair thought he had Harrison dead to rights, but it looks like Aaron was a bit more resilient than Alistair gave him credit for.
There are many stories unfolding as this Rumble bout continues, and one of paramount interest is the apparent injury suffered to Johnny Kingdom’s leg. He is still seated on the ring apron pawing at his knee with the ringside doctor examining it as well. Behind Kingdom there are a number of bodies fending off elimination from the Rumble. Marie Jones finds herself wrapped around the top rope, clinging to it with her arms and her legs while Jessica Wilde blasts her repeatedly over the back with forearms. Try as she may Wilde just can’t break Marie’s grasp on the cables. Meanwhile Cassius DeLight finds himself on the receiving end of a few shoulder blocks to his ribs driving his back into the corner where he’s stood. The two men who have been in the Rumble the longest are fighting it out as Orlando Cruze rams his shoulder repeatedly into Cassius’ ribcage.
Someone in a far worse predicament than Cassius happens to be the man being gorilla pressed above the head of Kalinda. The dragon carries her latest conquest towards the ropes, right on the verge of throwing Danny Darko out of the Rumble. But just then Andre Jordan comes staggering in behind Kalinda and hits a dropkick on the back of her ankle. The blow causes her to buckle at the knees and allows Darko to slip from her hands, landing right in front of her. With Kalinda kneeling on the canvas she’s in perfect position for Darko to deliver the Darkolator. The corkscrew kick smacks Kalinda right between the eyes and the blow does what no other strike has been capable of thus far, it knocks the monster to her back.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6….
Hunter: Kalinda FINALLY taken down.
Frankie: Right as we’re about to have another competitor enter the Rumble.
Kalinda is in a position that her opponents HAVE to take advantage of. Harrison, Darko and Andre are all three stomping away at her. They finally force her up to her knees and then use their combined strength to drag her towards the ropes, intent on throwing her over to the outside. Kalinda not only holds onto the ropes with her arms, but with her tail as well, refusing to be tossed to the outside even by the unified strength of THREE opponents.
…3, 2, 1….BUUUUUZZZZ!
There’s a buzz louder from the crowd than the one that just came through the loud speakers. Everyone is exhilarated at the sounds of ‘Twilight of the Thunder Gods’ playing over the PA system, which means one thing, that Olaf Erlandsson is headed for the squared circle.
Hunter: Ooooooh my, it’s the Battle Hound, CNG’s own Olaf Erlandsson is the next entrant in the 2016 Last Stand Rumble.
Frankie: Who’s this guy? Did he show up to deliver my pizza?
Hunter: I just told you who he is you flipping idiot. He’s one of CNG’s biggest and brightest prospects. He won a battle royal in order to earn a spot in tonight’s match.
Frankie: Man, can you imagine what would happen if a ROOKIE like Olaf wins the Rumble in his very first IWC appearance? But first he better make sure there’s extra cheese on my pizza.
Olaf isn’t here to deliver pizza, he’s here to deliver some pain. He no sooner gets in the ring before he’s forced to avoid the leg lariat that Wilde tries to strike him with. Erlandsson ducks under the kick though and then unleashes one of his own…the THUNDERSTRUCK. The carbon foot print smashes Wilde right in the bridge of her nose and sends her flinging back across the ring. Andre twists away from the woman he and two others were teaming up on in order to try and get the drop on Olaf. He comes dashing towards Olaf but discovers that he’s not so easily ambushed. The Battle Hound almost rips Andre’s head off with the War Cry Clothesline.
Hunter: This young man impressive in there thus far. Which shouldn’t be that surprising considering the wars we’ve seen him wage against Mogui down in CNG.
Frankie: Are you speaking English, because I don’t understand any of the words coming out of your mouth.
Hunter: If you followed other wrestling companies, including our farm league CNG you’d know what I was talking about.
Frankie: Fat chance of that happening. I don’t even follow my own company.
Andre may have walked away from Kalinda in a futile attempt to get the drop on Olaf, but Victoria Salinas picks up where he left off on the dragon. She runs across the ring and joins Harrison and Darko in stomping away at the dragon. Meanwhile Orlando is busy chopping at a man who has put on a mythic performance in this Rumble. His blows land straight across the chest of an exhausted Cassius, who has spent more than his fair share of time in this Rumble, much like the individual presently assaulting him. The only thing that brings an end to this battle between these ironmen is an assault from the freshest individual in this Rumble. Olaf grabs Orlando out of the corner, twists the Phenom around and drops him via five knuckles straight across the kisser.
Cassius sees the power that Olaf has unleashed and now tries to do something to stop him. He climbs up onto the middle rope and then leaps off, right into the Mjolnir’s Might! The superman punch cracks an airborne Cassius right between the eyes and swats him out of the air like a fly.
Hunter: Olaf just continuing to impose his will all over everyone in this Rumble.
Frankie: Yep, he’s been pretty impressive, I’ll give him that.
Olaf tries to remain impressive and look strong, presently setting his sights on Marie Jones and looking to break her skull with his boot. Here comes the Thunderstruck, unleashing his version of the carbon foot print. His boot cracks…the AIR…Marie moving out of the way in the nick of time. As a result Olaf ends up catching his crotch across the top rope. This precarious position creates even further danger for Olaf when Marie springs off the perpendicular cables then twists into a dropkick. She nails Oalf in the shoulder and the blow sends him falling to the side, right over the ropes and right onto the ring apron. Amazingly Olaf has the presence of mind to grab the ropes before he takes the full plunge all the way to the floor.
10, 9, 8, 7…..
It remains to be seen how long Olaf can hold on when he’s got Marie sticking her feet through the ropes and wedging both of her boots right to his carotid artery. Olaf determinedly clings to the cables even as he’s choked out by Marie’s boots.
It appears that Kalinda is in equally as dire straits, finding herself leaning over the ropes with not one, not two, but three competitors trying their absolute best to eliminate her. Harrison, Victoria and Darko are putting their all into sending the dragon crashing right out of the Rumble. Kalinda is staying in there though, even if she’s hanging upside down with her palm pressed to the apron, basically doing a headstand.
…3, 2, 1…..BUUUUZZZ!
A thousand voices all at once cry out in fear when “Judge & Jury” plays over the PA system, meaning that all are about to bow to the Queen of Chaos. Cindy Todd makes her way out from the back and she does not emerge from the entry way alone. Cassandra Mason is following behind her, carrying a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire.
Hunter: Hell has just come to the Rumble.
Frankie: If anyone watching at home just suffered a cardiac arrest, don’t worry, you’re lucky compared to all those in that Rumble right now.
Hunter: New Eden’s Queen is descending like a buzzard ready to tear at the flesh of so many exhausted competitors in that ring.
Frankie: And the new right hand of New Eden is beside her, Cassandra Mason
Hunter: She showed her allegiance to Cindy earlier tonight when these two cost Mika Kozlov the World Championship.
Frankie: They’re about to cost everyone in this Rumble a whole lot more
It appears as if Marie Jones isn’t that worried about Cindy, in fact she’s dashing right at her. She runs right into a shot from the barbwire board…
Hunter: Noooo! Cindy using that board on Marie!
Todd rips the skin from Marie’s stomach and then tears some flesh from her spine as well. The barbwire board in Cindy’s hand cracks Marie right over the spine, driving her down to the floor. Cindy exacts the same type of punishment upon her old friend Orlando Cruze, catching him the moment he works his way back to his feet with the barbwire slicing across his brow. Aaron Harrison doesn’t get off any easier. Although he manages to nail a few punches across Cindy’s brow, it’s when he goes for the knock out shot that his knuckles collide with BARBWIRE. Cindy gets the board up and causes Harrison’s fingers to get caught in the piercing barbs. Cindy then nails a kick right into Harrison’s crotch, doubling him over. Cindy drops the 2×4 and gives Harrison a snap DDT straight into it, driving his skull into all that razor wiring.
Hunter: Can anyone get any control over this destructive force out here?
Frankie: I highly doubt it. Cindy is damn near….no-no-no…she IS unstoppable.
Hunter: So many have stood up to her and so many have fallen.
Frankie: Including everyone unfortunate enough to be in that ring with her right now.
And that means Kalinda is the next with her head on the chopping block. While Darko and Victoria give up eliminating the dragon and concentrate on eliminating one another, Cindy swoops in towards the still kneeling Kalinda. She puts the barbwire right across the dragon’s brow and starts to grind it back and forth across the flesh on her brow.
10, 9, 8, 7 6….
A smile is drawn across the face of Cassandra Mason as she watches this performance, a depraved one from her queen. Cindy is deeply enjoying the depths of depravity that she sinks to in order to make this a nightmarish evening for all those surrounding her. She continues to rip all the flesh off of Kalinda’s brow by dragging the barbwire bat back and forth, back and forth across her scalp. Finally blood starts to trickle from beneath the wounds opened across the dragon’s skin.
…3, 2, 1…BUZZZZ!
The scars on Kalinda’s head aren’t the only ones about to be opened.
Karen: This has gone on long enough….
Todd’s oil black eyes rise from the blood on Kalinda’s brow to the face of the Riot brand Principle Owner currently stood on the stage. Karen McBride has a microphone in her hand as she stops on the stage, setting aside her well-being by addressing the most dangerous woman in professional wrestling.
Frankie: Come on already, we’ve seen enough of this stuck up bitch…
Hunter: Be easy on Karen McBride, she’s had a rough night.
Frankie: I was talking about you.
Hunter: Oh.
McBride’s had her trials and tribulations throughout the night and dealing with New Eden might just be the toughest battle of them all. Luckily she’s not battling them without a strategy.
Karen: New Eden, this-this-this CHAOS needs to end….
Cindy licks the blood from the barbwire board she’s clutching before laughing in the face of McBride’s authority.
Karen: And I know just the way to stop you. (Takes a deep breath before turning to the entry way) Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce not only the next entrant into the 2016 Last Stand Rumble, but the newest member of the IWC roster…..RIDDICK!
The San Siro stadium goes absolutely ape shit at the sight of Riddick hobbling through the curtains to the stage.
Hunter: WWWWHHHATT!!???!!
Frankie: Riddick? RIDDICK!!??! RIIIDDDICK!!!??!!!
Although Riddick is still suffering the effects of that garish Hell in a Cell match against Ambrosia, he still shows fire, he still shows intensity, he still shows RAGE. All of it is directed at Cindy Todd, a woman he has such a long, storied and TROUBLED history with.
Frankie: Has Karen lost her damned mind? What-what-what is she thinking bringing Riddick to Riot?
Hunter: This is a MAJOR steal from the UWA roster, but I realize why Karen felt the necessity of recruiting Riddick, he’s the only one who has proven in the past that he can stop Cindy.
Frankie: He almost killed her for Christ sakes! This is like trying to fight an infestation of tarantulas with a horde of poisonous snakes. Karen might have wanted to end New Eden’s chaos but what she’s done by bringing in Riddick is ensure ANARCHY.
Cindy’s chest is heaving and her skin is turning all different shades, finding herself consumed by fury at the sight of Riddick rolling into the ring. It’s her surprise that keeps her frozen in place, just glaring at Riddick as he stands up in front of her. Finally she pulls back the 2×4 over her shoulder and prepares to use it. Only she stops when seeing Riddick take something out from behind his back, and that something is a spool of barbwire that ends up placed between his teeth.
Hunter: Holy mother of God.
Frankie: It’s one psychopath versus another psychopath.
Hunter: DANGER!
The fans go absolutely insane as Cindy and Riddick collide in the center of the ring, trading shots with one another. At last Cindy swings her barbwire 2×4 at Riddick’s head and it smacks him straight in the temple. The shot sends him spiraling along into the ropes, ricocheting off and then lunging right back into Cindy with a fist wrapped in barbwire. The skin is cut from Cindy’s jaw and the blow almost knocks her to the ground. Somehow she stays upright, gathers herself and runs at Riddick with the 2×4 raised over head. The barbwire is about to be driven into Riddick’s head only to have him side step her and ram his fist right into Cindy’s stomach. The barbs around his knuckles tear into Todd’s gut, the barbs almost piercing her intestines.
Hunter: This is insane….there is SO MUCH history between these two.
Frankie: So many years of hatred and now so many years about to be taken off of one another’s careers.
Hunter: Ever since Riddick set foot in the IWC he’s made it apparent he WANTS Cindy, and now he’s got her.
Frankie: Cindy’s wanted this just as badly as Riddick, and you better believe she’s going to take advantage of this opportunity to get the revenge she’s been after for years.
10, 9, 8…..
Cindy leans against the ring ropes while Riddick approaches her, his barbwire wrapped knuckles aimed at her face. Somehow Cindy manages to get her forearm up and block Riddick’s punch, holding back his fist and the barbs trying to reach her flesh. Now Cindy swings her barbwire board at Riddick’s skull only to meet with the same result as her enemy. Riddick gets his hand wrapped around Cindy’s forearm and pushes back the board that is getting closer and closer to his flesh. This life and death struggle is witnessed by everyone as Cindy and Riddick fight to keep barbwire away from their respective faces.
Hunter: Who’s going to break?
Frankie: Who’s going to survive?
We won’t get the opportunity to find out, as this fight between Cindy and Riddick is nothing but a prelude of chaos yet to come. Suddenly Harrison comes staggering up beside Cindy and Riddick, grabbing them by their legs and lifting them until both athletes go spilling over the rope. Their hands are so preoccupied with one another that they can’t grab the cables, meaning there is nothing that can stop them from hitting the ground.
Hunter: OOOOOH!
Frankie: Are you friggin kidding me!!??!
Hunter: Harrison, Aaron Harrison has just eliminated Cindy Todd and Riddick!
Although they’ve both been eliminated from the Rumble, Cindy and Riddick are not through RUMBLING. They get to their feet at ringside and trade shots with one another all under the watchful gaze of Cassandra Mason. She doesn’t know if she should intervene or just go on continuing to enjoy the spectacle. She opts for personal entertainment, observing as Cindy and Riddick exchange fists off to the side of the ramp….a ramp that is about to be traversed by the next entrant.
…3, 2, 1….BUUUUUZZZZ!
And the newest competitor in the Rumble is already scrambling towards the ring before their entrance music can even cue up. The crowd squeals at the sight of Julia Braddock making a mad dash to the squared circle.
Hunter: What an unbelievable turn of events here. Riddick and Cindy Todd so preoccupied fighting each other that they didn’t even see Harrison sneak up on them until they were already flying over the ropes.
Frankie: Those two aren’t through with each other, they’re just getting started….
Hunter: Much like Julia Braddock, who wants to make a major statement in this Rumble. She’s had a break out year thus far, one that could culminate to her main eventing UWA Olympus and challenging for the World Title.
Julia jumps towards the ring which she hopes will be the epicenter for her proudest moment ever. Not if Andre Jordan has his way though. He runs across the ring and tries to ram his shoulder into Julia’s ribs only to have her leap out of the way of this calamitous situation. She springs to the top rope and then leaps off, flying over Andre and into a stereo clothesline that connects with the throats of Victoria Salinas and Danny Darko. All three competitors go down but Julia is the first back to her feet. She runs straight at Cassius, leaping into him with her feet extending, connecting with his gut. She launches him out of the corner he was standing in and into the monkey flip. Surprisingly Cassius still has the wherewithal to flip straight onto his feet, showing off his sheer agility. He now whips around back to face Julia who is springing back off the corner Cassius was just tossed out of. She hits a twisting roundhouse kick that nails him straight in the bridge of his nose.
Hunter: What passion being shown by Julia. You can see how bad she wants this.
Frankie: Winning is in her DNA, much like rugged manliness is in my genetics.
Fatigue has set in on a lot of the athletes in this Rumble, including Jessica Wilde. It appears that Harrison is going to capitalize on that. He steps in from behind, takes her by the hair and yanks her up to her feet…actually he yanks her OFF her feet. Wilde flips back and hits a Pele style kick straight to Harrison’s face. The impact sends Harrison stumbling towards the ropes, using them as a crutch. They don’t help but hinder him when Harrison finds his jaw on the receiving end of the Thunderstruck. Olaf dashes in and hits the carbon foot print on Harrison’s jaw, the blow sending him flying over the ropes and to the floor.
Hunter: What a kick!
Frankie: That blow just knocking Harrison straight over the ropes.
Hunter: He had a very impressive showing in this Rumble, eliminating Riddick and Cindy Todd simultaneously mere moments ago. It’s just a shame he couldn’t parlay that momentum into a victory.
Frankie: Don’t forget that he also sent Alistair packing from the Rumble, which was the mother of all outrages.
Olaf whips around after eliminating one competitor and now sets his sights on another. He runs right at an achy Marie in order to drive her down with his version of the Meathook Clothesline. He starts to throw his arm at her throat but the only thing that collides is his face with the canvas. Marie leaps into the air, catches him and drives him down with the diamond cutter. Olaf’s face bounces off the ring with enough force to send him popping up to his feet. He stands up just as Victoria Salinas catches him from behind with the back stabber.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6…..
There’s so much going on inside of the ring that the crowd has trouble keeping track of it all, hence why Johnny Kingdom and his ongoing knee issues continue to fly under the radar. At the moment he’s hobbling around the ringside area, leaning heavily on the apron to keep himself upright while the ringside medic checks him over. Obviously the doctor does not like what he sees and is now imploring Kingdom to return to the back so that the full extent of his injuries can be examined. If there’s one trait Kingdom displays above any other, it’s his stubbornness. He refuses to leave the ring, and refuses to abandon the Rumble.
…3, 2, 1….BUZZZ!
Johnny will probably be very grateful he’s not in the ring right now considering the very dangerous athlete presently headed for the squared circle. The entire arena is forced to endure the presence of Desmond Drake.
Hunter: Oh great.
Frankie: It’s Dessie D baby!
A horrified Drake scurries towards the ring with the Queen of Wrestling Title hung from his forearm and his eyes looking back towards the entry way. The pint sized Drake climbs up the steel steps and then straight into the ring, clutching tight to the title belt he stole from Selena Frost.
Hunter: Desmond Drake still carrying the title he was SUPPOSED to defend against Selena Frost earlier tonight.
Frankie: Drake didn’t have to compete in that match, there was nothing for him to gain from it, unlike the Rumble. He wins this and he’ll become the first person in history to potentially hold both the Queen of Wrestling and the World Titles simultaneously.
Hunter: He has no right to be clutching that Queen of Wrestling belt. He STOLE it from Selena, and plus, he’s a man….I think.
Drake’s manhood is about to be tested when he backs up across the ring and finds his back striking a knee about twice as big as he is. He almost chokes on the gulp in his throat as he slowly turns around and looks up into the face of Kalinda.
Hunter: The smallest man in the Rumble has just run afoul of the biggest competitor in that ring.
Frankie: The midget Drake is squaring off with the dragon Kalinda, and look, I think Kalinda is trembling.
Hunter: Bullshit.
It’s Drake who’s shaking, so bad it vibrates the entire ring. And he has a right to be shaking when he’s got a dragon standing over him. Well she’s not just standing there anymore. She reaches down with both hands, clasping them around Drake’s throat. His tiny body is heaved into the air with ease and is now about to take a plunge over the ropes with the very same double handed chokebomb that dispatched Trump from the Rumble. But just before Drake can be eliminated we see five ladies dressed in ski masks and black prevent their benefactor from being eliminated. The very same quintet who aided Drake in escaping Selena Frost earlier in the night, slide into the ring from all sides and immediately pounce on Kalinda. They are hitting her from every possible angle and all the blows are weakening her enough to cause her legs to buckle at the knees. She falls to the ring with all these shots continuing to rain down on every inch of her anatomy.
Drake: Enough with her…(Drake shouts at his bodyguards)…take out the rest of them!
He points across the ring at all the other athletes competing in the Rumble. Each of these competitors find themselves ambushed by the five ladies in ski masks.
Hunter: This is downright wrong.
Frankie: Drake would make the great Silas Mason so proud. He honors our former Principle Owner both by holding that Queen of Wrestling Title and potentially winning the Rumble here tonight.
Drake continues to call the shots as his ladies deal out the damage. The five of them are stomping away at every single body lying in the ring, rather it be Orlando Cruze, Cassius DeLight, Marie Jones, Julia Braddock, Andre Jordan, or any other. Finally they converge on Victoria Salinas, grabbing her by the arms, dragging her to one of the corners and sitting her up against them. Drake stands across from her and gives Victoria a crotch chop gesture before running right into the BRONCO BUSTER.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Drake takes considerable joy in driving his crotch right into Victoria’s face again and again and again.
Hunter: This is disgusting.
Frankie: Drake making Victoria pay for getting involved in his business with Selena three weeks ago.
Drake continues to hit the bronco buster and laugh hardly in the process.
…3, 2, 1….BUZZZZ!
Drake may never laugh again when the lyrics of ‘BELIEVE’ start to play through the loud speakers. Everyone in the arena, save for Drake and his battalion of ladies, rejoice at the sight of the next entrant in the Rumble…Selena Frost.
Hunter: Oh what a fitting coincidence.
Frankie: You ‘oh’ more than a hooker I’ve paid to orgasm.
Hunter: Selena Frost, the Snow Queen, she’s in the Rumble and she’s entering at the perfect point. She’s got Drake, the man who stole her Queen of Wrestling Title, dead in her crosshairs.
Selena is stomping down the ramp where the man she’s been chasing throughout the night is standing with HER title in his hands. Drake looks horrified, staring at all the ladies he’s brought with him and suddenly wishing her had hired more.
Drake: What are you waiting for? GET HER!
The ski mask clad bodyguards dash at Selena the second she gets in the ring. With lightning fast reflexes Selena drops to her back, causing one of the women in black to go tripping over her and to go flying over the ropes to the outside of the ring. Another of Drake’s goons is hustling towards Selena only to be side stepped, caught by the back of the head and thrown over the strands. There’s a third bodyguard dashing at Selena and a third victim of the Snow Queen’s wrath. Selena ducks down in time to catch the woman coming in, hitting her with a back drop that sends her flying to the outside of the ring where she lands on top of her cohorts.
All three woman hit the ground, and they won’t be the last. The final two members of Drake’s protective detail meet with better results than the previous three. They catch Selena from either side and start wearing her down with clubbing blows and stomps. Eventually Selena falls back and finds herself being forced to her seat with her back to a turnbuckle. All the while Drake is giving her the crotch chop gesture and is now taking off across the ring to deliver the Bronco Buster. Drake’s groin flies right into the bottom of Selena’s boot. She gets her foot up and right into Drake’s balls….bursting them on impact.
Frankie: NO! Nothing is working out for Drake.
Hunter: I think he’s going to be spitting out his balls after that kick just caught him.
While Drake rolls around on the ring holding his groin in his hands, his attacker is being led up to her feet. One of Drake’s bodyguards climbs up the turnbuckle Selena is propped against and is swinging punches down across the Snow Queen’s brow. Only two punches connect before Selena slips out from under her assailant, stands behind the masked woman and gives her a shove. The lady is sent spilling over the top rope and then all the way down to the ground. Now it’s up to the fifth and final member of Drake’s faction to dispatch Selena and do so with extreme prejudice. She catches Frost with a few forearms to the side of the face before placing her in a front chancery.
It looks like the bodyguard isn’t just going to take Selena out, she’s going to do it with her victim’s very own finishing move, the Ice Breaker. She lifts but never pulls Selena’s head down into the ring. Instead Selena swings that head out of her attacker’s clutches before turning back to the masked woman, grabbing her around the head and lifting her into an Ice Breaker delivered by the originator. This woman’s head bounces off the ring that she is now rolling across. She stands up with her back to the ropes, cables she is sent spilling to the other side of when Victoria Salinas comes dashing across the ring and nails her under the jaw with a jumping back heel kick.
10, 9, 8….
Hunter: There just went the last of Drake’s goons.
Frankie: Doesn’t matter, because there goes Drake…he’s getting while the getting is good.
That’s just what Drake is doing, grabbing the Queen of Wrestling Title and then taking off across the ring he intends on escaping. His eyes are trained on Selena, watching her right up until he runs into a wall. He finds himself ricocheting off the legs of Kalinda. She blocks his exit from the ring and his escape with the gold presently in his hands. Now she watches as Drake falls on his ass, scooting like a dog with worms across the carpet in order to evade her. He turns away from Kalinda and desperately crawls to safety….actually, he crawls straight into doom. Selena is waiting for him and shows the wee-one no mercy, latching onto his arm and flipping him onto his back where the Frost Bite is applied.
Hunter: FINALLY!
Frankie: Someone get some help out here for Drake!
….4, 3, 2, 1…..BUZZZZ!
The woman presently on her way down the ramp won’t be of any aid to Drake. Although Ambrosia is still suffering the brutality of her Hell in a Cell match against Riddick, it’s not going to keep her out of this Rumble. Ambrosia smiles through the pain that is coursing through every inch of her as she shuffles her way towards the Rumble, clasping at her ribs through the whole arduous journey.
Hunter: Surprising that Ambrosia can still go after what she and Riddick put each other through in the Hell in a Cell earlier tonight.
Frankie: Yet here she comes. Another sadist about to enter a masochist’s wet dream.
Hunter: Ambrosia victorious in the Hell in a Cell earlier on, but can she keep winning all the way to Olympus?
Frankie: Who cares? The only thing I’m worried about right now is Drake and that arm this psycho Selena is trying to tear out of its socket.
Drake is crying out louder than a choir of banshees. The only thing louder is his hand slapping the canvas repeatedly as he taps out to the Frost Bite. At first Selena is reluctant to release Drake from the arm bar, not letting go until she hears his shoulder snap.
Frankie: Let him go you sick freak.
At last Selena shows some mercy, letting Drake go from the Frost Bite but not letting up on him entirely. Finally she drags Drake to his feet, dashes him to the ropes and throws him over to the outside.
Hunter: Drake gone from the Rumble.
Frankie: Damn you Selena, damn you straight to Kentucky.
Hunter: Selena has not only got revenge on Drake, but she’s got her Queen of Wrestling Title back in the process.
The fans are beaming with pride at the sight of Selena picking up the Queen of Wrestling Title from the canvas then raising it high over-head. Her celebration is incredibly short lived, because Ambrosia has just run up behind her, grabbed her by the back of the head and thrown her over the ropes. Miraculously Selena grabs the cables and manages to avoid an elimination.
Hunter: Ambrosia almost making a huge impact right out of the gates.
Frankie: Selena THAT close to going over…THAT close.
Victoria jumps on Ambrosia and drives her into the ropes, pounding her with rights across the scalp. Ambrosia goes on eating fists, Victoria packing quite the wallop. On the other side of the ring Julia Braddock is laying into the mid-section of Orlando with stomps and Andre Jordan has joined in. Only while Julia gives the boots, Dre provides the chops, his hand cutting right through Orlando’s sternum. Julia and Andre then grab Orlando’s legs, lifting them into the air and trying their best to force him over the ropes to the outside.
Frankie: Hang in there Orlando! For the love of Pete…no, for the love of Frankie, hang in there.
Hunter: You definitely have a way of inspiring people.
Frankie: I might as well as be a Rocky montage.
Olaf is trying his best to match up with Kalinda, drilling her across her bloodied brow. But Kalinda gives just as good as she gets if not better. A well placed uppercut to the CNG competitor’s throat sends him twisting away and towards Marie, who was stalking her prey patiently. She nails Olaf with a dropkick that sends him staggering back into Kalinda’s shoulder. Now she heaves him up and into a back drop suplex that sends Olaf flying over the ropes. Although Olaf SHOULD be eliminated his quick reflexes and his agility save him. He latches onto the top rope and lands on his feet across the apron. Meanwhile Kalinda is dashing across the ring and into a lariat that connects with enough force on Marie’s neck to send her twisting through the air. Kalinda then spins back around just as Olaf comes running back into the ring, but Kalinda catches him with a sidewalk slam that would make the Big Bossman sit up in his grave.
Once again focus shifts to Johnny Kingdom at ringside, his leg continuing to be a source of concern. The ringside doc goes on imploring him to stay out of the ring but Kingdom is adamant about continuing to compete in the Rumble, even if the doc AND his body are shouting at him to think otherwise.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5….
Victoria’s fists have Ambrosia’s forehead swelling and her back bridging over the top rope. One last shot should do the trick and eliminate her, Victoria backing up to deliver the final strike. She runs in and runs right into a boot, Ambrosia launching her foot into the air. Although it SHOULD connect with Victoria’s mouth, it doesn’t, she catches it before the heel has a chance to nail her in the kisser. She was quick enough to catch that boot, but not the one the one that comes sailing into the back of her head. Cassius sneaks in behind Victoria and smacks her upside the brainpan with a thrust kick. The shot has Victoria all disorientated and leaves her unable to stop Ambrosia’s free foot from launching into the air and smacking her in the temple. The modified enzugari hits Victoria with enough force to send her twisting to the middle of the ring where Jessica Wilde is leaping into a spinning heel kick that nails her upside the bridge of the nose.
….2, 1….BUZZZZ!
Hunter: Who’s it gonna be?
Frankie: Please let it be Tay….We need a lot more Tay tonight.
It’s not Tay who comes to the ring it’s……Mya Denton. There is quite the reception as she comes running down the ramp and slipping into the center of all the madness.
Hunter: It’s Mya Denton.
Frankie: This is unfair.
Hunter: Why’s that?
Frankie: Because with all of Mya Denton’s split personalities isn’t this like letting two, three, maybe four people into the Rumble at once?
Hunter: Mya has had her issues with dissociative disorder, and Aaron Harrison has been trying to get her to let the darkest part of her take over.
Wilde is waiting for Mya the moment she gets to her feet, throwing a lariat at her neck. However Mya possesses the quick reflexes to duck the clothesline and then catch Wilde around the head the moment she whips around. Mya has to move even quicker if she wants to thwart Danny Darko, who is staggering along in her direction. Mya puts her boot out, kicks off Darko and uses him to launch herself around into a tornado DDT.
Hunter: Mya dropping Wilde straight across her head with that sensational DDT.
Frankie: She’s going into that ring with a lot of people who have been in this match for a very long time.
Hunter: Yeah, so she’s got to take advantage of her freshness.
Frankie: You sound like a damned tampon commercial.
Although Darko is one of the many in this Rumble who has been competing out there for quite some time he still has the ability to launch himself into a double stomp that nails the unconscious Wilde right in the ribs. Meanwhile Kingdom is finally rolling back into the squared circle and trying to put some pressure on his leg, trying and failing. He hobbles along and clubs Selena Frost over the back with a forearm, then turns her around into a right that connects across her brow. He then tries to lunge into a clothesline only to cry out in pain, double over and grab at his knee. This gives Selena an opening, leaping into a dropkick that nails Kingdom right in the cheek. Kingdom collapses to the canvas then goes rolling to the outside, dropping across the mats and clasping at his leg.
Hunter: Kingdom still trying to compete even with that injury he sustained to his leg.
Frankie: Just give up Kingdom, you’re old frail body can’t take this type of punishment anymore.
Speaking of punishment we see Cassius DeLight unleash some on the kidneys of Andre. He punches him to either side of his back and causes him to turn away from Orlando, who he was very close to finally throwing out of this Rumble. Cassius grabs the back of Andre’s head and leads him along into the ropes, leaning him over the top strand and lifting up on his legs.
Hunter: Good lord, how long has Cassius DeLight been in this Rumble at this point?
Frankie: I’m telling you man, he and Orlando are on the brink of setting a new record. They’ve been in there since the very beginning of this match, and that was like what, four days ago?
10, 9, 8….
The numbers presently inside of that squared circle just keep on swelling, though if Julia Braddock has her way the roster in the ring might start dwindling. She grabs Cassius from behind, going for what appears to be a German suplex only to have him perform a standing switch. He gets behind Julia, who then delivers a back elbow right to his mouth. She then takes off into the ropes, springs to the middle cable and flies off, twisting into a clothesline but ending up getting caught with a spinning powerslam. Cassius drives her down and then goes hustling along into the cables, ricocheting off before dropping down into the rolling thunder. This time he connects with the move he was looking for much earlier in this bout, coming down right on top of Julia’s chest with the Bankroll. Cassius slips off of Julia and to his knees, starting to stand up only to have Andre step over the back of his head, hook both of his arms and deliver the Game Changer. The pedigree drives Cassius’ face right into the ring.
Hunter: I tell you this much, Cassius’ endurance is being tested right now after moves like that.
…3, 2, 1…..BUZZZZ!
Thousands cry out in horror at the sound of ‘My World’ by Brand New Sin playing over the speakers. Out from the back sashays former World Champion and the newest member of the UWA roster, Serenity.
Frankie: Greeeeeaaat. Here comes another screwball.
Hunter: And the latest addition to the UWA, a woman who gives our fledgling federation instant credibility.
Frankie: Not when she gets in that ring and gets dumped on our ass.
Hunter: She’s a former World Champion who survived to the final three in last year’s Rumble. Will we see her go one step further here tonight?
Frankie: She already went one step back leaving the IWC.
A smile sits on Serenity’s face as she rolls into the ring and surveys all the bodies at play. She watches as Marie Jones and Kalinda form an unlikely alliance in their effort to send Olaf over the top rope. She watches as Mya Denton attempts to scoop slam Jessica Wilde to the outside only to have her potential victim grab the top rope and push back from it. She watches as Andre Jordan and Orlando Cruze once again come to blows in the corner of the ring. She watches and watches, in fact that’s all Serenity does, she just sits there looking as relaxed as relaxed can possibly be, her back propped up against the turnbuckle and her arms rested over the converging middle ropes.
Hunter: What is she doing?
Frankie: From the looks of it NOTHING.
Hunter: It’s like Serenity is just sizing everyone up right now and looking for her opportunity to strike.
Just when it looks like Kalinda and Marie are going to eliminate Olaf, here comes Julia Braddock with an unintentional save. She dropkicks Marie to the back and the blow launches her straight into Kalinda, the two bouncing off of one another. Marie twists away from the dragon she just bounced off of and walks straight into Julia’s shoulders, being heaved into a fireman’s carry. All of Julia’s strength is employed to carry the leader of the Ginger Nation into the ropes, trying to throw her over but proving unsuccessful. Marie reaches out and grabs the top rope, refusing to be sent flying over it. Her fight mirrors the one being put up by Wilde, who is clinging to the ropes that Mya is adamant about scoop slamming her over. At the same time Selena Frost and Victoria Salinas have formed a tandem unit designated with the destruction of Ambrosia’s aspirations. While Victoria is lifting Ambrosia’s legs and causing her to hang over the top rope, Selena is stood on the apron placing her in a front chancery and trying to pull her down to the outside. Ambrosia will not go gently into the night.
Speaking of someone who will not go out without a fight, we now see Cassius DeLight employing the ropes to get back on his feet. His worn and withered body has withstood quite the test here tonight, but his arduous journey may come to an end. Orlando Cruze lunges in and hits him with such a powerful European Uppercut that it sends Cassius flipping back over the ropes. To everyone’s surprise Cassius manages to land on the ring apron, staving off elimination. Orlando is fed up with this and is about to bring Cassius to an end. Cruze comes running straight into his adversary’s shoulders. Cassius flies through the ropes and hits a spear to Orlando’s ribs, bringing him down flat to his back.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Serenity just goes on watching, sitting in silent observation of everything that is going on around her, including Olaf’s battle with Kalinda. The Battle Hound is connecting with one forearm after another across the bloodied brow of his adversary. He summons the strength to send her limping back towards the center of the squared circle. He then hustles along into the ropes, ricochets off and then runs right along into a double handed throat thrust unleashed by Kalinda. The strike sends Olaf falling back into the ropes and then finds himself on the verge of being sent over them. Kalinda comes running in for a clothesline only to have Olaf drop down out of the way, grab the top rope and cause Kalinda to go flying over him.
Frankie: KALINDA is….
Hunter: Still in there Frankie, she’s still holding on.
Kalinda lays across the ring apron with her arm hooked around the middle rope, somehow managing to survive. Though her survival may be coming to an end when she rolls to her back and looks up at the boots hurdling in her direction. Danny Darko has just come flying off the top rope and has driven both of his boots right into Kalinda’s ribcage.
..3, 2, 1….BUUUUZZZZ!
The arena unanimously comes unglued at the visual of Ricky Holt moving towards the squared circle to the tunes of ‘Unsettling Differences.’
Frankie: There he is….there’s my boy….there’s Ricky Holt!
Hunter: A man who has been ultra-impressive since his debut here in the IWC.
Frankie: Ultra impressive AND ultra-VIOLENT. This guy broke Devon Kayl down until he couldn’t compete in the IWC anymore, so there’s no telling what he’ll do to everyone here in this Rumble.
When Holt gets into the ring it becomes apparent that his focus is only on one individual, someone standing outside of it. Johnny Kingdom continues to limp around at ringside doing his absolute best to walk off the injury to his knee.
Holt: Hey old man….
Holt rolls out of the ring and starts to walk around it, but before he can reach Kingdom he makes a pit stop. An unfortunate front row fan has something stolen from them, Holt pilfering their possession then offering it to Kingdom.
Holt: Looks like you need this….
Kingdom is spun around by the shoulder and now looks down into the walking cane that Holt is offering him.
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHA-AAAAAH-HAHAHAHAHA!
Hunter: This is just disrespectful as disrespectful can be.
Kingdom looks sideways at the cane and then into a face that his fist comes hurdling into. The crowd explodes when Kingdom smashes Holt in the cheek with a punch, followed by a second and then a third. The shots across his face have Holt all disorientated, swinging his arms to remain upright.
Frankie: HEY! Holt wasn’t expecting that.
Hunter: Well he brought it on himself.
It seems there’s only one refuge for Holt at this point, rolling into the ring so as to evade the rapid succession of punches crushing his face. Kingdom isn’t letting this fish off his hook, he rolls into the squared circle and then goes hobbling along after his adversary. Just as he sinks his fingers into Holt’s hair a cane cracks Kingdom right in his injured knee. Holt lands a blow that all but cripples Kingdom with one strike.
Hunter: THAT CANE!
Frankie: Holt just blasted Kingdom in his bum wheel with it.
Hunter: Damn you, Holt, damn you-you no good bastard.
Frankie: What was it you said a few seconds ago? Oh yeah, Kingdom brought it on himself.
Hunter: Shut up…MACKIE.
Frankie: I will not….wait a minute…WHAT did you just call me?
The cane to the kneecap has sent Kingdom buckling to the ground. He’s been Kerriganed and is now rolling around on the canvas shouting ‘why’ at the top of his lungs. His legs is folded up and his hands are cupped around his knee, one that he cannot properly protect from yet another shot with the cane.
Hunter: Enough is enough Holt.
Holt keeps swinging the cane over and over and over again into Kingdom’s injured leg, doing untold amounts of damage. He throws aside the cane, but it’s not because he’s through attacking Kingdom’s leg. A different tactic is employed to inflict further injury, Holt swinging around the knee of the Team Leader and then dropping down into the figure four leg lock.
Hunter: This is SICK!
Frankie: It’s crippling…..Holt is CRIPPLING Kingdom.
Hunter: If Kingdom hadn’t taken that spill onto the ring steps earlier on in the Rumble this would be a much more even fight.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Right now that fight is about as one sided as one sided can get, Kingdom trapped in the figure four and bellowing in agony. Holt isn’t bellowing, he’s laughing, laughing at the top of his lungs as he unleashes this punishment on Kingdom’s leg. At the same time Danny Darko is climbing up onto a turnbuckle and then diving off into not one, not two, but three bodies. He takes down Selena, Ambrosia and Victoria, driving everyone down to the ring with a senton. At another end of the ring Marie Jones is throwing Mya Denton into the turnbuckle and then is hustling in behind her. Marie dives into a heat seeking dropkick only to have Mya move out of the way. As a result Marie’s legs hit the turnbuckle and she is flipped upside down, landing on top of her head. She rolls away from the corner and to her seat, sitting up just as Mya cracks her in the face with the shining wizard. The Demented nails Marie in the face and leaves her all but at the mercy of her opponent. If those opponents are all like Ricky Holt, they have no notion of mercy. He continues to show none to Kingdom’s leg, keeping the figure four clinched in.
….3, 2, 1…BUUUZZZ!
The fans express utter delight at the sight of the show stealing superstar Matthew Bowden bolting for the squared circle with such speed and such intensity it would make the Ultimate Warrior blush.
Hunter: We’ve got yet another rookie sensation headed out to compete in the Rumble.
Frankie: Matthew Bowden has been pretty red hot since his debut here in the IWC, but competing at Last Stand will be the ultimate litmus test.
Hunter: That’s the best part about the Rumble, it evens the playing field and gives everyone, Bowden included, a fair opportunity to challenge for the World Title.
Bowden jumps from ringside to the apron and then hustles across it. His journey takes him to the top rope, which he flips off of into the 450 splash, crashing down directly into the chest of Holt.
Hunter: Bowden going straight after Holt.
Frankie: Yeah, these two guys won’t be going out for brunch any time soon. And while I’m on that subject. Da fuq is brunch?
It’s not brunch that anyone is concerned with, but a CRUNCH, that sound coming from Holt’s chest when Bowden lands down onto him. The springboard 450 broke the figure four on Kingdom. Anguish is etched in the lines of the Team Leader’s face as he goes crawling along into the strands.
Kingdom is using the ropes to stand on a badly injured leg. That battered limb plagues him yet again when Marie Jones steps in from behind, grabs him around the thigh and then lifts, sending him flipping to the outside mats.
Hunter: Kingdom tossed by Marie.
Frankie: That injury costing him a shot at the Invictus main event.
Once on the floor Kingdom is tended to by medics. This time the ringside doctor will not take ‘no’ for an answer, throwing up an ‘x’ with both arms and summoning the EMT staff to help out Kingdom.
Hunter: It looks like Johnny Kingdom is going to be taken out of here rather he likes it or not.
Back in the ring Mya Denton has to contend with Julia Braddock, who catches her around the head, going for the reverse neck-breaker. Before she can fall victim to this move Mya swings around out of her opponent’s clutches and places Julia in a side headlock. She then runs towards the corner and cracks the top of Julia’s head against the middle turnbuckle pad. Julia is knocked back after being used as a battery ram, rolling to the middle of the ring where she ends up on her knees and on the receiving end of a shining wizard.
Hunter: Yet another Demented just unleashed by Mya and HEEEEEYYY!
Frankie: It’s Kat Kelly BABAY!
Once again Kat Kelly invades the Rumble, slipping into the ring and then crouching down behind an unsuspecting Mya. The moment that Denton gets back to her feet and turns she finds her face smashed in with the Kat Kelly Championship belt.
Hunter: Damn her! Damn Kat Kelly!
Frankie: Revenge….sweet-sweet GRAND revenge.
Hunter: Kat continuing to target the people who assaulted her earlier tonight.
Frankie: Mya and Harrison tried to take that Kat Kelly title from her, and now they’re getting it…..mwaahahahaha.
The blow from the belt across her brow has dropped Mya flat on her back and now her attacker stands above her wearing a sneer.
Kat: GRANDEUR! REGALITY! NOBILITY!
The Kat Kelly title collides with the cheek of Selena Frost, sending her twisting to the floor. As EMTS come out to help Johnny Kingdom it becomes apparent to this crew that Kat is giving them a slew of future patients.
Kat: DIGNITY! MAJESTY! PRIDE!
The braggart moves to the middle of the ring where the title she’s employed as a weapon is raised over her head.
Kat: That’s what this belt represents now. And it will never, NEVER (crouches towards Mya and lifts her head by the bangs of her hair) be associated with scum like you or ‘she who will not be named.’
The medics assist Kingdom to the back before one of them starts to head towards the injured combatants in the ring. She slides in and then grabs the cap she’s wearing over her head, ripping it away to reveal the face that was shadowed beneath.
Hunter: WAIT A MINUTE…WAIT….A….MINUTE!
Frankie: Uhhhhh, am I seeing this?
The whole world is in an equal amount of surprise at the sight of Rachel Tatum Lee.
Hunter: It’s her! She’s back! SHE’S BACK!!
Frankie: This is totes unreal.
Kat is totally unaware that the woman she’s smeared for weeks is now standing in the ring behind her, wearing the fiercest of scowls. In fact, the scowl on Rachel’s face is so potent in its anger that Kat can actually feel it. She turns around apprehensively and finds herself on the receiving end of a powerful Loredo Lasso.
Frankie: AHHH!!
Hunter: That clothesline from hell!
Frankie: Not on my Kat. This isn’t happening. Tell me Rachel isn’t back!
Hunter: She’s not only back but she’s absolutely beating the crap out of the woman who has defaced both her title and her career.
Rachel kneels beside Kat while pounding and pounding and pounding away at her face. Now Rachel takes her by the ears and just starts to ram the back of her skull against the canvas.
10, 9, 8, 7..
A desperate Kat manages to claw Rachel in the eyes and slip out of her clutches. She falls from the ring to her knees and scoots across them frantically. She flees from Rachel and does so with the Kat Kelly title still in her hands. Rachel stands up in the middle of the ring snarling as she watches Kat escape. Finally she rolls out and stalks Kat to the back.
Hunter: Shocking. Absolutely shocking turn of events here in the Rumble. Rachel Tatum Lee has surprised everyone with this ambush.
Frankie: Who let her in the building? Huh-HUH!?! They should be fired!
…3, 2, 1….BUUUUZZZ!
As high drama unfolds in the ring high energy is displayed by the man who just made it to the stage. Although Mason Van Stanton is full of excitement, as well as full of something else, the crowd isn’t into him or into his biceps (or lackthereof) flexes.
Frankie: I was really-really hoping that Mason Van Stanton was blowing smoke up our asses when he said he was going to compete in the Rumble.
Hunter: It was no lie, unfortunately.
Frankie: This is all McBride’s fault. Mason feels he HAS to compete in the Rumble in order to prove he’ll fight for her administration.
Hunter: That’s total crap. You know Mason just wants to be back in the limelight again, just like last year when he made multiple appearances in the Rumble with different disguises.
There’s no disguising Mason’s fear of heights. When he gets to the ring he scales a turnbuckle, stands on the top rope and then pays homage to the Macho Man by pointing with both hands to the ceiling. When he looks down at his target Julia Braddock, fittingly, he rethinks things. He climbs down to the middle rope and then points up at the ceiling once more. He then looks down at Julia and has second thoughts. Now he climbs down to the BOTTOM rope and after giving tribute to the Macho Man leaps into the elbow drop.
On the other side of the ring Mya is recovering from the multiple shots she took to the skull from the Kat Kelly title. She is using the ropes to stand up and has her back turned to her opponents. One of them breaks away from the batch, Marie Jones stepping up behind Mya, grabbing her around the thigh and lifting. Denton finds herself flung over the cables and then down to the floor.
Frankie: Mya eliminated.
Hunter: She was unable to recover from that blow she took from the Kat Kelly title belt.
Frankie: And it looks like Johnny Kingdom’s night is over too.
There are two EMTS tucked under Kingdom’s arms, holding him up so that he doesn’t have to apply much weight to his injured knee. He allows himself to be aided up the ramp and towards the back while several of the fans clap for him respectfully.
Back inside of the squared circle Bowden is beating down the man responsible for putting Kingdom in this position. Holt finds himself getting one boot after another to the ribs. Finally Bowden takes Holt’s hair and runs him across the ring, trying to throw him to the outside. Holt pulls away at the last second though and pushes Bowden, sending him flying into the ropes. Bowden doesn’t go OVER those ropes however and instead bounces off them. He comes back in at Holt who jumps at his adversary only to have his blow ducked. Bowden catches Holt in position for the Alabama Slam and then turns to send him over the top rope. Just when the two reach the strands, Holt manages to wedge his feet to the cables and then push off of them. He sends both himself and Bowden flipping over into the Canadian Destroyer.
Hunter: OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW!
Frankie: That was one nasty piledriver.
Bowden bounces off the top of his head and goes flying to the middle of the ring. Up until now Serenity has assumed the role of a silent observer, but now she sees an opportunity to strike and she’s going to take it. She comes flying off the top rope of the corner she was seated against moments earlier and hits the shooting star press on a shattered Bowden.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Hunter: A breathtaking shooting star press.
Frankie: And now look at Serenity, she’s going right back to the corner.
Serenity rolls into the turnbuckle, sits against it and pats her hand across her yawning mouth. Meanwhile Andre Jordan is going after Ambrosia, kicking her in the ribs, doubling her over and putting her in position for the pedigree. He is just about to drop her with the Game Changer before Orlando runs in from behind, catches Dre by the back of the head and then runs him into the ropes. Dre can’t stop be tossed over but he can stop falling to the floor. He grabs the cables and lands on the ring apron. Needless to say Orlando is infuriated, running at the ropes and throwing a boot right through them that collides with Dre’s face. The shot ALMOST takes Dre off the apron but it’s nothing compared to the shot Orlando is about to take. He turns around just as Cassius nails him with a powerful superkick under the jaw. The shot sends Orlando spiraling along into the ropes then falling THROUGH them to the outside of the ring.
Hunter: Orlando ALMOST had Dre and now Cassius ALMOST had Orlando.
Frankie: These guys need to stop playing with my emotions.
Cassius steps towards the ropes he just sent Orlando crashing between and looks over at the body splayed at ringside. As Cassius observes a beleaguered Orlando, he fails to see the clothesline traveling into the back of his head. Olaf runs in and hits the War Cry Clothesline on Cassius, delivering it with enough force to send the recipient forward flipping over the ropes. The crowd cries out at the sight of Cassius tumbling to the floor.
Hunter: (Sullenly) Aaaaaah man, no….nooooo….why?
Frankie: Cassius couldn’t hang in there forever.
Hunter: Cassius DeLight’s amazing performance in this Rumble has just come to an end.
…3, 2, 1….BUUUUZZZ!
Just about everyone in the arena jumps right out of their seats at the sight of Marina Valdivia emerging from the backstage area.
Hunter: Listen to this reception.
Frankie: I don’t have to if I don’t want to.
Hunter: It’s impossible not to hear it. This place is just erupting for Marina Valdivia, who endured a grueling Stairway to Hell bout in order to earn her way into the Rumble…to earn her way one step closer to main eventing Invictus.
Frankie: After what Cassidy Haze did to her earlier on she’s got no chance in H-E-Double Hockey Sticks of surviving this Rumble.
The results of that harsh Stairway to Hell bout against Cassidy can be seen in the bandages that are plastered across Marina’s brow. But it wouldn’t matter to her if she were on life support, she’d still come to that ring and she’d still fight for a right to challenge for the World Championship. And fight is exactly what she’s going to have to do, because Olaf is already waiting for her in the ring. Or at least he WAS waiting for her. Suddenly Serenity clobbers Olaf from behind, dropping him to the canvas at her feet. Where he once stood Serenity is now standing. She looks over him, over the ropes and right at Marina. A smile starts to slither across Serenity’s face as she crouches at the knees and gestures for Marina to BRING IT.
Hunter: Oh yeah, here we go, Serenity calling Marina Valdivia into the ring. These two have such a well-documented history with each other.
Frankie: They spent the better part of 2015 tearing each other to pieces, and now they’re about to do the same right here, right now, right in the middle of the Rumble.
Marina does not have to be asked twice, she goes dashing straight towards the ring, slides in and immediately comes to blows with Serenity.
Hunter: Their getting it on.
Frankie: Serenity’s gonna make sure Marina isn’t going to Invictus, isn’t going to win this Rumble, and that she isn’t going to survive the night,
Serenity’s punches are aimed directly at the bandage on Marina’s brow, trying her best to bust her open. However, Marina retaliates with uppercuts that nearly break her greatest rival’s jaw. Outside of the ring we can see Cassius, covered in his own sweat, walking up the ramp and running a hand back through his hair. He stops for a second to look at a front row fan singing Cassius’ praises in between sips of beer.
Cassius: High five chief.
Cassius holds up his hand but the moment the fan lifts his own the beer he was holding is stolen from him.
Cassius: Thanks bud.
Many fans chuckle as Cassius walks up the ramp chugging down what’s left in the beer bottle he just pilfered. Back inside of the ring Marina and Serenity are still going at it. Finally Serenity hits a palm thrust upside Marina’s cheek that sends her spiraling around into a full circle. She turns back to face Serenity just in time to catch her coming in with a hurricarana. Serenity is spiked down straight on top of her head, bouncing off of it and over onto her seat. Instead of expressing pain, Serenity is expressing delight. She jumps right back to her feet and catches Marina by the shoulder, pulling her around into another palm thrust. The blow smacks Marina straight in the mouth and sends her twisting towards the ropes. Serenity is in hot pursuit, barreling towards Marina who suddenly leaps into the air, lands on the middle rope she was standing in front of and springs off it, catching her adversary around the neck then spiking her on top of her skull with the tornado DDT.
Hunter: Marina managing to hold her own in there in spite of everything Serenity’s teammate did to her earlier on.
Frankie: It’s just the calm before the storm. In a matter of minutes Serenity is going to hit Marina with a burst of wind powerful enough to rip a trailer park apart.
10, 9, 8….
On another end of the squared circle an absolutely exhausted Marie Jones is chopping away at the chest of an every bit as winded Jessica Wilde. There’s also a fight waging on between Darko and Kalinda, the dragon leaning back against the ropes with Danny’s foot wedged to her throat. Much of the focus is on Marina though as she points to the top rope and signals that the California Splash is coming and its Serenity she’s going to decimate with it.
Hunter: Marina’s gonna make a massive SPLASH in this Rumble and on Serenity.
Frankie: I really hope you didn’t think that was clever.
Marina is about to make her ascent up the corner but instead she’s forced to make a descent from the ring. A hand has just reached under the ropes, latched onto her ankle and pulled her feet out from under. Marina is then dragged all the way out of the ring where she finds herself the recipient of a punch, delivered with a chain wrapped fist. And who was responsible for this? Much to the disbelief of everyone in the arena, it was Katelyn Buehler.
Hunter: What-what-what what the hell!?!
Frankie: Katelyn, our champ, she just ummmm-uhhhh attacked Marina? Last time I checked these two didn’t have a beef.
Hunter: It looks like Katelyn is having some type of out of body experience, look at her eyes.
There is no life exhibited in Katelyn’s gaze, there is no anger, there is no sympathy, there is no compassion, there is nothing. She is in a deep trance like state, standing over Marina who she just busted wide open with the chain wrapped around her knuckles.
Hunter: Why did she do this? Can someone explain to me why Katelyn just attacked one of her friends?
…3, 2, 1….BUUUUZZZZ!
There is a piercing cry from all in attendance when Lexy Chapel’s theme music starts to pump through the PA system. Out from the back emerges Lexy with the Evolution Title, the Tag Team Title and another piece of gold in her possession. Everyone in the arena are hassling her endlessly as she makes her descent down the ramp flanked by the man come to be known as Reggie.
Frankie: It’s the love of my life. The future ex Mrs. Paradise, it’s the end of the evolutionary chain because nature can’t produce anything finer than Lexy By Gahd Chapel.
Hunter: Followed by a man we now know as Reggie. We last saw these two assaulting Katelyn’s manager in the back, maybe that’s what sent the Riot World Champion into such an irrational rage.
No, that’s not the reason Katelyn just assaulted Marina, that reason becomes a bit clearer when the world sees the ‘other’ piece of gold that Lexy is carrying. When Chapel reaches the end of the ramp and comes mono a mono with Katelyn she allows a medallion to slip down out of her hand, the very same trinket that has been used to brainwash and to control the World Champion.
Hunter: What the hell does Lexy have in her hands?
Frankie: Please tell me it’s my testicles.
Hunter: You’d have to grow a set first. No…that’s…some kind of talisman. And it seems to be having some type of influence over Katelyn.
Frankie: It would have to, because normally that hot-mess Katelyn would be all up in Lexy’s jelly.
The talisman dangling from Lexy’s hand has the World Champion so fixated she’s unable to drag her eyes away.
Lexy: One more time.
Lexy points down at the blood oozing from Marina’s scalp. Without a moment’s delay Katelyn pulls Marina up by the bangs of her hair and swings the chain around her knuckles right across the open wound in her target’s head. Marina goes down harder than a refrigerator landing on Roger Rabbit’s head, and she DOES see stars.
Lexy: Very good….Now (puts the talisman in front of Katelyn’s entranced eyes), put the bitch in the ring.
Katelyn does just as instructed, throwing the carcass of Marina into the squared circle where her body lifelessly lays.
Lexy: Get out of here.
Without so much as a glance back at the ring Katelyn walks off, leaving a trail of blood dripping from her knuckles.
Hunter: Someone PLEASE for the love of God explain to me what’s going on?
Frankie: Alright-alright, I’ll start at the beginning. A long time ago someone drank a shit ton of alcohol and was under the belief that your mother’s cooch wasn’t as toxic as Chernobyl, so they stuck their Vienna sausage in there and poof, nine months later after three failed abortions here you came.
Hunter: Errrmmm…thanks for summing it all up.
It’s easy pickings for Lexy, standing in the ring over Marina who is about as prone as a damsel tied to railroad tracks. It appears Lexy is going to be the locomotive that splays Marina’s guts as far as the eye can see. She pries her off the ring and then starts to run her towards the ropes, determined to throw her to the outside. Before Lexy can fulfill her plot she hits a roadblock in the form of Andre Jordan. Thankfully Marina has friends, and this one comes in the form of the ever loyal Andre, who will not see her dissed like this. He nails a punch across Lexy’s chin, and then does so once again with enough force to send Chapel reeling back on her heels. Although Dre may have defended Marina, he does not do nearly as good a job of defending himself. Lexy unleashes the superkick, nailing Dre clean under the jaw and knocking him flat on his back. Lexy spins from one victim to another, seeing Marina’s friend Victoria racing towards her. What Victoria ends up colliding with is Lexy’s boot, a second superkick crushing a second jaw.
Lexy turns her boot from one chin to another, shutting the mouth of Olaf with a superkick as well.
Frankie: It’s the Superkick Soiree, and everyone is invited to the shindig!
Except for Serenity. She avoids the superkicks while crawling towards Marina still splayed across the ring. Such delight is taken in grabbing Marina by the hair and pulling her up into one fist after another to the blood seeping out of her gash. Serenity then headbutts that very same wound, opening it further and sending blood splashing here, there, everywhere. Heads collide once again because Serenity pulls Marina’s cheek against her own and starts to stroke her hair.
Serenity: Haven’t you missed me, Golden Girl?
10, 9, 8, 7….
Another superkick is unleashed by Lexy, who collapses Julia Braddock’s temple at this point.
Serenity: Hey, over here!
Lexy looks around until she finds the source of the screams, her eyes honing in on Serenity, who holds up Marina and pins her arms behind her back.
Serenity: Give her some sugar.
A smile comes to Lexy’s face, one that will broaden when she hits a fifth superkick on the jaw of a helpless victim. She goes for the kick and it connects right upside Marina’s chin, the impact sending her to ground. Serenity watches her fall at her feet and giggles. She keeps on giggling right up until Lexy goes to superkick her as well, but the boot bound for her chin is stopped just shy of landing. Serenity catches it, looks down at it and then back at Lexy before shaking her head.
Serenity: For me? (Lifts Lexy’s boot) You shouldn’t have.
Serenity hits an inside leg trip on Lexy’s planted foot and then hooks her around the knees. Before Lexy has the chance of thwart it she’s being catapulted towards the ropes, sent flying over them. With very little time to spare Lexy grabs the top strand and holds on for dear life, avoiding elimination.
…3, 2, 1….BUUUUZZZ!
The crowd gets incredibly excited when Chris Davids emerges from the backstage area. There’s a huge grin on his face as he’s embraced by the very crowd that’s been anticipating his arrival all night long.
Hunter: I guess this is the reason Chris Davids looked so happy when he selected his number at the start of the night.
Frankie: The man clicked his heels together, his mother-fucking heels.
Hunter: All because he’s coming in this late and it drastically improves his odds of going to UWA Olympus to challenge for the World Title.
An old foe is going to make sure Chris doesn’t get that opportunity. As soon as he slides into the ring Chris is almost hit with the Scarlet Letter by Jessica Wilde. He doesn’t even get a chance to get to his feet before Wilde tries to take him out with the Curb Stomp. Her foot hits…the ring. Chris pulls back just in time to avoid the Scarlet Letter and then makes his opponent pay for trying to take him out with it. Wilde spins around and Chris kicks her to the gut before leaping into the scissors kick. He drives Wilde down and then rolls back onto his feet right as Selena Frost comes in. Chris spots her from the corner of his eye and catches her with an elbow to the mouth. Selena is knocked back and right into the waiting arms of Ambrosia. An attempt is made to German suplex Selena over the ropes and send her to the outside, but to Ambrosia’s regret she’s unable to connect. A standing switch is performed, putting Selena behind her opponent who she then pushes along into a roaring lariat. Chris was in the perfect position to catch Ambrosia the moment she got the shove, flooring her with his bicep.
Hunter: Ambrosia brought down with the spear.
Frankie: Why is everyone teaming up on the crazy babe? She’s already banged up enough after that Hell in a Cell match. It isn’t fair.
Chris and Selena aren’t the only two who team up on Ambrosia. As they close in on her a figure suddenly shouts into their ears and wards them off.
Mason: No-no-no-no….
Chris looks every bit as confused as Selena, the two looking towards Mason Van Stanton as he comes moseying out of the corner he had been hiding in up until now. His pencil thin arms are extended out to his sides and his tiny manicured fingers are gesturing for Chris and Selena to hang back.
Mason: Allow ME to do the honors.
Mason points to the ropes that he intends to throw Ambrosia over. Selena and Chris exchange a glance and then shrug with indifference.
Chris: By all means.
Selena: Don’t let us stand in your way.
Mason cracks his fingers and limbers himself up before grabbing Ambrosia and grappling her in a side headlock. He leads her up to her feet and then the pipsqueak starts to drag her towards the ropes. That’s when all the confidence he was just displaying fades as fast as Shia Lebouf’s star power. The color is all but gone from his face when he realizes that Ambrosia isn’t budging an inch. His wide panicked eyes turn to her face, which is looking up at him from his armpit with a crazed smile. Mason is as horrified as anyone who paid money to see a George Lucas movie post 1977. Ambrosia isn’t panicked, she’s enjoying this, sniffing at Mason’s armpit.
Ambrosia: Lady’s Speedstick?
Mason immediately lets go and backs off, diving between Selena and Chris then nestling himself protectively behind their backs.
Mason: GET HER!
He points at Ambrosia and expects either Selena or Chris to act as his personal attack dogs. They look at each other and then look at Ambrosia before forming a consensus. The two step aside and open up a path for Ambrosia.
Ambrosia: Yaaay.
10, 9, 8, 7….
Ambrosia lashes out, grabs Mason and then pulls him over her knee before smacking him straight across his bottom.
Ambrosia: You’ve been a very naughty boy.
Mason doesn’t know rather he should be horrified or excited. Though he eventually makes up his mind when Ambrosia pulls him off of her knee, licks him across the cheek and then charges him at the ropes. Mason doesn’t even try to fend off elimination as he’s sent flying over the top rope.
Hunter: There went Van Stanton.
Frankie: Guy got off easy if ya ask me.
Hunter: Ambrosia could have done a whole lot worse to the little worm.
A horrified Van Stanton backs across his seat and glares into the ring where Ambrosia is pantomiming holding a phone to her ear.
Ambrosia: Call me.
Behind Ambrosia’s back we see Chris and Selena look at each other, shrug and then run at their common foe. They both grab Ambrosia by the arms and throw her over the ropes. Ambrosia doesn’t go out as easy as Mason, dropping to the ring apron and preventing her elimination by clasping hold of the cables.
…3, 2, 1….BUUUZZZ
The crowd gets into quite the uproar when the True Sinistry’s Decay comes stomping out from the back.
Hunter: Another brute and perhaps the most imposing member of the True Sinistry coming down that ramp.
Frankie: With Jessica Wilde still hanging in there somehow it gives this macabre ‘family’ a number’s advantage
One that Decay and Wilde will no doubt employ once the big man has entered the ring. He rolls in and immediately finds himself in contention with Olaf. The Battle Hound runs in to deliver another War Cry Clothesline but instead finds his throat grabbed, engulfed in Decay’s palm. A chokeslam is then delivered with such force that it actually rattles the ring. A similar fate befalls Julia Braddock, who comes limping towards the big man only to be caught, popped up into the air and then powerbombed almost THROUGH the ring. Decay now sets his sights on Wilde, who is still hurting after everything she’s endured in this Rumble thus far. Decay will make sure she doesn’t hurt anymore, dragging her into a corner, standing her up and then putting himself in front of her. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at anyone who might dare come after Wilde.
Hunter: Looks like Wilde’s got herself an enforcer.
Frankie: That’s a wall she’s got in front of her.
Hunter: An impenetrable wall.
While Wilde has some protection, Marina Valdivia doesn’t. She is being rag dolled by Serenity, who has her propped up against the turnbuckle smacking her to either cheek.
Serenity: Don’t fall asleep yet, stay with me, stay with me….(rubs her forehead against Marina’s face)….stay with me sweetness. I want us to PLAY.
Oh how Serenity enjoys this, finding it ever so exhilarating to run Marina towards the very ropes she’s just about to send her flying over. But instead of flinging Marina to the outside Serenity finds herself on the receiving end of a superkick. Lexy FINALLY hits it and with enough force to knock Serenity almost right out of her boots.
Hunter: Lexy and Serenity not playing very well together.
Frankie: And dammit, it’s causing them to forget all about Marina. Focus on her ladies, focus on her, then you can rip each other’s clothes off all night long if that’s what you want.
At last Lexy’s attention DOES turn to Marina, stepping over her head and pulling her up into position for the package piledriver. Her bodyguard Reggie gets closer to the ring just so he can see Marina get dumped right on her noodle.
Frankie: Hit that shit. Hit it!
Hunter: Lexy’s about to snap Marina’s neck if she delivers the Explicit Content.
Marina has survived a lot tonight, but she’s not about to survive this. Lexy lifts…no….she’s lifted. Right before she can be hit with the Explicit Content, Marina stands up and sends Lexy flipping right over the ropes.
Frankie: NOOOO! NOOOO!!! NOOOOO!!!!
The sounds of Frankie’s fists hitting the announce table can be heard as Lexy’s backside hits the floor.
Hunter: Lexy-Lexy eliminated! She was just tossed out by Marina!
Frankie: I’ve lost the will to live.
Lexy can’t handle this, it’s absolutely unfathomable that she had Marina right there in her hands and right on the verge of elimination only to find herself tossed instead. She looks towards Reggie, pleading with him to tell her it’s a lie, but he has to be honest, no matter how much it might hurt her.
Lexy: Do-do-do something about this!
A furious Lexy points at the ring and Reggie goes sliding straight in there. He catches a crawling Marina by the shoulder, lifts her up and then drives her back down into the canvas with a sit-out chokebomb.
Frankie: There we go….that’s more like it.
Hunter: Aren’t you supposed to be killing yourself?
Frankie: I’ve suddenly found my spirits rejuvenated.
Reggie rolls out of the ring and provides Lexy with something else now, his shoulder for her head to lean on. He helps her up the ramp and to the back before Lexy looks back at the ring spitefully. Inside of that squared circle a beaten up Marina finds no rest for her weary body. Serenity is back on her, taking her by the hair and slowly guiding her up to her feet.
Serenity: Parting is such sweet sorrow.
10, 9, 8….
There’s only one reason that Serenity has stood Marina up, it’s so she can set her in place for a concussing kick. Serenity runs at the ropes right in front of Marina, springs from them and then twists into the roundhouse kick. It collides, just not with the victim she had intended. Victoria Salinas bites the bullet, shoving her friend Marina out of the way and eating Serenity’s kick. The shot almost knocks Victoria’s teeth out but they stay in place, the same can’t be said for her feet though. She’s down flat and her attacker Serenity is standing over her, sighing. She’s not happy that Marina dodged a bullet, for now. That’s about to change, because Serenity turns to Marina and closes the distance between them, She builds momentum behind yet another strike, this one of the closed fist variety but Serenity soon discovers that Marina is an expert at playing possum. Suddenly Marina catches Serenity coming in, stands up and back drops her right over the ropes.
Frankie: NOT AGAIN!
Hunter: Serenity! Serenity is gone!! She’s out! She’s eliminated!
Frankie: I’m gonna blow….
Hunter: Save it for the sailors on shore leave Frankie.
Frankie: What? No, I mean….SHUT UP!
The crowd is going absolutely nuts and they aren’t the only ones. Serenity is trembling at ringside, her whole body shaking.
….3, 2, 1…BUUUUUZZZZ!
The emotions that were at such a high now go sinking down low…very-VERY low because Teiji Shintaro is crawling down the ramp.
Hunter: Oh God no….not Teiji Shintaro….no one is safe now.
Frankie: Like they were before?
Hunter: What is that in Teiji’s mouth?
Frankie: Shit more than likely.
Hunter: No…look….I think that’s….I think that’s a RAILROAD SPIKE.
That’s exactly what it is, a spike is clinched between Teiji’s teeth as he makes his way down the ramp and towards a ring occupied by so many he would love to give a good stabbing. Marina won’t be one of them, because at the moment she’s being pulled out of the ring by a woman bent on revenge. Serenity has dragged Marina to the floor but instead of collapsing onto it she lands on her feet. That’s just what Serenity was hoping for, because it puts Marina in a perfect position to suffer a springboard roundhouse kick. Serenity comes off the apron and cracks Marina right in her already bloodied brow.
Hunter: Marina suffering yet another attack….this time by Serenity.
Frankie: It’s not like she didn’t have it coming.
Hunter: Why did she deserve this?
Frankie: Cause I don’t like her.
Hunter: That’s not a valid reason.
Frankie: Since when?
Although Marina may not be at his mercy there are still plenty of others that Teiji can get at. He’s presently running right across the ring and swinging the spike he was holding straight at the head of a man he’s no stranger with. Matthew Bowden had been employing the turnbuckle to hold himself up, and now that very turnbuckle pays the ultimate price for lending him aid. Bowden moves out of the way and the spike in Teiji’s hand impales the top turnbuckle pad. Teiji spins around smirking with teeth crusted in crap…teeth that are about to be knocked out when Bowden punches him across the face. Teiji lashes out and tries to get his hands on him but Bowden ducks through his arms and then hurries behind him. However Bowden is still ducked over long enough to get a punt right between the eyes from Ricky Holt.
Holt had been lying in wait this entire time to help his bud Teiji out, landing a strike on their common foe. The shot to the face sends Bowden staggering back and into the arms of Teiji, who immediately hooks both of his arms. Bowden is rendered defenseless, having no protection from the right hand that Holt unleashes upon his jaw. Or at least was PLANNING to unleash. Bowden slips through Teiji’s arms and now Holt’s fist flies past him, traveling right towards the jaw of the Japanese Terror.
Holt: WHOA-WHOA-WHOA!
Holt STOPS right before he could nail Teiji in the lips. He then puts his palms up towards his demented teammate.
Hunter: Holt and Teiji ALMOST coming to blows yet again.
Frankie: These two guys have spent more time fighting each other tonight than they’ve spent fighting their opponents.
Bowden sees a great window of opportunity and capitalizes on it. He leaps from the ring apron and to the top rope, flying off into a forearm smash that collides with the back of Holt’s head. The shot sends Holt forward right into Teiji, the two smacking skulls. A dazed Holt then turns back towards Bowden, who grabs Holt by the hair and throws him to the outside of the ring. Holt doesn’t crash to the floor though, he crashes to the apron and won’t go any closer to the ground. Or at least he hopes. When Holt gets back to his feet on the apron he finds Bowden reaching over the ropes and grabbing him around the jaw. Before he can fulfill whatever he’s got planned for Holt, Ricky reaches back, grabs Bowden by the neck and snapmares him to the ring apron. Bowden comes down to his knees, but it’s not into the floor. He lands right beside Holt and then takes him by the wrist. Holt finds himself dragged into Bowden’s shoulders and set up for the Death Valley driver to the ground.
Hunter: Holt’s night is about to come to an end!
Before Holt can take the fall to the ground he’s saved by Teiji, who reaches over the ropes in time to grab his ‘friend’ by the ankle and pull him back into the ring. Holt lands right beside Teiji, who didn’t save his comrade for entirely altruistic reasons. He grabs Holt by the back of the head and uses his skull as a weapon, throwing it over the ropes and right into the bridge of Bowden’s nose. The headbutt sends Bowden tumbling back and collapsing to the floor.
10, 9, 8…..
Hunter: Bowden just eliminated by these damned lunatics. And I mean they are CRAZY.
Frankie: They’re the Union of Ultra-Violence.
Hunter: I don’t care what you want to call them. They’re absolutely NUTS!
Frankie: See, that’s what makes Holt, Teiji and their agent Eric O’Flaherty so….
Hunter: NO! Their fucked in the heads. That’s it.
Bowden has just landed on the floor right beside a recovering Marina Valdivia, who’s face is covered in a mask of crimson. Back in the ring Holt is arguing with Teiji before he kicks his own partner in the gut not out of malice, but as part of a psychotic plan. He puts Teiji in a side headlock then uses the top of his skull as a battering ram, running the length of the ring before ultimately slamming Teiji’s head into the ribcage of Marie Jones. A moment after the impact Teiji pulls his head out of Holt’s hands and looks him dead in the eyes, his brown teeth forming a jagged smile. Holt tries to explain himself before he’s grabbed by the back of the head and run into another headbutt, this time with an impact against the small of Chris Davids’ back.
As Holt and Teiji take turns using one another as weapons we can see in the corner of the ring that Andre Jordan and Victoria Salinas are leaning on another, figuratively and literally. The two are exhausted but with their combined strength they still stand a chance, even with Teiji and Holt staring them down. The pair rush towards their worn out prey but Victoria and Dre are no sitting ducks. They fight back and fight back with all they have left in their hearts.
On another side of the ring Olaf Erlandsson is putting his boot repeatedly into the mid-section of Danny Darko, absolutely determined to send him packing from the Rumble, though first he has to soften him up. Olaf kicks Darko in the ribs and then drags his head down into position for the powerbomb. He now lifts him up and onto his shoulders only he never drives him down through the ring. Darko is able to push himself over Olaf’s head with a leap frog, coming down right behind his back. He then looks up towards a boot bound for his face, one that is unleashed by Decay. At the behest of Wilde, the brute is running in for a kick to Darko’s head.
Although Darko SHOULD be caught off guard, he isn’t, instead he drops down into a baseball slide right under Decay’s boot. Darko avoids the shot but Olaf doesn’t, he turns around gets a kick right in the teeth. The shot sends Olaf falling back into the cables and even though Decay could take advantage of his weakened prey, he goes back after his original target. He turns around just as Darko hits ANOTHER Darkolator. The blow sends Decay staggering back and falling into the ropes right beside Olaf.
….5, 4, 3, 2, 1…BUUUUZZZ!
There is a bone rattling ovation at the sight of long-term IWC veteran Jackson Adams making his way down the ramp and doing so just as quickly as his feet will carry him.
Hunter: It’s Jackson Adams, Frankie.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, big woopity doo. We already knew he was coming back tonight. He vowed just a few weeks ago that he was going to return to the Rumble and get his hands on New Eden. Lucky for him they’ve already been eliminated.
Hunter: That fact can’t set well with Jackson and you just know he’s gonna take his anger out on everyone else in that ring.
The first order of business for Jackson is to get his hands on Kalinda. He sees the blood on her skull and he’s drawn to it, obviously under the impression that she must be the weakest of the herd given the loss of her bodily fluids. Oh how wrong he is. Although Adams is successful in driving her down to a knee via his storm of punches he does not provide enough tornadic force wind to send her flying from the ring. Jackson bounces off the ropes in front of Kalinda and then dives with both feet right into her jaw. The dropkick has Kalinda nearly falling back but still not going down. Jackson is angered by this, running into the ropes, ricocheting off then diving into ANOTHER dropkick. Finally Kalinda is down although Jackson isn’t going to let her stay that way.
Jackson: Come on-come on-come on.
With a sense of urgency he calls out to the likes of Danny Darko, Marie Jones and Selena Frost, anyone who will listen. They gather around as Jackson points down at Kalinda then gestures that they should all work together to toss her.
Ambrosia: Can I help?
Ambrosia steps forward raising her hand then bulking out her chest to make herself look like she possesses the muscle necessary to toss Kalinda all by herself.
Jackson: The more the merrier. Let’s just get this big bitch out of here.
Adams, Darko, Selena, Marie and Ambrosia start to lift Kalinda up from the ring. It takes every bit of muscle from every competitor to get the dragon on her knees and even more energy is exerted to force her to her feet. All five competitors start to force Kalinda along towards the ropes, showing unity….for all of half a second. A giggling Ambrosia lets go of Kalinda and instead grabs an unsuspecting Jackson from behind before throwing him over the top rope.
Frankie: What the hell are you doing, Ambrosia?
Hunter: Who knows what goes through this woman’s mind.
Frankie: She made it look like she was going to be a team player but then she turned on Jackson.
Hunter: Not only turned on him, she just eliminated him.
Adams is furious when he realizes he was thrown out of the match and all because he was so damned gullible. Ambrosia watches him stew at ringside while sticking out her lower lip and then rubbing her eye like she’s mocking his tears. She turns away with a big smile on her face that is soon removed when Darko catches her with the code breaker. Her face bounces off his knees with enough force to send her flying back into the ropes and then flipping completely over them.
Hunter: Ambrosia is out! She’s out-she’s out-she’s out!
Frankie: Serves her right doesn’t it?
Hunter: At the risk of sounding redundant. She did bring it on herself.
The crowd is screaming at the sight of Ambrosia going to the floor and Darko standing up in the ring. He no sooner reaches his feet before he’s hit with not one, but two tree trunk thick biceps. Decay and Olaf come in with interlocked hands and connect with a double clothesline so forceful to Darko’s throat that the impact sends him flying over the ropes and landing at ringside.
Hunter: Oh no! Darko is gone!
Frankie: You can’t turn your back for a second in the Rumble.
Hunter: Bodies just going out left and right at this point.
Frankie: At least it was a UWA body.
Hunter: It saddens me to know that Darko will NOT be going to Olympus, but damned if he didn’t put in a valiant effort here tonight in the Rumble.
10, 9, 8, 7…
Hunter: We’ve got our final entrant coming out here and we all know who it’s going to be.
Frankie: Someone who might be walking into an empty ring at this point.
Neither Decay nor Olaf are going to be in any position to fight that final entrant, because the moment both men turn back towards the ring they find themselves on the receiving end of a STEREO Ava Marie. The Phoenix Marie Jones was waiting for them and snags them both by their necks before hitting them with side headlock drivers. Decay and Olaf roll away from Marie, who is just kneeling on all fours across the canvas. Just then Jessica Wilde comes dashing out of the corner she was leaning against, leaps into the air and hits Marie with the Scarlet Letter. The curb stomp drives Marie’s face into the ring with enough force to burst every capillary in her skull. Wilde now spins around to celebrate what she just did before finding herself on the receiving end of Kalinda’s big clothesline. A clothesline that is delivered with enough force to up send Wilde’s feet from the ring and to send her corkscrewing over the cables to the outside of the ring.
Hunter: There goes Wilde.
Frankie: And there went Jessica’s dreams of challenging her teammate for the title.
Hunter: Wilde was in there for an excruciating period of time but one clothesline from Kalinda changed that.
It won’t be the last clothesline that ends someone’s title ambitions. Kalinda no sooner sends Wilde out of the ring with the clothesline before turning around and spotting Decay using the ropes to get back to his feet. Kalinda runs the length of the ring and hits ANOTHER clothesline. The blow sends Decay spilling over the ropes and falling to the floor.
Hunter: Now Decay is gone too!
Frankie: Kalinda is cleaning house.
Hunter: I’ve never seen a Rumble with so many eliminations this close together.
Kalinda is a woman possessed, LITERALLY. She turns around to face Olaf, who much like Decay is suffering the effects of the Ava Marie and is using the ropes to get back on his feet. Kalinda comes in with a big burst of speed and an even bigger clothesline. Olaf is sent over the ropes but unlike so many others he’s not sent to the ground. Olaf lands on the ring apron, staying alive.
…3, 2, 1….
There’s the alarm to signal the final entrant in the Rumble….ALANA STARR. The crowd is unanimous in their disgust directed at Alana, who now makes her entrance with not just one title, but two. Her belts hang from her outstretched hands as she takes her time moving for the ring.
Hunter: Our final entrant in the Rumble….
Frankie: Thank God, because realistically I would have needed to be hooked up to an oxygen tank ages ago from all this yelling…..
Hunter: Alana Starr won a huge match back on Uprising to earn this coveted spot.
Frankie: Not to mention she won a huge match earlier tonight, and could win an even bigger one right here right now. Which she could very well do seeing as she’s playing things smart.
Hunter: That she is, because she’s actually staying out of the ring as long as she possibly can.
Alana continues to take her dear sweet time reaching the squared circle, hoping even more bodies will be tossed out before she actively participates in this bout. Right now there are not any participants flying over the ropes but there are some fists flying into those participants faces. Andre is teeing off with Teiji and Victoria is battling Holt. The two tandems are still going at it and would continue their brawl if Teiji weren’t sinking his teeth into the bridge of Andre’s nose. This depraved attack draws Victoria away from Holt as she goes to help her friend and does so by jumping onto Teiji’s back and locking in the sleeper hold.
As this is going on Marie Jones finds herself racked with pain and employing the ropes in a desperate attempt to get back to her feet. She probably wouldn’t lean so much on the ropes if she knew that Kalinda was coming in and coming in with that same powerful clothesline that has eliminated so many others. Kalinda builds so much momentum it becomes impossible to stop herself when Marie drops down out of her way and low bridges the top rope. Much to the dismay of everyone in the arena Kalinda goes flying over the ropes and spilling across the floor.
Hunter: Dammit to hell and back again!
Frankie: Kalinda, after enduring so much in the course of this Rumble just made ONE mistake and it cost her a title shot.
Hunter: What a feather in Marie’s cap, she just eliminated the biggest and the baddest creature in this entire Rumble.
It’s not like Marie gets much time to celebrate, because the moment she returns to her feet is the moment that Alana seizes on an opportunity. Finally Starr slides into the ring, runs in behind Marie, grabs her by the back of the head and the waistband then throws her over the ropes.
Hunter: For God sakes!
Frankie: Alana striking while the opportunity presented itself and….WAIT…Marie is-is-is still in this!
Hunter: Are you kidding me? Yeah, you’re right, she’s holding on, Marie is holding on!
For all she’s worth Marie clings to the ropes and uses them to regain her footing across the apron. Though she’s not going to be upright much longer when Alana hits her with the GOODnight. The blow nails Marie right in the back of the head and sends her stumbling forward absent mindedly across the apron. Right at that moment The Battle Hound shows how truly aerodynamic he is when he goes soaring through the air and lands a superman punch over the top rope that catches Marie right in the kisser. The blow knocks the leader of the Ginger Nation off of her feet, off of the apron and all the way down to the ground.
Hunter: The Mjolnir’s Might!!
Frankie: And it just knocked Marie Jones right out of the Rumble.
Hunter: This is unbelievable…UNBELIEVABLE!
Frankie: God Marie was in there for so long and she came so damned close.
Hunter: Well she didn’t catch her break tonight, but she did catch the Mjolnir’s Might.
The excitement is definitely building in the arena now that the eliminations are coming at such a break neck speed. Speaking of broken necks that’s just what Victoria is trying to inflict on Teiji Shintaro. And she would snap his head off his shoulders if that’s what it takes to save her friend Andre. At the moment Dre’s face is filling Teiji’s belly as he dines on the flesh of his latest victim. Victoria is doing everything she can to stop the Terror but things get harder when a cane wielded by Ricky Holt smacks her in the lower back. Victoria is forced to let go, dropping down to her feet and then finding herself on the receiving end of yet ANOTHER blow from the cane, this one nailing her in the back of the neck. Holt drops her flat on her face and if you thought knocking her to the ground was where he’d stop, you’re gravely mistaken.
Holt smacks the cane into Victoria again before going for a killing blow. The cane extends back over his shoulder but it doesn’t connect with the spine of his target for the fourth time. The cane is caught from behind and ripped out of his hands. Holt swings around to face Marina Valdivia, who after EVERYTHING she’s been hit with is still fighting. There might be blood dripping down onto so many injured parts of her anatomy but she is not throwing in the towel. The only thing she’s throwing is the cane aside, and that won’t be the last thing she tosses.
She nails Holt with forearm after forearm after forearm. Once she’s got him disorientated enough Marina grabs Holt around his head and then uses his skull as more than a punching bag. She swings Holt’s forehead directly into the small of Teiji’s back. She then does this again and again and again, however many times it takes to finally force the Terror to stop gnawing on the face of Marina’s friend. Once Andre is freed from Teiji’s jaw he catches the Terror by his wrist and pulls him into the Thrill Ride. The Sky High Press slams Teiji’s back into the ring with enough force to knock any normal man out. But Teiji, someone who devours his own shit, is damn sure not normal. He rolls over backwards and completely no sells the Thrill Ride before rushing giddily at his opponent. But Dre pops up to his feet and catches Teiji coming with ANOTHER Thrill Ride. This time Teiji isn’t popping back up, instead he’s rolling out of the ring and spilling to the floor. At the same time Selena Frost and Julia Braddock are working over one another, trying to push each other over the rope while Chris Davids sits in the corner of the ring trying to recoup.
Hunter: This action is just all over the place right now.
Frankie: This has been the most exhilarating couple of minutes in my life…except for that time I discovered internet porn….or that time I lost my virginity….Actually those two events go hand in hand….literally.
It appears there’s so much going on inside of the squared circle as there is outside of it. Teiji Shintaro is grabbing some toys, reaching under the ring and pulling out a table.
Frankie: A table in Teiji’s hands is like giving a loaded gun to John Wilkes Boothe.
Hunter: You know this is not going to end well.
There’s another brawl going on in the ring that has fans interest, Alana Starr is going after Olaf, leaping into the Goodnight. Her version of the step up enzugari ALMOST crushes the back of Erlandsson’s head only to have duck in time to avoid a brain injury. Alana lands on all fours in front of Olaf, who acts quick, snatching her around the waist and then lifting her up into a gut wrench. It looks like he’s going to gut wrench suplex her over the ropes only to have Alana show her flexibility and cunning by wrapping her legs around Olaf’s neck then sitting up on his shoulders. She turns and attempts to hurricarana Olaf over the ropes, but the only person who goes over the cables is Alana herself. She hangs upside down from Olaf’s neck, legs still wrapped around his neck. Alana dangles above the ring apron and inches from doom. Olaf is in the same boat, and he refuses to be sunk. He holds onto the top rope but even that’s not enough to combat Alana’s leg strength. She keeps pulling and pulling with her thighs until Olaf is hanging over the ropes and above the ringside area.
Hunter: Hold on Olaf! Hold on!
Frankie: Alana’s got him, he’s done! He’s the next one out.
The Battle Hound lets out a roar so primal it drowns out all other screams from the Italian audience. Olaf stands up straight even with all of Alana’s body weight hanging from his neck. Alana ends up right back where she started, on top of Olaf’s shoulders in position to be powerbombed over the ropes. Alana fights like her very life depends on it, slapping her palm into Olaf’s forehead repeatedly until he turns his back on the ropes he was going to powerbomb Alana over. That’s when Chris Davids strikes, barreling across the ring and hitting the Break Through on the ribcage of Olaf. The collision sends the Battle Hound falling back against the ropes with Alana still seated on his shoulders. She drives him down over the cables and all the way down to the floor. While Alana lands safely on the apron the Battle Hound tumbles to the ground.
Hunter: Olaf to the floor.
Frankie: After a GRUELING outing here.
Hunter: Who would have thought Olaf would last this long and if I’m not mistaken, he’s either tied or he’s set the record for eliminations in tonight’s Rumble.
Frankie: Why don’t you just go around and put participation ribbons on everyone so they don’t feel bad for being eliminated?
Olaf is about to have company outside the ring if Julia has anything to say about it. She’s got Selena leaning over the ropes and is smacking her repeatedly over the kidneys with forearm after forearm after forearm. Selena only breaks her grip on the top rope in order to hit an elbow into Julia’s jaw. She then turns around and heaves Braddock onto her shoulder, attempting to running powerslam her over the ropes and to the floor.
On the far end of the ring Marina Valdivia and Andre Jordan are working together, forcing Holt back against the ropes and lifting either of his legs. Somehow Holt gets his arms wrapped around the cables and refuses to be sent over them. Alana comes in and provides some assistance, wanting to participate in another elimination. To the surprise of everyone Alana actually works in consortium with Marina, as the two ladies put all they’ve got into forcing Holt out of the Rumble.
Hunter: Ricky Holt and Julia Braddock both right on the cusp of making their exit.
Frankie: Hang in there Holt, you’re my new favorite to win this whole kitten caboodle.
Andre looks to add to the ranks opposing Holt, he hurries across the ring and to the side of Victoria Salinas, still recovering from the multiple shots she took from a cane moment’s earlier. He’s helping Victoria up from the ring. Though you might not want to nominate him for Sportsman of the year just yet, because Dre just can’t help but to toy with the notion. He sees how weakened Victoria is and how close she is to the ropes.
Frankie: Do it Dre. Just do it.
Dre is definitely thinking about it but in the end his valor outweighs his greed. He pats Victoria on the back then turns away from her to go after Holt. He only gets one step before he’s caught from behind, Victoria running him at the ropes and throwing him over. Andre almost goes to the outside of the ring but grabs the ropes, preventing his elimination.
Hunter: Victoria a wee bit more ruthless than Dre.
Frankie: She went back to her old ways for a minute there.
Dre sits up on the apron and glares into the ring at a kneeling Victoria, who can only offer one explanation for her actions, a shrug. A forearm to the back of her neck will keep her from shrugging ever again. Teiji Shintaro has just got the drop on Victoria, but he’s not letting her actually DROP. Instead he’s got her by the hair and is rolling her from squared circle. The tiny pinpoint black dots in the bright white viscus sea that are Teiji’s eyes are focused on Victoria while his jagged teeth peek out from behind his upturned lips. He’s greatly enjoying what he’s about to do to Victoria, pulling her over onto the table he set up at ringside several minutes ago.
Hunter: Oh no-oh no-oh no….
Frankie: Teiji’s gonna do something….TERRIBLE.
Teiji doesn’t know how to do anything else. He starts to return to the ring in order to get some height behind a plunge through Victoria but a meddling Marina stops him cold in his tracks. She goes diving right through the ropes and right into Teiji with the suicide headbutt. The two collide and the blow sends Teiji falling back while Marina lands on her feet.
Back in the ring Alana is still trying to force Holt over the ropes only to set herself up for disaster. From behind Alana is caught by Chris, who lifts her legs into the air and sends her falling over the very ropes she was about to toss Holt to the opposite side of. But no, Alana is holding on with all the strength she’s got. This prompts Holt and Chris to form a partnership of convenience, stomping away at Alana and nailing her with a few punches as well.
The drama escalates at ringside as well, that’s where Marina is rolling Victoria off the wooden table she was about to be put through. She clears Victoria out of harm’s way only to put herself in danger. Marina is smacked from behind with a headbutt from Teiji. The force of the strike sends Marina rolling onto the table while her attacker is rolling back into the ring.
Teiji has no intention of giving Marina any type of reprieve. He runs across the ring and in an act of pure bloodlust completely forgets the rules of the Rumble, because he jumps to the top rope and then leaps off it right into a big superfly style splash right through Marina and right through the table.
Frankie: AAAAAHHHH!
Hunter: Teiji splashing Marina through a damned table!!
Frankie: But-but-but he eliminated HIMSELF in the process.
Hunter: I don’t think Teiji came here tonight worrying about winning a damned thing. He just wanted to hurt someone.
Frankie: Mission accomplished.
It looks like Teiji is having a euphoric reaction to having put Marina through the table. He rolls away pawing at his ribs and smiling with shit crusted teeth. He so enjoys the image of Marina’s broken body lying amongst broken table.
Hunter: How much more can Marina endure in one night?
The sight of Marina being put through the table has Victoria looking despondent. She crawls across the ground and throws herself over Marina, protecting her from any further harm. Back inside of the squared circle Selena has Julia falling over the ropes and to the apron, though she doesn’t stay there. Julia drops down to her seat and then slides right under the ropes and right through Selena’s side. She then kips up to her feet before stepping in behind Selena, grabbing her around the thigh and lifting. Selena goes over the ropes but just like Julia she comes down on the apron, the Queen of Wrestling Champion staying in this bout no matter the expense to her body. Chris comes in and provides some aid, albeit unintentional to Selena, he nails a right hand across Julia’s brow, the blow knocking her against the ropes.
All the while Holt has Alana lying on the ring apron with a boot pressed to her forehead, pushing and pushing in the hopes that she’s finally go out. She doesn’t, Starr is pugnaciously holding on. An exasperated Andre steps in behind Holt and clubs him over the upper back. He then puts Holt in position for the Tide Turner, lifting him into his version of the Olympic Slam. However, in mid-move Holt slides off Dre’s shoulders, lands behind him and then delivers a dropkick on his upper back. Andre is sent flying into the ropes and then spilling over them to the outside, falling to the ring apron.
Dre stands up right beside Alana, the two former rivals and former lovers coming face to face yet again. Alana delivers a punch across Andre’s face and Andre retaliates with a strike of his own. Finally he kicks Alana in the ribs and sets up to pedigree her face first straight into the ring apron. Though Alana shows remarkable resiliency, standing up and back dropping Dre right onto the hardened fringe of the ring. Andre SHOULD bounce from the apron and fall to the floor, but instead he stays right where he landed, hooking his arm around the bottom strand to prevent elimination.
Alana gets her footing and turns towards Holt back in the ring, about to introduce her foot right upside his skull. She goes leaping to the top rope when Andre suddenly reaches up from ringside, catches her by the ankle and pulls it out from under her. As a result Alana crashes down ribs first onto the rope and now finds herself straddling them with her ribs. If Alana thought that was the worst of her woes, she was gravely mistaken Holt has picked up the cane he was using earlier in this match and now he smacks it right across Alana’s temple. The shot knocks Alana off the ropes and sends her plummeting all the way down to the arena floor.
Frankie: Alright, I’m suicidal again.
Hunter: Alana Starr sent to the floor.
Frankie: Thanks a lot Holt, you’re no longer my favorite to win this.
Hunter: With Alana’s elimination that means we’re getting down to the nitty gritty right now.
Andre, Holt, Selena, Julia, Victoria, Davids and what’s left of Marina remain ever vigilant in their pursuit of winning this evening’s Rumble. Although he’s weak and wounded Dre stands up on the apron, though he might not be staying on it much longer. A cane comes swinging towards his jaw, Holt trying to eliminate him the same way he did Alana a few moments earlier. Dre has to think on his feet instead of responding from his back, he bends in reverse far enough to avoid the cane that goes swinging straight past his brow. Holt turns his back to Andre, who reaches over the ropes and grabs his adversary before delivering clubbing blow after clubbing blow across his sternum. Davids sees this and comes into lend some aid, kicking away at Holt’s ribs and then backing up to get a running start behind a spear. Holt steps out of the way and exposes Dre to take the blow. Davids’ shoulder goes through the ropes but much to his dismay it never hits ANYONE. Everybody manages to avoid it but Davids isn’t able to avoid the crescent kick upside his temple. Dre was waiting to deliver this shot to Davids right to his skull and leaves him as comatose as Steven Segal in Hard to Kill.
Speaking of a kill, that’s what Holt is going for. He’s reaching out of the ring and putting the cane he’s employed as a weapon right across Dre’s throat. Like the Boston Strangler he pulls back on Dre’s throat, trying to choke the very life out of him.
Hunter: I really don’t think Holt is interested in winning this Rumble…I think much like Teiji he just wants to hurt people.
Frankie: Pfft, he’s doing more than hurting Andre right now.
Hunter: He’s choking the damned life out of him.
Holt keeps strangling Dre until what little fight was left in him is all but gone. It looks like the crowd are witnessing a public execution, Dre getting no clemency. There’s no one to help him, not Marina, who is still lying amongst the broken table or Victoria, who is trying her best to get some aid for her wounded friend. She kneels beside Marina while gesturing to the back, crying out for someone…ANYONE to get some assistance for her closest ally. Finally someone does emerge from the back, but it’s not the someone Victoria was hoping to see. Down the ramp strides a confident Tabitha Silverstone, followed by an uneasy detective.
Hunter: Good lord help us. Tabitha Silverstone is on her way down the ramp.
Frankie: Whyyyy? There are no more entrants in the Rumble, doesn’t Tabitha realize that?
Hunter: Maybe she’s out here to check on the condition of her client Marina, that WOULD be the NOBLE thing to do.
Over the past few months Tabitha hasn’t concerned herself with what’s noble, she’s focused on doing whatever it takes to make sure her talents succeed, even at their own expense. Victoria isn’t letting Tabitha get within an inch of one of those clients, standing up with her fists clinched at her sides.
Victoria: What the hell are you doing here? Get lost or…..(raising fists).
Tabitha: SEE! (Nudging the Detective’s arm and pointing at Victoria) I’m afraid for my life.
The officer shows reluctance but performs his job duties.
Officer: Mrs. Salinas, at this time I’m taking you into custody….
Victoria: WHAT!?!
Officer:….on charges of assault…
Victoria: You’re fucking joking.
Officer: I’m afraid not
Victoria is being turned by the officer and cuffs are being slapped around her wrists.
Officer: You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of…..
Victoria: This is ridiculous. I’m wrestling a match dammit.
Tabitha: Not anymore, you’re not.
After everything that Victoria went through in this Rumble match it’s hard to believe her night comes to an end like this. She’s led away in handcuffs and forced to watch as Tabitha waves goodbye.
Hunter: Victoria’s being arrested?
Frankie: Can’t have talents just going around attacking people’s agents.
Hunter: I didn’t hear you raise a stink when Lexy was attacking Dan Douglas.
Frankie: Nothing about Lexy could EVER stink.
Hunter: Well this stinks to high heaven and back. Victoria being arrested on the most trumped up charges I’ve ever heard. All she did was SHOVE Tabitha earlier on.
Frankie: Victoria’s a wrestler, Tabitha’s not, so a shove from Victoria is like assault with a deadly weapon.
Tabitha: Let ME help you.
With Victoria out of the way Tabitha is free to get to her client Marina, assisting her up from the broken table she had been lying on top of. Although Marina can barely move, given the condition that multiple attacks have left her in, she makes it back into the ring. Tabitha rolls her inside and then slaps the apron to make sure she has her client’s attention.
Tabitha: You and Dre make me PROUD.
It’s going to be hard for Dre to make anyone proud when he’s being strangled to death. Holt is prying back on the cane extended across Andre’s throat, trying to do nothing short of take his life. Finally Dre is able to get his arm back and around Holt’s neck before dropping to his seat. Holt’s chin snaps off the top rope and his body goes stumbling right back into the waiting arms of Selena Frost. She catches him around the neck, heaves him into the air and drops him via the Icebreaker.
Hunter: Selena caught him, she caught him with the Icebreaker!
Frankie: Damn that Selena! What is she even doing out here still?
Hunter: She’s surviving and making survival difficult for others in the process.
Holt’s head ricochets from the canvas and his body pops back up to his feet. He staggers around as groggy as groggy can be before falling across the shoulders of Andre. He just got in the ring at the perfect time to catch Holt and then to lift him up into the Tide Turner. Holt goes crashing across his back thanks to the Olympic Slam and then bounces up off of the canvas. He absent mindedly rolls right along into the ropes, pawing at the strands instinctively in the process of standing up. Somehow he gets his legs under him just in time to be caught across the chin with a stunner from Julia Braddock. The blow is delivered with such force that it sends Holt flying through the air and flying over the ropes. His body takes the spill all the way down to the arena floor.
Hunter: Holt is eliminated….My God he’s finally eliminated.
Frankie: It took just about everyone in that ring to finally send him packing. Who-who-who do we have left at this point?
Hunter: Five, Frankie, out of the dozens who entered we are down to just five, Selena Frost, Julia Braddock, Andre Jordan, Marina Valdivia and Chris Davids. One of them are going onto Invictus or Olympus to challenge for their respective company’s World Title.
Chris Davids is about to ensure that HE’S the one who earns that shot at the World Title. He staggers in behind Selena Frost and brings an end to their very short lived alliance by dragging her along towards the ropes and trying to throw her over. Selena nails a back elbow to Chris’ jaw though and causes him to turn away, staggering towards Julia, who was just waiting for this golden opportunity. She catches Chris around the neck and goes for a stunner, the very same move that just eliminated Holt. Chris saw that happen and won’t see himself fall victim to the same fate. He puts his hands to Julia’s back and shoves her along, right along into the waiting arms of another opponent. Selena turns around and catches Julia coming in, locking her in a front chancery as she prepares to deliver the Icebreaker.
Hunter: Another Icebreaker about to be delivered by our Queen of Wrestling Champion.
Frankie: Wasn’t what she did to Desmond Drake bad enough?
Selena may just do a lot worse to Julia if she connects with this DDT. Obviously Julia is a far different breed of athlete than Desmond, in the sense that she’s an ACTUAL athlete. She stands up and heaves Julia into the air before sitting her on top of a nearby turnbuckle. Julia then turns away from her and does so just in time to catch an inbound Davids. She side steps him, grabs him by the back of the head then uses his momentum to her advantage. She shoves him right along so that his skull collides with Selena’s stomach. The blow doubles Frost over and sends Davids plummeting to the ring. While Davids goes down to all fours Julia remains on the turnbuckle. Their positioning couldn’t be any more perfect for Julia, who comes dashing across the ring and stepping off the small of Davids’ back. She launches herself into a flying forearm that cracks Selena right in the face. The blow causes Selena to go leaning back from the turnbuckle, right on the verge of plummeting to the arena floor.
To the disbelief of everyone Selena remains on the turnbuckle, sitting on the top rope but precariously bobbing from one side to the other. With one more blow she will surely be sent to the ground. Julia realizes that, sensing the danger that Selena is in. Once again she’s rushing across the ring and using Davids as a launching pad to send her forearm right into Selena’s chin.
Frankie: Goodbye Selena!
Julia travels right into Selena alright, right into the Champion’s waiting arms. Selena catches her inbound opponent around the neck and then gives her a SUPER Icebreaker. Julia comes all the way down from the middle rope to the middle of the ring, her head suffering the nastiest of impacts with the canvas.
Frankie: AAAAAHHHH!!!
Hunter: SUPER-SUPER ICEBREAKER!
Frankie: Somebody has GOT to stop Selena.
That someone will not be Julia, who is presently as brainless as Jessica Simpson. She has no idea where she’s at as Selena and Davids pull her up from the canvas. The two work together to run Julia at the ropes and then collectively send her flying to the outside of the squared circle.
Hunter: Julia eliminated…But damn did she ever come close.
Frankie: She did a lot better than many of her critics would have suspected.
Hunter: She proved a lot here tonight making it to the final five.
Frankie: That five has just dwindled to four.
Two of those four remaining athletes turn their attention to one another, Selena and Davids staring one another down with their fists held back. When it appears they’ll come to blows they come to their senses. The two slowly turn from one another and lock their eyes on the other two competitors left in this Rumble. Andre Jordan has his back turned towards Selena and Davids because he’s too preoccupied checking on the condition of his friend Marina. The fact that she’s still in the ring, albeit unable to rise past her knees, is a testament to her will power. Selena and Davids realize that she’s prime for the pickings and with so much on the line they HAVE to take advantage of that. Before Dre knew what hit him he’s being struck with clubbing strikes over the back that drives him down to all fours. Selena and Davids are stomping away at him but eventually it’s just Davids who is unloading on Dre. He incapacitates Andre so that he can’t stop Selena from eliminating Marina from the Rumble.
That’s just what Selena is doing, pulling Marina’s limp body off the canvas and to her feet. Marina can’t even stand after she was driven through that table, but nevertheless she’s forced to stand and now she’s being forced towards the ropes.
Hunter: Marina’s run coming to an end!
Frankie: About damn time.
A helpless and bloodied Marina is flung over the ropes and she goes crashing all the way down to the APRON. To the astonishment of everyone in the arena Marina barely got her hand around the top rope on the way over and manages to keep her fingers locked around it, staving off defeat. Selena can’t believe this and now turns to build momentum behind a blow that would at last send Marina crashing to the floor. But as Selena takes off she gets cracked in the throat with a clothesline. With a burst of adrenaline Andre leaps up from the canvas and lariats Selena to the throat, driving her down to the ring. He then whips around and catches Davids coming in with a right between the eyes that sends him tumbling to the canvas.
Hunter: Dre with a resurgence.
Frankie: What is this, like his fifteenth wind?
Andre is going to help Selena catch some wind, the moment she gets back to her feet he throws her into the air with the Thrill Ride…a Thrill Ride intended to toss her over the ropes. Selena is sent flying over those ropes with the Sky High Press but in mid-air she counters. She wraps her legs around Andre’s arm and then falls back, applying the Frost Bite. Everyone in the arena is screaming their lungs out at the sight of Selena hanging upside down from Andre’s shoulder, dangling over the ring apron while locking in her cross arm bar submission.
Hunter: WOW! You talk about a Last Stand moment here! This is AMAZING!
Frankie: I can honestly say I’ve never seen Selena lock in the Frost Bite from this position before.
Hunter: She used the hold to save herself and do some serious damage to Dre’s arm.
The roars of Andre can be heard as his arm is nearly torn right out of its socket. He endures the Frost Bite much longer than any person should before Selena finally shows him some mercy. The hold is broken and Dre pulls his arm back to his stomach, doubling over it as he stumbles to the middle of the ring. It’s here that he’s caught with the scissors kick from Davids, the blow driving Dre down face first into the canvas. Meanwhile on the apron we see Selena lying on her side and breathing deep, her prolonged exposure to the Rumble wearing on her. She finally starts to get to her feet before she spots something out of the corner of her eye, and that something is Trinity Street stood at the top of the rampway.
Hunter: Not again…What brings Trinity Street out here?
Frankie: We’ve seen Trinity take a very vested interest in Selena over the past few months, and not a GOOD interest. These two have some history with each other. None of it good.
Hunter: Trinity has NO provocation to be anywhere near that ring right now. If she’s not participating in the Rumble then she should keep her nose away from it.
Frankie: Monarchy does what they want when they want to, Hunter, the sooner you get on board with that the lower your health insurance premiums become.
Much like three weeks earlier Selena does not cower from Trinity, actually she’s standing up on the apron and DEMANDING that Trinity try something.
Selena: Is that all you’re going to do? Just stand there and stare at me?
Trinity finally breaks her chilling silence once she’s within range of the woman she’s stalked for months.
Trinity: Believe me, I can do far worse….
To the surprise of everyone Trinity turns away and starts to walk off. Only before she even takes a single step she stops and slowly looks back over her shoulder with an ever so chilling smile.
Trinity: In fact….I already have.
Suddenly Taylor Chase pops up out of nowhere, dashing across the ring and stepping up the ropes to hit a TKO on the back of Selena’s head. The blow sends Selena flying off the apron and then plummeting to the floor.
Hunter: HEEEEEYYY!! What the hell!?! WHAT THRE HELL!!??!!
Frankie: My girl Tay….My GIRL TAY! God bless dat ass.
Hunter: She has even less business being out here than Trinity, and she just-she just eliminated Selena from the Rumble.
Selena starts to come through in time to see Taylor kneeling over her rubbing salt in her wounds. She’s not the only one who enjoys the sight of Selena’s suffrage, Trinity observes with a grin on half of her face.
Hunter: This is downright TRAGIC. Selena was ‘THIS’ close to claiming a spot in the Invictus main event.
Frankie: But she’s not going to Invictus, is she? And we have Tay-Tay to thank for that.
Hunter: Tay-Tay and Trinity Street equally as culpable for costing Selena the biggest opportunity of her career.
The Queen of Wrestling Champion comes out of her fog and sees the twinkle in Tay-Tay’s eyes, though she’d rather see blood coming down Tay-Tay’s cheeks. Inside of the squared circle Andre, Davids and Marina are consumed with fatigue and riddled with injury but are still fighting for the most coveted opportunity of their careers. Andre delivers a swift knife edge chop straight across Davids’ sternum, the stiff blow sending him staggering along into the ropes. The cables he’s leaning on may prove to be a detriment rather than an aid. Another chop to his chest almost sends him flying back over the cables and suffering elimination.
Hunter: Davids right on the cusp of being taken out of this match.
Dre lands a third chop that nearly rips the skin off of David’s sternum and sends him plummeting to the outside. Finally Dre gets a running start behind one last knife edge chop that’ll put an end to Davids’ title ambitions. In a last ditch effort and out of sheer self-preservation Davids ducks his head and avoids the chop that goes flying right over it. The momentum of his botched chop causes him to turn his back on Davids, who puts his shoulder to his adversary’s spine and lifts, going for a suplex that sends his adversary flying over the cables. Dre is about to be back dropped to the floor but instead he back flips to the apron.
Dre has latched onto the top rope on his way over and keeps squeezing even as he’s about to fly back into the ring. Just as Dre begins his ascent he’s knocked right back down out of the air, Davids catching him in the face with a Pele kick. The shot knocks Dre out of the air and almost out of the ring. The floor is inviting Dre but he’s not accepting the offer, instead he stays on the ring apron, which has saved him so many times in the course of this contest. It won’t be enough to prevent his elimination when his adversary Davids is running the length of the squared circle, going for the spear. As Davids flies forward, Dre flies over. This time he’s successful in leaping over the ropes and over the bent back of Davids, catching him around the hips in the process. A pop comes from the crowd at the visual of Dre rolling Davids into a sunset flip that sets up for the spinning toe hold.
Dre swings around Davids’ leg to apply the submission but makes the mistake of putting his back to his opponent. With lightning fast reflexes Davids puts his boot to his adversary’s butt and shoves, the force of the kick sending his opponent flying along into the ropes.
Hunter: Dre about to go out.
Frankie: It’s about flipping time.
Dre almost goes over the ropes but stops just shy of connecting with them. He turns his back on the cables that threaten to arrange a date between himself and the floor-mats. Davids plays matchmaker, dashing in to ensure that rendezvous happens. But when he gets within range of Dre, Davids finds himself caught around the waist and his body being flipped back into a release belly-to-belly suplex that sends him flying over the ropes. He flies over but he does not fly down to the ground. His hands latch to the top rope that he now dangles over, feet hovering above the floor.
Hunter: So close…my God this is soooo close.
Frankie: Davids hanging onto those ropes like a cat clinging to a clothesline in an inspirational poster.
Hunter: You’ve come this far, you’re this close, just keep holding on Davids.
That’s just what he does, holding on before flipping in. He skins the cat back into the ring with his legs leading the way. He regrets re-entering the squared circle this way when his foot is grabbed by Dre and used to drag him into the ankle lock. Davids ends up in the middle of the squared circle where his ankle is being twisted and ripped in the clutches of his adversary.
As this struggle between Dre and Davids continues we see Marina Valdivia crawling along into one of the corners. She stands up swiping blood away from her brow and trying to find the strength to straighten her legs under her.
At the same time there’s another set of legs suffering. Davids’ ankle is being torn to shreds by Andre, who is doing everything, everything in his power to walk away from the Rumble tonight victorious. The same conviction is shown by Davids, who flops to his back, puts his boots to Dre’s ribs and kicks with all his strength. Dre is sent flying into the cables and then falling back over them. The squeals from the audience are louder than they’ve ever been at the visual of Dre landing….not on the floor but on the apron.
Frankie: How does he keep doing it?
Hunter: Dre is holding on again.
Every inch of Dre hurts when he gets to his feet on the apron, although nothing is going to ache more than when he’s knocked from that apron. Davids runs the length of the ring and then lunges into a spear, his shoulder flying through the ropes and cracking Dre in the ribs. The blow sends Andre flying straight down to the floor.
Hunter: DAMMIT!
Frankie: Hahahahaha-ahahaahaha, Dre is gone, he fell right on his ass, HYSTERICAL.
Hunter: I really-really thought this was Andre’s year.
Frankie: Nope.
Hunter: Nevertheless another outstanding performance by Andre, but God, it’s a shame he couldn’t clinch this win.
The blood that’s been shed by Marina keeps her from doing much of anything other than cling to the corner she uses to prop herself up. That means she has little defense against the man who is now locking eyes on her. Davids comes running in but immediately realizes that Marina wasn’t as powerless as she appeared. She gets her elbow up and into Davids’ lips. The blow knocks him back to the middle of the ring and Marina is joining him there. The two come mono-a-mono and the crowd come unglued at the sight of this face-off.
Hunter: Here we go, this is it. One of these two are going to win the Rumble.
Frankie: Is it going to be Davids going to Olympus, or is it going to be Marina headed to Invictus?
The San Siro is rattling in excitement at the visual of Marina and Davids setting to do battle, forced to clear this one final hurdle to claim victory. The two swing around into a barrage of punches, trying to weaken one another for that final fall over the cables. Eventually it’s Davids who wins out, grabbing the back of Marina’s head and holding it in place while destroying her face with forearms. He then backs up and goes for another knock out forearm, dashing into the blow that Marina ducks by means of bridging back into the crab walk. Davids spins back to his adversary, who then does a headstand, her shins falling onto his shoulders. She caps off this move with a head scissors that flings Davids across the squared circle.
Davids ends up in the ropes and Marina is bearing down upon him. Before she can reach her opposition he reaches out, catches her around the neck and sets up for a diamond cutter. Just before she falls victim to his cutter Marina puts her hands to Davids’ back and counters with the shove of all shoves. Davids is sent flying forward into the ropes and then falling over them.
Frankie: Davids is….
Hunter: Still in there!
The apron becomes a safe haven for Davids but it won’t be his sanctuary. He gets to his knees when one of Marina’s comes flying through the ropes, cracking him in the mug. The running knee ALMOST sends Davids falling back from the apron but he maintains a grip on the middle rope. He survives somehow, for how much longer? Who knows? Marina comes running on in with her knee leading the way but this time it never lands across her foe’s face, instead it’s Davids’ shin that lands across Marina’s brow.
The kick sends Marina twisting away from Davids, so disorientated that she doesn’t see him coming in from behind her. Davids latches onto his prey and uses this grip to run her towards the ropes, right on the verge of throwing her over. The fans cover their eyes as Marina goes soaring to the outside of the ring but she isn’t crashing all the way to the floor. Marina grabs the top rope on her way over then lands on her rump across the apron.
Marina slowly, painstakingly starts to exert what’s left of her energies to start sliding through the ropes and returning to the ring. Her throat gets very up close and personal with one of those cables though when she’s hit to the back of the skull with a scissors kick. Davids nails the kick that sends Marina’s throat cascading down into the middle rope and snapping back off of it. She falls back from the ring and to the floor….
Hunter: It’s over!
Frankie: Chris Davids is going to Olymp…..
Hunter: Wait-wait-wait…look at Marina’s feet…their NOT on the floor.
Those feet being referenced have HOOKED around the bottom rope. She’s hanging upside down from them with only the tips of her hair and her droplets of blood touching the ground. Much to Davids confusion his hand is not being raised in victory, looking to the outside of the ring at the official who informs him that Marina is NOT eliminated…not as of yet. With wide eyes Davids whips around and locks his crosshairs on Marina. Now she’s sitting on the apron and using the ropes to go even further, verging on standing back up.
Hunter: Never before have I seen will power on display like this before.
Frankie: That will power isn’t about to matter, because here comes Davids’ shoulder.
A head full of steam is being built by Davids, who hustles across the squared circle before diving into a spear. It seems Marina is about to be eliminated in the exact same way her friend Andre was, but she learns from her associate’s mistake. Marina leaps up from the ring apron and swings her legs over the top rope, catching Davids around the neck once he gets within range. She falls back and she hurricaranas Davids over the strands to the outside of the ring.
Hunter: Davids to the outside!
Frankie: But not to the floor!
To the astonishment of everyone Davids lands on the ring apron, staving off a fall to the ground. He uses the ropes to reach his feet, standing right beside Marina, who continues to put the bulk of her weight on the cables. Those ropes won’t save Marina should Davids deliver what he’s got on his mind. He nails a boot across Marina’s lips, sending her staggering back and putting just enough distance between the competitors that Davids can get a running start behind the spear. He runs across the apron and dives right…UNDER Marina. She leaps into the air at the last second, clearing Davids and the top rope on her way back into the ring. Conversely Davids makes his way head first into the exposed turnbuckle post. His skull bounces back from the steel and he turns in a dazed state right into the rolling Liger kick. Marina flips forward and her legs crash right into Davids, sending him flying off the apron to the ringside mats.
Hunter: HE’S OOOOUT! DAVIDS FALLS TO THE FLOOR!
Frankie: Wait…no-no-no….don’t tell me…don’t tell me she’s done it.
Hunter: Marina! Marina has done the unthinkable.
Every fan in the San Siro are on their feet giving an ovation to Marina that she justly deserves. A celebration is in order, Marina repressing her injures in order to bask in the hardest fought win of her career.
Hunter: It was a night of torture and torment for Marina, but ultimately a night of triumph.
Frankie: She was hit with everything tonight, from steel chains to barbwire bats and yet she still survives? Someone tell me how this is possible.
Hunter: I wish I knew. The condition of her body wasn’t the best, but the condition of her spirit was never challenged.
That spirit is on display as Marina gets back to her feet and raises her arms high overhead in victory. With blood and sweat rolling down her body she turns to overlook her screaming fans, enjoying this celebration right along with her loyal supporters. But there’s one amongst the thousands who is not a supporter, and he damn sure isn’t joining her in celebration. Instead the brass knuckles around his fist are joining Marina’s forehead.
Hunter: HUH!?!
Frankie: It’s-it’s-it’s ORLANDO!
Hunter: ORLANDO CRUZE!?! Oh my God, I forgot all about him! He was never eliminated!
Frankie: This is brilliant! He was lying outside of the ring this whole time. Lying in wait.
Hunter: He just popped Marina with brass knuckles. Where did he get those from?
Frankie: That doesn’t matter. All that does matter is that he’s on his way to victory.
A smile is plastered over Orlando’s face as he removes his brass knuckles and taps them against his temple.
Orlando: Brains over brawn.
Chuckles follow. The brass knuckles are thrown aside and Marina is about to be thrown over the ropes. He grabs Marina by the hair, using it to pull her up off of the ground.
Orlando: Just in case you haven’t heard. (Bending down to shout right into Marina’s ear) We are Monarchy, and we RULE!
Orlando forces Marina along into the ropes only for her to fall right through his fingers. She collapses to her elbows and knees, looking down into the blood that is puddling across the canvas. An annoyed Orlando reaches down and laughingly starts to lead her up to her feet. He no sooner gets her on her feet before receiving a mouth full of brass knuckles. Marina has picked up the weapon dropped by her adversary and employs it to crack Orlando right in the kisser. Somehow the ropes are enough to hold Orlando up, at least long enough to suffer yet another strike in the forehead with the brass knuckles. Marina runs in and delivers a punch so powerful that it sends the Icon twisting over the ropes and going down to the floor.
Frankie: HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!!???!!
Hunter: Marina has finally done it! She has finally pulled off a miracle!
Frankie: This is-this is IMPOSSIBLE. Orlando had the match won. He should be going to Invictus.
Hunter: He’s not, because that’s Marina’s destination.
The reaction is simply indescribable when ‘Glamorous’ plays over the loud speakers and Marina raises one arm aloft. It isn’t until her endorphins kick in and the adrenaline really starts to surge that she manages to pull herself up off of the canvas, stagger across the ring and fall against the ropes. Her eyes slowly rise, staring through the blood caked across her face in order to see the symbol, the Invictus emblem hanging from the rafters.
Hunter: That’s right Marina, you’ve done it! You’ve won the Rumble, and you’re headed to Invictus.
Frankie: I still can’t believe it, I still don’t know how this is possible. Explain to me how this happened, Greyson.
Hunter: I am not….you know what, forget it. I’m too excited…I’m too thrilled, Marina will be competing in the main event of Invictus and challenging for the World Title!
That excitement is infectious. It’s not until the crowd really lets loose with their emotion that Marina climbs up onto the middle rope and raises a shivering finger towards the Invictus emblem. Fireworks explode around that symbol and then from the rafters over Marina’s head. She’s showered in pyrotechnics and in the screams of her thousands and thousands of fans.
Hunter: Tonight is Marina’s night, but will Invictus be her night as well? She’s challenging for the World Title on the biggest platform in IWC history. Congratulations Marina, you overcame so much to move on to the main event of the IWC’s most prolific event.
Frankie: It was a grueling night, mostly because I had to sit beside you at commentary for so long, but I toughed it out and Marina did too.
Hunter: The Invictus main event is set, Katelyn Buehler to defend the championship against Marina Valdivia. This is Hunter and Frankie signing off from the sight of Last Stand. Goodnight.
Frankie: It’s been a hell of a show.
The final image from this historic night is the sight of Marina standing on the middle rope and pointing to the Invictus emblem while pyrotechnics rain down over her.
FADE TO BLACK
riot43
RIOT TWO WEEKS AGO
A music box overcomes the screen with a porcelain ballerina pirouetting on a saucer. The image is beautiful, it’s elegant…but beauty and elegance have no place in the IWC. The soft tranquil melody produced by the music box continues to play but the image of the graceful ballerina is replaced by footage that can never be described as ‘graceful.’
Mika: It’s time for a family reunion.
The video jumps to an incident that unfolded two weeks earlier on Riot when Taylor Chase attempted to lure her sister Mika Kozlov into an ambush. Unfortunately for Tay her plans go awry when Mika turns the tables and instead of being ambushed, decides to make a proposition. She corners Tay in the ring and forces her to hear a diabolical plot.
Mika: At Last Stand you and I face Katelyn Buehler for the World Championship….
A compilation of images bombard the screen showing Katelyn holding up the title and defending it in a number of high profile bouts.
Mika: But we don’t have to be opponents…
That same music box with the porcelain ballerina comes back into view while Mika’s voice is heard in the background.
Mika: If we team up we can guarantee that one of us leaves Last Stand as the World Champion.
Suddenly that polished and perfect ballerina changes. In a flash the figurine turns rusted and looks splattered with blood. The saucer it was pirouetting on becomes charred and decayed.
Cindy: WE want a reunion as well.
The footage from the ring has changed as well, and not for the best. Mika and Tay find themselves pounced on by the group known as New Eden. Cindy Todd, Serenity and Cassidy Haze ambush Tay and tie their former ally Mika Kozlov to the ropes. She powerlessly watches as Tay is assaulted.
Cindy: You will come back to me…Mika…..
Vows the demented Todd, who then drags away one of Mika’s most valued possession, her captive Andre Jordan. After being abducted two weeks earlier Dre finds himself taken again, this time by New Eden, who attempt to employ him as a bargaining chip to lure Mika back into their fold. Later on in the parking lot we witness New Eden attempting to vacate the parking garage with Andre only to have Mika interfere. She is overwhelmed by Cindy and forced to the ground while Serenity and Cassidy make an effort to escape with Dre still in their clutches. However, Taylor Chase of all people interferes, slamming a chair into Cindy’s spine, and then subjecting Cassidy to the exact same fate. Ultimately Mika and Tay find themselves stood face to face, estranged sisters towering over New Eden.
Taylor: Maybe a family reunion isn’t such a bad idea after-all.
The video cuts back to the ballerina as it turns and turns on the saucer and as it melts and melts into a puddle upon that saucer. Fire bursts through the music box, transforming the melodic tune it was producing into a grim and demented choir of chaos.
”Cut the Cord” by Shinedown plays in the background while a video package bombards the screen. An overhead shot, footage presumably provided by a drone, of a burning city skyline is the first in a string of violent imagery. Cut to IWC competitor Marina Valdivia walking down a street, navigating her way through burning and defaced vehicles. The scene switches over to a boiler-room where one can see the massive gloved fist of Miss Jon swinging across her wide abdomen and slapping into her palm. The visual that follows is of legend Orlando Cruze in the ring superkicking Tabitha Silverstone.
Another quick clip takes viewers to a playground in the dead of night. Mika Kozlov is seated on a warped, rusted and ashen carousel. It twists in a chillingly slow fashion with Mika’s legs dangling over the side. The video cuts to another location, the wrestling ring where Teiji Shintaro is mutilating the face of his victim Tyson Galloway by twisting a fork in his flesh. The following scene features Katelyn Buehler walking away from a building before the structure explodes into a ball of flame right behind her back. Back to the interior of the arena where we see Andre Jordan hitting a crossbody on Orlando Cruze that drives both men down through tables.
A graveyard is brought into view where numerous tombstones have been marked with graffiti. One such tombstone has Serenity seated on top it with a can of spray-paint shaking in her hand. The footage switches to Matthew Bowden coming off a corner with a corkscrew splash. The video then transitions into Taylor Chase standing on top of a ruined vehicle that has presumably been demolished by the crowbar that is flung back over her shoulder. Her focus isn’t on the car that’s been decimated, instead it’s on the freshly painted fingernails she’s blowing on.
Mya Denton is the next athlete featured as she delivers the shining wizard on a defenseless therapist trapped in the center of the ring. That image is short lived, replaced now by a clip of Karen, Melanie and Blaire McBride stood shoulder to shoulder around the flames that are rising from an old oil drum. The shot cuts to the squared circle where Cassidy Haze is smacking her own sister Emily in the face with a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire. The final image is from a police station that has been left in total ruin. All of the holding cells are open and there is no sight of the officers who would normally be hard at working filling those cages. Instead what we see is Kat Kelly seated in one of the cells with her hands and ankles bound by shackles, her mouth covered by a Hannibal Lecter style face mask. Seated just beyond Kat’s cage is her tag team partner Lexy Chapel, who is wearing a policeman’s cap that is turned sideways while she tears up the pages of a report, throwing the shreds into the air.
A fiery IWC emblem is the final image on the screen before the show goes LIVE.
CASSIDY HAZE VS. TAYLOR CHASE VS. SERENITY
Riot doesn’t start with a whimper, it starts with a bang….A bang so loud it would give Diamond Dallas Page a raging boner and a need for a fresh pair of underwear.
The lyrics of Boss’s Daughter are playing through the loud speakers, meaning one thing and one thing only, it’s time for Tay-Tay. Through the curtains that dangle over the entry way strides former three time World Champion Taylor Chase. The First Lady of Wrestling gets a ‘unique’ response from the crowd. The reaction inspires Tay to kiss her fingers and then slap them on her backside, inferring that the fans can pucker up before putting a wet one on her ass. She then springs for the ring, and surprisingly makes this jaunt without her battalion of Monarchy followers.
Greyson: Riot is back on the airwaves….
Frankie: And what a start to the night. Tay the bae is on her way!
Sparkles: Aren’t you a regular Dr. Seuss?
Frankie: I rap just as often as I flap to the Tay.
Greyson: The less details you give us about your fixation on Taylor, the better.
Sparkles: Taylor Chase headed for the ring to compete in a preview of her upcoming triple threat match at our next pay-per-view, Last Stand.
Greyson: At the pay-per-view its Tay taking on her sister Mika Kozlov and the World Champion Katelyn Buehler for the richest prize in our industry, but tonight she’s got a pretty steep challenge as well.
Sparkles: It’s Tay-Tay facing two members of New Eden in a triple threat bout, and to make this fight a little tougher she doesn’t have her group Monarchy at her side. By decree of our Principle Owner Karen McBride, Monarchy are BARRED from ringside.
Frankie: That is such a bullshit decision. It just goes to show how biased Karen is against Monarchy. Wasn’t it bad enough that Karen fined and threatened them with suspension two weeks ago?
There is no Monarchy but Tay didn’t need their assistance in her previous title wins, so she’s more than capable of getting it done on her own. She flies as solo as Kwai Chang Caine, but the same cannot be said for her opponents. The lyrics of ‘My World’ results in goosebumps and the graying of hair, because this music filtering through the PA system means that New Eden are headed for the squared circle. Cassidy Haze crawls along to the stage while her associate Serenity waltzes on out and stands over her partner’s back. The two point at the ring where Tay is all by her lonesome.
Sparkles: Well Karen McBride might not be as ‘biased’ as you think, Frankie, because Cindy Todd, the Queen of New Eden has been barred from the corner of her team.
Frankie: Did you notice what you just said, Sparkles?
Sparkles: Sparkles tends not to think about anything that comes out of my mouth.
Frankie: You said ‘TEAM.’ Tay is taking on a TEAM. This is nothing but a glorified handicap match and ya know it.
Greyson: Well Tay brought this on herself. Two weeks ago she attacked New Eden in the parking garage and drew their ire.
Frankie: But it was because she was protecting her sister, Mika.
Greyson: Who New Eden have been trying to bring back into their fold.
Sparkles: New Eden are going to be out for blood in this triple threat preview.
Frankie: This isn’t a preview in New Eden’s mind, this is a damned execution.
Things are getting as tense as a Mexican standoff now that Tay finds herself locked in the sights of Cassidy and Serenity. A smirking Serenity waves a pinkie finger as a greeting to her opponent.
Serenity: We’ll take it easy on you, frenemy.
Suuuuureee they will.
The bell rings and Serenity and Cassidy are instantly on top of Tay. It’s going to take a superhuman effort on the part of the former World Champion to fend off the blows coming at her from both sides. Tay is being overcome by the onslaught as she’s driven back into the corner, where fists and boots slam against her body. Finally New Eden take hold of either of her wrists and send Tay flying across the ring into the far corner. Just before she hits the turnbuckle Tay reaches out and latches onto the top rope, kicking her body up into the air in the process. Cassidy was charging after her but now ends up running under her. The shoulder she had intended to drive into Tay instead collides with the corner. Tay lands on her feet, turns away from Cass and turns towards another opponent charging towards her. Serenity gets a mouthful of bicep, Tay hitting a lariat that drives her down to the canvas. Tay has to keep her head on a swivel, turning to face Cassidy and now taking her down via the spinning heel kick.
Frankie: Go Tay-Tay GO!
Greyson: Surprisingly Tay is managing to hold her own out here in spite of the fact that she’s got two of the most dangerous athletes in the IWC out for her blood.
Sparkles: Why? Blood has far too much iron. Now if it was cheese, Sparkles would understand.
A surprised Serenity will not be thwarted in her efforts to take Tay down and to keep her down. She’s already popping up to her feet and running right into her opponent’s back elbow. Tay drills her adversary in the teeth and then backs her up into the ropes before launching her across the ring. Serenity is hurdled towards Cassidy, who leaves her feet in order to leap frog over her own partner. After leaping over one person she leaps towards another, Cass barreling in her opponent’s direction. Speed is once again employed by Tay to side step her adversary, catch her by the back of the head and toss her along through the cables.
Greyson: This is what Tay has to do. She has to try and keep this one on one.
Sparkles: Now it’s just Serenity and Tay in the ring together.
Frankie: That’s my girl, she’s just as cunning as she is curvy.
Cassidy is out of the ring but she’s not out of the equation.
After dispatching one opponent from the ring Tay sets her sights on another. Serenity is back upright and is having a tense stare-down with Tay, the two going mono-a-mono. Just before these two can really lock up, Cassidy intervenes in the potential encounter. From ringside she reaches under the ropes and into the squared circle, wrapping hands around Tay’s ankles then pulling them out from under her. She keeps pulling until Tay is out of the ring and her legs are draped over Cassidy’s shoulders. The crowd lets loose with a wail when Tay is sent hurdling into the ring apron with an Alabama Slam!
Greyson: NO CASSIDY NO!
Sparkles: You don’t tell General Aldo no, and you don’t tell Cassidy no EITHER.
The slam against the apron has left Tay’s back in the most God awful condition imaginable. And guess what? It’s about to get exponentially worse. Cass pulls her target up to the apron and then into a suplex right across it. Once again Tay’s back withstands a harsh impact with the harshest part of the squared circle. After these multiple collisions with the apron Tay is not in any condition to fend off being pinned. She’s thrown into the ring where Serenity is waiting on her and waiting to drop into a lateral press across her chest.
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The pin is averted when Tay throws her arm out from under just one of her opponents. Serenity remains adamant in her pursuit of dispensing pain. She pulls Tay up from the ring and sends her flying into the ropes that Cassidy is standing on the opposite side of. Cass’s knee collides with Tay’s lower back and the impact sends the former World Champion staggering back to the center of the ring where she’s heaved into a Canadian back-breaker. A malicious Serenity drives Tay’s spine right across her knee before dropping her to the ring where she can be pinned.
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Once again Tay gets her arm off the ring and keeps this bout going.
Serenity: Don’t make me hurt you!
As if she hasn’t already?
A banged up Tay is pulled up from the ring and then hit with a knee so forceful across the ribs that it totally knocks the air out of her lungs. Cassidy joins in on the fun, stepping in to her opponent’s side and hitting her with a double axehandle across the lower back.
Sparkles: Sparkles is wondering if Tay is going to get the same treatment that Emily Cage did two weeks ago.
Greyson: If Cassidy had no trouble decimating her own sister, then you had better believe that she’s got no qualms decimating Tay-Tay.
Sparkles: Especially after Tay ambushed her with that chair on the last Riot.
A certain amount of glee is exhibited by Cassidy as she heaves Tay up into another Canadian back breaker. She keeps her opponent spread across her knee while shouting towards Serenity. A nearby corner is quickly climbed, Serenity reaching the top rope before coming off with a knee that smacks Tay right under the jaw and sends her back flipping off Cass’s knee.
Frankie: See what I mean? See what I was saying? This is a handicap match dammit.
Greyson: It’s somewhat fitting isn’t it? Tay and her sister Mika have designs of turning their triple threat World Title match at Last Stand into a handicap bout by teaming up on the champ….
Frankie: Don’t go trying to imply that Tay is getting her comeuppance. She doesn’t deserve this, not one bit. What are you going to say next, that Jodie Foster got what she deserved in the Accused just because she was a woman in a bar full of men?
Greyson: I would never….
Frankie: Or that the sailors at Pearl Harbor deserved to go down with their ships just because they were on a boat?
Greyson: There’s no comparison.
Frankie: Or that the kids at the Neverland Ranch deserved to be…..
Greyson: DON’T EVEN!
The punishment is too much for one person to bare, even when that person is a multiple time champion named Taylor Chase. She’s now dragged to her feet by Cass and Serenity, who continue to turn this triple threat encounter into a handicap match. They simultaneously Irish Whip their common foe into the ropes but just before Tay can hit them she leaps the top rope and ends up on the apron. With as much speed as she can muster Tay lunges from the apron, keeps a grip on the cable and twists her body around so that her shins come down onto the shoulders of her adversary. Before Serenity can react she’s being hit with a head scissors that sends her flying through the ropes to the outside of the ring.
Tay no sooner gets back to her feet before she’s pounced upon by Cassidy. It takes just one of her forearm strikes, delivered on point to the small of Tay’s back in order to shut her down. Cass then takes Tay around the waist and pushes her along chest first into the ropes. She attempts to parlay that bounce from the ropes in order to pull Tay down into a victory roll from behind. Tay is indeed rolled up but she doesn’t stop rolling once she ends up on her shoulders. She ends up reversing the roll up into one of her own, sitting on top of Cassidy’s thighs and folding her up beneath her into the pin.
Greyson: Counter into the roll up.
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To everyone’s surprise, Cassidy especially, she is not able to get her shoulder up in time before the referee makes the three count.
Sparkles: What? Wait? Hold on, Tay got her!
Greyson: What a stunner!
Frankie: Tay caught Cassidy with her pants down. Why do I suddenly have an erection?
The reaction is understandably mixed when Tay, a universally reviled competitor, manages to pick up a win over an equally as despised opponent. Cassidy is irate as she kicks out of the pin just a second too late. Tay isn’t irate, she’s positively pumped, celebrating her win in true Tay fashion. That celebration is a short lived one, because Cass is back on her feet and her boot is colliding straight against her adversary’s kidneys.
Sparkles: A mafia kick right in Tay’s spine.
Greyson: A nasty shot from a nasty woman.
Frankie: The nastiest. I’ve seen classier women performing donkey shows in Mexico.
We’re about to find out just how nasty Cassidy and Serenity can be as the two continue to vent their frustrations through physical violence. They have Tay totally at their mercy, subjecting her to a barrage of stomps now that they have her pinned to the canvas. It doesn’t take very long before reinforcements are on hand to assist their fallen comrade. The crowd erupts at the visual of Tay’s allies hustling down the ramp.
Greyson: This assault has just drawn out Monarchy.
Sparkles: Was wondering when we’d see these two groups cross paths.
Frankie: It was inevitable we’d see them go at it. Just as inevitable as my condoms exploding because they can’t build one that can match my manhood.
Orlando Cruze, Tay’s husband, leads the Monarchy charge, the first to slide into the ring and the first to find his fist hurdling into one of his lover’s attackers. Serenity and Orlando trade blows that eventually cause the two to go toppling from the ring. Another member of New Eden falls from the squared circle as well, but she won’t be knocked from it. Instead Cassidy Haze goes rushing the length of the ring and diving over the ropes, crashing straight into two more Monarchy representatives at ringside. Alistair Taylor and Kat Kelly find a body crashing into them and taking them both to the ground. But where one member of Monarchy falls, two more rise up to take their place. Ryan Watson, Lexy Chapel, Lucas Knight and Trinity Street are all over Cassidy. The brawl takes them from the ringside area straight into the crowd. Serenity and Orlando get swept up into a melee as well, their brawl taking them over the barricade and into the stands.
Greyson: Monarchy and New Eden BRAWLING away from the ring.
Frankie: Monarchy’s superior numbers overwhelming Serenity and Haze. I love this more than eating out of a hooker’s naval.
Sparkles: Sparkles would do that, if said naval were serving cheese.
The crowd manages to clear out of the way of this donnybrook. Eventually their eyes go from the explosive situation in the stands to the chilling scene unfolding within the ring. Tay is recovering from an assault at New Eden’s hands, though she won’t be given much time to mend. The leader of New Eden has just slithered into the ring behind Tay and within seconds Cindy Todd is laying out the former World Champion with a clothesline to the back of the neck.
Greyson: Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse.
Sparkles: They just did. Cindy Todd is here.
Frankie: And she’s living my fantasy by putting her hands all over Tay-Tay.
Cindy’s blows land one after another across the already banged up Tay, keeping her down to the canvas and this time there is no one to lend aid. Clearly Cindy attacked at the most apropos time, enjoying her assault on Tay uninterrupted. Though unleashing physical violence on Tay isn’t Cindy’s only motivation.
Cindy: Family reunions?
Espouses Cindy once a microphone ends up in her hands.
Cindy: That’s what you and Mika are planning, right? (Stomps at Tay’s temple) A reunion? Strange ain’t it? It looks like we have something in common. (Another stomp to the temple) I yearn for a reunion with your sister as well. And if she doesn’t want to watch me peel the flesh off your body, then she’ll join me…
There isn’t a long wait between Cindy’s demands and Mika’s response to them. ‘I Started a Joke’ begins to play over the PA system and Mika Kozlov comes waltzing on out to her theme music. Stood behind her as always is a gargantuan shadow that takes the form of Borislav. Before Mika takes one step closer to the ring she turns back to her protective mass of muscle, puts a palm to his oh so hairy chest and gives him a nudge. Per Mika’s demands Borislav returns to the back and leaves Mika to make a solitary march towards the ring.
Sparkles: This situation just keeps getting stranger with each second that passes.
Frankie: You want to see strange, look directly at Tori Spelling’s face.
Greyson: Cindy Todd picking up where New Eden left off, assaulting Tay, and now she’s requesting that Mika come out and join forces with her.
Sparkles: Looks like Mika is doing just that.
Greyson: Odd considering that for the past several weeks Mika has been determined to earn her way back into Tay’s good graces.
Cindy has got exactly what she wanted, but it remains to be seen if she’s gotten more than what she bargained for. Mika is standing in the ring with Todd and has assumed the demeanor of a bashful child. Her hands are interlocked, her heels are twisting on the canvas and her eyes are batting lovingly in the direction of a woman who has deigned herself Mika’s Queen.
Mika: (Pouting) Did Mika make mommy mad?
Cindy: Mad? I can never be mad at you. At those who try to take you away from me? That’s a different story. (Another stomp to Tay) First it was Aiken Frost, dragging himself up out of the grave and stealing you away from my side, and now-NOW it’s this pathetic girl (crouches down and pulls Tay up to her seat by her hair). Look at her….Look at how weak, how frail, how brittle she is. And yet you want to be with her? You choose HER, (yanks back hard on Tay’s hair)…THIS!?! Over me?
The sullen (looking) Mika dips her chin to her chest.
Mika: I’m sorry….
The remorse expressed by Mika has a STRANGE effect on Cindy. She lets the worm off the hook, releasing Tay from her wrath in order to ensnare Mika with her warmth. In a truly rare display Cindy shows affection, sweeping and extending her arms out to her sides.
Cindy: I think I can find it in my heart to forgive you…
Greyson: Cindy has a heart?
Frankie: You bet she does. She’s got a big one…I don’t know who she got it from, but I saw the jar she keeps it in.
Cindy: Embrace me and we can move on from this.
It looks like Mika is thinking….which can be INCREDIBLY dangerous. She looks at Cindy, open arms and all, then down at Tay, languishing on the canvas, then back at Cindy, who continues to DEMAND a hug. The choice seems to be a simple one.
Greyson: What’s it going to be Mika? You return to New Eden or you return to your sister’s side?
Sparkles: Cindy is pretty much giving her the false illusion of choice.
A decision has been made, Mika walks towards the welcoming arms of her Queen.
Greyson: Ooooh great, Mika is going back to Cindy…
Sparkles: As if New Eden weren’t strong enough already.
Frankie: She’s picking Cindy over Tay? Don’t worry Tay-Tay, Frankie will never leave your side.
Mika all but steps over the body of her sister in order to embrace the very woman who just assaulted her.
Cindy: You’ve made the right choice….
Yes she has, and Mika cements her choice by spewing a fireball from between her lips straight into Cindy’s face.
Greyson: OH GOD!
Frankie: What the hell was that!?!
The very same question is going through Cindy’s mind while her hands are clasping at the potentially burnt flesh on her face. She’s collapsed to the ring with both palms shielding her charred skin, writhing in anguish. A smiling Mika stands above her, swiping the back of her hand across the lips that just produced a great ball of fire.
Greyson: Mika….MAN I can’t believe this. Mika just shot a fireball into Cindy’s face.
Sparkles: How did Mika manage to do that?
Frankie: And why did she do it?
Clearly Mika has no appreciation for her actions, or maybe she has TOO MUCH appreciation for them. She skips around a thrashing Cindy until she reaches her sister. Though Tay is suffering fatigue and injury, she is still cognizant of what her sister just did. It puzzles Tay, but not as much as what Mika does next. She crouches down towards Tay and pats her on the top of her head.
Greyson: Mika’s choice has been made.
Sparkles: Sparkles hopes she’s ready to deal with the consequences.
The camera looks down the hall that ends at a set of double doors. After a moment or two one of those doors start to open just as Tabitha Silverstone stomps into the arena. Her shoulders are squared, her fists are clinched, and her expression mirrors that of Mr. Hughes. It seems Tabitha is in full-fledged ‘enforcer’ mode, and it’s her client she’s protecting. Andre Jordan comes walking through the door that his agent holds open for him.
Andre: I’m not going to curtsey no matter how much of a gentleman you’re being.
Dre muses over the fact that it was Tabitha who got the door for him.
Andre: I don’t need you to hold doors open for me (Dre swings the door that Tabitha had hold of shut) and I don’t need you to protect me (puts his hands on Tabitha’s shoulders). I mean, I appreciate you being there for me but I’m NOT helpless.
Tabitha: Dre (taking his hands from her shoulders and cupping them in her own palms), I’m not taking any risks. Now that you’re free from Mika and we’re back together, I’m not going to chance losing you again.
Andre: Don’t worry….
Tabitha: You know that’s impossible. It’s my job to worry about you. And you know what else my job is? Keeping you safe at any cost. Why else do you think I went out there two weeks ago and fought Orlando Cruze when I thought he was behind your abduction? And why else do you think I plan on having some words with Mika tonight for kidnapping you?
Andre: No-no-no-no…(swiping his hands through the air)…NO. Promise me PLEASE, that you’ll stay away from Mika and let ME deal with her.
Tabitha: But…
Andre: NO (puts palms up in front of Tabitha’s face). End of story. (Tone is far less authoritative) Listen Tabs, I’m sorry I ever questioned you….
Tabitha: Oh that’s all water under the bridge….
Andre: Let me finish. I feel like an absolute jackass for thinking so low of you. You’ve only ever been looking out for my best interest….
Tabitha: And Marina’s.
Andre: Yep, Marina too. You’ve been there for the both of us not just as an agent, but as a friend as well…No, you know what, after two years we’ve become more than that.
Tabitha: That’s right, we’re family.
Andre: Which is why I hope you can forgive me for ever doubting you or your methods.
Tabitha: I’ve already forgiven you.
Andre: That’s….that’s so great to hear. MAN (smiling wide) what a relief.
Dre takes his hands out of Tabitha’s and steps back from his agent, the two wearing matching smiles.
Andre: I got so much I want to say to you, Tabitha, but…..you know what, let’s hold off on that for just now. I got some business to go and handle. You just stay back here and relax…
Tabitha: Dre, I’m not gonna let you….
Andre: Shhh-shhh-shhh….I got this.
Dre walks away from his agent, headed in the general vicinity of the ring. He leaves Tabitha behind, but she damn sure won’t stay where he just left her.
Tabitha: You go and handle your business Dre, (smirking) and I’ll handle mine.
We jump from one tumultuous situation straight to another. Selena Frost SHOULD be holding her Queen of Wrestling Championship, but she isn’t. Selena Frost SHOULD be sitting in the comfort of the locker-room but she isn’t, instead she’s plopped on a chair in the center of the parking garage. Selena Frost should be enjoying the company of her wife, Deanna Springs, but at the moment Deanna is out of harm’s way. And there WILL be harm, and Selena’s gonna be the one who inflicts it. Her eyes are trained on the entrance to the parking lot, and they are not about to budge.
Sparkles: Yikes. This looks tense.
Greyson: I don’t think we’ve ever seen the Snow Queen look any tenser.
Frankie: She’s mean mugging the shit out of that entrance to the parking garage.
Greyson: That’s because she’s waiting on the arrival of Desmond Drake, who two weeks earlier stole her Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Frankie: How many times must you be corrected? You’re just like a diabetic who won’t stop eating chocolate cake, you don’t get ‘it.’ Desmond reclaimed…let me emphasis this….RECLAAAAAIIMED the Queen of Wrestling Title from a woman who never deserved it to begin with.
Greyson: Well neither I nor the Principle Owner are on your wavelength, because Karen McBride has ordered Drake to come here tonight with the Queen of Wresting Title.
Frankie: Drake doesn’t answer to McBride.
Sparkles: No, by the looks of it, tonight he’s going to answer to Selena Frost.
Sweat streams down the body of an exhausted Taylor Chase, who finds herself propped up by a big old crate set up in the hall where she’s crouched. At either side of her are Ryan Watson and Trinity Street, her Monarchy compatriots looking on with concern and expressing it.
Ryan: Ya’ okay mate? Ya took a real nasty arse-kickin’ out there.
Taylor: HEY! I gave just as good as I got.
Trinity: How are you’re ribs holding up?
Taylor: I’m good…No. I’m GOLDEN. In fact, you know what, if you were to put Cindy Todd in front of me right now I’d do a lot worse than throw fire in her fuck ugly face.
Mika: GOODIE.
Injuries, those inflicted on Taylor and those she wants to inflict, are the very last thing she focuses on right now. Mika Kozlov is the only thing she’s concerned with, especially as she moves in closer and closer. Down the hall Mika is carried, worn on the back of her bodyguard Borislav like she were a book-bag.
Mika: Whoa boy….WHOOOAA….
Kozlov pulls on Borislav’s hair like they were reigns. Eventually he stops and Mika dismounts.
Mika: Miss me?
She asks once face to face with her sister. Instinctively Watson and Trinity are trying to put themselves between Mika and Tay.
Taylor: At ease.
Tay forces her way through her friends so that she and Mika can get up into each other’s grills.
Taylor: If you came here expecting me to thank you for helping me, then you best step off. Because I’m not thankful, in fact, I’m pissed. Pissed that you totally took away my opportunity to beat the skank out of Cindy.
Mika: Oh but sestra, I’m not here expecting gratitude, I’m here to be your fairy God mother and make all your wildest fantasies come true.
Taylor: You’re gonna give Karen McBride ass cancer?
Mika: Nooooo, but I am going to give you the chance to help me make Cindy Todd’s face look like an ass.
Taylor: What are you saying?
Mika: Did you by chance notice that some silly goose didn’t bother to take down the steel cage that’s been hanging above the ring since Selena fought Alistair inside of it all those weeks ago?
Taylor: If it’s not my reflection then no, I didn’t notice it or anything else.
Mika: Well I was just thinking that instead of letting that cage continue to just sit there and collect dust that we put it to good use.
Taylor: What did you have in mind?
Mika: Well I kind of had a kooky idea. Crazy, I know.
Taylor: Goooo oooon.
Mika: How about, you and me team up just like we will do at Last Stand against the World Champion, only tonight we team up against New Eden and take them out inside of the Steel Cage.
It strikes Watson and Trinity as absolutely STUNNING that Tay is actually debating this, and it’s not something she debates for very long.
Taylor: You know what? A family reunion suddenly doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.
Cameras are cutting back to the ring just in time to catch the tail end of Andre Jordan’s entrance to it. He is in the process of jumping over the barricade after making a jaunt through the crowd, his music cutting out in the back while he rolls into the ring. A microphone is in his palm, but that won’t be the last thing he gets his hands on…hopefully.
Greyson: Well guys we’re being joined by Andre Jordan.
Frankie: Whoa-whoa-whoa, time out, hold the phone, turn your head and cough, did I just hear this right or did something crazy crawl into my ear? Are Tay and Mika actually going to team up tonight?
Sparkles: Not only are they teaming up, but their gonna do it IN A CAGE, and their opponents are gonna be New Eden. Friggin NEW EDEN!
Greyson: That’s going to be a wild….and I mean absolutely WILD match. Right now though let’s hear from Andre Jordan, who had a WILD couple of weeks himself.
Dre paces the ring with mic lifted to his lips and finger scratching at his temple, eyes downcast to the canvas.
Andre: It’s not often that I walk out of the Manhattan Center with my head hung low. But that changed two weeks ago, because I was….well…..I was downright embarrassed. After being dehumanized by Mika Kozlov, and then abducted by New Eden, I was…I was….I was….humiliated.
Frankie: What!?! He has all these smokin’ hot chicks fighting over him and he’s humiliated?
Greyson: Those smoking hot chicks are psychopaths who ABDUCTED him, Frankie.
Frankie: But crazy chicks can be so much fun in the sack.
Sparkles: Yeah, though the only sack that Andre was going to be in was a body-bag if New Eden or Mika had their way.
Andre: Last year didn’t end on a good note for me, and from the looks of things, it’s only getting worse now that we’re in 2016. But that’s a trend I’m not about to let continue, I ain’t about to let this dumpster fire keep burning. Some things have got to change, and before the end of the night they will. That leaves me with a problem though, and that problem is deciding where to start making that change. Do I go after Mika Kozlov, do I remind her that my magic-stick is not hers to play with?
Frankie: *Snort*
Andre: Ooooor do I go after New Eden? Do I give those girls what they want? A PIECE of Andre Jordan? Oh, and FYI, it won’t be the piece that Mika wants to get her hands on.
Frankie: *Snort*
Andre: Then…..then there’s Orlando Cruze.
The crowd does NOT endorse this name-drop.
Andre: Orlando Cruze (still looking down at the canvas and shaking his head as he utters the name of his former friend), God damn son, I don’t even know what to say to you. You spit in my agent’s face two weeks ago, you challenge me when you knew I couldn’t accept your challenge, and yet you come out two weeks ago and you spread all this hot garbage about ME being a coward? You think I’m going to let that fly?
Greyson: I can definitely see Dre’s dilemma here. There are so many people who deserve a beating….
Frankie: Oh, I see what Dre’s problem is too. The fact that he actually thinks he has it in his power to give a beating to any of the people he mentioned.
Andre: So what am I to do guys? Who gets got first? Mika?
Andre leaves his choice up to popular consensus, holding up the mic to catch everyone’s reaction.
Andre: New Eden?
Again the mic is held up and the crowd cheers.
Andre: Orlando Cruze?
One more lift of the mic and one more loud reaction from the fans.
Orlando: These people don’t have a choice, and YOU don’t have a choice either!
A furious Orlando Cruze suddenly appears on the Cartel-tron. His face is blown up so big you can catch every single one of his snarled breaths and you can see the veins in his temples throbbing. Orlando is not just red hot, he’s nuclear mad.
Orlando: First you hide behind your agent Tabitha, then you hide behind your friend Marina, and now you’re trying to hide behind Mika Mother Effin’ Kozlov? Give me a break! Just accept it….just accept it, you didn’t accept my challenge two weeks ago, you didn’t come out to defend your agent when I was spitting in her face, not because Mika was treating you like her sex slave, it was because you’re A COWARD! You’re afraid to man up, grow a sack in those tighty whities of yours and FACE ME.
Frankie: Preach brother, preach.
Greyson: (Sarcastically) Orlando is such a class act.
Andre: I’m a coward? I’m a coward? I’M A COWARD!?! Why don’t you stay right there, Orlando, and I’ll show the world how wrong you are.
The microphone hasn’t even finished being flung to the canvas before Dre is rolling from the ring and stomping to the back. Orlando can still be seen on the Cartel-tron, smiling, crouching and gesturing for Dre to bring it.
Orlando: Yeaaah, oooh yeeeaah, come on Andre, I’m waiting for you coward. Bring your ass back here if you got the balls boy, and I’ll make you regret it. Don’t worry, I’ll be waiting right here.
Shouts Orlando before he turns, picks up a trashcan and throws it into the chain-link fencing that is set up as the backdrop for the interview zone.
Orlando: COME ON!!
Andre is already walking through the curtains and into the backstage area.
Greyson: Holy crap, this is gonna be intense.
Sparkles: Orlando challenging Andre to nut up….
Frankie: And from the looks of it Dre’s testicles just dropped.
Greyson: God, these two have been going at it for months now and it’s finally-FINALLY going to come to a heading here tonight.
Sparkles: When these two get their hands on…..
Cassidy: You made a very smart decision, Dre.
Just when the crowd didn’t think their hearts could beat any faster here comes New Eden, and their in FULL FORCE. In spite of suffering a burn to the face mere moments ago Cindy Todd is still stepping out right behind her fellow creatures. Her hands sit on the shoulders of Serenity and Cassidy, allowing the pair to guide her to the stage. She finds it difficult to see given the bandage that has been crudely taped over the side of her face and over one of her eyes.
Frankie: Theeeeeir baaaaaaack.
Sparkles: Would it be clever or insensitive if Sparkles said that New Eden’s ears must be BURNING after their names were mentioned by Andre?
Greyson: Not only would it be insensitive, it would be suicidal Sparkles. Moments ago Cindy Todd’s face was burned by Mika Kozlov, which effectively sent the message that Kozlov would not be rejoining New Eden.
Cassidy continues to speak up on New Eden’s behalf as she, a crouching with hands on her knees Serenity, and a mostly blinded Cindy occupy the stage.
Cassidy: You hear me, Dre? You did something smart for a change. You go and you fight Orlando, because you do NOT want a piece of us in the mood we’re in right now. After what just….
For the first time since Cindy’s debut in the IWC, she totally loses her cool. She grabs the mic out of Cassidy’s hands and screams out from beneath the bandages on her face.
Cindy: MIKA! TAYLOR! You want to be trapped in that cage with us (points to the Steel Cage hanging from the rafters)? You’re really that eager to turn your family reunion into a funeral? You have no idea what powers you’re trifling with ladies, but you’re about to find out. WE ACCEPT!
The microphone is thrown harder to the stage than the one Andre tossed to the canvas moments ago. New Eden walks to the back amidst shrill cries from the audience.
Greyson: Iiiiit’s on guys, New Eden versus the unlikely team of Taylor Chase and Mika Kozlov inside of the Steel Cage tonight.
Sparkles: Tay and Mika will be opponents when they challenge Katelyn Buehler for the World Championship at Last Stand, but here on Riot they’re going to be partners.
Frankie: Man, what a bloody ride we’re in store for later on.
Trainer: Are you SURE this doesn’t hurt?
It’s going to take two, maybe three full sized men to help the Trainer pick his jaw up off the floor. Never before has he seen such remarkable and speedy healing. Seated before him on a cot in his office is the very same woman he treated two weeks earlier, and in his arms is the very same arm that was swollen to twice it’s normal size and discolored with bruises. Much to his shock, there are is no swelling, there is no bruising, and there is a smile on the face of his patient World Champion Katelyn Buehler.
Trainer: (Twists the arm he has Katelyn extended out in front of herself) This doesn’t sting? Not even a little?
Katelyn: (Giddily) Nope.
Trainer: This is remarkable.
Katelyn: Guess I’m made of tougher stuff than you thought.
Trainer: I’ve never seen someone heal from this type of injury so quickly.
Katelyn: Wolverine ain’t got nothing on me. WHOOP! WHOOP!
Yup, Katelyn just raised the roof.
Douglas: You see Doc….
Dan Douglas stayed out of the camera’s frame for longer than he could bare. He steps to his client’s side and not only puts a hand upon her shoulder but extends one towards the Trainer as well.
Douglas: Healing isn’t a physical process, it’s a mental one.
Trainers: That’s poppycock.
Douglas: Not reall…..
Katelyn: WHOA! Hold up! Who in the hell uses the word ‘poppycock?’
Douglas: Listen, you might not be able to understand, but my client’s mind is strong, and all it took was her finding the will to want to heal.
Katelyn: Oh Danny, (puts an arm over Douglas’ shoulders and pulls him closer while playfully raising her fist to his chin) you kill me when you go all Sigmund Freud. Next thing you know he’ll be saying all my dreams are about a secret desire to have sex with my mother.
The Trainer bats his eyes about as awkwardly as he can.
Katelyn: And I just made things creepy didn’t I?
Douglas: As you can see Doc, my client is not only in good shape but in good spirits. So you’re job here is done.
Katelyn: Yeah, hit the bricks GRANDPA!
The Trainer has better things to do than sitting here listening to Katelyn talk about fornicating with her own mother. He walks off just as Katelyn slides down from the cot. The smile and the energy she exhibits fills Douglas with such pride, considering it was his brainwashing techniques that all but cured Katelyn of her maladies and prevented her from exacerbating them two weeks ago.
Katelyn: Well aren’t you just a smiling buffoon?
Douglas: I’m sorry, it’s just-it’s just so good to see you like this.
Katelyn: Hmmmm?
Douglas: In such a good mood.
Katelyn: Yeah, I just feel…I don’t know….it’s like I’ve got a natural high. Maybe their putting something in the coffee around here. Whatever it is, I’m just FLYING right now. Have been for like the past two weeks. Nothing is getting to me. Not even the thought of defending my title against Tay and Mika at Last Stand.
Douglas: I’m so glad to hear you say…..
BEEEP! BEEEEP!!
Susie Moore lays into the horn on her hover-round and does it with so much force it could blow out ear-drums. Douglas and Katelyn have to jump back simultaneously as the backstage correspondent comes speeding into the trainer’s office and slamming on her brakes right in front of them. Her big gulp almost goes spilling out of her hand in the process of stopping.
Susie: AH-HA! I caught YOU!
Toy handcuffs that are obnoxiously pink find their way around Katelyn’s wrist, Susie making sure she can’t go anywhere.
Katelyn: (Playfully) Oh no, you got me.
Susie: And you ain’t getting away this time. Not until you spill the beans.
Katelyn: What’s on your mind, Susie?
Susie: Uhhh, my hair.
Katelyn: I mean what do you want?
Susie: OH! I got questions, questions you avoided two weeks ago. How dare you blow me off and leave me talking to Captain Picard instead.
Douglas groans as he slides his hands back over his bald scalp.
Katelyn: That’s weird, Dan didn’t tell me he talked to you….
Susie: Am I ever going to get to ask you my questions?
Katelyn: Okay-OKAY, go ahead….jeez.
Susie: First off, why did you choose to attack Lexy Chapel at the end of the last Riot?
Katelyn’s head snaps back, totally caught off guard by this question.
Katelyn: What? When did I….have you been eating Elmer’s glue again, Susie?
Susie: Nope. I’ve lost a taste for it. I’ve moved on to paint varnish.
Douglas: That explains so much.
Douglas has to intervene and intervene fast, stepping between his client and the interviewer.
Douglas: Clearly Susie isn’t all there.
Susie: What are you talking about? (Looks herself up and down) All of me is here, even my underwear….this time.
Douglas: She’s obviously mistaken.
Katelyn: About what? Me attacking Lexy? Because I’ve had people asking me about it on social media too and I’ve been like…da’ fuck you talking about? Been meaning to go back and re-watch the last Riot, but every time I do, I suddenly….I suddenly start feeling real sick to my stomach and have to run to the bathroom and then I….
Douglas: You don’t have to describe it any further.
Katelyn: Are you sure, there’s this part about undigested corn you would find utterly fascinating.
Susie: You know, I have access to the footage from the last Riot. I got it right here on my cell-phone. Want to watch it and see what everyone’s talking about?
Katelyn: Alright, but I don’t know what you THINK it’ll prove.
Susie starts to pull up some Youtube vids on her cellphone, navigating her way through the My Little Pony footage she had previously been watching.
Douglas: You can’t watch this, Katelyn.
Katelyn: You’re right, I don’t, but let’s indulge the naïve little thing.
Douglas: No, I mean, you literally CAN’T watch the footage.
Katelyn: What are you….
Her eyes start to veer towards the cellphone in Susie’s hand but suddenly stop before she ever sees the video that was just accessed. Her whole body goes paler….than normal.
Katelyn: Oh….OH GOD.
The World Champion goes racing out of the room with one hand over her mouth and another over her stomach. Susie lets go of the handcuffs she had around the World Champion’s wrist just in time to prevent being dragged off her hover-round. The sight of his client getting so ill has removed the smile that was once on Douglas’ face.
Susie: What was that all about?
Douglas: You wouldn’t….(pulls a golden talisman out of his jacket pocket and stares depressingly at it)….understand.
Andre: I won’t keep you waiting Orlando! Don’t worry!
You better believe that after everything Andre Jordan has been put through he’s in a fighting mood. Good thing for him that’s exactly what he’s walking into with fists clinched….a fight. He navigates his way through the various obstacles lining the walls of the hallway as he ebbs ever so much closer to a brawl with the man who challenged him just seconds ago, Orlando Cruze.
Sparkles: We didn’t have to wait very long for this, did we?
Greyson: No we did not. It’s gonna be a straight up fight between Andre Jordan and Orlando Cruze.
Frankie: A fight? Heck no it’s not, it’s gonna be a MUGGING. Andre doesn’t realize what he’s walking into.
What Andre is walking into at that exact moment is the interview zone, the very same place where Orlando Cruze was SUPPOSED to be waiting for him. But he’s noooooot. There’s no sign of Orlando anywhere, not standing in front of the steel mesh that provides a unique background for this section of corridor, or over the trashcan that he tossed into that very same set. Orlando is long gone.
Greyson: Where? Where’s Orlando?
Sparkles: Sparkles is clueless.
Frankie: He must have thought Andre chickened out like he has a history of doing.
Greyson: That is the biggest load I have ever heard. Moments ago Orlando promised Dre that he was going to be standing right there in the interview area waiting for a fight….
We find out just how huge said load is when a snarling Andre is turned into a slobbering Andre. He’s suddenly pounced on from behind by Orlando’s ally, fellow Monarchy member Alistair Taylor. He employs his forearm to smash Andre directly between the shoulder blades, the blow sending the unsuspecting superstar crashing down to all fours.
Sparkles: Hey, that’s Orlando’s running buddy Alistair Taylor!
Greyson: And he’s ambushing Andre! That son of a bitch…
Frankie: Easy now.
Greyson: This was a set up dammit….a friggin set up perpetuated by Orlando and Monarchy!
Frankie: There you go again MULDER, making up your crazy conspiracies.
Greyson: CONSPIRACIES!?! You’re seeing it happen right now in front of your friggin eyes!
Alistair doesn’t keep Dre grounded for very long, leading him up to his feet and then towards the steel mesh set. He had planned to send Dre’s head crashing into the chain-links but instead it’s his own face that grates against it. At the last second Andre reverses Alistair and sends him flinging into the steel. Alistair no sooner ricochets off the mesh before turning around right into a trashcan that Andre has picked up and Andre is introducing into his attacker’s skull. All of Alistair’s limbs go limp after this brutal blow to the head.
Greyson: Andre’s turning the tide! He’s turning the tide on Alistair!
Sparkles: He NAILED him upside the head with that trashcan.
Frankie: What the hell has gotten into this no good thug!?! Alistair was doing nothing but minding his own busine….
Greyson: Oh shut up FRANKIE!
Sparkles: This is insanity! And don’t tell me….don’t you dare tell me we’re going to commercial break?
Alistair goes staggering off camera while Andre charges after him, trashcan still in hand.
There’s the parking garage and there’s Selena Frost continuing to sit right in the center of it. She has a chair parked under her, trying to be as comfortable as she can be given the situation. Her eyes remain glued to the entrance, waiting on the arrival of Desmond Drake, and the arrival of her Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Greyson: As if things couldn’t be anymore chaotic here tonight, we’ve got the Queen of Wrestling Champion Selena Frost still stalking the parking garage in anticipation of Desmond Drake’s arrival.
Sparkles: Two weeks ago he ran off with her title belt, but Karen McBride has ordered him to come back here and return the championship.
Frankie: Stay defiant Dessie D, don’t you give the Snow Queen anything, and you can tell Karen McBitch that she can take her orders and stick then right up her tight….
Greyson: Frrrrrraaankiiie.
Sparkles: Hey production crew, Sparkles knows this is a situation we want to stick with but you’re gonna want to get the camera on what’s happening out here STAT.
That’s exactly what the production crew does. They cut to the ring, a ring now occupied by a man who is so furious, so hot he might as well as be made of molting lava. Orlando Cruze does not come out to his entrance music or to any fanfare whatsoever. The camera gets to ringside just in time to catch him rolling into the squared circle and doing so with a microphone griped tight in his hand.
Orlando: Alright Andre, I’m out here just like we agreed.
Greyson: What? Wait…WHAT!?!
Sparkles: Ummmm….if Sparkles’ memory serves me correctly, Andre and Orlando were SUPPOSED to fight backstage, NOT in the ring.
Frankie: You must have been thinking about cheese or something and totally missed the part where Orlando said he’d come out and fight Andre….
Greyson: He never-ever said anything like that and you know it Frankie.
Frankie: Interrupt me one more time Lovejoy, one more time.
Greyson: I don’t know how Orlando manages to do it, but week after week after week he stoops lower and lower and lower. He knows damn well that Dre was going backstage to fight him…
Frankie: Stop Lovejoy, just stop, you’re making an idiot of yourself.
Once again Orlando has found a whole new level of despicable.
Orlando: I told you before the break to wait right here, Dre, to give me two minutes to make my way out so I could give you a smack right in your mouth. But biiiiig surprise, lo and behold you’re nowhere to be found. You tucked your tail between those things you call balls and you went off running. (Points his wagging finger at the fans) Do you guys see now what I’ve seen since day one? Andre Jordan is a cooooowaaard. Let me say it even slower….coooooow-wwwward.
Frankie: Orlando calls it like he sees it.
Greyson: Orlando is about as full of shit as you are, Frankie.
Frankie: Insult me one more time Lovejoy, one more time.
Sparkles: To be fair Frankie, Orlando DID challenge Andre to fight him BACKSTAGE.
Greyson: And when Andre got there he was ambushed by Orlando’s friend Alistair Taylor. It’s Orlando who’s the damned coward.
Orlando: I knew coming into tonight that Andre was yet again going to find another way to weasel out of a fight with me, and he didn’t disappoint, did he? Well I’m not about to stand around all night long waiting to hear Andre’s excuse for ducking out of another fight with me. Later on I’ll settle for fighting Marina, who apparently has a much bigger set of testicles than her friend does. And until then I’ll enjoy some time with my wife, you know, Taylor Chase, the HOTTEST woman on the planet. God is she soooooo friiiiggggiiiin HAWT!
For the next twenty minutes Orlando could go on and on about just how sexy his wife is and just how superior it makes him that he get a piece of that every night, but he isn’t given that opportunity. Lexy Chapel’s theme music is blasting through the loud speakers and the Evolution/Tag Team Champion is making her way through the curtains. Shockingly Lexy does not wear either of her title belts, in fact, the only thing over her shoulder is a kendo stick, the very same weapon that Katelyn Buehler used to assault her two weeks ago.
Frankie: This just got SPICEY!
Greyson: One has to wonder, even though I really don’t want to, what brings Lexy Chapel down that ramp right now.
Sparkles: According to the run-sheet, she’s set to take on Andre Jordan.
Frankie: HA! Fat chance of that happening. If Andre is too much of a coward to fight Orlando then you had better believe he won’t summon the courage to face THE Lexy Chapel.
Greyson: Do you get off on making yourself sound like a jackass?
Frankie: I get off on A LOT of things.
With the kendo stick still over her shoulder Lexy slips through the ropes from the apron. She approaches her fellow Monarchy cohort and reveals her own microphone.
Lexy: You’re not the only one who’s sick and fucking tired of cowards. You know, the type who run from a straight up fight only to show up later and attack you from behind? Two weeks ago that Casper bitch walking around with the World Title decided to ambush me after I had just retained my Evolution Championship, when I was at my weakest. Can you believe that shit? Well can you?
Orlando: It’s disgraceful.
Lexy: No, nuh-uh, it’s PATHETIC is what it is! And-and-and you want to know why? Why she attacked me like she did?
Orlando: Do tell.
Lexy: It’s because she knows that I’m going to win the Rumble in two weeks and she fears the thought of defending the title against me at Invictus. That’s why she blindsided me, that’s why she’s a two faced cum guzzling…..
Orlando: Lexy-Lexy-LEEEEEXXXY! Calm down mate, you’ll blow a vessel.
Orlando’s hand comes to a rest on Lexy’s shoulder.
Orlando: There’s no need to get so worked up, especially when it comes to facing Katelyn for the World Title, that won’t happen, not in a million years.
Lexy really hopes that Orlando isn’t downplaying her chances of winning the Rumble.
Orlando: Not because I don’t think you got it in you to win the Rumble. The reason you won’t face Kate at Invictus, is because Tay is going to take what is hers by birthright, she’s going to win the championship from Katelyn at Last Stand and then SHE’S the one who’s going to headline her third straight Invictus. And who will she be defending the belt against? It will be a member of Monarchy…(jabs a thumb against his chest)…THIS member of Monarchy.
Lexy’s jaw isn’t the only one that falls.
Orlando: For the first time in IWC history, it’s going to be husband versus wife for the World Title in the biggest Invictus main event of all times. It’s all going to happen after I enter and then win this year’s Rumble.
Lexy picks up her jaw.
Lexy: Fair enough, Orlando. I’ll let you go on believing that. And I hope….naaaah…who am I kidding…I KNOW that the finals of the Rumble are going to be the (bellowing voice) awesome Lexy Chapel versus the (softer tone) great Orlando Cruze. To make sure that happens, I’m going to prevent Andre from doing to you what Trailer Park Kate did to me two weeks ago. You know if he won’t face you straight up, then he plots on ambushing you. I’ll take him out before he ever gets the chance, and I’ll take him out this very second. I’m scheduled to face him later tonight, but I’m demanding to fight him right fucking now.
Orlando: Good luck getting him to man up and come out here.
After once again trying to humiliate Andre and dropping the bombshell that he’ll be in this year’s Rumble, Orlando Cruze vacates the squared circle. He rolls out and leaves Lexy behind to potentially deal with Andre Jordan, a man he clearly doesn’t want to tangle with.
Frankie: HUGE announcement by the mighty Orlando Cruze. He’s gonna be in the Rumble ya’ll!
Greyson: In two weeks the IWC will present Last Stand live on pay-per-view, and our annual Rumble will headline that event….
Frankie: And the Rumble definitely deserves to headline that pay-per-view when you’ve got greats the likes of Lexy Chapel and Orlando Cruze now involved. (Mumbles) And ummm, the Uprising brand’s roster too.
Sparkles: That match is in two weeks, but in a few moments it’s going to be Lexy and Andre going at it one on one.
Frankie: I wouldn’t count on it my fuzzy friend. Andre wouldn’t face Orlando, and he won’t face Lexy. The guy’s got less courage than brains.
Greyson: Something tells me that Andre might just prove you wrong.
LEXY CHAPEL VS. ANDRE JORDAN
We’re about to find out just how much courage Andre Jordan really possesses now that his opponent Lexy Chapel is in the ring waiting on his arrival. Per her demands to those production crew members stood ringside, the music for her opponent is cued up. Andre’s theme is playing over the speakers but at the moment he is nowhere to be seen.
Frankie: I told you! IIIIIII TOLD YA!
Greyson: Andre is presumably too preoccupied fighting with Alistair Taylor backstage to make it out here.
Frankie: Quit making excuses for him. Just accept it, Dre is a pussy!
Greyson: He’s the farthest thing from a coward.
Sparkles: He didn’t say Andre was a coward, he said he was a pussy. Which means that Dre is a female’s sexual organs. And now Sparkles is very confused.
Well there’s no confusing the blows that Dre lands straight across the face of Alistair Taylor. The two come staggering along through the curtains and to the stage where Dre’s fists land across Alistair’s forehead and keeps on connecting as they brawl straight down the ramp.
Greyson: There he is, there’s Andre!
Frankie: And the despicable bastard is STILL assaulting a helpless Alistair Taylor.
Andre lands such a forceful blow across Alistair’s face that it sends him flying back from the base of the ramp and into the ring apron. No sooner does Alistair hit the apron before Dre’s chop hits his chest. The blow threatens to tear the skin right off of Alistair’s sternum. But it’s his shoulder that receives the most damage when Alistair is Irish whipped along straight into the steel steps. His arm and his shoulder take the brunt of the impact and it leads to his body being left totally wiped out at ringside. After taking out one adversary Andre’s eyes twist towards another. Although Lexy Chapel did not like seeing what happened to her friend Alistair, she does like seeing the intensity in Andre’s eyes. She bends at the knees and stands in the middle of the ring with the kendo stick she carried out with her held back like a bat about to swing for the fences.
Frankie: Don’t you dare put a hand on her, Andre.
Greyson: Their opponents for Christ sakes.
With Alistair laid out there’s no force that is going to separate Andre from the woman he’s scheduled to face right here and right now. Andre leaps to the apron and stands in front of the ropes with Lexy waiting for him on the other side. It looks like the competition is just about to happen and Dre is going to dirty his hands with yet another member of Monarchy’s blood. However, right before this bout can go down and the action can get hot and heavy, Alistair interferes. He recovers in the nick of time to reach up from ringside, catch Andre by the hips and then powerbomb him straight into the ringside mats.
Greyson: Damn-damn-damn-damn-dammit!
Sparkles: Alistair wasn’t taken out completely.
Frankie: With what little was left in his body he managed to throw Dre into the mats with the force of a meteor crashing into the earth. Now get him Lexy, get him GOOD!
Lexy quickly throws aside the kendo stick she was still holding, and then fills her hands with a top rope. She leaps over it to the apron, runs across said apron then dives off into a senton bomb that sends her back crashing right across Andre’s ribs. Lexy quickly pops up to her feet and does so with Dre’s head in her arms. She sends her opponent rolling into the ring before scaling to the apron then to the top rope. It looks as if she’s already going for the Raising the Standard.
Frankie: Oh YES, she’s gonna hit it right away guys.
Sparkles: It’s gonna end this fast?
It might just, but it’s not gonna be Lexy who wins in lightning fast fashion. Just as she’s about to clear from the top rope Andre goes bounding up the corner beneath her. He’s right about to deliver a top rope Angle Slam.
Greyson: Tide Turner off the top!
Sparkles: Sparkles was right, it is going to end this quickly.
Frankie: What? You want a cookie or something?
It’ll take more than a cookie to make Lexy feel better should Andre hit the very same move he’s beaten her with in the past. Lexy won’t fall victim to this move twice, hitting palm thrust after palm thrust straight across the bridge of her adversary’s nose. The shots eventually send Andre flying back off the turnbuckle and to the middle of the squared circle, landing not on his back but on his feet. Finally Lexy lunges from the top and hits the whisper in the wind, her back colliding with her adversary’s chest and sending both athletes to the ground. Lexy lands on top of Dre and then reaches back and hooks one of his legs.
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Lexy ain’t stealing this one from Dre. Not only does he get his shoulder up, but he manages to wrap his arms around Lexy’s waist and bridge both himself and his adversary off the ring. Once back upright Andre twists the Evolution Champion around and into position for the backslide. He lifts her into the air though he doesn’t get her shoulders to the canvas. Instead of being pinned Lexy keeps her back to Dre’s and then reaches out with her legs, wrapping them around her opponent’s waist. She then pulls Andre over into a modified sunset flip pin.
Frankie: Did you see that counter? DID YOU SEE IT!?!
Greyson: I have eyes, Frankie.
Frankie: That was the Triple Lindy.
Greyson: It was a sunset flip.
Frankie: Who’s the wrestler, huh? ME. So if I say it was the Triple Lindy, it was the Triple Lindy.
Sparkles: Whatever you call it, it might just finish Andre off.
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Nope, it didn’t. Dre kicks out and in the process rolls out of the sunset flip onto his feet and then latches onto Lexy’s legs. A despondent Lexy becomes a desperate Lexy as she fights being forced over into the step over crossface. Andre trying to pull her to stomach and apply the move but his adversary is squirming and squirming and squirming. Eventually she stops squirming and starts countering, dragging Dre down into the small package.
Frankie: It’s over! Someone pull the car around, grab some champagne, Lexy and I are going out to celebrate!
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Said celebration will have to wait, cause you guessed it, Dre kicks out once more.
Greyson: What fast paced action in this contest thus far.
Sparkles: Well think about it. You’ve got a pissed off Lexy Chapel fighting a pissed off Andre Jordan. You knew this was going to get explosive.
Frankie: Much like my stomach after eating Taco Bell.
Dre has kicked out yet again and rolled out of the pin onto his feet. Lexy is waiting for him to stand, catching him around the neck, pulling him around so their back to back and then gyrating her hips in Rick Rude fashion. The Rude Awakening seems to be on the cusp of connecting, or it might have had Andre not reversed into the backslide.
Greyson: Dre went for that earlier and now he finally hits it.
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Dre may have hit it, but ‘it’ won’t be enough to score him the win. It’s up to Lexy this time to kick out, rolling over backwards and onto her feet. Only one of those feet leave the canvas and go sailing straight for Dre’s face. Remarkably Dre manages to avoid Lexy’s superkick, dropping down out of the way and hitting a drop toe hold on his opponent’s planted foot. Lexy falls flat on her face with Dre standing up, latching onto her leg and dropping down into the step over crossface.
Greyson: Step-over Crossface…Lexy’s trapped in it and it doesn’t look like she’s got anywhere to go.
Frankie: Fight it Lexy, find the power from within to break out of this hold.
Sparkles: She’s trying to fight through.
Frankie: Frankie believes in you, Lexy! Everyone clap, if you show you believe too, then Lexy will get out of this hold.
Greyson: She’s not Tinkerbell, Frankie.
Lexy’s arms are flailing around with one constantly hovering over the canvas ready to slap it and submit to the punishment she’s being inflicted too. It would seem Andre is finally closing in on a big victory only to have that win ripped right out of his hands. Once again Alistair Taylor interferes in the match, this time reaching from ringside into the squared circle and grabbing hold of Dre’s ankle. With a huge tug he manages to pull Dre off the submission and do so undetected by the referee.
Frankie: Lexy with a Herculean effort to break free from the submission.
Greyson: Alistair pulled him off of the hold dammit.
Frankie: Would you stop? Would you JUST STOP trying to sell Lexy short?
If anything is going to stop, it’s Alistair’s interference. He keeps pulling on Andre’s leg until it’s under the ropes and over the apron. That’s where it stops because Dre rolls to his seat, puts his boots to Alistair’s chest and gives him one hell of a kick. The blow sends Alistair flying down and crashing against the floor. Andre then stands up just as Lexy comes hustling across the ring towards him. Dre catches her coming in though, bending down, catching her by the inner thighs and throwing her over his head. Lexy leapfrogs Dre and then goes flying straight into the ropes behind him, landing on the middle strand. She springs off, twists around in mid-air and goes for….well, we never find out, cause Dre catches Lexy and reverses into the Sky High Press Slam.
Greyson: Oh what a counter by Dre.
Sparkles: Right into the Thrill Ride.
Frankie: Lexy must still be concussed or something after she was hit with that kendo stick two weeks ago by Katelyn.
Greyson: You tell me to stop underselling Lexy, well you need to stop making constant excuses for her.
There will be no excuse in the world that can cover for Lexy’s demise at Andre’s hands.
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The Thrill Ride ALMOST yielded dividends for Dre, but Lexy just gets her shoulder up in time to keep that from happening. Andre rolls away from her and straight into the corner, climbing quick to the top rope.
Greyson: We could be about to see the Big Air.
Sparkles: That patented frog splash elbow from the top.
The move delivers just what it advertises, big air. Dre gets a lot of height before ultimately coming down with the point of his elbow slamming straight against the CANVAS. Lexy rolled clear at the last second.
Frankie: Haha-ahahahahaha!
Dre winces in pain as he rises to his feet holding his arm draped across his stomach. He just starts to ascend to his feet when Lexy steps in and steps over his head, signaling now for the Explicit Content. The package piledriver is about to smoke Dre.
Frankie: Go on girl, hit that shit!
Greyson: If the Explicit Content connects we could very well see the end of this.
In a display of sheer resiliency Andre manages to pull free from the Explicit Content, swinging around out of her package piledriver and into a short arm clothesline. Lexy leaves her feet but not because she was knocked from them. She leaps into the air and catches the inbound Dre with a jumping downward spiral. Lexy hits paydirt, driving her adversary’s face square into the canvas. The disorientated Dre struggles to avail himself of his pain and his incoherence. Amazingly he manages to get up, right in time to have Lexy take him around the neck, twist him around slowly and then fall into a Rude Awakening style neck-breaker. A mere moment after hitting the move Lexy rolls back and into the lateral press.
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It didn’t matter how many times Lexy gyrated her hips or with how much authority she ultimately delivered the neck breaker, it still wasn’t enough to best Andre. He manages to pop his shoulder off the canvas and then start the arduous journey to his feet. Lexy is right there to take him back down to the canvas by driving his face into the ring. She swoops in from behind, hooks his arms and goes for the Union Jack Attack. It’s not the Reverse Russian Leg Sweep that sends either Dre or Lexy down to the canvas though, it’s the drop toe hold. Andre reverses not only into that drop toe hold but into the step over crossface as well.
Greyson: Dre’s going for it again.
Frankie: Doesn’t he know any other moves?
One move might be all it takes for Dre to win this bout, IF and only IF he can get it locked in. Try as he may he just can’t apply the hold he’s setting up for because Lexy is flip flopping on her back and ultimately wedging her feet to his ribs. Dre is kicked off, sent flying back into the ropes and then ricocheting off of them. He comes stumbling right back into Lexy, who not only kips up to her feet but does so in time to put one of her boots into her adversary’s bread basket. Dre is hunched over and Lexy is now latching onto him with the Explicit Content on the verge of being delivered. Just when Dre’s fate seems sealed he shows that he does not prescribe to FATE. Dre stands up straight and sends Lexy flying over him with a back drop. But on the way down Lexy latches onto Andre’s hips and yanks him to the ring via the sunset flip. She rolls him over but Dre doesn’t stop rolling when his shoulders hit the canvas. Instead Dre rolls completely over to his feet and then grabs both of Lexy’s. The Evolution Champion is twisted to her stomach and her legs are then wrapped up as she finds herself subjected to the excruciating trauma of the step over crossface.
Greyson: He’s got it again! Dre has got that hold applied for a second time in this grueling match against Lexy Chapel!
Andre has the lock established about as tight as he possibly can, wearing the Evolution Champion down to the point of submission. She lifts her hand, looking ready to slap the ring and give over to the agony that consumes her fatigued body. With one last ditch effort she reaches out and claws at the ring, giving her mauled body a final tug towards the ropes. She latches onto the bottom cable and as thus the hold she’s locked in is broken.
Greyson: I really-really thought that Andre secured the win with that STF.
Frankie: Maybe he would have, had he applied it on a lesser opponent.
A huffing and puffing Lexy desperately needs a breather, dragging herself under the ropes and to ringside. It’s here that she intends to regroup, but Andre doesn’t provide her that opportunity. He rolls out of the ring and is keeping the heat on his opponent. Andre gets his hands around Lexy’s hair, pries her up from the mats and is about to throw her into the ring but he finds his efforts thwarted when she hits a step up enzugari to the back of his head. As Andre falls back his opponent rolls into the ring. A dazed Andre is about to follow his adversary before he hears heavy footsteps coming in from behind him. Before Dre can respond he feels the sickening sound of a kendo stick as it smacks across his spine. Not only has Alistair just interfered, AGAIN, but he did so using the weapon that Lexy brought out to the ring with her.
Greyson: Why is Alistair still out here? How come no one has gotten him out of here yet?
Frankie: Because he’s protecting Lexy and no one is going to stop him from doing it. I’d throw myself in front of a bullet for Lexy.
The referee is checking on Lexy in the middle of the ring, leaving him totally unaware of the outside interference happening beyond the ropes of the squared circle. Alistair swings the cane once again and this time the weapon flies right PAST Andre’s head. Said cane cracks the apron and now Andre’s fist cracks Alistair in the temple. The cane that was in Alistair’s hands goes rolling into the ring but Alistair won’t. Andre pulverizes Alistair’s face with punch after punch after punch, channeling all of his anger and all of his frustrations behind each brutal blow. Eventually Alistair loses his footing and goes down to the ramp with Andre coming down on top of him, still unleashing punches. Dre is so riled up, so impassioned and so inflamed with rage that he doesn’t even hear the sound of the referee counting over the sound of his fists crashing upside Alistair’s face.
Greyson: Get back in the ring Andre. You’re being counted out!
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think he realizes that the referee is making that count.
The official is getting closer and closer to ‘ten’ but Andre isn’t getting anywhere near closer to returning to the squared circle. He’s still unleashing jabs across Alistair’s face before he remembers that Alistair isn’t his opponent. He whips around to glare at the squared circle where Lexy is kneeling and the referee is still counting. Andre comes hobbling along to the ring and slides in…slides in just a SECOND too late. The official is calling for the bell, having counted Andre out just a half a second before he could fully return to the squared circle.
Greyson: Ref, come on, Andre got back in the ring!
Sparkles: Not fast enough.
Frankie: Due to Alistair Taylor, Andre’s been counted out.
Andre doesn’t allow something like a count-out to stop him from inflicting some punishment. He goes after Lexy, who doesn’t back down. In fact, she’s antagonizing him, baiting him to come after her, and that’s exactly what Dre is doing. He walks right towards Lexy until his legs are caught on something, Alistair’s arms.
Greyson: Alistair AGAIN!?!
Like a bear-trap Alistair won’t let go of Dre’s ankles until he goes tumbling down onto his face. Lexy immediately joins in on the fun, stomping at Dre while Alistair still holds tight to his ankles.
Frankie: Time for Monarchy to prove once more who RULES this company.
Dre remains pinned to the ring and beneath the boots of both Alistair and Lexy. It isn’t until Lexy steps away that the beating stops…no…it doesn’t stop….it’s put on HOLD for just a second. Lexy is picking up the kendo stick and is pointing it at the beaten down Andre. Alistair acts quick, stepping in behind Andre, grabbing his arms and tying them up behind his back.
Greyson: This has gone on long enough.
Frankie: Oh but it’s just getting started.
Sparkles: To think, Alistair and Andre USED to be tight.
Frankie: Friendship stopped mattering to Alistair the moment Lexy started shaking that sexy ass in his direction. I’d shoot Santa Claus in his dick for just one wink from Lexy.
Sparkles: In the dick though?
What Andre is about to be hit with might be just as painful as what Frankie just described. His arms remain held behind him, leaving his midsection defenseless against the kendo stick that is on the verge of shattering them. Lexy lines up her blow like Dre’s ribs were billiard balls. She goes in to make the break only things go tragically awry for the Evolution Champion. Instead of cracking Dre’s ribs, it’s HER ribs that are cracked. Dre puts his boots up and kicks her straight in the mid-section, driving her back in the process. Not only does Dre fend off Lexy but he presses his luck by going after the man clinging to his arms. Dre slips out of Alistair’s clutches, steps behind him and then pops off with a HUGE Tide Turner. The Angle Slam sends Alistair’s body cascading to the canvas, with his back taking the full brunt of the impact.
Greyson: Alistair….Alistair hit with the Tide Turner!
Frankie: Why does Andre keep going after this innocent man? Doesn’t he remember how close he and Alistair used to be?
Sparkles: But didn’t you just say like ten seconds ago that friend….
Frankie: Shut it Sparky!
Alistair’s been wiped out and the same fate seems destined for Lexy. Already Andre is back on his feet and is bearing down upon her. She’s kneeling on the canvas and clasping hold of the kendo stick. Although she would just love to put that weapon to use, she’s never given the opportunity. A particularly muscle bound fan has just jumped the guardrail, raced to ringside and is reaching beneath the ropes to latch onto Lexy’s ankle. He drags Lexy from the squared circle and to his side, scanning her with his eyes to make sure she’s okay.
Greyson: It’s that fan again,
Sparkles: What fan?
Greyson: The very same one who two weeks ago helped Lexy after she was blindsided by Katelyn Buehler.
Frankie: They just let fans jump in the ring and grope Lexy? I work here and I’ve been trying to grope Lexy for months yet I’m not allowed to do it. I can only fantasize about it.
Andre is fantasizing about getting his hands on Lexy too, and not in the sexual sense. Instead he has to settle for getting his hands on something else, a microphone. He stands over the body of an unconscious Alistair while directing his words at the Evolution Champion as she and her ‘fan’ back up the ramp.
Andre: Do me a favor Lexy….
Lexy is already flipping Dre the bird.
Andre: You go back to whatever hole Monarchy are hiding in and you give your bud Orlando a message for me. You tell him that he can’t avoid a fight with me any longer. Because I’m entering the Last Stand Rumble, and I’m gunning for the PHENOM!
The microphone is thrown up the ramp and lands right at Lexy’s feet. It doesn’t stay at her toes, it ends up clutched in her fingers.
Lexy: Good, you want in the Rumble, more power to you. But Orlando isn’t the one you should be ‘gunning’ for, it’s the woman who’s going to win the whole shebang…..LEXY CHAPEL!
Now the microphone DOES stay on the ground.
Greyson: Another big addition to the Rumble to be contested in two weeks as part of our Last Stand pay-per-view.
Sparkles: Andre throwing his hat into the mix.
Frankie: You heard Lexy though, it’s not gonna matter, she’ll win the whole thing.
Greyson: Orlando Cruze, Lexy Chapel, Cindy Todd, Serenity, and now Andre Jordan all staking claim to winning the Rumble, what a field of entrants we have this year.
Sparkles: Can you imagine what’ll happen if Andre and Orlando meet up in that Rumble?
Greyson: God help us all.
A gentle knock is given to the door. And who is that gently, gently tapping on the chamber door? It’s not a raven, it’s Tabitha…Tabitha Silverstone. She looks extra cautious when standing just outside a room reserved for a woman who would give Edgar Allen Poe the creeps, Mika Kozlov. A second is taken to look away from the door that leads to Mika’s den of depravities, Tabitha peaking over her shoulder to make sure no one is watching. When there is no answer to her knocks Tabitha gets a bit bolder, deciding to just step on in. The door starts to open, revealing that Mika Kozlov and her muscle Borislav are indeed inside, but they are so deep in conversation that they could care less who’s been knocking and now who’s just invading their dressing room.
Mika: I have strong will power, I can stay away from my Chocolate Pudding for just one night, no matter how much I want to devour him.
Borislav: Hmmmm.
Mika: Don’t you worry, I’ll have my Pudding, and I’ll eat him too. As for tonight though, I’m too busy to worry about Andre. I have my sestra and I have my New Eden right where we want them. Everything is coming together so perfectly (claps giddily).
Borislav: MIKA!
Borislav lunges up from the chair he was sitting in and alerts the pacing Mika to the intruder. Instantly Tabitha puts her hands up, showing that they are empty and implying that if they weren’t they’d be occupied by a white flag.
Tabitha: Relax big boy, I’m not here to stir up trouble.
Mika: Awww….just when I was starting to appreciate you for your trouble making skills.
Tabitha: I’m here to THANK YOU.
Mika: Thank me? Little old me? I’m so touched. I’m-I’m MOVED. Did you get me a present? A card at least? You know, to really show how much you appreciate me?
Tabitha: Nooooo, sorry sweety, didn’t think that far ahead.
Mika: Ah, you’re an impulsive one. (Bumps the side of her fist against her heart) I feel ya, homie.
Tabitha: Anyway, I wanted to thank you for spending so much QUALITY time with my client. I think you really rubbed off on Andre.
Mika: I did grind on him for a while.
Tabitha: Yeeeeah, thank you. You’ve given him….
Mika: Not STDS. I have been tested.
Tabitha: No, not that. You’ve given him EDGE. You’ve given him….DARKNESS.
Mika: I think his genetics are responsible for that.
Tabitha: You know what I mean, Mika.
Mika: Sure I do. And I hope you know something as well. That I am just getting started with your boy-toy.
Tabitha’s face lights up.
Tabitha: That’s fine. Because you truly are what’s best for Andre. Now if only I could find someone to help Marina the same way you’re helping Andre.
Mika: Well (points over her shoulder with her thumb) Borislav’s single.
Marina: Is everything in place?
Victoria: Trust me, it’s all taken care of.
Cameras catch the conversation between Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas in medias res. The two stand in a somewhat secluded part of a backstage corridor and for good reason, they don’t want very many eavesdroppers overhearing what these two longtime friends are discussing.
Victoria: By the end of the night all of Andre’s doubts, all of his suspicions about Tabitha, are going to be confirmed, then we’ll all be free from that disgusting, two-faced, hideous beast.
Marina: It’s hard to believe it’s come to this.
Victoria: It’s hard to believe it took this long.
Cameras open on a poster, a huge poster that proudly honors acclaimed IWC grappler Rachel Tatum Lee. The image of her bolstering the NHB Title is on display in the halls of the Manhattan Center, just one of multiple tributes to a number of high profile athletes who have graced an IWC ring. It won’t be hanging there for very long, the poster is being taken down off the wall by two stagehands.
Kat: Take it down…take everything associated with ‘she who shall not be named’ down.
The present holder of the NHB Title comes into view, directing her minions in their redecoration efforts. Kat Kelly might be a champion but she steps forth with no sight of her championship, though what she does have is a black burlap sack that has what is shaped like a title belt inside.
Stagehand: What do you want us to do with it?
Kat: Use it as toilet paper for all I care. Actually, you know what-you know what, take it to Mya Denton and Aaron Harrison. Those two love ‘she who will not be named’ so much, I’m sure they can flap to this all niiiight long.
Stagehand: You know, no one has seen Mya all night.
Kat: And you’re complaining about this? If you’re so worried about Mya then put out a friggin amber alert. (Kat swipes her hand through the air) Screw Mya. I didn’t give you twenty bucks to stand there yammering about her, now get back to work!
Kat watches as the poster is taken away.
Greyson: Kat Kelly remaining true to her word. She said that she was going to sanitize the IWC of any and all association with Rachel Tatum Lee.
Sparkles: Rachel walked out on the IWC several weeks ago, and in the process left behind the NHB Title….
Frankie: And now it’s aaaaaall Kat’s, and you know, she’s promised to unveil a drastic redesign of the championship by the end of the night.
Greyson: Hopefully it will be in time for her scheduled defense of that very championship when she puts the gold on the line against challenger Aaron Harrison. Two weeks ago Harrison was close to taking that NHB Title from Kat in order to honor his savior Rachel Tatum Lee.
Sparkles: He’ll get another shot at honoring Rachel tonight though when he tries to take the NHB Title from Kat, LEGALLY, in the middle of that ring.
Patience is a virtue and Selena Frost is discovering that the longer and longer that she waits on the arrival of the man who stole her Queen of Wrestling Title. All night long Selena has been sitting in the parking garage, plopped down on a chair and watching the entrance, hoping that Desmond Drake will be arriving soon and with her belt in his possession. Finally there are headlights off in the distance as a car slowly begins to cruise into the Manhattan Center. Selena can be seen rising from the chair with her knuckles clinched into fists and rising to her sides.
Greyson: Is that Desmond Drake arriving to the Manhattan Center?
Sparkles: Selena Frost has been waiting on him to bring back her title.
Greyson: I don’t know what Selena wants more, the title, or Drake’s head on a pike.
Frankie: She better be wary, because fucking with Drake is like fucking the woman from the movie Teeth. It’s deadly.
Riot returns to the ring just as the theme song commonly associated with Victoria Salinas is starting to wind down. We see both she and her friend Marina Valdivia headed for the squared circle, and they do not walk out alone. Trailing behind them is a gangly young stagehand who is nervously chewing on his nails as he follows these athletes towards the squared circle.
Sparkles: The ring has been a revolving door tonight. A lot of airing of grievances.
Frankie: Yeah, we’ve had so many grievances aired you’d think it was Festivus around here.
Greyson: That’s fitting, cause I’m sure we’ll be getting more than a few feats of strength as well.
Sparkles: Right now it’s Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas taking center-stage.
Frankie: And who’s that douche with them? A fluffer?
All will be explained once Victoria, Marina and their guest are in the squared circle.
Victoria: It’s not easy when someone you trust, someone you care about, uses a water fountain to bust through a window and escape from the cuckoo’s nest. What I’m trying to say is that it’s difficult dealing with those we thought we could depend on when they go off the reservation.
Frankie: Can we get a translation for Victoria’s translation? What the fuck is the bitch talking about? I’ve heard women talk clearer with my balls in their mouth.
Victoria: When my friend Marina (puts a hand on Marina Valdivia’s shoulder) came into the IWC, she did so with some trust issues. She had a few bad experiences warp her perception of this business. It made it difficult…difficult for her to believe in anyone. So when she opened herself up and made herself available to Tabitha Silverstone, it was a very difficult decision. But you know what, she did it. She put herself out there and she placed her trust, her faith and her CAREER in Tabitha’s hands. I know how hard that was for Marina, so you have to understand why I’m so damned sickened by the way that Tabitha has abused that trust, that faith, and that career.
It’s a good thing that Marina is letting Victoria do all the talking, cause she might be a bit too emotive to make any type of sense should she be given a microphone.
Victoria: Tabitha has used her position as an agent, and as Marina’s ‘friend’ to manipulate her, to twist her, to try and transform her into something she’s not. And she’s doing the exact same thing to Andre Jordan. She’s been setting both of them up for months, and now she’s finally crossed a line there’s no going back from. Tabitha went way too far this time, and there’s not any ‘post-concussion syndrome’ bullshit that can explain away her actions. I have proof, irrefutable proof that Tabitha was the mastermind behind Andre Jordan’s abduction.
The Stagehand who had been comfortably loitering in the background is now pulled into the spotlight.
Victoria: Tell them.
The mic is pressed against the young man’s chest. After taking a very deep breath he lets loose with his revelation.
Stagehand: Four weeks ago I….
Victoria: Tell them!
Stagehand: I saw Tabitha walking into Mika Kozlov’s dressing room moments before Andre was abducted. Then, later that night, I saw Mika and Borislav leaving the building with Dre as their captive. When I asked Tabitha about it, she offered to bribe me in order to keep my mouth shut. I really-really wanted to tell everyone the truth, but Tabitha, she-she threatened me and FORCED me to take her money.
Victoria: Thank you…
Stagehand: It makes me sick knowing that I could have helped Andre….
Victoria: I said THANK YOU.
The Stagehand is pushed into the background. All of Victoria’s focus goes from the stagehand and to the entry way.
Victoria: Tabitha, I think you owe me, I think you owe Andre, and I think you owe Marina an explanation. Not that any you give us will make up for what you’ve done.
A door comes flying open backstage as Andre Jordan empties out of the locker-room and into the hall. A gym bag with all his gear inside is thrown over his shoulder and lugged along towards the exit. His departure is impeded by the woman frantically racing after him, his agent Tabitha Silverstone.
Tabitha: You’re not buying this….Come on!
No matter how loud Tabitha pleads Dre doesn’t listen. He doesn’t even look back in her direction, he just keeps on walking and walking.
Tabitha: They don’t even have any proof. It’s just Victoria’s word against mine. She’s only trying to turn you and Marina against me. Can’t you see that?
Andre doesn’t see anything but the door at the end of the hall that serves as the exit from the arena.
Selena: You have something that belongs to me half-squat!
It’s a good thing that Desmond Drake is wearing black pants. He finds it very difficult to hold his urine when he’s got his back pressed to the grill of his car and a chair embedded against his throat. Selena Frost is leaning down into her makeshift weapon as it grinds against Drake’s esophagus. There are no security guards in the parking garage who can aid Drake at the moment, leaving him completely at the mercy of a woman he has wronged multiple times over the past several weeks.
Selena: I told you this was how it would end. Now where is it? Where’s my Title?
It isn’t easy for Drake to answer when he’s got a chair crushing his throat.
Selena: Answer me!
All Drake can respond with our coughs and groans. Finally Selena lets up on the pressure she was applying against his trachea.
Drake: In the trunk (coughing), in the trunk!
His pint sized body slides down the car until he’s on his butt. Selena leaves him, for the moment, so she can grab what truly matters to her, the Queen of Wrestling Title that was stolen from her. Selena moves to the trunk, finds the release button and pops it open. What she expects to see is gold, but instead it’s steel. A pipe swings from the interior of the trunk and cracks Selena between the eyes. The shot across the skull has sent Selena collapsing to the ground, hands clasping her face. Just then her attacker reveals herself…or maybe not so much. The woman who exits the trunk is covered head to toe in black garbs with a ski mask shielding her true identity. In one hand we can see the pipe she just bashed Selena in the face with, in the other hand is the Queen of Wrestling title.
Drake: Come on! Come on!!
Drake shouts to the masked woman who goes racing around the car and towards the entrance to the arena. A still coughing Drake follows her into the building. All the while Selena grabs at a bumper and uses it to start dragging herself up to her feet, struggling through the concussing blow she just received.
A brief video package plays, and it’s not just that wonderful filler garbage we get to kill time between the end of one show and the start of another. All that can be seen at the moment is darkness, but what can be heard are the sounds of thunder. No, that’s not thunder, that’s the rumble of hundreds stomping their feet and clapping their hands.
The camera slowly rises and rises and, guess what, it rises some more, passing out of shadows and to sand. At last we see the source of this thunderous ovation, and it happens to be coming from the screaming spectators gathered in the circular stands that surround the pits of an arena. The crowds dressed in their ancient roman attire cut lose with screams at the sight of the gladiators fighting to the death on the sands below them. But this clash is just an appetizer before the main course.
Trumpets suddenly sound from the balcony where royalty watches on. All attention is drawn from the blood spilled across the amphitheater to the figure who presides over this chaos. Seated upon a throne in a toga with golden fleece is IWC President Drew Bryant. His eyes seem glazed over and listless, losing interest in the battles waging beneath his feet.
Soon the wandering eyes of the crazed crowd draw to the goiter hung from the throat of a portly announcer. He stands with one arm over his pot belly, the other gesturing to the pits so far below him.
Announcer: King Drewontavius Bryantis is pleased to present to you the main attraction of the third annual Invictus games.
More trumpets blare as flower petals shower the two combatants emerging from the dungeons. Shields are held in front of the already armored bodies of the gladiators, who walk in sandals across the sands. Eventually they reach the center of the fighting pits, turning to Bryantis and offering the their very lives.
Fighters: We who are about to die salute you!
Instead of lifting weapons aloft in tribute to the ruler, either athlete raise what appear to be Championship belts. The gold in their hands reflect the bright sun hung over head, the light also gleaming from their helmets. That armor is soon removed from their heads so as to give Drewontavius a better look at their faces. Uprising brand World Champion Vanilla Skyy and Riot brand World Champion Katelyn Buehler, allow the world a peek at their fierce, unshakable expressions.
The eyes of the fighters and those of the hundreds and hundreds of spectators closely watch the ruler rise from his throne. At last he gestures for the conflict to commence. And it shall start precisely on his cue with Skyy and Katelyn grabbing their respective spears and raising them over shoulder. They crouch into fighting stances, readying for a battle not of ultimate supremacy but to the death. Katelyn smiles and Skyy winks as the war begins.
And if you think you’re going to see it, think again stupid!
Instead what we see are the following words flashing across the screen.
INVICTUS III:
COMING TO NIMES ARENA 2016
Unlike two weeks ago we find Principle Owner Karen McBride back in her throne…okay, so it’s more like an ergonomic leather office chair, but you get the symbolism. Karen is in the central hub of power…okay, so it’s more like an office only slightly bigger than a cubical, but it’s still where all the business is being taken care of. That’s just what Karen is doing at the moment, taking care of so much business it would make Bachman Turner Overdrive giddy. She’s kicked back in her chair, the ergonomic one, with a phone to her ear and her knuckles tapping along the edge of the desk directly in front of her.
Karen: Alright-alright, you tell Desmond Drake that if he doesn’t get his ass in that ring later on tonight WITH the Queen of Wrestling Championship then he can consider this his final night as part of the IWC roster. You give him that message, understood?
Like a ping-pong ball McBride finds herself ricocheting from one situation straight into another.
Karen: Whoa-whoa-whoa, what was that? (Pauses) What do you mean that no one has seen Mya Denton? (Pauses) Yeah, I know she’s wrestling tonight, who the hell do you think booked her? (Winces as if suffering a migraine) Here I am giving her a crack at the World Champion and she doesn’t even bother to show up to the building? (Pauses to listen) Repeat that. (One last pause) So Aaron Harrison is claiming that HE’S responsible for Mya not being here yet….and that he’ll only produce her for her match against the champ IF we play some footage he put together?
Dealing with the talent on the IWC roster is proving to be particularly straining tonight.
Karen: Have you seen the footage Harrison wants to play? Well I’m not letting it air until I’ve had the chance to take a look at….it……..my……self. Hey, I’ll call you right back.
Her sentence trails off and the phone hangs up, because someone has just entered her office that DEMANDS her attention Martin Howe III, the prolific agent of the infamous Miss Jon, slips into a chair on the opposite side of McBride’s desk and gets casual. He even reaches out and takes a few pistachios off the candy tray in front of the Principle Owner.
Karen: Is there something I can help you with, Howe?
Howe: (Obnoxiously chewing on pistachios) I certainly hope so. (Picking shells out of his teeth and putting them on Karen’s desk) Two weeks ago I had a conversation with that real cute baby sister of yours, and I asked her to make a proposition to you on my behalf.
Karen: (Using a dust brush to knock the chewed shells off her desk) Melanie didn’t say anything to me about any proposition.
Howe: That doesn’t surprise me. With all due respect, your sister doesn’t make much of a secretary.
Karen: She’s NOT my secretary.
Howe: Thank God for that.
Karen will give him a pass on that insult, just this once.
Howe: I’ll tell you what I told your sister. I’ve managed to domesticate my client, I’ve got the Destroyer of Beauty under control….for now. If you didn’t see her match two weeks ago, which is understandable considering you were dealing with all that Monarchy gruff, Miss Jon respected the rules of her contest and she respected her opponents. I think that she deserves some type of special recognition for that, don’t you?
Karen: You want me to ‘reward’ your client for simply acting like a professional?
Howe: There’s a tone in your voice, Mrs. McBride.
Karen: Is there?
Howe: I don’t think you appreciate how hard it is for Miss Jon to….behave. But ever since she accidentally struck you with that back fist four weeks ago, she’s been fighting and fighting to turn over a new leaf. This isn’t easy for her.
Karen: Martin, I DO appreciate that your client played by the rules two weeks ago, but I’m not entirely sold that she’s actually changed her ways. If anything, I think you’ve got her playing a role, and you two are playing me as a patsy. That’s not happening. So be a doll and tell your client that if she wants me to consider her for potential title matches down the line, that she needs to continue to respect the rules, respect her fellow athletes, and respect authority.
This conversation did not go the way that Howe thought it would. In fact, McBride’s edict has him so sickened that he just spits out all the remaining pistachios he had in his mouth into the palm of his hand. They drop in crumbles to the floor as he walks out of the office. Karen gets right back to business, picking up the phone and picking up the conversation she was having moments ago where she left off.
Karen: It’s me again. Listen, you tell Harrison that he is not to air anything (pauses)…wait-wait-wait, what do you mean he’s already on his way to the ring? I didn’t give my approval for that footage to be played!
Tabitha Silverstone begs, Tabitha Silverstone pleads, Tabitha Silverstone whines, but nothing she says, nothing she does, has any effect whatsoever on her client Andre Jordan. His back stays turned in her direction as his body moves across the parking garage in the direction of his car. The gym bag he was seen vacating the locker-room with earlier tonight is thrown into the passenger seat before he starts to slip himself behind the steering wheel.
Tabitha: Dre, please just listen to me. You’re being totally unreasonable right now.
Finally Dre stops and hits Karen with a stare so intense it could melt the skin from her body.
Tabitha: Would you at least hear my side of the story?
Andre: I need time….to think.
Tabitha: Time? TIME!?! How much time?
Dre doesn’t specify. The driver’s door shuts right in front of Tabitha’s face and the car carrying her client backs towards the exit of the parking garage. Tabitha watches him leave, powerless to stop him. It isn’t until his taillights have vanished that she stops watching the car and turns to show the camera her despondent expression. But it’s not the camera that catches the look on her face. What she didn’t realize is that Victoria Salinas and Marina Valdivia were stood mere inches behind her, watching this whole scene play out. While Victoria smiles, enjoying the sight of Tabitha getting her comeuppance, Marina looks legitimately broken by the image of her agent suffering the consequences of her actions.
Tabitha: You…
Tabitha steps right up into Victoria’s face.
Tabitha: YOU caused this.
Marina: No…(Marina steps between Victoria and Tabitha)…SHE didn’t.
The pair walk away and leave Tabitha standing there….ALONE.
Aaron Harrison’s face, it’s the very first thing that everyone gets an extreme close up of when the show cuts back to the interior of the Manhattan Center. Stood directly at ringside is where we find Harrison, his mug mere inches from the lens of a camera. His customary hooded jacket hangs over both his head and his body, though on this occasion the shroud unsuccessfully shadows his expression. And on this occasion it’s one of ‘happiness.’
Harrison: Are we back? Are we live?
The camera-man is too petrified by the very dangerous Harrison to give him an answer. So Harrison has to take matters into his own hands, quite literally. He reaches out and he snatches the headset completely off of the cameraman’s ears and then places it over his own.
Harrison: Are we back?
Harrison speaks straight into the microphone extending down from the earphones.
Harrison: (Waiting for an answer from the production truck) Then what the hell are we waiting for? Why aren’t we airing it? Why aren’t we airing MY tribute to Rachel Tatum Lee?
Finally the commentators manage to get a word in, only able to speculate as to what Harrison’s motivations are at this point.
Frankie: Do we reaaaaaally need an extreme close up of Aaron Harrison’s face? I’d rather we get a close up of the red ass cheeks of a baboon.
Sparkles: Why does the thought of that thrill Sparkles?
Greyson: Because the both of you are absolutely disturbed, as is the man presently at ringside. Aaron Harrison scheduled to take on Kat Kelly for the NHB Championship, a belt that Harrison’s savior, Rachel Ta…..
Frankie: Nuh-nuh-nuh….don’t you do it.
Greyson: Don’t I do what?
Frankie: Don’t you dare mention ‘she who will not be named.’
Greyson: I’m not going to abide by that ridiculous demand made by Kat Kelly two weeks ago.
Frankie: It’s pretty much a company-wide policy now. We’re never to mention the former NHB Champion after she walked out on our company, and more importantly walked out on me.
Greyson: It’s not a company-wide mandate just because Kat says so. She does not work in the head office.
Frankie: But she is part of Monarchy, and in case you haven’t heard yet, THEY RULE.
At the moment Harrison is openly defying all the rules Kat Kelly made explicitly clear two weeks earlier. He doesn’t just reference the woman Kat took the NHB Title belt from, he actually looks to honor her. Harrison keeps the headset on and continues to employ the mic attached to it as he rolls into the middle of the ring.
Harrison: I said role the tribute! The IWC had the chance to air one of their own two weeks ago, now it’s MY turn. I know Rachel is watching, and I know she’ll appreciate what I’ve done in her namesake. She needs to see me finish what she started. She needs to see the first steps in the apocalypse….in the destruction of the federation that ruined her, that ruined me, and that ruined Mya Denton.
Frankie: Is everyone just gonna come out here and speak gibberish tonight? Everyone who’s come out here have been harder to understand than Bane in the batman movies.
Greyson: From what I can gather, it seems that Harrison has put together some type of video tribute to Ra….*BEEP*
The camera briefly cuts to Greyson Lovejoy at commentary fidgeting with his headset as if there’s something wrong.
Greyson: Huh, seems we had some type of technical glitch here. Anyway, as I was saying, Harrison is trying to honor Ra….*BEEP*…
Again Greyson is seen smacking his earphones.
Sparkles: Let Sparkles finish your thought for you. Harrison is out here to play a video in recognition of his former leader Rac…*BEEP*…What the heck, now Sparkles’ headset is malfunctioning.
Back inside of the ring things are only going even more haywire. Harrison has hijacked the show and isn’t leaving until he sees a certain video playing over the Cartel-tron. He goes on shouting into the headset.
Harrison: You told me you’d play the footage (shouting through the mic to the production crew). Now air it! Show my tribute to Rac….*BEEP*
Harrison’s face twists with confusion.
Harrison: Ra….*BEEP*
The headset Harrison was using is taken off and he now studies it in an attempt to diagnose the problem. However, the headset isn’t the problem he should be dealing with at the moment. A black burlap sack that holds something in the shape of a championship belt collides right with the back of Harrison’s skull. The audience is all over Harrison’s attacker, Kat Kelly. With stealth she’s managed to jump from the crowd, jump into the ring and jump Harrison. After laying Aaron out Kat throws her arms out to her sides, a sack dangling from one of them.
Frankie: KAT! KAT KELLY! THANK YOU!
Greyson: Kat Kelly, where-where-where did she just come from?
Frankie: Heaven. Or my sexual fantasies. I guess they’re both basically the same thing.
Sparkles: She came out of the crowd and caught Harrison completely off guard, bashing him with that sack she’s got there in her hand.
There is now something more than a sack clutched in Kat’s palms because she’s managed to get her hands around a microphone as well.
Kat: Why won’t you listen, Harrison? (Crouching down towards her laid out victim) Why do you keep trying to bring ‘HER’ up? I told you…no…I WARNED you two weeks ago that the FORMER NHB Champion will never be referenced again. Monarchy are going to scrub her name from the IWC completely. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of having her name bleeped out any time someone, like you, tries to mention her.
Greyson: WHAT!?! Hold on. She’s censoring us?
Kat: And I’m about to do even more to sanitize ‘she who will not be named’ from this federation. (Lifts the burlap sack she bashed Harrison in the skull with) Here in my hand is a belt that at one time was synonymous with a classless, redneck. A belt that epitomized the former champion’s lack of morals, and total absence of class. Well now that I’M the champ, and Monarchy are calling all the shots around here, I’ve given the title a total overhaul. As of this moment, the NHB Title is as dead as the career of the trailer park moonshine swilling cowgirl who once held it. Behold a new title, one that encapsulates grace, poise and sheer swank. From the ashes of the NHB Title ascends the KAT KELLY Championship.
The NHB Title is removed from the sack though it looks radically different. Slapped over the gold nameplate is a picture of Kat Kelly’s smiling face. All the grunge and all the grittiness has been erased and in its place are images of Kat striking elegant poses.
Greyson: Someone PLEASE tell me that this is a joke.
Sparkles: Harrison isn’t laughing at it.
Frankie: Because it’s not a joke. It’s a revelation is what it is. Thank you, Kat Kelly (stands up and starts clapping) thank you for helping us do away with that classless NHB Title and replacing it with a championship that we can all be proud of.
Greyson: Kat is about as CLASSLESS as they come. She’s out here disparaging a title that Ra….*BEEP*….SERIOUSLY!?! Kat and Monarchy are going to have me censored every time I even try to say the name Ra…*BEEP*…For fuck sakes.
Kat goes on celebrating with her modified NHB Title belt, though the changes she made to the championship may have all been for nothing. The moment she turns back towards the man she bashed in the head with the gold, Harrison damn near cuts her in half with a spear.
Frankie: THAT SON OF A BITCH!!
Greyson: Harrison spearing Kat out of her boots!
Sparkles: He planted that shoulder straight into her uterus.
Greyson: And it looks to me like that’s not all Harrison is going to do. Kat might not be holding onto her ‘Kat Kelly’ Championship for very long because Harrison is set to challenge her for it here tonight…no….here right now!
KAT KELLY© VS. AARON HARRISON:
NHB CHAMPIONSHIP
A referee is in the ring and his hand is gesturing for the bell to be rung.
Aaron Harrison is immediately following up his spear with something that will hurt even worse. He rolls from the squared circle and doesn’t return empty handed. Clutched in his palms is a trashcan retrieved from under the ring. He wedges the steel between the top and the middle rope, making sure it’s firmly in place. He now pulls Kat up onto his shoulder and backs into the corner opposite to the one the trashcan has been situated in.
Frankie: What are you doing, Harrison? Don’t you dare. I’m warning you. I’M WARNING YOU!
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think he’s listening.
Frankie: Lovejoy, give me your shoe so I can throw it at Harrison.
Greyson: Hell no.
It would take more than a shoe to stop Harrison. He takes off across the ring and throws the holder of the Kat Kelly Championship off his shoulder and sends her flying like a long dart face first into the trashcan. Her skull bounces from the steel and the impact sends her staggering right back into Harrison’s waiting hands. He takes the barely conscious Kat by the hair, drags her around into a full circle and then uses that momentum to fling her forehead into the trashcan a SECOND time.
Frankie: This is NOT classy! And that’s what the Kat Kelly title is SUPPOSED to represent dammit!
Greyson: Kat nor her title have any idea what class is about.
Frankie: I could smack you in your whorish mouth right now for just saying that.
The only one getting smacked around is Kat Kelly, who rolls to the middle of the ring after suffering a second impact with a trashcan wedged in the corner of the ring. Harrison isn’t interested in pinning her, he wants to keep inflicting punishment on her. He takes the trashcan down out of the corner and places it on top of Kat’s chest before racing into the ropes at her side, ricocheting off then leaping into a back first senton splash straight across the weapon he had positioned over his opposition. Now Harrison drags Kat up from the ring and gives her a nasty scoop slam right down onto a trashcan that is just as banged up as the defending champion.
Harrison enjoyed hearing her scream so much the first time he wants an encore performance. He pulls Kat into another scoop slam into the trashcan, inflicting even greater damage on her back. He then walks out of the ring, reaches under it and this time what finds its way into his clutches is a TABLE.
Frankie: Tables? No. Nuh-uh. Those aren’t legal under Kat Kelly Championship rules.
Greyson: When was this specified?
Frankie: Just now. I uhhh got a lamented copy of the Kat Kelly Championship rules and regulations right here.
Greyson: Frankie, that’s a Jimmy Johns menu.
The building enjoys watching Harrison inflict punishment on Kat just as much as Harrison enjoys dishing it out. The table will be instrumental in hurting Kat even more. Instead of setting the table up completely, he only utilizes one set of legs. As a result the table is left diagonally slanted at ringside. After setting the table in position Harrison rolls into the squared circle, scoops his opponent up into his arms and prepares to deliver a move so brutal that if it doesn’t end Kat’s career it will definitely takes years off of it. He runs across the ring and throws Kat over the top rope with a scoop slam that sends her flying not down into the floor mats but through the slanted table.
Frankie: (Screeching) AAAAAAAHHHH!!
Sparkles: That was-that was-that was…..CRAY-CRAY!
The table has exploded and so too did Kat’s body when going through it. She now lies totally motionless at ringside and is perhaps regretting blindsiding Harrison with the title belt before this match got underway. Harrison rolls from the squared circle and once at ringside Kat is back in his possession. He forces Kat’s mangled body onto his shoulder, runs the length of the floor mats and then throws his adversary down with a snake eyes right onto the ringside barricade.
Frankie: This needs to stop, somebody needs to stop this. Harrison should be disqualified.
Greyson: It’s a NHB Title match Frankie, there are no disqualifications.
Frankie: It’s NOT a NHB Title match you idiot, it’s a Kat Kelly Championship match, meaning the rules have changed.
Kat’s chin cracks against the barricade and the blow leaves her so disorientated that it sends her absent mindedly stumbling back into her opponent’s clutches. Once again the Challenger has hoisted Kat up onto his shoulder and is running the length of the ringside mats, going for a SECOND snake eyes. Right before calamity can ensue once again for the champion she manages to slip out of harm’s way. She slides off Harrison’s shoulders, lands behind him and then gives him a shove that sends him hurdling face first towards the steel ring-post. Harrison just manages to miss the post by a fraction of an inch. He steps around the post and breathes a sigh of relief. Sadly he might have just counted his chickens before the eggs could hatch. He has no idea that Kat is running across the mats and then leaping from ringside through the ropes, right past the turnbuckle post and into a tornado DDT that spikes Harrison’s head into the floor mats.
Greyson: GAHD ALMIGHTY!
Frankie: You got it babe! Now finish this already!
Kat knows even after that DDT she hasn’t done enough to accomplish that. Nevertheless she makes the cover on Harrison, pinning his back to the floor mats.
Greyson: Falls count anywhere.
Frankie: A rule that still stands under Kat Kelly Championship rules.
1
2
It doesn’t surprise Kat at all that Harrison kicks out. It pisses her off but it doesn’t shock her. She rolls Harrison back into the ring where the challenger is crawling, crawling his way across the ring and towards the trashcan that has been decimated throughout the course of this contest. He ends up crouched directly over the steel and he’s about to get even closer to it.
Kat has climbed to the apron and then goes springing up to the top rope before flying across the ring into a double stomp that hits Harrison right between the shoulder blades. The blow sends Harrison’s face hurdling into the trashcan.
Greyson: Gaaaah, that was….
Frankie: Breathtaking. Bravo Kat, brav-friggin-o.
What Kat hits next is every bit as devastating as that double stomp she just delivered. She wraps her legs around Harrison’s neck and begins to do push-ups that drive her challenger’s face against the trashcan again and again and again.
Sparkles: Is Kat humping the back of Harrison’s head? I’ve had dogs do that to Sparkles before.
Greyson: That’s unfortunate.
Sparkles: Not really, Sparkles paid for it.
The trashcan smashes across the bridge of Harrison’s nose once more before Kat finally rolls her opponent over onto his back and then reaches out hooking his far leg.
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Once again the challenger manages to launch his shoulder up from the ring. Kat is not pleased by this, not in the slightest. She rolls from the squared circle and from beneath she manages to procure yet another table.
Greyson: Hey Frankie. What were you saying about tables not being permitted under Kat Kelly title rules?
Frankie: There’s been a last second amendment made.
Greyson: Sure Frankie, suuuuree.
It takes what strength Kat has left to slide the wood into the ring and then follow it inside. She sets the table and then leads Harrison along towards it. After a few hard punches across the face Harrison is sent rolling onto the surface of the table. It now appears that he’s totally exposed for whatever Kat decides to do to him next. Whatever it is it’s not going to be very pleasant. Kat climbs up onto the table in front of Harrison, leading him to his feet and slapping some fists across his face.
Greyson: These two are in a very precarious predicament.
Sparkles: Someone is going through that table.
Frankie: That someone won’t be Kat Kelly gosh dammit!
Kat ensures that when she hits a boot to Harrison’s ribs, doubles him over and places him in a front chancery. It looks like a DDT is about to put his head through the table. But Harrison has had his fill of being at his adversary’s mercy. He stands up straight and back drops Kat off the table all the way down to the canvas below.
Frankie: NO! Well, at least she didn’t go through the table.
Greyson: Yet.
Sparkles: How much height did Kat get before finally coming down to the ring off that back drop?
Pain flows through Kat’s body as she desperately tries to get to her feet. Somehow she’s back on her feet only to be removed from them when Harrison drags her by the wrist into a short arm clothesline so forceful that it sends her corkscrewing through the air. Kat should consider herself lucky that her head stayed on her shoulders after that impact. She is left totally incapacitated, meaning that now fortune favors her opponent. Harrison pulls Kat up from the ring and into a double underhook, signifying that his finishing move the Hybrid Theory is coming.
Greyson: Harrison is right on the verge here of winning the title.
Sparkles: He’ll do it if he drops Kat on top of her head with this move.
Harrison goes to lift Kat into the air to deliver the double underhook face buster but Kat’s weight shifts, delivering her from evil. She comes down onto her feet and then swings one across her body in order to spin herself out of the clutch on her arms. She turns totally around to face Harrison then leaps into the air, going for a code breaker. Harrison manages to avoid having his face crushed against Kat’s knees by giving her a shove, one so forceful that it sends her flying back first straight into the turnbuckle. Kat bounces off the corner and then bounces back into Harrison’s arms. He catches her with a t-bone suplex with the bridge into the pin.
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Kat still has the strength left to kick out. So that means Harrison will have to hit her with something a bit more permanent in the damage department. He pulls Kat along towards the corner, the one closest to the table that was positioned by the champion earlier. She’s going to regret putting it in place when Harrison heaves her up and sits her on the top rope with the intent of putting her through the wood. Though he’s endured quite a few agonizing blows throughout the course of this match Harrison climbs up the corner to the top rope and snags hold of Kat’s neck.
Greyson: He’s gonna superplex her, he’s gonna superplex her through the table.
Frankie: No don’t. Don’t. God…GOD do something. I don’t ask for much, since you’ve already given me six pack abs and a beautiful face, but can you please do me a solid and save Kat?
There might be nothing that can save Kat as Harrison hoists her into the air and prepares to drive her through the table. Wait, Kat saves HERSELF. Somehow Kat manages to float over Harrison’s shoulders, and land on the middle rope beside him. She immediately puts a shoulder to Harrison’s back and then gives him a suplex….She pulls him right off the corner and places him through the table. Unfortunately for the champion, she put HERSELF through the table as well.
Frankie: DIVINE INTERVENTION!
Greyson: Harrison’s back going through the table with a-with a-with a SUPER back drop suplex!
Sparkles: Kat put herself through the table too though.
Harrison lies amongst the fragments of wood clinging to a badly strained spine, and Kat isn’t looking like she’s in any better shape than her challenger. The two remain spread across the broken table showing absolutely no indications of life. The referee doesn’t want to do it, God does he not want to aggravate the audience and the lurkers on so many internet forums who will undoubtedly make many mocking memes poking fun at his decision, but he has to do what he has to do. He counts both Kat and Harrison out then calls for the bell.
Frankie: What the hell did that dumb zebra just do?
Greyson: The only thing he could in his position. He stopped the match on account of the fact that neither Kat nor Harrison could continue fighting.
Sparkles: That’s not going to make the fans happy.
Frankie: To hell with the fans, I’M the one who’s not gonna be happy. Kat was well on her way to retaining her title.
Greyson: Really? Cause it looks to me like Kat was fighting for her life.
It’s with a heavy heart that the referee continues to signal for the bell to be rang. He then grabs the Kat Kelly Championship, bringing it to the middle of the ring. He starts to help the champion out of the wreckage, but it’s not the official’s assistance that Kat is interested in. She snags the title right out of the ref’s hands then goes rolling from the squared circle with it. Although she’s too banged up to even breath it doesn’t keep her screaming just before she drops to her knees.
Kat: AND STILL KAT KELLY CHAMPION!
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What’s left of Kat Kelly’s strength is used up as she crawls up the ramp with NH…no, the Kat Kelly Title.. As Kat leaves the ring Harrison starts to push himself up from it. He crawls out of the broken wood and to the middle of the squared circle. Although he doesn’t have a title, he DOES have a microphone.
Harrison: Play it!
Harrison just won’t give up. Even after being put through the table he’s STILL adamant about seeing his video ‘tribute’ play over the Cartel-tron.
Harrison: I will honor Rac….*BEEP*…one way or another. NOW PLAY THE FOOTAGE.
His hands reach out from the ring and this time they’re not latching onto a headset, they’re grabbing hold of a stagehand’s neck. Although Harrison has got little left in the way of strength he still can throttle the wiry throat until he gets what he wants.
Greyson: Harrison can barely move and he’s still…STILL ordering the production crew to play that footage.
Frankie: It’s not gonna happen Harrison, accept it already, move on. This is just like people who still think they’ll bring back Han Solo. Stop living in denial!
Sparkles: You just made Sparkles cry….a lot.
There might be a few more tears shed when the video that Harrison has been demanding goes unaired. Those tears will be coming from the production crew member that Harrison is strangling.
Greyson: Someone help that crewmember.
Frankie: Yeah Lovejoy, why don’t you pop in there and save him?
Sparkles: Go ahead Lovejoy, rescue the damsel in distress.
Greyson: I’ll pass thank you very much.
Harrison goes on wailing upon the crew-member until they have stopped flailing. Finally Harrison peels away from his victim, leaning back on his knees and shouting towards the rafters.
Harrison: You will be honored Ra….*BEEEEEEP*
There are a lot of unsettling noises emanating from beyond the door that Dan Douglas is stood right outside of. He has his arms folded across his chest and his back to the wall, lurking just off to the side of the bathroom. The agent cringes and winces each time he hears every gag, every cough and every moan that emanates from his client, the World Champion, Katelyn Buehler.
Douglas: Should I notify Mrs. McBride that we’re calling off your match?
It’s no longer groans and the sound of vomit splashing toilet water that comes from Buehler.
Katelyn: Don’t you dare.
At last Katelyn comes into view, swiping the back of her gloved hand across her lips. It appears as if she’s gotten over her digestive woes.
Douglas: Might not happen rather you want it to or not. Hearing that Mya Denton isn’t here to face you. No one’s seen her all night.
Katelyn: You think that really matters in the IWC? I’m sure someone else will step up and take me on. They’ll probably throw Franz, or Sailes, or the janitor at me.
Douglas: True. So uhhh you feeling better?
Katelyn: No. But I will….when you start telling me the truth.
Douglas: Truth?
Katelyn: I need you to be honest with me.
Douglas: Lies only complicate things, that’s why I never tell them.
Katelyn: Good, then this shouldn’t be a problem, did you-did you use your GIFT on me two weeks ago?
Douglas: (Trying to keep his smile) I’m afraid I’m not following you….You know I used my gift, I mean you consented to it.
Katelyn: Yeah, to help me get over my injuries, not to….
Douglas: Not to what?
Katelyn: Can’t believe I’m about to say this….to turn me into a friggin assassin.
Douglas: (Dismissively waving his palm and turning to leave) Don’t be ridiculous.
Katelyn: (Not letting Douglas walk away) Do you think I can’t put two and two together? People keep talking and talking about how I attacked Lexy Chapel, and every time I try to remember having even the slightest altercation with her, I can’t. Then I go to watch highlights from our last show and….I suddenly get so sick. So tell me, did you-did you SUGGEST that I go after Lexy?
Douglas: I (dwells on his answer) would never use my talents on you without your knowledge. We made that agreement, and I would never ever break it.
If the long and piercing stare that the World Champion is giving Douglas is any indication of what she’s thinking, her thoughts would not be to his liking.
There is a big grin sweeping across the features of the ‘Team Leader,’ ‘The Iconic,’ ‘the former World Champion’ Johnny Kingdom. There’s a reason he grins, it’s because all cameras are on him, and who doesn’t just adore having the spotlight, especially when you’re an egomaniac. He gets an extreme close up, with no distractions to take one’s focus off either his grin or his words. Even the background is a totally generic egg-shell white wall, put in place to ensure nothing sways one’s eyes away from Johnny’s mug. And oooooh how he is mugging for the camera.
Kingdom: Ladies and gentlemen, children between the ages of 12 and 35, we are just two weeks…TWO FRIGGIN WEEKS away from Last Stand.
Both of his thumbs shoot into the air.
Kingdom: And it promises to be a party bigger than Mardi Gras….
Confetti is tossed into the air and a necklace of beads are thrown around Kingdom’s neck. A bra comes flying in out of nowhere with Kingdom catching it and winking at the original owner.
Kingdom: This is like the final four of the NCAA Championship.
A basketball comes bouncing along towards the Team Leader. Once he catches the ball it’s balanced on the tip of his finger and spun by his other hand. Before he goes on speaking he totally takes his hands away from the basketball, which oddly enough remains floating in the air, floating and spinning. Now one can see the fishing line that it’s suspended from.
Kingdom: And what makes Last Stand just so darned (impersonating SNL Church Lady voice) special? It’s because of the Rumble. (Gets very serious) The most unpredictable match of the year. Where you don’t know who is coming at you next, and where they’re coming at you from. Where there’s no strategies, and there’s no game-plans. It all comes down to one thing and one thing only, SURVIVAL. Survival of the FITTEST.
Kingdom flexes a bicep.
Kingdom: And not to brag, but I do hit the elliptical machine for about thirty minutes a day, meaning I’m pretty damn fit. But does that really mean I’m a favorite? No. Because in the Rumble there ain’t no favorites. Everyone is on an even keel. Guys like Tyson Galloway stand just as good a chance of winning as guys like Kat Kelly. Because this match isn’t about pinfalls, it’s not about submissions, it’s about throwing someone’s ass over the top rope with both their footies SMACKIN’ the ground. And once that happens, you’re night is over, you’re day is done, pack your shit and get to stepping. You’ve been eliminated FOOL. Which means one of the other thirty or so ‘talents’ that have just entered the Rumble bumped up their odds to win the whole kitten-caboodle.
A Grammy award is thrown to Kingdom, who catches it and does what he does better than anyone else, MUGS.
Kingdom: What goes to the winner of this battle of attrition? No….not this.
The second he tosses the Grammy another trophy is thrown to him……a bowling trophy.
Kingdom: Not this either.
A shrunken head ends up landing against his chest.
Kingdom: NO!
The head is dropped and kicked out of frame. Finally a ticket…a ticket that reads ‘INVICTUS’ lands in Kingdom’s clutches.
Kingdom: That’s more like it. THIS (holds up ticket) is what everyone in the Rumble is going to be fighting for. A ticket to the main event of Invictus. An opportunity to fight for the World Championship. Every wrestler on the IWC roster anticipates a moment like this their whooooollle career. The chance to not only fight for the biggest belt in wrestling but do so on the biggest night in all of wrestling…INVICTUS. At Last Stand you’ll see athletes enter that ring every two minutes until there are five, ten, fifteen, hell, maybe even a hundred people battling it out all at once, all in the hopes of making it to the big time, the Invictus main event.
Kingdom lifts a finger to his lip and lowers his eyes from the camera.
Kingdom: Two weeks ago I kinda….well…I kiiiinda became another of those delusional bastards who entered their name into the Rumble. Yeeeeah, I know…I turned into a sheep. I jumped on the bandwagon. But don’t you worry. Because if there’s one thing I’ve never been, it’s just another face in the crowd. I’ll go from being one of the MANY in the Rumble, to being one of the FEW who can add Rumble winner to their resume.
We see Kingdom’s resume, a resume so big it had to be written on a scroll, one that keeps unrolling and unrolling and unrolling.
Kingdom: But I’m not the type of guy who just jumps in the deep end without floaties. (Rolls eyes) Okay, okay, so I’ve allllwwwways been THAT guy, but this time I want to be better acclimated to the Rumble environment before I just jump in there all willy-nilly. Plus, I’ll do you, the fans, a gigantic fan-service by showing you all what can be expected at the Rumble. So after having a cordial conversation with Karen McBride, I got the Boss to agree that we need a Johnny Kingdom Open Invitational Battle Royal to happen right here TONIGHT.
Drake: I already showed up with the friggin championship! What more does McBride want!!
One can almost see waves of heat emanating from the head of a red hot Desmond Drake. He clings and clings tight to the Queen of Wrestling Championship that so many are bound and determined to take from him. That’s not going to happen if he and his masked associate have their say in the matter. The pair remain defiant, even when security has them surrounded and pinned in the guerilla position.
Security: Our employer wants you to take that championship to the ring, right now.
Drake: HELL NO! I made that mistake two weeks ago, not happening again!
Security: You have no choice in the matter Mr. Drake.
Drake: I’m not risking Frosty McSnowTits stealing MY title.
Security: Just do as you’re told.
Two particularly beefy guards force Drake, his disguised ally and the Queen of Wrestling Title towards the squared circle. The rest of the security force stay behind, watching their co-workers carry out their employer’s will.
Lexy: Ahem.
Chills run up spines at the sound of Lexy Chapel’s voice. With reluctance the security guards turn in the direction of the Evolution and Tag Team Champion, who looks to add Rumble winner to her list of accolades. As if her presence wasn’t intimidating enough she has a kendo stick extended from her hand, and a rather burly lad flanking her every step. The guards greet Lexy and her friend with clinched fists, ready to pick up where they left off with this Monarchy member two weeks earlier.
Lexy: Easy fellas. Monarchy are through getting our jollies beating up on you flabby, jelly-bellies.
The guards find it difficult to trust Lexy, considering she and Monarchy brutalized them on the last Riot.
Lexy: I’m just giving you a warning….(Lexy throws the kendo stick back to the ‘fan’ that shadows her and then starts to play the man-tits on one of the security guards like they were bongo drums)….I’ll slap more than just your tits around if you or any of your friends here get in my way later tonight. When I meet up with that meth-head, Kate, I had better not smell any of you anywhere near me. (Mockingly) The Champ…has got a receipt coming her way for what she did to me….
The kendo stick is back in Lexy’s hand and it’s squeezed tight.
The tracks of Victoria Salinas’ theme music are once again playing over the loud speakers and getting quite the ovation from the hundreds and hundreds amassed in the Manhattan Center. Although Victoria has already had a pretty productive night, Riot isn’t over for her yet. She’s still got some business to attend to, and that business is in ring action against Queen of Wrestling Champion Selena Frost.
Greyson: Earlier tonight Victoria Salinas revealed some unsettling truths about Tabitha Silverstone.
Frankie: Who does Victoria think she is sticking that huge nose of hers in other peoples’ business?
Sparkles: To be fair Frankie, Victoria was just looking out for her friends. Tabitha was abusing her role as agent to all but torture Marina Valdivia and Andre….
Frankie: Whatever-whatever-whatever. I….don’t….CAAAARE what Victoria’s motives are. She’s still a meddling biotch.
Greyson: Victoria isn’t out here to ‘meddle’ at the moment, she’s here for competition in the form of Queen of Wrestling Champion Selena Fr….
Frankie: Whoa-whoa-WHOA!!! TIME da fuck OUT. Selena is NOT the Queen of anything! Desmond Drake and that chick in leather have the belt and that makes them DA CHAMP.
Greyson: First of all, you’re an idiot. Secondly, two people cannot hold a singles title. Thirdly, you’re an idiot.
Although Victoria is slated to take on Selena the first thing that she targets is a microphone.
Victoria: I know-I know, you people want to see some action, and that’s just what I’m here to deliver. But first things first, I want Tabitha Silverstone to get her ass out here…
Greyson: Uh oh.
Sparkles: This ain’t gonna be pwetty.
Victoria: Come on Tabitha, you OWE Marina and Andre an explanation. They deserve some answers DAMMIT, and if you don’t get out here right now….
Drake: I hope the IWC buys tampax in bulk….
It isn’t Tabitha Silverstone that Victoria gets, it’s Desmond Drake. The pint sized man with an overinflated sense of self-worth marches on to the stage with the Queen of Wrestling Title over his shoulder. Stood at his side is the very same woman in leather and ski mask who aided in his theft of the very championship presently in his clutches.
Drake: Seriously, they should have a storage depot filled with nothing but tampons, cause their gonna need them with PMS running amok around this federation. Seems like all you women (points at Victoria in the ring) synchronize your visits from Aunt Flow. But guess what, while most men go running when they hear that Flow is coming to town, Uncie Desmond don’t go nowhere. Uncie Desmond don’t run from any bitch or her menstruation. In fact, I’m like a great big old grizzly bear drawn to the scent of blood.
Sparkles: Sparkles is drawn to the scent of cheese.
Greyson: Does Drake fully understand just how gross he sounds?
Frankie: Dessie D, the four foot fighter, the sawed-off superman, the half-pint hero…..
Greyson: Good God make him STOP!
Frankie:….he’s headed for the ring and looky looky what he’s got on the hooky….the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Sparkles: Is that Mary Allison Chainz with him tonight?
Greyson: I don’t think Chainz has recovered from the beating she got at the hands of Selena Frost two weeks ago. I’m guessing that Drake has found yet another protector willing enough to endure his personality.
Sparkles: That had to have been hard to come by.
Victoria poses a significant threat but neither Drake nor the mystery lady at his side are shying away from her. They enter the ring where Drake continues to repulse people the world…nay…the galaxy wide.
Drake: Listen up Icky-Vicky, McBride ordered my friend and I to come out here to the ring, which is just fine…just DANDY, cause we had something we wanted to say anyway….So why don’t you do what you do best and just stand in the background adding to the scenery?
Surprisingly Victoria keeps a cool head on her shoulders, crossing her arms and feigning interest in what Drake has to say.
Drake: Before we leave here tonight, hold back your tears cause I know you’ll miss me, I have a very special announcement to make. No-no, not that I’ve put my profile back on E-Harmony, I’m here to declare a NEW Queen of Wrestling Champion!
Greyson: Didn’t he try this two weeks ago?
Sparkles: Yeah, and it blew up right in his face.
Drake holds the Queen of Wrestling Title up to the woman with her face shrouded behind a ski-mask.
Drake: Two weeks ago I almost made the mistake of bestowing this title onto Mary Allison Chainz, a woman who CLEARLY did not deserve to be champion. But I’ll make it up to you, no not you fans, but to Silas Mason, the man who TRUSTED me with this title….
Greyson: Why can’t he just let us forget Silas Mason?
Frankie: I still have a small shrine built to our former Principle Owner. God how I miss those cage dancers he had shaking their asses on the stage.
Drake:…I will honor him tonight by awarding this championship to a woman who is clearly head and shoulders above EVERYONE on the IWC roster. A woman who happens to be very familiar with you, Icky Vicky…
Suddenly the masked lady lashes out, her fist ramming right upside Victoria’s face. The strike sends Salinas twisting along into the corner. Once her back is pressed to the turnbuckle Victoria finds her lungs almost collapsed by one boot after another after another.
Greyson: This masked woman…this masked woman attacking Victoria Salinas!
Frankie: She’s all over her like my tongue on a stripper’s asshole!
Greyson: Who the hell did Drake drag in off the street this time to ambush an IWC competitor?
The boots go on colliding upside Victoria’s ribs and now a fist is collapsing the bones in her cheeks. Suddenly the attacker backs off and gets a running start behind a spear aimed at an already banged up mid-section. Amazingly Victoria manages to side step her inbound assailant and send their face crashing into the corner. After ricocheting from the turnbuckle, the masked woman stumbles to the middle of the ring where Victoria is waiting for her. Instead of going for a kill move Victoria goes for something else, the mask that hides her attacker’s face. It isn’t long before that shroud is torn away and the face beneath is at last revealed.
Greyson: Huh!?!
Sparkles: That’s-that’s PRII FOOTE!
Frankie: Who?
Sparkles: Prii Foote.
Frankie: WHO!?!
The shocked expression of Foote has finally come to view. She falls back on her seat pawing at her exposed cheeks and jaw. She’s not the only one who looks surprised, because Victoria is stood above her looking every bit as stunned by the unanticipated return of her former ally.
Greyson: Prii Foote, we haven’t seen her in over a year, ever since she severed ties with Victoria Salinas and the rest of the Slay Revolution.
Frankie: WHO!!???!!
Sparkles: What dumpster did Drake pull her out of?
It doesn’t take long for Victoria to get over her surprise and get back to her fury. She runs towards Prii with fists clinched, ready to unload on a now unmasked face. Desmond Drake does what he does best, complicate things. He jumps on Victoria’s leg and clings tight to it, refusing to let her get any closer to Prii. This distraction gives Drake’s associate just the opening she needs. She runs in, kicks Victoria to the gut and then drives her skull into the ring with an evenflow DDT. Prii quickly rolls away and towards the Queen of Wrestling Title, picking up the championship with designs of using the gold as a weapon. Drake is going to aid in that process, grabbing Victoria by the hair and yanking it with enough force to pull her up into position so that she can get cracked in the mug with the belt. The gold plate of the championship goes swinging along towards Victoria’s temple though it fails to connect when the tunes of Selena Frost’s theme start to play throughout the building and stops Prii COLD in her tracks.
Greyson: Oooooh hold the phone.
Sparkles: Selena Frost is coming, she’s coming for Drake, she’s coming for Prii, and she’s coming for the Queen of Wrestling Championship!
Greyson: HER Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Frankie: Get her Drake, sick her!
The only thing that Drake gets, is the hell out of the ring. He scrambles from the squared circle and totally abandons Prii Foote. Try as she may Prii cannot overcome the onslaught of the woman who just came sliding into the ring. The Snow Queen is FIRED up the moment she slips into the squared circle and comes face to face with the woman who blindsided her backstage in order to steal her championship. Prii tries to get the drop on Selena a second time only to have her fist blocked before it could ever nail her in the cheek. Selena blocks the jab and then hits one of her own, before following up with another jab, then another and another and another. Finally Selena leaves her feet in order to dropkick Prii off of her own. Prii rolls across the ring and then into the ropes where she desperately tries to stand up. The second she gets to her feet she’s removed from them when Victoria dashes in and clotheslines her across the throat. The blow sends Prii back flipping to the outside of the ring.
Greyson: Victoria and Selena clearing the ring, sending Drake and Prii Foote flying!
Sparkles: Prii better go back to lying face down in whatever gutter she was found in.
Prii doesn’t go to the gutter, she goes to something just as disgusting, Drake. She crawls right to his side and Drake immediately starts the arduous process of helping her back to her feet. As they dust themselves off the two show their anger over no longer having the Queen of Wrestling Title in their possession, but that’s not to say that the belt has ended up back in the clutches of its original owner. Unbeknownst to Selena Frost, the gold is now hanging from the hand of the woman she WAS scheduled to face tonight, Victoria Salinas.
Victoria stares down at the belt that is dangling from the strap it’s clasped by. Eventually her focus turns from the belt to the woman who is staring a whole right through her. Selena Frost does not like what she sees, HER championship in Victoria’s hand. Finally Victoria does the classy thing, holding the Queen of Wrestling Title out towards Selena. Not only does the Snow Queen grab her belt, but she grabs a microphone as well.
Selena: Listen Victoria, I know you’re banged up, and I’m pretty banged up too. But we both promised the believers (pauses for the crowd to chant ‘we believe’) a match tonight, and I don’t falsely advertise.
Victoria: Then we have at least one thing in common.
Selena: So now that we’ve gotten rid of Drake and whoever that is he dragged out here with him, how about the two of us give the believes what they came here tonight to see.
Victoria has no problem agreeing to those terms AT ALL.
SELENA FROST VS. VICTORIA SALINAS
Now that Desmond Drake and his latest hired goon have buggered off to the back the fans are free to put their focus on the squared circle. Although she was just reunited with her Queen of Wrestling Title, Selena is forced to relinquish it. She places the belt in the corner of the ring and then places her arms in Victoria’s clutches. Selena and Victoria Salinas find themselves in a collar elbow tie, jockeying for position. Almost immediately Selena swings around under Victoria’s arm and then places it around behind her back in a hammerlock. Selena quickly places an arm across her opponent’s throat, locking in a modified crossface chickenwing.
Greyson: The show must go on. Selena Frost and Victoria Salinas battling it out one on one in spite of their altercations with Desmond Drake.
Sparkles: Dessie D and his latest talent acquisition.
Frankie: Oh Sparkles only you could keep a straight face when calling Prii Foote a talent.
Sparkles: It’s easy, Sparkles’ expression never changes.
The crossface chickenwing combo continues to torque Victoria’s arm and now she finds some pressure applied to the crease of her knee. Victoria is brought down to her knees with her arm still being torqued and pressure being applied to her throat. The chickenwing is broken of Selena’s own accord, only because she plans to transition into another hold. She pulls back on her adversary’s arms and puts a boot between Victoria’s shoulder blades, applying a modified surfboard style stretch. Victoria is grounded….for now. She shows her incredible strength by yanking her arms forward and as a result sending Selena flipping over her head. Selena tucks into a forward roll once she hits the canvas, ending up straight back on her feet and hustling towards the ropes. She ricochets off and comes right back into a deep arm drag that flips her to her back. Victoria kneels beside Selena and applies the armbar submission hold.
This game of chess continues and now Selena assumes the roll of the Queen cornering the King. She kips up to her feet in spite of still being held in the armbar and then swings her leg around towards Victoria’s head, going for a roundhouse kick. Victoria ducks the blow and keeps hold of Selena’s wrist in the process. As a result Selena finds her own arm tucked back between her legs and it isn’t long before her other arm is latched onto. Victoria heaves Selena into a pumphandle transitioned into the Michinoku Driver.
Selena is spiked across the back of her head and Victoria is reaching out over the length of her opponent’s body in order to hook her leg.
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The kick out that comes before the three leaves Victoria annoyed, but what’s even more agitating is the fact that her opponent is getting back to her feet. Victoria won’t let Selena stay upright for long, swooping in and pushing the Queen of Wrestling Champion backwards. The shove sends Selena flying into the ropes, ricocheting off them and then coming right back in at Victoria who is waiting to catch her adversary, catch her with the back drop. Right before Selena falls prey to this move, she stops dead in her tracks and launches her foot right upside Victoria’s face. The impact sends Victoria back peddling, not down, but back peddling. Selena is gonna finish the job of taking her opponent off her feet, dashing in with a clothesline. But Victoria has that scouted, she sees the arm barreling towards her throat and stoops out of its way. She catches Selena coming in with a gorilla press.
Greyson: Look at Victoria’s strength.
Sparkles: Sparkles looks at Victoria a lot, mostly backstage when she’s not aware.
Victoria heaves Selena into the air but she doesn’t get the chance to drive her down to the canvas. The resourceful Queen of Wrestling Champion slips from Victoria’s hands and then drops down behind her back. Selena reaches out and latches onto Victoria’s arm, already making preparations to apply the Frost Bite.
Greyson: Selena going for the same hold she made Mary Allison Chainz tap out to two weeks ago.
Sparkles: This hold has amassed a lot of victims lately.
It appears that Victoria will not be one of those victims. She manages to swing her body around with enough force to pluck her arm right out of Selena’s clutches and then turn to face her adversary’s exposed back. She latches onto Selena’s hips and hits her with a Bridging German suplex.
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In spite of landing right on the back of her head Selena still gets her shoulder up and with plenty of time to spare. The moment that Selena kicks out of one pinning predicament she finds herself subjected to another. Her arm is caught and her opponent twists it around into a hammerlock before jumping into a modified Oklahoma Roll.
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Selena rolls right out of the pin and in the same motion she fluidly swings around her opponent’s arm in order to lock in the Frost Bite.
Sparkles: How in the heck did that just happen?
Greyson: In the blink of an eye Selena locks in the Frost Bite.
Sparkles: But Sparkles didn’t blink, I can’t.
Frankie: I know a lot of cougars who have had so much plastic surgery they can’t blink either.
Greyson: You KNOW a lot of cougars?
Frankie: Okay, so I SCREWED a lot of cougars.
Within a second of finding herself locked in the hold Victoria is already debating rather she can fight through it or not. But the thought of submitting is not one that she holds onto. Amazingly she starts to squirm in the direction of the ropes until her toes hook the bottom strand and force the Frost Bite to be broken.
Greyson: Selena made just one mistake, applying that hold too close to the ropes.
Frankie: In matches as competitive as these mistakes are not something you can afford to make. Believe me, I know, I’m the foremost expert when it comes to all things wrasslin.
Greyson: Remind me Frankie, how long was you’re in ring career?
Frankie: Much longer and far more productive than your sex life.
The foot Victoria had wrapped around the rope may have saved her from the submission but it won’t keep her from being locked in it a second time. Already Selena is using her grip on Victoria’s wrist to tug on her arm and drag her whole body to the middle of the ring. The lightning fast Selena locks in the Frost Bite for a second….noooo….Victoria manages to clasp her hands together and prevents being trapped in the cross arm breaker. Pure raw strength is exhibited by Victoria as she starts to stand up even with her opponent’s legs wrapped around her arm.
Greyson: No….no way.
Victoria lets out a roar as she exerts pressure on every muscle in her body to use just one arm to lift her adversary up from the canvas. A stunned Selena finds herself heaved into the air while still wrapped around Victoria’s arm. But soon it’s Selena’s body that finds itself wrapped around Victoria’s knee. A back breaker connects that forces the Queen of Wrestling Champion to relinquish her hold on her opponent’s arm. Selena flips back and surprisingly lands on her feet, and once upright she struggles to keep her balance. Suddenly the very same knee that her spine just collided with now hits her smack in the face. Selena is pulled down into the code-breaker.
Victoria crawls into the cover.
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And Selena gets her arm up to keep that cover from costing her a victory.
Victoria backs to the center of the ring and anticipates her adversary’s ascent to her feet. The second that Selena gets her legs under her here comes Victoria, flying in and locking on the Vainglorious Victory. The Christos Headscissors Armbar is about to be locked in….ABOUT TO….somehow Selena reverses by turning Victoria’s momentum against her and ultimately hitting a version of the Kryptonite Krunch. What makes this move all the more brutal is the fact that the back of Victoria’s head comes down right across Selena’s knee.
Greyson: Oi, OUCH, Salinas dropped RIGHT on the back of her head.
Sparkles: Looked like much of the damage was sustained to her neck.
Frankie: Actually, it looks like all the damage was inflicted on her face, but that was before this match ever happened.
Victoria’s neck is killing her but she refuses to show any ill-effects. All her strength is exerted to start on her way back to her feet where she’s instantly sent flipping to her back via the bridging fisherman suplex. Selena has Victoria on her back and the pin looks as if it’s about to net her another in a huge string of victories.
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Victoria refuses to be another name added to the list of those vanquished by the Snow Queen. She kicks out and Selena rolls away from her adversary straight back to her feet. The Champion slaps her hand down onto her wrist several times, indicating that the Frost Bite is coming. Each time she taunts the hold the crowd chants ‘BELIEVE’ over and over again.
Sparkles: Frost is signaling that it’s time, it’s time for the Frost Bite.
Frankie: Viccy has managed to escape this hold a few times already but her luck, much like her looks, have run out.
Victoria absent mindedly struggles to avail herself of the canvas, desperately inching her way up to her feet. That’s when Selena strikes, latching onto her opponent’s arm then swinging around it. Here comes the cross-arm breaker, or at least it would be locked in if Victoria didn’t slip right out of her opponent’s clutches and counter, counter by flipping Selena over into the crucifix pin.
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A the last possible moment Selena launches a shoulder off the ring
Greyson: Victoria an eyelash away from victory.
Although little remains in the tanks of either Selena or Victoria the two launch themselves to their feet and start to exchange forearm shivers. Eventually Selena manages to hook the crease of her arm around Victoria’s, blocking another of her attempted forearms. She then pushes back on that arm with enough force to send Victoria twisting around into a 180, her back turned to her opponent and that opponent immediately seizing the opportunity. Selena pulls Victoria down into the backslide.
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Victoria gets her shoulder up, but it might be a move she regrets. The moment she drops over onto her knees she finds her arm caught in Selena’s clutches. Yet again it appears as if the Frost Bite is about to be locked in. Selena swinging her leg over her adversary’s bicep and sitting on top of it, her back to her opponent. Unfortunately she gets no further than that, because Victoria slips her arm out of Selena’s clutches, leaps to her feet and then grabs Selena by the arms. Before the Queen of Wrestling Champion can respond she’s being hit with the Siren Breaker!
Greyson: Selena never saw that Siren Breaker coming!
Sparkles: None of us did.
Frankie: And that move targeted the head that was struck with a steel pipe earlier tonight.
The Siren Breaker gets a CHILLING reaction from the crowd and the response to the ensuing cover gets an even bigger response.
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The fans find their jaws careening towards the concrete at the sight of the pin being broken up at the very last second by Prii Foote. The leather clad Foote blindsides Victoria from behind with a well-placed kick right on the neck. Foote then starts to unleash a barrage of kicks upside Victoria’s head and across the body of a laid out Selena as well. Much like the official in the previous encounter, the ref presiding over this match is given no other choice, calling for the bell and ending this match on a double disqualification.
Greyson: Prii Foote and Desmond Drake are back AGAIN!
Sparkles: And their assaulting Selena and Victoria.
Greyson: The referee forced to throw out what was a fantastic encounter between both of these ladies.
It isn’t until both ladies are laid out in the ring by Foote that her benefactor Desmond Drake enters the fold. He slides into the squared circle and almost trips over his own feet as he excitedly hustles towards the Queen of Wrestling Championship belt. He plucks it up from the corner of the ring and then starts to smother the belt in kisses.
Sparkles: Why can’t someone just get these two out of here already?
Frankie: Because Drake is like a foreign dignitary, he has diplomatic immunity.
Greyson: He’s not the villain from Lethal Weapon 2.
No, he isn’t, but he might be just as villainous. Drake does nothing to endear himself to the audience now that he and Prii Foote are starting to make their exit from the ring with the stolen Queen of Wrestling Title in their possession. It’s when these two are at their highest that they find themselves crashing to new lows. Prii makes a fatal error in judgment, instead of vacating the ring she decides to go back after an already beaten down Victoria.
Greyson: Haven’t they done enough yet?
Apparently not because Prii is still getting her jollies stomping at Victoria’s neck, hoping to hear that sweet satisfying crack. Instead what she hears are Drake’s shouts coming from her side, the little man only egging on this beat down.
Drake: By the time Prii is done with you, men won’t even want to fuck you with a burlap sack over your head. (Whispering) You can still call me though.
Drake and Prii are so preoccupied with this assault that they don’t notice Selena Frost ascending to her feet. She squeezes the back of her neck which is still hurting after the Siren Breaker. Her face isn’t twisted by pain, it’s twisted by anger. She steps in behind Prii and drags her around by the shoulder into a jab across the cheek. Several jabs hurdle into Prii’s face with the last shot taking her almost right out of her boots.
Greyson: Selena back up and she’s unloading on Prii Foote.
The second that Drake sees Prii go down it provokes him to go running. He hightails it from the squared circle with the Queen of Wrestling Title hung from his hand.
Greyson: Drake running with the title.
Frankie: Kick those stubby little legs! KICK ‘EM!
Drake is doing just that, trying to channel the speed of Jessie Owens in order to get away from the squared circle with the title still in his grasp. He doesn’t get very far however, because Selena is right there behind him and her hands are latched onto his shoulders. Drake tries his best to get out of Selena’s clutches but it’s to no avail, his pint-sized body is being thrown back into the squared circle. He quickly tries to crawl and crawl as fast as he can out of the squared circle only to find his avenue of escape blocked…blocked by a recovered Victoria Salinas. He crawls along right into Victoria’s shins, which resemble the bars of a jail-cell, imprisoning Drake in the squared circle. His eyes slowly rise from the shins in front of him to the scowl that is staring down at him.
Greyson: You’re caught Drake, you’re trapped.
Sparkles: He’s stuck between Selena Frost and Victoria Salinas, the last place on earth a man like himself would want to be.
Greyson: Now look at this sniveling toad plead for his life.
Sweat streams down Drake’s face…wait…that’s NOT sweat…its tears. Drake is actually crying as he pleads for leniency. After everything that he’s done to Victoria and to Selena, there is going to be no mercy shown to him at all. Selena is already on the apron of the ring and is starting to slide back inside before she feels a disturbance in the force. The hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and it’s all because of the figure who has just come waltzing down the ramp. Selena’s eyes whip around and focus on the face of Monarchy member Trinity Street.
Sparkles: Trinity Street? What’s brought her out here?
Greyson: No one knows what this woman’s motives are.
Frankie: Maybe what she’s got in her hand there should clue you in.
The light gleams from the surface of the switchblade that extends from Trinity’s hand. The point of that blade is aimed at Selena, singling her out. Selena, no stranger to intimidation tactics and refusing to be a victim of them, jumps from the apron to the base of the ramp. She actually gestures for Trinity to come a little closer. However, Trinity doesn’t budge, she just goes on standing there on the ramp with the switchblade pointing at the Snow Queen. Meanwhile back in the ring Victoria is grabbing hold of Drake, though that grasp is short-lived. Prii Foote has recovered and is charging in to help Drake, only to realize she should have helped herself. Victoria sees Prii coming and leaps into the air, catching her with the code breaker. The double knee face buster sends Prii staggering back then falling through the ropes to the outside of the ring. The moment Prii falls at Selena’s feet the Queen of Wrestling Champion grabs her by the arm and starts to swing around it. She points at Trinity on the ramp then drops down and applies the cross-arm breaker on Prii. The hold is clamped on and clamped on tight, causing Prii to scream for mercy and tap out repeatedly.
Prii instantly regrets her allegiance to Drake, who uses her destruction to make his great escape. The Queen of Wrestling Title remains tightly coddled to his chest as he exits the squared circle. It takes a struggle but he manages to clear the barricade then hustle along through the fans.
Greyson: Prii Foote being dismantled with the Frost Bite while Drake runs away with her Queen of Wrestling Title.
Sparkles: Sparkles is still confused. Why did Trinity Street come out here and distract Selena Frost? What’s this all about?
Frankie: I guess Selena has even less fans than I thought.
Greyson: Selena has a rabid fan-base Frankie and…..
Harrison: Pardon the interruption.
The crowd has a difficult time staying focused with so much bombarding them simultaneously. Now it’s Aaron Harrison who commands their attention as he steps along to the stage. He still looks haggard after his NHB Title bout against Kat Kelly a few moments ago, but that’s not going to stop him from completing what’s brought him along to the IWC set.
Harrison: Earlier tonight I said there’d be a video to honor Ra….*BEEP*…but that’s not all it’ll do.
Frankie: What is Harrison out here babbling about?
Greyson: We saw him moments ago saying that he’d air a video that he personally put together.
Frankie: Yeah, but two weeks ago he was going off on the nerds in the production truck, warning them NOT to play a tribute to Rac….*BEEP*.
Greyson: Harrison has always been an enigmatic type of guy, very difficult to understand.
Harrison: All night long people have been wondering where Mya Denton is….
Sparkles: Sparkles did ask that question when we didn’t see her join Harrison at ringside for his match.
Harrison:…she IS here tonight and she WILL fight the World Champion, but that won’t happen until you’ve seen THIS!
A finger gestures to the Cartel-tron and all at once a video consumes the big screen.
EARLIER THIS WEEK
Harrison: I apologize for this….
A burlap sack is torn away from Mya Denton’s head, letting the light of day reach her batting eyes. It takes a moment for Mya to adjust to the sun, having gone several hours bombarded by nothing but imperceptible darkness. The first image she can make out is the outline of Aaron Harrison’s face mere inches removed from her own.
Harrison: I really am sorry for the secrecy.
Mya squints as the sunlight comes pouring in over Harrison’s shoulders and around the contours of his skull. He stops crouching in front of her and steps into her peripheral view, allowing her to see where she’s been dragged to. The location is revealed, much to Mya’s distress, as a graveyard.
Mya: Why…?
Harrison: Did I bring you here?
He tries to soothe the unstable Mya by patting her on top of her head.
Harrison: My motives have never really been that great a mystery, have they?
Mya: Nah, you’ve been pretty transparent up until now. You want me to let ‘HER’ out.
Harrison: You’re right, well, at least partially. Not only do I want HER to be free, I want HER to take-over. I want you to grant that darkness inside of you freedom.
Mya: I’m not gonna let that happen….
Harrison: Why? Because you think Mya Denton has something to live for? That YOUR life has purpose? I’m sorry to tell you this (he puts his finger under Mya’s dipped chin and lifts) it doesn’t.
He steps away from Mya and towards a tombstone, casually leaning against it with his weight supported by his forearm.
Harrison: I mean your career is in the toilet. And your personal life, well, it’s not much better is it?
These facts are not easy to dispute.
Harrison: But all of that can change. You can have the career and the life you’ve always wanted. You can be respected, you can be….feared. You can be the envy of everyone in the crowd and the nightmare of everyone on the roster. All it takes is becoming what Rac…*BEEP*….wants you to become.
He nears Mya, crouching towards the woman who has been knelt on the dirt this entire time.
Harrison: You have to realize something, Mya Denton is NOT who you are, not really. Mya Denton is nothing but a cocoon. It’s protecting the beautiful creature during its metamorphosis. Well that transformation is complete, and now it’s time…time to let HER out.
For weeks Mya has been resistant to Harrison’s manipulative tactics, but that resistance has been chipped and chipped and chipped away at until finally being totally eroded.
Harrison: There’s only one thing you have to do….
A shovel is taken out from behind the tombstone that Harrison had been leaning against. Soon it finds its way to the ground, landing at Mya’s knees.
Harrison: You have to BURY Mya Denton.
There is an empty grave several feet away and at the head of this pit is a tombstone that reads ‘Mya Denton.’ In almost a trance like state Mya moves towards the grave with shovel across her hands. Eventually she ends up at the edge of the hole, and much to her shock said hole is not empty. Laying at the base of the pit is a body, the body of Mya Denton. She looks up to the other side of the grave where Harrison is kneeling and holding a handful of dirt.
Harrison: Give her what she NEEDS.
The dirt in his palm spills into the pit.
It’s been a tumultuous evening thus far and try as she may Karen McBride is finding it painstakingly difficult to keep everything under control. The Principle Owner is presently stood in the corridor of the arena giving orders to a crew member. All the while Karen’s younger sister Melanie stands in the background playing something on her cellphone.
Karen: Was I not clear with my orders?
Crew Member: I’m sorry Mrs. McBride, but….
Karen: Because I seem to remember telling you guys NOT to play Aaron Harrison’s footage until I had a chance to watch it and I signed off on it.
Crew Member: Again, I apologize…
This time Karen allows the youthful and pretty stagehand to give a proper explanation.
Crew Member: Harrison was threatening us though. He almost choked one of your workers to death, so when he stormed into the production truck and warned us what would happen if we didn’t play his video I….
Karen: (Sighs) I…I understand.
Crew Member: And he said that when we followed through he’d produce Mya Denton IMMEDIATELY. Honestly, we thought we were helping seeing as Mya is in a marquee match against your World Champion.
Karen: I could care less what match Mya is supposed to be in. I’m only worried about her safety.
Crew Member: Then you should be worried about OUR safety as well.
Karen: I am. Which is why I’m not going to reprimand you or your crew for going against my orders…THIS TIME. I’ll strengthen security around the production truck to prevent this from happening again…and it WON’T happen again. Is that understood?
Crew Member: Yes ma’am.
The pretty blond turns to walk away only to smack right into an enormous stomach. She almost ricochets like a pebble from the grill of a semi-truck, and that semi-truck is Miss Jon. The beast stares down McBride and the crew-member, who at that point realizes that Aaron Harrison was not her primary threat. Though in that moment the gargantuan Miss Jon doesn’t look NEARLY as imposing as she normally would, considering that she has a giant pink stuffed bunny griped in her hands.
Howe: Relax.
Announces Miss Jon’s agent, Martin Howe III as he steps out from behind his client with a bottle of Scotch extended across his palms.
Howe: (Talking to the Crew-Member) My client Miss Jon….pardons you.
Oh how grateful the Crew-Member is to hear that. It’s like she just received a call from the governor right before the electric chair could be switched on. She moves as fast as her long slender legs will carry her, stepping out from between Miss Jon and Mrs. McBride.
Howe: Miss Jon and I wanted to apologize to you if we came off a bit TOO presumptuous earlier tonight.
The expensive bottle of Scotch is extended towards Karen, who looks reluctant to accept it.
Karen: What’s this?
Howe: Just a small token of our appreciation for all your patience and understanding.
Karen: (Smiling insincerely) Thanks, but I don’t accept bribes.
Howe: Bribes (guffawing), BRIBES? Don’t think so little of us, Mrs. McBride. These gifts are intended as nothing more than an olive branch and to demonstrate to you that my client is totally genuine in her attempts to repair her image.
Miss Jon: Bunny….
The adorable pink bunny rabbit is held out to McBride, extended from the balled up fists of the dangerous Miss Jon.
Miss Jon:….Pretty-pretty bunny.
The head on the bunny is given a gentle caress by the not so gentle giant. All the while the muscles in Miss Jon’s face are twitching as they struggle to form a grin.
Karen: Uhhhh, I appreciate the offer….
Howe: Even this (gestures to the gifts) doesn’t convince you of our sincerity? Fine. Then we’ll just have to step up our efforts.
Karen: I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Maybe you two should…
Howe: You think Miss Jon is still a monster, right? Well would a monster do to your World Champion what we’re about to do?
Karen: Hold on-hold on-hold on!
Miss Jon and Howe walk away, and do so empty handed, forcing the bottle of scotch and the bunny into Karen’s clutches before they can leave.
A vending machine is smacked and kicked, Destiny Nichols going homicidal on it.
Destiny: Give me my damned M&Ms you bastard!!
The side of her fist slams against the plastic display that teases her with the image of a bag of M&Ms stuck on the tip of a hook that refuses to let go and let her have it.
Destiny: You son of a bitch!
Katelyn Buehler’s good friend swipes her boot into the machine once again, but those damned M&Ms aren’t dropping.
Katelyn: Hey….
Finally Destiny turns away from the vindictive vending machine to the conflicted champion. Katelyn Buehler swoops in and takes her trusted confidante by the shoulder, using this grip to drag her away.
Katelyn: We have to talk.
If Destiny thought a machine refusing to dispense a bag of M&Ms was her biggest concern, she was wrong.
Trinity: I have my….reservations.
Trinity Street has never been the type to shy away from what’s on her mind, and at the moment, its concern. Although her fellow Monarchy stalwart Taylor Chase has always respected the opinion of the legendary Trinity it appears that not even she can dissuade her present course of action. Regardless of whatever advice may be dispensed, Tay is not adhering to it, she’s got her mind made up as she moves down the hall.
Taylor: I get that, really, I do, but I know what I’m doing.
Trinity: Your sister is not the most trustworthy sort.
Taylor: Yeah, true story, but she IS a means to an end.
The two stop just outside of a door, Tay turning her back to it in order to make a parting comment to Trinity.
Trinity: Have you thought this through?
Taylor: Of course! I’m Taylor BY GAHD Chase! And when I promise a ‘family reunion,’ I deliver. (Glancing back over her shoulder) Just so happens we might have a bonding moment a little sooner than we anticipated.
Tay reaches behind her, opens the door and reveals those who were seated in the room. There in the dimly lit chamber are Mika Kozlov and Borislav, two dastardly individuals who suspiciously go as quiet as church mice the moment they see Tay. The door closes once Taylor has stepped through it, leaving a worried Trinity in the hall.
Right before the commercial break we saw Aaron Harrison reveal some particularly ‘odd’ video footage. Now cameras have returned to the ring where something even stranger is about to go down, and once again Harrison is at the epi-center of it all. He’s stood in the squared circle gesturing to the backstage area.
Sparkles: How much Aaron Harrison can we cram into one night?
Greyson: His fingerprints have been all over this telecast.
Frankie: Just like my fingerprints can be found all over a hooker’s ass-cheeks.
Greyson: Well Harrison made a compromise. He said that he would reveal where Mya Denton is IF the IWC let him play that footage of her burying….herself?
Frankie: The less we discuss that the less I feel the need to pop Resperidone.
Greyson: Mya is scheduled to face the World Champion coming up here next, so I hope Harrison sticks to his word.
Sparkles: It looks like he’s calling someone out from the back, and hopefully that someone will be Mya.
Finally the lyrics of “Shatter Me” play over the speakers indicating that Mya Denton is INDEED the person that Harrison is summoning. The entrance curtains open and a rather reluctant Mya comes walking through them. Her eyes are cast to the floor and the baggage under them are far more pronounced. She doesn’t even look up into the face of Harrison once she’s slid into the ring and has ended up at his feet.
Greyson: For weeks Harrison has been trying to TRANSFORM Mya Denton….
Frankie: Then just take her to a plastic surgeon and let them stitch on a penis. Problem solved.
Greyson: That’s NOT the type of transformation that I’m talking about.
Sparkles: Mya’s past problems with multiple personality syndrome have been well documented, and it seems that Harrison wants her to let one of those darker personas take control over her completely.
Frankie: She’s gonna need to do something if she wants to beat the World Champ tonight.
Greyson: Maybe burying herself was the final step in Mya’s metamorphosis.
KATELYN BUEHLER VS. MYA DENTON
The tracks of “Satisfied” playing through the PA system result in a reaction that has to be heard to believe. Absolutely everyone in the Manhattan Center has just lunged to their feet and are letting out a lung bursting reaction as the World Champion comes walking on out to the stage. Although her arm and her ankle have been targeted remorselessly over the past few weeks she shows no ill-effects of her pre-existing injuries. Katelyn stands tall and shows off the championship that is raised high overhead.
Greyson: What a response for our World Champion.
Frankie: Make it stop….good God make it STOP! My ears are gonna start bleeding.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler looks to be in great shape and in good spirits heading into what presumably will be her greatest challenge since becoming Champ at Last Stand.
Sparkles: In two weeks she defends the title against longtime nemesis Taylor Chase and the absolutely deadly Mika Kozlov.
Greyson: It’s not like she’s facing a slouch tonight though. Mya Denton has taken on a number of top tier talents here in the IWC and taken them to their absolute limit. She just needs one big win to get her on the right path
Sparkles: But Buehler is in need of a big win here as well, she’s got to have momentum going into that big triple threat World Title defense.
Once inside of the squared circle the World Champion hesitantly gives her belt to the referee and signifies that she’s as ready as she’ll ever be. While Katelyn appears prepared, Mya Denton doesn’t. She’s crouching in the corner of the ring with hands on her knees and her eyes aimed to the canvas. She won’t even look up when the bell rings to commence this all important contest. Rather she’s prepared or not Mya is being called out to the middle of the ring by the fired up champion. Katelyn gestures for Mya to bring it and although reluctant that’s just what Mya does. The two lock up in a collar elbow, which might be the closest thing we get to actual technical wrestling in this contest. Immediately Katelyn breaks out of the collar elbow and swings her fist right upside Mya’s cheek. Another punch then nails Denton, followed by a third.
Greyson: Katelyn a little more revved up and vicious than I thought she’d be coming into this match.
Sparkles: She’s on Mya like a cat on nip.
The punches stop only because Katelyn is using her elbow. The point of it collides with Mya’s chin and the shot sends her stumbling along into the cables. Katelyn grabs hold of Mya’s wrist and sends her flying along into the far ropes. When Mya rebounds from the cables she comes back in at Buehler, who sets to back drop her adversary. Right before Mya can fall prey to the back drop she stops her forward momentum and nails a kick right to Katelyn’s chin. The Champion stumbles back and puts just enough distance between herself and her adversary for Mya to leap into a clothesline. Mya dashes in for the lariat though it’s a Lou Thez Press that actually connects. A stunned Mya is caught by the Champion and driven to the canvas, Katelyn landing on top with her fists landing across either of her adversary’s temples.
Greyson: I’m really surprised to see Katelyn so intense in this match considering that she and Mya are pretty good friends outside the ring.
Sparkles: She’s on Mya like Sparkles on cheese.
Frankie: Are you gonna keep doing that?
Sparkles: Probably.
Frankie: Then can you TRY to be clever with it?
Sparkles: Probably not.
Katelyn’s keeps jabbing and jabbing away at Mya’s face before she breaks off in order to run into the ropes, ricochet off then return to her adversary with a leg drop across her throat. Katelyn gets back to her feet and then takes off into the ropes before hitting a second leg drop on her opponent. The aggressive Champion peels Mya’s body off the ring and then into a snap scoop slam. Mya hits the ring with such force that it causes her to instantly pop up to her seat, hands reaching for her back. It’s not her hands that get to her kidneys though, it’s her opponent’s boot. Katelyn hits a running soccer kick right into her adversary’s lower back.
The kick wasn’t the least of Mya’s worries, because now she finds the champion’s forearm smacking her in the back of the neck. She then takes Mya around the jaw and uses it to drag her along to her feet before applying a double underhook. Katelyn hits a knee to Mya’s exposed face, followed by another, and then another before finally snapping back into a bridging double underhook suplex.
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Mya barely has the strength to get her shoulder off the ring in time to stave off defeat. At ringside one can see the frown on Aaron Harrison’s face. The performance he’s seeing out of Mya is definitely leaving something to be desired.
Harrison: GET UP!
He shouts while slapping the ring apron. Inside of the ring Mya is trying to live up to Harrison’s expectations, forcing herself up from the canvas and into her opponent’s waiting arms. Katelyn latches on a side headlock but before she can parlay this hold into a move she finds her opposition pulling her along into the ropes. Mya uses the bounce from the ropes to push Katelyn off and send her rushing into the far cables. Katelyn comes back in at Mya…or more accurately into Mya’s arm. A clothesline NEARLY hits the Champion, only to have her duck and keep on running. She hits the ropes behind Mya and then comes racing back towards her unsuspecting adversary. At the last second Mya turns and leaps into the air, catching Katelyn with the hurricarana into the pin.
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Before Mya can score an upset her pin attempt has been kicked out of. Katelyn sits up and sends Mya rolling over backwards onto her shoulders. Instead of going for another pin Katelyn leaps to her feet and latches onto the creases of her adversary’s knees, catapulting her into the corner. Just before she smacks into the turnbuckle Mya extends her hands and legs, latching onto the ropes instead of hitting them. She hustles to the top of the turnbuckle then comes lunging off, twisting in mid-air then hitting a crossbody. The World Champion is driven to the canvas with Mya landing on top and into the cover.
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2
Once again Katelyn gets her shoulder up in time to prevent a loss.
Greyson: See what I mean. Mya isn’t a slouch. She’s given numerous talents a definite run for their money….
Sparkles: Which might just bankrupt Buehler here tonight.
Mya drags her opponent along to her knees and then swings some fists upside her temple. She applies a side headlock and goes for a springboard bulldog. Katelyn is dragged along towards the ropes that Mya is now leaping into, but before she can push off, she’s pushed OVER. Mya is sent flying over the top cable but transitioning in mid-air so that instead of flying to the outside mats, she flies to the apron. Mya now attempts to spring to the top cable and go soaring into the squared circle. A thrust kick changes all those plans. Katelyn’s boot smacks Mya right in the jaw and sends her crashing not into the ring as she intended, but into the floor mats. A banged up Mya is back on her feet at ringside for only a moment before she finds herself on the receiving end of a scoop slam. The World Champion turns away from her adversary in order to scream at the fans.
Katelyn: WHO’S HOUSE IS THIS!?!
The fans respond with an emphatic ‘YOU’RE HOUSE.’
Katelyn turns from the ever supportive fans to her damn near debilitated adversary. A beleaguered Mya is plucked from the ground and loaded into another scoop slam. Before her body is flung into the ground Mya slips from her opponent’s clutches and lands behind her back. A surprised Buehler is caught around the neck and dragged towards the barricade. Mya pushes off the barrier, twists in mid-air and NAILS the springboard bulldog, driving Katelyn’s face into the thin floor matting.
Frankie: Maybe that move just put some color in Katelyn’s face, black and blue…HAHAHAHA-YAAAH-HAHAHA!
Greyson: You know, laughing at your own jokes is sooo lame.
Frankie: So is your mother.
Greyson: That was even lamer.
Katelyn’s crash into the mats has left her pawing at her face, but that’s not sufficient to block the knee that Mya cracks her upside the cheek with. Mya throws Katelyn back into the ring then follows her in quickly before dropping into the cover.
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The Champion struggles but ultimately gets her arm up.
Harrison goes on watching from ringside with strong disapproval, even as Mya gets even more aggressive. She applies a half nelson on Katelyn then subjects her face to one knee lift after another after another after another. The longer this match goes on the more intensity Mya is showing. Her knee almost breaks Katelyn’s nose and now the canvas might finish the job. Mya drags Katelyn down into a half nelson face buster. After dishing out one traumatic blow Mya goes for another. She rolls Katelyn to her feet, traps her in a front chancery and then runs at the turnbuckle, pushing off it into a tornado DDT. The top of Katelyn’s head sustains quite a bit of trauma and leaves her splayed across the ring…for a very short time. Mya keeps the front chancery locked in, rolls to her side, pulls Katelyn along with her and then takes off towards another corner. ANOTHER tornado DDT spikes Katelyn on top of her head, though Mya doesn’t stop there. The front chancery is still locked in and the Champion finds herself being pulled towards a third turnbuckle then into a third tornado DDT. If you thought three DDTS were bad…well…Mya isn’t through unleashing them just yet. Once again she drags Katelyn along into a fourth corner and pushes off into a fourth, devastating tornado DDT.
Greyson: Katelyn can’t withstand being dropped on her head this many times!
Sparkles: Four tornado DDTs AFTER that bulldog outside of the ring.
Frankie: Katelyn’s not gonna be in very good shape headed into that title match at Last Stand.
Sparkles: Not at this rate she isn’t.
Mya finally makes the lateral press.
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Harrison’s face cracks with a smile but that grins vanishes the moment he sees that Katelyn has kicked out of Mya’s pin. A banged up Mya drags Katelyn up from the canvas and this time it’s not a tornado DDT she’s about to unleash, it’s the Shiranui. She starts to run towards the ropes to deliver her finishing move the Cra-Cra. That isn’t going to happen, Katelyn’s forearm to her opponent’s kidneys prevents a grizzly fate. Mya breaks the three quarters head-lock and then finds something else broken, her face. Katelyn puts her hands to Mya’s back and shoves her along into the ropes looking to catch her adversary on the rebound with the KTFO. Katelyn swings around into the roaring elbow only to have Mya duck down and narrowly avoid the collision.
Mya keeps on running right past Katelyn and into the ropes behind her back. The moment that Katelyn turns around she spots Mya springing off the middle cable and going for a back elbow. She hits the move and the impact sends Katelyn staggering along into the corner. Katelyn turns around and falls chest first against the turnbuckle, leaning on it for support. She starts to push away from the corner but instead what she pushes herself into is the waiting arms of her opponent. Mya catches Katelyn around the neck and then steps up the corner, flipping back into the Cra-Cra.
Greyson: Mya going for one more blow to Katelyn’s head.
Sparkles: The final blow.
Frankie: Katelyn doesn’t use her brain anyways, so it won’t be that great a loss once their knocked out of her head.
Katelyn’s brains stay exactly where they are. Just as Mya flips back into the Shiranui Katelyn manages to reach out and grab the top rope, holding onto it tightly and preventing being driven into the canvas across the back of her skull. But she DOES get pulled down to that canvas eventually. The moment Mya lands on the canvas after missing the Cra-Cra, she reaches out and latches onto Katelyn’s hips, dragging her over into a roll up.
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Katelyn may have been folded up under Mya with her opponent sitting on the back of her thighs but still the Champion is able to kick out. She sends Mya flying off the pin and towards the ropes, which she bounces right off of. Mya uses that momentum to carry her back towards Katelyn and into a clothesline that just barely grazes her target’s head. With what little speed Katelyn can muster she manages to duck the lariat aimed for her head and then catch her opponent with a thrust kick to the back of the skull. The blow sends the front of Mya’s head flying into the face of the referee. The official pays for being this close to the action when his mug is destroyed by the headbutt from Mya.
Greyson: Eeesh….a kick right on the back of the brainpan!
Frankie: Take what I said earlier about Katelyn not needing a brain and apply it to Mya Denton in this circumstance.
Greyson: The ref got cracked in the mug as well.
Frankie: Serves him right. He shouldn’t officiate if his head is gonna be that huge.
A banged up Buehler shakes off everything that Mya has hit her, but the referee doesn’t have the same luxury. His recuperative capabilities are not on pair with the World Champion’s, he’s not budging from the ring. Mya did budge from that ring, in the sense that she rolled out of it, spilling at the feet of Harrison at ringside. He tries to encourage her to get back up, though his words aren’t that inspirational.
Greyson: Katelyn’s got Mya down and she’s closing on a potential win.
Sparkles: A victory that will definitely help her coast into the main event of Last Stand with her head held just a little bit higher.
Frankie: It’s not her ego that needs stroking, it’s my penis.
Sparkles: *Ugh* Sparkles will get the lubricant.
Frankie: No-no-no. Let’s just get back to Buehler.
The crowd unanimously erupts with an oh so orgasmic ovation at the sight of the Champ verging on a victory. Katelyn starts towards the ropes that separate her from Mya and is about to flip over them but instead she flips out at the sight presently on the stage. Her eyes have turned to the ringside area where Ryan Watson, Lexy Chapel and Lexy’s ‘fan’ are standing. A kendo stick sways at Lexy’s side, the very same weapon that Katelyn assaulted her with two weeks earlier. There’s another item held in Watson’s hand, a bullhorn, the very same item he used to antagonize Katelyn Buehler back at the End of the Year Special.
Greyson: There went that feel good vibe.
Frankie: Seriously? I just went from six to midnight guys. Cause there’s Lexy Chapel, meaning Monarchy is representing!
Greyson: Why is she out here?
Sparkles: Lexy no stranger to the World Champion, and neither is Ryan Watson, he’s had a few run-ins with Buehler since his debut back at Upping the Ante.
The kendo stick in Lexy’s hand is pointed towards Buehler, sufficiently drawing her attention and her ire. Katelyn may be in the middle of a match with Mya but she’ll take on a few more opponents if it means the chance to get her hands on members of Monarchy. She takes one look at the unconscious Mya at ringside and then at the unconscious referee in the ring and then at a few individuals she’d like to leave unconscious.
Katelyn: Alright Lexy, I know what this is about….
Nothing Katelyn is saying or about to say is stopping Watson, nor Lexy nor her fan, the three already climbing up onto the apron.
Katelyn: You’ve come out to this ring THINKING you’ll get revenge for what I ‘apparently’ did to you two weeks ago. But if you do get in here, whatever I did to you on the last Riot will be nothing compared to what I do to you right now.
Lexy, Watson and the associate hesitate for a moment, staring at the fists that Katelyn has clinched at her sides. The World Champion continues to be the type who will never shy away from a confrontation, even when the odds are insurmountable. And they don’t get any more insurmountable than what opposes her at that moment. What Katelyn doesn’t realize is that it’s not just Lexy, it’s not just Watson, it’s not just this Monarchy loyalist at their sides that are opposing her, because there are two more individuals out for her blood. Mika Kozlov and Taylor Chase, the pair set to oppose Katelyn for her title at the next pay-per-view, have just slid into the ring and have pounced on the champion from behind.
Greyson: Mika!?! Taylor!?! Together!?!
Sparkles: Mika Kozlov and Taylor Chase just got the drop on Katelyn.
Frankie: What a wonderful family bonding moment for these sisters reunited.
Tay and Mika don’t stop at driving Katelyn down to the ring, that was just the precursor for what the two have planned for their victim. Kate is trying to stand up only to have Tay run in at her side and crack her in the temple with a knee strike, a blow made all the more devastating given the steel under Tay’s leg. Although Kate is knocked unconscious by the shot she is still on her feet, absent mindedly turning from the knee that just smashed the bones in her face to the arms waiting to do even more damage to her skull. Mika catches Katelyn around the neck, bridges her back then licks her victim’s forehead before ultimately hitting a version of the Sister Abigail. The Killing Joke results in Katelyn’s face being crushed against the canvas.
Greyson: Mika and Tay are just dismantling Buehler two weeks before Last Stand.
Sparkles: We’re getting a preview of what these two are going to do to New Eden inside of the Cage tonight and what they’re going to do to Buehler at the pay-per-view.
Frankie: Come off it Sparkles, once Monarchy and Mika are threw with Katelyn, she’s not going to make it to Last Stand.
Lexy, Ryan and their supporter finally enter the ring and get a closer view of Katelyn’s destruction. Lexy actually pitches in when Tay and Mika lead the Champion to her feet and expose her ribs to a crushing blow from a kendo stick. All of Lexy’s strength is used to crack the Champion’s mid-section. Buehler doubles over her banged up guts and now the back of her head is just as brutalized. Watson slams the bullhorn he carried out to smack Katelyn across the base of her neck.
Greyson: Please stop this already!
Frankie: They’re just getting this party started.
Katelyn, unfortunately, is the dishonored guest of said party. Her body has never suffered the type of beating it’s getting right now, subjected to an even stiffer strike from the kendo stick in Lexy’s hands. She tries to roll away from the stick but now finds herself on the receiving end of a chair shot. Mika rolled out of the ring only to return to it with a chair in hand. That weapon finds its way down right across the back of Katelyn’s shoulder, targeting a pre-existing arm injury that Buehler ALMOST fully recovered from. The chair is now opened and Katelyn’s arm is slid into it.
Greyson: Don’t you do it!
Mika’s not going to be talked out of her deadly plans by a commentator or by the pleas of the crowd. She leaps off the middle rope of a turnbuckle and stomps the chair that was wrapped around Katelyn’s arm. The bones in her limb can almost be heard crunching over Katelyn’s screams. Her groans of agony only get worse when Tay drops down behind her and locks Katelyn’s arms in the TTYL, the very same submission that previously injured the champion.
Frankie: So much for Katelyn’s miraculous recovery.
Greyson: Monarchy and Mika aren’t going to stop….someone has to get out here and….
Just when it seems that Tay is going to pop Katelyn’s arm out of its socket with her version of the Rings of Saturn the crowd goes from begging to cheering. The tracks of Miss Jon’s entrance music have just started playing throughout the PA system and it isn’t long before the train sized woman derails Monarchy’s plans. Her huge body is stomping down the ramp with her agent Martin Howe III walking right along behind her.
Greyson: Now it’s Miss Jon?
Sparkles: This can either be real good or real bad for Katelyn, she’s had issues with Miss Jon for several weeks now.
The planetary mass of raw rage steps over the ropes and into the ring. The second Miss Jon squares up on Monarchy they all go running from the squared circle. Mika is the last person to exit, taking a second to wink in Miss Jon’s direction before she finally vacates the ring. Once she’s sent everyone packing, save for the World Champion, Miss Jon turns in circles to make sure no one dares try to get back inside. To the surprise of everyone in the arena this beast is actually PROTECTING rather than annihilating the battered World Champion.
Greyson: Did-did-did Miss Jon actually just save Katelyn?
Sparkles: This defies belief.
Greyson: Has Miss Jon truly turned a corner?
Miss Jon isn’t through yet, and she won’t be until someone’s blood is on her knuckles. She rolls out of the ring and stomps towards the back, deadest on sending a few bodies to the local mortuary. Although Miss Jon might have protected Katelyn from Monarchy and Mika, she does not protect her from a pinfall. Her opponent in the match that is STILL going, is now being thrown back into the ring. Mya Denton is tossed under the ropes by Aaron Harrison, who then shouts at her to make the cover. A moment of reluctance is shown by Mya, but ultimately she resolves herself to what she has to do. She crawls in and hooks Katelyn’s leg.
Greyson: Don’t do this Mya….Have some self-respect.
Frankie: If it helps, I respect Mya more now than ever.
The referee starts to come through, conveniently after Katelyn had already been brutalized by Mika Kozlov and all of Monarchy. He makes the count and Mya keeps the champion’s legs hooked about as high and tight as she possibly can.
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Greyson: This is shit stacked five-foot-nine.
After the barbarism that was inflicted on Buehler there was no chance that she would kick out of this pinfall. Mya scores the win and does so to the disgust of a world-wide audience. She does not bask in the allure of victory, lord knows she wants to but Harrison isn’t letting that happen. He rolls into the ring and grabs Mya by the shoulder, demanding her attention.
Harrison: Now finish her off!
Katelyn is already in anguish but that’s not good enough, not for Harrison. Mya on the other hand is content to leave the ring with a victory, not with her opponent’s destruction.
Harrison: It’s what SHE would want?
Mya listens to Harrison but this time she does not follow his edict. Instead of swooping in and finishing Katelyn off, Mya vacates the squared circle. This does not please Harrison, not….one…..bit.
Although there’s a neck-brace constricting his throat nothing is going to keep Flash Silver from speaking. He seems to be barking warnings at a number of other ‘talents’ who are gathered in the locker-room. Nobody takes his threats seriously, but Flash goes on making his warnings nevertheless.
Flash: I’m gonna tell you guys this once and only ONCE. So pass it on to everybody else, your brothers, your sisters, your mothers….
It doesn’t matter how verbose he might be nothing can sway the rest of the roster to give him the time of day, they just keep sitting there in chairs applying their wrestling gear. Flash’s back is to the camera, which is a good thing considering that the fans don’t have to see Flash’s obnoxious expression.
Flash:…Tonight Flash Silver is entering the Johnny Kingdom Open Invitational Battle Royal, and with the power of patriotism running through my red, white and blue veins I will be VICTORIOUS! So don’t you filthy terror mongers even think about venturing out of your caves, because if you do so help me I’ll give you thirteen stripes…no thirteen STRIKES across the face, and then you’ll be seeing fifty stars floating around your heads…
Finally the wrestlers Flash was warning start to take notice, and it’s not of his threats. Their nostrils flare, as if they just stood down wind of a horrid stench. Their eyes rise towards the source of this obscene odor and once they see who is standing behind Flash, they instantly recoil in fear. One can almost see the dust trail left behind the bodies of the roster members as they barrel out of the locker-room.
Flash: Go and spread the message you cowards. Let the world know that Flash Silver is coming….
It isn’t the threats made by Flash that sent the wrestlers in the locker-room running, it’s the figures who just stepped up behind him. Flash is blissfully unaware that a feces covered Teiji Shintaro is stood mere inches from his spine. As Teiji stares his potential victim down he licks the blood that is oozing from his gums and drenching his teeth.
O’Flaherty: Excuse me….
Flash lets out a loud squeal and almost jumps out of his underpants. He swings around wide eyed towards Teiji, and to the two men on either side of the Japanese Nightmare. Eric O’Flaherty, baseball bat in one hand and silver flask in the other stands at Teiji’s right, while Ricky Holt, shades over his eyes and teeth chomping gum stands at Teiji’s left.
O’Flaherty: Did we hear something about a battle royal…an OPEN INVITATINAL battle royal?
It would appear Flash has been stricken mute by fear, vividly recalling what Teiji and Holt did to him two weeks ago. All he can do is stare with wide eyed horror at the blood that collects across Teiji’s teeth.
Holt: What did we tell you about eyeballing Teiji?
Flash eyes can’t veer towards the floor fast enough.
The show veers to another backstage area where IWC grappler Marina Valdivia is getting herself psychologically ready for a fight, and not just any fight, but a Manhattan Street Fight. Something that promises oodles of violence, oodles of chaos, and maybe even a few oodles of blood. Marina’s mind is finally starting to wrap around what she’s in store for when she goes one on one with Monarchy’s Orlando Cruze. She wants nothing more than to go on with her quiet introspection as she paces the floor of the locker-room, though solitude ain’t something she’s about to get.
Tabitha: Marina….
Never before has anyone seen someone’s heart sink as fast as Marina’s just did. One can almost hear it splash against the acids in her stomach. That very same bile seems to be rising, Marina feeling the need to regurgitate the very moment she sees Tabitha Silverstone, her estranged, and emphasis on the STRANGE part, agent invading the sanctity of the locker-room. Nervously Tabitha nears Marina, refusing to accept that her client wants to be nowhere in her vicinity.
Tabitha: I was hoping that we could….
A hand goes up and that hand stops just an inch away from Tabitha’s face.
Marina: Save your breath.
Tabitha: I’m just asking for one second…one second to explain everything.
Marina: It’s gonna take you a whhooooole lot longer than one second.
Tabitha: Not really. Because there’s a real-real simple explanation.
Marina’s waiting. She’s got her arms crossed, her head titled and everything.
Tabitha: Victoria is framing me. SHE’S responsible for everything.
Much like Andre Jordan earlier in the night Marina can’t seem to accept just how far ‘her friend’ Tabitha Silverstone has gone off the rails.
Marina: That’s about all I’ll hear of that.
Marina can’t get to the door fast enough.
Tabitha: Why can’t you see it, she’s-she’s-she’s BRAINWASHING YOU!! She’s turning you and Dre against me!
Marina keeps walking.
Tabitha: You need me! What if-what if Monarchy get involved in your match? What if New Eden attacks you? Only I can protect you!!
Marina is out the door and it’s closing behind her. The camera stays on Tabitha and the palms that are compressing her temples.
You couldn’t ask for a better way to return from commercial break than by providing a close up of Karen McBride’s lovely face. She’s had more on her plate than Melissa McCarthy at an all you can eat buffet but she still finds the strength to smile. It isn’t very easy when she’s got one of the most obnoxious men in professional wrestling all up in her grill. Mason Van Stanton has tracked McBride down to the corridor the two are stood in, and now that he’s caught her his mouth won’t stop running. Karen pretends to be listening while she leans with the point of her elbow to the plain white wall at her side and struggles against unconsciousness.
Mason: I’m real-real-REEEAAL sorry if I overstepped my bounds two weeks ago. I just wanted to help, and you know, kinda prove my usefulness to your administration. If I did absolutely anything wrong then I will do WHATEVER it takes to make it up to you. I’ll say a thousand hail Marys, I’ll-I’ll-I’ll flog myself…without lubricant this time…I’ll…..
Karen: Listen Mason (she intervenes before her head explodes), between you and Howe, I’m through getting my ass kissed for one night….
Mason: But it’s such a pleasant ass to….
Karen: DON’T even finish that sentence, Mason.
He pantomimes zipping his lips, locking them together then throwing the key away.
Karen: If you want to prove to me that you’re truly on the up and up, then you’ll do the exact same thing I expect Howe’s client Miss Jon to do. Don’t tell me you’ve changed, SHOW ME you’ve changed.
Mason: If I were to, you know, prove my worth, would you then…maaaaaybe consssssidder giving me a job on your administration?
Karen: (She really has to think about this given Mason’s track record) I’ll tell you what I told Howe, I’ll take your proposition into consideration.
Mason: And I’ll do just like Miss Jon did, I’ll PROVE that I am a better man. I’ll go from Robert Downey Jr circa 2000 to Robert Downy Jr circa 2016.
Karen: Well, ummm you’ll definitely not be making nearly as much money as he does today.
Mason: You ever know, I hear people who main event Invictus get a few extra zeroes on their paychecks.
Karen: Main event Invictus?
Mason: The way I see it there’s only ONE WAY I can prove my worth to your administration. I’m going to enter the 2016 Last Stand Rumble and I’m going to win it in YOUR honor.
Karen: You’re going to enter the 2016 Rumble?
Mason: Yup.
Karen: And you’re going to win it?
Mason: Yup-yup.
It takes everything, absolutely EVERYTHING in McBride’s power to keep from bursting into laughter.
Mason: Hey, it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. If Miss Jon can change her ways then I can win the Rumble.
Karen: Alright, you got a valid point there. Miss Jon HAS surprised me the past couple of weeks, maybe you’ll do the same….
Comeau: SOMEONE GET HELP!!
The voice of backstage correspondent Mark Comeau travels down the corridor, alerting McBride, altering Van Stanton, alerting anyone in close enough proximity. All those who could hear come running, Karen leading the way with Mason bringing up the rear. They come up on Comeau kneeling to the floor, hovering over a body, a BROKEN body. The very same beautiful crew-member that Karen was arguing with earlier tonight is no position to argue now. She’s unconscious and lying face down in a halo of her own blood.
Karen: Did anyone see what happened!?!
The flustered Principle Owner stoops to check on the young woman but instead of examining a contused face her eyes are fixed on a reflection that appears in the blood gushing from those contusions. The blood provides a mirror image of Miss Jon’s face, revealing that she’s presently stood over the beaten and near lifeless body of the very same crew-member she bumped into earlier tonight.
JOHNNY KINGDOM OPEN INVITATIONAL BATTLE ROYAL
Well it looks like the IWC has decided to take a quantity over quality approach when it came to filling the ring with bodies set to compete in the first ever Johnny Kingdom Open Invitational Battle Royal. Sadly those who signed up for this inaugural bout are not the crème-de-la-crème of wrestling royalty. The very rarely seen Rich Anderson is just one of the many in the ring, and that should tell you something about the standard of competition set to battle it out here in a few moments. There are a lot of others who have joined this fray, and we really wish we didn’t have to name them off.
There’s Malachi Hunt, yes, he WAS on the roster at one point, there’s Mr. Ridiculous Fitzgerald with his socket puppet/manager, meaning that he legally qualifies as TWO entrants in this Battle Royal. Then there’s the likes of Denile Partis….good God Denile Partis.
It seems all the REAL talent is at the commentators booth where Greyson Lovejoy, Sparkles, and Frankie Paradise are welcoming their guest, the man responsible for this contest, Johnny Kingdom.
Greyson: (Speaking over Kingdom’s entrance theme music) We’ve got an Open Invitational Battle Royal moments from getting underway, and here’s the man responsible for putting it together. Hi there Johnny Kingdom.
Kingdom: Greetings gents.
The Team Leader is just now making himself comfortable in the empty chair at the end of the table, fixing the cuffs of his expensive leather jacket and the arms of his equally as expensive sunglasses.
Frankie: Uhhhh Johnny, I hate to be THAT guy, but do you really want to own up to being the person responsible for what we’re got in that ring right now? I mean I’ve seen better athletes in an amateur bowling league.
Kingdom: You know what, I do take full responsibility for being the man who put that sign-up sheet on the wall backstage, but I take NO responsibility for those who signed it.
Frankie: Aren’t you a wee-bit disappointed that we didn’t get more A-listers signing up to compete in this little preview you’ve arranged for the Last Stand Rumble?
Kingdom: Actually no, I’m not. See, this pretty much epitomizes exactly what I was talking about earlier tonight. The Rumble is a crap-shoot, where your standing on the roster, be it as an ‘A-Lister’ or a ‘D-lister,’ doesn’t matter, you stand just as good a chance as anyone else of walking out with a win.
Frankie: Yeah, but Kingdom, most the guys in the ring use up all their talent just making their entrance without botching, what makes you think they can win a Rumble?
Kingdom: I’ve seen crazier things happen, Frankie….
Frankie: Such as?
Kingdom: For starters, you having full time employment for the past two years.
Frankie: Oh hardy-har-har.
Greyson: Well guys we’ve got our last entrant in the Battle Royal going to the ring as we speak, and as you can see it’s the masked Disco Ninja. You know, he competed in the 2015 Rumble.
Frankie: Dear Gaaaahd, why did you have to remind us? You know what, while you’re at it, why not remind everyone who eliminated Disco Ninja from that Rumble last year? It was yours truly.
Disco Ninja is dancing right along to the middle of the ring where so many ‘athletes’ are just itching to get their hands on him.
Greyson: Johnny, do you care to explain what the rules are for this battle royal?
Kingdom: First of all, we’re NOT on a first name basis Lovejoy….
Greyson: Sorry.
Kingdom: And secondly, it’s all pretty much standard fare. This match is contested under the exact same rules you’ll see at the Rumble, only way to get eliminated is via being thrown over the top rope where both feet have to hit the floor. Last guy standing, gets the honor of being crowned the first ever winner of the Johnny Kingdom Open Invitational Battle Royal, and then they go on to Last Stand with a definite chip on their shoulder.
Sparkles: Yeah, but something tells Sparkles that chip won’t help them when they’re facing off against the likes of guys such as you.
Kingdom: Well not to toot my own horn….
Frankie: Be fair Kingdom, when you start talking about yourself it’s not tooting your own horn, you’re playing the whole damn brass section of the orchestra.
Kingdom: I can’t dispute that, and I also can’t dispute Sparkles’ statement about what might happen to any of these guys should they get in my way during the Rumble. I’ve done a lot of things in my storied career….
Frankie: A story so old it makes the Bible look like an infant.
Kingdom:…but one thing I’ve NEVER accomplished in my entire wrestling tenure is winning the Last Stand Rumble. It’s my Moby Dick, it’s my Jeremiah Johnson….it’s just something I HAVE to accomplish before I hang up my boots for good. That’s another of my many motivations for putting together this Rumble preview match.
Much like the Rumble the ring is filled by a dozen or so competitors and once the bell rings they immediately set out to thin the herd via tossing one another over the top rope. The match is only it’s in earliest stages before a last minute entrant decides to make a fashionably late arrival.
Frankie: Oh shit….
Sparkles: Literally.
Those fans who bought front row tickets instantly regret doing so when they come within inches of a man submerged beneath a layer of his own fecal matter. Teiji Shintaro, the Japanese Terror himself is making his way down the ramp with his ally Ricky Holt right there beside him step for step.
Kingdom: Greeeeat, I didn’t see the name of the Shit Demon from the movie Dogma anywhere on the sign-up sheet for this match.
Greyson: That’s Teiji….
Kingdom: I know that’s Teiji Shintaro, a man who has a fecal fixation, hence why he’s covered with shit and why he hangs out with shit….
Frankie: You talking about Ricky Holt?
Kingdom No, I’m talking about Fran Drescher, of course I’m talking about Ricky Holt. Someone somewhere SHOULD.
Sparkles: It looks like these two are crashing your Open Invitational Kingdom.
Greyson: Just like Holt crashed your training seminar back a few months ago.
Kingdom: Hey, it’s called OPEN Invitational for a reason. If they want to get in there and compete, more power to them.
Teiji gets in there, but he doesn’t HAVE to compete. All those who were in the ring before the arrival of Teiji and Holt have gone as still as statues. Actually they more resemble deer paralyzed by the sight of headlights barreling towards them at a high speed. Holt stands at ringside rejoicing in the sight of the fear he sees in the eyes of every competitor forced to share a ring with the Nightmare that he brought into the IWC several weeks ago. Those petrified talents don’t stay in that ring with that Nightmare for very long. The moment the bell sounds and Teiji steps out of the center of the squared circle everyone around him hightails it. Anderson, Hunt, Partis, all of the competitors who signed up for this Battle Royal eliminate themselves from it. They leave Teiji Shintaro and his self-mutilated body alone in the middle of the squared circle.
Greyson: That might have been the shortest Battle Royal I’ve ever seen.
Frankie: These guys might be talentless but they’re not brainless.
Kingdom: Let’s not give them too much credit.
Sparkles: All of Teiji’s opponents in this Battle Royal throwing themselves out to avoid having to encounter the Terror.
Kingdom: The man is covered in shit…he’s….covered….in….shit, what person in their right mind WOULD want to fight him?
Greyson: It isn’t just his obsession with fecal matter that caused all his opponents to shy away from fighting him. He’s DESTROYED so many talents since his debut. None of these guys wanted to be added to his list of victims.
Not only did every other person save for Teiji just jump out of the ring, they’re actually RUNNING away from it. The only person who doesn’t flee from Teiji, is Ricky Holt, who enters the squared circle with a microphone clasped in his hand. Like a dog Teiji drops to the feet of his master, he crouches down to his knees and starts to sway back and forth between them. All the while his snake like pupils focus on his next meal, sizing up Johnny Kingdom at the announce table.
Holt: Are any of you really that surprised?
Holt questions the fans, who ARE shocked to see so many flee so quickly from his murderous associate.
Holt: Look at them (points at the fleeing roster), look at ‘em RUN. (Points at the ring) Look, look at that, you know what that stain right there is, it’s the trail of piss that those pussies left behind. (Eventually Holt’s eyes turn to Johnny Kingdom at the announce table) But ya’ know, even though their pussies, even though their pissing themselves, at least they had the balls to stand in the same ring with Teiji Shintaro, which is more than I can say for certain ‘LEGENDS.’
Kingdom: I think he’s talking about you, Sparkles.
Sparkles: SPARKLES!?! But-but-but Sparkles can’t piss himself. I’ve tried!
Holt: This is just plain sad (gesturing with open palm towards Kingdom). Only a sham, a charlatan, a con artist like Johnny Kingdom would put together a Battle Royal, slap his name on it and totally puss out of competing in it himself. You proud of yourself, Kingdom? You glad you got that ten seconds of recognition without actually….WRESTLING? I shouldn’t expect anything less from a man who impersonates a REAL wrestler.
Frankie: Oh-hahahahaha-ahahaha.
Kingdom: Frankie, do you enjoy the taste of solid food?
Frankie: Yeah?
Kingdom: Then you might want to shut it before you’re eating liquids through a straw.
Holt: You’re so pathetic it actually makes me ashamed of myself. Because at one time, way-way back at the End of the Year Special I actually endorsed you. I convinced all these fans that you were an honest to goodness REAL wrestler. But your performance on that night, and your total lack of a performance here tonight, has devalued the worth of my word. So it’s no wonder that when I came out here two weeks ago and promised that I’d win the Last Stand Rumble that people were skeptical. They didn’t believe me, and that is YOUR fault.
Kingdom: Moi?
Holt: You know what Kingdom? I think you owe me. Just like those ‘rookies’ of yours I took under my wing….
Greyson: He must be referring to those kids you were coaching at that training seminar Johnny, the ones that Holt beat to bloody pulps.
Kingdom: You think I need to be reminded of that?
Holt: You know what it is you owe me, Team Leader? An apology.
Kingdom: Haha, now you CAN laugh, Frankie.
Frankie: (Fake laugh) Ha-ha-ha.
Kingdom: Put some more effort into it next time.
Holt: I’ll tell you what Johnny, not that you deserve it, but I’m actually giving you a choice. There are two ways you can make things right with me. You COULD get into this ring and you could grovel at my feet BEGGING for my forgiveness. Or you could give Teiji and I the opportunity to show these people that I am exactly what I say I am, the odds on favorite to win the Rumble, and you can do that by getting into this ring and fighting the two of us right now. When we pitch you, the ‘odds on favorite’ to win the Rumble over the top rope, it’ll show the world that my word is as good as gold.
Kingdom: Heh, these guys are something else, one man eats shit, the other man talks it.
Holt: Come on now Kingdom, you either get in here and you BEG or you get in here and you BLEED.
There is no laughing, there is no joking, there is no emotion shown by Kingdom whatsoever. In a slow, CHILLING manner he rises from his chair, his headset slipping from his ears. The fans get more and more excited the closer that Kingdom gets to the ring.
Greyson: Johnny is headed for the squared circle.
Frankie: Hopefully he’s not suffering arthritis in those knees, cause he’s gonna be down on them for a while.
Sparkles: Oh if we know one thing about Kingdom, it’s that he’s NOT going to that ring to BEG.
Kingdom inches along towards the squared circle where Holt is egging him on and Teiji is just crouching and tasting the blood that seeps down out of his own gums. That’s not all Teiji tastes, getting a hefty serving of the brown substance on the tips of his fingers, licking it off. Kingdom takes one look at this disgusting visual and then into the depraved eyes of Holt. A decision is made and it’s not one that sets well with either man in the ring and all those in the stands. Instead of entering the squared circle Kingdom walks around it, moving to the ramp before ascending up it.
Greyson: Kingdom? Where-where-where are you going?
Frankie: Hahahaha, he’s walking away, aaaaah-hahahaha he’s walking AWAY!! I knew it! I knew it!
Sparkles: Sparkles is…..shocked.
Frankie: You shouldn’t be. What sane man, even if they are a ‘legend,’ would enter the ring with Teiji Shintaro and Ricky Holt?
As Kingdom disappears into the back the longing cries of his faithful fans are replaced with the heckles of his greatest detractor.
Holt: Don’t be so disheartened people. Would any of you have the courage to get in this ring with Teiji? Hell no you wouldn’t. So don’t go judging Kingdom for being just as big a coward as the rest of you, and as the rest of the roster in the back. If anyone should be disappointed it’s me. Because once again Kingdom has made my word MEANINGLESS. How is anyone to trust me when I say I’m going to win the Rumble, when I get no opportunity to show why I truly am a favorite to….
The mute button has been hit on Holt when the entrance music of Matthew Bowden come bursting through the PA system. Holt’s eyes almost burst out of their sockets and he suffers some whiplash when spinning his head so quickly to the stage. Stood under the bright lights and Holt’s heat ray vision is Matthew Bowden himself. Although Holt isn’t happy to see him, everyone else in the building clearly are. A big ovation is being directed at yet another man who entered himself into the Rumble two weeks earlier. That’s not the only thing that Bowden is entering himself into apparently.
Frankie: Da hale is he doing here?
Greyson: Matthew Bowden has had his fair share of exchanges with Holt and Teiji Shintaro the past few weeks.
Frankie: If he gets anywhere near that ring it’ll be his LAST exchange with either Teiji or Holt.
Bowden doesn’t go the ring, YET, cause he’s got something to say and the mic in his hand is going to make sure Holt hears him.
Bowden: So you want to prove that you’re one of the faves to win the biggest match of the year? Well ‘kid’….
Holt’s eyes once again widen as he mouths the word ‘kid?’
Bowden:…I had a pretty similar idea, which is kinda scary when you think about it, because that would mean you and I were on the same wavelength. That’s just…..(squirming and rubbing at his arms like they were crawling with roaches) YEESH….that’s freaky. Anyway, I want to show the world why I’m no scrub headed into the Rumble, and I have a great idea on how to do that.
If Holt was surprised before he’s gonna need a defibrillator at this point to restart his heart when it stops at the sight of Bowden rolling into the ring with him. Teiji doesn’t know what to make of this interruption, so he just sits back eating his own hair and watching.
Bowden: I say we do an over the top rope challenge of our own. First person to throw their opponent out of the ring wins. What do you say?
Holt: I say, you’re….
Bowden: Whoa-whoa-whoa (puts palm up to Holt’s face), who said I was talking to you?
The crowd lets out the obligatory ‘oooooh’ once they realize who Bowden was referring to. The plot thickens and tensions escalate as Teiji rises from his crouched position in order to give Bowden an answer to his challenge.
Bowden: The way I see it, throwing you (points at Holt) over the top rope proves jack shit. But tossing you (points at Teiji) out tonight not only gives me a little more legitimacy headed towards Last Stand, but does all these fans the favor of removing your stank ass from this ring. So what do you say you Cenobite wannabe, got the balls to take me on? Or did you cut those off and eat them too?
Holt: I’ll tell you what he says.
Actually Holt doesn’t say much at all, instead it’s his fists that do his talking. He swings one right upside Bowden’s jaw, knocking him back and into the ropes. The next shot Holt aims at Bowden’s head is delivered with a bit more force, building some momentum behind it. Holt charges at Bowden and swings, but his fist flies right over Bowden’s head and Holt’s body flies right over the top rope. At the last second Bowden drops down, grabs the top rope and low bridges his attacker. A stunned Holt trips over Bowden, trips over the cables and falls with a hard plunge to the floor.
Greyson: Oh wow! OH WOW! Bowden just-Bowden just THREW Holt out of the ring!
Frankie: So what? That just means he’s trapped in the ring now with Teiji Shintaro. And that’s worse than being on the friggin Green Mile.
Sparkles: It looks like Teiji is accepting Holt’s offer to face him in an over the top rope challenge.
TEIJI SHINTARO VS. MATTHEW BOWDEN
Just as soon as Matthew Bowden gets back to his feet Teiji Shintaro almost takes him right back off them. He nails a punch across Bowden’s cheek, and then a blistering knife edge chop across his chest. Teiji delights in every strike unleashed on Bowden, who he now Irish whips across the ring. Or at least that was his intention. Just before Bowden can be sent flying into the far cables he turns back to Teiji, slaps his hand away from his wrist and then delivers a lightning fast step up enzugari. The shot to the back of his head sends a disorientated Teiji staggering along into the ropes, falling against them and ALMOST falling over them. Bowden rushes in from behind and turns that ALMOST into a certainty. He grabs Teiji around the thigh, lifting it into the air and trying to send him flipping to the outside mats.
Greyson: Bowden’s gonna do it, he’s gonna throw Teiji out on his ass.
Sparkles: This is the first time we’ve seen Teiji show any sign of vulnerability whatsoever.
Greyson: Maybe Bowden has the number of this Nightmare.
Frankie: I’d hate to see what Teiji does if he gets eliminated, but I’m glad to see someone actually has the balls to step up and take him on. Unlike a certain Team Leader.
Greyson: Still shocked that Johnny Kingdom walked away from this fight.
Sparkles: Remember everyone, this is an over the top rope challenge, only way to win is to throw your opponent over the cables and to the outside of the ring.
Bowden doesn’t walk away from anything, in fact he’s RUNNING into it. Actually he’s RUNNING into a big boot that smashes Teiji right upside the cheek. The blow causes Teiji to NEARLY fall sideways over the cables that he was leaning against. Sadly almost WON’T be turned into a certainty by that last kick, so maybe a second one will make Teiji’s elimination happen. Bowden runs the length of the ring and builds momentum behind a second running big boot.
Sparkles: Bowden’s gonna do it! He’s gonna be the Nightmare’s NIGHTMARE!
Before Bowden can lift his boot Teiji shoots a thumb out and smashes the throat of his would-be attacker. The Asiatic Spike is hit with such force that it actually sends Bowden flipping head over asshole.
Greyson: Oh God! Oh God what a SPIKE!
Frankie: Teiji hit Bowden so hard in the throat that it might have just turned his Adam’s apple into a third testicle.
The force of the impact on his neck has Bowden struggling to breathe as he grips at his swelling esophagus. Teiji grips at another part of Bowden’s anatomy, his hair. He pulls his adversary by the bangs to his feet and then into an exploder t-bone suplex.
Greyson: Do you guys actually think that Teiji is going to try and eliminate Bowden from this match?
Frankie: That would mean he actually has some concept of the rules.
Sparkles; Fat chance of that, besides, even if he did, Teiji wouldn’t want to end the beating he’s giving Bowden at the moment.
A beating that Teiji just can’t get enough of. Already he’s continuing this beat-down via the diving headbutt that connects with Bowden’s collar bone. The impact has Bowden in terrible condition, but terrible isn’t good enough for his opponent. Teiji craves the total debilitation of his adversary and is doing everything in his power to make it happen, including biting at the bridge of Bowden’s nose.
Greyson: He’s biting him, Teiji is biting Bowden’s face off.
Sparkles: He can always get a replacement from Nicholas Cage.
The biting continues until the referee intervenes. The official wants to stop Teiji but he also doesn’t want to touch him. Finally he has to, grabbing the feces smeared bicep of Teiji and dragging him off his adversary. Teiji looks irate at the official and now moves in to outright murder him. Much like all the wrestlers who WERE in the ring to compete in the battle royal earlier on, the ref flees the ring to evade Teiji. Once the zebra has successfully fled the lion, the king of the jungle goes back after the weakened member of the herd. He climbs the nearest corner and then flies out of it into another headbutt aimed right at Bowden’s chest. Teiji’s skull crushes the sternum of his adversary, sending the recipient into convulsions. A twitching and writhing Bowden crawls towards the ropes where he will go on ailing from the beating he’s been getting, a beating that will now culminate in his elimination.
Teiji takes off across the ring, hurdling towards Bowden who was using the ropes to reach his feet. He won’t let those ropes be used against him, refusing to be knocked over the strands and sent crashing to the outside. The only thing that crashes is Bowden’s boot into the jaw of his inbound opponent. The kick knocks Teiji back and the kick flips Bowden back. He goes over the top rope, of his own volition, but thankfully he comes down on the apron.
Greyson: Bowden just about eliminated himself there.
Sparkles: Yep, cause this is an over the top rope challenge, a preview for the Rumble to be contested at Last Stand in two weeks.
Frankie: A match that Bowden WAS going to be part of. But he’s not gonna be part of anything but the celebrity wing at the hospital once Teiji is through with him.
Teiji might be finished with Bowden right now. As Bowden springs to the top rope Teiji comes running at him with the intent of knocking his legs out from under his body. Bowden BARELY avoids being pushed to the outside of the ring by leaping from the cables and over Teiji’s head. As a result Teiji just keeps running and hits the strands that his opponent just sprung off of. He bounces from the cables and staggers back into a big dropkick between the shoulder blades. The blow sends Teiji flying into the ropes once again, this time his stomach hitting the top cable. His upper half now hangs over the strands and is on the cusp of crashing into the floor. Somehow he manages to hold onto the ropes, forming a death grip on them. The strength of his grip is challenged when Teiji finds himself on the receiving end of a hesitation dropkick. Bowden runs across the ring and gets some tremendous airtime on the dropkick he hits through the ropes and into the face that was hung upside down on the opposite side. The kick hits with enough force to break Teiji’s grip on the cables and send him collapsing….TO THE APRON.
Sparkles: It was that close…THAT CLOSE! Teiji went over the top…..
Frankie: But his feet never hit that ground, did they!?!
Sparkles: No, they didn’t, and per the rules of this match, the bout goes on.
Greyson: We’ll be seeing a lot of near eliminations just like that one in the Rumble two weeks from now.
Teiji once again grabs the ropes and keeps hold of them even when he’s hit with another dropkick. Bowden runs across the ring, leaps to the perpendicular cables and springs off into a twisting dropkick aimed at Teiji’s face. The kick connects and causes Teiji’s grip to be broken on the ropes, his arms now swinging out to his sides as he leans back from the apron.
Teiji is DANGEROUSLY close to falling all the way to the floor and Bowden is going to make sure his opponent takes that plunge. He runs into the perpendicular ropes and springs from the middle strand, twisting into another dropkick. His boots travel towards Teiji’s face, only they just barely miss the jaw they were targeted for. With a mere second to spare Teiji ducks his head and Bowden’s boots go flying over his head. In fact, Bowden’s whole body goes flying over Teiji.
Bowden unintentionally flies to the outside of the ring, but not to the floor. He lands on the apron, on the apron right beside Teiji. The second that Bowden gets his balance he goes racing towards his opponent, determined to drill him across the skull with a forearm. Once again Teiji ducks his head and this time he doesn’t let Bowden’s body fly over him, he CATCHES him, catches him right across his shoulders. Teiji goes for a death valley driver that would send Bowden to the floor IF it had connected. It takes quite a bit of squirming but Bowden manages to slip out of his adversary’s arms and land BACK in the ring. Teiji turns around just as Bowden dashes across the canvas with the intent of knocking the Terror to the outside mats. All of Bowden’s plans change when a fist nearly goes straight through his head. The punch that nails Bowden in the orbital socket sends him twisting down to the ring.
Within moments of Bowden landing on his elbows and knees he finds his back crushed. Teiji leaps from the apron over the top rope, turns in mid-air, lands on the middle strand of the perpendicular cables then springs back into a moonsault. He crashes right across the back of his crawling adversary, driving Bowden into the ring and driving all the oxygen out of his body.
Greyson: Teiji Shintaro with some scary flexibility.
Sparkles: What isn’t scary about this guy?
Scary isn’t even strong enough to describe the feeling that Teiji gets out of his adversaries, save for the one bold enough to step up and fight him here tonight. Now we see where that boldness has gotten Bowden. He’s lying on his back being punched again and again and again right across the forehead. The concussing shots almost fracture the bones in Bowden’s face yet he’s still struggling. Teiji likes it when they struggle. He drags Bowden to his feet, charges him at the ropes and throws him right over.
Frankie: Goodbye Bowden….
Greyson: He’s not going anywhere Frankie.
The remarkable resiliency of Bowden is displayed yet again when he catches the top rope on the way over and manages to land on the apron across his rear.
Frankie: How the fuck is he doing thi….no-no….screw that…WHY the fuck is he doing this? Who would WANT to continue fighting Teiji?
It isn’t until Teiji’s accomplice Ricky Holt shouts from the outside of the ring that the Terror realizes his opponent is STILL in this match. Teiji isn’t bothered by this, he actually LOVES it. Because now he gets to use the weapon that he just pulled from his underwear, a FORK.
Greyson: Not that damned fork. We saw what Teiji did to Tyson Galloway with it.
Frankie: We haven’t see Tyson since Teiji got through with him and we won’t see Bowden ever again after this fight is over with either.
The blades of the fork go swinging over the top rope and towards Bowden’s face. The crowd screams as they watch Bowden reach out and catch Teiji’s wrist, blocking him from completing the stab to his face. Bowden pushes the fork back from his face while pushing himself back up onto his feet. There’s only way one he’ll prevent being stabbed, and it’s by reaching back, taking Teiji around the neck and hitting him with a stunner. Teiji’s throat snaps against the top rope, and the whiplash sends him staggering back to the middle of the ring. For the first time since we’ve seen Teiji in an IWC ring, he looks disorientated. And now he’s about to look concussed when Bowden goes flying off the top rope and swings a forearm straight into his forehead. The springboard forearm smashes Teiji right between the eyes, the impact causing him to teeter on his heels. Teiji is staggering back closer and closer to the ropes. Bowden realizes this is his grand opportunity, so he rinses and repeats. He jumps to the apron and then springs to the top rope, flying off and hitting a second forearm smash. The blow lands across the bridge of Teiji’s nose and leads to even more devastating results than the last blow. Teiji falls back entirely and lands with his spine arched over the top rope.
Greyson: Teiji teetering, teetering on the brink of going over the rope.
Sparkles: Bowden is doing what no one else has, he’s stepping up to Bowden and he’s taking him down.
Bowden looks shocked that Teiji is still upright but he’ll leave his opponent even more shocked once he’s sent him flying over the ropes. Bowden goes running into the far ropes to perhaps deliver yet another flying forearm. Before he can spring to the top rope he finds an obstacle getting in his way. Ricky Holt jumps up onto the apron and starts to mouth off to Bowden only to get that mouth shut via a running big boot. The kick sends Holt flying off the apron and right back down to the mats. Bowden spends little time rejoicing in his assault on Holt, because he’s got a Nightmare to deal with. Bowden spins around towards Teiji and then goes racing towards him, only to have his adversary step out of the ropes and go for ANOTHER Asiatic Spike.
This time Bowden’s throat is NOT crushed by the Spike. He ducks under Teiji’s swing and goes running right along into the ropes behind his would-be assailant. Bowden leaps over those cables and lands on the apron before going springboard. He leaps up top and comes flying into a forearm smash. Just as his elbow is about to crush the back of Teiji’s head the Terror turns and defends himself via spewing a mist from between his teeth. Liquefied shit strikes Bowden right in the eyes, blinding him entirely.
Greyson: Ew! EW GOD!
Sparkles: Teiji spraying shit straight into Bowden’s eyes!
Frankie: He’s blinded, blinded by fucking feces!
The blind Bowden staggers around rubbing at his eyes, desperately trying to regain his vision. That won’t happen in time to prevent falling victim to his opponent’s next move. Teiji swoops in behind his visually impaired adversary, catches him by the back of the head, runs him at the ropes and throws him over. Bowden has no idea what’s happening, all he can do is feel the impact of his body against the floor mats.
Greyson: First Bowden blinded and now he’s been thrown out of the ring.
Sparkles: It looked like he was going to eliminate Teiji until he got that mist in his eyes.
Greyson: Bowden so close…sooooo close to achieving a major momentum booster headed into the Last Stand Rumble, but dammit-DAMMIT Teiji’s fecal fixation saved him in the eleventh hour.
A cackling Holt slides into the ring and comes to a rest on his knees, pointing with both fingers towards a crouching Teiji. What Holt just watched was more hilarious to him than any Hollywood comedy, his sides are almost splitting after seeing Teiji eliminate Bowden. The referee is nowhere near as amused as Holt, nor is he all that excited about being the one forced to raise Teiji’s arm in victory. Nevertheless he steps in to do his job only to have Holt cut him off, demanding the honor. Holt pushes the referee out of the ring and then takes Teiji by the wrist, lifting it as the two strike a victorious pose. A pose that is short lived. Teiji doesn’t want to celebrate, he wants to maim. He rips his arm away from Holt, turns away from his partner in crime and looks towards the still blinded Bowden outside of the ring.
Greyson: Teiji isn’t threw with Bowden yet.
Frankie: And here I thought getting shit in his eyes was the worst that Bowden was in store for here tonight.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think we’ve truly seen Teiji at his absolute worst.
Teiji is about to show just how bad he can be if he were to get his hands on Bowden. He doesn’t get the opportunity to unleash all his masochistic impulses because the moment Teiji nears the ropes that separate him from his potential victim familiar music comes blasting through the speakers and brings him to a halt. Teiji isn’t the only one who looks to the stage, Holt’s eyes are fixating on it as well. Both men find themselves surprised by the image of Johnny Kingdom, who has returned and returned in a full neck to ankle custodial uniform. He is also wearing a set of yellow elbow length rubber gloves and an oxygen mask, making sure he is completely covered so he cannot be exposed to the fecal matter that covers Teiji’s body.
Greyson: Johnny Kingdom is back and hahahaha he’s dressed for battle.
Sparkles: He’s lifted a uniform from the janitor’s closet so he’ll be ready for Teiji Shintaro.
Frankie: How dare he treat Teiji like a damned joke! I hope he doesn’t think that custodial uniform is gonna protect him.
As Teiji licks the shit from his lips Holt bends at the knees and gives Kingdom the ‘just bring it’ taunt. Kingdom isn’t holding back now that he’s properly prepared. He comes running straight for the squared circle and once he gets inside Holt and Teiji are on him like crap on Teiji’s tongue. The two men have Kingdom pinned down to his stomach and are giving him no chance to get up, subjecting him to a barrage of forearm strikes.
Frankie: I told you guys he didn’t stand a chance.
Greyson: These two are all over Kingdom.
Suddenly the number’s advantage that Holt and Teiji had on Kingdom is neutralized. Matthew Bowden has regained his vision and is rolling into the squared circle…with the RING BELL in his hands. He quickly turns it into a weapon, swinging it straight at the head of the first man he sees. That man just so happened to be Holt and Holt just so happened to realize that the shot was coming. He ducks down out of the way and then goes rolling from the squared circle. All the can do now is watch as the ring bell smacks his partner right between the eyes. Teiji is spun away from Kingdom and smacked in the face with the steel.
Sparkles: Bowden back in there with a mother fuckin’ bell!
That bell chimes a second time when it smacks the bones in Teiji’s skull. One shot should have been enough to take a normal man down, but not even two blows has managed to remove Teiji from his feet. Has it addled him? Yes, but has it knocked him down? No. Teiji is still on his feet and is now sticking his tongue out in near Gene Simmons fashion. It looks like he’s begging Bowden to hit him with the ring bell again. That’s just what Bowden does, slamming the weapon into the Terror’s guts. The blow nearly breaks a few ribs and successfully doubles Teiji over. This allows Kingdom adequate time not to just recover but to pitch in on this assault. He stands at one of Teiji’s sides and Bowden stands at the other. Both men grab Teiji by the back of the head, run him towards the ropes and throw him over.
Greyson: They did it! Kingdom and Bowden just worked together to toss Teiji Shintaro outta the ring.
Sparkles: Is that what’ll take to eliminate him come the Last Stand Rumble?
Holt doesn’t even dare try to help Teiji up. He stands at a comfortable distance and YELLS at the Terror to get up off his ass. That’s just what Teiji does, and once he’s upright he’s flipping out, attacking anything and everything at ringside. He kicks the barricade then steps towards the steel steps, slamming his forehead against them repeatedly.
Frankie: Kingdom and Bowden have just pissed off the one person on planet earth they didn’t want to upset. They had better have eyes in the back of their heads during the Rumble.
At the moment both Bowden and Kingdom only have eyes on one another. Although they just helped one another out, it appears that neither man fully trusts the other.
Cameras bring Mark Comeau into view, the correspondent standing out in front of the interview zone. There is a mesh wall behind him, much like the mesh wall that will surround Taylor Chase, Mika Kozlov and New Eden later tonight when they step inside of a Steel Cage for a 2 on 3 handicap match. Comeau has that bout and so many other things to talk about as he addresses the camera stationed in front of him.
Comeau: It has been an absolutely tumultuous evening to say the least here in the Manhattan Center tonight, and things are going to be just as out of control in two weeks at Last Stand. Right now I’ve got some blockbuster news concerning what already promises to be one of the biggest nights in professional wrestling. Not only are we going to see the Riot brand and the Uprising brand collide for the very first time in the Rumble match where one winner moves on to challenge for their brands respective World Championship in the Invictus main event, but now I’ve just learned from Karen McBride, that the Queen of Wrestling Title will also be on the line at Last Stand. Mrs. McBride has not only ordered Desmond Drake to bring the title back to the ring at Last Stand, but to FACE the rightful champion Selena Frost one on one.
A pause is taken to give the crowd time to react to this jaw-dropping news.
Comeau: And that’s not all I heard. As many of you may be aware of, two weeks ago McBride was away from Riot because she was handling very secretive contract negotiations. Well, I have it on very good authority that our Principle Owner has secured the contract of an UPRISING brand talent and said talent will be revealed at Last Stand as the newest member of the Riot roster.
As if Last Stand needed another selling point.
Comeau: Wait, there’s even more news for me….
Jackson: Get the hell out of my way!
Famed IWC grappler Jackson Adams is as red as a bottle of hot sauce. He’s never looked as furious as he looks right now as he storms past Comeau, totally nudging the correspondent aside. Comeau doesn’t interest him, but a steel chain hanging from the mesh wall of the interview set DOES. Jackson grabs that chain, pulls it down and wraps it around his knuckles before heading off in the direction of the ring. The commentators express surprise over this late arrival.
Sparkles: Did Sparkles just see Jackson Adams?
Greyson: Your eyes aren’t deceiving you, Sparkles. That WAS Jackson Adams and from the looks of it, he’s coming to the ring!
Frankie: Didn’t he learn his lesson the last time he came out here? New Eden tore him a new asshole. That makes three of them. Is he going for a fourth?
Greyson: Adams is here to presumably avenge what New Eden did to his wife two weeks ago.
The frenetic pace of the show continues. Cameras have turned from one famed IWC icon to another, arguably the ORIGINAL IWC Icon, Orlando Cruze. At the moment he is sitting in a chair in the locker-room while sliding a black pad up onto his knee. The final arrangements are being made to physically prepare himself for his Manhattan Street Fight against rival Marina Valdivia.
Watson: Hey mate.
Orlando looks towards his Monarchy stable-mate Ryan Watson, who comes strolling on along into the dressing room with his hands tucked behind his back.
Orlando: Ah, if it isn’t the biggest gobshite in professional wrestling. What can I do for you, Ryan?
Watson: No-no mate, it’s not what you can do for me, it’s what I can do for you.
Orlando rises from his chair, crosses his arms and shows some intrigue.
Orlando: Go on.
Watson: I come bearing gifts. Something that’ll help you in your fight against Marina tonight.
Finally Watson reveals what was being hidden behind his back, the very same weapon that was used to cost Marina her match two weeks ago, a pair of brass knucks. Watson slips this small, but very potent weapon into Orlando’s palm.
Orlando: How thoughtful.
Ryan: I’m a thoughtful fella.
Riot returns from commercial break to find the holder of the most prestigious prize in all of professional wrestling in a position that no one wants to see her in. The World Champion Katelyn Buehler is laid out supine on a stretcher, trying to wrap herself around her badly injured arm. Stood at her side is a very concerned Dan Douglas and an equally as worried Destiny Nichols, Katelyn’s agent and best friend looking on despondently. They get pushed back by the EMTS who are working desperately to save Katelyn’s mutilated arm.
EMT: We need space to work.
Douglas: Tell me how extensive the damage is.
EMT: We won’t know until we’ve x-rayed it.
The camera zooms in on the contorted face of the champion, her expression one of total anguish.
Greyson: Things not looking very good for Katelyn Buehler.
Sparkles: Her arm was absolutely destroyed earlier tonight by Monarchy and Mika Kozlov.
Frankie: She didn’t stand a chance in hell of retaining the title at Last Stand, now even being in hell won’t increase her odds. Her reign as champion is over.
Katelyn Buehler’s title reign and career might be over, but one man is just getting started here tonight. Jackson Adams’ theme music is playing over the loud speaker as he walks down the ramp with a steel chain glistening around his knuckles. You better believe that chain is about to bust open some skulls.
Greyson: As Katelyn Buehler gets medical help in the back, Jackson Adams may be responsible for a few more bodies being shipped to the hospital.
Frankie: If he comes out here to tangle with New Eden it’s going to be HIM getting carted off to a morgue.
Sparkles: Two weeks ago Jackson was tied to the ring ropes and forced to watch what New Eden did to his wife, Emily. He’s got some wrath on his mind.
Frankie: Oh, he’ll get wrath alright.
The chain remains around Jackson’s fist and now a microphone is squeezed in his hand as well.
Jackson: I’m not wasting any time…
Promises Adams as he walks in circles around the squared circle.
Jackson: I’m here for one reason…New Eden…I’M CALLING YOU OUT!
The fans are going nuts upon hearing this news and upon seeing the absolute fire burning in Jackson’s eyes.
Jackson: Cassidy, Serenity, Cindy Todd, all three of you, that cage (points to the steel structure hung above the ring), that’s the least of your worries tonight. The only steel you should be concerned with is THIS steel right here (lifts his chain wrapped fist). You did some horrible things to the woman I love, so now I’m gonna return the favor. Now get your asses out….
Serenity: Jacky-Jacky-Jacky boy…..you’re so wound up.
The former World Champion Serenity has just emerged from the backstage area and looks unintimidated by Jackson’s threats. Actually, she seems AMUSED by them.
Serenity: You need to cut lose.
Jackson: That’s not all I plan to cut.
Serenity: Hahahahaha, oh Jacky, didn’t you ever hear that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?
Jackson: Alright, then how about you get into this ring and…how is it you put it….LET’S PLAY.
A big ole smile sits across Serenity’s face the more verbose Adams gets with his warnings and the closer she gets to the squared circle.
Serenity: I’d love to show you a reeeeeal good time, Jacky, but I’m kind of a busy gal. My date book is all filled up tonight. I got a Cage Match to compete in against my old friend Mika, and my frenemy Tay-Tay. So as far as your challenge goes, I guess I’ll just have to decline on New Eden’s behalf. Sowwwwwy.
Serenity lifts a finger to the center of her pouting lips.
Jackson: Heh, that’s cute Serenity, real cute. It’s adorable that you actually think you have a choice in the matter. Rather it’s tonight, or at Last Stand, I WILL get my hands on you and the rest of New Eden.
Serenity mouths the words “Last Stand” in confusion.
Jackson: Yeeeeaaah, that’s right Serenity, I heard you and Cindy Todd plan on entering the Rumble at Last Stand, that you have your sights set on the World Championship. Well if you won’t face me tonight, then I WILL enter MYSELF into the Rumble and I’ll send you, I’ll send Cindy, I’ll send every member of New Eden flying over that rope unti…..
Serenity: Ugh. Fine-fine-fine….(Serenity is getting bored)….this is starting to get real old real fast. If you want New Eden that badly, then I say why the hell not?
Before Serenity heads into the ring she turns her side to the entrance ramp, gesturing for someone to come out. That someone is her New Eden stable-mate Cassidy Haze and much like Jackson Adams she doesn’t show up for a fight empty handed. In her clutches is a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire, the very same weapon that did so much damage to Jackson and to his love Emily Cage two weeks earlier.
Greyson: Has Jackson Adams just made the biggest mistake of his life?
Frankie: No question about it. Because his LIFE won’t continue after this fight is over.
Sparkles: Not if Cassidy Haze puts that barbwire board to use, the very same weapon that will be hanging over the ring during her Stairway to Hell match against Marina Valdivia at Last Stand.
Cassidy just can’t wait to use that 2×4 and will get jollies by using it on Jackson Adams. Most would run, most would cower, most would hide when seeing New Eden coming at them with barbwire in hand, but Jackson does none of those things. He stays in the ring, he bares down, and he readies himself for a fight. That’s just what he gets, Serenity and Cassidy slide into the squared circle and Jackson goes after them. His chained fist swings towards New Eden but it never connects. Serenity hits an inside leg trip on Adams, dropping him to his back. She now crawls seductively over Jackson, mounting his chest and holding his hands down to the canvas by the wrists.
Serenity: Let’s put some color in those cheeks.
That color will be blood red. Cassidy kneels over Adams and starts to grind the barbwire back and forth across his flesh.
Greyson: This is sickening.
Sparkles: This might be even worse than the beating that Katelyn Buehler got earlier on tonight.
The barbwire peels and rips and grinds the flesh from Jackson’s forehead, reopening the wounds that were created several weeks ago by this very same weapon. Blood is now pouring out of Jackson’s scalp and puddling across his face. Serenity can’t help herself, licking that blood from Jackson’s cheeks like he were an ice-cream cone. There’s only one thing that could bring an end to this depravity, and it’s the intervention of Marina Valdivia. The place comes unglued at the sight of Marina barreling down the ramp but stopping just short of the squared circle. She hesitates to enter only because she’s reaching beneath the ring and securing a weapon all her own…..a LADDER.
Greyson: Marina is here! Marina Valdivia is here to help!
Sparkles: More like to get her hands on Cassidy just two weeks before they face off in Stairway to Hell.
It won’t be Marina’s hands that connect with Cassidy.
The demented Cassidy spots Marina outside of the ring and will take full advantage of this opportunity to maim her. She steps towards the ropes still holding the 2×4 wrapped in barbwire and preparing to use it. She sticks her head through the ropes to see the blood that will come oozing from her rival’s face. And the blood will be surging, only it’s not going to come from Marina. The ladder that she just dragged from beneath the ring is rammed right into the bridge of Cassidy’s nose. The steel smacks Cassidy in the face and instantly bursts some capillaries. Cassidy falls back into the ring palming at her bent nostrils as blood comes oozing from them.
Sparkles: Oh shit…Marina just BROKE Cassidy’s nose!
Greyson: With the very same ladder that will come into play between these two in that Stairway to Hell match at Last Stand.
Frankie: This woman is just as suicidal as Jackson Adams.
Greyson: No, she’s just as sick of these sadists as Jackson Adams.
Sparkles: She has the chance to conclude her rivalry with New Eden once and for all at Last Stand.
Greyson: Yeah, but she has to put her spot in the Rumble on the line to finish that war.
It looks like we won’t have to wait until Last Stand to see that war explode. Marina slides the ladder into the ring and then rolls in herself. Serenity could go after her but instead she’s going after her own partner Cassidy, helping her out of the squared circle. The two regroup at ringside where Serenity is checking on her associate’s busted nose. Cassidy pulls her palms away from her face, looking at all the blood that is puddled upon them. The second she sees her own blood Cassidy tries to get back in the ring only to be restrained by her partner.
Serenity: Save it. (Whispering into Cassidy’s ear) Save it for the Cage (points to the steel structure hung above the ring).
Cassidy licks the blood off of her philtrum and then smiles with a row of jagged teeth. She enjoys the taste of her own blood almost as much as she’ll enjoy spilling it from Marina’s skull.
Greyson: Man it’s gonna get violent when Marina and Cassidy face off in the Stairway to Hell.
Things are about to get pretty violent right now. Jackson Adams has rolled out of the squared circle and is following New Eden up the ramp. Although he’s doubled over with blood seeping from the gashes in his face, Adams still clutches the very same steel chain he brought to the ring with him and is determined to use it.
Greyson: Jackson giving pursuit to New Eden.
Frankie: The man doesn’t need medical help, he needs a psychological evaluation.
Sparkles: What Jackson needs is to get his revenge on Serenity and Cassidy.
Marina has turned away from the departing Jackson Adams and is stooping down to pick up the ladder that she used as a very potent weapon just a few moments ago. In a symbolic manner she sets that ladder up in the center of the ring and then starts to climb it. The crowd couldn’t be any happier and more excited at the sight of Marina standing high-high-HIGH above the squared circle, giving the world a preview of what they’ll see at Last Stand.
Greyson: Marina stood at the top of that ladder.
Sparkles: Is this what we’ll see? Is this what we’ll see at Last Stand when Marina Valdivia takes on Cassidy Haze in a Stairway to Hell match?
Frankie: She had better hope so, because if Cassidy gets to the top of that ladder first, she’ll pull down the barbwire board that will be hanging above the ring and she’ll end Marina’s friggin’ career.
Greyson: At Last Stand we’re going to witness an unholy encounter between Marina and Cassidy, and if Cassidy wins then Marina is out of the Last Stand Rumble.
Sparkles: But remember that the rest of New Eden are not going to be banned from ringside during that ma……AAAAH!
Suddenly the ladder that Marina was standing at the top of starts to tip over. Marina’s eyes widen as she finds herself falling…falling from tremendous heights. She doesn’t fall to the ring, she falls even further, tumbling outside of it. She flies over the ropes and then into the floor-mats! Who does she have to thank for this career shortening plunge? Her opponent in the Manhattan Street Fight, Orlando Cruze!
Greyson: NOOO! Orlando-Orlando-Orlando Cruze, he just knocked Marina off the top of that ladder!
Frankie: Brilliant….absolutely BRILLIANT!
Sparkles: Orlando just got the drop on Marina.
Frankie: No, Marina was the one who dropped, and Orlando was the one who pushed her, hahahahaha.
Greyson: Orlando Cruze and Marina Valdivia are scheduled to compete in a Manhattan Street Fight, but can she even continue after that fall from the ladder?
MARINA VALDIVIA VS. ORLANDO CRUZE:
MANHATTAN STREET FIGHT
A frantic Orlando Cruze stands in the center of the ring gesturing to the back, calling someone out. Finally a referee comes hustling down the ramp to preside over the bout between Orlando and a helpless Marina. We find out just how defenseless Marina is when she begins to peel her own body off of the mats. In a display of sheer will and determination a defiant Marina starts to force herself up from the ground that she just took such a nasty plunge into. Although her whole body is racked with anguish Marina manages to crawl towards the apron and use it to stand up. Although Orlando could go for the kill move he opts instead to hang back in the center of the ring, letting Marina exhaust whatever energy she might have left.
Greyson: This is not the way I thought this Manhattan Street Fight would start at all.
Sparkles: It’s a shame, really it is. Marina has been dying to get her hands on Orlando and end the rivalry that has developed between the two since back in 2015.
Frankie: Well Marina’s not gonna get what she wants for once. Should we all pout and piss and moan about it?
A shit eating grin is worn on Orlando’s face as he watches Marina struggle and strain to get herself back into the ring. Amazingly she manages to pull it off, she does it, Marina gets back into the ring….and that’s about ALL she can do. She just depleted absolutely everything she had left in her body to get in the ring, which accomplished only one thing, putting herself totally at the mercy of her opponent. A smug Orlando approaches his prone opponent and then casually leans down to grab her by the hair. Something is caught…Orlando! He’s pulled down into a shocking small package pin.
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Greyson: Marina lured him in and she’s caught him!
Frankie: Unbelievable!
The ref’s hand comes dangerously close to hitting the canvas before Orlando kicks out.
Frankie: Oh God-oh God that was close, that was WAY too close.
Sparkles: Marina seconds away from scoring a shocking pinfall over Orlando.
Needless to say Orlando would have been irate had the match ended in that capacity. There’s only going to be one way it ends and it’s via the superkick that he just unleashes on the jaw of a kneeling Marina.
Frankie: SUPERKICK! The Monarchy superkick!!
Greyson: Marinas been on the receiving end of that move a few times.
Frankie: Well this will be the last time.
Orlando flings himself over Marina’s chest and hooks both of her legs.
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Once again the Phenom finds himself SHOCKED when Marina pops her shoulder up off of the canvas.
Greyson: No. Not yet. Marina is channeling everything, everything she’s got into staying alive in this Street Fight.
Orlando realizes that that’s exactly what this match is….A STREET FIGHT. He finally takes advantage of the lack of rules, grabbing the ladder that he tipped Marina off the top of and preparing to turn it into a weapon. Marina employs what she’s got left in the tank to stand up. Sadly she’s not up for long because the very top of the ladder crushes her face. Orlando runs the length of the ring with the ladder loaded up on his shoulder and eventually he smacks it across his rival’s brow.
Greyson: Marina’s face just OBLITERATED by that ladder.
Frankie: I’m betting Marina really regrets bringing that ladder into the ring now.
Sparkles: She used it to save Jackson Adams from New Eden and now it’s been turned against her in a major way.
The ladder that just destroyed Marina’s face is now tossed to the outside of the ring. Clearly Orlando thinks he doesn’t need it anymore, that he’s got Marina precisely where he wants her. He doesn’t go for a pin, he goes for something even more humiliating for his opponent, the submission. Orlando lifts Marina’s legs into the air and grins at the crowd before wrapping them around his own. A despondent Marina is rolled to her stomach where she’s placed in the sharpshooter.
Frankie: Sharpshooter clamped on, it’s over now guys.
Greyson: Marina has battled through a fall from the top of that ladder, a superkick and a blow from the ladder itself, can she endure the sharpshooter?
Sparkles: Think Marina, think about all the disrespect that Orlando has shown you since he joined Monarchy.
Greyson: And he did so seconds after Monarchy had laid Marina out.
An injured Marina summons her last vestige of will to start crawling along towards the ropes, pulling a smug Orlando behind her. He seems very amused that Marina is TRYING to escape his sharpshooter. However, Marina is doing a lot more than simply TRYING. She’s actually doing it, she’s clawing her way along towards the ropes and pulling Orlando along for the ride. Orlando doesn’t lose his smile even when he’s informed by the referee that Marina has reached the ropes.
Greyson: She’s got ‘em, she’s got the ropes.
Frankie: Hahahahaha.
Sparkles: What’s so funny Frankie?
Frankie: It doesn’t matter if Marina reached the ropes. This is a Street Fight, there are no disqualifications, that means there are no rope breaks.
Greyson: Dammit, you’re right.
The ropes provide no salvation for Marina. She remains in the sharpshooter, she remains in the worse pain of her entire life and Orlando continues to be the one who goes on inflicting it. If the ropes can’t save her then maybe there’s something outside of the ring that can. She grabs the ring apron and pulls it, managing to drag her body under the very same ropes that provided her no escape from the sharpshooter. Orlando can’t hold onto the sharpshooter now that Marina is spilling completely out of the squared circle and to the arena floor.
Greyson: In spite of not being able to use the ropes Marina has still managed to escape the sharpshooter.
Frankie: The damage is done though. There’s nothing that Marina can do to recover from that hold.
The wear and tear of the submission is evident as Marina languishes at ringside. Orlando takes his sweet time pursuing her. He steps to the apron, yawns with indifference and then leaps into a double axehandle. He smashes Marina right over the lower back, driving what fight she had left out of her body. Instead of concentrating on injury, Orlando focuses on insult. He blows a snot rocket down onto Marina’s back and then reaches past her, grabbing something from beneath the squared circle. That something is a TABLE.
Greyson: First ladders, now a table.
Sparkles: Orlando pulling no punches, he’s bringing out all the heavy artillery.
Greyson: He has to, he can’t afford to let Marina get back into this contest.
The table that is now set up at ringside will be used to ensure that Marina cannot even get out of the gates in this contest. Orlando drags his opponent ono the apron and now stands over his damn near unresponsive adversary, taking his time as he systematically dissects her. With that ever present smug smirk on Orlando’s face he puts Marina in a back drop suplex position, intent on using that move to put her through the table at ringside. Once again Cruze yawns as he lifts Marina into the air, prepares to use the suplex but then finds his move thwarted and in the most destructive manner one could possibly imagine. Just as Marina is loaded onto Orlando’s shoulder she turns her body around, applies a front chancery on her adversary and counters into a TORNADO DDT….a tornado DDT that pulls Orlando off the apron and puts his head through the table.
Frankie: WHAT THE HELL!?!
Greyson: DDT! DDT through a table!
Sparkles: Orlando’s head crashing through that wood at ringside!
The fans are awe stricken by what they just saw, Orlando’s face splitting the wood. He lies unconsciously right beside Marina, who hasn’t moved since she delivered that last move. Finally she starts to budge, getting up and grabbing Orlando around the neck in the process. All the muscles in her body are strained in order to return Orlando into the squared circle where she can go for the pin.
Greyson: This is it, Marina going for the cover on a man she once admittedly respected.
Frankie: Some way to show your respect, first she DDTS him through a table knowing he has a history of head injuries, and now she’s humiliating him with this pin.
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The crowd stops counting along because they now let out a huge sigh at the sight of Orlando rolling his shoulder from the canvas. Marina starts to crawl away from her opponent before she suddenly comes to a sudden stop. She sees something, something that has her mesmerized, and that something is a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire.
Frankie: Oh no. Don’t you dare.
Greyson: Marina locking her eyes on that barbwire board that Cassidy Haze left in the ring a few moments ago.
Sparkles: She’s gonna carve herself up a Phenom.
Frankie: Do something ref.
Greyson: It’s no disqualification, Frankie, you reminded us of that fact just a few moments ago.
Orlando is fighting through a potential concussion as he slowly ascends to his feet, having no idea that he might be walking into a blow from the barbwire board. Marina has the weapon in hand and is staring to swing at her rival. However, at the last second the board is torn right out of Marina’s hands. She whips around and angrily glares into the face of Monarchy’s Ryan Watson.
Greyson: Damn you Ryan Watson!
Frankie: The Gobshite strikes again!
Sparkles: He’s been all over the place helping Monarchy out here tonight.
Frankie: What a great team-player.
Marina pulls her fist back to knock Watson out but he’s already clearing from the ring and doing so with the barbwire bat. He walks up the ramp lifting the board above his head, pointing at Marina and antagonizing her.
Sparkles: Watson taking the barbwire board to the back and making sure Marina can’t use it.
A flustered Marina turns away from the departing Watson and into the incoming superkick. Orlando unleashes yet another kick aimed at Marina’s head but this one fails to connect. Marina dives under the kick, catches Orlando around the thigh and pulls him down into the school boy.
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Frankie: AAAAAH!
Greyson: Did Marina sneak in and pick up the pin?
Orlando doesn’t let the match end that way, lobbing his shoulders from the ring. He kicks out with such authority that it sends Marina twisting along into the ropes then falling against them for support. Her legs can barely hold her upright, her whole body just wanting to go down. That’s exactly what Marina does, she falls to the ring in order to hit a rolling thunder. She comes down back first right across the canvas. She had been targeting Orlando’s chest but she missed on account of her opponent sitting up in the nick of time to avoid being crushed. Marina hits the ring with enough force to send her flipping over onto her elbows and knees. She starts to get up just as Orlando comes running in at her side, catching her by the head and pulling her around into the swinging neck-breaker. With little time to spare Marina manages to pluck her head right out of Orlando’s arms then turn to face his spine. She puts her hands to Orlando’s back and gives him a shove, sending him charging into a chest first crash against the turnbuckle. Orlando manages to hold onto the very same corner he just collided with and now he begins to fidget with the padding around the top rope.
Orlando is so preoccupied with the turnbuckle that he doesn’t see Marina going for another rolling thunder. She flies out of it into a big splash aimed at Orlando’s back, but it’s not the spine of her opponent that she connects with. Orlando manages to side step Marina, who goes flying past him and into the corner, where the top turnbuckle bolt has just been exposed.
Greyson: Marina’s face is gonna hit that bolt!
Sparkles: No, she caught herself-she caught herself right before she smashed into the steel!
Amazingly Marina lands on the middle rope and avoids a face first impact with the turnbuckle bolt. What she can’t avoid is what Orlando has in store for her next. He runs in behind Marina and catches her around the waist, dragging her off the middle rope she had been standing on and into the German suplex. Amazingly in mid-air Marina manages to flip herself completely over, landing on her feet. Orlando has no idea that Marina turned things around, he’s standing up tapping his temple and implying that he’s the smartest man in the building. His intelligence might drop a few IQs when he turns around and finds himself on the receiving end of a big splash that drives his back right into the turnbuckle bolt he exposed moments earlier.
Orlando bounces off the bolt, twisting away from it so that his back is aimed towards the ring that his shoulders are now being dragged to. Marina catches him around the head and drops into the reverse DDT.
Sparkles: Orlando hitting that turnbuckle bolt and if that wasn’t bad enough he staggered right along into that reverse DDT.
Greyson: He brought it on himself.
Frankie: Orlando HAS to do underhanded things to save himself, because from the moment that bell rang Marina has recklessly been targeting his head. And we all know how Orlando has a well-documented history of head injuries.
Both Marina and Orlando look like they’ve seen far better days but they continue to carry on. A fatigued Marina gets to her feet with the aid of the ropes and then drops into the rolling thunder. She comes crashing down straight across Orlando’s rib-cage, hitting the move successfully this time. Orlando grips at his mid-section, feeling like he’s in worse pain than he’s ever been. Nevertheless he gets back to his feet just as Marina swoops in, takes him around the neck and points at the turnbuckle. There’s quite the reaction as Marina runs at the corner where the turnbuckle bolt has been exposed, steps up and pushes off into yet another tornado DDT. But Orlando pulls off an improbable counter, using his remaining strength to SHOVE Marina off her front chancery. She is sent flying back to the middle of the ring where she lands on her feet. Marina then finds her wrist caught and her body being Irish Whipped right into the exposed turnbuckle bolt. Marina’s face cracks against the bolt and the impact leaves her absent mindedly stumbling back into Orlando’s German suplex. He keeps the bridge applied to score the win
Greyson: Marina’s face into the bolt and now her body into the German suplex!
Frankie: Chalk up another win for Monarchy.
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There is a somber reaction to Marina being pinned….but that reaction changes to an exhilarated outburst when Marina gets her shoulder up. The shaking fingers of Orlando are cupping his face as he tries to come to terms with the fact that Marina just kicked out. Finally he manages to overcome his aggravation, leave the ring and then return to it with not one, but two steel chairs in his clutches. Orlando opens those chairs and sets them up side by side.
Greyson: The wheels in Orlando’s head are turning….
Sparkles: Desperation is setting in.
Greyson: And desperation makes people do desperate as well as DESTRUCTIVE things.
Destruction is evidently on Orlando’s mind as he pulls Marina up from the ring and throws her into the ropes. He catches her coming back in with a Samoan Drop, about to plant her back through the chairs. Such calamity is avoided when Marina slips around Orlando’s shoulders and manages to counter into a sunset flip. Unfortunately she can’t get Orlando to drop to his back so that she can pin his shoulders to the ring. He has his feet rooted to the ring and isn’t about to be rolled up. The only thing that goes down are Orlando’s hands, reaching through his legs, grabbing Marina by the throat then using his immense strength to deadlift her from the canvas. Orlando keeps lifting, throwing Marina up into the air and then catching her on top of his shoulders. It appears that he’s going to hit that Samoan Drop through the chairs no matter what. Once again Marina blocks the move from connecting by driving her elbow repeatedly into Orlando’s temple. The blows finally cause Orlando to let her go, Marina dropping down behind him.
Orlando swings around to behead her with the clothesline but Marina manages to duck the attempted lariat then run into the ropes. Marina springs off the middle cable, turns in mid-air and comes flying right into Orlando…right into Orlando’s shoulders. He catches her with a Samoan Drop….into the chairs!
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHA! Yes! YES!!
Greyson: Marina DRIVEN Into those chairs!
Frankie: Someone get Marina a toe tag.
Marina rolls out of the wreckage of chairs and to the center of the ring. Somehow she’s still moving, but she might not be moving for very much longer. Orlando goes old-school, climbing the far corner and balancing himself on the top rope. A badly wounded Marina works her way up from the ring and walks right into the CRUZE MISSILE.
A missile dropkick nails Marina straight in the chest and the impact sends her back flipping completely over before coming down on her face.
Greyson: CRUZE MISSILE!
Frankie: Orlando ending this match in grand fashion.
Although he’s all banged up Orlando can still smile, grinning with the realization that victory is in his hands. He crawls into the cover.
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The crowd is screaming louder than ever, all because Marina defied expectations once again by KICKING OUT. Neither Orlando nor the crowd can quite believe that Marina just got her arm up again. Orlando is so mad you can almost see steam spouts shooting out of either of his nostrils. He aggressively rips Marina off the ring and into the stiffest uranage slam he has EVER unleashed. Marina isn’t just driven down onto the back of her head, she’s almost put right through the damned ring. Orlando follows this absolutely deadly urange with a hook of the leg.
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If Orlando had hair it would end up clumped in the palms of his hands because Marina just now got a shoulder up once again. Orlando crawls to the middle of the ring and pounds the side of his fist against the canvas. The snarling Phenom at last settles on a course of action that should end this battle. He pulls Marina into the corner sits her there and then places a chair across her face. Orlando slowly backs away from her, stomping his foot as he lines up a superkick on the chair that is placed in front of his adversary’s skull.
Frankie: So many plastic surgeons are gonna be pissed, because that surgically altered face is about to be crushed.
Greyson: Orlando has been so close to winning this Street Fight on a number of occasions in this match, will a superkick into the chair at last do it?
Orlando gets a running start behind his superkick only to stop in mid-kick when Marina rolls out of harm’s way. She ends up on the apron and unbeknownst to her angry opponent, she does so with the steel chair in hand. Orlando comes running towards the cables that separate him from his opponent, but now a chair separates them as well. The steel flies towards Orlando’s face only to be caught, plucked out of the air before it could rearrange his features. Just as Orlando starts to count his blessings his priorities change to counting his teeth. Marina leaps to the top rope, flies off and hits a dropkick right into the chair that Orlando was holding in front of his face. The impact sends the Monarchy member unconsciously staggering back into the ring. To the astonishment of everyone in the arena Orlando remains on his feet as he ricochets off the ropes and walks right into the boot to his gut followed by a DDT into the chair laid out on the canvas. Orlando’s head bounces off the chair and causes him to pop up to his knees, a position his opponent takes advantage of. Marina runs in and hits a hurricarana driver on her adversary’s head, slamming the top of his head right into the chair once again.
Greyson: Incredible combination….
Sparkles: Incredibly DEADLY combination.
Frankie: See, I told you, Marina is trying to KILL Orlando.
Greyson: His head isn’t made of glass.
At the moment it feels like Orlando’s skull has been broken like glass, his skull left in fragments after all these slams into the chair. He rolls to his back and Marina seems at peace with finishing him off. She takes the chair that has served her so faithfully over the past few moments then places it on Orlando’s chest. Marina digs deeper than she’s ever dug in order to climb to the apron then go springing to the top rope. She is just about to come flying off before she sees her opponent rolling out from under the chair. Marina is unable to hit whatever bone breaking move she had strategized. She comes off the cables but not with a leap. She lands on the canvas feet first and then goes charging towards her adversary, who has to employ the ropes to hold himself up. She finds out that her opponent was maybe not as prone as he was letting on. She finds this out when she runs into his boot, Orlando hitting her under the jaw with a superkick.
The shot causes Marina to go twisting away from Orlando, eyes rolling to the back of her skull. A banged up Orlando steps in and takes Marina around the waist, looking to follow up the superkick with another brutal German suplex. Orlando lifts Marina into the air but finds out he didn’t lift her fast enough. Marina manages to reverse his suplex by falling forward towards the canvas.
Nope, Orlando won’t let her do it. He takes her around the waist and lifts her right back up into a wheelbarrow suplex. Sadly he can only get her up to his chest before he finds out that she was holding a steel chair in her hands, a chair she grabbed off the ring and a chair she is swinging back over her head. The steel slams against Orlando’s face, resulting in him being unable to block Marina from dragging him down into a roll up. She’s seated on his chest and holding him down by the creases of his knees.
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Marina feels victory in her clutches but she no longer feels Orlando’s knees in her hands. Orlando kicks out once again.
Greyson: Another close fall there. What a NAIL BITTER this has been.
Sparkles: It’s definitely been a white knuckle thrill ride thus far.
It isn’t easy but Marina gets to her feet and walks into the corner, leaning on it for support. Finally she finds the energy to start climbing and climbing closer to the top of the turnbuckle. The California Splash is going to make a hell of an impact on her beleaguered opponent. She’s on the top rope with her back still aimed in Orlando’s direction. She comes off the top rope, but it isn’t into the 450 splash. To a jaw dropping response Orlando pops to his feet and pops up the corner Marina is standing on and then pops off with a top rope German suplex. Marina is sent flipping across the length of the ring before ultimately right on her face.
Greyson: Top rope! Top rope! Top rope GERMAN SUPLEX!
Sparkles: That killed her! It friggin killed her.
Greyson: But how much did it take out of Orlando Cruze in the process?
Apparently Orlando has enough to grab a steel chair and place it over the back of Marina’s head. He lunges into the air and then stomps down at the chair, shattering Marina’s skull beneath it.
Frankie: That was just nasty…I love it!
While Marina is convulsing, Orlando is ascending. His body is warn to a frazzle but that’s not going to stop him from climbing the turnbuckle.
Greyson: When do we ever see Orlando do this?
Frankie: Maybe he’s going for the Cruze Missile.
Sparkles: Sparkles wouldn’t doubt it, it almost got him the win a few moments ago.
Orlando shouldn’t be able to stand at this point but he’s not just standing he’s standing on the top rope. Although he’s in unfamiliar territory on the top rope it doesn’t stop him from lifting fingers into the air then rotating them around one another, signaling for….a 450 SPLASH?
Greyson: Excuse me a moment while I GAG.
Frankie: Don’t worry. I’ve dated a lot of women who have that problem. But it’s mostly when my dick is in their mo….
Greyson: ANYWAY. It looks like Orlando is not only about to pin Marina, he’s gonna do it with her own California Splash.
Frankie: Is there anything that Orlando CAN’T do?
Sparkles: Seamlessly pull off a mullet?
Not only is Orlando going to deliver a 450 but he’s going to do it onto the chair that is still draped across the back of his adversary’s head. Laughter comes from Cruze as he descends into a 450 that is going to potentially crack Marina’s skull. He hits the chair, but he didn’t hit the skull that WAS under it. Marina pulls away at the last second, causing Orlando’s chest to snap when it strikes steel.
Frankie: Damn you Marina!
Sparkles: She got out of the way! She got clear from the 450.
That’s not all Marina is doing, she rolls into the very same corner that Orlando just came flipping out of. Within a few moments Marina is on the top of that turnbuckle before she comes flying off of it into the 450…..She’s hurdling towards Orlando with the California Splash. And she hits….that is her face hits the brass knuckles that Orlando just slipped onto his fist. From his back he swings his brass knucks into Marina;s forehead, knocking her unconscious on impact.
Greyson: The brass knucks!
Sparkles: The very same weapon Monarchy used to pin Marina two weeks ago!
Frankie: I don’t remember knucks being used two weeks ago, but they were totally legal in this street fight.
Orlando crawls painstakingly into the cover on Marina, hooking the creases of her knees.
Greyson: This is disgusting. I’m sick at the thought of Marina falling victim to this twice.
Frankie: The GOLDEN girl fails to beat Monarchy again.
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Once again the power of Monarchy has been displayed, but on this night that power wasn’t sufficient enough to keep Marina’s shoulders down to the canvas. A split second before the three Marina gets her shoulder off the ring.
Sparkles: God in heaven! God….in….heaven.
Greyson: I am literally speechless.
As is the crowd, who find it difficult to get their jaws up off the floor after witnessing Marina getting her shoulder up even after suffering a blow from the brass knuckles. Orlando is so beside himself he’s literally having an out of body experience. He strains what strength remains in the depths of his body in order to stand up with a handful of Marina’s hair in his hand. With one hand he pulls Marina up to her knees, with the other he clinches his fist around his pair of brass knuckles.
Orlando takes a moment to savor this, truly basking in the barbarism he’s going to unleash on Marina’s face. He swings around with the brass knuckles cracking Marina right in the cheek. The shot knocks her flat on her back. Unconsciously she rolls away from Orlando and in the direction of the corner, her arms falling over the ropes. Orlando snags her by the back of the head, forces her up to her feet and then drags her to the middle of the ring where he prepares to bust her in the softest part of the skull with the brass knuckles. He swings but not fast enough to avoid Marina’s counter…in the form of a mule kick that nails Orlando right in the crotch.
Greyson: A kick straight in the balls!
Frankie: That cheating filth!
Greyson: It’s aaall legal in a Street Fight, Frankie.
The blow to the groin has caused Orlando to drop the brass knuckles so he can cup his hands around his balls. He jumps around clasping at his swollen dick but he should have been using his hands to protect another head. As Orlando turns back towards his opponent he realizes that his brass knuckles have found their way around Marina’s fist. She nails a punch right between Orlando’s eyes, the brass knuckles busting him in the skull.
Greyson: Brass knuckles right between Orlando’s eyes!!
Marina doesn’t stop there, dropping the brass knuckles and then falling into the nearby turnbuckle. Every muscle in her body feels like it weighs hundreds and hundreds of pounds as she gets to the top rope then comes flying out of it. She hurdles into Orlando’s body with the force of a meteorite hitting the earth. The California Splash connects across Orlando’s ribs and drives every last bit of fight out of him.
Greyson: The California Splash! It connected! It finally connected!
Sparkles: After Orlando took that shot from the knucks right in the face.
It takes whatever Marina has left to hook Orlando’s legs.
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The crowd is going absolutely apeshit, monkey-balls mad at the sight of Marina scoring yet another in a series of career defining victories.
Greyson: What….a…..battle.
Marina ends up on her back with her hands on her jaw and one arm raised in victory. Her body is depleted of energy and totally drained of strength, yet she has to do it, she has to enjoy the personal validation she feels as a result of this victory. She crawls into the corner, uses it to stand and then pumps her fists out to her sides. Meanwhile Orlando is being helped out of the ring by his Monarchy brethren Ryan Watson. The second that Watson tries to get into the ring and attack an unsuspecting Marina, Orlando grabs him by the wrist and keeps him from doing it. He now blows off Marina and almost trips over his own feet when staggering up the ramp.
Greyson: It was a hell of a fight between Marina and Orlando tonight but in the end….
Frankie: Marina cheats her way to a win.
Greyson: Rather you want to accept reality or not, Frankie, Marina has just defeated a Phenom.
Sparkles: Just think of how much momentum she’ll carry into Last Stand.
Cameras cut from Marina as she enjoys a well-deserved celebration and to the cage that is hanging above her.
Greyson: Well it’s hard to believe, but this roller coaster is almost over.
Sparkles: Marina celebrating her win, and who is going to be celebrating after the 3 on 2 Steel Cage match?
Frankie: I don’t think anyone is going to be in any type of shape to celebrate once Tay and Mika have taken on New Eden in that satanic structure.
Greyson: Taylor Chase and Mika Kozlov team up against Serenity, Cassidy Haze and Cindy Todd in a Steel Cage.
Douglas: Where are you going?
Not very far.
Katelyn Buehler employs all the boxes and crates lining the walls in order to limp along down the corridor that leads to the squared circle. All of the injuries that were inflicted on her earlier in the night by Mika Kozlov and Taylor Chase make it impossible to stand, let alone walk, especially into a battle. In the background we can see her agent Dan Douglas and her friend Destiny Nichols trailing behind her, desperately trying to reason with the World Champion. They get just as far as Katelyn does.
Douglas: WHERE…ARE YOU…GOING!?!
Katelyn: Not to the hospital.
Douglas reaches out for her good arm but Katelyn pulls it away.
Katelyn: And I’m not going anywhere with YOU.
The incendiary tone of the champion leaves Douglas…confused.
Katelyn: You….you promised me….
Douglas: What are you talking about?
Katelyn: You promised me you’d never lie to me.
Douglas: I never….
His eyes veer towards Destiny, who was very quiet for a reason. She tries to hide the guilty expression on her face, but Douglas can read her body language.
Douglas: What did you tell her?
Katelyn: What you wouldn’t.
Katelyn tries to make it one step further but almost falls.
Douglas: (Trying to catch Katelyn) Let me help you.
Katelyn: (Pushing away) I’ve had enough of your help.
Douglas: That’s all I was trying to do….
Katelyn: By programming me to AMBUSH Lexy?
Douglas: I-I-I had my reasons….I’m sorry….
Katelyn: I won’t be. If Tay and Mika are gonna be in that cage, then I’m gonna be in there with them.
Douglas: Look-look-look at your arm. It’s damn near shattered! You can’t go out there.
Katelyn: I ‘can’t?’ I thought we had this discussion before, Dan. You don’t tell me what I can and can’t do.
Although the act of standing is downright debilitating Katelyn manages to do it. She walks with determination down the hallway, leaving Douglas stood in the background burying his lips behind the side of his fist.
Douglas: Tallahassee….
Douglas opens the fist he had clinched and pressed to his lips, allowing a golden talisman to hang down from his palm by a chain. The word he just uttered has a transformative effect on the World Champion. She comes to an abrupt halt, her whole body suddenly paralyzed save for the giant smile that is coming to her cheeks. Douglas gives Destiny a frown before he approaches Katelyn and brings his hand to a rest on her shoulder.
Douglas: You’re not going anywhere near that ring tonight.
Katelyn: Of course I’m not, why would I?
Douglas: And you’re going to forget everything that Destiny just told you.
Katelyn: Already forgotten.
The trainer’s office comes into view where someone is tucked away inside receiving some medical assistance. We get a bit more clarity as to the identity of whomever is inside of said room when the door opens and Taylor Chase comes stepping out. A frown is worn on her face upon being greeted in the hallway by the last person she would expect to take such a vested interest in her well-being. Her sister Mika Kozlov is stood just off to the side of the room that Tay just vacated, leaning with her back to the wall and the jagged points of her nails raised in front of her face, examining the small slivers of flesh beneath them.
Mika: Is your man-meat still in one piece?
Taylor: Don’t worry about Lando, he’s a quick healer. Let’s just hope that Cindy, Cassidy and Serenity….aren’t.
Mika: Let us make them feel even worse than Pasty Katie.
Taylor: It’s finally time for the family reunion….
Tay walks off towards the ring where New Eden will be waiting for her inside of a Steel Cage. Mika lingers behind in the hall, making one final comment before the match can get underway, a comment that she couldn’t make in her sister’s company.
Mika: Oh yes….it’s time.
The squared circle is surrounded by four walls of intimidating steel mesh. The demonic structure is prepared and five bodies are about to be locked inside of it.
Sparkles: Guys, it’s cage match time.
Greyson: I’m nervous….very-very nervous.
Frankie: Yeah, my stomach is churning as we speak, and for once it’s not because of White Castles.
Greyson: This has been building for several weeks now, Mika Kozlov and Taylor Chase have been growing closer and closer together as they head into their triple threat World Title match against Katelyn Buehler. Unfortunately that reconciliation between these long estranged sisters has put them on a collision course with the group New Eden.
Sparkles: Cindy Todd has been adamant about bringing Mika back into her group and it led to an INCINDIARY situation earlier tonight.
Greyson: Mika Kozlov saved Tay from a New Eden assault by tossing a fireball in Cindy’s face. At last confirming where her allegiances are, and there with Taylor Chase.
Sparkles: Let’s see how strong that bond is between Tay and Mika when they face New Eden three on two inside of the cage.
MIKA KOZLOV & TAYLOR CHASE VS. NEW EDEN:
STEEL CAGE HANDICAP MATCH
The tunes of ‘Judge & Jury’ are amplified by the PA system, causing a twinge of terror to be exhibited by the audience. They shudder with fear at the sight of Serenity leading New Eden down the ramp and into a cage. As Serenity slithers along she’s followed by Cassidy Haze, who hasn’t bothered to plug her busted nostrils, blood still seeping down into her mouth. Of course Cassidy isn’t the only one who is carrying a few wounds into this contest. A bandage remains crudely wrapped around half of Cindy Todd’s face, protecting the scorched flesh that is hidden beneath it. Neither Cindy nor Cassidy care about their injuries, they only care about getting their hands on Taylor Chase and Mika Kozlov within the confines of the cage. Once inside of the steel structure Serenity climbs to the very top of one of the walls and throws her leg over. She shows no fear of heights or of the challenge set to face her.
Greyson: New Eden are in a…mood.
Sparkles: This night hasn’t gone the best for Cindy Todd and company.
Greyson: Not only is Cindy coming into this match with burnt flesh, but Cassidy Haze has a potentially broken nose after having a ladder driven into it by Marina Valdivia.
Frankie: I hear that Cindy’s burns aren’t serious but I still fear that these three are going to channel all their pain and all their anger into the beating they’ll give my girl Tay and my back-up babe Mika Kozlov.
Greyson: Oh, I would count on a beating coming Kozlov’s and Tay’s way.
Cindy paces the ring with just one of her eyes visible beneath her bandaging, and that eye is locked on the stage. She refuses to blink until she sees her opponents in this cage bout. She won’t have to wait long.
The tunes of ‘Boss’s Daughter’ come blaring through the arena and in a rare display of solidarity, Taylor Chase AND Mika Kozlov emerge from the back TOGRTHER. To show that they are TRULY united the long-time rivals but almost life-long adoptive sisters interlock hands and start to skip together towards the cage.
Greyson: This is almost too far-fetched to believe. Mika and Tay being on the same page, it’s mind boggling.
Frankie: I know, that’s like Mohammed Ali and Smoking Joe Frazier getting on the same page, or Lindsey Lohan getting on the same page with sobriety.
Greyson: The last time these two were in a cage with one another they were tearing each other apart as opponents. That makes it even harder to believe that they’ll walking into THIS cage as partners.
Sparkles: New Eden will definitely test the strength of that bond. Remember Tay scored a shocking pin when she took on Cassidy and Serenity earlier tonight in a triple threat match, that can’t be sitting well with New Eden at all.
Tay determinedly marches up the steel steps and is the first to enter the cage with three of the most sadistic women in professional wrestling. Mika takes the honors of holding the cage door open for her sister and watching with pride as Tay marches into the ring.
Sparkles: That’s nice of Mika to hold that cage door open for her sister. She knows how badly Tay wants New Eden.
Greyson: Tay really wants to rip New Eden apart after the way they assaulted her after that match you mentioned, Sparkles.
Frankie: She’s about to get a piece and so….uhhhh….I think Mika might be confused.
The cage door that Mika was holding open Mika is now closing. The only problem is, she’s still OUTSIDE of the cage when she closes said door.
Mika: Oooooh sestra…
Tay was so focused on the three women in the ring with her that she wasn’t paying attention to her sister outside of it. Not until she hears the door behind her back slam shut and the sounds of mesh clanking against steel. Tay whips around just in time to see Mika remove a padlock from her tights and using it to bar the cage door.
Taylor: (Looking through the mesh that separates her from her ‘partner’) What are you doing?
Mika: Relax sestra. (Walking away from the cage) You got this….hehehehehe.
Mika winks at her sister and then waves goodbye, moving from the cage that she just locked Taylor inside of.
Greyson: Oh no….oooooh no.
Sparkles: Did Mika just….?
Greyson: She just locked Taylor inside of that cage with New Eden and now she’s abandoning her.
Frankie: Where are you going Mika!?! You’re supposed to be Tay’s partner. She’s counting on you!
Sparkles: Mika has just fed her sister to the wolves.
Greyson: This was all a set-up! A set-up cleverly orchestrated by Kozlov.
A laughing Mika backs up the ramp waving goodbye to Tay and then blowing her a kiss. Taylor frantically shakes the door to the cage, trying to break the lock that has just trapped her in the confines of the steel structure with three blood thirsty opponents. Cindy wants to get her hands on Mika, but she’ll indulge her cravings for chaos by ripping the flesh from Tay’s body. She, Serenity and Cassidy inch forward from their corner of the ring and like a pack of wolves they begin to surround their prey. Finally Tay turns away from the door and to the feral beasts that urge to devour her.
Frankie: What have you done Mika!?! What’s wrong with you!!??!!
Greyson: It would be easier to ask what’s ‘right’ with Mika.
Sparkles: She’s locked her own sister in that cage with three deranged psychopaths, three deranged psychopaths that Mika whipped up into a frenzy. Mika planned this out masterfully.
Tay breaths heavy as the realization sets in that she’s all on her own with New Eden. She tentatively backs away from the ladies and finds herself getting closer and closer to the corner. New Eden are drawing nearer, enjoying the smell of her fear.
Taylor: WAIT!
Begs Tay while holding her palms out in front of her.
Taylor: I did promise a FAMILY REUNION tonight.
The moment Tay finishes her sentence two figures start towards the cage. From opposite ends of the crowd two ladies have emerged. Before anyone has time to react to their arrival these women are jumping onto either side of the cage and scaling the walls.
Greyson: Wait-wait-wait, is that-is that….
Frankie: It’s Madison Chase! It’s-it’s Cameron Chase! It’s-it’s Tay-Tay’s biological sisters!
Sparkles: Holy smoking macaroni!
The fans are absolutely flipping out as they realize that THIS was the family reunion Tay had been promising throughout the evening. And what a reunion it’s going to be. Madison reaches the top of the cage at the same time as Cameron, yet neither lady stays up there for long. They are descending into the ring where Tay is waiting for her sisters.
The roles have suddenly been reversed, New Eden going from surrounding Tay to being surrounded themselves. Instead of expressing fear in the face of danger, New Eden revels in it.
Serenity: Play time!
Serenity and Madison meet in the middle of the ring exchanging punches.
Cassidy and Cameron meet in the middle of the ring exchanging punches.
Cindy and Taylor meet in the middle of the ring exchanging punches.
Punches are just flying everywhere and connecting with everyone as this brawl consumes the CAGE.
Greyson: Who thought the night would end like this?
Sparkles: It’s a brawl….a friggin brawl between New Eden and the Chase sisters.
Frankie: What a chaotic, and SEXY way to end this week’s Riot.
Greyson: What does all of this mean for Last Stand? We’ll find out in TWO WEEKS on pay-per-view!
FADE TO BLACK
Riot42
Who doesn’t love a little Riot brand chaos? If that doesn’t float your boat, you’d be advised to switch over to something far tamer by comparison, like a Clive Barker movie or a film with Kane Hodder in the starring role. Because to the delight of sociopaths and anarchy enthusiasts worldwide this bi-weekly installment of Riot commences with a close up of a 2×4 enveloped in a spool of barbwire. It hangs via cable above the wrestling ring. The commentating trio provide an explanation as well as enhance the foreboding sight of this weapon dangled from on high.
Greyson: We’re underway with the latest edition of RIOT, and we’re not pulling any punches.
Frankie: Let me give the fans the skinny on what’s going on here, cause ya’ know my voice can set anyone at ease and make them weak in the knees. Tonight, we’re opening the show with a special preview of the Stairway to Hell match set to go down at our next pay-per-view Last Stand.
Sparkles: At the pay-per-view it’s going to be New Eden’s Cassidy Haze versus Marina Valdivia, tonight though it’s gonna be Cassidy one on one with her very own sister Emily Cage, and that collision will be under Stairway to Hell rules as well.
Greyson: These siblings collide in a Stairway to Hell match, and don’t go anywhere, cause that contest is…NEXT.
”Cut the Cord” by Shinedown plays in the background while a video package bombards the screen. An overhead shot, footage presumably provided by a drone, of a burning city skyline is the first in a string of violent imagery. Cut to IWC competitor Marina Valdivia walking down a street, navigating her way through burning and defaced vehicles. The scene switches over to a boiler-room where one can see the massive gloved fist of Miss Jon swinging across her wide abdomen and slapping into her palm. The visual that follows is of legend Orlando Cruze in the ring superkicking Tabitha Silverstone.
Another quick clip takes viewers to a playground in the dead of night. Mika Kozlov is seated on a warped, rusted and ashen carousel. It twists in a chillingly slow fashion with Mika’s legs dangling over the side. The video cuts to another location, the wrestling ring where Teiji Shintaro is mutilating the face of his victim Tyson Galloway by twisting a fork in his flesh. The following scene features Katelyn Buehler walking away from a building before the structure explodes into a ball of flame right behind her back. Back to the interior of the arena where we see Andre Jordan hitting a crossbody on Orlando Cruze that drives both men down through tables.
A graveyard is brought into view where numerous tombstones have been marked with graffiti. One such tombstone has Serenity seated on top it with a can of spray-paint shaking in her hand. The footage switches to Matthew Bowden coming off a corner with a corkscrew splash. The video then transitions into Taylor Chase standing on top of a ruined vehicle that has presumably been demolished by the crowbar that is flung back over her shoulder. Her focus isn’t on the car that’s been decimated, instead it’s on the freshly painted fingernails she’s blowing on.
Mya Denton is the next athlete featured as she delivers the shining wizard on a defenseless therapist trapped in the center of the ring. That image is short lived, replaced now by a clip of Karen, Melanie and Blaire McBride stood shoulder to shoulder around the flames that are rising from an old oil drum. The shot cuts to the squared circle where Cassidy Haze is smacking her own sister Emily in the face with a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire. The final image is from a police station that has been left in total ruin. All of the holding cells are open and there is no sight of the officers who would normally be hard at working filling those cages. Instead what we see is Kat Kelly seated in one of the cells with her hands and ankles bound by shackles, her mouth covered by a Hannibal Lecter style face mask. Seated just beyond Kat’s cage is her tag team partner Lexy Chapel, who is wearing a policeman’s cap that is turned sideways while she tears up the pages of a report, throwing the shreds into the air.
A fiery IWC emblem is the final image on the screen before the show goes LIVE.
Cameras go to the squared circle, or more accurately to the three figures who are moving towards it. The second the feed to the LIVE telecast is established the world witnesses the arbiters of DEATH descending down the ramp. The lyrics of ‘Judge & Jury’ are playing through the speakers as New Eden members Serenity, Cindy Todd and Cassidy Haze move in the direction of a ring that still has a barbwire wrapped 2×4 hanging high above it. In order to make sure Cassidy reaches New Eden’s favorite toy, she carries along a ladder.
Sparkles: For once Sparkles really-really wishes we had falsely advertised how we were starting tonight’s show.
Greyson: Couldn’t possibly agree with you more my little puppet pal. New Eden making their way in the direction of the ring where one of their own will face off against Emily Cage.
Frankie: In a Stairway to Hell match fellas. (Best AC/DC impression) Staiiiirrwaaaay toooo Heeeeeell!
Greyson: You know Frankie, something tells me you won’t be singing once this match gets underway.
Frankie: What will I be doing instead?
Greyson: My guess? Screaming.
Sparkles: Cassidy Haze about to take on her own sister, all stemming from what she did to Emily several weeks ago, bashing her in the face with a barbwire board.
Greyson: As we understand it, we’ve got our broadcast colleague Mark Comeau standing by backstage with Emily as we speak.
There’s Mark Comeau located front and center in the standard interview zone with open mic in his palm, but where oh where is Emily Cage, oh where oh where can she be? We see her just behind Mark’s shoulder, and her focus isn’t on the correspondent or on his questions, instead she’s in the middle of an argument with her on again off again lover, acclaimed IWC veteran Jackson Adams.
Jackson: Not in a million years….not in a million years!
Emily: Not like I’m giving you a choice.
Jackson: I didn’t show up here tonight just to stay back here while you go out and face a three on one mugging. I have to protect you.
Emily: No, you have to TRUST me.
Comeau: Uhhh, Mrs. Cage?
Emily keeps a hand to her man’s chest and her eyes are now looking back over her shoulder at the correspondent.
Comeau: In a few moments you’ll be facing off one on one against…
Emily: Go ahead and say it.
Comeau: Well, your own sister.
Emily: Is that such a strange occurrence around here? Seems family is always fighting family in the IWC.
Comeau: That’s true.
Emily: Well it IS strange when it comes to MY family. Cassidy and I have always looked out for each other, and that’s just what I’m about to do.
Comeau: (Sounding confused) Erm, by agreeing to face her in a Stairway to Hell match?
Emily: You bet. See, there’s only one way to get through all the layers of New Eden’s brainwashing, I have to CUT my way through Cassidy to reach the sister I know is still trapped inside.
There’s nothing much left to say, Emily takes off walking and leaves both Comeau and Jackson Adams behind, The pair don’t often share much in common, though at the moment they are united in their confusion.
CASSIDY HAZE VS. EMILY CAGE:
STAIRWAY TO HELL
Patiently waiting in the ring is Cassidy Haze, who has the ladder she brought out with her worn upon her shoulder. Stood around the ring is the queen of New Eden, Cindy Todd, and the Princess of Chaos, Serenity. The pair carefully study Cassidy as she prepares to put her ladder to use to reach a more destructive weapon dangled above the ring, a barbwire wrapped 2×4. All three sociopaths are about to get precisely what they want….CHAOS. The tunes of Emily Cage’s theme song are filtering through the PA system just as she stomps defiantly towards the squared circle.
Sparkles: Does Emily Cage really appreciate what she’s getting herself into here?
Frankie: Absolutely not. First the ditz challenges her own sister to a match here tonight and then she tells her man Jackson Adams to wait in the back? This girl’s just as stupid as the dye job on her hair.
Greyson: Or maybe Emily has a plan that your puny brain just can’t comprehend.
Frankie: Not one part of me is puny. Just ask your mother.
There is not a moment’s hesitation displayed by Emily as she stops at the end of the ramp, coming face to face with both Cindy Todd and Serenity. The pair seem to act as gatekeepers, and it isn’t until they part that Emily is able to enter the ring. Once inside it’s not Cindy, it’s not Serenity, it’s her own sister that Emily squares off with. Although she presently looks into Cassidy’s eyes, what she sees at that moment is not a trace of her long lost sibling. There is no warmth, there is no compassion or empathy in Cassidy’s expression, there’s only malice, menace and madness.
Frankie: Are you starting to get it Emily, is it getting through to those two brain-cells you’ve got left in your head that that’s NOT your sister anymore?
Sparkles: You would have figured she’d had realized that when Cassidy used that 2×4 hung over the ring on her two weeks ago.
Greyson: This match made as a result of that attack and also to serve as a preview for the Stairway to Hell match Cassidy will compete in against Marina Valdivia at Last Stand.
There may not be a preview, there may not be a match at all, not if Emily’s plans come to fruition. She doesn’t hold back, with her words.
Emily: Cass? Can you hear me?
Her hand extends toward her sister only to pull back just before she touches her.
Emily: It’s Emily, you know, you’re sister?
Each time Emily speaks she tilts her head to get a better look into her sibling’s face, studying it in the hopes to see a change in her expression.
Serenity: You mean MY sister, baby-cakes.
Shouts Serenity, not from ringside, but from the apron where she is now stood. This false claim has infuriated Emily to the point of turning her back on Cassidy in order to turn her fists on Serenity. Her knuckles go hurdling towards Serenity’s face with a punch cracking her in the lip. The blow sends Serenity down to the ringside, but while one mouth is shut another mouth is busted. The moment Emily’s focus returns to Cassidy a ladder smashes her lips. At last Cassidy greets her sister and does so by ramming the ladder that’s draped over her shoulder straight into her mouth.
Greyson: Emily getting a mouthful of ladder.
Sparkles: Just a precursor to the gore yet to happen.
Frankie: You want gore? Look at Emily’s horrible boob-job.
The impact with the ladder may have knocked lose a few of Emily’s teeth, she is pawing at them desperately. She tries to get up only to have Cassidy fling the ladder down into the small of her back. Emily rolls from the ring, spilling across the outside mats where she hopes she can have a moment to convalesce. That’s asking WAY too much.
Cassidy is following her sister, now waiting on the apron for Emily to get up. A double axehandle smashes Emily in the kidneys, the blow sending her stumbling along into the steel stairs. First it was the ladder that crushed Emily’s face, but now it’s the stairs she was leaning on. There is no remorse shown by Cassidy as she plants her sibling’s skull upside the steps and then throws her wounded body back inside the ring.
Cassidy goes on stalking her sister, who has been unable, or unwilling, to get any offense going. That’s all about to change. Cassidy starts to climb through the ropes and re-enter the ring but Emily gets on the defensive by taking the offensive. She dashes across the ring, catches Cass around the head then delivers the swinging neck-breaker. Cassidy is plucked from her feet, pulled the rest of the way through the ropes, and ultimately smacked on the back of her head with that last maneuver.
Greyson: Emily finally defending herself.
Frankie: Some sister she is.
Greyson: Don’t you even dare sit there and berate Emily for attacking her sister when Cassidy’s been trying to maul her throughout this match.
Cass won’t have the opportunity to do any more mauling considering she’s being dragged down face first into the ring via the X-Factor. After hitting the move Emily COULD follow it up by going for the barbwire board above the ring, but she doesn’t. Instead she’s sitting on the canvas expressing remorse for her actions. That grief is short lived, outweighed by a need to survive. That’s why Emily is grabbing the ladder and setting it in place beneath the barbwire.
Sparkles: Emily going up and she’ll be coming down with barbwire in hand.
Greyson: She said the only way to get to her sister was to cut through all that brainwashing.
Frankie: The lack of compassion shown by Emily disgusts me.
The distance between the barbwire and her body is being narrowed by Emily. Already she’s about half way up the ladder and reaching up for New Eden’s favorite toy. However, she soon learns that New Eden dos not share, nor do they play well with others. Cassidy catches hold of her sister’s legs then steps under them. Before Emily realizes it she’s being dragged away from the ladder in an electric chair drop position, her back on the verge of being crushed. Or at least it would have been if Emily didn’t start defending herself by slapping a fist down into her sister’s forehead. Eventually the blows cause Cassidy to lose her grip on her adversary, causing her to fall forward as opposed to back. Emily doesn’t hit the canvas, she lands on the ladder. She isn’t on the ladder for long, leaping off and into a hurricarana that flings Cassidy across the squared circle.
Greyson: I don’t think any of us expected this level of a fight out of Emily.
Sparkles: Cassidy especially.
Frankie: It’s all in vain. You honestly think, no-no, use your brain instead of thinking out of your ass for once, that Emily can beat Cassidy? Remind me, who did Cass beat two weeks ago?
Greyson: The World Champion.
Frankie: Exactly. And that was no FLUKE win. So Emily ain’t standing no chance in this one.
The hurricarana from the ladder has Cassidy in the corner of the ring, sitting up against the turnbuckle and holding her strained neck. Emily is about to inflict far worse punishment, and all it will take is reaching the barbwire. She exerts all her strength to climb and climb quickly, moving up the ladder in order to reach the 2×4 that will play a vital role in peeling the flesh from Cassidy’s body. Emily is right at the top of the ladder and is now reaching up from it, her fingers tapping the barbwire. Unfortunately they never lock onto the weapon, cause the ladder that Emily is stood on top of goes tilting over. Eventually Emily is unable to keep her footing, flying from the top of the ladder then all the way down to the top rope. Her throat bounces back from the cable, the whiplash almost snapping her neck.
Greyson: Emily falling from the top of the ladder.
Sparkles: Can someone please bring in Dr. Phil to put an end to all this family related drama here in the IWC? If it’s not Mika Kozlov going at it with her sister Taylor Chase, it’s Brittany Lohan fighting with her sister Serenity, and don’t even get me started on all the Cruze sibling rivalry we’ve seen play out time and time again.
Emily instinctively starts towards her feet with a hand clasping at her throat, but that hand SHOULD have been put up to defend her skull. The ladder comes swinging down straight into the top her skull. Cassidy pushes the ladder over, driving the steel legs into Emily’s scalp. The blow sends Emily staggering back and falling against the cables, which are the only things holding her up at the moment. Cassidy is about to move in for the kill, but first she has to move up the ladder to grab the proper weapon to commit said killing. She’s climbing the ladder and verging ever so much closer to the barbwire that hangs above it.
Sparkles: Cass has almost reached the barbwire.
Greyson: And she is the LAST person you want to see with that weapon.
Frankie: I’m eager to find out what creative uses Cass has in mind for that barbwire.
Much to the delight of either Cindy or Serenity, their New Eden ally is about to make murderous use of the barbwire. Right as it seems that Cass is going to grab the barbwire and peel a few layers of flesh from her rival’s face things take a drastic turn. Emily latches onto her opponent’s ankle and gives it a big tug, yanking her feet out from under her and sending Cassidy flying off the ladder. Eventually she comes down from tremendous heights and her face leads the way down to the canvas.
Greyson: That landing will deviate your septum!
Cassidy will have to be a mouth breather considering that her nostrils have swollen shut. Once she gets back to her feet her nose suffers an even nastier impact. Cass is caught by the back of the head, charged across the ring and her face is bounced off the ladder she was just yanked from the top of. Cassidy is then spun around and led towards the corner by the back of her skull, her face crashing against the turnbuckle pad. Emily then swings her own sister’s face against the corner again, then a third time, and a fourth. She twists Cassidy around, runs her the length of the ring and bashes her skull off the ladder once again.
Greyson: Forget about Cassidy’s turn to the dark-side, it looks like Emily is going to some pretty evil places as well.
Frankie: And here I thought Emily actually CARED about her sister.
Greyson: She does, otherwise this match wouldn’t have been put together and Emily wouldn’t be going postal right now.
The multiple slams against the ladder, against the corner and then against the ladder once more have rang Cassidy’s bell. She’s down on all fours, shaking off the barrage of blows, unable to thwart her sister Emily. The ladder is employed to ascend to the barbwire that Emily has finally latched her hands around. She takes down the 2×4 and you better believe she’s about to mutilate her adversary with it, kin or no kin, blood or no blood.
Though there definitely WILL BE BLOOD.
Serenity is the one who is going to spill it, interfering in the match by way of grabbing Emily’s ankle and giving it a yank. Emily falls from the ladder but lands with the poise of a cat, coming down on her feet instead of her face. Before Emily can use the barbwire board she finds a boot connecting with her ribcage. She drops the weapon and sadly drops her guard, meaning there is no defense from what Serenity has in store for her next. Serenity pulls Emily along by her wrist right into a roundhouse kick that smacks her upside the temple.
Greyson: Knew it was only a matter of time before the rest of New Eden got involved in this one.
Frankie: To be fair….
Greyson: When are you EVER fair?
Frankie:….hey now, Emily did punch Serenity in those luscious lips before this match started.
Sparkles: New Eden taking advantage of the lack of rules in this Stairway to Hell match.
The no disqualification nature of this particular bout pays dividends for Cassidy and crew. Her associate Serenity has just laid out Cass’s opponent and will do far worse when the barbwire board finds its way into her hands. With Cindy Todd watching from the ring apron Serenity prepares to carve a defenseless Emily up like a turkey on Thanksgiving morning.
Jackson Adams might not have been invited to this feast of flesh, but he’s going to crash the festivities nevertheless. Here he comes bolting straight down the ramp and intruding straight on the ring, looking to even up the odds a little.
Frankie: Oh isn’t this just peachy? Here comes Emily’s boy toy, Jackson Adams, who might I add has an even worse dye job than she does.
Sparkles: Emily specifically told her man to stay in the back, but he didn’t listen.
Greyson: It’s surprising to say the least to see Jackson Adams back in an IWC ring where he crafted quite the career for himself, but if anything could get him out from behind an announce table, it’s the threat of seeing what New Eden was about to do to his lady.
Jackson’s in ring career might have winded down ages ago but when properly motivated he can still go in the center of that squared circle, which Serenity discovers the hard way. A punch nails her upside the jaw, followed by another and another, Jackson just going ballistic on the blond hair brute.
Greyson: Look at Adams go, look at him!
Sparkles: We haven’t seen him in that ring in almost two years and yet here he is giving New Eden a spankin!
One punch after another has Serenity stumbling back and swinging her arms in a futile effort to stay on her feet. Finally Jackson almost takes her straight out of her boots when he delivers a running punch across her mouth. Although Serenity is down Jackson is not finished. He instantly turns from one New Eden member to another, his eyes locking on Cassidy Haze, who is using the ladder in the middle of the ring to reach her feet. She no sooner stands up before finding her arms caught from behind and her body being swung around into the unprettier!
Greyson: Unprettier unleashed by Adams!!
Sparkles: What a way to make your return to an IWC ring.
Frankie: By signing your death warrant?
The unprettier has rearranged Cassidy’s face, however nothing is as mutilating to one’s money maker as what Adams finds himself on the receiving end of. He’s no sooner on his feet before finding his face not just smacked, but PUNCTURED by a barbwire board. Squeals can be heard miles away as the audience witnesses Cindy Todd putting to use the very weapon that had previously dangled above the squared circle. The blow upside the brow has blood already seeping from Jackson’s face and his body twisting around into the waiting arms of Serenity. Her boot cracks him in the abs, and then her victim’s head cracks the canvas via the evenflow DDT.
Greyson: New Eden’s numbers just too much.
Frankie: Ya should’ve listened to your bitch, JA and stuck your ass in the back instead of coming out here.
Sparkles: Now he’s about to be in the same boat as Emily.
A stunned Adams sits up on the canvas and finds blood rolling down his cheeks, never expecting to mark his return to an IWC ring by getting busted open. He is no longer in a position to be of any aid to Emily, though she might not need it. Serenity and Cindy stand over their latest prey, staring down into the blood that trickles along down his cheeks. Their attention returns to their original target, going back after Emily, or so was their intention. The moment they make their synchronized turn both ladies find themselves the recipient of a stereo clothesline, Emily flying nearly off the top of the ladder and catching both New Eden members in their throats.
Greyson: EMILY TAKING OUT NEW EDEN!
Sparkles: Diving off the ladder no less to do it.
Frankie: She’s only prolonging the suffering.
Greyson: What a chaotic start to tonight’s show.
There is a loud outpouring of emotion heard from the crowd who are rallied behind Emily and her pursuit of vengeance. She is on the cusp of achieving just that, dragging herself up from the ring. But she makes a fatal error, showing compassion rather than malice. She checks on her man, looking down at Jackson, who is bleeding profusely from the gash in his scalp. It’s that one second of mercy that allows Cassidy to sneak in from behind, catch her sister and connect with the lighting spiral. The back of Emily’s head does not hit the canvas, it smacks straight into the barbwire board!
Sparkles: OH MY SPARKLES!
Greyson: Lightning spiral into-into-into BARBWIRE!
Frankie: You show mercy and you pay a huge price for it.
The back of Emily’s head now resembles the front of Jackson’s face. And the suffering does not end there. A recovered Cassidy has the barbwire board in hand and now places it right across her sister’s throat, pressing down with enough force to keep both of Emily’s shoulders pinned to the canvas.
1
2
Thankfully the gore has come to a conclusion with Cassidy pinning Emily’s shoulders to the ring to end this sibling rivalry.
Greyson: Emily gave it everything she had guys, and I mean everything she had to get through to her sister here tonight….
Frankie: But the dark force that New Eden wields over Cassidy was too strong. Unlike Emily’s body New Eden’s influence is unbreakable.
Sparkles: Cassidy defeating her in the Stairway to Hell match and sending a message to Marina Valdivia in the process.
Greyson: Cause it’ll be Marina Valdivia versus Cassidy Haze in a Stairway to Hell bout at Last Stand.
Sparkles: If it’s anything like what we witnessed here, Marina is in serious trouble.
If what happened to Emily here this evening is any indication of things to come then Marina Valdivia might want to schedule an extended stay at the hospital after the next pay-per-view concludes. The suffering inflicted on Emily and Jackson Adams doesn’t end when the bell has rung….Nuh’uh. Cassidy and Cindy have plucked Adams up from the canvas by the arms and soon those limbs are being tied up by the top and middle ropes. He may kick, he may scream he may curse, but ultimately he’s defenseless. There’s nothing he can do but watch, watch through his mask of blood as all three members of New Eden descend upon his girl. As Emily paws at the blood that seeps from the back of her head she has no idea that there are piranhas drawn to the scent. Cindy, Cassidy and Serenity circle their prey and anticipate the moment they’ll swoop in and pick the meat from her bones.
Frankie: Emily is dead in the water here guys.
Greyson: Send a message to the Principle Owner and tell Karen McBride to send security out here now!
Sparkles: If they don’t get out here and get out here now then all that’ll be left of Emily could be fit into a doggy bag.
Security Guard: Are you sure about this, Mrs. McBride?
Far be it from security to question the will of Principle Owner Karen McBride, so it’s a good thing that’s NOT the McBride they’re challenging. Melanie, younger sister of the boss, stands across from a battalion of guards, giving them some last second orders here in the guerilla position.
Melanie: Would you guys stop questioning me and get your asses out to that ring? Emily needs you.
Security Guard: Is that what your sister would want?
Melanie: Listen, when Karen isn’t here, she’s trusted me to call the shots. So you consider ME the Principle Owner right now.
Security Guard: Well then….BOSS….aren’t you worried if we go out there to stop New Eden that it’s going to leave YOU unprotected? You know that Monarchy are going to be out for retaliation after what your sister had us do them on the last Riot.
Melanie: Yeah?
Security Guard: So shouldn’t we stay back here and protect you?
Melanie: I don’t need protection. Jackson Adams, Emily Cage, THEY need you. Now don’t worry about Monarchy and go do something about New Eden.
New Eden are about to reduce Emily Cage to nothing but a puddle of blood and bile with her beloved Jackson Adams tied to the ropes and unable to save her. Just before New Eden can shred the flesh from her body security runs out to prevent further mutilation.
Sparkles: Looks like the security crew got your message Lovejoy.
Frankie: You think these doofuses can deal with New Eden?
Greyson: They did an efficient job of handling Monarchy, another disruptive force here in the IWC, just a scant two weeks ago.
Frankie: Don’t you dare bring up that incident on our last Riot. Security had no right to throw Monarchy out of the locker-room, and they have no business interfering in New Eden’s business here tonight.
The security force have certainly had a rough go of it the past few weeks and tonight won’t be any easier. Their numbers might be sufficient enough to deal with the three members of New Eden, but they are NOT enough to contend with Monarchy. Before any of the black shirted security guards know what’s happening they find themselves dropping one after another at the feet of the very group that has just attacked them from behind. Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly, Orlando Cruze, Ryan Watson, Alistair Taylor and Taylor Chase have swooped in from behind the security force and have toppled them with ease.
Greyson: Where the hell did they just come from!?!
Sparkles: Monarchy attacking security. What is the meaning of this?
Frankie: Really? You just referenced no more than two seconds ago what security did to Monarchy two weeks ago.
Monarchy pours from the backstage area, overflowing and bringing a downpour of violence on an entirely unsuspecting security contingent. Each of the guards hit the stage where their bodies are buried under a barrage of strikes. Several of them are able to roll from beneath all these shots and spill off to the side of the stage, hitting the concrete floor several feet below. They make a futile effort to stand up, because like bowling pins, they’ll just end up getting knocked right back down. Tay-Tay and Watson feed a security guard to Alistair, who gorilla presses him over his head. He steps to the edge of the stage and displays his Herculean strength by flinging the guard right down on top of his brethren massed on the concrete floor.
Greyson: Oh no!
Sparkles: HOLY SPARKLES!
Frankie: Monarchy annihilating security!
A microphone finds its way into the hands of Monarchy member Lexy Chapel, and it’ll hopefully amplify some type of explanation.
Lexy: Two weeks ago all these fuckers (points out over security) molested Monarchy…..
Taylor: They had their hands all over my ass!
Chimes in Tay-Tay.
Lexy: They had fingers in places where no fingers should DARE be! And now look at them (gestures again to all those laid out guards), lying broken on their backs. If you think this is bad, guess what, we’re JUST starting to get our hands dirty. Because by the end of the night every single person who tried to defy the rule of Monarchy are in biiiiig trouble.
Taylor: Including you, Karen McBride!
Once again Tay pulls Lexy’s hand and the microphone in it to her lips. She directs her threat straight at the Principle Owner.
Taylor: You had us thrown out of the locker-room, but by the end of the night, we’ll have you thrown into the dumpster like a newborn baby on prom night!
Monarchy begin to back away from the pile of bodies on the stage and ramp, the audience not the only ones watching the wake of their destructive onslaught. New Eden have their dark eyes affixed on the very group that have just laid out the only people, security, who could possibly be of help to Emily Cage and Jackson Adams.
Gym bags swing at the sides of Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas as both athletes move and move in a hurry down the hallway. They make a quick jaunt from the parking lot to the dressing room, their mouths moving as quick as their bodies.
Victoria: I know what you’re planning.
Marina stops at the doorway that leads into the locker-room, looking over her shoulder at her trusted ally.
Marina: Do you now?
Victoria: Just promise me, if you plan on confronting New Eden that you wait for me to have your back.
Marina: ‘If?’
Victoria: Heh, yeah, guess it’s a foregone conclusion you….no…WE’LL be having some business with New Eden.
Victoria takes off down the hall, presumably to make some last second arrangements before the inevitable collision with New Eden. Once parting ways with her friend, Marina steps into the locker-room where she runs into someone who is anything but a buddy. Seated right in front of Marina is a lady who was once the most trusted and valued confidante in her life.
Tabitha: Been waiting on you.
Confesses the lady who speaks from behind the newspaper held up in front of her face. At first all that can be seen is the paper’s headline, reading ‘Andre Jordan: MIA.’ Is isn’t long before Tabitha Silverstone’s face is revealed, looking through her sunglasses at the puzzled expression of her client.
Marina: Took the words right out of my mouth.
Marina’s bag is thrown down at the feet of her agent
Marina: You and I are loooong overdue for a discussion.
Tabitha: Couldn’t agree with you more, but….
Tabitha rises to her feet and moves to Marina’s side.
Tabitha:….now’s not the time. (Shoves the newspaper into her client’s chest) Andre’s missing, and finding him is our top priority.
Marina: You mean you actually care what’s happened to Dre?
Although her expression can be hard to read behind those thick sunglasses of hers, one can at least discern that Tabitha is taken aback by such a comment.
Tabitha: You and Andre are the most important people in my life.
Her hands squeeze Marina’s shoulders.
Tabitha: I don’t know what I’d do without you.
Before Marina can resist she finds herself engulfed in her agent’s arms, given a big ole’ squeeze.
Marina: Tabs….
It doesn’t take much to break free from Tabitha’s hug.
Marina: You’ll find out…if you don’t start shooting straight with me.
Tabitha: I would never lie to you.
Marina: Oh? So you didn’t try to frame Victoria for….
Tabitha: I think you need to be reminded just how important you and Andre are to me. It just so happens that I know what happened to Dre. He’s been abducted, and I know by who.
Marinas: You do? Tell me.
Tabitha: No-no, you’ve got enough to worry about, I’M taking care of this.
Marina: Hmmmmm….
The moment the car comes to a stop in the parking garage the doors instantly fly open. From the passenger seat steps Mika Kozlov, and from the driver’s side of the car emerges her heavy Borislav. The commentators don’t sound very thrilled to see the arrival of this unorthodox pair.
Sparkles: Danger, DANGER Will Robinson!
Greyson: I knew there was a reason the hair on my arms started to stand on end.
Frankie: The macabre and the murderous Mika Kozlov is in the hizzy-house.
Greyson: And who knows what she and Borislav have on the agenda for the evening.
Their first course of action is to step around to the trunk of the car, pop it open and peer inside. We don’t get to see what’s in the trunk, but evident by the smile on Mika’s face she does.
Mika: Wakey-waaaaakeeey, eggs and bakeeeyy.
She gleefully states while snapping her fingers in the face of the barely conscious captive.
Chance: Got to commend Mrs. McBride….
Stated Chance Fortune between sips of piping hot coffee. Want to know what was hotter than that? The topic of conversation between himself and his wife Samantha Raine. The competitors stand in the catering area mixing drinks and talking points, though their words keep going back to the part they played in removing Monarchy from the locker-room two weeks earlier.
Chance: She told us she’d stand up to Monarchy, and dammit if she wasn’t true to her word.
Raine: Sending them packing was honestly the highlight of my month.
Chance: It’s sad that they honestly believed they could just commander the locker-room and kick the rest of us out. Like their better than us or something.
Raine: Their no better than us.
Watson: We beg to differ.
That steaming coffee that Chance was just drinking doesn’t go down his throat it splashes right up into his eyes. He is blinded by the sting of caffeine just tossed in his face by Monarchy member Ryan Watson. Though Chance has boiling liquid in his pupils the worse pain radiates from his ribs that are subjected to a knee strike by another of Monarchy’s members, Orlando Cruze. Before Raine can lend aid to her husband she finds herself on the bad side of Alistair Taylor’s big boot. The powerful boot to her luscious lips sends Raine twisting into the catering table then over it, spilling to the floor. Chance tries his best to defend himself but his best isn’t good enough when overcome by the sheer numbers of Monarchy. His body is already being lifted up and onto the shoulders of Alistair and his back is going straight through the table.
Orlando: (Mocking Chance’s groans of agony) Ahhhhh, aaaahhhh!
Orlando has gone to all fours with his face mere inches from the expression of anguish consuming Chance’s features.
Orlando: Cry, crrrrrryyy.
Watson and Alistair bend at the knees, not getting down as far as Orlando but definitely stooping figuratively to his level.
Watson: Let this be a lesson to you fellas.
Yes Watson did just refer to Raine as a man, and it’s an intentional mistake.
Watson: You stand by McBride, you fall by McBride.
Alistair: It’s just like Lexy said, anyone and anybody who defied us two weeks ago are in for a very rough night.
Orlando: Consider yourselves lucky mates. You’ll get off a lot easier than Marina and Victoria. If only you were conscious enough to see what Watson and I do them when we get those birds in the ring tonight.
The lack of security means that New Eden can do what they want and to whomever they want.
Before the commercial break we witnessed the New Eden trio imposing their demonic wills on both Emily Cage and her man Jackson Adams. Nothing has changed, the pair remain in the ring and at the mercy of these three deranged dames. The only individuals capable of saving them are too busy convalescing after security were ambushed by Monarchy.
Sparkles: New Eden and Monarchy continuing to make this the most unsafe working environment since the set of Hell’s Angels.
Greyson: Monarchy assaulted security before the commercial and now are assaulting members of the roster backstage, and things inside of the ring are not any safer.
Frankie: Cause just like my little fuzzy friend said, Monarchy isn’t the only group that’s stirring the pot around here.
Sparkles: Before the break Emily Cage went down in defeat to New Eden’s Cassidy Haze, and now both she and her man Jackson are trapped inside of the squared circle by….
Frankie:…New Eden babay.
Greyson: These three have just been tormenting Emily and Jackson Adams since that match ended moments ago.
Sparkles: And you just know that New Eden are using these victims to send a message to their rivals Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas.
The crowd requests leniency but New Eden have never pandered to the people. The only thing Cindy Todd, Serenity and Cassidy Haze give into is that lust for blood. And it’s blood that is pooling in Serenity’s hands at this very moment. She finds herself knelt beside Emily and catching every droplet of blood that drips from the massive wound in her victim’s forehead. The tear in Emily’s flesh is opened via the barbwire board that her own sister is grinding across her forehead.
Cassidy sits on the lower back of her sibling, her rival, her prey, holding her up in the camel clutch and mauling her face with barbwire. As a result there is quite a bit of blood surging down Emily’s face and puddling in Serenity’s hands. That blood is then lifted in the direction of Serenity’s and Cassidy’s queen, the always plotting Cindy Todd. She observes the offering being made to her and it’s a sacrifice that appeases her.
One person who is not appeased by this gore is Jackson Adams, who continues to struggle in vain against the top and the middle ropes that have his arms bound. There is nothing he can do save for scream in order to help his beloved Emily. He roars through his own mask of blood, with all of his words failing to have even the slightest impact on New Eden.
Marina: I think you three have made your point.
Security may be in no position to stop New Eden after what Monarchy did to them, but there’s an even more powerful force that IS capable of intervening. Both Victoria Salinas and Marina Valdivia make their way to the stage, the longtime enemies of New Eden demanding the attention of the terrifying trio creating chaos in the ring.
Greyson: Thank God for Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas.
Sparkles: Hopefully these two are capable of stopping New Eden before this sacrifice goes any further.
Frankie: Those two should feel damned guilty about what’s happening inside of that ring. If it weren’t for Marina challenging Cassidy to a Stairway to Hell match at Last Stand, then this barbarism wouldn’t have been inflicted on Emily and her lover here tonight.
Greyson: Do you even know what the word ‘logic’ means?
Frankie: A deformity in the penis?
Victoria and Marina mirror one’s another disgust upon witnessing what New Eden has done and what they were about to do.
Marina: You won Cassidy, you beat your own sister half to death. Now why don’t you do the first compassionate thing you’ve ever done in your life and let Emily go?
Playing on Cassidy’s ‘mercy’ was not the wisest avenue for Marina to pursue. She soon realizes that when forced to watch as Cassidy puts the barbwire board down on the canvas then sits Emily’s face across it. Her boot is now wedged to the back of Emily’s head, threatening to deliver a curb stomp that would sheer so much flesh and spill so much blood from the skull of her darling sister. Earlier on Cindy Todd was offered a palm full of blood, but now she offers a handful of microphone, giving it to Cassidy.
Cassidy: You actually care what happens to Emily? (Gestures to the bloodied and about to be even more bloodied Emily pinned face first against the barbwire board) Then you might want to close your eyes, cause you won’t want to see what happens to her next.
Cassidy starts to lift her foot to complete the curb stomp.
Marina: You do that and it’ll be the last thing you EVER do.
Warns Marina who begins to move down the ramp with Victoria flanking her every step.
Serenity: Stop right there!
Orders the still kneeling Serenity, who leans through the ropes and points at her nemesis.
Serenity: If you get one step closer to this ring what happens to Emily will be on your conscious.
Cassidy: You’ll be picking pieces of my sister’s face out of this barbwire all night long.
Playing at Marina’s and Victoria’s ‘mercy’ proves to be a worthwhile pursuit. Both ladies stop on the ramp and do not take a single step closer to the ring where Emily goes on being threatened.
Cassidy: You stay right there and listen. Cause we (motions to herself, Serenity and Cindy) have a compromise.
Marina: (Surprised) A compromise?
Cassidy: Don’t act so surprised.
Marina: If you think I’m going to listen to whatever….
Cassidy’s foot once again hovers over the back of Emily’s head.
Marina: DON’T!
Cassidy: You challenged us to a match at Last Stand, a Stairway to Hell match, such fun (clapping giddily), but we know how to make it even more exciting. You want us to agree to your stipulation, then we have one of our own.
Greyson: This isn’t gonna be good.
Cassidy: You claimed that you were not only going to beat us at Last Stand but then move on to compete in the Rumble match that very same night….Actually, no-no, that’s not what you said. How did she put it Serenity?
The mic is held to Serenity’s lips, the former World Champion leaning towards it.
Serenity: She said she was going to WIN the Rumble.
Cassidy’s jagged dagger like teeth form a smile.
Cassidy: How quaint.
She’s right back to frowning.
Cassidy: You want to live your dream? Well we want you to live your nightmare. When we beat you in the Stairway to Hell match there will be NOTHING left but shreds and dripping sinew to compete in the Rumble. So why don’t we just go ahead and spare you the humiliation of having your lifeless carcass tossed over the top rope in record setting time. When New Eden wins Stairway to Hell, then you’re OUT of the Rumble.
That’s one heck of a caveat added to what already promised to be a match full of dire implications. Marina would like to take a moment and think her decision over, but Cassidy is not patiently waiting for her response. Her foot is just itching to stomp down at the back of Emily’s head and curb stomp her face into the barbwire.
Marina: I agree….
There’s Cassidy’s razor blade smile again.
Marina: But I have a condition of my own. Don’t think I didn’t notice how you kept saying ‘us,’ and ‘we.’ Well you may think this match at Last Stand will be three on one, but not anymore. If I agree to put my spot in the Rumble on the line, then you have to agree to leave Cindy and to leave Serenity in the back when we face off in the Stairway to Hell.
Frankie: This isn’t a negotiation Marina!
Greyson: And it’s none of your business Frankie, so stay out of it!
Sparkles: Is it Sparkles’ business?
Greyson: No.
Sparkles: Awww.
This business is between Marina and Cassidy, but it won’t stop the commentators and it won’t stop New Eden from adding their own two cents. Cindy cups a hand around her mouth and around Cassidy’s ear, whispering something to her follower.
Cassidy: You know what Marina? (Licks the tips of her fangs) DEAL!
Cassidy punctuates the statement by leaping into the air and stomping the back of Emily’s head, causing her face to be crushed against the barbwire board beneath it.
Greyson: NAAAAH!
Sparkles: That freak!
Marina and Victoria hurry to the ring though they don’t get there fast enough to spare Emily the disgusting fate just inflicted on her by New Eden. They do however prevent any further damage from being done, their entrance into the ring causing Cassidy, Cindy and Serenity to make an exit. Marina stoops down and checks on Emily’s condition, feeling great sympathy for the poor woman who simply tried to reach out to her sister. That very same sister is stood at ringside being pulled into a hug by Serenity, the pair going cheek to cheek.
Cindy Todd isn’t a hugger, no, on this occasion she’s a voyeur. She just stares back into the ring and into the eyes of Marina, which presently burn with hatred.
Sparkles: Poor Emily. Her face was just destroyed and Sparkles means DESTROYED by Cassidy.
Greyson: I find myself saying this more and more when it comes to New Eden, but their actions were truly rep-re-hensible tonight.
Frankie: Yeah, well their actions get things done don’t they? Cassidy got….
Greyson:….COERCED.
Frankie: Tomatoes toMAAToes. Anyway, Cassidy GOT Marina to put her spot in the Rumble at Last Stand on the line when the two square off in a Stairway to Hell match on that very same night. If Cassidy wins, Marina can’t compete in the Rumble.
Greyson: But we also know now that Cassidy will be completely on her own when that match happens, there will be no Serenity nor Cindy Todd at ringside to help her.
Frankie: Like Cassidy needs the help. She pinned the World Champion two weeks ago for Christ sakes.
Greyson: WITH HELP.
Frankie: Potatoes poTAAToes.
Right now there’s only one person in need of help, and that person is Emily. She might not get the aid she needs, but she gets the only aid available to her, and it’s provided by her man Jackson Adams. It takes a struggle for Victoria Salinas to pry Adams’ arms free of the ropes New Eden had them tangled up in. He quickly dashes across the ring and to the side of his on again off again lover only to pull back once he sees the hamburger where her face used to be.
Greyson: Look at Adams, he’s about to puke.
Frankie: Yeah and he’d probably make a shitty gimmick out of it too.
Sparkles: His wife has just been disfigured by New Eden.
Frankie: And what did he do about it? Nothin’!
Greyson: He was tied up in the damn ropes for Christ sakes!
Adams isn’t tied up now which means he’s free to do everything in his power to aid his beloved. She’s stretched across his arms and being carried up the ramp to the backstage area where medical assistance will hopefully be provided. Back in the ring Marina and Victoria are looking down into the blood splattered across the canvas beneath their feet. It’s a sight that both ladies are growing sick and tired of, but unfortunately it’s an image they might have to get used to as their war against New Eden continues.
Orlando: I hope you two didn’t think you’re night was over.
Shouts the microphone toting Orlando Cruze as he, Ryan Watson, Alistair Taylor, Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly and Taylor Chase come walking out to the stage shoulder to shoulder to shoulder.
Sparkles: Aaaaah shit.
Greyson: Monarchy coming back out here AGAIN.
Frankie: You guys make it sound like a curse when it’s truly a blessing.
Greyson: They were a curse to security earlier tonight and to several members of the locker-room backstage moments ago.
Sparkles: Something tells me they’ll be more than a curse to the pair inside of the ring.
The Monarchy have many voices but they all seem to be channeled through Orlando’s lips. He’s the only one speaking, though each member of the group are walking down the ramp.
Orlando: Have you ladies heard the warnings yet? Have you seen the bodies stacking up at Monarchy’s feet?
The microphone is turned over from Orlando to Ryan Watson, who becomes the first Monarchy member to climb up onto the ring apron.
Watson: We sent word to the entire IWC roster and to your Principle Owner, Karen McBride, that Monarchy were going to make this night as miserable as possible for everyone who trifled with us two weeks ago. And by everyone, that means the two of you as well.
It didn’t take long for Monarchy to surround the ring and cut off all avenues of escape for either Marina or Victoria. Though it’s obvious that neither athlete had any designs on running. Instead they’ve got their knuckles clinched up into fists and are eager to crack any face that gets in the way of their fists.
Greyson: Just when I thought this couldn’t possibly get any worse than New Eden destroying Emily Cage, here comes Monarchy, who plan to pick up where they left off with Marina and Victoria from two weeks ago.
Sparkles: It was Marina versus Orlando Cruze one on one on the last Riot in a match that broke down into total chaos when Ryan Watson and Victoria Salinas interfered on behalf of their respective allies.
Greyson: That match ended in anarchy, and it looks like that anarchy is carrying over into tonight.
Frankie: Victoria and Marina ARE scheduled to face Watson and Orlando in tag action.
Greyson: Yes, Orlando and Watson NOT all of Monarchy.
Watson continues to try and distract Monarchy’s potential victims while his mates prepare to slip into the ring and get the drop on them.
Watson: New Eden may have let you ladies off easy, Monarchy…..won’t!
Watson is the first Monarchy member in the ring, though you damn well better believe that he won’t be the last. All of his teammates are slipping into the squared circle as well and going straight after Victoria, straight after Marina. However, unlike the security guards who were jumped by Monarchy earlier, their latest targets aren’t going down without a fight. Victoria is fighting back against insurmountable odds and Marina is fighting an equally as steep uphill battle.
Greyson: Somebody PLEASE put an end to this bullshit! Where’s Karen McBride!?!
Sparkles: Sparkles hasn’t a clue where the Principle Owner is keeping herself.
Frankie: Smartly it’s as far away from Monarchy as possible.
Sparkles: Oh wait, Sparkles did hear a rumor that Karen McBride might be away from the building tonight handling some contract negotiations.
Frankie: What kind of lame ass excuse is that for being a giant puss?
With there being no security, and there being no Karen McBride, it appears that there is nobody who can watch the backs of Marina or Victoria as they continue to be mugged by Monarchy. Desperate times require equally as desperate measures. Marina picks up a weapon she hopes she’ll get a lot of use out of at Last Stand, the barbwire wrapped 2×4 that New Eden left in the ring moments earlier. She turns herself into a helicopter, spinning in one circle after another swinging the board at absolutely anything that’s within range. Monarchy wisely backs off in time so that not a single one of them find themselves on the receiving end of a shot from the barbwire. Alistair Taylor isn’t as fortunate as his teammates. Although he avoids getting hit by the 2×4 he does not avoid the spinning heel kick that Victoria unleashes on his throat. The blow sends Alistair falling back through the ropes, spilling at the feet of his fellow Monarchy members.
Greyson: Lucky for Viccy and Marina that barbwire board was still in the ring.
Sparkles: Marina just used it to save their asses from this gangland Monarchy mugging.
A 2×4 wasn’t the only object left inside of the ring that Marina presently puts to use. Now she’s picking up a microphone, which can be equally as dangerous as barbwire in the right hands.
Marina: You guys aren’t leaving are you?
All the Monarchy members look up from ringside to the two heated athletes staring them down from the center of the ring. And it’s not just one of those ladies who have something to say.
Victoria: Cause things were just starting to get FUN!
What do Victoria and Marina consider fun? How about diving simultaneously through the ropes and through Monarchy huddled at ringside! The crowd absolutely flips out at the sight of their heroes connecting with and bringing down the ultimate villains. Victoria and Marina do so in perfect synchronism, hitting stereo diving headbutts.
Greyson: OOOOH WOW!
Frankie: Da fuck did we just see?
Greyson: We just saw Salinas, we just saw Valdivia, we just saw them both saying ‘to hell with it’ and diving right into Monarchy!
Frankie: Bitches, right?
Greyson: Things have gotten absolutely chaotic out here….again!
Mika: Slap him harder.
This is one order that Borislav is all but too eager to follow through with. His big old palm gives a big old slap straight to the cheek of an unconscious Andre Jordan. Blows like the one just delivered won’t allow Dre to stay out cold. Sadly he’s brought back to reality, to a world where his arms are tied to a chair and the rest of him is bound to a shadowy room where the only other occupants are his abductors Mika Kozlov and the equally as mad Russian Borislav. While the big man stands over the wooden chair that Dre is strapped to, Borislav’s beautiful companion is sitting Indian style on a table set up right in front of their captive.
Mika: Hiiii bright eyes.
A smiling Mika waves to Dre, who is still trying to come to grips with what’s happening.
Mika: It’s about time you woke up.
Starts Mika while she reaches behind her back, taking something off the table she’s seated on the surface of.
Andre: You being conscious will make what I have planned a lot more fun.
The sharp, emphasis on the word SHARP, corkscrew is taken out from behind Mika’s back with the tip of it twisting under her fingernail.
MARINA VALDIVIA & VICTORIA SALINAS VS. RYAN WATSON & ORLANDO CRUZE
If you thought that a commercial break was enough time to bring an end to the anarchy in the ring then keep on dreaming dumbass.
Not only has all the kooky chaos not ended but it’s actually gotten worse. When last we saw the ring Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas were leaping out of it into stereo headbutts on the members of Monarchy who attempted to jump them. Now we see Marina and Victoria back INSIDE of the ring and their focus is only on TWO of Monarchy’s members. Victoria has Ryan Watson in the corner of the squared circle subjecting his ribs to stomps. In the opposite corner of the ring Orlando Cruze is standing beyond the ropes shouting to Watson to make a tag. Marina is in a corner as well, the only difference between she and Orlando is that she’s not asking for a tag, she’s shouting for Victoria to kick their opponent even harder. A referee is in the ring shouting as well, but no one can hear him over the screams of either Orlando or Marina, or all the Monarchy members who are surrounding the squared circle.
Greyson: We are back live on Riot, and as you can see the tag team match that was advertised over the past several weeks pitting Monarchy’s Ryan Watson and Orlando Cruze against Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas officially got underway during the commercial break.
Sparkles: Hell broke loose between both of these teams and it only continued when cameras cut away.
Frankie: It all eventually led to referee Ficklebottom coming down here and starting this tag team action.
Greyson: I only wish said referee had gotten the rest of Monarchy away from ringside.
Frankie: They have every right to be out here to watch the backs of Orlando and Watson.
The presence of Taylor Chase, Kat Kelly, Alistair Taylor and Lexy Chapel at ringside definitely puts the two female athletes inside of the ring at a disadvantage. Both Victoria and her partner Marina ignore the numbers game, because they are just having too much fun beating down their opponents. Finally Victoria decides to share some of the mauling she’s giving Watson by tagging out. Marina leaps over the top rope, turns in mid-air and drives the heel of her boot straight into her opponent’s rib. Watson doubles over his stomach, turns away from Marina and tries to make it to his corner where he can tag out to his partner. Orlando is waiting for said tag only he never gets it, because Marina keeps Watson from reaching his corner. Instead of giving a tag he gets tagged right across the chest. Marina spins him around by the shoulder to face her and the knife edge chop she blisters his chest with. The blow takes Watson down to his back and it’s going to be impossible for him to get up at this rate.
Marina turns from her opponent to her partner, putting her foot in Victoria’s cupped hands. With a little lift from Victoria, Marina is sent flipping over backwards into a moonsault, crashing right across Watson’s chest.
Sparkles: Maybe Monarchy being out here won’t be such a detriment to Victoria and Marina after-all.
Greyson: Give it time, they’ll get involved eventually.
Frankie: They won’t have to, Orlando Cruze and Ryan Watson have got this match in their back pockets.
That doesn’t look to be the case at the moment given the punishment inflicted on Watson and the punishment that WILL be inflicted on him. Victoria is running towards her opponent and this time its Marina who gives her partner a little lift. Viccy is thrown into the air by her own partner, getting enough height under her in order to come down with a devastating elbow drop right across Watson’s clavicle.
Kat: Get them out of there ref!
Alistair: Their bloody double teaming him mate!
Victoria leaves the ring, not because of the protests of the Monarchy members at ringside, but so that she doesn’t risk disqualification. Marina takes some more liberties with the rules, sitting down on top of Watson’s sternum and driving some closed fists repeatedly into his brow. Finally she drags him up from the canvas and into a front chancery, calling for a tornado DDT. Already she’s pointing at the corner she intends on ascending and an unfortunate Watson will be pulled along for the ride. Marina takes off towards the corner only to stop in mid-step when Orlando attempts to interfere. He dashes in with a clothesline that Marina not only ducks but turns to her advantage. She reaches back, catches Orlando under the jaw and then drops him with a reverse neckbreaker while at the same time delivering a DDT on Watson’s head.
Frankie: Alright Watson, alright Orlando, time to stop making Marina look good. She’s got enough offense in already.
Greyson: It’s not like they can control how much offense Marina is getting in on them. In spite of all their friends being at ringside, neither Cruze nor Watson can stop Marina’s momentum.
Momentum that will remain on Marina’s side considering that she’s still got hold of Watson’s head. She maintains the front chancery on his neck while twisting along so that they both reach their feet. Marina then runs at the nearest corner, pulling Watson along with her into the turnbuckle, tornado DDT about to hit one way or another. Marina steps up the ropes and is about to push off the top cable, a process that becomes infinitely more challenging when Lexy Chapel is shoving her foot off the top strand. As a result of Lexy’s blatant interference Marina is unable to spiral along into the DDT and instead is pushed off the front chancery she had her opponent trapped in.
Marina manages to land on her feet though she may not stay on them much longer since Watson is barreling towards her with a clothesline. Somehow Marina has the presence of mind to duck that clothesline, run into the ropes perpendicular to the ones that Lexy Chapel is standing on the opposite side of and spring from the second strand. She turns in mid-air in order to deliver a dropkick on Lexy’s mouth. The strike sends Lexy flying off the apron and landing right on top of Alistair Taylor.
Frankie: Someone kindly beat Marina within an inch of her life for having just done that.
Greyson: Lexy dropkicked from the apron. That’ll teach Monarchy not to interfere in these matches.
Frankie: Oh someone is gonna learn a lesson, and it’ll be those bitches in the ring.
Watson looks to become a disciplinarian, swooping in from behind Marina to give her the prerequisite flogging for her misbehavior. Marina drops down right under Watson’s arms and right through his legs, baseball sliding until she’s behind her opponent. Watson walks right past her and into the ropes that Victoria is standing on the opposite side of. She catches Watson upside the cheek with a punch that sends him stumbling back into something far more devastating. Marina jumps to his side and hits him with the Russian Leg Sweep. After hitting the move Marina seamlessly floats over into the lateral press.
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Watson’s shoulder escapes the canvas meaning he escapes defeat. He will not escape Marina however, who has a hold of his wrist, pulling him into a knee to the ribs and setting him up for the swinging neckbreaker. She catches Watson by the head and spirals him around straight into….a counter. The Monarchy member rips his head right out of Marina’s clutches and then uses his newfound freedom to flip back into the Pele kick.
In spite of taking the shot to the skull Marina stays on her feet, staggered but on her feet nevertheless. Watson is determined to drive her down, sliding around on his back and then putting his boots against Marina’s ribs. A shove is given with his legs, sending Marina flying in reverse, ultimately hitting the corner, the enemy corner. Orlando takes advantage of his adversary’s position, hooking her around the biceps and restraining her arms so she’s all together defenseless. Watson capitalizes on the opportunity his partner just opened up to him. He dashes across the ring and throws his forearm straight at Marina’s mug. Just when it seems Monarchy are on the cusp of claiming control of this match their prone opponent slips out of the calamitous position they’ve put her in. Marina falls through Orlando’s arms and then slides through Watson’s legs. As a result Watson runs past her and the forearm he had been throwing at her face is now hurdling towards Orlando.
Frankie: AH!
Lucky for Orlando, his partner possesses lightning fast reflexes, stopping his forearm strike right before it can connect. Watson backs away apologizing for his unintended strike, so preoccupied with smoothing things over that he doesn’t see Marina crawling across her knees to her corner where Victoria is waiting for the tag.
Sparkles: Marina’s gonna bring the fresher Victoria into the match.
Marina reaches out and her fingertips are inches from her partners. Those inches then turn into feet when Victoria is grabbed by the ankles and her feet are torn from under her. Victoria tumbles from the corner with her face catching the apron on the way down. The fans are all over Taylor Chase’s case when she stops standing idle at ringside and openly interferes in the match by pulling Viccy out of the corner. Victoria paws at her face while Marina paws at thin air, left unable to make the tag. Furthermore she’s unable to block the move that her distraction with Victoria has opened her up to. Watson swoops in behind the still kneeling Marina, who won’t be kneeling much longer. He takes her around the waist and employs his strength to heave her into the wheelbarrow suplex, but not just any wheelbarrow suplex, because Watson throws her straight into the waiting clutches of his partner. Unbeknownst to everyone Orlando got the tag and then got into position to catch Marina around her neck just as she was thrown into the suplex. As a result Orlando is able to hit her with a reverse neck breaker out of his partner’s wheelbarrow.
Sparkles: Nice tag team move by Watson and Cruze.
Frankie: These two in ring phenoms gelling like they’ve teamed together for thirty years.
The double team move has left Marina clasping at a potentially snapped neck. ‘Potentially’ isn’t good enough, not for Orlando. He takes Marina by the head and leads her up into the pulling piledriver. Marina is spiked on top of her skull and then Orlando is draped on top of her chest.
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Marina pops her shoulder up and Orlando pops her across the face in retaliation. His fist keeps on pounding Marina’s face and then his boot starts to collide repeatedly with her ribs. Orlando shares the wealth, tagging out to Watson, who joins him in the beating being given to Marina. Now both he and Cruze throw their common foe into the ropes and catch her on the rebound with a stereo gorilla press. Marina comes down from said gorilla press and into a double gut-buster, landing on either of her opponents’ knees.
There’s a quick transition from that double gut buster into Watson’s next move. He takes Marina’s wrist and uses this grip to pull her arm through her legs. He lifts her into a pumphandle that is then transitioned into another gust buster straight across his knee. Marina bounces off the leg of one of opponent only to be caught in the clutches of another. The moment she stands up clasping at her ribs, it’s her back that takes a brutal blow via the running STO unleashed by Orlando.
Frankie: Daaaaaamn, that was cold son, that was off the chain!
Sparkles: Orlando and Watson really are making for a heck of a team.
Greyson: Yeah, but they only got this opening thanks to the repeated interferences of their teammates at ringside. I really wish Karen McBride were in attendance at the moment, otherwise you’d be damn sure she’d put her foot down and get Monarchy away from ringside. I mean, this is turning into a damned six on two handicap match.
Marina is in a bad way, though her partner is now in a position where she can actually be of some assistance. Victoria is back on the apron and shouting for a tag. Unfortunately Marina isn’t in a position to make it. Right now the only position she’s in is at the mercy of Monarchy. Orlando takes Marina by the ankle, gives it a lift and sends her rolling over backwards so that her legs end up caught in the clutches of another of her opponents. Watson lifts Marina into another wheelbarrow, looking to complete the move with a suplex. Though Marina won’t allow herself to be a victim of the same move twice. In mid-air she reaches back and takes Watson around the neck, going for the bulldog. Orlando races across the ring to catch Marina off guard and prevent her from countering, but instead he catches something else. Marina’s boots press to Orlando’s chest, kicking him back while at the same time pushing off in order to send herself flipping over the shoulder of her captive. Watson is unable to hold on as Marina flies over him and lands on her feet behind his back.
Marina turns away from her opponents and to her partner, desperate to make the tag. She reaches out to slap Victoria’s hand only it’s Victoria’s face that is about to slap the apron. Yet another member of Monarchy runs around ringside and interferes in the match, Kat Kelly grabbing Victoria by the ankle and pulling her legs out from under her. Victoria goes down to ringside but this time she lands straight on her feet. A swift punch then nails Kat straight across the kisser, knocking her back. The rest of Monarchy dash in to back Kat up but are unable to openly interfere now that the referee has his eyes firmly planted on them.
What the official doesn’t see is what’s going on behind his back in the ring. Marina has been caught by the waistband and dragged back into Watson’s arms. He places her in a full nelson, ensuring she’s totally defenseless, unable to use her arms to block the punches and the kicks that Orlando unleashes on her mid-section.
Sparkles: Look behind you ref.
Greyson: The official can only have his eyes in so many places at one time.
Frankie: That’s why it’s always smart to have the numbers advantage.
Kicks, punches and now headbutts tenderize Marina’s mid-section. It isn’t until the referee turns back around that Orlando stops wearing Marina out and stops wearing out his welcome. He exits the ring and leaves Watson to finish off their opponent. He’s about to do just that, Watson going for a half in half suplex. He drops back and throws Marina into the suplex, thinking he’s dumped her straight on top of her skull. That’s NOT where she lands. Instead Marina shows tremendous agility by landing on her feet and then falling back into the ropes. She is just about to run from the cables and build momentum behind a big dive onto the still laid out Watson, but there’s just one set of hands that are preventing her from doing that.
From ringside Alistair Taylor has reached under the ropes and latched onto Marina’s ankle, keeping her from following through with her move. She turns around and swings her boot through the ropes, managing to drive her heel into Alistair’s forehead. The blow knocks Alistair back but it was not delivered in time to prevent Marina from falling victim to the chop block that nails her in the crease of the knee. Watson connects with the move that buckles Marina’s legs and puts her down to all fours.
Greyson: See what I mean, this has just become nothing but a handicap bout.
Frankie: Quit pissing in the pool Lovejoy!
Sparkles: Yeah LOVEJOY!
Greyson: Don’t you two even DARE start that again.
After putting Marina in a prone position, Watson steps past her to his corner, tagging in his partner. Orlando swoops in and latches onto Marina’s hair, using it to slowly pull her up to her feet. With his free hand he blows a kiss to ringside, one that is caught by his wife Taylor Chase.
Orlando: See that? (Points to Tay-Tay) That’s aaaaalllll mine, hahahahaha.
Orlando won’t get a chance to enjoy what’s his when a head cracks him straight in the crotch. Marina drives the top of her skull straight into Orlando’s groin with enough force to break his grasp on her hair and send him staggering back. Marina has just enough space to roll across the ring towards her partner Victoria, reaching out to make the tag to her waiting hand. Once again that had is pulled out of position because Victoria is forced to jump into the air in order to prevent having her leg yanked from beneath her by another interloper. Taylor tries to grab Victoria’s ankle and drag her off the ring apron but she prevents it from happening by leaping over the attacker’s grubby mitts. She then swings her boot from the apron right into Taylor’s forehead, the shot putting her out of position to interfere once again. Victoria turns back to her teammate in time to slap her hand.
Sparkles: The tag has been made.
Greyson: Get in there Victoria.
That might not be so easy considering that Victoria’s attempts to enter the ring are thwarted by Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel. The Tag Team Champions drag Victoria off the apron and away from the squared circle she’s desperate to get into. She lands in front of both Monarchy members, who have interlocked hands and are going for a stereo clothesline. They attempt to behead Victoria though it’s only air that their biceps slice through. Their intended target has ducked, has rushed and has now slid into the squared circle. Just as Victoria slides under the ropes, Marina flies over them. Marina soars over her partner, over the top rope and into a plancha that connects with Kat and Lexy at ringside.
Frankie: STOP DOING THAT!
Victoria crawls across the ring that she’s just entered though she may regret slipping inside. She finds herself crawling straight into Orlando’s clutches. He takes her around the waist and deadlifts her from the canvas into a powerbomb. He is about to connect only to have Victoria slip over his shoulders and slide down his back, catching him by the hips and rolling him up into the sunset flip.
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To Viccy’s dismay her opponent kicks out, prompting her to change strategy and change strategy quickly. If there’s one skill Victoria possesses it’s that innate ability to think on the fly. She rolls back from her pin and to her knees just in time to catch Orlando coming towards her. She catches him with the drop toe hold, planting Orlando’s mug into the ring and allowing her to slip around his leg. She traps him straight in the Boston Crab.
Frankie: Ha….hahahahaha! Victoria actually thinks Orlando will tap out?
Greyson: That could be a very likely scenario given just how….
Frankie: HAHAHAHA! Orlando NEVER taps!
Victoria is about to change that, bending Orlando’s leg at a most gruesome angle. She could be the first to make Orlando submit, if his partner wasn’t interfering. Watson is leaping through the ropes he had been standing on the opposite side of, refusing to play spectator any longer. He flies into the squared circle, or more accurately, he flies into Victoria’s boot. She cracks him straight in the face with a punt that both knocks him out and causes him to straddle the middle rope with his abs. Victoria then takes him around the head, traps him in a facelock and sets him up for a rope hung DDT. The move doesn’t connect, at least not until Marina manages to put a bit more stank on it. She leaps from her corner and to the top rope before flipping from it into a senton bomb across Watson’s back at the exact same time that her partner Victoria drops into the DDT.
The back of Marina’s head bounces off of Watson’s spine and she isn’t stopping there. She keeps on rolling past her opponent, into the ropes and then over them, flying into a crossbody that connects with an unsuspecting Orlando Cruze at ringside.
Greyson: Consider my breath taken away!
Sparkles: You’re not the only one, from the sounds of it everyone in this audience are breathless after that last move.
The crowd has to pick their jaws up off the floor after that last succession of big times moves unleashed by Marina. And the fans aren’t about to be given any time to catch their breath, cause back in the ring Victoria has hit the rope hung DDT on Watson which is then transitioned into the Koji Clutch.
Greyson: Seems that tag move was the last of Watson’s worries.
Sparkles: He’s trapped in a friggin Koji Clutch now.
Frankie: Watson, I swear to God, you had better not even DARE think tapping out is an option.
Victoria leaves Watson little other choice. His hand is lifting into the air and it appears on the brink of slapping the canvas. The referee hovers over this scene, waiting to signal for the bell the second he sees the submission go down. That’s not what he sees though. Instead what the ref witnesses is Lexy Chapel crawling into the ring. This prompts the official to get out of position, cutting Lexy off at the pass and ordering her out of the ring. Behind his back Kat Kelly has crawled into the ring, crawled up behind Victoria and dug her nails straight into her eyes.
Greyson: DAMMIT!
Sparkles: Monarchy are just too much, their numbers are just too strong for any two people to contend with.
Kat has her claws out and she’s got them embedded in Victoria’s eyes. This attack has caused her to break the Koji Clutch in order to grab Kat’s wrists and try to pry fingernails from her pupils. Kat releases her victim of her own accord before rolling from the ring in order to prevent the referee seeing her interference. Victoria can’t see anything, hence why she stands up and walks right into Watson’s step up enzugari. The kick to the back of her head sends a disorientated Victoria twisting into the ropes. She ricochets off of them and into Watson’s arms, finding herself caught with the full nelson face crusher. Victoria’s head bounces off the ring which her shoulders are then pinned against.
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Victoria gets one of those shoulders off the canvas and that’s all it takes to stave off defeat…for now. Watson is about to end this and end this right now. He has Victoria’s head lifted from the canvas and tucked under his seat while throwing his arms out to either side, indicating that it’s time the Insubordination Rules is delivered. The arms of his adversary are hooked and his version of the Angel’s Wings is coming. He just starts to lift Victoria into the air before divine intervention comes in the form of a recovered Marina Valdivia. She runs right up to Watson’s side and goes flipping forward, catching him by the leg in the process. She pulls him away from her partner and then over to his stomach before locking in the Cali Killer.
Frankie: Tell me I’m not seeing this right now!
Greyson: It looked as if Watson was setting up for a big finish and that’s just what we’re getting, only it appears that Watson is the one who’s about to be finished.
Sparkles: He’s trapped in Marina’s Cali Killer.
The Muta Lock variant is firmly established on Watson, who is desperately flailing his arms around in a futile effort to reach the ropes. It seems an escape is impossible, with the lone exception being to submit in order to earn his freedom. However, there’s another avenue of escape, and all it requires is depending on the aid of his allies at ringside. Lexy leaps up to the apron and then past it, scaling the nearest turnbuckle. She had no intention of diving off of it, her true motives becoming clear when the referee moves in to demand that she leave both the corner and the ring. This distraction allows for yet another interference, and it once again comes into the form of Kat Kelly. Only on this occasion when Kat enters the ring she doesn’t do it to rake anyone in the eyes, because her hands are filled with a STEEL CHAIR.
Sparkles: There’s Kat getting in the ring again, with a chair.
Greyson: As if Monarchy needed a greater advantage then the one they already had.
Frankie: Well they’ve got it.
The chair in Kat’s hand never makes contact with anyone in the ring, Victoria isn’t about to let that happen. She dashes towards Kat and grabs the chair straight out of her hands, wrestling it free from her clutches. Kat wisely makes a quick exit from the squared circle, and this time she does so empty handed. The chair she had brought in with her is swung at her heels as she makes her escape. Victoria then throws down the chair, which proved nothing more than another in a long string of Monarchy distractions. Behind her we can see Orlando breaking up the submission her partner has his partner locked in. He then goes dashing at Victoria’s back, going for an axehandle. Victoria only has a split second to think and even less time to react. She sidesteps Cruze, grabs the back of his head and uses his momentum to throw him over the ropes and back to ringside.
Victoria then turns back towards the ring just as Alistair Taylor slides in and boots her to the ribs, proceeding it with a DDT right into the chair. It isn’t until after another Monarchy member has interfered that Lexy finally drops from the turnbuckle and stops distracting the referee. The official turns around to face the action just in time to spot Orlando crawling back into the ring and into the cover on Victoria, hooking her legs.
Greyson: I’m sick….I mean it, I am legitimately SICK.
Sparkles: Monarchy using their superior numbers to guarantee the win here.
The referee slaps the canvas to the loudest jeers of the night.
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That dread you were hearing from the audience, it just changed to delight. Victoria kicks out even after that devastating DDT into the chair. The fact that Victoria kicked out in spite of everything that Orlando and Monarchy have thrown at her leaves Cruze sitting beside her looking as white as Michael Jackson’s ghost.
Greyson: Victoria showing the same will we’ve seen exhibited by her friend and her partner Marina.
Frankie: Save it for a Hallmark card, Lovejoy.
Victoria may have kicked out though that appears to be the only thing she’s capable of after suffering that DDT into the chair. She can’t move, not to help herself or to help her partner. Though Marina might not need much in the way of assistance. She’s up and she’s fighting against some pretty insurmountable obstacles given the fact that she’s fighting against six individuals and doing so without a partner. Nevertheless her forearm cracks Orlando upside the jaw and then her boot collides with the still laid out Watson. Marina no sooner stomps Watson before spinning around and ramming her elbow upside Orlando’s chin once again.
Marina latches onto Orlando’s wrist in the hopes of shooting him off into the ropes, that’s not about to happen. Cruze reverses and instead its Marina sent sailing into the cables. Marina bounces off of them and then goes running into Orlando’s clutches. He catches her and throws her over his head, thinking he’s launched her into a back drop….NOPE. Marina soars over Orlando and into a dropkick that nails his partner to the chest. A totally unsuspecting Watson is caught with the blow that sends him crashing onto his back then ultimately out of the ring all together. The referee goes to check on his condition, once again distracted from the action that is still ongoing behind him.
Orlando takes advantage of this opportunity, grabbing the steel chair off the canvas that Victoria’s head was spiked into. Soon that chair is going to crush Marina’s kidneys. The chair goes swinging towards Marina’s spine but if you thought it would make contact, you obviously don’t know the intended victim well enough. Marina tucks into a roll under the chair and into the ropes lined up behind her. Marina leaps out of the roll and goes leaping to the middle cable, springing back into an elbow aimed at her opponent. Orlando drops the chair just in time to catch Marina hurdling towards him, plucking her straight out of the air and dragging her down straight into the bridging German suplex.
Greyson: What a suplex!
Frankie: The mother of all friggin’ suplexes!
The referee’s attention is back on the action in the ring, coincidentally just in time to make the count.
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It doesn’t matter how impressive Orlando’s German suplex might have been, cause his opponent can still summon the strength to kick out. Orlando might lose his grip on Marina’s waist, but his partner is right there to latch onto her legs. While Marina is still slightly bridged onto the back of one of her shoulders, Watson comes running in, grabs her by the creases of her legs and flips into the jackknife cover.
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It once again takes all of Marina’s reserved energy to pop a shoulder up off the canvas in time to prevent defeat.
Frankie: Come on already!
Greyson: Monarchy just can’t keep either Marina or her partner Victoria down.
It looks as if frustration is starting to take hold of Monarchy and that is a bad thing for their opponents. Orlando and Watson appear to be on the verge of outright concluding this brutal bout, standing side by side and stomping their feet in synchronism.
Greyson: Looks like Watson and Orlando are about to hit their own version of the Superkick Soiree!
Watson is the first to unleash his kick on Marina’s face, but it’s not HER face that the boot hits. At the last second a recovered Victoria runs in and dropkicks the back of Watson’s knee, causing his foot to be shot around and to slap his own partner in the temple. Orlando is sent flailing to the ground while Watson staggers around griping at the back of his knee. He is soon clutching at his throat when Victoria hits him with a powerful leg lariat. Both athletes are down though Victoria is already ascending back to her feet. She points out her next target, and it’s a disorientated, unsuspecting Orlando Cruze. It seems that she could be setting him up for the Vanglorious Victory. She is just about to make the kill, but guess what, that’s NOT happening. Alistair and Lexy don’t let it. They reach into the ring and grab Victoria’s legs, using their grip to drag her from the squared circle.
Greyson: Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Monarchy interfer….HEY WAIT!
What Alsitair and Lexy don’t learn until it’s potentially too late, is that when they pulled Victoria out of the ring it wasn’t the only thing that they dragged from the squared circle. Victoria didn’t exit the ring empty handed, she has a steel chair in her hands and now she’s chasing Monarchy with it.
Greyson: Victoria picked up that chair that was used on her earlier and now she’s chasing Monarchy with it.
Frankie: That psychopath!
Monarchy continue to run away from a chair wielding Victoria. Meanwhile back in the ring Orlando has gotten over that kick upside his skull and is now prepared to deliver a concussing blow of his own on Victoria’s partner. Marina is getting back to her feet with the use of the ropes before Orlando takes her by the wrist and launches her into the cables. Just before she hits the ropes she leaps onto them instead, landing on the middle strand then springing back into an elbow. Once again Marina finds her effort for not, because Orlando reaches out and catches her around the waist. Orlando now throws Marina up into a German suplex, but this time things go horribly awry. Marina slips out of Orlando’s hands and uses her upward momentum to land on top of his shoulders. She then falls forward and pulls her adversary down into the victory roll.
Greyson: A surprise roll up!
Frankie: Kick out you bald bastard!
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Shocked as Orlando may be, he still has the presence of mind to get his shoulder up just a second before taking a loss. There may be nothing he can do to save him though when Marina rolls back onto her feet and then delivers a standing shooting star press. She comes down right on top of Orlando’s ribs and then hooks his leg.
Sparkles: Sensational splash followed by the pin!
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No matter how sensational said splash was, it still didn’t finish Orlando off. The Phenom gets a shoulder up once again in the nick of time to keep this match going. Marina is exhausted but not holding anything back. She’s on her feet yet again and this time she’s looking for something a bit more destructive, the 450 from the top rope. Marina scales the corner and prepares to unleash the California Splash to a standing ovation. Just as she is about to fly off the turnbuckle another of her opponents interferes. Watson leaps up to the apron and puts his hand to Marina’s backside, shoving her off the corner and into the ring where Orlando is back on his feet waiting to catch her. He does catch her, in the sense that her arm wraps around his neck and she drags him down into the tornado DDT.
Sparkles: The 450 blocked but not the tornado DDT!
Greyson: Marina turning chaos into opportunity.
A beleaguered and besieged on all fronts Marina forces herself up from the ring and turns just in time to see Watson springing up onto the top rope beside her. He comes flying off and lands…lands crotch first straight on top of Marina’s knee. The atomic drop sends Watson staggering back into the ropes, gripping at his crotch. Marina is just about to take advantage of her opponent’s preoccupation with his wounded groin but first she has to contend when Taylor Chase interfering. She comes sliding into the ring only to have Marina send her flying from it. She runs in and tries to clothesline Tay only to have her target drop to her knees and cover up. The referee approaches Tay and Marina, forcing them apart. Meanwhile, behind his back Orlando is being fed the ring bell by another of his Monarchy colleagues, Alistair.
Greyson: Watch out Marina!
The warning doesn’t reach Marina’s ears in time. She turns just as the ring-bell comes hurdling towards the back of her head. It’s just then that Marina’s reflexes take over. She ducks the shot from the bell, turns to Orlando’s back and shoves him along into the ropes. He ends up falling into his wife Tay and the two take a tumble through the cables to the outside of the ring.
Sparkles: Marina manages to avoid calamity yet again!
Frankie: How in the hell are she and Victoria holding their own against Monarchy?
The speed and resourceful Marina has displayed has kept her alive in this match thus far. She doesn’t just want to live though, she wants to thrive. She kicks the ring-bell from the squared circle and then turns to a hunched over Watson. The second she grabs his arm she finds out why he was doubled over, it was to hide the fact that a pair of brass knuckles are wrapped around his fist. The weapon that was thrown into the ring by Kat Kelly collides straight with Marina’s brow. The blow knocks Marina to her back while Watson drops down and puts his shoulders into the creases of her knees.
Greyson: Did Watson have something over his knuckles?
Frankie: Of course not, he just has a devastating right hand.
Sparkles: Uhhh, I think Sparkles saw something on his fist.
Frankie: Alright agent Mulder, keep on ‘wanting to believe.’
The moment the referee drops to the canvas and makes the count, Watson puts his legs back and places them over the middle rope for added leverage. Marina’s partner has no idea that the pin is happening in the squared circle, Victoria is still chasing Lexy Chapel around the ringside area with a steel chair threatening the Monarchy member.
Greyson: Your partner Victoria! Help your partner!
Nothing can help Marina at the moment after having brass knuckles bust her upside the brow.
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The dread in the arena is as thick as the clog in Louie Anderson’s arteries. The crowd is deeply saddened by the fact that Marina couldn’t get her shoulder up in time and that she has fallen victim to Monarchy’s numbers.
Frankie: That’s how it’s done! That’s how you get it done! Alright, Monarchy!
Greyson: They cheated their asses off, Frankie. They shouldn’t be happy with this win at all.
Frankie: You take it any way you can get it. Besides, it’s not Monarchy’s fault that Marina has a glass jaw.
Greyson: I’m telling you, Watson used some time of weapon on Marina.
Frankie: Stop with your silly conspiracy theorems.
One of Watson’s arms are raised aloft in victory, but the other remains conspicuously folded across his stomach, making sure that his hand never comes into view. Orlando staggers into his partner’s side and gives Watson a big hug. In the process the brass knuckles that were wrapped around Watson’s fingers are handed to Orlando, who quickly hides them by tucking the weapon into his trunks.
Greyson: There! There I just saw it!
Frankie: You didn’t see shit.
Sparkles: It looks like Watson handed something to Orlando.
Frankie: You two are pathetic. You’ll do anything to tear Monarchy down.
Orlando and Watson continue to celebrate their jaded victory, or at least they would if Victoria weren’t headed in their direction clutching a steel chair. She holds the weapon back and threatens to swing it at Watson and Orlando, who quickly evade the blow by means of vacating the ring. Once they’re outside of the squared circle, Watson, Orlando, Taylor, Alistair, Lexy and Kat have a proper celebration to commemorate their ‘win.’
Greyson: When Marina recovers from that blow on her noggin, you better believe there is going to be hell to pay for this.
Marina sits up holding the goose-egg protruding from her forehead and glares past her partner Victoria. Her eyes are seething as they settle on the six individuals who go on celebrating as they back up the ramp.
Orlando: We told you! We told you all (screaming at the fans) that everyone who conspired against us two weeks ago would pay!
Taylor: And Karen McBride is NEXT.
Tay looks straight into the nearest camera, getting as uncomfortably close to it as possible.
Taylor: You hear that Karen? I want you in this ring TONIGHT! This ends with YOU!
Attention turns to backstage correspondent Mark Comeau, occupying the designated interview zone and clasping hold of a microphone. It appears that he is without a guest, though that has a pattern of changing and quick. For the moment he speaks straight into the camera set up in front of him.
Comeau: Seems we’ve had an atmosphere conducive to some good ole’ fashion chaos here tonight on Riot, and I guess we can thank groups such as Monarchy and New Eden for that. From the sounds of the challenge just issued by Taylor Chase, things are not going to get any easier as the night progresses. Will Karen McBride accept Taylor’s demand to meet her inside of that ring later tonight? That’s the question on the minds of the fans and the roster. However, I have it on very good authority that Mrs. McBride is not yet here in the Manhattan Center hence why I cannot get a word with the Principle Owne….
Voice: AAAAHHH!
The roar is loud, the roar is primal, the roar is downright blood curdling. Who gives a damn about interviews anymore, Comeau is only concerned with self-preservation. He cowers at the image of a door completely breaking off its hinges and falling over into the very same hallway where the correspondent is stood. What was hurdled into the door in order to tear it down? The body of Flash Silver.
Holt: Tisk-tisk-tisk, big mistake kid.
Complains Ricky Holt, who steps out of the very same room that a mutilated Flash was just tossed from. Behind Ricky stands a man smeared in feces, the man responsible for the blood that is trickling down Flash’s cheeks, the man that has come to be known as Teiji Shintaro. At an even greater distance stands Eric O’Flaherty, the grand overseer of all this violence. The swig he just took from a silver flask makes this show all the more entertaining. The mildly inebriated O’Flaherty watches as Holt crouches beside the blood covered features of Silver.
Holt: Hopefully next time when my boy Teiji (points to the man stood over his shoulder covered in his own fecal matter and self-inflicted wounds) enters a room you don’t eyeball him. Otherwise, he might just add those eyes of yours to his collection.
Holt wears a big old smile, especially when giving a condescending smack to the unconscious Flash’s face.
The World Champion has seen better days. It appears that the injuries she sustained several weeks ago continue to plague her. Her arm is presently extended out to her side and although some of the swelling has went down in her shoulder it still doesn’t look to be fully healed. The Trainer that is presently studying Katelyn Buehler’s injuries can tell just at first glance that the champ still has some convalescing to do. Nevertheless he goes through the motions, feeling several parts of her arm, studying her expression to see how she reacts to each of his touches and keeping both her and her injuries exposed to the bright lights of his office. All Katelyn can do is just sit there on the cot and go through the motions.
Katelyn: I feel 100% better.
The Trainer lets his glasses slip down to the tip of his nose so Katelyn can see his disapproving stare.
Trainer: Really? From the looks of it you’re at 50%, TOPS.
Katelyn: I can handle 50%.
Trainer: If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be given the opportunity.
Katelyn: Well it’s not.
The Champion pulls her arm out of the Trainer’s clutches and then grabs the World Title belt that was sitting on the cot beside her.
Katelyn: Do you see this (puts the belt right in front of the Trainer’s face). This is why I’ll still wrestle even if I’m at 50%, 25%, hell 2%. Now do your job Mr. Magoo, tape me up and keep your mouth shut.
The Trainer does as he’s instructed, fixing his glasses, grabbing some tape and applying it to the Champion’s shoulder. As the medic does his job there’s another man waiting outside of the office to do his. Katelyn’s agent Dan Douglas lingers in the hallway and in his possession is a golden talisman.
Douglas: Well (never looking up from the talisman) here goes nothing.
He summons all of his will power to go stepping into the room where he will put the talisman to the test.
Melanie: Kar-Bear, where are you?
It’s been a struggle for Melanie McBride to watch everything that’s gone down here tonight, and an even greater struggle to get her sister Karen to answer her phone. This has to be the twentieth call that Melanie has placed to the Principle Owner in the last hour, though she keeps getting absolutely nothing in terms of a response. She paces back and forth through the office where her sister is SUPPOSED to be, calling the shots and leading the charge against Monarchy’s claim to total dominion over the IWC roster. Karen isn’t here though, and thus far Monarchy’s rule has gone largely unchecked.
Melanie: Look, things have gotten totally out of control tonight. Between New Eden and Monarchy, this place has turned into a friggin zoo. And-and-AAAAND Taylor Chase is threatening to call YOU out. You need to get here, get here QUICK!
A despondent Melanie lowers the phone from her ear and looks longingly at the screen, hoping to at least get a text message notification.
Howe: Seems you have your hands full.
Melanie tightens her grip on her phone when hearing the voice of Martin Howe III, the man who advises the most destructive force in all of professional wrestling, the female juggernaut, the destroyer of beauty, Miss Jon.
Melanie: What makes you think you have the right to just come waltzing right in here?
Howe: Please (slowly waving his open hands through the air), I didn’t mean to create a stir with my intrusion. Actually, that’s what I’m here to prevent.
Melanie: I don’t get your meaning.
Howe: I understand it’s been a troublesome night for your sister’s administration, so let me take this opportunity to relieve some of the pressure she might be under. Two weeks ago things got out of control and it led to my client, Miss Jon, making the unfortunate mistake of striking Karen.
Melanie: She almost broke my sister’s jaw.
Howe: Believe me, you should be thankful that she didn’t do far worse. Anyway, I’m promising you right here and right now that there will be no repeat of what happened two weeks ago. Tonight my client will be on her absolute best behavior.
Melanie: Ooookay?
Howe: And I trust that your sister will take notice of this?
Melanie: I’m sure Karen will.
Howe: Good. Because I’m sure once Karen has seen that Miss Jon can play by the rules, that it will sway the Principle Owner into giving my client the title matches she deserves.
There it is, Howe’s ulterior motive. He leaves the room and allows his words to ruminate with McBride. The camera doesn’t stay with Melanie, it follows Howe right out of the office and into the hallway. As he gingerly strides down the corridor he runs into the last people he expected to cross paths with. It’s been a long time since anyone has seen either Leviticus and the Great Ba-Bam, which makes their presence here this evening all the more surprising. The two are eagerly moving towards the Principle Owner’s office, but have to get past Howe first.
Leviticus: Hey Chief. What number you get?
Howe’s face puckers into a look of confusion.
Howe: Number?
Leviticus: Yeah, my bud and I are here to draw our numbers for the Rumble.
Howe: Hmmm, I think you two might be mistaken. The Rumble isn’t for another four we…..
Leviticus: What? Ooooh, I get it. You and all those other bottom-feeders in the locker-room don’t think Ba-Bam and I deserve to be in the Last Stand Rumble? Am I right? You think just because we haven’t been on television in months that we haven’t earned our spots in the Rumble? Well you’re wrong bozo! Now get out of our way, we’ve got balls to grab.
Leviticus doesn’t care how that sounded. He and Ba-Bam storm right into the office that Howe just vacated, the pair harboring the belief that numbers for the Last Stand Rumble are presently being drawn.
The opening tracks of “Unsettling Differences” play over the PA system leading to an UNSETTLING response from the fans in attendance. The crowd is already getting squeamish and yet neither Ricky Holt nor Teiji Shintaro have done a thing as of yet, other than head down the ramp. Holt stares out from behind his trademark shades while obnoxiously smacking his teeth around his gum. What Teiji is chewing isn’t gum, it’s something a lot more tasty, a patch of his own flesh.
Sparkles: Looks like we’re about to have the censors cut the feed again.
Frankie: Why? Was the show going to do an extreme close up on Karen McBride’s face?
Greyson: Cheap shot Frankie, very cheap.
Frankie: I like my insults just like I like my ladies.
Greyson: Two weeks ago Ricky Holt released his “REAL” wrestler on the IWC landscape and let’s just say that the behavior of Teiji Shintaro pushed the censors past their breaking point.
Sparkles: He mauled an unsuspecting Tyson Galloway with his fists, his fork, and Sparkles can’t believe I’m about to say this, with his FECES.
Frankie: Holt and Teiji made a lasting impression.
Greyson: I’m sure they plan on doing the same here tonight.
We don’t see Teiji dissecting either an unsuspecting victim or himself at the moment, we just see him crouching down in the corner of the ring anxiously leaning from one side to the other. He’s got an insatiable lust for violence and it MUST be appeased. Stood out front and center is where we find Ricky Holt, microphone in his hand.
Holt: A lot of those kids back there (points in the general vicinity of the locker-room) tend to make some pretty outlandish promises. They prattle on about winning the Rumble, about main eventing Invictus and some other such tomfoolery. But how many of those spunky little shits actually do as they promise, and how many of them are just blowing smoke up your assholes? You see, it’s rare, innnnncreeedibly rare that any of those big talkers actually back up their words.
An UNSETTLING smile comes to Holt’s face.
Holt: But me, I’m not that type of person. When I make a promise, you better believe I’m going to back it up. (Arches his brow when hearing the crowd groan) You have every single right to be cynical. You’ve heard this song and dance before from a long list of ‘talents.’ Guys like this Matthew Bowden kid, who came waltzing down this ramp two weeks ago swearing he’d beat Lexy Chapel then getting a mouth full of superkick for his troubles. Guys like the ‘immortal’ Johnny Kingdom who swore and swore that he was going to inject some life into this company but thus far has only managed to inject shit into his depends. So yeah, you’ve heard people make promises but you haven’t seen them follow through. That all changed two weeks ago. Cause for months I’ve vowed that I was going to grace this sport with a REAL wrestler and dammit if I didn’t deliver!
Teiji Shintaro tucks into a forward roll across the canvas, ending up kneeling at Holt’s side.
Holt: Two weeks ago I brought you THIS specimen, this human oddity, this Japanese NIGHTMARE, Teiji Shintaro, and boy did he ever make an impact. An impact that is SEERED into your minds. When you close your eyes at night, what is it you see? I’ll tell you what you see, its Teiji taking the points of a fork to rip the skin clean off Tyson Galloway’s face. When you’re in quiet places, what is it you hear? I’ll tell you what you hear, it’s the sound of Tyson squeeeeeeeeaaaling and beeeeegging for leniency. None of you people are gonna forget it, the sights and the sounds of Teiji’s debut in the IWC.
Drool actually drips from the corners of Teiji’s mouth when thinking back to what he did to Tyson.
Holt: I stuck to my promise just like I always do. I vowed to give you a real wrestler and that’s what you got. Now I’m making another promise that I’ll keep, a promise to give you people a proper main event to the much hyped mega-event, Invictus (here comes the obligatory point to the Invictus banner hanging from the rafters). 2016 will mark the first time in the history of Invictus, that a REAL main event takes place featuring a REAL wrestler. Ricky Holt WILL challenge for the World Championship, and I’m going to do it by throwing however many bodies it takes over the top rope in the Last Stand Rumble.
Holt slowly approaches the ropes while staring into the hard camera.
Holt: I will win the Rumble…
He leans over the cables to make sure the camera is as close to his face as it can possibly be.
Holt: I promise.
Flash: You want to talk promises?
For the first time in his entire pitiable existence, Flash Silver actually gets CHEERED. Both he and fellow wrestler Eric Sailes come waltzing on out to the stage with hardware in hand. Extending from either of their palms are kendo sticks, weapons they hope will help even the odds against the duo inside the squared circle.
Greyson: Flash Silver coming out here, he was the most recent victim of Teiji Shintaro and Ricky Holt.
Sparkles: Plus he’s got Eric Sailes with him, he got blindsided by Holt’s crew two weeks ago.
Frankie: What do these two think they’re going to accomplish?
Greyson: From the looks of the weapons in their hands, I think we can figure that out.
Flash threateningly points a kendo stick straight at Teiji and an amused Holt.
Flash: Well Sailes and I have a promise of our own. We’re promising to enter the 2016 Last Stand Rumble, and furthermore, I’m promising that I’m personally going to eliminate you from it.
This ‘promise’ actually has Holt rolling around on the canvas clutching his stomach he’s laughing so forcefully.
Flash: Yeah, go on, just go on laughing terrorist, cause you’ll never laugh again once Sailes and I come down that ramp and shove these kendo sticks straight up your pooper. Come on Eric!
Yes Flash did just say the word ‘pooper,’ and he is headed down the ramp with Sailes hitched to his side.
Greyson: From the looks of things we’ve got ourselves an impromptu match guys.
Frankie: Only you would be delusional enough to think that what we’re about to see is a match.
Sparkles: Sailes and Flash want to get themselves a piece of Holt, and a piece of Teiji.
Frankie: Whatever piece Teiji hasn’t already torn off himself.
RICKY HOLT & TEIJI SHINTARO VS. FLASH SILVER & ERIC SAILES
Although Flash Silver and Eric Sailes marched upon the ring all full of bravado they find themselves a bit hesitant once they’ve actually reached said ring. They immediately start rethinking their challenge when seeing the crazed look in Teiji’s eyes and the substance he is starting to smear across his chest. Let’s just say that that substance is brown, and every bit as flatulent as you would think it is.
Frankie: Oh boy, Flash, bud, you not only made by far and away the dumbest challenge of your life, but you’ve selected the worse tag team partner in history.
Greyson: Looks as if both he and Sailes are second guessing themselves.
Sparkles: Too late to back out now.
Flash directs Sailes, telling him to go around to the other side of the ring. The order is followed and once Sailes is in position both he and Flash storm the ring from opposite ends. They slide in with kendo sticks griped tight. They may never get a chance to use those weapons because they are instantly greeted by boots the moment they’ve gotten into the squared circle. Holt is clubbing away at the back of Flash’s skull while Teiji is slamming his boot across the face of Sailes.
Frankie: You know, Sparkles, you said it’s too late to back down, but it’s never too late to run.
Sparkles: Sparkles would advise doing just that.
Holt yanks Flash to his feet by his hair and is about to give him another face full of knuckles. That’s not about to happen, cause Flash finds himself on the receiving end of a blow straight across the ribs with the kendo stick. The strike to the abs has Holt stooped over, exposing his back to another stiff strike from Flash’s weapon. On the other side of the ring Sailes is fairing much better than he did with his initial assault. The very top of his kendo stick rams against his attacker’s stomach, driving deep into Teiji’s gut. Sailes then steps back from his opponent and swings his kendo stick as hard as he possibly can, cracking Teiji between the eyes.
Greyson: There we go. Sailes and Flash getting on the offensive.
Sparkles: Good thing they brought those kendo sticks out here with them.
One such kendo stick is placed across Holt’s throat, first grounding him and then choking him. Flash kneels down at Holt’s side and puts all the pressure he can muster into strangling his adversary. Teiji is in bad shape himself, receiving a second blow from Sailes’ kendo stick right between the eyes. The shot SHOULD rattle his skull, it SHOULD send him toppling to the canvas, it SHOULD have some type of effect on him, but it doesn’t. Teiji smiles with his teeth crusted in brown fecal matter and then slaps his fist into his own forehead, demanding another blow, insisting on another strike. Sailes once again follows orders, this time from his opponent as opposed to his partner. The kendo stick is driven for a third time into Teiji’s face, but the strike yet again fails to do much in the form of damage.
It doesn’t hurt Teiji, it just fires him up. He’s now compelled to grab the kendo stick still in Sailes’ hands and yank him forward straight into a thumb across his opponent’s throat. Sailes goes down to the canvas clasping at his neck and gasping for air. Teiji makes it harder for Sailes to breathe when he drops a head straight into his lungs.
On the other side of the ring Flash is swinging his kendo stick down into the stomach of a laid out Holt, hitting him again and again and again. He treats Holt like a piñata on Cinco de Mayo. This succession of blows stops when Holt rolls out from under them and into the ropes. He uses the cables to reach his feet, standing up just as the cane collides against his shoulder. Holt doubles over in pain while Flash barrels in to deliver a knock out, and potentially concussing shot. Instead of hitting his opponent’s head, Flash collides with Holt’s shoulder, finding himself back dropped over the ropes to the exterior of the ring.
Teiji sees Flash fall to the outside and quickly responds to his opponent’s descent. With delight Teiji scales the corner to the top rope then comes flipping off it with a senton bomb to the OUTSIDE of the ring. He hurts himself just so he can hurt Flash, doing significant damage to both men.
Sparkles: Look at Teiji….
Frankie: But don’t do it that long.
Greyson: He’s loving the hell out of this.
Sparkles: Mutilating his opponent and himself.
The blows to Sailes’ body make it complicated for him to fend off the demented plots of his adversary. Holt has a kendo stick in his hands as he backs up a corner, reaching the middle rope. He comes flying off and in the process swings the kendo stick directly into Sailes’ crotch. The blow just bent more than one stick, evident by the fact that Sailes is flopping around cupping his very tender region.
Greyson: There shall be no future generations of Sailes.
Frankie: I’m sure we’re all thankful for that.
The condition of Sailes’ groin is about to be the least of his worries. Teiji is reaching beneath the squared circle, first fetching a trashcan that makes its way into the ring and then snatching hold of a table.
Greyson: Teiji’s got a table. Jesus Christ, Teiji’s got a friggin table!
Frankie: This is gonna get REEEEEAL bad.
The table is slanted diagonally from the mats to Teiji’s hands, trying to get a good grip on it. He is unaware that Flash has recovered, leaning the bulk of his weight against the ringside barricade. Suddenly Flash summons the courage to jump onto that barricade, run across it and then dive off into a dropkick. His boots nail the table and drives it back into Teiji’s body. The impact sends Teiji staggering from one table to another, falling right in front of the commentators.
Greyson: Oh shit….
Frankie: Literally. I can smell it and based on the odor I think Teiji has been dining on some fine White Castle American cuisine.
Teiji tries to back away from the announce table only he doesn’t get very far on account of the chair shot that cracks him over the upper back. First Flash swings the chair and then he places it under his armpit. He leaps onto the barricade once again only to come flying off with an elbow drop while the chair was stuck under his arm. He comes down right across the back of Teiji’s head, sandwiching the skull of the Nightmare between the chair and the announce table.
Frankie: Where is Flash getting this from?
Back inside of the ring Holt has hold of the trashcan that his partner fed to him earlier. He steps towards a kneeling Sailes and swings wildly. The trashcan smashes him right across the top of his head, leaving him all together paralyzed by the impact. Holt further employs the trashcan, sliding it down over his opponent’s head and his upper body, trapping him inside. Holt then leaves his feet, swinging around into a kick that drives the trashcan into the back of Sailes’ head.
Meanwhile at ringside we see Flash standing on top of the announce table but preparing to leap from the top of it. He looks ready to fling himself into Teiji only to stop when realizing that his intended target is smeared in fecal matter. Flash cringes at the thought of getting himself covered in shit. So instead of leaping into the laid out Teiji, Flash reaches for him. He kneels down on the announce table and reaches out, grabbing Teiji by the hair and expecting to ease him back up to his feet. Nothing is ever easy when it comes to Teiji. The Nightmare spits foul and fragrant feces right into Flash’s eyes.
Frankie: Ewww, ahhhh, fucking gross!
Sparkles: Some of it hit Sparkles, oh my God, some of it hit Sparkles!
Greyson: We’re going to have to cover ourselves in slickers from now on.
The brown mist has Flash blinded and writhing across the top of the announce table. Teiji takes this moment to approach the table that he dragged out from under the squared circle, setting it up beside his visually challenged opponent. Maniacal laughter is emanating from Teiji as he climbs up onto the announce table where he places Flash in a front chancery.
Greyson: Oh lord, there is literally no way to tell what Teiji has planned now.
Sparkles: All Sparkles does know is that there’s shit, shit EVERYWHERE!
Teiji doesn’t just spread fecal matter, he spreads chaos.
The clearly crazed man hoists Flash up and hits him with a brainbuster from the top of one table and through another.
Greyson: OOOOOH GOD IN HEAVEN!
Frankie: Flash is dead, he’s friggin dead dude.
Sparkles: He’s broken in half!
The table shatters just as badly as Flash’s body. He lays comatose amongst the fragments of wood while his opponent sits up with only the whites of his eyes peeking out from behind his mask of fecal matter. The screams of ‘holy shit’ emanating from the audience seems to put Teiji in a trance. His tag team partner is getting equally as destructive. Holt is stomping and stomping at the trashcan that is wrapped around the body of Sailes. But the stomps are just not enough to truly get him off. It’s just not doing it for Holt, he wants something….something more DESTRUCTIVE. The wheels in his head are turning and now he’s come up with something truly reprehensible. With Sailes still trapped inside of the trashcan he’s dragged up and into position for a piledriver.
Greyson: No. Holt’s not going to…he wouldn’t.
Frankie: You don’t know Ricky Holt very well then.
Sparkles: Don’t do it Holt, you’ll kill him.
Teiji has slid into the ring while holding a piece of broken table that he is using to cut into the skin on his own chest. The cuts are every bit as euphoric for Teiji as what he is about to see his partner deliver. The crowd collectively loses their minds at the sight of Holt delivering the flipping piledriver on Sailes, who was STILL trapped inside of the trashcan.
Frankie: AAAAAAAAH!!!
Greyson: Unbelievable! Unbelievable!!
Sparkles: Sailes’ neck has to be broken, it HAS TO BE BROKEN!
The New Dawn Fades has connected and it has just put Sailes in a coma. If you think there is any possible way that he’ll kick out, then you need to slap yourself in the face with a hammer. Holt doesn’t even bother to remove the trashcan that remains wrapped around the body of his fallen opponent, he just lays down right on top of it in order to pin his hapless victim. Teiji continues to watch as the referee makes the count.
1
2
Sailes stood no chance, of either kicking out or possibly ever walking again. Holt doesn’t even bother to celebrate his victory, blowing off Sailes while approaching his partner Teiji. However, Teiji DOES want to celebrate, in his own unique way. He walks right past Holt, barely even acknowledging his presence and then jumps to the top rope. He comes flipping off of into a moonsault that crashes into the trashcan that Sailes is stuck inside.
Greyson: Enough is enough!
Frankie: Flash and Sailes should’ve counted their blessings that they were let off easy the last time they tangled with these two men.
Sparkles: Nobody deserves treatment like this.
Greyson: This match is over dammit!
Teiji kneels beside the mangled can and the mangled man inside of it. His eyes veer to the face of his partner Holt, while his finger points at the nearest turnbuckle. A smile comes to Holt’s face as he nears the corner, steps up it and then comes flying off into a 450 splash. He crashes right into the trashcan and further smashes Sailes as a result.
Greyson: Stop this! Stop this!
Sparkles: Should we call out clowns or something to distract these two raging bulls so that we can cart what’s left of Sailes away?
Frankie: Don’t be silly, Sparkles. There’s NOTHING left of Sailes.
Sailes goes on doing nothing more than twitching and writhing inside of the can that may have to be cut off of him at this rate. All the while Teiji is kneeling beside his mutilated prey while Holt stands over his partner’s back and points straight to the Invictus banner hanging high from the rafters.
Greyson: Is Holt going to main event Invictus?
Sparkles: He’ll have to go through more than just Eric Sailes and Flash Silver to make that happen. He’ll have to go through the entire IWC roster to win the Rumble and qualify for a shot to become the World Champion.
The man with so much flare he has to wear earplugs when making his entrance is presently warming up in the backstage area. Unlike two weeks ago we don’t find Matthew Bowden doing a very ill advised splits, instead he’s simply jogging in place while singing the tune that is being fed into his ears by his IPod.
Bowden: Uptown girl, she’s been living in an uptown world.
Bowden will definitely have quite a career as a professional Karaoke singer if he decides to get out of wrestling.
Comeau: Excuse me, Sir Spectacular….
The earbuds plop out of Bowden’s head as he turns to acknowledge correspondent Mark Comeau.
Bowden: Didn’t we agree on Mr. EXCITEMENT?
Comeau: (Pauses for thought) Uhhhh, I can’t remember what I ate for breakfast, let alone what you demanded I call you when we talked two weeks ago.
Bowden: We talked two weeks ago? I thought I got interviewed by your better half, Susie Moore.
Comeau: No, everyone just HOPES their interviewed by Susie.
Bowden: Meh, I could give or take, unless she’s wearing something real low cut.
Comeau: Bowden, we just heard Ricky Holt….
Bowden: Ooooh great, this guy’s making headlines again? What stinky thing he do this time?
Comeau: Well he just vowed to win the upcoming Last Stand Rumble while also kind of throwing some back handed insults your way.
Bowden: Awww, you mean the mighty Ricky Holt dubbed me worthy of a name drop?
Comeau: That he did. He pretty much insulted you based on your failure to defeat Lexy Chapel two weeks ago.
Bowden: You know, (wagging finger at Comeau) between you and that other guy with dentures (referring to Johnny Kingdom), I’ve been hearing a lot about Holt lately. And nothing I hear is good. First he implies that guys like me and everyone else in the locker-room are not REAL wrestlers and now he’s calling me out for losing to Lexy two weeks ago? The brass ones on this guy. He doesn’t even know me. But-but-but you know what, if he wants to learn a little bit more about yours truly, and see what a REAL wrestler REALLY is, then you can tell him to watch my match later tonight.
Comeau: Alright, I’ll relay the message.
Informs Comeau before going to walk away. He doesn’t get very far before he’s grabbed by the sleeve of his jacket.
Bowden: Just one second (turns Comeau back to face him). Make sure that when you tell Holt to watch my match that you refer to me as Mr. Adrenaline….
Comeau: Ugh, gotcha.
Comeau goes to leave again only to continue finding his sleeve snagged on Bowden’s hand.
Bowden: AND you might also want to refer me to as the winner of the 2016 Last Stand Rumble.
Stagehand: Mrs. Silverstone?
The very same young man that was seen two weeks prior hand delivering a letter written by agent Tabitha Silverstone to her client Andre Jordan now faces a different task. He’s standing outside Tabitha’s dressing room, trying his best to summon the courage to go inside.
Tabitha: Come on in….
The distant voice of Tabitha carries from her room and into the hall. After taking a deep breath the Stagehand walks inside and finds himself facing a folding panel divider. Tabitha is presumably standing behind it and is in the process of getting herself changed. Like a true gentleman the Stagehand averts his eyes to the floor.
Tabitha: What can I do for you?
She multi-tasks, talking while dressing.
Stagehand: Ummmm, I don’t know quite how to say this….
Tabitha: I don’t have a lot of time, so out with it.
Stagehand: (Another deep breath) Alright, I know what happened to your client Andre Jordan.
The silhouette of Tabitha’s body that can be seen through the panel room divider suddenly stops moving.
Tabitha: Do you?
Stagehand: Yes, and I know you had something to do with his abduction.
Tabitha: Really? Well aren’t you a regular Sherlock Holmes?
Stagehand: I delivered that letter you told me to give to Andre….
Tabitha: Yeah, so? What does that prove?
Stagehand: I also saw you go into Mika Kozlov’s dressing room, and then later that night I saw Mika and Borislav leaving the parking lot with Dre.
Tabitha: Interesting. Why didn’t you notify the authorities?
Stagehand: Because, well, Mrs. McBride was preoccupied dealing with Monarchy, so…..
Tabitha: What do you want?
Stagehand: I’m sorry?
Tabitha: You didn’t tell the Boss because you want something, something she wouldn’t give you. You want a little monetary incentive to keep your mouth shut, right?
Stagehand: I….well….it wouldn’t hurt.
Tabitha: Of course not.
Stagehand: But maybe you can satisfy my curiosity first. Why are you doing this to your own client?
Tabitha: I’m not doing this to my client, I’m doing it FOR my client. He needs Mika Kozlov’s influence. He needs her to make him just as dark, just as ruthless, just as vicious as she is.
Finally Tabitha emerges from behind the divider, stepping into the light and revealing that her body is covered in ‘wrestling gear?’
Tabitha: Now let’s get down to brass tax. I’m a busy woman….
Stagehand: Are you planning on…..? (Gestures to her gear)
Tabitha: Doing whatever it takes to show how much I care about my clients? Absolutely.
Deanna: What an amazing ride this has been….
Selena: It’s been WILD.
Corrects the Queen of Wrestling Champion Selena Frost as she strolls along down the corridor with her much beloved Deanna Springs. The newlyweds waltz hand in hand, deeply enjoying one another’s company.
Deanna: First we finally tie the knot….
Selena: In the most beautiful ceremony I could ever envision.
Deanna: Then two weeks ago you beat Alistair Taylor…..
Selena: In the most brutal Steel Cage match I’ve ever competed in.
Deanna: And now tonight you’re in a triple threat match where you have the chance to beat the World Champion.
Selena: I know….
Deanna: Hmmm, you don’t sound very enthusiastic about that last part.
Selena: No…I mean, yeah….no-no….I mean….I don’t know what I mean.
Deanna: What’s going through your head?
Selena: I’m excited for the opportunity to face Katelyn and further along my career, but it’s the World Champion….Do you honestly think I’m ready?
Deanna: Without a doubt. And rather you win or not, at least the IWC is recognizing that your worthy of standing in the same ring and going toe to toe with the World Champion. Plus, it gives you a chance to give this title (slides palm down the Queen of Wrestling Title sitting over Selena’s shoulder) even more exposure.
Selena: I do want to make this belt stand out….
Deanna: So you see, it’s a win/win situati….
This sweet conversation ends on the most bitter of notes. A steel pipe wallops Selena right in the upper back and the blow instantly takes her down to the floor. In the process of falling over Selena unintentionally bumped into her wife, sending Deanna staggering back and falling against the wall. Neither lady is able to stop Selena’s attacker from swinging the pipe down over the spine of the Queen of Wrestling Champion. And who is that attacker? Well it’s impossible to tell considering that their face is tucked under a black ski mask while a leather jumpsuit clings to the curves of her body.
Desmond: Did I forget to register a wedding gift?
Chuckles replace the sound of steel on bone. An amused Desmond Drake strides confidently to the side of the mysterious woman who just ambushed Selena.
Desmond: How negligent of me.
He reaches down and picks up the Queen of Wrestling Title belt that fell out of Selena’s hands.
Desmond: Let me make it up to you by giving you the best gift possible. My new friend here (pats the masked woman on her lower back) and I will do what you can’t, and put this championship (raises the Queen of Wrestling Title) on the map. Ciao.
Drake and the masked lady walk away with Selena’s title in their possession. As much as she yearns to pursue the pair she’s unable to do anything other than writhe on the floor. A despondent Deanna crawls up beside her and takes her wife’s head into her hands.
Just when the fans thought they had seen enough of Monarchy we now hear the theme song of one of its most prolific members playing over the PA system. Orlando Cruze comes walking out to the stage and he is on a mission. Stood behind him are a sweaty Ryan Watson and an always angered Alistair Taylor. The three Monarchy members start to walk down the ramp together but Orlando suddenly stops, turns around and puts his palms up to his partners in crime. He politely asks them to go backstage while he heads in the opposite direction, traversing the ramp on his way to the ring.
Sparkles: Selena Frost just blindsided backstage by some masked assailant….
Frankie: All under the direction of Dessie D.
Sparkles: Looks like the issues between Desmond Drake and Selena Frost are not over.
Greyson: And neither are the issues between Monarchy and the Riot brand of the IWC.
Sparkles: Orlando Cruze headed out our way, and did you notice that he sent his posse to the back.
Frankie: Sparkles, you soooo need an anatomy lesson, men don’t have posses, if we did we’d never leave the house.
Greyson: After everything Orlando and Monarchy have done here tonight, I’m really not looking forward to finding out what brings him to the ring now.
Regardless of rather the commentators want to discover Orlando’s motives or not, their about to hear them. He’s got a mic in hand that he’s smacking upside his palm to test.
Orlando: I want to make sure even you fans sitting all the way up there in the cheap seats can hear this. All night long Monarchy have been forcing the cast of characters that put their hands on us two weeks ago to answer for their transgressions. That trend will continue later on when my smoking hot….and I mean SMOOOOOKING HAWT, wife, comes out to this ring and challenges the Principle Owner to a fight. But see, the security we beat down earlier, and Karen McBride who’ll be beat down later tonight, aren’t the only ones who are deserving of Monarchy’s wrath. There’s another no good piece of shit back there in that locker-room who put their hands on both myself and my wife two weeks ago. And the fact that he attacked my lady shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, considering that this guy has a penchant for beating women. Isn’t that right, Andre Jordan!?!
The name gets a hell of a response from the fans, and that reaction only makes Orlando all that more bitter.
Orlando: (Speaking through his grinding teeth) Andre, I’m getting real sick and tired of you hiding from me. When Monarchy and I put together a list of all the people we were going to target tonight, yours was at the top of it. Now I’m sick of waiting to cross your name off. Stop laying low, stop cowering behind Tabitha’s dress and sending your friends Marina and Victoria out to fight your battles for you. Grow a set, come out here and FIGHT ME!
The microphone hits the floor and Orlando hopes it won’t be the last thing he tosses to the canvas. If Andre comes out, Orlando will send him crashing down too. Unfortunately, Orlando has no idea that Andre is still in the clutches of Mika Kozlov, meaning he’s unable to answer this impromptu challenge.
Greyson: I’m speechless….
Sparkles: Hi Speechless, I’m Sparkles, hahahahaha.
Frankie: My boy Orlando Cruze stepping up big here tonight.
Greyson: He wants to continue the war that he’s been waging with Andre Jordan for the latter months of 2015.
Sparkles: We saw them briefly go at it on the last Riot, and if Orlando has his way, they’ll keep on going at it right now.
Greyson: I’m surprised Orlando wants a fair one on one fight with Dre, having sent his Monarchy brethren to the back.
Frankie: Why does that shock you? Orlando is a stand-up guy.
The camera cuts to the guerilla position, revealing several stacked crates with two men trying to conceal their bodies behind them. Alistair Taylor and Ryan Watson, the very same guys that Orlando presumably sent to the locker-room were actually redirected to the guerilla position where they wait to jump Andre Jordan the moment he shows up. They hold pipe wrenches in their hands to inflict even more punishment on him. Unfortunately they never get that opportunity, because Dre is nowhere in sight. Instead there’s another figure who goes walking past both men. We can only see the very top of their head, the camera angled at a position where their face goes unseen. However, the faces of Watson and Alistair are in view as they stand in the distance peeking out from behind the crates they’re using as a hiding place. Both men look very confused at the sight of the individual who just went waltzing past them.
Orlando: Are you going to leave me waiting out here all night, Andre?
Shouts Orlando Cruze who continues to control the squared circle as he anticipates Andre Jordan’s arrival.
Orlando: Cause that’s what I’ll do if that’s what it takes. I’ll sit here in the ring until next month if I hav….
Tabitha: Andre’s not going to answer your challenge.
Informs Andre’s agent, Tabitha Silverstone.
She walks with determination to the stage, showing off the mic in her hand and the wrestling gear that is wrapped around her body.
Greyson: Tabitha Silverstone?
Sparkles: The estranged agent of Andre Jordan and Marina Valdivia.
Frankie: Not that I’m complaining, considering her getup is particularly revealing, but why does Tabitha look like she’s geared up to fight? Last time I checked, she’s not a wrestler.
Greyson: Yeah, and if you believe what she’s been shoveling, she’s suffering from post-concussion syndrome too. Meaning it’s even more concerning that she’d be dressed to fight.
Sparkles: Pfft, yeah right.
Orlando doesn’t look happy to see Tabitha, and he isn’t going to be any happier when he hears what she has to say.
Tabitha: I’m afraid Dre’s indisposed, but then again, you already knew that, didn’t you? See, I told my client Marina earlier tonight that I’d revealed who abducted her friend, who abducted my Andre.
Orlando: What are you babbling about?
Tabitha: It was YOU, Orlando, YOU kidnapped Andre.
Orlando: Are you on meth?
Tabitha: No, what I’m on is a mission to save my client.
Orlando: Dammit (turning blood red) I didn’t come out here to listen to this craziness, I came out here for a fight!
Tabitha: Don’t worry, you’ll get one.
Tabitha starts down the ramp.
Tabitha: You’re going to return Andre, you’re going to tell me where you’ve stashed him.
Needless to say Orlando is surprised to see Tabitha sliding into the ring with him, especially considering what happened the last time the pair shared the same squared circle.
Tabitha: What? You think I’ve forgotten when you stood right there and superkicked me? I haven’t.
Orlando: Not surprising. My superkicks tend to leave a lasting impression. Now stop covering for Andre and send him out here!
Tabitha: I can’t give you what you already have, but I’ll tell you what I CAN give you…..
In a move that absolutely shocks everyone Tabitha throws aside the microphone and then leaps straight at Orlando. She wraps an arm around his thick neck, hangs from it and starts to throw punches upside his face.
Greyson: LOOK AT THIS!
Frankie: Has she gone mental?
Sparkles: Tabitha is attacking Orlando!!
Tabitha keeps punching and punching and punching Orlando until she finds her light body tossed off his heavy frame. She is flung down to her backside by a peeved Orlando. While he’s in the process of pawing at his nose Tabitha leaps onto his back and starts throwing forearms across his shoulders.
Sparkles: She won’t stop!
Greyson: Tabitha is hell bent on standing up for her clients. I didn’t expect this at all.
Sparkles: She truly is showing just how much Andre and Marina mean to her.
An aggravated Orlando reaches back and gets a handful of Tabitha’s hair before giving it a yank. She’s sent flipping over his head and down flat on her ass. Orlando then steps past her rubbing at his neck and nearing the ring ropes.
Tabitha: Get back here! SUPERKICK ME!!
Orlando stops just shy of the cables he was about to slip through. He looks back over his shoulder at the kneeling Tabitha and mouths the words ‘what the fuck?’ It seems he’s legitimately weirded out by the fact that Tabitha is pointing to her jaw and insisting on being the recipient of a superkick. Although he once took such satisfaction in kicking her in the mouth, it appears as if doing it once again does not tickles his fancy.
Orlando: Tell your client to find me once he’s ready to become a man.
Instead of superkicking Tabitha, Orlando’s feet are used for another purpose, carrying him out of the ring and then up the ramp. The snide and sneering Cruze marches to the backstage area only he doesn’t get the chance to reach it without complication. Tabitha dashes from the ring, scurries towards Orlando and leaps onto his back. Once again she’s throwing punches into the side of his skull.
Greyson: Tabitha assaulting Orlando AGAIN!
Sparkles: She really wants to show him just how much her clients mean to her.
Greyson: Is that her true motivation though?
Frankie: I could give a shit. All I care about is the fact that she’s all over and disrespecting our phenom. And what the hell is she spouting on about with all this, Orlando kidnapped Andre nonsense?
It seems Orlando has reached his breaking point. His face is snarled and smoke is almost shooting from his nostrils as he leads Tabitha down from his back and grips tight to her bangs. Tabitha tries to pry her hair free and keep connecting with punches on Orlando’s body, but he manages to keep hold of her hair and at a distance where her fists couldn’t possibly reach him. Finally Orlando pulls back his free hand, balls it up into a fist and looks ready to punch Tabitha straight in the face.
Greyson: Don’t you do it Orlando, don’t you dare do this.
Frankie: She’s asking for it.
Greyson: But she is NOT a wrestler.
Frankie: Then she shouldn’t attack one.
Something goes flying from Orlando, but it’s not a punch, it’s his spit. In an act of total disrespect Orlando spits straight into Tabitha’s face and then throws her down straight to her ass. The fans are all over Orlando like he were the second coming of Justin Bieber. He dismisses their jeers and the effect spitting in Tabitha’s face has on the agent, instead he focuses on walking right to the backstage area. Tabitha goes on sitting across the stage wiping spit from her face and cursing under her breath.
Greyson: Such disrespect shown by Orlando, spitting in Tabitha’s face.
Frankie: Hey, he could have done a thousand times worse, but he’s a gentleman.
Greyson: A gentleman? A GENTLEMAN? Gentleman spit in the faces of women?
Frankie: Some do.
Cameras go to the very same Trainer’s Office where World Champion Katelyn Buehler was seen being treated moments earlier. The door is no longer open, meaning the viewers are unable to see what’s happening inside.
Greyson: Ladies and gentlemen, we understand that behind those closed doors our World Champion is being treated for a slew of injuries. Injuries that caused her to lose to Cassidy Haze two weeks earlier.
Sparkles: There’s even been some speculation that Katelyn Buehler might be going against doctor’s orders by competing here tonight in a triple threat match against Miss Jon and Selena Frost.
Frankie: If she wants to make a total fool of herself again, more power to her.
Greyson: Well we’ve got our broadcast colleague Susie Moore headed to the Trainer’s Office to find out just what the extent of Katelyn Buehler’s injuries are. We’ll have a medical update on Katelyn Buehler coming up shortly.
A candle burns and extends up from the hands of Cindy Todd. The Queen of Chaos, and the Queen of New Eden sits in front of a pentagram drawn in blood. The light from the candle illuminates both this demonic emblem and the black abysses that are her soulless eyes.
Cindy: Come back to me, Mika, return to my side…..
Cindy says….no…she chants.
One of her palms is open and hovering above the occult symbol drawn in human blood upon the very floor she’s sitting Indian style over.
Cindy: Remember where you belong.
It might not be Mika Kozlov at her side, but there is someone who saddles up to Cindy’s hip. An individual every bit as twisted and depraved as the psychotic Russian that Cindy is trying to enchant. Serenity crawls along towards the Queen of Chaos, until she’s close enough to have her face illuminated by the candle light.
Serenity: My Queen, I think you’re being a little…..obsessive.
She speculates while looking at the candle and the pentagram.
Cindy: The word you’re looking for isn’t obsessive, it’s….possessive. I don’t like it when things that belong to me are stolen. Aiken Frost took what’s mine, and I have every right to want it back.
Serenity: Mika will be yours again. Even if I have to go out, find her and drag her back to your side.
Cindy: No need to tax yourself needlessly. My influence over the darkness inside of Mika will lead her back to me.
Serenity: With all due respect, my Queen, it doesn’t seem to be working.
Serenity gestures to the pentagram, the burning candle, and ultimately the lack of Mika Kozlov.
Cindy: Well then, it looks like I’ll just have to cast a stronger spell. But…..
Serenity: But what?
Cindy: It may require us getting our hands a bit…..dirty.
Mika: What will it be Andre, your life might very well depend on your decision?
Andre Jordan has just been faced with a choice that will undoubtedly have dire consequences depending upon his response. He sits wide eyed bound to a chair across the table from Mika Kozlov. She leans towards her captive, digging her fingernails into her armrests and giving Dre the type of stare that could turn the hair on his head white.
Mika: DECIDE!
Andre: Alright…alright…..(sigh)….Red.
Mika: You’ve made a wise decision.
Mika returns to a relaxed position before snapping her fingers. At once her man servant Borislav approaches with a bottle of ‘red’ wine in his hands. A corkscrew is used to pop it open. He pours some of it into a glass for Mika and then into a glass for Andre before ultimately receding back into the shadows of the room.
Mika: Isn’t this fun?
She questions while sniffing at her wine. Finally she takes a crazy straw out of her back pocket and places it in the expensive crystal glass, using it to suck up her high priced drink.
Andre: Yeah, it’s a real gas.
Mika: Splendid. I do want you to enjoy our date.
Dre slouches down into his chair in defeat.
Mika: I think you’ll enjoy our meal. Borislav has been cooking up a storm all evening.
Sadly the feed from the dressing room where this date is going down gets cut off. What the viewers are treated to instead is a scene taking place in the ring, where the tag team known as the Hair-Doodes have just set up shop. Literally, they have a small salon put in place. There’s a chair, a small table covered in hair care products, and a big mirror. In spite of being surrounded by all of these objects, Franz and Froderick are focused entirely on the microphones in their hands.
Franz: Welcome back to Riot….
Greets Franz in his thick Austrian accent.
Greyson: What are these two goobers doing in the ring?
Sparkles: Giving the fans a good excuse to do some channel surfing.
Frankie: Hey, Franz and Froderick aren’t that bad. They styled my fro before the show got underway.
Greyson: Thanks for giving me even more reason to hate them.
Franz and Froderick carefully study the audience, as if looking for someone in particular.
Froderick: After much lobbying we have successfully petitioned the IWC to allow Franz and I to do the ultimate fan service.
Franz: We will be picking one lucky member of the audience to come into this ring and receive a free MAKEOVER!
Greyson: Are you flipping serious?
Froderick: Makeovers seem to be all the rage this New Year, so hows about we capitalize on the madness?
Franz: We will take one special smelly urchin and make them a beautiful ballerina.
Froderick: So which of you grotesque oddities wish to go from ugly duckling to breathtaking swan?
Franz: How about Mrs. Cool-Aide?
They point out a mildly overweight woman in the front row.
Froderick: No-no Franz, a woman that size would take us hours and too much product to makeover.
Franz: Yes, and the IWC only gave us one chair, which she would no doubt exceed the weight limit for.
Froderick: There are plenty of hideous people here in Manhattan, surely we can find another one.
Franz: Ahhh, look there Froderick, look at that Gremlin right there.
Another fan is singled out, this one with several pockmarks in his cheeks.
Froderick: We are stylists Franz, not miracle workers.
Franz: Yah.
Thankfully, for the confidence level of the fans, Franz and Froderick find themselves silenced by the lyrics of Matthew Bowden’s theme music. The fans are reinvigorated at the sight of the hot up and coming soon to be mega-star. They are all the more receptive to his arrival given the fact that Bowden’s descent down the ramp has put an end to the insults of the Hair Doodes.
Frankie: How disrespectful.
Greyson: I agree, Franz and Froderick definitely lack social graces.
Frankie: What? No! I’m talking about Matthew Bowden’s interruption. I mean, here the Hair Doodes are agreeing to makeover one of these uggos and do it for free, and Bowden comes out to disrupt their charitable activities.
Greyson: The Hair Doodes were doing nothing more than insulting the fan-base and from the looks of it Bowden has had enough.
Once in the ring Bowden’s fists clinch up and prepare to give the Hair Doodes his own type of makeover.
Froderick: It looks like we have a winner, Franz.
Franz: Yah.
Froderick: (Points at Bowden) And he has given us much to work with.
Franz: It is going to be a long night.
Froderick: Please, sit down.
The chair that is planted in the center of the ring is now designated for Bowden. Before he plops himself in it Bowden looks to the crowd with a smirk on his face, seemingly asking them for their opinion. They definitely don’t want to see Bowden get a makeover from the Hair Doodes, but he decides nevertheless to play along with the stylists. He makes himself comfortable in the chair and even goes as far as to brush his hair back from his shoulders.
Froderick: Where do we start Franz?
Franz: This hair. (Grabs a lock of Bowden’s bangs) The dye is all wrong.
Bowden: I don’t die my hair.
Franz: Oh please, look at all that gray buried under here. We will have to fix this.
Froderick: He would look better blonde, yah?
Franz: Yah. And this facial hair, it all has to go. Grab the wax Froderick.
Froderick: Yah.
A jar of hot wax is taken from the table beside the chair Bowden is seated in.
Franz: Do not worry (talking to Bowden) we will make sure you no longer look like you live beneath an underpass.
A stick lathered in hot wax nears Bowden’s face.
Bowden: Whoa-whoa, might I make a suggestion?
Franz and Froderick look annoyed.
Franz: It is not proper to interrupt the process.
Bowden: Well, I consider myself to be a pretty hip-cat, a guy who’s up to date on all the trends. I know all the latest fashions.
The Hair Doodes express annoyance.
Bowden: And there’s one look that is really making waves worldwide, all the kids are getting into it.
Franz: Yah?
Bowden: It’s called the Bowden Split.
Froderick: The Bowden split?
Bowden: Yeah, and it’s real easy to pull off.
Franz: Go on.
Bowden: All it takes is using my boot to split your face!
At that point Bowden stops playing along and starts playing his own game. He leaps from the chair and wallops Franz between the eyes with a big boot. One Hair Doode goes down and another goes charging. He runs right at Bowden only to be side stepped and thrown straight into the table where a number of cosmetics and hair care products were placed. Froderick goes flipping over it all and then down to the canvas. He uses the ropes to reach his feet and then goes flying over them when stuck with a clothesline. Bowden nails the lariat that sends Froderick to the outside of the ring. That means Franz is all on his own inside of the squared circle with his lightning fast opponent.
MATTHEW BOWDEN VS. FRANZ
A referee is on the scene and signaling for the bell to get this bout underway. Matthew Bowden is off to a predictable quick start. He runs straight at a recovering Franz and goes for a kick straight to his skull. The boot ALMOST cleaves Franz’s head from his shoulders, only it’s caught right before it can land flush on his opponent’s jaw. Franz pushes Bowden’s leg away, sending him spiraling around with his back now facing the chair he had previously been seating in.
Franz barrels towards Bowden only to get caught with a drop toe hold that sends his face crashing into the chair.
Greyson: It looks to me like Franz is going to have to be the one in need of a makeover after this match is over.
Frankie: I hope the IWC realizes what kind of message this is sending. That they condone opposing acts of good will and charitable deeds.
Sparkles: Sparkles does make-a-wish at least twice a month.
Greyson: You’re not registered in the make-a-wish foundation.
Sparkles: But Sparkles is always going to people’s houses in the middle of the night and sneaking in through the doggy door.
Greyson: That’s NOT make-a-wish, that’s breaking and entering.
Franz staggers back from the chair his mouth just smashed against, eventually walking right into Bowden’s waiting arms. He hoists Franz into a blue thunder powerbomb that would customarily be followed up by a pin. On this occasion it is not. Bowden rolls away from Franz and into the corner of the ring, leaping straight to the top of it. He then comes flying out of the corner and ultimately puts the point of his elbow square into Franz’s chest.
Sparkles: Bone crushing elbow off the top!
Greyson: Maybe Froderick will have better luck if he were in there.
Sparkles: Doubtful.
Frankie: This is really-really classless if you ask me.
Greyson: I didn’t ask.
Bowden uses his speed to a great benefit. He pulls Franz up from the ring and Irish whips him as hard as he can into the nearest turnbuckle. Franz hits the corner and yet somehow keeps his balance. He won’t be upright much longer when Bowden’s boot comes flying towards his face. He is just about to deliver the running yakuza kick only to be stopped shy of his target when a blast of hairspray strikes him directly in the eyes. Franz reveals that he picked up the can of spray that was knocked from the makeshift cosmetic and hair care table previously set up in the ring. He puts that spray to use in order to blind Bowden.
Greyson: That should be a disqualification right there.
Sparkles: The referees have been playing fast and loose with the rules all night long.
Frankie: Yeah, ever since this night started with that Stairway to Hell match it seems all rules are off.
The referee was out of position to see the use of the hairspray, but he does get an eyeful of Franz leaping from the middle rope and into a bulldog on a visually impaired Bowden. His face is driven with such force against the canvas, totally incapacitating him. Franz capitalizes on this rare opportunity, hooking both of Bowden’s legs and putting his back to Bowden’s chest.
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In spite of being blind and having all of his opponent’s weight across his chest Bowden manages to get his shoulder up. An annoyed Franz grabs Bowden by the ears, drags him to his feet and then puts a knee into the back of his neck. At the same time Franz grabs Bowden by the far wrist then drops back from him. As a result Bowden is sent flipping over to his side and coming down with the back of his neck across Franz’s raised knee.
Greyson: Unique move there by Franz.
Sparkles: For being a stylist, he does have some skills.
Franz transitions from his modified neck-breaker across his knee straight into a crucifix pin.
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There’s another kick out preventing Bowden’s loss. He rubs at his eyes, which are still burning. On instinct he gets to his feet only to be removed from them when Franz connects with a spinning heel kick. His boot cracks Bowden between the eyes and removes him from his feet. Franz then scoots up beside his fallen adversary, sitting him up for the sole intention of keeping him grounded via a submission. A modified seated abdominal stretch is applied on Bowden, who squirms from one side to the other in a desperate attempt to break free from his adversary’s clutches.
Frankie: Hahahaha, there you go Franz, give Bowden a makeover….a makeover in pain…mwahahahahaha!
Greyson: Really Frankie? That was….that was….AWFUL.
Frankie: I work with that they give me.
Bowden’s body shakes, it rattles, and it would roll if possible. Ultimately what Bowden’s body does is ascend, feeding off the crowd’s inspiration in order to regain his footing. In an act of raw rage Franz yanks Bowden by the hair, sending him crashing into the canvas. Franz drops back down behind Bowden, sits him up and places him in yet another abdominal stretch.
Sparkles: Franz effectively keeping Bowden on the mat and making sure he can’t hit any of that high flying flashy offense.
Franz’s partner Froderick is really enjoying what he sees from his vantage point at ringside. He smiles wide at the sight of Franz keeping the pressure on Bowden. But there seems to be no amount of pressure that Franz can apply in order to keep his opponent on the ground. Bowden puts his boots to the ring and forces himself up from it. A surprised Franz then grabs his adversary by the hair and prepares to give it yet another yank. He sends Bowden flipping backwards, COMPLETELY backwards, landing straight on his feet. Franz’s eyes widen as Bowden’s feet leave the canvas and nail a step up enzugari on the back of his head. Franz is sent swinging around and yet remaining on his feet as he falls into the corner. He no sooner leans against the turnbuckle before Bowden’s boot smashes him straight in his mug. A running yakuza kick hits and hits with enough force to take the recipient down out of the corner.
Franz rolls lifelessly to the middle of the ring while Bowden zestfully leaps to the top rope. The crowd is drop jawed at the visual of Bowden preparing to make his descent via the 630 corkscrew senton.
Greyson: Big splash coming from the Show Stealer!
Sparkles: This is how he won his debut match.
Bowden is about to put on a repeat performance, leaping off the top rope, but it isn’t into that 630 senton. No, instead he’s forced to LEAP FROG over the head of his recovered and his inbound opponent. Franz jumps back to his feet, rushes at Bowden with the intent of taking him off the corner but fails to succeed in his goal. Bowden leaps over him, lands on the canvas behind his back and then quickly turns to face his adversary’s spine. Franz thinks quick and moves quicker, twisting through the air to hit another spinning heel kick. However, his boot misses Bowden’s ducked head by a mile. Franz then hits the canvas, pops up from it and attempts to get his hands instead of his feet on his opponent. Not one of his limbs successfully connects with Bowden, who was standing on the middle rope and waiting for his adversary to make a fatal mistake. Franz runs right into Bowden’s arm, finding himself caught in a front chancery and then a devastating tornado DDT.
Sparkles: Dayum what a DDT!
Greyson: Franz driven down on top of his head!
Frankie: That might have messed up Franz’s hair!
Bowden flips forward into the jackknife pin on a totally unconscious Franz.
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There is a massive outcry of cheers when Bowden successfully pins one of the Hair-Doodes.
Greyson: Bowden caught him, Bowden caught him with that tornado DDT!
Frankie: WHAT!!??!!
Greyson: Bowden victorious. And not just victorious, but victorious in impressive fashion.
Frankie: But-but-but….what about Franz’s hair!?!
Bowden is back on his feet and celebrating his win with the ref raising his arm aloft. That arm falls the second Bowden is knocked to the canvas by the hair dryer that was just swung into the back of his skull. The crowd are unanimously all over the case of Franz’s tag team partner Froderick. And Froderick is all over Bowden with stomp after stomp. He then drops to his knees and starts bashing Bowden repeatedly in the upper back with the hair dryer.
Greyson: Bowden’s celebration short lived….Froderick avenging his tag partner.
Sparkles: Froderick is beating the crap out of him with a….
Greyson: Yes, with a hair dryer.
Frankie: You may have won the match Bowden, but you’re not winning the war, the war on HAIR CARE!
Greyson: You don’t piss off a stylist.
Froderick puts his knee between his victim’s shoulder blades while he pulls back on the electrical cord of the hair dryer, a cord that is wrapped around Bowden’s throat. Finally the blatant strangulation ends and Froderick backs off, dropping the hair dryer in order to grab a microphone.
Froderick: You are getting a makeover rather you like it or not. RING THE BELL!
Insists Froderick as he grabs and throttles the referee. The official pulls away and turns to Bowden, checking to see if he accepts this impromptu challenge. Bowden is kneeling with his side to the ropes and his hand on his throat. He may have trouble breathing but he can still squeak out the word ‘yes.’
Frankie: Are you INSANE Bowden?
Greyson: He just accepted Froderick’s challenge?
Sparkles: Meaning just seconds after beating Franz, now he has to try and survive Franz’s teammate in ANOTHER match.
MATTHEW BOWDEN VS. FRODERICK
The bell chimes in the background while Froderick drops down beside Bowden and starts clobbering him repeatedly over the back of his head. Forearms pound away at Bowden’s skull and his shoulders. He then backs off only to return to Bowden’s side and connect with a running knee strike. The shot sends Bowden rolling under the ropes and to the apron. Froderick allows no rest for the wicked, stepping in behind Bowden, grabbing him by the back of the head then running him the length of the apron. Ultimately Bowden’s face smacks off of the turnbuckle post, and the blow sends him spilling through the ropes back into the squared circle.
Greyson: It was very ill-advised for Bowden to accept Froderick’s challenge.
Sparkles: That’s showing right now. He can’t even get out of the gates.
Frankie: I think Bowden is so far up his own ass that he totally overlooked just how skilled Froderick is.
Froderick demonstrates even more of his unique brand of talent, showing off some of his strength at this point. He steps in behind a seated Bowden, places him in a dragon sleeper and then uses that submission to deadlift his opponent from the canvas. Froderick then hits a sit-out reverse impaler DDT. The back of Bowden’s head hits the canvas with enough force to knock him totally unconscious, unaware that his shoulders are being pinned.
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Bowden may have been knocked silly, but he’s still cognizant of the fact that he’s being pinned and still has the strength to kick out.
Froderick is furious, slapping the canvas with both hands and then grabbing the referee by the shirt. He shakes and shakes the official but cannot get him to reverse his decision. Froderick goes back on the assault, dragging his opponent up from the canvas and into a fireman’s carry. Whatever Froderick had planned to deliver from that position is irrelevant, because Bowden counters. He twists his way from the shoulders of Froderick and into a front chancery before spiraling around into an attempted tornado DDT.
Greyson: That’s the very same move that finished Franz off.
It will not finish off Froderick however. He puts his hands to Bowden’s ribs and shoves with enough force to break the front chancery and to send his opponent flying into the ropes. Bowden ricochets off the cables and then comes staggering back into his adversary’s shoulders. Froderick lifts Bowden into the fireman’s carry before swinging him around into the TKO. Bowden is driven down into the canvas with enough force to absolutely clean his clock. The blow to his skull leaves Bowden on dream-street and puts Froderick in a position to get the win.
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To Froderick’s total disbelief Bowden doesn’t just kick out but kicks out with authority.
Frankie: What the hell man? What the hell does it take to put away Bowden?
Sparkles: More than what Franz and Froderick have hit him with thus far.
Froderick’s face is buried in his trembling hands, trying to hide his look of shock and rage. He overcomes his emotions in order to pull Bowden from the canvas and into his shoulders. Here comes another TKO. Froderick whips Bowden around, sending him flying off his shoulders but not down onto his head, instead he lands square on his feet. A flabbergasted Froderick races towards Bowden but all his momentum comes back to haunt him. He’s caught around the neck and he’s pulled straight down into the ring with a jumping cutter delivered by Bowden. The impact knocks Froderick out cold and sends him flopping over to his back. All the while Bowden is racing to the nearest corner, climbing it to the top rope and taking advantage of his opponent’s condition. Before anyone can even catch their breath Bowden comes flying out of the corner into the corkscrew 630 senton.
Greyson: THERE IT WAS!
Sparkles: Bowden hit it! Bowden hit it!!
Frankie: That 630 flipping dippity doo-dah!
Sparkles: That should soooo be the name of that move from this day henceforth.
Bowden doesn’t care what you call his move, all he cares about is the effect connecting with it has on his opponents. It pays dividends for him yet again when he hooks Froderick’s leg and hears the referee slapping the canvas.
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Whoop there it is. Bowden scores another victory and puts down the last of the Hair Doodes in the process.
Sparkles: Now that was impressive.
Greyson: Bowden picking up back to back victories over either member of the Hair Doodes. Which is no easy task.
Frankie: Especially when he got mauled with a hair dryer before his second match even got started.
Sparkles: Speaking of Bowden getting mauled!
Once again Bowden finds his celebration crushed by a few spoiled sports. Franz, the first man who fell against Bowden moments ago, recovers in time to make him suffer for his victory. A kick cracks Bowden in the back of his head, knocking him off his knees and flat on his face. Franz goes on putting the boots upside Bowden’s skull and once Froderick is conscious enough he joins in on the assault.
Greyson: This is uncalled for.
Frankie: So was Matthew Bowden interfering in the Hair Doodes’ special makeover.
Franz and Froderick continue to rally what strength they have left to channel their frustrations into the beating they unleash on Bowden. They are so overwhelmed with their anger that it clouds them to the fact that there are presently two men jumping over the barricade and slipping into the ring behind them. Those individuals are the Great Ba-Bam and Leviticus.
Frankie: What in the freck are these two doing here?
Greyson: We saw them earlier on tonight trying to state their case for more exposure, now it looks like they have a chance to grab that spotlight.
And grab it is exactly what Great Ba-Bam does, accomplishing this task by literally grabbing Franz by the shoulder, pulling him around and forcing him to face the massive chop that nails him in the head. Franz is down first and his partner soon follows, getting a boot to the gut and then finding his body heaved into the uranage…a urangage delivered by Leviticus.
Frankie: Somebody please explain to Leviticus and the Great Ba-Bam that neither one of them are relevant anymore.
Sparkles: Well they just made a claim to legitimacy by taking out Franz and Froderick.
Leviticus and the Great Ba-Bam continue their assault on Franz and Froderick by performing a symbolic gesture. They scoop up the bodies of either Hair Doode member, then send their flailing victims flying over the top rope.
Sparkles: Is that a little symbolism?
Now that Leviticus’ hands are no longer occupied by Franz, he’s got something much more dangerous to fill them with, a microphone.
Leviticus: You guys getting it yet (he questions the audience)? Do you see why the Great Ba-Bam and I deserve to not only be in the 2016 Last Stand Rumble, but to be considered odds on favorites to win it?
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHA!
Greyson: Can you at least make an effort to hide your condescending laughter?
Frankie: Nope.
Ba-Bam bobs his head along with each word from his defacto mouthpiece.
Leviticus: The IWC hasn’t allowed us on television for weeks, cause they fear us. They fear that we will overshadow their handpicked golden boys and golden girls. But they don’t have a choice anymore. They’re not going to be able to protect their favorites, cause dammit, Ba-Bam and I are entering this year’s Last Stand Rumble, and that means their precious chosen few are in serious trouble. Ba-Bam and I are going to WIN!
Greyson: Ummm, Leviticus does realize that there can be only one Rumble winner right?
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think he appreciates that fact.
Leviticus: The IWC will have no other choice but to grant US the spotlight after we’ve humiliated their beloved….
The spotlight is definitely on Leviticus, but for all the wrong reasons. Both he and the Great Ba-Bam find themselves forward flipping right over the top rope. It takes the bulk of Matthew Bowden’s strength, but he manages to grab the legs of the seven foot Ba-Bam, and his smaller compatriot Leviticus lifting them until either man is flung to the outside of the ring.
Sparkles: HEY!
Greyson: Bowden making a statement right there, showing Ba-Bam and Leviticus what they can expect if they enter this year’s 2016 Last Stand Rumble.
Frankie: That’s gratitude for you.
Greyson: That’s a statement.
After dispatching a stunned Ba-Bam and Leviticus from the ring, Bowden moves to the center of it where he drops into a pose. He crouches at the knees, flexes his biceps and smiles wider than ever.
Greyson: Matthew Bowden sending the message that he’ll be an odds on favorite to win this year’s Rumble.
Sparkles: Can you imagine the possibilities?
Mason: You have a big problem, but it just so happens that I’m your solution.
If there is one thing that Mason Van Stanton possesses a skill for, it’s weaseling his way into and out of any situation. The once former proponent of previous Principle Owner Silas Mason is now trying to ingratiate himself to the new regime. And he starts by making the effort to endear himself to Karen McBride’s baby sister. It doesn’t look as if he’s winning Melanie over, judging by her body language. Her chair is turned so that her side is to Mason, and her eyes are buried in a phone while blowing her bangs back out of her face.
Mason: Your sister has stirred up a hornet’s nest and now all the little bees are buzzing around just waiting to sting Macaulay Culkin to death….
Melanie finally looks away from her phone and over the desk that Mason is standing on the opposite side of. She instantly wonders how he managed to get into her sister’s office.
Melanie: What in the hell are you talking about?
Mason: I’m talking about preventing a ‘My Girl’ moment from happening.
Melanie: My Girl?
Mason: Brush up on your 90’s pop cultural references lass. I’m trying to say that I’m here to help you with your Monarchy problem.
Melanie: And I should trust you, why?
Mason: Because I’ve turned over a new leaf. I’m no longer Silas Mason’s hired muscle….
Melanie: You? (Looks over Mason’s stringy body) Hired muscle?
Mason: Don’t pretend you weren’t impressed by the physical specimen you saw dancing in that cage weeks ago. But prepare yourself to be even further amazed when I deftly handle your sister’s problem with Monarchy’s Taylor Chase. I guarantee that by the end of the night the last thing that Taylor will want, is to fight Karen in the middle of that ring. You and Karen just leave this all up to me….
Melanie: And what is it you want in return?
Mason: What? (Backs away from the desk laughing) I’m not expecting anything in return. Don’t be silly, that’s silly talk, you’re being silly, stop being so silly. Hahahaha.
The second Mason turns away from Melanie, he cringes and moves as quick as possible to the exit.
The chief arbiter of so much chaos this evening, Taylor Chase stands vie a vie with her fellow Monarchy ally Ryan Watson. The pair are stood in the hallway trying to keep their conversation as on the down low as possible.
Watson: You needn’t worry about a thing love.
Watson reassures while putting his hands on Tay-Tay’s shoulders.
Watson: We’ve got Lexy, Kat, Alistair, all of Monarchy out there spreading the word.
Taylor: Excellent.
Watson: Your sister Mika, and Pasty Katie, they’ll hear all about your challenge to Karen McBride.
Taylor: This news pleases Tay-Tay.
Watson: Uhhh, you’re not going to keep doing that are you?
Taylor: Referring to myself in the third person?
Watson: Yeah.
Taylor: I was thinking about it. But let’s table that discussion. You just make sure that Mika and Katelyn know I’m going to be in that ring all by lonesome later tonight.
Watson: Oh, they’ll know about it alright…
Watson takes off and leaves the camera to zoom in on Taylor’s smile.
Taylor: Tay-Tay is pleased. (Pauses) Man, that IS annoying.
Backstage correspondent Susie Moore is seated on top of a hover-round at the moment, still selling the ‘injuries’ she suffered several months ago. She plays through the ‘pain’ in order to get the interview she was summoned to the trainer’s office to conduct. She sits in the hall and knocks at the door, hoping that the World Champion, Katelyn Buehler, who was last seen inside will answer.
Susie: Katelyn…oooooh Katelyn…..it’s your bestest bud in the whole wide world, it’s Susie Moore…..
It doesn’t matter how politely Susie may introduce herself, there is still no response from anyone in the office.
Susie: I just want to find out how you’re holding up? We can totally compare battle scars.
Finally the door at Susie’s side opens though it’s not Katelyn who peeks out, it’s her agent Dan Douglas. At the moment he’s fidgeting with the talisman he was seen carrying earlier, trying to squeeze it back into his pants pocket.
Douglas: Susie, sweetheart, how nice to see you again.
In stark contrast to the depressed attitude Douglas exhibited two weeks ago, he’s currently in very high spirits.
Susie: Oh umm, hi you. Can I talk to Katelyn?
Douglas: What do you two want to talk about?
Susie: Well uh she’s got a match coming up tonight against Miss Jon and Selena Frost, and she wasn’t in the best shape when she showed up here….
Douglas: And now you want to find out if she’s going to go through with her match in spite of her injuries? Right?
Susie: You betcha!
Douglas: Put your mind at ease. Katelyn WILL wrestle and those injuries she’s suffering from will be of no consequence.
The grip on the talisman in his pocket tightens.
Douglas: See, it’s all about mind over matter.
Susie: Well Miss Jon and Selena Frost aren’t your client’s only worries. I take it she’s heard that her nemesis Taylor Chase is going to be in that ring later on to challenge Principle Owner Karen McBride? And she’s going to make that challenge all….by….herself. Wink-wink.
Douglas: You’re just supposed to wink, you’re not supposed to say it.
Susie: Oh.
Douglas: Anyway, what’s your point?
Susie: Is Katelyn planning on taking advantage of this opportunity to maybe get some revenge on Tay, and weaken her before the triple threat World Title match at Last Stand?
Douglas: (Smirking) Katelyn would like nothing better than to send a message to Tay and to Mika Kozlov before the pay-per-view, and believe me, before the end of the night, both of her challengers will get that message.
The pain in Selena Frost’s back is excruciating, still suffering from the multiple blows she withstood from a steel chair wielding masked militant. The very same masked assailant who took off with Selena’s coveted Queen of Wrestling Championship. It takes the wall to hold her up, pressing her shoulder against it as she painstakingly inches along down the corridor. Stood behind her is a particularly worried, for just cause, Deanna Springs.
Deanna: Let me get you some medical help.
Deanna reaches out to take her wife by the arm but Selena pulls it away.
Deana: At least let me get you an ice-pack.
Even that’s not in the realm of probabilities.
Deanna: Tell me what I can do help? Is there anything I can get for you?
Selena: (Growls) There’s only one thing I need.
Leviticus: That’s right, we’re still here mofos!
There is a clear derisive tone to Leviticus’ voice. Things didn’t exactly go as either he or the Great Ba-Bam had hoped moments ago, that’s why the two are presently occupying the ring and looking the part of volcanos on the cusp of erupting. Either man refuses to budge from the center of the very squared circle they were tossed from seconds earlier by Matthew Bowden.
Greyson: Leviticus and the Great Ba-Bam HIGHLY upset regarding what happened before the last commercial break.
Frankie: And they should be, they should be PIIIISSED OFF! I mean, out of the kindness of their hearts they help out Matthew Bowden, and then after they save his ass he throws them out of the ring.
Sparkles: Bowden showed these two what they can come to expect should they enter themselves in the Rumble this year.
Frankie: If? It’s a certainty they’ll be in there, regardless of rather the McBrides deem them worthy or not.
Greyson Of course the Rumble is part of our next upcoming pay-per-view event Last Stand, which will be emanating live in just over four weeks.
Leviticus is steaming, almost literally, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone if smoke started to pour from his ears. His massive counterpart the Great Ba-Bam isn’t any calmer, but his caveman like features help to shield his feelings.
Leviticus: My big bad bud Ba-Bam and I are not leaving this ring until we’ve made our point, and anyone who thinks they can come out here and throw us out of it, are more than welcomed to try. So why don’t you bring yourself back out here Matthew Bowden? Huh? Why don’t you press your luck and try throwing us over the top rope when we’re ready for you?
Greyson: This is ridiculous. Leviticus needs to realize he’ll have people coming at him from every potential angle when that Rumble starts.
There is no response from Bowden, and Leviticus is secretly grateful for that.
Leviticus: Yeah, that’s what I thought KID, I knew you were too fat a coward to attack Ba-Bam and straight up. Plus you know, just like everyone else back there knows (points to the locker-room) that you can’t throw us over the top rope when our guard is up. No one, man, woman, strange mixture of both, is going to send us over the rope either tonight or during the Rumble at Last Stand. Want us to prove it, fine, we will,,,yep, uh-huh, that’s right, we’ll do it, yes we will….
”WAKE UP” by the Lost Prophets all of a sudden erupts over the PA system. The only thing louder than this theme song belting through the building is the reaction it gets from the sold out crowd. The entire audience jumps simultaneously to their feet, getting hyped at the sight of Johnny Kingdom. The wrestling legend and multiple time World Champion strides arrogantly to the stage. He comes to a rest with his eyes overlooking the thousands of cheering fans and the two contrarians in the ring who are the only pair not excited to see Kingdom.
Greyson: OH MY!
Sparkles: It’s Johnny Kingdom!
Greyson: One of the forefathers of the IWC, a multiple time World Champion, former Invictus main eventer…Boy, of all the people to answer Leviticus’ challenge.
Sparkles: Sparkles bets that Leviticus and the Great Ba-Bam might be regretting making that challenge now.
Frankie: The only person who’s about to live in regret is Kingdom, especially if he decides to get in that ring with Levi and the massive love machine.
The duo in the squared circle look gravely concerned regarding the man on the stage.
Kingdom: The Rumble. Everyone’s thinking about it, everyone’s talking about it, hell, their might even be people writing ballads about it. For some reason, this year the Rumble is just getting an UNGODLY amount of hype. And I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around WHY?
Frankie: Then why don’t you explain it to us, Kingdom? Hmmmm?
Greyson; Give him time, Frankie.
Kingdom: It wasn’t until these two …..wrestlers? I’m assuming that’s what you two are, right?
Leviticus: Of course! What do we look like to you?
Kingdom: Honestly? What’s left in the toilet after the Toxic Avenger’s latest bout with diarrhea.
Ba-Bam’s eyes have gotten as big as the rest of his body.
Kingdom: Anyway, it wasn’t until the two of you came out here that the answer to why the Rumble is so special this year smacked me straight in the face. Never before has there been such an eclectic and diverse mix of talents participating. For example, just look in the ring. We’ve got Gieco Cavemen (gestures to Ba-Bam) represented in the Rumble, and Ming the Merciless from the planet Mongo (gestures to the bald mustachioed Leviticus) entering the field this year as well.
The crowd chuckles while Leviticus and Ba-Bam throw a tantrum.
Kingdom: They’re coming out of the woodworks. All walks of life are participating in the Rumble, including a rare breed of talent, the ever elusive, the hard to spot species known as the Team Leader.
The chuckles turn to cheers, the crowd getting oh so revved up at the thought of Kingdom throwing his hat in the ring,
Kingdom: Yup. For the first time in two years your Team Leader is returning to Last Stand, returning to the RUMBLE!
Pauses for the obligatory reaction.
Kingdom: And I don’t intend to have my Rumble return spoiled by cavemen, imports from planet Mongo, or quote unquote “REAL” wrestlers. It’s a Team Leader who is going to be the last man standing inside of that ring and heading to the main event of Invictus.
Greyson: Huge announcement by Kingdom.
Sparkles: If anyone can pull it off, it’s Johnny Kingdom.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah, I’m sure he’s an odds on favorite in this year’s pool of talent.
Once the crowd calms down Kingdom directs his comments to the two perpetually restless men in the ring.
Kingdom: Now I could go down this ramp, get in that ring and send you two flailing over the top rope, but honestly, you guys aren’t worth me breaking a sweat tonight. So for once, consider it a blessing that you simply suck….out….loud.
That didn’t make either Levi or Ba-Bam feel any less aggrieved.
Kingdom: Be seeing you two in four weeks. Maybe.
On that note Kingdom is off with his theme music once again piping through the speakers and the crowd reacting louder than ever.
Greyson: Kingdom is in the Rumble.
Sparkles: Which greatly opens the playing field.
Greyson: Are we looking at the next Rumble winner?
Frankie: Not likely, because you might be SITTING beside the next Rumble winner.
Greyson: Oh God, don’t you dare enter it again this year. It didn’t work out well for you last time.
Leviticus: Cut that music! CUT IT!
By order of an irate Leviticus the theme track associated with Kingdom stops playing through the speakers. Leviticus is still angry though, hence why he’s kicking the bottom rope and storming back and forth in front of an equally as upset Ba-Bam.
Leviticus: You go on running Kingdom, and everyone back in that locker-room can go on shaking in their booties. You sons of bitches can’t hide much longer, cause come 4 weeks from now, Ba-Bam and I will be in that ring with you, and we’ll be sending your asses flying over the…..
The lights in the building all of a sudden go out completely. Everything and everyone are blanketed in total darkness.
Frankie: I uhhh, don’t like where this is headed.
Greyson: I can’t say as I blame you. Absolutely nothing good can come of this.
Sparkles: When the lights go out the darkness comes.
Sparkles has no idea just how accurate his comment is, not until the lights come back up. Not even the Cro-Magnon looks of the Great Ba-Bam can hide the unabashed fear he shows. Leviticus’ has gone as pale as a sheet in a snowstorm. Both men are horrified at the sight of the pair presently stood in the ring with them, the deadly duo known as New Eden. Serenity and Cindy Todd stare down their potential prey.
Greyson: This is absolutely chilling.
Sparkles: It’s moments like these that Sparkles is glad I can’t get goosebumps.
Frankie: Leviticus and Ba-Bam have just drew the ire of the very last people they wanted to piss off.
A microphone lifts to Serenity’s lips and her comments cause Leviticus’ heartrate to speed up.
Serenity: You should consider yourselves very fortunate.
As Serenity speaks her Queen is drawing closer and closer to Ba-Bam.
Serenity: Neither you nor you (points between Levi and Ba-Bam), have to worry about the Rumble. Why? Cause you’re not gonna be competing.. And that’s a GOOD thing.
Cindy: Because my Princess (strokes the back of Serenity’s head) and I are entering ourselves into the Rumble this year.
Greyson: Ooooh noooo.
Frankie: I am officially redacting my name from the list of entrants in this year’s Rumble.
Cindy: Meaning that the two of you will have zero impact on the match, you would just become two more casualties in New Eden’s ascent to Invictus.
Serenity: Wasted numbers. That’s it. That’s all. You’d be nothing special. So sure, you could enter the Rumble and you could get tossed out, or your sacrifices could go towards a greater, more worthwhile cause….
Cindy: Darlings, (pinching Leviticus’ cheek) we didn’t just come here to announce our intention to enter the Rumble.
Serenity: My Queen requires your help.
Cindy: My dearest Mika Kozlov has been led astray, and you boys can aid us in getting her back on the right path.
Serenity: All we need from you is a little…..yum…..blood.
Before Leviticus and the Great Ba-Bam can even get their arms up in defense they find themselves the recipients of punches and kicks. Ba-Bam is knocked back against the turnbuckle while his ribs are caved in by kick after kick by Cindy. At the same time Serenity is pulling Leviticus’ skull down into a side headlock and hitting palm strikes upside his face.
Greyson: Leviticus and the Great Ba-Bam should have stayed out of the ring when they were tossed from it by Matthew Bowden earlier tonight.
Sparkles: They didn’t and now they’re paying the ultimate price for it.
Frankie: Those two should take a cue from me and stay out of the Rumble now that New Eden have decided to enter.
Serenity’s palm continues to crush Leviticus’ nose, threatening to drive the bone straight up and through his brain. Meanwhile Ba-Bam’s internal organs are being transformed into mush by the barrage of boots Cindy swings into his mid-section. A referee has slipped into the squared circle and signals for the bell, indicating that another impromptu match has just gotten underway.
NEW EDEN VS. LEVITICUS & THE GREAT BA-BAM
Sparkles: We’re getting a tag team bout underway fellas.
Greyson: As if things weren’t bad enough for Ba-Bam and Leviticus.
Frankie: Now they’ve got to tangle with Cindy Todd and Serenity in tag team action.
Serenity’s palm thrusts have busted Levi’s nose, blood already dribbling down from his nostrils. She maintains the side headlock that she’s had Levi trapped in this whole time and now uses that hold to deliver a driver. The top of Leviticus’ head smacks into the canvas and the impact sends him flipping up onto his seat. Serenity knocks him flat on his back via a baseball slide lariat that hits him square across the throat.
The Great Ba-Bam is in no position to help his partner, abandoning the ring and moving to the corner of the apron. Cindy lets her prey go, for now, opting instead to occupy her team’s corner. Serenity sits beside the laid out Leviticus, putting him in the side headlock and pounding away at his face with punches. She finally rolls away from him, twisting onto her elbows and knees and waiting….for God only knows what.
Finally Leviticus sits up only to be knocked right back down when Serenity hits him with a Junkyard Dog style headbutt. She crawls right up beside him and smacks the top of her head right into Levi’s lips. Serenity rolls away from her unconscious adversary and towards her anticipatory partner. Cindy gets the tag and she glides across the ring to her fallen prey. Once she falls to her knees her hand ends up around Levi’s throat, choking the very essence of life from his body.
Cindy uses this grip on her opponent’s throat to drag him up from the ring and to his feet. She then throws him by the neck, sending him flying into the ropes, bouncing off and staggering back into a boot that slaps him straight in the windpipe.
The kick closes Leviticus’ throat and sends him sprawling around right into his team’s corner. The Great Ba-Bam is standing on the opposite side of the ropes and knows he should make the tag, but he’s intelligent enough not to willingly get in the ring with Cindy. In spite of being a seven foot beast with a back big enough to show drive-in films on, he’s legitimately frightened by the far smaller but much darker Cindy. In order to entice him back into the ring Cindy falls to her knees with her arms tucked behind her back, as if offering the giant a free shot.
Greyson: Just when you think Cindy couldn’t be any crazier, she’s actually putting herself at the mercy of an over 300 pound man.
Sparkles: Ba-Bam is so big he has to duck just to pass through the arch of St. Louis.
Frankie: Ba-Bam has always been a lover and not a fighter, but that needs to change right now, cause it looks like Cindy Todd and Serenity are immune to his charms.
Ba-Bam can’t pass up the opportunity being presented to him, slapping Leviticus’ chest and then entering the ring. He sizes Cindy up, knowing that just one of his strikes has been enough to knock out opponents in the past. Will it do the same to Cindy? Ba-Bam is about to find out by delivering a chop directly to the top of Cindy’s skull. The blow effectively knocks her from her knees and onto her back, though it does not knock her unconscious. Ba-Bam is already in the process of celebrating, swinging his hips in a highly sensualized fashion to the delight of the females in attendance. There’s another lady who takes notice of his crude gyrations, a woman who is not turned on by them, a woman who has just popped back up to her feet and stands right behind him. A woman named Cindy Todd.
Sparkles: Uhhhh Ba-Bam, that brain-chop wasn’t as effective as you thought.
Greyson: Cindy’s standing right back up.
Frankie: She’s not just standing, she’s smiling. Heh, maybe I was wrong, maybe Cindy is turned on by that big Indian ass.
The hairs on the back of Ba-Bam’s neck stand up and turn white. He slowly pivots around and finds himself looking into the murderous gaze of his opponent. On instinct he swings his arm down towards her head, going for a brain-chop that totally misses its mark. Cindy side steps the shot and then hits one of her own straight on the crease of the big man’s knee. Ba-Bam drops to all fours just in time to have his temple cracked via a running knee strike. Cindy smashes him in the face and sends him flopping onto his back. Cindy turns away from him and moves to her corner, tagging in Serenity. The pair run into opposite ropes, ricochet from them and then deliver simultaneous headbutts to either side of Ba-Bam’s broad chest.
That chest is looking worse and worse with each passing second. New Eden is turning it into spam. Cindy sits Ba-Bam up and pins his huge arms behind his back, exposing his chest to the buzzsaw kicks that a laughing Serenity delivers one after another after another across his sternum. She doesn’t stop until welts have started to form on Ba-Bam’s skin, and blood has begun to seep from said welts. She then races into the cables, ricochets from them and builds momentum behind a basement dropkick right on point to her opponent’s chest.
Ba-Bam tries to cover up but Cindy is doing an effective job of keeping his arms trapped behind him. That means there is no defense from Serenity’s impending dropkick, the second one to be hit on the sternum. Serenity runs into the cables with the intent of ricocheting from them only to find herself low bridged. From the apron Leviticus leaps out and grabs the top rope, yanking it down just in time to cause Serenity to go flipping over and crashing to the outside mats.
Serenity hits the mats with a thud but is quick to push past the pain and return to her feet. She stands just as Leviticus comes flying off the apron and crashing into her with a crossbody. Both athletes go down outside of the ring while two athletes stand up inside of the ring. The Great Ba-Bam is channeling all of his strength in order to get up from the canvas and free his arms while Cindy is exploiting her preternatural power to try and keep him grounded and maintain her grip on his biceps. Eventually Ba-Bam’s strength wins out, getting to his feet with Cindy stood behind him. She won’t be for very much longer though, cause Ba-Bam pushes back with his rear-end, driving it straight into Cindy’s bread-basket.
Sparkles: Ba-Bam using his buns of steel.
Frankie: Please don’t let that become a ‘thing.’
Greyson: Every woman in attendance here tonight loved it.
Sparkles: ALMOST every woman.
Cindy didn’t take kindly to the impact or the one that follows. The blow from Ba-Bam’s bum has sent Cindy flying back into the ropes, ricocheting from them and then returning to the massive arm of her opponent. He turns and clotheslines Cindy to the ring with as much strength as his lumbering frame will allow. Ba-Bam lays Cindy out but won’t let her stay down much longer. His huge palms engulf her throat and he now employs his incredible strength to dead lift the Queen of Chaos from the canvas. Much to the delight of everyone in the arena Ba-Bam sends Cindy plummeting from almost seven feet straight into the canvas via the double hand choke-bomb.
Sparkles: Ba-Bam and Leviticus surprisingly resourceful.
Greyson: Have we finally found a foil for New Eden?
Frankie: Don’t be ridiculous. That’s like saying a matchbox car is a challenge to a semi-truck.
Ba-Bam and his partner go on thwarting the plans of New Eden. The big man makes the tag to his much lighter and quicker partner, Leviticus, who takes instant advantage of this size disparity between both men. He steps up onto the top rope and then up onto Ba-Bam’s shoulders. Ba-Bam takes hold of Levi’s hands in order to stabilize him, keeping him balanced while the giant steps across the ring, Finally Leviticus leaps off of Ba-Bam’s shoulders and straight into an elbow drop that connects across Cindy’s chest.
Sparkles: Is this it guys? Is this going to be a HUGE upset?
Leviticus makes the cover, hooking Cindy’s leg and waiting for the referee to make the count. The official is just about to tell Levi that Cindy is not the legal athlete but it doesn’t matter, cause she’s already kicking out. Speaking of kicking, Leviticus gets his feet kicking under him as he dashes across the ring towards the ropes that Serenity is standing on the opposite side of. He now goes to fling himself through the ropes into a suicide diving headbutt. His skull connects….with Serenity’s shin. She leaps up from the mats and swings a kick straight into the top of Levi’s head. The shot knocks him back to the center of the ring, where his dazed condition will no doubt be taken advantage of.
Serenity leaps over the top rope twisting in mid-air, landing on the middle rope and then springing off. She flies from the cables into the springboard roundhouse kick. Her leg connects, with the massive arms of Ba-Bam. At the last second the big man shoved his partner Leviticus out of the way and catches the leg that was bound for his face. Ba-Bam then puts a hand to Serenity’s chest and swats her down out of the air into a spinebuster.
Greyson: Another shocking counter unleashed by this seven foot gargantuan.
Sparkles: For the first time in a while New Eden looks like they might be in some trouble.
Ba-Bam exits the ring just as his brother from another mother Leviticus crawls across it and into the cover on Serenity. The fans are at a fevered pitch, ready to witness the most improbable of underdog victories.
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That underdog has just been euthanized. Serenity overcomes the pain of the spinebuster in order to throw her shoulder off the ring. Leviticus is beside himself, honestly believing enough damage was done to finish off his opponent. Obviously that was not the case. Leviticus has to get over his surprise and fast, striking while his team has got a fleeting chance. He pulls Serenity into the Uranage and prepares to slam her back down to the ring. All the while Ba-Bam is watching and gargling words of support for his partner. He’s actually so fixated on seeing Leviticus deliver the Rock Bottom that the most pressing of dangers goes unnoticed. Cindy Todd has climbed up onto the turnbuckle that Ba-Bam stands beside and reveals a strand of barbwire griped between her hands. That wire soon finds itself wrapping around Ba-Bam’s throat.
Greyson: HEY! Cindy-Cindy-Cindy Todd has got barbwire and she’s strangling Ba-Bam with it!
Sparkles: Where the hell did she get that from?
Frankie: I think Cindy carries it on her pretty much everywhere she goes.
Ba-Bam is gasping for air and trying his best to pry the barbwire away from his throat. In spite of all his immense strength, all he can do is lean back against the turnbuckle that Cindy is standing on top of and hope for some type of divine intervention to save his soul. The referee won’t be Ba-Bam’s saving grace, far too preoccupied watching as Leviticus readies to lay Serenity out with the Rock Bottom. Or at least Leviticus WAS planning to deliver his finisher up until spotting the barbs slicing into the flesh on his partner’s throat. Levi lets Serenity go and dashes across the ring in an effort to reach and to save his partner. Levi doesn’t get very far though, finding the back of his tights caught on the hand of Serenity. She pulls him back to the center of the ring, forcing Levi to defend himself rather than his friend. He swings around into a clothesline that misses.
Serenity has ducked Leviticus’ clothesline and is taking off into the ropes behind him. He turns around just in time to get cracked right between the eyes thanks to Serenity’s springboard roundhouse kick. The shot not only knocks the brains out of Levi’s head but the strength from his legs. He goes down to his knees and finds himself defenseless against the move that instantly follows the kick to his head. Cindy has freed Ba-Bam, only so she can trap Leviticus. She jumps from the turnbuckle she had been standing on and into the ring then dashes into the front chancery on her opponent. Ultimately she hits the most vicious snap DDT imaginable, compressing so many bones in Leviticus’ neck and bursting so many capillaries in his skull.
Greyson: Cindy and Serenity stringing together a gruesome series of moves there.
Sparkles: All culminating to Levi getting spiked straight on his head.
Frankie: Ba-Bam better get off his ass and do something about this if he wants any chance of his team surviving.
Sparkles: He-he, like there was a chance to begin with.
Frankie: Yeah, a squirrel stands a better chance of surviving a collision with the wheel of a truck.
All Leviticus can do is twitch, and all his partner Ba-Bam can do is bleed. The big man finds himself hunched over the ropes and almost losing his footing on the apron where he’s stood. The cables won’t be enough to keep him up much longer. Serenity has dashed across the ring towards Cindy, who catches her partner by the thighs, throws her overhead and sends her flying into a dropkick that nails Ba-Bam on the chest. The shot knocks the huge love-machine from the apron and to the ground. Somehow he stays on his feet, knees buckling but feet still beneath him. That’s all about to change, because unbeknownst to him Cindy is rushing across the apron behind his back and then leaping off into a bulldog. She catches the back of his head and drives his face down into a set of steel stairs.
Sparkles: Ba-Bam’s face SMASHING the stairs.
Frankie: Those poor steps.
Ba-Bam bounces off the stairs and the collision renders him absolutely useless. He lays on his side bleeding from his throat and now a busted lip. Back in the ring Leviticus is trying to move from the ring he was just DDTed onto, but he gets absolutely nowhere. There will be only one way that Leviticus moves after this match is over, and it’s via being carted out on a stretcher, or if his opponents’ have their way, via being carted out in a body-bag. Cindy is back in the ring and her fingers are embedded in Leviticus’ throat. His gagging body is bridged up from the canvas as the air supply is cut off to huis lungs via the Hand of Anubis. Cindy not only has Levi trapped in her submission, but is positioning his body for her partner’s kill move.
Greyson: Hand of Anubis locked in on Leviticus, and uh-oh, oh God, look at Serenity, she’s climbing the ropes.
Sparkles: Are we going to see the same move these two hit back at Upping the Ante?
Serenity comes leaping from the top rope and into a shooting star press that connects with Leviticus’ ribs. He falls to the canvas with Serenity on top of his chest and Cindy’s fingers still dug deep down his gullet.
Greyson: A version of the Serenity Now, and hopefully that will bring a merciful end to this.
Frankie: Do you know New Eden at all? Do you think the word ‘merciful’ is in their vocab?
Greyson: I’m sure it’s just as foreign a term to them as the word ‘statutory’ are to you.
Serenity remains splayed across Leviticus’ chest with his leg hooked and Cindy’s fingers are buried about as deep into her victim’s throat as they can be.
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There was no chance for Leviticus to kick out after all the lethal blows unleashed upon his body. The maniacal Serenity peels herself off the damaged frame of her opponent and smiles in recognition of New Eden’s victory. Though it would appear that they have a far more deranged method of celebrating success. The festivities are truly about to begin as Cindy leaves the ring only to return to it with a few party favors, namely a noose made of barbwire.
Greyson: We know exactly where this is going.
Sparkles: Something depraved is about to happen.
Frankie: You wouldn’t expect anything less from New Eden would you? That’s like expecting Pewee Herman not to masturbate at an X-Rated theater.
Leviticus is forced to his knees via the barbwire noose that is now wrapped around his throat.
Cindy: Are you watching?
Cindy isn’t shouting at the crowd, she’s shouting to the back.
Cindy: Are you watching my Mika? This is for you….this is alllll for you!
A cackling Serenity and Cindy lead a defenseless Leviticus to his feet and then throw him over the top rope. His legs desperately thrash above the ringside mats, unable to make contact with them thanks to the barbwire noose that he is currently being hung by.
Frankie: Oh God, I’m gonna vomit.
Greyson: This has to be the most disturbing thing I’ve ever witnessed!
Serenity holds the slack of the barbwire while the Queen of Chaos rolls out of the squared circle. She steps up in front of the hanging Leviticus while using her sharp nails to begin carving insignias in his chest.
Cindy: Come back to me, Mika….Return to me!
Although Leviticus is the victim of Cindy’s wrath, former World Champion and co-number one contender Mika Kozlov, is the recipient of Cindy’s desires. However, Mika does not show up in response to Cindy’s screams. This does not sit well with Cindy, and Leviticus is the one who suffers for it. Her nails go on tearing at his skin while her screams only get louder….louder and more desperate.
Cindy: You will return to me, Mika!!
Serenity can see that the customarily docile outward demeanor of her Queen has changed. For the first time in as long as Serenity can remember, she detects longing in Cindy’s voice. The noose around Leviticus’ throat is released, allowing his body to slump to the floor. Another body goes to the ground, Cindy’s, dropping to her knees and looking into her bloodied finger tips. She examines the bits of flesh extending out from beneath her nails while chanting some form of incantation.
Serenity: My Queen….
Cindy looks from the skin she cut out of Leviticus’ body to her Princess. Serenity is knelt beside her, hands rested upon her shoulders.
Serenity: There’s another way.
The chanting stops and Cindy is now all ears.
In spite of competing in not one but TWO matches throughout the evening, Matthew Bowden is still looking like he can go a few more rounds. He’s making his way down the hall with a towel draped over the back of his neck and only just one drop of sweat evident on his forehead. Yep, even after defeating two members of the Hair Doodes in back to back matches, he’s only just broken a single sweat.
Holt: Well, we took your advice.
There will be more than sweat coming out of Bowden’s body should this unexpected encounter lead to violence. Knowing Ricky Holt, Teiji Shintaro and Eric O’Flaherty, that’s just where this is headed. These three very dangerous men approach Bowden, who either courageously or foolishly, does not back down.
Holt: Per your insistence, my gallery of rogues and I decided to watch your ‘performance.’
Bowden: I’m amazed. You saw my matches and yet your jaw isn’t scraping the pavement?
Holt: Oh, oh-ho-ho-ho (holding sides) wait-wait-wait you think I was supposed to be impressed with what I saw?
Bowden: Impressed? No. Blown away? That sounds about right.
Holt: (Smiling) Listen kid….
Bowden: Kid?
Holt: I’m not here to help build that ego of yours, I’m here because you made a CRUCIAL mistake. You went and you put yourself on my radar. The last place on earth you want to be.
Teiji leaps forward with his almost razor sharp teeth inches removed from Bowden’s face. The stench emanating from the Nightmare’s mouth has Bowden recoiling and swiping a hand in front of his nose.
Holt: You insult me by implying that you’re a REAL wrestler, or a REAL threat to me in the Rumble.
Bowden: I’m just as big a threat to you as tic-tac’s are to your friend here.
Holt: Teiji, I think this youngster….
Bowden: Youngster?
Holt:….needs another demonstration of what REAL wrestling is. Let’s make sure he won’t be causing us any headaches in the Rumble….
Kingdom: Headaches? You want to talk headaches?
No social soiree is complete without a late arrival by Johnny Kingdom. The Team Leader waltzes along into the scene and cozies up right behind Bowden, an arm placed over the much younger superstar’s shoulder.
Kingdom: I’ve taken almost an entire bottle of Aspirin today and I’ve still got a migraine after listening to you CLAIM you’re going to win the Rumble. I mean, listening to you is the equivalent of hearing Fran Drescher and Jar-Jar Binks sing a duet.
Holt: I guess you didn’t turn up your hearing aid when I was talking earlier, Kingdom, otherwise you would have heard me when I said that I’m a man who fulfills his promises.
Kingdom: Then can you do everyone a favor and make a few more promises? Promise us that you’ll have your friend here (points to the snarling Teiji) take a shower. Then promise us that you’ll finally SHUT THE HELL UP.
Teiji tries to get his hands to Kingdom’s throat but much to his surprise he finds himself restrained by Holt and O’Flaherty. In fact O’Flaherty has to use that baseball bat he constantly carries around, placing it across Teiji’s throat and pulling back.
Kingdom: Go ahead and let your hygienically challenged bud off his leash. I’ll gladly show him what a REAL wrestler is.
Holt: Kingdom-Kingdom-Kingdom. I understand that you’re still a little fussy, probably because you didn’t take your nap after the Price is Right this morning, and because I gave those kids you were training a course in wrestling that would actually be of benefit to them.
Kingdom: You call beating up my trainees beneficial?
Holt: You can’t shield those punks from the harsh realities of wrestling, just like you can’t protect this chump (gestures to Bowden) from guys like Teiji and I. But hey, if you want to waste your time, you’re more than welcome to try. I guess we’ll all be seeing each other at Last Stand.
Turns to Teiji and O’Flaherty.
Holt: Let’s bounce.
Teiji is growling as the bat across his throat is used to pull him away. Holt and O’Flaherty drag their associate from Kingdom and Bowden.
Bowden: What was that about?
Bowden steps out from under the arm that was draped over his shoulder.
Kingdom: Excuse me?
Bowden: You actually think I needed backup? I could’ve handled them.
Kingdom: Heh, I’d like to have seen that.
Bowden: If Holt and his friends get in my face again, you will.
Bowden walks away from Kingdom, who stands there cynically shaking his head.
Kingdom: Punks.
Mya Denton’s mind has always been a pretty crowded place, and now it’s reached its carrying capacity. Not only does she have her own personalities trapped inside, in constant conflict with one another, but now there’s a new voice fueling all the internal turmoil. Aaron Harrison comes walking into the near pitch black room where Mya has taken residency. She is seated in a steel folding chair, face buried in her hands. Her fingers part and her eyes look through them as the figure of Harrison approaches. The hood on the jacket that Harrison has been sporting these past few weeks peels back so that Mya can get a clear view of his face.
Harrison: There’s been questions….
Mya cranes her neck into a contemplative stare.
Harrison: Ever since Rachel announced her retirement people have been asking, do I have what it takes to continue her mission? They’ve questioned if I have the strength, and the cunning to finish what she started. They ask if I’m ruthless enough to do the unthinkable things that are required of me.
In a bold, calculated maneuver Harrison reaches out and rests his palms on Mya’s shoulders.
Harrison: Well it’s time we answered.
Harrison goes to vacate the room only to stop at the door when he notices that Mya isn’t following.
Harrison: Let’s go.
Mya: I’m not going anywhere with you.
Harrison: I’m not talking to YOU, Mya.
The shading around Mya’s eyes grows darker as a menacing smile etches its way across her face.
What’s that? It’s your gag reflex. Why’s it activating? Because of Mason Van Stanton.
His anxious face appears on the screen as he tentatively steps down the hall. He looks ever so fidgety at the moment, playing with the knot of his tie repeatedly. All the while his eyes veer from one side of the corridor to the other, as if searching for someone. Suddenly a door opens at his side and a portly fella steps out, the sight of him causing Mason to leap back clasping at his heart.
Mason: Don’t do that!
Demands the nasally Mason. The heavy set man arches his brow and goes on doing his job by emptying a waste basket into a much larger trashcan. He’s not the only one who carries on with their duties, Mason proceeds down the corridor in search of Taylor Chase. His hope being to bring a resolution to Taylor’s conflict with Principle Owner Karen McBride.
Sparkles: Mason looks a little skiddish.
Frankie: Definitely left some skid marks in his underpants.
Greyson: Will he demonstrate his worth to the McBride administration by stopping Taylor Chase from challenging Karen McBride?
Frankie: Lord knows Van Stanton’s my homie, but his chances of stopping Tay-Tay and Monarchy are about as fat as Adelle’s waistline.
The oh so adorable Susie Moore continues to put her motorized rascal to use, now trying to master the steering while multitasking by drinking a cappuccino. She balances the drink in one hand while using the other to steer her vehicle around the catering table. Unfortunately she’s paying far more attention to one task than the other, and one can safely assume what that task is. She backs up and the rascal unintentionally smacks into a wall…..wait, that’s NOT a wall. It’s a leg.
A horrified Susie’s eyes slowly rise from the leg she bumped into, to a thigh. The eyes keep on rising, looking from the thigh to a stomach, then to a chest, and finally settling on the fierce stare of Miss Jon. The Destroyer of Beauty glares menacingly at the defenseless Susie. Oh how tempted Miss Jon is to simply reach down and snap Susie like nothing more than a twig.
Howe: Hello, Susie.
States Miss Jon’s agent, Martin Howe III, who steps out from behind the enormous back of his client. He crouches down to the correspondent’s side and rests his forearm on the steering wheel of her rascal.
Howe: I understand you had a conversation with Katelyn Buehler earlier. And sadly my client and I were unable to catch what she had to say regarding her match against the Destroyer of Beauty tonight. Care to enlighten us?
Susie: Uhhh, I never talked to Katelyn, I talked to Danny…..
Howe: Oh, her agent, and what did he have to say?
Susie: I can’t remember. I think it was something about Spider-man, but that could just be my selective hearing again.
Howe: (Annoyed) So you have no idea what Katelyn or her ‘man-servant’ had to say?
Susie: Uhhh, Spooooongebob?
Howe: Are you answering me or asking me?
Susie: Booooth?
Miss Jon growls as her huge hands reach out for Susie. However, Martin manages to snag hold of her wrist and then calm her by providing some soothing pats on her broad shoulder.
Howe: That’s alright, Susie, we understand that your mind isn’t exactly fit to handle the role you’ve been cast in.
Susie finds it shocking that she’s getting out of this precarious predicament unscathed.
Howe: We made a promise to the McBrides that we would be on our best behavior, and we intend to honor that commitment. So…..we….pardon you.
The alarmed Susie looks up into something that distresses her greater than the threat of physical violence. Miss Jon’s cheeks are twitching, fighting and struggling, straining as she forms a….smile.
TWO WEEKS AGO
We’re transported from a scene backstage to a scene from a scant two weeks earlier. The visuals on the screen pertain to Rachel Tatum Lee’s defense of her NHB Championship against challenger Kat Kelly. The commentators are overheard in the background discussing this scene.
Greyson: That was odd to say the least.
Frankie: Did Miss Jon legitimately just smile?
Sparkles: Sparkles didn’t even think she was capable of that.
Greyson: Well let’s talk about someone who lost their smile. Two weeks ago on Riot we saw Rachel Tatum Lee defend her record setting title reign as NHB Champion
Sparkles: But as the match between she and Kat Kelly went on it became clearer and clearer that Rachel’s heart just wasn’t into it.
Greyson: She’s had her fair share of grievances with the IWC and it all came to a heading during Rachel’s title defense.
The video of the last NHB Title defense continues to play with Rachel half-heartedly employing a variety of weapons in her barrage against Kat Kelly. She just doesn’t have the motivation to carry through with striking Kat’s body via a kendo stick or a steel chair. She hesitates before every blow and in some cases outright decides against attacking her challenger. Ultimately Rachel decides to leave the squared circle. Though that’s not all she leaves behind, also abandoning the NHB Title she’s defended for near on two years, and a profession she’s devoted much of her life to.
Greyson: Rachel walked out on her match, walked out on her title, and walked out on her job.
Sparkles: According to sources from around the inter-webs, Rachel’s aggravations with wrestling unfortunately led to her retirement.
Frankie: Which led to this awesome foot fetish tweet sent out by Rachel earlier this week.
I should've done this a long time ago. #Retired pic.twitter.com/LQstbcgVGn
— Rachel Tatum Lee (@RachelTatumLee) January 20, 2016
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Greyson: And that pretty much confirms that Rachel is done with professional wrestling.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, enough about Rachel though, let’s show another clip, a happier one…no…the happiest one. Let’s show the world what happened after Rachel walked out on her match with Kat Kelly.
We go back to the video of the title match several weeks ago. Seconds after Rachel has walked away from her championship the belt is scooped up into her challenger’s arms. Kat Kelly doesn’t just gather the title, she starts celebrating with it. Soon her fellow Monarchy cohorts are in the squared circle heaving Kat up onto their shoulders.
Greyson: Happy? You think this was a HAPPY moment, Frankie?
Frankie: Absolutely! We have a NEW Champion, Kat Kelly is the NEEEWW NHB Champion!
Greyson: The validity of her NHB Title reign is definitely questionable.
Frankie: Finders keepers.
Greyson: That is not a legally valid argument at all.
Sparkles: No givesies backsies.
Greyson: And that doesn’t even apply to this argument at all.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah getting back to Rachel, in spite of she and the IWC splitting on less that amicable terms, we still have a big farewell video planned for her later tonight.
Speaking of unlawful title reigns cameras are now centered on another woman illegally holding a championship. This particular woman is wrapped entirely in black leather, her face included, and the title in her possession is the Queen of Wrestling Championship. Earlier on we saw this masked fiend blindside rightful champion Selena Frost and snag her belt. All of this was done by the edict of the midget figure stood in the middle of the ring, the well-dressed Desmond Drake.
Drake: Did you all just see that? (Pointing to the Cartel-tron) That video the IWC just aired? I hope you were paying attention, because that package was sheer inspiration. The way Kat Kelly won the NHB Championship motivated me, motivated me AND my friend here (pats his masked associate on the leg). Kat TOOK what she wanted, and so WE took what WE wanted.
Drake’s masked associate raises the Queen of Wrestling Title aloft.
Drake: I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking we’re scum. You’re thinking we’re a couple of thieves. You’re thinking Selena Frost is little miss perfect sunshine and we had no right to take the championship from her. But that’s where your wrong you sexy little bastards. Selena is about as imperfect as the flab in a once hot Kirstie Alley’s thighs. Cause ya know what, she stole the Queen of Wrestling Title from me first!
Greyson: Is someone going to come out here and PLEASE shut Drake up. The guy had no right to hold that QOWT to begin with.
Frankie: The hell he doesn’t. The great and all powerful Silas Mason entrusted him with the championship.
Greyson: Yeah, but Silas is no longer the Principle Owner of the IWC, Karen McBride is, and she ordered him to give that belt to Selena Frost back at the End of the Year Special.
Sparkles: Which he refused to do.
Drake ignores the outrage of the crowd, believing himself to be perfectly justified in every action.
Drake: So much like my penis on a Saturday night, I took justice into my own hands. In the words of Sylvester Stallone, I am the LAWL! I was the judge, I was the jury, and my friend in leather here, she was the executioner. She and I decided it was not only in our best interests, but all of your best interests (open palm towards the heckling fans) that we reclaim what was taken from me back at the End of the Year Special. You can repay me by removing your itchy bras and tossing some room keys my way. Because now the Queen of Wrestling Title is where it belongs, around the waist of a champion that I’VE cherry picked, that I’VE hand selected, a champion each and every one of you can RESPECT. And that champion, her name is….
The mask peels back from the face of the woman unlawfully detaining the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Drake: MARY ALLISION CHAINZ!
Oh lord….this reveal leaves just as many fans angry as it does unsatisfied. The recently revealed Chainz merely smirks in indifference to the crowd’s response, cause there’s only one thing that matters to her, and it happens to be the championship sitting on her shoulder.
Greyson: Are you friggin kidding me? Marcy Allison Chainz?
Sparkles: She’s our new Queen of Wrestling Champion?
Greyson: Of course not, because this isn’t legal.
Frankie: And why isn’t it?
Greyson: Because it’s stupid.
Frankie: No it’s not, Drake was put in charge of crowning a new….
Greyson: Can it Frankie, no one is buying into that line of BS.
Apparently Chainz is.
Drake: Thanks to your beloved Desmond Drake, there is now a Queen you can adore, a queen you can revere, a queen that will hold this championship with honor, a queen who will dominant the women’s division, a queen that will….
Selena: Tap out to the Frost Bite!
A bold proclamation is made by a woman with a legitimate gripe and a legitimate claim to the title over Chainz’s shoulder. That woman is the actual Queen of Wrestling Champion Selena Frost, and she’s also a woman who can withstand a few shots form a steel pipe and still keep on kicking. That much becomes clear when she shows up on the stage ignoring the agony of the multiple blows she took from Chainz backstage.
Frankie: Dessie D and Chainz should have got the hell out of this building with the QOWT when they could.
Greyson: The fact that they came out here to brag about stealing the championship may very well come back to haunt them.
Sparkles: Selena Frost was attacked earlier tonight, but it looks like Chainz didn’t do a good enough job on the REAL Queen of Wrestling Champion when she stole the belt.
Drake’s face has gone blood red as he spews vile at Selena.
Drake: Get your pasty ass out of here you icy prude! You have no right to interrupt this celebra….
Selena: Oh I plan on doing a lot more than interrupting your celebration, Desmond. I’m not just here to crash your party, I’m here to CRUSH your handpicked champion.
Chainz snags the mic out of Drake’s hand.
Chainz: Look at you, you can barely even breathe. You honestly think you have it in you to beat me?
Apparently Frost doesn’t even think that question deserves an answer. She’s already climbing up onto the apron and ignoring her preexisting injuries.
Chainz: Fine.
A frantic Drake is shaking his head and all but begging Chainz not to do it….Too late.
Chainz: You and me for the title!
Chainz brushes Drake aside and then runs across the ring, swinging the Queen of Wrestling Title into a crushing blow upside Selena’s head. The shot sends Selena flying from the apron and plummeting to the ringside mats.
QUEEN OF WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The blow to the temple from the title belt has rendered Selena Frost absolutely defenseless, her body left splayed across the arena floor.
Greyson: Ah God, that belt cracking right upside Selena’s skull.
Frankie: What a great way to start this match.
Sparkles: Who knew coming into tonight that we’d see a Queen of Wrestling Title bout.
Greyson: With Mary Allison Chainz as the….
Frankie:….defending champion.
Greyson: As the CHALLENGER, you idiot.
The blow to the brain has left Selena all rattled yet not totally down and out. She’s trying to stand up but finds her progress thwarted when a double axehandle cracks her over the upper back. Chainz leaps off the apron and smacks Selena over the spine with a blow that drops the rightful champion to her knees. The malicious Chainz drags Selena back up to her feet though and then throws her along right into the barricade. Selena’s shoulder withstands much of the impact with the steel, threatening to separate it. Once again the champ is forced to persevere through the anguish, standing up with her weight supported by the very same barricade she just bounced off of. Suddenly she goes flipping back over that barrier when her face is crushed by a polish hammer.
Chainz rushes towards Selena and swings her forearms upside the champion’s nose. The blow is so powerful it lifts Selena off of her feet and sends her spilling into the audience.
Frankie: Chainz is just dominating Selena.
Greyson: Only because she smacked Selena in the head with her own title belt before the match got underway.
Sparkles: It’s surprising to see such intensity from Chainz considering that we haven’t seen her in an IWC ring in close to a year.
A busted up Selena lays out amongst the fans and uses one of their chairs to get back to her feet. Employing that chair as a crutch comes back to haunt her though, because Selena’s face is swung down straight into it. Chainz has snuck in behind Selena, grabbed the back of her head and is putting her nose directly into the seat.
Selena bounces from the chair and her disorientated body goes spiraling along into a scoop slam right across the exposed concrete floor. Chainz shows her strength by putting her adversary’s back into the unforgiving ground. Another scoop slam soon follows, one of the running variety that sends Selena flying over the barricade and smacking into the ringside mats.
A wide eyed Desmond Drake is standing back watching all of this and enjoying every bit of what he sees. He’s all the more delighted when seeing Chainz pull Selena off the mats and into another Irish whip that sends the champion’s body hurdling into the barricade. Drake can’t help himself, he steps to Selena as she lays on the ground and then grabs his own crotch, air humping mere inches from her face.
Greyson: We are just seeing a systematic destruction of the Queen of Wrestling Champion.
Frankie: It’s her own fault for taking this challenge after she was already clocked with a pipe backstage.
Sparkles: Selena determined to get back her title at even great risk to her career.
A career that continues to be shortened with each blow. Selena just won’t let those injuries stop her though, she won’t give up in spite of all her physical limitations. She employs the ring apron to drag her crippled body up from the ground. Once on her feet she channels all of her strength, all of her rage, all of her remaining power in order to bring the fight to Chainz. She turns to face her adversary, that is if her adversary were a set of steel steps. Chainz shows incredible strength by throwing the upper half of a set of ring stairs right into Selena’s brow.
Greyson: RIGHT IN THE FACE!
Sparkles: That did it! Selena’s got nothing left after that.
Apparently there a few others who are on the same wavelength as Sparkles, as scary a thought as that may be. Three EMTS come racing towards the ring amassed behind a referee. While the medics crowd around an unconscious Selena, the referee steps up in Mary Allison Chainz’s face, turning himself into a barrier. He blocks Chainz from getting anywhere near the Queen of Wrestling Champion.
Greyson: Thank God….THAAANK GOD…
Sparkles: EMTs coming out here and preventing this from going any further.
Frankie: Their too late though. Selena’s already all but crippled. I mean her brains have to be splattered all over the mats.
Sparkles: Sparkles can see them, they look just like cranberry sauce.
The audience are not happy with how this has gone, but contrastingly Chainz and Drake are thrilled with how this has played out. Not only do they have the Queen of Wrestling Title still in their possession but Selena is now in no condition to take it back. All she can do is physically labor to draw every breath into her lung. The EMTs will do everything in their power to make sure Selena is still capable of doing that, which is why they’ve stopped this impromptu fight. Unfortunately that allows a smirking Chainz and a chuckling Drake to go walking up the ramp with the Queen of Wrestling Title. Though their departure will have to wait until after Drake has given a few crotch chops aimed at the true champion.
Greyson: As unfortunate as it may be, Drake has once again managed to steal Selena’s title belt.
Frankie: And there ain’t a damn thing Selena can do about it.
To further cement her illegitimate claim on the QOWT and to further insult the fans, Chainz stops on the stage, turns to the camera and lifts the belt overhead. While she laughs her counterpart Drake continues making obscene crotch chops.
Greyson: I am morally repulsed.
Sparkles: Just think how Selena feels. It wasn’t just her body that was destroyed, it was her whole world.
Frankie: Mary Allison Chainz and Desmond Drake are leaving here tonight with Selena’s Queen of Wrestling Title. Suck it!
Mason: I understand you guys are upset, you have every right to be.
Mason Van Stanton exhausts every single trick in his bag in order to talk his way past the barrier stationed outside of Monarchy’s dressing room. That guard is none other than Ryan Watson, who uses one hand to keep Mason back and the other to hold a phone to his ear.
Watson: Shhhh-shhh-shhh….
An incredulous Watson places his finger across Mason’s lips, silencing him. At last Watson can hear his phone conversation.
Watson: And you’re sure about that? (Awaits an answer) Excellent. (Evidently the answer has pleased him) You did great.
The phone is hung up and the finger is taken from Mason’s lips.
Watson: You’re here to talk Tay out of finishing what we, what Monarchy, started earlier tonight? You think you can convince her not to go out there and add Karen McBride to our list of victims?
Mason: I uhhhh….
Watson: You’re welcome to give it the old college try….
Much to Mason’s surprise Watson steps out of his way and pushes open the door, the last barrier standing in the way of access to Taylor Chase. Just as Mason starts to enter the room he finds a hand not wedged to his lips but his chest.
Watson: You got fifteen minutes….
Mason: Fifteen?
Watson: Got a call from a friend of mine, said that Karen McBride is on her way to the arena as we speak. She should be here soon, so I suggest you say what you have to say to Tay, and you say it QUICK.
All of Van Stanton’s courage is summoned before he dares set foot in the same room with the First Lady of Professional Wrestling.
Two plates with steaming linguine noodles piled upon them sit on opposite ends of a table. While Andre Jordan lifelessly prods the pasta with a fork, across from him Mika Kozlov is slurping what has to be the world’s longest noodle. She keeps slurping and slurping and slurping while her head cranes from one side to the others, eyes batting at her ‘date.’ Andre might find Mika’s mannerisms a little more comedic if his wrists weren’t chained to the armrests of a chair, and he wasn’t her current captive.
Mika: Is the pasta not to your liking?
Andre doesn’t respond, keeping his eyes fixed to the dinner he is being coerced into eating.
Mika: Well I know you will enjoy (provocatively) desert.
The plate that WAS in front of Mika is swiped from the table, the porcelain shattering across the floor. Mika’s fingernail touches the edge of Andre’s plate and scoots it towards her. The end of one noodle is taken and placed in Mika’s pursed lips and the other end of that very same noodle is held up towards Dre’s lips.
Mika: Oh come on Andre, you know how this scene goes. Don’t you want to be….romantic? Don’t you want to sweep me off my feet?
Andre: Amongst so many other things I’d like to do to you.
Mika: Then SUCK!
The end of the noodle is placed to Andre’s lips but he will never ever suck it all the way down to the point where his lips ultimately meet Mika’s.
Mika: No foreplay huh?
Now its Andre’s plate that is thrown across the room, the table cleared so that there’s only one entrée on top of it. Mika makes HERSELF the main course, sitting herself Indian style in front of her Chocolate Pudding.
Mika: You’re so frisky Dre, I like that.
Andre: Isn’t this a little….one sided?
Mika: Hmmmm?
Andre: Well, I’m just thinking about how we can make this a lot more fun….for you?
Mika: Moi?
Andre: Is that really so surprising? That someone is actually thinking about YOUR needs for once?
There is something strangely enchanting about Andre’s words….and AROUSING.
Andre: You’re thinking I’m just like everyone else in your life, that you have to FORCE me to care about you. That I don’t understand you, but believe me, we’re a lot more alike than you might think. We’ve both been used, taken advantage of, had our trust abused. But I won’t USE you, I won’t take advantage of you, I won’t betray you’re trust, and you don’t need to force yourself on me. Just-just let me prove it, give me an opportunity to prove I’m different.
Mika: Well aren’t you a charmer?
Andre: How about I show you just how charming I can be?
He goes to lift his hands towards Mika’s face, however the chains around his wrists restrain his arms. He sullenly smiles while looking at the chains from the corner of his eye, hoping to draw Mika’s attention to them.
Andre: Can we take these things off already?
Mika: What will you do if I remove them?
Andre: A lot more than just slurping noodles.
Mika definitely likes the sounds of that, hence why her hand is fishing a key from her cleavage. The cuffs are removed and a smiling Andre takes a moment to rub at his chaffed wrists.
Mika: Well?
The red rings around his wrists are no longer Andre’s concern, instead his focus becomes putting a red ring around Mika’s throat. With lighting fast speed, before Kozlov can even blink an eye, her throat is engulfed in Dre’s hands and her back is pressed down to the table. Andre begins to strangle Mika with all of his strength, trying to choke her into unconsciousness. However, all he’s doing is choking her into laughter.
Mika: Hahahahaha…KINKY! SOOO KINKY!
There are no longer chains around Andre’s wrists, but there is now a chain around his throat. Mika’s bodyguard Borislav has just re-entered the room and does so in time to thwart this attempted homicide. He wraps a dog chain around Andre’s throat and pulls, dragging him back from Mika and restraining him in the corner of the room. Andre tries to pry the chain away from his neck though his fingers are no match for the strength exhibited by Borislav’s biceps. Eventually he finds himself choked into submission and unable to get to the woman who is sitting up on the table coughing…..coughing and laughing.
Mika: I never knew you were into that type of thing, babushka.
Fight as he may Andre just can’t get loose from Borislav’s hands and his chain.
Borislav: (Growling) Mika…..
Mika: Mmmmm?
Borislav: Your sestra.
Mika: My beloved Tay-Tay? What’s my sister up to now?
As Mika moves across the room and leans her ear towards Borislav’s whispers Dre desperately tries to get his hands back up and around her throat. Sadly Borislav manages to keep both of Andre’s arms pinned down to his sides. Once Mika has heard what her heavy had to tell her, she pulls back and looks into Andre’s furious eyes.
Mika: Sounds like we’re going out for our date, Pudding.
Someone was obviously raised in a barn, because the door that leads into the Trainer’s Office has been left open…just a smidgen yet open nevertheless. This allows the camera stationed in the hallway to catch a peak of what’s happening inside of the room. Conveniently the World Champion Katelyn Buehler and her agent Dan Douglas are seated in the corner of the room and in perfect position to be seen through the slit of the barely open door.
Douglas: Are you listening carefully?
Katelyn doesn’t answer with words, she just nods, and in the process of doing so she neither blinks nor breathes. It appears that her agent’s words and the talisman that dangles from his fingers have her totally enchanted.
Douglas: You are not injured. You are not in pain.
Katelyn: I’m not injured. I’m not in pain.
Douglas: You feel nothing, not anguish, nor…..emotion. You feel….NOTHING.
Katelyn: (Robotically) I feel nothing.
Douglas: Are you ready to do exactly what I tell you to do to your opponents tonight, and to Taylor and Mika, your challengers at Last Stand?
Katelyn: (Emotionlessly) Yes.
Douglas: (Sighs in relief) Thank God….
A kiss is planted on Katelyn’s forehead, a fatherly kiss.
Unfortunately cameras return to the ring just in time to catch one of the lowest moments of the show. EMTS are presently aiding an injured, beaten down Selena Frost up the ramp. In spite of everything the Queen of Wrestling Champion has withstood throughout the night she manages to bare some of her own weight. Although her arms are over the shoulders of two medics amassed at either of her sides, her feet are still under her, and helping to carry her towards the back. As if this wasn’t bad enough her wife Deanna Springs is forced to watch as the love of her life is being aided out of the arena.
Greyson: It’s been a tough night for Selena Frost.
Sparkles: The toughest.
Frankie: And the funniest!
Greyson: Come off it now Frankie.
Frankie: No-no-no-no, don’t take me out of this moment, let me enjoy this. In the same night that we saw Desmond Drake bring Mary Allison Chainz back to the IWC, she single handedly destroys Selena Frost and then she takes off with the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Greyson: SELENA’S Queen of Wrestling Championship. Drake and Chainz stole the title, assaulted Selena and then ran off with her belt.
Sparkles: Drake’s vendetta with Selena prompting him to set her up tonight leading to the theft of her most prized possession and then the total decimation of her body.
Greyson: Chainz just mauled her, and I mean just MAULED Her when Selena came out to the ring to try and reclaim her property.
Frankie: And if you think Selena is bouncing back from the beating she just got, you’re so friggin wr….
Frankie is corrected before he can even finish his sentence. To his surprise and to the shock of all those onlookers in attendance, even Deanna, her wife Selena pulls away from the crew trying to help her to the back and starts to stagger towards the ring.
Greyson: Oh no…please don’t do this Selena, accept the help from these EMTS.
Sparkles: What is she doing?
Frankie: It better not be what I think she’s doing.
Although Selena is in worse pain than a mother giving birth to quadruplets, she rolls her battered body into the ring. Once inside she can’t even summon the strength to get up off of her knees but she does somehow possess the strength to demand a microphone then to put it to use.
Selena: Where you going, Chainz? (Selena has to stop because speaking actually gives her a pounding migraine) What? Think we’re done? (She grinds her teeth and grips at the back of her throbbing neck) Cause I feel like I’m getting my second wind. Yeah, you know what, I feel like I can go another round…no….in fact, I BELIEVE I’ve got one more fight left in me.
A loud chant of ‘we believe’ starts up from the audience. Their energy is infectious, feeding Selena with the adrenaline boost she needs to get back on her feet. Her legs nearly buckle under her but she somehow stays on her feet.
Selena: So what do you say MAC? You got the courage to come out here and give me one more shot at taking back my title? Or would it take too much work shaking that horny little dog Drake off your leg long enough for you to drag your flabby ass out here?
The crowd chuckles at the expense of both Chainz and Drake alike. However, Chainz is not laughing, she’s not smiling, she’s not happy at all, she’s looking absolutely furious as she comes stomping out through the curtains. For the second time tonight Drake is stood directly at Chainz’s side and is desperately trying to talk her out of making a fatal mistake. Once more Chainz is not listening.
Greyson: It didn’t take much to lure Mary Allison Chainz and Desmond Drake back out to the ring.
Frankie: And why would Chainz run from Selena’s challenge? Look at Selena, it’s taking everything in her power just to stand up.
Sparkles: For Chainz this is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. Which will have PETA all over her ass.
Greyson: Well Drake doesn’t look happy that Chainz is coming back out here to answer Selena’s challenge. He may hate Frost, but he knows just how talented, and just how dangerous she is, especially when she has her back pressed to the wall. Selena proved that two weeks ago in that cage match against Alistair Taylor.
Frankie: Drake should be THRILLED that Chainz is coming back out here to finally finish the Dairy Queen off.
Well he isn’t, but ultimately there is nothing that Drake can say that will stop Chainz from getting back in that ring with Selena. Drake is just as powerless as the EMTS who foolishly try to stop Chainz at the base of the ramp only to find themselves thrown forcefully out of her way with just one hand. Her other palm is wrapped around the Queen of Wrestling Title that is dragging across the ground at her side. Eventually Chainz throws the belt to Drake and then throws herself into the ring.
Frankie: Selena making all the wrong choices. This is the dumbest thing I’ve seen since picking Sarah Palin as a running partner.
Greyson: Well her choices have lured Chainz back to the ring and that means she’s getting another shot at getting the Queen of Wrestling Championship that was stolen from her.
QUEEN OF WRESTLING TITLE
The very same referee who was seen before the last commercial break trying to stop Chainz from going after Selena now find himself reluctantly calling for the bell to start a match that allows more harm to befall the true Queen of Wrestling Champion. The moment Chainz hears the chiming in the background she charges with a fist flying towards Selena’s face. It’s not going to be that easy. Selena blocks the punch, keeping it separated from her face. Chainz’s eyes widen and the jaws of several thousand fans drop when seeing Selena not only block her opponent’s fist from connecting but then delivers a punch of her own. The shot sends Chainz staggering back.
Sparkles: Look at this.
Greyson: Selena Frost with a bit more fight left in her than she let on.
Frankie: Un-fucking-real.
Selena follows up the last punch with another, and then a third and then a fourth. The shots have Chainz staggering back yet somehow staying upright. That’s until Selena runs in and delivers a clothesline with such force that it sends Chainz down to her back.
Greyson: Selena’s got Chainz down!
Sparkles: Selena’s building serious momentum.
Frankie: Do something Drake!
Drake is doing something, clawing at his hair at ringside. He screams along with the rest of the crowd at the sight of Chainz getting to her feet only to be toppled with another clothesline. Selena hits the lariat with all the force she can muster and then screams with sheer primal rage afterwards. The fans get riled up as Selena digs deeper than she’s ever dug before. She waits for Chainz to get up before catching her in a scoop slam, running her towards the ropes and then throwing her over them to the outside.
Greyson: A little bit of payback for that scoop slam Chainz hit Selena with earlier.
Sparkles: God, she went all the way down to the floor!
Frankie: Her ass is probably swollen after that landing. Someone get me a bag of ice.
Chainz’ back hits the floor with so much force that it just about cripples her on impact. This can’t happen, Drake won’t let it. He jumps to Chainz’ side and screams at her to get back up and even goes as far as to grab her under the arms and start using what little strength his pint sized body possesses to force her onto her feet. Chainz finally gets up and leans on the apron for support only to find herself kicked away from it. Selena hits a baseball slide that nails Chainz and drives her back right into Drake. The collision sends Drake to the floor but causes Chainz to stay on her feet, at least long enough for her opponent to come diving over the ropes into a crossbody block. Selena comes hurdling down towards Chainz and hits….NOTHING BUT MAT.
In the split second before their bodies can collide Chainz clears out of the way, causing Selena to fly past her and smack straight into the ground.
Frankie: Hahahahaha….AAAAAH-hahahahaha…..AAAAAAAH!!!! Hahahahahaha!!!
Greyson: Stop it Frankie.
Frankie: That was priceless (wiping tears), that was HYSTERICAL! Look at you two, you both thought that Selena was actually going to have a baby-face come back, but instead it was her baby-face that just got SMASHED.
Greyson: Selena had started to build some momentum but that ill-advised dive cost her dearly.
Sparkles: It just opened the door for Chainz to get back in this.
Frankie: Not to get back in this, but to end this.
That’s precisely what Chainz is about to do. She lays in wait for Selena to expend all of her energy to get back to her feet. The moment Selena stands she finds her face hurdling towards the ringside mats yet again when she’s struck with the downward spiral. Chainz hits the move that may have sealed the Queen of Wrestling Champion’s fate.
Greyson: Selena’s face crushing the mats a second time.
Frankie: And Chainz crushing Selena’s chances of regaining the Queen of Wrestling Title.
For once Frankie may not have to eat his words. It appears that Chainz has this match in hand much like she has Selena’s hair in hand. The grip on Frost’s pony tail forces her back up to her feet and then back into the ring. It isn’t long after that Selena finds herself pinned to the canvas.
1
2
Frankie: New champion cro…..
Well Frankie not only has to eat his words but follow it up with a desert made of crow. Selena launches her shoulder from the canvas and does so with such defiance that it elicits a HUGE reaction from the crowd.
Frankie: YUCK!
Greyson: Frost! Frost still has it in her to kick out!
Sparkles: Chainz not walking out of here that easily with the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
The fans might be at this very moment the happiest they’ve been all night long. Their cries of ‘we believe’ are so loud that they inspire goosebumps. They serve as the ultimate inspiration for Selena to start compelling more than just her shoulder from the canvas. Chainz makes sure that it was just her opponent’s shoulder that got up, refusing to let the rest of Selena get off the ring. She crawls on top of Selena and starts to punch her repeatedly in the forehead, busting up her face and inflicting some serious brain damage with each blow. Finally Chainz removes her fists from Selena’s face and instead puts a boot across her throat. Chainz keeps that boot to the champion’s neck until the referee has started a five count. At four the illegal choke is broken. A frustrated Chainz turns away from her adversary and slips through the ropes to the apron.
Chainz: Believe this!?!
Chainz gives the chanting fans cause to change their tone when she throws an ‘up yours’ taunt in their direction. She wisely redirects her focus back to the squared circle where an addled Selena is trying to work her way back up. The moment Selena stands Chainz’s body comes hurdling from the apron through the ropes and into a spear…a spear that is COUNTERED. Not only does Selena side step the arm bound for her ribs, but she catches it, hooks herself around it and then uses the limb to flip Chainz down into the cross arm breaker.
Greyson: THE FROST BITE LOCKED IN!
Frankie: How? How!!??! HOOOOOWWW!!!??!!!
Sparkles: This is amazing!
Frankie: Bull….this is bullshit!
An absolutely shocked Chainz tries to clasp her hands together in order to block the Frost Bite from being fully locked in, but it doesn’t work, there is no avail from Selena’s finishing submission. Selena has the hold tightly clamped on and this reduces Chainz’s options to one of two choices. Either Chainz submits or suffers a broken arm. It’s a tough choice but Chainz realistically only has one, which is why she’s emphatically slapping the canvas.
Greyson: She’s tapping! She’s tapping out!
Sparkles: Chainz submits to the Frost Bite!!
Greyson: And-and-and that means Selena Frost comes back from the most insurmountable of odds to retain her championship.
Frankie: Dear God, why couldn’t you smite Selena just once?
It seems everyone and everything, be it the forces on earth and in the heavens are conspiring to see Selena Frost persevere here tonight. She no sooner hears Chainz’s hand slapping the canvas before she’s breaking her hold and celebrating her victory. Although she’s in agony Selena manages to get to her knees and lift either arm aloft in celebration, however, she finds herself disappointed that one of those arms are now weighed down with her title. Instead of having her championship back in her possession it remains in the hands of Desmond Drake. A steaming mad Drake is shouting at Selena from ringside while pointing at the Queen of Wrestling Championship that he holds across his chest.
Drake: You think you deserve this (squeezes the title)? You think you earned this? Chainz is nothing! She’s NOTHING! You didn’t prove ANYTHING! I’ll find someone who deserves this title, and if you got a problem with that, you can suck….my….d…..
Drake is so furious that it clouds his peripheral view. He doesn’t see Frost’s wife Deanna running up behind him and grabbing the collar of his jacket.
Greyson: Deanna’s got Drake!
Sparkles: And she’s about to feed him into the ring where Selena is waiting!
Frankie: Unhand him you scallywag!
Deanna charges Drake towards the squared circle and finally tosses him in. She waits to see her wife take Drake apart only to realize that it was only part of him that was thrown into the ring, and that part was his jacket. At the last second Drake managed to slip his arms out of his coat. Once freed Drake picks up the Queen of Wrestling Title from ringside and then goes scrambling up the ramp with the belt in his arms.
Greyson: Damn. Just when I thought Drake was finally going to get his comeuppance he slips right through Selena’s hands.
Frankie: My boy Drake is as slippery as a snake.
Greyson: Yeah, that’s just what that no good son of a bitch is….a SNAKE!
Sparkles: Well that snake is slithering away with Selena Frost’s Queen of Wrestling Championship!
A very depleted Selena does not give pursuit to Drake, instead it’s her words that are nipping at his heels.
Selena: Go ahead and run away with my title Drake.
A microphone is once again in Selena’s hands and is amplifying the threats directed at the man who just stole her title.
Selena: You want to keep playing this game? FINE! But we both know how it’s going to end.
The microphone in her hand is flung aside and now Selena is grabbing hold of a recovering Mary Allison Chainz. If Chainz thought she was getting off with any form of leniency than she was gravely mistaken. She’s forced to her feet and then into a boot to the gut that is promptly followed by the Ice Breaker. The implant DDT drives her head almost right through the ring.
Greyson: Ice Breaker!
Sparkles: Selena Frost letting Drake know what he’s in store for when she finally does get her hands on that toad.
Frankie: Snake? Toad? Make up your mind already.
Deanna has slid into the ring and kneels beside Selena, but even her wife can do nothing to calm the champion’s anger. There’s only one thing that will finally set Selena’s mind at ease, and it’ll be regaining possession of her title at the expense of breaking Drake’s body.
Mason: Karen McBride has a habit of pissing people off, I know that better than anyone else.
Taylor Chase couldn’t be any less interested in anything that Mason Van Stanton has to say, no matter how passionately he speaks. It’s not the man who stands above her that concerns Tay, it’s her last minute prep for her brawl with the Principle Owner that she focuses on. Her eyes never rise from the tape that is being wrapped around her knuckles, not even once acknowledging the man who has infiltrated Monarchy’s dressing room and stands in front of the bench she’s seated on.
Mason: For God sakes, she had me stripping down to my skivvies and shaking my money maker in a cage just weeks ago.
Taylor: Please….PLLLLEEEASE don’t remind me of that.
Mason: Fair enough. Anyway, I’m just trying to say that I understand the overwhelming desire to want to punch McBride right in her mouth……
Taylor: Is there some type of ‘but’ coming here?
Mason: But….if you attack Karen you’re just going to be making things more difficult for yourself and for Monarchy.
Taylor: Why do you care if I attack the Crypt Keeper tonight? It’s like you said, you hate her more than I do. After-all, she did take your precious Silas Mason away from you.
Mason: (Sniveling) I’ve taken some therapy sessions to help me get through my loss, and now I’m trying to turn over a new leaf.
Taylor: No, you’re trying to kiss McBride’s ass so that she’ll give you a job in her administration.
Mason: That too. But this isn’t about me, this is about protecting you and your interests Tay. You’ve worked so hard to get yourself another shot at the World Championship, don’t risk losing your opportunity at Last Stand by pissing off the Principle Owner….
Taylor: Breath you little sewer urchin…
A hyperventilating Van Stanton wipes sweat from his brow.
Taylor: Relax. Do you honestly think I have any desire to fight that embalmed mummy when she gets here? Been there, done that. I’ve kicked Karen’s ass in the past, I don’t need to do it again. Besides, what Monarchy and I did to her security and her roster earlier tonight has already sent her the message that messing with us is the stupidest decision she could ever make.
Mason: (Sounding confused) Oooookay? Then why are you challenging her to a….?
Taylor: Do try to follow along Mason. I know it hurts to use your brain, but switch it on just this once. You mentioned my title match coming up at Last Stand, the one I had to wait almost a whole year to get. After all that time do you think I’m going to risk anything when it comes to facing Mika and Katelyn for the belt?
Mason: I wouldn’t think so.
Taylor: Of course I wouldn’t you Justin Bieber wannabe! Me challenging Karen to a fight, it’s all a smokescreen. I know Katelyn wants a piece of me, and so does Mika. So why not give the both of them what they want? Or how about I make it look like I’m giving them what they want?
Mason: Ooooh, I see.
Taylor: Do you really?
Mason: No.
Taylor: Ugh. My challenge to Karen is all part of a grand design. I’ve got my Monarchy sisters and brothers out spreading the word that my challenge to McBride is going down tonight, and that message will eventually reach Mika, it will eventually reach Katelyn. And when they catch wind of the fact that I’m going to be in that ring all by myself, the two of them will be chomping at the bit to get a piece of my beautiful ass.
Mason: Uhhh-huh?
Taylor: And theeeeen…..
Her finger circles through the air like she were cranking the handle on a fishing reel, hoping that Mason finally has a mouthful of lure.
Mason: You slip out and let those two annihilate each other? Thus making you’re night a lot easier at Last Stand?
Taylor: Yaaaay! (Clapping) You finally got it.
Mason: Yup.
Taylor: Now get out.
Taylor Chase may not have to worry about Katelyn Buehler if the behemoth Miss Jon has her way. The beast is presently drawing closer and closer to the guerilla position. Her triple threat encounter with the World Champion and Selena Frost is scheduled to go down coming up next. Now with this bout so close to its culmination Miss Jon’s agent Martin Howe III only has a finite amount of time to give her some advice.
Howe: I know just how badly you want to pull Katelyn apart like one of those Barbie Dolls you’re always mutilating, but we have GOT to play this all by the book.
Due to the perpetual frown on Miss Jon’s face it’s hard for her agent to tell rather she’s understanding him or not.
Howe: Hitting Karen McBride, rather it was on accident or not, put us in some hot water. So do I really need to remind you to behave yourself when we get out there?
Miss Jon’s expression remains unchanged.
Howe: Can you at least ‘GRUNT’ if you understand me?
It won’t take a grunt to make the inner workings of Miss Jon’s mind transparent. Suddenly Aaron Harrison and Mya Denton come walking out of an adjacent corridor, so deep in conversation that they don’t even notice Martin Howe or his imposing client.
Harrison: So the IWC plans on having a tribute for Rachel tonight? Well they won’t need one, because I have a far more fitting tribute in mind for…..
Miss Jon puts an end to this conversation when her body almost bowls Mya and Harrison right over. The two have just made the biggest mistake of their lives, accidentally stepping right into Miss Jon’s path. She bumps into Mya with such force that Denton is actually launched off of her feet and sent flying into Harrison’s arms. Customarily the duo wouldn’t express fear of any other human being, but Miss Jon stopped being human a long time ago. That’s why Harrison and Mya actually find themselves recoiling from the beast who is slowly reaching her gloved fist towards them.
Howe holds his breath and damn near shields his eyes to prevent seeing what his client is about to do. And what she does is the last thing anyone, especially Howe could ever predict. Miss Jon’s arm wasn’t reaching out to maim either Mya or Harrison, her hand was extending in order to pat the pair on the top of their heads. As horrifying as it may sound, Miss Jon is actually tussling their hair. After producing the most awkward scene imaginable Miss Jon moves along and pretends like nothing happened.
Howe has to pick his jaw up off of the floor as he watches his client walk along towards the ring without inciting any violence of any kind. Finally he turns to an equally as surprised Harrison and Mya, pretends to tip the bill of a non-existent cap in their direction then takes off after his client.
Frankie: Awwwwkward.
Greyson: Miss Jon in triple threat action, and that’s coming up NEXT.
An out of breath Desmond Drake scurries as fast as his stubby legs can carry him. Finally he’s reached the parking garage, a very dangerous place for him considering what happened the last time he set foot in this area. Luckily he won’t run into Selena Frost and find himself locked in the trunk of a car yet again. It appears that he will successfully escape the arena on this occasion and with Selena’s Queen of Wrestling Title in hand. How can we be so sure he’ll get out of the building unscathed, because he has a little assistance this time, unexpected assistance but assistance nevertheless. Stood just outside of a car with the engine running is Monarchy founder, Trinity Street. She stands behind the door that she has opened leading into the backseat of the car.
Trinity: I took the liberty of having a car brought up for you.
Drake clearly doesn’t know what to think of this act of charity, considering he’s never had any interaction with Trinity before now. He tentatively steps towards the car looking ever so cautious the closer he gets to the dangerously unpredictable wrestling legend.
Drake: Why?
Trinity: Am I helping you?
Drake: Yeah?
Trinity: Don’t look a gift-horse in the mouth, Mr. Drake.
He doesn’t have to be told twice. Into the backseat he dives and Trinity takes the liberty of shutting the car door behind him. After she gives the roof a few slaps the car goes speeding out of the parking lot. The camera turns from the disappearing taillights to the smile on Trinity’s face, proud that she just aided Drake’s escape with Selena Frost’s Queen of Wrestling Championship.
MISS JON VS. KATELYN BUEHLER VS. ???
Hearts start to beat all the quicker when the ultra-violent Miss Jon emerges from the back. Her theme is pounding over the speakers while the intimidating creature descends the ramp. Stood in the giant shadow that she casts is Martin Howe III, an agent who proves just as cunning as his client proves dangerous. The pair proceed to the squared circle where Miss Jon will have her hands full with the World Champion.
Frankie: I knew there was a reason my stomach was churning.
Greyson: Still not the biggest fan of Miss Jon?
Frankie: Not a fan AT ALL. Actually, I’d rather stick my face in a FAN than support Miss Jon.
Greyson: I hope you’re talking about a DESK fan, and not a fan, as in the ones we have in attendance tonight.
Frankie: You know exactly what I meant. Anyway, I’m not big on Miss Jon. Not even after she knocked Karen McBride’s head off two weeks ago.
Sparkles: But she’s been on her best behavior since then.
Greyson: It remains to be seen rather that will have any type of effect on this match she’s scheduled to compete in. A match with some pretty big ramifications.
Sparkles: As advertised all over the IWC website, there’s scheduled to be a series of triple threat encounters over the next couple weeks previewing the huge triple threat World Title match at Last Stand. And of course all three of these preview bouts will feature the trio of talents set to collide for the World Title live on pay-per-view.
Frankie: Mika Kozlov was successful two weeks ago, tonight Katelyn Buehler gets her shot to show her stuff, and then on our next show Tay-Tay steps up to the plate.
Sparkles: If Miss Jon has her way Katelyn Buehler may not make it to that World Title defense at Last Stand.
Frankie: Oh yeah baby, cause Miss Jon has been chomping at the bit to get another crack at Katelyn since their last run in.
Greyson: That’s part of the reason that Miss Jon has apparently been on her best behavior. She and her agent have been adamant about getting a fair one on one World Title match against Katelyn, and their making every effort to ingratiate themselves to the Principle Owner so that they earn it.
Miss Jon has set herself up in the corner of the ring, back to the turnbuckle and steely gaze locked on the entry way. Just then the tunes of ‘Not Afraid’ by Eminem start to play over the PA system. Through the curtains strides yet another in a cavalcade of rarely seen and often unspoken about IWC ‘talents.’ Rich Anderson, part of the almost universally forgotten ‘Underdogs’ tag team comes along to the stage and the crowd goes absolutely mild.
Greyson: Rich Anderson getting a massive opportunity tonight. This match WAS scheduled to feature Queen of Wrestling Champion Selena Frost, but those plans changed when Selena ran afoul of Desmond Drake and his associate Chainz earlier tonight
Sparkles: So Mr. Anderson, Sparkles is going to keep doing that by the way….
Greyson: Oh joy, because Matrix references aren’t out dated enough.
Sparkles: Anyway, Mr. Anderson was cherry picked to take Selena’s spot, and time will tell if this is a career boost or a career killer for him.
Frankie: I’m leaning towards the latter.
Once at ringside Anderson comes to a halt, refusing to move into the same squared circle where the beast Miss Jon is waiting for him.
Frankie: Smart move.
Someone who will presumably have no problem entering that ring even with Miss Jon hungry for violence is the lady who is presently ushered to the stage. Amidst a loud uproar and to the entrance tracks of ‘Satisfied,’ Katelyn Buehler comes walking…not limping….to the stage. Unlike two weeks earlier Katelyn’s ankle is no longer wrapped in ace bandaging, and the shoulder that had been bound in a sling now hangs freely at her side. There is no indication of the pre-existing injuries that caused her so much grief on the last Riot. There are no signs of injuries, just as there are no signs of emotion.
Frankie: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Katelyn Buehler has to be the World Champion of Stupidity if she’s coming out here to wrestle injur…..uhhhh, wait, time out, what gives? Why doesn’t Kate look as bad as she did earlier tonight?
Greyson: This IS strange to say the least. Two weeks ago Katelyn could barely walk or raise an arm due to injuries she sustained back at our 2015 End of the Year Special, and yet here tonight she looks perfectly healthy.
Sparkles: Better than healthy actually, she looks like she’s at 110%.
Frankie: Maybe she took one too many ‘red ones.’ That was a Jessica Jones refere….
Greyson: I’ve seen the show.
Sparkles: Whatever Katelyn’s trick is it seems that she’s coming into tonight not only READY but RARING to get it on!
Frankie: Hard to tell if she’s ‘raring’ or not. I’ve seen more emotion out of a toaster oven.
Greyson: Another peculiarity I noticed as well.
No doubt things are only going to get stranger as this match goes on. Once Katelyn has entered the squared circle she hands her World Title over to the referee. The second she relinquishes the title she has to clinch her fists and ready them for the brute baring down upon her. Miss Jon comes stomping along in her direction, chest heaving and breaths shooting from her snarled nostrils.
Howe: No! Not yet! The bell hasn’t rung yet!
Screeches Howe as he jumps around at ringside, getting his client’s attention. Miss Jon stops a few feet removed from Katelyn, and although she is so close to putting her hands on the champion she instead keeps those very same hands lowered to her hips. Instead of attacking her prey the ultimate predator starts to back away. The bell rings and Katelyn isn’t backing down from anyone. There remains no traces of her injuries as she launches her forearm right upside Miss Jon’s jaw.
Greyson: Miss Jon backed off from Katelyn but our champion isn’t holding back AT ALL.
Frankie: Taking a fight to Miss Jon? Katelyn’s head has to be as hollow as a vault on a Geraldo special.
Forearm after forearm after forearm cracks Miss Jon to her jaw, threatening to fracture it. She finally turns away from her opponent and goes racing towards the far ropes to build momentum behind her next move. Momentum is built, but it’s not her move that connects. Rich Anderson was biding his time and picking his spot wisely. He catches an unsuspecting Katelyn with a clothesline that sends her flying down to the ring. Anderson then steps past the laid out Champion and into a big boot that smacks an already disorientated Miss Jon in her jaw.
Sparkles: Sparkles completely forgot that Rich Anderson was even in there.
Frankie: Forgetting Rich Anderson is a good thing.
Anderson follows the big boot with a bigger chop across Miss Jon’s chest. He then smacks her across the cheek with a punch, proceeded by another and another. He’s got Miss Jon on her heels but not going down. So Anderson gets a running start behind his next blow, taking off into the far ropes to build momentum behind another strike, hopefully of the knock out variety. Something is knocked out alright, Anderson’s teeth when he runs straight into a thrust kick by the World Champion. Katelyn’s boot slams across Anderson’s bicuspids and the pain shoots all the way down into his legs, cutting them out from under him.
Greyson: Payback by Buehler!
Sparkles: Remember guys, this is supposed to be HER showcase. This match is designed to show off what she’ll be bringing into that big triple threat World Title match at Last Stand against Mika Kozlov and Taylor Chase.
This match isn’t Katelyn’s showcase, it’s her battle for survival. Right now she’s thriving as she pulls Anderson up from the ring and into a punch across his chin. Anderson returns fire, cracking the Champion upside the cheek. The two keep on going at it until their fight is interrupted by a stereo clothesline. Miss Jon’s huge biceps simultaneously crush the throats of Anderson and Katelyn, toppling them both in one fluid movement.
Greyson: You never can forget Miss Jon.
Sparkles: She’s not going to take very many chances in this match. Count on that. The last time she was in a triple threat she ended up losing and missed out on the chance to become Evolution Champion in the process. That’s not about to happen again.
Surprisingly Miss Jon is slightly less unhinged than one would anticipate and is attacking this match with some actual strategy. She pulls Katelyn and Anderson to their feet while griping the back of their skulls before ultimately slamming their faces together. The headbutts have the Champion and her opponent stumbling around but not going down. Miss Jon will change that when she delivers another stereo clothesline, only this time both of her arms find themselves flying past the heads of both of her opponents. Anderson and Katelyn duck then work in consortium to leave their feet and unleash stereo dropkicks. Miss Jon’s chest is nearly caved in by the blows of her adversaries.
Sparkles: Anderson and Katelyn finding it a necessity to work together in order to survive this encounter.
Miss Jon falls back after the double dropkick, hitting the ropes and almost flipping over them. Anderson climbs onto the ring apron behind Miss Jon and then runs across it straight into a version of an enzugari. He swings his leg over the top rope and smacks his target in the back of her skull. The blow sends Miss Jon staggering forward into another thrust kick unleashed by Katelyn. The shot sends Miss Jon spiraling around right into the very ropes that Anderson is standing on the opposite side of. He reaches out, grabs Jon by the back of the head and then leaps from the apron, snagging her throat on the top rope.
Miss Jon’s head snaps back off the cable and now she goes twisting around towards Katelyn and walking right into the thrust kick yet again. Katelyn unleashes another kick and this time it doesn’t catch Miss Jon, it’s caught BY Miss Jon. She shakes off all the strikes she was just hit with and uses her lightning fast reflexes to catch Katelyn’s boot. She shoves Katelyn’s leg aside, sends the World Champion twisting around and then once their facing each other again she snags hold of the back of her head. Before Katelyn can stop her forward momentum she is launched towards the ropes, her shoulder flying through the cables and smacking right into the gut of Anderson. He is sent flying off the ring apron, twisting in mid-air and ultimately smacking ribs first against the ringside barricade.
After hitting Anderson the ricochet sends Katelyn staggering back towards Miss Jon. The beast grabs her by the wrist and launches her off into the far ropes. An unfortunate Katelyn finds herself hurdling back towards Miss Jon’s bicep, a clothesline about to take her head off. Just before her throat is crushed Katelyn ducks down and parlays her momentum into a suicide dive. She hurdles herself through the ropes and into an almost fatal impact with Anderson at ringside. The collision sends Anderson to the floor, and Katelyn is falling down right beside her.
Greyson: Now Katelyn DIVING out of the ring too? How is she managing to pull any of this off while showing no ill-effects from her previous injuries?
Sparkles: Sparkles guesses that Katelyn’s agent Dan Douglas was right all along about the power of the mind to control pain.
Right now Katelyn’s not in pain, she’s dishing some of it out. She kneels beside a laid out Anderson and busts his brow with punch after punch after punch. The blows don’t stop until Katelyn’s EARS are grabbed and employed by her far more dangerous opponent, Miss Jon, to drag her up to her feet. Katelyn is then spun around and whipped by the wrist straight into the ring post. Katelyn bounces off the steel and goes twisting to the floor.
Miss Jon has sent one adversary down the hard way, and her other opponent isn’t about to fair any better. Anderson is dragged from the floor into an Irish Whip that sends him flying into the steel ring steps. The dominance displayed by Miss Jon continues when she snatches up Katelyn and gorilla presses her back into the ring. Once inside the World Champion is channeling all she’s got left into her knuckles. She throws some punches through the ropes and into the face of Miss Jon, who is still kneeling on the apron. Eventually the closed fists manage to knock Miss Jon from the apron to the floor.
No sooner does this silverback fall away from one set of punches before she finds herself the victim of another barrage. Anderson leaps across the ringside mats and rams his fist down Miss Jon’s mouth. He pulls back his knuckles for another punch but it will never connect. Miss Jon hits a Mongolian chop across Anderson’s shoulders, dropping him to the floor. She then looks back towards the ring that Katelyn is leaping out of. She flies over the top rope into a crossbody, successfully connecting with her target Miss Jon. Yes, she hits Miss Jon, but she does NOT take her down.
Miss Jon keeps her footing, sustains Katelyn’s weight and then hits her with a scoop slam right across the floor. The mats provide absolutely no cushioning for Katelyn’s back. The ring apron has no padding either, which Anderson is about to find out. He’s back on his feet and his face is sent hurdling into the hardest section of the squared circle. Anderson goes flying to the floor and Miss Jon’s fist goes flying into the face of another of her victims.
Katelyn has stood back up only to be sent right back down when Miss Jon’s fist crushes her cheek. The strike unleashed by her opponent has Katelyn on all fours, crawling towards the ring.
Greyson: Rather Miss Jon is holding back or not she remains one of the most dominate forces in professional wrestling.
Sparkles: She’s a one woman wrecking crew. And rather you’re an up and comer like Anderson or a World Champion like Katelyn, it doesn’t matter, you still stand no chance.
The indestructible Miss Jon has her sights set on Katelyn and Katelyn alone. Their previous encounter is still weighing on Miss Jon’s mind as she drags her adversary into the ring, lays her out and then prepares to squash her via a big splash. Miss Jon goes hurdling into the ring that Katelyn WAS lying across. The World Champion rolls out of the way and with a force of a meteorite hurdling into the earth, Miss Jon crashes into the ring. The impact knocks the air out of her lungs and leaves her susceptible to the impact of the basement dropkick Katelyn just unleashed. The shot sends Miss Jon rolling to the middle of the ring where she is desperately trying to regroup. That becomes impossible when Katelyn’s fists go raining down across her temples and her cheeks. Everything is put into the blows unleashed by Katelyn, who is determined to keep her biggest threat down to a knee.
Unfortunately Katelyn is so damned focused on Miss Jon that she’s completely forgotten that Anderson is part of this match. He slides in beside Katelyn and catches her off guard with a step up enzugari to the back of her head. Once Katelyn is sent spiraling to the canvas, Anderson pops back to his feet and then lobs his knee into the face of another unsuspecting adversary. He crushes Miss Jon in the temple, hitting her with enough force to nearly knock her over.
Anderson then gets a running start behind another knee that smacks his target to the cheek, though the shot still isn’t enough to topple his target. So Anderson changes his strategy, taking Miss Jon by the neck and signaling for the DDT. That move never connects because Katelyn has one of her own in store and it directly conflicts with Anderson’s. She flies over the kneeling body of Miss Jon and connects with a Lou Thez Press that sends Anderson collapsing to the canvas. Katelyn comes down on top of him pummeling her forehead with punch after punch after punch.
For the second time in this match Katelyn’s jabs are stopped when Miss Jon intervenes. She swoops in from behind her adversary and attempts to latch her hands onto her prey’s ears. This time Katelyn doesn’t let herself fall victim to the deranged ambitions of her opponent. She slides back and through Miss Jon’s legs before standing up behind her. Miss Jon swings around to go after Katelyn, but she’s well out of reach, in fact, the Champion is completely outside of the ring.
Miss Jon is still reaching for her though, stopping at the ropes and extending her arms over them. She keeps grabbing at Katelyn but fails to realize that another of her opponents was in her reach. Anderson comes racing in behind Miss Jon and leaps right over her back, catching her around the neck in the process. He falls onto the apron and yanks Miss Jon’s throat down into the top rope in the process. Her head snaps back and the whiplash sends a surprised Miss Jon stumbling back to the middle of the squared circle.
Greyson: So much ping ponging back and forth in this match that it’s almost impossible for one athlete to get the better of another.
Sparkles: Sparkles wonders if this is how the Triple Threat for the World Title will be at Last Stand.
Greyson: Who knows? The only thing that is clear, judging from THIS match, is that Katelyn will be going into that title defense against Taylor Chase and Mika Kozlov a lot healthier than we thought she’d be.
Frankie: Not if Miss Jon lands many more blows on her.
Right now the only one unleashing any type of strike is Rich Anderson, who goes charging towards a staggering Miss Jon. He takes her around the neck and prepares to unleash the downward spiral, on the cusp of concluding this bout. He doesn’t drop back, he’s THROWN back. Miss Jon puts her hands to Anderson’s ribs and gives him a shove, sending him flying across the ring. It looked like he was hurdling towards the ropes, but in actuality he was flying straight into the KTFO. Katelyn returns to the ring just in time to deliver the roaring elbow. The point of the Champion’s elbow smashes Anderson straight in the lips.
Greyson: KTFO totally catching Anderson off guard!
That’s not the last shot that will surprise Anderson, because he goes whipping around after being hit with the KTFO and staggers into the Eat It, Barbie. Miss Jon’s spinning back fist crushes what’s left of Anderson’s face and sends his braindead body collapsing to the canvas.
Sparkles: As if the KTFO wasn’t bad enough, it’s followed by Eat It, Barbie.
Frankie: He’s gonna need some serious reconstructive surgery after all of that.
Anderson will need more than just the help of a plastic surgeon after this bout. Katelyn may be in need of help too, because Miss Jon is barreling towards her with every intent of crushing every muscle in the World Champion’s body. It becomes clear that the only one who is going to help Katelyn, is herself. She drops down and low bridges the top rope, causing Miss Jon to trip over the champion’s body then fly over the cables. Ultimately she lands at ringside across her feet. She is totally unaware what’s happening in the ring behind her, where Katelyn is in the process of pinning Anderson.
1
1
Miss Jon hurries back into the ring, but she didn’t hurry fast enough to break up the pinfall.
Greyson: Katelyn getting some momentum swinging back in her favor as she heads into the triple threat at Last Stand.
Sparkles: She just scored the win here tonight.
Frankie: Mostly because Miss Jon doesn’t believe in cardio. She couldn’t get back into the ring in time to break up the count by breaking Katelyn.
After the fierce altercation between all three of these athletes it takes some time for them to regroup. Ultimately it’s Miss Jon who is first to start moving and much to the surprise of everyone in the arena, primarily Katelyn, the monstrous woman has a hand extended to the World Champion. Her palm opens and she actually looks for a post-match handshake.
Frankie: Okay, this has just gone way beyond creepy.
Greyson: Miss Jon is asking for a….for a…..for a handshake?
Sparkles: Katelyn, much like the rest of us, don’t know what to make of this.
Frankie: Can’t she go back to pointlessly maiming people? That was a lot less scary.
For the second time tonight Martin Howe III might need some help picking his jaw up off the ground as he watches his client do the HONORABLE thing. Katelyn looks down into the hand that has been offered to her, but it will not get a shake. Trust does not come easy for the World Champion, especially when it’s being requested by a beast who has been bent on her destruction during their multiple past encounters. Instead of shaking Miss Jon’s hand, Katelyn backs away from it. She rolls to the outside and takes a gamble in turning her back on something as unstable as the woman in the ring.
Watson: So has your client got the message yet?
Cameras jump from the ring where Katelyn Buehler just put on a grueling performance, to the guerilla position backstage where her agent is facing a battle of his own. Dan Douglas stands opposed to three individuals who could indiscriminately remove his head from his shoulders via a single well placed kick. Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel stand in the background with shoulders weighed down by multiple championships while Ryan Watson is front and center. He serves as the mouthpiece for Monarchy, and all of their words are directed at Douglas.
Watson: See, there’s only one way this night ends and it’s with Monarchy’s own Taylor Chase standing over the body of the Principle Owner. We laid the ground work earlier tonight, taking out Karen’s security and those on this roster foolish enough to be loyal to her. We made sure it’s going to be one on one between Tay and Karen. All that hard work won’t be undone by your girl, Katelyn. She had better not even THINK about going out to that ring and trying to muck things up. Understood?
Douglas knows anything he has to say would just upset Monarchy, so he opts wisely to keep his mouth shut.
Watson: Keep your client on a tight leash. Cause she wouldn’t recover from what Tay would do to her this time.
A slap is given to Douglas’ cheek as Watson walks past him. Kat Kelly follows her associate down the hall and it looks like Lexy Chapel is about to do the same. Only she doesn’t, instead Lexy pauses for a moment and opts instead to offer a few final comments to Douglas.
Lexy: A ‘thank you’ would be nice.
Douglas: Huh?
Lexy: Thank me.
Douglas: For what?
Lexy: Doing what the chromosomes your client inherited from her parents didn’t, by showing her some mercy.
Douglas: What are you talking about?
Lexy: I’m talking about the fact that I own TWO victories over Katelyn, and if I really wanted to, I could have THREE. But I’m not the type who has to rub in their superiority.
Douglas: (Sarcastically) Thank goodness.
Lexy: Listen you shaven ape, any time I want I could walk down that ramp, get in the ring with your client and give her a special invitation to the Superkick Soiree, but I don’t for one reason. Because there’s nothing in it for me. That’ll change in four weeks though. If by some divine intervention Trailer Park Kate manages to retain her World Title against Taylor at Last Stand, then she has ME to look forward to at Invictus. You’re looking at the best fucking athlete to ever enter the Rumble, and the one who’s going to win it all.
It isn’t until she’s said her peace that Lexy finally follows her Monarchy associates out of the camera shot. Douglas turns in the direction she just walked off in, but he’s not watching her, he’s watching the talisman that hangs from his hand.
Douglas: Good luck.
There continues to be a great deal of stress exhibited by Melanie McBride as she walks from one end of her sister’s office to the other. All the while a phone is pressed to her ear, hoping beyond hope that she hears Karen’s voice, and this time it won’t just be the Principle Owner’s answering machine. Unfortunately Melanie has no such luck.
Melanie: Kar-Bear (talking to the machine) it’s Mel again. Listen, you need to get here already. Monarchy are ruining everything, and it’s not going to stop until you show up and put Taylor Chase in her place.
The distress exhibited by Melanie is only getting worse and worse the longer her phone calls go unanswered.
Greyson: Melanie McBride still unable to reach her sister Karen.
Sparkles: Where is the boss?
Greyson: If you’re to believe the rumors, she’s been off handling contract negotiations.
Frankie: Oh please. She’s hiding from Tay-Tay, you and I both know it.
Sparkles: Frankie could be right.
Greyson: He isn’t. Will Karen get here tonight in time to answer Tay’s challenge?
Frankie: For the sake of her roster she had better get here ASAP!
Riot segues back from commercial break in the most jarring way imaginable. The tracks of ‘Boss’s Daughter’ by Pop Evil are streaming through the PA system, encouraging the fans to let loose with a frenzy of anger. An indifferent Taylor Chase steps through the curtains and to the stage, instantly throwing her palm up to the fans as if to let them know where to direct their comments. After telling the fans to ‘talk to the hand’ Tay makes her way down the ramp and to the ring where only HER voice will be heard.
Sparkles: We’ve come to it.
Greyson: The moment we’ve been building into all night is here. Taylor Chase coming down the ramp to challenge the Principle Owner to a fight.
Frankie: Somebody pop some popcorn and grab me a beer, cause I’m putting my feet up and enjoying the highlight of the night. Two weeks ago Karen McBride stepped in it big time, and now she’s gonna find out there are consequences for her ignorance.
Greyson: Her ignorance? She did the right thing, Frankie, by having Monarchy escorted from the locker-room two weeks ago after they attempted to take it over at the expense of the rest of the roster.
Frankie: No, what Karen did was have her security and her favorites violate Monarchy.
Sparkles: Security paid the price for it, and now the same fate is about to be suffered by their commander and chief.
Tay-Tay doesn’t immediately enter the ring, instead she circles it and keeps peaking beneath. At last she finds what she was looking for, a mop and a bucket. Both objects are tossed into the ring and it won’t be the last item procured by the former three time World Champion. A microphone is the last object Tay secures on her way into the squared circle.
Taylor: Who says I’m not a thoughtful person?
About 99.5% of the crowd.
Taylor: I’m doing a HUUUGE fan-service for you ungrateful people. I’m out here right now to put the most corrupt owner in wrestling history in her place. Actually, her place should be as the headline act at a circus freak-show, but let’s not get off point. We’re talking about ME, and the selfless humanitarian aid I’m providing to the whole world.
Greyson: Ooooh Gooood, Tay a humanitarian?
Frankie: What’s so inconceivable about that?
Taylor: I’m basically Mother Teresa, without all that ugly. I do so much for all those with so little. I’d even adopt a third world baby if I could find one who matches my purse. But my latest display of humanitarianism will be holding a warlord, a despot, a tyrant accountable for everything she’s done. Karen McBride has used her position of power to try and deprive you fans of your beloved Monarchy. She’s threatened to remove me from my World Title match at Last Stand and she’s had her troops attack my friends and I over and over again. She’s a poison pill, she’s cyanide for this industry, but I’m the sodium nitrate.
Frankie: AMEN!
Greyson: We’re not in church Frankie.
Frankie: We should be, because Tay is preaching baby, she’s PREACHING!
Taylor: Now I realize that Karen is horrified at the thought of fighting me. Who in their right mind wouldn’t be? So in another act of charity, I’ve taken it upon myself to help out the janitorial staff. (Lifts mop and bucket) I’ve brought these into the ring so that the custodians can clean up the piss that will puddle beneath Karen’s body when she finds herself standing mono-a-mono with the First Lady of Professional Wrestling.
Frankie: Awwww….
Taylor: Plus, the mop might come in handy cleaning up, you know, all those other fluids that are gonna come oozing out of Karen’s body when MY knee collides with HER face.
The mop and bucket are tossed to the ground.
Taylor: Oh, and if anyone tries to stop that from happening, they’ll get the exact same treatment that McBride is about to get. You hear that (points up the ramp) Pasty Katie? I know you’ve been itching to get some payback on me for breaking your arm back at the End of the Year Special. And Mika….my darling-darling baby sister, tonight’s not the night for a family reunion. I mean suuure, you COULD come out here and you COULD try to get the drop on me while I’m all by myself, and I’m busy dealing with McBride, but I promise you that if….
’American Dreamgirl’ starts to play over the loud speakers, getting the fans truly hyped. Everyone, everybody, each fan in attendance and watching abroad open up with a flood of emotions at the sight of Karen McBride making her way through the curtains and to the stage.
Greyson: The Principle Owner IS here!
Sparkles: Sparkles didn’t think she was in the building.
Frankie: It’s about damn time she stopped hiding and letting others take the bullet for her.
Greyson: Since becoming Principle Owner, Karen has definitely had her problems with Monarchy, and it’s all coming to a heading right here and now.
Much to Tay’s rage, Karen shows no fear as she makes her way into the ring. The Principle Owner doesn’t shy away from the former three time World Champion. Actually she gets straight up and straight into Tay’s grill, the two going face to face.
Karen: (Sarcastically) Can’t we just get along?
Tay throws her arms up in the air and backs away from the smile on Karen’s face.
Karen: No, I didn’t think so. Seems we’re constantly butting heads. Even all the way back during my first run as Principle Owner, over a YEAR ago, you were constantly coming out here making yourself sound like you were being persecuted and mistreated. You would whine and bitch, bitch and whine, whine and bitch about how the whole world, myself especially, were out to get you. Now here we are AGAIN, you’re bitching, you’re whining, and you’re threatening me….
Taylor: Is there a point somewhere in all your babble?
Karen: But this isn’t like before, is it? Yeah, you want to get your hands around my neck, but this really isn’t about me. If it had been, you would have made sure I was in the building before you made your challenge. No, this isn’t about the two of us, this is about you and Katelyn, this is about you and Mika. I know what game you’re playing Tay. You’re trying to lure your opponents at Last Stand into this ring so they’ll wipe each other out. You’re challenge to me is nothing more than a smokescreen.
Taylor: Alright, fine, YAAATZHEE, you got me, you sunk my battleship…But now that I DO have you in this ring, it’s time I do to you what I should have done a year ago. It’s time that Tay made you pay.
Karen: Oh I didn’t come out here thinking the two of us were just going to have a civil conversation. I know you weren’t going to let me just call you out on all your bullshit. That’s why I’m prepared….
Taylor: You had better be.
Karen:….to make a statement.
Taylor: A statement? It had better be that Tay-Tay is getting a whole WING dedicated to me in the Hall of Fame.
Karen: After tonight, if you, or any other member of Monarchy lays a finger on my staff again then your whole group will be SUSPENDED.
Taylor: You think…..
Karen: I’m not finished. Furthermore, after your actions tonight, I’m fining you, I’m fining you and every other Monarchy member $25,000 apiece for putting your hands on members of the security force.
Taylor: Are you through? Cause I’ll tell you, 25 grand? That’s a drop in the bucket. And suspensions? That doesn’t worry me one bit. Want to know why? I’ll tell you why. The second you send me home, is the second that the ratings for this show PLUMMET. And then who’ll be to blame? Who will the shareholders point the finger at when the IWC stock tanks? YOU. It’ll be your head on the chopping block. And it’ll be me they’re throwing truckloads of cash at to lure back. So it’s win-win for me.
Karen: Believe it or not, this show could go on without you.
Taylor: Are you on crack?
Mika: No-no-no…..I couldn’t live in a world without my sestra.
As if things couldn’t get any more tense. Here comes Mika Kozlov, here comes Borislav, and here comes….Andre Jordan? The former Evolution Champion finds himself unwillingly being coerced towards the ring via the chain that extends from his neck to Mika’s palm. She pulls her bound and gagged ‘lover’ along towards the squared circle. Try as he may Dre cannot break free from Kozlov’s clutches and even if he could, Borislav is stood right behind him waiting to keep him in check.
Greyson: Tay-Tay is about to get what she wanted. Here comes her sister, one of the women she’ll be facing at Last Stand in a triple threat for the World Championship.
Sparkles: Things aren’t looking good for Tay right now, she’s got Mika AND Karen to contend with.
Frankie: Don’t be a nutsack, this is all part of Tay’s master plan.
Greyson: And hold up guys, what is Andre Jordan doing with Mika and Borislav? We had heard he was missing since the last Riot….
Sparkles: Now we find out why. It looks like he’s Mika’s captive.
Greyson: She HAS confessed to being smitten with Andre in the past.
Frankie: This is the ultimate affirmation of love if you ask me.
Greyson: What? Kidnapping?
Frankie: Yup.
Once at ringside the captive Andre finds the chain wrapped around his neck now being tied to the ring-post. He attempts to break free but is having no such luck. Borislav is right there at his side, hands on Dre’s shoulders. Only Mika enters the ring with Karen and Tay anticipating anything that she might throw at them.
Mika: As much as I want to see Karen get a spanking, I just couldn’t stand back and hold my tongue no more.
Tay folds her arms across her chest and cranes her head to the side, looking very impatient with her sister and lifelong rival.
Mika: Now I know our problems (gestures between herself and Tay-Tay) go back much-much longer than a year. Which shhhhoooould give you no reason to trust me.
Taylor: To be fair, you only stabbed me in the back what, four, five, six hundred times?
Mika: Yeah, but that was the old, immature Mika. I’ve had some time to grow up, to EVOLVE. And in my evolution, in my growth, I’ve come to realize just how valuable family really is.
Taylor: Oh God (rubs her temple), please don’t….
Mika: There is a reason I saved you two weeks ago, sestra, when those security guards put their filthy hands all over you. It’s because I NEED my Tay-Tay. You….complete….ME.
Taylor: I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, and how many different ways I CAN say it. You’re CRAZY! (Her finger circles around her temple) Your eggs are scrambled.
Mika: Are they, konfetka? I’m not THAT crazy when you think about it. Consider the perks. If we have our family reunion, just think about what we would accomplish. We wouldn’t go into Last Stand as OPPONENTS, we would go in as PARTNERS.
The madness is actually starting to make sense for Tay-Tay.
Mika: You shouldn’t be trying to set me up, you should be EMBRACING me, you should be EMBRACING a family reunion. Because the two of us together, guarantees that one of us walk out of Last Stand as the World Champion.
Tay-Tay loves the sounds of that.
Mika: Katelyn wouldn’t stand a chance if we go into that triple threat at Last Stand UNITED. So what do you say, my sestra? Do we have ourselves a deal?
It’s an offer as tempting as a serpent presenting an apple to Eve. Tay contemplates a decision, one she knows she shouldn’t rush into.
Karen: As sweet as this is….
Karen McBride is not about to vanish into the background.
Karen: I’m afraid that….
Mika: You should be afraid. (Stepping closer and closer to the Principle Owner) I say that Tay-Tay and I cement our bond by breaking you into a crumpled heap.
Just when things look at their bleakest for Karen McBride, they only get bleaker. Three more figures slide into an already very crowded ring, and once inside they unleash CHAOS. Cindy Todd, Cassidy Haze and Serenity are all over everybody inside and outside of the squared circle. Cassidy instantly drops Karen McBride with a clothesline while Cindy removes Tay from her feet with an uppercut under the jaw. The only one who is spared any abuse is Mika Kozlov, who instead of being struck is shoved along back into the ropes by Serenity. Mika starts to fight back but finds her arms tied up between the top and middle ropes. Borislav slides in and makes the effort to protect his darling Mika only to find himself floored when Serenity springs from the middle rope behind him and connects with a roundhouse kick to the back of his head.
Greyson: Not New Eden! Anyone but New Eden!
Frankie: They just ignited the wick on a powder keg.
Sparkles: Sparkles will be the one to ask, why? What reason do they have to be out here attacking Taylor and Karen McBride?
Greyson: We know that Cindy is obsessed with Mika Kozlov, and that may be the only reason Mika is the lone survivor here.
The ropes remain tightly wrapped around Mika’s arms and keep her from joining in on any of the fun. She can only flail and thrash about as Cindy Todd’s hand reaches towards her face. The back of her fingers caress Mika’s cheek.
Cindy: Family IS important, Mika. New Eden, we’re a family (Cindy steps back and puts her arms over the shoulders of Cassidy and Serenity), and you should be a part of it.
Serenity: Stand at our side, sister.
Cassidy: You don’t need Tay-Tay, you need US.
Cindy: You WILL come back to me. That is (eyes drifting to ringside) if you want back what’s yours.
After giving a snap of her fingers, Cindy, Serenity and Cassidy leave the ring, though they won’t be walking away empty handed. Andre, who had remained tied to the ring-post with a chain throughout this whole altercation, now finds himself New Eden’s focal point.
Greyson: Now I’LL be the one who asks, why are these three going after Andre?
The chain that WAS tied to the post finds its way into Serenity’s hand. She gives it a tug and forces Dre to follow along.
Sparkles: Their leaving with Andre.
Frankie: That’s Mika’s property!
Andre’s bound hands make it impossible for him to get free from New Eden as they drag him up the ramp. There is only one member of this blood thirsty group who remains behind, Cindy. She turns around slowly to look back into the ring where Mika is desperately trying to free her arms.
Cindy: You want him back? You know where to find us.
The production crew SHOULD be use to running afoul of talent, but nothing can ever truly prepare them when they come face to face with men as dangerous as Aaron Harrison. At the moment he’s got three of the technicians stood outside of their production truck and backed into the side of it. He doesn’t speak up, he doesn’t need to, he doesn’t shout, that’s not necessary, he doesn’t put a finger on any of the crew members, that’s not required. The sight of him alone is threatening enough to have urine trickling down the pants legs of those unfortunate enough to be singled out by Harrison.
Harrison: That tribute you guys put together for Rachel Tatum Lee….it’s cancelled.
The trio cornered by Harrison exchange tense stares.
Crew Member: It’s not OUR call, Mr. Harrison.
Crew Member #2: We were told to put together a video to honor Rachel, and we’ll be damned if that hard work is going to be for nothing.
Harrison: Is that so?
He gets a bit closer to the more outspoken and courageous crewman, who shrinks to the size of Wayne Szalinski.
Harrison: I’m afraid it will be for nothing, rather you play that footage or not. Because I have my own tribute in mind for Rachel, and it’s going to overshadow anything you heartlessly put together.
Harrison backs away from the three men who are in dire need of new underpants. The commentators react in the background.
Greyson: What the hell does that mean?
Sparkles: What’s Harrison got in mind to pay homage to his former leader, the woman who saved him, Rachel Tatum Lee?
Frankie: Guess we’ll be finding out in a minute when he accompanies Mya Denton to the ring for her match against God’s gift to professional wrestling, Lexy Chapel.
Greyson: Mya Denton, with Aaron Harrison in her corner, one on one with Lexy Chapel, NEXT.
Katelyn Buehler’s eyes are affixed on a certain point beyond the camera, but much like the walls that can be seen around the World Champion, it has to be a blank white piece of plaster. Katelyn’s gaze upon the wall will not be broken, not even to blink. There is no emotion seen in her eyes, in her expression, or in response to the argument that is going on between her friend Destiny Nichols and Dan Douglas. The two stand in front of the seated Buehler, bickering with one another like she’s not even in the room.
Destiny: Look at her (pointing at Katelyn). She looks like a zombie.
Douglas: Believe me, she’d look a lot worse if I hadn’t done what I did.
The talisman draped over the knuckles of one hand is stroked by his fingers.
Destiny: There’s got to be another way.
Douglas: There isn’t. If I hadn’t taken control, and I let her go out to that ring when Taylor challenged her, do you have any idea what would have happened? I’ll tell you what. We wouldn’t be having this conversation, we’d be too busy driving to whatever hospital Kate was carted off to. Mika, Tay, Monarchy, New Eden, she would have fallen prey to every single one of them. I stopped her from making the most crucial mistake of her life. You need to trust that by controlling her, I’m doing what’s best for her.
Destiny: I….I do trust you, it’s just….
Douglas: I’m glad you trust me, because I’m about to suggest that Katelyn do something that you might…..question. But it’s something that NEEDS to be done.
Destiny: Oh, well…..(biting her tongue)…I hope you know what you’re doing.
Serenity: Move your buns buster!
Insists Serenity as she gives a few kicks to Andre Jordan’s fanny. He continues to be forced into cooperation with his New Eden captors. His wrists are cuffed together, and if that weren’t enough to secure him, Serenity has hold of one of his arms while Cassidy Haze has hold of the other. They force him towards the open doors of a van that is parked backstage. From the driver’s door emerges Cindy Todd, stepping around the side of the vehicle and supervising the abduction of Andre Jordan.
Cindy: Be careful with him. When Mika comes to reclaim her Pudding, I do not want so much as a blemish on his flesh.
Cassidy: Yes, my Queen.
They may not have to wait very long for Mika to come looking for her man.
Mika: That’s MINE!
She shouts as her legs kick as fast as they can beneath her. She comes rushing through the parking garage in the hopes of catching up to New Eden and concluding this game of hot potat….no….hot Andre. She gets within range of the man she’s been stalking and brought to the arena in chains, but she fails to free him. Cindy swoops in like a cat pouncing on a mouse. Within seconds Mika finds herself trapped in a crossface chickenwing and her body being forced to the floor. Cindy isn’t trying to hurt Mika with this hold, she’s trying to keep her at bay.
Cindy: I wish this wasn’t necessary. I wish you would simply hear me out. But getting your attention hasn’t proven easy.
Mika: Give me back my toy!
Cindy: I will return him to you when you’ve come back to my side, when you’ve….ARGH!
A chair slams straight into Cindy’s kidneys. The shot is hit with so much force that it causes the submission she had locked in on Mika to be broken. Her body goes writhing to the floor, and she won’t be alone in her agony. Cassidy detaches from Andre’s side and goes after the person who just attacked her Queen. Sadly she runs afoul of a very similar chair shot as the one that just laid Cindy out, only this blow is delivered straight across Cassidy’s brow. There is now only one member of New Eden left standing, and it’s Serenity. She throws Andre towards the van and then throws her body towards the chair wielding vigilante. Mika interferes in Serenity’s attack though, jumping up from the ground and lashing out at her former friend. She hits a superkick straight under Serenity’s jaw, the blow sending her staggering back and falling inside of the van. After laying Serenity out, Mika turns to do the same to the very person who just saved her bacon, the one who blindsided New Eden with the chair. However, when she comes face to face with her savior, Mika pauses, eyes widening in surprise. Stood in front of her with steel chair in hand is her sister, Taylor Chase.
Taylor: Maybe a family reunion wouldn’t be such a bad idea after-all.
Tay winks at Mika while backing off.
A rather distressed Mark Comeau finds himself in unfamiliar territory. Instead of lurking backstage to get interviews, Comeau is stood under the spotlight smack dab in the center of the ring. Instead of addressing the wrestlers in the back, he’s using a microphone to amplify his words for the thousands and thousands of fans that surround him.
Comeau: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m here tonight to confirm some very sad news. No doubt the vast majority of you witnessed what happened two weeks ago when IWC competitor Rachel Tatum Lee walked out on her scheduled NHB Title defense against challenger Kat Kelly. There’s been a lot of speculation since then concerning Mrs. Lee’s standing with the IWC. Well, I’ve been sent out here to inform you all that contract re-negotiations between Rachel and the IWC have indeed fallen apart, and she has opted not to continue her wrestling career.
Comeau is forced to give the crowd a moment to air their grief.
Comeau: The IWC has instructed me to wish Rachel the very best in her future endeavors and to thank her for her numerous contributions to this federation. At this time, I’d like everyone to please turn their focus to the Cartel-tron as we pay our proper respect to Rachel and all of her wrestling accomplishments.
Comeau gestures to the big screen, drawing everyone’s focus to it.
Greyson: This is truly a classy act if you ask me by the IWC, given the unprofessional conduct that Rachel displayed two weeks ago.
Frankie: I’m really going to miss that Bubble-Butt.
Sparkles: She was just not happy with the lack of upward mobility within the ranks of the IWC. The company just wasn’t giving her opportunities to progress any further up the ladder. It’s really sad it came down to this.
Greyson: Well how about we do as our broadcast colleague asked and watch this special video tribute dedicated to the former NHB Champion.
The commentators go quiet just as the footage on the Cartel-tron begins to play. The very first image that comes into view is still a shot of Rachel Tatum Lee kneeling in the middle of the ring and holding up her coveted NHB Championship. The words ‘Thank You, Rachel,’ are written across the screen beneath her. The picture fades and now the video transitions into a highlight reel of all that Rachel has accomplished….no…..wait, that’s what the video was SUPPOSED to transition into. Instead of seeing Rachel defending the NHB Title against a slew of athletes, we get something else entirely, the entrance video for Kat Kelly. The fans are absolutely vile in response to Kat Kelly’s arrival, as she and Lexy Chapel come walking through the curtains bedecked in multiple title belts. Of course the championship belt that is highlighted the most, is the NHB Title that is now in Kat’s possession and one she pauses on the stage to raise over her head.
Greyson: Oh what the hell is this now?
Sparkles: It looks to Sparkles like Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel have taken exception to the airing of this video tribute to Rachel Tatum Lee.
Frankie: I could care less what their motives are, I’m just so thrilled to see them.
Greyson: We can tell by that tent that just got pinched in your pants.
Frankie: Down boy….wait for later.
Greyson: When last we saw Kat Kelly she was taking off with the NHB Title that Rachel left in the ring upon waking out on the IWC, and now it looks as if Kat is claiming that the belt is hers.
Frankie: She’s not claiming anything, that title DOES belong to her.
Once inside of the ring Kat stops holding up the NHB Title and starts holding up the microphone that she just ripped out of Comeau’s hand. That’s not the last of the abuse Comeau suffers because his body is now being thrown from the ring by Kat’s partner Lexy. There’s only one person who gets the spotlight and that’s Kat.
Kat: Why?
Kat shrugs her shoulders all the way up to her earlobes.
Kat: Seriously, why?
Kat holds up her palms in a ‘what the fuck’ gesture.
Kat: Why would this company….?
Kat stops in order to pinch and rub the flesh between her eyes.
Kat: I just don’t get the IWC. I don’t get why this company would be STUPID enough to pay any type of respect to the most unprofessional and classless wrestler to ever stuff her gigantic ass into a pair of wrestling tights. It makes me want to vomit….
The rest of her sentence is delayed as Kat’s cheeks puff out and she holds a palm to her closed lips. It’s up to Lexy to speak on Kat’s behalf.
Lexy: You guys will have to give Kat a minute, she’s throwing up in her mouth.
Kat: No-no, I’m good-I’m good.
Informs Kat as she takes her hand away from her mouth and puts it on her upset stomach.
Kat: That was a close one.
Lexy: Yeah, I tend to vomit when thinking about Rachel wearing spandex too.
Kat: It’s not that, though that is disgusting. No, it’s just the stupidity of the IWC that makes me ill. This fed is just so backwards. You don’t commend someone for walking out on you. No, what you do is make every move to erase any association you ever had with that person.
Lexy: This is the IWC sweety, they let a blue dinosaur wrestle here once.
Kat: Point taken. Well the IWC may have no idea how to run their federation, evident by the fact that they keep messing with Monarchy, but you and I, we both know what it takes to be successful.
The ladies pause to hold up their respective championships, Kat’s NHB Title, Lexy’s Evolution Title, and their shared Tag Team Titles.
Kat: Which is why I won’t allow MY NHB Championship to have any further association with a quitter! This belt (looks down at the NHB Title) will forever be linked with Rach….no, you know what, from this point henceforth, her name will never again be mentioned. Anyway, the NHB Title is synonymous with she who will not be named, and that has to change. So I’m taking it upon myself to rechristen the NHB Championship. I’m going to make this belt a symbol of Wicked Intent’s success. Meaning that in two weeks, I will come back to this ring and I will unveil a BRAND NEW title, one that will have NO connection to that disgrace that once held this championship.
Greyson: That’s taking things a little too far.
Frankie: Not far enough if you ask me.
Greyson: Rechristening that NHB Title would be a great disgrace to Rachel Tatum Lee. She spent two years defending that belt and doing everything in her power to put it on the map.
Frankie: Then it’s only fair that Kat would destroy that title and as thus burn away any association with ‘she who will not be named.’
Kat: Two weeks boys and girls, two weeks till the debut of a NEW and vastly improved title personally designed by yours truly…..
Harrison: I regret to inform you, Mrs. Kelly….
Rachel Tatum Lee’s former associates Aaron Harrison and Mya Denton rather rudely interrupt Wicked Intent’s spiel. The pair move to the stage and keep on moving, getting closer and closer to the ring.
Harrison:….that we’ll never get to see this fancy and no doubt excessively flashy new title belt that you plan on debuting.
Kat and Lexy begin to exchange whispers.
Kat: Why are these hobos interrupting us?
Lexy: Did you feed one of them? Because you know they’ll follow you home if you feed them.
Harrison: You won’t get a chance to redesign the NHB Title, because after tonight you’ll no longer have any claim over that championship.
Bold words and even bolder actions come from Harrison and Mya Denton. The duo enter the squared circle, facing off with the unconcerned Kat and a straight up annoyed Lexy.
Harrison: I’m alright with you interrupting that video tribute to Rachel, because if she still watches this program, I’m sure she’ll be far more moved by the way my associate and I choose to honor her.
There is concern building amidst the audience.
Harrison: Rachel started on a goal just before she announced her retirement from wrestling. She wanted to help Mya (Mya curtsies at Harrison’s side) unleash a part of herself that she’s been restraining for so long. Unfortunately, Rachel never got the opportunity to witness the fruits of her labors. That…is about….to change. Because as of right here, as of right now, Mya is no more. Say hello to her dark half. The side of her that is going to defeat you here tonight, Lexy.
Lexy is no longer annoyed, she’s amused.
Harrison: And help me take back the NHB Championship.
The micis tossed out of the ring as Harrison jumps at the NHB Title belt dangling from Kat’s hands. It isn’t as easy as Harrison thought it would be to get the belt out of Kat’s clutches. The two are in a tug of war over the championship, Kat and Harrison fighting over possession of the belt. Finally Lexy has seen enough of this, lashing out and slapping a superkick right upside Harrison’s temple. The kick not only removes his hands from the NHB Title but removes him from the ring as well.
Greyson: SUPERKICK!
Frankie: Serves Harrison right for putting his grubby hands on Kat’s title.
Sparkles: Kat has no right to be holding that title anyways, she never pinned Rachel to win it.
Frankie: Well Harrison had no right to try and take it from her.
The incredibly stiff superkick just unleashed on Harrison, has left him unconscious at ringside and has elicited a rather visceral reaction from his associate Mya Denton. She steps in behind Lexy, who was preoccupied shouting over the ropes at Harrison, and twists her around into a big knee across the ribs. Mya then delivers another knee that lands right across Lexy’s face. The strikes sends Lexy flying back through the ropes and to the outside of the ring. No sooner does Mya knock Lexy from the ring before she has to contend with Kat, who comes dashing across the ring and swinging the NHB Title. The belt goes right past a ducking Mya’s head. The momentum carries Kat into the ropes, her back hitting them and then her chest colliding with Mya’s dropkick. As a result of this blow Kat is sent spiraling through the ropes and then to the outside mats.
Greyson: Mya cleaning house after that superkick on Harrison!
Sparkles: And now it looks like Mya and Lexy are gonna go at it! Their starting their scheduled Evolution Title match right now.
Frankie: Get her Lexy!
MYA DENTON VS. LEXY CHAPEL:
EVOLUTION TITLE
Unfortunately for Lexy, she will not have the opportunity to get Mya, because she’s the one getting got. The moment that Lexy stands up outside of the ring she finds herself on the receiving end of a unique hurricarana variant. Mya leaps over the top rope, twists in mid-air, lands on Lexy’s shoulders and then sends her adversary flipping across the ringside mats. Mya hits the move and then quickly pops up to her feet then pops up to the apron. She runs across it and ultimately goes flipping from it into a cannonball senton that results in her back crushing into a rising Lexy. The collision knocks both athletes to the mats.
Greyson: Mya is just unleashing everything she’s got on Lexy.
Sparkles: This is not the way Lexy wanted to start her Evolution Title defense.
Greyson: Especially when she’s trying to go into the impending Last Stand Rumble as an imposing force.
Frankie: Lexy’s just using a time tested strategy here….
Greyson: Ummm, care to elaborate as to what that strategy is?
Frankie: Uh, of course, an ummm-uhhhh, time tested one, duh’.
Greyson: That didn’t answer the question at all.
It looks like any strategy that Lexy might have had coming into this match went straight out the window thanks to Mya’s opening salvo, one that continues once the champion is sent rolling into the ring. Lexy slowly gets to her feet only to be quickly knocked from them. The super quick Mya leaps to the apron then to the top rope before flying across the ring and hitting a springboard clothesline. Lexy is sent crashing to the canvas and desperately trying to squirm her way off of it. She struggles to her feet where her constantly running mouth is shut via a forearm unleashed by her opponent. The challenger then hits a spinning back fist that cracks Lexy upside the jaw.
Mya liked it so much the first time that she now goes back to the same well. She twists around into another spinning back fist only to realize that she went to that same well once too often. Lexy ducks the fist bound for her face and then embeds her shoulder to Mya’s ribs, pushing her across the ring and ramming her spine into the turnbuckle. Lexy backs off from her challenger after driving the air from her body. It takes a moment for Lexy to get her bearings before racing towards her adversary and running afoul of her boots. Mya manages to get her feet up and her heels into Lexy’s jaw. The strike sends the double champion staggering back.
Somehow Lexy stays on her feet, fights through that shot to the skull and then goes racing towards Mya again. Once more Mya puts her boots up in defense, however this time those boots are caught before they ever make impact with Lexy’s jaw. The Champion gives Mya’s legs a big yank, pulling her out of the corner and then into a devastating back-breaker across the knee.
Frankie: YES!
Greyson: Lexy making a major counter to turn this title defense back in her favor.
Frankie: I told you that everything that happened in this match was all part of Lexy’s strategy.
Greyson: That last move did not prove your point at all.
Sparkles: But it did really-really hurt Mya.
That back-breaker may have done far worse than simply hurt Mya. She’s in horrible shape as she crawls towards the corner and starts to instinctively use it to climb back to her feet. Lexy swoops in from behind though and then uses Mya’s positioning to her opponent’s disadvantage. She drapes Mya’s chest and legs across the middle rope and then springs from the cable beneath her. Ultimately Lexy comes down with both knees right across Mya’s back, the impact knocking her down from the ropes she had been draped across and to the canvas.
Greyson: That was devastating!
Frankie: And as unique as you would come to expect from our Evolution Champion.
The unorthodox offense unleashed by Lexy transitions into a more traditional, but every bit as damaging hold. She slips in behind the seated Mya and wraps legs around her waist, applying a body scissors. The strength of Lexy’s thighs are employed to squeeze all the fight out of her challenger. All Mya can do in response to this submission, is grimace. She tries her best to counter by driving the point of her elbow down into one of Lexy’s knees over and over and over again. At last it seems to be effecting the strength of Lexy’s submission. In response the champion breaks her hold and while lying on her side starts to kick and kick and kick at the back of Mya’s head. She keeps kicking until her challenger has stopped fighting. Lexy then utilizes the position of her body to force Mya over into the crucifix pin.
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Shockingly Mya pops her shoulder up from the canvas and keeps her Evolution Title ambitions alive. Mya rolls over backwards and ends up on her feet only to have her back end up rammed into the turnbuckle. Lexy rushes towards her challenger, drives a shoulder into Mya’s mid-section and powers her spine first into the corner. Once again all of the air is knocked right out of Mya, causing her to buckle at the knees. Only the top rope that her arms are draped over manage to keep her upright. She looks like she’s prime for the pickings and Lexy’s about to pluck the freshest fruit.
Lexy puts a shoulder to Mya’s ribs and elevates her opponent up onto the top rope. The Champion moves as fast as she can to continue cementing her advantage. She climbs the corner, places Mya in the front chancery and then to the dismay of her opponent and the audience alike hits the superplex. Mya’s body is pulled all the way from the top and all the way down to the center of the ring. The impact reverberates through the canvas and through Mya’s shattered body. Immediately after hitting the superplex Lexy floats over into the lateral press.
Frankie: Here we go, another successful title defense for Lexy.
Greyson: Put that confetti back in your pocket.
Frankie: Alright, but I’m not putting away my kazoo. It’s celebration time baby!
The referee slaps the canvas to ensure that Mya’s title shot comes to an end.
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A shocked Lexy feels her opponent’s arm shooting out from under her, kicking out a moment before the three count could be finalized. Lexy looks infuriated with the speed of the referee’s count and tries to teach him how to do it properly, showing him the correct cadence. She then gives another lesson, one in the art of pain, and Mya will be her student. Lexy slips in behind Mya, wraps legs around her adversary’s waist, and places her in yet another body vice.
Lexy squeezes Mya’s ribs like they were a nut in the jaws of a nut-cracker. The pain is just too much for the challenger, who is lifting her hand into the air looking ready to submit. Suddenly, just when things look their bleakest, Mya is given renewed hope and reinvigorated strength upon seeing Harrison recovered and screaming at her from ringside.
Harrison: Let it out! Let it FREE!
The ‘it’ Harrison is referring to is that personality, that much darker and far more depraved personality that Mya has kept chained inside of her. The shackles are broken and Mya’s whole disposition changes. She finds strength from parts of herself she never knew existed. That power from within allows her to slip her arms between Lexy’s legs and force them away from the ribs they were crushing. Lexy tries to keep the pressure applied but it’s all for nothing, Mya forces her way free from the punishing predicament.
Greyson: Mya breaking free and keeping this match going.
Sparkles: Lexy getting a much bigger challenge from Mya than she thought she would.
Frankie: It’s not fair. Whenever Mya gets in trouble she tags in another one of her personalities. It’s like Lexy is wrestling a handicap match.
The only one about to be left handicapped is Mya Denton. The moment she gets to her feet she stoops down to grab at the legs that were locked around her ribs. But it’s Lexy’s feet that do all the damage this time. She puts them straight to Mya’s abs and pushes, sending her opponent flying back and hitting the corner spine first. Mya almost collapses out of the corner and is about to wish she had. Lexy dashes in and grabs her around the thigh, lifting until the Challenger is seated on the top rope. The frustrated Champion scales the corner to the top rope and once at the highest point of the turnbuckle she traps her adversary in a front chancery. Another superplex is about to hit. Or at least it would have if Mya didn’t just counter. She manages to push Lexy off the front chancery, off the top rope, and out of the ring.
Frankie: AAAAAHHHH!
Lexy crashes all the way down to the arena floor, smacking the ground and with enough force to almost knock her unconscious on impact.
Frankie: This is tragic. An angel just fell from heaven.
Greyson: Lexy just took a hell of a spill to the ground.
Sparkles: And….uh oh…what is Mya doing? What is she doing?
Right now she’s climbing to her feet on the top rope and she’s waiting for Lexy to stand up below. A beleaguered Lexy is getting back to her feet totally unaware that Mya is readying to fly off the top rope and come crashing into her. Finally Lexy learns what’s in store for her, but is too late to do anything to counter the body that comes hurdling into her via the shooting star press.
Greyson: That was AMAZING!
Sparkles: Mya with a friggin shooting star press off the top rope to the outside of the ring.
Frankie: Moves as risky as those should be barred from professional wrestling.
The fans don’t agree with Frankie, hence why they are going just totally nuts. Unfortunately for Mya, that move may have taken more out of her than it did Lexy. However, she’s not showing it, she’s getting back to her feet and with Lexy’s head in her arms. Once again Mya throws her opponent back into the ring and now sizes her up from the apron. Lexy fights her way up to her feet and is about to be taken off them once again when Mya comes springing from the top rope and flying into a lariat. This time Lexy has the presence of mind to avoid the clothesline by catching her opponent in mid-air then drive her down into the spinning powerslam.
Frankie: Oh yes what a counter! That reversal was just too sweet.
Greyson: That was a spectacular counter, but will it be enough to retain the title?
Lexy immediately hooks Mya’s leg the moment her challenger collides with the canvas.
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The spinning powerslam might have been a sensational reversal, but it proved to be an ineffective means of finishing Mya off. The Challenger kicks out and does so with defiance.
Greyson: Every time Lexy thinks she’s got this match in the bag Mya kicks out again.
Sparkles: This has been a far more grueling challenge than Lexy was anticipating here tonight.
A challenge that is about to end with a little aid from Lexy’s partner. Kat Kelly is back on her feet at ringside and she is in the process of sliding one of the Tag Team Title belts under the ropes. Lexy makes like she’s going to pick it up but the referee cuts her off. He jumps in Lexy’s way and offers her a verbal warning before snatching the title into his own arms. He goes to toss the strap from the ring, but his focus should have been on another title belt. Behind the referee’s back Lexy picks up her Evolution Title that was sitting in the corner of the ring. The gold is stretched between Lexy’s hands as she runs across the ring and swings the championship right into Mya’s bac…..NO….Mya reaches behind her and catches Lexy around the neck. The Monarchy member’s eyes widen as she finds herself being pulled along towards the corner with Mya about to deliver the Cra-Cra.
Greyson: Here comes the Sliced Bread!
Frankie: I’ll punch a baby right in its face if Mya hits this!
Sparkles: Be careful, some of those babies have very strong jaws.
Mya steps up the turnbuckle and prepares to push off into the Shiranui. She pushes off alright, but it damn sure isn’t into one of her finishing moves. Instead Lexy counters by rotating Mya around in mid-air and transitioning into the blue thunder powerbomb, one that brings her opponent’s back down straight onto the Evolution Title belt.
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Greyson: Another incredible counter!
Sparkles: Dropping Mya right onto the title belt.
The referee has finally disposed of the Tag belt that had been introduced into this match. He turns around just in time to see Lexy making the cover on Mya by sitting up and leaning her shoulders into the creases of her adversary’s knees.
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It looks like Lexy has managed to successfully retain her title. She is already celebrating before realizing that she’s celebrated way too soon, cause Mya got her shoulder up.
Frankie: NO! I said, NO!
Greyson: Lexy still failing to put Mya away.
Frankie: Mya is just not going to die. Even after being powerbombed onto the Evolution Title.
A despondent Lexy is back on her knees with her palms clutching at hair that might be seconds away from being torn right out of her skull. She looks down at the canvas that is being saturated with droplets of her sweat. She can’t believe that this title defense is still going, and she can’t believe what she’s seeing unfold outside of the ring. Her tag team partner Kat Kelly looks ready to throw more than a title belt into the ring. She’s on the cusp of sliding her entire body under the ropes. She gets about half way in before her leg is caught, caught by the arms of Harrison. He yanks with all of his strength in order to drag Kat out of the ring and to the mats right in front of him. His hands do not latch onto Kat, they grab hold of her NHB Title belt.
Greyson: Harrison trying to once again snatch that NHB belt off of Kat’s shoulder!
Frankie: Someone arrest this thief!
Once again Harrison and Kat find themselves in a tug of war for the NHB Title. This battle culminates to Harrison kicking Kat straight in the bread basket, the blow forcing her to let go of the championship.
Greyson: Harrison has got it! He’s got the NHB Title and….OH NO!
Kat responds to the theft of her belt by delivering a snap superkick. The move would certainly collapse Harrison’s jaw, had it connected. It doesn’t, because Harrison has the reflexes to grab the boot that was bound for his jaw.
Sparkles: Harrison caught the superkick this time.
The determined Harrison pushes Kat’s boot away from his jaw and sends her twisting around into a total 360. Harrison then goes for the lariat. The clothesline would definitely snap Kat’s neck, had it connected. It doesn’t because Kat has managed to tuck into a forward roll across the mats, picking up the NHB Title in the process. She then leaps to her feet with belt in hand then runs for the barricade, jumping it into the crowd. Harrison is right behind her, leaping into the audience as well and pursuing not Kat, but the NHB Championship she’s holding into the backstage area.
Back inside of the ring Kat’s partner Lexy has been watching this whole scene play out, something she instantly regrets doing. Suddenly her opponent Mya runs across the ring behind her, catches Lexy around the neck and then delivers a springboard bulldog. The move plants Lexy’s face right into the Evolution Title belt that was still left lying in the middle of the ring.
Frankie: NOOOOO!!!
Greyson: Lexy’s face crushed by her own title!
Sparkles: We’re about to have a NEW Evolution Champion.
Frankie: Someone! Someone do something! Monarchy, Monarchy HELP!
There is no one able to lend aid to Lexy at the moment. She and anyone who could have helped her, are powerless to stave off the pin that her challenger is making. Mya hooks Lexy’s leg and listens to the sweet sound of the referee’s hand slapping the canvas, and the even sweeter sound of the fans counting along with each slap.
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The place absolutely goes ballistic when the referee’s hand comes down for the third time but Lexy’s shoulder comes up from the canvas a split second before the three count could be completed.
Greyson: Oh my God! Oh my God, Lexy has kicked out AGAIN!
Frankie: I’m-I’m-I’m having a heart attack. Someone call the EMTS. I’m going full on Jerry Lawler over here.
Sparkles: Sparkles can’t believe Lexy just came within an eyelash of losing her title.
Mya can’t believe it either, that she was so close to becoming the Evolution Champion. This title match might not be over, but it’s damn sure about to be. Mya grabs Lexy by the hair and uses it to pull her up from the ring. What remains of Mya’s strength is employed to drag Lexy into position for a piledriver, a piledriver onto the Evolution Title belt. Just before Mya can hit the move the belt is pulled out from behind her. The referee finally does something about the illegal use of the championship, removing it from the squared circle. Mya realizes that the weapon she had intended to use is no longer in play. She detaches from Lexy and goes after the ref, protesting the fact that he’s actually doing his job.
All of her arguing with the official is doing nothing more than wasting her breath and giving Lexy time to recover. When Mya finally does turn back to her opponent she finds herself on the receiving end of the superkick. Lexy goes to crush Mya’s jaw but her boot misses the mark entirely. Mya grabs Lexy’s leg just before it can strike her and then gives it a shove. Lexy is sent spiraling into a full circle, turning back to face Mya who catches her around the neck. A stunned Lexy finds herself subjected to a tragic fate, the loss of her Evolution Title via the Cra-Cra. Mya runs at the corner and pulls Lexy along into the Shiranui.
Frankie: I can’t watch.
Sadly, for Frankie, that means he misses Lexy’s shocking counter. Just before she and her opponent can reach the corner, Lexy pulls her head free from Mya’s clutches and catches her with the reverse Russian Leg Sweep. Mya’s face is sent hurdling into the canvas, or at least it would be if she hadn’t managed to squirm out of her adversary’s clutches at the last second. She slips through Lexy’s arms and then behind her opponent, wedging hands to her spine and giving her a big shove. Lexy is sent hurdling towards the turnbuckle but not colliding with it. Instead of hitting the corner Lexy jumps into it. She then twists around and sits herself on the top rope. Her positioning may come back to haunt her though, because it puts her in a predicament that her opponent is taking advantage of.
Mya runs at the turnbuckle the Champion is seated on, climbs up fast and then leaves her feet in order to hit the Frankensteiner. She catches Lexy around the neck and drops back, but unfortunately she does not send her adversary flying from the corner. Things do not go as Mya had planned at all. The Frankensteiner not only fails to connect but is countered, countered into a second rope Explicit Content!
Greyson: MOTHER OF GOD! HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!
Sparkles: That was-that was-that was….
Frankie: The most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!!
Mya’s head is almost driven through the ring after being struck with the package piledriver from such an extreme height. The move has completely incapacitated her and leaves her defenseless against the pin that follows. Lexy hooks both of Mya’s legs while screaming at the referee to make the count and to do it right this time.
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There was no way imaginable that Mya was kicking out this time, not after the Explicit Content, not after the Explicit Content from the middle rope. An exhausted Lexy barely even has the energy to celebrate her victory after everything she went through in the process of securing it. All she can do is roll away from Mya and summon what little strength she has left to grab her Evolution Title from the hands of the referee. Lexy then falls back onto her seat and leans her spine against the ropes while lifting her championship aloft.
Greyson: What a performance from both of these athletes.
Sparkles: That Evolution Title match was grueling in every sense of the word.
Frankie: It didn’t matter how close some of Mya’s nearfalls on Lexy appeared at certain points in this match, I knew, I always knew that Lexy was walking out of here still champion.
Greyson: Says the man who had giant pit stains after some of Mya’s pin attempts.
Sparkles: There were a number of times in the course of this match where Sparkles legitimately thought we were going to see a new champion crowned.
Frankie: But that didn’t happen, did it, cause Lexy was just the better ath….AAAAAH!
There’s a reason Frankie’s tone changed and changed so drastically, going from elation to horror. It all has to do with the fact that while Lexy was standing in the middle of the ring celebrating with the Evolution Title, an unexpected guest joined her in the ring and is slamming a kendo stick straight across the small of her back. The blow hits with so much force that it knocks Lexy completely off of her feet and sends shockwaves of pain all through her ravaged body. Her attacker stands over Lexy looking completely detached from all emotion. And who is that attacker? It just so happens to be the World Champion, Katelyn Buehler.
Frankie: That bitch! That God damned bitch! How dare she!
Sparkles: What gives here? Why did Katelyn Buehler just blindside Lexy with that kendo stick?
Greyson: That’s retribution. Retribution that has been long in the making. For too long Lexy Chapel and Monarchy have made Katelyn’s life miserable. It’s about time she started getting some payback.
Sparkles: But why now? Why Lexy?
Katelyn doesn’t look interested in answering those questions. She just stands above a screaming Lexy and throws the kendo stick that was used to knock the wind out of her right down onto the Evolution Champion’s back. Without taking so much as a glance in Lexy’s direction, Katelyn goes walking from the ring. She continues to display nothing in the way of emotion, looking like she’s in a perpetual trance. She walks up the ramp in a fugue like state, and never once do her eyes veer back to the ring where an agonizing Lexy is cursing her name.
Sparkles: What’s gotten into Katelyn?
Greyson: Something does look off about her.
Frankie: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with her. Years of crystal meth abuse has rotted her mind. He brain must be diseased if she thinks she can get away with hitting Lexy with that kendo stick. There is going to be absolute hell to pay for this.
Lexy continues to tremble in anger and pain as she sits in the middle of the ring. She won’t be alone inside of that squared circle for much longer. Suddenly a very well put together young man jumps the barricade and comes sliding into the squared circle. The man with muscles upon muscles and a flattering bone structure in his face comes crawling towards Lexy, stopping at her side and checking her condition.
Greyson: I really wish we had security, and I bet Lexy is wishing she hadn’t taken them out.
Sparkles: What’s that fan doing in the ring with her?
Frankie: Get him out of there, I was just about to slide in and check on Lexy myself.
It appears that Lexy isn’t quite as off put by the presence of this ‘fan’ as one might think. She actually allows the big man to assist her up to her feet and now employs him as a crutch.
It’s unclear rather Victoria Salinas is more exhausted or aggravated. After the way her match went earlier that evening she’s not happy…not one bit. Every movement she makes shows her frustration. She slides off an elbow pad and just flings it across the locker-room. Her breaths come from deep in her diaphragm as she plops herself down on a chair in order to begin removing her wrestling boots. Suddenly it’s not the way her tag match with Monarchy ended earlier that night that seems to be menacing her, it’s something that she sat on top of.
From beneath her a white envelope is removed, her eyes scanning the words ‘Property of Tabitha Silverstone’ written in black marker across its surface. Given Victoria’s history with Tabitha she shows absolutely no hesitation to invade the agent’s privacy, peering into the envelope. Her face recoils at the sight of about a dozen hundred dollar bills that.
Stagehand: Mrs. Silverstone? I kept my mouth shut, now it’s time for you to uphold your end. Do you got my money?
The very same gentleman seen earlier that night extorting cash from Tabitha in return for his silence comes looking for his paycheck. He stops his tongue from digging himself into a deeper grave the moment he spots Victoria seated in the room and holding the cash that was promised to him.
Victoria: No, Tabitha doesn’t have your money. But don’t worry, I’VE got something for you.
Speaking of hell, we see a man who has definitely been through it. Andre Jordan is trying to put as much distance between himself and the parking garage where New Eden tried to throw him into the back of a van. Luckily he managed to avoid that abduction and will not allow himself to fall prey to another. He walks with shackled wrists down the hallway that ends at the exit. Or at least that’s SUPPOSED to be where it ends. Instead the corridor ends at Tabitha Silverstone.
Tabitha: Dre! I’ve-I’ve been so worried.
Announces Tabitha the moment her eyes lock on her client, the very client that she conspired with Mika Kozlov to kidnap several weeks ago. Andre doesn’t know that, and he also doesn’t know what to make of the arms that go wrapping around his waist.
Tabitha: I thought I lost you forever.
The squeeze on Dre’s waist tightens.
Tabitha: I’ll never let you go….Never.
The camera slowly zooms in on Andre’s puzzled expression….puzzled AND angry.
FADE TO BLACK
Riot41
Douglas: Listen, listen very-very closely.
The voice of Dan Douglas was methodic, soothing and as docile as a baby deer. The agent’s client found herself mesmerized, Katelyn Buehler enchanted by the cadence of this voice and by the medallion that swung back and forth before her eyes. Douglas exploited all of his hypnotic charms to ensure that he had total control of the World Champion’s mind.
Douglas: Listen to the sound of my voice and listen carefully to my words.
Douglas spoke slow in spite of the fact that he had to work fast. Already the crowd packed inside of the Manhattan Center were screaming for their Champion and Katelyn was about to give them exactly what they desired. She had made it into the guerilla position backstage before Douglas managed to thwart her descent down the ramp and into the ring.
Douglas: Can you hear me?
After Katelyn gave a nod the talisman in Douglas’ hand returned to his pocket, no longer needing it in order to gain sway over his client.
Douglas: I know what you’re thinking. You want to go down to the ring (gestures to the curtains at his side that hide the entry way) and avenge what Mika did to your arm at the End of the Year Special.
His hand moves from the curtains to the sling that had Katelyn’s arm pined up and positioned across her sternum.
Douglas: And I know you want to hold Taylor equally as accountable for your injuries, but going down that ramp and challenging either of them in the state you’re in right now is the worst idea you’ve ever had. So….(takes a deep breath)….I’m forbidding you to go out there….Is that understood?
He waits for Katelyn to nod, but keeps on waiting, and keeps on waiting and keeps on waiting.
Katelyn: (Sounding insulted) You’re forbidding me?
Douglas’ hand couldn’t fish the talisman back out of his pocket fast enough.
Katelyn: You don’t forbid me from doing anything. Understood Dan?
Douglas: I….just listen…just listen to my voice….
Katelyn: No, now it’s your turn to listen to me.
It became painfully obvious to Douglas that his mind control techniques had failed him.
Katelyn: At the End of the Year Special, Taylor and Mika embarrassed me and almost crippled me (tries to raise her injured arm but can’t bring herself to do it). As far as their concerned, I’m done, but what those two little twats are about to find out is that I’m JUST GETTING (snarls) STARTED.
Katelyn doesn’t just walk past her agent to reach the entry way but actually nudges him aside. The stunned Douglas is so preoccupied trying to keep his talisman from falling that he has no free hands to grab his World Champion and prevent her from making a potentially fatal decision.
Douglas: Listen to me, Katelyn, look into the medallion, (desperately) look into the medallion!!
Taylor: Expansion….manifest destiny….annexation….the right to RULE….
Perhaps TYRANNY would be the more appropriate word that Taylor Chase is currently searching for. She stands in the epicenter of the group that effectively RULED over the IWC roster back at the End of the Year Special, and that army, that sovereign nation of superstars is collectively dubbed Monarchy. Lexy Chapel, both shoulders bedecked in title gold, marches alongside Taylor, while Kat Kelly, co-holder of the Tag Team Championships is stood on her opposite side. Orlando Cruze and Alistair Taylor, two more flag bearers of the Monarchy regime follow behind this lovely trio of ladies, but the numbers don’t end there. Ryan Watson brings up the rear flanked by Monarchy founders Trinity Street and Lucas Knight. Monarchy is represented in full force as they descend upon the IWC locker-room.
Taylor: Monarchy conquered the ring back at the End of the Year Special, so now I think it’s time for us to EXPAND.
Lexy: Honestly, the dicks in the head office thought we’d be cool crammed in that shitty little hovel they reserved for us? Bulllllshiiiit.
Kat: It didn’t even have its own bathroom.
Taylor: That was just another mistake on the IWC’s part, thinking THEY could dictate terms to us. WRONG! We decide where we get dressed and where we rest our boots.
Alistair: Should be in the ass of that twit Karen McBride.
Lexy: No-no, no need for that, because our beloved Principle Owner needs to realize two things. Number one, that we’re calling all the shots around here, and numero dos, that after we went 4-1 at the End of the Year Special, that we DESERVE the most spacious accommodations.
The door to the IWC locker-room goes flinging right open and the occupants within are caught totally off guard by the dominant force that descends upon them. Samantha Raine looks up from the boots she WAS lacing, peering towards Monarchy from the bench that she WAS seated on. Her husband Chance Fortune takes his eyes from his wife and directs them to the mass moving in his direction.
Lexy: Hit the bricks ugly.
Insists Lexy as she grabs a hold of Raine’s ear and pulls her out of the way.
Raine: Take your god-damn hands off of me.
In spite of her protests Raine, Chance, and any other competitor loitering in the locker-room are forced out into the hallway. As soon as the room has been cleared of all the riffraff Ryan Watson plops himself in a chair that moments earlier had been occupied by Raine. Now he’s the one making himself comfortable in it.
Ryan: Ahhhh, that’s more like it….elbow room.
No opening video package this week….AWWW.
”Satisfied” by Social Code playing over the PA system and Katelyn Buehler’s entrance is what we get instead…YAAAY!
The fans didn’t have to wait long for a reason to collectively lose their shit, and the shit is definitely lost when the World Champion makes her entrance. In spite of her arm being tied up in a sling and her ankle wrapped in several layers of ace bandaging, Buehler, banged up body and all, heads for the ring. The commentators TRY to hear themselves speak over the crushing sound of the crowd’s ovation.
Greyson: Welcome to 2016 fans old and new of the IWC, this is Greyson Lovejoy, joined here in the new year by my colleagues Sparkles and Frankie Paradise. And fellas, it looks like we didn’t have to wait very long to get the pulses of these people in the Manhattan Center pounding.
Frankie: One look at my abs and it’ll have the chicks in the building tonight in need of a defibrillator.
Sparkles: Good thing Sparkles carries one with me at all times. Cheese induced coronaries strike at the most inappropriate time.
Greyson: Lay off the lactose Sparkles.
Sparkles: Katelyn Buehler, our World Champion is headed on down the ramp and although her body has seen better days she looks to be in that fighting spirit.
Frankie: Her tits always have been bigger than her brain.
The World Title is the first thing to reach the ring in 2016, Katelyn tossing the strap over the ropes. She then rolls in under the cables and gathers up her belt, though that’s not the only thing that ends up in her hand. The second the title is flung over her shoulder Katelyn takes hold of a microphone.
Katelyn: Okay, so here we are in 2016….Here we are in the NEW YEAR!!
The fans show their arbitrary excitement.
Katelyn: And after the wild taxi ride with David Johansen behind the steering wheel that was 2015, I’m sure we’re all hoping for a far less bumpy road in the months to come. We just want to hit the reset button and pretend that 2015 never happened. But see, I’m just one of those people that doesn’t let things go. Yeah, I’m afraid I had to carry over some baggage from the past right here into the New Year. See this…..
She points at her arm in in the sling.
Katelyn: This happened because Mika Kozlov decided to get involved in my match against her ‘sister’ back at the End of the Year Special. And you know what, I got to give the lil’ minx some credit, I never saw her interference coming, not until she shed her disguise and cracked that wooden beam over my bicep. But ya’ know what, I’m going to do her one better, instead of catching her unsuspecting, I’m going to put her on notice.
The cold and steely gaze of Katelyn shifts along to the stage.
Katelyn: Now Mika, I know we’re set to cross paths in that triple threat match at Last Stand for the World Title, with Tay thrown into the mix, but the wait till the pay-per-view to get revenge for my injuries is going to be more excruciating than the injuries themselves. So how about I propose a compromise? How about you come down here and we get this New Year started with a good ole’ fashion FIGHT.
The crowd loves it, they eat it up like sugar cookies on Christmas. Though the audience is teeming, Katelyn can hear one or two detractors in attendance.
Katelyn: I know there’s the vocal minority of you who are sitting there right now thinking, Kate, you’re a frackin’ moron.
Frankie: Ya’ know it.
Katelyn: You’re saying to yourselves, ‘come on sweetheart, look at your arm, look at your ankle, you’re in worse shape than Fire Marshal Bill.’ And yeeeeah, ya got a point there. This pain has been hell, and it’s a thousand times worse when you can’t pop pain killers like pez….I’ve kinda had a teensy weensy problem with that in the past. But you want to know what hurts about a thousand times worse than my ankle, than my arm, the thought that I lost to Taylor Chase. When it set in on me that my opportunity was ruined to…to FINALLY….to GOD…finally silence her catchphrase spewing ass, I felt worse than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I delivered three children at the same time, and even that pain can’t compare to the feeling of losing to a woman who’s done everything she can to ruin my life. A woman who’s mere existence pretty much makes me an atheist. And Mika Kozlov, she’s responsible for my loss, she’s the one who caused me to pass out to the TTY-whatever.
Frankie: Excuses-excuses.
Greyson: Shut up Frankie.
Katelyn: I guess there’s always a silver lining though, cause I get one more chance to shut Tay-Tay up at Last Stand. There’s only one problem with that though, that’s…well that’s next month, and we’ve still got a whoollle night ahead of us, a night where I forget these injuries….
In a truly surprising visual Katelyn removes her arm from the sling and then throws said sling out of the ring.
Katelyn: And dedicate myself to making Mika feel as bad…no-no-no…WORSE than how she made me feel when she caused me to lose to her sister. Sooo at the risk of sounding repetitive, I’m going to issue my challenge again. Mika…..
Nope. That challenge ain’t happening, not if the trio of psychopaths known as New Eden have something to say about it. The lyrics of Judge & Jury are bombarding the loud speakers, enticing goosebumps and clammy skin from the fans. They actually pull back from the barricades once Serenity, Cassidy Haze and Cindy Todd go walking by, the sociopathic group gliding towards the squared circle.
Frankie: Isn’t this around the point in the show when we all run?
Sparkles: Actually this is when Sparkles uses Lovejoy as a human shield.
Greyson: Glad to hear you consider me useful for SOMETHING.
Frankie: Seriously guys, New Eden is headed down that ramp and uhhhh that normally means that death is coming with them.
Greyson: One has to speculate as to their motives for coming out here and interrupting our World Champion.
Sparkles: Do sickos like these three really NEED motives?
New Eden isn’t about to give the commentators even a second longer to question their motivations. They’re already in the ring and they’ve got the never back down World Champion surrounded. With injured shoulder, injured ankle and all, Katelyn stands in the ring staring down three women that would make Hannibal Lecter tuck tail and run. Instead of running Katelyn squares up on her long-time nemesis Serenity.
Serenity: Happy New Year sweet-pea.
Katelyn’s eyebrow arches.
Serenity: It’s been a long time since we got together, hasn’t it?
Katelyn’s fingers are balled up into fists.
Serenity: And look, it’s not just you and me back together again….(puts arm over Cassidy’s shoulder and drags her closer)….Cassidy’s back. You remember her, right? Our ole buddy who came back to this company in 2015 to help you fight New Eden, and now look, it’s 2016 and who is Cassidy standing beside? NEW EDEN! Isn’t it grand how things come full circle?
Needless to say the World Champion would strongly disagree.
Serenity: What a reunion this is. Old friends together again. This really takes me back. (Flapping hand towards her face to fight back her crocodile tears) So touching….oh so touching.
Cassidy rips the microphone out of Serenity’s hand and gets closer to Katelyn. There are no fake tears, there are no fake emotions, everything about Cassidy is genuine, including the resentment in her expression and in her words.
Cassidy: We’re not here for a trip down memory lane. We’re here because our Queen (points to Cindy Todd) has given me a job, and it’s to make sure you’re no longer able to perform yours.
Katelyn: Cass (puts palm up in front of Cassidy’s face), cool your jets. I don’t know what Cindy and Serenity have done to you exactly, but it’s obvious that they’ve got you brainwashed or something….
Cassidy: Your one to talk.
Katelyn: And what is that supposed to mean?
Cindy: Darlings…(Cindy inserts herself both figuratively and physically into the proceedings)…As much as I enjoy watching this reunion, my time is very precious. (Turns to Katelyn) Unlike you, we never turned our backs on Cassidy. While many saw nothing but ruin when they looked at her, I saw promise, and I will help her achieve her potential. Much like I will help Mika Kozlov become all that she can be. You will not stand in Cassidy’s way of fulfilling her destiny, and you will not stop Mika from becoming the World Champion.
While others would be threatened Katelyn is amused.
Katelyn: You know what you are, Cindy? You’re a dog hiding under the dinner table hoping to eat whatever scraps fall at your paws. You’re just hoping that Aiken Frost let’s Mika fall into your possession. But that’s not gonna happen. You might have got lucky when it came to snatching up one of my cast offs (gestures to Cassidy who has to be restrained by Serenity), but Aiken’s never going to lighten his grip on the leash he has around Mika’s neck. Besides, there’s not going to be very much left of Mika when I’m done driving my elbow into her temple over and over and over again.
Now it’s Cindy who smiles in response to these perilous comments.
Cindy: You daft little girl, you truly do not appreciate the forces you trifle with, nor do you fully grasp the suffering that awaits you. You do not accept that there are TWO certainties, Mika will once again be mine, and Mika will become the World Champion.
Katelyn: Over my dead body.
Cindy: It seems we agree on something.
The black pools of utter despair that are Cindy’s eyes draw Katelyn in and distract her from the sudden impact that befalls her injured shoulder. Cassidy swings around and nails a roundhouse kick right to the back of Katelyn’s arm, the shot causing her to drop to the ring cradling her bruised bicep.
Greyson: Cindy distracting Katelyn and setting her up so that the newest follower of New Eden could get the drop on the Champ.
Frankie: Surprised it took this long for Cassidy to finally turn against Katelyn, most people double cross her within fifteen seconds of having met her.
Sparkles: Cassidy is demonstrating her fealty to New Eden in spades, just like back at the End of the Year Special when she bashed Marina Valdivia in the head with that barbwire board.
The shot to the shoulder continues to have Katelyn on her knees and clutching at her arm, unable to defend herself against the violence and the words Cassidy aims at her. Crouched beside the World Champion is where we find her former friend, speaking through her teeth.
Cassidy: You’re not going to fight Mika tonight, you’re not going to fight Mika at Last Stand, after I’m done you’re never going to fight PERIOD. I’ve been given one job by Cindy tonight, to DESTROY you. Face me right now, Champ. Unless you’re afraid I’ll embarrass you like Tay-Tay did back at the End of the Year Special.
It doesn’t take much to motivate Katelyn and Cassidy just pushed all the right buttons. All it takes is a nod to confirm that Katelyn is going through with this, a FIGHT with Cassidy Haze.
CASSIDY HAZE VS. KATELYN BUEHLER
A referee is now on the scene, sliding into the center of all this chaos and calling for the bell. Cindy Todd and Serenity assume the roles of spectators, watching from ringside as their follower Cassidy goes to war with the World Champion.
Greyson: From the looks of it we’ve got ourselves a match guys.
Frankie: Katelyn, one leg and with one arm, thinks she can beat Cassidy Haze? Ha. Ha-ha. Hahahahahaha!
Sparkles: What was Katelyn supposed to do? Back down from a challenge? You know she never does that.
Frankie: Much to her detriment.
Cassidy’s boots leave the ring and connect with Katelyn’s shoulders. After bouncing from the ropes to build momentum she hits a basement dropkick on Katelyn’s arm, the blow knocking the World Champion from her knees and to her back.
Greyson: Oooh, and Cassidy going straight after the arm.
Frankie: Durrr. What did you think she was going to do? Attack Katelyn’s hair?
The dropkick has sent Katelyn rolling into the nearest turnbuckle, which she sits herself up against. Cassidy uses her opponent’s positioning to her advantage. She takes Katelyn’s arm, folds it back over the middle cable and uses the ropes to apply pressure on the arm. The referee starts a five count, threatening to disqualify Cassidy for the illegal use of the ropes. A count of four has been reached before Cassidy stops using the ropes and starts using her feet, hitting another dropkick this time right on the point of Katelyn’s elbow. The impact has Katelyn crying out in pain while she rolls right under the ropes that were just used against her and to the apron.
Yet again her positioning comes back to haunt her, because her arms are taken and stretched back through the cables. Cassidy applies a modified surfboard stretch on the arms, pulling on the wrists and leaning back from the champion. The ropes wedge against Katelyn’s spine, blocking her from following the arms that are being pulled out of their sockets. The only thing she can do is grimace in pain and kick her heels against the tarp hung from the apron.
It takes the referee’s five count to force Cassidy to let Katelyn go, for a moment at least. She’s right back on the champion within seconds, dragging Katelyn to her feet with both ladies stood precariously on the ring apron. With malicious intentions Cassidy tucks Katelyn’s arm around behind her back and then hoists her up into a back drop suplex position. The suplex connects, with Katelyn’s arm tucked behind the small of her back and as thus withstanding the brunt of the punishment when it collides with the ring apron.
Sparkles: The damage that was inflicted on Katelyn’s arm by Taylor Chase and Mika Kozlov back at the End of the Year Special is really being exacerbated right now.
Greyson: And it’s only getting worse.
Although Katelyn tries to protect her arm her opponent isn’t letting that happen. Now that both athletes are on the ringside mats Cassidy is able to pull Katelyn towards the steel steps and employ them for a purpose they were not intended for. She lifts Katelyn’s arm up high and swings it down with bone breaking trauma across the stairs. The cry that emanates from the Champion is absolutely blood curdling. Try as she may to wrap herself around her arm and protect it there’s no source of salvation for her injured limb. From behind she finds herself being pushed and pushed shoulder first square into the exposed turnbuckle post.
Greyson: Another absolutely SICK thud on the arm from an absolutely SICK human being.
Frankie: And to think, just a few months ago Cassidy was the best of friends with Katelyn. If her friends hate her this much just imagine how bad her enemies despise her.
Although her leg isn’t in any better shape than her shoulder, Katelyn gets it under her as she rises back to her feet. It’s the very moment that Katelyn stands that she finds her arm on the receiving end of the most fatal impact yet. It’s tucked around behind the small of her back and now Cassidy shoves her into the ring apron. Katelyn’s injured arm ends up being crushed between her body and the ring apron, resulting in the champion going to her knees where her cries only get louder.
Sparkles: Katelyn is a fighting champion, we get that, but she should not have taken this challenge.
Frankie: Sanity has never been in her wheelhouse.
With her arm swelled up to twice it’s normal size Katelyn goes rolling into the ring where further torture awaits. She finds herself pulled to her seat with Cassidy stood behind her and bending her arm over behind her head into a modified top wrist lock submission. The bend of Buehler’s arm and the pressure applied to her bicep and shoulder has color filling the face of the customarily pale Champion. She’s gone blood red as she exerts every last ounce of strength to try and fight her way through this hold, one that is threatening to inflict career shortening injuries. At ringside Serenity smiles, bending at the hips and putting her grin closer and closer to the action, leaning under the ropes to get a better look at Katelyn and her suffrage. At the same time Cindy Todd admires her subject’s handiwork but does so in far more reserved and emotionless manner.
Cassidy takes it all in, the supportive stares of her New Eden allies, and the groans of the World Champion. Soon Cassidy is being inundated with something else, the haunting tunes of the cheering crowd. Their reaction is getting louder and louder the closer that Katelyn gets to her feet and the closer she gets to breaking this submission hold. Cassidy fights with all her strength to keep the overhead wrist lock applied but she makes the fatal mistake of believing that simply keeping Katelyn down is enough to finish her off.
It isn’t.
All Katelyn needs to do is get to her knees and twist around on them so that her head ends up extended through Cassidy’s legs. In a display of Katelyn’s threshold for pain and immense strength, she rises to her feet both breaking the submission she was trapped in and forcing Cassidy into the Alabama Slam position. Although Cassidy flails and thrashes to get free there’s no escaping the jarring impact of the move that sends her spine careening with force against the ring.
Frankie: Now how in the hell did she hit that? And don’t either of you dare respond with some generic line about the size of Katelyn’s heart.
Sparkles: Katelyn just had to dig down deeper than ever to deliver that Alabama Slam.
And deliver it she did, in spite of the fact that it took a lot out of her. Katelyn limps back unable to put a lot of pressure on her taped ankle. The turnbuckle holds her up and keeps her from falling to the very ring that she just slammed Cassidy’s spine into. In spite of that bone breaking slam against the ring Cassidy starts to will her way up from the ring. Katelyn swoops in with what speed she can muster and pops Cassidy across the cheek with a right, followed by a well-placed shot to the chin. A kick to the gut has her reeling back before she’s caught by the wrist and launched along into the ropes. Before the Irish Whip can be completed Cassidy puts a stop to it, turns back towards Katelyn and slaps her right in the arm that had been clinging to her wrist. Katelyn doubles over to protect her arm but Cassidy already has hold of it, looking for the divorce court arm breaker. Cassidy does drop back, but it’s not of her own volition.
Katelyn slips around Cass’ hip and then takes her around the thigh, rolling her over into the school girl.
1
Unfortunately Katelyn doesn’t have the strength in her arm to keep Cassidy’s shoulders to the canvas. Cassidy kicks out and is quick to reach her feet only to find her wrist caught in Katelyn’s hands and her body being Irish Whipped into the ropes. Upon ricocheting from the ropes Cassidy comes back in towards Katelyn, who sets for the back drop but sets too early. Cassidy stops in more than enough time and with just enough distance to punt kick her opponent square in the shoulder. The shot causes Katelyn to leap back clutching at her arm. Another kick then connects, this one delivered unexpectedly by Katelyn as she launches her boot into the air and slams it straight across Cassidy’s chin.
The thrust kick knocks an unsuspecting Cassidy back through the ropes and to the outside of the ring. Somehow Cassidy lands on her feet but she is not going to stay on them very long because Katelyn comes flying over the ropes and into a crossbody that topples both ladies to the floor.
Frankie: That clinches it. Kate is certifiably insane.
Greyson: With her arm and her ankle badly, and we mean BADLY injured, she still manages to put it all on the line with that crossbody.
Frankie: But really, who did it take more out of?
That answer isn’t immediately obvious given that Cassidy and Katelyn are mirroring one another’s expressions of pain. The old friends simultaneously work their way up from the ground but Cassidy is about to send her opponent right back down to it. A body hits the floor….Cassidy’s. She is caught dashing at Katelyn with a back drop that causes her to catch great height before finally plummeting kidneys first into the thin protective floor mats.
Cassidy growls as she rolls from the mats and to her feet where her opponent was waiting to pop her across the chin with a succession of punches. Ultimately Katelyn stops swinging and starts throwing. She lifts Cassidy into the air and dumps her jaw right across the barricade. Cassidy bounces back from the steel and unconsciously rolls into the ring where she finds herself in a position she hadn’t anticipated, on the defensive. An aggressive Katelyn crawls into the ring and kneels beside her adversary, punching her repeatedly across the face. Katelyn then really puts her head into it, driving her skull into Cassidy’s brow several times. Once the headbutts stop the punches start. She decks Cassidy in the face repeatedly before finally sliding her hands into the hair of her friend turned rival. An unstable, imbalanced Cassidy is back on her feet and set in position for Katelyn to deliver the stunning Lethal Injection.
Katelyn points to the ropes and is about to head stand into them but the second she starts to run on her injured ankle she almost goes right over, taking a header into the canvas. She catches herself before going down, though she’s not the only one who takes hold of her. Katelyn’s arm is caught from behind and Cassidy tucks it around behind her back before heaving her into what looks to be a back drop onto the forearm. With only a split second to think Katelyn has to act quick and react even quicker. She flips back over Cassidy’s shoulder, lands behind her adversary and then goes spiraling around into the KTFO. The roaring elbow NEARLY nails her adversary only to have her forearm just miss her opponent’s head by a fraction of an inch. Cassidy ducks the strike and then takes off into the ropes behind her opponent…no wait…she’s doing a headstand straight into those ropes.
The back of Cassidy’s heels hit the top rope and the ricochet effect sends her back down to her feet before she leaves them in order to hit a spring-back jumping roundhouse kick.
Frankie: WOW! Look at that!
Greyson: Cassidy almost with her own version of Katelyn’s Lethal Injection.
Sparkles: That was a straight insult to Katelyn.
Greyson: These two ladies did spend a lot of time training together, they helped one another hone their respective moves.
Cindy and Serenity are enjoying the sight of Cassidy’s shin smashing Katelyn upside the forehead, knocking both competitors down to the ring. Cassidy leaps back to her knees and crawls as quick as she can right into the pin.
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Still Katelyn has the strength to get her shoulder up and out from under the turncoat. Cassidy’s reaction to this is one that her former friend is not going to like. Much in the same way that Cassidy just exploited the use of Katelyn’s Lethal Injection, now she’s about to hit her own version of the champion’s KTFO. She backs into a corner and slaps a forearm against her palm, signaling that the end is certainly nigh.
Greyson: Is Cassidy going to steal ANOTHER of Katelyn’s moves?
Frankie: Hey, they trained together, maybe Kate stole the KTFO from Cassidy.
Greyson: That’s crap and you know it.
The many misfortunates that Katelyn has suffered in numerous months are only about to get worse. The second she reaches her feet she finds herself on the receiving end of not the roaring elbow, but a roaring kick, one that hits her deliberately straight in the shoulder.
Greyson: Roaring KICK to the arm! Roaring kick to the ARM!
Sparkles: That wasn’t a match ending move, that might have been a career killing move.
The boot to the shoulder and the bicep has sent Katelyn crashing hard to the ground, but that blow may not be as painful as being on the receiving end of the ensuing painful. Cassidy crawls almost seductively into the pin, hooking both of the champion’s thighs and looking to give New Eden a major victory. Cindy and Serenity inch ever closer to the ring in anticipation of witnessing their ally’s big win.
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Greyson: The Champion about on the verge of suffering a defeat.
Sparkles: Cassidy’s new found association with New Eden about to pay off big time!
Cassidy is right on the cusp of showing the world the dominance that her association with New Eden has infused within her but instead we get a showing of Katelyn’s perseverance. She launches an arm up from the canvas in just a half second before the referee’s hand can reach it.
Greyson: Katelyn REFUSES to let her 2016 begin the way her 2015 started.
Frankie: The miracles never do cease, do they?
Although it feels like Katelyn has just been involved in a head on car crash, she is still trying to summon her last vestige of strength to stand up. Cassidy keeps her down though by wedging a boot to the back of the World Champion’s head. Her eyes then drift towards the ringside area where Cindy is in the process of whispering into Serenity’s ear. It isn’t whispers coming from Serenity, its giggles. It puts her in very high spirits when reaching under the ring and retrieving the 2×4 wrapped in barbwire.
Greyson: No…oh no….oh Christ no….
Frankie: Can you be any more dramatic?
Sparkles: He should be. I mean Jesus, remember what Cassidy did the last time she had that 2×4 in hand.
Greyson: Yeah, she busted up Marina Valdivia with it back at the end of the Year Special.
Frankie: And it was so fun the last time she wants to do it again.
The 2×4 slides into the ring but it does not end up in Cassidy’s hands. Instead the referee is right there to intervene, putting his life at grave risk by disrupting the nefarious plots of New Eden. While Cindy remains silent, chillingly so, Serenity and Cassidy are a bit more vocal in response to the referee’s interference. Cassidy stands behind the ref arguing with him as he tosses the 2×4 out of the ring. Serenity however, will not stand in anyone’s shadow, she is right out in front of the referee, stood on the apron and making her displeasure as clear as crystal.
Serenity: Listen here handsome, if you wanted a 2×4 all you had to do was ask. I would’ve gift wrapped it for you.
The referee doesn’t want anything at all to do with any 2×4, nor anything to do with Serenity, even as she’s pinching him on the cheeks.
Ref: That’s it…Your out of here!
To the surprise of everyone the referee actually shows some testicles by directing not only Serenity but Cindy as well to leave the ringside area.
Frankie: This ref must be suicidal.
Greyson: For once a ref is actually doing his job.
Sparkles: It might be the last thing he ever does. Those who mess with New Eden don’t have long life expectancies.
Frankie: Just ask Marina Valdivia.
The referee continues to order Serenity and Cindy from ringside, but the pair are not budging. Instead they stand there with bemused looks on their faces, finding the referee more adorable than authoritative. While the referee is pestered by New Eden’s refusal to bend to his will, behind his back another member of this group is further defying his rule. Cassidy approaches the 2×4 that was thrown into the corner of the ring, picking up the barbwire and readying it to lacerate the flesh of the World Champion. It doesn’t matter how tight knit their relationship may have been Cassidy is going to carve Katelyn’s flesh.
Cassidy descends upon Katelyn with the spool of wire raised over head and delighting at the prospect of swinging it into her rival’s skin. The weapon is swung, but it never hits…instead of being smacked with barbwire, Katelyn is smacking Cassidy in the mouth with the roaring elbow.
Greyson: Cassidy hitting Katelyn with….NO…KTFO!
Sparkles: And Cassidy never saw that coming.
Greyson: None of us did. I thought for sure that Cassidy had Katelyn dead to rights.
Sparkles: But that’s what Katelyn does best, she overcomes anyone’s expectations.
The KTFO has Cassidy flat on her back with the World Champion stood above her and preparing to go for the pin. No….that’s NOT what she’s going for. Katelyn isn’t grabbing her opponent, she’s grabbing the 2×4 that was about to be used against her.
Frankie: Oh don’t even….
Greyson: Katelyn has got that barbwire bat.
Sparkles: She’s about to turn it against Cassidy.
Katelyn looks to mutilate her former friend with the barbwire, raising it back over her shoulder. Right before she can swing Katelyn spots Serenity trying to enter the ring from the corner of her eye. Katelyn redirects her blow, swinging the barbwire at Serenity, who back peddles and back peddles in a hurry. Serenity lunges away from the ring and to the side of a smiling Cindy. The pair continue to grin even as Katelyn threatens them with the board and the referee orders them away from ringside. They aren’t listening to either the ref or to Katelyn, paying more attention to the person slipping in behind the World Champion. Just when Katelyn thinks she’s got New Eden right where she wants them she falls victim to the most dreaded move of them all…the BACKSLIDE. Cassidy pulls Katelyn down from behind and into the pin.
Greyson: Wait…what!?!
The referee turns in the nick of time to see the pin.
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The squeals are outright deafening. Everyone in attendance lets out a scream of pure shock at the visual of this shocking upset victory.
Greyson: YOU’RE KIDDING!!
Sparkles: Cassidy just…just….just pinned the World Champion!!
Frankie: Holy Moses!
The fans couldn’t say it any better themselves. Cassidy has picked up a win much to the chagrin of the World Champion and much to the delight of her New Eden compatriots massed at ringside.
Greyson: An upset pulled here in our first match of 2016.
Frankie: And….OH SHIT!
Cassidy rises to her feet with every intention of celebrating her win only to be sent crashing flat on her ass via Katelyn’s thrust kick.
Greyson: Katelyn laying out Cassidy with that scintillating kick!
Frankie: What a sore loser!
Katelyn’s ankle is in so much pain yet she still managed to hit that kick and to hit another one. Cindy comes climbing into the ring and dashing towards the champion only to be struck under the jaw with a thrust kick as well. The blow sends the Queen of Chaos staggering back and almost spilling right through the ropes that she just entered via. Katelyn looks to catch her on the rebound with the roaring elbow, but the champ soon realizes that her focus on Cindy will be detrimental. Serenity dives in behind Katelyn, ramming a shoulder right into her injured ankle.
She lands at the feet of her attacker Serenity, who furthers the brutality by dropping to her knees and choking Katelyn senseless. All the while Cindy is standing back observing the boots connect to the champion’s body. Cassidy will drive far more than boots into her rival, she’s currently digging the 2×4 out of the canvas.
Sparkles: It looks like Cassidy WILL get in a few swings with that 2×4.
Frankie: Awww, if I had known I’d get this type of show I’d have brought some microwavable popcorn.
Sparkles: Sparkles would have roasted some s’mores.
Greyson: Katelyn about to be subjected to the very same torment that befell Marina back at the End of the Year Special.
The shot from the barbwire seems inevitable. Katelyn is pulled to her knees by Serenity, and her arms are held up behind her in the full nelson, leaving her absolutely defenseless. Here comes the 2×4, and here comes the blood that will surely go gushing through Katelyn’s skin.
Greyson: This is about to get really-really sick.
Cassidy is about to jump start the violence here on the opening show of 2016. She stretches the 2×4 between her palms and looks to use the barbwire as a grater to give Katelyn a face peel. Before this extreme makeover can be completed Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas come hustling towards the ring. The pair are dashing down the ramp to a frenzied response from the fans.
Greyson: Valdivia! Salinas! These two ladies aren’t about to let Katelyn fall victim to the same treatment they received at the End of the Year Special.
Frankie: (Sarcastically) Yaaaay. Just what the IWC needs, more do-gooders.
Sparkles: Well it’s what Katelyn needs right now.
The crowd is screaming their lungs out as Victoria slides into the ring and instantly finds herself in an exchange of punches with Cindy. Although Cassidy WAS going to use the 2×4 on Katelyn she now redirects her blow, swinging straight at Marina’s head but missing her target by a mere fraction of an inch. Marina ducks under the shot and then waits for Cassidy to turn back towards her before unleashing a spear. Marina drives Cassidy down to the canvas and then starts to drive fists into her face.
Greyson: Marina all over Cassidy!
At the sight of her teammates being assaulted Serenity makes a rare mistake, releasing Katelyn in order to help. She only gets in one step before she’s caught from behind, twisted around and subjected to a short arm back elbow to the face. Katelyn pulls her in and smashes her chin with the point of her elbow, then collapses Serenity’s chest with a knife edge chop. Serenity responds with a blow all her own, bringing even more chaos and turmoil to a ring that is already overflowing with anarchy.
Greyson: Chaos, absolute chaos to start off 2016!
Sparkles: New Eden facing consequences right here at the start of the New Year.
Lexy: Eh, this place is even more low-rent then the last shack they had us set up in.
Some people are just perpetually unhappy, and apparently that’s how best to describe any member of Monarchy. Although they have taken over the IWC locker-room and turned it into their new PRIVATE and ultra-exclusive dressing room, they are still wearing long faces.
Trinity: Non-sense, all it takes is a little sprucing up.
Trinity Street parts the Tag Team Champions, moving through Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel so that she can move across the locker-room towards someone’s gear.
Trinity: First we’ve got to get rid of all of….of all of…..(cringes when taking down a t-shirt)….whatever this is.
The Selena Frost brand t-shirt that hangs from Trinity’s hand actually seems to turn her stomach.
Alistair: ASCHEW!
Alistair Taylor tries to hold back his sneezes with the crux of his arm, but it seems Trinity has a better solution.
Trinity: Here you go.
The t-shirt that obviously belongs to Selena Frost is thrown to Alistair, who instantly puts it to use as a handkerchief, blowing his nose all over the sleeve.
Alistair: Thanks love.
The shirt is stuffed into his back pocket, surely coming in handy throughout the evening.
Trinity: No problem. Oh, and Tay (takes down an expensive sweater), a little padding for your chair.
The wool sweater is thrown across the room and lands in Taylor Chase’s hands. The former World Champion folds the shirt and stuffs it under her rump, making her wooden chair a lot more comfortable.
Taylor: Much better.
Orlando: You know what else this place can use? Some decorations.
A t-shirt is taken down from a locker designated for Andre Jordan and you better believe Orlando is not about to wear anything that is owned by his rival. Instead he begins to rip the fabric into strands that he tosses into the air.
Lucas: Wow mate, (Lucas Knight steps in behind Orlando and slaps him on the back) you have a flair for interior decoration.
Orlando: Thanks, took one or two university level classes in it.
The commentators can be overheard weighing in on this vile imagery.
Greyson: This is just….how do I describe this…?
Frankie: Amazing.
Greyson: More like awful.
Sparkles: Monarchy have commandeered the IWC locker-room and they’re definitely making some radical changes.
Greyson: Somebody has GOT to put a stop to Monarchy and their whole colonization ideology.
Frankie: When any nation grows they need to conquer more territory.
Greyson: But they’ve taken over the friggin locker-room!
Frankie: Yeah they did, cause they needed more space. Can’t you appreciate that?
Greyson: No….No I can’t.
Dan Douglas isn’t taking over more turf, he’s taking a walk off the field.
Destiny: Dan, where are you going?
Because this scene needed a bit of exposition Destiny Nichols is here to get the obligatory explanation as to why agent Dan Douglas is ebbing ever nearer to the exit door. Instead of being at the side of his client Katelyn Buehler, Douglas is leaving her, her friend Destiny, and the IWC as a whole behind him as he marches down the hall in the direction of the exit. A duffle bag hangs over his shoulder and the same talisman that he tried to use earlier in the night dangles from between his fingers.
Destiny: Would you stop and talk to me?
Destiny at last gets Douglas’ attention by grabbing his forearm and digging in her nails.
Destiny: Katelyn needs you.
Douglas: You’re right, she does.
His grip on the talisman tightens. Before Destiny can get another word from him he’s out the door, vanishing into the night. Instead of Destiny using her hands to claw at Douglas, she throws them into the air, a sign of utter exasperation.
Karen: So they THREW you out of the locker-room?
Karen McBride is trying to process this but is having a very hard time accepting what she’s hearing. When she became the Principle Owner she knew she was in for trying times, but nothing could prepare her for dealing with the headache that Monarchy presents. She stands in her office with arms crossed and the small of her back propped against the edge of her desk, listening to the complaints of her roster, very valid complaints.
Chance: No, they didn’t THROW us out of the locker-room, they took the locker-room over.
Raine: They said they were EXPANDING their territory.
The realization at last sets in, hence why Karen is pinching at the skin between her eyes. It isn’t helping her migraine at all.
Karen: Alright, you know what, I’ve tried dealing with Monarchy in the middle of the ring, but since that didn’t work it looks like I’m going to have to escalate things.
Samantha Raine and Chance Fortune, the pair that were ‘escorted’ from the locker-room earlier tonight listen very closely to Karen’s plan of attack.
Karen: They think they can call the shots around here because they have the numbers game, soooo how about we prove them wrong?
Karen steps away from the desk and towards the door to her office.
Karen: Follow me.
”Unsettling Differences” is the track currently creating a somber and yet strangely creepy vibe throughout the arena. Those two adjectives perfectly describe the current demeanor of the man making his way down the ramp. IWC competitor Ricky Holt embarks in the direction of the ring with his agent Eric O’Flaherty following at a distance, baseball bat flung over his shoulder and cigarette hanging out from between his lips. Ricky however, isn’t taking a puff from a smoke, he’s blowing out some hot air as he speaks into a microphone.
Ricky: 2016!
Ricky’s reference to the New Year doesn’t get nearly as excited a reaction as Katelyn Buehler’s did earlier in the evening.
Ricky: I’m gonna be honest with you people, this year has me a lot more excited than 2015 ever did.
The ring gets closer and closer to Ricky, but further and further from O’Flaherty, who hangs back so as not to infringe on his client’s spotlight.
Ricky: Because unlike last year my search for a REAL wrestler will finally yield results.
Once inside of the ring Ricky finds it difficult to speak over the harsh negativity of the fans.
Ricky: I know you people were just as disappointed as I was that I couldn’t find a REAL wrestler in 2015, and that you were instead forced to watch me wrestle guys with peroxide in their hair, guys who were so old they had no hair left at all, and women who think wearing daisy dukes equals talent. But take a breath, let out a little bit of steam, guzzle down your beers and chill, cause guess what? My search for a REAL wrestler has….well….(Ricky looks up at the rafters getting misty eyed)…it’s finally paid off.
A sigh of relief is taken and make believe sweat is swiped away from Holt’s brow.
Ricky: I did it, I found a real, true, authentic WRESTLER. And no, it’s not Johnny Kingdom, nor is it my opponent here tonight Andre Jordan, nuh ‘uh. No, the real wrestler I’m talking about has never been given an opportunity to ply his craft on a platform this big, and there’s a very good reason for that. Because the term ‘wrestler’ is considered a naughty word in this ‘ENTERTAINMENT’ industry. Fear not, cause that’ll change and it’ll change before the end of this night.
The microphone drops at Holt’s feet while he runs some laps in the ring to get physically psyched up for competition. His agent O’Flaherty has vanished into the back as his client readies for perhaps the most physically trying bout of his career.
Greyson: Not sure what to make of those comments from Ricky Holt.
Sparkles: Guy has always been pretty outspoken.
Frankie: He brings up a lot of great points. There aren’t very many REAL wrestlers in this industry anymore. I mean guys like me are a rare breed.
Sparkles: He’ll find out what a real wrestler is when he faces Andre Jordan here in a moment.
The lyrics of “We Own It” gets the crowd revved up and breaks them from the funk they were in after being forced to listen to Ricky’s abrasive tone. Holt isn’t looking anywhere near as energized as the audience, his penetrating eyes locking on his opponent not with delight but with malice. Andre Jordan stands at the top of a stairwell amongst the people, absorbing a response that gets louder with each step that he takes closer to the ring.
Greyson: Andre Jordan getting a standing ovation in the Manhattan Center here tonight.
Sparkles: He’s been almost as excited as these fans for 2016, especially considering how the last year ended.
Frankie: Please, remind everyone how 2016 concluded for Andre. No-no, you know what, let ME do it. Andre lost…hahahaha, he lost BIG to Orlando Cruze.
Greyson: I’d hardly say that he lost BIG to Orlando. Andre was rolled up into a school boy and Orlando had his hands all over the rope….
Frankie: Nyet-nyet-nyet, when Andre pinned Orlando I didn’t make excuses for Orlando now did I?
Greyson: YES. You did. You made about a thousand of them.
Frankie: Oh, well, my excuses were valid.
Andre looks to get a far more promising start to 2016 as he jumps from the stands and over the railing. He finally makes his way into the crowd where his hoodie is shed and his intense expression comes into view.
Greyson: It’s still strange to see Andre out here without Tabitha Silverstone at his side.
Sparkles: That’s definitely going to take some getting used to. Andre was not on the best of terms with his agent as we closed out 2015.
Frankie: See, not even Andre’s agent can stand this arrogant piece of….
Greyson: Tabitha doesn’t have a problem with Andre, Andre has a problem with Tabitha. Especially when Tabitha keeps trying to manipulate Dre into being something he’s not.
Frankie: A guy with charisma?
Greyson: Just shush it Frankie.
RICKY HOLT VS. ANDRE JORDAN
There’s the bell to get this one underway. Dre and Holt circle one another before ultimately locking up in the collar elbow. This hold serves a brief interlude into Andre’s arm ringer submission hold, spinning under his opponent’s bicep and twisting the wrist at a pretty nasty angle. The moment that Holt makes a move to escape this hold the arm ringer is transitioned into the top wrist lock. Dre folds his adversary’s arm back in, you guessed it, a pretty nasty angle. If there’s one thing that Holt is proficient at, it’s getting himself out of sticky situations. He manages to spin his body around out of the top wrist lock and position himself behind Dre, trapping him in a rear waist-lock.
It doesn’t take Dre long at all to perform a standing switch, resulting in his own rear waist-lock. Holt ain’t having none of that. He ducks down, slips back and slides right through Dre’s arms and ends up behind his opponent, trapping him in a sleeper hold. Andre performs a standing switch once again in order to lock in his own sleeper.
Greyson: This match definitely getting off to a far different start than our opening contest.
Frankie: In the sense that neither of these two are trying to kill one another.
Sparkles: Yet.
The sleeper is broken the moment that Holt falls to his knees and uses one of the arms wrapped about his throat to flip Dre over. Andre rolls across the canvas and returns to his feet before turning this last counter into a lucrative opportunity. He dashes into a clothesline that Holt avoids by way of ducking and ducking quick. Dre then spins around with his fist clinched and ready to destroy Holt’s face, but Holt has no desire to see his mug mutilated and goes about preventing that from happening. He rolls from the ring and avoids having Dre’s fist turn him into a total uggo.
The referee calls for Holt to get back in the squared circle but Holt is calling for a time out. He then proceeds to mockingly circle the ring, jawing with a few fans in the process. Back inside of the ring Dre’s patience is being strained to the point of exhaustion. Finally at a count of nine and when Dre’s distracted conversing with the referee, Holt returns to the ring to get the drop on his opponent. He runs in behind Dre and clobbers him across the back with a double axehandle smash.
The shot in the back of his head has laid Dre out and leaves him exposed to a succession of stomps. Holt just keeps kicking and kicking and kicking more than a Rockette. Finally he takes off into the ropes, ricochets from them and then leaps into an axehandle elbow drop across the back of Dre’s head. Holt speeds along into the ropes, bounces from them and then gets great height behind a knee drop that nails the skull of his adversary.
Sparkles: Holt taking over this match.
Greyson: Dre’s preoccupation with the referee opened the door for Holt.
The aggressive Holt gets a bit flashier at this point, approaching the nearest turnbuckle. Once on the second rope Holt takes a moment to sneer at the audience before he readies to take flight. Sadly his boarding pass is about to be revoked. Dre gets to his feet, steps under Holt and places him in an electric chair drop position. Holt’s jaw drops way before his body does, taking the plunge into the ring amidst cheers from the very crowd he had just been insulting. While Holt is busy wincing in pain Dre is busy swinging himself into a pendulum elbow drop. The move nearly shatters Holt’s sternum, which ends up just as punished as his ribcage.
Dre steps onto the apron then goes flipping over the ropes into a hot shot senton, splashing the abs of his adversary. Andre ends up back on his feet where he takes a moment to point out over the crowd that are ever supportive. Eventually his finger stops gesturing to his fans and settles on the turnbuckle, eliciting an even louder ovation from the fans. Dre hurries along to the corner, scales to the middle rope and sets to take a dive….a figurative one.
Dre is surprised to find Holt stood beneath him, catching him in an electric chair drop position. Although Dre tries to hold onto the top rope to prevent this move from connecting there seems to be little salvation from the grim fate about to befall him. Holt steps back out of the corner carrying Dre on top of his shoulders to the middle of the ring where the electric chair drop was SUPPOSED to be delivered.
Suddenly Dre falls forward instead of back, countering Holt’s move with a victory roll.
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Holt isn’t having any of that, popping his shoulder off the ring.
Greyson: Dre almost surprising Holt with that victory roll.
Frankie: That’s not going to happen to an athlete of Holt’s caliber.
With as much gusto as he can muster Holt returns to his feet and then dashes into his adversary’s waiting arms. Dre catches Holt with a deep and very high impact spinning powerslam. On instinct Dre hooks Holt’s leg.
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Holt puts his palm to Dre’s cheek and then pushes him off the lateral press. He then twists away from Dre and to the outside of the ring.
Greyson: There he goes again.
Frankie: Yep. With a very strategic exit from the ring.
Sparkles: It looks to Sparkles like Holt is running.
Frankie: Holt doesn’t run from anyone, he may walk away very briskly, some might say he even jaunts, but he never runs.
Greyson: Thanks for clarifying that Frankie.
Once outside of the ring Holt puts all his weight against the ring apron, still reeling from the action in the squared circle. Though he’s about to be even more shaken by the action OUTSIDE of that very same squared circle. After getting the crowd fired up Dre runs the length of the ring then goes diving through the ropes into a suicide headbutt. The move connects with Holt’s SHIN!?!
The dive was scouted, Holt leaping from ringside and to the apron while swinging his shin right into Dre’s forehead. The impact knocks Dre back towards the center of the ring and seems to disorientate him. Holt has to strike and do so while a golden opportunity such as this presents itself. He grabs the top rope and goes leaping it only to be smacked in mid-air right under the jaw with an uppercut. Andre was the bait and Holt took the bite only to find himself hooked.
The shot to the chin has knocked Holt right out of the air and sent him plummeting back down to ringside. Amazingly he lands on his feet though much of his balance is achieved by way of leaning on the apron. There’s only so much the apron can do though when Dre is running the length of the ring and then diving into a baseball slide dropkick.
The kick connects with the TARP!?!
Holt grabs the ring tarp and puts it to use by lifting it and trapping Dre’s inbound legs beneath it. Dre falls to his feet across the arena floor while his lower half is tucked under the tarp and his body is being pummeled by forearm after forearm after forearm.
Frankie: Hahahaahaha, this is so turning into the Willie Coyote trying to catch the Roadrunner. It’ll never happen Dre.
Holt keeps beating on Dre before he jumps to the apron and runs into a punt. His kick cracks Dre in the face, the shot laying him out on the ground. He rolls out from under the tarp and leaves himself entirely exposed for Holt’s big leaping double stomp from the apron right into ribs. Dre’s mid-section is destroyed by Holt’s airborne daredevilry.
Greyson: Double stomp obliterating Dre’s ribcage.
Sparkles: Sparkles hopes Dre isn’t an organ donor, because all his organs just got crushed.
Holt returns to the ring ever so briefly to break the referee’s ten count before he goes right back out to get his hands on his wounded prey. Dre finds it difficult to breathe let alone stand as he’s forced to his feet then forced spine first into the barricade. With a shoulder embedded against his already injured ribs Dre is charged along until his kidneys crush the barrier. Holt then snags the back of Dre’s head, runs him at the ring and tosses him right inside.
From the apron Holt leaps to the top rope and then looks out over the crowd, setting to deliver something high risk and something very painful. He leaps the cables, twists in mid-air and lands right on his feet across the canvas before he simply kicks back with his boot and smacks Dre in the temple.
Frankie: Aaahahahahaha-AAAAAH-HAHAHAHAHA!
Greyson: No one will ever accuse Holt of being a classy individual.
The crowd wouldn’t disagree with Lovejoy’s comment. They give Holt a scathing critique of that last move, though their response only seems to amuse the scoundrel. Holt now grabs Dre by the neck, forcing him up into his seat before running into a soccer style kick straight to his opponent’s lower back. The shot has Dre growling and clinching his fists, all the muscles in his face tightening into a fierce stare. The blow to his back seems to have an opposite effect than the one Holt had intended. He stands back in awe at the sight of Andre standing straight up looking more intense than ever. Holt quickly takes him by the head and flips him over into a snapmare before delivering a second kick to Dre’s lower back. This blow only make Dre all the more intense, as he slaps the canvas and jumps right back to his feet. Holt takes him over to his seat once more with another snapmare, followed by another running kick.
This third soccer kick never scores a goal, because Holt’s leg is caught in Dre’s arms. The former Evolution Champion reaches his feet and then swings Holt’s leg away, sending him twisting around into a full circle. Once Holt turns back to Dre a knife edge chop just about cuts all the flesh right off his chest. The chop is hit with so much force that it not only blisters Holt’s skin but takes him down to the ring. Holt rolls back to his feet and then walks into ANOTHER knife edge chop, this one hitting with more resounding force than the strike before it. A stunned Holt stumbles back and falls into the ropes, grabbing at the red streaks left across his sternum.
Another huge blotch is left in Holt’s skin when a third chop nails him in the chest and the force of the blow sends him flipping back over the ropes. On nothing but instinct Holt lands on the apron, grabbing at the middle rope to keep from taking a full plunge to the mats. Dre reaches over the ropes and gets a firm handful of his opponent’s hair, but then gets an eyeful of thumbnail. Holt gouges the eye and the result blinds Dre long enough to open the door for his opponent. Holt returns to the ring and then runs right into the THRILL RIDE. Dre catches Holt with the sky high press slam, which segues way into the pin.
Greyson: The Thrill Ride! And that might just be all she wrote.
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A fraction of a second before the three is when Holt’s shoulder leaps up from the ring to avoid defeat and to do so narrowly.
Frankie: How many times Lovejoy, how many times are you going to undersell Holt’s talents? Every time you do it he makes you look like an idiot.
Greyson: I do give him credit, that took a helluva effort on his part to kick out after the Thrill Ride. But you know what? He’s still a piece of garbage.
Dre has to act and act quick. He already has Holt’s legs in his clutches and is swinging around one of them in order to get the Game Over applied. Even after taking the Thrill Ride there remains a part of Holt that is willing to fight, and that’s all he needs to thwart his opponent’s plans. The moment that Dre turns his back to his adversary, Holt sits up, snatches hold of Andre’s hips and pulls him back into a roll up with the bridge.
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Greyson: Did Holt surprise Dre here?
No he didn’t, because Andre kicks out and drops over to his knees in the process. Holt, who is laid out in front of Dre, now reaches up and takes his opponent around the neck. Holt then bridges himself up from the canvas and looks straight at the turnbuckle. He hustles towards the corner dragging Dre along behind in the three quarters headlock with the ultimate goal being to deliver the shiranui. Holt is about to step up the ropes and flip back but before he can even reach said ropes his headlock is broken. Dre puts his hands to Holt’s back and shoves, sending him flying chest first into the corner. Holt bounces off the turnbuckle and then stumbles along into Dre’s waiting arms. He is spun around, taken by the wrist and now dragged into the short arm spinning powerslam. Dre signals for the Get Got and looks to be right on the verge of hitting it. He pulls Holt into the move only to have his adversary counter at the last second by swinging around under the hand that has hold of his wrist. He turns back towards Dre and then pulls him into a short arm clothesline, one that Dre manages to avoid by tucking his head.
Holt swings past Dre and the momentum of his botched clothesline carries him around into a full circle. He turns to face Dre, who’s boot is about to greet Holt’s chin. The mafia kick BARELY misses Holt, who ducks his head at the last possible moment. Dre quickly turns around, but he doesn’t turn quickly enough, because a diving headbutt is waiting for him and nothing is going to stop it from being unleashed. The headbutt nails Dre in the skull and sends him staggering back, trying his best to maintain his balance, a feat that becomes impossible when Holt’s bicep is hurdling towards his throat.
Dre keeps that clothesline from connecting by way of hitting a stiff mafia kick. The sound of the boot meeting Holt’s jaw echoes throughout the arena and has the young man stumbling back into the ropes. He falls through them only to have his shins catch the top rope, catapulting him back to his feet and straight into a second headbutt. The top of his skull crashes right into Dre’s sternum and this time he goes down to the ring with a potentially fractured collar bone.
Greyson: What a sequence.
Sparkles: Culminating to the use of Holt’s favorite weapon, the headbutt.
And we’re about to see that weapon come to use once again when Holt takes off into the ropes, bounces from them and then lunges into a headbutt. His skull comes down square into the canvas, the canvas where Dre WAS lying. At the last second Dre rolled clear from Holt’s headbutt, resulting in his face smashing against the ring. Holt’s head hits the canvas with so much force that he pops straight back up to his feet, not a position he wants to be in. Dre steps over Holt’s head and hooks both of his arms before leaping into the pedigree.
Dre is about to hit the Game Changer only to find his opponent slipping out of his arms. Holt then spins completely around and delivers a double palm thrust right into Dre’s ribs. This quick shot doubles Dre over and exposes him to the New Dawn Fades. Holt sets to connect with the flip over piledriver, leaving his feet in order to connect. In mid-flip everything goes horribly awry.
Dre turns the New Dawn Fades into a back drop. To the shock of the audience Holt twists around and comes down onto his feet, landing right behind his unsuspecting opponent. He turns towards Dre and connects with Dre’s boot. A thrust kick hits Holt square in the mug and the shot sends him staggering on back into the ropes. Holt falls through them and his shins hit the top rope, catapulting him right back into the ring and right back onto his feet. He lunges from them into the headbutt, one that hits NADDA. Dre leaps just enough to avoid the impact and in the process ends up catching Holt in position for the pedigree.
Greyson: Dre’s got Holt set up for the pedigree again!
Sparkles: He’s gotta do more than set it up, he’s got to hit the damn thing.
Which is easier said than done when combating a man as slippery as Holt. And slip is exactly what he does. He slips right out of Andre’s clutches and then right out of the ring.
Frankie: There we go, there are those veteran instincts kicking in.
Greyson: Holt’s still technically a rookie, Frankie.
Frankie: Exactly!
Greyson: Um, that means what exactly?
Frankie: Precisely.
Greyson: Are you just trying to cover for the fact that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about?
Frankie: Waffles.
Greyson: Now you’re just saying random words to throw us off the fact that you’re full of shit.
Frankie: McMuffin.
An exhausted Holt stumbles around at ringside and then takes one look back at the ring before deciding that he doesn’t like what he sees. While the fans are looking at Andre crouched and waiting for his opponent to come back in the ring, Holt is looking at something entirely different.
Holt: Screw it.
Holt waves off Andre and then takes a jaunt straight up the ramp.
Greyson: Uhhhhh….what’s going on here?
Sparkles: From the looks of it, Holt is leaving.
Frankie: And why should he stay? Andre clearly doesn’t measure up to what Holt considers to be a REAL wrestler.
Greyson: This is so disrespectful.
Holt continues to make his way up the ramp coming to a stop once he’s reached the stage. He spins around but it’s not to return to a ring where an offended Andre has his arms thrown out to his sides in a ‘what gives’ gesture.
Holt: Call me once you’ve learned what being a REAL wrestler is all about.
That’s it. That’s all Holt had left to say. He now feels perfectly fine with his decision, and that decision is to walk out on the match entirely. The bell sounds in the background once the referee has reached the count of ten. Although Andre is the victor he is definitely not embracing the spoils. When the ref goes to raise his arm Andre pulls it out of his clutches.
Greyson: Andre winning via count-out.
Frankie: No, he won because Holt obviously had nothing to prove against him. Besides, Dre has always been sloppy in that ring, who knows if he could have seriously injured Holt.
Greyson: Are you serious?
Frankie: You heard Holt, Andre has to learn what a REAL wrestler is before he’ll step back in that ring with him.
Greyson: You are so full of shit your breath smells like an asshole.
Right now there’s only one asshole in attendance that the arena is vilifying, and that asshole is Ricky Holt.
Andre: Hey pal….
A microphone is in Dre’s hand, hopefully amplifying his voice to the point where his words reach Holt’s ears.
Andre:….you brag about knowing what a real wrestler is? Well if it’s being the biggest pussy in the world then I’ll gladly go on being an amateur.
Fans: OOOOOH.
Frankie: Did Andre just say that? Tell me he didn’t say that.
Sparkles: He went there.
The world is about to learn that if there’s one thing Holt is not it’s a pussy. Even though he’s already been counted out Holt re-emerges from the backstage area and starts walking back towards the ring. He’s pointing to himself while mouthing the words ‘I’m a pussy?’ He then shakes his head and clinches his fists as he gets closer and closer to the ring.
Greyson: Dre said just the right thing to set Holt off.
Frankie: You don’t question Holt’s masculinity.
Once back in the ring Holt gets straight up into Andre’s face. It isn’t long before their exchange of words turns into another exchange of punches. The referee who initially called for the bell to end this match is now signaling for the bell to restart it.
Greyson: Seems we’re back on, the referee agreeing to restart the bout between these two.
Frankie: Oh how Andre is going to regret his slip of the tongue. You don’t call a REAL athlete like Holt a pussy and think you can get away with it.
The barrage of blows between Dre and Holt leads to a clothesline attempt by the former Evolution Champion. Holt ducks the errant strike and then leads with his forehead straight into Dre’s lower back. The shot sends Dre flying into the ropes then ultimately right through them, crashing down to the arena floor. With Dre laid out on the ground Holt stands in the ring high above him with hands clasped around the top rope. He waits for Dre to stand up before clearing the cable and flying straight into a clothesline. The arm crushes Dre’s throat and sends both men plunging hard into the floor.
Greyson: Nasty collision via the clothesline.
Sparkles: Dre really sparked something inside of Holt with his inflammatory comments.
Frankie: And Dre’s paying the price for it, ain’t he?
The clothesline to the throat has Holt and has Dre splayed across the mats side by side. Finally Holt is returning to his feet only to leave them as he climbs the corner post, reaching the highest point imaginable. He then goes tumbling from that height as he forward flips into a senton that sends his body straight PAST Dre and into the ground. In the nick of time Dre side steps Holt, and the result is a bone breaking fall into the floor.
Greyson: The first dive paid dividends, the second didn’t.
Sparkles: Unless you’re Andre.
Greyson: Now look at what Dre is setting up for.
He crouches at the knees and positions himself behind the strained back of Holt, who clasps at the apron in an effort to get his footing. Holt is all bruised up, though he’s about to be even further debilitated when Dre slips in and puts him in position for the Tide Turner. Holt is lifted into the Olympic Slam with the intention of driving his adversary’s back right into the ground. At the last second Holt avoids a match ending blow when he slides from Dre’s shoulders, then comes down to his feet as opposed to onto his back. He lands at Dre’s side then twists him around into a side headlock. Holt gets a burst of speed, taking off towards the apron, leaping into it with his feet then pushing off. He twists around right into the tornado bulldog yet the move fails to crush his intended victim’s face. With a mere moment to spare Dre manages to reverse said bulldog by bringing Holt down onto his feet before forcing him into the air via the Olympic Slam.
Greyson: Tide Turner against the ring mats!
Sparkles: That may have broken the back that already withstood a brutal spill earlier on.
Both Dre and Holt are so racked with pain and so debilitated by it that they are clueless as to the referee’s ten count. He has already reached ‘five,’ and goes on cycling higher and higher, on the verge of disqualifying either athlete. Dre won’t let that happen, dragging his banged up body off the ground and towards the squared circle. He reaches the apron and is about to go past it into the ring where a victory would be a certainty at this point. Right as he’s about to slip through the ropes he finds his ankle caught, and it’s caught on the arms of his opponent. Holt doesn’t just grab Dre, he also drags him from the apron and into a running powerbomb right across the floor. Although Holt was the one who hit the move it looked like it took more out of him than it did his adversary.
Frankie: Their going to feel that in the morning.
Greyson: They’re definitely feeling it right now.
That much is evident given the fact that neither is barely able to move. It’s agonizing, even worse than that actually, for them to move yet they start to crawl, painstakingly crawl towards the ring. The referee is continuing his ten count, verging ever so much closer to disqualifying either athlete. They exert every last bit of energy they’ve got left to hurdle themselves under the ropes. Unfortunately they did so just a moment too late, the referee already announcing ten before either man could fully return to the squared circle.
Greyson: ANOTHER count out?
Sparkles: This time it’s BOTH men counted out at the same time.
Frankie: Just a split second too tardy though.
Holt and Andre argue with the referee but he’s already restarted this match once, he’s not about to do it again. Finally the athletes stop bickering with the ref and start bickering with one another. The two have stopped exchanging punches and are now exchanging insults. It isn’t long before things get a little more physical, Holt shoving Dre back. Dre responds with a push of his own, the force almost taking Holt off of his feet.
Frankie: Neither of these guys are happy with the way this match just concluded.
Greyson: It looks like it was destined for neither man to get a clean cut victory out of this bout.
Sparkles: Yeah, well this match is over but it looks like these two aren’t done.
Greyson: No they aren’t. Holt and Andre aren’t leaving this in the ring.
Judging by the crowd’s reaction they obviously want to see these two men go on tearing one another apart. The two men have a forehead to forehead collision, lightly butting skulls yet not backing down for a second. The two looking fiercer than ever.
Karen: Gentlemen….
Andre and Holt refuse to take their eyes off of one another even as the Principle Owner makes her way to the stage. Finally her words as well as her present company begins to generate the attention of not only the two men in the ring but every fan in attendance. Karen speaks authoritatively and all those amassed behind her are going to make sure that her authority goes unchallenged. There’s an army of security guards as well as a handful of wrestling talents, Samantha Raine and Chance Fortune amongst them.
Greyson: Seems our Principle Owner is out here to prevent this from going any further.
Sparkles: And she brought along the entire National Guard.
Frankie: That’s probably what it takes to get guys like these under control.
Although Karen defused this explosive situation in the ring that doesn’t seem to be her paramount concern.
Karen: Gentlemen-gentlemen-gentlemen, I understand your both very passionate athletes, I respect that, but the bell has rung and this match is over. If you two want another go at each other, that’s dandy, I’ll book a rematch somewhere down the line, but it won’t be tonight.
Dre and Holt are understandably a bit disappointed by this news.
Karen: Because you two are needed elsewhere right now. I’m sure you may have caught wind of the news that Monarchy decided that they needed more spacious accommodations which led them to believe they could just take over the locker-room. As we speak their sitting back there terrorizing any talents that try to get inside and disrespecting everyone’s personal property. Including whatever gear you two men may have sitting back there….
The disappointment exhibited by Dre and Holt transforms into anger. Just the reaction Karen was hoping for.
Karen: So what I’m asking is that the two of you set aside your personal differences and join the rest of us (gestures to Raine, Chance, and everyone else on the stage) in showing Monarchy that they cannot walk all over the talent in this company, and this company itself.
The motivations of the Principle Owner have just become as transparent as glass. Those amassed alongside her on the stage are not security, are not wrestlers, but an army, a force gathered with the sole motivation being to oppose Monarchy. Two more solders have just been recruited, Dre and Holt walking up the ramp to join forces with Karen’s group. A unified front now walks through the curtains, marching towards a battle to reclaim the territory that Monarchy just colonized.
Sparkles: Is Sparkles hearing this correctly, or do I have cotton in my ears again?
Greyson: You ALWAYS have cotton in your ears, Sparkles.
Sparkles: So Karen is getting the roster and security together to reclaim the locker-room….to reclaim it from Monarchy?
Frankie: Doesn’t surprise me at all. McBride has shown a gross incompetence when it comes to keeping her stars happy. Monarchy needed a bigger dressing room.
Greyson: They had no right to take over the locker-room though, Frankie, and I’m glad to see McBride is going to do something to put them in their place.
Frankie: (Sarcastically) Good luck.
If Karen McBride were looking for recruits, she may have wanted to hit up the man currently exercising backstage. The new man on the scene, Matthew Bowden, stretches his legs while at the same time showing off his incredible flexibility. He’s in a backstage corridor with his legs extended out to either side and placed on top of steel folding chairs. He does the splits suspended high above the ground.
Bowden: Did you get the shot?
Bowden asks while looking longingly at the camera.
Cameraman: We did.
Bowden: Thank God. (Reaching for his crotch) I think I ripped something.
It takes some time for Bowden to get down from the chairs he was doing the splits across.
Greyson: It’s already been an action packed show, and it looks like it’s going to get even more exciting when newcomer Matthew Bowden competes in his second IWC match.
Frankie: Oh boy, much like me on a Saturday night with an episode of Cathouse playing in the background, Bowden’s gonna have his hands full.
Sparkles: He takes on Evolution Champion Lexy Chapel coming up after the commercial break.
Greyson: Before we get to that break though, as I understand it our colleague Mark Comeau is standing by with Johnny Kingdom to get his take on what Ricky Holt had to say a few moments before the start of his match.
Just as promised there’s the famed IWC grappler Johnny Kingdom, stood right in the hallway alongside correspondent Mark Comeau. The IWC emblem hangs from the wall behind the backs of either man and is surrounded by a little bit of steel mesh just to make the environment seem just a teensy bit chaotic.
Comeau: Well Kingdom, first and foremost, I gotta ask, how were your holidays?
Kingdom: One word, two syllables, ‘eggnog.’
Comeau: Fair enough.
Kingdom: As much as I enjoy shooting the breeze Mark, can we get to anything that resembles an actual point?
Comeau: Sure can. Your issues with Ricky Holt…..
Kingdom: Issues?
Comeau: Well uh, he did kinda beat the crap out of those rookies you were training.
Kingdom: Before this gets even further blown out of proportions, let me cut you off there. I have NO issue with Ricky Holt. In a lot of ways he actually reminds me of ME. It was only what, eighty, ninety years ago now that I was the obnoxious, albeit charismatic rookie shooting off at the mouth whenever I got the chance. I’m sure you remember that kid who pretty much pissed off anyone with a pulse just to get ahead. So ya know, in a crazy kinda way, I can empathize with Holt, I know where the kid is coming from. But….
Comeau: Yeah?
Kingdom: I know where he’ll be going if he continues to dick around with me.
Comeau: Speaking of which he’s pretty much claimed that you are NOT a real wrestler and furthermore he’s vowed to reveal a REAL wrestler by the end of the night. What’s your take on that?
Kingdom: Yeeeaaah, I’ll keep my eye on the TV tonight. I just hope that Holt doesn’t disappoint me.
Comeau: Errr, that’s gonna be a challenge considering just how high you set those expectations of yours.
Kingdom merely grins before he backs out of the scene.
If only Monarchy knew what was coming for them they might be looking a bit less casual at the moment. The group looks as laid back as Cheech and Chong, just vegging out in various areas of the locker-room. A locker-room that WAS designated for the rest of the IWC roster before being commandeered by Monarchy, by the likes of Ryan Watson, of Lexy Chapel, of Taylor Chase, of Alistair Taylor and so many others. At the moment Lexy is seated in a chair thumbing through the pages of a magazine and kicking her feet up onto the small of a crouching rookie’s back.
Greyson: Look at Monarchy, just look at them.
Frankie: They’re chilling out.
Greyson: They have such a feeling of entitlement, it’s sickening. They actually think they’re entitled to be in that locker-room.
Frankie: Aren’t they?
Greyson: Hell no they’re not. They kicked the rest of the roster out and completely took it over.
Sparkles: Monarchy may have conquered the locker-room but they better be ready to defend it.
Monarchy are definitely about to have their hands full if they think they’re going to keep possession of the locker-room. Headed their way is a contingent determined to send the most dominant group in IWC history packing. Principle Owner Karen McBride stands out front with security, and a handful of IWC grapplers following right along behind her. They march like their on a mission, and that mission is to prove who truly has control over the Riot brand.
Sparkles: Monarchy better be ready. Cause here comes Karen McBride, and the Principle Owner isn’t alone.
Greyson: She’s assembled an army to help her retake the locker-room.
Frankie: Who knew we were going to start off 2016 with all-out war?
Greyson: What’s going to happen when McBride and company reach the locker-room?
Frankie: A friggin massacre, that’s what.
It’s dark outside, very dark, making it hard to see who’s behind the wheel of the busted up Dodge Neon that comes cruising to a stop. The engine finally cuts out once the car stops in a very run down section of New York. This place gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘slum.’ It’s definitely a place that even mapquest wouldn’t dare give you directions to. The car is positioned right in front of what one would assume is an old store. It’s difficult to tell given that it’s defaced with layers of graffiti and where there used to be windows there is now only sheets of corrugated metal.
The car door opens and Dan Douglas steps out. He looks tentative as he studies his surroundings, staring at the ruined and decayed structures around him. He goes stepping towards the graffiti, the metal and the plastic sheeting that hangs where a door used to be. His grip on a talisman is getting tighter as he steps into the powerless building, a perfect dwelling for roaches, rodents, and for other creatures that find sanctuary in the darkness.
Karen: You have exactly ten seconds to gather your belongings and get out of here.
It doesn’t matter how much authority is in Karen McBride’s tone, her orders still go completely ignored by Monarchy. Well, not TOALLY ignored, some members are evidently paying attention, hence why they are looking up at the ceiling and laughing. Taylor Chase seems more amused than anyone, as she leans through Ryan Watson and Orlando Cruze, her forearms draped upon their shoulders and her grin inches removed from the Principle Owner’s face. It doesn’t matter to Tay, to Watson, to Orlando, to any representative of Monarchy, how many members of the roster and how many security guards Karen brought along with her into this confrontation. Though it DOES matter to Samantha Raine, to Andre Jordan, to Chance Fortune and to all those security personnel who presently stand behind the Principle Owner.
Karen: You were fortunate that I even gifted you with your own private dressing room in the first place.
Taylor: A dressing room ten times too small. Seriously, I didn’t even have a place to put all my shoes.
Karen: Your shoes? You’re shoes?
Taylor: Yeah, look (points to a locker that is filled to the very top with high heels and leather boots), Selena Frost’s locker is barely even big enough to hold all of them.
Karen: Awww (raises fingers and starts to rub them together) that’s the world’s smallest violin playing for you, Tay-Tay. Now I’m not going to repeat myself, get your stuff and get out. Otherwise I might have to strip you of your World Title shot at Last Stand. And if that isn’t enough to encourage you all to leave then I’ll just have to….
Orlando: What, love? Try to disrespect us? Try to humiliate us?
Orlando steps from the pack and out from under Tay’s arm that was draped over his shoulder. There is no trepidation shown by the Phenom when it comes to getting right in Karen’s face.
Orlando: You’re going to have your goons here TRY to throw us out like you’ve had that punk right there (points to Andre stood behind Karen) disgrace and besmirch my legacy?
Now it’s Andre forcing his way through Karen’s troops in order to stand out front and center and face to face with Orlando.
Andre: I don’t have to TRY and dishonor your legacy, you do a damn good job of destroying your credibility all on your own.
At first Orlando is irate, steam almost visibly rising from his skin. Oddly enough that rage transforms into a condescending laugh. He turns his head away from Andre but not his palm. A slap nails Andre right across the cheek. The blow stuns Andre, his fingers rising to the red blotch on his cheek. That’s before his knuckles rise to the smile on Orlando’s lips. This punch leads to greater escalation as all hell absolutely breaks out. Karen’s attempts to calm things down is like a bunny trying to reason with a rabid Cujo. There is nothing she can do to prevent Monarchy and those the Principle Owner brought to the locker-room along with her from going at it. The sounds of obscenities and bones cracking under fists fill the space. Every member of Monarchy jump at security and at the roster that they sent packing from the locker-room earlier tonight. Alistair Taylor and the disrespected Samantha Raine are knocking one another silly while Monarchy’s Kat Kelly is trying to fend off Chance Fortune. Naturally Andre and Orlando have their hands on one another’s throats as they spiral through all the bodies that are presently engaged in full scale open warfare.
Martin Howe III: *Sigh*
Although the viewing audience would love nothing more than to stay with the melee in the locker-room, they are forced to deal with the malaise of watching Martin Howe III instead. Though what’s far more unsettling than Howe with an open mic is the presence of his client, Miss Jon. The mass of raw rage towers over her agent as he serves as her verbal conduit.
Sparkles: Seriously? We’re cutting to Martin Howe III and Miss Jon when all hell has just broken out in the locker-room?
Greyson: Given the fact that these two are out here it’s a very real possibility that all hell may be about to break lose in the ring too.
Frankie: Never can predict what Fat Albert will do when her blood sugar starts to dip.
Greyson: We’ve got Monarchy and Karen McBride’s troops brawling in the locker-room, and now who knows what this highly unstable Miss Jon is going to do.
Sparkles: She’s just as dangerous physically in that ring as her agent Howe is verbally on that microphone.
We’re about to find out just how proficient Howe is when it comes to mincing his words. He looks rather sullen, head hung and shoulders slouched, unable to bring his eyes up from the canvas beneath his dress shoes.
Howe: You’re probably wondering why I look like I just attended my grandmother’s funeral?
That’s only one quandary on the minds of the fans. They’re also wondering what Miss Jon intends to do with those huge clinched fists tensely lowered to her sides.
Howe: I may not have been to a funeral, but chances are I’ll be heading to one before this night is over. Because, see it’s no easy feat when it comes to controlling my client.
Miss Jon snarls at the thought of being ‘controlled’ by anyone, even Howe, the one person on the planet who can claim to truly understanding her pathos.
Howe: And it becomes harder and harder and harder to keep Miss Jon in line when the forces that be here in the IWC insist on prodding her like she were a bear in a cage. There’s just one problem though, there are no bars on this planet that are strong enough to contain the sheer rage that she WILL unleash. And that rage has been building for weeks, ever since your (points at the crowd) beloved World Champion ran from a fight with my client. Ever since the Evolution Title match she was promised was changed to a triple threat because they thought my client didn’t have the necessary sex appeal to sell the match. Ask yourselves how angry you would be if any of those outrages were visited upon you, and then triple the fury you feel and you’ll know precisely how my client feels at the moment. And maybe, just maybe you’ll start to appreciate the strain I’ve been under trying to keep her from releasing that rage.
Miss Jon twists her head and looks to her side with her soulless and intimidating eyes.
Howe: I’ve tried to calm her down, but I’m tired, look at the baggage beneath my eyes. I’m friggin exhausted! I’m fighting an uphill battle that I can’t win when the IWC keeps doing everything in its power to infuriate my client. I’m at the point of wiping my hands clean. Of absolving myself of any culpability. I’m at the point of saying ‘hey, I won’t feel guilty when the bars go crumbling down and Miss Jon breaks lose to maul and mangle anything that isn’t quick or smart enough to get out of her way.’
Oh how Miss Jon loves the sound of that.
Howe: And when it happens, don’t come blaming me, don’t come blaming my client, blame the IWC. They could have prevented it. Oh yes, all they had to do was give her a fair shot at the Evolution Title, and cater to her desire for a World Title shot. But no-no-no, instead they want to push BEAUTY instead of talent. They want sex over substance. They crave attractiveness over aptitude. And if their priorities are so misaligned Miss Jon will take great pleasure in setting them straight. One beautiful face after another will be crushed by my client’s hand.
He points towards the fist that Miss Jon has balled up and rising slowly to chest level.
Howe: Every women who got to where they are based on their looks rather than their talents, will never again be able to grace magazine covers….actually, you know what, their faces will never again be permitted in public. One so called ‘athlete’ after another, one ‘woman’ after another, will be horribly disfigured by the Destroyer of Beauty. Women like Samantha Raine, who thinks her surgical enhancements make her worthy to stand in the same ring with my client. Women like Katelyn Buehler, who thinks just because she can wear a push up bra it entitles her to title gold. Women like Lexy Chapel who was pushed into my client’s Evolution Championship match on the basis that her ass looks oh so fine in spandex. All of them, all of these PLASTIC beauties will be obliterated one after another until the IWC realizes that talent is more important than tits.
Howe takes a second to put a hand on the huge shoulder of Miss Jon.
Howe: You don’t want that to happen IWC, you don’t want to see Miss Jon set loose. So compromise with me. Work with me HERE! If you help me I’ll help you. If your listening Karen McBride, and I pray you are, here’s what I’m suggesting. You give Miss Jon the title matches she’s earned and in response to these showings of good faith, I’ll keep my client from ravaging every single pretty face that should happen to cross her pat….
Martin Howe III has a lot more to say but doesn’t have any more time to say it. The focus of each and every fan strays from Howe’s words and to the stage where one giant fight has just spilled over. The locker-room brawl between Monarchy and the IWC roster has spilled over from the back to the set. The world is glued to the fists that Taylor Chase swings upside the cheek of a security guard. The fans are mesmerized by the blows that Ryan Watson exchanges with Chance Fortune. The crowd is unable to turn away from the jabs that Trinity Street is throwing upside the chin of Samantha Raine, and vice versa.
Greyson: Guys! The war between the IWC and Monarchy is coming right out here in front of us.
Frankie: Well Sparkles, you wanted to see what was going to happen, now you’re getting your chance.
Sparkles: Sparkles wanted to see the brawl, but I didn’t want to be part of it.
Punches and kicks are just flying everywhere and hitting everything. Presently there are only two people in the ring who are not engaged in battle, Miss Jon and Martin Howe III for once aren’t causing the chaos, they’re just standing back watching it. Said chaos is getting closer and closer to the ring, security launching punches into the body of Lexy Chapel, who not only fights back but fights them off. She sends two guards flying after smashing them upside their jaws with right hands. She finds it a lot more difficult to deal with Samantha Raine with such ease. Raine runs in and nails Lexy right in the kisser with a forearm strike, a shot so powerful that it sends her unconsciously rolling into the squared circle.
At the exact same time at ringside Ryan Watson has dropped Chance Fortune via a bionic elbow to the top of his head. There’s a lot of action to keep track of, the eyes of the fans forced to be in multiple places at the same time. They settle on the stage though where Taylor Chase is tussling with three security guards, having great difficulty fending them off. Eventually they manage to get hold of her arms and begin forcing her back through the curtains, dragging the First Lady of Professional Wrestling into the guerilla position. As Tay is forced to make her exit, Principle Owner Karen McBride makes her entrance. She steps through the very curtains that Tay just got pushed into. Much like the fans Karen has trouble figuring out where to put her eyes, given all the chaos that is going on around her.
Frankie: There’s the woman who caused all of this! Shame on you, Karen McBride. You should be disgusted with yourself.
Greyson: She should be proud of herself for not allowing Monarchy to walk all over her and walk all over the IWC.
Sparkles: Unlike previous Principle Owners who shall not be named, McBride puts her foot down when it comes to Monarchy.
Frankie: Monarchy are the victims here, they were just minding their own business in the back before they were attacked without warning by…
Greyson: They took over the locker-room and disrespected the roster. They were NOT minding their own business, Frankie.
Karen descends down the ramp, stopping once or twice to rally the security guards, who are finally managing to get hold of the Monarchy members. They don’t have a hold of Lexy Chapel though, who is in the ring fighting it out with a member of the very same IWC locker-room that she and the rest of her group just disrespected. Raine swings some hard rights upside Lexy’s face, hitting her with enough force to knock the Evolution and Tag Team Champion back into the turnbuckle. Lexy trips over her own feet and falls to her seat. She continues to sit up even as her face is crushed by one punishing punch after another. Raine really lets loose, understandably feeling irate after the way Monarchy kicked her out of the locker-room earlier tonight. It looks like Lexy’s face is going to be the proper outlet for all of Raine’s frustrations, jabbing it again and again and again. Raine could keep this up all night long IF Miss Jon hadn’t decided to get in on all the fun. She no longer stands idle in the middle of the ring, stomping up right behind Raine and yanking back on her hair.
Greyson: Samantha Raine so obsessed with beating down Lexy Chapel that she totally forgot that Miss Jon was in the ring.
Sparkles: And the issues between Miss Jon and Raine go back months now.
Frankie: Raine with a typical dumb blond mistake. Maybe the last dumb blond mistake she’ll ever make.
Miss Jon damn near tears Raine’s head off of her shoulders with the force of the yank she gives the long blond hair on top of her head. Jon only lets go of the golden locks in order to try and make them red when she spins around and nails a back fist right to the back of Raine’s skull. The blow cripples Raine instantly, dropping her flat on her face. If she thinks being unconscious is going to prevent any further punishment than she’s DEAD wrong. Miss Jon is looking to finish her off permanently, reaching down to wrap her huge hands around her rival’s neck. That’s not going to happen if the Principle Owner has any say. Karen McBride has had enough of this and she’s not about to let it go any further. She enters the ring and rushes in behind Jon, shouting warnings at the woman who makes Leatherface cower under his bedsheets.
Greyson: McBride has lost total control over this situation and now she’s desperately trying to….AHHHH!
Karen takes Jon by the shoulder in order to get her attention, however the Principle Owner gets a lot more than the monster’s focus. Jon gives her a fist right in the mouth. On instinct Miss Jon swings around and bashes McBride in the lips with the back fist. The blow leaves Karen in the exact same condition it left Raine, lying motionless on the canvas with a fat lip.
Sparkles: Oh my God! OH MY GOD!!
Greyson: Miss Jon just-just-just laid out our Principle Owner!
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think Miss Jon realizes it was Karen that….
Frankie: Well Frankie KNOWS that Miss Jon doesn’t care.
Miss Jon might not show one iota of remorse for knocking out the Principle Owner, but Martin Howe III does. The agent stands back with his hands on top of his head and his jaw hung all the way down to his pudgy stomach. He cannot believe what he’s seeing, his client’s fist demolishing the face of her boss.
Greyson: Look at Howe, even HE’S stunned by this.
Sparkles: He realizes that Miss Jon might have just committed career suicide.
Frankie: So much for Miss Jon getting those title shots Howe was bitching about her not getting earlier.
Instead of expressing anything that resembles concern for McBride, Miss Jon moves in to finish her off. That’s when Howe intervenes, realizing that this has gone too far. He gets between his client and the unconscious McBride, holding the beast at bay.
Frankie: If anyone was going to lay McBride out I thought it at least be a member of Monarchy, not Miss Jon.
Greyson: Much like the rest of us, Karen was totally caught off guard.
Sparkles: Even Miss Jon was caught off guard by that.
Usually where there’s chaos there’s New Eden, but to everyone’s surprise the group remains in the back rather than joining in on all this fun. Cassidy Haze is seated on the floor in the hallway, and the back of her head is repeatedly swinging back with one thud after another against the wall. With each bounce of her brain against the plaster she smiles wider and wider.
Cindy: Are you worried my dear?
States Cassidy’s Queen, the leader of New Eden, Cindy Todd. She steps into view and slouches to the side of her follower. On the other end of Cassidy we can see her teammate Serenity leaning against the very wall that has withstood a number of impacts from Haze’s head.
Cindy: You should be.
Cassidy: But I….
Cindy: What? Defeated the World Champion? You think that’s what we wanted? No. It’s just as you told Katelyn the moment before your match began.
Cassidy: I was supposed to destroy her.
Cindy: Did you?
Cassidy: No.
Cindy: I take it you’re familiar with how I deal with my own when they’ve failed me?
The always foreboding Cindy looks up towards Serenity and instructs her without speaking so much as a word. With a grin Serenity turns her back to Cassidy and pulls up the t-shirt she’s wearing to reveal the scars across her lower back, gashes left in her flesh as a result of a punishment dished out by Cindy Todd for her loss of the World Championship.
Cassidy: Do I get pretty scars of my own?
The back of Cindy’s knuckles gently caress Cassidy’s cheek.
Cindy: Did you bring it, my Princess?
Although Cindy’s eyes are on Cassidy, her words are directed at Serenity.
Serenity: I never leave home without it.
She steps out of view for only a moment then returns a moment later holding a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire.
Serenity: I think it’s time for a proper initiation.
Cindy: Once it’s done you’ll thank me. Like sweet Serenity thanked me.
Cassidy: Like Mika thanked you?
Cindy should be bitter to hear the name of the one who got away, but she isn’t. Her expression nor the tone of her voice never changes.
Cindy: Mika was misguided, she was seduced, but believe me, she WILL thank me. Her time is coming, but your time is NOW.
All of the pretty hair on top of the head of Emily Cage threatens to end up in clumps within the palms of her hands. The younger sister of Cassidy Haze is pacing through a backstage corridor, one that has walls plastered with missing person fliers. Emily’s eyes study all of the papers featuring her sister Cassidy, who had been missing for months prior to the reveal that she had not only been abducted but brainwashed by New Eden. In that moment Emily loses all of her senses, reaching out, grabbing the fliers and tearing them away from the wall. Her teary eyes look down into the fliers that are now crumbled up in her fingers.
Greyson: Emily Cage is not taking the news very well that her sister Cassidy is now associated with New Eden.
Frankie: Associated? She’s buried neck deep in what Cindy Todd has been shoveling.
Sparkles: The darkness has taken hold of Cassidy and it looks like rage is taking hold of Emily.
Greyson: She searched for her sister for months, and I don’t think she liked what she found.
Frankie: Is she gonna do something about it? Or is she just going to stand there crying like a bitch?
Taylor: Who touched my ass? Seriously? WHO TOUCHED MY ASS!?!
Taylor Chase doesn’t get an answer, instead she gets another shove. It’s taken three security guards to wrangle hold of the former three time World Champion. Although they have a firm grasp on her arms she still squirms and struggles, harboring the belief that she can break free. The guards who grabbed her during the scuffle with her fellow Monarchy members will not release Taylor until they have successfully gotten her to the exit.
Taylor: You pervs better not do what you’re thinking about doing.
Tay recognizes that her body is being forced towards the door marked exit at the end of the hallway.
Taylor: Don’t you realize that without me you idiots can’t afford that expensive orthodontic work your ugly kids need. All those people out there who paid for their tickets are here because of me. You only get your checks cause I’m Miss Must See, cause I’m the First Lady of Professional Wrestling, because I’m the seat filler and merch pusher!
Guard: And you’re also…LEAVING.
They’re almost to the door now and Tay is seconds from being shoved through it.
Taylor: You think that’s real cute huh? Well you won’t think it’s very cute when your son can’t get a date to the prom because his overbite makes him look like a reject from Deliverance.
Tay is not helping her case whatsoever, actually every time she opens her mouth it motivates the guards to push her a little harder and a little quicker towards the exit. They are just about to be free of the arrogant Tay-Tay but in the eleventh hour, just inches removed from the exit, divine intervention saves the former three time World Champion. Actually the intervention is anything but divine and is completely demonic.
A steel chair comes swinging out from behind the camera that was following this whole scene and the weapon bends the spine of the security guard it just connected with. Another of the guards spins around when seeing his buddy take a fall to the floor. The moment he turns he finds his head crushed under steel, the recipient of another chair shot. The third guard doesn’t fare any better, his ribs obliterated by the edge of the weapon and then his upper back potentially broken via another blow from the steel.
Once all three guards have been dropped to the floor Tay tentatively begins to turn around. She half expects to find herself in the same condition as the men laying at her feet. She doesn’t get a chair shot but what she does receive is a blow to her mind. Her eyes have gone as wide as a deer caught in headlights when seeing her adoptive sister Mika Kozlov standing right in front of her. The warped chair falls from the hands of a woman who has had quite the estranged relationship with Tay.
Taylor: Wh-wh-why?
Instead of answering this question Mika merely backs up with a playful smile on her face. She uses only her pinky finger to wave goodbye to a stunned, startled and confused Tay.
Back in the ring things haven’t gotten any calmer.
Outrage. Pure outrage. It’s all that Lexy Chapel is capable of expressing at the moment. She is downright fuming after what happened moments ago. You better believe she does not shy away from expressing her anger, shouting into the microphone in one of her hands. Her Evolution Title hangs from her opposite palm, and she is squeezing the belt so tight she might just crack the big gold plate.
Lexy: Karen McBride! You just got off lucky!
Lexy references the spinning back fist that Karen McBride found herself on the receiving end of before the commercial break. A blow delivered by the now absent Miss Jon.
Lexy: After the way you abused your power as Principle Owner by letting your security guards and your roster grope me, and molest Monarchy, you should be dragged out into the street and shot straight tin your uggo face.
Greyson: Lexy Chapel is IRATE over what happened right before the commercial break.
Sparkles: She and the rest of Monarchy were in a war with Karen McBride and her forces.
Frankie: Karen decided to start a pissing contest she couldn’t finish.
Greyson: It resulted in Miss Jon of all people, someone who has no association with Monarchy, laying Karen out with the spinning back fist.
Frankie: But more importantly, Lexy was violated by security and by Samantha Raine. She has every right to be furious!
The red hot Lexy is almost so angry she’s trembling as she shouts into the microphone.
Lexy: Karen, you have absolutely no idea how to properly treat your talent…..
Frankie: THANK YOU…I said the exact same….
Greyson: Stop kissing ass.
Frankie: If only Lexy would let me.
Lexy: Look at me, just look….at….me. I’m like your hottest attraction. I’m the Evolution Champion. I’m a Tag Team Champion. I’m the FUTURE of this industry and soon very soon the present World Champ. I’m going to win the 2016 Last Stand Rumble, I’m going to headline Invictus, and on that night I’ll be taking the World Title from whatever mother-fucker tries to keep it from me. So you know what that means? It means you do everything in your power to keep a smile on my face. You don’t dick around with a headliner like me, nor do you fuck with my mates. Let this be the last warning to you, Karen McBride, you might be the Principle Owner of the IWC, but you keep meddling in my business, in Monarchy business, then you won’t have a company left to ru…..
Much to the total SHOCK of the duel champion the tunes of Matthew Bowden’s theme music suddenly cut her off right in the midst of her tirade. Her eyes are squinted and her pupils are fixed on the face of the newcomer who has turned more than just her head. Bowden comes to the stage and hot damn is this indy darling getting a reception from the fans.
Frankie: What in the Sam HEEL does this guy think he’s doing? Who is he to interrupt the great and all powerful Lexy Chapel?
Sparkles: That’s Matthew Bowden, he debuted back at the End of the Year Special with a major win as part of a three way match.
Frankie: So now he’s got a big head and he thinks he can interrupt Lexy?
Sparkles: From what Sparkles understands, Bowden started off with a huge head already.
Greyson: Bowden is trying to fast track his way to success here in the IWC, and he may just achieve it should he win matches against the likes of Lexy.
Frankie: This punk should be damn grateful that Lexy would even agree to face him tonight, and now he’s interrupting her? For shame!
Bowden doesn’t just interrupt Lexy’s spiel, he openly addresses her with a microphone in his hand.
Bowden: Pardon me….
Lexy: Whoa-whoa-WHOOOOA (swiping arms through the air), who do you think you are?
A smile graces Bowden’s face as he stops on the mid-point of the ramp that he traverses.
Bowden: I was actually going to introduce myself before you interrupted me. Although you, are probably the only person in this entire arena who doesn’t already know my name, and know why my name is spreading like wild fire in a California forest. That name is Matthew Bowden. But want to know what people will be calling me after tonight?
An outraged Lexy is just shrugging her shoulders to her ear lobes and outstretching her open palms, her body language reading ‘who gives a shit.’
Bowden: They’ll be calling me the NEXT Evolution Champion!
This young man says few words because his actions are about to speak volumes. The mic in his hand is flung aside and his body is racing along into the ring.
Greyson: We knew Bowden and Chapel were set to go at it tonight but it looks like Bowden is striking while the iron is hot.
Frankie: For shame….for shame.
Sparkles: Bowden versus Lexy kicking off white hot.
MATTHEW BOWDEN VS. LEXY CHAPEL
Bowden is a bold young man and with the crowd in his back pocket he goes right after a woman who considers herself not only the future but the present of the IWC. As Bowden’s fist hurdles towards her face Lexy gets an arm up to protect herself. She blocks his shot and then responds with a back elbow right to Bowden’s face. However, he’s just as quick as his opponent, nimbly ducking the blow to his skull and then racing along into the ropes behind her. After springing off the middle rope Bowden goes flying back into an elbow that nails the Evolution Champion square upside her jaw.
The impact has sent Lexy to the ground and then out of the ring. She falls to all fours and clasps at his her chin, but soon she’ll be pawing at her whole body. When looking up towards the ring she sees Bowden flipping out of it. He runs into a set of ropes, springs from the middle one and then back flips over the perpendicular cables with a moonsault. He crashes right upside Lexy’s shoulder, putting her right back down on her rear-end. After hitting this high flying maneuver and giving the fans just another example of his devil may cry demeanor, Bowden runs along to the barricade, jumps it and then high fives the fans.
Bowden is actually running laps through the stands, slapping every hand extended out in his direction.
Frankie: Who does Bowden think he is? Cal Ripken Junior? He’s not entitled to running victory laps.
Greyson: This guy has got the crowd all jacked up.
Sparkles: Some might have gotten the early impression that he’s a bit of a braggart, but he’s got these people out of their seats and eating right out of the palm of his hand.
Eventually Bowden finds himself navigating his way through the sea of humanity as he runs back towards the very barricade he initially leaped over. He lunges right back onto it and then precariously walks across it before diving off the edge into a big flying clothesline that crushes a recovered Lexy’s throat. Once again the duel champion finds herself in an unfamiliar position, flat on her back.
Bowden gathers her up and puts her in the ring before following his adversary. Even more of his athleticism is about to be put on display as he jumps onto the top rope and then readies himself for a big crash into Lexy. There he goes, throwing himself out of the corner but failing to toss himself into Lexy. She narrowly avoids a collision by tucking into a forward roll, going right under Bowden, who tucks into a roll of his own. All that rolling ends when Bowden reaches the turnbuckle then leaps straight up onto it. He seamlessly leaps to the middle cable, springs off of it and then twists into another dive at his opponent, one that carries him right into his opponent’s boots. Lexy manages to knock her opponent out of the air with a dropkick that puts him flat on his back and knocks every bit of air out of his lungs.
Frankie: Oooooh snap, crackle and pop. Bowden’s ribs just turned into Rice Krisipies.
Greyson: A dropkick catching him in the ribs while he was airborne.
Sparkles: He’ll be coughing up a lung tomorrow morning.
Right now Bowden is about to cough up some blood and Lexy is like a shark drawn to it. She runs along into the ropes beside her laid out opponent, bounces off of them and then does a cartwheel across the canvas before backflipping out of it into the moonsault. She crashes down across Bowden’s already injured mid-section and then proceeds to start clobbering it with elbows and punches. Now she sits Bowden up, gets behind him and places him in a seated abdominal stretch. It’s not the submission she’s really going after, it’s her opponent’s exposed mid-section. She takes her knuckle and just starts to grind it between Bowden’s ribs, causing him to shudder in pain. Lexy then breaks her hold, takes her adversary’s hair and gives it a yank, flinging him down by the back of his head into the canvas. She then throws her own head directly into Bowden’s ribs. After that nasty headbutt Lexy has something even nastier in store of her opponent, she rolls back from Bowden and through the ropes to the apron. She then leaps to the top rope with her legs folded and her knees coming down on the cable, causing her to be flipped forward into a senton that nails her opponent. She comes down spine first straight into Bowden’s raised knees.
Lexy bounces off the knees, falls to her seat and cringes from the pain. Though in a minute she’ll be cringing from a loss. Bowden rolls her up from behind with a cruicifix pin.
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It looks like the newcomer Bowden is about to score himself a major pin, but Lexy thinks she’s suffered enough for one night, hence why her shoulder is escaping the canvas. She falls over to her elbows and knees while Bowden is latching onto her arms. He has her in a butterfly lock, doubling her over so that her face is exposed to the knees he launches up into her lovely mug. If he keeps hitting these knee strikes her face may not be as easy on the eyes.
The butterfly hold Bowden’s got Lexy trapped in is employed to lift her into the air and sit her on the top rope. He then turns his back on Lexy and takes her around the neck, looking to drag her off the corner with the intention of ultimately hitting her with a running cutter. He pulls Lexy out of the corner but it’s not into a diamond cutter. This fate is avoided by way of the sleeper Lexy counters into. For good measure she also wraps her legs around Bowden’s waist and squeezes tighter than Xenia Onatopp.
Frankie: Squeeeeeze Lexy, squeeeeeeeze!
Greyson: Body vice sleeper combo locked in on Bowden.
Sparkles: And this will just drain the energy out of this man who considers himself to be in the same boat as Lexy, the FUTURE of this organization.
Frankie: He’s about to be a thing of the past. Just SQUUUUUUEEEZE Lexy.
That’s just what she’s doing, though it doesn’t look like she’s squeezing nearly tight enough. Bowden keeps his footing, supports Lexy’s weight as she hangs from his neck and then steps back, ultimately driving her right into the turnbuckle. Lexy is forced to break the sleeper and the body vice, falling against the corner for support. Bowden keeps his back pressed to Lexy’s chest and then it’s her elbows that press against either of her temples. He hits back elbows across either side of Lexy’s skull before placing her in a three quarters headlock and then lifting her up onto the turnbuckle. Bowden prepares to hit that running cutter out of the corner yet again only to find his maneuver countered once more. This time Lexy leaps off the middle rope, over Bowden’s head and then wraps her legs around his head. A leg scissors sends Bowden flipping over and crashing hard across his back.
Stunningly Bowden ends up on his feet and ends up ricocheting off the ropes. He comes charging back at Lexy, who leaps into the air for a hurricarana this time. She catches Bowden only to realize that she was the one who got caught, finding herself on the receiving end of the sit-out powerbomb. Bowden then leans forward with his shoulders pressed to the creases of Lexy’s knees, putting her in a seated pin.
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Lexy rolls her shoulder off the ring while her face wears a totally shocked expression.
Greyson: Yet again Bowden almost caught Lexy there.
Sparkles: This guy is impressing the hell out of Sparkles.
Greyson: And he’s surprising the hell out of Lexy.
A disappointed Bowden is back on his feet and is nearing the corner. He slaps the top turnbuckle pad as if to signal that he’s about to come flying right off of it. He leaps to the top rope, catches his balance and then prepares to flip over backwards straight into the moonsault. He never gets that opportunity, because Lexy is running in behind him, putting hands to the back of his thighs and giving him a shove. Bowden is sent flying off the corner, only he turns in mid-air and lands on the apron, catching the top rope in order to get his balance. He then leaps into the air with his shin flying over the top rope, looking to hit a modified enzugari on his adversary’s face. But Lexy’s just as quick as she is deadly. She drops down into a baseball slide under Bowden’s leg and under the ropes he stands on the opposite side of. She lands on her feet beneath Bowden then grabs him by the ankle, tearing his legs right out from under him. As a result Bowden’s face comes plummeting down right into the ring apron. His skull ricochets off the hardest section of the ring and his body goes staggering back into the Russian Leg Sweep. Lexy drives Bowden’s kidneys into the barricade, guaranteeing that he’ll be taking a trip to the nearest chiropractor before the night is over.
Greyson: Lexy took the advantage.
Sparkles: True, but Bowden has made it difficult for her to maintain it.
Frankie: Bowden should be disciplined just like every member of the roster who put their hands on Lexy before this match started.
Lexy is about to punish Bowden in her own unique, no, her own BRUTAL way. She climbs into the ring, scales the turnbuckle and waits for him to use what energy he hasn’t already spent in order to get back to his feet. The moment Bowden stands he finds himself on the receiving end of a frog style crossbody by Lexy. She gets tremendous height before ultimately coming down right into Bowden’s chest, driving him to the floor.
Frankie: BEAUTIFUL!
Greyson: Did you notice how the back of Bowden’s head caught against the barricade too?
Sparkles: That’s going to leave a big old goose egg on Bowden’s noggin.
That swollen mass on Bowden’s head is only about to get worse. Once he’s rolled into the ring, laid out on his stomach, the back of his head is hit with an elbow drop. Lexy puts the point of her arm straight into Bowden’s skull. She keeps that elbow buried in the back of Bowden’s cranium and now begins to grind it back and forth. The elbow stops colliding with the knot and now Lexy starts disrespecting her opponent through open hand slaps across his skull.
Much to the disgust of the fans Lexy wedges one of her feet right in the back of her opponent’s head and just stands on at this point. All the while she holds one hand over her heart and the other palm is lifted towards the heavens.
Lexy: We are Monarchy and we RULE…..bitches.
Lexy steps off the back of her adversary’s head and now runs at the corner, moonsaulting from the middle rope. She ends up crashing right into her opponent’s head, hitting that ever expanding knot. Lexy looks ready to make it burst when she runs into the corner, steps up to the top rope and goes flipping back into another moonsault. A moonsasult that hits THE RING. At the last possible second Bowden rolls clear from Lexy’s path, avoiding another costly collision to his skull. Instead Lexy’s the one who takes all the punishment, her body hitting the ring with such force that she is sent popping back up to her feet. She doesn’t stay up for long though since Bowden is leaping off the middle rope and dropping a double axehandle right across her brow.
The knock on the noggin keeps Lexy down for just a moment, the duel champion hurrying to get back to her feet. Of course the moment she does stand there’s Bowden to knock her back down again. He hits the step up enzugari…no….he MISSES the step up enzugari, his boot flying right past Lexy’s ducked head. He lands flat on his face while his adversary runs past him and into the nearest corner. Lexy turns around when reaching the turnbuckle she WAS going to fly off of. Bowden has followed her into the corner and now hits a step up enzugari right into the back of her head. The shot has Lexy all disorientated, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
A running big boot unleashed by Bowden will certainly close Lexy’s eyes for good. While Lexy is still standing prone in the corner, Bowden runs the length of the ring and smashes her in the face with a big yakuza kick. The shot nails Lexy in the forehead, scattering her brain and taking her feet right out from under her. Lexy goes rolling away from the corner and ends up right in the center of the ring, not the best place in the world to be. Bowden has her exactly where he wants her, jumping to the top and readying to make a dive that will certainly legitimize his claim about being a future champion in this industry. His designs of course are on one title at the moment, the Evolution Title in Lexy’s possession.
Greyson: Bowden about to make a huge splash, in more ways than one.
Sparkles: He comes off that rope and collides with Lexy then it might be over, Bowden might hold a singles win over the double champion.
Frankie: That’s not gonna happen, that can’t happen!
Bowden takes only a moment to get his footing on the top rope with the intent of dazzling the fans and destroying his opponent. He makes the fatal leap, but it’s not done of his own volition. A hand presses to his backside and gives him a hard shove, sending Bowden flying into the ring. That hand belonged to Monarchy member Ryan Watson. And that shove sent Bowden sailing from the top rope, not only into the ring but into Lexy’s superkick. The flustered crowd throw their hands up in the air at the sight of Bowden’s jaw being crushed by the kick and his body going limp as a noodle.
Sparkles: Where did Watson just come from?
Greyson: Monarchy’s Ryan Watson from out of nowhere, just jumped to the apron and shoved Bowden into a damned superkick!
Frankie: The ref never saw it, meaning it never happened.
Greyson: What kind of bullshit logic is….
Frankie: HUSH NOW!
The impact from the kick has put Bowden out and Lexy, who was distracting the official, makes the cover. She grabs Bowden’s legs and flips forward into the jackknife cover. The referee makes the count, not even catching the slightest whiff of Watson, who is crouching down at ringside so as to go unnoticed.
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There’s quite the cacophony from the audience when Lexy manages to keep Bowden’s shoulders down for the three.
Greyson: Bowden looked like he was closing in on the win….
Frankie: But it didn’t happen. Did it, did it, did it?
Greyson: No, because as unfortunate as it is, Monarchy always have one another’s backs.
Sparkles: And their numbers just proved invaluable in costing Bowden this win.
Lexy may have won this match but she’s not in the most celebratory of moods. After everything that went down to proceed this bout she’s not remaining in the ring to preen and posture for the crowd. Instead Lexy is rolling away from the squared circle and towards the announce table.
Frankie: Oh baby, come to Frankie.
Greyson: Lexy headed our way. And lord knows that’s just what we need to hear now, her bragging.
Lexy grabs a spare headset off the announce table and slides it over her ears.
Lexy: Send your best at us, McBride, in fact, send everyone you got at me in the Rumble, and I’m going to throw them all out. In six weeks one body after another is going over the top rope and nothing is stopping me from going to Invictus.
The headset is flung down to the announce table and a winded Lexy gathers up her title belts. Finally she vacates the ringside area taking deep and deliberate breaths. Meanwhile inside of the squared circle Bowden is recovering from the super-kick that he never thought he’d be on the receiving end of. He rolls into the ropes and props himself against them, rubbing at a jaw that was nearly cracked by that kick. He didn’t anticipate the blow that ended the match, nor could he suspect what comes next. Ryan Watson, the very same man who just cost him this bout, rolls into the ring and audaciously extends his hand.
Greyson: If this is a joke, I’m not laughing.
Sparkles: Watson is actually looking to shake hands with Bowden?
Frankie: What a good sportsman.
Greyson: What a piece of dirt. He cost Bowden this match and now he actually thinks he’s going to get a handshake?
The insincere offer continues to be made, Watson keeping his hand out looking to have the gesture reciprocated. Bowden slowly gets back to his feet with his hand to his chin and his eyes glued to the palm being offered to him. At last Bowden extends his own hand, not into a shake, but into a slap. He blasts Watson right across the cheek.
Frankie: That lil bastard!
Greyson: Watson getting exactly what he had coming.
Ryan grabs at his cheek before trying to grab at Bowden, dashing at the young star but failing to get a hand on him. Bowden has rolled out of the ring and backed away from it still clutching at his jaw and giving a fuming Watson a good ole’ fashion mean-muggin.
Frankie: Do none of the talents around here have any respect for Monarchy whatsoever?
Greyson: Respect is a two way street, to get it you have to give it.
Sparkles: And all Ryan Watson just got was a slap in the face.
Ryan Watson actually got off easy compared to the woman backstage who is cupping her possibly fractured jaw in her hand. Principle Owner Karen McBride is still suffering the effects of that spinning back fist unleashed by Miss Jon earlier in the night. She crouches over a black steel barrel in some corridor, tending to her wound and trying her best to work around it.
Frankie: There’s the woman who’s stirred up and caused so much shit tonight.
Greyson: Stirred up shit? I think not. Karen has done everything in her power to try and put Monarchy’s shit to rest.
Sparkles: And she paid the ultimate price for it when she got crushed in the face with the spinning back fist by Miss Jon of all people.
Greyson: It was unclear rather Miss Jon was aware it was Karen McBride she was striking in the middle of that melee we saw earlier on this evening.
Sparkles: One thing that IS clear is that Miss Jon doesn’t give a crap who it was she hit.
Cut to the boiler-room.
Howe: I’m afraid things have just gotten a lot more….complicated.
Confesses Martin Howe III as he stands beside the savage he has cultivated into a monster. His client Miss Jon has taken a seat on the ground, her knees folded up to her chest. In one hand she holds a plastic doll, in the other a lighter. Giggles of laughter ooze from this brute as she watches the toy melt into a puddle that dribbles across the ground.
Howe: It’s going to take tremendous effort on my part to smooth things over after that fist of yours crushed McBride in her mouth.
Jon’s giggles only get louder.
Howe: Not saying she didn’t have it coming, but your actions have only made my job far more difficult. Lucky for you though (Howe straightens the knot of his tie), I was born with a silver tongue.
A barbwire 2×4 is clasped in the hands of Serenity as she merrily strides to the ring. She leads the way for New Eden, directing both Cindy Todd and Cassidy Haze down the hall that ends at the guerilla position. Cassidy tries to look strong in spite of the knowledge that she is set to endure quite the crippling punishment, one to be inflicted by her very own ‘family.’
Sparkles: If Sparkles isn’t mistaken, it appears that New Eden are coming down our way.
Greyson: Naturally. Cause things just haven’t been chaotic enough tonight.
Frankie: Well luckily for the IWC roster, it appears that their set to punish one of their own.
Greyson: Cassidy Haze set to be tortured at the hands of those she now trusts the most, even though she BEAT the World Champion earlier tonight,
Frankie: But she didn’t CRIPPLE the World Champion. Besides, this is more an initiation than a punishment.
Sparkles: One can almost pity Cassidy. Cause we all know what Cindy Todd and Serenity are capable of, and now Cass is about to find out.
Harrison: Have you truly thought this through?
If there’s one thing that Rachel Tatum Lee is not a fan of it’s having to rationalize her actions. She stands in the hallway with members of her group Tombstone gathered in mass before her. Goddard, Sundown and Elijah Dallas are coupled behind the back of Aaron Harrison. It seems Harrison is the only outspoken member of the group.
Rachel: I spent too much time thinkin’ on it already.
Explains the NHB Champion.
Rachel: My mind is made up.
She goes to leave only to have Harrison make a last ditch effort to reason with her.
Harrison: And what are WE supposed to do?
Rachel stops only for a second, her back remaining to Harrison even as she answers.
Rachel: You’ll survive.
She walks away from Harrison, Goddard, Elijah, and Sundown, all of them. It appears that Harrison is the most resentful. His jaded expression turning to the three demonic rednecks gathered behind him.
Harrison: This doesn’t change our plans.
It aggravates Katelyn Buehler to even raise her arm, but somehow she manages. She grits her teeth and gets through it, lifting the World Championship belt off the very same bench that she’s sitting in the center of. She looks into both her belt and at the cell-phone she just pulled from the gym bag on the floor. A long look is taken at the screen as Katelyn seemingly questions the decision she’s about to make.
Katelyn: Dan….
A call is placed to her agent Dan Douglas.
Katelyn: I don’t know where you are, but I hope you understand that I HAD to do what I HAD to do.
The phone lowers from her ear and the Champion takes a moment to question just how forthcoming she should be.
Katelyn: And I’ll go on doing what I HAVE to do before this night ends.
It remains to be seen if this is merely a message or a warning.
With microphone in hand backstage correspondent Mark Comeau eagerly walks down the hall, looking back over his shoulder at the camera the entire time.
Comeau: Earlier on tonight ladies and gentlemen, we all witnessed Mika Kozlov inexplicably come to the assistance of her sister slash lifelong nemesis Taylor Chase.
The camera catches a glimpse of the door that Comeau is nearing, his hand already extended to the knob.
Comeau: I’m about to go into Mika Kozlov’s dressing room find out why she helped Tay, in spite of the fact that the two are set to be opponents in the triple threat at Last Stan…..
Tabitha: Pardon the interruption.
Comeau was almost in the room, ALMOST. The door is blocked by Tabitha Silverstone, who steps in from the opposite end of the hallway. She comes to a rest right in front of Comeau and right in front of the room he was trying to get inside of. Her eyes peer at the correspondent from behind the very thick sunglasses on the bridge of her nose.
Comeau: Oh uh hey, Tabitha, didn’t think I’d see you here tonight.
Tabitha: Why?
Comeau: Ummmm, didn’t yooooou ya know announce at the End of the Year Special that you were suffering some type of post-concussion syndrome?
Tabitha: Oh….oh yeeeeah, well um, the symptoms kinda come and go. The injuries weren’t going to keep me away from my clients though.
Comeau: Even though it seems your clients might want some distance from you?
Tabitha: I know there’s been some disagreements between Andre, Marina and I the past couple of weeks, but that’s all part of the past. It’s a brand New Year, and mark my words, by the end of it my clients will not only be champions, but they’ll be the most feared athletes on the entire IWC roster.
Comeau: How do you intend on accomplishing that?
Tabitha: Now I’m not going to go and divulge all of my tactics. Just hear this, if you think you’ve seen what I’m capable of as an agent, think again.
Mika Kozlov’s dressing room is entered, but the door isn’t closing behind Comeau’s back, it’s closing behind Tabitha’s.
The audience find themselves choking on their own hearts when hearing the lyrics of ‘Judge & Jury’ belting through the PA system. They find the hairs on their arms standing on end when seeing Serenity, Cindy Todd, Cassidy Haze and a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire making their way to the stage.
Sparkles: This is the moment we’ve been dreading.
Greyson: You hit the nail on the head right there Sparkles. As if dealing with New Eden once tonight wasn’t horrifying enough.
Frankie: Earlier on we all saw Cassidy Haze defeat the World Champion, however, she didn’t cripple Katelyn, and that’s what her Queen of Chaos wanted her to do.
Sparkles: If we’ve learned one thing about Cindy Todd, it’s that she does not tolerate failure from her fellow New Eden followers.
Greyson: We all remember what Cindy did to Serenity and to Mika Kozlov after they failed her back at Awakening.
Frankie: Tough love.
Greyson: Tough love? No, TORTURE.
Once she reaches the ring Cassidy Haze assumes the position, falling to her knees. The New Eden member knows exactly what’s expected of her, and exactly what’s about to happen to her. Her Queen has hold of the 2×4 wrapped in barbwire, a weapon she has employed time after time to toughen her subordinates. Serenity clutches another weapon, one that can prove just as dangerous, a microphone.
Serenity: Every now and then people SLIP. It happens. We all make mistakes.
She points out over the audience.
Serenity: Each and every one of you have made mistakes. Maybe you forgot to pay your credit card on time. Maybe you burnt your casserole. Maybe you spilled your soda in someone else’s lap. And suuuure, you sit there for a moment or two, dwell on your mistake and promise to yourself that you’re never going to do it again. But guess what, a month or two down the road, you make the exact same mistake. That soda in your hand slips again because you forgot to grip it tight enough. That casserole in the oven, comes out charred cause you forgot to take it out in time. That credit card late fee charge, it just doubled because you went another month without paying it. You just keep on making the same mistakes, and you want to know why? Cause ya haven’t been given incentive to never do it again. If there’s no punishment for your mistakes, then guess what, you’re doomed to repeat your failures.
The microphone is handed to Cindy, who finishes Serenity’s thoughts.
Cindy: You people live in a bubble, in a PC gentrified coddled society where the punishment does not fit the crime. In the old days when one stole a loaf of bread they lost a hand. When one didn’t pay their debts they ended up in a workhouse exposed to back breaking labor. When one didn’t perform their job, they were lashed. (The barbwire is raised over Cindy’s head) No member of New Eden will ever be coddled. When mistakes are made, I will ensure they are never made again.
The 2×4 nears Cassidy and prepares to punish her for her failure earlier this evening.
Cindy: Though….
At the last second the weapon turns from the kneeling Cassidy and extends towards Serenity.
Cindy:….if I’m going to punish failure then I should reward success. You (gestures to Serenity) have come so far. You’ve gone from mere follower to standing at my side as an equal. If I am the Queen of Chaos, then you are my Princess.
Like a sword being handed from a ruler to their most faithful knight, Cindy bestows the 2×4 unto the eternally grateful Serenity.
Cindy: You’ve earned this.
The 2×4 is flung back over Serenity’s shoulder as she gleefully approaches the perpetually knelt Cassidy.
Emily: This isn’t happening.
Cassidy’s eyes have been fixed to the canvas throughout every threat, throughout every promise of torture, and even throughout her sister’s descent down the ramp. Emily Cage, the very same soul who has tirelessly searched for her sister since her abduction by New Eden, storms the ring. Much to her disgust she’s discovered Cassidy’s whereabouts, and she obviously doesn’t like where she’s found her.
Frankie: Uhhh, Emily dear, you might not want to interfere with New Eden’s plans.
Greyson: For months Emily has been searching for her sister Cassidy, totally unaware that she was abducted by New Eden.
Sparkles: She, much like the rest of us, had to have been absolutely stunned at the End of the Year Special when Cass revealed her alliance to New Eden.
Greyson: It looks like tonight she’s going to do something about it.
A determined Emily enters the ring where New Eden and her sister are waiting. While Serenity and Cindy show some amusement, Cassidy keeps her eyes to the ring she remains knelt upon.
Emily: What-what-what is this?
Obviously Emily is still in denial, simply unable to process what she’s seeing.
Emily: What have you two done to my sister?
An angered Emily steps right past Cassidy and to the shock of all in the building goes nose to nose with Cindy.
Cindy: Let me correct you my dear, it’s not what we’ve done to your sister, it’s what we’ve done FOR your sister.
Emily’s lips tremble in anger.
Emily: You’ve brainwashed her.
Serenity: Brainwashed her? Hahahaha, that’s a gas! We only awakened what was already there.
Emily: What do you mean?
Cindy: The darkness was always there, waiting, clawing, scraping and tearing at her insides, just dying to get out.
Emily: No…..you-you-you put that darkness in her. It was you….(puts finger into Cindy’s chest)….you caused this. Cassidy is a….is a….she’s a good person dammit.
Serenity: HA-HA! Stop, just stop, you’re killing me.
Cindy: A good person, you say? Care to put that theory to the test?
Emily: Enough of this! We’re leaving!
Emily’s hand wraps around Cassidy’s wrist and gives it a yank. Her sister is back on her feet and is being guided along towards the ropes, even if Cassidy is not aware of it.
Cindy: Cassidy…..(Cass stops cold)…..put an end to this foolishness at once.
It doesn’t matter how many tugs Emily gives her sister’s wrist, Cassidy is not budging. Something finally gives when Emily is yanked back and dragged right into a short arm clothesline….a clothesline unleashed by her very own sister.
Greyson: NO!
Sparkles: Cassidy just-just….that’s her sister.
Frankie: Emily should have kept her butter-face outta this.
The impact to the throat has knocked Emily flat to her back, laid out at the tips of her sister’s toes. As Cassidy looks down at her writhing sister those dark, obsidian eyes that examine Emily’s painful squirms turn to a 2×4 wrapped in barbwire.
Serenity: This will come in handy.
Cassidy winks towards Serenity before taking the board from her old friend’s hands.
Greyson: Don’t do this Cassidy, don’t do this!
There was never a moment of hesitation or second guessing on Cassidy’s part. She lifts the 2×4 back over her shoulder and stares at the woman who is now being pinned down to the ring. It doesn’t even matter to Cassidy that that woman is her own sister. Emily tries to get up from the canvas but finds her wrists held down to the ring by Serenity, meaning there is no escape from what’s about to happen to her. The barbwire swings down and lashes Emily’s back. Wails of anguish can be heard as she feels the flesh peel from her body.
Greyson: Stop this! Stop somebody stop this!
Sparkles: Sparkles still can’t believe that Cassidy can do this to her own sister.
Serenity: You can swing harder than that!
Cassidy puts a little extra muscle into her next blow. Each strike of the barbwire across Emily’s skin is reflected in the black eyes of Cindy, hence why the corners of her mouth are slowly upturning into a grin.
Victoria: So I still can’t believe you would think I had anything to do with attacking Tabitha.
The very same conversation that Marina Valdivia and her best friend Victoria Salinas have had since Upping the Ante is once again rehashed. All Marina can do is roll her eyes and sigh, knowing there is nothing she can say to make up for her poor judgment. So she stands there silently with her forearm wedged to the wall of the hall she and her aggrieved friend have taken residency in.
Victoria: I know my past is checkered but still….
Marina: How many times do you want me to say I’m sorry?
Victoria: (Playfully) Once more couldn’t hurt.
Marina: Okay. I’m SOOOORR-Y-Y-YYYYY (cups hands together like she’s praying). I wasn’t thinking clearly back at Upping the Ante, and Tabitha was a very convincing actress.
Victoria: Alright-alright-alright, enough said on the subject. Not like we have a lot of time for guilt tripping anyway. Something HAS to be done about your agent.
Marina: Yeah, but….what?
Victoria: Hmmm, how about you let me figure this out?
Marina: I don’t kn…..
BEEP-BEEP!!
The sound of a blaring horn prompts Marina and Victoria to not just drop their conversation but lunge back against the wall. They narrowly avoid the hoveround that comes speeding towards them. Behind the wheel is backstage correspondent Susie Moore, who is having way too much fun pressing the horn again and again and again.
Victoria: Oh God….
Susie: Hiiiii ladies. Like my new ride?
Marina: (Arching brow as she studies the vehicle) Yeah….it’s ummm….pimp.
Victoria: It’s….too sweet.
Susie: Thanks, Orlando bought it for me.
Marina: Orlando Cruze?
Susie: That’s him. He said he didn’t want me to risk further injuring myself after what your friend Andre did to me.
Marina: So he’s STILL milking that accident to get at Andre?
Victoria: You do realize your injuries are about as real as Tabitha’s right?
Susie: I don’t care, cause look, I got a motorized big wheel out of it.
Marina: Well enjoy these perks while they last Susie, because in a few minutes I’m going to give Orlando something else to concentrate on. His mind won’t be on making Andre’s life miserable after I’ve handed him a well-deserved loss. See, I may have cared about Orlando’s well-being a long time ago, but all I care about now, is seeing him suffer the same way he’s made my friends suffer.
Susie: Oh, you’re facing Orlando tonight?
Marina: Yeeeeaaah, isn’t that what you wanted to ask me about?
Susie: Nope. I mainly wanted to show off my hot ride. Oh, and to ummm, ask you what you intend to do about Cassidy Haze and New Eden attacking you at the End of the Year Special?
Marina: Heh, seems I can’t go one week without dealing with New Eden.
Victoria: Why can’t we be free of those lunatics?
Marina: We will be. (Expression intensifies) This all needs to end, and if I have to step into the ring one more time with New Eden to finish it, then that’s what I’ll do. At Last Stand, I have every intention of entering the Rumble and winning it to move onto Invictus and challenge for the World Championship. But that’s not all I have planned for the night of Last Stand. I want Cassidy Haze in that ring, and I want that barbwire board she hit me with suspended above it. What I’m asking for….no…what I’m DEMANDING is for Cassidy and I to finish this in a Stairway to Hell match.
Mika: Oooooh Andre, you’re such a good kisser.
Mika Kozlov has a difficult time pulling off a convincing Andre Jordan impersonation.
Mika: (Andre voice) You bring out the best in me, shorty.
Thankfully that horrible impersonation is short lived and now the only thing heard out of Mika are smooching noises. In her hands are two action figures that she keeps smacking together, driving their faces together. In one hand she has hold of her own toy, in the other is a figurine of Andre Jordan.
Mika: Oh my chocolate pudding, oooooh my chocolate pudding, you taste so yummy.
Voice: Mmmm….
The sound from the corner of the room prompts Mika to look away from the action figures she has romantically linked together.
Mika: Hush!
Mika goes back to sitting at the table in her dressing room playing inappropriately with the toys.
Voice: Mmmm-mmmm-mmmm….
The muffled tones go on irritating Kozlov, who in a huff slams the action figures down hard on the table.
Mika: WHAT!!??!!
Voice: Mmmm….mmmm….mmmmm….
Stood….no….TRAPPED….in the corner of the room is Andre Jordan’s agent Tabitha Silverstone. The massive hands of Borislav bind one of her arms behind her back and the other is wrapped around in front of her mouth. Try as he may Mika’s protector can’t keep Tabitha quiet.
Mika: Let her speak.
The arm falls away from Tabitha’s mouth, allowing her to talk freely.
Tabitha: Yeesh (spitting and looking back at Borislav) you’re skin tastes like Aveeno.
Borislav slaps the back of Tabitha’s head and twists the arm that he still has trapped behind her back.
Tabitha: Easy big fella.
Mika: What are you doing here, Tabby?
Tabitha: I know I’m probably the last person you want to see, but I also know who you’d want to see first.
Mika: You know me that well do you? (Focus goes back to her action figures) Borislav, dispose of her.
Tabitha: Wait-wait-wait, I can offer you what you want.
Mika: And what is it I want?
Tabitha: You want my client, you want….Andre.
Mika: You can give him to me?
Tabitha: Yes….and I WILL give him to you.
Mika: How thoughtful. (Turns away from the table and the toys to give Tabitha her full attention) And what do you want in return?
Tabitha: (Hesitating) I…..
Mika: Out with it mishka!
Tabitha: I want you to turn him into….you.
Mika: (Batting eyes and pointing to herself with both thumbs) Moi?
Tabitha: I want you to make him just as dark as you are.
Mika: As dark as me? Don’t you mean as dark as….US?
The show segues into a shot of Ricky Holt and his agent Eric O’Flaherty making their way down a hall. The corridor ends at a door marked ‘exit.’
Holt: How much longer until he gets here?
Eric: Shouldn’t be too much longer now.
Informs O’Flaherty in between puffs from his cigarette.
Holt: And you made sure he got a security pass?
Eric: What do you take me for? Of course I got him a pass, though (smiles) if they knew what he was capable of it probably would have been a lot harder to get it.
Holt: (Stops and smirks as he looks back over his shoulder) Well they’re about to find out what a REAL wrestler can do.
The exit door is pushed open as Holt and O’Flaherty step out into the parking lot, the pair eagerly awaiting their company.
Tabitha: This is very important.
Tabitha Silverstone has gone from dealing with wolves to dealing with lambs. Instead of facing off with Mika Kozlov and Borislav, she’s tangling with a stagehand. The first unfortunate peon who happened to pass by her in this backstage corridor was commandeered and is now forced to listen to her orders. Orders not to be trifled with in any way.
Tabitha: You’re to tell Andre….
Stagehand: Andre Jordan?
Tabitha: Are there any other Andre’s running around here?
Stagehand: I think that guy who works in the kitchen is named Andre….
Tabitha: Andre JORDAN! Tell him he HAS to meet with me, it’s life or death.
Stagehand: Oookay, what if he refuses to see you.
Tabitha: Believe me, he won’t. Not after he reads this.
A letter is shoved and shoved hard into the stagehand’s chest.
Tabitha: Make sure he gets it.
The words that come from the therapist can’t be heard but they are definitely annoying Mya Denton. Nevertheless she lays across the sofa and does her best to feign interest in the advice being given by the man seated beside her. The commentators can be overheard in the background, talking over whatever the therapist is shoveling to the disinterested Mya.
Greyson: There had been rumors throughout the week and this all but confirms it. We had heard that the IWC staff was forcing Mya Denton to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Sparkles: This all stems from what happened back at the End of the Year Special when our NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee tried to coax a darker side out of Mya.
Greyson: Which triggered her to go off the deep end in a major-major way.
Frankie: Chick has needed to see a therapist for a long time anyway.
Greyson: The last time anyone in a position of power here in the IWC tried to get Mya into therapy it didn’t work out very well. Hopefully this time is different.
Sparkles: Rachel probably wouldn’t take kindly to the fact that someone is trying to undo all of her hardwo…..ummmm fellas, we need cameras out here pronto.
Greyson: It looks like we’ve got ourselves a guest out here at ringside.
We don’t get any theme music, no fancy video on the Cartel-tron, no hoopla of any kind. Orlando Cruze is not in any type of mood for any type of hype. The Phenom is fed up, and he’s showing out as he stomps around the ring towards the announce table.
Greyson: Looks like we’ve got another member of Monarchy headed our way.
Sparkles: Earlier on we had Lexy Chapel give us an earful out here at the announce table, now Orlando Cruze is about to do the same.
Frankie: Monarchy are sounding off and for damn good reason. We all saw what happened at the start of tonight’s show, when Karen McBride got her Stormtroopers together to try and break the will of the resistance.
Greyson: Don’t you dare. Don’t you EVER compare Monarchy to the resistance. Skywalker, Orlando Cruze is NOT. He’s not even Jar-Jar Binks.
Sparkles: Besides, McBride didn’t try to break anyone’s will, she tried to take back the locker-room from Monarchy, and from the look of things backstage, it appears that she’s succeeded. Hence why Monarchy are so angry.
We’re about to find out just how angry Orlando Cruze is as he grabs a headset off the announce table and lets loose with his rage.
Orlando: Did you guys see it? Did you guys see that-that-that CRAP!?!
Frankie: We saw it Orlando, and we’re sickened by it.
Greyson: Speak for yourself.
Orlando: Who does Karen McBride think she is? Doesn’t she realize that she wouldn’t have a company if it weren’t for me? If it weren’t for Monarchy’s hardwork? And how does she repay our back breaking labor? She has us thrown out of OUR locker-room, and she has security put their hands all over my smoking hot wife. You’ve seen Tay, you know how hot she is.
Frankie: Ooooh yeah.
Orlando: And yet Karen let her sex starved security manhandle her. It’s appalling.
Frankie: Damn straight it is.
Orlando: Monarchy are taking a stand against this. We’re not about to cater to the whims of a despot like McBride, nor are we going to bend to the will of her foot soldiers. She wants a war? She’s gonna get one.
Orlando throws down the headset and now grabs the microphone, prying it right out of the ring announcer’s hand. He starts up the steps while yelling into the microphone.
Orlando: Go ahead McBride, go ahead and think your army is capable of standing up to us. And you know what will happen? They’ll turn around and run in the opposite direction. Because everyone on your roster pisses in their tights when they think about facing Monarchy. Sure, they can join up and jump us in the back, but when it comes to getting in this ring and going at it one on one with a member of the most elite group in this industry, then you’re soldiers cower.
The fans aren’t buying that for a dollar.
Orlando: What? (Looks over the people) You don’t believe me? You think I’m full of it. Then prepare to eat a great big murder of crows. I’ll prove it. I’ll prove it right now. I’m SUPPOSED to face the IWC’s new flavor of the month, McBride’s GOLDEN CHILD, Marina Valdivia.
Much to his disgust Orlando has to pause when his voice is drowned out by the cheers and chants of Marina’s name.
Orlando: Now-now, don’t go getting too excited, lil miss popularity contest isn’t coming out here. She’s so horrified at the thought of facing me, her lifelong hero, that right now she’s in the back hiding under a bed or curling up in a closet hoping that I don’t find her. Rest easy though, Marina, you’re not worth that much effort on my part. And even though you’re mates with that….with that….THUG….Andre Jordan, I’m willing to let you slide on account of the fact that you still idolize me. Meaning I’ll let you off the hook tonight and let the referee count you out. That way I don’t have to exert all that energy tracking you down, and you can spare yourself some humiliation being out wrestled by your hero. So you just go ahead and keep on cowering in your crawlspace or wherever it is your hiding right now while I give each of these fans what they want, and what they NEED to hear….
The microphone is no longer required, Orlando’s shouts loud enough for even deaf grandmothers to hear. He puts one palm to his chest while lifting the other hand high above his head.
Orlando: WE ARE MONARCHY….AND WE RULE!
Greyson: If I have to hear that one more time I swear to God I’m going to vomit.
Orlando takes his hand from his heart and looks back at the referee.
Orlando: Alright, go ahead and count her out.
The referee does not work for Orlando, and will not follow his instructions. Although he might change that tune now that Orlando is straight up in his face, finger pressing against the stripes that cover his chest.
Frankie: Do your job ref and count Marina out! She’s not coming to the rin….
MARINA VALDIVIA VS. ORLANDO CRUZE
It didn’t take any effort at all to provoke a response out of Marina Valdivia. The tunes of ‘Glamorous’ are cued up and blasting through the loud speakers, resulting in what might be the biggest pop of the night. Marina continues to get a red hot reaction as she makes her presence felt by stepping to the stage. Stood right along beside her is Victoria Salinas, without a doubt her most loyal and faithful friend, perhaps the only person she can trust to follow her into the trenches. Orlando does not look happy that Marina refused to let herself be counted out.
Greyson: Orlando with egg on his face right now.
Sparkles: Turns out Marina Valdivia wasn’t about to be counted out.
Frankie: How could she insult her hero Orlando like this?
Greyson: Her hero? I don’t think so. She might have expressed respect for Orlando in the past, but that changed the moment he joined Monarchy back in the fall.
Sparkles: And when he joined Monarchy it was right after they had left Marina lying unconscious in the middle of the ring.
As Marina nears the ring Orlando bulks out his chest, flexes his biceps and tries to intimidate her via his sheer muscle mass. Marina isn’t intimidated and she’s not impressed.
Sparkles: Orlando’s about to get more than he bargained for out of Marina.
Frankie: More like Marina has no idea what she’s walking into.
Greyson: It wouldn’t be wise for you, or for Orlando to undersell what Marina is capable of. For God sakes, did you see what she and Serenity did to each other back at the End of the Year Special?
Sparkles: They competed in the most barbaric Cartel Chaos match to date.
Frankie: Yeah, true, but you know what that means? It means that Marina isn’t in any condition to fight a man like Orlando Cruze. A former World Champion, a PHENOM!
Greyson: Marina’s a woman who competed in the Rumble after being superkicked in the jaw with a mouthful of thumbtacks. She’s a woman who has fought countless times after being jumped either backstage or in the ring. She’s as tough as nails, Frankie.
Frankie: That’s nothing compared to what Orlando has fought through. He once had a papercut and still competed. I even have it on good authority that right now he’s got a nasty hangnail and yet he’s fighting through it.
Sparkles: What a modern day gladiator.
Frankie: He truly is made of special stuff.
It doesn’t matter how many muscles Orlando flexes, because there’s one muscle in Marina’s body that is bigger than any of her opponent’s biceps, her heart. The bell rings as Marina goes marching straight towards Orlando, ready to lock up. Much to her dismay Orlando is simply waving her off and then, as if his actions weren’t disgusting enough already, he turns his back on her entirely.
Orlando: I know you worship me too much to put a hand on me, Marina. So I’ll turn my back and let you walk away. No shame, kiddo.
A smile plays across Marina’s face, so stunned by Orlando’s attitude that she’s actually amused by it.
Orlando: Come on now, do you REALLY want to face me in the condition I’m in? It was only a couple months ago you were nagging me about my decision to get back in the ring. You had a point you know, I really shouldn’t have risked getting into wrestling again with all my injuries. I’ve been having headaches, terrible migraines, I very well could have a brain bleed going on as we speak. I really think that Andre jarred something lose when he hit me in the skull backstage. It be a real shame if you were to, well, you know, drop me the wrong way on my head or something and put me in a coma. Could you live with yourself if you did that to your idol? I know your friend Andre, and your boss Karen, don’t have a conscious, but you do, Marina. You’re a good person. You got a big heart. Show it once again by doing the right thing and leaving this ring.
Orlando keeps his back turned to Marina, mainly so she doesn’t see the smirk on his face.
Greyson: Does Orlando actually think Marina is buying this?
Sparkles: How many ways is Orlando going to try and get himself out of this match?
Greyson: First he calls Marina a coward and now he’s playing at her sympathy for injuries that he is blowing up way out of proportions.
Frankie: *Snivels*
Greyson: Frankie, put down that Kleenex.
Sparkles: Are you crying, Frankie?
Frankie: I’m just so moved. So touched. Orlando came out here knowing that he’s got a potential brain bleed AND even worse a hangnail, and yet he’s still ready to fight should Marina prove to be just as vicious as her friend Andre.
Greyson: Just how far can Monarchy stoop?
Orlando has delved to a whole new low, to such depths it even surprises Marina. Though after she thinks on it for a moment, after dwelling on everything Cruze just had to say, she seems to be presented with only one option. Jaws are hurdling to the floor at the sight of Marina making her exit through the ropes.
Sparkles: She’s leaving!
Frankie: HUZZAH!
Greyson: I-I-I can’t believe this.
Frankie: This shows a lot of character on Marina’s part.
Greyson: I guess Marina still does care about Orlando’s well -being. She was very expressive of her concern for his condition when he first decided to come out of retirement.
Frankie: I have to give Marina props. She is a far better person than her partner Andre could ever hope to be.
Marina makes it to the apron before looking down at Victoria.
Victoria: What are you doing?
Orlando can barely hear this question being asked of his opponent over his own laughter.
Orlando: You made the right choice Marina….
That loud obnoxious laughter continues as Orlando turns around to watch Marina walk away. Instead what he sees are Marina’s feet carrying her along right into a missile dropkick from the top rope. The blow sends Orlando flying from his feet and ensures he won’t be laughing any time soon.
Greyson: Haha! That’s right Orlando, all your attempts at manipulating Marina have just failed.
Frankie: I told you, I told you both that Marina was just as cold-blooded, just as evil as her friend Andre Jordan, and she just proved it.
Sparkles: Marina has been itching to continue her campaign against Monarchy for months now, and she’s finally getting her chance by putting those boots upside Orlando’s chest.
Frankie: Sickening.
A flabbergasted Orlando rolls along into the ropes having no idea that his opponent is charging along right behind him. She leaps into the air, puts her leg across the back of Orlando’s head and lunges over the cables he was headed for. As a result Orlando’s throat is brought down right across the top rope as he’s hit with a modified famasser. The whiplash from the cable sends Orlando actually flipping back from the ropes and then rolling all the way to the middle of the ring.
Marina returns to the ring and does so in a hurry. She then charges straight at Orlando, catches him around the neck and leads him not only to his feet but into the corner as well. She pushes off the turnbuckle with a tornado DDT that slams the top of Orlando’s head with so much force against the canvas that he almost looks like an Ostrich digging it’s head into the sand.
Greyson: Absolutely VICIOUS tornado DDT!
Sparkles: Marina almost put Orlando’s head clean through that ring.
Frankie: How does Marina sleep at night?
Sparkles: With dreams of Sparkles in her head.
The impact from the DDT has caused Orlando to bounce up from the canvas with such a ricochet that he actually flips onto his seat. Although he can barely see through the fog that clouds his eyes Orlando is still capable of signaling towards the ref. Out of morbid curiosity the official bends down and listens, not liking what he hears. Whatever Orlando just told him prompts the ref to call out to the doctor at ringside. The medic is in the squared circle in a hurry, crawling to Orlando’s side and shining a light in his eyes. As all of this goes down the referee holds Marina back in the corner of the ring. There’s little more she can do other than hold her palms up and ask for an explanation.
Greyson: What’s up here guys?
Frankie: I’m afraid to find out, cause from the looks of it, what Orlando feared would happen DID happen.
Sparkles: Did he suffer some type of head injury?
Frankie: Oh God….oh God no….just when I thought I couldn’t produce anymore tears.
Greyson: This is serious business guys.
After giving Orlando a brief evaluation the doctor has no other recourse, throwing up an ‘X’ with his arms. On that cue a battalion of EMTS make their way to the ring with a stretcher tugged along with them.
Greyson: Oh no. This is REALLY serious.
Sparkles: Sparkles knows I’ve been critical of Orlando at times, but I didn’t want to see this.
Greyson: Nobody wants to see this. This is tragic.
Frankie: Nobody wants to see it huh? BULL. Marina knew Orlando was suffering headaches. She had the chance to walk away from this match and prevent something like this from happening but instead she went right after his head.
Greyson: Marina, much like all of us obviously thought that Orlando was just using his injury as an excuse to get a cheap forfeit win over Marina….
Frankie: I didn’t think that for a second. Because Orlando is even more honest than honest Abe.
A backboard has been slipped into the ring and several EMTS are now in the process of precariously moving Orlando onto it. They take great care to keep his neck and head stable as they start to strap him in place to safely transport him to the stretcher waiting beyond the ropes.
Frankie: Guys, I-I-I can’t continue. I’m sorry. If Orlando’s going to the hospital I’m going with him.
Greyson: For once Frankie, I support your decision.
Sparkles: Keep us informed on Orlando’s condition, okay?
Frankie: This is tragic. Just tragic.
As Orlando prepares to be taken from the ring via backboard his opponent, the very woman responsible for the condition he finds himself in, watches sorrowfully from the corner. Marina can’t believe that with one DDT she may have just ended the career of a man she once respected and admired. It pains her so much she has to turn away from the EMTS pulling Orlando from the squared circle. Instead she looks towards her friend Victoria, who is right on the apron offering a sympathetic shoulder. She has every intent of consoling Marina, but instead ends up WARNING Marina. Unbeknownst to Marina, Orlando has jumped up from the backboard and is now swinging it right into her spine.
Greyson: WHAT THE HELL!?!
Sparkles: It was…it was….it was…..
Frankie: The most swervetacular swerve ever!
Greyson: He-he-he wasn’t injured?
Frankie: Hahahaha, of course not, it was a trick, and you idiots, all you idiots fell for it. And Marina was the biggest idiot of them all.
Orlando couldn’t be injured given the force he puts behind the swing of the backboard into his unsuspecting opponent’s body. The blow has knocked Marina through the ropes, crashing hard to the arena floor. She is unable to hear either the boos from the audience nor the laughs from Orlando. All she can hear are the screams from Victoria, who drops down from the apron to check on her condition. Meanwhile, back in the ring Orlando is throwing the board he WAS going to be carted out with so he can free up his hands to get them on his opponent. Once he’s out of the ring Orlando begins to tap his temple, implying that he is the smartest man in the arena. Marina might not be able to argue with that given the shape of her back and then the shape of her forehead. Punches nail her over and over again across the brow, finding Orlando squatted down on her chest in order to unload with a barrage of shots.
Greyson: We talked before this match about the lows that Orlando would stoop to, but even I didn’t think he’d sink to doing something like this.
Frankie: Look at your face, you’re shocked. Not me. Orlando and I talked this plan over before he even came out here.
Greyson: Bullshit. You’ve never once left this announce table tonight AND Orlando wouldn’t give you the time of day.
Sparkles: You wiped your tears on Sparkles’ shoulder when you thought Orlando was injured.
It appears the only person about to be injured now is Marina, who is dragged up from the ground then elevated into a gorilla press. What goes up unfortunately comes down and comes down HARD. Her face SMACKS the ring apron that she’s just been tossed into. Her head ricochets from the reinforced steel under the canvas, causing her to stagger right back into the announce table. Orlando takes her around the waist, pulls her away from the table and then drives her kidneys into it once more.
Victoria stands back watching as Orlando decimates her best friend, and wishing she could do something to stop this. Ultimately she’s powerless to do anything but watch as Orlando throws Marina into the ring. He would follow her in and keep his advantage but at the moment he’s too busy taking a congratulatory bow towards the heckling fans.
He laughs all the way into the ring and into the cover. He crawls shoulders first into the creases of Marina’s knees, folding her up onto the back of her shoulders and holding her wrists pinned to the canvas.
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Although she took a nasty hit from the backboard she’s still able to kick out. Unfortunately for Marina, the referee never saw the use of the board and thus he allows this mugging to continue. Orlando continues to systematically decimate his opponent by dragging Marina up from the ring and hitting her with a powerful punch right across the brow. Marina goes straight back down to the canvas with a big old lump on her forehead created by her opponent’s knuckles.
Instead of going for the cover Orlando laughingly walks in circles around his opponent. He then gestures for Marina to get up and keeps on gesturing for her to stand until she’s exerted what energy she has left to get back up. The moment she stands another fist clobbers her in the brow and sends her hurdling to the ring. An amused Orlando blows into his knuckles and then wipes them across his chest while smiling at the fans.
Greyson: Wipe that grin off your face you smug son of a bitch.
Frankie: Show some impartiality. You’re just upset cause Orlando duped you just like he duped Marina.
Sparkles: He’s done far more than dupe Marina, he’s taken total control of her now.
It almost looks like Orlando is walking through the park on a warm Spring morning. He casually climbs up onto the middle rope and motions again for Marina to stand. It takes what little she has left to get up, but she employs her last vestige of strength to get her feet under her. She is stood just long enough for Orlando to come off the middle rope and hit an axehandle elbow to the bridge of her scalp. Once again Marina is down on her back and Orlando is stood beside her in the dominant position. How does Orlando take advantage of his opponent’s condition? Not by pressing his advantage physically over Marina, but by waving his hands through the air like he’s leading an orchestra. He pretends to be directing the fans in their wails of anger.
Greyson: Just when you thought you couldn’t be any more sickened by what this man has become.
Frankie: Monarchy always finds a way to top themselves.
Greyson: In this instance that is NOT a good thing.
Orlando continues to be a heat magnet as he shows attitude on top of brutality. He takes Marina by the wrist and leads her up to her feet. All the while he is putting a finger to his lips to insist that the audience shuts up so that they can hear the force of the knife edge chop he hits across his opponent’s chest. The shot sends Marina flying back into the corner of the ring where she struggles to get her head back in the game. Though the problem isn’t with her head, it’s with the condition of a body that continues to take a merciless beating at her opponent’s hands. Orlando gets a running start behind a knee that collides with Marina’s ribs. The air is knocked out of Marina’s lungs while Orlando lets out air via his laughter. He keeps his knee embedded in Marina’s ribs while leaning past her and chuckling straight into her ear. He continues to get such enjoyment from his attack on Marina, who he sizes up for yet another running knee. Orlando’s kneecap comes hurdling towards Marina’s gut though it never gets anywhere close to its target. With little to no time to spare Marina leaps up out of the way of the knee of her opponent. She just doesn’t avoid the knee, she also catches Orlando around his head.
A distressed Orlando finds himself on the receiving end of a second tornado DDT.
Frankie: Not again.
Marina swings around but it’s not into a DDT.
Right before she can hit the move she’s shoved off, flying back to the middle of the ring where she lands straight on her feet. She would go straight after Orlando but he’s rolled not just away from her but out of the ring entirely. Once beyond the ropes Orlando begins to wag his finger through the air while mouthing the words ‘I don’t think so.’ All the while he is still wearing that condescending smile on his face, a grin that Marina is desperate to remove. She takes off across the ring and prepares to dive through the ropes only to have Orlando suddenly reach out and grab the first thing he sees to employ as protection. That something happened to be Victoria Salinas. She had been minding her own business at ringside before Orlando pulled her between both himself and Marina. As a result Marina has to stop in mid-dive in order to avoid hitting a splash on her friend.
Greyson: Enough is enough Orlando. We’re already sickened by your actions as it is.
Frankie: This is the Orlando I’ve been waiting to see, the Orlando the whole world has needed.
Greyson: An Orlando who uses human shields and fakes injuries? No thank you!
Victoria obviously agrees with the announcers, and looks to see to it that he gets the fate he deserves. She suddenly performs a standing switch on the man who had been holding her from behind, takes him by the back of the head and runs him right into the ring. The crowd goes nuts as Victoria forces Orlando into the squared circle. Orlando is going nuts to, not in excitement but in anger. He lashes out in a rage at Victoria.
Greyson: There you go Victoria, there you go.
Frankie: How dare she put her hands on Orlando! Disqualify Marina for that.
Sparkles: She never actually hit him though.
Frankie: Don’t you dare try to justify Victoria’s treachery.
Orlando feels so violated by Victoria and is so outspoken against her that he has totally lost sight of the fact that it’s Marina he’s actually facing in this match. He’s reminded who his true number one threat is when Marina runs in from behind him, snatches his neck then steps up the ropes, punctuating her ascent with a tornado bulldog. Orlando’s head hits the canvas with enough force to knock out a few braincells. He flips over to his back and immediately looks towards the referee, signaling for him to come over. The referee starts to crouch down to see what Orlando has to say but instead of hearing Cruze’s words he hears his groans. Marina comes flipping within inches of the referee in the process of hitting the rolling thunder.
Greyson: Marina isn’t about to let the referee fall for it that time.
Frankie: See what I mean? Marina is even more remorseless than Andre.
Sparkles: Maybe Tabitha Silverstone, Marina’s agent, actually was successful in turning her clients to the dark-side.
Greyson: Marina has some problems with her agent as well, just like Andre, hence why Tabitha isn’t out here right now in her client’s corner.
The rolling thunder has potentially broken a few of Orlando’s ribs, wrapping himself around them for protection. Although nothing will spare his injured mid-section from the next blow his opponent has intended for them. Marina is leaping from the apron to the top rope and then taking off across the ring. She comes crashing down with a straight up splash right into Orlando. She then hooks his leg for the three.
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Apparently there was enough air and energy left in Orlando to kick out from the splash.
Greyson: Marina coming at Orlando from every angle….
Frankie: Yeah-yeah, but Orlando keeps kicking out, and there’s not a damn thing that Marina is going to hit to change that.
Sparkles: You might just stand corrected Frankie.
There is something in Marina’s arsenal that would finish Orlando off, and she’s headed to the top rope to hit it right now. She’s on the highest point of the turnbuckle and is getting ready to come all the way down from it with the 450 splash. The crowd is almost frothing at the mouths in anticipation of seeing the California Splash unleashed. She comes jumping out of the corner only it’s not into the 450. At the last second she sees Orlando standing up, prompting her to go flying OVER him instead of into him. She lands on the canvas and then goes running across it, unaware that Orlando is chasing after her. Just before she reaches another turnbuckle she extends her hands and catches it, kicking her lower body into the air and right over Orlando. There is so much momentum behind Orlando’s run that he can’t stop himself from crashing into the corner chest first. The impact with the corner sends him staggering back unsuspectingly right into Marina’s reverse hurricarana. She leaps into the air, lands on Orlando’s shoulders and prepares to spike him down straight on top of his head.
Frankie: Don’t you do this you sick freak.
Marina isn’t given the opportunity to, because hands are pressed to the back of her thighs and she is shoved into a leap frog over Orlando’s head. As a result Marina goes falling down into the corner Orlando bounced off of a second ago. Somehow she manages to land on the middle rope and then spring off it, twisting in mid-air, catching Orlando around the neck and then surprising him with a tornado DDT.
Greyson: There’s a second tornado DDT, and it looks like Marina is closing in on another career defining victory.
Sparkles: Amazing to see this happen considering Marina’s spine was almost broken right at the start of this match.
Frankie: That’s no cause for her to try and intentionally injure Orlando.
Greyson: In spite of what he said before the match, Orlando is NOT made of glass.
If Orlando were made of glass he would definitely be fractured at the moment. He’s broken and ready to be pinned by Marina, but first things first. Marina intended to hit him with the 450 splash earlier in this match, and she won’t let this match end until it has. To the top rope Marina ascends, getting her footing before being launched into the air, just not of her own volition. A hand wedges to Marina’s backside and gives her a shove, sending her soaring off the corner and right into a European Uppercut unleashed by Orlando Cruze. The hand that pushed Marina off the corner belonged to none other than Ryan Watson.
Greyson: Not again!!
Sparkles: Ryan Watson interfering in yet another match!
Frankie: Gotta respect Watson for being Monarchy through and through.
Greyson: I don’t have to respect him for interfering in the matches of his teammates.
Frankie: You’re not the only one who doesn’t appreciate it.
If there’s one thing IWC knows how to do well it’s toy with people’s emotions. First the crowd is bemoaning Watson’s interference, but then their tune drastically changes when Victoria Salinas makes him pay for sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. In fact, she almost breaks that very nose when she steps across the mats beneath him, grabs his ankle and gives it a yank, resulting in Watson falling from the apron and smacking face first against it.
Greyson: Victoria! Thank you, Victoria!!
Sparkles: Salinas ensuring Watson won’t be interfering any further.
Frankie: That should be a disquali….
Greyson: Don’t you even dare.
Watson backs away from the ring holding his nose and Victoria backs up as well, backs up the TURNBUCKLE. She scales the outside of the corner post before finally leaping off of it, flying into a big splash that hits Watson and drives both of their bodies into the floor.
Greyson: Now Victoria with the splash!
Frankie: Would somebody PLEASE get her out of here!?!
Sparkles: She’s eliminating Watson from the equation.
Greyson: I bet Matthew Bowden wished he had Victoria in his corner earlier tonight.
Sparkles: Watson and Victoria brawling, meaning this match now comes down to one on one.
Sparkles: Not for much longer after that European Uppercut cracked Marina right in her jaw.
Frankie: Pin her Orlando, for God sakes just pin her and be done with this.
Orlando doesn’t need any advice when it comes to taking advantage of one’s injuries. The European Uppercut that he hit Marina with has her BARELY conscious, looking almost like a zombie as she rises back to her feet. She’s standing on nothing but instinct and instinct alone, though she won’t be up for that much longer. Orlando sees precisely the opportunity he was looking for, catching her from behind and rolling her up into the school boy. He doesn’t just roll her up, no, that’s not nearly treacherous and deceitful enough, cause he also takes Marina by the waistband, and he takes the bottom rope just for that extra leverage.
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Greyson: Not another Monarchy victory.
Sparkles: This is the same way that Orlando pinned Andre Jordan back at the End of the Year Special.
For once history is NOT doomed to repeat itself, Marina manages to pop her shoulder up from the canvas at just the right moment to prevent defeat. Orlando wears a wretched expression on his face, lips quivering and veins pulsating in his temples. He can’t believe this isn’t over, but it will be and it will be right NOW. Orlando backs away from Marina with a hand on his knee and his boot right on the verge of smacking his adversary upside her jaw.
Frankie: Here it comes guys, we’re about to see the Monarchy Superkick! Finish it Lando, finish it!
A kneeling Marina has no idea that the superkick is about to crush her skull but here it comes. Orlando unleashes the kick and it hits Marina’s…..HANDS!?! To a blockbuster pop Marina catches the foot of her rival right before it could demolish her cheek. She now stands up and gives the foot that just threatened to demolish her face a good shove. As a result Orlando is sent spiraling completely around so that his back is turned to Marina. His position is taken advantage of, Marina lunging up onto his shoulders from behind and looking for that inverted hurricarana she’s utilized a number of times over the past few months. Orlando will not be another victim of this move, reaching out and grabbing the ropes to prevent being flipped back. So what’s Marina to do? How about think not on her feet, but on Orlando’s shoulders. She turns herself upside down and slides off Orlando and over his back, catching him around the hips then pulling him into the sunset flip. It’s not a pin she’s going for however. She pops up to her feet, grabs Orlando’s legs, locks them around one another and then pulls Cruze to his stomach before bridging back into the Cali Killer.
Frankie: Hey! Wait! WHAT!!?!! NOOOO!!
Greyson: A beautiful transition into the CALI KILLER!!
Sparkles: Marina’s got Orlando locked in that hold that has earned her a number of submission victories!
Frankie: Don’t give in Orlando, remember who rules.
At that moment the only one who rules is Marina, her hand seemingly seconds away from being raised in victory. There’s one hand in the air right now, Orlando’s. He swings it around high above the ring, trying his best to resist the temptation to tap out.
Frankie: Don’t do it Orlando, please don’t do it.
The fans are about to see a very rare sight, Orlando’s hand slapping the canvas. Just as his hand begins to swing towards the ring another set of hands reach into the ring and snatch hold of Marina’s ankle. A shocked Marina finds herself pulled off of her own submission by Ryan Watson, who once again finds a way to interfere.
Greyson: Gah dammit Watson!
Frankie: He is by far and away the Monarchy MVP tonight
Victoria is about to take out Monarchy’s most valued player, catching him by the back of the head before throwing him into the ring. Once inside the squared circle Watson finds himself being stomped away at by Marina.
Greyson: Get him Marina, make him pay for all of his outside interference here tonight.
Marina keeps putting the boots to Watson, unaware that another threat is sizing her up. Orlando steps in from behind Marina and bashes her over the spine with a double axehandle. The blow drops Marina to the ring but when she goes down her friend pops up. Victoria has had enough of this, sliding into the ring and going right after Orlando, smashing him straight across the chest with a knife edge chop. At the exact same time Watson reaches his feet and starts to put them into the back of Marina’s skull. The referee has no other alternative at this point other than to call for the bell.
Greyson: This has just broken down.
Frankie: Yeah, because Victoria couldn’t keep her nose out of the match.
Greyson: She’s protecting her friend.
Frankie: Quit making excuses.
Sparkles: Things in the ring starting to resemble what happened back in the locker-room earlier tonight.
Greyson: And the referee forced to throw this match out as a result.
The bell goes on ringing in the background but although the match has ended, the chaos inside of the ring hasn’t. Marina, Watson, Orlando and Victoria divide the ring with their dueling brawls. Soon their fights are leaving the ring and spilling over dangerously close to the announce table. Watson has thrown Marina to the outside of the squared circle, follows her and then introduces her face into the announce table. Back in the ring Orlando is pulling Victoria into an uranage and looking to lay her to waist. He heaves her into the air but in mid-air Victoria manages to slip out of his arms, swing around and load herself onto his back, applying a sleeper hold.
Orlando is desperate to escape this hold, running at the ropes and turning so that he spills through them backwards. As a result Victoria’s back hits the ring spine and she’s forced to relinquish the submission hold. Both she and Orlando fall to the arena floor, though once on the ground it becomes transparent that Victoria is far rougher shape. And she’s about to be in even worse condition. Orlando pulls her up from the ground and into a powerbomb right into the floor mats.
Greyson: Victoria’s back DESTROYED!
Orlando takes advantage of the injury he just inflicted to Victoria’s spine by inflicting a few more injuries to her throat. He puts his boot to Victoria’s throat and begins to press, choking her out. At the same time Watson is making his way to Orlando’s side, pitching in.
Soon Watson’s boots are drilling Marina in the ribs and the chest while Orlando’s boot continues to cut off air supply to her head. Apparently both Monarchy members are incredibly short sighted, because they are so focused on Victoria that they don’t realize that her friend is just waiting to descend upon them. Marina has recovered from her crash into the announce table, has reentered the ring and is now ready to dive right back out of it. She runs to the ropes, springs to the top cable and then to standing ovation she delivers a shooting star press. Her body comes hurdling down straight into Watson and Orlando, knocking all three athletes to the floor but putting a thousand people on their feet.
Frankie: Where did-where did-where did she just come from!?!
Greyson: Marina saying ‘ah fuck it’ and just flinging herself into Monarchy with that shooting star press!
The shooting star press was just a prelude of the insanity still to come. Marina isn’t through yet, dragging Watson up from the ground and slamming her fists across either side of his face. The strikes send Watson reeling as he backs up the ramp and desperately tries to keep his footing. Marina has him on heels, right on the cusp of taking him down for what might be the final time. Sadly she suffers tunnel vision, unable to see Orlando in her peripheral as he sneaks up behind her. He catches Marina by the shoulder, spins her around and then throws a right at her face only to have his shot blocked. Marina then hits a right hand straight under Orlando’s jaw, driving him back. Once he’s been taken care of Marina returns her focus to his ally. She turns just as Watson cracks her to the top of the head with a Pele kick. The blow knocks Marina to her hands and knees, left crawling along the stage. Watson isn’t crawling, he’s standing and he’s showing off, shouting down at his latest victim. Soon those shouts change to screams when he spots Victoria running up the ramp, only he spots her a second too late. Victoria steps off the back of her crawling friend and hurdles herself into a leg lariat that nails Watson in the chest.
Frankie: AH! Somebody get these ladies under control.
With Victoria and Watson down on the stage now the only two people on their feet are Marina and Orlando, who are right back where they started off. The two are trading punches on the ramp to cries from the sold out audience.
Mya: Yeah, ummm, thanks Doc, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.
Apparently the therapist assigned with treating Mya Denton should reconsider his career choice. No matter how transparent her insincerity might be, he’s unable to pick up on it. He serenely smiles at Denton as she stands in the doorway and he occupies the center of his makeshift office. The poor fool is clueless to a number of things, most notably the fact that Mya is trying her best to get to the hallway and to get as far removed from him as possible.
Therapist: I think you’ve made a lot of great strides, and with a few more sessions I’m sure we can…
Mya: What? Repress that evil little minx that lives inside my head?
Therapist: No, not repress it….get rid of it.
The thought of being completely free from the demon that dwells in the darkness of her soul had never once crossed Mya’s mind. The idea actually tickles her.
Mya: You think YOU can get rid of her?
Therapist: If not me then one of my colleagues. I know some people with talents in dealing with dissociative identity syndrome.
Mya: I….I uh….I appreciate this.
Therapist: Believe it or not, you can live a normal life.
Is that something that she would actually want? Being normal actually frightens one as inherently strange as Mya. The unique specimen walks away from the office and once she’s out of earshot the doctor lifts a cellphone to his ear.
Therapist: Hey Maxwell, it’s Parker, listen, I got a very interesting case I want to talk over with you. I got another lab-rat for your study.
In the process of talking Parker multitasks by closing the door and making sure no one can hear his conversation. A closed door may deafen his words to any eavesdroppers but it certainly won’t protect him from them. A figure with a keen interest in Mya’s progress steps into view. Aaron Harrison, one of the very same individuals who has been trying to coax along Mya’s madness, stops just outside of her therapist’s door. After looking down the hall to make sure Mya has disappeared, Harrison moseys right along into the office where she was just being evaluated.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a grin so big on the face of Andre Jordan. As he moseys down the hallway his mind dwells on his earlier altercation with Orlando Cruze. He takes such satisfaction in every successful punch he nailed to the mug of his rival. What would make the moment all that much sweeter is if Andre’s agent Tabitha were there to join in his good time. Instinctively his eyes look to his side where Tabitha would normally be standing, only there’s nothing but thin air following him now.
Stagehand: Andre, I got a message for you.
Andre knows nothing good can come of this. His brow arches when he sees the very same stagehand that was seen conversing with Tabitha Silverstone earlier. Well, not so much conversing as he was being ordered about by Dre’s agent.
Andre: I have a bad feeling about this.
Stagehand: Huh?
Andre: Star Wars reference.
Stagehand: Oh, uhhhhh, yeah, here’s your message.
An envelope in his hand is given to Dre and then the Stagehand is off and running.
Andre: Whoa, not so fast junior.
The meek worker doesn’t get very far before he’s horse collared.
Andre: Who gave you the message?
Stagehand: Really?
Andre smirks, realizing this was a question not even worth asking.
Andre: How did Tabitha look?
Stagehand: Uhhhh fine? I guess.
The Stagehand is off and Andre is left with letter in hand. Rather he actually reads it or not remains to be seen. He merely paws at the envelope, twisting it around in his fingers over and over again, reluctant to see what’s inside.
The crowd would love to eavesdrop on the conversation between Mika Kozlov and Borislav, though we can’t overhear their comments. Instead it’s the Riot theme music playing over any words the two are sharing, or more accurately, any plot they might be hatching. It seems that Kozlov is doing all the orchestrating and Borislav is doing all the listening.
Sparkles: Just when you think things are about to calm down around here we get Mika Kozlov.
Greyson: Can I return her?
Frankie: Under no circumstances.
Greyson: Coming up in just a few moments it’s going to be Mika Kozlov in triple threat action.
Sparkles: Mika Kozlov to collide with former beau Aaron Harrison and Mya Denton. Batten down the hatches, things are going to get wild.
Greyson: And I for one am terrified to find out what strategy is being formed between Kozlov and her enforcer Borislav.
Frankie: You’ll find out if the censors don’t cut the transmission first.
The doors in the dilapidated building rotted away ages ago, replaced now with nothing but filthy sheets of plastic that hang from the ceiling. Dan Douglas pushes his way through and uses his cellphone as a light in order to navigate towards his ultimate destination. Water splashes up onto his shoes, stepping through a puddle turned black by rodent droppings and sheer stagnation. It doesn’t matter what hardships Douglas has to endure, how many treacherous obstacles throw themselves in his way, nothing is going to keep him from reaching his destination.
Voice: You’ve come a looooong way.
When Douglas reaches the end of a corner a voice reaches his ears. It’s a voice that defies sexual orientation and belongs to a void that defies any such physical characteristics. Not even the candles that begin to lite around this figment give this individual any semblance of definition. All that can be distinguished is the fact that they’re seated on the floor, hands draped over knees and face leaning back into the shadows that veil their identity. An occult symbol is drawn on the floor in front of them, chicken bones tossed into the center of it.
Douglas: Am I (gestures to the bones and the symbol) interrupting something? Were you in the middle of some type of incantation or something?
Voice: Dinner.
Douglas: What?
Voice: Dinner.
A bucket of KFC is pulled into the candle light and a half eaten piece of chicken is thrown onto the symbol.
Voice: You need my help?
They assume while swiping greasy palms together
Douglas: (Painfully) Yes.
Fingers snap as a palm outstretches from the darkness.
Voice: Give it over.
The talisman that Douglas was seen clasping earlier in the evening is taken from the pocket where it’s been hidden. With reluctance Dan forfeits possession of the medallion.
Douglas: It’s not working anymore.
Voice: The problem isn’t with the talisman, it’s with the person who wields it.
Cameras return to the interior of the Manhattan Center, though the focus isn’t on the ring or on the commentators seated beside it. Instead everything and everyone is preoccupied with the object that hangs above the squared circle, and that item is a Steel Cage. One of the most foreboding images in professional wrestling, especially considering who will be stepping into it by the end of the night.
Sparkles: There ya see it.
Greyson: The steel cage.
Sparkles: Later tonight it’ll lower down around the ring and Selena Frost and Alistair Taylor will be stepping inside of it.
Frankie: Monarchy has another opportunity to put this roster in its place.
Greyson: The rivalry between Selena and Alistair has carried over from 2015 and will at last be settled on the first Riot of the New Year.
Sparkles: The rivalry between Selena and Alistair has carried over from 2015 and will at last be settled on the first Riot of the New Year, and it’ll be done inside of that cage. Let’s you take back and show you some of the events that have built up to this huge main event.
AWAKENING
Highlights, or in this case, perhaps they’re low-lights, are shown from the pay-per-view Awakening where Selena Frost and Marina Valdivia challenged Wicked Intent for the IWC Tag Team Titles. Serving as special referee is a man with a definite bias against the defending champions, Alistair Taylor. Though he is seemingly impartial throughout the bulk of the bout he eventually picks a side and it’s not the one the fans were anticipating. He not only swerves the crowd but his good friend Marina in the process by superkicking her when she came off the top rope. To make his betrayal and his newfound loyalty to Wicked Intent all the more transparent he drags Selena Frost up and into the overdrive. He quick counts the ensuing pinfall to ensure that Wicked Intent retain their Tag Titles and that Selena tasted defeat.
Cameras return to the Steel Cage swaying high overhead.
Greyson: Back at Awakening this rivalry was kick started….
Frankie: Literally.
Greyson: When Alistair Taylor used his position as special guest referee to cost Selena Frost the Tag Team Titles.
Sparkles: An action Alistair may regret when he steps inside of that Steel Cage with Selena tonight.
Greyson: Thus far it hasn’t been a great Riot if you’re a member of Monarchy, will it all conclude with another of their members suffering defeat at Selena’s hands?
AARON HARRISON VS. MIKA KOZLOV VS. MYA DENTON
The operatic tunes of ‘I Started a Joke’ emit from the loud speakers causing a great unrest amongst the fans. Stomachs begin to knot up in anticipation of seeing the deadly and unpredictable Mika Kozlov make her entrance, which she does in her typical crazed fashion. She hangs upside down from a pole erected, and certainly it’s not the only thing erect at the moment, on the middle of the stage. In a rather seductive manner Mika slides all the way down the pole until she’s reached the ground. Once there she starts to crawl across steel, descending down the ramp towards the canvas of the ring.
Frankie: I never get tired of that entrance. NEVER.
Greyson: I tell you what I’m tired of. People like Mika Kozlov.
Frankie: Heathen!
Greyson: Mika, groups she USED to be associated with like New Eden, and beasts like Miss Jon, have turned this company into an absolute insane asylum.
Sparkles: Careful with your choice of words, you might not want to insinuate that Mika USED to be linked to New Eden, cause its current leader Cindy Todd still thinks she has her claws in Mika.
Greyson: See, that’s just it, I’m tired of living in a world where I have to choose my words wisely under the threat of upsetting creatures like Cindy and like Mika.
Frankie: Deal with it Lovejoy. The monsters run this place, and the best we can do is try to run in the opposite direction when we see them coming.
Greyson: Anyway, I guess we should talk about this match, unless that upsets Mika too. As announced on the official IWC website, Mika is competing in a triple threat match tonight against Aaron Harrison and Mya Denton, with this match being put together as a preview for the upcoming Riot brand main event at our next pay-per-view Last Stand.
Sparkles: Over the next few weeks we’re going to see Mika, Taylor Chase, and World Champion Katelyn Buehler in a series of triple threat matches building into their big three way for the title at Last Stand.
Greyson: Which makes it all the more confusing that Mika would come to Taylor Chase’s aid earlier on. Never can guess what this woman’s motives are.
Mika crawls her way to the middle of the ring where she strikes a crazed yet seductive pose. Eventually she ends up seated Indian style, with her chin propped against her knuckles, and her eyes glued to the entry way.
Greyson: It’ll be interesting to see Mika collide with Aaron Harrison in this match. They were once set to marry each other two years ago.
Sparkles: That love affair ended tragically.
Frankie: And Harrison’s life may end tragically if he tries to mess with Mika’s plans.
It’s not her former love that Mika locks her eyes on at that moment. “Shatter Me” is playing over the loud speakers meaning that it’s Mya Denton who comes along first. She steps to the stage while orange strobe lights pour over her shoulder and back. She walks rather excitedly to the ring in spite of the fact that Mika is waiting for her.
Greyson: Throughout the night we’ve seen Mya Denton getting treatment for her dissociative disorder, but here right now we’ll see her get a far different type of treatment.
Frankie: She’ll probably wish she was back on that therapist’s sofa when that bell rings and this one gets underway.
Sparkles: Mya wouldn’t need psychological evaluations if it weren’t for what Aaron Harrison and Rachel Tatum Lee put her through in 2015. They were determined to make her crack.
Greyson: She actually looks to be in high spirits right now, maybe because she realizes that she’ll get another shot at Harrison in this upcoming match.
Sparkles: Yeah, this is actually a rematch of sorts of Mya’s bout with Harrison back at Upping the Ante, and we all remember how that contest ended.
Frankie: With Mya hilariously being stuffed into a coffin.
Mya looks to serve a big old dish of retribution to Harrison for the banquet of mind-games he’s forced on her in recent months. Mya walks around Mika, who remains seated in the middle of the ring, either lady barely even acknowledging one another. Mya climbs a corner and looks over the audience with a grin, amused by the prospect of the violence about to begin. Neither lady appears all that humored when Aaron Harrison’s theme comes playing through the speakers. The man who serves as a common link between both Mya and Mika surprisingly keeps his distance. In fact Harrison is at such a distance that he doesn’t even come down the ramp at all.
Greyson: Yeeeaaah, where’s Harrison?
Sparkles: Your guess is as good as Sparkles’.
Greyson: The former fiancée of Mika Kozlov and the on-going rival of Mya Denton is nowhere to be seen at the moment.
Frankie: Isn’t it kind of hard to have a preview for the triple threat at Last Stand when there’s only TWO people in this match?
Greyson: Your mathematical skills never cease amazing me.
Mya slips through the ropes to the apron and starts to shout towards the back, actually calling out Harrison’s name. If she had a couple of empty glass bottles she’d probably have them on the tips of her fingers and would be impersonating Luther from the Warriors right now. Sadly she doesn’t have bottles, but what she does have are an extra set of hands. Mika Kozlov wraps them around Mya’s head and uses this grasp to drag her the length of the apron before ultimately spiking her face off the ring post. Mya ricochets from the steel and then goes twisting to the ringside mats.
Greyson: Mya so damned determined to get her hands on Harrison that she didn’t account for Mika.
Frankie: You never put Baby in the corner and you never turn your back on Mika Kozlov.
Sparkles: Mika could care less if Harrison comes out here or not.
There’s only one thing that concerns Mika, and that’s making sure her opponents are as uncomfortable as possible. She rolls out of the ring and snatches Mya up from the mats before whipping her along straight into the barricade. Right as she hits the steel Mya tucks her head, a potentially fatal error. The back of her skull takes much of the punishment against the barricade that she is now flipping forward right over. She lands in the crowd and uses a few of the fans to hold herself up. There will be nothing to keep her stable considering that Mika is reaching over the barricade with murderous ambitions. Just then Mya suddenly drops back and rolls over the barrier she bounced off moments ago, extending her legs and wrapping them around Mika’s neck. She then hits a version of the head scissors, sending Mika flipping from her feet and crashing into the barrier.
Greyson: Unorthodox offense from an unorthodox woman.
Sparkles: Both of these athletes showing they possess a keen ringside awareness. They know how to use every bit of the ring and everything around it to their advantage.
Mya is about to demonstrate this even further when she places Mika in a three quarters headlock and leads her up to her feet. She then hustles along towards the apron, stepping up it in order to hit her patented shiranui. Mya flips straight back into the Cra-Cra, and ends up landing directly on her feet. However, there is nothing to show for her exertion cause her opponent has slipped right out of position for the Cra-Cra at the last second. Mika narrowly avoids suffering her adversary’s finisher and now looks poised to hit one of her own. She spins around quick, bends Mya back into a bridge and looks to unleash the Killing Joke.
Greyson: We thought we were going to see the Cra-Cra, but it’s the Killing Joke we’ll see instead.
Sparkles: Mika and Mya seem like they want to put this match to bed early, and without supper.
Frankie: Where’s Harrison? Does he really want to miss out on all this fun?
Mika is a second removed from crushing Mya’s face but she’s just a hair quicker than her opponent thought. With quick reflexes Mya manages to maneuver her way out of the Killing Joke, turning around and grabbing Mika around the waist. Before Kozlov has a chance to counter she finds herself being flung back into a German suplex. Her head and her neck smack against the near paper thin ringside mats, putting quite the strain on her body.
The suplex just delivered has seemingly given Mya a sense of security, hopefully NOT a false one. It’s a struggle on Mika’s part, but she gets on her feet with the aid of the ring apron. Just then Mya steps off it in order to swing around and hit an enzugari right to the back of Mika’s head, the impact sending her adversary stumbling along into the barricade. Mika barely gets her legs under her before Mya comes flying off the top of the apron and cracking her in the jaw with a dropkick. The force of the impact sends Mika flipping backwards over the barricade and eventually landing on top of her head.
Greyson: Mika didn’t anticipate this.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks it’s safe to assume that none of us did.
Greyson: The mind games that Harrison continues to play with Mya obviously sending her over the edge AGAIN.
Frankie: It’s led to a spike in violence tonight. And that’s one thing we always need more of, right? Violence.
Sparkles: Can never get enough of it around here.
Mika isn’t down for long, rising up to her feet with the bulk of her weight once again sustained by the barricade. Mya leaps up to the apron and looks to come flying off again, this time prepared to clear the ringside mats, and the barrier in order to hit Mika. The crowd goes rabid as Mya flies off the apron, flies over the mats, flies over the barrier and hits the FIST that was waiting to connect with her. Mika steps back and hits a vicious heart punch on Mya the moment she lands in the crowd. The blow knocks Mya off of her feet, sending her plummeting into an unoccupied chair. She sits up looking disorientated, though she’s about to look a hundred times worse when she finds herself on the receiving end of her opponent’s next maneuver.
Mika climbs up onto the barrier and then leaps from it into a crossbody, crashing straight into Mya, the impact putting both of their bodies through the chair then all the way down to the concrete floor.
Greyson: Good Christ. Ladies, this is not no disqualification. We’ll see that later when Rachel Tatum Lee defends her championship against Monarchy’s Kat Kelly.
Sparkles: We didn’t have to wait until that title match to get some good old fashion IWC chaos. Knew coming into this that Mika and Mya would bend the rules until those rules and their bodies almost fractured.
Frankie: There’s no ALMOST about it, Mya’s body WAS just fractured when Mika went crashing through it.
Greyson: If we’re seeing this type of action here and now, I can’t wait to see what happens when Rachel defends her title against Kat, and when Alistair Taylor takes on Selena Frost inside of the steel cage in our main event.
Every last inch of Mya’s body might be hurting but she damn sure isn’t going to show it. She’s pulled back to her feet and then dragged along into a barricade that she goes flying right over. Mika is right there behind poor Mya, forcing her up to her feet and then into the direction of the announce table.
Frankie: Oh don’t you dare come over here.
Sparkles: We’ve had far too many uninvited guests at our announce table throughout the night as it is.
The latest guest is Mya’s forehead, which comes crashing right down into the table. Instead of falling back from it, Mya falls on top of it. She ends up seated on the table, one that she is about to get a lot more up close and personal with. Mika bridges Mya up and into position for the Killing Joke, right on the cusp of hitting it on TOP of the announce table.
Greyson: Oh God, oh God, oh God-oh God-oh God!
Frankie: Clear out of the way guys, Mya’s about to go through our announce table.
Sparkles: She’s about to take a Killing Joke straight through it.
Mika does her best Gene Simmons impersonation, extending her tongue out as far as it will go and letting it hang in front of her jaw. She nearly salivates at the thought of putting Mya’s skull through the table. Soon she’ll be drooling for a different reason. Mika finds her opponent squirming out of her hands and standing up behind her. Mya leaps forward and catches Mika around the neck, hitting her with a bulldog OFF the table and putting her throat down straight into the time keeper’s barricade.
Greyson: (Screaming shrilly) Mika’s throat into the barricade!!
Frankie: Oh damn.
While Mya lands on the ground in front of the time keeper, her opponent’s throat ricochets from the barricade. Mika goes staggering back from it gasping for air and clawing at her throat yet somehow staying upright. It looks like she’s not conscious of the fact that she’s upright though she’s upright nevertheless, for the time being. Mika stumbles around for only a moment longer before Mya comes flying off the barricade she just drove her opponent’s throat into and hits a spinning back elbow. Mya crashes into Mika and drives both of them down to the ground.
Sparkles: What has gotten into either of these ladies? Their tearing each other apart and their not even rivals.
Greyson: These two share one commonality, and it’s the joy they get out of maiming and hurting others.
Frankie: Yeah, I mean, do you think that Ted Bundy had a rivalry with any of his victims? No. He just enjoyed hurting them. The same can be said for either Mika or Mya.
Sparkles: So by the end of this match they’ll both have their hands stuffed down the front of their tights and they’ll be reading Big’ems magazine?
Greyson: That’s AL Bundy.
At last Mika finds herself back in the ring and Mya is following right behind, meaning that the match can officially get underway. Although Mika rolls into the ring Mya is about to come flying into it. She gets to the top rope and then goes flipping out of it into the senton, her back crashing right into Mika’s chest and throat area. The collision seems to have closed Mika’s throat, causing her face to go blue as she struggles for oxygen. Even still she laughs, she giggles, she enjoys this level of savagery. She enjoys mixing it up with someone who has her similar mindset, even if it means taking a few years off of her career. Mya squats down onto the small of Mika’s back and applies a sleeper from the camel clutch position.
Greyson: This is a surprise here, Mya actually slowing things down and showing some intelligence by going after the throat.
Sparkles: The very throat that just bounced off that barricade right beside us.
Mya really puts all of her upper body strength into the hold, squeezing her biceps tightly around Mika’s neck until there is no oxygen flow left to the brain. Although Mya is being a literal pain in Mika’s neck, the former World Champion is still laughing all the way up to her feet. The two stand and shortly thereafter Mika begins to push her way back, looking to drive her opponent into the corner resulting in a break of the sleeper hold. Mya knew this was going to happen, showing just how quick on the draw she really is. She twists her body around and does the same with Mika’s, putting her back in that three quarters headlock. This is a prelude for the Cra-Cra, a move Mya is determined to deliver in route to victory here tonight. She runs at the corner, steps up to the top and looks on the verge of flipping back into the Shiranui. Her feet leave the top rope, but only because Mika gives them a shove, forcing Mya’s legs out from under her. Mika pulls her head out of position for the Cra-Cra and moves quick enough to push her opponent’s feet off the top rope. As a result Mya lands on her seat across the top rope and then drops back, hanging in the tree of woe.
Greyson: This is the last position you want to be in when it comes to facing Mika Kozlov.
Mika demonstrates just how true this is when she runs the length of the ring and hits Mya with the face wash while she was hung upside down in the tree of woe. The impact is fatal enough to leave Mya limp, unable to move a single solitary muscle even as her opponent bares down on her. Mika pulls Mya up from the tree of woe and into position for a reverse neck breaker…but not just any reverse neck breaker, we’re talking a SUPER reverse neck breaker.
All it takes is a little tug to drag Mya off the top rope, pull her down into the middle of the ring and slam the back of her head viciously into the canvas.
Greyson: NECKBREAKER!
Sparkles: All the way down from the top rope!
Frankie: Did you guys see the way her head hit too? That’s concussion city baby.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks Mya needs to tag out to another of her personalities now.
The blow to her neck has immobilized Mya but her opponent isn’t even going for a cover. Instead Mika is reeling back from her opponent and falling against the ropes, hand inching its way to her still swollen throat. It may be bothering her but it’s not bothering her as much as Mya’s neck is bothering her at the moment. Mika takes her injured opponent by the creases of her knees and then catapults her along right into the turnbuckle. A seemingly dead to rights Mya is sent hurdling into the turnbuckle, only she never collides with it. At the last moment Mya lands on the middle rope and almost goes tumbling over the top one, yet she saves herself by latching on and latching on hard to the strands. That’s not the last thing she grabs out of desperation. Mika runs in behind Mya only to have her target suddenly reach back, grab the former champion around the head then push off the corner into the Cra-Cra.
Greyson: The Cra-Cra outta nowhere!
Sparkles: How in the hell did she just hit that?
Frankie: And how did Mika allow herself to walk right into it?
Greyson: Save your questions, cause we’ve got a pinfall guys, a pinfall and a big upset!
Mya falls instinctively right on top of Mika’s chest, the official making the count to declare a winner in this very physical one on one confrontation.
1
2
There will not be a three. Mika gets her arm up and does it with barely enough time remaining to avoid the three count.
Greyson: Mya managed to do what very few opponents are capable of, surprise Mika…
Frankie: Yeah true, but Mika wasn’t surprised enough to be pinned was she?
Sparkles: Very valid point, Frankfurter.
It looks as if there’s only one person surprised at the moment, and that’s Mya Denton. She goes on kneeling across the canvas with her mind TRYING to figure out how that last move could have been kicked out of. If Mika keeps kicking out then Mya will have to make her submit, another feat that seems impossible. She steps over Mika’s back and pulls her up into the camel clutch.
Frankie: Sorry Mya, but if you’re going for a submission on Mika then you’re out of your damned mind. This woman has NEVER tapped out before.
Greyson: You never know when a night will come where that changes. Besides Mika has taken some pretty gruesome shots to both her head and her neck that could set up her potential tap out loss.
The crowd anxiously watches as Mya puts everything she’s worth into the hold only to discover that even that isn’t enough to force a tap out. Mika just won’t give up, she giggles and she endures all the way back up to her feet. In a feeble effort Mya transitions from camel clutch into sleeper, hoping this sudden change will pay off in victory. It looks as if it might have done the trick, Mika losing her balance and going back down to a knee.
Frankie: Uhhhh, I’m not liking how this is going. Can we get Borislav out here now? Where is Borislav by the way?
Greyson: I haven’t a clue, and as long as he’s not out here in Mika’s corner I can care less.
Sparkles: Can you guys believe this? It’s looking more and more likely that Mya’s going to win this. Mika is gonna pass out.
Mya screams as she puts all her strength into the submission that at last looks as if it’s not just slowed Mika down but shut her down entirely. Her eyes start to close indicating that she’s losing consciousness.
Greyson: This is unbelievable, Mya is about to do it, Mya is about to pick up the biggest win of her IWC career over a former World Champion.
Frankie: Come on already Borislav! Do your job and watch Mika’s back!
Mya has the hold so firmly established now it has taken all the color right out of Mika’s face. She’s gone pale and soon she’ll go unconscious. Mya finds that last little inkling of strength to exert even more pressure but it’s still not ENOUGH pressure. In spite of all this exertion on her injured throat Mika’s eyes flutter open and her legs begin to straighten. She rises all the way to her feet, only that’s not enough to get her out of her predicament. There seems to be only one recourse, pushing back and forcing Mya along into the corner, intent on sandwiching her opponent between her own body and the corner.
Mya goes back to the same well she dipped her toes in earlier, twisting around to face the corner her spine was about to get crushed against. She then pulls Mika around and into position for a second Cra-Cra out of that corner. She steps up the turnbuckle to the middle rope, only to realize that she isn’t about to get any further. Suddenly Mika swings her head out of the three quarters face lock and turns enough so that she can get her arm around Mya’s neck. As a result Mya is leaning back off the middle rope with her neck caught in the side headlock. It’s not a submission Mika was going for, it’s the Killing Joke! She swings around and drives Mya down off the turnbuckle and into a version of the Sister Abigail.
Greyson: SICK!
Sparkles: That was the nastiest Killing Joke that Sparkles has ever seen.
Frankie: Mika hit it….wait for it….wait for it….OUTTA NOWHERE!
After Mya’s face has been driven and driven HARD against the ring she finds herself on the receiving end of something equally as painful, a pinfall.
1
2
The fans are unanimous in their expression of grief as it relates to Mika’s victory. The twisted young lady reels back from her pinned opponent, coming to a rest on her knees while her hand rubs at her own throat. In spite of a potential injury to her trachea Mika lets out a deep and dark chuckle.
Greyson: Mika with a victory in what was SUPPOSED to be a triple threat, but she had to put on her working boots to do it.
Sparkles: Mya should’ve let her other personalities take over.
Frankie: It wouldn’t matter how many people are in Mya’s head, not a single one of them can match the power of Mika Kozlov.
Greyson: Mya nearly had Mika at several points in this match. I thought for sure she was going to be the first person in wrestling history to either make Mika pass out or faint.
Sparkles: Faint? That would have been fitting after what she did to Katelyn Buehler back at the End of the Year Special, injuring her arm and setting her up to pass out to the TTYL.
As Mika exits the ring she drops back to her knees and crawls up the ramp laughing and laughing and laughing. All those in attendance watch with mouths agape, no sound coming out of those most shocked and offended by her actions. Save for one fan, a female who is screaming loud enough to have dogs howling miles and miles away.
Fan: You’re totally wicked Mika!!!
Mika looks from the corner of her eye to this very vocal fan, unable to find the source. So she goes on crawling away from the squared circle. Back inside of the squared circle Mya is starting to stir, turning to her side with eyes heavy and head ringing after taking the Killing Joke from the most unexpected of positions. If Mya thought that was the worst of her worries, she was wrong.
The curtains open and there’s Aaron Harrison, the man who was scheduled to be part of this triple threat but was conspicuous by his absence. He’s not absent any more.
Sparkles: Hey guys, look, there he is, there’s Aaron Harrison.
Frankie: Ummm, he’s a little late. I mean, what happened? Did he have to take a shit or something?
Greyson: I haven’t the foggiest notion as to what kept Harrison from competing in this triple threat match.
All will be explained by the man currently stood half on the stage and half in the back. One arm is holding the microphone to his lips, the other arm is extended through the curtains holding something in the guerilla position that cannot be seen.
Harrison: I know you’re disappointed Mya, I can see it in your eyes, in your body language…you’re not happy.
Mya is about to show just how bitter she is if Harrison gets within another inch of her.
Harrison: Join the club Mya, you’re not the only one feeling disappointed and resentful. I’m pretty damned fed up myself, and Rachel, you know, Rachel Tatum Lee, she’s just plain sick of this industry too. But what are you going to do with that disappointment and that resentment? Are you going to channel it into something CONSTRUCTIVE, or are you going to let it break you down, like its broken certain ‘others’ down?
The more Harrison speaks the less angry Mya seems to become. His words appear to be drawing Mya in, effecting her already troubled mind.
Harrison: Take me for instance, Mya. A couple of months ago after my life fell apart I wanted to end it. Actually, like a coward, I wanted someone to end it for me. But luckily I couldn’t find anyone to pull the trigger. Even you wouldn’t do it no matter how much I begged and how many opportunities I gave you. I let my frustrations take me down the wrong path, I let the events in my life, and the events orchestrated by this federation tear me apart, and it wasn’t until Rachel and her friends took me to their compound that I realized I wasn’t to blame, that my self-loathing was getting me nowhere. Rachel helped me re-focus my energies, she helped me take my frustrations and turn them against those responsible instead of turning them in on myself. So now I want to pay it forward. I want to help you become all that you can become, Mya. I want you to go to those dark places. I want you to direct your rage towards a worthy cause.
Frankie: What the hell is this yokel rambling about?
Greyson: I….wait, did you just call Harrison a yokel? I’m not even sure I know that means.
Frankie: That makes two of us.
Harrison: Rachel may come out here later tonight and make the biggest mistake of her career, but I’m not veering off course, I’m not giving up on the mission she set me on. And my first priority is helping you, Mya. Fortunately for both of us, I know just how to do that….
With a tug Harrison drags a body out from the backstage area….the body of the very same therapist assigned with evaluating Mya earlier that very same evening. The fabrics of his tailored suit are torn and tattered, splotches of blood staining his once fashionable attire. Littering his face are so many bruises and gashes that he is almost unrecognizable. It seems that he’s taken so many punches to the brow that one of his eyes are actually swollen shut.
Greyson: Goodness, what the hell did Harrison do to that therapist?
Sparkles: When will these psychiatrists learn? Therapy and wrestling just don’t mix.
Mya’s eyes have narrowed to slits as her pupils track the descent of both Harrison and the barely conscious therapist down the ramp. The young man tugged along behind Harrison loses his footing and falls to his knees, so banged up he can’t even stand. Harrison yanks him to get him back on his feet then ultimately into the ring. Harrison throws the psychiatrist in like he’s offering a scrap of meat to a hungry lion.
Harrison: This man thought you needed to be ‘fixed’ Mya, he tried to take what makes you special and erase it. He tried to make you (expresses disgust) NORMAL. We both know you’ll never be ‘normal,’ and we both know that’s what makes you perfect. So I tell you what, I’m offering my own unique brand of therapy. A treatment that will be most beneficial to a woman like yourself. (Points to the therapist) Show the esteemed doctor here how ‘normal,’ you really are.
The therapist can barely see through his swollen shut eyes but he has enough vision left to see Mya contemplating the choice she’s just been saddled with. He pleads with her not to do what Harrison seems to be asking of her. It appears his cowardly snivels have sufficiently played at Mya’s sympathies. She staggers past him, griping at her wounded head as she moves towards the ropes, leaving the therapist to kneel in the middle of the ring and thank God. Sadly neither the therapist nor the good lord above can sway Mya to do the honorable, the ‘normal’ thing. Mya limps back into the ring, ricochets off the far ropes then leaps into the shining wizard. The Demented cracks the already bruised mug of the doctor, dropping him flat on his back.
Greyson: Mya making the therapist aware that his time was up.
Frankie: And I don’t think there’s going to be a future appointment scheduled.
It’s only after Mya has left the therapist laying that she exits the ring. She rolls under the ropes and finds herself staring into Harrison’s eyes. Although for months she’s wanted nothing more than to see blood trickling down Harrison’s cheeks something has evidently changed. How else can you explain the fact that she allows Harrison to put his arm over her shoulders and guide her along towards the backstage area. She actually interlocks her hands behind her back and is looking quite mirthful.
Greyson: This is straight up ‘odd.’
Frankie: Odd? Odd is the word you choose for what we just saw?
Sparkles: It really does defy description.
Greyson: Mya and Harrison have been at each other’s throats for much of 2015, and now they’re leaving together?
Sparkles: Unlike the therapist, Harrison doesn’t want Mya to change, he wants her to embrace what makes her so odd, and channel that evil inside into God only knows what purpose.
The crowd is rather flummoxed regarding what just happened in the ring and Andre Jordan is equally as puzzled in the backstage area. He occupies a stretch of hallway with his back propped up against a crate. The envelope he was given several moments earlier has been opened and now he’s busy reading the letter that was inside. Whatever message that Tabitha Silverstone sent to Dre seems to have struck every sentimental cord in his body. He lowers the letter away from his face, folds it and returns it to his pocket before walking down the hall with a smile drawn across his face.
Apparently someone has just arrived to the Manhattan Center and done so in a fashion befitting the likes of Charles Manson or Robert Pickton. An armored transport truck has pulled into the parking lot and the back doors are tentatively being opened by two dangerous individuals themselves. Ricky Holt and Eric O’Flaherty are assisting someone out of the truck and carefully shielding their identity with a black tarp. Holt throws it over the head and the shoulders of this individual.
Holt: Just wait until they get a look at you.
Eric: Just wait until those people get to see REAL wrestling.
A set of knuckles are raised right in front of a door, but they seem almost hesitant to knock. Finally Andre Jordan goes through with it, tapping his fist to the door that leads into Tabitha Silverstone’s dressing room. There’s no answer from inside, prompting Dre to get a bit bolder. He pushes open the door and steps right through it.
Andre: Tabs, I got your letter.
He explains while walking on in and searching his surroundings for Tabitha’s location. She’s nowhere to be found. He turns to the door and takes a seat in a chair, hoping to catch her the second she steps foot in the room. What he wasn’t looking at was another door, one that leads to the closet situated behind him. It opens slowly, so as if not to make a noise. For a man the size of Borislav, he can be awfully discreet. He peers out of the closet, eyes fixed on Andre.
Earlier on the evening Matthew Bowden swallowed a bitter-sweet pill, putting on a phenomenal outing only to come up short in his match against Lexy Chapel. It seems he’s still processing that loss as he stands in the interview area with correspondent Mark Comeau.
Comeau: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m standing by at the moment with newcomer Matthew Bowden, who earlier tonight faced off against Evolution Champion Lexy Chapel.
Comeau does the obligatory turn from the camera towards Bowden.
Comeau: Mr. Bowden….
Bowden: Mr.? Kill that noise. I’m not some old geezer, it’s MATTHEW Bowden.
Comeau: Oh, okay, Matt….
Bowden: Ya know what? Instead of Mr., instead of Matt, how about we meet somewhere in the middle, how about you dub me, Sir Spectacular!
Comeau: You honestly expect me to say that?
Bowden: Not only do I want you to say it but I want you to say it with ENTHUSIASM.
Comeau: *Sigh* Fiiiiine. Earlier tonight, Sir Spectacular, we saw…..
Bowden: Naaaah, now that I hear it out loud it just doesn’t have the same ring to it, we’ll go back to Matt, or Matthew if you insist on being formal.
Comeau: Can I just ask my question?
Bowden: What’s stopping you?
Comeau: Okay, earlier tonight we saw you come up short against Lexy Chape…..
Bowden: Hahahaha, come up short? If you call electrifying and exciting that audience more than they ever have been before coming up short, then we’re obviously not living on the same planet.
Comeau: But you were PINNED by Lexy.
Bowden: Come on Comeau, you and I both know that it wasn’t by the book. Lexy’s buds in Monarchy got involved after Ryan Watson got a handful of my derriere and sent me sailing off the turnbuckle into a superkick.
Comeau: So what are you planning on doing in response to Watson’s interference?
Bowden: You mean besides reporting Watson to HR for groping my ass? Well….
Kingdom: HEY YO!
Comeau is caught in quite the pickle, stood between Bowden and now Johnny Kingdom.
Kingdom: You’re slipping old bean….
Informs Kingdom the second he steps into the interview area and slaps his palm down onto Comeau’s shoulder.
Kingdom: You were supposed to tell me when Ricky Holt’s “REAL WRESTLER” got here….
Comeau: Yeah, I remember….
Kingdom: So why did I just now hear about it from those stagehands over there?
Comeau: Cause I was preparing myself for an interview and….
Kingdom: Excuses, excuses, excuses.
Bowden: Hey fellas….
Bowden interjects while making a time-out gesture.
Bowden: I really hate to interrupt your take on Grumpy Old Men, but can we get back on the topic of me, please?
With a roll of his eyes Johnny steps back, thus he allows Bowden the spotlight.
Comeau: Fine, Bowden, do you have anything you’d like to say in response to Monarchy’s action….
Kingdom: Whoa-whoa-whoa, wait a minute….
Johnny just can’t help himself.
Kingdom: Let’s discuss something a bit more pressing, something that has to do with you as well Bowden.
Now and only now is Bowden intrigued by anything that Kingdom has to say.
Kingdom: For weeks Ricky Holt has been walking around here saying that there are no more ‘real wrestlers,’ and pretty much berating the ever living piss out of young guys such as yourself. In spite of the fact that Holt, himself, is still green around the proverbially gills.
Bowden: You said this affected me. How?
Kingdom: Well, don’t you take just a wee bit umbrage with Holt’s insinuations that guys like you don’t cut the mustard? And that he had to go outside of the company to find a REAL wrestler?
Bowden: I’m supposed to be offended by this? Cause I’m not. See I’m not a precious little dandelion who gets his feelings hurt when someone calls me a bad name. If Holt thinks guys like me are not REAL wrestlers then he’s more than welcome to step in the ring with me and find out just how wrong he is. And as far as Monarchy goes….
Bowden looks directly at the camera.
Bowden:…..don’t go and make your business, my business. Seems you fools have enough to worry about as it is.
A ring tone cuts Bowden off in mid-sentence. He reaches down and pulls a cellphone from his pocket.
Bowden: Catch you guys later, I got tweets to send.
He walks away from Comeau and Kingdom, who are both left shaking their heads.
Kingdom: Damn millennials.
Cameras return to the interior of the Manhattan Center, yet once again the focus isn’t on the ring, the fans or the commentators, it’s on the steel cage hung high overhead.
Sparkles: Our Steel Cage main event still to come tonight.
Greyson: Alistair Taylor and Selena Frost to settle their grudge in the confines of the cage.
Frankie: Alistair has a chance to end what has been an awkward night for Monarchy on a good note.
Greyson: Let’s take another retrospective look at this rivalry.
RIOT!
Another clip from ye olden days features Alistair Taylor coming to the stage with a musical rock-band following right behind him. He informs the crowd that he scoured the earth to bring in the perfect performers for that evening’s planned festivities. Just as the band prepares to give the crowd a taste of what they’re capable of, one of the lead guitarists steps forward and shows what skills she truly possesses. The guitar in her hands shatters over Alistair’s skull, dropping him flat to his back. The wig and sunglasses the attacker was wearing are torn away to reveal the face of Selena Frost.
Cameras go back to the cage and the ring beneath it.
Frankie: Oh daddy, Selena Frost is going to pay for that ambush on Alistair.
Greyson: That clip just showed another example of the mind games that have been played between Alistair and Selena in the build up to what should be a barbaric bout tonight.
Sparkles: A bout that will bring all those games to an end.
TYSON GALLOWAY VS. ERIC SAILES
The focus of the show goes from the cage to the man stood below it. Seven footer Tyson Galloway is running the ropes in anticipation of his next match up. Bound about his body is a t-shirt reading ‘1-87,’ still hyping his one victory from several months ago.
Greyson: Speaking of rivalries coming to an end, in just a few moments we’re going to witness Eric Sailes and Tyson Galloway go at it.
Sparkles: Two guys who used to be tag team partners but things soured between them.
Greyson: All after Galloway stole a win over a young man that was PAID to lay down for Eric Sailes.
Sparkles: Both of the guys in this match are so desperate for a win that they’re even stealing them from one another.
Greyson: Well one of them will be walking out of this match with a rare ‘w’ in their win/loss columns and….
Frankie: Think again fellas, I’m getting word that something is happening involving Eric Sailes backstage.
Cameras cut to the guerilla position where competitor Eric Sailes is splayed across the floor and pinned under a deluge of boots. He just keeps getting pummeled with stomps by Ricky Holt, Eric O’Flaherty, and the man covered in a black tarp.
Holt: You’re not going out there and embarrassing this sport.
Holt picks Sailes up and pins his arms behind his back, exposing his ribs to a blow from the top of a baseball bat. O’Flaherty hits a homerun on the mid-section, potentially breaking every rib on impact. Once Sailes has taken the blow from the bat he finds himself being pushed down to the floor by the palm wedged to his face. Holt just shoves him to the ground before stepping over his body, approaching the curtains that hide the entry way.
Holt: Let’s go make your big debut.
Holt pats the man covered in the black tarp on his back while guiding him towards the entrance ramp.
Back in the ring Tyson Galloway is running the ropes, looking wonderfully oblivious to the fact that his opponent was just decimated backstage. Unfortunately his blissful ignorance couldn’t last forever.
Holt: So their trying to pass this off as a wrestling match?
The crowd lets it known that they’ve had their fill of Holt for one night, but he’s about to give them all their just deserts. He makes his way to the stage hand occupied by a microphone and back flanked by not just Eric O’Flaherty but a man concealed beneath a black tarp.
Greyson: We just saw Ricky Holt and his crew beating down Eric Sailes backstage, and now…now their headed for Galloway.
Sparkles: With that guy that they greeted in the parking lot.
Frankie: One has to wonder who’s under that ‘berka.’
Greyson: It could be any number of possibilities, though what we do know is that whomever is under that clothe is in Ricky’s mind a “REAL’ wrestler.
Frankie: Well Galloway better get the hell out of the ring, cause last time he crossed paths with Holt that big goof got himself a REAL ass whoopin’.
At the moment Galloway looks like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure what he should do now that he’s facing down the mac truck Holt steers in his direction. Already Holt is on the ring apron standing between O’Flaherty and the veiled athlete he’s brought into the IWC.
Holt: Tyson, you above anybody else represent everything that I’ve been outspoken against here in the IWC. You’re so weak, you’re so pathetic and your priorities are so totally misaligned. You whine about t-shirts? Fucking t-shirts? You think your merchandize is more important than training?
The custom made shirt hung from Galloway’s body is pointed out, the very same article of clothing that Holt used as buttfloss after these two men encountered each other the last time.
Holt: You (wags finger at Galloway) and this whole company needs a wake up call, and this man right here (gestures to the gentlemen under the clothe) is the bucket of ice tossed right in your sleeping faces. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to set your priorities straight, and Tenji Shintaro is going to help you do it. Time to face your NIGHTMARE.
The tarp is peeled back from the face of Holt’s guest, revealing the sadistic and steely eyed gaze of the man now known as Tenji Shintaro.
Greyson: Who is that?
Frankie: Who? Don’t you mean, WHAT?
Sparkles: I haven’t a clue as to what Sparkles is seeing right now.
Greyson: THIS is the REAL wrestler that Holt’s been claiming he was going to bring into the IWC?
Tenji licks his lips at the sight of the fresh meat in the ring. Although Tyson has a big size advantage over Tenji, he is still backing down from the Asian import. There are a number of things that are very unsettling about this man, be it the scars all over his body, the blood that is already trickling down from what has to be a self-inflicted gash in his cheek and some type of brown substance lining his teeth. What that substance is Tyson has no interest in finding out. He turns away from Tenji and starts to exit the ring but he isn’t about to make a peaceful exit. Tenji catches Tyson by the shoulder, pulls him around and unleashes a spray of brown mist straight into the big man’s eyes.
Frankie: Oh gross.
Sparkles: What was that? What did this Tenji guy just spit in Tyson’s face?
Frankie: I can tell you just based on the smell.
Ricky laughs at what he’s seeing in the ring and what he’s seeing is Tenji lifting his blinded prey into a downright disgusting brainbuster DDT. Tyson is dropped dangerously on top of his head, and it comes as no concern to Tenji what injuries that last move may have inflicted. In fact, injuries are exactly what Tenji wants. He’ll make sure some are inflicted and it won’t be via wrestling moves, it’ll be thanks to the silver fork he reveals in his hand. He puts the points of the utensil deep into Tyson’s brow and begins to twist and twist and twist. It looks like Tenji is treating the skin on his victim’s face like it was a plate of pasta.
Sparkles: This is going too far.
Frankie: It doesn’t even look like this guy has gotten started.
Greyson: I know security has been busy all night dealing with Monarchy but they need to get out here and get out here right now to save Galloway.
Frankie: Galloway is already finished. Leave him for the buzzards.
Sparkles: There might not be anything left of him for even birds to feed on.
The sharp points of the fork are bent as it’s driven again and again and again with more and more force against Tyson’s already bloodied face. Tenji finally throws aside the fork so that he can use another weapon to mutilate Tyson, TEETH. He bites right into the giant’s face and chews…yes….actually chews on his flesh. This disgusting sight seems to be enjoyed by O’Flaherty and Ricky alike, the two having a first row seat from their vantage point on the apron to this horrific scene. A scene the two of them are responsible for. Things are about to get a whole lot more graphic. The blood smattered pants that loosely hang from Tenji’s lower body are unzipped before they begin their descent down his thighs.
Greyson: I’m really not liking where this is going.
Frankie: I didn’t like where it started.
Sparkles: Is Tenji actually disrobing?
Greyson: Something needs to be done here guys, somebody needs to stop this.
Holt leans over the ropes and shouts towards Tenji.
Holt: Show them all what a REAL wrestler is.
Tenji will do just that as he grabs at his underwear and starts to peel them away from his backside. All the while he is crouching down over top of Tyson, putting the crack of his ass directly over the bloodied giant’s mouth.
Greyson: Oh God, oh-no, someone cut the feed. Someone cut the feed!
Sparkles: Is he about to take a shit in….
The feed suddenly bursts into static, the censors putting their foot down just in time to prevent exposing the fans watching at home from having to watch this utterly grotesque scene.
Johnny Kingdom finds himself in the exact same boat as all the fans watching around the world. He’s staring into nothing but static on a small television. He stands in the hallway wearing a puzzled expression on his face and finding himself unable to turn his troubled gaze from the monitor. Stood beside him is an equally as confused Mark Comeau. But unlike Kingdom, the correspondent is able to turn his eyes away from the television, redirecting them to the former World Champion. He watches as Kingdom reaches out and slaps the side of the flat-screen monitor.
Kingdom: What gives?
Comeau: Huh?
Kingdom: It was just starting to get…interesting.
Comeau is more confused than ever.
The IWC locker-room remains in shambles. Earlier tonight it was transformed into a battlefield and there was quite a bit of collateral damage. Across the ground are piles of tattered and stained clothing, amongst them a ‘Believe’ t-shirt belonging to a certain Snow Queen. It soon finds its way back into the hands of its owner. The Queen of Wrestling Champion reaches down and picks up the shredded shirt, looking it over and noticing the snot that has been left on the sleeves. She has no expression on her face, one isn’t needed, because you can read what’s on her mind via the look in her eyes. Her wife Deanna Springs, is a lot more expressive, her face twisted into a look of disgust as she examines the locker-room.
Deanna: Looks like we missed out on all the fun.
Selena: How….unfortunate.
Selena approaches the place where her gym bag used to be. It’s no longer present but the items that were inside of it are. Many of them are scattered across the floor, forcing Selena to push them all together with the heel of her boot.
Deanna: Monarchy’s lucky they didn’t find you in here when they thought they could just take over the locker-room.
Selena: Really? They’re lucky? (Looks down at the torn shirt in her hand) I don’t think so.
Katelyn: Somebody had a good time in here.
Muses the World Champion upon limping into the scene. Her eyes study the torn apart lockers, the torn apart gear, and some of the torn apart bodies of those roster members seated in the corner of the room. Katelyn Buehler’s smile is anything but genuine, a fact that Selena and Deanna instantly recognize.
Katelyn: And I have a feeling you’ll have a much better time inside of that Steel Cage tonight.
The grin on Selena’s face IS genuine.
Selena: It’s a safe bet that Alistair won’t be enjoying our time together.
Katelyn: No doubt. (Katelyn pretends that she was leaving only to stop and turn right back to Selena) Oh, and I’ll personally make sure that it’s some ALONE time.
Selena: Meaning what exactly?
Katelyn: You know Monarchy aren’t about to let one of their own step into that cage all by themselves.
Selena: I’d have to be pretty ignorant to think it’s going to be one on one when Monarchy are involved.
Katelyn: But it WILL be.
Selena: Hold on-hold on-hold on…What do you have planned exactly, Kate? I mean, no offense, but you look like you can barely even lift your arm, and you’re foot is in even worse shape than your shoulder. My conscious couldn’t handle the thought of you going out there and further injuring yourself on my account…
Katelyn: Then there’s no reason for you to worry.
Selena: Good.
Katelyn: Cause when I go to that ring and I call Monarchy out, it won’t be for you. It will be for ME.
Selena: (In shock) You’re going to call out Monarchy?
Katelyn: Yup.
Selena: By yourself?
Katelyn: Affirmative.
Selena: Are you thinking clearly?
Katelyn: All I’m thinking about right now is the fact that I let Mika Kozlov slip through my fingers earlier tonight, and I’m not about to let Taylor Chase get away too. So if it means I have to go through every member of Monarchy to get to Tay, so be it.
Water can be heard dripping in the background, falling from an old rusted pipe that broke ages ago. It’s just another sign of how poorly the structure has aged. If you think Dan Douglas cares about the condition of the building, then think again. He wouldn’t mind if the whole roof just came crashing down on top of him, as long as the talisman he arrived with were to make it out in one piece. At the moment the golden trinket is being examined by the individual that Douglas came here tonight to ask for help. It remains to be seen if this figment seated in shadow can be of assistance.
Douglas: Tell me what it’ll take to regain my power over Katelyn.
Voice: Do you have a goat?
Douglas: Erm no….but I’m pretty sure I can find one.
Voice: Good. What you need to do is buy a goat and then buy a camera.
Douglas: Allllright.
Voice: Set the goat up in front of the camera and then take your mouth, put it around one of its utters and suck.
Douglas: Ooookay.
Voice: And suck.
Douglas: Uh-huh.
Voice: And suck some more.
Douglas: What is that supposed to accomplish exactly?
Voice: I wasn’t finished.
Douglas: Okay-okay.
Voice: Then I want you to unzip your pants.
Douglas: Excuse me?
Voice: I want you to sing to the goat, something slow, something sensual. Then you’re to drop your underpants and….
Douglas: Are you actually going to help me?
Voice: Now-now, don’t get testy.
Douglas: I don’t remember you being this difficult the last time I came to you for help.
Voice: You don’t have a very good memory then. But lucky for the two of us, I do. I remember you coming to me, tears in your eyes, knees on the floor, a broken and humiliated man, begging me for my help. And now, here we are five years later, and look at you, tears in your eyes, knees on the floor, broken and begging…..
Douglas: What’s your point?
Voice: I did for you what I’ve done for very few. I trusted you with my gift, and you promised me you’d use it for a worthy cause. But instead you’ve squandered all that I’ve taught you in order to control…a woman.
Douglas: Not just any woman, my client, the World Champion. The power you gave me made it possible for her to be walking around with the title right now….
Voice: You could have done so much more. And yet from the sounds of it, you’ve barely done enough. If you had listened, if you had listened closely, you wouldn’t be here again in the exact same position you came to me in five years ago.
Douglas: I know I’ve disappointed you, that I’ve let you down.
Voice: You’ve bastardized everything I taught you, and yet you ask me to trust you with even greater power?
Douglas: This isn’t about just me. This is about Katelyn, this is about keeping her safe. I can’t do that if my power to control her has diminished.
Voice: It’s not your powers that have faded, it’s your control over them.
Douglas: Just help me, PLEASE. Just help…just help….Katelyn.
The voice pauses as a plume of smoke comes out of the shadows, implying that the figment veiled in darkness is taking a drag from a cigarette.
Voice: There is a way I can help you.
Douglas: Anything…..
The shadow raises the talisman that was given to them earlier.
Voice: But it’s very-very risky.
Douglas gulps.
Tonight seems to be a cavalcade of stars and former No Limits Champion William Mason is the next one amongst them. It doesn’t matter that Mason is no longer a member of the IWC roster, be it on the Uprising or Riot brands, because nothing was going to keep him from being here for the love of his life. NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee stands in front of William in the hallway where the two share some last minute words. A strand of Rachel’s hair is griped between William’s fingers, rubbing it affectionately.
William: I know you’re sick of me asking, but are you sure about this?
Rachel: I’m sure.
William: No second thoughts?
Rachel: Nope.
William: Then lead the way.
Rachel turns and heads for the ring with William faithfully following her.
Greyson: It appears that we’re going to have our NHB Title match in a few moments, Rachel Tatum Lee about to defend not only her title but her record setting title reign against Monarchy’s Kat Kelly.
Sparkles: That’s big and all, but-but-but you want to know what’s even bigger? My Willie. And the whole world is about to see him in a few moments.
Greyson: Sparkles’ favorite wrestler William Mason is indeed in attendance and it appears he’ll be joining Rachel out here for emotional support.
Frankie: Is that what he’s here for? There seems to be something more to his presence here tonight.
Chance: We just wanted to come back and thank Karen for helping us out earlier.
Chance Fortune and Samantha Raine have been in the trenches throughout the night and you better believe their wearing some battle scars. The pair are standing just outside the office of Principle Owner Karen McBride, but apparently she is not in any condition to handle well-wishers. So Karen’s sister Melanie has taken the responsibility of dealing with any talent that happens to come to the office this evening. She stands in the doorway looking out into the hall where Raine and Chance have gathered.
Melanie: Karen’s jaw is still pretty sore otherwise she’d tell you both how proud she was that you two helped her stand up against Monarchy.
Raine: We only wish we could have done more.
Melanie: Don’t worry, you’ll get another chance to put Monarchy in their place. This war is only getting started….
Trinity Street has the ear of one of Monarchy’s most loyal, Ryan Watson. He stands in the cramped confines of the dressing room listening to everything that Trinity is telling him while the rest of the group eavesdrop. One can see Orlando Cruze and his wife Taylor Chase loitering in the background while Kat Kelly is stood directly behind Trinity, nodding along with every word that her mentor is speaking,
Trinity: You’ve been wonderful tonight, Ryan.
Ryan: Pretty sure I am every night, love.
Trinity: You helped Lexy, you helped Orlando, and I’m sure you had designs on helping Kat in her title match coming up next.
Ryan: Naturally (winks in Kat’s direction).
Trinity: But we need to prioritize your efforts. Kat has all the help she’ll need in becoming champion, so I want you to take a breather.
Ryan: I can keep going all night long. If there’s one thing I pride myself on, it’s my longevity.
Trinity: I want you to save up your energy, recover after what Victoria Salinas did to you, because you’ll need all your strength for what’s to come at the end of the night. I promise you that you’ll get your just rewards for all your assistance.
There’s a smile on Ryan’s face, knowing that Trinity never fails to live up to her promises.
Trinity: And as for you…(turns to Kat)….you have a reward of your own waiting for you out in that ring.
Now it’s Kat who is all smiles as she approaches the door to the dressing room and steps through it, embarking towards the squared circle where an NHB Title match is about to go down.
RACHEL TATUM LEE © VS. KAT KELLY:
NHB TITLE
A burning Doll House is shown with melting figurines inside it, some hanging in the various rooms of that House….
Laughter then can be heard as the chimes of “Blue” by The Birthday Massacre begins to play throughout the arena….
The black and white video tron begins to play of a shadowy figure looking into the camera in a grungy feel to the video, a scream is heard as then the face of Rachel Tatum Lee with her eyes widen, smiling while laughing.……
Suddenly the dark figure known as Rachel Tatum Lee wearing an all-black leather trench coat, gloves, matching Stetson and a noose with a cowbell at the end of it around her neck walks out also sporting a Hannibal like black half leather studded mask. Though the most important part of her ensemble is the NHB Title belt around her waist. Stood behind her is an unexpected guest, her supporter, her loyal companion, William Mason. The two may come from vastly different walks of life but at that moment they walk together. The ring is their destination where Rachel will defend her NHB Championship.
Greyson: It’s been a night full of unbridled carnage, and speaking of disorder, the woman currently on her way to the ring has created quite a bit of it via her social media tirades the last few months.
Sparkles: She’s pretty much disavowed any association with our illustrious company.
Frankie: In no uncertain terms she’s pretty much said ‘fuck you and the horse you rode in on, IWC.’
Greyson: All stemming from a loss several months ago in the Number One Contenders Tournament.
Frankie: Some people just can’t handle losing. Me, I never have to worry about it, cause I NEVER lose.
Greyson: Rachel’s anger towards the IWC goes further than that.
Frankie: Well she’s just going to have to stop being a vagine and get her massive ass in gear, cause she’s got a big title defense coming up against Monarchy’s Kat Kelly.
Rachel has a few things to get off her mind before that match can happen. There’s an open mic in her hand and she’s taken the center of the ring as well as the focus of every fan in attendance.
Rachel: Ya’ll came here tonight expectin’ a title match. Ya wanted to see me get in this ring and tear myself to pieces defendin this championship (lifts the NHB Title), like I’ve done for damn near two years. But….but then what? What’s this company gonna expect of me afterwards? What do ya think my title defense, and destroying myself in the process is gonna earn me? A big fat fuckin’ NOTHIN!
William stands in the background nodding along with every agitated word flowing from an agitated woman.
Rachel: It doesn’t matter to the IWC that I’ve sacrificed myself over and over and over again to make this NHB Title one of the most prestigious belts in the business. It doesn’t matter that I’ve not been pinned in an IWC ring in over two years. Even with everything that I’ve accomplished there’s no chance for upward mobility. In the minds of the IWC, this here (looks at the belt in her palm) is as good as it’ll ever get for me. They still don’t look at me as a main eventer. They don’t think my name should be in marquees. They don’t think much of me AT ALL. And that’s made my decision ‘ere a little easier.
Another long look is taken at the NHB Title as it dangles from the palm of her hand.
Rachel: My contract came up at the tail end of 2015 and I don’t have any intention of…..
Kat: Are you done bitching yet?
Much to the dread of Rachel and the fans alike, she’s just been interrupted by the very woman slated to challenge her for the NHB Title this evening. Kat Kelly walks along through to the stage bearing her Tag Team Championship belt.
Greyson: Probably not the wisest decision to interrupt the most dangerous woman in professional wrestling.
Sparkles: That’s like sticking your hand on a sizzling skillet and expecting it not to be burned.
Frankie: Kat Kelly WOULDN’T be burned, cause she’s already one of the hottest women on the friggin planet.
Greyson: We’ve heard a lot of griping already from Monarchy, and from the looks of it we’re going to hear it from Kat as well. The very woman looking to add even more gold to her waist when she takes on Rachel for the NHB championship.
Kat: Like you have any reason to complain. Compared to Monarchy, the IWC treats you with all the respect of a foreign dignitary.
States the highly aggrieved Kelly.
Kat: You feel like you’ve been mistreated cause you haven’t advanced any higher up the card? Well put your huge big foot feet in MY boots. I was thrown out of a locker-room earlier and brutalized by the IWC security staff. I, and every other member of Monarchy, have been persecuted, and yet here you are whining just because you’re not in main events. Wake up, Trailer Park. You’ve not seen heartache, you’ve not suffered, at least not yet. But in a moment you WILL….
Kat flings aside the microphone rolls into the squared circle, eager to get her hands on the NHB Champion….or more accurately, to get her hands on the NHB Title. The bell sounds that very instant.
RACHEL TATUM LEE © VS. KAT KELLY:
NHB CHAMPIONSHIP
Frankie: Has the impromptu episode of the ‘VIEW’ ended yet?
Greyson: Enough bellyaching, it’s time for action. Rachel defending the belt against Kat Kelly and it’s happening right now.
Sparkles: Sparkles hasn’t heard so much pissing and moaning since George Lucas’ interview with Charlie Rose.
There’ll still be some moaning, but they’ll be moans of anguish. William Mason vacates the ring in order to watch as his lady lover Rachel flings her fist upside the face of her challenger. Kat is knocked back by one shot after another until she is bridging over the ropes. Rachel now takes her by the wrist and launches her off into the far ropes, catching her on the rebound with a Lou Thez Press. A hailstorm of jabs collide right across Kat’s cheek and her temple. This damage to the head is followed up via a running axehandle elbow smash unleashed by a furious champion.
Greyson: Rachel taking control in the early onset of this collision.
Frankie: Kat’s just building up to her first wind.
Rachel gets a bit more elevation on her next axehandle elbow, this time coming off the middle rope in order to drop it straight across her challenger’s face. A mere moment after hitting that damaging blow Rachel vacates the ring and retrieves a chair right out from under the ring announcer’s bum.
Sparkles: The tools of the trade already coming into play.
Back in the ring Kat is on all fours and totally unaware of the barbaric blow about to be inflicted on her. Rachel has the chair raised overhead and over the spine of her opposition, yet she hasn’t swung the weapon. For some reason Rachel is….hesitating?
Greyson: What’s the hold up here?
Rachel’s eyes drift from her opponent to the chair in her hands. Instead of putting the weapon to use Rachel tosses it down to the ring and then walks past it. In fact she seems to be moving out of the squared circle entirely.
Sparkles: Where’s Rachel going?
We never find out, cause the moment Rachel starts to make her exit Kat ambushes her from behind. Unlike the defending champion, her challenger utilizes the chair. The steel cracks Rachel between the kidneys. Kat then sets the chair in a seated position before she dare tangle with Rachel once again. She wedges a shoulder to the already bruised spine of her challenger before hoisting her into a back drop suplex. Rachel’s spine is put right through the chair, which folds under the weight of the champion.
Kat no sooner dumps Rachel into the steel before she makes her exit from the ring. Once on the outside she commandeers yet another chair, this one from beneath the squared circle. The weapon ends up wedged between the top and the middle rope, firmly rooted in a position that will prove career shortening for the defending champion. Rachel is dragged to her feet and placed in a side headlock, her skull about to be turned into a makeshift battering ram.
Kat runs towards the chair, pulling her opponent along with the intention of crushing the top of her skull against the chair. However, Rachel manages to avoid such a calamity, shoving Kat off and prying her head free from her opponent’s clutches. Kat ALMOST barges right into the chair, however she stops before colliding with the weapon. She then turns back to Rachel, who is flinging herself through the air into another Lou Thez Press. It’s not Kat that Rachel catches though, it’s Rachel who’s caught by Kat. The challenger reaches out and grabs the creases of the champion’s knees, yanking her legs out from under her and sending her toppling to her back. She won’t remain there for long because Kat is dropping back and catapulting Rachel along head first straight into the chair….naaah, straight THROUGH the chair.
Greyson: Rachel has to be regretting not using the chair when she had the opportunity.
Sparkles: Cause Kat has put it to some pretty good use in order to take control of this contest.
The impact with the chair has Rachel in dire straits, and it won’t be the last time she collides with the steel. Kat has taken it down out of the turnbuckle that she is now scaling to the top rope. Once poised high above her opponent Kat places the chair across her chest then flips back. Kat crashes into Rachel via the moonsault and with the chair stuck between them. The impact is fatal, leaving Rachel curled into the fetal position around her injured ribs. Kat crawls over the wounded mid-section of her opponent, hooking both legs.
1
2
Rachel lobs her shoulder out from under Kat, prolonging her reign. Try as she may Kat can’t help but to feel frustrated. She yanks Rachel almost out of her cowboy boots in the process of pulling her up to her feet. She puts hands to her opponent’s back, shoves her along into the ropes chest first and then catches her on the rebound with the Chelsea Smile. Kat lunges into the air, puts knees to her adversary’s spine and prepares to drop back into her finishing move.
Kat drops and it isn’t into the back-stabber. Instead Rachel counters via reaching back, catching Kat by the wrists and then falling forward, flipping her opponent over her head. Kat goes rolling across the canvas and straight into….no….ONTO the ropes. She leaps to the middle cable, springs off and twists back towards Rachel…no….into a chair.
Rachel leaps back to her feet with chair in hand then uses the top edge of it to crush the ribs of her airborne adversary. The blow takes Kat down from the heavens and into Rachel’s realm of hell. She lands on her feet doubling over her abs, so consumed by the pain in her mid-section that she doesn’t even see the boot of her opponent hurdling right into her temple. A sick kick knocks Kat along into the ropes and ultimately through them to ringside.
Rachel has followed right along behind her adversary and prepares to introduce her to a world of pain. The kendo stick she’s just retrieved from under the ring will help her do just that. She lifts it back over her shoulder and readies to drive it down into Kat’s kidneys, but once again she shows trepidation.
Sparkles: What’s going through Rachel’s head now?
Greyson: Why does she keep holding back?
Frankie: Even she knows it’s wrong to assault something as beautiful as Kat.
The kendo stick that could presumably turn the tide of this match back in Rachel’s direction is flung aside.
Greyson: Come on Rachel.
Frankie: Thank you, Rachel, for doing the right thing.
A disinterested Rachel turns her back on the kendo stick and on her adversary. She starts to walk away from the challenger but doesn’t get very far. Kat steps in behind Rachel, takes the back of her head and throws her along into the barricade. The brunt of the impact is felt on Rachel’s skull, with the back of it impacting the steel. She collapses in a heap beside the barrier. Her opponent however, is still up and is hustling to the ring apron. Kat charges along it before ultimately leaping into a basement dropkick that nails the seated Rachel in the chest, in the process driving her back against the barricade.
Sparkles: Kat continues to capitalize on her opponent’s….her opponent’s….well I guess I can only describe it as her opponent’s ‘disinterest.’
Greyson: Rachel’s heart is not in this match at all.
Frankie: Good thing it isn’t, cause Kat’s just the type of lady who would cut Rachel’s heart out with a meat cleaver.
All the air has been knocked out of Rachel, who already came into this match with no wind in her sails. Kat makes it even harder for her opponent to breathe when she comes flying off the barrier and into a leg drop straight across Rachel’s throat. This is followed up by another attempt at the pin.
1
2
The NHB Champion prevents the loss of her championship, kicking out on instinct and instinct only. An embittered Kat has extracted another weapon from beneath the squared circle, a trashcan lid this time. Why a trashcan lid is stored under the ring is anybody’s guess. Whatever. Kat has the lid in her hands as she runs at Rachel and readies to cave in some skull with steel. That’s exactly what happens, because Kat’s leg is caught and she finds her momentum turned against her as she’s shot into the air and dropped face first against the barricade. Rachel has just flapjacked her along straight into the barrier, giving her a mouth full of metal. Mmmm….minty.
Kat bounces off the barricade and stays on her feet…aww dangit. She regrets standing the momentum she turns around towards Rachel, finds herself heaved into the air and then hit with a scoop slam right across the ring steps.
Greyson: Even with Rachel’s heart not exactly in this match she’s still mangling Kat!
Frankie: Come on Rachel. I thought you appreciated Kat’s loveliness and that’s why you were holding back. Attacking Kat is like attacking a Bob Ross scenery portrait, you just don’t destroy a work of art.
Kat’s spine fought steel and the steel definitely won. She falls off the stairs which are being separated at that very second. Whhhy? To expose the lower section silly goose. Rachel has laid the ground work so that she can put on a duel display of her barbarity and of her strength. She hoists Kat up into the air, turns and then powerbombs her straight down onto the lower section of stairs.
Frankie: Good golly molly! What’s wrong with you you damned Texas inbred!?!
Greyson: It looks to me like Rachel has finally decided to take out all of her frustrations on Kat for everything that is going wrong with her career here in the IWC.
Sparkles: Sparkles should soooo do the same to you, Lovejoy.
Greyson: Great. First I have to watch my words around New Eden, then we have Monarchy members up in our faces throwing around threats, and now I’m being intimidated by my damned puppet.
Frankie: All in a good days work.
Apparently Kat won’t be in any condition to get up in the grills of the commentators. She’s too busy being lifted into a second powerbomb right into the stairs. This impact proves to be even more fatal than the last collision between Kat and the steps. Rachel could realistically follow this up with a pin but instead she’s got other ideas, and not even a therapist would want to know what’s on her twisted agenda. We all soon find out when she reaches under the squared circle, locks her hands on a table and starts to slip it into a better position. That position is the ring where the wood is soon set up and placed so that a body will no doubt go careening through it. Kat will no doubt be that body and it looks as if she’s in no condition to prevent it from happening. Although she’s sliding back into the ring that’s about the extent of what she’s got left after being powerbombed onto the steel steps twice. All the pain that courses through her body is only exacerbated when she rises to her knees and sluggishly lifts two fingers into the air, two middle fingers. She shoots them right in the direction of the NHB Champion. Not the smartest gesture to make towards a woman who just set up a table and to a woman who is very gifted at putting those tables to use.
Greyson: NO…SHE…DIDN’T.
Frankie: Hahahahaha, Kat telling Rachel exactly what she thinks of her.
Sparkles: She’s definitely not saying that Rachel is number one.
These two middle fingers from the defiant Kat have stuck straight in Rachel’s crawl. She makes sure that Kat will never insult her again, stepping over her opponent’s head and pulling her up into position for the powerbomb. This time said powerbomb will be through the table. She looks towards the wood at her side that she intends to put her opponent through….no….wait…she’s NOT looking at the table, she’s looking PAST the table. Her eyes are on her man William Mason at ringside.
Sparkles: Why is Rachel looking straight at my Willie?
Something changes in Rachel, something…SNAPS.
Rachel: Is this what ya’ll want?
She looks from William to the fans eagerly waiting to see her put Kat through the table.
Rachel: Is this what will entertain ya?
Hell yes it will, and that’s exactly why Rachel isn’t doing it. She lets go of Kat, leaves the ring and grabs something else, her title belt. Rachel returns to the ring where she stands over Kat, who is still clutching at her battered lower back. Rachel could exacerbate the injuries to her opponent’s spine, but she isn’t.
Rachel: That’s what the IWC wants, ya know. They want me to entertain ya. They want me to be the dancin’ monkey with the drums in my hands, but that’s not me, that’s never been me. And I refuse to become somethin’ I’m not, especially when it’s for a company that has never respected, no, has never given a gahd damn about all my sacrifices.
The NHB Title in her hand is thrown right down to the ring at her feet.
Rachel: I’m through killing myself and killing others when this company shits on me and shits on me and SHITS ON ME! I came to this ring tonight not to fight ya Kat, so count your blessins. I’m out here for one damn reason, and that’s to announce that I did not resign with the IWC, so as if this moment I’m RETIRED!
Greyson: WHAT!!???!!
Frankie: Wow.
Rachel: The Hardcore Cowgirl has left the building.
The microphone falls right beside the title belt that Rachel has spent the bulk of the past several years defending. It appears that she has no emotional attachment to it at all, or anything that is linked to the IWC whatsoever. She steps over the belt, steps past her opponent, and waltzes straight out of the ring. She drops down beside William who was waiting to place an arm across her shoulders. Though Rachel is in such a state that she would prefer not to be touched, she lets William cozy up beside her as the two walk to the back.
Sparkles: Sparkles had no idea that Rachel’s hatred for the IWC ran so deep.
Greyson: She couldn’t have been more vocal about it over social media.
Frankie: This shouldn’t come as a shock, but it really-really does, especially when you consider that Rachel just threw down her NHB Title.
Greyson: There are no words to describe how stunned I am at this moment.
Everyone is in the exact same boat as Greyson. Each fan wears an identical expression of shock as they watch Rachel and Mason make their exit from the Manhattan Center for what will be the final time. They leave behind quite a legacy, and a NHB Title belt. But don’t worry, the strap won’t be alone for very much longer. Although Kat Kelly is in a lot of pain and doesn’t quite know what the hell just happened she does know that she doesn’t want to leave the ring empty handed. Rachel might not want anything to do with the NHB Title, but Kat does. She crawls towards the belt and slowly lifts it off the canvas, looking at her reflection in the championship. A smile expands across her face as she rises to her knees and lifts the NHB Title over her head.
Greyson: Waaait a minute. What is Kat thinking here?
Frankie: Oh my God….OH MY GOD….you know what this means? Have you any appreciation for what we’re seeing here?
Greyson: Don’t even…..
Frankie: Rachel vacated her championship in the middle of the match soooo….
Greyson: There’s no way this is legal.
Frankie: That makes Kat Kelly the NEW NHB Champion!
Greyson: That’s absolutely ridiculous….
Frankie: NEW CHAMPION! NEW CHAMPION!! NEW CHAAAMPPIOOON!!!
Greyson: This is outrageous.
As Kat stands up she winces from the pain that courses through her lower back. Nevertheless she gets her legs under her and the NHB Title high over her head. Just because this moment wasn’t disgusting enough here comes Kat’s nearest and dearest friends Lexy Chapel and Alistair Taylor to join in on the ‘frivolity.’ They slide into the ring jump to either side of Kat and hop around with her battered body stuck between them.
Frankie: Yes! Oh my God YES! What was the worst night in Monarchy’s lives ever has just become the GREATEST OF ALL TIMES! Kat Kelly is your new NHB Champion babay!
Greyson: Because Rachel forfeited the championship and walked out on the comp….
Frankie: SHUT THE FUCK UP!
The fans have no idea how to process what their seeing, though they do know they don’t like it. They express disgust at the sight of Lexy and Alistair lifting Kat up and onto their shoulders as she raises the NHB Title with between both of her hands.
Greyson: This can’t be legal….
Frankie: It’s not only legal, it’s HISTORY! This is the most historic championship win in…in….in….FOREVER! Look, I’m so damned excited I’ve got an erection.
Greyson: Kat may be holding that title, but the story here is that Rachel Tatum Lee has retired as an active competitor. Man, the IWC lawyers are going to be up in arms over this.
Of all the things held in the trunk of a car the body of Andre Jordan wouldn’t typically be amongst them. Yet that’s where we find the unconscious IWC superstar at present, hands bound and mouth gagged. He’s been deprived of consciousness, mobility and soon light when the trunk door slams shut. The camera pulls back to reveal Mika Kozlov and Borislav stood at the bumper of the car, the two discussing the fate of their captive.
Mika: I knew you would come through for me, my big medved.
Her hands are pressed to Borislav’s hairy chest.
Mika: You made this romantic getaway possible. Spasibo.
Borislav nods to his beloved Mika and then joins her in jumping into the car. The two speed out of the parking lot with Andre Jordan still locked inside of the trunk. Although the camera should be following the vehicle as it exits the arena instead it changes focus, descending towards a letter that is laying on the ground. A letter that was hand written by Andre’s agent Tabitha Silverstone.
The talisman brought into the dilapidated building somehow shimmers in spite of a lack of lighting. It never leaves Dan Douglas’ sight, the medallion having served him so well over the past few months in managing to control the mind of his client. But in recent weeks he’s found that influence fading, which is what brought him into that broken down structure, seeking guidance from the individual perpetually shrouded in shadows.
Douglas: So in effect what you’re telling me is that you’re giving the talisman a tune up?
Douglas refuses to leave anything in question.
Voice: Yes. I’ve channeled some of my power directly into it.
The talisman is extended to Dan but before he can take hold of it he finds the gold pulled back just out of his reach.
Voice: Not just yet. I want to hear you say it.
Douglas takes a deep breath before reciting the most important words he’s ever spoken.
Douglas: I promise…..
Voice: Promise me what?
Douglas: That I will never let this talisman out of my hands.
Voice: Good, because if you lose it, you lose control of your client.
The talisman is placed in Dan’s palm, however the person giving it to him has yet to fully relinquish possession.
Voice: And that’ll be the least of your worries.
There’s another glimpse of the Steel Cage that has perpetually hung over the squared circle throughout the night, an ominous warning for the main event still yet to come.
Greyson: Well guys, we’re finally about to see it happen. In a matter of moments that Steel Cage is going to come down to the ring and both Selena Frost and Alistair Taylor will be locked inside of it.
Sparkles: Sparkles cannot wait to see this one finally happen.
Frankie: You should be excited considering that we’ve hyped the ever living shit out of the match all night long.
Greyson: And we’re not through hyping the first main event of 2016. We’ve got another look at what brought about this Cage match.
UPPING THE ANTE
We’re transported back in time, and we don’t even need a DeLorean or a Taris to get there. With the magic of video editing the fans are treated to images from the last match that Selena Frost and Alistair Taylor collided in, the absolutely brutal Tables Are Legal bout at Upping the Ante. Multiple tables are destroyed in the process of this war between bitter rivals. Selena is shown putting Alistair through one after she leaps off, of all things, the Cartel-tron. Alistair gives just as good as he takes though, putting Selena through a table via a death valley driver from the top rope. Neither plunge through wood pays off with a pinfall for either athlete, motivating them to up the violence quota. As a result, in the twilight of the bout, both Alistair and Selena find themselves tumbling off a tipped over ladder and crashing through stacked tables at ringside. The crowd in the arena that night give a standing ovation to the destruction they just witnessed, to the sight of the rivals lying side by side unconscious amongst the multiple tables that broke their bodies and left them incapable of continuing on.
The show returns live to Riot just as the tunes of “Satisfied” hit the loud speakers. The fans are whipped instantly into a frenzy at the sight of Katelyn Buehler making her way down the ramp for the second time tonight.
Greyson: At Upping the Ante there was no winner between Frost and Alistair, but tonight inside of the cage there MUST be a winner.
Sparkles: We’re scheduled to see that Steel Cage match coming up next, though at the moment we’ve got the World Champion on her way to the ring.
Frankie: Hasn’t she had enough? Didn’t New Eden beat her up enough already?
Greyson: Earlier on she came to the ring looking for a fight with Mika Kozlov, one of the ladies set to challenge her for the World Title at Last Stand. From what I understand it’s not Mika she’s out here to call out at the moment though….
Frankie: Who’s she gonna call out? If it’s Taylor Chase, the other woman lined up to challenge her for the title at Last Stand, then we won’t have to wait till the pay-per-view to see the championship change hands.
Greyson: It doesn’t matter who she’s challenging, because one way or another we’ve got guaranteed chaos on tap after this commercial break. Don’t go anywhere fans, the World Champion headed for the ring and she’s here to pick a fight!
Sparkles: And Selena Frost and Alistair Taylor to fight inside of the Steel Cage, all of that still coming your way NEXT.
Riot returns not with a scene from backstage or whatever location has bred chaos this evening, but with a video graphic designed for only one purpose….HYPE. With the sound of the Riot theme song blaring in the background, on one side of the screen we can discern the images of competitors Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas stood shoulder to shoulder. On the other side of the graphic are Ryan Watson and Orlando Cruze, the two Monarchy members frozen in their trademark poses.
Sparkles: Welcome back ladies and gentlemen, and we’ve got some blockbuster news for you.
Greyson: Blockbuster might not be good enough to describe it. We’ve got a MASSIVE match just announced for the next Riot.
Frankie: Monarchy have another chance to show who rules this company.
Greyson: After the events of earlier tonight we’re going to see Ryan Watson and Orlando Cruze team up in tag action to take on Marina Valdivia and Victoria Salinas. MAN what a match that’s going to be.
Sparkles: The war between Monarchy and the IWC roster carries over into the next Riot with tag team action.
Greyson: Speaking of action, let’s get back to the ring where our World Champion has been waiting.
As advertised Katelyn Buehler is stood right in the middle of the ring, hobbling on her bum wheel and wearing the World Title over her weakened arm. Yeah, her body has seen better days, but injuries aside Katelyn is still ready for a fight. As she speaks into the mic her eyes slowly rise from her belt and twist to the stage.
Katelyn: I’m not going to list off my motivation for being out here, we covered that earlier tonight, just remove the words ‘Mika Kozlov’ and replace them with ‘Taylor Chase.’ At the start of this show I challenged Mika to come out here and answer for breaking that board over my arm back at the End of the Year Special. Instead of responding to my challenge New Eden came out here and ruined everything in an effort to ingratiate themselves to everyone’s favorite Harley Quinn wannabe. That’s not going to happen again. Cause I’m not asking Mika to come out and face me, I’m ordering YOU, Tay-Tay, to get out here and give these fans a preview of what they can expect in our triple threat match at Last Stand.
Frankie: Dumbest bitch on the planet.
Greyson: You have GOT to admire Katelyn’s heart and courage.
Frankie: Thank God she’s got that because she sure as hell doesn’t have a brain.
Sparkles: Katelyn scheduled to defend the World Title against Mika Kozlov and Taylor Chase at Last Stand, but she’s been determined to get her hands on her opponents throughout the night.
Frankie: Which didn’t work out for her earlier and won’t work out for her now.
Katelyn’s eyes are zoomed in on the stage in anticipation of Taylor’s arrival. She won’t take her attention from the curtains that remain absolutely flaccid, showing no movement whatsoever, meaning that no one is coming through them.
Katelyn: Tay, you’ve said time after time that you have to ‘pay to see Tay,’ but tonight that saying has to be changed to ‘Tay is gonna pay….’
Ryan: That’s the BEST you could come up with?
It seems that Ryan Watson is legitimately amused by what he just heard and even more tickled by seeing the anger encapsulated in Katelyn’s eyes.
Ryan: You think words like that are going to draw a woman like Taylor Chase to the ring with a scrap eater like you? I don’t think so. In fact I know so.
The revelations just keep on coming from Ryan the closer and closer he gets to the squared circle.
Ryan: Tay caught wind of the fact that you were going to come out here and raise some type of stink to try and lure her to the ring. But Tay has nothing left to prove against you. She’s beaten you time and time again, and she’ll only do it again when there’s something to be gained from it. You won’t see her in the ring with you, Kate, until you’re dropping the championship to her at Last Stand. Cause like I said, she’s got nothing to prove against you, I on the other hand, do. You put your hands on me at the End of the Year Special, and I didn’t particularly like that, nor did I enjoy the penicillin shot I had to get afterwards.
Katelyn: Sweetheart, if you get in this ring with me right now it won’t be a shot of penicillin you need afterwards, it’ll be a blood transfusion.
Ryan: (Chuckling) I do adore you’re trailer park trash-talk.
Katelyn: It’s not talk.
Ryan: Face reality, just look at you. You can’t walk, you can barely lift your arm, you’ve already taken one beating tonight, and frankly, you’re just not….on….my….level.
Katelyn: Awww, nice to see you’re keeping your insults at that typical Monarchy grade-school level.
Ryan: But everything you’ve already been through, will be nothing compared to what happens when I get in that ring with you….champ.
Katelyn: Well this is my house Ryan, and the front door is wide open.
The back and forth banter ends and now it’s time for some back and forth physicality. Ryan climbs up to the ring and stares Katelyn down, tensions now at their highest with the fans frothing at the mouths in anticipation of seeing these two go at it.
Greyson: Here we go guys, Katelyn and Watson. We’ve been waiting for this since Watson made his debut interfering in Katelyn’s title defense.
Sparkles: That was back at Upping the Ante, and things have only escalated since then.
Frankie: An injured shoulder and a bum leg are about to be the least of Katelyn’s worries.
The crowd has had enough waiting and so has either Buehler or Watson. The ropes no longer separate the two, their fists colliding with the bones in their faces.
Greyson: It’s on! Watson and Katelyn! It’s on!
Sparkles: This might not be the fight Kate wanted, but getting her hands in Watson should make her just as happy as fighting it out with Tay-Tay.
The punches go on flying and connecting, Katelyn surprisingly holding her own in spite of her injuries. All the rage towards Monarchy that has building inside of her, keeps both of her fists flying and both ramming right down Watson’s face. He retaliates with shots of his own that pack quite a wallop. Just as these two really get into it we see a slew of bodies hustling for the squared circle. Monarchy members Lucas Knight, Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly, Orlando Cruze and Alistair Taylor are hustling for the squared circle, looking to out-number and to overwhelm the unsuspecting Champion.
Greyson: We should have known this wouldn’t stay one on one.
Sparkles: Not when it comes to Monarchy.
Frankie: They watch out for one another, nothing wrong with that.
Once Monarchy reach the ring they realize that Katelyn wasn’t quite as ‘unsuspecting’ as they thought. She knew the fix was in the second that Watson showed up on the stage. That’s why she turns away from Watson and swings her boot straight up into Alistair’s crotch. Suddenly Alistair knows exactly how his testicles taste considering they’ve just been knocked straight up into his mouth. After successfully hitting the extra point Katelyn leaps out of the ring, though she will receive no refuge beyond the ropes. Monarchy are still hot on her heels, Watson, Orlando, Kat, Lexy and Lucas have rolled out of the ring and are pursuing the World Champion up the ramp. Although her ankle is killing her, Katelyn blocks out the pain in order to jaunt out of harm’s way. She runs to the back with Monarchy nipping at her heels.
Frankie: Catch her, don’t let her get away!
Greyson: God almighty, did you guys hear the sound of Katelyn’s boot nailing Alistair in the balls?
Sparkles: Like the heart of the Grinch, those testies are probably swollen to three times their normal size.
An addled Alistair is on his knees in the ring with both hands cupping his injured boys. His injured testicles might just prove to be the least of his concerns since a steel cage has started to descend from the rafters.
Sparkles: That cage coming down guys.
Frankie: Get out of the ring Alistair before you get trapped inside.
Greyson: He’s supposed to be locked inside, Frankie. He’s scheduled to take on Selena Frost inside of the cage.
Frankie: But-but-but he’s got an injury to his balls. This isn’t fair.
Greyson: Oh, and he and the rest of Monarchy ambushing Katelyn IS fair?
Before Alistair realizes it he’s surrounded by four walls of unforgiving steel mesh. His eyes slowly look up from his injured groin and widen at the sight of the cage that he’s been trapped inside of.
Selena: What better place than here, what better time than now?
The ovation is off the charts for the Queen of Wrestling Champion. Selena Frost has stepped along to the stage and her faithful companion Deanna Springs is right at her side. It almost becomes hard for her to speak over the deafening cries of ‘we believe’ emanating from the capacity crowd.
Selena: Al (points with her title belt at the man in the cage) I promised my wife a very special wedding present, and I intend to give it to her tonight. Wanna know what that present is?
Alistair really doesn’t.
Selena: The sight of your face grinding across each and every inch of those cage walls.
Selena starts down the ramp and towards the cage that will serve her in achieving retribution on her long standing rival.
Greyson: Alistair and Selena inside of the cage, we’re seeing it NOW!
Katelyn Buehler continues to push past the strain on her injured ankle as she hustles along through the corridor backstage. Her final destination is the exit door, pushing right through as she escapes the arena. Trudging along directly behind her are Orlando Cruze, Ryan Watson, Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly and Lucas Knight, the bulk of Monarchy’s forces following Katelyn out of the Manhattan Center. The moment the door closes behind their backs the sounds of chain links clinking together can be heard filling the hallway they just vacated. Principle Owner Karen McBride comes into view, holding a chain and a padlock that she employs to bar shut the door that serves as exit and entrance to the arena. She then looks back over her shoulder at her sisters Melanie and Blaire, who watch as Karen effectively locks Monarchy out of the building.
Karen: Notify security to put chains on all the entrances. No member of Monarchy are allowed back in this arena until after the cage match is over.
SELENA FROST VS. ALISTAIR TAYLOR:
STEEL CAGE
And that cage match is getting underway rather Monarchy likes it or not. In the case of Alistair Taylor, he’s definitely in the latter. He is stood in the corner of the ring clutching at the testicles that were given quite the kick before this match could get underway and watching as Selena Frost closes the cage door. She is now locked inside with Alistair.
Greyson: Things just got a little clearer.
Sparkles: It looks like Katelyn Buehler lured Monarchy out of the arena so that the Principle Owner….
Frankie: That heinous toe jam Karen McBride….
Sparkles:….could lock Monarchy out of the arena and keep them from interfering in the cage match.
Frankie: Karen is making this an intolerable working environment for Monarchy, and our World Champion isn’t making things any better for them.
Greyson: Well thanks to Katelyn and Karen, this cage match is happening with Alistair and Selena going one on one.
Currently there is no support for Alistair at ringside, there’s only Deanna Springs in Selena’s corner. She watches through the cage as her wife runs the length of the ring, going straight after Alistair. She leaps into the air and she catches her rival in the corner with a big splash. She then bounces from her adversary and takes him by the back of his head. Alistair’s eyes widen as he’s pulled across the ring and then ultimately thrown over the ropes face first into the mesh wall.
Greyson: That didn’t take very long.
Sparkles: We knew this was going to be brutal, but Sparkles didn’t think it be this brutal this fast.
Alistair’s face ricochets off the steel, his head bouncing back into Selena’s hands. She spins him around and prepares to introduce his skull into the opposite cage wall. She takes off dragging Alistair along with her only to have him slip right out of her clutches at the last second. He then turns to the cage door and instinctively starts to walk towards it, preparing to make his exit. Selena isn’t about to let him get away that easy. She grabs Alistair by the waist-band, pulls him back to the middle of the ring and readies to unleash the Icebreaker. She has him in the front facelock, signaling for her impaler DDT.
Greyson: Selena’s going straight to the big guns early.
Frankie: This isn’t fair, Alistair wasn’t ready.
To the disbelief of everyone in the arena Alistair is already being hoisted up and driven down with Selena’s rendition of the impaler DDT. His head hits hard and it would now appear that his body is totally incapacitated. Selena leaps back to her feet and screams to her adoring audience.
Selena: BELIEVE!
The crowd replies with chants of ‘we believe,’ as they watch Selena drop down into the cover. She makes the lateral press while the referee makes the count.
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No-no-no, Selena isn’t through yet, which is why she rears back from her opponent. She kneels beside his unconscious body with her eyes no longer fixated on Alistair but at the cage.
Greyson: What are you doing Selena, you could’ve just got the pin.
Sparkles: That’s not what Selena is after.
Frankie: That is dumbest move I’ve ever seen. Then again I would never suspect anything less from a blonde.
Selena steps over the unconscious Alistair on her way towards the corner, scaling to the top but not stopping there. She grabs the cage wall and ascends it.
Greyson: Looks like instead of pinning Alistair, Selena is going to escape the cage.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think so.
Selena’s motives become a bit more transparent when she gets her balance on the top of the cage and turns to face the man laid out in the center of the ring. The excitement is through the roof and Selena’s head might hit it if she’s not careful.
Frankie: Don’t you do it Selena, don’t you dare do it!
Selena looks out over the crowd that is chanting her name as she summons her courage for the most death defying leap imaginable. She lunges from the top of the cage, lunges over the ring and lunges right into a frog splash that hits….CANVAS….Alistair rolls out of the way at just the right time, causing Selena to go plummeting into the ring with such force that is instantly knocks every bit of fight out of her body.
Greyson: Selena off the top of the cage!
Frankie: And right down on her face across the canvas!
Sparkles: We saw her come off the top of the Cartel-tron back at Upping the Ante, and although she was successful that night in connecting with Alistair, she wasn’t here in this cage match.
Greyson: Alistair got out of the way with just a second to spare.
Frankie: And it has literally opened the door for him.
A battered Alistair uses the ropes to get his balance, leaning back against the cables and clasping the top one with one hand. He keeps the other arm across his brow, which is still hurting after the Icebreaker. Although he’s been rocked he still manages to walk towards the cage door, looking to make his exit. He reaches it and then stops, stops right in front of the ropes, right in front of the exit that he could use to win this match. Instead of escaping through the door, he looks past it at the woman stood on the opposite side. Deanna Springs is shaking her head as she looks into the steel at the big smile plastered across Alistair’s face. If the sight of him wasn’t appalling enough she now has to watch as Alistair looks back over his shoulder at the prone Selena.
Frankie: Get out of there Alistair, now’s your chance.
Greyson: I think he wants to HURT Selena and do it in front of her wife.
Sparkles: The very same woman that Alistair powerbombed through a table several months ago.
An embittered Deanna watches as Alistair grabs hold of her wife’s hair and gives it a yank. Alistair pulls Selena across her knees towards the cage, putting her face right against it. As he grinds Selena’s forehead back and forth across the mesh he looks over her body at the woman stood outside the cage. Deanna’s expression has darkened, her eyes almost turning red as she watches her wife get mauled by their common foe.
Alistair delights in having Deanna’s utmost attention and having Selena’s life in the palms of his hands. He takes the Queen of Wrestling Champion by the wrist and shoots her off into the ropes, catching her on the rebound with a Double A spinebuster. All of Alistair’s muscle is put into driving her down into the canvas with enough force to shed a year or two off of her career. After hitting the spinning spinebuster Alistair pops up to his feet with his arms taking the creases of Selena’s knees. He looks back at the cage wall that he intends to catapult his opponent’s face into.
The crowd and Deanna alike cringe as they watch Selena being catapulted over the ropes and towards the cage wall. Right before she collides with the steel Selena manages to wrap her hands around it, catching the wall instead of smacking against it. She finds her footing on the top rope and could realistically escape the cage. Instead she turns and leaps from the ropes, sailing directly into her opponent’s waiting arms. Alistair catches Selena, smiles and then throws her up onto his shoulder. He runs across the ring and ends his jaunt via throwing his opponent with a snake eyes right into the cage.
Greyson: Another vicious impact with the cage!
Frankie: Deanna’s seriously going to regret marrying Selena after she comes out of this match looking like a damned circus freak.
Alistair is ready to further mangle Selena when she bounces off the cage she was just tossed into and stumbles into the t-bone suplex. Selena is thrown high over Alistair’s head with her body landing in devastating fashion against the ring. After delivering the suplex Alistair rises to his feet, albeit crouched at the knees as he blows a kiss to Selena’s wife. Deanna’s lip twitches in anger as Alistair insists on making these grotesque overtures to her. On the flip side of the equation Alistair delights in seeing Selena look so uncomfortable, and gets even more amusement out of debilitating her wife. He drags Selena up from the ring and yanks her via the wrist straight into a short arm clothesline.
Frankie: See, see this, I said that Alistair would dominate this match, and I was right.
Sparkles: You can so see the future, Frankie. Are you a wizard?
Frankie: No, but I am absolutely magical. Watch as I make the bra on that chick in the front row DISAPPEAR!
Alistair seems on the cusp of disappearing from the cage as he steps past his fallen opponent and nears the door. It looks like he’s on the brink of exiting and winning the bout but Selena isn’t about to let it happen. She reaches out and snatches hold of Alistair’s ankle, keeping him from progressing any further. A look of annoyance consumes Alistair’s face as he reaches down and slaps the back of his opponent’s head in an act of sheer disrespect. A bundle of Selena’s hair is used to yank her to her feet and then into another short arm clothesline.
It seems Alistair is availing himself of the match at this point, wiping his hands clean of Selena and this bout entirely. He approaches the cage door, on the verge of making his exit. He crouches down to slip through the ropes only he never gets through them. Instead he’s pulled back from the cables, back from the door, and away from a potential victory via the back slide. Selena surprises Alistair by stealing victory right from his clutches.
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To the despair of the masses Alistair gets out of his predicament, preventing defeat.
Frankie: How dare you Selena, how dare you try to upset Alistair.
Greyson: What, you did not FORESEE that happening?
Alistair definitely didn’t see that pin happening either, but he won’t end up with egg on his face. A second after kicking out he runs right at his opponent only to be crushed under the chin with a leaping knee strike. Selena throws more than knees, going for a roundhouse kick. It seems she overreached though, Taylor ducking the kick that goes flying right past his head. Selena spins through, turning back to her rival who immediately latches onto her wrist. Alistair drags Selena into the short arm clothesline, a move meant to decapitate her but instead proving to be a move that puts momentum right back in her hands. Alistair twists through his missed clothesline, turns back to Selena and gets a kick to his ribs, a kick that he CATCHES. One of Selena’s boots are caught across Alistair’s stomach, giving him a false sense of security. Unfortunately he’s forgotten about Selena’s OTHER foot. She successfully connects with the leg-feed enzugari, the bottom of her free boot smacking Alistair straight in the kisser.
The blow to the mouth almost cleaves the Monarchy member’s head right from his shoulders, and yet somehow he’s still on his feet. Still on his feet and turning until he’s back to facing Selena and what’s even more shocking is that he’s no selling the effect of her kick as he rushes right at her. Alistair has all the momentum in the world behind his mad dash, which proves to be his detriment. Selena side steps him, catches the back of Alistair’s head and uses his momentum to throw him right over the ropes and right along face first into the cage. Alistair’s head ALMOST goes right through the mesh, the wiring digging deep into his skull.
Alistair stumbles away from the cage that Selena is climbing. She leaps to the very wall her opponent’s head just crashed off. She balances herself on the top rope, turns to Alistair and then forward flips into a senton, her back crashing straight into her adversary’s chest. Alistair is laid out while Selena sits at his side, looking spent. Surprisingly Alistair is the first to begin moving, crawling to the ropes and using them to get his feet back under him. He was better off staying on his back because he has put his face close enough to the cage to be rammed against it. Selena steps in from behind, grabs the back of Alistair’s head and just starts swinging. Alistair’s face hits the cage once, twice, three times, four times, five times. It’s after the fifth collision with the mesh that Alistair manages to get his elbow into Selena’s ribs, driving her back. She staggers all the way to the other end of the ring and falls against the ropes while Alistair follows her in. He runs along with his body about to crush Selena. He connects…that is his FACE collides with the cage.
Selena side steps Alistair, catches his head and rams his mug against the cage wall, once, twice, three times, four times, and ultimately a fifth time.
Greyson: Alistair is just getting mutilated in there.
Sparkles: How many times has Selena rammed his face into the cage?
Not enough apparently.
As Alistair’s face leans against the cage Selena runs in from behind and hits a one legged dropkick to the back of his skull. Alistair pops back off the cage and Selena is yet again crawling towards it. She grabs the mesh and steadily starts climbing, moving closer and closer to the top. On the mats far below her Deanna is cheering her wife on, compelling her to climb out and climb quickly. Her pleas are for good reason, Deanna trying to warn Selena that her opponent is not only back on his feet but climbing the cage beneath her. Selena looks back and spots Alistair coming, but doesn’t have time to react before his fist is nailing her in the ribs. The shot doubles Selena over and her hand is caught, leading her down from the cage wall onto Alistair’s shoulders. He balances himself on the top rope and then leaps into a SUPER DVD that drives his adversary almost THROUGH the ring.
Greyson: OOOOOOH!!!
Sparkles: Death Valley Driver from the top rope!
Frankie: Pin her Alistair, pin her-pin her-PIN HER!!!
Unfortunately for Alistair a pin is not easily accessible. He’s pretty banged up, making every one of his movements agony, and meaning he’s moving pretty gingerly as he crawls along to Selena. He feels the strain even as he extends an arm and drops it over his rival’s chest.
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Sparkles: In the words of my Willie, Selena Frost, thanks for coming.
In order for that last sentence to ring true, Selena would have to be leaving, and she isn’t! Instead she’s kicking out with some defiance! A stunned Alistair rolls to his seat, in disbelief that Selena didn’t just kick out, but kicked out of a mother lovin’ DVD from the top rope. If a pin isn’t possible Alistair makes other plans, crawling towards the cage door that has been opened for him to make an exit.
Frankie: Just a little further Alistair, just a few inches further and you’re FREE!
Sparkles: He’s right there at the door, and this time Selena isn’t stopping him.
Instead of stopping Alistair, Selena languishes in the middle of the ring, her body ravaged by that Death Valley Driver. Yet in spite of the physical toll this match has taken on her, Selena’s hands raise into the air as her cries fill the arena.
Selena: BELIEVE! BELIEVE! BELIEVE!!
Everyone in the Manhattan Center chant along with the Snow Queen, her energy infectious. Alistair seems to be the lone contrarian. Not only does he refuse to chant along but the chants actually seem to be turning his stomach. Alistair is right at the cage door, right about to slip through it and potentially make his exit but that chant, that damn chant that Selena is leading, it’s eating away at him. Instead of stepping through the cage door he grabs it and gives it a yank forceful enough to tear it right off of its hinges.
Greyson: What the fuck!?!
Sparkles; Alistair just ripped the door off the cage!
Frankie: It’s this stupid chant that Selena is leading, it’s making Alistair sick.
Greyson: It just turned him into the Incredible Hulk.
Alistair has a little trouble carrying the cage door yet he manages to drag it along towards the corner of the ring. He leans the steel structure diagonally against the turnbuckle, setting it in place before he goes after the Queen of Wrestling Champion, looking to cruelly introduce her to the door. He kicks her to the gut and pulls head under his seat before pointing over her body towards the item he’s just turned into a weapon. Selena finds herself on Alistair’s shoulders as he runs the length of the ring and prepares to powerbomb her into the cage door. Right before she can be thrown into the steel Selena throws something else, her fist, ramming it straight down Alistair’s throat. She punches him as many times as it takes in order for his grip to weaken enough so that she slips from his shoulders. As she goes down to the ring her arm wraps around Alistair’s head, dragging it down into position for Icebreaker.
Greyson: Another Icebreaker DDT is coming!
Alistair isn’t about to feel the sting of this blow twice, putting hands to Selena’s ribs and shoving her back. Selena ALMOST hits the cage door only to catch herself, swinging arms out to her sides to stay upright. Only in the end she leaves her feet, of her own accord, in order to put them to the ribs of the inbound Alistair and monkey flip him right into the door slanted between the corner and the ring.
Sparkles: HOLY GOUDA!!!
Greyson: Alistair monkey flipped into that door!
Frankie: I honestly didn’t think we’d see THAT used as a weapon in this match.
Greyson: You never know what is going to come into play in an environment as dangerously unpredictable as a steel cage bout.
Alistair just learned that the hard way, given the damage just inflicted to his back. He is left in no condition to stop Selena, who walks past him and walks up the corner the door he’s lying on top of is slanted against. Selena gets to the top rope and then grabs the cage, starting the arduous process of scaling it.
Greyson: Selena trying to make her exit again.
Sparkles: Hopefully this doesn’t end with her taking another DVD from the top rope.
History seems doomed to repeat itself. Selena is almost at the top of the cage before her ankle is caught. Selena is in shock as she looks down at Alistair stood on the top rope latching onto her leg. Selena has to escape and she uses her fists to do so. She punches Alistair in his scalp, only the shot isn’t thwarting his efforts. He drags her down to the top rope, standing her beside him and then pushing her back into the cage. Selena bounces off the steel and then flops forward straight into Alistair’s arms. It seems he’s going to hit her with a super belly to belly suplex. Though appearances are deceiving. Selena hits forearms to either side of Alistair’s head, then cracks him under the chin with another strike. The last blow was enough to knock Alistair off of his feet and cause him to land seat first across the top rope. He falls into perhaps the most unenviable position, the dreaded tree of woe.
Greyson: Alistair is caught up in the ropes. This is your chance Selena, climb out.
That’s just what Selena has in mind, climbing up the cage wall. Yet just before she reaches the top something compels her to stop. She looks back over her shoulder at Alistair, who is sitting up from the tree of woe position, his upper body hanging over the cage door that is still slanted against the ropes. Selena turns her body fully around so that she’s facing her opponent and then leaps off the cage. Every fan in the building cries out at the same time as Selena hits a double stomp on Alistair’s chest, driving him down out of the tree of woe position and smacking the back of his head against the cage wall.
Sparkles: Did Sparkles just see that?
Frankie: No…no you didn’t. It was an illusion I tell you, an illusion!
Greyson: An ILLUSION!?!
Frankie: It was a weather balloon.
Greyson: No, it was a DOUBLE STOMP!
A double stomp that sandwiched Alistair between boots and mesh. A ‘holy shit’ chant booms through the stadium as Selena crawls painstakingly towards the ropes and then beyond them, ascending the mesh wall. She gets closer and closer to the very tippy top of the structure, throwing her leg over the side. She now sits on the top of the cage and looks to make her descent, both feet on the cusp of hitting the floor. Although she makes a major mistake, her eyes drifting towards the middle of the ring where her adversary is kneeling. Her eyes almost turn red when seeing Alistair putting one hand over his heart and lifting the other palm aloft.
Alistair: WE ARE MONARCHY, AND WE RULE!!
The tyrannical reign of Monarchy is about to be tested by Selena, who flings herself off the cage wall. She’s not making her exit, she’s diving back into the ring with a crossbody, a crossbody straight into Alistair’s heart. The highlight worthy dive results in a massive outcry from the crowd and a hard collision between these long time rivals.
Greyson: Selena off the cage!! That was incredible!
Sparkles: She hit that time when coming off the top.
Alistair and Selena lay side by side in the cage stinging from the crossbody, either athlete compromised by their injuries. An exhausted and fatigued Selena crawls hand over hand towards the door that Deanna is stood just beyond. She is slapping the cage wall to get the crowd pumped up, the fans chanting Selena’s name in order to compel her body to move closer and closer to her exit. Selena is almost right through the door, her body about half way out of the structure. Will she get out fully? The answer to that question is a big fat ‘NO!’ Alistair has hold of both of Selena’s ankles, and won’t let go no matter what. Selena turns around sitting on the apron with her chest to the ropes and her boots kicking Alistair in the face over and over again.
Eventually the kicks cause Alistair to let go, only to have him pop to his feet, dash forward and hit the big boot through the ropes straight to Selena’s mouth. Clearly Alistair wasn’t thinking about the consequences of his kick, the shot knocking Selena back off the apron and to the outside of the ring.
Greyson: Selena is falling out of the cage!
Sparkles: No-no, her feet, look at her feet.
Frankie: Do I have to?
Fortune favored Alistair at this point considering that somehow Selena’s feet have hooked around the bottom rope. She hangs totally upside down, her head hovering over the ringside mats.
Greyson: Selena’s feet caught up in the ropes. Remember, you win by submission, pin, or with both feet hitting the ground.
Frankie: That’s not going to happen when her big old clown feet are caught around the rope.
Alistair realizes that a major opportunity has just been presented to him. He reaches down through the ropes, catches Selena by the waistband and gives it a tug, pulling her back up onto her seat across the apron. He tries to throw a punch through the ropes from the ring and then straight into Selena’s face only to have her avoid a potential knock out. She drops back out of the way of the blow and then slides under the ropes and slides right through Alistair’s legs. She returns to the ring where she’s back on her feet and leaping right over her opponent in the direction of the doorway. She attempts to lunge over Alistair and make her escape only to have him catch her right on top of his shoulder.
The immense strength of Alistair is employed to force Selena back away from the doorway she was attempting to use to make her escape and back to the middle of the ring. He is about to slam her down via a version of the spinebuster, only that’s not gonna happen. Selena twists in mid-air and falls into a wheel barrow, wrapping her legs around Alistair’s waist while putting her hands to the canvas. She pushes herself up into the air and then reaches back with her arm, trying to hit the wheelbarrow bulldog. Alistair has another plan, and that involves taking Selena around the mid-section countering into the wheelbarrow German suplex. He flings Selena over head straight into the cage door that was left slanted between the corner and the canvas.
Greyson: Ah garrrrr!
Sparkles: Selena suplexed into the frackin’ door!!
This wanton act of destruction is followed by the pin, Selena dragged away from the bent cage door to the middle of the ring where she’s covered.
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Mouths are agape at the sight of Selena popping an arm up from the ring. She rolls to her stomach and Alistair has rolled into a crawl, moving towards the cage wall. He starts to climb, getting to the top rope and then getting past it. He is about half way up the cage with victory all but a certainty at this point. He has one arm over the top of the cage before Selena grabs his attention. Alistair looks back over his shoulder and spots Selena crawling towards the doorway, looking to slip out behind her adversary. The surprisingly nimble Alistair refuses to let Selena escape, leaping off the top rope and into the big elbow drop, crashing right onto his adversary’s back. She’s knocked out of her crawling position with her face being driven down hard against the ring.
Greyson: Alistair thwarting Selena’s escape with a big elbow.
Sparkles: These two just keep cutting each other off at every pass.
Frankie: Every time you think one’s about to escape, WHAMMO they drop the hammer on each other.
Though both competitors should be debilitated at the moment they’re still moving. Alistair has a hold of Selena’s hair and is using it to drag her up into position for the piledriver. Somehow Selena is able to shift her weight though and then come back down to her feet before swinging her head out of her opponent’s clutches. She turns back to Alistair and catches him by the back of his head, charging him towards the cage wall and throwing him along face first into the steel. Alistair ricochets off the cage and stumbles back to the center of the squared circle, looking all disorientated. Selena strikes while the opportunity presents itself, running right into Alistair and connecting with his boot. Alistair shakes off the impact with the cage and now gives Selena an impact right on top of her head via a jumping piledriver.
Sparkles: Brutal, absolutely brutal piledriver.
Alistair sits on the canvas huffing and puffing, unable to follow up that last kill move with a pin. Instead what he follows up with is a barrage of punches. He sits down on top of Selena’s chest and slugs her again and again across the brow. Finally his gameplan becomes transparent when he pulls Selena up from the ring and looks to make good on all the damage done to her head via his finishing move the overdrive. Alistair puts his leg across the back of Selena’s head and looks to go through with his finishing move, getting quite a few harsh heckles from those in attendance. He swings through, but Selena swings as well, freeing herself from this calamitous situation. Alistair quickly turns back to Selena and gets a running start, hurdling himself towards her. Once again he finds his momentum coming back to haunt him, cause Selena catches him with a drop toe hold that sends Alistair’s face hurdling into the cage door.
Alistair’s face bounces off the mesh that was left slanted in the corner of the ring, the impact rattling his brain. It takes what strength Selena has left to get back to her feet and then start the long, grueling, painstaking journey of climbing the cage wall. She exerts everything she has left in the tank to reach the top of the cage, throwing her arms over. It seems that a victory is within her grasp, only to realize that it’s her legs that are in the grasp, the grasps of her opponent.
Sparkles: Alistair’s got her! He’s got her caught by the legs.
Greyson: And don’t tell me he’s positioning himself for what I think he’s positioning himself for?
Frankie: He’s setting her up for the Alabama Slam!
Alistair stands on the top rope and turns his back on Selena, holding her legs out over his shoulders. She tries to hold onto the mesh that she has two arms flung over the top of, but her grip is weakening. Alistair delights as he gives her legs one more tug and as a result sends her flipping off the cage, not into her opponent’s Alabama Slam, but into her HURRICARANA. Alistair finds his body flung from the top rope, hurled over a great distance and from a great height before he hits the ring.
Greyson: That was the biggest hurricarana I’ve ever seen!
Sparkles: Selena taking Alistair from the top rope to the depths of hell.
Frankie: That wasn’t hell, I’ve seen hell, and it’s called an Adam Sandler movie.
The fans are flipping out as Selena and Alistair gather what’s left of their wounded bodies and try to make their escape. Selena is the only one capable of following through with that ambition. She’s on her elbows and knees and she’s climbing, climbing the cage again and hopefully for the LAST time.
Greyson: Selena making her escape plan.
Sparkles: And this time Alistair doesn’t look like he’s going to be capable of stopping her. Not after that last hurricarana.
Although Selena’s body has been ravaged by war she still reaches the top of the cage and begins to toss herself over the edge. She sits on the ledge and takes a look out over the crowd who are still chanting ‘we believe.’ They give her that last little dose of energy that she needs to throw her legs over to the outside.
Greyson: There we go Selena. She’s free. She’s free of the cage!
Selena is mere feet away from the floor and seconds removed from victory. Her wife Deanna stands just outside of the doorway to the cage cheering Selena on. Soon those cheers turn to something else, angered screams when a hand reaches out of the ring, out of the cage, and latches onto Deanna’s hair. The crowd cries foul as Alistair lashes out from his stomach and grabs hold of his opponent’s spouse. Deanna fights and struggles but it’s to no avail, she’s dragged under the ropes, into the ring and into the cage.
Greyson: Take your hands off of her Alistair, God dammit let her go!
Frankie: Oh this is sickening, Deanna blatantly interfering now.
Greyson: She’s not interfering, she’s being pulled into the friggin cage!
Sparkles: Why can’t Alistair leave Deanna alone?
Frankie: Because she keeps getting involved in the match.
Deanna flails and kicks as she’s forced to her feet by Alistair. The last time he grabbed her mid-match it was to plant a kiss on her lips, but this time it looks like he’s going to plant his fist between her eyes.
Greyson: Don’t you dare Alistair!
Frankie: Make her pay for getting involved in your matches.
Alistair’s strategy suddenly becomes crystal clear, he has no real intention of knocking the daylights out of Deanna, all he wanted was to lure Selena back into the cage. Although she was just about to make her escape, Selena is ascending rather than descending. She climbs over the side of the steel wall and back into the thick of the action. When Alistair sees her moving down the cage he takes her wife by the wrist and Irish whips her into the ropes Selena is standing on. The impact causes Selena to fall off the ropes and onto her stomach. She lands right across the strands, all the air knocked out of her body. Alistair moves quick to make sure it’s not just air she’s in short supply of. He’s about to burst her brain-cells by putting his leg over Selena’s neck then dragging her down off the top rope via the Overdrive.
Frankie: There it was! The move that initiated this feud has just ended it!
Greyson: After Alistair did the most reprehensible thing imaginable by using Selena’s wife as a weapon.
Speaking of Deanna, she’s now sitting on the canvas holding her ribs after being thrown so hard against the ropes. She along with everyone else watch as Alistair steps past Selena and moseys on towards the doorway. Selena is unable to stop Alistair’s departure from the cage, a fact he is well aware of. He even stops, flexes a little and then winks at some ladies in attendance before beginning to crouch down so he can slide through the ropes. Just then he realizes that although Selena was unable to stop him, Deanna has it in her power to put an end to his escape. She jumps right on Alistair’s back and begins to choke him out with a sleeper. She hits repeated forearms across his upper back and actually bites his ear.
Greyson: DEANNA! Deanna attacking Alistair!
Frankie: That rabid slut!
Sparkles: She’s getting revenge on this son of a biscuit for using her as a weapon.
Greyson: Get him, Deanna, get him!
Frankie: Security! Security do something about this!
Alistair swings around and swings around and swings around, trying to get Deanna off his shoulders but having a hell of a rough time doing so. Finally he reaches back, grabs Deanna by the hair and uses this grip to flip her over his shoulder. But Deanna won’t just be sent crashing onto her backside, because she catches Alistair around the head on her way over and hits a STUNNER!
Frankie: WHAT THE HELL!?!
Greyson: Deanna with a stunner!
Said stunner causes Alistair to pop up to his feet looking absolutely shocked. Suddenly his eyes, which WERE glazed over, turn almost blood red. He snarls as he barrels right at Deanna, swinging his arm at the throat of his unsuspecting victim.
Greyson: Watch out Deanna!
That’s just what she was doing, hence why she’s able to duck just in time to avoid the clothesline aimed at her throat. Alistair’s arm swings past Deanna’s head and falls straight into Selena’s clutches. The Snow Queen has recovered just in the nick of time to not grab Alistair’s arm but to use it to flip him over and into the Frost Bite!
Greyson: FROST BITE! FROST BITE! It’s locked in! It’s locked in!
Sparkles: She’s got it cinched, she’s got it cinched!
Frankie: HOW DID THIS HAPPEN!?!
All in attendance are standing and shouting the exact same word, ‘TAP.’ They are screaming at Alistair to give up, but right now all he’s going to do is thrash around and flail his free arm in a desperate bid to reach the ropes. The cables are just too far away though and the pain in his trapped arm is just too much for him to tolerate. His free hand no longer extends to the ropes, instead it swings into the canvas, tapping out.
Greyson: He submitted! He SUBMITTED! Alistair SUBMITTED!
Sparkles: The Frost Bite did it! Selena has forced Alistair to tap out!
Frankie: This…this….this….this isn’t….FAAAAAIIR!
The crowd is absolutely losing its shit as they watch Alistair continue to slap the canvas and listen to the bell ringing in the background. After a minute or two Selena finally breaks the hold and rolls off of Alistair, coming to a rest on her knees in the middle of the ring. Deanna leaps from her own knees and into Selena’s arms, the two hugging to a massive ovation from the sold out crowd.
Greyson: Deanna and Selena embrace on the heels of arguably her biggest IWC win to date.
Sparkles: One she definitely had to earn here tonight.
Alistair is in sheer disbelief as he rolls across the ring holding his arm and holding back the obscenities that want to go flying from his mouth. All the while Selena, the Queen of Wresting Champion, celebrates her win in the arms of her wife. The two finally reach their feet as Deanna steps off to Selena’s side and raises her arm in a pose of victory.
Greyson: Congratulations Selena.
Sparkles: What a win, what a match, what a CAGE MATCH….
Greyson: And what a way to end the first Riot of 2016.
Frankie: I’m throwing up inside of my mouth as we speak.
The fans are all on their feet giving Selena the standing ovation that she justly deserves. She now falls into the arms of her lover as the two go back down to their knees. Although Selena can barely stand there is absolutely nothing that is going to keep her from celebrating. Selena drags herself up the ropes and then to the top of the cage where her arm raises the Queen of Wrestling Title on high.
FADE TO BLACK
EOTYS3
The Uprising logo appears on the screen, spinning on an axis and pulsing in time with the sound of a heartbeat, as Eminem begins to rap over the increasingly fast noise
This is survival of the fittest
This is do or die
This is the winner takes it all
So take it all
The image of the Manhattan Centre in New York appears on the screen, several shots of the fans and the crowd waving banners in the air, mass hysteria coming from every corner of the arena
Wasn’t ready to being a millionaire, I was ill-prepared
I was prepared to be ill though, the skill was there
From the beginning, it wasn’t ’bout the ends
It was ’bout busting raps and standing for something, f-ck an acronym
Cut the f-cking act like you’re happy, I’m f-cking back again
With another anthem, why stop when it doesn’t have to end?
It ain’t over ’til I say it’s over – enough when I say enough
Throw me to them wolves and close the gate up
Images flash up on screen and then sweep off to the side, and we see Drew Bryant and then Silas Mason grinning towards the camera. That image is replaced by images of Adam Chase, Tabitha Silverstone, Marcus Von Stanton and Ethan Von Aaron
I’m afraid of what’ll happen to them wolves
When the thought of being thrown into an alligator pit, I salivated it
Weight is up; hands up like its 12 noon, nah, homie
Hold them bitches straight up; up wave ’em ’til you dislocate a rotator cuff
Came up rough, came to ruffle feathers, nah, egos
I ain’t deflate enough, last chance to make this whole stadium erupt
Now an image of Marie Jones flashes up, competing for the World title at Invictus, and then William Mason hitting his finisher on Christian Savior at the same event. An image flashes up of Riddick dropping crates on Gavin Taylor before we see Alana Starr leaping from the turnbuckle to land across a prone opponent. William Mason is then pictured atop a turnbuckle, holding the No Limits title in the air, till this is replaced by Vanilla Skyy and Tina Valentine going at it at ringside
[Chorus]
This is survival of the fittest
This is do or die
This is the winner takes it all
So take it all
The Uprising logo flashes back up on the screen, the heartbeat slowing down and the pulsing the same until it eventually explodes and is replaced by four words
END OF YEAR SPECIAL
The roof comes off the arena as both RIOT and Uprising fans makes their voices heard. The camera pans around the arena, picking up on various banners and then heading towards the announce table where Paul Hunter, David Mackie and Johnny Dollar are sat
Hunter: Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to what promises to be an electrifying last night of IWC action, and for the first time ever, on one epic night…four hours of IWC action for you to take in, first us, and then RIOT straight after, it’s going to be immense.
Dollar: Damn right, I have looked forwards to this event since the format was announced
Mackie: Meh, sharing television time with RIOT sucks ass.
Hunter: You can feel this place rocking tonight, the first time the rosters have been under the same roof since the brand split, and thankfully behaving themselves at least for now.
Mackie: To be fair they have been warned both verbally and written
Dollar: I don’t like the fact Paradise and Sparkles have a bigger table than us though
Hunter: Come on guys…
Mackie: No, he’s right; I mean one of them is a puppet for Pete’s sake
Mackie is interrupted as a familiar tune hits over the PA system, the fans jumping to their feet.
Hunter: No, surely…it can’t be.
Mackie: No way
Hall of Fame emanates around the Manhattan Centre, and the place explodes as Drew Bryant in his custom made motorized wheelchair comes through the curtain, with Kitty Buehler by his side. The place goes absolutely nuts at the sight of him, and he seems almost driven to tears by the reaction.
Hunter: Drew Bryant is back in the building, on the final night of the year, and these fans love it.
Kitty passes him a mic, and he waits for the noise to die down, before lifting it to his mouth
Drew: Wow…so you missed me New York?
Another huge pop from the crowd brings another wide grin to his face
Drew: Honestly, I’d get up and applaud each and every one of you if I could.
He laughs, but the crowd isn’t sure how to take the joke
Drew: No, seriously, don’t feel sorry for me…I will walk again, and when I do, you’ll all get that applause I promise
Hunter: Classy move from Drew…it’s testament he’s even out here
Dollar: But why is he out here?
Drew: I couldn’t miss this night, not for anything, not just because I needed to be here in front of you all once again, but because there were a few things that needed dealing with. The first of which is you…Callista Christos
His eyes narrow
Drew: See, you could have stopped this, but you chose not to, so now, I have made a choice of my own. That choice, will bring about not only you, but the whole of New Eden, and WILL bring my sister back by my side. I know you will see this as some kind of joke Callista, but trust me when I say this, 2016 will bring about the demise of New Eden…I guarantee it.
Mackie: Big words from a man who can’t even walk
Dollar: He’s an intelligent guy. Maybe he has a plan?
Drew: Secondly, I’m here tonight to put the finishing touches on the contract for a new Uprising superstar, one that is going to rock the Uprising brand to its core. Oh, and to the board that ‘relieved’ me of my duties apparently…I CAN do it, because I’m Drew fucking Bryant…so fuck you.
Hunter: Drew showing a little anger at the IWC board there guys…something we don’t know about going on?
Dollar: Perhaps…they did seem to move pretty quickly
Drew: And on that note…when Uprising returns next year…I WILL be announcing the new Uprising General Manager. I accept I’m not right for the day to day running of the brand; it needs to be a ‘wrestling’ guy that does it. I have a few people in mind, and believe me folks, when the decision is made, it will be ME that makes it, and not some pencil neck behind a desk.
Hunter: Drew on fire tonight
Kitty whispers something in his ear which makes Drew laugh, and then nod his head
Drew: And finally, because I’ve already taken up enough of your time, it was with great pleasure that I watched Karen McBride win back her 25% ownership at Upping the Ante, and now that is the case, I believe that it is the right time to make this offer. So Karen, wherever you are in the building, I am offering you this one time deal…to buy 25% of the IWC from me, and make it joint ownership. I was wrong to think I could take this all on myself, so if you agree, get in touch.
Hunter: Wow, that’s huge
Mackie: Something like what happened to Drew gives you time to think, and it seems he has decided a lot of things whilst he has been away
Dollar: And good for him…I think he’s learned a lot from what happened
Hunter: Turning a negative into a positive.
Drew: Hopefully…tonight will see the announcement re our new roster member, but if not, I hope you all have a Happy Christmas, and a plentiful New Year. Enjoy the show.
His music hits again, and with a wave he backs through the curtain, the fans chanting his name.
Hunter: Drew Bryant making his presence felt and making it pretty clear he is still a part of this company, and always will be.
Kloe Masters is pictured walking through the backstage area, her eyes scanning the corridors as if looking for someone. She paints a picture of someone very determined, and when she comes to a halt, it is outside Tina Valentine’s dressing room. She pauses, looking that she may knock, but she doesn’t and instead walks straight in, Tina immediately jumping to her feet and on the defensive.
Tina: Get the fuck out of my dressing room; you have no right being here anymore
Kloe: It’s amazing how quickly you forget who the hell I am
Tina: A waste of time, disloyal, treacherous…need I go on?
Kloe: A waste of time that brought you the world title? Honestly Tina, every time you open your mouth you sound more and more pathetic.
Tina: You’d know all about pathetic though wouldn’t you? Taking Mason’s side the way you have
Kloe sighs
Kloe: See, there is my point…how have I taken his side?
Tina: You pretty must justified Rachel’s attack on me, how the fuck else can I take something like that?
Kloe: Tina, you opened your mouth, what did you expect?
Tina: Like I said, a bit of loyalty.
Kloe: I stood by you through EVERYTHING Tina
Tina: No, you humored me…nothing more.
Kloe shakes her head
Kloe: What happened to you?
Tina: I woke the fuck up, that’s all. Now get out of my dressing room before I do something we both will regret
Kloe: I’m not someone you need to be threatening Tina
Tina: Why, because you’ll set Jacob Laymon onto me? H.E.E.L maybe? You’re done Kloe; you’re all alone with nothing, no back up, and no power. You’re finished. Now leave, whilst you still have a little respect left or else I swear, I will smash those nice straight teeth of yours right down your throat.
Kloe doesn’t back down, and actually steps forwards and right into Tina’s grill
Kloe: Wrong choice Tina
Tina just laughs
Tina: Yeah…where you are concerned, I’ve made a few of those. Now GET THE FUCK OUT.
Kloe continues to stare, but then turns away, heading out the dressing room Tina watching her go with a grin on her face.
Vanilla Skyy walks into the arena to a huge ovation from the fans in attendance. Even from her vantage point she hears the noise and figures out she must be on camera, and waves. Those cheers are instantly replaced by boos however as Jessica Wilde steps into camera shot, her Sinistry surrounding her.
Jessica: I think we need to talk
Vanilla: I think you made it pretty clear at the PPV what you think
Jessica: I was trying to help
Vanilla: What? By making it looks like I couldn’t beat Chris by myself. Yeah, good plan Jess. And then tonight, instead of me being able to defend the title once again, I end up fighting my friends…all because of your stipulation.
Jessica: You will benefit greatly from the experience I assure you
Vanilla: NO, I won’t…I’m not joining the Sinistry Jessica, why don’t you get that?
Jessica: You will, once you have seen the power. I’m confident of that.
Vanilla sighs
Vanilla: Look, just get out of my way Jessica…
The Executioner steps forwards and in the way of Skyy
Executioner: Grrr
Vanilla looks up at him and then at Jessica
Vanilla: I suggest you get big ugly here out of my way, before I chop him down to my size
Jessica puts an arm on the Executioner and pulls him back as Benjamin pipes up
Benjamin: Ms Skyy, my esteemed colleague here is just suggesting that you reconsider your stance
Vanilla: Is that right?
Benjamin nods
Vanilla: Well, here’s a suggestion for you, I don’t take kindly to threats, nor do I like being told what to do. So here’s the thing. I’m a winner, so I’ll ensure that we win our match tonight Jessica, but after that, we are done. Do you understand?
Jessica: But Vee?
Vanilla: No Vee…I’m Vanilla Skyy, the Uprising World Champion, and I will never be a part of the Sinistry. Now…move.
Jessica nods to her flock, and then part, making a gap which Vanilla walks through and down the corridor
Benjamin: Now what my Queen?
Jessica just smiles
Jessica: Don’t worry Benjamin, once Vanilla sees what we do to her ‘friends’, she’ll realize that she has always really only had one choice, to join us.
Scene cuts to another part of the building where Sally is standing by
Sally: Ladies and Gentleman, I would like to present at this time, my guest…Gavin Taylor
Gavin steps into view, already in his wrestling gear
Sally: Gavin, at Upping the Ante you defeated Riddick in a hellacious match, a match that you said would be the end. You still feel that is the case.
Gavin: Riddick had a problem with me, I gave him the opportunity to resolve it, and he couldn’t. Now, I’ve proven that I am better than him; there is no need for me to fight him again
Sally: Do you think he will see it the same way?
Gavin: Honestly Sal, I don’t care how he sees it. I gave him his chance, and he couldn’t deliver on his promises, so now I move onto bigger and better things
Sally: Which tonight includes beating the Sinistry?
Gavin: Yeah, and the world champion
Sally: Do you think that adds another dynamic?
Gavin: Vanilla being in the match? Yes, of course it does. But Cassius, Chris and I have a chance to put a huge hold in the Sinistry this evening, something I would suggest Vanilla wouldn’t see as a bad thing.
Sally: What do you mean?
Gavin: Vanilla is a winner, and she’ll want to win this match, but will she stand in the way of us ending 2015 with the Sinistry on the back foot, I don’t think so. She’s a clever girl, and she knows that the True Sinistry isn’t what is right for this company. She’ll know what to do when the time comes.
Sally: Very cryptic
Gavin: Apparently it’s in fashion
Sally: So, as 2015 comes to an end, how would you say the year went for you?
Gavin: If I was grading myself, it would probably be a must do better. I’ve been close on several occasions, but never quite got over the line. That is going to change in 2016
Sally: How so?
Gavin: I think it’s about time I got my hands on some gold, but not just any gold…Vanilla Skyy’s world title, and when the New Year comes around, that will be my only focus. So Drew Bryant, if you really are back in the saddle, I’m glad to see you back bro, but save yourself a lot of heartache and book the match, because one way or another, it’s goanna happen.
Hunter: A huge challenge from Gavin Taylor. To the world champion none the less.
Dollar: He showed a couple of months ago that he was capable, with so many challengers though, will he get the chance?
Hunter: That is something we will look out for next year, but now it’s time for our first match of the evening, and one that promises to be a barnstormer.
Mackie: Gardner got the monkey off her back at Upping the Ante, putting Ember Young on the shelf in the process, and tonight she goes up again Damion Sommers who will be looking to rebound after losing to Lilith Evans.
“Nightmare” plays as the lights in the arena go out. The instrumental plays on as the entrance area slowly begins to light up. “Your NIGHTMARE” can be seen across the screen as Damion Sommer’s walks out from the back wearing a purple trench coat. Completely focused on the ring he makes his way down the ramp with a slight limp and hunched over a bit. He gets to the stairs as he slowly climbs to the side of the ring. Slowly getting into the ring he stands in his corner removing his trench coat, tossing it over the side.
Hunter: It may have been a bit of a surprise him losing to Lilith, but make no bones about it, this man is dangerous
Dollar: Definitely, I’m chalking that down as a one off. Crissy has to be at the top of her game, and may have to channel some of that brutal side we saw from her at the PPV
Man’s Voice: “Nine – one – one, what is your emergency?”
Woman’s Voice: “I think she just (thr)illed everybody!”
The opening of “The Last Fight” by Bullet For My Valentine plays throughout the building as the lights fade to black and a pair of strobe lights one red and blue start taking turns flashing like the lights of a police car on the entrance ramp.
Man’s Voice: “Who (thr)illed everybody?”
Women’s Voice: “The Serial (Thr)iller! She (Thr)illed everybody!”
A spotlight hits the top of the ramp showing Crissy standing there. Crissy stands there with her arms raised in the air wearing a knock out version of a correctional facilities’ jumpsuit that’s made with black fabric with silver lettering for the numbers on the left side of the chest and Property of Bad Behavior on the back. The top portion of the jumpsuit Crissy has left open leaving the white bikini top exposed for all to see.
“Can you see me through bloodshot eyes (through bloodshot eyes), Should I fight for what is right or let it die?”
Crissy brings down her arms and she starts loosening up her wrists while yelling to the fans that she’s about to knock someone’s ass out to get them even more pumped up.
“Now I’m choking on force fed lies, Do I fight or let it die? I will fight, one more fight, Don’t break down in front of me. I will fight, will you fight? I am not the enemy.”
She starts to make her way down the ramp trying her best to pump up the fans and stay focused on her impending match
“Everyone is sick of caring, No silver lining on the cloud that covers you, Let it pour and soak you through…”
Crissy pulls herself up onto the apron as they both on the apron. Crissy just stands on the apron for several moments as she watches the fans with a smile on her face. Before she seductively enters through ring ropes wiggling her ass for the fans.
“No hope, just desperation, So sit and wait for death, And pray it takes you soon. The addiction’s taking you.”
Once in the ring Crissy moves to one of the top turnbuckle and climbs to the middle pad. As she wanted them giving her everything they have with their cat calls as she waves her hands towards herself as if she was telling them to come on. As the lights start to come back from the rafter shoots a mixture of white and black pyro.
Dollar: A change of focus has brought about a change in fortunes…and Crissy will believe she can get this done tonight
Hunter: For sure, this has all the hallmarks of a knock down drag out match…and there is the bell, we are underway in this one
CRISSY GARDNER VERSUS DAMION SOMMERS
Crissy, showing all the confidence gained from her victory advanced, but finds herself immediately on a right hand shot from Sommers that sends her back on her heels, Sommers grabbing her by the wrist and whipping her across the ring and into the ropes. He scoops her up into the fireman’s carry and spins around; looking to plant her into the apron but Crissy escapes off his back and lands on both feet. Sommers spins around, straight into a right hand from Crissy, but as she fires off another Sommers ducks, and gouges her in the eyes. He then scoops her up and slams her into the mat spine first.
Hunter: Sommers with the early offence, Crissy’s momentum brought back to earth with a bump.
Mackie: A lot of people were surprised that Damion lost to Lilith, looks like he is looking to put that right here.
Sommers lifts her up and throws her into the corner, drilling her with a right hand and then one to the stomach that doubles her up in agony. He then lifts her up and spins around, power bombing her into the canvas, and straight into a pin
1…
2…
Crissy kicks out, but Damion seems to realize that would be the case and he quickly picks her up, whipping her into the ropes. As she returns, he lifts his foot straight into her chin, leveling her once again. Sommers then bounces off the ropes and leaps in the air, landing a leg drop straight across her throat, then into a pin
1…
Crissy kicks out again, this time attempting to roll away but Sommers straight on her, looking her head into what looks like a choke hold, but Damion keeps turning so that the referee cannot see.
Hunter: Oh come on, that’s blatant.
Dollar: He’s not going to lose this one in a hurry. He has been totally dominant thus far.
Finally the referee sees the choke and demands Sommers release
1…
2…
3…
4…
5…
Sommers releases at five, and then picks Crissy to her feet, hooking her around the waist and lifting her up and over, slamming her once again into the ring.
Hunter: Belly to Belly Suplex…Sommers looking to break Crissy in this final match of the year for them both
He drops once again into a pin
1…
2…
Another kick out from Crissy brings the fans to her feet. Sommer lifts her up and whips her hard into the corner, her spine crashing into the turnbuckle. He then runs in and leaps in the air, splashing her in the corner and then as she staggers out, talking her down with a thrust to the throat. Crissy goes down holding her throat, choking after the shot, as Damion goes to the top.
Mackie: Sommers going up top, and looking to end this early
Hunter: This could be a huge mistake
Sommers leaps, and into a frog splash, and comes crashing down. But Crissy lifts her knees, Damion crashing into them hard, and left rolling around the ring. Crissy rolls away and sits in the corner, trying to get her breath back and thankful for the break.
Hunter: Huge counter from Gardner, if he had hit that, this match could have been over already
Dollar: As it is, Crissy has found a way back, and she is up and on her feet.
Crissy clears the cobwebs and then drives her foot into the ribs of the downed Damion Sommers, and then again, stomping a mud hole in him. Sommers tries to get to his feet but receive an European Uppercut for his troubles which very nearly sends him through the ropes. He bounces off them as Crissy runs to the opposite side, leaping in the air and slamming into Damion with a Running Shoulder Block. Damion staggers again, and drops to one knee, Crissy running in and planting a foot on his thigh, before slamming her knee into the side of his temple.
Hunter: Shining Wizard…Sommers is down.
Crissy quickly scurries into a pin
1…
Sommer’s kicks out, Crissy dragging him up his feet, Damion reacting with a huge right hand which sends Crissy backwards. Damion then grabs her by the wrist and bails her into the ropes, and she bounces off them, leaping in the air and catching him with a Spinning Heel Kick, her foot connecting hard with his jaw, Sommers hitting the apron hard. Crissy then retreats to the corner and forward rolls, leaping in the air and landing across Damion with a splash, hooking the leg
1…
2…
Damion kicks out, Crissy looking at the referee obviously frustrated, but leaping to her feet and climbing to the top.
Hunter: Where’s she going here?
Dollar: We’ve seen this many times, she’s waiting for Damion to get to his feet.
Sommers drags himself up, first to one knee and then to a vertical base, before turning to face Crissy who leaps from the top, landing across Damion with a Cross body. Sommers however rolls through the momentum, and its Sommers who gets the pin
1…
2…
Crissy kicks out, and jumps to her feet, Sommers immediately getting to his and receiving a kick to the gut for his troubles. Crissy hooks him around the head and falls backwards, delivering DDT in the centre of the ring.
Hunter: DDT from Crissy Gardner…what a shot
Mackie: And there’s the pin.
1…
2…
Sommers kicks out after the DDT, Crissy lifting him up before dropping into a backslide pin
1…
2…
3…
No, Damion kicks out again, the fans really now starting to get into this opening match
Hunter: Love her or hate her, you have to admit, Crissy has come on leaps and bounds since the split with Ember Young. She looks more aggressive, and ultimately faster than before
Mackie: Crissy said that she was being held back; maybe that really is the case
Crissy once again lifts Damion up, but he replies with a low blow that the referee doesn’t see. Damion then lands a head butt, and then another, rocking Crissy to her core. He lifts her up and spins her upside down, allowing her body to slide down his, before dropping to his knees, planting her head into the canvas.
Hunter: Huge piledriver from Damion, and he’s going up again
Mackie: This didn’t work out too great for him last time.
He holds his arms aloft before leaping, and landing a huge elbow drop from the top rope. Crissy looks well and truly out of it, as Sommers lifts her legs and steps through, before dropping to his back
Dollar: Figure four, right in the centre of the ring, Crissy in a world of trouble.
Hunter: She has to get to the ropes or this is over.
Sommer’s torques it for all he is worth; putting as much pressure as he possibly can on the move. Crissy tries to edge her way towards the ropes but Sommers has her stuck. She leans one way, and then the other, trying to get the momentum to counter the move and eventually manages to spin onto her front, changing the pressure onto Damion who has no choice but to let go of the hold. Crissy attempts to get to her feet, obviously in agony, but Damion has also taken some damage.
Hunter: Both of them feeling the effects of this opening match, and both of them will be also looking forward to the break
Mackie: For sure…it’s a whole month till we reconvene, that’s why they are not leaving anything behind.
Damion grabs Crissy by her wrist and bails her across the ring and into the ropes, scooping her up but Crissy using the momentum to nip over his shoulder, landing on her feet. Damion spins around, and walks straight into a Hurricanrana from Crissy, which drops him to the mat. Crissy then leaps onto the second strand and lands across Sommers with a Lion Sault, hooking the leg
1…
2…
3…
Sommers kicks out again, and is lifted up to his feet by his hair, Crissy jumping up in the air and landing across his neck with her leg, driving his head into the canvas
Hunter: Fameasser from Crissy Gardner, Sommers felt that
Mackie: And here’s the pin
1…
2…
3…
Sommers kick out yet again, the fans getting more and more excited. Crissy drags him up to his feet and hooks him around the head, running across the ring as Damion pulls the Brass Knucks from the waist of his pants, slamming his fist into her face.
Hunter: Nooo did you see that?
Mackie: The referee didnt, and heres the pin
1…
2…
3…
Damion Sommers rolls off Crissy and to the outside, immediately backing up the ramp
Announcer: You’re winner…Damion SOMMERS!!!
Sommers holds his arms aloft, the crowd booing, as the referee checks on Crissy
Hunter: Sommers with his first victory, but he steals it
Dollar: Crissy will have every right to feel aggrieved…when she wakes up that is.
Sommers disapeers through the curtain as Crissy is helped to her feet, still groggy
Hunter: Controversy straight off the bat…is this a sign of things to come
“Whoop…hey, up here…no, not there…here.”
The camera pans around the arena, and then to the rafters where Ambrosia is giggling and waving.
Ambrosia: There you go…
She throws her leg over the security barrier and sits on the edge showing no fear for the huge drop below her
Ambrosia: Now, you may be asking right now, what am I doing up in the rafters of the arena, generally sitting on the edge of my impending doom and acting with much tomfoolery? The answer to all those questions is quite simply…because I like it
Hunter: She is a strange one that’s for sure
Mackie: I think she’s cool
Ambrosia: Same as when I talk about whips and chains, and the slitting of throats, it’s not an act, it’s not me ‘pretending’ to be ‘hardcore’ like some people I could mention. I do it, because it’s me, being me.
Dollar: She has certainly gotten the attention of Riddick that’s for sure
Ambrosia: And that, you sexy people, is the reason why I made a point of singling out Mr Riddick, because Mr Riddick isn’t like the rest. He knows what true brutality is, and he doesn’t play at it either. When we say we are going to destroy each other we are not trying to sell tickets like Miss Primm Vanilla Skyy, or the Ghetto Prostitute Tina Valentine, we will kill each other for your viewing pleasure.
Hunter: And I believe her
Mackie: You should, anyone that has seen her in action will know she doesn’t mess around.
Ambrosia: So tonight, an epic saga begins, whereby you will see two people literally try to bleed the other dry. But don’t feel sorry for us…because we will do it with a smile. Chow, for now.
Hunter: That match will be coming up later, and looking at her, I’d say she cannot wait.
We cut to the dressing room of Flawless GOODness, where Alana is set and who to be fair looks VERY sorry for her, Ethan massaging her shoulder
Ethan: Come on, it’s not that bad, not really
Alana: Ethan, it’s really bad, in fact I’d go as far as to say it’s not GOOD not GOOD at all
Ethan: Oh, what’s wrong sweet pea
Alana: Just, I’m soooo disrespected here. We lost to Bubble Butt and that serial philanderer, and now tonight I have to get in the same ring as that two bit prostitute Tina Valentine. I think we should all just pack our bags and go to SCW
Ethan: Now, let’s not get hasty, the stuff that Mr Douche gets up to over there, makes Keenies skin crawl. They treat Keenie like a joke, and Keenie is not a joke.
Alana: But she doesn’t get disrespected week in week out
Ethan: Is Keenie the world champion?
Alana: No
Ethan: So there you go…huge disrespect. Look, Alana I didn’t want to say anything right away, but I’ve got something that will cheer you up.
Alana: Is it a holiday…it was good of you to send Keenie away on that break
Ethan: All part of the service sweetheart, and Keenie deserved a break after all the shit…
Alana: Language!!!
Ethan: Sorry…Poo, she has had thrown at her.
Alana: I don’t want to see the pee pee Ethan, not right now
Ethan: No, it’s not that…well, unless…
Alana: Ethan!!!
Ethan: Ok, OK, look, I’m planning a surprise for you as well
Alana: I like surprises, only the GOOD kind though
Ethan: You’re going to love this one
Alana: And it doesn’t involve find the sausage?
Ethan: Nope
Alana: Put the Tail in the Foo Foo?
Ethan: Nope…look, just trust me ok. You’ll love it, and it will turn that frown upside down. Promise
Alana: OK, I hope so
Ethan: I got some stuff to sort, but I’ll be back hot stuff.
He kisses her on the cheek and then heads out the room
The scene cuts once again to Sally, who is stood, albeit a little nervously with Riddick.
Sally: Riddick, last time out we saw you involved in a brutal match with Gavin Taylor, a match that you lost
Riddick: Before you continue, can I just remind you what happened to Kal when he pissed me off. How is he by the way?
Sally: He’s doing well; in fact he’s working tonight
Riddick: Good, I’ll have to say hello
Sally: Tonight you face Ambrosia, who has already made it clear why she wants to face you
Riddick: Yeah, Yeah, she’s the Harlequin of Hardcore, yadda fucking yadda
Sally: She says that you and her are about to…
Riddick: Yes Sally, I heard her monologue. Do you know how I interpreted it?
Sally: No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me
Riddick: You’d be correct. She’s hot for me Sally, seriously, the gal is literally foaming at the gash for a piece of Riddick. Luckily for her, I’m quite happy to oblige
Sally: I got the impression she wants to maim you
Riddick: That’s because you, like most women in this business are fucking stupid. It won’t be long till me and Ambrosia is doing the no pants dance, you just watch. In the meantime though, yeah, instead of just fucking her, I’ll be glad to fuck her up.
Sally: Before you go, Gavin Taylor said that the issues between you and him are over, and he has no desire to fight you again. Is it all over between the two of you?
Riddick: You know something Sally, Gavin may be a fucking idiot, but he can fight a great deal more than the Cassius fuckwit and that waste of fresh air Chris Davids. He can claim it’s over if he wishes, but it’s only over when I say so. And it will end with him laid unconscious at my feet.
Jessica Wilde is surrounded by Benjamin Flynn, Harbinger, Lilith Evans and the Executioner. She sits crossed legged in the middle, looking at each and every one of them
Jessica: Tonight my flock, tonight everything comes full circle, and our friend Vanilla Skyy finally finds her inevitable path. Tonight she will see first-hand how she would benefit from our alliance.
Harbinger: I think she sees it already my Queen
Jessica: Yes, I believe she does. She will get the confirmation she needs though when we put her friends to the sword, and joins her true friends.
Benjamin: Can I ask a question my Queen?
Jessica: Of course
Benjamin: Is there not a chance those others my rush to her cause should we take out the trio?
Jessica: You are correct to ask, and yes, there is the possibility that there could be interference from outside the Sinistry, however that is where the three of you come in…and my guest for this evening.
Harbinger: Guest?
Jessica: Yes my friend, tonight our numbers won’t just swell by one, but by two
Harbinger: I see
Executioner: Grrr Grrrrr
Lilith: Yeah he’s right, any clues?
Jessica: A clue, yes I think I can do that. Let’s just say that this person is very well known to Vanilla
Benjamin: No…not Darko, you haven’t.
Jessica: You like everyone else will have to wait and see Benjamin.
Benjamin: You’re a wicked tease my Queen
Jessica: I am, but I can assure you, the wait will be exquisite. All I need you to do is ensure no outside interference whatsoever. This match has to end clean; can you do that for me?
A collective yes, with a Grrr intermingled is heard.
Jessica: Then everything is ready then my flock. It’s time for the TRUE Sinistry to Rise to Greatness
Harbinger giggles
Jessica: Something funny?
Harbinger: No
Jessica: You sure.
Benjamin: You named a SCW PPV on IWC Television
Harbinger giggles again
Jessica: Really…you should get out more
Benjamin: I agree wholeheartedly my Queen
We cut to the corridor next to the refreshments stall, where Kal is stood
Kal: Ladies and Gentlemen, with me at this time…Kloe Masters
Boos ring out in the arena, Kloe nodding her head and laughing
Kloe: They really love me in New York don’t they?
Kal: I’m not sure they love you anywhere Kloe
Kloe: Ah, you’re probably right
Kal: Tonight, the two former Axis members, and the two people you built your group around face off for the No Limits title. Is it with mixed emotions you watch this?
Kloe: Errr…no
Kal: What do you mean?
Kloe: Have you not been reading social media over the last three weeks. Whereas William took his leave respectfully, Tina has done nothing but shout her mouth constantly. Honestly Kal, I hope William kicks her teeth down her throat and takes that title from around her skank waist.
Kal: Isn’t that a bit harsh?
Kloe: She deserves it Kal, she’s an ungrateful fuck that needs to be put in her place, and if I get my way, William will do that tonight.
Kal: OK, moving on…you stated that the AXIS was over; does that mean it’s all over for you in the IWC?
Kloe: I’d love to say no Kal, but the fact of the matter is this, my reputation, however low that was in the first place, took a pounding from my alliance with Tina Valentine. If my services are no longer required around here, then I will have no choice but to take my leave. However, the IWC isn’t the only wrestling company in the TRIAD, and SCW, ULW and the NxtGen would be well advised to remember that
Kal: We did see you at Misgivings, is that a sign?
Kloe: Read what you will Kal, but no matter what the spoilt brat might say, I’ve won ownership of this company, I’ve taken the then current World Champion to her limits, got rid of Silas Mason from Uprising, I’ve taken a turd like Tina and turned her into a polished champion, and I stopped William Mason from self-destructing. Unsuccessful Kal? I don’t think so. I’m not done, in fact, I’m only just getting started, and 2016 will see me start by decimating the rug rat and shutting her up, for good.
The sight of a parked van greets the viewers, its doors wide open while a female sits alone in the back smiling towards the camera, the “Harlequin of Hardcore” Ambrosia making her second appearance on IWC television in as many months. The newest member of the Uprising roster, the “Mistress of Mayhem” stares from her vehicle with an expression of joy etched all over her.
Ambrosia: So….Here I am. Back in IWC and ready to fight but first of all, I wanna address this whole “wedding of the year” thing with Selena Frost and Deanna Springs getting hitched at Christmas. Now, everyone knows I love a good time and I’d love nothing more than to be there but unfortunately….Well, apparently, I’m not allowed to attend on my own. Something about people being worried that I’d cause a scene, me needing my psychiatrist to chaperone me to things like that and she’s spending Christmas with her family.
So with no doctor to join me and the state unable to afford the security to whisk little ol’ me to a fancy celebrity shindig, I guess I haveta stay away. Sorry girlies, I know you both probably wanted me to show up, have a little food, give those reporters a shot of my cute little smile….Heh.
Good luck, though! It’s always good when two people bond themselves forever in a figurative way. If you wanna bond the real way, I could teach you how to tie someone up with whatever material you choose. I got rope, I got cables, I got….
The “Harlequin of Hardcore” turns and climbs into the back of her van fully, on her hands and knees as she searches through the collection of junk, rummaging through piles of random objects and shifting her personal belongings aside. A spare pair of knee-length black socks is tossed with abandon over her shoulder, followed closely by a purple dildo and then a burlap sack, taking something that had been hiding underneath the sack and crawling closer to the open doors.
Ambrosia: Handcuffs?
A pair dangles from her index finger, swaying gently with the steel glinting slightly in the available light until being replaced where they were found. Ambrosia then finds a long piece of material, tugging on it to get the full length of it exposed so that she can see what she’s discovered before turning back towards the camera and holding it up like a game of show and tell.
Ambrosia: Maybe a scarf? Hell, I got a spare straitjacket laying around here, see?
The “Mistress of Mayhem” clutches the straitjacket and hoists it up as if to prove she does indeed own one before tossing it towards the front of her van with a dull thud.
Ambrosia: I could even teach ya how to get outta them too, no problem. Kinda fun though, huh? All this focus on IWC, questions like, “How much is this gonna cost?” and, “How many new fans are we gonna have because of this?” but I guess what I’d really like ta know is whether The Snow Queen has a full-on avalanche down there or just a light sprinkling. Either way, we know there’s gonna be some plowing going on durin’ that honeymoon, huh?
A wicked grin flashes across her face briefly before she tilts her head and frowns while scratching the top of her head momentarily.
Ambrosia: Anyway, so the gist is that I can’t attend this whole celebratory thing and that sucks but luckily for me, I got something much more fun to do instead and it happens tonight. See, tonight, yours truly will fight Riddick in a hardcore match and that can only mean one thing. Pure…..Fucking……Chaos.
Hell, I could quote something my Vitriol came up with way back in 2009 and call this match “Insanarchy” because that’s exactly what it will be. Everyone watching tonight, wherever in the world you may be, you won’t have seen pure mayhem like this since the people of Ferguson, Missouri showed us how they practice for the Black Friday madness by breaking and looting as much shit as they could lay their hands on.
The “Harlequin of Hardcore” casually ruffles her long, blonde hair with her hand and lets it drop limply upon her shoulder, shifting slightly in the back of her van as her tone seems to shift too.
Ambrosia: Hurt me, Riddick. Do your fucking worst because I’ll do the same to you in return. This is my first IWC match. This is the second half to my first impression on everybody here. This is the night I take out any frustrations at not being allowed to attend a lesbian wedding at Christmas. This is my fucking wheelhouse, Riddick. My love and passion. I live for matches like the one we’ll have, it makes me feel good to have pain coursing through my body, blood leaking out of my body.
I’m bored with playing around with my menstrual blood, Riddick. I need to bleed from some place other than my cunt and be made to do it unnaturally, through whatever means at your disposal. I crave the chance to feel so alive with the sensation of pain that it drives me to a state of mind that makes the proverbial “red mist” seem like fuckin’ foreplay. I haven’t been allowed the chance to fight with the freedom we’ll have tonight for weeks and I’m more than desperate to scratch that itch tonight.
She stares intensely towards the camera and cracks a sly grin, shifting once more to sit upright and lean back, her body weight held up via her right hand while her left grabs at a black plastic box, revealed as her trusty taser. Ambrosia eyes it as though it were a lover, pushing the trigger button and watching as blue electricity appears and buzzes between two metal barbs, her grin widening at the sight and the sound of crackling lightning in the palm of her hand. Releasing the button, Ambrosia pushes off her right hand to lean forward again, ready to speak once more but frowning in confusion towards her right.
Ambrosia watches as Mika Kozlov wanders into view wielding a cupcake with a mountain of blue frosting on top. The two stare at one another silently until Mika looks down at her cupcake, scoops off some frosting with her index finger and wipes it onto Ambrosia’s cheek, the “Mistress of Mayhem” still perplexed but refusing to move, despite the taser still in her grasp. Mika smiles then leans closer, slowly licking the frosting from Ambrosia’s face and taking a step back to savor it, both women staring the other directly in the eye.
Mika breaks this stony showdown by smiling and winking towards Ambrosia, turning on her heel and starting to hum “Pop Goes The Weasel” as she skips away, disappearing from view but still being heard moving further and further away. The “Harlequin of Hardcore” grins broadly, perplexed but clearly enjoying such a strange meeting of seemingly like-minded individuals.
Ambrosia: She. Is. Awesome!
Hunter: Harsh words from Kloe there, and whilst that was playing on the big screen, we got ourselves a visitor.
As the screen fades, the camera pans back to the ring where Tina is stood laughing. Eventually she composes herself enough to speak
Tina: Fuck me…
Mackie: Is that an offer?
Dollar: I don’t think you’re her type
Mackie: Why…I pay
Tina: Are you people really still buying into this holier than tho attitude from Mrs. Never Was? I mean, what she has ever done in this business other than sleep with the former owner. Shiiiit, everyone’s slept with Lando it seems except me.
Boos ring out, but not in support of Kloe, but to shut Tina up.
Tina: I’m supposed to thank her for becoming world champion. I did that, not her, I became the fucking world champion and would have done with, or without her in my corner. She’s a fake; she’s a smokescreen with no power over wrestling AT ALL. But more than anything, she’s a fucking joke.
Mackie: Tina retaliating and then some
Hunter: To be fair, she does have the right
Tina: Tell you what bitch, instead of sitting in the back and spewing your bullshit, why don’t you come out here and face me, woman to woman. Then we shall see just how much sway you have over this business, when I plant you in the center of this ring.
Tina looks up the ramp way
Tina: Come on you slut…let’s see how brave you really are
She stand sin the middle of the ring, and waits, and then waits some more, but it quickly becomes obvious Kloe isn’t coming.
Tina: Yeah, I thought so…fucking spineless.
She paces the ring like a tiger, looking out over the fans
Tina: And you lot, you loved Mason’s latest girlfriend attacking me at Upping the Ante didn’t you? Yeah, apparently it’s ok to cheap shot as long as it’s someone you fuckers like. I mean, this is the same girl who tried to resign the day after, and trashed an office when she didn’t get her own way. She’s a joke, just as much as Kloe is a joke…and you fuckers, you’re a joke too.
Hunter: Tina not making many friends here
Mackie: I honestly don’t think she cares.
Tina: But you know what isn’t a joke? The fact that tonight, I’m going to defend this title against Kloe’s little favorite. I’m going to make it clear without any doubts whatsoever that this title belongs around my waist, and send William out of the IWC the way he came in, with fuck all. Then, next year, Vanilla Skyy watch out…because I’m coming for my title and you won’t be able to stop me…bitch.
She drops the mic, and slides out the ring, avoiding the fans who try to touch her at ringside.
Hunter: Tina making it clear she isn’t playing games, and if I was Kloe Masters, I’d stay well out of her way.
Dollar: I don’t think Kloe knows how to play nice, and from listening to her, I’d say she has a little surprise for Ms. Valentine before this evening is out.
Ba’al stands over Eve who is taping up her wrists, being assisted by Siqua. Eve looks all focused for her match with Alana Starr, a match that could have wider repercussions for 2016
.
Ba’al: Ahhh, the end of the year special, an event with many memories for me, some good, some bad.
Siqua: We are sorry we failed you
Ba’al: Not at all my dear, when I brought you both to the IWC I didn’t assume for one second that you would rise to a shot at the tag titles, and Eve would already be a champion. This has been a very productive time for us, and we are way ahead of schedule
Eve: We please you?
Ba’al: Yes, Yes…and you will please me once more when you eradicate this ‘GOOD’ rubbish we have had to endure for so very long. Alana Starr is one of their protected ones Eve, if you beat her, they won’t be able to hide that title away from you for much longer
Eve: You…would like me to win the X-Class title?
Ba’al: I would like you to win EVERY title my Eve, and you will. Alana’s reign is on borrowed time, and I would like you to be the one that ends it.
Eve: I will
Siqua passes her wrestling boots, and then gets to her feet
Siqua: Is there anything else you would have me do?
Ba’al: Yes my dear, in fact there is. Eve here can take care of Ms Starr alone this evening; I would like you to find out whatever you can of New Eden’s plans on Uprising. Other than what they did to Mr Bryant, they have been fairly quiet of late, that cannot last.
Siqua: I will do what I can
Ba’al: I know you will
Siqua gives a respectful nod to both Ba’al and then Eve before leaving
Eve: Is everything now in place?
Ba’al: It certainly is my dear, we have had a while to wait, but now we are ready. At Uprising Nine, the IWC is going to find out exactly how powerful the Frost family is, and what hold it has over this company
Eve: And then?
Ba’al: And then Eve…we will destroy ALL our enemies until there is only ourselves and New Eden left.
Eve: And then there can only be one?
Ba’al: Yes my dear, there can only be one.
Hunter: Does anyone else get the feeling that we have some kind of impending Apocalypse?
Dollar: I’ve thought it for a while, that something was on the verge of happening. I don’t think 2016 is going to be remember for a lot of right reasons
Mackie: Meh, you two worry too much
Hunter: Well, worrying is in my nature, and I worry as to what is about to happen next. It’s Ambrosia versus Riddick guys.
Mackie: Oh goodie…this is going to be immense.
The screen cuts into static and then a cacophony of different grotesque and bloody images, mixed with headlines from various newspapers of murders, mutilations, rapes and wars as “Feisty Cadavers” by John 5 begins to play.
Stepping out onto the stage, Ambrosia grins sadistically, letting out a scream to the sky as she cracks her neck to the left and right before walking down the ramp, rubbing her hands while a huge grin forms across her face, an almost gleeful look at the carnage that could await.
Announcer: Making her way to the ring, from Lexington, Kentucky, she is the “Harlequin of Hardcore”……AMBROSIA!!!
After her introduction, Ambrosia walks around the ring like a predator surveying the landscape before rolling in under the bottom rope. She looks out at the crowds as she leans forwards on her knees, using the ropes as bars as if she were jailed within, licking her lips hungrily and sneering.
Getting back up to her feet, Ambrosia walks to the corner and steps up on the turnbuckle, grinning sadistically at the fans. Bringing her hands out to her sides, she mocks the fans and then drops back down to the ring before dropping to her knees and letting loose a guttural scream.
Hunter: Ambrosia, making her in ring debut tonight, and with the match she wanted
Mackie: These two go like peas in a pod. It’s not going to be pretty, but it is going to be brutal.
Dollar: And Ambrosia is already licking her lips in anticipation.
The lights go out in the arena and a blood red spotlight hits the entrance way as Evil Ways by Blues Saraceno the Justice Remix hits over the loud speaker. Riddick slowly saunters out to the music and without stopping he walks down the aisle with an intense look on his face and a sneer towards anyone who catches his eye. Boo’s rain down from every corner of the arena, but Riddick pays them no attention, almost seeming to enjoy the hatred. Riddick then rolls under the bottom rope and sits up with his hands on his knees and a cold, blank look on his face. He gets up slowly and raises one arm in the air, bringing an even bigger reaction from the capacity crowd. He then turns to Ambrosia and blows her a kiss.
Hunter: Riddick to me looks more like he wants this match than any other thus far.
Mackie: Just let them go referee…
Announcer: I have just been informed by the back that this match will be. NO HOLDS BARRED
The bell rings, and immediately the pair are on each other, Riddick slamming his forearm into Ambrosia’s face over and over again.
AMBROSIA VERSUS RIDDICK
Hunter: Riddick not messing around here, thunderous forearms to Ambrosia’s face.
Ambrosia seems to enjoy the shots, her smile reddening as blood already seeps through her teeth.
Dollar: Blood, already, and Riddick is not stopping
The referee moves in, trying to break the hold, but Riddick jumps to his feet and grabs the referee around the throat, choke slamming him into the canvas
Hunter: What the hell?
Mackie: No holds barred Paul…anything goes
Riddick turns backs to Ambrosia who reaches up and grabs him around the crotch, getting a full hand full and squeezing for all she is worth. Riddick’s eyes water as he is dragged back towards the corner. Once there, Ambrosia grabs the back of his head and slams it into the turnbuckle, and then again, bailing him through the ropes and to the outside. She smiles straight into the camera; her blood stained teeth evil looking and then slides out the ring and after her opponent. Riddick responds with a huge right hand and then a double punch to her breasts that sends her backwards and onto the announce table. But she reaches back and grabs a monitor, swinging it and sending it crashing into the face of Riddick. Riddick hits the floor hard, and immediately we see blood pouring from a wound on his forehead, which is combined by a huge gash on his cheek
Hunter: Ambrosia has just destroyed Riddick…what a shot
Mackie: That was my monitor…bitch
Ambrosia kneels by the side of Riddick, and licks the blood away from his wounds, her eyes widening as if in ecstasy.
Hunter: She…is…weird
Ambrosia drags Riddick up to his feet, and slams his head into the security barricade, and then then apron, finishing it off with a running bulldog onto the steel steps. A second referee comes running down the ring and immediately remonstrates with Ambrosia who is digging her nails into Riddick and drawing blood. The referee points at his jersey, and for a moment it looks like Ambrosia is going to back off, but then see lunges forwards, Super Kicking the referee, who falls backwards slamming his skull on the ramp. As she does, Riddick reaches under the ramp and pulls out a chair, Ambrosia turning and once again licking her lips as Riddick brings the chair down on her skull, the chair almost folding around her head. Ambrosia doesn’t slump to the floor however, which makes Riddick swing the chair yet again, this time taking Ambrosia down. He picks Ambrosia to her feet, but she drives him backwards, all the way down the ramp, slamming his spine into the apron and almost breaking it in half. Bailing Riddick into the ring, Ambrosia now reaches under the ring and brings out a steel pipe, throwing it into the ring and then following it in.
Dollar: This match is insane, no two ways about it.
Mackie: I don’t think either of them cares about pinfalls. They just want to kill each other.
Riddick gets to his feet, Ambrosia picking up the steel pipe as Riddick staggers back into the corner. She leaps in the air and brings the pipe slamming down, Riddick just getting out the way in time, the pipe crashing into the steel ring post. As Ambrosia turns, Riddick drills her with a devastating kick to the groin which causes her to drop the pipe, and then then follows it up with a shoulder block, sending her back towards the ropes. As she bounces back, Riddick picks up the pipe and brings it upwards, right underneath Ambrosia’s jaw, the impact lifting her off her feet and sending her backwards and to the mat.
Hunter: Horrific, brutal shot from Riddick, the pipe slamming into Ambrosia’s jaw
Dollar: This match is off the chart
Mackie: This match is everything Ambrosia hoped it would be
A bloody and beaten Riddick struggles to his knees but does so with a sickening smile, staring wild-eyed at equally bloody Ambrosia before rolling out of the ring and lifting the apron skirting to look underneath the ring for yet more mayhem. The fans cheer wildly as if their bloodlust matches those of the participants of this match, roaring louder when Riddick produces a small burlap bag from under the ring, holding it up ceremoniously so that the watching world can see what he has in his grasp.
Hunter: Ohhhh boy….
Mackie: As if this match wasn’t already violent enough.
Ambrosia begins to stir as Riddick snakes his way underneath the bottom rope and back into the ring, untying the string keeping the bag closed and pouring the contents onto the canvas like a fountain of brass, tacks spilling at his feet until the bag has been emptied. With blood pouring from his forehead, Riddick looks even more maniacal than usual, teeth bared as he grabs at the Harlequin of Hardcore and forces her to her feet in a bent position, putting her head between his thighs.
Dollar: Let’s hope she’s not a virgin because she’s going to have at least one prick in her any second now.
Riddick hoists Ambrosia up to the power bomb position but she instantly starts drilling him in the head with stiff right hands, every blow landing on his wound as more blood pumps out of him, turning Ambrosia’s knuckles red.
Hunter: She’s fighting back!
Dollar: Now she’s biting him! She’s insane!
Mackie: OH MY GOD, HE GOT HER!
The fans groan loudly at the sound of the forceful impact Ambrosia’s body made with the canvas after the Riddick power bomb, a replay window opening to show her carcass landing directly onto the pile of tacks and bouncing an inch off the mat, Riddick also collapsing after the move due to the blood loss and Ambrosia’s attempt at a comeback only moments before. The replay ends and shows the aftermath of the move, Ambrosia’s right arm twitching slightly and showing that at least she’s conscious.
Hunter: These two are just….wow, one of them might end up dead tonight.
“THIS IS AWE-SOME!”
*CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Mackie: I agree with these people. Jesus Christ, this-
Dollar: What the hell….?!
Ambrosia’s right hand manages to find her stomach, resting upon it momentarily before snaking its way downwards and slipping inside her shorts. A smile and a twisted laugh emanates from her as her knees raise slightly, the fans in the Manhattan Center popping when they realize what she’s doing.
Mackie: Well, I always heard she admitted to enjoying pain, I never knew she enjoyed it that much.
Hunter: Wait a second!
Ambrosia’s self-pleasure is halted by Riddick with a lateral press, yet another referee cautiously finds a spot on the mat that doesn’t have tacks and starting to make the count.
1….
2….
No, Ambrosia’s left shoulder pops up at the last second!
Hunter: Riddick almost getting it done, but this match is unbelievably intense…I can’t believe these two
“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa”
The video screen whirrs into life, Drew Bryant appearing on the screen
Drew: What the hell are you two on…referee’s are to be respected damn it.
Hunter: Damn straight
Drew: With that in mind, this match is OVER…Double Disqualification.
The crowd boos, not liking that decision one bit. Riddick is on his feet, and he looks over at Ambrosia, the pair of them shrugging their shoulders, both grabbing the referee and double power bombing him into the steel tacks. With a handshake, the pair then continue to trade blows, both of them falling out the ring and only stopping when security makes its way down
Hunter: Drew laying down the law
Mackie: Yeah, and look what happened…another referee gets killed as a consequence.
Dollar: This is certainly not over between these two…things are going to get very ugly before that happens
Adam is stood next to Vanilla Skyy as she goes through her mental preparations. He doesn’t want to disturb her, and waits till she is finished and her eyes snap open
Vanilla: Is there something troubling you Adam?
Adam puffs out his cheek, rubbing his eyes
Adam: I don’t like this match Vee; I’m going to be honest with you
Vanilla: I’ll admit, I’d rather be defending the title on the last show of the year, but I’m not, I’m teaming with the Sinistry. But at least once this is over, I’ll be able to turn to Jessica and tell her no, one last time
Adam: That’s what worries me
Vanilla: Jessica won’t hurt me Adam; if she wanted to she would have done it a long time ago. I’m more concerned to be facing my friends again.
Adam: Friends that want your title don’t forget.
Vanilla: Yes, granted…but friends that know what respect is. They are all good guys; I have nothing to fear from them, or anyone in this match
Adam: I hope your right
Vanilla: I am, let Jessica have her little ‘showcase Sinistry’ match and then she will have no more excuses to make.
Adam: And you definitely have no intention…
Vanilla: Please Adam, don’t finish that question.
Adam stops himself, and turns to walk away
Vanilla: Adam?
Adam: Yeah?
Vanilla: Thank you for everything this year. I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I appreciate you taking a chance on me.
Adam: It’s been my pleasure Vee. Here’s to 2016 hey?
Vanilla: Damn right…see you out there.
Adam: Wouldn’t miss it for the world.
We cut to the parking lot, Cindy Todd stood outside with Serenity, the camera panning out further to reveal both Callista and Melissa
Cindy: Can you feel it Sister, the fear in the air?
Callista: I can, the Frost, they are running. They know that the end of this particular epic is near.
Cindy: I assume that your plans are beating fruit on Uprising?
Callista: They are…it is now only a matter of time before the Frosts and the Sinistry engage, then I will make my move
Cindy: And Melissa, can I trust that she is almost ready?
Callista: She will be my sister
Cindy: Good…then we are set.
Callista: Was very interesting to see Drew Bryant return, didn’t see that one coming. Got to love a plot swerve like that one
Cindy: Yes, it was surprising; it seems Mr Bryant has a little more about him that I first thought.
Callista: Shall I conclude this evening?
Cindy: No my dear, let’s see what he has planned for Uprising first, then we shall deal with him. Till then, he won’t touch us whilst we have Melissa
She puts her forefinger under Melissa’s chin and smiles.
Cindy: Yes, I’d say things are looking very good for New Eden wouldn’t you girls?
Every member of New Eden nods, none of them noticing Siqua lurking in the shadows close by.
Siqua: Mr Frost will be pleased with me…I must…
A 2×4 slams into the back of her neck, immediately rendering her unconscious. Siqua drops lifelessly to the floor, her attacker going unseen. Cindy looks towards the figure, who lingers off camera, responsible for laying out Siqua.
Cindy: Very good, my dear.
Cindy sneers, a look of absolute devilment filling her face
Cindy: Ah, my dear Siqua…time for you to truly serve the Frosts.
Drew sits in an office, not his usual one but one that has been hastily put up after his surprise arrival. With him is Kitty Buehler, looking as beautiful as ever, whilst also taking care of Drew
Kitty: You really should slow down you know?
Drew: After this it’s over a month until the next show, I’ll rest up then.
Kitty: So, what you doing for Christmas?
Drew: Hadn’t thought about it really
Kitty: How’s about you and me…spend it together. Go somewhere nice, log fire, cabin somewhere in the woods.
Drew: That sounds perfect, and with the tread on this chair, I can go anywhere
Kitty: That’s settled then…can’t wait.
Drew: Me neither
She kisses him on the cheek, just as Sophie James walks into the office
Sophie: Err; sorry…I should have knocked
Drew: Yes you should, but as you are here what can I do for you?
Sophie: It’s good to see you back by the way boss
Drew: Yeah enough of the flannel, what can I do for you?
Sophie: I was wondering, what with Marie on the shelf so to speak…
Drew: What happens to your Tag team title shot right?
Sophie: Well, yeah, actually. I did win a shot at the tag team champions
Drew: Indeed you did, and it’s only fair you get that shot.
Sophie: I mean, I’ve spoken to Marie, and she reckons she will return, but…
Drew: You don’t want to wait
Sophie: Exactly
Drew: Well, how’s about this Sophie, first Uprising of the New Year, you get yourself a willing victim, and I’ll book the match, Wicked Intent versus Sophie James and her partner? Deal?
Sophie nods
Drew: Good…now if there isn’t anything else
Sophie: No, I’m golden
Drew: Excellent, if you would excuse us then Sophie
Sophie: Of course…oh, and Drew?
Drew: Yeah
Sophie: It really is good to have you back.
Drew: Thank you Sophie
As she leaves and closes the door, Drew looks up at Kitty and grins
Drew: Tell you what Kitty, if I’d have known that all it would take was getting paralyzed to get some respect, I’d have done it years ago.
Kitty: Just wait till they find out who you have in mind for the General Manager job…they will love you then
We cut too backstage and the medical centre, Riddick having several lacerations tended to, and being ever the awkward patient.
Riddick: I swear, in one fucking minute I’m going to shove that needle where the sun doesn’t shine.
The nurse backs off, Riddick giving her a glare. Another nurse takes the needle, but Riddick gets to his feet.
Riddick: I’m warning you, I’ll fuck you up
Nurse: There is no need to take that tone…
Riddick: I will turn you inside out if you come anywhere near me bitch, don’t test me
“Wow, aren’t you an angry old beat this evening?”
Riddick looks past the nurse and towards Crissy, who is smiling in his direction. Riddick seems to soften, if he is even capable of softening that is.
Riddick: Got a thing for needles, can’t stand the things
Crissy: There are a lot of cuts…that was quite a war out there
Riddick: Bout fucking time I got one instead of all the pussying about that’s been going on. She’s a feisty one that’s for sure.
Crissy runs her hand across one of his wounds, Riddick not even flinching.
Riddick: Is there something you want Crissy?
Crissy: Not something I want something you need.
Riddick: Oh yeah, and what’s that?
Crissy: Let me help you…let me help you take down Ambrosia
Riddick: I don’t need your help Crissy
Crissy: Maybe, maybe not. But imagine the fun we could have
Riddick: I’m not sure a pretty girl like you is right for this line of work
Crissy: Don’t let the looks deceive you; I could be of major assistance to you.
Riddick licks his lips.
Riddick: Is that right?
Crissy nods
Riddick: OK then doll, give me a call over the holidays, maybe we’ll sort something out.
Crissy: Excellent, you won’t regret it.
Riddick: I hope not, for your sake
Another nurse, this time male, approaches him with the needles, and receives a right hand straight to his nose which busts him open.
Riddick: I said…FUCK OFF!!!
Crissy walks off, to begin with, with a smile, but that smile rapidly changes to a grimace, and she visibly shudders
Crissy: Ewww.
Hunter: Did you guys see that? It looked like she was looking for an alliance with Riddick, but what was that shudder all about
Mackie: I have no idea, but I hope she isn’t playing Riddick, because that isn’t just career ending, it can be life threatening. I’m sure she isn’t though, and it was just a trick of the camera
Dollar: She’s playing with fire, whichever way you look at it.
Hunter: It’s now time for our next match, and this is likely to be a show stealer as perhaps the biggest Uprising up and comer takes on Alana Starr, the longest reigning champion on the Uprising brand.
Dollar: Eve wins this; she has to put herself in line for an X-Class title shot, and another step closer to claiming the world title Ba’al believes is her destiny.
*CRUNCH*
The sound of an apple being bitten into echoes around the room as the lights cut, plunging the arena into total darkness and the rhythmic humming of Jen Titus’ “O Death” begins to fill the darkened room. Dim white lights flash on the stage in time with the humming vocal intro of the entrance music, fading in and out several times before the haunting voice of Jen Titus finally fills the arena. The room remains washed in darkness during the opening melody until the drums kick in with the second round of humming and this time, as the lights flash on and off again we see the figure of Eve standing in the centre of the stage. The lights continue to flicker in time with the beat of the music and out of nowhere Ba’al appears by Eve’s side as a spotlight hits the centre of the stage and Eve throws off the white sheer hooded robe she was wearing to pose in a mock crucifix as the fans boo. Lowering her arms, Eve turns her cold eyes to the ring and begins to make her way down the ramp with Ba’al at her side.
Ring Announcer: “Making her way to the ring, accompanied by former IWC World Heavyweight Champion Ba’al, she weighed in earlier tonight at one hundred twenty four pounds and hails from Finsing in Germany. She is… EVE!!!”
The crowd continues to boo as Eve and Ba’al reach the bottom of the ramp and Eve walks up the steps as Ba’al hops onto the apron to pull the ropes open for her to step through before entering over the middle rope himself. Eve makes her way to the middle of the ring and adopts the mock crucifix once again before lowering her arms back down to her side and she blanks the crowd as she retreats to her corner where Ba’al climbs out of the ring and remains on the apron, standing on the outside of her corner as he leans on the ropes and whispers something into his protégé’s ear as her music fades and the lights return to normal.
Hunter: This girl has been super impressive since debuting, and has lost only a couple of matches during that time.
Dollar: Alana has her hands full, no doubt about that.
Hunter: Eve wins this, she puts herself in the upper echelons of the main event, perhaps even in Alana’s place.
The spotlight starts to shuffle through the entrance as the arena goes dark. Some huge red curtains drop down in the front of the entranceway and a carpet is rolled out. Suddenly the tunes of “I’m A Good Girl” by Christina Aguilera begins to play as suddenly 6 girls dressed in outlandish Burlesque lingerie out fits walk and starts to dance in the old tradition. The fans look on as the music continues….
The dress is Chanel, the shoes YSL
The bag is Dior, Agent Provocateaur
My address today, L.A. by the way
Above Sunset Strip, the Hills all the way
My rings are by Webster, they make their heads twirl
They all say “Darling, what did you do for those pearls?”
What?! I am a good girl….
The screen shows the word “Sexy GOOD” as the gorgeous Alana Starr walks out in her wrestling tights but wearing a burlesque jacket and hat followed by Ethan von Aaron in a tux and top hat with a cane, the two dance for a moment on stage before he bends her backwards and plants a huge kiss on her. Holding hands the two make their way to the ring as the Burlesque dancers continue to dance on the stage as the GOOD Couple walk together hand in hand as the theme continues to play…..
B.H. I adore, Rode-O L’amore
Breakfast Polo Lounge, and poolside for sure
The Chateau for cocktails, the Courtyard at nine
Dan Tana’s for dinner, the Helen’s* divine
You know I have found, the word’s gone around
They all say my feet never do touch the ground
What?! I am a good girl….
Alana and Ethan get to the ring; he helps her to the mat and then holds the ropes open for her to enter the ring. The GOOD Girl dances a little and poses in the middle of the ring stretching her arms out allowing Ethan the chance to take off her jacket and hat. She smiles at Ethan and kisses him again before climbing the ropes and flipping into a standing moonsault. She smiles at the crowd as Ethan applauds waiting for the match to start as the theme starts to fade……
You know I have found, the word’s gone around
They all say my feet never do touch the ground
What?! I am a good girl….
I am a good girl!
Hunter: Ethan promises her a surprise, nothing on that at the moment but we have been hearing that he left the building earlier and has only just returned. What does he have under his sleeve?
Mackie: I honestly dread to think
Dollar: Well, I’m guessing we may find out after this match, and there is the bell to kick us off.
ALANA STARR VERSUS EVE
Hunter; Something that hasn’t been discussed with this match, Ethan and Ba’al on the outside, these two simply do not get on.
Mackie: I’d love to see them step into the ring, just once.
Dollar: Ba’al says his done, and is concentrating on Eve and Siqua now, but as we have found out many times here in the IWC, never say never when it comes to the roster as anything can and usually does happen.
Alana and Eve ties up, and jostle for position, the two of them trying to get the advantage. Eve seems to be the one with the power advantage and she pulls her into the corner, but Alana slips out, landing a right hand which Ethan cheers on. Eve however replies with one of her own, and then a kick to the stomach, before locking Alana around the chin in a chin lock and attempting to take her to the mat. Alana however slips out the hold and kicks Eve in the thigh, following that up with another which drops Eve to one knee. Alana then grabs Eve in a head lock, Eve then pushing Alana towards the ropes and bouncing her off them to the other side. Eve goes for a clothesline which Alana ducks underneath and then jumps onto the second rope, spring boarding off it with an Elbow. Eve however sees it coming and catches her in midair, using the momentum to back body drops her into the canvas.
Hunter: Good early exchange by these two early doors, to be expected however as both are champions at this time.
Dollar: For sure, you’ve got to love whoever booked this match for the EOYS…it’s genius.
With Ethan’s words of encouragement ringing in her ears, Alana gets to her feet, Eve also shouting at her to get up. As she does, Eve thrusts out a boot which Alana catches, before sweeping away Eve’s standing leg and then spinning her over into a half Boston Crab.
Hunter: Good counter and that’s why she is the X-Class champion and has been for so long.
Mackie: You do actually forget that with Eve, because she has been so dominant you forget she is still a rookie here.
Eve scratches at the canvas and pulls herself closer to the rope, grabbing them and the referee calling for a break. Alana doesn’t get chance however as Eve, using the ropes for leverage spins around and catches Alana under the jaw with a devastating kick. Alana staggers back into the center of the ring, Eve jumping up to her feet and running towards Starr who reacts by scooping her up and slamming her into the canvas.
Hunter: See there you see it, the inexperience. Ba’al cannot teach that, Eve needs to learn.
Mackie: And learn she will, but Alana is a top, top talent in this company, Eve is bound to find it tough.
Alana picks Eve up and whips her into the ropes, Eve responding with a Shoulder Block which rocks Alana back on her heels. Eve then hits her with a brutal right hand which drops her to one knee, Alana immediately nipping back up and straight into a Clothesline.
Dollar: Seems she learns quickly
Eve picks her up and whips her into the corner, following it up with a Body Splash, crushing Alana against the turnbuckle. Eve then nips up onto the second rope and leaps from is, looking for a Double Knee to the chest, but Alana jumps out the way, Eve landing on her feet just in time for Alana to take her out with a Thrust Kick to the chest, sending Eve back towards the ropes. As she returns, Alana kicks her in the stomach, and then takes her to the mat with a Swinging DDT.
Hunter: This is quite a match thus far, to-ing and fro-ing all over the place. Both getting in their shots and showing why they won their respective championships
Alana drags Eve up by her hair, and hits her across the chest with a knife edge chop, and then another, following it up with a third which has Ethan jumping up and down with excitement. Ba’al makes his way around the ring, and starts pointing and threatening Ethan, Von Aaron moving around the other side of the ring to stay away from him
Dollar: Is Ethan scared of Ba’al?
Mackie: If he isn’t, he should be. I’m sure Ba’al hasn’t forgotten Ethan’s troubles with his brother.
Alana goes for an Irish Whip into the other corner, but Eve reverses it, and it is Alana that crashes into the corner, Eve running in and following it up with a knee to the stomach which bends Alana over, Eve grabbing her hair and driving her face into the canvas. Now it is Ba’al’s turn to smile as Eve climbs onto the second rope and leaps from it, driving her knee down and into the kidneys of a downed X-Class Champion. Eve jumps to her feet and raises her arms, which brings a few cheers, but also quite a few boos from the crowd who are obviously not sure who they want to win this one.
Hunter: This match has literally split the arena in two…which will be a lot different for two people who are used to receiving boos and nothing else.
Eve picks Alana to her feet and hooks her around the waist, lifting her up and looking for a Suplex. But Alana shifts her weight and lands on her feet behind Eve, and reaches back, grabbing Eve underneath the jaw and dropping to her backside, bringing the back of Eve’s neck down on her shoulder.
Dollar: Exquisite, what a counter from Alana Starr, and I don’t care who you are, you’re going to feel that.
With Ethan pointing at Eve, Alana goes for the first cover of the match
1…
2…
Eve kicks out, Ba’al breathing a sigh of relief whilst slamming his hands down on the canvas. Alana smiles in his direction, and then picks Eve up, hip tossing her into the centre of the ring, before running to the ropes and bouncing off them, dropping her fist down into Eve’s face, before once again hooking the leg
1…
2…
Eve kicks out again, this time Alana pulling her up to a vertical base and throwing her arm over her shoulder. She then grabs Eve around the waist and tries to lift her but Eve blocks the move, and then falls backwards, rolling Alana into a small package
1…
Alana kicks out, Eve rolling backwards and to her feet, Alana responding with a drop kick that sends Eve flying back into the ropes. Alana then runs in, looking for a Clothesline but Eve ducks out the way, Alana bouncing into the ropes and then back, stopping in the centre and turning, straight into a Hell Kick from Eve. Alana drops to one knee, which allows Eve the time to measure her opponent and then run across the ring, driving her knee into Starr’s temple.
Hunter: Tremendous wrestling from Eve…Alana felt the full force of that Shining Wizard.
Mackie: And here is the pin attempt
Eve grabs the leg, and a handful of tights and pulls back as far as she can
1…
2…
No, Alana Starr kicks out again, Ethan pulling at his hair with relief.
Hunter: Alana felt that, but still had the courage to kick out
Mackie: This is one of those situations where a match doesn’t mean anything, but actually means everything. The permutations of an Eve victory would be unthinkable for Alana.
Alana is once again pulled to her feet, the both of them starting to look exhausted from their efforts. Eve grabs her wrist and whips Alana into the corner turnbuckle, Alana’s spine crashing into the corner
Hunter: Did you see the force with which she hit that corner? Wow.
Mackie: I’m sure I saw the ring move
Eve points at Alana who looks out of it, and runs towards her, and leaps in the air, looking for the raised knee to the face. Alana however at the last possible moment is pulled down and out of the way by Ethan, Eve left in the corner hanging from it, her knee having connected with nothing but the steel ring post.
Hunter: Ethan with the huge save, this match could have been over.
Mackie: And Ba’al is not happy…not one bit.
Ba’al starts to stalk Ethan, the referee catching wind of it and jumping out the ring to intercept, getting between them both. Back in the ring, Alana gets to her feet and seeing Eve hung, punts Eve fully in the face, Eve falling from the corner.
Hunter: Alana with a huge kick, the referee didn’t see it, but Ba’al did
Dollar: And now he’s remonstrating…and looks at the look on Ethan’s face
Ethan’s face is a picture, a huge grin filling his face as he backs off, the referee rolling back into the ring as Alana makes the cover
1…
2…
3…
Noooo, Eve kicks out to the delight of many in the Manhattan Center, no more so that Ba’al who applauds his student vigorously.
Hunter: This match has had everything from beginning to end, and is a fantastic advertisement for the Uprising brand
Mackie: Unlike those two dick wads that have announced the RIOT matches this evening.
Hunter: I don’t know, I quite like Sparkles, and Frankie is pretty harmless
Mackie: You think it’s a good idea to have a puppet on the announce team?
Dollar: Why not…we have you
Mackie: ….
Hunter: Oh my God…the last night of the year and David Mackie has been rendered speechless
Dollar: My present to you all
Alana picks Eve up, and showing deceptive strength puts her into a Fireman’s Carry, holding the dazed Eve there and looking straight at Ba’al. She drops her from that position and into the Gut Buster, leaving in agony on the mat. Alana quickly on her, applying a front face lock and placing her body so that Eve’s face is pressed into the canvas
Hunter: Alana slowing it down, these two has expended a lot of energy this evening.
Dollar: No point doing anything else Paul, it’s the last night, so why not?
Eve conserves her strength for a moment, the referee checking that she is ok and doesn’t want to quit which of course she doesn’t. Eve then shifts her position and slowly gets to one knee, and then upright, before driving her elbow into Alana’s stomach. Alana keeps hold of the face lock, so Eve does it again, this time Alana letting go. Eve immediately rakes the eyes of Alana who is temporarily blinded, which allows Eve to bounces off the ropes springboard from them, a roundhouse kick sending Alana flying across the ring. Alana is only stopped from falling to ringside by the ropes, and as she rebounds Eve gets into position, leaping in the air and pulling Alana’s head back, driving it into the canvas
Hunter: TOTALIS FROM EVE!!!
Mackie: No, she calls it Die Gesamt, but you are right, it is homage to Ba’al, and look at the smile now on Ba’al face.
Ba’al grins over at Ethan who is literally frantic, trying to get the referee’s attention. The referee however ignores him, as Eve covers Alana, the referee dropping into position
1…
2…
3…
The arena explodes with noise, but for no reason whatsoever as the referee puts two fingers up at an unbelieving Eve who thought she had it won.
Hunter: Alana kicks out of the Totalis, these fans thought this was over
Mackie: And looking at Ethan, so did he
Ethan is on one knee, looking up at the heavens and thanking whoever he believes is his God. Ba’al whispers something to Eve, who nods her head, and picks Alana to her feet, locking both arms and driving her head into the mat
Hunter: Double Arm DDT, and Eve is going up top, she’s looking to finish this right here.
Eve stands on the top, the referee telling her to get down. Ba’al continues to applaud as Ethan screams at Alana to look out. Ever so slowly Alana gets to her feet and turns, just as Eve leaps from her position, going for the knee, Alana side steps and then as Eve lands drilling her with a Super Kick. As the referee checks on Eve, Ethan speaks to Alana, passing her something which we see is a steel pipe. Alana pulls Eve to her feet, as the referee see’s Ethan nipping up and onto the canvas. As Eve stands there dazed, Alana throws her the pipe, Eve looking confused, as Ba’al runs around the ring and pulls Ethan off the apron. As they push each other, Alana drops to the floor, just as the referee turns around. Eve looks wide eyed at the referee as he rips the pipe out of her hands, and calls for the bell
Hunter: You’re kidding me.
Eve remonstrates with the referee, Ba’al joining her as the ring announcer gets to his feet
Announcer: Your winner by Disqualification…Alana Staaaaarrrrr.
Ba’al grabs a hold of Eve’s shoulder, and pulls her out of the ring, as Ethan joins Alana, Alana now smiling and getting to her feet.
Mackie: Genius move from Alana and Ethan
Eve backs up the ramp staring at Alana, Ba’al nodding his head and smirking
Hunter: Ba’al accepting what has just happened, but Eve wants to get back in the ring and rip Alana’s head off…you can see it in her face
Dollar: Ba’al knows that Eve will get her revenge; it’s always a matter of time with them.
Mackie: Ethan looks nervous, what is he up to?
Dollar: I have no idea
Alana looks at him, as Ethan asks for a microphone, before bringing it to his lips
Ethan: Alana, I told you that I would make tonight better for you. I promised you that I would. And you know something, I live to make you happy. Ever since I dumped that trash to the curb, I knew I had made the right decision, and in this crazy mad world, you have been my constant. You’ve made me want to give up all my gang banging days, and settle down with the only woman I have truly loved.
He reaches in his pocket, and drops down to one knee.
Hunter: NOOOO, he isn’t
Mackie: He is you know
Ethan: Alana Starr…will you marry me?
The place erupts in noise, Alana looking at him wide eyed. Ethan smiles, and bites his bottom lip, holding the ring in Alana’s direction. Even the crowd are imploring her to say yes. Alana looks up and at the crowd, and then back at Ethan who kneels like a puppy dog at her feet.
Ethan: Alana? This isn’t doing the arthritis any good
Alana looks at him once again, then at the crowd, and then back to Ethan
Alana: I’m sorry…
Alana bends through the strands and up the ramp, Ethan watching her go in total shock
Hunter: Ethan just got snubbed
Mackie: She didn’t say no
Dollar: She didn’t say yes either
Ethan rolls out the ring, for the first time in his life stunned, and it seems shunned by the woman he loved. He runs up the ramp way chasing after Alana, the ring still in his hand.
Chris Davids walks through the corridors of the arena, heading to his dressing room in readiness for the six person match later. Kal steps up to him with mic in hand.
Kal: Time for a quick word Chris?
Chris: Sure
Kal: Three weeks ago we saw you face off against Vanilla Skyy the World Champion and come up short in an amazing match. How you feeling after coming so close?
Chris: I feel good, knowing that I took the best in the business to her absolute limits, but disappointed that I couldn’t get over the line. Hopefully I did enough to justify Orlando’s decision to put me in the match in the first place
Kal: I’m sure the fans will agree that’s the case Chris, and indeed your peers
Chris: I hope so yes.
Kal: Tonight you face Vanilla again in tag action, must be strange seeing her on the side of the Sinistry
Chris: Surprise? No, not really as it’s something she has to do, to get Jessica off her back. Needless to say though, Gavin, Cassius and I have no intention of signing off with a defeat so…
Chris’s eyes widen, and the camera pans out to show the masked individual that has been causing chaos of late. Chris looks them up and down, neither of them saying a word until finally Chris speaks
Chris: You’ve been quite the pain in New Eden’s ass my friend. Not sure what you were doing helping Jessica, but, you seem alright
The other individual says nothing, and just nods
Chris: You just keep sticking it to New Eden, and you’re alright in my book
Chris holds out his hand, and the masked individual takes it, both of them shaking
Chris: Thank you for trying bud
“You’re welcome”
The masked person turns, and makes his way down the corridor, Chris with a scowl on his face which changes to one of perhaps realization.
Chris: No…it couldn’t be
Ba’al is on his mobile phone, as Eve paces the locker room like a lioness.
Ba’al: I don’t know, I sent her to spy on the others and then the next minute she was apparently abducted. This is…hold on, I’ll call you back
Ba’al attention is taken to Melissa, who is stood in the entranceway, her eyes a deathly black
Ba’al: Ah, Melissa isn’t it, I take it you bring me a message?
Melissa: I do, from my White Queen Callista Christos
Ba’al: Yes, she does seem to have a flair for the dramatic. Go ahead, I’m listening my dear.
Melissa walks into the room and passes him a note
Melissa: Follow those directions and you will find the woman you seek. You must come alone however, or she will be removed, permanently
Ba’al: Really, and what’s to stop me from kidnapping you right now?
Melissa: That’s quite simple, if I’m not back in five minutes, Ms Todd will slash her throat.
Ba’al nods his head
Ba’al: I see, then you had best run along hadn’t you?
Melissa turns on her heels and leaves, Ba’al turning to Eve
Eve: This is…a trap
Ba’al: I know my dear I know. But what choice do I have but to play her game, at least till Siqua is safe. I’ll bring her home; you just stay here in case this is all a ruse on Ms. Todd’s part. And if you get a chance to tear Alana Starr apart…take it.
Eve: As you command.
<img src=http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp220/Hurse/uprisingringside.jpg
Hunter: New Eden stepping this up, and Ba’al knows this isn’t going to end well for him
Mackie: Cindy Todd was always a genius, now that she has added Callista to the mix, the situation for the IWC is even worse.
Dollar: But what’s going to happen to Ba’al when he finds Siqua, if he even does
Hunter: Going to have to interrupt you there guys, getting news of an altercation backstage, we have a camera on route.
The scene cuts to backstage where Damion Sommers is laying into Lilith Evans, lifting her up and slamming her spine into the concrete floor, before driving his knee into her jaw, and then into her ribs. He then mounts her and starts raining down with rights into her face, Lilith unable to defend herself. Thankfully, Sinistry arrive on the scene, Damion quickly getting to his feet and backing off, as Benjamin checks on Lilith who is dazed
Damion: I’m not done with her, or you lot…not by a long shot
Benjamin: We’re not hard to find my friend
Harbinger: Just hope we don’t find you first
Executioner: Grrrrr Grr
Tina leaves her dressing room, heading towards the ring for her No Limits title defense which is coming up next. As she walks with a confident stride, suddenly her shoulder is grabbed, and she is pulled into a side corridor, face to face with Callista Christos. Callista holds out her hand, a little mouse sitting on it.
Callista: You never did stroke Tina Mouse did you?
Tina: This isn’t going to work Callista; I’m not scared of you
Callista: Oh, maybe not…but you should be…you really should.
Tina: Just let me go
Callista: I just want a chat Tina, just a little one
Tina: I have nothing to say to you
Callista: Then perhaps, I shall do the talking. See, I’ve been watching you and over the past few weeks you have become more and more…alone
Tina: Just how I like it
Callista: Hmmm, see I know a lot about acting, and I know an Oscar performance when I see one. You don’t like it at all, because you know it leaves you vulnerable
Tina: I can look after myself
Callista: Yes, Mr Bryant said that as well, and looks what happened there.
Tina gulps
Callista: Yes, now I see a little fear…that’s good, it means we are getting somewhere.
Tina: Look, Callista, you’ve got this all wrong you really have
Callista: Really? You didn’t injure my husband, and put him in a bad place?
Tina: No, not really, not when you look at it properly
Callista: Oh this could be quite a script…continue
Tina: This all started when Orlando Cruze started to mess around with my matches, and he fined me for my actions. I, of course retaliated…to which ORLANDO decided that I would never compete for a title again. Because I’m not stupid, I found a way around it, and claimed the QOTR title, but then ORLANDO stripped me of the title…and the Slay Revolution was formed. I accept, I did hit your husband with a chair…but it was only to prevent ORLANDO from selling the company.
Callista: So you’re saying this is all on Orlando?
Tina: The logic is clear. If ORLANDO hadn’t tried to replace me with Aiken Frost, none of this would have happened. It started a domino effect that ended with me being stripped of the QOTR title, which drove me to do everything that took place afterwards. ORLANDO stays out my face, and nothing would have happened to your husband. You want revenge for what happened to him, it’s not me you should be looking at, and it should be Orlando Cruze.
Callista: Hmmm, that is quite the argument don’t you think Tina Mouse?
She looks at the mouse and nods her head
Callista: Tell you what Tina, as it will soon be the festive season, and all the Christmas movies will be screened, I’ll give you an early Christmas present and let you defend that little shiny you currently have around your waist.
Tina: Thank you
Callista: Oh, don’t thank me my dear, Orlando Cruze was scheduled to get his anyway, you DID hit my husband with the chair, and you WILL pay, just not this year. Enjoy the festivities Tina Bear…they may be your last
Callista walks away, Tina breathing a sigh of relief and from the end of the corridor, Kloe Masters watches on, a huge smile on her face
Hunter: It’s been a barnstormer of a night thus far, and now it’s for possibly the most heated match we have had in recent times, as William Mason faces Tina Valentine for her No Limits title. Now, we cannot forget, it was Mason who invented this title when it was the ‘Pure’ Championship, but when you factor in the splitting of the AXIS, and Tina’s apparently hatred for anyone who had a part in it, this match is not going to be pretty
Dollar: True, and also we have had no word on a new contract for William Mason, so this could indeed be the final time we see him in an IWC ring.
“Circus for a Psycho” by Skillet continues to echos from the louder speaker. The lights go out. When the lights come back on William appears on the stage with his back turned to the ring; the black hoodie he’s wearing standing out to us. He turns around and takes a moment to soak in the reaction from the audience. He methodically walks down to the ring and slides under the bottom rope. He then leans against the turnbuckle allowing the rest of the song to play out.
Hunter: As always, he looks focused, but there is genuine sorrow in his eyes right now
Mackie: I just cannot believe that this has been allowed to fester for so long, and that the IWC didn’t get him signed up immediately. Imagine him competing in a rival company; it’s going to be awful
“One Step Closer” by Linkin Park hits the airwaves and the crowd boos once Tina Valentine appears on the stage. Tina just scoffs at the reaction that she’s getting as she starts to make her way down the ramp, more focused than she has ever been to attain what she feels belongs to her. Her eyes continue to be locked on the ring the closer she gets to it. She gets in that ring, displaying a heightened sense of arrogance while doing so. She climbs to the top rope to soak in even more boos from the fans that can’t stand the sight of her and she adds to it by giving them a few seconds of lip service before getting down to the mat and focusing on the task ahead, lifting the middle finger up at Mason
Mackie: Classy as always
Hunter: She just doesn’t care Dave; she believes she doesn’t need anyone, not Mason and certainly not Kloe Masters
Dollar: She’s nothing more than a petulant child…simple as
Hunter: Perhaps, but she is one hell of a talent that’s for certain.
NO LIMITS CHAMPIONSHIP
TINA VALENTINE VERSUS WILLIAM MASON
The bell rings, and both competitors take a deep breath and begin to walk to the centre. Tina immediately starts to mouth off at Mason who just grins, and then actually bursts out laughing as ‘ROAR’ hits over the PA system, and Kloe Masters steps out onto the stage
Hunter: Kloe’s here, she wants to see this one first hand
Mackie: She wants to put her nose in and make sure Tina doesn’t win you mean
Tina turns to face Kloe, and immediately starts shouting expletives up the ramp, as Kloe walks towards the ring. The referee shouts at Tina, but she isn’t paying any attention, all her focus on Kloe.
Hunter: She is out of control here; Kloe has gotten right into her head
Kloe walks smugly around the ring, her eyes not even looking at Tina, and takes a seat at the announce table
Hunter: Kloe…
Kloe: Good evening Paul, how are we fella’s?
Mackie: Very good, any reason you are out here tonight?
Kloe: Simply put, to ensure that Ms. Valentine gets exactly what she deserves.
Dollar: She opened her mouth once too often huh?
Kloe: She didn’t take heed of the warnings Johnny, now she has to pay the piper
Tina is still shouting at Kloe, and doesn’t see William sneak up behind her and roll her up
1…
2…
Tina kicks out, her eyes widened with shock
Hunter: Mason nearly shocked her there. She needs to get her head back in the game and forget about Kloe
Kloe: I’m not an easy person to forget Paul, have you not seen my 2016 calendar?
Mackie: I have…hot, hot, hot.
Kloe: Not bad for a girl pushing thirty five right?
Mackie: Damn right.
William laughs at Tina who is obviously getting more and more irate with the situation. She rolls out the ring, and with the boos ringing in her ears, she walks around the ring and to the ramp way, and starts backing up it.
Hunter: It looks like Tina is leaving
Dollar: Can’t win a title like this on count out, pin or submission only.
Kloe: And to think, I associated with her as a friend…Pathetic.
William shakes his head, as Tina stops mid-way up the way, Kloe getting from her seat and grabbing a microphone.
Kloe: Hey Tina, there has been a lot of things said about you of late, but I never thought you were a coward.
Tina looks out over the crowd
Tina: I’m not a coward
Kloe: You want to prove yourself; it’s all you ever wanted. Get your ass back in here, and prove it…instead of being such a BITCH.
Tina’s eyes widen, and to the delight of the crowd she starts walking back to the ring, Mason sitting on the middle strand. Tina tells the referee to make Mason back off, which he does, Tina rolling under the bottom rope and back to her feet. Kloe retakes her place at the announce table, as the referee argues with Tina who obviously wants Kloe barred from ringside.
Mackie: Seems you had the desired effect
Kloe: Whether she realizes it or not David, I know what makes her tick. That’s why it will be so easy for William to defeat her tonight
Hunter: Are you saying you’ve been giving William advice?
Kloe: Now Paul, you’re putting words in my mouth honey.
Finally William and Tina lock up, Tina surprising him by driving her forearm into his face, but not for long however as William responds with a shot of his own, and a tackle which takes Tina down to the mat. He locks in an arm bar, which he changes to a front face lock, before then sliding Tina’s own arm across her throat, looking for a Sleeper. Tina’s realizes her predicament, and thrusts her head backwards, her skull connecting perfectly with the bridge of William’s nose causing him to let go, and allowing Tina to get to her feet. As William gets to his, Tina grabs him around the waist and looks for a side Suplex, but William blocks the move and instead delivers a Belly to Belly Suplex in the centre of the ring. As Tina gets to her feet, William tackles her in the midriff and sends the both of them through the ropes and to the outside.
Hunter: Now this is where No Limits comes into play
William is immediately on his feet, but Tina isn’t so quick, and by the time she has gotten up, William is ready and lifts her, running across the floor and driving Tina’s spine into the steel ring post. As Tina holds the small of her back, Mason is relentless, and grabs the back of her head, driving it into the steel ring steps. Tina’s head rests on the steps, and William gets up onto the apron, waiting for her to recover a little before running across the apron, and dropping his foot on the back of her head, driving her face into the steps
Mackie: Curb Stomp into the ring steps…Tina has to be out of it right now
Dollar: You think?
William looks over at Kloe who gets to her feet, holding out her hand for a high five. With a wry smile William does indeed high five his former Axis colleague, before grabbing Tina and rolling her back into the ring.
Hunter: What was that all about?
Kloe: Hey, he may not be Axis anymore, but he’s not left on bad terms. He made it clear it was all about Rachel and I respect that. Unlike the ungrateful bitch Tina who just hasn’t shut up over the past few weeks. Anything she gets here today, she deserves…end of story.
As Tina lies in the ring out of it, William rummages under the ring and pulls out a table, the fans on their feet as he slides it into the ring.
Dollar: Mason looking for a little table action here
Mackie: This is nothing but bad news for the champion
Hunter: Kloe, we’ve seen you over in NxtGen recently, what have you been doing there?
Kloe: You know me, always on the lookout for opportunities
Mackie: Yeah, with Mr Wasley
Kloe: Mr Wasley and I are good friends who enjoy each other’s company
Dollar: You want his company you mean
Kloe: Not at all, that is just rumor mongering. He’s a nice guy, and a nice girl like me deserves a nice guy after some of the animals I have been with
Hunter: Orlando falls into that category?
Kloe: Orlando and I will always have a connection…no, he wasn’t who I was talking about.
Back in the ring, William sets up the table in the corner, leaning it against the turnbuckle. He then reaches inside his wrestling gear, and pulls out a pair of brass knuckles
Hunter: We’ve seen the knucks come into play once already this evening
Mackie: I like this new William Mason, he’s come prepared and you can bet that’s Rachel’s influence.
William puts them on, and begins to stalk Tina who is slowly starting to stir. The first thing she does is check to see if she is bleeding, and then she pulls herself on the ropes, unaware that William is right behind her with his fist readied
Mackie: Tina about to be introduced to the brass
Tina turns, as William swings, Valentine managing to duck and avoid the shot at the very last possible moment. William is taken off balance, and Tina takes the opportunity to drive her forearm into the jaw of Mason, sending him backwards and into the center of the ring, the knucks sent across the ring in the opposite direction. Tina runs in, looking for a Clothesline, but William ducks it, Tina almost running into the wooden table. She turns, just as William leaps into a Spear, Tina managing to sidestep and allow William to crash into the wooden table, splintering it into many pieces. William lies amongst the wreckage, as Tina pulls herself up on the ropes, the high impact stair shots possibly having given her concussion.
Hunter: You have to put that down as a mistake by William Mason, but right now, Tina isn’t able to take advantage
Kloe: She got lucky…mind you saying that, looking at her right now, I’d hardly say she looks lucky.
Tina drops to one knee, the referee checking on her, asking if she is able to continue. At first Tina doesn’t reply, but finally she nods her head, the referee looking straight into her eyes and checking she is ok. Tina pushes the referee away and gets to her feet, walking over to Mason and berating the crowd and Kloe as she does
Mackie: She really seems to have a bug up her ass with you.
Kloe: The thing is with Tina she always needs someone to blame, before it was Victoria, and now it’s. Somewhere along the way though she forgot that crossing me isn’t a great idea, and whilst ever she keeps shooting her mouth, I’m going to be there ensuring her career goes nowhere.
Tina picks William up to his feet and bails him across the ring, leaping in the air and catching him with a drop kick as he bounces off the ropes. She then rolls out the ring and starts searching underneath it, pulling out a baseball bat, wrapped in barbed wire and holding it aloft.
Hunter: How come, there is always a bat under there with barbed wire around it?
Mackie: Because she put it there do you think?
Dollar: Errr…guys?
The announce team watch as Kloe gets to her feet, sneaking up on Tina.
Hunter: Kloe gunning for Tina here…she’s buying Mason some time.
Dollar: Uh ho…
As Kloe gets close, Tina realizes what is going on and turns, lifting the bat so that the point is literally millimeters from Kloe’s nose. Kloe’s eyes widen as Tina laughs.
Tina: Kloe fails…again.
Kloe backs off, Tina advancing with the bat still raised threateningly.
Mackie: Tina has had enough, Kloe is about to get a makeover.
Kloe holds up her hands, realizing that the game is up. But behind Tina she doesn’t see William getting to his feet and bouncing off the far ropes, before leaping over the top ropes and landing across Tina, taking her to the floor, Kloe picking up the bat
Hunter: William Mason with the save, and now Kloe has the bat…oh my God look at her eyes.
Kloe looks at Tina evilly, and lifts the bat as Mason looks on. Part of obviously wants to stop her, but he doesn’t, and watches as Tina pulls herself up on the apron.
Mackie: If you are of a nervous disposition, close your eyes right now because Tina is about to be cut to pieces
Tina turns, and now it is her eyes that widen, looking into her former mentors eyes. For a moment there is anger, but then it is defiance, daring Kloe to do it
Tina: Come on then bitch, finish it.
Kloe just sneers, and lifts the bat higher, Tina closing her eyes as Kloe brings the bat down, RIGHT ON THE SKULL OF WILLIAM MASON!!!
Hunter: Oh my God, what has Kloe just done?
William lies on the canvas as Tina looks on, first in shock, but then a grin forms on her face, and she throws her arms around Kloe who hugs her back
Mackie: FUCKING GENIUS…Kloe has done it again.
Dollar: Yeah…well she’d better run now
The crowd erupts as Rachel Tatum Lee comes hurtling down the ramp way, Kloe seeing her and hurdling the barricade making her way through the crowd. Tina tries to head Rachel off, but without even stopping, Rachel nearly takes her head off with a devastating clothesline from hell, Tina floored and left lying right next to William. Rachel takes one look at William who is somehow pulling himself up, blood gushing from his forehead. He motions for her to go, get Kloe, before pulling Tina up to her feet and bailing her into the ring. Rachel doesn’t need a second invitation and continues the chase as William wipes the blood from his face
Hunter: How is William Mason still stood? After that huge double cross from Kloe, how can he still be in this match?
Mackie: I have literally no idea, but he has the knuckles, and he has Tina Valentine with no clue where she is.
William leans against the turnbuckle, once again getting rid of the blood, as Tina pulls herself up on the ropes. William starts stamping his foot, the fans chanting along with him.
Dollar: Tina doesn’t know where she is, she going to turn into a world of trouble here.
She widens her eyes, looking out over the crowd and turns, just as William Mason runs in, the brass knuckles slamming into Tina’s jaw and knocking her clean out. The place erupts as Tina hits the floor hard, the force from the shoot dropping William to his knees, the blood loss obviously having an effect. He leans on top of Tina, who is still not moving, and pins her shoulders to the mat
1…
Mackie: No ref…her feet are under the ropes
2…
Hunter: He’s not seen it
3…
William lifts his arms aloft, but the referee throws them down again, seeing where Tina’s feet are at the last moment and stopping the count. William holds out his hands in disbelief, slamming his hand into his palm three times, the referee shaking his head
Mackie: Thank God, that would have been a travesty
Hunter: After everything that’s already happened? THAT’S a travesty.
William says something to the referee, and then drags Tina into the center of the ring, once again pinning her shoulders
1…
2…
3…
This time Tina Valentine kicks out to the sheer amazement of William Mason, who holds his head in his hands. He picks her up to her feet and bails her across the ring, Tina bouncing off the ropes and leaping into the air.
Hunter: Valentines Heartbreak!!!
Mason thought has scouted it, and blocks the move, planting Tina into the ring with a power slam. He then lifts her up, and upside down, going for the huge TFC.
Hunter: This is it…William Mason is about to become the No Limits champion once again
And yeah, he probably would, if it wasn’t for the chair that is slammed down on his skull, knocking him clean out. The camera pans to reveal the assailant who is quickly getting out the ring and up the ramp
Mackie: KELLEN JEFFRIES with the huge save. Tina is staggering to her feet.
She pulls William to his and leaps in the air, driving her knees into Mason’s chest. Immediately she drops down into the pin
1…
2…
3…
Tina rolls off, as Mason is still out, the referee sliding out the ring and Tina following, not having a clue what has just happened. The referee passes her the belt however and thats all she cares about, lifting it aloft to boos from the capacity crowd
Hunter: Valentine steals the victory, not just due to Kellen, but due to Kloe Masters as well. William Mason must be fuming
Mackie: When he wakes up, I’m sure he will tell us. But for now William if this was your last match…thanks for coming
Tina backs up the ramp with the belt in her possession holding it close, as Mason slowly starts to come too
Alana is sat in her dressing room, and looking quite stressed. Her stress levels seem to jump as Ethan finally catches up with her, bursting into the room
Ethan: Alana, what’s going on babe, I thought this was what you wanted. Me and you to be together forever. Look what we did to Ba’al, outsmarted him on every level, we are a team me and you.
Alana: No….I mean, I do, but…
Ethan: What is it? What’s the problem?
Alana: It’s just; you took me by surprise Ethan, and in front of all those people.
Ethan: I wanted to make the grand gesture babe. We’ve had it tough the last couple of months, people didn’t believe in all, and how GOOD we were.
Alana: We have had it tough…it hasn’t been GOOD
Ethan: If I’m married to you, nothing else will matter. As Alana Von Aaron you, me and Keenie, we will take over the IWC and you will finally get the world title you deserve
Alana: But Ethan, can’t you see…a proposal on live television. It’s a little tacky don’t you think?
Ethan: I wanted to show the world Alana, just how much I love you. I had a camera, and I used it…
Alana takes a deep breath
Alana: I…I just need some time Ethan
Ethan’s head drops
Ethan: You’re going to say no aren’t you?
Alana: I don’t know…I just don’t know if I’m ready…not yet. Can I be left alone for a while?
Ethan: Alana?
Alana: Please Ethan.
Ethan nods, and forlornly walks out the room, and straight into William Mason who considering what happened earlier is actually grinning
William: Always someone worse off than yourself huh Ethan
Ethan: Go fuck yourself Mason…she’ll say yes…
William walks off laughing, saying something under his breath.
Ethan: She has to.
Cut to a different part of the arena, where Chris Davids is stood with Gavin Taylor and Cassius DeLight
Cassius: The whole gang back together again, like the three amigos
Gavin: To put an end to this TRUE Sinistry crap once and for all
Chris: Won’t be easy boys, especially not with Vanilla on their side
Cassius: She’s not on their side, not really
Gavin: She is teaming with them, and knowing Vanilla, she’ll want to win
Cassius: Of course she does, so do we…don’t we?
Chris: It’s the last match of the year, if we want to end on a high, then we need to win, simple as that.
Gavin: And if we have to pin Vanilla?
Chris: We do it, she wouldn’t expect anything less.
Cassius: But respectfully
Chris: Of course
Gavin: But what if…
Chris: Don’t say it
Gavin: No, what if she does join the Sinistry
Cassius: It won’t happen
Gavin: It could
Cassius: No, it won’t, Vanilla would never join them
Gavin: But what if she did?
Chris: Then, in that instance, we would do what we have to
Gavin: That’s all I wanted to hear. Respect or not, she joins the Sinistry, then she is one of them
Cassius: She won’t though
Chris and Gavin turn to Cassius
Cassius: What? She won’t.
Kloe and Tina walk through the corridors and towards the exit, giggling after what had happened in the match earlier.
Tina: Did you see his face? The looks when the realization hit him
Kloe: Serves him right for taking his friends feelings over my needs. We are going to get a lot of hate for this though Tina, the whole worlds going to come down on us for this, especially Rachel who I bet is still looking for me.
Tina: Meh, fuck them all…it should always have been just me and you anyway Kloe. We never needed anyone else.
Kloe: Well, except Kellen Jeffries it seems. Maybe I underestimated him. Anyway, I think its best we get out of here…let the IWC cool down a little
Tina: Hopefully Callista isn’t waiting for me
Kloe: Your little story re Orlando will buy us some time. We’ll worry about that later.
“Klo-Worm”
Tina and Kloe turn to face Benjamin Flynn
Kloe: Benjamin…how are you?
Benjamin: Very well thank you, I see you’re latest plan came to fruition
Kloe: Of course…Mr Mason was suitably surprised
Benjamin: Good…before you leave, I have a message that I need to pass on to you, from my Queen Jessica
Kloe: Really, what does she want?
Benjamin: Well, actually…you
Kloe: Me?
Benjamin: Yes…and your friend here as well it seems
Kloe: I don’t understand
Benjamin: Well, with the demise of the AXIS, and the alliance that brought about the demise of Silas Mason, Jessica thought it wise to bring you both into the Sinistry fold where you could be of worth.
Kloe: I see…
Benjamin: Remember the fun we had Klo-worm, we could have all that again
Kloe: I have to admit, I find the offer tempting
Benjamin: Of course you do, we are Sinistry
Kloe: But, I will have to respectfully decline.
Benjamin: I see
Kloe: 2016 is going to be a big year for both me and Tina and I’m afraid I will have no time to give the Sinistry, although I wish you well
Benjamin: I shall pass your feelings on…it’s a shame
Kloe: It is.
She leans forwards and gives him a peck on the cheek
Kloe: See you around Benji
Benjamin: Goodnight Klo-worm
Kloe and Tina leave through the exit and into the parking lot
Tina: You like him don’t you?
Kloe: He’s a good guy…too good for the Sinistry
Tina: So, what happens next?
Kloe: Next Tina, we celebrate
Tina: And then?
Kloe laughs
Kloe: Then T, we turn 2016 into the year of the Valentine
Tina grins, rubbing Kloe’s back
Tina: THAT was exactly what I wanted to hear.
“KLOE!!!”
Kloe turns and see’s Rachel running over to them, and Tina and Kloe quickly get into the car and gun the engine, roaring out of the parking lot as fast as they can and away from Rachel Tatum Lee. She stops running, and surprisingly a smile forms on her face.
Rachel: You two will keep
We cut to Sally, who is stood with Vanilla Skyy
Sally: Vanilla, the final Uprising main event of 2015 is now just moments away, where you will fight side by side with the Sinistry against three of your friends. It’s got to be mixed emotions
Vanilla: Of course, on the one end I want to end the most successful year of my career on a high and with a victory, on the other, it will be over three men I ultimately respect…but I have to think about myself
Sally: Lots of talk on social media of you possibly joining the Sinistry tonight, something that you have always denied
Vanilla: I’ve denied it until I am blue in the face, but that won’t stop everyone from thinking it. I have no desire to be a part of that group, though I do respect Jessica for what she has achieved. That doesn’t mean I want to be involved, not now or ever.
Sally: But you understand why they would feel this way?
Vanilla: Of course, morals and such don’t tend to go well with this business. I’m different, I do show respect, and I do know the difference between right and wrong. I’m the Uprising World Champion and with that come a code, a code I always abide by.
Sally: You seem pretty clear on that
Vanilla: As I always have, the Sinistry’s fight in not mine, at least after this match it won’t be. All I’m concentrating on is the victory…nothing else.
Sally: After the match, thoughts will turn to 2016 and more potential challengers. Who would you say currently heads up the queue to be Uprising World title contender.
Vanilla: I’m only the champion, I don’t make that call, but I see many potential challengers, both new and old. I also want to make it clear that if any Uprising versus RIOT championship match can take place, I would be massively up for that, and it would be my chance to prove myself the very best in the IWC…as I’m sure Katelyn would be as well.
Sally: Thank you for your time Vanilla, and I’m sure I speak for the whole of the IWC when I say thank you for your efforts this year.
Vanilla: It’s been my pleasure Sally…and I look forward to 2016 being even better.
<img src=http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp220/Hurse/uprisingringside.jpg
Hunter: We just saw a very confident Vanilla Skyy…it’s been quite a year for the Uprising world champion hasn’t it?
Mackie: For sure, she came of age when the brand split occurred and right now, I’m sure she’s seen as one of the best not just in the IWC, but in the TRIAD beyond.
Dollar: And rightfully so, but 2016 is going to be a challenging year for that young lady with some real heavy hitters lining up for their chance.
Hunter: I’m sure she realizes that and is ready
UNKNOWN LOCATION
Ba’al pulls up in an area of New York and looks at the address, checking he is at the right place. He gets out of the car and looks around, scanning the area for any ambush. Satisfied he is the only person here, he walks up to the door of an old abandoned lock up and opens it, peering inside through the gloom. Suddenly the lights flick on, and after his eyes have gotten used to the light, he sees Siqua bound in a chair, blood seeping from her nose.
Ba’al: Siqua, my dear…are you ok?
She nods, the out from behind a pile of furniture steps Callista and Melissa, Ba’al immediately looking behind him to see if he is trapped
Callista: You did indeed come alone. I am glad you are a man of your word
Ba’al: Let her go
Callista: Of course, all in good time. First, I think we need to talk about where in the food chain you and your brother actually stand
Ba’al: I’m not here to play your games, let Siqua go, and no one gets hurt.
Ba’al steps forwards, as Callista steps towards Siqua, Ba’al catching the glint under the lights of a blade
Callista: Now, you wouldn’t want this to end early would you?
Ba’al: Just say what Cindy has told you, and then leave
Callista: See, this is the thing, there doesn’t have to be this animosity
Ba’al: Your ‘sister’ hung my brother
Callista: To which he has claimed his revenge over and over.
Ba’al: Nowhere near enough
Callista smiles at Melissa who smiles back.
Callista: This isn’t getting us anywhere. It is quite simple Mr Frost. Next year, New Eden is going to launch an attack on the TRIAD like never seen before. We will take out this Monarchy, and anyone who dares to oppose us, including the Frost’s.
Ba’al: Your illusions of grandeur are nothing new
Callista: This is happening Ba’al, and my advice to you right now, is to quite simply stay out of our way. We have shown you how easy it is to get to you, go away and think about it with Lucien…I’m sure you will both come to the right decision
Ba’al: We will never bow to you, or Ms. Todd.
Callista doesn’t show any anger; she just turns to Melissa and holds her hand
Callista: Then, the conclusion to this story is already known
The lights suddenly go off, and when they return, Callista and Melissa are gone
Ba’al: Smoke and Mirrors huh…pathetic.
Ba’al immediately rushes to help Siqua, untying her binds and helping her to her feet.
Ba’al: Come my dear, we have to get back to the arena…and fast.
Drew is packing up his things, helped by Kitty who carries his briefcase for him
Kitty: You ready?
Drew: Yeah, shame the paperwork didn’t get completed.
Kitty: I’m sure she will understand Drew…
Drew: I know but
The door opens, and a crew member walks in.
Crew: Sorry to bother you Drew but this just came in
His eyes widen, as he is handed a fax
Drew: A fax…what are we here in the eighties or something?
The crew member shrugs, and then leaves…Drew starting to smile
Kitty: Is it done?
Drew: It’s done…we’re not leaving yet, not quite babe that OK?
Kitty: Go get it done…I’ll wait here.
Drew smiles, and gives the impression of a giddy school kid.
Drew: Five minutes…promise
Kitty: Go on
Drew leaves the room in his electric chair, the fax still in his hand.
Alana sits in her dressing room, alone and thoughtful, the whole show passing her by. It plays on a video screen, but she isn’t paying any attention, she doesn’t even notice Ethan walk in
Ethan: You ok babe?
Alana: Yes
Ethan: I love you Alana…more than anything in this world. It would be difficult to find anyone who could love you more.
Alana: I know, but it’s such a big deal. You did dump me once before
Ethan: And that was my biggest mistake…like ever
Ethan pouts, putting out his bottom lip for effect.
Alana: I’ve spoken to Keenie
Ethan: You have, what did she say?
Alana: She said that we are perfect together
Ethan: So, what do you think?
She pauses for a moment, and then smiles.
Alana: Ask me again
Ethan: What?
Alana: Ask me again.
Ethan: Now?
Alana: No, in six hours, of course now
Ethan drops to one knee, and once again opens the box revealing the huge diamond.
Ethan: Alana Starr…will you marry me?
Alana nods, and then says the word Ethan was dying to hear
Alana: Yes…Yes I will Ethan
Ethan puts the ring on and then jumps to his feet, the pair sharing a passionate embrace
Ethan: Oh babe this is going to be amazing. There’s going to be balloons, lots of balloons. And pyro, I’m going to blow the budget. And Keenie, she can marry us…next Uprising…in front of everyone.
Alana: Slow down Ethan, let’s enjoy it
Ethan: Enjoy it…I got so much to do. I’ll see you back at home babe.
He goes to walk off but then returns, giving her a kiss and then dry humping her…only for a short while by his standards. He then leaves, as Alana just looks at the ring on her finger, her smile widening, that is until she she’s Eve in the door staring at her
Alana: I’ve already beaten you…don’t even think about it
Eve: Let’s hope you live long enough to enjoy your wedding Ms. Starr.
Hunter: She said yes
Mackie: Ethan is getting married…the whole female population will be in uproar.
Dollar: I can’t believe someone who was such a nice girl is going to marry someone like him. Crazy
‘Hall of Fame’ hits over the PA, and immediately Drew Bryant appears through the curtain. He lifts his hand, and calls for both the music to stop, and for the fans to quieten down.
Drew: One in a while comes along an opportunity, an opportunity to better yourself, to become more than you possibly thought you could. Whereas on RIOT, it seems to be a constant parade of same old, same old fighting for the top honors, on Uprising EVERYONE gets a chance, encapsulated by our current champion who finally claimed a world title, on our brand. Uprising is quickly getting itself a reputation as a place where if you are good, you WILL get your chance, and where the best NEW talent in wrestling can be found.
Hunter: I take it this is the new Uprising roster member then
Dollar: They are getting quite the buildup that’s for sure.
Drew: Three weeks ago, the IWC nearly made a big mistake. The IWC nearly let one of the brightest talents in the game go to either the SCW or ULW. Silas Mason messed up, big time, but I’m not going to make the same mistake, and in my last act as Uprising General Manager before I skulk into my safe haven as simply fifty percent owner of this company, I leave whoever takes over this huge, massive…and brand changing present. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the newest member of the Uprising roster, the Game Changer…Julia Braddock.
Hunter: Oh my days
Dollar: Julia is back…from right under the nose of RIOT
Mackie: McBride must be spitting fire right now
Julia Braddock steps out onto the stage, and shakes Drew’s hand, Drew passing her the mic.
Julia: On RIOT I was overlooked, and underappreciated by Silas Mason. In 2016, Uprising will benefit from that fatal error. Uprising roster you are all on notice, the Uprising Braddock legacy is just about to begin.
The crowd is going crazy as she passes the mic back to Drew
Drew: Stay safe guys, and have a fantastic New Year, and Uprising will see you in 2016
Drew applauds Julia before disappearing through the curtain, allowing the stage to Julia alone. She gets an amazing reaction from the crowd, before with a final wave she leaves too.
Hunter: We thought we had lost Julia when she left Riot, but Drew wasn’t going to allow that to happen
Dollar: And right there we have a bona fide title contender, for what title, we will have to find out
Mackie: If you are a title holder, you have to be looking over your shoulder…even Vanilla Skyy.
Hunter: It’s been an amazing end to 2015, and next year already promises so much, but right now it’s time for our final match and its six person action with a lot of backstory going on.
Mackie: And if you believe some…a lot of deceit.
The opening of Intoxicated cues up as Lilith comes to the ring followed by Ian Kilgore. They both look at each other before walking down to the ring where Lilith takes off her long leather jacket. She hands her jacket to Ian and jumps over the top rope as she waits.
Hunter: Still not certain Lilith wants to be in the Sinistry
Dollar: I’d agree, but she’s not been given a choice
The intro tracks of “The Enemy You Need” by Blameshift are filtering through the loud speakers leading to an unruly response from the crowd. The arena lights dim with only a feint red hue leaking out of the entrance canal. Jessica Wilde emerges through the light trailed by her monstrous masked bodyguard Executioner, and her equally as depraved associate Benjamin Flynn. They walk casually towards the ring with Wilde at the epicenter.
Hunter: There are some people talking about Jessica Wilde competing for the world title next year, but for now she seems content on bringing Vanilla into the fold
Mackie: Vanilla Skyy would be a huge addition to the Sinistry and could actually make all the difference.
Dollar: With Ba’al out of the building and rushing to get back, she could put a full stop on 2015 with the Sinistry on top.
The sounds of a blizzard can be heard…..
The arena goes dark with only one white spotlight at the entrance way……
it begins to snow inside as the fans look up……
The drum beats begin to play…
Suddenly the screen comes on with a woman holding her hair and screaming, the screen changes to many vantage points….
As “U & UR Hand” by Pink blasts through the arena, Vanilla Skyy comes out from behind the curtain. She looks around the arena as she slowly walks to the ring….
She looks at the fans as she just keeps her focus on the ring. Vanilla jumps up to the apron and she does a back flip over the ropes and into the ring…
She stands in the middle of the ring, puts her hands together in a handgun motion and aims into the camera….
She walks to the corner and sits on the ring floor and rests against the turnbuckle
Dollar: The World Champion guys
Hunter: And rightfully so…the best in the business in many people’s eyes.
Mackie: Would that be the case if she did join the Sinistry tonight though?
Hunter: I don’t think anything would happen tonight…would it?
Mackie: It’s the end of the year, it’s the perfect time.
“Business Time” explodes throughout the arena and the crowd cheers as soon as Cash appears through the curtain and starts making his way to the ring, in dark sunglasses and a long black trench coat. He stops along the aisle while his music plays taking selfies with fans who have cellphones. Once he is at ringside he hands his coat and glasses to the ring attendant then slides into the ring and strikes different poses in the middle of it for fans often mocking his opponent in the process if they are already in the ring, until his music ends.
Hunter: He came to the company on the back of being one of the hottest free agents in the business. How do you think he has done?
Dollar: Considering the step up, really well. I think we will see a lot more of him next year, and probably some gold to go with it.
The lights around the arena begin to flicker as “Whoa Is Me” by Down With Webster starts to play over the arena.
Whoa is me
I’m so whoa
See me decked out from my head to my toe
Whoa is me
I’m so whoa
Everywhere I go I’m a one man show
And the song continues…
Alongside the entrance ramp, an all-black Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, top down, is driven out. The crowd boos as “All Star” Gavin Taylor steps out from the drivers’ side of the car. As he pulls himself onto the hood of the car, posing with his arms outstretched the chorus of the song plays.
Say whoa (whoa)
The more I feel it whoa (whoa)
The more I need it whoa (whoa)
You say whoa
Whoa is me
I’m so whoa
Gavin hops off the hood of the car and gets to the ramp itself, walking down towards the ramp with swagger. He smirks as he gets to the ring. Pulling himself to the apron, he hangs out of the ring while holding onto the top rope.
The song continues…
I cheated to get what I got
Stepped all over you self for my spot
I bet you I’m winning, I bet that you’re not
I bet you don’t see me, I bet you get caught
Gavin pulls himself through the ropes and steps onto the second ropes on the opposite side of the ring from the ramp. He opens his jersey, sliding it off his shoulders as he stretches his arms out.
Turning around, he bounces back off the ropes, high fiving Cassius.
Hunter: If there is anyone that deserves a World title shot it has to be Gavin Taylor surely?
Mackie: I didn’t think he would survive Riddick to be fair…
Dollar: If Gavin can get his mind focused on the world title, and away from these petty feuds he keeps involving himself in, then yes…he would be world champion material.
A single spotlight illuminates the entranceway as the opening strings begin. It flashes off and on again, highlighting the figure of Chris Davids, dressed in a black suit and top hat, staring down at the floor, his hands folded across a silver topped cane.
As the lyrics begin, Chris raises his head and begins to walk down to the ring in time with the music, his face composed into solemn lines. He circles the ring at the same funeral pace, before sliding into the ring.
As the chorus kicks in, his face cracks into a broad smile. He knocks his top hat onto the top of his cane, and extends his arms to the crowd, moving to each ring post in turn, playing to the audience.
Hunter: And finally Chris Davids, so close to becoming the champion three weeks ago, now he probably has to climb again…and maybe he will.
Mackie: Any way you look at it, it’s a shame the IWC is going into its Christmas break, because with all this going on, Uprising right now is the place to be.
Hunter: It looks like we are ready ladies and gentlemen, there’s the bell…the final Uprising match of 2015
LILITH/WILDE/SKYY VERSUS DAVIDS/TAYLOR/DELIGHT
Jessica Wilde walks to the center of the ring, a smug smile filling her face as Chris Davids looks to kick the match off for his team. The pair of them immediately hook up, and Chris straight away takes the initiative, pulling her back towards the corner where the referee commands them to break. Predictably, Chris does as he is told, but Jessica doesn’t, gouging David’s in the eyes behind the referee’s back and then taking him down to the mat with a Russian Leg Sweep. Jessica then helps him up, and drags him back towards their corner, but Chris escapes, and with a roll makes it back to his corner, tagging in Gavin Taylor. Jessica just smiles, and holds out her hand, tagging in Lilith Evans, who nips over the top rope, straight into a right hand from Gavin. Lilith retaliates with one of her arm, and then thrusts out her leg, Gavin catching it. Straight away Lilith leaps in the air and spins around, catching Taylor under the chin with a mule kick, which puts him on his backside, allowing Lilith to quickly get him into a head lock. Gavin immediately gets to his feet, and drives his elbow into Lilith’s stomach, and then again, causing her to let go. Lilith then goes for a clothesline which Gavin ducks under, ending up in his corner where he tags in Cassius DeLight. Lilith just grins, and holds out her hand, tagging in Vanilla Skyy
Hunter: The Sinistry in control at the moment, but it is early doors
Vanilla smiles at Cassius who gives her a respectful nod, the pair of them hooking up, Cassius transitioning her into a head lock which Vanilla nips out of, putting DeLight into an arm bar. Vanilla puts Cassius’s arm behind his back and then pushes him towards the ropes, Cassius jumping onto the second strand and then spring boarding backwards. Vanilla however see’s it coming and ducks under the attempt, Cassius crashing to the mat. Vanilla grabs Cassius and drags him over to her corner, tagging in Jessica Wilde. Jessica turns to Vanilla and smiles, shouting at the top of her voice so that everyone can hear
Jessica: I told you Vee, your place is in the Sinistry.
Vanilla just rolls her eyes, but Jessica is already slamming the back of her elbow into the spine of Cassius DeLight, before then taking him down the mat with a foot sweep. She nips up onto the second rope and them comes crashing down on his chest with both knees. She then turns around and tags in Lilith, who leaps over the top rope, dropping her leg across DeLight’s chest, and then hooking the leg
1…
DeLight kicks out, Lilith tagging in Vanilla who bends under the bottom strands and helps Cassius to his feet, whipping him into the ropes and catching him with a raised knee on his return. Vanilla then pulls him over to her corner once again, and tags in Lilith.
Hunter: Tell you what; the Sinistry and Vanilla Skyy are working VERY well here tonight
Mackie: Vanilla getting an insight into her future perhaps
Lilith picks Delight up to his feet and drives him into the corner, ramming her shoulder into his stomach two, then three times, driving the air from his lungs. She then fires off a left hand, and then a right, before grabbing the back of his head and forcing it down, straight into her knee. With a smile at Jessica, she then whips Cassius into the ropes, looking for a Lou Thesz press, but Cassius see’s it coming, and drop kicks her out of midair, Lilith crashing to the floor.
Hunter: What a counter from Delight, Evans did not see that coming.
Mackie: And Cassius heading to his corner…Lilith doing the same.
Lilith reaches her corner and tags in Jessica who runs across the ring, and drives her foot into the back of Cassius, but just a moment too late. Cassius makes the tag to a massive ovation from the crowd; David’s entering the ring like a house on fire, slamming his fist into Jessica’s face over and over again. He then bails her into the corner, and scoops her up onto the turnbuckle, before getting up their himself and throwing her arm over his shoulder.
Hunter: He’s going for the Super Plex
Mackie: Not if Vanilla has anything to do with it
Vanilla runs across the ring and puts David’s on her shoulder, showing extreme strength. Jessica clears her head and stands, drop kicking David’s from off her shoulders, the fans actually in shock as Jessica pats Vanilla on the back
Hunter: What the hell?
Dollar: Vanilla Skyy with the huge save and these fans do not like that one bit.
Mackie: Vanilla Skyy knows what is good for her guys; she knows the Sinistry is her future.
Dollar: I don’t think that is the case, not for one second. She’s a winner; it’s as simple as that.
Jessica drops to her knees, covering an unconscious Chris Davids.
1…
2…
To a huge ovation, Gavin Taylor makes the interception, the fans on their feet
Hunter: Gavin Taylor with the save…now what?
Lilith takes Gavin Taylor down with a Spear, the referee losing control as Jessica picks Davids up, and DDT’s him into the mat once again. Cassius DeLight bends under the strands, but immediately Vanilla tackles him, the pair of them falling through the ropes and to the outside. Back in the ring, Lilith bails Gavin into the ropes, but he explodes with a Huge Real Men use Lariats, sending Lilith through 360 degrees and to the canvas. The referee stops Gavin from getting to Jessica and forces him out the ring, as Jessica gets to her feet and then rams her forearm into David’s groin, the referee not seeing it. Lilith rolls out the ring, as on the outside Cassius and Vanilla argue
Cassius: What you doing Vanilla? This is the Sinistry for God’s sake
Vanilla: Winning, that’s all there is to it Cass
Hunter: Vanilla making it clear, she just doesn’t want to lose this final match
Mackie: That’s fair enough, if that was really the case, but it obviously isn’t. Mark my words, your Golden Girl is about to become Sinistry
Jessica lifts Davids to his feet, and whips him into the ropes, but Chris grabs the strands, Jessica running in, and straight into a shoulder block from Chris. Jessica runs forwards, ducking under a David’s clothesline, and hits the strands, and jumping back into a high cross body. David’s catches her in midair and using that momentum, he power slams her into the canvas. Before grabbing her arm and pulling her into the corner, tagging in Gavin Taylor. Vanilla and Cassius are still arguing at ringside, and only now finally go back to their corners. Gavin picks Jessica up, and stepping through her leg, pulls back on her back, locking in the Abdominal Stretch.
Hunter: Gavin slowing it down, and Jessica in a lot of pain right now
Jessica tries to power out, but Gavin forces his knee into the back of her, taking her down to the floor where he then grabs her arm and brings it across her throat, locking in a sleeper hold.
Mackie: And now he’s looking to make her pass out
Hunter: Gavin Taylor has made it pretty clear that 2016 is going to be his year. What better way to prove that than by beating the Sinistry and Vanilla Skyy tonight.
The referee moves in and lifts Jessica’s arm, and it drops heavily to her side. He then moves in again, and lifts it for a second time, and again it drops. Lilith Evans climbs to the top rope, the referee moving to intercept, Gavin releasing the hold when he sees what is going on. He doesn’t however see Vanilla Skyy on the opposite corner. Gavin shouts something at Lilith as she gets down from the turnbuckle and Gavin then laughs at her, turning to once again lock in Jessica. However Vanilla leaps from the turnbuckle, and catches him flush with a Missile Drop Kick, Gavin bouncing into the ropes and then rebounding, straight into Jessica who pulls him down into a small package
1…
2…
3…
Noooo, Gavin kicks out at the last possible moment, Vanilla shaking her head as she receives some inevitable boos from the crowd.
Hunter: Wow, these fans making their feelings known here.
Mackie: Can you blame her? She wants to win; her team mate was in trouble
Hunter: But this is the Sinistry we are talking about Dave
Jessica gets to her feet, and applauds Vanilla, before holding out her hand for the tag. Vanilla looks out over the crowd, who are still booing, and then at the hand
Hunter: What’s going on here?
Dollar: She’s not going for the tag that’s what
Vanilla is just about to make the tag, when her eyes suddenly widen
Mackie: Jessica…behind you
This time Gavin pulls Jessica into a schoolboy, the fans on their feet
1…
2…
3…
NOOOOOOO, Jessica kicks out just in time, Gavin rolling backwards and holding up his hand, tagging in Cassius, as Lilith tags herself in.
Cassius runs in, but Lilith drops, taking Cassius down with a drop toe hold, Cassius’s throat coming down on the second strand. Lilith puts the boot in on her opponent, whilst turning to Jessica, shouting at the top of her voice
Lilith: I TOLD YOU SHE COULDN’T BE TRUSTED
She looks straight at Vanilla who sighs, shaking her head, as Lilith picks Cassius up and pushes him back and into the corner. A Lilith runs in, she drives her knee into DeLight’s stomach, Cassius dropping to a seating position. Lilith takes a couple of steps back and then runs in, leaping in the air and looking for a Bronco Buster, but DeLight ducks out the way, and slides first out the ring, and then back in, grabbing the back of Lilith’s head and then holding it in a reverse DDT position, her legs still on the middle strand. He then drops backwards, spinning her around so that her face plants into the canvas, the fans on their feet applauding.
Hunter: Huge DDT from DeLight, the Sinistry is in trouble.
As if sensing this Jessica enters the ring, going after Cassius who is staggered by a right hand, Taylor exploding into the ring with a Lou Thesz press which takes Jessica to the mat. He unloads with some heavy artillery as Vanilla bends under the strands, intercepting Chris Davids, and pushing him back into the corner. As she unloads with some bombs, Cassius spins her around and kicks her in the stomach, bending her over. However as he grabs her, Vanilla lifts her body upwards, sending Cassius into the turnbuckle so that he is hanging from it upside down. She walks back into the center of the ring, again experiencing boos from the fans, but before she can do anything, Jessica is on her feet and leap frogs over Skyy, slamming into DeLight with a spear. Jessica raises her arms in joy, but Vanilla spins her around, asking her what the hell she is doing. Lilith bails Gavin Taylor through the ropes and to the outside, and then joins her Queen’s side.
Vanilla: I had this Jessica
Jessica: I did it for you Vanilla, can’t you see? You belong with us, you always have.
Vanilla gives her a look, and as Cassius slowly gets to his feet, Vanilla mouths ‘I’m Sorry’ to him, before hitting him with the devastating ‘White Out’. She leaps in the air and kicks him fully in the face, knocking him out. Vanilla then bends down, shaking her head, as the referee counts
1…
2…
3…
Vanilla rolls off with a sigh, and backs off to her corner as Lilith and Jessica celebrate their huge victory
Hunter: What a match, and what a conclusion to 2015 for Uprising, all six individuals putting on a show only Uprising can.
Mackie: A fitting end to the year…it looks like Jessica has something to say however.
Dollar: God help us…
Jessica grabs a microphone and turns to Vanilla who is stood in the ring. Jessica smiles, and places a hand on Vanilla’s shoulder, as behind them the rest of the Sinistry slide under the ropes.
Jessica: Vanilla, looks around you, and tell me that the Sinistry is not where your heart belongs. Look into the eyes of Harbinger, of Benjamin, of the Executioner, of Lilith, and of Decay, and tell me that this isn’t the strongest family you have ever seen. We are your destiny Vanilla, together; you and I can rule the IWC. All you have to do, having witnessed the loyalty, and togetherness of the TRUE Sinistry, is say the magic word…yes.
She passes the microphone to Vanilla who looks out at the crowd, all of them imploring her to say no
Hunter: Come on Vee, stick to your guns
Mackie: She’s going to say yes, I can see it.
At the top of the ramp, DeLight, Taylor and David’s are stood, like everyone waiting for the answer
Vanilla: Jessica, I respect you, and I know that this…this isn’t the real you. So, thank you for the offer…but the answer…is NO.
The place erupts with joy, as Vanilla nods towards Jessica and then goes to leave the ring.
Jessica: Errr, ok…Vee…that’s fine and all. After all, it’s your decision to make. However, the Sinistry does have a new member…and let’s just say, he may want to change your mind.
Vanilla looks at Jessica confused, but that confusion changes to shock, as the individual jumps over the barricade.
Hunters: That’s DORIAN…
Dollar: And looks at Vanilla, she’s visibly shaking
As Vanilla’s eyes are on the advancing Dorian, the Executioner drags her back into the ring and lifts her up, power bombing her into the mat.
Jessica: By the way Ms. Skyy…you made the wrong decision.
The Sinistry start putting their boots in, and to an explosion of noise, DeLight, Davids and Taylor hit the ring, an all-out brawl ensuing. The Executioner and Gavin Taylor trade right hands as Davids nail Benjamin Flynn with a Spear. Harbinger and Decay grabs a hold of DeLight and throw him into the corner, Lilith dropping him with a raised knee. Ba’al, Eve and Siqua then run down the ramp and slide in, Ba’al going after the Executioner, Eve nailing Jessica with a brutal Crescent Kick but Executioner then levelling her with a Clothesline. Siqua gets the upper hand on Harbinger, but Benjamin drops her with a DDT.
Hunter: The sheer weight of Sinistry numbers is just too much…Jessica has to be loving this.
Jessica gets to her feet, and through the carnage spots Vanilla Skyy who is unsteadily getting to her feet. She pulls something from out of her coat, and then extends it, revealing it to be a police baton.
Hunter: No, someone…look.
Mackie: The Sinistry is in total control…there is no one to save Vanilla now.
Jessica smiles, Vanilla not sure where she is. Jessica gets behind her, and lifts up the baton, her eyes narrowing.
Dollar: This could be brain damage, or worse…what a way for the year to end.
Jessica gets to just within striking distance when the arena explodes with noise, the Masked Individual charging down the ramp with Baseball bat in hand. He enters the ring and cracks the bat into the spine of the Executioner, and then an Uppercut sends the big man over the ropes. They then catch Decay with a shot to the knee, as Jessica slides underneath the ropes and to the outside. Dorian tries to grab hold of Vanilla, but he’s too slow, and the crack from the bat hitting him in the small of the back is heard around the Manhattan Center, and he gets out the ring almost as fast as he entered. As they keep swinging, they don’t hit anyone else, but they do clear the ring. The Individual then stands in the middle of the ring, slowly turning and pointing the bat at all who surround the ring, almost daring them to enter.
Hunter: Standoff…what’s going to happen now?
Mackie: Who the hell is this anyways…?
Dollar: Crazy that’s who they are.
First of all Jessica gets to her feet, and commands her Sinistry to follow her. Then Ba’al gets up, and he, Eve and Siqua disappear through the crowd. The fans are going crazy as DeLight, Davids and Taylor get back in, Vanilla turning to the Masked Individual, picking up a mic.
Vanilla: Thank you…whoever you are.
“Always welcome…I will always be there…always.”
Vanilla scowls, and then reaches for the mask, for a moment the individual backing off, but then relenting
Hunter: She’s going for the mask
Mackie: At last, we are going to find out
Dollar: What a way for the year to end
Vanilla lifts the ski mask, ever so slowly, her eyes widening and the arena exploding.
Hunter: IT’S DANNY FUCKING DARKO!!!!
Mackie: …. You swore
Dollar: It’s been him…all along
Hunter: I honestly do not believe it.
Vanilla stands there for a few moments, trying to take it all in, and then finally nods at Danny, and gives him a smile of approval, before sliding out the ring. Chris, Cassius, and Gavin nod as well before doing the same, and then joining Vanilla, leaving Danny in the ring alone. As he looks out the crowd, a huge grin on his face, they roar their approval to his return, to which he holds the bat aloft.
Hunter: Ladies and Gentlemen, Danny Darko is back…and I for one am glad of that fact
Mackie: One person that won’t be…Trinity Street, and I can’t wait to see that reaction.
Hunter: What a night it’s been for the Uprising brand, but that is it from us guys…we will be back in January which seems like an eternity away. All of you in the IWC universe please stay safe and have a fantastic Christmas and New Year’s and from me, Dave and Johnny…Good night. After the break…it’s time for RIOT
The camera pans back to Danny Darko who takes in the tremulous applause from the crowd, a huge grin on his face
A brief video package plays, and it’s not just that wonderful filler garbage we get to kill time between the end of one show and the start of another. All that can be seen at the moment is darkness, but what can be heard are the sounds of thunder. No, that’s not thunder, that’s the rumble of hundreds stomping their feet and clapping their hands.
The camera slowly rises and rises and, guess what, it rises some more, passing out of shadows and to sand. At last we see the source of this thunderous ovation, and it happens to be coming from the screaming spectators gathered in the circular stands that surround the pits of an arena. The crowds dressed in their ancient roman attire cut lose with screams at the sight of the gladiators fighting to the death on the sands below them. But this clash is just an appetizer before the main course.
Trumpets suddenly sound from the balcony where royalty watches on. All attention is drawn from the blood spilled across the amphitheater to the figure who presides over this chaos. Seated upon a throne in a toga with golden fleece is IWC President Drew Bryant. His eyes seem glazed over and listless, losing interest in the battles waging beneath his feet.
Soon the wandering eyes of the crazed crowd draw to the goiter hung from the throat of a portly announcer. He stands with one arm over his pot belly, the other gesturing to the pits so far below him.
Announcer: King Drewontavius Bryantis is pleased to present to you the main attraction of the third annual Invictus games.
More trumpets blare as flower petals shower the two combatants emerging from the dungeons. Shields are held in front of the already armored bodies of the gladiators, who walk in sandals across the sands. Eventually they reach the center of the fighting pits, turning to Bryantis and offering the their very lives.
Fighters: We who are about to die salute you!
Instead of lifting weapons aloft in tribute to the ruler, either athlete raise what appear to be Championship belts. The gold in their hands reflect the bright sun hung over head, the light also gleaming from their helmets. That armor is soon removed from their heads so as to give Drewontavius a better look at their faces. Uprising brand World Champion Vanilla Skyy and Riot brand World Champion Katelyn Buehler, allow the world a peek at their fierce, unshakable expressions.
The eyes of the fighters and those of the hundreds and hundreds of spectators closely watch the ruler rise from his throne. At last he gestures for the conflict to commence. And it shall start precisely on his cue with Skyy and Katelyn grabbing their respective spears and raising them over shoulder. They crouch into fighting stances, readying for a battle not of ultimate supremacy but to the death. Katelyn smiles and Skyy winks as the war begins.
And if you think you’re going to see it, think again stupid!
Instead what we see are the following words flashing across the screen.
INVICTUS III:
COMING TO NIMES ARENA 2016
The second half of this End of the Year IWC telecast commences right in the epicenter of what promises to be a figurative storm so frenetic that it puts a Sharknado to shame. The fans better have their umbrellas ready, cause here comes the deluge of chaos. Cameras open on the squared circle, which is covered in red felt and holds not the many grudge matches scheduled to go down here tonight at the End of the Year Special, but a podium. The commentators give the viewers that little bit of insight as to why the podium and the felt adorn the squared circle.
Greyson: Welcome everyone to the Riot portion of this all important night in IWC history, the third annual End of the Year Special. But before we get into the action scheduled to go down tonight, we’re going to hear from Karen McBride, who last month won back her position as Principle Owner of the IWC.
Sparkles: Karen McBride is going to have some MAJOR announcements to kick start tonight’s telecast.
Frankie: This is undoubtedly the darkest day in IWC history.
Greyson: We’ll be hearing from Karen McBride in a mere matter of moments, what’s she going to announce, and how will it affect this evening’s End of the Year Special? But first we’ve got a very special video package to put this night into perspective.
It’s close to Christmas so what better way to start this special event than by milking that yuletide spirit for all it’s worth? If Hallmark can get away with abusing the holidays you better believe the IWC will to. A video package commences that showcases jolly ole’ Saint Nick. At the moment he’s joined by dozens in a crowded mall, because why spend time with family when you could instead be out killing one another over discounted televisions? Santa sits in an ornate throne wearing his characteristic garb that is just as red as the makeup smeared on his cheeks.
Santa: How much longer?
Asks Santa to one of the middle aged men forced to swallow his dignity by dressing in Elvish leotards.
Elf: About another hour.
The elf to Santa’s right replies with a voice that cracks thanks to a two pack a day habit.
Santa: Jesus Fucking Christ….
Santa looks through his big fake beard and his billowing white hair towards the dozens and dozens of people waiting in line to take a seat on his lap.
Santa: Send in the next one…
The horror…the horror….Santa’s night isn’t over, meaning that bottle of bourbon sitting in his dressing room will have to go untouched just a wee bit longer. He’ll really need a drink when he sees the person who steps past the velvet rope that has been pulled back.
Orlando Cruze: Santeee Claus….Santeeeee Claus….SantEEEEE Claus…
Announces famed IWC athlete Orlando Cruze as he steps up onto the dais where the man with a bowl full of jelly is waiting for him. Orlando, sporting a black leather jacket and shades that are every bit as dark as his attire, slides onto Santa’s knee.
Santa: My oh my, aren’t you a big one?
Orlando: Speaking of big ones, that better be a candy cane in your pocket.
Santa shifts uncomfortably in his throne.
Santa: What can Santa get for you young man?
Orlando: You can start by taking a Mentos….Jesus, did some little shit leave out sour milk for you or something?
A self-conscious Santa breaths into his palm to test his breathe.
Orlando: And you should know what I want fat-boy, that Speak and Spell I asked for when I was a little boy but you never got me.
Santa: Ooooh Santa must have misplaced it in his big bag of goodies….
Orlando: Yeah, sounds like you been smoking something out of that bag.
Santa: Well as long as you’ve been a good boy this year Santa promises you that he can get you the toy you were deprived of as a boy.
Orlando: So in order to get what I want I have to be good?
Santa: That’s right.
Orlando: No deal.
Santa: But….
Orlando: Listen Claus, you don’t dictate terms to Orlando Cruze. I’m a member of Monarchy, and that means WE RULE. Besides, you got nothing in your “BAG” that I want. I’m already part of the most dominant faction in all of professional wrestling, I already have the most smokin’ hot wife in the whole frecken’ world, and I’ve been a champion more times than you’ve been accused of running a sweatshop.
Santa: So what is it that Santa CAN get for you this Christmas?
Orlando: Weeeellll…..it’s not so much what you can get me, but what you can TAKE from a very bad and very spoiled little brat. You’ll no doubt be receiving a letter from Andre Jordan very soon which explicitly asks you to give him a win tonight at the End of the Year Special. I want you to take that letter and use it to wipe the digested cookie crumbs from the crack of your ass.
Santa: Now what has this ANDRE done that was so bad?
Orlando: He’s a thief. He stole something from me a few weeks ago.
Santa: That IS bad. What did he steal?
Orlando: A VICTORY, right from the palms of my hands.
Santa: Oh..
Orlando: And erm yeah he likes to beat on defenseless women too.
Santa: That’s not very good.
Orlando: BUT his most important offense is screwing me over. So yeah, he needs to be punished, and to make sure he gets the beating he deserves I want you to vow that you will NOT help him defeat me at the End of the Year Special.
Santa: Santa would never willingly hurt another…..
Orlando: Than don’t give Andre what he wants this Christmas, and I’LL give him what he DESERVES.
Santa expresses some relief when Orlando rises from his knee and takes a stroll. Though Santa appears even happier when he sees the next person moving towards his lap.
Santa: Ho-Ho-hoooooo….
Provocatively moans Kris Kringle while he removes a candy cane from his pocket and begins to rub the tip against his lips.
Katelyn: Easy with that “HO” shit old man.
There isn’t much that Santa can give Katelyn Buehler, considering she’s already got everything she wants, holding the World Championship belt. She steps towards Santa in her black beanie, jeans with ripped knees and leather coat. The image of her is drank in….no…..SIPPED and swashed by Saint Nicholas.
Santa: Come, sit in Santa’s lap.
He pats an area just a little TOO close to his crotch.
Katelyn: I think I’ll take the knee.
Insists the World Champion, who hesitantly seats on the fat man’s kneecap.
Santa: What can Santa GIVE to you?
Katelyn: I know what you’d LIKE to give me, but I’d rather not catch genital warts.
Santa: Awww, don’t worry…let Santa reach into his sack and…..
Katelyn: Cool it Kringle.
Santa: How can Santa help you, (creepily) little girl?
Katelyn: Tonight during the End of the Year Special I’m supposed to face a woman I hate more than the Last Airbender movie, Taylor Chase. Buuut in spite of hating her so much, I’m still a fighting World Champion and I really want to beat her with the belt on the line so I can finally put our rivalry behind us.
Santa: Santa would love to get behind you….
Katelyn: Yuck. And to think I actually left cookies out for you as a kid.
The footage cuts to yet another lap-sitter later that evening, Emily Cage.
Emily: My sister has been missing for months and no one will help me find her. Maybe YOU can do somethin’ Santa.
A flier is taken from Emily’s pocket which sports an image of her missing sibling Cassidy.
Emily: This is her, her name is Cassidy….
Santa: Oh my…
A smiling Santa takes the photo, examining it a little too closely and a little too long.
Santa: Can uhhhh Santa hold onto this for a while? It would be very beneficial to me.
Emily: Ooookay.
Cindy: Ahem.
The lecherous gaze of Santa rises from the photo and to the faces of the two women who have enveloped him in their shadows. Two of the most demonic and downright demented figures in all of professional wrestling have Santa and Emily surrounded. Cindy Todd stands at their right while her New Eden follower Serenity stoops at Kringle’s left, twirling his beard in her finger.
Cindy: Leave.
The order is directed at Emily and you better believe that Emily is following it. She goes scurrying from Santa’s lap like she were running away from the blade of a knife. No…New Eden are far more dangerous than a knife.
Serenity: Did you get my letters Santa?
Santa: Uhhh….
Even a figure as ancient as Santa has never seen anything the likes of New Eden.
Cindy: We HUMBLY request a few gifts.
Santa: Anything.
Cindy: We insist that you bring our darling Mika Kozlov back to us.
Serenity: We’ve missed having our ‘sestra.’
The grin that plays across Serenity’s face is about as scary as watching the Exorcist alone in the dark.
Santa: Well uh, Santa will give her back to you.
Serenity: Goodie.
States Serenity while reaching over the backrest of the throne and rubbing Santa’s shoulders.
Cindy: We have one more gift in mind, though this one comes with a hitch.
All the shoulder rubbing in the world won’t put Saint Nick at ease when Cindy’s black eyes are drawing towards his face. No longer does Claus require the makeup on his cheeks to render his flesh red.
Cindy: We don’t think this next gift is in your bag, Mr. Claus, and we don’t think you’re elves can manufacture it in their workshop.
Serenity: What we want is…..
Cindy: Blood.
Serenity’s hands that WERE rubbing Santa’s shoulders at this point yank them with such force that both he and the throne he was sitting in go tumbling backwards. The flabby body of Mr. Kringle hits the ground, hidden behind the upturned seat of his throne and the big black boots that kick through the air. Serenity kneels down beside the family friendly icon and what she does with her hands now will NOT be described. Cindy turns from the assaulted Santa to all those who were waiting in line to bombard him with their materialistic desires.
Cindy: Sorry Children, but Santa has made Cindy’s naughty list.
The video cuts from this seasonal slaughter to a camera rotating around the branches of a Christmas tree. The ornaments hung from these branches contain random scenes of all the incidents that have brought us here to the End of the Year Special. In one ornament we see beloved IWC competitor Marina Valdivia attacking Serenity with a pipe wrench. In another we see famed athlete Andre Jordan rolling up an unsuspecting Orlando Cruze and scoring a shocking pinfall over the legend. The final ornament shows Katelyn Buehler holding up the World Title as she stands in the middle of the ring and goes nose to nose with her greatest rival Taylor Chase. This trinket explodes into thousands of shards and the camera zooms into the center of the fiery explosion.
END OF THE YEAR SPECIAL
This time the fire the world sees does not come from an exploding ornament but from the pyrotechnics that shoot up from the steel entrance stage. Pyro erupts from the turnbuckles as well as from the scaffolding. These flames ignite the excitement of the crowd as we come live to the Manhattan Center.
Greyson: This is it ladies and gentlemen, the final and perhaps the biggest event of 2015.
Sparkles: This is the voice of your generation, the most powerful puppet since Baby Sinclair uttered the words ‘not the momma,’ this is Sparkles, and I’m joined by my boy Frankie Paradise, and Greyson Lovejoy.
Frankie: Yup, and we’re all here to see how Karen McBride flops as our new Principle Owner.
Greyson: I don’t see how that’s even remotely possible given the card she’s put together this evening. But let’s not talk about Karen and her mad booking skills, let’s hear it from the Boss herself, because she’s going to open tonight’s edition of the End of the Year Special, and I’m sure she’ll have a lot to say regarding this event.
Everything goes silent, for all of about a second. “American Dreamgirl” plays over the arena PA system and results in an explosion even louder than the pyrotechnics display that went off to commence the telecast. The eruption comes from the crowd who are overjoyed to see their new Principle Owner Karen McBride making her way through the curtains joined by her sisters Melanie and Blaire. The triumphant trio make their way down the ramp with Karen waving to her fans, Melanie blowing a few kisses to the people and Blaire just staring forward.
Greyson: Last month at IWC Upping the Ante, Karen McBride accomplished what she’s been after for six months, she reclaimed her Principle Ownership from that despicable low life Silas Mason.
Frankie: Nobody wants to see it but play the damned footage and get me a barf bag.
UPPING THE ANTE
Highlights are aired from the six person tag team match for control of the Principle Ownership contested back at Upping the Ante. Karen, Blaire and Melanie McBride team up to take on Silas Mason and his crew of Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams in a bout that has been anticipated for over half a year. In the end of this clash viewers see Silas trying to escape the wrath of the women he’s wronged so many times in the past. His staff members Jeffrey Starxx and Mason Van Stanton try to help him away from the ring only for Karen to catch up with them on the ramp and drag Silas back to the squared circle. Just then the world relives Melanie’s breathtaking dive from the squared circle, her body crashing into Starxxx and Mason at ringside.
Back in the ring Blaire tries to use a steel chair on Silas only for him to meet her with a boot to the gut. He then takes the chair from Blaire and turns to use it on her sisters only to have Karen nail a bicycle kick into the steel. As a result the chair is knocked back into Silas’ face and his body is sent spiraling around into the End Game. Karen hits her snap swinging neckbreaker and then finally at long long LOOOOONG last pins Silas Mason to become the Principle Owner.
There is so much love being shown to Karen McBride and her sisters presently stood in the center of the squared circle. While Karen is behind the podium that was shown at the very start of tonight’s telecast, Melanie and Blaire stand off to either side of their sibling. The mic extending up from the podium stops at Karen’s smiling lips.
Karen: Hmmmmm, there’s something different about tonight.
Muses Karen as she looks around, trying to figure out what’s changed.
Karen: But I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe my sisters can help me. Mel?
Melanie steps closer to the podium and then whispers something into Karen’s ear.
Karen: OOH YEAH, that’s it. Silas Mason is GOOOOOONNNNE!
Oh how the world rejoices in recognition of Silas’ being deposed as the big boss.
Frankie: I need to punch something, like right now.
Greyson: Shut up Frankie.
Once the crowd FINALY settles down Karen gives her address.
Karen: It just feels like such a heavy weight has been lifted from this federation knowing that the burden of Silas Mason is NO MORE. So now that Silas’ regime is at an end, it’s time for things to start getting back on track here on the Riot brand. But first, first I have to give credit where credit is due.
Karen looks over one shoulder then glances over the other at either sister.
Karen: I have to say THANK YOU to two of the most important people in my life, two people who made sure that I would be standing here today as Principle Owner. My sister Melanie….
Melanie’s wrist is taken and she is pulled closer to the podium.
Karen: And yes, my sister Blaire.
Though the relationship between Blaire and Karen has been ripe with tension throughout their lives they stand united this evening. Karen takes Blaire’s hand, pulls her in and then lifts her arm aloft. Melanie’s wrist is raised as well, the three McBrides celebrating their monumental win at the pay-per-view.
Frankie: Yuck.
After hamming it up Karen goes back to the microphone, where she’ll throw a little more bacon on the sizzle.
Karen: Together we stood up to Silas, we fought Silas, we never gave up pursuing the Principle Ownership that he stole from me. And tonight, you see how that perseverance is going to pay off. Changes are coming to the Riot brand, starting with removing Silas’ influence on this show.
Focus shifts to the two cage dancers shaking their half-naked asses on the stage.
Karen: Girls, you’re services here are no longer required. So thank you but SKIDATTLE!
The reluctant ladies exit their respective cages and walk to the back.
Karen: Now in regards to tonight’s End of the Year Special, I plan on making this event unlike the shows you’d see under Silas’ regime. This event won’t be one giant ego stroke, no, it’s going to be a massive fan service. You people stood by me in my six month odyssey to reclaim the Principle Ownership, so how about I repay your loyalty by giving you the BIGGEST End of the Year Special EVER!
The fans lap this up like they were cats at a milk bowl.
Karen: Tonight you’re going to see the crowning of a brand new Queen of Wrestling Champion. But that’s just to whet your appetite. We’ve also got Orlando Cruze going one on one with Andre Jordan. A triple threat between Miss Jon, Samantha Raine and Lexy Chapel for the Evolution Championship. Wait though, there’s even moooore, cause we’ve also got Marina Valdivia and Serenity settling their long standing rivalry in a CARTEL CHAOS match.
Oh how the crowd wants to chug that milk now.
Karen: And speaking of rivalries, right here tonight maybe the greatest rivalry of them all WILL….BE….SETTLED when our World Champion Katelyn Buehler takes on Monarchy’s Taylor Chase.
A foul taste appears to fill Karen’s mouth.
Karen: That brings me to Monarchy. A group that seems to harbor this delusion that THEY’RE calling the shots around here. Well Silas may have let that fly, I on the other hand WON’T. I warned them that there would be consequences if they defied my orders to stay out of the World Title main event back at Upping the Ante. Yet they called my bluff when they sent a gate crasher, Ryan Watson, in to interject in Katelyn Buehler’s defense against Scott Cannon. Now it’s time for Ryan and for Monarchy to find out just how serious I was when I warned the…..
”Satisfied” hits the PA system to a response that rattles the Manhattan Center. This entrance music can mean one thing and one thing only, that the World Champion is on her way to the squared circle. Katelyn Buehler emerges from the back and receives a hero’s welcome. The belt shines in contrast to the dark leather coat over her body and the rest of her predominantly black attire.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler coming to the squared circle and she definitely has an axe to grind when it comes to Monarchy.
Sparkles: It was her match that Ryan Watson interfered in back at Upping the Ante, ALMOST costing her the World Title.
Frankie: She should feel so honored that Ryan singled her out in his IWC debut.
Greyson: Everyone knows why Ryan attacked Katelyn. He was sent out there by Monarchy because they were all barred from interfering in Katelyn’s match…
Sparkles: But Ryan isn’t a member of the IWC roster, so he was immune to Karen’s decree that no member of Monarchy get involved.
Greyson: Ryan and Monarchy are just about to find out that they are NOT as immune as they think they are.
The World Champion’s arrival has the McBride sisters tensing up, knowing just how volatile Katelyn can be, especially when pushed.
Katelyn: Now Karen, before you start spouting off Eric Cartman quotes by demanding that I respect your authority, let’s not get the wrong impression here, I’m not trying to rock the boat. (Katelyn rolls her eyes) Okay, maybe just a LIIIIITTTLE bit, because while I know you want to personally deal with Ryan Watson and Monarchy, I have a counter proposal. Give ME Watson.
Oh daddy, the fans love this idea.
Katelyn: Let me KNOCK HIM THE FUCK OUT!
Karen: Uhhh, here’s the problem with that train of thought Katelyn. You’ve already got Taylor Chase one on one tonight, and we all know that she had a hand in getting Watson to interfere in your title match back at the pay-per-view.
Katelyn: Okay, well here’s a simple solution, give me BOTH Taylor AND Watson tonight. Oh, and let me put THIS on the line.
The World Championship rises over Katelyn’s head.
Karen: I admire your guts Katelyn, I think we all do, but you concentrate on Taylor and I’ll personally handle Rya……
Ryan: Trust her, High as a Kite Kate.
Those in attendance part for the arrival of Ryan Watson, who with bullhorn in hand draws nearer and nearer to the ring. But a bullhorn is not the only thing that Watson carries through the crowd, oddly enough he seems to have a picket sign thrown over his shoulder which reads ‘TAY ALL THE WAY.’
Ryan: Karen’s a woman of her word, she’ll deal with me, but it just might take her about six months to get around to it.
The McBrides, Buehler, and the fans, protest Ryan’s words amplified by the megaphone.
Frankie: There’s the man who created such a scuttlebutt.
Greyson: Watson called out for interfering in the main event back at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: And Watson’s gonna answer for those actions.
A smirking Ryan is still situated in the audience but is now stood right behind the barricade.
Ryan: Don’t burst her bubble Kate, let Karen go on harboring this delusion that SHE’S in control. Let the Monarchy be the ones who correct her, let us show the Principle Owner who really RULES the wrestling landscape.
Karen: Yeeeeaaah, that’s about enough of that Watson.
Karen makes a cut throat gesture with her index finger.
Karen: I don’t know HOW you managed to slip your way into the building here tonight because I made it pretty clear to security NOT to let you step foot in the arena. You don’t have a contract here with the IWC, and that isn’t about to change. So you have no right to be in the Manhattan Center.
Ryan: Then by all means Karen, flex those authoritative muscles of yours by sending your security to throw me out. It won’t matter. I’ll just keep finding my way back in here and Monarchy will keep finding ways to remind you who really is in control.
Karen goes to respond but Katelyn cuts her off.
Katelyn: Ryan-Ryan-Ryan, you don’t have to worry about being THROWN OUT, what you should worry about is being KNOCKED OUT.
Katelyn is about to use her roaring elbow to do just that. She rolls from the ring, jumps the barricade and goes right after Watson. He barely has time to drop his megaphone and his picket sign before coming to blows with the World Champion.
Greyson: Katelyn wants Monarchy THAT badly!
Frankie: Well she’s got Monarchy here tonight and it’s going to end BADLY for her.
Sparkles: Watson and the Champ fighting it out.
Frankie: Tay-Tay is going to make Kate pay-pay for this later tonight.
This address to the fans has not gone how Karen would have liked. Her focus has turned from promising the fans change to protecting them from chaos. She stands at ringside shouting for security, who come rushing out in droves to separate Katelyn and Ryan as they brawl amongst the crowd of crazed spectators. It takes several dozen guards to forcefully pry Katelyn and Ryan off of one another, their shoulders almost dislocating as they reach for one another’s throats.
Greyson: What a crazed start to the End of the Year Special.
Sparkles: Taylor getting her hands on Watson here and now, but later on it’s going to be the World Champion against Taylor Chase in a non-title grudge match for the ages.
Taylor: What do we want!?!
Protestors: Tay!
Taylor: When do we want her?
Protestors: Every-DAY.
Cameras have turned to the area just beyond the entrance to the Manhattan Center. In spite of it being a frigid night protestors have poured out in droves to walk in concentric circles, shout their long list of grievances and occasionally give their picket signs an upward thrust. Leading this revolt is Monarchy member Taylor Chase, who has taken possession of a bullhorn and utilizes it to lead her supporters in a formal rally. Her cohorts Trinity Street and Lucas Knight stand just off to the sides of Taylor, proudly observing this protest.
Comeau: Ladies and gentlemen….
Stood a few feet away from this drama is correspondent Mark Comeau, who is trying to put this madness into some form of perspective…..TRYING.
Comeau:….this is Mark Comeau and we are stood just outside the main entrance to the Manhattan Center where some form of a boycott has broken out.
Mark peers back over his shoulder at the legions of rabble rousers all adorned in Monarchy style gear.
Comeau: It seems that Monarchy members Taylor Chase, Trinity Street and Lucas Knight are protesting this evening’s End of the Year Special….I’ll try to get you some more details as this story unfolds.
Screams, haunting and harrowing screams, echo through the halls of the Manhattan Center. The origins of these howls can be traced back to a dressing room. The door to it is shut, restricting the view of what’s happening inside. That all changes when Cindy Todd comes waking by.
The world unanimously shudders at the sight of Cindy as the New Eden member proceeds down the hall and comes to a stop just outside the room which serves as the epicenter of so many screams. Cindy steps inside and once past the door turns to look back at the camera with a devilish smile on her face. Just over her shoulder the viewers can see into the room. They can see Cindy’s teammate Serenity stooped over a chair that has some poor portly man strapped down onto it. A gag has been shoved in his mouth and it appears as if Serenity is about to embed a long needle into the flesh on his forearm.
Cindy closes the door.
We’re back in the squared circle where Ring Announcer Thomas Boll is stood front and center. A microphone is held in the hand of the Eastern European import who waits to address the thousands in attendance.
Boll: Lady and gentlefolk, following contest is triple threat scheduled for one fall and it for EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP!
The crowd is all riled up just as the familiar lyrics of “Cynics & Critics” by Icon for Hire start to play throughout the arena. On that cue one of the challengers for the vacated Evolution Championship makes her way out from the backstage area. Massed behind Lexy are her Monarchy pals Alistair Taylor, and Kat Kelly. While one of the Tag Team Title belts hangs from Lexy’s palms, Kat holds the other half of the straps and Alistair clutches a picket sign reading ‘TAY ALL THE WAY.’ The Monarchy trio head down the ramp where Lexy is about to vie to add even more gold to her waist.
Cameras turn from Lexy’s entrance to the Evolution Title belt sitting on top of the announce table.
Greyson: There you see it guys, there’s the Evolution Championship….
Sparkles: As announced over social media the title has been vacated and now a triple threat match will decide a brand new champion here tonight.
Frankie: Only the prospect of an Evolution Title match could get Monarchy members Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly and Alistair Taylor to cross the picket line.
Greyson: I have absolutely no desire to find out why Monarchy are protesting the End of the Year Special, but I have a very vested interest in finding out if one of their members leaves here tonight with even more championship gold.
Sparkles: It’s not going to be easy for Lexy, she’s got to contend with Samantha Raine AND Miss Jon if she wants to leave here with another championship around that waist of hers.
Frankie: That sexy-SEXY waist. Lexy and Kat Kelly have created a dynasty with the Tag Team Championships since they won them back at Invictus, so you better believe Lexy will do the same for the Evolution gold.
Inside of the ring Lexy climbs the nearest corner and holds up the Tag Title with one hand while pointing at the strap with the other. Her entrance and display of overinflated self-worth is cut short when the lyrics of Samantha Raine’s entrance music filters through the loud speakers. A major wave of support is heard from the crowd.
Greyson: Samantha Raine another challenger for the vacant Evolution Championship and a woman who just needs that ONE match to break out of the pack.
Frankie: The only thing that is going to BREAK is Samantha Raine.
Sparkles: Very real possibility given that she’s bitten off way more than she can chew.
Greyson: She’s got the Evolution Title in her sights, but in her side-view mirror she’s got to keep an eye on the beast Miss Jon.
Frankie: Miss Jon has been all over Raine like she were a box of Twinkies.
Greyson: Including back at Upping the Ante.
UPPING THE ANTE
The chaotic events at the previous pay-per-view are recapped, focusing on an altercation between Miss Jon and her rival Samantha Raine. As Miss Jon and her agent Martin Howe III stomp down a corridor neither are aware that Raine was lying in wait to get her hands on them. Raine leaps onto Jon’s back and pounds her with punches, their brawl consuming the guerilla position.
Cameras go back to the ring where Lexy Chapel is STILL waiting on the arrival of Samantha Raine.
Greyson: Raine took a bold risk in attacking Miss Jon.
Frankie: Which resulted in dangerous consequences.
Greyson: Jon has been dubbed the ‘Destroyer of Beauty,’ and as thus she’s been fixated on the insanely attractive Raine for weeks no……
Sparkles: Hold up-hold up-hold up Sparkles is hearing that something is happening backstage involving Raine and Miss Jon this very second.
Cameras cut from the ring where a triple threat match between Samantha Raine, Miss Jon and Lexy Chapel is SUPPOSED to be happening. That three way might not take place after all seeing as Miss Jon is not the type who shares when it comes to brutalizing Raine. The guerilla position backstage is filled with the sounds of Raine’s painful groans as she’s driven spine first into a vertically stacked steel crate. Miss Jon has the cagey veteran loaded up onto her enormous shoulder and is driving Samantha’s spine into a devastating collision.
Howe: She’s laughing at you! She’s LAUGHING AT YOU!
Shouts Miss Jon’s agent, Martin Howe III crouching at the knees and watching excitedly as his client decimates Raine.
Greyson: Miss Jon jumping Samantha Raine backstage.
Frankie: Ultimate comeuppance.
Sparkles: Miss Jon apparently wants Raine all for herself.
Raine’s back has withstood a NASTY slam against the steel and an even more devastating collision with the wall. Miss Jon snatches Raine by the hair and flings her across the hall. The force in which she’s thrown actually lifts Raine off of her feet and sends her flipping over back first into the wall. Although it feels like her spine is snapped Raine STILL tries to get up, refusing to stay down at Jon’s feet. Rather Raine likes it or not she’s going to STAY down. Miss Jon grabs one of the steel crates that line the walls of the hall and throws it with all of her strength into Raine’s lower back. As much as she tries to hold it back Raine can’t help but to scream in agony as she rolls to her side and clasps at her kidneys. That provides absolutely no release from the strain that her body is under.
Howe: Enough.
States Martin as he steps closer to the side of Jon and gestures towards the ring.
Howe: Save a little bit for Lexy. That pretty-pretty little Lexy.
There it was, the one word Miss Jon needed to hear to truly send her over the edge….’pretty.’
MISS JON VS. SAMANTHA RAINE VS. LEXY CHAPEL:
EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP
Just as cameras get back to the ring the hair raising, heart rate quickening, goose bump elevating tracks of Miss Jon’s entrance theme bombard the PA speakers. No longer will Miss Jon’s wrath be contained to the backstage area, for it will now be on display for the entire world to see. The curtains that dangle over the entry way open as Miss Jon stomps to the stage and her agent Martin Howe III glides to her side. The pinpoint pupils of Jon lock on Lexy Chapel inside of the ring, who is now the only woman keeping the Evolution Title out of her reach.
Frankie: Alright Lexy, maybe the Evolution Title isn’t THAT important. Don’t stand in the ring with this-this-MONSTER. Instead come over here and sit in the safety of my lap.
Greyson: Miss Jon just decimated Samantha Raine backstage and now she’s looking to do the same thing to Lexy Chapel in that ring.
Sparkles: All in route to Jon capturing the vacated Evolution Title.
The arena almost shakes with each forceful stomp that Miss Jon takes down the ramp, drawing her menacing body closer and closer to Lexy in the ring. Lexy’s associates Kat Kelly and Alistair Taylor look on in concern as they’re friend readies to fight undoubtedly the most dangerous woman in professional wrestling. Yet Lexy goes right at her.
Nothing about Lexy is gun-shy, she rushes right at Miss Jon the moment the brute climbs up onto the apron. Lexy tries to drive her right back down to ringside, flinging punches and kicks into the daunting anatomy of her opposition. The blows have Miss Jon reeling back but do not remove her from her feet. Instead it’s Lexy who goes down when Miss Jon reaches out, takes her by the hair and then drags her into a powerful headbutt. Lexy goes down to the ring and Miss Jon steps over the ropes the cables, joining her opponent inside of the squared circle.
Jon drags Lexy up by the wrist, backs her up into a corner and then launches her into the diagonal turnbuckle. The moment that Lexy hits the corner Miss Jon comes dashing in and delivers a splash so forceful it moves the entire squared circle.
Frankie: OOOOH NO! NOOOOO!
Greyson: Lexy just CRUSHED in that corner.
Sparkles: Sparkles bets Lexy is regretting being so damned desirable right now.
Greyson: Miss Jon decimates beauty and Lexy is just about as gorgeous as they come.
And Lexy is paying for that beauty at the moment as she’s thrown through the ropes by the back of the head. Miss Jon follows her adversary from the squared circle, pulls her to her feet and then presses her spine against the turnbuckle post. Jon puts just a little distance between herself and her adversary in order to get a big running start behind a big devastating splash.
The splash connects….ON THE RING POST!
Lexy clears out of the way right as Jon runs past her and demolishes the post. The self-inflicted injuries have Jon stumbling back and looking ever so disorientated. She has lost all sight of her opponent, Lexy climbing onto the apron, then onto the turnbuckle. The crowd cannot help but to cheer as Lexy leaps from the top rope into a Cancun Tornado.
Frankie: OH BABAY!
Lexy’s body SLAMS into Jon’s shoulder and ALMOST takes the behemoth down.
But it didn’t.
Miss Jon reels back and falls against the barricade, leaning her bulk against it for support. Meanwhile Lexy rolls across the mats and towards the ring, using the apron to stand up. Lexy lunges from the apron and into a forearm smash on Miss Jon, followed by several more sudden and fatal blows. An aggravated Miss Jon shoves Lexy back, causing the Monarchy member’s spine to hit the apron. Lexy ricochets off the reinforced section of the ring and then stumbles into a hip toss…..just not ANY hip toss. Jon takes Lexy under the armpit and throws her over the barricade into the crowd.
Frankie: GAAAAAH!
The fans just BARELY part out of the way in time as Lexy’s body goes flying through them and cracking against the concrete floor.
Greyson: Good lord the HEIGHT, the HEIGHT that Lexy just got before that fall into the floor.
Sparkles: She might have cracked her backbone.
Frankie: Come over here Lexy, and I’ll mend it for you.
There will be no rest for the WICKED.
Miss Jon goes after Lexy only to have her Wicked Intent tag team partner Kat Kelly and her Monarchy cohort Alistair Taylor run interference. The pair jump over the barricade and gather around a laid out, motionless Lexy, who lies broken on the concrete. Instead of going through all three of these individuals Miss Jon decides to show off her dominance in another way. She returns to the ring and to the delight of her agent Martin Howe III, she takes her thumb then slides it across her throat. Her tongue extends from her mouth as she gestures that death is imminent for anyone who dares to oppose her.
Unfortunately for Miss Jon, some people just stubbornly refuse to DIE.
A steel chair wallops her right upside the spine, and the weapon can be traced right back to the hands of Samantha Raine.
Sparkles: Raine is BACK!
Greyson: How? How is Raine still alive and kicking after Miss Jon just decimated her backstage?
Frankie: Is she out of her gord?
Sparkles: Somehow Raine has recovered from that attack in the guerilla position and now she’s actually out here getting herself some of the woman who TRIED to take her out.
The referee is too preoccupied checking on the condition of Lexy outside of the ring to notice what’s going on within it. So Raine’s use of the chair goes without consequence, for everybody save for Miss Jon. The big woman at first appears effected by the chair shot, emphasis on the word APPEARS. Suddenly she whips back her braids and turns her huge maniacal eyes towards Raine, tongue yet again draped over her chin in Gene Simmons manner. She might just bite off that tongue though when the chair in her attacker’s hands slams with so much force across her brow. Raine hits Miss Jon with a chair shot so powerful that it actually BREAKS the makeshift weapon.
Greyson: OUCH!
Sparkles: Miss Jon is learning that Raine is made of much tougher stuff than she’s been given credit for.
Greyson: This ongoing war between Raine and Jon has proven that Samantha is more than just a beautiful face.
The Rogue Element has just left Miss Jon in a state she’s very unfamiliar with. She is balancing herself on her heels, TRYING to withstand these stiff chair shots. Raine pulls her weapon, what’s left of it, back and then THROWS it straight into Miss Jon’s face. The sound of steel to skull again reverberates throughout the arena as Miss Jon staggers back into the ropes, falls against them and then goes flipping over backwards. Amazingly Miss Jon lands on her feet, albeit a bit weak in the legs, which threaten to buckle on her. The referee has stopped checking on Lexy and is now sliding into the ring, noticing Raine inside doubled over, clasping her back. The referee checks on Raine, while behind him Miss Jon is regrouping and regrouping fast. Instead of going back after the woman who just bludgeoned her with the chair, Jon turns to her other opponent. She reaches over the barricade and into the crowd where Lexy is recovering after that deadly hip toss into the concrete she took a few moments earlier. The second Jon grabs Lexy a steel chair goes flying right upside her skull. Lexy has popped back up to her feet and has employed a chair to CRUSH Jon’s cranium.
Greyson: Another chair shot, this time by Lexy Chapel!
Frankie: Hahahahahaha, Miss Jon is really going to need to be imprisoned in the State Home for the Ugly after all these cracks to the face.
After multiple blows from the chair Miss Jon is on dream street…of course her dream street happens to go by the name of ELM STREET. Somehow, just like Freddy Kruger, she’s still standing even after all these shots to the skull. Her opponent continues to capitalize on the referee’s distraction, Lexy jumping to the barricade with chair in her hands then sailing off of it. The chair tucked under her arm is driven into Miss Jon’s scalp, the blow disorientating her even more. Yet STILL Miss Jon is not going down, which just doesn’t sit well with Lexy, NOR Raine. Surprisingly Raine and Lexy put aside any personal differences in order to grab Miss Jon by either wrist, take her by the back of the head and then charge her along towards the barrier around the time keeper.
No, not TOWARDS the barrier, but THROUGH it!
The barricade EXPLODES around Miss Jon’s body, which keeps on moving until it comes to a stop on top of the time keeper, and on top of the ring bell.
Greyson: HOLY GOD!
Sparkles: Raine and Chapel THROWING Jon through that barricade!!
Frankie: Lucky for her our time keeper Francisco was there to break Jon’s fall.
Amazingly the body of the Time Keeper holds Miss Jon up just enough to keep her from going down to the ground where the crumbled remains of the barricade can be found. She might be upright, but she sure isn’t conscious of that fact. She also has no clue that Lexy and Raine are continuing this fight, now going at it amongst one another, taking Jon out of the equation.
Lexy and Raine have rolled into the squared circle and are having a rather tense stare down. Finally Lexy turns her backside towards Raine and gives it a slap, insisting that her opponent should give it a kiss and then walk her OWN ass to the back. Obviously Raine doesn’t consider this request for even a second, instead she pie faces the Tag Team Champion. The shove causes Lexy to go spinning around, yet she turns this into a gold opportunity, swinging her leg into the air and hitting a kick right into Raine’s ribs. Lexy then hits another kick, this one a punt style blow that blasts Raine in the face, standing her upright, for a moment. Because Lexy threatens to take Raine down when she hits a step up enzugar-NO, Raine ducks her head at the last second, causing her adversary’s foot to go flying over her head. Lexy lands on her face after missing the kick, though she won’t stay down on her lovely mug. She just starts to get up only to have her opponent catch her with the camel clutch.
Raine locks Lexy in the hold for only a moment before falling forward, putting her knees into her adversary’s armpits and as thus flipping Lexy over onto the back of her shoulders.
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The banged up Lexy gets her shoulders off the ring and falls forward in the process, coming down with her seat on top of Raine’s lower back. Lexy then swings around, grabs Raine’s leg and folds it, seamlessly transitioning from that camel clutch pin into a Boston Leg Crab. The hold puts tremendous strain on both the leg and the lower back of the Rogue Element, a back that was smashed with a crate mere moments before this match started.
Though Lexy might earn a submission victory she instead goes for a shock pin. She flows from the Boston Crab to a body scissors before falling to her side and rolling Raine onto the back of her shoulders.
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Raine launches a shoulder off of the canvas.
Greyson: With Miss Jon out of the equation we’re actually seeing some WRESTLING go down here instead of blatant brutality.
Sparkles: Wrestling on a wrestling show? Inconceivable.
After kicking out of the body scissors Raine twists to her knees then tries to push herself up from them only to hit a roadblock, one in the form of her opponent Lexy. The Tag Team Champion steps to Raine’s side and begins to flip over her into the Oklahoma Roll but the potential pin is countered. Instead of being rolled onto her shoulders Raine quickly falls back and takes Lexy’s hand, using it to drag her down into the small package.
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Greyson: ALMOST.
Much to the relief of Alistair and Kat their friend Lexy gets her shoulder up just in time to keep her championship ambitions alive. Lexy leaps back to her feet and once upright she receives a stiff chop across the chest, then a European Uppercut against the chin. Raine puts her hands to Lexy’s ribs and gives her a shove, sending her adversary flying back into the ropes. After ricocheting from the cables Lexy unwittingly walks right into the spinning heel kick unleashed by her opponent. Raine gets significant height on the leaping heel kick and then plummets to whole new lows when she’s CAUGHT in mid-rotation and her move is countered into a back breaker straight across Lexy’s elevated knee.
Frankie: TOO SWEEEEET!
Sparkles: That back breaker was a thing of B-E-A-OOTY!
Greyson: Lexy dropping Raine right across the very same back that was injured by Miss Jon before this match got underway.
The impact with the knee has Raine’s already bruised back only swelling even further. Even more damage is done to that spine when Lexy comes leaping from the ring apron, to the top rope and then dropping from it skull first straight into the small of her opponent’s back. Raine unleashes a blood curdling cry, feeling like her back was just snapped like a pretzel. She is just about to TRY and stand up only to find Lexy’s knees embedded against the small of her back before her body is pulled over where it is locked in the bow and arrow stretch. Raine’s arms desperately swipe through the air, as if they’re searching for something, ANYTHING she can use to break her out of this hold. The submission is broken, though it’s not by Raine’s doing.
Suddenly Raine and Lexy find themselves engulfed by a shadow because Miss Jon’s planetary mass blots out all the light that WAS pouring down upon them. Now the only thing that comes down on either lady is Miss Jon’s body as she hits a big splash on Raine, crushing her ribs and breaking her back across the knees that WERE dug into it.
Greyson: Raine locked in the bow and arrow stretch and….OH JESUS!
Sparkles: That was the biggest and most devastating splash Sparkles has ever witnessed!
Frankie: How the fuck did she do that? How the hell is Miss Jon back in there? The big bitch went through a friggin barricade for Christ sakes.
Greyson: Nothing can stop this woman.
Sparkles: And both of her opponents just learned that the hardest way possible.
The big splash has not only hurt Raine but also inflicted quite a bit of punishment on Lexy, who’s knees buckled under the strain of Miss Jon’s weight. She and Raine lay side by side, hurting equally from the splash then hurting equally from the next move Miss Jon hits them with. She grabs one of Raine’s legs and she grabs one of Lexy’s before beginning to spin. The crowd watches in dropped jaw suspense as Jon makes one rotation after another, swinging BOTH of her opponents around in circle after circle.
Greyson: Holy Christ, Miss Jon is giving the giant swing to Lexy AND Raine.
Sparkles: This woman is a freak of nature.
Frankie: You’ve got that freak part right.
Greyson: Well this freak might be on her way to becoming the new Evolution Champion.
At ringside we can see Martin Howe counting off each revolution made by his client. He stops at the count of ten just as Jon throw down her opponents. Actually she just flings them to the ring like they were nothing but bags of garbage. She looks to compact that trash at this point by rolling Raine over on top of Lexy and then approaching the ropes which she intends to come flying off of into another big splash….the biggest of them all.
Jon steps to the apron then steps up the corner, verging closer and closer to the top.
Frankie: No way…no way..
Sparkles: Is Miss Jon thinking of coming off of that turnbuckle?
Frankie: Doesn’t she need some form of clearance from air traffic control first?
Greyson: If Miss Jon splashes both of these ladies form the top rope then their careers are over.
The moment Miss Jon puts one foot on the top rope she almost finds herself toppling from the turnbuckle thanks to Raine. Samantha hustles up the corner and catches Jon around the neck actually trying to do the unthinkable by delivering the superplex. There’s a reason it’s called the unthinkable. Miss Jon counters with brute strength, pushing Raine from the top rope and to the ring below. The moment Raine hits the canvas Lexy pops up from it. She goes scrambling up the corner and tries to succeed where Raine failed, attempting a top rope superplex. Raine catches Jon around the neck yet never drags her down off the turnbuckle, instead the big woman shoves Lexy off and sends her flying back to the ring.
As soon as Lexy crashes into the canvas Raine goes running past her and running up the ropes. She hits a step up corner enzugari, smacking Jon in the temple. The blow has Miss Jon nearly falling back and tumbling from the turnbuckle to the arena floor. Somehow she remains on the corner just as Lexy runs at the cables, steps up them and hits an enzugari of her own, smacking Jon in the temple opposite to the one that Raine struck a second earlier. Again Jon has to battle the temptation to go flying from the corner and hitting the ground so far below. Shockingly Jon stays on the corner that has both of her opponents climbing up the opposite side. Raine and Lexy get to the middle rope and take turns punching Miss Jon across either side of her face. That’s before they stop individually attacking and decide to the shock of the world to join forces. The two nod at one another, apply simultaneous front face-locks on Miss Jon and now prepare to do what the ring was not built to withstand.
Greyson: No…no….they’re not going to do this.
The fans watch in shocked disbelief as Lexy and Raine use their combined strength to lift Jon off the top rope into a superplex straight into the middle of the ring.
Frankie: AAAAAAAHHHHH!
The whole ring shakes once Miss Jon’s body comes plummeting into it with the force of a comet. Instead of taking out a whole race of dinosaurs, Miss Jon is the only one destroyed by the impact with the ring, which almost buckles once her body is flung into it.
Sparkles: SUPPPPERPLEEEX!
Greyson: Stereo superplex! Stereo superplex delivered by BOTH Lexy AND Raine!
Frankie: So friggin unreal.
Howe does not look pleased as he watches from ringside, balling up his fingers into a fist and shouting at his client to ‘GET UP!’
Shockingly that’s just what Miss Jon is doing, laboring to get off the ring and onto her feet. Even though her body was not designed to survive the type of impact it just withstood, Miss Jon STILL gets up and walks right into the Jem Star Stunner. Raine catches Miss Jon around the neck and prepares to exact revenge on her for all of their brutal encounters in the past. Just as it looks like Raine will finally have closure in her war with Jon, her target shoves her way out of the stunner. Raine is pushed forward and right into a SUPERKICK. Lexy was waiting like a spider to catch a fly and Raine was the first to be thrown into her web. She unleashes a superkick on Raine’s jaw and the force of it sends the victim turning absent mindedly into another kick, this one to the gut. Jon doubles Raine over with the kick to the stomach and then drags her head into position to unleash the dreaded Up Yours, Bobby Walker.
Greyson: Jon’s gonna hit the sit-down powerbomb!
Frankie: And this time Raine ain’t going to recover.
Sparkles: She hits this she could become our new Evolution Champion.
Greyson: That’s what these three ladies are fighting for, that vacated Evolution Title.
Jon is just about to hit the powerbomb but Lexy disrupts the delivery when she runs in, steps off of Raine’s back and hits an enzugari. Lexy’s boot smacks Jon across the temple, the strike sending her staggering back into the cables then falling absent mindedly through them to the outside of the squared circle.
Greyson: But Lexy saw an opportunity there, blocking the Up Yours, Bobby Walker to take out Jon.
Sparkles: Though she unintentionally saved Raine in the process.
Frankie: She had to strike when she could to keep Miss Jon off guard and to keep her hopes of leaving here tonight the Evolution Champion.
The enzugari upside the head has dropped Miss Jon to the floor, across her FEET. She leans on the apron for a moment and ONLY a moment to get her bearings before she shakes off the kick to the skull and prepares to avenge it. In a fit of raw rage Jon grabs the ringside mats and begins to rip them apart to reveal the concrete that is below.
Back inside of the ring Lexy has turned her focus to Raine, kicking her disorientated opponent in the bread basket in order to double her over and put her in position for the Explicit Content. Lexy is only a moment away from delivering a package piledriver that will undoubtedly win her the vacated Evolution Title. That second wasn’t fast enough, because Miss Jon blocks it from connecting by reaching under the ropes from the outside of the ring, snagging Raine by the ankle and then giving it a yank forceful enough to drag her out of position for the Explicit Content. Jon pulls Raine all the way outside of the squared circle and then boots her to the gut. Jon lifts Raine into the air in order to hit the Up Yours, Bobby Walker onto the exposed concrete, a move that would fatally injure her adversary.
Raine fights though and fights for all she’s worth.
Her fists collide with Jon’s skull until Raine is freed from her clutches, falling back onto the ring apron where she tries to get her footing. Raine stands, turns back towards the ring and now finds Lexy running across the squared circle, coming straight at her. Some quick thinking saves Raine, who bends down, sticks her head under the ropes, puts it under Lexy’s inbound body and back drops her over the ropes. Instead of crashing into the ringside mats, Lexy flips over and lands on top of Miss Jon’s shoulders. Everyone screams at the sight of Miss Jon about to deliver an absolutely crippling Up Yours, Bobby Walker onto the cement floor.
As Raine rolls into the ring and unintentionally distracts the referee, Kat Kelly interferes in the match. She jumps onto the announce table, runs across it and then lunges onto Miss Jon’s back, placing her in the sleeper hold. As a result Miss Jon gives Lexy a stay of execution, dropping her to the floor instead of dropping her with the sit-out powerbomb. Miss Jon twists around trying to swing Kat off of her shoulders but failing. This opens the door for Alistair Taylor to get involved as well. He steps in front of Miss Jon and kicks her to the ribs while punching her across the face as well.
Greyson: Monarchy attacking Miss Jon!
Sparkles: For the sake of Lexy’s survival.
A pugnacious Kat digs in deep with her sleeper, but that’s not enough to slow Miss Jon down.
Alistair kicks and punches but that’s not enough to slow Miss Jon down.
The beast turns with Kat still hanging from her neck and then steps back, driving Kat into Alistair and driving Alistair into the ring apron. Kat is crushed between Alistair and Miss Jon, while Alistair’s back crushes the ring apron. Both Kat and Alistair fall to the floor sitting up against one another and looking equally as damaged by that good ole’ fashion squishing that Miss Jon just gave them. Their attack finally shows some effect as the depleted Miss Jon leans on the announce table for support. She becomes a non-factor in what’s going on in the ring.
Lexy is running straight at a recovering Raine only to be met in mid-dash with a kick to the stomach. The blow doubles Lexy over, puts her head in Raine’s arms and sets her for the Jem Star Stunner. Raine is a second away from delivering the move and ending this confrontation, but it takes HALF a second for Lexy to counter. She swings her body to the side and frees her head from the three quarters headlock. Upon turning back towards Raine a thumb to the eye is delivered. Lexy gouges Raine’s pupils, blinding her and sending her twisting along towards the ropes. Raine never saw the eye rake coming, nor the big spinning back fist that DEMOLISHES her cheek.
Miss Jon jumps up onto the apron, swings around and delivers a bone crushing spinning back fist right across Raine’s face. The impact is so devastating that it almost sends Raine’s head twisting off of her shoulders. She turns away from the punch and into the kick to the ribs that Lexy uses to set her opponent up for the Explicit Content. There is no countering it this time, Raine is dumped square on top of her head with the package piledriver.
Greyson: Explicit Content connecting!!!
Sparkles: After Miss Jon hit the Eat It, Barbie!
Frankie: Make the pin Lexy, make the pin and become Evolution Champion!
Greyson: She’s trying, but look out for Miss Jon, she’s trying to get in the ring to break this pin up.
As Lexy hooks Raine’s leg Miss Jon begins to slip through the ropes from the apron to stop this match from ending. She’s in the right place to keep Lexy from nabbing the Evolution Title, or at least she would be if it weren’t for the fact that not one but TWO people were keeping Miss Jon from moving any further. Unbeknownst to the referee Alistair and Kat have reached up from ringside and snatched hold of Miss Jon’s ankles. The pair restrains Miss Jon from getting back inside of the squared circle where Lexy has the pin.
Greyson: Monarchy has hold of Miss Jon’s legs!
Sparkles: They’re keeping her from getting back in the ring!
Frankie: Count ref! COUNT!!
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The referee’s hand slaps the canvas for the third time and the moment it does the crowd reacts with such an uproar. There are boos, there are cheers, and then there are just a few indecipherable howls of shock.
Frankie: She’s done it! Yes-yes-yes-yes-YES Lexy has become the NEW Evolution Champion! Oh God yes, oh God yes, OOOOH GOOOD YEEEESSS!!!
Sparkles: Holy crappers, what a moment for Lexy Chapel here.
All within the Manhattan Center are reacting in some capacity to Lexy’s shocking victory. Her fast track to success continues and is reflected in not just the one but the TWO title belts that are hanging from her hands. In one palm her Tag Team Title belt is dangling, in the other palm we can see the belt her victory here tonight has just awarded her, the Evolution gold. The belts she clutches in either hand has her banged up body swaying from one side to the other as she tries her best to keep her balance. All the while Miss Jon’s wide eyes can be seen watching Lexy’s every move. The wronged woman is still half way through the ropes with her big boots glued to the apron where they were pinned in place by Lexy’s cohorts, ensuring she was in no position to prevent the pin that just ensured the crowning of a double champion.
Frankie: Congratulations Lexy, you did it baby, you did it, come give me a congratulatory hug.
Greyson: Do the words ‘restraining order’ mean anything to you?
Sparkles: Lexy Chapel our NEW Evolution Champion
Frankie: No better way to open the in ring portion of the end of the Year Special than this guys.
Samantha Raine, Miss Jon and Martin Howe III would beg to differ. Raine starts to regain consciousness as she rolls to the outside of the ring. Luckily she gets out just as Miss Jon enters, the brute narrowing the distance between herself and the new champion. Lexy wisely rolls from the ring where she falls back into the arms of Alistair and Kat. While Kat hugs Lexy’s waist, Alistair grips her wrist, holding the new champion’s wrist aloft. This celebration at the base of the ramp puts Howe in a bad spot, the unenviable position of trying to calm his client Miss Jon down. She stands there in the ring seething at the visual of Lexy holding up the Evolution Championship.
Greyson: Lexy may have just earned the Evolution Title, but at the same time she’s earned the wrath of Miss Jon.
Right now if there’s one place you wouldn’t want to be it’s on Karen McBride’s bad-side. That’s just where Jeffrey Starxxx and Mason Van Stanton find themselves at the moment. The pair most loyal to the FORMER Principle Owner Silas Mason, are gathered in Karen’s office listening to the orders of the lady who now runs the show. As they hear McBride out they fidget with the knots of the robes that cover their scrawny bodies.
Mason: This is just cruel.
Starxxx: I know my sex appeal steals the show but this is just shameless objectification.
In spite of these complaints Karen sticks to her guns. The Principle Owner shows her resolve is unshakable, she crosses her arms and does not flinch, refusing to give in to the whining of either of her subordinates.
Karen: Let me phrase this another way. You either do as you’re told and get out there (points towards the door and towards the ring) or I’ll see you both in court for breach of contract.
Starxxx: But….
Karen: But nothing. GO!
The disappointed and reluctant Starxxx leads the way. He steps out of the office with a downtrodden Mason Van Stanton following, the pair commencing for the ring in their matching robes. Once the two are gone Karen gets back to more pressing issues, namely the incident that opened tonight’s End of the Year Special.
Melanie: Nice to see you laying down the law, Kar-Bear.
A proud Melanie steps out of the corner of the office approaching her older sister.
Karen: Only just getting started.
Melanie: So uhhh, been waiting for the right time to ask. After what happened earlier in the night are you going to let Katelyn get her hands on Watson? I’d pay good money to see Katelyn kick his booty all over the Manhattan Center.
Karen: It would be money well spent, but you won’t go broke tonight. I fully intend on letting Katelyn and Ryan resolve their differences, just not here at the End of the Year Special. I meant what I said earlier, if anyone is going to deal with Ryan Watson tonight, it’s going to be ME.
Tay: What do we want?
Protestors: TAY!
Tay: When do we want her?
Protestors: Every-DAY!
Taylor Chase is STILL leading a very well organized protest just outside of the Manhattan Center’s primary entrance. She employs a bullhorn to dictate the chants of her supporters, who walk in circles with picket signs swaying over their heads. We can see two more people loyal to Taylor Chase, but they are not walking around waving signs, instead Trinity Street and Lucas Knight stand along with the former three time World Champion, whispering into either of her ears.
Comeau: Well guys, I’m still here….
The camera pulls away from the protest and to the face of backstage correspondent Mark Comeau, who continues to stand at a distance from the boycotters.
Comeau:….and I’m still trying to get answers regarding what this is all about.
His open palm gestures to those chanting oh so loud.
Comeau: I’ve yet to get any answers from Taylor Chase, who along with her Monarchy compatriots Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, seems to be leading a boycott of tonight’s End of the Year Special….
Orlando: Make way, make way, MAKE WAY.
Orders another member of Monarchy, who parts the protestors so that he and his guest can get through. Orlando Cruze pushes along a wheelchair that holds the bundled up body of IWC crew member Susie Moore. The ‘injured’ Susie holds tight to the blanket that covers her and looks wide eyed at the concerned protesters watching her get shoved by on her wheelchair. The man leading her into the Manhattan Center only stops for a moment in order to turn to his wife Taylor Chase and give her the most disgustingly lewd kiss imaginable.
Although the conversation between grapplers Andre Jordan and Marina Valdivia is joined en media res the viewers can tell their discussion is a particularly tense one. The pair are gathered in a locker-room reserved for the agency they’ve been faithful clients of for quite some time, Silverstone International. However, judging by their words, that faith has certainly been eroded.
Andre: So just to make things crystal clear, we’re united on this, right?
Marina has a tough time reconciling herself to do it, but she nods, showing solidarity.
Marina: When Tabitha gets here….(she pauses, having a hard time believing it’s come to this)…we’re going to get answers from her.
Andre: And?
Marina: At…..(voice trails off)….any cost.
Andre: (Detecting the uncertainty in Marina’s tone) Listen, I don’t like doing this anymore than you do. But the fact of the matter is, Tabitha’s been playing these mind games on us for weeks now, faking injuries, making us think she’s been attacked when she hasn’t, and-and-and (now his voice trails off) you saw how irrational she made me at the pay-per-view.
Marina: You need to stop blaming yourself for what happened to Susie Moore.
Andre: Who should I blame then?
Marina: (Finally embraces the truth) You KNOW who’s to blame.
Andre: Tabitha might have driven me to lose my cool, but it was MY hands that tossed that trashcan down the hall, and it was MY fault that it hit Susie in the head.
Marina: But it’s just like you said, NONE of that would have happened if not for Tabitha faking that injury and driving you up a wall. We won’t have to worry about that after tonight though, because (sounding more and more certain) one way or another we’ll get answers from Tabitha.
Stagehand: Sorry to interrupt.
Andre and Marina were so deep in thought that they didn’t even notice the crew member infiltrating their locker-room with a notecard in hand. Andre turns away from the plain white wall that he and Marina were standing in front of while talking.
Andre: What can I help you with, chief?
Stagehand: Just got a message from your agent Tabitha Silverstone….
Marina: (Sounding equal parts intrigued and concerned) What did she say?
The crew member scans the notecard.
Stagehand: She says she’s too injured to be here tonight, but she wants you both to know she’ll be supporting you in spirit.
The moment this sentence ends the stagehand can tell he better start putting some distance between himself and both members of Silverstone International. Neither Andre nor Marina even realize that the stagehand has left given their preoccupation with the resentment settling deep within them.
You want to know what it takes to make over a thousand people simultaneously groan? Play the tracks of Eminem’s “Phenomenal,” and then give them the visual of Orlando Cruze. It’s hard to believe, given the reaction of the crowd, that at one time Orlando was arguably the most loved man in professional wrestling, NOT anymore. The term ‘heat’ doesn’t even begin to describe what Orlando is getting as he makes his way out from the back, and as if the sight of him wasn’t enough to aggravate the fans, he’s also pushing along a wheelchair that holds an ‘injured’ Susie Moore.
Greyson: On a night that seems to be getting stranger with each passing second we’ve now got Orlando Cruze headed down our way and….and…he’s got our broadcast colleague Susie Moore with him.
Sparkles: Well we’re scheduled to see Orlando Cruze take on Andre Jordan here tonight in a rematch from their clash on Riot a few weeks back, but right now it doesn’t look like Orlando is very interested in battling Andre.
Frankie: No, hahahahaha, he’s far more interested in grinding some salt in Andre’s festering wounds by bringing Susie out here. After all, it’s Andre’s fault that the poor, defenseless, absent minded Susie is in that wheelchair.
Greyson: I think Orlando and Susie may be hamming up the extent of those ‘injuries.’
Frankie: Did you not see what Andre did to Susie back at Upping the Ante? You know what, let’s remind you what that cold hearted bastard did to our friend Susie.
A video package features an irrational Andre Jordan dealing with his agent Tabitha Silverstone backstage at Upping the Ante. Mere moments after Tabitha was apparently assaulted and left lying on the floor, Andre comes along in an effort to comfort her. But Tabitha’s words inspire Dre to lose pretty much all semblance of self-composure. The sight of Tabitha’s condition prompts Dre to snap, picking up a nearby trashcan and flinging it down the hallway. A high pitched scream brings Dre back to reality, his eyes widening the instant he sees that the can he tossed happened to collide with backstage correspondent Susie Moore’s head. Andre looks downright disgusted with himself.
And if he wasn’t truly disgusted with himself before Andre is about to be right now, his rival Orlando Cruze will make certain of that. Back in the ring live at the End of the Year Special, Cruze is stood with microphone in hand and Susie Moore plopped in a wheelchair directly in front of him.
Orlando: What kind of world do we live in?
Judges Orlando as he steps beside the bubble-headed babe Susie.
Orlando: What kind of sick twisted world would endorse the actions of a man who willfully beats on poor defenseless women?
The crowd aren’t the only ones booing Orlando’s sickeningly hypocritical comments.
Greyson: (Sickened tone) Listen to this. It….was…an….ac-ci-dent.
Frankie: The hell it was. Did you not see the look of joy in Andre’s eyes when he realized he hit Susie with that trashcan?
Sparkles: As if Orlando has any room to judge Dre, for God sakes, it was just a few months ago that Orlando superkicked Andre’s agent Tabitha Silverstone.
Orlando kneels down beside Susie and takes her hand into his own.
Orlando: Look at this beautiful young girl….okay, maybe she’s nowhere near on the level as my super sexy wife Taylor Chase, but Susie is still quite the looker? To think that her attractiveness could have been ruined by that misogynist Andre, it just makes me physically ILL. If that were to happen, if Susie’s face was permanently damaged, what would she have going for her? Absolutely NOTHING. I mean, the dodo has a bigger IQ than Susie. The girl still eats crayons for Christ sakes.
As Orlando insults Susie verbally he further patronizes her by patting her on top of the head.
Orlando: Without her face, Susie would be as worthless as Andre’s entire wrestling career. And her face is exactly what Dre tried to take from her. Yet you people, you sadists, each and every single one of you still cheer for Andre, you still show the man love. You actually support a son of a bitch who beats women? What’s-what’s-what’s next? Is OJ Simpson gonna come out here to a standing ovation?
Greyson: Oh this is just getting sick.
Frankie: He’s absolutely right.
Sparkles: Is Orlando actually comparing Andre to OJ Simpson?
Orlando: Are you people going to throw a parade for Chris Brown?
Greyson: COME ON!
Frankie: These people should be as ashamed of themselves as Andre Jordan.
Now Orlando is rubbing the top of Susie’s head like she were a kitten.
Orlando: Do none of you have any appreciation for what Andre did to this girl? Ever since he BASHED her over the head with a trashcan she hasn’t been the same. Tell them Susie, tell them how Andre’s attack has affected you.
The microphone is put in front of Susie’s mouth but there are no words amplified by it. It appears the tart has no idea how to react so she improvises….BAD IDEA.
Susie: Well, I have been a little gassier than normal.
This revelation forces Orlando to bury his face in his hand in order to hide his cringe.
Orlando: You hear that? Susie’s stomach has been in KNOTS, because she lives in constant debilitating fear of setting foot in this arena. She used to LOVE coming to work every day until that predator Andre got his hands on her. Ever since that night Susie’s been suffering PTSD….
Susie: I take penicillin for that..
Orlando: (Talking out of the side of his mouth) Shut it….(talking normally)….Unlike you people I sympathize with victims, not with the monsters who prey upon them. Unlike each of you cold hearted bastards I want to punish guys like Andre, guys who could hurt innocent and defenseless women. That’s just what I’m going to do here at the End of the Year Special. I’m going to avenge Susie…
Greyson: Orlando is NOT fighting for Susie Moore. This is all about Orlando’s ego being unable to tolerate the fact that Andre pinned him several weeks ago on this telecast.
Orlando: And I’m hoping each of you in this arena tonight do the right thing by withholding your cheers for Andre when he comes out here. Actually, you know what you all should do? You should show some solidarity, and join me in booing Andre out of this building. Make him feel as powerless and as victimized as he’s made Susie feel…..
The only person about to be victimized at the moment is Orlando Cruze. Before the Icon even sees him coming down the ramp, Andre Jordan goes sliding into the ring. Dre ‘unapologetically’ goes right after Orlando, the Phenom backing away from his antagonized rival.
Frankie: What does this Chris Brown wannabe want now?
Greyson: Thank God. Andre Jordan coming out here to finally shut Orlando up.
Andre has absolutely been pushed to a point where no man should ever be shoved. He steps back from the edge in order to toss Orlando over it. The snarling Andre goes right after Orlando but just as his hands reach for the Phenom the wrath Cruze is so deserving of receiving is denied. He steps behind the wheelchair that holds Susie Moore and turns her into a human shield. The chair is pushed along right into Andre’s legs, causing him to go tripping over and crashing right into the defenseless and stunned Susie.
Greyson: OH THAT SON OF A BITCH!!
Frankie: Andre taking his frustrations out on Susie Moore AGAIN!
Greyson: Shut up Frankie! Orlando PUSHED Susie into Andre so that he could tuck his tail and escape the ring.
Sparkles: Poor Susie.
When Andre gets back to his knees he scoots across them as quick as he can to return to Susie’s side. His shaking hands move towards the head of an unconscious Susie, who had all of Dre’s weight come crashing down on top of it. He cautiously takes Susie’s face into his palms and then looks over her through the ropes that Orlando is now standing on the opposite side of. Such fire burns inside of Andre’s eyes as he glares furiously at Orlando backing up the ramp. The flame within Dre only intensify as he hears the laughter coming from Orlando and sees the smile drawn across his face.
Greyson: That classless son of a bitch.
Sparkles: Man, Andre is so going to enjoy getting his hands on the Phenomenal Orlando Cruze later tonight.
Frankie: Boooo Andre…BOOOO. To all the kids watching at home, don’t support misogyny.
The very same door we saw Cindy Todd step through earlier tonight finally opens back up. Once again the Queen of Chaos steps into the hallway, but this time she does not go alone. Her New Eden follower, and former World Champion, Serenity is right behind her. A few minutes ago the world saw Serenity holding a needle, however this time she’s clutching a red cooler.
Cindy: How much did you get from our reluctant donor?
Serenity giggles before giving her answer. As she speaks she lifts the cooler with one hand and she taps at it with the other.
Serenity: Every last drop, hehehehe.
The two walk down the hall, leaving the camera situated on the door they just stepped out of. The wind just so happens to push that door open far enough to reveal the man left inside, a man who looks like an empty husk tied to a chair, breathing but breathing very shallowly.
Another door comes into view, this time a duo of them. The blue double doors that serve as the exit and entrance to the Manhattan Center open very slowly and very tentatively. An apprehensive Desmond Drake sticks his head into the hallway and nervously peeks around. He cautiously surveys the landscape before he dares enter the arena. Silas Mason’s former stalwart, and his tiniest stalwart, moves into the building carrying the Queen of Wrestling Championship over his shoulder.
Stagehand: HEY DESMOND!
One young man is TOO excited to see Desmond, and his display of elation has little Drake jumping out of his tiny britches.
Drake: WHAT!?!
Snaps Drake, who almost drops the Queen of Wrestling Title from his shoulder.
Stagehand: Been waiting for you to get here all night. Mrs. McBride sent me to get THIS (tries to grab the Queen of Wrestling title belt) from you,
Drake: I think not.
The gold isn’t about to leave Drake’s shoulder. The midget surprisingly puts up a great defense against the taking of the title.
Stagehand: But it’s supposed to be going to the winner of the four way for the Queen of Wrestling Title tonigh….
Drake: Says who?
Stagehand: Mrs. McBride.
Drake: Well I don’t work for McBride. I work for Silas Mason and he entrusted ME with this championship.
Drake hugs the belt and hugs it tight.
Drake: I’ll be the one who decides who gets this belt, and I’m telling you right now it’s not going to any of those ladies that Karen has hand-picked to challenge for the title tonight.
Stagehand: I’m afraid I’m gonna have to insist that you….
Drake: Have you ever been headbutted in the crotch by a midget?
Stagehand: Erm, can’t say that I have.
Drake: It’s not a pleasant experience, I promise you.
The Stagehand wisely backs off.
Drake: There will be a new Queen of Wrestling Champion crowned tonight, but it’ll be one that I cherry pick to be the champ.
When cameras transition from the backstage area and to the entrance stage they pay particular focus to the two empty cages that had been previously occupied by scantily clad dancers. At the start of the show the fans saw Karen McBride send the strippers packing, as thus removing even more of the former Principle Owner’s influence over the show. Apparently those cages aren’t going to remain empty for much longer, and there will be flesh to feast your eyes on, it just might not be the flesh fans are particularly interested in seeing.
Jeffrey Starxxx and Mason Van Stanton emerge from the back adorned in matching robes, either man coming to a stop beside either empty cage.
Greyson: Guys we’re about to hear from Karen McBride regarding what happened to start tonight’s show but ummmm, what brings Silas Mason’s former stooges to the stage?
Frankie: A stage that looked a thousand times better when it had the cage dancers on it.
Sparkles: Sparkles will dance in that cage for you, Frankie.
Frankie: Ehhhh, I’ll pass.
Greyson: Why are Mason Van Stanton and Jeffrey Starxxx out here? I would have figured these guys would get lost after Silas was deposed as Principle Owner.
Oh how the two men in question wish they could get lost. That’s not happening though, because they’re under the bright lights, and they’re subject to the most degrading moment of either of their lives. After they simultaneously sigh they unfasten the knots from their robes and throw them aside. The crowd instantly fights back the urge to upchuck their lunches when they see Mason and Starxxx standing there in nothing but there boxer shorts.
Frankie: Oh wow.
Sparkles: Oh gross.
Mason and Starxx have never looked more bashful as they enter the cages designated for them and close the doors behind their backs. In the most repulsive sight since Kathleen Turner, both Starxxx and Van Stanton begin to dance and dance horribly mind you.
Greyson: Hahahahaha, Starxxx and Van Stanton, have been-have been chosen as replacements for the cage dancers.
Sparkles: A fitting punishment for these horndogs.
Frankie: This is wrong, this is-this is-this is sexual harassment!
The crowd continues to either laugh or fight their urge to vomit at the sight of Van Stanton dancing the Charleston in his skivvies. The crowd knows precisely how to respond though when the tunes of ‘American Dreamgirl’ start to pump through the arena speakers and Karen McBride emerges from the back. With little sister Melanie at her side Karen comes to a rest on the stage, looking from one side to the other at the dancing Lotharios contained in their cages. Melanie can’t help herself, taking a bundle of single dollar bills and pelting Starxxx with them.
Melanie: Dance bitch, DANCE!
Starxxx sneers at Melanie while continuing to dance like Carlton Banks listening to a Tom Jones record. Karen proceeds towards the squared circle with a microphone squeezed in her hand.
Greyson: One has to wonder what brings Karen McBride out here now.
Frankie: She’s out to drool and nothing more. She wants to slobber all over Starxxx and Van Stanton
Sparkles: Well here’s the thing, Karen has got some issues to contend with this evening as it regards the group Monarchy and her dealings with Ryan Watson.
EARLIER TONIGHT
Another quick recap video replays what went down at the start of tonight’s End of the Year Special. At first things are going exactly as according to Karen McBride’s plans. The new Principle Owner comes out to address the audience only to have her statements cut short when World Champion Katelyn Buehler hits the ring. The Champ insists that Karen sign a match between herself and Ryan Watson after his interference in her title defense at the last pay-per-view. Before Karen can give an answer she finds her sentence once again abruptly interrupted, this time by Watson himself. He comes walking through the crowd employing a bullhorn to chastise both Karen and Katelyn alike. Before McBride can put Watson in his place, Katelyn puts her fists upside his face. A brawl between the World Champion and Watson breaks out in the crowd that has to be broken up by throngs of security guards.
The live feed from the End of the Year Special is re-established in time to catch Karen McBride on her way down the ramp speaking into a microphone.
Karen: You’re right Ryan Watson, the wheels do tend to turn slowly around here, but it’s not going to take me six months to deal with you.
Announces Karen as she enters the squared circle with Melanie pausing at the apron.
Karen: No-no-no, you’re not getting off that easy. Unlike Silas, I take more of a HANDS ON approach to dealing with trouble makers. I’m not going to be a doormat, I’m not going to allow Monarchy to go on thinking they call the shots all around the professional wrestling world. HELL NO. You want a job here in the IWC, come on out here and EARN it. But if you lose, no, WHEN you lose, then you are never allowed to show your face in the IWC again.
Watson: What an ultimatum, love.
It didn’t take much baiting at all to lure Ryan Watson out from the backstage area. He emerges through the crowd, but as he does so a group of security guards stand on either side of him. They ensure that Watson goes to the ring and ONLY to the ring.
Watson: How am I to resist a woman with your charms? I GRACIOUSLY accept your challenge….(sarcastically) BOSS.
The microphone Watson had been gifted is flung aside and he is now leaping over the barricade, springing into action.
KAREN MCBRIDE VS. RYAN WATSON
Ryan Watson dashes past Melanie McBride at ringside and then slides straight into the squared circle where the Principle Owner is waiting on him. Ryan throws a punch that Karen has the timing to duck. As a result Watson swings completely around and back to face the knife edge chop that crushes his chest.
Greyson: Karen wasn’t joking, she really is a HANDS ON type of boss.
Sparkles: She made a challenge to Ryan Watson and he’s accepted. The Principle Owner is facing off with the latest addition to Monarchy’s army.
Frankie: And if I’m hearing this right, there are some pretty big stakes on the line here. If Watson wins he gets an IWC contract, but should he lose, then he can never show his face in this federation again.
Greyson: Karen laying down the law and now she’s laying into Watson with these chops. She’s nipping this Monarchy problem in the bud and doing it on her very first night as Principle Owner.
The chop across his sternum has Watson doubling back and falling against the ropes for support. His jaw is then caved in by a straight right hand. The blows definitely have Watson in a condition he didn’t expect to find himself in this evening, on the defensive. Karen jumps into the air and drives her head into Ryan’s, the collision nearly knocking him down through the cables.
Sparkles: Karen fighting to keep the spread of Monarchy contained.
Greyson: She wants to stop them before they try to take over the Riot brand entirely.
The shot upside the skull has Watson all disorientated, and so does the right connecting upside his temple. Karen puts some distance between herself and her adversary before dashing into a clothesline, a clothesline that Watson manages to JUST avoid. He falls to his back and low bridges the top rope, causing Karen to go tripping over him before taking a tumble to the outside of the ring. Karen collapses to the ground, landing mere inches away from Melanie’s feet. Her sister is right there to try and shout some motivational words to Karen, who grabs at the apron in a valiant effort to reach her feet. Unfortunately Waston is right there to knock her back off of them. He runs the length of the ring then goes flipping over the top rope into a senton plancha, flinging himself right into…..the FLOOR.
Karen side steps Ryan at the last second, causing his body to go sailing into the ringside mats and hitting them with gruesome impact.
Greyson: They call those moves high risk for a reason.
Sparkles: Watson’s dive sending him flying right into the floor.
After crashing with a thud echoing throughout the Manhattan Center, it seems that Watson is pretty much dead to rights. He lays limp on the floor, totally unaware that Karen has leaped to the apron beside him and is now back flipping into the moonsault. She crashes down right on top of Watson with her move eliciting a loud pop from her supporters.
Greyson: Nice moonsault by Mc….oh wait, she’s not done yet.
Karen rolls off of Watson and to the announce table, climbing up into it and then diving off into a modified frog splash. The impact with Watson’s ribs has driven every last bit of air from his body. He’s obviously not in very good shape as Karen leaves him at ringside and returns to the squared circle.
Frankie: Would people STOP using our announce table already? It was okay when Kat did it earlier, but with Karen it’s a different story.
Greyson: And you’re biasness continues to know no ends.
The very aggressive McBride leaves the ring in order to drag Ryan back into it. He is thrown into the squared circle, ending up on his back while his opponent ends up on the top rope. Karen gets her balance, soaks in the response from her fans then goes airborne, leaping into the elbow drop. Her arm goes down right into Ryan’s elevated knees.
Sparkles: Top rope elbow blocked by Watson’s knees.
The impact of Karen’s elbow against Ryan’s legs has her in a particularly rough spot. She rolls away from Ryan and into the ropes, grabbing at her sore elbow. She quickly dashes away from the cables though and comes roaring towards Watson, only to have him side step her and get his knee up into her ribs. Karen flips over Watson’s knee and then crashes onto the canvas across her back. The quick and agile Watson takes off into the ropes at Karen’s side, springing from the middle cable with a moonsault. In mid-air he twists around, turning the lionsault into a senton bomb that slams straight into Karen’s stomach.
The impressive Watson crawls into the cover on McBride, hooking both of the Principle Owner’s legs.
Sparkles: What an auspicious start this would be for Ryan Watson’s IWC career to beat Karen McBride in his first night.
Greyson: If he does so he’ll have earned himself a contract with the IWC, and further empower Monarchy.
Greyson: Watson could do it, he is a former SCW Adrenaline and United States Champion.
Watson’s blend of speed and flexibility make him quite the dangerous opponent as evidenced by the position he’s currently got Karen in. McBride’s attempt to stand up becomes complicated when Watson grabs her wrist and pulls her into a short arm punch. He then pushes her back while keeping hold of her wrist then drags her into a short arm back elbow. He then pushes her back and pulls her back in by the grip on her wrist so he can slap her in the face with a forearm smash. Finally he pushes Karen back one last time before yanking her towards him with a short arm clothesline.
Sparkles: Nice sequence of strikes by Watson.
With Karen down Ryan is free to go running into the ropes, bouncing from them and then connecting with a jumping knee strike. He gets so much height on his vertical leap that he’s able to swing his legs beneath him before bending one just in time to send it smashing into Karen’s brow. McBride grabs at her face and rolls away from her adversary, ending up in the turnbuckle that she employs to reach her feet. The second she stands up she finds herself contending with a leaping forearm smash that collides straight with her already banged up face.
Melanie: COME ON KAREN!
Melanie screams from ringside and slaps the apron in an effort to build her sister back up. Ryan smirks at the concern he hears in Melanie’s voice, but will more enjoy the sound of Karen’s bones snapping under his fists. He catches her with a few jabs across either cheek before he takes her under his arm, carries her out of the corner and then drops her spine across his knee. A Canadian Back breaker connects, doing even more damage to Karen’s already banged up torso. She drops off of Watson’s knee and to the canvas where she’s then pinned by the Monarchy member.
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Karen’s shoulder is up in plenty of time to prevent defeat. This kick out has Watson aggravated yet nothing will keep him from being dominant as well. He takes Karen’s wrist, uses it to drag her along to her feet and then pulls her along into yet another Canadian Back breaker. Karen’s spine once again ricochets off of Ryan’s raised knee. The impact has her groaning in pain and rolling to the middle of the ring where she will try to convalesce her injured spine.
That’s NOT happening.
Watson hits a front dropkick to Karen’s ribcage, the impact sending her body flying under the ropes then crashing to the outside of the squared circle. She’ll get no rest outside of the ring either, because Watson is right behind her and right on top of her. He stomps her a few times before approaching the ring steps, beginning to dissect them just as he’s dissected his opponent. He grabs the top half of the stairs, flips them onto their side and has them now stacked up vertically. His attention returns to McBride, rolling her to the apron before going there himself. A repugnant grin comes to his face as he tucks McBride under his arm and lifts her into the air.
Greyson: He’s not….
Sparkles: It looks like Watson is going to give Karen a Canadian Back breaker off the apron and onto those steel steps!
Frankie: Karen will be walking as funny as any woman who’s ever slept with Desmond Drake.
A match, no CAREER ending, back breaker is about to be delivered. Karen has to fight to not only keep this match going but her life as well. Her knee flies up and hits Watson in the pectoral muscle, then the shoulder, causing his grip to weaken. Karen manages to drop to her seat on the apron, landing right in front of her opponent. To Watson’s surprise he finds Karen rolling backwards, extending her legs and wrapping them around his waist before pushing herself up into the wheel barrow. Karen takes Watson around the neck and pulls him off the apron into a wheel barrow bulldog that drives his face straight into the steps he had vertically positioned.
Greyson: OOOOH-OH-OH-OH MY GOD!
Sparkles: THAT WAS SICK!
Frankie: A bulldog into those stairs!
The steps remain in the same position but not Watson’s nose, which is presumably fractured on impact with the steel. His brain rattles around inside of his skull as he staggers back from the stairs that just did so much damage to his face. He’s on his feet, but not aware that he’s still standing, nor is he conscious of the Irish whip that is about to be his undoing. Karen takes him by the wrist and launches him right into the steel stairs, knocking them down from their vertical placement and also knocking all the wind out of Watson’s body. He bounces off the steel and then goes rolling lifelessly across the mats.
Sparkles: Remind Sparkles never to piss Karen off.
Greyson: Then you might want to start showing up for work on time Sparkles, instead of punching in late cause you were busy fighting pigeons over scraps of cheese.
A shocked Watson buckles under the strain of impact with the stairs. His opponent rolls back into the ring and then rolls back out to break the official’s ten count. The Boss then continues after Watson, who somehow is on his feet. He’ll find it very difficult to remain upright when Karen’s fist slaps him across the cheek. The fired up McBride leads Watson towards the ring only to stop briefly in order to slam his face against the stairs. Watson can barely stand as he limps into the squared circle, rolling in with his opponent entering right behind him. Karen stands up with her back to the corner and her foot crashing into the canvas, signaling that the bicycle kick might be seconds from connecting.
Greyson: Here comes the bicycle kick!
Sparkles: The very same move that sealed the fate of our FORMER boss Silas Mason back at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: It might very well be enough to send Watson packing for good.
A banged up Watson ebbs ever nearer to his feet totally unaware that Karen’s boot is about to knock him into next month. Karen unleashes the bicycle kick, her boot lunging for Watson’s face only it never makes impact. Watson catches the boot of his opponent, and then with lighting fast speed he hits an inside leg trip on her planted foot. McBride hits the canvas across her back with her leg still elevated into Watson’s hands. He swings around her leg, appearing to go for that inverted figure four leg lock he’s world famous for. However, the moment he turns his back on Karen she sits up, wraps her arms around his hips and pulls him back into a roll up. Ryan ends up folded under Karen who is seated on his thighs.
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Ryan kicks out with such force that Karen’s body is launched off the back of his thighs and sent flying forward into the ropes. She ricochets from the cables and then turns her momentum to her advantage. She leaves her feet, going for the bicycle kick. Her boot BARELY misses Watson’s head, because he baseball slides right under the kick and then ends up in front of the very same ropes that Karen just ricocheted from. Karen swings around to face Watson then comes bolting directly at him only to have the crafty veteran bend down and catch her coming in with a back drop over the cables. Karen flips completely over before crashing down NOT into the floor but into the STEEL STEPS!
Greyson: Karen’s back hitting the STAIRS!!
Sparkles: That was a BRUTAL landing.
Frankie: One that we can only HOPE broke Karen’s back.
A scream can be heard from Karen’s sister Melanie, who tries to stifle her squeals behind her palms. She is horrified at the visual of Karen being back dropped from the ring spine first into the stairs on the floor. She is even more despondent at the sight of Watson dropping to the ground and then tucking into a forward roll. He flips out of his forward sommersault with a rolling thunder, hitting the senton on Karen and crushing her back against the steps she was still splayed against.
Frankie: THAT WAS AWESOME!
The fans groan loudly at the sight of Watson hurting himself to hurt Karen even worse. The man fighting for an IWC contract pulls Karen off the stairs and throws her into the ring where he goes for an immediate pin.
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In spite of hooking both of Karen’s legs and stacking her on her shoulders Karen kicks out. Watson sits on the canvas with his cheeks puffed out like a blow fish, looking frustrated that he can’t seem to put the Principle Owner away.
Greyson: McBride and Watson putting on a display of innovation here in this match but they’re still failing to finish one another off.
Sparkles: Think of what they’re fighting for. Karen wants to take Monarchy down a peg by sending Watson packing back to SCW, and Watson wants that IWC contract so he can continue making a stink here in the IWC.
The end seems imminent at this point considering that Watson is pulling Karen along to her feet and then hitting her with a stiff bridging German suplex. The agony in Karen’s back is exacerbated as she’s planted viciously into the canvas and her shoulders are counted down on the canvas.
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Although she’s taken a lot of punishment to the back Karen launches a shoulder off the ring. Watson grabs hold of her hair, tugs it and returns her to her feet before launching her off into the turnbuckle. Unfortunately Karen turns and her back withstands much of the impact with the corner, instantly debilitating her limbs. She staggers out of the corner and into a boot to the gut, her opponent then pulling an arm through her leg. Watson lifts Karen into the air with a pumphandle that is then inverted into a back breaker.
Karen’s lower back almost snaps across Watson’s knee. She’s not in the best shape, not even bad shape, no, she’s in the WORSE shape. She falls almost limp to the canvas but won’t stay in the ring, rolling out of it and falling to the floor. She ends up knelt with her face leaning against the stairs that have been a double edged sword for her in this match. She has no idea that Watson has followed her to the outside of the ring and now crouches beside her in anticipation of unleashing the Wicked Kick in the Face.
Frankie: Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes…the superkick.
Sparkles: A move that has become a staple of Monarchy.
Watson’s foot lunges towards Karen’s face and connects….with the STAIRS!
McBride pulls back and lifts the stairs she was leaning against, propping them up vertically just in time for her opponent’s boot to crunch against them. A loud groan of agony comes from Watson as he turns away from the stairs and limps across the mats, unable to put any pressure on his leg. He absent mindedly rolls into the ring where he tries to stand up only to find the pain in his foot too severe to tolerate his weight. He is so preoccupied with the pain in his foot that he has no idea that he’s turning around right into the bicycle kick. There is a huge roar from the crowd at the sight of McBride hitting the pump kick straight to Watson’s chin.
Greyson: Karen’s boot just smashed Ryan Watson’s face!!
Sparkles: Smashed? It DEMOLISHED Ryan’s mug.
The crowd is at a fevered pitch at the sight and the sound of Karen’s boot crunching the bones in Watson’s face. He lies lifeless at Karen’s side as she crawls towards him and hooks both of his legs.
Greyson: Watson is done.
1
2
Sparkles: Shortest IWC career ever.
McBride is about to send the newest member of Monarchy packing only to realize he’s far tougher than she anticipated. Watson gets his shoulder up and leaves Karen sitting on the ring ever so exasperated.
Frankie: Ha-ha! Watson ain’t done mother-fuckers. Monarchy WILL rule.
It takes what remains of McBride’s strength to pull Watson up from the canvas and trap his head in the front chancery. The whole building emotes excitement at the sight of McBride readying to deliver the End Game.
Greyson: Here comes the very same snap spinning neck breaker McBride used to become Principle Owner.
Karen spirals around to hit the End Game only to have her adversary twist his head free from her front chancery at the last second. Watson ends up putting his shoulder to Karen’s spine, lifting her into the air to deliver a back drop. However, Karen floats over, landing on her feet behind her opponent. Watson twists around and twists quick, but probably wouldn’t twist quite so quick if he knew he was turning around right into the End Game. Karen snatches him around the head and spins him around into the snap neck breaker. She is just about to connect only to have Watson again counter her finishing move. This time all it takes to block the End Game from connecting is a forearm straight to Karen’s kidneys. Her lower back once again comes back to debilitate her, causing her to be unable to connect with her finishing move. Karen reaches for her spine, though she’s not the only one grabbing at her back. Watson puts his hands to Karen’s kidneys and gives her a shove, sending her flying forward into the ropes. Karen bounces off them and then returns to her waiting opponent via her boot smashing him in the face. ANOTHER bicycle kick meets Watson’s mug.
Greyson: The Bicycle Kick AGAIN!
Sparkles: Ryan kicking out of one bicycle kick was shocking enough, it won’t happen a second time.
Frankie: But-but-but Monarchy….rules.
After hitting the bicycle kick Karen takes a knee, her lower back in just God awful shape at this point. In spite of that constant aggravating nuisance she crawls towards Watson, ready to make the cover. All the while her sister Melanie is screaming in support from ringside.
Melanie: Finish it Kar-Bear! Finish it!
The crowd echoes Melanie’s pleas, and Karen is right on the cusp of giving over to their demands. She crawls towards the pin on Watson only to stop a mere inch or two removed from her opponent when spotting two figures joining her sister at ringside. They are not so much joining Melanie, as they are trying to intimidate her. The crowd is equally as furious as Karen at the sight of Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly surrounding Melanie. The Monarchy members are right up in Melanie’s grill, the Tag Team Champions trying their best to intimidate her.
Frankie: Oh hells to the yes, we’re getting another dose of Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel.
Greyson: Seeing them once was bad enough.
Sparkles: They’re out here surrounding Melanie and distracting Karen as a result.
Greyson: Just go for the pin Karen.
When seeing one of her brood pushed around at ringside, Karen COMPLETELY loses her focus on her opponent. Instead of trying to cover Ryan, Karen steps past him as she runs to the ropes and goes diving through them. Lexy and Kat are totally caught off guard when they’re struck by the suicide diving headbutt by McBride.
Frankie: HEEEEEY! That snotty bitch!
Greyson: Karen with the big dive taking out Wicked Intent at ringside!
Frankie: That is no way to treat our Tag Team Champions.
Karen stands over top of a shocked Kat and Lexy, briefly checking on her sister before returning to the ring, That’s when she spots Watson laying at ringside, having cleared from the squared circle in an act of preservation. McBride takes off across the squared circle and leaps through the ropes into a second suicide headbutt. This time Karen goes flying into Watson…no….into the steel stairs.
The fans collectively gasp at the sight of Watson standing up, lifting the top half of the stairs into the air and causing Karen’s face to smash into them.
Greyson: The stairs AGAIN!
Sparkles: They just crushed Karen’s face!
A loud ‘holy shit’ chant bombards the arena as the fans witness Karen’s fatal collision with the steps. Her limp body is thrown into the ring and Watson quickly elevates her from it before delivering the Insubordination Rules. His version of the Angel’s Wings drops Karen straight across her face and incapacitates her long enough to be pinned.
Greyson: The Insubordination Rules connects. Don’t tell me that Watson is going to pin the Principle Owner…don’t tell me it’s going to end this way!
The referee slaps the canvas much to the despair of the audience.
1
2
Aggravation doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling that permeates the arena at the sight of Watson defeating Karen McBride. All it took was one missed opportunity by Karen resulting in her face smashing the steel stairs in order to cost her this victory and give Watson one of the most important of his careers.
Greyson: Karen so close….so incredibly close to beating Watson here tonight, but the Monarchy’s number games are just too damn much.
Sparkles: You have GOT to give credit to McBride though for taking the fight to Monarchy and to Watson the way she did tonight.
Frankie: She should be fired, she should be fired right now for attacking the talent. What kind of Principle Owner fights members of their roster? It’s sickening and totally unprofessional.
Karen regains her senses, just seconds after her devastating loss. Her sister Melanie slides in and checks on her condition, patting her on the head. At the same time Watson is celebrating alongside Kat and Lexy at ringside, or at least he’s trying to. The moment he raises one arm into the air he groans in pain and falls to his knees, his mid-section having suffered quite the beating throughout the course of this match.
Greyson: Watson is very lucky to be walking out of here tonight the victor.
Sparkles: For the second match in a row Monarchy manages to cheat and distract their way to yet another victory.
Frankie: Why is that? It’s because they RULE. And with Watson now a full time member of the IWC roster, they’ll rule even harder baby!
Lexy and Kat step to either side of Watson, patting him on the shoulders as he smiles confidently. He knows with this victory tonight he’s effectively put the entire IWC roster on notice.
It doesn’t take Dr. Phil to figure out how the stagehand presently on screen is feeling. He looks about as vexed as a spoiled debutant when asked how to microwave popcorn. The source of this young man’s confusion correlates to the DVD he’s holding and the DVD he’s carrying towards the production truck. Unlike so many on the IWC roster, who would just go barging into the truck and pushing around the pencil necked geeks inside, the stagehand stops and knocks at the door.
Crew Member: Sup champ?
Asks the scrawny fella who peeks out from the production truck, eyeballing the stagehand.
Stagehand: Had this package given to me.
Crew Member: Yeah?
Stagehand: It’s from Tabitha Silverstone.
Crew Member: Okay?
Stagehand: The note that came with it has very strict instructions, asking that you play this (lifts up DVD) right before her client’s matches.
The crew member’s face is all screwed up.
Crew Member: Pfft….(swiping the DVD)…I’ll see what I can do.
Stagehand: She was very explicit that if this footage is not played then there will be….consequences.
Crew Member: Heh, consequences huh? What does she have in mind?
Stagehand: Erm, there’s a drawing on the back of her note.
The letter that came with the DVD is now studied by the technician, his eyes widening at the sight of the sketch. Soon all the color has faded from his flesh.
Crew Member: I’ll ummmm make sure this footage is aired.
Stagehand: Thought you’d say that.
It’s been a looooong, huge understatement, time since we’ve seen a grin so big on the face of Ricky Holt. The brash yet talented Holt stands right alongside his manager Eric O’Flaherty, baseball bat extended back over the agent’s shoulder. Behind them is a plain white wall and in front of them is a camera that both men are fixated upon.
Holt: Ooh-ooh-hoo-hoo-ooh hoo-hoo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don’t worry
Woo-ooh-woo-ooh-woo-ooh-ooh
Be happy
Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Don’t worry, be happy
Can it be? Is Ricky Holt actually SINGING? You betcha. And it’s just as awkward as you would think. The tune ends and is replaced by something equally unsettling, Holt’s smile.
Holt: For the first time in as long as I’ve been a member of the IWC roster I can honestly say I’M HAPPY!
Holt is grinning so wide it would make a yoga endorsing DDP cringe.
Holt: DAMMIT I’m-I’m-I’M GIDDY!
His clinched fist playfully swings across his chest.
Holt: Because tonight, right here at the End of the Year Special, I’m facing off against the type of talent I’ve been chomping at the bit to get in that ring.
At the moment Holt looks so excited he could slap his momma.
Holt: After BEGGING, after PLEADING, I’m finally-FINALLY going one on one with a REAL wrestler.
The thought seems to touch Holt so that he actually has to wipe away his crocodile tears.
Holt: You guys have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to get a man like the immortal Johnny Kingdom in that ring. I mean, Jesus, I’ve been decimating prissy little Nick Jonas wannabes like Devon Kayl for so long I’ve almost forgotten what a REAL wrestler is. But Johnny, he’s REAL, and it’s going to be a REAL honor to face him. So in recognition of this match, I’ve got a special tribute in mind. Something that is going to show just how like-minded guys such as myself and the incomparable Johnny Kingdom are. And I’ll be presenting that footage right here tonight, just a few moments before Kingdom and I go out and kill it for these spoiled New Yorkers….
He gives a second for the crowd to get their anger out of their system.
Holt: Hey, sorry New York, I know your use to watching the wrestling equivalent of a Hanson concert, but when Johnny and I face off, it won’t be no mmmBOP, nuh’ uh, cause the war pigs are about to be drunk with power as Johnny and I take ourselves a TOXIC WALTZ.
There are scars on top of scars on top of scars lining the backs of Selena Frost’s biceps. The wounds from her blitzkrieg with Alistair Taylor are still evident all throughout her flesh. Try as she may she can’t cover the cuts and scrapes from her Tables Are Legal match back at the last pay-per-view, and truth be told she’s not even trying to hide them. She is still sliding on her custom wrestling gear as she stands in front of a mirror that reflects her uncharacteristically tense expression.
Deanna: You’re not going to believe this.
The mirror Selena was looking into now reflects the face of her lover Deanna Springs. She steps into the room and does so in anger.
Deanna: I just got word that Desmond Drake showed up with the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Selena: Heh, he’s got more courage than I gave him credit for. Good to know he’s got MY belt….
Deanna: Well brace yourself for a (sarcastically) big surprise. Drake said he’s not going to give the belt to the winner of your match tonight.
Somehow the Snow Queen becomes even icier.
Selena: Did he?
Deanna: He said HE’LL decide who rightfully deserves the championship, no matter who wins your four way.
Selena: Well…
A smile slowly comes to Selena’s face.
Selena:…we’ll just see about that.
Selena waltzes right out of the room with a wide eyed Deanna watching her leave, knowing that trouble is on the trajectory.
Back in the squared circle is where Thomas Boll can be seen standing, microphone in his hand ready to amplify the broken English of the ring announcer.
Boll: Lady and gentlefolk, please welcome, Cindy Todd AND Serenity….NEW EDEN!
There’s that cold chill.
It runs right up the spines of every fan when hearing the lyrics of ‘Judge & Jury’ playing throughout the PA system. The crowd checks their undershorts to make sure they aren’t filling with urine at the sight of without a doubt the most frightening duo in all of professional wrestling. Cindy Todd makes her way to the stage with hands interlocked and tucked behind the small of her back. Directly at her side is her most prized possession in the world, Serenity. The former IWC World Champion has one arm thrown across the shoulders of her Queen, while the other hand grasps a red cooler that sways out to her side.
Frankie: Well my sphincter definitely just tightened.
Sparkles: If Sparkles had one it be tightening too.
Greyson: As I understand it New Eden have asked for this time to address the crowd…
Frankie: You honestly think that’s why they’re out here?
Greyson: Of course not.
Sparkles: These two are without a doubt the most unpredictable pair we’ve got on this roster, and that’s really saying something.
Greyson: They’ve got some huge matches ahead of themselves this evening. Cindy Todd will be part of a four way to crown the first ever Queen of Wrestling Champion, and Serenity ends one of the most barbaric rivalries we’ve ever seen in the IWC when she takes on rival Marina Valdivia….
Sparkles: In a Cartel Chaos match babe.
Greyson: Only the third in IWC history.
Boll is eager to hand over the microphone and then get to stepping…no….FLEEING from the squared circle. Sadly for Boll it’s not only the mic he’s holding that Cindy takes, but his wrist as well. The Ring Announcer isn’t going anywhere, not until New Eden have said what they’ve come to say.
Cindy: Stop quivering…
That’s one order that Boll will not be able to follow.
Cindy: Tonight my dears we come before you to tell a story.
Announces Cindy to the intimidated masses.
Serenity: Hehehe, a fairy tale!
Excitedly chimes in Serenity, who WOULD rub her hands together giddily if not for the cooler clutched in her palm.
Serenity: But not the type of sappy, sentimental tale you people are used to. Where everyone’s beloved Disney Princess sings about a world outside of the doldrums of their pampered lives, then go on some whimsical journey of self-discovery, only for everything to eventually end oh so merrily.
Cindy: I’m afraid that the story New Eden will tell this evening does not come with a HAPPY ENDING.
Serenity: Hahahahaha, our story ends in….THE SUFFERING.
Cindy: You know most fantastical stories you’ve spent you’re lives admiring are in reality based on the gruesome lore of Jacob’s and Wilhelm’s Grimm Fairy Tales. Where in the majority of this literature the beloved Princesses endured such tortures and unspeakable torments. Well tonight (smiles) we go back to the SOURCE MATERIAL.
Serenity: For once, our fairy tales are going to be faithful to the original.
Cindy: Our opponents here at the End of the Year Special won’t be spared by true love’s kiss, or by the waving of a portly fairy’s wand. Such horrors will be inflicted on the likes of Victoria Salinas, Selena Frost, Marina Valdivia and Mya Denton, that it would make even the Brothers Grimm sick to the pits of their stomachs.
Serenity: Selena, Victoria and Mya won’t be SINGING when they face my Queen tonight, they’ll be SCREAMING…hehehehe….SCREAMING….HAHAHAHAHA….SCREEEEAAAMMIING!
Cindy: And the only thing that Marina Valdivia will discover about herself is just how much blood can seep from her body before she slips into a coma.
Serenity: Marina’s going to be just like Sleeping Beauty, but after I’m through with her she will NEVER wake up.
Cindy: The Princesses I face this evening will find themselves unable to match the power of the Queen. I will serve all those who face me in the four way a poison apple, and they will have no choice but to devour it all the way down to its rotten core.
Serenity: My Queen of Chaos will take a title away from her opponents this evening, but what I take from Marina, won’t be gold, it will be what she needs even more….revenge.
The thought of depriving Marina of what she desires amuses Serenity and amuses her so.
Serenity: Marina, there are many certainties headed into our match tonight. The certainty that good will not triumph over evil, the certainty that under Cartel Chaos rules I’ll be able to do so many unspeakable things to you, and the certainty that a lot of your blood is going to be spilt.
Cindy: So much blood in fact that it’s a certainty you’re frail body will pass out LONG before my Serenity has grown tired of breaking you.
Serenity: Don’t worry, MY fairy God mother, my BLACK EYED fairy God mother….
Cindy smirks.
Serenity: Answered my wishes by giving me a solution to the problem I’ll face in that Cartel Chaos match. I can’t have your body giving out on me in mid-mangling, just as I’m starting to enjoy the oh so intoxicating cadence of your cries. So Cindy and I have taken it upon ourselves to have a BLOOD-DRIVE.
The cooler Serenity brought to the ring with her is opened and inside we see a number of plastic bags filled with BLOOD.
Cindy: We have more than enough for a few transfusions that will ensure you stay awake long enough for Serenity to have her fill with your suffrage.
Serenity: Uhhh I don’t know my Queen.
An uncertain Serenity peeks into the cooler.
Serenity: A few more pints couldn’t hurt.
Cindy: Hmmmm, better too much than too little.
To crowd is horrified but their fear is nothing compared to the terror being felt by Ring Announcer Thomas Boll. He soon realizes that Cindy’s eyes are turning towards his face. Boll’s lips tremble when he sees Serenity licking her chops.
Greyson: Run Boll, for the love of GOD RUN!
Sparkles: Am I friggin hearing this? Serenity and Cindy are going to drain Boll of his blood?
Frankie: Couldn’t hurt him to lose one or two dozen pints.
Before Thomas can get his wrist out of Cindy’s hand she yanks him into a clothesline that threatens to cleave his head from his shoulders. The Announcer collapses to the ground where his body is held down by the boot placed to his throat. Cindy casually pins Boll in place, leaving him all together defenseless against his disturbing destiny. A long needle has been removed from Serenity’s pocket and her weapon is swooping down towards Bolls’ arm. She extends that arm out across the canvas and rolls up his sleeve to reveal the veins that she intends to pierce.
Greyson: Alright, come on now, this has gone way too damned far!
Sparkles: Is this wrestling or a friggin Eli Roth movie?
A tube can be seen leading from the needle in Serenity’s fingers and ending at a bag placed inside of the red cooler. Soon that tube will be filled with a fluid the same color as that cooler. Or at least it would be if it weren’t for divine intervention in the form of security. Someone high above is looking out for Boll’s well-being, though they are not nearly as fond of the guards sliding into the ring. One member of security is knocked right back out of the squared circle by the uppercut Cindy delivers straight to his throat. Though that guard got off lucky, because another finds Cindy’s hand going straight down his mouth. The Hand of Anubis is locked in and the recipient of it is already blue as he collapses to the canvas. Meanwhile Serenity is using her needle to swipe at any security guard who dares get near her.
Greyson: Security just as powerless to stop New Eden as Thomas Boll.
Sparkles: Security is going to need security to save them.
Frankie: Yeah, but there’s going to be absolutely no one who saves any of New Eden’s opponents tonight.
Protest signs are still being swung through the air by a ragtag group of Monarchy devotees. Their chants fill the air, letting loose with their cries of injustice against the persecution of their cherished Taylor Chase. They go on walking in one circle after another outside of the Manhattan Center’s primary entrance, making it difficult for anyone to get past them. Their ring leader continues to look on with pride, Taylor no longer employing her bullhorn in order to direct their chants.
Protestors: What do we want? TAY! When do we want her? EVERY-DAY!
The camera slowly pulls away from these protestors and settles on backstage correspondent Mark Comeau, the man given the unfortunate task of trying to get some type of explanation regarding what this boycott is all about.
Comeau: Well guys and girls I’ve been standing outside of the Manhattan Center all night long anticipating an answer from Taylor Chase regarding why she’s put together this protest…
Taylor: You should be thankful I’ve kept you waiting.
Informs Taylor as she approaches Comeau and gives the back of his bicep a pinch. He growls in pain, jumps back from Tay and looks at the bullhorn that seems glued to the palm of her hand.
Taylor: The longer you cover my story the more relevant you become. It’s fame by association. But don’t get used to it. People like you don’t deserve to stand in the sexy silhouette that is my shadow. Get it Creepy Comeau?
Comeau: I….
Taylor: GOOD. Now, as I was saying before you decided to rudely interrupt me by being shout of your mother/sister’s womb, Monarchy and I have organized a protest of the End of the Year Special….
Comeau: Why? Aren’t you getting what you want? A match against your greatest IWC rival Katelyn Bue…..
Taylor: Who gave you permission to exist, Comeau, let alone to interrupt me while I’m talking?
The megaphone raises to her lips and amplifies her voice to such a decibel that it threatens to burst Comeau’s eardrums.
Taylor: Interrupt me again and I’ll ruin my million dollar pedicure by breaking my toe nails upside your face!
Comeau rolls his eyes and decides to keep his mouth shut.
Taylor: You think I’m getting what I want tonight?
The megaphone is employed once again.
Taylor: NOOOOOO!
Comeau has to rub at his ears, which feel like they’re about to start spouting blood.
Taylor: My match against High As a Kite Kate should be for her World Championship gosh darnit. But is it…
Here comes the megaphone and here comes more irreparable damage to Comeau’s hearing.
Taylor: NOOOOOO!!!
Thankfully the megaphone is lowered from Tay’s snarled lips.
Taylor: I’ve been waiting six months, SIX MONTHS (taps her finger six times against Comeau’s forehead) for my World Title rematch, and tonight the setting couldn’t be any more perfect for me to FINALLY get my opportunity. Last year at this very same show I single handedly, with no help from anyone, SAVED this federation, and yet here we are 365 days later and the company REFUSES to give me a shot at the belt. How is that fair, huh Creepy Comeau, HUH!?!
Comeau starts to answer.
Taylor: Rhetorical question Comeau! There’s no explanation that can justify this-this-this criminal atrocity that is being committed against me! I will NOT stand by idly and allow myself to continue being degraded by the very same federation that would not exist without ME-ME-ME! So guess what? My legion of loyal ass kissers will stay out here protesting until their feet bleed if that’s what it takes to get our NEW Principle Owner to remove her head from her cunt and repay me for making it possible for her to even have a show to run.
Tay whips around to face the protestors, lifting the megaphone to her lips.
Taylor: WHAT DO WE WANT!!??!!
Protestors: (louder than ever) TAY!
Taylor: WHEN DO YOU WANT HER!!??!!
Fans: EVERY-DAY!
The reaction from the crowd is so damned loud that it threatens to crack the foundation of the Manhattan Center. The masses are oh so hyped by the image of Andre Jordan appearing at the top of the stairwell that cuts through them. The tunes of his theme music are playing through the arena, only enhancing the excitement that comes along with Dre’s entrance.
Greyson: We’ve been waiting on it throughout the night guys and at long last it’s finally here, Andre Jordan versus Orlando Cruze.
Sparkles: Boy did this match ever get personal earlier on.
Frankie: Personal? Listen puppet, this match isn’t personal, there is straight up HATRED between these two guys.
Greyson: And Andre has every right to despise Orlando after everything that cold hearted human being has put him through.
Sparkles: Earlier on we actually saw Orlando shove an injured Susie Moore into Andre after trying to make Dre feel horrible for accidentally hitting Susie with a trashcan back at Upping the Ante.
Frankie: There is occasionally a funny moment on Riot, but that was straight up Chevy Chase levels of hilarity.
Greyson: Andre definitely wasn’t laughing. Nor did he find it funny when his agent Tabitha Silverstone was superkicked by Orlando several months ago.
Once in the ring Andre runs the ropes, trying his best not to dwell on what happened earlier in the night. Just as it seems he’s finally going to get himself focused on the task before him….
Tabitha: Hiiii Andre…..
The voice of his agent causes Dre to stop….and by stop, we’re talking INSTANTANEOUS. Seriously, he freezes in mid-step, looking like he’s in suspended animation. He cannot believe that he’s hearing the voice of Tabitha, especially after hearing that she wouldn’t be here this evening. It takes all of his strength to look up from the canvas and towards the Cartel-tron that has Silverstone’s face stretched across it.
Sparkles: Hey look, it’s Silverstone….it’s Tabitha Silverstone. She’s here tonight after-all.
Greyson: I think this is pre-recorded Sparkles. At least I hope it is. Because Andre’s agent has been more of a distraction to him these past few weeks than a help.
Frankie: Her behavior has definitely been as erratic as Martin Lawrence having a heat stroke.
A set of sunglasses are placed over Tabitha’s eyes even though she’s sitting indoors with the lights dimmed down around her. The camera is aimed right at her face and pays little focus to her surroundings.
Tabitha: It’s so tragic that I have to break the news to you like this, Dre, but you have to know why, why I’m not by your side tonight. Why I’m not there to show you the support I’ve ALWAYS faithfully showed you.
Her words begin to slow as she raises her hand towards her face, burying it beneath her palm.
Tabitha: I’m not in the Manhattan Center tonight because-because (snivels)….well, I had a MRI done this week and the results weren’t good. It seems that the superkick Orlando gave me several months ago resulted in post-concussion syndrome.
The camera briefly cuts to Andre in the ring, who is shaking his head and throwing his hands up high, obviously not buying what he’s hearing.
Tabitha: It all makes sense now, doesn’t it? My bizarre behavior, and the strain it’s put on our relationship can be traced back to that superkick. So Orlando, he’s to blame, to blame for everything. And luckily, you’re in a position to do something about it….you’re in a position to avenge not just me, but to avenge US.
Tabitha leans forward in her chair so that her shaded eyes are closer to the camera.
Tabitha: Avenge us, Dre, AVENGE US!
ORLANDO CRUZE VS. ANDRE JORDAN
It’s safe to say that Andre has absolutely no idea what to make of his agent’s comments, especially given the trust issues between the two in recent weeks. Buuuut that all becomes a moot point the moment that the tracks of ‘Phenomenal’ start to play over the speakers, meaning that Orlando Cruze is headed on down the ramp. The confident smile on Orlando’s face makes his presence as aggravating as a birthday party hosted by Saved by the Bell’s Screech and attended by the entire cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun.
Greyson: Well that was an interesting message from Tabitha Silverstone to say the least.
Frankie: She definitely has a flair for motivating her talents.
Greyson: Is it just me or was Dre looking unconvinced about Tabitha’s injuries?
Sparkles: It wasn’t just you, Andre’s not sold.
Frankie: And yet Dre claims he’s loyal to Tabitha? Yet he questions the severity of her injuries? What a douche.
Greyson: Douche? You think Andre’s a douche? Look at the man headed down the ramp right now and you’ve got your definition of a douche.
Sparkles: As we documented earlier on tonight, Orlando actually used an injured Susie Moore as a human shield.
Frankie: Nah-nah-nah, what I saw was Andre maliciously attack Susie AGAIN. Guy is gonna have more domestic abuse charges than Floyd Mayweather and Flava Flav combined.
Greyson: Susie was PUSHED into Andre and…..
Sparkles: Nobody is pushing Orlando into Andre’s fist right now!
Orlando is a mere stone’s throw away from the ring but Dre isn’t waiting on him any longer. He’s hurrying up the ramp and his fist is colliding with Orlando’s chin. The blow has a disorientated Cruze stumbled back and swinging his arms out to his sides in surprise. Andre’s punches go on pulverizing Orlando’s cheek, chin and temple. Every inch of Orlando’s face is crushed by Andre’s knuckles. Although Cruze tries to cover up it’s all in vain, Andre’s revenge will not be denied. He kicks Orlando in the gut, takes him by the back of the head and whips him up the ramp towards one of the steel trusses that hold up the Cartel-tron. His face cracks off of the steel and the whiplash has him spiraling along towards Andre, who is waiting to catch him with a big back drop. Orlando’s body catches significant height before it ultimately goes down to the ramp, his back slamming into the steel grating. The pain that cuts through his body has Orlando bridging his spine from the ramp and his mouth hanging open, in such agony that he isn’t even able to produce words.
Greyson: BACK DROP on the ramp by Dre.
Sparkles: Maybe Tabitha’s words did the trick.
Greyson: I think Orlando’s actions earlier in the night have done more to ignite Dre than Tabitha’s comments pre-match.
We find out just how incendiary Andre is at the moment as he pulls Orlando up from the ramp and hooks either one of his arms. It seems he’s going to give the Phenom a pedigree right there on the ramp. The Game Changer would certainly crush Orlando’s face if not for the former World Champion’s resiliency. He drops to the ramp, though it’s not because of the pedigree, instead he rolls away from it and off of the ramp. Orlando drops down to the floor and stumbles along pawing at his back all the while. Luckily he puts some distance between himself and his intense opponent, unfortunately it’s not ENOUGH distance.
Orlando turns back to the ramp just as Andre runs across it and leaps from its highest point, sailing forearm fist into his stunned opponent. Perhaps the biggest forearm smash in IWC history connects and sends Orlando staggering along backwards into a table that holds a number of control panels and other such equipment.
Sparkles: Andre showing that he’s willing to put himself at whatever risk it takes to put a beating on Orlando here tonight.
Frankie: If Monarchy didn’t have cause to protest before then they certainly do tonight given the way the referee is just letting Andre straight up try to murder the Phenom.
The stunned Orlando has fallen to his knees still leaning his chest against the table that operates the pyrotechnics and other such controls for tonight’s telecast. Andre snags hold of Orlando’s chin, pulls back his head and unleashes punch after punch right across his rival’s face one punch after another, subjecting him to the brutality he’s got coming to him. Andre now drags Orlando up to his feet only to knock him back down with a knife edge chop. The swift shot sends Orlando falling back and landing across the table he had used as a prop earlier. Now he lays on top of all the electrical equipment and the wood that supports it, totally unaware that Andre is climbing up to the stage.
Frankie: This ain’t about to end well.
Sparkles: You said that Andre was trying to murder Orlando….
Frankie: But I was only half serious.
A disorientated Orlando remains strewn across the table, FIGHTING to cling to some semblance of consciousness. He remains oblivious to the fact that Andre is standing on the stage, though Dre won’t be standing there very much longer. After getting the fans riled up Andre takes off across the stage, readying to launch himself off the edge and put himself through Orlando on the table. He gets near the edge and is readying to leave his feet before a huge explosion of pyrotechnics erupt from the stage right in front of his face.
To the disbelief of the crowd Orlando has rolled off the panels he had been laying on and quickly hits one of the switches attached to it. A blinding explosion of flames shoots up straight in front of Andre’s face, blinding him.
Greyson: What the hell was that!?!
Sparkles: Orlando using the pyrotechnics to BLIND Andre.
Frankie: They could have done a lot worse than that. I think Dre will never have to worry about waxing his eyebrows anymore.
Sparkles: Dre waxes his eyebrows?
Frankie: Of course he does, I mean, erm, doesn’t every man?
All Andre can see right now are the spots dancing around in front of his eyes. No matter how much he grabs at his retinas it is not enough to return the vision that the bright flash just took away. He is clueless to the fact that Orlando has climbed up to the stage behind him and is grabbing the back of his head, running him the length of the stage. Before Andre is aware what’s happening he’s being tossed off the set and sent hurdling into the concrete floor several feet below.
Greyson: OOOOOOH!
Sparkles: Orlando THROWING Andre off the set.
Greyson: And right down to the floor.
Frankie: Orlando is a friggin genius. The smartest professional wrestler since Christopher Nowinski.
Greyson: I have no idea who that is.
Sparkles: Let’s keep it that way.
Andre’s vicious plunge into the ground has put a lot of strain on every muscle in his body. Now those very same muscles are deprived of oxygen when Orlando drops down to his side, rolls Dre to his stomach and puts him in the crossface. It’s not a typical crossface though, nuh-uh, cause Orlando employs an electrical cord to give him an even greater advantage. He wraps the cord around Andre’s throat several times making sure there’s very little slack before leaning back, using the cable to choke what little life remains out of Dre.
If Andre could shout in pain he would, but it’s kind of impossible given the sheer lack of oxygen. We don’t hear Dre’s screams, instead we hear Orlando’s laughter. He takes such satisfaction in punishing Andre, in inflicting such wanton barbarity upon his rival.
Orlando: You stole a win from me Dre….
Orlando shouts into his wounded opponent’s ear.
Orlando: Now I’ll steal everything from you, you little shit!
Orlando goes on choking Andre with the intent of not stopping until there are no more breaths in his victim’s body. Andre didn’t come here tonight thinking he’d be leaving in a body bag, so he does everything in his power to prevent that from happening. He fights his way up from the ground in spite of the fact that Orlando is putting even more and more exertion on the power cable that is choking him. Andre finally reaches his feet though he is still being strangled by the electrical wire, motivating him to take drastic actions to escape his fate. He runs across the concrete and doesn’t stop when he reaches one of the walls that support the Riot stage. Dre walks right up that wall and then back flips from it, flying over Orlando’s shoulders and then landing right behind his back.
Greyson: That was acrobatic!
Sparkles: Good thing for Andre that his vision damage was short lived.
Andre lands gracefully back on his feet and then rubs at his eyes, this delay to fully regain his vision proving costly. He dashes at Orlando only to have his opponent side step him. Orlando catches Dre coming in by the back of his head then throws him along not into the wall he back flipped off of seconds earlier, but THROUGH IT!
Sparkles: HOLLLY PROVOLONE!!!
Greyson: Andre tossed right through that wall…right through that wall…RIGHT THROUGH THAT WALL!!
Frankie: Somebody needs to start hiring better carpenters around here.
Those in attendance are still screaming holy shit and doing so just as loud as they possibly can at the sight of Andre’s body going right through that wall. There is a giant hole left in the wake of Andre’s plunge beneath the ramp and now Orlando is walking right through it. One cameraman is adventurous enough to follow this battle into the depths of the End of the Year Special set. He walks through the hole and films the brutality being inflicted on Andre. At the moment Orlando has Andre’s throat pinned against one of the many metal beams that is holding up the ramp. He stands behind Dre and puts a boot to the back of his head, wedging his throat against the bar that runs horizontal just inches above the ground. Andre gasps for what precious few breaths he can pull into his lungs….needless to say they are not enough.
Orlando stops just short of killing his opponent before he finally takes a boot off of Dre’s back and then drags him up to his feet. The two now navigate a very treacherous path, walking beneath the beams, the wires and other such equipment set up beneath the ramp. Orlando swings Andre’s face into one of these beams, his face bouncing right off of it. Andre then twists along and falls against another of the walls that support the ramp and hide all the goodies beneath it.
Just enough distance is placed between Orlando and Andre in order for the Phenom to get a running start behind a spear. He leaps straight at Andre only his shoulder never meets the ribs of his target. Instead Andre nails a kick right to Orlando’s face, causing him to stand up straight, looking disorientated. Andre then grabs Orlando around the thighs and lifts him into the air, driving the top of his head right into the steel ramp that serves as a roof. A dazed Orlando falls back to his feet right in front of his opponent who is oh so quick in snagging him around the waist. Shock takes hold of Orlando as he is belly to belly suplexed into the wall…no….THROUGH the wall behind Dre’s back.
The crowd erupts at the sight of Orlando flying through the wall and collapsing across the floor right in front of their bright eyed peepers.
Greyson: GOOD GOD IN HEAVEN!
Sparkles: Now Orlando suplexed through the wall.
Frankie: This is absolutely frackin’ nuts.
The denizens of the Manhattan Center are watching with hands on top of their heads as they witness Orlando go crashing through the wall which explodes around his body. Ultimately Orlando comes to a rest across the floor off to the side of the set where he produces shallow breaths. Andre crawls through the hole that Orlando’s body created, ending up right beside his rival. Several punches land across Orlando’s brow, the jabs lacerating the flesh on the Phenomenal One’s forehead.
Greyson: It looks like Orlando is bleeding guys.
Sparkles: Serves him right after everything he’s put Andre and his agent Tabitha through. Orlando did give Dre’s agent post-concussion syndrome.
Greyson: If you believe the validity of Tabitha’s reports.
A banged up Dre walks away from Orlando and the second his face passes under the lights we can see a bit of blood trickling down his brow. Apparently his face first crash through the wall moments earlier has resulted in a gash on his face. In the immortal words of Jesse Ventura, Andre has ‘got no time to bleed.’ He’s got something in mind for Orlando and no blood loss is going to keep him from completing his task. He approaches the crowd and grabs one of the equicross barricades that holds back the fans who are convened around the stage area. In the process Andre walks right past a big steel boom and the camera that is hung from it.
The equicross barricade is pulled down from its standing position and splayed across the concrete floor where it will no doubt be employed as a weapon. Dre now turns and crouches at the knees, waiting for Orlando to reach his feet so he can deliver the Tide Turner. Not just any Tide Turner mind you, but one delivered on the equicross barricade. A slightly bloodied Orlando absent mindedly staggers back into Andre’s version of the Olympic Slam. Before Cruze realizes it he’s being heaved into the air, swung through and he’s landing on the barricade, just not via the Tide Turner. In mid-rotation Orlando slides from Dre’s shoulders and lands behind his back. Andre swings around only to be caught right across the chest, the Phenom readying to unleash a uranage that would drive his rival’s spine into the steel.
Frankie: Oh how the worm turns.
Andre is taken off of his feet but it’s not because he’s being slammed into the barricade. He prevents a fate that would certainly cripple him by swinging out of Orlando’s arm as he’s lifted into the air. He ends up landing behind Orlando and then putting hands to his spine, shoving him along. Andre then takes a second to catch his breath and get his bearings after the multiple impacts he’s withstood in this brawl. Finally he goes back after Orlando, hands determined to meet his rival’s face, but it’s not to be. Instead Andre’s face meets the steel boom with a camera suspended from it. Orlando has grabbed hold of the boom and pushes it with all of his strength to send it swinging along and connecting directly with his rival’s face. The impact with the boom knocks Andre off of his feet and sends him crashing spine first onto the barricade he had been standing on.
Sparkles: Orlando just lowered the BOOM on Andre. Hahahahahahahaha, Sparkles is so clever.
Greyson: That friggin camera boom being used as a weapon as well.
Frankie: This is such a strange match between these two.
Greyson: It’s not even that, it’s not a match, it’s a BRAWL and nothing more between these two.
After making use of everything at his disposal to spare himself destruction at his rival’s hands Orlando falls along to his knees. The brutality of this fight is seriously starting to wear him down, yet he finds himself compelled to carry on when seeing the injuries he’s inflicted on Andre, injuries he’d love to exacerbate. He rolls Dre off the barricade and then drags it along towards a set of stacked up crates employed by the production crew. The barricade is slanted vertically between the barricades and the floor, positioned to inflict as much punishment on Orlando’s adversary as possible. He drags Andre up from the ground and then whips him by the back of the head towards the barricade. Andre turns around with his back withstanding much of the impact with the steel. He ricochets off and comes staggering back towards Orlando, who scoops him up then slams him down into the slanted barricade yet again.
Andre groans louder than he ever has before as his previously damaged ribs take the brunt of this last blow. He rolls off of the barricade and ends up landing right back in Orlando’s arms. The Phenom scoop slams Andre into the steel once more.
Greyson: This is straight up brutal!
Sparkles: The human body isn’t designed to tolerate impacts like those being suffered by both of the men in this brawl.
Frankie: Here comes another one for Dre.
The badly banged up Andre crawls away from the still slanted barricade and into his rival’s waiting arms. Orlando pulls Dre up and this time it won’t be for a scoop slam, it’ll be for an Alabama Slam.
Greyson: This is going to break Dre.
The Phenom just starts to flip Andre over into the slam, putting his body through the barricade, but that ain’t happening. Instead Andre’s body slides down Orlando’s back, snatches him by the hips and pulls him over into a sunset flip. Andre quickly rises to his feet and snatches hold of Orlando’s ankle before rolling him over onto his stomach. The crowd comes alive at the sight of Andre applying the ankle lock on Orlando, causing the Phenom’s roars of anguish to echo throughout the arena.
Greyson: Andre saves himself from the Alabama Slam by transitioning into the ankle lock!
Sparkles: Look at the pain Orlando is in!
Greyson: Maybe the worse of his career.
A desperate Orlando shakes his head and punches the floor in anger. That does nothing to save him though, his only salvation will be a counter and a vicious one at that. Orlando tucks his head and rolls forward, causing Dre to be launched over his opponent as he tried to maintain possession of the ankle. Andre staggers forward and almost smacks into the very same boom that his rival just used as a weapon. The quick Dre turns back towards Orlando and gets a running start behind a clothesline that is DUCKED. Andre’s momentum carries him into a full circle, turning back to face Orlando just as he’s hit with a spear, one that launches him back spine first into the slanted barricade.
Greyson: Orlando looked for that spear earlier but now he’s finally hit it!
Sparkles: And he’s almost put Andre’s back through that barricade in the process.
The barricade gives no leeway, causing Andre’s back to take all the strain from the collision with the steel. Orlando crawls past him at this point and instead of inflicting further punishment on his rival he decides to do what comes naturally to a man like himself, GLOAT. Orlando steps up onto a table that is set up on the opposite side of the stack of crates that the barricade is slanted against. He walks across the table then climbs the crates until he is on top of them, standing high above the screeching masses and his downed rival.
Orlando: Just in case you people haven’t heard…..(puts one hand over his heart and lifts his other open palm aloft)…..we are Monarchy and WE RULE!
The crowd screams, not in protest, but in shock.
Everyone reacts to the visual of Andre running up the slanted barricade and diving off of the edge into a crossbody that connects with Orlando. A stunned Orlando falls back from the top of the crates and goes plummeting through the table set up down below it, Dre landing on top of him as they plunge through wood.
Frankie: (High pitched squeal) AAAAAAAH!
Greyson: THAT WAS INSANE!
Sparkles: Both men through the table!
Greyson: They had to have plummeted from a good twelve feet in the air.
Frankie: And gents, their ain’t NOTHIN’ left of either of them.
The table is in just as many pieces as Orlando’s and Andre’s bodies. Both men are motionless amongst the fragments of wood that just obliterated them. The referee, who was assigned to officiate a WRESTLING match, has pretty much absolved himself of any idea that he’ll get to do his job. He just stands back and lets these two work this out of their systems. Just as it appears this brawl is going to wind down the brutality starts to pick up once again, Andre has managed to crawl out of the wreckage of wood and bodies in order to reach a number of chairs that have been stacked up alongside a wall. He takes hold of one of the chairs and doubles over it, gasping for air, desperately trying to push through the anguish that consumes him head to toe.
It takes one glance at Orlando to enliven Andre.
The chair goes swinging down into the back of a crawling Orlando. A howl of pain accompanies the tune of chair colliding with bone.
Greyson: Now a chair coming into play.
Sparkles: What haven’t these two used as a weapon in this brawl?
The chair comes down AGAIN into Orlando’s kidneys, resulting in a louder wail and a louder thud. The last blow has sent Orlando rolling to his back, desperately trying to protect it. He then lifts his palms into the air, actually begging off.
Greyson: Look at this son of a bitch, he’s actually pleading with Andre to show mercy after everything he’s done to him in recent weeks. For Christ sakes, Orlando cost Andre a potential shot at the World Championship.
The pathetic Orlando squirms across his back with his palms still defensively shot out in front of him, begging Andre not to swing the chair again. Although Dre has always been a compassionate soul, any semblance of mercy has long since abandoned him. The actions Orlando has taken against him, and the behavior of his agent Tabitha have seemingly led to the death of the Andre the fans have always adored, evident as he lifts the chair and prepares to crush his rival’s skull with it.
Suddenly Orlando lunges from his back and nails a low blow across Dre’s testicles. It just took one second, one second of hesitation to set Dre up to suffer this shot right to the crotch. Dre drops the chair and drops his defenses. Orlando slips in from behind, takes Dre by the back of the head and leads him towards the ring. Before they enter the squared circle Orlando lifts Dre into a gorilla press and drops him down face first into the ring apron. On instinct Dre rolls into the squared circle, clasping at his skull which just may have been fractured by all the blows it’s taken in this match. Upon sliding into the squared circle Orlando places Dre in a modified side headliock, keeping his opponent down on his back while throwing punch after punch after punch right across his bloodied brow.
The referee is still struggling to get some control of this wild-wild brawl. Orlando pulls his bloodied knuckles back from Dre’s head and now approaches his legs, slowly lifting them into the air in anticipation of applying the sharpshooter.
He twists Dre over onto his stomach and leans back until his opponent’s spine is about to snap. Andre knuckles up and forces himself off the ring, refusing to surrender, not to Monarchy and especially not to Orlando. He won’t use the ropes to escape this hold though, he’ll use his athleticism. He reaches back and takes hold of Orlando’s ankle, tugging and pulling it until the Phenomenal Cruze starts to lose his balance. Orlando falls flat on his face while Andre ascends to his feet, reversing the sharpshooter into the ankle lock. Already Orlando looks to be on the verge of submitting, his hand lifting aloft and swaying above the canvas.
Greyson: He’s gonna tap! Orlando is gonna….
Frankie: Hell no he ain’t gonna tap!
We now see some of Orlando’s athleticism and intelligence. He twists around onto his back and bends his knees, pulling Andre’s head down into position to be nailed right in the eye with a thumb. The eye gouge has Andre blinded for the second time in this match, and it leaves him unable to prevent being kicked back into the ropes. Orlando puts his boots to Dre’s ribs and employs his leg strength to shove Andre away. The former Evolution Champion goes staggering along into the cables, bouncing off then stumbling into the superkick aimed at his jaw. Orlando lashes out with the kick, a kick that MISSES by a mere half inch. Andre drops out of the way of Orlando’s superkick then catches Cruze around the thigh, pulling him over into the school boy.
Greyson: Andre’s got it! This is the same way he beat Orlando back several weeks ago!
Sparkles: Andre’s gonna steal another one.
1
2
History seems bound to repeat itself, but Orlando isn’t a man who can tolerate repetition. He kicks out just one half second before suffering defeat at Andre’s hands for a second time.
Frankie: Not tonight. Not again.
The disheartened fans thought that was it, pleading with the referee to say that was a three. Andre stands up looking flustered as he barrels into a clothesline that sends his opponent crashing down into the canvas. Dre then waits for Orlando stand and once he’s upright a kick meets him to the stomach. Orlando is crouched and is now on the receiving end of the Game Changer. The pedigree is about to land only to have Andre’s finisher countered. Orlando stands up straight and back drops his rival, sending him flipping through the air. Orlando comes sliding down Andre’s back though and catches him around the waist in the process. He rolls Andre over into the sunset flip, but guess what, Andre doesn’t stop rolling. He doesn’t end up on the back of his shoulders, he ends up back on his feet and with a handful of Orlando’s ankle. A shocked Orlando finds himself on the verge of being trapped in the step over toe hold.
Greyson: The End Game about to be established, about to be locked in, Andre about to take this win.
Frankie: Monarchy will not accept this under ANY circumstances.
There’s only one thing Andre has left to do, he just has to swing around his opponent’s leg. Which is exactly what Andre does, but in the process he turns his back on Orlando and leaves himself susceptible to the roll up. Orlando reaches out and snags Dre’s waistband, giving it a tug and pulling him down into the school boy. The fans and Andre alike are stunned at the sight of Dre being rolled up into the school boy while Orlando holds onto his opponent’s waistband.
Frankie: Andre being rolled up.
Greyson: But ref, Orlando has hold of the trunks, he has hold of the trunks.
Sparkles: That’s not all he has hold of.
Orlando grips the waistband with one hand while his other hand grabs the middle cable for just a little extra leverage.
1
2
There is a deafening chorus of cries from the crowd at the sight of Andre kicking out, only it’s a moment too late.
Frankie: Hahahahaha, yeah, how does it feel Andre!?!
Greyson: Orlando scoring the win with the roll up! The friggin roll up!
Sparkles: And a handful of ropes and tights.
Frankie: The ultimate comeuppance.
The crowd is crying over this injustice. Their groans only grow louder when Orlando moves to the middle of the ring with his fist raised in victory and his laughter only further aggravating the audience.
Frankie: This is wicked baby, Orlando got some retribution on Andre, and you know what else this victory means, that Monarchy has gone 3-0 thus far tonight.
Sparkles: They’re working on a sweep.
Orlando goes on celebrating his win, turning to rub his victory in Andre’s face. But instead it’s a ring-bell that rubs Orlando’s brow. Andre vacated the ring, grabbed the bell and returned to the squared circle where he puts his makeshift weapon to use. The bell cracks Orlando between the eyes, putting him down flat on his back.
Frankie: HEY!!
Greyson: Andre refusing to leave here tonight without some retribution on Orlando.
Sparkles: Man, Andre has been a lot more intense these past few weeks hasn’t he?
Frankie: Intense? No, he’s being an asshole is what he’s being.
Andre waits for Orlando to stand and once he’s upright he’s being flipped over into the Tide Turner. The angle slam plants Orlando in the middle of the ring where more suffrage awaits him. A red hot Andre lifts Orlando’s leg and is determined to apply the End Game. He swings around and establishes the hold that has Orlando roaring in anguish. Luckily Cruze has some friends in low places, who will not allow him to go on suffering like this. Trinity Street and Lucas Knight have shown up at ringside, have reached into the ring under the ropes and taken Orlando by his wrists. They pull him out of the ring and out of the submission that was traumatizing him. His arms fall over the shoulders of his Monarchy amigos, who aid in backing him away from the ring where a furious Andre is pacing.
Greyson: You were definitely right Sparkles, Andre has gone nuclear.
Frankie: He should be fined, he should be suspended, he should be fired, and he should be imprisoned for this attack on Orlando.
Greyson: To be fair, Orlando had this coming.
Frankie: HEATHEN!
So much rage consumes Andre as he makes eye contact with Orlando, who has trouble putting any weight on his ankle. He continues to lean on Trinity and Lucas while hurdling insults at Andre back in the ring. Clearly Orlando’s win tonight has only accomplished one thing, intensifying the hate both he and Andre share for one another.
Poor Thomas Boll will probably be hopping on the first flight back to Eastern Europe after tonight….IF he survives tonight. That looks increasingly unlikely for the ring announcer, as he’s pulled along through a backstage corridor by New Eden members Cindy Todd and Serenity. The black eyed birds of prey have their next meal clinched in their talons and no matter what Thomas does he’s not getting free. All he can do is squirm feebly as he’s pulled along down the hall in the direction of the very same room we saw New Eden emerging from earlier.
Serenity: Relax, it’ll just be a little prick.
Muses Serenity as she pulls the unwilling donor in the direction of the room which has been transformed into a makeshift blood-bank.
Cindy: It will be over before you know it dear….
Chimes in Cindy, who has a hold of the back of Thomas’ neck.
Cindy: You’re donation will ensure Marina experiences all the SUFFERING that sweet Serenity has dreamt up for her.
Serenity: You’re blood will keep her heart pumping long after the rest of her body has died.
A cackle of laughter emanates from Serenity as she kicks open the door where Boll will experience the same horrors that were inflicted on the donor who came before him. Once the door opens the New Eden members find themselves alarmed by what they see. The chair that we saw a stagehand strapped down to earlier is no longer occupied by some hollowed husk, but by a woman surging with blood, and surging with anger.
Marina: Thought you were going to keep us waiting all night.
Serenity’s most embittered rival is apparently not the only one who had been anticipating her arrival. A steel chair wallops Cindy Todd directly in the back, swung by none other than Victoria Salinas. The good friend of Marina and the heated adversary of Cindy surprisingly gets the drop on her nemesis. The blow has Cindy staggering forward and has her face twisting in an expression of anger. Her grasp has been broken on Thomas Boll, who quickly dives out of harm’s way. As Boll runs away from conflict, Marina charges straight into it. Her shoulder crashes into Serenity’s ribs, knocking her from her feet and to the floor. The two then roll around trading punches while at the same time Cindy and Victoria trade off with jabs.
Greyson: Marina Valdivia and Serenity going at it!
Sparkles: And so are Victoria Salinas and Cindy Todd.
Frankie: None of these ladies waiting to get their hands on one another!
Greyson: Chaos in the back and Cartel Chaos later tonight when Valdivia and Serenity finally settle their rivalry one on one.
IWC TRAINING CAMP: TWO WEEKS AGO
A video package starts to take over the screen that showcases famed IWC legend Johnny Kingdom bowling over some youngster with a shoulder block. The Team Leader shows this kid how it’s done and all those standing around the wrestling ring also take note. They watch as their fellow student takes the shoulder tackle then tries to kip up from the canvas he was knocked onto. Once he fails to display the necessary athleticism the kid is helped up by a smiling Kingdom. His words of wisdom begin to fill the crowded gym where many have gathered to pick the mind of the former World Champion.
Greyson: As security tries to get New Eden and their enemies under control we’re going to switch gears. Two weeks ago the IWC held what will hopefully be the first of many training camps for aspiring young wrestlers, and we had none other than Johnny Kingdom himself on hand to both teach as well as to gauge talent.
Sparkles: You just have to know that those kids had their work cut out for them trying to impress Kingdom.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah, Johnny’s a tough customer when it comes to making a good impression on him. But here’s my hold up. What kind of idiot is going to want to come to the IWC after seeing the type of shit that just went down regarding New Eden?
More clips from the training camp are shown as Kingdom instructs two youngsters on the proper way to lock in the crippler crossface. He crouches right over the two wannabe wrestlers, eyes glued to the hands that one has interlocked under the other’s chin. Another clip from later in the day shows Kingdom joking around with a youngster, helping him shoot a promo.
Greyson: What an invaluable learning opportunity for those kids regardless of who made the cuts or not.
Sparkles: We hope to have details on the next training camp very soon. Keep your eyes glued to social media.
Frankie: Otherwise you might miss one of my tweets.
Holt: Everyone get up off your asses and give Johnny Kingdom the props the man deserves!
Cameras quickly go back to the ring where Ricky Holt is staying true to his words. Earlier tonight we heard him vow that he would have something special in store for his opponent here at the End of the Year Special, and it seems he’s here to deliver precisely what he promised. Holt paces the ring with microphone in his hand and a big smile aimed in the direction of the entry way. His agent Eric O’Flaherty does not join Holt in the ring, letting his client have the attention he deserves.
Greyson: Strraaaaange. We’ve got Ricky Holt out here demanding the fans give Johnny Kingdom an ovation, but ummmmm, yeeeeeaaah, doesn’t Holt realize he’s facing Kingdom tonight?
Frankie: Didn’t you hear him earlier? He’s actually THRILLED about facing Kingdom as part of the End of the Year Special.
Sparkles: Holt thinks that Kingdom is a REAL wrestler, a throwback to the good old days of this sport.
Greyson: There’s just something odd about Holt this evening, can’t put my finger on it.
Holt, who is never generous with compliments, paces the ring ignoring the attitude of the audience.
Holt: Well if you guys won’t give him the props he deserves then I will. The man is a REAL wrestler. The type of guy I’ve been itching to fight since I got into this company. After all the waiting it’s finally-FINALLY going to happen. Holt takes on a REAL MAN. Not some prissy bitch with highlights in his hair, who runs from matches just because he’s got a scrape on his knee. Not some cowgirl who’s only excuse for being pushed down our throats has nothing to do with talent and everything to do with how she looks in daisy dukes. No, I’m fighting the immortal Johnny Kingdom. And in recognition of our match against each other tonight, I’ve got a little presentation in mind, something that honors the spirit of my opponent. So with that said, I’d like to HUMBLY request that you join me out here in this ring Mr. Kingdom.
Ricky can butter Kingdom up as much as a dinner roll on Thanksgiving day, but it’s not going to draw him out. The iconic Team Leader remains absent from these proceedings.
Holt: Johnny Kingdom COOOOOMMME OOOOONNN DOWWWWN!
Still no sight of Kingdom.
Holt: It’s a shame you don’t trust me, Kingdom….
Greyson: Why should he? The last time we saw Holt he was ending Devon Kayl’s IWC career by giving him the New Dawn Fades on the steel stage.
Frankie: Mind your own beeswax Lovejoy.
Sparkles: Yeah LOOOOVEJOY.
Well Ricky isn’t just going to stand around with a thumb up his ass all night.
Holt: Maybe I was wrong about you, maybe you aren’t a REAL wrestler, because a REAL wrestler would have the balls to….
Just then Ricky’s words are muted by the tunes of ‘Wake Up’ by the Lost Prophets. The crowd’s reaction is even louder than the music playing over the PA system. That response only gets louder when Johnny Kingdom in the flesh emerges from the back and comes to the stage. He won’t be going any further than that.
Sparkles: Listen to this reaction for Johnny Kingdom. Only Sparkles gets a bigger pop when I come out.
Frankie: These people love Kingdom as much as I love pu…..
Greyson: Frankie…..
Frankie: I was gonna say ‘pudding pops.’
Greyson: Oh. Well yeah, Johnny Kingdom is getting a hell of a reaction from these people. Back at Upping the Ante he ended the long and bitter rivalry with the monster Mordecai by burying the beast alive.
Sparkles: Tonight he collides with an entirely different type of animal though, he gets that brash young rookie Holt inside of the wrestling ring.
Right now Holt looks less brash and more gleeful. Johnny looks ever cynical, crossing his arms and awaiting an explanation.
Holt: Johnny, just let me reiterate what an honor it’s going to be for me to face you tonight.
Kingdom: Yeah-yeah-yeah, heard that song and dance already. Why don’t we stop beating around the bush here and you get to why you brought me out here. I’m a busy old man Holt, in thirty minutes Wheel of Fortune starts and guys my age can’t afford to miss it.
Holt: Oh yeah, absolutely, of course. Johnny, you and I, we’re cut from the same cloth brother. We’re both REAL wrestlers who compete in a company filled by a bunch of Caitlyn Jenners. I, unlike a lot of the he-shes in the back, actually appreciate you, Team Leader, which is why I was so thrilled to hear that you were going to be in charge of the IWC’s training camp. I was very excited to hear that you were going to help mold all the up and comers into REAL men, and not a bunch of spoiled debutants. In fact, I was so hyped I had to see your training methods first hand. But sadly, traffic being what it is here in this cesspool…..
If Holt was intent on pissing off thousands of New Yorkers, then mission accomplished.
Holt:…..I didn’t get to the gym in time to see you coach all the bright eyed bushy tailed youngsters.
Kingdom: Such a shame.
Holt: Oh yeah, but don’t worry Kingdom, I made the best of a bad situation. I decided that since I was already at the gym that I’d teach the kids who hung around after you left my OWN training seminar. And I made it explicitly clear that everything I did to them was in YOUR name. I told them that my training methods met with your seal of approval.
Kingdom: Did you now?
Holt: Hell yeah. But ya know, instead of me standing out here describing it, how about I show you how I helped transform all those boys and girls into REAL wrestlers.
Ricky’s hand outstretches towards the Cartel-tron poised high above the head of Kingdom.
Everyone’s focus is on the video that is now showing a bunch of rookies, ages running the gamut from teenagers to middle aged men, loitering about a squared circle. The venue is the exact same gym that was glimpsed in an earlier video package that focused on Kingdom training many of the workers presently stood inside of that squared circle.
Holt: Looks like I missed the show.
We can distinguish Ricky Holt making his way through the gym and headed for the ring. Wearing some calf length shorts and a gray wife beater, he marches straight up the steel steps and into the ring. Many of the rookies instantly recognize Holt, who has made major waves in his first year of professional wrestling.
Rookie: Oh man, it’s Ricky Holt. I’m such a huge fan.
The hand the kid extends is not reciprocated with a shake.
Holt: I didn’t come here for a blow job, boy. I’m here to give you pussies another lesson in REAL wrestling.
Another, heavier wrestler, groans, his shirt already dampened with his sweat.
Holt: Hey fuck-face (wags finger in the heavy man’s face) if I wanted to hear a bitch moan I’d buy a prostitute.
A swift punch nails the man in his rotund gut. The blow instantly drives him down to the canvas.
Holt: First lesson, expect the unexpected.
Holt stomps the chubby cheek of his victim even as the young man begs off.
Holt: Lesson two, show no mercy.
Blood begins to trickle from the nostrils of the man Holt has pinned to the ring.
Rookie: I think you broke his nose.
Warns the rookie that Holt initially insulted upon entering the ring. He crouches down beside his brutalized peer, checking on his condition, but it’s his own well-being he should be concerned with. A steel folding chair slaps him right over the spine. Holt dashed from the ring, fetched the chair and returned just in time to take advantage of the rookie’s preoccupation with his buddy. The steel crushes the rookie’s lower back.
Holt: Lesson three, compassion is a weakness.
The second the teenage boy rolls to his back the chair that did all the damage to his kidneys is now crushing his throat. Holt takes the top edge of the makeshift weapon and embeds it against the rookie’s trachea while pushing down on the steel legs.
Holt: Lesson four, when an opportunity presents itself take advantage of it!
Blood begins to spurt like a geyser from the rookie’s mouth.
Holt: Johnny Kingdom and I will turn you girls into REAL wrestlers yet.
The chair is removed from the rookie’s throat and placed on the gut of the rotund man that Holt also victimizes. Further punishment is dealt out on the poor man when Holt’s elbow comes sailing off the top rope and slamming into the chair that was stretched across the hefty fella’s abdomen. A shocked young girl, who has to be 90 pounds soaking wet, kneels on the apron watching this all with wide eyes. Suddenly her blond ponytail is grabbed and used to drag her black spandex and blue tank top covered body into the ring.
Holt: You want to be a REAL wrestler do ya? Hopefully you’re tougher than (gestures to beaten down rookies) these bitches?
Before the girl can react she’s yanked into a short arm clothesline that crushes her esophagus. Holt stomps and stomps and stomps at the untrained girl before lifting her from the canvas and giving her a sickeningly stiff scoop slam.
Holt: Kingdom would be disgusted by you pathetic wimps.
Holt goes on pummeling the students with their blood splashing the canvas, all in the name of Johnny Kingdom.
When cameras go back live to the interior of the Manhattan Center, we can see how Johnny Kingdom reacts to this video, and he does not react favorably. His eyes slowly drift from the big screen towards the smile on the face of Ricky Holt stood in the ring leaning forward with his forearms draped across the top rope.
Greyson: That was sick.
Frankie: Those kids should be thanking Holt, they’ll be the toughest bunch of up and comers this business has ever seen.
Greyson: Those kids will never wrestle again Frankie.
Frankie: Win-win.
The camera divides it’s time gauging the responses of both Kingdom and Holt to the video just aired. Clearly the two have vastly different takes on what they just witnessed.
Holt: In two, five, then months, however long it takes those kids to get out of the hospital, they’ll be thanking you and I, Kingdom, for molding them into REAL wrestlers. But how about the two of us give them another lesson later tonight when we step in that ring and show them what true wrestling is all about?
’Unsettling Differences’ starts to play over the PA system, Holt’s music punctuating his comments. Kingdom stands on the stage for a few moments just staring Holt down before at last beginning to back through the curtains.
Greyson: Kingdom clearly does not appreciate what Holt did to those kids at the training camp.
Sparkles: Well if Johnny does have a problem he has a chance to do something about it later tonight.
Greyson: Ricky Holt versus Johnny Kingdom still to come later tonight, can the rookie defeat the legend?
Frankie: Seems to me that that rookie is already lightyears ahead of the legend.
Greyson: That’s debatable, but we’ll find out later this evening as part of the End of the Year Special.
Unfortunately there is little refuge that Johnny Kingdom finds once headed into the backstage area. He walks along into the guerilla position and stops the moment he passes by Eric O’Flaherty. If hearing from Ricky Holt wasn’t bad enough, now Johnny is about to hear from his pending opponent’s manager. O’Flaherty was casually leaning with his back to the wall, a baseball bat slanted from his palm to the floor, before he spots Kingdom stepping past. He straightens up and tightens his grip on the bat as Kingdom draws nearer.
Kingdom: Let your client know he WILL get a REAL wrestler in that ring later tonight.
Kingdom keeps it short and poignant before walking away. As Kingdom trudges along down the corridor O’Flaherty’s eyes remain locked upon him. A half smirk slowly comes to the right side of his face.
A camera is positioned at the base of a stairwell that Katelyn Buehler is stood at the top of. The World Champion slowly makes her way down the steps with her World championship shimmering over her shoulder. Once she reaches the base of the steps backstage correspondent Mark Comeau dashes down the hall to catch up with her.
Comeau: Excuse me, Katelyn, do you have a moment?
Katelyn groans.
Katelyn: Let’s TRY to keep it to a minute.
Comeau: Fair enough. I just had a conversation with Taylor Chase…..
Katelyn: You mean Taylor actually talked…to YOU?
Comeau: More like insulted me.
Katelyn: That sounds a lot more like the Tay I know and love. Take it she commented on the fact that you dress like your part of a 1990’s boyband?
Comeau: Erm no actually.
Katelyn: Oh, then she must have insulted that Vanilla Ice style fro you’re sporting.
Comeau: Uhhh no. How about we forget about me….
Katelyn: No problem there.
Comeau: Are you aware that Tay-Tay is holding a protest outside of the Manhattan Center and will continue doing so until she gets a World Title match against you this evening?
Katelyn: Is she? Awwwww, isn’t that adorable?
Comeau: How do you intend to….
Katelyn: Listen Mark, before I go on smelling anymore of that stank breath of yours I’m just going to stop you right there. I went out to that ring earlier tonight and I made it pretty clear to our Boss that I wanted my match against Tay to be for the World Championship. But after talking to McBride, I realize that she makes a pretty compelling case. Tay is NOT the number one contender for the World Title, sadly that distinction falls on her sister Mika Kozlov. Mika won a tournament for the right to face me for the championship, so my next defense of the title is going to be against her, NOT Tay-Tay, and no amount of pouting is going to change that.
Comeau: What Tay is doing is far more than pouting, she’s leading a full-scale protes…..
Katelyn: Doesn’t affect a thing. Unfortunately our match tonight is not for the championship, instead there’s going to be another opportunity on the line.
Comeau: Opportunity? What opportunity?
Katelyn: My opportunity to knock Tay out and to show her once and for all, who’s house this is.
Cameras go back to the ring where wee-wittle Desmond Drake is wearing a smile that consumes pretty much his entire face. At the moment his hands are full, juggling both a microphone and more importantly the Queen of Wrestling Championship. A belt he’s been asked to relinquish this evening.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler making a bold declaration to defeat Taylor Chase tonight in their eagerly anticipated confrontation.
Sparkles: A match that has been building up ever since Taylor double crossed Katelyn by bashing her in the face with barbwire and then joining Monarchy.
Frankie: Hey-hey-hey (snapping fingers) enough about High as a Kite Kate, we’ve got Dessie D in the ring and he’s holding the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Greyson: Well we WERE scheduled to see four ladies collide for that belt in Desmond’s hands, but he’s claiming that he’s not going to give the belt to the winner of this upcoming match.
Sparkles: Nope, cause he’s saying that he’s going to bestow that belt unto someone that he’s hand-picked and it’s not any of the women slated to challenge for the belt this evening.
Frankie: Would you guys just shut the fuck up and let Desmond speak?
The commentators aren’t the only ones who are hassling Desmond, the fans are just as vocally outspoken against him.
Drake: I’m going to keep this brief. Tonight I was asked to come here and relinquish this Queen of Wrestling Championship that Silas Mason himself entrusted me to protect. And although Silas might have been deposed as Principle Owner, I’m going to ensure that his spirit and his influence over the Riot brand lives on. I will carry on Silas’ traditions. So I’m going to do what Silas would do in the situation I’ve been forced into tonight. I’m not going to surrender this belt (draws focus to the QOW title in his hand), on orders from our new Principle Owner. Karen McBride can suck a lemon for all I care. She, nor any of those hairy brods competing in the four way here at the End of the Year Special, are getting ANYWHERE near the title. Cause I’ve personally hand selected someone who is TRULY deserving of being anointed the Queen of Wrestling Champion, and that someone isn’t Cindy Todd, or Victoria Salinas, or Mya Denton, and damn sure isn’t Selena Frost. So without further ado let’s bring out the new champ, someone who embodies everything a female athlete should be. I’m talking about…..FLASH SILVER!
The theme song for Flash Silver couldn’t even begin to beat the deafening wails of disapproval from the crowd. From the back emerges Flash bedecked in a sunflower dress and wearing a bright blond curly wig on top of his head. Stood behind him are the tag team duo known as the Hair Doodes. Both men are also in drag, and horrible-HORRIBLE drag at that. They are definitely no Mrs. Doubtfire.
Greyson: You cannot be serious.
Sparkles: Flash is going to become the NEW Queen of Wrestling Champion? EPIC!
Greyson: No, STUPID. The last time we saw Flash he and the Hair Doodes wore women’s clothing to try and get involved in Julia Braddock’s match several weeks ago, that hardly qualifies any of them to hold the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Frankie: Well guys who go around in drag are called QUEENS, so it all makes sense.
Greyson: To you and you alone maybe, but not for the sane people of the world.
There is absolutely nothing sane about the situation the fans are witnessing at the moment. Flash and his cohorts enter the ring and his hands are drawing towards the belt in Desmond’s grips.
Flash: Thanks sugar-baby.
Sadly that was Flash’s best effort at sounding like the fairer sex. He plays his role to the hilt if it means gold around his waist, which is exactly where the Queen of Wrestling Title is about to end up. He starts to slip the strap out of Desmond’s hand.
Drake: A couple of weeks ago, when I saw you and your gal-pals here (gestures to the Hair Doodes) dominate the entire IWC woman’s division I just knew right then and right there that you were the only one deserving of holding this title. You’re not like the plastic whores on this roster who get themselves over posting half naked pictures all over social media, you don’t rely on your tits, you rely on your talent.
Flash: Which is saying something sugar, cause I got fantastic boobies. But let’s stop standing out here ogling one another, you just hand that belt on over here and….
Selena: LAAAAMMMMEEE….
Thank God, at last someone has come along that actually gives the crowd just a little bit of hope. Selena Frost walks to the stage and doesn’t stop there, she keeps moving on down the ramp with one fist balled up at her side.
Greyson: Luckily Selena Frost is coming out here to break up this….what do we even call this…I don’t think ‘TRAVESTY’ is a strong enough word.
Frankie: She’s just jealous. Selena can’t accept that she’s not talented enough in Desmond’s eyes to hold the Queen of Wrestling Championship. It sucks when you have to face your short comings….and no, short comings isn’t slang for premature ejaculation. Something I know NOTHING about.
Sparkles: Selena WAS scheduled to face three other talents to crown the first Queen of Wrestling Champion, but it don’t like that’s happening now that Desmond is giving the belt to Flash.
Or at least Desmond WAS about to give the strap to Flash, now it hangs in the air between the two. Both men have turned from titles to their tormentor, Selena, who is already half way up the stairs before she continues her sentence.
Selena: I mean SERIOUSLY? Cross-dressing? This has stopped being funny and started being pathetic weeks ago.
She slips into the ring unthreatened by the four men already inside.
Selena: It was ridiculous enough having you three (points at the cross-dressers) interfering in my match a couple weeks ago, but you better believe I’ll hold a Wintervention before I allow you to defame that Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Flash: You listen and listen good Dairy Queen, I’d prove how much I deserve this championship right now by kicking you straight in your cunt, but I can’t wrestle here tonight. I’m all bloated and I’m having cramps. So I’m afraid I can’t wrestle this evening.
Selena: Well dear, I’M AFRAID you don’t have a choice….
In spite of the fact that she runs along straight into a four on one disadvantage Selena leaps at Flash and crushes his face with a right hand. She then spirals around and catches the cheek of Hair Doode member Franz with a punch. Similar treatment is given to Froderick, the jab dropping him to his back.
Greyson: Selena doing just as she promised, she’s holding a wintervention.
Sparkles: The Ice Queen is decimating all of these cross-dressers who were out here making a total mockery of the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Frankie: This is wrong, Desmond was out here doing the right thing by honoring his former boss Silas Mason and giving the belt to a DESERVING champion.
Greyson: He was giving the women’s championship to a man in a bargain bin dress.
Frankie: Now your insulting Flash’s fashion sense? Have you no shame?
Selena’s hands can’t fly fast enough as she divides her time between all three of her targets. Though she’s forgotten about the fourth man in the ring, Desmond reminding her of his presence by lunging at her leg and latching onto it. He swings his tiny fist upside Selena’s knee several times to absolutely NO effect. Selena blows a strand of hair out of her face and doesn’t even look down at Desmond as he goes on jabbing her in the knee cap. Finally she reacts to this attack by grabbing the pesky midget by the collar of his jacket and pushing him backwards across the ring. Drake is already begging for his life, but all that pleading will be in vain, Selena is going to crush him and there’s no weaseling his way out of it.
Greyson: Get him, Selena, finish this little bastard off.
Frankie: Wasn’t it bad enough that Selena DDTed Drake all those weeks ago? Why does she get her jollies beating up on this guy?
Greyson: Because he keeps antagonizing Selena instead of learning from his mistakes.
Drake goes on begging for his life, one that is about to be drastically cut short. Just as Selena is about to end his miserable existence, she has the back of her skull crushed by the Queen of Wrestling Championship. Flash runs in behind Selena and clobbers her upside the head with the belt.
Greyson: Damn you, Flash, damn you.
Frankie: That’s why he’s the champ.
The blow from the belt leaves Selena absent mindedly teetering between her feet, staying upright just long enough for the Hair Doodes to heave her into a back drop suplex version of the 3D. With Selena laid out in the middle of the ring a now emboldened Drake climbs the nearest turnbuckle. He has a giant smile plastered across his face, really enjoying the sight of the punishment that has been inflicted on Selena, and the further brutality he’s going to give her. Drake flies off the corner and hits a frog splash on Selena’s head, putting all his girth straight into her skull.
Greyson: This has gone on long enough.
Sparkles: Sparkles bets Selena regrets getting into that ring with the feisty young ladies now.
Greyson: They are NOT ladies. In fact, they’re not even human beings.
The chuckles of Drake fill the ring as he backs away from a crippled Selena, clutching tight to the Queen of Wrestling Championship belt. He squeezes the gold even tighter when seeing Victoria Salinas sliding into the squared circle.
Greyson: Salinas! Victoria Salinas! Another of the ladies slated to compete for the Queen of Wrestling Championship tonight.
Sparkles: A woman who is certainly no fan of Selena Frost, but an even bigger enemy of Drake and company, judging by their social media exchanges.
Greyson: It’s unclear rather Victoria is coming to Selena’s aid or coming out here because of that Queen of Wrestling Championship.
The moment Victoria enters the ring she’s on the defensive. Her bionic elbow nails Franz in the head, then the same maneuver connects with Froderick. Finally Flash is nailed between the eyes with a bionic elbow so forceful it has to have Dusty Rhodes smiling down from heaven. It’s not until all three of his goons are dropped to the canvas that Drake fully grasps the severity of the situation he’s in. He puts out his palms and backs away from Victoria.
Greyson: Kick that huge head off his shoulders Vict….WATCH OUT!
Victoria’s ankle is snagged on a hand…the hand of CINDY TODD.
The Queen of New Eden has materialized at ringside, reaching under the ropes, grabbing Victoria by the ankle then pulling her legs out from under her. Before Victoria can stop it she’s pulled totally out of the ring and spun into the devastating uppercut that drills her across the jaw.
Greyson: It’s Cindy, Cindy Todd! Another of the ladies who were supposed to challenge for the Queen of Wrestling Title!
The blow delivered by Cindy has Victoria falling back against the apron before almost losing her footing. She is then taken by the back of the head, ran the length of the ringside mats and ultimately driven shoulder first into the steel steps. The impact with the steel renders Victoria dead to the world, her body going limp across the ringside mats.
Meanwhile back in the ring Desmond is picking up the Queen of Wrestling Championship belt and looking to escape with it. He’s running towards the ropes only he never reaches them on account of finding the belt in his hand caught on something that is NOT his palms. A wide eyed Drake turns around and looks up into the face of Cindy Todd. She has hold of the strap that Drake was so close to fleeing with.
Sparkles: Now you’ve done it Drake, now you’ve done it.
Drake’s face has gone as white as a sheet at the sight of Cindy holding the other end of the belt that he’s got his hand wrapped around. Cindy’s black eyes reflect the terror in the features of her next victim. Although soon those eyes will mirror something else, the fist that comes flying into it. Victoria has re-entered the ring, has grabbed Cindy by the shoulder and has spun her around into a vicious right hand straight across the brow.
Greyson: Victoria and Cindy have been going at it all night long.
Frankie: It ain’t gonna stop any time soon either. Not until Victoria isn’t breathing.
Punches go on being flung between the jaws of Cindy and Victoria, the ladies possessed with such rage at the mere sight of one another. Finally Victoria’s boot collides with Cindy’s ribs, causing her to drop her defenses just long enough to be crushed across the jaw with a right hand. Victoria is about to follow up and strike while the opportunity presents itself but the Hair Doodes stop her before she can capitalize. The two men leap in behind Victoria and hit her with stereo double axehandles over the back. They then interlock hands and rush into a stereo clothesline, only to have Victoria duck before her throat can be crushed by their blow. Franz and Froderick end up running right past her and into a stereo clothesline that is hit ON THEM. Cindy catches either man off guard with her own stereo lariats, knocking them simultaneously to the ring.
Greyson: The Hair Doodes finding out what separates Cindy from the normal competitors in the IWC.
Sparkles: She almost knocked their perfect hair right off their heads.
A mere second after taking out the Hair Doodes, Cindy subjects Victoria to very similar treatment. She lunges across the ring and rams her shoulder into Victoria’s ribs, the spear knocking both women through the ropes, sending them crashing into the floor.
Greyson: Cindy and Victoria just won’t stop.
Frankie: I don’t think either lady is even thinking about that Queen of Wrestling Title right now.
Sparkles: Yeah, they’re just hell-bent on destroying one another.
Greyson: Cindy has just been in a foul mood ever since her former follower Borislav turned his back on her at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: To be fair Borislav didn’t just double cross Cindy, he hit her with a pipe wrench right in the ribs.
Greyson: The same treatment Cindy gave him several weeks ago.
Neither Victoria nor Cindy stay down on the arena floor very long. They’re already standing up and launching punches into one another’s faces. Cindy finds herself a bit surprised by the resiliency of the former GCW World Champion and Victoria is just as stunned when she’s reminded of how hard her rival can hit. Cindy is about to strike another fatal blow, running into a clothesline that Victoria manages to side step. As a result Cindy’s lariat flies past her intended target’s throat and slams instead into the steel turnbuckle post. Cindy stumbles back from the steel and into her rival’s palms. Victoria puts her hands to Cindy’s back and gives her a forceful shove, and now it’s Cindy’s forehead that takes the brunt of the impact with the steel post.
As this brawl goes on outside of the ring back in its center we see a recovered Flash Silver, Franz and Froderick convening around the Queen of Wrestling Championship belt. Flash starts to pick up the strap only to have Selena Frost leap across the ring and wrap her arms around the gold. She refuses to let Flash besmirch the belt by leaving with it tonight. Flash and his cohorts won’t give up possession of the title though, beginning to stomp and clobber Selena until she lets go. But Selena isn’t releasing the strap, she’d rather die before she allows it to leave with Flash.
Before it comes down to that another figure comes sliding into the ring and looks to help even up the odds a little bit. All those in the Manhattan Center find themselves thoroughly enthused at the sight of Mya Denton, yet another woman who was slated to challenge for the Queen of Wrestling Title tonight. She gets into the ring and in a matter of seconds she’s tossing Froderick out of it by the wig on the top of his head.
Greyson: Mya Denton has hit the ring, and she’s not getting paid by the hour.
Sparkles: She’s sending everyone flying out of it.
Greyson: She, Victoria, Selena and Cindy were supposed to fight in a four way to crown the first Queen of Wrestling Champion, but thanks to Desmond Drake and company all those plans went straight out the window.
Sparkles: Now it looks like Mya and Selena are actually working together to save the belt instead of fighting one another for ownership of it.
A spinning roundhouse kick is unleashed by Mya that results in her shin colliding upside Franz’s head, sending him twisting to the ring. Mya then turns just in time to catch Flash coming at her, delivering a back drop that sends him flying over the ropes and then tumbling down onto Froderick, who had just regained his footing on the arena floor.
Frankie: Da hale? Mya just cleared the ring.
Back at ringside the brawl between Victoria and Cindy is still ongoing. Salinas has dragged her rival up to her feet and readies to launch her along into the steel stairs. But just then Cindy reaches out, catches the creases of Victoria’s knees and plucks her legs out from under her. Victoria collapses onto her back for only a second before she’s then launched off of it and sent hurdling face first into the ring apron. Cindy catapults her adversary into the hardest section of the ring, causing Victoria’s mouth to crack steel. Her head ricochets from the apron and then goes staggering back into the arms of her attacker. Cindy bends Victoria back then hits her with the reverse DDT across the ringside mats.
Greyson: Victoria catapulted into that apron and then hit with that gruesome dropping reverse DDT.
Sparkles: Cindy is just too tough an opponent for any one woman to overcome.
Frankie: The sooner Victoria realizes that the lower her health insurance premiums will be.
Cindy leads Victoria from the ground up to her seat and then runs into a big kick right across her chest. The shot knocks Victoria to her back while Cindy looks to keep her from ever getting back up off of it. Cindy climbs onto the apron, dashes across it and then leaps into a double stomp, boots about to crush Victoria’s ribs. At the last possible second Victoria twists to her side and Cindy’s boots hit the ground instead of crushing her stomach. Cindy stumbles past Victoria before whipping around to face her and running into a boot…a boot that Victoria defensively gets up to protect herself. The shot catches Cindy across her chin and sends her staggering along to the base of the ramp. This is a chance Victoria has to take advantage of. She runs in behind Cindy only to find her mouth on the receiving end of a back elbow so forceful it sends her stumbling right back into the apron.
Greyson: I tell you these tw…..uh oh, things are about to get even more interesting.
Intrigue intensifies at the sight of Borislav making his way down the ramp.
Frankie: Is Borislav totally out of his mind? He should be running from Cindy, not coming towards her.
Greyson: We just talked about this a few moments ago, Borislav turned his back on Cindy at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: He did more than that, he also bashed her with a pipe wrench.
Greyson: And it looks like he isn’t through with Cindy just yet, not after everything she’s done to him and to his beloved Mika Kozlov.
Borislav continues to walk right down the ramp unabated. While most would shy from Cindy, Borislav walks right up to her and has no qualms in introducing his fist upside her face. Cindy is stunned to see Borislav coming towards her but not stunned to the point where she loses her senses. She instantly lashes out, punching Borislav across either cheek with either of her fists. Borislav looks stunned by the sheer force in which he’s struck, the impacts knocking his huge body up the ramp and almost rendering him unconscious. The ferocious Cindy keeps coming after him, each punch she delivers a form of retaliation for the blows from the pipe wrench that he gave her just a few weeks ago.
Frankie: Cindy all over Borislav! She’s gonna kill him!
Greyson: Things have just broken down into total anarchy here.
Cindy continues to wallop Borislav upside his face, battling him up the ramp before the two eventually disappear behind the curtains that hang over the entry way. One woman is very familiar with both of these individuals is not about to allow either Borislav or Cindy to keep her from joining in on all the fun. Victoria has recovered from the reverse DDT at ringside and has snatched a steel folding chair out from under the squared circle. The crowd is going absolutely bonkers as Victoria runs up the ramp with chair in hand, bound and determined to shave a few years off the lives of her rivals.
Greyson: Borislav and Cindy brawling into the back and now Victoria is cashing them down.
Sparkles: She looks downright murderous when it comes to New Eden. Who have just been sticking it to her and her friend Marina for several weeks now.
The fans have a tough time dividing their focus between all the commotion on the ramp and the action inside of the squared circle. It’s in the ring where Mya Denton is pacing around like a caged beast anxious to bite the first hand that slips through the bars. She stares down Drake, Flash and both members of the Hair Doodes, as all four men converge at the base of the ramp and try to regroup. The look Mya is giving them has the group back peddling.
While Drake and crew are angered by Mya’s presence, Selena Frost is grateful for it. She uses the ropes to reach her feet, gripping at the cables with one hand while clutching the Queen of Wrestling Title in the other. Mya looks at Selena and then at the belt she has cradled to her chest. This visual causes Mya to absolutely snap and react in fashion that no one could have predicted, especially not Selena.
Mya runs up behind Selena and cracks her over the back with a forearm strike.
Greyson: HEY!
Sparkles: What the heck. I thought Mya was here to have Selena’s back!
Frankie: She was up until she saw that title belt in Selena’s hands.
The blow across the back of her head has sent Selena tumbling to the ring, landing right on top of the Queen of Wrestling Championship belt she came out here to save. Mya is now gesturing towards the backstage area, calling for something and that something turns out to be a referee. The official sides into the ring and calls for the bell.
Greyson: Guys it looks like we ARE going to see the Queen of Wrestling Championship match.
Sparkles: Where are Victoria and Cindy though?
Greyson: I guess the two have removed themselves from this match.
Frankie: And Mya is taking advantage of that fact.
Greyson: Not only that, she’s taking advantage of a weakened, prone Selena Frost to all but guarantee that she’s going to be the new Queen of Wrestling Champion.
QUEEN OF WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The moment the bell rings Mya pulls Selena up from the canvas and flings her chest straight into the nearby turnbuckle. The impact with the corner has Selena staggering back where her head falls into the clutches of her opponent. Mya takes Selena around the neck then runs at the corner, stepping up it to the top rope then pushing off into a tornado bulldog. Selena’s face crashes across the canvas and causes her to go flipping into a prone state. Mya crawls into the corner, hoping she’s inflicted enough damage to capture the championship.
Sparkles: Mya may have just manipulated her way into becoming the first ever Queen of Wrestling Champion.
Frankie: I never knew Mya was this smart.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks that Mya’s recent issues with Rachel Tatum Lee, Aaron Harrison and the rest of the group Tombstone have brought out a different side of her.
Greyson: It’s been rumored in the past that Mya suffers some form of multiple personality disorder.
Frankie: Well all of those personalities are about to become champion.
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The believers in attendance tonight are not disappointed, because Selena kicks out seconds before the Queen of Wrestling Title goes slipping through her fingers. Mya gets to her knees and gives the referee a look that just paralyzes him with fear. The unsettled Mya takes Selena around the neck, putting her in a sleeper hold and using the submission to lead her up to her feet. The hold is then transitioned into a sleeper neck-breaker variant, Mya dropping her adversary straight onto the back of her head. This high impact move is not followed up by a cover, instead Mya looks to deliver another fatal and perhaps damning blow. She climbs to the top of the nearest corner which she comes flying out of before connecting with the senton bomb.
Greyson: It’s been a very long time since we’ve seen Mya THIS motivated.
Sparkles: Something seems very off about her.
Greyson: Well the last time we saw Mya she was being shoved inside of a coffin by Rachel and Harrison. That has quite the effect on one’s sanity.
Frankie: Especially when there wasn’t much sanity there to begin with.
Although Mya just hit a senton that successfully knocked all the air out of Selena’s body the move is not followed by a lateral press. Instead of pinning Selena’s body down to the canvas Mya drags her up from it. She forces Selena onto her knees and then lunges at her with the shining wizard. Somehow, as unbelievable as it sounds, Selena has the presence of mind to duck the kick aimed at her skull. As a result Mya goes flying past her target, landing behind her instead of hitting her. A battered Selena pops up to her feet and then whips around to face Mya who is not flying at her with a shining wizard but with her whole body. Mya has sprung to the middle rope of the turnbuckle and then comes flying off of it, twisting in mid-air. She flies over top of Selena, who bends down to avoid a potential cross body, but in the process sets herself up for the sunset flip. A shocked Selena is rolled up into the pin, each slap of the referee’s hand against the canvas bringing her closer to the loss of her dream of walking away from the End of the Year Special as champion.
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Selena’s arm squeaks its away up and off of the canvas, keeping her dream alive.
Fans: WE BELIEVE! WE BELIEVE! WE BELIEVE!
As the crowd chants this Selena finds the courage and the perseverance to reach her feet. She then runs right into the kick straight across her ribs, Mya swinging around into a twisting back kick. The blow has Selena stooped over and causes her head to fall into her adversary’s clutches. Mya has the three quarter’s head lock applied and is now pointing at the turnbuckle.
Greyson: Mya barely missed the Demented earlier, but she damn sure is going to connect with the Cra-Cr…..What the heck is this about now?
Mya was mere inches removed from the turnbuckle she was about to step up before delivering the Shiranui, however she stops right in front of the corner that she is now looking over instead of running to the top of. Mya is watching the stage, which is occupied by NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee, Aaron Harrison, the members of the group Tombstone, and the most jarring visual of them all, a CASKET. The coffin that Mya was carried away in several weeks ago is set up vertically, making sure it stands out. There is no way that Mya could miss it no matter how the casket is positioned, her eyes are instantly fixated upon it.
Greyson: The NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee is out here with members of Tombstone and Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: The group that has been physically and psychologically abusing her for several weeks.
Frankie: Their getting into her head with the use of that casket they carted her away in back at Upping the Ante.
The once nicely combed hair on Mya’s head is all tussled and tangled by her hands. Huge clumps of it are about to be torn from her skull as her watery eyes lock on the coffin, remembering how traumatizing it was to be trapped inside. It isn’t until Mya hears Selena coming that she breaks her focus on the coffin and puts all her efforts into breaking her opponent’s face. A back elbow nails Selena in the bridge of her nose, the collision knocking her back a few steps. Once she’s put some distance between herself and her opponent, Mya leaps onto the turnbuckle she was going to hit the Shiranui out of. But now she’ll be leaping off of it in order to hit the crossbody. She flies from the corner and it’s not a crossbody she connects with, it’s the boot of her opponent. A stunned Mya finds herself falling to her feet, stooped over by the kick to her gut, a blow that puts her in perfect place for the Icebreaker DDT.
Greyson: Icebreaker DDT outta nowhere!
Frankie: Will it be enough to make Selena the Queen of Wrestling Champion though?
With the fans, Rachel, Harrison and Tombstone watching on the referee makes the count. Selena’s arm is draped across Mya’s chest and she hopes enough damage has been done to capture the belt this evening.
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Turns out the Icebreaker DDT was Selena’s ticket to success. The believers rejoice with the mother of all ovations at the sight of Selena rising from the ground and onto her feet, arms raised in triumph.
Greyson: Man, just listens to the believers here tonight.
Sparkles: They are overjoyed to see Selena Frost leave here with the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Frankie: She ain’t leaving with anything
The belt that Selena just won is nowhere near the hands of the newly crowned champion. Instead the gold is in Desmond Drake’s palms. The very man who carried the belt out to the ring earlier is the one who is leaving with it. He snags the belt and then hightails it up the ramp with Flash, Franz and Froderick following him.
Greyson: Hey dammit! Drake and co are leaving with the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Frankie: Hahahaha, look at those stubby legs kick. He’s running faster than Usain Bolt.
It doesn’t matter how quick Drake runs, because one way or another Selena WILL catch up with him. She dashes up the ramp and goes after Desmond and his boys, determined to get what’s rightfully hers.
Greyson: Selena going after Drake. She wants that belt, she wants what’s owed to her and she’s not going to stop until she gets it.
The cameras get backstage just in time to capture a rather chilling visual. Blood is gushing down the features of Borislav, the big Russian busted open by nothing more than the closed fists of his attacker. Cindy Todd sits on top of his hairy chest, pinning his back down to the floor as her knuckles continue to collide with the gash in his scalp. The sound of punches cracking bone fills the hallway that has been transformed into Cindy’s den of destruction.
Cindy: I regret being forced to do such unsettling things to you.
Informs Cindy as she takes Borislav by the bangs and lifts his bloodied head up from the ground.
Cindy: But you’ve given me little choice my dear.
Another punch cracks the opening in his flesh.
Cindy: You once served a useful purpose to my New Eden, but now the only purpose you’ll serve is sending your friend Mika a message for me.
She leans in close to make sure her words are unmistakable.
Cindy: Tell her that I will do far worse to you if she does not come back to me. Remind Mika that she….is…..MINE.
Cindy reaches back into her waistband and extracts a small knife.
Cindy: This should make sure she gets my message.
The knife moves towards Borislav’s chest.
Victoria: Dammit Cindy, we’re not through yet.
Gripes Victoria Salinas, who is making her way down the corridor with a steel chair extended from her palms. The war that she has waged with Cindy Todd throughout the evening is clearly not at an end and there conflict will no doubt be reignited should their paths once again cross. Victoria prays that she stumbles upon Cindy’s whereabouts as she traverses the halls of the building, yet those prayers have gone unanswered thus far. She keeps on searching in spite of her hunt yielding no results. She doesn’t see Cindy anywhere, nor does she spot the door that begins to tentatively open once she’s stormed past it. A head peeks from the doorway, and obviously it’s not the head of Cindy Todd, who would hide from no one. Nuh’uh, it’s not Cindy, it’s….Tabitha Silverstone?
Greyson: Victoria Salinas is looking to end her issues with Cindy Todd here tonight but…..hey guys, is that….
Sparkles: It’s Tabitha Silverstone!
Frankie: Uhhhh, I thought she wasn’t going to be here tonight.
Greyson: That’s what we ALL thought.
Sparkles: Tabitha sent in a prerecorded video message and everything for her clients saying she was too injured to be here, and yet, there she is.
Although Tabitha tries to go incognito by wearing a black hoodie and oversized sunglasses, there is no mistaking the contours of her face. She nervously watches Victoria walk away before she dares exits the room she had been hiding in.
A medallion shimmers as it twists from the ribbon held in Dan Douglas’ fingers. The very same golden trinket that has been employed dozens and dozens of times in the past to control the mind of his client Katelyn Buehler, just hangs there in the air at this point. Douglas stoops forward on the bench in his client’s locker-room, examining his medallion while immersed deep in thought. At last his thinking is derailed when confronted by a familiar figure.
Destiny: Dan, you see Katelyn anywhere?
The best friend of the World Champion, Destiny Nichols, enters the locker-room and pauses beside the somber agent.
Douglas: I used to know all of Katelyn’s comings and goings….
Destiny: I take it she’s off getting herself into trouble?
Douglas: Naturally.
Sullenly replies Douglas, his voice totally zapped of any happiness.
Destiny: Ummmm Dan, something on your mind?
Douglas: I’m transparent am I?
Destiny: Much more than normal.
Before Douglas tells his confidant what’s weighing on his mind he squeezes his hand shut around the medallion he had been studying.
Douglas: I’m losing my grip on Katelyn.
Destiny: I’ve noticed she’s been a bit more rebellious lately, ever since winning that World Title.
Douglas: It used to be so easy to influence her, to control her, but I can feel my power over her fading.
Destiny: Well, maybe that’s kind of a good thing.
Douglas: No….no it isn’t. Katelyn still needs me, she still needs me to keep her balanced. Without my ability to control her there’s no telling what she’ll do next.
Destiny: Let her make up her own mind for once and…..
Douglas: No.
Douglas’ palms remain wrapped around the medallion and his knuckles are now raised to his lips.
Douglas: Many years ago I went to a man who helped me develop my abilities. He told me that the power he gave me would eventually begin to slip….
Destiny: Why are you telling me this?
Douglas: So that you’ll understand.
Destiny: Understand what?
Douglas: What I’m going to have to do.
Destiny: And what’s that?
Douglas: Whatever it will take to once again control Katelyn’s mind. So I can save her, save her from herself.
RICKY HOLT VS. JOHNNY KINGDOM
The tunes of “Unsettling Differences” are playing throughout the arena PA system and you better believe Ricky Holt’s theme music has resulted in nothing shy of raw hatred from the audience. Everyone lets Ricky know exactly what they think of him as he steps out from the back and comes to a stop on the stage. His agent Eric O’Flaherty can be seen at Ricky’s side for only a moment before disappearing behind the curtains. He gives his client a last second pep talk, though Ricky needs no further motivation. He’s already pretty hyped for his collision with Kingdom, hence the pep in every step he takes towards the squared circle.
Greyson: Ladies and gentlemen it has certainly been one wild night here at the End of the Year Special, and here’s a man who made a contributing effort to all the insanity.
Sparkles: We can’t begin to put into words what Ricky Holt showed us earlier tonight. That video he arranged for Johnny Kingdom sure was…..something.
Greyson: it was an insult to Kingdom is what it was.
Frankie: Huuuuh? As if. Holt was honoring Kingdom.
Greyson: Don’t be ridiculous. Holt has no honor and he damn sure has no respect for anyone. He proved that earlier when he showed footage of him beating and bloodying the students that Kingdom had been training to become professional wrestlers.
Frankie: He was thinning the herd, weeding out the weak-links and making sure only REAL wrestlers got the chance to climb the ranks here in the IWC.
Greyson: That’s a crock of shit and you know it.
Once in the ring Holt shows just how excited he is by leaping up and down, getting his knees all the way up to his chest while swinging his arms out to his sides. He is getting himself even more energized for this collision with the Team Leader. The wait for Johnny isn’t a very long one, the tracks of “Wake Up” playing over the loud speakers, inciting nothing short of a riot from the audience. The fans are surging with adrenaline at the sight of the bona fide legend strolling down the ramp. In spite of this reaction from the people, Kingdom pays them little if not any attention. Every bit of his focus is on the man who he witnessed beating down a batch of students he was grooming to one day be superstars. However, after Holt was through with them they’ll be lucky to walk, let alone wrestle ever again.
Greyson: This match was enough to whet the appetites of wrestling enthusiasts given the sheer talents of either man, but add to it this most recent wrinkle from earlier tonight and now there’s even more intrigue headed into this contest.
Frankie: Forget all that stuff with Ricky crashing the training camp, focus instead on what’s the most important aspect of this match. We’re about to see two REAL wrestlers go at it. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since we’ve seen that.
Sparkles: What exactly in Ricky Holt’s mind constitutes a REAL wrestler.
Greyson: If ever there was a REAL wrestler, it’s Johnny Kingdom, and Holt is going to find that out.
A surprisingly reserved Kingdom stands back in the corner of the ring, eyeballing the young man that he is now very suspicious of. The bell sounds and every difference between Holt and Kingdom is about to play out in what should be an ultra-competitive contest. The match gets underway in highly unexpected form when Holt extends his hand and actually looks to be a good sportsman by requesting a pre-match shake. Kingdom stares down at the hand that is stretched towards him and finally reacts, giving Holt a shake….or more like a jolt. Holt’s extended hand is taken and twisted around, Johnny putting it in an arm ringer.
Frankie: That was classless.
Greyson: Kingdom isn’t falling for Holt’s disingenuous act.
The submission on Holt’s arm has him bending at the knees and grinding his teeth. One can see all those pearly whites, cause Holt is flashing a grin. That smile only widens when he swings his body around and puts his back to Kingdom’s chest. He then steps forward, driving his own sternum into Kingdom’s hands, breaking them away from the wrist they WERE clutching. Holt then reaches back, takes Kingdom around the neck and pulls him down into the side headlock.
Sparkles: Nice transition.
Greyson: Holt is a classically trained wrestler, I won’t take that away from him.
Frankie: Why not? You’ve done everything else in your power to try and insult him.
The headlock is draining Kingdom and doing so in a hurry, but at the same time it’s energizing Holt. Fortunes are ultimately reversed when Kingdom twists his body right around out of the side headlock and into a top wrist lock. Holt’s arm is bent over backwards at such an angle that it causes him to cringe and cringe pronouncedly. Further pain is exhibited on Holt’s face when his arm is taken from the top wrist lock position and then bent around behind his back into the hammerlock. Kingdom keeps changing it up on Holt, consistently keeping the young man guessing and at the same time schooling him. Kingdom makes another transition, breaking the hammerlock in order to step to Holt’s side and put him in the headlock.
Holt stomps his foot, a little aggravated that Kingdom is coming at him from every possible angle, making it hard to get a read on him. Finally Holt decides to make an unorthodox counter, taking his opponent by the thigh and the shoulder then falling back. Kingdom’s side headlock is broken as he’s rolled across the canvas right along beside Holt. Eventually both men roll until they end up on their stomachs where Holt quickly transitions into the arm bar.
Frankie: Ricky might be young but he definitely ain’t green around the gills. This guy is already well versed in chain wrestling.
Sparkles: He’s definitely proving that right now.
Although Kingdom’s bicep and triceps muscles are being worked over he’s still trying to get up from the canvas. The moment Kingdom reaches his knee Holt takes the arm he had in a submission and then drags it across his opponent’s throat. He locks in a modified cobra clutch, standing behind the kneeling Kingdom and pulling his forearm back into the legend’s throat. The air supply is only briefly deprived to Kingdom, who already is standing up. He gets to his feet only to fall right back off of them when he hits a drop toe hold on Holt, breaking the modified cobra clutch. Holt falls flat on his face and Kingdom leaps over his adversary’s back, landing on his seat beside him and applying the side headlock yet again.
Kingdom quickly flows from the side headlock into a basic but incredibly efficient front facelock submission. He grips and grips tight to Holt’s neck and in the process keeps him grounded on his stomach. The resilient Holt won’t stay down for long, starting to force himself up from the ring. When Kingdom feels his opponent elevating from the canvas he alters his strategy to keep him down on the mat. Johnny flips forward and now bridges back into the chin lock. A version of the last chancery is locked in on Holt, but even that isn’t enough to keep him floored. He is already on his way back up only to have Kingdom alter his submission once more. He breaks the bridging chin lock then falls to Holt’s side, immediately grabbing his bicep and placing him in the arm bar.
Although he’s in pain Holt actually smiles, immensely enjoying the move for move game of chess he’s playing with Kingdom. Naturally Holt has an escape in mind to free himself from the arm bar. He pushes himself up from the canvas and directly to his feet, causing Kingdom to stand as well, maintaining the submission hold. Holt now spins his body so that his arm is plucked out of Kingdom’s clutches and both men go back to back.
An attempt is made at the backslide, however Kingdom keeps his feet rooted to the canvas and prevents being dragged down into the hold. Instead when Kingdom goes down to the ring he does so of his own accord. Kingdom falls onto his back then reaches up from it, taking the still standing Holt by the hips then trying to pull him down into the sunset flip. Holt slaps one of Kingdom’s hands away from his hip and then swings his leg around the other arm of his opponent. He sits Kingdom up on the canvas and places him straight into a Stretch Plum submission hold.
Greyson: Holt got a Stretch Plum locked in on Kingdom right now, and thus far he’s managed to keep the Team Leader strictly to the ground.
Frankie: Yeah, he’s forcing Johnny to wrestle at HIS pace.
The explosive Kingdom makes the effort to begin inching his way up from the ring. The moment that Johnny starts to stand up his opponent employs a calculated move in order to keep him down. Holt switches it up on Kingdom by transitioning from the Stretch Plum into a crucifix pin.
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Kingdom wiggles his arm up from the ring in time to prevent being pinned in a shocking manner. He and Holt then race one another to their feet and once both men are upright they have a brief stand-off. Shockingly Holt raises his palms and backs away from the stone cold Kingdom.
Holt: Give this man the props he deserves?
Holt claps for Kingdom and several of the fans join in. The second that Kingdom looks towards his audience his adversary runs straight at him with a punch intended for his forehead. Kingdom side steps that punch though and then hip tosses Holt over onto his back. After his back hits the canvas Holt pops up off of it and returns to his feet. He then runs at Kingdom again only to be caught via another deep hip toss. Kingdom flings Holt down to the ring and does so viciously before falling over his chest, trying to surprise him via the lateral press.
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Holt gets his arm up and rolls out from under Kingdom in the process. He keeps on rolling until he’s past the ring ropes and out of the squared circle.
Sparkles: Nice ring awareness shown by Holt.
Greyson: He knew where he was and where he needed to be to stay away from Kingdom.
Once at ringside a smile comes back to Holt’s face. He claps his hands together while circling the ring that has a patient Kingdom waiting inside. Johnny has his hands on his knees and crouches down, watching Holt circle him and circle him and circle him. It isn’t until the referee starts to count Holt out that he slides back onto the apron and shows his first desire to re-enter the ring. At last Kingdom, the usual cool customer that he is, loses his calm. He steps right towards the ropes Holt is stood on the opposite side of, taking him by the back of the head. Kingdom then runs across the ring dragging Holt along and ultimately slamming his face against the turnbuckle. The impact with the corner has Holt bending back and almost falling from the apron to the arena floor, but he manages to grab the very post he was just bashed against.
Wait a minute, he’s not just holding onto the turnbuckle…..
As Ricky’s hands are busy at work Kingdom is being forced away from his opponent by the referee. The official warns Kingdom about attacking someone while there in the ropes. Kingdom gives the ref a condescending grin before going back after his adversary. He walks right into Holt, Holt’s HANDS. Ricky reaches through the ropes from the apron, grabs Kingdom by the waistband of his pants and gives him a tug, dragging him forward so that his face crushes the turnbuckle bolt that was just exposed.
Greyson: Hold up….Did-did-did Holt just pull off that turnbuckle pad?
Frankie: He certainly did and he smashed Kingdom’s face into the bolt beneath it.
The impact with the bolt has knocked Kingdom back to the center of the ring, falling from his feet and pawing at the lump forming across his scalp. Upon entering the ring Holt looks towards the turnbuckle bolt and shrugs.
Holt: How did that happen?
The amused Holt shouts down at Kingdom.
Holt: You would have done the same to me.
Holt’s heel swings down into Kingdom’s face, the stomp rattling his opponent. Instinctively Kingdom sits up on the canvas just as Holt comes running towards him and delivers a kick that nails his opponent between the eyes. Kingdom falls to his back then rolls across the ring, ending up in the corner diagonal to the one his face had just been driven against. Holt takes Johnny by the wrist and is about to send him the length of the ring before ultimately hitting the turnbuckle bolt once again.
Holt launches Kingdom across the ring and into the steel, which connects with his opponent’s HANDS. Kingdom catches the bolt and holds himself back from it, so relieved he didn’t smack into the steel that he doesn’t even see his opponent leaping into the big splash from behind. It appears Kingdom was playing possum though, side stepping Holt, who goes flying right past him and directly into the bolt.
Instead of Holt getting a taste of his own medicine though, he lands on the middle rope straddling the turnbuckle with his feet. He holds his head back from the corner, a task that becomes impossible when Kingdom nonchalantly takes him by the ankle and pulls his feet out from under him. Holt is tripped up and goes tumbling down forehead first into the steel bolt.
Kingdom: You’re right.
Muses Kingdom in response to Holt’s earlier statements. The impact with the bolt has Holt staggering back and reeling on his heels, desperately trying to stay upright. That isn’t going to be possible when Kingdom goes running into him with his boot leading the way. The kick connects right across Holt’s forehead, the impact taking Holt off of his feet and sending him rolling all the way out of the ring.
Greyson: Stiff kick by Kingdom and there goes Holt escaping from the ring again.
Frankie: It’s a strategic exit Lovejoy.
Sparkles: Yeah, LOOOOVEJOOY!
Greyson: I really-really wish you two would stop doing that.
Frankie: What’s wrong LOOOOVEJOY?
Greyson: The fact that together you two form the butt-cheeks of an ass.
This time Johnny isn’t about to let Holt catch his breath outside of the ring. He goes right after his opponent, reaching through the ropes, latching onto Holt’s arm and starting to pull him up to the apron. A back elbow to Kingdom’s eyes saves Holt. The impact and the placement of the point of Holt’s elbow against his eyeball has Kingdom stumbling back pawing at his face. He regains his vision and then goes back after Holt and yet he still doesn’t see the next move coming. Holt reaches out, grabs Kingdom by the back of the head then leaps from the apron, as a result the throat of his adversary is caught up on the top cable. Johnny’s head snaps back from the cable that he is spinning away from. Now his back is to the ropes and soon his spine will be embedded against them. Kingdom’s wrists are caught and pulled back over the top rope. It seems that Holt is trying to hyperextend his adversary’s arms as he leans back from the apron and pulls on Kingdom’s arms. All the while Johnny’s back is wedged against the ropes, keeping him from following the arms that are being almost torn out of their sockets. A five count starts that eventually causes Holt to break his submission hold and then shove his opponent by the back of the head. The push sends Kingdom down to the canvas, which he only stays on for a moment.
Kingdom is regaining his balance just as Holt comes flipping over the ropes behind him and catches both of his opponent’s arms, hitting a unique variant of the unprettier. After hitting the move Holt just sits there on the canvas grinning arrogantly and looking back over his shoulder at his unconscious opponent.
Holt: I expected better than this.
Informs Holt as his hands find their way around Kingdom’s neck, forcing him up from the ring and then into a stiff knife edge chop. The shot sends Kingdom falling back into the ropes, leaning against them for support while Holt’s forearm grinds right across his eyes. Holt then pulls down on the back of Kingdom’s head in order to bend him over so that a forearm can crash over his shoulders. The shot drops Kingdom to his knees, hands reaching up for his banged up neck and equally as banged up face. Holt puts his kneecap to the side of Kingdom’s face and grinds it straight across his eye. The blinded Johnny falls to his back as his opponent’s fist falls into his face.
The dropping punch across the brow has Kingdom in a position he’s not very familiar with, on the defensive. He crawls away from Holt and towards the ropes while taking one forearm after another across his shoulders and his lower back. Holt drags Kingdom up to his feet, sticks his head through the top and middle rope then pulls in reverse on his opponent’s jaw. The back of Kingdom’s neck is pressed against the top cable, ensuring he’s trapped in perhaps the most brutal rear chin lock variant imaginable. The referee starts a five count on Holt, who uses every bit of that count in order to inflict more damage on his opponent’s neck. Finally he lets go of Johnny’s chin and allows him to turn so that he’s seated on the middle rope. Unfortunately his chin is draped over the top cable and this proves to be Kingdom’s detriment. Holt takes him by the back of the head and pulls down on his skull, grinding his throat against the rope.
Kingdom is gasping for what precious oxygen can find its way into his lungs. Once again Holt employs every bit of the five count before breaking his illegal choke. He then runs into the ropes running perpendicular to the ones that Kingdom is seated on, springing off the middle strand then twisting into a dropkick. His boots nail Kingdom in the chest, driving him back off the rope he was seated on and then causing him to crash back first into the apron. The crowd lets out the obligatory ‘oooooh,’ after witnessing this move connect.
Frankie: See that, Holt is wrestling this match like he said he would, like a REAL wrestler.
Greyson: He’s bending the rules until Kingdom breaks. That’s not the MO of a REAL wrestler.
Frankie: Says a man who has never laced up his wrestling boots a day in his life.
Sparkles: You’re not a veteran like Frankie and Sparkles.
The dropkick on the button has ultimately sent Kingdom to the floor. He sluggishly works his way up from the ground before finding himself being led along into the clutches of his adversary. Holt scoops Kingdom up and then slams his back into the steel ramp.
Greyson: Now a slam into the ramp!
Frankie: Maybe Kingdom just can’t hang with young guys the likes of Holt.
Sparkles: He won’t now that his spine collided with the steel.
The impact of Kingdom’s body against the steel reverberates all through his every limb. Holt keeps applying the pressure, pulling his adversary into the ring where further brutality will be inflicted. Holt sits Kingdom up on the canvas and then places him in the oh so dreaded seated abdominal stretch.
Greyson: Back into the submission.
Sparkles: Holt showing his expertise at wearing his opponent down.
Not only is the abdominal stretch locked in but it puts Kingdom in a position where his ribs are entirely exposed to the multiple punches they are subjected to. Holt then simply embeds his knuckles against Kingdom’s ribcage and begins to twist his fist back and forth. He grinds the point of his knuckles directly between the ribs of his adversary. Kingdom calls out in pain as his opponent’s fist digs deeper and deeper into his body. Holt stops using his fist and now puts his head into it. He drives his skull right into Kingdom’s temple. The submission is broken and so might be Kingdom’s orbital socket. He falls to the canvas while Holt embeds his knee into the Team Leader’s spine, takes him by the knee and by the wrist then puts him in a modified bow and arrow stretch. Johnny lies on his side while Holt kneels behind him, putting his knee deep into the kidneys of his opponent.
Sparkles: Holt such a student of the game. He knows every submission and he knows just when to use them to hurt his opponent the most.
As shockwaves of pain course through Kingdom’s body he begins to inch his way up from the canvas. This won’t do for Holt who pulls his knee away from his rival’s spine only to swing it back into the Team Leader’s kidneys. Johnny falls to his stomach and Holt runs into the cables beside him, ricocheting off before flipping forward into a senton bomb. He comes down right on top of Kingdom’s kidneys, crushing them under his weight. Holt then sits at Kingdom’s side, smirking with so much pride. He is immensely enjoying himself as he inflicts such punishment on the Team Leader.
Holt slips in behind Kingdom and takes him by the arms, trying to apply another seated abdominal stretch. Though this time Kingdom fights back and keeps from getting himself trapped in this submission, he delivers elbow after elbow to the side of Holt’s head. Ricky’s response is to pop up to his feet and hit a swift kick right across Kingdom’s cheek, shutting him down before he can even get any offense going. Kingdom rolls to his stomach while Holt bolts into the ropes beside him. He climbs up to the middle cable and then comes leaping off with his fist aimed at his opponent’s forehead. All five of his knuckles collide with….the CANVAS. Kingdom rolls out of the way and causes Holt’s fist to fly past him before smashing the ring.
The impact with the ring has Holt’s knuckles swelling. He tries to shake off the impact with the squared circle in order to deliver another impact, this one via his elbow. He catches Kingdom coming in with an elbow upside his face, the shot knocking him off of his feet and to the canvas. His throat falls across the middle rope and Kingdom’s placement is going to be his detriment. Holt comes rushing in behind the Team Leader and leaps at the back of his head, attempting to land seat first across Johnny’s neck.
Holt lands, but it’s not on Kingdom’s neck.
Johnny drops down out of the way just in time, causing Holt to go flying right past him, flying right through the ropes feet first and crashing into the floor. Holt’s back hits the ground, sending waves of pain shooting throughout his spine. Nevertheless he hurries to his feet, climbs to the apron and then grabs the top rope, leaping over into a hot shot senton aimed at the still laying Kingdom.
Holt hits….THE CANVAS.
Kingdom rolls out of the way and Ricky goes flying right past him, back smacking the canvas. His fist, his lower back and now his upper back have all taken trauma after missing dives on Kingdom, the very same Kingdom who now crushes Holt’s throat. Johnny barrels into a clothesline on his adversary’s throat, taking him down to the canvas. Holt rolls across the ring and returns to his feet just as Kingdom dashes into another clothesline, the impact RETURNS Holt to the canvas. In an act of self-preservation and to keep Kingdom from building momentum, Holt skips town. He hightails it from the ring where he tries to regain his faculties. Kingdom is coming right after him, grabbing the top rope and pulling himself over into a high flying crossbody. All of Johnny’s weight is hurdled into Holt’s chest, taking both men down to the ground.
Greyson: Kingdom putting it all out there against Holt.
Sparkles: He’s starting to pick up the momentum, which proves incredibly dangerous.
The wind has been taken out of Holt’s sails and knocked from his body. The moment he stands up he gets cracked in the jaw with a right hand then clobbered across the chest with a knife edge chop. Kingdom has Holt on his heels, backing up straight into the steel turnbuckle bolt. He leans against for support while his adversary races in with a knock-out punch. Holt won’t be losing consciousness any time soon, ducking his head and causing Kingdom to go staggering past him into the turnbuckle post. Kingdom ends up swinging around with his back stopping against the turnbuckle, and his chest about to be crushed via a big splash.
Holt throws himself into his adversary….no…into the POST.
A resilient Kingdom sidesteps Holt and causes him to go flying past him, face smashing the turnbuckle.
Sparkles: OOOH, I think Holt just rung his bell.
Holt’s face caves in around the post that he goes staggering back from. He ends up walking right into Kingdom’s shoulder, who heaves Holt into a back drop suplex. Amazingly Holt still has the presence of mind to reverse the move, floating over and landing on his feet right behind his opponent’s back.
Kingdom spins around just as Holt lunges at him with a spear….into the POST.
The lightning fast reflexes of the Team Leader allows him to leap frog Holt, who goes flying under him and colliding shoulder first with the steel turnbuckle. As Holt grabs at his arm he seeks sanctuary inside of the ring, rolling in in an effort to evade his opponent. Just as he gets to his feet he finds his waist engulfed in the arms of Kingdom as he’s lifted into a back drop driver. Holt lands on top of his head, almost cracking his neck on impact. Kingdom crawls into the cover.
1
2
A stunned Holt pops his shoulder up from the ring, and soon the rest of his body is rising from the canvas. He stands just as Kingdom catches him around the waist then gives him a second back drop driver. The back of Holt’s head tolerates much of the burden of the impact.
Sparkles: Holt wanted a REAL wrestler, well that REAL wrestler just gave Holt a REAL dump on top of his head.
Holt gets back up to his feet with the turnbuckle propping his legs beneath him. That’s when Kingdom comes racing in and crushes his throat via the lariat. Kingdom then backs away from Holt and gets another running start behind a second clothesline. Kingdom runs to the middle of the ring and then runs right back in with a THIRD lariat. Holt rolls out of the ring and to the apron where it will be the ropes that help him up to his feet this time. The moment that Holt stands he finds out that Kingdom has climbed up to the turnbuckle in front of him with some very dangerous intentions. Kingdom looks out over the crowd, summons some courage and then leaps from the top rope into a double axehandle smash across his opponent’s brow.
Holt falls to his back across the apron while Johnny lands on his feet, still putting himself in the dominant position. He grabs Holt’s legs, tucks them under his armpits and readies to catapult him from the apron and into the exposed turnbuckle post. It doesn’t matter how banged up Holt is, he’s not about to let himself fall victim to another encounter with the turnbuckle. Instead it’s Kingdom who is launched into the post, Holt kicking him off and sending him staggering back across the apron. Kingdom bounces off the post and then goes stumbling towards his opponent….scratch that…Kingdom is RUNNING right into Holt and smashing him in the throat with the clothesline.
Greyson: Holt has really lit the fuse on Kingdom.
The clothesline has sent Holt spiraling to the arena floor. However, Kingdom is still on the apron and is now stepping through the ropes. He sits on the middle cable and is about to slide completely through it only to find this simple process complicated. Kingdom’s head is caught, caught right in Holt’s clutches before he’s dragged down with the back of his neck and skull slamming against the apron thanks to the reverse DDT. Holt drops from the apron while planting Kingdom’s head against it.
Greyson: Kingdom dragged down out of those ropes into the most sickening reverse DDT I’ve ever seen.
Sparkles: The back of his neck just took ALL that impact.
Frankie: Let’s just hope that ole’ man Kingdom’s bones aren’t as brittle as they should be.
Somehow Kingdom starts to get up when back in the ring, putting himself in perfect position for his adversary’s next maneuver. Holt lifts Johnny into a pumphandle….a pumphandle NECK-BREAKER. The back of Kingdom’s head is dragged down right into Holt’s kneecap.
Sparkles: OOOH, another devastating landing across Holt’s knee.
After bouncing from Holt’s knee the legendary Team Leader finds himself looking less like an icon and more like a victim. Now he’ll be the victim of a loss. Kingdom is pulled down to his back and Holt drapes himself across his rival’s chest. As added insult Holt grinds his forearm across the face of his pinned prey.
1
2
Not even the reverse DDT on the apron and the pumphandle neck-breaker are enough to defeat Kingdom. He’s pulled up to his seat and then the back of his head is devastated via a dropkick. Kingdom cringes as he clutches at his neck, though he’s not the only grabbing at it. Holt places Kingdom in a dragon sleeper and then utilizes the hold to bridge his opponent up to his feet. He then hits a reverse DDT that plants the back of Kingdom’s head right into Holt’s raised knee. The reverse DDT/neck-breaker combination has Kingdom languishing but not yet finished off. Holt is about to put the finishing touches on his opponent, maintaining the dragon sleeper hold even after that last lethal maneuver and using the submission to pull his opponent back to his feet. Holt then swings Johnny around so that he’s on his feet and staggering back and forth, trying to get his footing.
Holt looks to take advantage of his disorientated adversary, running into the ropes in front of Kingdom ricocheting from them and then leaping into a clothesline….a clothesline into nothing but thin air. Holt is confused when he dashes into the vacant space where Kingdom USED to be standing. He has no idea that Johnny ran right along behind him into the very ropes that he had just ricocheted off of. Holt doesn’t realize that until he turns around and receives a throat exploding clothesline from the Team Leader. The impact is so stiff it sends Holt flipping totally over backwards and has even taken Kingdom off of his feet.
Greyson: CLOTHESLINE FROM THE DEEPEST DEPTHS OF HELL!!
Sparkles: Holy fudge what a lariat.
Although it took the last vestige of his strength to hit the clothesline Kingdom taps into his reserves to crawl into the cover.
1
2
Holt can barely breath but he can get his shoulder up.
Greyson: But Holt STILL kicks out.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks Holt is getting what he wanted out of this match.
Greyson: Well I think he’s getting a lot more than he bargained for out of Kingdom tonight.
Every muscle on Kingdom’s body feels strained as he grabs his elbow pad and begins to slide it off. The pad will make one fan a great souvenir as Kingdom tosses it into the crowd. He exposes his bicep in order to deliver a stiffer clothesline this time. He runs into the ropes, ricochets from them and builds momentum into a decapitation clothesline that hits NOTHING. Kingdom is surprised as he swings his arm into the vacant space where Holt WAS standing.
Johnny has no idea that Holt followed him into the ropes that he just bounced off. It isn’t until Kingdom turns around that he realizes this, because Holt is leaping into him and hitting a sling-blade. The back of Kingdom’s head collides with the canvas and the impact leads to his shoulders being pinned to the ring.
1
2
The little energy Kingdom has left is put into getting his shoulder up. There’s a smile on Holt’s face as he works his way up to his feet and shouts to the fans.
Holt: Take notes…this is REAL wrestling.
Holt pulls Kingdom along to his knees and cracks him upside the face with one, two, three, four lethal forearm strikes. He then steps back and whips around into a kick aimed at Kingdom’s head…a kick that MISSES.
Johnny ducks down out of the way, causing Holt’s boot to go flying past his skull. Holt is then shoved from behind, sending him charging into the cables. When he ricochets from the ropes he finds himself charging into Kingdom’s neck breaking clothesline. The lariat hits with such force that it damn near separates Holt’s head from his shoulders. His throat is absolutely crushed and he is now prime pickings for Kingdom, unfortunately Johnny is a little too beleaguered at the moment to follow up his clothesline. He can only crawl and crawl on instinct towards the ropes, dragging himself up with the aid of the corner. At the same time Holt is inching his way from the ring to his knees.
That’s about as far as Kingdom is willingly to let him get before nailing him with a forearm, followed by a spinning back fist, followed by the shining wizard. Kingdom leaps back into the ropes and gets a running start before lunging into the concussing shining wizard, a move that Holt has scouted. He reaches out and catches the insides of Kingdom’s thighs, throwing him over his head. Holt thinks that he’s thrown Kingdom into a back drop, but in actuality it’s not Kingdom’s back he’s dropping onto it, it’s his feet. Holt realizes this when he turns around and finds himself on the receiving end of a Pele Kick.
Even after taking the Pele Kick Holt remains balanced, yet teetering between his feet. All the while Kingdom is charging towards him to take advantage of his disorientated foe. He is just about to knock Holt out or so it would seem. Instead of Holt going down, he leaps up, delivering a devastating enzugari to the back of his opponents head. The stiff shot has Kingdom’s eyes rolling to the back of his head and drool pouring from the pockets his mouth. Holt leaves Kingdom more than just a slobbering mess, charging in with a knee strike that will leave him comatose. Just as Holt prepares to put his rival in a condition similar to Mason Storm in Hard to Kill, he finds himself caught in mid-air. He is sent flipping over into not just the t-bone suplex, but a t-bone suplex into the TURNBUCKLE.
Greyson: GAH!
Sparkles: That was one sick suplex!
Frankie: These guys just beating the absolute piss out of one another.
Greyson: And neither one can get the definitive advantage.
Sparkles: At least not up until that last suplex.
A suplex Kingdom is following up with the pin. He drags Holt out of the corner and then drops across his chest, the pinfall coming.
1
2
The Manhattan Center is crying out in surprise when Holt flings his shoulder up from the canvas. The depleted Kingdom uses up what little he has left in the tank in order to smack Holt in the forehead with a punt kick. This shot pops Holt up to his knees and puts him in perfect position for the front facelock, a precursor to the Exodus Finale.
Greyson: Here it comes!
Kingdom starts to lift Holt into the brainbuster DDT, however, Holt blocks the move at the very last possible second. He shoves Kingdom back and as a result the Team Leader bounces right off the referee, sending the striped shirt careening to the floor. Holt’s not going down, he’s going OUT. He drops out of the front chancery then out of the ring, fetching something from beneath it. The fans are irate at the sight of a kendo stick ending up in Holt’s hands then ending up in the ring and ultimately about to end up introduced to Kingdom’s brow.
Greyson: Holt about use a kendo stick on Kingdom!
Sparkles: Is this what REAL wresting is?
Frankie: I see nothing wrong with this.
Greyson: You see nothing wrong with anything.
The kendo stick is about to be employed only to have Kingdom put the kibosh on these plans. He side steps Holt and the attempted blow from the foreign object. He then puts his hands to Holt’s back and shoves him along into the turnbuckle, the one where a steel bolt has been exposed. For the second time in this match Holt’s face bounces back off the bolt and he stumbles back into Kingdom. The second that Kingdom makes contact with Holt he flings the kendo stick in his hands back over his shoulder, slapping it straight into his opponent’s brow.
Greyson: Kendo stick upside the head!
Sparkles: And Holt’s face nailing the turnbuckle bolt!
Frankie: And look at how they fell.
Both athletes take a tumble, landing side by side with their arms splayed over top of one another’s chests. The referee slowly regains his consciousness, seeing the stereo pins and slapping the canvas with both hands.
1-1
2-2
Both of his hands slap the canvas simultaneously.
Greyson: HOLD UP!
Sparkles: Did the referee? Did the referee just count both men’s shoulders down to the canvas?
Frankie: Someone, anyone, other than Lovejoy, explain to me what gives here.
The reaction is about as harsh as wiping your backside with a belt sander. The fans just can’t accept that this match ended in this fashion, with Kingdom and Holt obtaining simultaneous pin-falls. The still dazed referee signals for the bell to signify that this one is at an end.
Greyson: Oh coooomme ooooon!
Sparkles: It looks like Holt and Kingdom have both won this match.
Frankie: Bullshit. This isn’t a pre-school competition where everyone gets a ribbon so they don’t feel butt-hurt.
Greyson: After Holt bounces off that turnbuckle bolt and Kingdom was smacked in the head with the kendo stick neither man was able to kick out.
Sparkles: Neither man realized that they landed with their arms on top of one another.
The ropes are used to help Kingdom and to help Holt back to their feet, the two still weak in their knees and looking every bit confused. Their even further bewildered when the referee takes Kingdom’s wrist, raising it aloft in victory, then does the exact same thing with Holt’s arm. At the exact same time Holt and Kingdom rip their arms out of the referee’s hands. Neither man accepts this double edged sword they’ve just been handed.
Greyson: These two not taking what’s happened here very well.
Frankie: Can’t say I blame them, even though they both technically walk out of here winners.
In spite of everything that went down in this match coupled with the way it just ended, Holt extends his hand to Kingdom.
Greyson: Are you serious?
Holt is actually looking to finish this match the way he tried to start it, via a sportsmanlike handshake. Kingdom looks down into the extended hand, refusing to accept the gesture that is being made. Instead Kingdom responds with a gesture all his own, a middle finger. He raises it straight up in Holt’s face before he leaves the ring. As Kingdom walks away Holt watches him leave, wearing not an expression of anger, but a smile.
Greyson: Kingdom not buying Holt’s act and he just told him what he could do with that handshake.
Frankie: What a class act Kingdom is, huh?
Holt continues to smile as he watches an exhausted Kingdom turn his back on him and walk away.
It’s time to get your freak on.
Cameras have caught none other than Mya Denton making her way down a corridor. The hall is filled with multiple voices, but they are all coming from the same source, and that source is the particularly crazed looking Denton.
Mya: I told you this would happen.
Mya’s demeanor drastically changes, as does the cadence of her voice, now looking far more sheepish.
Mya: Shut up….Shut up…..
Again her expression and her voice change at the drop of a dime. A smile comes back to her face and the shadows around her eyes deepen.
Mya: You NEED to let me take over.
She begins to shake her head while slapping her palms upside her temples, fighting back this voice that is tormenting her. As Mya walks on the camera looks over her shoulder where two figures are situated behind her but at a distance. Rachel Tatum Lee wears the NHB Title AND a smile, taking great satisfaction in this visual of Mya in such frustration. Stood at Rachel’s hip is Aaron Harrison, his face shadowed by the hood attached to his trench-coat, his eyes peering out from beneath his shroud in order to watch Mya and watch her closely.
Harrison: She’s losing it.
Rachel: No sugar….she’s finding herself.
Harrison: Is THIS what she wanted?
Rachel: No….THIS is wat she NEEDS.
Oh great, it’s Desmond Drake AGAIN.
The diminutive douche is cautiously navigating the corridors of the Manhattan Center, peeking over his shoulder in search of anyone who would dare snatch the Queen of Wrestling Championship from his tight grip. The belt is flung over one of his shoulders, as he scurries down the hall that ends at the double doors marked ‘EXIT.’ He takes one last nervous look around before making his departure from the arena, with belt in hand.
Greyson: This is downright pathetic. Desmond Drake is fleeing from the Manhattan Center with the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Frankie: He’s doing the right thing, actually, he’s doing exactly what Silas Mason would do.
Greyson: By trying to give that belt to Flash Silver earlier tonight?
Sparkles: Yeah, and Flash can’t be the Queen of the Ring Champion considering he’s got that PENIS thingy.
Tay: What do you want?
Protestors: TAY!
Tay: When do you want her?
Protestors: EVERYDAY!
A Taylor Chase led protest continues just outside the entrance to the Manhattan Center, boycotters walking in concentric circles repeating the lines fed to them by the Monarchy member. As their voices carry through the night and their picket signs wave overheard the camera rears back from the monitor that is showing this protest still in full swing. The flat-screen TV that showcases this Monarchy led rebellion is situated on top of a table present within the office of Karen McBride. Eventually the camera finds its way to the Principle Owner, who is seated on the edge of her desk holding a bag of ice to the welt on her forehead. She does not look in the slightest bit pleased by the footage that she’s seeing.
Sparkles: The Boss ain’t happy.
Greyson: All night long we’ve seen Monarchy protesting the End of the Year Special, and all because they want Taylor Chase’s match against Katelyn Buehler to be for the championship this evening.
Frankie: And why isn’t it for the title? I’ll tell you why, it’s because this company has been determined to destroy Tay’s legacy. She’s a former THREE time World Champion for Christ sakes and yet they’re doing everything in their power to degrade her. At this same event last year, Taylor SAVED this company and now they reward her tonight by refusing her a title opp…..
Greyson: Frankie, are you reading from cue cards? Were those written by Taylor Chase?
Frankie: Shhhh…The cards still smell like Tay-Tay.
Borislav: Vy suka!
Blood rolls down the flaming hot flesh of Borislav. For the first time since his arrival in the IWC the fans can see Borislav so mad that he’s trembling. The bare-footed brute stomps and stomps with enough force to crack the steel ramp beneath him as he heads for the squared circle. If the visual of Borislav weren’t menacing enough he’s also clasping hold of a tool that he has weaponized in recent weeks, a pipe wrench.
Greyson: Borislav headed down the ramp….
Sparkles: A bloodied Borislav.
Greyson: That’s right, we saw him being maliciously assaulted by Cindy Todd earlier this evening, his FORMER Queen. I think it’s safe to assume that he’s out here with retaliation on his mind.
Frankie: When are people finally going to learn to stop messing with Cindy? Borislav should be thankful that she let him off easy.
Greyson: Easy? He’s got a huge gash in his face and who knows how much blood he’s lost.
Frankie: That’s Cindy being merciful.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think that the blood coming out of Borislav’s head is the worst of his injuries. Look at his chest…
Greyson: Uhhh, is that a message that’s been sliced into Borislav’s skin?
The brawny Borislav turns his rage to the steel steps, slamming his wrench against them multiple times. The steel is almost crushed beneath these forceful blows. With each swing of the weapon more blood flies off of Borislav’s skull and from the gashes in his chest, gashes that form a message that reads…
”Mika, 1-2, Cindy is coming for you.”
Greyson: It looks like Cindy is using Borislav as one big billboard.
Sparkles: Gross.
Frankie: She’s using him to send a message to Mika Kozlov. Cindy wants her former New Eden follower to know that she’s coming to take her back.
Borislav will not be used as letter, intent on doing something about the carvings in his chest.
Borislav: Poluchit’ zdes’ Sindi.
The fiery eyed Borislav glares up the ramp as he issues this challenge in his native tongue.
Frankie: What the heck is Borislav saying? Is he asking for my autograph?
Sparkles: Luckily Sparkles is bi-lingual, I’m fluent in Russian. So Sparkles thinks that Borislav is calling Cindy Todd out for a fight.
Frankie: Dumbass.
Borislav begins to swing the wrench into the turnbuckle post, putting massive dents in the steel. At last he drops the pipe wrench and picks up the stairs, throwing them as far as he possibly can up the ramp. The sound of steel thumping against steel echoes throughout the arena. However, the volume of Borislav’s growls are far louder than his destruction of the ringside area. Unfortunately it’s not just inanimate objects that Borislav victimizes. A camera-man regrets putting himself in the trenches when he finds himself on the receiving end of a jumping side kick. Borislav’s boot flies past the camera and into a young man’s chin.
Greyson: Borislav just kicked a damn camera-man.
Sparkles: He has absolutely snapped.
Frankie: So did that camera-man’s neck.
The snarling Borislav is not content, not content at all. Nothing will satisfy his wanton need for violence until he gets his hands on Todd. He walks up the ramp fuming, his breaths almost visible clouds of smoke shooting out of his nostrils. Yet all focus is on his chest which continues to show the chilling message sent by Cindy Todd.
What a tumultuous night it’s been for Marina Valdivia.
At the moment she’s standing in the interview area dwelling on her multiple run ins with New Eden. Stood beside her is interviewer Mark Comeau who will provide her a platform in which to release her tensions.
Comeau: It’s been quite the evening here at the End of the Year Special to say the least, in particular for my guest at this moment, Marina Valdivia.
Marina tries her best to conjure up a pleasant grin.
Comeau: Marina, you’ve already endured quite a bit of chaos throughout the night, but nothing will compare to the chaos you endure as part of the CARTEL CHAOS match you’re still scheduled to compete in against Serenity….
Marina composes herself before just letting out the string of obscenities that want to go flying through her lips
Marina: Six months ago I scored the biggest victory of my IWC career when I pinned then World Champion Serenity. That win was supposed to be the catalyst for the biggest year of my career. But you know what Mark, it wasn’t. Because that victory was the start of the DARKEST and the BLOODIEST year of my career. Every night since I pinned Serenity, she’s sought to cripple me. Riot after Riot, pay-per-view after pay-per-view, I’ve found myself left a bloodied wreck. I’ve had barbwire rip my skin. I’ve had pipe wrenches nearly break my bones. I’ve had plastic bags just about suffocate the life out of me. But you know what the craziest thing is about all of that Mark, the fact that I just keep coming back for more.
A smile cuts across Marina’s face.
Marina: Serenity’s bloodlust, it’s infectious. But I’ve had enough of it being my blood that’s spilt, tonight I’m going to…..
Before even one more word can come from Marina she’s nailed over the upper back with a forceful forearm strike. The shot sends Marina collapsing to the floor, instinctively rolling over so that she can look up at her attacker. Instead of seeing Serenity’s face, she sees the huge needle in the palm of the
New Eden’s member hand. It comes swooping down towards Marina’s face, Serenity determined to plunge it deep into her rival’s skull.
Serenity: I’m bored, Marina! Let’s get the fun started NOW!
The sadistic Serenity goes on trying to stab Marina right in the eye with the needle, one that is hooked up to an IV tube with a blood bag at the end. Although initially taken from her feet by this psychopath’s assault, Marina manages to get hands up and around Serenity’s wrists. She puts all her strength into keeping the needle from piercing her skin. Serenity has both her hands wrapped around the syringe, pushing down on it with every bit of muscle she can put into it, smiling diabolically throughout the whole process. Thankfully some stagehands get involved, refusing to watch this happen. It takes all of their combined power to force Serenity and the needle she had such deadly designs on, away from the face of her target.
Neither Serenity nor Marina are separated for very long.
Marina spends no time expressing gratitude to those who spared her a perforated eye. The second she’s off of her back she’s trying to push her way through the stagehands in order to ram her fists down Serenity’s throat. Fortunately the crewmembers prove far tougher than they look, managing to keep Serenity and Marina apart, but they won’t be on hand later that evening to keep either of these ladies separated.
The show goes back to the parking lot where Desmond Drake is headed for his car and headed there as quickly as short legs can carry him. He keeps an eye out for anyone who would DARE to take the Queen of Wrestling Championship from him, clutching the belt tight to his chest. He is so focused on looking for the threats that could be following him that he doesn’t see the danger he’s walking right into. Upon reaching his car Desmond nearly trips over a body. Drake gets his balance, physically. He is taken aback at the visual of Flash Silver, Franz and Froderick splayed across the ground in front of him. Their bodies form a halo around his car, but it’s not his car anymore. And the Queen of Wrestling title over his shoulder is not his belt either.
Drake hurries through the ring of casualties and towards the backdoor of his Mercedes only to come to a dead (hopefully not literally) stop. His eyes widen and his breaths quicken at the sight of the window rolling down to reveal the face of none other than Selena Frost.
Selena: You’ve got something that belongs to me, short stuff.
The plus sized head of Drake isn’t the only part of his body shaking as he backs away from the car.
Drake: No…(clutches the Queen of Wrestling Title tighter)…you’ll never….
The tiny suit wrapped around his body is caught from behind. Drake is petrified upon realizing that Selena’s beloved Deanna Springs has hold of him and is leading him around towards the trunk of his own car. It pops open and before Drake can even get out a squeal he’s being thrown inside by Deanna. The belt falls out of his hands, which are too busy trying to block the trunk lid closing to care about the strap. A helpless Drake finds himself a captive within the trunk of his own car. The sunroof then opens and Selena exits. Once on the hood of the car Selena is tossed the Queen of Wrestling Championship and the celebration she was denied earlier is now enjoyed.
Selena: BELIEVE! BELIEVE! BELIEVE!
She utters these words while repeatedly thrusting her belt high overhead. Deanna stands on the ground beside the car that Selena is chanting on top of. She echoes the very words booming from the Queen of Wrestling Champion’s throat.
Deanna & Selena: BELIEVE! BELIEVE! BELIEVE! BELIEVE!
The images of Selena Frost celebrating her Queen of Wrestling Championship victory play out across a small monitor. This time the television is not set up inside of the Principle Owner’s office but in a backstage area currently occupied by Monarchy member Trinity Street. At the moment the dangerous and diabolical Trinity is crossing her arms and staring rather cynically at the crate mounted television. Obviously she does not enjoy the spectacle of Selena celebrating with the Queen of Wrestling Title.
Trinity: Oh, I believe….
A truly sardonic smile graces Trinity’s cheeks.
At the moment Eric O’Flaherty looks like a chimney, so much smoke shooting out of his nostrils and mouth. He puffs on his cigarette and casually sits down beside his client Ricky Holt, who is still glistening with sweat after his physical bout moments earlier. While Eric inhales his cigarette Holt unlaces his wrestling boots, tossing them across the room.
Eric: So did Johnny give you what you wanted?
Holt chuckles as he starts to remove his knee-pad.
Holt: Looks like Kingdom’s legacy is all window dressing. He’s not a REAL wrestler. He’s not a REAL man. But soon, very soon, we’ll introduce him and everyone else to a REAL wrestler. 2016 will be the year of….the Terror.
Protestors: What do we want? TAY! When do we want her? EVERYDAY!
If you thought that the Monarchy led protest would be contained to the parking lot, keep dreamin’ junior.
A long procession of protestors make their way through the curtains, to the stage, and then march single file down the ramp. Their picket signs are thrust high overhead, each one sporting a different Taylor Chase slogan. If that wasn’t enough to prove their undying loyalty to Chase, then how about the nifty Monarchy brand jerseys each one of them currently sports?
Greyson: What the hell is this hot garbage?
Sparkles: That protest that’s been going on outside all night long has trickled into the arena.
Frankie: Was only a matter of time guys…..
Greyson: Frankie, you can’t condone Monarchy hijacking our show just to express their grievances about Taylor Chase not getting a World Title shot tonight.
Frankie: The hell I can’t. Tay is not only Monarchy’s bread and butter here in the IWC, but she’s this federations entrée, it’s main course, and it’s desert. Each of us, every single last one of us, should be supporting her protest. And you know what, that’s just what I’m gonna do.
Greyson: Frankie, what the heck….SIT DOWN!
Frankie: NO, Monarchy will have a voice, and I will be that voice. WHAT DO WE WANT? TAY!!
Cameras cut to the announce table where Frankie is stood and ripping away his leather jacket to reveal the Monarchy t-shirt he was wearing beneath. He then reaches under the table and pulls out a picket sign that reads “TAY ALL THE WAY!”
Frankie: WHEN DO WE WANT HER? EVERYDAY!
To the disgust of his fellow commentators Frankie vacates the announce table and joins the gang of protestors who have gathered at the base of the ramp.
Sparkles: How come Frankie didn’t bring Sparkles along to protest with him?
Greyson: I think there’s enough Tay and Monarchy kiss asses out here already Sparkles.
Sparkles: But no one kisses ass like Sparkles kisses ass.
Greyson: This is ridiculous. Monarchy have been boycotting this show all night long on the basis that Taylor Chase is not receiving a World Title shot against Katelyn Buehler. It was bad enough that they were protesting outside of the arena but now they’ve brought their loud mouths to ringside.
Loud mouths weren’t the only thing that the protestors brought to the ring. Chains are now removed from several gym bags a number of the rabble rousers dragged out with them. One end of the chain is wrapped around a ring-post, then the other is bound about the parallel post. The steel links are extended across the waists of the protestors, chaining themselves to the ring.
Sparkles: Are they…..?
Greyson: Oooooh God.
Sparkles: They’re chaining themselves to the ring.
The protestors go on chanting their grievances. Eventually it takes the lyrics of Taylor Chase’s theme music to drown out their impassioned cries. The ring leader of this whole debacle emerges from the entry way and heads for the squared circle bedecked in her wrestling gear and her Monarchy brand t-shirt. In response to the heckles of the fans Tay merely throws up ‘talk to the hand’ taunt. She then gives a high five to a number of her protestors before stopping in front of Frankie Paradise. He wants more than a five, evident by his puckered lips. Tay cringes before ignoring Frankie and making her way up the stairs and into the squared circle.
Greyson: And there’s the woman responsible for all of this.
Sparkles: Taylor Chase slated to take on our World Champion this evening, but she has been very vocally outspoken against the fact that this match will be non-title.
Greyson: Here’s the thing, Mika Kozlov is the number one contender for the World Title, she won a friggin tournament to EARN the right to face Katelyn for the title.
Sparkles: Yeah, but who’s to say Tay wouldn’t have won the tournament if she had been allowed to participate in it? She does have a few legitimate gripes.
And gripe she shall do. A microphone is in her hand and Tay is about to remind the fans just how outspoken she can be.
Taylor: SING IT!
She shouts her orders at the protestors, who join in a chorus of chants.
Protestors: What do we want? TAY!
Taylor: Thaaaaaaat’s riiiiight. You hear them? Huh? You hear them IWC?
Tay cups her ear and leans towards the protestors in a Hulk Hogan-esque fashion….without the racism.
Taylor: The people, the world, the UNIVERSE are clamoring….no…BEGGING for TAY! Begging for MOI! Me…Miss Must-See. The three time-THREEEEEE TIME World Champion of the world! But what they really-really-REALLY want, what these little boys and girls have put at the top of their letters to Santa, is to see their hero become a FOUR TIME Champ-E-ON!
Greyson: This woman is downright delusional.
Sparkles: What do we want? Ta….
Greyson: Don’t you even join the bandwagon.
Taylor: And my fans around the world will not settle for anything less than seeing me emerge from my match against High as a Kite Kate without the title hugging these abs. That’s why my storm troopers have chained themselves to the ring in protest. They have bonded together in an effort to see that I FINALLY get what’s rightfully mine, a fourth reign as champion. They will not budge from ringside and will not allow this show to continue until Karen McBride brings her Crypt Keeper face out here and gives me what I’m owed.
Greyson: This is….
Sparkles: What we do want? TAY….
Greyson: I said stop that.
Tay paces while her protestors remain fastened together by a chain at ringside.
Taylor: So Karen, if you want your first show as Principle Owner to go on then you’ll actually use those two remaining brain-cells floating around in your head to…..
As shocking as this is going to sound, Tay actually shuts up! And for good reason. Her sentence trails off as a jarring visual infests her eyes, the image of World Champion Katelyn Buehler walking out from the backstage area. It’s not just the sight of Katelyn, the sight of her leather jacket, the sight of the title around her waist, that has Tay so focused on the woman headed down the ramp, but also the sight of the huge hose being dragged along in the hands of her rival.
Sparkles: It’s our champ, Lovejoy.
Greyson: I know that Sparkles, but what I don’t know is why Katelyn Buehler is carrying that fireman’s hose with her.
Sparkles: Fireman’s hose? But Tay told Sparkles that Katelyn was more into sailors….
Greyson: NOT that kind of hose.
Tay doesn’t care for this interruption, especially from her most bitter rival.
Taylor: Uhhhh exxxxcuuuse me, I was kinda in the middle of something here, Kate. So why don’t you take all that cottage cheese in your thighs to the backstage area. I mean, the fans might find it hard to see me after looking directly into your skin for more than a minute.
Not a single word is uttered by the World Champion, who merely smiles towards the woman who has done absolutely everything in her power to degrade her over the past several months, doing so even now by mocking her pale skin. The huge hose that is held in Katelyn’s hands and leads towards the backstage area is slowly raised, being turned to the ring.
Taylor: Here’s an idea Kate, why don’t you go back to protecting the Da Vinci Code and fighting Tom Hanks instead of interrupting me? Isn’t it bad enough that you’re hiding behind the edict of the Principle Owner to save your World Championship? Do you really have to make me look at your face too?
An angrier and angrier Taylor begins to storm around the ring.
Taylor: You know what….(shouts at the protestors chained together at ringside)…in case Katelyn didn’t hear you before, how about you let her know what you really want? And FYI Katie, they don’t want YOU as champion.
Protestors: What do we want?
A smiling Katelyn puts the hose she’s carrying into position.
Katelyn: A bath.
The lever on the spout of the hose is pulled and water comes bursting out. The protestors stop chanting and start screaming when the water hits them with enough force to knock them from their feet and to the floor. Katelyn laughs as she turns the hose from one protestors to another, the water she douses them with hitting with enough pressure to tear the Monarchy jersey off one of their backs.
Greyson: Katelyn turning the water hose on these protestors!
Sparkles: That’s how you break up a rally.
One unfortunate protestor gets a sustained spraying from the hose, rolling around on the floor and trying to cover up from the spray of H20 that they are being drowned in.
Greyson: Get ‘em Katelyn, get ‘em!
Sparkles: She’s spraying them down fierce.
The hose is shut off when Katelyn sees an enraged Taylor running up the ramp to avenge her fallen ‘fans.’ Kate drops the hose but throws up her defenses, blocking the punch that Tay tried to catch her upside the head with. The Champion hits a boot to Tay’s gut and then cracks her in the temple with a left hand.
Greyson: And it looks like we’re underway here, Katelyn Buehler and Taylor Chaser in the grudge match we’ve all been dying to see for months.
Sparkles: Months, how about YEARS.
KATELYN BUEHLER VS. TAYLOR CHASE
The crowd couldn’t possibly be any more excited as they are right now when seeing these two bitter rivals finally battling it out. To the delight of the masses Katelyn and Taylor are finally coming to blows after months and months of deep seated resentment and highly personal attacks. This exchange of punches come to an end when Tay goes low, kicking her rival to the stomach. She then drags Katelyn along into the barricade, smacking her jaw against it. Tay isn’t through introducing Kate’s face to various areas around the ring. She pulls the World Champion’s skull towards the ring post and bounces her head off it as well.
Sparkles: Tay just opening up on Katelyn.
Taylor is about to continue this barrage but soon realizes that her opponent is far more resilient than she believed. Katelyn leads an offensive salvo against Tay, hitting her with a bionic elbow across the top of her skull. She then pulls Tay into a headbutt that has the former three time champion staggering back and tripping over one of her water logged fans. Katelyn takes advantage of this, dropping down on top of Tay and beginning to punch her repeatedly in the cheek. Referee Marcus Mayfield has reached the ringside area, his boot splashing the water puddled under his feet and around the bodies of the combatants in the very brawl he’s set to officiate.
Try as Mayfield may there is absolutely nothing that is going to stop Tay and Katelyn from going at it full force before the match can even start.
Greyson: Katelyn just beating the tar out of Taylor before this match can even get started.
Katelyn goes on clobbering Tay in the forehead before the two finally work their way up off the water saturated mats. Tay staggers back from her nemesis, falling against the steel steps and using them for support. She holds herself up just long enough for Katelyn to come racing in and delivering a basement dropkick on her rival’s ribs. Tay is launched off of her feet and sent crashing spine first into the stairs. The steps hold her up in a seated position just long enough for her face to be crushed by the running knee strike. Katelyn puts all of her momentum behind a running knee, one she hits with enough force to break every bone in Taylor’s face.
Katelyn: WHO’S HOUSE IS THIS!?!
Shouts the World Champion to anyone who will listen. Judging by the reaction from the fans every single one of them are hearing what Katelyn is screaming. They give her all the support in the world, cheering each blow that she hits on Taylor. These blows come in the form of stomps, kicking her rival in the chest again and again and again. The heels to Tay’s stomach and sternum have her sliding further and further down the stairs until she is laid across her back across the floor.
Finally Katelyn pulls the woman who has degraded her for months off of the ground and into a scoop slam position. Actually she just elevates Tay high enough to send her crashing down face first onto the stairs. The disorientated Monarchy member rolls into the ring looking so frazzled. Though she’s further flustered when a soaking wet t-shirt is used as a whip across her spine. Katelyn has ripped a Monarchy jersey off of one of the protestors crawling around ringside and now uses it as a weapon. The saturated shirt hits the tattoo on Tay’s lower back with such force that it has the former three time World Champion screaming out in agony.
Katelyn stops using the shirt as a whip and starts using it as a noose.
Tay’s eyes are bulging out of their sockets as she’s strangled by the shirt tugged between her rival’s hands.
Greyson: The last time these two met was back at Reawakening Day of last year where they tore the house down in singles competition…
Sparkles: But right now this is pretty one sided, Katelyn making Taylor Chase pay for double crossing her a few months ago by bashing her in the face with a barbwire bat.
The shirt is at last tossed out of the ring because Katelyn wants to use her own hands to inflict punishment on Taylor. She grabs the bangs of her rival and starts to pull her up from the canvas only to have Tay suddenly lash out with a thumb connecting with the Champion’s eyes. The thumb stays there, nail grinding against Katelyn’s pupil. A screaming Buehler grabs her rival’s wrists, pushing them back and trying to get the claws out of her eyeballs. Finally the referee gets between Tay and Katelyn, pushing the pair away from one another and compelling the fingernails out of the title bearer’s eyes. Although the official intervened he failed to do so in time to provide much reprieve for Katelyn. The damage has already been done, Katelyn is all but blind as she staggers into the ropes and then accidentally falls through them to the apron. As she palms her eyes and works her way to her feet on the apron she’s totally unaware what’s happening in the ring behind her.
Referee Mayfield is warning Taylor, who mocks the official by moving her fingers like they were a flapping mouth. The ref turns away from Tay and goes to check on her opponent only Mayfield proves more detrimental to Katelyn than helpful. Tay puts her boot to the official’s butt and shoves him along right into the ropes that Katelyn is standing on the opposite side of. The impact sends Katelyn flying from the apron, twisting along and landing back first right across the announce table. She slides across the table and lands right on the floor between Sparkles and Greyson Lovejoy.
Greyson: OOOOOH WHOA! OOOH WHOA!
Sparkles: Katelyn almost knocked Sparkles over!
Greyson: Katelyn landing right on top of our announce table.
If the Head Referee wasn’t mad before you better believe he’s downright furious now. He does not take kindly to being used as a weapon, which he makes transparent to Tay. She all but ignores the roars of the referee, stepping past him and out of the ring.
The impact with the announce table has Katelyn in pretty dire condition, all the air knocked clean from her body. In spite of the damage she just withstood Katelyn is crawling around the table and trying to stand back up. She reaches her feet, though it’s not of her own power. Katelyn is pulled along by Taylor and then sent flipping straight into the barricade. Katelyn almost does a headstand as her lower back smacks off the barrier and her body goes down to the ground. Katelyn grimaces in pain while inching her way back up to her feet. Once upright Katelyn is kicked to the gut and then taken right back down via a vicious throw into the ring apron. Yet again Katelyn is sent flipping over with her lower spine smashing against the hardened fringe of the squared circle.
Greyson: How many slams can Katelyn’s anatomy tolerate against everything at ringside?
Sparkles: Maybe Tay will slam Katelyn against you next.
Greyson: She almost did a moment ago when she sent Katelyn flying from ringside right out here into our announce table.
It’s not the announce table that Katelyn is being flung into right now. Instead it’s the ringside mats that Taylor scoop slams Kate against. Tay rolls into the ring and prevents the official from counting her out. The moment that Tay rolls back to ringside her opponent is falling into her clutches and that opponent is sent flying into the steel steps. Katelyn goes tripping over her own feet, causing her to once again slam with her back against the stairs before coming down on top of her head.
The stairs, much like the bones in Katelyn’s spine, are separated. The lower half is now employed by the destructive Taylor, who drags her rival’s arm across the steel. She then leaps into the air and stomps down at Katelyn’s forearm, crushing it between the steel and her boot.
Greyson: Tay honing in on the arm.
Sparkles: Smart-smart-smart move. She knows that Katelyn uses that roaring elbow otherwise known as the KTFO. You take out the arm, you take out Katelyn’s most potent maneuver.
A wailing Katelyn reaches for her arm, which remains extended across the steel steps. Meanwhile Taylor is reaching for something else, picking up one of the picket signs that her supporters brought to ringside. She throws that sign over the ropes and into the ring. The referee sees this foreign object coming into play, snatching it up and throwing it from the squared circle. However, he has no idea that the picket sign was just tossed into the ring in order to distract him. He has no idea that Taylor is picking up yet another picket sign and swinging the wooden board into Katelyn’s shoulder.
Greyson: Damn you, Tay!
The picket sign is thrown aside so that Taylor can make use of another weapon. She grabs hold of the chain that had been employed by her protestors, now utilizing it for a different purpose. The chain is wrapped around Katelyn’s wrist and then the other end is thrown around the ring post. She keeps pulling on that chain in order to drag Katelyn’s arm up and into the air, entirely exposing it for the kicks that Tay is delivering. She keeps holding the chain and as thus holding Katelyn’s arm in the air while repeatedly kicking her in the bicep and the shoulder.
Greyson: Tay is entirely debilitating the World Champion’s arm.
Sparkles: Using everything at her disposal to do so.
Tay would go on decimating her opponent’s arm and using the chain to do so if the referee weren’t presently counting her out. So Tay releases the chain and rolls into the ring, breaking up the official’s ten count. She crawls back towards the chain, part of it draped over the canvas. Tay grabs it, gives it a yank as thus the steel links wrapped around Katelyn’s arm forces her to stand up. She keeps pulling on the chain until Katelyn is dragged into the squared circle. A big tug is given to the chain and as thus Katelyn’s arm is stretched out across the canvas. As a result there is no defense against the leg drop that Taylor hits right across her rival’s bicep. If Katelyn thought that was painful she hasn’t experienced anything just yet. An elbow drop collides right with her shoulder, nearly dislocating it. Taylor remains seated beside her opponent just long enough to drag her arm between her knees, sandwiching it place while also locking her hands under Katelyn’s jaw. A crippler crossface is applied on Katelyn, doing significant damage to the Champion’s neck, but more importantly to her arm.
Sparkles: Tay slowing the tempo a little.
Greyson: And wearing down Katelyn’s shoulder in the process. After the damage that’s been inflicted on it throughout this match this could realistically be the end of this rivalry between these two.
The crossface exerts so much pressure on Kate’s arm and yet it still doesn’t have her submitting. Being a woman who fights through such insurmountable obstacles it’s going to take more than the crossface to end her. She starts to slide herself across the ring and towards the ropes, eventually wrapping her hand around the bottom rope. The referee starts a five count which Tay uses every last bit of before finally releasing her rival. Katelyn continues to use the ropes to pull herself all the way up to her feet. The second she reaches her feet she finds her arm tucked around behind her into the hammerlock. Taylor then delivers forearm after forearm right into the prone bicep of her adversary. She only unfolds Katelyn’s arm in order to use it to drag her into the ropes. Tay wraps Katelyn’s arm around the top cable and now applies a hammerlock with the use of the cable.
As Katelyn’s screams cut through the arena Tay actually mocks her, making fun of her opponent’s expressions of pain. It isn’t until the referee starts a five count that Tay stops poking fun at Katelyn and tormenting her arm with the use of the ropes. A banged up Katelyn has her stomach draped over the ropes, her head hovering above the apron, an apron that Taylor is running across. Her knee is aimed for Katelyn’s face but it gets nowhere close to connecting. The World Champion pulls her head back through the ropes and into the ring to successfully avoid her rival’s knee. Tay’s missed strike causes her to go spinning entirely around, turning back to face the ring just as Katelyn launches herself out of it. In spite of her banged up shoulder Katelyn still drives it straight into Tay’s ribs with a spear. Katelyn dives out of the squared circle, through the ropes and into a spear so forceful that it sends Tay flying back off the apron and into the arena floor. Katelyn comes down right on top of her, bouncing up off of Tay and ending up just as limp as her rival.
Greyson: SPEEEAR! HOLY GOD ABOVE…what…a…SPEAR!
Sparkles: CRUUUSHING Tay right in her ribs and driving her right off that ring apron.
Greyson: I don’t know what was worse, the spear or the fall.
Sparkles: They probably both hurt Tay equally.
The rib breaking spear has got Katelyn out of her rut, but not out of danger. Her arm still feels like it’s hanging by a mere thread and yet she uses it to pull herself not only to the apron but up the nearest turnbuckle as well. Adrenaline is starting to surge, the crowd knows that things are about to get cray-cray-cra-ZAY as Katelyn ebbs ever nearer to the top of the turnbuckle. Down below her at ringside the soaking wet commentator Frankie Paradise has staggered to the side of the World Champion’s target. He helps Taylor up from the ground, but not because he’s chivalrous…hell-no….it’s because it gives him the chance to cop a feel. He stands behind Tay and actually assists her up to her feet by way of cupping her inverted camel humps. Once Tay comes through and feels two very grubby hands in very inappropriate places, she whips around and instinctively slaps Frankie right upside his face, almost sending the obnoxious commentator’s head spiraling around into a total 360.
Greyson: Hahahahahaha-aaaaaah-hahahahaha!
Sparkles: That wasn’t funny Lovejoy.
Greyson: Finally, there IS A GOD after-all. Cause he just made sure Frankie got what he had coming to him.
The slapped Frankie lays on the ground, and soon he’ll have some company on the floor right there beside him. Tay adjusts her ‘endowments’ then turns around to face the turnbuckle that Katelyn has come flying right off of. From the middle rope Katelyn flings her body, landing straight on top of Tay and driving her to the mats. Kate lands on top with her fist swinging, swinging and swinging some more right into every inch of her rival’s face. The Lou Thez Press from the middle rope has never looked so good and felt so brutal. Katelyn goes on punching until the bones inside of her fist feel like they’re broken. Finally Tay is given a reprieve, for a moment, only so that Katelyn can toss her back into the ring.
You better believe that Katelyn keeps the aggression coming. The second she gets in the ring she’s already backing up one of the corners and flinging herself off into an axehandle elbow drop that would make color return to Bret Hart’s hair. Right now the only thing changing color is the pigment of Tay’s skin, getting redder and redder with each blow her rival connects with. And there will be another blow, this one coming from the middle rope once again. Katelyn comes off the corner perpendicular to the one she just leaped off of, coming down into a second axehandle elbow across Tay’s brow.
That’s it, Tay’s had about enough of this. She goes rolling away from Kate, away from all this brutality, and away from the ring entirely. She gets under the ropes and sits on the apron before blowing off the squared circle and everything going on inside of it.
Taylor: To hell with this. (Swipes her arms from her chest out to her sides) If it’s not for the title then I’m done….
Oh if it were that easy, but Katelyn isn’t making it that simple.
She dashes any of Tay’s plans of walking away from the ring and away from this match. Katelyn reaches over the ropes, sinking her fingers into Taylor’s hair and giving it a yank, forcing her up onto the apron and then trying to drag her into the squared circle. Notice the word ‘trying.’ Taylor manages to complicate things for her opponent now, grabbing her by the arm that was yanking her by the hair and then leaping from the apron, pulling the champion’s bicep down straight into the top rope.
Sparkles: See that? With one move Tay manages to turn the momentum back in her favor.
Greyson: She went straight back after the arm. Tay ever the strategist.
After having her arm snapped off the top cable Katelyn finds herself doubled over, her bicep swelling to twice it’s normal size. Tay sees the pain her rival is in, and she immensely enjoys what she’s seeing. After ensuring that the tide is back in her favor Tay slips into the ring then runs across it, going after Kate’s arm but running afoul of her foot. To the surprise of everyone, Tay in particular, Katelyn takes her focus off the arm still cradled across her stomach and hits a thrust kick right to the jaw of her rival. The shot jacks Tay’s jaw and sends her plummeting to her back. Her chest is then covered by Buehler, who looks to catch her rival off guard and put this rivalry at long last to an end.
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It won’t end like that, cause Tay’s arm is thrusting into the air, refusing to live in a world where she’s been pinned by Katelyn Buehler.
Greyson: That thrust kick caught Tay but it damn sure didn’t finish her off.
Sparkles: It probably would have been enough against any other opponent, but everyone knows that Tay is a different brand of athlete.
A fact that Katelyn is grappling with right now as she kneels on the canvas clasping at her bruised arm. In an act that demonstrates why she won that belt and has held it in spite of some stiff challenges, Kate shakes off the injuries to her arm and uses it to pull her adversary up from the ring. It seems that a lightning spiral is coming up next, Katelyn about two seconds removed from successfully connecting with the SLO. She starts to swing her injured arm into the crease of Tay’s knee but then stops due to the sharp pain that suddenly radiates up through her bicep and shoulder. Katelyn can’t hit the move, all she can do is double over in a fit of pain, cradling her arm across her stomach. This is a rare opportunity that her opponent just can’t pass up, Tay running at Kate’s shoulder only to once again find herself connecting with a different part of her the champ’s anatomy. Katelyn hits a knife edge chop on Tay’s chest, driving her back. The blow has Taylor stumbled but the clothesline should take her down entirely. Katelyn runs into the clothesline, or so she planned. What connects is not a lariat, it’s a knee strike, as Tay leaves her feet and hits a dropkick right into Katelyn’s bicep.
A scream, ooooh what a scream emanates from Katelyn as she grabs at her arm, the muscles inside feeling like they just exploded. This time Tay will take advantage of these injuries and there isn’t a damn thing Katelyn’s going to be able to do to prevent it. Tay runs in behind a slouched Katelyn, puts hands to her back and shoves her along not into the turnbuckle but through it so that her shoulder collides with the exposed turnbuckle post.
Sparkles: Katelyn could only manage to keep her opponent from focusing her attack on that arm for so long.
Greyson: You knew that Tay was going to find her way back to that area of Katelyn’s body eventually, in spite of our Champion’s best efforts to fend her off.
Sparkles: And damn did she ever get back to that arm, driving it into the ring-post.
Greyson: Almost THROUGH the ring-post.
Surprisingly after slamming into the post Katelyn does not bounce back off the steel, instead she goes on leaning against it, her banged up arm wrapped around the corner. Taylor sees an opportunity and you best believe she’s about to seize it. She quickly rolls out of the ring and fetches the chain that was used in an effort to bind her supporters to the ring, now it’s used to bind Katelyn’s hands together. Tay steps around the ringside mats and reaches up to grab her rival’s hands, wrapping the chain around her wrists several times. In spite of her best efforts Katelyn cannot pull her arms back into the ring and defend her bicep from the brutality her rival has intended for it. Tay jumps up to the apron, dashes across it with a big smile on her face and actually screams with delight as she hits a basement dropkick straight to her adversary’s bicep. As a result Katelyn’s arm is squashed between the pillar and Tay’s boots. The pain is so severe that Katelyn can’t even express it, and that pain only gets worse when Tay hits a second basement dropkick to her bicep.
Greyson: Do something about this ref.
Sparkles: Yeah, Katelyn’s hands are tied around the ring post. Unshackle her for crying out loud.
That’s just what Mayfield is trying to do, stepping to the apron and desperately fidgeting with the chain that ties the champion’s wrists. Taylor doesn’t care about the referee’s warnings, hitting another dropkick, this time not to the shoulder but to her rival’s back. Taylor runs out of the corner perpendicular to the one that Katelyn finds herself suffering in and finishes her jaunt with a kick right to the thighs of the champion. As a result the kick sends Katelyn flying forward with her shoulder plowing into the turnbuckle post. Only her groans are louder than the impact of her shoulder into the steel. Actually there’s just one other thing louder, the decibel of Taylor’s voice. She skips almost playfully to the middle of the ring and then kicks back her hair while extending her arms straight out to her sides, looking up to the rafters with eyes closed.
Taylor: WHO’S HOUSE IS IT!?!
According to the crowd it’s definitely not Taylor’s.
Greyson: Why does Tay do this? She’s got the advantage, she doesn’t need to rub it in like this.
Sparkles: No, she doesn’t, but she will anyways, because it’s fun.
Tay puts a finger up to her mouth, playfully nibbling on the tip of it with a girlish grin on her face as she peeks over her shoulder at the referee struggling to get the chain off of Katelyn’s wrists. Yet another golden opportunity presents itself. Tay rolls out of the ring, reaches over the barricade into the crowd and retrieves a steel chair. She slides back inside the squared circle and readies to turn the chair into the instrument that will end this match and end Katelyn’s career. She runs across the ring to slam the steel into her rival’s back but in the eleventh hour the referee intervenes. Mayfield dashes right into Taylor’s way and grabs the chair from her hands. He rips the steel away from Taylor, and turns his back to her, totally ignoring her protests, her very loud and very ear drum shattering protests. No more breath is wasted on the referee, Tay walking past him and towards Katelyn, stepping right into a punch across her cheek. Tay’s eyes almost bulge from their sockets, finding herself shocked when the champion’s fist cracks her in the face. It wasn’t just a single punch either, because here comes another and another and another. Katelyn goes on jabbing Tay and driving her back towards the middle of the ring.
Greyson: Come on Katelyn, keep it up….Keep it up!
These desperation punches are unleashed by Katelyn, who has completely forgotten about the chain that is still dangling from around one of her wrists. She’s reminded of the chain though when she goes for one last knock-out jab only to have her bicep crushed by steel links. Tay picks up the other end of the chain, wraps it around her fist and swings it in time to catch Katelyn in her injured arm with such a swift and bone cracking shot. The referee, who was busy tossing the chair out of the ring, never saw Tay’s flagrant use of the chain. A chain that now cracks Katelyn over the back of her head. Tay wraps the chain around her arm and slams it right over the upper back of the beleaguered World Champion. The crowd screams but not in time to let the referee know what’s happening. Mayfield spins around when hearing the groans of the audience, turning back to the action just as the chain that was used as a weapon is tossed. Tay gets rid of the incriminating evidence and now drops down beside Kate, rolling her to her back and putting her forearm into the cheek of her unconscious opponent.
Taylor: COUNT!
Orders Tay with Mayfield promptly dropping down to do his job.
Greyson: She used the chain ref. She used the chain.
Sparkles: Which will be legal in that Cartel Chaos match later tonight but not right now.
Tay can give a damn about legality, she wants the win and that’s IT.
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Greyson: Don’t tell me Tay has stole it like this.
Thankfully no will have to lie to Lovejoy, because Katelyn amazes the entire world by launching her shoulder off the ring. Katelyn cannot live with herself if she knew Taylor pinned her, especially after everything she’s done to her over the past several months. Once again Katelyn’s skin is going red as she stares over the unconscious body of her opponent and at the referee, giving him that ‘are you serious’ look.
Sparkles: It’s amazing. It’s absolutely amazing that Katelyn can kick out even after that strike with the chain.
Greyson: Taylor THAT close to cheating her way to victory. She was literally half a second removed from defeating the World Champion.
It looks like Tay’s skin is about to squirm right off of her body. She is so unnerved by Katelyn’s kick out, one that she will make Katelyn pay for dearly. She rolls Katelyn over to her stomach and latches onto the arm of the World Champion, applying the crippler crossface.
Greyson: Back into the crippler crossface.
Sparkles: Which is incredibly smart by Taylor. Not only has she worked over the arm throughout this match but that blow from the chain hit Katelyn right in the back of her neck, an area which is also targeted by this submission.
Greyson: Come on Katelyn, you can fight through this, you’ve fought through so much….so much to become the World Champion and to hold onto that championship.
Sparkles: That’s true, but she just got nailed in the back of the head with a chain, and like Sparkles said, her arm is all torn up.
Although Katelyn should be tapping out and tapping out instantly to the crossface the hold seems to actually rejuvenate her spirits. Her free hand slams into the canvas and then squeezes at the ring, using her nails to pull herself closer to the ropes. The second Tay feels herself budged half an inch she decides to change up her submission. She reaches out, grabs Katelyn’s other arm and pulls it up into the RINGS OF SATURN.
Greyson: Oh my-OH MY, we haven’t seen this hold in a long time.
Sparkles: BOTH of Katelyn’s arms tied up behind her back. Leaving her with nowhere else to go.
Katelyn’s arms are bent back at the most unimaginable angle while her opponent’s hands interlock under her jaw. A very gruesome rendition of the Rings of Saturn may just lead to equally as gruesome results, Katelyn’s submission and months of Taylor bragging about her victory over the World Champion. The fans can’t live with that and neither can Katelyn, who begins to pull herself towards the ropes, not with her hands, but with her knees. She shows incredible leg strength in dragging both her opponent and herself closer and closer to the ropes. To the awe of the fans and to the dread of Chase, her adversary’s ankle falls across the bottom rope.
Greyson: Kate got to the ropes! Tay’s got to break the hold.
Sparkles: Unbelievable. Even after all that, all that cheating by Chase, her opponent still manages to get to the cables.
The fans are giving the World Champion a standing ovation while Taylor is giving the World Champion a two finger salute. She flips off Katelyn and then just pushes the back of her head disrespectfully. Kate surprisingly manages to react, hitting a back elbow on her obnoxious opponent. This unexpected strike sends Tay into a fit of rage, rolling to her knees and just clobbering Katelyn over and over again across the back of her head with forearms. Tay then uses Katelyn’s hair to pull her head up from the canvas then swing her face straight down into the canvas. The impact is about as painful as you would imagine…..naaah….it’s probably a lot worse. Katelyn can attest to that as she grips at the bridge of her nose. A nose that will not be the last area of her body broken.
Tay takes Katelyn arm, folds it behind her back and leads her to her feet. The hammerlock is only applied long enough for Taylor to push Katelyn backwards and right into the turnbuckle. Katelyn’s arm is caught up behind her, causing it to take the brunt of the impact with the corner. The impact has Katelyn crouching, trying to curl around her injured arm. Tay isn’t going to allow that, stepping in, putting her boot to Katelyn’s throat and pushing back. The World Champion is gasping for air as Taylor chokes her with the boot and holds the top rope to help maintain her balance. The referee starts a five count, getting to 4.5 before Tay takes her boot away from her opponent’s throat and instead wedges her knee against that very same larynx. The ever manipulative Tay steps up onto the middle rope with one foot while her knee is embedded against Kate’s neck, again choking all the air out of her.
The referee starts another five count, and gets to 4.9 before Tay removes her knee from Katelyn’s throat.
Taylor: This isn’t Kate’s house…(she shouts at the disheartened fans)…this is Monarchy’s castle baby!
After insulting on top of injuring her opponent Tay drops down out of the corner, takes Kate by the head and snapmares her to the middle of the ring. Tay then climbs up onto the turnbuckle behind her barely cogent opponent. If Tay’s words weren’t enough to upset the fans then her gestures will definitely have them postal. She slaps her knee several times, indicating that she’s going to not just hit the TKO, but hit it off the middle rope.
Sparkles: TKO is coming, Lovejoy.
Greyson: Taylor is going to finish this, finish it with the most powerful weapon at her disposal, that titanium knee brace.
The fans can only watch what is about to happen through the cracks between the fingers they have over their eyes. They live in perpetual dread at the thought of seeing their beloved Buehler smacked with the knee strike that will undoubtedly end her. Katelyn doesn’t hear her fans, too busy listening to the ringing in her ears, which is why she’s standing, standing just in time to have her face demolished by the titanium knee brace just dying to introduce itself to her mug. Finally Kate is up, but she won’t be very much longer with her opponent’s leg soaring towards her….then soaring OVER her. Katelyn drops out of the way, causing Taylor to fly right over the champion and ultimately right down to the ring.
Greyson: Katelyn saw it coming, somehow she saw it coming and she managed to avoid the TKO.
Sparkles: How much longer can these two continue going at it like this?
The protestors regrouping at ringside are asking themselves this exact same question as they gather around the aprons, shouting for Tay to get up. That’s just what she does, but she rises without realizing that Katelyn is waiting for her to stand in order to hit a potential concussing blow. A wobbly kneed Tay reaches her feet just as Katelyn swoops in with a clothesline, a clothesline that doesn’t hit her opponent’s neck but instead hits her opponent’s boot. Tay kicks Katelyn to her injured shoulder and does so with as much strength as she has left in her legs. Katelyn turns away from Tay, doubles over and grabs at her arm, but unfortunately her rival is reaching for it too. The ever aggressive Taylor takes Katelyn’s arm, trying to drive her down to the ring and into the fujiwara. There was that word ‘trying’ again.
Instead of Katelyn going down to the canvas, it’s Taylor who takes the fall. Kate reaches back, grabs Tay around the neck and snapmares her over onto the canvas. Whatever Katelyn had in store for her we will not find out, because Taylor on instinct and instinct alone rolls from the ring. She reaches the apron where a number of water drenched supporters are stood beneath her chanting.
Protestors: What do we want? TAY!
That’s just what they’re about to get.
Somehow Tay still has the strength to get up and as she does she rises unwittingly right into her rival’s clutches. Katelyn swoops in from behind Tay, grabs her by the shoulder and the knee then drags her off of the apron with the SLO. The lighting spiral sends Taylor flying from the apron then crashing right on top of her chanting entourage at ringside.
Sparkles: OOOOOOH GOOOUDA!
Greyson: Taylor just-Taylor just-Taylor just launched off the apron with the SLO!
Sparkles: And holy cripes, she landed right on her protestors!
The screams pierce the heavens as the crowd responds to perhaps the most stunning move they’ve ever witnessed. A move that ended Tay, that ended this match, that ended the most prolific rivalry in either of these ladies’ famed careers. Katelyn uses what little strength she has left to drag Taylor out of the wreckage of bodies at ringside then throw her along right into the stairs. Tay ricochets from the steps and goes stumbling back into Katelyn…into Katelyn’s SLO. The lightning spiral is hit and it’s hit on the arena floor.
Greyson: Another SLO, this time straight into the ground!
Sparkles: Put Tay in the ring Katelyn, you’ve got this, you’ve got this!
Katelyn realizes this, but given everything she’s been put through in this match it’s not the easiest job in the world throwing her rival back into the ring. At last Katelyn manages to throw Taylor into the ring where she waits to fall victim to a very rare loss, the first she has suffered in quite some time. She absent mindedly struggles to reach her feet, totally void of conscious thought, totally unaware that Katelyn is stepping in behind her. Just at it looks like Katelyn is going to clinch defeat, she walks directly into an elbow that smacks her in the mouth.
Greyson: How the hell did Tay just hit that?
Sparkles: Sparkles has no……YIIIIKES!
Taylor spins around after hitting the elbow and looks to capitalize on her unexpected strike. That isn’t about to happen because Katelyn falls back in the ropes and uses the momentum from the ricochet to leap into the Lou Thez Press. She connects with Taylor, takes her down to the ring and unloads with punches delivered from both sides of her body. Tay’s head is struck from the right, from the left, from the right, from the left, over and over again. Finally Katelyn stops bruising her knuckles on the skull of her greatest foe and looks to finally put her away, finally end THE greatest rivalry in IWC history.
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Greyson: Is it over?
Sparkles: Katelyn is pinning her with all she’s worth!
The referee’s hand swings for the ring but not fast enough, Tay still has the energy to kick out.
Greyson: Good lord it’s not! It’s NOT OVER!
Sparkles: These two are going to go all night long.
Greyson: It just goes to show how personal this is between Taylor Chase and Katelyn Buehler. Years of hate have poured into this one on one match here tonight, the most eagerly anticipated match we’ve ever seen.
Kate will follow up after she’s taken time to pick her jaw up off the floor. She’s absolutely stunned that Taylor managed to kick out after everything she was just hit with. Though there’s one more move left in Katelyn’s arsenal that hasn’t hit Tay yet, and that’s the very maneuver that the champion is signaling for as she moves to the corner of the ring. She swings her arm out to her side, trying to get some feeling back into her injured limb so that she can swoop in and deliver the KTFO.
Greyson: KTFO is coming. This has to be it Sparkles, the champion about to hit the roaring elbow on a woman she hates more than anything in the world.
Sparkles: Stop mugging for the camera and hit it Katelyn.
The fans have never been more excited than they are at the moment as they wait to see Katelyn’s forearm finally crush Tay right in the mouth that has been running and running for months. It won’t be running any longer as she rises and walks right into the KTF….Tay DUCKS and DIVES right over the hip of her inbound opponent. She catches Kate by the inner thigh and pulls her over into the school girl.
Greyson: TAY REVERSES!
Sparkles: SCHOOL GIRL!
The referee drops to make the count but Katelyn rolls out of the pin before he even has the chance to slap the canvas even once. A flustered Taylor stands up and walks into the stiffest thrust kick that has ever been unleashed. Katelyn hits the kick that collapses her rival’s chin, and leaves Tay staggering around looking like she’s been drinking for 48 straight hours.
Greyson: The THRUST KICK!
Sparkles: And Katelyn’s following it up with the Lethal Injection!
The crowd jumps up and down with their heartbeats racing faster than ever as Katelyn flips into the headstand, the back of her legs hitting the top rope, launching her back into the diamond cutter. She lands on her feet, lunges back but instead of falling to her spine, she is driven down onto her face, because Tay counters the lethal injection into the crippler crossface.
Greyson: OH MY-OH MY-OH MY GOD-OH MY GOD! Crossface! Tay countering into the crossface!!
Sparkles: On the injured arm! Tay’s got it locked in on the INJURED ARM!
Greyson: Our World Champion is going to tap out! There’s no other way out of this!
If the fans thought they were excited before they haven’t felt anything like they do right now, because their pulses are racing faster than ever. The screams are shaking the foundation of the Manhattan Center as the audience tries to rally behind Katelyn, who is doing everything she can to prevent tapping out to the crossface. Taylor is putting everything she has left into this hold, realizing that it is now do or die, if she can’t force the submission here then she may have no chance of winning this contest. Everyone can see the determination in Taylor’s eyes, just like they can see the pain etched in the lines of Katelyn’s face. Although her bicep muscle feels like it’s been snapped Katelyn still resists any temptation that might compel her to tap out. She won’t do it, she just can’t do it.
Sparkles: How is Katelyn still surviving this?
Greyson: This is absolutely amazing. Katelyn proving why she deserves that title.
Taylor cannot believe it, her eyes are so wide right now they look like dinner saucers. She has no idea how Katelyn can be doing this, how Katelyn can be surviving the crossface on an arm that Taylor has mangled and just torn to shreds throughout the course of this match. Taylor’s eyes get even bigger as she begins to feel Katelyn not dragging herself across the canvas but inching her way up from it. Before Taylor can put a stop to it, Katelyn is back on her feet and countering out of the crossface into the SLO.
Greyson: NOOOO WAAAAY!
Sparkles: WHAT A FRIGGIN COUNTER!!
Greyson: SLO! SLO OUT OF THE CROSSFACE!!
The back of Taylor’s head hits the ring with enough force to knock her completely unconscious. She lays there on the canvas motionless and she would be lying beside Katelyn, but the World Champion rolled out of the ring by sheer happenstance and happenstance alone. Katelyn falls to her knees at ringside, grabbing at her arm, which like the Grinch’s heart has swelled to three times its normal size.
Greyson: Katelyn hit the SLO totally out of desperation, but she just wasn’t able to follow it up.
Sparkles: Taylor has done too much damage to the champion’s arm.
Instead of pinning Taylor we see Katelyn clutching at her bicep, trying to will herself through her pain. She is desperate to get back in the ring and take advantage of the SLO she just managed to hit on Taylor. She’s doing just that, sliding about half way into the ring before her ankle is caught….caught in the hands of one of the protestors who came out to support Taylor.
Greyson: God dammit!
Sparkles: One of those protestors has hold of Katelyn. They really are out here to support Tay to the hilt!
Greyson: The referee needs to get these bastards out of here.
At the moment the referee is far too preoccupied with Taylor, checking on her condition after that nasty landing on the back of her neck. He has no idea what’s going on at ringside, and what is happening outside of the squared circle is Katelyn launching her boot into the jaw of a protestor. The young man who pulled her from the ring pays for his interference, getting a taste of Kate’s heel. Katelyn knocks the protestor to the floor and then readies to give the same treatment to anyone else who would interfere. However, she seems to greatly underestimate the length in which Tay’s supporters are willing to go to make sure their cherished Chase leaves this ring tonight the victor. One of them takes the board from the picket sign they were swinging around and breaks it right across the back of Katelyn’s arm…the INJURED arm.
Greyson: HEY! What the hell!?!
That very same protestor throws aside the broken picket sign and then throws something else, Katelyn’s body back into the ring. Once the World Champion has been returned to the squared circle her attacker backs away with the sounds of laughter emitting from beneath her thick soaked blond bangs. The chuckles are chillingly familiar and soon we learn why. The bangs that were covering her face pull back as the wig on top of her head is ripped off, meaning the identity of Mika Kozlov is no longer obscured.
Greyson: That’s-that’s-that’s MIKA KOZLOV!
Sparkles: You GOT to be kidding Sparkles.
Greyson: The number one contender for the World Title just-just-just attacked Katelyn.
Not only did she attack Katelyn but she just fed the World Champion to Taylor Chase, Mika’s sister. Tay follows the trend she has all throughout this match, capitalizing on an opportunity. She grabs the arms of the barely conscious World Champion and places her in the Rings of Saturn.
Greyson: Now Taylor like a shark drawn to the smell of blood is going right back to the scissored armbar!
Sparkles: Right after Mika, who disguised herself as one of those protestors, broke a picket sign over Katelyn’s arm.
The roars of pain coming from Katelyn echo throughout the Manhattan Center and through the sinking hearts of the fans. They are all crying out for Katelyn to fight her way through this, begging her to persevere. Katelyn has been able to do that throughout the night but not after having a board broken across her arm in combination with everything that limb has been put through during this highly physical fight. Her mouth opens as if on the cusp of screaming the two words that the fans do NOT want to hear.
Sparkles: Don’t say it Katelyn…
Greyson: Don’t you dare give Taylor that satisfaction.
Katelyn bites down on her tongue, not letting the words out, not allowing herself to shout ‘I Quit.’ Eventually she stops biting though, because her teeth, her tongue, her whole body has just gone limp in Taylor’s arms. Kate’s head falls lifeless to the side as her eyes close. The referee stoops down to check on Katelyn and instantly realizes that she’s out cold. He stands up and much to the dejection of the thousands in attendance calls for the bell.
Sparkles: Wait, hold on, what’s happening?
Greyson: I think, Good God I think, Katelyn has-has passed out.
Sparkles: You’re kidding.
Greyson: Oh how I wish I was.
The fans are angry but boy do they get even angrier when the referee takes Taylor’s wrist and lifts it aloft in victory. An exhausted Tay kneels on the canvas beside a still unconscious Katelyn, the winner savoring the sweet satisfaction of forcing her opponent into unconsciousness.
Sparkles: Sparkles just can’t believe this.
Greyson: Everyone in this arena are having a hard time swallowing the fact that their hero was just defeated.
Sparkles: Katelyn gave it everything she had tonight…..
Frankie: Did you see that? Hahahahaha did you see it!?!
Although Frankie is shivering in his soaking wet clothes and smarting from the slap to his cheek he still dances around excitedly behind the announce table. He’s got his headset back on, which makes it hard for him to do what he really would like to at the moment, cartwheel around the ringside area.
Greyson: Yeah, we saw it alright, Frankie.
Frankie: Tay-Tay did it! She did it again! She just beat the World Champion! JOY TO THE WORLD! HAHAHAHAHA!
Greyson: Dammit Frankie, did you not see Mika attack Katelyn with that picket….
Frankie: Tay did it! She did it! She did it! She did it! She did it!
Frankie has climbed up onto the announce table and is repeatedly thrusting his arms above his head each time he shouts these three words.
Frankie: SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT!
Greyson: Get down off the table you sniveling bastard.
Sparkles: Katelyn was so close to having Tay’s number at multiple points in this match. Sparkles really thought that she had the win after she countered that crossface into the SLO. But in the end Katelyn found her injured arm trapped in the Rings of Saturn and it was just too much for her to withstand.
Frankie: SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT!
The crowd looks like their hearts have been torn out of their chests, their hollow eyes watching as Tay struggles to her feet then falls back into the ropes. She laughs along to the lyrics of her entrance music playing through the Manhattan Center loud speakers. Those who have loyally stood at Tay’s side throughout the night slide into the ring and gather around her…no…beneath her. They hoist Taylor up onto their shoulders, holding her high in the air so that she can truly bask in this victory. One of them has even gone as far as to hand Taylor the World Championship belt. Tay can’t resist, she lifts the title high, resulting in unanimous outrage from just about everyone in the arena.
Greyson: That belt is not yours Tay.
Frankie: It’s a crying shame that it isn’t!
Sparkles: This match was non-title.
Frankie: It shouldn’t have been.
Eventually Tay lowers the belt while her body lowers as well. Her loyal devotees help her descend back to her feet, but she doesn’t stop going down until she’s on her knees. She scoots towards Buehler, the rightful holder of the title that is hanging from Tay’s hand.
Taylor: Savor this (holds out belt). It won’t be yours for very much longer.
The belt drops onto Katelyn’s chest while Taylor crawls back away from her with an incredulous smile on her sweaty face.
Frankie: Monarchy has gone 4-0 guys, it’s been a clean sweep for them tonight.
The cameras have gone to the guerilla position and have focused on Katelyn Buehler’s manager Dan Douglas. He pulls his face back from the curtains that he was just looking through, unable to watch his client suffer any further indignity. We don’t get a long look at his somber expression, the inconsolable Douglas drawing a hand to his face and burying it in his palm. He looks through the cracks between his fingers only so that he can stare at the medallion that he has used multiple times in the past to help center Katelyn and ensure her victories in high stakes matches like the one she just competed in. The trinket that has aided him in his mind control over Buehler falls to the floor.
A water cooler is set up in front of a plain white wall and surrounded by the sounds of ringing phones. A figure draws closer to the cooler, grabbing a Styrofoam cup and filling it. Just as the blue collar worker takes a sip a buddy of his jumps at him excitedly…too excitedly.
Man: HEY BILL!
The cup of water is spilt all over everything, including the pocket protector peeking out of Bill’s shirt. He is so jarred by his associate’s hyper greeting that he almost chokes on his drink.
Bill: What Mike?
It’s not often that Bill sees anyone as energized at the office as Mika is at that moment.
Mika: Did you hear?
Bill: Hear what?
Nasally questions Bill while pushing his black rimmed glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.
Mike: HE’S gonna debut….TONIGHT.
Bill: Who….?
It seems Bill formulates an answer before he even finishes his question.
Bill: No…no way….not him.
Mike: Yeah….HIM.
Bill: For what company?
Mike: He’s coming to the IWC,
Bill: At the End of the Year Special?
Mike: Hell yeah.
Bill seems just totally awe stricken.
Bill: I’ve GOT to see this.
Mike: I know, but we’re working….
Bill: Not anymore.
Bill starts to take off before he’s stopped by a harsh authoritative voice.
Boss: Bill, Mike, was hoping to catch up with you two.
Now their Boss is doing his best Bill Lumbergh impersonation.
Boss: I’m going to need those TPS reports right away.
Bill: You know what Boss….
The black rimmed glasses are torn off the unappreciated worker’s eyes. Now the pocket protector is defiantly torn from the chest of his shirt and thrown into his manager’s face.
Bill: You can shove those TPS reports up your ass. Cause Mike and I got some place we need to be.
Boss: And where is that?
Mike: The IWC End of the Year Special.
Bill: So we can see the debut of….MATTHEW BOWDEN!
The scene changes from a humdrum office, featuring row upon rows of tightly enclosed cubicles to the wide open spaces of a football field. A number of cheerleaders, mmmmm barely legal cheerleaders, are shaking their pom-poms and practicing their nimble maneuvers. One cartwheels, another back flips and another shows their athleticism in a different capacity, fingers quickly typing on a cellphone as she sits on the bleachers. Something that pops up on her phone causes her mouth to drop open and her eyes to go wide.
Cheerleader: Hey! HEY!
She shouts towards her teammates, who were busy forming a human pyramid with a particularly annoyed teen at the top.
Cheerleading Captain: Weeeee’reeee kinda busy here Jessie.
Jessie: You all are going to want to hear this.
The rest of the cheerleaders gathered beneath their Captain are all ears.
Jessie: He’s debuting TONIGHT.
The girls share quick glances in one another’s directions.
Cheerleader #2: You mean…..
Jessie: Yep.
Cheerleader #2: When?
Jessie: In just a few minutes.
Cheerleader #3: Then what the hell are we waiting around here for?
The pyramid is broken and broken so quick they give no time for the Cheerleading Captain to make a graceful descent from her high point. Instead she goes hurdling towards the earth with a scream. Luckily we don’t see her impact, instead all we see are her teammates dashing to a jeep, all cramming themselves inside. Jessie is behind the wheel and looking between her friends, doing a headcount.
Jessie: Where’s Naomi?
Cheerleader #2: Under the bleachers with the Captain of the football team.
Jessie blares the horn as loud as she can.
Jessie: Naomi! Move your ass! Matthew Bowden is debuting at the End of the Year Special.
Suddenly a young girl comes hurrying out from beneath the bleachers adjusting her hoop skirt and her halter top. A teenage boy steps out behind Naomi with his football slacks down around his knees but his jersey hanging over his unmentionables.
Football Captain: We weren’t finished.
Naomi: Finish yourself, I’m not going to miss him, I’m not going to miss Bowden!
She leaps into the Jeep which goes speeding away, kicking up the dirt from the football field, sending it flying back into the face of the football captain.
The camera cuts to an aerial view of the football field, where instead of white lines designating ten yard intervals they are used to spell out the words ‘Matthew Bowden Debuts TONIGHT.’
Mika Kozlov is laughing, but then again when isn’t she?
Okay so she’s laughing louder than ever. Her chuckles fill the halls of the Manhattan Center as she walks along down the corridor still wearing a damp Monarchy t-shirt. Clearly she has yet to shed the disguise she wore in order to get the drop on an unsuspecting World Champion mere moments ago.
Karen: Proud of yourself?
A bag of ice is held to the temple of Karen McBride, who has yet to shed the wounds from her previous encounter with Monarchy member Ryan Watson. In spite of the injuries she incurred during the course of that match the Principle Owner still has the courage to step up into the face of maybe the most deadly woman in professional wrestling.
Mika: Do I look proud? Hehehehehehe.
Karen: I’m guessing you really don’t appreciate what you just did out there.
Mika: Look at the smile on my face and tell me I don’t appreciate what I did to the World Champion.
Karen: I’m not talking about what you did to Katelyn Buehler, I’m talking about what you did to yourself.
Mika cups her jaw in her hands and leans in closer to Karen, anticipating the obligatory explanation.
Karen: Because of you, Taylor Chase has a win over the champion.
Mika: Mmmmmmhmmmmm.
Karen: And that means that she’s got a justifiable claim to challenge for the title.
Mika: Good for my sestra. She deserves it.
Karen: Which is why I’ve decided that at our next IWC pay-per-view, Last Stand, the Riot brand main event is going to be Katelyn Buehler defending the World Title against the winner of the number one contender tournament…..
Mika: ME! Hehehehehe.
Karen:…..AND Taylor Chase in a triple threat match.
Mika’s laughter dies down as her cheeks and the veins in her temples start to twitch.
Mika: How sweet, a ‘family reunion.’
The moment that the show goes back to the ring the tracks of “Brand New Day” from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long begins to play over the PA system. The fans come alive as Matthew Bowden steps out onto the stage. Pyro goes off behind him as he poses, taking in the crowd reaction as they cheer him on. Matthew then points towards the ring and charges down the ramp, sliding cleanly into the ring. He then hops up onto the second rope and poses one more time before hopping back down and heading towards the center of the ring.
Sparkles: MASSIVE announcement by the Principle Owner Karen McBride.
Greyson: Because of Mika Kozlov’s actions she will now be one of two challengers for the World Championship at Last Stand, Katelyn Buehler will now defend the belt in a triple threat match.
Frankie: I never thought I’d say this, but thank you, McBride, for pulling you’re head out of your ass and doing the right thing.
Greyson: I think Karen has a grander design and deeper motivation than just giving into Monarchy’s demands to give Taylor a title shot.
Sparkles: Enough about all of that though guys, we’ve got a moment that we’ve been building up to all night long, the IWC debut of Matthew Bowden. Sparkles has been hearing a lot about this young man….
Greyson: He’s definitely created quite the buzz around the wrestling world pre-debut, let’s see if he can continue to make headlines here as he competes in triple threat action against Aaron Harrison and Alistair Taylor.
Frankie: Kid has so got his work cut out for him tonight, he’s got two of the most lethal athletes in the IWC to contend with in this match.
Greyson: From what I’ve learned Bowden is quite the showboat, but survival should be his motivation, not showmanship.
As a pre-match ritual Bowden runs the ring, leaps to the middle rope and then back flips into a moonsault, landing on his feet. He shows off just a bit of the athleticism that the crowd can expect from this upcoming confrontation. Bowden swings around and glares up the ramp just as the lyrics of ‘Dare to Dream’ play over the PA system, letting the world know that Aaron Harrison is on his way to the squared circle. Though it appears that his arrival is being held up by something.
Rachel: We need to go over it again?
We find out what’s delaying Aaron Harrison’s arrival to the ring when cameras go back to the guerilla position. Standing there just behind the curtains are Rachel Tatum Lee and Harrison himself. The pair that has seemingly been working in consortium these past few weeks are once again entrenched in conversation, or more accurately it’s just Rachel doing all the talking and Harrison doing all the listening.
Rachel: Ya know what ya do if she shows up?
Harrison nods.
Rachel: Second thoughts?
Harrison: No…..I owe you and Tombstone for what you did for me. It’s time I repay the favor.
Rachel: Good sugar, real good. Do this for me and I can guarantee ya that we’ll be one move closer to fulfillin’ our plans.
Of course those plans are left intentionally vague, though Harrison is about to follow them to the hilt. He heads for the ring and Rachel watches his every step very closely.
AARON HARRISON VS. ALISTAIR TAYLOR VS. MATTHEW BOWDEN
Finally Aaron Harrison steps out from behind the curtains with his entrance music piping through the PA system. The former leader of the famed Blacklist stable marches along down the ramp in a long trench coat and hood that obscures the vast majority of his face in shadows. In spite of Harrison’s menacing aura, his opponent presently in the ring will not be intimidated. Bowden is still looking oh so casual as he welcomes Harrison into the squared circle.
Greyson: Ummmm one has to wonder what ‘plan’ Rachel Tatum Lee was just eluding too backstage when talking to Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: Well Rachel has been pretty critical of the IWC lately, especially since losing out in the Semi-Finals of the World Title #1 Contenders Tournament.
Frankie: El Supremo Bubble Butt has got Harrison on a mission, we’ll find out what that mission is as this triple threat gets underway.
When the tracks of Alistair Taylor’s music hit the PA system there are nuclear levels of heat that bombard the entry way. From the back emerges the Monarchy member, who still looks a little banged up after his earlier encounter with the massive Miss Jon. Shockingly Alistair walks alone towards the ring, unaccompanied by his usual counterparts Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel. The look on his face is particularly indicative of his distaste for this match and the athletes he is expected to collide with.
Greyson: It’s Alistair Taylor who rounds out this triple threat match.
Frankie: And he doesn’t look very happy to be facing the likes of Matthew Bowden and Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: Yeah, because he, along with the rest of Monarchy have this blasted superiority complex.
Frankie: They are superior Sparkles, they ARE superior. Taylor Chase just proved that. In fact they’ve proven it all night, they’ve gone 4-0.
Greyson: What Taylor Chase proved is that she and the rest of Monarchy are nothing more than arrogant fiends who will do anything in their power to pick up a win.
Frankie: And that’s what makes them so superior.
Greyson: Well I’ve got to give Alistair some credit I guess. It’s a testament to just how tough this guy is that he’s out here right now. Last month at Upping the Ante he was involved in the most brutal Tables Are Legal Match I’ve ever seen and then earlier on this evening he got into it with Miss Jon.
Frankie: Boy did he pay for that one.
Alistair is about to enter the ring only to stop at the base of the ramp, refusing to go any further, at least not until he’s given ample opportunity to insult his opponents. Harrison takes some umbrage with these offensive comments, leaning through the ropes and shouting down at Alistair. However, Bowden will do a lot more than shout. He runs across the ring, leaps over top of Harrison’s back and over top of the ropes before crashing down directly into Alistair at ringside.
Greyson: WHAT A LEAP!
Sparkles: Bowden showing some more of that athleticism we talked about earlier.
Frankie: That’s not a good way to impress Monarchy.
Alistair is driven down to the ground while Bowden rolls off of him and dashes for the squared circle. The second that he hops to the apron he has to contend with the shoulder that is flying through the ropes and aimed at his ribs. Harrison tries to hit a shoulder block on Bowden’s ribs only to have his target leap frog over him. Bowden lands on the canvas behind Harrison and then runs the length of the ring, bouncing off the far ropes. The intense Harrison spins right around and throws a punch at the inbound face of Bowden only to have him drop into the baseball slide. Bowden slips through Harrison’s legs, under the ropes behind his opponent and then extends his ankles, wrapping them around the neck of Alistair. Just as the Monarchy member reached his feet at ringside he finds Bowden’s feet wrapped around his skull before he’s hit with a version of the head scissors.
Greyson: Impressive.
Bowden quickly rushes to the apron and tries to get into the ring before finding a shoulder hurdling towards his ribs. Harrison goes for a shoulder block only to have Bowden go to leap frog it and lunge back into the ring. He gets about half way over the ropes before realizing that he’s been suckered. The shoulder block was merely a red herring that sets him up instead to suffer a stiff thrust kick to the jaw. Harrison knocks Bowden out of the air and the brains out of his head. The stiff shot has left Bowden rolling around on the ground next to Alistair. Before long the two are working their way up to their feet, unintentionally leaning against one another. That’s not even enough to support them when Harrison goes running into one set of ropes, springing from the middle strand and then twisting upside down as he flies over the perpendicular cables. He hits a senton straight into Bowden and Alistair, knocking them all down like bowling pins.
Sparkles: And down they go.
Greyson: Harrison taking out two for one.
Frankie: Since when did Harrison get so agile?
Greyson: The man has always been a very versatile athlete, but now we’re learning just how multi-dimensional he can be.
After bowling over his opponents Harrison singles out just one of them. He drags Alistair to his feet and pops him right across the mouth that was running before this match got started. On instinct Alistair rolls into the ring, trying to avoid his opponent. Harrison is right there beside him though, forcing him to pay for every spiteful word he uttered pre-match. He drags Alistair along into the corner and slams his face up against the turnbuckle. Harrison then spins Alistair around and damn near crushes his chest with a chop that is so forceful it echoes throughout the Manhattan Center. Harrison then hits a second knife edge chop that somehow was even more brutal than the last one.
After hitting two chops Harrison backs up to get a running start behind a third. At the last second he stops when spotting from the corner of his eye another of his opponents bounding along towards him. Bowden lunges at Harrison, giving him little time to react. Harrison ducks down, catches the inner thighs of his opponent and throws Bowden over his head. The crowd screams as Bowden comes crashing down forearm first right into the jaw of a totally unsuspecting Alistair. The crack upside his jaw rattles Alistair, who somehow stays on his feet but his attacker isn’t so lucky. Bowden stumbles back from him and into Harrison’s boots. A dropkick hits Bowden in the back, launching him into a forward lunge that ultimately causes his shoulder to collide with Alistair’s ribs.
Bowden then staggers back again, this time into a school boy by Harrison, looking to put a quick end to this triple threat.
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Bowden gets his shoulder up and then rolls backwards onto his knees. He scoots across them and scoots across them quick, in order to slip right through Harrison’s legs. Aaron was running at Bowden in an effort to catch him but finds his opponent far too elusive. Bowden crawls right under Harrison then stands up behind his prone prey. Bowden rolls over backwards, extends his legs and latches them around Harrison’s waist before pushing himself up into the wheelbarrow. It looks like Bowden is going to hit a bulldog out of this position but instead what connects is an enzugari. Alistair steps out of the corner and delivers a step up enzugari on Bowden, knocking him down out of the wheel barrow position and onto his feet. Somehow he remains upright, or at least just long enough to fall victim to a move from another of his opponents. Aaron Harrison lifts Bowden the blue thunder sit-out powerbomb. Harrison drives Bowden down with so much force against the canvas and then leans with his shoulders wedged to the creases of his opponent’s knees, leaning forward from his seat into a pin.
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Suddenly Alistair ricochets from the ropes in front of his opponents then dives into the European Uppercut, cracking Harrison upside his jaw. The blow does damage AND breaks up the pinfall.
Greyson: Alistair landing some stiff strikes on both of these opponents.
Frankie: He’s about to cap it off, this great-great night for Monarchy.
Alistair rolls Bowden into the corner, sitting him up against it and delivering repeated stomps across his sternum. He chokes Bowden with his boot up until the referee intervenes. Alistair then turns from Bowden and towards another of his opponents. He grabs Harrison by the legs, tucks them under his armpits and drops back, catapulting one adversary into another…or so he had hoped. Harrison flies into the corner that Bowden WAS standing in. The lightning quick Bowden clears out of the way just as Harrison goes past him, crashing into the corner chest first. Harrison ricochets off the corner and then staggers along into Alistair’s arms, the complete shot about to be delivered. And it will connect with a little extra mustard after Bowden flies off the corner he was almost squashed against, catches Harrison by the back of the head and assists in a face buster/complete shot combination.
Greyson: Bowden impressing me thus far.
Sparkles: He’s impressing Sparkles too.
Greyson: Sparkles, a grilled cheese sandwich impresses you.
Sparkles: Grilled cheese is a modern marvel.
The teamwork between Alistair and Bowden is short lived, in fact it looks like Alistair is upset that Bowden mooched off of his move. He runs at the debuting young superstar only to find the capillaries in his chest crushed by a knife edge chop. Bowden then swings around with his leg and catches Alistair right in the crease of his knee, the impact taking him down flat on his back. Bowden turns his back on Alistair so that he can perform a beautiful standing moonsault. He catches great elevation before ultimately slamming straight into Alistair’s chest then hooking his leg.
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A boot to Bowden’s temple breaks up the pinfall. Harrison has managed to regain his faculties and nail the running kick on the skull of his opponent, hitting it with such force that it sends Bowden rolling to the ring apron. Harrison reaches over the cables in an attempt to grab Bowden by the hair and introduce him violently back into the ring. But just Alistair comes staggering in behind Harrison going for the double axehandle smash to his upper back. Harrison sees him coming, bending down and back dropping Alisrair over the ropes. Somehow Alistair manages to grab the top rope as he goes over them, floating over and landing on the apron. He won’t stay there for long, he dives through the ropes into a shoulder block aimed at Harrison’s ribs.
The shoulder to rib collision is blocked when Harrison catches Alistair around the neck, putting him in a front chancery with his opponent’s shins remaining splayed over the middle rope. Just as it looks like Harrison is going to hit the elevated DDT his plans are complicated by another of his opponents. Bowden flies from the apron and back into the ring via diving over the top rope, going for a shoulder block on his adversary. Harrison sees him coming though and uses his one free arm to reach up and catch Bowden around the neck. Bowden’s shins remain placed over the top cable, finding himself caught in a position for a rope hung downward spiral. Both he and Alistair are simultaneously dropped via a rope hung DDT and a rope hung flatliner at the same time.
Greyson: Harrison dumping both of his opponents right on their mugs.
Frankie: Won’t hurt either guy much, they’d never appear on the cover of Tiger Beat magazine like my face anyway.
Harrison rolls Bowden to the middle of the ring and looks to spoil his debut by pinning his shoulders to the canvas.
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Bowden isn’t going to let that happen, popping his shoulder up from the ring and narrowly avoiding defeat. Harrison takes him by the hair and hits him with a headbutt before taking off into the ropes, ricocheting from them and coming back in at his surprisingly resilient opponent. Bowden springs up to his feet and hits a dropsault on Harrison, the blow sending the recipient reeling. Somehow Harrison remains on his feet as he falls into the ropes and totally shakes off the last blow he received. Instead he runs right into a lariat on Bowden, but we get another display of his athleticism. Bowden bridges back in Matrix-esque fashion, causing Harrison to breeze right past him. However, Bowden isn’t so lucky when it comes to avoiding Alistair, who jumps into a double stomp. The bridging Bowden finds his mid-section crushed under Alistair’s boots.
Sparkles: That’ll knock Bowden’s lunch right outta his pooper.
Greyson: It’ll do worse than that, it could result in internal bleeding.
Alistair now looks to turn another of his opponents into a perspective victim, running at Harrison with a European Uppercut just about to connect upside his jaw. Harrison gets his boots up and drives them right into Alistair’s chest, sending him stumbling back across the ring. Another boot them lands across Alistair’s stomach, putting him in a position where both of his arms can be hooked. Harrison is setting up for the Hybrid Theory.
Greyson: Whatever Rachel Tatum Lee told Harrison backstage has got him in the zone.
Sparkles: He’s about to hit the Hybrid Theory on Taylor.
The finishing move is thwarted when Alistair forces his shoulder into Harrison’s ribs and pushes back. As a result Harrison is forced backwards across the ring and into the ropes, tripping through them to the outside of the squared circle. Harrison crashes with a thud across the ground while back in the ring Alistair is taking the top rope, about to launch himself over. Just before he takes the leap he’s caught from behind, Bowden rolling Alistair back into a pin. He ends up seated on the back of Alistair’s thighs, his opponent folded up under him with his shoulders wedged to the canvas.
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Alistair kicks out and launches Bowden off his thighs, sending him flying across the ring straight into the ropes…no…THROUGH the ropes. Bowden flies out of the ring and into a suicide PLANCHA. He flips forward and crashes straight into Harrison, taking both men down to the base of the ramp.
Sparkles: How did Bowden manage to turn that bad situation to his advantage?
Frankie: Won’t matter, Alistair will get his hands on him eventually, then it’s all over.
After knocking Harrison to the floor Bowden starts to crawl back towards the ring. He climbs to the apron when Alistair steps in and nails him with a punch. No, Bowden blocks it and then launches his shin over the top rope, cracking Alistair I the side of his head. The blow sends Alistair reeling in reverse and gives Bowden the opportunity to clinch his advantage. He starts to jump over the top rope before Alistair runs in and drives his shoulder to his opponent’s ribs, sending him flying off the apron. When he comes down he does not land on the mats, he lands on top of Harrison’s shoulders. The fans react in disbelief as Harrison hits an electric chair drop that throws Bowden down face first into the ring apron.
Bowden’s mug is cracked against the hardened fringe of the ring. As Bowden is thrown into the ring Harrison leans against the apron, trying to catch his breath. Though the oxygen is just about to get knocked from his body. The hairs on the back of his neck stand up, enticing him to turn around and stare up the rampway at Mya Denton.
Greyson: Oh this isn’t going to be pleasant at all.
Frankie: It never is when looking directly at Mya Denton.
Sparkles: Earlier tonight Mya was in route to capturing the Queen of Wrestling Championship before she was distracted by Aaron Harrison, Rachel Tatum Lee and Tombstone.
Greyson: Harrison is going to truly regret doing that.
An unhinged Mya gets closer and closer to the ring, running her palm up and down across her cheek, actually clawing at her own skin. The closer she gets to Harrison the more unbalanced she becomes. Harrison goes to protect himself, reaching down beneath the ring and grabbing the very same chain that was used during the previous bout between Taylor Chase and Katelyn Buehler.
Greyson: Harriosn is ready for My….what the heck?
The chain in Harrison’s hands soon finds its way into Mya. Granted, it’s not SWUNG into Mya, it’s GIVEN to Mya. The handoff has Mya taken aback, looking down at the weapon that now hangs from her palm. She looks up at Harrison, who interlocks his fingers and puts them behind his head.
Greyson: What’s Harrison doing?
Frankie: The crazy freak just gave that chain to Mya.
Sparkles: Maybe it’s a peace offering.
Greyson: No Sparkles, it looks like Harrison is offering himself up to Mya.
This is one opportunity Mya is not going to pass up, she swings the chain right into Harrison’s brow. The blow knocks him to the floor and Mya crawls on top, pummeling him and pummeling him and pummeling him with the chain. Meanwhile back inside of the ring the referee is too preoccupied watching Alistair and Bowden going at it to see Mya’s interference. There is one person who sees this happening though, and that person is Rachel Tatum Lee. The NHB Champion makes her way to the stage, looking down the ramp at the chain that is blasting Harrison in his face.
Greyson: Rachel watching Harrison get the beating of his life.
Sparkles: And she’s actually smiling.
Rachel adjusts her championship over her shoulder and smirks, yes, smirks in response to what she’s seeing. Mya looks up the ramp, sees that grin and becomes intent on removing it. She walks away from a bruised and swollen Harrison, approaching Rachel with chain still wrapped around her knuckles. Rachel raises no defense against Mya, she just throws her arms out to her sides and welcomes a blow from the chain.
Rachel: Let it out….
Mya stops in mid-swing, staring into a face she is now hesitant to crack via the chain.
Rachel: Let ‘er out!
The chain shakes as Mya tries to resist giving over to her internal demons.
Rachel: It’s what ya need.
These words seem to hold some type of sway over Mya, who eventually drops the chain all together. She then raises her hands up to her head and begins to swat her palms upside her temple.
Mya: Do what she asks.
Mya’s disposition changes again.
Mya: No.
Another change in her expression and her tone.
Mya: Embrace me!
This internal conflict is ongoing and seems to be annoying Rachel.
Rachel: Ya know, I ain’t a very patient person. Let yer friend out already.
Rachel’s hand slaps Mya across the cheek.
Rachel: GIVE IN!
The blow upside the face has Mya trembling to the point where her skin has gone blood red. The color of her eyes seems to have changed as well, indicating that she’s underwent a full shift in personalities. She stomps towards Rachel, who laughs as she begins to back up through the curtains.
Rachel: Thatta’ girl, that’s the side of ya I want to see. That’s the side ya NEED.
Rachel and Mya disappear through the curtains. Meanwhile, back in the ring Alistair has Bowden pinned to the canvas with repeated stomps to his chest and stomach. He then looks outside of the squared circle at the unconscious Harrison splayed across the mats. A lucrative opportunity presents itself and Alistair is about to seize on it while he can. He rolls out of the ring and drags Harrison’s limp body back inside of it.
Greyson: What did we just see?
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks that Rachel’s motives are becoming a bit clearer.
Frankie: Then kindly puppet, explain to the rest of the class.
Sparkles: Remember Mya’s multiple personalities we were talking about earlier? Sparkles believes Rachel is trying to get Mya to embrace her darker half. That’s why she offered Harrison up to Mya, to get her to let out all that inner rage.
Greyson: But what purpose does Rachel have for a ‘darker’ Mya?
All the drama involving Mya and Rachel has taken its toll on Harrison, who bless his heart is actually trying to move. He doesn’t have much in the way of luck getting up when Alistair keeps driving him back down with boots to the brow. Alistair finally pulls Harrison up and places him in position for the overdrive, draping his leg over the back of his injured opponent’s head. Before he finishes off his prey he lets out a chant that has become sickeningly familiar throughout tonight’s telecast.
Alistair: We are Monarchy and we…..
Suddenly a recovered Bowden runs across the ring, steps off of the stooped Harrison and launches himself into a tornado DDT on an unsuspecting Alistair.
Frankie: Hey! What!?! Where!?! HOW!!??!!
The DDT not only shuts Alistair up but spikes him right on his noodle. As Alistair unconsciously rolls from the ring Harrison unconsciously falls flat across it. The multiple shots to his head from the chain has him rolling mindlessly to his back, putting himself in a very unenviable position. Just as he eyes begin to flutter their way open he sees Bowden coming off the top rope into the corkscrew 360 senton.
Frankie: NOOOO!
Greyson: What was that!?!
Sparkles: Bowden flying from the top and absolutely crushing Harrison!
Bowden’s maneuver is delivered to tremendous fanfare, and his pin over Harrison receives an even louder ovation.
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Alistair tries to get up and get back into the ring to break up the pinfall but has no luck. He loses his balance and falls to the apron, watching powerlessly as the referee slaps the canvas for the third and the final time.
Greyson: There we have it, Bowden clinches the win with that tremendous top rope dive!
Sparkles: A corkscrew 630 senton.
Frankie: What Sparkles said.
Greyson: His big debut tonight culminates in success.
Sparkles: Is this a sign of bigger things to come for Bowden?
Although Bowden would enjoy nothing more than to celebrate his win under the bright lights above the ring he has to dive from the squared circle and do so quickly. Alistair goes chasing after him only to stop when reaching the ropes that Bowden has rolled under. He keeps his eyes trained to Bowden, who is now leaning back into the crowd, allowing them to slap his shoulders and the arm he has raised in victory.
A loud hammering sound fills the hallway of the Manhattan Center, cameras drawing nearer and nearer to the source. As the camera pans along the wall we see dozens and dozens and dozens of fliers, each one sporting a picture of missing IWC athlete Cassidy Haze. A message is written just beneath the photographs.
”HAVE YOU SEEN ME?”
At the end of the hall we can see the woman who has been tirelessly papering the building with these fliers. Emily Cage, the woman who will not give up on finding her sister. Emily lowers the hammer in her hand that she was using to nail these fliers to the wall. She then leans in towards the picture of her sister, speaking to it.
Emily: I’m not giving up on you.
She lifts the hammer to drive a nail in even further before suddenly the lights in the hallway go out. Everything is blanketed in darkness for a matter of seconds that feel more like an eternity of unbearable suspense. When at long last the lighting returns to normal Emily finds her eyes wide and her skin whitening at what she sees. Stretched across the dozens and dozens of fliers that Emily just nailed to the wall are words smeared in what looks like blood.
”STOP LOOKING FOR ME.”
Reads this chilling and oh so haunting message directed at a mortified Emily.
Several IV bags come into view, each filled with blood and each moving in the direction of the ring. This precious bodily fluid hangs from a number of poles all ascending upwards from a push cart, and who should be shoving said cart? Haven’t you been following along? It’s New Eden of course. Serenity is steering the cart and her Queen Cindy Todd is right there beside her step for step.
Greyson: Well guys, I hope you’re ready for this.
Sparkles: Who could prepare themselves for Cartel Chaos?
Greyson: Serenity and Marina Valdivia, they’re going to settle maybe the most brutal rivalry in IWC history when they battle in the most barbaric match this federation can produce.
Frankie: Who could stay mad at Serenity? She’s so thoughtful. I mean, look, she’s bringing donated blood to the ring just so she can keep Marina going during their fight tonight,
Greyson: That is just beyond sadistic.
Sparkles: Nowhere near as sadistic as what we are about to see in only the third ever Cartel Chaos match in IWC history. They’re rare for a reason guys.
A stagehand is flung down to the floor by the massive hands of Borislav. The angry Russian is taking out all of his frustrations on anything and everything that might just get in his way. Luckily the rest of the IWC crew steers clear of the bloodied Borislav, who goes on stomping down the corridor and serving as one giant billboard. The message ‘Mika, 1-2 Cindy is coming for you,’ remains sliced into the flesh on his sternum, a halo of blood formed around this chilling statement.
Greyson: Borislav still running amok backstage.
Frankie: Why? Because Cindy Todd actually made him useful for once?
Sparkles: She carved that message into Borislav’s chest, using him to send a message to former New Eden member Mika Kozlov. Cindy wants her back.
Frankie: Who wouldn’t want Mika?
Greyson: Uhhhh, anyone who values keeping their equipment where it is as opposed to finding it floating in a mason jar.
A steel chair continues to extend from the hands of Victoria Salinas, who does not, as of yet, put to use the weapon she’d really like to cave in Cindy Todd’s skull with. Instead she paces back and forth in the catering area, ever tightening her grip on the steel and yet losing her grasp on her composure.
Sparkles: Another person who is going to be very interested in the outcome of this upcoming Cartel Chaos match.
Frankie: Hasn’t Victoria Salinas had enough of New Eden?
Greyson: She and her best friend Marina Valdivia have been embroiled in an intense rivalry with New Eden for months, one has to think that when the shit hits the fan Victoria will be there to have her bud’s back.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, we saw how well these two having one another’s backs worked out at the last pay-per-view. Marina and Victoria just have to face facts, nothing they do will save them from New Eden
The chorus of ‘Glamorous’ starts to play over the loud speakers, enticing a huge reaction from the packed Manhattan Center crowd. Thousands leap to their feet in accordance with Marina Valdivia’s entrance. The moment she comes to the stage the response becomes damn near deafening. Customarily Marina would spend some time playing to the crowd’s cheers and traversing a red carpet, she does neither tonight. Instead she is no nonsense, no fanfare, nothing but homicidal, and ready to unleash her murderous intents on her greatest IWC rival.
Greyson: My heart is literally in my throat right now.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t blame you. It’s scary enough to think that Marina Valdivia is about to go one on one with Serenity, but you’ve got to couple that with the fact that their war will be contested under Cartel Chaos rules.
Greyson: At Upping the Ante this feud between Marina and Serenity escalated to the level where only a bout as barbaric as the one we’re about to see could settle it.
Sparkles: After Marina endured TWO grueling number one contender tournament matches it was Serenity who played a crucial part in seeing her lose in the finals.
Frankie: That’s only scratching the surface of what Serenity has done to Marina though. She’s left Valdivia lying in puddles of blood on multiple occasions.
Greyson: Including several months ago right before the two were slated to face off for the World Championship. But it’s not titles and it’s not contenderships on the line right now, this is all about vengeance, honor and pride.
Frankie: No Lovejoy, this is all about BLOOD.
Marina seems eager to spill some, especially after several moments ago her opponent threatened to stab her in the eye with a needle. She wants this, she needs this, and she’s through waiting for this, her chance to at last achieve some retribution…..Buuuuut it’s only further delayed on account of the images that consume the Cartel-tron.
Tabitha: I’m sorry Marina…
Marina’s head whips around and whips around fast to the big screen which has the face of her agent Tabitha Silverstone stretched across it. The words ‘pre-recorded’ are printed in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Greyson: Tabitha Silverstone again appearing on the Cartel-tron.
Sparkles: In the same type of pre-recorded message that played right before another of her client’s matches earlier tonight.
Greyson: All because Tabitha is ‘apparently’ not here due to injury.
Sparkles: Sparkles could have sworn we saw her backstage a little while ago.
Greyson: Your eyes weren’t deceiving you.
Frankie: Of course they were. Obviously you were suffering some type of puppet related hallucination. Why would Tabitha ‘pretend’ to be injured and then put together these videos?
Greyson: Because Tabitha is out….of….her….mind. She’s been acting just downright strange for weeks.
Marina’s eyes form pinpoint dots on the big-screen and on the pouting expression of her agent. Before Tabitha proceeds with her ‘pre-recorded’ speech she adjusts her thick lensed sunglasses.
Tabitha: If you didn’t hear that, let me reiterate, ‘I’m sorry.’ From the very depths of my soul I am sooo sorry. I know how badly you need me to be there tonight, standing in your corner, supporting you in this, your greatest hour of need.
Obviously Tabitha has a flare for the melodramatic.
Tabitha: But due to injuries that were inflicted on me several months ago I’m not going to be able to stand there in your corner, PHYSICALLY. But don’t worry, SPIRITUALLY I will never-ever leave your side.
Marina doesn’t look that sympathetic nor supportive.
Tabitha: In one way or another, injury or no injury, I’ll always be there for you, every step of the way. Just as I’m sure you’ll always be there for me, even through the good times and the BAD times. You and I, we’ll never turn our backs on one another. We’re more than just agent and client, we’re FAMILY. That’s why I’m battling through this post-concussion syndrome to send this message out to you in the hopes that in some small way my words can inspire you to overcome your own injuries, and power through the pain that Serenity will no doubt subject you to in this Cartel Chaos match.
Tabitha’s words can be described as anything but ‘inspirational.’
Tabitha: During this match, if you start to falter, if you start to fail, I want you to remember me, but more importantly remember my words. The only way for you to overcome New Eden’s darkness is to EMBRACE it. Absorb the evil and use it. If your enemies will abuse the ‘dark,’ if they will wield it, then you should do the same. I can attest to the benefits of welcoming darkness in your soul.
The sunglasses on the bridge of her nose are adjusted.
Tabitha: In the words of your opponent tonight, it’s time Marina, it’s time for you to go ‘rogue.’
The video cuts out but the words uttered by Tabitha continue to resonate with her client. Marina continues to pontificate upon her agent’s comments while she awaits the arrival of her most embittered nemesis. At last, no more delays, the theme of ‘My World’ start to play all throughout the arena, indicating that Serenity is headed for the ring. The black eyes of the New Eden member seem to be darker than ever as they reflect the visual of Marina pacing the ring. A smile sits on Serenity’s face, ghoulishly delighting in the images that are flashing through her head. She visualizes everything, every horrific act that will be visited upon her rival. A rival that will be kept going in spite of all her blood loss thanks to the donated sanguine that is being pushed down the ramp. Cindy and Serenity are shoving a cart that holds up a number of IV poles with bags filled with blood hanging from them.
Sparkles: Looks like the blood-drive paid off for New Eden.
Frankie: Marina’s going to need every single drop of donated blood before this match is over.
Greyson: Last year in the Cartel Chaos match at this same event it was Taylor Chase versus Ba’al for the World Title, and after what those two did to each other they required multiple blood transfusions. I expect the same will be required for both Serenity and Marina after what they do to each other in this match.
Sparkles: This is a message to our viewing audience, IF you are still letting your kids watch this, then tell them to put on some rain slickers, cause chances are there’s going to be so much blood it could come splashing through your television screens.
Greyson: These two have been embroiled in a rivalry with one another for so long that’s it almost hard to believe that it all ends right here, right now, in arguably the most anticipated main event we’ve had in quite some time.
MARINA VALDIVIA VS. SERENITY:
CARTEL CHAOS
The cart that holds multiple blood bags is left at ringside along with Cindy Todd, the Queen of Chaos watching as her charge enters the ring. Serenity makes her way up the steps and then up the turnbuckle, standing on the middle rope and leaning into the ring as she winks in Marina’s direction. Serenity lives to regret making this condescending gesture to her rival, because the moment she does she finds herself on the receiving end of a hurricarana. Marina catches her adversary totally off guard by running across the ring, stepping up the turnbuckle and then leaping into a top rope frankensteiner. The power of Marina’s legs throw Serenity nearly the length of the ring before hitting the canvas, with all the impact felt throughout her back.
Sparkles: What a way to start this match!
Greyson: Frankensteiner right from the get-go.
Frankie: And look here, Marina is already fetching some hardware.
There is no more waiting, Marina’s had enough of that. She rolls from the ring, lifts the tarp hung from the apron and reaches below to grab some weapons. And we’re not talking steel chairs, or street signs, no, she goes for the heavy artillery, dragging out a ladder.
Greyson: A ladder!?!
Sparkles: Marina’s not beating around the bush.
Frankie: I do plenty of that on Saturday nights with a big ole’ bottle of lubricant
Greyson: Less details please. The urgency in which Marina brings these weapons into play just goes to show the intensity of this rivalry.
Marina eagerly slides the ladder into the ring and then follows it inside. She is right on top of a still stunned and still kneeling Serenity, stomping her to the back of the head several times. Ultimately she drags Serenity not only to her feet but to Marina’s shoulder. It looks like Marina is about to hit her bitter nemesis with a running powerslam onto the ladder. She rushes forward in order to hit the move only to have Serenity slide back from her rival’s shoulder, land behind Marina and then give her a hard shove. Marina is sent staggering towards the ladder but then jumping over it, and then jumping onto the turnbuckle she was hurdling into. Marina leaps from the top rope, twists in mid-air, lands on Serenity’s shoulders and pops off with a hurricarana.
Sparkles: That was agile!
Greyson: And it totally caught Serenity by surprise.
Frankie: Not often that someone can claim that.
The stunned Serenity rolls to the outside of the ring to get a bit of a breather and regroup. She would seek guidance from Cindy but her Queen keeps a distance. Why? So as to avoid the body that goes flying through the ropes into a suicide headbutt. Marina hurdles herself with so much force into Serenity that it almost sends the former World Champion through the barricade.
Marina isn’t about to let up on her nemesis. She lunges up onto the barricade and starts to walk it like a tightrope before leaping off and hitting a back heel kick that catches an unsuspecting Serenity right in the temple. The stiff kick knocks Serenity from her feet and to the floor.
Marina looks to take advantage of her opponent’s positioning. She jumps to the apron above Serenity and then looks out over the crowd, summoning the courage to hit the move she has in mind next. Whatever Marina had dreamt up suddenly becomes irrelevant, because Serenity rolls out of the way and ends up standing with the aid of the barricade. She leans against the barrier, which stops being of aid to her and starts to be a hindrance. Suddenly Marina leaps off the apron, swings around and hits a spinning leg lariat that hits Serenity in the chest. The impact sends Serenity flipping back over the barricade and into the crowd.
Greyson: Marina has shown that she is perhaps the most improvisational athlete on this whole roster.
Sparkles: She definitely knows how to change things up on the fly.
Serenity is learning this the hard way, looking all disorientated as she crawls through the crowd, shoving numerous fans aside in the process. Behind her back her opponent is waiting for just the right opportunity to deliver another high impact move. Marina leaps up to the barricade then flies off into the crowd, smashing Serenity in the face with a flying forearm.
Greyson: Marina FLYING into the crowd!
Frankie: Nailing that forearm smash right upside Serenity’s head.
Sparkles: Serenity just can’t catch a break here thus far.
Serenity dragged from the floor and then given an Irish whip right into a retaining wall in the crowd. Serenity’s face smashes off the plaster with some force.
A very disorientated Serenity stumbles into the stairs falling into them. Though she’s unconscious of what she’s doing, Serenity starts to climb those steps with Marina following right behind her. One clubbing blow after another nails Serenity over the lower and upper back. Yet even while suffering these shots Serenity is standing back up. She finds it a lot harder to stay upright when she’s spun around and nailed with a headbutt, a blow so forceful it sends her to the floor. She crawls along until she’s almost standing on top of the very wall she was thrown into the side of several moments ago.
Greyson: We knew this brawl wasn’t going to stay in the ring.
Sparkles: Sparkles is surprised it was in the ring as long as it was.
Frankie: Yeah, for all of about a minute.
Greyson: Now these two are fighting into very dangerous territory.
As Marina steps up to Serenity’s side she hesitates in order to give the fans a good long look at her fierce stare. The passion in her eyes infuses the fans with an equal amount of passion, rallying behind Marina as she grabs her rival by the hair and starts to lead her along to her feet. Though this ends up with Marina being led along, into the shoulders of her rival. Before the California All-Star even knows what’s happening she’s being hit with the death valley driver, which sends her flying over the side of a wall and crashing several feet into a number of vacant steel chairs at ground level.
Greyson: OOOOHHH HOOOLY GAHD!
Frankie: Yikes.
Sparkles: Death-Valley Driver! Death-Valley Driver flinging Marina a good seven feet before plummeting into those chairs!
The crowd is awe stricken as they see Marina thrown from such an elevated height and hear her body slam through a number of chairs. . Marina is out, totally out, her body just lying there amongst several broken chairs and not moving one inch. Having Marina in this condition is not good enough for Serenity, who picks up a steel chair and steps on top of the wall.
Greyson: Don’t do this Serenity….
There is no reasoning with this wild woman, who leaps off the wall, falls just as far as Marina and crashes down into an elbow drop on her nemesis. Not just any elbow drop though, because the chair was tucked under Serenity’s arm the whole time. The steel is driven and driven with such malice, with such force, with such brutality into Marina’s chest.
Frankie: AAAAAAH!!!
Greyson: ARE YOU NUTS SERENITY!?!
A holy shit chant is echoing throughout the Manhattan Center as Serenity and Marina suffer across the arena floor. They are both in an equal amount of pain but Serenity is the first on her feet and Marina soon follows, just not under her own power. Serenity yanks her opponent onto her feet then just flings her down to the floor by the back of the head. Marina is sent rolling across the ground and towards the barricade. Amazingly Marina is able to will herself back onto her feet. She stands just in time to have her skull cracked when a steel chair goes swinging right upside it. Serenity delivers the blow with so much force that there is no amount of Advil in the world that will heal Marina’s headache.
A damn near braindead Marina goes flopping over the barricade and into the floor while Serenity follows, chair still in her hands. Serenity swings the steel across Marina’s lower back, potentially severing her spine on impact.
Frankie: See guys, this is where Serenity is at her best, in matches where there are no rules, no count outs, no disqualifications. Serenity was bred in this type of environment
Sparkles: Yeah, Serenity was probably taking chair shots even while she was in the womb.
Serenity takes Marina by the shoulders, pulls her up to her knees and then begins to club her across the chest repeatedly. Finally Serenity stops throwing the elbows in order to throw a foot. A boot nails Marina to the temple, knocking her into a roll across the mats. She ends up back on her feet where her fight for survival will continue. And that’s just what Marina does, FIGHT. Shockingly she manages to hit a forearm to the ribs of Serenity, followed by another, and then a third. These unexpected strikes have Serenity staggering back and then rolling into the ring to avoid her rival’s wrath. Her back may be in need of surgical repair but Marina gets up and starts to limp along after her opponent. She grabs the ring apron and leans against it, taking a second to mend….a costly second. Suddenly Serenity runs the length of the ring and hits a basement dropkick, not into Marina, but into the base of the ladder that was thrown into the ring earlier. As a result of this kick the opposite end of the ladder is sent sliding under the ropes and smacking Marina right in the mouth.
Greyson: Now the ladder comes into play!
Sparkles: Sparkles had almost forgotten totally about it.
Marina hasn’t forgotten the ladder, the pain in her jaw reminding her that she brought that very weapon into this equation. The ladder will continue to be used against her as it’s taken by Serenity and stretched out between the perpendicular ropes that converge in one corner of the ring. Serenity has turned it into a makeshift platform that Marina is about to get very up close and personal with.
Serenity exits the ring but it’s only so she can return to it with Marina in hand. Somehow Marina manages to fight back from her kneeling base on the canvas, hitting a forehead to Serenity’s ribs. The shot doubles Serenity over and Marina tries to stand up and regain the advantage she had in the opening salvo. She hits a stiff punt kick right to Serenity’s ribs, staggering her back. Marina then runs into Serenity with a clothesline only to have it countered when she’s caught with a drop toe hold. Much to Marina’s dismay her face comes tumbling down towards the steel rungs of the ladder. Marina’s head bounces off of the ladder and the impact causes her to go whipping around before coming to a rest on her seat. The back of her head is propped up against the very ladder her face was just mangled against.
Serenity: How about a little help, my Queen.
Serenity asks for assistance in the form of the weapon that Cindy Todd is tossing into the ring. A steel chair has ended up in Serenity’s hands. She then runs around the ring several times building momentum before leaping from her feet, sticking the chair under her boots and dropkicking it deliberately into Marina’s face. As a result Marina’s head is crushed between the ladder and the chair.
Frankie: That one hurt.
Greyson: Don’t be so glib about it.
Frankie: I didn’t think I was.
Sparkles: An impact like that could result in internal brain damage.
Frankie: Is there a such thing as external brain damage?
Sparkles: Good question.
After having her head sandwiched between steel there doesn’t look to be many active brain-cells left in Marina’s head. What little there remains are dislodged from her skull when she’s led along by the bangs, has her skull draped over the ladder and a chair about to crush her cranium. Serenity delights in the anticipation of hitting a con-CHAIR-to….no….a con-chair-LADDER-to. It’s going to be Christmas come early for Serenity, receiving her greatest gift, the end of Marina’s career. The chair in Serenity’s hands swings and nails the LADDER. Surprisingly Marina still has the presence of mind to get the heck out of the way, saving herself from a potentially life shortening blow to the head. She then staggers in behind Serenity only to find herself on the receiving end of a mule kick.
A cringing Marina backs away from Serenity while doubling over her potentially fractured ribs. But it’s her head she should be protecting, because a chair shot comes flying right towards it. A chair shot that Marina just barely avoids via dropping down into a forward roll. Groans can be heard from Serenity when she misses her chair shot, but then it’s moans that can be heard when Serenity turns around and finds herself on the receiving end of a Van Daminator!
Marina unleashes a spinning heel kick that nails the chair and drives it straight back into Serenity’s face. The impact has the former World Champion stumbling around looking about as disorientated as a spoiled hotel heiress exiting a nightclub. Somehow she remains on her feet after the chair went smashing into her skull. In an act that defies belief, Serenity actually lifts the chair and tries to use it once again. This time Marina leaps onto the ladder that is stretched across the perpendicular ropes, then springs back off of it, hitting a heel kick that nails the chair and the chair nails Serenity in her mug. The collision seemingly knocks Serenity unconscious and Marina is quickly following up with the pin.
Greyson: The chair BOUNCING off of Serenity’s face twice, and now Marina closing in on her revenge.
Sparkles: Marina looking to end the most intense rivalry of her IWC career.
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There remains no end in sight for Marina as her opponent throws her shoulder from the ring. The kick out causes Marina to roll away as her injuries steadily begin to catch up with her. That DVD off the wall continues to plague her, yet in spite of that pain she’s gathering up a steel chair. She places the weapon on top of Serenity’s face and then runs into the ropes, springing to the middle cable, twisting in mid-air and then hitting a leg drop right across the chair. The impact to her face has Serenity twitching and writhing across the canvas, but she stops moving entirely when her opponent springs off another set of middle ropes and hits the lionsault. She crashes down right into Serenity’s ribs, leaving the former World Champion potentially dead to rites.
Greyson: Marina’s athleticism and speed a very dangerous combination that is keeping her alive in this match.
Frankie: The fact that she’s doing all of this after that DVD she took early in this match is beyond my comprehension.
Marina’s wounds are weighing her down even as she approaches the ladder that was brought into the equation earlier. She takes the ladder away from the ropes before placing it on top of Serenity. The weapon is stretched over her rival and is about to be driven down into it. Marina points at the top rope, eliciting a huge response from the crowd.
Sparkles: Marina’s going to end this right now fellas. She’s gonna hit the California Splash.
Greyson: Onto that ladder and into Serenity.
Not if Cindy Todd has anything to say about it, though it’s not words she minces. The moment that Marina gets to the top rope and readies to come flying off into the 450 splash Cindy intervenes. She leaps to the apron behind Marina, puts a hand to her posterior and shoves her off the corner. Marina ends up flipping through the air and then cracking her back against the edge of the ring apron before ultimately falling all the way to the floor.
Greyson: NOOOO!
Frankie: That was a N-A-S-T-Y landing!
Sparkles: Cindy shoved Marina off the ropes and onto that apro…..BORISLAV!
The crowd goes from groaning at the sight of Marina’s nasty spill to ringside, to expressing jubilation at the sight of Borislav running down the ramp. Cindy’s latest victim grabs hold of the Queen of Chaos’ ankle and pulls her down off the apron. Cindy falls to the floor in front of Borislav and then receives a vicious right hand across the jaw. The shot to her brow has Cindy staggered but she retaliates, kicking Borislav in his blood stained stomach. She then hits him with a headbutt that disorientates her just as much as it disorientates Borislav.
Greyson: Borislav and Cindy have been going at it all night long.
Sparkles: After Cindy turned Borislav into a walking letter, using him to send a message to her precious Mika Kozlov.
Greyson: Who Borislav was assigned to protect.
Frankie: I tell ya, these two are gonna…..ooooooh snap, looks like someone is about to join this party.
There is a rise in the crowd’s response when seeing Victoria Salinas running down the ramp with a steel chair in her hands. She keeps on running and running and building more and more momentum before leaping with chair under her arm right into both Borislav and Cindy. While the chair takes Borislav down, the strike from the steel sends Cindy spiraling into the barricade. Victoria then goes right after her, slapping a fist across her cheek several times.
Greyson: Victoria Salinas wants a piece of Cindy too.
Sparkles: They’ve been battling throughout the night as well.
Victoria backs away from Cindy and then takes the chair, setting it up on the mats. Victoria runs at it, steps off of it and then launches herself into a leg lariat that connects across the Queen of Chaos’ throat. The collision knocks both Cindy AND Victoria over the barricade into the crowd.
Although there’s so much violence going on outside of the ring the fans find their attention turning back to what’s going within the squared circle. Serenity has regained her faculties and has dragged the ladder across the canvas. She ends up sliding said ladder under the ropes and then elevating it above the ringside mats by placing one end across the barricade and the other across the apron.
Greyson: Serenity turning that ladder into a bridge.
Sparkles: And you just know she’s going to do something absolutely disgusting with it.
Frankie: That’s a guarantee.
Serenity stops focusing on the ladder and starts honing in on Marina, pulling her up from the ground. She puts all her strength into Irish whipping Marina towards the ladder, trying to drive her face into the steel. At the last second Marina drops into a baseball slide, slipping under the ladder. She may have avoided impact with the ladder once, but she won’t do it a second time. Serenity runs to the opposite side of the weapon and slides it along the apron and the barricade it’s positioned upon in order to drive it right into Marina’s face. The collision knocks Marina to the floor and potentially breaks a few teeth out of her mouth. When she takes her hands away from her face we see that there is blood squirting out of her nostrils, indicating that she’s suffered a broken nose.
Greyson: The ladder just SMASHED Marina’s face.
Sparkles: Look at the blood, look at the blood, her nose is broken.
The bloodied Marina is primed for the pickings. Serenity throws her into the ring and will follow her, once she grabs a useful tool. She approaches the cart that was left at ringside holding the multiple blood bags and removes a very long syringe and needle. The demented Serenity slides into the ring and prepares to puncture the flesh on her rival’s face. She takes Marina under the chin, pulls her to her seat and stands behind her back before swinging the needle down directly into Valdivia’s eye.
Greyson: OH MY GOD!
Sparkles: Wait! Marina’s blocking! Marina’s blocking it!
Marina reaches up and grabs Serenity by the wrist, restraining the needle. A growling Serenity pushes down on the needle with all of her strength, trying her best to puncture her rival’s eye. Marina blocks the point of the weapon from blinding her as she fights her way up from the canvas. Finally she twists herself around and manages to pull Serenity into the fireman’s carry. Marina then throws Serenity into the air while she herself falls to her back and elevates both knees. As a result Serenity crashes down into a double knee gut buster. The impact has sent Serenity thrashing around on the canvas, grabbing at her busted ribs. Meanwhile Marina is getting to her feet and getting the crowd riled up with her screams.
Marina: You want blood Serenity? I’ll give you blood.
Marina rolls out of the ring and then reaches beneath it, finding just the weapon she was looking for. A 2×4 covered in a spool of barbwire is revealed, Marina staring into the very item that her rival has used against her on multiple occasions.
Frankie: It’s about time.
Sparkles: Barbwire coming into the equation.
Greyson: That’s the very same weapon that ignited this feud. It was six months ago that Serenity used that barbwire to tie Marina to the ring ropes and then savagely maul her.
With blood still rolling from her nostrils Marina rolls into the ring and approaches her fallen adversary. Her target kneels on the ring, it almost looks as if Serenity is welcoming a shot from the barbwire. Marina gives her exactly what she has coming to her, lifting the barbwire and preparing to swing it. The weapon connects, the weapon in Serenity’s hand. She leaps to her feet and swings the needle she was holding right into Marina’s forehead. The stabbing blow slices through Marina’s scalp, with the crowd covering their mouths in shock over this gruesome image.
Greyson: OH JESUS!
Sparkles: Marina stabbed! Stabbed in the face!
Frankie: Friggin sick.
Marina hits the ground and her hands move to her perforated flesh, grabbing at the blood that is now seeping from her scalp. Serenity grabs, no, stabs at that wound. She drops down beside Marina and begins to repeatedly drive her needle down into Marina’s scalp over and over and over again.
Greyson: Stop this Serenity! Stop this!
Blood is puddling across Marina’s brow as a result of these continous gouges with the needle. Finally Serenity throws the needle aside and looks towards a new toy, the barbwire that was just introduced into this match.
Serenity: For me? You shouldn’t have.
The 2×4 is taken and before Marina can fight it the barbwire is being introduced to her already bloodied brow.
Greyson: No dammit!
Frankie: Marina’s next trip won’t be back to California, it’ll be to a plastic surgeon. Hahahahaha.
The barbwire is fileting the flesh from Marina’s face, causing more and more blood to come trickling down her cheeks and splashing across her sternum. Finally the weapon is thrown aside so that Serenity can hit an elbow down right into her gash on her opponent’s head. Serenity then pulls that bloodied head along into position for a piledriver….onto the barbwire 2×4. It takes a lot of Serenity’s strength but she manages to get Marina up and slam her down skull first into the barbwire with the pulling piledriver.
Frankie: That’s it, it’s over, it’s done.
Marina lies a motionless and bloodied mess on the canvas where she is now being pinned by the New Eden member.
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The cries from the crowd are louder than ever when they witness Marina’s arm flying from the ring.
Frankie: Give it up already Marina. You’re only making this worse on yourself.
Greyson: What a performance we’re seeing out of Marina tonight. As long as her heart is pumping she will not give up against Serenity.
Ghoulish giggles emanate from Serenity as she pulls Marina’s blood soaked head from the canvas and then lifts her into another pulling piledriver. Once again Marina’s head is mutilated upon impact with the barbwire, but this time the slam into the board is not followed by a pin. Serenity crawls not into the cover but into the steel chair that was used in this match earlier on. She takes a moment to admire the blood of her opponent that is smeared across her stomach. It greatly amuses Serenity to be saturated in Marina’s blood but what she finds all the more hysterical is what she intends to do with the chair. She opens it and sets it on the canvas before swooping in to grab her barely conscious opponent. Marina’s head is forced into position for the pulling piledriver, the third and potentially final one. Serenity looks as if she’s ready to ram Marina’s head into the chair only to be stopped right before she cripples her prey. Without warning Marina stands up and back drops Serenity, not onto the canvas, but onto the barbwire 2×4.
Greyson: OOOOOH! Into the barbwire! Into the barbwire!!
The lacerated back of the former World Champion rises from the barbwire as her wail of pain fills the arena. She twists away from the board, showing the blood that is rolling down her back. She finally reaches her feet just as Marina comes staggering along towards her. Serenity puts the kibosh on whatever Marina had planned as she drives a punch right into the bloodied brow of her nemesis. The impact sends Marina stumbling back towards the steel chair, almost falling right into it.
Serenity shakes off the impact with the 2×4 and now comes rushing as fast as she can move right into Marina….right into Marina’s spinning powerslam…a spinning powerslam that puts Serenity’s back through the set up chair.
Greyson: SIIIICK!
Sparkles: That powerslam! That powerslam putting Serenity through a-through a CHAIR!
Frankie: You guys knew this was going to be a war to end all wars.
That war has definitely resulted in much bloodshed, evident by Marina’s face, which is covered beneath several layers of crimson. Serenity also wears the wounds of this battle, her back feeling as if it was just shattered by the impact with the chair. Even still she’s starting to get up. She only reaches a STOOPED posture before Marina dashes towards her, catches her around the neck then leaps into the tornado DDT. Serenity is swung around with her face eventually coming down right into the barbwire 2×4.
Greyson: Tornado DDT onto BARB-FRIGGIN-WIRE!
Sparkles: That’s GOT to do it, it just has to.
Now Marina and Serenity are starting to resemble one another. Blood is now flowing down Serenity’s face, just pouring from the laceration left in her scalp. She tries to push through, sliding across her back and towards the turnbuckle. She sits herself up against it, leaning back and letting the whole world get a good look at all the blood that is running down her cheeks. Blood loss will be the least of her worries. The barbwire 2×4 has found its way into Marina’s hands and now finds its way into Serenity’s chest. Marina leaves the weapon pressed against her opponent’s sternum before approaching another tool, a warped steel chair. What’s left of her energy is channeled into moving towards the ropes, sliding through them to the apron and then climbing the nearest turnbuckle. She gets one foot on the top cable before pausing to look through her crimson mask at all the fans.
Frankie: Oh, don’t tell me, don’t you tell me Marina’s gonna do what she’s thinking about doing here.
Greyson: If she does it’ll straight up kill Serenity.
Sparkles: That might be what it takes.
Marina steps all the way onto the top rope before she flies all the way across the ring. In mid-air she puts the chair under her boots and delivers a coast to coast dropkick that drives the steel into the barbwire and into Serenity’s body
Greyson: VAN-TERMINATOR!
Sparkles: Marina going coast-to-coast!
The fans are frothing in sheer exuberance as the chair and the barbwire rips Serenity’s body apart. Marina rolls away from her opponent, who has blood spurting from multiple areas of her face and her body. Her exsanguinated husk is dragged out of the corner to the middle of the ring where she’s pinned by Marina.
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Greyson: Marina finally ending this war.
The referee’s hand comes down again but it didn’t come down fast enough, because Serenity kicks out and kicks out in barely enough time to prevent a loss.
Sparkles: How on God’s green earth did Serenity just do that!?!
Frankie: Cause she’s a friggin monster. A livin’ breathin’ monster.
Many in attendance have their hands on top of their heads as they express total disbelief over Serenity’s kick out. Marina is equally as stunned that this blood-letting isn’t over. She stands just in time to be left lying thanks to the side kick that nails her in the cheek. The crowd is all over Borislav the moment he lays Marina out with this unexpected shot.
Greyson: Dammit Borislav!
Sparkles: The man’s got issues with everyone.
Greyson: This is the same thing we saw back at Upping the Ante when Marina took on Mika Kozlov. Borislav interfered in that bout as well.
Unfortunately for Marina, she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Borislav could care less about her, he’s only after Serenity. His hands take hold of her once blonde but now blood red hair, dragging her up slowly from the canvas with murderous intentions. But just then a steel chair slams over his back, resulting in a loud roar. Victoria Salinas is in the ring and she is getting some retribution for her friend by driving the chair over Borislav’s back. The big man growls as he turns around and finds his head on the receiving end of the sickest chair shot anyone anywhere has ever seen.
Greyson: OH GOD!
Sparkles: Jeeeez that was one bad chair shot!
The stiffest of stiff chair shots has taken Borislav off his feet and through the ropes to the outside of the ring. Victoria is about to follow after him but has a hard time of it she’s being caught from behind. A stunned Victoria is whipped around towards Serenity, who quickly lifts her opponent into a fireman’s carry and then into the F5.
Sparkles: F5! F5!!
Greyson: Serenity dropping Victoria with the F5!!
Victoria’s head bounces off of the ring with enough force to send her rolling under the ropes. She spills to the ground right beside Borislav, the two in an equal amount of pain. Surprisingly Borislav is working his way up from the ground with his fist connecting across Victoria’s head. He starts to compel Victoria to her feet even while crushing the bones in her face with his big right hands. Neither he nor Victoria are aware that Cindy Todd has recovered until she runs across the ring apron, does a forward flip over a turnbuckle and then comes down with a senton plancha right into both individuals down below.
Greyson: CINDY TODD!
All three bodies at ringside take a plunge into the floor and this time none of them are getting up any time soon. There’s only one person in or around the ring moving at the moment and its Marina. She crawls out of the squared circle and onto the ladder that remains bridging between the apron and the barricade. She reaches the mid-point of this makeshift platform and instinctively starts to push herself up off of it. Just as she begins to get her footing, albeit crouched over, she finds her head caught, caught right in Serenity’s clutches. Serenity leaps from the ring to the top rope then springs off, flies towards Marina and catches her with a DDT that spikes her down into the ladder.
Frankie: What the hell was that!?!
Greyson: Almost a version of the Serenity Now on top of the ladder!
Frankie: How much can these bodies take?
Marina’s head cracks off of the ladder and her body goes flopping off to the floor, falling a couple feet. An equally as banged up Serenity remains on top of the rungs, trying to regain her faculties but she ain’t having much luck. Eventually she manages to get Marina back into the ring and Serenity is right on top of her, throwing her bloodied torso over her opponent’s chest.
Greyson: That DDT spiking Marina’s head against the ladder and now she’s closing in on victory.
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The fans and Serenity alike express total shock when Marina, in spite of blood loss and physical fatigue, kicks out.
Sparkles: Marina digging down deep and getting her shoulder up.
Frankie: She must really want to leave the ring tonight in a body-bag.
Greyson: At this rate they may both be removed from the ring in a hearse.
The DDT into the ladder has reopened the wound in Marina’s scalp, meaning there’s even more blood flooding her face. Serenity drags Marina up from the ground and pulls her into a fireman’s carry, hoisting her up and then into the F5.
Sparkles: FFF-FIIIIIVVEEEE!
Greyson: Serenity hitting another one, this time on Marina.
Frankie: Yup. Marina got to feel her best friend’s pain.
Although Serenity could follow this up with a pin she doesn’t. Instead she grabs the 2×4 covered in barbwire and repositions it, putting it close enough to prove invaluable to her. It takes quite a bit of doing but Serenity drags Marina up from the ring and then into her shoulders, going for yet another F5, this one into the barbwire.
Marina swings around but it’s not into the DDT.
She slides out of the fireman’s carry, drops behind Serenity and then pulls her over into the backslide.
Sparkles: BAAAACKSLLIIIIDDDEE!
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After everything these two have went through in the course of this match and the course of this rivalry, a backslide just isn’t going to end it. Serenity gets her shoulder up and then falls back to her feet. She then runs right at Marina only to find herself caught with a drop toe hold. As a result Serenity’s face comes flying down right into the 2×4 covered in barbwire.
Greyson: That barbwire being used again.
Serenity’s lacerated face pulls back from the barbwire as she rolls across the ring. She absent mindedly ends up on the ring apron, kneeling beside the ladder that remains bridging between the apron and the barricade. Serenity sluggishly starts to stand up before doubling right back over when a kick hits her in the ribs. An exhausted Marina still has the strength to lift Serenity upside down before stepping onto the rungs of the ladder and then driving her opponent’s head directly into the steel with a running piledriver. Every fan inside of the Manhattan Center are jumping up and down in total shock over that last maneuver, which almost broke the ladder in half.
Greyson: Words cannot even describe what we just saw.
Sparkles: That was the most brutal piledriver Sparkles has ever seen.
Greyson: In the most brutal match either of us have ever witnessed.
The crowd is just exploding after that last move which has left both Marina and Serenity lying on the arena floor after crashing down from the ladder. Although she can’t even process thoughts at the moment Serenity’s body is instinctively crawling along the ringside mats. Her face is completely buried beneath about three layers of blood which is trailing behind her as she moves closer and closer to the announce table.
Frankie: You guys stay the hell away from me.
Sparkles: This Cartel Chaos match is coming our way.
Serenity is pawing at the table, using it to try and get her wobbly legs to stabilize beneath her. Just then Marina comes in from behind and comes in swinging. The ring bell is in Marina’s clutches and it is now cracking across the back of Serenity’s head. The blow knocks Serenity forward, causing her to drop across the surface of the table where her eyes gloss over, indicating that she is absolutely brain-dead at this point. The ring-bell falls out of Marina’s hands as the weapon does not factor into her plans. She rolls into the squared circle and grabs the top rope. Although she’s lost so much blood and her body has endured so many blows throughout the course of this match she is still about to go high risk.
Greyson: What is Marina thinking here?
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think we want to find out.
Well the puppet is about to. Marina lunges to the top rope and then to the screams of thousands she comes flying off into the 450. The California Splash is used to hurl Marina towards Serenity and towards the announce table. That table EXPLODES when Marina’s body, and Marina’s body ALONE, goes crashing through it. In the eleventh hour Serenity rolls out of the way. The table explodes into thousands of pieces around Marina.
Greyson: OOOOOH SHIIIIT!
Frankie: Marina just plunged right through our table bruh!
The crash through the table has left Marina totally motionless, her body just lying there on the floor as limp as a noodle. Serenity, bloodied face and all, scrapes Marina off the ground and throws what’s left of her opponent into the ring. Only the whites of Serenity’s eyes can be seen, which makes her look as crazed as ever upon reaching the top rope. This time it’s Serenity who goes hurdling through the air, hitting the shooting star press.
Greyson: The Serenity Now delivered!
The commentators and the crowd are united in their despair at the sight of the official making the three count the second Serenity has hooked her rival’s leg.
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Marina’s ill-advised 450 through the announce table, combined with the shooting star press has ended what was one of the most brutal and career shortening rivalries. Or so it would have if Marina hadn’t launched a shoulder off the ring at the last possible moment.
Frankie: WHAT!!??!!
Greyson: Marina just barely, and I mean just BARELY getting her shoulder up!
Frankie: WHAT!!??!!
The whole of the Manhattan Center are on their feet screaming and chanting Marina’s name. Serenity just can’t believe it as she sits there on the canvas, eyes wider than they have ever been, jaw hanging lower than it’s ever hung. Never before has Serenity looked as shocked as she looks right now. Her eyes pierce through her mask of blood towards the turnbuckle. Serenity climbs in its direction, scaling the corner to the very top rope. If one Serenity Now didn’t do the trick a second definitely will. She takes to the air, flips towards Marina and comes crashing down right into nothing but CANVAS. Marina rolls out of the way JUST in time, causing Serenity to go flying past her and smashing against the ring.
Frankie: WHAT!!???!!
Serenity is more surprised than ever as she bounces off the ring and ricochets from it onto her feet. The moment that Serenity stands up she finds her head caught from behind and her body flipping back into the inverted hurricarana. The top of Serenity’s head collides directly with the steel chair introduced far earlier in this match.
Greyson: Marina summoning what strength she has left to hit that inverted hurricarana!!
Sparkles: And look, she’s climbing the turnbuckle! Good lord Marina is climbing the turnbuckle!
Greyson: This….is….unbelievable.
Although she’s in the worse shape of her life Marina scales the turnbuckle, gets to the very top rope and then goes flipping through the air. The California Splash connects.
Greyson: CALIFORNIA SPLASH!!
Sparkles: NO! Serenity caught her.
Amazingly Serenity manages to reach up and catch Marina as she crashes into her, turning her momentum into an inside cradle. The fans are shivering, their heads shaking in astonishment as the referee makes the count.
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Greyson: NOT THIS WAY!
The referee’s hand is merely an inch removed from the canvas before Marina’s arm launches up from it.
Greyson: IN-CRED-IBLE!
Sparkles: That was so friggin close.
Frankie: I really thought that was going to be it bruhs.
After rolling out of the pin Marina gets back to her feet as fast as her body will allow, turning just as Serenity comes flying off the second rope. In mid-air Serenity twists around in order to crack her opponent in the face with the roundhouse kick but Marina ducks and ducks just in time to cause her rival’s leg to go flying right over her head. Serenity ends up taking the plunge to the canvas while her rival ends up leaping to the top rope. Before Serenity has a chance to get up off of her back she has to contend with Marina hitting the 450 splash. This time Marina gets every bit of her finishing move, crashing down into and crushing Serenity’s sternum.
Greyson: There is it! There it is! The California Splash!!
Sparkles: And it brings to an end the most personal of rivalries!
Marina hooks Serenity’s leg and the referee makes the count.
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Greyson: It’s over….finally it’s all over.
The crowd is rejoicing in Marina’s victory before they nearly regurgitate at the sight of Serenity kicking out.
Frankie: No it’s not Lovejoy, it’s not over.
Greyson: I’m speechless. Just friggin SPEECHLESS.
The entire audience in a sheer malaise at the sight of Serenity getting her shoulder up. Both she and her opponent are in shreds as they inch their bloody bodies up and to their knees. Whatever either combatant has left is channeled into the punches they are throwing upside one another’s faces. When Marina’s fist connects to Serenity’s bloodied brow the crowd lets out a ‘yeah.’ This is followed by the obligatory ‘boo’ whenever Serenity’s fist lands across Marina’s cheek. This slug fest is not having the effect either fighter had hoped, instead of taking Serenity or Marina to the canvas they’re rising from it. Marina suddenly lets out a primal roar before unleashing a headbutt. She then follows it up with a kick to the gut and a hook of both of her adversary’s arms. All of Marina’s strength is put into the tiger bomb, throwing Serenity up but failing to throw her down. Serenity twists around in mid-air, landing on her feet right beside her opponent.
Serenity acts quick, throwing a forearm at Marina that slaps nothing but the dust trail that her target leaves in her wake. Marina ducks under the shot and takes off running into the ropes, ricocheting from them and then coming back in at Serenity. She charges right into a CHAIR SHOT!
The weapon is snatched from the canvas and then swung around directly into Marina’s skull, resulting in a halo of blood dispersing through the air. Somehow Marina is still on her feet, reeling back from the blow and falling against the ropes….no…ricocheting from them. She throws a lariat at Serenity that is DUCKED.
Serenity narrowly avoids the blow and then waits as Marina turns around, tossing her the chair instead of hitting her with it. Marina catches the weapon just as Serenity springs off the middle rope in front of her then twists into the roundhouse kick that nails the chair. The weapon flies back into Marina’s face, the sound of steel to skull reverberating throughout the Manhattan Center.
Greyson: Springboard roundhouse upside the damned chair!
Frankie: Upside Marina’s damned face!
Sparkles: It’s over. Gosh darn it’s GOT to be over.
Greyson: For the longevity of either of these athletes’ careers I hope it is.
Serenity kneels on the canvas having trouble following through with her last move until she finally at long-long last throws an arm over her opponent’s stomach and puts this clash at an end.
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The fans go almost hoarse when they see Marina’s arm limply rising from the canvas.
Sparkles: How the fudge nuggets did that just happen?
Greyson: I wish I had answers for you, Sparkles. I really-really wish I had answers.
The fact that Marina has kicked out leaves Serenity downright inconsolable. It doesn’t take a shrink to tell what she’s thinking right now, obviously asking herself what more she has to do in order to finally avail herself of her rival. Her eyes look around the ring and ultimately settle on the corner of the ring where she sees something that nobody else, or at least the more sane members of the audience, fail to see. Serenity crawls to the corner and grabs at the canvas, pulling and pulling it until it starts to tear away. The wooden boards beneath the ring canvas are now exposed.
Sparkles: The ring being torn apart.
Frankie: Sure, why not. They’ve already destroyed our announce table, might as well as destroy the ring too.
Greyson: Don’t tell me that Serenity plans to use those wooden boards as a weapon.
The canvas continues to be pulled and pulled until a substantial portion of the wooden layer of the ring is revealed. Serenity gets light headed, staggering back a little but overcoming her disorientation She goes back after Marina, pulling her along onto the wood and preparing to spike her head into it. All of Serenity’s strength is employed to pull Marina up into a piledriver, not just any piledriver though, a CRADLE piledriver.
Greyson: Don’t do this Serenity!
She won’t have the chance to.
Before Serenity can hit the kill move she finds her opponent shifting her weight. Marina comes back down to her feet and then twists her way out of the piledriver position. She then drags Serenity into a kick to the gut followed by a hooking of both of her arms. It looks like Marina is going to deliver the tiger bomb on the hard wood but Serenity blocks it, forcing her shoulder into her opponent’s ribs and then pushing her back into the turnbuckle. All the air is driven out of Marina’s body upon striking the corner, her legs and her arms losing all of their power. Serenity, who is bleeding so profusely she looks like Sissy Spacek in the final moments of Carrie, runs at Marina and runs right into her opponent’s front face-lock.
The fans rejoice as Marina leaps to the middle rope and then captures her rival’s head. Everyone knows what Marina has in store next, including her opponent. Marina leaps from the corner and swings into the tornado DDT onto the wood beneath the ring. The move was scouted, Serenity putting her hands to Marina’s ribs and shoving her off. As a result Marina ends up landing on her elbows and knees while her opponent bares down on her. Serenity runs right into Marina and right into the barbwire that stabs her directly in the face. Marina has grabbed the very weapon that was used to start this whole rivalry, pulls it up from the ring and slams it straight into the inbound forehead of her nemesis. The barbwire rips through Serenity’s scalp and sends her reeling in reverse. She barely gets her footing and then in near movie monster fashion shakes off the skin cleaving shot from the barbwire. She runs with a growl at Marina and hits her opponent’s shoulder, finding herself being flung high-high-HIGH into the air with a back drop. Ultimately what goes up has to come down and Serenity comes down HARD into the exposed wood.
Sparkles: Back drop onto that hard plywood!
Greyson: After Serenity’s face was hit with the 2×4 of barbwire!
Frankie: This ain’t happenin’! Do something Serenity! Do something Cindy. Someone do anything.
Marina IS doing something, falling into the corner then climbing it as fast as her body will allow. She gets to the very top rope where she almost loses her balance but she channels the energy of the fans, and all of her inner rage to summon the strength to go flipping from the corner into the California Splash. Serenity finds herself crushed between Marina and the plywood.
Greyson: Is this it!?! Is a second California Splash about to end this!?!
Frankie: Marina killed herself to just connect with that 450, she doesn’t have enough to follow up.
Just as Frankie pointed out, Marina has curled around her ribs instead of crawling over her opponent. The fatigue and the punishment Marina has endured has seemingly taken what little fight was left in her out of her body. She painstakingly crawls across the ring, but it seems that much like Serenity a few moments ago, Marina is drawn towards something that no one else sees. All becomes transparent when Marina grabs the ladder that has been employed so many times in this match and drags it into the ring. It takes all she’s got left to set the ladder up and then climb and climb, getting to the highest point. The white of her eyes widen, staring out through the blood that drenches her face. The crowd can see the intensity in Marina as she goes flipping almost from the top of the ladder into the California Splash. She crashes right into Serenity, yet again slamming her opponent’s back against the wood.
Greyson: AAAAHHH!!! 450! 450 FROM THE LADDER!
Frankie: HOLY CRAPPERS!
The crowd is jumping up and down in elation as Marina pushes through every last bit of pain that consumes her in order to hook Serenity’s legs.
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And the reception only gets louder and louder, now reaching its crescendo as the referee’s hand hits the canvas the third and the final time. Immediately Marina releases Serenity’s legs and rolls into a lifeless heap beside her opponent. Neither lady can move but both ladies are receiving a STANDING ovation.
Greyson: There are no words….
Sparkles: What a match. There, that was three words.
Once on her feet Marina buckles under her own weight and drops back to her knees. The blood loss and the physical battery she’s suffered in this match taking a heavy toll on her. The referee cautiously takes Marina’s arm and raises it into the air, causing the winner to grimace from the pain that radiates from her shoulder.
Greyson: Six months. Six bloody months. It all culminates to this one moment. This one win. The biggest in her IWC career.
Frankie: She definitely had to earn it though. These two just….beat…the shit…out of each other.
Sparkles: Sparkles has never seen the type of war we just witnessed between Serenity and Marina Valdivia.
It takes all that Marina has in her to stand up, finally taping into her final vestige of energy in order to embrace this win. Suddenly Marina erupts, letting out every bit of emotion in one big celebratory scream. She again falls to her knees but keeps both arms elevated to her sides, shaking her knuckles in victorious manner.
Greyson: Marina has done it tonight here at the End of the Year Special. She has vanquished without a doubt her greatest IWC rival, the woman who has victimized her over and over again, the woman who has cost Marina every title opportunity she’s had this year.
Frankie: Yeeeaaaah, guess she did kinda earn this one.
Sparkles: Think of everything Marina had to go through to win this match tonight. She was hit with a DVD into the crowd, stabbed multiple times with a needle, bludgeoned with chairs, ladders and barbwire, she even went through our announce table.
Greyson: And in the end she came flipping off that ladder into the California Splash to at last exorcize the demons known as New Eden. What a performance from both of these competitors tonight.
The celebration continues as Marina points out over the audience, who are chanting her name. Though soon the fans find themselves screaming something else….a warning….a warning that comes too late. Suddenly the barbwire 2×4 used throughout the Cartel Chaos match smacks right across the back of Marina’s head and the blow sends her toppling to the canvas.
Greyson: DAMMIT!
Sparkles: Whoa, what the hell….is….is….is…that?
It wasn’t Serenity who smashed Marina in the head with the 2×4.
It wasn’t Cindy Todd who mutilated Marina with the barbwire.
It was…Cassidy Haze, who just mangled Marina with the 2×4 wrapped in barbwire.
Greyson: CASSIDY HAZE!!??!!
Frankie: I don’t even know what to say.
Sparkles: She’s been missing for months!
Frankie: She’s not missing anymore.
Cassidy stands over an unconscious Marina with the 2×4 swaying from her hand. The barbwire is thrown aside as Cassidy’s demonic, dark eyes watch the blood flow from Marina’s skull. To the despair of the audience Cindy Todd has found her way back into the ring. For a moment Cassidy and Cindy exchange a tense stare down. That tension is broken when Cindy extends her hand towards Cassidy, who falls to her knees. Her head bows in the direction of the Queen of Chaos.
Greyson: This is absolutely chilling.
Sparkles: When last we saw Cassidy she was embroiled in a rivalry with New Eden, but now it looks like she’s serving them.
Frankie: Were New Eden the ones responsible for Cassidy’s disappearance all these months?
Greyson: What have they done to her?
Cassidy continues to bow before Cindy and she won’t be the last to kneel to the Queen. At last the blood on Serenity’s face has begun to clot, but it wouldn’t matter if gallons were still seeping out, she’d crawl along and enjoy this moment. She wraps an arm around Cassidy’s neck and gives her a hug while summoning the strength to actually smile and then to laugh.
Greyson: This is certainly not the way we wanted this night to end.
Sparkles: Marina Valdivia pulled off an amazing win here tonight but then Cassidy Haze came along and ruined her celebration.
Frankie: New Eden’s influence just continues to grow here in the IWC. Wins, losses, they don’t matter to these raving lunatics. They only care about one thing and one thing only, destruction.
Greyson: 2015 ends with a stunning revelation and what we thought would be closure between Marina and New Eden.
A victorious Marina is splayed across the canvas with her body and her face badly banged up. Meanwhile Serenity and Cassidy Haze kneel on the ring with Cindy stood above them, eyes observing all the wonderful, wonderful chaos.
FADE TO BLACK
uta2
There are so many flashing lights within the parking garage of the arena that it could result in epileptic seizures. An ambulance comes pulling into tonight’s venue for the IWC pay-per-view Upping the Ante. Once the vehicle cruises to a stop the doors pop open and two very familiar figures make their exit. From the driver’s side we see Serenity emerge and from the passenger seat departs Cindy Todd. The New Eden members convene in front of the ambulance and examine their choice of transportation.
Serenity: Somebody is gonna take a riiiide tonight.
Announces Serenity in a sing-song voice.
Serenity: Maybe I’ll even let them play with the sirens.
Cindy: No dear…
States Cindy as her hand moves to Serenity’s arm.
Cindy: They’ll be in no condition.
The black eyed soulless duo that has tormented and tortured almost the entirety of the IWC roster proceed along into the Manhattan Center. Although they leave the ambulance behind, they will no doubt be returning to it soon with an unwilling guest in their hands.
A video package commences that features a dimly lit and rather smoky room occupied by a handful of IWC combatants. There are at least five athletes seated about a round table covered in green felt. In their hands are playing cards, and stacked up in front of them are poker chips. It’s Johnny Kingdom who is the first to ante up. He grabs a handful of red chips and tosses them to the center of the table. As he goes back to examining his cards the camera looks over his shoulder to see what he’s seeing. Every card in his hand features videos that capture the barbaric moments of his feud with Mordecai, a rivalry set to conclude here tonight on pay-per-view.
Mrs. R: Mordecai will devour the Fallen King from below….
As the voice over of Mrs. R is heard in the background, haunting Kingdom’s memory, on one of the cards he clutches we can see the monster Mordecai tearing his way up through a wrestling ring and latching onto Johnny’s ankle. A stunned Kingdom is dragged down beneath the squared circle by the beast and brutally bludgeoned.
Mordecai: I want Johnny Kingdom in a BURIED ALIVE MATCH!…
Another of the playing cards flashes with images of Kingdom attacking Mordecai out behind the Manhattan Center, blasting him over the back with a shovel and knocking his enormous rival into an open grave.
Alistair: Selena Frost will learn that we are Monarchy, and we will rule….
The camera moves from Kingdom’s face to the features of another poker player. Selena Frost is seated beside the famed former World Champion and is throwing her own set of chips forward. On the cards in her hands the viewers can see images of her rival Alistair Taylor hitting Selena with the overdrive, a move that costs her the Tag Team Titles back at the last pay-per-view.
Alistair: At Upping the Ante I’m going to do something horrible to Selena Frost….
The voice of her rival continues to resonate in the back of Selena’s head while the cards in her hand show Frost swinging a guitar that shatters over Alistair’s skull. The camera pulls away from Selena and away from the cards she’s holding in order to turn to the individual seated at the table beside her. Andre Jordan stretches five cards between his palms and each one depicts another image from his rivalry with Mika Kozlov.
Mika: Come to me my chocolate pudding….
On one card we get a glimpse of Andre defending his Evolution Title in a hotly contested three way against opponents Scott Cannon and Kat Kelly. At the conclusion of that match Mika Kozlov comes crawling sensually to the stage wearing lingerie that makes her the most alluring sight seen in quite some time. She’s a feast for Andre’s eyes but ultimately a costly distraction that results in the loss of his Evolution Title.
Harrison: Mya Denton, at Upping the Ante, you get what you want….
The person seated beside Andre is revealed as the unpredictable and unstable Mya Denton. She clasps to her cards with one hand while shuffling chips around in the other. On the cards are visuals of Aaron Harrison talking to Mya in the middle of the ring before attacking her injured knee.
Greyson: Mya has been waiting for months to get her revenge on Harrison, and at Upping the Ante it sounds like we’re finally going to see it….
The video on one of Mya’s cards shows her sitting in the ring and staring up the ramp at the coffin that her nemesis Harrison is stood on top of while the commentators hype an eventual clash between the two.
Greyson: Harrison versus Denton, we’re gonna see it go down at Upping the Ante…
Finally the camera reaches the last person seated at this table, and that individual happens to be the acclaimed World Champion herself, Katelyn Buehler. Although later tonight she’ll be gambling the World Title in a match against challenger Scott Cannon, at the moment all she puts on the line are a handful of poker chips. On the cards stretched between her hands are images of Katelyn clashing with Scott around every turn headed into the pay-per-view.
Scott: I’m going to do the RIGHT thing…
These words echo in the back of Katelyn’s head, listening as Scott tells the world that he has reformed, turned over a new leaf and begun the arduous process of revamping his bad boy image. In the cards that Katelyn clutches we actually see her rival striving to repair his tarnished image but facing numerous set-backs in large part thanks to his brothers undermining him around every turn. Michael and David Cannon clearly do not agree with Scott’s attempts at reformation and attempt to sabotage it by means of attacking the World Champion and then get their brother to join in on the mugging. Scott not only resists that temptation but actually drags his brothers off of the champion. Katelyn however, misrepresents Scott’s attentions and lays him out with the KTFO.
Scott: Scott Cannon….a GOOD man?…
The visuals within the cards clutched by Katelyn show clips of Katelyn holding up the World Title and Scott Cannon holding up a briefcase that contains his Number One Contender Contract. The camera goes back to Katelyn seated at the poker table, dropping her cards and pushing all the chips stacked up before her to the middle of the poker table. She literally puts it all, everything on the line, just like she will tonight when she defends the World Title against Scott Cannon.
The Upping the Ante theme track is rocking it out in the background while on the screen a video airs that shows playing cards flying straight at YA! Kings, Queens, Jokers and Jacks travel from the back of the screen and fly with near 3D effect at the screen. Before long the Kings turn into Orlando Cruze, the Queens turn into Marina Valdivia, the Jokers turn into Mika Kozlov, and the Jacks turn into Andre Jordan. The final card that hurdles towards your monitor and looks like it’s going to crash straight into your living room is a picture of the arena. No, it’s not a picture, it’s a live shot from the interior of the venue for tonight’s pay-per-view.
The fans are in an absolute frenzy. They are out of their seats, on their feet and enjoying the spectacle of the fireworks that blanket the stage and the entrance ramp in sparks. All those in the Manhattan Center are already having the time of their lives and the show hasn’t even gotten started yet. The commentators sound every bit as jacked up as the audience.
Greyson: We are finally here, Upping the Ante is LIVE from the Manhattan Center!
Cameras fly past the crazed expressions on the faces of the fans.
Sparkles: This is Sparkles, the most beloved puppet since Kermit stopped being funny, and I’m joined by my bruh Frankie Paradise, and Greyson Lovejoy on one of the biggest nights of IWC action we’ve EVER delivered.
Frankie: Every night delivers big when Frankie P is here to see.
Sparkles: You know it!
Greyson: Tonight couldn’t get any bigger, it’s almost like an Invictus atmosphere in the building tonight as we prepare to witness the finals of the World Title Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: Plus the World Title itself will be on the line when Katelyn Buehler defends the belt against Scott Cannon.
Sparkles: All that plus Sparkles here at Upping the Ante.
The commentators stop yapping and start clapping when the chorus of “Glamorous” plays over the arena PA speakers meaning that beloved IWC grappler Marina Valdivia is on her way to the ring. The multi-platform superstar makes her way to the ring traversing the red carpet that has been rolled out for her and her alone.
Greyson: We start out the night with a Semi-Final match in the Number One Contender Tournament. Marina Valdivia headed out to compete against Lexy Chapel….
Sparkles: And one of them will advance to the finals that will be contested here this evening.
Frankie: Don’t even feign uncertainty Sparkles, we all three….okay, you and I know, because Greyson’s an idiot, that Lexy’s gonna be sexy and she’s gonna be the number one contender for the World Title by the end of the night.
Greyson: I’m just going to do what I do every night and just ignore you’re comments Frankie. Instead I’ll talk about what’s germane to this match we’re about to see the road that Marina took to getting here to the final four of the tournament.
A video package chronicles the arduous journey that Marina Valdivia faced in recent weeks to get this close to becoming Number One Contender to the World Championship. At the moment the viewers see the opening round match up in the tournament where Marina collided with Ricky Holt. The two battle in a very technically precise confrontation that culminates to Marina managing to reverse just one of Ricky’s moves and set him up for the California Splash. She hits her finisher the 450 splash in order to pin Holt and advance to the Quarter Finals of the World Title Contender Tournament.
It doesn’t take long to show the outcome of that Quarter Final bout as Marina locks up with the red hot Rachel Tatum Lee. The reigning NHB Champion puts Marina through the battle of her career and looks to end Valdivia’s World Title ambitions. However, just as Rachel narrows in on the biggest win of her IWC career she’s ambushed by her ex-boyfriend Ethan Von Aaron, and his new girlfriend Alana Starr. The end result being Rachel getting counted out and Marina advancing to the Semi-Finals here this evening.
Cameras go back live to the ring where Marina Valdivia is running from one set of ring ropes to another. She knows she’s in store for the very same thing she’s faced in her previous two tournament matches, a bout that will test her limits and most definitely push her past them.
Greyson: That video documenting perhaps two of Marina’s toughest bouts.
Frankie: She ain’t seen tough yet. Not until she battles her opponent Lexy Chapel.
Sparkles: By the skin of her teeth Marina survived matches against Ricky Holt and Rachel Tatum Lee, can she continue to build her momentum here tonight?
A woman who is on just as big a momentum swing presently heads for the ring. The tracks of Cynics and Critics by Icon for Hire are belting through the PA system, indicating that Lexy Chapel is coming along down the ramp. As always Lexy does not walk out alone. The Tag Team Champions move down the ramp united, Kat Kelly at her partner’s side and holding a sign high above Lexy’s head. Said sign reads ‘STOP MASTURBATING AND START CELEBRATING.’ The Tag gold shines about the waists of both Lexy and Kat, who continue to ignore the jeers from the audience.
Frankie: God, I don’t thank you nearly enough, but truly, truly THANK YOU for giving us Wicked Intent.
Greyson: The Tag Team Champions on their way to the ring but it’ll only be Lexy Chapel who steps inside of it.
Sparkles: Hopefully.
Greyson: It’s rather fitting that Lexy and Marina will be locking up in the semi-finals, these two have been on the biggest streaks of their careers. Let’s take a look at how Lexy advanced here to the Semi-Finals.
A video dominates the screen showcasing the two previous collisions Lexy Chapel endured to get to the pay-per-view this evening. First we start with the opening round match where Lexy fought against another up and comer Devon Kayl and defeated him via the superkick delivered straight to the back of his previously injured skull.
Flash forward to a few weeks later where Lexy went one on one with former World Champion Serenity in yet another tournament match. After the video shows the dazzling array of high flying and hard hitting maneuvers traded between these two the footage brings us to the conclusion of the bout. A distraction created by Marina Valdivia allows Lexy to hit her finisher the Explicit Content on Serenity and then pin her to advance to the Semi-Finals.
We’re back live to the ring where Lexy Chapel is stood on the middle rope of the turnbuckle lifting her half of the Tag Team Titles over-head. She points at the gold with her opposite finger while shouting at the hecklers.
Lexy: That’s right, I’m THAT awesome fuckers!
Laughter can be heard from her tag partner Kat Kelly at ringside, who catches the belt that Lexy tosses down to her.
Greyson: Lexy went through qualifying matches against Devon Kayl and Serenity to get to this leg of the tournament…..
Sparkles: All the while dealing with her issues with Eve and Siqua, the members of the Sinistry who BLOOD BATHED Kat and Lexy a few weeks ago.
Frankie: That wasn’t fair, and you want to know what else isn’t fair? The fact that Lexy has to defend her Tag Team Titles tonight against Eve and Siqua, meaning that when she wins this tournament match, she’ll have to wrestle not once, not twice, but THREE times tonight.
Greyson: Wicked Intent set to defend the belts against the Sinistry this evening, but it remains to be seen rather we’ll see Lexy in the Finals of the tournament too.
Frankie: Of course we will.
It seems that at long last the opening bell is coming and Marina Valdivia and Lexy Chapel will be unleashed on one another. However, just before this match officially gets underway cameras take a brief foray to the backstage area.
Tabitha: Vicky, would you mind stepping out of the way?
There’s a very good reason we haven’t seen Marina Valdivia’s manager at her side for this big tournament match. It’s because Tabitha Silverstone has been cut off backstage. The sunglasses on the edge of her nose reflect the face of Marina’s best friend Victoria Salinas. The curtains that veil the entry way are dangling behind Victoria’s back.
Victoria: Don’t think for one second that I’m going to let you go out there and ruin this for Marina….
The argument goes on with the commentators putting things into perspective for the fans watching around the world.
Greyson: It looks like Marina Valdivia’s friend Victoria Salinas is keeping Tabitha Silverstone away from the ring.
Sparkles: Yeah, Victoria has been very suspicious of Tabitha’s behavior the past few weeks and obviously doesn’t want that behavior to negatively affect Marina.
Frankie: All because Tabitha has started acting a little bizarre.
Greyson: That’s putting it mildly.
LEXY CHAPEL VS. MARINA VALDIVIA:
SEMI-FINAL WORLD TITLE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER MATCH
Back in the ring the bell has sounded and both Lexy Chapel and Marina Valdivia have begun to circle one another. But just before they prepare to tie up in a classic collar elbow lock everyone’s attention, including Marina’s, turns to Kat Kelly leaping up onto the apron.
Greyson: What is Kat doing?
Frankie: Being the world’s sexiest distraction.
A distraction that pays off in spades for Kat’s tag team partner Lexy. She runs up behind Marina and gets in a cheap shot to start off the match. The double axehandle smash across the back of Marina’s head sends her spiraling along face first into the turnbuckle. Marina turns her back to the corner and exposes her stomach to the multiple stomps and her chest to the multiple chops unleashed by Lexy. The blows take Marina all the way down onto her seat where her throat is being crushed by the Wicked Intent member’s boot. The referee starts a five count before Lexy removes her heel from her opponent’s esophagus and then she backs to the center of the ring. She gets a running start behind a hip thrust directly into Marina’s face….wait…Marina rolls out of the way and instead the point of Lexy’s hip hits the corner.
Marina rolls across the ring and ends up in the diagonal corner, standing up just as Lexy recovers from her collision with the turnbuckle. She goes taking off right after Marina before eventually leaving her feet, diving into a heat seeking dropkick aimed at her adversary’s face. The kick never connects with Marina’s skull, flying right past it just as Valdivia ducks out of the way. As a result the back of Lexy’s legs collide with the corner and her body goes tumbling down to the canvas. She rolls over to her knees and stands just as Marina swoops in from behind, grabs the back of her head and charges her face first into the top turnbuckle pad.
One collision isn’t good enough, Marina pulls Lexy’s head back from the turnbuckle and slams her face against it a second time. A third collision follows and then a fourth and a fifth, Marina just driving Lexy’s skull into the corner again and again and again.
Greyson: The intensity that Marina brings into this match is well justified. There have been issues between herself and Lexy Chapel dating back several months.
Sparkles: Marina’s got a grudge against Lexy’s group the Monarchy, and that has carried over to here tonight.
Frankie: If she slams Lexy’s face against that corner one more time I’ll have to start pelting Marina with this big thing of candy corn you got sitting in front of you Sparkles.
Sparkles: That’s Sparkles’ candy corn and only I reserve the right to pelt people with it.
There is one more face first impact with the corner in store for Lexy before she’s thrown back to the middle of the ring. Somehow she manages to roll right over onto her feet, standing up just as Marina comes flying out of the very same corner Lexy’s head was bashed against. A clothesline connects with enough force to topple Lexy to the canvas while Marina lands beside her and lets out a loud roar that gets the crowd riled up even further. She quickly ascends back to her feet and hustles along into the ropes, leaping from the middle strand into the lionsault that sends her back flipping towards her adversary. Lexy possesses the wherewithal to roll clear from Marina’s flight path, meaning her opponent has to rethink her strategy in mid-air. Instead of slamming into the ring across her face, Marina lands directly on her feet. She then goes twisting along into the ropes, falling against them just as her adversary Lexy closes the gap between the two. Unfortunately Lexy runs right into a back elbow to the mouth, the shot sending her staggering away. The ever quick Marina turns her back to Lexy and leaps to the middle cable, springing back into an elbow. An elbow that connects with nothing but air. Lexy manages to roll under Marina, who flies right over her, crashes down to the ring and then rolls back. The moment Marina gets a knee under her she finds her face on the receiving end of a superkick.
Frankie: Superkick! Su-per Kick! Suuuuu-PER KICK!
Sparkles: And her boot caught every bit of Marina’s face.
Frankie: She’s out. Just go ahead and stop the match now. Cart Marina out of here and then bury her deep.
Unfortunately for Lexy, her kick was so powerful it sent Marina rolling under the ropes and eventually landing at ringside. It isn’t long before Lexy’s partner Kat takes advantage of this lucrative opportunity. She swoops in, leads Marina up to her feet and then powers her kidneys along right into the ring apron. A scream of pain emits from Marina as her back buckles around the hardest section of the squared circle.
Greyson: Come on Kat! Stay out of this.
Frankie: She has every right to get involved on her partner’s behalf.
Greyson: Maybe in their scheduled Tag Team Title defense, but not right now when it’s one on one.
The referee is distracted by Lexy, allowing Kat to act with impunity at ringside. Kat makes the best of this opportunity by taking Marina by the wrist and readying to Irish whip her along into the ring steps. Kat sends Marina hurdling towards the stairs but Marina manages to avoid a collision with the steel. She lunges into the air and lands on the stairs instead of hitting them. Marina quickly whips around to face Kat and then runs across the apron before leaping off into a forward flipping senton. Her back collides directly with Kat’s chest and sends them both hurdling into the mats.
Frankie: Now that wasn’t called for.
Greyson: Kat wanted to get physically involved, well then now she’s suffering the consequences.
Though it seems Marina might be the one who suffers. She gets to her feet just as Lexy slips in at her side, takes her by the wrist and launches her right into the steel steps. Before Marina can prevent it her shoulder and the back of her head is slamming off of the stairs, which barely budge upon impact. She ricochets from the steel and then walks right back into Lexy’s arms. A devastating scoop slam follows that drives Marina’s kidneys into the very thin and particularly unforgiving ringside mats. Lexy rolls into the ring and then rolls back out, breaking the official’s ten count. It isn’t long before Marina’s body is sent hurdling right into the ringside steps for a second bone breaking collision. This time the upper half of the stairs DO budge, detaching from the lower section. Marina finds herself using the bottom half of the steps to try and stand up, but Lexy is about to use them for a totally different reason. She kneels at her opponent’s side and then grabs the back of Marina’s head and begins to slam her face down into the stairs. Marina’s head ricochets from the stairs then flies back down into them a second time, a third time, and a fourth time.
Greyson: if you thought Marina slamming Lexy’s face into the corner was brutal, well Lexy is topping it.
Sparkles: Lovejoy, you mentioned how personal this match was, well we’re seeing it. Marina has had a handful of encounters with Wicked Intent ever since the draft special a number of months ago, and it’s now boiled over into this Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: Get ‘er Lexy, get ‘er.
Another slam of Marina’s face against the stairs results in her body falling into complete paralysis. She is eventually pulled away from the steps and then back into the ring where a big old hematoma threatens to form on her scalp. She manages to get to her knees just as Lexy crawls up beside her, grabs the back of her head and flings her face into the canvas. Marina rolls to her back while Lexy’s boot comes flying down into her brow. Lexy’s heel scrapes against her adversary’s scalp and continues to exacerbate the injuries that have already been inflicted. The laughing Lexy moves across the ring and nears the ropes, kicking back her hair and then licking her lips in order to rub her superiority in the faces of the fans. They react rather unkindly and Lexy shows an equal lack of love for her opponent. She drags Marina by the wrist back to her feet before whipping her along into the ropes. When Marina ricochets from the cables she runs right back into a leaping heel kick that nails her straight across her face. The blow sends Marina down to the ring and rolling across it before reaching the turnbuckle. Just as Marina sits up Lexy’s hip collides right with her face. Lexy runs the length of the ring and ultimately slams her side right into the prone Marina’s face.
Lexy drags Marina out of the corner and makes an arrogant cover. She kneels over Marina and puts her palms to her opponent’s chest, pushing down on it.
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Lexy’s confidence proves costly, because the lackadaisical cover allows Marina to get her shoulder off the ring.
Lexy: SERIOUSLY?
The annoyed co-holder of the Tag straps drags her rival up from the ring while holding tight to her wrist. She keeps hold of Marina’s wrist while wiping a leg around to connect with a standing heel kick. The arrogant Lexy watches as her foot flies right over Marina’s head and misses its target entirely. Marina ducks under the blow and then goes rushing along right into the ropes behind her spiraling opponent. Lexy turns around to face Marina just as she springs from the middle cable into a flying back elbow. The collision takes both combatants down to the ring amidst cries from the crowd. Marina continues to get momentum back in her favor, dashing to her feet and then into the ropes, springing off the middle cable into the lionsault. She crashes down right onto Lexy…..right onto Lexy’s raised knees.
The reflexes of Lexy take over, getting her knees up just in to drive them into Marina’s mid-section. However, Marina flips right over the legs, lands on her feet and then grabs hold of the creases of Lexy’s knees. She lifts them into the air, tucks them beneath her armpits and then drops back, catapulting Lexy through the air. Lexy manages to turn a bad situation into an optimistic one, landing on the cables she was launched into, instead of hitting them. She twists around in order to stand on the turnbuckle before lunging into what looks like a crossbody. When she comes down she comes down directly into Marina’s raised knees. Marina quickly drops to her back and lifts her knees into the air, causing Lexy to come down ribs first right into them.
Lexy’s mid-section takes a nasty collision with Marina’s knees, and the impact knocks the air right out of her. The breathless Lexy rolls back to the middle of the ring just as Marina comes flipping back from the middle rope and into the lionsault. FINALLY Marina hits it, driving her body down into Lexy’s stomach.
Greyson: Lexy is just addled by this onslaught from Marina.
Frankie: Get up Lexy! You can’t let your opponent build momentum.
Sparkles: That’s just what Marina is doing. She’s got all the momentum on her side right now, meaning she might very well be on her way to the finals in the Number One Contender Tournament.
An ailing Marina crawls away from Lexy and towards the nearest turnbuckle, ascending to the highest point. She gets her balance and then takes flight, soaring into a senton bomb that aims her back right at her adversary’s ribs. But at the last second Lexy manages to avoid calamity by rolling out of the way. As a result the back of Marina’s head hits nothing but canvas, causing quite a bit of strain. She sits up grimacing while Lexy sizes her up for another superkick. Lexy steps across the canvas and launches her boot straight at Marina’s face but the heel just barely misses it’s target. Marina ducks her head out of the way and Lexy goes staggering past her.
With a sense of urgency Marina jumps to her feet and then leaps onto Lexy’s shoulders, going for a reverse hurricarana. However, just before Marina can drop back, she’s being launched forward. Lexy puts hands to the back of Marina’s thighs and pushes on them, sending her flying up and over her head and eventually landing feet first on the canvas directly in front of her adversary. Lexy then hooks Marina’s arms from behind and hits the Union Jack Attack. The reverse STO sends Marina’s face hurdling into the canvas.
Frankie: UNION JACK ATTACK! UNION JACK ATTACK! Lexy’s got that plastic Hollywood bitch right where she wants her.
Greyson: Does you’re biasness ever end?
Frankie: Not even when I’m sleeping.
The collision cleans Marina’s clock, leaving her splayed across the canvas with her body wedged beneath Lexy’s.
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The referee’s hand comes down to the canvas but Marina’s arm comes up from the canvas. Her kick out seemingly prolongs her suffrage however. At the moment Marina has no idea that Lexy is scaling the nearest turnbuckle and is preparing to throw a little pizzazz in with a large dose of pain. To the cheers of her partner Kat we see Lexy leaping from the top rope and into the frog splash that puts all of her weight, what little there is, square into Marina’s body. Lexy then hooks Marina’s leg with one hand while her other hand is lifted into the air, counting off each slap of the canvas by raising a finger aloft.
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Again Marina manages to pop her shoulder up from the canvas in time to prevent elimination.
Lexy: RIDICULOUS!
Lexy is getting flustered and for good cause. Marina just won’t go away. It seems that Lexy is going to have to intensify her efforts. She pulls Marina up from the ground and into position for the Explicit Content. The package piledriver will undoubtedly end Marina, would it have connected. It doesn’t, on account of Marina managing to twist herself free from the piledriver predicament and into a short arm clothesline. Yes, she drags Lexy towards a bicep bound for her throat, but no, neither the bicep nor the throat make contact with one another. Lexy ducks under the arm that encroaches on her neck and slips behind Marina before hooking her arms, going for another Union Jack Attack.
Just as Lexy falls forward to plant Marina’s face viciously against the ring her adversary surprises her with a timely counter. Marina reverses into the drop toe hold on Lexy and then transitions right into position for the Cali Killer. Marina is about to bridge back and into the chin lock but Lexy is scrambling and scrambling quick for the ropes. She manages to not just grab the cables but drag herself under them as well. Ultimately she spills to the ground right beside Kat, who is there to fan off her partner with a towel stolen from a fan in attendance.
Frankie: Good job Kat, keep fanning Lexy off. And then put some ointment on her. Yes, that thought appeases me.
Greyson: You make me want to vomit.
Sparkles: Sparkles vomited once, it was after seeing a Barbara Streisand concert.
It looks like Lexy and Kat may barf when hearing the crowd chant for Marina who is about to go flinging herself into her unsuspecting opponents. Marina takes off across the ring above her adversaries stood on the mats below. She leaps over the cables with the intent of sending her body into Lexy but instead it’s Marina’s feet that connect and it’s not with Lexy. She lands on the apron on account of Lexy rolling out of Marina’s flight path. But this little set back won’t stop Marina, who now leaps from the apron and right into the senton bomb. This time she DOES connect with Lexy who laid on the ringside mats and was caught completely off guard by Marina’s dive.
Greyson: Marina making something out of nothing.
Sparkles: Lexy didn’t see that coming.
The senton bomb has presumably busted up some of Lexy’s ribs and has sent her absent mindedly twisting towards the ring. Kat is once again on hand, helping her partner as best she can without blatantly interfering in front of the referee’s face. Marina swoops in behind a recovering Lexy and then throws her into the ring. Just as Marina prepares to enter the squared circle herself she stops and whips around with a fist clinched back. She readies to punch Kat, who was trying to swoop in from behind undetected, needless to say she failed. Kat backs off from the raised fists of Marina, but Lexy draws nearer to them. Lexy dashes across the ring and attempts to make good on the distraction created by her partner by laying out her opponent with a baseball slide dropkick. But Marina could see the writing on the wall. She side steps the boots that go sliding right past her, meaning Lexy has missed her dropkick and is now falling to her feet right in front of her adversary. Marina removes Lexy from her feet via a stiff clothesline that drops her to the mats.
Marina rolls into the ring then back out to break up the referee’s count before standing up on the apron and readying to launch herself off of it. Before she can go airborne into the laid out Lexy, the Tag Team Champion tries to cut her off. Lexy dashes to her feet on the ringside mats beneath Marina and then goes for a superkick on her ankle, trying to knock Valdivia’s feet out from under her. Marina leaps over that kick though and lands back on the apron. An unsuspecting Lexy stands down below her, twisting around to face Marina just as the Hollywood bombshell comes leaping from the apron. She flies at Lexy for a clothesline but has that lariat reversed and reversed in a very brutal manner. Lexy ducks down just as Marina goes flying over her, totally missing the lariat. Although Marina’s arms miss Lexy’s neck, Lexy’s hands successfully catch the creases of Marina’s knees. Before Marina realizes it she’s being driven into the mats with the Alabama Slam.
Greyson: Allllla-BAM-a slam!
Frankie: Into the mats baby, into the mats!
Sparkles: A lot of internal injuries could have been inflicted.
Greyson: At the rate these two are tearing into each other, there might not be much left of either Marina or Lexy in the final round of the tournament.
Sparkles: Neither one of them is thinking about that right now. Their mind is on this match and doing whatever it takes to survive it.
The ringside mats offered absolutely zero protection from the concrete beneath it, meaning Marina’s impact with them has potentially injured every major internal organ. Lexy shows no compassion for her opponent, forcing Marina up from the ground and returning her injured body to the ring. It takes a lot for Marina to do it but she actually starts to work her way up from the ground only to have Lexy swoop in at her side and cut off her upward momentum. Lexy puts knees to Marina’s back, takes her under the jaw and by the knee before applying the Bow and Arrow stretch.
Frankie: Flawless, just frackin’ flawless. Everything Lexy does is perfect.
Greyson: I have to applaud her for showing some very sound strategy in this match as opposed to putting all her focus into aggravating the fans and her opponent.
Sparkles: But that’s what Lexy does best.
Frankie: No, we’re seeing what Lexy does best. Dominating!
Greyson: I’m just going to put you in a skirt and give you pom-poms.
Marina’s body is arched at an angle it shouldn’t be bent at, in fact, no human body, even that of an acrobat should be twisted in the manner that Marina’s is. Of all the screams that come from Marina’s mouth, not one of them are the words ‘I Quit.’ She claws at the hand that is locked under her jaw, trying to force Lexy’s fingers away. To the delight of the audience Marina is forcing Lexy’s finger’s back until they almost break at the knuckles. As a result Lexy is forced to release her bow and arrow stretch just as Marina comes twisting down and landing across her opponent’s chest. The unexpected lateral press results in a thunderous cry from the crowd.
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Although Lexy may have been caught off guard by the pin, she will not be defeated by it. Lexy doesn’t just get a shoulder up, oh no, that’s not nearly showboating enough. Instead Lexy bridges her body up from the ring and out from under Marina. She then swings around to face the side of her crawling opponent. Lexy acts quick, stepping over Marina’s back and then pulling her up into the camel clutch.
Frankie: Lexy seamlessly, hear that, SEAMLESSLY transitions into the camel clutch.
Greyson: Just keep on waving those pom-poms Frankie
Sparkles: You can wave Sparkles if you don’t have pom-poms.
Screams of pain emanate from Marina, who is digging down and digging oh so deep to find the strength not to submit to this hold.
Lexy: Don’t be a hero!
Insists Lexy who throws a forearm right across the side of Marina’s mouth. The camel clutch was bad enough but combine that with these forearm cracks and these verbal cracks and you’ve got Marina in the worst position she’s ever been in throughout her life. But it’s a position that will not see her undone. She scoots across her knees, nearing the ropes that are so far removed from her hands. But not the hands of Kat Kelly. From ringside Kat grabs the bottom rope and pulls back on it, trying to make it even harder for Marina to reach it.
Lexy: Let’s go Marina! Let’s go Marina!
Lexy mocks the fans in attendance who are rallied behind Valdivia, but her insulting tone is not enough to shut them up. They chant even louder for Marina, who scoots across her knees for the ropes with Lexy seated right across the small of her back. The referee shouts at Kat to let go of the ropes that she’s been holding and as a result Lexy snaps.
Lexy: Stop showing favoritism ref!
Orders Lexy, who takes her focus off of Marina for a split second in order to chastise the referee. It’s in that split second that Marina manages to scoot back and through Lexy’s legs. She escapes the camel clutch, slipping behind Lexy and then leaping right onto her opponent’s shoulders. Lexy’s eyes widen just as she’s flipped over backwards and spiked right on top of her head with the reverse hurricarana driver.
Greyson: OOOOOOOH!!!
Frankie: Da’ fuck just happened!?!
Sparkles: Marina looked for that move earlier but now she hit it here in the clutch. When she needed to hit it the most.
After bouncing off the top of her skull Lexy rolls to her back and finds her chest covered by Marina. An exhausted Marina has Lexy’s far leg hooked while leaning with her back to her opponent’s chest.
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The hopes and dreams of the fans are crushed when Lexy throws her shoulder up from the canvas.
Greyson: NO! Lexy says NOT YET!
Sparkles: Amazing.
Frankie: Yes it is, but man with Lexy putting this much into this match how is she going to have anything left when she competes in the finals and when she defends her Tag Team Titles here tonight against Eve and Siqua?
Greyson: It’s not a foregone conclusion that Lexy will be in the finals of the tournament Frankie.
Marina is about to crush any potential of seeing Lexy wrestle three times here tonight. She steps past Lexy and gets to the turnbuckle, looking to climb in spite of her exhausted muscles and her multiple injuries. It’s become apparent that the California Splash is the only thing that is going to win this match for her. So she reaches the top rope and readies to descend from it. But just as she starts to get her balance on the top rope with her back aimed in Lexy’s direction, the Tag Team Champion dashes in beneath her adversary. She’s shaken off the inverted hurricarana driver in order to step beneath Marina, catch her by the creases of her knees and drag her from the turnbuckle into position for the Alabama Slam.
Frankie: Hit it again Lexy! Hit it again!
Lexy is just about to send Marina flying over-head and into the ring but her opponent proves far craftier than she was giving her credit for. Marina begins to squirm until her legs are out of Lexy’s hands and her body is sliding down Lexy’s back. Marina counters into the sunset flip…no wait…it’s not a pin Marina’s going for after-all. Instead she drags Lexy down to the canvas with the sunset flip but then stands up with her opponent’s legs in her arms, transitioning into the Cali Killer. Marina attempts to roll Lexy over into the bridging Muta Lock but finds it far harder to get the hold applied than she had initially thought. The crowd may be feeding her will to get the hold locked in but Lexy’s will is just as strong and she’s channeling it all into blocking the hold. She ultimately manages to reverse Marina’s attempt at the Cali Killer into a small package.
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Frankie: She’s got it, Lexy’s advancing to the finals!
The fans fear this possibility but suddenly realize it was an unfounded phobia considering that Marina has just popped her shoulder up from the ring. A despondent Lexy rolls away from Marina but then leaps to her feet, crouched in anticipation of hitting the superkick.
Frankie: Here it comes.
The fatigued Marina has no idea that she’s standing up only to walk unwittingly into the superkick. She’s on her feet and she’s turning right towards Lexy’s boot inbound for her brow. At the last possible second Marina not only sees Lexy’s inbound kick but catches it. She nabs Lexy around the knee and then manages to sweep her adversary’s planted foot. Lexy lands on her back and Marina goes to step through her legs in order to apply the Cali Killer.
Greyson: Marina just damn determined to get that Cali Killer lock….
Frankie: Lexy REVERSED it!
Lexy slips her legs out of Marina’s arms and then puts her boots to her opponent’s ribs, kicking her back into the ropes. The moment Marina’s spine hits the corner she leaves her feet, flipping up and towards the top of the corner. The fans scream at the top of their lungs as Marina turns a disadvantage into the biggest moment of her career. Marina rolls up the turnbuckle and ends up standing on the top rope. Lexy is laid out on the canvas below her having no idea that Marina is hurdling towards her with the California Splash.
Greyson: 450!!
Marina’s body is only an inch or two removed from Lexy’s body before she rolls out of the way. As a result Marina hits the canvas with such unbelievable force that it ends up with her ricocheting from the canvas and standing on the canvas. She’s only upright for a second, because a superkick nails her right in the temple. The shot hits Marina with enough force to crack her skull and send her plummeting to the ring. Lexy spins away from Marina after hitting the kick and then falls back against the turnbuckle, leaning against it and catching her breath.
Frankie: Superkick laying out Marina!! Go for the pin Lexy! Go for the pin!
Greyson: This is the most trouble we’ve seen Marina in during this match. It seems Lexy has got herself in position to advance to the finals of the World Title Number One Contender Tournament.
Sparkles: She’s got to find the strength to make the pin first.
This extremely physical match has obviously left Lexy breathless and zapped of strength. But with her partner Kat being so vocally supportive at ringside it gives Lexy that little pep of energy she needs to go for the pin. She staggers away from the corner and flips into the jackknife cover.
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Marina’s arm gets up off the canvass within seconds of losing the match. An angst ridden Lexy looks to end this with her own top rope finishing move. She climbs the corner in anticipation of hitting the Raising the Standard. She gets all the way up to the top rope and leaps back into the Twisting Phoenix Splash but is stunned when she doesn’t hit Marina and is instead CAUGHT by Marina. Her opponent leas to her feet and displays tremendous strength by catching Lexy on top of her shoulders. Valdivia now goes for a death valley driver only to have Lexy counter in mid-air by flipping over and landing straight on her feet. Marina then comes running in only to be captured around the waist then snapped back into the bridging Northern Lights suplex.
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Yet again Marina is forced to expend what precious energy she has left to get her shoulder up. Needless to say Lexy is annoyed at this point, yet that agitation will not throw her off her game. She runs into the corner and begins to climb as fast as her body will allow, looking to ultimately deliver the Raising the Stand. However, Marina has returned to her feet and is running in behind her opponent. That’s when Lexy backflips through the air and over her adversary, landing right on her feet behind Marina, who takes the spot her adversary WAS occupying on the corner. Marina leaps back off the middle cable and lands right on top of Lexy’s shoulders, going for the inverted hurricarana. She drops back to deliver the move only to find herself dangling upside down off of Lexy’s back. Somehow Lexy keeps her footing and refuses to be flipped back. She then puts her hands on Marina’s shins and to the shock of everyone, Marina especially, pulls her over into an inverted Alabama Slam. Marina’s face comes swinging down right into the turnbuckle she had just leaped from. She then bounces off and staggers back into ANOTHER Union Jack Attack.
Greyson: That’s the SECOND Union Jack Attack we’ve seen in this match.
Frankie: No, it’s the LAST Union Jack Attack you’ll see in this match. Lexy has got this in the bag.
Sparkles: Sparkles has got a bag, it’s fill of candy corn.
Lexy nears the unconscious Marina, ready to make the cover. But just then, when Lexy is poised to advance to the finals of the tournament and her proudest proponent Kat should be louder than ever she instead goes silent. The lights in the Manhattan Center begin to flicker and fluctuate.
Sparkles: Is Sparkles having a seizure again?
Greyson: I don’t know what’s going on here Sparkles. But what I do know, is that whatever is happening is not good.
The lights in the arena behave like strobes, sporadically flashing above the ring and above the bodies that can be seen fighting beside it. With each flash of the lights we can see two bodies surrounding Kat Kelly and exchanging blows with her. Though we can make out little in the brief segments of time that the lights flicker, we can at least tell who it is that Kat is fighting with, Eve and Siqua. The challengers for the Tag Team Titles here at Upping the Ante are getting the drop on Kat.
Greyson: Is-is-is that Siqua and Eve?
Sparkles: The challengers for the Tag Team Titles are attacking Kat!
Frankie: Wasn’t it bad enough that they blood bathed her two weeks ago?
Apparently not, as indicated by the flashing lights that briefly enhance the violence that has broken out at ringside. Kat is valiantly defending herself but it appears to be a feeble effort given the combined veracity of Siqua and Eve. Eventually when the lights return to their normal luster neither Siqua nor Eve are present at ringside, and the same can be said for Kat.
Frankie: Where’s Kat? Where has Kat gone? Somebody tell me where KAT IS!!
Greyson: Am I to believe that Eve and Siqua have just abducted one half of the Tag Team Champions?
The fans certainly think so given their loud screeches when they recognize that Kat is no longer at ringside to support her tag team partner. An out of breath Lexy crouches in the middle of the ring and stares through the ropes at the base of the ramp where her partner used to be. Lexy is BEYOND shocked and left scatter brained by the disappearance of Kat Kelly. She is so confused that she turns absent of thought and lacking of defense towards the middle of the ring where she’s pulled down into the inside cradle by Marina.
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The whole arena rejoices at the sight of Marina scoring an absolute shocker.
Frankie: YOU’RE FUCKING KIDDING!!
Greyson: WWWHOOOOAA.
Sparkles: Marina just-Marina just-Marina just-Holy crap she did it! She just advanced to the finals of the World Title Tournament.
Frankie: That isn’t fair! That isn’t fair! Don’t you ring that bell ref! You hear me!?! Don’t you dare.
Marina rolls out of the ring and falls to her knees, grabbing at forehead, obviously still in awful shape after taking the Union Jack Attack. Nevertheless she allows the referee to grab her by the wrist and raise her arm in victory….a victory that moves Marina one step closer to becoming the number one contender for the World Championship. The referee is still holding Marina’s wrist in the air before he’s nearly bowled over. Lexy runs right through him on her way up the ramp and to the backstage area, desperate to find her kidnapped part Kat Kelly.
Greyson: Marina advances in the tournament and Lexy is on the hunt for Eve and Siqua.
When we saw Marina Valdivia’s manager arguing with her best friend a few moments ago Tabitha Silverstone was in good health. That has changed. Blood trickles down from her nostrils while her hands clasp at her swollen, presumably shattered nose. She sits up with her back wedged to the corner of a hallway and finds it hard to resist the urge to take a fall flat to the linoleum floor. The commentators respond with their highly predictable shock.
Greyson: Hey! That’s Tabitha Silverstone, and good lord, it looks like she’s been attacked.
Frankie: Again?
Sparkles: What the hell is going on? Who jumped Marina Valdivia’s agent THIS time?
Greyson: My God, when the rest of Silverstone International catches wind of this, when Marina hears about this, I shudder to think what’s going to happen.
The palms that had been pawing at Tabitha’s mouth and nose pull back from her face to reveal all the blood that has puddled in her hands.
Kat: What the fuck are you freaks doing!?!
Screeches Wicked Intent member Kat Kelly, who is pinned to her knees by the two figures who jumped her mere moments ago at ringside. Now Eve and Siqua have her forced down to the ground, each clasping one of Kat’s arms and rendering her defenseless. Stood in the well lit hall between stacks of black crates is the man responsible for bringing Eve and Siqua to the IWC, and seeing them compete for the Tag Team Titles here tonight.
Ba’al: Aren’t you a feisty one?
Ba’al approaches Kat with his hands interlocked behind his back, clasping hold of something that Kat will presumably not like.
Ba’al: Tonight my girls will challenge you for your Tag Team Titles, but before that match happens we wanted to indulge a….curiosity. You can help us answer a question.
A fire poker is taken out from behind Ba’al’s back with the end of it glowing red as if it has been super-heated. As Kat’s eyes draw to the red hot poker Siqua’s mouth draws to the ear of her soon to be victim.
Siqua: Do cats really have nine lives?
Try as she may Kat cannot squirm out of her torturers’ hands as the poker moves closer and closer to her eye. Ba’al readies to mutilate the beautiful face of the Tag Team Champion, but Lexy Chapel is not about to let that happen. She scrambles into view, dashing at Siqua, Eve and Ba’al, and given each of them cause to break away from her partner. Eve and Siqua detach from Kat’s arms and back down the hall, but the fire poker never detaches from Ba’al’s palm. He stands between his followers as the trio back down the hall, eyes never leaving the faces of Lexy and Kat. Currently Kat’s face is being hugged in Lexy’s arms and checked for signs of blood.
Lexy: Mother-fuckers!
Shouts Lexy in the direction of those who just came so close to performing an unspeakable act of mutilation on her best friend.
Words cannot be heard but if they could we would safely presume that their delivered with a hearty weight. Scott Cannon stands just outside of his dressing room with the door at his side and Head Referee Marcus Mayfield in his face. Clutched in Scott’s hands is a briefcase that holds his number one contender contract for the World Championship. It won’t be HIS for very much longer. The briefcase that Scott has held for several months is tentatively handed over to Mayfield. Just as the ref looks to take the case Scott pulls it back, having a very difficult time letting go.
Sparkles: Scott Cannon set to challenge for the World Championship here tonight in our main event.
Greyson: But first he has to surrender that briefcase holding the number one contender contract he intends to cash in tonight to challenge for the title.
Frankie: Stupid-stupid-stupid move Scott, you should hold onto that case and cash it in when the World Champion is on her last legs, not when she sees you coming.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler versus Scott Cannon, it’s on for tonight.
The camera zooms in on the briefcase that at last ends up in the Head Referee’s hands.
*CRUNCH*
The sound of an apple being bitten into echoes around the room as the lights cut, plunging the arena into total darkness and the rhythmic humming of Jen Titus’ “O Death” begins to fill the darkened room. Dim white lights flash on the stage in time with the humming vocal intro of the entrance music, fading in and out several times before the haunting voice of Jen Titus finally fills the arena. The room remains washed in darkness during the opening melody until the drums kick in with the second round of humming and this time, as the lights flash on and off again we see the figures of Eve, Siqua and Ba’al. The trio proceed along down the ramp to little fanfare from the audience.
Greyson: We switch gears now from a future title match to a championship bout taking place this very moment. Eve, the reigning Queen of the Ring Champion, and her partner Siqua to challenge for the Tag belts momentarily.
Frankie: Somebody call Immigration and have these bitches deported this INSTANT! What they and their little puppeteer Ba’al threatened to do to Kat Kelly backstage has me ready to….
Greyson: Do something more than sit there pissing and moaning?
Sparkles: We saw Siqua and Eve try to get a psychological advantage against the reigning tag champions Wicked Intent by abducting Kat and then threatening her backstage with that fire poker. It remains to be seen rather that just gave them any type of…..
Siqua, Eve and Ba’al continue to near the ring just before the curtains behind them fly open revealing both Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel. Their forearms collide with the upper backs of their challengers, driving Eve and Siqua down to the ramp.
Greyson: We ain’t waiting to get this started fellas.
Sparkles: Wicked Intent insistent on revenge and getting it right now.
Frankie: You don’t stick a fire poker in Kat’s face and expect their not to be repercussions? That’s like sticking a pine cone in my ass and….wait, where was I going with this?
WICKED INTENT © VS. SIQUA & EVE:
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kat Kelly flings her fist right upside the cheek of Siqua, the blows disorientating her target. A surprised Eve finds her jaw caved in by one jab after another thrown by Lexy Chapel as the two spiral around the ringside mats. Lexy takes hold of Eve’s head, and drags her along towards the steel turnbuckle post, cracking her face right up against it. Meanwhile on the opposite end of the ringside mats Siqua and Kat are continuing to lob bombs on one another. Siqua falls back against the barricade and a running knee caves in her ribcage. The blow has Siqua doubled over and clasping at her abdomen before she’s taken by the wrist and launched along towards the ring apron. At the last second Siqua turns so that it’s her back that takes much of the impact against the reinforced steel under the canvas.
Greyson: What a raucous start we’re off to in this Tag Title match. Wicked Intent motivated by what their challengers did to them two weeks as well as here tonight, hence why this bout is nothing shy of an out and out brawl.
Sparkles: With Wicked Intent on the offensive.
Frankie: Poor Lexy, no rest for her at all, we just saw her involved in one of the toughest bouts of her career against Marina Valdivia and yet here she is just a scant five minutes later brawling with the Sinistry.
The ‘father’ to Eve and Siqua, a man known as Ba’al, stands on the ramp and watches as the brawl consumes the ringside area. He has yet to interfere, instead watching as Eve is thrown along towards the barricade by Lexy. Right before Eve hits the steel she leaps right over it and right into the crowd. The fans jump out of the way just as Eve lands out amongst them. She then turns around and gets a running start back at the barrier, lunging up and onto it, catching her balance and preparing to dive off. However, Lexy shuts that down and shuts it down in a bad way. She runs straight at Eve, puts hands to her stomach and gives her a hearty shove back. Eve flies into the crowd and crashes across her back on the cement floor.
Greyson: Oh man, what a bad fall for Eve.
Sparkles: Did the back of her head crack against the concrete?
Frankie: We can only hope.
On the other end of the ringside area Siqua has managed to catch an inbound Kat upside the chin with a back elbow. The shot sends Kat staggering back and allows Siqua to move away from the apron she had been leaning against.
Cameras jump back to Eve, who is splayed across the concrete floor and Lexy, who is climbing up onto the barricade. She shows remarkable agility by leaping onto the barrier then readying to take flight. But just then Siqua grabs Lexy’s ankle and gives it a forceful tug, yanking her legs out from under her. The pull tears Lexy’s legs out from under her and causes her ribs to come slamming down right onto the top of the barrier. After having endured a very physical confrontation with Marina, this landing on the barricade hurt Lexy a thousand times worse than it normally would have. Her body is bent by the abs over the barricade, but it’s not her ribs she need to worry about at the moment. Eve has stepped in and grabbed Lexy around the head while Siqua has jumped over the barricade and joined her partner in trapping their opponent in a front chancery. Both Eve and Siqua simultaneously drop back, lifting Lexy off the barricade and into a stereo suplex that slams her spine into the concrete floor.
Frankie: Not my Lexy!!
Greyson: As if Eve’s fall into the floor wasn’t bad enough, now Lexy’s back taking a hell of an impact against the unforgiving cement.
Both Eve and Siqua rise to their feet on either side of their laid out foe, enjoying the sight of her agony. Sadly they’ve lost sight completely of another of their opponents, Kat running across the ringside mats and then leaving her feet as she dives over the barrier into a stereo clothesline. Neither Siqua nor Eve saw it coming, the clothesline that crushes either of their throats and knocks them to the floor. The fans cannot help but to express enthusiasm when it regards Kat’s devil may cry display. After dropping either adversary Kat focuses on just one, taking Siqua by hair and pulling her from the crowd, to ringside and ultimately into the squared circle. Kat goes to follow, climbing up onto the apron in order to finish Siqua off for her participation in the forced branding that was going to happen backstage. Unfortunately Kat is not nearly quick enough in the execution of her plans. Unbeknownst to the Tag Team Champion, another of her challengers, Eve has slipped in beneath her. Kat’s eyes widen as she’s dragged from the apron and then thrown via a running powerbomb over the barricade and right into a recovered Lexy in the crowd. Both Kat and Lexy collide with one another take a heinous spill to the floor amidst the high pitched screams of the crowd.
Frankie: NOOOOO!
Greyson: There is absolutely no holding back from either of the four athletes in this Tag Title bout.
Sparkles: This is the craziest start to a match that Sparkles has ever witnessed.
Lexy and Kat crawl away from the cement they smashed into and towards the barrier, using it to reach their feet. Eve is all over Lexy in a hurry, dragging her into the ring where Siqua is waiting for her, as is the ref who instantly calls for the bell. The Tag Title bout is officially underway and commences with Siqua pulling Lexy up from the ring with both of her arms trapped beneath her adversary’s pits. Siqua locks Lexy’s arms in place and then begins to headbutt her exposed collar bone over and over again. These brutal headbutts cause Lexy’s legs to buckle and for her to fall to her knees. Finally her arms are freed but her face isn’t as lucky. A running boot slams right upside Lexy’s cheek, knocking her to the canvas. After delivering the swift kick Siqua approaches her partner Eve and makes the tag.
Greyson: A smart move by Eve and Siqua here, focusing their assault on Lexy. They know she just wrestled and she has got to be weakened by her performance against Marina Valdivia.
In spite of the initial vigor that she showed Lexy is feeling particularly drained at this point as she’s pried from the canvas. Siqua once again traps Lexy’s arms, this time behind her back, exposing her ribs to the running basement dropkick unleashed by Eve. The impact knocks the wind out of her but proves nowhere as devastating as what follows. Siqua puts a shoulder to Lexy’s kidneys and then lifts her into the air for a back drop suplex. At the same time Eve leaps into the air, hitting a clothesline to Lexy’s throat just as she’s dropped into the suplex.
Sparkles: It appears as if Ba’al’s influence has really helped these two hone their craft and gel together as a team.
Greyson: They wouldn’t be number one contenders for the Tag Team Titles if they hadn’t meshed as a tandem.
Ba’al sagely watches from ringside as his girls take control of this confrontation. Their focus remains on Lexy, who Eve pulls along into a headbutt that catches her right across the bridge of the nose. As Lexy falls to the canvas her partner Kat manages to climb up onto the apron. Kat kneels in the corner of the ring and extends a hand in the hopes of a tag. Lexy begins to drag herself along towards her partner in order to tag out but Eve dashes past her opponent and nails a forearm to Kat’s cheek, sending her sailing from the apron to the ringside mats.
Frankie: HEEEY! Come on now!
Eve turns back to the middle of the ring where Lexy is knelt and prime for the pickings. Eve comes hustling towards her only for Lexy to surprise her inbound opponent with a big back drop. To the shock of Eve she finds out just how aerodynamic her body is as it flips through the air then plummets viciously to the ring. After delivering this counter Lexy falls back to her knees and begins to crawl towards her corner to make the tag only to realize that Kat is not there to receive it. Instead Kat has been knocked to the floor where she continues to try and recover. So Lexy turns back to Eve and gets a running start behind a clothesline that knocks the challenger to the canvas. Eve doesn’t stay down for long, working her way up from the ring just as Lexy speeds across it. She ricochets from the ropes and comes back into Eve….into Eve’s waiting arms. Eve manages to catch Lexy with a tilt a whirl straight into a back-breaker.
Lexy bounces off the knee, pops up to her feet and grabs at her kidneys. Eve drives those kidneys into the turnbuckle though. Immediately after hitting the back-breaker Eve wedges her shoulder to Lexy’s ribs and shoves her along into the corner, crushing her spine against the post. Siqua reaches over the ropes and tags Eve’s shoulder before entering the ring. She steps to the middle of the ring and waits for her mistress to serve her. Eve whips Lexy out of the corner and into Siqua’s spinning powerslam. After hitting the move Siqua remains stretched across Lexy’s chest and is hooking the leg.
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Lexy throws her arm from the canvas and into the air, avoiding a loss of the Tag Team Championships.
Greyson: Siqua and Eve verging ever closer to doing what no other team has been capable of thus far and taking the belts off of Wicked Intent.
Frankie: Wicked Intent are creating a dynasty with those belts, and the old Sinistry are not going to end it.
Greyson: It would be a major feather in Ba’al’s cap to return to the IWC and have his followers win the tag straps. But no doubt it would stick in the crawl of Ba’al’s FORMER follower Jessica Wilde, who’s TRUE Sinistry, has been embroiled in a war with Ba’al and his ladies for weeks now.
Although Lexy got her shoulder up it’s no guarantee that she’ll still be leaving with the tag belts. Siqua and Eve continue to decimate her in route to claiming the belts. Another tag is made bringing Eve back into the contest. She and Siqua drag Lexy along back to her feet and then hoist her up into a double gut buster across both of their elevated knees. Siqua then stands up at Lexy’s side, putting her in a pumphandle stretch position. Siqua lifts Lexy into a pumphandle slam position while Eve leaps into the air, catching Lexy around the head on her way down to the canvas. The crowd screams at the sight of the pumphandle slam, reverse neck-breaker combination.
Sparkles: Where did that come from!?!
Greyson: These two ladies continuing to impress the hell out of me in this match.
Frankie: I’m getting so sick to my stomach. Sparkles, hand me Lovejoy’s baseball cap.
Sparkles; Sure.
Greyson: I don’t think so, you’re not using it as a vomit bucket.
Instead of going for the pin Eve continues to inflict a little bit of punishment on her adversary. The theme to Jaws should start playing as Eve crawls in circles around Lexy, waiting to surface and sink her jagged teeth into the flesh of her adversary. Lexy is struggling towards her feet just as Eve prepares to end this, to end this with the Totalis. Just as Lexy gets to her feet Eve leaps into the air from behind, attempting to catch her with the leaping reverse bulldog. But right before Eve can latch onto Lexy’s head, she drops down out of the way and causes her opponent to miss an opportunity to finish this match. Eve flies over Lexy and lands on her feet with her back to her opponent. Lexy runs in behind her challenger, takes her around the waist and goes to roll her over backwards into a pin. However, Eve refuses to be rolled up and instead runs forward at the turnbuckle. Lexy remains latched onto her opponent’s waist, still trying to roll her opponent up. Neither Eve nor Lexy are cognizant of the fact that they are running towards the very same corner that Kat is standing in. She reaches over and makes a blind tag to the back of Lexy, who is presently dropping down and finally rolling Eve into a pin. But Eve counters in mid-roll, ending up with Lexy folded beneath her. The challenger sits on the back of Lexy’s thighs in order to keep the champion’s shoulders pressed to the canvas.
However, the referee doesn’t make the count and is just about to inform Eve that Lexy is not her legal opponent but she doesn’t have to. Kat comes leaping from her team’s corner and into a missile dropkick on Eve’s chest. The blow sends her flying back to the middle of the ring.
Greyson: Kat with the tag and now a HUGE dropkick that just crushed Eve’s chest.
Frankie: YAAAAY, Wicked Intent ALL…..THE….WAAAAAY!
The dropkick hit with so much force that it sent Eve rolling all the way into her corner where Siqua makes the tag. Under the instruction of Ba’al, Siqua climbs the turnbuckle and then leaps straight out of it. She dives into Kat and connects with Kat’s boots. Kat sees Siqua coming off the top rope and acts quickly. She dashes at a kneeling Lexy, steps off her partners back and hits a dropkick on the airborne Siqua’s ribs, knocking her to the canvas.
Greyson: OUCH!
Sparkles: Another HUGE dropkick unleashed by Kat, this one with a little aid from her partner Lexy.
Again the fans find themselves riled up by yet another dropkick that has broken down the challengers for the tag titles. Amazingly Siqua feels no pain when rising to her feet and the physical juggernaut is already staggering towards Kat only to walk right into a spinning back kick to the gut. Siqua doubles over just as Kat takes her by the back of the head and leaps into the air. Siqua’s face is dragged down right into the canvas with a modified face buster, Kat coming down on her knees right beside her opponent’s injured skull. No sooner does Siqua’s face bounce back off the ring and she pops up to her knees before finding Kat’s shin sailing right into her cheek. The shining wizard crushes Siqua upside the head, the blow knocking her back towards the center of the squared circle.
Kat briefly checks on her partner Lexy, who lays on her side across the canvas recovering, and then turns attention back to her opponent. Kat hurries along towards Siqua and pops her upside the temple with a right hand, followed by another and then another. The blows have a rising Siqua stumbling back into the ropes. Just as Siqua falls into the cables Kat takes her by the wrist with the intention of shooting her off across the ring. She successfully Irish whips Siqua but doesn’t have a chance to complete the second stage of her move, because another of her opponent’s interferes. Eve jumps to the apron behind Kat, reaches over the ropes and grabs her by the shoulder. Eve spins Kat around and cracks her upside the cheek with a punch. All the while Siqua is ricocheting from the far ropes that she was whipped into and is now running in behind Kat. She lungs into the air for a forearm to Kat’s back but the Tag Champ steps out of the way. As a result Siqua’s forearm flies over the ropes and unintentionally connects with the jaw of her own partner. A stunned Eve is sent flying off the apron and crashing to ringside at the feet of her master Ba’al.
Greyson: That could prove to be a very costly miscue for the challengers.
Sparkles: But look at Eve, this woman is inhuman, she’s already getting back to her feet.
Eve is standing up with the aid of the apron while her partner Siqua has ricocheted from the cables she bounced from chest first and is rolling over backwards to the middle of the ring. She gets to her knees just as her adversary comes hustling towards her. Kat leaps into the air for another shining wizard but her move is thwarted and thwarted in a very vicious manner. Kat is caught on Siqua’s shoulders, lifted into the air and then thrown via a running release powerbomb into the turnbuckle. At the same time the leg of Siqua’s partner Eve flies up from the apron and over the turnbuckle, catching Kat right in the back of her head.
Frankie: What the hell? That was a move out of Wicked Intent’s playbook!
Greyson: In this case imitation is not the sincerest form of flattery.
The kick and the buckle bomb work in consortium to knock all the fight from Kat’s body. She is grabbed by the back of her skull and is just thrown down by Siqua. As a result Kat rolls to the middle of the ring where she ends up on her knees, bobbing from side to side. All the while Siqua is making the tag to Eve, who enters the ring and crouches right beside her partner. The two stomp in anticipation of hitting stereo superkicks.
Frankie: This is just going too far now.
Greyson: Eve and Siqua about to unleash their own version of the Superkick Soiree.
Sparkles: It won’t be a Superkick Soiree, it’ll be a Superkick Slaughterhouse.
Frankie: They know Wicked Intent are world famous for their superkicks. This is just a violation of the highest order.
The superkicks are unleashed, but not by Eve or Siqua. From behind Siqua is caught and spun around just as Lexy lunges into a superkick that cracks her right on the chin. As Siqua twists out of the way Eve’s superkick flies right past her partner’s head and nails Lexy in the jaw. The blow has sent Lexy spiraling along and into the cables. Eve has no time to enjoy the fruits of her labors because Kat joins in on the soiree by superkicking the Queen of the Ring Champion straight in her cheek. The blow sends Eve twisting down to her knees while her opponent approaches Lexy, helping her partner regain her faculties. Kat then turns towards her adversaries and rushes straight into a stereo superkick unleashed by both Eve and Siqua.
The shot takes Kat almost clean out of her boots and sends her hurdling into the canvas. At the same time Lexy stumbles away from the ropes she had been propped against just as Eve and Siqua unleash ANOTHER double superkick. This time Lexy side steps Eve’s boot and catches Siqua’s. Lexy uses her hold on Siqua’s ankle to fling her leg along right into Eve’s stomach. The quick reflexes of Eve take over, instinctively catching her tag team partner’s foot before it hits her in the gut and now holding it. As a result Siqua is balancing herself on one foot, or at least she was until Lexy hits a step up enzugari on the back of her head.
Siqua falls to the ring while Eve dashes at Lexy to avenge her partner. She throws a lariat at Lexy’s head that is ducked under. Eve’s forward momentum carries her into the ropes and once she’s bounced off of them she runs right into a STEREO superkick unleashed by Lexy and a recovered Kat. The fans stand up and give a loud ovation as a result of this fast paced exchange.
Frankie: WHAT A SOIREE!!
Greyson: Kicks! Kicks! Kicks!!
Sparkles: They’re coming from everywhere and anywhere. One might pop up and smack you in the jaw Lovejoy.
Frankie: That would be the single greatest thing to happen in the history of mankind since the invention of Hustler magazine.
Clearly Ba’al does not enjoy the visual of his student Eve strewn across the ring suffering the results of the stereo superkick. Though he’ll be far more agitated when seeing Eve hit with the Raising the Standard. Lexy approaches the turnbuckle and climbs as fast as her exhausted body will allow. She reaches the top rope and readies to come flying from it into the Twisting Phoenix Splash. Lexy comes off the corner but not of her own volition. Siqua runs across the ring, puts hands to Lexy’s calf muscles and gives them a shove. As a result Lexy’s legs are taken out from under and she ends up falling back into the tree of woe. This won’t do in Kat’s mind. She runs across the ring to avenge her partner only to find herself caught with a drop toe hold. It’s not bad enough that Kat goes falling to the ring, but her forehead collides with Lexy’s chest while she was still hung from the tree of woe.
Greyson: An accidental impact between Kat and Lexy.
Frankie: I’m in tears right now. TEARS!
Kat rolls away from her partner, leaving Lexy dangling upside down and at the mercy of her opponents. Eve runs the length of the ring and then hits a hanging dropkick right into Lexy’s skull. Eve then rolls out of the way just as Siqua runs the length of the ring and flips forward into a cannonball senton that sends her back crashing right into Lexy’s chest.
Greyson: The Challengers continuing to build momentum!
Frankie: Do something Kat! DO SOOOMETHING!
Siqua rolls over backwards after hitting the cannonball senton and returns to her feet, though it seems she’s going to be knocked straight to the canvas once again. She turns to her side and spots Kat standing on the ring apron, prompting Siqua to go dashing at her prey. However, Kat manages to drop down and slide under the ropes as well as through Siqua’s legs. Kat then stands up behind Siqua and signals that she’s going for the Chelsea Smile. Kat leaps into the air, wedges her knees to Siqua’s back and readies to deliver the backstabber. That’s when Siqua grabs the top rope, holding tight and refusing to be pulled down into Kat’s knees. As a result Kat remains elevated with her knees embedded into Siqua’s upper back, or at least she stays in that position just long enough for Eve to leap into the air and pull Kat down into the Totalis.
Greyson: OOOOH WWWWOOWW!
Sparkles: That was friggin awesome!
Greyson: Totalis! Totalis!
Sparkles: The belts are about to change hands.
Frankie: This isn’t happening! I’m so distraught I’m about to piss blood!
The crowd is oh so exuberant in their display of emotion as Eve and Siqua prepare to take the IWC Tag Team Titles. Ba’al even manages to produce a very rarely seen smile. Though happiness is not an emotion commonly associated with the leader of the Sinistry, and he’s reminded why he is the embodiment of perpetual dread when he notices a gathering of familiar faces massing behind the barricade at his side. Ba’al’s attention has deviated to the group that has dubbed themselves the TRUE Sinistry. Jessica Wilde leads her brood along through the crowd, finding herself flanked by Benjamin Flynn, Executioner, Lilith Evans and Decay. The five fearsome foils of Ba’al, Eve and Siqua, force their way through the crowd before at last coming to a stop directly behind the barricade.
Greyson: Tensions building here. It looks as if the TRUE Sinistry have just shown up. Jessica Wilde leading Benjamin Flynn, Decay, Lilith Evans and Executioner out here towards the ring.
Frankie: What are even more Uprising talents doing on our show?
Sparkles: As we mentioned earlier, Siqua, Eve and Ba’al have been embroiled in a bit of a turf war over on the Uprising brand with Ba’al’s former followers.
It is evident in Ba’al’s mind that the True Sinistry are not in attendance this evening merely to watch the culmination of this Tag Team Title bout. Ba’al will not allow his past demons to effect the outcome of this hotly contested championship match. He steps towards the barricade and stops on the side opposite that of his former charge Wilde, and his former servant Decay.
Ba’al: I am afraid the five of you have no business here.
Wilde: That’s where you’re wrong, master.
Ba’al: Do take your leave before something unpleasant follows…..
Unpleasant doesn’t even begin to describe the fist that flies over the barricade and cracks Ba’al right upside his jaw. Decay, once a steadfast minion of Ba’al and his regime, blasts his former leader with such force across the chin that it instantly takes him from his feet.
Greyson: DECAY! He just punched his former master Ba’al right in the face!
Sparkles: That’s been a long time coming. We’ve seen those two butt heads over on Uprising and now it’s spilled over to night two of this Upping the Ante pay-per-view event.
The sucker punch has left Ba’al laid across the ground with a hand moving towards his bloated lip. Back inside of the ring Siqua has noticed what just happened at ringside to a member of the family that she has faithfully served the vast majority of her life. She immediately leaves the ring, slipping to the outside and checking on Ba’al, prompting Wilde and her TRUE Sinistry to begin backing their way through the crowd.
Wilde: Not yet….
Warns Wilde as she sweeps her arms out to her sides and pushes back her followers.
Meanwhile inside of the ring Eve has crawled into the cover on Kat and looks to secure the Tag Team Titles for her team.
Greyson: Ba’al laid out at ringside by Decay, but back inside of the squared circle Ba’al’s student Eve is about to capture the Tag Team Titles.
Frankie: Someone PLEASE tell me I took some bad shrooms before the pay-per-view and that all of this is a hallucination.
The referee makes the count to confirm that the Tag Team Titles are about to change hands.
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The official’s hand begins to come down at the exact same time that Lexy’s body comes down out of the turnbuckle. She pulls herself up from the tree of woe she had been hung in and then stands on the top rope before flying back into the Raising the Standard. Lexy hits the Twisting Phoenix Splash onto the back of an unsuspecting Eve.
Greyson: Where did Lexy just come from!?!
Frankie: YES! YEEESSSS!!!
The fatal impact has incapacitated Eve, who rolls to her back. Lexy crawls across the ring and throws herself across Eve’s body, pinning the challenger. All of this goes down behind the back of Siqua, who is far too preoccupied as she stands at ringside and checks on Ba’al’s condition. She has no idea that inside of the ring the referee is making the count on Eve.
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The fans go nuts, yes, imagine that, a sold out arena is cheering for Lexy Chapel. She celebrates her win by recoiling from Eve’s body and throwing her arms up above her head. The referee hands her the Tag Team Title strap that she rips right out of his clutches. She then pie faces the official and rises to her feet, lifting the belt high above her head. Kat then stumbles towards her, wrapping arms around Lexy’s waist. The two hug as they celebrate this successful title defense, maybe one of the hardest fought of their careers.
Greyson: Lexy and Kat endured one hell of a clash here tonight to walk out of here with those Tag Team Titles.
Sparkles: It looks like Eve had the win after hitting the Totalis on Kat but then Lexy came flipping off that top rope, hit the Raising the Standard and it led to a successful title defense for the champs tonight.
Frankie: Eve never saw Lexy coming, and that’s what it took for Wicked Intent to emerge from this match with the titles.
Lexy and Kat continue to lean on one another while lifting their belts up high. Meanwhile Siqua is climbing up onto the apron, glaring into the ring ant a laid out Eve and shaking her head in despair. She looks between Eve spread across the canvas and Ba’al spread across the ringside mats. Upset with herself over the conditions of both those she was here to protect.
The blood has stopped flowing from Tabitha Silverstone’s nose, but the lump on her forehead is only swelling larger and larger. She hasn’t moved from the floor where we last saw her sitting just moments after being assaulted. The only difference is now she has company in the hallway. An EMT is kneeling down beside Tabitha and cautiously feeling at her face with his gloved hands, ensuring there are no broken bones. The EMT is not the only one checking on Tabitha, because both of her clients, Andre Jordan and Marina Valdivia have also gathered about their agent.
Andre: Who did this to you!?! GIVE ME A NAME!
It’s a very rare sight to see Andre lose his customary cool. The side of his fist slams into the wall that Tabitha has propped her back against.
Tabitha: I don’t…..I don’t….remember….
Apparently Tabitha is far too light headed to recall who was responsible for putting her in this present condition.
Marina: Don’t worry about that right now Tabitha.
The hand of her client gently slides onto Tabitha’s shoulder.
EMT: Ma’am, I’m gonna have to take these sunglasses off….
The cracked sunglasses that have sat on the edge of Tabitha’s nose all this time threaten to be removed.
Tabitha: MIKA!
Blurts out Tabitha the moment she feels the sunglasses beginning to pull back from her nose. Andre grabs the EMT by the wrist, staying his hand.
Andre: Hold on there Chief. (Turns to Tabitha) What did you say?
Tabitha: I think-I think-I think it was….Mika.
The name that Tabitha just gave Andre has the former 2 time Evolution Champion snarling. Never before has Dre looked quite so nuclear.
Andre: That psychotic bitch!!
Marina: Dre, calm down….
Andre: I won’t calm down DAMMIT!
A nearby trashcan is picked up and thrown the length of the hallway by an infuriated Andre.
Voice: AAAAAAHHHH!!!
A piercing cry can be heard from the same general vicinity that Dre just threw the heavy steel trashcan in. Dre’s eyes widen as he whips around and sees several people have now gathered around the body of the unconscious backstage correspondent Susie Moore. Lying right next to her head is the trashcan that Dre absent mindedly threw down the hall. The moment Andre realizes what’s he done his trembling fingers slide over his gaping mouth.
Marina: What did you do Dre!?!
Marina hurries past Dre and joins several others in checking on Susie’s condition. All the while Andre is backing further and further from the scene of the crime. That’s until a hand latches onto his ankle, the hand of his agent Tabitha Silverstone.
Tabitha: This isn’t your fault Dre.
Dre’s widened eyes shoot towards the bloodied and swelled face of Silverstone, not even noticing the smile that has formed.
Tabitha: This is ALL Mika’s fault!
The very same ambulance that was featured at the start of the pay-per-view is once again spotlighted. However, this time the drivers are nowhere to be seen. Neither Serenity nor Cindy Todd are anywhere in the vicinity of the ambulance the two New Eden members were shown driving into the arena tonight. The commentators speak up in the background, their voices overlapping the image of the vehicle ominously stationed in the parking garage.
Frankie: From the looks of things that ambulance we saw New Eden arrive in earlier tonight may come in handy right about now.
Sparkles: Tabitha Silverstone injured and now Susie Moore has just been laid out backstage as well.
Greyson: By of all people, Andre Jordan?
Sparkles: But one has to wonder why New Eden showed up in that ambulance this evening? What do they have planned for it?
Frankie: More accurately, who do they have planned to take a ride inside of it?
The moment that cameras return to the interior of the arena the excited fans are bombarded with the sounds of ‘We Own It’ playing over the loud speakers. Everyone gathered within the building have lunged directly onto their feet to let out a roar at the sight of much loved grappler Andre Jordan. Instead of making his customary jaunt through the crowd and towards the ring, he employs the ramp-way. He seems to be deeply troubled by what happened just a moment ago backstage.
Frankie: This guy has got some nerve showing up right now.
Greyson: Give Andre Jordan a break Frankie. What happened in the back was clearly an accident. He didn’t intend to throw that trashcan into our colleague Susie Moore’s head.
Sparkles: Yeah, it was obviously an accident brought on by stress.
Greyson: For God sakes, Andre had just found out that his agent had been attacked by his opponent tonight, Mika Kozlov.
Sparkles: As concerned as Sparkles is about Susie’s well-being and Andre’s mental health, we really should focus on what brings Dre to the ring right now.
Greyson: Right Sparkles, let’s TRY to focus on this match and we’ll give you the fans an update on the conditions of Tabitha and Susie the moment we find out more.
Frankie: Dre is scheduled to take on Mika Kozlov here in a Semi-Final Round match in the World Title Number One Contender Tournament.
Greyson: Let’s go back and show everyone what Dre went through to get here to the Semi-Finals.
A video package begins to play that documents Andre Jordan’s intense struggle to reach this stage of the tournament. First the video showcases Dre’s opening round clash against opponent Mordecai. After enduring a very physical bout Mordecai intentionally gets himself disqualified with the intent of inflicting further damage on Andre, hitting him with a post-match powerbomb for no other reason but to injure Dre’s ribs.
Two weeks after enduring a very physical war with Mordecai, Andre finds himself in competition against a very different brand of athlete. The former World Champion Orlando Cruze tries to prevent Andre from moving on in the tournament and looks as if he’ll prove successful in doing so. However, when Orlando goes for a superkick on his ailing opponent’s jaw Dre manages to counter into a roll up and a win. After his victory however, Dre finds himself assaulted by Orlando, receiving a superkick straight in the very ribcage that was injured just two weeks prior.
Cameras have gone back live and have focused on the ring where Andre Jordan looks bothered by both his ribs and by his actions backstage. He paces back and forth through the ring with his hands sliding over his skull.
Greyson: Andre definitely faced a very steep climb in getting to the Semi-Finals of this tournament.
Sparkles: And he suffered after each of his previous victories in the tourney. First Mordecai injured Dre’s ribs with the Embrace the Dark power-bomb, then Orlando superkicked Dre in his ribcage.
Frankie: Plus Mordecai attacked Dre’s ribs AGAIN two weeks ago.
Greyson: Dre may not be physically or mentally ready for this match.
Sparkles: Yeah, because his opponent tonight is definitely inside of his head.
Greyson: Can Dre overcome his adversary Mika Kozlov tonight to join Marina Valdivia in the finals of the tournament to be contested later on here at Upping the Ante?
The slow tunes of “I Started A Joke” by Sydney Chase plays throughout the arena…..
The arena goes dark……
A strobe light shines throughout the arena…..
Laser Lights begin to flicker in the dark and into the middle of the entrance way where we see a woman hanging upside down on some elevated bars and straps as she spins around. She bends back revealing her painted clown face, it is Mika Kozlov. She starts to slowly use her ballet talent to exercise some of her moves before she slowly drops her legs down and drops onto the stage beside her revered leader Aiken Frost. The sight of these two has Andre’s blood boiling.
Sparkles: For weeks Mika Kozlov has been eluding to the fact that she has a boyfriend, and on our bi-weekly syndicated program Riot we found out that Andre was that boyfriend.
Greyson: Problem is Andre wasn’t in on this fact, and has sense refused Mika’s ‘charms.’
Frankie: Andre had to have been born without a penis if he can resist Mika.
Greyson: The unique relationship between Dre and Mika, or the lack-thereof is just one subplot to follow headed into this match.
Frankie: Let’s show everybody what got Mika, the only former World Champion left in this tournament, to the Semi-Finals here tonight.
We get another video package that highlights everything Mika Kozlov had to go through to get just two matches away from becoming Number One Contender to the World Title. In her first round match we witness her collide with Selena Frost in a highly combative and very competitive confrontation. In the end Mika manages to catch Selena off guard with the Killing Joke, her rendition of the Sister Abigail. Selena’s face is brutally spiraled around and sent crashing into the ring apron, resulting in Mika’s victory.
In the second round of the tournament Mika faces off with the up and coming Samantha Raine. The two have what is arguably the most athletic match in the tournament. After a multitude of transitions, reversals and momentum changes, Raine makes one fatal error that ends up costing her gravely. She dives through the ropes into a suicide headbutt only to be caught in Mika’s arms and hit with the Killing Joke right across the ringside mats. Mika then pins Raine a few seconds later to officially put herself into the Semi-Finals here this evening.
We return to live action as the eagerly anticipated clash between Andre Jordan and Mika Kozlov prepares to go down. While Dre snarls at Mika, Mika giggles and waves at Dre. Planted at ringside is Aiken Frost, who does not snarl nor does he smile. He just stands there as emotionless and as still as a tombstone.
Sparkles: Mika went through Selena Frost and Samantha Raine to get here tonight, but will she be able to clear Andre Jordan, clear Marina Valdivia in the same night to become the number one contender?
Greyson: As Frankie mentioned earlier, Mika is the only former World Champion remaining in this tournament, and one would have to think that would give her an advantage.
Frankie: She’s got more of an advantage than just her championship pedigree. The woman is a BEAST. She’s too hot to handle, too cold to hold, they call her Mika Kozlov and she’s in control.
Greyson: Andre’s gonna have his hands full with her that’s for sure.
Frankie: Mika actually offered to give him a handful of her and he turned her down.
ANDRE JORDAN VS. MIKA KOZLOV:
SEMI-FINAL WORLD TITLE #1 CONTENDER TOURNAMENT MATCH
The bell rings in the background to signify the start of what could potentially be the show stealing match of the evening, or perhaps the most SADISTIC. Andre, who is still affected by his actions backstage, begins to approach Mika with his fist cocked back ready to swing. But just then Mika lashes out with something else, not a punch, but a HUG. She not only throws her arms around Dre’s neck but her legs around his waist, putting all of herself into her snuggle.
Frankie: This might just be the greatest wresting hold I’ve ever seen.
Greyson: It’s a hug you idiot.
An amused Aiken watches from outside the squared circle as Mika continues to latch onto Andre with the hug. She bats her eyes directly into Dre’s confused face.
Mika: Can I have a nibble? A lick of my chocolate pudding?
She doesn’t wait for permission, her tongue extends and slides right up Andre’s face. It rolls over his chin, over his lips, over his nostrils and up the bridge of his nose.
Mika: Mmmmm…yummy for my tummy.
At last Andre reciprocates the hug, wrapping his arms around Mika’s hips. It’s not a snuggle Andre wants though, instead it’s a belly to belly suplex. Mika’s hug and the body scissors she had locked in on Dre’s waist are broken when she goes flipping through the air. The collision with the canvas has Mika clasping at her spine and yet laughing crazily. Andre sizes her up, bending at the knees as he readies for a big running spear on Kozlov. The rage seen in Dre’s face is very uncharacteristic of the former 2 time Evolution Champion, who is steamrolling towards his adversary’s ribs. Mika suddenly side steps Dre at the last second and takes him by the back of the head, throwing him through the ropes to the outside of the ring. Instead of crashing to the ground Andre lands on his feet and is about to dash back into the squared circle. However, he stops when he climbs to the apron and looks through the ropes at his opponent who is down on all fours, her backside aimed towards him.
Mika: Let us make a human centipede, you and I.
One of Mika’s demonic black eyes wink at Andre, who does not take her up on her offer. Instead of burying his face where the sun doesn’t shine he leaps into the ring, grabs Mika by the leg and takes advantage of her positioning by applying the step over crossface.
Greyson: Mika tried to offer Andre rear-door access but he didn’t take her up on the offer.
Sparkles: Instead he’s got her locked in the STF.
Frankie: That fruity bastard.
Greyson: This has definitely got to be one of the most unorthodox starts to a match that I can remember.
Mika CLAWS at the canvas and manages to reach out to her side, her body positioned just close enough to the ropes to grab the bottom one. A five count is started by the referee in order to get the intense Andre off of his adversary. Instead of allowing himself to be disqualified and lose out on a potential World Title match Dre breaks the hold and as a thus this allows Mika to roll from the squared circle.
Mika: Kinky.
Sensually moans Mika once at ringside, reacting to the submission Andre had her wrapped up in. She climbs up onto the apron holding onto the top rope and winking her ebony shaded eye in her opponents direction. Andre latches onto that rope and gives it a yank, flipping Mika over the ropes and back into the ring. She crashes onto her seat and rolls away from Dre, who is racing after his opposition only to come to a stop when Mika’s hand shoots into the air and wraps right around his genitalia.
Mika: I knew you were happy to see me.
The hand clasped tight to Andre’s junk is swatted away finally. Dre then turns his side on the kneeling Mika and goes for the superkick on her jaw. Before he can fully execute his plan Mika launches from her knees with the top of her head crushing Andre in his groin. The referee is just about to threaten Mika with disqualification only to be dragged out of the ring. He now comes face to face with Aiken Frost, who offers his own warning, insisting that something of a nefarious nature might just befall the referee should he disqualify Mika. Back in the ring Andre continues to clasp at his testicles while his opponent is dashing into a hard forearm smash to the side of his face. Dre goes twisting to the ring, landing on his back beside the demented Mika.
Mika quickly ascends the nearest corner, reaching the top rope and then flying from it directly into the big headbutt. Her skull crashes not into Andre’s chest, but right into his crotch. As Andre flops around on the canvas clasping at his testicles, the referee returns to the squared circle, having totally missed yet another blatant low blow. All he is sees is Andre rolling around clasping at his groin. Eventually he starts to work his way up to his elbows and knees while Mika sits down on the small of his back. She pantomimes firing pistols above her head as she rides Dre like a horse.
Mika: Gitty up pudding! Gitty up!
Although Andre’s crotch has taken multiple blows….not the type of blows most men would hope for…he manages to turn this ‘horsey ride’ to his advantage. He scoots back and through Mika’s legs, ending up kneeling behind her with one of her ankles in his hands. A hard yank is given to Mika’s leg, dropping her to the canvas and subjecting her to the ankle lock.
Greyson: First the STF, and now the ankle lock. Andre employing his wide array of submission holds in an effort to combat Kozlov’s craziness.
Frankie: There’s no force on earth greater than Mika’s madness. For God sakes, she just tried to ride Andre like a horse.
Sparkles: Sparkles had a pony once, but it wasn’t nearly as tasty as I thought it be.
Mika is in misery resulting from the ankle lock that threatens to snap her leg. Yet she giggles all the way along into the ropes that she has finally latched her hands around. Andre breaks the hold but maintains a grip on Mika’s ankles, giving them a tug in order to pull her back to the middle of the ring. Instead when her legs are pulled Mika flips completely over backwards then lands on her feet.
Mika: Ta-da!
Mika highlights her agility by throwing arms out to her sides and smiling at the fist that flies towards her face. Mika manages to side step the punch aimed at her face and take Andre by the back of his head, throwing him through the ropes to the exterior of the ring. This time the moment Andre falls to the mats he reaches back into the squared circle he was just tossed from and grabs Mika by the ankle. He rips her foot right out from under her and then gives it a tug, dragging Mika from the squared circle. She drops onto her back on the ringside mats while her ankle is elevated and twisted in Dre’s hands.
It appears Andre is going to get the ankle lock applied only to have Mika reverse by putting her boots to his chest and kicking him off. Dre staggers back and collides with the steel steps, his side withstanding much of the impact.
Greyson: Oh no! Dre’s ribs crushing the steel stairs.
Sparkles: And as documented by the video before this match Dre has been dealing with some nagging rib injuries these past few months.
The stairs serve as both a prop for Andre and as a detriment to him. Mika comes running along into a spear that nails Andre to the gut and drives his side into the stairs once more. Andre calls out while his knees buckle, the strain on his ribs far too much for him to tolerate.
Frankie: And as you can predict Mika is honing her assault in on that mid-section.
Andre is dragged away from the stairs only to be driven ribs first into them once more. The threat of internal bleeding is becoming a reality at this point, one that Andre has to contend with if he wants to become number one contender to the World Title. Andre is flung back into the ring, rolling to the middle of it where he will get no time for recuperation. Mika re-enters the ring and re-enters it violently, flying from the top rope and into a headbutt, her skull crushing Dre’s ribs.
Frankie: As insane as she is, Mika is also very skilled when it comes to that ring, she wouldn’t be a former World Champion if she wasn’t.
Greyson: But Andre is no slouch himself. He’s made a career out of combating injuries and coming back from them. That’s how he managed to win two Evolution Titles.
The groans from Andre echo throughout the arena but are soon drowned out by Mika’s laughter. She actually lays down across Andre’s chest and stomach while swinging her arms and legs out to her sides.
Sparkles: Is Mika doing what Sparkles thinks she’s doing?
Frankie: She’s ummm, making snow angels on top of Andre.
Greyson: Mika is no angel.
At ringside Aiken is looking quite amused by the visual of his beloved Mika making snow angels on top of Dre. But all that amusement ends when Andre reaches up and slaps a sleeper hold on Mika. Her arms stop swaying to her side and now start to frantically swing through the air as she tries to find an escape from this predicament.
Greyson: Andre with the rear naked choke latched onto Mika. All of this lunacy she’s displayed throughout the match coming back to haunt her.
The submission is locked on very tight and with enough force to drain the life from Mika’s body. Yet with one swing of her elbow into Dre’s ribs, the choke is broken. Mika rolls back to her feet and then lunges into the air, coming down with a standing splash across Dre’s already injured mid-section. She then hooks Dre’s leg for the three.
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That’s not enough to finish off a man who has made a career out of perseverance. Andre throws his shoulder up off of the canvas and has left Mika pouting.
Mika: Why would you keep me from the title pudding? I thought you loved me?
The honeymoon is definitely over. Mika rolls from the ring with a grip on Andre’s wrist. She uses her immense strength to pull Andre along into the turnbuckle post, wedging his ribs against them. Mika drags on both Dre’s wrist and his ankle, bending his battered torso around the steel turnbuckle post. With Andre yelling out in pain it’s almost impossible to hear the referee starting his five count and drawing ever so closer to disqualifying Kozlov.
Finally Mika releases her adversary and lets him wriggle off her hook. She leaps up onto the apron, grabs the top strand and then goes flying up onto it. She twists in mid-air, dropping across the back of her knees on the top rope and then moonsaulting over backwards. She crashes straight into Andre’s ribs, putting even more pressure and inflicting even more punishment on his already wounded abdomen.
Mika scoots in behind a seated Dre and extends her legs, wrapping them around his wounded ribs. She employs the walnut cracking strength of her thighs to exert pressure on Andre’s ribs. A vice is employed on her target, resulting in Dre trying to yell out in agony but finding it impossible to speak. That oxygen that was in his lungs is squeezed right out of it thanks to Mika’s hold.
Sparkles: Andre’s ribs can’t withstand this level of punishment after everything they’ve endured the past several weeks.
Frankie: Especially when those ribs are being worked over by Mika ‘friggin’ Kozlov.
Greyson: A woman who rejoices in the suffrage of other human beings.
Frankie: They’re not human beings in Mika’s mind. They’re just toys for her to play with and once she’s had her fun she chucks them in the trash.
Andre is not a toy, nor will he be toyed around with. His elbow comes down into Mika’s knee again and again and again until she is forced to break her hold. Mika merely transitions from one submission to another. She breaks the bearhug with her legs in order to wedge a knee into the small of Dre’s spine while pulling back on his jaw. The rear chin lock puts a lot of pressure on Dre’s mid-section and on his neck as well. Yet in spite of this he is still laboring to get back up and back on his feet.
At last Andre is standing but that won’t last very much longer. Mika puts her hands to Andre’s back and gives him a shove, sending her charging right along into the turnbuckle, his mid-section crashing into it. He ricochets from the corner and staggers back into Mika’s waiting knee. She leaps into the air and hits the knee strike on Dre’s back, the blow sending him stumbling forward into the cables then falling through them.
Greyson: That may be a very fortuitous tumble by Andre, as it creates some separation from Mika.
Frankie: But Mika is like a vulture, she’s just waiting to swoop in with her claws and carry off the carrion.
As Dre works his way up from the ground Mika goes running across the ring, grabbing the top rope and clearing it in one giant hurdle. She goes for a back first senton but Andre manages to jump back at the last second avoiding a collision. As a result Mika flips over and lands on her feet, but she’s not going to remain upright very much longer. Dre catches her right around the waist and then lifts her into the air, twisting her down to the mats into a belly to belly suplex.
Greyson: Mika THROWN into the mats with that suplex!
The impact with the thin protective matting has Mika clasping at her back all the way up and onto her feet. She stands just as Andre swoops in and takes her around the waist. The crowd screams as Andre throws her over head into a SECOND belly to belly suplex. Upon colliding with the mats Mika lets out a roar, not of pain, but of laughter.
Both Andre and Mika are showing the signs of the physical nature of this tournament match as they stand back up. Mika leans back against the steel steps but Andre races in and hits her with a lariat that sends her flipping over the stairs and hitting the ground. Andre rolls into the ring then back out to break the official’s count. He then races at the steel steps that Mika is standing on the opposite side of. The quick witted Dre leaps onto the stairs and prepares to dive off of them only to find his legs knocked out from under him. Mika pushes on Dre’s shins, sweeping his legs back and causing him to come crashing down ribs first right onto the steel steps.
Sparkles: Andre’s ribs! Andre’s ribs into the stairs!
Frankie: That was a nasty little landing.
Andre remains splayed across the stairs and doesn’t have the strength to reach for the ribs that collided with them. He is so preoccupied with his injuries that he doesn’t see Mika climbing up onto the top rope high above him. She leaps from the corner and then comes crashing down with a double stomp straight onto Andre’s back, grinding his ribs against the steel steps. The fans explode into a ‘holy shit’ chant as a result of Andre’s brutal collision with the steps and the devastating double stomp that followed it.
Greyson: DOUBLE STOMP!
Sparkles: With Andre’s ribs across the steps.
Frankie: I think this whirlwind romance is over.
Mika returns to the ring in order to break the official’s ten count. All the while Dre is staggering back to his feet at ringside, doubled over and clasping at his ribs. Just then Mika runs the length of the ring and goes diving over the ropes into a forward flipping senton plancha. This time her move DOES connect and DOES send Dre down to the ground. A smile graces the lips of Aiken as he watches his cherished Mika collide with an already banged up Dre.
It takes a lot of will power for Andre to start back towards his feet especially when he’s got Mika running up behind him and leaping on top of him. Mika drives Andre down to the ground with her landing across the small of his back. She now begins to deliver forearm after forearm after forearm across Andre’s back, clubbing him viciously. Mika’s maniacal laughs fill the arena as she slides into the squared circle and then slips back through the ropes to the apron. She looks down at Andre splayed across the ground and makes a calculated risk. She dashes across the apron and then leaves it in order to hit the double stomp. Her feet come down not into Dre’s ribs, but into the mats. He manages to roll out of the way in the nick of time to avoid a collision that would undoubtedly destroy his mid-section.
Mika swings around and runs at Dre only to be caught around the waist. Andre goes for the belly to belly suplex but is unable to hit it thanks to the big wet sloppy kiss that Mika is planting on his lips.
Frankie: Awwwww.
Greyson: This is just depraved.
A disgusted Andre puts his hands to Mika’s ribs and shoves her back, launching her to the floor. Mika then turns her back to Andre and rolls in reverse, extending her legs and wrapping them around her adversary’s waist. She pushes herself back into the wheel barrow but Dre counters, wrapping his arms around Mika’s waist and then delivering a German suplex out of this position. Mika doesn’t go down to the ground though, she flies back first into the ring apron instead.
Greyson: OH SHIT!
Sparkles: Wheelbarrow German into the hardened ring apron.
Frankie: Gaaah. Don’t either of these two realize that they still have another match to wrestle after this?
The spine of Kozlov bends around the apron as she bounces off of it. Somehow she remains on her feet as she staggers along right into Andre, who catches her around the waist then throws her back into ANOTHER release belly to belly suplex. Mika hits the ground to devastating results, her whole body going into paralysis. Dre, who is in quite possibly the worse shape he’s ever been in, crawls across the mats to Mika’s side. He leads her to her feet and then into the squared circle, Dre sluggishly following behind. He crawls in after Mika and hooks her leg for the three count.
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Mika’s far more resilient than that, getting her shoulder up to prevent an elimination from this tournament. An exhausted Andre gets to his seat and runs his hands back over his head, questioning how much more he has to throw at Mika. Eventually he realizes it’s his own body he has to toss into Kozlov. He approaches the turnbuckle, climbs to the top and to a huge ovation leaps into the frog splash elbow drop. He comes down right into Mika, right into Mika’s waiting legs. She lifts her legs and catches Dre right as she lands beside him, applying a body scissors submission hold.
Greyson: What the heck!?!
Sparkles: A counter right into the leg scissors body vice.
Frankie: Andre had no clue he was setting himself up for that.
Andre sits on the canvas bemoaning the pain that is coursing all throughout his mid-section as a result of the vice like grip Mika’s legs have on his ribs. Although Dre feels like he’s in a compactor he tries his best to counter out of this hold. First he attempts to pull himself along towards the ropes but Mika catches on. She doesn’t let Dre reach the cables and instead uses the legs latched onto his ribs to roll him over and stack him on the back of his shoulders.
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Dre sits up and causes Mika to roll back onto her side maintaining the body vice with her legs. Nothing Andre seems to do will free him from this hold that Mika has clamped on with such force. But he does it again, Dre tries to scoot across his seat towards the ropes. Once again Mika puts the kibosh on this plans, rolling to her side and using her thighs to force Dre onto the back of his shoulders.
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This time instead of sitting up to break the pin attempt. Dre keeps rolling back until he lands on his knees. He’s not only freed his ribs from the legs that were wrapped about them but has put himself in position to yet again apply the STF. He throws himself across Mika’s back and begins to latch his hands under Mika’s jaw.
Greyson: STF again locked in….
Frankie: It’s not locked in just yet asshat, Mika is blocking it!
Sparkles: And she’s going for the ropes.
Although Mika initially blocked the STF she couldn’t avoid it forever. Andre manages to get the hold locked in and stops Mika’s forward momentum into the ropes.
Sparkles: NOW it’s applied.
Aiken’s eyes darken as he stands at ringside and watches Mika’s hand raise into the air, swinging about and trying to prevent slapping the canvas. Instead of giving into what the fans want to see, she reaches out for the bottom rope, which was just close enough to wrap her hand around.
Greyson: But Mika got to the ropes, she got to the ropes dammit.
Frankie: And now she’s going right under them.
A big yank on the cables allows Mika to squirm free from Andre’s clutches and then roll to the exterior of the ring. She lands on her feet across the mats, backing away from the ring that Andre is dashing across. Before Mika realizes what hit her she looks up to find Andre diving through the ropes with a suicide headbutt that connects with enough force to send both the giver and the recipient flying back into the barricade. They hit with the force to go right THROUGH the barrier.
Greyson: Andre turning himself into an arrow that just shot right through Mika’s heart!
Andre has been knocked silly after his slam against the barricade, but he manages nevertheless to get up and get to the apron. Instead of returning to the ring Dre turns around and spots Mika splayed across the ringside mats, putting her in a position Andre HAS to take advantage of. He pantomimes firing two pistols above his head before leaping from the apron into the frog splash elbow. The Big Air connects, driving the point of Dre’s elbow right through Mika’s heart.
Greyson: That may have just caved in Kozlov’s chest!
Frankie: A world with a flat chested Mika is a world I don’t want to live in.
The sheer fatigue of this match has obviously set in on both Andre and Mika, who have put each other through tremendous physical rigor. Andre pries Mika up from the mats and throws her into the ring before exhaustively following and making the lateral press.
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Mika’s arm is thrown into the air, squirming right out from under a shocked and despondent Andre.
Sparkles: Not yet Dre, not yet.
Frankie: More like not ever.
Greyson: Dre has defeated Mika in the past, remember he pinned her nearly two years ago to win his first Evolution Championship.
Frankie: Yeah, but she won’t be his springboard to another title, mark my words.
Dre sees his window of opportunity rapidly closing, moving with a greater sense of urgency. He reaches down for Mika’s hair only to have her sit up and plant another big kiss on his lips. Andre fights and struggles to get lose, eventually breaking away and falling back into the ropes. His hand pulls back from the blood that is gushing from his lower lip, revealing that Mika bit right into it. The ravenous Kozlov is returning to her feet, albeit still stooped over, but a punt kick straight to her face has her standing fully upright. Dre kicks her with enough force in the skull to cause Mika to not just stand up straight but go staggering back to the middle of the ring. Dre then swings around and cracks Mika upside her skull with a roundhouse kick. The shot has Mika bending to the side but not fully going down to the canvas. So Dre steps in and nails her across the sternum with a weakened but still effective knife edge chop. He follows this up with a second blow that has Mika falling back into the ropes. Dre takes her by the wrist and launches her across the ring, however, at the last second Mika counters. She spins around to face Dre and then launches her palms into his throat, closing it on impact.
Andre falls against the corner just as Mika comes racing in and leaping into the air, landing on the middle rope with her crotch straddling her opponent’s face. Her fists go flying down into both of Dre’s orbital sockets, blinding him and inflicting some brain damage at the same time. But Dre will not sacrifice even one more brain-cell in this war with Mika. He manages to bend at the knees, slip under Mika and then stand behind her while she’s still balanced onto the middle ropes. Before Mika realizes what’s happening she’s being yanked from the corner into the Tide Turner. The Olympic Slam is just about to connect and is just about to end this grueling tournament bout but in mid-rotation Mika manages to slide off of her adversary’s shoulders. She lands on her feet as Andre twists around to face her and walks right into a double underhook of his arms. Mika sets up to deliver the Dos-Vi-Dania.
Before Dre can counter he’s being spiked right on top of his head with Mika’s snap double arm DDT. A beaten up Mika makes the lateral press.
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She didn’t make the pin quick enough because Andre still manages to get his shoulder off the ring.
Greyson: Back and forth this match continues to go….
Sparkles: And what a strange match it’s been.
Frankie: Strange? Mika is trying to EAT Andre for God sakes. Strange is an understatement.
Speaking of strange, Aiken Frost edges ever so much closer to the ring, his physical presence instilling a greater resolve in his precious Mika. At the moment she is slithering up Dre and onto his chest, before pushing down on his shoulders, going for another pin.
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Andre kicks out once more, which seems to delight his opponent. Mika wipes her adversary’s blood from her lips before hitting him with a straight headbutt. Her chilling laughs fill the arena as she flings her skull towards her opponent with a second headbutt….this one hitting the CANVAS. Andre squirms out of the way and through Mika’s legs, causing her to headbutt the ring instead of her intended victim. The impact has disorientated Mika, who stands up by sheer muscle memory and goes stumbling back into the TIDE TURNER! Andre hits the Olympic Slam on Mika and immediately crawls into the cover.
Greyson: Andre got it that time!
Sparkles: Tide Turner ending Mika Kozlov’s quest to reclaim the World Championship.
Greyson: Andre is going to advance to face his friend Marina Valdivia in the finals.
The breathless crowd feel their lungs about to explode at the visual of Mika kicking out. To say Dre is devastated would be an understatement. But he is about to experience even more devastation, albeit this time it won’t be physical.
Orlando: Some hero….
Oh how pissed the fans become at the sound of their once revered Icon’s voice. A smug Orlando Cruze steps along to the stage with a microphone raised to his frowning lips.
Greyson: God no…Please no….
Frankie: It’s Orlando Cruze guys. Hey Orlando! Hey Orlando! It’s Frankie!
Greyson: Stop waving, you’re making a fool of yourself.
Sparkles: Last time we saw Orlando and Andre cross paths, Cruze was superkicking Dre’s agent Tabitha Silverstone in her jaw.
Orlando won’t kick anyone in the jaw, but he will do some jawing as he descends straight on down the ramp. Andre’s full and undivided attention is on the Monarchy member who Dre pinned several weeks earlier.
Orlando: Boo that man! Boo him!!
A finger is pointed, and you better believe it’s wagging, in the direction of Andre.
Orlando: He’s not a hero. He’s not a good guy. He’s not the plucky underdog. Andre has ice in his veins. I mean, what kind of callous, cold hearted son of a bitch would attack an innocent woman?
The crowd knows what type, ‘Orlando’s type.’
Orlando: It’s friggin disgusting is what it is. That he has you all wrapped around his finger thinking he’s some kind of awesome dude, when he’s really a scumbag who gets his jollies beating up on defenseless women.
Greyson: Coooome ooooon….
Frankie: Orlando’s right though. Andre attacked Susie Moore backstage before this mat….
Greyson: Andre did NOT attack Susie, he threw a trashcan and it accidentally struck…
Frankie: Stop making excuses for spousal abuse.
Greyson: WHAT!?! Andre and Susie aren’t even together!
Orlando continues to near the squared circle, stood at ringside, mere inches removed from the man he’s chastising.
Orlando: There Susie was, just being her good natured self, minding her own business and then what happens? She gets jumped by Andre and beaten to within an inch of her life. She’ll never be the same after this, NEVER.
Greyson: She got hit in the head with a trashcan by accident.
Sparkles: Sparkles can’t believe Andre was like this all along.
It’s painfully clear that Orlando revels in reminding Andre of his indiscretions, no matter how accidental they might have been. Dre hears Orlando’s disgusting words getting closer and closer. In fact he’s now standing on the apron and leaning over the top rope.
Orlando: You’re a sham Dre, a charlatan, a hypocrite. You sold all these people on a lie and you should be ashamed of yourself….For SHAME!
Greyson: The only one who should be ashamed of himself is Orlando Cruze. He’s only doing this because Andre pinned him four weeks ago and Orlando’s ego can’t handle it.
As Orlando verbally assaults Dre, Mika physically assaults him. She steps behind a distracted Dre, takes him by the shoulder and twists him around. She now bends Dre back into position to deliver the Killing Joke. Just as she readies to hit her version of the Sister Abigail, Mika finds her move suddenly countered at the last possible second. Andre swings himself out of Mika’s clutches, steps behind her and puts hands to her spine, shoving her along into the very ropes that Orlando is standing on the opposite side of. The two collide with one another and a surprised Orlando is knocked from the apron while a shocked Mika staggers back into her opponent’s arms. Andre latches onto Mika’s thigh and rolls her back into the school boy.
Greyson: This is the same way Dre eliminated Orlando from the tournament.
Sparkles: Way to rub salt in still fresh wounds.
Frankie: How dare Dre throw Mika into Orlando! So uncool.
Mika’s body may be thrashing around but it’s not getting her shoulders off the canvas.
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And just as the three count looks on the verge of happening Mika pops her arm into the air. The crowd can barely reconcile with the fact that Mika has kicked out, and Andre is even more profoundly shaken by it.
Greyson: Mika kicks out AGAIN!
Sparkles: So this thing is still going. Neither Andre nor Mika have advanced to the finals later tonight YET.
Frankie: At this rate this match might just go all night.
As Mika reaches her feet Andre goes racing towards her with a lariat. All of a sudden Andre’s momentum is turned against him because Mika manages to side step him and catch the former Evolution Champion around his neck. Dre is bridged back and Mika sets him up to deliver the fatal Killing Joke. She just starts to spin through and hit the move only to have Andre suddenly swing out of her clutches and step behind her back. He once again goes for the Tide Turner, lifting Mika into the air to a downright nipple hardening response from the crowd. But in mid-air Mika manages to slide off of Dre’s shoulders, land behind his back and then gives him a hard shove across the ring. Andre runs into the ropes that Orlando is standing on the opposite side of. Down on the mats below Orlando has picked both himself up and the microphone he dropped as well.
Orlando: POOR SUSIE MOORE!
Andre stops right in front of the ropes and glares over them at the intense face of his rival.
Orlando: SHE’LL NEVER BE THE SAME!
Dread overwhelms Dre, who turns away from Orlando and walks right into Mika’s Killing Joke. This time there is no counter quick enough to avoid it as Dre is spiraled around and slammed face first into the canvas with such whiplash and force. Dre’s face springs off the canvas like a jack in the box and his body rolls to his spine where he’s pinned.
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The fans are frothing in anger at the sight of Mika managing to pin Andre’s shoulders and keep them down for the full three count. While the fans rebel against Mika’s victory, Orlando Cruze deeply enjoys it. There is a huge grin on his face as he casually backs up the ramp.
Frankie: Mika’s moving onto the finals! She’s going on to face Marina in the FINALS!
Greyson: Dre had her, it seemed he was well on his way to victory before Orlando showed his mug out here at ringside.
Frankie: Stop focusing on Orlando and put your attention where it deserves to be, on this huge win in Mika’s career.
Sparkles: A victory that moves her closer to reclaiming the World Title she lost way back right before Invictus.
It appears that the finals of the number one contender tournament are at last set in stone with Mika Kozlov colliding with Marina Valdivia later tonight. Mika’s advisor Aiken Frost has climbed back into the squared circle where he kneels beside his beloved and raises her arm in victory. It takes all of her remaining energy to get back to her feet and enjoy this win. But soon she’s going right back down onto her knees and crawling towards a still barely conscious Andre.
Mika: Be seeing you around, lover boy.
Mika licks Andre’s cheek.
Head Referee Marcus Mayfield has the spotlight for one reason and one reason alone, because held in his hands is a briefcase that contains perhaps the second richest prize in all of the IWC. At the moment Mayfield stands beside correspondent Mark Comeau in a hall with eggshell white walls and a closed door behind their backs.
Comeau: Mika Kozlov qualifying for the finals of the World Title Number One Contender Tournament here tonight, and speaking of the championship, at this moment I’m standing by with the man tasked with officiating this evening’s World Title bout, Head Referee Marcus Mayfield.
Comeau turns from the camera to his guest.
Comeau: Marcus, I see you’ve already been given custody of the briefcase that holds Scott Cannon’s number one contenders contract that can be used at any point of his choosing…..
Mayfield: That’s right.
Comeau: That contract to be cashed in later this evening when Scott Cannon challenges World Champion Katelyn Buehler in a match that is going to be bowling show ugly to say the least. How do you plan on officiating these two very unstable elements?
Mayfield: It’s not as if I haven’t been in this position multiple times in the past. I’ve officiated numerous bouts that, as you described, were a bit out of control. My job here tonight is to ensure that the World Title ends up on the right per…..
Lexy: Truer words have never been spoken!
The intense expressions of Wicked Intent members Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly draw nearer to the referee, or more accurately to the briefcase he clutches.
Lexy: The right person WILL leave here tonight as the World Champion.
Lexy’s knee swings straight up into Marcus’ crotch. As his hands move to protect his wounded genitalia the briefcase he was holding falls out of his hands and into Kat Kelly’s. Lexy pie faces the Head Referee to the floor while she and Kat take off down the hall holding the briefcase with a contract to a World Title match inside. The commentators react in the background.
Greyson: Did Wicked Intent just steal that briefcase that holds a contract for a World Title match?
Sparkles: That’s Scott Cannon’s contract!!
Frankie: Not anymore it isn’t. Lexy was screwed over in the tournament earlier tonight. She deserves a shot at the title, and it looks like she’s going to get one.
Sparkles: Scott did stand in the way of Lexy’s title ambitions a few weeks ago.
Frankie: And Lexy has pinned the World Champion twice.
Greyson: That does not justify what she’s doing here tonight.
Cameras cut away from a theft to a man who was just robbed. Andre Jordan has just made his way to the guerilla position where he’s slouched forward and resting his palms on his knees. It appears that he’s still feeling the effects of the Killing Joke he suffered in route to his loss moments earlier in the World Title Number One Contender Tournament. He leans his side against a large crate which sustains the bulk of his weight.
Security: Excuse me, Mr. Jordan.
A man clothed in a t-shirt labeled ‘security’ approaches Andre while holding a tablet in his hands. Andre does not acknowledge the security guard, he just goes on leaning against the crate and trying to regain his faculties.
Security: Sorry to bother you right now, but I’m looking for your agent Tabitha Silverstone.
Andre remains incommunicado.
Security: She caused some property damage here earlier tonight and….
Andre: What?
Andre wonders if he just hallucinated that last sentence.
Andre: Tabitha was attacked because you guys aren’t doing your jobs.
Security: I’m sorry Mr. Jordan, but you’re mistaken. Why don’t you take a look at this?
The tablet in the security guard’s hands is switched on and held just in front of a groggy Andre’s face.
Security: This is security cam footage from earlier on.
The camera turns just enough to see what Andre is seeing. On the tablet are images from the very same backstage corridor where Tabitha was attacked towards the beginning of tonight’s show. An overhead camera has an eagle eye view of Tabitha, who at that particular moment seems to be in fine health. Although she’s not suffering physically, she’s under a bit of mental strain thanks to her standoff with Victoria Salinas. The two seem to be in a heated argument as Tabitha tries to get around Victoria only to be held back.
Victoria: You’re not going out to that ring Tabitha!
Tabitha: Marina needs me.
Once again Tabitha tries to get around Marina’s good friend only to have Victoria restrain her.
Victoria: Not until you’ve gotten your head on straight. You’ve been acting like a damned lunatic the past couple of weeks.
Tabitha takes a deep breathe while adjusting the sunglasses over her eyes.
Victoria: Get your shit together Tabitha.
With that Victoria walks away, trusting that her words have resonated with the recently unstable manager. Tabitha slowly lowers her face into the palm of her hand and sooths herself with a prolonged sigh. She turns herself completely around then runs head first as fast as she can straight into the wall. She bounces off and collapses to the floor where her palms are inching to the blood that trickles from her nostrils.
Security: I’d suggest that you get your friend some help.
Andre’s eyes shift from the security cam footage to the guard standing beside him, the very man who just showed him the unsettling truth behind the ‘attack’ on his agent.
Security: And let her know we expect her to pay for the hole she put in the wall.
Andre’s face has twisted into the expression of a man who has just been forced to sit through the entire Beethoven movie series.
Andre: She’ll pay for more than that.
The haunting melody of Ba’al’s entrance theme starts to play throughout the arena, enticing quite the rabble from the audience. The curtains that dangle from the entry way part open and the former leader of the Sinistry steps through them. The brooding Ba’al heads along down the ramp with one hand rubbing at the jaw that was presumably fractured by the punch of his former stalwart Decay. Hanging from his opposite hand is a fire poker.
Greyson: It looks as if we haven’t seen the end of the strange and the macabre here tonight.
Sparkles: Ba’al back on his way out here after his earlier interaction with the True Sinistry.
Frankie: Show the footage and remind the peeps what happened.
EARLIER TONIGHT
A video shows what happened moments ago when Ba’al’s followers Eve and Siqua challenge Wicked Intent for the IWC Tag team Titles. At the conclusion of that very competitive bout, Ba’al, who was stood ringside, finds his eyes deviating from the squared circle and into the crowd. He has taken notice of five entities gathered behind the barrier, the group known as the True Sinistry. Ba’al goes to confront the group spearheaded by his former follower Jessica Wilde. This tense stare-down between the two results in a vicious jab delivered across Ba’al’s jaw by another of his previous devotees, Decay. The sucker punch levels Ba’al.
The live feed is re-established just in time to catch Ba’al pacing the ring clutching both a fire poker and a microphone. His ghostly aura gives a foreboding vibe to every word that seeps from his tongue.
Ba’al: Jackson my lad. It was only a few months ago that you were answering my doors, polishing my shoes and lighting my cigars, but now, you’ve managed to elevate yourself from mindless servant to mindless thug.
Greyson: Jackson, the given name of Decay.
Frankie: Thanks for that wonderful insight, I’m sure none of us could have figured that out for ourselves.
Sparkles: To be fair Frankie, Sparkles thinks our only job as commentators is to be exposition machines
Ba’al continues to pace and aim his ever so chilling words at his past follower.
Ba’al: I congratulate you on showing such immense growth as a human being but tonight is where you’re evolution comes to an end.
The grip on his fire poker tightens.
Ba’al: Your actions this evening has brought our differences to a head. So bring yourself to this ring so that we can have a PROPER resolution, kinder.
It takes little more to motivate Decay to respond. Already the crowd are clearing a path for the mass of muscle that comes stomping through them on his way to the ring. It’s a very daunting image, that of Decay walking amongst the fans as he draws closer and closer to the squared circle.
Greyson: There he is guys. Decay headed for the ring.
Sparkles: And headed out ALONE.
Frankie: Where are the rest of the True Sinistry?
Greyson: Jessica Wilde and her group conspicuous by their absence.
It seems Decay is going to get what he has long desired, a one on one scenario with Ba’al. The brute climbs the barricade and scales the apron. His eyes connect with the face of the man who stands on the opposite side of the ropes, Ba’al and Decay giving one another a soul wrenching glare. After only a moment’s delay Decay enters the ring and a fist instantly greets his face.
Greyson: IT’S ON!
Sparkles: DECAY AND BA’AL!
Frankie: About time these two finally went at it.
There are almost goosebumps forming on the skin of the crowd as they watch these two creatures collide. Decay nails Ba’al with such a vicious uppercut that it sends him spiraling back. But Ba’al then takes his fire poker and rams the end of it right into his former charge’s gut. Decay doubles over and clasps at his stomach while the fire poker comes down over his back. Decay turns away and falls against the cables as Ba’al steps in and drives the fire poker into his ribs once again.
Greyson: This has been a very long time coming between these two.
Sparkles: Ever since Decay returned to the IWC and sided with Wilde over his former master Ba’al.
Ba’al takes the fire poker and stretches it across Decay’s throat, pushing against it and closing off the oxygen to his throat. But just then Decay’s boot flies into the air and hits his attacker in the ribs. Ba’al doubles over and Decay’s forearm crushes his upper back. The blow sends Ba’al falling to all fours. However Decay doesn’t let him stay down on the canvas for very long. He takes Ba’al by the throat, leads him up to his feet and then throws him into the nearest turnbuckle. Decay points at his target and snarls before barreling in, barreling in right into the corner he intended to crush Ba’al against.
Ba’al clears out of the way and Decay’s momentum carries him right along into the corner, his chest bouncing off it. He turns around right into the fire poker that slams against his forehead.
Ba’al: Is it not fitting kinder? That the man who gave you new life, will be the one who takes it?
Ba’al leaves his feet, catches Decay by the neck and drops him via the Totalis.
Greyson: The Totalis delivered by its originator!
Sparkles: We haven’t seen Ba’al hit his finishing move in almost a year now.
Frankie: That just changed.
Unfortunately for Decay the Totalis is not the worst his former master has intended for him. Ba’al picks up the fire poker yet again and stares at the blunt end of it. The demonic twinkle in his eyes lets the crowd know that in a moment Ba’al is about to embrace all those homicidal tendencies buried beneath his gentlemanly façade. The fire poker never gets a chance to mutilate Decay because its his intended attacker that is mutilated. Unbeknownst to Ba’al, from the crowd behind him jumps Benjamin Flynn, Executioner, Lilith Evans and finally Jessica Wilde. The four of them slide into the squared circle but it’s Executioner’s boot that enters first as it slams right across the back of Ba’al’s head. The impact knocks the former IWC World Champion down to the canvas.
Frankie: You wondered where the rest of the True Sinistry were? Well you got ‘em.
Greyson: Well I didn’t want them.
Sparkles: Jessica Wilde sending her brood into the ring to protect one of their own.
Frankie: And now they’ve got their claws into Ba’al.
At the moment it’s not claws ripping Ba’al apart its heels. Flynn, Executioner and Evans bludgeon Ba’al while their leader Wilde stands on the apron immensely enjoying this beating. She tilts her head to the side and grins at the visual of the man who once led her being led straight into a grave. Before this goes any further, before Ba’al’s body withstands yet another fatal strike, here comes the save. Siqua and Queen of the Ring Champion Eve hustle on down the ramp, slide right in and go right after all those assaulting their master.
Greyson: Ba’al being saved by Eve and Siqua…which I guess we should be happy about?
Sparkles: You sound very uncertain.
Greyson: I guess I don’t want to see ANYONE butchered in that ring, even if that someone is Ba’al.
The moment Wilde sees both Eve and Siqua coming she ditches the squared circle. The same cannot be said for her brood. Executioner lunges at Eve before she can get fully to her feet, his hand engulfing her throat. Siqua swings around and frees her ally by delivering a back kick right across Executioner’s ribs. The blow doubles him over clasping and puts him in quite the unenviable position. The side of his skull is exposed to the front dropkick delivered by Eve, a shot so stiff that it sends him twisting in a full circle. Executioner turns right into the Fatal Fouette, the devastating discus kick delivered by Siqua. The second the masked man hits the floor his compatriots spring into action. Flynn hits a forearm across Siqua’s back while Evans lays out Eve with a clothesline across the back of her head as well. Both Eve and Siqua collapse to the ring and lay beneath the deluge of boots unleashed by the True Sinistry members. This assault brings yet another smile to the face of Wilde, who sits on the top rope of a nearby turnbuckle, fist to her chin and her elbow to her knee.
Greyson: Wilde really seems to be enjoying this.
Frankie: And rightfully she should.
Oh what joy Wilde gets out of seeing the suffrage of others, and there will be much more suffering in store for Siqua. She is pulled to her feet by Flynn and Evans, who set up for an inverted 3D variant. However, at the last second Eve intervenes, hitting a step up enzugari on the back of Evans’ skull, knocking her out of position to deliver a reverse neck breaker. At the same time Siqua manages to flip back over Flynn’s shoulder, land on her feet behind him and then deliver a dropkick to his upper back. The blow launches Flynn right along into Wilde seated across the top rope. The two crash into one another and Wilde is sent flipping back off the turnbuckle while Flynn spills through the cables, landing right beside her.
Greyson: Eve and Siqua clearing Wilde and her brood out of the ring!
Sparkles: The True Sinistry didn’t come here tonight anticipating this.
Once at ringside Wilde is rallying her troops, snatching up Flynn and Executioner, leading the pair away from the ring. Both Decay and Evans crawl along after their associates, climbing the very barricade that Wilde and company just leaped over. The entire group converges in the very crowd that they emerged from before staring back into the ring where Eve & Siqua more than hold their ground. The Queen of the Ring Champion stoops down beside Ba’al and helps him up to his feet, while Siqua puts him behind her back, ensuring he’s protected. Decay holds the back of his head and snarls as he stands amongst the fans and makes eye contact with Ba’al.
Sparkles: When are Wilde and her True Sinistry going to have finality in this war against Ba’al, Eve and Siqua?
Cameras have segued to a hallway where we come across super-agent Tabitha Silverstone. This time instead of sitting on the floor with her nose gushing blood, we see her plopped on top of a box, turning it into a makeshift chair, while pinching her nostrils together to keep any more bodily fluids from leaking. Stood beside her is her very sympathetic client Marina Valdivia.
Marina: You really should go to a hospital and get your head scanned, make sure you’re…..
Tabitha: Don’t worry about me.
Marina’s agent insists while fixing the cracked sunglasses sat over her eyes.
Tabitha: I’m not the person you should be concerned with.
Marina: I’m focused on the tournament, don’t wor…..
Tabitha: That’s not what I’m talking about either. It’s-it’s-it’s all coming back to me now.
Informs Tabitha while rubbing at her temples.
Tabitha: I remember who attacked me….
Marina: Yeah, Mika Kozl……
Tabitha: No….Victoria….Victoria Salinas.
The name of her best friend was not the name that Marina expected to hear. She recoils from her agent with widening eyes.
There it sits, ever ominous and foreboding, the ambulance driven into the parking garage by New Eden. At that very moment the backdoors are flung open and a stretcher is being pushed….no….it’s being CARRIED. And who has the strength to lift this stretcher? New Eden’s muscle Borislav. He throws the stretcher down out of the back of the ambulance and then leaps to its side. Borislav pushes the stretcher further and further into the innards of the arena.
Greyson: I was starting to wonder where Borislav was when we saw New Eden show up here in that ambulance.
Sparkles: I wasn’t wondering where Borislav was, actually Sparkles was hoping we wouldn’t see this behemoth here tonight.
Frankie: We’re not only seeing him, but he’s got a stretcher. Who’s he going load on it though?
Sparkles: Sparkles hopes it’s Neil Patrick Harris, can’t stand that guy.
Greyson: What do New Eden have planned for tonight!?!
The viewers are given the visual treat of Katelyn Buehler seated in her dressing room upon a folding chair with laces weaving through the holes of her boots. The camera slowly draws back from the IWC World Champion, going past the door that leads into her dressing room and into the hallway where two of the most important people in Katelyn’s life are positioned. Her agent Dan Douglas and her friend Destiny Nichols are in the midst of a conversation, periodically turning from one another to look into the room at the champion.
Destiny: I’m worried Dan….
Douglas: Heh, why?
Destiny: This is the BIGGEST match of Katelyn’s career, a real make or break type situation. Winning the World Title was one thing, but defending it, here on pay-per-view, that’s just as big if not even bigger for Kate….
Douglas: I realize that.
Destiny: Then why are you so…..calm?
Douglas: Because I have no doubt that by the end of the night Scott Cannon will NOT have the distinction of calling himself the World Champion. All it will take…..
The very same gold medallion that Douglas has employed several times in recent weeks in order to hypnotize his client is extracted from his pocket.
Douglas: …..is to ensure that Katelyn is….MENTALLY….ready for the title match.
Destiny is ever cognizant of the power in Douglas’ hypnotic words and the influence of his mesmerizing medallion.
Douglas: Kate’s mind is her most powerful weapon, and I will ensure that it is centered….
Michael: Afraid you’re little hocus pocus won’t help your girl tonight.
Douglas and Destiny unfortunately find themselves in the unwelcomed presence of two of IWC’s most reviled competitors. David and Michael Cannon, the brothers of the very individual who challenges Katelyn Buehler for the world Title tonight, have surrounded Douglas and Destiny.
David: So save your David Copperfield crap, it’s useless against our brother. Nothing you, nor your client Katelyn does, will keep Scott from walking out of this building tonight the WOOOOORLLLD CHAMP!
Michael: We’ll (throws his arm over David’s shoulders) will make sure of that.
All Douglas can do is offer a judgmental shaking of his head.
Douglas: It’s such a shame that the two of you are not more like your brother. Scott saw the error of his ways and is working to fix his image, why can’t the two of you learn from his example?
Michael: Don’t talk about our brother like you know him.
David’s hands lash out and lock onto Douglas’ shirt, giving it a yank forceful enough to drag him closer.
David: Scott will do whatever it takes to win that title tonight….WHATEVER….IT….TAKES.
A hand slips onto David’s shoulder and prompts him to twist his eyes from the trembling Douglas to the unshakeable Scott Cannon. The moment David locks eyes on the brother stood behind him, he can see the disapproval in Scott’s eyes. The grip on Douglas’ shirt weakens and ultimately the agent is released from David’s clutches. As David and Michael step up into their brother’s face, staring Scott down, no words are exchanged, they don’t need to be.
David: Let’s go.
Michael and David take their leave but never take their eyes off of Scott as they pass him by. Scott watches the two walk away until he is sure they no longer pose a risk to Douglas. When he finally does turn around to say something to the agent, he finds himself face to face with World Champion Katelyn Buehler. The tension is thicker than the gravy that oozes through Louie Anderson’s veins. There, stood in the hallway is the Champion Buehler and the man she defends the title against tonight, Scott Cannon. The two do not break eye contact.
”Blue” by Birthday Massacre is the theme currently pumping through the PA system. The curtains hung from the entrance canal slowly inch open just as a coffin is carried through them. Stood on either side of the casket are Goddard, Elijah Dallas and Sundown, members of the group Tombstone. One can safely presume that inside of the coffin they carry is the body of famed IWC competitor Aaron Harrison.
Greyson: Tensions building between our reigning World Champion Katelyn Buehler and the man who challenges her for the belt tonight Scott Cannon.
Sparkles: That World Title match is going to be out of control.
Frankie: Do either of them realize that Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly stole Scott’s number one contender contract?
Greyson: That’s a story we’ll have to keep track of. But right now the only story we SHOULD be focused on is a match we’ve been anticipating for several months now. At long last we’re going to see Mya Denton collide one on one with Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: Harrison being transported to the ring inside of that coffin we saw him carted away in at our last pay-per-view, but from what Sparkles understands, his opponent Mya Denton is backstage with our colleague Mark Comeau.
The slightly demented Mya Denton is seated on a floor in a backstage corridor. Her back is propped to a plain white wall, her knees are bent and raised with her forearms draped over them, and her eyes are downturned to the floor. Crouched beside her is correspondent Mark Comeau, microphone raised to his lips.
Comeau: Mya, in a moment you go one on one with Aaron Harrison in a match that you’ve been DEMANDING for a number of months.
Mya: Months, hehehehehe, it’s felt more like a LIFETIME.
She never looks up from the floor even when addressing Comeau.
Comeau: Fair enough. It was back right before our last pay-per-view offering Awakening that your knee was assaulted by Harrison….
Mya: Assaulted? Oooooh you and you’re underselling. My knee was CRIPPLED before Harrison ever got his mitts on it. He took advantage of me in my compromised condition, all because he wanted a response. Well tonight, when he comes out of hiding, he’ll get a response alright. Months ago he begged me to end his life, well now I’ll get the opportunity, and I won’t waste it.
Rachel: Yer welcome sugar.
Mya’s eyes drift from the mic held in front of her mouth to the face of NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee. Instead of standing up Mya finds Rachel stooping down and sitting on the floor beside her.
Rachel: You’re probably wonderin’ why I’m letting my friends Tombstone take Harrison out to that ring….
Mya: Because I asked you nicely?
Rachel: Naaaah. See, two weeks ago I was supposed to advance in the World Title Number One Contender Tournament, but that was taken from me. I was deprived of what I needed, and it didn’t feel……GOOD. So I’m not goin’ to do it anymore, I ain’t gonna keep YOU from gettin’ what YOU need Mya.
Mya: You’re really going to let Harrison out of his box to play tonight?
Rachel: He’s all yours. But uhhhh, a thank ya would be nice.
At first Mya looks into Rachel’s face with an expression of puzzlement. Before long Mya breaks down into laughter.
Mya: Hehehehehehe-hahahahaha-I will NEVER thank you.
Mya stands up and walks towards the ring where her eagerly anticipated match is about to take place. The camera closes in on Rachel as she shakes her head.
Rachel: Oh, you will thank me….soon.
AARON HARRISON VS. MYA DENTON
Cameras transition back to the ring where the casket containing Aaron Harrison remains planted. The members of Tombstone who carried the coffin to ringside are nowhere to be seen at this point. Just then the tunes of “Shatter Me” begin to play over the loud speakers, resulting in quite the ovation from the crowd. Orange and black strobe lights flicker over the back of Mya Denton as she skips along to the stage. It looks as if she’s walking on clouds as she narrows the distance between herself and the ring.
Greyson: Look at Mya….
Frankie: But not for too long, otherwise she might gouge your eyes out.
Sparkles: She looks….happy.
Greyson: Actually she looks EXCITED. Several months ago when Aaron Harrison was going down a self-destructive route, he attacked Mya Denton’s injured knee. But before Mya could get revenge on Harrison, Rachel Tatum Lee got to him first and locked him inside of that coffin.
Sparkles: Her group Tombstone then vowed that they would help Harrison pull his head out of his ass.
Frankie: Apparently they succeeded, because when we saw him a few weeks ago for the first time in months he wasn’t the same mopy son of a bitch that attacked Mya to begin with.
Greyson: In Mya’s mind it doesn’t matter if Harrison has changed. He’ll still always be the man who attacked her leg when she was injured.
On her route to the ring Mya makes a detour. She climbs up onto the apron but then drops to her elbows and knees across the lid to the coffin that holds her opponent this evening. Her ear is placed to the casket as if listening for Harrison inside. She then knocks on the lid.
Mya: Can Harrison come out and play?
She taps at the casket a few more times before rolling off of it and into the ring. She remains on her knees, glaring through the ropes at the coffin and eagerly anticipating its opening. The wait finally pays off in spades, or will it be a hand of aces & eights? The lid begins to push back and a figure starts to be revealed.
Greyson: This is chilling….
Frankie: I know….
Greyson: Aaron Harrison emerging from the coffin.
Frankie: Oh I was talking about the cup of ice I just spilt in my lap.
Sparkles: Last time we saw Harrison, he accepted Mya’s challenge for a match here tonight, and now he exits that coffin to give it to her.
The crowd can fill an icy chill run up their spines as Harrison stands fully upright in the coffin, his body buried under a trench-coat and his face shadowed by a hood. That very hood that masks his face slowly rescinds from his features to reveal the cold, emotionless expression of Aaron Harrison.
Greyson: He’s….AAAAAH!
Mya Denton can’t wait any longer, she scrambles across the ring then throws herself through the ropes into a suicide headbutt. She crashes into Harrison and knocks both her opponent and herself backwards into the coffin. The whole casket tips back and lands on its side while Harrison and Mya roll away from it.
Greyson: What a start to this match!
Sparkles: Mya showing Harrison that that knee of hers isn’t injured anymore.
Frankie: Unfortunately.
The crowd goes spastic as Mya drags her opponent away from the coffin and then swings her forearm upside his temple. The shot sends Harrison twisting around and falling against the ring apron. A furious Mya steps in behind him, taking the back of his head and then swinging it down right into the hardened section of the squared circle. Harrison’s skull ricochets from the steel and he now twists around to Mya, who clobbers him upside the temple with yet another forearm shiver. She finally throws Harrison into the ring and then starts to follow him.
The second she gets up to the apron though Mya finds herself knocked from it. Harrison runs the length of the ring and drives his shoulder right into Mya’s ribs, sending her flying from the apron and crashing back first onto the coffin that had been flipped over onto its side. As a result Mya’s body bends back over the casket when landing on the wooden side panel.
Greyson: OOOOH SHIT!
Sparkles: Mya’s body hitting that coffin in all the wrong ways.
Frankie: Is there a right way for her body to hit the coffin?
Greyson: I wouldn’t think so.
After sending Mya’s body flinging into the coffin her attacker just stands in the ring, refusing to follow after her or press his advantage. Harrison just stands there coldly watching as Mya drags her broken body away from the casket and desperately tries to get back into the ring. It takes all of her strength to push past her pain but she gets up onto the apron and starts to roll into the squared circle. Although Harrison could pounce on her and press his advantage he instead hangs back and does nothing. He continues to wait, now forcing Mya to stand up under her own power. The moment she does Harrison steps in and grabs her by both cheeks before starting to whisper something into her ear. Mya suddenly lashes out and shoves Harrison’s hands away from her head before throwing her forearm upside his jaw.
Sparkles: Mya so full of spunk.
Greyson: For so long Mya has desired a clash with Harrison….for so long.
Mya’s arm cracks Harrison in the cheek, not once but twice. She has him rocking back on his heels and almost going down to the ring. Finally he falls back against the ropes just as Mya comes charging in to hit him with a lariat that would send him flipping to ringside. Harrison steps away from the cables though and attempts to take Mya down only to have her drop of her own volition and baseball slide right through his legs. She catches one of Harrison’s ankles in the process and gives it a yank. As a result Harrison collapses onto his face. Mya has slid under the ropes to the apron where she leaps to her feet and continues to try and build on her advantage. She reaches through the cables and grabs Harrison’s legs, but just then her opponent rolls to his back and wedges his feet to her stomach. He pushes with his legs and as a result sends Mya flying from the apron, twisting in mid-air and crashing down into the corner of the announce table.
Greyson: Mya bouncing right off of our table!!
Frankie: Her head caught the corner!
Sparkles: Holy spaomi, Mya is….Mya is BLEEDING.
The impact with the corner of the announce table has opened a gash right in the scalp of Mya Denton. The crimson is dribbling down her forehead and over her cheeks, yet in spite of blood loss, in spite of head trauma, Mya is crawling back towards the ring.
Greyson: Mya busted open and she’s STILL going after Harrison.
Sparkles: Given how long Mya has pined for this match, that’s not surprising.
The gash opened in Mya’s forehead is a lot more visible once she’s ascended to the apron and the hair has been pushed back from her face. Harrison slowly steps in Mya’s direction before a shoulder is introduced to his ribs. His opponent drives her shoulder through the cables and it connects with Harrison’s gut, doubling him over. Mya takes the top rope and pulls herself over it, twisting in mid-air, catching her adversary around the neck and going for a tornado DDT. However, Harrison maintains his footing, puts his hands to Mya’s mid-section then carries her to the nearest corner, sitting her on the top rope. Harrison could send the bloodied Mya flying from the corner but he doesn’t, instead he backs away from her with his hands extended out to his sides.
Frankie: Come on Harrison, go for the kill already.
Greyson: It almost appears that Harrison is holding back.
Sparkles: You don’t think….no.
Greyson: What?
Sparkles: That Harrison is still suicidal?
Frankie: You think that Harrison still wants Mya to end him?
Harrison’s motives are open to speculation as he steps backwards to the middle of the ring. No, he’s not stepping anymore, he’s being KNOCKED back. Mya flies from the top rope and collides with Harrison’s throat, hitting a spinning heel kick off the top rope. Both athletes are down but it’s the bloodied Mya who is the first to reach her feet. She then runs into the ropes beside Harrison, ricochets from them and drops into a forward roll. Ultimately she flips from the canvas and into the rolling thunder, her spine CRUSHING Harrison’s ribs. A winded and wounded Mya may be losing plenty of blood but she continues to dish out plenty of offense. She grabs Harrison by the hair the moment he’s rolled to his knees and begins to throw her kneecap into his face again and again and again. Somehow Harrison manages to stand in spite of all the shots to his face. Of course the moment he reaches his feet he finds his jaw clocked by Mya’s punches, her blows driving him to the center of the ring. Mya then kicks him to the gut, places him in a front chancery and runs at the turnbuckle, stepping up in order to push off into the tornado DDT. However, in mid-air Mya finds hands placed to her ribs as she’s shoved off the front chancery and flung over the top rope. As Mya falls to the outside of the squared circle she twists and suffers the nastiest of landings, her face slamming into the steel ring steps.
Greyson: NOOOOO!!
Sparkles: Another absolutely DEVASTATING landing by Mya!
Frankie: Her already bloodied face running afoul of the steel steps!
A bloodstain is left on the steps but the steps leave a far more brutal impression on Mya. After her head careens into the stairs her body is left limp at ringside. Although Harrison COULD pursue her, COULD continue to inflict pain on her, COULD very well end this match, he instead just stays put in the ring. He watches emotionlessly as the referee approaches the ropes that Mya is on the opposite side of, starting a ten count. Before the official can even finish shouting the number ‘one,’ Harrison grabs the zebra by his striped jersey. The ref whips around and looks confusingly at Harrison’s shaking head.
Greyson: Why? Why is Harrison asking the referee NOT to count out Mya?
Sparkles: That’s a very good question.
Greyson: One of many left to be answered on what has already been a very bizarre night.
The blood that is coming down Mya’s face is no longer trickling, it’s flowing like a flooded ravine. So much crimson is coming down her cheeks but it isn’t stopping her from returning to the squared circle, from getting her hands on Harrison. She climbs up onto the apron and looks through her bloodied mask at Harrison, who remains stationary, not budging from the middle of the ring. Just then everyone’s attention is swapped from Mya and Harrison to the woman presently making her way down the ramp. The NHB Title hangs over the shoulder of Rachel Tatum Lee as she nears the squared circle.
Greyson: There’s Rachel Tatum Lee. Who has played an integral role in this whole rivalry between Mya Denton and Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: Yeah, she’s kept the two apart for a long time, but as we heard backstage, Rachel is through denying people what they need.
Frankie: From the looks of things, what Mya needs right now is a blood transfusion.
There is so much blood streaming down her cheeks, over her nose, over her chin, over every inch of her face. She gets back into the ring and looks DOWN at Harrison. You heard that correctly. Harrison has fallen to his knees and extends his arms out to his sides, offering Mya a free crack at his face.
Sparkles: Told you so.
Greyson: You were right Sparkles, it appears Harrison hasn’t changed one bit.
Frankie: He’s still the same manic depressive suicidal jerk-head that Rachel threw in that casket over two months ago.
Surprisingly Mya is TENTATIVE and for just cause. She doesn’t know what to make of Harrison’s behavior. Yet in the end she decides not to look a gift horse in the mouth. She makes the dash across the ring before leaping into the shining wizard. Her shin never hits Harrison’s face because it’s ducked down out of the way JUST in time. Mya flies past him, lands on her feet behind him and then finds herself being elevated into the air. The blood soaked Mya is flung across the ring with a crucifix powerbomb.
Greyson: CRUCIFIX BOMB! Looks like you were wrong Sparkles.
Sparkles: Impossible.
Harrison kneels over the unconscious body of his opponent while his eyes draw to the approving nod of Rachel at ringside. He then takes the blood caked hair of his opponent into his hands and leads Mya up to her feet before taking her around the waist, flinging her up into the air and hitting her with an over the shoulder back-breaker. Shockingly Mya is inching her way up from the ring while blood puddles across the canvas beneath her face. Harrison methodically approaches her while glancing back up the ramp at the equally as emotionless Rachel.
Greyson: Something about the presence of our NHB Champion has altered something inside of Harrison.
Sparkles: It’s like Rachel’s presence flipped a switch inside of Harrison.
One of Mya’s wrists are taken and used to pull her up from the ring. If he were capable of still being surprised he might just find himself shocked when the top of Mya’s head crushes his ribs. Mya does the only thing she can think of, turning herself into a weapon. Like a ram she drives her horns into Harrison’s gut, knocking the air out of him. Mya drags her uncooperative body to her feet and then jumps into a second headbutt, her skull bouncing from Harrison’s skull. Aaron stumbles back with Mya’s blood smeared across his face. Mya hopes to spill some of Harrison’s, but first she’s going to lay him out with the Cra-Cra. She drags Harrison along into the corner and then steps up them before launching back into the Shiranui. However, Harrison puts his hands to Mya’s back and gives her a shove. This time it’s NOT a shove to the outside of the ring though, because Mya flips over landing on her feet behind her opponent. Harrison swings around and Mya takes him by the head, trapping it in position for the Cra-Cra yet again.
Mya starts to run out of the corner only to have Harrison put his hands to her kidneys and gives her a forceful shove. Mya’s momentum launches her into the ropes, her body bouncing off and coming back in at Harrison, who stoops in anticipation of catching his rival. He sets up for the back drop, looking to end this only to have Mya catch him around the skull, placing him in a front chancery. She then runs past Harrison, steps up the corner and drags him around into the tornado DDT. The top of Harrison’s skull is spiked viciously into the canvas, before he springs up and onto his seat. It looks like he’s spent at this point and Mya is about to bankrupt him via the Demented.
The blood and strength deprived Mya runs along into the ropes in front of her opponent, bouncing off and then coming back in at Harrison. It appears this match is over and all that Mya has to do now is just ram her shin upside her rival’s face to finish it. She leaps into the shining wizard only to have Harrison shock her via his counter. He leaps to his feet, embeds his hands in Mya’s ribs, lifts her into the air and throws her back, not only into the air but OVER the ropes. Mya comes down from a tremendous height and then goes crashing into the ringside mats face and chest first.
Greyson: NOT AGAIN!
Sparkles: HOLY SHIT ON A SHINGLE!
Frankie: Friggin brutal dude, friggin brutal!
The approving Rachel isn’t the only one at ringside now, because Mya is lying just a few feet away from her. The blood that WAS coming down Mya’s face has clotted, leaving her with the cliché crimson mask. Her languishing, brutalized and battered body nevertheless draws towards the ring, grabbing the apron and using it, or at least trying to, in order to get her legs under her. Extreme blood loss and physical punishment causes Mya’s knees to buckle and her body to go down to the ground. She keeps one arm over the apron and uses it to will herself back up to her feet.
Rachel: Come on! This is what you wanted!
The NHB Champion steps around the overturned casket at ringside in order to stoop to Mya’s side, shouting into her ear.
Rachel: You begged for this!
Although Mya is in the worse shape of her life she’s not giving up this opportunity. Rachel’s words inspire her to roll into the ring, which may prove to be the worse decision she’s ever made. The moment Mya gets into the ring but Harrison swoops in and hooks both of her arms. She has no time to react as she’s pulled into the ring and Harrison sets her up to deliver the Hybrid Theory. Before the move is delivered Harrison looks at Rachel at ringside, who remains silent….chillingly silent. Harrison hoists Mya into the air but in the process of being lifted she manages to counter, wrapping her legs around Aaron’s neck then sitting up and preparing to unleash the hurricarana. Just as it looks like Mya is going to successfully reverse the move Harrison counters her counter into a running buckle bomb. Mya’s back hits the turnbuckle and has left her leaning against the corner looking absolutely spent. Harrison appears ready to finish her off, stepping towards Mya and walking right into the elbow she smacks him in the face with. Harrison stumbles around looking disorientated while Mya reaches out, takes him around the neck and sets up for the Cra-Cra AGAIN.
Harrison isn’t about to be hit with the Shiranui, reaching out and grabbing the cables, causing Mya to flip back over his shoulder and land behind him. Harrison blocks the Cra-Cra but then finds himself stunned by the roll up, Mya pulling him over into the school boy.
1
2
Greyson: WHOA! WAIT! Mya-Mya got him! She got him!
The crowd is blown away by what they just witnessed, Mya successfully catching Harrison totally off guard and with the school boy of all things to at last….at loooong last defeat him.
Sparkles: Harrison’s been pinned!
Greyson: But in spite of this loss, he showed us here tonight that he’s not the same soul that was stuffed in that casket several months ago.
Sparkles: Mya with a major victory both personally and professionally this evening. After weeks and weeks of wanting Harrison, she got him, and she beat him.
The banged up Mya returns to her feet seconds after her victory only to lose her balance and fall back into the ropes. Then, from the corner of her eye, she sees Rachel Tatum Lee climbing up onto the ring apron. The NHB Champion smiles in Mya’s direction. The grin unsettles Denton, unsettles her enough to do something about it. She approaches Rachel, reaching out over the cables only to find HERSELF caught. Harrison grabs Mya’s wrist, pulls her around into a boot to the gut, hooks both of her arms and then delivers the Hybrid Theory.
Greyson: A post match Hybrid Theory just delivered on Denton.
Sparkles: But it looks like Harrison took no pleasure in it.
Greyson: It appears that Harrison has changed quite a bit.
Looks are not deceiving, because Harrison truly is an entirely different animal now. Instead of taking pleasure in Mya’s suffrage he just watches the blood stream down her unconscious face with no emotion at all. At ringside Rachel is summoning someone from the back and before long members of her group Tombstone are making their way down the ramp. Goddard, Sundown and Elijah Dallas head for the squared circle.
Greyson: Tombstone coming back out, for what reason I have no idea.
Harrison lowers his lips to Mya’s ear, whispering into it.
Harrison: You got what you wanted, but now it’s time to give you what you NEED.
Harrison grabs Mya by the wrist and her ankle, pulling her limp body towards the ropes. After rolling to ringside he gives the limbs of his fallen opponent a yank in order to drag her into his arms. He carries her towards the coffin surrounded by Tombstone at ringside.
Greyson: He’s not gonna….
Rachel holds open the lid to the coffin and looks into Harrison’s face, wordlessly instructing him. Before long Mya’s unconscious body is eased into the coffin and the lid is slammed shut. Rachel leans in towards the casket.
Rachel: I know what ya need.
Tombstone grabs the railings of the coffin and carry it up the ramp towards the backstage area. Rachel begins to follow, leaving a still and silent Harrison at ringside. He watches as the casket carrying Mya is dragged away. Finally Rachel turns around on the ramp, looking back at Harrison then gesturing for him to come along.
Greyson: Tombstone are taking Mya Denton out of the arena in a scene eerily familiar to what we witnessed back at Awakening when Harrison was carted out of the building in a coffin.
Sparkles: What plans does Rachel have for Mya?
Rachel and Harrison walk up the ramp and leave the door open for so much conjecture regarding their intentions. The fans hope that they have not seen the last of Mya Denton, the very woman just carried off trapped within a casket.
Taylor: You’re gonna look so YUMMY with the World Title around your waist.
If there’s anyone who knows something about World Titles, it’s former three time World Champion Taylor Chase. She stands in the backstage area talking to the woman who now holds a briefcase that contains a number one contender contract to the richest prize in all of professional wrestling. Lexy Chapel clutches the attaché she and her tag team partner Kat Kelly pilfered earlier in the night. At the moment Wicked Intent, co-holders of the Tag Title straps are stood across from Taylor Chase and her husband Orlando Cruze.
Taylor: That belt will look sooooo much better around your six pack abs instead of being on Buehler’s beer gut.
Lexy: Heh, well that belt isn’t going to hide Katelyn’s butt-gut any longer. Cause if I’m not leaving here tonight as number one contender, I’ll do one better and leave as World Champion.
All four members of Monarchy are amused by this statement and watch closely as Lexy’s hand slaps against the briefcase that was SUPPOSED to be cashed in by Scott Cannon later tonight.
Taylor: Listen kitten…
Tay puts her hand on Lexy’s shoulder while her other hand cups the spot where Chase’s heart should be.
Taylor:….I’m moved at the thought of seeing you win the title tonight. It almost brings a tear to my eye.
Kat: I think that’s a stray eyelash actually.
Kat looks closer then reaches out and takes the lash off Tay’s cheek.
Taylor: Thanks dear.
Kat: Don’t mention it.
Taylor: Anyway, I may be barred from contending for the World Title thanks to that dumbass injunction that our ESTEEEEMED Principle Owner Silas Mason placed against me, but that won’t keep me from deciding the future of the championship. It makes me sick in my perfectly Pilated belly to see Pasty Katie walking around with the World Title, it should be on a member of Monarchy.
Lexy: You’ll get no argument from me.
Taylor: So let me help you cash in that case and take the championship tonight.
Lexy: It seems that Elvira is going to learn what everyone else has, that WE are Monarchy, and WE totally rule.
Lexy muses while clutching the briefcase holding the number one contender contract to her chest. The camera zooms in on the case that Lexy intends to use to parlay her way into even MORE title gold.
A cellphone is placed to the ear of IWC competitor Victoria Salinas as she carries on an exposition laden conversation and paces the locker-room.
Victoria: I haven’t found out yet. I got no idea who my partner is going to be when I take on New Eden tonight. For all I know it could be Prii Foote….
She sticks a finger down her throat, pantomiming throwing up.
Victoria: Yeeeeaaah I heard that rumor too….(Victoria says while raising her free hand, opening it and twisting it from side to side at the wrist)….But I don’t know if she was serious about teaming up with me or not. Besides, she comes from a family that hasn’t proven very trustworthy these past couple of months.
The door to the locker-room opens and once Victoria sees who’s coming in she wraps up her phone conversation quick.
Victoria: Hey, Marina’s here, I’ll talk to you later.
The phone is back in her pocket and her focus is on the woman who steps to her side, Marina Valdivia. Although Victoria’s happy to see Marina, at the moment Marina isn’t happy to be seen. She looks anywhere that isn’t her friend’s face.
Victoria: Hey, I got to get ready for my match, but I was hoping we could talk on my way to the ring….
Marina: So you um found a partner to tag with you against Cindy and Serenity?
Her voice sounds distant, as if she’s talking about something she doesn’t really want to be talking about.
Victoria: From what I’ve been told the IWC found someone and…..is there something wrong? (She takes notice of Marina’s unease) You don’t have to worry about me, I don’t care who I’m teamed up with, because I’ve been ITCHIN’ to get my hands on Serenity after all the hot garbage that she and Cindy have put you through this year….
Marina: Viccy, I need you to be honest with me.
Victoria: Ain’t I always?
Marina: Earlier tonight, did you and Tabitha get into it?
Victoria: I really wouldn’t say we got into it, it was more like we had a difference of opinions. She wanted to be at ringside for your tournament match and I wasn’t about to let….
The door to the locker-room opens once again but this time Victoria doesn’t look towards who entered fast enough. A pipe wrench goes sailing into her upper back, the blow knocking her from her feet and to the ground right in front of Marina. Just before she can exact revenge on her friend’s behalf Marina is caught in the enormous hand of Borislav. His palm engulfs Marina’s throat and then gives her a forceful shove, lifting her off of her feet and throwing her back. Marina almost trips over a small wooden bench and flies through the door-less locker, her spine smacking off the wall. As Marina slides down to her seat, Victoria is lifted into the arms of Borislav. The blow from the pipe wrench has left her defenseless as she dragged by the hair on the back of her head towards the door.
The camera switches to the hallway just outside the locker-room, fixated on a stretcher that is set up in front of an open door. That doorway is soon filled by Borislav, who is pulling Victoria along on her knees beside him. He then throws Victoria over the stretcher and then uses one of the straps hanging from the side of the cot to bind her in place. Just as Victoria regains consciousness she realizes that she’s tied to the stretcher and is being pushed down the hallway by Borislav.
The camera is aimed right at the shocked expressions of the commentators as they sit behind their announce table and react to the sight they just witnessed backstage.
Greyson: New Eden’s muscle Borislav just-just-just attacked Victoria Salinas and Marina Valdivia backstage guys.
Sparkles: That’s not all he did.
Frankie: That’s right my little purple buddy, because Borislav left Marina laying on her flat ass, but he strapped Victoria down on that stretcher.
Sparkles: And it looks like he was pushing it in OUR direction.
Greyson: Victoria is supposed to be facing off against Borislav’s superiors Cindy Todd and Serenity tonight in a tag team match but….what’s that coming our way?
Off to the side of the Riot set an ambulance comes into view, it’s sirens sounding and it’s warning lights flashing all throughout the arena as it backs into place just beneath the entrance stage. The doors go flying open as New Eden members emerge, Serenity stepping out of the driver’s seat and Cindy Todd exiting from the passenger side.
Greyson: Things just go from creepy to downright scary!
Sparkles: New Eden driving that ambulance we all saw them show up in at the start of the show.
Greyson: These lunatics Cindy Todd and Serenity backing it right out here in front of us, and now we know why Borislav is bringing Victoria Salinas our way in that ambulance.
Frankie: Looks to me like neither Cindy nor Serenity have any intention of facing Victoria in that tag team match scheduled for tonight.
Greyson: I don’t even want to begin to think what they have in mind for Victoria.
We’re about to find out considering that Victoria Salinas is being pushed along on a stretcher through the huge black drapes hung over the entry way. As much as she struggles against the straps holding her down all her wriggling proves futile. There’s no getting out of her predicament, the bindings attaching her to the stretcher proving to be just too tight. Borislav pushes Victoria along to the stage, looking off just beside it to the two bodies on the ground below. Serenity is shouting for Borislav to just give Victoria a little nudge in order to push her off the side of the stage.
Greyson: No-no-no-no…don’t you dare do it Borislav.
Sparkles: He’s going to shove Victoria off that stage while she’s strapped to a stretcher.
Frankie: At least New Eden brought an ambulance.
Greyson: God dammit Frankie, this isn’t funny.
Borislav begins to bend at the knees in order to get a running start behind the shove that will send Victoria and the stretcher sailing to the ground. Ultimately it’s his back that bends, bends thanks to the swinging of a pipe wrench right into his kidneys. Apparently Marina Valdivia has recovered from her crash into the wall backstage, because she’s returned to her feet and she’s bashing Borislav with the very same weapon he initially assaulted Victoria with.
Greyson: Thank God for Marina Valdivia!
Sparkles: She’s just come to Victoria’s rescue.
Frankie: It’s stupid of her to get involved in this, she’s still got a match against Mika Kozlov in the finals of the tournament tonight.
Greyson: Victoria is Marina’s friend, Frankie.
The crack of the pipe wrench has sent Borislav crumbling to the ground, laid out beside the stretcher that Victoria is still tied down onto. Maria looks over him and over her friend to the two ladies stood behind the ambulance. Cindy and Serenity are not in the slightest bit happy that Marina just interfered with their plans. Though they’re even angrier when Marina dashes across the stage and leaps off the edge, forward flipping into a senton plancha that sends her body crashing into New Eden.
Greyson: Marina diving into Cindy, diving into Serenity, taking out New Eden!!
Sparkles: She’s had such a brutal and lasting rivalry with Serenity for months now.
Greyson: It’s playing out here on pay-per-view!
Marina lays out both of her New Eden rivals but her focus is primarily directed at just one of them. She grabs Serenity by the hair, forces her up to her feet and throws a forearm upside her jaw. The shot sends Serenity staggering towards the open doors of the ambulance, risking being placed inside. Marina throws another punch upside Serenity’s chin, and then another, and then another, staggering her closer and closer to the ambulance. Unbeknownst to Marina is the fact that Cindy is knelt behind her and reaching her tights. A plastic bag is removed and now wraps around Marina’s head, suffocating her.
Greyson: Oh no! OH NO!! Cindy Todd is-is-is using that plastic bag to suffocate Marina.
Sparkles: we saw her do this to Taylor Chase a few months ago.
Marina wildly swings her arms around in a desperate attempt to get the plastic bag off of her head. The oxygen deprivation causes her to just lose her senses, her muscles instinctively flailing about. Those muscles soon lose their strength and Marina begins to fall to the ground. As Marina loses her balance Serenity swoops in and begins to stomp at her weakened foe. Cindy continues to hold tight to the plastic bag, not letting go until every bit of life has been suffocated from the body of her target.
Greyson: Security PLEASE intervene! PLEASE do something!
There’s only one person in any position to end this, and that’s Victoria Salinas. After struggling against the straps holding her down for several minutes she finally manages to get free. She springs into action, climbing down off the stage and dropping behind Cindy. She scrambles into Cindy and blasts her across the back with a forearm. Before Cindy can stop it she’s being spun around by the back of the head then charged face first into the wall that holds the stage up. Cindy bounces off and spirals away from it before staggering through some drapes, disappearing into the back. There is no one pursuing her on account of the fact that Victoria is more preoccupied ripping the plastic bag off of her friend’s head. Marina gasps for air, replenishing oxygen to her lungs.
Greyson: Victoria returning the favor to Marina.
Sparkles; It was her turn to save her buddy.
Frankie: For how long can these two watch each other’s backs?
Serenity is about to go after Marina with more stomps only to have Victoria cut her off. Salinas charges at Serenity and Serenity charges into the ambulance. She jumps into the back and Victoria jumps in as well, chasing her all the way to the driver’s door. Serenity opens it and lunges out of the ambulance before vanishing into the backstage area. Victoria would go on chasing her but has gotten caught up when trying to get around the driver’s seat. All she can do is reach out but not reach far enough to grab Serenity.
Sparkles: Serenity and Cindy Todd vanishing…for now.
Greyson: But they’ve still got Victoria to contend with later tonight in tag team action.
Frankie: Who’s going to be crazy enough to team with Victoria against New Eden? Especially after what they just tried to do.
The camera is zoomed in on a table that is slanting up from the floor and leaning against the wall. A photograph suddenly moves into view, not just being placed against the surface of the table but being stapled there. The image is of Selena Frost, the beloved Snow Queen of IWC fame. A staple gun ensures that the photograph will stay in place, for now at least. The camera pulls back away from the table, away from the photo, and to the repulsed expression of the man who stares into both objects. Alistair Taylor looks disgusted by what he’s seeing, the image that he just stapled in place.
Alistair: You have no idea….no idea what I’m going to do to you tonight.
His head rears back as his throat trembles. A huge glob of spit flies from his mouth and strikes the picture of his opponent this evening, hitting Selena Frost straight in the face.
Alistair: That’s what I’m going to do to you, I’m going to spit on you and spit on all your believers, and then your ass is going through this table.
Growls Alistair while slapping his palms down on the very table he’ll use without consequence this evening in his Tables Are Legal match against Selena Frost.
Greyson: Well we’re still in total shock over what happened out here with New Eden, Victoria Salinas and Marina Valdivia, but I guess the show HAS to roll along.
Frankie: Ooooh yeah, you bet it will, because coming up next we’re gonna see Alistair Taylor break the Snow Queen like she were nothing but a lowly pauper by putting her icy ass through a table.
Sparkles: It’s gonna be Alistair versus Selena in Tables Are Legal, and this match all came about after the unspeakable act we saw Taylor commit two weeks ago.
TWO WEEKS AGO
The video package that plays at the moment shows highlights from Riot two weeks ago, starting with Selena Frost in the ring seconds after a hard fought confrontation. Stood on the apron is a woman who makes all of Selena’s trials and tribulations worth it, her fiancée Deanna Springs. She is talking to Selena before their conversation is rudely interrupted. Alistair Taylor sneaks in under Deanna and pulls her off the apron into a powerbomb right through a table that had been sitting at ringside. The video cuts to a few seconds later where Selena is crouched beside an unconscious Deanna lying on the broken fragments of table while staring up the ramp at the grin on Alistair’s face.
The feed transitions to the interview area where Selena Frost can be seen pacing behind the back of correspondent Mark Comeau. Instead of wearing her traditional wrestling apparel Selena is adorned in blue jeans and a t-shirt, wearing street clothes in recognition of what will no doubt be a glorified street fight she’s scheduled to compete in next as she goes to exact revenge on Alistair Taylor.
Comeau: I’m standing by here with Selena Frost, who in just a few minutes takes on Alistair Taylor in a Tables Are Legal match-up. But first I just wanted to ask you, Selena, how your fiancée Deanna Springs is doing after being maliciously powerbombed by Monarchy member Alistair two weeks ago.
Selena stops pacing and starts glaring at Comeau, when she looks into the correspondent’s face all she sees is the smile of Alistair Taylor. Her silence is almost chilling, no pun intended. Her slow movements are methodic, as she reaches up grabs the wrist of Comeau and pulls the microphone he’s holding towards her lips. Her icy, pun intended, eyes turn to the camera.
Selena: Alistair Taylor, tonight it’s not just winter that is coming, because what you’re about to get is…a….blizzarrrrd.
The microphone is pushed away from Selena’s mouth which has stopped moving, but her body hasn’t. She walks towards the squared circle while the camera remains stationed on the concerned expression across correspondent Comeau’s face.
Greyson: Selena Frost has got ice in her veins here tonight.
Sparkles: She’s headed into what’s going to be a straight up BRAWL with Monarchy’s Alistair Taylor under Tables Are Legal rules.
Greyson: Her rivalry with Monarchy has been ongoing for several months now, but in particular she’s fixated on Alistair, who actually cost her the Tag Team Titles several months….ago….Guys, get cameras out here right now….
The reason the commentator requested that the camera return to the ringside area becomes transparent when the world is bombarded by the image of Desmond Drake. The midget with a massive ego is presently headed around the squared circle holding a belt that Selena Frost may be very interested in, the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Greyson: Desmond Drake, assistant to Principle Owner Silas Mason, is coming down our way and he’s holding the recently revealed Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Frankie: Come on over Drake, I got you a high chair right here.
Sparkles: That’s Sparkles’ chair.
Frankie: SHUT UP!
Greyson: I find it highly suspicious that Drake would be coming out here right now considering that the last time we saw him he was being attacked by Selena Frost, who is scheduled to compete coming up next.
Drake steps to the side of the announce table where he takes a seat, but he does not put on a headset. Instead he leans back in his chair with the title that has yet to crown a champion, seated across his lap.
Frankie: Ummm Drake, come on man, sit next to me, I got you a headset right here bro.
Sparkles: That’s Sparkles’ headset.
Frankie: I said shut it!
Greyson: It doesn’t look like Drake is interested in doing commentary. I pray that he’s out here to announce that Selena Frost will be partaking in a future match to crown the first ever Queen of Wrestling Champion.
A surly looking Drake sits back in his chair and watches the pending match with a big old frown on his lips.
SELENA FROST VS. ALISTAIR TAYLOR:
TABLES ARE LEGAL
The intro track of Selena Frost gets a response that has to be heard to believe. The crowd just lets out all their emotion at the sight of the Snow Queen walking to the stage. She looks almost naked at the moment without her fiancée Deanna Springs shadowing her to the ring. The lack of Deanna is no doubt a sore point for Selena, who marches up the ring stairs wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt. The word ‘Monarchy’ is written on the shirt with a big red ‘X’ airbrushed across the name of the group she has opposed for several months.
Greyson: You can just feel how the atmosphere changes when Selena Frost comes to the ring.
Sparkles: it just sends chills up your body.
Frankie: Sparkles, bud, PLEASE don’t start with the puns.
Sparkles: Sparkles can’t help it, I’m a pun loving puppet.
Greyson: Selena has built up quite the grudge with Alistair Taylor that is going to finally be resolved here in a moment. Over the course of this rivalry we’ve seen Selena impersonate a musician and bust a guitar over Alistair’s head, we’ve seen Selena drug a bottle of champagne to give Alistair stomach issues, and we’ve seen Alistair cost Selena the Tag Team Titles, as well as powerbomb her fiancée through a table.
Frankie: All of their problems come to an end here tonight though.
Selena is so focused on her match that she doesn’t even notice Drake seated beside the announce table giving her the stink eye. The glare of Selena is fixated on the stage where the tunes of her opponent’s theme are playing throughout the building. As strobes flicker off to either side of the stage Alistair Taylor tears through the speakers and walks disgruntled to the stage. The moment his eyes cross the face of Selena is a moment where he stops hiding any emotion. Obscenities fly from his mouth as he moves down the ramp.
Greyson: Alistair revved up for this one.
Frankie: Shouldn’t he be? That bitch in the ring poisoned him for Christ sakes.
Sparkles: Costing him the Evolution Title several weeks ago.
Greyson: A fitting retribution for Alistair screwing Selena out of the tag straps back at Awakening.
Alistair learns and learns quickly just how vocal Selena’s fans can be. One of them is standing up behind the barricade shouting directly at Selena’s rival. Alistair bickers with the fan for a moment before he unleashes a slap right across the guy’s chubby face
Greyson: Alistair slapping one of Selena Frost’s fans.
Sparkles: And Selena is not going to stand for that.
The second the slap hits the fan Selena hits the ropes, diving right through them. She runs up behind Alistair and jumps onto his back, driving him down into the barricade and throwing punches upside his skull.
Frankie: Selena all over Alistair Taylor like Miss Jon on a carton of Krispy Kreme donuts.
Sparkles: *Snort*
Greyson: That slap to that fan crossed a line.
The barricade that Alistair uses to hold himself up is now employed as a weapon. He reaches back and takes Selena around the head, throwing her down chin first into the steel. The Ice Queen’s jaw ricochets from the barricade and sends her staggering back towards the ring. Alistair dashes towards her, intent on shrinking her a little by way of detaching her head from her shoulders via the clothesline. Selena has the wherewithal to counter though, hitting the drop toe hold on her adversary that sends his face careening right along into the hardened apron of the ring.
It wasn’t a slap like the one he gave the fan but the impact with the apron is just as jarring for Alistair. He crawls away from the ring while Selena slides into it. It now appears that she’s about to go high risk, running the length of the ring and leaping to the top rope. Alistair has already made it to the base of the ramp before looking back at Selena flying as high as an eagle before extending her talons and swooping in for the kill. She flies from the ring, flies over the ringside mats, and flies right over Alistair. He side steps her at the last second and sends Selena crashing into the steel rampway.
Sparkles: AHHHH!!
Greyson: Selena went for the dive but she took a header right into the ramp instead.
Although she collides with the ramp Selena tries to get back up and walks right into Alistair’s scoop slam. Once again Selena’s body nails the steel that comprises the ramp. What follows is the point of Alistair’s elbow hitting Selena in the chest. He then rolls away from Selena and once he’s cleared his opponent he stomps and curses his way towards the backstage area. He marches through the curtains and into the back, seemingly walking out on the match. Nope, wait, Selena’s not that lucky, cause Alistair returns and returns with a table in his arms.
Greyson: Well I thought Alistair was leaving, but instead he was retrieving a table.
Sparkles: That didn’t take long.
Greyson: No it didn’t. Tables are of course completely legal under the rules of this match.
Sparkles: Yeah peeps, and don’t think it ends when either Selena or Alistair go through ONE table. Nuh-uh. They can use one, two, three, fifteen tables even if that’s what it takes…
Greyson: Ultimately the only way you win in Tables Are Legal is by going for the pinfall, which due to the nature of this match can happen anywhere in the building.
Frankie: Seems Selena’s going to be the first to go through wood, and I’m praying that she’ll be the last.
Given the place that Alistair has set the table up Frankie’s speculation may be right on the money. The table goes no further than the stage, Alistair setting it up right there on the steel. He then goes back after Selena, intent on subjecting her to the exact same punishment he inflicted on her fiancée a few weeks ago. Already Selena is back on her feet but she may not stay there for long, because Alistair is bearing down on her. He grabs Selena only to have her suddenly hook one of his arms into a half nelson and then begin to bash him to the back of his neck over and over again with punches. Fire can be seen in Selena’s normally icy eyes as she punches and slugs and slugs Alistair in the brainpan. Selena then grabs Alistair’s far shoulder and uses that grip along with the half nelson to fling the back of her rival’s head down into the ramp. After Alistair’s head hits the steel grating his hands clasp at the back of his possible fractured skull.
The uncharacteristically intense Selena drops down beside Alistair, grabs hold of his ears and lifts his head only to drive the back of it down into the ramp again. Right now it feels like there are jackhammers tearing up asphalt inside of Alistair’s head, though he’s working his way back up. Selena is gonna make him regret that, grabbing him by the ear, dragging him along up the ramp and then introducing his face to the very table that HE brought into play. Alistair’s head cracks against the table and he goes stumbling away from it towards one of the steel truss that support the Cartel-tron. Alistair’s face is cracked off of it as well and now he goes staggering towards the last place in the world he wants to be, the edge of the stage.
Frankie: No! No! Alistair, don’t go that way, turn around.
Greyson: I don’t think he has much choice in the matter Frankie.
Alistair turns away from the edge of the stage just as Selena comes hustling towards him, intent on driving him down to the table set up several feet below. She throws a punch into Alistair’s jaw that has him further unbalanced, his heels precariously dangling over the edge of the stage. Selena goes in for the kill, throwing another punch that just BARELY misses Alistair’s head. Instead it’s a boot that connects, Alistair’s kick hitting Selena in the ribs and doubling her over. Alistair steps over the back of Selena’s head and pushes her towards the table set up on the stage.
Alistair: You want to know how Deanna felt? Alright, that’s just dandy.
Selena is lifted into a powerbomb, one that will put her right through the wood. Just as the crowd squeals in anticipation of seeing Selena go through the table, she counters and counters the only way that presents itself. She reaches out over Alistair and grabs the truss behind his back. She not only grabs it but now pulls herself towards it, freeing herself from her adversary’s shoulders. Selena stands on the truss then begins to climb it as she tries to escape Alistair. That’s not an easy task considering that Alistair is following right up after her.
Greyson: These two going up into no man’s land.
Frankie: Selena’s panties?
Greyson: NO! Their climbing up onto the Cartel-tron.
Selena reaches the top of the truss and turns around on the steel framing, throwing punches down into the face of her encroaching rival. One blow after another nails Alistair in the brow until his hands slip off the truss and he goes falling to his feet across the stage. He then loses his balance and goes falling back over the table. His eyes just begin to flutter open in time to see Selena standing so high above him and pointing with one finger towards the heavens. It seems Selena is giving a shout out to someone watching high above and that someone becomes a bit clearer when she goes flying off the bottom section of the Cartel-tron frame and hits a frog splash that puts Alistair through the table.
Frankie: AAAAAAAHHHH!!!
Greyson: THROUGH THE….THROUGH THE…THROUGH THE TAAAABLE!
The entire fanbase is stood and giving that last high risk move some proper recognition. They start a ‘holy shit’ chant at the sight of Selena plunging right through Alistair, putting them both down to the stage. If you think that Selena should go for a pin here, then you clearly have no idea just how much Alistair has riled her up. She doesn’t go for the pin, a win is nowhere near as important to her as hurting her nemesis. It kills her body but Selena stands up with clumps of Alistair’s hair in her hands, dragging him away from the broken table and onto his feet. A strange gleam inhabits Selena’s eyes as she pulls Alistair down the ramp and towards the ring where so much punishment waits to be inflicted. She reaches under the squared circle, grabs a table and then slides it on out.
Frankie: This chick’s gone psycho!
Greyson: We told you there would be multiple tables involved in this one Frankie.
Sparkles: No joke.
Selena sets a table for Alistair and then rolls him on top of it. She only breaks away from her rival for a second in order to climb up a turnbuckle. Once on top and once turned towards Alistair, Selena grabs her long almost white pony tail and twists it into a tighter knot. This signifies to the world that she is about to get a lot more intense. Selena is about to dive from the turnbuckle but Alistair rolls off the table before he can be put through another one.
Sparkles: Alistair getting out of the way.
Greyson: I don’t even know if he’s cognizant of the fact that he avoided going through a table a SECOND time.
Alistair tries to use the apron to help himself stand, but it actually turns out to be his detriment. Selena runs across the apron and delivers a kick so stiff to his face that the shot sends him staggering back across the mats and falling over the table once again. Selena quickly returns to the corner, climbing the turnbuckle and readying to dive off only to realize that Alistair has cleared from the table a second time. He then falls over the steel steps, using THOSE as help, but they may prove to be his detriment once again. Selena drops from the corner and to the ringside mats, dashing across them towards Alistair. Although she intends to meet her rival, she instead meets the steel steps in his hands. Alistair rips the top half of the stairs off the bottom section then whips around and absolutely crushes Selena’s face with his makeshift weapon.
Frankie: DAAAAYYYUUUMM!
Greyson: Everything in and around that ring being used as a weapon in this absolutely brutal match thus far.
The stairs are thrown down onto the mats right beside the table situated at ringside. On the opposite side of them Selena is getting to her feet, unaware that Alistair is waiting behind her. She learns in brutal fashion what Alistair was anticipating as he lifts her into the air with a gorilla press and then drops her flat on her face across the steps.
Sparkles: Those stairs have already proven detrimental to the athletes competing here tonight. Poor Mya Denton’s face was absolutely mangled by them earlier tonight.
Greyson: And who can forget how Lexy Chapel just bashed Marina Valdivia’s skull into them over and over again?
Alistair will do more than just mangle Selena with the stairs, he’ll absolutely BREAK her with any weapon he can get his hands on. Right now his hands are on Selena’s head and are swinging her face down into the stairs once more. Somehow Selena ends up back on the apron and is using the ropes to stand up only to realize that Alistair is once again waiting on her. He lifts Selena into the air with a gorilla press, preparing to throw her from the apron and through the table several feet below. It seems Selena’s body is going to be destroyed via the crash into the wood but her attacker fails to take into account her resiliency. Selena manages to shift her weight, slip from Alistair’s hands and land in the ring behind her opponent. Alistair swings around only to realize he’s turned too late, because Selena is already back flipping into the Pele Kick and catching him right upside his skull.
Alistair goes falling from the apron and landing on his feet at ringside only to trip into the steel steps. He unconsciously climbs them to the very top while behind his back inside of the ring Selena is dashing towards the ropes then flipping over them. She flies into a senton plancha that connects, but sadly it does not take Alistair off the stairs he was standing on. He doesn’t just balance himself, he actually CATCHES Selena across his shoulders before turning and powerbombing her through the table she set up moments ago. From his elevated stance on top of the stairs he throws Selena directly into the wood.
Greyson: POWWWWWEEERBOMB!
Frankie: Sweet-sweet retribution for Alistair.
Greyson: Retribution for Alistair? RETRIBUTION FOR ALISTAIR!!??!
Frankie: Calm down Lovejoy, or you’ll ruin your underwear.
The fans are watching with their hands on top of their heads and their mouths hanging down past their knees at the sight of Selena’s body exploding on impact with the table. Alistair is unable to follow up nearly as quickly as he would like, eventually just falling off the stairs and on top of Selena.
Greyson: There’s the pin. Remember, falls count anywhere in this match!
1
2
Selena’s shoulder pops up from the broken table, ensuring that the match will continue. As the ‘believers’ rejoice Alistair shakes with anger. He does not take kindly to Selena’s kick out, which to him serves as a grave insult. He approaches the ring at this point and looks beneath it for another table, where you better believe there is a bountiful supply. Yet another table is brought into the fray, sliding under the ropes and into the ring. But Alistair isn’t through doing a little shopping beneath the squared circle. Here comes ANOTHER table, this one sliding into the ring as well. He’s not done yet, he grabs a THIRD table and this time sets up on the ringside mats.
Frankie: Good God man, how many tables is Alistair going to throw into that ring?
Sparkles: How many tables do we still have left UNDER the ring?
Greyson: Alistair is about to use every last one of them.
Not only is Alistair employing tables but the ring steps as well. They are forced in between the ropes and into the squared circle. Alistair makes his way around the squared circle, approaching the other set of ring steps. Those too are brought into the ring.
Greyson: What sick plans are going through Alistair’s mind right now?
Once back in the ring Alistair begins to put to use all of his toys to manufacture what will undoubtedly be a deathtrap for his rival. Although Alistair has trouble doing it because of the frog splash through a table earlier in this match, he completes his diabolical task. He sets up a table not on the canvas but on top of the two sets of ring-steps. He makes sure the table is elevated higher than normal, what with one set of legs situated on one set of stairs, and the other set of legs placed on top of the other set of stairs. Alistair grins at the platform he created but that smile fades the moment he sees Selena climbing her way back up onto the apron. The fact that she’s still breathing angers Alistair to the point where he wants to vomit….no….scratch that, he’s been there and done that.
Alistair grabs Selena by the pony tail and gives it a hard enough tug to send her flipping sideways back into the ring. As she drops to his feet the grin returns to Alistair’s face. He slowly backs towards the corner, stepping up and dragging Selena along with him. Selena unknowingly is led along into position for a super powerbomb from the top rope and through the table. At the announce table we can see Desmond Drake perking up in his chair, eager to see Selena’s career ended.
Greyson: Look at Drake, he’s really enjoying this.
Frankie: You act like he shouldn’t after Selena DDTed him two weeks ago?
Speaking of Selena’s DDT.
As Alistair lifts Selena up onto his shoulders and readies to throw her through the table via a deadly powerbomb she counters and boy does she counter in a way most fatal to her opponent. Selena slips off of her adversary’s shoulders and lands on the middle rope right beside him, trapping Alistair’s head in a front chancery. The crowd knows what’s coming, even the one who got slapped in the face, hence why they are all carrying on in excitement at the thought of seeing Selena put Alistair through the table via the Ice Breaker DDT…no…a SUPER Ice-Breaker DDT.
Frankie: Don’t you do it Selena! Don’t you do it! You’ll only make Monarchy madder.
Greyson: Shut up with all that Monarchy crap Frankie.
Selena begins to drop back into the DDT but Alistair has no intention of going through the wood. He grabs the top rope with both hands and blocks having his body dragged from the ropes and his neck potentially broken. Instead it’s Selena who might just end up being broken as her opponent stands up straight, elevating her on top of his shoulder. Alistair then pushes Selena around and turns her front chancery against her in order to load her up onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry. Just as it seems he’s about to put her through the table in the ring, Alistair instead hits her with a Death Valley Driver from the middle rope that sends Selena flying over the top cable and going right through the table he set up at ringside a few seconds ago.
Greyson: OOOOOH! OOOOOH! OOOOOOH NOOOOO!!
Sparkles: Into the table! Holy fuck into the table!
Frankie: That was….hahahahaha….that was WICKED.
The fans are shocked to say the least at the sight of the table exploding around Selena’s motionless, limp body.
Greyson: Selena is done. That’s it. That’s all she has left.
Frankie: New Eden might want to bring that ambulance back out here.
Greyson: Would you stop making jokes?
Frankie: Who was joking?
Alistair finds it hard to stand as he moves through the ropes and to Selena’s side. It takes all his strength to roll her back into the ring and then to climb up the nearest turnbuckle. To the dismay of the audience Alistair’s elbow comes sailing from the turnbuckle and eventually straight into Selena’s chest. That’s not good enough though. Alistair rolls back to the corner, climbs it and comes flying off a second time, hitting ANOTHER elbow drop right into Selena’s heart.
Frankie: Hahahaha, this is great. Alistair isn’t going to stop until he’s killed Selena’s heart.
Greyson: He may very well have done that when he powerbombed her fiancée Deanna Springs through a table several weeks ago.
Logically Alistair could go for the pin right now, however, at the moment he could give a damn about logic, All he’s interested in is seeing Selena suffer. To further antagonize her, Alistair steps onto her pony tail, pinning it with his boot to the canvas. He then grabs her wrists and lifts on them with all his strength. As a result Selena’s hair is being pulled and her pony tail is almost getting ripped right out of her scalp. The referee admonishes Alistair yet there is little he can do to stop this. Unfortunately he has to let nature take its course. Finally Alistair drops Selena’s wrists so he can pull a Babe Ruth by pointing to his target, the table that he elevated on top of the stairs. Selena’s body is placed across it, Alistair positioning her before he approaches the turnbuckle. He starts to climb only to stop, some kind of sick thought popping into his head. Alistair rolls to the outside of the ring, lifts the tarp and reaches beneath it, grabbing a ladder.
Greyson: No, just no. You put that away right now Alistair.
Sparkles: How far is the referee going to let these two bend the rules of this match. It’s supposed to be TABLES are legal, not ladders.
Frankie: I can’t wait to see what Alistair does with that thing.
The ladder slides into the ring and Alistair follows right along behind it. He kicks aside another of the tables he put in the squared circle earlier on so that he can set up the ladder. Alistair now starts to ascend it, climbing each rung closer to the top that he’ll momentarily come flying off of with the intent of perhaps putting his elbow through Selena’s heart, stopping it once and for all. What he fails to realize is that Selena’s heart is not in her chest, it comes in the form of Deanna Springs, who is sliding into the ring at that very second and complicating Alistair’s plans.
Greyson: Deanna Springs is here! She’s here guys!
Frankie: Dammit to all hell and back again! Why can’t she stay dead?
Sparkles: We haven’t seen her since she was powerbombed through that table by Alistair!
Greyson: Now is not the right time to show up Deanna.
In her mind it’s the perfect time to arrive, because she’s here to save her fiancée from whatever diabolical act Alistair had in mind for her. Deanna grabs an unaware Alistair by his ankle, pulling on it and pulling on it until he comes down off the ladder. Alistair lands in front of Deanna then goes wide eyed at the sight of her. His hand lashes out and grabs Deanna by the hair, resulting in both her screams and the screams of the crowd.
Greyson: Don’t you do it Alistair! Don’t you dare do it.
Deanna claws at Alistair’s hand, trying to tear it away from her hair. His grip won’t be broken, nor will his lip lock. He smiles as he pulls Deanna in and gives her a big wet sloppy kiss on the lips. Deanna fights and flails to get free but Alistair’s lips will not be detached from her face.
Greyson: This is just sick.
Frankie: He’s showing her how it feels to be kissed by a real…WATCH OUT!
Behind Alistair’s back Selena has climbed to her feet on the table that has been turned into a platform across the two sets of ring-steps, she then comes flying from it into a double axehandle. She smashes Alistair over the back, breaking his lip lock on her fiancée. Selena then turns Alistair around and rushes him at the ladder, cracking his face against it.
Greyson: Thank God for Selena.
Alistair bounces off the ladder and falls to his knees. All the while Selena is checking on Deanna, who has backed into one of the corners desperately trying to wipe the taste of Alistair off of her tongue. Selena shakes with anger as she approaches one of the tables Alistair tossed into the ring, picking it up and slanting it against the corner of the ring. She then runs at the table that was set up across the ring steps, climbing onto it and waiting, waiting for her opponent to stand up. Alistair uses the ladder to support his legs, but much like the apron he leaned on earlier in the night, using the ladder for the same cause comes back to haunt him. Selena dives off the table and leaps THROUGH the ladder and catches Alistair around his neck with a blockbuster.
Sparkles: WHOA! Now THAT was awesome!
Deanna stands back clapping at the sight of what she just witnessed.
Greyson: That’s right Deanna, this is all for you.
It seems Alistair is out cold, meaning Selena can have her way with him. She drags Alistair to his feet and backs him into the corner opposite to the one that has the table slanted against it. Alistair hits the turnbuckle and instantly finds his face on the receiving end of punch after punch after punch. Selena climbs up the turnbuckle in front of him and slugs away at his skull, getting such great satisfaction out of feeling the bones in his face breaking beneath her fist. Yet she stops, stops and looks back over her shoulder at Deanna. She calls her fiancée over and Deanna joins right in, grabbing Alistair by the wrist at the same time that Selena does. The two look towards the table slanted up in the diagonal corner of the ring then simultaneously launch him towards it.
But Alistair suddenly catches himself right before he goes through the table, placing his palms against the wood and holding himself back from it. While Deanna looks dejected Selena looks optimistic, running across the ring with the intent of spearing him through the table. Alistair swings around in the nick of time though, kicking Selena in the face and causing her to stand up straight. Alistair then runs in to level her with a clothesline only to have Selena duck his intended blow. Alistair swings around and walks right into a kick to the gut. The blow doubles him over and puts his head in position for the DDT. Selena locks her arm around Alistair’s head and readies to deliver the Ice-Breaker. However, at the last second Alistair pushes back and frees himself. Wait, he doesn’t just escape the DDT, he grabs something to prevent him from falling victim to it in the later stages of this match. He grabs DEANNA.
A stunned Deanna is dragged right between Alistair and Selena, turned into a human shield. Selena WAS going for a punch only to stop in mid-swing, her fist a centimeter removed from her fiancee’s face. She then eases Deanna aside, but there is nothing easy about the eye poke that Alistair gives his compassionate opponent. Selena staggers back holding her eyes and ending up right in front of the table slanted against the corner.
Greyson: What a low down son of a bitch Alistair Taylor is. Using Deanna as a shield.
Frankie: She never should have got in the ring in the first place.
Deanna may not be a classically trained brawler the likes of Alistair Taylor, but that ain’t stopping her from swinging a fist straight at his mug. The punch misses Alistair’s head though as he ducks down and buries his shoulder into Deanna’s ribs. She doesn’t even have time to scream as she’s lifted into the air, charged across the ring like a tackling dummy and ultimately through the table slanted against the corner. No wait, Selena sees Deanna nearing the table so she bites the bullet and jumps between her fiancée and the wood. As a result Deanna is driven into Selena and Selena is the one driven through the table, cushioning some of the impact on her beloved.
Greyson: NOOOO!!
Sparkles: Selena sacrificing herself to save her fiancée!
Frankie: Alistair put them both through the table! Both of ‘em through the table. That was HYYYYSSSTEERICAL!
Greyson: It’s sickening is what it is.
Both Selena and Deanna are sitting up against each other in the corner of the ring with broken table chunks laying around them. Alistair carelessly throws Deanna out of the way and then grabs Selena by the ankle, dragging her to the middle of the ring. The lowest form of human life, otherwise known as Alistair, drops his back into Selena’s chest and hooks her limp leg.
1
2
Frankie: Alistair wins Tables Are Lega….
No he doesn’t. Selena kicks out at about as close to the count of three as one can possibly get.
Greyson: IN-CRED-I-BLE!
Sparkles: Sparkles HAS to agree with you for once Lovejoy.
Frankie: Break her Alistair, just break her and be done with it already.
He will break her, though Selena is not the ‘her’ being eluded to. Alistair stands over Selena yet he’s not attacking her, instead his eyes are drifting towards her fractured fiancée. He smiles as he approaches Deanna, grabs her by the pony tail and pulls her along her knees towards the table elevated by the steel steps. He rolls Deanna right on top of it before approaching the ladder.
Greyson: Enough is enough Alistair, leave that girl alone.
Frankie: It’s like I said, she NEVER should have got in that ring.
Deanna is really going to regret entering the ring with a man who has never come across a line he won’t spit on. He climbs up the ladder and keeps looking back over his shoulder at Deanna spread across the table.
Greyson: Don’t you do this you son of a bitch! Don’t you dare!
Sparkles: He’s going to kill Selena’s heart.
Frankie: Stop fucking around and do it already Alistair!
It takes some doing but Alistair gets to the very top of the ladder and readies to come flying off of it into Deanna and the table she’s been planted on top of. The crowd begs him not to do it but he’s indifferent to their reactions. He is just about to start turning around on the ladder before something derails his progress. A fist flies into his stomach. The crowd screams as Selena scales to the top of the ladder, standing on the opposite side as her rival.
Greyson: Selena saving her fiancée yet again.
Selena exacts revenge on Alistair for all he’s done in this match by punching him and punching him hard across his forehead. She almost has buckling from the ladder before he throws his thumb DIRECTLY into her eye.
Greyson: That bastard.
Frankie: Guys gotta do what he’s gotta do to survive.
Alistair reaches out and grabs a blinded Selena by the head, now preparing to superplex her off the ladder and through the table as well as through Deanna laid out on it….no….wait just a tick, Deanna ISN’T on the table anymore. Instead she’s on the ladder and she’s directly beneath Alistair. Her forearm swings straight up and right into Alistair’s crotch. He’s in so much pain that he can’t even begin to verbalize it, his mouth just hangs open with eyes widening to near saucers.
Greyson: DEANNA with some payback!
Frankie: Someone get her the hell out of here already. That should be a disqualification right there.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks the ref has just totally thrown the rules book out the window.
A gasping Alistair bends forward to shield his precious junk yet in the process exposes himself to the move Selena has been itching to hit. She leaps over top of the ladder, over top of Alistair and delivers a sunset flip powerbomb that sends her rival flying through the table down below.
Greyson: HOOOOLLLLY GOD IN HEAVEN!
The table explodes around Alistair’s body, which is every bit as broken as the wood that surrounds him. He lies on the canvas a shattered mess and Selena is coming in to clean up. She crawls slowly into the cover, dropping across his chest and listening to not only the loud ‘holy shit’ chants from the crowd but the referee’s palm slapping the canvas.
Sparkles: A sunset flip powerbomb off the top of the ladder at last clinching victory for the Snow Queen.
1
2
Desmond Drake and the fans alike are rendered absolutely speechless when they see the arm that goes launching up from the canvas. Alistair kicks out to a response that rattles the very walls of the arena.
Frankie: No….damn…..way.
Sparkles: Yes way.
Greyson: Alistair Taylor just kicked out of a mother-lovin super-SUPER sunset flip powerbomb from a gosh dang ladder.
Sparkles: This is just incredible. Only way to describe it.
The expression on Selena’s face right now tells the story. She’s exhausted, she’s in pain, and still she’s determined to best the man who has been a cancer to her in recent weeks. At last her mind dreams up a fitting resolution to this battle. She crawls past Alistair and to the ringside arena, reaching under the squared circle and retrieving a table, but it’s not just ANY table. What is revealed in her palms at that very moment? A GLASS TABLE.
Greyson: Are you kidding me right now?
Frankie: What the hell is that? Tell me that’s not what I think it is.
Sparkles: Selena Frost bringing out a GLASS table. Sparkles has never seen anything like that before.
One glass table is simply not enough. Another is dragged out from beneath the ring as well, now the two are set up side by side at the base of the ramp.
Greyson: What is Selena setting up for here?
We’re no doubt a moment from finding out. She steps up onto the apron and then grabs the top rope, waiting for something. She watches her rival expend the energy to reach his feet and the second he does, Selena springs to the top cable then comes flying off with a huge forearm smash. Alistair is driven to the canvas and rolling over backwards towards the ladder. He grabs it and desperately paws at it, using it to drag his mangled body to his feet. Deanna watches from the corner of the ring, cheering Selena on as she steps up to the ladder and starts to climb it. She reaches around the ladder legs and grabs Alistair by the hair, pulling on it and forcing him up higher and higher.
Sparkles: Sparkles wishes I could get goosebumps right now.
Greyson: The hairs on my arm are standing on end.
All those in attendance are on their feet watching excitedly as Alistair and Selena reach the very top of the ladder. Their wounded and mangled bodies barely have the strength to stand upright after everything they’ve put each other through in the course of this match. Yet nothing will compare to what happens to them next. Selena applies a front chancery on her rival and looks like she’s about to throw him off the top of the ladder and send him flying through the two glass tables set up at ringside.
Frankie: Don’t you do it Selena, do you friggin dare!
Suddenly Alistair’s fist rams deep into Selena’s bread basket, doubling her over. He then throws another punch that nails Selena in the temple. She almost falls back only to get her balance and then retaliate with a European Uppercut. Alistair responds via an open hand palm strike across Selena’s chest. The two become a little unbalanced, almost losing their footing. In one last desperate act Selena grabs Alistair by the back of the head and Alistair grabs Selena by the hair. Both athletes throw one another to the side and as a result the ladder their standing on goes tipping over. Everyone in the arena leaps from their seats at the sight of Alistair and Selena flying from the top of the ladder, over the ropes and through the glass tables at ringside.
Frankie: AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!
Sparkles: They’re dead. That’s it. Selena’s dead. Alistair’s dead. They’re both dead.
Greyson: There are no words!
The bodies of Alistair and Selena lay amongst thousands and thousands of glass shards that pierces and rips the skin of these bitter rivals. Neither of them are moving after that fall from the highest of highs. The referee is out of the ring checking on the condition of Selena then checking on the condition of Alistair. He raises one arm, then raises the other, watching them fall limp to the sides of their unconscious bodies. The referee realizes that neither competitor will be able to carry on so with a heavy heart he calls for the bell.
Greyson: It’s over guys.
Sparkles: No shock there.
Frankie: Neither Alistair nor Selena were able to continue after taking the nastiest fall I’ve ever seen.
Greyson: Culminating in a plunge through friggin tables of glass.
The fans are simply blown away by everything they witnessed in this match, culminating in the fall through tables of glass. The broken and punctured bodies of Alistair and Selena continue to lay in piles of glass while Deanna watches from the corner of the ring in shock and Desmond watches from the announce table with a big smile on his face.
Greyson: Alistair and Selena have DESTROYED each other.
Sparkles: All for the sake of retribution.
Greyson: How many years did they just take off of one another’s careers?
Frankie: Are either of them even going to have careers after this?
Deanna is stooped down beside Selena at this point and is checking on her condition while Alistair starts to move away from the glass that has left gashes all over his body. Although neither athlete can stand the crowd does, giving these two a standing ovation.
Greyson: What….a…..war.
Cindy: I don’t think I’ve been clear enough about how I feel regarding failure.
If there’s any position Borislav would care to avoid, it’s the one he’s in at the moment. He’s kneeling on the floor in a hallway, right between Cindy Todd and Serenity. His New Eden masters are evidently not pleased with him and are ever so vocal about it.
Cindy: I gave you a simple task this evening my dear….
States Cindy as she moves closer to Borislav and starts to run her hands through his shoulder length black hair.
Cindy: I asked you to deliver Victoria Salinas, gift wrapped in a stretcher, but you failed me.
Serenity: You failed our QUEEN!
Serenity crouches down towards Borislav and begins poking at his shoulder.
Serenity: We had such visions for Victoria, such wonderful, entertaining plans, but now we have to settle for just humiliating her, and whoever her partner is, in that ring later tonight.
Cindy: It’s not very considerate of you to get our hopes up.
Informs Cindy, who speaks not with anger in her voice, but in an almost motherly manner. Her hands continue to gently run through Borislav’s hair.
Cindy: But don’t worry….
The Queen of Chaos’ fingers slip under her Russian’s chin and pulls back on it, bringing his eyes to her face.
Cindy: You can still make your Queen happy. All you have to do is bring Serenity and I another plaything for the evening.
The strangely sweet Cindy pulls Borislav’s cheek into her stomach while twirling a lock of his hair around her finger.
Cindy: There’s a man here in the IWC that doesn’t know how to die, I want you to teach him.
Serenity holds a pipe wrench out to Borislav and is insistent that he take it.
Serenity: Aiken Frost stole something near and dear to your Queen. Someone YOU care about as well.
Cindy: Aiken stole our Mika Kozlov away from us. I want her returned, and I want the skin of the man responsible for taking her from me.
Finally Borislav’s hands take hold of the pipe wrench.
Serenity: Don’t fail us AGAIN.
Amber liquid pours down the throat of Principle Owner Silas Mason. In spite of a million voices filling his office all at once, he seems rather relaxed. Although he’s dressed for in ring competition and prepared to defend his 25% control of the IWC Silas looks almost casual. Hence why he’s reclining in his chair, kicking up his boots onto the corner of his desk and drinking a little alcohol. Stood off to his side is the man who manages both of Silas’ tag team partners for the evening, Jeffrey Starxxx.
Starxxx: My boys are some lean, mean McBride killin’ machines.
Brags Starxxx who only seems to wear things that are trimmed in gold. Although he’s talking up Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams, who are seated in front of Silas’ desk, Starxxx is only focused on the Principle Owner.
Starxxx: I got Randal and Marcus so worked up they’re ready to devour Karen and her sisters, skin, muscle bone in all.
Silas: They might not need ta do it.
Prognosticates Silas as he examines his half empty glass of bourbon.
Silas: In fact, yer boys and I probably won’t have to lift a finger when we face off against the McBrides. Cause I used something to beat Karen’s girls that’s a lot stronger than muscle…..
Starxxx: Money?
Silas: Nah….my mind.
Silas taps his temple.
Silas: I got those sisters so ready to kill each other they’ll have that ring stained red with one another’s blood before we even set foot in it.
Marcus: So what’s our job then?
Silas: Well boys, (turns to Randal and Marcus) every execution needs an audience.
It seems we won’t have to wait very much longer to see blood, because the door to the office flies open and Blaire McBride comes waltzing right through it. A chair is in her hand and it’s swinging right into Silas’ desk. The Boss slides back from it and Marcus, Randal and Starxxx leap out of range of Blaire’s swings.
Blaire: You don’t think I’m onto you, Silas?
Silas: Now-now-now Blaire, don’t go exhaustin’ yerself before we face off tonight.
Blaire: Listen to me and listen really good. All of your efforts to drive a wedge between my sisters and I….
Silas: Is workin’ like a charm ain’t it? I mean, we did see yer sister hit ya with the End Game two weeks ago, now didn’t we?
Blaire: SHUT UP SILAS!
The chair in Blaire’s hands slams into the desk once again, knocking over Silas’ bottle of Kentucky’s finest bourbon.
Blaire: Yeah, Karen hit me with the End Game, but at the end of the day we’re STILL family and nothing you do will ever change that.
Silas: Ya’ll didn’t look too peachy keen when Karen was tryin’ to break yer neck. Face it baby, if you go to that ring tonight and try to team up with yer sisters, it’s gonna go bad fer ya, REAL bad.
Sadly Blaire can’t ignore this truth.
Silas: But it don’t have to be that way, cause ya’ see, I’m a compassionate guy. You and I, we worked real well together a ways back. Don’t ya remember what a team we made?
Blaire: Oh, I remember, and I remember how you screwed me over.
Silas: Lika ya wouldn’t have stabbed me in the back? I was just ahead of the curve is all baby.
Blaire: What is the point of all this Silas?
Silas: My POINT is that you and I should work together again. Ya scratch my back tonight and I might just be willing to share a piece of my Principle Ownership with ya.
It isn’t the chair Blaire raises, but a finger, one she puts to her chin. It seems as if she’s contemplating Silas’ offer.
The fans instantly feel like they’ve been given a punch right in the gut when hearing the tracks of “Boss’s Daughter” playing throughout the arena loud speakers. There are so many pyrotechnic explosions going off you would think there was a fire at an ACME supply warehouse. Former World Champion Taylor Chase comes spiraling through all the fireworks, revealing herself to fans who definitely do not appreciate her presence. Oddly enough her body is bedecked in wrestling gear in spite of the fact that she is not scheduled to wrestle here tonight.
Frankie: Be still my beaten’ cock, it’s the woman who causes me to wake up with stiff sheets in the morning, THE Tay-Tay.
Greyson: We weren’t scheduled to see Taylor Chase coming out to the ring tonight, but then again who follows a runsheet around here?
Frankie: Not Tay-Tay and not the group she recently aligned with, Monarchy.
Sparkles: Yeah, haven’t you heard, Monarchy rules.
Frankie: You bet your furry white ass they do. Monarchy is in control of everything. So when Tay-Tay wants to come to the ring she’ll damn well do it and you’ll damn well embrace the opportunity enjoy the visual feast that is our former World Champion.
Greyson: Well the last time we saw Taylor come out to the ring things got tense.
TWO WEEKS AGO
A video package plays showcasing events from the final Riot before tonight’s pay-per-view. At first viewers see reigning World Champ Katelyn Buehler in the ring calling out number one contender Scott Cannon. However, it’s her long-time nemesis Taylor Chase who answers the call. She comes out and has quite the verbal spat with Katelyn, leading the Champ to draw a line in the sand and dare Tay to cross it. Tay responds by informing Katelyn that if the fans want to see the two of them face off they’ll have to pay first. Tay then walks away from a potential clash with Katelyn.
Now that Taylor Chase is in the ring she reveals the microphone in her hand and the big beautiful smile on her face.
Greyson: Still have no idea why Tay is out here….
Frankie: Shut up and let her explain.
Tay tries to speak only for her words to pale in comparison to the volume of the fans’ jeers.
Taylor: BOOO Taylor BOOOO.
She mocks the reaction she’s getting.
Taylor: You all are just too cute.
The crowd that she directs her words at are only gets angrier, yes, it’s possible.
Taylor: I swear, I want to go around and pinch each of you on your chubby, greasy, pimply cheeks. I mean, the way you let yourselves be played like a bunch of gullible little kids is downright adorable. You cheer who you’re told to cheer and boo who you’re told to boo. You let the IWC make your decisions for you, because you think this company is giving you all what you want. Fraid not.
Tay produces a toothless smile while shaking her head.
Taylor: They tell you that you should cheer for your bright shiny new toy named Katelyn Buehler, but what you don’t realize, what the IWC wants you to ignore, is that the action figure you’ve been playing with for years, is still vastly superior to the newer model. For one, I came batteries included. Katelyn, the only batteries that have ever gotten close to her are in her vibrator.
Fans: OOOOOOH!
Taylor: What I’m trying to say is that Katelyn has no pulse. But me, I’m not a pulse, I’m the HEART. Without me none of this can be. (Points to the ring, the rafters and the thousands of fans in attendance) But Katelyn, she’s like a pancreas, a totally useless organ that you wouldn’t even miss if it were cut out.
Greyson: Why is Tay out here ripping on Katelyn?
Frankie: Why not?
Taylor: It’s time to show you people what deep down in your flabby guts you already know, that I’m still the face that runs this place, that without Tay you wouldn’t stay, that I’m what you people REALLY want. Cause see, that new toy the IWC has given you, it’s gonna be broken the second you take it out of the box. Let me prove it. HOOOOWWW? By inviting my best bud Katie B down this ramp and giving her what she demanded just a few weeks ago, a one on one match against the hottest commodity in all of professional wrestling.
Tay turns to the entry way.
Taylor: Kate, I told you that I would only face you when it was lucrative for me to do so. Since I can’t challenge you for MY World Title, I’ll get myself a big fat payday by facing you LIIIIIVE on pay-per-view. So Katelyn, hitch up those teeny weeny black shorts into the crack of your ginormous ass then bring it on down that ramp….Come on….Don’t keep me waiting…..
Greyson: Just how delusional is Taylor Chase? Doesn’t she realize that the world does NOT revolve around her?
Frankie: Since when?
Greyson: Since forever.
Sparkles: Wasn’t Copernicus imprisoned for proposing such an idea?
Greyson: Taylor is calling Katelyn out even though Katelyn is slated to defend the World Title against Scott Cannon later tonight.
Frankie: It’s just like you said when Tay came out here, no one follows a runsheet around these parts.
Tay and the crowd alike go on waiting, for far too long it seems.
Cameras segue to a backstage corridor, fixating on a door that leads into Katelyn Buehler’s dressing room. That door don’t stay closed for long. It’s flung open and there’s the World Champion marching right through it. In the background we can see her agent Dan Douglas hot on his clients heels, holding the medallion that he’s employed numerous times in the past to help him influence Katelyn’s mind.
Douglas: Stop Katelyn! Look at the coin, listen to me!!
Katelyn: I’ll tell you what you can do with that coin.
A distraught Douglas stops, throwing his arms into the air as he watches Katelyn walk out of his view, nothing deterring her from reaching the squared circle where she will no doubt jeopardize her World Title defense.
A bored Taylor Chase remains in the ring, awaiting an answer to her challenge. She is actually lying across her stomach with her chin propped up by her knuckles and her heels tapping against the back of her thighs. She looks more like a teenage girl stretched across a bed doing some girl talk over the phone and less like someone about to face the World Champion.
Taylor: What’s the hold-up Kate? Did you stumble across a hotdog vendor on your way to the ring? Are you having trouble fitting your pudgy body into your tights?
Greyson: Tay still trying to lure Katelyn out here so that we can finally see the two face off.
Sparkles: This is weird. Didn’t Tay say she would never face Katelyn if the title wasn’t on the line?
Frankie: True, but she also said she would fight Katelyn if there was a money bonus in it for her.
Tay’s wait at last pays off because the tracks of ‘Satisfied’ are playing over the speakers and have piqued the crowd’s interest. Within a matter of seconds Katelyn has stepped to the stage and is making her way for the ring, headed for Tay in such a hurry that she hasn’t even bothered to put on the rest of her wrestling gear. While her upper half sports a leather style halter top, her lower body is covered in purple sweats. Her attire isn’t important though, all that matters to the woman carrying her World Title to the ring, is shutting Taylor up.
Frankie: Katelyn has taken the bait.
Greyson: Our World Champion is going to make Tay eat her words.
Sparkles: Can’t she make Tay eat cheese instead?
Greyson: Katelyn is risking a lot by coming out here to face Tay when she’s got a World Title defense against Scott Cannon scheduled for our main event tonight.
The fans are incredibly excited at the premise of seeing these bitter rivals finally settle it all right here on pay-per-view. They’re going to get it, they’re going to get Tay versus Kate in the eagerly anticipated resolution to this rivalry. Taylor has popped up to her feet and is crouched at the knees, waiting to pounce on Katelyn. The belt in her hand is thrown over the ropes, freeing up her fists to collide with Tay’s mouth. She isn’t going to hold anything back, hence why she’s sliding into the ring and stepping right up into her rival’s face. Just as it seems Katelyn and Taylor are about to throw down a briefcase smacks right into the back of the World Champion’s head. The reaction is that of total disdain at the sight of Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly jumping Katelyn from behind.
Greyson: Wicked Intent….Wicked Intent attacking Katelyn.
Sparkles: And look at what’s in Lexy’s hands.
Frankie: It’s-it’s-it’s the briefcase that holds the number one contender contract for the World Title.
Greyson: That’s Scott Cannon’s contract, he gave it to head referee Marcus Mayfield earlier tonight and then we saw Wicked Intent steal it from him.
Frankie: It’s Lexy’s now and that means….oh God….that means….
Greyson: I don’t even want to begin to think what that means.
As Lexy and Kat brutalize Katelyn with boots Tay crouches down towards the champ.
Taylor: You thought I’d actually fight you tonight? Awwwww, that’s so sad.
Apparently there’s only one person who is going to fight Katelyn tonight, and that’s the woman clutching the briefcase that holds the number one contenders contract. She begins to wave towards the back.
Lexy: Get a referee out here, I’m cashing in MY briefcase!
Informs Lexy to the distress of everyone in the building. She now looks out over the crowd.
Lexy: Start jizzing in your jockies right now people, cause Lexy Chapel is about to become the NEEEE-EW-EW-EWWWWWW WORLD CHAMP-I-OOOOON!
Frankie: Lexy’s gonna do it! She’s gonna cash it in! She’s gonna become the WORLD CHAMPION!
Greyson: That is not HER briefcase to cash in though dammit!
Frankie: Possession is nine-tenths of the….
Greyson: Don’t give me that shit. That briefcase belongs to Scott Cannon!
Lexy: Got the confetti ready?
Kat throws some confetti from her pockets and into the air.
Lexy: NOT YET!
Kat tries to pick up the confetti and return it to her pocket.
Lexy: Where’s the referee!?!
Finally someone answers Lexy’s demand, emerging from the back and hustling for the ring. Unfortunately for Lexy that someone is NOT a referee, it’s Scott Cannon.
Greyson: Here comes Scott RIGHT NOW!
The rightful owner of the briefcase Lexy is trying to cash in, slides into the squared circle where his fists are flung into multiple faces. Lexy dashes at Scott only to be laid out with a right hand. Kat then charges at Scott only to be leveled via the bionic elbow. Tay stays back, watching all of this unfold and sizing up her opportunity to strike. She doesn’t have to, because now Orlando Cruze is sliding into the ring behind Cannon. He grabs Scott by the shoulder, twists him around and begins to deck the true number one contender to the World Title right across his chin. Scott is staggered back by the blows until he responds with one of his own, a swift kick to the ribs of his long-time rival. Orlando staggers back clasping at his ribs while Scott prepares to run in and take his skull off with the roaring elbow. However he twists around right into the superkick, Orlando unleashing it out of nowhere.
Sparkles: No! Cannon taken out with the superkick!
Sadly that’s not all Scott is about to be subjected to, because now Orlando drops down beside him and locks him in the crossface. Scott is rendered incapable of preventing the cash in of his briefcase. Lexy has picked it up and is standing on the back of a laid out Katelyn’s head while calling for a referee.
Lexy: Get your ass out here now ref!
Two people respond to Lexy’s request this time, though neither one of them are a referee. David and Michael Cannon are rushing straight for the squared circle just as fast as their feet can carry them.
Greyson: Dem Cannon Boys!
Sparkles: They have their brother’s back after-all.
Sparkles: Last time we saw them they turned their backs on Scott, but it looks like they’ve got it here tonight.
David and Michael immediately trade blows with Kat and Lexy, creating even more carnage in the middle of the ring. Finally Tay gets physically involved, running in behind David and clubbing him to the upper back, dropping him to a knee. It appears that Monarchy are going to own the ring, or at least they were going to until Katelyn Buehler has a physical resurgence. The Champion gets back to her feet and then runs straight at Taylor, lobbing punches into her face. The two trade shots before Tay decides she’s had enough of this, rolling out of the ring the moment she sees Katelyn picking up the steel briefcase. Katelyn goes postal, swinging the case around the ring at any member of Monarchy that she sees. At this same time Scott gets free from the crossface, standing up just as Orlando barrels towards him. At the last second Scott side steps Cruze and uses his momentum to throw him over the ropes. Scott turns his back on everything that is going on in the ring as he shouts through the ropes at Orlando recovering at ringside. Meanwhile behind him we see Michael and David going after the Wicked Intent members, who have just abandoned the squared circle.
Greyson: Monarchy cleared from the ring by the unlikely combination of Katelyn Buehler and the Cannon brothers.
Frankie: Scott and Katelyn are supposed to be opponents tonight, NOT teaming up.
Greyson: Stressful situations create strange bedfellows.
Katelyn throws down the briefcase she was using as a weapon and points towards the retreating Monarchy members gathered at the base of the ramp. Finally the champion turns around to reclaim the World Title belt she threw into the ring earlier only to be caught against Michael Cannon’s shoulder. He lifts her just as his brother David leaps into a clothesline, the two laying Katelyn out with the Hart Attack!
Greyson: The Cannons turning on Katelyn!
Frankie: That’s more like it.
Greyson: Damn them! DAMN THEM!
After they’ve laid out the World Champion, Michael grabs the briefcase holding a guaranteed World Title shot and David grabs his brother Scott, the owner of the parchment inside of that attaché. Michael forces the briefcase into Scott’s chest then points down at Katelyn.
Michael: CASH IT IN! CASH IT IN RIGHT NOW!
David: DO IT!
Both brothers are adamant that Scott use the case now in his hands to defeat a beaten down champion. Scott looks at his briefcase then looks at the prone Katelyn laid at his feet.
Frankie: Yes Scott, go ahead, do your thing. Cash in that case, win the World Title!
Greyson: Don’t do this Scott, it’s not the RIGHT thing.
Frankie: It’s the right thing for him dammit!
A very conflicted Cannon weighs his options, realizing that he has Buehler in a position that is almost impossible to turn down. Finally he looks at his brothers who are not just urging him, but ORDERING him to use his briefcase.
David: NOW!!!
After a deep breath Scott makes his decision, and it’s not going to be one that sits well with his family. Scott takes his briefcase and leaves. He rolls out of the ring and walks away. As speculated his brothers are not taking this decision very well. Michael goes running up the ramp and latching onto Scott’s arm, spinning him around so that their nose to nose.
Michael: Don’t throw this opportunity away! Don’t you realize how hard David and I worked to get you here?
Back inside of the ring David is leaning over the ropes and shouting at his siblings, demanding to know what’s going on. In the end he just throws his arms up into the air before one of those limbs are taken and used to spin him around. David’s eyes widen as his face is smashed with the roaring elbow. Katelyn hits the KTFO with so much force that it almost knocks David not only out of his shoes but out of his socks.
Greyson: The Champion with a measure of retribution!
Sparkles: K-T-F-OOOOOOH!
The World Champion picks up her belt and steps over David’s body. She straddles his motionless frame with her feet while stretching her gold across her palms and lifting it high above her head. On the ramp we see Scott and Michael continuing to argue and on the stage we see four Monarchy members watching this all play out.
Cameras segue to the locker-room of the McBride sisters, though only one of them is presently accounted for. Melanie McBride, arguably the most beloved member of her family. Is seated in front of a box that has been turned upside down. Playing cards are gathered across both the makeshift table and in Melanie’s hand. She examines the cards while also puffing on an almost comically oversized cigar.
Melanie: Read ‘em and weep.
The cards fanned out in her fingers fall onto the box, revealing that she was holding a full house. Loud groans can be heard from those foolish enough to try their luck at besting Melanie in a game of poker….but not just any poker.
Sailes: This is bullshit!
Franz: Worse game of strip poker I have ever played.
Melanie: Stop whining boys and drop them drawers.
Orders Melanie while knocking some ash off the end of her cigar. The camera pulls back to reveal that she’s playing poker with both Eric Sailes and Hair-Doodes member Franz. The two are already without their shirts, having been forced to remove them in order to honor the terms of strip poker. It’s not just their shirts they’re losing, because now both Franz and Sailes are standing up from their steel folding chairs and unbuttoning their slacks, seconds from removing their pants.
Karen: What is this?
Melanie’s older sister Karen comes walking along into the room and is clearly disapproving of what she sees, especially now that Sailes is standing there in his Batman themed tighty-whities.
Melanie: Just unwinding a little before our big match tonight Kar-Bear. Why don’t you sit down and play a hand?
Karen doesn’t sit down, she leans down so that there is no mistaking the sincerity in her eyes and in her voice.
Karen: Melanie, do you truly appreciate what’s on the line tonight?
Melanie: Of course I do.
Karen: Then why aren’t you getting ready for our match?
Melanie: This IS how I get ready.
Karen: Ugggh, just-just do me a favor and promise me that when the bell rings tonight all these little antics come to an end. I need you centered on helping me finish off Silas and his crew then taking back the Principle Ownership. Can you do that for me?
Melanie: Absolutely. I won’t let you down, I swear it. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye….
Karen: Good, I’m glad the two of us are on the same page. You and I are going to be fighting for our lives out there. Because even though there’s no outside interference allowed, Silas still has an advantage with this being three of on two….
Melanie: Uhhhh, hold up. Three on two? We have a partner Karen. Blaire’s here tonight and she’s going to help us win…..
Karen: No.
Karen takes the cigar out of Melanie’s hand and then puts it out by rubbing the tip of it against the cards piled up in front of her sister.
Karen: We DON’T have a partner. It’s just you and I. Blaire doesn’t exist in my world.
That’s all Karen will say on that matter. She’s already out the door before Melanie can even raise a stink.
Melanie: Erm, excuse me….
Melanie looks over the cardboard box turned table and at Franz, who is pulling his pants back up.
Melanie: Did I say you could put those on.
With a roll of his eyes Franz drops his slacks.
The camera is facing down a sloped ramp that leads up into the arena. Suddenly a backhoe appears, pulling in off the street and making use of the ramp to enter the building. Hung from its side is a man who is universally recognized, for just as many good things as bad. Johnny Kingdom dangles from the side of the construction machinery that is being driven along further and further into the arena.
Greyson: Is that…is that Johnny Kingdom? And is he showing up on the side of a backhoe?
Sparkles: *Snort* A backhoe, sounds so dirty.
Frankie: What gives tonight? First we see New Eden arriving in an ambulance, and now Johnny Kingdom is pulling in on a backhoe.
Greyson: Kingdom scheduled to face off against the monstrous Mordecai here at Upping the Ante in a Buried Alive match, and it looks to me like he ain’t taking ANY chances when it comes to making sure Mordecai is six feet under.
Fire has started to form in a ring upon the entrance stage. As the flames kick up higher two bodies can be seen emerging through the blazing halo. Cindy Todd stands beside Serenity, the two looking through the fire that surrounds them into the hate that burns in the eyes of the audience.
Sparkles: It’s time for tag team action. New Eden is here guys.
Frankie: Which means something bad is about to happen to someone good.
Greyson: Earlier on tonight we saw New Eden attempt to take their opponent this evening, Victoria Salinas, out of the arena in an ambulance, but their plans didn’t go as either Serenity or Cindy Todd would have hoped.
EARLIER TONIGHT
A video documents the clash earlier this evening between New Eden and their latest potential victim. While Cindy Todd and Serenity stand behind the open doors of an ambulance, their supporter Borislav pushes a stretcher to the stage that has their rival Victoria Salinas strapped down on it. Before New Eden can put her inside of the ambulance and drive her to some undisclosed location Victoria finds herself saved by the interference of her friend Marina Valdivia. She takes out Borislav then eliminates both Cindy and Serenity via a stage dive. Eventually we see Victoria get off the stretcher and chase Serenity through the ambulance. The pursuit ends when Serenity jumps from the driver’s door and takes off into the backstage area.
The show returns to the ring where Serenity is hanging upside down from a turnbuckle with her arms crossed over her chest like some kind of vampire. At the same time Cindy Todd is seated on the middle rope, arms thrown out to her sides and draped over the top cable.
Frankie: New Eden’s latest toy got away from them earlier, but this time they will get to play with her.
Greyson: And these two play a very deadly game.
Sparkles: We’re finally going to see Victoria and her mystery tag team partner collide with Serenity and….uhhhh….Sparkles hears something is happening backstage.
Greyson: Not surprising. It’s been a beehive of activity tonight.
Frankie: A beehive? More like a shark’s cage.
Greyson: Let’s get cameras back there pronto.
Victoria: Wait-wait-wait, you think I did what?
Stood in the guerilla position backstage are a shocked Victoria Salinas and a troubled Marina Valdivia.
Marina: So what you’re telling me is that you DIDN’T punch Tabitha in the nose earlier on?
Victoria looks outright offended by such an accusation, so offended in fact she can’t even come up with a response.
Marina: I know Tabitha can be a little headstrong at times, and she has a certain way about her, but Viccy, please tell me you didn’t….
Victoria: I thought you knew me better than that.
These words cut and cut deep.
Marina: Oh, I do know you which is why it wouldn’t be too far fetched to think you’d do something like this.
That cut even deeper.
Victoria: Fair enough. But no, I didn’t attack your agent….Even though she really could use a good kick in the head.
Security Guard: You should believe your friend.
Announces the very same security guard we saw talking to Marina’s friend Andre Jordan earlier tonight. Once again he’s carrying a tablet that holds some very incriminating footage.
Guard: She’s telling the truth. She had nothing to do with assaulting our agent. I got some footage you should see.
Marina begins to take the tablet being offered to her while looking towards Victoria.
Marina: Maybe you should get to the ring.
Victoria: Right.
She starts to head off but not before letting Dre and Marina see the roll of her eyes.
Marina: Wait. What about your tag team partner?
Victoria: Huh?
Marina: Don’t you need one?
Victoria: Turns out it’s been taken care of.
Back inside of the arena Serenity and Cindy have broken from their respective poses in reaction to the theme music that plays over the loud speakers. New Eden are not the only ones who react to the arrival of Victoria Salinas, because the crowd is letting lose with quite the response for the once very polarizing figure. Victoria absorbs the reaction she’s getting but has little in the way of a physical response to it. It seems she has total tunnel vision, her focus only on the pair inside of the ring, a pair she is nearing and nearing ALONE.
Frankie: Turn around Victoria, grab your shit and get out of here.
Sparkles: That might be a good idea, Victoria Salinas is coming to the ring by herself, and it’s not one, but TWO of the most destructive forces on the planet waiting for her inside.
Greyson: From what I gather Victoria Salinas DOES have a partner tonight though guys.
Frankie: That doesn’t change either Jack or shit.
Greyson: Either way Victoria is going into this match with New Eden. They’ve assaulted her friend Marina numerous times over the past year, which is what has pulled Victoria into this rivalry with Cindy and Serenity.
Victoria continues down the ramp and is ALMOST in the ring before the laughter of Serenity seeps through the PA system.
Serenity: Stop Viccy….just stop….(Serenity breaks into laughter while waving the hand that isn’t holding a microphone through the air). This is just so funny. I mean, look at you, coming down that ramp with your chest all puffed out and fists clinched and your shoulders up to your ears and giving us that stank eye. You really think that you and you alone are going to be able to stop New Eden? That’s right, I said you and you ALONE, because nobody in that locker-room has the courage to be your partner.
Cindy: All those pathetic souls in the back know, and have seen what we are capable of. Not a one of them wishes to be a hero, because New Eden equals the DEATH of HEROES…..
Cammie: Well I sure as shit am not a hero.
Hundreds of eyes widen and just as many jaws are agape when of all people Cameron Chase steps along to the stage, mic clasped in her hand and body adorned in wrestling gear.
Frankie: Da fuuuuccck?
Greyson: That’s Cameron Chase!
Sparkles: Why is SHE here? We haven’t seen her since her very public divorce from her ex-husband William Mason.
Sparkles: WILLIE!
Greyson: Not now Sparkles.
Another of the rather infamous members of the Chase wrestling family prepares to make herself far more prolific.
Cammie: Like I said (she reiterates after having been forced into silence by the deafening roar of the crowd) I might not be a hero, but what Victoria needs in her corner tonight is no hero, it’s a stone cold BITCH! No, it’s an ALPHA BITCH!
The microphone falls from Cammie’s hand as she runs down the ramp. Once at Victoria’s side, Cammie rips off the tiara she was wearing as the Queen Bee bolts into action. Both ladies dash at the squared circle where New Eden are not flinching.
VICTORIA SALINAS & CAMMIE CHASE VS. CINDY TODD & SERENITY
The referee BARELY has time to signal for the bell before Victoria and Cammie slide into the ring and throw their fists upside the skulls of Serenity and Cindy. The brawl is on and the sight of it has got the crowd all worked up.
Greyson: Turns out this isn’t going to be a handicap match after all.
Sparkles: We had heard some grumblings over social media that Cameron Chase had offered her help to Victoria but now it’s been confirmed. Cammie is Victoria’s partner.
Frankie: Worse mistake Cammie has made since she married William Mason.
Sparkles: How dare you, Frankie!
The ref may have called for the bell, but he isn’t nearly as successful in his next endeavor, getting some control over this tag team match. Cammie and Cindy lob haymakers into one another’s faces as they roll from the squared circle. Back in the ring Victoria and Serenity are going at it in an eagerly anticipated clash. The punches stop flying when Serenity grabs her opponent by the wrist and launches her along into the ropes. Instead of hitting the cables Victoria slides under them to the apron before popping back up to her feet and latching onto the top rope. As Serenity comes racing towards her Victoria flings herself over the rope and into the diving European Uppercut.
Greyson: Very nice start to this match for Victoria and her partner Cammie. Still in shock right now to see Cameron Chase teaming up with Victoria in this match against New Eden.
Sparkles: Well you heard what Cammie said, Victoria doesn’t need a hero as her partner, she needs a BITCH.
At ringside the referee has forced himself in between Cindy and Cammie, somehow getting the two separated and demanding they enter their respective corners. Meanwhile inside of the squared circle Victoria has dragged Serenity into the corner of the ring. The former IWC World Champion finds herself sitting up against the turnbuckle while stomps and stomps and stomps collide with her chest and her ribs. Victoria is walking the proverbial mudhole in her adversary before the referee gets involved, starting with the five count. An intense Salinas breaks away from Serenity and watches as her adversary works her way back up to her feet. Serenity has a hard time keeping her legs under her when Victoria is leaping into her throat and closing it via a clothesline. Victoria then takes the back of Serenity’s head and throws her down out of the corner before her attention turns to scaling the corner.
The fans are getting excited as Victoria reaches the top rope, steadies herself and gets ready for a highlight worthy dive, but it won’t be into Serenity. At the last second Victoria calls an audible when spotting Cindy Todd stepping across the apron and moving in her direction. So Victoria dives off the top rope and hits a clothesline on Cindy’s throat, knocking her to her back across the apron. Victoria lands at ringside across her feet and then shows her remarkable agility in the way she returns to the squared circle. She runs at the ring, leaps headfirst over Cindy, through the ropes and into the ring where she lands on top of her head only to kip off of it and into a clothesline that nails the throat of a recovered Serenity.
Greyson: SO IMPRESSIVE!
Sparkles: That’s the term we’ve been using to describe Victoria ever since her debut here in the IWC, IMPRESSIVE.
After laying out Serenity with the lariat Victoria looks towards the corner where her partner has a hand held out, looking for the tag. It may be a difficult for Victoria to share and to trust, but she makes the tag. Cammie is in the ring and all over Serenity in a hurry. She runs right at the former World Champion and catches her to the jaw with a few well-placed right hands, followed by a couple kicks to the back of her thighs. Serenity grows bored with this so she throws out her palms and drives them straight into Cammie’s throat. She then takes her gasping opponent by the throat and whips her into the ropes. On the rebound Serenity catches her with a hip toss only to have Cammie transition out of it and into a hurricarana. Needless to say Serenity is surprised as she goes flipping across the ring and ultimately rolling into the very ropes that Cindy is stood on the opposite side of. A blind tag is made and now Cindy is in the ring.
Frankie: Uh ooooh, this just got real bad for Cammie and Victoria. Cindy is legal.
When coming eye to eye with the sadistic Cindy it gives Cammie pause. After a gulp she summons the courage to run into Cindy, right into Cindy’s devastating uppercut. The shot instantly takes Cammie off of her feet and sends her rolling back to the middle of the ring. Somehow Cammie gets to her feet just as her opponent closes in on her. Cindy dashes towards Cammie with a clothesline that is somehow ducked. A headstrong Cammie runs into the ropes and then back into Cindy, who whips around just in time to be hit with the leg scissors. Cammie flings Cindy half way across the ring, taking her from her feet to the surprise of everyone in the building.
Cammie continues to keep momentum in her team’s favor, running into the nearest turnbuckle then jumping to the top rope. The usually impenetrable Cindy gets to her feet just in time to learn that she isn’t quite as invincible as she thought. Cammie flies from the top rope, extends her boots and drives both of them into her adversary’s chest. The top rope front dropkick has sent Cindy reeling back on her heels and falling against the cables.
Greyson: Maybe Cammie was right. She is just what Victoria needed to stand a chance against New Eden.
Sparkles: When’s the last time you’ve seen Cindy on the defensive like this?
Frankie: Never. It looks like Cammie’s speed is a little much for either New Eden member to combat.
Cindy continues to lean on the ropes as Cammie comes dashing towards her. Before Chase has the chance to hit the move she had in mind, Cindy reaches out and snatches her by the throat with both hands. Cammie’s eyes widen as Cindy just straight up chokes her, all the while backing her up towards the center of the ring.
Frankie: So much for that speed now.
A gagging Cammie desperately throws an elbow down into Cindy’s forearms, breaking the choke. Cammie then leaps into the air and hits a step up enzugari on the back of her opponent’s head. The shot has Cindy looking staggered but yet to go down. It’s no secret what Cammie has to do, strike while the iron is hot. She runs into the corner, climbs to the top rope and comes flying off into another front dropkick that hits NOTHIN’. Cindy turns her back on Cammie and casually walks out of the way, causing her opponent’s boots to miss and for her spine to hit the ring with such force.
Sparkles: Cindy saw it coming that time.
The impact with the canvas has Cammie in distress yet she’s still working her way up to her feet. That’s until Cindy crouches beside Cammie, sizes her up and delivers a devastating right hand across her temple. The punch sends her adversary twisting straight down to her knees. A boot to the cheek knocks her all the way down to the canvas, finally ending up on her back. Cindy makes a tag to Serenity, who immediately drops down to Cammie’s side and begins to blast her over the back with both forearms. A smile is fixed over Serenity’s face as she unleashes one shot after another on her fallen opponent. Finally Serenity takes Cammie by the hair and starts leading her up to her feet and then into a standing dropkick on the jaw. Once again Cammie is sent down to the ring, clasping at her face.
Frankie: You know I think the world of Cammie Chase, but even I have to question her sanity here.
Greyson: You only think the world of her because on social media she offered you extra-marital sex. But there are a lot more reasons to be a fan of this young woman, including what we’re seeing from her here tonight.
Frankie: If you say something about her having a big heart I swear I’m going to vomit all over your lap.
The dropkick on her chin has Cammie down on the ring but trying to inch her way up from it. The task of standing up becomes far more difficult when Serenity’s arms lock around her neck, applying a sleeper hold. The submission is locked in by a playful Serenity, who seems to get more and more excited with each squeeze she gives to her adversary’s skull. Yet Cammie is not about to let Serenity go on getting her jollies. She starts to stand up, or at least try to. Serenity breaks the sleeper then tries to break Cammie’s skull, swinging her face down into the canvas. Cammie bounces off the ring and grabs her swelling lips while Serenity grabs at Cammie’s hair. The New Eden member sticks her tongue out to the side of her mouth like Michael Jordan slam-dunking a basketball. It’s not a ball she’s slamming though, it’s her opponent’s face. Serenity drags Cammie across the ring by the back of her head and then slams her face into the turnbuckle.
The collision has Cammie dropping to her knees where she finds a boot placed to the back of her head. Serenity pushes on the back of Cammie’s skull, driving her face into the middle turnbuckle pad, squishing it due to the pressure. Serenity then takes off across the ring into the far ropes, ricochets from them and comes back in at Cammie before leaping into a dropkick that nails her in the back of her skull. The Chase sister finds her head squished between Serenity’s boots and the turnbuckle, mashing her brains like Betty Crocker potatoes.
Sparkles: Heroes, bitches, they all fall against New Eden.
Greyson: Cammie and Victoria were holding their own for a while, but New Eden are just so depraved and thrive off such wanton violence.
Cammie rolls from one corner and into another, grabbing the cables and managing to pull herself to her knees. Unfortunately she is right back in the same position she was a few moments ago and it’s about to lead to the same results. Cammie has no idea that Serenity is running across the ring behind her and preparing to lunge into a basement dropkick to the back of her head. That is until Cammie swings around out of the corner and digs down deep to deliver a clothesline. Both Serenity AND Cammie go down to the canvas with the fans screaming their hearts out.
Greyson: Cammie’s got a little more fight left in her body.
Sparkles: The Chase family are a tough breed.
Frankie: And a hot breed too. God bless Broderick Chase’s sperm.
Greyson: Another sentence that has no business airing anywhere.
The clothesline that Cammie just delivered spent up what strength she still possessed, or at least that’s how it appeared. She suddenly finds her second wind, which explains why she’s able to run the ring and hit a baseball slide dropkick under the ropes and into an unsuspecting Cindy’s shin. The kick knocks Cindy off the apron and causes her mouth to catch the ring apron on the way down. As Cindy staggers away from the ring and falls against the barricade, her attacker is crawling towards her partner. Although Victoria has her arm stretched as far as it will go her partner is still out of her reach. Suddenly Serenity puts herself between her opponents and goes to grab Cammie only to have her crawl right through her legs then reach out and slap Victoria’s hand. The crowd goes absolutely nuts as Victoria leaps over the ropes, twists in mid-air, lands on the middle rope then springs back into an elbow. Serenity spins around just as the point of her opponent’s elbow rams into her chest.
Greyson: Victoria got the tag and she’s running roughshod over New Eden at the moment.
Sparkles: How is she going to follow up that back elbow?
Victoria pops back up to her feet just as another of her opponents Cindy enters the ring. But Victoria cuts her off, leaping into the air and catching Cindy with the code breaker. Cindy’s face bounces off of Victoria’s knees and the collision has sent her stumbling back along into the corner, falling against it in order to keep her legs under her. Victoria dashes to her feet just as Serenity throws a spinning heel kick at her throat. In the nick of time Victoria ducks down and avoids the leg lariat before swinging around behind her opponent and latching onto her hips. Victoria is determined to deliver a roll up and a subsequent pin on Serenity but the former World Champion won’t be taken over. She runs towards the ropes and drags Victoria along behind her. Just as they are about to hit the corner Serenity bends down and the woman who was standing in the turnbuckle, Cindy, steps from the ropes, throws a lariat over her partner’s back and into her opponent’s throat.
As Victoria goes down to the canvas Cindy stumbles right past her and right into a series of punches that connect across her jaw. Cammie dashes in and begins to unload on Cindy with one punch after another directly to the chin. She then goes for a big leaping lariat that Cindy ducks under, causing Cammie to fly past her and into a headbutt unleashed by another of her opponents. Serenity leaps out of the corner and into the headbutt, the blow taking Cammie to the canvas.
Frankie: That momentum was short lived.
Sparkles: And so to might be Victoria’s and Cammie’s lifespans.
Greyson: If New Eden have their way.
After laying out both of their opponents Cindy pulls Serenity in and whispers something to her. An eager Serenity leaves the ring and reaches beneath to procure exactly what she was instructed to grab, the handle of a weapon covered in a black sack.
Sparkles: What is Serenity holding?
Frankie: If it’s not my penis I could care less.
Greyson: I think that might be the very same pipe wrench we’ve seen New Eden employ the past few weeks including earlier tonight.
Frankie: Don’t go and get yourselves disqualified using it ladies.
Greyson: Wins and losses are pretty irrelevant to New Eden. That’s been pretty well chronicled.
With the mysterious weapon in her hands Serenity returns to the ring where she will at long last reveal the implement of her opponents’ destruction. The fabric that shrouds the weapon is removed in order for the whole world to now see the 2×4 wrapped in barbwire.
Greyson: That’s NOT a pipe wrench!
Frankie: Oooooh damn.
Sparkles: They might want to bring that ambulance back out here, either Cammie or Victoria are going to need it.
It looks like Cammie is going to be the one in need of the ambulance, because she’s the one that New Eden has singled out. The sadist Cindy has crouched behind Cammie, ensnared both of her arms behind her back and is forcing her up to her feet. It seems that she is defenseless against the gruesome plans Serenity has in store for the 2×4. The barbwire is just about to come swinging into Cammie’s body but her foot connects first. She kicks Serenity right in the ribs, knocking her back and almost causing her to drop the weapon. Cammie then throws her head back, her skull hitting the bridge of Cindy’s nose. Finally she’s free and on the warpath. She hits a back elbow to Cindy’s cheek and then in the same motion launches a punch into Serenity’s jaw. Cammie has both New Eden members reeling yet she hasn’t knocked them down, which won’t happen until she steps up the brutality.
Cammie launches another right hand at Serenity only to have the punch ducked under. As a result Cammie’s momentum carries her around so that her back ends up wedged to Serenity’s shoulder. Just as Serenity lifts her opponent into the back drop suplex, Cindy comes stepping in to aid in the destruction of their adversary. However, Cammie manages to stick her feet out, put them to Cindy’s chest and kick her back. At the same time Cammie goes flipping backwards over Serenity’s shoulder and landing behind her. Cammie catches the back of Serenity’s head, bends her forward and throws her along shoulder first right into the ribs of her own partner. Serenity drives Cindy back into the ropes then through them to the outside of the ring.
Just as Serenity and Cindy begin to stand up at ringside, they look towards the apron where Victoria Salinas is standing, for a moment. She runs the length of the apron before diving off and extending both of her boots in the process, she hits a stereo front dropkick to the chests of Cindy and of Serenity. The collision sends both women spiraling back with Serenity falling over the stairs and Cindy falling over the barricade.
Greyson: Victoria and Cammie making a surprisingly good team here.
Sparkles: Which is even more shocking considering that they’ve never worked together before and had little prior knowledge that they’d be working together tonight.
Back inside of the ring Cammie is staring from the center of it and over the ropes at one of her opponents standing up in the crowd. She sizes up Cindy and seems to be on the verge of taking her out with a dive that will leave the crowd breathless. Cammie’s nimble body climbs up onto the turnbuckle and she readies to leap from it, over the mats, over the barricade and straight into Cindy. She leaves her feet but it is not of her own volition. Her legs are knocked out from under and her body drops across the top rope, her stomach straddling the corner. The woman responsible for taking Cammie off of her feet now takes her around the head. To the disgust of thousands Serenity drops back into a rope hung DDT that drives the top of Cammie’s head into the ring apron.
Greyson: BRUTAL!
Sparkles: Did you hear the sound of Cammie’s head colliding with the apron?
Frankie: Poor Cammie, I’ll lick your wounds after this match babe, no worries.
It’ll take a lot more than licks to mend the injuries inflicted on Cammie, who has rolled unconsciously into the ring. Serenity follows her but walks past Cammie in order to grab the 2×4 wrapped in barbwire that was introduced into this match a few moments ago. She stoops down to pick up the weapon only to receive a swift kick right in the face. Victoria interrupts her opponent’s plans with the well placed kick. The shot has Serenity stumbling back and frees up the 2×4 to be taken into her adversary’s hands. Victoria picks up the 2×4 and shows absolutely no hesitation in putting it to good use.
Victoria is mid-swing before she finds the 2×4 caught on something, that something being the hands of Cindy Todd. The weapon is ripped from Victoria’s palms and now prepares to be used to tear the skin from her face. Cindy pulls the 2×4 back over her head and is about to drag it down into her opponent’s skull, but she finds it snagged on something. That something is the hands of the referee. Cindy turns around to face the official and offers him a stern warning. She doesn’t get the chance to capitalize on her threats considering she’s caught from behind and rolled up into the school girl by Victoria.
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Cindy gets her shoulders up in time to prevent defeat. She then falls to her knees and leaps from them, the top of her head cracking Victoria under the jaw. The blow disorientates her and sends her stumbling back to the middle of the ring. Somehow Victoria manages to catch herself though just before going over. Her opponent Serenity sees this and will do something to make sure Victoria not only goes down but stays there. She runs across the ring, steps off the back of a crawling Cindy and flies towards Victoria only to find herself side stepped. Serenity flies past her original target and now collides with the referee who was stood behind Victoria, or more accurately, Serenity collides with the 2×4 wrapped in barbwire he was still holding. The ref looks shocked as Serenity’s head bounces off the weapon. His eyes widen even further as a disorientated Serenity, who now has a spot of blood trickling from the gash in her forehead, staggers back into a bridging German suplex. Victoria hits the move and maintains it until she hears the referee make the three count.
Sparkles: The ref! The ref just accidentally hit Serenity with the 2×4!
Frankie: He should disqualify himself right now!
Greyson: But Serenity is the one who drove her own head into the weapon.
Said weapon is thrown out of the ring and the referee gets over his surprise in order to do his job and make the three count.
1
2
At the last second Cindy dives in and breaks up the three count by driving a double axehandle down into ribs of her adversary.
Greyson: Cindy breaks up the pin!
Blood runs down Serenity’s face as she slowly gets to her knees. She goes no further on account of the punches now being unleashed by Victoria. Although she’s winded she delivers a punch on Serenity’s bloodied brow then turns away from her and hits a punch on a kneeling Cindy. Once again Serenity finds herself on the receiving end of a punch as Victoria tees off on her. Victoria then turns back to Cindy, catching her across the brow as well with a jab. Victoria hits another punch on Serenity and then goes back after Cindy, attempting a knock-out blow. That isn’t how plans play out because Cindy catches Victoria coming in and throws her up into the air.
Victoria manages to slip off of Cindy’s palms though and then come down behind her before grabbing the Queen of Chaos by the arms. It looks like she’s setting up for the Straight-jacket back breaker. It’s just then that Cindy falls forward instead of back, causing Victoria to go flipping over her as she tries to hold onto her adversary’s arms. Victoria flops onto her seat and sits up just as Serenity leaps into the air and hits her with a version of the double stomp. The impact drives Victoria down from her seat and viciously back first into the ring.
Greyson: Another devastating sequence unleashed by Cindy and Serenity.
Sparkles: New Eden are just unstoppable.
Victoria tries to lay on the canvas and convalesce, only to find that the old saying is true, that there is NO rest for the weary. Cindy steps over her adversary, reaches down and grabs Victoria by the throat. She drags Victoria to her feet and then traps her in the lifting arm triangle choke. Victoria looks limp in the arms of her opponent and it seems a submission at this point is inevitable. Victory is slowly slipping out of the reach of Victoria’s team until her partner Cammie interferes. She stumbles in behind Cindy and takes her around the waist. It seems Cammie is setting up for a suplex though we never find out. Cindy swings right around out of the waist lock and grabs Cammie by the wrist, whipping her along into the turnbuckle. Instead of hitting the corner though Cammie leaps into it, lands on the middle rope then springs off. She twists in mid-air, flying right into Cindy….Cindy’s arm lift triangle choke. Cindy wraps her arms around either side of Cammie’s chest and squeezes tight. Instantly Cammie goes to a knee with Cindy stooped beside her to apply even further pressure on the submission.
Victoria tries to help her partner out, though that proves difficult when someone is blocking her path. Serenity jumps in front of Victoria and her fists jump into Victoria’s face. Victoria answers back with her own punches. The two trade shots back and forth before Serenity swings for the fences. Unfortunately she swings right PAST Victoria, who falls to the ring while hitting a drop toe hold. Serenity’s head comes down and collides with the back of her Queen. The impact causes the triangle choke that was being locked to break and for Cindy to arch her wounded spine….a spine far more wounded when Victoria hits it with her version of the backstabber.
Greyson: Victoria hitting a version of the Siren Breaker!
Sparkles: But she didn’t get all of it or hit it the way we normally see.
Cindy rolls off the elevated knees of her adversary, bowing her back from the ring. In the meanwhile Cammie is now slugging it out with Cindy’s partner Serenity. She is trying her best to make sure that Serenity will not play a factor in the outcome of this contest. Though Serenity nails a kick to Cammie’s ribs and knocks her back into the ropes. This is followed by a clothesline that Serenity intends to use to send her adversary flipping over the cables. Sadly for Serenity her momentum is used against her, Cammie side stepping her opponent and throwing her by the back of the head to the outside of the ring.
Victoria and Cammie have managed to work this match down to 2 on 1 handicap advantage. They have Cindy as the lone member of her team remaining in the ring and look to capitalize on this opportunity. After Victoria talks to her partner Cammie, she approaches the corner, slides through the ropes to the apron then starts to climb the turnbuckle. She gets to the very top rope, looking to finish off her laid out opponent. Cindy is spread across the canvas in the middle of the ring, seemingly waiting to be crushed by whatever top rope move Victoria has in mind for her. It seems that Cammie has her own plans though, and they circumvent that of her tag team partner’s. Cammie approaches Cindy and latches onto her legs, perhaps looking to apply some type of submission hold, yet in the process she blocks whatever Victoria was going to hit off the top rope.
Victoria: WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!
Shouts Victoria from the turnbuckle, her words falling on the deaf ears of her partner. Cammie is already starting to swing herself around in order to apply the figure four leg lock. However, the moment she aims her back towards Cindy a boot is wedged to her seat and she is kicked right along into the turnbuckle. Cammie ends up colliding with Victoria’s feet, causing her to lose her balance and go tumbling from the turnbuckle all the way down to the ringside mats.
Greyson: A costly miscue between Cammie and Victoria!
Cammie spends little time concerning herself with Victoria’s well-being and instead goes straight after Cindy, walking directly into the fingers that try to push into her mouth. Cindy is going for the Hand of Anubis. Just before the hold can be locked in Cammie grabs Cindy’s wrist and forces the fingers back from her throat, blocking the Mandible Claw.
Amazingly Cammie manages to deny the fingers access to her throat and delivers a kick to her attacker’s ribs. Cammie turns away from her adversary and runs into the nearby ropes, about to leap from them. Or at least Cammie would be springing back from the cables if she wasn’t being caught by another of her opponents. From the ringside mats Serenity has leaped to the apron, caught the back of Cammie’s head and dragged her throat down into the top cable. Cammie’s head snaps back and she goes spiraling around right into the Hand of Anubis.
Greyson: It’s locked in now!
Frankie: Hand of Anubis applied!!
Sparkles: All that’s left now is the SUFFERING.
Try as she may Cammie can’t get the fingers out of her windpipe. Cindy’s hand is buried so deep in Cammie’s throat that the nails are cutting into her heart. Cammie bridges back but will not go down to the canvas at least not until Serenity comes flipping off the top rope into the shooting star press. She crashes into Cammie’s stomach while Cindy pushes down Cammie’s head with the Hand of Anubis.
Frankie: HOLY FUCK WHAT WAS THAT!?!
Greyson: A combination Hand of Anubis and Serenity Now!
Sparkles: Talk about NASTAY!
A blown away audience watches as the referee slides into position and makes the count. Serenity is spread across Cammie’s chest and Cindy is holding her opponent down with the Hand of Anubis. The referee makes the count with BOTH palms.
1
2
And there it is, Cammie had NO chance of kicking out.
Greyson: The Hand of Anubis and the Serenity Now have secured New Eden an incredibly hard fought victory.
Sparkles: Victoria Salinas and Cammie Chase brought it and they brought it hard but it’s just like what was said earlier on, Heroes, Bitches, doesn’t matter who or what you are, they all fall down against New Eden.
Frankie: Shame it had to happen to Cammie. I’ll make a bubble bath for her later tonight.
Although New Eden would like nothing more than to continue inflicting pain and agony on their opponents they’re never given the opportunity. Victoria has recovered from her plunge to the outside of the ring and is now returning to it with a steel chair in hand. Instead of continuing to hurt their adversaries Cindy and Serenity vacate the ring. They both wear the wounds of this match, a little blood leaking out from Serenity’s scalp, yet she is still smiling. Cindy puts a hand on Serenity’s shoulder, patting it as the two back up the ramp. They never look away from their latest victim, Cammie, who is slowly starting to regain some semblance of consciousness. She rubs at her throat and twists over to her side, feeling pain from pretty much everywhere one could imagine. Victoria throws aside the chair then goes to check on Cammie only to have her hands swatted away. With what little strength she has left Cammie pushes Victoria away and then rolls out of the ring.
Greyson: What was that all about?
Frankie: It’s so obvious what caused Queen Cammie to lose tonight. An inferior tag team partner.
Sparkles: This so wasn’t Victoria’s fault at all.
A confused Victoria puts her hands out to her sides and watches as Cammie disses her. Cammie falls to the ringside mats, sitting up and staring angrily at her partner.
Horror….sheer unbridled horror inhabits the eyes of a poor unfortunate priest. There are no amount of ‘hail Marys’ or other such prayers to the big man upstairs that will get the kindly old reverend out of his present predicament. He finds himself cornered in a backstage corridor with the devilish Mrs. R in his face and the equally as demonic Mordecai towering behind his back. We don’t hear what Mrs. R is saying though we can tell it’s having quite the effect on the priest, who clutches his bible tighter and tighter to his chest. The snarled breaths tricking down the elder’s neck aren’t helping his anxiety. Mordecai stares murderously at the reverend while the creature’s sister continues to give orders.
Greyson: What the heck? Is that-is that-is that a priest that Mordecai and his sister Mrs. R have cornered backstage?
Sparkles: Well the two are planning to bury Mordecai’s opponent Johnny Kingdom tonight, so I guess they’re going to have a full-fledged funeral for the former World Champion.
Frankie: Time is ticking down until the Buried Alive Match and until we say sayonara to the Team Leader.
Greyson: Mordecai and Kingdom still scheduled to collide here at Upping the Ante, and that match is NOT going to be a very pleasant experience.
One can almost see Borislav’s breaths escaping from his nostrils and mouth like smoke from the beak of a dragon. The New Eden enforcer is on a mission, one that will not end very well for his former master Aiken Frost. Clutched in his hand is a pipe wrench, one that is no doubt about to take a few years, if not all of them, off of Aiken’s life. He marches down a hallway as he mentally readies himself to fulfill the edict that was given to him earlier tonight, when Cindy Todd told him to be the instrument that ENDS Aiken once and for all. If Aiken wanted to hide he didn’t do a good job of it, because Borislav has found the door marked “Aiken Frost,” which serves as access to his dressing room.
The doorknob is twisted and Borislav walks through, barging into the room where he anticipates bloodshed. What he gets instead is not what he was expecting at all. Seated within the locker-room is the woman he was once assigned with protecting, the clown paint wearing Mika Kozlov. She sits Indian style on the floor, knuckle raised to her chin.
Mika: Been waiting for you handsome.
Borislav’s breaths begin to calm, his huge chest no longer heaving as he looks into the eyes of Aiken’s greatest proponent. Mika’s smile seems to have a soothing effect on the brute.
Cameras segue to the trainer’s office where we can quite clearly see Devon Kayl seated in a chair in front of the old medic wearing glasses that sport bottle thick lenses. We don’t hear what’s being said though we can see that Kayl is pointing to his temple, one that the doctor is looking over. It appears that the prognosis is not good, the doctor pulling back and shaking his head as if to indicate that Kayl may be harboring some type of serious injury.
Sparkles: This doesn’t look promising.
Greyson: Devon Kayl scheduled to face “The General” Ricky Holt in a grudge match this evening, but it looks like he might be getting some bad news from our Head Trainer.
Frankie: There’s been speculation all over social media that Kayl is not medically cleared to wrestle this evening due to injuries inflicted on him by Mordecai a few weeks ago.
Greyson: It appears Holt might just win his match tonight via forfeit then.
Frankie: That’s not going to sit very well the General at all.
Sparkles: Uhhhh, forget all that noise, look at who’s headed for the ring guys.
Tyson Galloway: You think you can make a fool of me, Ricky Holt!?!
Cameras segue back to the ring just as the seven foot Tyson Galloway steps over the ropes and into the squared circle. The huge and daunting figure clasps a microphone which amplifies his angered words for the whole world to hear.
Greyson: Can we PLEASE go one night without seeing the man who makes Barry Horowitz look like a wrestling legend.
Sparkles: Sparkles will have to give you a ‘pat on the back’ for that reference. See what I did there?
Frankie: Tyson looks just a smidge upset about what happened two weeks ago when his paths crossed with Ricky Holt.
Sparkles: He got the stuffin’ absolutely kicked out of him by Holt before he was pinned in the middle of that ring.
Greyson: In a match that wasn’t even scheduled to happen, Tyson was jumped backstage and then dragged to the ring where Holt pinned him.
Tyson is still fuming over that fact as well as the added insult that his t-shirt, which he personally designed himself, was used as butt-floss by Holt.
Tyson: Listen Holt, I can tolerate you pinning me, you humiliating me, but when it comes to you destroying the shirt that I spent hours and hours weaving together, the shirt that is selling like hot-cakes (he tugs on the t-shirt that reads ‘1-49,’ publicizing Tyson’s abysmal win/loss record), I have to say ENOUGH.
Greyson: Tyson looking really fired up right now.
Sparkles: And for good cause, I mean, we did see Holt use that t-shirt Tyson is so proud of to wipe his taint.
The brooding eyes of Tyson are locked on the entry way, anticipatory of his rival’s entrance.
Tyson: So with all these rumors swirling around that your opponent tonight is injured, why don’t you step down that ramp right now Holt and give ME another crack at you?
The fans are unsure rather they should be excited at this prospect or not.
Greyson: Tyson wants Holt. Are we gonna see it?
Sparkles: Well Hol doesn’t have an opponent if the Kayl rumors are true, so Holt might as well as accept.
Frankie: Sure Ricky wants that pay-per-view bonus.
Tyson: Face it Holt, I’m all you’ve got tonight. Either fight me, or fight nobody.
What a sale’s pitch.
Tyson: Get out here and give me one more…..
The demands end when the pulse pounding lyrics of “Miss Jon’s” theme music bursts through the loud speakers. Tyson’s eyes almost become crustaceous, shooting out of their sockets when he sees the menacing, planetary mass of Miss Jon stepping through the curtains. Her clinched fists hang off to her sides and her enormous body is orbited by her agent Martin Howe III. He stops at his client’s side and rubs his hands together rather gleefully while wearing a smile that would make the Cheshire Cat envious. Miss Jon doesn’t smile, she probably doesn’t even know what a smile is, and if she saw one on the face of her next victim she would have to KILL IT.
Greyson: Oooooh Gaaaaaahd.
Frankie: Who did it? Who thought of the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man?
Sparkles: Nobody steps on a church in my town.
Greyson: Careful guys, Miss Jon is no laughing matter at all. This woman has been blazing a path of total and utter destruction through the IWC roster since her debut.
Sparkles: She’s also the number one contender to the Evolution Championship.
Frankie: And word has it neither she nor her manager Martin Howe III are very happy that she was left off tonight’s pay-per-view card.
Greyson: Yeah, we’ve actually heard Martin all over social media insisting that Miss Jon SHOULD be added to the World Title match this evening between Katelyn Buehler and Scott Cannon.
Sparkles; Then why is she sizing up Tyson Galloway right now.
Frankie: An appetizer to the main course maybe?
Miss Jon’s appetite is ravenous, but it isn’t food she craves, its violence. Tyson looks like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure what he should or where he can run to avoid the menacing mass that is headed his way. Miss Jon reaches the ring and reaches up to grab the middle rope, using it to pull her imposing figure to the apron.
Frankie: What are you doing Tyson? RUN you stupid bastard!
Greyson: Tyson looks petrified with fear.
While Martin pauses at ringside his client goes one step further, slipping in through the ropes. Tyson finally reacts, running at Miss Jon and immediately going on the offensive. He throws punches into the monster’s face and kicks into her stomach, doing everything and anything to hold her at bay. He makes the fatal mistake of breaking away from her though, running the length of the ring, ricocheting from the far cables and coming back in at his adversary, crashing directly into her. No wait, Miss Jon just threw all of her mass right into Tyson, knocking the seven footer flat on his back.
Greyson: Tyson just ran into a brick wall!
Frankie: Every organ in Tyson’s body just got turned into pudding.
The impact with Miss Jon has left Tyson googly eyed, and has knocked all the wind right out of his body. He has no defenses left to ward off the big hands wrapping around his head and dragging him up from the ground. Miss Jon pulls Tyson’s head into position and then looks out over the crowd with her tongue rolling over her upper lip. If there is one thing that she delights in its acts of wanton savagery, much like the one she is about to deliver. Tyson’s unaccustomed to finding his seven foot body being lifted into the air and then nearly slammed through the ring with the sit-out powerbomb.
Sparkles: OOOOOH SHIT!
Greyson: POWERBOMB! POWERBOMB!!
Frankie: On ‘friggin’ Galloway, a guy who has to be about three hundred plus pounds.
Miss Jon doesn’t stop at just brutalizing Tyson, she also assaults his wardrobe. She rips the t-shirt that he was wearing right off his body and then looks down at it hanging through the fingers of her black padded glove. Before long that t-shirt ends up in her mouth, Miss Jon actually eating it.
Greyson: She’s eating Tyson’s shirt.
Frankie: Hopefully he had a few more prototypes designed.
Martin doesn’t eat a shirt, no-no, because then his mouth would be full meaning we wouldn’t get to hear his heavenly cadence. With a microphone in his hand Martin steps over Tyson’s broken body and stops beside his client.
Martin: The IWC has done you all a great disservice this evening (announces Martin while pointing out over the crowd). They have denied you the opportunity to see the destroyer of beauty compete on tonight’s pay-per-view. But fret not boys and girls, for all hope is not lost….at least not yet.
There is a very devious twinkle in Martin’s eyes.
Martin: Several weeks ago on social media I made a proposition. I suggested a solution to this egregious oversight that would see Miss Jon left off this evening’s pay-per-view. On the last addition of Riot, my client went one on one with the World Champion Katelyn Buehler in a match that had NO resolution. So why not have that resolution here tonight?
Greyson: What is Martin getting at?
Sparkles: Exactly what he was eluding to on social media several weeks ago.
Martin: One must also take into account the fact that my DESTROYER is the current number one contender for the Evolution Championship that sits on the shoulder of Scott Cannon, the very man slated to face Katelyn for the World Title right here in this evening’s main event. Unless you’re an amoeba, you can figure out what the practical solution is. I’m demanding that my client, Miss Jon, be included into the match between Katelyn Buehler and Scott Cannon. I say we make it a three way with BOTH the World AND the Evolution Championships on the line!
Miss Jon’s eyes widen as she continues to chew on the shirt of the fallen Tyson Galloway.
Greyson: Is Howe serious? I mean, his client hasn’t even been in the IWC for more than three months, and he’s already insisting she receive a World Title shot?
Frankie: AND an Evolution Title shot.
Sparkles: Surely our Principle Owner won’t go for this.
Martin salivates at the thought of seeing his client leave here tonight with two titles over her shoulders.
Martin: The decision is YOURS IWC, and it is a decision that I would not make lightly.
As Martin makes this final chilling comment we see a few EMTS sliding into the ring and gathering around the unconscious Tyson, the latest victim of his client’s wrath. As a female medic tends to Tyson’s potentially injured neck she suddenly feels her pony tail grabbed. She unleashes a loud scream as she’s dragged towards Miss Jon and then lifted into the sit-out powerbomb.
Greyson: HEEEEY! NOOOO!
Sparkles: Now Miss Jon has just laid out an EMT!
Frankie: This woman is a straight up psychopath.
Miss Jon sits on the canvas with a t-shirt hanging out from between her teeth and a crippled EMT spread across the ring in front of her.
The door to the offices of Silas Mason open and we see perhaps the last person we wanted to exiting through it. Blaire McBride steps out into the hallway with her chin lowered into her hand, appearing as if she’s in deep contemplation. Apparently the Principle Owner has given her quite a bit of food for thought just moments before she’s slated to team up against him and his thugs in a six person tag team match. At last Blaire walks off down the hall, while she remains deeply immersed in her thoughts and in the proposition Silas just made.
EARLIER TONIGHT
The footage on the screen correlates to the events of earlier this evening when all hell broke lose in the ring regarding the World Title.
Greyson: This night has not been one we’ll soon be able to forget, thanks in large part to the destruction just unleashed by Miss Jon, and all the chaos that occurred earlier on when our World Champion was drawn into the ring by her rival Taylor Chase.
Frankie: And Katelyn was stupid enough to take the bait.
Sparkles: Katelyn came out to face Taylor but it was all just a set up.
Just as the World Champion Katelyn prepares to lock up with Taylor, a briefcase cracks her in the back of the head. Taylor’s Monarchy teammate Lexy Chapel uses the briefcase holding the number one contender contract to lay Katelyn out. She then tries to use the briefcase, that she stole from the rightful owner, to demand an immediate shot at the championship. However, the true number one contender, and the man destined to face Katelyn for the title tonight, Scott Cannon, runs to the ring and attacks the Monarchy members.
Eventually Scott is overwhelmed by Monarchy, which draws out his brothers Michael and David Cannon. They lend their brother aid in clearing the ring but then lay out the World Champion. The pair then insists that Scott cash in his number one contender contract and defeat Katelyn right then and right there for the World Title. Although Scott contemplates it, he ultimately decides to do the honorable thing and does not take advantage of the injured World Champion. As he walks away from the ring his brother David shouts at him in anger before turning around and walking right into the roaring elbow by the Champ. Katelyn lays David out then stands over him with the World Title raised aloft above her head.
Cameras go from the video package to dem Cannon boys, or at least two thirds of them. While an irritated Michael paces the hall, his brother David sits against the wall rubbing his hand across a jaw that is still smarting after receiving the World Champion’s roaring elbow. Correspondent Mark Comeau is stood in the forefront, microphone clasped in his hand.
Comeau: Ladies and gentlemen, earlier tonight we witnessed an encounter between the Cannons and our World Champion Katelyn Buehler. Gentlemen (turns from camera to the Cannons), there’s been a lot of speculation in regards to your motives of late. Two weeks ago we saw you turn your backs on your brother Scott while he was being assaulted in the ring….
David: We were sending our brother a message.
Michael: One that didn’t take apparently.
Comeau: Well tonight, you two pulled a 180 and actually came to Scott’s defense….
Michael: A lot of good that did.
Comeau: What are you trying to accomplish?
David: We came out to that ring tonight to help our brother because we hoped that by walking out on him two weeks ago that it would make him realize that this whole quest for redemption he’s been on is only going to end in embarrassment for our family.
Michael: But judging by what he did…no, what he DIDN’T do earlier on, he still hasn’t accepted that he is, nor will he ever be, a GOOD man.
David: Meaning that if he wants to become World Champion, WE’RE going to have to step up our efforts.
Comeau: So you guys don’t think that Scott possesses the skills to win the World Title in a straight forward match?
Michael: Did we say that? No, we didn’t. But why should we leave anything up to chance?
David: Especially when we’re in a position to make sure we don’t have to.
Cameras have transitioned back to the Riot set or more accurately to the huge mound that is set off to the side of it. A tarp is being removed from a giant hill of dirt, revealing the grave embedded into it.
Greyson: The time is upon us guys.
The ominous statement is punctuated by the arrival of a backhoe. The giant piece of construction machinery drives along from the back before it comes to a stop right beside the grave.
Sparkles: That backhoe out here for perhaps the most macabre reason imaginable.
Frankie: To bury someone alive.
Greyson: The issues that have been steadily building for six months between Mordecai and Johnny Kingdom comes to a heading.
Sparkles: With one of these two men ending up six feet beneath dirt.
Greyson: This feud really kick started back at IWC Awakening when Kingdom was shockingly assaulted by the monster who looks to bury him tonight.
AWAKENING
A recap shows what happened back at the last pay-per-view event when Johnny Kingdom took on Scott Cannon in a culmination of their long standing rivalry. In the waning moments of that bout Kingdom looks to be on the verge of potentially capturing a victory over Cannon, hitting him with the Exodus Finale. Kingdom then goes for the pin only to have a set of hands rip up through the canvas and latch onto his ankle. A stunned Kingdom claws at the ring but can’t prevent being dragged beneath the ring by the deranged Mordecai.
RIOT!
The footage transitions into a show several weeks later where Mordecai buries what he claims to be the remains of Kingdom in a burlap sack before going on to challenge for the World Title. When it appears that Mordecai may pull off a stunning win over the Champion, to the relief of thousands Johnny Kingdom makes his return and does so by causing his rival to be rolled up for a three count costing him the title.
RIOT! TWO WEEKS AGO
On the last edition of Riot before the pay-per-view we witness Mordecai holding a mock wake for Kingdom in the ring. There is nothing fake about the hands that tear their way through the canvas and grab Mordecai’s ankle. Kingdom attempts to drag his nemesis under the squared circle before the two brawl. Eventually they fight their way up the ramp and towards a number of black cars that participated in a funeral procession. Once on top of one of these vehicles Kingdom tries to hit the Exodus Finale on Mordecai only to have the monster’s sister, Mrs. R, throw dirt directly into his eyes. A blinded Kingdom is then chokeslammed onto the roof of the car. Mordecai and Mrs. R follow this act of destruction via observing a moment of silence for the fallen Kingdom.
JOHNNY KINGDOM VS. MORDECAI:
BURIED ALIVE MATCH
After so much has went down between Mordecai and Johnny Kingdom in the past six months the finale is finally here. The open grave dug into the mound of dirt beside the stage will provide for a resolution to this long gestating rivalry. Before we get to it the haunting melody of Mordecai’s entrance theme descends upon the ears of the crowd. The mood in the arena takes a turn at the sight of Mrs. R emerging from the back, representing her brother, who has yet to make his entrance. Dragged along beside her is a Priest, who through physical coercion is being forced to make his way towards the edge of the grave.
Greyson: The Buried Alive Match between Mordecai and Johnny Kingdom is SUPPOSED to be starting right now but for some bizarre reason a priest is being dragged out here by Mordecai’s sister, Mrs. R.
Frankie: Isn’t it fitting?
Greyson: What?
Frankie: That a priest be here to give the last rites to Kingdom before he ends up in the bottom of that grave?
Sparkles; It’s not quite such an open and shut case Frankie. We’ve seen Kingdom rise above challenges as great as….
Frankie: Bullshit, Johnny has NEVER faced anything the likes of Mordecai before.
The mental edge headed into this match definitely goes to Mordecai and his sister. Mrs. R nudges the priest several times, pushing him to the edge of the open grave and urging him to begin his sermon. With tears of fear welling up in his eyes the priest begins to read a passage from the bible in his palms.
Priest: Today we gather to pay our final respects to the once revered Johnny Kingdom…
Mrs. R digs her nails into the Priest’s bicep and yanks his ear towards her lips.
Priest: We pay NO respects to the Fallen King….
It sickens the Priest to say these words.
Priest: Who’s death was a blessing that ended the curse of a man who long surpassed his usefulness. Please would you all join me as I recite Psalm 23 in recognition of Kingdom’s….Kingdom’s…. passing….I can’t do this.
Confesses the Priest, who shuts the bible and shakes his head towards Mr. R.
Priest: This is sacrilege.
Mrs. R: Do as you’ve been instructed.
Priest: I won’t….
Mrs. R: Do not force me to do something you will regret dear.
Priest: I wont….
Suddenly Mrs. R gives the reverend such a forceful shove that it takes him off of his feet and sends him rolling down the dirt hill.
Greyson: COME ON!
Frankie: Oh great, the bible thumpers are gonna be angry!
The moment the Priest hits the ground at the base of the dirt mound the livid crowd have an emotional resurgence at the tunes of Johnny Kingdom’s theme music playing over the loud speakers. Mrs. R whips around to face the stage but does not do so quick enough. Kingdom is already making his way from the backstage area and has dropped to the side of the fallen Priest, checking his condition. His eyes, more ravenous than ever, have focused on Mrs. R, who steadily back peddles closer and closer to the edge of the grave.
Greyson: Kingdom getting a hero’s reception here tonight.
Frankie: Then he should receive a hero’s funeral by the end of it.
Sparkles: He’s got Mrs. R in his sights. This woman has aided her brother Mordecai numerous times over the past six months in torturing and tormenting Kingdom.
Greyson: Now it appears she is about to answer for those many transgressions.
As Kingdom climbs the hill Mrs. R backs from his reach. She doesn’t have much more room to flee, if that’s what she was doing. Needless to say it wasn’t. She’s not retreating, she’s luring. The moment Kingdom steps to the side of the grave a set of hands reach up out of it. The crowd squeals in response to Mordecai as the devilish figure rises from the hole and locks his hands around Kingdom’s ankle.
Greyson: This was a set up!
Sparkles: Mordecai was hiding inside of that grave this whole time, just WAITING to get his hands on Kingdom.
Frankie: This might be a very short lived Buried Alive Match.
The grip on his ankle pulls Kingdom right off of his feet and down into the grave. The second Johnny lands at the base of the hole he finds a big fist slamming across his jaw. Mordecai levels Kingdom with one powerful punch, taking him down to the ground. Mordecai begins to exit the grave with the intention of burying his rival and burying him in record setting time. He is just about half way out of the grave before Mordecai finds his legs caught in the clutches of Kingdom. The former World Champion holds tight to his adversary’s ankle before being kicked off and knocked to his back. Mordecai then stands up at the edge of the grave before approaching a shovel that has the blade dug into a pile of dirt. Mordecai lifts the shovel and prepares to throw some dirt down onto Kingdom, starting the process of burying him. Before even a speck of dirt hits him Kingdom climbs up and out of the grave.
The shovel is no longer employed to bury Kingdom but to brutalize him. He swings the shovel down at Kingdom’s back. The shovel hits Kingdom right between his shoulder blades. The impact echoes throughout the arena and reverberates throughout Johnny’s bones. Mordecai tosses the shovel into the grave and then takes hold of Kingdom’s head, pulling him up from the ground. The monster loads his prey up and onto his shoulder before charging him head first towards the side of the steel backhoe.
Before Kingdom’s head can collide with the construction machinery he manages to slide back and off of his opponent’s shoulder. Kingdom lands behind Mordecai, who is quickly spiraling around into a boot to the gut. With lighting fast speed Kingdom manages to DDT Mordecai’s head into the dirt mound, the impact causing him to pop back up to his feet and spiraling away from his rival. Kingdom dashes in behind a disorientated Mordecai, puts hands to his back and shoves him head first into the side of the steel bucket of the backhoe.
Greyson: That backhoe being used as a weapon as well.
Sparkles: No rules, no count outs, no disqualifications, might as well as make use of the backhoe too.
After his head ricocheted off the bucket Mordecai’s body goes spiraling to the base of the hill, stumbling towards the crowd. The two are off to the side of the Riot set and are now making their way in the direction of the barricade. Kingdom delivers a forearm over his adversary’s back, the blow knocking his opponent onto the barrier. A dazed Mordecai drops with his arm over the barricade, which is the only thing that is holding him up. His legs start to buckle when Mordecai finds his face on the receiving end of one punch after another punch after another punch from Kingdom’s piston like hands. The punches stop flying into his adversary’s skull so that Kingdom can step back and give Mordecai an ‘up yours’ taunt. He then steps in and nails a knock out shot across Mordecai’s chin. The blow has Mordecai staggering back towards the dirt mound and the backhoe set up right beside it. Kingdom stops his opponent’s momentum though, spinning him around, latching onto his wrist then Irish whipping him towards the barricade. However, Mordecai twists around and instead he sends Kingdom’s body into the steel. Kingdom hits the barricade with enough force to knock it completely over, Johnny coming down on top of it.
Sparkles: Kingdom launched right through the barricade!
Greyson: If it buckled on impact just imagine the effect it had on Kingdom’s body.
The crowd that WAS being held back by the barricade are now restrained by security, keeping them out of harm’s way. The injured body of Kingdom starts to work its way up from the barricade and then into Mordecai’s arms. Before Johnny can counter he’s being struck with a scoop slam that sends his already injured muscularity colliding with the knocked over barricade. Instinctively Kingdom rolls off of the steel and tries to work his way back up to his feet, standing just in time to be leveled with a vicious right hand. The blow knocks Kingdom down onto the barricade where he bows his spine from the unforgiving, merciless steel.
In spite of his multiple impacts with the barricade Kingdom is still attempting to stand up. Amazingly he does get up only to regret doing so when Mordecai swoops in, scooping him up onto his shoulder. Mordecai dashes Kingdom along and then throws him like a dart right into the side of the backhoe.
Greyson: Ooooh damn! OOOOH DAMN WHAT AN IMPACT!
Frankie: We all knew this match was going to be every bit this vicious.
Sparkles: Especially with a total lack of anything that even remotely resembles rules.
The head first slam into the backhoe has Kingdom leveled and desperately trying to push himself up from the ground. Mordecai snags him by the wrist and then Irish whips Kingdom into the side of the backhoe a second time. Kingdom bounces off then stumbles along right into the uppercut unleashed across his jaw. The shot has taken Kingdom down to a knee, the effects of this hard hitting contest beginning to show.
Mordecai latches onto Kingdom’s throat and gives it a tug, dragging him up onto his feet and preparing to throw him into the side of the backhoe once again. He whips Kingdom towards the steel only to have the Team Leader reverse. Instead he sends Mordecai running into the side of the construction machinery, his back hitting it forcefully. He bounces off but does not go down to the ground, instead Mordecai ricochets from the backhoe then runs right into a clothesline that knocks his opponent to the ground.
Greyson: Man, what does it take to keep Mordecai grounded?
Sparkles: Grounded? First Kingdom has to knock Mordecai to the ground in order to keep him there.
A gasping Kingdom tries to stand up even as boots drill him in the back of the skull. A few well-placed stomps send Kingdom rolling along in the direction of the stage. The moment that he stands up Kingdom finds himself lifted onto Mordecai’s shoulder in a spinebuster position and then charged back first right into the wall that supports the stage. Kingdom’s body hits with enough force to not just knock air out of his body but to break the bones within it. Mordecai takes a few steps back with Kingdom still held across his shoulder and his spine about to be on the receiving end of another collision with the wall. Kingdom’s organs feel like they’ve just been turned into jam thanks to the multiple brutal impacts that his opponent has subjected him to. Mordecai flings his opponent down to the ground, sending him rolling towards the backhoe. Kingdom grabs at the treads, using them to struggle along to his feet.
Mordecai is about to knock him right back down to the ground, stepping up behind Kingdom, grabbing the back of his head and swinging it towards the treads. Somehow Kingdom is able to get his hands out and block the collision. He then throws his elbow back into Mordecai’s ribs before taking HIM by the back of his skull and swinging it along right into the backhoe treads. Mordecai stumbles back with his arms out to his sides, unable to block the punches that Kingdom unleashes. One shot after another staggers Mordecai towards the base of the dirt mound. He staggers up the hill while Kingdom follows, continuing to unleash punches and clubbing strikes on his rival.
Once the two are on top of the hill Kingdom runs in to level Mordecai with a clothesline only to receive a boot square across the jaw. The shot knocks Kingdom away, giving Mordecai a little breathing room. He slouches down with his hands to his knees, unaware what’s happened to his adversary. Kingdom has rolled down the hill and then disappeared under the boom of the backhoe.
Mordecai finally turns around to face his opposition only to realize that Kingdom has vanished entirely. Although Mordecai searches high and low for him it isn’t until the Team Leader WANTS to be found that his whereabouts are discovered. The fans are almost creaming all over themselves at the sight of Kingdom standing on top the backhoe boom. He is elevated high, high, HIGH in the air, but before long he comes plummeting down from those tremendous heights into a clothesline that nails Mordecai in the throat.
Frankie: AAAAAAHHHHH!!!
Greyson: Kingdom off the boom, Kingdom off the boom and into a clothesline!
Sparkles: Listen to the reaction from these fans.
Mrs. R stands behind the tombstone that is set up at the head of the grave that she hopes will not be occupied by her brother. It looks like Kingdom is about to gravely disappoint Mrs. R though, because his fists are swinging into the side of a kneeling Mordecai’s face. The punches knock him over and then Mordecai is pushed by the back of his head straight into the hole.
Greyson: Mordecai is in the grave, Kingdom’s got him in there, just cover him with dirt and this will all be over!
Kingdom crawls towards the edge of the grave and makes the mistake of peering inside. That’s when a fist flies up out of the hole and slams directly into his temple. Mordecai lunges to his feet, jabs Kingdom in the skull and the blow takes him completely off his game-plan. As Johnny rolls onto his side he raises a palm towards his forehead, and the whites of his eyes widen until his pupils almost disappear. Somehow he turns back to face the grave only to find himself on the receiving end of a headbutt. The shot knocks Kingdom away from the grave and allows Mordecai to exit it. Amazingly Kingdom is back on his feet and dashing towards his opponent only to be caught with a big scoop slam that drives his body into the dirt.
The remarkable resiliency of Kingdom is on display as he tries to stand up only to walk into yet another headbutt. This blow sends Kingdom twisting along and falling into the grave.
Greyson: Now Kingdom is in the hole.
Frankie: Someone give Mordecai a crash course in operating that backhoe.
A handful of dirt finds its way into Mordecai’s palm and begins to spill through his fingers. He crouches towards the hole, peering inside at the body left broken some six feet below.
Mordecai: Even KINGS cannot escape death.
Preaches the monster as he allows the dirt in his hand to fall onto the head of his rival. But that may be the last bit of dirt that strikes Kingdom. The blade of a shovel comes flying up out of the grave and smacking Mordecai straight in the top of his head. The impact of skull to steel echoes throughout the arena. As Mordecai’s eyes roll to the back of his head his opponent climbs out of the grave. More than head trauma is inflicted, because the shovel crushes Mordecai directly in his ribs. The blow doubles Mordecai over and exposes his head to the front chancery. The crowd is erupting as Kingdom prepares to give Mordecai the Exodus Finale, hitting him with a brainbuster DDT on top of the dirt hill.
Sparkles: Remember Kingdom! Remember how this man tried to take your life.
Frankie: Mordecai still argues that he DID take Kingdom’s life.
Greyson: It looks like Kingdom might be about to return the favor if he successfully delivers this.
Kingdom is just about to elevate Mordecai into the Exodus Finale only to halt when he spots a handful of dirt about to go sailing into his eyes. Mordecai’s sister Mrs. R is about to toss the dirt and blind the Team Leader. Unlike two weeks earlier Kingdom sees this coming and puts a stop to it. He catches Mrs. R by the wrist and holds it tight, pushing back on her arm and forcing her to her knees.
Greyson: He’s got Mrs. R! Johnny is going to make her pay for what she did two weeks ago.
Frankie: Unhand that defenseless woman.
Greyson: Defenseless woman? She’s just as sick and twisted as her brother!
As it seems Kingdom is about to fulfill his quota on revenge things go horribly awry. An open palm engulfs his throat and before Kingdom has a chance to react he’s being chokeslammed directly into the grave. Mordecai stands at the edge of the grave that he just sent Kingdom flinging down into.
Greyson: OOOOH!
Sparkles: Kingdom chokeslammed six feet under!
The crowd is very vocally voicing their disbelief at the sight of the chokeslam that may have just shattered every bone in Kingdom’s body. Somehow the fans become even louder when observing a far deadlier act about to be committed by Mordecai. He steps around the grave and nears the tombstone planted at the head of it. A disgusting grin creeps across Mordecai’s face as he puts his hands on the headstone and begins to push it with all of his strength.
Greyson: Things taking a very nasty turn here.
Sparkles: Mordecai is trying to push that tombstone down on top of Kingdom inside of the grave.
Greyson: He’ll crush Kingdom if he does this.
Mordecai displays his raw power as he pushes the tombstone closer and closer, inch by inch, towards the grave. The fans are begging him not to do it, as if their pleas have the slightest effect on him. With one final shove the tombstone is sent tumbling into the grave, but it’s not into a grave that Kingdom still occupies. The Team Leader stands up and rolls out of the grave just in time to prevent being crushed by the tombstone.
Sparkles: Kingdom barely….BARELY avoiding being squished by that tombstone.
Kingdom crawls away from the hole while Mordecai moves around it. He closes in on the Team Leader, reaching down to grab his shoulder only to get something else, a shovel right between the eyes. Kingdom has picked up the shovel and he’s just creamed Mordecai straight in the forehead, resulting in a potential hematoma. He staggers to the hole with his heels going over the edge, seconds from falling back and into the grave. Kingdoms steps in to deliver another blow with the shovel, walking right into a big boot straight across his jaw. The shovel falls out of Kingdom’s hands and his body goes twisting down to the ground.
Greyson: Mordecai is simply put UNSTOPPABLE!
Sparkles: The guy makes X-Men’s Juggernaut look like Bozo the Clown.
The macabre monster locks his hands around Kingdom’s head and pulls it along under his seat. The crowd trembles in fear as Mordecai prepares to commit an unspeakable act. He readies to deliver the Embrace the Dark.
Sparkles: What is Mordecai thinking here?
Greyson: I dare say not even Hannibal Lecter wants to know the answer to that question.
Frankie: Looks to me like Mordecai is going to give Kingdom the Last Ride powerbomb into the grave.
The twisted Mordecai lifts Kingdom into the air with every intention of ending his life and accomplishing as much via throwing him back into the grave with the Embrace the Dark. Mordecai gets Kingdom up onto his shoulders and is just about to hit him with a powerbomb that would certainly end the career of the Team Leader. At the last second Johnny puts his hands to the top of Mordecai’s head and shoves himself over into a leap frog. He lands behind Mordecai, coming down on his feet just as Mrs. R comes in swinging at Kingdom with a shovel. Kingdom steps out of the way just in time to avoid the makeshift weapon that goes flying past him. Mrs. R’s momentum carries her by Kingdom and into the grave.
Greyson: Mrs R in the GRAVE!
Sparkles: She tried to hit Kingdom with the shovel but she missed him by half an inch.
Frankie: That half an inch has just left Mrs. R six feet below.
Mordecai’s eyes brood at the image of his sister lying inside of the grave. With as much speed as he can muster he climbs down into the hole and checks on Mrs. R, trying to revive her and get her out of the hole. All the while Kingdom is capitalizing on his opponent’s distraction, approaching the bucket of the backhoe. He climbs up it and onto the mound of dirt that is held inside. Johnny then turns to the driver of the machinery, pointing up towards the sky. The boom begins to raise with the Kingdom standing atop the bucket.
Greyson: Uhhhh, what is Kingdom doing?
Sparkles: He’s got Mordecai and Mrs. R inside of that grave and now he’s on top of the steel bucket holding all that dirt.
Greyson: And it’s raising him towards the heavens.
The boom raises just as high as it can, putting Kingdom at an elevation that would even make Peter Pan’s sphincter tighten. After pantomiming a cross over his chest Kingdom leaps out of the bucket and goes flipping through the air, hitting a 450 splash all the way onto Mordecai inside of the grave.
Greyson: OOOOOH MMMMMYYYY!!
Sparkles: HOLY PEPPERJACK!
Everyone watches with dropped jaws as Kingdom delivers perhaps the most impressive move he’s hit in his over 20 year career. Mordecai took every last bit of the 450 splash, while Mrs. R barely avoided it, being thrown out of the grave by her brother just in time. She gets to her knees and watches in shock as Kingdom climbs up and onto his feet inside of the grave, standing over her brother. Kingdom bends down to say something to the monster.
Kingdom: You’re right Mordecai, everyone dies eventually….but I won’t die TONIGHT.
Eh, maybe he spoke too soon. Mordecai hand launches into the air and takes Kingdom by the throat. Mrs. R leers towards the driver of the backhoe, now screaming at him and pointing to the bucket filled with dirt.
Mrs. R: DROP IT!
The backhoe driver isn’t about to question Mrs. R. He starts to tip the bucket that will drop a huge pile of dirt into the hole and onto Kingdom with Mrs. R believing her brother is about to get out of the way. She instantly regrets calling for the driver to drop the dirt, because Kingdom reaches from the hole, grabs the shovel sitting beside it and slams the steel right down into Mordecai’s head. Johnny falls back and looks up at the dirt beginning to spill down on top of him. At the last possible moment he jumps from the hole just as a huge pile of earth goes flying past him and filling the grave that Mordecai is lying inside of.
Greyson: Kingdom out of the hole!
Frankie: With Mordecai STILL inside, and he just got BURIED.
Greyson: It’s over! It’s over! Mordecai BURIED ALIVE!
Every single soul inside of the arena lets out a reaction that compels Kingdom to rise to his knees with one fist elevated overhead. He kneels beside the grave now filled with dirt, but he’s not the only one at the edge of the hole. Mrs. R is also on her knees as she looks into the massive pile of earth that has just buried her brother beneath it.
Greyson: The Fallen King has risen tonight to best the beast.
Sparkles: Kingdom has won World Titles, he’s beaten legends the likes of Orlando Cruze and Daemon Frost, but this is without a doubt one of the biggest wins of his long endearing legacy.
Greyson: After six months of torture at the hands of Mordecai, the Team Leader has at last defeated his greatest threat.
Kingdom stands up on top of the dirt that has Mordecai buried under it. He lifts his arms aloft, absorbing the cheers of the crowd, all thankful to see him remaining above ground. His eyes slowly turn from the celebrating audience to Mrs. R kneeling beside him with a handful of dirt. She slowly looks up with a demented grin coming to her face.
Mrs. R: He will devour you from below….hahahahahaha.
The dirt falls through her fingers and onto her brother’s grave. Kingdom shakes his head after hearing what Mrs. R has to say then steps towards the backhoe. He climbs up onto the boom and lets it once again raise him into the air so that the whole world can witness his celebration.
Greyson: Congratulations Kingdom. You have just done everyone in this federation a great service.
Sparkles: He has slayed the monster that has tormented us for the past year.
Frankie: Or did he?
Cameras have transitioned to the Monarchy dressing room where emotions are running high. Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly, Taylor Chase and Orlando Cruze are speaking with elevated tones. Trinity Street and Lucas Knight attempt to smooth things over. It doesn’t appear that their arguing with each other, but voicing and voicing LOUDLY their outrage regarding what transpired earlier tonight.
Greyson: Monarchy are still all riled up regarding what happened when they TRIED to steal the World Championship earlier tonight.
Sparkles: Lexy Chapel came within an eyelash, an EYELASH, of capturing the title.
Greyson: After her Monarchy teammate lured World Champion Katelyn Buehler to the ring and then Lexy tried to use the briefcase that she stole from the TRUE Number One Contender Scott Cannon to steal the title.
Frankie: It wasn’t stealing anything, she was TAKING what was owed to her.
The Monarchy members continue to talk amongst themselves before Trinity at last silences everyone with just a single sentence.
Trinity: The night isn’t over!
A fist pounds repeatedly into the door that leads to the Trainer’s office. Finally it opens and the elderly medic in his super thick glasses emerges from his dwelling. He looks up from the race track betting sheet in his hand to the very intense gaze of Ricky Holt.
Trainer: Can I uhhhh….
Holt: You can start by looking me in the eye like a man.
Trainer: Okay.
He summons the courage to stare into Holt’s face, which is akin to looking directly at the sun.
Holt: Then you can tell me that you’ve given Devon Kayl medical clearance to face me TONIGHT.
Trainer: Well I hate to be the bearer of bad new…..
Holt: Then don’t you little skidmark!
The ever threatening Holt latches onto the Trainer’s throat.
Holt: Tell me that Kayl is good to wrestle me.
Trainer: I’m-I’m-I’m sorry, but Mordecai did a number on him several months ago, he didn’t pass concussion protocol and-and-and….
Holt: I didn’t ask for a medical evaluation! I told you to….
Eric: Ricky-Ricky-Ricky chill out man.
An unfamiliar figure to the IWC fandom steps between Holt and the Trainer. A baseball bat hangs from this gentleman’s hand, a great equalizer if there ever was one.
Eric: Your on thin enough ice as it is. If anyone catches wind of you beating up some old douche, no matter how much they might deserve it, TMZ will have a field day and you’ll be out some pay.
The Trainer looks relieved that his throat is free from Holt’s clutches and has only this mysterious stranger to thank. A stranger that seems to have calmed down the highly volatile Holt.
Trainer: Ummm, thank you….
The gentleman whips around and raises the bat so that the very top of it is wedged beneath the Trainer’s chin.
Eric: O’Flaherty, Eric O’Flaherty. And don’t thank me just yet. Because you and I, we’re gonna have a little a chat, and it won’t end, until you tell me what Ricky and I want to hear.
The bat is used to nudge the trainer back into his office. The door closes behind O’Flaherty’s back and a smirking Holt stands guard outside of the office.
Marina Valdivia is about as pissed as pissed can be. The look on her face would be enough to send anyone running for the hills, though hills probably aren’t high enough to escape the hate in her eyes. Moments after hearing that her agent had duped her, Marina marches along to confront Tabitha Silverstone and to get the cold hard truth, no matter how difficult it might be to face.
Marina digs deep to find the courage to go bursting through the door and into the room where she mistakenly believes Tabitha is waiting. Instead what she finds is a card on the chair where Tabitha SHOULD be seated.
Marina: Gone to get X-Rays….
The card is read out loud.
Marina: Win for me. XOXO Tabitha Silverstone.
An angst ridden Marina balls up the note and throws the wadded paper across the room.
A woman who gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘intense’ stands with her side to the camera. Her silhouette is a truly intimidating visual, with her snarled lips, her broad tensed shoulders and her clinched fists. Her agent Martin Howe III stands beside her, dwarfed by her immense proportions, and drinking in the image of his client. The two stand in a rather shadowy hallway, with only a few gray pipes running up the walls at their sides.
Martin: Don’t concern yourself with Silas’ announcement. He’ll make the right decision, the one most beneficial to his life expectancy.
The cheeks of Miss Jon twitch as she tries to resist her laughter.
Martin: By the end of the night you WILL leave here with the Evolution and the WORLD Championships. Silas WILL add you the main event, and he WILL do so after this six person tag match for his Principle Ownership has concluded. I guarantee that tonight the DESTROYER OF BEAUTY will be UNLLLLLLEEEASSHHEEED!
The camera slowly zooms in on the pinpoint black pupil in Miss Jon’s fierce eyes.
”Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold is playing over the arena loud speakers, resulting in a loud cacophony of screams from the audience. Their anger is directed at Silas Mason, the Principle Owner, who is the first to emerge from the backstage area. Behind his backs are two very imposing figures, Randal Williams and Marcus Briggs, his teammates for the evening. Bringing up the rear are Jeffrey Starxxx and Mason Van Stanton, two more members of Silas’ staff. All five men head along down the ramp and towards the squared circle where Silas prepares to compete in the biggest match of his life.
Greyson: As much as we’d like to address what we just witnessed backstage with Miss Jon and her agent Martin Howe III, the match we’re about to witness up next takes precedence over anything and everything else.
Sparkles: After over six long months it all finally comes down to this. The McBrides versus Silas Mason and Team Excellence for control of the Principle Ownership. Karen, Blaire and Melanie versus Silas, Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams.
Frankie: In a match that Majority Owner Drew Bryant set up to intentionally screw Silas over.
Greyson: No, what Drew did was even the playing field. After months of hiding behind others to keep Karen McBride from reclaiming the Principle Ownership that he stole from her, Silas is now being FORCED into that ring and FORCED to fight for himself. After months of having people interfere and backstab Karen, there will be no outside interference permitted in this match. And if Silas thinks he can get himself disqualified, that isn’t happening either, this match is NO DQ.
Frankie: Exactly, Drew might think that he’s got Silas backed into a corner, but he’s about to find out that Silas is a very resourceful man.
Greyson: Silas may have Randal Williams and Marcus Briggs in his corner, and he’s done everything in his power to drive a wedge between his opponents but one way or another he’s going to be held accountable here tonight.
TWO WEEKS AGO
On the final edition of Riot we witness clips of Blaire McBride seated in her dressing room just moments before her sister Karen collides one on one with Silas Mason. Oddly enough Silas enters Blaire’s abode with little concern for the consequences of his intrusion. He throws a referee shirt on Blaire’s lap and then informs her that she’ll be the special referee for that evening’s match pitting Silas against Karen. When Blaire refuses Silas shows her footage on his cellphone of his goons Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams loitering outside of her younger sister Melanie’s dressing room. They threaten to inflict great bodily injury on Melanie should Blaire not play along.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Later on the evening the fans see Karen finally getting her hands on Silas in the center of the ring, beating him down with a barrage of punches. However, special referee Blaire McBride calls for the bell, disqualifying her own sister for use of closed fists. Although Blaire tries to explain that she had no choice in DQing her sibling Karen is hearing nothing other than the sound of her sister’s neck snapping. Karen hits Blaire with the swinging neck breaker otherwise known as the End Game.
THE MCBRIDES VS. SILAS MASON & TEAM EXCELLENCE:
PRINCIPLE OWNERSHIP ON THE LINE
Silas and his brigade are in the ring save for Mason Van Stanton and Jeffrey Starxxx, who remain beyond the ropes. At the moment Randal Williams is stood behind Silas, massaging his shoulders to get him physically ready for the big clash ahead.
Greyson: Silas Mason has been very successful in driving the McBrides apart.
Frankie: He’s a brilliant strategist, he’s been able to capitalize on Karen’s distrust of her sister Blaire to ensure that his opponents come into tonight’s match at each other’s throats, rather than at his.
Sparkles: We’ll see just how well those tactics play out here tonight.
Frankie: You just saw how those tactics worked in that video package, Karen laid Blaire out with the End Game. And she’ll do far worse if Blaire comes to that ring to be in her corner.
”American Dreamgirl” plays throughout the arena and in stark contrast to the way the crowd greeted Silas, they are on their feet cheering on his opponent Karen McBride. She steps through the curtains with her sister Melanie in tow, yet predictably Blaire is not side by side with her family on their way to the squared circle.
Greyson: We probably say this WAAAAY too many times, but truly this is, without a doubt….
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, the BIGGEST match of Karen’s career, yadda-yadda-yadda. Same old song and dance. Face it, the magnitude of this match has no bearing on the outcome. There’s only ONE way that this match ends and it won’t be pleasant for either Karen OR Melanie.
Sparkles: Uhhhh guys, has no one noticed that Blaire McBride hasn’t come out here with her sisters?
Frankie: Big shock there. She’s probably still sitting at home with a broken neck after Karen gave her the End Game two weeks ago.
Greyson: This is a shame. This whole dilemma started because of Blaire and her thirst for power, and tonight she was in a position to make everything right with Karen.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think that Blaire knows the meaning of the word ‘right.’
As Melanie keeps peeking back over her shoulder at the entry way, hoping to see her sister Blaire, Karen keeps moving for the ring. Once on the apron Karen shouts at Melanie, ordering her to give up on their sister and to get her head in the match. Before long Melanie is in her team’s corner and Karen is marching straight across the ring towards Silas. The referee given the unenviable task of keeping this match under control, jumps right in Karen’s way, holding her back. It isn’t until Marcus and Randal exit the ring that the official calls for the bell, allowing the bout to begin with Silas Mason and Karen McBride being the legal participants.
Greyson: This match starting just the way it should, Silas and Karen at last about to finish this.
There isn’t one second of hesitation on Karen’s part to get her hands on Silas. She makes a mad dash across the ring for the Principle Owner only to have him leap back out of her reach, slapping the huge chest of his partner Briggs. Instantly Karen comes to a stop when seeing the immense proportions of Marcus stepping over the ropes into the squared circle. His gigantic body approaches the woman who looks like a mere midget beside him. He reaches out for Karen only to have McBride duck down and avoid being caught. Marcus spins around and receives one knife edge chop across the chest and then gets caught with a forearm against his sternum. Karen then leaps into a dropkick that nails Marcus across the knee, causing him to almost buckle down to the canvas. The pace is kept at a lighting fast speed, just the way Karen needs things to proceed. She runs into the ropes, ricochets from them and comes back in at Marcus only to be caught against his big hands then thrown extremely high into the air. Karen catches the height of LeBron James slam dunking a basketball before her face goes down right into the canvas.
Frankie: Did you see the ELEVATION on that throw?
Sparkles: Sparkles wonders if Karen could see my house from there.
Greyson: Karen caught a lot of height, but sadly what goes up comes down.
Karen hit the canvas with the force of a meteorite and is now desperately trying to work her way up from it. Unfortunately Marcus is right on top of her, his hands engulfing her throat, lifting her from the ring and throwing her into the turnbuckle. A laughing Silas is truly enjoying the spectacle of it all, cheering on his teammate as Marcus runs into a big splash. He aims the bulk of his weight at Karen only for it all to connect with the corner. The air is knocked out of Marcus’ body, which stumbles back into Karen’s waiting feet. A dropkick hits Marcus in the upper back, sending him twisting along into the corner, ending up with his spine pressed against it. Karen dashes in, jumps onto the ropes in front of Marcus and begins to pound at his face with rights and lefts. She is punching so fast that the crowd can’t even keep count of how many blows she’s delivered across Marcus’ head.
After pummeling Marcus with the strikes Karen leaps away from her opponent and goes racing towards the Principle Owner. Silas drops down from the ring apron and backs up with a smile still on his face, patronizing his opponent with a dismissive wave of his hand. An angered Karen turns away from Silas and focuses on her legal opponent only not fast enough. Marcus levels her with a clothesline so forceful that is instantly closes her throat.
From her corner of the ring we can see Melanie watching her sister take this beating while periodically looking back over her shoulder at the entry way, hoping to see another sister come to their aid. Back inside of the ring Karen is inching her way up from the canvas unaware that a tag has just been made to another of her opponents. Randal Williams dashes into the squared circle, introducing his fist to the back of Karen’s head. He drops down driving all five knuckles into his adversary’s skull, the impact knocking Karen out cold. Randal then lifts Karen up from the ring before dropping her spine straight across his knee with the Canadian back-breaker. At ringside Starxxx is making an absolute ass of himself, leaping around and shouting excitedly at the sight of one of his boys taking the advantage.
Randal maintains that advantage but first he does some hip grinding for the delight of the ladies in attendance.
Starxxx: OOOH YEEEAH BABAY! BRING THAT SWEET STUFF OVER HERE!
Apparently the females aren’t the only ones excited by Randal’s gesticulations. He brings his grinding hips towards the ropes just as his boy Starxxx jumps to the apron with a bundle of single dollar bills in his hands. He stuffs them right into Randal’s waistband.
Frankie: Hahahahha, glad to see Silas and his crew are having fun with this.
Greyson: This isn’t fun and games AT ALL, the Principle Ownership is on the line for Christ sakes, AND the McBrides are facing a 3 on 2 deficit here.
With the dollars in his breeches Randal gyrates his way towards Michelle in the corner of the ring.
Randal: Want a private lap dance?
Muses Randal while Melanie shrugs her shoulders and eagerly nods.
Frankie: Even Melanie likes this. Heard she’s always been into the big black studs.
Melanie urges Randal to come a bit closer and once his pivoting pelvis gets within inches of her body she reaches out, grabs him by the waistband then gives it a tug. She jumps back from the apron and pulls Randal along crotch first right into the middle turnbuckle pad. He staggers back from the corner grabbing at his crotch only his hands aren’t the only ones clutching at his testicles. His opponent Karen sneaks in from behind, grabs Randal by the groin and gives him the BALLS-PLEX.
Frankie: Not the crotch!
Greyson: Randal’s genitalia just smashed against the corner and then subjected to the balls-plex.
Randal rolls around on the canvas grabbing at his testicles while all those men in and around the ring sympathetically clutch their crotches. Meanwhile Karen is scooting across her knees towards Melanie with the intent of making the tag. However, her hand stops an inch away from her sister’s fingers when spotting, from the corner of her eye, another of her siblings nearing the ring.
Sparkles: Hey look, there’s Blaire, there’s Blaire right there!
The crowd nor all those competing in the ring have any clue as to how to react to Blaire’s late arrival. The scrupulous young lady, who’s motives are constantly in question, steps down the ramp only to pause at the base of it. Karen does not take her eyes off of her sister, giving her the type of look that would seer the flesh off a pig. Karen is so preoccupied with Blaire that she doesn’t even realize that a tag is being made to her shoulder. Even as Melanie climbs up the corner at her side, Karen remains fixated on the figure outside of the squared circle. The near giddy Melanie comes flying from the top rope and into a crushing crossbody that knocks Randal down to the canvas.
Greyson: This could very well be it! Melanie about to win back the Principle Ownership for her sister Karen.
Sparkles: What is Blaire McBride doing just standing there?
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NOT HAPPENING. Before Randal can be pinned his partner Silas enters the ring, grabs Melanie’s ankle and tugs it, dragging her off the pin. Silas then high tails it from the ring and once back in his corner raises his gloved palms, pleading total innocence. Melanie won’t be distracted by Silas, her focusing remaining on Randal, who she drags along to his feet. Randal is whipped into the corner, his back bouncing off the padding and launching him into Melanie’s big spinning heel kick. Randal and Melanie hit the canvas but it’s Randal who takes a fortuitous roll, ending up next to his team’s corner.
The ever opportunistic Silas makes the tag to Randal’s shoulder then goes hustling into the ring. Just as Melanie gets to her feet she’s hit with a double axehandle over the back, the blow knocking her along into the ropes. Instead of hurting her, Silas’ blow seems to upset Melanie more than anything. She spins around and goes after the Principle Owner but he’s already off and running, making the tag to Marcus before he leaps from the ring.
Melanie stops at the ropes Silas dove through, reaching over them to grab at the boss but coming up short. That’s when a massive fist flies over the cables and cracks Melanie in the jaw. She never saw Marcus’ punch coming until it almost broke her cheekbone.
Frankie: OOOOH-HO-HO! Did you see that!?! Did you see that punch?
Sparkles: Sparkles heard it loud and clear.
Greyson: Someone who didn’t see or hear it is Karen…Look at her arguing with Blaire at ringside, these two are supposed to be tag team partners.
Cameras cut to Karen at ringside stepping right up into Blaire’s face, keeping her from getting one inch closer to the ring. Blaire doesn’t say a word, she just listens and just stares into her sister’s face. Meanwhile inside of the ring the near 500lb Marcus is standing right on top of Melanie’s lower back. She lays on the canvas screaming at the top of her lungs as her petite body is crushed under the thick boots of her adversary. All the while Silas is standing at ringside, shouting beneath the ropes directly into Melanie’s face.
Silas: Should’ve let yer sisters fight ‘er own battles. And ya know what else? Ya should’ve jus let me put it in yer as…..
Even while in the worse pain of her life Melanie spits through the cables straight into Silas’ eyes. He steps back shouting in anger while his assistant Mason Van Stanton grabs a water bottle off the announce table and uses it to clean the saliva out of his boss’s face.
Greyson: A couple of months ago when Silas propositioned Melanie to swap some bodily fluids I doubt this is what he had in mind.
Marcus retaliates on his employer’s behalf, grabbing Melanie by the hair and yanking her up from the canvas. He then takes her by the throat and tosses her back into the corner. Marcus proceeds to distract the referee while his tag partner Randal reaches over the cables and begins to strangle Melanie. He stops when the referee turns away from Marcus to keep a better eye on the action. Marcus then grabs the official by the shirt, pulling him around and commandeering his focus. Behind the referee we see Silas now jumping to the apron, grabbing the tag rope and using it as a noose. He strangles Melanie to the point where her eyes are bulging from her blue face. Silas stops strangling Melanie just as Marcus comes bolting in and engulfing her with a half-ton splash. He then backs away from Melanie and waits for her to come staggering into his hands. He heaves Melanie up into the gorilla press, then goes as far as to lift her up and down like she were a barbell.
Melanie’s screams at last get Karen’s attention off of her untrustworthy sister Blaire and back on the match. Karen TRIES to get back into the ring only to have Marcus spot her, instantly dropping Melanie behind his back. What Marcus doesn’t realize as he stomps at Karen, causing her to pull back from the squared circle, is that Melanie landed on her feet when thrown off the gorilla press. Marcus whips around to face Melanie, dashing towards her only to have his opponent drop to the ring and go crawling right through his legs. Melanie then reaches out and slaps her sister Karen’s hand.
Greyson: The tag has been made, Karen is getting back in there.
And much like how her sister Melanie entered the match, Karen is about to do so in very similar fashion. She climbs up the corner and then comes leaping off into the crossbody. Unlike earlier though, when Melanie flew into Randal, on this occasion when Karne flings herself into Marcus, she’s caught. Marcus then throws Karen up onto his palms, looking to military press her down onto the canvas. But just then Melanie comes flying back into the ring, off the very same top rope Karen just launched herself out of. A front dropkick hits Marcus in the chest, taking him down to his back with Karen landing on top of him.
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Marcus’ partner Silas scrambles into the ring, grabs Karen by the foot and yanks her off of the pin. He scrambles to his corner and takes the tag rope, acting like he did no harm.
Greyson: God I just can’t wait…I JUST CAN’T WAIT….until someone finally gets their hands on Silas.
Frankie: It’s never gonna happen. I’m telling you he’s set this up so he doesn’t get so much as a scrape on his body.
From the base of the ramp Blaire continues to observe everything going on in the ring but does not participate in any of it. She just hangs back, watching as her sister Karen throws her fists into the side of Marcus’ head. The blows have the big man reeling back on his knees but not going over to the ground. Karen then takes off into the ropes to get some momentum building behind her clothesline. However, Marcus leaps to his feet, catches her under his arm then hits her with a scintillating side slam. A second after hitting the move Marcus rolls to his corner where Silas is insisting on a tag. The second Marcus slaps Silas’ hand the Principle Owner’s entrance into the ring is met with unanimous boos from the audience. Silas looks legitimately amused by the crowd’s response, though what entertains him more are the repeated stomps that he is delivering to Karen’s body. He then grabs Karen’s hair, pulls her up to her knees and performs the most distasteful act he can think of. After slapping Karen across the cheek he takes her under the jaw and holds her head up while taking the front of his slacks, about to pull them away from his crotch.
Silas: I got somethin’ fer ya here Karen. An early Christmas present.
Silas starts to slide down his slack to present his penis only Karen is not about to see it and she damn sure won’t interact with it. She slides right through Silas’ legs and then rolls onto her back, putting her boots to his butt and kicking him towards the ropes. Silas hits the cables, ricochets off and is about to run right back into the bicycle kick that Karen is going to unleash. All of a sudden Starxxx reaches under the ropes though and grabs Silas by the ankle, pulling him out of the ring.
Greyson: HEY! There’s not supposed to be any outside interference in this match!
Frankie: Well Starxxx didn’t actually get invo….
Greyson: Don’t split hairs with me Frankie.
Sparkles: Sparkles splits hairs every time I fart.
Once at the safety of ringside Silas finds himself surrounded by Starxxx and Mason, his army of personal kiss asses. They check on his condition in spite of the fact that he has not suffered a single blow in this match. That’s about to change. Melanie has climbed up to the top rope in her team’s corner and then comes flying off of it. She flips back into a moonsault that sends her crashing into Mason, crashing into Starxxx, and above all else, crashing into Silas.
Greyson: YEEEESSSS!
Sparkles: That was….NOOOOO!
Inside of the ring Karen might be overjoyed with the sight of her sister taking out Silas and co at ringside, but what she does not enjoy is the double running shoulder block unleashed on her the second she turns around. Marcus and Randal run in behind an unsuspecting Karen, who spins into the tag team move that has leveled her. From ringside Melanie sees this and decides to do something about it. She slides into the ring and runs at Randal only to be caught with a European Uppercut. Melanie stumbles back from the blow and into a clothesline to the back of her skull this time delivered by Marcus.
Frankie: Team Excellence didn’t earn that name for no good cause. Marcus and Randal showing what makes them….well….EXCELLENCE.
Neither man looks excellent at the moment, they look like downright scoundrels as they shout towards ringside at Blaire. As they try to bait her into the ring they gesture to her wounded sisters laid out at their feet. Instead of taking either Randal or Marcus up on their offers, Blaire does not enter the ring. Instead she turns her back and starts to walk away from it.
The camera cuts to the smile forming on Silas’ face as he stands up with the aid of the barricade and watches as Blaire leaves.
Silas: Good girl.
Back inside of the squared circle Marcus and Randal have dragged Karen up to her feet and lead her by the wrists into the ropes. They launch her off and into the far cables, cables that she ricochets off before returning to the clutches of her adversaries. Randal and Marcus lift Karen into a stereo spinebuster…nope…it’s a stereo DDT. Karen catches Randal and catches Marcus around their necks before falling back and spiking them simultaneously on top of their heads. Both men flip over to their seats, looking like about all their braincells have been killed. Karen cold follow up, but she doesn’t, because her focus is on the man being escorted from ringside.
Silas plays up the injuries inflicted on him by the moonsault at ringside to the hilt. He has his arms placed over the shoulders of his boys Starxxx and Mason, the two supporting him as they aid him up the ramp.
Greyson: Where the hell does Silas think he’s going?
Frankie: He’s injured, can’t you tell?
Greyson: That’s such bullshit and you know it.
Silas is about half way up the ramp before Karen ends up on top of him. She runs in behind Silas and his entourage, jumping onto all three of them and knocking everyone down to the floor. She lands on Silas’ back, and begins to punch him repeatedly in the side of his head.
Greyson: Karen’s got him! She’s got Silas!
A stunned Silas is dragged to his feet and then pulled towards the ring by the wrathful Karen, ultimately being deposited inside of the squared circle. Karen then slides in and goes after Silas, who is crawling away from her as fast as he possibly can. Karen just about gets her hands on his boot only to have her head almost cleaved from her shoulder via the clothesline unleashed by Marcus.
Greyson: Dammit, every time, every single time that Karen ALMOST gets a hold of Silas, his goons interfere.
Frankie: Their his partners, Lovejoy, it’s their job to protect them. Stop being so biased.
Sparkles: Yeah LOVEJOY.
The crowd and Karen alike want Silas’ head on a pike but they aren’t going to get it. Karen is dragged up to her knees by Randal and Marcus, the two clasping her arms tight and exposing her face to the slaps being unleashed by Silas. He takes such joy in slapping Karen’s cheek and bloating her lip with his blows. To make this even worse, YES it can get worse, Silas even shouts some insults into the very face he’s slapping.
Silas: All you bitches are the same. Stubborn to the hilt. You just don’t learn, do ya!?! It’s time ya get it through ya skull.
Silas runs back into the ropes, ricochets off and unleashes a boot to Karen’s forehead. In spite of taking this blow Karen remains on her knees and in the clutches of Marcus and Randal, who have a laugh at her expense. Silas looks out over the fans.
Silas: What’s that? Ya want to see me kick ‘er one more time? Sure!
Silas takes off into the cables to build momentum behind another running kick, however, the second he hits the ropes hands reach under them. Melanie grabs Silas’ leg, pulls it out from under him and then drags his body to the outside of the ring. Silas drops down in front of Melanie but doesn’t stay there, he takes off running with her hot on his heels.
Greyson: Melanie! Melanie going after Silas!
Silas runs around the ring though he can’t run fast enough, cause Melanie catches up with him and grabs the back of his head. Silas is swung along into the barricade, his body cracking against it. Melanie is just about to do even more damage before she finds her hair caught from behind. Randal reaches through the ropes, grabs Melanie’s hair and gives it a yank, dragging her up onto the apron. She reaches back instinctively though, takes Randal around the head then falls from the apron, snapping her opponent’s throat against the top rope. Melanie drops back down to ringside after making this counter, and it’s here that she’s caught with a spear to the ribs. Silas runs out of the barricade, drives himself into Melanie’s gut and then powers her back first into the ring apron. Melanie bounces off the ring and then tumbles to the ground.
Back inside of the ring Randal has staggered back and into Karen’s clutches. She jumps to her feet while Randal is disorientated and Marcus is distracted, taking advantage of both scenarios. She grabs Randal by the back of the head, bends him down and charges the top of his skull right into Marcus. The big man turns away from what’s happening at ringside and finds his crotch nailed by the top of his partner’s head. Marcus stumbles back holding his groin yet it’s his face he should be protecting, protecting from the bicycle kick unleashed by his opponent. Karen hits the kick that sends Marcus tumbling off his huge feet onto his even bigger back.
Greyson: Did you see the power behind that bicycle kick!?!
Sparkles: It took Marcus right off his feet.
Greyson: And Karen and Blaire, the McBrides are starting to take control of this match.
Sparkles: Will this end with Karen taking back control of her Principle Ownership though?
After Randal’s head hit his partner in the groin he finds himself twisting back towards his opponent only to receive a kick to the gut. Karen doubles Randal over then takes him around the neck and hits the End Game!
Greyson: END GAME CONNECTING!
Sparkles: Randal AND Marcus BOTH taken out.
Frankie: No-no, this can’t be.
Sparkles: Silas’ partners taken out, meaning he’s now on his ow….
Frankie: Don’t speak too soon Sparkles.
A recovered Starxxx and Mason Van Stanton make their way down the ramp where they had been taken down moments earlier. It seems the two are about to flagrantly disobey the no outside interference rule, we never find out though. In the ring Karen has dropped to all fours while Melanie dashes up to her sister’s side, steps off her back and launches herself over the ropes into a big side first splash that nails Starxxx, that nails Mason, and takes them both to the ground.
Greyson: MELANIE!!!
Sparkles: That was amazing!
Frankie: I’m going to throw up!
Momentum is on the side of the McBrides, and now there is only one person in this match who has yet to be on the receiving end of their wrath. Karen stands up looking for Silas and finding him when a steel chair slams right into her upper back. The blow takes Karen to the ground, laid at Silas’ feet with the chair cocked back in his hands.
Frankie: Yes! Hahahahaha YEEES!
Greyson: Silas abusing the no disqualification rule tagged to this match.
Frankie: Can’t fault him for that Lovejoy.
Sparkles: Yeah LOVEJOY!
Greyson: Stop that.
The blow to the back has Karen on all fours yet still trying to will herself up to her feet. Silas puts a stop to that, or at least is about to as he lifts the chair and prepares to break her spine with it. But that’s when he stops, stops in mid-swing on account of the body sliding into the squared circle. Blaire McBride pops up to her feet and runs in front of Silas, putting her open palms into the air, holding him back, staying his hands.
Blaire: NO!
Greyson: Blaire protecting her sister Karen from another shot from that chair…
Blaire: Let ME do it!
Frankie: Think again, hahahahaha.
The grin on Silas’ face has to be reminiscent of a serpent as it offers Eve an apple. He looks at the chair in his hand, at Blaire’s smile and then at Karen spread across the ring between himself and the woman offering him her services. This opportunity is just too rich to pass up. He gives the chair right over to Blaire and then steps around behind her, waiting to see the steel she’s been gifted end up slamming across Karen’s spine.
Greyson: Don’t do this Blaire. Remember all the work that’s went into repairing your relationship with your sisters.
Frankie: No, remember how Karen laid you out with the End Game two weeks ago. Swing that chair! SWING IT!
It seems that Silas and Blaire alike are relishing the cruel fate about to befall Karen, who is none the wiser that her own sister is going to drive a chair into her spine. Blaire pulls the chair back and swings, only it’s not into Karen’s spine. Instead she whips around and prepares to slam the steel right into Silas’ face, or so that was her intent. A boot hits Blaire in the gut, cutting her off and causing her to drop the chair right into Silas’ hands. Silas then kicks Blaire again, this time in the side of the face, the shot knocking her to the ground.
Silas: Do ya think I’m an idiot?
Shouts Silas as he stoops towards Blaire and points at her with the chair.
Silas: I knew you were jus as stupid as yer sisters.
Frankie: Blaire tried to use the chair on Silas but it backfired. Man is too smart to fall for that.
Sparkles: Blaire actually attempted to redeem herself here.
Greyson: And Silas shut her down.
The boot of Silas grinds across Blaire’s temple, nudging her.
Silas: Now ya get to watch what I do to yer sisters.
Silas turns away from Blaire and lifts the chair just in time for it be hit with the bicycle kick. The world erupts as Karen delivers the kick that sends the chair flying back into Silas’ face.
Frankie: AAAAAHHHH!!!
The chair ricochets from Silas’ skull and sends him spiraling around with his nose quite clearly busted and his eyes rolling to the back of his head. He ultimately turns to Karen, who catches him around the neck and feels the utter joy of hitting him with the End Game. The snap swinging neck breaker drives Silas’ head into the canvas and shuts him down entirely, leaving him defenseless against Karen’s pinfall.
Greyson: THE END GAME!
Sparkles: Will that finishing move truly live up to it’s name?
The referee’s hand slaps the canvas with every fan in attendance counting along.
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Greyson: YEEEEEESSSS!!!
All those in the arena feel like throwing a parade, they’re more raucous than a group of partygoers at Mardi Gras. Everyone is excited and justifiably so to witness Karen pick up a win that not only takes the demon that is Silas off of her back but allows her to retake possession of the Principle Ownership. She rolls to her knees seconds after the pinfall is over and the tears welling up in her eyes show just how much this win means to her. The second her name is announced as the victor of this match Karen explodes with emotion. She leaps to her feet with arms raised aloft in victory. Her sister Melanie slides into the ring and is instantly pulled into a hug. Even Melanie has tears of joy in her eyes.
Greyson: An amazing-AMAZING moment here on pay-per-view. Karen at last reclaims the Principle Ownership from Silas Mason
Frankie: I’m….I’m…..the world is over as we know it.
Melanie and Karen go on hugging while their sister Blaire stands in the background, away from her siblings. She smiles and claps before going to exit the ring. It’s just as she gets one leg through the ropes that she finds her wrist caught and her body pulled back into the squared circle. Blaire comes face to face with Karen and the crowd wonders if this situation will erupt in further violence. What it erupts in is a display of affection, Karen pulls Blaire in as she and Melanie welcome her into their hug.
Greyson: What a moment!
Sparkles: The McBrides, all three of them, joined together here tonight to celebrate their combined win over Silas and his forces.
Greyson: A win that has just made Karen the Principle Owner of the IWC.
Frankie: This is worse than the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
The whole arena is swept up into this emotional moment as Karen, Blaire and Melanie embrace in victory. The three of them then stand side by side with Karen in the center and her arms being raised in victory.
Greyson: You did it Karen, you did it!
Sparkles: Say hello to our new boss.
Frankie: Remind me to put in my two weeks’ notice on Wednesday.
Oh what a reaction the crowd continues to give Karen in recognition of this all important win.
Cameras return to the dressing room of Aiken Frost. There, kneeling on the floor, is where we find Borislav. Spread across the ground at his knees is a pipe wrench, a weapon he was told to brutalize Aiken with. It has yet to be employed for the purposes Cindy Todd gifted it to Borislav to perform. He just continues to sit there on his knees and wait, perhaps for Aiken’s arrival or maybe for an entirely different purpose known only to New Eden’s muscle.
A split screen takes over the television monitor with the right side showing Mika Kozlov doing a pirouette through some shadowy undisclosed location. On the left side we see Marina Valdivia pacing in a well-lit corridor, her body still gleaming with sweat. The music playing in the background resembles that of a heart thumping.
Greyson: Guys, the moment is upon us, Mika Kozlov and Marina Valdivia have went through hell these past few weeks to get here to this, the FINALS of the World Title Number One Contender Tournament.
Sparkles: Either Mika or Marina will walk out of this next match with a shot at the World Championship.
Frankie: How can you guys just go on and pretend that nothing just happened? For God sakes we just witnessed the darkest day in this federation’s history. The greatest boss the IWC has ever known was just screwed out of his ownership.
Greyson: Deal with it Frankie, learn to live with it while we take this moment to look back at what Marina and Mika had to go through in order to reach the finals of the tournament to be contested up next.
Frankie: I’m not going to deal with it, I’m gonna sit here and pout, pout until Silas gets his job back.
Greyson: Have fun with that.
EARLIER TONIGHT
The Semi-Finals of the World Title Number One Contender Tournament match are replayed, starting with the clash seen at the start of tonight’s show when Lexy Chapel and Marina Valdivia went one on one. Their fast paced bout shows off the technical expertise as well as the high flying skill-set that both women possess. After a number of transitions and counters the match ultimately concludes when Lexy is distracted by the presence of her rivals Eve and Siqua at ringside. This results in her being rolled up and pinned by Marina.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Another of the Semi-Finals matches featured Andre Jordan and Mika Kozlov colliding in an eagerly anticipated bout. The two wage quite the war for the right to make it to the finals and perhaps become the next person to challenge for the World Title. After several incredible sequences the match is at last decided when Orlando Cruze, Andre’s rival, shows up at ringside and distracts Andre long enough to fall victim to Mika’s Killing Joke finishing move. As thus Mika scores the pin and scores a birth into the finals.
Greyson: Marina and Mika both endured a hell of a lot to get into the finals here tonight and they’re about to go through even more layers of hell in order to pick up a shot at the World Title.
The tunes of “I Started a Joke” begin to play over the arena loud speakers resulting in a concerned reaction from the audience. The crowd are well justified in their fears given their knowledge of what the woman headed to the ring is capable of. Mika Kozlov steps along to the stage moving a tad more gingerly given her earlier confrontation with Andre Jordan. Yet even still she is able to dance around in a very acrobatic manner. Stood in the shadows behind her is a man who has made his home in the darkness, Aiken Frost. The two walk along towards the ring where the finals of the tournament wait to be decided.
Greyson: As we documented a few moments ago, Mika Kozlov endured a very steep climb to reach the mountain top. She’s had to defeat the likes of Selena Frost, Samantha Raine AND Andre Jordan to get to the finals.
Sparkles: Every one of her opponents have fallen victim to Mika’s ‘Killing Joke’ finishing move, will the same fate befall her adversary Marina Valdivia tonight?
Frankie: You would have to be a fool to think it wouldn’t. Mika is the odds on favorite in this match, she’s a FORMER World Champion for Christ sakes.
Greyson: That’s an indisputable fact. However, Mika’s championship history doesn’t necessarily guarantee her a win here tonight. I mean, Marina Valdivia has pinned numerous World Champions in the past, Mika may just be the next amongst them.
As Mika sits on the top rope and hangs back over the ring her associate Aiken Frost watches with his dead eyes from ringside.
A monitor is set up in a backstage corridor with the images upon it being taken straight from the squared circle. There is a close up shot of Aiken Frost loitering beside the squared circle, and there are two women watching this scene and this man very intently. The camera pulls back from the monitor and brings into view both Cindy Todd and Serenity, the deadly duo known as New Eden. They have their arms crossed and look very displeased that Aiken is still at Mika’s side given the task they entrusted with their thug Borislav earlier this evening.
The crowd is soooo energetic at the sounds of “Glamorous” playing throughout the PA system. The response only gets louder when Marina Valdivia steps out from the back to the tunes of her theme music. A red carpet has been rolled down the ramp and Marina follows it towards the squared circle where Mika anxiously anticipates her arrival. Once at ringside we get a good look at the bruises on Marina’s skin after her earlier skirmish with Lexy Chapel.
Sparkles: Listen to the crowd come alive at the sight of Marina Valdivia. Arguably the biggest up and coming sensation in all of the IWC.
Greyson: Again, this is an indisputable fact. Marina has been just nuclear levels of hot these past few months. Her momentum all started when she pinned THEN World Champion Serenity in a tag team match, and now it’s carried over to her wins against the likes of Ricky Holt, Rachel Tatum Lee, and Lexy Chapel.
Sparkles: Victories that have brought her to the Finals.
Frankie: Victories that have set her up to be a lamb led merrily along to a slaughter, and she will be slaughtered at Mika’s hands.
MIKA KOZLOV VS. MARINA VALDIVIA:
WORLD TITLE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT FINALS
Two months of tumultuous and torturous tournament matches come down to this, the established Mika Kozlov versus the up and coming Marina Valdivia. Who leaves here tonight as the Number One Contender, a former champion, or a woman eager to taste title gold? The bell rings and at last these two emerge from their respective corners, Mika bobbing her smiling head from one side to the other and Marina looking as straight laced as a Catholic Priest.
Greyson: This is it guys, the most prolific tournament in Riot history ends when these two polar opposite get it on.
The bell chimes and immediately Mika pie faces Marina. The shove causes Marina to stumble back before lashing out at the mouth of her opponent, which presents itself as a target. Mika makes a ‘duck-face’ taunt like she were posing for a selfie, not a punch to the face. The punch misses, Mika avoiding it by bridging back out of its path. She then steps in behind Marina and catches her in a rear waist lock. Before Mika has a chance to perform whatever depraved act her twisted little mind can conjure up, she finds her move countered. Marina performs a standing switch, getting around behind Mika and then twisting so that their back to back. Marina grabs Mika’s arms and pulls, dragging her over into the back slide.
Sparkles: BAAAACKSLIIIIIIDEEE!
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Mika rolls back out of the pin and onto her feet. She then steps to the crawling Marina’s side and leaps over her, catching her shoulder and her thigh. Mika tries to pull her opponent over into the Oklahoma Roll only to have Marina counter. She ends up with her back across Mika’s chest and her arm hooking the crease of her adversary’s leg.
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A quick thinking Mika transitions from her botched Oklahoma Roll attempt into a crucifix pin. Marina is stacked up on the back of her shoulders, resulting in a….
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Marina manages to pop her shoulder up from the ring and fall to her knees. At the same time Mika is racing to her feet and charging at her adversary only to be caught by the creases of the knees. Marina pulls her opponent’s legs out from under her and then flips forward into the jackknife cover.
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The pin is avoided as Mika sits up, rolling Marina back and stacking her on top of her shoulders in a variant of the sunset flip pin.
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Marina rolls completely over backwards at this point and out of the pin before dashing at her rival. All of her momentum is turned against her when she’s pulled down into the ring and into the small package.
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Another kick out results in an even louder reaction from the crowd, but wait, it’s not JUST a kick out we see. Marina gets her shoulders off the canvas and her arms around Mika’s legs. She rolls her opponent over onto her stomach and instantly locks in the Cali Killer.
Greyson: Oh wait! OH WAIT!
Sparkles: Cali Killer applied!!
Frankie: How the hell did that happen?
The very hold that has tormented so many now fittingly tortures the woman who revels in torment. Fortunately for Mika the ropes are very nearby, well within her reach. She extends a hand, grabs the cable and forces the referee to break the submission. Before the referee can even admonish her, Marina breaks the submission, grabs Mika by the ankle and tries to drag her back to the center of the ring in order to get her finishing hold applied in a more fitting location. Mika gets her foot up and kicks Marina in the side of the head once, twice, four times, five times, however many times it takes to finally get her to leg go. Marina stumbles back to the middle of the ring with empty hands, her opponent’s ankle now free. The pace remains red hot, Mika is back on her feet and dashing towards Marina who offers her incoming guest a nice warm reception via a big punch across the jaw.
The stiff shot knocks Mika back, her arms flailing out to her sides. Marina then hits ANOTHER punch and you know what, how about a third? Each jab has Mika staggering back and Marina moving closer and closer to the kill. She goes for a fourth punch but Marina’s knuckles don’t hit Mika’s jaw, they collide with her boot. The kick sends the recipient spinning away from her adversary and stooping over her wounded knuckles. When she turns back to face Mika both of her arms are hooked and before Marina realizes what’s happening she’s being hit with the Dos-vi-Dania. The snap double arm DDT drives Marina’s head right into the canvas and sends her limp body flopping to her back.
Greyson: Dos-vi-Dania!
Sparkles: And it’s over just like that?
Given the fatigue and the beatings both ladies have suffered in their previous matches there’s little doubt that the double arm DDT could pay off in a win for Mika. She hooks the leg of her opponent and leans back into the pin.
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Just before the referee’s hand comes down for the three he looks up and spots Marina’s foot hung over the bottom rope.
Greyson: Thank goodness for Marina’s ring positioning.
Sparkles: Being so close to the ropes saved her that time.
Aiken protests from his stance at ringside, insisting the referee continue his count.
Greyson: There we see Aiken Frost trying to get his two cents in.
Frankie: The referee SHOULD listen to Aiken, the man is a genius.
Greyson: What makes you think that?
Frankie: The sheer volume of ass that he gets.
Sparkles: It remains to be seen how big an influence Aiken will have on this match, and what kind of advantage he’ll present to Mika as this bout rolls on.
Greyson: We would normally see Tabitha Silverstone out here with Marina, but due to current circumstances that’s not going to happen.
And roll on it will considering Marina got her foot on the rope. Mika grabs Marina by both the wrist and her ankle, using them both to drag her along to the middle of the ring. Once there Mika drops down and mounts Marina’s chest while pulling up on her head and subjecting it to a series of punches. She then hits a headbutt or two, caving in Marina’s eye socket. A seductive pin is attempted with Mika interlocking her hands with Marina’s and pushing the back of her knuckles against the canvas, thus holding down her shoulders as well.
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Marina gets her shoulder up from the canvas but her hands remain in her adversary’s clutches. Mika stands up and has her opponent kneeling before her while bending back her hands, putting a great deal of pressure on Marina’s wrists.
Frankie: Oooold school yo. Mika going back to the day with this hold.
Marina starts to get up and out of the hold only to have Mika swing a knee right into her chin. The shot knocks Marina onto her back with Mika laughing as she runs up to her side. She grabs Marina’s hand, extends it out over the canvas then jumps into a stomp right across her fingers. A scream emanates from Marina, who pulls her hand back to her stomach while rolling across the ring. Mika runs to her side, grabs Marina’s arm, extends it out to her side and then steps over her bicep, straddling it. She then grabs Marina’s fingers and begins to pull them back towards her body until they threaten to snap. Marina is crying out in pain yet still refusing to cry out the words ‘I Quit.’ Instead it’s after her blood curdling scream that we hear something else, bones potentially breaking. Marina manages to fall to her side away from Mika, who by virtue of TRYING to hold into her opponent’s fingers ends up tripping backwards over Marina and hitting the turnbuckle. Mika falls onto her seat but far worse than that is the impact of the back of her head with the bottom turnbuckle pad.
Frankie: Hey now! That was uncalled for Marina.
Greyson: Marina getting just as brutal as her opponent.
Sparkles: Pfft, nobody could ever be as brutal as Mika Kozlov. Not even the bastard love child of Sadam Hussein and Jason Voorhees.
A dazed Mika sits up against the corner reaching for the back of her neck, but leaving her front side unprotected. Marina runs at the turnbuckle her adversary is seated against, steps up and holds the top rope while swinging her feet down and into Mika’s chest.
Greyson: Nice slingshot dropkick by Marina.
After hitting the dropkick Valdivia rolls back away from Mika, who has taken a roll of her own to the outside of the ring. Mika drops to her seat with her back ending up pressed to the steel steps, which hold her up, at least long enough for what her opponent has in mind. Marina drops to ringside, runs across the mats then leaps towards the steps Mika is propped against. She grabs the stairs and holds onto them while swinging her legs down and into Mika’s chest. The former New Eden member finds herself squished between Marina’s boots and the stairs, resulting in a loud, piercing cry from the audience.
Greyson: And now one to the outside of the ring.
Sparkles: It’s amazing to see these two ladies do things like this considering everything they’ve both endured throughout the night.
Greyson: They’ve both had a long time to recover from their previous matches this evening, but it still might not have been enough time for them to get over the injuries they suffered in the courses of those bouts.
Mika rolls away from the stairs unaware that they are yet again going to be used against her. Somehow she gets to her feet and turns just as Marina runs along the mats, steps off the stairs and launches herself into a big flying forearm smash. Amazingly Mika possesses the wherewithal to drop out of the way, Marina flying over her as a result and then tucking into a forward roll just before she makes contact with the ringside mats. Mika instinctively crawls away from her adversary and ends up sitting in the very spot where this whole sequence began, with her back propped against the steel steps.
Marina just HAS to take advantage of the opening she sees here. She runs straight at Mika, grabs the stairs that Kozlov is propped against, launches her legs up into the air and then swings them down towards Kozlov’s face….Scratch that, Mika catches Marina’s legs on top of her shoulder. Mika leaps to her feet, grabs the legs that were about to dropkick her and then falls back, flapjacking Marina’s face right into the stairs. Marina’s head ricochets off the steel, resulting in her body rolling back several feet before finally coming to a rest as an unconscious heap.
Frankie: Very-very nice counter by Mika. Come on guys, give her her dues.
Sparkles: Sparkles will commend Mika for being a great athlete, but not a very good human being. And Sparkles knows something about being a human being.
Mika isn’t through using the steps just yet. After rolling into the ring then back out to break the official’s ten count Mika grabs Marina by the hand and pulls it in order to drag her along towards the stairs. Mika puts Marina’s fingers between the stairs and the steel turnbuckle post. She then delivers a running dropkick right on the stairs, crushing Marina’s hand in the most brutal fashion imaginable. A cry as loud as any Marina has ever let out comes from her lungs as she doubles over her potentially broken hand.
Greyson: Oh damn that was gruesome.
Frankie: Can we see it again? PLEASE give us a replay.
Greyson: Please don’t!
On instinct and instinct alone Marina rolls into the ring holding her badly damaged hand, feeling the potentially broken bones in her fingers. Mika steps in from behind, grabs Marina’s hand and bends it back. As a result Marina falls to the canvas across her back with her arm bent over and her fingers pressed against the ring. Mika now leaps into the air and stomps down at the tip of Marina’s elbow, causing her own arm to compress her fingers against the canvas. Again Marina lets out loud howls of pain as she rolls along into the turnbuckle and sits herself against it. Mika makes use of her adversary’s positioning, rolling under the ropes, reaching back into the ring from the apron, grabbing Marina’s hand then folding her fingers back over the middle cable. Marina’s hand is bent at such an awkward and brutal angle while her heels kick at the canvas in an attempt to block the pain surging down her arm.
Mika lets go of the hand only so she can reach under the ropes and grab it again, this time placing it over the apron. An exhausted Marina has no idea that Mika is leaping off the middle rope and hitting a double stomp onto her hand as it was placed across the apron. Pain doesn’t even begin to describe what Marina is in at the moment as she rolls towards the center of the ring and curls over her hand, which is just one area of her anatomy that is wrought in agony. Mika runs up beside her opponent, looking to take advantage of Marina’s preoccupation with her injury in order to pull her over into the Oklahoma Roll.
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Although she was surprised by the roll up Marina still manages to get her shoulder off the canvas in time to avoid the pinfall.
Greyson: Mika ALMOST got her that time.
Frankie: We were half a second away from crowning a new number one contender for the World Title.
An exhausted Mika steps over Marina’s back, grabs her arm, extends it out to her side and then grabs her fingers, once again bending them at an angle that no piece of the human anatomy should be bent. Marina is trying her absolute best to resist that little voice in the back of her head that repeats ‘submit you crazy bitch.’ Marina doesn’t give in, she backs up. She slides right through Mika’s legs, frees her hand and then leaps into the air, going for a reverse hurricarana on Kozlov. But Mika has that move scouted, bending down and causing Marina to fly over top of her head instead of landing on her shoulders. Marina falls to her feet and now Mika is right behind her and instantly grabbing her by the arm. Mika applies what looks like a fujiwara…LOOKS LIKE. In actuality Mika is going right after the hand again. She grabs Marina’s fingers and bends them back once again while also keeping the arm bar applied.
Greyson: Dammit! Mika is not going to stop until she’s broken Marina’s fingers.
Frankie: I think their already broken. All Mika wants to do now is rip them off.
Sparkles: Sparkles will keep them in a pickle jar.
Mika tries her best to snap Marina’s fingers like they were turkey wishbones. The only thing that snaps though may be her spine. Marina turns her body just enough to get one arm wrapped around Mika’s waist then falls back into the German suplex. Even though Mika is still holding onto the arm, and still clutching Marina’s fingers, she is STILL hit with the suplex, coming down right on the back of her head.
Sparkles: Unique counter to that submission.
After bouncing off the ring Mika rolls over backwards to her knees where she’s immediately taken by the neck. Marina drags her up to her feet and points at the turnbuckle. The crowd gets excited, realizing that Marina is going for the tornado DDT. She runs straight at the corner, steps up it and then pushes off, swinging around with her rival’s head in her clutches. The tornado DDT is about to connect, or at least it would have if Mika were taken off of her feet. She isn’t. Mika not only stays upright but has Marina suspended in mid-air from her neck via the front chancery. Mika then counters and counters shockingly so into a dead lift orange crush. The moment Marina comes down to the canvas between Mika’s legs, those very legs latch onto Marina’s shoulder and her fingers fall into Kozlov’s clutches. She applies a grapevine armbar submission while twisting and twisting brutally so at the fingers of her adversary.
Frankie: That was beautiful.
Greyson: Mika going right back into the submission on Marina’s hand!
Sparkles: After an absolutely deadly rendition of the Orange Crush.
Marina is fighting against this hold with every fiber of being left in her depleted body. She crawls across her side and drags Mika’s weight along with her in the process before reaching out to grab the nearest set of ropes. When they appear too far out of her reach Marina makes a hasty decision that actually pays off. She rolls her entire body over backwards and in the process drags Mika over to her stomach in the process. Mika is forced to break the grapevine and the grip she had on Marina’s fingers, resulting in her own body falling victim to a submission. The abnormally aggressive Marina grabs Mika’s legs, wraps them around her own and then begins to bridge back, looking to apply the Cali Killer once again.
Greyson: Can Marina be the first person to make Mika Kozlov tap out!?!
Sparkles: If she gets the Cali Killer locked in we very well could see the unthinkable become reality.
Greyson: And Marina very well could become the number one contender for the World Title.
To a triumphant roar from the crowd Marina bridges back and into the chin lock. Her bridging STF is applied and if it weren’t for her previously injured fingers she might just earn a submission victory. Instead Marina’s hand is grabbed and Mika bends back her fingers until they almost snap off at the knuckles. The Cali Killer is broken with Marina falling to her seat at Mika’s side. Kozlov stands up behind Marina and continues to bend her fingers back at a gruesome angle. But just then Marina rolls over backwards, extends her legs, wraps them around Mika’s hips then pushes herself up from the canvas into a wheel barrow. In mid-air though Marina twists around, latches onto Mika’s head and swings her around out of the wheel barrow into a tornado DDT.
Frankie: OH WHAT THE FUCK!?!
Sparkles: That was insane!
Greyson: Marina went for that tornado DDT earlier but missed her opportunity, that time she didn’t.
Obviously this night has taken its toll on both ladies, hence why they are laying side by side on the canvas with neither barely budging an inch. Finally they start to get up simultaneously with Marina’s punch connecting first across Mika’s jaw. Mika’s counter is to whip around and slap her heel across the back of Marina’s skull. The impact sends Marina spiraling around and back towards Mika, who is running in with a clothesline only to be caught with a boot to the ribs. Mika doubles over, finds her head caught in a front chancery and now finds her body being pulled towards the corner. Marina steps up the turnbuckle and then pushes herself off the top rope into the tornado DDT that WOULD connect if she managed to get Mika off of her feet. Once again Mika plants her boots to the canvas and REFUSES to be taken over. She leaves Marina dangling above the canvas from Mika’s neck, that is trapped in the front chancery. We see Mika’s immense strength as she lifts Marina up into a second Orange Crush, though this time in mid-air her opponent swings her body around, lands on top of Mika’s shoulder then drops back into the inverted hurricarana. The top of Mika’s head is almost driven right through the canvas.
Frankie: JESUS CHRIST!!
Greyson: Another spectacular sequence culminating this time in the inverted hurricarana driver.
Sparkles: We’re going to crown a tournament winner.
Marina might be in agony but she is still crawling along towards an unconscious Mika, her sweaty arm falling over a sweaty chest.
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Aiken has almost entered the ring to break up the pin before seeing that Mika has kicked out and saved him the trouble.
Greyson: Marina just a second and I mean a SECOND removed from leaving here tonight as the number one contender to the World Title.
Sparkles: If she hits another transition like the one we just witnessed the win WILL be hers.
Instead of interfering in this match physically Aiken is interfering psychologically. He sticks his head under the ropes and starts to whisper something to Mika only to have his face nearly crushed when Marina tries to stomp down at it. Aiken steps back and warns Marina, though she’s not paying one bit of attention to him. Instead, much to the delight of the masses, Marina is fixated on the top rope that she is climbing towards.
Greyson: The California Splash! We’re gonna see it guys.
Every muscle in Marina’s body weights a hundred pounds and in spite of this she still manages to reach the top rope. She stares down at Mika, who seems primed to suffer the 450. To a standing ovation Marina leaps from the top rope and dives down into the 450 that connects….no it doesn’t…..it’s countered when Mika scoots back out of the way, and lifts her legs into the air, wrapping them around Marina’s arm the second she lands on the canvas. Mika then rolls to her side and flips Marina over onto her back, trapping her shoulder in a grapevine with Mika’s legs while wrapping an arm around Marina’s wrist and bending her fingers back at the most disgusting angle imaginable.
Greyson: OH WOW! OH WOW! BACK INTO THE SUBMISSION!
Sparkles: Marina’s gonna tap! She’s gonna have to tap!!
Frankie: We saw Mika do that earlier to Andre Jordan, lure them into the top rope dive only to trap them in a submission.
Marina finds herself locked in an arm grapevine with her wrist caught and her fingers bending back in Mika’s hand. Mika is really-really-really applying the pressure this time, determined to earn a tap out or just straight up break Marina’s fingers. Marina isn’t about to let either option come true, she digs her free hand into the canvas then uses it to pull herself closer and closer and closer to the ropes. She has drag all of Mika’s weight along with her though, which proves particularly challenging given the extreme physicality that both ladies have endured here tonight.
Greyson: Just a little closer Marina. You’re almost there.
Sparkles: She’s within a finger tip of the ropes.
Greyson: She’s fighting for all her worth to get there.
With sweat streaming down into Mariana’s eyes she closes them and dreams of an end to the anguish she is in. Though there is only one way out of this hold and that’s her grip on the bottom cable. The fans breathe a sigh of relief as Marina latches onto the rope and the referee now forces Mika to break her submission. He starts a five count that eventually forces Mika to break the hold or risk disqualification. She lets Marina go and her opponent instantly takes advantage of this opportunity. With her discolored fingers cradled against her stomach Marina rolls under the ropes and onto the apron. She slowly starts to get up totally unaware that Mika is standing in wait behind her. A demonic giggle emanates from Kozlov the second she grabs Marina by the hair, bends her back and traps her head in position for the Killing Joke…a Killing Joke ON THE APRON.
Greyson: No….NO WAY.
Frankie: She’s gonna hit the Killing Joke on the apron!
Sparkles: This is a career ender right here.
Mika prepares to spiral Marina around into the Killing Joke from the apron and to the outside of the ring, which would surely break her opponent’s neck. Just before the move connects and permanently ends Marina, she manages to avoid such grim finality. She twists around out of the Killing Joke position, puts her hands to Mika’s back and shoves her along towards the exposed turnbuckle post. Mika stops herself just shy of connecting with the steel, then turns away from it, spinning on the apron just in time to spot her adversary dashing in. Marina is going to drive Mika down with a spear off the apron only to have Mika duck down and catch her opponent coming in. She stands up with Marina hanging over her back before delivering the Kryptonite Krunch on the APRON!
Frankie: OH MY GOD! OOOH MY GOD!
Sparkles: It’s broken!
Greyson: What’s broken?
Sparkles: Everything.
Frankie: A friggin Kryptonie Krunch on the God damned ring apron.
Marina’s unconscious body rolls into the ring on sheer muscle memory alone. All the while an exhausted Mika is crawling into the cover. For the first time in a long while we can see pain actually etched in the lines of her face. Mika casts an arm out and across Marina’s chest while the referee slaps the canvas.
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A new number one contender is NOT crowned, because Marina has gotten her shoulder up. Aiken looks unamused at ringside, but everyone else in the building are celebrating.
Greyson: These two athletes….what can we say about these two athletes?
Sparkles: What they’ve both managed to pull off tonight is a performance neither of them will ever forget.
Frankie: None of us will ever forget this.
Mika gets to her knees sweating so profusely that the clown paint on her face has been largely melted away. Although she’s past the point of exhaustion she still manages to grab Marina’s arm, fold it over backwards into the top wrist lock and then grab the fingers, trying to bend them. Somehow Marina is fighting against this though, twisting from one side to the other in a desperate attempt to spare herself the agony about to be inflicted on her. Marina suddenly rolls back out of the top wrist lock and onto her feet before stumbling towards Mika, who suddenly stands up and catches the crease of her adversary’s knees. Before Marina knows what’s happening she’s being flipped down to the ring into a brutal Alabama Slam. The whole ring shakes due to the impact of Marina’s body with it while Mika falls to her knees and then crawls with her shoulders embedding into the creases of her adversary’s legs. Mika has Marina folded up into the pin.
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Another loud and sustained ovation can be heard from the crowd at the sight of Marina kicking out. Her absolutely depleted body then goes rolling under the ropes and to the apron where she can do nothing but lay there and sweat. Mika doesn’t have much left, but what she does have in the tank is channeled into crawling out of the ring and to the apron behind her opponent. She blasts Marina over the lower back causing her target to screech. Mika now begins to force Marina up onto her feet only to suddenly receive a back elbow right across the cheek. The impact sends Mika twisting down from the apron and to the arena floor. She lands on her feet across the ringside mats and then looks back up at the apron that Marina is leaping off of. Marina dives into a clothesline that misses on account of Mika stepping out of the way.
Mika swings around behind Marina and catches her around the hips the second she lands. It seems that Mika is going to deliver some type of German suplex on the outside mats but Marina counters the only way she knows how. She lifts her feet, puts them against the ringside barricade and pushes back. As a result her body pushes against Mika’s chest and forces her to stagger backwards into the ring apron. The rear waist lock is broken, freeing Marina, who now spins around, catches Mika around the head and leaps at the apron. She steps off of it going for the tornado DDT into the ringside mats but Mika counters by putting her hands to Marina’s ribs and pushing her off. Marina flies back and lands on her seat across the apron while her opponent turns her back to her.
That is one mistake Mika will regret for a lifetime. Suddenly Marina sticks her legs out and wraps them around Mika’s head. Marina pushes herself off the apron and then drops back, flipping Mika over into an inverted hurricarana driver that plants the top of her opponent’s head right into the arena floor.
Frankie: NOT AGAIN!
Greyson: An inverted hurricarana onto the damned mats!
Sparkles; How much more can these two throw at each other?
They may have just reached their threshold. Kozlov rolls into the ring, not of her own power, she’s tossed in under the ropes. Marina drags herself into the squared circle and over Mika’s chest.
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The fans are just about to celebrate Marina’s emotional victory only to cry out in shock when Mika kicks out.
Greyson: Wow. That’s all I can say.
Sparkles: What more do these two have left?
Marina went for it earlier but now is the perfect time to deliver a California Splash that will be etched in the minds of the fans forever. She drags her brutalized body up the turnbuckle and to the top rope where she almost loses her balance. Somehow she gets her footing and then leaps into the air, hitting the California Splash on her unconscious opponent.
Greyson: Marina hit it! She FINALLY hit it!
The California Splash has been delivered and has left Mika and Marina motionless, unfortunately for Mika though, she’s motionless under the body of Marina.
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The referee’s hand is just swinging down to the canvas to make it all official before a set of hands reach under the ropes and latch onto his ankle. The crowd remorselessly tears Aiken Frost apart as he drags the referee out of the ring and sends him falling face first into the floor.
Greyson: Oh fuck you! FUCK YOU AIKEN FROST!
Sparkles; He just ruined Marina’s opportunity!
Frankie: Run for President, Aiken, I’ll vote for you in a heartbeat.
The official’s head bounces off the ground and has rendered him braindead. This gives Aiken a free pass to run amok. He slides into the ring, approaches Marina and takes her by the hair. He slowly begins to drag her defenseless body up and into his clutches before he spots something from the corner of his eye….Serenity and Cindy Todd.
Greyson: Here comes New Eden.
Sparkles: They’re here for Aiken Frost.
Greyson: The man who stole Mika Kozlov from their group.
Serenity is leaping into the ring while Cindy is slowly making her way up the ring steps with her interlocked hands placed to the small of her back. Aiken realizes this is a rather fruitless endeavor, rolling from the squared circle to avoid a confrontation he does not have an interest in partaking in, at least not just yet. Cindy and Serenity stand empty handed in the ring, watching as Aiken makes his way around to the base of the ramp. Since they can’t get Aiken it appears that New Eden will have to make due with Marina. Serenity latches onto her sweaty hair and drags Marina up to her feet before pulling her into a fireman’s carry, going for the F5.
Greyson: Dammit no, no dammit!
Sparkles: Serenity couldn’t get her hands on Aiken so she’s going after the next best thing.
Greyson: She and Marina have a very long and violent history, but dammit now is not the time to cut deeper into that wound.
A smile cuts across Serenity’s face as she prepares to whip her rival around and dump her square on the top of her head.
Serenity: Anyone else, Marina, anyone else.
A DDT connects, just not the DDT that Serenity was going for. Instead Marina counters the F5 into a DDT of her own, slamming Serenity’s skull painfully into the canvas. Cindy stands back observing this with a disappointed expression on her face. She is about to put an end to Marina once and at long last before she’s caught from behind, swung around and finds herself going eye to eye with Aiken Frost.
Greyson: Oh my….
Frankie: This is what we’ve been waiting for, Aiken Frost versus Cindy Todd.
It looks like the only way to combat evil is with evil. At long last Cindy and Aiken trade blows and do so to a very excited response from the crowd. Aiken’s quick rights and lefts seem to be getting the better of Cindy, driving her back into the ropes. That is until she retaliates with a blow of her own, a straight uppercut that lands right across Aiken’s throat. The blow has Frost reeling back and falling to his knees as he struggles for oxygen. In Cindy’s mind Aiken hasn’t suffered nearly enough. Hence why she’s approaching with her hands nearing his already injured throat. That’s when Marina, still empowered by her hatred for New Eden grabs Cindy by the shoulder, twisting her around into a punch that lands across her chin.
Greyson: Marina picking up where she left off with Cindy earlier tonight.
Sparkles: She hasn’t forgotten that Cindy tried to suffocate her with that plastic bag.
As it seems that Marina is closing in on retaliation she finds one of her punches stayed in mid-swing. Serenity catches Marina’s arm from behind then gives it a forceful tug, dragging her around and into the fireman’s carry. Before Marina can react she’s being spun out and dumped straight on top of her head with the F5.
Greyson: SHIIIIIITTT!
Sparkles: Serenity with a friggin F5 unleashed on her nemesis Marina!
Frankie: Marina screwed with one crazy bitch too many.
Instead of continuing to go after Marina both members of New Eden instead focus their assault on Aiken, who kneels on the canvas gasping for air after the shot he took to the throat. As Cindy and Serenity close in on Aiken a figure comes sliding into the ring, one who will provide some crucial aid to New Eden and their murderous intentions. Borislav is now in the ring and in possession of the pipe wrench.
Greyson: As if things couldn’t possibly get any worse for Aiken Frost.
Frankie: He’s basically being served one giant shit sandwich right now. A FOOTLONG shit sandwich.
Sparkles: That’s Borislav entering the ring now, New Eden’s enforcer.
Sadly, nay pathetically, Aiken has no idea the cruel fate on the cusp of befalling him. Cindy and Serenity observe Borislav nearing the man they assigned him to destroy earlier tonight. Borislav steps over his former master with the pipe wrench in hand and seems to truly enjoy himself as he swings the weapon. The pipe wrench connects directly with the ribcage…..the ribcage of Cindy Todd.
Frankie: WWWWHHATT!!??!!
The blow from the pipe wrench has Cindy doubled over, clasping at her ribs. Another shot from Borislav’s weapon nails Cindy right across the upper back, dropping her to the ring. The sight of her Queen going down to the canvas has Serenity going nuclear. She runs at Borislav only to have the big Russian leap into a standing side kick that nails her right under the jaw. Serenity spirals away from Borislav and right into the hands of a recovered Aiken Frost. He grabs the back of Serenity’s head, runs her towards the ropes and throws her over to the outside of the squared circle.
Greyson: Borislav has made a SHOCKING decision here tonight.
Frankie: No, he just made a HUGE mistake.
Sparkles: After weeks of abuse Borislav has turned against Cindy and Serenity.
Frankie: Then who is he aligned with now?
The answer becomes all the more obvious given Borislav’s next maneuver. The moment that Marina has struggled to her feet she stumbles absent mindedly right into a big jumping side kick to the face unleashed by Borislav. The burly Russian then grabs Marina’s opponent Mika and drags her over on top of Marina before evacuating the ring. Aiken has snatched up the referee from ringside and is rolling him into the squared circle so he can count the three.
Greyson: I think that about clears it up. Borislav has joined Aiken and Mika once again.
The referee begins to awaken from his stupor before spotting Mika’s lateral press over Marina. He makes the count to the dejected cries of everyone watching around the world.
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At last a number one contender is ALMOST crowned, Marina pops her arm up from the ring just a half second before the three could be counted.
Frankie: UN-FRIGGIN-REAL!
Mika and Marina are equally as depleted and exhausted after everything they’ve hit each other with throughout the night. Yet Mika is starting to stand up with a handful of Marina’s hair in her hands. She drags Marina up and into position for the Killing Joke. It seems she’s about to deliver her version of the Sister Abigail, beginning to swing around only to have Marina suddenly throw her legs out across Mika’s back, hooking them around her shoulder. Marina drops down into a crucifix roll up on her stunned adversary.
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Greyson: Marina stole it!
The referee’s hand does indeed come down to confirm this, however Mika’s shoulder goes up from the ring to deny it.
Greyson: That was soooooo close!
Mika rolls back off the canvas and onto her feet before falling against a turnbuckle for support. Though she’s more beat up than she’s ever been Marina comes running towards her adversary just as Mika comes leaping off the middle rope. The top of Marina’s head is hit with a double axehandle that drops both athletes to the ring. A sweaty and exhausted Mika looks back over her shoulder at the turnbuckle while approaching her adversary’s legs. She takes Marina under the creases of her knees, going to catapult her face into the corner. Mika drops back and launches Marina into the corner only instead of her skull slamming into the turnbuckle, her feet land on the middle strand. A surprisingly fast Marina twists around towards Mika and lunges at her with a double axehandle all her own. But Mika drops out of the way, causing Marina to fly over and then tuck down into a forward roll after missing the axehandle smash. Marina goes on rolling, ending up in the opposite corner of the ring, leaning against it for support. Mika is about to make that corner inconsequential, lunging the length of the ring for her adversary. She goes for a spear to Marina’s ribs only to have her head caught, caught in her opponent’s clutches. Marna then leaps to the middle rope and prepares to dive off into the tornado DDT.
It seems Marina is going to crush her rival’s head only to have Mika swat aside the arms that were clutching her head. She then nails a vicious uppercut across Marina’s chin, threatening to knock her back from the corner. All the while Mika is climbing it, getting to the top rope right in front of her adversary then producing a weak smile as she grabs her opponent around the neck, bending it back. Marina is forced up to her feet and is about to be forced into the Killing Joke off the top rope.
Greyson: NO WAY!
Frankie: A SUPER Killing Joke? AWESOME!
Sparkles: This is going to be disgusting.
Frankie: Not to mention debilitating.
Mika is just about to hit the move that would ultimately conclude not only Marina’s title ambitions but perhaps even her life. In an act that will prolong Marina’s life expectancy she drops down off the top rope and through Mika’s legs, landing beneath her with shoulders wedged to the back of her opponent’s thighs. Mika’s laughing stops when she’s dragged away from the corner, carried the length of the ring and hit with an absolutely brutal running sit-out powerbomb. Marina may have very little strength left in her body but is still able to lean forward with her shoulders pressed to the creases of Mika’s legs.
Greyson: Will the running powerbomb do it? Will it be enough to crown Marina the Number One Contender?
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Apparently not. Mika kicks out a split second before she could be defeated.
Greyson: Once again Marina Valdivia just one second removed from winning what has been the most competitive tournament I can ever remember.
Every ounce of Marina’s body is killing her as she crawls along towards the corner and then scales, scales, scales for all she’s worth to the very top. Once on the top cable Marina gets her balance, says a little prayer and winks at the supportive audience before flipping into the California Splash.
Sparkles: YEEEESSSS!
Marina flies right into Mika, but not via the splash, instead she lands right in Mika’s arms. Kozlov leaps to her feet, catches Marina on the way down, causes her to land on her feet then bridges her back into position for the Killing Joke. Jaws hit the floor as Marina’s jaw hits the canvas.
Frankie: OOOOH WHAT A COUNTER!
Greyson: That was the Killing Joke!
Sparkles: The move that Mika has finished off every opponent with in this tournament.
The referee makes the count to the distress of thousands.
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All those in attendance watch as Mika advances in the tournament….or at least she would have if Marina hadn’t just gotten a shoulder up.
Greyson: NO! NO….WAY!!
Sparkles: Did that happen? Did-did-did-did THAT happen?
Mika’s eyes are so wide right now, expressing legitimate shock that someone kicked out of her Killing Joke, the move that has earned her victories in every single previous tournament match.
Frankie: I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mika as shocked as she is right now.
Greyson: Marina kicked out of her Killing Joke. To date, there has only ever been one other person who’s done that.
Sparkles: Just think of all the greats that Mika has finished off with that Killing Joke.
Greyson: But Marina, this woman with the heart of a lion, just dug down deeper than she has ever dug before to get her shoulder up.
The joy and the surge of emotion the crowd is feeling is short lived when Mika grabs Marina by the neck, bridges her back to her feet and then swings her around into the Killing Joke for a SECOND time.
Greyson: Another Killing Joke!
Sparkles: Can Marina do it again?
The answer to that question is three seconds away from being discovered.
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After all of the punishment and brutality Marina’s body has endured not only here tonight but in recent weeks she just did not have enough left to get her shoulder up.
Frankie: It’s over, good lord almighty it is OVER!
Greyson: Marina kicked out of the Killing Joke once, but it just wasn’t going to happen twice. Not after everything these two put each other through tonight.
A wounded Mika gets to her feet and TRIES to celebrate, but she loses her balance, going right back down to her knees. Even the act of laughter hurts Mika. Some support is given to Mika by Aiken, who steps in to the side of his bruised and brutalized lady, aiding her onto her feet and clutching her arm. Mika nearly falls away from Aiken when turning to look back at Marina, who is actually TRYING to move. Borislav slides into the ring at this point and steps to the opposite side of Mika, holding her arm aloft as well. Meanwhile at ringside Serenity and Cindy are kneeling on the mats looking none too pleased about how this all panned out.
Greyson: The tournament is over guys, Mika Kozlov is our NEW Number One Contender.
Sparkles: But man, she REALLY had to earn it, didn’t she?
Greyson: Marina came here tonight and gave Mika the match of a lifetime.
Martin: I think we’ve been more than patient.
Expresses Martin Howe III as he and the brute Miss Jon make their way down a hallway that presumably ends at the entrance tunnel.
Martin: We’ve given them time to consider our offer, well their time is UP.
No words are spoken by Miss Jon, her response is given in demented cackles of laughter and via the occasional growl.
Greyson: Earlier tonight Miss Jon and her agent Martin Howe III demanded that she be added to this evening’s main event to make it a triple threat with BOTH the World and the Evolution Titles on the line.
Sparkles: Now they’re headed for the ring to get an answer to their demands.
Greyson: With the regime change, who knows, maybe Karen McBride will be agreeable to these terms.
Frankie: Do you really need to remind us that Karen McBride is once again the Principle Own…..AAAAHHHH.
The second that Miss Jon and Martin Howe pass by one of several doors lining the walls of the hall, it pops open and a figure familiar to the pair makes her exit. Samantha Raine dashes in behind Miss Jon and jumps right on her back, immediately locking her in a sleeper hold.
Raine: You forget about me you big bitch!?!
Howe is awe struck as he watches his client spiral around with Raine hanging off of her back.
Greyson: That’s Raine! That’s Samantha Raine!
Sparkles: And she’s all over Miss Jon!
Frankie: These two going at it again?
Greyson: Raine’s been waiting a long time for this opportunity, the chance to get her hands on Miss Jon.
Sparkles: And vice-versa.
Miss Jon tries to shirk Raine from her shoulders but Samantha is dug in as deep as a tick. The two just go on twisting along down the hallway with Martin shouting in the background.
A rather somber Devon Kayl is shown sitting on a crate backstage with his elbow in one palm and his other hand raised to his eyes, rubbing at them. Although he’s scheduled to compete here in a few moments he’s still adorned in his casual apparel, a pair of black slacks and a long sleeve white button up shirt.
Greyson: By the look on Devon Kayl’s face I can safely assume that he got some tragic news from our Head Trainer earlier this evening.
Sparkles: It’s looking more and more likely that he will not be medically cleared to wrestle Ricky Holt tonight.
Frankie: Not after the injuries that were inflicted on him several weeks ago at the hands of Mordecai.
Greyson: It’s a shame because we know Holt and Kayl are DYING to get their hands on one another after everything that’s went down between them in recent months.
Sparkles: These injuries kept Holt and Kayl from colliding two weeks ago on Riot, and it looks like it’s going to keep them apart here tonight.
Greyson: I know the fans were really looking forward to seeing these two go at it.
The show goes from a sullen moment to one of utter elation. Karen McBride is at her emotional zenith at the moment as she stands in the interview area along with her sisters Melanie and Blaire. All three of them are being showered in confetti and in the champagne that is gushing from the bottles in their hands. Melanie can’t help herself, she pours some of the sweet nectar over top of Karen’s head, saturating her in it. Several IWC employees and competitors stand on the fringes of this celebration, clapping their hands and showing their respect to the NEW Principle Owner.
Melanie: You did it Sis!
Melanie kisses Karen on the cheek.
Karen: No….WE did it.
Karen points between herself and Melanie, while Blaire stays in the background and stays silent.
Karen: Like I said.
Suddenly Karen reaches back and takes Blaire by the wrist, pulling her in.
Karen: WE….did it.
All three sisters hug in commemoration of this monumental victory.
Taylor: Yaaaaaay!
All the good will amongst women ends when some uninvited guests crash the party. Monarchy members Taylor Chase, Orlando Cruze, Trinity Street and Lucas Knight join the celebration.
Taylor: Congratulations ole buddy ole pal.
Tay slaps Karen on the shoulder, slaps her perhaps a little TOO forcefully.
Orlando: What a relief it is knowing that Silas Mason no longer helms the Riot brand. Meaning that things can finally start to change around here.
Trinity: And things WILL change.
Lucas: Right, Karen?
McBride knows exactly where this is going and it’s taken a route she would have used GPS to avoid.
Taylor: You’re in a position to fix so many of Silas’ mistakes, like banishing me, the body that puts asses in those seats, from World Title contention.
Lucas: We expect that ruling to be overturned right here and right now.
Orlando steps in behind his wife, supportively rubbing her shoulders.
Orlando: You want your first night as Principle Owner to be one that people are talking about decades from now? Then lift the injunction against Taylor and allow her to challenge Katelyn Buehler for the World Title TONIGHT.
Karen seems to be taking this offer into consideration, first looking between her sisters Blaire and Melanie before giving her answer.
Karen: I have a counter proposal. How about the four of you leave this arena right now before I have you THROWN OUT.
Taylor: Excuse me? You would actually let your oafish security guards put their damn dirty hands on THIS body?
Karen: I’ll have them put their foot in your ass if that’s what it takes to kick you out the door. After everything Monarchy has done here tonight, I’m vowing that if any of you interfere in the main event, then you just won’t be barred from title contention, you’ll be barred from showing your face on IWC programming PERIOD.
Orlando: That’s ridiculous….
Karen: Any member of Monarchy on the IWC roster interferes, and I’m vowing that all of you will pay the price.
This isn’t a conversation Karen is interested in continuing. She along with Blaire and Melanie walk away leaving Monarchy a bunch of very unhappy campers. Campers so upset that they are about to create a forest fire.
Just as the world reels from Karen McBride’s decree their given a whole new reason to open a floodgate of emotion. Every fan looks towards the stage where the curtains are opening and Miss Jon is stepping through them, no….staggering through them. She reels back from the punches that are landing across her jaw, all of the shots being delivered by Samantha Raine.
Greyson: Karen McBride laying down the law to Monarchy and now we’re seeing Samantha Raine laying into Miss Jon with these punches.
Sparkles: They couldn’t keep their fight in the back apparently.
Frankie: Meaning we’re all FORCED to see Miss Jon again.
Greyson: She was headed for the ring to get an answer to her challenge regarding tonight’s main event, but instead she ran afoul of her rival Samantha Raine.
The last person to step out from the back is Martin Howe III, agent to the huge Miss Jon, who is in no position to help his client. Miss Jon has to help herself but is in no position to do so given the swift and powerful strikes being unloaded across her brow. Raine actually has Miss Jon teetering on the brink of losing her footing. One more left might just do it, however her wrist is caught, Miss Jon grabbing Raine’s hand and squeezing it until the bones threaten to snap. Miss Jon then unleashes such a vicious uppercut that it levels Raine from her feet, knocking her to the steel grating of the ramp-way. The snarling beast pulls Raine up from the ground, hooks her under the armpit and then throws her HIGH into the air. The hip toss sends Raine crashing down from a tremendous height and into the ringside mats.
Greyson: Miss Jon finally getting her hands on Raine.
Sparkles: And she’s trying to break that beautiful face.
Frankie: That’s how this all started. Raine epitomizes beauty and Miss Jon is determined to be the destroyer of it.
Miss Jon approaches the agonizing Raine, who is arching her back from the ground. Jon grabs her by the bangs, leads her to her feet and nails a devastating punch across her brow. The impact sends Raine twisting towards the ring then rolling in under the ropes. Miss Jon starts to go after her but finds her path to the ring not so easily traversed. Suddenly Raine goes diving through the cables and smashes right into Miss Jon with the headbutt. The blow knocks Jon back up the ramp and almost off of her feet. Raine quickly gets back to her feet and slides into the ring before scaling to the top of a turnbuckle. The crowd unleashes a huge response as Raine flings herself off the corner and to the outside of the ring, crashing into Miss Jon with a lariat. The impact knocks Jon back towards the barricade, falling against it and utilizing it to hold herself up.
Raine sees that Jon is still standing and can’t believe it, though she’s in a position to do something about it. Raine runs across the mats, leaves her feet and hits a dropkick on Miss Jon’s jaw. The strike almost knocks Jon over the barricade yet she still doesn’t buckle.
So Raine backs across the mats then goes dashing into a running yakuza kick. The boot threatens to crush Miss Jon’s jaw only to be caught right before it makes impact. Jon throws Raine’s foot aside, sending her spinning into a full circle. Once she turns back to Miss Jon, Raine finds herself heaved into a gorilla press. Before Raine has a chance to react Miss Jon is stepping up the ramp and throwing her down onto the steel. Raine crashes into the ramp and screams in pain from the impact of the military press.
Greyson: We desperately need security out here to try and get between these two.
Sparkles: Like that will work?
Frankie: Yeah, that’s like sending the military in to break up a fight between Godzilla and Mothra. It just ain’t happening.
The fire breathing Miss Jon continues up the ramp after Raine, grabbing her by the hair, standing her up and throwing her along head first into the steel truss that supports the Cartel-tron. Raine bounces off it and then twists along into the curtains, spilling into them. Miss Jon keeps on the pressure, going after her in spite of the protests of her agent Howe.
Howe: The main event! The MAIN EVENT!
Miss Jon doesn’t care about any challenges that were made earlier in the night, her focus is on the challenge presented to her right now, Samantha Raine. She pursues her prey straight into the backstage area.
Greyson: So much for Miss Jon’s desire to get involved in the main event this evening.
Holt: You think you’re injured? You ain’t injured yet!
Not getting enough violence in the ring, then how about a nice little brawl in the guerilla position to satiate your lust for chaos?
Cameras dash to the very location where Ricky Holt has his rival Kayl pinned with a back against a giant metal crate and is blasting him upside the face with punches. Kayl’s nice button up shirt is torn open due to this brawl that just broke out in the back. It didn’t take long for Holt to find Kayl and then to start laying into him with punches. Stood behind Holt is his agent Eric O’Flaherty, wielding a baseball bat and shouting encouraging words to his client.
O’Flaherty: Show this little boy what a REAL injury is.
At last security have gotten off their ever expanding asses in order to intervene. They dash into the scene and drag Holt and Kayl away from one another just as Devon was beginning to nail a few punches to either side of Ricky’s ribs. The guards have a hard time pushing Holt off of the man he WAS scheduled to face this evening, and once they do force him back they have another obstacle to contend with. O’Flaherty steps between his client and the hands of the security guards, preparing his bat as if ready to swing it.
O’Flaherty: Keep your hands to yourselves boys.
In the background we can hear screams as through the curtains that dangle behind the backs of Holt and O’Flaherty we see two bodies spilling into the guerilla position. Samantha Raine is rolling across the ground and Miss Jon is narrowing the gap between them. Security attempts to divide themselves amongst the skirmish between Kayl and Holt as well as the fight between Raine and Miss Jon. Thankfully Holt is no longer going after Kayl and is instead backing up through the curtains. His agent O’Flaherty stays behind pointing the bat at Kayl, who is still surrounded by a few guards, holding back the snarling athlete.
Holt: When did professional wrestlers become so fucking brittle!?!
Shouts a red hot Ricky Holt as he stomps along down the entrance ramp. He doesn’t even need a microphone, his anger is enough to amplify his enraged words.
Greyson: Good lord almighty, things just keep getting more and more out of hand around here.
Sparkles: We’ve got Miss Jon and Samantha Raine brawling into the back, where another fight was going on between Ricky Holt and Devon Kayl. And NOW Holt is coming down the ramp looking for yet more physicality.
Frankie: I’m wiping my hands of this. I’m THROUGH trying to see the method in all of this madness.
Greyson: From what I can presume Holt is in a very foul mood resulting from the news that broke over social media that Devon Kayl wouldn’t be cleared to wrestle him tonight.
Frankie: He’s got every reason to be pissed. He’s been demanding this match ever since Kayl cost him the NHB Championship several weeks ago.
Once in the ring Holt at last procures a microphone, all but ripping it out of the hands of the time keeper.
Holt: When I was just a knee high sawed off runt and watched professional wrestling, I was amazed by what I saw. Not the pageantry, not the showmanship, but the true grit, the TOUGHNESS. The guys I grew up watching compete in this ring were REAL MEN. The type of guys who didn’t need a medic to come in the ring and patch their every little boo-boo because the fans are too squeamish to see blood. The type of guys who wouldn’t stop wrestling a match even if they broke a leg, an arm, even a fuckin’ neck. They were gladiators, they were iron men. And they are a DEAD breed. What we got today are the Devon Kayl’s of the world. Boys who should be shaking pom-poms rather than competing in this ring. Little ladies who back out of matches just because they broke a nail or…..
Cameras cut to the stage as Devon Kayl makes his way out through the curtains. The fans are excited to see Kayl making his way down the ramp rolling up the sleeves of his unbuttoned shirt. There is an intensity in his eyes unlike any that has been seen in quite some time.
Greyson: Devon Kayl has heard enough.
Frankie: What’s he gonna do about it though? He’s not medically cleared to wrestle.
As Kayl gets closer to the ring Holt becomes even more incredulous with his comments.
Holt: What’s wrong honey? You come out to beg one of these female fans for a spare tampax?
There will be blood but it’s not coming from Kayl’s nether regions.
Holt: Maybe you should run to your mommy and have her come out here and fight your battles for…
A furious Kayl enters the ring then takes Holt down with a double inside leg tackle. Needless to say Holt is stunned as he’s driven to the canvas with Kayl on top of him and just unloading with strikes.
DEVON KAYL VS. RICKY HOLT
A referee slides into the ring and in spite of Devon Kayl’s health issues the bell is called for to start this match.
Greyson: Injuries or no injuries Devon Kayl is getting himself a piece of Ricky Holt.
Frankie: I totes agree with Holt though, there are no real men in professional wrestling anymore.
Sparkles: Well Kayl is showing him what kind of man he is right now.
A referee starts a five count to disqualify Kayl but before that could happen Holt shoves his opponent back. Kayl rolls to his side and to his feet then dashes back at Holt, drooping down on top if him and unleashing jabs. Again the referee threatens Kayl with disqualification yet that isn’t enough to make him stop dropping bombs on his opponent. It takes Holt shoving Kayl off to stop this onslaught. Kayl returns to his feet and then to the delight of the masses connects with a standing shooting star press. His body crushes Holt and his fists begin to fling into his adversary’s skull again and again and again. Holt rolls away from this onslaught then into the nearest corner, propping himself up. Kayl comes running in and drives his boots square across Holt’s chest, then his face, then his chest, then his face.
Greyson: Have we EVER seen Kayl THIS aggressive before?
Sparkles: Can you truly blame him? Just think of everything that’s happened between these two in recent months. It was Holt who screwed Kayl out of the World title Number One Contender Tournament
Frankie: True, but Kayl also robbed Holt of the NHB Championship.
One of Kayl’s boots end up embedded against his rival’s throat, wedged firmly in place and choking the life out of his body. The referee’s five count at last forces Kayl to take his boot away. This allows Holt to begin rising to his feet, yet the second he stands he finds his face crushed via right hands. Kayl has climbed up the turnbuckle in front of Holt and is lobbing some devastating jabs across his adversary’s forehead. The fans reach a count of five, that’s five punches into Holt’s skull before he counters. He slips out from under Kayl, steps behind him while his opponent is still standing on the turnbuckle then hits a dropkick to his seat. The impact sends Kayl forward flipping over the ropes then crashing all the way down to the arena floor.
Frankie: One move baby, one move and Holt takes over on offense.
The fall to the floor has only aggravated any injuries that Kayl may have been suffering headed into this clash. A whole new batch of injuries are about to be created when Holt slides out of the ring behind Kayl, puts hands to his spine and shoves him along face first into the exposed turnbuckle post. Kayl’s head ricochets from the steel, sending him staggering back and into a German suplex onto the floor.
Greyson: If Kayl wasn’t injured headed into this match, then he definitely is now.
Frankie: I feel no pity for Devon, if he was that banged up he should have stayed backstage and tried on training bras or something.
Sparkles: There’s only so many stabs at Kayl’s manhood that he can withstand.
It’s not shots at his masculinity that Kayl is taking right now, it’s blows to his body. At the moment Kayl is being dragged up from the ground with Holt stood behind his kneeling opponent, clasping him by the jaw, pulling back on his head and then raining down punches across his forehead. Holt twists Kayl around before throwing him into the ring. Once inside Kayl stands only to fall right back down to his knees. He puts a palm to his forehead while his eyes roll back in his skull, looking as if he’s suddenly suffering some form of aneurysm. Any damage to his brain is exacerbated when Holt comes running in and connects with a front dropkick right to his opponent’s cheek.
The collision has Kayl rolling absent mindedly into the ropes. His chin falls over the middle cable and Holt’s boots end up pressed against his upper back. Holt stands on top of Kayl and keeps pushing down on the young man’s throat, choking the very life out of his body. The referee starts a five count on Holt, threatening him with disqualification. Holt ignores the referee’s complaints and slips through the ropes to the apron. He drops to his knees and places Kayl in a front chancery while also embedding the middle rope against his opponent’s throat.
Greyson: This dangerous young man bending all the rules to break Kayl down.
The referee starts another five count and then PLEADS with Holt to stop attacking the head of his injured rival. Holt’s response? He drops to the floor then nails an uppercut right upside Kayl’s temple. The shot has sent him rolling back to the middle of the ring. His forehead is then on the receiving end of a knee drop. Holt tucks into a roll, gets back to his feet and then throws his arms out to his side whils shouting at the crowd.
Holt: Where are the REAL wrestlers!?!
The crowd heckles Holt, as he bashes his injured opponent. Holt keeps verbally AND physically skewering Kayl, taking him by the arms, forcing him up to his feet then hitting a bridging Northern Lights suplex.
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Although Kayl is dealing with a slew of complications he manages to get his shoulder up off of the ring. The kick out brings a smile to Holt’s face, a grin that widens when he puts his boot on Kayl’s temple, pushing down against his skull. The referee starts a five count, warning Holt that he’s on very thin ice. The boot pulls back from Kayl’s head and then another knee comes down into it. Kayl rolls away from his opponent, putting palms to a skull that has been worked over throughout this bout, and was injured going into this match. Holt steps over Kayl’s back, reaching down and taking him around the waist. Much to Kayl’s dismay he’s dead lifted from a crawling position and then hit with a bridging German suplex.
Sparkles: That’s some power right there guys.
Frankie: Holt is just having fun with Kayl right now.
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The bridging German suplex wasn’t quite enough, not yet, to finish Kayl off. He gets his shoulder off the canvas, falling to his side. This kick out leaves Holt amused, thinking he’ll have more time now to continue punishing his rival. He stands up with a handful of Kayl’s hair, dragging him across his knees and then putting him in position for the piledriver. Kayl is lifted to his feet as his opponent readies to deliver the New Dawn Fades.
Frankie: Hope the IWC is ready to pay Kayl’s extensive medical bills.
Greyson: When Holt hits this flipping piledriver he’s gonna put Kayl in the hospital for a very-very VERY long time.
Holt prepares to flip forward into the piledriver but just then to a HUGE ovation, Kayl stands up and back drops his adversary. A stunned Holt is sent flying not only through the air but also over the ropes. Upon hitting the floor Holt cringes in pain while also slapping the ringside mats in anger. He scrambles back up to the apron then up the turnbuckle reaching the top rope. He refuses to let go of his advantage on the kneeling Kayl in the middle of the ring. Holt sizes up his prey then goes leaping off the turnbuckle into a clothesline. Suddenly Kayl leaps to his feet, lunges into the air and hits a big roundhouse kick to the back of an airborne Holt’s head.
Greyson: OOOOOH WOW!
Sparkles: Kayl digging down into parts of himself that he never knew he possessed to hit that kick.
It looks like Holt’s bell has been rung by that kick. He is shaking off the impact while rising to his feet. Obviously Holt refuses to believe that his advantage is slipping through his fingers. He runs right at Kayl with another clothesline but Devon drops straight to his back in order to avoid the lariat. Holt steps past his opponent then turns back around to face him just as Kayl kips to his feet then flips over into the Pele Kick.
Greyson: Yes! Yes! Kayl building some momentum.
The kick right to his face has Holt staggering backwards into the turnbuckle then losing his balance and falling to his seat. All the while Kayl is limping along to his feet and then racing towards the corner his adversary is propped up against. Kayl begins to stomp and stomp ferociously at Holt’s chest then throw some wild haymakers upside his skull. The referee steps in and physically pries Kayl off his adversary. A disgruntled Kayl pulls the referee out of the way then goes back after Holt, who suddenly stands up, catches his opponent across his chest then drops back into the downward spiral. Kayl’s face smashes into the middle turnbuckle pad, the impact sending him stumbling out of the corner and into the middle of the ring. Holt then comes running at his rival only to go wide eyed when Kayl successfully connects with the Code Breaker.
A shocked Holt stands up straight with his pupils dilating. Just then Kayl scoots across his back and through Holt’s legs before grabbing him by the hips and pulling him over into a sunset flip style pin.
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Holt gets his shoulder up and rolls to his side. He is starting to work his way up from the ring only to have Kayl pounce on him, punching him across the temple then hitting elbows to the back of his head. Kayl then leaps into the air and drives his knee into the side of Holt’s head. The impact sends Holt staggering back into the corner. A furious Kayl is on top of him, running in leaping into the air and going for the monkey flip. Before the move can connect Holt counters it by reaching out, catching the creases of Kayl’s legs then lifting them. He throws Kayl over his head and into the turnbuckle. Somehow Kayl manages to land on the middle rope and hold firm to the top rope. He has no idea that Holt has gotten to the apron and is now springing up to the top rope then leaping off into a super Sling Blade. Kayl goes flying off the corner with the back of his head crushing the canvas.
Frankie: Hahahahaha….I love it.
Greyson: A Sling Blade from the top rope by Holt, driving Kayl down by the back of his head.
Sparkles: And we’ve documented Kayl has some medical issues resulting from head injuries.
It feels as if Kayl’s head has imploded after its impact with the canvas and yet he’s trying his absolute best to get up. He works his way to his feet just as Holt swoops in from behind, takes him by the arm, folds it up into a hammerlock and then steps to his adversary’s side. He hooks Kayl’s leg at the same time and then lifts him into the air, swinging Devon around into a modified blue thunder powerbomb. Kayl’s body nearly goes through the ring, left lying on the canvas between Holt’s legs. He leans forward with his shoulders to the creases of Kayl’s knees, going for the pin.
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Kayl barely does it but he DOES kick out. Holt gripes all the way up to his feet and all the way up the turnbuckle. He gets to the middle rope before flying off and driving his knee down straight into Kayl’s skull. The impact has Kayl rolling around grabbing at his face, looking like he was shot in the mug with both barrels of a shotgun. Holt continues to exploit his adversary’s pre-existing injuries. He delivers a kick to Kayl’s cheek, knocking him to his back, dangerously close to the turnbuckle. Holt takes advantage of his opponent’s position, stepping up the corner then leaping out of it into another knee drop. However, the moment Holt’s knee verges close to his opponent’s face Devon reaches up and catches hold of it. He rolls out from under the leg and causes Holt to land flat on his face with his leg being lifted and placed in a Stretch Muffler.
Frankie: What the heck!?!
Greyson: That’s the Stretch Muffler!
Sparkles: Sparkles hasn’t seen this submission in a long time.
Greyson: And Holt may not have a counter for it.
Holt growls in agony as his leg is bent at such an awkward angle and Kayl bends him up like a pretzel. Amazingly Holt doesn’t submit though, he turns and twists until he is on his back and his free foot is kicking Kayl’s head. The blows cause Kayl to release his adversary, staggering around looking glossy eyed. He tries to go back after Holt, who stands up and bends pre-emptively to hit a back drop. Kayl has it scouted though, hence why his knee is shooting up slapping Holt in the face. The impact causes Holt to stand and reel in reverse from the strike across the brow. Kayl then goes barreling in with a forearm only to be stopped via the leaping roundhouse kick just unleashed by his rival. The blow upside the head has Kayl getting weak in the knees, almost going over. He finally leaves his feet, not because he collapses, but because he leaps into a step up enzugari that SMACKS Holt square upside his head.
The stiff shot has Holt swinging away from his opponent who is already leaping to the turnbuckle behind his back. Kayl springs from the middle strand and then twists into a crossbody that hits Holt but does NOT remove him from his feet. He catches Kayl before swinging him around into the Blood and Thunder. The rock bottom out of the fallaway slam position drives the back of Kayl’s head square to the canvas.
Greyson: That was a brutal move landing Kayl right on the back of his head.
Sparkles: The referee is going to have to stop this match.
Frankie: It’s a match that isn’t even supposed to be happening anyway, this idiot Kayl shouldn’t even be out here with his head injuries.
The impact against the canvas has Kayl clasping at a head that has been worked over and worked over throughout this match and was banged up before he even came into this contest. He tries to stand up but falls back to the canvas. The sight of this amuses Holt, who stands back with his spine to the corner and a huge grin on his face.
Holt: Where are the REAL wrestlers?
He shouts one more time before running out of the corner and catching Kayl via the New Dawn Fades. Kayl is flipped over and spiked straight on top of his cranium.
Greyson: Nooooo! The New Dawn Fades!
Kayl is just out, completely motionless save for the eyes that are rolling to the back of his head. Holt makes the cover, pulling on the slacks that cling to his rival’s leg in order to complete the pin.
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Sparkles: And this is mercifully over.
Holt throws down Kayl’s leg the moment the referee slaps the canvas for the third and final time. In anger Holt rises to his feet, backs away from his opponent and sneers with indifference to his victory. The referee grabs Holt’s hand to raise it in victory only to get a shove that knocks the official off of his feet.
Greyson: That’s gonna cost Holt some money.
Sparkles: He’s still not happy, even after his victory over Kayl.
The official gets to his knees and crawls towards Kayl, checking on his condition before lifting his arms into an ‘x.’ Two more referees come sliding into the ring where they check on Kayl, confirming that he is indeed sporting a very nasty injury. Holt stands back in the corner of the ring watching this whole scene play out with his upper lip curled into a snarl.
Greyson: Kayl never should have competed tonight.
Sparkles: It looked like he wasn’t going to but Holt kind of forced him into a fight.
Kayl steadily begins to regain his consciousness and just in time to shake his head when asked if he needs to be stretchered out. He won’t need a stretcher but he will need a lot of help from the referees if he wants to WALK from the ring. The prideful Kayl is given the bare minimum of aid as the officials help him to ringside.
Greyson: Kayl showed a lot of heart in this match and right now as he wants to leave on his feet as opposed to on his back.
Frankie: We’re not going to see Kayl’s heart, we’re about to see his BRAINS!
The moment that Kayl and the referees reach the stage a forearm cracks him straight across the upper back. Holt runs up the ramp and clobbers his rival, the shot taking him off of his feet and to the steel.
Greyson: DAMMIT HOLT!
Sparkles: That son of a bitch.
Frankie: Kayl has this com….
Greyson: Nobody deserves this type of treatment, especially Kayl.
And we’ve yet to see the worse of what Holt has in store for his nemesis. He grabs Kayl by the long hair and uses it to drag him into position for what will undoubtedly be the deadliest act he’s ever committed. Holt takes one look out over the crowd, who are pleading with him not to do what he has Kayl set up for. The referees try to stop Kayl but a baseball bat wielding Eric O’Flaherty, the manager for Holt, emerges from the back and keeps the officials at bay. No one can stop what Holt is about to do. All the world can do is watch in horror as he delivers the New Dawn Fades ON THE STEEL STAGE!
Greyson: NOOOOOOOO!!!
Kayl’s head SLAMS with so much force against the stage that it’s a wonder he doesn’t look like a character from the movie Scanners. His head doesn’t explode but it definitely feels like it. He drops limp to the side of a seated Holt, who isn’t even looking down at his broken opponent. Holt just sits there with his skin reddening and his flesh trembling in anger.
Frankie: NEW DAWN FADES ONTO THE STAGE!!
Sparkles: Absolutely sickening.
Greyson: I-I-I’m at a loss for words right now guys.
Holt sits on the steel with Kayl crumbled up beside him, blood leaking out of his nostrils as an indication of internal bleeding. Referees gather around him now that O’Flaherty has stepped aside. He watches with a grim gleam in his eyes as his client lays Kayl to waste.
It’s been a night full of twists and turns, and a night that people such as Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly are very eager to forget. But they aren’t about to put this night behind them just yet. While a pouty Lexy, pouty in the since that her lower lip is stuck out about ten inches further than her upper, throws her belongings into a gym bag her partner Kat is pacing the locker-room with a phone to her ear.
Kat: You’re here then?
The answer she receives from the voice on the other end of the line puts the biggest smile on Kat’s face.
Kat: Sweet. Your timing couldn’t be any more perfect. I take it you heard that McBride has banned any member of Monarchy on the IWC ROSTER from interfering in the main event? (Waits for an answer) Well I was thinking you could help us get around that.
This conversation that Kat is having seems to at last pique Lexy’s interest, given her insatiable lust for the World Championship, a belt to be defended in a matter of minutes. She turns from the gym bag and leans towards the phone pressed to Kat’s ear, trying to eavesdrop.
Kat: You’re a sweetheart.
Kat informs the individual on the phone before hanging up.
Kat: Well Lexy, looks like one way or another, Monarchy are still going to have juuuuust a wee-bit of influence on the main event.
Gushes Kat while returning the phone to her pocket.
Lexy: You know, I would so kiss you if it wouldn’t be totally gay.
Kat: Yeah, and um, there’s way too much of that around here already.
Speaking of the main event we see the name of one of the athletes slated to compete in it. The doorway leading to Scott Cannon’s dressing room consumes the screen, his name stenciled across it. Presently two figures are approaching that door, siblings of the man scheduled to challenge for the World Championship mere moments from now. David and Michael come to a pause right in front of the door and exchange one last stare, non-verbally confirming that they’re in agreement. After a nod Michael reveals the steel folding chair in his hand, wedging it between the knob of the door leading to Scott’s dressing room and the floor. He ensures that there is no way Scott can get out.
David: We couldn’t let him go out and there and embarrass himself.
Michael: There’s no room for failure.
Michael begins while leaning towards the door with hands still on the chair that now bars it, his eyes aimed to the floor.
David: It’s time to do what’s RIGHT.
Cameras transition back to the squared circle just as Scott Cannon’s entrance music starts to play over the loud speakers. The tracks of “Bad to the Bone” signify that Scott is on his way to the ring yet there’s no sight of him.
Greyson: We finally come to the conclusion of what has been an absolutely WILD night fellas.
Sparkles: Our main event is here. Katelyn Buehler scheduled to defend the World Championship against Scott Cannon, and this issue has really…..where’s Scott?
Frankie: I was just starting to wonder the same thing myself, actually I was wondering what Lexy Chapel looks like in a bikini, but yeah, I was ALSO wondering where Scott Cannon is. I mean, we’re hearing the dumbass’s music but there’s no sight of him.
Greyson: Maybe this is some type of psychological warfare on his part. Perhaps he’s getting into Katelyn’s head by making her come out first.
Frankie: Oh come on, that doesn’t seem like something Scott “Goody Two Shoes” Cannon would do.
Greyson: Stop being so cynical about Scott’s desire to clean up his act. After his current ‘friend’ Vanilla Skyy convinced him that he could be a GOOD man, Scott has done everything in his power to go from rogue to respectable.
Frankie: Don’t you mean to go from being a pitbull to a French poodle?
Greyson: Scott is going down a road very few men dare to travel. The road to redemption.
Sparkles: Something his opponent tonight knows a thing or two about.
It’s apparent that Scott isn’t about to show up, at least not yet. So his music cuts out and is now replaced by the tunes of “Satisfied.” The crowd really opens up, letting all their emotion come pouring out as World Champion Katelyn Buehler emerges from the back, shoulder bedecked in title gold.
Sparkles: Katelyn Buehler ain’t playing no games here tonight. This match is so important to her. She wants to prove to the world that she DESERVES to hold that gold sitting on her shoulder.
Greyson: In my opinion there’s no challenging the legitimacy of Katelyn’s reign as champion. She beat a monster back at Awakening to capture the belt and she has defended the title against monsters ever since.
Sparkles: Well the Monarchy has been very critical of Katelyn’s big win back at our last pay-per-view and have done everything they can to try and undermine her and her success.
Greyson: She shouldn’t let cynics such as Lexy Chapel and Taylor Chase get into her head, Katelyn fought all her life to win the title and now she’s living a dream she’s had since she was a little girl.
Frankie: Don’t you mean since she was a crack whore sucking cocks in back alleys?
Greyson: Thank you again for that ever insightful commentary.
Try as Katelyn may to be all business she can’t help but to stop at ringside and hug a little tike in attendance that just so happened to be wearing some of her merch. Katelyn even pauses for a selfie with the kid’s mother before entering the squared circle where she does the toughest thing she’s ever had to do, surrender her World Title to the referee. While limbering up by swinging both her arms one after another across her chest, her focus and the focus of everyone in the building gravitates towards the entry way.
Greyson: Let’s give this another shot.
Frankie: Get your ass out here Scott and let’s get this over with.
Once again “Bad to the Bone” starts to play over the speakers, meaning that Scott Cannon is coming out to give Katelyn the test that she’s been seeking since becoming World Champion. Finally the curtains that drape the entry way open and….wait…that’s NOT Scott Cannon coming through them….it’s his brothers Michael and David.
Greyson: Oh how wonderful, it’s the doubting Thomas and the turncoat Judas.
Sparkles: Michael and David Cannon, the guys who have been trying to cut the heels on their brother’s drive to become a good guy.
Frankie: Apparently the only SANE Cannons in the IWC. These two know what it takes to become a champion, unlike their brother.
Greyson: What are you talking about? Scott’s the Evolution Champion! And he did it without treachery or cheating.
Frankie: SHUT IT! I will not be challenged.
Sparkles: Gotta wonder what brings these two out here, Scott’s been pretty adamant that he doesn’t want their help.
A microphone is held in the hand of the Cannon who got crushed with a roaring elbow by the World Champion earlier tonight.
David: Yeah, our brother WAS scheduled to come out here and challenge for the World Championship, but we weren’t about to let him go down to that ring and make an ass of himself. He’s got a contract to challenge you whenever he wants, and we’re not about to let him waste it.
Michael: So guess what Katelyn, he still IS going to cash in his number one contender contract tonight, but he’s only going to do it AFTER the two of us have come down that ramp and given you the absolute worst beating you’ve ever had in your entire life.
David: Scott might want to leave things up to chance, but we’re not. After we’re through with you there’s NO CHANCE that Scott won’t walk out of here with the World Title.
That’s it, nothing elegant, nothing poetic, Michael and David break it down to the nitty gritty. There’s nothing flowery about what they say and there’s damn sure going to be nothing pretty about what they’re going to do.
Greyson: Is this for real? Wasn’t what these two did to Katelyn earlier on enough for them?
Frankie: Katelyn’s still walking ain’t she? Then no, they didn’t do enough.
Sparkles: They attacked Katelyn earlier and tried to get their brother Scott to cash in his contract, but he wouldn’t do it. He’ll have no choice in the matter now though, because the main event is upon us, and Scott has already cashed in his contract to get this title bout.
Frankie: Meaning that if Scott doesn’t take advantage of the injuries his brothers are about to inflict on Katelyn, he loses his title opportunity.
What’s Katelyn’s reaction to all of this? She actually encourages Michael and David to TRY and give her in the beating that they’re promising. Michael steps to one side of the ring, David to the other, surrounding Buehler. The Champion shifts eyes between both men, waiting for one of them to make a move. David is the first to budge, eager to get his hands on Katelyn after she laid him out with the KTFO earlier tonight. He dashes in behind Katelyn and throws a fist only to have it blocked. The Champion swings around and pops him straight in the jaw, the shot taking him off of his feet.
Greyson: Katelyn holding her ground!
Frankie: She should be tucking her tail and running.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks that Katelyn proved earlier on when she took on the impromptu challenge made by Taylor, that she’s not the running sort.
Katelyn has to have lightning fast reflexes in order to combat the two men determined to leave her all but paralyzed and prime pickings for the vultures seeking to tear her World Title away. Michael slides into the ring and is going after Katelyn, yet the moment he reaches his feet he’s removed from them. Katelyn hits a clothesline that takes him to the canvas. There is no time wasted by Katelyn, who whips around to face a recovered David and leaps into him with a Lou Thez Press. David crashes to the canvas with Katelyn coming down on top, her fist unloading across his temple.
Greyson: Katelyn doing everything in her power to hold these two back.
Sparkles: She’s actually doing a sufficient job of it.
Frankie: Nothing lasts forever, like Katelyn’s title reign for instance. The door is quickly closing on it as we speak.
All of her rage is channeled into each punch that pulverizes David’s face. She is so wrought with anger that it causes her to be a little TOO focused on David and lose sight of his co-conspirator. She has no idea that Michael left the ring, grabbed a chair from the crowd and is sliding back into the ring with it. Katelyn’s fist just keeps crushing David’s face before her spine is crippled with a vicious chair shot. Michael swings the steel right into Katelyn’s kidneys, causing her to drop limp to the canvas.
Greyson: Dammit!
Sparkles: Chair shot by Michael!
Frankie: And so the end begins.
Sparkles: How prophetic.
The door that we saw Michael and David Cannon trap their bro behind comes back into view. It is rattling and thumping, indicating that Scott is still locked on the opposite side desperate to get out. However, the chair that is slanted from the floor to the doorknob ensures that Scott is not going anywhere and is no position whatsoever to stop his brothers.
Cameras go back to the middle of the ring where Katelyn Buehler is trapped in a position she can’t get out of either. She continues to be on the receiving end of a beating at the hands of Dem Cannon Boys. Michael has placed a chair across the canvas and is scoop slamming Katelyn right on top of it. Buehler screams in pain on impact, arching her spine from the steel.
Greyson: The Cannons just remorseless in their assault on our World Champion.
Frankie: I always knew Katelyn’s title reign was on borrowed time, and now that time is up.
Greyson: Their brother Scott wanted a fair one on one match against Katelyn, but his brothers aren’t letting that happen. They’re ensuring that when Scott DOES come out here that Katelyn is in no condition to defend the belt against him.
Sparkles: She’ll be easy pickings.
The chair that WAS under Katelyn is now on top of her chest. Michael sets it in place for his brother David, who is flying from the top rope and crashing with the point of his elbow into the chair. The steel is driven into Katelyn’s body, causing her to groan in agony. She instinctively tries to stand up only to have her head caught in a front chancery by Michael, who lifts her into what looks like a suplex position. He drops Katelyn’s body back but holds onto her neck. The creases of Katelyn’s legs land on top of David’s shoulders, who powerbombs her down to the canvas at the same time that his brother is hitting her with a reverse neck breaker.
Frankie: OH HELLS TO THE YES! What a combo by the Cannons.
Greyson: Stop supporting this Frankie.
Sparkles: Yeah, do you REALLY have to stand up and clap?
Frankie: You’re damn straight I do.
That double team slam has left Katelyn as vegetative as Rip Van Winkle. The Cannons are not through just yet…nuh-uh, and they won’t be done until they stop seeing Katelyn’s chest raising and lowering, indicating that she’s drawing oxygen into her lungs. David sets up the steel chair while Michael takes the World Champion by her hand, leading her up to her feet. He shoots her off into the cables, Katelyn ricocheting from them and then coming back in at David, who looks to catch her with a drop toe hold into the chair. Katelyn leaves her feet, though it’s because she’s LEAPING from them not being knocked from them. She jumps into the air, puts her boots to David’s ribs and then twists so that she can drop back and monkey flip him into the air. Instead of coming down to the canvas David lands on the steel chair, which folds up after his spine goes through it.
Greyson: You can sit down now Frankie.
Frankie: How? HOW DID SHE DO THAT!?!
After taking out David it looks like Katelyn is going to subject Michael to the same treatment. He comes rushing towards her and runs right into her boot. Katelyn unleashes one of her scintillating thrust kicks, the shot rattling his teeth and maybe even knocking a few lose. Michael stumbles back from the blow trying to get his balance. He steadies himself just as Katelyn’s elbow comes swinging towards his face, the KTFO about to be delivered. However, Michael ducks under the shot at the last second and causes Katelyn’s arm to go flying right past his head at the same time that his arm shoots up across her chest. Michael heaves Katelyn into the air then drives her down into the canvas via the Uranage.
Cameras return to the door that has Scott Cannon pinned behind it. Only he won’t be trapped in his dressing room for very much longer. There is nothing that will keep Scott from getting to the ring and stopping his brothers, not even the chair that is pressed to the doorknob. It buckles and falls to the floor as the whole door comes crashing off its hinges. All it took to take down the door and the chair all in one move was for Scott to put his shoulder into them. The frantic Evolution Champion emerges from his dressing room and into the hallway, stepping over the fractured door. After his crazed eyes examine his surroundings he takes off running for the ring, the briefcase holding his Number One Contenders contract hanging from his hand.
Scott might not get to the squared circle in time to be of any help to the World Champion, at the moment Katelyn Buehler is laid out across the canvas and Michael Cannon is climbing a turnbuckle. He comes flying off into a frog splash that sends his body hurdling straight into Katelyn’s elevated knees.
Greyson: Katelyn playing possum!
Frankie: I’m getting annoyed.
Sparkles: Somehow Katelyn is managing to fight off not one but TWO Cannons.
Greyson: Their plan is back firing and back firing in a major way.
A hurting Katelyn isn’t in enough pain to shut down and become nothing more than a victim. As she stands her fist hurdles into the cheek of David, who just got back up as well. Her blows knock David back into the ropes and then she prepares to take him over them via the clothesline. Unfortunately her ankle is caught, her eyes looking down at the hands that are locked around them. Michael has grabbed Katelyn’s leg and isn’t letting go, griping it tight. Just then David capitalizes on the distraction running into a big boot that slams right upside Katelyn’s temple. The shot knocks her out cold, eyes fluttering as she tries to stay conscious.
Frankie: You were saying something about a plan back firing, right Lovejoy?
Sparkles; Yeah LOVEJOY.
Greyson: I thought I told you to knock that off.
When it appears that Michael and David are going to take total control, resulting in Katelyn’s total decimation the fans become far too upbeat. Why are they cheering their lungs out? Because Scott Cannon is running down the ramp, carrying his briefcase and carrying a grudge against his meddling brothers.
Greyson: I’ve never been happier to see Scott Canon!
Sparkles: He loooooks piiiiiissssed.
Greyson: He told his brothers that he wanted to challenge for the World Title the RIGHT way and they just won’t respect that.
Sparkles: And they’ve just ruined any chance of him doing that.
The riled up audience watches in delight as Scott slides into the ring, briefcase held back and ready to clobber his own family. The second they see Scott standing with makeshift weapon in hand, David and Michael turn their backs on the World Champion. They begin to approach Scott and it appears that at long last these three are going to go at it. A family is moments from imploding and the crowd is eating it up eager to see Scott at long last put his brothers in their place. It seems the world won’t get the opportunity to see that though on account of Katelyn’s interference. She runs in behind Michael and David, catching the two just as they turn to face her with a stereo clothesline.
Greyson: There we go Katelyn! Lay these bastards on their asses!
Frankie: Stop cheering Lovejoy.
Sparkles: Yeah. LOVEJOY.
Greyson: ENOUGH!
A stunned Scott steps back and just absorbs everything that he’s seeing. It’s hard for him to process all of this, thoroughly unsure how to react to seeing his brothers dropped by the champ. Finally he smirks, actually enjoying the sight of Michael and David getting what they deserve. Katelyn pulls David up from the canvas, runs him at the ropes and throws him through to the outside of the ring. She then spins around and runs at Michael, who stands with his back to the cables. He is sent flipping backwards over them thanks to Katelyn’s clothesline.
Sparkles: Katelyn’s taken out both of the Cannon boys!
Greyson: Now we can finally….AAAAH!
A briefcase smashes Katelyn right in the face, and it was swung by SCOTT CANNON.
Greyson: WHAT THE HELL!?!
Sparkles: Uhhhhhh….did Scott mean to do that?
Greyson: He just-he just-he just smacked Katelyn right in the head with the briefcase.
The shot from the case has laid Katelyn out and put an even bigger smile on Scott’s face. That smile soon leads to uproarious laughter, that is only amplified when he calls his brothers David and Michael back into the squared circle. His brothers tentatively inch their way through the ropes, seemingly unsure of how to react to their brother’s behavior. Finally, once in the ring, David and Michael begin to laugh and then wrap their arms around Scott.
Frankie: YES! Scott’s back to his old self!
Sparkles: Sparkles is starting to think that he never stopped being the OLD Scott Cannon.
Greyson: I’m STILL trying to figure out what’s happening here.
Frankie: Don’t you get it? Scott was never interested in redemption. This was all a set up!
Scott steps back from his laughing brothers and directs them. They grab an unconscious Katelyn by the arms, force her up to her feet and render her absolutely defenseless. There is NOTHING that Katelyn can do to block the briefcase that goes swinging right into her face. Yet again Scott has clobbered Katelyn upside the head with the case and dropped her prone to the ring.
Greyson: This isn’t happening. This isn’t…this isn’t….
Frankie: Right? Hahahahahaha.
Greyson: No, it isn’t right, it’s disgusting.
The briefcase raises above Scott’s head while he shouts towards the entry way.
Scott: Get a referee out here, I’m cashing in!
KATELYN BUEHLER © VS. SCOTT CANNON:
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
A very reluctant Marcus Mayfield makes his way down the ramp, getting over the injuries sustained to his groin in order to officiate the main event. The sight of an injured Katelyn only makes Marcus more hesitant to call for the bell. Neither David nor Michael give Marcus much choice in the matter, they shove and intimidate him until he takes the briefcase and then calls for the bell.
Frankie: Its official guys. Hahahaha it’s official. Our World Title match is starting right now. This is incredible.
Sparkles: With Katelyn in the condition she’s in right now this is going to be the shortest World Title match in history.
Frankie: Damn straight it is, and you wanna know why? Because Scott, David and Michael planned this out METICULOUSLY.
Greyson: They waited for Monarchy to get themselves barred from interfering in this match and to lure Katelyn into actually trusting Scott was on the up and up. We all did.
Frankie: And he fooled every single one of you idiots. Not me though, I knew what Scott was up to all along.
Greyson: Sure you did Frankie. Sure you did.
The bell rings in the background while David and Michael exit the squared circle. They watch with pride, yes they actually take pride in this, as Scot lifts his boot and puts it down on Katelyn’s chest. The laziest and most arrogant cover imaginable is employed to show off Scott’s dominance and to insult the World Champion. Unfortunately Katelyn will not have the distinction of calling herself that very much longer. Marcus drops down to the canvas and then slaps it to put an end to Katelyn’s dream in nightmarish fashion.
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The whole building groans as Scott’s arms launch into the air in victorious fashion, prematurely. Katelyn’s shoulder flies up from the canvas to a reaction that threatens to send the roof flying off the arena.
Frankie: WWWWWHHHHAAAAT!!!???!!!
Greyson: Katelyn showing the heart and the strength of a true champion.
Sparkles: She kicked out even after two shots from the briefcase.
Scott steps back wearing a look of absolute disbelief. He bites his lower lip and clinches his fists. His desire to win the World Title after putting in the bare minimum of work did NOT pan out that way. So in outage he drops down beside Katelyn and throws his knuckles into her already swollen face. His punches are enough to bust the welt on Katelyn’s scalp, sending blood trickling down her cheeks.
Greyson: Katelyn’s busted open.
Frankie: Serves her right after disrupting Scott’s brilliant plot.
Katelyn’s face is starting to look like hamburger thanks to all of these jabs from the challenger for her title. Finally Katelyn is allowed to fall to her back where Scott pins her shoulders to the canvas.
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Frankie: You earned this Scott.
Greyson: The hell he did!
The hand swings down one last time to slap the canvas and anoint Scott Cannon as the NEW World Champion. Marcus’ hand is about a half centimeter removed from the canvas but Katelyn’s shoulder is inches separated from it. She manages to roll her shoulder from the ring and do so just in time to stop Marcus’ three count. Scott pulls back from Katelyn with his eyes widened and his face trembling, absolutely stunned that she would DARE to do the unthinkable by kicking out.
Scott: Do you have any idea how long I worked on this?
Michael and David continue to support their brother as they watch from ringside. Their eyes are glued to Scott’s fist pummeling Katelyn’s face, causing even more blood to come gushing out from benath the surface of the World Champion’s skin. Scott now pulls Katelyn up from the ring by the hair and then flings her into the ropes. As she comes back in Scott catches her across his chest and then hits a fallaway slam. He keeps his feet rooted to the canvas even while throwing Katelyn over his head, sending her corkscrewing down to the canvas behind him. The second Scott hears Katelyn’s body hit the ring he throws his arms out to his sides and starts to shout at the fans.
Scott: Where’s the love now?
The crowd so enjoys verbally skewering Cannon, who reacts with a mocking bow. He then turns back around to face Katelyn, who is on all fours with blood dripping down off the tip of her nose and puddling on the canvas beneath her face. Scott runs in and kicks Katelyn with such force to the ribs that it sends her flipping over sideways and rolling into the turnbuckle. She sits up against the corner and the second she does Scott’s boot ends up pressed to the side of her face.
Scott: I told you I wasn’t a GOOD man.
And he proves it by scraping his heel across the gash in Katelyn’s brow. He then does it once more and repeats the process for a third time. The conniving Cannon gets a running start behind the fourth kick, dashing into the ropes, ricocheting from them and then barreling towards Katelyn and smashing her skull with the face wash.
Greyson: This is appalling, Katelyn has no defense against ANY of this.
Sparkles: Not after the briefcase bounced off her head TWICE before this match even got underway.
One running face wash just isn’t good enough for Scott. He turns away from Katelyn and hops on one foot while wagging his finger from side to say, duck facing towards the disgusted fans in the process. He takes off into the ropes, ricochets from them and then comes back at Buehler, his boot smashing her face a second time. Scott smiles all the way across the ring as he hurdles himself into the ropes, bounces from them and then comes back chugging along into a third face wash that smashes Katelyn right in her bloodied brow. The World Champion is done. If she were a turkey the timer would have popped up out of her by now. Scott is going to do exactly what his brothers suggested though and leave NOTHING up to chance. He drags Katelyn up and onto the turnbuckle her lifeless body has been sitting against. Before long she finds herself clutched upside down on top of Scott’s shoulder as he steps towards the middle of the ring, holding her in position for the Muscle Buster. Just to show that Katelyn is totally at his mercy, Scott begins to do some squat thrusts. Finally after he insults Buehler he assaults her, dropping into the Muscle Buster. He takes his dear time in floating over into the pin and wedging his forearm across her bloodied brow.
Sparkles: In the immortal words of my Willie, ‘Katelyn Buehler, thanks for coming.’
Greyson: It’s tragic that her World Title reign is going to end likes this.
Frankie: It’s damned entertaining is what it is.
It eats at Marcus to do so but he falls to the ring and slaps the blood stained canvas.
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Again Scott starts to celebrate, far too soon. Katelyn’s shoulder is up a mere half second before Marcus finishes his count. Scott’s eyes are wider than they’ve ever been. They are almost bursting right out of their sockets when he sees the referee raise TWO fingers up into the air, signifying that Katelyn kicked out.
Greyson: Katelyn has fought her whole life to hold that World Championship, she will not let it go now.
Frankie: Just give it up Katelyn, just please stop fighting.
The longer this match has to go the surlier Scott and his brothers become. He grabs Katelyn’s hair, which is beginning to cake with blood and gives it a yank, forcing her up to her feet. Scott tosses her body into the ropes and then catches her on the rebound, putting the World Champion in a fallaway slam position. He puckers up like he’s kissing Katelyn goodbye then throws her over his head. He steps forward already jaw jacking without realizing that Katelyn didn’t hit the canvas, she landed on her feet. One of those feet meet Scott’s jaw the moment he turns back around. The thrust kick shuts Scott up and sends him spiraling back into the ropes. His body ricochets off them and stumbles back into an unexpected Lou Thez Press. Katelyn drives Scott down to the canvas and lets go of all her rage, putting it behind each swing of her fist across Scott’s cheeks.
Greyson: (Screams in conjunction with each punch that lands) YES! YES! YES!
Frankie: How and WHY is she still doing this?
Sparkles: Katelyn putting everything she has left behind these punches.
Katelyn just keeps wailing on Scott with everything, every bit of her remaining energy. Finally Marcus has to drag her off of Scott. This moment of separation allows Cannon to stagger his way back to his feet. The moment he gets up Katelyn steps under him and prepares to deliver the SLO. Her version of the lighting spiral threatens to slam Scott down on the back of his neck, potentially breaking it. Michael and David turn away from the ring, unable to watch their brother fall victim to this. They soon realize that they SHOULD have kept their eyes glued to the action because Scott has managed to swing out of position for the lightning spiral, put his hands to Katelyn’s back then shove with all of his strength. She is sent running into the cables, ricocheting from them and then running back into the POP UP POWERBOMB. Katelyn hits the ring with so much force and Scott bends down, putting his shoulders into the back of his opponent’s thighs. He folds her up into the pin while the crowd is screeching at the top of their lungs.
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2
Screams reminiscent of banshees can be heard throughout the building at the sight of Buehler getting her shoulder up at a count of two and a half.
Greyson: Katelyn kicked out once again!!
Frankie: I’m seriously getting pissed off right now so just imagine how the Cannons feel.
Fury can be seen welling up behind Scott’s eyes. He crawls in behind a now seated Katelyn and puts her in a seated abdominal stretch. It’s not a submission he’s looking for though, it’s a knock out. His elbow begins to collide with the entirely exposed head of the World Champion over and over again. More and more blood is sent flying from her face as Scott’s elbow absolutely crushes her skull. After a while Scott realizes that there’s just one elbow he needs to hit in order to finish Katelyn off, a ROARING elbow. Scott pulls Katelyn up from the ring and throws her into the very same cables he tossed her into a few moments ago. This time he won’t catch her on the rebound with a pop up powerbomb, he’ll hit her with the roaring elbow.
Frankie: It’s done.
Katelyn staggers back into the Snake Eyes, Cannon swinging around with his forearm brushing the Champion’s hair. She ducks the shot right before it can slam into her face. Scott spins past Katelyn and then whips back around to face her just as she goes for her OWN roaring elbow.
Sparkles: The K-T-Ooooh SHIT!
Katelyn’s roaring elbow misses because Scott bends down, catches her with his shoulder to her ribs and then heaves her into the spinning spinebuster slam.
Frankie: Spinebuster! BIG SPINEBUSTER! The BIGGEST Spinebuster Scott has ever delivered.
Sparkles: A spinebuster over a year in the making.
The Evolution Champion kneels beside an unconscious World Champion but does not go for the pin. Instead of making the cover and potentially becoming a double title holder, Scott pulls Katelyn up from the ring and into a front chancery. He lifts a finger into the air, pointing it up into the sky as if to say he’s number one. He then lifts Katelyn into the air, dangling her upside down for a moment or two as he sets up for the House Rules. The jackhammer is about to plant Katelyn and cost her the World Title that she has worked so hard to capture. Cannon has put in a lot more work than he thought he would this evening in order to take the belt from his crafty opponent…an opponent he holds upside down for far longer than he should have. Scott gives Katelyn all the time in the world to slip out of his arms, over his shoulder and then slide down his back. She catches Scott by the hips and tries, unsuccessfully, to pull him over into the sunset flip. Scott plants his feet and they won’t be unrooted from the canvas. He then reaches down to the face looking up at him and gives Katelyn an unsportsmanlike slap right across her face.
Greyson: I still can’t believe that I thought Scott had changed his ways.
Frankie: He so got you. You should see the look on your face right now.
Greyson: You were just as shocked as the rest of us Frankie.
Scott grabs Katelyn’s hair and yanks it, sitting her up on the canvas in front of him while he goes running back into the ropes. He then runs back at her like he’s going to deliver a boot to her face but then stops and just slaps her across the cheek. Katelyn falls to his back while Scott walks away from her laughing at the outrage being expressed by the fans.
Scott: I thought you people LIKED me.
They DID when he was actually showing some indications that he had a soul, but his actions here tonight prove that he is without a doubt soulless. Now Scott prepares to rip Katelyn’s soul out as he steps back into the corner of the ring, crouches and begins to slap his forearm against his palm. He mocks the manner in which Katelyn sets up for her KTFO.
Greyson: Scott’s got Snake Eyes on his mind.
Just as it seems he’s going to spiral around and take out the World Champion with the roaring elbow he has a change of heart. Yes, rather you believe it or not Scott does have a heart. Okay, maybe he doesn’t, because at the moment he’s calling for one of his brothers to toss him the briefcase he used to bust the World Champion open. Now he’s going to use it to cost her the title. Michael takes the liberties of jumping up to the apron and distracting referee Mayfield while David slides the briefcase over to his brother.
Frankie: Ahhhh family bonding at its best.
Sparkles: This is just like old times.
Greyson: Scott leaving nothing up to chance this time, he’s got that briefcase and he’s going to destroy Katelyn with it.
Scott crouches at the knees with the case griped tight in his hands, the very case he’s been carrying for months in preparation of cashing it in to do exactly what he’s about to do right now, capture the World Championship.
Frankie: Lights out Katelyn, lights out.
Greyson: This isn’t fair at all.
A bloodied Katelyn works her way up from the ring just as Scott begins to spin towards her with the briefcase about to bash her upside the head. But just then someone gets in Scott’s way. That someone wearing big sunglasses and a ski cap has just emerged from the crowd, slid into the ring and is now jumping all over the World Champion. He stomps and stomps and stomps at Katelyn.
Frankie: Who the hell is this joker? SECURITY! Get this asshat outta the ring.
Greyson: Somebody has just jumped the guardrail and is attacking our World Champion.
Sparkles: Waaaait a minute, is this the person that Kat Kelly was talking to on the phone earlier?
Scott could care less who this person is. What he cares about is the fact that this guy just got in his way. He approaches this attacker, grabs him by the shoulder and begins to turn him around only to receive a straight punch across his chin. The shot knocks Scott back into the corner and causes him to drop the briefcase. All the while the man who just assaulted him grabs his sunglasses, pulls them away from his face and at the same time tears off his ski cap, revealing himself to be none other than….
Greyson: That’s RYAN WATSON! It’s-it’s-it’s RYAN WATSON!
Frankie: What the hell is HE doing here!?!
Sparkles: We’ve never seen Watson in an IWC ring before.
As Kat promised Monarchy finds a way to have as presence in this main event. Ryan has knocked Scott off of his feet and then does the same to both of his brothers. Michael has dropped from the apron and now stands beside David at ringside, the two looking shocked by what’s happening in the ring. They are so stunned that they don’t even realize that Ryan is running at the ropes and then leaping over them into a huge senton plancha. He takes out BOTH David and Michael at ringside.
Greyson: OOOOH GAAAHD!
Sparkles: Watson throwing himself into the Cannons.
Frankie: He’s just attacking EVERYONE!
Watson gets back to his feet and then shouts towards the crowd.
Watson: MONARCHY RULES!
The crowd is too shocked by his presence and his actions to even pick up on what he just said. They watch spellbound as Watson picks up both David and Michael then drive their heads together. He then slugs both men across their jaws, knocking them up the ramp. Back inside of the squared circle Scott has shaken off the punch he received from Watson and is picking up the briefcase to use it as a weapon. He sets up to nail Katelyn in the skull the second she puts herself in position. She is inching her way up from the ring and into a calamitous situation. She has no idea the fate that is about to befall her, Scott running in and swinging the briefcase right into her….nooo….Katelyn spins into the KTFO. Her roaring elbow smashes Scott in the jaw and causes his precious briefcase to go flying out of his hands.
Greyson: THE KTFO!!!!
Sparkles: It hit! It hit! It hit!
Frankie: NO-NO-NO-NO-NO!!
Shockingly Scott remains on his feet after suffering the roaring elbow but he is definitely not conscious of the fact that he’s still upright, nor is he aware what Katelyn is doing next. She goes into a headstand with the back of her legs striking the top rope and flipping her back into the LETHAL INJECTION. She catches Scott around the head and then drives him down with the diamond cutter! Scott’s face bounces off of the ring, flopping up from it and onto his back.
Greyson: LEEEETTHALL INNNNJJJJEECTTTION!!!
An exhausted and bloodied Katelyn crawls into the lateral press, arm draped over Scott’s chest. The referee’s hand swats the canvas with every fan leaping up and down with each slap.
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And there it is, the three, the biggest three Katelyn has ever heard in her life.
Greyson: She did it! Holy effin’ Christ Katelyn has done it!
A hoarse Lovejoy continues to scream as best he can in the background in recognition of maybe the single greatest moment in Katelyn’s career. The triumphant World Champion is in absolutely no condition whatsoever to celebrate, but that’s not going to stop her from enjoying this landmark achievement in her career. She struggles to her feet while her arm is raised in a pose of victory. The World Championship belt is proudly given to her by Head Referee Marcus Mayfield. The gold hangs form Buehler’s hand, almost falling over it as she raises it over her head.
Sparkles: You have GOT to respect Katelyn Buehler for what she did here tonight.
Greyson: After being bashed in the face with the briefcase TWICE! After being assaulted by all THREE of the Cannon brothers. After being attacked by Ryan Watson. Still, STILL Katelyn Buehler walks out of this arena tonight with the World Heavyweight Championship.
Frankie: Which is why this has officially become the worse night of my commentating career.
All of her injuries at last catch up with Katelyn, who falls to her knees. She huffs and she puffs as she clings to the title that it took everything she had in her to retain here tonight. Cameras cut to the ringside area where Scott Cannon is sitting on the mats with his back slumped against the barricade. He just can’t believe it, he just can’t accept it. It hasn’t sunk in on him yet that he just LOST this match after all of his meticulous conniving. All of his plans didn’t account for one thing, the sheer resiliency of his opponent. Katelyn gets to her feet and stumbles along into the ropes, falling through them. She then approaches the barricade, steps right onto it and ultimately falls back into her fans. They carry the crowd surfing World Champion in a scene reminiscent of her title win back at Awakening.
Greyson: She’s done it guys. Katelyn survived EVERYTHING that was thrown at her here tonight. What an amazing moment for our World Champion.
Sparkles: What an amazing night.
Greyson: Congratulations Katelyn, you earned this, and you just proved to the world that you DESERVE that title.
Sparkles: Thanks everyone for joining us on what was an absolutely spectacular evening.
Greyson: Katelyn is leaving Las Vegas with the World Championship.
The final image we see is a bloodied Katelyn Buehler being carried on the hands of the crowd with the belt held out in front of her.
FADE TO BLACK
Riot 40
The opening to Riot foregoes the prototypical video package and fireworks display or standard interview introductions. Instead viewers are transported straight to the backstage area of the Manhattan Center, IWC’s home-base of operations. It’s here that we get a glimpse of grapplers Michael and David Cannon who ebb ever nearer to the guerilla position, just inches removed from the curtains hung over the entry way.
Michael: I’m telling you mate, Scott isn’t going to like this. Calling out the World Champion is….
David: It doesn’t matter what Scott does and DOESN’T like. What we’re doing is what our brother NEEDS!
After a drawn out sigh Michael gestures in the general vicinity of the ring.
Michael: Then lead the way.
David and Michael proceed towards the curtains, one of only a few things that separate the pair from the squared circle.
”Strike Back” by We As Human plays as the screen is inundated with images pertaining to all the customary violence and insanity of Riot. There are shots of Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel laying out a victim with stereo superkicks, clips showing Andre Jordan celebrating with the Evolution Championship held high above his head, scenes depicting Mika Kozlov and Serenity standing side by side with Cindy Todd behind them. The video now transitions into shots of Marina Valdivia diving off the top of a shark cage into a corkscrew moonsault, before cutting to Aaron Harrison lighting a Blacklist t-shirt on fire, and Taylor Chase crushing Kloe Masters’ face with the True Story. The opening video package wraps up with images of Julia Braddock delivering the Queen’s Ransom, Miss Jon powerbombing a member of Silas Security, Samantha Raine connecting with the stunner, and lastly Katelyn Buehler crowd surfing with the World Title held out in front of her.
After that brief video interlude cameras cut back to Michael and David Cannon as the siblings proceed down the ramp to the tunes of their brother’s entrance music ‘Bad to the Bone.’ The commentators finally get a chance to provide you with their wonderfully seductive tones.
Frankie: Da fuck is going on here?
Okay, maybe not THAT seductive.
Sparkles: Welcome to Riot everybody, this is everyone’s favorite puppet Sparkles. The man with his hand up my ass is Greyson Lovejoy, and the man who usually has his hand up multiple women’s asses is our cohort Frankie Paradise.
Greyson: And we’re starting things off with Dem Cannon Boys, sans Scott Cannon.
Frankie: Wonder if Mikey and Davey are up to no good.
Greyson: Well we all saw what they did two weeks ago when they were left to their own devices.
TWO WEEKS AGO
Behold God’s gift to filler….the recap video.
This particular footage replays what happened on the last Riot when David and Michael Cannon acted against the wishes of their brother Scott. Although for months the Cannon Boys have been running roughshod over the IWC and employing any means necessary to get the job done recently Scott has been working to buck that trend. He’s been diligently attempted to repair his tarnished image. Obviously his brothers have a different opinion on how to handle business, which they demonstrate by attacking Scott’s rival, the World Champion Katelyn Buehler, jumping her in her dressing room then brawling with her straight into the ring. The assault culminates to a run in from Scott Cannon, who drags his brothers out of the squared circle. After arguing with them for taking matters into their own hands and acting out of line Scott finds himself subjected to the KTFO from a recovered World Champion.
David: Alright Champ….
Shouts David Cannon from the center of the squared circle where he and his brother Michael are now standing, microphones in their hands.
David: Two weeks ago you laid our brother out, tonight the time has come to pay your dues.
Michael: Newsflash Katelyn, Miss Jon is NOT your top priority going into tonight….
The commentators add a little insoight into Michael’s comments.
Greyson: Our World Champion Katelyn Buehler IS scheduled to face Miss Jon one on one here at Riot.
Frankie: Shhhh Lovejoy, the Cannons are speaking.
Sparkles: And from the sounds of it, they’re about to do some ass kicking too.
Michael proceeds exactly where he left off.
Michael: The Cannons are your number one threat, because not only are we going to leave you limping right here, right now, but then Scott is going to take your World Championship….
Scott: Enough-enough-enough.
The curtains dangling in front of the entry way part open as Scott Cannon comes waltzing through them, his expression one of contempt.
Sparkles: There’s the man who challenges World Champion Katelyn Buehler in just a few weeks at Upping the Ante.
Frankie: Then why is he coming out here looking upset with his brothers? They were going to INJURE the World Champ and leave her easy pickins’ for Scott at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: We’ve already documented the fact that that is NOT Scott’s M.O. At least not anymore.
Frankie: Not since Vanilla Skyy came into Scott’s life and started manipulating him into believing he could be an honest guy.
The tension is ever thickening as Scott steps into the ring across from his brothers, holding more than just a microphone in his hand. A briefcase hangs from his palm as well, one that holds the contract he intends to cash in at Upping the Ante in order to challenge for the World Championship.
Scott: I’ve asked you two time after time after time to leave this be. To let me handle this on my own.
Starts Scott as he points his briefcase at both brothers.
Michael: You call letting Katelyn smash you in the face with her KTFO and then doing nothing about it, handling things?
David: The Scott we know would have popped back up after that KFTO and bashed Katelyn right in her face with that briefcase you’re holding.
A grin comes across Scott’s shaking head.
Scott: Thankfully, I’m NOT the Scott you used to know.
David: *Sigh* Yeeeeaaah…
Michael: Seems we’re finally starting to realize that.
David: We applaud your ‘growth’ mate, but here’s the hiccup. The Scott Cannon you’re becoming, is a Scott Cannon who will NEVER be World Champion.
Crowd: OOOOH HELL NA!
The fans aren’t the only ones who react with a surprise, Scott left blinking and licking his lips.
Michael: Our brother would never leave anything, especially winning the World Title, up to chance.
David: But here you are risking everything by not cashing in that briefcase of yours to take advantage of the champ when she’s right for the pickings.
Michael: Scott Cannon would NEVER ‘gamble’ everything like this.
David: I guess it’s like you said though, we’re not looking at Scott Cannon anymore….
Michael: Noooo, we’re looking at Mr. Vanilla Skyy.
Crowd: OOOOOH SNAP!
Again the fans aren’t the only ones who react in rather shocked manner to this inflammatory statement. Scott steps right up into the faces of his brothers. In fact, now he’s got his forehead wedged right against Michael’s, the two snarling mad and whispering threats towards one another.
Greyson: Man oh man, THAT was a put down.
Frankie: Hahahahaha, but so true. Scott has become a pussy whipped cabana boy for his ‘girl’ Vanilla Skyy.
Greyson: That’s not the case in the slightest, the only thing Vanilla has done is encourage Scott to begin cleaning up his act.
Sparkles: But Scott’s quest for redemption has put him in opposition with his brothers it would seem.
Before this issue can implode, leading to Scott and the Cannons colliding we get the spark that ignites the wick leading to this power keg. And that spark is the World Champion herself. The tunes of “Satisfied” by Social Code play over the loud speakers and ignites one hell of a response from the denizens within the Manhattan Center. Katelyn Buehler comes strutting to the stage with the World Title glistening as it sways from one hand and a microphone is squeezed in the other.
Greyson: Theeeeereee she be gents. The champ is hee…..
Frankie: Don’t you even DARE go there.
Sparkles: Sparkles will walk out if you start quoting OTHER so called champs, Lovejoy.
Greyson: Don’t I actually have to carry you out?
Sparkles: Don’t you argue semantics with Sparkles!
The crowd is all revved up at the sight of Katelyn Buehler, their so excited in fact that they almost choke on their half-eaten hotdogs. Some might even require defibrillators to restart their hearts now they’ve skipped more than one beat.
Katelyn: Boy, where’s Murray Povich or Ricky Lake when you need them? This much family dysfunction deserves to be on a daytime talk show.
Jests Katelyn while throwing her belt up and over her shoulder and pacing the stage. Now all three Cannons are staring Katelyn down like she were an injured zebra and they were lions ready to pounce from the brush.
Katelyn: You three need a sit-down with Dr. Phil. Actually, no, on second thought, what you boys need is a visit with Dr. Kevorkian. Because only he is going to be able to put you out of your misery. And oooooh how miserable you’re going to be after I retain this title (lifts her belt) at Upping the Ante….
This claim seems to stick in Scott’s crawl.
Katelyn: But heeeey, here’s an idea, why do I have to wait till the pay-per-view to make Dem Cannon Boys suffer? Let’s finish what we we started two weeks ago!
The ever unflinching World Champion leaps straight down the ramp, hustling along to the squared circle. The Cannons instantly ready themselves for a conflict, with the exception of Scott. Instead of joining in on this brawl Scott lingers back in the corner, watching rather than participating. Katelyn slides into the squared circle where she’s immediately jumped on by David and Michael. The two have Buehler pinned down to the ring via the boots they repeatedly launch into the back of her head and her body. Eventually Michael drags Katelyn up to her feet and into a short arm clothesline, one that is ducked right under. Katelyn then goes on running right under that arm and right into a spear to the ribs of Michael’s brother. David is toppled over with Katelyn coming down beside him then unloading with punches across his brow.
Greyson: Katelyn and the Cannons going at it, picking up straight where they left off two weeks ago.
Sparkles: Violence! VIOOOLENCE!
Frankie: Breathe Sparkles, breathe.
While Katelyn is preoccupied driving her fists into David’s face Michael opts to leave the ring and retrieve a steel chair.
Greyson: Michael’s got a chair!
Sparkles: Yes, because two on one wasn’t enough of an advantage.
Michael returns to the ring with the chair held back over his shoulder, readying to plow it straight into Katelyn’s unsuspecting skull. Just as the chair starts to swing towards its target it gets snagged on something, and that something happens to be the Kevlar gloved hands of his brother Scott. Instead of hanging back and watching, Scott finally hops into action and does so just in time to do the RIGHT thing. He snatches the chair straight out of Michael’s hands and now keeps it out of his brother’s reach, saving Katelyn.
Frankie: What-what-WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!
Sparkles: Scott keeping that chair from being used on Katelyn.
Frankie: UGH!
Greyson: Scott continues to be a GOOD man.
Frankie: I liked him so much better when he was the type of scoundrel who would take thaqt chair and beat Katelyn half to death with it.
Scott and Michael go on bickering for a moment before a big shove is given to the number one contender to the World Title. Scott’s response is an equally as forceful shove, bowling his brother over with one hand. Michael falls down to the ring while Scott stands over him still holding the steel chair. It’s right at this point that Katelyn stops lobbing fists into David’s face then looks up to spot Scott stood over her with the chair in his hands. Naturally the World Champion thinks the worse of this man with a very checkered past, especially when she sees the weapon in his palms. She instantly jumps to her feet, points at the chair Scott is holding then into his face. Before long it’s not Katelyn’s finger that is wagging in Scott’s face, but her fist. She throws a punch right across his jaw that has Scott staggered back. He eventually drops the chair and retaliates to the punch he just received with one of his own.
Greyson: Now Scott and Katelyn are going at it!
Frankie: She caught Scott red handed, he was going to use that chair on her, I knew it!
Greyson: No he wasn’t Frankie. Scott took that chair away from Michael.
Sparkles: Katelyn doesn’t know that though.
The fans are frothing as they watch Scott and Katelyn continue teeing off on one another with a barrage of punches. All the while Michael Cannon is helping his brother David out of the squared circle. As David leans against his sibling he and Michael watch the fight going on inside of the ring and smile ever so proudly.
Greyson: This is exactly what Michael and David Cannon wanted.
Sparkles: Scott and Katelyn brawling it out, this isn’t good considering Scott’s got Orlando Cruze one on one tonight and our World Champion Katelyn has to contend with Miss Jon!
Howe: The World Champion thinks so little of you….
Announces Martin Howe III, agent to the most monstrous woman to have ever graced the IWC roster. At the moment Howe is stood in a dressing room with his back facing a large mirror and his eyes directed to someone who is stationed behind the camera. It doesn’t take much in the way of imagination to figure out who that someone is.
Howe: Just like all the rest. Katelyn Buehler thinks she’s so perfect, and people like you are so far beneath her….soooo inferior. She looks at herself in the mirror, at her fair skin, her long black hair, her perfect body and she sees absolute beauty. I say it’s time we change the way she looks at herself. I think it’s time we take that mirror and we cut away the shreds of her fair skin.
Miss Jon: HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!
The disembodied deranged giggles fill the room and put a smile on Martin Howe’s face. Eventually the lawyer turned advocate steps out from in front of the mirror. Now the viewers can see the twisted reflection of Miss Jon in the glass. The hulking behemoth steps out from behind the camera and towards the mirror, head twisting from side to the other as she examines the image of herself. Suddenly she lets out a loud scream, grabs a nearby chair and uses it to destroy the reflection of her over 250 pound body. The mirror is shattered into a thousand shards now scattered at Miss Jon’s feet.
Cameras cut to a backstage corridor where Monarchy members Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly are presently engaged in conversation. The Riot theme song is playing in the background, drowning out the words shared amongst the Tag Team Champions. The commentators are now overheard, speaking over the instrumental version of the Riot theme.
Greyson: What in the hell did we just see?
Sparkles: Our World Champion Katelyn Buehler is in serious trouble if she’s going into tonight taking the challenge of Miss Jon lightly.
Greyson: Miss Jon versus Katelyn still to come.
Frankie: Enough about Fat Albert and Casper. What we got on the screen right now is sheeeeer hotness! It’s Wicked Intent!
Greyson: We’re about to see one half of the Tag Team Champions competing in the Number One Contender Tournament. Lexy Chapel to take on Serenity. What’s going to happen when a member of Monarchy collides with a member of New Eden? Find out after the break!
SLAM OF THE WEEK
The IWC Slam of the Week provided by the complete Bananas in Pajamas DVD box-set begins to air. Featured on the screen are images from four weeks ago when New Eden’s Cindy Todd took on the now reviled ‘Icon’ Orlando Cruze, and the polar opposites brawl within the confines of a Hell in a Cell. Eventually the war comes to a culmination when the lights in the arena dim only for them to return to their normal vibrancy just in time to bring to view the gruesome image of Cindy hanging by a noose from the roof of the cell. The person responsible for this is the black eyed deviant stood in the ring below, former leader of New Eden, Aiken Frost. The footage cuts to Cindy’s followers Mika Kozlov, Serenity and Borislav cutting Cindy down from the noose and then aiding her from the ring.
TWO WEEKS LATER
The video transitions to the very next Riot where Mika Kozlov produces a number of highly sexualized videos emanating from her hotel room suite. A knock at the door brings an end to the provocative imagery as Mika moves to the door, answers it and finds the last person she expected to see stood in the hall. Aiken Frost stands in front of her, breathing in the image of Mika and smiling ever devilishly.
Aiken: We need to speak my dear.
The program switches from the video to live action, capturing an image of Cindy Todd, Serenity and Borislav, the group known as New Eden. The trio are located in the guerilla position, the curtains that separate them from the ring still swaying behind Cindy’s back.
Serenity: Any trace of Mika?
Obviously Serenity eludes to fellow New Eden member Mika Kozlov, who hasn’t been seen or heard from since the last Riot. The shadows in Cindy’s eyes grow ever darker.
Cindy: No.
There is an icy chill to Cindy’s voice that could put frozen daggers in one’s heart.
Serenity: Do you think HE got to her?
Cindy does not utter a response to this question, her stare says everything,
Cindy: IF Aiken is trying to TEMPT our Mika into joining him, then perhaps we need to remind her why we make such valued allies, and why she shouldn’t get on our bad side.
Serenity grins.
Serenity: Ewwww, you get me so giddy when you talk like that.
Cindy: I think we should use your opponent this evening to give Mika an anatomy lesson. Wouldn’t that be lovely? I want you to cut Lexy Chapel open so that Mika can feast her eyes on her insides.
Serenity: And just to show Mika how much she means to us I’ll even give her an extra special present…..Lexy’s heart.
Oh how the thought of Serenity channeling Mola Ram amuses her Queen. The tips of Cindy’s mouth upturn into smiles as she guides Serenity and the towering Borislav through the entrance curtains.
LEXY CHAPEL VS. SERENITY:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
Without much more in the way of delay ‘My World’ by Brand New Sin hits the PA system. Cameras race back to the entrance way in time to catch the curtains opening as Serenity, Borislav and Cindy Todd step through them. The trio march down the ramp amidst shrill cries from the concerned fans, and when it comes to New Eden, they have a LOT to be worried about. Even the commentators sound like their sphincters have tightened in response to New Eden’s arrival.
Sparkles: Looks like Sparkles won’t be holding down my lunch.
Greyson: The three most barbaric individuals in IWC lore are headed out in our direction.
Frankie: New Eden scares the shit out of me. Seriously, check my underwear right now.
Greyson: No thanks. But you have a right to be scared of these three. Good god, look back at what they did two weeks ago when their paths crossed with one of their more ardent rivals Marina Valdivia.
Frankie: Not another recap…..
Greyson: GET OVER IT!
TWO WEEKS AGO
Yes-yes, it’s another video package. This one recycles footage from two weeks earlier when cameras filmed New Eden member Serenity stood outside of a dressing room she is holding the door closed to it. She looks ever so excited at the sounds of the violence that is occurring on the opposite side of said door. Eventually she lets go of the door knob and steps aside. Once the door opens we see her counterpart Borislav stood in the room holding a blood encrusted pipe wrench. Laid out on the floor behind him is the body of Marina Valdivia, New Eden’s biggest rival, with her face caked in sanguine.
LEXY CHAPEL VS. SERENITY:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT QUARTER FINAL
That same smile that was seen on the face of Serenity during the video package is once again present on her face when she relives what she and Borislav did to Marina Valdivia just a scant two weeks earlier. She stands with her spine to a corner as she kicks back her blonde hair and unleashes laughter. Borislav remains at ringside, smirking ever so slightly as he rubs his huge palms together. Cindy Todd, who accompanied her brood to ringside is now spotted stood behind the announce table grabbing a headset.
Greyson: Oh for the love of God….
Frankie: (Quiver in his voice) We-we-welcome ta-ta-to the announce table Cindy.
Cindy: Hello morsel…I mean Franklin.
Cindy slides into the chair beside Frankie, who has instantly broken out into a sweat.
Sparkles: What brings you to our den Cindy?
Cindy: I merely desired a closer view of the suffering.
Greyson: Well your follower Serenity is about to face off with Lexy Chapel in the number one contender….
Cindy: What appropriate words.
Greyson: Ummm….what?
Cindy: Serenity IS going to take Lexy’s ‘face off.’
Greyson: That’s not what I said.
Cindy: No? Pity. Because that IS what will happen.
Sparkles: You and your New Eden are looking a little light….Like someone is missing.
Cindy: Mr. Lovejoy.
Greyson: Yes?
Cindy: Silence your insulant puppet before I turn your insides into confetti.
Greyson: I think what Sparkles wants to know is the same thing we’re all wondering….
Frankie: Not me.
Greyson:….Where’s Mika Kozlov?
Cindy: Not in her rightful spot by my side. But that will change, soon.
The tracks of Lexy Chapel’s theme come belting out through the loud speakers at this point, bringing an end to the ‘conversation’ behind the announce table. Down the ramp starts not one, but two of the most obnoxious personalities in the IWC roster. Lexy Chapel leads the way as she covets the Tag Team Title belt. Stood beside her is her partner Kat Kelly also clutching her own gold strap and holding up a sign that reads ‘Stop Flaping! Start Clapping!’
Frankie: Ooooooh sweet baby Jesus in a sheepskin diaper, behold the reason I get out of bed in the mornings with a tent in my boxer shorts, it’s Wicked Intent.
Greyson: Lexy Chapel leading her Monarchy cohort to the ring where she has Serenity waiting for her.
Cindy: It’s a shame that such a beautiful creature will soon be masked in fluid as red as her hair.
Sparkles: Sparkles takes it that you have grand designs of seeing Serenity once again holding the World Championship?
Cindy: She will do far more than hold the World Title, she…no…WE will bring the world and all of it’s whimpering masses to their knees. Their legs will buckle in fear and their entrails will quake in terror at the sight of the mountain of bodies Serenity stands upon with the title yet again in her hands.
It remains to be seen if Lexy will become one of those bodies beneath Serenity’s feet. The bell rings the moment Lexy gets into the ring and hands her Tag strap to her teammate Kat. Once she turns back to the ring Lexy finds herself perplexed by the vision of Serenity literally slithering across her knees out of the corner. Serenity uses her palms to push her forward while sliding her knees across the ring. All the while she glares at Lexy and licks her lips.
This intimidation tactic isn’t enough to throw Lexy off of her game. Eventually Serenity returns to her feet as she and Lexy tie up in a collar elbow. Suddenly Lexy swings around under Serenity’s arm though and places it in a ringer for all of a second. Serenity is only held in this submission long enough for her opponent to launch her leg into a spinning heel kick. Lexy topples Serenity to the canvas and then drops down beside her, taking her arm and folding it back into the top wrist lock.
Frankie: There you go Lexy that’s…..
Cameras briefly cut to the announce table where Cindy is giving Frankie a stare that would even make Jason Voorhees wet his boxer shorts.
Frankie: I mean….uh….nice move.
Lexy continues to go straight after the arm even as Serenity sits up in an attempt to break free from the over head wrist lock. Lexy scoots around behind Serenity and traps the arm in a hammerlock at this point. The huffing and puffing Serenity manages to bridge herself back up to her feet with Lexy stood behind still holding the hammerlock in. That all changes when Serenity pushes back, forcing Lexy along and spine first right into the turnbuckle. The hammerlock is broken and so to may be a few bones in Lexy’s back. Serenity then throws an elbow into Lexy’s mouth, followed by a second and then a third.
Serenity: BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Shouts a cackling Serenity with each back elbow she delivers to Lexy’s mouth. Serenity whips around and rams her knee right into Lexy’s ribs, stooping her over. Serenity then takes her around the neck and charges her out of the corner, looking for a bulldog. However, Lexy pulls her skull out of the side headlock at the last second, stands up behind Serenity and twists her opponent’s arm into the hammerlock.
Serenity grimaces from the pain in her arm but she won’t endure it for long. She starts to counter in the same way she did earlier, pushing back and forcing Lexy in reverse, trying to drive her into the turnbuckle. However, Lexy provides a quick counter of her own. She employs the hammerlock in order to lift Serenity into a back drop suplex square on top of her arm. Serenity comes down onto that arm and down onto it with some viciousness. Serenity then rolls from the squared circle clasping at her arm, which hangs limp at her side.
Greyson: Uh oh, Serenity landed on that arm rather awkwardly, I hope it hasn’t been broken.
Cindy: For Lexy’s sake she had better hope it has been.
Serenity’s cohort Borislav moves around the ring and stops in front of Serenity, surveying her injury. Neither he nor Serenity are aware that in the ring above them Lexy is springing up onto the top rope then flipping from it into a shooting star press. She comes crashing down right into….Borislav’s shoulder. He shows his immense strength by catching Lexy and holding her in a bearhug.
Greyson: Oh man, what strength by Borislav!
Borislav turns his side to the ring still holding Lexy in his huge vice like grip. Just then Serenity comes dashing across the apron and diving off, hitting a clothesline on Lexy while Borislav releases her, the two connecting with a version of the Hart Attack.
Greyson: God that had to be painful.
Cindy: And yet so amusing.
Sparkles: Why didn’t the ref DQ Serenity for Borislav’s interference?
Greyson: I don’t think Borislav actually attacked Lexy, he just caught her is all.
Obviously Lexy’s associate Kat Kelly thinks that Borislav did a lot more than just CATCH her friend. Hence why she’s moving towards Borislav and preparing to put her fists down his gullet. The referee is shouting at her from the ring, demanding that she keep a cool head. Meanwhile, behind the ref’s back, Serenity has dragged Lexy into the ring, stands her up in the corner and now uses the tag rope to blatantly choke her.
Greyson: She’s choking her ref, turn around! Serenity is choking Lexy!
Cindy: If you value your voice box remaining in your throat I’d advice silence, Mr. Lovejoy.
The rope falls from Lexy’s throat so that Serenity’s knee can collides with it. A laughing Serenity climbs up onto the ropes beside Lexy and begins to drive a knee into her jaw and throat repeatedly. Eventually Serenity stops under the threat of disqualification. The referee has turned his attention back to the action just in time to see Serenity kneeing Lexy while she’s stood against the ropes. So Official Ficklebottom starts a five count, reaching four. Serenity drops down from Lexy, turns her back on her and steps towards the center of the ring with arms cast out to her sides, smiling all the while. That huge grin on Serenity’s face is wiped away when one of the arms she has stretched out is caught from behind. Without warning Lexy dashes out of the corner and grabs Serenity by the arm, immediately forcing her opponent down to the canvas and into the fujiwara armbar.
Sparkles: Fuji-FUJIWARA!
Greyson: Lexy’s got that locked in good and tight on Serenity’s arm.
Frankie: You know Lexy shouldn’t even be forced to compete in this match right now, she already holds TWO pinfall victories over the World Champion.
Cindy: She will not hold one over Serenity.
Lexy has the armbar about as tightly locked in as she can, hyperextending the muscles in Serenity’s shoulder and bicep. A sense of urgency overtakes Serenity as she squirms across her stomach and into the ropes, extending her foot then draping it over the bottom cable.
Greyson: Serenity getting to those ropes.
Cindy: Her resiliency is one of her many virtues.
The referee warns Lexy until she relinquishes the fujiwara. Then Lexy goes for a little something flashy. Cause come on, it wouldn’t be Lexy if she wasn’t doing something ultra flashy. This time she shows a little pizzazz as she runs at the ropes, steps up them to the top cable and prepares to leap back, into what, we never find out. The moment Lexy gets to the top her feet are swatted right out from under her. Much to Lexy’s regret she finds her legs knocked out from beneath her body via a running dropkick delivered by Serenity. The blow knocks Lexy down onto her seat across the top rope, but that’s not the worse part, because she keeps on tumbling, coming all the way down to the canvas straight across the back of her head.
Sparkles: Lexy landing the wrong way!
Greyson: Straight on the back of her head!
Frankie: No! Her neck could be broken.
Cindy: (Laughingly) How tragic.
The landing on the back of her skull has Lexy looking in very bad shape, and her associate at ringside grimacing sympathetically. Kat is even more appalled when watching as her friend Lexy is dragged from the canvas and then heaved into a neck snapping piledriver. Serenity even JUMPS in order to deliver even more force on the driver. The end result of this piledriver leaves Lexy splayed out across the canvas with Serenity stretched over her going for the pin.
1
2
It’s just a two count that Serenity earns, resulting in a frown from the former World Champion. She pouts all the way to her feet with clumps of Lexy’s hair in her hands. She drags Lexy right into a fireman’s carry, holding her in position for the death valley driver. And she keeps holding Lexy in that predicament before rushing sideways into the corner, driving the back of her opponent’s head straight into the turnbuckle. Serenity then repeats the process, driving the back of Lexy’s skull and neck into the corner a second time, then a third and a fourth. Ultimately Serenity stops using the corner as a weapon and then twists to the middle of the ring where a death valley driver connects. Rather purposely Serenity drops her adversary square across the back of her head. A pinfall once again ensues, Serenity crawls into the lateral press.
Resulting in a count of….
1
2
But there’s no three, because Lexy throws her shoulder up from the ring in time to prevent her elimination from this Number One Contender Tournament.
Sparkles: Lexy kicking out and keeping those ambitions of becoming the number one contender alive.
Cindy: Oh how sad, the young girl still harbors this delusion that she has a chance.
The DVD may have been kicked out of but is still taking its toll on Lexy. Her neck is in a lot of pain and then in even more agony when she’s taken around the head, led to her feet then hit with the reverse neck-breaker. Lexy pops up straight to her seat before finding the back of her cranium cracked with a low dropkick by her opponent. The blow has Lexy cringing in pain and rolling into the nearest set of ropes, leaning her back against them. Serenity slips through those ropes, drops to the ringside mats then reaches up and takes Lexy around the jaw, pulling back on it and as a result grinding her neck against the ropes.
Greyson: Even if Lexy does advance in the tournament she will not be in the best shape to handle not one but two nights of action coming up at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: Yeah, cause if she wins this on night one she’d have to wrestle in the semi-final match of the tournament, and on night two she and her tag team partner Kat Kelly defend their Tag Titles against Eve & Siqua.
Frankie: I wouldn’t mind seeing Lexy on both nights.
Cindy: You won’t see her on either.
The illegal use of the ropes continues until the referee starts to count to five, resulting in Serenity releasing her adversary. She rolls back into the ring and then takes Lexy by the wrist, forcing into a hard Irish Whip that sends Lexy careening into the corner. The collision with the turnbuckle is so high impact that it actually sends Lexy flipping up and on top of it. She now sits on the corner looking like she has no idea where she is, but her opponent Serenity knows where Lexy is going. Serenity steps under Lexy and takes her by the armpits before dragging her out of the corner and into the crucifix powerbomb. Serenity launches her opponent into the move only to have it countered at the last second via a hurricarana.
Lexy flips Serenity over with the desperation move and now sends the New Eden member rolling to the outside of the ring. She gets as far as the apron before stopping and recovering from the hurricarana. At last she gets to her feet and then takes the top rope, readying to launch herself over into a still recovering Lexy. Just as Serenity leaves her feet and gets about half way over the top rope she finds her cheek on the receiving end of the superkick. The blow knocks her right out of the air and sends her crashing not down to ringside but into the arms of her huge powerhouse New Eden heavy Borislav. He catches her before she can collide with the ground. However, what he CAN’T catch, at least not this time, is the second body that goes flying over the top rope. Lexy hits a senton plancha over the ropes and right into both Serenity and Borislav, taking BOTH of them down to the ground.
Greyson: Lexy is starting to build some momentum.
Frankie: And this is when she gets damned dangerous.
Cindy: She has no idea what real danger is.
The crowd can’t help but to get hyped by that last move that has taken out not one but two opponents. Her tag team partner Kat is drawing nearer, shouting some encouraging words at Lexy.
Sparkles: There we see Kat Kelly, you know she’s serving a suspension from in ring competition.
Greyson: That news broke over social media earlier this week.
Frankie: Bullshit decision. All because Kat gave a love tap to a production crew member.
Greyson: She SUPERKICKED a crew member Frankie! All because IWC refused to air this controversial skit she had come up with.
Frankie: Serves them right, they’re not going to keep it from airing.
Kat offers to help Lexy up to her feet but her partner is already employing the apron to get up. She then climbs to the apron and takes the middle rope, springing up onto it. She flies from that cable, twists in mid-air and comes down into a now upright Serenity with a crossbody. Both ladies crash down to the mats amidst a loud pop from the crowd. The ever agile Lexy tosses her opponent into the ring and continues to show her high flying capabilities. She scales the nearest turnbuckle, reaches the top rope and prepares to go airborne. She flings her body across the ring and into the senton bomb, with the back of her head coming down right into Serenity…..right into Serenity’s RAISED KNEES.
Cindy: Splendid.
Frankie: Dreadful.
Sparkles: Damaging.
Greyson: Uh-uhhh-OUCH!
After making impact with the knees of her opponent Lexy sits there on the canvas looking like a Robert Kirkman inspired Walker. She soon finds herself caught in a dragon sleeper before being lifted straight up from the canvas and at first into position for an inverted suplex. However, at the last second Serenity drops her down into an elevated reverse DDT.
Greyson: Nice!
Serenity then sits beside the unconscious Lexy and smiles rather sadistically. She goes on grinning as she ascends to her feet and calls out to Borislav at ringside. Although the big Russian is still in pain, thanks to the senton plancha Lexy gave him a few moments ago, it doesn’t keep him from doing as Serenity’s instructs. He reaches beneath the ring and grabs hold of something, and that something is revealed as the very weapon used to bludgeon New Eden’s foe Marina Valdivia. A pipe wrench is held in Borislav’s hand.
Cindy: Finish this Serenity.
Greyson: Borislav has got a friggin pipe wrench!
Sparkles: We saw him use that on Marina Valdivia two weeks ago, and now it’s about to be used on Lexy.
Frankie: Kat! Do something!!
It appears Kat Kelly doesn’t seem aware that the pipe wrench is about to be used on her friend. She is remonstrating with the referee while on the other side of the ring Borislav is climbing to the apron and starting to extend a pipe wrench to Serenity. But his hand suddenly stops extending and Serenity’s hands suddenly stop reaching when the Cartel-tron suddenly bursts with static. The images on it are no longer shots of the action in the ring. Instead what we’re seeing is an extreme close up of teeth, yellowed and rotted. There are ashen gray lips that surround them, cracked and broken.
Greyson: Hey! HEY!! It’s-it’s-it’s that same footage we saw from four weeks ago!
Sparkles: The same footage that was aired by Aiken Frost right before he made his return and attacked YOU, Cindy.
Cindy: I hope he comes for me again.
The PA system is filled by the words that filter from this almost decayed mouth seen on the big screen. It seems there are several voices speaking a number of different languages all emanating from this one set of discolored lips and mangled teeth.
On the apron we see Borislav still clutching hold of the pipe wrench but looking away from the person he was going to hand it to. Instead he’s looking at the Cartel-tron, the images on it making him totally unaware that the wrench he grips is still out of Serenity’s reach. She goes to take it but Borislav absent mindedly drops from the apron and keeps the wrench for his own protection. He steps to the base of the ramp and cocks back the wrench, ready to swing it at Aiken Frost should he show up. In the ring behind Borislav we see Serenity is leaning over the top rope and shouting down at him, DEMANDING the pipe wrench. Meanwhile at the announce table we can see Cindy Todd standing, her hands interlocked and placed against the small of her back.
Cindy: Come Aiken….Come for me….I beg you.
Espouses Cindy in the most threatening voice.
Greyson: Where is he? Where is Aiken Frost?
The video goes on playing but there is no sight of Aiken Frost. What the fans do see though is Lexy sneaking in behind Serenity then taking her by the shoulder. Serenity was so preoccupied on the footage playing on the Cartel-tron that she didn’t see Lexy sneak in from behind, drag her around and deliver a kick to the bread-basket. Before Serenity can counter she’s lifted into the package piledriver. The Explicit Content connects, ramming Serenity’s head BRUTALLY into the canvas. Before Serenity even knows what hit her she’s being pinned by Lexy.
Greyson: The Explicit Content on Serenity and now Lexy is making the cover!
Cindy: This will not do. Act Borislav!
At last Borislav realizes that the pinfall is occurring in the ring, prompting him to hustle for the squared circle. He slides in and does so with the pipe wrench in hand, but neither he nor the weapon he clutches can reach Serenity in time.
1
2
Cindy: Unacceptable.
The hand comes down for the three, resulting in a shocking victory for Lexy.
Greyson: Lexy does it again! Another UPSET!
Frankie: YAAAAAH! HA-HA-HA!
Sparkles: Erm Frankie, Cindy is still right beside you.
Frankie: Oh, I mean, uh, good effort.
A wounded Lexy rolls from the squared circle instead of staying inside to properly rejoice in victory. She leaves the squared circle just as Borislav enters, desperately racing after her. He stops at the ropes though and looks over them at a celebrating Lexy who is now joined by Kat. Kelly grab Lexy’s arms, raising it aloft in victory while also pointing into the ring at Borislav, laughing at him.
Greyson: What a win for Lexy tonight advancing her to the semi-finals of the Number One Contender Tournament to go down at Upping the Ante.
Frankie: Where my girl will win big and then go on to claim the World Title, a belt that SHOULD be hers already.
Sparkles: Can Lexy continue to parlay her momentum into a tournament victory?
Greyson: We know now that Lexy joins Andre Jordan in the semi-finals, who will be the next to advance when Marina Valdivia collides with Rachel Tatum Lee, and Samantha Raine battles Mika Kozlov? Both those matches still slated to go down here tonight.
Sparkles: Guys, I don’t think we’ve seen the end of this situation in the ring.
As Lexy and her cohorts go on living it up at ringside, back in the squared circle the members of New Eden are not in anything but a celebratory mood. As Borislav stoops down and takes Serenity by the arm, trying to help her up he finds his hands swatted away. Serenity holds the top of her head with one hand while wagging a finger at Borislav, shouting at him in anger. Meanwhile Cindy Todd has vacated the announce table and is stepping over the middle rope, entering the squared circle. She immediately steps between an enraged Serenity and an apologetic Borislav.
Greyson: It looks like New Eden continues to implode right in front of our eyes.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks they’re less upset with each other and more angry over that footage that just aired. It totally cost Serenity the match.
Frankie: Not only did Aiken Frost’s manipulation tactics just cost Serenity, but he also stole Mika Kozlov away from New Eden.
Greyson: Hopefully we’ll have more on that story as this night progresses.
Back in the ring Borislav goes on clutching the pipe wrench used on Marina Valdivia a few weeks ago and now trying to smooth things over between he and an angered Serenity. All Cindy does is stand back and watch her followers argue, yet to weigh in with her own judgment.
Marina: Great job guys.
Announces Marina Valdivia as she slaps her palm down onto the back of a production crew member. Although we last saw Marina a bloody mess at the hands of New Eden, she looks to not only have recovered but now she’s even at an emotional high. She fills the production trailer with her energy and it seems infectious, as several of the technicians working the controls responsible for all of tonight’s programming are wearing smiles.
Marina: Good job fellas.
Crew-Member: We just went on your cue.
Replies one of the men seated behind a switchboard wearing a neck-brace.
Marina: Don’t sell yourselves short, you guys did great. I’m sure Serenity appreciated you all pulling up that video when I asked you too. Thanks for your cooperation.
The commentators speak up in the background.
Greyson: Wait a minute….waaaaait a miiinnuttte. Am I hearing this correctly? Marina Valdivia was the one who had that video played? The video that distracted Serenity and cost her her match?
Sparkles: It WASN’T Aiken Frost this time?
Frankie: I’m telling you guys, Marina is doing nothing short of sticking her head in a lion’s mouth.
Greyson: She’s not afraid to stand up against New Eden, and what she did tonight was get a small measure of revenge on them for ambushing her two weeks ago.
Frankie: When New Eden catches wind of this…..
Apparently Marina isn’t about to wait on New Eden’s response.
Marina: By the way guys…
She addresses the production crew members while approaching the door to the trailer.
Marina: You might want to keep cameras on the ring. Because you’re not going to want to miss what happens next.
Something is taken out from behind Marina’s back, and that something is a pipe wrench, one that she pats against the palm of her hand. Now she exits the trailer and it doesn’t take much imagination to figure out where she’s going.
Greyson: Uhhhhh guuuuyys, I think Marina is coming out to confront New Eden.
Frankie: Hasn’t she done enough already? If she comes out here she’s going to be left in a condition a thousand times worse than the one New Eden left her in two weeks ago.
Sparkles: Marina headed for a collision course with New Eden!
Greyson: There’s going to be a brawl fellas, and it isn’t going to be pretty.
Katelyn: Open this door right now!
The shouts of Katelyn Buehler fills the corridor where she’s standing. There’s also the sound of her fist thumping against a door, one marked ‘Silas Mason.’ She pounds and pounds away at it while holding the World Title over the shoulder furthest from the doorway.
Katelyn: Open up Silas!
The longer she is forced to wait the angrier she’s getting. The commentators speculate as to what has Katelyn so perturbed.
Greyson: Looks like we’ve got another story unfolding here guys.
Sparkles: Katelyn Buehler, our champion, she’s standing outside of Principle Owner Silas Mason’s office and apparently she wants a word with the boss.
Frankie: She ought to know better than to disturb Silas. Especially when the man has got a huge match coming up against Karen McBride tonight.
Greyson: I think Katelyn is still upset regarding what happened between herself and Dem Cannon Boys at the start of tonight’s show.
Greyson: We’ll have even more on this story as it progresses.
Cameras return to the live feed just in time to catch a glimpse of Victoria Salinas. The most recently acquired talent for the Riot brand is making her way down a hallway presumably in search of someone. She stops at the side of a stagehand who has his nose buried in a stack of documents.
Victoria: You…..
She demands his focus via flicking him in his brow and causing him to look up into her face.
Victoria: Seen Marina around?
Stagehand: Who? OH! Marina Valdivia? No, haven’t seen her.
Victoria: Oh. Well, you may continue….
Now Victoria puts a finger to the chin of the stagehand and pushes down on it, redirecting his eyes back to the papers he WAS reading. Victoria then continues on her way.
Greyson: Looks to me like Victoria Salinas is looking for her good friend Marina Valdivia.
Frankie: Why oh why couldn’t she be looking for me? I’m easy to find, I kind of stand out with this rugged masculine exterior of mine.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think Victoria realizes that Marina is headed our way.
Greyson: You’re right Sparkles. Apparently Victoria is unaware that her friend is walking into a fight with New Eden.
Sparkles: A group Victoria has tangled with a few times over these past few weeks.
Ethan: We’re just here paying a visit to a GOOD friend of ours.
It doesn’t matter how big, both in height and muscularity, the security guard may be because he STILL has his hands full with the ever controversial Ethan Von Aaron and his client the headline grabbing X-Class Champion Alana Starr. The duo stand in a hallway with a black shirted security guard stood in front of them. The ball of muscles’ back is aimed to the camera and his huge arms are folded over his chest.
Alana: We’re not going to make any trouble, we pinky promise.
Alana and Ethan interlock their pinky fingers and TRY to look sincere.
Security Guard: I’m sorry guys….
Starts the bald headed brute.
Security Guard: I got a lot of heat for the last time I let you two into the building. Silas has told me he wants NO wrestlers from the Uprising brand appearing on HIS show.
Alana: Why? Is the ignorant biscuit allergic to ratings?
Security Guard: No, he doesn’t want you guys attacking members of his roster again.
Ethan: But we pinky promised we wouldn’t go after Rachel Tatum Lee again. Doesn’t a pinky promise mean ANYTHING to you?
Alana: Because it does to us. That’s like swearing on a stack of bibles.
Security Guard: Sorry, I’m not letting you two in, end of story.
Ethan: No….
Ethan steps up right into the guard’s face and even goes as far to begin prodding his chest with a finger.
Ethan: No one denies my client what she wants. Including a grunt like you!
Alana: Come on Ethan, we’ll find another way.
The X-Class Champion finally manages to wrangle her agent’s arm and pull Ethan away from the stern, unflappable guard. She then steps up and eyeballs the security worker.
Alana: You should be ashamed of yourself. You-you-you MOTHER FUDGER!
At last Alana and Ethan part ways with the guard, who doesn’t blink an eye as he watches the two march down the hallway.
When last cameras were filming the ring the viewers witnessed the ever dangerous New Eden turning their wrath on one another. Now that the show has come back to the squared circle we see that implosive situation continuing to play out. At the moment New Eden’s Queen Cindy Todd is stood back watching as her followers Serenity and Borislav argue amongst one another. While Borislav holds the pipe wrench he failed to give Serenity in time to help her win her previous match, Serenity sits on the canvas and grips something else, the top of her potentially concussed head.
Greyson: It looks like Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron having a hard time infiltrating the Manhattan Center.
Frankie: I hate that we won’t get to see Alana Starr, but you gotta applaud Silas Mason for putting his boot down and refusing to let Uprising talent to appear on the Riot brand.
Greyson: I don’t have to do nothing but get old and like it.
Sparkles: GET old?
Greyson: Let’s switch gears back to what we’re seeing right now inside of the ring. Before the break we saw New Eden having a bit of an internal dispute.
Sparkles: All thanks to Serenity’s loss in the Number One Contender Tournament Quarter-Final match.
Frankie: Which wouldn’t have happened if ‘A,’ Serenity’s enemy Marina Valdivia hadn’t been playing some distracting footage on the Cartel-tron, and ‘B,’ Borislav had given Serenity the pipe wrench like she were asking. But don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he failed, because I sure as hell didn’t want to see that pipe wrench used on Lexy Chapel.
The argument continues between Borislav and Serenity before Cindy at last intervenes. She casually requests a microphone, receives it and then slowly walks towards her cohorts with one arm ever folded behind her back.
Cindy: Quiet.
She insists in a tone as grave as a six foot deep hole. Serenity and Borislav listen and listen good.
Cindy: I’m growing a little annoyed with this childish behavior. I won’t have my New Eden acting like petulant kids. First MY Mika Kozlov runs off with Aiken Frost, who no doubt filled her head with false promises, and now I have the two of you placing even further strain on my New Eden by bickering like spoiled youths. It’s almost as revolting as watching YOU (points at her followers) fail me again inside of this ring. I won’t tolerate this behavior, and I won’t allow failure. So I guess I need to handle these issues with a far firmer hand. And I have the perfect way of doing just that. How’s the old saying go? Spare the rod, spoil the child?
Cindy pats Borislav on his always tense shoulder.
Cindy: Hand it here….
The pipe wrench Borislav was holding finds its way into Cindy’s palms. She then turns to the knelt Serenity, who already has a justifiably worried look in her eyes.
Cindy: I take it you need to be reminded how I punish failure.
Serenity still wears the scars on her back from the last time she was punished for letting Cindy down. The pipe wrench in the hands of Serenity’s Queen swings….deliberately into the ribs of Borislav.
Greyson: WAIT!!
Sparkles: Sparkles thought it was Serenity who was going to be punished.
Frankie: Then Sparkles was wrong.
The blow from the pipe wrench is devastating enough to double Borislav over and send him crumbling to his knees. The woman who put him in this state now nods to Serenity, who acts and acts quick. She grabs Borislav’s wrists, pushing them down to the canvas to expose his back, leaving him defenseless against the blows of Cindy Todd. The merciless Cindy drives the pipe wrench down across Borislav’s spine with more and more force behind each punishing blow. Huge bruises and welts are forming on Borislav’s skin as he withstands one devastating shot after another.
Greyson: I’m getting sick to my stomach watching this.
Sparkles: Cindy is making Borislzv pay for his failure to get that pipe wrench to Serenity in time to help her during her match.
Greyson: Think of all the internal bleeding this has to be inflicting on Borislav.
Frankie: He’ll never fail her again. NEVER!
Blood is dribbling out from the corners of Borislav’s mouth as yet another blow from the wrench collides against his spine.
Aiken: Are you done yet?
Cindy’s soulless eyes cut to someone equally as void of spirit. Stood on one of the scaffolds high above the ring is Aiken Frost.
Greyson: There he is! THERE’S AIKEN FROST!!
Sparkles: This is only getting worse.
Frankie: Ya-damn-skippy it is.
Greyson: The former leader of New Eden addressing Cindy.
Sparkles: The last time the two of these were anywhere near each other Aiken left Cindy hanging via a noose from the roof of a Hell in a Cell.
Oddly enough Cindy actually looks HAPPY to see Aiken.
Aiken: Is this senseless barbarity over with?
Asks Aiken as he gestures to the bludgeoned Borislav laid out at Cindy’s feet.
Cindy: Oh Mr. Frost, you haven’t seen barbarity yet.
Aiken: Judging by your threats I take it you have no interest in letting bygones be bygones?
Cindy merely grins.
Aiken: I thought you wouldn’t be content with leaving our issues behind us, that you wouldn’t be so quick to forgive nor forget the punishment I dealt out on you four weeks ago.
Cindy: You assumed correctly. I suppose I can be a little petty when people attempt to hang me from nooses.
Aiken: And here I was under the belief that I was being merciful.
Cindy: I won’t be.
Aiken: I thought as much. You are a very dangerous woman Cindy, but fortunately….
Aiken looks back over his shoulder into the shadows that surround him.
Aiken:…..I have friends who can be JUST as vicious.
From those shadows emerges the woman everyone has been searching for, the woman who steps to Aiken side and drapes her arm across his back, the woman who puts her cheek to Frost’s shoulder, the woman known as Mika Kozlov.
Frankie: Look-LOOOOK, it’s-it’s-it’s MIKA KOZLOV!
Greyson: And she’s with Aiken Frost.
Sparkles: All the rumors are true then. Mika has returned to the side of her former ruler Aiken Frost.
Greyson: Mika was always Aiken’s favorite.
The sight of Mika standing side by side with Aiken is an image that Cindy finds difficult to digest.
Cindy: How tragic you would allow yourself to be seduced by this serpent, my precious Mika. I have such high hopes for the two of us. Plans that Aiken Frost will not live to disrupt.
The microphone falls out of Cindy’s hand, but the pipe wrench doesn’t. She rolls from the ring still gripping the weapon as she makes her way up the ramp, presumably headed for the rafters where Aiken and Mika are stood. Back inside of the squared circle Serenity is stood over Cindy’s most recent victim Borislav. The former World Champion calls out for Cindy however, Serenity’s Queen does not look back. Instead Cindy proceeds straight through the curtains.
Greyson: It looks to me like Cindy Todd is going after Aiken Frost and Mika Kozlov.
Sparkles: She is not one bit happy that Mika has returned to Aiken’s side.
Frankie: Should she be? Mika is one of the most powerful weapons one can wield, and she’s been instrumental in New Eden’s reign of terror over the IWC.
Greyson: Look at Serenity, she doesn’t know what to make of any of this.
Serenity calls after Cindy again, but she’s already vanished into the backstage area. So Serenity instead turns to Borislav, stooping towards the bludgeoned bodyguard and laughing directly into his ear.
Marina: You lonely Abi?
The fans come to life at the visual of Marina Valdivia, who steps to the stage holding a weapon that has already become a focal point of tonight’s telecast, a pipe wrench. Serenity whips around to face Marina waltzing down the ramp, coming her way.
Marina: Let me keep you company.
A microphone is thrown aside so that Marina can grip the pipe wrench with both hands as she goes rolling into the squared circle. Before she can get to her knees she finds her face on the receiving end of a few punches by Serenity.
Greyson: Look what we’re got here. ANOTHER brawl between Serenity and Marina Valdivia.
Sparkles: These two have been going at it and going at it for MONTHS.
Frankie: Including two weeks ago when New Eden left Marina a bloody wreck in her dressing room.
Greyson: Using that very same pipe wrench Marina just brought to the ring with her.
It doesn’t look like that very pipe wrench will come into play at the moment considering that Serenity has seemingly got the better of Marina, jabbing her again and again in the face. The pipe wrench falls out of Marina’s hands as she’s pulled up to her feet and then launched off into the ropes. Marina jumps over top of the unconscious body of Borislav then continues into the far ropes, ricocheting from them. When she comes back in at Serenity, she manages to duck right under a clothesline. While stooped and staggering forward Marina snatches up the pipe wrench. She then swings around and tries to drive the wrench square into Serenity’s head, but the blow misses before it could send brains splattering through the air. Serenity falls back just in time to avoid having her skull shattered by the pipe wrench. She then goes rolling from the squared circle, evading the weapon that Marina is determined to bludgeon her with.
Greyson: Marina ALMOST catching Serenity with the pipe wrench.
Frankie: But thank God, Serenity got out of the way.
Sparkles: When is Marina FINALLY going to get her revenge on Serenity?
It might not be Serenity that Marina gets her revenge on, but there’s no stopping her from exacting some payback on Borislav for the part her played in that attack that prompted her retaliation on New Eden tonight. Marina steps past the unconscious Borislav before making his night all that much worse. She steps up the nearest corner, stands up on the top rope, points at Serenity stood at the base of the ramp and then Marina flips into the California Splash, crashing directly into Borislav.
Frankie: AAAAAH!
Greyson: 450! Marina with the 450 on Borislav.
Sparkles: THAT’S called sending a message.
One that was not well received by Serenity, who trembles with anger. Marina leaps to her feet looking equally as red hot, her fuming eyes never turning from Serenity’s face.
Cameras transition to the offices of the Principle Owner Silas Mason, and the woman who was seen trying to get inside could only be locked out for so long. The World Champion Katelyn Buehler has thrown her title belt onto Silas’ desk, leaning over the gold and the mahogany so that the boss can see the sincerity in her eyes. Silas leans back in his chair slipping leather gloves over his hands, readying for competition and looking totally disinterested in anything that Katelyn has to say.
Katelyn: Look at my face right now Silas….look into my eyes and tell me ‘no.’
Silas doesn’t adhere to her request, he just keeps staring at his now gloved fists.
Katelyn: You can’t do it, because you damn well know that if you try to dick me around then it’s not Karen McBride you need to worry about tonight.
Silas: Baby Brown-Baby Brown-Baby Brown, I ain’t got time for all this garbage. I got McBride in that ring later tonight, so why don’t ya just tell me what it is ya want.
Katelyn: Scott Cannon, one on one, TONIGHT.
Silas: Hahahahahaha…
Silas actually holds his stomach to keep his sides from splitting before leaning back in his chair as he unleashes his guffaw.
Silas: Ya think I’m jus’ gonna give away my big pay-per-view main event for free righ’ ‘ere tonight? Naaaah, I ain’t gonna take a blow to my pocket book. Ya forget, I’m a business man Baby Brown. And you versus Cannon on Riot, it ain’t good fer business. Yer gonna have to wait till Uppin’ the Ante to get yer match….
Katelyn: I’m not going to wait for ANYTHING.
Silas: Ya got Miss Jon to wrassle ‘ere tonight…
Katelyn: I DON’T GIVE A DAMN!
Informs an irate Katelyn, who is still stinging after her earlier confrontation with Dem Cannon Boys. She takes the World Title off the desk then steps back from it before pointing rather threatening at the Principle Owner.
Katelyn: I’m going to that ring later tonight, and you either send Scott Cannon out to face me, or I’m going to come back here to your office and I’m going to face….YOU!
It couldn’t be stated any clearer than that. Katelyn walks out of the room and leaves Silas in quite the stupor. He leans back in his chair interlocking his hands and letting out a sigh. He finally picks up his phone, dials a number and waits to hear the voice of his assistant Mason Van Stanton.
Silas: Mason…has everything been arranged for tonight?
A smarmy smile runs along Silas’ face.
Silas: Good. Very good.
A casket comes into view, eliciting quite a few chills from the audience.
Seated rather casually on top of this death bed is Rachel Tatum Lee. The NHB Champion has her title belt draped over her forearm as she looks down into her gold and then begins to knock on the lid of the coffin.
Rachel: Ya hearin me in there Harrison?
She keeps knocking to get the attention of Aaron Harrison, who she’s had locked inside of the coffin ever since she defeated him several months ago at Awakening.
Rachel: Listen up sweety. Two weeks ago ya earned back a lil’ bit of my trust when ya came out of this ‘ere casket and kept Ethan and Alana from interferin’ in my match. So I tell ya what I’m gonna do Harrison. I’m gonna bring this casket on down to that ring and set ya up right beside it so ya can hear my opponent’s head crackin’ against the canvas when I hit Marina with the Dead In Tombstone, then ya can listen to my name announced as the victor in the Number One Contender Tournament Match…..
Goddard: Lil Rose….
The hellbilly himself Goddard steps into frame, stopping in the hall where the casket and Rachel have set up shop. He puts his hands on the coffin Rachel is seated on and leans over it towards the woman who he has been instrumental in aiding over the past year.
Goddard: Ya ain’t tormentin’ ole’ Harrison are ya?
Rachel: Nope, not that he doesn’t have it comin’. I was just thankin’ ‘em is all, and tellin’ ‘em all about how I intend to repay his help from two weeks ago.
Goddard: Good, because the time for his torment is over. It’s like I told ya on the last Riot, (Goddard looks down at the casket), he’s ready.
Rachel: Maybe we’ll get a chance to find out ‘ere tonight. Heard Ethan and Alana were runnin’ around ‘ere. They might try to interfere in my Number One Contender Tournament match against Marina.
Goddard: For the sake of their souls, I hope they don’t. Because if this casket opens, it’ll be a thousand times worse than letting Pandora out of a box.
Rachel can’t help but to laugh.
Rachel: Sugar, that sounds like so much fun.
PRE-RECORDED
There is a city skyline brought into view with a blackened sky hung over it. The camera slowly starts to pull back from the towering structures to bring into view the man who is observing them from afar. Stood behind the railing on a bridge is the Icon himself, the international man of renown, Orlando Cruze.
Orlando: Welcome….welcome one and all….to the place where you’re beloved Orlando Cruze came to be the man he is today….
He gestures towards the sprawling buildings and other such structures laid out before him.
Orlando: Several weeks ago a brash young braggart named Andre Jordan, accused me of losing sight of who I am. Well, tonight, I’m going to invite you all along on a journey as I go back to my roots.
A huge grin sweeps across Orlando’s face as he thrusts his arms out to his sides.
Orlando: Ladies and gentlemen, THIS….IS….ORLANDO CRUZE!
Starxxx: Don’t you worry about a thing playa.
Brags Jeffrey Alexander Starxxx as he leads his boys Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams down a hallway, passing by closed doors on either side of the trio. He might be wearing a flashy red suit jacket and pants with a matching color scheme, but it isn’t his flamboyant attire that anyone is paying attention to, it’s the phone pressed to his ear.
Starxxx: You tell Silas that my guys have got this. We’re on our way right now to pay McBride a very special visit.
This ominous statement is punctuated by chuckles from Starxxx as he hangs up his phone and continues on down the corridor with Briggs and Randal proceeding right along behind him. The commentators can now be heard sounding off.
Greyson: What was that all about?
Sparkles: Did Sparkles hear that correctly? Are Starxxx and his crew going after Karen McBride?
Greyson: Karen is slated to take on Starxxx’s boss Silas Mason one on one tonight.
Frankie: You honestly think Silas was going to honor that commitment when he’s got all three McBride sisters he has to face in that six person tag at Upping the Ante? NOT gonna happen.
Greyson: Well I tell you what IS going to happen. We’ve got Marina Valdivia and Rachel Tatum Lee set to collide in a Number One Contender Tournament Quarter Final round match, and Marina is already in the ring.
Cameras transition right back to the squared circle that Marina Valdivia is pacing. Her eyes are trained to the stage, waiting anxiously for her opponent this evening in what will undoubtedly be the biggest match of her IWC career.
Greyson: If you’re wondering why Marina Valdivia is inside of that ring then you must have missed what happened just before the commercial break.
Frankie: Just roll the god damn filler.
Sparkles: Sparkles LOVES filler.
MOMENTS AGO
A video package plays that recounts what happened mere seconds before the show went to commercial break. Violence imploded when Marina Valdivia came to the ring with a pipe wrench in hand looking for retribution on the woman who left her a bloodied mess just two weeks earlier. Waiting for Marina in the ring is Serenity, who gets into a big brawl with Marina. It ends when Valdivia attempts to cave in Serenity’s skull with the pipe wrench only to miss. Serenity leaves the ring and is forced to watch as her teammate Borislav is hit with Marina’s version of the 450, the California Splash.
Cameras are back on the squared circle at this point where Marina Valdivia anxiously waits for even more action.
Greyson: As the video just documented, Marina got a piece of her mortal enemy Serenity.
Sparkles: But she’s about to get a whole lot of her adversary Rachel Tatum Lee.
Frankie: Marina about to find out what the Hardcore Cowgirl is made of when the two face off in a Quarter Final Round match up in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Marina’s need to get her hands dirty may result in her hands getting broken by her adversary this evening. We’re about to find out as ‘Blue’ by Birthday Massacre plays over the loud speakers. The lights in the Manhattan Center dim into virtual non-existence. It takes a while but once they at last come back up they illuminate both Rachel Tatum Lee sitting Indian style at ringside, and the casket positioned beneath her. The NHB Title sits across her lap and her fist is raised to her chin, looking very complacent at the moment.
Greyson: There she is, there’s Rachel Tatum Lee, and she’s not alone!
Sparkles: She’s got that casket with her again.
Frankie: And we all know that emo bastard Aaron Harrison is locked inside of it.
Greyson: We finally saw Harrison two weeks ago after his over month long captivity in the very casket Rachel put him inside of back at our last pay-per-view event Awakening.
Sparkles: One has to wonder if Harrison will play a factor again here tonight.
Greyson: I hope he won’t be needed, as he popped up out of that casket on the last Riot in order to keep Rachel’s enemies Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron from reaching the ring to interfere in her match.
Sparkles: Yeah, Sparkles doesn’t want to see interference from either of those two here tonight.
Greyson: Indeed, this Number One Contender Tournament match needs to be straight up one on one between Rachel and Marina. It deserves that.
Frankie: Well let’s find out who’s going to advance to join Lexy Chapel and Andre Jordan at Upping the Ante in the semi-finals of this tourney.
Rachel steps off the casket and to the ring apron, once there she relinquishes her NHB title to the referee. She then enters the ring and locks eyes with Marina as the two fan favorites prepare to go at it.
RACHEL TATUM LEE VS. MARINA VALDIVIA:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT QUARTER FINAL
The bell at long last rings as Marina and Rachel tentatively extend their hands, locking up in a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock. They push against one another’s hands before their arms go out to their sides and their chests collide. They grind against one another before Marina finds out just how powerful her opponent is. Rachel shoves and shoves with enough strength to begin bridging Marina over backwards. The Greco Roman Knuckle Lock is still applied as Marina bridges completely back and comes down onto the top of her head. Now she’s in a crab walk position with the top of her head still wedged against the ring and the back of her knuckles pressed to the canvas.
Rachel finally exerts enough pressure on the hands of her opponent to force her adversary’s shoulders down to the canvas.
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Marina gets one shoulder up but Rachel forces it right back down by pressing against Valdivia’s hand.
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Marina lifts that very same shoulder from the ring only to have Rachel yet again push it into the canvas.
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Instead of lifting a shoulder Marina lifts her whole body up, bridging her shoulders and her back from the canvas. The Greco Knuckle Lock remains applied though, and Rachel is determined she can use it to force a pin. She kicks back with her boot and it nails the crease of Marina’s knee, forcing her to break her bridge and come down onto her shoulders once again.
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Marina finally turns her predicament into opportunity, pushing herself over into a backwards roll. She gets her shoulders off of the ring and her hands out of the knuckle lock. Instead those hands find their way around Rachel’s head, applying a front chancery. Marina crawls across her knees and into the submission on Rachel, who is kneeling as well. Then Marina reaches out and hooks the crease of her adversary’s knee before falling to her side. She rolls both herself and Rachel over onto their backs and then Marina bridges up into a fisherman style pin.
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Rachel kicks out of this impressive and innovative pin. She then rolls back onto her knees just as her adversary Marina comes barreling towards her. Rachel manages to catch Marina by the back of the leg, pull it out from under her and send Valdivia crashing onto her back. Rachel then hooks one of Marina’s leg and the back of Marina’s head before flipping over her opponent. Eventually Rachel’s feet come down to the canvas with her body bridging back into a version of a cradle pin.
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Marina pops her shoulder up and then races to her feet where she finds Rachel crouched and waiting for her. The two stop and stare one another down, backing off in order to rethink their strategies.
Sparkles: Nice CHAIN wrestling from Rachel and Marina.
Greyson: We don’t get very many matches starting off like this here in the IWC, especially when it’s the NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee involved. Two weeks ago the closest we got to a wrestling hold in her match against Ricky Holt was an attempt at vehicular manslaughter using a golf cart.
Sparkles: We’ve seen Rachel wrestle that hardcore crash and burn style a lot in the past, tonight though we’re seeing her do some classic hold for hold wrestling.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, Rachel can do it all, Blah-blah-blah. Actually, want to know something Rachel can’t do?
Greyson: What’s that?
Frankie: She can’t jazzercise that bubble-butt of hers.
Greyson: I am soooo tired of hearing you parrot Alana Starr’s insults at the NHB Champion.
Rachel and Marina circle one another before ultimately coming together in a collar elbow. But Rachel quickly transitions right out of that and takes Marina around the waist, lifting her up and then into position for the Dead in Tombstone.
Greyson: Forget going hold for hold, Rachel’s gonna catch Marina with the Dead in Tombstone.
Sparkles: Marina didn’t see that coming.
Frankie: Nobody did, it was so lightning fast.
Just not fast enough however to prevent Marina from countering that tombstone. She wiggles and squirms until she slips right out of Rachel’s arms. She then comes down on the canvas right behind Rachel before falling back and hitting the turnbuckle, her arms dangling over the cables to keep her upright. Marina has a lot more trouble staying on her feet when her opponent comes dashing in to decapitate her with a clothesline. At the last second though Marina saves herself via getting both boots up and both boots straight into Rachel’s chest, kicking her down to the canvas. At the same time Marina pushes herself off of Rachel’s chest into a backwards flip that puts her up and on top of the turnbuckle.
The crowd gets very excited at the sight of Rachel collapsing to the ring and Marina ascending to the highest point of the corner where she prepares to unleash the California Splash.
Greyson: First Borislav and now Rachel are about to fall prey to that California Splash!
Sparkles: And if Marina hits this she advances into the Quarter Finals of the Tournament.
Frankie: Both women looking to hit those finishers straight out of the gates.
Marina strikes while the iron is hot. She goes flipping forward and crashing down directly into the canvas, Rachel rolls out of the way and causes Marina to miss her. However, Marina tucks her chin to her chest and when she hits the ring she rolls straight across it, ultimately getting back to her feet. She then spins around and faces Rachel, who is stood on the apron of the ring, actually smiling upon realizing that this match was literally one move away from being over.
Sparkles: Both ladies went for their finishers early and neither lady connected.
Greyson: We knew coming into this that it was going to be a very athletic and fast paced contest between these two. They want to try and save up as much strength as possible knowing that if they win, they could very well have not just one, but TWO matches at Upping the Ante in the Number One Contender Tournament.
A grinning Rachel returns to the ring and approaches Marina who shockingly has her palm extended. Marina is actually looking for a handshake and what’s even more surprising is that Rachel is reciprocating it. The crowd applauds this showing of respect right up until Rachel grabs Marina by the hair and yanks it with such force that she is sent crashing down to the canvas across the back of her head. Rachel then looks towards the fans and shrugs.
Frankie: See that, that’s what I like!
Greyson: Rachel has no qualms about bending the rules a little.
Sparkles: Do what it takes to win, worry about friendships and alliances later.
A shaken up Marina rises to her seat while Rachel drops down behind her, ensnaring both of her opponent’s arms. Before Marina realizes it she’s being trapped in the double chickenwing.
Greyson: Hands Across America now locked in on Marina, hyperextending the shoulders of the former Queen of the Ring Champion.
Sparkles: Marina continuing to pay for being such a good sportswoman.
The suffrage is indescribable at this point, Marina feeling like her arms are about to pop straight after their sockets. Though she’s hurting Marina isn’t tapping. Instead she puts her feet to the ring and pushes herself up to her feet, by virtue forcing Rachel to stand up behind her. The double chickenwing remains locked in even as both ladies stand up. Though the hold doesn’t remain applied for all that much longer before Marina starts to show her incredible strength by forcing her arms out further and further to her sides. Rachel finally realizes that in spite of all the strength she puts into this hold its ultimately not going to finish Marina off, so she releases her opponent’s arms and then takes her by the hair, giving it another yank. Marina is dragged down to the canvas and slams across the back of her head.
The impact is so vicious that it has Marina ricocheting from the ring all the way back up to her feet. She staggers around looking braindead until she eventually turns right into a running clothesline delivered with some force by the NHB Champion. The lariat to the throat has Marina gasping for air yet still trying to get up. So Rachel steps in beside her and drops a quick leg across Marina’s throat. The impact makes it even harder for Marina to breathe as she rolls across the ring and desperately reaches out for the cables. But just then her arms are caught from behind and dragged around behind her back. Once again Rachel is going for the double chickenwing but Marina is managing to block it. She prevents Rachel from getting her hands clasped together, meaning the hold won’t be locked in and Marina won’t suffer from it.
Marina works her way up to her feet while struggling against the hold that threatens to dislocate her shoulders. She then starts to twist from side to side to prevent being trapped in the submission. At last she manages to bend forward just enough to be able to slip back and through Rachel’s arms. She steps behind Rachel and then grabs her by the hair, giving it such a forceful yank that the NHB Champion is picked up off of feet and flung hard to the canvas via the back of her head.
Greyson: Now it’s Marina’s turn to get a little dirty.
Frankie: Mmmmm. Dirty-dirty girls.
Greyson: Don’t go getting thoughts in your head Frankie.
The plunge into the canvas has scrambled Rachel’s brains and leaves her sitting absent minded on the canvas. She has no idea that Marina is stepping in behind her and placing her in a sleeper hold. A submission that Rachel has no intention of staying locked in. She falls back, lying across her spine on the canvas and then reaching up to grab the crease of Marina’s knee. She pulls down on it, causing Marina’s leg to bend and for her to fall forward, landing flat on her face. Rachel then stands up with one of her legs stuck between both of Marina’s. She takes advantage of this positioning so that she can lift Marina’s legs and look to apply the liontamer.
Just before Rachel gets the hold applied she learns just how strong Marina’s legs are. Valdivia manages to pull her legs down towards the canvas, causing Rachel to fall to the ring as she tried to hold onto her opponent’s knees. As a result Rachel ends up coming down onto the back of her shoulders with Marina sitting on her chest and reaching back, hooking the creases of Rachel’s legs.
Greyson: A unique pinning predicament right here.
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Rachel doesn’t just kick out but counters. She sits up and as a result reverses into a sunset flip style pinning predicament. However, Rachel isn’t going for a pin, she’s popping up to her feet with Marina’s legs still in her arms and is now using this grip to roll her opponent over to her chest, the Liontamer locked in.
Sparkles: Marina couldn’t avoid it forever!
Frankie: No she couldn’t, she’s in that liontamer now!
Marina lets out such a loud wail of pain before synching her fingernails into the canvas and then pulling herself along towards the ropes. This is a process made all the more complicated….no…almost IMPOSSIBLE when Rachel twists herself enough to begin stomping down at the back of Marina’s head over and over again. Still Marina reaches out for the ropes only to have her hand stomped now, almost cracking her knuckles.
A screaming Marina lifts her hand now not to grab the rope but to tap out to the excruciating pain that runs all along her spine and her mid-section. Rachel puts even more force behind the submission, which should end it right then and right there. But much like Rachel, Marina has made a career of being a very resilient athlete.
Marina no longer looks to submit but to reverse. She twists her body just enough to come down onto her back and force Rachel to spin around and face her. Now Marina is able to put her heels against Rachel’s chest and employ all her leg strength to kick Rachel back into the nearest corner. Rachel makes the mistake of turning around before colliding with the turnbuckle, resulting in her face smacking against the corner. The impact with the turnbuckle has bloated Rachel’s lower lip and has sent her staggering right back into Marina’s waiting arms. Marina puts a shoulder to Rachel’s kidneys then lifts her into a back drop…NOTHIN….Rachel floats right over, flipping back and landing on her feet behind Marina.
The pace quickens as Marina twists around to face Rachel only to have the back of her knees caught. It seems Rachel is about to trip Marina up and go for the Liontamer once again. Just before she can pull Marina’s legs out from under her, Rachel finds her attempt thwarted. The ever quick Marina jumps over the back of a stooped over Rachel, catching the NHB Champion by her hips and forcing her to drop into the sunset flip.
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Rachel rolls right back out of the pin and then grabs hold of Marina’s legs in the process. She lifts them in an another attempt to apply the liontamer but once again Marina is blocking it. So the Hardcore Cowgirl alters her strategy. She drops back and catapults Marina right towards the turnbuckle, but before her face collides with the corner Valdivia manages to catch the ropes and block the impact. What Marina might not be able to block though is the lariat that comes traveling towards the back of her head, Rachel readying to unleash her murderous intent.
We never find out quite what Rachel has in mind because Marina swings herself out of the corner and out of harm’s way. As a result Rachel charges right past her and smashes face first against the turnbuckle. A disorientated Rachel then staggers back into Marina’s waiting shoulder before being elevated into a back drop suplex position. But then Marina swings herself around and instead hits a reverse neck breaker out of this position.
Greyson: Unorthodox move by Marina and boy did Rachel’s head ever hit that canvas with some force!
Sparkles: We really are seeing quite the match right now between these two women who are desperate to become the number one contender for the World Title.
Greyson: Which is why they are busting out some very innovative stuff in this encounter thus far.
A very disorientated Rachel amazingly starts to inch her way up from the ring and into Marina’s arms. A warn out Valdivia takes Rachel’s biceps and goes for a tiger bomb. She throws Rachel up into the air, catches her and bombs her opponent with ring shaking force into the canvas. Marina bends down and leans her shoulders into the creases of Rachel’s legs.
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A sweaty and exhausted Rachel throws her arm off the ring, resulting in cheers from the crowd but groans from her adversary. Marina falls to her knees and looks towards the official, raising three fingers, hoping he’ll correct his mistake. Unfortunately for Marina there was NOTHING wrong with the official’s count, meaning this match goes on.
Greyson: Marina really-really wanted that to be it.
Frankie: Can you blame her? This is by far and away one of the most physical matches she’s had to compete in.
A very worn out Marina gets to her feet with both of Rachel’s arms hooked, leading to a second tiger bomb! Marina remains stood as she slams Rachel down into the canvas with such unbelievable, ring imploding force. Although every organ in Rachel’s body may have just exploded she is still trying to get up. A warn, damn near debilitated Marina steps in and hooks both of Rachel’s arms, lifting her into another tiger…..nooo….Rachel flips forward in mid-air, grabs the back of Marina’s head and pulls her down right into an elevated knee. Rachel falls to her back and Marina’s brow falls against the kneecap of her adversary.
Greyson: That was a version of the Skipjack!
Sparkles: Sparkles has never seen it hit from that position before!
Frankie: And….AAAAH!
Frankie can’t finish his sentence before we witness yet another brutal high impact move. Marina’s face pops off of Rachel’s knee, causing her to stand up straight looking like she’s been on a 48 hour alcohol bender. Marina stumbles around and remains on her feet just long enough to be hit with the Loredo Lasso. Rachel hits the clothesline with so much power behind it that Marina is actually sent corkscrewing through the air.
Greyson: The LOREDO LASSO!
Sparkles: That’s the move Rachel used to beat Kat Kelly in the first round of the tournament.
Frankie: And it’s gonna do it again, Rachel is going to the semi-finals.
An exhausted and just plain depleted Rachel sits across her knees on the canvas huffing and puffing, trying to find her second wind. She has no idea that victory is in her hands and that the lid on the casket positioned at ringside has begun to peel back.
Sparkles: That casket is starting to open. It looks like we’re going to see Harrison after-all.
Frankie: Please no, Harrison’s face would make Louie Anderson lose his appetite.
Surprisingly Rachel does not go for the pin and instead grabs Marina by the hair, starting to force her up from the canvas. That’s before Rachel spots the casket starting to open. This prompts her to let Marina go and turn all her focus to the casket. Rachel leans through the ropes with the referee doing the same right beside her.
Ref: Tell your friend (points at the casket) not to interfere in this match.
Rachel: What are you doin’ Aa….
The coffin flies open and now Ethan Von Aaron pops out of it, a fire extinguisher in his hands that he uses to spray Rachel in the eyes with C02.
Greyson: IT’S ETHAN!!
Sparkles: How in the hell did Ethan Von Aaron get inside of the coffin!?!
Frankie: And Rachel’s ex has just sprayed her right in the face with a fire extinguisher!
The spray of C02 has struck both Rachel AND the referee. Unfortunately the official got caught in the cross fire and now finds himself equally as blinded as Rachel. Both are turned away from Ethan, who rolls into the ring and now prepares to use the fire extinguisher as a weapon. He dashes in behind Rachel and prepares to swing the extinguisher into her back but suddenly Rachel spins around and nails Ethan directly to the jaw with a big boot. The kick sends Ethan spiraling completely into a circle before he turns back to face Rachel, who lifts him up into position for the Dead in Tombstone.
Greyson: YES! YEEEESSS!! HIIIIIT IT! Rachel is finally going to hit the Dead in Tombstone on her ex boyfriend.
Sparkles: She’s tried for weeks to do it but now it finally looks like it’s going to happen.
Greyson: Rachel’s not going to have to wait until Upping the Ante and that tag team match against Ethan and Alana to finally hit this son of a bitch with the Dead in Tombstone.
The moment Rachel has been waiting on has finally come. Rachel has Ethan hoisted up and is right about to dump him square on top of his head. But what Rachel doesn’t realize is that behind her back the casket is opening once again and now Alana Starr is climbing out of it.
Greyson: Alana Starr!?!
Sparkles: She was in the casket too!?!
Frankie: How is that even possible?
Alana acts quick, dashing from the casket and into the ring where she picks up a fire extinguisher. She then swings it right into Rachel’s upper back. The fire extinguisher cracks Rachel in the skull but to the surprise of everyone, she’s STILL standing.
Greyson: Alana blasting Rachel with that fire extinguisher, but good lord, Rachel remains on her feet.
Ethan puts an end to that via the Epic Fail, his spinning superkick cracks Rachel directly under the jaw and sends her stumbling right back into the GOODnight. Alana delivers the step up enzugari that smacks Rachel in the back of her noggin. At last Rachel is removed from her feet, coming down to the canvas. Once she’s laid out Rachel finds her body even further brutalized by the deluge of boots coming down into it, Ethan and Alana stomping away at her. The referee doesn’t see any of this as a result of the C02 blast in his eyes. But there is someone else who notices all of this. The lid to the casket at ringside pushes open once again and the very same man who was seen two weeks ago wearing the hooded trench-coat emerges from within.
Greyson: Harrison coming from the casket! Aaron Harrison has Alana and Ethan in his sights.
Sparkles: Somebody put a lock on that damn casket already.
Greyson: We saw Harrison in that hood and jacket two weeks ago staring down Team FlawlessGOODness, but now he’s doing more than just giving the good ole fashion stink eye.
Frankie: Stay out of the ring Harrison, no one wants to see you come back!
The hooded Harrison climbs up and onto the apron, looking through his shadowy veil at his targets. At last Ethan and Alana notice the glare they’re receiving from the hooded man.
Frankie: Keep your nose out of this Harrison, let Alana and Ethan finish Rachel off before that big tag team match at Upping the Ante.
The hood on Harrison’s head slowly peels back to bring light to his face. But it’s when his features are illuminated that the jaws of both Alana and Ethan drop, finding themselves staring not at Aaron Harrison, but at….William Mason!
Frankie: AAAAAAHHHH!
Greyson: William Mason!?!
Sparkles: Sparkles is officially the happiest puppet on the planet!
Greyson: Rachel’s boyfriend is HERE!!
The building is rocking with applause as William enters the ring and his mortal enemy Ethan Von Aaron comes dashing straight into him. Fists fly between the faces of both men, eliciting such a HUGE response from the audience. Eventually William has Ethan on his heels, teetering back. William then goes dashing in and delivers a clothesline across Ethan’s throat that sends him flipping back over the ropes then plummeting straight into the casket at ringside. Just then William is caught from behind. Alana grabs the crease of William’s elbow and yanks it, pulling him around into whatever gruesome design she has in store for him. But instead what she receives is a boot straight to the gut that has her doubled over, William going for the TFC.
Before his version of the piledriver can be delivered he finds Alana slipping right out of his arms. Ethan reaches up out of the casket at ringside, extends his hands under the ropes and grabs Alana by the ankle. He pulls her not only out of the piledriver but out of the ring and into the casket. Alana quickly grabs the lid, shutting it so that she and Ethan are safely inside.
Greyson: FlawlessGOODness getting back in that casket.
Frankie: That’s the safest place for them now that William Mason just jumped them like some kind of savage!
Greyson: He was protecting his girlfriend Frankie.
Sparkles: William Mason is here!
Greyson: Yes, we know that already Sparkles.
William checks on Rachel and then rolls from the squared circle where he pulls something out of his pocket, a pad lock. It isn’t long before it’s used to lock the casket lid shut.
Greyson: Uuhhh ooooh, William is locking the lid on that casket.
Sparkles: William Mason is here.
Frankie: WE KNOW!
An urgent William waves for something and it isn’t long before members of Rachel’s gang of friends, Tombstone come rushing down the ramp. Sundown, Elijah Dallas and Goddard gather around the coffin as they and William begin to slide it up the ramp.
Frankie: Where are they going with that casket?
Greyson: Where are they taking Ethan and Alana!?!
Sparkles; William Mason is he…..
Frankie: ENOUGH OF THAT SHIT!
The coffin is now dragged into the backstage area with two members of FlawlessGOODness locked inside. Meanwhile back at ringside we see Rachel Tatum Lee splayed across the ground, barely grasping to consciousness after taking the Epic Fail in combination with the GOODnight. The referee has regained his vision, turning around to spot the body splayed across the ground at ringside and commencing with a ten count.
Behind him Marina is starting to regain her senses, climbing up to her seat in the corner of the ring but still looking largely absent minded after suffering the Loredo Lasso.
Greyson: The referee is starting a ten count on Rachel. If he finishes this Rachel will be disqualified.
Sparkles: Get up Rachel, get up, this is what you’ve been waiting for for years, your crack at the World Title. GET UP!!
The crowd is divisive, many crying for Rachel to get back in the ring, the other hoping she stays down so that Marina advances in the tournament. The referee is already at a count of six before Rachel starts to move, she rolls to her stomach and starts the arduous process of crawling towards the ring.
Sparkles: Come on Rachel, you said you were tired of being passed over for World Title shots, well this is YOUR CHANCE.
Frankie: The Epic Fail, the GOODnight, the fire extinguisher upside the skull, it’s too much for anyone.
Rachel reaches up for the apron just as the referee reaches an eight count. It takes all of her strength to lift her leg into the air, then put her knee on the canvas.
Greyson: She’s gonna do it! She’s gonna get back in the rin….
Suddenly all the blows to the head catch up with Rachel and she slips right off the apron, plummeting back to ringside. Right at that point Rachel reaches a ten count before then calling out to have the bell rung.
Greyson: It’s over! It’s over!! Marina Valdivia advances into the Semi-Finals of the Tournament.
Sparkles: Rachel couldn’t get back in the ring in time.
Greyson: As a result Marina is going to Upping the Ante.
Marina continues to sit in the corner of the ring barely conscious of what’s going on around her. It isn’t until the tunes of her entrance music begin piping through the speakers that Marina realizes he just picked up the biggest win if her career. Meanwhile at ringside, Rachel has gotten to her knees but just couldn’t get herself back into the ring in time to beat the official’s count.
After all of the physicality just unleashed inside of the ring cameras catch up with a woman who looks to get equally as physical here tonight. IWC grappler Mya Denton is pacing back and forth while off to her side we can see backstage correspondent Susie Moore, desperately trying to delve into the mind of her interviewee.
Susie: Mya Denton, we just saw…..
Mya: You don’t have to remind me what we just saw Susie.
Shouts Mya in retaliation. She angrily steps up into Susie’s face and points in the general direction of the squared circle.
Mya: More damned parlor tricks, more damned games from Rachel Tatum Lee and Tombstone. It’s enough to drive a woman mad! Mad I tell you, MAD!
It looks like that mission has already been accomplished.
Susie: I take it you’re still a little upset that Rachel has kept Aaron Harrison confined in that coffin….
Mya: Do I look upset? Do I look DEMENTED? Maybe a little Cra-Cra?
Her eyebrows are twitching as Mya slaps her hands down onto Susie’s shoulders.
Mya: Hehehehehe, well you know the old saying, if you want to fight insanity, you have to become insane.
Susie: That’s not a saying.
Mya: Well it is now. If it takes digging into my inner madness to get to Aaron Harrison, then that’s exactly what I’ll do, hehehehehe.
The laughing Mya skips merrily away from a highly confused Susie.
Cameras quickly transition back to the squared circle where a battle tested and battle wearied Marina Valdivia is back peddling up the ramp. She clutches at her throat, still feeling the damage that was inflicted via the Loredo Lasso. Her entrance music goes on blaring in the background.
Greyson: What a great night for Marina Valdivia.
Sparkles: She just picked up the absolute biggest win of her career.
Frankie: Ending the long streak her opponent Rachel Tatum Lee has had of going undefeated here in the IWC.
Greyson: Everything comes to an end eventually.
Including Marina’s celebration.
The moment she reaches the stage she finds the back of her skull on the receiving end of a blow from a pipe wrench. The fans in attendance are unleashing all of their vile on the woman who just assaulted Marina, and that woman is Serenity. The New Eden member stands over Marina wearing a truly sickening expression.
Greyson: Oh no, Marina just smashed right in the back of the head with that pipe wrench!
Sparkles: Serenity finishing what these two started earlier here tonight.
Frankie: It looks like she’s about to finish off Marina for good.
When the pipe wrench is thrown out of Rachel’s hands we see something else filling them….a noose!
Greyson: What the hell does Serenity got? Is that….a friggin NOOSE!?!
Marina clings to the last vestige of consciousness as the noose is wrapped and tightened around her throat. Serenity yanks on the rope that pulls Marina up to her feet and into her adversary’s arms. The New Eden member rushes across the ring and prepares to throw Marina off the stage so that she’s left hanging from the noose.
Greyson: DON’T DO IT!
Before Serenity can publically execute Marina, aid arrives for the beleaguered Valdivia. The entire audience reacts with quite the fervor at the sight of Victoria Salinas bolting through the curtains and to the stage. She comes dashing along right to Marina’s aid, catching her attacker right before the hanging can proceed. Serenity spots Victoria coming and then laughs as she rolls away from the punches aimed at her face. Victoria’s knuckles JUST miss Serenity’s skull. The haunting chuckles of Serenity fill the arena as she drops off the stage and backs away from the Riot set. She looks back at Victoria, who is presently stooping to check on Marina’s condition.
Greyson: Victoria Salinas saving Marina Valdivia, those two go back quite a ways.
Sparkles: And Victoria is no stranger to Serenity either.
Frankie: Marina better be damn happy she’s got friends just as stupid as she is.
Marina rolls to her seat and grabs the noose around her throat, trying to pull it away. She has no idea what just hit her, but gets a good idea when seeing Serenity blowing a kiss in her direction.
Cameras now transition into the parking garage where William Mason is stood on one side of a casket while Rachel Tatum Lee is stood on the other. A huge 4×4 truck is parked just a few inches away with the engine revving, and a chain hanging from its rear bumper. That chain leads directly to the casket, now wrapped around it. We can hear the sounds of banging emanating from inside of the coffin, Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron presumably trying to get out. Rachel leans over the casket that has her enemies trapped inside, looking into the eyes of her boyfriend William.
Rachel: Thanks fer the help partna’.
William: The pleasure was all mine.
William reaches out across the coffin, grabs the back of Rachel’s head and pulls her into a big kiss on the lips. He then looks down at the casket and slaps his palm on it to get the attention of the inhabitants locked inside.
William: Oh, and Ethan….Alana….Thanks for coming.
Rachel: Time to take ya’ll on the ride of yer life.
The loving couple hop inside of the truck, Rachel climbing a little slower as she still suffers from the multiple blows she withstood in the course of the last match. Nevertheless she gets behind the wheel, flips the key and hits the gas. She and William take off and the chain attached to the bumper begins to drag the coffin behind. It scrapes across the ground as it’s pulled from the parking garage.
Frankie: Oh God no! OH GOD NO!!
Greyson: Rachel Tatum Lee and William Mason taking off out of the parking garage and they’re dragging that casket along behind them that they trapped Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron inside of!
Sparkles: Bye Willie. Sparkles will always miss you.
Frankie: This is like vehicular manslaughter or something! Why isn’t anyone calling the damned police!?!
Cameras transition to the backstage area where IWC competitor Samantha Raine is readying herself for a confrontation with the ever dangerous Mika Kozlov. At the moment Raine is doing some calf stretches, stooping down as far as her body will go and reaching for her ankles. That’s when she finds the private sanctity of her dressing room invaded by a grinning Martin Howe III. The agent stops behind Raine and cranes his neck to get a slightly better view of her backside as she bends down into this stretch. Finally Raine notices Howe and his leering eyes.
Raine: What are you doing in here?
Asks Raine as she stands up and takes a rather threatening step in the direction of her biggest enemy’s agent.
Howe: I’m just taking it all in. Admiring your beauty while it lasts. Because you know, beauty is FLEETING. If it’s not destroyed by time, it’ll be destroyed by the hands of my client, MIIIISSSS JOOOOOON.
These words have no effect on Raine, who looks thoroughly unintimidated.
Raine: You know what Marty? Can I call you that? Marty?
She asks while fixing the collar of Martin’s jacket and then taking the knot in his tie, tightening it. In fact she tightens it so much that it now cuts off the oxygen flow to Martin’s head, causing him to gasp for air. She gives the tie a tug so that Martin’s face is very close to hers.
Raine: I want you to let your client know that some might consider me beautiful, but there are just as many who have learned that I’m DANGEROUS.
She lets the tie go and then Martin falls back, leaning against a locker as he coughs and his face goes back to its normal color.
Raine: If your client wants to keep coming after me, she’ll discover what everyone else has, that I’m just as beautiful as I am dangerous.
Raine walks away from the near blood red and sweaty Howe, who is finally getting over his oxygen deprivation.
Cameras cut to the World Champion Katelyn Buehler stood just outside of Principle Owner Silas Mason’s office, pacing back and forth while her gold shines over her shoulder. The Riot theme song is playing in the background as well as the voices of the commentators.
Sparkles: Martin Howe III sending a chilling warning to Samantha Raine, but here’s a woman who should really be in fear of Howe’s client tonight.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler is scheduled to take on Miss Jon in singles competition.
Frankie: IF plans remain the same.
Greyson: That’s right, because moments ago Katelyn demanded that she get a match against Scott Cannon.
Sparkles: All in response to the fight we saw between Katelyn and Scott at the start of Riot earlier on tonight.
Frankie: Pasty Katie is waiting on an answer from the Principle Owner, but Silas has got other things on his plate.
Greyson: Will we get the Upping the Ante PPV main event tonight? Is it going to be Scott Cannon versus Katelyn Buehler? We’ll find out as this night rolls along.
Cameras have transitioned into the dressing room of Scott Cannon where we can see him arguing with his brother David. Although we can’t hear what they’re saying we can tell the two are very upset with one another. Although he tries his best to play peace maker, Michael Cannon just can’t get his brothers to back down from one another, not even by standing in between them and holding them apart.
Greyson: It looks like Scott Cannon is STILL at odds with his brothers right now.
Sparkles: Sparkles wonders if Scott even realizes that he’s been challenged to a match against the World Champion for tonight.
Frankie: Looks to me like he’s far too busy defending his recent actions to his brothers.
More than just one camera is centered on grappler Karen McBride. Several bright lights are aimed in her direction, enhancing her gorgeous face and the white wall that has been set up behind her. All the while a photographer is crouched in front of Karen, snapping shots of the former Principle Owner set to collide with current show runner Silas Mason here on tonight’s edition of Riot.
Photographer: That’s great Karen….This calendar is going to fly off the shelves.
Karen: I hope so. You know the proceeds are going towards charity.
Melanie: Hey Kar-Bear!
Vocally exclaims Karen’s younger sister Melanie, who dashes right into the photo-shoot. Actually she jumps behind Karen and strikes a vogue. She bends at the knees and strikes a Charlie’s Angels inspired Farah Fawcett pose.
Karen: What are you doing?
Melanie: I’m photo-bombing.
A playful nudge is given to Melanie to make sure she’s out of view of the camera.
Karen: What’s up Mel?
Melanie: I know you’ve got like sooooo much on your mind tonight what with getting Silas one on one FIINNNALLLLY….
Karen: And making that weasel pay for what he and his thugs did to you two weeks ago.
Melanie: Yeah-yeah, I haven’t forgotten the way they tried to degrade me. But listen…..
Karen: I already don’t like where this is going.
Melanie: You haven’t even heard me out yet.
Karen: Because I know exactly what you’re about to say. You want me to talk to Blaire, don’t you?
Melanie: Have you even spoken to her since the last Riot?
Karen: You mean since our lovely sister decided to abandon me when we were supposed to team up to take on Randal Williams and Marcus Briggs? No, I haven’t spoken to her since.
Melanie: She told me that someone locked her inside of her dressing room and kept her from….
Karen: Melanie-Melanie-Melanie, how many times are you going to do this?
Melanie: What?
Karen: Take up for Blaire. How many lies does she have to tell before you realize that she’s been playing you just like she’s been playing me? We can’t trust her to be our partner at Upping the Ante.
Melanie: Well, what other option do we have? We need her if we’re going to beat Briggs, Randal and Silas at the pay-per-view.
Karen: No we won’t.
Melanie is clearly despondent.
Melanie: But Karen….
Karen: NO! I’m done talking about this and I’m done with Blaire!
Glass shards are scattered across the floor of a dressing room, gathered beneath a broken mirror. A set of big black boots near this fragmented glass, cracking it into even tinier pieces beneath the toes. A much bigger chunk of the shattered mirror reflects the face of the woman looking down into it. The incredibly demented eyes of Miss Jon glare crazily into the glass she personally destroyed earlier tonight. She soon learns she’s not alone, as another face is reflected in the glass, the smiling mug of Silas Mason’s assistant, Mason Van Stanton.
Mason: Miss Jon, I’m here by order of your Boss, Silas.
Reveals Mason.
Mason: He wants you to know that he’s given you a grand opportunity tonight, one that is not to be taken lightly.
Miss Jon snarls.
Mason: But it’s not an opportunity to defeat the World Champion….no. He’s giving you a chance to go down in history as the woman who ANNIHILATED Katelyn Buehler.
The grinning face of Mason is no reflected in the broken glass. He vanishes and leaves only the maniacal eyes of Miss Jon to be mirrored. She stoops down and grabs one of the shattered glass shards, gathering it up into the padded gloves that cover her fists.
Suddenly the tunes of “Satisfied” explode through the loud speakers, getting the biggest and loudest ovation of the night. All those in attendance leap instantly to their feet when the music of the World Champion plays over the PA system and Katelyn Buehler makes her presence felt. She stomps right along towards the squared circle with the gold swaying from one hand and a microphone clutched in the other.
Greyson: Ladies and gentlemen, throughout the night Katelyn Buehler has been waiting on an answer, but it doesn’t seem she’s going to wait anymore.
Sparkles: She gave an ultimatum to Principle Owner Silas Mason, DEMANDING that the Upping the Ante main event scheduled for two weeks from now happens tonight. She told Silas to either give her Scott Cannon, or it’ll be the boss she comes after.
Frankie: Katelyn gets stupider and stupider and stupider every week. She’s already got Miss Jon in one on one competition tonight, what makes her think she’ll get past Miss Jon in order to face Scott Cannon later on?
Greyson: It’s all or nothing for Katelyn as far as tonight goes. Let’s show you why Katelyn is so determined to get her hands on the man she’s slated to defend the World Title against at our upcoming pay-per-view.
TWO WEEKS AGO
A recap video documents what occurred on the last edition of Riot when Scott Cannon’s brothers Michael and David brawled with the World Champion. Eventually the Cannons manage to get the better of Katelyn, but before they can seriously punish her physically, she’s saved by the shocking arrival of Scott Cannon. He enters the ring and pushes his brothers off Katelyn. Though sadly his recompense for this chivalry is a roaring elbow delivered by Katelyn. She knocks Scott out with the roaring elbow.
EARLIER TONIGHT
The video transitions to the anarchy that started off the evening when Michael and David called Katelyn out only for their brother Scott to answer the challenge. After a spat between the Cannons, Katelyn finally does arrive and goes straight after the trio in the ring. Scott hangs back and doesn’t participate in the fight his siblings wage against Katelyn, at least not until one of them tries to use a chair on the World Champion. Scott takes the chair out of Michael’s hands then shoves him on his backside. That’s when Katelyn spots Scott stood over her with the steel chair in his grips, sending her the wrong message. She mistakes Scott’s intent, but there’s no mistaking Katelyn’s desire to knock him out. Katelyn and Scott go at it to close out what was a shocking commencement to Riot.
Katelyn: I’ve been more than generous with giving you time to think things over, Silas.
Announces the World Champion when entering the squared circle. She paces back and forth with eyes cutting between the belt that hangs from her hand and the ramp she hopes to see Scott Cannon coming down momentarily.
Katelyn: I wasn’t speaking Chinese when I told you to send Scott Cannon out here to face me, Silas, so I expect you to get off your ass and deliver him.
There is still no response from Silas.
Katelyn: Me versus Cannon for THIS (lifts her belt slightly), make it happen, BOSS, or I make bad things happen to YOU.
The fans would be absolutely THRILLED to see Katelyn make good on that threat. It seems more and more likely with each second of inactivity from the Principle Owner, that the crowd WILL see Silas get a visit from Katelyn
Katelyn: Alright, if you want to call my bluff, I guess I’ll just have to ANTE UP.
Katelyn rolls from the squared circle in preparation of marching straight to the backstage area to find Silas. Unfortunately, the hunt is called off the moment the tunes of “Boss’s Daughter” hit the PA system. A thunderclap of cries emit from the fans, who realize that Katelyn is being cut off by her biggest and most impressive rival, Taylor Chase.
Greyson: Ooooh booooy…..OOOOOH BOOOY….this just got good.
It only takes a moment for Taylor to step out from the back and twirl just as a huge explosion of pyrotechnics erupt from both sides of the stage.
Frankie: WOW! Look at all that pyro.
Sparkles: Taylor embodying the persona of a superstar.
Frankie: Because she IS a superstar, Sparkles. She’s what Katelyn only hopes she can be, the biggest friggin star in this federation and in this industry.
Greyson: Doesn’t sound like she’s getting much fan-fare right now. The crowd not taking kindly to Taylor Chase seizing the opportunity to interrupt her mortal enemy Katelyn Buehler.
Frankie: Let’em be bitter. The greasy lil bastards.
Sparkles: They have a right to be upset with Tay though, Frankie. It was four weeks ago that Taylor betrayed Katelyn and the IWC fan-base by assaulting the champ with a barbwire bat and joining Monarchy.
Greyson: And then two weeks ago Tay was instrumental in causing Katelyn to taste defeat at the hands of Wicked Intent.
Taylor stops twirling amongst a shower of pink sparks and ultimately brings her focus directly to the World Champion. Katelyn has returned to the ring in order to get a better vantage point of her most bitter IWC rival.
Taylor: Hiiii Kate….
Smiles Taylor while regally waving in the World Champion’s direction.
Taylor: Heeeelllooo fans….
The reaction is almost so harsh that it drowns out Tay’s insincere greeting. She kicks back her hair and laughs at their response.
Taylor: No-no-no-no, there is absolutely no need to thank me for coming along just in time to make this show watchable. I know a lot of you were probably starting to get a little drowsy listening to Pasty Katie come out here making herself out to be the martyr, or the hero, or the thousand other things she’ll never be. Like the NEXT Taylor Chase for instance.
The crowd and Katelyn share a similar response, one of total disbelief that Taylor is arrogant enough to go there.
Taylor: Seriously, that’s what you want to be, right Pasty Katie? You want soooo badly to be me, to have even one tenth of my charisma, even a fraction of my star power, and maybe just a smidgeon of my beauty. But cha’ know what? NUH-UH! It ain’t gonna happen!
Katelyn: Listen here Vancome Lady, I don’t know what possessed you to come out here and start running your mouth, but if it’s talking you want to do then you’re in the wrong place. I’m not in the mood, especially for words.
More laughter from Tay, who squeezes the handle of the microphone in both palms while swaying gleefully from one side to the other.
Taylor: You want to know what brings me out here? THAT….(points to the World Title in Katelyn’s hand)….The belt I made. A belt I won’t stand here and watch hug that beer belly of yours.
Katelyn: You want the title back? By all means come on down that ramp and TRY taking it from me.
Taylor: If I want my belt, I won’t have to TRY anything. I’d just take it right back in less time than it takes you to drop those panties of yours backstage at a Jonas Brother’s concert. If I want that belt, it’s mine. But we both know I’m not allowed to come down there right now and take the championship that I single handedly made the most prestigious belt in ALL of professional wrestling. I know your mind has been rotted by years and years and years of drug abuse, I mean you were doing crystal meth before you were doing cursive, but even you haven’t forgotten the injunction that Silas Mason has placed against me barring me from competing for the World Championship.
Katelyn: Yeah, I remember that bullshit decision.
Taylor: Hahahaha, listen to you and listen to your fans. You really do have them fooled don’t you? You honestly have these poor, smelly people buying into your garbage. You and I, we both know the truth, we know that you may PRETEND your upset, but that’s a lie, cause you’re really oh so thankful that I’ve been barred from competing for the World Title. That’s the ONLY reason the belt is still in your hand right now. That’s why you didn’t come to my defense, that’s why you turned your back on me, just like all the knuckle draggers in the Manhattan Center tonight.
Another harsh response from the antagonized crowd.
Taylor: You could have stood up for me, but you didn’t, cause you WANT to see me get buried. You want to keep me as far away from my World Title as possible….
Katelyn: No, all I want is for you to shut the fuck up.
The crowd endorses this but Taylor doesn’t.
Taylor: Nuh-uh, I stayed quiet long enough. NO MORE. I’m here to remind everyone that their out of shape asses wouldn’t be in those chairs tonight if it weren’t for me. I’m here to remind the world that it’s this face (points to her smile) that runs this place. I’m here to remind you and everyone else that there would be no IWC without me. That I am the First Lady of Professional Wrestling. And that eventually the injunction Silas has placed against me is going to be overturned and then the world title is coming back where it belongs. It’s just like I said four weeks ago, I might be great when I’m good, but I’m better when I’m bad. I’ll prove it when I burn your house to the ground!
Finally we see Katelyn’s response as she throws her belt over her shoulder and then begins to pantomime playing a violin.
Katelyn: It’s playing for you Tay.
Taylor rolls her eyes and brushes her hair back out of her face.
Katelyn: You know at one point I might have actually sympathized with you. And rather you want to believe it not, I did go to Silas and demanded he throw out his ruling that keeps you from challenging me for the belt. Because I want, no, at this point I NEED, to KNOCK YOU THE FUCK OUT!
The crowd gets louder and Tay gets more annoyed.
Katelyn: What to know what I realize now though? The title doesn’t have to be on the line in order for me to hit you so hard that it knocks that ridiculously expensive nail polish right off your toes. So I tell you what I’m going to do….First, I’m going to put this over here…..
Katelyn carries her title to the corner of the ring and sits it on top of the turnbuckle. She then proceeds back to the center of the ring.
Katelyn: And now I’m going to invite you to come down that ramp, get inside of this ring, and get what you deserve. What all these fans so badly want to see me give you.
Already the World Champion is rotating her shoulder in an anticipation of hitting the KTFO.
Katelyn: You talk about me putting people to sleep, well if you step into my house, then bitch, I’m going to put you in a coma….
Taylor: No!
It looks like these threats have Taylor angered.
Taylor: I’m not getting in that ring with you tonight. And ya wanna know why? Cause the only way I would EVER face you if it’s in a title match, and in a venue more appropriate for a celebrity of my status. It would have to be at a pay-per-view where the bonus will put more money in my pockets. Cause you have to PAY to see TAY. And that’s a TRUE STORY….
Katelyn: Actually, fraid not, cause everything you just said was straight up FICTION!
The microphone falls out of Katelyn’s hands and she now proceeds towards the ropes, dropping through them. It looks like she’s going right after Taylor but the former three time champion gives her rival a ‘talk to the hand’ taunt before walking into the backstage area. Katelyn continues on up the ramp regardless of Tay’s exit.
Howe: You’re going to pay for that.
Katelyn stops and eyeballs the figure who has taken Taylor’s place on the stage. Martin Howe III has strolled through the curtains, the agent/lawyer grasping a microphone. Katelyn stops in her tracks and eyes the man who represents the woman she’s slated to face here tonight.
Howe: You think that Scott Cannon and Taylor Chase are the people you should be worried about? How irresponsible of you, and yet how predictable. You WOULD be concerned with the beautiful people, and pay noooo attention to someone like my client. Well, it’s time you gave her the undivided attention she deserves, because after she’s through with you, you’ll never again be able to look at your mangled face in the mirror again. Tonight you don’t face beauty, you face the DEATH OF BEAUTY…(guttural) MIIIIISSSS JOOOOOOONNNN!!!
The entrance theme of Miss Jon blasts through the arena PA system, eliciting not just goosebumps but accelerated heart beats. The human wrecking ball known as Miss Jon stomps straight to the stage with her wide fierce eyes honed in upon the face of the World Champion.
Greyson: Katelyn trying to get to her nemesis Taylor Chase, but Miss Jon blocking the way.
Frankie: Yeah, I think Miss Jon has mistaken Katelyn for a glazed donut or something.
Sparkles: Whatever her motivation is, Miss Jon is coming for Katelyn.
Greyson: And it looks as if their match…is….on!
MISS JON VS. KATELYN BUEHLER
Without any further delay Miss Jon proceeds along down the ramp and shows not a second of hesitation in getting her hands on the World Champion. What Miss Jon nor her agent realize is that their target isn’t backing down. Katelyn meets Miss Jon on the half way point of the ramp, blasting her forearm straight across the huge chest of her adversary.
Greyson: Here we go guys, Katelyn versus Miss Jon.
Sparkles: Last week five people tried to take Miss Jon down in route to her winning a battle royal to become number one contender for the Evolution Title, so what makes Katelyn think she can phase this beast?
Frankie: She’s got this huge chip on her shoulder just cause she’s the World Champion. Well that title doesn’t mean anything when you’re facing a friggin polar bear.
In spite of having little effect Katelyn continues to nail forearms across Miss Jon’s chest. At last the powerhouse delivers a headbutt straight to Katelyn’s skull, the collision taking her off of her feet and down to the ramp. Katelyn rolls all the way down to ringside and then grabs the apron, using it to aid her up to her feet. Her eyes then veer towards the inbound Miss Jon, who is barreling into a big splash that would crush Katelyn between the mass of her opponent and the hardened ring apron. At the last second Katelyn moves out of the way and as a result Miss Jon ends up colliding with the ring apron, almost cracking her sternum against it. It looks like the air has been knocked right out of her as she staggers back from the squared circle and then into Katelyn’s boot. The World Champion hits a dropkick on her adversary’s back, the collision sending her opponent staggering right into the exposed turnbuckle post.
All the forward momentum carries Miss Jon’s brow into the post, her skull ricocheting from the steel.
Greyson: What were you guys saying about Katelyn not being able to hold her own?
Frankie: She’s gotten lucky so far. I mean, if this Sasquatch could get the drop on me back at Awakening, it means Katelyn doesn’t stand a chance in hell.
The slam against the post has Miss Jon reeling back before ultimately turning towards Katelyn, who leaps into her massive opponent with a Lou Thez Press. Katelyn begins to rifle off a barrage of punches across Miss Jon’s temple, but what she doesn’t realize is that her opponent is still standing. Katelyn hangs off of Miss Jon, but is unable to knock this mountainous mass off of her feet. As the punches go on colliding with Miss Jon’s head she grows more and more disgruntled until she finally takes Katelyn around the waist and swings her to the side. A stunned World Champion is thrown through the air before ultimately colliding with the barricade.
Sparkles: LOOK AT THAT!
Frankie: Katelyn just thrown like a damn sack of potatoes!
Sparkles: Miss Jon imposing her will all over the Champion.
The barricade provided no give when Katelyn’s side came crashing into it. Nevertheless she starts to push herself up from the ground and unknowingly walks straight into Miss Jon’s hands. A devastating headbutt floors Katelyn, leaving her splayed across the ground hurting. There is no rest provided for the weary however, Miss Jon grabbing Katelyn by the legs, tucking them under her armpits and then using this grasp to swing Buehler around so that her side is driven into the barricade a second time.
It looks like Martin Howe III couldn’t possibly be any happier with his client, making his way down the ramp and giving Miss Jon a thumbs up. All the while Jon continues to feed off of her rage. She grabs Katelyn by the bangs of her hair, leads her up to her feet and then hits a second headbutt, this one even more devastating than the last one. Katelyn drops to the mats and crawls across them in the direction of the ring steps.
Frankie: Look at Katelyn TRYING to get away. She’s pathetic.
Greyson: First of all Katelyn has never run from any battle. She’s trying to create a little separation so that she can regain her faculties.
Finally Katelyn reaches the ring steps, grabbing hold of them and using them to work her way up to her feet. But her opponent will use them for a different reason. Miss Jon hustles in along behind Katelyn and will soon demolish her under the pressure of her weight. It’s just then at the last second that Katelyn swings around and catches Miss Jon by the ankle, hitting her with a drop toe hold. Miss Jon’s face goes sailing directly into the ring steps.
The impact has scrambled the already shattered mind of Miss Jon and has sent her stumbling back reeling as she tries to stay on her feet. At the same Katelyn is running across the mats, stepping up onto the steel stairs and then launching herself off of them into a clothesline. The lariat connects with her adversary’s throat, the blow so vicious it has Miss Jon buckling over backwards. Somehow Miss Jon is able to shake off the lariat and her earlier collision with the steps, yet it remains to be seen just how much she can take and keep on ticking.
An intense World Champion is about to put Miss Jon’s durability to its test. She runs across the ringside mats, steps off the stairs and uses them to launch herself into a second clothesline. Only this time the lariat misses its target, because Miss Jon catches Katelyn and swings her around into the spinning powerslam straight across the thin protective mats.
Greyson: OOOOOH!
Sparkles: Pure devastation just unleashed by Miss Jon.
Frankie: See, this is going exactly the way I said it would.
Greyson: Miss Jon is just borderline indestructible. Even the World Champion can’t keep her down.
Sparkles: Keep her down? Miss Jon hasn’t even been knocked down once in this match. The World Champion is just in way over her head.
A groaning Katelyn inches her way up slowly from the ground and instantly regrets doing so. Miss Jon is on her with all the ferocity of a caged T-Rex. Her forearms slam down over Katelyn’s back again and again and again. Ultimately she picks Katelyn up and just tosses her straight into the ring. The moment Miss Jon climbs up onto the apron the bell rings to get this match officially underway. And it begins in an official capacity in the most gruesome way imaginable. Katelyn has just worked her way up to all fours and has started to crawl when Miss Jon comes crashing down onto her lower back with a big splash.
Although Katelyn has put in a valiant effort thus far it looks less and less likely that she can continue fighting back against this brute that just won’t stop coming after her. Miss Jon’s offense remains ugly but brutal. She pulls Katelyn up from the ring and hits her with a very textbook scoop slam that absolutely devastates the World Champion’s lower back. Miss Jon then pulls Katelyn along by the hair and onto her feet before hitting a second and just as vicious scoop slam.
Greyson: How much more of this can Katelyn withstand?
Sparkles; The body isn’t designed for the type of wanton brutality that Miss Jon is inflicting on it.
The intimidating Miss Jon looks to ringside at her agent, Howe continuing to show enthusiasm for each brutal blow inflicted by his client. Miss Jon is enticed to inflict even more crippling offense on Katelyn, pulling her up and into the bearhug. Katelyn tries to scream out in pain but there is no oxygen left in her lungs, it’s squeezed right out of her body. Miss Jon puts even more force behind her vice like squeeze on the champion’s injured anatomy but the World Champion is just not willing to give up or even endorse the idea. She pulls her fist back and launches it upside the bridge of Miss Jon’s nose. She then delivers another punch, this one to the temple of her opponent.
The blows finally start to weaken Miss Jon but not enough to break the bearhug. So Katelyn lifts her elbow and drives it down into the brow of her opponent. At last Miss Jon breaks her squeeze and starts to step back from the Champion. Katelyn’s boot closes the distance, hitting a thrust kick directly under Miss Jon’s chin. The blow has Miss Jon stumbling slightly but still keeping her tree trunk thick legs under her. So Katelyn goes for a SECOND thrust kick that has zero effect on Miss Jon considering that she catches the inbound boot before it ever connects. The veracious Miss Jon casts Katelyn’s leg aside and sends her spiraling around back towards her aggressor. Miss Jon uses both hands to catch Katelyn around the throat then fling her into the turnbuckle.
Katelyn slams against the corner and leans down out of it, just about to buckle to the canvas. Miss Jon is sizing her up, stepping towards Katelyn with the intent to destroy a few of her ribs. She plows towards Buehler with a shoulder aimed at the champion’s mid-section but Katelyn manages to launch a boot into the air just in the nick of time, her kick connecting directly with Miss Jon’s face. The shot causes the brute to stand up and swing her arms out to her sides as she tries to stay upright. That’s when Katelyn pulls herself up onto the turnbuckle then leaps out of into another Lou Thez Press. She lands right against Miss Jon’s PALMS.
Miss Jon puts her hands to her opponent’s ribs and swats her down right out of the air, pushing her back into the turnbuckle. Although Katelyn lands on her feet her spine takes quite the impact with the corner, leaving her all but spent. Miss Jon now comes hurdling towards her opponent with the force of a meteorite traveling towards the earth and the impact is going to be just as devastating. Or at least it would be if it weren’t for the dropkick Katelyn hits on Miss Jon’s knee. The low kick has ALMOST knocked Miss Jon over, sending her flying face and chest first into the top turnbuckle pad.
Greyson: Katelyn trying to get something going.
Frankie: The important word being ‘TRYING.’
The always furious Miss Jon turns around just as Katelyn connects with a running step up knee strike. It nails Miss Jon under the jaw, disorientating the recipient even more. Katelyn then drops back from her opponent, steps to the center of the ring and gets a running start behind another knee strike. She steps up and slams her knee under Miss Jon’s chin.
Katelyn falls back from her adversary and then gets another running start into a third step up knee, but what she connects with is the huge chest of Miss Jon. All of her body mass is thrown straight into Katelyn’s airborne body, knocking her down out of the air and to the canvas. The impact with Miss Jon has sent Katelyn flying back and plummeting to the ring, every rib and bone in her body bruised via this vicious impact.
Though this collision will be nothing compared to the one Miss Jon has in store for her opponent next. She grabs the padding on the top rope in the corner then rips it away in one fell swoop, exposing the steel bolt beneath it.
Frankie: Big mistake Katelyn! BIG MISTAKE! You pissed Miss Jon off. She’s going to devour you quicker than a crave case of White Castle cheeseburgers.
Miss Jon’s ravenous desires extend beyond sustenance. In fact, the only thing that will sustain her now is the blood of Katelyn Buehler, and she’s just about to get it. She drags Katelyn up to her feet, clings to the back of her head and then throws her towards the turnbuckle bolt she exposed a second ago. Katelyn’s face is about to be torn to pieces, or it would have if she hadn’t dropped into a baseball slide just in the nick of time. She slips not only under the bolt her brow was SUPPOSED to collide with, but under the ropes as well, ending up at ringside.
It isn’t long before Miss Jon goes to follow her adversary, stomping towards her prey and reaching through the cables to grab at her. Just as it looks like Buehler is going to fall victim to the world’s most deadly predator, she reaches up from ringside, grabs Miss Jon by the wrist and then falls back. As a result Miss Jon’s face is pulled along right into the very same exposed turnbuckle bolt she tried to ram Katelyn’s cranium into. It’s Miss Jon’s face that takes all the punishment though, and the collision with the corner has sent her staggering back to the middle of the ring.
Greyson: Katelyn’s actually got Miss Jon on the defensive for the first time in this match!
Sparkles: Keep that pressure coming Katelyn! Stay on her!!
Katelyn doesn’t have to be told what it’ll take to survive a match with this monster. She slides into the ring, slaps her forearm and readies to unload the KTFO on her unsuspecting opponent. Miss Jon finally turns right into the roaring elbow, her adversary’s elbow traveling straight for her face and connecting with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It’s not Miss Jon’s face crushed by the roaring elbow but Katelyn’s ribs that are creamed by a boot from Miss Jon. The kick has her doubled over and staggering back from Jon, who has seemingly had enough of this encounter. She reaches down the front of her singlet and extracts something that had been hidden between her breasts this whole time, a long shard of broken glass.
Greyson: What is that? Somebody tell me that’s not what I think it is.
Frankie: It’s a shard of glass from that mirror we saw Miss Jon smash earlier.
Sparkles: She’s gonna use it to do exactly what her agent Martin Howe III said she would do with it.
Greyson: She won’t, she can’t….!
There is no act of depravity beneath Miss Jon, who steps towards Katelyn with the shard pulled back, ready to swing right into the Champion’s brow. The glass is a mere centimeter removed from mangling Katelyn’s face before she tucks down and rolls under the weapon bound to turn her into a Freddy Krueger look alike. The glass shard flies past Katelyn’s head, Miss Jon stumbling by her prey and nearing a turnbuckle, one with an exposed bolt. Yet again Katelyn makes use of the trap Miss Jon tried to set for her earlier. She leaps into the air and dropkicks Miss Jon in the upper back, the blow sending her stumbling along face first into the exposed turnbuckle bolt.
Greyson: Miss Jon colliding with that exposed turnbuckle bolt AGAIN!
Frankie: Probably doesn’t taste as good as that whole bucket of fried chicken she ate as a snack before the show.
The metallic taste of the exposed steel is all but too bitter, as is the ensuing pin. Miss Jon stumbles back from the bolt and into Katelyn’s arms, the World Champion catches Miss Jon and goes for a bulldog. She rushes forward to hit the move on Jon but is lifted off of her own feet and thrown into the ropes. Katelyn is shocked to say the least that Miss Jon managed to counter her momentum and send the World Champion staggering along into the ropes even after bashing the beast’s head against the exposed bolt TWICE. Katelyn no sooner hits the ropes before spinning back to face Miss Jon storming towards her. Miss Jon throws her bulk right into Katelyn only to have the Champion side step her opponent, take her by the back of the head and use Miss Jon’s momentum against her. Miss Jon goes flying through the ropes and spilling down across her back at ringside.
Greyson: OOOOH HO-LY GOD IN HEAVEN! Katelyn has FINALLY taken Miss Jon off of her feet.
Sparkles: But good lord, Miss Jon BARELY even reacted to having her face bashed into that exposed turnbuckle bolt two times.
Katelyn climbs through the ropes and to the apron while glaring at Miss Jon, the enormous woman racing back to her feet. Katelyn lunges from the apron and into the Lou Thez Press, crashing into Miss Jon and knocking her back down to the ground. Katelyn comes down on top of Miss Jon and starts unloading with punches across her face.
Greyson: Look at Katelyn just UNLOAD on Miss Jon!
Sparkles: It looks like this match has woken up the monster inside of Katelyn.
Greyson: Silas has been forcing her into matches against monsters these past few weeks, maybe it’s starting to rub off on her.
Frankie: I think it’s Taylor Chase’s before this match that has lit a spark in Katelyn.
The World Champion continues to show some intensity, as she lands punch after punch across her adversary’s brow. Finally Miss Jon is able to employ her immense strength to just SHOVE Katelyn back and knock her into the ring apron. The animalistic Miss Jon then comes after the Champion with a clothesline that is blocked when Katelyn unleashes a low thrust kick to the monster’s gut. Miss Jon staggers back from the boot that nailed her in the stomach, the same boot that now nails her in the chest. Miss Jon is surprisingly on the defensive as Katelyn comes spiraling towards her in order to deliver the KTFO. The roaring elbow is about to connect but stops a mere fraction of an inch removed from her opponent’s jaw. Miss Jon reaches out and catches Katelyn by the ears, blocking the KTFO and hitting a headbutt instead.
Greyson: ANOTHER headbutt from Miss Jon, taking Katelyn right down to the ground.
Frankie: Hey uhhh, ladies, you might want to pay attention to the referee.
Sparkles: Yeah, it looks like Ficklebottom is losing his patience trying to keep these two ladies under control.
The ferocious Miss Jon throws herself into a big splash aimed at Katelyn splayed across the ground, but the World Champion rolls out of the way. As a result Miss Jon plummets into the mats, hitting them with enough force to knock the air out of her. Meanwhile Katelyn is climbing up onto the barricade a few inches removed from her adversary. To the delight of the masses Katelyn runs across the barricade then dives off in a devil may care fashion, hitting a clothesline straight to Miss Jon’s throat. The blow has Jon bending back but not going down.
The referee continues to shout warnings at both ladies from the squared circle, but neither lady is listening to anything other than the sounds of their fists colliding with one another’s bodies. Katelyn nails a few punches across Miss Jon’s brow before getting a running start behind another jab one that ends painfully, for the champion. Miss Jon catches Katelyn coming in under the armpit and then lifts her into the air before throwing her down hard onto the ringside mats. Miss Jon steps away from Katelyn and back towards the ring, reaching in under the ropes to grab the glass shard that she introduced into this match. The referee warns her again but Miss Jon merely snarls at Ficklebottom. She then goes back after Katelyn with the glass rearing back in her hand. The referee has no other recourse at this point, calling for the bell.
Greyson: The referee left with no other recourse here, it seems he’s just disqualified BOTH Miss Jon AND Katelyn Buehler.
Frankie: This match was totally out of control right from the start. We should have known it would come down to this.
Miss Jon is fuming, steam almost shooting from her nostrils when she hears the bell sounding in the background. Her hulking mass has turned from Katelyn and is going back to the ring. Meanwhile Martin Howe III rolls into the squared circle behind his client and is arguing with the referee, irate over the speed of the official’s decision. Martin isn’t the only one angry with the referee, which Ficklebottom is about to learn when he feels the vibration of the ring beneath his feet as Miss Jon stomps towards him. Wisely the ref tucks his tail and runs from the ring as well. Now Howe and Miss Jon are the only two left in the squared circle, the agent desperately trying to sooth his savage client. The only thing that will calm Miss Jon is picking up the glass shard she had intended to use on Katelyn and now impaling it against a top turnbuckle pad.
Greyson: Miss Jon stabbing the ring.
Sparkles: To think, that COULD have been Katelyn’s head we saw stabbed by that shard.
Frankie: That still wouldn’t be as bad as what Taylor Chase would do to her.
Katelyn gets back to her feet at ringside and now tries to return to the ring to continue this fight with Miss Jon. However, the official, who has just jumped from the ring, is now preventing Katelyn from getting back inside of it. He holds Katelyn back from Miss Jon, who pointing at the World Champion with very wide and crazed eyes. Katelyn suddenly pushes the referee out of her way and goes right back into the ring, pulling back her fist and preparing to launch it at Miss Jon. However, Jon is the one closing the distant between herself and the World Champion. The beast lunges at Katelyn only to have Buehler grab the top rope then falls onto her back. Miss Jon flies over Katelyn and flies over the ropes, crashing down to her knees across the outside mats. She attempts to get back into the ring but Howe is in her way, BEGGING Miss Jon to back away from the ring instead of re-enter it. Katelyn is on her feet in the squared circle, crouched at the knees and DEMANDING this fight continue.
Cameras segue to a backstage hallway to catch another argument en medias res. Just as Karen McBride feared she’s run into her conniving and manipulative sister Blaire, and is now FORCED to hear her out.
Blaire: I didn’t ditch you two weeks ago! I was locked in my dressing room!!
Karen: Oh, and let me guess, somehow you just so happened to get out right after my match against Randal and Marcus, a match where YOU were supposed to be my partner.
Blaire: Someone unlocked the door and let me….
Karen: Enough….
Karen waves her hands in front of Blaire’s face and shakes her head.
Karen: I’m not Melanie, I’m not going to give you an infinite amount of free passes. I trusted you once and you screwed me. It’s not a mistake I’ll make again….
Blaire: You HAVE to believe me. I’m telling you the truth. I was locked in my damn…
Taylor: Maybe you SHOULD trust the little toe jam….
Although this is clearly a conversation that needs to be resolved, we get no resolution on account of Taylor Chase’s interference. She strolls along towards the quarreling siblings and goes as far as to put her hands on both of their shoulders.
Taylor: Karen…Blaire….long time no talk. We haven’t had a moment together since my knee crushed you in the mouth, Karen. (Looks off into space) Aaaaah, such great times.
Karen: What do you want?
Karen takes one of Tay’s fingers and lifts it so as to detach her hand from the shoulder it was plopped on. As Tay responds she removes a sanitizing wipe from her pocket and cleans her palm.
Taylor: I just wanted to voice my concerns about this little STRIFE I’m seeing right now. Aren’t there enough dysfunctional families in the IWC already?
Karen: What does it matter to you?
Taylor: Me? Why does EVERYTHING have to be about me? Oh right, because everything is, hahahaha. And in this case, that couldn’t be any truer. You two need to be on the same page going into your six person tag match at Upping the Ante against our ESTEEMED and oooooh soooo beloved Principle Owner Silas Mason.
Blaire: I agree.
Karen: Shut up Blaire. And Taylor, why do you even care…..?
Taylor: Because if you two and that adorable little sister of yours’ loose at Upping the Ante, then Silas goes on being Principle Owner and that means his injunction barring me from World Title contention will stand. I think we can all agree that this can’t be allowed. Do you really want to live in a world where the universally respected Taylor Chase is not holding the championship? I think not. There will be huge crowds of children crying, more mass suicides than in the Happening….
Karen: We get it Tay….
Taylor: No, I don’t think you do. See, I’m not about to risk seeing the McBrides lose at Upping the Ante. You WILL beat Silas and end his reign as Principle Owner. Because if you don’t, then my friends in Monarchy and I will not make your lives very pleasant.
Obviously this thinly veiled threat is not well received by either of the McBride sisters.
Taylor: Tootles for now ladies.
Tay blows them both a kiss before taking off down the corridor, leaving her warning to set in on Karen and her sister.
Blaire: Kare…..
Karen: DON’T!
Karen’s puts her hand up in front of Blaire’s face then walks away from her. A sullen Blaire can do only one thing, run her hands back through her hair, trying her best to resist the urge to rip out some clumps of it.
Now cameras have transitioned to one of several backstage entrances to the Manhattan Center. Standing front and center is a rookie who already has earned himself quite the reputation, and definitely not a good one. Ricky Holt is stood just inside of a corridor with his back faced to the parking garage. Stood at his side is a stagehand who was clearly carrying Ricky’s bag. To properly repay the crew member for their assistance, the brash rookie takes back his gym bag and uses one hand to shove the young man tasked with carrying it straight on his ass. Ricky then proceeds along down the hallway.
Greyson: Ricky Holt, just two weeks removed from his loss in the NHB Title match has just arrived to the Manhattan Center.
Sparkles: He looks like he’s in a surly mood.
Frankie: Understandable after what happened to him at the last Riot when he came up JUST short of capturing the NHB Championship from Rachel Tatum Lee.
Greyson: We understand that our backstage correspondent Mark Comeau has been waiting to get a word with Holt, and we’ll be hearing from him following the commercial break.
Sparkles: Sparkles hopes that standards and practices are ready to hit that censor button, cause who knows what Holt will say when we hear that interview coming up next.
A camera opens on a long procession of cars traversing the expressway. All the cars in this parade share a matching black color scheme and each one has their headlights switched on. Two police officers are mounted upon motorcycles and leading this long line of automobiles through treacherous traffic.
Greyson: What in the blazes are we seeing now?
Sparkles: That looks like a friggin funeral procession.
Frankie: And it’s headed for the Manhattan Center.
Greyson: What the hell is going to happen when it gets here?
PRE-RECORDED
Orlando: Here we are gents, where it all started.
Proclaims Orlando Cruze as he stands on the cement stoop to a brick building. It appears Cruze has journeyed to a ‘school.’
Orlando: Where your revered Orlando Cruze became the phenomenal athlete he is today. Let’s go into my old High-school shall we?
Apparently Orlando continues his quest to retrace the footsteps he’s left in the annals of history. He does precisely what he vowed when the first video aired earlier tonight, going back to his roots. The video cuts to the gymnasium where basketball hoops are set up along with some other miscellaneous equipment. Orlando comes stepping onto the court, looking around with a smile gracing his face.
Orlando: Ahhhh, breathe it in. This is the place where I made history. It was on this very court where I led our basketball team to three championships, that’s right THREE titles, the exact same number of championships my wife Taylor Chase has won in the IWC.
A weathered older man approaches Orlando at this point dressed in sweats, a red baseball cap and a whistle that hangs from his neck. A basketball is tucked under his arm and an excited expression sits on the sixty year old’s face.
Coach: Orlando! I thought that was you.
Orlando: Coach Crockett! It’s been a long time.
Although the Coach has his hand extended for a shake, Orlando is not reciprocating it.
Coach: What brings you back to the old neighborhood?
Orlando: Certainly not the smell. Hahahahahaha.
Orlando laughs, the Coach doesn’t.
Orlando: Actually, I’m here because this disrespectful little punk Andre Jordan told me that I’ve lost sight of who I am. That just because I joined the faction called Monarchy I’ve totally bastardized everything that I stand for. So I’m taking a journey into my past to show him how wrong he is.
Coach: Makes sense….Well we’re glad to have you, maybe you can give a speech to the team…..
Orlando: Yeah-yeah, absolutely, but before we get to that, I just got one question for you, Coach. Why did you bench me in our championship game senior year?
Coach: Bench you? You were thrown out of the game for punching another player. One of your own teammates actually….
The basketball in the Coach’s hands is snatched away from him.
Orlando: Yeah, but you could have put up more of a fight for your best player. You could have stood up for me…..
Coach: I…..
Orlando: I know-I know, you were jealous. Jealous that I was a better team captain than you were a coach.
The basketball Orlando clutches is thrown down directly on top of the Coach’s head before it bounces back to the Icon. He then repeats this process again and again, severely aggravating the coach. The video cuts to several minutes later with Orlando holding a basketball under his arm and standing in front of a row of benches occupied by a team of high-schoolers. Behind the Icon’s back we can see his ex Coach rubbing a welt on top of his head and standing in the gym.
Orlando: I was asked to give you guys a speech here today, being where you are now some twenty or so years ago. Although I was a lot more handsome, far more muscular, and I actually had a girlfriend that wasn’t inflatable.
The players look at each other in outrage.
Orlando: I’m not gonna give you guys a speech though. What I’m going to do is give you all some pointers that are going to help you in life. The number 1 lesson you need to learn is that toothpaste is not the enemy.
Some of the players cover their mouths and try to mask their breathe.
Orlando: If you ever want to land yourself a girlfriend as SMOKIN’ hot as my wife, then you’ll want to start doing something about that stank ass breath. Plus pop a few of those zits on your greasy faces The second lesson you need to learn is not to shoot for the stars. I know-I know, guidance counselors, teachers, maybe even you’re parents, have told you again and again and again that you can be anything you want to be in life. And that’s true, if you want to be a janitor or work the drive through at McDonald’s. Otherwise, you’re boned, because not a one of you will EVER reach the level that I have…..
TO BE CONTINUED
With pipe wrench still in hand Cindy Todd moves along down a corridor. Her jet black eyes pierce through the shadows that surround her as she attempts to locate either Mika Kozlov or worse yet, Aiken Frost. The commentators are overheard in the background.
Greyson: On what has already been a twisted night, earlier on we witnessed the Queen of Chaos, the Queen of New Eden Cindy Todd making it known that she was going to hunt down her follower Mika Kozlov, who it seems has joined up with Aiken Frost.
Sparkles: Aiken, the former leader of New Eden, returned four weeks ago to reclaim his power, and it seems Mika has welcomed his return with open arms.
Frankie: If Cindy finds Aiken, then Mika’s gonna use those open arms to carry him to the nearest hospital.
Moments after competing in one of the most physically draining matches of her career cameras catch up with the World Champion Katelyn Buehler. She sits on a bench in her locker-room where she removes her elbow pad, flinging it down into the open gym bag that sits on the floor beside her.
Douglas: Another amazing performance.
Announces Katelyn’s rarely seen, at least on screen, agent Dan Douglas, who enters the dressing room flanked by Destiny Nichols. The pair huddles around Katelyn, who goes on recovering from one of the most intense matches of her career.
Douglas: That was a tremendous battle against Miss Jon. You really should be proud of yourself for taking it to her like you did. I’ve taken the liberty of having a car brought around to take all three of us out for a…..
Katelyn: Whoa-whoa-whoa….
The World Champion’s arms slice back and forth through the air.
Katelyn: Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?
Douglas: Uh, what do you mean by that?
Katelyn: I mean my night isn’t over yet.
A sighing Douglas buries his face in his palm.
Douglas: Don’t tell me….
Katelyn: I still have one more match to go tonight.
Douglas: Kate, you can’t seriously still be thinking about facing Scott Cannon. You barely survived that match with Miss Jon, you need to take some time, recover and….
Katelyn: I promised my fans I would fight Scott in that ring tonight, and I’m not about to lie to them.
Destiny: You really should listen to Dan, he’s only looking out for your best interests.
Katelyn: I’m not leaving here until I’ve gotten my hands on Cannon. I’m not waiting until Upping the Ante…understood?
Douglas and Destiny take a deep breath, realizing that there is no reasoning with their friend. Nothing will sway Katelyn from colliding with Scott Cannon here tonight on Riot.
The interview area comes into view where correspondent Mark Comeau stands with his back to a huge IWC emblem screwed into the wall. Stood beside him we can see a very jaded grappler Ricky Holt pacing back and forth, still bedecked in his street attire.
Comeau: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s Mark Comeau, and at this moment I’m joined by Ricky Holt, who two weeks ago was unsuccessful in his bid to capture the NHB Championship. Let’s take you back and show you how that confrontation ended….
TWO WEEKS AGO
It’s been a whole five minutes since the last recap video, so why not hit the viewers with yet another one?
This particular footage captures the intense NHB Title bout that was waged between challenger Ricky Holt and NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee on the last Riot. The eagerly anticipated clash between these two athletes takes advantage of the falls count anywhere nature of the NHB division. They fight out into the parking lot where Holt and Rachel brawl on top of vehicles and use a number of cars as weapons. Ultimately they find themselves battling on top of a limo with Holt taking the advantage and setting up for the New Dawn Fades. Unbeknownst to Holt, the sunroof of the limo begins to open up just behind his heels. Now his rival Devon Kayl emerges from within the vehicle, climbing onto the roof with a bottle of champagne in his hand. It isn’t long before that bottle shatters right across the back of Ricky’s head, setting him up to suffer a Dead in Tombstone from his opponent. His head is spiked into the roof of the limo and then Holt is pinned shortly thereafter.
Cameras return to the live feed featuring Mark Comeau stood beside an almost snarling Ricky Holt.
Comeau: Well Ricky, you suffered a tough break two weeks ago…but one would argue that it was one of your own making…
Holt: Give me that!
Snaps a disgruntled Holt, who snatches the microphone straight out of the correspondent’s hand.
Holt: Now get the hell out of here!
Insists Holt, who makes a back handing threat. The concerned Comeau takes off. Now the full and undivided focus is on Holt, who steps up straight into the hard camera. The sunglasses that were placed on the bridge of his nose are ripped away, his fierce eyes staring into the hearts of the viewing audience.
Holt: Rachel Tatum Lee, I hope you sucked off Devon Kayl long and hard for saving your ass! If it hadn’t been for that jealous son of a bitch I’d be standing here right now with the NHB Title around my waist. You’re so God damned lucky that you’ve got friends in low places! If it hadn’t been for….
Holt takes a deep breath as if trying to console himself, but it doesn’t seem to work, instead he only gets angrier and more unhinged.
Holt: You know what? Fuck it! I’m not going to stand here and throw a temper tantrum. I’m coming to find you right now Kayl!
Holt stomps away from the camera and proceeds down the corridor with the camera desperately trying to keep up with him. The commentators finally chime in, voices overheard in the background.
Sparkles: So much for that interview. It looks like we’re going to see a brawl.
Greyson: Ricky Holt is on the hunt for Devon Kayl!
Frankie: Man, I feel bad for Kayl, cause when Holt does catch up with him it’s going to be nasty.
Greyson: It looks like cameras are going to stay with Holt here until we do get that confrontation.
Holt proceeds down the corridor, stops beside one of several doors lining the walls on either side of him and kicks it open. He peers inside and sees nothing that even remotely resembles Kayl.
Holt: WHERE ARE YOU, KAYL!?!
Holt looks back at the camera, making sure it’s still following him.
Holt: Come on mother fucker! This is must see TV!
The insistent Holt remains ever vigilant in his quest to discover Kayl’s whereabouts. He bursts through another door, marching straight into a room where a few road agents are seated on a sofa talking amongst one another. One of them instantly pops up to his feet once he spots the red hot Holt storming into the room.
Agent: What the hell do you w….?
Holt levels the old man with a punch across the brow.
Holt: Where’s KAYL!?!
The other agent who was seated on the sofa beside his friend is dragged off the couch and thrown across the room.
Holt: WHERE’S KAYL!?!
Now that both agents have been rendered incapable of responding Holt marches away from them, storming back into the hallway and continuing his search.
Frankie: I wouldn’t want to be in Holt’s way here tonight.
Greyson: He’s just a loose cannon right now.
Sparkles: Heaven help Devon Kayl when Holt finally does cross paths with him.
Cameras have transitioned to the guerilla position where two of the most demented figures to have ever graced the IWC have taken residency. Aiken Frost and Mika Kozlov are stood face to face as they discuss some last second strategy on the cusp of heading for the squared circle.
Aiken: I trust that your mind is in the proper place.
Mika: Hehehehehe-HAHAHA! Of course it is. Why would you think it wasn’t? Hehehehe.
Questions the cackling Kozlov.
Mika: I’m totally focused on beating Samantha Raine, and then taking her skin as a trophy. Hehehehehe.
Aiken’s cheeks almost blush.
Aiken: Oh how I’ve missed that laugh of yours.
Mika: It’s been a while since I’ve had cause to laugh, hehehehehe.
Aiken: I do apologize for leaving you to cater to the whims of Cindy Todd. She was suffocating you. When I witnessed her reward your loyalty to New Eden by rending the flesh from your back with that barbwire, I knew my time for convalescence had come to an end, my return had become a necessity.
Mika: I suppose I did miss you in my own weird way, hehehehehe. Me, weird? Doesn’t that sound funny?
Aiken: I cannot tell you how painful it was to be absent from your side for so long. It hurt far worse than the barbwire noose Cindy used to sideline me for all those months. I felt so empty being unable to stand beside the ring and watch you transform the canvas into a blood soaked masterpiece.
Mika: Of course, because I am an ar-TEAST!
Aiken: Yes you are, and now it is time to produce another work of art. Samantha Raine waits for you my beloved Mika. She wishes to keep you from reclaiming the World Championship. We musn’t allow her to bar you from advancing in this Number One Contender Tournament.
Mika: But we still have so much to talk about….
Aiken: It can wait my love.
Assures Aiken as he extends his arm out to his side and parts the curtains that veil the entry way.
Aiken: I am sure you wish to tell me all about the fun you have had while I was away. Fun with the likes of Andre Jordan….
Mika was about half way through the curtains before stopping in mid-step. She looks back towards Aiken and smiles oh so wide.
Mika: We really should pay a visit to my Chocolate Pudding before the end of the night.
Aiken: We shall, but first we go to the ring to use Samantha Raine to send a message to Cindy Todd and all those who pledge their loyalty to her false New Eden.
Mika: Hehehehehe, maybe I’ll crack open Raine’s head like a walnut then give her brain to Serenity. She could really use a spare, considering the one she’s got now hasn’t worked for a long time.
Aiken: Let us use Mrs. Raine to expand Serenity’s mind. We will open her eyes to whole new levels of pure depravity.
SAMANTHA RAINE VS. MIKA KOZLOV:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT QUARTER FINAL
The lyrics of “I Started a Joke” start through the PA system to a loud chorus of jeers from the audience massed in the Manhattan Center. The crowd largely seems confused as to how to react to Mika Kozlov as she emerges from the curtains to the tracks of her entrance theme. Some ballerina inspired dance steps are employed by the laughing Kozlov. She seems to be walking on the wind at the moment now that she has been reunited with Aiken Frost. The darkly Frost strolls through the curtains directly behind Mika and follows her along towards the squared circle where the next match in the Number One Contender Tournament prepares to go down.
Sparkles: The most unorthodox pair in the IWC are headed in our direction boys.
Greyson: I guess it was confirmed at the start of the show that Aiken Frost and Mika Kozlov have truly reunited.
Frankie: Which ain’t sitting well with Cindy Todd. Mika is supposed to be CINDY’S. She took control of New Eden away from Aiken after she hanged him with that barbwire noose.
Greyson: An act that sidelined Aiken for several months, until he returned and made it pretty clear that he doesn’t just want to take revenge on Cindy, he wants to take back the New Eden that HE created.
Once inside of the squared circle Mika continues to sensually swing herself around into a variety of stretches while Aiken Frost nears the announce table.
Greyson: Ooooh lord, it looks like Aiken Frost is going to join us here at commentary.
Sparkles: Wasn’t having Cindy Todd seated next to us earlier scary enough?
Aiken: Good evening gentlemen….
Greets Aiken as he takes possession of the chair next to Frankie Paradise.
Greyson: Mr. Frost, uhhhh, what a treat….
Aiken: You are such a horrible liar dear boy.
Frankie: So to what do we owe the honor of your company?
Aiken: Your ineptitude and biasness while calling my precious Mika’s matches warrants my presence at this announce table.
Greyson: With all due respect Mr. Frost….
Aiken: Mr. Lovejoy? Do you like having a tongue? Because if you would enjoy keeping it then I would advise that you silence it this very moment.
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHA!
Sparkles: Well Aiken, can you confirm it for us? Are you and Mika a pair once again?
Aiken: Oh misguided little puppet. We never CEASED to be a pair.
Frankie: Then you’ve definitely got to be proud that she is just three matches away from potentially becoming number one contender to the World Title yet again.
Aiken: Regardless of rather she advances in this tournament or not, the World Title will once again be hers in due time.
[[ The arena suddenly goes dark as the arena lighting starts to simulate the look of lightning flashes. While the sound system starts to broadcast the sound of rain as white and blue confetti starts falling on both sides of the entrance. However, the sound of the rain is broken up with the voice of Samantha saying… “No rain on this parade…” which is followed by the start of “Unbreakable” by FireFlight. The Cartel-tron comes to life showing Samantha standing out in a pretty looking field when all of the sudden it starts raining down onto her. ]]
Where are the people that accused me? The ones who beat me down and bruised me…
[[As the video continues to play Sam continues to stand in the field without running for cover. Instead, she looks up at the sky allowing the rain to pelt her face as she raises both of her arms up and for a quick several moments the footage flips to Sam doing that same motion, but holding up GDW Undisputed title and Tag titles. ]]
This time I’m not scared…
[[ When Sam finally steps out from behind the curtain the video changes again, but this time it starts to show clips from her greatest matches with Angela Jameson, Feature Presentation, and Jasmine. The cheering actually gets just a little bit louder as the GDW Hall of Famer stands at the top of entrance ramp right in the epicenter of the confetti falling around her in ring attire. Sam smiles widely as she starts to make her way down to the ring. ]]
Now I am unbreakable, it’s unmistakable…
[[Sam alternates between the left and right side of the ring as she stops to take pictures with the fans, sign a few autographs, and for the younger fans giving a kiss on the cheek. ]]
Sometimes it’s hard to just keep going, but faith is moving without knowing…
[[Once she reaches the ring she walks over to the ring stairs and then jaunts up them on to the apron. She moves over to the center of the apron where she looks at all the fans with a smile on her face before she enters the ring, but she stops when she is just half way in to the ring. During that slight pause in her entering the ring she blows kisses to the fans before stepping through the middle ropes. ]]
Forget the fear it’s just a crutch…
[[Though the fans just continue to cheer her attention turns from them as she starts to stretch herself out a little bit more to get ready for her match. ]]
Greyson: Samantha Raine with the biggest opportunity of her IWC career thus far. She goes one on one with a former World Champion in Mika Kozlov, AND if she wins this she advances to the Semi-Finals of the Number One Contender Tournament to be contested at our next pay-per-view Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: And she earned this opportunity by defeating Miss Jon via disqualification on Riot four weeks ago. If any woman can survive Miss Jon then they deserve a championship opportunity.
Aiken: I am afraid that Miss Jon is nothing compared to Mika Kozlov. My delectable Kozlov is a whole different breed of monster in comparison. Raine will discover this shortly.
Greyson: That remains to be seen Mr. Frost. I think you might be selling Samantha Raine pretty short, she’s been showing us a LOT since the brand split. Not only has she stood up to Miss Jon on multiple occasions, but she has even goes as far as to defy Principle Owner Silas Mason and stand against his corrupt dictatorship over Riot.
Aiken: None of that has prepared Raine for what she will encounter tonight.
The bell sounds with Raine warming up in one corner while Mika actually bends away from the diagonal turnbuckle into a crab walk. The laughing Mika continues to walk in the crab stance all the way to the middle of the ring before pushing off the canvas with her feet and doing a headstand. She then kips to an upright base and whips around to face the no nonsense Raine who immediately leaps into a diving big boot. Her heel catches Mika right in her laughing mouth and sends Kozlov flipping completely over backwards.
Greyson: OOOOH WHAT A START TO THIS MATCH!
Aiken: A beginning that Raine will soon regret.
The boot has Mika grabbing at her mouth and trying to return to her feet. However, Raine will not surrender the advantage. She races in at Mika’s side, jumps into the air and hits a double stomp right into Mika’s upper back. The pressure exerted on Mika’s spine forces her face down into the canvas. She bounces off the ring and then goes rolling across it, ending up on the apron at this point. She pushes herself up from the hardest, reinforced section of the squared circle, getting to her elbows and knees. Right at that point Raine comes flying over the top rope from the ring and then comes down with a foot to the back of Mika’s head, hitting her with a curb stomp that drives Mika’s face straight into the ring apron.
Sparkles: DEVASTATING!
Greyson: So Aiken, still think that Raine has bit off more than she can chew?
Aiken: There will be a price to pay for your insolence Mr. Lovejoy. As steep a price as the one Raine suffers at the hands of my Mika.
At the moment Mika has collapsed to the ringside area and is clasping at her face that was crushed against the apron. She pushes through the pain and gets to her feet just in time to be removed from them yet again. A shadow is cast over Mika, one belonging to Samantha Raine, who is back flipping from the middle rope into a moonsault. She crushes Mika beneath her, taking the two down to the ground amidst a loud pop from the crowd.
Greyson: Beautiful move by Raine….such aerial skills on display!
Sparkles: In what has been an action packed match thus far on an action packed edition of Riot.
Raine knows she’s got to act and act quickly, which is why she dumps Mika back inside of the ring. Once back in the squared circle Mika starts to ascend straight back to her feet only to be met with a boot to the mid-section. Raine doubles her opponent over with the kick then takes her around the arms, setting up for the Rogue Variance. But Kozlov still possesses the wherewithal and the reflexes to spin her body right out of position for the double underhook face buster. She then twists back towards Raine and whips her arm straight for Samantha’s throat, going for the clothesline. Surprisingly Raine is able to duck the clothesline and then stand up behind Mika, taking her around the jaw then dropping down into the reverse neck-breaker.
Greyson: What a dominant Raine we’re seeing in this match right now.
Sparkles: Sparkles didn’t think we’d see Mika getting overwhelmed like this.
Aiken: Overwhelmed? How humorous you are little puppet.
Sparkles: Humorous?
Aiken: You were joking were you not? Mika NEVER gets overwhelmed.
At the moment Mika looks pretty damned overpowered by Raine, who is just continuing her barrage of offensive moves. Now she’s got Mika sitting up on the canvas and is diving into Kozlov’s face with a perfect dropkick. The blow has Mika flat on her back and exposed to whatever Raine has in store for her next, and that appears to be some form of high flying maneuver. Raine heads for the nearest turnbuckle and starts the process of scaling all the way up to the top. The fans are solidly behind her as Raine reaches the high point of the corner and prepares to dive back onto Mika. Raine goes airborne, but in the wrong direction. Somehow Mika has gotten back to her feet, has dashed in behind her opponent and puts both hands to her backside, shoving Raine off the turnbuckle, over the mats and down face first into the announce table at ringside.
Frankie: SHIT!!
Greyson: Raine’s face cracking right into our announce table!
Aiken: I sufficiently warned you, yes? That Raine would pay a price.
Sparkles: That was a STEEEEP price.
Greyson: Raine might have a concussion after that impact with our announce table.
The collision with the announce table has left Raine almost brain dead as she lays splayed across the mats at ringside. Meanwhile Mika is crawling across the ground beside her, reaching her opponent before pulling her up into a kiss on the forehead. Mika then throws a punch down right into the very spot she marked with the kiss. Eventually Mika drags Raine up to her feet and then wedges her cheek to the announce table. Mika holds Raine’s head in place while looking over her opponent, over the table and at Aiken seated before her. It almost looks like Mika has assumed the role of a cat offering its owner a dead bird as a gift.
Aiken: Make quick work of her.
More laughter emanates from Mika as she drags a now defenseless Raine towards the ring, rolling her inside. Mika quickly scoots into a cover, hooking the far leg.
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2
There is a pop from the audience at the sight of Raine getting her shoulder up.
Greyson: There’s that spirit we’re used to seeing out of Raine!
There is only a display of amusement from Mika as a result of this kick out. She crawls past Raine and reaches the nearest corner, climbing it. Unlike Raine it seems Mika will be successful in her dive as she flings herself into a headbutt, flying skull first right into her opponent’s clavicle. Raine flops around and grabs at her neck, hoping that a bone hasn’t been broken. Mika will ensure an injury IS inflicted though. She runs back into the ropes, ricochets from then and returns to her opponent with a leaping knee strike. All of Mika’s weight comes down into the trachea of her adversary.
Raine is not only in pain but is gasping for oxygen at the same time. She tries to twist away from Kozlov, who isn’t about to allow for any separation. She grabs Raine by the wrists, pulls on them, sits Raine up and then puts a boot to her chest. Mika delivers an inverted Curb Stomp. As a result the back of Raine’s head slams into the ring. However, Mika does not let go of her opponent’s wrists. She uses them to drag Raine across the ring and then pulls them with enough force to sit her up on the canvas. Mika then puts her boot to Raine’s chest and gives her another curb stomp, driving the back of her adversary’s head directly into the bottom turnbuckle pad.
Greyson: Now Raine’s head SNAPPING against that corner!
Aiken: You praised this young girl for her resiliency. Though now it proves to be her detriment.
Raine sits on the canvas and remains slumped against the turnbuckle. Just then she finds her opponent’s body cannonballing back first right into her. Mika runs the length of the ring and then flips forward, slamming her spine right into Raine, crushing her under the impact. Mika, who is no stranger to using herself as a weapon, rolls back out of the corner and snatches hold of Raine’s ankle. She drags until Raine is returned to the middle of the squared circle. Mika then performs a standing moonsault that sends her plummeting into Raine and remaining splayed across her, hooking a leg.
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2
A valiant Raine gets her shoulder up off of the ring once again, rejecting defeat. The ever amused Mika pulls her by the blonde hair back onto her feet and then drags her along in the direction of the ropes. Raine’s body is thrown to the apron while her head remains extended through the ropes, still trapped in Mika’s hands. She gives it a tug in order to trap it in a front chancery and then continues to pull it until Raine’s body is returned to the squared circle. Raine now finds her ankles draped over the middle rope as she prepares to find herself on the receiving end of an elevated DDT.
Sparkles: Mika is gonna snap off that elevated DDT and advance to the Semi-Finals of the Number One Contender Tournament.
Aiken: It took longer than projected but an end is now in sight.
At least it would be the culmination of this fast paced grueling bout if Raine hadn’t managed to offer a stunning counter. She puts her feet against the very same middle rope that her ankles were splayed over and then pushes off the strand. She shoves Mika backwards, Kozlov coming down onto her back with Raine flipping over her and hooking the creases of her knees. Somehow Raine has managed to counter into the jackknife cover, one that may just move her into the next round of the tournament.
1
Mika manages to reach up and wrap her arm around Raine’s head. She then bridges both herself and her opponent up onto their feet before Mika uses the grip on her adversary’s head to transition into position for the Killing Joke.
Greyson: OH GOD! Kozlov’s got Raine set to take the Killing Joke!
Frankie: How in the hell did she do that?
Just as Mika prepares to unleash her version of the Sister Abigail she finds her move countered by the ever so quick Raine. A very invigorated Raine twists around and traps Mika in a rear waist lock, preparing to snap back into the German suplex. But Mika won’t let that happen, dashing forward towards the ropes and pulling Raine along behind her. Mika hits the cables and then grabs hold of them, keeping herself from being flipped back into the German. She then bucks Raine off of the waist lock sending her opponent rolling backwards to the middle of the ring. Raine starts to stand up, albeit still stooped when Mika comes bolting directly at her. Mika runs headstrong ribs first right into Raine’s shoulder. A shocked Mika is flipped over into a Northern Lights bridging suplex.
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2
Mika slugs Raine in the ribcage and forces the bridge to be broken. Raine drops down to her seat while her adversary tries to put some space between them, Mika crawling along into the corner then putting it to use as a makeshift crutch.
Mika’s hands paw at the ropes, used to pull herself up to her feet. The second she stands up she finds her head caught in her opponent’s clutches. The Jem Star Stunner is coming and the fans are eager to witness it connect. Raine runs out of the corner and drags Mika along behind her only to find that she is unable to drop down into the stunner. Instead of being able to hit her finisher, Raine discovers that her opponent has reached back and wrapped her hands around the top rope. Mika prevents being dragged down into the stunner via griping the cables and griping them tight.
Greyson: Mika desperately holding onto those ropes and blocking the Jem Star Stunner.
Aiken: Mika has never shown, nor will ever be, desperate.
Raine keeps going for the stunner but can’t hit it, Mika’s grip on the rope way too strong. At last Mika breaks her grasp on the top rope of her own accord and wraps an arm around Raine’s waist. Before Raine realizes what’s happening she’s being lifted into the back drop suplex, her body being flung over the top rope. However, in mid-air Raine grabs the cables and flips to the apron, landing on her feet.
The crazed Mika spins around and finds her opponent’s shin flying over the top rope, cracking her straight between the eyes. The kick to the face has Mika disorientated but yet to go down. So Raine reaches over the ropes, grabs her around the neck and suplexes Mika to the outside of the ring. No, wait! In mid-air Mika transitions her weight and comes down feet first onto the apron beside Raine.
Mika then goes for a punch on the Rogue Element’s face. The jab sends Raine stumbling back across the apron and falling against the exposed turnbuckle post, which she latches onto it in order to keep from tumbling to the ringside mats.
The insane laughter of Mika fills the arena as she runs excitedly towards Raine only eat a boot to the mouth. Raine leans back against the turnbuckle and launches her foot into the air, kicking Mika in the teeth. She then leaps into the air and hits a modified enzugari to the side of Mika’s head, the shot knocking not only the wits out of her opponent but sending the recipient plummeting from the apron to ringside.
Greyson: Raine showing the pedigree that has made her a champion in so many federations around the world.
Sparkles: She’s got Mika in a position very few people have ever forced Mika into.
Greyson: It’s almost like Mika just doesn’t know how to handle the lighting fast capabilities of Raine.
Aiken: Mika can handle anything I assure you.
That doesn’t seem to be the case at the moment.
Presently Mika is trying to urge herself up from the ringside mats while in the squared circle above her Raine is building some big time momentum. Samantha takes off across the length of the ring, bounces from the far ropes. She reaches the cables that separate her from Mika before diving right through, flying straight into Mika with the suicide headbutt. She lands right on target, or so she thought, because instead of taking Mika down to the ground Mika catches her. Raine’s eyes widen as she’s bridged back then twisted around into the Killing Joke. Raine’s face crashes into the ringside mats thanks to Kozlov’s rendition of the Sister Abigail.
Greyson: KILLING JOKE!
Aiken: How lovely.
Greyson: RIGHT INTO THE MATS!
Frankie: Yikes.
Sparkles: Raine went high risk too often and she paid for it!
Aiken: Just as I prophesized.
Mika taps into what strength she has left to drag Raine up from the ground and then roll her back inside of the squared circle. She then climbs in after Raine and makes the cover as quickly as she can.
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2
Unfortunately for Raine there is no kicking out this time, the Killing Joke having knocked her totally unconscious.
Greyson: Mika advances! She moves onto the Semi-Finals of the Number One Contender Tournament!
Sparkles: It wasn’t easy for her though, Samantha Raine gave her one hell of a tough fight.
Aiken: Again, you amuse me you furry little fiend. Mika merely played with Raine like a cat plays with a cornered mouse.
Greyson: I’d disagree with you but something tells me my balls would end up removed and inserted in my mouth.
Aiken: Oh dear boy, that’s not where I would put them.
The fickle ticket buyers watch Mika celebrate in her own unorthodox fashion. But they aren’t the only ones who enjoy the spectacle. Seconds after the bout has concluded, Cindy Todd has shown up on to the stage.
Sparkles: We now know it’ll be Mika along with Andre Jordan, Lexy Chapel and Marina Valdivia competing in the final four of the Number One Contender Tournament to go down at Upping…the….Somebody tell me that isn’t Cindy Todd making her way out here.
Greyson: It’s her alright. I’m surprised she actually waited until after this match to show up.
As Cindy makes her way down the ramp a referee aiding a barely conscious Samantha Raine walks past her in the opposite direction.
A surprisingly torn Mika finds herself glancing between Aiken stood behind the announce table and Cindy Todd positioned at the mid-point of the ramp. It appears as if Mika has become a bit….conflicted.
Greyson: Is it just me, or does Mika actually look a bit….confused?
Sparkles: Yeah, it’s almost as if Cindy Todd is still holding some kind of sway over her.
Aiken: Cindy is a very powerful and manipulative woman. I know this all too well.
Mika wears only a half-smile as she nears the ropes that Cindy is stood beyond. But then she stops and turns back around to face the other set of cables that Aiken is standing on the opposite side of. Mika begins to move towards him only to come to a stop.
Greyson: What’s it going to be Mika? Who are you going to leave with? Aiken, or Cindy?
Aiken: The choice should be clear.
It appears as if Mika is a little more indecisive than Aiken had postulated. Although he remains understanding and borderline compassionate to Mika’s conundrum, it is Cindy Todd’s patience that wears thin. She takes Mika’s hesitation to stand at her side as an insult as grave as a slap to the face. Cindy no longer lurches at ringside and instead snakes her way into the squared circle. She stops in front of Mika and becomes a bit more verbose with her demands, all the while brandishing the pipe wrench as a constant reminder of the physical threat she poses.
Cindy: Stop this silliness. You know where you belong….
Mika cannot help but to respond with unabashed laughter.
Cindy: You belong to ME.
Cindy’s palm engulfs Mika’s throat, choking it.
Cindy: You are MINE.
Before this physical abuse can go any further Mika is given a reprieve thanks to the interference of Aiken Frost. He reaches in under the ropes, snags Mika by the ankle, gives it a pull and drag her out of not only Cindy’s clutches but the ring as well. A stunned Mika falls to Aiken’s side, his arm wrapped about the curves of her slender body.
Greyson: I think whatever influence that Cindy holds over Mika has just been “SLAPPED” away.
Frankie: Is it strange that Aiken Frost of all people is the lesser of two evils in this situation?
Sparkles: Sparkles never even thought that was within the realm of possibilities.
Greyson: Neither did I.
As Aiken squeezes Mika tight to his side he cannot help but to smirk in Cindy’s direction. Todd’s response to the smarmy grin on her rival’s face is a licking of her lips, perhaps imagining how the blood that will ooze from Aiken’s flesh shall taste once she’s had a chance to bathe in it.
Greyson: Well this is an absolutely twisted situation unfolding here on Riot and….wait a minute, we understand that something is happening backstage involving Samantha Raine and-and-and MISS JON!
Sparkles: This ain’t gonna be good.
Frankie: Is there ever a HAPPY moment in the IWC? With the exception of the occasional nip-slip?
Greyson: Let’s find out what’s going on.
Cameras transition to the guerilla position just in time to catch the pleading screams of several referees and stagehands, who have crowded around Miss Jon. There are at least three wrapped around either arm of Jon, desperately trying to pry her hands back from the throat of Samantha Raine. Already all the normal color is absent from Raine’s face as she kneels on the concrete floor, turning as blue as a frost bitten corpse as Jon’s massive hands engulf her throat. They squeeze until all the blood has rushed straight to Raine’s head and threatens to burst it like it were nothing but a pustule. All the while a crazed, animalistic gleam inhabits Jon’s eyes.
Greyson: Holy crap! Miss Jon is strangling Samantha Raine!
Frankie: Martin Howe told her, he warned her that this was going to happen! That Miss Jon was going to destroy her beauty.
Sparkles: This is going beyond destroying Raine’s good looks, she’s trying to straight up murder her.
Miss Jon is absolutely homicidal as she tries to choke what little life remains out of Raine’s body. All the while the refs and stagehands continue to labor as they frantically attempt to save Raine. It seems that Martin Howe III, Miss Jon’s agent, is not helping the matter but only exacerbating it. He stands in the background lustfully grinning at the wanton depravity unleashed by his client.
Stagehand: LET HER GO!
Referee: For the love of God you’re going to kill her!
Finally they manage to detach Miss Jon’s hands from Raine’s bruised throat. In an act of rage Jon shirks several of the referees off of her arm, sending them collapsing to the ground or spiraling into the wall. Raine wisely employs this time to get back to her feet and grab the nearest weapon she can find. Although she’s severally oxygen deprived Raine manages to snatch up a chair, turn it long ways and swing it along right into Miss Jon’s ribcage. The blow aggravates Miss Jon, but she’s unable to do anything about it considering another shot from the chair is presently hurdling towards her head. The steel bounces off Miss Jon’s skull and only further enrages her. Raine drops the chair and starts to use her fists, punching Miss Jon as the two fight their way down the corridor.
Greyson: Raine doing her absolute best to combat the beast known as Miss Jon.
Sparkles: These two are going to straight up kill each other!
Frankie: Would that honestly be such a bad thing?
Luckily the show cuts to something a little CALMER. Andre Jordan looks every bit as cool and collective as one would think. At the moment he’s stood in front of a few tikes who lucked their way into backstage passes. Right now they’re discovering just how fortunate they are, because they’ve got the former 2 time Evolution Champion signing an autograph for them. Their excitement fills the hallway where they happened to run across Jordan.
Lil Fan: Wow….awesome.
One boy exclaims as he reads the personalized message that Andre jotted down on the IWC pennant the kiddy asked to have autographed.
Lil Fan: This is so cool! Thanks Andre!
Andre: Don’t sweat it kid.
Lil Fan: (Turning to his equally as energetic little buddy) Man, after Dre beat Orlando this thing is going to sell for so much on E-Bay.
Andre: HEEEY.
The kids take off in a hurry, the promise of E-Bay bidding wars exciting them so.
Tabitha: They have a point you know.
Andre looks back over his shoulder at his agent Tabitha Silverstone, who is approaching him with large sunglasses over her eyes.
Andre: Still wearing your sunglasses at night?
Tabitha: You know me, I’m always behind in the latest fashions. But this isn’t about me. This is about you and capitalizing on your recent success.
Andre: Let’s not blow what happened two weeks ago out of proportions.
Tabitha: You beat Orlando Cruze. A former World Champion. A friggin ICON in this industry! Arguably the biggest name in IWC HISTORY! It’s a big deal rather you want to admit or not.
Andre: I wish I could look it at that way Tabs. But in my mind, the man I beat on the last Riot, that WASN’T an Icon, that wasn’t the legend that USED to inspire me. The person I beat was a sell out and a Monarchy stooge, nothing more.
Tabitha: Oh Andre, ever the pessimist. Anyway, we need to continue to parlay your win into bigger and better things. We have to keep your momentum going tonight against Mordecai. I trust you haven’t forgotten what he did to you last month.
Andre: My ribs are still killing me from that damned powerbomb he gave me after our match. So no, haven’t forgotten Tabs. Don’t worry.
Tabitha: Good….
Tabitha starts to walk away but Andre grabs her by the wrist and won’t let go.
Andre: What do you mean by that? You’re glad I’m still in pain?
Tabitha: In a way, YES. Because that pain will remind you of the HATE you have for Mordecai. And that hate…that DARKNESS will help carry you to a win against Mordecai tonight, just like it did two weeks ago against Orlando.
Andre: Darkness? Hate? What the heck has gotten into you lately? I don’t like hearing you talk this way.
Tabitha: Get used to it to Dre, because these are the words you NEED to hear.
Tabitha gets her wrist out of Andre’s hand then walks off down the corridor. Much like two weeks ago Dre is left standing there with a totally perplexed expression on his face.
Once again we’re treated to footage of a long line of sleek black automobiles trudging along in uniform formation. They drive bumper to bumper, headlights flicked on in spite of the fact that there’s still a little bit of sun overhead. Leading this long parade of cars are two motorcycle bound police officers, their sirens wailing and flashing to ward off any pedestrians or cars that might get in the way.
Greyson: At the risk of sounding totally redundant, what the HELL is this!?!
Sparkles: Sparkles hasn’t a clue why cameras are filming what I can only assume is some type of funeral procession.
Frankie: That is getting closer and closer to the Manhattan Center.
Greyson: What is this all about? Who’s behind this? I guess we’ll find out when this procession arrives to the building. Don’t go anywhere!
When Riot returns from commercial break the camera finds itself fixated on a door marked ‘Woman’s Locker-room.” Loud screams and even louder obscenities are heard emanating from within. Finally the door opens and Ricky Holt comes storming through it into the hallway. The red hot competitor looks back into the room and shouts at the inhabitants.
Holt: You ladies ain’t got nothing I haven’t seen before.
His face scrunches up and his eyes narrow on something just as his head starts to tilt.
Holt: Except for that maybe.
After a cringe he slams the door shut and continues on his way down the corridor.
Holt: You’re around here somewhere Kayl. You’re not getting the drop me again you son of a bitch.
The commentators react with their voices overheard in the background.
Frankie: Did Ricky Holt just come out of the woman’s locker-room?
Greyson: Yes he did.
Frankie: He just became my hero.
Sparkles: It looks like he’s still searching for Devon Kayl. Ricky has promised he’s going to get revenge on Kayl for costing him the NHB Title two weeks ago.
Frankie: Kayl is going to be in for a lot…and I mean A LOT of trouble when Holt finally catches up with him.
Sparkles: That’s a crazy situation we’re still following, but let’s talk about an equally as insane issue that’s been going on throughout the evening.
Greyson: What Sparkles is eluding to is all that madness that happened earlier this evening when Rachel Tatum Lee and Marina Valdivia collided in a Number One Contender Quarter-Final round match-up.
Frankie: Talk about insanity.
EARLIER TONIGHT
It’s recap time…YAY!
This particular footage recounts what went down at the tail end of the very physical bout waged between reigning NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee and Marina Valdivia. The two are shown battling tooth and nail to determine which one of them will claim a coveted spot in the final four of the contenders tournament to be contested at Upping the Ante. As an added psychological advantage Rachel brought down to ringside with her a casket that apparently houses the body of her last rival Aaron Harrison. As the match enters its crescendo that coffin pops open and from inside it’s not Aaron Harrison who emerges but Rachel’s ex-lover and bitter rival Ethan Von Aaron. He jumps Rachel after first blinding her with C02 shot from a fire extinguisher. The ref is also blinded by the blast of C02, meaning he doesn’t see Ethan continuing to interfere in the match. It isn’t long before Ethan finds himself caught in the ever resilient Rachel’s clutches and then set up for her Dead in Tombstone. Before she can finally hit the piledriver another body emerges from the coffin at ringside, this time its Ethan’s lady/client Alana Starr. She bashes Rachel in the back of the head with the fire extinguisher. Just as Ethan and Alana begin to lay into Rachel the coffin opens again and this time its Rachel’s new boyfriend William Mason who steps out. He throws Alana and Ethan back into the coffin, chains it shut and then has it dragged to the backstage area.
The feed cuts to the interior of the Manhattan Center just as “Shatter Me” hits the PA system and Mya Denton comes skipping crazily to the stage.
Greyson: As the video just documented the world was fooled when it came to who we all thought was inside of that coffin.
Sparkles: It was our impression that Aaron Harrison was the one inside of that coffin.
Frankie: But boy were you suckers ever wrong. Cause it sure as hell wasn’t Harrison inside of there.
Greyson: A fact that has not set well with the woman presently on her way to the ring at all!
Sparkles: Mya Denton WANTS Aaron Harrison.
Greyson: No, she NEEDS Harrison.
Sparkles: For weeks Mya has been intent on getting her revenge against Harrison for attacking her injured knee a number of months ago. And she thought she was finally getting closer to attaining her revenge.
Greyson: But the rug got pulled out from under her feet earlier tonight. As it turns out Harrison wasn’t in that coffin, meaning she won’t be getting him here on Riot, or possibly ever!
Sparkles: And the longer Mya waits to get Harrison one on one, the crazier she becomes.
Greyson: In an interview with Susie Moore earlier tonight it looked like Mya just absolutely SNAPPED.
Frankie: It looks like we’re about to learn just how batty this whole situation has driven her, cause the crazy bitch is in the ring right now with a microphone in hand.
Mya goes on skipping around the ring with her head swinging from one side to the other. Finally she stops dead in her tracks, lifts the mic to her mouth but never once opens her eyes. It almost seems like she’s sleep talking.
Mya: Ya wanna play Rachel? Fine. Let’s play. I looooove games. Parcheesi, crazy eights, hungry-hungry hippos, I’ll school you in anyone of them. But those aren’t the games we’re playing are they? Nah. What we’re playing is hide and seek. You hid Aaron Harrison away from me back at Awakening, and I’ve been seeking and seeking and seeking him out for as long as I can remember. I’ve looked in closets, I’ve looked under beds, I’ve even peeked in a few coffins, but nope, still haven’t found Harrison.
Mya sighs and at last her eyes flutter their way open. Now she just wears that ‘awe shucks’ expression on her face.
Mya: Why do you have to play so unfair Rachel? Do you HAVE to cheat? Cause that’s really not cool, and not something I would expect from a player of your caliber.
Greyson: Mya is clearly referring to Rachel Tatum Lee here, who still has possession of Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: Is she even accepting the fact that Rachel already left the building earlier?
Frankie: In her weird little mind I don’t think that even matters.
Evidently it doesn’t as Mya continues to direct her words to the absent NHB Champion.
Mya: I really don’t know why you refuse to play by the rules Rachel. I mean what did I do that was so bad as to cause you to keep hiding Harrison from me? I know when I went to you and BEGGED you to set him free so I could give him the ass kicking he deserves, I kinda caught you at a bad time. My mistake. I’m sorry. Let’s move past it already. Let’s be friends. And how about we cement our newfound friendship by agreeing to hand Harrison over to me. Agreeing to fork him over so I can give him what he has coming his way, what I’ve been (growls while flashing her teeth) waiiiiittting to give him.
The snarling Mya looks up towards the entry way as if expecting Rachel to honor this request.
Mya: COME ON RACHEL!
At last Mya just completely breaks down. She grabs a patch of her hair, pulling it back away from her face while her knees hit the canvas. Her eyes are perpetually downturned to the ring as she screams her words into the microphone.
Mya: GIVE ME HARRRISON! GIIIIIVEEEE MMMMEEEE HARRRISSSSSOOO…!!!
Before Mya can finish her sentence the lights in the Manhattan Center begin to flicker and fluctuate. Mya’s eyes jump from the ring and towards the rafters above, looking at the sporadically blinking lights. Her breaths quicken, matching the accelerated speed of her heart beats. It takes only a moment before the overhead lights go out entirely, drowning the ring, drowning Mya, drowning everything in pitch blackness. This lack of lighting only lasts for a moment or two until everything, Mya, the ring, the arena, absolutely everything is illuminated….including the coffin that is situated at ringside.
Greyson: How did that get back out here!?!
Sparkles: It’s-it’s-it’s the coffin! The one that-that-that had Harrison inside of it.
Frankie: I thought it was dragged away from the arena by Rachel and William Mason.
Greyson: This is just bone chilling.
Just as Mya’s eyes adjust to the lights they begin to flicker and cut back out entirely. Once again everything and everyone is shrouded in shadows. It takes a second and only a second before the lights come back on, illuminating everyone, Mya, the fans, absolutely everyone….including the man stood on top of the coffin at ringside. A hush comes over the crowd at the sight of Aaron Harrison standing upon the casket. A trench coat hangs over his body while a hood veils his face in darkness.
Sparkles: He’s here, it’s Harrison, he’s HERE!
Frankie: I’m officially creeped the hell out.
Greyson: You’re not the only one, just look at the expression on Mya’s face.
With a dropped jaw Mya glares towards the coffin and the man who uses it as a dais. In a slow, almost chilling manner, Harrison begins to lift his arm until the microphone is revealed in the palm of his hand and it is inches removed from his lips.
Harrison: Mya Denton……
His words sound so grave and foreboding.
Harrison: You get what you want…at Upping the Ante.
This sentence, the first one spoken by Aaron Harrison in over two months are punctuated by a dimming of the lights. They flicker like strobes for only a moment before cutting out entirely. When the lights come back on everything and everyone is illuminated once again, except for the coffin and except for Aaron Harrison. Neither are present at ringside any longer. Mya just goes on kneeling in the ring and looking where the coffin and her enemy USED to be.
The show transitions from this rather frightening imagery in the middle of the ring to a scene equally as scary backstage. A big old smile is plastered across the face of the seven footer Tyson Galloway. The man who makes enhancement talent look good, towers over a stagehand backstage, running off at the mouth. All the while Tyson wears a sleeveless black custom made t-shirt that reads “1-45,” proudly publicizing his win-loss record.
Tyson: I’m telling you man, these things are going to start flying off the shelves.
Proclaims Tyson while pulling on the shirt that clings to the powerhouses body.
Tyson: The whole world is going to get on the Tyson Galloway bandwagon now that I’ve won my first match….
Stagehand: Ummm, didn’t the McBrides pay someone to lay down for you?
Tyson: That’s not important, besides they paid that jabron to lay down for Eric Sailes…Me, I don’t need to pay someone off to get a win over them. Not when I got 72 inch pythons like these babies.
He flexes his pathetic flabby muscle.
Tyson: Listen, the Tyson Galloway brand is taking off faster than the Flash when saving Central City. You need to start spreading the word. Let all the merchandizing guys know that they need to put these on sale right now (points to his shirt) cause it’s guaranteed money in the ban…..
Holt: KAYL!!
Shouts Ricky Holt as he moves right up beside Tyson and nearly bowls him over.
Holt: Where’s Kayl?
Holt stops when spotting the hard to miss giant standing beside him.
Holt: Huh? You seen him hiding somewhere around here?
Tyson: I haven’t seen anything….little guy.
Tyson pats Holt on top of his head like he were a child.
Tyson: Now why don’t you take your temper tantrum elsewhere so adults…no, future WORLD CHAMPIONS like Tyson ‘M’FN’ Galloway can go on talk…..
It appears Tyson won’t even talk again when Holt grabs him by the back of the head and charges his face right into the wall. Tyson bounces from the plaster and hits the concrete, collapsing to the floor. Holt continues to go after him now that he has Tyson floored. A small crate is picked up that had been stacked along the sides of the corridor, now it’s flung directly into Tyson’s upper back. The giant whimpers and tries to crawl away from Holt, who snatches him by the hair and drags him along down the hall.
Holt: Little boy, huh? Well who’s crying like a little bitch right now? Not me!
A desperate Tyson tries to push Holt’s hands away but is having absolutely no luck getting out of his attackers clutches. All he can do is continues suffering a lethal barrage from Holt. At this point Holt is using a trashcan to inflict some pain. Somehow Tyson has gotten to his feet with his back aimed in the direction of the curtains that veil the entry way. Holt swings the can directly into Tyson’s brow, denting the steel around his skull. Galloway falls back and through the curtains that had been swaying behind him.
Cameras follow along right behind Holt as he steps through the curtains and onto the concrete flooring just off to the side of the entrance stage. The crowd comes to life when they see Holt and Tyson spilling from the backstage area and now brawling right in front of them.
Greyson: Look at this guys, Ricky Holt has got Tyson Galloway out here and he is just beating the tar out of him.
Sparkles: Tyson, who is still harboring these delusions of grandeur after winning one match out of the five hundred or so that he’s lost, ran his mouth to Holt backstage and he is paying for it.
Frankie: Holt wanted to find Devon Kayl, but since he can’t get his hands on him, he’ll settle for Tyson instead.
At the moment it’s not Holt’s hands on Tyson but an electrical cable that he wraps around the giant’s throat. Tyson’s eyes are bugging out of his skull as he gasps for air. The cord is used to pull Tyson up to his feet and drag him alongside the entrance ramp, both men nearing the ring at this point. A gasping Galloway tries to get away from Holt but that’s impossible now that he’s been noosed by the cable. Now Holt uses that cord as a collar, tugging it with enough force to whip Tyson along side first straight into the wall that supports the stage.
Tyson bounces off of it and then crumbles back to the floor. He crawls away from Holt and towards the squared circle, pawing at it until he reaches his feet. It’s at this point that the electrical cord that had been used to strangle him is turned into a whip, slapping him viciously across the spine. Tyson screams in pain as the wire rips through his flesh. The black t-shirt he’s wearing provides absolutely no protection against the cord that once again slaps into his meaty backside.
A horrified Tyson rolls into the ring, now striped of his arrogance and about to be stripped of his flesh. Holt enters the ring behind him, still holding the electrical cord that he has employed as a weapon. Before long he’s not just holding the cord but a microphone as well.
Holt: I hope you’re watching this Kayl….
Shouts Holt as he circles Tyson and continues to lash at his spine with the cord turned whip.
Holt: I hope you’re seeing what I’m doing to this big dumb muscle bound idiot!
Another lashing with the cord brings Tyson down to his stomach where he squeals like a pig.
Holt: You know what? Bring me a referee out here! I’m feeling in the mood to use this dumb-shit to send you a message Kayl.
The cord continues to rip not only the shirt off Tyson’s back but the skin as well.
Greyson: Holt requesting a referee get out here
Sparkles: Man, this has just gotten worse and worse and worse for Galloway.
Frankie: He caught a break a couple weeks ago and now the universe is just dumping a load on him. And worse yet, it’s a load of diarrhea.
A referee does show up at Holt’s request but not to facilitate a match between he and Galloway. Instead the referee is trying his best to talk Holt down but is not successful. Instead he only gets the threat of a lashing from the very electrical cord that has bludgeoned Tyson repeatedly.
Holt: You ring the bell right now you little bastard!
The referee out of fear for his life, calls for the bell to make this beating an official sanctioned match.
RICKY HOLT VS. TYSON GALLOWAY
The moment the bell rings Holt jumps over Tyson’s back and puts the cord under his throat. He pulls back on the cable and begins to strangle Tyson, who flails his arms in a feeble attempt to get free.
Greyson: It looks like we’ve actually got a match.
Frankie: Only you Lovejoy, would be stupid enough to think that what we’re seeing right now is a match.
Sparkles: This is just torture.
Frankie: I think slow-bled pigs get more humane treatment than what Tyson is getting right now.
The referee tries to enforce some semblance of rules in this impromptu match, starting a five count and nearing four before the cable is taken from Tyson’s throat. Holt drops the cable, flinging it from the ring before taking hold of his opponent’s shirt. He drags Tyson up to his feet and then rushes the big man across the ring before ultimately slamming his face against the top turnbuckle pad. Tyson spins around, leaning his back against the corner, which is the only thing holding him up as one boot after another collides with his ribs.
A worked up Holt grabs the shirt that hangs over Tyson’s body, the one he was so proudly displaying for the stagehand backstage a few moments ago, and tears the garment right down the center. Tyson’s chest is exposed to a skin ripping open hand palm strike. But the blow surprisingly doesn’t phase Tyson, actually he seems to be getting fired up. Tyson’s eyes are widening, his lips are trembling, his skin is reddening. The moment he looks down and sees that the shirt that was praising his win/loss record has been torn to shreds Tyson goes postal.
With wide and crazed eyes Tyson lunges out, grabs Holt by the back of the head and flings him into the corner. The two trade places with Tyson’s fist now ending up under Holt’s jaw, one punch after another colliding with the face of the General.
Greyson: LOOK AT THIS!
Sparkles: Tyson! Tyson! Tyson! He’s gone nuclear!
Frankie: I think this is the first time he’s got in any offense since George Bush Senior raised taxes.
Tyson keeps punching away at an absolutely stunned Holt’s face, almost blackening the young man’s eyes with his blows. Finally Tyson takes off into the far ropes, ricochets from then and comes back in at Holt with his leg extended for a big boot. Holt staggers out of the corner and walks unknowingly straight into the size 17 boot that knocks him almost out of his own boots.
The crowd is surprisingly screaming Tyson’s name. Everyone getting behind him as he stands over Holt and lets out with the type of roar that would make the MGM spokes lion envious.
Greyson: Tyson sooooo fired up!
Sparkles: Sparkles has NEVER seen him like this before.
Greyson: Could it be? Could it be that Galloway is about to earn another win and go TWO in 47!?!
The trembling Tyson opens his palm and slaps it right down onto Holt’s throat. He then lifts Holt up from the ground and prepares to chokeslam him straight back into the canvas.
Greyson: He’s gonna do it, Tyson is actually gonna do it!
Frankie: This is unbelievable.
Tyson squeezes Holt’s throat so hard that his opponent’s larynx almost explodes. Finally the primal Tyson hoists Holt into the air for the chokeslam, ready to do the unthinkable. And it’s the unthinkable we witness, because Holt’s knee collides right under Tyson’s chin, countering the chokeslam. Holt drops back to his feet right in front of Galloway and then drives a boot directly into the ribs of his disorientated opponent. Before Tyson realizes what’s happening his enormous body is being flipped over into the New Dawn Fades.
Sparkles: NEW DAWN FADES!
Greyson: I didn’t think Holt could hit that on a near seven footer, but damn did he ever get all of it!
Frankie: Tyson is broken! He’s fucking BROKEN!
A SHATTERED Tyson flops to his back with his eyes locked closed and every muscle in his body going absolutely flaccid. Although Holt could pin his opponent he instead goes to further demonstrate his dominance. He steps over Tyson, steps up the nearest turnbuckle and then looks towards the camera that is aimed up into his face filming from ringside.
Holt: GET A GOOD LOOK, KAYL!
Holt goes corkscrewing through the air and crashing into an already half past dead Tyson. The Bigmouth Strikes Again knocks what little Tyson had left right out of his body. Holt then forcefully hooks Tyson’s leg while pushing down on his throat.
1
2
When the referee’s hand slaps the canvas a third time Holt instantly throws down Tyson’s leg.
Greyson: What a dominant display from Ricky Holt here tonight.
Frankie: He absolutely DECIMATED Tyson Galloway.
Sparkles: That seven footer was just beaten down like he was a midget.
Greyson: And Holt is still not done with him.
Holt drags Tyson up to his feet, runs him at the ropes and throws him over the cables. Now all that’s left of Tyson in the ring is the t-shirt he wore into this impromptu battle. Holt picks it up, uses it as a snot rag and then turns it into taint floss. Yes, the shirt that Tyson was so proud of is being used to floss the area of Holt’s body where the sun has never shined. The referee steps in and tries to admonish Holt for his actions only to find the sullied t-shirt stuffed right into his mouth.
Frankie: OH GOD THAT’S GROSS!
The referee’s feet dance around as he tries to push the t-shirt out of his mouth. At last Holt throws the official down and steps past him towards the microphone in the corner of the ring, snatching it up.
Holt: This isn’t over Kayl! THIS-ISN’T-OVER!
The microphone is flung down to Holt’s feet and a burst of static can be heard through the speakers as a result. The still unhinged Holt rolls from the squared circle and goes stomping up the ramp, leaving a path of utter destruction in his wake.
Greyson: Holt just absolutely flipping out here tonight.
Sparkles: Sparkles is glad I didn’t get in his path.
Frankie: Anyone who does is going to end up like Tyson Galloway.
Greyson: I sincerely hope Tyson learns to keep his mouth shut next time.
Sparkles: What’s gonna happen when Holt finally DOES get his hands on Devon Kayl, the man he was originally after?
Greyson: I’m afraid to find out at this point.
The show cuts to the hallway just outside of Principle Owner Silas Mason’s office. Presently standing there are correspondent Mark Comeau and his guest, the sawed off assistant to the head honcho, Desmond Drake. The dapper Drake snorts and rubs at his nostrils with one hand while holding a black burlap sack in the other. The only thing Comeau is holding is a microphone that he’ll use to catch all of Drake’s comments.
Comeau: Mark Comeau standing by here with the assistant to Silas Mason, Desmond Drake.
Desmond snorts again and rubs even harder at his nostrils before looking up at Comeau with blood-shot eyes.
Comeau: Desmond, you requested this time to address what just happened in the ring regarding Ricky Holt’s attack on Tyson Galloway…..
Desmond: Yeah-yeah-yeah, I did-I did-I did…..let’s just get to it, your killing time man, and my time is money baby.
The red puffy eyes of Drake turn to the camera.
Desmond: Listen Ricky, you’re pissed, we get it. You want to take out Devon Kayl, well I’m cool with it, Silas is cool with it, everyone’s cool with it. You’ll get a chance at Upping the Ante, cause at the big pay-per-view, we’re gonna have you and Kayl in the same ring at the same time. But Ricky-Baby, it’s not gonna be just any straight up match. Nuh-uh daddio. It’s gonna be BUNKHOUSE BRAWL! No disqualifications, falls count anywhere, ain’t no stopping it until one of you can’t stand no more.
Comeau: Alllllright. So Kayl versus Holt, one on one at Upping the Ante?
Desmond: (Snorts) Yup.
Comeau: That’s going to be a pretty competit….uhhhh Drake, I gotta ask, what’s in the sack?
A gesture is made to the black bag hung from Desmond’s palm. It takes a moment for the pint sized kiss ass to realize what’s being referenced before looking down into his hand and spotting the sack he’s been holding this whole time. He actually jumps back from it, acting like he’s alarmed.
Desmond: OH YEAH! Oh shit. Almost forgot. Silas has entrusted me to make a HUGE announcement tonight regarding what’s inside of this!
Drake proudly proclaims while lifting the sack aloft.
Desmond: I tell you right now, this announcement, it’s gonna blow your mind! YAAAAAHHHH!!!
Flash: That announcement had better be Flash Silver versus Julia Braddock!
Drake and Comeau simultaneously sigh when Flash Silver comes waltzing right towards them and forcefully steps between both men.
Flash: The fans want to see it, it’s all over social media, trending worldwide, Flash Silver versus Julia Braddock, the REMATCH OF THE CENTURY! Make it happen.
Desmond: Didn’t you get your ass kicked by Julia like four weeks ago?
Flash: No…I uhhh…slipped on a banana peel and Julia took advantage of it. That won’t happen tonight though
Desmond: Listen daddio, I’d like to help you out but Julia is in a match tonight. And it’s a match that involves what’s in this sack here. (Holds up the bag)
Flash: Then add me to it. Put me in there with Julia, with Selena, and with Victoria. I’ll wipe the floor with those cunts.
Desmond: Sorry, this match is just for the chicks, Flash.
Flash: That’s discrimination!
Desmond: You got a problem with it, you’re free to take it up with Silas. But there’s a reason only the ladies are allowed to compete in this triple threat tonight, and I’ll reveal why when everyone finds out what’s in this big.
It’s been a long and unbearable night for Blaire McBride to say the least. All the accusations she’s endured from her sister Karen seem to have finally caught up with her. She sits there in a chair within the confines of the locker-room rubbing at her temples harboring the delusion that the massage will stave off a migraine. Suddenly something flops down right into Blaire’s lap, a gift she was not expecting to receive nor is she receptive to. She looks down and spots a striped jersey…a referee jersey. Her eyes slowly look up into the face of the man who runs the show, Silas Mason.
Blaire: What do you expect me to do with this?
Silas: I don’t expect nothin’, cause when I tell ya to do sumthin, ya do it. And what I’m tellin’ ya to do righ’ now, is to put on that shirt. Cause yer gonna be the special guest referee for my match against yer sister comin’ up ‘ere tonight.
A smile sweeps across Blaire’s face. She finds it almost too good to be true, that Silas, perhaps her biggest enemy would be asking her to be the special referee in HIS match. Okay, knowing Silas, it IS to good to be true.
Blaire: You do realize that we’re going to be opponents in a few weeks right?
Silas: Like I could forget. Now put it on!
The Principle Owner demands. Blaire throws the jersey right back in his face.
Blaire: I’m not playing your games….
Silas: That’s cute (taking shirt away from his face). Real cute. But ya ain’t got no choice in the matter.
Blaire: Sure I do.
Silas: I want ya to take a look at sumthin.
Requests Silas as he removes a phone from his pocket and pulls up Skype. The screen on his phone is turned so that Blaire can see it.
Silas: I sent my muscle on a lil’ scavenger hunt tonight. Told ‘em to find me a McBride….
The phone displays a live stream of Silas’ hired enforcers Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams stood just outside of a door marked ‘Melanie McBride.’ Upon realizing that Team Excellence is outside of her younger sister’s dressing room, Blaire pulls back and reels around towards Silas, grabbing the collar of his shirt.
Blaire: If they lay a finger on Melanie I’ll….
Silas: Git yer hands off me right this second, or I swear by the time Randal and Marcus are done with Melanie, it’ll take dental records to identify what’s left of ‘er.
Blaire will take her hands off Silas’ shirt if it means she can wrap them instead around his throat.
Silas: Yer gonna be the referee for my match tonight, and yer gonna make sure the right person wins. Or else my boys are gonna do sumthin real bad to yer baby sister.
Police sirens echo throughout the parking garage within the Manhattan Center. Two officers mounted on motorcycles come pulling into view and behind them are a long line of black vehicles. They just keep coming and coming, one after another after another.
Greyson: It looks like that procession cameras have been tracking throughout the night has finally arrived here in the Manhattan Center. God only knows what this is all about.
Frankie: isn’t it obvious? This is a parade, a parade for the great Frankie Paradise. The masses have gathered to honor me in grand form.
Sparkles: Sparkles worships you too. I have a shrine and everything.
Frankie: Both flattering and frightening.
Greyson: Well we’re going to find out what this is all about soon enough. Hopefully we’ll get answers coming after this commercial break.
The feed transitions to backstage correspondent Susie Moore located directly outside of a dressing room reserved for IWC competitor Scott Cannon. A microphone is griped in the hand of the excited Susie, who sways from one side to the other as she anxiously anticipates this HUGE interview.
Greyson: Well guys we’ve been tracking this tale throughout the night. World Champion Katelyn Buehler has demanded that Upping the Ante comes early. She wants her rival Scott Cannon one on one tonight. But will Scott accept her challenge to eschew the upcoming pay-per-view main event and have their match instead right here on Riot?
Sparkles: Our colleague Susie Moore is standing outside of Scott Cannon’s dressing room and will hopefully get his answer.
Frankie: Man, I can’t wait to hear Cannon accept, that way we’re sure to see Katelyn and Scott kill each other in this ring for my viewing pleasure.
Greyson: Is Scott going to accept Katelyn’s challenge as this chaotic edition of Riot rolls along?
EARLIER TONIGHT
A video package begins featuring the clash between Mika Kozlov and Samantha Raine, as the two vie for a spot in the Semi-Finals of the World Title Number One Contender Tournament. The commentators can be heard recapping what’s being shown.
Sparkles: Well guys throughout the evening we’ve been witnessing matches in the Quarter Finals of the World Title #1 Contender Tournament as the elite eight narrows down to the final four.
Greyson: A few moments ago we saw Samantha Raine and Mika Kozlov battling it out with the winner advancing to our next pay-per-view, the 2 night event, Upping the Ante, where both the semi-finals and the finals in this tournament will be contested.
Frankie: It actually looked like Raine might have had some offense flowing before she made one mistake too many.
Raine is shown knocking Kozlov to the outside of the ring before going to deliver a big diving headbutt. She flies through the ropes and ultimately collides with Mika’s arms. The ever quick Kozlov catches Raine around the neck and hits her with the Killing Joke into the ringside mats.
Greyson: Raine’s suicide diving headbutt was not just thwarted by Mika but reversed into a deadly Killing Joke against those ringside mats, which moved Kozlov into the semi-finals.
Sparkles: As we understand it Mika will go one on one with the winner of the Quarter Final Round match we witnessed two weeks ago, Andre Jordan.
EARLIER TONIGHT
The recaps keep coming, this time concentrating on the clash between Rachel Tatum Lee and Marina Valdivia, yet another Quarter Final round bout in the tournament.
Greyson: Tonight we also saw Rachel Tatum lee and Marina Valdivia going at it to determine another entrant in the Final Four.
Sparkles: It was a grueling bout between the two that ended in shockingly unpredictable fashion.
The viewers relive the images of both Ethan Von Aaron and Alana Starr interfering in the match and attacking Rachel, causing her to spill to ringside where she’s counted out.
Frankie: After the interferences of Rachel’s rivals Ethan and Alana, Rachel had nothing left in the tank to get back in the ring to beat the official’s ten count.
Greyson: Meaning that Marina will now compete in the Semi-Finals as well and she’ll compete against the winner of the first Quarter Final we saw tonight.
EARLIER TONIGHT
The video goes back to the opening bout contested tonight on Riot and showcases Serenity and Lexy Chapel fighting it out. Although it looks as if Serenity has the advantage and is on her way to moving on in the tournament her plans go tragically awry. A well placed video on the Cartel-tron distracts her long enough to suffer Lexy’s version of package piledriver, the Explicit Content proving just enough to win the bout for Chapel.
Frankie: The reason I walk with books in front of my penis to hide my erections, Lexy Chapel. She picked up ANOTHER huge victory as she fast tracks her way to super stardom.
Greyson: We saw quite the celebration post-match as she and her suspended tag team partner Kat Kelly hammed it up.
Post match the viewers witness Lexy and Kat enjoying the spoils of victory at ringside by dancing around rather merrily.
Greyson: So now it’s all set in stone gents.
A bracket appears on the screen that shows the roads that all four participants in the final four at Upping the Ante have traversed to get this close to the Number One Contendership to the World Title.
Sparkles: Andre Jordan versus Mika Kozlov, and Marina Valdivia vs. Lexy Chapel to go down at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: The winners of those two matches will then face off to decide who will become the Number One Contender to the World Championship.
Finally at long last we get another dose of Wicked Intent. Admit it, you missed them. Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel, co-holders of the Tag Team Titles are stood in a hall with their sides to a closed door and manila envelopes in hand.
Lexy: I really-really wish we could PROPERLY celebrate my big win earlier tonight. But how can I be expected to party when I know my partner is all sadder than a coughed up hairball?
Bemoans Lexy.
Kat: I knoooow, and I don’t mean to bring you down from your high, but man, I’m still MAD.
Kat says before she swings the side of her fist into the door to her right.
Kat: How could the IWC suspend me…ME, one half of their most marketable duo, their pin-up girl, every internet fan boy’s wet dream?
Lexy: It’s the IWC dear. They still let the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man walk around with MY World Title.
Kat: So what if I proposed a ‘controversial’ segment and then superkicked some lardo in his triple chin? That’s no provocation to suspend me.
Lexy: They’re out to persecute us Kat. I mean, there’s no other explanation. Here we are being model employees and yet these fuckers keep dumping on us.
Kat: This bullshit needs to come to an end, and these papers (holds up the manila folder referenced earlier) will finally set the IWC straight.
Lexy: Time to make a special delivery to the legal department.
The folder in Lexy’s hand is shaken out to her side.
Lexy: And if that doesn’t work then we’ll take this all the way to CITY HALL!
Kat: City hall? Erm, you do realize this is 2015 right?
Lexy: Don’t spoil my moment!
The folder Lexy was waving around like a baton is now rolled up and used to swat Kat on the tip of her nose.
Lexy: Now let’s see justice prevail!
Kat: Hold up. Let me get Alistair off the pot, he’ll want to be part of this.
The focus of the Tag Champions goes to the door beside them, Lexy’s fist ramming against it
Lexy: ALISTAIR! Pinch it off and let’s go!
The door opens slightly and the face of Wicked Intent’s closest Monarchy chum, Alistair Taylor, peeks out into the hallway.
Alistair: Fraid I’m not going to be able to make it out there with you birds.
Reveals Alistair who then feigns getting sick.
Kat: Oh no. Not again.
Alistair: Afraid I haven’t recovered fully from that ‘stomach bug’ I caught two weeks ago.
Kat: You looked fine earlier on.
Alistair: It just hit me….out of the blue.
Kat: Alright-alright, when you start feeling better come and find us.
Alistair: Will do.
Wicked Intent head along down the corridor as Alistair watches them leave. He makes the mistake of allowing his hands to be filmed, revealing that he’s wearing a pair of surgical gloves that are stained red. He returns to the room he had been hiding inside of, but not before leaving a smear of blood along the front of the door that he pushes shut.
The feed transitions to the catering area where Andre Jordan was just in the midst of grabbing an ice-cold bottle of refreshing H20. Before he can get a sip into his parched throat, a loud scream booms through the hallway, belonging to a very familiar voice, that of his agent Tabitha Silverstone.
Tabitha: AAAANDREEE! ANNNNDDREEE!
Dre fumbles the water bottle until it hits the floor that he is scrambling across. He reaches the end of the corridor and then moves around the corner where he finds his agent splayed across the ground holding a palm to her head. The sunglasses we saw her wearing earlier are the only part of her that looks undisturbed. Her hair, her clothes, everything about her is in disarray. An alarmed, which is putting it mildly, Dre stoops down towards Tabitha, his hand moving to her shoulder.
Andre: What the hell happened?
Tabitha: Mor-Mor-Mordecai, he-he-he….
Andre: That son of a bitch did what!?!
Tabitha: He attacked me, and he…he….he….
Andre: Breathe Tabitha, breathe.
Tabitha: He said he’s coming after you next.
Andre pulls his hand from Tabitha’s shoulder and places it on his own knee, looking off into space and growling his words.
Andre: HE’S coming for ME? Wrong. Cause it’s the other way around.
An characteristically intense Dre stands up and finds it hard to even look back in Tabitha’s direction, her condition only further twisting the knots in his stomach. Just then a stagehand comes racing into view, a young woman with a horrified expression.
Stagehand: Oh my, Mrs. Silverstone, are you okay?
Andre: Can you get her back to her dressing room? I’ve got something to take care of.
Dre takes off in a huff, leaving Tabitha sitting there against the wall no longer groaning but grinning.
Tabitha: That’s just the side of you I wanted to see.
She giggles as the sunglasses over her eyes fall down onto the tip of her nose, revealing the jet black eyes that were hidden behind the lenses.
Car horns begin to blare throughout the arena with cameras jumping back to the interior of the arena just in time to bring several black vehicles into view. A police escort leads a number of cars from the back and to the pavement off to the side of the stage employed by the roster for their entrances. The commentators have so much to cover they almost have no idea where to even begin.
Greyson: That procession is now pulling right out here in front of us guys.
Frankie: My parade is coming to me I guess.
Sparkles: Sparkles hates to disagree with you, Frankie, cause Sparkles adores you as much as a grilled cheese sandwich, buuuut, I think this HAS to be a funeral procession of some sorts.
Greyson: That definitely seems to be the case, but why would a funeral procession be right inside of the Manhattan Center?
The answer to that question is provided when a chauffer bedecked all in black, emerges from the driver’s side door of the first vehicle that cruised to a stop beneath the stage. He hustles along to the back door and pops it open so that Mordecai can step out.
Greyson: Ooooh shit!
Sparkles: It’s the monster! It’s the beast! It’s the leviathan! It’s MORDECAI!
Greyson: We haven’t seen him all night long and this would explain why.
Mordecai is a sight to be feared in and of himself, but to make his visage even more unsettling, his typical wrestling attire has been removed in favor of wearing a gray suit and black dress shirt. Yes, you heard correctly, Mordecai is in a three piece suit, tie included. Black sunglasses sit over his eyes, completing the look of a man attending a funeral. He extends his hand into the backseat of the car he just exited and before long slender fingers find their way into Mordecai’s palm. He guides his sister Mrs. R from the car, revealing that she is sporting a black dress with a veil over her face of the same color. The pair walk in hand towards the ring, while following behind them are several random individuals in black attire. They emerge from the other cars that were in the funeral procession that Mordecai was apparently leading. Loaded in the hands of these followers are wreaths of gray roses.
Greyson: Someone please…PLEASE try to put this into some type of perspective for me.
Sparkles: Sparkles wishes I had any idea what was going on here.
Frankie: From where I’m sitting it looks like Mrs. R is just oh so boneable in that black dress.
Greyson: How is that statement even slightly constructive?
Frankie: Was it supposed to be?
Greyson: It looks like Mordecai and his sister are here for some type of…..funeral.
Mordecai enters the ring before parting the ropes for Mrs. R, his eyes watching her step to the middle of the ring and his ears listening to the soulless syllables that surge from her mouth. The black wreaths that were carried to the ring by those in Mordecai’s entourage have been placed over the ropes, setting the mood.
Mrs. R: When something is consecrated to the earth often times it remains buried. But there are those few occasions where the buried refuse to accept their tomb, meaning that they walk amongst us. Yes, the dead walk amongst us.
The crowd has no idea what to make of these words that filter out from beneath the black veil that shrouds Mrs. R’s face.
Mrs. R: Such is the unfortunate case of Johnny Kingdom. A man who for years entertained the world with his uproarious antics, with his athletic performances, and his sheer showmanship. Men like Kingdom come once in a lifetime. Which is why we are understanding and sympathetic to those who refuse to let Kingdom go….to accept that he is….DEAD.
Greyson: Say what now?
Mrs. R: Even Johnny Kingdom himself will not believe it, he will not accept that his ethereal soul abandoned his body years ago, and that what walks this physical plane is a hollowed husk. The Kingdom you see compete today is nothing more than a corpse. And he stinks of rot.
The microphone passes to Mordecai, who steps to the center of the ring looking emotionally void.
Mordecai: It’s true what I said two weeks ago. The man who I dragged beneath this ring back at Awakening, the very same one who assaulted my sister and I with a shovel on the last Riot, is NOT Johnny Kingdom. For the Kingdom you knew, you adored, you worshipped, and you honored as a king, is dead, deceased and has fallen from his throne. Everything he was is no more. He is a rotting carcass, and each and every one of you (eludes to the audience) are flies buzzing around decay. So tonight we come before you offering a catharsis, the chance to pay your final respects to Johnny Kingdom.
Mrs. R: This is the wake before the funeral.
Mordecai: Because in two weeks, at Upping the Ante, I will put the body of the Fallen King six feet beneath the earth. If Johnny Kingdom’s ravenous corpse craves revenge for what I have done to him then he will come to the pay-per-view and he will battle me in a BURIED ALIVE MATCH.
Greyson: A buried alive match? You got to be kidding me.
Mordecai: Kingdom has already dug his own grave and now all I have to do is pile the dirt onto his head.
Mrs. R: Offer your farewells to Mr. Kingdom, and join us now in a moment of silence for your Team Leader.
Mordecai and Mrs. R respectfully lower their heads and close their eyes, paying homage to a man who is anything but deceased.
Greyson: This is classless.
Frankie: Shhhh! Have you no respect, Lovejoy.
Sparkles: Honor this moment of silence you fiend!
Greyson: Johnny Kingdom isn’t dead, and I pray that he answers Mordecai’s challenge so that he can prove it at….
Andre: A moment of silence?
The crowd couldn’t be any happier if it were Carmen Electra circa 1999 coming to the stage in a leopard printed bikini. Andre Jordan enlivens the audience with his presence, the multi time champion strolling along to the stage with mic in hand and anger in his eyes.
Greyson: Andre Jordan bringing an end to this farce!
Frankie: Does no one have respect around here?
Sparkles: R….E…S..P-E-C-T! Find out what it means to me.
Greyson: Stop singing for the love of God stop singing. Andre apparently not waiting to get physical with Mordecai, these two are scheduled to battle it out in one on one action here tonight.
Mordecai has removed the sunglasses that were covering his eyes and squeezes them until the glass lens crack in the palm of his hand. An equally as intense Andre draws nearer and nearer to the squared circle, undaunted by the presence of the beast inside.
Andre: You want us all to observe a moment of silence for Johnny Kingdom? You know, I’ve had a couple of conversations with Kingdom, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from those discussions, it’s that Kingdom isn’t the silent type. He’s a loud mouth who constantly speaks his mind. So I think in order to pay him proper respect, I’m not going to honor some ridiculous moment of silence, no-no-no, I’m going to say exactly what’s on my mind. And you want to know what I’m thinking right now, Mordecai?
The mic is thrown aside and Andre hustles along straight for the squared circle. Mordecai barely even has time to remove his suit jacket and toss it aside before Dre slides into the ring in front of him.
Greyson: We’re getting this match right now guys. Mordecai versus Andre Jordan is happening!
Frankie: Beat his disrespectful ass Mordecai!
Sparkles: What Andre did tonight was the equivalent of dancing on someone’s grave. Sparkles has only done that once, but in my own defense, it was the grave of Lindsey Lohan.
Greyson: Lindsey Lohan isn’t dead.
Sparkles: Oh. Then who’s grave did Sparkles dance on?
MORDECAI VS. ANDRE JORDAN
After sliding straight into the ring and directly into battle, Andre gets to his knees then flings his fists into either side of his target’s mid-section. It takes one powerful forearm from Mordecai to shut Andre down. The blow across his back has knocked Dre flat on his stomach where he’s now stomped repeatedly to the skull. Meanwhile Mrs. R is leaving the ring, just as official Michelle Blacker is entering it. The bell sounds to start this fight that was scheduled for later in the evening but is getting underway right now. The monster crouches to grab Andre under the arm, scooping him up from the ground and then throwing him along into the turnbuckle. Andre hits the corner and goes limp, his whole body briefly paralyzed like a deer caught in the crosshairs of a car. It’s not a vehicle that comes speeding towards Dre, if only he were that lucky, instead it’s Mordecai who barrels towards his adversary.
Lucky for Dre, he possesses the reflexes to avoid devastation. His boots launch into the air and connect with Mordecai’s chest….or at least that was the plan. Mordecai CATCHES the boots before they land against his sternum. He then snarls and shoves the feet away from his sternum, causing Dre’s body to go swinging around and his legs to end up traveling right through the top and middle rope. Dre sits on the middle cable with his back to Mordecai. The murderous behemoth grabs Dre by the shoulders and pulls down on them, unknowingly causing Dre’s shins to go catapulting up and over the ropes, cracking Mordecai right between the eyes.
Sparkles: I’m still reeling from the fact that we’re seeing this match go down right now.
Frankie: When does a match EVER start when it’s supposed to around here?
Sparkles: It’s all part of that wonderful atmosphere of chaos that the Riot brand fosters.
The shins that just slammed into Mordecai’s face have sent him back peddling to the middle of the ring. He shakes off the blow and then looks at Andre climbing from the apron to the turnbuckle, ascending all the way to the top rope. Mordecai comes dashing towards him to knock him off his perch, but Dre leap frogs over his opponent and lands behind him. Andre tucks into a forward roll and eventually reaches the far corner, springing directly into it. He leaps from that turnbuckle, spins in mid-air and hurdles towards Mordecai, hitting a crossbody block that takes his giant foe down to the canvas. Dre immediately rolls to his knees after the body block and begins to rifle off with jabs across Mordecai’s brow.
Frankie: What’s gotten into Andre?
Greyson: I’m thinking that Tabitha Silverstone, Andre’s agent who is conspicuously absent from his side at the moment, has managed to get him to tap into his aggression.
Sparkles: It’s working, because Sparkles has never seen Andre exuding so much passion.
Watching from ringside we see Mrs. R, who actually seems to enjoy this violence, even as it is inflicted on her own brother. Referee Blacker starts a five count that at last warrants Andre to stop unleashing punches and instead approach the corner. He is intent on delivering the move from the top rope that he was originally setting up for moments ago. He gets all the way up high on the corner before leaping out of it and delivering the frog splash elbow directly into Mordecai’s heart.
Greyson: That’s what Andre was looking for earlier.
Sparkles: And now he finally got all of it on Mordecai.
Instead of going for the pin Andre seeks to inflict more punishment on the creature. He grabs handfuls of Mordecai’s hair and tugs until he is on his knees. Andre then takes off backwards into the ropes, going for a running start behind a superkick on his knelt opponent. He runs into Mordecai only to be caught by his opponent’s enormous palms. Mordecai stands up and then throws Andre so high into the air that his head almost hits the scaffolding. What goes up comes down and does so viciously. He plummets face first into the ring then pops up from it, looking rattled like a can of spray paint in a tagger’s hand. Mordecai bounces off the ropes and builds momentum behind a boot that cracks his adversary straight in the face.
Frankie: Now this match is starting to resemble the last encounter between these two.
Greyson: It was six weeks ago that Mordecai and Andre fought in the Opening Round of the Number One Contender Tournament. That match ended when Mordecai got himself intentionally disqualified by just beating the hell out of Andre.
Sparkles: Looks like we’re getting a repeat. Sparkles hates repeats almost as much as I hate clip shows.
Andre doesn’t stay down on the ring for long, he’s pulled straight back to his feet and then directly into the short arm clothesline. Mordecai drops Andre but still holds onto his wrist. He gives it another forceful yank, dragging his adversary up to his feet before launching him along into the turnbuckle. Andre’s back hits the corner and then Mordecai’s arm hits his throat. The clothesline slams into Andre’s windpipe, debilitating his legs and causing them to buckle. However, Mordecai doesn’t let him go down, instead he grabs the tag rope hung from the corner and then wraps it around Andre’s throat. A gasping Andre claws at the rope and tries to desperately force it back from his neck.
Greyson: It looks like Mordecai is going to get himself disqualified again.
Sparkles: That might be a blessing in disguise for Andre.
Instead of getting DQed, Mordecai lets the rope go and takes Andre into his arms. He lifts Dre up onto his shoulder, then throws him into the Snake Eyes. Andre’s face crashes into the corner and his body goes limping back into his opposition’s arms. Mordecai wedges a shoulder to Andre’s back, lifts him up into a suplex predicament but that is not the move he’s looking for. Instead Mordecai runs across the ring and throws Andre over the top rope, sending him plummeting to the outside of the ring. Although Andre tries to break his fall by putting down his feet, he fails, his legs letting out and causing him to crash hard across the ground.
Sparkles: Mordecai just THROWING Andre out of the ring.
Frankie: Yeah, and in the process of trying to brace himself Dre might have broken both of his ankles.
Andre wills himself up from the ringside mats while grabbing at the apron. Although the crowd tries to clue him in Andre has no idea that Mordecai is stood behind him. The beast spins Dre around and then scoops him onto a broad shoulder, looking for another Snake Eyes, this time into the exposed steel turnbuckle post. Mordecai starts to take off towards the post only to have Dre prevent a potentially concussive blow. He slips back off of Mordecai’s shoulder, lands behind him and puts his hands to his opponent’s back, shoving him along towards the very post that Dre’s head was supposed to smash against. Somehow Mordecai manages to prevent an impact with the steel, reaching out and grabbing it with both hands, pushing himself back from it. He then turns around just as Dre runs the length of the apron and dives off into what appears to be a hurricarana. Andre lands on Mordecai’s shoulders but never has the opportunity to fall back into the flip over. Much to Dre’s dismay he finds himself caught in position for a powerbomb. Mordecai then spins around and throws Andre over the ring mats spine first into the turnbuckle post.
Greyson: Ooooh GAHD. I’ve seen buckle bombs before, but never one into the exposed post.
Sparkles: Andre avoided colliding with it once, but wasn’t so lucky the second go around.
Andre arches his back and roars in agony as he falls to his knees across the mats. The pain is indescribable and Mordecai only exacerbates it. He pulls Andre up from the ground, holds him in a bearhug position and then plows his adversary along spine first into the steel post a second time! Andre is then thrown by the back of the head into the ring where he yearns to convalesce. There is no rest provided him whatsoever. Because Andre is immediately pulled up to his seat and finds a knee embedded into the small of his spine. Mordecai pulls back on the jaw, applying a rear chin lock with the knee to the spine for added suffrage.
Dre is almost growling as he begins to fight out of this predicament and inch his way up from the canvas. To the glee of the audience Dre is already back on his feet and trying to twist his way out of this hold. It takes all his strength but Dre manages to spin around towards Mordecai only to have the creases of his legs caught. Mordecai tears the legs out from under Dre’s body then uses them to catapult his opponent not only into the ropes but right over them. Once again Andre goes flipping into the ringside mats and the landing is every bit as brutal as you would expect.
Frankie: Much like that match we witnessed earlier with Miss KFC….I mean, Miss Jon versus Stay Puffed…Oh I mean, Katelyn, we’re seeing a bigger wrestler just impose their will all over their smaller foe.
The dominance and decimation continues as Mordecai slowly methodically exits the ring. He stalks Dre, forcing his adversary to exert all his strength to get back on his feet. Andre stands up and then finds himself loaded onto Mordecai’s hands, the monster about to gorilla press him right down onto the barricade. However, the weight of Andre causes Mordecai to stagger back slightly, allowing his adversary to slip off of his palms and come down feet first on the ring apron. Mordecai turns around just as Andre leaps from the apron, catches him around the neck and swings him into the tornado DDT. A surprised Mordecai finds his head colliding with the ground to devastating consequences.
Greyson: Andre is doing everything in his power to stay in this match.
Sparkles: He’s got to keep using that speed if he wants to have any semblance of a chance of winning this match.
With Mordecai down the aggravated Andre goes sliding into the squared circle, breaking up the referee’s ten count. It doesn’t take long for Mordecai to begin to follow his opponent, climbing up onto the apron and preparing to enter the squared circle. But Andre won’t let the monster regroup. The quick Andre dashes across the ring and baseball slides under the ropes and through Mordecai’s legs. Andre’s feet hit the ground while his arms reach up and latch onto Mordecai’s hips, trying to powerbomb the beast back down to the ringside mats. Mordecai holds tight to the top rope though, refusing to be pulled down into the powerbomb. The only thing that goes down is Mordecai’s palm, as he reaches through his legs to grab hold of Andre’s throat. A gasping and stunned Andre is lifted via a goozle from ringside and to the apron. Mordecai shows incredible strength by using just one hand to lift all of Andre’s body weight into the air and into position for the chokeslam. Mordecai is just about to chokeslam his opponent from the apron and into the ringside mats before a knee hits him in the ribs. The blow doubles Mordecai over and leaves his head susceptible to Dre’s DDT. Yet again Mordecai’s head suffers a fatal impact, this time with the hardened ring apron.
Greyson: Another DDT! This one straight into the steel apron.
A disorientated Mordecai rolls back into the ring where his eyes sporadically blink in an attempt to stave off unconsciousness. He finds it much harder to remain cogent when his opponent has just delivered a brutally stiff superkick directly into his temple. The shot has Mordecai spiraling around before coming down onto his knees. He looks up in time to be hit with a SECOND superkick, this time right into the jaw.
Sparkles: Two superkicks unleashed by Andre!
Greyson: Even still it hasn’t been enough to fell Mordecai.
A smile is ever present on Mrs. R’s face, even while watching the superkicks collide with Mordecai’s mouth. Andre has shut Mordecai up, but he has yet to shut him down. So Dre does what he does best, put his body at risk to debilitate his opponent. He climbs the corner to the top rope and to tremendous fanfare leaps the length of the ring as he comes down into the frog splash elbow. Upon landing Andre realizes that although his elbow may have connected, so too has Mordecai’s hand. It’s latched directly to Andre’s throat.
Greyson: WOW!
Andre’s eyes widen as he’s caught in the goozle, forced up to his feet and then thrown up into the chokeslam. Mordecai drives Andre almost through the ring before pinning him.
Sparkles: This has got to be it.
1
2
To a rousing ovation from Andre’s collective fan-base he pops his shoulder up from the ring to prevent falling victim to the three. Mordecai crouches beside Andre with his face twisted into the most homicidal of glares.
Frankie: How did Andre just get his shoulder up after that? HOW!?!
Greyson: Because the man is made of tougher stuff.
Frankie: He may be made of tougher stuff, but he’s full of shit in my book.
Mordecai is about to empty whatever Andre is full of. He looks towards Mrs. R and almost telepathically makes a request that she is all too eager to fulfill. She reaches beneath the squared circle and from under the ring retrieves a shovel.
Greyson: What the he…..is that? Is that a damned shovel!?!
Frankie: Well you heard what Mordecai said before this match got started. He wants Johnny Kingdom one on one at Upping the Ante in a Buried Alive match.
Sparkles: And he’s going to use that shovel to send a message to the Team Leader.
The shovel ends up at Mordecai’s feet as the beast looks into it with a very twisted gleam in his eyes. It isn’t long before it ends up his hands and the blade comes swinging straight down into Andre’s previously banged up ribs.
Greyson: OOOOOH NOOO!
The bell rings in the background, the referee given no other recourse but to call for a disqualification.
Sparkles: Mordecai has done it again. He just got himself disqualified by assaulting Andre.
Frankie: This time with a shovel.
Said shovel comes swinging down into Andre’s ribs a second time, inflicting even more internal injuries on the former 2 time Evolution Champion.
Greyson: Stop it Mordecai! For the love of God stop it!
Mordecai brings the shovel down into Andre’s ribs a third time resulting in a loud groan of pain from Andre and screams from the fans in attendance. The shovel is thrown aside and now Mordecai takes Andre’s head in his arms, leading his lifeless body up from the ground. Before Andre can fight his way out of the monster’s hands he finds himself being heaved up and into the Embrace the Dark. Mordecai holds him in position for the Last Ride powerbomb.
Sparkles: Mordecai about to hit Andre with the Embrace the Dark post match once again!
Frankie: And any recovery Andre has had since the last beating Mordecai gave him is about to be undone.
Mordecai taps into all of his internal rage and that inner darkness as he prepares to maliciously drive Andre through the canvas.
Greyson: Mordecai is the embodiment of pure evil.
Frankie: If Mordecai could do the things that he did to Andre in this match and the two aren’t even really enemies, just imagine what that psychopath will do to his rival Johnny Kingdom at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: That’s IF Kingdom accepts Mordecai’s challenge to a Buried Alive match at our upcoming pay-per-view.
Mrs. R stands on the ring apron and wordlessly calls out to her brother. The two seem almost mentally connected, Mordecai’s eyes drifting to his sister’s face and deciphering her thoughts merely by reading her expression. She signals to him to deliver the Embrace the Dark on the prone Andre. The two go on sharing a chilling stare but the glare exchanged between these siblings is nowhere near as unsettling as what’s happening in the ring behind Mordecai’s back. The canvas just behind the heels of Mordecai begins to rip, creating a hole. A set of hands reach up through that hole and latch onto Mordecai’s ankle. He drops Andre as a result.
Greyson: What in the hell?
Sparkles: Is-is-is Sparkles seeing this?
Frankie: Somebody’s coming up through the ring and Mordecai has no idea.
It isn’t often that Mordecai is caught by surprise, but right now is one of those extremely rare occasions. He whips around and spots the face of the man who has just emerged through a hole created in the canvas. Mordecai stares into the eyes of his attacker, Johnny Kingdom.
Greyson: IT’S FRIGGIN KINGDOM!
Sparkles: He’s attacking Mordecai the exact same way Mordecai attacked him back at Awakening.
Before Mordecai has a chance to react his legs are being pulled down into the hole that Johnny is standing in. The two are face to face and are exchanging punches with one another.
Greyson: Mordecai, Kingdom, their getting it on before they collide at Upping the Ante in two weeks.
Johnny headbutts Mordecai and then the beast counters with a closed fist right across his attacker’s kisser. Instead of being dragged down beneath the ring Mordecai rolls out of the hole and across the canvas. Kingdom is right behind him, dashing across the squared circle and hitting a clothesline so forceful on Mordecai that it takes both men over the ropes. They collapse to the ground but they sure as shit don’t stay there. They get back up and Mordecai finds his jaw cracked by a punch, and another punch, and another-and another-and another. The barrage of blows by a vengeful Kingdom have Mordecai in an unfamiliar position, on the defensive. He stumbles through the thin isle way between the ramp and the barricades restraining the crowd. Mordecai reaches one of the cars that led the funeral procession through the streets of Manhattan before coming to a rest right here beside the Riot set. He slowly turns around when realizing he’s no longer being struck. The only reason the punches are no long nailing him to the face is because the man who delivered them is standing on the entrance ramp. Kingdom goes racing across it and then launches himself off into a diving lariat that hits Mordecai with enough force to knock him onto the bonnet of the black car he had been leaning against.
Greyson: The way Kingdom is going there may not be anything left of Mordecai to fight at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: Good lord, can you imagine what these two would do to each other in a Buried Alive match?
Frankie: Neither man is going to make it to that match at this rate.
The aggressive Kingdom climbs up onto the bonnet of the car he just clotheslined Mordecai onto. He straddles Mordecai’s chest and starts unloading with piston like right hands. All the while Mrs. R is watching this from the ramp and wears a disapproving expression. Kingdom is about to put a permanent frown on the face of Mordecai’s sister. He grabs his rival by the hair, pulls him over onto his knees across the bonnet of the car and then places Mordecai in a front chancery. It looks like Kingdom is going to give Mordecai the Exodus Finale on top of the car.
Frankie: Don’t do it Kingdom.
Greyson: Johnny is gonna hit that brainbuster DDT on top of that car we saw used in the funeral procession.
It looks like Kingdom is going to end this and end this now until his focus is derailed by the presence of Mrs. R. She stands on the ground just off to the side of the car and has a special present waiting for the Team Leader once she has his focus. A handful of dirt is tossed right into his eyes. Blinding Kingdom on impact.
Greyson: HEY!
Frankie: What the hell did Mrs. R just throw in Kingdom’s eyes?
Sparkles: It looked like DIRT!
The visually impaired Kingdom finds it impossible to block the arm that flies right up and right into his throat. Mordecai nails a punch across Kingdom’s larynx, cutting off the air supply to his head. A shocked Kingdom leans back but isn’t allowed to fall onto the roof of the car, no….he’ll be DRIVEN into it. Mordecai grabs Kingdom by the throat then he heaves the former World Champion into a chokeslam…a chokeslam right onto the roof of the car. The sickening impact not only leaves a huge dent in the car’s hood but a number of potentially broken bones in Kingdom’s body.
Greyson: NOOOOOO!!!!
Sparkles: JESUS!
The crowd are equally as shocked by the visual of their beloved Kingdom slamming with such organ bursting force into the roof of that car. Mordecai drops to his seat beside an unconscious Kingdom, pulling the hair back out of his face so that he can get a better look of the pain etched in his rival’s features. Kingdom can barely even summon the strength to cringe in agony.
Greyson: Mordecai has just taken this rivalry to a whole new level.
Sparkles: That chokeslam may have BROKEN Kingdom.
Frankie: May have?
Greyson: I honestly thought that Kingdom was finally going to have his revenge here tonight.
Sparkles: If he’s able to compete after that chokeslam, maybe it’ll happen at Upping the Ante.
Mrs. R has reached her brother’s side, standing beneath the car that Mordecai is seated on top of. A microphone is revealed in the hand of the smiling wraith as she puts a palm on Mordecai’s knee.
Mrs. R: A moment of silence PLEASE for the Fallen King.
Mordecai and Mrs. R bow their heads and go quiet while the crowd protests louder than ever.
Greyson: This is sickening. I hope Kingdom recovers. I hope he gets his hands on Mordecai and puts that MONSTER six feet under at Upping the Ante.
Cameras have dashed to the backstage area and are presently settled on two of the IWC’s hottest up and comers, Julia Braddock and Victoria Salinas. The pair are planted within the locker-room and at the moment are engaged in a pretty tense conversation.
Victoria: Julia, listen, I know we’re opponents tonight and everything and we’ve never been the biggest fans of one another….
Julia: What a way to start a sales-pitch.
Victoria: HEY! Don’t be cynical, that’s MY job. Now where was I? Oh yeah, about tonight, whatever happens in that ring, it isn’t personal….(Victoria smiles as the cadence of her voice changes)… Ooookay, maybe just a smidgeon personal. But I say we leave it all out there, and then, when it’s all said and done, we can put our focus towards some good ole’ fashion Max Cady style vengeance.
Julia: I take it you have something in mind for getting back at New Eden?
Victoria: You saw what they did to Marina two weeks ago and what they tried to do to her earlier right?
Julia: It’s kind of hard to ignore their antics when they’re leaving members of my family covered in blood.
Victoria: Exactly. We need….
Tabitha: Take your hands off of me.
The plotting amongst Victoria and Julia ends when the door to the locker-room opens and Tabitha Silverstone is guided inside by a young woman who is TRYING to aid the agent. Apparently Tabitha is totally unreceptive to their support, pulling her arm away from her helper.
Woman: But Mrs. Silverstone, you were attac….
Tabitha: Pfft, I’m FINE. Now scram!
Tabitha enters the locker-room under her own power, in fact, she walks without so much as a hitch in her step. She looks as healthy as an ox.
Victoria: Tabitha….
Greets Victoria while overlooking the surprisingly uninjured Tabitha.
Victoria: I heard you got attacked by Mordecai….
Tabitha grins while adjusting her sunglasses to purposely keep her eyes shielded behind tinted glass.
Tabitha: Those rumors may have been embellished a little.
Victoria looks towards Julia who is so entirely disinterested in any of this.
Victoria: Yeah, because ummm, Mordecai wasn’t even in the building when you were ‘assaulted.’
In response to this subtle accusation that Tabitha was lying about the assault that side lined her, she shrugs.
Tabitha: Rather I was attacked or not, at least Andre went into that match more fired up than ever. See, he needed a little ‘darkness’ in his heart if he wanted to beat Mordecai. The same type of darkness I saw in him after I was superkicked by Orlando two weeks ago.
That’s it….That’s all Tabitha is willing to say on the subject. She is about to leave but Victoria blocks her path.
Victoria: Whoa-whoa-whoa…..
Julia: Hey um, don’t need this drama. Catch me later.
Announces Julia who was tired of standing in the background listening to issues that are of no concern to her. She pats Victoria on the shoulder while passing her by and exiting the dressing room. Victoria doesn’t even turn to watch her leave, instead all of her focus is on Tabitha and Tabitha alone.
Victoria: Where’s your head been lately, Tabitha?
Tabitha: Hmmmm?
Victoria: You’ve been acting strange for weeks now. I mean, did you even go to check on Marina after she got bashed in the head with that pipe wrench earlier?
Tabitha: What? Do you think me coddling her would help? Because it hasn’t in the past. She needs to wise up and toughen up….
Victoria: Tab….
Tabitha: Listen Victoria. After Alistair (Taylor) betrayed me and my agency, I’ve come to realize something, I’m failing my clients. Andre losing his Evolution Title, Marina getting busted open and left half dead by New Eden, Alistair leaving Silverstone International, that all falls on me. I’ve let them down, but I won’t fail them anymore. I’m going to do what it takes to push Andre and to push Marina, until they are champions again, until they stop being the ones who live in fear and becomes the ones to fear.
Alistair: You ready to talk mate?
Earlier tonight viewers caught only but the briefest glimpse of Alistair Taylor peeking out of the dressing room where he sequestered himself. However, now we not only get a much longer sustained shot of Alistair but the very room where he’s been hiding throughout the night. The camera faces him directly while his eyes are aimed towards someone who remains off camera.
Alistair: I commend you for being so tough, thought you’d be much weaker.
States Alistair as he raises the blood saturated surgical gloves that cling to his hands, revealing a hammer in his hands.
Alistair: You may be strong, but I’m….stubborn. You WILL talk!
Alistair steps past the camera, descending upon whatever unfortunate soul presently shares the dressing room with him.
Karen McBride: It’s been six months since I was screwed out of my Principle Ownership….
A video package begins to roll that features a voice-over provided by Karen McBride. The footage seen on the screen documents the moment Karen was manipulated into signing her Principle Ownership over to her sister Blaire McBride. The video cuts to Karen stood in a backstage corridor with miscellaneous shipping materials behind her back. She talks directly into the camera as she recounts all the horrible events that have befallen her in the past year.
Karen: And every time I’ve come close to getting back what was stolen from me, I just end up getting screwed again!
The clips switch from the close up on Karen to another scene from several months ago. The event was Invictus, the biggest pay-per-view of the year, and on that night Karen McBride teamed up with Desmond Drake to take on Blaire McBride and Silas Mason, with the winner receiving full control of the Principle Ownership. Silas, through some characteristic conniving, manages to pin Drake, and by virtue take possession of 25% control of the IWC. Yet again the footage cuts back to Karen stood in a hallway and pacing back and forth as she talks about her trials and tribulations.
Karen: Somehow Silas has found a way to hold onto his power….
The video transitions into clips from Awakening where Karen faces off against Mordecai, with the stipulation being that if she wins the match she receives another shot at the Principle Ownership. Desmond Drake stands in Karen’s corner, but in the end of the bout he plays a far more crucial role. Eventually Drake hits Karen with a kendo stick in the ribs, double crossing her and setting her up to suffer defeat at Mordecai’s hands.
Karen: He’s done everything to stick it to me and to keep me down. But what Silas failed to realize, is that I’m one stubborn bitch.
The clips shown on the screen feature Karen hitting her finisher the End Game on a variety of opponents Silas has set up as obstacles in her road. Individuals like Franz, Froderick, so on and so forth. The video goes back to an intense Karen stood in the hall and providing commentary on these highlights.
Karen: Silas has thrown all he’s got at me, and I still keep coming. And now, thanks to Majority Owner Drew Bryant, I finally get a fair crack at my Principle Ownership headed into Upping the Ante. Where there’s going to be no interferences or disqualifications allowed.
The footage at this point shows Silas Mason from two weeks ago as he reacts to the news that he’ll be facing McBride at Upping the Ante with all these added stipulations complicating matters for him. He replies by eating his own Stetson.
Karen: In just two weeks I get what I’ve been after for six months, what I’ve endured one betrayal after another, one set-back after another, one screw-job after another to at long-looooong last take back what’s mine. In two weeks Silas, you and I go at it in a six person tag, and although I might have my trust issues when it comes to my partners, it doesn’t matter. Because after tonight, you, and your teammates, are going to be limping into that match….END GAME. Because right here on Riot it’s not a six person tag, it’s you and me, one on one, no outside interference allowed. Tonight we start the END GAME.
Once again a highlight reel is shown featuring Karen connecting with the spinning neck breaker variant known as the End Game. The following words flash across the screen.
KAREN MCBRIDE VS. SILAS MASON: NEXT!
PRE-RECORDED
A classroom comes into view with rows upon rows of desks lined up one behind the other. Orlando Cruze is revealed, seated behind one such desk and staring at the chalkboard. He continues to take us along on this trip through his personal history.
Orlando: Here we are again fans, this is the very same room where your hero Orlando Cruze turned academia on its head and gave my teachers fits for trying to match my vast intellect. Suffice it to say, they failed and failed miserably. See, unlike guys such as Andre Jordan, I actually attended high-school and I excelled both athletically and academically.
Teacher: Oh my, it can’t be….Orlando?
A little old lady wearing glasses so thick they could double as binoculars shuffles into the classroom. She fixes her spectacles to get a better look at the smiling legend.
Orlando: That’s right, it’s the PHENOM himself.
Exclaims Cruze while leaning back in his chair and throwing his arms out to his sides. Nice to see you again Mrs. Rhodes.
He rises from his seat and approaches the elderly, white haired lady, wrapping an arm around her. Orlando breaks the fourth wall by addressing the camera.
Orlando: This here is my freshman grammar teacher, Mrs. Rhodes.
The enormous hands of the legend engulf the slumped shoulders of the teacher.
Orlando: Mrs. Rhodes, why don’t you tell my audience what a great student I was. How I was a regular teacher’s pet.
Instructs Orlando while sitting down on the corner of his teacher’s desk and grabbing the apple that was intended for her. He takes a bite out of it then prepares to listen to his teacher, for maybe the first time in his life.
Mrs. Rhodes: Well, to be honest, you really weren’t that great a student. You constantly goofed off in class, and there was that test I caught you cheating on. Actually, I think you spent more time in the Principle’s Office than you did in my classro…..
Orlando: Nyet-nyet-nyet…..
Orlando dismissively waves his arms through the air and demands his teacher ‘shut her trap.’
Orlando: I think you’ve GLORIFIED me enough.
Mrs. Rhodes: I was just being hones….
Orlando: Then why don’t you tell my fans HONESTLY how you’re lustful cravings for my adolescent body kept you from giving me the education I deserved.
Mrs. Rhodes: What?
Orlando: Go on, tell them how you use to drool over me right there in the middle of class.
Mrs. Rhodes: I never….
Orlando: Shut it you lustful old wench. You’re lucky I didn’t sue you and this entire school for sexual harassment.
The old lady with the weak heart clutches at her chest and drops her jaw in total shock.
Orlando: Yet in spite of everything I still managed to surpass all expectations and….
Mrs. Rhodes: You had to take my class twice….
Orlando stews in anger.
Orlando: Yeah, only because you wanted to be close to my pecs again, you perv.
Cameras return from the commercial break and capture backstage correspondent Susie Moore still standing outside of Scott Cannon’s dressing room. She twirls a lock of her hair while singing to herself, doing everything in her power to distract herself from the boredom.
Greyson: There you see our colleague Susie Moore STILL anticipating an interview with Scott Cannon.
Sparkles: Everyone waiting to hear rather he’ll accept the challenge made by World Champion Katelyn Buehler to meet her in the center of the ring later toni…..
Frankie: Hey look, the door is opening!
At last it looks like Susie is FINALLY going to get a words with Cannon, but it’s not the Cannon she was hoping to interview. A very disgruntled David Cannon comes storming out into the hall and his brother Michael, who is equally as upset follows. The pair go by so quickly Susie is BARELY able to speak up in time to stop them.
Susie: Michael, David! Can I get a word with you two regarding your attack on Katelyn Buehler at the start of tonight….
David: No comment.
While David goes on walking, Michael lingers behind. He doesn’t even look in Susie’s direction, but he does aim his words at the correspondent.
Michael: Disappointment. That’s MY only comment. Disappointment.
Before Susie can prod Michael any further he takes off.
The transmission has now taken the viewers into the dressing room of Julia Braddock, who is gearing herself up for the big triple threat match she’s scheduled to compete in here this evening. As she puts the final touches on her ring gear she finds herself surrounded by her normal company. Henry Van Stanton, the man who has taken on the mantle of operating as Julia’s agent, stands beside her trainer/uncle, Glenn Braddock.
Glenn: So what did Victoria have to say?
Julia: The usual rigmarole. Revenge this-revenge that. Severed heads on pikes. You know, that old spiel.
Glenn: Ah yes, the severed heads speech. I’ve given that a few times in the past. But if anyone deserves to have their heads on chopping blocks, it’s New Eden.
Julia: Exactly what Victoria said, which I can’t argue with. We can’t let what they did to you four weeks ago go unpunished.
Glenn: Of course not. But we don’t need Victoria’s help. You’re a Braddock dammit, and that means we’re made of different stuff. I want you to show Victoria, and Selena Frost that in tonight’s match.
Julia: Glad……
Infinity: Hello Julia.
The Braddocks find their personal space invaded by Infinity, former agent to Flash Silver, who over recent weeks has seemingly set her sights on acquiring the unique skillset of Julia.
Julia: (Mumbles under breathe) Oooooh great…(Speaking at normal tone) HEY there…..Infinity, right?
Infinity: Glad to see we’re now on a first name basis.
Julia: Yeeeeaaaah.
Glenn: What are you doing in here?
The always angry Glenn gets right up into Infinity’s face, protesting vehemently.
Glenn: Julia’s getting ready for her match, we don’t allow gawkers to….
Julia: Relax Uncle, I’m okay with this.
Julia steps away from her locker and in between her uncle and the smiling Infinity.
Julia: I’ve been meaning to talk to you, Infinity.
Infinity: Great. I was hoping we’d finally have the chance to chat tonight.
Julia: I’ve noticed ever since you ditched Flash Silver as your client you’ve been shadowing me around. Can I presume that you’re looking to sign me?
Infinity: Weeeelll….
Henry: Pardon me.
Henry Van Stanton steps out from behind Glenn and Julia, putting away the phone that seems glued to his ear.
Henry: Infinity, love, I’m afraid Julia already has an agent, one who is looking out for her best interests as opposed to expanding their brand.
Julia: Henry’s right. I’m flattered Infinity, really I am, but I’m going to have to say ‘no.’
Infinity: Maybe if you heard my pitch you would rec….
Julia: Fraid not. Thank you, but I’m firm on this.
Julia departs her dressing room, leading both Henry and Glenn into the hall. Although she was just told in no uncertain terms that she was barking up the wrong tree, Infinity still wears a smile. After a sigh she removes a phone from her pocket and elevates it to her ear.
Infinity: Sir, she said ‘no.’
A moment is taken to listen to the voice on the other end of the phone.
Infinity: If you still want her, it looks like we’ll have to intensify our efforts.
KAREN MCBRIDE VS. SILAS MASON
Riot returns to live action with the cameras panning over the very excited fans. Eventually focus shifts to the three person commentary trio set up behind the announce table.
Sparkles: We’ve reached a moment we’ve been anticipating all night long.
Greyson: Not just tonight, but for the past six months.
Frankie: I can’t tell you how sick I am at the thought of what we’re about to see.
Greyson: At Upping the Ante, our next pay-per-view, Silas Mason will team up with Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams to take on Karen, Melanie and Blaire McBride in six person tag team action. If Karen’s team wins, she’ll depose Silas as Principle Owner and take her back her 25% control of the IWC.
Frankie: I’m not too worried about that match at the pay-per-view, cause Karen can’t trust Blaire, we know that much already. What I’m worried about is here tonight, cause Karen goes one on one with Silas coming up next. And that match is just totally unfair. I mean, there’s not even outside interference allowed.
Greyson: Silas has this coming, he’s…..hold up….
There is a suspicious tone in the voices of the fans at the sight of Blaire McBride making her way down the ramp wearing a striped referee jersey. She descends down the ramp with her head somberly hung.
Greyson: What’s bringing Blaire McBride towards the ring? In a referee jersey no less?
Sparkles: Is-is-is she going to be the Special Guest Referee in this match between her sister Karen and Silas Mason?
Frankie: Oh how I love it when the plot thickens. Karen hates Blaire probably even more than she hates Silas.
Greyson: Maybe Blaire is out here to redeem herself in Karen’s eyes.
Frankie: Hahahahaha yeeeaaah right.
A sullen Blaire enters the squared circle looking like she’d rather be anywhere but in a ring. She steps with her back to the turnbuckle, draping her arms over the ropes and looking nervously to the stage. Just then tracks of Silas Mason’s entrance music, ‘Hail to the King’ by Avenged Sevenfold play over the speakers. At this point Silas moves to the stage wearing a sleeveless black shirt, a pair of black jeans, leather gloves, sunglasses and of course, his trademark Stetson. Silas is as close as he’ll ever get to looking ready for competition.
Greyson: I’m getting more and more concerned here.
Frankie: I knew you’d eventually starts to sympathize with Silas.
Greyson: I’m not sympathizing with that son of a bitch. I’m concerned because Silas is coming out here wearing maybe the slickest grin I’ve ever seen on his face.
Sparkles: Yeah, he’s looking as slick as an oil spill.
Silas proceeds along towards the squared circle amidst so many shrill and inconsiderate cries from the crowd. He pays them no mind, focused entirely on the special referee tasked with officiating this match. Blaire hangs her head in hoe-hum fashion, really rebelling against the idea of wearing the striped shirt here tonight. Once in the ring Silas occupies a diagonal corner, looking across at Blaire then winking in her direction. Just then ‘American Dreamgirl’ starts to play over the loud speakers to the resoundingly positive response. To the stage strolls Karen McBride, her physical presence eliciting goosebumps from the excited crowd.
Greyson: Look at Karen McBride, she’s been waiting for this for soooooo long.
Sparkles: Six months Lovejoy, six months she’s anticipated hitting the End Game on Silas Mason.
Frankie: The deck is so unfairly stacked against Silas it’s not even funny. There’s no interference allowed tonight, Blaire McBride is the special guest referee and Karen McBride is out to test how much iron he has in his blood. This is ridiculous.
Greyson: It’s a fitting punishment is what it is. And at Upping the Ante, it’s going to be even worse for Silas. He might have Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams as his teammates, but again, there will be no interference in the six person tag for control of the Principle Ownership. He’ll be taking on the united crew of the McBride siblings.
Frankie: United? Have you not seen the issues between Blaire and Karen over the past few months? Including when Blaire abandoned Karen last week and forced her to face Marcus and Randal on her own?
Karen reaches the base of the ramp, takes a deep breath and then dashes straight for the squared circle. She slides in and wastes absolutely no time going after Silas, who does the smartest thing he’s ever done by ditching the ring. He rolls out and pretends he did so not to avoid the wrath of McBride, but to do a little shadow boxing.
Frankie: Silas warming up a bit….
Greyson: Bullshit, he’s running from Karen.
Frankie: The only time Silas has ever run is when he heard there was a half off cover charge at the local strip club.
Greyson: Silas always talks about how tough he is, well show it dammit.
Karen tries to go straight after Silas but Blaire steps in her way. The second Karen recognizes the fact that her sister is operating as special referee she acts taken aback. Karen puts a little distance between herself and Blaire, overlooking the striped jersey that clings to Blaire’s body.
Karen: What is this?
Blaire: Karen, you don’t under…..
Before Blaire can even finish her sentence she watches her sibling dragged down to the canvas into the school boy. Silas rolls Karen up and holds onto the tights for added leverage.
Greyson: Silas sneaking into the back door.
Frankie: And he has hold of Karen’s back door!
A conflicted Blaire looks down at Karen’s shoulder’s pinned to the canvas yet is reluctant to make the count. Silas breaks his school boy pin attempt and then steps up so close to Blaire that he literally has her back peddling.
Silas: What’s wrong with ya? Can’t ya McBride gurls get anything righ’? I pin and you count…..FAST!
From one McBride to the other turns Silas, before he finds his body twisting inside out thanks to a clothesline. Karen dashes in and hits a lariat with such force to Silas’ throat that it threatens to shatter his windpipe. Silas goes down like a sack of potatoes and then rolls towards the ropes, spilling under to the outside of the ring.
Frankie: Silas must need to do some more stretching
Greyson: He’s running you idiot!
Sparkles: Don’t you call Frankie an idiot you dumbhead.
Back inside of the ring it’s no longer Silas being threatened but Blaire. An angered Karen airs her suspicions as she steps up right into Blaire’s face and embeds a finger into her chest.
Karen: What was he talking about? (Points to Silas) And why are YOU even out here?
Once again Karen is so preoccupied with her sister that she doesn’t see Silas extracting a steel chair out from under the squared circle. He returns to the ring and gets a running start behind a chair shot aimed at Karen’s kidneys.
Greyson: WATCH OUT KAREN!
This warning is echoed by Blaire, who shouts for Karen to duck. Although Karen might not trust Blaire with every fiber of her being she does duck and duck quick. The chair intended to smash Karen in the back goes flying over her, completely missing its mark. The missed blow has caused Silas to go spinning totally around back to face Karen and the fist that lands right across his jaw. With one hard jab Karen has felled Silas to the ground and sent the chair flying from his clutches.
Greyson: AT LAST! Karen at last getting her hands on Silas.
Sparkles: What a punch!
Frankie: Have I said how unfair this is yet?
Greyson: About a hundred times in a five minute span, Frankie.
The devastating punch has leveled Silas, who feebly covers his head in an attempt to block any more from connecting. He fails, miserably. Karen climbs on top of Silas and just starts wailing on him, her knuckles crushing Silas’ face. Special Referee Blaire stands behind her sister BEGGING Karen to stop. All of these requests are ignored, Karen only hearing the sound of her fists cracking the bones in Silas’ face. Finally Karen does overhear something else, the sound of the bell ringing in the background.
Sparkles: Blaire calling for the bell?
Greyson: What’s this about?
Blaire doesn’t just call for the bell but now summons the ring announcer to come closer to the ropes she’s leaning through. He steps up beneath her as Blaire voices her decree.
Sparkles: Let’s get some confirmation on what’s going down here.
The announcer steps back to reveal Blaire’s decision.
Thomas: Lady and gentlefolk, as a result of a disqualification, you’re winner….SILAS MASON!!
Oh how angry the crowd gets. The fans react like they just heard there was going to be a Pink Panther sequel. Literally everyone crowds the barricades and cry out in protest to this decision. However, none of them are quite as upset as Karen. She stops unloading with rights on Silas’ face in order to step up into Blaire’s mug and unload with screams.
Karen: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?! WHYYYY!!!???!!
Blaire isn’t even given an opportunity to explain. Every time she tries to speak she finds her explanations drowned out by the boos of the crowd and the furious screams of Karen. As of all of this is going down Silas rolls from the ring, exiting as discreetly as possible. He drops to ringside and then staggers along up the ramp still reeling from the numerous punches he withstood upside his skull.
Greyson: Am I hearing this right? Did Blaire McBride just disqualify Karen McBride? Her own sister? For what!?!
Frankie: Study your rule book, Lovejoy. See, look at mine, it says right here between the pictures of boobs and dicks that I’ve drawn, that you cannot use closed fists in matches.
Greyson: That is the most bullshit excuse for a disqualification I’ve ever heard.
Frankie: Thank you Blaire, thank you for obeying the sanctity of the rule book.
Greyson: You drew naked pictures in it dammit.
Karen continues to levee all of her outrage in the face of the special guest referee, who is STILL doing her best to explain why she HAD to do what she HAD to do.
Blaire: Karen PLEASE. Trust me, I did what was best….
The moment the word ‘trust’ comes out of Blaire’s mouth she receives a kick to the abs. A stunned Blaire is taken around the neck and snapped over into the End Game.
Greyson: KAREN! NOOO!!
Sparkles: She just-she just-she just HIT HER OWN SISTER!
Frankie: With the End Game!
A seething Karen sits on the canvas beside her sister Blaire, who has curled into the fetal position and grips painfully at her neck. It seems that something inside of Karen’s head has been broken like a pencil in the hands of Arnold Schwarzenegger. She just sits there trembling in rage, failing to even recognize the fact that she injured her own sister.
Greyson: Is Karen even aware that she just gave Blaire the End Game?
Frankie: Yeah, these two are really going to make good partners at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks that’s Silas’ M.O, divide and conquer.
Greyson: It’s a tactic that seems to be working. There’s no way Karen and Blaire are going to be able to work cohesively in the six person tag at the pay-per-view against Silas and his thugs.
It isn’t until the maniacal laughter of Silas Mason reaches Karen’s ears that she breaks free from her shackles of rage. She looks to the ramp where Silas is seated, holding his jaw but still laughing as loud as he possibly can.
Greyson: Karen gets disqualified tonight, but she has one more shot at Silas at Upping the Ante.
Frankie: She’ll have to put her trust in Blaire and Melanie McBride though if she wants her revenge on Silas and her Principle Ownership back.
Sparkles: And tonight has proven that she cannot trust Blaire.
A headache….one MASSSIVE headache.
That’s what the lawyer representing the IWC is feeling at the moment. His head is about to explode as he deals with the truly insufferable duo known as Wicked Intent. The IWC Tag Team Champions are seated in the office of Pierre LaPue and are presently giving him such fits he’d rather have his head dunked in a tank full of flesh eating piranhas than deal with these two.
Kat: As you can see from this list of complaints (slides sheet of paper across the desk to Pierre) we have sufficient cause to sue the IWC.
Lexy: Our civil liberties have been spat on over and over again!
Kat pulls back her hair and places a pair of glasses over her eyes, because nothing says sophistication like glasses.
Kat: Look at the length of this list (lifts up the corner of the paper) and look at how extreme some of these violations are….
Pierre: Are you aware that your glasses have no lenses?
Kat: I OBJECT!
Screeches Kat while slamming the side of her fist onto the desk.
Pierre: Uhhh, this isn’t a trial. We’re just going over your list of compla….
Lexy: Side bar your honor.
Pierre stares at Lexy with a look of unabashed confusion.
Pierre: Uhhhh, okay?
Lexy: Now we’ve put up with a number of offenses committed against us since our debut in the IWC. Like being forced into defending the Tag Team Titles on a near bi-weekly basis.
Pierre: But you’re the champions…..
Kat: HE’S BADGERING THE WITNESS, YOUR HONOR!!
Lexy: Furthermore, I specially asked for Yoohoo to be provided in our dressing room and instead we got Nesquick….FUCKING NESQUICK!
Kat: And the worse offense yet, is the fact that you would suspend me for merely proposing an unconventional skit to air here tonight on Riot.
Pierre: You also superkicked a member of the production crew….
Lexy: Objection! Facts not in evidence.
Pierre: Again, this isn’t a trial.
Kat: Sustained.
Pierre: You’re not even the judge…..
Pierre throws his hands up into the air before pulling one of them towards his eyes, rubbing at the lids in frustration.
Pierre: What is it you two want exactly?
Lexy: For starters, you can lift Kat’s suspension.
Kat: And you can let me air the skit I proposed.
Pierre: Fine….FINE! But can we take SOME of the Nazis out?
Kat: Absolutely not!
Alistair: Let’s see…you’ve still got eight toes, and I haven’t even started on the fingers yet.
States Alistair Taylor as he pats a hammer against a palm covered by a surgical glove. The camera is facing him while obstructing from view the person that he talks to on the other side of the dressing room.
Alistair: Just stop holding out. I mean, are they really worth going through all of this?
Finally the cameras turns to bring into view the man that Alistair has been talking to this entire time, a man bound to a chair. Blood dribbles down from the multiple gashes in the face of the very same crew-member who was responsible for giving Alistair a tainted bottle of champagne on the last edition of Riot.
Alistair: Give me a name. Who put you up to drugging my champagne?
The Stagehand is just too weak to even provide an answer. He raises his head and tries to speak but it hurts him too much given all the internal and external injuries that Alistair has inflicted on him
Alistair: You didn’t think I’d figure it out? That I wouldn’t know it was that champagne you handed me that got me sick and cost me the Evolution Championship? Do you take me for an idiot?
The hammer in his hand is placed under the blood saturated crew-member’s chin and used to lift back his head.
Alistair: Tell me who was responsible and I’ll put you out of your misery.
The man with multiple crushed toes and just as many crushed fingers at last summons the little strength he has left to whisper his answer.
Crew-Member: Selena…..Selena Frost.
He groans before his chin falls back to his chest and he fades into total unconsciousness. Alistair rears back from the crew member and throws aside the hammer that had been employed to torture his victim.
Alistair: Thanks for confirming it for me mate.
He approaches the door and grabs the knob before hearing another feint whisper.
Crew-Member: You promised….
Clearly the brutalized and bound man is eluding to the fact that Alistair vowed to end his suffrage.
Alistair: Oh, I’m sorry, the thought of hurting you any further just makes me SICK TO MY STOMACH.
The dressing room is exited and the man responsible for giving Alistair spiked alcohol one show earlier is left to sit in suffrage.
Riot transitions to the dressing room of Selena Frost, who is presently seated in a chair while the object of her affections Deanna Springs stands behind her. She has hands wrapped around Selena’s shoulders, massaging them, working out the kinks so that Frost is limbered up for the competition slated to come next.
Sparkles: Selena Frost getting those muscles warmed up for competition.
Frankie: How come I never have a chick out here massaging me?
Greyson: We tried to get you one before Frankie but you always want one muscle in particular massaged.
Frankie: That’s my God given right.
Greyson: Coming up after the break Selena Frost to compete in a triple threat match as she collides with Victoria Salinas and Julia Braddock, and apparently this contest is going to have some huge implications.
Deanna stops using her hands to massage Selena and now uses her arms to give her a hug. She stoops down behind Selena and wraps an arm lovingly around her neck. Selena reaches back over her shoulder and rubs the top of Deanna’s head.
We get one more transition to the hallway that Desmond Drake is currently traversing. He makes his way down the hall with his puffy red eyes wearily looking around and his hands squeezing the black sack that he has been entrusted with protecting.
Greyson: And there’s Desmond Drake. We’re still scheduled to hear from the Principle Owner’s assistant coming up next as well.
Frankie: You have to wonder what Silas has asked him to announce.
Sparkles: What’s he got in that bag, and what effect is it going to have on this upcoming triple threat match?
Greyson: We’ll have the answers to all of that coming up following this commercial break.
Upon returning from commercial break cameras have settled on the pouting mug of Flash Silver. Instead of lobbing his complaints at Desmond Drake, as seen earlier tonight, now he’s bitching to the tag team known as the Hair-Doodes. At the moment Franz and Froderick are stood behind Flash as he sits in a chair facing a counter mounted mirror. Franz employs the mirror to help him comb and style Flash’s bangs. All the while Froderick is stooped at Flash’s side, manicuring his nails.
Flash: Guys listen, I don’t want a make over….
Franz: Hush, you need one.
Froderick: When is the last time you cleaned beneath these nails? It’s like a sewer under here.
Flash: To be honest, I haven’t been all that concerned with my personal appearance. The only thing on my mind right now is Julia Braddock. That bitch used her feminine mind control abilities to steal my agent away from me. But you guys, you can help me get my manager back.
Froderick: How?
Flash: By working with me to make Julia as hideous as the Elephant Man.
It looks like things for Andre Jordan have just gone from bad to worse. For weeks he’s been suffering some rib injuries stemming from the Embrace the Dark he received from Mordecai several weeks ago and tonight it appears as if those nagging issues have been re-aggravated. He sits backstage on a cot nursing his ribs by running his hands over them and grimacing in pain. Stood off to his side we can see correspondent Mark Comeau with microphone in hand.
Comeau: Andre, first and foremost I want to commend you on a terrific performance against Mordecai….
Andre: (Cynically) Yeah….I’ll give myself an ‘A’ for effort.
Comeau: Well it seems there’s no rest for the weary. Earlier on tonight we learned that in two weeks you’ll be facing off against Mika Kozlov in the Semi-Finals of the World Title #1 Contender Tournament. Given recent events between yourself and Mika, what are your thoughts on colliding with her…..?
Andre: Mark-Mark-Mark, you’re concentrating on the wrong thing here. Yes I’m facing Mika, but that isn’t my focus nor should it be YOUR focus. What’s important here, is that this match moves me one step closer to becoming number one contender to the World Title. Do you know how long I’ve strived for this opportunity? What I’ve endured over the past two years to get here, to get THIS close? I’m not about to throw it all away by letting my opponent get into my head.
Comeau: Hasn’t Mika ALREADY gotten into your head though? She obviously thinks the two of you are in some sort of ‘relationship,’ even going as far as to give you the pet-name, Chocolate Pud…..
Andre: Don’t even….
Comeau: Okay, fine, just saying, given Mika’s ability to mix her allure with her insanity, are you positive you can look past her distractions and put your concentration on your match against each other at….
Stagehand: Excuse me, Mr. Jordan?
A perturbed Andre looks towards the stagehand who has just entered the scene holding a giant tub container.
Andre: Yeah?
Stagehand: I got a gift here that Mrs. Mika Kozlov wanted me to deliver to you.
The words ‘Mika Kozlov’ have already prompted Andre to bury his face in his hand.
Andre: What is it?
He asks out of sheer morbid curiosity.
Stagehand: It’s a 5 pound container of chocolate pudding.
The huge vat of pudding is handed over to Dre, who reluctantly takes it. He holds it for only a moment before he lets out a growl and tosses the container straight into the wall behind him. Chocolate splashes everywhere…..EVERYWHERE!
When the show returns to the squared circle the sawed off Desmond Drake comes into view. The assistant to Principle Owner Silas Mason is planted in the center of the ring, black sack hanging from one hand, microphone griped in the other. The tunes of his entrance music, ‘Porn-Star Dancing’ are cutting out in background just in time for us to hear from him.
Desmond: Ladies and gentlemen, I am here on orders from the brilliant Silas Mason, to make a very special announcement.
The commentators get in a word before Drake finishes his comment.
Greyson: As if we haven’t seen enough of Silas Mason and his stooges throughout the night.
Frankie: Suck it Lovejoy, you should be damn thrilled we’re getting even more from Silas’ administration. I was worried we wouldn’t get to hear anymore from them after Silas’ big win a few moments ago.
Greyson: The less you mention that the better.
Frankie: Oh I’m going to be talking about it the rest of tonight, all over social media, and especially at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: Guys, Desmond has an announcement to make, let’s hear it.
Drake continues to speak in spite of the criticism the miniature Lothario receives from the fans.
Desmond: Ever since the IWC split into two opposing brands, Uprising and Riot, we’ve tried our best to keep both shows completely self contained, with the exception being defenses of the Queen of the Ring Championship and the Tag Team Championships. However, I am her to announce that after Upping the Ante, those belts will no longer be defended across both brands. From this point on, the Queen of the Ring Title will remain exclusive to Uprising, and whoever wins the interpromotional match for the Tag Team Titles in two weeks between Wicked Intent and the Sinistry, will take the belts home to THEIR brand.
Greyson: That’s a big announcement from a small man.
Frankie: So after Upping the Ante, no more championships will be defended across both brands?
Sparkles: That’s the long and short of it.
Desmond drones on.
Desmond: So now you’re asking yourself, how does a man so small still have a ten inch cock? Well the answer to that is simple, it’s because…..
Suddenly the lyrics of Selena Frost’s theme music blares through the PA system and cuts Desmond off in the middle of his ego driven diatribe. His eyes cut vindictively to the stage where Selena Frost has just emerged with Deanna Springs walking right out behind her.
Greyson: Selena Frost on her way to the squared circle and she is not looking one bit happy at this point.
Sparkles: Who can blame her, she lost the Queen of the Ring Title to Uprising’s Eve back at the Revolution pay-per-view. And now, because the belts are no longer defended across multiple brands, she will not get a rematch at the strap.
Frankie: That’s got to stick in her crawl.
Evidently it does, given the force of the steps taken to the ring and the display of disappointment in her tone once taking a microphone.
Selena: So I can presume that I’m not alone in the thought that this is without a doubt the most ignorant, egomaniacal decision that your boss has ever made, Desmond.
Drake doesn’t take kindly to the insult levied against his Principle Owner.
Selena: Just because Silas can’t play well with others now I’m out of a rematch for the Queen of the Ring Championship? The believers can’t get behind this, and neither can I.
The fans, who are so behind Selena, continue to support her tonight, especially after this injustice committed against her.
Selena: The fans, they want to see me get my rematch for the title, and you denying them that opportunity is just….
Desmond: Yeah-yeah-yeah whatever-whatever-whatever.
Ignorantly interrupts Desmond.
Desmond: These fans can kiss the chubby white cheeks of my ass for all I care. They don’t call the shots, you don’t call the shots, SILAS calls the shots, and if he doesn’t want to share titles with the Uprising brand, that’s his prerogative. Get behind it, or get the hell off the Riot brand missy.
Selena raises a hand to her lips to hide her stunned smile while Deanna vocally protests her outrage.
Desmond: Now as for you’re belly aching about the Queen of the Ring Title, it just so happens we’ve already come up with a solution. Here in this sack (holds up the bag he brought out with him) is THAT solution.
A belt is extracted and lifted out to Desmond’s side.
Desmond: Right here is the brand spanking new QUEEN OF WRESTLING championship. A belt that will be defended exclusively here on the Riot brand.
Greyson: Another HUGE announcement.
Desmond: And you, Selena, may very well win your way into a chance to vie for this title. The winner of the triple threat match you’re scheduled to compete in tonight will move on to partake in a Queen of Wrestling title match on a Riot in the months ahead.
The Queen of Wrestling Title is flung over Desmond’s shoulder.
Desmond: But you know what Selena, after your little temper-tantrum, I’m thinking you need to do something a little more to earn your way into a potential shot at this belt.
Selena crosses her arms, grins slightly and gives Desmond that ‘I’m listening’ look.
Desmond: So here’s what I have in mind. You get that little philly over there (points to Deanna) to come on over here and suck my dick, and MAYBE I’ll keep you in contention for the Queen of Wrestling Championship.
Greyson: Oh God, tell me Desmond didn’t just say that?
Frankie: Hahahahaha, suck it Deanna, just take it out and suck it!
Sparkles: Who would want to see that?
Desmond does, hence why he’s already taken a bow legged stance.
Desmond: Come on Deanna, drop to your knees, or I guess you’d have to get down on all fours, open your mouth and…..
Deanna is about to shut Drake up but Selena holds her back.
Selena: I got a better idea Desmond. Why don’t you let ME show you the time of your life?
The thought makes Desmond all the more excited.
Desmond: Alright, that’s fine…bring your sexy ass on over and….
Selena drops to her knees in front of Desmond but not with the intent of sucking anything. Instead she launches a forearm straight up into Drake’s testicular region.
Greyson: There we go!
Just as Drake’s eyes widen he finds his head ensnared in Selena’s clutches. She continues to kneel even as she lifts Drake into the Ice Breaker DDT.
Greyson: HAHAHAHAHA! Yes! Yes!!
Frankie: Da fuck!?!
Sparkles: Selena giving Desmond that Ice Breaker!
Greyson: Hopefully that will bring an end to his disgusting sexual overtures.
An unconscious Drake rolls to the ropes then spills under them to the outside of the ring. That’s just as the lyrics of Victoria Salinas’ music begin to blast through the speakers. The crowd gets even louder at the sight of Victoria marching along to the stage and then embarking for the squared circle where she will make her Riot brand debut.
Greyson: It looks like we’re jumping straight into this triple threat match. Victoria Salinas, who has already had a productive night, is now making her Riot brand wrestling debut in a match with some big implications.
Frankie: How can you go on talking about Victoria and totally ignore what happened to Drake?
Greyson: He got precisely what he deserved.
Sparkles: Speaking of people who got what they deserved, Serenity almost got what she had coming to her earlier tonight.
EARLIER TONIGHT
A video package replays which captures the events from earlier in the evening when New Eden’s Serenity used a pipe wrench to bash in the back of her rival Marina Valdivia’s head. She then went as far as to wrap a noose around Marina’s neck and threaten to hang her with it until Victoria Salinas interfered. Victoria dashes to the aid of her friend and sends Serenity scampering off, her disturbing laughs echoing throughout the Manhattan Center.
Cameras return live to the ring as Victoria Salinas prepares to enter it. However, just before she gets into the squared circle she steps onto the back of a crawling barely conscious Desmond Drake. She employs him as a foot stool to help her get to the apron.
Greyson: Hahahaha, Victoria entering the ring in style.
Frankie: The disrespect shown to Desmond just continues.
Sparkles: Earlier on it was Victoria’s friend Marina who was disrespected by New Eden, and if Victoria hadn’t interfered her buddy would have been hung by a noose.
Greyson: The issues between Victoria and New Eden are just steadily escalating, but right now her mind should be centered on performing in the Queen of Wrestling title match. Should she win here tonight she’ll move on to compete in that bout in four weeks’ time.
As Victoria gets in the ring and eyes Selena the tracks of Julia Braddock’s theme start to pipe through the arena loud speakers. The crowd responds with gusto as Julia heads along through the curtains and finds herself flanked by both Henry Van Stanton and Glenn Braddock. Her agent and her trainer waltz right along behind Julia as she slides into the squared circle. Now she stares across the squared circle at either adversary, realizing they stand in the way of getting her hands on title gold. At the moment said title is splayed across the canvas, dropped by Desmond once he was struck with the low blow, and not the low blow he wanted.
Greyson: Julia Braddock has also had her issues with New Eden in recent weeks.
Sparkles: Four weeks ago she was scheduled to face Orlando Cruze in the World Title Number One Contender Tournament, but New Eden attacked Julia’s uncle Glenn backstage and forced her to pull herself from the match.
Frankie: Well she’d be ignorant if she joins the crusade to fight New Eden, and if she lets that grudge weigh on her mind headed into this match.
Greyson: She may not be vying for the World Title, but she could help raise the prestige of the Queen of Wrestling Championship should she win this triple threat and earn her way into the title match.
Julia, Victoria and Selena are all three eying the Queen of Wrestling title belt still sitting in the corner of the ring. Now referee Marcus Mayfield has hold of the belt and is removing it. He is just about to call for the bell to start the match before….
Flash: HOLD ON! HOLD ON! JUST HOOOOOLD ON!
Demands Flash Silver who comes stepping through the curtains wearing a bright blonde wig and sunflower themed dress. Stood behind him are the Hair-Doodes of Franz and Froderick, both men also wearing bushy wigs and fashionable dresses.
Greyson: Somebody tell me I’m not seeing this right now.
Sparkles: Ohhhhh you’re seeing it alright.
Frankie: Are Flash Silver and the Hair-Doodes actually in drag?
Flash explains his unorthodox choice of attire and why his cheeks are drowned in layers upon layers of make-up. Hopefully he’ll also elaborate as to why the Hair-Doodes are carrying a table stretched out between them.
Flash: Listen up fellow wearers of over the shoulder boulder holders….
Frankie: HA!
Flash: This match needed a little more estrogen. That’s why The Hair-Doodettes and Flasherina are here to use the combined strength of our ovaries to show you three what real women are capable of.
Greyson: Please for the love of God tell me I did not just hear that. And did Flash just say his name was Flasherina?
Sparkles: He did. Sparkles thinks that he’s only out here to get his hands on Julia Braddock.
Frankie: I’d get my hands on her two if it wouldn’t result in a paternity hearing.
Greyson: Flash Silver has been upset with Julia ever since she stole his agent Infinity away from him.
Sparkles: She stole Infinity away in FLASH’S mind.
Flash: And Julia….
Down in the ring Braddock points to herself, feigning surprise that she is being singled out.
Flash: You know you have no right to compete in this match, because everyone on the planet can see that bulge in the front of your tights….
Frankie: HA!
Flash: So I’m going to do the world a favor and I’m personally going to eliminate you after I put your flat ass through this table!
Flash points back at the table held by the Hair-Doodes. All three of them now embark for the squared circle amidst jeers from the audience.
Greyson: Is Mayfield actually going to let this happen?
Sparkles: It seems he’s going to allow Flash and the Hair-Doodes to compete in this match, in DRAG.
Greyson: This is without a doubt the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.
Frankie: Really? This is the Riot brand, I’ve seen a lot crazier.
The table carried by the Hair-Doodes is set up at ringside and now they along with Flash continue towards the ring. But just at this point they find not just Julia, but Selena and Victoria as well, all three diving through the ropes into suicide headbutts. The impacts knock Franz and Froderick back over the table and Flash almost out of his boots.
SELENA VS. VICTORIA VS. JULIA VS. FRANZ VS. FRODERICK VS. FLASHERINA
Greyson: What a white knuckle start to this match!
The crowd is ever so excited at the aerial abilities of all three ladies who have felled their common foes. Julia has already pulled Flash back to his feet and is blasting him across the brow with punches. Meanwhile Victoria is climbing up onto the table at ringside and then leaping off it into a double axehandle smash across Franz’s back. At the same time Selena has Froderick leaning back first against the barricade and is unloading on his chest with chops.
Frankie: Looks like this has turned into nothing more than a six person tag team bout now.
Sparkles: The ladies teaming up to take down Flash and his….I mean…HER crew.
A clapping Deanna watches as Selena throws Froderick into the ring and then follows him inside. He’s just gotten to his knees before Selena’s knee cracks him in the cheek, taking him over onto his back, Outside of the ring Victoria is slamming Franz’s face repeatedly into the table, fracturing some bones and killing numerous braincells with each fatal impact. Julia is now brawling through the crowd with Flash, repeatedly decking him right in the mouth and sending him spiraling past screaming fans.
Inside of the squared circle Selena has Froderick backed into a corner and has climbed up the turnbuckle in front of him. She clinches her fist and then looks out over her Believers, who are cheering her on. She starts to punch Froderick again and again across his brow, severely bludgeoning the skirt wearing hair dresser. Behind her Victoria has rolled into the ring with her hands full of Franz’s locks, dragging him along.
Selena now drops back and monkey flips Froderick out of the corner only for him to land on his feet as opposed to crashing on his back. A smirking Froderick throws his arms out to his sides and begins to rub his agility in the faces of his opponents before he finds his partner’s shoulder crushing his ribs. Victoria takes the liberty of throwing Franz along into a spear directly into the mid-section of Froderick. The impact takes both men down to the ring and leaves either one incapacitated.
Greyson: Froderick paying for his showmanship.
Frankie: That’s show-woman-ship Lovejoy.
Sparkles: Yeah, Froderick just took a spear right in the ovaries.
Back at ringside Julia is dragging Flash around to the table that was set up at the base of the ramp. His face is swung down right into it with enough force to knock the blond wig off the top of his head. Flash spirals away from Julia and seeks refuge in the ring, rolling in and finding no reprieve once inside. His face gets smacked with a basement dropkick by Victoria. The strike sends Flash rolling out of the ring and right towards Julia, who crushes his jaw with a European Uppercut. The shot knocks Flash back and sends him rolling into the squared circle. He gets to his knees just as Victoria hits him with a thrust kick to the cheek. The blow knocks Flash back and sends him rolling out of the ring. He drops down to ringside right in front of Julia who finally levels him with a dropkick straight to his already re-arranged mug.
Greyson: I think Flash is starting to regret his decision to get involved in this match.
Sparkles: He’s getting a straight up mugging.
Back inside of the squared circle Selena has managed to grab both Franz and Froderick by the back of their heads and now rams their faces against one another. Froderick twists along towards Victoria and Franz twists along towards Julia. Both ladies connect with simultaneous hurricaranas. At the same time Selena is dashing through the hurricaranas that are connecting and now she’s flinging herself over the top rope into a senton plancha that has her crashing directly into a recovered Flash.
The crowd gets even more excited than ever at the sight of all this tandem offense that just continues to wear Flash, Franz and Froderick down. Victoria seems to be enjoying herself as she throws Franz out of the ring and then sets her sights on Froderick. She starts to pull Froderick up only to have him counter into a jaw breaker. The blow sends Victoria staggering back towards the ropes that Franz is reaching under. He grabs Victoria by the ankle and drags her feet out from under then uses his grip to pull her to the outside of the ring. When Victoria comes down onto her feet she finds herself caught across the chest and hurled back first into the barricade.
Greyson: Finally some offense by the Hair-Doodes.
Frankie: And from Flash.
Selena was just now climbing up onto the apron to return to the ring before Flash catches her by the legs and pulls them out from under her. As a result Selena comes plummeting down face first into the apron, her head smacking viciously off of it. She collapses to the ground right beside Flash, who instantly drops to his knees and starts to lay into her with punches.
He has no idea that Julia is climbing out of the ring to come after him. Or at least she was going to before Franz dove into the back of Julia’s knee, cutting it out from under her. Julia collapses back into the ring where her body is stomped and stomped viciously so by Franz and his partner Froderick. The Hair-Doodes then lead her back to her feet and Franz shows some strength by gorilla pressing her down ribs first right onto the raised knee of Froderick.
An agitated Julia rolls around grabbing at her mid-section while her uncle and her agent shout from ringside, trying to motivate her. Franz steps directly onto Julia’s gut then walks head first into a front chancery by Froderick, who lifts his partner into a reverse suplex that drops him straight on top of their opponent. Franz rolls out of the way just as Froderick leaps into an elbow drop that slams the point of his elbow straight into Julia’s heart.
Greyson: The tide of this match has definitely taken a turn for the worse if your Victoria, Selena or Julia.
Sparkles: Wearing dresses has brought out a far more aggressive side of their opponents.
A hurting Flash pulls Selena up from the ground and takes hold of her wrist, whipping her towards the steel steps. But Selena ducks down on account of the body that goes flying right over her. Victoria has dashed to the opposite side of the steps and leaps onto them before lunging off, leap frogging Selena and then crashing into Flash with a knee right into his chest. Flash is sent flying back and cracking spine first into the barricade.
Inside of the ring Franz and Froderick have hold of Julia’s wrists and are powering her backwards into the ropes. They launch her off into the far ropes and she ricochets from them, coming back in at her opponents who catch her with a stereo hip toss. However, in mid-air Julia twists her body around and lands on Froderick’s shoulders. She then snaps back into a hurricarana that flings the top of Froderick’s head straight into Franz’s crotch.
Greyson: Julia starting to overcome this number’s obstacle!
Froderick doubles over and grips at his genitals while Julia steps to one of his sides and Victoria steps to the other. The two hook both of Froderick’s arms and then double hip toss him so that he comes down back first across a crawling Franz’s spine. Both men crash to the canvas and groan in total agony. They are about to be in a lot more pain when Julia and Victoria close in to take advantage of the injuries they’ve inflicted. But just then Flash runs in behind Victoria and takes her down with a clubbing blow over the back. His sights then set on Julia, his number one target. Flash dashes back into the ropes, ricochets from them and then leaps into a spear at his rival. However, in mid-air Flash is caught around the neck and around the waist. Julia counters into the Guillotine. Her patented submission is locked in and Flash is desperately trying to escape it.
Greyson: Guillotine locked in! Guillotine locked on Flash!
The fans are frothing at the thought of seeing Flash tap out but Franz isn’t about to let that happen. He charges in to break the hold only to catch a glimpse of Victoria hustling towards him. So Franz catches her with a tilt a whirl only to realize that he’s being lured right into the Vainglorious Victory. Victoria traps Franz in a leg scissors and arm bar combination, forcing the Hair-Doode down to his knees.
Sparkles: Now Victoria’s got the Vainglorious Victory applied on Franz!
Frankie: Froderick better get off his ass do something.
Which is exactly what Froderick IS doing. He dashes across the ring to break up the hold only to run afoul of Selena Frost. He throws a lariat at her that is countered into a flip over then into the Frost Bite. Selena’s now got Froderick trapped in the cross arm breaker.
The entire arena rather vocally airs their delight at the sight of Flash, Franz and Froderick locked in three separate submissions, but ultimately it’s Franz who is the first to tap out. Flash and Froderick submit as well, but a mere second after Franz’s hand slaps the side of Victoria’s thigh.
Greyson: Franz, Flash and Froderick submitting to the Guillotine, the Vainglorious Victory and the Frost Bite respectfully.
Sparkles: So much for any of these men-woman making it to the Queen of Wrestling Title match.
Greyson: Or Flash getting one up on Julia.
Frankie: But it was Franz who tapped out to Victoria first, meaning she’s just advanced to a Queen of Wrestling Title match in the near future.
Shortly after earning their respective submissions, Selena, Julia and Victoria release their victims. All three stand over their fallen foes but Victoria is the only one who has her arm raised aloft by the referee. Deanna Springs is stood on the apron at this point, protesting this decision, citing that Selena earned a submission as well. Henry Van Stanton and Glenn Braddock are just as vocal in their disagreement with the referee’s indicating that Julia made Flash submit as well. In response to this ‘controversy,’ Victoria grabs a microphone from the ringside announcer.
Greyson: A tremendous victory for Victoria Salinas here in her Riot brand debut. And it looks like she’s got something to say
Frankie: (Sarcastically) Wonderful.
Victoria approaches the middle of the ring where Julia has dropped to her knees, still feeling the effects of this very physical match. Selena is leaning against the corner and consulting with Deanna who stands on the opposite side of the ropes.
Victoria: Yeah-yeah-yeah, the two of you got your opponents to tap out, good for you, but the fact of the matter is Franz submitted first.
This fact doesn’t sit well with either Julia OR Selena.
Victoria: But…seeing as you did earn submissions as well, I guess….*sigh*…I guess I’m going to do something uncharacteristically noble. I say we all THREE should move onto the Queen of Wrestling Title match.
Frankie: Awww, it’s just like in grade school sports, everyone gets a trophy so no one’s feelings are hurt.
The crowd applauds this decision.
Victoria: But selfishly, I’m hoping my NOBILITY resonates with YOU…Julia. I hope it shows you that I CAN be trusted.
Braddock looks up from her knees and into the face of Victoria, appearing vexed to say the least.
Victoria: This match just proved exactly what I was trying to tell you earlier tonight, you and I just showed that we can make a pretty formidable team.
It appears that Julia can’t argue with that.
Victoria: So regardless of what you think of me, and I might think of you, we agree on at least one thing. The IWC can no longer endure the threat of New Eden. So I’m asking you Julia….
Victoria drops to her knees in front of the already knelt Julia and puts a hand on her shoulder.
Victoria:….help me. Team with me in two weeks at Awakening against New Eden. Help me face Cindy Todd and Serenity. I know, you and I, can get the job done.
It takes a lot for Victoria to do it, to risk the humiliation of being turned down, but she nevertheless outstretches her hand looking for a shake. She hopes, she prays this doesn’t end with her hand remaining dangled out in front of her with no reciprocation from Julia. After a glance over her shoulder in the direction of Glenn and Henry at ringside, paying particular attention to the scar on her uncle’s forehead, Julia makes a faithful decision. She slaps a palm into Victoria’s hand, shaking it to seal this deal.
Greyson: Oooooh wow, Victoria making a big challenge here and Julia is on board with it.
Frankie: Biiiiiig mistake Julia, biiiig mistake.
Sparkles: So it’s going to be Julia Braddock and Victoria Salinas versus Serenity and Cindy Todd at Upping the Ante? That’s going to be iiiiinnnnTENSE.
Greyson: Another blockbuster match added to what is already a loaded lineup for the pay-per-view.
Julia and Victoria continue to shake hands and help one another to their feet. From the corner of the ring Selena watches all of this go down and actually smiles, liking the sounds of this match slated to go down at Upping the Ante. Deanna stands on the apron behind her, still offering some words to Selena before suddenly going silent. From out of nowhere a set of hands reach up from ringside and take Deanna by the hips. Her eyes widen as she’s dragged off the apron and powerbombed right through the wooden table that Flash Silver brought to ringside. All the hate in the world is directed straight at Alistair Taylor, who stands trembling in rage over the broken body of the lady he just sent crashing through the table.
Greyson: NOOOO!
Sparkles: OH SPARKLES’ GOD!!
Frankie: DEANNA! Deanna Springs just powerbombed right through a fucking table!
Greyson: By that son of a bitch, that damned bastard Alistair Taylor!!
The whole arena joins together in bashing Alistair as he continues to stand over Deanna and the fragments of the table beneath her. Selena spins around once hearing the sound of the table explode but not in time to prevent Deanna going through it. Her eyes cloud with rage at the sight of Alistair backing up the ramp and backing away from the woman he just destroyed.
Greyson: Why did you do this Alistair? What could possess a man to powerbomb an innocent woman through a damned table?
Frankie: Guilt by association Lovejoy, guilt by association.
Selena frantically exits the ring and goes to pursue Alistair but stops when looking down at Deanna. She can’t bring herself to go after Alistair when seeing the love of her life in the condition she’s presently in. Selena stoops down and lightly caresses Deanna’s face with her hands, not wanting to move her as to risk further injury. Up on the stage we can see Alistair looking back over his shoulder at Selena and Deanna with a smirk on only half of his face.
Greyson: You cold hearted son of a bitch!
Frankie: He’s making Monarchy proud.
Selena calls out for help and before long EMTS are racing right past Alistair and down the ramp to lend it.
Cameras cut to the backstage area where the IWC Tag Team Champions Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel are headed down a hallway followed by a number of individuals covered in sheets. The Riot theme song starts to play in the background as well as the voices of the commentators.
Frankie: Speaking of making Monarchy proud. It’s time for Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel to present the skit that has social media buzzing.
Sparkles: The very same skit that resulted in Kat Kelly getting suspended from in ring action here tonight.
Greyson: Apparently they did some legal wheeling and dealing to make sure that Kat’s suspension was overturned and that the skit will air ton…..you know what guys, I’m sorry, I still can’t get over what Alistair Taylor did to Deanna Springs out here.
Frankie: Deanna got what she deserved and now Wicked Intent will get what they deserve after the break, because they’re going to air, and I hope I’m reading this correctly, a Frost family reunion.
Sparkles: Ooooh God, a Frost family reunion?
Frankie: It’s time Wicked Intent sends a message to their opponents, the challengers for their Tag Team Titles at Upping the Ante. And it’s all coming up here after the commercial break.
Once again cameras find themselves located just outside the dressing room of Scott Cannon. That’s where backstage correspondent Susie Moore is positioned, anticipating the opportunity to get an interview with the Number One Contender to the World Championship.
Greyson: Well I hope Wicked Intent isn’t given too much latitude to do EVERYTHING they may have planned in this “Frost Family Reunion” skit, and I also hope that Scott Cannon has done some serious thinking when it comes to the challenge made earlier tonight by World Champion Katelyn Buehler.
Sparkles: We’ve been covering it all night long but now the time is ticking down. What is Scott’s decision going to be?
Frankie: Isn’t this a moot point? Scott has a match still scheduled against Monarchy’s Orlando Cruze for Christ sakes.
Greyson: That he does, but our Champion doesn’t seem to care that Scott is booked. In fact Katelyn was booked against Miss Jon earlier, wrestled her and is STILL wanting to face Scott in the center of that ring here ton….
Taylor: Step aside you walking ball of ear wax.
Demands Taylor Chase as she steps into view and nudges correspondent Susie Moore out of the way of the door leading to Scott Cannon’s dressing room.
Susie: Uhhh, Taylor…
Susie JUST catches Tay before she barges through the door.
Susie: What do you think you’re doing? Are you going in to talk to Scott?
Taylor: *Sigh* Listen, I know you were hired because you fill out your bra quite nicely, but TRY to show some brains for once instead of some cleavage. Of course I’m going in to talk to Scott….
Susie: Why?
Taylor: Because he’s scheduled to face my husband tonight, but that’s about to change.
Taylor just barges straight into the dressing room and then slams the door shut behind her, almost closing it directly on Susie’s nose.
Greyson: The plot has definitely just thickened.
Sparkles: Taylor Chase waltzing right into Scott Cannon’s dressing room. And it sounds to me like she’s going to try and sway him into backing out of his match against her husband so that he’ll fight Katelyn Buehler instead.
Greyson: This situation just continues to get more and more twisted the closer we get to our scheduled main event.
MOMENTS AGO
Greyson: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back from commercial break, and if you missed it we just witnessed an absolutely sickening scene unfold.
The video presently airing recounts what went down after the conclusion to the crazy six person bout that occurred a few minutes earlier. Selena Frost, one of the survivors in that match, is shown talking to her fiancée Deanna, who is presently stood on the apron of the ring with her back facing a table planted at ringside. The conversation ends when Selena’s rival Alistair Taylor slips in under an unsuspecting Deanna and powerbombs her from the apron then through the table.
Sparkles: Sickening doesn’t even begin to give justice to what we saw Lovejoy.
Frankie: Why are you two so bent out of shape just because Deanna Springs took a little spill through a table?
Greyson: A little spill? Yeah fucking right!
Sparkles: Alistair Taylor using Deanna to send a message to his rival Selena via powerbombing her through that table.
Greyson: Just when I thought Alistair and Monarchy couldn’t be any more reprehensible they do something like this to an innocent girl. I’m appalled.
Cameras cut from the video to the backstage corridor where Alistair Taylor is walking past a giant mesh wall with boxes stacked up behind it. The back of the Monarchy member is aimed to the camera that he is walking away from. He doesn’t have enough get up in his step though to prevent being caught by correspondent Mark Comeau.
Comeau: Excuse me, excuse me Alistair……
After letting out a gruff sigh Alistair’s sharp eyes shoot back over his shoulder.
Alistair: What?
He asks with sheer annoyance in his tone.
Comeau: Can you PLEASE explain to me why you would do something so horrible as to powerbomb Deanna Springs through that table?
Inquires Comeau with outrage in his voice.
Alistair: Heh….(he snickers coldly)…Horrible? You think THAT was horrible? No, horrible is having a shot at the Evolution Title STRIPED away from you because someone decides to spike your champagne. Horrible is having someone ruin your concert by breaking a guitar over your head. And horrible, is exactly what’s going to happen to Selena Frost at Upping the Ante.
Alistair’s chilling stare turns from Comeau’s face to the camera.
Alistair: Selena, I’ll be at Upping the Ante, and I’ll be waiting to do something very horrible…to….you. It’s time you learned Selena, that WE are Monarchy, and we….will….RULE.
Taylor: So you see Scott, facing Orlando is not in your best interests.
Reasons Taylor Chase as she crouches towards the seated Scott Cannon. It’s unclear rather her words are holding any sway over Scott, who is parked in the middle of his dressing room looking off into the carpet beneath his feet.
Taylor: I know there’s history between you and my husband, but it’s just that, its history. There’s no need to go out there and open up old wounds.
Tay reaches out and pats Scott on the shoulder.
Taylor: I get it Scott, you’re still obsessed with me, I mean, LOOK AT ME, who wouldn’t obsess? Especially when you COULD have had me and yet you settled for Vanilla Skyy. I’m like the sun, and she’s as icy as Pluto. Plus, she’s from Alaska, and they eat nothing but fish and raw seals there, so can you imagine what her breathe smells like? Anyway, you’re infatuation with me shouldn’t drive you to make a bad decision tonight. Forfeit your match against Orlando and take on Katelyn Buehler instead. Give that bitch the beating she has coming. Break her Scott…BREAK HER!
Tay stands up and rubs the top of Scott’s head.
Taylor: Do it….for me…
After baiting Scott with her charms Taylor vacates the dressing room, leaving Scott behind, sitting deep in thought. Suddenly a chuckle comes from his lungs and he begins to shake his skull.
The tunes of Wicked Intent’s entrance theme start to stream through the loud speakers, getting a reaction that is understandably harsh. Making their way through the curtains and to the stage are the Tag Team Champions Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly, the duo that has been instrumental in raising both the prestige of the Tag belts, and the ire of the audience. They draw quite a bit of heat on their way to the ring, followed by a number of individuals covered from head to toe in sheets.
Greyson: Taylor Chase trying her best to manipulate Scott Cannon.
Frankie: Everyone succumbs to the charms of Tay-Tay, EVERYONE.
Sparkles: So it looks like Tay will get what she wants, and that’s a beating inflicted on her rival Katelyn at the hands of Scott Cannon.
Greyson: Here comes two people who have quite a bit of history with both Scott and Katelyn. Wicked Intent headed for the squared circle so they can present us with….and I hate to say this….’A Frost Family Reunion.’
Frankie: This is going to be IN-CRED-IBLE.
Greyson: All of this designed to send a message to Wicked Intent’s opponents at Upping the Ante, Eve and Siqua, proud followers of the Frost family.
Once in the ring Wicked Intent go on getting booed out of the building before they can even open their mouths. Those covered in sheets take up residency behind the Tag Champions.
Kat: Try as they may the IWC will not abuse their power over Lexy and I.
Lexy: Because in the immortal words of Adam of Eternia, WE HAVE THE POWEEEEEERRRR!!
Lexy pantomimes holding a sword above her head.
Kat: As members of Monarchy we have carte-blanche to do whatever we want, because WE run this show, and the IWC’s legal department learned that earlier tonight when they TRIED to keep us from airing this segment.
Lexy: But our sharp legal minds were too much for those fuckers to deal with. We sooo John Grishamed the shit out of them until we bent them to our submission.
Kat: And what’s why we come before you all with some great news. Firstly, my in ring suspension for love tapping a member of the production crew has been lifted….
Lexy: And the ‘controversial’ segment that we had been told was un-airable WILL happen and WILL happen right this God damned second! So without further adieu, we present to you all the FROST FAMILY REUNION!
The crowd are already pre-emptively jeering this announcement.
Kat: In two weeks Lexy and I defend the Tag Titles that we’ve made the biggest prize in all of professional wrestling against Eve and Siqua, the Sinistry ass kissers who have their heads so far up the backsides of the Frost family it looks like they’re auditioning for the next Human Centipede film.
Lexy: But we don’t have to go into this Tag Title match as enemies. No-no-noooo, we can keep things RESPECTFUL.
Kat: We want to extend the olive branch to our opponents at Upping the Ante.
Lexy: So that’s why, with that big title defense in mind Kat and I decided to get together to properly honor Eve’s and Siqua’s masters by reuniting the Frost’s with some of their long lost family members.
Kat: It wasn’t easy, a lot of the Frost’s do a good job of hiding out in their mother country of Germany.
Lexy: Like their grandfather ADOLF.
One of the individuals who came to the ring covered in a sheet is now revealed. Lexy pulls the blanket off of them and reveals an Adolf Hitler impersonator beneath it. He is already giving a ‘heil Hitler’ taunt and is adorned in stereotypical Nazi garbs.
Greyson: Oh for Christ sakes.
Frankie: Hey look, it’s Aiken and Ba’al’s grandfather. How thoughtful of Wicked Intent to go out and find him.
Greyson: That is so not any relation to the Frost family.
Sparkles: How do you know that?
Greyson: It’s a friggin Hitler impersonator.
The Hitler look alike continues to display a number of over the top Nazi style poses, including goose stepping in place.
Lexy: Adolf. Can you tell us why you made it so hard for us to find you?
Lexy holds up the mic to Adolf’s lips.
Adolf: To be honest, I do not want to be associated with the Frost family. It would give me a bad reputation.
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Kat and Lexy try to restrain their chuckles.
Kat: Fair enough, we can understand what kind of stigma being a Frost would put on you.
Lexy: What were Aiken and Ba’al and Jaina like as kiddies?
Adolf: Impossible to potty train, and Aiken spent way too much time in the bathroom with his girly magazines. 22 hours a day actually. And Ba’al, he constantly got into his mother’s makeup.
Kat: That would explain why he wears all that eye liner today.
Lexy: I can definitely understand why you wouldn’t want to be associated with the Frosts. I mean, who would?
Kat: That’s probably why the their Uncle made it hard for us to track him down.
Another of the individuals covered in a sheet is revealed. As the tarp pulls away the man beneath it is revealed as a Count Orlok from the film Nosferatu doppleganger. All of his movements seem to be derived from the classic German expressionalist film in which he bases his character on.
Frankie: AAAAAH-HAHAHAHAHA-I’m dying-I’M DYING!
Greyson: Oh how I wish you weren’t exaggerating. Please just let this skit end. It’s every bit as offensive as I thought it would be.
Frankie: And the best part is, it’s not over.
Kat puts a hand on Orlok’s shoulder.
Kat: Orlok, can we presume that you’re not proud of your Frost family heritage?
The count nods, remaining non-verbal.
Kat: Figured as much.
Lexy: You might not claim her as your niece, but I can definitely see your strong resemblance to Jaina Frost.
Kat: We’re sorry to tell you this Orlok, but you might be a bit more humiliated to be related to the Frosts after Upping the Ante, when we’ve embarrassed their charges Eve and Siqua.
Lexy: In route to retaining these (holds up the Tag Titles).
Kat: So maybe you should go back to hanging out in the dungeon beneath that old castle where we found you.
Lexy: Which is probably the same place where Ba’al found his pupil Eve.
Kat: Speaking of people who were raised in a dungeon and look like they’ve been tortured their whole life, that brings us to the next members of the Frost family we’ve summoned to the ring tonight.
Both Lexy and Kat approach the final two guests covered in sheets. It isn’t long before the veils are pulled away by the laughing Tag Team Champions. Their chuckles come to an end though when the faces beneath those tarps are revealed as Siqua and Eve.
Greyson: OOOOOH MY GOD!
Sparkles; It’s EVE, it’s SIQUA!
Greyson: The challengers to the Tag Team Titles at Upping the Ante!
Lexy and Kat both look like they’ve just shat a litter of kittens. Their eyes widen into stares of disbelief at the sight of the macabre duo set to oppose them in two weeks at Upping the Ante for the Tag straps. Clearly Wicked Intent are shocked to have the Sinistry here and even more shocked when smiles grace the faces of Eve and Siqua and the lights in the building cut out entirely.
Frankie: What’s going on now? Someone turn the lights back on! Turn them on NOW!!
The lights finally do come back on and when they do Eve and Siqua are nowhere to be seen. However, Kat and Lexy find themselves kneeling in the middle of the ring soaked from head to toe in blood that does not belong to them.
Frankie: AAAAAAHHHH!!!
Greyson: Kat and Lexy, they’ve been-they’ve been-they’ve been BLOOD BATHED!
Frankie: This is horrible! This is criminal! Someone give me some towels so I can clean Lexy and Kat.
Sparkles: Eve and Siqua sending a message to the Tag Team Champions just two weeks removed from the big title bout at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: I bet Kat wishes she had never proposed this segment now.
After getting over their initial shock the members of Wicked Intent stare across the ring at one another and see that their both covered in buckets of blood. They stand up trembling in anger while Orlok and Adolf are trying to calm them down. Without warning Lexy and Kat nail simultaneous superkicks on the jaws of their guests. Before either Adolf or Orlok knows what hit them they’re being cracked in the chins with the kicks and sent sprawling to the floor.
Greyson: Wicked Intent superkicking Grandfather Adolf and Uncle Orlok.
Frankie: Eve! Siqua! You damned monsters! This is unforgiveable!!
Greyson: I think the challengers are definitely in the heads of the champions going into the pay-per-view.
PRE-RECORDED
The mean streets of the city come into view as Orlando Cruze traverses them. He walks along a sidewalk and talks to the camera that is following him.
Orlando: These are the streets where Orlando Cruze grew from a boy into a man…A PHENOMENAL MAN.
Orlando stops walking past piles of garbage with bums sleeping beneath the trash and nears the door to what looks like a deli.
Orlando: Right here is where I had my first job. Newton’s Deli. As I understand it my former boss, the guy who took a chance on a 13 year old punk, is still running the joint. Let’s go say hi and give him the chance to regale you with tales about my incredible work ethic.
The once revered and universally beloved Orlando Cruze steps over the threshold to his first place of employment. Cameras follow him into the Deli where a heavy older man is standing behind the counter and smiling oh so wide at the sight of Orlando.
Newton: Ooooooh Or-LAN-DOOOOOH!
Shouts the man in a thick Italian accent. He instantly grabs Orlando by the head and pulls him into a kiss on either cheek.
Newton: It tis soooo guhd to see you again.
Orlando: Yeah, I’m filming a little documentary for my fans.
Newton: Exsullunt.
Orlando: See (looks back at the camera) unlike Andre Jordan, I wasn’t out peddling dope in my teenage years, no, I was actually working seven days a week, 24 hours a day….
Newton: Acchullay Orlandoh, you called off more than any of my other employees.
Orlando makes a cut throat taunt as if to signal to the Deli Owner that he needs to shut up.
Newton: You always showed up late, and often times, you just sat in the back reading those comic books when you were supposed to be working.
Orlando: Well maybe if you didn’t run a sweatshop and break so many child labor laws, I would have been a far more efficient employee.
Newton: Orlandoh, why you say these things?
Orlando: Because we’re being honest, right?
Newton: I gave you opportunity….
Orlando: No, you took advantage of a poor able bodied young man desperate for money. You should be ashamed of yourself, absolutely ashamed….
Newton: But Orlandoh, I was like a father to…..
A slap, a HARD slap, shuts Newton up and sends him sprawling to the floor.
Orlando: You know what?
Orlando turns to the camera.
Orlando: This little stroll down memory lane is over for now. I got things here in the present to deal with, Scott Cannon for instance. I hope you found this tour informative Andre and it’s shown you that I haven’t forgotten where I’ve come from….
A big toothy smile stretches over Orlando’s face.
The show cuts to the dressing room where Orlando Cruze is anything but pre-recorded, and no longer traversing the streets. Instead he’s sitting front and center as he applies some tape to his wrists. He’s getting himself ready for his match against Scott Cannon before the door opens and Taylor Chase walks right in. Following behind her are her fellow Monarchy members Trinity Street and Lucas Knight.
Taylor: What are you doing?
Asks Tay as she looks Orlando up and down, noticing that he’s gotten all geared up for competition.
Orlando: Preparing for my match love.
Laughter is shared amongst the Monarchy members.
Trinity: Orlando, you don’t have to worry about facing Scott this evening.
Orlando: I take it you had a chat with him?
Asks Orlando, his words directed to the still giggling Taylor.
Taylor: Oh I talked, and Scott listened.
Lucas: The poor man is still obsessed with your wife and would do ANYTHING to appease her.
Trinity: So everything will work out exactly to our liking. You will win your match against Scott without cracking a sweat, and then Scott and Katelyn will destroy each other.
Taylor: Then WE (hugs her husband’s arm) will swoop in for the KILL.
Tay grabs Orlando by the back of the head and pulls his lips into her own.
The Riot theme song is playing in the background as we see the World Champion Katelyn Buehler stepping down a corridor. She’s looking even more intense than ever at the moment as we near the culmination to this evening, the grand finale in what has been quite the ride.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler, our World Champion, looks like she’s headed in our direction guys.
Sparkles: She obviously thinks she’s going to get Scott Cannon one on one tonight.
Frankie: Monarchy thinks so as well.
Greyson: Is it gonna happen, is…..wait a minute….
As Katelyn moves down the hallway she passes by a corner where two men are leering at her from the shadows. She doesn’t notice Michael and David Cannon watching her and watching her very closely.
Greyson: It’s the Cannon brothers!
Sparkles: And it appears they’re still stalking Katelyn.
Frankie: Things are about to get chaotic, just like at the start of tonight’s show.
Greyson: Is Katelyn headed for another collision with Dem Cannon Boys? Find out next, this is our LAST commercial break.
When cameras return from commercial break they focus on backstage correspondent Susie Moore, who is now leaning with her back to the wall. Right beside her we see the door leading into Scott Cannon’s dressing room. The plucky Susie still hasn’t given up hope that she’ll get an interview with Scott right before his scheduled match against Orlando Cruze. It seems she may finally get what she’s been anticipating all night long. The door to the locker-room opens and out steps Scott Cannon, briefcase holding his Number One Contender Contract in hand, and the Evolution Title over his shoulder.
Susie: SCOTT!
Her voice is so high pitched it could crack glass.
Scott: Yeah?
Scott is surprisingly civil all things considered.
Susie: Everyone wants to know, are you going to accept Katelyn Buehler’s challenge? If so are you going to forfeit the match you’re slated to compete against Orlando Cruze? Or will you wrestle them BOTH?
A grin comes across Scott’s face.
Scott: I’ll tell you what Susie, I’ll do the RIGHT thing.
Scott walks off as Susie tries to figure out rather her question was answered or not.
Riot returns to the ring just as the tunes of ‘Phenomenal’ by Eminem start to play over the loud speakers. There is a loud chorus of jeers as the crowd realizes that Orlando Cruze is about to head for the squared circle. The curtains open and as predicted Orlando Cruze has come stepping through them. However, he’s not alone. Stood beside him, with her arm wrapped around Orlando’s, is Taylor Chase. Behind them are Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, the founding members of Monarchy. All four individuals collectively descend upon the squared circle.
Greyson: The moment is upon us. We’re scheduled to see Orlando Cruze collide in an eagerly anticipated one on one match against Scott Cannon, but all those plans may have changed.
Frankie: May have? They definitely did. At the start of the night Katelyn Buehler challenged Scott Cannon to face her here tonight after we’ve seen the issues between those two explode ahead of their World Title match at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: Let’s take you all back and show you what we’re talking about.
TWO WEEKS AGO
A recap video documents what occurred on the last edition of Riot when Scott Cannon’s brothers Michael and David brawled with the World Champion. Eventually the Cannons manage to get the better of Katelyn, but before they can seriously punish her physically, she’s saved by the shocking arrival of Scott Cannon. He enters the ring and pushes his brothers off Katelyn. Though sadly his recompense for this chivalry is a roaring elbow delivered by Katelyn. She knocks Scott out with the roaring elbow.
EARLIER TONIGHT
The video transitions to the anarchy that started off the evening when Michael and David called Katelyn out only for their brother Scott to answer the challenge. After a spat between the Cannons, Katelyn finally does arrive and goes straight after the trio in the ring. Scott hangs back and doesn’t participate in the fight his siblings wage against Katelyn, at least not until one of them tries to use a chair on the World Champion. Scott takes the chair out of Michael’s hands then shoves him on his backside. That’s when Katelyn spots Scott stood over her with the steel chair in his grips, sending her the wrong message. She mistakes Scott’s intent, but there’s no mistaking Katelyn’s desire to knock him out. Katelyn and Scott go at it to close out what was a shocking commencement to Riot.
Cameras return to the ring where Orlando Cruze is now stood, looking oh so confident. He leisurely reclines against the ropes looking to get this formality over with. Stood in the squared circle around him are Trinity Street, Lucas Knight and Taylor Chase, all telling the legend that he’s in for an easy night.
Sparkles: Orlando seems pretty convinced that he’s not going to wrestle tonight.
Frankie: Of course he isn’t. His wife got to Scott Cannon and manipulated him into agreeing to Katelyn’s challenge, so this match between Scott and Orlando is off.
Greyson: It’s hard to ignore Tay’s charms, that’s for certain, and the history between she and Scott is pretty well documented.
Frankie: Yup. All meaning Orlando is getting the night off.
Orlando goes on laughing it up with his Monarchy crew as referee Marcus Mayfield stands across from the four waiting to get this match started. The tracks of ‘Bad to the Bone’ start to play over the PA system to a surprisingly big pop from the crowd. The fans are energetically jumping to their feet with eyes glued to the stage which is presently EMPTY. There are no signs of Orlando’s scheduled opponent Scott Cannon.
Frankie: See, told ya.
Greyson: It looks like Scott will be ditching this match against Orlando in favor of taking on Katelyn Buehler here tonight.
Frankie: Smart move on Scott’s part, fighting Katelyn on the same night that she was physically decimated by Miss Jon. She’s going to be easy pickings.
The cheers from the crowd turn into wails of dismay when it becomes transparent that Scott Cannon is NOT coming out to face Orlando.
Orlando: Alright, enough with all the theatrics.
Announces Orlando as he takes a microphone and moves towards referee Mayfield.
Orlando: This is just wasting my precious time. Go ahead, start the ten count, disqualify Scott then raise MY arm in victory. Get it? Got it? GOOD!
The microphone is tossed aside and Orlando gives Mayfield a little shove to get the referee’s ass in gear. Mayfield puts aside pride and does as instructed.
Mayfield: 1!
The crowd boos as Mayfield starts the ten count.
Mayfield: 2! 3! 4! 5!….
The sound of Mayfield’s count are suddenly drowned out by the lyrics of ‘Bad to the Bone.’ The whole arena lets out a tremendous ovation when hearing the entrance music of Scott Cannon. The curtains part and he steps past them, heading for the squared circle with a briefcase clutched in one hand, the Evolution Title grasped in the other.
Frankie: Uhhhh, what are you doing Scott?
Greyson: I think Monarchy might have gotten a little ahead of themselves.
Sparkles: Cannon’s coming out here and Orlando does not look happy to see him.
Frankie: Of course he isn’t happy to see Scott, neither am I. Don’t you be an idiot Scott!!
The fans are still cheering and cheering so loud they’re almost going hoarse as Scott enters the ring filled with Monarchy members who are voicing their outrage over his presence. The steel briefcase holding his Number One Contender contract, and his Evolution Title belt are left in the corner of the ring as Scott approaches a stunned Orlando.
Scott: Sorry I’m late.
A grin comes to Scott’s face while Orlando goes red, his eyes narrowing to slits and his lips quivering in anger. Mayfield proudly calls for the bell to start the match.
SCOTT CANNON VS. ORLANDO CRUZE
Greyson: It looks as if we’re getting it ladies and gents. We’re getting Scott Cannon versus Orlando Cruze.
Frankie: What kind of moron are you, Scott? You have an opportunity to take out the World Champion tonight.
Sparkles: But that’s not the type of man Scott is.
Frankie: I’m so sick and tired of hearing that shit.
Greyson: Scott’s doing the right thing, in his book and MY book, by honoring his commitment to fight Orlando here on Riot, and then fight Katelyn Buehler for the World Title at Upping the Ante.
Orlando obviously doesn’t agree that this is the right thing, he’s fuming. He shouts over the ropes at Taylor, Trinity and Lucas while behind him Scott is warming up. But just then Scott’s attention deviates from his opponent to the woman who is making her way down the ramp. Tensions escalate when Scott spots Katelyn Buehler headed down the ramp with the World Title over her shoulder.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler isn’t happy about Scott’s decision either, she was the one who challenged him to have their match here tonight as opposed to at the pay-per-view.
Sparkles: Now she’s settling in to witness Scott go one on one with Orlando instead.
The bell rings in the background while Scott stares over the ropes at Katelyn. His attention leaps back to the ring though when Orlando comes rushing in behind him, going for a clothesline. Scott whips around, blocks Orlando’s fist and then drills him between the eyes with a jab. The punch sends Orlando staggering back. He’s put on his heels by another punch and then another and then another and then a fourth and a fifth strike. The sixth punch at last takes Orlando from his feet and sends him rolling out of the ring. He drops down in front of Tay, his wife stepping in to look at his nose and make sure it’s not broken. After feeling at her husband’s face Tay turns her wrath to the ring.
Taylor: WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!
She shouts at Scott, who shrugs and gives her an ‘ah schucks’ response.
Frankie: How could Scott do this to Taylor? He owes her for so much and this is how he repays her?
Greyson: Scott wasn’t about to walk away from this match for anyone or anything. Not even Taylor Chase, and not even Katelyn Buehler.
Scott leans through the ropes and shouts down at Tay, but the moment he does this he exposes his skull to the big boot that Orlando quickly unleashes. Orlando runs across the mats and drills Scott straight in the temple with a kick so devastating that it sends him spinning back into the center of the ring. Orlando then slides in behind him, rushes towards Scott and receives an unexpected lariat across the throat. Scott snaps around and slams his bicep directly into Orlando’s larynx, the shot knocking him to the ground. A stunned Orlando scrambles back to his feet and instantly receives a European Uppercut to the jaw, a blow that sends the Phenom staggering along into the ropes. Orlando bounces off the ropes and walks right back into a right across the brow that fells him to the ring.
Frankie: How is this right? Orlando was not anticipating a match against Scott Cannon tonight at all.
Greyson: That’s HIS fault, and he’s paying for being so presumptuous.
Orlando races to get back to his feet and pays for it when Scott Irish whips him along into the turnbuckle. Orlando hits the corner with such force that he actually goes flipping up and over it then spilling to the outside of the ring.
Frankie: AAAAH!
Greyson: What momentum behind that Irish whip!
Sparkles: There is A LOT of history between Scott and Orlando, hence why Scott could not walk away from an opportunity to fight the Ico….
Greyson: He’s not the Icon anymore, Sparkles.
Frankie: That’s right, because now that Scott is with Monarchy, he’s PHENOMENAL.
Orlando is aided to his feet at ringside by Trinity Street and Lucas Knight. He then stumbles back away from them and falls against the apron. His eyes widen as he finds his jaw ensnared in the clutches of Cannon. An aggressive Scott grabs Orlando under the chin and pulls on it, dragging his adversary up onto the apron and then throwing forearms repeatedly across his chest.
Greyson: Get ‘em Scott, get ‘em.
Scott goes on delivering these clubbing blows across Orlando’s sternum before he finds two thumbs in his eyes. Orlando reaches back and rakes Scott’s eyes, blinding him. Realizing that he just crated a window of opportunity, Orlando turns around, grabs Scott around the neck and then twists him around. To a loud screech from the audience Orlando drops from the apron and hits a reverse neck-breaker, driving the back of Scott’s head into the middle rope. Scott skull snaps from the canvas and could potentially be broken. Nevertheless he starts to get up only to have Orlando barrel back into the ring and then run across it, catching Scott with a swinging neck-breaker.
Frankie: It took him a while to get over his shock at the way this match started, but Orlando is back in it and now it’s time to DOMINATE!
Greyson: You know, I’d much rather you go back to hating Orlando for no apparent reason.
Once back on his feet Orlando takes a moment to lean with his chest to the turnbuckle, taking a breather. He dashes from the corner and towards the legs of his opponent, lifting them into the air then stepping through. A sharpshooter is about to be locked in already but Scott is vehemently rebelling against it. He sits up and swings a fist right upside Orlando’s head before managing to roll himself completely over backwards. He gets to his knees and then scoots forward and grabs Orlando by the creases of his legs. A shocked Cruze’s limbs are pulled out from under him, toppling him to the canvas. Scott then stands up maintaining a grip on Orlando’s legs before preparing to lock in his own submission. However, Orlando is able to finagle his legs free and then wedge his boot to Scott’s chest, kicking him back with enough force to send his adversary smacking spine first into the corner. The back of Scott’s head hits the corner with some nasty impact while Orlando comes dashing in and nails a clothesline across his throat. The blow knocks Scott to his seat with his back wedged to the corner, the only thing keeping him upright.
Orlando looks out over the audience and smiles, realizing that he’s got Scott precisely where he wants him. He puts his boot to the side of his adversary’s head and scrapes his heel against their flesh. He then does this again and again before taking off across the ring to build momentum behind a face-wash.
Greyson: Orlando taking a cue from his opponent’s playbook.
Sparkles: It looks like Orlando is stealing some of Scott Cannon’s trademark offense here.
A lot of momentum is built behind the running boot that connects with Scott’s hands as opposed to his face. The Evolution Champion catches Orlando’s ankle and stands up, causing his opponent to hop up and down on one foot as he tries to stay upright. His planted foot is then swept out from under him, causing Orlando to land on his back. Cannon then steps through Orlando’s legs and rolls him over onto his stomach, subjecting him to the sharpshooter.
Frankie: Oh come on, Scott ripping off Orlando so blatantly.
Greyson: Scott stealing one of Orlando’s trademark moves, the sharpshooter. Will he earn a submission with it?
Frankie: What an insult that would be to the legendary Orlando.
A groaning Orlando claws his way across the ring ever nearer to the ropes while his opponent is exerting so much strain on his lower back and legs. Somehow Orlando manages to get to his salvation, grabbing the ropes and forcing the submission to be broken. An aching Orlando rolls from the squared circle and to the apron but his adversary is closing in on him. Scott climbs through the ropes and to the apron where he immediately places his opponent in a front chancery. It looks like Scott is about to hit a DDT on the apron, crushing his rival’s skull. At the last second Orlando spares himself by possibly injuring the Evolution Champion. Orlando puts his hands to Scott’s ribs and gives him such a forceful shove that he goes back peddling across the apron and cracking back first against the exposed steel turnbuckle post. Once again the back of Scott’s head withstands much of the force against the post.
Unfortunately Scott ricochets from the post and stumbles right back into his adversary’s arms. Orlando catches Scott around the head, twists him around then drops into a reverse neck breaker right across the ring apron. The back of Scott’s skull slams into the reinforced steel beneath the canvas, resulting in a potentially gruesome injury. Scott rolls into the ring clasping at his skull but so is Orlando, who drops an axehandle elbow straight into the back of his adversary’s neck. Orlando hustles to his feet and into the nearest corner, climbing to the middle rope before unleashing a diving axehandle elbow smash. Once again Orlando’s elbow crushes the back of Scott’s head.
From the ramp we see the World Champion Katelyn Buehler watching with an obvious emotional detachment as this beatdown on the number one contender to her title continues. Meanwhile the Monarchy members at ringside are enjoying what they’re seeing, enjoying it immensely. Trinity is now shouting into the ring, words aimed at the downtrodden Scott.
Trinity: All you had to was walk away from this Scott!
Lucas: This is on your head.
Taylor would join her cohorts in their comments aimed at Cannon, but she’s too preoccupied with the World Champion, who also happens to be her staunchest IWC rival, stood on the ramp. Back inside of the ring Orlando has his foot pressed to the back of Scott’s head, grinding his heel against his adversary’s skull and neck. Orlando pushes down on his own knee in order to force more pressure on Scott’s head. The referee starts a five count, Mayfield at last forcing Orlando to take his boot away from his adversary’s skull. A few slaps are given to the back of Scott’s head, Orlando throwing in some insults along with the injuries.
Orlando: Let’s get a few things straight Scott. You can’t beat me, you can’t be me. You’ll never have my life, nor will you ever be good enough to have my wife!
Tay smiles and claps at ringside while her hubby pulls Scott to his feet only to level him with a stiff punch straight across the mouth. Scott collapses to the ring and then rolls across it with his back ending up pressed to the ropes. Orlando runs in quick and puts his knee against Scott’s throat, leaning all of his body weight into it. As a result the back of Scott’s head and neck are pressed to the middle cable. This blatant abuse of the rules continues until the referee starts a five count and forces Orlando to remove his knee. Instead he puts his boot upside Scott’s throat and uses that instead to choke him while also forcing the back of his opponent’s head against the middle cable. Another five count forces Orlando to stop cheating and to ensnare his adversary’s ears in is hands. Orlando forces Scott to the middle of the ring while still shouting at him.
Orlando: You want to embarrass me? You want to humiliate me? You think you’re better than me? That you deserve all that I have? I’ll show you what you deserve you son of a bitch!
Orlando Irish whips Scott with all of his strength into the turnbuckle. The back of Scott’s head hits the corner and his neck suffers some serious whiplash. The Evolution Champion comes crashing down onto his face and then clutches at his neck. The grin on Orlando’s face is downright sickening, as are his actions. He pulls Scott up from the canvas and takes him around the neck, slowly, methodically twisting his opponent around into position for the reverse neck breaker. Just as it seems Scott is being set up to suffer a serious neck injury he counters and counters big with a backslide.
Sparkles: BAAAAACKSSSSLLLIDDDE!!
Greyson: This won Lexy Chapel her match two weeks ago in the main event, will it do it for Scott as well?
The referee makes the count as Orlando’s legs kick high above him, but that fails to get his shoulders off the canvas
1
2
Orlando at last kicks out and falls over backwards in the process. He ends up coming down on his seat with his back pressed to a turnbuckle. He sits up for just a second before finding his face crushed by the big running boot unleashed by his rival. Scott hits a powerful face wash, scraping the skin from his adversary’s brow.
Greyson: There’s the face wash unleashed by its innovator.
Scott backs up and then gets a running start behind a second face wash, which kills even more of his opponent’s brain-cells. That’s not enough for Scott though, he steps back to the middle of the ring and then runs in with a third face-wash. That’s still not doing it for Scott, he runs into the far ropes, ricochets from them and comes back in at his wounded opponent before hitting a FOURTH face wash.
Frankie: Stop this Mayfield! Get off your ass ref and stop this! Scott’s gonna kill Orlando at this rate.
Scott stops unleashing the face washes and instead drops to his knees in front of his opponent before unleashing a barrage of punches with both hands. Orlando tries to cover up as one punch after another nails him in either side of his head. The referee starts a five count, but it’s painfully obvious that threatening Scott with disqualification isn’t going to make him stop. So the ref grabs Scott under the arms and actually pries him off Orlando then forces him back to the center of the ring. Although Orlando is a bit loopy he still manages to get to his feet and then run in behind the referee, giving him a hard shove that pushes him along into a face to face collision with Scott.
Frankie: Ha-ha, brilliant! Orlando using the referee as a weapon.
Greyson: Dammit Orlando, DAMMIT!
Mayfield falls to the ring clutching as his face while Scott stumbles back and leans against a corner. He won’t be standing much longer if his opponent has his way. Orlando hustles across the ring and then leaps straight towards Scott only to be caught across the chest and hit with a standing STO.
Frankie: NO!
Orlando’s body is driven with such force against the ring that it instantly feels like his organs have exploded. He rolls back to the center of the ring while his adversary remains stood in the corner. Finally Scott begins to step away from the turnbuckle only to stop when he spots Taylor standing on the apron beside him. Surprisingly a smile still graces her face as she reaches over the ropes and puts a hand on Scott’s shoulders.
Taylor: You know, watching you out here, all sweaty and glistening, it’s got me thinking. Maybe there still is a future for you and I…..
Scott’s eyebrow arches, PRETENDING he’s still interested. He knows all too well that Tay doesn’t mean a damn thing she’s saying, and that only becomes more obvious when he’s hit with a forearm to the back of his head. Scott falls to the canvas and his adversary Orlando drops down beside him, immediately locking in a crippler crossface.
Greyson: THE CROSSFACE!
Sparkles: It’s locked in, it’s locked in on the injured neck of Cannon.
The horrified audience watches as Scott struggles against the crossface and Orlando fights to get it firmly locked in. Tay is watching this battle from her vantage point on the apron, immensely enjoying what she’s seeing. That is until her view changes when her ankle is caught and her body is tugged out from under. The World Champion is not about to abide any indication that Tay is happy. Katelyn drags her rival down off of the apron and causes Tay to land on the mats in front of her.
Frankie: Don’t you touch Tay!
Greyson: Katelyn has just had enough of Taylor Chase!
Katelyn and Tay go face to face, arguing with one another. Orlando has taken notice of this, breaking his crossface and then reaching through the ropes. He grabs hold of Katelyn’s hair and gives it a yank, trying to pull the World Champion into the ring. But Katelyn whips around and cracks Orlando in the face with a punch that sends him stumbling back to the middle of the ring. He turns just as in time to find his ribs caught against Scott’s shoulder and his body being elevated into the Double A Spinebuster. Scott immediately follows this up with a cover. Meanwhile at ringside Taylor is clubbing Katelyn over the back of her head, knocking her to the ground and then stomping at her repeatedly. Trinity and Lucas join in, also assaulting Katelyn.
Greyson: Monarchy attacking Katelyn, but they have no idea that one of their own is being pinned in the center of the ring.
Frankie: Trinity, Lucas, Taylor, SOMEONE do SOMETHING!
An aching Scott has Orlando’s leg hooked and the referee has finally shaken off the headbutt he was forced into earlier in order to make the count.
1
2
The whole of the arena screeches at the sight of Orlando lunging his shoulder up from the ring and out of the pin.
Greyson: Soooo close…sooo damned close to Cannon defeating Orlando here in this highly competitive main event.
An exhausted and hurting Scott gets to his feet with Orlando’s head falling into his hands. The Evolution Champion pulls Orlando up into the front chancery and now sets up to deliver the House Rules. At the exact same time Taylor throws Katelyn into the ring, causing her to roll in right beside Scott. He turns around and spots the World Champion standing up beside him. Instantly Scott breaks his front chancery on Orlando and swings around, jabbing Katelyn across the jaw.
Greyson: No Scott! NO!
Sparkles: Obviously Scott must think that Katelyn was trying to interfere in this match!
Frankie: Who says she wasn’t.
Greyson: She was thrown into the ring by Taylor you idiot.
The punch has sent Katelyn spiraling along into the corner while Scott prepares to close the gap between them. He starts to step towards Katelyn but doesn’t make it very far on account of the superkick that blasts him right in the back of his head. Orlando hits the kick directly into the area that he’s targeted throughout this match/
Greyson: Superkick!
The fans are beside themselves in anger at the sight of Orlando pinning Scott’s shoulders to the ring and hooking his leg. As much as it goes against Mayfield’s principles, he drops down and he makes the three count.
1
2
Orlando’s pin almost incites a rampage from the audience. Nobody is very happy to see the way this bout has just concluded, and if Scott were conscious at the moment he’d be rallied in protest. Unfortunately he’s not conscious, instead he’s splayed across the ground still reeling from the superkick, that just ended this match.
Frankie: Yes-hahahahaha-YEEES. MONARCHY RULES!!
Greyson: Orlando with a very hard fought win here tonight.
Sparkles: And he can give a big thank you to his wife for rolling the World Champion into the ring.
Greyson: That distracted Scott long enough to fall victim to the superkick on the back of his skull/
Sparkles: Scott thought Katelyn was trying to interfere and get the drop on him, which ended disastrously for Cannon.
Frankie: But fortuitously for Orlando.
The whole arena drowns Orlando in their boos as he rolls from the squared circle, drops to his knees and finds himself surrounded by his Monarchy cohorts. Taylor, Trinity and Lucas help him up to his feet, his arms draped over their shoulders. Back in the ring Scott is just now regaining his senses and getting back up. He eventually stands just as Katelyn comes barreling out of the corner and jumping into him with a Lou Thez Press. Obviously Katelyn is retaliating for the punch he greeted her with when she entered the ring. Katelyn knocks Scott to the canvas, coming down on top of him and unloading punches across his brow.
Greyson: Katelyn going after Scott! Katelyn UNLOADING ON SCOTT!
Sparkles: This is just like how we opened tonight’s show.
As Katelyn continues to wail on Scott’s face with punches the curtains hung over the entry way open and both David and Michael Cannon come racing down the ramp.
Greyson: The Cannons about to have the number’s advantage over Buehler!
Frankie: It’s about time these three got on the same page.
Sparkles: The World Champion is in serious trouble right…..
David and Michael reach the end of the ramp but then stop cold in their tracks. They lock eyes on their brother brawling with Katelyn and suddenly seem to come to their senses. David looks towards Michael and Michael looks back until they nod in agreement. To the disapproval of the audience Scott’s brothers turn their back on him and march to the back.
Frankie: What the hell? Are-are the Cannons walking out on their own flesh and blood?
Greyson: Michael and David, they’ve just turned their backs on their own brother.
Michael and David go on walking to the back while inside of the ring Katelyn and Scott go on trading shots amongst a loud reaction from the fans. Somehow Scott has gotten back to his feet, albeit wobbly and is now unloading on Katelyn with punches of his own, batting her back., At ringside we can see the victorious Orlando leaning against a barricade laughing, Trinity laughing, Lucas laughing and Taylor laughing as loud as her lungs will allow. Obviously the four of them are enjoying the brawl they are witnessing between Katelyn and Scott, the champion and the number one contender to her title tearing each other apart.
Greyson: Orlando wins here tonight, but is there going to be anything left of either Scott Cannon or Katelyn Buehler to fight it out for the World Title in two weeks at Upping the Ante!?!
FADE TO BLACK
Riot 39
Voices: We are Monarchy.
Multiple tones are combined and overlapped to form the previous sentence. All the while the most memorable events from the previous edition of Riot are playing with some flavor of the week rock band providing a background theme. There are clips showing Orlando Cruze standing in the ring and trying to cover for his wife Taylor Chase after she attacked the World Champion two weeks earlier and joined the deeply resented Monarchy. He is then interrupted by Monarchy founders Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, who promise Orlando that his wife will be fully indoctrinated into the group later tonight.
Voices: And we will RULE
Once again numerous voices are spliced together as now we see who some of the speakers are. Images of IWC grapplers Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly and Alistair Taylor flash across the screen with the camera zoomed in on their intense expressions.
The video roll along from there, with the footage of the Tag Team Champions Wicked Intent standing in the ring where one half of its members Lexy Chapel makes a controversial announcement. She declares that she is the rightful World Champion by virtue of defeating the title holder Katelyn Buehler a scant two weeks earlier. We then see she and her partner in crime Kat Kelly jumping the World Champion backstage and stealing her World Title. It doesn’t take long for the championship to go on pinging around from one thief to another. Later on that evening another of IWC’s hottest attractions, Scott Cannon, takes the World Title from an unsuspecting Wicked Intent, though it appears his thievery is for far more noble reasons. We see him return the World Title to its rightful owner Katelyn Buehler.
Voices: We are Monarchy
More overlapping voices are heard in the background while the video fixates on the faces of Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, the two founding members of Monarchy. Only sparse light is cast over their intense expressions while shadows blanket their surroundings.
Now the video focuses on the World Title defense that went down on that very same chaotic edition of Riot. Moments after her dealings with Wicked Intent and Scott Cannon, Katelyn puts her World Title on the line against the monster Mordecai. The two brawl through the crowd with one highspot being Katelyn’s dive from a balcony into the challenger on the floor far down below. Eventually Katelyn finds herself overwhelmed by Mordecai, who has the champion down in a spot she’s not very familiar with, defenseless. However, just as Mordecai readies to eradicate Buehler, all his plans go up in smoke due to the red hot reception for the fire breathing Johnny Kingdom. Clearly Mordecai hadn’t anticipated the return of the man he dragged beneath the ring a few months earlier. Kingdom’s come back marks the end of Mordecai’s title ambitions, resulting in a roll up and pinfall loss.
Voices: And we will RULE.
The voices can be heard again and this time the speakers are revealed as Taylor Chase and Orlando Cruze, the husband and wife and newest Monarchy initiates. Much like Lucas and Trinity, and Wicked Intent, we get a close up of Orlando’s sneer and Taylor’s snide smile.
The final images of this recap video pertain to the aftermath of the World Title match. The reigning champion celebrates her successful defense before being attacked again by Wicked Intent. They fell her with their tandem finisher the NC-17 then leave her to the mercy of Katelyn’s greatest rival Taylor Chase. The woman who double crossed Katelyn merely two weeks earlier by joining into the same group as Wicked Intent, now enters the ring and prepares to solidify her ties with the organization known as Monarchy, by driving a titanium knee brace into a powerless Katelyn’s face.
However, Tay’s husband Orlando enters the ring and cuts her off, preventing her from attacking the World Champion for the second show in a row. Just as it finally seems Orlando is going to tell Taylor off he instead lets her know just how much he still loves her and reinforces his affection by giving her a giant squeeze. Orlando, Tay, Lexy, Kat and the founders of Monarchy then stand hand in hand, arms raised above their heads and over a ring filled with the bodies of their enemies.
Voices: We are Monarchy, and we will RULE.
EARLIER TONIGHT
An extra-long stretch Humvee that would make for quite a statement on the preoccupation with phallic imagery, cruises to a stop in the parking lot just outside the Manhattan Center. The commentators get a few words in before the doors to the Humvee can open.
Greyson: Ladies and gentlemen, earlier tonight, we saw the arrival of perhaps the most controversial group in all of professional wrestling.
Frankie: And boy did they ever show up in STYLE.
Sparkles: Just how big is that limo?
From the back of the Humvee we see bodies begin to emerge, the first one being one half of the IWC Tag Team Champions Kat Kelly. She is followed by a very serious and well dressed Alistair Taylor. The pair wear matching sunglasses, shades and spiffy attire, all apparently a pre-requisite of any power faction. The same type of clothing clings to Lexy Chapel as she files out behind her partner Kat and her ally Alistair. From the other end of the car we see Trinity Street and Lucas Knight making their exit and fixing the rims of the sunglasses on the tips of their noses. The final two to exit the Humvee are the newest initiates into Monarchy, Taylor Chase and Orlando Cruze. Lexy instantly throws her arms over their shoulders of both Tay and Orlando, leading them to the interior of the Manhattan Center.
Greyson: Monarchy is in the building and I think it’s safe to assume that they have just put the entire IWC roster on notice.
Sparkles: Taylor Chase and Orlando Cruze fitting right in with their new friends.
Greyson: It sickens me to see those two hanging out with the likes of Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly.
Frankie: Get over it, what you’re looking at right now is THE most dominate faction that has EVER been created.
Sparkles: The Spirit Squad has got nothing on these guys and girls.
The show cuts live to a backstage corridor where at least half a dozen IWC personalities have gathered, huddling around a monitor that provides footage of Monarchy’s arrival. Amongst those keenly watching are Marina Valdivia, Andre Jordan, their collective agent Tabitha Silverstone, as well as Selena Frost, and sitting in the epic-center of them all, World Champion Katelyn Buehler. She’s the only one parked in a chair while the others stand, and she’s also the one leaning closest to the television showing Monarchy’s arrival.
Greyson: And there are a group of IWC competitors who are intent on making Monarchy’s night a very painful one.
Sparkles: All of these individuals have some type of grudge against Monarchy, and obviously go into Riot with revenge on their minds.
Greyson: Especially the World Champion, who is downright determined to get her hands around the throats of Taylor Chase, Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel.
Frankie: If Katelyn or ANY of these people go after Monarchy they’re going to lose EVERYTHING.
Rachel: Poor Ricky…Poooor Ricky Holt….
The action has waited long enough.
Cameras go to the ring where NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee paces between the ropes with a bull-rope and cowbell griped in her hands.
Rachel: Ya made alotta mistakes over the past couple’a weeks when it came to messin’ with me. And while some rookies can learn from their mistakes, those rookies didn’t make the mistake of screwin’ with me, the most dangerous woman in the world.
Greyson: Rachel Tatum Lee, the longest reigning NHB Champion in history, sending some thinly veiled threats to the number one contender for her title Ricky Holt.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks this is more than threats, I think she’s actually calling him out.
Frankie: Ricky IS scheduled to face Rachel for the gold tonight. So why wait to get to it?
The NHB Champion continues to address the man looking to end her over year long reign as title bearer. And she does so while ever tightening her grip on the bull-rope in her hand.
Rachel: It’s sad when a career comes to a close when it’s just in its infancy, but yer time in wrasslin’ is gonna be over before ya even get outta yer diapers. Ya don’t tussle with the Hardcore Cowgirl and live to brag about it. But if that’s what ya want to do, if ya want to be the man who TRIES to end my reign with the NHB Title then come and get it yer ass kicked….COME AND GET YER ASS KICKED! COME AND GET IT…COME AND GET IT!
The cowbell hung from the bull-rope is raised above Rachel’s head and chimed over and over and over again. Right then and right there the tunes of Ricky Holt’s entrance theme hit the PA system. To the tracks of ‘Unsettling Differences’ Ricky Holt embarks from the backstage area. He heads straight along for the squared circle where Rachel is just itching to get her hands on him. The sunglasses on Ricky’s nose are torn away to reveal the intense eyes that were brooding behind them.
Frankie: Ricky Holt has not made any qualms about pissing people off.
Greyson: Actually it seems like this rookie has went out of his way to do so.
Frankie: Yeah, but his methods have proven effective. I mean he’s getting an NHB Championship match and he hasn’t even been in the business a year yet.
Sparkles: Let’s look back at what made this No Holds Barred Title match far more personal than it should be.
TWO WEEKS AGO
The events of the prior Riot come into play as it regards Ricky Holt’s acts of wanton destruction. Frist there are clips of Holt attacking Elijah Dallas, a member of Rachel’s trusted troupe known as Tombstone. He goes on assaulting Dallas before another IWC newcomer Devon Kayl intervenes, fending off the attacker. Ricky and Devon, who have had their fair share of run ins brawl in the backstage area.
LATER THAT NIGHT
A few minutes later Devon Kayl is featured walking to the ring for his number one contender tournament match before he’s bludgeoned from behind. A wooden 2×4 cracks him in the back of his skull, swung by a wrathful Ricky Holt.
LATER THAT NIGHT
The final clip that pertains to Holt shows him moments after competing in his own Number One Contender Tournament match. He attempts to assault his opponent with a wooden board only to have NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee run out, seeking justice for the attack on Elijah earlier on in the night. She and Holt exchange blows.
RACHEL TATUM LEE © VS. RICKY HOLT:
NHB CHAMPIONSHIP
Greyson: Here we go guys!
Sparkles: No more videos, no more hype, straight up ACTION!
Frankie: NHB Title up for grabbies right now.
The second challenger Ricky Holt enters the ring his fists find their way into defending champion Rachel Tatum Lee’s face. She drops the cowbell and the rope she had brought to the ring with her in order to retaliate against Ricky with some closed fists of her own. The crowd is at a fevered pitch as these two FINALLY collide after weeks of animosity.
Greyson: Holt and Rachel just laying into each other!
Sparkles: Rachel recalls just how Ricky assaulted her backwoods buddy two weeks ago.
Frankie: And Ricky knows this would be a landmark win, becoming champion and doing so by ending Rachel’s reign.
Ricky goes on punching Rachel across the chin with her response being some jabs of her own. Eventually Ricky nails a kick so hard to Rachel’s ribs that it doubles her over and momentarily takes the fight out of her. He quickly snatches up the cowbell that was used to summon him to the ring and then swings it straight into the upper back of his rival. The blow has Rachel buckling at the knees and doubling over. Ricky doesn’t want her to buckle, he wants her DOWN. He runs into the ropes in front of Rachel to build momentum behind another swing of the bell right across her brow. He runs into Rachel…into her HEEL. She jumps into the air and connects with a version of the Boot-Licker. Sadly she doesn’t get all of it, the boot merely grazing Ricky but disorientating him enough to send his body spiraling totally around and ultimately losing his footing before coming down in the turnbuckle. He sits up just long enough for his opponent to come diving into him with the Bronco Buster.
Frankie: I envy Ricky now more so than ever.
Greyson: Rachel with the rarely seen Bronco Buster.
Sparkles: This move more so insults her opponent.
The Bronco Buster adds some insult to injury. She then rolls back out of the move and then returns to her feet. She then watches as her ailing challenger reaches an upright base with the aid of the turnbuckle. Rachel runs right into him, jumping into a monkey flip but before she can drop back she’s caught across the creases of her knees. She finds herself twisted around and seated on the top rope with Ricky finally letting go of her legs. He then reveals the cowbell is still in his hand and now it makes contact with Rachel’s brow. The blow sends her flipping back off the ropes and crashing down to the outside mats.
Frankie: I was just about to say that this match needed more cowbell.
Sparkles: Well that cowbell may have just changed the pace of this NHB Title bout.
The shot to the skull has Rachel in total disarray, yet she’s still standing like a monster from an eighties slasher flick. Already Ricky is planning how he’s going to put her back down. He jumps from the apron and swings the cowbell down into the top of Rachel’s head. The blow caves in Rachel’s skull and sends her staggering back towards the ramp. Her groggy eyes focus on Ricky dashing in with another shot from the cowbell. Amazingly she still possesses the wherewithal to duck the shot. As a result Ricky stumbles past her with his move entirely blocked and his throat about to be on the receiving end of a clothesline. Rachel runs at Ricky only to find herself back dropped not into the mats but onto the steel rampway.
Greyson: Rachel sent crashing right into the ramp!
Frankie: Yikes….Hopefully she has a good chiropractor on speed dial. If not, my fingers work magic.
Greyson: I’m pretty sure Rachel would shatter all of those fingers before they EVER got close to her.
The only thing about to be snapped right now is Rachel’s spine. Ricky flips her back into the suplex right into the steel ramp. A groaning Rachel unconsciously crawls up the ramp to the stage where Silas Mason’s strippers stand in cages shaking their asses. Rachel reaches one of the struts holding up the Cartel-tron. Ricky grabs her by the back of the head and swings her face straight into one of those struts, her face bouncing off it and her body twisting around right into Ricky’s face lock. He runs up the strut and flips back, going for the Shiraniu…
Greyson: Shir-anu-i!
To Ricky’s regrets Rachel grabs the strut and blocks the Shiranui, sending her rival and challenger floating over onto his feet. Rachel quickly climbs up the strut backwards and then comes leaping off it into a modified knee strike. Her leg smashes Ricky right between the eyes and takes him off of his feet. He flops around on the stage and ends up just inches removed from the edge. All the while his opponent is standing up behind him and looking to deliver a punt kick that would send Ricky’s body flipping from the stage and crashing to the floor several feet below.
Rachel gets a big running start behind the kick but before it ever connects with the ribs of her opponent she finds her leg caught. The NHB Champion hops on one foot while her other leg is trapped under her adversary’s armpit. Rachel’s planted foot is then swept out from under her, collapsing onto her back. It only takes a matter of seconds from Rachel to be dragged around and then catapulted right into the very same steel strut she was leaning against earlier. Her face smacks off the steel, causing her to stagger back and right into Ricky’s arms. He takes her by the waist, rolls her over and ends up seated across the back of her thighs with the NHB Champion folded up like an accordion beneath him. He then bridges over backwards to put even more pressure on the pin.
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Rachel manages to not only kick out but kick out with such force that it sends her challenger rolling away from her.
Greyson: Ricky comes within an inch…an INCH of winning that NHB Championship.
Sparkles: What a feather this would be in the rookie’s cap, to lay claim to the honor of dethroning Rachel as the NHB Champion.
Rachel has sat on that throne for far too long to be knocked down now. She grabs the steel column that holds up the Cartel-tron, using it to drag her wounded body back to an upright base. The moment she stands she finds her ribs on the receiving end of a running headbutt from her adversary. Ricky turns himself into a battering ram, one that sends his head hurdling along not into Rachel’s gut, but into the strut she was propped against. Rachel side steps him at the last second
There is a fatal impact of skull to steel, Ricky’s head bouncing from the strut. He goes twisting around to the curtains hanging over the exit to the entrance tunnel just as his opponent barrels into him and unleashes the dreaded Loredo Lasso. The clothesline connects with enough force to send both Rachel and Ricky plummeting into the backstage area.
Sparkles: These two making use of the falls count anywhere nature of these No Holds Barred Title matches.
Greyson: They’re fighting into the back and luckily we’ve got cameras on hand to capture every second of this brawl no matter where it might go.
Frankie: Do they have cameras in the bathroom too? I hope not. I had to ‘purge’ before the show and mo one wants to see my O face.
Cameras remain stationed on the entry way for what seems like an eternity.
Greyson: Well we’re STILL trying to get cameras to….oh, okay, apparently Ricky and Rachel have made it into the parking lot.
Frankie: They better stay away from my fine ride.
Greyson: You mean that supped up Ford Pinto?
Cameras segue to an outdoor parking lot where Rachel has hold of Ricky’s hair and is pulling him along towards the hood of a Mustang. Ricky’s head hits with such force that it sends him rolling up and onto the car hood. Rachel walks around the car, scales onto the trunk, onto the roof and then into a diving axehandle elbow straight across her adversary’s face.
A barely conscious Ricky slides off of the hood of the car and lands on the pavement across his knees, looking downright brain dead at this point. Standing on the hood of the auto above him is the NHB Champion, who is already sliding a finger across her throat to indicate that the end is here, her patented tombstone is coming. She takes Ricky by the hair and starts to lead him up onto the hood of the car only to have the challenger stick his head under his opponent’s seat and then stand up straight. As a result Rachel is left dangling over Ricky’s back with the creases of her knees in her adversary’s hands, but not for long. She is pulled down into an Alabama Slam that shatters her spine against the hood of the car.
Greyson: Alabama Slam on the hood of that car!
Sparkles: That car is going to need some serious body work by the time this is all over and done with.
Frankie: Rachel’s gonna need some body work too. I’d start with the tits.
An unconscious Rachel remains splayed over the car, lying inside of the huge dent that her body just created. She is rendered defenseless against the challenger who has just scaled his way up onto the roof of a truck that is just a bit taller than the car Rachel is still lying across. Ricky puts his life on the line by taking to the air and hitting a frog splash from the roof of the truck onto Rachel. The NHB Champion is crushed between the car bonnet she was laid out on and Ricky’s body. The challenger remains splayed across his crushed opponent while the referee slaps the hood of the car in order to make the count.
Greyson: Frog Splash off that truck and onto Rachel, and now it’s followed up by a very unorthodox pin.
Frankie: Rachel shouldn’t have been doing a Tawny Kitean spoof, otherwise this wouldn’t have happened.
And what’s about to happen is the potential loss of Rachel’s title.
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Ricky bobs his head with each slap of the car bonnet but stops nodding and starts cringing when he stops hearing the slaps and starts feeling Rachel get her shoulder up. Though flustered Ricky still works his way up to his feet with Rachel’s hair griped in his hands. He scoop slams her from the hood of the car onto its roof, a deep indentation of her body left in the vehicle. The impact leaves Rachel unconsciously rolling off of the car and falling to the pavement. Ricky is right behind her, standing Rachel up and then giving her a Russian Leg Sweep spine first right into the passenger side door of the car.
Sparkles: Ricky Holt has been a pretty aggressive wrestler since his IWC debut but he’s really turning up the intensity here in this match.
Frankie: Because he knows exactly what’s on the line here, not just a shot at the NHB Title, but an opportunity to have bragging rights for being the man who ends Rachel’s historic reign.
Greyson: Well it looks to me like he’s getting very close to making that a possibility.
The multiple slams against the car have seemingly left Rachel dead to rights. She’s pulled away from one car and whipped towards another, sent flying right into its rear bumper. Instead of slamming against it though, Rachel steps onto it and then onto the trunk of the car. Ricky doesn’t like what he’s seeing and comes dashing in to put an end to it. But Rachel flies off the trunk at this point and catches him coming in with a Lou Thez Press. Rachel drives Ricky down to the ground and now begins to drive her fists right across either side of his head. The punches go on landing before they come to an abrupt halt at the sound of a vehicle pulling into the scene where all this chaos is occurring. A security guard has made the fatal mistake of driving his golf cart towards the NHB Champion and her challenger. Before the hefty man behind the wheel can react he finds his body dragged out from behind the wheel of his cart and tossed to the ground. Now it’s Rachel who occupies the driver’s seat.
Greyson: Rachel pulled that security guard out of his cart….
Sparkles: And now what is she doing?
Frankie: Me thinks Rachel is about to commit vehicular manslaughter here.
Greyson: How embarrassing would it be to get killed by a golf cart?
Said cart powers up before Rachel hits the gas, accelerating just quick enough to inflict some serious damage on the target. Said target is Holt, who sees the cart coming and quickly dives out of its way. He goes rolling across the ground just as the cart speeds past him and screeches to a halt.
Greyson: My God, I can’t believe this match is so personal that Rachel would just try to run Holt down like that.
Sparkles: She just missed him by a few inches.
After Holt avoids being crushed by the cart he goes racing after it, running up behind the vehicle only to discover that there is no longer anyone behind the wheel. That’s when his eyes veer up and see that Rachel is now stood on top of the cart. She doesn’t stay there for long before she comes leaping off into a big lariat that takes Ricky to the ground. Rachel lands beside him and then drapes herself over his chest.
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Ricky gets his shoulder up to continue what has been a wild NHB Title bout. Rachel is fatigued, her body is winded, her joints aching, her muscles knotted, but she still works her way up with Ricky’s hair in her palms. She pulls him along straight into the bumper of a car, smacking his face off of it. He goes twisting away as a result and then spilling onto the trunk of a long black limo. A barely conscious Ricky goes crawling instinctively up onto the hood of the limo while Rachel follows closely behind. She and Ricky are now on top of the limo where they find themselves trading punches.
Greyson: Look at these two fighting on top of a friggin limo.
Sparkles: That car was probably here to pick up Sparkles.
Frankie: If it’s here for me it had better be filled with more hookers than I can count.
Rachel and Ricky go on teeing off against each other on the hood of the limo. However, it’s the NHB Champion who seems to be winning this war. Her shots have her challenger staggering back and his arms flailing out to his sides. Rachel dashes in with a knock out punch aimed at Ricky’s face, but the only thing that gets knocked out, is the air right from Rachel’s lungs. She’s caught by her challenger and swung right into the spinning powerslam directly onto the hood of the limo. Rachel comes very close to crashing right through the tinted sunroof but misses it by a few inches. She now finds herself covered by Holt, who has her leg hooked and only three seconds keeping her removed from losing her title.
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Much to Ricky’s regret he didn’t put enough strength into the pin, meaning Rachel was able to kick out only a fraction of a second before losing her gold. This kick out only intensifies Ricky’s efforts. He stands up with Rachel’s hair in his hands and soon her head finds its way under his seat. The New Dawn Fades is about to connect right on top of the roof of the limo.
Frankie: Oh man, this is gonna be sooo wicked.
Greyson: Is Holt about to-is he about to hit that flipping piledriver on top of that limo?
Sparkles: It might be the only way he can take that title off of….erm…is anyone else seeing this?
Holt sure doesn’t, otherwise he might react to the sunroof opening behind him. Just a few feet removed from the heels of his boot one can see the sunroof pulling back and a figure beginning to emerge from the interior of the limo.
Greyson: What the hell? It’s-it’s-it’s Devon Kayl!
Sparkles: The man Holt screwed out of the Number One Contender Tournament two weeks ago.
Frankie: He was inside of the limo they were fighting inside of?
Kayl fully emerges from the limo with a champagne bottle griped in his hand. Pretty soon that bottle swings right across the back of Holt’s head, shattering into a thousand pieces.
Greyson: Champagne bottle! Champagne bottle SMASHED right into Ricky’s head!
Frankie: Glass! There’s glass everywhere. How could you do this Kayl?
Greyson: Holt did the same thing to him two weeks ago!
Kayl clears off the roof of the limo, standing back and watching as the man he just assaulted finds himself loaded up into Rachel’s arms. Before Holt can react he has the top of his head driven into the hood of the limo with the Dead in Tombstone.
Greyson: She hits it! The Dead in Tombstone connecting.
Sparkles: On the roof of that limo.
Rachel leans down into the cover, palms pressed to an unconscious Holt’s chest. The referee slaps the trunk of the limo.
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The cheers from the Manhattan Center crowd carry out into the parking lot where Rachel has just pinned one of her toughest challengers to date.
Sparkles: And history continues to be made! Rachel’s reign as NHB Champion goes on!
Greyson: It took a damned Dead in Tombstone on top of that limo to make it possible.
Frankie: And don’t forget how that son of a bitch Kayl shattered a champagne bottle over Holt’s head.
Sparkles: Not like Holt didn’t have it coming after he screwed Kayl over two weeks ago. But the important story here is that Rachel’s NHB Title lives on.
Greyson: In spite of a tremendous challenge from Holt here tonight.
It hurts just about every inch of her to do so but Rachel stands up and instantly finds herself rewarded with her title belt. The official hands Rachel her gold and then she lifts it up high above the limo and above the unconscious Holt splayed across it. Standing on the ground down below is a smiling Kayl, who is clapping proudly for the champion.
The cork on a bottle of champagne pops and foam comes pouring out of it into several glasses.
Alistair: Drink up gents, it’s a night of CELEBRATION!
Announces Alistair Taylor as he stands over his Monarchy associates and fills their raised cups with champagne. All those in the group known as Monarchy are in a truly celebratory mood as they sit around the confines of a VIP dressing room, rejoicing in one another’s company. Trinity Street and Lucas Knight are sitting side by side on one side of a couch, while Taylor Chase and her husband Orlando Cruze are on the opposite end. Lexy Chapel perches herself on the arm rest while her tag team partner Kat is stood behind Alistair massaging his shoulders.
Alistair: Tonight we complete our domination of the IWC.
Lexy: Ooooh yaaah!!
Kat: Ittt’s oooonnnn!!
As Alistair tips the champagne bottle to his lips and begins to chug the camera slowly zooms in on Taylor and Orlando. At the moment Tay has her hand cupped around Orlando’s ear and is whispering something into it, putting a giant smile on his face. The commentators don’t sound nearly as jovial as Monarchy.
Sparkles: There we see Monarchy living it up in their dressing room.
Frankie: Their in quite the festive mood after their latest rouse went down two weeks ago.
Greyson: Taylor Chase and Orlando Cruze joined Monarchy and along with Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly and Alistair Taylor they’re promising total domination of the IWC.
Mika: Oh my Andre….My delicious…edible Andre….
Flames can be seen burning on the wicks of multiple candles while the seductive voice of Mika Kozlov is overheard in the background.
Mika: For weeks I told the world I had a boyfriend. But that…that was all a lie.
Now the camera focuses on a palm running across satin sheets, smoothing the wrinkles out of them.
Mika: Because you are more than just my boyfriend, Andre.
The feed cuts to a slow camera pan moving from right to left across the smiling, pouting lips of Mika.
Mika: You are my soulmate….
We get another zoom in on Mika’s finger as it slips under a shoulder strap, pulling it slowly away from her flawless flesh.
Mika: You and I….we’re one.
At last we get an image of Mika in the full, and boy what an image she is. She is stretched across a bed with her skimpy black lingerie sensually bound to the curves of her body.
Mika: We have kept this secret long enough. Come to me my Chocolate Pudding and I shall devour you.
Loud noises can be heard filtering out of a doorway and into the hall. The camera can just barely see through the slight opening in said door and get a glimpse of Andre Jordan standing in the room beyond it, his raised voice directed at a woman who can’t be seen.
Andre: I’m tired of this Tabitha. SICK OF IT!
Now we can see Tabitha coming into view as she approaches her client and puts her hands on his shoulders.
Tabitha: We’re going to do something about it….
Andre: You’re damn right we are and we’re going to do it RIGHT NOW!
Dre draws closer to the cracked door and storms into the hall where the camera is positioned. An equally as resolute Tabitha is following right behind him.
Greyson: It looks like Andre Jordan is headed along towards the ring!
Sparkles: He’s worked up about something.
Frankie: Probably the loss of his Evolution Title two weeks ago.
Greyson: We’ve got a potentially explosive situation coming our way. What does Andre have planned? What are we in store for? Don’t go anywhere!
IWC SLAM OF THE WEEK
A video presented by Exlax is played which focuses on the events of the previous Riot where a Hell in a Cell was lowered to the ring. The steel contains a straight out war between New Eden’s Cindy Todd and the once beloved Orlando Cruze. The footage culminates to the shocking return of former New Eden leader Aiken Frost, who hangs Cindy via a noose from the roof of the cell.
A few moments later we see Cindy’s followers Mika Kozlov, Serenity and Borislav taking the noose off of her neck and then carrying her from the ring. Just then New Eden’s enemy Julia Braddock comes to the ring and tries to jump Mika and Serenity only to get overcome by their dominance. She suffers a heinous assault before she finds help in the form of unlikely ally Marina Valdivia. She enters the cell and takes the fight straight to long-time rival Serenity.
The video transitions to even later in the night where Marina’s good friend Victoria Salinas is giving an interview only to be blindsided from behind by a vengeful Serenity. The hostilities between the two eventually spills over to the outside of the building.
EARLIER TONIGHT
The show now transitions into another video, don’t worry, this one ISN’T a dreaded recap. Instead the fans are treated to footage taken from earlier tonight when Victoria Salinas sat down to be interviewed by correspondent Mark Comeau. The two are shown seated inside of the ring with the arena around them all together emptied out, the lighting over the seating area dimmed and the spotlight given only to Victoria and Comeau.
Comeau: Hello IWC fans, I’m Mark Comeau and I’m here with one of Riot’s most recent and perhaps most high profile signings in quite some time, Victoria Salinas. Thank you for joining me Victoria.
Victoria: Mmmhmmmm.
Comeau: It’s funny how things seem to come full circle around here. It was close to a year ago that I sat in this chair across from your best friend Marina Valdivia conducting a very similar interview after her signing with the IWC.
Victoria: Yeah, that’s a gas.
Condescends Victoria in between sips from a white Starbucks cup.
Comeau: Victoria, let’s get straight to the question that everyone on social media have been asking. Why Riot? Why now?
Victoria: Now that IS funny. What an outright goofy question to ask me. My debut on the Riot brand is actually waaaaaay past due. I should have been here months ago standing by Marina’s side and kicking ass all through this roster.
Comeau: You mentioned Marina…..
Victoria: You mentioned her first.
Comeau: Fair enough. There’s no doubting that she was a huge part of your decision to sign with Riot. Can you enlighten us as to the extent of your relationship with Marina?
Victoria: Didn’t I answer this same question two weeks ago? Although I hate repeating myself, I guess I’ll just reiterate what I’ve been telling people for months. For as long as I can remember Marina has been there for me. Whenever people tore me down personally and across social media outlets, Marina was the one person who ALWAYS stuck up for me, who was ALWAYS there for me. It’s time I returned the favor.
Comeau: I hate to bring up your sordid past, but you referred to some of the criticism you’ve received for your more ‘controversial’ actions both here in the IWC and abroad. What sparked you to change your attitude?
Victoria: There were a lot of factors that influenced me. When I started to look back at the things I did in GCW to become champion, frankly, my conduct started to eat at me. And then, when I saw people doing the same thing to me in order to get ahead, it really put things into perspective.
Comeau: How much of a factor did Marina play in your drive to correct the mistakes of your past?
Victoria: You can’t help but to be inspired by Marina. Two weeks ago she ran into a Hell in a Cell and fought New Eden, a group of the most depraved, sociopathic psychos that have ever competed in this organization. But when she saw someone, a former enemy no less in Julia Braddock, being outnumbered by New Eden, Marina didn’t even bat an eye before she rushed into that cell and came to her aid. That is true blue hero stuff. Such displays of heart, of courage, of fortitude, are infectious.
Comeau: So that’s why you’re here on Riot?
Victoria: Yeah, and erm, well, to be honest, I really don’t want to be remembered in the IWC as JUST a flag waver for the Slay Revolution. Gag! Don’t even get me started on that.
Comeau: Pretty sure Tina Valentine goes on about it enough.
Victoria: Doesn’t she ever.
Comeau: So now I guess the biggest question I have to ask is…what are your ambitions now that you’re on the Riot roster?
Victoria: For now I’m here to have Marina’s back, but in the future, but I’d be lying if I said that titles weren’t on my mind as well.
Comeau: Speaking of titles, tonight you’re friend Marina teams up with World Champion Katelyn Buehler to take on Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel for the Tag Team Titles….
Victoria: I’ll be very interested in that match, but again, I’m not gonna lie, I’d love to see Marina holding those tag straps, but I’d like it even more if I was wearing the belts alongside her.
A depleted Rachel Tatum Lee is stood in a hallway backstage, still reeling from her very physical fight with Ricky Holt just moments earlier. Gathered around her are members of Tombstone. Elijah Dallas and Sundown are on either side of the NHB Champion while Goddard lingers in the background, partially obscured by the shadows. Rachel struggles to speak between her deep breaths.
Rachel: I think Ricky’s gonna be feeling that one tomorrow mornin’….
Elijah: It’s like ya said Lil Rose, he ain’t EVER gonna recover from what ya did to him jus’ now.
Sundown: He’ll be lucky to walk ever again.
Rachel: Now that we’ve got him taken care of it’s time to focus on Ethan, on Alana, and on the Number One Contender Tournament next….
Mya: This has gone on long enough!
Broadcasts an outraged Mya Denton as she comes marching towards Rachel and Tombstone. A steel chair extends from Mya’s hand, making sure she comes ready for whatever the NHB Champion might throw at her.
Mya: I’m tired of these games you’ve been playing with me! WHERE’S HARRISON!?!
A smile plays across Rachel’s face.
Mya: I don’t see what’s so damned funny. For some reason you’ve been shielding Harrison from me, and I’m tired of it. I want him. I want my revenge!
Rachel: Sorry Mya, but Harrison, he ain’t mine to give.
Goddard: I’m tired of this.
The darkly Goddard emerges from the blanket of shadows and steps just beside Rachel. The dagger eyes of the Tombstone member plunge into Mya and stab deep into her soul.
Goddard: Ya want Aaron Harrison so badly? He’s yours. You’ll get ‘em TONIGHT.
The fans were just starting to settle down after that raucous start to the show before “We Own It” hits the speakers. Andre Jordan’s theme music elicits one of the loudest pops ever heard from the Manhattan Center crowd. Every set of eyes cut to the stairs that slice through the crowd and Andre is standing at the top of them. He and his agent Tabitha Silverstone make their way down the stairs, Dre looking uncannily intense.
Sparkles: Andre Jordan storming straight for the squared circle.
Frankie: He’s got a serious bug up his ass over something.
Greyson: Two weeks ago we saw him lose his Evolution Title thanks to a distraction created by Mika Kozlov. Maybe that’s what’s got him so worked up.
Frankie: I tell you what’s got ME worked up, that video we just saw from Mika.
Greyson: Does she actually think that she and Andre are in some type of relationship?
Every fan watches Andre enter the ring and now hinges on his every word.
Andre: Just to put an end to all the gossip….
Starts Dre once he and Tabitha enter the ring and a microphone finds its way into his hand.
Andre:….Mika Kozlov is absolutely and completely FUCKED in the head. There is no relationship and never has been any relationship between us. End of story. Now let’s get to why I’m REALLY out here.
Frankie: Is Dre honestly turning Mika down? That settles it, he was born without a penis.
Andre: Two weeks ago something happened…Something I haven’t been able to shake.
As Dre paces he takes deep breaths, very affected by the event he’s referencing.
Andre: And no, as much as it hurt, I’m not talking about the loss of my Evolution Championship. One day very soon I will have my title back. Count on it. But again, the title is NOT why I’m out here at the moment. I’m in this ring because two weeks ago, I saw a man I once supported, a man I once believed in, a man I once respected, spit right in my face, spit right in Tabitha’s face, spit right in all of YOUR faces.
Dre points out over the crowd and elicits so many angered boos from the crowd.
Andre: So I’m out here right now on my behalf and on behalf of everyone here in the Manhattan Center tonight to get an explanation. Orlando Cruze! Get your ass out here right now!!
Oooh yeah, the fans are amped up, feeling goosebumps rising from their skin.
Greyson: Oh wow….Andre Jordan, he’s-he’s-he’s calling out Orlando Cruze! But why?
Sparkles: Andre and Orlando are scheduled to face each other tonight in a Number One Contender Tournament Match.
Cameras discover Orlando Cruze’s current whereabouts. He’s still sitting in a VIP dressing room with the cork on a champagne bottle popped. His wife Taylor Chase is sitting next to him mirroring her husband’s confused expression. The rest of the Monarchy members crammed into the room, Trinity Street, Lucas Knight, Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly and Alistair Taylor all have their shoulders hunched to their earlobes.
Orlando: Meh, was bound to happen sooner than later. Let’s go see what the kid wants.
Orlando casually rises to his feet, fixes the collar of his white button up shirt then heads along for the ring. His wife, the once beloved and admired Taylor Chase, follows right along beside him.
Sparkles: It looks like Orlando and Taylor are answering Andre’s demand.
Frankie: What business does Dre have for calling Orlando out?
Greyson: I think Dre, just like the rest of us, are upset that Orlando betrayed the IWC by joining Monarchy two weeks ago.
Andre Jordan continues pacing the squared circle, eyes perpetually fixed on the entry way in anticipation of Orlando Cruze’s entrance. Tabitha Silverstone proudly stands beside her client and even takes the microphone from his hand to speak up on his behalf.
Tabitha: Come on Orlando! Enough is enough! It’s time for answers.
Taylor: Answers? You think you deserve answers?
Stomach acids begin to churn as the crowd spots Taylor Chase and hubby Orlando Cruze emerging from the back. The pair walk along towards the ring amidst the harshest reaction imaginable.
Frankie: The IT couple is here.
Greyson: Orlando Cruze and Taylor Chase, the biggest ‘middle finger’ to the fans.
Sparkles: These two WERE amongst the most cherished and admired wrestlers on the entire IWC roster, but in the span of only a few weeks they’ve managed to become the most reviled.
Greyson: Listen to the crowd though, they STILL have some love for Orlando, and until I hear his explanation for joining Monarchy, I’m not sure I can just turn my back on him either.
Sparkles: What’s gonna happen when Orlando gets in that ring with Dre? Are we going to see the Number One Contender Tournament match they’re slated to compete in right now?
Although Taylor is 100% ego, Orlando looks a bit more composed and reserved. He never fully makes eye contact with Andre once entering the ring with him. Taylor does all the talking for her husband.
Taylor: After everything that the IWC did to me, the most important thing in my husband’s life, he doesn’t owe you (points at Dre), you (points at Tabitha), or any of you (points over the crowd), any type of explanation.
Andre: Is that right…ORLANDO?
Dre looks over Taylor’s shoulder at the Icon, who has his eyes cast to the canvas under his shoes.
Taylor: He doesn’t have to talk to….
Andre: Shut it Tay!
The near on growling Andre steps right up into Taylor’s face.
Andre: So help me if you don’t shut your mouth right now, I’ll make you pay for what you did to Marina two weeks ago.
Orlando: Don’t you threaten my wife!
Orlando forces his way in between Tay and Andre. Things only get tenser now that Dre and Orlando are squared up on one another.
Andre: That’s what this is all about, huh, Orlando? It’s all about her (gestures to Tay). She’s why you joined Monarchy?
Orlando: What I did was about more than just my wife. Though my love for her, and my hate for what the IWC has done to her, yeah, it played a huge role in not only my support for her joining Monarchy, but my decision to side with them.
Andre: Orlando…(Dre finds it difficult to form his troubled thoughts into words)….when it was announced that you and I would face off tonight in the Number One Contender Tournament, I WAS excited, before I realized that the man I’m facing tonight is NOT the Icon I admired. For almost two years I’ve watched you stand up to one threat to the IWC after another. You challenged the likes of the Sinistry, and the Blacklist, you battled against any group that so much as sneezed in the IWC’s direction. And now look at you, you’ve went and you joined up with a group that wants to RULE the company YOU built and YOU protected. Can’t you see what the Monarchy is, what they’re trying to do?
Orlando: What they’re trying to do is save careers. They’re putting an end to my wife’s persecution. They’re going to help me right not only the wrongs that this company has committed against her, but right the IWC as a whole. See, the moment I stepped away and gave up controlling interest in the IWC, it all went to hell. Drew Bryant, he single handedly managed to destroy everything that I built. He let Silas Mason become a Principle Owner and helm the Riot brand knowing that Silas is no fan of my wife, or of the methods in which I ran this company. Every decision Drew has made I don’t agree with, and every step this company has taken since I left as President have made me ab-so-lute-ly SICK! So Monarchy, they’ve promised to help me fix what Drew broke.
Andre: If you had problems with Drew, with the way he was letting your wife be treated, why didn’t you go to him, huh? Why did you go down this route? I’ll tell you why. It’s because Monarchy has you twisted around their finger. They only want to help you, because putting you back in control helps THEIR agenda. Wake up man! SNAP OUT OF IT! You’re the Icon dammit. You’re the guy who got me to start fighting for this federation. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t of become MR. I-W-C. I wouldn’t have dedicated myself to doing everything to fight for this company, JUST LIKE YOU DID! You and I, we’ve BLEED for this federation. We’ve put EVERYTHING into the IWC and….
Taylor: And where has it got him, Dre?
Interrupts Taylor as she leans closer to Dre’s ear.
Taylor: Fighting for this company damn near put Orlando in the morgue.
Andre: Well (Dre takes a deep breath) maybe he should have gone to the morgue, because it’s pretty clear that the Icon I and everyone else believed in DIED a long time ago.
Tabitha nods along with her client’s words while the crowd just drops their jaws. Orlando’s reaction is an even more pronounced slouching of his shoulders and a dip of his chin to his chest. This response from her husband has Tay flipping her lid.
Taylor: Have you no respect for this man, have you….
Tay is wedging her finger into Dre’s chest and shoving him back. The second she puts a hand on him, Dre loses his cool. He starts to push her right back with his own finger dug into her chest.
Orlando: Whoa! WHOA!
Yet again Orlando is forced to intervene, stepping between his wife and Dre, pushing them back. Ultimately his hand is left on his wife’s shoulder and he is looking deep into her eyes.
Orlando: Tay…..Dre is right….
Taylor’s mouth is agape.
Orlando: The Icon….is dead.
A lightning fast Orlando lashes out and superkicks Tabitha Silverstone right in her jaw. The commentators screech in the background.
Greyson: HEEEEY!!!
Sparkles: That son of a bitch!
Andre’s agent collapses to the canvas in a motionless heap while her attacker clears from the ring. Before Andre can get his hands on them Orlando and Taylor are dashing out of the squared circle. The moment they reach the ramp Tay breaks down into laughter and Orlando just stands beside her seething and snarling. The victim of his superkick lays on the ring with Andre now kneeling beside her, trembling hands wrapped around her head.
Greyson: Orlando superkicking Andre’s agent.
Frankie: That was hysterical.
Sparkles: Orlando has just thrown so much gasoline on the fire, he’s made the match between himself and Andre later tonight way more personal.
Greyson: What’s going to happen now when Andre and Orlando face off in the Number One Contender Tournament?
Giggles fill the Monarchy dressing room as members Trinity Street and Lucas Knight sit back in their sofa and elicit such amusement from the actions of their teammates.
Lucas: Andre has no idea what he’s in store for tonight.
Trinity: He’s not just going to tangle with Orlando Cruze, no-no-no, he’s facing a REBORN Orlando Cruze.
Alistair: I’ll tell you who else is in for a surprise tonight.
Announces Alistair Taylor from the corner of the room where he stands doing some shadow boxing. The Tag team Champions Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel are stood on either side of him offering some conciliatory comments.
Alistair: Scott Cannon is not going to be prepared for what I do to him.
His entire audience nods in support of his vow to disgrace the reigning Evolution Champion. Just then there’s a loud knock at the door and before he’s given permission to enter a stagehand waltzes into the room. The eyes of the Monarchy members do not gravitate towards his face, but to the bottle of chilled champagne in a bucket of ice he’s holding.
Stagehand: I have a bottle of champagne here for…..
Alistair: Give it!
With one hand Alistair takes the champagne bottle out of the bucket, and with the other he pie faces the stagehand right out of the dressing room. The cork is now popped on the bottle and the contents inside begin to gush down Alistair’s throat.
Kat: Easy there tiger.
Lexy: Yeah, you got a title shot against Scott Cannon coming up next.
Alistair: Well consider this (raises the now half empty bottle) all part of my PRE-celebration.
He goes on ingesting the champagne.
With the Evolution Title over his shoulder and a briefcase swaying from his hand, Scott Cannon moves back and forth across the hall just outside of his locker-room. Standing in the background we can see his brothers David and Michael, both watching him with arched brows, rolling eyes and crossed arms. Both the Riot theme song and the commentators are overheard in the background.
Greyson: What Orlando Cruze just did was downright SICKENING.
Frankie: Almost as sick as what’s about to happen to Scott Cannon when he comes out and LOSES the Evolution Title to Alistair Taylor.
Sparkles: It might be a huge night for Monarchy, and Alistair could get momentum swinging in their direction when he fights for the Evolution Title coming up next.
Greyson: Can the ‘REDEEMED’ Scott Cannon be successful in his very first title defense?
Sparkles: We’re just minutes away from finding out.
BEFORE THE BREAK
A video recaps the horrific imagery from moments before the break when Andre Jordan and his agent Tabitha Silverstone called out Monarchy member Orlando Cruze. When Orlando answered the summons he did not come alone, his wife Taylor stood right beside him. After Dre lays into Orlando with his words, Orlando lays into Dre’s manager with a stiff superkick. An unsuspecting Tabitha nearly finds her jaw shattered by the kick that drops her to the ring. A stunned Andre chases Taylor and Orlando from the ring before returning to his manager’s side.
Greyson: I’m still in shock…absolute SHOCK over the actions of Orlando Cruze. Moments ago we saw him SUPERKICK Tabitha Silverstone.
Frankie: It was..hahahahaha…it was….AHAHAAHAHAHA….that had to have been….AHAHAHAAHAHA!
Greyson: There is nothing funny about this Alistair.
Frankie: You have no sense of humor.
Sparkles: Well Orlando’s attack definitely made the match between he and Andre scheduled for later tonight far more intense.
Greyson: And during the break we saw just how intense Andre is going to be headed into that bout with Orlando.
DURING THE BREAK
An image of Andre Jordan comes into view carrying an unconscious Tabitha Silverstone in his arms. His anger consumes the hallway he’s marching down.
Andre: That son of a bitch…THAT SON OF A BITCH!!
Roars Andre as he goes on consoling the unconscious Tabitha in his arms.
Greyson: I don’t think Orlando appreciates what he’s done here tonight.
Sparkles: Superkicking Andre’s agent has lit a fire under him.
Greyson: One that is going to be very hard to extinguish.
Frankie: But it WILL be extinguished, because Monarchy rules all, Andre included.
Cameras catch up with the very same Stagehand who was seen moments before the commercial break bringing a bottle of champagne to Monarchy’s dressing room. At the moment he’s as far removed from that dressing room as possible, standing in some out of the way location somewhere in a backstage corridor where he’s joined by Monarchy enemies Selena Frost and her fiancée Deanna Springs. A huge smile graces the face of the Stagehand, who’s eyes are ever widening at the sight of one twenty dollar bill after another finding its way into the palm of his hand. Selena continues to fork over some cash.
Frankie: There’s another future Monarchy victim.
Greyson: Selena Frost, the woman who was screwed out of the Tag Team Titles by Monarchy back at Awakening. Erm, why is she giving that cash over to that stagehand?
Sparkles: You’re guess is as good as Sparkles’. Actually it isn’t, because mine is naturally more superior.
Cash continues to be exchanged, but for what purpose remains unclear.
The show cuts to the interior of the arena just as the audio track “Bad to the Bone” feeds through the loud speakers. There is an incredible reaction, mostly mixed, in regards to the man who now comes strolling through the curtains. The Evolution Champion and bearer of a World Title #1 Contender Contract contained within a briefcase, comes along to the stage. Scott Cannon strolls towards the ring with his brothers Michael and David following closely behind.
Greyson: Well it’s definitely been an interesting couple of weeks if you’re an avid Scott Cannon follower.
Sparkles: This guy has shown a totally different side of himself in recent weeks.
Frankie: Ugh. You know what, I don’t want to talk about it, so how about we just show some video clip.
Greyson: Indeed, let’s look back at what Scott did two weeks ago on this telecast which just goes to show how far along he’s come in his quest to be a GOOD man.
A BAD MAN
A brief video package airs showing the path that Scott Cannon has taken over recent weeks to clean up his act. But to put into perspective just how steep a climb he faces to get clear from the depths of depravity he once called home, first we see some of his most vile actions. First we get a glimpse of him nailing a defenseless Johnny Kingdom in the head with the very same briefcase we saw him carrying to the ring with him this evening. Then we see another past clip of Scott’s brother Michael sliding a briefcase into the ring which Scott picks up before swinging it right upside the skull of Jeffrey Starxxx. Another past clip features Scott slapping Lethal Weapon in the face and sucker punching Kingdom in his jaw.
A GOOD MAN
The footage cuts to clips of Monarchy members Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly assaulting World Champion Katelyn Buehler backstage before stealing her World Championship. When they bring that belt to the ring it isn’t long before it finds its way into the hands of Scott Cannon. He dashes to ringside and steals the belt from Lexy, but for totally unselfish reasons. Later that night we see him in the ring handing the World Title back to its rightful owner Katelyn Buehler. A few minutes later there are scenes depicting Scott battling against Kat Kelly and Andre Jordan in a triple threat Evolution Title match. It isn’t until Scott’s brothers Michael and David show up at ringside and attempt to interfere that we see just how far Scott has come as a human being. He demands that his brothers not only stay out of this match but stay away from ringside all together. This fact doesn’t seem to sit very well with either Michael or David.
Speaking of Michael and David, when the feed goes back live to Riot, we see the pair sullenly seated in chairs at ringside. Meanwhile their brother Scott is warming up in the center of the squared circle for his first and hopefully not his last Evolution Title defense.
Greyson: At first I didn’t buy it, I didn’t accept Scott at face value, but his actions two weeks ago show that he is serious about being a GOOD man.
Sparkles: Well he’s got a huge night ahead of him. He’s defending that Evolution Title right here against Alistair Taylor.
Greyson: And he’s got a big night coming up at our next pay-per-view event Upping the Ante as well, because he’ll be looking to add even more gold to his waist when he challenges Katelyn Buehler for the World Championship.
Frankie: Scott announcing two weeks ago that he’ll be cashing in his Number One Contender contract at the pay-per-view. But let’s be honest with ourselves here, he’s not going to make it to Upping the Ante, not when Alistair gets his hands on him coming up next.
The transmission segues from the ring to the guerilla position backstage where Alistair Taylor is making his last second preparations to challenge for the Evolution Title. Or at least he would be if not for the discomfort he seems to be feeling inside of his stomach. He winces in pain as he rubs his hands against his abdominal muscles. In spite of having the breathtaking Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel standing on either side of him wearing their respective Tag Team Titles, Alistair STILL looks queasy.
Kat: Got the butterflies in the stomach?
Lexy: Alright to be a little nervous, know this is your FIRST title opportunity.
Kat: Plus it’s your chance to put a smile on my face.
Lexy: And we’ve all seen the effect Kat’s smile has on you, don’t think we didn’t notice that twinge in your pants.
Alistair: Uh-huh (he groans in distress).
Kat: Everything alright?
Alistair: No….I just don’t….feel right.
Lexy: It’s all that champagne you drank you damn lush.
Kat: You’ll be just ACES, especially when you go out there, superkick Scott and make him pay for stealing the World Title from Lexy two weeks ago by taking HIS title
Alistair: Yeah, alright.
Alistair grimaces as he, Lexy and Kat head along towards the ring. Kat is playfully kicking Alistair in his backside to get him to pick up speed and show some energy.
SCOTT CANNON © VS. ALISTAIR TAYLOR:
EVOLUTION CHAMPIONSHIP
Scott Cannon continues to pace the ring in anticipation of his challenger’s arrival, and his brothers remain parked beside the squared circle also waiting. It isn’t long before the lyrics to Alistair Taylor’s music wash over the arena and he emerges form the back to give Scott a fight. Lexy and Kat, bearers of the Tag Team Titles, sway at either side of Alistair as he heads for the squared circle. Each step taken down the ramp seems to make Alistair more and more uncomfortable, his stomach seriously hurting at the moment.
Greyson: This is without a shadow of a doubt the biggest moment in Alistair Taylor’s career.
Frankie: It’s his first title opportunity and you had better damn well believe he’s going to make the most of it.
Sparkles: Scott won the title just two weeks ago, let’s see if Alistair can make that reign a very short lived one.
Frankie: And bring even more title gold to Monarchy in the process.
Greyson: Of course Alistair joined Monarchy at our last pay-per-view Awakening when he helped screw Selena Frost and Marina Valdivia out of the Tag Team Titles to make sure Wicked Intent retained their gold.
Sparkles: Ever since then he’s been joined at Lexy’s and Kat’s hips.
Frankie: I would sooo switch places with Alistair in a heartbeat.
Sparkles: But then you would be away from Sparkles.
Frankie: A sacrifice I’m willing to make.
Once Alistair gets in the ring the referee lifts the Evolution Title above his head, showing what the Monarchy member is challenging for. The bell sounds in the background and Scott is coming right out of the corner, bearing down on his opponent. However, instead of locking up Alistair backs down. He rolls to the apron and rests on his knees, doubling over his stomach and taking deep breaths. At ringside we can see Lexy and Kat watching their teammate exhibit obvious signs of gastrointestinal distress, but neither lady knows how to help him. Eventually Alistair gets back to his feet before Scott reaches over the ropes, takes him under the armpit and hip tosses his challenger into the ring. Scott flips into the squared circle, crashing hard against the canvas. He pops up to his feet, twists to face his opponent and then finds his throat crushed by a clothesline. The impact knocks Alistair to his back and he has a great deal of difficulty getting off of it.
At last Alistair stands up only to have his arms caught, underhooked and then used to send him flipping into the butterfly suplex. Scott follows this up by rolling over to his knees, grabbing Alistair by the ears and pulling him up into a headbutt across the brow. The blow has almost given Alistair a hairline fracture in his nose, causing him such distress as he rolls around on the ring. Scott steps in and traps his arms once again, going for another butterfly suplex. This time the Champion finds his move thwarted when his opponent roots his feet and then forces his shoulder into Scott’s ribs, pushing him back into the turnbuckle. Scott’s double underhook is broken and his arms are falling over the ropes just to hold himself up.
Alistair stands straight in front of Scott now and crushes his chest with a knife edge chop. A second chop then blisters Scott’s sternum, followed up by a European Uppercut that damn near shatters his jaw.
Greyson: Well it took Alistair a moment or two to get out of the gates, but now that he’s got his head in this match he’s quite literally got Scott on the ropes.
Sparkles: This match exhibiting just the type of style we thought it would, with a lot of smash mouth, ground and pound viciousness.
Frankie: These two have a very similar brawling style. But while Scott has become more of a one trick pony, Alistair is far more versatile in his offense.
Greyson: You do realize it was just two weeks ago that you were describing Scott like he were the second coming of Christ, right?
Alistair turns his back on his wounded opponent, takes him around the head and then snapmares him out of the corner. A battered Scott flops onto his seat where he remains right up until Alistair bounces from the ropes in front of him then launches into a diving European Uppercut. The blow knocks Scott onto his back and now Alistair is crawling into the cover.
1
2
That was not nearly enough to put the Champion away, Scott kicks out with some defiance. Alistair groans, at both the referee’s count AND the pain in his guts. He pushes through it in order to drop the point of his elbow directly into Scott’s chest. Alistair then takes his adversary’s head into his arms, traps it in a neck cravat and uses the hold to pull Scott to his feet. It now becomes apparent that the submission was only locked in so that Alistair can employ it to deliver a rarely seen neck cravat suplex. Scott is lifted straight off of his feet, sent flipping over sideways and slamming ultimately across the back of his head.
Greyson: Don’t see that a whole lot, the neck cravat suplex.
Sparkles: The first of several apparently.
The aching Scott is taken around the neck, forced to his feet and then his opponent prepares to flip him to the side again with a SECOND neck cravat suplex. Alistair is just about to break Scott’s neck before the champion manages to wedge his hands to his attacker’s gut and shove him back, The cravat is broken and Alistair is sent stumbling into the turnbuckle, his back colliding with the corner and then Scott’s bicep colliding with his throat. The impact knocks Alistair off his feet to his seat and exposes his face for the big running boot that is delivered by his adversary. The face wash crushes the bridge of Alistair’s nose and has him rolling from the ring to check on his face. Kat comes in and puts her palms on Alistair’s cheeks, then grabs his nose and squeezes it.
Frankie: Dammit that kick might have just broke Alistair’s nose. Does Scott have no empathy for his opponent’s well-being?
Greyson: The old Scott probably didn’t.
Although it was his face hit with the boot it seems Alistair’s stomach is what’s hurting him worse than anything. He doubles over and grabs at his gut, which he can actually feel bubbling at this point. But soon it’s his back that’s giving him fits when he finds himself lifted into the air and then given the belly to back suplex right on top of the barricade. Scott drives his adversary into the barrier, bending Alistair’s spine across the steel and leaving him altogether incapacitated. Somehow he stays on his feet while staggering into the ring and rolling out of harm’s way. Actually what he’s just ran into was the belly of the beast. Alistair gets to his feet just as Scott steps in and takes him around the waist before snapping back into a release belly to belly suplex. First Alistair slams into the ring before he pops right back up off of it and ends up falling into the cables. Scott is following right behind him, the ever aggressive Evolution Champion running at his challenger, extending his boot and aiming it for Alistair’s face. It hits nothing but air, Scott’s kick not only missing it’s mark but causing his leg to go flying over the top rope and his crotch to get caught on the top rope.
Scott straddles the top rope groaning in pain while his adversary runs into the perpendicular cables, springs off the middle strands then turns in mid-air to deliver a clothesline. The lariat sends Scott flipping back off the ropes and to the outside of the ring. The clothesline damn near decapitates Scott and leaves him at ringside gasping for air.
Greyson: Scott hit with the clothesline and….oh God…look at who’s coming his way.
Lexy and Kat are through being nothing but eye candy. The Tag Team Champions begin to encroach on Scott’s personal space only to find themselves backing away from their perspective victim due to Michael and David Cannon. The two approach their brother Scott from the opposite side and keep either Lexy or Kat from getting one step closer to him.
Frankie: Pfft, bet Scott’s happy that his brothers are around now.
Greyson: Well it seems there’s been a little bit of tension between Scott and his siblings the past few weeks since Scott started to exhibit this change in personality, but right now they’re stepping up in order to defend him.
They don’t just defend him but also help Scott up to his feet so he can return to the ring and beat the official’s ten count. Scott crawls under the bottom rope and right into the devastating basement dropkick that catches him straight on the temple. The blow sends Scott rolling over to his back where his face is then crushed by the diving knee off the middle rope. Alistair puts all of his weight behind the knee drop that has sent his adversary into convulsions. It seems Alistair is starting to get over his abdominal discomfort that has been plaguing him in this match, or maybe he’s just getting tolerant of it. Either way he’s blocking it out in order to force his opponent into the neck cravat. This time a suplex does not follow, instead Alistair keeps Scott grounded to his knees and maintains the submission.
Sparkles: Alistair wearing Scott down with that neck cravat.
Greyson: Just look at the way Alistair is TWWWISSSTING at that head. Can you imagine the type of strain this is putting on all the muscles in Scott’s neck?
Frankie: Twist harder Alistair, make Scott look like Linda Blair in the Exorcist.
Sparkles: You want Scott to masturbate with a crucifix?
Frankie: Uuuuh noooo….
Sparkles: Then I’m the only one?
There is so much loathing being unleashed by the audience at the sight of the hold that has Scott not just grounded but on the verge of passing out. Sweat just pours out of the head that is being twisted to the point that it’s about to pop clean off his shoulders. There’s an intense look on Alistair’s face as he puts all his upper body strength into the hold. Amazingly Scott has yet to give up to the suffrage, working his way closer and closer to his feet. Eventually he’s upright and his elbow is landing across Alistair’s ribs again and again and again until the cravat is ALMOST broken. Alistair realizes his submission is losing strength, which is why he digs down deep and makes the best of a bad situation by going for the neck cravat suplex a second time in this match. He is just about to hoist Scott into the air before he finds the champion swinging out of the cravat, putting his back to Alistair’s and pulling the challenger down into the backslide.
Sparkles: BAAAACKSSSSSLLLIIIDDDEEE!
The referee slaps the canvas and slaps it hard.
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A thousand hearts sink when they see Alistair pop his shoulder up in the nick of time to avoid the loss of this title opportunity. He falls back onto his knees after kicking out and then reaches out, grabbing Scott by the ears. He now hooks both of the champion’s arms and smiles as he prepares to deliver the pedigree.
Greyson: Oh come off it now. Don’t tell me Alistair is about to hit the Game Changer. That’s his former friend Andre Jordan’s finishing move.
Frankie: Ha-ha-ha, he’s sticking it to his former Silverstone International teammates.
Sparkles: And he’s doing so in route to winning the Evolution Title.
Alistair just begins to lift Scott into the air for the pedigree before the Evolution Champion counters. He wraps his arms around Alistair’s thigh and then lifts him into what at first appears to be a one legged flapjack, but in actuality he’s dropping the challenger into the splits across the top rope.
Frankie: NOOOO!
Alistair’s crotch hits the top rope and has him dropping his jaw in pain.
Greyson: Scott making Alistair pay for crotching him on the top rope earlier.
Frankie: Nobody deserves that, nobody. Unless you’re Scott Cannon.
The Evolution Champion steps through the ropes and moves in behind the still crotched Alistair, embedding a shoulder to the challenger’s spine. Alistair is pulled off of the ropes and into a back drop suplex straight across the apron.
Frankie: (High pitched squeal) AAAAAH!
Greyson: That was even worse.
Alistair rolls into the ring with a potentially broken back, but that still doesn’t stop him from trying to get up. Unfortunately the second he does stand he finds himself caught around the hips and his feet leaving the canvas as he’s dragged over into the German suplex.
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Greyson: Scott’s got a successful title defe….
Or at least Scott would be walking away right now with his title in hand if Alistair hadn’t JUST got a shoulder up. A fussed Scott gives the ref a frown and then rises to his feet with his opponent’s head gathered into his hands. Alistair is up for half a second before he’s carried into the turnbuckle and seated on the top rope. Scott then pulls Alistair down into an unenviable position, left dangling in the tree of woe. It’s not bad enough that Alistair is hung from the corner, but he’s also got Scott’s boot wedged to his throat, keeping his head trapped. Scott then takes off into the ropes, ricochets from them and comes back in at Alistair, hitting a SECOND face wash. The lightning quick Scott then hurdles along into the far ropes, ricochets from them and comes back in at Alistair, diving into a shoulder block that nails his adversary in a stomach that was already pretty unsettled.
Scott isn’t done yet, he sits Alistair up on the turnbuckle and then climbs to the middle strand. A shoulder is pressed to his opponent’s spine as Scott prepares to deliver a SUPER back drop suplex.
Frankie: Don’t you do it….don’t you even think about it….Not on that injured back.
Alistair is seconds from not just being dumped on his back, but having his back entirely broken via this suplex his opponent intends to subject him to. Alistair is lifted from the corner but never slams down into the middle of the ring. Instead he comes down onto his feet and stands with his shoulders tucked under the thighs of his adversary. Before Scott can stop it from happening he’s being dragged out of one corner and ultimately thrown into another via the release powerbomb. Scott bounces viciously against the corner and then staggers out of it right into Alistair’s SUPERKICK.
Frankie: Superkick Soiree babay!
Greyson: Now Alistair takes a page from Wicked Intent’s book.
Speaking of Wicked Intent they are already partying at ringside, looking oh so excited as Alistair’s boot collides with Scott’s jaw and lays him out in the middle of the ring. Absolutely perfect placement for what Alistair has in mind next. The biggest shit eating grin you’ve ever seen comes across Alistair’s face as his eyes fix on the turnbuckle he just powerbombed Scott into.
Greyson: What is this man thinking about?
Frankie: Kat Kelly naked.
Greyson: I asked what Alistair was thinking about, not you.
All of the sick inner workings of Alistair’s mind become transparent as he approaches the nearest corner, climbing gingerly to the top. Once on the top of the corner Alistair raises his fingers and twirls them around each other, signifying that he’s about to go for the 450 splash.
Greyson: Oh don’t you dare. Someone please tell me that Alistair is not going for the California Splash?
Frankie: HAHAHAHA, he’s gonna, he’s gonna steal Marina Valdivia’s finisher now.
Greyson: Another of the former teammates that Alistair stabbed in the back at Awakening by joining Monarchy.
To a resoundingly negative reaction from the crowd Alistair comes flipping out of the corner and into the 450 splash. He prepares to hit Scott with a move that would not only clinch him the Evolution Title but also insult his former friends. The only thing insulted are Alistair’s ribs when they collide with Scott’s raised knees.
Greyson: Counter! Thank God!
Alistair rolls off of his adversary and grabs at his stomach, which was already in very bad shape before the match even started. Now it feels worse than ever so bad in fact that he can’t work past it. His stomach feels like a cauldron that is churning, seconds from bubbling over the edges.
It all becomes too much for Alistair’s troubled stomach to sustain. He slaps his hand over his mouth just as vomit comes spraying out from between his fingers.
Greyson: EEWWWWWWW!
Frankie: Da fuck!?!
Sparkles: He’s throwing up all over himself!
Kat and Lexy can be seen cringing at ringside as they see Alistair sticking his head through the ropes and shooting a stream of vomit down to the mats. The fans turn away from the upchucking Alistair, who continues to purge his guts.
Greyson: What is happening to Alistair?
Sparkles: Something has got him sick.
Frankie: That or he’s doing his best Droz impersonation.
A ghostly pale Alistair stands up with his chest smeared in the very vomit that dribbles from his chin. He steps back from the ropes and continues to grip his stomach until he finds himself caught from behind and flipped back into the Regal suplex. Scott not only hits the suplex but now bridges back into the pin.
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Kat and Lexy are beside themselves in anger as they witness Scott pick up a shocking win over Alistair. After his victory Scott goes rolling from the ring in order to avoid the two members of Wicked Intent who have just come sliding in to avenge the loss Alistair suffered.
Greyson: And the bridging Regal suplex seals it. Scott picking up the win over Alistair….
Frankie: Only because Alistair suddenly came down with some type of sickness. Being in Manhattan probably just made him ill.
Sparkles: He’s STILL vomiting all over the place.
Though Lexy and Kat initially came to Alistair’s aid they now keep their distance from him as he unloads his stomach all over the corner of the ring. An embarrassed Alistair rolls out of the squared circle then rushes up the ramp leaving a trail of vomit behind him. He brushes right past Scott who continues to celebrate on the ramp with both the Evolution Title and his briefcase in either hand. At the same time we can see Scott’s brothers Michael and David stood behind him, neither man looking happy for some reason.
Greyson: In spite of the odd way this match ended, you got to give Scott props for a very hard fought successful title defense. And you know what, he did it all the RIGHT WAY.
Frankie: Now I’M going to be sick.
Cameras transition to the backstage area where interviewer Susie Moore is stood between two of IWC’s most revered athletes. World Champion Katelyn Buehler stands on one side of Susie while up and coming sensation Marina Valdivia is at her opposite side. The trio loom in the traditional interview area.
Susie: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome at this time, Marina Valdivia and WORLD CHAMPION, Katelyn Buehler!
The excited Susie is so giddy about interviewing these two talents that she’s actually jumping in place. Neither Katelyn nor Marina look nearly as enthused as the correspondent.
Susie: Ladies, tonight you two face off against Monarchy members Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel for the IWC Tag Team Championships. It’s no secret that you ladies have your fair share of issues with Monarchy, I mean, it was two weeks ago on this telecast that they left the both of you lying in that ring, humiliated and…..
Katelyn: Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh….shush it….
Katelyn reaches out, puts her fingers on the lips of the interviewer and forces them shut. Now it looks like Susie is doing her best duck-face.
Katelyn: Take a nap.
One of Katelyn’s black t-shirts is thrown over top of Susie’s head and face, shrouding it. The microphone is then snatched out of her hand and Katelyn is directing her words at the hard camera.
Katelyn: Two weeks ago, Lexy, Kat, you came looking for a piece of the World Champion, then you found me and you got more than you could handle. Guess what, you little (does horrible British voice) CRUMPETS, are going to get in the exact same trouble tonight. When we face off for the Tag Team Titles, you’re not going to be getting into the ring, you’re going to be getting into MY HOUSE. Two weeks ago you tried to take my World Title, but tonight I return the favor by taking YOUR gold.
Marina: Nooooo, WWWEEE return to the favor.
Katelyn: Ohhh Marrrrriiiinaaaaa, when did you get here?
Marina downplays Katelyn’s attitude.
Marina: Oh you rascally Kate you…(Marina playfully wags her finger at Katelyn)…If I weren’t so hell-bent on punishing the Monarchy by taking the tag team titles away from them I might find your attitude a bit more insulting.
Now Marina’s eyes are turned to the hard camera and her words are directed to her opponents this evening,
Marina: Earlier tonight Orlando Cruze went out there and superkicked my agent, my friend Tabitha, but she’s tough, she’ll bounce right back, I can’t say the same for either Lexy Chapel or Kat Kelly. Because I’ll do far worse than superkick either one of those bitches in their faces in route to taking away their precious Tag Titles. Back at Awakening, the two of you got the drop on my tag team partner and I. You got Alistair to stab me in the back and cost Selena Frost and I the belts. But it looks like he’s not going to be a factor tonight, and if any other member of Monarchy tries to get involved to….
Katelyn: Whoa-whoa-whoa…..
Katelyn grabs Marina’s lips and closes them but Valdivia will not do the duck-face. She swats away her partner’s fingers.
Katelyn: Let me stop ya right there sweetheart. See (looks back at the camera) I DO want a Monarchy member to interfere, or at least TRY to interfere. Taylor Chase, PLEEEEAAAAASEE, I’m BEGGIN’ YA, come out to that ring with Wicked Intent tonight. Pull up a chair at ringside, or hell, come into the ring even, that way you can not only get to see what I do to your gal pals Wicked Intent, but you can see first hand what I have planned for you.
Marina: Heh, wouldn’t mind getting a piece of Taylor myself.
Katelyn: Sorry, but I don’t share.
Katelyn shrugs at her partner for the evening then walks off. Meanwhile Marina is left standing there and shaking her head with a sneer on her face.
Marina: You better play nice tonight.
Cameras cut back to the ringside area, settled on the commentators who are expressing their total disbelief over the way the precious title match just ended.
Sparkles: Sparkles still smells vomit.
Greyson: Yeah the ringside crew had better get on cleaning that up.
Frankie: What the heck happened to Alistair Taylor, what made him so sick?
Greyson: Who knows what happened to Alistair, but what I do know is that later tonight we’re going to see a hell of a match when Katelyn Buehler and Marina Valdivia challenge Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel for the Tag Team Titles.
Sparkles: That’s going to be a great bout.
Greyson: Right now let’s talk about what we saw two weeks ago though when we saw Principle Owner Silas Mason make an absolutely stunning announcement regarding the match he’s scheduled to have against Karen McBride for the Principle Ownership at Upping the Ante.
A video recap is shown that documents what occurred two weeks earlier when Principle Owner Silas Mason joined by his staff members Desmond Drake and Mason Van Stanton called out Karen McBride and her sisters. We see Karen, Melanie and Blaire enter the squared circle where Silas informs them that at Upping the Ante there will be a six person tag team match for his Principle Ownership. This revelation doesn’t sit well with Karen, especially when she learns she’ll have to team with Melanie and her untrustworthy sister Blaire. This announcement is followed by a beatdown as Silas reveals who his partners will be, the gargantuan Marcus Briggs and the physically imposing Randal Williams. The two men join their associate Jeffrey Starxxx in assaulting Karen and Melanie while Blaire is held back, forced to watch her sisters take a beating.
Cameras cut to the offices of Silas Mason, who at the moment is twisting joyfully from one side to the other in his black leather chair. Standing in the corner of his office we can see his staff members Mason Van Stanton and Jeffrey Alexander Starxxx deep in conversation. Off to Silas’ side is Desmond Drake, another of the Principle Owner’s administration.
Desmond: You’ve got to be walking on cloud nine right now, Silas.
The only response anyone can get out of Silas right now are laughs.
Desmond: Looks like Drew Bryant isn’t going to be making it here tonight after-all.
More laughter from Silas.
Silas: Nuh, it doesn’t does it? Always knew he couldn’t hang with the big boys.
Desmond: Now that Drew has been deposed as Owner of the IWC, you can work with pure impunity and sheer immunity.
Silas: Wait-wait, did ya think I was scared or sumethin about ‘em comin’ ‘ere tonight? For starters I knew he was too much of a coward to show up, and secondly, if he did come ‘ere and try to throw his power around, I would ‘ave taken one of these fists of mine and taught em what a real man is.
Desmond: I would have loved to have seen that.
Silas: Jus’ a shame ya won’t.
Desmond: Now in regards to tonight. I’ve taken the liberties of making that match for later official. It’s going to be the two newest members of your staff Randal Williams and Marcus Briggs versus Karen and BLAIRE McBride.
Silas: I luv it.
Desmond: And as far as Melanie McBride is concerned. She’s BARRED from ringside.
Silas: Ha-ha-ha! The McBrides are really about to regret choosin’ to challenge me for the Principle Ownership in this lil’ tag team match at Uppin’ the Ante.
Desmond: Oh yes, and tonight your partners at the pay-per-view are going to leave Karen wishing she had never defied your rule. Plus she’s going to learn just how much she can’t trust her sister Blaire when the time comes for them to teeeeeam….uuuuuuup….at……
Instead of finishing his sentence Desmond starts to choke on his words, looking up from the desk way way waaaay up into the face of the man who just entered the office. Silas was so busy chuckling that he didn’t notice Desmond’s sentence going chillingly quiet. Finally he stops guffawing and looks up from the corner of his eye at the snarling beast bent over the Principle Owner’s desk with knuckles buried into its wooden surface. The demonic Mordecai towers over the desk, over Desmond and over Silas.
Silas: Uhhh Mordecai, how can I….
Mrs. R: We’re not happy Silas.
Mordecai’s sister works her way around him and takes a seat on the corner of the Principle Owner’s desk. Although he’s currently fearing for his life, Silas cannot help but to examine Mrs. R’s crossed legs.
Mrs. R: You all but promised Mordecai would become the World Champion two weeks ago.
Silas: To be fair, how was I to know that Johnny Kingdom was gonna return and shaft ‘em out of the title…….
Everything that was on Silas’ desk is swiped clean off of it, Mordecai sending it flying across the room. He then leans in and emotionlessly corrects his boss.
Mordecai: That was NOT Johnny Kingdom. Johnny Kingdom is gone for good. I buried what was left of him two weeks ago.
Silas: Then uhhh, how do ya explain Johnny showin’ up at the end of yer World Title m…..?
Mrs. R: I wouldn’t advise arguing with my brother.
The deadly look Silas is getting from Mordecai pretty much clued him into that fact.
Mordecai: (Growling his words) That was NOT Johnny Kingdom.
The camera opens on that very same white stretch Humvee that Monarchy was shown arriving in earlier tonight. At the moment a shadow is cast over it and it doesn’t take long to find out who’s silhouette we’re seeing. Johnny Kingdom walks right past the Humvee on his way into the Manhattan Center. The Team Leader sports a silk shirt that is unbuttoned in the front, allowing a view of the bandages that remain wrapped around his torso. The crowd are not the only one’s flipping out at the sight of Kingdom.
Greyson: Johnny Kingdom has just shown up to the Manhattan Center.
Frankie: That’s not Johnny Kingdom, nuh-uh, no way.
Greyson: The hell it isn’t.
Frankie: Didn’t you hear Mordecai? Johnny Kingdom is DEAD. Mordecai ended him back at Awakening and then buried his remains two weeks ago.
Sparkles: Erm Frankie, ya know I love ya bro, but that is definitely Johnny Kingdom.
Frankie: Can’t be.
Greyson: Johnny Kingdom is in the house, what’s going to happen when he crosses paths with Mordecai?
The camera comes back from commercial break showing Mya Denton pacing back and forth in a backstage corridor. It seems she’s equal parts angered and excited. The commentators are overheard in the background discussing what has Mya caught in this battle of emotions.
Greyson: Mya Denton waiting on Rachel Tatum Lee to honor her promise this evening.
Sparkles: I don’t think Mya realizes what she’s getting herself into.
Frankie: Rachel has sworn to Mya that Aaron Harrison will be produced.
Greyson: Mya just can’t wait to get her hands on Harrison, but is Rachel going to make that a reality here tonight?
Both Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel are stood just outside of a bathroom door, cringing as they try to peek inside. There are the loud noises of someone vomiting their guts out filtering into the hallway where the Tag Team Champions are stood.
Lexy: Geeeez. How much did you eat before you got here tonight?
Kat: Alistair, do you want me to get you some crackers or something salty?
It’s now obvious that it’s Alistair Taylor both ladies are speaking to, who at the moment is too preoccupied upchucking to give them an answer.
Kat: I hope you start feeling better. I wanted you to be out there with us to watch us successfully defend these Tag Team Titles tonight.
Lexy: And to see ME pin the World Champion AGAIN.
Alistair only pukes even louder, all but confirming that he’s going to be a non-factor in tonight’s main event.
A monitor is set up on a table in the back that is showing footage of Alistair Taylor’s bout with some type of stomach virus. Standing right in front of the television and immensely enjoying the images on it are a laughing Selena Frost and an equally as giggly Deanna Springs.
Frankie: What does Selena find so funny?
Greyson: I’m starting to figure out why we saw Selena paying off that Stagehand earlier tonight.
Sparkles: The same one we saw delivering a champagne bottle to Monarchy’s dressing room.
Greyson: Yeah, and Alistair chugged it down before anyone else could even get a sip.
There is a sudden change in the vibe within the Manhattan Center, the crowd going from elated to petrified. They withhold their reaction as chills roll up their spines at the sight of Mordecai emerging from the backstage area. The tunes of his theme music “You’ve Never Known Such Fear,” are playing in the background, which only enhances the aura of fear that surrounds the creature. His tall and powerful frame walks along to the squared circle, entering and instantly taking hold of a microphone.
Frankie: This is probably a good time to start looking for some type of human shield.
Sparkles: Good idea.
Greyson: Why are you BOTH looking at me?
Sparkles: Isn’t it obvious.
Greyson: Mordecai coming to the ring and he is no doubt very angry regarding what happened two weeks ago when he came out here and challenged Katelyn Buehler for the World Championship.
Frankie: Yeah, and he had Katelyn on the ropes before this guy in a Johnny Kingdom mask showed up to cost him the World Championship.
Greyson: It’s NOT a mask.
A brief video package recaptures the ghastly footage from two weeks ago when Mordecai was caught digging a hole in a graveyard that he and his sister Mrs. R tossed a bloody sack inside of. They claimed that inside of the sack was the remains of wrestling legend Johnny Kingdom.
The video then cuts to the carnage seen later that night when Mordecai challenged Katelyn Buehler for her World Title. The viewers relive the moment when Mordecai chokeslammed Katelyn in the center of the ring and then looked to the Cartel-tron, calling out for his sister. Instead of getting Mrs. R, he receives Johnny Kingdom. The Team Leader is shown emerging from his car backstage and then walking straight into the ring where Mordecai and he brawl into the crowd then into the backstage area.
The show cuts back to the ring, cameras capturing the dark brooding eyes of Mordecai as they watch the replay that was just featured on the big screen. It looks as if he deeply resents the footage that was just aired and is no doubt a moment from commenting on it.
Mordecai: I don’t know who you are….I don’t know what you want….I don’t know what you’re motives are….but none of that matters, your identity is irrelevant, because you’re about to end up eight feed under regardless of whoever you are.
Greyson: Who’s he talking to?
Mordecai: Your impersonation of Johnny Kingdom was flawless, you had all his mannerisms. I applaud you for your performance, but I am here to tell you that it will be your last…..
Greyson: Mordecai is just as crazy as you are Frankie.
Frankie: See, I told you that wasn’t Kingdom two weeks ago.
Greyson: It’s so painfully obvious it was. But Mordecai just refuses to accept that he didn’t finish Kingdom off back at Awakening.
Frankie: Then what the hell did he bury two weeks ago if it wasn’t Kingdom’s remains?
Mordecai: It’s sad that you people cling so ardently to the memory of Johnny Kingdom, for he was dead long before I dragged him under this ring and broke the shell that use to be a World Champion. The man you saw return just before Invictus was NOT the very same person who was once the centerpiece of this federation. He was a fallen, frail and weak man, not the KING, not the HERO, not the CHAMPION. So what I did to him at Awakening, ENDING him, was an act of merc……
Kingdom: Hey monster….HEY MONSTER….up here!
The mic slowly lowers away from Mordecai’s mouth as his eyes veer to the Cartel-tron, which now has an image of Johnny Kingdom. The Manhattan Center crowd is going nuts at the sight of their long revered Team Leader.
Greyson: Uh-oh, Kingdom addressing Mordecai.
Its unclear where Kingdom is at the moment considering that his surroundings are pitch black.
Kingdom: It seems the rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated.
Kingdom goes from light hearted to deadly serious in the span of a half a second.
Kingdom: Rather you want to accept it or not Mordecai, you were wrong. I’m not the frail, weak, brittle FALLEN King you claim me to be. Because I took your absolute worst and guess what, I’m still here, albeit just a few pounds lighter seeing as you decided to cut a few pounds of flesh off my body.
The bandages that can be seen peeking out of his unbuttoned silk shirt are patted.
Kingdom: I’m still alive Mordecai, and I’m not going six feet under any time soon.
The longer Johnny speaks the darker Mordecai’s pupils become.
Kingdom: See, the flesh that you didn’t sheer off my body isn’t going to end up as maggot food, not just yet and not at your hands. But your sister, she’s an all-day worm buffet.
Mordecai cranes his neck out of intrigue. The camera starts to pull back to reveal that a shovel is slung over Johnny’s back and that the front of his slacks are smeared in mud. The viewers can tell he’s standing outside and that his heels are on the edge of an open grave.
Kingdom: Maybe if you weren’t so determined to perpetuate this myth that my career is over you would have noticed that your sister didn’t accompany you to ringside. And why is that? Because she’s back here keeping the worms, the maggots, company.
The camera turns just enough to bring into view Mordecai’s sister Mrs. R sitting in the bottom of the grave with her hands tied and her mouth covered in duct tape. Back in the ring Mordecai’s eyes have widened, seeing his sister in this state and hearing the cackles of Kingdom’s laughter.
Greyson: My God, Kingdom, he’s got Mrs. R.
Frankie: That psychopath.
The blade of the shovel Kingdom is holding removes a clump of the dirt piled beside him. It eventually finds its way down right on top of Mrs. R’s head.
Sparkles: He’s burying Mordecai’s sister!
Greyson: And look at Mordecai, he’s frantic!
The monster displays rare vulnerability as he rolls under the ropes, leaves the ring and hurries up the ramp.
Greyson: Mordecai going to save his sister.
Sparkles: This is such a twisted situation.
Frankie: Run faster Mordecai!
Candles burn to create a sensual atmosphere.
Mika: It’s not nice to keep a girl waiting….
A strawberry comes into view dipping into a cup of chocolate pudding. Eventually the berry finds its way to a set of luscious lips and a tongue extends through them, licking the chocolate away.
Mika: I’m still waiting for you my Chocolate Pudding. Where are you?
The ever alluring Mika comes fully into view, remaining adorned in the very same skimpy black lingerie we saw her in earlier tonight. She leans seductively across a bed, rubbing the satin sheets that cover the mattress beneath her. Her black eyes stare not into the camera but into the man who she tempts to lure.
Mika: Come to me, Andre. It’s time to take our relationship to the next level. It’s time for me to feast upon my Chocolate Pudding.
The feed cuts to a corridor where Jeffrey Alexander Starxxx is stood in front of none other than Blaire McBride. While Starxxx shows off his gold rimed sunglasses, his expensive Rolexes peeking out from beneath his olive green suit, and runs his mouths, runs his mouth, RUNS HIS MOUTH, Blaire just stands there listening but looking disinterested in either all of Starxxx’s flash or his words.
Sparkles: Whoa, time out, what’s this all about? Why is Blaire McBride talking to Jeffrey Starxxx? Two weeks ago it was Starxxx’s boys who laid out Blaire’s sisters.
Greyson: And according to our Principle Owner, Blaire is scheduled to team with her sister Karen to take on Starxxx’s guys tonight.
Frankie: Karen trusted Blaire once before and she paid for it, looks like she’s making that same mistake again.
Greyson: Can Karen count on Blaire here tonight?
Sparkles: We’re about to find out because that big tag team match is coming up after the break.
The transmission goes back to Monarchy’s dressing room where Orlando Cruze is in the process of taping his wrists as he readies himself for competition. He sits on a sofa with Trinity Street standing at one of his sides and Lucas Knight at the other, the two looking down at the Icon as his match against Andre Jordan grows nearer and nearer.
Greyson: And we’ve still got this to come tonight as well, Orlando Cruze to take on Andre Jordan as part of the Number One Contender Tournament.
Sparkles: And after Orlando superkicked Andre’s agent you just have to know that this match is going to be beyond personal.
Frankie: Don’t you worry, Orlando’s got one more superkick saved up for Andre.
Greyson: Orlando Cruze, Andre Jordan, our main event still yet to come here on this explosive edition of Monday Night Riot! You’re not going to want to miss it.
Distress can be seen in the face of Karen McBride as she holds a phone to her ear and paces a hallway.
Karen: What’s keeping you, Mel?
The answer she gets from her younger sister Melanie McBride seems to aggravate rather than relieve any of Karen’s concerns.
Karen: I didn’t realize it was going to take you THIS long to get back from IWC Headquarters. Did you at least get that package Drew Bryant left for us?
A strand of hair is blown out of Karen’s face, sighing with just a modicum of relief.
Karen: Just get here quick, okay? I don’t know if you’ve heard but Silas has got me teaming up with Blaire tonight. I NEED you here….just in case.
The phone conversation continues but the remainder of it cannot be heard on account of the commentators adding their two cents.
Greyson: Karen McBride obviously very concerned about this tag team match slated to happen up next.
Sparkles: She’s been put in a very tough spot. She has to team with the very same woman who took her Principle Ownership several months ago, her own sister Blaire.
Frankie: And it seems Melanie McBride is not even here yet.
Greyson: What did Karen mean when she said that Melanie was picking up some type of package left by Drew Bryant, our injured President, back at IWC HQ?
The creature Mordecai is absolutely brooding as he stomps down the hallway with his fists opening and clinching out to his sides. His skin is trembling with anger as he heads straight into a potential collision with Johnny Kingdom.
Greyson: Mordecai looking for his sister Mrs. R.
Frankie: Yeah, that psycho Johnny Kingdom abducted her before the break and has her lying in a hole somewhere.
Sparkles: He’s threatened to bury her alive.
Greyson: Kingdom getting some justice for what Mordecai and Mrs. R did to him back at Awakening.
Frankie: Good God, when Mordecai does find his target then Kingdom is going to wish his life had been ended back at the pay-per-view.
Cameras cut to the face of Cindy Todd, capturing her devilish black eyes. She sits in a chair backstage with hands clasped together and raised to her jaw. A bit of feint bruising can be seen on her neck, wearing the wounds of her recent encounter with the recently returned Aiken Frost. Pacing behind her we can make out the faces of Cindy’s New Eden followers Serenity and Borislav. Noticeable by her absence is Mika Kozlov, gone for obvious reasons.
Cindy: Have you tracked her down?
Serenity steps to her Queen’s side and hands over a piece of paper with a hastily written message.
Serenity: Mika is staying at the Greenwich Hotel, room 406.
The note is taken from Serenity’s hand and Cindy slowly ascends to her feet.
Cindy: Then it’s time to put an end to this. It’s time to find out if she is loyal to me or to her former master.
She and Borislav near the exit to the room but the burly Russian finds himself stopped in the doorway, a hand placed to his chest.
Cindy: Stay with Serenity, I’ll take care of this.
Serenity: But what if Aiken Frost tries….
Cindy: If he comes after me again, HE’LL be the one in need of protection.
KAREN & BLAIRE MCBRIDE VS. RANDAL & BRIGGS
When cameras return to the squared circle Jeffrey Alexander Starxxx, Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams are seen drawing nearer to it. Starxxx’s theme music is playing in the background as he stands in between his muscle bound associates, arms thrown out to his sides with a confident smile on his face.
Greyson: Tag team action coming up here next as Jeffrey Starxxx leads his boys Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams into battle against the McBride sisters.
Sparkles: Two weeks ago we saw them join Silas Mason’s administration.
Frankie: And they did so at the expense of Karen McBride and her sisters.
TWO WEEKS AGO
You guessed it, it’s another video package chronicling what happened on the last Riot. This footage pertains to what happened when Karen McBride and her sisters Melanie and Blaire went to the squared circle to confront Silas Mason and his staff members Mason Van Stanton and Desmond Drake. Karen finds her eyes locked on Silas’ face, recalling how he stole the Principle Ownership from her a number of months ago. But now a resolution to that theft seems to be in sight come the next pay-per-view when Karen is scheduled to collide with Silas. However Silas throws a curveball at Karen by announcing that that bout will be contested under six person tag team rules. Furthermore we learn that Karen will have to team with Melanie and a woman who stabbed her in the back, Blaire. Just then Silas reveals who his partners will be when Jeffrey Starxxx, Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams attack Melanie and Karen from behind while restraining Blaire. The final image in this video package is that of a smarmy Silas crouched over an unconscious Karen.
KAREN & BLAIRE MCBRIDE VS. RANDAL & BRIGGS
As the show comes back live the fans can only cringe at the sight of Jeffrey Starxxx sitting on a turnbuckle and patting the huge shoulders of Marcus Briggs stood in the ring beneath him. Randal Williams is a little more distanced from his teammates, pacing in anticipation of this tag team match.
Greyson: Jeffrey Starxxx officially named the new Head of Media Relations for Silas Mason’s staff, but it seems he only got that job so that Silas could use Starxxx’s crew.
Sparkles: And use them Silas did. He got Randal Williams and Marcus Briggs to lay Karen and Melanie McBride out two weeks ago.
Frankie: Which all but confirms that they’ll be Silas’ partners in that six person tag for the Principle Ownership at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: Let’s not be so quick to make that assumption, we all know just how dangerously unpredictable Silas can be.
Frankie: Yep, Karen found that out two weeks ago.
The lyrics of “American Dreamgirl” start to play over the speakers, indicating that Karen McBride is headed along for the squared circle. That’s exactly who we see step to the stage, but who we don’t see is Blaire McBride, Karen’s tag team partner. This obviously doesn’t sit well with Karen, who looks from one side to the other, searching for the woman she’s ‘supposed’ to trust to have her back not only tonight but in the six person tag at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: Where’s Karen’s partner? Where’s her sister Blaire?
Frankie: This is great, hahahaha, Blaire has completely left her sister Karen high and dry.
Greyson: You mean to tell me after the months that Blaire has invested into regaining her sister’s trust that she’s going to double cross Karen again tonight?
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think Blaire ever did re-earn Karen’s trust.
Frankie: This is a prelude of things to come. This is exactly what Blaire is going to do to Karen at Upping the Ante. She’s going to leave Karen and their sister Melanie in the lurch against Silas and his thugs.
Sparkles: Karen can’t trust anyone.
A reluctant Karen climbs up onto the apron, taking one last look back at the stage to make sure her sister hasn’t popped up. Unfortunately there remains no sight of Blaire, meaning that she’ll have to go it alone in this contest. Across the ring from her one of those tasked with her destruction is getting an earful from Starxxx. The huge Marcus stoops to listen to the words being whispered into his ear by the new Head of Riot Media Relations. Marcus then goes straight after Karen, who drops back from the apron and the ring. She begins to back up the ramp a little, looking over her shoulder to see if Blaire has shown up.
Frankie: Blaire isn’t coming Karen. And it’s not like she’d be much use to you if she did. Not against Marcus and Randal. Do what your instincts are telling you to do, tuck tail and run.
Greyson: Karen isn’t the running type.
Another of Karen’s opponents has rolled to ringside, Randal nearing the former Principle Owner. Karen is still debating her options, wondering what the right move is. Finally she decides what would be her smartest course of action, she reaches beneath the ring and grabs hold of an equalizer. Randal is running right into her but stops when his ribs collide with the edge of a steel chair.
Greyson: Karen with a chair!
Frankie: She wasn’t supposed to do that. She’s not supposed to be smart enough to do that!
Randal twists away from his attacker, grabbing at his ribs, but soon it’s his spine left in agony when Karen slams the chair right across it. She arches the chair back over her shoulder, ready to swing again, only it’s not Randal the chair connects with. The enormous hand of Marcus has reached over the ropes and down to ringside, grabbing Karen by the hair. He gives it a tug, lifting Karen from ringside to the apron. He is about to throw her back into the ring but Karen whips around and bashes him straight between the eyes with the chair.
Sparkles: Now Karen laying into Marcus with that chair.
Greyson: Karen isn’t stupid, she wasn’t about to let these two tear her apart, especially when she knows she’s got that six person tag team match coming up at the pay-per-view for the Principle Ownership.
Karen enters the ring then rushes in behind Marcus and slams the chair over his broad back, causing his whole body to cringe in pain. Once again she’s about to swing the chair before spotting Jeffrey Starxxx climbing up onto the apron, shouting at her, warning her, wagging his finger in her direction. He immediately regrets lecturing Karen when he sees her coming at him with the chair in hand. Starxxx jumps back from the apron, warning Karen as she stands in the ring above him with the chair cocked back, ready to be swung yet again. Unfortunately there are no more targets presenting themselves. Marcus has rolled to the outside of the ring and has joined both Randal and Starxxx at the base of the ramp. All three men are pointing into the squared circle at the woman who was SUPPOSED to be their victim. Instead, thanks to some quick thinking, and some even quicker chair shots, Karen stands in the ring unscathed.
Greyson: McBride still standing.
Frankie: Yeah, Randal and Marcus might not have been able to get their hands on her tonight, but that’s not important, the damage has already been done.
Greyson: How do you figure?
Frankie: Because now Karen knows what she already suspected, that her sister Blaire can’t be trusted headed into the six person tag at the pay-per-view. It’s going to be a handicap match against Silas and his thugs.
Greyson: Karen is definitely going to have to deal with Blaire before the pay-per-view and find out where her sister’s loyaltie….wait a minute, guys-GUYS I’m hearing that Mordecai has caught up with Johnny Kingdom!
Cameras catch up to Mordecai as he runs towards the open grave dug somewhere just outside of the Manhattan Center. The beast looks every bit as out of character as you would expect him to be given his panicked expression. He takes such relief in the sight of his sister sitting at the base of the grave with bound wrists and only a clump of dirt on her head instead of being buried under a mound of it.
Mordecai: What has he done…?
A shovel cracks Mordecai right in the back of the head. The blow is delivered with such force that it instantly incapacitates the monster, knocking him off of his feet and causing him to take a header into the grave. He collapses just inches away from his sister, who crawls through the dirt to reach out for her unconscious brother. Her eyes veer to the man who put Mordecai in this condition, Johnny Kingdom, who stands at the edge of the grave with shovel in hand.
Kingdom: I haven’t done anything yet Mordecai.
He crouches at the knees and grabs a handful of dirt.
Kingdom: We can’t have a burial without a corpse.
The dirt in his hand is tossed down onto the unconscious Mordecai. Soon it’s a shovel full of dirt tossed onto the beast.
Greyson: Johnny Kingdom got the drop on Mordecai and now he’s…oh God he’s BURYING the monster.
Sparkles: And Mordecai’s sister too.
Frankie: I condone a lot, mostly when it comes to violating holes that shouldn’t be violated, but I don’t condone murder.
And neither does the security staff, who intervene just in time. Kingdom lifts the shovel not to fling dirt but to swing it at one of the many men in black t-shirts who surround him. They grab the shovel before it’s turned into a weapon and also manage to snag Kingdom’s arms. Eventually they’re able to drag away the amateur grave digger.
Cameras cut to a hallway where Selena Frost is stood in front of the love of her life Deanna Springs, the two finding something highly amusing. Their laughter fills the corridor, as do the questions of interviewer Mark Comeau. He taps a finger on the shoulder of Selena, prompting her to turn to the mic lifted towards her smiling lips.
Selena: Maaark, questions?
Something about her upbeat disposition concerns Comeau.
Comeau: Uh, Selena, you seem to be in good spirits all things considered.
Selena: Suppose you want me to be more upset about what happened at Revolution, or about Monarchy trying to RULE over Riot? Or about facing off against former World Champion Taylor Chase tonight. Maybe it should have me so anxious that I’m feeling SICK to my stomach, right?
Laughter emanates from Selena while Deanna covers her mouth, trying not to giggle.
Comeau: That’s an interesting choice of words.
Selena: Maybe I should be so worried about Monarchy that I’m stooped over a toilet somewhere puking my guts out, huh?
More laughter from Deanna and Selena alike.
Comeau: Again, I have to question the way you just phrased tha….
Selena: There’s a reason I’m not doubled over with fits of stomach pain when thinking about what Monarchy is trying to do here in the IWC. It’s because I know that people like Taylor Chase, Orlando Cruze, and Alistair “Can’t Hold Down My Lunch” Taylor, aren’t ready to survive winter. But rather they BELIEVE it or not, winter…is….coming. And in the case of my opponent Taylor Chase tonight, winter…is….HERE.
Selena doesn’t field any further questions, she and Deanna walk away, leaving Mark standing there tapping his microphone against his chin.
Blaire: You….
A hand grabs Comeau’s sleeve, gives it a tug and pulls him around to face the frazzled woman stood behind him, A harried Blaire McBride grabs the interviewer by his shirt.
Blaire: Did I miss it?
Comeau: Miss what?
Blaire: The match dammit. The TAG MATCH!
Comeau: Uuuuuh yeeeeaaah, you didn’t show up to team with your sister Karen.
Blaire: I was locked in my dressing room!
Explains Blaire as she throws her arms out to her sides in a fit of anger.
Comeau: Locked in your dressing….?
Blaire: I wanted to be there. I swear!!
Comeau: Well Karen went at it alone.
She turns and gives a swift kick to a nearby trashcan.
Blaire: THIS IS BULL!!
A photograph of famed IWC competitor ‘Samantha Raine’ comes into view. The pictorial shows her modeling for the camera and looking every bit as alluring and breathtaking as ever. The hands that grip onto the sides of this photograph are not alluring, they are the things that destroy all that allures, and take breath through strangulation.
Miss Jon: Pretty….oh so pretty…
Growls the voice of the woman who clutches the photograph of Raine. It seems her deep guttural murmurs are directed at the magazine clipping.
Miss Jon: Oh so charming, and oh so pretty I can hardly believe you are real….
The image of Raine nears a steel drum that has fire pouring up and out of it. The flames begin to lick the photograph of Raine before reducing it to ashes.
Miss Jon: And I pity any woman that is YOU today.
The camera pulls up from the melted image of Raine, looking through the flames that have ruined it and into the face of the man stood at some distance. Lingering in the corner of the dimly lit room is Martin Howe III, who rubs his palms together with a grin that is ever so diabolical. He watches his client burn the photo of Raine with the grimmest satisfaction. The commentators can now be heard in the background.
Greyson: What are Miss Jon and her manager Martin Howe III up to?
Sparkles: Honestly, Sparkles is too afraid to find out.
Frankie: Miss Jon has got a definite hard on for Samantha Raine.
Greyson: Well we’re scheduled to see Miss Jon and Samantha Raine cross paths as several IWC talents collide in an upcoming battle royal to determine the number one contender for the Evolution Championship.
Sparkles: Just imagine if Miss Jon and Raine bunt heads once again?
Greyson: It’s a situation building towards an implosion. Who’s walking out of the next match with a shot at the Evolution Title? We’ll find out, next.
The white stretch Humvee that transported Monarchy to the building tonight comes back into focus. A car pulls up right beside it and now comes to a rest in the parking lot. The driver’s side door pops open and Melanie McBride exits to a loud reaction from those watching via the big screen inside of the Manhattan Center. With some type of packaged tucked under arm, Melanie races around the car and hurries towards the arena.
Greyson: Melanie McBride finally arriving to the Manhattan Center with some type of package in hand.
Frankie: She can have my package in her hands if she plays her cards right.
Sparkles: Apparently she picked that up at IWC HQ. What’s in that package and what effect could it have on the Riot brand?
The show comes back live with a zoom in shot on a cellphone. A tweet is being typed on it at the moment and the words are produced by the fingers of Scott Cannon. He stands in a hall slightly stooped over his phone, trading messages with quite possibly the most important person in his life, Vanilla Skyy.
Comeau: Scott…Scott….Scott!
Cannon glances back over his shoulder at correspondent Mark Comeau.
Scott: Can I get a word with you regarding your Evolution Title defense earlier on….?
Scott dismissively waves his hand in front of Comeau’s face.
Scott: Sorry Mark, but not in a mood to answer a slew of generic questions right now.
Comeau: Owe, that stung.
Scott: Sorry. Just got a text from my ‘friend’ Vanilla Skyy.
Comeau: The Uprising World Champion just texted you? Care to share some juicy details?
Scott gives Mark a sideways glare.
Scott: You really are one sick freak aren’t you?
Comeau: Gotta boost those ratings Scotty, gotta boost those ratings.
Scott: If you must know mate, Skyy….well….
It looks as if Scott’s cheeks are actually blushing.
Scott: Skyy said she’s…..proud of me.
An uncharacteristically intense Andre Jordan walks back and forth in his dressing room, his trembling fingers working their way through the slight stubble of hair on his scalp. It looks as if the events of earlier tonight are still weighing heavy on his mind. Eventually he forces himself to stop pacing and to park down in a chair where he proceeds to bury his face in his hands.
Stagehand: Excuse me, Andre?
Andre opens his fingers and peeks through them at the Stagehand who has just approached him with some type of card clutched in his hand.
Stagehand: I was asked to give this to you.
A reluctant Andre reaches out and absent mindedly takes the card, which features a Greenwich Hotel emblem. It becomes PAINFULLY obvious to Andre that what he has just been handed is a room key. The commentators can be overheard in the background.
Sparkles: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we’re still scheduled to see Andre Jordan face off with Orlando Cruze as part of the Number One Contender Tournament.
Greyson: And that match became far more personal when Orlando superkicked Andre’s agent Tabitha Silverstone earlier on in the evening.
Sparkles: Sparkles imagines that’s what has got Andre looking so upset at the moment.
Greyson: It’s going to be quite the encounter when Dre and Orlando go one on one.
Frankie: But it’s Mika Kozlov that he should be going one on one with. Has the man not seen those seductive videos Mika has been sending him from her hotel room? They’ve got me on the point of popping like a pimple.
Greyson: I think this ‘relationship’ Mika has been referring to also plagues on Andre’s mind.
Frankie: It should be plaguing on his penis.
The ever so imposing Borislav stands in a hallway cluttered with fluorescent light tubes and wooden crates. There is one other object in the corridor however that holds Borislav’s focus. His New Eden ally Serenity stands before him, directing orders to the mass of muscle.
Serenity: We need to make this right.
There is only a slight dip of Borislav’s chin, which is as close to a nod as he’ll give.
Serenity: I refuse to sit at the kid’s table one second longer. We HAVE to act. New Eden can’t afford to suffer another blow. So while Cindy hunts down Mika and find out who she’s loyal to, the two of us will spill blood in our Queen’s honor.
Borislav seems to like that idea and like it a lot.
Serenity: It’s time we track down the person who fired a shot at New Eden inside of that Hell in a Cell two weeks ago.
Borislav: *Growls* Aiken?
Serenity: Tonight, the hunt….is….on!
The show returns to the squared circle which is filling and filling fast with numerous IWC talents all scheduled to vie for a shot at the Evolution Championship. Already we can see Flash Silver warming up in one corner, Eric Sailes running the apron, Tyson Galloway rubbing his hands eagerly together, the Hair Doodes of Franz and Froderick styling their fros, and now Devon Kayl slipping through the ropes while his entrance music blares in the background.
Greyson: Some type of plan apparently being formed between New Eden members Serenity and Borislav backstage.
Sparkles: Seems their pretty intent on getting their hands on Aiken Frost tonight.
Frankie: Dude should have known this was gonna happen when he attacked their queen by hanging her from the roof of that Hell in a Cell two weeks ago.
Greyson: We’ll have to wait and see what Serenity and Borislav have planned for Aiken Frost, but right now, we’re going to witness an over the top rope battle royal to decide the number one contender for the Evolution Championship.
Sparkles: Already we can see Flash Silver, Eric Sailes, Tyson Galloway, the Hair Doodes and Devon Kayl entering that ring with even more slated to arrive momentarily.
Greyson: Kayl has already had a pretty productive night, getting some retribution on Ricky Holt for screwing him out of the Number One Contender Tournament, but can Devon parlay his momentum into a victory in this Battle Royal?
Greyson: He’s definitely going to….wait a minute. Did I just hear that right?
Sparkles: Who’s getting jumped backstage now?
Greyson: No-no, guys, I just got word that Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron are on their way to the building and apparently they have some type of presentation in store for Ethan’s ex Rachel Tatum Lee.
Frankie: This already sounds awesome.
Greyson: The presentation has something to do with reminding Rachel of her southern upbringing.
Frankie: This is gonna be amazing!
Devon just begins to make himself comfortable inside of the ring before a voice filtering through the PA system not only unnerves the combatants but the crowd as well.
Martin: I come here before you tonight not as a harbinger of doom.
The curtains open and Martin Howe III steps out from the back, microphone in the hand of the confident agent.
Martin: But as an emissary of peace. I’m offering each of you competing in this match SALVATION.
Greyson: What in the hell is Martin Howe III doing out here and furthermore, what in the Sam HEEL is he talking about?
Sparkles: The last time we saw Howe he was flanking that monster Miss Jon to the ring, and from what Sparkles has come to understand he is now officially her agent.
Frankie: Meaning he’s got every right to be out here, Lovejoy. Considering Miss Jon is a participant in this Battle Royal.
Martin looks ever so pessimistic as he examines the faces of all those presently in the squared circle.
Martin: You can consider me your own personal governor, because I’m calling in the eleventh hour with a stay of execution. You have about ten seconds to leave that ring before my client, the indestructible Miss Jon heads out to compete in this Battle Royal. Now I must warn you that if you should fail to take me up on my offer and you decide to stay in that ring, then you must prepare yourselves for a higher health insurance premium…And I hope that those fool hearty enough to compete in this match have completed their last will and testaments, because my client, the death of beauty, the merciless Miss Jon…is….COMING
Raised voices can be heard in the guerilla position as we see Marcus Briggs and Randal Williams arguing with each other. Try as he may, the man stood between them, Jeffrey Alexander Starxxx, can’t seem to console either of his friends. The two are still sore, figuratively and literally, regarding the way their tag team match with Karen McBride ended earlier tonight.
Starxxx: You two just listen. What happened out there, it was unfortunate, but you’ll get your payback on that bitch at Upping the Ant….
Silas: What is this all about?
Principle Owner Silas Mason, followed by staff members Desmond Drake and Mason Van Stanton, draw nearer to Starxxx and his crew. Silas leans heavily upon a cane, still feeling the effects of the attack he suffered at the last pay=per-view event Revolution.
Starxxx: Ain’t no thing Boss-Man, jus having a lil spat is all.
Silas: It’s nothing? Ya think it’s nothin’ huh? Ya think yer failure to take out Karen McBride when I was servin’ ‘er up to ya on one great big platter was nutthin?
Starxxx: I ain’t saying that bruh.
Silas: Not yer bruh, I’m yer boss, and you and yer thugs ‘ere had better start doin’ everything in yer power to make me a HAPPY boss. Right now, I ain’t happy, not after what I saw you two (points between Marcus and Randal) take a’beatin at the hands of that lil gurl.
Randal: She had a steel chair….
Silas: Don’t hand me that shit.
Randal and Marcus lower their heads sullenly.
Silas: Maybe I made the wrong decision pickin’ the two of ya as my tag team partners at Awakening.
Mason: He could have chosen us.
Mason says while puffing out his chest and slapping the shoulder of Desmond, the midget with his fists to his hips.
Silas: Maybe I should start lookin’ at other talents.
Starxxx: Come on Boss-Man, it was one lil slip.
Silas: We can’t afford no SLIP UPS when there’s so much up for grabs at Uppin’ the Ante. My Principle Ownership is on the line Gahd dammit, and I ain’t leavin nothin’ to chance. So ya know what I’m gonna do, head on out there to the ring and scout sum of the talent in this ‘ere Battle Royal. Maybe one or two of ‘em will impress me and who knows, they could make fer great partners at Uppin’ the Ante.
Silas starts towards the ring with Mason Van Stanton and Desmond Drake following.
Starxxx: Don’t be like that Boss!
Begs Starxxx as he watches Silas’ back moving further and further away from him. Eventually his eyes turn to Desmond, who is stood at his knee level.
Desmond: You three had better step up.
Drake warns Starxxx, Marcus and Randal then even takes a step towards them with fists clinched, expecting them to flinch. Marcus doesn’t back away but stomps in Drake’s direction, causing the midget to scream and jump into his associate Mason’s arms for protection. Mason carries Desmond in the same path blazed by their employer. The camera settles on Starxxx and his boys Marcus and Randal, the three shaking their heads in disgruntled fashion.
Starxxx: We gotta fix this.
EVOLUTION #1 CONTENDERSHIP BATTLE ROYAL
Cameras return to the squared circle just as the tunes of “Shatter Me” are playing through the PA system. With her music blaring in the background Mya Denton moves to the bottom of the entrance ramp. She comes to a stop and stares at all the bodies that are already inside of the squared circle waiting to participate in this Battle Royal for the Evolution Title #1 Contendership. We see Devon Kayl standing amongst Franz and Froderick otherwise known as the Hair Doodes, we also see Eric Sailes, Tyson Galloway, and Flash Silver.
Sparkles: Mya Denton joining the fold. Man, there are so many already in the ring to compete in this Battle Royal to determine a new number one contender for the Evolution Title.
Frankie: Maybe you and I should get in there Sparkles and….
Greyson: Good Lord NO! The last thing we need is a repeat of your pathetic performance in the 2015 Rumble.
Sparkles: Mya Denton coming into this match with a lot on her mind.
Greyson: Indeed, because tonight may very well be the night that she FINALLY gets her hands on Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: Rachel Tatum Lee has vowed that she will produce Harrison by the end of the night, meaning Mya may finally exact her revenge on him and….whoa, hold on just a minute…..
All the attention is redirected from Mya entering the ring to the three bodies headed down the ramp. Silas Mason leads his charges Desmond Drake and Mason Van Stanton around the squared circle and towards the announce table.
Frankie: The Boss is coming our way boys. Make room-make room!
Greyson: This is not a very encouraging sight. Silas Mason headed in the direction of our announce table with those professional ass kissers Mason Van Stanton and Desmond Drake.
Sparkles: Their breath must smell awful.
Greyson: Well we’re about to find out.
Silas and his staff stop behind the announce table and stare down at commentator Greyson Lovejoy, giving him the stink eye. Now Silas jabs at him with the tip of his cane.
Silas: Yer in my seat boy.
Frankie: MOVE LOVEJOY!
Greyson: Where am I supposed to go?
Frankie: MOOOOVVEEE!!
Mason and Desmond grab Greyson and forcefully drag him out of his chair so that Silas can plop himself down in it.
Silas: Thanks for keepin’ my seat warm fer me.
Sparkles: What brings ya to the announce table tonight Silas?
Frankie: Whoa-whoa-whoa, first things first, you gotta offer our Boss a PROPER greeting.
Sparkles: Okay, Silas, do you want my smoochies with tongue or not?
Silas: Ya get that mouth anywhere near me and I’ll have Mason ‘ere rip yer big purple lips off. I’m not out ‘ere fer kisses, at least not from a puppet, I’m out ‘ere cause I’m scoutin’ talent.
Sparkles: For what reason?
Silas: Ya two saw what ‘appened in that tag match a few minutes ago. Marcus Briggs, Randal Williams, they had Karen McBride right in their crosshairs and they couldn’t pull the damn trigger. That jus goes to show I can’t trust ‘em at Uppin’ the Ante. So maybe I’ll find a couple talents competin in this match that I CAN trust.
Obviously the woman headed to the ring at the moment to compete in the Battle Royal will NOT be one of Silas’ potential tag partners. Down the ramp strolls Samantha Raine, slated to compete in this big Battle Royal with massive implications. She jumps up to the apron and stares at all the warm bodies inside, just itching to get their hands on her.
Frankie: What about Samantha Raine? She could be….
Silas: Don’t make me laugh.
Sparkles: Raine has been very vocally out spoken against your managerial techniques Silas.
Silas: She’s a loud mouthed cunt is what she is. She’s very lucky those Austrian bitches I had under my employ didn’t finish ‘er off four weeks ago.
Sparkles: Raine, who dubs herself the Rogue Element, has been pretty impressive though, you must admit that much.
Silas: I ain’t gotta admit SHIT.
Sparkles: Well we’ve seen Raine stand up to a woman few would dare challenge, this beast known as Miss Jon.
Frankie: Yeah, but what happened the last time Raine and Miss Jon crossed paths? Raine was thrown into that ringside barricade and it injured a few of her ribs.
Sparkles: We’ll have to see if that injury comes back to haunt Raine here tonight.
Raine no sooner gets into the ring before the intimidating lyrics of her rival’s theme music hits the PA system. The whole building trembles at the sight of the huge planetary mass of Miss Jon stomping onto the stage. Stood beside her is Martin Howe III, who doesn’t look at all pleased that there is still a ring full of bodies in the squared circle.
Silas: Now right ‘ere’s a woman I can get behind.
Frankie: Oh Silas, you dog.
Silas: That’s NOT what I….jus’ shut yer mouth.
Sparkles: Sparkles takes it you’ve been impressed with Miss Jon.
Silas: What’s NOT impressive about this beast? She’s a whole lotta woman, and she’s a whole lotta pain. Pain that’s bout to be unleashed on everyone in this ‘ere match, and maybe on the McBride sisters at Uppin’ the Ante.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks right now the only person she wants to inflict pain on is Samantha Raine.
Frankie: Well all Miss Jon has to do is send her flying over the top rope with both of her feet hitting the floor to eliminate her from the Battle Royal BUUUT Miss Jon ain’t gonna stop there.
Raine isn’t backing down from the daunting figure descending towards the squared circle. Miss Jon snarls at her potential victims while her agent Martin Howe III warns them via the mic lifted to his mouth.
Howe: How disappointing. I gave you all a chance to save yourselves by walking away from this match and I see that not one of you seized that opportunity. So now, I have no other choice but to wipe my hands clean of any accountability for my client’s actions. What happens to each of you in this match will be on you and you ALONE.
The top rope is taken into the massive hands of Miss Jon, who climbs up onto the apron and actually licks her lips at the sight of Samantha Raine. Just then Flash Silver can be seen in the corner of the ring, or more accurately LEAVING the corner of the ring. He jumps over the top rope and eliminates himself.
Sparkles: HA-HA! Flash taking Howe up on his offer and eliminating himself so as to avoid a collision with Miss Jon.
Silas: Smartest thing that young man has ever done. But wait a minute ‘ere, jus’ noticed sumtin’. Where’s my monster, where’s Mordecai?
Frankie: Yeah, he’s supposed to be in this Battle Royal too.
Sparkles: Silas, you didn’t hear what Johnny Kingdom did to him earlier on? He ambushed him outside of the Manhattan Center and tossed him in a grave.
Silas: This news does not please me.
Outright chaos instantly breaks out the moment after Flash Silver has eliminated himself. Raine goes right after Miss Jon, jumping into her and throwing fists left and right across the beast’s brow. Meanwhile the Hair Doodes are jumping on Devon Kayl, double teaming him. They stoop under his legs, lifting him into the air and trying to flip him back over the top rope. Meanwhile Mya is battling with Eric Sailes, the two trading punches. In the background we can see the seven foot Tyson Galloway hanging back in the corner, just watching the action and continuing to sport a black t-shirt that reads “27-ONE.” Clearly Tyson wants to publicize his victory, the first he’s earned in his entire IWC tenure.
Sparkles: Already off to a hot start here. Everyone out here vying for a shot at that Evolution Championship.
Frankie: Looks to me like Kayl is going to be the first one eliminated. Would serve him right after his interference in Ricky Holt’s NHB Title bout earlier tonight.
Kayl leans back over the ropes and grips them as tightly as he can with both Hair Doodes stooped under his knees. Finally Kayl hits a punch on Franz’s face, knocking him back. He then stomps down with his heel into the top of Froderick’s skull. Kayl lowers his legs, puts his boots to Froderick’s chest and kicks him back. The blow sends Froderick spiraling back into the ropes, leaning against them for support. Kayl then comes racing out of the ropes and into a clothesline that Froderick not only ducks but counters into a back drop. Kayl is flung over the top rope, grabbing it in the process though and then landing on the apron. Just then Froderick drops to his hands and knees as his partner Franz charges in and steps off his back, launching himself over the ropes into a crossbody aimed at Kayl. But at the last second Kayl falls back and as a result Franz goes flying over him and crashing into the outside mats.
Sparkles: Franz eliminated!
Silas: I think it’s safe to say that either member of the Hair Douches are not in contention to be my partners at Upping the Ante.
A laugh can be heard from Mason Van Stanton and Desmond Drake, who continue to stand behind the chair their precious Principle Owner is seated in at the announce table. Back inside of the squared circle Miss Jon and Raine are continuing to exchange blows. Raine has the huge Miss Jon buckling back over the top rope, one forearm after another after another colliding with her sternum. Finally Raine rushes in with a lariat that impacts Miss Jon’s throat. Yet the blow has failed to send the brute flipping over the ropes. So Raine backs up and proceeds to charge into another clothesline that this time is countered by the massive hands that wrap around her throat. Raine’s eyes widen as she’s strangled and she’s even more stunned by the devastating headbutt to her skull. Miss Jon sends Raine to the canvas but provides her enemy no rest. She takes Raine by the bangs and tries to lead her up to her feet. But that’s when Mya Denton jumps on Miss Jon’s back, applying a sleeper hold.
Silas: Does this girl EVER pick her fights wisely?
Frankie: Apparently not.
Sparkles: Mya is already in over her head fighting with Rachel Tatum Lee and Aaron Harrison, but now she’s going after Miss Jon.
Frankie: What is going through her head.
Silas: Probably Miss Jon’s fist.
Silas is spot on in his speculation. Miss Jon reaches back and takes Mya by the hair, giving it such a forceful yank that she’s sent flipping over Jon’s head and crashing back first onto Raine. All the muscles in Mya’s and Raine’s body have been aggravated and soon are going to be squashed. The massive Miss Jon rushes in and goes airborne via a big splash onto both of her targeted foes.
Sparkles: OOOOH PEPPERJACK!
Silas: That’s a whole lotta titty crashin’ into both dem girls.
Miss Jon works her way up to her feet just as Tyson Galloway lunges out of the corner and into a goozle on her throat. The seven footer wraps his hand around Miss Jon’s neck and prepares to chokeslam her.
Sparkles: Talk about crazy. What is Tyson Galloway thinking here?
Frankie: He’s still riding high off his victory from four weeks ago.
Sparkles: Yeah, but the McBride sisters paid for someone to lay down for him.
Frankie: Actually they paid for Eric Sailes to get a win but Tyson stole it from him.
Clearly Sailes hasn’t forgotten about his tag team partner’s betrayal, hence why he’s jumping onto Tyson’s back and breaking up the chokeslam the giant had intended to deliver. Miss Jon is released from the goozle and sent staggering back into the ropes, she merely watches at this point as tensions explode between partners Sailes and Galloway. At the moment Sailes has Galloway staggered back with punch after punch across the jaw. He then takes off backwards into the ropes to build momentum behind a lariat, but when he springs back into Tyson it’s not a lariat that connects, instead Sailes is caught with a black hole slam. Tyson drives his partner brutally into the ring and then pops back to his feet riding a crest of momentum. But now he must contend with yet another clothesline, this one unleashed by Miss Jon. The brute charges in and goes for the lariat that Tyson manages to somehow avoid by ducking down. Miss Jon swings back around to face Tyson, who unleashes a brutal big boot. The blow has not only staggered Miss Jon back but is giving Tyson a greater and greater sense of self-worth. He is so confident that he is completely blinded to the face that his big boot failed to have much in the way of effect on Miss Jon. She wasn’t even removed from her feet, in fact, she’s running straight into a clothesline that nails Tyson with so much force across the throat that it sends the seven footer flipping back over the top rope.
Sparkles: There goes Tyson.
Frankie: Galloway’s success coming to an end.
Silas: Guess it was nice while the illusion lasted. He won’t be gettin’ a call from me any time soon.
Although Kayl has prevented elimination numerous times in the course of this match it remains to be seen just how long his luck will last. He’s back on his feet across the apron with his opponent Froderick lunging into a shoulder block from the ring and through the ropes. Kayl avoids the modified spear to his ribs by flipping up and over the top rope, landing on the ring behind his attacker. Kayl then rushes into the far ropes, bounces off them and returns to Froderick, leaping into a knee that connects directly against his chest. The blow sends Froderick flying back into the ropes but grabbing them tight to avoid flipping back over them. Kayl spins away from his adversary then races into the far ropes once more, but instead he charges directly into Miss Jon’s hands. He pays for his tunnel vision, for focusing exclusively on the Hair Doodes, because now he’s hoisted into a gorilla press by another of his opponents. Miss Jon has Kayl raised high overhead and is now carrying him towards the ropes, intent on sending him flying over to the outside.
Frankie: Goodbye Devon Kayl.
Sparkles: Miss Jon about to make another elimination.
Silas: This woman just keeps impressin’ me more and more.
Just as Miss Jon is about to fling Kayl over the ropes via the gorilla press the back of her tree trunk thick thigh is dropkicked. A recovered Raine has dashed in behind Miss Jon and has caught her with both boots square to the crease of the knee. The shot actually takes Miss Jon off her feet, sending her crashing to her back. Kayl, who WAS being held over Miss Jon’s head, has now landed upright beside her, for all of a moment. He instantly performs a standing shooting star press, crashing right down on top of Miss Jon. He quickly rolls away from the brute, who sits up growling in pain. However, the second Miss Jon sits up on the canvas she finds her face crushed by the Demented. Another of her opponents Mya Denton leaps into the shinning wizard, the blow knocking Miss Jon onto her back. Mya quickly rolls out of the way to avoid the body that goes flying over her from the top rope. Raine soars into a gigantic elbow drop from the corner and straight into Miss Jon’s heart.
Sparkles: Everyone ganging up on Miss Jon.
Frankie: That’s the only way that their going to eliminate her. Unless they can lure her form the ring using Cinnabons.
The Simply Stunning Supergirl pops back up to her feet after hitting the elbow and then looks around the ring at all of her opponents before pointing down at Miss Jon. She seems to lead a rally, unifying everyone against their biggest threat, Miss Jon. Sailes, Froderick, Mya, Kayl and Raine gather around Miss Jon, who is already getting back to her feet. All of her opponents take her around her huge legs, elevating them into the air and trying to force her into a back flip over the ropes. Miss Jon holds onto the top cable with all of her strength, trying her best to prevent this elimination.
Frankie: Their all trying to eliminate this metric ton of monster.
Silas: And yet even all five of ‘em can’t get ‘er outta that ring.
Sparkles: If Mordecai were still out here it might change the whole dynamic of this match. He’d be the only one who could match up with Miss Jon.
Frankie: It be a variable monster mash.
All five of her opponents have Miss Jon literally on the ropes but yet to go flying over them. Her agent Martin Howe III stands on the mats below the ring shouting up at his client.
Howe: The beautiful people want to embarrass you!
These words seem to inspire Miss Jon, who reacts with a burst of raw rage. A loud scream emanates from the monster who sends all of her opponents flying back from her with one massive shove. The first person who was just shrugged off Miss Jon to get back to his feet is Kayl. He stands up just in time to be knocked back to the ground with a big headbutt. Sailes then rushes Miss Jon only to be caught by the back of the head and flung over the top rope, his body crashing into the ringside mats.
Sparkles: There goes Sailes.
Frankie: Surprised he lasted in this match as long as he did.
Silas: I would’ve thought he’d be eliminated before the entrances were even finished.
Sparkles: Miss Jon tapped into her aggression and she is just unleashing that rage on all of her opponents.
Miss Jon now runs at Froderick and Mya, toppling them both with a stereo clothesline. She furiously turns back towards Kayl, grabbing him by the hair and dragging him up to his feet. But just then Kayl leaps into the air and smacks Miss Jon in the back of the head with a step up enzugari. The blow to the back of the head has Miss Jon staggered and the superkick to the jaw that follows it has her even more disorientated. She staggers back into the ropes, pressing all her mass against them.
Sparkles: Look at this, look at this! Kayl has got Miss Jon reeling. He could be on the cusp of eliminating her all by himself.
Silas: THAT would impress me.
Even Kayl looks stunned that he has Miss Jon on the ropes, about to be knocked back over them. All it will take is one more shot to finish her off. He goes rushing into the far ropes in order to build momentum behind a strike that will send Miss Jon crashing to the floor and eliminating her from the bout. Kayl hits the ropes but soon hits the floor. A set of hands reach under the ropes and snag hold of Kayl’s feet, pulling them out from under his body. Kayl lands flat on his face and soon his body is yanked from the squared circle, landing right in front of an enraged Ricky Holt.
Frankie: It’s the General!
Silas: What’s this all about now?
Sparkles: Ricky Holt grabbing Kayl and dragging him out of the ring, but he’s not eliminated, he didn’t go over the ropes.
Frankie: Ricky wanting some payback.
Before Kayl knows what hit him he’s finds the back of his head crashing into the ringside barricade. Ricky throws Kayl with so much force into the barricade that he not only slams into it but goes flipping over into the crowd. Kayl crawls through the fans with Ricky nipping at his heels. An angered Holt grabs Kayl by the shoulder, drags him up to his feet and spins him around right into the beer bottle that goes swinging into his brow. Holt grabs the bottle of alcohol from the fan and then drives it straight into Kayl’s forehead, glass bursting through the air.
Sparkles: Holt busting a damn beer bottle right across Kayl’s face!
Silas: Seems like fittin’ justice fer what Kayl did earlier tonight.
An unconscious Kayl lies on the concrete at the feet of the fans, blood streaming down his face from a gash opened by the beer bottle. Ricky walks away from his latest victim with a pronounced sneer on his face. He then goes back to where he came from, marching up the ramp and vanishing through the curtains. Meanwhile, back inside of the squared circle Froderick has his opponent Mya Denton lifted into a scoop slam position, carrying her towards the ropes.
Silas: It’s about time, toss ‘er already.
Frankie: Looks like another of your favorites is going to be eliminated Silas.
Silas: I like ‘er about as much as burnt toast.
Sparkles: Burnt toast is good as long as it’s smeared in melted cheese.
Silas: Why haven’t I replaced ya with a sock yet?
The crowd screeches so loud at the sight of Mya seconds from taking the plunge to the exterior of the ring. But she manages to reach out, grab the top rope with both hands and push herself back from it, keeping Froderick from flinging her over. She manages to squirm just enough to slip off of Froderick’s shoulder and land directly behind him. A worried Froderick twists around and finds that his fear was well justified because he walks right into Mya’s waiting arms before being flipped back into the Cra-Cra. The standing shiranui slams the back of Froderick’s head into the canvas with such force that he’s left even more brain dead than when he first came into this contest.
Now another of his opponents Samantha Raine is dashing in and grabbing Froderick’s ankle, lifting it into the air and as a result sending him rolling back. The Hair Doode returns to his feet just as Samantha interlocks hands with Mya and the two charge into a stereo clothesline that nails Froderick across the throat with enough force to send him flipping back over the ropes and then plummeting to ringside.
Frankie: He’s gone, Froderick is gone!
Silas: When did he show up?
Sparkles: He’s been in there since the beginning.
The crowd is voicing their delight at the sight of Mya and Raine working together during that last elimination. The two then turn to one another and bump knuckles, not forgetting how they’ve worked together in the past as well as here tonight. But that teamwork is short lived, because the second Raine turns her back, Mya dashes in from behind, grabs the back of her head and is about to launch her over the ropes. At the last second though Raine ducks down and puts a hand to Mya’s back, pushing her off and into the cables. When Mya turns back around she sees Raine’s finger lifted into the air, wagging back and forth as if to say ‘no, no, no.’
Sparkles: Raine not going to be fooled twice. It was back at the 2015 Last Stand Rumble that Raine was eliminated by her good friend Brittany Lohan, so she knows better than to turn her back on anyone in these types of matches, foe and especially friend.
Mya smiles and apologies but then goes for a clothesline that Raine ducks under. As a result Mya’s arm goes flying past Raine’s head and her momentum carries her right into the waiting hands of Miss Jon. The enormous hand of Miss Jon engulfs Mya’s throat to the alarm of the audience. Miss Jon prepares to chokeslam Mya but Raine complicates matters. She charges in to put a stop to this potential chokeslam only to be caught by her throat as well. A fierce Miss Jon flashes both the whites of her eyes and the whites of her teeth as she prepares to stereo chokeslam BOTH of her opponents.
Silas: This big bitch gonna crush ‘em both!
Miss Jon heaves both ladies simultaneously into the air only for them to slip free at the same time and hit stereo dropkicks on her chest. The blows knock Miss Jon back into the ropes, ALMOST going right over them. Her agent Howe looks despondent at ringside, especially when he sees Mya and Raine join hands to deliver a stereo lariat. They look to eliminate Miss Jon the exact same way they did Froderick moments ago. They charge in at Miss Jon who suddenly steps out of the ropes and breaks the interlocked hands of her opponents with her forearms. She then turns around and launches a boot square into Mya’s ribs, the blow knocking her back and through the ropes, NOT over them. Mya crashes down to the floor but Raine is still stood ALONE with the beast inside of the ring.
Miss Jon goes right after Raine with a punch that she manages to roll underneath. The unrelenting Miss Jon goes running after Raine but doesn’t realize that Raine is springing off the middle rope and flying through the air into a twisting clothesline. She hits Miss Jon square across the throat and causes the big woman to buckle back but not go down. So Raine changes her strategy, dashing up the turnbuckle to the top rope then taking to the air. She hits a big missile dropkick on Miss Jon’s chest, the collision causing her to stagger even further.
To say Raine is shocked is an understatement, she is blown away by the fact that her opponent is STILL standing. So Raine goes rushing into the ropes and once again springs from the middle one. She then turns in mid-air and flies right into a clothesline….no….Miss Jon catches her in mid-air with both hands wedged to Raine’s stomach. She then rushes towards the ropes with Raine held over her head and throws her to the outside of the ring.
Frankie: Raine just press slammed right out of the ring!
Sparkles: She’s been eliminated, Miss Jon has just eliminated her number one target.
Frankie: Raine should consider it a blessing that Miss Jon so mercifully dispatched her.
Raine hits the mats with some force, rolling across it to the base of the ramp. She gets to her knees with an expression of sheer pain consuming her face while looking back at the ring where Miss Jon stabs at her with her gaze. A smiling Howe waves goodbye to Raine but doesn’t realize that his client is about to be eliminated. Amazingly Devon Kayl has not only returned to the match, in spite of just having a beer bottle busted over his head, but has hold of Miss Jon’s leg, trying to lift it in order to fling her over the top rope.
Silas: What is this dumb sun’a bitch doin’ back in ‘ere?
Sparkles: He’s TRYING to eliminate Miss Jon.
Frankie: He’s not trying to, he’s actually got her on the cusp of going over.
Miss Jon grabs the cable she threatens to fly over and then looks back at the man trying to eliminate her. She looks annoyed and now grabs Kayl by the hair, lifting him up by the bangs and then throwing him right over the ropes. To Miss Jon’s surprise her opponent catches the top rope and floats over to the apron instead of crashing to the floor. He then drops to his seat and slides under the ropes as well as through Miss Jon’s legs. He stands up behind her and waits for Miss Jon to turn, turn right into the Pele Kick that blasts her between the eyes. The crowd is damn near speechless as they see Miss Jon topple over and collapse to her seat in the corner.
Sparkles: Is Sparkles seeing this right now!?!
Frankie: I think Devon Kayl might be the very first man to actually take Miss Jon off of her feet.
Even Kayl is surprised that he managed to knock Miss Jon over. He now looks to parlay his momentum by swooping in to get his hands on his opponent before the lights in the building dim and the lyrics of ‘You’ve Never Known Such Fear’ hits the PA system.
Sparkles: Oooooh noooo.
Silas: Ooooooh yeah.
Frankie: It can’t be.
The curtains hung over the entry way fly open as Mordecai steps through them, his hand nursing the back of his head.
Frankie: Heeee’s heeeereee.
Silas: There’s my monster, and my odds on favorite to win this.
Sparkles: This is stunning to say the least. Mordecai was just buried outside of the Manhattan Center and yet here he is. No one suspected that he would be able to participate in this match.
Silas: Nothin’ can hold this beast down. I tell ya he might make a great partner against the McBrides at Upping the Ante.
Sparkles: He has beaten them before.
Mordecai makes his way closer and closer to the ring where Kayl is stood and looking like a dear caught in the headlights. The moment Mordecai slides into the ring Kayl summons the courage to dash right into him and unload with punches. Kayl hits one right hand after another across Mordecai’s cheek and actually has the behemoth on the defensive. But Kayl makes the mistake of getting a running start behind another punch only to walk right into a goozle across the throat. The eyes of the former GCW Champion widen as he’s lifted straight from his feet and chokeslammed directly over the ropes to the outside of the ring.
Sparkles: Mordecai eliminating Kayl with ease.
Silas: I love watchin’ this guy work.
Frankie: And Mordecai loves hurting people.
Silas: That’s what makes him such a joy to watch.
Kayl is getting no joy out of Mordecai’s work ethic. He lays at ringside smarting from the chokeslam into the mats. He may think his misery is over, but it’s just getting started. Kayl suddenly realizes that Mordecai has stepped over the top rope and has dropped to ringside, eliminating HIMSELF from the match.
Silas: Hey Mordecai, what are ya doin’?
Greyson: He just took himself right out of this battle royal.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think Mordecai came out here to win this match. I think he was just hear to find a victim.
It appears that Kayl is going to serve as nothing more than Mordecai’s punching bag, the ultimate stress release after the monster’s earlier dealings with Johnny Kingdom. He approaches Kayl who was still stooped at ringside, grabs him by the hair and gives him a big headbutt to the back of the skull. Mordecai then punches Kayl across the temple, knocking him down to the ramp and sending him rolling towards the backstage area. Mordecai stomps and punches him before ultimately just dragging him right along into the backstage area.
Sparkles: Where the hell is Mordecai taking Devon Kayl?
Frankie: I think Mordecai looks at Kayl and sees the face of Johnny Kingdom.
Back inside of the ring Miss Jon has just returned to her feet with the aid of the turnbuckle she had been knocked into moments earlier. That’s when Mya Denton returns to the ring and then comes bolting towards her huge opponent, diving side first into her with a modified crossbody block. Mya then flies right through the ropes onto the apron, her collision with Miss Jon doubling her adversary over. Mya quickly climbs into the ring behind Miss Jon, stands on the middle rope then dives off it catching the back of her opponent’s head with both hands. She uses this grip to drag Miss Jon’s head down into the ring with a face buster. Mya comes down to her knees while her opponent pops up to her feet with a look ever so homicidal in her eyes.
Frankie: Hooooollly shit.
Sparkles: Mya has just done nothing but piss Miss Jon off.
Mya goes as pale as a sheet at the sight of the fury in Miss Jon’s eyes. But although she’s stunned Mya will not be deterred as she spins around and catches her adversary with a spinning back kick to the gut. Miss Jon is doubled over by the blow and her head is now falling into her opponent’s clutches. The fans unleash a loud pop as Mya flips back into the Cra-Cra.
Sparkles: Another shiranui!
Although Mya flips back she does not connect with the Shiranui because Miss Jon manages to shirk her opponent off. As a result Mya goes flipping over Miss Jon’s shoulder and over the top rope. At the last possible second Mya catches the top rope though and lands on the apron, successfully avoiding elimination.
Sparkles: Mya continues to hang in there.
The elusive and resilient Mya uses her grip on the top rope to begin to pull herself into a leap back into the ring at the spine of her opponent. In mid-air Mya finds herself caught with a spinning back fist straight across the temple. Miss Jon spins around and absolutely crushes Mya’s face with the punch that knocks her out of the air and down to the floor.
Sparkles: Mya is gone! She’s eliminated!
Silas: I’ll give ‘er some credit, she surpassed my expectations, thought she would’a been eliminated before I even got a chance to take my seat out ‘ere.
Frankie: Man, what sheer dominance displayed by Miss Jon in this match.
Sparkles: And now she’s the new number one contender for the Evolution Title.
Silas: That might not be all she earned with this win, if ya catch my drift.
The snarling Miss Jon towers in the middle of the ring while her agent Martin Howe III stands in the background, giving his client a thumbs up.
Silas: Well boys, it’s been real.
Sparkles: Sparkles is still offering up a Sparkles Smoochie before you go.
Luckily for Principle Owner Silas Mason, he’s got the assistance of Desmond and Mason to aid him back onto his feet. The beating he took two weeks ago at the Uprising Pay-Per-View continues to plague him as he makes his way around the ringside area clapping for the winner of this hotly contested battle royal.
Sparkles: Silas looks happy.
Frankie: He might have found himself a new tag team partner for the match at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: Am I allowed to sit back down now?
Frankie: You’re never allowed so sit next to Sparkles and I ever again.
Greyson Lovejoy returns to his seat while the man who kicked him out of it continues to make his way around the ringside area. Silas is all smirks as he watches the victor in this Battle Royal, realizing that he has his eyes on a winner, someone who can help him stack the deck even further against the McBride sisters come Upping the Ante.
Melanie: Wipe that sickening smirk off your face you scum-bucket.
The moment Silas hears the voice of Melanie McBride the viewers can see his upper lip curling. The second he locks his eyes on the youngest of the McBride sisters his brow scrunches, almost coming all the way down to his mouth. It’s painfully obvious that Silas is not happy to see one of his adversaries at Upping the Ante arriving to be the black cloud on his otherwise sunny day. But in Melanie’s mind she’s not the black cloud, she’s the bolt of lightning that will come down from that cloud to reduce Silas to ashes. She smiles at Silas from the stage that is also occupied by the two cages with Silas’ appointed strippers contained inside of them.
Greyson: Well we’ve been speculating about Melanie McBride all night long, regarding what she picked up from IWC HQ, maybe we’re about to find out.
Sparkles: Sparkles hopes she was picking me up some cheese.
Greyson: Why do you think every package has to be cheese related?
Sparkles: The fact that every package isn’t cheese related makes Sparkles want to cry.
Frankie: The only one gonna be left in tears is Melanie McBride if she decides to screw with Silas.
Melanie won’t screw with Silas, she’ll turn the screws on him.
Melanie: You’re only smiling because you think you’re holding all the cards headed into Upping the Ante, that you got the deck and you can keep stacking it and stacking it against my sisters and I. But here’s the problem you sleazeball, you’re not the dealer….
Silas looks back at Mason and Desmond, mouthing the words ‘what the hell is she talking about?’
Melanie: No Silas, it’s not WHAT I’m talking about, it’s WHO I’m talking about. You might be the big boss of Riot, but you got people you answer to too. Doesn’t the name Drew Bryant ring any bells?
This statement SHOULD alarm Silas, but instead it reduces him to laughter.
Melanie: I know-I know, he suffered a pretty nasty fall at Revolution, and probably is sitting in a hospital bed wearing one of those full body casts at the moment, meaning he’s not going to be here as advertised.
The crowd pouts, having their hearts set on seeing Drew here tonight.
Melanie: Here’s the ‘buuuuuut’ though, Drew’s as smart as he is handsome. Well okay, sure he’s not George Clooney dreamy, but he’s Stephen Hawkings GENIUS. The guy showed some remarkable forethought headed into the last IWC pay-per-view, because he knew there was a very real possibility something bad might happen to him, which is why he put together a little video that not only shows off those gorgeous eyebrows of his, but documents everything he was going to come here and say tonight.
Frankie: What!?! Come off it. How convenient. This is so the lame Jamie Kennedy in Scream 3 plot device.
Greyson: If you think about it instead of picturing Melanie McBride naked in your head, Frankie….
Frankie: She’s not naked, she’s in a French maid uniform.
Greyson: Anyway IWC owner and Uprising show runner went into the last IWC event, Revolution, knowing he would have dealings with New Eden and that there was very serious risk of injury. So he prepared a video to be played here tonight just in case he couldn’t….
Frankie: Quit trying to make this sound plausible, please!
Obviously Silas doesn’t think this is plausible either, hence why he’s continuing to smile ever so arrogantly. That is until Melanie points up at the Cartel-tron above her which suddenly cuts to the face of a deadly serious Drew Bryant. The building goes nuts with excitement at the sight of the IWC President, while Silas goes nuts with rage. The words ‘pre-recorded’ can be seen in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
Drew: Hello IWC fans, it’s your IWC President talking to you from beyyyoooond the graaaaave, ewwwww….
Drew lifts his fingers and wiggles them spookily towards the camera. He then gives a dismissive wave and interlocks his hands, putting them on the knees and relaxing as he sits on the desk in the office where this video was filmed.
Drew: Actually I HOPE I’m not buried six feet under, though if I’m not physically in attendance there in the Manhattan Center that probably means I’m pretty much buzzard chow. My condition isn’t important right now, what is is the gross abuse of power I’ve been forced to watch you wield Silas Mason. I assume you’re listening very closely to what I’m saying, ain’t that righ’ Siiiilllasss?
Drew squints as if looking through the camera straight into the Manhattan Center and at the intense sneer on Silas’ face.
Drew: Good. Glad I’ve got your undivided attention, because you’re going to want to hear what I have to say next. Frankly, I’m sick and tired of your shit Silas. I should have put a stop to your corrupt and biased booking a long time ago, and if it hadn’t been for all the problems being created on the Uprising brand by New Eden, I would have dealt with you. That’s going to change right here and right now, cause it’s time I put you in your place.
The thought of Drew enforcing his will has the acids in Silas’ gut churning and bubbling.
Drew: We already know that at our next pay-per-view Upping the Ante, you’re going to be part of a six person tag team match against the McBride sisters for the Principle Ownership of the IWC. If Karen wins, she gets control of the Riot brand, and I’m not about to let you screw her out of the ownership again. So here’s what’s going to happen. There is going to be NO outside interference in the course of that six man tag, and if there is, Karen will win the Principle Ownership back right then and right there.
Silas is all but eating his Stetson he’s so enraged.
Drew: And here’s another little addition I’M making to this match. IF you get yourself intentionally disqualified, then Karen wins the Principle Ownership.
It seems that Silas is now stuffing his entire hat down his own throat.
Drew: Oh, and there’s just another final little wrinkle I’m throwing into the mix. Karen wanted a match one on one against you, she’s been ITCHING and DYING for it for months, and yet you made this change in the eleventh hour by turning your fight with Karen at Upping the Ante into a six person tag. That doesn’t sit well with me. So guess what Silas, in two weeks, it’s going to be YOU versus Karen McBride, ONE on ONE!
Oh the excitement. Oh the exuberance from the audience and Melanie McBride alike. She jumps up and down, clapping ever so giddily for her sister and the culmination of this big match set to go down now in two weeks. The only person not excited about this news is Silas, who has thrown his hat right down to the mats and is stabbing at it with his walking cane.
Frankie: THIS IS WRONG! THIS IS SO WRONG!!
Greyson: FINALLY! Karen McBride, Silas Mason, one on one in two weeks. Thank you, Drew Bryant!
Sparkles: Silas is furious.
Frankie: And he has every right to be! For God sakes, he’s in no condition to wrestle just two weeks removed from Upping the Ante. He needs to rest and heal up!
Greyson: This is justice, fitting just….HEEEY!
Melanie continues to laugh and clap on the stage before turning to the entry way. Just as she is about to make her exit she finds herself bowled over by the huge lariat of Marcus Briggs. All those in attendance react with outrage at the sight of Marcus, Randal Williams and Jeffrey Starxxx dashing from the back, stopping on the stage and stomping right at Melanie’s spine.
Greyson: It’s Starxxx and his goons!
Greyson: They’re jumping Melanie!
Frankie: No, what they’re doing is proving their worth to Silas!
A stunned Melanie continues to be drowned under the deluge of boots unleashed by Briggs and Randal while Starxxx brutalizes her with something else, his shouts.
Starxxx: Feel honored! Feel privileged that Team Excellence would even touch that ass!
A fuming Silas is making his way up the ramp leaning heavily on his cane in the process. Running behind him are Mason, who is holding Silas’ crumpled Stetson, and Desmond.
Silas: Stand er up!
Briggs does just as the Principle Owner insists, prying Melanie up from the ground and holding her arms behind her back. Silas swings his cane right into Melanie’s ribcage, doubling her over and causing her to cry out in agony.
Greyson: Come on! Silas attacking a defenseless woman with a cane!
Frankie: Where was your sympathy when Drew Bryant booked a handicapped Silas to face Karen in two weeks?
The eyes of the deranged Principle Owner turn to the cages on either side of the stage filled with scantily clad strippers.
Silas: Open up that cage!
The pint sized Desmond is all but too eager to do his Boss’ budding. He grabs the cage door, swings it open and his associate Mason drags the dancer inside of it out onto the stage.
Silas: Put the slut in there!
Orders Silas with Randal and Marcus catering to his demented whims. They drag Melanie towards the cage and then throw her unconscious body inside, slamming the door shut behind her. A laughing Starxxx takes a roll of dollar bills from his pocket and starts pelting through the bars of the cage.
Silas: Dance ya damn whore! DANCE!
Silas grabs the cage bars and begins to shake them while shouting at the barely conscious Melanie.
Silas: DAAAAANNNNCCCEEEE WHOOORREEEE!
The only ones who dance are Silas and his crew when they spot Karen McBride bolting through the curtains and coming to her sister’s aid. She has a steel chair raised in her hand, ready to use it in the same capacity she did earlier in the night. The chair collides with the air right over Randal’s head. He ducks and as a result the chair swings into the cage, rattling its bars. Silas grabs his cohorts and hides behind them, using Briggs as a protective blockade. The entire Silas administration back down the ramp, shouting at Karen, who gets a running start before throwing the chair at her enemies.
Greyson: Karen saving her sister, who was being insulted on top of being assaulted by Silas and his staff.
A red hot Karen does not lose sight of what brought her out here. She grabs the door to the cage her sister was thrown inside of, pops it open and drags Melanie out.
Silas: What are ya’ll waitin’ fer, get ‘er!
Silas points towards Karen prompting his crew to go hustling up the ramp in her direction. They fail to catch up with Karen, who is dragging her near lifeless sister Melanie to the backstage area, the pair disappearing through the curtains.
Greyson: Good God this six person tag at Upping the Ante has become BEYOND personal. What’s going to happen when the McBrides collide with Silas and his crew at the pay-per-view?
Sparkles: What about in two weeks when Silas and Karen go one on one?
Greyson: Things are only getting more and more out of control as we head into the final battle for the Principle Ownership.
Cameras open on a frantic looking Serenity. Her black eyes are opened ever so wide as they look down the hallway, searching for someone. At the same time her hand tightly grips a brass knob, pulling it in order to keep a door closed. On the opposite side of that door we can hear banging around, someone desperately trying to get out.
Serenity: Borislav, come quick! QUICK! I’ve got ‘em!
Her New Eden teammate, the huge Borislav comes into view, carrying with him a steel pipe wrench that he pats anticipatorily against his palm.
Serenity: Their trapped inside.
The excited Serenity informs.
Serenity: You know what to do, right?
Borislav: Da.
Serenity leans back from the door yet keeps a grip on the knob as Borislav prepares to enter the room she’s keeping someone trapped inside. Borislav rubs his hands in almost orgasmic fashion around the pipe wrench he eagerly waits to use.
Greyson: Do they-do they-do New Eden have Aiken Frost trapped in that room!?!
Sparkles: It certainly sounds like it. We heard Serenity and Borislav say earlier that they were going after the person who interfered in that Hell in a Cell.
Frankie: Aiken-Aiken-Aiken, you should have known better. You can’t hide from New Eden.
Sparkles: Indeed, because the Suffering WILL find you.
Greyson: Serenity and Borislav have got Aiken trapped like a rat. What are they going to do to him after he strangled their Queen two weeks ago?
David: *Sigh*.
The feed cuts to David Cannon standing with his shoulder to a wall and his arms crossed over his chest. It looks like he’s very dismayed as he stares across the locker-room at the poster on the wall. The image advertises the pending Upping the Ante main event in which his brother Scott Cannon will challenge Katelyn Buehler for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Michael: You look like someone just slapped our grandma and then kicked your dog.
States Michael, who steps in behind his brother, becoming fixated on the very same poster.
David: They might as well of. Look at this….
His open palm extends to the poster.
David: Our brother is cashing in his number one contenders contract against Katelyn Buehler for the World Championship in the main event of one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year. Do you know how this makes me feel?
Michael: I have an idea.
David: It makes me SICK.
Neither Cannon shies away from showing their true feelings regarding this pending World Title bout.
David: This match shouldn’t be happening. Scott shouldn’t be challenging for the title at the pay-per-view…
Michael: Yeah, because he should be DEFENDING it!
David: And he would be if it weren’t for Vanilla Skyy showing up four weeks ago right before he was going to cash in his briefcase to pin Katelyn for the title. If it weren’t for Skyy filling Scott’s head with all these ridiculous notions about heroism and being a good person, he would be World Champion right now.
Michael: Poor Scott, he never learns from his mistakes. He’s going to be perpetually led around by his dick.
David: First Taylor has him wrapped around her little finger, and now so does Skyy. It’s sickening, he’s letting these girls destroy his career.
Michael: Well I guess it falls on us to save it.
David smiles out of the side of his mouth.
David: If Scott won’t do what it takes to make sure he becomes World Champion, then WE will.
The poster taped to the wall that has had the Cannons so preoccupied is now grabbed, David ripping it in half to remove the image of the World Champion entirely. Katelyn Buehler has been stripped away from one side of the poster, leaving only the image of Scott Cannon.
A sight that has become way too familiar in recent weeks comes into view. A coffin is set up in a near pitch black room. Shadows shroud everything save for a still sweating NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee as well as the three members of Tombstone. Goddard, Elijah Dallas and Sundown all stand around the casket that holds Aaron Harrison, their heads bowed in its direction.
Rachel: Ya’ think he’s ready?
The NHB Champion directs her words at Goddard. It takes a moment for his shadowy eyes to turn from the casket and settle on Rachel’s face.
Goddard: He’s ready.
Rachel’s hands slide over the surface of the coffin.
Rachel: Yeah, but Mya, she won’t be.
This eerie promise is delivered by Rachel as the camera looks past the coffin she’s leaning over and into the eyes of the ever homicidal NHB Champion. Her stare and her words have the commentators on edge.
Greyson: Is it going to happen? Is Rachel Tatum Lee going to let Aaron Harrison loose tonight?
Sparkles: Mya Denton has demanded that Rachel release Harrison…
Frankie: But it’s just as Rachel said a moment ago, Mya won’t be prepared for what she gets.
Greyson: Are we finally going to see Harrison? We’ll find out NEXT!
Riot is back and live with some of the most gruesome imagery that would even make Eli Roth cringe. The camera opens on the body of Devon Kayl seated on the floor with his back propped up against the wall. He is barely breathing as blood gushes out of every orifice on his face, as well as from a few new ones that have been opened up in his body. On his chest a message has been written in blood. The words ‘The Fallen King.’
Sparkles: We’ve finally learned what Mordecai has done to Devon Kayl.
Greyson: This is sickening. Mordecai using Kayl to send a message to Johnny Kingdom.
Frankie: Yeah, we saw Mordecai drag Kayl away from the ring during that Battle Royal for the Evolution Title, and man did he ever give him a beating.
Greyson: It looks like Mordecai has absolutely torn Kayl to pieces.
Alana: Daaaaannng Ethan, ain’t this place finer’n then frog hair?
A set of doors open leading into a hallway backstage and now the dynamic duo of the Uprising brand, Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron waltz into the building. No, they don’t waltz, they seem to skip on bare feet.
Ethan: Yaaah, this ‘ere place probably got indoor plumbin’ and everydang!
Excitedly exclaims Ethan, who tries not to let his big false teeth fly out of his mouth. He and Alana wear comically oversized yellow and rotted teeth as well as the most over the top generic Southern style apparel. They have rolled up pants legs and denim overalls with straw hats on their heads and five o’clock shadows drawn on both of their faces.
Alana: Rachel Tatum Lee, why she’s probably livin’ high on the hog ‘ere.
Ethan: Yuppers. But it’s bout time we remind ‘er where she comes from.
Alana: Let’s take Rachel back to ‘er southern roots.
Announces Alana as she and Ethan march along into the arena.
Greyson: Oooh great, Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron are here in the Manhattan Center.
Sparkles: Why are they dressed and talking like a bunch of backwoods bumpkins?
Frankie: You heard them, they’re here to remind Ethan’s ex Rachel Tatum Lee where she comes from.
Greyson: If they plan on tangling with Rachel then they’re in for a world of pain.
A strap tightens on the titanium knee brace of former three time World Champion Taylor Chase. She stands in the VIP dressing room occupied by Monarchy with has her foot propped on a chair, elevating her leg so she can make final preparations for her match against Selena Frost. Stood around her are her fellow Monarchy associates Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, the two providing her some last minute words of encouragement. However, we can only hear what the commentators are saying as they hype another of the eagerly anticipated bouts on tonight’s card.
Frankie: There’s the face that runs the place. Taylor Chase seconds from melting that snow-cone Selena Frost.
Greyson: Later on this evening Selena looks to COOL the momentum of Monarchy.
Sparkles: It’s gonna be a hell of a fight when the ice cold Selena battles the red hot Taylor.
Frankie: Monarchy will RULE!
Kat: Are you feeling any better?
Once again we find the reigning IWC Tag Team Champions Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel located in the hallway just outside of a bathroom door. They wait for what feels like an eternity to get an answer from the man who has been inside for much of the night dry heaving. Finally the door creeps open and a pale Alistair Taylor steps out, dabbing a handkerchief against his lips.
Lexy: Yeesh, you look like you should be auditioning for the Thriller video.
Kat: How are you doing?
A surprisingly compassionate Kat rubs Alistair’s shoulder.
Alistair: I’m feeling MUCH better.
Lexy: Good, then you’ll be there to watch us beat Pasty Katie AGAIN and then I’ll even give you the honor of taking the World Title off that thief and wrapping the gold around THESE abs.
Lexy’s fingers run across her waist.
Kat: Feeling up for it?
Alistair: I wouldn’t miss that honor for anything in the world….
Stagehand: Excuse me, Lexy….
A crewmember comes into view holding a carton of nachos covered in very pungent chili.
Stagehand: Got your nachos with extra chili….
The odorous food passes right by Alistair’s face as it’s handed to Lexy.
Alistair: OH GOD!
His hand moves to his mouth and nostrils, trying to hold back the vomit as he races into the bathroom and slams the door shut behind him. A distraught Kat stretches across the doorway with her hands on either side of the jamb.
Kat: Alistair, do you want us to come in and hold your hair back?
A loud crunching noise distracts Kat, her eyes veering towards the source. Lexy is forcing a chili covered nacho into her mouth before she notices the stern eyeballing her partner is giving her.
Lexy: What? I’m fucking hungry!
Cameras transition back to the squared circle just in time to hear even more speculation from the commentators in the background.
Greyson: Looks as if Alistair Taylor is STILL suffering some form of food poisoning.
Frankie: Knock off the shit Lovejoy, we all know Selena Frost did something to that champagne she had sent to Monarchy’s dressing room.
Sparkles: If Sparkles were Lexy, I’d be suspicious of those nachos. Maybe Monarchy should hire Sparkles as their personal food and beverage taster.
Greyson: Seems they need one, and you do have an iron constitutional….
The lights in the arena suddenly dim down and encompass the arena in total shadow. An ominous funeral march tune begins to play throughout the arena, setting the mood for the arrival of the casket. Once again members of Tombstone act as the pallbearers, hands wrapped around the rails of the coffin that they are transporting towards the ring. Bringing up the rear is the NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee, who follows behind the coffin and her Tombstone allies.
Greyson: I think that constitution is about to be tested Sparkles.
Sparkles: Yeah, cause Sparkles is ten seconds away from piling this chair high with cheese poopies.
Frankie: Tombstone is here and they have that casket with Aaron Harrison inside.
Greyson: They’ve vowed that they will FINALLY release him tonight. It was back several months ago at the pay-per-view Awakening that Rachel Tatum Lee faced Harrison in a casket match for the NHB Title. And it all ended when Rachel gave Harrison the Dead in Tombstone straight into the coffin.
Sparkles: Then she trapped him inside and Tombstone carried the coffin away. We haven’t seen Harrison since.
The casket is stopped at ringside, Tombstone lowering it into place while their Lil Rose Rachel Tatum Lee rises to the apron. The second she enters the ring the microphone is revealed in her palm, the champion wasting absolutely no time cutting straight to the heart of the matter. Tombstone do not linger to hear what she has to say, the trio already walking to the back.
Rachel: It’s just one great big annoyance after another.
Announce Rachel with a note of frustration in her voice.
Rachel: That’s all the IWC is, a pebble stuck in my boot. It’s just downright irritatin’. I can’t get a break. Jus’ when I finish off Ricky Holt, I got Mya Denton in my face. And when I’m all done with her, I have got my baby dicked ex-boyfriend, and that flat chested training bra wearin’ Alana Starr to deal with. My slate needs to be wiped clean, because I want my focus to be on the Number One Contender Tournament, that’s where my brain needs to be headin’ into the next Riot. That’s why I finished off Holt earlier on, and I’m gonna be done with Mya in jus’ a moment. So Mya, why don’t ya come on out to this ‘ere ring and we put an end to all this damned drama. Ya want to get yer hands on Harrison that bad, he’s right here in that casket, come and get ‘em!
If Rachel had her cowbell she’d be chiming it again. We don’t get more cowbell, but we do get Mya Denton’s entrance theme. It belts through the speakers but we get no sight of Mya. An agitated Rachel crosses her arms, tilts her head and watches the entry way in growing unrest.
Suddenly cameras transition to the backstage area where Mya Denton is splayed out on the ground being subjected to a barrage of bare footed blows from Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron. The crowd inside of the Manhattan Center cringe at the image of the Ethan and the X-Class Champion not just putting their heels to Mya’s body but the garish garbs that cover the attackers. Both Alana and Ethan are adorned in overalls with the pants legs rolled up to the calves. While Ethan has no shirt on under his blue jean overalls, Alana is wearing a sleeveless flannel shirt. They hold down their straw hats and try to keep their fake misshapen teeth in their mouth while assaulting Mya.
Greyson: That’s Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron, their attacking Mya backstage.
Sparkles: Why the hell are they doing that?
Frankie: Why not?
Greyson: I think these two want Rachel’s full undivided attention.
Sparkles: Well they’ve definitely got it right now as they assault Mya and insult Rachel’s Southern heritage.
Team Flawless GOODness have Mya laid out and she won’t be the last of their victims. They turn to one another and start to pat palms on the patched denims on their knees. Ethan excitedly addresses Alana in the most stereotypically over the top backwoods accent he can come up with.
Ethan: Gosh dern, our clod-hoppers jus made ‘er (points at Mya) look like she fell from the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
Alana: Yessum.
Ethan: I’m fixin to give her another lickin’.
He approaches Mya but gets grabbed by the arm, Alana restraining him.
Alana: Nuh’ uh! I knew ya as happy as a dog with two peckers right now, but we gots to get on down to that there wrasslin’ ring and sit fer a spell with that girl that don got walloped with an ugly stick.
Ethan: Gurl, yer right. Ya knew yer hotter than a goat’s butt in a pepper-patch.
Cameras return to the ring where Rachel Tatum Lee is shaking her head, her tongue can be seen pushing against the pocket of her mouth. Clearly she is not taking kindly to the stereotypical portrayals of southern life exhibited by her ex-boyfriend and his lady lover. It doesn’t take long before she gets a front row seat to this gross and inaccurate depiction of her lifestyle. The curtains open just as Alana Starrr and Ethan Von Aaron come dancing to the stage. While Alana is holding a giant spit jug and stomping her foot while slapping a hand on her knee off to her side Ethan is hopping in place clapping his hands out in front of him. Both continue to go bare footed and wear the most ridiculously over the top fake teeth one can purchase from a novelty shop.
Greyson: What in the hell are we seeing right now?
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks this must be a hoe-down.
Frankie: Or a hootenanny.
Greyson: What this is is Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron making fun of Rachel and her southern upbringing.
Sparkles: These two will go to any lengths imaginable to get into Rachel’s head before their tag team match at Upping the Ante.
As if their appearance wasn’t bad enough, now we get their words too delivered in totally over the top southern drawls.
Ethan: Hey ‘dare Rach-AL, boy howdy, findin’ ya is like tryin’ to herd kittens.
Alana: Ya like tryin’ to hunt down one dem varmints that done crawled under granny’s porch.
The X-Class Champion and Ethan continue to poke fun at Rachel’s upbringing until they notice the rage in her eyes.
Alana: What’s wrong? Ya lookin’ awfully ornery there SHUGA! We jus’ tryin’ to be GOOD southerna’s and make ya feel like yer right back at home.
Ethan: That’s righ’, we don’t wanna upset ya, we jus’ wanna understand ya a lil bettah. That’s why we done looked up on that dare Ethernet and researched ya home life. We even found sum yer home videos. Why this video ‘ere perfectly depicts Southern life.
Attention is drawn to the Cartel-tron where the following video is played.
When the feed cuts back to the ring Rachel can be seen actually laughing in response to the over the top video meant to poke fun at her lineage.
Greyson: This is just tasteless.
Alana: And ya wanna know what else we dun found on dat dare flickerin’ color box? We got a picture of the South’s biggest hero, yer own personal Jesus, the man you dun try to emulate….
Once again all focus is redirected to the Cartel-tron where a photograph is shown.
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Greyson: Sickening, absolutely sickening.
Enough is enough. Rachel hasn’t seen just about all she can tolerate.
Rachel: I swear, I don’t know what I’m gonna do with the two of ya. Every time I turn around yer poppin’ up and complicatin’ things fer me. But that’s about to change. Cause I ain’t about to wait until Uppin’ the Ante. Screw our tag match at the pay-per-view, we’re goin at it right ‘ere, right now.
Ethan and Alana, with their big fake yellow and rotted teeth popping out of their mouths, turn to one another wide eyed.
Alana: I think she wants us to come on down ‘dare and give er a few lickins.
Ethan: Well I reckon we best poop or get off the pot.
Ethan and Alana walk on down towards the ring where Rachel is more than willing to give them each a taste of the toughness her ancestry has instilled in her.
Frankie: Looks like we’re in for a backwoods brawl.
Greyson: Alana and Ethan had better second guess getting in that ring with Rachel. She’s more worked up tonight than I’ve ever seen her.
Sparkles: She came here with closure on her mind, and she’s about to get it.
Frankie: Because that extra big ass of hers is about to be flattened by Alana and Ethan.
Alana and Ethan are about half way down the ramp when plans change. The lights inside of the Manhattan Center begin to flicker and eventually cut out all-together.
Greyson: Ah crappolla.
Frankie: What is this? Last time we saw the lights go out in the building Aiken Frost showed up and hung Cindy Todd from the roof of the Hell in a Cell.
Greyson: I pray this is not another attack by the merciless Aiken.
Sparkles: It can’t be, because Serenity and Borislav have him cornered backstage.
The lights remain out for only a moment or two before returning to their original luminosity to show that Ethan and Alana have come to an abrupt stop on the ramp. Their eyes are wide and their mouths agape at the sight of the man who bars their entrance into the ring. Stood on top of the coffin that was brought down the ramp is a man who sports a black leather trench-coat with a hood thrown over his head, his face shadowed by it.
Frankie: What happened!?!
Greyson: Is that him? Is that-is that AARON HARRISON!?!
Sparkles: The sight of him has got Flawless GOODness back peddling.
Rachel looks towards the man stood on the coffin then the woman knelt on the stage. Nothing, not even the injuries accrued from the beating she took backstage could keep Mya Denton from seeing this. She’s crawled out onto the stage and is now looking straight down the ramp at the man stood on the casket. Her eyes widen as he looks right back at her and provides but the faintest glimpse of the face we know to be Aaron Harrison’s. All the color is instantly zapped from Mya’s body, beyond shocked to at long last rest eyes on the man she has long waited to get her hands around.
Greyson: Mya Denton somehow managing to get out here, and man, she looks like she’s seen a ghost.
Sparkles: Harrison is ALIVE.
Frankie: And now it looks like Mya wants no piece of him.
Even more footage of a very alluring and seductive nature emanates from the hotel room where Mika Kozlov has taken residency.
Mika: Where are you?
The finger of the New Eden member swirls around the sheets of the bed that she is splayed across. Very sexy and curve clinging lingerie binds to her body, one that is inviting Andre Jordan.
Mika: Why are you still making me wait boyfriend?
Mika puts out her lower lip while her eyes droop in pouty fashion.
Mika: I need my cuddle bunny.
Now she drops to her back across the bed and slightly bridges up from it as she stretches out. Eventually she turns onto her side and rests her temple on her knuckles, her head supported by the elbow she had embedded against the mattress.
Mika: The time for appearances are over. Let’s fill this room with animal noises…..Grrrrrooowwwlll.
Cameras segue to a hallway that two members of Monarchy are currently traversing on their way to the squared circle. Orlando Cruze and Taylor Chase are all gussied up for the battles ahead.
Greyson: Well Mika Kozlov still trying to seduce Andre Jordan.
Frankie: The fact that she actually has to TRY to seduce Andre just proves to me that Dre has no testicles of any kind.
Greyson: Not true, because Andre is about to show a tremendous amount of balls when he comes out to face the man presently headed in our direction.
Sparkles: Orlando Cruze on his way to the ring to face off against Andre Jordan in a Number One Contender Tournament match.
Frankie: And Taylor ‘Ruler of my Nightly Fantasies’ Chase is by his side, but she’s set for competition of her own tonight.
Greyson: Indeed, because she’s going to tangle with Selena Frost in another eagerly anticipated one on one match.
Sparkles: Monarchy is about to be put to the test.
The dressing room of Silverstone International has come into view with Tabitha Silverstone seated on a steel folding chair with her back aimed in the direction of both the camera and her client Andre Jordan. It seems Tabitha has physically recovered from the superkick Orlando gave her earlier in the night, however Andre hasn’t bounced back from the psychological sting of having watched his agent almost have her jaw shattered.
Tabitha: Maybe it’s best you go out there on your own tonight, Dre.
Andre, who had been pacing up until this point, comes to a sudden stop, giving his client a sideways glance.
Andre: Funny you say that, because I was going to suggest the exact same thing.
Tabitha: I don’t want to be a liability out there.
Andre: You’re not, that isn’t why I agree you should stay put. I just want you to have time to recov….
Tabitha: Go Dre, just go.
There is something about the tone and inflection of Tabitha’s voice that is oddly off putting to Andre, but he has no time to dig deeper.
Tabitha: And don’t hand me any crap about winning this match for me. This is about that number one contendership to the World Title. Keep in mind that THAT’S what you’re fighting for tonight. Forget me, forget Mika, forget everything else. Understood?
Andre: Understood. But if I should happen to hit a superkick on Orlando’s jaw in the course of this match, that WILL be for you.
The former Evolution Champion who now looks to advance one step closer to capturing the elusive contendership to the World Title, vacates the dressing room. He leaves Tabitha behind per her instruction. The moment the door closes behind her client’s back Tabitha lifts a small mirror out of her pocket and stops it in front of her face, focusing on her reflection. But it’s not the bruise on her chin she examines, it’s the black soulless eyes void of pupils.
Deanna: Are you sure about this?
The show cuts to Selena Frost stood in the hall just beyond the doorway surrounding her precious Deanna Springs. Deanna is half in a room and half out of it as she addresses Selena, who is seconds from facing the unenviable task of battling former three time World Champion Taylor Chase.
Selena: After what Monarchy did to Tabitha Silverstone earlier on I’m not about to have you come out there and put yourself at risk.
Deanna: But I’m always at your side for every match. I can defend myself.
Selena: Just do me this ONE favor okay? PLEASE stay here where I know you’re safe.
Before Deanna can protest she finds the back of her head griped and her forehead pulled into a big kiss by Selena. It seems Deanna has at last resolved herself to the fact that the closest she’ll get to Selena’s match tonight is by watching it via monitor in her dressing room. She watches as Selena heads off into competition.
Greyson: So much still to come tonight, not only do we have Andre Jordan versus Orlando Cruze to look forward to in the Number One Contender Tournament, but Selena Frost is set to collide with Taylor Chase.
Sparkles: And we’ve also got a Tag Team Title match to look forward to as well.
Frankie: I’m drooling at the thought of seeing Lexy and Kat beating the World Champion tonight
Greyson: So much action still on tap, don’t go anywhere.
A set of revolving doors with gold trim push open so that the Queen of Chaos, and the leader of New Eden can access the lobby to the Greenwich Hotel. Cindy Todd steps into the posh and luxurious setting with her black eyes surveying her surroundings.
Cindy: Come out-come out Mika, You and I need to talk.
Cindy whispers to herself before proceeding even further into the hotel, her search for her New Eden ally Mika Kozlov only just beginning.
Speaking of New Eden there is another glimpse of perhaps its most ardent devotee. Serenity, the former World Champion, is situated in a hallway within the Manhattan Center, her side to a door that she continues to hold shut. A playful smile comes and goes from her face as she listens through the door to the sounds of a scuffle. Every time there is a loud bang from the room it has Serenity hopping in place and then giggling.
Greyson: What the hell is going on inside of that dressing room?
Sparkles: We saw Serenity send New Eden’s goon Borislav in there to deal with who we can presume was Aiken Frost.
Frankie: Borislav must be really taking his time giving Aiken the beating he deserves for hanging New Eden’s Queen two weeks ago.
Greyson: God only knows what is happening to Aiken right now.
ORLANDO CRUZE VS. ANDRE JORDAN:
WORLD TITLE #1 CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
The arena goes dark, and the rumblings of distant thunder can be heard. A crack of thunder fills the air, accompanied by the opening of ‘Phenomenal’. Orlando Cruze steps out onto the ramp way, the crowd welcoming him with jeers, his new found attitude not adhering him to the IWC fans that believed him to be their hero forever. He doesn’t care though, and merely smiles at them, heading down the ramp way and towards the ring. At Orlando’s side we can see Taylor Chase, who is perpetually in her husband’s ear, whispering the words he needs to hear headed into this big opportunity.
Greyson: I guess we’ll have to wait and find out what’s happening with Aiken Frost, because at the moment we’ve got a quarter-final round in the Number One Contender Tournament slated to go down in the ring. Orlando Cruze to take on Andre Jordan.
Sparkles: And man did this match ever get personal earlier tonight.
Frankie: Orlando threw Andre off his game by delivering that superkick on Tabitha Silverstone.
EARLIER TONIGHT
A video airs that encapsulates what went down at almost the start of this evening’s festivities. Andre Jordan is shown standing in the ring with his agent Tabitha Silverstone at his side. The pair calls out the recent turncoat Orlando Cruze, who comes to the ring with his wife Taylor Chase beside him. The Monarchy members show no hesitation getting in the squared circle and getting straight up into Andre’s face. We briefly hear Dre accuse Orlando of killing his own legacy by joining the Monarchy. Orlando’s response to this accusation is a superkick that he devastatingly delivers on the jaw of an unsuspecting Tabitha. A shocked Andre chases Monarchy out of the ring before returning to the side of his agent, furious over the superkick that just befell her.
ORLANDO CRUZE VS. ANDRE JORDAN:
WORLD TITLE #1 CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
A confident Orlando Cruze stands inside of the ring with his back to a turnbuckle and his ear presently occupied by Taylor Chase. She stands on the apron laughing along with her hubby, the two really enjoying the video that was just replayed on the Cartel-tron.
Greyson: How can these two possibly be happy with themselves for superkicking Tabitha like that?
Frankie: Cooome on, admit it, you thought it was a little funny too.
Greyson: I didn’t think it was funny at all!
Sparkles: You have no soul.
The laughter from Taylor and Orlando continues even as the tracks of “We Own It” begin to play over the arena loud speakers and Andre Jordan comes marching down the ramp, He shies away from his customary entrance through the crowd, because he wants absolutely nothing to delay him from getting into the squared circle with the Icon.
Sparkles: Orlando had really better appreciate the gravity of the situation he’s put himself in.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah, putting that boot upside Tabitha’s jaw probably pissed Andre off, but that’s what Orlando wants, a PISSED off Andre. When you’re pissed you tend to make mistakes.
Sparkles: Like dribbling on your leg.
Frankie: Not pissed literally.
Greyson: Andre already came into tonight upset after losing his Evolution Title thanks to a distraction by Mika Kozlov, so what Orlando did earlier was poke a beehive.
Once inside of the squared circle Andre starts to pace back and forth, eyeing Orlando in the far corner. The ring announcer Thomas Boll begins to make the match introductions for this eagerly anticipated Quarter Final bout in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Boll: Lady and gentlefolk, following match is….
Suddenly Dre rushes past the announcer and into a big stinger splash on Orlando in the corner.
Frankie: CHEATER!
Greyson: Andre not waiting for the introductions or for the bell! He wants every last piece of Orlando and wants him right now.
Taylor drops to ringside and screams at the official to get off his ass and start controlling Andre, but there is no force on earth that will contain him. The vengeful Andre crushes Orlando with the splash and then takes his dazed opponent by the wrist, whipping him along into the diagonal corner. Orlando hits the turnbuckle back first, remaining on his feet as his opponent comes barreling towards him then leaping into another Stinger Splash. This time Andre does not get the chance to leave his feet, because his target clears out of the way in the nick of time. Orlando dives from the squared circle, refusing to suffer another splash from his adversary. Once at ringside he’s approached by his wife, Tay moving in to give him a few words of encouragement. All the while the increasingly fierce Andre shouts from the ring, insisting Orlando get back inside and get what he’s got coming to him.
Sparkles: Smart move by Orlando, create some separation.
The referee’s ten count at last forces Orlando to return to the ring or risk disqualification. He climbs up onto the apron and warns the referee to do something about Andre, to keep him in line. The official tries to reason with Andre but proves to be more a distraction than a deterrent. Andre’s eyes are taken off of Orlando for half a second and that’s all the time Cruze needs to dash in looking for a clothesline. The lariat slices through nothing but air, Andre managing to avoid having his head cleaved from his shoulders.
Orlando’s momentum carries him around into a spin, turning back to the knife edge chop that blisters his chest. A stunned Orlando is hit with another chop by Andre, and then a third, fourth and fifth, the blows sending the Icon twisting into the ropes and leaving huge welts on his sternum. Andre trades punches for chops, swinging his fist right upside Orlando’s brow until he looses his balance and falls into the corner. He sits up and finds his chest and face subjected to one stomp after another from the vengeful Andre. The referee steps in and starts with a five count, insisting that Andre back off of Orlando or chance getting disqualified. Andre backs away from Orlando to remonstrate with the referee but then goes right back on the attack. He walks directly into a thumb to the eye. Orlando gets to his knees then launches his finger straight up into Andre’s pupil, blinding his attacker. He then grabs Dre by the waistband and gives it a yank, pulling him down face first into the middle turnbuckle pad.
Greyson: Man how Orlando has changed. He once stood against the tactics we just saw him use.
Frankie: He’s wised up, with a little help from his wife Orlando he now has both eyes wide open.
The impact of Andre’s head against the corner has him snapping back and walking right into Orlando’s shoulder. He’s lifted into a spine rattling back drop suplex. Andre bounces off the ring but is quickly popping up from it. Already Andre is returning to his feet only to have his spine nailed with a knee, the impact launching him forward into the ropes. Andre ricochets off the cables and stumbles back into Orlando, who catches him with a snap German suplex.
Seconds after the suplex Orlando is rising back to his feet and calling his wife up to the apron. Tay jumps up from ringside and then plants a big wet one on her husband’s mouth. As Orlando and Tay go on smooching they afford Andre the time he needs to recover. He staggers in behind Orlando, takes him around the waist and pulls him back into a roll up. Andre has Orlando folded up like an accordion beneath him, pinning the Icon’s shoulders to the ring.
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As Orlando kicks out he launches Andre off into the ropes, sending him flying right into the very cables that Taylor continues to stand on the opposite side of. Tay doesn’t smooch this time, instead she grabs Andre by the back of the head then leaps from the apron, pulling his throat down into the top rope. Andre’s head snaps back and sends him stumbling into Orlando’s arms. The Icon places Andre in the rear waistlock, the precursor to the German suplex. However, just as Orlando prepares to hit the move he finds himself countered as Andre performs a standing switch. He gets behind Orlando and holds tight to his waist, trying to roll him up. This time Orlando dashes towards the cables, pulling Andre along behind him. The moment they reach the ropes Orlando extends his hands through them, Tay reaching up from ringside and grabbing his palms. She keeps him from being rolled up into the pin. As a result Andre goes rolling over backwards empty handed. He returns to his feet and then goes hustling towards Orlando, who is still propped up by the cables. Orlando lunges out of them and catches his opponent around the waist before popping off with a belly to belly suplex. Andre is flung over the ropes and sent crashing right down to the ringside mats.
Greyson: Belly to belly to the outside of the ring!
Sparkles: That can’t do any favors to Andre’s mid-section. We know he’s already got some well documented rib issues after taking the Embrace the Dark a few weeks ago.
Frankie: Yeah, and those rib issues were only exacerbated in that triple threat match for the Evolution Title on the last Riot.
The impact with the mats has Andre feeling like he was just hit with a wrecking ball right in the ribs. He gets up at ringside just as Orlando dashes in from behind and catches him with a second German suplex. The mats provide even less padding than the canvas, causing Andre to feel like he’s about to spit up his lungs. Andre grabs at his ribs while Orlando grabs at his head. Before Dre can put a stop to it he’s lifted from his feet and thrown with a hip toss into the barricade. Dre’s back and torso takes all the punishment, his body bouncing off the steel.
Sparkles: Orlando mercilessly targeting the mid-section.
Greyson: Again, this just goes to show how much Orlando has changed and in such a short amount of time.
Frankie: His wife has truly inspired him.
Greyson: Enough of that shit.
Speaking of Orlando’s wife, Tay is stooped at Andre’s side and rubbing the sides of her fists against her eyes, mocking his groans of pain by inferring that he’s some kind of cry baby. Andre truly has something to cry out about when Orlando pulls him up to his feet and then hip tosses him along right into the hardened edge of the ring apron.
Greyson: Enough Andre, enough!
It isn’t enough by a long shot, not in Orlando’s mind. He throws Andre into the ring and then follows him inside. Andre no sooner sits up on the canvas before his opponent’s knee comes swinging down right into his lower back. A second and then a third knee hits Andre’s back and now it remains pressed to the small of his spine. Orlando has Andre in a text-book rear chin lock with the knee stabbing like a dagger into his adversary’s back.
Andre is already fighting his way back up towards his feet and out of the hold, refusing to be grounded for long. The hold is broken of Orlando’s own volition in order to spin Andre around and lift him right into the Canadian Backbreaker.
An injured Andre rolls off of Orlando’s knee but soon it finds its way right back down into his spine. Orlando puts his knee into Andre’s kidneys then pulls back on his jaw. Another rear chin lock is applied with a knee embedded against Andre’s kidneys.
Sparkles: Right back into the chin lock. Nothing fancy about Orlando’s offense tonight.
Frankie: Heck no. Why chance anything? This is a Quarter Final match in the Number One Contender Tournament dammit.
Sparkles: Orlando wins this he moves one step closer to the very World Title he hasn’t held in years.
Although it feels like someone has taken a baseball bat to every inch of Andre’s body he still manages to force himself up from the ring. This prompts Orlando to take his knee away from Dre’s back and then deliver a headbutt right into his opponent’s spine. Dre returns to his stomach just in time to find his back hit with a double stomp. Orlando drives both boots into Dre’s spine and then lands beside him. He lifts his elbow and drops it square into Andre’s back, inflicting even further punishment on the former 2 time Evolution Champion. Orlando then swoops in and locks in a textbook bearhug, squeezing and wrenching the life out of Andre’s body.
Sparkles: Methodical. Just a methodical destruction of the Andre these fans know and love.
Although Andre should be pleading for mercy given the beating his mid-section has suffered instead he’s fighting towards his feet. His mind is flashing with images from earlier tonight, remembering Orlando’s boot colliding with Tabitha Silverstone’s jaw. Orlando will do far worse to Andre than simply superkick him, he squeezes his opponent’s ribs until they almost fracture. In spite of this Andre is STILL standing up and his elbow lands right across Orlando’s temple. The blow rattles Orlando’s brain and causes his grip on Andre’s waist to weaken, but NOT to be broken. Andre realizes his elbows aren’t doing the trick, so he dashes towards the ropes dragging Orlando along behind him. Just before they hit the cables Andre performs a standing switch. As a result Orlando is pushed along into the ropes with Dre now stood behind him and dropping down into a roll up. Instead of going for the pin though Dre lifts Orlando into a Chaos Theory rolling German Suplex WITH a bridge.
Greyson: I didn’t see that coming.
Frankie: Orlando didn’t either.
Sparkles: But he damn well felt it.
And Andre feels it as well.
Try as he may to maintain the bridge the pain in Andre’s mid-section is just too much to bear. He is forced to break the pin, in the process freeing his opponent. Both Andre and Orlando get to their knees and begin to exchange right hands with one another.
The moment Andre connects with a right hand the crowd reacts with a ‘yaaay.’
The second Orlando hits a left hand the crowd reacts with a ‘boooo.’
This seesaw exchange of shots continues until Orlando stops punching and flings his brow right into Andre’s eye socket. The blow meets with a resounding boo from the fans, now forced to watch as Andre paws at his face, finding himself blinded by the blow. A smile etches across Orlando’s face as he leaps over the crawling Andre and catches him with an Oklahoma Roll.
Frankie: Orlando’s moving on in the tournament baby…..NOOO!
Much to Orlando’s dismay he finds the Oklahoma Roll countered as Andre twists right out of it, returns to his feet then flips forward into a jackknife cover.
Greyson: Andre’s got Orlando! He’s got ‘em!
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Frankie: Kick out you son of a bitch!
That’s EXACTLY what Orlando does, grabbing Andre around the torso and then bridging both their bodies up from the canvas. Once upright Orlando manages to transition Andre’s jackknife into the backslide.
Sparkles: BAAACK….
Greyson: Not yet Sparkles.
Orlando tries to get Andre down into the backslide but he’s holding tough, refusing to be pulled over into the pin. Instead Andre drops straight down and falls directly onto his back beneath the still standing Orlando. Dre then reaches up and takes Orlando by the hips, attempting to pull him down into a sunset flip style pin. But now it’s Orlando who drops of his volition, coming down seat first directly across Andre’s chest then reaching back and hooking the creases of Dre’s elevated knees.
Sparkles: Orlando with a beautiful counter!
Greyson: Right into the pin!
Frankie: Right into the next round of the tournament.
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Suddenly Andre sits up and as a result he doesn’t just push Orlando off of the pin but sends him rolling over backwards. Orlando ends up on his hands and knees but gets no further than that before he finds Dre standing over top of him, hooking both of the Icon’s biceps and lifting him into the pedigree.
Greyson: The Game Changer!
Frankie: Unfair! Totes unfair! Orlando wasn’t ready for it!
The pedigree has driven Orlando’s face with so much force against the canvas that he’s rendered largely braindead at this point. Unfortunately for Dre it seems he’s not able to immediately follow up with the pin, his mid-section still in a lot of pain after being systematically picked apart in the course of this match. At last he manages to put aside his pain, then crawl-crawl-crawl towards Orlando, draping an over his chest.
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Greyson: Is Andre going to the semi-finals!?!
Just before the referee can confirm that Andre has advanced in the tournament we see his opponent’s arm lunging into the air. Orlando kicks out to the deafening roar of the crowd. A shell-shocked Andre rises to his knees with his mouth agape.
Sparkles: Andre thought he had it.
Greyson: I thought he had it.
The kneeling Andre pulls Orlando by the jaw so that he’s knelt as well. Now Dre slaps him to one cheek before then delivering a slap to the other side of the Icon’s head. One slap after another bats Orlando’s head around, but open hand palm strikes aren’t sufficient punishment enough. Andre takes off into the ropes, ricocheting from them and then returning to his opponent, or more accurately his opponent’s waiting headbutt. Orlando dives from his knees and drives the top of his head directly into Dre’s ribs, doubling him over.
Orlando quickly pops up to his feet and looks to take advantage of his opponent’s injured mid-section. He rushes at Dre only to eat two boots right in the mouth. Andre leaves his feet and nails a dropkick on Orlando, the stiff shot sending the Icon staggering back. Somehow Orlando is still upright, which doesn’t sit well with Andre, who leaps back to his feet and then runs right into a clothesline. No! Dre finds himself caught running in with a big and absolutely bone breaking double A spinebuster.
Greyson: Andre driven RIGHT into that canvas!
Frankie: Yeah BOOYY, that was a spinebuster! Pin his ass Orlando, pin it!
Customarily Orlando would follow this spinebuster up with a pin but he is still reeling from the Game Changer he suffered a few moments ago. He at last starts to push past it in order to crawl forward and wedge his shoulders into the creases of Andre’s knees, folding him up so that his shoulders are pressed to the canvas.
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To the astonishment of the crowd and Orlando alike, Andre manages to get just one of his shoulders up. Although he’s exhausted Orlando grabs Andre by the jaw, leads him up into a front chancery and then hooks his leg, snapping back into the bridging Fisherman Suplex.
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Andre STILL kicks out to the disbelief of the audience. The Icon has quite frankly had his fill at this point. He swoops in behind a seated Andre, grabs him around the waist and forces him up to his feet, a German suplex about to connect that would put significant strain on his opponent’s back. But just then Andre’s elbow comes flying right into Orlando’s temple. The collision has scrambled Orlando’s brains and has caused him to break the rear waist-lock. He goes staggering back into the turnbuckle, falling against it for support. Sadly the very same corner that serves as Orlando’s crutch may prove to be his detriment. Andre comes flying right into Orlando with the stinger splash. Only at the last second Orlando drops down out of the way, causing his adversary to go flying over him and smacking not into the turnbuckle padding, because he overshoots it and instead lands face first on the top of the exposed steel post.
Sparkles: Oh shit, Andre totally flew over the turnbuckle padding and instead cracked his head against that post.
Greyson: It’s over for Dre, he’s done.
The impact with the post has totally wiped Andre out. He rolls lifelessly back to the center of the ring where he somehow manages to end up on his knees. Just then Orlando rushes right in and crushes Andre’s face with a brutal shining knee strike. Andre falls flat on his back while his opponent stands with the aid of a turnbuckle. Orlando’s eyes fixated on his prey while a smile consumes his face and his boot stomps against the canvas.
Frankie: This is fitting.
Greyson: You can’t tell me Orlando is going to finish Andre off with the superkick.
Frankie: Prepare to feel Tabitha’s pain Andre.
Sparkles: Monarchy about to show Andre why they rule….
Andre teeters between his knees while his groggy eyes open just enough to see Orlando blowing a kiss to Taylor at ringside. Tay is all smiles as she watches her hubby unleash the superkick on Andre. His boot goes flying right PAST Andre’s head, who moves his skull aside just in time to avoid suffering the blow. The lightning fast Dre then grabs Orlando by the tights and pulls him over into the school boy.
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No one can quite believe it, especially the former World Champion, when he realizes his shoulders have just been pinned to the canvas.
Frankie: WWWWHHHAAAT!!!??!
The building reacts in similar fashion, everyone screaming at the top of their lungs in response to Andre scoring the shocking upset victory. Orlando rolls back to his seat with his face twisted into an expression of absolute disbelief. He’s so shocked it looks like he just stuck his finger in an electrical socket. It still doesn’t even sink in on him until Andre’s theme music blasts through the PA system.
Sparkles: Orlando….is….stunned!
Greyson: Andre has just scored maybe the biggest victory in his IWC career. He’s just pinned the former World Champion.
Frankie: It’s not right, it’s not fair, he-he-he had a handful of Orlando’s tights I tell ya!
Greyson: Oh get over it.
One person who has not gotten over this is Taylor Chase, who slides into the ring and dashes up behind a celebrating Andre. A forearm crashes right into the small of Andre’s spine, the blow inflicting such agony all through his body. Taylor has sent him sprawling to the ring with this blow, leaving Dre laid out in agony.
Greyson: This is bullshit!
Sparkles: No celebration for Andre.
Frankie: Monarchy making him pay for stealing this victory.
Greyson: He didn’t steal anything, Orlando got too over confident and Andre made him pay for it.
A red hot Taylor pulls Dre up to his knees and leaves him there just long enough for Orlando to unleash a superkick, His boot collides directly with Andre’s spine, inflicting far more internal injuries.
Frankie: I knew Orlando was going to get Dre with that suoerkick eventually.
Sparkles: And right to the mid-section too. Dre has been nursing some rib injuries the past couple of weeks all stemming from the first assault he received from Mordecai several weeks ago.
Greyson: And now they’ve just been exacerbated by the God damned Monarchy!
Steam is almost rising from the surface of Orlando’s skin as she stands over top of the man who just pinned him, a man he refused to let celebrate.
Taylor: We’re not through yet.
Announces Taylor as she grabs Andre around the head, preparing to inflict even more torture on him. It seems things are looking pretty bleak for Andre up until aid arrives in unlikely form. Selena Frost comes bolting straight down the ramp to a rousing ovation from the crowd. Before either Monarchy member has time to react Selena is sliding into the ring and going straight after them
Greyson: It’s Selena! Selena Frost is here to help Dre out of a bind.
Sparkles: She’s slated to take on Monarchy’s Taylor Chase here tonight,
Greyson: Which is why she’s going straight after Taylor.
The moment Selena gets into the ring her fists go straight after Taylor’s face. Tay responds in identical fashion, throwing some haymakers upside Selena’s face. Orlando is none the wiser as to what’s going down between Taylor and Selena, he’s far too preoccupied assaulting Andre on the outside of the squared circle. Surprisingly Andre is able to answer back, landing a few blows across Orlando’s ribs. The two eventually fight into the back.
Referee Ficklebottom, who was on hand to officiate the match between Andre and Orlando, takes one look at the brawl inside of the squared circle between Selena and Taylor before making a bold decision. He shouts his edict to ringside announcer Thomas Boll.
Boll: Lady and gentlefolk, referee Arnie Ficklebottom has announced that the match between Selena Frost and Taylor Chase will start, RIGHT NOW!
SELENA FROST VS. TAYLOR CHASE
The bell rings to a loud reception from the hundreds upon hundreds inside of the Manhattan Center. They watch excitedly as Selena and Taylor trade punches back and forth.
Greyson: Selena and Tay gettin’ it on right now. There’s the bell to make it official. We’re getting a match gents.
Sparkles: Selena has been on a crusade to rally the believers against Monarchy, which has put her in contention with their newest initiate Taylor.
Frankie: Selena is a fool if she thinks she and her believers can match the power of Taylor and Monarchy.
Tay lands one big right and then another across Selena’s brow, knocking her back. She then throws another punch that misses her opponent’s head. Selena ducks under the punch and then runs right into the ropes behind Taylor, leaping to the middle rope then springing off of it into a back elbow. It hits square across Tay’s chest, taking her off of her feet and down to the canvas. The impact sends her rolling to the exterior of the ring, dropping to her feet across the outside mats. In the ring above her Selena has grabbed the top rope and is leaping over it, twisting in mid-air in order to land on Tay’s shoulders, hitting the hurricarana.
Greyson: What were you saying about the power of Selena and her believers?
Frankie: Tay slipped, I think I saw a banana peel lying on the canvas.
Greyson: You and your endless string of intelligence insulting excuses.
Frankie: Erm…thank you?
A shocked Taylor rolls across the mats looking stunned by this barrage from Selena, which continues in the form of forearm strikes. She nails one forearm after another across Tay’s temple, disorientating her even more. Selena then hits a step up enzugari on the back of her adversary’s head. The impact sending Tay spiraling along into the apron. The amped up Selena then scrambles directly into her opponent only to be caught by the inner thighs and thrown into the air. Tay sends Selena flying over her head and onto the apron. Surprisingly Selena lands on her feet across the apron, catching her balance with the aid of the top rope she just wrapped her hands around. Soon the back of her legs come down across that top cable, sending her flipping over backwards into the Asai Moonsault. She goes flying right down into Tay….right down into Tay’s shoulders. The strength of the former three time World Champion is displayed as Taylor catches Selena in a fireman’s carry. A drop jawed Selena is thrown over Taylor’s head but not into Chase’s finisher the True Story, instead of hitting her version of the GTS, she throws her opponent down face first into the steel ring steps.
A discombobulated Selena bounces back from the stairs, her brain rattled by this vicious blow, which leads to one that’s even worse. Selena spirals away from the steps that just rattled her brain and then finds the creases of her knees pulled, dragging her legs out from under her. Selena falls onto her back and is then catapulted along right into the steel turnbuckle ring post.
Frankie: Behold the power of Taylor Chase and the Monarchy. That’ll shut up Selena’s believers.
Sparkles: Seems winter isn’t here yet.
The ever arrogant Taylor pulls the banged up Selena from the mats and then drags her into a front facelock before snapping back into a DDT. Selena’s head is spiked into the mats and as a result she’s left splayed across her back, looking like she’s lost somewhere out in la-la land. Taylor would dish out more punishment on her unconscious opponent but sees that the referee is in the midst of a ten count, already reaching ‘five.’ So Taylor rolls into the ring, comes to a rest on her knees and tells the official to speed up their count.
Frankie: Smart thinking by Tay-Tay. She’s going to let Selena get counted out.
Sparkles: After all the blows Selena just took to the head it’s a very real possibility she can’t get back in that ring in time to break the count.
The fans haven’t given up their support for Selena, chanting her name as loud as they can with as much passion as they can summon. They only get louder as Selena crawls towards the ring and desperately paws at the apron. Already the referee is at a count of nine and it looks like he’s just about to say the word that will end Selena’s quest for victory over the Monarchy. But just before he can get that word out Selena rolls into the ring, beating the referee’s count.
The incredulous Taylor just goes on shaking her head as she kneels on the canvas beside a barely conscious Selena. She finally takes Selena by the hair, pulls on it and drags her into a fireman’s carry. Taylor arrogantly waltzes around the ring with Selena stretched over her shoulders in anticipation of being sent crashing into a knee and tasting defeat as a result of the True Story. Taylor just can’t help herself, she HAS to mock Selena on top of defeat her.
Taylor: Winter is coming! Winter is coming! Believe! BELIEVE!
Her eyes flutter and she wears a big goofy smile on her face while shouting this. The crowd gives her a thumbs down and shouts her out of the building, but Tay deems their reactions irrelevant. All that matters is throwing Selena over into the True Story. She tosses Selena into the air for the GTS but Frost doesn’t come down into Tay’s knee, she comes down behind her opponent and instantly traps her arms before falling back into a bridging tiger suplex.
Frankie: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?!
Greyson: A reversal, a tremendous reversal, Selena’s got her!
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No Selena doesn’t, because as shocked as Taylor was by this counter she still manages to roll her shoulder from the canvas.
Frankie: OH thank God, thaaaank God.
Sparkles: Is that sweat on your forehead?
Selena gets back to her feet as fast as she can and then rushes right at Taylor, only to find her leg caught. Taylor latches onto Selena’s leg and tries to use that limb to drag her down. However, Selena flings her other leg over Tay’s stooped body and then twists around so that she’s stood at her opponent’s side. She then leaps over Taylor, catches her by the shoulder, catches her by the thigh and pulls her over into the Oklahoma Roll.
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Taylor’s shoulder leaps off the canvas in the nick of time to avoid defeat. The quick reflexes of Selena take over, which is why she pops up to her feet, charges at Taylor but finds her opponent crawling straight through her legs. Tay ends up kneeling behind Selena and hooking her thigh, pulling on it until Frost is dragged down into the school boy.
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The Snow Queen pops her shoulder off the ring but Tay is about to drag her right back down into it. The moment Selena stands up she walks right into the shoulder of her stooped opponent before being swung over into the Northern Lights suplex. Tay has a beautiful bridge into the pin.
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The bridge comes crashing down when Selena kicks out of the Northern Lights suplex. An angered Taylor is right back on top of Selena, placing her in another front chancery, in prep for the DDT. Tay falls to the canvas for the DDT but it’s only her body that hits the ring because Selena has managed to avoid it by grabbing the top rope. Tay then rolls over backwards holding her neck just as her opponent lunges in at her side, grabbing her arm and trying to step over it in order to lock in the Frost Bite. Just before the cross arm breaker can be established Tay manages to pluck her arm out of her opponent’s clutches then stand up behind her back. Tay wedges her shoulders to Selena’s lower back and then lifts her into what looks like a torture rack but then transitions the move into a swinging sit-out powerbomb.
Frankie: Beautiful!
Greyson: I have to admit that was a very nice move by Tay, and now she’s about to follow it up.
Sparkles: She’s climbing the turnbuckle.
Taylor scales the nearest corner and then comes flying off of it straight into her laid out opponent, connecting with the frog splash elbow right into Selena’s face.
Frankie: DAMN! Elbow right in the face.
Sparkles: That’s gotta be it.
Tay confidently reaches back and hooks one of Selena’s legs while lifting one finger into the air after another in perfect synchronism with the referee’s three count.
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To a euphoric wave of elation from the believers Selena throws her arm into the air, once again managing to kick out.
Frankie: Not smart Selena, NOT SMART.
Greyson: What do you mean?
Frankie: She’s just pissing Tay-Tay off.
A frustrated Taylor rolls to the outside of the ring and gets right up into the face of a fan wearing a ‘Believer’ t-shirt. Tay jaw-jacks with the fan and endlessly mocks their choice of apparel.
Taylor: I didn’t know they sold those in triple XL.
The fans laugh in response to Tay’s put down while others boo her relentlessly.
Greyson: Tay may just pay for taking too much time toying with these fans.
Frankie: It’s a psychological tactic, don’t you get that?
Greyson: No, it’s just Tay being a bitch.
It seems Greyson was spot on with his speculation. The second Tay re-enters the ring and goes after Selena she finds herself yanked down into a shocking small package.
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To the anger of the believers Tay kicks out then races to her feet, dashing directly into a clothesline that her equally as fast opponent manages to avoid. Selena not only ducks the lariat but then reaches back, hooks Tay under the jaw and drops into the reverse neck breaker.
Greyson: Nicely done by Selena…but wait, she’s not done.
Selena keeps an arm wrapped around Tay’s head while rolling to her side and pulling Taylor along with her. Both ladies get to their feet before Taylor is elevated into the air and then spiked down into the canvas with a fisherman DDT.
Sparkles: THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE!
What’s even more impressive is Selena’s next aerial dive. She rolls away from the woman she just spiked on her head, gets to the apron and then springs to the top rope. Selena tucks her leg under her body as she sails through the air only to unfold it at the last second and drop it straight across Taylor’s throat.
Greyson: NIIIICE!!!
Sparkles: Did you see the HEIGHT that Selena got on that leg drop?
Greyson: It was unbelievable and now Selena is about to have an equally as unbelievable victory over a three time World Champion.
Selena makes the cover and gets a….
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But ultimately NOT a three.
Greyson: So very close to yet another upset here on Riot.
Sparkles: Selena literally one second removed from pinning a member of Monarchy.
Frankie: That wasn’t going to happen and isn’t it going to happen. No way-no how, not today or any other.
A fatigued Selena pulls on the hair of Taylor, working her back up onto her feet and into the front facelock. It seems all of her energy is zapped yet Frost is empowered by the cheers of her believers, that’s why she’s still able to summon the strength to deliver the Ice Breaker. Selena lifts Tay into the implant DDT but her opponent shifts her weight, coming down on her feet as opposed to her head. Taylor then twists her body and wedges his shoulders to Selena’s ribs, lifting her into a fireman’s carry in anticipation of delivering the True Story.
Greyson: She’s going for it again!
Frankie: And if she hits the True Story she won’t HAVE to go for it a third time.
A far more aggressive Tay throws Selena into the True Story but amazingly in mid-air Frost manages to counter. She falls towards Tay’s knee but never makes impact with it, instead on the way down she catches her opponent around the head and transitions into position for the Ice Breaker.
Greyson: Selena with another amazing reversal.
But it’s countered again. The implant DDT is blocked when Tay forces her hands into Selena’s ribs and gives them such a hard shove, sending her flying back into the corner. Selena bounces off the turnbuckle and then starts to stagger towards Tay’s airborne knee. She comes flying right towards Selena with the TKO, and then goes flying right PAST Selena with her leaping knee crashing into the corner. Tay bounces back from the turnbuckle and tumbles to her back on the canvas, clutching at her leg.
Frankie: OH GAHD!
Greyson: Tay’s knee! Tay’s knee just crushed the turnbuckle.
Sparkles: If it had hit Selena this match would be over.
After stubbing her knee against the corner Tay sits there on the canvas grimacing in anguish. Selena prepares to close in on her and take advantage of this self-inflicted injury. It seems Selena is at long last about to get her revenge on Monarchy for all the wrongs they’ve committed against her. That is until a strange sound reaches her ears, stopping her just shy from pinning the proud Monarchy stalwart.
Deanna: SEEELEENNNAAA!
The screeches of Selena’s beloved Deanna Springs can be heard emanating through the loud speakers. Selena’s eyes race to the Cartel-tron, which prominently features images emanating from the dressing room that Selena just left her girl inside under the impression that it would insulate her against a Monarchy assault. Boy how wrong Selena was, which she realizes the moment she sees Monarchy members Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly holding Deanna down to the ground by her wrists and ankles. They ensure she can’t protect herself from the man who is stooped over her. Another of Monarchy’s devotees, Alistair Taylor, is doubled over Deanna, holding at his stomach as he begins the process of regurgitating. It seems that Alistair is about to throw up all over Deanna. Just before we see him upchuck on Deanna the footage is cut.
Greyson: You have to be kidding me.
Sparkles: We’ve seen Alistair Taylor battling this food poisoning all night long and now it looks like he’s turning it to his advantage.
Frankie: This is great, Wicked Intent have Deanna held down and Alistair is about to puke all over her. And best yet, Selena can’t do anything to protect her girl.
A screaming Selena has no idea how to react to the footage she just saw, and in a moment it won’t matter what her response is. A titanium knee brace cracks her right in the back of the head, her opponent Taylor lunging into the TKO.
Greyson: TKO right to the back of the skull!
Sparkles: Tay capitalizing on the distraction just created by Alistair Taylor and Wicked Intent.
Frankie: Who knew vomit could be such a potent weapon?
It’s nowhere near as potent as the weapon Tay just used to smash Selena in the craniu,. Frost collapses to the canvas and then is rolled over onto her back by her adversary as Tay crawls into the lateral press.
1
2
The crowd is absolutely unforgiving as they realize that Selena was unable to get her shoulder up in time to prevent defeat.
Frankie: HAHA! Yeeeeaaaah! YEEEEAAAAH!!!
Greyson: Just when I thought I was going to be able to hold down my dinner, Taylor Chase goes and picks up a win tonight.
Sparkles: And you just know we’re going to hear her brag endlessly about this.
Frankie: If we’re lucky.
The fans are deeply resentful of Tay’s victory, so much so in fact they are pelting her with their strongest insults. Tay’s reaction to their cries is a curtsy towards the heckling audience. Her opponent doesn’t care how Tay rubs her win in the faces of the fans, because Selena is too busy racing to the backstage area to save Deanna.
Frankie: Monarchy continues to rule.
Greyson: Their actions just get more and more reprehensible with each passing second.
Sparkles: But those actions are proving successful.
The outpouring of disdain echoes through the backstage corridor where David and Michael Cannon are standing. The view of the conspiring Cannon brothers downright sickens the viewing audience, as does the plot the two seem to be hatching.
David: So we’re in agreement then?
Michael: Absolutely.
David: Good. Just realize, Scott might not agree with what we do tonight.
Michael: I’m ready to face the consequences.
A smirking David palms his brother’s shoulder.
David: We’ll worry about Scott’s reaction when we reach that crossroads, but eventually he’ll come around and understand that what we do to Katelyn Buehler, we do for him.
Michael: Yeah, he’ll know we did the right thing when he stands in the ring at Upping the Ante holding the World Heavyweight Title aloft.
The brothers continue to collaborate on what they’ll do to the World Champion this evening before the camera begins to pull back from them. Now it brings into view a man who has been eavesdropping on this entire conversation. Scott Cannon is stood just out of view, tucked around a nearby corner at the end of the hall. He leans his back into the wall, closes his eyes and begins to shake his head.
Mika: Aaaaandreee, oooooh Aaaandre…..
The siren call for Andre Jordan continues to fill the hotel room that Mika Kozlov has resided in throughout the evening. Once again we see her striking an ever provocative pose, lying across her side on top of satin sheets. A big open space on the bed beside her is made available, hoping it will soon be filled by the warm body of Andre Jordan.
Mika: I’m still here, I’m still waiiitttiiing….When are you going to show up and make this a night neither of us will ever forget?
She pouts upon realizing that Andre Jordan has failed to join her for a romantic rendezvous.
Mika: What? Do you want me to get started myself? Do you want to watch me? You like to watch, don’t you?
Just as Mika’s hands slides down over her face and begins to inch towards the lingerie that binds to her body a knock brings an end to a scene quite a few might have been anxious to witness.
Mika: Is that you, chocolate pudding?
Her coal colored eyes jump to the door just a few feet away. She rather excitedly slips off the bed and works her way across the white carpeted floor, her black nail polish brushing the ground. After taking a second to mess up her hair she grabs the doorknob and pulls it back to reveal the person waiting in the hall. It might not be Andre Jordan she feasts eyes on, but it is a man who has played a pivotal role in her life.
Aiken: Hello my dear.
Mika is legitimately taken aback by the visual of her former New Eden leader stood in the hall just outside her hotel room door.
Aiken: Expecting company?
He asks with eyes looking her up and down.
Mika: What are you….?
There is no need for her to talk, because Aiken already knows exactly what she’s going to say, hence why his finger presses to her lips. Oddly enough Mika does not swat it away, her stomach filling with such emotion when feeling Aiken’s touch.
Aiken: I believe the two of us have much to talk about.
Cameras cut to the backstage hallway where former World Champion Serenity is standing. Her hand continues to wrap around a doorknob, pulling on it with all the strength she can summon. She keeps the door sealed shut and refuses to let anyone stood in the room on the opposite side of it from getting out. Unlike the last time we saw her she’s no longer smiling, but frowning. Why? Because there are no more loud crashing noises and anguished cries emanating from the room she denies exit from.
Serenity: Borislav?
She talks through the door to her fellow New Eden brute, the man she sent into the room just moments ago.
Sparkles: There’s Serenity again, still standing outside of the room we saw Borislav go into a few moments ago where some type of violence erupted.
Frankie: Wait a minute-wait a minute-wait a minute. I thought it was Aiken Frost they had trapped in there.
Greyson: But we just saw him show up at the hotel room to confront his former New Eden follower Mika Kozlov.
Frankie: So who’s in that room with Borislav?
Apparently inquiring minds get an answer much sooner than they might have anticipated. Serenity lets go of the knob and pushes the door open, revealing a blood splattered Borislav stood just inside. He pats the very same pipe wrench against his palm that we saw him entering this room with earlier in the night. With weapon in hand he steps out of the room and steps right past Serenity. Her black eyes don’t even look at the brute, nor the blood that has pooled across his knuckles. Instead her focus is entirely on his victim, the broken body of Marina Valdivia crumpled lifelessly across the floor.
Serenity: Did she beg? Did she plead? Did she cry?
Serenity questions Borislav, who growls in response.
Borislav: No….she bled.
Serenity: Hehehehe…..
She looks back into the room at the blood spilling down over her rival’s cheeks.
BEFORE THE BREAK
A video highlights the gruesome footage witnessed just moments before the break when we at last discover the identity of New Eden’s most recent victim. We see a gleeful Serenity stood in a hallway holding a door shut and refusing to let anyone exit through it. Before long the door opens to reveal her counterpart Borislav stood with a bloodied pipe wrench in hand and a motionless Marina Valdivia curled at his feet.
Greyson: Words can’t even…It’s just too hard to even describe what we saw before the commercial break.
Sparkles: It looks like New Eden got hold of Marina Valdivia.
Frankie: Can’t say she didn’t have it coming to her. She DID attack Serenity and Mika Kozlov inside of the Hell in a Cell two weeks ago.
Sparkles: We all thought it was Aiken Frost they had cornered in that room, but boy were we ever wrong.
Greyson: And boy how I wish we were right, Marina didn’t deserve this. All she’s ever done is stand up to Serenity and New Eden.
Sparkles: What makes this even worse is the fact that Marina was slated to team up with Katelyn Buehler in the main event to challenge Monarchy for the Tag Team Titles.
Greyson It doesn’t look like she’s been left in any condition to fight for the titles, which was all but confirmed when we saw this footage taken DURING the break.
DURING THE BREAK
Another video is spliced into the one that played just seconds earlier. This footage shows two road agents and referee Marcus Mayfield inside of the dressing room where all the chaos broke out seconds earlier. Marina Valdivia continues to lay a motionless heap at the feet of Mayfield, who stoops towards her and carefully surveys the damage that has been inflicted via New Eden’s attack.
Marcus: Is someone getting the medics?
Agent: They’re supposed to be here any sec….
Victoria: What in the fuck!?!
It’s not medics who show up but Marina Valdivia’s good friend Victoria Salinas. She steps in from the hall just outside the room but stops in the doorway, eyes widening at the sight of the blood puddled across Marina’s brow.
Victoria: What happened!?! WHAT HAPPENED!?!
A highly emotional Victoria stoops down at Marina’s side, lifting her bloodied head from the ground and cradling it against her stomach.
Marcus: We don’t know, we just found her like th….
Glenn: We’ll tell you exactly what happened.
There are three more figures stood in the doorway at this point, three more past victims of New Eden who found themselves in an eerily familiar situation just two weeks earlier. Glenn Braddock leads the charge into the dressing room, followed by Henry Van Stanton and Julia Braddock. There is still a scar on Glenn’s forehead after he was subjected to an attack in his dressing room at the hands of New Eden just two weeks earlier.
Glenn: We know who’s responsible for this.
Glenn announces while kneeling towards the bloodied Marina clutched in an emotional Victoria’s arms.
Victoria: WHO!?!
Julia crouches down behind her uncle.
Julia: You already know the answer to that question.
Victoria’s eyes turn away from Julia’s face and her lower lip starts to twitch as an expression of her anger.
Victoria: Serenity.
Cameras catch up with World Champion Katelyn Buehler in the confines of her dressing room. At the moment she is readying herself for her huge Tag Team Title bout against Wicked Intent. She swings her arm out to her side in order to limber up her shoulder, stretching it so she’ll be ready to swing her elbow into the faces of either Lexy Chapel or Kat Kelly. All the while the World Title hangs from her palm.
David: Well-well-well….
Michael: Don’t let us interrupt your stretching.
Katelyn’s eyes narrow to mere slits as they stare at the two men who have just waltzed right into her dressing room like they own the place. David and Michael Cannon make themselves right at home in spite of being unwelcomed guests. They further infringe upon Katelyn’s personal space as they stand on either side of Katelyn, making sure they have her in a position she can’t easily escape from.
Katelyn: Boys, did you get lost again? See, this is MY dressing room you’re sticking your heads in, not your brother’s ass.
There are no smiles, no fake laughs, no emotion shown by either David or Michael. They are all business as they prepare to do something truly unspeakable to Katelyn. The World Champion can see the feral look in their eyes and at that moment realizes exactly what brought them to her dressing room. The World Title that WAS in her hand is now dropped on a nearby chair.
Katelyn: Well….
She looks between both men’s faces.
Katelyn: If you’re gonna do it, DO IT!
The brothers look to one another, nod in confirmation and then David throws a fist right at Katelyn’s brow. The Champion blocks the punch and reacts with one of her own, nailing Cannon in the kisser. That’s when his brother steps up, Michael driving a boot into Katelyn’s gut. The blow knocks some air out of her but ultimately only slows her down. She lunges out and grabs Michael by the back of his head before pitching him along face first into the nearby wall.
Greyson: David and Michael Cannon attacking our World Champion in her dressing room.
Sparkles: There is nowhere safe here in the Manhattan Center…
Frankie: First Marina Valdivia beaten down in her room and now Katelyn Buehler being assaulted in her dressing room too. And both of those ladies are supposed to be challenging for the Tag Team Titles tonight!
The feed now cuts to the IWC Tag Team Champions Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly, the two are positioned right outside the bathroom where their Monarchy teammate Alistair Taylor has spent much of the night vomiting his entrails into a toilet. The champions seem to be discussing their recent ambush on Deanna Springs before their conversation comes to a halt at the sight and sounds of correspondent Susie Moore.
Susie: Lexy…Katty…can I get a comment from either of you regarding your Tag Team Title defense in a few minutes?
The Champs simultaneously groan.
Kat: Does a bear shit in the woods?
Susie has to think about it for a second.
Susie: Of course they do, and apparently they use Charmin to clean their bums.
Lexy: Too bad there’s not enough Charmin in the world to clean up that turd known as Katelyn Buehler. You know, she still has the audacity to walk around holding MY World Title and masquerading herself as the TRUE World Champion?
Kat: The nerve.
Lexy: THE NERVE!
Kat: Well that’s going to change, and it’s going to change right now.
Lexy: When we go to that ring and defend our tag team titles (Lexy takes the belt off of her shoulder and knocks on it with her fist), we’ll not only retain our belts, but we’ll add even more gold to Wicked Intent, to Monarchy.
Kat: Katelyn knows damn well that she was pinned fair and square by Lexy two weeks ago, so there’s no excuse for her to be walking around with that World Title around her waist, while Lexy’s abs are all bare. Beautiful but bare.
Lexy: Couldn’t say it any better myself. I know the horny motherfuckers in attendance love to see my exposed naval, but God dammit, it should be covered in gold, WORLD TITLE GOLD!
Kat: And as far as Katelyn’s partner Marina Valdivia goes, we don’t give two-shits rather she’s considered the next big thing. In our minds, there’s only one thing Marina is destined for, another SUPER-SUPER-SSSSSUUUUUPPPER KICK!!
Lexy: We dropped her ass once, we’ll do it again.
Kat: Is that comment enough for you, Susie?
The correspondent looks shell shocked.
Kat: You know what, just get the hell out of our faces before we decided to put you on the invite list to our next superkick soiree.
Susie: Would I get to wear a tiara?
Lexy: No, you’ll get to wear my boot in your teeth.
Susie shows some rare wisdom by running off.
Cameras cut to the parking lot and position on the group gathered around a white stretch Humvee. The very vehicle that carried Monarchy to the arena tonight remains behind the backs of Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, who are refusing to allow their teammates to put the car to use to vacate the building. They hold back Taylor Chase and Orlando Cruze, who are equally as upset regarding the way this night has went for them. Clearly Orlando is seething over his loss to Andre Jordan.
Taylor: We just want to go….
Lucas: Orlando, I know your upset about what happened in your match earlier on, but you can’t leave now.
Taylor: We can’t?
Trinity: What Lucas means to say is that you might not want to go anywhere just yet considering that your chum Katelyn is about to face our girls.
It seems that both Orlando and Taylor have lost sight of the fact that the World Champion, Tay’s nemesis is scheduled to collide with Monarchy coming up next.
There is a high pitched rabble from the audience at the sight of Katelyn Buehler’s fists landing across the temple of Michael Cannon. The two have brought the brawl that started backstage to the entrance ramp. Katelyn seems to have Michael on the defensive before her offensive barrage is shut down via the double axehandle delivered to her upper back. David Cannon has now rushed out of the guerilla position and to the stage, blasting Katelyn across the spine.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler still going at it with the Cannon brothers.
Sparkles: Last we saw them Michael and David attacked Katelyn in her dressing room but now they’re right out here in front of us.
Frankie: Glad to see at least two of the Cannons haven’t lost their senses. They’re attacking Katelyn to give their bro Scott an advantage headed into his World Title bout at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: Yeah but Scott wouldn’t condone this. I wouldn’t think.
Regardless of Scott’s stance, he’s nowhere around to put a stop to the attack that has now led into the squared circle. Michael and David have rolled Katelyn into the ring and are now following her inside. A shaken up World Champion will not stay down or remain a victim. She pops back up to her feet and catches David coming in with a punch to the gut. She then lands a clothesline on Michael, knocking him flat on his ass. Katelyn then sets, crouching at the knees and waiting for David to turn around, the moment he does he finds his jaw on the receiving end of a thrust kick.
Greyson: Look at Katelyn go. She is holding her own.
Sparkles: There’s a reason she’s the World Champion.
After laying out one Cannon she turns back to another, slapping her forearm against her palm to signal for the KTFO. Katelyn swings around into the roaring elbow aimed at Michael’s skull, but NEVER connecting. David rushes in behind Katelyn and latches onto her, catching both of her arms and hooking them behind her back. This renders her defenseless against the stomp Michael delivers to her ribs. Eventually the blows force a kicking and flailing Katelyn to fall to her seat while David kneels down behind her, still restraining her arms behind her back. There is nothing Katelyn can do to block the punches that Michael slams across her temple.
Frankie: There was only so long that Katelyn could hold her own against these two.
Greyson: Michael and David have Katelyn pinned down to the canvas. What are they going to do to her?
Sparkles: Leave her in no condition to beat their brother at the pay-per-view, that’s what.
Speaking of their brother, now we see Scott himself running along down the ramp, briefcase ever in hand.
Greyson: There he is! Scott Cannon dashing to the ring!
Frankie: Hahahahaha, things only getting worse for Katelyn. This must all be part of the plan.
Sparkles: Are you trying to say that Scott is in on this?
Frankie: Of course he is. It’s all part of his masterplan, first he gains Katelyn’s trust, then he has his brothers beat her down so that he can cash in his briefcase and pin her for the World Title.
Greyson: I refuse to believe we’ve all been duped.
Frankie: Believe it!
David still has Katelyn’s arms held back while his brother Michael rushes back into the ropes to build momentum behind another kick on the powerless World Champion. The moment he goes to ricochet from the cables he finds his foot snagged on something, and that something are the hands of his brother. Scott pulls Michael’s feet out from under him, tripping him down to the canvas and then dragging him out of the squared circle. Michael looks surprised as he comes face to face with Scott, who immediately gives his sibling a shove.
Frankie: What are you doing Scott?
Greyson: He just dragged Michael right out of the ring. He’s-he’s-he’s HELPING Katelyn!
Frankie: No frackin way. I mean, um-uh, this is all part of the plan.
It doesn’t take long for Katelyn to pry her arms out of David’s arms and then snapmare him over her shoulder. David goes rolling over to his feet before spinning right into a clothesline that sends him crumbling to the canvas. As one Cannon goes down, another pops up. Scott enters the ring with the intent of pushing David out of it. He forces David to roll under the ropes then go spilling to the outside mats. A surprised David stands up beside an equally as shocked Michael, the two glaring back into the squared circle at their brother.
Scott: What is this, huh? What are you doing?
Questions an impassioned Scott, who honestly looks furious over the actions of his brothers.
Michael: NO! What are YOU doing?
An angered Michael slaps his palms against the apron. Before this argument goes any further David grabs Michael, wraps him up and drags him away from the ring. Scott remains standing there seething over the actions of his brothers, but soon he’ll have something else to be upset about. He turns back towards the World Champion who suddenly lays him out with the roaring elbow.
Greyson: OOOH! Katelyn with the KTFO on Cannon!
Sparkles: But he came out here to protect her! To do the right thing!
Greyson: That doesn’t matter to the Champ.
Frankie: See what doing the right thing gets you, Scott?
Greyson: That roaring elbow just threw a little more gasoline on the fire as these two head into their title match at Upping the Ante.
Right now it’s got him a pounding headache as he lays beyond the ropes, spread across the mats and suffering the KTFO. Katelyn continues to indiscriminately dole out her wrath on anything that gets in her way, even those aiming to help.
Lexy: Where is it? Huh? Where is my title!?!
Attention is redirected towards the stage where Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly, the Tag Team Champions and those set to oppose Katelyn tonight, have taken residency. Wicked Intent glare down the ramp at Katelyn, who remains all fired up after her dealings with the Cannons.
Greyson: Oooooh great, now Wicked Intent is out here, and we know they’re slated to compete against Katelyn Buehler and the woman who WAS slated to be her partner, Marina Valdivia.
Frankie: Doesn’t look like Marina’s gonna be out here to team with Katelyn after what happened to her earlier tonight.
Sparkles: Yeah, and Katelyn’s in no condition to challenge for the Tag Team Titles either.
None of this matters to Wicked Intent, who only have one point of contention.
Kat: Don’t think this little squabble with the Cannons can be used as an excuse to get out of our match tonight.
Lexy: Because regardless of what happened to you, and what happened to your ‘partner,’ your still going to fight us, you’re still going to lose to us, and you’re still going to give me back my World Championship!
Before either member of Wicked Intent can reach the ring Katelyn grabs a microphone, enticing further hostilities.
Katelyn: Do you see me running? I’m not going anywhere. You want to step in my house? Fine. The doors wide open.
The microphone hits the ground at Katelyn’s feet before she crouches and urges Wicked Intent into the ring.
Greyson: Katelyn not backing off. She wants Lexy and Kat, even if she has to face them on her own.
Frankie: It looks like we’ve got a handicap match then.
Sparkles: With Marina Valdivia taken out earlier on that means Katelyn is going it alone, what if she wins though? Does that make her the sole owner of the Tag Team Titles?
Frankie: Katelyn’s not leaving with the Tag Titles, or ANY title gold for that matter. Wicked Intent’s taking her World Title from her.
WICKED INTENT © VS. KATELYN BUEHLER:
TAG TEAM TITLES
It seems Katelyn’s about as ready as she’s ever going to be. Lexy and Kat rush the ring and the bell chimes the second both ladies get inside with the World Champion. Kat goes straight after Katelyn, throwing a right hand that Katelyn manages to duck under. Kat swings completely around so that her back is aimed to Buehler, who gives her a forceful shove. Kat is sent sprawling right into her own partner, the two bumping heads. Kat twists down to the ground and Lexy staggers back into the corner, falling against it while holding her face. A fired up Katelyn rushes right at Lexy, stepping up the turnbuckle she’s leaning against, standing on the middle rope and then throwing fists down into the face of the Tag Team Champion,
Greyson: I didn’t think the match would start like this.
Sparkles: Katelyn already teeing off on the champions.
Frankie: Kat and Lexy are just letting Katelyn wear herself out.
Greyson: Don’t be ridiculous.
The punches go on raining down across Lexy’s face, the crowd counting along with each blow upon her brow. They stop at the count of ten because Katelyn ceases unleashing the punches on account of Kat Kelly’s interference. She has just entered the ring and is rushing in behind Katelyn, but the World Champion turns around and leaps out of the turnbuckle into a Lou Thez Press. She crashes right into Kat, taking her down to the canvas before unleashing a hailstorm of punches across her face.
Punches and punches and punches nail Kat’s temple, Katelyn unleashing all of her pint up frustrations. The only thing that brings an end to this brutality is the assault by Lexy. She rushes into the ropes in front of Katelyn, bounces from them and then comes hustling into a knee strike right between the World Champion’s eyes. Katelyn is knocked off of Kat and sent rolling into the middle of the ring in a dazed, incoherent condition.
Frankie: There we go ladies, there we go! That’s more like it.
Greyson: Your favoritism continues to disgust me on so many levels.
Frankie: Mission accomplished.
Lexy’s knee to Katelyn’s face leads to damning consequences for the World Champion. She is desperately trying to get up only to have Kat and Lexy place her in a stereo front chancery. They deliver a duel double snap suplex, slamming Katelyn’s kidneys with such force against the ring. She sits up and grimaces in pain, but the pain has only just begun. Lexy is backed out of the ring and into her corner by referee Michelle Blacker, meaning that Kat has been selected as the legal member of her team. She steps in behind Katelyn, takes her around the neck and applies a dragon sleeper. She bridges Katelyn up to her feet then drops her down with what looks like a reverse DDT transitioned into a back breaker across her elevated knee. A groaning Katelyn rolls to the outside of the ring, amazingly falling onto her feet. The second she stands up Katelyn finds her ribs smacked with a spear, Lexy plowing into her and then pushing her spine right along into the steel stairs.
Greyson: Come on Lexy, you’re not the legal competitor in this match.
Frankie: Doesn’t matter.
The slam into the stairs has left Katelyn all but incapacitated as she’s fed back into the ring. Lexy throws her into Kat, who swoops in and takes the World Champion by her arms. She delivers a snap double underhook suplex. Kat keeps hold of the arms though, rolling to her side and pulling Katelyn along for the ride. The two stand up and her hooked arms are employed to lift Katelyn into an implant double arm DDT. Kat no sooner hits the DDT before she rolls across the ring, extends her hand and tags out to Lexy.
Within a second Lexy is in the ring and all over Katelyn with forearms and stomps. She then puts her heel across her opponent’s eyes and grates them. Lexy then delivers a roundhouse kick straight to Katelyn’s chest, knocking her flat on her back. Another tag is made, bringing Kat back into the match. Lexy quickly traps Katelyn’s arms, pulling her up into a modified abdominal stretch, exposing her ribs just long enough to be subjected to a basement dropkick. Kat drives both her boots into Katelyn’s ribs, doubling her over before she is snapmared by Lexy. The second Katelyn flips onto her backside she finds her jaw cracked by a spinning back kick from Kat.
The stiff shot sends Katelyn rolling over backwards to her knees. She then finds her hair caught and her head dragged under Kat’s seat. All of Kat’s strength is used to lift the World Champion up and into a powerbomb position. She then runs across the ring and throws Katelyn into a buckle bomb, while at the same time Kat’s partner Lexy is leaping from the apron and swinging her leg over the top rope, cracking Katelyn in the back of the head with a kick.
The double impact has Katelyn unconscious but still standing on her feet. Yet another tag is made, Kat bringing her partner Lexy back into the match. Kat drops to her hands and knees, allowing Lexy to use her as some kind of launching pad. Lexy runs across the ring, steps off of Kat’s back and dives into a flying leg lariat. Her thigh crashes into Katelyn’s chest and the impact at last takes her off of her feet.
Frankie: Hahahaha, it’s too bad…tooooo bad that Katelyn doesn’t have a partner to tag in.
Sparkles: Way not to rub it in Frankie.
Greyson: Katelyn really needs a partner right now on account of New Eden leaving Marina a bloodied mess in her dressing room earlier tonight.
The leg lariat has knocked the fight out of Katelyn, who crawls out of the corner and towards the center of the squared circle where a stereo superkick awaits her. Kat and Lexy step to either side of Katelyn and stomp their feet in anticipation of subjecting her to the superkick soiree.
Frankie: Here it comes babay, welcome to the soiree.
Kat is the first to strike out, her boot lunging towards Katelyn’s jaw. However, that foot is caught an inch from the World Champion’s face. Katelyn then pushes Kat’s foot away and sends it swinging straight into her own partner’s temple. An unsuspecting Lexy is caught with a kick from Kat’s boot and the blow sends her spiraling around. A stunned Kat turns back towards Katelyn and receives a powerful thrust kick straight in the chin, the blow taking her down to the ring. The second Kat hits the canvas her tag team partner Lexy whips around into a roundhouse kick aimed at Katelyn’s head. Katelyn ducks under the kick aimed at her head though, causing Lexy to swing completely around, turning back to face the thrust kick that drills her directly under the chin
Greyson: Katelyn laying out both members of Wicked Intent with those thrust kicks!
Sparkles: The World Champion has surprisingly got herself back into this contest. She is feeding off so much emotion.
Frankie: That emotion will only get her so far.
The fired up Katelyn has fallen to her knees as the effects of this match start to take their toll on her. She crawls up beside Lexy, grabs her by the hair and pulls her into a headbutt. She then crawls towards Kat and starts to unleash punches across her face. An exasperated Katelyn drags Kat along to her feet and then whips her off into the ropes. She bounces from them and comes back in at Katelyn, who stoops for the back drop. However, Kat scouts this and stops just shy of Katelyn, dropping down to a knee right beside the slouched World Champion. At that exact same time Lexy runs in from Katelyn’s opposite side, jumps into the air, catches her around the head and pulls her around into a flip over swinging neck breaker that drags the back of Buehler’s head straight into Kat’s elevated knee.
Frankie: Beautiful! Fucking grade A beautiful!
Greyson: An unbelievable transition there!
Sparkles: One that has just taken Katelyn out of this match yet again.
Lexy crawls onto the damn near comatose Katelyn, hooking both her legs for the pin.
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The roar from the audience rumbles through the arena at the sight of Katelyn’s arm flying up from the ring, preventing defeat. Lexy screams at both the World Champion and the referee alike.
Lexy: If you had got your big inflated titties down to that canvas faster I’d be walking out here with my World Title right now.
Referee Michelle Blacker may feel self-conscious about her cup size but she doesn’t let it show, instead she reprimands Lexy for making comment on the lowest hanging fruit. Lexy pulls Katelyn up from the ring and then into a short arm back elbow that sends her toppling to the canvas. Lexy spirals away from her and towards the corner where a tag has just been made to Kat. The lightning fast Kelly rushes into the ring and grabs Katelyn’s legs, twisting them around one another. She then falls to her seat beside the World Champion locking her in a side Indian Deathlock,
Greyson: Been a long while since we’ve seen one of these.
Sparkles: The side Indian Deathlock applied on Katelyn. Kat Kelly showing off her impressive array of submissions.
Frankie: If I were Katelyn, I’d first get a tan, and then I’d tap out.
Greyson: Well thankfully you’re not Katelyn, because she is one of a kind, and she, unlike you, has a heart that will not stop beating.
Frankie: Gag me with a spoon.
Katelyn claws at her hair as she tries to focus on anything, anything at all that is not the pain presently coursing through her legs. Finally she manages to twist onto her side, open her palm and slap it down hard across Kat’s chest. The blow knocks Kat onto her back and causes her Indian Deathlock to weaken, weaken just enough for Katelyn to counter. She rolls over sideways and not only pulls her legs out of the submission but manages to wrap up Kat’s, applying a Texas Cloverleaf.
Greyson: WHOA! What a spectacular counter into the cloverleaf.
Sparkles: Katelyn constantly evolving.
Frankie: Then she must be just above primordial ooze.
Although Katelyn has managed to counter one submission it remains to be seen if she can perform the same trick twice. Because now Lexy has dashed in to help her partner, leaping into a front facelock body vice combination. The hold is applied and exerts so much pressure on Katelyn’s head that it’s causing her to break the Texas Cloverleaf she had locked in on Kat and then stagger towards the middle of the ring where she herself suffers from this combination submission. Or at least she suffers right up until the point that she manages to counter and do so in spectacular fashion. She manages to reverse the body vice/front chancery combo into a cradle DDT. Lexy slams and slams hard right across the top of her head before rolling to her back, laid out right next to a barely breathing World Champion.
Frankie: NOOO!!
Greyson: Another SENSATIONAL counter!
Sparkles: Sparkles can’t believe Katelyn is still keeping herself in this handicap match.
Though it looks like things are about to get very complicated for Katelyn, because down the ramp staggers a blood soaked Marina Valdivia, who’s face is crudely bandaged.
Frankie: Oh you’ve got to be kidding me.
Greyson: Marina Valdivia is-is actually coming out here to fight?
Sparkles: She was just savagely assaulted by Borislav and Serenity backstage.
Greyson: This woman has a hell of a big heart….
Frankie: Yeah, but the heart can’t beat if there’s no blood in the body.
Sparkles: Great point.
Greyson: We saw this several months ago when Marina was injured at the start of the show and yet still came out to wrestle for the World Title….
Sparkles: Yeah, but she wasn’t in this bad of shape.
The full extent of Marina’s injuries instantly catch up with her upon reaching ringside where her knees buckle and her body goes down to the mats. But instead of giving up right there Marina crawls instead of walks, determined to reach that ring in spite of everything. It would take a megaton nuclear warhead dropped straight on her to stop her, but heck, that might not even be enough. Amazingly Marina climbs up onto the apron, hell-bent on getting into the ring and not only honoring her commitment to be Katelyn’s partner in this match but also to get her hands on her long-time rivals Wicked Intent. The winded World Champion crawls across the canvas in a half dazed state, unknowingly moving within reach of Marina’s hand. She slaps Katelyn’s back and tags herself into the match.
Greyson: Are you absolutely insane Marina!?! Don’t do this! Don’t get in that ring!
Sparkles: There is nothing that is going to stop her, not even that assault from a pipe wrench at the hands of New Eden.
A moment after making the tag the blood soaked Marina makes her way up the turnbuckle, unsteadily standing on top of it.
Frankie: No way! No WAY!
Although she shouldn’t even be able to stand Marina actually takes to the air, hitting the California Splash, the 450 crashing right into Kat in the middle of the ring.
Greyson: SHE HIT IT! OH FUCK SHE HIT IT!!
Frankie: NOOOO WAAAAAAY!!!
It looks like every droplet of blood has been spilt from Marina’s body yet she still has the wherewithal to hook Kat’s leg. The referee drops into position to make the count to an absolutely thunderous reaction from the fans.
Frankie: This can’t be happening!
Greyson: In spite of all the odds Marina and Katelyn are about to win the Tag Team Titles!
Frankie: THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING!
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2
Frankie: NOOOO!
The referee’s hand is just now coming down towards the canvas to make this title change official, but at the very last possible second Lexy dives across the ring and saves the belts for her team via dropping a double axehandle across Marina’s head.
Frankie: (Hyperventilating) That was too close….
Greyson: Dammit, I thought that was it. I thought for sure that Marina and Katelyn had just won the Tag Team Titles.
All Marina has won is a first class ticket to hell it seems. An exhausted Lexy pulls the bloodied Marina up from the canvas and gives her a swift punch across her blood drenched brow. The blow has Marina slouched back over the ropes, about to go over. Lexy then goes to race into the ropes on the opposite side of the ring in order to deliver a final KO shot on Marina. But what Lexy doesn’t see is that there’s a figure kneeling down on the opposite side of the ropes, her other opponent Katelyn. The World Champion pulls down on the top cable and causes Lexy’s momentum to send her flipping over to the outside of the ring.
Greyson: There goes Lexy!!
Sparkles: This is not working out how Wicked Intent had planned at all. AT ALL!
Frankie: I can’t watch….This is like seeing the ending to a Horror movie.
The fans are frothing in anticipation of a pending title change. Katelyn slides into the ring and is about to fulfill the crowd’s wildest fantasies. She slaps her forearm across her palm in order to signal that the KTFO is coming. Marina and all those in the stands watch excitedly as Katelyn prepares to end this match the moment a battered Kat gets back to her feet.
Frankie: I’m getting sick. I feel like Alistair Taylor right now.
Greyson: It’s gonna end guys, the dream team of Marina and Katelyn are about to capture the Tag Team Titles.
Katelyn starts to make the revolution into the roaring elbow but stops the moment she sees her partner being dragged out of the ring. A set of hands reach under the ropes, snag hold of Marina’s ankle and then gives it a big tug, tripping her onto her face. Marina is then pulled right out of the squared circle, dropping down directly at the feet of the woman who just blindsided her, Taylor Chase.
Greyson: NO! Dammit NO!!
Sparkles: Taylor! Taylor! Taylor Chase has just dragged Marina out of the ring!!
Frankie: I LOVE YOU TAYLOR! I want to have lil mohawked babies with you!
The already exsanguinated Marina is unable to fend off Taylor, hence why she just lies on the mats in front of the woman who just dragged her from the squared circle. Taylor stoops down towards Marina and starts shouting every degrading statement that pops into her head. But Tay lives to regret her preoccupation with Marina because it’s another of her foes that is putting her at risk. Katelyn comes to the aid of her partner and to the decimation of Taylor, she dives right through the ropes and crashes directly into her bitter nemesis. Both Taylor and Katelyn collapse to the ground and the second they do the World Champion’s fist begins to unload across Tay’s face.
Greyson: Get her Katelyn! Get her!
Sparkles: We heard her earlier tonight begging Taylor to interfere in this match, and this is exactly why.
Greyson: So Katelyn could finally get her revenge for Taylor busting her in the face with that baseball bat covered in barbwire four weeks ago.
Frankie: Don’t you put your hands on her you bitch!
Katelyn keeps putting her fists right into Taylor’s beautiful face, absolutely mugging her. Though the punches just aren’t doing it for Katelyn, they aren’t sufficient punishment enough for everything this woman has done to her. So she drags Taylor into the ring and then follows her. A roaring elbow is about ten seconds away from busting the first lady of professional wrestling right in her mouth.
Greyson: Finally Katelyn is going to do it. Finally she’s going to get her revenge on Taylor.
Frankie: No Taylor, don’t stand up, run from that ring baby.
An absent minded Taylor struggles to get to her feet, her brain having been batted around by a barrage of punches. Now those brains are about to be knocked right out of her head when Katelyn connects with the roaring elbow. Katelyn cocks back her arm to deliver the blow before she finds that very arm caught from behind. Kat has jumped up to the apron behind Katelyn, caught her by the crease of the elbow and then gives it a tug. Katelyn finds herself twisted around and before she can react her throat is being dragged down into the top rope. Kat leaps from the apron with a handful of Katelyn’s hair, forcing the World Champion’s throat to snap against the cables and then fly back. She stumbles right into the waiting arms of Lexy, who pulls Katelyn down into the backslide.
Sparkles: BAAAAACKSSLLLIIIIDEE!
There is a huge outcry of emotion as the referee slaps the canvas.
1
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Katelyn kicks out, a second TOO LATE.
Greyson: Oh GOD! OH MY GOD! She did it again! Lexy did it again!
The commentators aren’t the only ones left breathless by what they just witnessed. Everyone in the arena are left totally deflated and in desperate need of oxygen as those who can cry out do just that in response to Lexy’s shocking pinfall over Katelyn, over the World Champion. A wide eyed Lexy gets to her knees and looks around in total disbelief that she has scored yet another upset victory over the World Champion.
Sparkles: Unbelievable! This is-this is-this is the SECOND time that Lexy has pinned Katelyn.
Frankie: Words can’t even begin to describe how happy I am right now. My penis is shedding tears of joy!
Greyson: This is heart breaking for the World Champion. It looked like she and Marina might have pulled off an improbable win if it hadn’t been for Taylor Chase’s interference.
Sparkles: Tay has cost Katelyn yet another win.
Frankie: And Lexy picks up the victory. Which PROVES that she deserves the World Title. She deserves it dammit!
Seconds after their successful Tag Title defense Kat and Lexy find themselves embracing in the center of the ring with a gigantic hug. Kat twirls around the ring holding Lexy in her arms while Chapel’s feet kick back. Meanwhile Taylor stands in the corner holding her jaw but still smiling. A bloodied Marina is forced to endure the indignity of sitting with her back propped to the barricade watching this over the top celebration in the ring. At the same time a dejected Katelyn is stood at the base of the ramp with her back to the squared circle, her fists to her hips and her head lowered.
Greyson: What a crushing blow for Katelyn and Marina, they were so close to capturing those Tag Team Titles. Soooo close.
Frankie: Screw ‘em. Don’t side track us from this moment, concentrate on Wicked Intent’s victory.
Katelyn can’t even bring herself to look back at the ring where this celebration continues. She just walks straight to the back with her cheeks as red as a tomato. Meanwhile in the ring Tay has joined in on the group hug with Lexy and Kat. All three ladies begin to hop around in circles while squeezing one another and shouting excitedly.
Sparkles: Biggest win of Wicked Intent’s tag title reign.
Frankie: This is what dreams are made of.
Greyson: Are you kidding me? This is one giant nightmare.
It didn’t take long for Julia Braddock and Victoria Salinas to exact a little bit of retribution.
Victoria: Hold him!
Requests Victoria as she stands in front of Julia and Glenn Braddock in the hallway. However, it’s the man who is stuck between these two that takes precedence. The Braddocks have New Eden member Borislav knelt to the floor and have managed to securely grip his thick arms out to his sides. He is all together powerless against the wrath of all those determined to make New Eden pay for their string of merciless attacks over the past few weeks. Victoria prepares to be the arbiter of the IWC’s retribution as she stoops towards a beaten up Borislav and grips the very same pipe wrench in her hand that the deranged Russian used to bust up her friend Marina earlier tonight.
Victoria: You got one chance Borislav…ONE CHANCE to walk away from this.
Julia: Tell us where Serenity is.
Glenn: TALK!
Borislav responds, not via words, but with his spit. He hurls a glob of saliva right into Victoria’s chest. She doesn’t even bother to wipe it away, instead she tightens her grip on the pipe wrench and smiles.
Victoria: I was hoping that’d be your response.
As Victoria closes in on Borislav, his captors Julia and her Uncle Glenn make sure that he’s defenseless. The camera pulls back from the pending torture. It brings into view the figure who is stood at the end of the corridor. Serenity peaks around the huge stack of crates she’s hidden behind, watching Borislav on the receiving end of a beating. A sigh emanates from Serenity, who leans back into her hiding spot. Ultimately she just shrugs and takes a bite from an apple, almost totally indifferent to the plight of New Eden’s muscle.
A light switches on, bringing an empty hotel room into view. Cindy Todd stands in the doorway before walking on in and surveying the contents of the room. She overlooks the very bed where moments earlier Mika Kozlov had been lying. Now the bed is empty save for some wrinkled sheets. Evidently Cindy is not happy to find that the room is vacant and Mika is nowhere to be found.
Lexy: KATELYN! You giant bottle of Elmer’s Glue, bring me my belt! Bring me my World Title!
Orders Lexy Chapel, who continues to bask in the allure of victory. She stands in the ring celebrating with her partner Kat Kelly and their Monarchy compatriot Taylor Chase. They are soon joined by a queasy looking Alistair Taylor, a smiling Lucas Knight, an applauding Trinity Street, and a hyped Orlando Cruze. All of Monarchy have now convened inside of the squared circle to celebrate this momentous occasion
Frankie: What a celebration.
Greyson: I didn’t think anything could possibly make what we saw happen a few moments ago any more appalling, but somehow Monarchy has found a way to turn this into a truly disgusting scene.
Sparkles: Every member of Monarchy are now gathered in the ring to commemorate Wicked Intent’s successful tag title defense.
Greyson: And since it was Lexy who pinned the World Champion Katelyn Buehler in that tag match obviously she thinks that entitles her to the World Title.
Frankie: Uhhh, she didn’t just pin the World Champ tonight though, she’s pinned Katelyn TWICE.
Greyson: That still does not make Lexy the World Champion.
A microphone remains raised to Lexy’s lips as she calls out to Katelyn.
Lexy: I’m through being patient and considerate, you’re not getting a sweet Lexy anymore. You’ve been keeping MY World Title away from me for four weeks now and I’m SICK of seeing MY belt around your FLABBY beer gut.
Another microphone has found its way into Kat’s hand, who stands up for her partner.
Kat: Its borderline criminal what you’re doing Katelyn. We would seriously sue you if you had anything other than that World Title of value. But seeing as you live in worse conditions than Anton Jackson…
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Kat:….you obviously don’t have much left that we’d want. So just give up this façade and bring us the World Title.
If their demands weren’t clear enough now it’s Taylor Chase who reiterates them.
Taylor: Do the right thing for once in your life Katelyn. It’s bad enough that you haven’t given up those kids of yours and put them into the custody of parents who won’t turn them into crack-heads….
Greyson: OH COME ON!
Frankie: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Taylor: …And that you’ve brainwashed these fans into turning against the First Woman of Professional Wrestling….
Oh how the boos are deafening.
Taylor:…but don’t make it even worse by withholding that World Title from the rightful champion.
Lexy: So come on out Pasty Katie, bring that belt on down that ramp and give it over…..no-no-no, I’ll do you one better. You bring that title out to this ring and you wrap it around my waist.
Sparkles: She can’t be serious.
Frankie: SHE IS SERIOUS!
Lexy: You’ve got five seconds Katelyn (she holds up all five of her fingers). Five seconds to come down that ramp and give me the World Title before we take a drive to your HOUSE…Oh, I mean your DOUBLE-WIDE, and then break through the door, drag your fat ass out of it…..
A very loud beeping noise drowns out the insulting tones of the Monarchy members. They all look around expressing their confusion, wondering where this noise is coming from. They soon discover the source when their attention is drawn to the Cartel-tron. On the big screen we see the parking lot where the stretch Humvee that brought Monarchy to the building remains parked.
Greyson: What are we seeing here?
The Humvee is soon joined by another vehicle as a forklift pulls into view. And who is sitting behind the controls of this forklift? None other than the World Champion Katelyn Buehler.
Sparkles: What the fudge!?!
Greyson: Katelyn is behind the wheel of a forklift!
Frankie: What the hell does she think she’s doing? Is she even licensed to drive one of those things?
Greyson: She seems to be doing a pretty good job of it.
The Monarchy members in the ring are shaking their heads and screaming ‘no’ as they watch the forks of the truck moving closer and closer to their Humvee.
Katelyn: You want my World Title? Not happening. But I will give your ride some nice air-holes!
Katelyn pushes the lever that controls the accelerator and now the forks of her construction machinery go tearing right through the doors of the Humvee.
Frankie: (Squeal) AAAAAAH!!
Sparkles: Katelyn’s destroying Monarchy’s stretch Humvee!
Greyson: That car has to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The crowd is going absolutely nuts at the sight of Katelyn demolishing the Humvee with the forklift, ripping right through it like it was toilet paper. Katelyn then pulls on another lever that raises the forks and as a result raises the Humvee that is impaled upon them. Back in the ring Monarchy are flipping out in response to this destruction of their high priced ride. They become even more upset when the curtains hanging from the Cartel-tron open and Marina Valdivia comes walking through them holding a chair in one hand and a microphone in the other
Marina: Monarchy, it’s not your car you should be worried about.
Announces a battered and bloodied Valdivia, who seconds ago tasted the unsavory flavor of defeat at the hands of Monarchy.
Frankie: What is she doing back out here now? I swear, this company is full of nothing but whiney little bitches.
The bloodied and battered Marina continues to wear a crude bandage wrapped around the ripped flesh on her skull as she addresses the irate Monarchy in the ring.
Marina: I said you shouldn’t worry about your car, because believe me, you got something much more important worry about, YOUR LIVES!
Marina begins to stumble towards the squared circle, almost falling over from severe blood loss. Monarchy invites her into the ring, almost laughing at the threat she poses in her impaired condition. But they aren’t laughing anymore when Andre Jordan, Selena Frost, Deanna Springs, and a whole slew of others come rushing out from the back and running square for the ring.
Greyson: It’s ALL of Monarchy’s enemies!
Frankie: What is this!?!
Sparkles: It’s-it’s-it’s….no pun intended…it’s an UPRISING!
All the bodies that just ran down the ramp are sliding right into the ring and the second they do a huge donnybrook breaks out. Monarchy and the roster are brawling with another to the loudest ovation from the crazed crowd.
Greyson: This is total and complete madness!
Sparkles; Things have absolutely broken down in this war between Monarchy and the IWC roster.
And if things weren’t chaotic enough, if this carnage didn’t satiate your lust for violence, now the curtains hanging from the Cartel-tron are ripped down and some of the struts that hold up the big screen are shattered as a forklift comes tearing out of the back. Seated behind the controls is the World Champion herself Katelyn Buehler.
Greyson: And there’s Katelyn, she’s still driving that forklift!
Frankie: This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.
And it only gets crazier. As the massive brawl continues inside of the ring on the stage Katelyn is getting a better view of all the chaos. She steps out of the cab of the forklift and then steps onto the steel forks. A stagehand controls the levers that at Katelyn’s request are used to lift the champion higher and higher into the air. Once Katelyn is elevated as high as the forks can go, she raises the World Championship above her head and points straight down the ramp at Monarchy.
Frankie: This is insane.
Greyson: No, this….is….war!
FADE TO BLACK
Riot 38
A shovel cracks the mud, plunging deep and cutting away the upper crust of the earth. The dirt cleaved from the ground is tossed over the enormous back of Mordecai. The process repeats itself as the beast stabs the soil with the blade and wedges his boot to the shoulder pushing it down further and further until the shovel pierces the heart. He deepens the hole he has just cut into the cemetery a few miles removed from the Kashima Stadium, but he has quite a bit of work to do if he wishes to reach a depth of eight feet.
”Strike Back” by We As Human plays as the screen is inundated with images pertaining to all the customary violence and insanity of Riot. There are shots of Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel laying out a victim with stereo superkicks, clips showing Andre Jordan celebrating with the Evolution Championship held high above his head, scenes depicting Mika Kozlov and Serenity standing side by side with Cindy Todd behind them. The video now transitions into shots of Marina Valdivia diving off the top of a shark cage into a corkscrew moonsault, before cutting to Aaron Harrison lighting a Blacklist t-shirt on fire, and Taylor Chase crushing Kloe Masters’ face with the True Story. The opening video package wraps up with images of Julia Braddock delivering the Queen’s Ransom, Miss Jon powerbombing a member of Silas Security, Samantha Raine connecting with the stunner, and lastly Katelyn Buehler crowd surfing with the World Title held out in front of her.
The fireworks display has ignited the passions of the audience. The crowd jammed into the Kashima Stadium tighter than testicles in a jockstrap are on their feet going nuts as Riot officially gets underway.
Greyson: Boys and girls, children of all ages….well maybe not so much the children….WELCOME TO RIOT!
Sparkles: This is Sparkles, with Greyson Lovejoy and my puppet from another muppet Frankie Paradise here at commentary on what promises to be one of the biggest nights in Riot history.
Frankie: This is the Frankie & Sparkles show babay.
Greyson: We have FOUR first round matches in the Number One Contender Tournament slated to go down tonight and…
Frankie: Okay-okay, I guess I’ll be the one who tackle the elephant in the room. Why is that thing hanging above the ring?
On cue cameras switch over to a zoom in on a cell…a HELL IN A CELL….hanging in the rafters high above the squared circle.
Greyson: I’m just as confused as you are Frankie. I have no idea why there’s a Hell in a Cell set up here tonight. It was there before the three of us even got into the building.
Frankie: I’m unsettled. I don’t like to be unsettled.
Just before the commentators can provide any further speculation as to the reason for the cell’s presence, they find their suspicious voices silenced by the tunes of “You Know My Name.” The fans only get louder when Orlando Cruze’s theme music hits the PA system and the Icon himself emerges to the stage.
Greyson: I guess we’ll have to wait to find out why that Hell in a Cell is inside of the Kashima Stadium. Orlando Cruze, the former World Champion is on his way to the ring!
Sparkles: Orlando returned to the IWC over a month ago and has been a force to be reckoned with.
Frankie: Yeah, but Chrome Dome has a LOT of explain’ to do.
Greyson: Two weeks ago on Riot, the world witnessed Orlando Cruze’s wife turn her back on the fans and on her peers when she joined the group that is leading a take-over of the entire wrestling universe, Monarchy.
Sparkles: Since Orlando’s wife, Taylor Chase, made that decision, he’s been very vocal of her actions over social media.
Frankie: Isn’t a husband’s job to support their wife?
Greyson: Customarily yes, and Orlando has been supportive to a point, but even he can’t look past his wife’s actions this time.
The typically calm and cool Orlando looks on edge, no….ANXIOUS upon entering the ring.
Orlando: It’s been a very long time since I’ve felt this way. Since I’ve felt DREAD at the thought of stepping down that ramp and entering this ring.
The crowd settles into a stupor of confusion.
Orlando: Don’t get me wrong, my DREAD has nothing to do with the thought of being out here in front of the thousands and thousands packed in the KASSSSHIMMMA STADIUM!
Even at his lowest Orlando can’t shy away from being the consummate showmen by getting a cheap pop.
Orlando: No, what’s cast a pall over everything, including the opportunity to entertain the absolute best fans on the planet, are the actions of my wife two weeks ago….Actions that even I have a hard time condoning…..
Regrettably Orlando opens his hand and gestures to the Cartel-tron where a video commences.
TWO WEEKS AGO
A video package rolls that is set to a tune that turns the knots in one’s stomach. The images on the screen are not very friendly to the digestive track either.
The footage begins with a compilation of clips taken throughout the weeks building into the last Riot that shows Taylor Chase involved in secretive meetings with Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, two figureheads of the group Monarchy. We hear Trinity telling Tay what she already suspected, that the IWC is trying to bury her and all that she’s accomplished.
On the last Riot we see the acclaimed three time former World Champion Taylor Chase stood in the ring wearing her thoughts on her sleeve. She lets the upper echelon of the IWC know exactly what she thinks of their decision making, ridiculing their desire to push her aside. Before Taylor’s tirade can continue she finds her words impeded by the arrival of Marina Valdivia, who had become a rather trusted ally in recent weeks. A very passionate argument is delivered by Marina, trying to get her to snap out of her funk and go back to being the beloved woman of the people, but most importantly to ignore the comments made by Trinity Street. It seems Marina’s statements actually start to sway Taylor. Sadly all of Marina’s hard-work is undone when Principle Owner Silas Mason comes to the stage and legitimizes all of Taylor’s claims by banning her from World Title contention.
That decree by Silas is only the start of Taylor’s woes throughout the evening. Later that very same night she is FORCED to watch as her husband Orlando Cruze is abducted by the cabal of chaos known as New Eden. Their leader Cindy Todd initiates a beating on Cruze in the ring, which leads to his removal from the arena and subsequent deposit into a giant car compactor some miles removed from the stadium.
Just before Orlando can be CRUSHED within the car that he’s tied up inside of, his wife Taylor intervenes. She shows up at the junkyard where New Eden has taken her love in the nick of time to rescue him.
And yet even after all that, Taylor’s night was not done. On that very same evening a grudge match has been slated between World Champion Katelyn Buehler and brash upstart Lexy Chapel. The two find themselves in a very hotly contested bout that eventually breaks down into unabashed violence when New Eden’s Cindy Todd shows up brandishing a baseball bat wrapped in barbwire. She prepares to use it on Katelyn only to have the World Champion block the bat and keep it from EVER making contact with her flesh. As Katelyn and Cindy battle in the ring neither are aware that Taylor Chase is stomping down the ramp looking for retaliation against New Eden. She goes right after their figurehead, targeting her attack at Cindy. Before she can be the recipient of a two on one mugging Cindy evacuates the ring, watching with her obsidian eyes as Taylor threatens her from the center of the squared circle.
But Taylor goes far beyond threatening Katelyn, swinging around and busting the World Champion open by driving the baseball bat laced in barbwire right across her brow. The camera zooms in on the stunned reactions of the crowd, everyone responding in disbelief that Taylor has just stabbed Katelyn in the back and by virtue stabbed each and every single fan in their backs as well.
Just because this moment wasn’t insulting enough to the world all in attendance are given another gut punch when they bear witness to Taylor walking into a hug with Monarchy representative Trinity Street. The remainder of Monarchy then enter the ring and lift Taylor aloft upon their shoulders in celebration of this moment.
When cameras return to the ring they find Orlando Cruze still inside but now leaning over the top rope closest to the ramp, his hand cupping his face. Obviously the Icon is deeply-deeply ashamed of his wife’s actions, yet in spite of it all tries to remain sympathetic.
Orlando: Before anyone judges my wife for what went down two weeks ago, take a second and ask yourselves what you would have done in her situation? She’s human. She snapped. She was forced to watch me almost get crushed inside of a steel compactor on the same night that she’s banned from World Title contention. Tay was just-she was just-just PUSHED too far.
Orlando reasons while breathing uneasily.
Orlando: So let’s not blow what she did two weeks ago out of proportions. I know you fans are upset with her for attacking Katelyn Buehler, and you have every right to be, but don’t go to Twitter, don’t go to the IWC forums claiming that Tay has turned her back on you. That’s not true. She just had a moment of weakness….
Trinity: A moment of weakness?
The entrance curtains part so as to accommodate the arrival of Trinity Street and Lucas Knight. The members of Monarchy come to a rest upon the stage. Evidently Orlando is NOT happy to see either of these individuals who walked away with his wife moments after her betrayal two weeks ago.
Trinity: No love, Taylor is NOT weak and has NEVER been weak. She is the strongest woman in all of professional wrestling, and that’s not going to change even when you TRY to paint her as some weak little girl influenced by her emotions. You are clearly not in synch with your wife, you don’t know who she is and what she’s capable of. Lucas and I, we do see Taylor for what she is and what she can be.
Lucas: Truth be told Orlando, YOU’VE been a bigger detriment to your wife’s success than any of the morons in the head office. You hold her back, you force her to be someone that she’s not.
There’s only so much of this that Orlando is willing to tolerate.
Orlando: The two of you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. You don’t know what Tay needs. You’ve only manipulated her…
Lucas: Manipulated? Hahahahaha, manipulated!?! Come off it. We haven’t manipulated anyone, we’ve only helped them tap into their potential.
Trinity: It’s time to tap into Taylor’s potential. It’s time that Taylor is UNLEASHED!
Lucas: When she comes out to this ring later tonight and speaks to these fans (he says with disdain in his voice), you’ll hear from the REAL Taylor Chase.
Trinity: And she’s not going to care who her words hurt, even if it’s YOU, love. Because this evening is all about Tay and her INDOCTRINATION into Monarchy.
Lucas: That’s right, we’re going to have a very special Indoctrination Ceremony for Taylor Chase!
Trinity: Where the REAL Tay-Tay will get a chance to shine.
Chuckles are shared amongst Trinity and Lucas after making this promise. They now interlock hands and walk to the back, turning away from the outraged Orlando. Oh no they didn’t, Orlando isn’t about to let them have the last word.
Orlando: You’re right.
Trinity and Lucas pause about half way through the curtains, looking back over their shoulders so that Orlando can see their smiles.
Orlando: The two of you are absolutely right. By the end of the night we’ll see the REAL Taylor Chase….I guarantee it.
The ambiguous comment strikes the Monarchy representatives as strangely disconcerting.
Frankie: What did Orlando mean by that?
Greyson: It didn’t look like his words set very well with Trinity and Lucas.
Frankie: They didn’t sit very well with me either, and neither is that burrito I got at the gas-station before we got here.
Sparkles: Orlando promising that the REAL Taylor Chase will be heard from tonight, but up next Orlando is going to get some REAL competition. He faces off against Julia Braddock in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Greyson: Will Orlando put all this business regarding his wife out of his head and become number one contender for the World Championship? A belt he hasn’t held in nearly a decade
Sparkles: He would have to make it through Julia first.
Frankie: Are we just going to go on ignoring the fact that the Hell in a Cell is hanging above the ring?
Sparkles: Yup!
Cameras cut away from Orlando to bring the Hell in a Cell back into view. The presence of it continues to be a constant reminder that doom surely awaits one or perhaps several combatants here tonight on Riot.
Glenn: Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to see a World Title around the waist of another Braddock?
Gushes Glenn Braddock. At the moment Glenn is as close to happy as he’s ever going to get. As he wraps the wrists of his niece Julia, he knows precisely what he’s preparing her for, the opportunity of a lifetime. Julia smiles warmly, proud that she’ll have the chance to honor the Braddock family legacy this evening when she collides with Orlando Cruze.
Henry: I’m telling you she’s perfect…perfect for the role, she LOVES Clearasil, uses it every day..
In the corner of the locker-room is where you’ll find Henry Van Stanton, cellphone wedged to his ear and mouth moving a mile a minute. He seems to be putting together some type of advertising deal for Julia. Though at the moment she is concerned with one thing and one thing only, winning in the first round of the number one contender tournament.
Julia: I’m glad you never gave up on me.
Glenn looks up from the hands he was binding with tape, an uncharacteristically gentle smile on his face.
Glenn: And I never will.
Julia: Even if I lose to Orlando?
Glenn: (Glenn laughs it off) You won’t. But if that were to happen, I’d never stop being proud of you and everything you’ve done on behalf of our family.
He now cups his hands around the very fingers he was putting tape on, giving them a loving squeeze.
Glenn: You’re going to advance in the tournament though, so don’t even worry. After tonight, no one is going to sell the Braddock name short. Orlando is not going to know what hit him….
Speaking of being caught off guard….The lights in the room suddenly cut out, blanketing Julia, Glenn and Henry in darkness. No one can see what’s happening under this veil of blackness, though viewers can hear what appears to be a scuffle. A loud scream emanates from the shadows.
Glenn: JULLLIIIIAAA!!!
BEFORE THE BREAK
Coming back from commercial the show segues into a video recounting what just befell Julia Braddock in her locker-room while the commentators provide speculation via their voice-overs.
Greyson: Welcome back to Riot and if you’re just joining us you missed a frightening scene unfolding backstage.
Sparkles: Right before the commercial Julia Braddock was shown talking to her Uncle Glenn in the locker-room, readying for her match in the Number One Contender Tournament when THIS happened…
Frankie: Somebody decided to put an end to all the sappiness amongst the Braddocks by playing with the lights.
The last image we see is Julia having her fingers squeezed tenderly in her Uncle’s hands while in the background her advisor Henry Van Stanton is gabbing away into his cellphone. Everything ongoing in the locker-room comes to a rather chilling stop when the lights are cut and Glenn’s voice can be heard crying out for his niece.
Greyson: Well ladies and gentlemen, we found out what happened to Julia during the commercial break.
The second the live transmission proceeds we’re back in the very locker-room the viewers caught but just a glimpse of moments before the commercial break. The floor of that locker-room is littered with bodies, and blood….Braddock blood.
Julia: SOMEBODY GET HELP!
Screams Julia Braddock while stooping towards the bloodied brow of her Uncle Glenn. He sits unconsciously with his back to a wall and blood gushing down from his brow, tricking over his cheeks and dripping from his chin. Julia doesn’t know quite what to do, left frantic at the image of her bludgeoned and busted uncle. Unfortunately the other presence in the locker-room, Henry Van Stanton, doesn’t possess the words to put Julia at ease.
Julia: HEEEELP!!
She begs again, eyes darting back and forth across the locker-room.
Henry: I’ll-I’ll-I’ll find someone.
Henry assures before proceeding towards the locker-room door. He almost plows right through referee Arnie Ficklebottom, who was stepping inside and looking aghast at the image of the blood soaked Glenn.
Ficklebottom: Ummm Julia, I was uhhh sent back to find you. You’re match against Orlando is supposed to be….
Julia: I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE DAMN MATCH! GET MY UNCLE HELP!!
Henry: You heard her!
Reinforces Henry while grabbing the collar of Ficklebottom’s striped jersey.
Henry: GO FIND HELP!
As Ficklebottom dashes out of the room the camera zooms in on the blood that is flowing from a barely cogent Glenn’s scalp.
Glenn: It’s just-it’s just a flesh wound….
The latest casualty says while struggling to keep his eyes open.
Dagger like black nails tap along the forearm of Cindy Todd. She stands in the hallway with her coal colored eyes staring at the two bodies inching her way. The trademark bone chilling laughter of Mika Kozlov echoes throughout the hall. She stands side by side with another former World Champion in the form of Serenity, who is ever so mirthful. It seems that they find such glee in the presence of the blood puddled in the palms of their hands.
Cindy: Is it done?
Inquires Cindy once her New Eden associates are within range.
Serenity: Does THIS answer your question?
Serenity opens her hand to reveal the blood smeared across her fingers.
Mika: Hehehehe, it looks like pretty-pretty Julia won’t be making it to her match with Orlando.
Serenity: Yeah, her Uncle Glenny fell down and cracked his melon.
A smile slithers across Cindy’s face.
Cindy: How tragic. Then it seems that Orlando is without an opponent this evening.
Mika and Serenity mirror that lethal smile that Cindy is brandishing.
Cindy: That’s about to change. Send word to Borislav….
Mika: What would you have our big cuddly Russian bear do?
Cindy: Tell him it’s time….
The shadowy eyes of Cindy become just a little bit blacker.
Cindy:…to lower the cell.
JULIA BRADDOCK VS. ORLANDO CRUZE:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
An impatient Orlando Cruze paces the ring. It seems like an eternity now since he came out at the onset of Riot to address what happened to his wife, and ever since that moment he has continued to linger within the squared circle. Only now his intentions have shifted from facing the accusations lobbied at his wife to facing Julia Braddock in the Number One Contender Tournament. However, Julia has yet to emerge from the back and give Orlando the fight he’s anticipating.
Greyson: Orlando Cruze still inside of the ring ever since Riot hit the airwaves.
Frankie: And I’ll tell you what else has been out here since the start, that friggin Hell in a Cell hanging above our heads.
Sparkles: We still have no idea why it’s sitting up there. We’re not scheduled to see a Hell in a Cell match tonight.
Cameras briefly segue from Orlando in the ring to the Hell in a Cell above it.
Greyson: But what we WERE supposed to see is a match between Orlando Cruze and Julia Braddock in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: Is it still going to happen? I mean we just saw Julia’s trainer Glenn busted open backstage.
Sparkles: Yeah, and Julia pretty much said to hell with the match, she wanted to stay with her Uncle.
Greyson: I don’t think Orlando is aware that any of this is going down backstage.
Frankie: No, he’s too busy putting his foot in his mouth when it comes to his wife Taylor Chase.
Just as Orlando’s patience prepares to fail its test he at long last sees someone emerging from the back. Unfortunately the someone who just came dashing down the ramp is not who he was anticipating. Instead of seeing his opponent Julia Braddock, he sees referee Arnie Ficklebottom. The Official stops at the base of the ramp and begins to consort with ring announcer Thomas Boll.
Greyson: Well there’s referee Arnie Ficklebottom, let’s find out what’s going on here.
Thomas clears his throat before stating what he’s been ordered to by the referee.
Boll: Lady and gentlefolk, according to referee, Julia Braddock has forfeited, so as a result, here is your winner of the Number One Contender Tournament Match, OOOORRRLANDO CRUZE!
Everyone, Orlando included, seem upset that they won’t be seeing the Icon competing this evening.
Greyson: Uuuugh, seriously?
Sparkles: Guess Julia opted to stay behind with her Uncle until he’s been given proper medical attention.
Frankie: That’s such a blonde thing to do.
Greyson: So Orlando advances to the next round of the Tournament due to a forfeit. That fact isn’t sitting well with the audience OR with Orlando.
Sparkles: Nobody is happy about this….
Save for one person.
Cindy: Don’t fret dear.
Orlando is given a whole different cause for concern now that Cindy Todd, the very same woman who tried to have him crushed in a car compactor, the same lady who tear gassed him at the pay-per-view, is presently prowling on the stage. A microphone sits in her hand, raised to the lipstick that is just as black as her eyes.
Greyson: Ooooh God no. It’s New Eden.
Sparkles: Theyyyyy’reee heeeereeee.
Frankie: Cindy Todd has just showed up and my nipples are already lactating in terror.
Greyson: Her path has crossed with Orlando several times over the past few months, and every time they have it’s not ended well for the Icon.
Frankie: I’ll say, two weeks ago she almost had Orlando crushed inside of that car compactor.
Greyson: God only knows what she’s got in store for him tonight.
Cindy draws ever closer to the ring where Orlando is shifting between feet, constantly looking from one side to the other to make sure the rest of New Eden aren’t trying to get a jump on him.
Cindy: Glenn Braddock sat on a wall…
Starts Cindy with a singsong tone.
Cindy: Glenn Braddock had a great fall. (The singing stops) And now his doting niece refuses to leave his side in order to give you the challenge you anticipated. It is like I said though, you don’t need to worry, you’ll still have an opponent tonight….The issues between us end NOW!
Greyson: What is she talking about?
Frankie: I think we all know.
Once at ringside Cindy stops addressing Orlando and starts to speak to a figure who is listening from somewhere in the bowls of the arena.
Cindy: Lower it Borislav.
Borislav: LOWER!!
Cameras cut to the production truck where New Eden’s brute Borislav has his hands wrapped around the throat of a crew member. He is shaking the scrawny neck like the young man were Bob Uecker foolishly trying to interview Andre the Giant.
Borislav: LOWER!
Demands Borislav while gesturing to the rows and rows of monitors stacked up at the front of the trailer, all of them providing footage of the Hell in a Cell ominously loitering above the squared circle.
Borislav: LOOOWWWER!
Crew Member: Okay! Okay!
The young man squeaks out before hitting the switches on the panel in front of the chair Borislav dragged him out of.
The moment that the feed goes back to the ring the Hell in a Cell starts to lower towards it. A surprised Orlando Cruze looks up realizing that he is moments from being surrounded by walls of unforgiving steel, and he won’t be the only one trapped within them. It comes as no comfort to the Icon that he’ll be locked inside of the cell with Cindy Todd.
Greyson: Don’t tell me, for the love of all that is good and holy don’t tell me!
Sparkles: The cell is lowering, holy snikies the cell is coming down around Orlando and Cindy!
Frankie: Cindy Todd is locking Orlando inside of the cell? We’re going to see a Hell in a Cell match to open the show? NO WAY!
Greyson: A match? HELL NO! This isn’t going to be a match.
Referee Arnie Ficklebottom stands beside Cindy trying to dissuade her from going through with this. Cindy doesn’t listen to the ref, nor does she watch as the official drops to his knees and crawls out from under the Cell before it can fully lower to the earth.
Frankie: The ref doing exactly what Orlando should be doing.
Greyson: Orlando is not going to run like the referee did.
Frankie: Biggest mistake of his life.
Once the cell has fully lowered into place, Cindy climbs up to the apron, looking over the ropes into Orlando’s fierce eyes.
Cindy: You knew there was only one way this would end.
Chuckles Cindy before dropping the microphone and entering the ring. She had counted on catching Orlando off guard, but what she hadn’t anticipated was finding HERSELF caught off guard by the barrage of punches that meet her the moment she steps through the ropes.
Greyson: Orlando right on top of Cindy!
CINDY TODD VS. ORLANDO CRUZE:
HELL IN A CELL
The crowd may be in disbelief over this unexpected start to the show but they are still screaming their lungs out. They watch gleefully as Orlando’s fist slams across Cindy’s cheek and temple, bridging her back against the ropes she had just entered through.
Greyson: Orlando just pummeling Cindy with those punches in this impromptu Hell in a Cell match.
Frankie: It’s like you said though Lovejoy, this isn’t a match. There’s no referee.
Sparkles: Yeah, no one was crazy enough to get in that cell with Cindy and Orlando. Not after everything that’s happened between these two over the past so many months.
Orlando remembers how Cindy invaded his bar and assaulted him, hence why he puts a little extra mustard behind the punch he’s throws into her mouth. He remembers how she attacked him with tear gas at Awakening, which is why there’s a bit more power behind the knuckles he hurdles into her temple. Orlando vividly remembers Cindy tying him up and putting him inside of that compactor, threatening to crush him until his organs were nothing but gel, that’s why he’s turning her face into mush with his punches. Orlando finally stops lobbing punches and now throws a clothesline, attempting to take Cindy over the ropes. But she ducks down and catches him coming in with a shoulder to the Icon’s knees, back dropping him to the outside.
Orlando lands dangerously close to one of several cell walls that are now surrounding him. It might not be the wisest decision he’s ever made to make use of those walls of mesh to help him back up to his feet, which becomes transparent when Cindy comes flying through the ropes into a suicide diving headbutt, the impact driving Orlando’s spine into the cell. He bounces off the very wall he was using to climb back to his feet.
Greyson: The cell already coming into play in this-in this-in this FIGHT. That’s all I can think of to call it.
Orlando’s body ricochets from the cell and then staggers along towards even more steel, this time in the form of the ring stairs. Cindy steps up behind him, grabs the back of Orlando’s head and swings his face down right into those stairs. The impact of skull to steel echoes throughout the arena.
Sparkles: This is getting vicious and fast.
Greyson: I am really worried for Orlando in this one. We all remember what happened the last time we saw Cindy inside of a cell.
Sparkles: It’s how she debuted here in the IWC, showing up inside of a Hell in a Cell to strangle the original leader of New Eden, Aiken Frost, with a barbwire noose.
Greyson: Who will ever forget seeing Aiken hanging from the roof of the cell by that noose.
Sparkles: Let’s just pray that the same thing doesn’t happen to Orlando tonight.
Orlando’s face pops off the stairs and bounces back into the waiting hands of her adversary. Cindy swings the Icon’s skull into the steps a second time. It’s Orlando’s hands that suffer the impact with the steps though, his palms placed to the stairs and holding his face back from them. His elbow then connects with Cindy’s ribs, doubling her over and exposing her head to a full on collision with the stairs. Cindy’s skull bounces off the steps and into Orlando’s hands. He grabs her hair and uses it to drag the back of Cindy’s cranium into the mesh wall of the cell.
Greyson: Orlando using the cell too!
Sparkles: This war with Cindy has brought out a far more vicious side of the Icon.
Frankie: Too bad it couldn’t bring out a personality.
The cell provides zero leeway to Cindy, who finds her back propped up against one of its walls. She remains upright while her opponent is reaching under the ring, snatching hold of a steel chair and intending to use it to take her off of her feet. The chair comes hurdling towards Cindy’s head but only makes contact with the cell wall. Cindy side steps the chair and keeps her head from being crushed by it. She then lands an uppercut across Orlando’s throat, sending him staggering away with the chair dropping to his side.
Cindy follows the uppercut with a clobbering blow across Orlando’s back, ALMOST taking him down. The New Eden Queen readies to proceed the clubbing shot with a far more brutal blow. She charges in behind Orlando and runs straight into a shot from the chair. To the surprise of the audience, and Cindy as well, she finds her skull CRUSHED by the chair swung through the air by Orlando.
The sound of steel to skull echoes throughout the arena and lands with so much force that it’s completely removed Cindy from her feet, putting her flat on her back.
Greyson: What a chair shot! Oh what a chair shot!
Sparkles: Orlando channeled every bit of his anger into that one.
Frankie: And he’s got a lot to be angry with given everything Cindy’s done to him.
It seems Orlando has done it, he’s knocked Cindy out cold with the chair, a chair mangled just as badly as his adversary’s skull. Orlando leans back against the apron and takes a moment to recover, palming his forehead. It’s in that moment, just one moment, that Cindy is already sitting up and working her way back up to her feet. Orlando watches with shock as Cindy stands after withstanding one of the most brutal blows to the brow anyone has ever suffered.
Frankie: SHE’S GETTING RIGHT BACK UP!
Orlando’s eyes have widened and his mouth is spewing obscenities. He gets over his surprise in order to step towards his sure to be groggy opponent and catching her across the chest, looking to give her a Uranage on the ringside mats. That doesn’t happen, because Cindy’s knee has just found its way up and into Orlando’s ribs. The blow has him stooped and in just the perfect position to be pulled up into the piledriver.
Greyson: Pulling piledriver, pulling piledriver into the mats!
Sparkles: No remorse from Cindy.
Frankie: Like Orlando showed any remorse when he slammed that chair into Cindy’s head.
Greyson: Can you blame him? He’s fighting for survival here.
Frankie: A fight he’s ultimately going to lose.
It appears that it’s a fight he’s going to lose right now.
After having his head driven into the mats Orlando can ill afford to have his skull targeted any further. Cindy is honing in on it though, dragging him by his ears towards the cell wall. The Icon’s face finds itself wedged to the mesh and then grinded back and forth across it. Absolutely no emotion is shown by Cindy, coldly rending the flesh from her victim’s face. Somehow even as his skin is being torn and his mug mangled, Orlando still manages to rise towards his feet. He stands only to be spun around and pushed back against the cell, hands engulfing his throat. Cindy puts her strength behind this strangulation that has Orlando’s face turning all the colors of the rainbow. But at the end of this rainbow one will not find a pot of gold, they’ll find a bucket of blood.
Frankie: Cindy is going to straight up kill Orlando in this cell.
As Cindy strangles Orlando her mouth nears her target’s ear.
Cindy: No one is coming to save you this time.
The only reason Cindy takes her hands from Orlando’s esophagus is so that she can run in and crush it with a clothesline. As a result the back of Orlando’s head is driven into the mesh wall. At the same time Orlando’s air supply is cut off his brain is also rattled. Amazingly he remains upright, but only long enough for his ribs to be nailed with a kick that causes him to double over curling about his injured ribs.
Once again Cindy clamps her hands onto Orlando’s ears and drags him along towards the steel steps stacked up behind her. With one well-placed mule kick the top section of the stairs are disconnected from the lower half, exposing them for her next insidious maneuver. Cindy backs her way onto the stairs while dragging her opponent’s head under her seat, all in preparation of delivering the pulling piledriver, a pulling piledriver on the STEPS!
Cindy: They have all abandoned you, Icon. All you have left now, is the Suffering.
Cindy prepares to show Orlando what true suffrage is as she lifts him into the air and prepares to drop back, crushing his head against the stairs.
Frankie: Say goodbye to the Icon!
Cindy hoists Orlando into the air and readies to finish this rivalry once and for all. Before the fork can be put in the Icon, he counters and he counters in a huge way. It’s not his head that collides with the steps, but his feet. He comes back down on the stairs then stands up straight, sending Cindy hurdling through the air with a back drop that ultimately sees her spine colliding with the ringside mats.
Greyson: Orlando saving himself! Saving himself via the back drop off those stairs!
Frankie: Just let go, Orlando. Not like you have anything to live for. Your wife pretty much turned her back on you and the federation you’ve dedicated much of your adult life to.
Greyson: Orlando doesn’t quit under any circumstances, Frankie.
Sparkles: Yeah, but Sparkles doesn’t think that matters to Cindy.
Indeed it doesn’t. The merciless Cindy is presently using the mesh wall of the Hell in a Cell to get back to her feet. Though she regrets using that wall when Orlando employs it against her. He stumbles in behind Cindy, takes the back of her head and uses all his bicep strength to force her face into the chain links of the cell. Cindy’s head rebounds from the cage with enough force to send her twisting away from it and towards the squared circle. Cindy ends up back inside of the squared circle and before long her aggressive opponent is following. Orlando gets into the ring but does so a little heavier than when he first left it. What contributes to his extra bulk? The steel chair that is back in his hands. Within seconds that chair is coming down across Cindy’s lower back. After the impact Cindy pops up to her knees and her upper lip twists into a sneer.
The chair hits another target, the canvas. It leaves Orlando’s hands so that he can fill it with Cindy’s head. He spins her around into a front face-lock before falling back into the DDT, Cindy’s head coming down right into the chair. The collision with the chair has finally rendered Cindy immobile. On the flip side Orlando is moving, moving gingerly but moving nonetheless. He stands up with the chair once again in his hands. Although he’s banged up, although he’s busted up, although he has trouble drawing breath into his lungs, he still possesses the strength to step over Cindy and to prepare to put her in the exact same condition she’s left him in…no…worse. Orlando puts the edge of the chair right into Cindy’s throat while leaning with all of his body weight into the opposite side.
Greyson: Orlando letting Cindy feel what it’s like to be strangled, to be strangled with…
Frankie: (High pitched squeal) AAAAH!
Out of nowhere Cindy’s hand launches up from the ring, past the chair and into Orlando’s mouth.
Sparkles: THE HAND OF ANUBIS!
Greyson: No! She’s got it locked in. She’s got that deadly mandible claw of hers applied on the Icon.
Frankie: Look at his face, it’s already turning blue!
Both of Orlando’s arms are swaying out to his sides, one still holding onto the chair that WAS choking Cindy. Now he’s the one being deprived of his breath as Cindy stands in front of him locking the Hand of Anubis in with all of her uncanny strength. Orlando’s knees are starting to cut out on him, his body beginning to buckle as everything is taken out of him by the Mandible Claw. Finally the chair is dropping from Orlando’s hands while his knees are dropping to the canvas.
Greyson: It looks like Orlando has lost consciousness.
Frankie: That’s not all he’s gonna lose.
The moment Orlando’s eyes close he is finally released. Cindy keeps the Hand of Anubis applied only so that she can use the hold to push him back, throwing him down like a piece of discarded garbage. Cindy has broken her hold, though it’s not because she is showing mercy, no, it’s because she has something even more barbaric in mind for the Icon. She reaches down into front of her tights and produces from them a sliver of barbwire. This weapon is now wrapped around her fingers.
Frankie: She’s gonna do it! She’s finally gonna do what she tried to do to Orlando last month.
Greyson: She’s got that barbwire wrapped around her fingers….
Sparkles: And she’s gonna drive them right down Orlando’s throat with the Hand of Anubis.
Frankie: She’s going to ram them so far down Orlando’s throat that she’ll reach his heart then rip it right out.
The motionless and unconscious Orlando is about to endure a fate even worse than the Hand of Anubis. Yes, imagine that, a fate WORSE than the Hand of Anubis. Somehow Cindy manages to top herself in terms of sheer barbarism by applying her version of Mandible Claw with barbwire wrapped fingers. She methodically approaches Orlando, stalking him in anticipation of driving her hand deep into his throat. Her barbwire laced fingers inch their way towards Orlando’s mouth just before a sound fills the arena that Cindy has become uncomfortably familiar with in recent weeks.
Her black eyes cut to the source of a voice that is speaking in ancient Latin. Upon the Cartel-tron we see an extreme close up of ashen lips and jagged razor sharp teeth. Through this mouth an incantation is being spoke, now in multiple languages, in multiple voices.
Greyson: It’s-it’s-it’s that voice again.
Sparkles: We’ve heard this voice twice in recent months distracting Cindy each time.
Frankie: Who in their right mind is crazy enough to fuck with Cindy like thi…..
It seems we’re about to find out, because the lights in the building have just descended into total darkness. The only light is the one cast through the Cartel-tron, which continues to show the image of crusted lips producing a rather demonic and truly bone chilling chant. A chant that perhaps resonates deeply within Cindy. At the moment we cannot gauge her reaction, considering that she has vanished amongst the shadows that now shroud the ring and the Hell in a Cell surrounding it.
Sparkles: Not again!
Frankie: Who keeps playing with the damn light switches around here?
The cell, the ring, Cindy and Orlando all remain drowned in what seems eternal shadow. It isn’t until the lips on the Cartel-tron stop producing chants and slowly upturn into a blood curdling smile that the house lights come back on.
Greyson: OOOOOH MYYY GAAAAHDDD!
Sparkles: IT CAN’T BE!!
The whole world finds itself aghast at the vision of Cindy’s legs swaying through the air high-high-HIGH above the ring. Her body is suspended from the roof of the Hell in a Cell by a noose, one tightly bound about her throat. Standing in the ring beneath her is a man who seems to enjoy the vision of an asphyxiated Cindy, and that man is not Orlando.
Greyson: It’s AIKEN FROST!!
The whole building is shaking due to the visceral response from the crowd. Not a soul can quite believe that they are witnessing Aiken Frost back in the ring, and marking his return by fittingly subjecting Cindy to the same torture she employed to put him on the shelf for months.
Sparkles: He’s back, holy cheese and crackers he’s returned!
Greyson: We haven’t seen Aiken since Invictus!
Frankie: Somebody cut Cindy down!
Cindy has managed to slip her fingers in between the noose and her neck, relieving some of the pressure so that she’s not choked to death, at least not yet. But that’s not Aiken’s intent, no, his desire is to see her pain prolonged and not receive a swift, compassionate death.
The harrowing screams of the fans are traveling into the backstage corridors where Lucas Knight and Trinity Street are convened. The two wear equally as puzzled expressions on their faces.
Lucas: What do you think Orlando meant when he said we’d see the REAL Taylor?
Trinity: He was talking straight out of his rectum. Our darling Taylor will show who she REALLY is once she arrives here tonight and addresses her delusional husband and those fair-weather fans as part of her Indoctrination Ceremony.
Lucas: I don’t think we should be so remiss when it comes to Orlando. He might still hold some sway over his wife.
Trinity: Hmmmm, then perhaps you should do something to ensure Orlando can’t try to MANIPULATE our newest recruit.
The grin on Lucas’ face is as difficult to look at as a Tom Arnold sex tape.
Lucas: Have I told you today how much I love you?
An instrumental version of the Riot theme song is playing in the background while the images on the screen pertain to current Queen of the Ring Champion Selena Frost in conversation with Marina Valdivia. The two stand in a corridor flanked by their respective associates, Denna Springs behind Selena, and Tabitha Silverstone stood alongside Marina. They listen to the words being shared between their respective allies. The commentators at last get over their surprise regarding what went down in the ring moments ago to address this scene unfolding backstage.
Greyson: What an insane start to Riot, and things are only getting more unhinged as the night progresses along.
Sparkles: Looks like we’ve got a meeting of the minds in the back.
Frankie: Pfft, more like a meeting of the mindless. Hahahahaha-AAAAAH-HAHAHAHA!
Greyson: Marina Valdivia and Selena Frost talking it out in the back, and the two of them have A LOT to discuss.
Sparkles: These two may not like each other, but they share a mutual hate for the group Monarchy, so they are obviously not in a good mood when it comes to Taylor Chase’s decision to join them.
Frankie: If they didn’t like seeing Taylor double cross Katelyn Buehler two weeks ago they are DEFINITELY not going to be fans of what she says when she gets in the ring later tonight for her Monarchy Indoctrination Ceremony.
The camera cuts to a door marked ‘Taylor Chase,’ obviously the entrance to her dressing room. However, when Taylor arrives to the building she might find it a little difficult to gain access to her dwelling considering that someone is blocking the doorway to them. With arms crossed over her chest and her butt planted in a steel folding chair, World Champion Katelyn Buehler sits in anticipation of Taylor’s arrival.
Frankie: Uuuuuh ooooooh. Not good. Katelyn Buehler is sitting right outside of Taylor Chase’s dressing room.
Sparkles: She’s waiting on the woman who blasted her in the face with that barbwire baseball bat two weeks ago.
Greyson: Taylor double crossed her two weeks ago by using Katelyn’s blood to cement a bond with Monarchy. Something tells me when Tay shows up to the building that more blood will be spilt, and this time it won’t be Katelyn’s.
Frankie: Katelyn’s a damned idiot. She’s got a World Title defense against Mordecai later on to worry about.
Greyson: What’s going to happen to when Tay gets here and runs afoul of the Champ.
Sparkles: Bad-bad things.
Katelyn’s eyes never blink as the emotionally flaccid champion waits on the arrival of her now FORMER friend.
A shovel continues to burrow through the earth, removing huge deposits of soil. The dirt is thrown out of an ever deepening hole and onto a mound formed beside the grave digger. Mordecai now stands at waist level with the pit that he has dug in the cemetery just a stone’s throw away from the Kashima Stadium.
Blood soaks through the towel that is pushed into the busted brow of Glenn Braddock. He has managed to move from the floor that he was laid out on earlier tonight to a chair sat up in the middle of Julia Braddock’s dressing room. At the moment his niece is nowhere to be seen, but his associate Henry Van Stanton is standing over him nervously watching as Glenn tries to put enough pressure against his wound to keep it from gushing blood.
Henry: You need stitches.
Rationalizes Henry.
Glenn: It’ll clot soon enough.
Glenn forces the towel against the cut in his scalp.
Infinity: That’s quite the nasty little scratch you got there.
Announces Infinity, former manager to the grappler Flash Silver, upon entering the dressing room. Amazingly, in spite of being the type of woman who draws stares, she remains unnoticed right up until the point that she has stepped in behind Henry.
Henry: You want something?
Henry is not in any type of mood to handle a civilized chat with the gawker.
Infinity: Yes, yes I do. You can arrange a meeting between your associate Julia and I.
Henry: I don’t think Julia is in any mood right now for a meeting.
Infinity takes a glance in the bleeding Glenn’s direction.
Infinity: Understandable. Where IS Julia?
Henry: Don’t you listen?
Infinity: Was that an answer?
Henry: She went out to deal with….THIS….
He opens his hands and gestures to the blood trickling from the wound in Glenn’s scalp.
Infinity: Thank you, Professor.
Infinity walks away with an air of pleasantness surrounding her.
Glenn: What do you mean Julia went to deal with this?
At last Henry’s words have sunk in on Glenn, who foolishly tries to stand up.
Henry: You need to sit down.
Glenn: Not when Julia is getting herself into tro….
Suddenly Glenn becomes light headed and HAS to sit back down in the chair.
BEFORE THE BREAK
A video recounts the stunning turn of events that unfolded before the commercial when Orlando Cruze and Cindy Todd found themselves locked inside of a Hell in a Cell together. These two bitter rivals battle it out in a straight up fight, employing the steel mesh walls surrounding them to settle their long standing issue. The commentators highlight these garish and gory clips.
Greyson: This night starting off with perhaps one of the most shocking scenes we’ve ever witnessed in the near two years that we’ve been part of this organization.
Frankie: It’s almost hard for me to describe what we saw. And I normally enjoy being HARD.
Sparkles: Cindy Todd surprised Orlando Cruze by trapping him inside of a Hell in a Cell and then brawling with the Icon.
Greyson: But ultimately it was Cindy who found herself the one in shock.
The video clips show a number of the high spots in the Hell in a Cell FIGHT between Cindy and Orlando, all culminating to the shocking finale. After Cindy puts Orlando down his back she prepares to subject him to the Hand of Anubis while her hand is wrapped in barbwire. A mere second before she can force her hand down the Icon’s throat with this twisted rendition of the Mandible Claw the lights dim in the arena. Cindy, Orlando and the cell surrounding them have been blanketed in blackness. All the while an incantation is being recited through the PA system. When the chanting stops and the lights come back on its revealed that Cindy is hanging from the roof of the cell with her feet kicking high above the ring and her throat trapped in a noose. The man responsible for putting her in this position is the very same individual Cindy subjected to a similar fate several months earlier. Aiken Frost marks his return by exacting the most brutal revenge imaginable upon Cindy.
Greyson: Aiken Frost returning to the IWC…
Sparkles: By hanging Cindy Todd. The woman who stole New Eden from him.
Greyson: And no sooner does Aiken show up to strangle Cindy that he vanishes from wherever he came from.
Frankie: Luckily Aiken got out of here before CINDY’S New Eden came to cut her down from that noose.
Cameras go back to the ring that is still surrounded by the Hell in a Cell but no longer has Cindy Todd’s thrashing body hanging above it. Somehow her followers, Mika Kozlov, Serenity and Borislav have managed to cut her down from the rope that served as a noose. At the moment Borislav has Cindy in his arms, navigating his way between the ring and the cell as he carries her out of the cage. Inside of the ring Serenity and Mika seem to be having a debate regarding their former leader’s attack on their current Queen.
Frankie: New Eden getting Cindy out of the cell, but it looks to me that the damage was already done.
Greyson: Is it just me, or does it look like Mika Kozlov and Serenity are arguing?
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks that Serenity and Mika are conflicted about Aiken Frost’s return, he USED to be their leader, and they may still have some loyalty to him.
Frankie: Non-sense, Cindy is their Queen, their devotion is to HER and her alone.
The conversation between Serenity and Mika seems to be getting tenser and tenser, but before they have the chance to really get into it they put aside their contrasting viewpoints to deal with the woman charging through the door of the Hell in a Cell. The fans come alive at the sight of Julia Braddock bolting right into the cell and then into the ring.
Greyson: Julia Braddock coming after New Eden!
Frankie: She must think they had something to do with the attack on her Uncle Glenn!
Greyson: OF COURSE THEY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT!!
Julia is no sooner in the ring before her fists start launching, one connecting with Mika’s face, the other landing across Serenity’s brow.
Frankie: Has Braddock lost it? The dumbass is picking a fight with New Eden for Christ sakes.
Greyson: She doesn’t care about the risk she’s putting herself at, not after what these two did to her Uncle Glenn earlier on.
Julia keeps on drilling both Serenity and Mika in their jaws with jabs. However, no one woman on the planet is capable of holding their own against these two former World Champions. Serenity’s double axehandle smash to Julia’s upper back brings an end to her assault. Julia finds herself stooped and her arms being hooked, Mika taking over where her partner left off by dragging Julia’s head into the ring via the Das-vi-Dania. Julia bounces off the ring and is left splayed across her back, hands now being pinned down by Mika. A defenseless Julia finds herself on the receiving end of the shooting star press, Serenity coming off the top rope and driving herself into Braddock’s ribs.
Greyson: That’s enough….
Frankie: Enough isn’t a word in the vocabulary of New Eden. Julia never should have come out here looking to pick a fight with Serenity and Mika.
Greyson: She was looking for revenge on them after what they did to her Uncle.
The beating continues inside of the Hell in a Cell, Julia covering her head in a feeble attempt to block the assault being delivered on her. Mika and Serenity take out all their frustrations on their common foe and wear giant smiles on their faces while doing so. They go on grinning and rejoicing in this attack right up until another of their foes boldly comes plowing through the door to the Hell in a Cell.
Greyson: Marina Valdivia! She’s jumping in there with New Eden.
Sparkles: She’s had problems with New Eden for months now. Serenity in particular!
Greyson: Of course, Serenity cost her the Queen of the Ring Title.
Frankie: Now is not the time for revenge. You don’t get in a cell with New Eden, doesn’t anyone understand that after watching what happened to Orlando?
Mika and Serenity are continuing to land stomps across Julia’s body without knowledge that Marina has not only climbed into the cell but is now climbing the turnbuckle behind them. It takes a few moments for New Eden to pick up on the change in the crowd’s tune. Eventually their black eyes whip around to spot the body flying from the top cable and into a crossbody. Marina takes not one but both members of New Eden down to the canvas, even if it is only for a fleeting instant. Already Mika and Serenity are getting back to their feet, albeit it’s on the outside of the ring. They put a little distance between themselves and the woman determined to take them down, literally and figuratively. Although Serenity is trying to get back inside the squared circle she is instead being forced away from it. Her partner Mika has wrapped arms around Serenity’s waist and is keeping her not only away from the ring but forcing her out of the cell as well.
Greyson: Mika restraining Serenity from getting back in that Cell for some reason.
Sparkles: Their motives are known only to themselves.
Greyson: Eventually there will be nothing that keeps Marina and Serenity apart though.
Marina briefly checks on Julia before returning her focus to their common enemies. There is so much intensity behind Marina’s eyes that they look on the cusp of combusting like Mt. Vesuvius. Contrastingly Serenity stares back at Marina with a big grin on her face, refusing to be undone.
Greyson: When Marina and Serenity finally lock up in that ring again, heaven help whoever is assigned to officiate it.
Flash: Don’t you realize just how lucky you are? You having me as your client is like Samantha Baker having Jake Ryan.
The eighties cultural references hold no sway over Infinity. Try as he may Flash Silver cannot win his way back into the good graces of his ‘former’ agent. She keeps her face buried in her I-Phone, leans with her bicep wedged to a crate lining the walls of the corridor and tries not to listen to the desperate Flash.
Flash: Why can’t you see that I’m the greatest thing that ever happened to you? I…..complete…..you.
Infinity begins tweeting.
Flash: What will it take for us to go back to being the inseparable pair we USED to be? I-I-I want to be the Ferris Bueller to your Cameron Frye. I want….what are you texting about?
The phone is ripped out of Infinity’s hand and Flash studies the tweet that she was just sending out.
Flash: Julia Braddock? Who’s Julia Braddock?
Infinity: Give me back my phone.
The phone keeps being lifted just out of Infinity’s reach.
Infinity: You’re being so juvenile.
Eventually he puts his palm to Infinity’s face and holds her back while he’s reading the messages on her phone
Flash: Sooo, you’re a big fan of this Julia chick, huh?
Infinity: Just give me back my phone.
Flash: You think there’s a future with Julia Braddock? I DON’T.
The phone is rammed into Infinity’s chest.
Flash: I’M THE FUTURE, and your place is sitting in the passenger seat of my DeLorean. It’s time you embraced that. And that dear is a FLASH FACT!
Once Flash takes off Infinity shrugs and goes back to texting.
Down a hall strolls co-founder of the Monarchy, Lucas Knight. He passes by a number of crates and shipping palates, though none of these objects are of concern to the famed British wrestler. What he does find of interest are the Tag Team Champions standing a few inches away. Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly, the group dubbed Wicked Intent, were right in the midst of a conversation when Lucas caught up with them.
Lucas: Ladies….
Greets Lucas, acknowledging his fellow Monarchy supporters.
Lexy: Luuuuucccass…You lookin’ FINE tonight.
A joking Lexy brushes something off of her mentor’s shoulder.
Kat: Yeah, it looks like you busted out your finest Wal-Mart silk shirt.
Muses Kat while fixing the collar of Lucas’ button up.
Lucas: Well it is a big night.
Lexy: I’ll say, Taylor Chase officially joining the Monarchy.
Kat: I’m so pumped for the Indoctrination Ceremony.
Lucas: Speaking of which, I’m taking steps to make sure no one interferes in that celebration. Have either of you seen Orlando Cruze?
Lexy: Am I rubbing soap in my eyes?
Lucas: No.
Kat: Then we haven’t seen him.
Lucas: Then my search continues.
Kat: What do you have planned when you find him?
Lucas: I think you two can figure that out.
Lucas breaks away from Wicked Intent and goes on down the hall. The camera remains on the faces of Lexy and Kat, who are shrugging in one another’s directions.
Kat: Do we go with him?
Lexy: Naaaah, Lucas has got it handled. WE’VE got other business.
Kat: Yeah, like you advancing in the number one contender tournament.
Lexy: And YOU winning the Evolution Championship.
Kat: Shouldn’t be too hard to beat Scott Cannon and Andre Jordan.
Kat pantomimes having a title around her waist, only adding to the tag gold that is already adorning her body.
Lexy: The tournament, titles, indoctrinations, so much in store for Monarchy tonight, including my own little ceremony.
Kat: What do you have planned?
Kat asks with her eyebrow arched and a suspicious tone in her voice.
Lexy: Oh, just a little something to remind the world of my triumph against the World Champion two weeks ago.
Kat: Why you minx.
Cameras return to the door that leads into the dressing room of Taylor Chase. Parked outside of it is the World Champion, Katelyn Buehler continuing to wait on Tay’s arrival. Ready to make her night very interesting when she does get into the building. The commentators are overheard in the background, a note of concern in their voices.
Sparkles: Looks like ole’ Katelyn is still anticipating Taylor’s arrival to the Kashima Stadium.
Greyson: She’s determined to get her revenge on the former three time World Champion after what Taylor did to her two weeks ago on Riot.
Frankie: Somebody better have security….OOOOH SHIT.
From beneath the chair that Katelyn is sitting on she removes the very same weapon that Tay used to bust her open on the last edition of Riot.
Greyson: Is she holding…is she holding…
A barbwire wrapped bat is draped across Katelyn’s palms.
Greyson: Katelyn’s got that baseball bat wrapped in barbwire.
Sparkles: The same thing that Taylor used on her at the end of our last show.
Frankie: Forget security, somebody better have a coroner on speed dial.
Greyson: Katelyn waiting for Taylor and she’s got a damn bat wrapped in barbwire!
A consummate smile is sitting on Susie Moore’s face, the correspondent standing in the standard interview zone brandishing a microphone.
Susie: Ladies, gents, little kids up way past your bed time, this is Susie Moore and I’m standing by with Marina Valdivia.
There is a loud influx of emotion at the sight of Marina, former Queen of the Ring Champion, stepping in and stopping at the interviewer’s side.
Susie: Marina, the night is young and yet you’re already deep in the trenches.
Marina seems amused by the comment.
Marina: That sounds pretty accurate. Riot does tend to resemble a warzone at times. I just hope by the end of the night I’m not left climbing out of one of those trenches over a pile of bodies. But you know what, the way this show is headed, that might just be inevitable.
Susie: Why did you just go out there and attack New Eden? Don’t you know what Mika, Serenity, Cindy and Borislav are capable of?
Marina: Oh, I’ve felt first-hand what they’re capable of. I still have one or two scars on my scalp they’re responsible for. But now the time has come for New Eden to start to understand that two can play at this game, and no matter what they do to me, I’m NOT backing down. At least not until Serenity and I are standing in that ring together and we’ve finished what was started on the very first edition of Riot after the roster split.
Susie: Do you feel like maybe your preoccupation with Serenity might be hurting your chances of advancing in the Number One Contender Tournament tonight?
Marina: I admit, there is a LOT on my plate that I’m trying to juggle all at once, but I’m not that type of person who simply let’s things go, that will let people slide when they’ve done something wrong. Serenity has to be held accountable for her actions, and so does another woman we’re scheduled to see tonight.
Susie: Taylor Chase?
Marina: Aren’t you on it, don’t get why people accuse you of not being perceptive. At the last Riot I went to that ring and tried to talk sense into Taylor, but tonight I’ll MAKE her see sense…..One way or another.
Cameras catch up with two members of New Eden, Serenity and Mika Kozlov, the pair standing in a rather poorly lit corridor while deep in discussion.
Serenity: Did you know he was going to be here?
Mika playfully dances around directly answering Serenity’s question.
Mika: Now why would I know that Aiken was going to show up?
Serenity: Because you were always his favorite.
Mika: Awww, don’t I feel special.
Serenity: You know what, Aiken Frost is a moot point right now. I heard he already left the arena.
Mika: What a shame.
Serenity: But if Cindy finds out that you had anything to do with this….
Mika: I didn’t.
Serenity: Fine-fine. Just keep in mind what she did to the two of us for failing her, so imagine what she’ll do to you if she finds out you had ANYTHING to do with this hanging.
Mika: Ewww, I’m tingling with anticipation.
Serenity gives Mika a very long and piercing stare.
Serenity: Be careful Mika, be very careful.
Serenity walks away and leaves Mika behind to react to the threats of her teammate in typical fashion, laughter.
Cameras transition back to the squared circle where competitor Julia Braddock is still looking worse for wear. Although the Hell in a Cell that had been lowered around the squared circle is now ascending back towards the rafters, Julia’s body is unable to rise from the canvas. She keeps grabbing at the ropes to ease her up to her feet but her knees repeatedly buckle sending her back down onto her posterior. The commentators can be heard groaning over the injuries that were inflicted on Julia moments earlier.
Greyson: Intrigue around every corner of Riot thus far tonight.
Sparkles: Marina Valdivia promises that she’ll have an encounter with Taylor Chase tonight.
Frankie: Good luck with that. Tay has a big indoctrination ceremony tonight so Marina is extremely low on her list of priorities.
Greyson: Right now our focus should be on what’s going on inside of the ring. Right before the break we saw Julia Braddock run out here and attack New Eden in retaliation for what they did to her Uncle Glenn….
Frankie: Yeah-yeah, but Julia found out that she was biting off more than she can chew. Serenity and Mika Kozlov got the better of her and savagely assaulted her, and would be continuing to beat her down if it weren’t for Marina Valdivia.
Greyson: I don’t know why we haven’t got EMTs out here yet to tend to….
Flash: Just who in the hell do you think you are?
If things could get worse for Julia Braddock it remains to be seen how. Now she’s got Flash Silver headed down the ramp and he is evidently not her biggest fan.
Flash: You think you can come along with your blond hair and your perky breasts and just steal my manager away from me?
Flash draws ever so much nearer to Julia, who in spite of the multiple wounds she’s sustained to her body, manages to get her legs under her. It remains to be seen just how long they’ll STAY under her though.
Flash: I’ll have you know that you’re mother was a hamster, and you’re father smells of elderberries.
Frankie: NO-HE-DIDN’T!
Sparkles: Flash went there.
The insults don’t stop with Monty Python inspired jabs at Julia. Now Flash is in the ring, his body continuing to get closer and closer to the woman he loathes more than chaffing on his inner thighs.
Flash: I don’t like you, I don’t like you’re face, and I’m going to do something about it right now. I’m challenging you to a match…
Greyson: Really?
Flash: And if I win it’ll remove any doubt from Infinity’s mind that I’M the only one she should be wooing as her client. Not you…..(he struggles to come up with an insult)…..you-you-you STUPID!
The crowd sells Flash’s insult like they just saw him stab her straight in the gut. Julia’s reaction isn’t as severe, her only focus right now is keeping her body from plummeting back to the ring she just dragged it off of. Finally referee Marcus Mayfield and a nameless road agent have slid into the ring in order to lend some much needed aid to Julia. They just start to lead her from harm’s way only for Julia to swat away the hands that attempted to operate as makeshift crutches.
Julia: Ring the bell!
She orders while falling back into the ropes she was just pulled out of.
Greyson: You can’t be serious.
Sparkles: Julia Braddock is accepting Flash Silver’s challenge!
Frankie: But the woman just had the crap kicked out of her.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks that Flash ran his mouth a little too much. He dug himself straight into a grave by making that ‘stupid’ comment.
JULIA BRADDOCK VS. FLASH SILVER
Although reluctant to adhere to Julia’s request the official calls for the bell. It chimes to get this unscheduled match underway. It commences with Flash charging at Julia with his fist bound for her face. Though it’s her arm that Flash’s punch connects with. Julia gets her arm up blocking her opponent’s blow and then delivers one of her own, a kick right to his gut. Flash is knocked back by the kick and further disorientated by the knife edge chop across his chest.
Sparkles: It looks like it’s happening, Flash versus Julia….
Greyson: I don’t think Flash thought Julia would give him this type of fight right out of the gates.
Another right hand from Julia collides right with Flash’s chin. The punch has him reeling back into the corner where his throat is about to be crushed via the running lariat. However, the moment Julia picks up any forward momentum she finds her legs unfortunately giving out on her. The assault she suffered before the match is taking its toll, causing her to lose her footing. She falls to her knees and then finds one of her opponent’s slamming right between her eyes. Flash takes advantage of Julia’s fall by running out of the corner and slamming his knee straight upside her temple.
Frankie: There is not enough Aspirin in the world.
Greyson: A headache is probably the least of her concerns Frankie.
More than a migraine is about to be inflicted on Julia as she finds her legs wrapping around Flash’s waist. He lifts her up from the canvas into a wheelbarrow position then turns, dropping her face right into the top pad of the nearest turnbuckle. Julia suffers quite a bit of whiplash, stumbling away from the corner her face mashed against and then finding it locked in her adversary’s clutches. Julia is trapped in a side headlock then charged along so that the top of her skull collides with the middle turnbuckle pad. The battering ram effect has jammed Julia’s head back into her neck and sent her spiraling around into the downward spiral.
Flash manages to catch a discombobulated Julia before snapping back into his version of the Complete Shot. Julia’s face bounces off the canvas and all the fight has apparently been knocked right out of her as a result. Her opponent kneels beside her looking characteristically confident.
Greyson: Look at the smile on Flash’s face.
Frankie: I think this might be the first time he’s got in offense on an opponent in the entire time he’s been part of the IWC roster.
Flash doesn’t want this feeling to end. His arrogance is swelling as he begins to pull Julia up from the ring. Before long his focus isn’t on his opponent but the lady who has just stepped to the stage, carefully watching the action.
Greyson: Is that Infinity?
Frankie: Def. Frankie never forgets an ass.
Sparkles: Infinity, Flash’s EX manager now watching this action from the stage.
Greyson: Apparently she’s expressed some type of interest in Julia Braddock in recent weeks.
Sparkles: Which is exactly why this match is happening, Flash took offense to Infinity aspiring to find a client who can actually…WIN.
With his former manager watching from the stage Flash is motivated to get a bit more ‘flash’y with his offense. He hooks both of Julia’s arms, then uses this grip to throw her into the air. He catches her straight on top of his shoulders then falls to his seat, the tiger bomb connecting. Flash follows this up with a pin, leaning his shoulders into the creases of Julia’s knees. From the corner of his eye he sees Infinity watching and hopes she has a very good view of his pinfall.
1
2
To his dread Julia manages to roll her shoulder off the canvas. In the process she twists away from Flash who sits on the canvas pouting like a petulant child. He ultimately gets over himself, grabs Julia by the wrist and starts to drag her up to her feet, all the while he is looking over his adversary and at a disinterested Infinity.
Flash: You’re going to want to see this.
Flash promises while sending his opponent hurdling into the ropes. A beaten down Julia ricochets from the cables and comes back into Flash’s waiting hands. He puts them to Julia’s ribs and throws her into the air for a back drop. However, Julia counters into a leap frog, sailing right over Flash’s head and landing on her feet as opposed to on her back. She then dashes to the corner behind Flash, who eagerly spins around. He probably wouldn’t be in such a hurry if he knew he was turning around right into the Queen’s Ransom. Julia has jumped to the middle rope of a turnbuckle and is now flying off of it into the flip over neck breaker.
Greyson: Flash didn’t see that coming.
Sparkles: Nobody did.
Frankie: I did, one of the perks of being so omniscient.
The flip over neck breaker drives the back of Flash’s head into the ring and leads to him being subsequently deposed by Julia. She has both of Flash’s legs hooked and the crowd glued to every slap of the referee’s hand to the canvas.
1
2
A smile graces the cheeks of Infinity as she watches from the stage, quite thrilled with everything she’s witnessing inside of the ring.
Sparkles: Braddock bests Flash in spite of everything that happened to her throughout the evening.
Greyson: But does beating Flash make up for the fact that New Eden cost her the opportunity to advance in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: At the very least she leaves here tonight with a victory under her belt.
Julia crawls away from Flash and into the nearest set of ropes, using them to reach her feet. She stares over the cables at the eyes affixed upon her, Julia acknowledging Infinity.
Greyson: What is this relationship between Infinity and Julia?
Sparkles: Is there a relationship?
Frankie: Only one I can fantasize about.
Flash rolls into the corner of the ring where his pouting becomes all the more pronounced, slamming the sides of his fists into the canvas.
Cameras catch Andre Jordan right in the midst of his warm up process. He is doing some calf stretches in his locker-room, getting every muscle limbered up for the big Evolution Title defense later on when he hits the ring. A knock at his door interrupts Dre’s regiment.
Andre: Come on Tabitha…
Clearly the Evolution Champion is under the false pretense that it’s agent arriving at his dressing room.
Delivery Man: I’ve got a delivery here for an Andre Jordan.
A man in a beige uniform walks into the dressing room holding a basket filled with fruits and stuffed teddy bears. Andre gives the offering a once over while clicking his jaw from one side to the other. He doesn’t know what to make of this.
Andre: Uh-huh.
Delivery Man: Are you Andre?
Andre: If the name on my underwear is accurate.
Delivery Man: Sign here please.
A clipboard is extended towards Andre, who isn’t all that eager to take either it or the gift basket.
Andre: Who’s this from?
Delivery Man: I just drop the packages off, I don’t pick them up, so I haven’t a clue who sent it.
Andre: Is there a card?
Delivery Man: Do you see one?
Andre: No.
Delivery Man: Then there isn’t.
Dre reluctantly signs for the gift basket.
Stood just outside the door to Principle Owner Silas Mason’s office is where one finds correspondent Mark Comeau. The microphone toting Comeau stares morosely into the camera that is set up directly in front of his face.
Comeau: Mark Comeau here standing just outside the offices of Principle Owner, Silas Mason, who has promised that he’ll make a MAJOR announcement this evening. However, that’s not what I’m here for at the moment. I’m actually waiting here to find out how Silas plans to handle the issues between Katelyn Buehler and Taylor Chase. As we’ve seen throughout the evening Katelyn has been spotted sitting outside the room of Taylor’s dressing room waiting on her arrival. It’s a combustible situation that is going to….
Kat: You’ve got no reason to worry about Katelyn.
Informs the Tag Team Champions as Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly file into the scene, stepping to either side of Comeau. While Kat is draping an arm over Mark’s shoulder, Lexy is pinching the correspondent’s cheeks like an overbearing aunt who hasn’t seen their precious nephew in months.
Lexy: She’s going to be a non-factor tonight, just like she was two weeks ago when she FOOLISHLY tried to hang in the ring with me.
Lexy blows on her nails then rubs them against the chest of her shirt, trying to look as cool as the other side of the pillow.
Kat: If Katelyn thinks she’s going to dismiss us in favor of going after Tay then…..
Lexy: She’s as wrong as she is UGLY!
The nails that were rubbed against Lexy’s shit are then snapped before pointing down the hall.
Lexy: Let’s get to it.
Kat: Lead the way sweet-thang.
The two proceed down the corridor with Mark remaining behind wearing the most befuddled of expressions on his face.
Dirt flies from the now eight foot deep hole opened in the earth. Mordecai stands at the base of the pit shoveling away the soil beneath his feet and tossing it unto the mound beside the grave. The man slated to challenge for the World Championship this evening goes on digging a crater in the cemetery some miles away from the Kashima Stadium. He is so preoccupied with his shoveling that he doesn’t see the shadow casting over the dirt along the edges of the grave. Eventually that black silhouette is cast over his back. Obviously Mordecai’s activities have drawn an onlooker.
Rachel Tatum Lee stands at the forefront of a funeral procession. With the NHB Title over her shoulder and members of the group Tombstone following behind her, Rachel steps down a corridor. Elijah Dallas, Goddard and Sundown are stood behind her, all with their hands wrapped around the rails of the casket stretched between them. The commentators are left to speculate as to what Rachel’s motivations entail this evening.
Greyson: Things getting very eerie.
Sparkles: Rachel Tatum Lee showing up in the Kashima Stadium with Tombstone entail.
Frankie: And they’ve got that coffin with them that we all saw Rachel lock Aaron Harrison inside of back at Awakening.
Greyson: Is Harrison still in there?
Frankie: Surprised they haven’t buried him inside of it after the way he blindsided Rachel all those weeks ago.
Greyson: Apparently Rachel has shown some restraint even after Harrison double crossed her months ago. How long will that restraint last?
Frankie: Hopefully we get treated to a public burial here tonight.
Most IWC grapplers are accustomed to juggling multiple things at one time, figuratively, but in Scott’s case it’s quite literal. In one hand he holds the briefcase that NEVER leaves his side, in the other hand he clings to a cellphone perpetually wedged to his cheek. He leans one of his forearms to the wall directly beside him, leaning casually into it as he continues his conversation.
Scott: Thanks for everything you told me two weeks ago Vee, you really helped put things into perspective for me.
Clearly Cannon is talking to Uprising World Champion Vanilla Skyy.
Scott: I just wanted to say you were absolutely right. Cashing in this contract (looks at the briefcase hanging from the forearm wedged to the wall) on a weakened World Champion ultimately makes me look weak….
He pauses as he listens to Skyy’s advice, or more so her correction.
Scott: Oh-yeah-yeah, of course, would be setting myself up for quite a bit of blow back from the fans too. Don’t worry though, they’ll have nothing but respect for me after tonight, when they see me the same way you see me. It’s time to show the world that Scott Cannon truly is a…..good man.
The moment cameras cut back to the ring the lyrics of Cynics & Critics are playing through the loud speakers alerting the fans to the fact that Lexy Chapel is on her way to the ring. Just before the crowd can properly prepare themselves for the loathsome image coming their way, the curtains open and both Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel, the Tag Team Champions themselves, make their presence known. The commentators, or at least one of them, sounds particularly delighted by Wicked Intent’s arrival.
Frankie: Someone get me a bib, cause here comes the deluge of drool.
Sparkles: Frankie, you always get so excited when Wicked Intent show up. How come you don’t get as thrilled when Sparkles is out here?
Frankie: Grow breasts and maybe we’ll talk.
Sparkles: I’m on it.
Greyson: One has to wonder what brings Wicked Intent our way at the moment. We know that Kat Kelly is scheduled to challenge for the Evolution Title tonight, AND Lexy Chapel competes in the Number One Contender Tournament. But something tells me that’s not why either of them are out here.
Frankie: I don’t care why they’re here, just as long as they’re in close proximity to me.
A moment or two after entering the ring Kat and Lexy not only grab microphones but something else from the announcer.
Kat: Iiiiiiiittt’s tiiiiiimme!
The sentence is punctuated by the exploding pop guns raised above the heads of the Tag Team Champions. Confetti shoots from the barrels of their poppers. Kat then blows loudly into a kazoo, trying her best to produce an inspirational tune.
Lexy: Time for Wicked Intent to cel-a-brate!
Frankie: Good, while they celebrate, I’ll masturbate.
Greyson: Its comments like those that make me pray that I’ll go deaf in the very near future.
Kat and Lexy have the festivities in full swing, even if absolutely none of the fans are joining in.
Lexy: What are we celebrating? That’s what you’re asking, right-right-RIGHT!?!
Kat: It’s not Taylor Chase’s indoctrination into the Monarchy, that’s later tonight.
Lexy: It’s not a celebration for Kat and Lexy being Kat and Lexy….
A second is taken so that Lexy can drag Kat in close and take a selfie of the two with her cellphone.
Kat: What we’re here to celebrate at the moment iiiiiisss THIS….
A gesture is made to the Cartel-tron which produces a still frame photograph from the closing moment of the match between Lexy Chapel and the World Champion Katelyn Buehler. The photo is a close up shot of Lexy’s arm draped over the unconscious body of Buehler and the ref making the three count.
Lexy: I BEAT THE CHAMP!
Kat: Woooord.
The fans are about as thrilled to be reminded of Lexy’s victory over Katelyn as they are to be reminded of the last time they had diarrhea.
Lexy: I DOMINATED that pasty ass of hers. I single handedly gave her a beating she’ll never-never-NEEEEVER recover from. I….
Lexy’s words begin to trail off when seeing her tag team partner’s response. An increasingly sullen Kat puts out her lower lip and allows her shoulders to slouch all the way down to her hips.
Lexy: Ummm Kat, is there something wrong? You know this is supposed to be a happy-happy-joy-joy moment.
Kat: I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be a party pooper but….
Lexy: What?
Kat: I just think it’s sad, pathetic really, that you beat, no, you DOMINATED the World Champion and then instead of getting a title shot they force you to compete in a Number One Contender Tournament to get a shot at the belt. It just doesn’t seem very fair.
The pessimistic Kat has just killed any and all optimism. Lexy is tapping her finger to her chin, entering into a contemplative pose.
Kat: If the IWC were interested in doing what’s right by you, they wouldn’t have the woman who CRUSHED the World Champion competing in a tournament, they would give you a title shot right….no nuh-uh, what would be right is Katelyn coming down that ramp right now and HANDING you the World Championship.
Lexy: That’s-that’s-that’s brilliant!
Kat: No, you know what it is. It’s FAIR.
Lexy: So what will it be?
Wicked Intent cease conversing with each other and now direct their words towards the entry way.
Lexy: How about it Katelyn? Are you going to do the honorable thing for the first time in your career by stepping off the street corner and coming down to this ring to give me what I’m rightfully entitled to?
Lexy is tapping her toe in anticipation with arms crossed over her chest. Her tag partner Kat is pointing to the back of her wrist, implying that time is running out.
Kat: I don’t think she’s showing.
Lexy: Classless. Absolutely classless.
Kat: I think there’s only one way we can resolve this honey-bunny, I say we go to the back, find Katelyn and we TAKE what’s yours.
Lexy: You’ll get no argument from me.
The Tag Champions are out of the ring and on their way up the ramp.
Greyson: Are Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel honestly going to the backstage area to TAKE the World Championship away from Katelyn Buehler?
Sparkles: Just another crazy situation unfolding on what is already shaping up to be one of the most insane nights in Riot history.
Frankie: Hey, Lexy deserves the World Title, she beat Katelyn fair and square….
Greyson: That is such bullshit…
Frankie: HEY! I don’t interrupt you when you’re sucking dick, so don’t start interrupting me when I’m speaking.
Greyson: What’s going to happen when Lexy and Kat come across Katelyn Buehler?
Cameras catch up with yet another member of Monarchy, Lexy Chapel’s mentor Lucas Knight. He is making his way down a corridor continuing his search for the “Icon” Orlando Cruze. Before he can progress down the hall he finds his path obstructed by the familiar face of Alistair Taylor.
Alistair: Lucas, what you up to mate?
Lucas: Trying to find Orlando, you seen him anywhere?
Alistair: Not since he was getting his arse handed to him in the Hell in a Cell.
Lucas: How unfortunate that Cindy didn’t finish what she started with him.
Alistair: Agreed. If I had known that Orlando was going to be such a poison pill tonight and try to muck up Monarchy’s plans, I would have went down to that cell and personally finished him off. I would have done to him a thousand times worse than what I did to Marina and ‘The Dairy Queen’ Selena Frost.
Lucas: No need for that now. Sure you’re services are best used elsewhere. I’ll handle Orlando.
Alistair: Sure you don’t want me to tag along?
Lucas: No….This has been a long time coming between Orlando and I. If anyone is going to make sure that he doesn’t interfere in Taylor’s indoctrination ceremony, it’s going to be ME.
The edict has been delivered and Lucas is on his way to deliver something else, a potential beating on the Icon. As Lucas walks away a smile inches its way across Alistair’s face. He slowly lifts a cellphone to his ear while talking to himself.
Alistair: Good. This just gives me more quality time to plan the entertainment portion of Tay’s Indoctrination Ceremony.
The chuckling Alistair walks out of the camera’s frame while making a phone call.
Backstage Correspondent Mark Comeau remains in the exact same place we saw him earlier tonight, lingering outside of Silas Mason’s office. Instead of hearing Comeau’s voice we hear the vocals of the commentators.
Greyson: Our broadcast colleague Mark Comeau remaining positioned just outside of Silas Mason’s office.
Sparkles: Earlier on Comeau said that he was waiting to interview our Principle Owner, who has a HUGE announcement.
Frankie: Pay raise coming my way no doubt.
The fans are dreading the announcement that the ‘esteemed’ Silas Mason is going to make, knowing exactly what the Principle Owner is capable of.
Starxxx: Yo! Yo! YOOOOOO!!!
Before we can find out the latest twisted idea to come out of Silas’ diseased mind everyone gets a view of another megalomaniac. Jeffrey Starxxx, accompanied by his entourage of Randal Williams, Marcus Briggs, Seraphina and Melissa Fairweather approach the correspondent, but seem to be looking past him at the door to the office behind his back.
Starxxx: Step aside normie, cause something exceptional is headed your way.
Starxxx jams his thumbs into his own chest.
Comeau: Erm, Jeffrey Starxxx. How can I help you?
Starxxx: Heh, don’t be delusional son, ain’t nothing someone like you, can do for someone like me. My business isn’t with some Chihuahua, it’s with the pit-bull behind that door (points to Silas’ office). So get to steppin’.
Just because Comeau wasn’t moving aside fast enough, the gargantuan Marcus Briggs actually lifts him into the air and puts the correspondent aside. A path has been opened so that Starxxx and his company can march into Silas’ office.
Cameras suddenly segue to a casket that is set up in some dimly lit room somewhere in the depths of Kashima Stadium. Nothing but dense shadows surround the coffin that supposedly houses the body of Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: There’s that casket we’ve seen over the past few weeks.
Greyson: Is Aaron Harrison inside of it?
Sparkles: It was back at Awakening that we saw NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee trap Harrison inside of the coffin and we haven’t seen or heard from Harrison since.
Frankie: Hopefully that trend doesn’t change tonight.
Greyson: Are we going to see Harrison? Is he finally going to emerge from that coffin that…wait, who’s that?
From the shadows surrounding the coffin emerge several faces. Elijah Dallas, Sundown, Goddard, and perhaps most importantly Rachel Tatum Lee. She and the members of Tombstone approach the coffin, surrounding it.
Greyson: There’s Tombstone and Rachel Tatum Lee, the one’s responsible for putting Harrison inside of the coffin. What do they have planned this evening?
Sparkles: You never can even BEGIN to guess what it comes to the NHB Champion and her gaggle of backwoods goons.
Frankie: Why haven’t they buried that coffin already?
At last Rachel’s voice speaks out.
Rachel: Elijah.
Elijah: Lil’ Rose?
One of the Tombstone members steps a little closer to the coffin and to Rachel.
Rachel: Get the gasoline ready.
Mya: You guys saw her right? I’m not going crazy am I? That was Rachel I saw walk through here lugging a coffin, wasn’t it?
Cameras are now centered on Mya Denton, who has the ear of a few crew members who she cornered in the hallway.
Stagehand: Yeah, we saw her…
Mya: And you saw the casket?
Stagehand: We did.
Mya: With Harrison inside?
Stagehand: Erm, no…we didn’t….
Mya: You know what that son of a bitch did to me right? How he set back the rehab on my knee by weeks?
Stagehand: Yeah….
Mya: So if Rachel thinks she’s going to keep him from getting my payback she’s wrong….DEAD in Tombstone WRONG.
Informs Mya before heading along in the direction of the ring for her much anticipation tournament bout.
Sparkles: There’s someone who has a huge interest in the fate of Aaron Harrison.
Greyson: Perhaps his biggest rival, Mya Denton.
Sparkles: Is her mind on the fate of Harrison or on her match against Serenity in the Number One Contender Tournament?
Frankie: If she has brain one in her body it’s on her match against the former World Champion. She’d have to be an idiot to be thinking about anything else
Greyson: Well we’re scheduled to see that coming up next, Mya Denton versus Serenity, one on one…NEXT.
Kat: We’re coming for you Katelyn.
Lexy: You better have my title ready.
Anything in the corridor that stands in the way of Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly had better move or it’ll be moved. Kat sends a chair flipping over sideways on account of it being just a little too close. A stagehand with a bundle of papers in his palms WAS minding his own business, but Lexy swats everything he was holding right out of his hands, knocking documents into the air. Lexy and Kat then just go on walking, paying no attention to the outraged stagehand left to pick up all the papers dispersed across the floor.
Greyson: Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly are making good on their promise. They’re going to TAKE the World Championship from Katelyn!
Frankie: Katelyn better be ready for the fight of her life.
Sparkles: Eventually Lexy and Kat are going to cross paths with Katelyn and when they do, it’s not going to be for the weak of heart.
Speaking of Katelyn Buehler we now get another glimpse of her continuing to occupy the very same spot we’ve seen her in throughout the evening. The World Champion remains parked in a chair positioned in the hallway just outside of Taylor Chase’s dressing room. The bat wrapped in barbwire is still extending from her hands.
Sparkles: There we see Katelyn Buehler still seated outside of Taylor Chase’s dressing room.
Frankie: Katelyn has no idea what’s coming for her.
Greyson: Nor does Taylor Chase when she shows up for her Indoctrination Ceremony into the Monarchy.
Greyson: No she doesn’t, she’s so preoccupied right now with her need for revenge against Taylor for double crossing her two weeks ago that she’s totally unaware that Lexy and Kat are coming to take her World Championship from her.
Orange and black strobe lights flash over the stage and the entry way right as Shatter Me plays through the PA system. Mya Denton steps down the ramp with her music continuing to wail in the background and the crowd’s cheers almost drowning out the sound of her tunes.
Sparkles: If you’re Katelyn Buehler things are getting very VERY hairy.
Greyson: Wicked Intent headed her way, and at the moment we’ve got Mya Denton making her way for the ring to compete in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: Two weeks ago this all got started, Silas Mason had it announced via Twitter that sixteen members of the IWC roster will be fighting it out in a single elimination tournament with the winner to be declared at Upping the Ante.
Greyson: On the night of the pay-per-view we’ll see the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Tournament, and then the winner WILL receive their title opportunity at a later date.
Sparkles: Will we see Mya advance to those tournament finals?
Greyson: If she can keep her focus on her opponent this evening then she’s got a very real chance. BUUUT can she put aside her concerns about Aaron Harrison and her recent run-ins with Rachel Tatum Lee?
AWAKENING
A video package chronicles the many ordeals endured by Mya Denton in recent weeks. First we get a flashback from the last pay-per-view Awakening where Mya attempted to interfere in the casket match between Rachel Tatum Lee and Aaron Harrison. Though Mya tries to get to Harrison and exact revenge on him for his previous attacks on her injured knee, she finds herself restrained from the ring by members of Tombstone. She can only watch as Rachel gives Harrison the Dead In Tombstone directly into a casket and then seals him inside of the death chamber.
TWO WEEKS AGO
Flash forward to two weeks later where Mya attempts to find out from Rachel where Harrison was taken after being locked in the coffin. She has no such luck and instead of getting her answers she gets Rachel’s knuckles right upside her face. Rachel attacked Mya backstage and laid into her with a barrage of punches.
MYA DENTON VS. SERENITY:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
Cameras return to the ring where Mya is standing and stretching in anticipation of locking up with her opponent in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Greyson: As documented by the video package Mya has her fair share of troubles when it’s come to trying to get her hands on Aaron Harrison.
Sparkles: She wants payback on Harrison for assaulting her several months ago, but Rachel has imprisoned him inside of a casket and has not allowed Mya access to him.
Frankie: This is one of the most twisted situations I’ve ever seen.
Greyson: Changing gears though, let’s switch focus to the match and the tremendous opportunity Mya has tonight. She faces Serenity in the Number One Contender Tournament right now.
The chorus of “My World” by Brand New Sin is now playing through the speakers and the leather clad Serenity makes her way along to the stage. The former World Champion comes to a pause for a moment to vent all her frustrations via a sigh.
Frankie: You talk all day and all night about Mya and her problems, but let’s discuss Serenity’s issues for a moment. It’s not right that she has to wrestle after what she saw happen to Cindy Todd earlier tonight. For fuck sakes, Aiken Frost returned to the IWC and hanged Cindy from the roof of the Hell in a Cell. Serenity had to watch her Queen HANG. She’s in no frame of mind to compete.
Greyson: Well she had better get in that frame of mind because she’s wrestling rather she, or YOU like it.
Frankie: Must you be so cold?
Greyson: So cold? You sat right here beside me earlier on and gushed when Flash Silver attacked an injured Julia Braddock to start their match.
Frankie: I don’t remember that.
Greyson: It literally happened fifteen minutes ago.
Frankie: Still not ringing any bells.
Sparkles: You want to hear bells ringing? Listen to the one starting this match.
The bell chimes the moment that Serenity has entered the squared circle. There is no time wasted by Mya, who goes bolting straight for the former World Champion. Serenity rolls clear form the squared circle the instant that her opponent gets within a few steps of her. Once at ringside Serenity lowers her head, shakes it, then begins to pace back and forth. She looks deeply troubled by the images stained into her memory of her Queen Cindy hanging from the roof of the cell.
Frankie: See look, just look at Serenity, she’s been traumatized.
Greyson: I understand that she’s upset about what happened to the Queen of New Eden, the sect Serenity has pledged herself to, but that doesn’t excuse her from her obligations this evening.
It seems Serenity could care-less about the match, her mind, her heart and her soul are with Cindy, who is somewhere in the back convalescing from wounds inflicted on her by the returning Aiken Frost. Serenity goes on pacing until she realized she was being counted out. So Serenity rolls back into the ring to break the official’s count, and the moment she gets even one knee on the canvas she finds her face crushed by the shining wizard. The crowd in the stadium erupts at the sight of Mya nailing the Demented.
Sparkles: THE DEMENTED!
Greyson: This is gonna be an upset, a HUGE upset, Mya about to pin a former World Champion and advance in the Tournament!
Mya feeds off the energy and the emotion of the crowd, crawling quickly into the cover on her unconscious opponent.
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2
The hand comes down for the three but a shoulder goes up just before that palm hits the ring. A stunned Serenity overcomes her shock and the brain scrambling shining wizard in order to kick out. She manages to twist away from Mya, who latches onto Serenity’s hair. The lightning fast Mya drags her adversary up and places her in a modified face lock. The fans are jumping up and down, giddy with excitement at the sight of Mya dragging her opponent along towards the nearby turnbuckle. Ultimately Mya steps up the corner and then flips over backwards into the Shiranui.
Sparkles: THE CRA-CRA!
Greyson: She’s gonna do it! She’s gonna pin Serenity.
Frankie: This is outrageous! Serenity’s mind isn’t on this match! If she loses it’s not fair at all!
The fans would certainly disagree with Frankie’s assessment, finding themselves overjoyed at the prospect of Mya scoring this blockbuster underdog victory. That’s just what she’s about to do, covering the New Eden member and hooking both of her legs.
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Mya’s goal of capturing title gold has been denied to her, because her opponent kicks out and keeps her from advancing in the Number One Contender Tournament. Disbelief consumes Mya’s face as she gets to her knees and stares over her adversary at the referee, raising three fingers in their direction. The official informs her that the match is continuing, prompting Mya to throw some punches down into Serenity’s face.
Greyson: The Cra-Cra not enough, at least not in such early stages of this match.
Frankie: Thank God he made Serenity just as tough as she is sexy.
At the moment Serenity’s toughness is being tested. Because now she finds her throat on the receiving end of a big leg drop from the top rope. Her adversary gets quite a bit of air beneath her before her thigh lands across Serenity’s throat. This move is followed by the increasingly quick Mya leaping up to her feet, dashing up the turnbuckle she just launched herself off of then flying from it AGAIN in order hit ANOTHER leg drop.
Greyson: Mya with such a sense of urgency here, she knows that she has to put Serenity down while she’s still disorientated by that opening salvo.
Sparkles: If Mya fails to keep on top of Serenity it’s not going to end well for her. She can’t afford to let Serenity back into this match.
Frankie: Serenity is far too dangerous, especially in the mind frame she’s in right now.
Customarily two leg drops would be sufficient punishment to wear an opponent down for the three count, however, Serenity is not just any opponent. Mya realizes that, which is why she’s rushing at the turnbuckle she dove from a second ago, climbs to the top and then comes soaring from the corner into a THIRD leg drop. Finally Mya dives, not from the top rope, but from the canvas in order to pin her adversary beneath her.
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2
Greyson: Has Mya done enough to move on in the tourna….
Before the commentator can even finish his question Serenity is answering it. She throws her arm up from the ring to prevent suffering a painful loss. But what’s even more painful is what Mya is setting her up for next. ANOTHER Cra-Cra seems to be on the cusp of dumping Serenity across the back of her head. She is pulled along into the corner and her opponent is stepping up it in anticipation of flipping back into the Shiranui. Just before Mya can flip back from the corner she finds her Shiraniu countered….countered into the crucifix powerbomb. An absolutely shocked Mya flies half way across the ring thanks to the big toss from Serenity. The landing is absolutely brutal, Mya coming down on the back of her neck and her shoulders.
Greyson: HOLY CRAP WHAT A COUNTER! WHAT….A…..COUNTER!
Sparkles: That was a reversal!
Frankie: I hope Cindy has regained consciousness. Because she would be DAMN proud of what Serenity just did.
Greyson: Lord knows Serenity does NOT want to make Cindy upset again.
Mya’s body has ricocheted from the canvas and is now rolling across it into the ropes. She tries to force herself up from the ring only to have Serenity put boots down on the back of her head. Serenity actually stands on top of Mya’s neck, compressing and herniating all the discs inside. After standing on the neck for a moment or two Serenity lunges into the air then ultimately comes down with her knee colliding directly with the base of her adversary’s skull.
Greyson: After that deadly crucifix bomb it looks like Serenity has focused her attack on the neck.
Frankie: Glad to see that Serenity is starting to get back into this match.
Greyson: *Speaking in nasally voice mocking Frankie* I’m glad Serenity’s getting back into the match. Does your ass kissing never end?
Frankie: If only Serenity let me kiss that ass.
After taking this punishment aimed at her skull Mya has sought a reprieve by rolling under the ropes and to the apron. It’s there where she has employed the ropes to get back onto her feet. Though standing is not making her plight any better, actually it makes it worse. A boot nails her to the gut, Serenity closing in on her and putting her in a powerbomb position. No, not just a powerbomb predicament, but a CRUCIFIX powerbomb predicament. Serenity has Mya hung over her back and is about to slam her down on the hardened ring apron. Serenity rushes across it and begins to toss Mya into a move that would no doubt cripple her. Just before Mya can be subjected to a career shortening move she saves herself by reaching out to her side and grabbing the top rope, clinging to it for dear life. She manages to slip out of Serenity’s hands as a result, who still steps across the apron thinking that she had her opponent in her hands. Serenity turns around quick but was it quick enough?
Mya is dashing across the apron towards Serenity only to be caught and tossed into the air. Serenity throws Mya off the apron with a modified press, tossing her down face first directly on top of the steel steps several feet below.
Greyson: JEEEEESUS CHRIST!
Sparkles: Mya military pressed off the apron and into the stairs!
Frankie: There you go Serenity, hahahahaha, that’s how you advance in the tournament.
Greyson: Someone get help out here for Mya, that was just a gruesome landing.
After her face made impact with the solid steel Mya has been left a lifeless husk splayed over the outside mats. Serenity pulls her up from the ground and returns her to the ring. The former World Champion slips in and prepares to move on in the Number One Contender Tournament by hooking the legs of her adversary.
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Sparkles: It’s all but academic.
2
Frankie: It had better be.
It isn’t. Mya tosses her shoulder up from the ring. Although her eyes are glassed over and her head is killing her, Mya still keeps on trucking. Serenity prepares to deflate her adversary’s tires though. She pulls Mya up from the ring and traps her in the time tested sleeper hold.
Frankie: Sleeper locked in. Ring the bell.
Greyson: Mya hasn’t tapped out yet Frankie.
Frankie: What’s she waiting for?
All of Serenity’s muscle is put into the sleeper that has Mya wearing down to the point that a submission is all but a certainty. She somehow, in spite of her head taking such a brutal collision with the steel steps, starts to fight her way up from the ring and free her skull from the sleeper. The crowd is crying out for her, trying to give Mya the motivation required to free herself from this submission. It’s an uphill battle during icy conditions while Mya is wearing rolling blades, but it’s not as impossible as it seems. Mya gets on her knees while her neck is still locked in the sleeper. The hold is only broken in order for Serenity to leave her feet and dropkick her adversary right on the back of her skull. Mya falls flat on her face. Her head is killing her but her body is still fighting its way to an upright base. That was until Serenity stomped her and stomped her hard right to the back of the head.
Serenity then places her in a neck cravat in order to hold Mya’s face in place so that it can be subjected to a raised knee. The strike has knocked Mya into a roll, ending with her spilling under the ropes and to the apron. She is highly disorientated as she grabs the cables and yet again uses them as an aid to prop herself on her feet. The second Mya stands up she finds a handful of her hair falling into Serenity’s palms. A headbutt is delivered right across Mya’s brow, knocking her off of her feet and to her seat on the apron.
The ever unhinged Serenity steps onto the apron, ending up right in front of her dazed and sitting opponent. Serenity runs right into her with a knee to the….NOTHING. Mya drops to her back, avoids the knee that was aimed for her face and then rolls under the ropes back into the squared circle. She jumps to her feet and does so in a hurry only to have her ribs almost crushed when Serenity’s shoulder comes flying through the ropes. A shoulder block is aimed at Mya’s mid-section but never makes impact with it. Mya manages to jump not only over the shoulder, but over the top rope and over her adversary’s back. As she comes down she catches Serenity by the hips and drags her from the apron into a sunset flip powerbomb.
Greyson: Did you hear that!?! Did you hear the sound of Serenity’s body thudding against the mats!?!
Sparkles: Moves like that just go to show how much both these woman want to move on and advance in the tournament.
A winded and wounded Mya sits up on the mats with Serenity sprawled across the ground in front of her. She knows she has to capitalize while the iron is still hot but she has so much trouble doing it. Her body is just way too worn down. All the cracks to the cranium have left her unable to instantly make good on the damage inflicted by the sunset flip bomb to the mats. It takes all her energy just to roll into the ring in order to break the referee’s ten count.
Now Serenity is the one struggling to get into the ring and beat the official’s count. She’s up on her feet but she’s having difficulty getting back into the squared circle, especially when her opponent’s feet come sliding under the ropes and crushing her face. The baseball slide dropkick connects with enough force to send Serenity spiraling away from the ring. She turns back to the ring just as Mya has climbed to the apron and comes flying off of it with both knees ending up in Serenity’s chest. Serenity is forced down onto her back with Mya landing on top of her with knees crushing her sternum. Both ladies hit the ground but while Serenity is laid out on her spine, Mya has tucked into a roll and ends up on her rump. Now she tries desperately to suck some precious oxygen into her lungs and to shake off every shot to her head she’s suffered during the course of this hard hitting contest.
Greyson: Who knew that Mya had this in her.
Sparkles: She’s showing such heart in this fight, in this battle to progress in the Number One Contender Tournament….
The commentators and the crowd suddenly go silent when the curtains beneath the Cartel-tron open and members of Tombstone have emerged from the back standing on either side of a casket. At the end of this makeshift funeral procession stands Rachel Tatum Lee. Her hands are not occupied by the rails of the coffin but by the NHB Championship AND a gasoline can.
Greyson: There’s that casket again, the one with Aaron Harrison trapped inside and-and-and Rachel’s got….
Sparkles: She’s got a damned gasoline can.
Frankie: Only good things can come of this.
The coffin is sat on the stage as Goddard, Elijah Dallas and Sundown clear away from it.
Greyson: Please tell me Rachel is out here to GIVE Harrison to Mya so she can FINALLY get her revenge on him.
Frankie: Keep on dreaming Lovejoy, keep on dreaming.
Sparkles: You know damn well what Rachel has planned. A Viking funeral.
The gasoline can held in Rachel’s hands is turned so that the spout can send a deluge of oil pouring down over the coffin. Mya watches this from the base of the ramp with a panicked look on her face and her head shaking.
Mya: Don’t do it! Don’t you do it. He’s MINE RACHEL! HARRISON IS MINE!
The gasoline can is thrown aside and now it’s a lighter that finds its way into Rachel’s hands.
Greyson: PLEASE RACHEL!
Sparkles: She’s gonna burn Harrison! She’s gonna reduce him to ashes!
Frankie: Hahahaha, this is MUST SEE TV!
Greyson: No it’s not. Get your kids away from the television!
This is truly a moment that wouldn’t be classified as PG. Rachel prepares to toss the sparked zippo onto the gasoline soaked casket. Mya can’t stand the thought of that happening, realizing that if Harrison is lit ablaze that she’ll NEVER get her chance to get retribution against him. She turns to the ring to get the referee to call for help but what she spins into is the Serenity Now!
Mya’s opponent Serenity has recovered and is now flying from the apron into the shooting star press that she transitions into a DDT. Mya’s head is slammed and slammed viciously into the thin mats at ringside.
Greyson: Mya so consumed with Harrison and that casket that she completely forgot about her opponent.
Frankie: Well Serenity just reminded Mya what and WHO was important.
The DDT into the mats has left Mya totally incapacitated. Before long she’s back on her feet, back in the ring and on the receiving end of the pinfall, Serenity trapping both legs in order to make sure there is no possibility of kicking out.
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There is a piercing cry from the crowd at the image of Serenity pinning Mya and advancing to the next round of the tournament.
Greyson: And the Serenity Now cemented Mya’s fate.
Sparkles: A Serenity Now on the outside mats.
Frankie: Serenity NOW advances in the tournament. See what I did there?
Greyson: Yes I did, but I find it impossible to see anything as funny when Aaron Harrison is about to be burned alive in that casket.
Still the lighter is in Rachel’s hands, keeping the flame held above the casket and refusing to set the coffin ablaze until Mya has regained consciousness. It takes Mya a moment to regroup but she finally sits up. Upon waking from her stupor it’s NOT the celebrating Serenity she focuses on, it’s the lighter that falls from Rachel’s hand and onto the coffin, sending it up in flame.
Frankie: It’s burning baby! IT’S BURNIN!!
Sparkles: Somebody stop this! GOOD GOD SOMEBODY HELP! Harrison is BURNING ALIVE!!
Although she can barely stand Mya is trying to make it from the ring and up the ramp. Sadly she loses her footing and goes falling over to her hands and knees. So now she crawls, crawls towards the burning casket. The woman who sent the coffin up in flames now backs away from the fire, Rachel staring through the blaze at the desperate Mya.
Greyson: What kind of woman does this to another human being?
Frankie: Hey, Harrison had this coming. He double crossed Rachel months ago and BEGGED her to kill him, she’s finally just getting around to it.
The curtains act as a revolving door. As Rachel and Tombstone walk to the back security comes dashing to the stage, holding fire extinguishers in hand. Mya is on her knees just inches removed from the casket consumed in fire. C02 is sprayed all over the coffin until the flame has been doused.
Greyson: Thank God security got here to put that fire out.
Sparkles: Boooo.
Greyson: Stop joking around, a man’s life was just jeopardized.
Once the fire has been put out Mya moves to the coffin, pushing aside security in the process.
Mya: You’re not getting off that easy Harrison.
She grabs the lid of the coffin and flings it open to reveal what’s inside….which is absolutely NOTHING. There is no cooked Aaron Harrison, actually there’s NO Aaron Harrison at all.
Greyson: Wait. Harrison wasn’t even in the coffin?
Sparkles: No he wasn’t.
Frankie: This was all just mind games from Rachel.
Sparkles: I don’t think Mya will be pestering Rachel about Harrison ever again.
A furious Mya slams the lid on the coffin shut then falls to her knees. She looks up at the rafters and lets out a soul wrenching scream.
Greyson: Rachel playing on Mya’s need for revenge on Harrison in order to turn the screws to her.
Sparkles: And…wait, Sparkles just got word that Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel have reached Katelyn Buehler.
Frankie: Too sweet. Footage! I DEMAND FOOTAGE!
Kat: FORK IT OVER!
Lexy: Give it here!
Although Katelyn Buehler did have a baseball bat wrapped in barbwire in her hands she didn’t get a chance to use it. She was totally blindsided just outside the dressing room of Taylor Chase. Although the World Champion is trying to defend herself by swinging punches into the stomachs of Wicked Intent it’s not enough to fend off either member. Kat manages to clip the crease of Katelyn’s knee, bringing her down to the floor. Lexy’s picks up where her tag partner left off, driving her boot down into the back of Katelyn’s skull. She and Kat continue to stomp away the World Champion until she is down to all fours. Kat then grabs the chair that we’ve seen Katelyn sitting in throughout the night. It’s no longer used to prop Katelyn up but to break her down. The chair comes down right into Katelyn’s spine, rendering her completely defenseless.
Lexy: I’ll take that.
The World Championship belt that HAD been sitting next to Katelyn while she staked out Taylor’s dressing room, is grabbed off the floor. Lexy snatches it up and then looks at her reflection in the gold, grinning at the mirror image.
Lexy: It’s time this goes where it belongs.
The World Title is flung over Lexy’s shoulder and carried away.
Lexy: Come on Kat, let’s go show off my NEW Championship.
Kat: Hahahahaha!
Kat guffaws in such villainous fashion before blowing a snot rocket from her nose down on the fallen World Champion.
Greyson: Wicked Intent have just taken Katelyn’s World Championship!
Sparkles: Apparently it wasn’t Taylor Chase that Katelyn should have been concerned with.
Frankie: Kat and Lexy have got the World Title, this is the biggest moment in IWC history.
Sparkles: And from the sounds of it, they’re headed our way!
The camera zooms in on Katelyn as she lays on all fours across the ground, pushing her long black hair back out of her furious face.
Greyson: Katelyn beat down on the same night she’s slated to defend the World Title against Mordecai.
Frankie: Katelyn’s not defending anything because she’s NOT the World Champion, the title is in Lexy’s hands so that makes her the World Champion.
Greyson: What kind of logic is tha….
Frankie: SILENCE!
The former World Champion, the former President, the reigning Icon, Orlando Cruze currently stands in his locker-room. The tights he wore earlier tonight when fighting Cindy Todd inside of a Hell in a Cell are now being tossed in his gym bag. At the moment he has his street gear on, but that’s not to say he’s ready to leave the arena, there’s still quite a bit of unfinished business.
Susie: Hey Bossy-Boo.
Greets the backstage correspondent Susie Moore as she approaches the preoccupied Orlando.
Orlando: For the last time Susie, I’m NOT your boss anymore.
Susie: Awwww. Then I didn’t need to bring you this apple?
The fruit is held towards Orlando.
Orlando: You give apples to teachers not….why are you here?
Susie: Well I wanted to see if you had changed your stance on confronting your wife later tonight given everything that’s happened to you already.
The shirt that Orlando was holding becomes wadded up into a ball as his fist squeezes shut around it.
Orlando: That run in I had with Cindy Todd inside of the Hell in a Cell hasn’t changed a damn thing. I said the world would see the REAL Taylor Chase by the end of the night and I meant it. Because guess what, when she goes out to that ring for her indoctrination into Monarchy, she’s going to have a REAL conversation with the REAL Orlando Cruze. And that’s not a true story, it’s a REAL story.
Viewers are transported back to the cemetery where a deep crater has been dug by Mordecai. He is still using a shovel to unearth the dirt that adds to the huge pile beside the grave he stands at the base of. That shadow that was seen creeping over the edge of the grave earlier tonight is still shadowing Mordecai.
Mrs. R: You’ve been busy….brother.
Mrs. R’s toes stand on the precipice of the hole, looking down into it at her monstrous brother.
Mordecai: Did you bring it?
The muscles in Mrs. R’s cheeks twitch as she fights back her smile.
Mrs. R: Our honored guest IS in attendance.
A bloody burlap sack moves from behind Mrs. R’s back and now hangs right in front of her stomach.
Mordecai: Then it is time to bury the remains of the late Johnny Kingdom.
A closed door comes into view with the name-plate “Orlando Cruze” hung from it. Stood just off to the side of this access to the Icon’s dressing room is Monarchy member Lucas Knight. At last he has caught up with the Icon, and is now preparing himself for a meeting with the beloved superstar. A pair of black leather gloves are sliding down over Lucas’ hands.
Frankie: It looks like Lucas Knight is about to pay Orlando Cruze a visit.
Sparkles: He promised his wife Trinity Street that he would make sure Orlando doesn’t interfere in the Indoctrination Ceremony. He’s about to make good on that guarantee.
Greyson: What’s going to happen when Lucas steps into that locker-room? What’s he going to do to Orlando Cruze?
A unfortunate stagehand’s attention has been commandeered by Alistair Taylor. The Monarchy member has the poor pimply youngster trapped in conversation. Try as he may the crew member can’t get away, standing in the hall in front of Alistair, who goes on with his endless string of demands.
Alistair: Listen, I’ve been trusted to handle all the entertainment for tonight’s Indoctrination Ceremony. So when Taylor Chase goes to that ring I want nothing left to chance.
Stagehand: Yes sir.
Alistair: I happen to have a band on its way to the building right now who are going to perform a very special tune for Taylor. When they get here they are to be treated like royalty. I want them shown the five star treatment. Understood?
Stagehand: Yes sir.
Alistair: And another thing….
Before another demand can be made cameras cut to…you guessed it…MORE violence.
A boot lands across the side of Elijah Dallas’ head. The Tombstone member receives a vicious kick upside his skull, delivered by number one contender to the NHB Championship Ricky Holt. The repeated shots that Elijah has suffered have left him splayed across the floor of the hallway desperately trying to get back up.
Greyson: It’s Ricky Holt and he’s-he’s-he’s attacking a member of Tombstone!
Sparkles: That bastard targeting Rachel Tatum Lee’s ‘family.’
Frankie: You got to respect the balls on this man. He’s doing everything in his power to send a message to Rachel.
Greyson: Ever since winning the number one contendership to the NHB Title Ricky has made it his purpose to be a thorn in Rachel’s side, but now he’s taking this too far.
In Ricky’s mind he hasn’t taken this far enough. He stoops down towards a barely conscious Elijah, the latest target to feel his wrath.
Ricky: Listen you flabby son of a bitch, you need to tell your Lil Rose that I’m coming for her NHB Championship.
Ricky stands up and puts fingers to his chin.
Ricky: Nah, you know what? I think I’LL deliver the message personally.
The defenseless Elijah is unaware that Ricky is fetching a nearby trashcan. All of the contents are spilled to the floor so that Ricky can get a better handle on it and swing it down into Elijah’s body with more speed and force. The can rises above the crawling Elijah but before it can find its way down into the Tombstone member’s spine it’s a shoulder that collides, collides directly with the ribs of Elijah’s attacker. Devon Kayl has just come rushing into the fray and rams his shoulder square into Ricky’s mid-section, almost taking him off of his feet.
Greyson: Devon Kayl attacking Holt!
Sparkles: This is retaliation for two weeks ago when Ricky assaulted Devon with a trashcan then pinned him.
Greyson: Devon getting himself a piece of Holt.
Frankie: Don’t either of these guys realize that they’re supposed to be fighting in the Number One Contender Tournament tonight!?!
Devon and Ricky are rolling around on the floor trading punches with one another, focused only on the here and now and completely disinterested in what the future might hold.
A Scream ghost-face Halloween mask hangs from the hands of Karen McBride. She looks down into the mask with a gigantic smile, remembering how it benefited her two weeks ago.
Melanie: Kar-Bear!
The mask is tossed into the locker that Karen was stood in front of. She turns towards her sisters Melanie and Blaire, one eagerly approaching, the other hanging back. A thick air of tension hangs between Blaire and Karen.
Karen: Mel….
Though she greets her younger sister by name, she merely nods towards her older sibling.
Melanie: Did you hear the news?
Karen: I caught wind of the rumor that Silas Mason is going to make a big announcement. That what you’re talking about?
Melanie: What do you think he has up his sleeve?
Karen: Honestly? I don’t care. No doubt he’s going to try and weasel his way out of facing me for the Principle Ownership, but this time he can’t.
A sheet of paper is removed from Karen’s locker and placed in Melanie’s hands.
Karen: I have it in writing and see that right there (points to the bottom of the page), that’s Silas’ signature. He signed the contract and there’s no backing out of it now.
Melanie: This is just….AWESOME!
Karen: So let Silas make his little announcement. It doesn’t concern me.
Melanie: Alright then, I’m gonna grab a cappuccino, want some?
Karen: Mel, the last thing you need is more caffeine.
The giddy Melanie gallops away, leaving her sisters behind to share quite the TENSE stare-down. It isn’t until Karen is turning back to her locker that Blaire finally speaks up.
Blaire: Karen….
Her hand nervously reaches out with finger tips tapping Karen’s forearm.
Blaire: Are we….cool?
Karen says nothing to the woman who has spent the better part of her life twisting and twisting the knife she embedded in her sister’s spine long ago. She just looks down at the fingers barely touching her forearm until Blaire finally takes them away.
The lyrics of ‘Cynics & Critics’ are piping through the PA system to a cacophony of cries from the audience. Down the ramp marches Kat Kelly holding both of the Tag Team Title belts that she shares with her partner. Speaking of Lexy Chapel, she comes out right behind Kat wearing gold as well, World Heavyweight Title gold. The championship is stretched across Lexy’s hands and elevated right in front of her face, quite pleased by the image of the big gold plate in her clutches.
Greyson: Oh come on.
Frankie: There she is guys, there’s the NEW World Champion.
Greyson: Lexy Chapel is NOT the World Champion. For Christ sakes she and Kat Kelly just jumped Katelyn and stole the title belt from her.
Sparkles: But Lexy pinned Katelyn two weeks ago.
Greyson: It was a non-title match. Besides, Lexy is scheduled to compete in a tournament match right now to advance one step closer to becoming number one contender for the very belt she just stole.
Frankie: No, that she CLAIMED. It’s OWED to her. It’s rightfully hers.
Greyson: It is NOT.
MOMENTS AGO
A brief recap video showcases what went down before the commercial break when Wicked Intent got the drop on World Champion Katelyn Buehler backstage. The viewers see Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel taking Katelyn down to the floor and then bludgeoning her with a steel chair in order to take possession of her World Title belt. Lexy throws it over her shoulder and walks away somehow looking even more confident than normal.
Greyson: This is how Lexy took possession of the World Championship. She and Kat attacked Katelyn backstage to grab her belt.
Sparkles: Lexy thinks she’s the champion after beating Katelyn two weeks ago in a non-title match.
Frankie: She should be.
When cameras cut back to the squared circle with Lexy Chapel standing in the center, World Title in one hand, microphone in the other.
Lexy: There’s been a change in plans people. Cause being the fighting champion that I am, I’ve decided to put my World Title on the line against my opponent Devon Kayl, RIGHT NOW!
Frankie: Oh wow. HUGE! World Title defense. This is great!
Greyson: It is NOT a World Title defense because Lexy is not the GOD FORSAKEN WORLD CHAMPION!
LEXY CHAPEL VS. DEVON KAYL:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
The violin strings of “Not Gonna Die” by Skillet plays over the crowd, bringing them to their feet. Lights flash throughout the arena in various spots, as Devon Kayl steps out on top of the ramp as the guitars of the intro pick up. He doesn’t stop to pose, continuing to walk down towards the ring.
Frankie: This is your shot Devon Kayl, the biggest of your fledgling IWC career. In only his third match he’s getting a World Title opportunity.
Greyson: It’s a Number One Contender Tournament match Frankie, NOT a shot at the World Championship because Lexy is NOT champ!
Sparkles: It’s a big chance for Devon either way. He said he came here for one reason, to be the IWC World Champion, a win here tonight moves him close to accomplishing that goal.
Greyson: Last we saw Devon he was all over Ricky Holt backstage, trying to get some retribution for the blindside attack that happened two weeks earl…..HEEEEY!
Devon’s got tunnel vision, staring at Lexy and Lexy alone, but this might prove to be his detriment, and it does when wooden 2×4 cracks him straight in the back of his head. The crowd is jumping down the throat of the man who just bludgeoned Kayl with the board, yet Ricky Holt is indifferent to their jeers.
Sparkles: Ricky Holt busting Kayl in the head with a 2×4!
Frankie: He won’t let go of the fact that Kayl interfered in Holt’s plans to attack a member of Tombstone backstage.
The blow to the back of the neck has Kayl splayed motionless across the ground lying at the feet of his attacker. Ricky stands over his victim with the board that laid out his rival still hanging from his hand. The board drops so that Holt can grab Kayl, drag him up to his feet and then throw him inside of the squared circle where he will no doubt be easy pickings.
Greyson: Holt ambushing Kayl on the rampway and then throwing him into the ring with Lexy.
Frankie: This might be the easiest World Title defense in Lexy’s career.
Greyson: It’s not a World Title DEFENSE!
Kayl is splayed across the canvas with Lexy stood above him, the World Title hanging from her hand. She then gives the belt to the official but provides a stern warning that something WICKED might happen to him should he fail to protect HER belt. Kat, who is still standing outside of the ring, shouts through the ropes at the official, offering the same threats. The ref takes the belt but does not want to start the match given Kayl’s condition, however another threat from Lexy forces the official to fulfill his obligations. The bell rings and Lexy descends upon her unconscious adversary. Instead of just outright pinning Kayl, she decides to toy with him instead. Like a cat who’s cornered a mouse Lexy plays with her victim. She puts a boot to Kayl’s face and gives it a nudge, knocking him over to his back. She then steps over him and bends down jamming her finger into his chest.
Lexy: Here I am just HANDING you a World Title match and you just throw it away? How dare you disrespect the legacy of MY Championship.
Kat: That’s right!
Kat feigns the same outrage as her tag team partner.
Frankie: Lexy’s got a very valid point. Kayl should have known better than to pick fights with Ricky Holt when he was going to be challenging for the World Title.
Greyson: It’s NOT a World Title match.
Instead of thrusting her finger into Kayl’s sternum Lexy now swats him across the cheeks. She grabs him by the bangs of his hair, sits him on the canvas and then acts like she’s going to superkick him only to stop, smile then slowly extend her toe so as to nudge him onto his back. Lexy sighs, stretches then falls down onto her seat and prepares to lean back into the cover. But just as she’s about to make the pin something unsettles her.
She looks towards the World Title belt that the referee left sitting on the apron of the ring. Lexy’s pride swells at the sight of the strap but then crumbles when seeing that belt falling into the hands of another.
Sparkles: What’s Scott Cannon doing out here!?!
Frankie: And why he’s grabbing Lexy’s World Title?
Greyson: That’s not her title.
The World Title is snatched from the apron and has found its way into the Kevlar gloved hands of Scott Cannon. In one palm he grips his briefcase holding a guaranteed shot at the championship, and now in the other he holds the championship itself. He looks at the belt but not with a smile, instead its with a total detachment of emotion.
Kat: Hey, PUT THAT BACK!
Kat is taking off after Scott who is back peddling up the ramp with the World Title tossed over his shoulder.
Frankie: This is wrong, this is a total abasement of the World Title and its proud lineage. How dare someone steal the belt.
Greyson: Lexy getting what she deserves but I’m conflicted. Why is Scott taking off with the championship?
Lexy is asking herself the same thing as she gets back to her feet and screams at Scott from the ring. She never gets a chance to leave the squared circle though because she’s dragged down to it when Kayl rolls her up into the school boy.
Greyson: Kayl’s got her! Kayl’s got her rolled up!
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2
Greyson: What an upset.
That never materializes on account of Lexy kicking out only a fraction of a second before the three. It’s not only a kick out we see but another superkick. Lexy rolls back onto her feet then nails her opponent straight in the back of his head with the OH SO WICKED! Lexy immediately follows the superkick up with a pin, putting her hands on Devon’s chest, but looking towards the entry way.
1
2
The arena lets out quite the rabble as Lexy pins Kayl to advance in the Number One Contender Tournament. However, there is NO time spent celebrating this momentous occasion, because Lexy is out of the ring, rushing up the ramp and headed to the back. She catches up with her partner Kat as the two hustle through the curtains to reclaim the World Title.
Frankie: Get back your title Lexy!
Greyson: It’s not….you know what, we’re going to stop having this conversation.
Sparkles: Lexy advances into the next round of the tournament, but it might be a moot point if she gets back the World Championship.
A huge smirk sits on the face of Alistair Taylor as he proudly watches an odd collection of humanity filing through one of the backstage entrances into the Kashima Stadium. The stagehand he was seen consorting with earlier even holds the door open for Alistair’s honored guests. They have all the trademarks of your stereotypical rock band, what with long white hair hanging over their faces, baggy seventies influenced clothing draped over their bodies and musical instruments clutched in their hands.
Frankie: There they are…..
Exclaims the commentator in the background.
Frankie: It must be that band that Alistair promised would be performing for Taylor Chase’s Indoctrination Ceremony later tonight.
Greyson: Where the hell did Alistair find these guys, at a hippy commune?
Sparkles: They look pretty bohemian to Sparkles.
Frankie: Is one of them honestly wearing a turtle neck sweater with a peace sign pendant? That was lame even by seventies standards.
Greyson: Hopefully they sound better than they look. I mean, this indoctrination thing already sounds like it’s going to be intolerable enough without it being set to the score of some shitty musical tracks.
Frankie: I trust Alistair’s taste in music. So have your lighter ready for later tonight to show this band some love.
Alistair rubs his hands together gleefully, realizing as he watches the band members file in one after another that everything he had hoped for is about to come to fruition. He reaches out and takes hold of the stagehand that WAS being employed as a glorified door jamb. He’s dragged in close enough for Alistair to whisper his next order.
Alistair: Make sure they’re comfortable. Spare no expense when it comes to keeping them happy. We want them performing at their optimum level for Taylor and Monarchy later tonight.
The stagehand nods before having the side of his face slapped.
Alistair: Get to it!
Though the playful pat on the cheek hurt a lot more than Alistair had intended it to he shows no sympathy to his gawking victim. He takes off and leaves the stagehand remaining behind with a palm rubbing at his swollen face.
Evolution Champion Andre Jordan comes back into view, pacing from end of his locker-room to the other. In the background the fruit basket we all saw delivered to him earlier is planted on top of a bench. Dre is totally disinterested in it, his focus on nothing but his title defense later tonight. Just then there’s ANOTHER knock at his door.
Andre: Who is it?
This time Dre doesn’t automatically assume that it’s his agent Tabitha Silverstone, and for once he guessed correctly. The door opens and through it steps a delivery man, this one wearing a navy blue uniform and bearing the weight of a giant stuffed panda with a red brow wrapped around it.
Delivery Man: I got a delivery here for an Andre Jordan? That you chief?
Dre stares at the teddy bear for what seems like an eternity, looking totally confused.
After what’s felt like an eternity of standing idle outside of Silas Mason’s office, backstage correspondent Mark Comeau is starting to lose his patience. He’s watched many coming and going from Silas’ office, but he has still been denied access to the Principle Owner, refused the opportunity to interview him. Though Comeau has promised multiple times that he would be the first to find out what Silas’ big announcement is, he’s had no such luck thus far in fulfilling this lofty guarantee.
Mason: What are you doing out here?
Just then there’s a feint glimmer of hope as the door to the office opens and Silas’ assistant Mason Van Stanton peeks out into the hall. He gives Comeau a stern eyeballing.
Comeau: I um, uhhh…was expecting to get an interview with Silas about….
Mason: You think the superb Silas Mason, the man who controls the heavens and the earths, would deign you significant enough to warrant the time of his day?
Comeau: I was told I’d get to interview him about…
Mason: You will do no such thing, because Silas Mason will only give his announcement in that ring NEXT. And he insists that Karen….Melanie….AND Blaire McBride ALL be in attendance. Because what he has to announce will greatly…no…GRAVELY affect them.
The door closes in Comeau’s face, which wears an expression of concern.
Greyson: Mark’s look says it all.
Sparkles: He feels the same way we all do.
Frankie: Don’t speak for me, I’m hyped to hear whatever Silas is going to announce.
Greyson: Well the same cannot be said for the rest of us. What’s Silas got up his sleeve this time?
Sparkles: We’re going to find out very soon.
The sounds of quite a scuffle can be heard passing through the door which leads into Orlando Cruze’s locker-room. The camera is set up in the hall outside, capturing all the noises that are filtering from Cruze’s dressing quarters and into the corridor. A loud bang is the final thing the viewers hear, indicating that something just hit the floor and hit it with some force. A second later the door opens to reveal Lucas Knight lying on his back pawing at a growing welt on his forehead. Standing above him is the last person one would suspect to have gotten the drop on Lucas here in Orlando’s dressing room.
Selena: So sorry to ruin your night.
The Queen of the Ring Champion and perhaps the most ardent enemy of Monarchy presently steps over Lucas and into the hall. Selena Frost never even looks back at the bruise forming on Lucas’ forehead, a welt she’s responsible for.
Mrs. R: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to pay our final respects to the late Johnny Kingdom.
Recites Mrs. R as she and the beast Mordecai stand on the edge of an open grave, staring down into the deep pit. Mordecai has finally finished digging and digging to complete the final resting spot for the man he butchered several weeks ago. A man who’s remains are now hanging from Mrs. R’s hands, contained within a sack stained red in the blood that oozes out from within.
Mrs. R: Tonight we bury the remnants of the once honored King….
The sack is tossed into the pit and Mordecai has already started to use the shovel he had been holding to toss dirt down onto it.
MOMENTS AGO
A video package rolls showing what went down just seconds before the commercial break when Lexy Chapel took on Devon Kayl in a Number One Contender Tournament bout. Proceeding the start of the bout Lexy and her partner Kat Kelly reveal that they have possession of Katelyn Buehler’s World Title belt.
Greyson: If your just joining us here on Riot you’ve missed one of the most surprising telecasts….
Frankie: No, what you missed was a travesty, a damn TRAVESTY. A total miscarriage of justice.
Greyson: Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly of Wicked Intent stole the World Title belt and then had the audacity to come out to the ring and claim that Lexy was defending it. However, everything went awry for Lexy when Scott Cannon, of all people, showed up to confiscate the World Title.
Frankie: You know, I TRY to stay unbiased…..
Greyson: BULLSHIT.
Frankie: But I can’t condone Scott’s behavior, it’s reprehensible.
The video shows Scott Cannon pop up at ringside and claim possession of the World Title that was sitting on the apron of the squared circle. He leaves with it much to Kat’s and Lexy’s outrage.
Sparkles: Where has Scott taken the World Title?
Greyson: Is the actual champion Katelyn Buehler EVER going to get her title back?
Michael: I’m begging you Scott, THINK about what you’re doing….
Try as Michael and David may they cannot reason with their brother Scott Cannon, who seems set in his way. The World Title belt that he just stole from ringside is hanging from his hand as he draws nearer and nearer to the locker-room’s exit.
David: Don’t do this!
Michael: It’s not too late mate.
Scott pauses for half a second in order to think over what he’s about to do. It takes even less time than he thought it would to make up his mind. He exits the dressing room walking out into the hall with the World Championship in his hand. Michael and David watch him leave while throwing hands up into the air and letting out loud groans.
”Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold is playing over the speakers, warranting quite the reaction from an audience that evidently has no love for the Principle Owner. It isn’t long before Silas Mason himself emerges from the back, appearing on camera for the first time tonight. Following behind him are members of his staff, the pint sized Desmond Drake and the man with the gigantic ego Mason Van Stanton. The trio receive an even harsher reaction as they walk along past the alluring cage dancers set up on either side of the entrance stage.
Greyson: As if this night hadn’t been anarchic enough, now we’ve got….
Frankie: The incomparable Silas Mason on his way to the ring to right all the wrongs.
Sparkles: Or more accurately, to create a few hundred more.
Greyson: What a sight this is, our Principle Owner Silas Mason, joined by Desmond Drake and Mason Van Stanton, three of the lowest forms of human life to ever slither across the earth.
Frankie: You really must not value job security.
Greyson: Not if it means compromising my values. And I refuse to compromise for a man as wretched as Silas Mason.
Frankie: I can’t stand the way you defame Silas, this man has been steering the Riot brand through some rough waters….
Greyson: That HE created. Face it, Silas isn’t the ship, he’s the hurricane the ship is trying to sail past.
Sparkles: Anyway, as heard earlier on Silas has got a major announcement, and he wants the McBride sisters in the ring.
Greyson: This all must stem from what happened two weeks on this very telecast.
TWO WEEKS AGO
Yet another video runs documenting what occurred just a few weeks prior on Riot when Silas Mason and FORMER Principle Owner Karen McBride ran afoul of one another. First we see Silas firing Karen after she invaded his office and challenged him to another match for ownership of Riot. Karen would prove far more difficult to get rid of however, digging her pinchers in like a tick. Later that evening Silas is shown standing at ringside watching his personal security battle with three of his more unruly roster members. That is until a mask wearing fan jumps from the crowd, traps Silas in a rear naked choke then drags him to the back. A few moments after this abduction a clip shows Silas splayed out on the floor with a chair wedged to his throat that the masked individual is seated on top of. That disguise rips away to reveal the face of Karen McBride, who then promptly demands that Silas sign a contract guaranteeing her a shot at her Principle Ownership.
After navigating a pretty treacherous road two weeks ago Silas Mason finds himself on an equally as troubled trajectory here tonight. He stands in the center of the squared circle with both Mason and Desmond on either side keenly listening to their employers words.
Silas: I ain’t gonna stand out ‘ere and spin some yarn about what ‘appened on the last Riot. I ain’t got the time to rehash shit, that’s what dem video packages are for. So instead of wastin’ my breath talkin’ about the deceptions, the lies, the back stabbing that Karen McBride employed to get ‘erself an undeserved crack at my Principle Ownership, I’m gonna get straight to my announcement. But before I say what I came ‘ere to say, I want not one, not two, but all three of dem McBride cunts out ‘ere in this ring.
Frankie: The balls on Silas, they have to hang all the way down to his ankles.
Greyson: It does show some fortitude to call Karen, Blaire and Melanie McBride out here given the history Silas has with them.
Sparkles: Especially now that Silas no longer has his security with him. Those three ladies we normally see with Silas were taken out two weeks ago.
There is no sight of Karen on the stage at the moment, just the scantily clad cage dancers.
Silas: If ya want that match fer the Principle Ownership ya had better come down that ramp….
Finally the tunes of “American Dreamgirl” cuts through the PA system and silences Silas. He gnaws at his lip while watching the entry way where the curtains open and Karen McBride leads a march from the backstage area. Both Melanie and Blaire follow their sister straight down the ramp and into the ring, displaying no trepidation about entering the squared circle with Silas and his staff.
Sparkles: Surprised Karen took the bait.
Greyson: This is a pretty tense situation considering everything that’s happened between the McBrides and Silas Mason’s administration over the past several months.
Frankie: Karen had better hope that Silas doesn’t slap that smug look off of her face.
Karen isn’t backing down an inch from the conniving and dangerously unpredictable Silas, or the two human weasels that continue to flank him.
Karen: I think you’ve got the wrong idea Silas. See, you have no legs to stand on when you threaten to cancel our match for the Principle Ownership. I have your signature on a contract that guarantees that match is going to happen. So none of your maneuvering is going to get you out of it….
The confident Karen makes for a smirking Silas.
Silas: Yer right-yer right, ya got my hands tied. Truth be told, I can’t cancel the match ya FORCED me to approve. Buuuut there’s one thing that contract ya had me sign doesn’t stipulate.
Melanie: Don’t even think about trying to make use of some type of loophole…
Screams Melanie McBride as she steps right up in Silas’ face.
Melanie: Karen’s lawyers went over that contract word for word, they made sure every ‘I’ was dotted and every ‘t’ crossed.
Silas: I ain’t backin’ down from nothin’. Now get yer stank breath outta my face.
Surprisingly Karen manages to back Melanie away from their common foe.
Silas: Now as I was sayin’ before I was so rudely interrupted by Mrs. Halitosis ‘ere, there’s jus’ one thing that contract don’t account fer, and it’s the stipulation of our match for the Principle Ownership.
The McBrides collectively sigh.
Silas: Seems yer lawyers weren’t as savvy as ya give ‘em credit for. So if a match type wasn’t specified in the contract ya claim they went over, then that means ‘I’ get to name the bout we’ll have for the Principle Ownership. And I’ve done a lot of thinkin’ about what that stip will be, and ya want to know what ole’ Silas came up with?
Obviously they don’t.
Silas: This noodle of mine (taps temple) decided that at Uppin’ the Ante, live on pay-per-view, we’re gonna have our bout for the Principle Ownership, but it ain’t gonna be one-on-one. Nah-nah-nah, it’s gonna be a SIX person tag team match. That’s right honey britches, yer gonna have to do something that’s come back to bite ya again and again, TRUST others to have yer back. And who is it you’ll be placin’ yer trust in? Who’s gonna be yer partners at Uppin’ the Ante?
The smile on Silas’ face needs to be killed and purified with fire.
Silas: Melanie McBride and….BLAIRE McBride.
A long and drawn out wail of despair can be heard from the audience given the long and sordid history between Karen and Blaire. Already the sisters are sharing a distrusting stare, well aware that their long hatred for one another is being played upon.
Greyson: Karen to team with Melanie and Blaire? Blaire is the reason Karen lost her Principle Ownership in the first place.
Sparkles; But that was ages ago, since then Blaire and Karen have gotten past their differences, right?
Frankie: Hahahahaha, think again.
Silas is overjoyed by the look he sees exchanged between Karen and Blaire.
Silas: Now that just leaves the question. Who will be my tag team partners in this six person match at Uppin’ the Ante fer the Principle Ownership….
Desmond and Mason fix the collars of their jackets and the cuffs of their sleeves while stepping up to Silas’ sides. Melanie is already giggling into her sister Karen’s ears, obviously not taking the threat of either Desmond or Mason very seriously. What she DOES take serious though is the gigantic forearm crashing upside the back of her head. The brutish Marcus Briggs has just laid Melanie out with a clubbing blow. At the same time Karen is being swung around into the arms of Randal Williams, who then scoop slams her down hard into the canvas. A smirking Jeffrey Starxxx is the final man to enter the ring and has grabbed Blaire McBride by the arms, restraining them behind her back.
Greyson: What’s going on here!?! Why are Jeffrey Starxxx and his entourage attacking the McBrides?
The huge Marcus pulls Melanie up from the ring then drives her down into the canvas with a monstrous body slam. All the while Blaire is forced to watch as her sisters are being dismantled by Starxxx and his crew. Her arms remain pinned behind her back by Starxxx, unable to lend any aid to either Karen or Melanie. She’s not even able to defend herself as Silas steps in and pats her on the cheek.
Silas: I think ya’ll can figure out who my partners are gonna be at Uppin’ the Ante. Allow me to introduce ya’ll to the newest members of my staff Marcus Briggs, Randal Williams and Jeffrey Alexander Starxxx.
A split screen is now shown that features Orlando Cruze on the left and Marina Valdivia on the right. While Orlando is sitting on the edge of a table in the catering area, Marina is in her locker-room giving a steely eyed look directly into the camera.
Frankie: What are these idiots pouting about?
Greyson: Marina Valdivia and Orlando Cruze obviously with a lot on their minds.
Sparkles: They’ve both promised that they will play a major role in Taylor Chase’s Indoctrination Ceremony.
Greyson: While Orlando has vowed that the REAL Taylor Chase will be revealed, Marina has decreed that she will MAKE Taylor see the error of her ways even if it takes force.
Sparkles: And with Katelyn Buehler still out to get Taylor as well, my God, she’s in for a rough ride the moment she shows up to the arena tonight.
Lexy: Where is Scott?
Kat: Where’s the black sheep of the Cannon family!?!
An infuriated Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly have correspondent Susie Moore trapped between them in the a hall backstage. Susie’s unsure shrugs are not the answer that either member of Wicked Intent are happy with. They give her a shove back towards a table.
Kat: He took Lexy’s title.
Lexy: And I won’t stop until I get it back!
It seems Wicked Intent are about to use Susie Moore as the ultimate stress release, employing her as a punching bag to get their frustrations out. Though Susie gets a stay of execution, not via a Governor’s call, but by way of Katelyn Buehler’s thrust kick. Katelyn steps in behind Kat and blasts her in the back of the head with a hard boot. The shot catches a totally unsuspecting Kat off guard, driving her to the floor. Lexy rushes in to avenge her partner but Katelyn catches her with a scoop and then a slam right through the table Susie was being pushed towards earlier.
Katelyn: Your title!?!
Katelyn stoops down towards Lexy, who is grabbing at her back as she lies amongst the fractured table remnants.
Katelyn: I don’t think so BITCH!
The Riot transmission comes back from commercial break on the freakish smile stretched across the face of a man who hasn’t been seen on IWC television in approximately a year. Martin Howe III stands with his back to a barren white wall, his hands rubbing together and his grin ever so difficult to look directly into.
Martin: Hello Independent Wrestling Cartel. You might not remember who I am, but I have a memory that even elephants would envy. I haven’t forgotten the premise in which this federation was built upon, one word….CHAOS.
Speaking that word brings Martin to chuckles.
Martin: If chaos is what you crave, then it will be my pleasure to give it to you. What I unleash tonight is chaos in its basest, most animalistic form. I have a new client, IWC, and she is carnage in the flesh. She is the death….of….beauty.
IWC SLAM OF THE NIGHT
The IWC Slam of the Night video brought to you by some type of snack food incredibly bad for your cholesterol level airs, showing what happened earlier tonight when Ricky Holt blindsided Elijah Dallas backstage. We see the Tombstone member on the floor getting pummeled by the stomps colliding with the back of his head. Holt would go on to assault Elijah until Devon Kayl interfered. He dashes in and spears Ricky down to the ground, the two rolling around trading punches. The video then flashes forward to a few moments later in the evening as Devon Kayl makes his way down the ramp to compete in the Number One Contender Tournament. Unfortunately he only reaches the mid-way point of the entrance canal before the back of his head is busted by a 2×4. Holt dashes down the ramp behind Kayl and cracks him right upside the skull. Holt then walks away with the 2×4 in hand, figuratively patting himself on the back for a job well done.
Cameras catch up with Ricky Holt live and in person, as he paces back and forth in the locker-room with a wooden 2×4 stretched over the back of his neck and gum being chewed oh so obnoxiously.
Greyson: Ricky Holt has not made very many friends in his time on the IWC roster.
Sparkles: Earlier on we saw him attack Elijah Dallas in order to send a message to NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee.
Greyson: Then he attacked Devon Kayl just moments before Kayl was scheduled to compete in a Number One Contender Tournament Match.
Frankie: Holt has been a very busy man, and his night is going to get a whole lot busier. He’s still scheduled to face off against Marina Valdivia in his own tournament match.
Greyson: Hopefully he leaves that 2×4 backstage when he does take on Marina later on tonight.
Alistair: Are you gents comfortable? Anything I can get for you? Anything at all?
The band members that were summoned to the Kashima Stadium by Alistair Taylor have taken over one of the press rooms backstage. They are as comfy as they’re ever going to get. One has his brown fringe boots propped up on a table and crossed at the ankles while he leans back in a chair gnawing grapes right off the vine. His thick white hair and even thicker black sunglasses make it hard to read rather he’s satisfied or not. The rest of his bandmates are seated on sofas or standing in the background strumming their guitars. Alistair doesn’t look as at ease as his gusts, nervously occupying the center of the room trying to examine their faces but finding it hard to see past the long bangs of their hair.
Alistair: If I didn’t say it before, please let me tell you how great it is that you guys would come all this way JUST to perform for Taylor Chase’s Indoctrination Ceremony. It means the world to me.
One of the bohemian era rockers tosses a grape into the air and catches it in their mouth, paying no attention to Alistair.
Andre: So let me get this straight Alistair Taylor is planning some type of big rock-concert tonight for Taylor Chase?
All Tabitha Silverstone can do is tilt her head and nod towards her client, Evolution Champion Andre Jordan. The locker-room fills with the sounds of Andre’s indignation.
Andre: I so badly want to go straight to his dressing room and….
Tabitha: I know-I know but you can’t Dre. You have that Evolution Title to defend tonight. That’s your priority and…..
Tabitha’s train of thought is derailed upon seeing the assortment of stuffed animals and bundles and bundles of roses pouring out of Dre’s locker.
Tabitha: What’s all of this?
Andre glances back at the treasure trove of romantic goodies oozing from his locker.
Andre: Oh…that? I haven’t the foggiest idea. I’ve been getting this stuff all night.
Tabitha: I know what’s going on here.
Andre: Then clue me in.
Tabitha: Someone’s got a cruuussh on you.
Andre: Come on, this isn’t high-school.
Tabitha: Who’s the lucky lady Dre?
Andre: Quit fooling around.
He smiles while grabbing the Evolution Title off the bench beside him and tossing it over his shoulder.
Andre: Evolution Title match, remember?
Tabitha: Way to change the subject.
Andre: I have a knack for that. Now let’s….
Andre and Tabitha are just starting to make their exit before finding the doorway blocked by what looks to be a walking bushel of roses. Finally a face peeks through the stems.
Delivery Man: Are you Andre Jordan.
Andre’s almost tentative to confirm his identity.
Andre: I am.
Delivery Man: I’ve got another delivery here for you….
Andre: ANOTHER ONE!?!
Delivery Man: Where do I put it?
Andre: I don’t…..just-just put it anywhere.
Delivery Man: Will do.
The huge assortment of flowers are sat down on the bench where Andre’s Evolution Title was previously placed. He apprehensively looks back at the huge smile on Tabitha’s face.
Andre: Don’t even….
Tabitha: Aren’t you such a heart throb? The next Patrick Swayze.
Andre: Don’t start.
Andre and Tabitha walk past the bountiful bouquet of roses, the camera zooming in on the pink petals. Yet what one doesn’t notice right off the bat is that one of the roses has a droplet of blood oozing down it.
The tracks of “Bad to the Bone” are currently belting all throughout the Kashima Stadium, indicating that Scott Cannon is on his way to the ring. It doesn’t take long for Scott to emerge from the back holding more than just a briefcase with a contract for a World Title shot. Because now he’s got the World Title itself dangling from the palm of his hand. He carries both objects right along to the squared circle where he will soon set up shop.
Frankie: I’m not very happy with Scott Cannon right now. Not happy at all. I might unfriend him on Facebook. I’m seriously, I’ll do it.
Sparkles: Don’t go that far Frankie. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.
Greyson: I take it you’re still upset with Scott for snatching the World Title belt away from Wicked Intent earlier tonight.
Frankie: You’re damn skippy I’m upset about it. So upset I might stop following Scott on Twitter.
Sparkles: That’s taking it too far.
Greyson: One has to wonder why Scott took possession of the World Title belt. We’ve been waiting for answers from him throughout the night, but it looks like now we’re finally going to get them.
Scott has lowered the briefcase he was carrying, positioning it in the corner of the ring in order to juggle the World Title belt and a microphone. As he speaks into the mic he holds the gold plate of the championship inches from his face, looking into his reflection.
Scott: No one knows how close I came two weeks ago to capturing THIS (jerks around the title). I was seconds, literally SECONDS away from cashing in the contract that guarantees me a World Title shot at any time and at any place of my choosing. But there that contract still sits, right there in that briefcase (points at the briefcase he left in the corner). Meaning I didn’t carry through with my plan on the last Riot, I didn’t run in during the champion’s match and use my contract to STEAL her championship. So if you think I’m going to stand idle and let someone else STEAL the belt tonight, you’re wrong.
Surprisingly there are quite a few cheers from the crowd.
Scott: The one thing that kept me from cashing in my title opportunity on a weakened champion were the words of a truly honorable and revered woman. Vanilla Skyy.
The name drop gets a loud reaction from the crowd.
Scott: When she found out about my plan to screw Katelyn out of the championship, she came running to the Kashima Stadium to talk me out of it, to convince me that there was a better, more respectable way of doing things. She made me believe that I can be the man that she sees me as, that I can be a GOOD person. And good men, they don’t take advantage of injured or weakened champions and they damn sure don’t stand back and watch as people steal title belts. So I didn’t cash in my contract, and I took possession of this belt tonight for one reason, to give it back to its rightful owner.
Scott’s eyes are cast towards the entry way.
Scott: Katelyn Buehler, I believe I have something that belongs to you.
Almost before Scott can even finish his sentence the lyrics of “Satisfied” are playing over the speakers and the TRUE World Champion is making her way towards her belt. An impassioned Katelyn Buehler is making her way towards the squared circle and towards the World Title that hangs from the hand of Cannon.
Frankie: Here comes the sitting duck champion. She’s falling right into Scott’s trap.
Sparkles: What trap is that?
Frankie: I don’t know yet, but you just wait and see, Scott is about to spring it. Because that’s the type of man he is, he’s a cutthroat.
Greyson: I have to admit, I’m a little worried about this myself. There’s no telling what Scott could be setting Katelyn up for here.
Frankie: Just watch, as soon as she gets in that ring, BAM, Scott’s brothers will show up and help him put a beating on Buehler. THEN he’ll cash in his contract and pin her for the World Title.
Katelyn enters the ring but hangs back from Scott, unsure of his motives. It isn’t until he raises the World Title that Katelyn comes stomping towards Cannon, reaching out for her gold. Just as her hands are about to take hold of what’s rightfully hers, the strap is pulled back and kept out of her reach. Scott takes a second to look at the gold in his palms before he sighs and ultimately gives it back to Katelyn. An apprehensive Katelyn tepidly takes the belt out of Scott’s hands, never removing her eyes from his face in the process.
Frankie: Okay, spring the trap now.
Greyson: I’m starting to think this isn’t a trap at all Frankie
Frankie: Of course it is. It has to be.
Sparkles: Scott’s actually giving the belt back to Katelyn.
Frankie: No he isn’t, this is all part of the set up.
A confused Katelyn remains stone-faced as she backs away from the man who has just given her back the title, no strings attached. It seems surrendering the belt has left Scott a bit conflicted, this act of nobility contradicting his baser impulses. Katelyn turns to leave the ring.
Scott: There’s just one thing Katelyn….
Everyone knew this was coming, including Katelyn, who has already pre-emptively wadded up her fists.
Scott: I wouldn’t get too cozy with the title. Because although I gave it BACK to you tonight, I’m taking it BACK for myself at Upping the Ante. I’m confirming it right here and now, I’m officially putting you on notice, at the next pay-per-view, I’m cashing my contract in and I’m going to beat you for the championship.
This promise seems to amuse rather than concern Buehler. She nods almost mockingly back at Cannon before finally exiting the ring with the World Title in her hands.
Greyson: How about that, Scott actually did the honorable thing.
Frankie: Okay, any time now. Oh David, oh Michael, I think you two missed your cue to jump Katelyn.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think Scott’s brothers are showing up.
Frankie: You mean to tell me he actually has changed his spots?
Greyson: It seems he’s trying to, AND he’s also just made a bombshell announcement.
Sparkles: He’s cashing in his contract at Upping the Ante to challenge Katelyn for the World Championship.
Frankie: This is mind boggling.
Scott never blinks his eyes as he watches Katelyn walk up the ramp with title over her shoulder. It takes him a few moments to reconcile with the fact that he truly did the honorable thing and denied his lust for title gold. After resolving himself to the fact that he actually gave up possession of the World Championship, he goes to grab the briefcase that holds his future shot at that very belt.
Greyson: Well Scott honestly doing the right….WAIT A MINUTE!
The moment Scott stoops down to pick up the case he finds his back crushed by the clubbing forearms of Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly.
Greyson: Wicked Intent are on Scott Cannon!
Sparkles: Retribution for Scott taking the title away from Lexy earlier on tonight.
Frankie: Get him Wicked Intent, make him pay for trying to have a ridiculous redemption story.
The multiple blows over the back have collapsed Cannon’s legs, causing him to take a knee on the ring. Although Lexy’s back is hurting after the scoop slam through the table backstage she still manages to pack quite the wallop behind each blow.
Lexy: You think you can steal from me!?! FROM ME!?!
Kat: You’re brother would be sick!
Lexy: Chris will understand that we need to teach you a lesson.
That lesson is taught through capital punishment. Kat and Lexy unleash the dreaded double superkick right on Scott’s brow, knocking him not only unconscious but out of the ring entirely.
Greyson: Scott does the right thing but boy does he ever pay for it.
Sparkles: The stereo superkicks laying Scott out cold, and he’s supposed to be competing for the Evolution Championship.
The crowd suddenly comes out of their funk when the man slated to defend his Evolution Title now comes sliding into the ring. Andre Jordan comes bolting across the squared circle and spins one of his opponents around into a right hand to the jaw, his knuckles blasting Kat in the kisser.
Greyson: There’s the Evolution Champion himself, Andre Jordan, and he’s got a long list of problems with Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel.
Sparkles: Kat scheduled to be one of his opponents in this triple threat title defense.
Frankie: Scott the other, but he doesn’t look like he’ll be much of a factor.
Greyson: And neither does Andre, because look!
Andre may have sent Kat spiraling back but he’s not quick enough to thwart the efforts of the other enemy in the ring. Before Dre can react his arms are hooked from behind and Lexy is dropping him into the canvas with the reverse STO.
Greyson: And now Dre laid out with the Union Jack Attack!
Sparkles: When this Evolution Title match starts it’s going to be easy pickings for Kat Kelly.
Frankie: It looks like it’s starting right now.
Referee Michelle Blacker has just slid into the ring and is trying to pull Wicked Intent back from the laid out Andre.
Kat: Start the match!
Michelle: What?
Lexy: She said start the triple threat right now!!
ANDRE JORDAN © VS. KAT KELLY VS. SCOTT CANNON
EVOLUTION TITLE
Under duress Michelle calls for the bell and the triple threat Evolution Title match is underway. Obviously Kat has a definitive advantage given the conditions of her opponents. Scott is still laid out at ringside while Andre is barely conscious after receiving the Union Jack Attack. PLUS, as an added bonus, Kat has her partner Lexy watching from ringside, ready to interfere at a moment’s notice. Though she might not have to considering that her Wicked Intent teammate is on the verge of making quick work of Dre. The Champion is starting towards his feet only to find his shoulders caught from behind. Kat leaps into the air and embeds her knees into Dre’s back, going for the Chelsea Smile. She drops back but does not pull her opponent down into the move. Instead Dre latches onto the top rope and keeps from being yanked over into the back stabber.
Andre turns away from the cables and towards his adversary, racing right into her waiting boots. Kat leaps up and into the dropkick, the blow taking him off of his feet and to the ground, ALL the way down to the ground. Dre rolls under the ropes and to the outside mats, ending up right in front of Scott Cannon. Already both men are coming to blows even in their incoherent conditions. Neither man is aware that Kat is racing across the ring above them, leaping over the ropes, landing on the middle cable then springing back into a moonsault. Ultimately she collides with both Scott and Andre, knocking all three athletes to the ground.
Frankie: YEEEAAAH BABAY!
Greyson: Amazing moonsault by Kat Kelly.
Frankie: Amazing? AMAZING!?! That was INSPIRING!
Sparkles: Next time sell it better Greyson.
Lexy holds her lower back yet still celebrates her partner’s move in exaggerated fashion. Meanwhile Kat is dragging Scott to his feet and then whipping him along right into the steel steps which BARELY budge on impact. Kat then grabs Andre by the wrist, pulls him up to his feet and sends him launching towards another item at ringside, a steel turnbuckle post. Andre goes hurdling at the post but stops just shy of connecting with it. He grabs the post and keeps his face from slamming into it, or so he had hoped. A dropkick collides with his upper back, Kat kicking Dre forward and causing his face to smack off of the post. Andre goes twisting around and to the floor while his opponent stands over him mocking Dre’s groans of pain.
Eventually Kat’s attention turns from insulting the Evolution Champion to assaulting the other challenger for it. She spots Scott using the stairs to work his way up to his feet, which just won’t do. Kat jumps up to the apron then races across it before diving off right into….the steel steps. Scott side steps the airborne Kat and pushes her along into the stairs that he was just leaning against. Scott shatters Kat’s momentum via the collision and has sent her twisting away right into the waiting arms of another of her recent victims. Andre grabs Kat’s legs, tears them out from under her and then drops back, catapulting Kat straight into the turnbuckle post.
Frankie: How dare they double team Kat, this is a triple threat, not a handicap match.
Greyson: I don’t think this alliance is going to last.
It doesn’t.
Scott and Andre run into a full on collision, fists thrown back and forth. It seems Scott is getting the better of Dre, staggering him back with each blow before grabbing him by the neck. He then approaches the announce table and swings Andre right into it….Andre’s HANDS. He puts his palms down on the table and blocks a face first collision with it. The point of his elbow then hits Scott in the ribs before lifting him into the air and dropping his face square across the table.
Scott ricochets off the table and sends him spiraling along towards the ring, where he rolls in to break up the official’s ten count. Scott struggles to get to his feet but stands only to be taken right back down. He turns away from the center of the ring to the man who is flying into it. Andre has just come sailing from the top of a turnbuckle into a crossbody, crushing his opponent beneath him. Dre remains splayed over his adversary’s chest, seguing the crossbody into a pinfall.
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Before Dre can retain his title his challenger has rolled his shoulder from the canvas.
Greyson: So much for Dre making quick work of his opponents.
Frankie: That bastard almost snuck in the back door and robbed Kat of the Evolution Title.
Sparkles: Speaking of Kat…
After taking that hard head on impact with the turnbuckle post Kat has recovered and is climbing up onto the apron. The moment she reaches the apron she finds Scott’s shoulder hurdling right into her ribs. Scott is thrown by Andre into a shoulder block to their common foe’s ribs. The impact sends Kat flying back from the apron and slamming into the ringside mats. Scott meanwhile stumbles back straight into Andre and the bridging German suplex.
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Once again Scott denies his opponent a successful title defense by rolling his shoulder from the ring. The Champion immediately jumps back to his feet and grabs Scott by the ankle. Dre rolls Scott over to his stomach in order to apply the ankle lock to a loud pop from the crowd.
Greyson: Andre showing his technical expertise here via the ankle lock. He is definitely amongst one of the best technically sound athletes in the world, which is why he won that Evolution Title back at Invictus and has successfully defend it ever since.
Andre is applying a great deal of pressure on Scott’s ankle, but not enough as of yet to force a submission. He finds his submission suddenly thwarted when his opponent rolls to his back, puts boots to Andre’s ribs and pushes him back. The Champion is sent stumbling into the cables and the moment he hits them he finds himself caught on something. That something is Kat’s arms. She jumps onto the apron behind Andre and ensnares his arms, holding them tight. All the while Scott is limping back to his feet and taking advantage of the trapped champion. He rushes into a forearm aimed at Andre but hitting Kat. Just before his face can be smashed Dre ducks his head, causing his adversary’s arm to crush the skull of the woman that was holding onto Dre’s arms. Once again Kat is sent spiraling to the ringside mats. The man who sent Kelly collapsing to the ground looks down over the ropes at the unconscious Kat and sneers. He turns back to the champion but runs right into a drop toe hold. Dre has sent his adversary collapsing into the canvas and then transitioning into the step over crossface.
The STF is about to be locked in and ultimately force Scott to submit, but he is not about to give up this title opportunity. He crawls across the canvas dragging Dre along behind him and then reaches the ropes before he can ever be locked in the STF. He tugs on the ropes that just saved him in order to roll to the apron, now using the cables to put a blockade between himself and his aggressive opponent.
Andre reaches over the cables separating him from his adversary only to find those ropes turned into a weapon used against him. Scott jumps to his feet on the apron, grabs the back of Dre’s head and jumps to the ringside mats, dragging the champion’s throat down into the top cable. Andre’s head snaps back and sends him staggering around straight into the boot of the second of his challengers. Kat has returned to the ring and does so just in time to deliver the superkick.
Frankie: OH SO…..NOOO!
Kat’s boot is intended for Andre’s jaw, NOT the hands that just caught it. Dre pushes Kat’s foot down to the canvas and soon her body follows the same trajectory. She collapses onto her face with Dre dropping on top of her, locking in the STF.
Greyson: It’s locked in!!
Sparkles: Game Over man!
Frankie: Get out of this Kat, fight you sexy minx, FIGHT!
Kat’s arms are flailing about desperately reaching out for the ropes which are far-far-far too out of reach. It seems submission is her only salvation from the hold that Andre has her trapped in. He is seconds from retaining his title and in the most dominant manner imaginable, via submission. However, Andre’s success is predicated on the belief that he’s taken out his second opponent, keeping Scott from interfering. Unfortunately Andre hasn’t. Scott is back in the ring, climbing up the nearest turnbuckle and leaping off into a big diving fist right to the back of Dre’s head. The hold is broken and so to might be Dre’s skull. He relinquishes the STF, rolls off of his opponent and into the nearest corner, sitting up with his back to the turnbuckle. That’s where his head receives even more trauma as a result of the running face wash.
Scott barrels in and crushes Dre’s mug with the running boot. The Challenger then turns away from the Champion and towards another target. Kat has crawled into the diagonal corner from her opponents making the same mistake that Dre did by propping herself up against it. Scott makes the most of Kat’s mistake, bolting straight at her to deliver another face wash. What he runs into instead is a dropkick right on the front of his knee. Scott loses his footing and launches into the corner that his original target was just leaning against. Kat has taken his legs out from under him, causing Scott to lean on the corner just to hold his body up. He turns around just as his adversary leaps across the ring and demolishes his face with a forearm smash.
Kat slams her arm into Scott’s mug then turns away from him and charges across the ring at her other opponent.
Andre has managed to get back to his feet with the bulk of his weight sustained by the corner. He instantly regrets getting up when he finds his face crushed by the heat seeking dropkick unleashed by Kat.
Frankie: Kat’s firing up!
Greyson: She’s just exploding on both opponents. One thing I can definitely commend Kat for, is the fact that she constantly keeps her adversaries guessing with her unpredictable offense.
Kat has no sooner laid one opponent out before going after another. She stares across the ring at Scott, who has willed himself back onto his feet with the use of the ropes. Though he’s about to be taken right back down because Kat’s body is hurdling straight towards him. She goes flying into a second forearm smash aimed at Scott’s face but colliding with nothing but thin air. It’s only Kat’s chest that hits Scott….slamming right into his arm. He catches Kat across the sternum and drives her into the ring via the standing STO.
Sparkles: Well Scott predicted that.
Scott no sooner slams Kat into the canvas before dashing right past her and towards his other adversary. The Champion Andre has just reached his feet with the aid of the turnbuckle only he’s about to be knocked right back off of them when his opponent’s arm comes veering towards his throat. Amazingly Andre manages to duck his head and avoid the impact with his neck, instead catching Scott around his before dropping back into the downward spiral. Scott finds his clothesline thwarted and furthermore his face being slammed into the middle turnbuckle pad.
After driving one opponent into the corner the defending champ prepares to do the same to the other. Andre pops up to his feet and goes hurdling across the ring, honing in on Kat, who is leaning against a turnbuckle. Dre gets a lot of air behind a big stinger splash, that ultimately sends his body slamming straight into Kat’s boots.
Frankie: But Andre didn’t predict that.
Greyson: Kat getting her feet right up into those ribs that were already injured thanks to the Embrace the Dark Andre received two weeks ago.
The kick to the abs has knocked Andre out of the air and onto his back where he tries to curl around his mid-section. Kat isn’t about to let him shield his ribs, instead she comes leaping off the middle strand of the corner she was just leaning against and drives both of her boots right into his mid-section via the double stomp.
Greyson: ANOTHER impact with the ribs….FOLLOWED BY THE FOREARM SMASH!
Kat’s boots bounce off Andre’s ribs and then her body tucks into a forward roll only to lunge out of it straight into a flying forearm smash that connects with another adversary’s face. Scott, who was leaning with his back to a corner, now finds his skull demolished by the forearm that his adversary just delivered. Kat doesn’t let Scott collapse to the ground, instead she puts him in a side headlock then points at their opponent Andre. Even after taking two vicious blows to the ribs Andre is pushing past the pain in order to work his way up into the clothesline Kat has intended for his throat. She runs out of the corner and prepares to take two opponents out with one stone, hitting a bulldog on Scott and a clothesline on Andre.
But NEITHER move is successful because Scott shoves Kat off the bulldog and then her clothesline on Andre is countered into the Thrill Ride. Andre delivers the Sky High Press Slam, putting Kat’s spine viciously into the ring. He does not follow this move up with a pin, instead he rolls away from Kat and prepares to combat Cannon.
The moment Andre gets to his feet he has to contend with another of his adversaries charging in and unleashing a brutal clothesline. Scott hits the lariat with so much force that it even takes himself down to the ring, landing on his knees right beside his gasping opponent.
Greyson: That’s the problem inherit in these triple threat matches. You get so much action going you can’t keep track of it all.
Sparkles: Bodies just flying everywhere and anywhere.
An aching Scott staggers towards Kat and snatches hold of her ankle, lifting up on it and sending her rolling over back to her knees. He then takes her around the waist, lifting Kat up into a powerbomb only to drive her down square on top of Andre’s ribcage.
Greyson: KAT POWERBOMED ON TOP OF ANDRE!
Sparkles: This is something we see a lot out of Scott when he participates in these multi-person matches, he uses his opponents as weapons against each other.
A distraught Lexy watches form ringside as her partner Kat almost had her spine snapped on impact via that lethal powerbomb. Andre’s ribs provided little cushioning for Kat’s back. She rolls off of Dre’s shattered mid-section that Scott is now draped across. He crawls into the cover on Andre, looking to capture the Evolution Title.
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Andre’s shoulder is up and off the canvas, preventing the loss of his Evolution Title. Scott’s upper lip is twisted into a grimace. He then grabs Andre by the head, pulls it up into the arm and traps him in a front chancery. The Evolution Champion is hoisted into position for the House Rules, a jackhammer slam that would ensure Scott captures the title. He is just about to hit it before he spots his brothers Michael and David running down the ramp.
Greyson: What are Scott’s brothers doing out here?
Frankie: Was wondering where these two have been.
Greyson: There seems to have been some conflict between them and Scott in recent weeks, but I think they’re here to help him win the title.
The second Scott spots David and Michael nearing the ring he releases Andre, dropping him to the canvas in favor of confronting his siblings.
Scott: NO!
He holds his palms out towards the two men hanging around the ringside area.
Michael: We’re here to help.
Scott: Leave!
Insists Scott while pointing to the backstage area. David and Michael look absolutely stunned by this request, the two shrugging their shoulders and holding their open palms out to their sides. They sullenly walk up the ramp and to the back.
Sparkles: Did Scott really just send his brothers to the back?
Frankie: My brain is about to explode trying to understand what’s happening here.
Greyson: What’s happening here is that Scott is actually turning his life around. He’s doing things the right way for once.
Frankie: But his brothers could have made things so much easier on him.
Greyson: The easy way is not necessarily the right….OOOH GOD!
Scott doesn’t take his eyes off of his brothers until they’ve walked to the back, which causes him to absent mindedly step right into the Tide Turner. Andre has swooped in behind Scott and has now lifted him into the Olympic Slam.
Greyson: Andre delivers the Tide Turner on an unsuspecting Cannon.
Sparkles: His brothers may have just cost him the Evolution Title instead of helping him win it.
All in attendance are exploding at the sight of Andre hitting the Tide Turner but unable to immediately follow up with the cover. He rolls to his elbows and knees, watching as Scott rolls away from him to a crawling base as well. The only one on their feet is Kat and she’s now running across the ring, stepping off of Scott’s back and launching herself straight into Andre…straight into his ARMS. Andre catches Kat then powerbombs her down right on top of Scott’s lower back.
Greyson: Kat just powerbombed into Scott now.
Sparkles: Would people stop using Kat as a weapon already?
Kat and Scott are laid out by the champion who is now heading for the turnbuckle, starting to scale it. He gets about half way up before the pain from the Embrace the Dark he took two weeks ago begins to take his toll on him here and now. His ribs scream in pain and his back groans in agony. It slows down his upward momentum, causing him to pause on the middle rope. He works his way through the pain and further up the corner before coming to a stop again, this time because he’s just caught a glimpse of something bizarre and someone even bizarrer. With a rose in her mouth Mika Kozlov has just crawled to the stage, wearing incredibly revealing black lingerie.
Frankie: Oooooooh myyyyyy goooooood…..
Sparkles: Breathe Frankie, breathe. Oh no, he’s turning blue.
Greyson: Mika Kozlov popping up now….
Frankie: That’s not all that just popped up.
Greyson: Why has she just come out here and why is she wearing that near see through lingerie?
Andre’s head is craned to the side with an incredibly confused look consuming his face as he eyeballs Mika now kneeling on the stage. She takes the rose from her mouth and runs the petals down between her cleavage.
Greyson: I think we know who was sending all those gifts to Andre now.
Unfortunately the only thing Andre receives now is the Chelsea Smile! Kat runs in behind Dre, jumps into the air and catches him with the back stabber, pulling him down off of the turnbuckle and his injured back into her knees.
Greyson: THE CHELSEA SMILE OFF THE TURNBUCKLE!
Frankie: Mika in lingerie.
Greyson: Concentrate on the match dammit.
Andre has ricocheted off of Kat’s knees and launched into the air. Eventually she twists right down to the canvas, left lying on his stomach. Kat is just about to go for the cover but stops when she spots Scott standing up a few inches away with the ropes used as his crutch.
Sparkles: Go for the pin Kat.
Instead of going for the cover Kat points to the outside of the ring at her partner Lexy.
Kat: This one is for you!
Kat blows Lexy a kiss then goes for the superkick on Scott only to have it miss his head by a fraction of a centimeter. Scott ducks at the last second and causes Kat to not only miss her kick but to crotch herself on the top rope. She bounces off the cable then goes flying over it before ultimately collapsing to the ground. All the while Scott is staggering back across the ring and right into Andre’s waiting arms. He catches Scott around the thigh, pulling him over into the school boy.
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Sparkles: YIKES!
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Greyson: Andre has reta….
Scott kicks out even before Lovejoy can finish his sentence. But kicking out is not all Scott does, he rolls back to his feet then jumps forward over Andre’s back, catching him with an Oklahoma Roll.
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The fans are totally caught off guard when seeing the referee’s hand slap the canvas for the third and for the final time.
Sparkles: Wait-wait a minute-WAAAIT!
Greyson: Holy son of a bitch!
Frankie: Scott caught Dre, he CAUGHT ‘EM!
There is an unholy rabble at the sight of Dre kicking out….a second too late. He drops over onto his stomach and looks absolutely stunned as he watches Scott exit the ring and instantly be rewarded with the Evolution Title belt.
Greyson: We have a NEW Evolution Champion!!
Sparkles: Scott has at long last done it, he’s broken the cycle.
Greyson: After over a year in the IWC Scott Cannon finally has been crowned champion.
Mika Kozlov protrudes her lower lip and pouts on the stage as she watches Dre climbing to his knees in the ring realizing that he was distracted long enough to lose his Evolution Title. Scott makes his way up the ramp with the belt stretched over his palms, looking down into the belt, completely mystified by the gold. Back at ringside Lexy is aiding Kat onto her feet and patting her on the head. At the moment Dre can definitely use more than a pat on the head, but he wouldn’t take one from the woman still kneeling on the stage with a rose clinched between her teeth and her head sympathetically tilted to the side. He looks towards Mika, who shrugs her shoulders. It doesn’t take long for cameras to find their way back to Scott, who has HIS Evolution Title raised high over-head.
Greyson: What a stunning turn of events, Scott Cannon captures the Evolution Title after one hell of a physical three way.
Sparkles: Maybe all it took for him to become champion was this change in attitude.
Greyson: Poor Dre. He was creating a dynasty with the Evolution Championship and now, thanks in large part to the arrival of Mika Kozlov, he’s lost the gold.
Trinity: You have to understand why Lexy and Kat did what they did.
A phone is held to the ear of Trinity Street as she paces Monarchy’s dressing room.
Trinity: Listen Chris, I know you’re not happy that my student attacked your brother, but he set all of this into motion when he directly interfered in Monarchy’s plans. You know how impulsive your brother is. He needed to be corrected.
Before Trinity’s conversation can continue the door to the locker-room opens and Lucas Knight comes into view holding a bag of ice to the welt on his forehead.
Trinity: I have to go.
Trinity hangs up and hangs up quick at the sight of Knight in such a state of disrepair.
Trinity: What happened?
Lucas: Selena Frost happened.
Trinity: Hmmmmm….
The phone in her hand is squeezed ever so tighter.
Trinity: I’ve had about enough of her.
A switchblade slipped out of Trinity’s pocket.
Lucas: She’s not our primary concern…
Lucas grabs the hand that clutched the knife.
Lucas: We can deal with Selena later. Right now it’s Orlando Cruze and it’s Marina Valdivia we should be focused on.
Trinity: Hmmmm….You’re right. Taylor Chase’s Indoctrination Ceremony needs to go off without a hitch. And….
Loud knocking breaks up the conversation. Trinity and Lucas look towards the source, Emily Cage coming into Monarchy’s view as she nails a poster to a wall. Said poster shows an image of Emily’s sister Cassidy Cage and reads “Have You Seen Me?”
Trinity: Excuse me.
Emily looks from the flier she was just hanging to stare at the Monarchy members.
Trinity: We’re TRYING to have a conversation here.
Emily smiles warmly before taking her fliers, her hammer, her nails and walking away. The camera remains fixed on the missing person flier just bolted into the wall.
The show segues into a shot of Alistair Taylor continuing to stand in the press room where his honored guests are making themselves comfortable. One of the bohemian era rock-band members invited by Alistair is kicking back and taking a hit from their cigarette….or at least it looks like a cigarette. Alistair excitedly overlooks all those with long white bangs and big rimmed sunglasses in their baggy hippy style clothing.
Alistair: So I was thinking, just to make sure you all perform at your optimum level for Taylor’s Indoctrination Ceremony, that I would arrange a little warm up session? How about it?
The bandmate closest to the camera knocks the ash off the edge of his cigarette into a plastic cup.
Alistair: I’ll take that as a yes. I’ve already got your roadies setting up your equipment on the stage. So everything will be ready for your big performance. LET’S ROOOCK!
Alistair makes a devil taunt gesture with his fingers and extends his tongue in Gene Simmons fashion.
The name “Taylor Chase” comes into view, the camera opening on the door leading into her locker-room. Before long the focus drifts from the nameplate screwed into the door to the unoccupied chair set up beneath it. Throughout the night we’ve seen World Champion Katelyn Buehler seated in that chair, but not anymore, not after her run ins with Wicked Intent. Instead something else occupies the chair now, a baseball bat wrapped in barbwire, the very weapon Buehler was going to use the moment Taylor Chase showed up to the arena.
Voice: Well now….
A shadow is cast over the barbwire bat and before long hands are reaching out to grab it. The camera cuts to the face of Taylor Chase, and the baseball bat that now rests in her palms.
Taylor: How thoughtful.
Taylor muses while throwing the bat over her shoulder, clinging to the very weapon that she used to bust Katelyn Buehler open just two weeks earlier.
Frankie: She’s heeeeerreee.
Greyson: Taylor Chase, the woman EVERYONE wants a piece of or a word with, has arrived at the Kashima Stadium.
Sparkles: And she’s got hold of that baseball bat.
Frankie: Hopefully we get to see her use it again here tonight, maybe during her Indoctrination Ceremony.
Greyson: What’s going to happen when Tay is indoctrinated into the Monarchy here tonight?
Once again cameras have cut to the graveyard where Mordecai and Mrs. R have been seen throughout the night. The eight foot deep crater created by the monster has now been covered in dirt, burying the bloody sack which apparently contains the remnants of Mordecai’s latest victim. Mrs. R has just completed the funeral rites for the departed Johnny Kingdom.
Mrs. R: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
She says with a singsong tone to her voice. A fistful of dirt is held in her palm and is tossed over the mound that has Kingdom’s mutilated remains concealed below it.
Mordecai: Goodbye Fallen King. Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Muses the massive creature at his sister’s side.
Mrs. R: Don’t worry Kingdom….
Now she kneels over the grave and pats the dirt that covers it.
Mrs. R: You won’t be alone.
Slowly the camera turns to look to the patch of land right beside Kingdom’s final resting place, revealing another deep hole.
Mrs. R: For the World Champion will be joining you very-very soon.
A tombstone appears at the head of this unearthed grave, with the name ‘Katelyn Buehler’ inscribed upon it.
There is a huge grin smeared across the face of Silas Mason. He seems rather jovial after the events of earlier tonight, when he and all those presently gathered around him left the McBride sisters battered in the center of the squared circle. Jeffrey Starxxx, Marcus Briggs, Randal Williams, Desmond Drake and Mason Van Stanton form a semi-circle around the Principle Owner who is in such high spirits that he’s twirling the rim of his Stetson around his finger.
Silas: I don’t give out compliments often, but ya’ll did a great job out there.
Jeffrey: I told you this relationship would have its perks boss-man.
Silas: Yes it does. Because now that yer my new head of media relations, yer crew….(points at the huge Briggs and the toned Williams)….becomes MY crew.
A hearty chuckle is exchanged amongst the members of Silas’ staff.
Jeffrey: I’m sure Marcus and Randal and I will come in handy in that six person tag against the McBrides at Upping the Ante.
Silas: Yes they will….
A finger taps at Silas’ shoulder but is shrugged away with indifference.
Silas: With Marcus and yerself as my partners it will….
The finger again taps at Silas’ shoulder, at last prompting him to whip around and face correspondent Mark Comeau.
Silas: What is it?
Comeau: Erm Silas….
Mason: For the last time, Silas is too busy to consort with bottom feeders like yourself.
Interupts Mason Van Stanton, wagging a finger in Comeau’s face.
Comeau: Well I…..
Silas: Out with it.
Comeau: Just got word that there’s a juicy rumor floating around the locker-room.
Silas: And?
Comeau: I heard that Drew Bryant is going to be at the next Riot.
The Stetson stops twirling around Silas’ finger, the smile on his face is gone, and there is no more shared laughter amongst his staff. Everyone behaves like they’re at a funeral as they hear the news that the Majority Owner of the IWC will be in attendance at the next telecast.
Cameras catch up with two individuals who are not the biggest fans of the Principle Owner. Samantha Raine and Maxine Moore are caught in the locker-room right in the midst of a conversation. While Raine sits in a chair and laces up her boots Maxine is pacing back and forth tightening her squeeze on the chain that is bound around her fist.
Raine: I take it you saw what Silas just did to the McBrides.
Maxine: Unfortunately.
Raine: Somebody has to take that son of a bitch down a few pegs….
Maxine: We got a good start two weeks ago.
Raine: Yeah, taking out his personal security was a step in the right direction but….
Voice: Ladies, you are fooling yourselves if you think that Silas is the threat you SHOULD be concerning yourselves with.
Raine and Maxine look up into the face, a very smug one at that, of Martin Howe III. The attorney who hasn’t been seen on IWC television in over a year. Why he marks his return to syndication now by interrupting Raine’s and Maxine’s conversation remains to be seen.
Maxine: You lost?
Maxine asks immediately going on the defensive.
Martin: No, I’m right where I need to be.
Raine: The woman’s locker-room? Pretty sure you can be arrested for just barging in here. This is no man’s land.
Martin: I assure you, I’m not here to oogle or gawk. I’m here to CORRECT you…
Raine and Maxine exchange a terse glare before looking back to Martin
Martin: Two weeks ago you were extremely….EXTREMELY fortunate that you were left in any capacity to walk out of Riot on your own. But I promise you, that will change tonight.
Maxine: Are you threating us you bloated Joe Pesci wannabe?
Martin: Me? No. I know I’m no physical threat, but my client on the other hand, that’s a different story. And this story, isn’t a fairytale. I’m afraid the fairytale….is….over.
Cameras transition to the stage where an assortment of musical instruments have been set up. There’s drums, there’s guitars, there’s microphones, and of course, there’s the most important percussion of them all, the cow-bell. The viewers are yet to get an audial sample of the instruments but they do get an earful from the commentators.
Greyson: On what continues to be one of the strangest and most unpredictable nights in Riot history, we now come to a moment I’ve been dreading since the second it was announced.
Frankie: You’re dreading a free concert?
Greyson: Let’s face it, concerts on wrestling shows are either time fillers with some irrelevant musician who hasn’t been popular in ten years, or they end extremely badly for the performer.
Sparkles: Sparkles is looking forward to this. Alistair Taylor said that he found the best band in the world to perform tonight.
Greyson: Speaking of Alistair….
The crowd is particularly unnerved by the visual of Alistair Taylor and they make their distaste for the Monarchy representative apparent the moment he steps out onto the stage.
Alistair: Please-please-please, withhold your applause.
Absolutely no one was applauding.
Alistair: I know you all want to throw roses at my feet right now, but please refrain from pelting me with either flowers or your room keys. I want you to save up all your love, all your enthusiasm, for those truly entitled to it, the band that I personally had flown in to perform at Taylor Chase’s Indoctrination Ceremony tonight.
Somehow Alistair manages to make the crowd even surlier.
Alistair: But before they put on the greatest concert for the GREATEST woman in professional wrestling, they’re going to have a warm up act by serenading you, the fans. So open up your ears, quiet your voices, and prepare to have your minds blown by ‘Sticky and the Ickies!’
Alistair extends his hand towards the entrance curtain, which parts as band members begin to file through it.
Greyson: Wait-wait-wait. Sticky….and the Ickies?
Frankie: I’ve heard of these guys before. I think they performed at my nephew’s grade-school graduation. Good choice Alistair.
Sparkles: Sparkles hopes they’re a polka band.
The very seventies looking band members take center-stage, their faces barely distinguishable beneath all their long white hair and huge sunglasses. The lead singer grabs the microphone and is about to perform before finding his voice drowned out by all the boos. The reaction seems to outrage Alistair, who is not about to let this performance be ruined by the crowd.
Alistair: Hey! You better respect the fact that these guys flew all the way in from England just to entertain you. Show them some respect.
The crowd will give no love, even when Alistair is trying to twist their arms into doing so, ESPECIALLY when he’s trying to twist their arms into doing so.
Alistair: I have a half a mind to tell them to pack up their instruments and just leave….
The fans DO endorse this idea.
Alistair: But that wouldn’t be fair to Taylor Chase, who unlike all of you deserves to be serenaded.
As Alistair continues to antagonize the crowd, behind him we can see one of the band members strumming their guitar and stepping away from the rest of the group.
Alistair: In spite of your close minded ignorance, Sticky and the Ickies WILL perform and you had better damn well like it….
A finger taps Alistair on the shoulder.
Alistair: WHAT!?!
The aggravated Alistair spins around right into the guitar that EXPLODES against his skull.
Frankie: HEEEEY!
Sparkles: WHY!!?!!
The band member now holding a shattered guitar in their hands stares down at Alistair laid out on the ramp before them. The reason for their attack becomes clearer when the performer grabs the white wig off the top of their head and removes the sunglasses that WAS hiding much of their face. The crowd goes nuts as the disguise is ripped away to reveal the face of Selena Frost.
Greyson: It’s FROST! It’s Selena Frost!
Sparkles: She was in disguise!
Frankie: THIS IS HORRIBLE!
Greyson: Selena Frost has just ruined Alistair’s concert!
Frankie: She’s going to pay for this!
The Queen of the Ring Champion stoops down towards an unconscious Alistair, wagging her finger directly at the dribble of blood streaming from the gash in his forehead. Meanwhile in the background Selena’s fiancée Deanna Springs has just come to the stage and grabbed another guitar, threatening the other band member with it, chasing them to the backstage area.
Greyson: Selena getting a measure of revenge against Alistair Taylor for costing her the Tag team Titles back at Awakening.
Frankie: Monarchy are not going to stand for this.
Cameras cut to the backstage area where Emily Cage has just come into view. She is standing in the guerilla position with her side to the curtains that separate her from the ring. In her hands she clings to a flier publicizing the disappearance of her sister Cassidy.
Emily: What I do….I do for you.
Emily kisses the picture of her sis, who has now been missing for several months. Having vanished without a trace.
Emily: Selena knows something, and I’m going to beat the truth out of her.
The flier falls to the floor while Emily steps towards the curtains, passing right through them.
Selena: MONARCHY!
Back out in the ring Selena Frost has just shed her disguise in full. The wig and glasses are gone, only the hippy style gear hanging from her body. The Queen of the Ring Champion is on a tirade against the group she has been targeting throughout the night.
Selena: MOOOONARCHY!! You think the ‘believe’ movement is a joke? Well are you laughing at me now…at these believers (points out over the crowd)?
Emily: EXCUSE ME!!
Selena’s verbal tirade comes to an end when interrupted by an unexpected source. Emily Cage comes walking out from the back with fliers in hand. The commentators can at last be heard in the background.
Greyson: What business does Emily Cage have with Selena Frost?
Sparkles: We’ve seen her several times over the past few months looking for her sister Cassidy Cage, who went missing quite a long time ago.
Frankie: Yeah, she attacked Julia Braddock two weeks ago trying to get information about Cassidy’s whereabouts. Here’s hoping she does the same to Selena.
With microphone in one hand and a bundle of fliers in the other, Emily draws closer and closer to the Queen of the Ring Champion.
Emily: Selena Frost, I apologize for interrupting you.
Espouses Emily upon entering the ring.
Emily: But I couldn’t sit backstage any longer waiting for someone to give me the answers that I’ve been looking for. It’s been over two months…TWO MONTHS, since my sister Cassidy went missing. You all remember her right?
Emily looks at Selena then at the crowd.
Emily: One of you knows where she is….right Selena?
The Queen of the Ring Champion tilts her head in quizzical fashion.
Emily: You have information and you’re going to give it to me!
Selena: Listen, Emily is it?
Emily: Stop changing the subject.
Selena: I don’t know anything about your sister, and to be honest with you, I’m not sure I really care right now. Cassidy and I are not friends, and she is not a good person, so whatever happened to her, she had coming.
Emily: How-how-how dare you.
Selena: How dare YOU come out and interrupt me when I was addressing the believers. When I was just about to inform Monarchy that a change of season is upon them, because WINTER IS COMING.
Emily: My sister is gone and you….
Selena: She’s a grown woman, let her handle her own problems. Speaking of problems, I have enough of my own to deal with without worrying about yours. So this conversation, it’s over.
Selena turns to exit the ring getting about half way through the ropes before finding her hair caught on something, Emily’s hands.
Emily: You’re not going anywhere!
Before Selena knows what hit her she’s being dragged by her pony tail down to the canvas, causing the back of her head to slam against the canvas.
Emily: You’re going to tell me where my sister is!
EMILY CAGE VS. SELENA FROST
Referee Michelle Blacker enters the ring and calls for the bell to kick start this match.
Greyson: It looks like we’re getting a match here ladies and gents.
Sparkles: More unscheduled awesomeness.
Frankie: Not going to be much of a match, Emily just got the drop on Selena.
Boot after boot collides with Selena’s chest as Emily just stomps away at her.
Emily: Tell me what I want to know Selena!
Frost is dragged into the corner and propped up against it. Now a knee comes barreling straight into the Queen of the Ring Champion’s face, almost crushing it.
Emily: You will tell me where my sister is!
A stunned Selena is forced onto her feet then whipped into the far corner, her back hitting it and her throat being hit even harder. Emily dashes in and connects with a clothesline on the Queen of the Ring Champion. The blow takes Selena off of her feet and puts her on her seat.
Emily: I just want answers.
Emily will get those answers by way of torturing Selena, diving with both boots right into her chest. A front dropkick nails Selena and has her quaking in pain. She rolls out of the ring and to the outside mats, falling to her hands and knees. She just barely gets up before she finds herself in the clutches of Emily. She grabs Selena by the back of the head and runs her towards the steel steps. However, at the last second Selena turns around and reverses into a hip toss. Emily flips over and her backside hits the ringside mats pretty forcefully. She then rolls over to her feet, stands up and staggers right into the clothesline.
Greyson: Hopefully Emily is learning that this is no way to get answers.
Sparkles: Yeah, because now she’s just straight up getting her ass kicked by the Queen of the Ring Champion.
Selena grabs Emily by the hair, forces her up to her feet and nails a right hand straight across her brow. The blow sends Emily spiraling around into the ring. She rolls under the ropes and back into the squared circle. Selena is following right behind her, slipping through the ropes. She only makes it about half into the ring though before her head is caught in the clutches of her opponent. Emily pulls Selena around into the rope hung swinging neck breaker.
Greyson: Nicely done. This Emily may be going about finding her sister all wrong, but she does have a hell of a lot of skill in that ring.
Frankie: She definitely didn’t get that from her sister.
The neck breaker has Selena grabbing at her head and definitely feeling the sting. She is then pulled up to her feet and snapped over into the suplex, followed by the float over. Emily doesn’t float over into a pin though, no, she floats over into a barrage of fists. She punches and punches and punches at Selena’s forehead, screaming all the while.
Emily: You HAVE to help me find Cassidy!
Emily stands up and drops her head right into her target’s collar bone. She then leaps to her feet and hits an axehandle elbow drop across Selena’s brow.
Emily: All you have to do is tell me…..
A handful of hair is employed to drag Selena up to her feet.
Emily: Tell me what you know about my sister’s disappearance. Here…
She lets Selena go in order to approach one of fliers she dropped on the canvas when starting this brawl.
Emily: Just look at her face, maybe it’ll refresh your memory.
Just as Emily stoops down to pick up the flier with a picture of her sister’s face on, Selena dashes to her side, catches her by the arm and flips her forward into the Frost Bite.
Greyson: Oh God she’s got it locked in. Selena has Emily in the Frost Bite.
Sparkles: That cross arm breaker that Selena has made world famous.
Within a matter of seconds of being locked in the Frost Bite we see Emily tap out to it.
Greyson: She’s submitting!
Frankie: WHAT!?!
Greyson: Emily tapping out to the Frost Bite!
The agony is just too much, Selena HAS to give up. She submits and a moment after hearing the hand slap the canvas Selena breaks the Frost Bite. She rolls off of her opponent, gets to her knees and now listens to the tunes of her theme music blaring through the PA system. Selena crawls out of the ring and celebrates her win to a rousing response from the crowd. Back inside of the squared circle a worn out Emily has crawled into the corner and is griping tight to the flier with her sister’s picture on it.
Greyson: Emily getting no closer to finding out what happened to her sister.
Frankie: This is turning into a deeper mystery than who killed Laura Palmer.
Sparkles: Selena picks up another win tonight and probably just sent a message to Monarchy.
Frankie: Here I thought smashing a guitar over Alistair Taylor’s head was message enough.
Alistair: Don’t leave!
Although there is blood trickling down from Alistair Taylor’s scalp he is still trying to keep up with the band that is vacating the arena and in a hurry. They make their way towards the exit as fast as they can, nothing swaying them from leaving, not even Alistair’s impassioned cries. He falls to his knees as the effects of that guitar shot catch up with him. Alistair is forced to look through his blood shot eyes as the door closes behind the back of the final band member.
Alistair: DAMMIT!
The side of Alistair’s fist nails the concrete under his knees.
The ever foreboding and ever ominous structure that is a casket comes into view. The camera is slowly panning around the coffin which apparently houses the body of Aaron Harrison. Someone draws closer to it, the body of NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee. She stops beside the coffin and puts one hand on the lid while clutching a lighter in her other palm.
Rachel: I could have done it earlier tonight. I could have BURNED YOU.
She leans down closer to the coffin.
Rachel: But I didn’t. And ya want to know why? Cause Goddard, he’s got plans fer ya. He’s determined he can help ya.
Rachel pulls back from the casket then looks towards the NHB Title sat on her shoulder.
Rachel: Right now, it’s time to help MYSELF.
It isn’t long before Rachel it out of the room and leaves the casket to sit alone in the shadows. Slowly, and ever so ominously, the lid of the coffin starts to push ajar. Someone opens the casket from within.
A fist swings into a door, knocking at it. Victoria Salinas waits to be greeted by the individual inside of the room. The door opens and Marina Valdivia exits, smiling sweetly in her good friend’s direction.
Victoria: You ready?
Marina: Let’s do this.
Marina and Victoria head down the hallway just as an instrumental version of the Riot theme starts to play in the background.
Greyson: Marina Valdivia joined by Victoria Salinas. The two are headed for the ring.
Sparkles: Marina is about to lock up with Ricky Holt in a Number One Contender Tournament match.
Frankie: But she’s going to have her hands full with “The General.”
Greyson: Ricky Holt versus Marina Valdivia…NEXT!
Serenity: I will not fail you again my Queen.
Former World Champion Serenity stands in the hallway with her face half in a door and half out of it. She is staring through a crack and into a room that presumably holds a recovering Cindy Todd.
Serenity: You rest. I’LL deal with Marina Valdivia.
Devon Kayl’s hands are groping at the back of his neck, obviously still in a great deal of pain after what Ricky Holt did to him earlier in the night. He sits on a crate looking very aggravated both by the pain in his neck and by the fact that he was eliminated from the Number One Contender Tournament earlier tonight. The side of his fist swings into the wall behind him.
Greyson: Devon Kayl still suffering the effects of that attack at the hands of Ricky Holt.
Informs the commentator, his voiceover being heard.
Sparkles: The hands? Don’t you mean the 2×4?
Greyson: Yeah, Holt bashed Kayl right upside the head with a board.
Sparkles: Which left him in no condition to fight in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: Awwww, poor Kayl. You two do realize he brought this on himself, right?
Once again Martin Howe III comes into view, standing in a very dark corridor. There is only a little bit of light pouring into the corridor, casting the shape of a doorway on the wall behind him.
Martin: I tried to warn them.
He speaks into the camera, but is obviously looking into the doorway responsible for the deluge of light gushing into the hall.
Martin: But instead of being afraid, they LAUGHED. That’s right, the beautiful people were laughing at YOU.
A growl sounding every bit as deep as a bear coming out of hibernation can be heard filtering into the hall.
Martin: It’s time they stopped laughing and started weeping…weeping in despair when they look into the mirror and see what you do to their beautiful faces. Then, no one will ever laugh at you again.
A chilling giggle emanates from the room that Martin was talking into. He walks away while the camera remains stationed on the door shaped burst of light across the wall. A shadowy silhouette begins to form in the middle of the light, a MASSIVE silhouette with fists clinched.
Cameras circle the audience while the commentators are overheard in the background.
Greyson: A lot having already gone down this evening and yet there’s still more to come.
Sparkles: We’ve got Ricky Holt and Marina Valdivia to collide in the final first round match of the Number One Contender Tournament….
Frankie: Don’t forget Taylor Chase is going to have her Indoctrination Ceremony by joining Monarchy.
Sparkles: Plus the World Title is going to be on the line when Katelyn Buehler defends against Mordecai.
Greyson: And….wait just one second….
The cameras that had been panning indiscriminately over the audience suddenly find a point to focus on. There are two individuals filing into front row chairs, situating themselves directly behind the barricade. They are both wearing matching black sweatshirts and equally as dark ski masks. Yet the oddest piece of their attire are the signs that they are wearing around their necks. One sign reads “NOT ETHAN VON AARON,” and the other sign says “NOT ALANA STARR.”
Frankie: Looks like we’ve got some creative fans.
Greyson: There is something highly suspicious about this.
Frankie: What? What conspiracy theory have you cooked up now?
Greyson: Oh how about the fact that those two fans who just showed up in the front row are wearing signs that pretty much clue everyone into the fact that they’re Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron.
Sparkles: But the signs say they aren’t.
Greyson: Oh for God sakes. I hope that Uprising’s talents aren’t planning something here tonight on OUR show.
Sparkles: If they are, it’s got to involve their common foe Rachel Tatum Lee.
The chorus of “Glamorous” begins to play over the speakers meaning that Marina Valdivia is on her way to the ring. To the stage strolls Marina, and Victoria Salinas is right behind her, watching out for her best friend. The two head along towards the ring traversing the red carpet that has been rolled out beneath their feet.
Greyson: Marina Valdivia has been waiting a long time for this ladies and gentlemen.
Sparkles: An opportunity to make Sparkles a grilled cheese sandwich?
Frankie: The opportunity to butt into the whole Taylor Chase, Orlando Cruze drama?
Greyson: No, though chances are we WILL see that later tonight.
Sparkles: The grilled…..
Greyson: No, not that. Dammit, now I’ve completely forgot why I opened my mouth to begin with.
Frankie: Don’t worry, we weren’t going to listen anyway.
Marina is in the ring and Victoria is circling it, obviously on guard to ward off any potential interference from the long list of enemies her friend has amassed over the past few months.
Greyson: Marina not coming out alone, as you can see Victoria Salinas is with her.
Sparkles: Yeah, Victoria jumped over to the Riot brand back at Awakening to support her friend Marina. And boy does Marina ever need the support. She’s got more enemies than Sparkles has pieces of cheese under his bed.
Frankie: She’s only made all those enemies because she can’t stay out of other people’s business.
Greyson: Marina has a huge heart, and that’s what guides her, if it puts her at odds with others at times, then so be it. Anyway, Marina to take on Ricky Holt here in the Number One Contender Tournament and….
“Unsettling Differences” by Blue Smock Nancy begins to play. Ricky Holt slowly walks out. He’s wearing a black leather trenchcoat, leather gloves, and sunglasses. He carries himself with menacing bravado and an inner vehemence that radiates from within. Ricky stands at the top of the stage and looks around at the crowd with a defiant scowl for a few seconds, then continues to the ring with a quick and haughty stride. The General walks up the steel steps into the ring, where he walks around like a hard cunt with that bad-tempered glare. After handing his accessories to the ringside attendant, Ricky picks a corner to brood in as he waits for the match to start.
Frankie: Ricky wasn’t about to let you finish your sentence, Lovejoy. He waits for no man.
Greyson: And apparently there’s no man or woman he won’t piss off. You want to talk about Marina and her list of enemies, then how about you mention the sheer volume of people that Ricky has angered in his time in the IWC?
Frankie: Nope.
Greyson: Oh, okay, well fine. I will. We all saw what he did to Devon Kayl earlier tonight, AND that was after he jumped a member of Tombstone just to send a message to NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee.
Frankie: You have to admire that, most people shit in their draws at the thought of crossing paths with Rachel and Tombstone, but Ricky, he’s a bad mofo, he stood right up to them. And he’ll stand up to Marina tonight by laying her out and moving on in the Number One Contenders Tournament,
RICKY HOLT VS. MARINA VALDIVIA:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
There’s the bell to commence the match, and the second it finishes ringing Marina is making her way out of her corner with a palm extended. She actually looks to commence this match with Holt on a friendly basis. Holt isn’t one who adheres to any type of sportsmanship or moral code, which his opponent learns when she sees him sneering at her hand and then nudging it away with his boot. Marina looks down at her hand that was just kicked and actually smiles. That grin stays on her face as Holt shouts some rather discouraging comments at her then demands a tie up. Marina is more than eager to lock up with Ricky, the two wrapped in the collar elbow tie for a moment.
Almost immediately Marina is transitioning the collar elbow into the twisting arm lock. She has her opponent’s wrist and keeps wrenching and wrenching it until it’s bent at a very awkward angle. Holt however, shows some athleticism in his escape. Although he’s still trapped in the arm ringer Holt bridges back until the top of his head is touching the canvas and his body is in a crab walk position. He then lifts one of his feet, wedges it to Marina’s forearm and pushes it until she’s forced to break the arm ringer. Holt then kips up to his feet and performs an arm drag on Marina, flipping her down to the canvas. Holt kneels behind Marina and traps her in the arm bar submission.
Frankie: We don’t get to see this very often. Some actual technical wrestling to start out this Tournament match. You know, I’m pretty solid when it comes to technical wrestling.
Sparkles: So is Sparkles. We’re technical wizards.
Greyson: Neither of you know the first thing about technical wrestling. You probably still think an arm bar is a place you can get shots of tequila.
Frankie: No, but I have taken shots of tequila while holding someone in an arm bar before.
Marina groans from the painful pressure being put on her arm but she does not succumb to her agony. Instead she rolls backwards and manages to force Ricky up to his feet as opposed to the kneeling position he was in moment’s ago. Ricky maintains the arm bar on his opponent even as she works her way up to her feet. He finds it hard to keep holding on when Marina cartwheels across the canvas, using one hand to do so, and ends up back on her feet. Yet she’s still trapped on the arm bar. So Marina employs another method to escape. She reaches out, grabs the nearby referee by his jersey then uses him to back flip. A second after flipping back Marina swings around Ricky’s arm and reverses the submission she was just trapped in on her adversary.
Ricky prepares to counter by dropping into a forward roll. He gets to his seat but never has the chance to reach his feet, because Marina has just transitioned the arm lock into a full on crucifix that she uses to pull him back into a pin.
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Ricky manages to kick out by rolling over backwards out of the crucifix and landing on his knees. But Marina pops up to her feet at his side and keeps hold of his wrist, reapplying the arm ringer.
Greyson: Marina’s focus going right back to the arm.
Frankie: Come on General, be like Patton, or Eisenhower, or Sanders…
Greyson: Ugh, Sanders was NEVER a general, he was a colonel.
Sparkles: Same difference.
A creative approach is taken to escaping the submission Ricky is locked in. He gets to his feet still trapped in the arm bar until he leaps at the nearest set of ropes, drops his legs across the top cable and flips over backwards. He falls straight to the ring and reverses the arm bar into a modified arm drag, sending his adversary flipping over him. Marina tucks into a forward roll, and her momentum ends up carrying her straight to her feet right in front of a turnbuckle.
The aggressive Ricky is charging right along behind Marina, looking to lay into her, or just flat out lay her out. However, Marina has reached out, grabbed the top rope of the turnbuckle and is leaping into a reverse leap frog. Ricky runs under Marina, who twists her body in mid-air in order to come down on Ricky’s back then pull him over into a modified sunset flip.
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Even though he was caught completely off guard by the roll up Ricky still manages to pop his shoulder off the canvas. He then rolls over backwards onto his knees and crawls into the creases of Marina’s, wedging his shoulders into the back of her legs. He folds Marina under him into a pin.
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The pin does not pay off with a victory, Marina kicks out and falls over to her side in the process. The moment she comes down onto her stomach she is left groaning from the agony of the arm bar that Ricky has leaped into. Ricky jumps to Marina’s side, grabs her arm and applies the fujiwara.
Greyson: We’re back to where we started. Ricky going straight after the arm once more.
Sparkles: If he just bends back a little further and adds a bit more pressure he’ll get the submission or he’ll break Marina’s arm.
Frankie: Either option would probably appease Holt.
The fujiwara has Marina in awful pain but not sufficient enough anguish to force her submission. She works her way up from the canvas, forcing Ricky to stand up as he tries to hold onto the arm. The moment both athletes reach their feet Ricky transitions into the fujiwara into the twisting arm ringer. Marina does not plan on staying in this hold for very long, whipping her leg around and blasting Ricky straight upside his temple. The kick forces Ricky to break the hold and hope that there’s not a break in his skull as well. He staggers back into the turnbuckle, falls against it for support and then contends with the boots that are flying straight into his gut. His opponent sends Ricky flying out of the corner into the monkey flip.
Ricky catches some great height before coming down on his back, HARD.
Greyson: Marina opening the door after she created a window of opportunity.
Sparkles: Your analogies confuse Sparkles.
Ricky ends up right back in the same position that he started in, standing with his back pressed to a turnbuckle.
No sooner does Marina’s opponent get to his feet with the aid of the corner that her leg comes flying right into his throat. She runs the length of the ring and completes her jaunt by delivering a standing spinning leg lariat. The blow crushes Holt’s throat and has him staggering forward out of the corner he now regrets having propped himself against. Marina, who was still standing after the leg lariat, finally leaves her feet when she springs from the ropes and leaps into her adversary with a spinning heel kick. Ricky is knocked right off of his feet, sent plummeting to the ring then scrambling across it towards the ropes. He leans against the cables but AGAIN lives to regret using them as a prop because Marina sends him flipping over those ropes with a running lariat.
Sparkles: Marina all amped up. Someone had their monster energy drink before the match.
Greyson: NO product placement Sparkles.
Sparkles; Every time Sparkles says Monster Energy Drink I get a nickel. So you’ll hear me say that a lot over the next couple weeks.
Frankie: You’ll also hear me say the words Trojan Condom.
Greyson: You got some type of sponsorship deal too?
Frankie: No.
The crowd is behind Marina and she is feeding off the swell of their excitement. Though there are two who react with total indifference, the pair in dark clothing and ski masks just behind the barricade that brandish signs around their necks. Ricky gets even closer to them in the process of standing on the ringside mats. Marina is on the verge of taking him straight back down as she runs across the ring, drops just shy of the ropes and aims a baseball slide dropkick at her opponent’s chest. Much to her dismay however, THIS kick does not connect. Marina’s boots are caught in Ricky’s hands and as a result all her momentum is stopped and she’s left lying on her side across the apron. Then her legs are pushed by Ricky, who whips her completely around so that it’s her upper body hovering above the ringside mats with her legs now in the ring. Ricky takes advantage of Marina’s position, grabbing her arm, putting it across his chest and then dropping back. Marina is pulled into a hanging version of the divorce court arm breaker off the apron to the outside of the ring.
Greyson: Ooooooh. I have never seen the divorce court arm breaker hit out of that position before.
Sparkles: Can you imagine the amount of pain that Marina is in right now after being dropped right on her shoulder?
Ricky can and it’s why he’s continuing to hone his assault in on that particular part of her anatomy. Before Marina realizes what’s happening she’s being dragged up from the mats by her wounded arm and whipped along straight towards the nearest turnbuckle post. Marina’s shoulder was SUPPOSED to slam into it, but instead she latches onto the post and uses her forward momentum to kick her legs not only into the air but around the post. She swings completely about the post with her legs flying under the ropes into almost a modified 619 aimed at Ricky’s head. Amazingly Ricky possesses the reflexes to catch the shins that were about to land across his face. Ricky snatches hold of Marina’s legs, grips them tight and then pulls, dragging his opponent’s body away from the turnbuckle she was holding. Marina ends up on Ricky’s shoulder in a powerslam position, which is exactly the move she’s about to be subjected to. Ricky runs across the ringside mats but instead of slamming her down into them he charges Marina’s shoulder square into the turnbuckle post that she was holding onto moments earlier.
Greyson: No give in that turnbuckle.
Frankie: The only thing that’s going to give is Marina, she’s gonna give right up if this brutality on her arm continues.
And it does.
Ricky continues to hold Marina in the running powerslam position even after driving her shoulder into the turnbuckle post. He turns away from that post and drops Marina into a tombstone piledriver position only to put her shoulder down straight into his knee. Marina’s arm ricochets from the knee and totally gives out. She falls over to her seat, cradling her arm across her stomach. Meanwhile Ricky is rolling into the squared circle in order to break the official’s ten count. He then gets to his feet and sneers with indifference at the groaning crowd. His concern isn’t how the fans see him, it’s in how he’ll pin Marina. Holt takes off across the ring, ricochets from the ropes and uses them to build momentum behind his next big dive. He’s charging into the cables that Marina has just stood up on the opposite of and is now leaping directly at her. He connects with Marina, or more accurately, with her shin.
After hearing the change in the crowd’s tune Marina knew she was in a dangerous spot, hence why she jumped from the ringside mats, landed on her side across the apron and threw her leg over her body straight into a kick that lands across the top of Ricky’s head. He was about half way through the ropes verging on hitting the suicide dive headbutt only to be crushed upside the skull before he could make it all the way past the ropes. Ricky then staggers back from the ropes with his arms hanging limp to his sides. His wounded head is grabbed, and not by his own hands. Instead his opponent Marina is leaping from the apron, over the top rope, and catching him by the ears before dragging him down face first into the canvas with the X-Factor. Ricky bounces off the ring and flips over onto his back, eyes groggily blinking as he tries to stay conscious. Marina isn’t making it any easier on him.
She runs into one of the turnbuckle, stoops and watches as her wounded adversary forces himself up to his feet. He gets to his feet albeit slouched over, holding onto his head. Marina will soon be holding onto it as well. She comes barreling towards Ricky, catches him around the neck and pulls him around into the swinging neck br….NO! Ricky spins out of the neck-breaker, grabs Marina’s arm in the process, tucks it around behind her back and then gives her a back stabber. Only his knees don’t collide with Marina’s spine, they nail the arm that was tucked into the small of her spine.
Greyson: Another creative move going right back to Marina’s arm.
Sparkles: This Ricky Holt has got a great flare for innovation.
Frankie: Yeah, we def saw a lot of that two weeks ago when he and Devon Kayl went at it.
Just as the commentators praise Holt for his creativity he goes a bit textbook, slipping in behind Marina, grabbing her injured arm and folding it over behind her into an overhead wrist lock. The submission has Marina gnawing at her lips and toying with the temptation to submit. At ringside we can see her friend Victoria slapping the apron and trying to get the crowd rallied behind Marina. The Kashima Stadium claps and claps loud for Marina, who is getting fired up by the amplified tones of the audience. She painfully starts towards her feet, rocking back and forth in an effort to attempt to alleviate the pressure being put on her arm.
Sparkles: Surprised Marina is even on her feet let alone on the brink of escaping this hold.
Marina does stand up and does try to counter…TRY.
The moment she gets up Marina is spun around by her injured arm and dragged into a shoulder block. All of Ricky’s weight is thrown behind the impact with Marina’s injured arm, an impact so hard it sends her crashing down into the ring. It’s when she’s down on the canvas that she finds her arm stretched out and held against the canvas. Ricky then takes off into the ropes, bounces from them and then flips forward into a senton, crashing straight into his opponent’s bicep.
Marina is screaming in pain as she rolls away from Holt and wraps herself around her badly swollen, badly bruised arm. Eventually she gets to the cables and uses them to begin dragging herself up to her feet. Unfortunately for Marina, her opponent got up so much quicker and moves with even more speed in order to walk in behind her. He takes Marina’s arm, folds it around behind her back and then wedges it in place with the use of his shoulder. He then lifts Marina into position to hit her with a belly to back suplex which would cause her to land straight on top of her arm. But Marina extends her feet out towards the ropes that she WAS leaning on moments ago, pushing off them and giving her enough momentum to go back flipping off of her adversary’s shoulder. She lands on her feet right behind Ricky then lunges into the air, landing back on his shoulders, going for the inverted hurricarana.
Before she can dump Ricky on his head he counters, putting his hands to the back of her thighs then pushing them into the air. Marina finds herself being sent into an electric chair drop…or at least that’s what her opponent was hoping. As she falls towards the canvas she tucks her chin to her chest and reverses the electric chair drop into a roll up.
Ricky is flipped forward with Marian’s hands wrapped around the creases of his knees, holding down on them while she sits on his chest.
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Frankie: Don’t tell me Marina stole this.
The fans and Victoria are all about to lose themselves in a moment of sheer elation but their joy turns to dread when Ricky kicks out. He sends Marina flying off of him and sends her ultimately rolling back onto her feet. She then runs straight at her adversary only to be caught against the ribs and thrown into the air. Marina catches some significant height before finally collapsing all the way down to the canvas, landing square on her chest and face.
Greyson: And just like that Marina’s momentum comes to a crashing halt!
Speaking of crashing, that’s exactly what happens when Ricky’s elbow goes crashing directly into Marina’s chest. This is after he runs into the ropes in front of his recovering opponent and does a headstand backspring. The point of his elbow hits Marina in the sternum with so much force that she actually goes flipping over and landing on her stomach.
Ricky rushes to his feet and then into the ropes in front of Marina, looking to catch her yet again as she struggles to her feet. This time what he catches her with will be sure to finish her off, the flipping piledriver. The New Dawn Fades is about to plant Marina right on top of her head, Ricky stepping over the back of it, catching her around the waist and then leaping into the air. But in mid-move Ricky finds his finisher countered when Marina plants her feet and shrugs him off. Ricky ends up dropping to the canvas but rolling across it instead of being knocked out on impact with it.
The quick Holt ends up on his feet and is running along into the ropes, or more accurately, doing a headstand into them. Ricky goes for the headstand back spring elbow yet again. The back of his legs hit the ropes and launch his feet back to the canvas. Just as he starts to jump into the air he finds himself weighed down by the added pressure on Marina on his shoulders. She counters his headstand backspring elbow into the inverted hurricarana.
Greyson: OOOOOOH!!!
Sparkles: That was friggin insane!!
Greyson: Ricky’s head slamming straight into that canvas with so much velocity.
Ricky is glassy eyed as he rolls across the canvas and ends up on his elbows and knees. He doesn’t stay on them for long on account of Marina catching him with the Oklahoma Roll.
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Shockingly Ricky manages to roll his shoulder off of the canvas and prevent the loss. This fact does not sit well with Marina, who is in a tremendous amount of pain, particularly from her shoulder as she rises to her feet. She shakes off the pain in her arm as she latches onto Ricky’s legs, looking to establish the Cali Killer. That’s when Ricky swings his legs down towards the canvas and as a result of still holding onto his ankle Marina is tripped up, landing flat on her stomach. Ricky sits up at her side and latches onto her arm, applying the fujiwara armbar.
Greyson: That injured arm trapped in a submission yet again.
Frankie: The General is going to pick up ANOTHER win. He’s going 4-0.
Sparkles: And he’ll advance to not only be the number one contender for the NHB Title but move closer to becoming number one contender to the World Title as well.
Greyson: Is he going to advance into the second round of the tournament?
Frankie: Like it’s not a foregone conclusion?
Greyson: Never, EVER count out Marina.
At the moment Marina is clawing and clawing her way towards the ropes, verging closer and closer to her only salvation from this move. Finally she reaches out for them only to have her hand fall just shy of the ropes. When Ricky sees that she was just a finger’s tip away from the cables he breaks the hold of his own volition in order to drag her by the wrist towards the middle of the ring. He then drops down and attempts to apply the fujiwara yet again but the hold is blocked this time around. Marina rolls onto her back and launches her foot into the air, nailing a kick to the side of her adversary’s head. The shot causes Ricky to let go of his adversary’s hand and then turn his back on her. She swings around with her leg connecting to the back of Ricky’s heels, knocking his feet out from under him. He collapses onto his back but his adversary is now standing fully upright. She back flips right into Ricky with a standing moonsault that he ROLLS out of the way of. Marina comes crashing down flat on her face and Ricky steps over her back, catching her arm, tucking it around behind her back and then wrapping one of his arms in front of her throat. The crowd screams at the sight of the crossface chickenwing.
Greyson: As if the fujiwara wasn’t painful enough NOW Ricky has got the crossface chickenwing locked in on that injured arm.
Sparkles: If Marina ever wants to wrestle again she might want to consider tapping out.
The thought certainly crosses Marina’s mind given the excruciating pain emanating from her arm and the air being deprived to her brain. Amazingly she’s moving across the ring towards the ropes even though Ricky straddles her back. Her knees inch across the canvas, progressing her towards the cables.
Frankie: Submit already!
Marina won’t do it and Ricky realizes that. Hence why he alters his strategy just a little. He falls back and attempts to wrap his legs around Marina’s waist, securing her in a body vice crossface chickewing combo. But the moment that Ricky falls back Marina rolls back, over her opponent’s chest, out of the crossface, out of the chickenwing, and onto her feet. She then turns her back on Ricky and back flips right into him with a standing corkscrew moonsault. Her upper back crashes right into Ricky’s ribs, causing him to convulse in pain.
Greyson: That was just what Marina needed to hit. It may have just gotten her back into this match.
Frankie: How much longer does she think she can fend Ricky off with that arm injury?
Although her arm has gone almost totally limp Marina still tries to use it in order to apply the Cali Killer. She stoops down and grabs her opponent’s legs only to have his feet wedge against her stomach as he pushes her off. Marina goes flying back and into the ropes, falling right through them onto the apron. Ricky rubs his ribs while rising to his feet and charging at his opponent. But Marina leans down, slips through the top and middle cable, stands on that middle rope with one foot and launches herself off it into a tornado DDT. She catches Ricky around the neck, spirals him around and slams his skull right into the canvas. She keeps hold of the head of her opponent though, and then swings her hips, rolling over sideways and dragging Ricky along with her. Both she and Ricky get to their feet with Marina still trapping her opponent’s head in the front chancery. She then goes running into the turnbuckle, stepping up it and pushing off into ANOTHER tornado DDT. Ricky is spiked so viciously on top of his skull that he flips completely over and lands on his seat looking like he was just knocked into the next millennium.
Marina goes running into the ropes in front of her opponent, bounces from them and then forward flips into a cannon ball senton, crashing against her adversary’s chest. Ricky falls onto his back with Marina lying on his chest and lifting up on one of his legs, locking him in jackknife cover.
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Ricky just barely gets his shoulder up and sends Marina rolling off of him. She now attempts to run in and hit a standing flip only to have Ricky roll away from her and out of the ring. He gets to the outside mats, his back facing the squared circle and his back on the receiving end of a baseball slide dropkick. The blow knocks Ricky down to the mats where he continues to lay as Marina prepares to throw herself into him. She grips at her arm while cartwheeling with one hand across the canvas then attempting a back flip over the ropes. But Ricky yet again rolls out of her flight path and back into the ring. As a result Marina is forced to alter her strategy, grabbing the top rope as she goes flipping over it and landing on the apron instead of on her original target.
Frankie: God Ricky is fast, in mind and body.
Greyson: He was successful in avoiding some of Marina’s more high flying offense.
He may not be successful in avoiding the DDT Marina has planned next. She leans through the ropes, stands on the middle cable and then pushes herself off of it with one foot, launching herself into the tornado DDT. She catches Ricky around the neck and swings him around but this time she does NOT dump him on top of his skull. Instead Ricky keeps his feet planted to the canvas, leans forward and allows Marina to hang off of him. She still holds onto the front chancery and clamps her legs around Ricky’s waist, desperate to hit the DDT. But Ricky takes her injured arm, tucks around behind her back and counters into the northern lights suplex. Marina crashes down right on top of her bad arm while Ricky bridges back into the pin.
Greyson: What an awesome counter!
Sparkles: Marina dumped right on her arm!
Frankie: This is it, Ricky’s advancing in the tournament.
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Ricky’s bridge is broken by Marina’s kick out. The emotionally flaccid Ricky falls to his seat, staring off into space and desperately thinking up the next move that will finally lead to victory. He rolls onto his seat and grabs Marina by the injured arm, coercing her to her feet then throwing her off to the ropes. Marina bounces from the cables and comes back in at Ricky who catches her with a gorilla press only for her to slip right off of his hands. She lands behind Ricky and then swings around with her foot, kicking him square in the back of his head. Ricky twirls around to face Marina, who then leaps into the knee strike that catches him straight under the jaw. The shot has Ricky staggered but not going down, so Marina leaps into the spinning heel kick. This blow never hits its target, because Marina’s leg is caught across Ricky’s chest and her elevated body is then spun out into the blue thunder powerbomb. Ricky leans his shoulder into the one leg of his opponent that he has both arms wrapped around.
Frankie: Another downright beautiful counter by Holt.
Greyson: Is it enough?
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To the disbelief of the General his opponent tosses her arm off the canvas.
Greyson: Marina by some miracle is still hanging in there.
Sparkles: But Ricky, God almighty has he ever been impressive in this match.
Greyson: If he’s showing this much talent and promise in just his rookie year imagine what he’ll be capable of in the years to come.
Fatigue is starting to set in on Ricky, but he’s not letting his exhaustion show. He sits there on the canvas locking his eyes on Marina, who is crawling desperately in the direction of the corner. She uses the turnbuckle to begin dragging herself up onto her feet, but soon she’s pulled away from it. Ricky once again starts to lock Marina in the crossface chickenwing while pulling her back towards the middle of the squared circle.
Frankie: All of Ricky’s aggression is gonna pay off.
It does pay off…For Marina. Just as Ricky starts to get the crossface locked in on her, she dashes in the direction of the turnbuckle she was just yanked out of. She pulls Ricky along as he continues trying to apply the chickenwing. But then at the last second, just before colliding with the corner Marina drops to her knees and her forward momentum causes Ricky to go flying over her, head slamming against the turnbuckle. The impact has knocked him silly and onto his back while Marina scales the turnbuckle then comes flipping off it into the 450 splash. The California Splash connects, driving all the air out of Ricky’s body and launching his legs up into the air. Marina hooks one of them.
Frankie: No! SHIT! FUCK! DAMN!
Greyson: Marina hitting all of that California SPLASH!
The referee is right there, making the count.
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To an amazing ovation Marina rolls off of Ricky and to her knees, lifting her good arm over head in victory.
Greyson: Marina has managed to pull it off. She advances into the next round of the Number One Contender Tournament.
Sparkles: But she had a rough go of it. That’s for sure.
Frankie: Her arm can attest to that.
On the outside of the ring we see Victoria Salinas clapping for her friend Marina and now watching as she falls over onto her back. The physicality of this match has obviously caught up with the California All-Star, who lies on her spine and nurses her injured limb.
Both Marina and Ricky lay side by side on the canvas aching after a highly physical encounter. In spite of suffering a loss Ricky is the first on his feet and out of the ring. He now reaches beneath it and retrieves the weapon hidden under the squared circle, a wooden 2×4.
Frankie: That’a boy Holt, don’t take this loss lying down.
Greyson: He’s got that same 2×4 he used on Devon Kayl earlier tonight.
Sparkles: If Marina doesn’t come through she’s about to be in for a world of pain.
Holt is only about half way through the ropes returning to the squared circle with the board in his hand but the second he gets one foot on the canvas he finds his target completely leaving it. Marina is dragged out of the ring by her friend Victoria, who then points back in the squared circle at Holt and the weapon in his hand. Holt isn’t intimidated by Victoria, failing to react to her threats at all, but what he does respond to is the presence of Rachel Tatum Lee. The whole building erupts as the NHB Champion comes rushing straight down the ramp, slides into the ring and ducks a blow from the board. The botched swing sends Ricky spinning completely around and turning back to face the punches being unleashed by Rachel.
Sparkles: There’s Rachel Tatum Lee, and she’s on Holt!
Greyson: Holt told Elijah Dallas to give Rachel a message for him, it looks like she got that message.
Sparkles: She’s all over the number one contender to her title.
Holt drops the 2×4 he was holding and goes stumbling back from the punches that have him reeling. Rachel is right on the verge of getting her payback on Holt for a litany of offenses he’s committed against her. But speaking of offensive, we get perhaps the greatest offense of them all, to our intelligence, when the two individuals in ski masks who WERE seated front row, are now sliding into the ring. The signs that they were wearing around their necks are thrown aside and their fists are thrown into the back of Rachel’s head.
Frankie: Why are these fans attacking Rachel!?!
Greyson: We all know why!
After they’ve dropped Rachel to the ring the masks that they are wearing are stripped away to reveal the faces of Alana Starr and Ethan Von Aaron.
Ethan: IT WAS ME RACHEL! IT WAS ME ALL ALONG!
Frankie: OH-MY-GOD!
Greyson: You cannot be legitimately surprised by this.
Sparkles: Sparkles’ mind is blown.
Greyson: Good gravy. Anyway, Rachel’s ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend are ambushing her right out here in front of us
Frankie: And now Holt is joining in on the fun.
As Alana and Ethan continue to drown Rachel under a deluge of boots, another of her enemies has just vacated the ring to grab a table out from under it. Ricky is sliding the table from beneath the squared circle and now angling it so he can slip it into the squared circle.
Greyson: Holt feeding a table into Ethan and Alana.
The table is set up and might just prove to be a table for one. Both Ethan and Alana have a firm hold on both of Rachel’s arms and are leading her up into what might be a career shortening plunge through the table. A smirking Ricky can’t help but to get a closer look at Rachel going through the wood, she slides into the squared circle and anticipates the crash into the table like it were Christmas morning. The building rumbles, not with dread, but with applause when Devon Kayl comes hurrying down the ramp.
Frankie: What is this meddling do gooder doing out here!?!
Greyson: Devon Kayl out to get him some of Ricky Holt.
Devon takes the hand off the back of his neck, still smarting after being hit by the board Holt swung into his skull earlier tonight, and then Kayl uses his fists to do some damage. First Kayl leaps to the apron then to the top rope before springing off over the canvas into a diving forearm smash. Holt spins around and has his face crushed by the blow that sends him sailing from his feet and crashing into the ring.
Greyson: Kayl using some guerilla warfare on the General.
Said General is rolling out of the ring as Kayl gives pursuit. Meanwhile the distraction that Kayl just created causes Alana and Ethan to take their attention off of their original target. Rachel starts to fight back against the duo. Her fist lobs right into Ethan’s ribs and then into Alana’s. Another blow from Rachel sends Ethan spiraling around into the Pele Kick unleashed by Kayl. The shot collides right on top of Ethan’s head and then sends him spiraling around into a tilt a whirl from his other attacker Rachel. She now holds him upside down in position for the Dead in Tombstone.
Sparkles: She’s gonna hit it! She’s finally gonna deliver the Dead in Tombstone on her ex.
That is until Alana grabs the table that was set up earlier, lifts up on the edge and sends it flipping right into Rachel’s back. The table bounces off of Rachel and causes her to lose her grip on Ethan, who plummets to the ring, rolls across it and escapes the squared circle. Alana hightails it as well, joining Ethan at ringside. They begin to back up the ramp with Ricky standing a few inches removed from them, gripping at his jaw after the forearm smash. Back in the ring Kayl is standing on the middle rope and leaning over the top cable, shouting at Holt, Ethan and Alana. At the same time Rachel is grabbing the table that kept her from hitting the Tombstone on Ethan, leaning it against the turnbuckle then putting her boot straight through it.
Greyson: When is Rachel finally going to get her hands on Alana Starr and hit that Dead in Tombstone on Ethan?
Sparkles: Maybe it’ll be at Upping the Ante where Rachel is slated to face the two in tag team action.
Greyson: We still don’t know who her partner is going to be in that match.
Sparkles: Maybe it’ll be Kayl.
Frankie: PFFT. He won’t make it to Upping the Ante at this rate. If he has any further dealings with Holt then his IWC career is going to be a short one.
Marina Valdivia is still looking a little sore as she makes her way into the backstage area, arm stretched over the back of Victoria Salinas’ shoulder. The two have just made it into the guerilla position before being confronted by a mutual acquaintance.
Orlando: Marina….we need to talk….now!
The Icon no sooner addresses Marina before taking her by the arm and leading her out of frame. Clearly Victoria takes offense to the fact that Orlando whisked away with her friend. She throws her arms up into the air and calls out in rage.
Victoria: Where are you going with her!?! Come back here!
Demands Victoria before following the pair off camera.
The door leading into Silas Mason’s office comes into view. Before long the camera begins to pull back from access to the Principle Owner’s dwelling of decadence in order to bring Samantha Raine and Maxine Moore into view. The pair are standing around a corner at the end of the hallway, Maxine clasping tight to the chain that seems to be perpetually glued to her fist.
Maxine: I say we do this the good ole’ fashion way. We just barge straight into his office and crush that thing he calls a face.
Raine: That sounds like a smart strategy. Lord knows he deserves it for the way he tried to embarrass us back at Awakening, but I think what Silas needs, is a public execution.
A Barbie Doll comes into view, griped in a set of huge hands covered with padded black gloves. That’s all that can be seen, just the fists, not the wrists, not the arms, not the body they’re attached to. Just those hands holding the Barbie doll. A voice, as creepy as it is guttural, can be heard in the background.
Voice: Pretty….pretty little thing….
The doll’s long blond locks are combed.
Voice: So beautiful….
The hand squeezes tighter on the doll before another hand comes into view, grabbing the head and tearing it clean off.
Voice: I am the death of beauty.
Everything goes black save for the bold white text flashing across the screen.
MISS JON IS COMING
A car comes into view, pulling into the enclosed parking garage. As the vehicle draws nearer to the camera it’s vanity plate becomes accessible to the eyes. It reads “KINGDOM.” The commentators groan and groan loudly.
Greyson: Here we go again.
Sparkles: This is just like what we saw two weeks ago when Mordecai trolled us all into believing that Johnny Kingdom had returned.
Frankie: That’s Kingdom’s car, but you had better believe he’s not behind the wheel.
Greyson: No, Johnny was absolutely destroyed by Mordecai back at Awakening, and all we’ve seen of him since is that bloody sack holding his remains that Mordecai buried earlier on tonight.
Sparkles: What game is Mordecai playing at now?
The camera remains locked on the car that has just cruised to a stop with the driver waiting to reveal their identity.
Cameras now catch up with correspondent Susie Moore standing in the interview area with her guest Victoria Salinas. Clearly Victoria is not in the best of moods given Orlando Cruze’s antics just seconds before the show went to commercial break.
Susie: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m standing by with Victoria Salinas….Victoria, we all saw you make your debut for the Riot brand back at Awakening when you ran out to protect your friend Marina Valdivia.
Victoria just goes on looking disinterested in anything the correspondent has to say.
Susie: What prompted you to come out at the pay-per-view and aid Marina?
Victoria: I think my motives are pretty obvious. Marina and I go a long-long-looong way back. So when she’s in trouble, I’m going to be there to get her out of it.
Susie: But don’t you worry about the danger your putting yourself in?
Victoria: Of course I don’t. Because I know I’m putting my life on the line for a noble reason. I know, it’s shocking to hear me, Victoria Salinas, a woman who has been described as a cut-throat time and time again, talking about things like nobility, but Marina, she’s helped me evolve. I’m no longer in this for just myself. So if that puts me at danger of incurring the wrath of Monarchy and New Eden, so be it. It’s a worthwhile risk.
Susie: Speaking of New Eden, what are your thoughts on Marina attacking them earlier on inside of that Hell in a Cell?
Victoria: I can stand here and talk about how proud I am of her all night long, But I’d much rather discuss what happened a few minutes ago.
Susie: I suppose you’re talking about how Orlando Cruze dragged your bud Marina away.
Victoria’s eyes cut directly to the camera.
Victoria: Right. Listen Orlando, I’ve got some friendly advice for you. Stay out of Marina’s way. She came here tonight to help your wife, in one way or another, so you’re going to want to….
A clothesline crashes straight across the back of Victoria’s head, almost knocking her from her feet. Instead she is sent staggering along and falling against the IWC emblem that was hung from the wall of the interview set.
Serenity: Taylor’s not the one who needs help.
Voices New Eden member Serenity, who has just knocked Victoria silly. She continues to beat on Salinas, grabbing the back of her head and swinging her forehead into that same giant steel emblem that Victoria was just leaning against. She bounces off and turns so that her back is propped against the very symbol just employed as a weapon against her.
Serenity: You think you can protect Marina? Hehehehehe, you can’t even protect your….
Victoria corrects Serenity via throwing a punch straight across her mouth, shutting it. Serenity staggered back by the blow and Victoria then delivers another one. Serenity responds with a shot of her own as the two spiral down the hallway exchanging jabs. Eventually they go spilling right into an exit door and take their fight outside of the stadium.
Cameras return to the ring just as Samantha Raine and Maxine Moore are entering it. Samantha is already in the squared circle clutching a microphone while Maxine is standing on the steel steps, looking out over the crowd and raising her chain wrapped fist into the air. The out of breath commentators can be heard in the background.
Greyson: My God, Serenity and Victoria Salinas brawling out of the arena.
Sparkles: And we still haven’t found out why Orlando Cruze took off with Victoria’s friend Marina Valdivia.
Frankie: Orlando had better be telling Marina not to interfere in his wife’s Indoctrination Ceremony tonight or else.
Greyson: Well let’s change gears here a little, because we’ve got Samantha Raine and Maxine Moore entering the ring, who have been very vocally outspoken against Silas Mason’s management techniques.
Sparkles: We saw these two team up a few weeks ago to put a hurtin’ on Silas Security.
Frankie: Yeah, but it didn’t take long for Silas to trade up. Looks like he’s got Jeffrey Starxxx and his entourage watching his back now.
The microphone is squeezed tight in Marina’s hand as she envisions wrapping her palms around Silas’ throat.
Raine: I’ve stood back and watched a lot in my time here in the IWC. I’ve seen people set on fire, I’ve seen my husband ambushed backstage, I’ve seen my best friends tear each other apart over on Uprising, and I’ve seen corrupt bureaucrats use their influence to ruin career after career. Yes, it’s safe to say I’ve sat back and seen a lot, but the sad thing is, I’ve done very little about it. Or at least that was until recently. Until I came back to the IWC after being sidelined a few weeks ago and devoted myself to fighting against the spread of corruption, the growth of Silas Mason’s manipulation.
The crowd can whole heartedly get on board with Samantha’s cause.
Raine: And I’m glad to see that others believe as I do. Maxine here (points to the Red Widow stood beside her) has had enough of sitting around watching guys like Silas Mason steer this company down a one way street that ends at a cliff. She and Cassidy fought against Silas’ influence, and now I’m proud to say she’ll fight alongside me to bring about the change this company needs. That change begins with ousting Silas as Principle Owner. Which is exactly why we’re here in this ring right now. We’re calling Silas…..
Martin: You have no idea how sad this makes me.
The curtains part and Martin Howe III again makes his presence known. He walks out onto the stage clutching onto a microphone and shaking his head.
Greyson: Martin Howe III?
Sparkles: We’ve seen him throughout the night make some thinly veiled threats to Samantha Raine and Maxine Moore.
Martin continues to appear almost disconcerted with the pair in the ring.
Martin: I’m sick all the way down deep in the pit of my stomach hearing you two out here talking about Silas Mason.
Raine: What is this all about? You’ve already worn my patience out.
Martin: Fine-fine, I’ll get to my point. What has me so sick, is the knowledge that your preoccupation with Silas Mason is setting you up for the harshest fate imaginable. I’m sick thinking about what your beautiful face is going to look like when my new client is through with you.
Raine and Maxine exchange funny glances.
Martin: You’ve already met her, and she takes great offence to the fact that you’ve all but ignored the threat she poses so you can concentrate on the ineffectual nuisance that is Silas Mason. But now it’s time to remind you who the true threat is….the death of beauty….MISS JON!
The whole arena cringes at the tunes of Miss Jon’s theme music pulsing through the speakers. The intimidating brute almost tears the entrance curtains down when stepping through them. She pauses on the stage and looks down at the ramp at the surprised Raine and Maxine.
Frankie: Ooooh shit. Thank God I have my KFC handy.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think KFC will even protect Samantha.
Greyson: This is soooo bad. Samantha and Miss Jon had a run in two weeks ago when Raine scored a disqualification win over this beast. It doesn’t look like Miss Jon has let that go.
The daunting mass descends upon the ring with Martin Howe III following behind her.
Greyson: Jon is coming for the ring, she’s coming for Raine.
Frankie: And now Martin Howe III is her agent? How did he win her over, by giving her Krispy Kreme coupons?
Greyson: I would really-really highly advise you watch what you say about Miss Jon. The woman almost crushed you back at Awakening.
Sparkles: But now she’s out to crush Samantha.
Miss Jon reaches the ringside area and gets no further than that on account of the body that is flying from the ring and hurdling straight at her. Raine rushes from the squared circle and into a forearm that smashes Jon in the jaw. The shot causes the big lady to reel back on her heels.
Greyson: Raine taking the fight to Miss Jon.
Frankie: She’s out of her mind!!
Raine keeps blasting Miss Jon across the chest and stumbling her much-much bigger rival. Another forearm then swings, this one belonging to Miss Jon, blasting Raine over the upper back. She doubles over groaning in pain but she’s not felt true agony as of yet. Miss Jon grabs Raine by the ears, turns and throws her into the barricade with such force that she flips completely over, her ribs crushing the steel barrier.
Greyson: DAMN!
Sparkles: That throw from Miss Jon had to have broken a few ribs.
Frankie: She went down ha…..
Maxine: Hey Sasquatch!
The huge maniacal eyes of Miss Jon turn away from one victim to a prospective target. They hone in on Maxine Moore standing in the squared circle holding the chain in one hand and a mic in the other.
Maxine: You want to fight? I’ll give you one!
MISS JON VS. MAXINE MOORE
The imposing Miss Jon nears the ring that a referee has just slid into. He tries to talk Maxine out of this but she shakes her head and points at the bell, demanding that he call for it. The referee reluctantly does as told, demanding that the bell be rang just as Miss Jon starts to climb into the ring. Maxine is already all over her, rushing at Miss Jon and blasting her to the side of her head with a knee strike. The blow almost knocks Miss Jon off of her own knees, yet they remain firmly planted to the canvas.
Greyson: Maxine Moore and Miss Jon going at it.
Sparkles: Another impromptu match here on Riot.
Greyson: The narrative just continues to go further and further off line.
Maxine continues to throw knees into the side of Miss Jon’s head, giving her a huge migraine. But a headache would be a godsend compared to the pain that shoots through Miss Jon’s sternum when a knife edge chop connects. The blow has Miss Jon popping up to her feet but leaning back against the ropes. Another knife edge chop blisters Miss Jon’s chest and worsens any welts that have started to form there. Maxine then grabs Miss Jon by the wrist and attempts to whip her across the ring, but she finds that the brute has turned into a boulder, totally unmovable. Maxine’s eyes widen as she finds HERSELF being pulled into Miss Jon then her throat being crushed by a clothesline.
Greyson: Short arm clothesline crushing Maxine’s neck.
Sparkles: Wonder if Maxine is starting to rethink her challenge to Miss Jon.
Frankie: A lariat like that would do it.
The clothesline has driven Maxine to the canvas, but she’s not left lying on her back all that long. She returns to her feet and not of her own volition, because her opponent has hold of her ears and has used this grip to force her to an upright base. Maxine finds her skull crushed by the brutal headbutt delivered by the ever aggressive Miss Jon.
The collision scrambles Maxine’s noodle and has her rolling around on the ring looking braindead. It’s not Maxine’s brain that Miss Jon is out to render deceased though. Her whole body is about to be crushed when Miss Jon’s mass comes plummeting into it. Miss Jon gets a great deal of height as she goes for the big splash on Maxine, only to ultimately connect with nothing but canvas. Amazingly Maxine still has the wherewithal to roll out of the way and out of the path of Miss Jon’s enormous body.
The whole ring shakes when Miss Jon’s body makes impact with it. She pops up to her knees and then finds her temple popped by the thrust kick just unleashed by Maxine.
Greyson: I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but it looks like Maxine has got Miss Jon on the defensive.
Sparkles: Miss Jon was nothing short of dominant two weeks ago, so if Maxine gets an advantage she had better do everything in her power to maintain it.
Maxine keeps right after Miss Jon, who after getting kicked in the temple has stumbled back into the corner, all her weight leaning against it and surprisingly not causing the post to buckle. Miss Jon props herself against the corner just long enough for her adversary to rush in going for a clothesline. Maxine charges straight in only to find her own throat caught, right in Miss Jon’s hands. She lifts Maxine into the air and throws her into the corner. The snarling Miss Jon then hits a lariat on Maxine, followed by another, and then another and then another. Her thick bicep smashing Maxine’s esophagus and making it harder and harder to breath.
Miss Jon holds a handful of Maxine’s hair, pulling her out of the corner and into a devastating punch straight upside the temple. The blow has Maxine spiraling along and losing her balance before going to her knees across the canvas. Miss Jon is following right behind her, pulling back on Maxine’s hair and then delivering ANOTHER headbutt straight to her skull.
The referee makes a bad decision in trying to place limitations on Miss Jon’s violence. He warns her, but his threats get a look that has him shitting kittens.
Greyson: Careful ref, remember what happened two weeks ago, Miss Jon pretty much decimated the entire officiating staff before finally getting herself disqualified in her match against Raine.
Right now Raine is being checked on at ringside by a couple of EMTs, the crash she took against the barricade presumably bruising a few ribs. The referee is right on the cusp of feeling Raine’s pain. Miss Jon wraps her hand around referee Ficklebottom’s face and pushes him lightly, though her idea of ‘lightly’ differs from anyone else’s. Ficklebottom is thrown straight back off of his feet and to the canvas. Once dispensing with the referee Miss Jon goes back after her original target, walking right into the chain that crushes her upside the brow. With the referee down and out of position he doesn’t see Maxine using the chain she brought with her to the ring to wallop Miss Jon straight upside the forehead.
Greyson: Maxine swinging that chain straight into Miss Jon’s face!
Sparkles: This is her chance…This is Maxine’s only chance.
Frankie: She might want to hit Miss Jon a few more times with that chain. At least half a dozen.
Outside of the ring we see Miss Jon’s manager actually smirking, Martin Howe III unconcerned even when seeing his client smacked in the head with the chain. The blow has Miss Jon reeling back into the ropes, leaning on them for support. Maxine then throws the chain away and grabs Miss Jon’s wrist, pulling her groggy opponent forward into a fireman’s carry, or at least an ATTEMPT at the fireman’s carry. Maxine finds it much harder to get all of Miss Jon’s bulk into the air then she thought it would. In fact, Maxine can’t even get her opponent up off of her feet. She strains herself just trying to lift and in the end regrets trying for this move altogether. Maxine finds the side of her face crushed with a back elbow by Miss Jon, at last breaking up the attempt at the fireman’s carry.
Maxine twirls away from Miss Jon but is soon pulled right back into the beast, who seems totally unaffected by the blow across the brow from the chain. She hits a boot to Maxine’s gut, doubles her over, unleashes a primal shriek, then lifts her victim into the sit-out powerbomb. The ring shakes due to the sheer impact of Maxine’s body against it.
Greyson: The Up Yours, Bobby Walker!!
Sparkles: Good God, that blow from the chain had NO effect on Miss Jon whatsoever!
Frankie: Maxine should have went with the KFC. It was her only defense.
Miss Jon sits on the canvas with Maxine laid out between her legs. She leans forward, putting her hands down on Maxine’s chest, holding her shoulders down to the canvas. All the while those huge, crazed eyes of hers are locked on the recovering Raine at ringside.
1
2
The building fills with the harrowed screams of the crowd as Maxine falls victim to the three count.
Sparkles: Another display of pure dominance by Miss Jon.
Greyson: This woman took a blow from a chain right across the brow and then turns right around to deliver the Up Yours, Bobby Walker.
Sparkles: Maxine’s not exactly a lightweight either, but Miss Jon threw her around like she was as weightless as a feather.
After dispensing with Maxine, the brutish Miss Jon gets to a knee and looks past her vanquished foe. Again her eyes lock on Samantha at ringside, who is nursing some very banged up ribs. Martin Howe III enters the ring behind Miss Jon but keeps a respectful distance from his brute. He hangs back claping and singing the virtues of his monster. She stands up with Maxine laid out between her feet and now points at the woman being propped up by EMTs at ringside. Raine trembles with both rage and pain as she sees a finger cast in her direction. Soon that finger moves to Miss Jon’s throat and makes a slicing taunt.
Greyson: The issues between Miss Jon and Samantha Raine are NOT over.
Frankie: I suggest Samantha relocates to somewhere in Indonesia.
Cameras catch up to Orlando Cruze and Marina Valdivia stood in the catering area. Their conversation is joined en medias res, Orlando trying to reason with the up and coming and ever incomparable Marina.
Orlando: Let…me….deal…with this. I’m telling you, I can handle Tay, I can fix this.
Marina, still aching from her physical bout with Ricky Holt, has abandoned any pretense of patience. She moves the hand that was griping at the back of her neck to the connective tissue between her eyes, massaging it.
Marina: I’ve seen you’re way of dealing with this Orlando, and with all due respect, your ways just don’t work.
Orlando: I…
Marina: No, Lando listen, you know what I think of you and what I think of Tay. The two of you are the reason I’m here in the IWC. I admire you both endlessly, which is why I’ve tried to look past Tay’s attitude and indiscretions the past few weeks. But handling her with kid’s gloves, it was the wrong move. There’s only one way to make her see the error of her ways, and it’s not by mincing my words…
Marina walks right around Orlando and in the general direction of the ring where Taylor Chase will no doubt soon be heading. Orlando turns to watch her walk along before closing his eyes, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
Greyson: Marina Valdivia determined to play a role in Taylor Chase’s Indoctrination Ceremony….
Sparkles: More like keep it from happening.
Frankie: Fat chance, the possibilities of ending Tay’s indoctrination into Monarchy are slimmer than Marina’s hips.
Greyson: Well we’re scheduled to witness that Indoctrination coming up next.
A barbwire wrapped bat hangs over the shoulder of the ever arrogant Taylor Chase as she moseys on along down the hall that leads to the entrance ramp.
Frankie: There she is! The woman of the hour!
Greyson: Taylor Chase, public enemy number one, is headed in our direction.
Sparkles: Her Indoctrination Ceremony is coming up.
Frankie: This should be a national holiday. In fact, I’m petitioning that Monarchy Indoctrination Day replaces Christmas as a yearly spectacle.
Cameras cut to another individual who is very-VERY interested in the upcoming Indoctrination Ceremony, and that person is the snarling Katelyn Buehler. She paces back and forth in front of her manager Dan Douglas and her friend Destiny, both trying to reason with her and keep her confined to her locker-room. Katelyn doesn’t listen, she just keeps pacing and keeps thinking about what Taylor Chase did to her two weeks ago.
Greyson: And there we see the World Champion Katelyn Buehler.
Sparkles: She wants a piece of Taylor Chase as well for bashing her upside the head with that bat wrapped in barbwire two weeks ago.
Frankie: Why doesn’t everyone just show Tay the same unconditional love that I’ve always shown her?
Greyson: Taylor is going to get no love when she comes down to this ring coming up next.
Upon returning from commercial break we find ourselves transported to the parking garage where the car featuring a “Kingdom’ vanity plate has just come into view. Standing just outside of the driver’s door is the beast Mordecai. He is looking down into the car at the individual seated behind the wheel, his sadistic sister Mrs. R. The two are having a conversation cut out for the pages of a Clive Barker novel.
Mordecai: You know what to do?
Mrs. R: Of course.
Mordecai: When I send the word….
Mrs. R: Yes-yes, I make my move. Heh (She unleashes a cackle), and then the whole house of cards will come crumbling down.
Mordecai: And Katelyn Buehler’s World Title will be ours.
Mrs. R: And what’s left of her body will be MINE….The plot has already been dug.
”Boss’s Daughter” cuts through the loud speaker, resulting in a mixed bag of reactions from the crowd. While hundreds are still cheering, there are just as many booing in response to Taylor Chase. The smattering or responses that run the gamut from harsh and guttural growls to euphoric, damn near orgasmic delight, continue as Tay makes her way to the stage. Some bright, summer apparel is wrapped around Taylor’s body with her toe nails peeking out from her flip flops. She looks comfortable in both apparel and in her new persona…or perhaps her TRUE persona. She walks, no, she struts with swaggering hips down the ramp towards the ring. All the while a baseball bat covered in barbwire sways at her side.
Frankie: She’s here, my God she’s finally here. The woman who set social media abuzz two weeks ago when she took that bat right there in her hand and bashed the World Champion right between her eyes.
Greyson: An act that put Tay at odds with the fans…
Sparkles: To be fair, I don’t think she cares how the crowd perceive her.
Frankie: Not only did she bust Katelyn wide open but in doing so she helped Lexy Chapel of the Monarchy pin the World Champion and by virtue she officially joined Monarchy herself.
Sparkles: Tonight though, we come together to celebrate her official Indoctrination into Monarchy.
Frankie: Have you DVRs ready, you’ll want to record this and play it back for your grandchildren in the decades to come.
A grin is forever etched across Taylor’s face as she steps into the ring holding down the huge white sun hat on top of her head and the even bigger pink rimmed sunglasses over her eyes. She waves to the crowd to show off the elbow length white gloves covering both her palms and forearms.
Frankie: Man, Tay is making a fashion statement tonight.
Greyson: More like a fashion disaster. This woman will do anything to stand out.
Frankie: It takes no work for Tay to stand out. It just comes naturally to her.
The baseball in her hand is lowered to her side while Tay takes possession of a microphone.
Taylor: Hi there….
Her greeting is met with a very mixed ovation from the emotionally confounded fans.
Taylor: Boy, what a crowd we’ve got here tonight. I see every seat in this building is just packed. And you know who the IWC has to thank for this sell-out crowd?
Tay points at her smile.
Taylor: THIS face is what puts YOUR asses in THOSE chairs. Admit it, it’s not the pasty Katies, the bubble-butt Rachels, the thug Andres, or the meddling Marinas you flock to IWC shows to see first hand. It’s THIS..all of THIS….
Now Tay twirls around in the middle of the ring to give the crowd a better glimpse of every inch of her.
Taylor: I’m the reason this building is sold out, and how does the IWC reward me for putting money in THEIR pockets? By shoving me further and further down the…..you know what….forget it. My millions and billions and gagillions of worldwide fans aren’t tuning in to hear me drone on about the same hot garbage I went on and on about two weeks ago. You all just want one thing, one question answered….
The fans wait to hear why Taylor double crossed Katelyn and joined the Monarchy.
Taylor: And the answer is…..Azature Black Diamond. That’s the brand of polish I use on my toe nails….
At her request the camera is redirected to her sparkling toe nails popping out from the flaps of her sandals.
Taylor: Aren’t they just fab?
That was NOT the answer the crowd had hoped for.
Greyson: Are those REAL diamonds on Taylor’s toe nails?
Frankie: Only the best for the best.
Tay looks confused by the negative reaction she’s hearing from the fed up fans.
Taylor: Am I missing something? Ooooh, I get it, you want me to talk about why I took this bat (holds up the barbwire wrapped weapon) and used it to improve on the imperfect face of Katelyn Buehler? Well, I just thought the sickly little girl could use a bit of color. And boy was she ever colorful with all that blood running down her face.
Tay kicks her head back and guffaws, even as the crowd vocally rips her to shreds.
Taylor: Oh what’s this now? You’re hating on me for doing to Kate what she did to me around this exact same time a year ago? Hypppooocricccy…Heeeellloooo McFly, if anyone is a victim, it’s NOT Katelyn, she got what she had coming, what I had been waiting to give her for ooooh sooooo loooooonng.
It almost sounds like Taylor is singing, which is the last thing anyone wants to hear.
Taylor: And I just want to do what none of you people will, and that’s THANK Monarchy for giving me the perfect time, the perfect place, and the proper motivation to finally get SUM of Pasty Katie. See, for weeks Trinity Street, Lucas Knight, Lexy Chapel, Kat Kelly, Alistair Taylor, they’ve been coming to me before, during and after every show, telling me how sickened and saddened they were to see my slow descent into mediocrity. And honestly, does this face, does this body, do my TALENTS, look destined for mediocrity? No, they don’t. But the IWC tried to FORCE it on me. Monarchy weren’t about to let that happen, they slapped me on the ass, woke me up and made me tighten my grip on what’s mine. They gave me the inspiration I needed to take out that flavor of the month you call the Champion and remind the world that while Kate may call this HER house, it’s built on MY PROPERTY! And I’m not about to let my property be turned into a crack house.
The boos only get louder.
Taylor: So thank you, Monarchy, for motivating me to attack Katelyn, to get my revenge on her, and on the IWC for trying and trying and trying AND TRRRRRYYYING so hard to bury me. You helped me show the world that I’m no longer this company’s punching bag. They can force me out of the spotlight, they can force me out of title contention, but in the end, everyone’s attention gravitates back to me, and titles will always hug these gorgeous abs. Soon, very soon the World Championship will be mine again, and you want to know why, because when I’m good, I’m good, but when I’m bad, I’M BETTER! Katelyn, when I come for that title you use to deflect attention away from your face, I will do whatever, and I mean WHATEVER, it takes to reclaim it, even if that means BURNING YOUR HOUSE DOWN!
Greyson: Bold statements by Taylor.
Frankie: Tay-Tay is just on fire tonight. I love it.
Taylor: Now enough about Katelyn, let’s get to the festivities that brought me here tonight, my glorious-GLORIOUS Indoctrination into the only group that never lost faith in me, that always stood by me, that fought for me even when I gave up fighting for myself. A group that unlike my HUSBAND truly understands me. So let the Indoctrination begin!
Tay embodies a messiah style pose, extending arms out to her sides and kicking her head back, which is fitting considering that she might be crucified. At least that’s the plan of the World Champion who has come storming down the ramp.
Greyson: It’s payback time!
Sparkles: Katelyn Buehler is marching on Taylor.
Frankie: This is unforgivable! How dare she interrupt this Indoctrination Ceremony.
Tay, being the smart cookie that she is KNEW her words would inspire a reaction from Katelyn, hence why the barbwire bat was carried to the ring. Tay picks it up and prepares to swing it straight at Katelyn’s face but the champion manages to drive a boot right into Chase’s ribs and block her attempted shot. The bat falls out of Tay’s hands while the World Title falls out of Katelyn’s clutches. The champion throws a punch upside Taylor’s chin, followed by another and another.
Frankie: Where are Monarchy!?!
Greyson: Dealing with the injuries they’ve incurred throughout the night most likely
Frankie: Somebody get Katelyn out of here, she’s ruining everything.
The punches continue to nail Tay across the cheeks and send her staggering back. Finally she reacts with a shot on Katelyn, catching her to the bread basket with a kick. She then grabs Katelyn by the wrist and pulls her along into a short arm clothesline that drops Buehler to the canvas.
Sparkles: Katelyn can’t take many more shots like that. She’s still got a World Title to defend against Mordecai tonight.
Katelyn isn’t thinking about Mordecai, she’s thinking about right here and right now, getting her revenge on Taylor. The rattled Tay approaches the barbwire bat, gathering it up and preparing to use it for the exact same purpose as two weeks prior, busting Katelyn open. She swings around to face Kate only to have her rival explode into her with the Lou Thez Press. Tay is dropped to her back with Katelyn landing on top of her, unloading punch after punch after punch.
Frankie: NO!
Greyson: Taylor has awakened something in our champion.
The jabs go on crushing the bones in Tay’s face before she finally manages to squirm out from under her aggressive adversary. Tay rolls out of the ring and falls into the barricade, using it to hold herself up. It won’t keep her standing for long though considering Katelyn is rolling out after her and is charging into a clothesline. Tay ducks that lariat though, Kate running right past her and colliding with the barrier. She swings around just as Taylor hits a lariat of her own, the blow sending Katelyn flipping over the guardrail and into the audience.
Sparkles: Get out of the way fans, these two are fighting right into the crowd.
Katelyn starts to stand up in the audience just as Tay rushes across the concrete floor and delivers a double axehandle to her rival’s spine. The blow sends Katelyn collapsing to the ground and rolling across it, her body nearing a number of doors leading to the backstage area that are set up under a balcony. Tay is drawing nearer to her before a fan gets in her way. Said spectator gets shoved and shoved violently to the floor as Tay walks right over them, drawing nearer to her nemesis. The sight of Taylor assaulting a fan seems to have lit a fire in Katelyn’s stomach. She pops up to her feet and slams a right hand straight across Tay’s ribs, doubling her over. Katelyn then steps to Tay’s side, screams into the air then unleashes a hard thrust kick right upside her adversary’s skull. The blow sends Tay spinning towards the doors that lead into the backstage area. She leans back first against them and then stares with groggy eyes at the chair that has just found its way into Katelyn’s hands, a chair that is getting closer to Tay.
Frankie: Put that chair down right now!
Greyson: I didn’t hear you complaining when Tay tried to use a barbwire bat on Katelyn.
Frankie: No you didn’t, because I was too busy laughing.
No one is laughing as Katelyn goes after Tay with the chair. Luckily for Tay she has an easily accessible avenue of escape. She dashes through the doors she was leaning on, fleeing to the backstage area.
Sparkles: Tay escaping into the back.
But Katelyn isn’t letting her get away. She throws down the chair and begins to make her way through those very same doors. The second she pushes through them she walks right into a huge uppercut that instantly knocks her off of her feet. The blow is delivered not by Taylor Chase, but by the monster Mordecai. He now comes busting through the doors, emerging from the backstage area and immediately putting his boots to the downed body of the World Champion.
Greyson: Wait? WHAT!?!
Sparkles: It’s-it’s-it’s fucking Mordecai!
Frankie: He just got the drop on Katelyn! Brilliant!
Greyson: He’s scheduled to challenge Katelyn for the World Title, but it looks like he’s getting in the opening salvo.
KATELYN BUEHLER © VS. MORDECAI:
WORLD TITLE
The five knuckles to the jaw has got Katelyn off to an inauspicious start here in her first World Title defense. She’s already on the defensive and remains on the defensive as she finds herself heaved from the ground and over her opponent’s head. The crowd gathered around Mordecai scream and plead with him to put Katelyn down, which is exactly what he does. They regret making their request when they see Mordecai throw Katelyn down with a gorilla press slam right onto the exposed concrete floor.
Greyson: Katelyn thrown straight onto concrete.
Sparkles: Mordecai’s ambush tactics working. How did he know to be behind that door though waiting for Katelyn?
Frankie: This dude has tapped into some near supernatural tactics in the past, and I think that’s what he did a moment ago to get the better of Buehler.
Katelyn is given little to no time to recover from the plunge into the floor. Already Mordecai is on her, pulling her ailing body from the ground and into a clubbing blow straight across the upper back. Katelyn is dropped to the floor but is already trying to fight her way up from it. She throws a punch upside Mordecai’s ribs that has zero effect on the brute. Mordecai merely hits ANOTHER clubbing strikes across Katelyn’s back to take the fight right out of her. He then hooks her under the arm and growls at the fans beside him, enticing them to clear from their chairs. Mordecai shows his incredible strength by lifting Katelyn into a hip toss that throws her not just high into the air but down HARD into the rows of emptied steel chairs.
Sparkles: Ooooh JESUS!
Greyson: Katelyn into the chairs! Into the friggin chairs!!
Frankie: Just hand the belt over to Mordecai now Buehler, and save yourself further torture.
The impact with the chairs has left Katelyn paralyzed by pain, her mouth is opened just as wide as her eyes as the agony courses through her frame. The pain only gets worse when all of Mordecai throws himself into a back first splash across Katelyn’s ribs and the chairs she was lying on top of. Each chair buckles as does Katelyn’s body as she finds herself driven all the way down into the floor with Mordecai on top.
Greyson: Things only getting worse for our World Champion!
Sparkles: Mordecai engulfing her under his weight.
A gleam of morbid delight is seen in Mordecai’s eye as he sits with a shattered Katelyn splayed across the ground behind him. He works his way to his feet with Katelyn’s head in his hands. She is left barely capable of standing after all the vicious blows she’s withstood in this match, her legs instantly buckling beneath her the moment she gets to her feet. Mordecai smiles and takes his weakened prey by the back of the head, swinging her face down into one of the chairs that is still standing. Katelyn ISN’T. She falls to her knees, scooting across them as she tries to get a little distance from the monster. She ends up crawling right into a trashcan set up beneath the balcony and in front of the doors that Mordecai exploded through earlier tonight. She uses the can to work her way up to her feet, though she won’t be on them for long.
Mordecai is barreling towards her, building momentum behind a big running lariat. Only instead of charging into the clothesline he runs directly into the trashcan that bashes him straight between the eyes.
Greyson: There we go champ!
Frankie: She should be disqualified for that.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t think this match has gotten officially started yet.
Mordecai stumbles around reeling from the head on collision with the trashcan and is about to be subjected to another one. Katelyn rushes in and swings the can at Mordecai’s face but the only thing that connects is the challenger’s hand against the champion’s throat. Mordecai catches Katelyn against the throat with a goozle. He then heaves her into the air, going for the chokeslam on the exposed floor.
Greyson: NO!
However, the moment Katelyn is launched into the air her knee is launched up and into Mordecai’s jaw. The blow causes him to release Katelyn and then turn away from the champion, who now has the trashcan back in her hands. She swings it along right into Mordecai’s upper back, the steel dented around his spine. Mordecai stands up wincing in pain and stumbling away from Katelyn, who has vanished into the crowd.
Sparkles: Where’s Katelyn going?
Frankie: Hopefully she’s doing the smart thing for the first time in her career by getting the hell out of here. That’s the only way she’s going to not only retain the title but save her life.
Greyson: I don’t think that’s what Katelyn has planned. Look at where she just popped up.
Everyone in attendance are veering eyes towards the balcony where the brawl between champion and challenger was just taking place. Now only the challenger is standing below while the champion is standing high above. Katelyn is on the edge of the balcony, looking down at Mordecai several feet below.
Frankie: Don’t you do it Katelyn, don’t you dare!
There is nothing stopping the World Champion from throwing caution to the wind by diving from the top of the balcony and plummeting all the way down into Mordecai with a crossbody.
Greyson: OOOOOH MY GAAAAHD!
Frankie: That was sick!
The Kashima crowd agrees, everyone erupting as Katelyn and Mordecai plummet to the floor and are left lying there side by side motionless.
Greyson: Nuts! Absolutely nuts! There is nothing that Katelyn will not do to retain her World Title!
Sparkles: Just goes to show how much that title means to her.
Every inch of Katelyn’s body feels like it’s just been put through a meat grinder, but she still works her way up onto her feet. Soon a steel chair is in her hands and is being thrown down onto the back of a recovering Mordecai. The steel bounces off of his body but has little effect on him. He is still working his way up from the ground and now into a second chair shot, this one right across the top of his head. The stiff blow echoes throughout the arena and has Mordecai feeling just a tad disorientated. He goes stumbling away from Katelyn and towards the barricade. He has no idea that Katelyn is following right behind him with chair in her hands. He eventually turns around just as the chair in Katelyn’s hands finds its way towards his head. The steel stops just an inch removed from Mordecai’s face on account of his hands lashing out and catching the Champion by her throat. Her eyes widen just as she’s lifted from the floor with ease and then tossed clean over the barricade. Katelyn catches great height as she’s sent corkscrewing down to the ringside mats, smacking against them with a thud.
Frankie: Do you see this? Do you see what kind of monster Mordecai is? You dive on him from the balcony, you hit him with steel chairs upside his skull, and he reacts to it like he were bitten by a mosquito. Nothing has any effect on him whatsoever.
Sparkles: And our Champ is learning that the hard way.
As Katelyn works her way to her feet at ringside she stumbles right into Mordecai’s waiting arms. Her weakened body is scooped into the air then slammed right across the mats. The collision has her bones, her organs, even her blood hurting. All that pain is about to be increased exponentially when she’s gorilla pressed above Mordecai’s head then thrown through the ropes into the ring. The monster is following and once both his feet hit the canvas the bell chimes to officially start this World Title match.
Greyson: And now the match is actually underway.
Sparkles: After these two have already mangled each other in the stands.
Surprisingly Katelyn is getting to her feet before the back of her head is crushed by the brow of her opponent. A headbutt knocks Katelyn to her knees, but she doesn’t even get to remain on those before the side of her head is smashed by Mordecai’s boot. The kick has knocked Katelyn to the canvas, rolling across it in the direction of the ropes. She pulls herself back up to her knees while leaning her chin against the middle cable. Mordecai turns those ropes into a detriment. He steps in behind Katelyn, puts his hands to the back of her head and shoves down on it, choking her against the middle rope.
Referee Marcus Mayfield, who entered the ring at the same time that Mordecai and Katelyn did, is now operating in his official capacity to start a five count, threatening to disqualify the challenger. He reaches a count of four before Mordecai takes his hands away from Katelyn’s head then places his leg across the back of it. He sits on Katelyn’s head, forcing her throat down into the middle strand. She gasps for air, all oxygen cut off to her brain and to her lungs.
Another five count starts and at four Mordecai is motivated to remove his leg from the back of Katelyn’s head. He now rolls to the outside of the ring and reaches up, wrapping his hands around the champion’s skull, pulling down on it and grinding her throat once again across the middle strand. The referee threatens Mordecai with a DQ yet again but he stops choking her before the bell can be called for. He then throws his massive fist right across Katelyn’s temple. The blow knocks her back from the ropes and sends her rolling towards the middle of the squared circle.
Greyson: Mordecai doing exactly what he was sent in here to do tonight, beaten and bruise the World Champion.
Frankie: In route to taking the title.
Sparkles; This whole match set up two weeks ago by Silas Mason on the basis that Buehler aggravated him.
Frankie: If Silas can put together a match like this on the basis that someone aggravated him, just imagine what he’d do to someone who legitimately pisses him off.
After the oxygen depravation and the blows to the head Katelyn is not in any shape to keep this match going, but she has to push through it to retain the belt she’s worked all her life to win. Mordecai steadily approaches her and is locking his hands around her jaw. Katelyn is worked up and onto her feet then onto Mordecai’s shoulder. He points at the turnbuckle, signaling that that’s where Katelyn’s face is going to end up. He charges Katelyn into the snake eyes but somehow she manages to push back, slipping off of Mordecai’s shoulder and onto his back in order to lock in the sleeper hold.
Greyson: Katelyn with a sleeper applied on Mordecai. Can she choke him out?
Sparkles: That may just be her only way of retaining the title tonight.
Mordecai has other ideas that eschew submitting to the sleeper. He turns around with Katelyn still hanging off of his back with the sleeper applied then charges her towards the turnbuckle, slamming her spine straight into it. She finds herself squished between the corner and Mordecai’s girth, deflating her. She lets go for Mordecai’s throat and now slouches in the corner, the top rope the only thing that holds her on her feet. Not even the corner can keep her up when Mordecai comes rushing in to crush her beneath his weight. But instead of running into Buehler’s body, Mordecai runs into her boot. She gets it up and launches it straight into his jaw. Mordecai is frazzled by the blow and taken aback a step or two. Katelyn then delivers a thrust kick that connects right on Mordecai’s chin, the second shot staggering him even further. Unfortunately even two kicks to the head are not enough to remove him from his feet, so Katelyn employs a different tactic. She pulls herself onto the middle rope then leaps off of it, flying right into her opponent. But instead of connecting with Mordecai’s body, she lands right in his arms. Mordecai catches Katelyn and applies a bearhug on the champion.
Greyson: No luck for Katelyn in this match at all. Now she’s being subjected to the bearhug.
Sparkles: Mordecai is just wearing Katelyn down throughout the course of this….AHHHH.
Katelyn turns misfortune into opportunity, she latches onto Mordecai’s head with a front chancery while locking her legs around his waist. The bearhug is countered into not one but two submissions by the champion. Mordecai’s knees begin to buckle as he’s placed in these duel holds, but he won’t stay in them for long. He barrels across the ring and rams Katelyn’s kidneys into the turnbuckle post. As a result both of Katelyn’s holds are broken and so to may be her body.
The impact with the corner leaves Katelyn all but spent. Mordecai doesn’t want her spent, he wants her bankrupt. He runs in and right into Buehler’s arms. She jumps to the middle rope, catches the inbound Mordecai around his neck then jumps out of the corner, spiraling around into the tornado DDT. The top of Mordecai’s head slams with so much force straight into the ring, but instead of laying him out he’s popping back up to his feet. The glassy eyed Mordecai goes staggering along and straight into the ropes, falling against them while pawing at his forehead.
Katelyn returns to her feet albeit with her legs feeling like jelly. She somehow stabilizes herself then runs along right into a forearm smash. Unfortunately for the Champion her opponent gets her boot up and right into Katelyn’s chin. The kick sends Katelyn spiraling away from Mordecai, turning her back on him completely. He quickly seizes this advantage, stepping in behind Katelyn, putting his shoulders to her back and lifting her up into the torture rack stretch. All of his grand designs fall apart though when his opponent slips out of the torture rack and down his back, catching him around the hips on the way over
Greyson: Katelyn is trying for the sunset flip.
Sparkles: But she can’t get Mordecai down to the ring.
The giant swings his arms to keep up from going down to the ring. Eventually those arms find their way down and onto Katelyn’s throat. He has her in a two handed chokehold which is then employed to drag her out from under him and into the air. He throws Katelyn into the sky where she shows her moxie by coming down onto Mordecai with a Lou Thez Press. At last the beast is toppled, collapsing to the ring with Katelyn stretched over his chest, pummeling his face with punches.
Greyson: What a counter by Katelyn, into one of her favorite moves. The fists laying into Mordecai’s face.
Frankie: How much longer can Katelyn keep this up?
The punches just go on obliterating Mordecai’s face until he finally puts his hands to his attacker’s ribs and shoves with enough force to press her right off of him. Katelyn catches some air before landing on her feet beside the challenger. She then runs straight into his attempted clothesline….ATTEMPTED. Katelyn ducks under the lariat that Mordecai attempted to behead her with and then goes into a headstand. The back of her legs hit the ropes and slingshot her back into Mordecai, going for the Lethal Injection, the very move that she used to capture the World Title. She lands back on her feet and reaches out catching Mordecai around the neck for the diamond cutter. Just as she starts to drop down into the cutter she finds the move that made her dream a reality turned into a nightmare. Katelyn’s move is countered, Mordecai putting his hands to the champion’s spine and shoving her off the face lock she had him trapped in. Katelyn ends up running right into the ropes, ricocheting off of them and then stumbling into the waiting hands of the challenger. Mordecai catches Katelyn by the throat, looks deep into her soul via her eyes and then launches her into the air for the chokeslam.
Frankie: Here it comes!
To the shock of the crowd, but no one more so that Mordecai, he finds his opponent back flipping right out of his hand, right over his shoulder and down to the canvas in front of him. Mordecai is stunned as Katelyn counters the chokeslam then ducks under the fist that he swings at her face. She runs past Mordecai and into the ropes, doing a headstand with her legs hitting the cables. Katelyn back flips from the ropes and into the Lethal Injection…..no….Mordecai bends down not only ducking the diamond cutter but wedging his shoulders to Katelyn’s spine, catching her then heaving her into the torture rack. Mordecai then pulls down on Katelyn’s shoulder, flipping her over out of the torture rack into a knee strike that connects directly against her face.
Greyson: WHAT WAS THAT!?!
Katelyn’s face bounces off of Mordecai’s knee and the impact has her staggering unconsciously into the ropes. She bounces off them and then limps along into Mordecai’s palm. He goozles her by the throat then lifts her into the chokeslam. Katelyn no sooner hits the ring before Mordecai is coming down on top of her with the lateral press.
Frankie: There it was! The chokeslam after that sick knee strike! We’ve got a new champ!
Greyson: Kick out Katelyn, please kick out!
Parents shield the eyes of their children to keep them from watching as their hero Katelyn is pinned by the brutish Mordecai.
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The hands come off the eyes of the youngsters so they can see Katelyn’s arm leaping up from the ring just in time to keep from losing it all.
Greyson: The Champion remains defiant.
Frankie: Right up to the bitter end.
The crescendo of cheers only gets louder when everyone realizes that Katelyn kicked out of that dangerous combination. Mordecai looks past her and to the stage, shouting something.
Mordecai: NOW!
Demands Mordecai.
Greyson: What is Mordecai calling for?
Frankie: Look at the cartel-tron.
The big screen suddenly lights up bringing to view the car that Mordecai arrived in. The vehicle is stationed in the parking garage and presumably still holding Mrs. R.
Greyson: Mordecai is calling for his sister.
Sparkles: Apparently these two have something cooked up to cost Katelyn the World Title.
It doesn’t take long for Mrs. R to answer Mordecai’s call. The driver side door of the car opens and out steps….JOHNNY KINGDOM.
Frankie: WWWWHHHAAAT!!!???!!
Greyson: OH MY GOD!
The very foundation of the Kashima Stadium is shaken at the sight of the man Mordecai claimed to butcher making his return. A shirtless Kingdom has exited the car wearing only bandages around his torso, still suffering the injuries that Mordecai inflicted on him back at Awakening. Kingdom slams the car door shut behind him and starts towards the interior of the arena.
Greyson: This is unreal. I’m getting goosebumps.
Sparkles: Johnny Kingdom is here and he’s coming for Mordecai.
Already Mordecai is readying himself for a collision with Kingdom. Both of his fists are raised and ready to swing at the legend the moment he emerges from the backstage area. But unbeknownst to Mordecai, his opponent Katelyn is back on her knees and is crawling in behind him. Suddenly Mordecai is pulled over into the school boy.
Greyson: Mordecai caught from behind!
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All those in the Kashima Stadium are floored when Mordecai FAILS to kick out.
Greyson: She got him! She got Mordecai!
Frankie: Whaaaa? Noooo! NOOOO!!!
Sparkles: She retains! She retains!
Everyone jumps up and down at the sight of Katelyn retaining her title over a stunned nay ENRAGED Mordecai. His anger only grows exponentially when the tracks of Johnny Kingdom’s entrance music blast through the speakers at an incredibly loud decibel. The curtains open and Kingdom is making his way straight through them, baring down upon the squared circle.
Greyson: There he is in the flesh!
Frankie: But Mordecai said Kingdom didn’t have any flesh left on his body.
The whole building is rumbling with excitement as Kingdom heads straight for the monster who just months earlier dragged him beneath the ring and mutilated him. Said monster, though surprised by Kingdom’s reemergence, goes rolling straight out of the squared circle and pounces upon Kingdom. The Kashima Stadium is jumping for joy at the sight of Mordecai and Kingdom engaged in an eagerly anticipated brawl.
Greyson: They’re going at it. Kingdom and Mordecai!
Sparkles: This is all about retribution for Kingdom!
Frankie: That’s not Johnny Kingdom, I tell you, it’s someone in a Kingdom mask. It has to be.
Fists fly between the faces of a Kingdom and Mordecai, the two trading blows all the way into the crowd. Mordecai has just spilled over the barrier that Kingdom has climbed on top of. Johnny launches himself off into a double axehandle smash across Mordecai’s back, staggering the brute. Mordecai twists around and nails an uppercut to Kingdom’s jaw, having him staggered. But then Kingdom barrels forward and drives his shoulder into Mordecai’s ribs, powering him backwards right through the doors that the monster used to make his entrance earlier on. Both men have now disappeared into the backstage area.
Greyson: Mordecai and Kingdom brawling into the back!
Sparkles: Kingdom has cost Mordecai the World Title.
Frankie: That’s NOT Kingdom, I’m telling you, Mordecai killed him. It can’t be him.
The audience continues their loud uproar especially at the sight of the World Champion, who at this point stands triumphant in the ring, title elevated high above head. Although Katelyn is depleted, exhausted, fatigued, all of the above, she still commemorates her first successful title defense by celebrating with her fans.
Greyson: Katelyn did it! She did the unthinkable, she managed to defeat the monster and retain her World Tit…..
Frankie: OOOOH MY!
Suddenly Katelyn is caught from behind via the clubbing blow by Kat Kelly. The fans turn, their reaction radically changing at the sight of Kat and her partner Lexy Chapel blindsiding the World Champion.
Greyson: It’s Wicked Intent AGAIN attacking Katelyn!
Sparkles: These three have been going at it all night long.
Frankie: Lexy’s come for her World Title.
The blow across the back of her head has dropped Katelyn flat on her stomach. Her back is subjected to boot after boot after boot, Wicked Intent stomping her into total submission. It’s at this point that Taylor Chase now emerges from the backstage area, waltzing on down the ramp with a big grin plastered across her face and her titanium knee brace now wrapped around her leg.
Greyson: And now Taylor is coming back out here.
Sparkles: Only after Katelyn’s been beaten down.
Greyson: They’re going to pick up right where these two left off only a few minutes ago.
Taylor jumps up onto the apron then smiles ever so widely at the sight of Katelyn being elevated into the arms of Lexy. She holds Katelyn in the package piledriver position while Kat comes flying off the nearest turnbuckle, catching the champion by her ankles and driving her down into the ring via the NC-17.
Greyson: NC-17! NC-17 dumping Buehler dir-ect-ly on top of her head.
Frankie: And look at Taylor, she’s loving every last minute of this.
Lexy has picked up the World Title and is crawling towards Katelyn, flashing the belt in the rightful champion’s face. At the same time Taylor is entering the ring, approaching her nemesis but first stopping off to whisper something into Kat’s ear. Kat hesitates in order to unleash a giggle before going after Katelyn, taking her by the arms and leading her up to her feet. Both of Katelyn’s arms are trapped behind her back, exposing her face to the knee brace that lines Taylor’s leg. She slaps it several times, Tay indicating that her weapon is about to crush Katelyn’s skull. Before that happens we see Selena Frost hurrying down the ramp.
Greyson: Now we’ve got Selena Frost on her way to the ring.
Sparkles: The Queen of the Ring Champion is Monarchy’s biggest….WATCH OUT!
Selena gets to ringside before being blindsided from behind by a cowbell from Alistair Taylor. The shot from the Monarchy member sends Selena flipping over and landing across her back. Once landing on her spine she finds her chest and stomach pummeled by the stomps unleashed by two more members of Monarchy, those being Lucas Knight and Trinity Street.
Greyson: There’s three more members of Monarchy!
Frankie: And they are just beating the brakes off of Selena.
The stomping continues on Selena while back in the ring Taylor is once again lining up her rival Katelyn for the leaping knee strike. Kat holds the Champion in place and renders her defenseless while Lexy stands back holding the World belt and watching as the real title bearer prepares to be crushed. Taylor is just about to do it, taking a step towards Katelyn only to find her forward progress halted when Marina Valdivia slides into the ring and jumps in her way.
Greyson: Thank God for Marina Valdivia, she’s keeping Tay from finishing off Katelyn.
Sparkles: She’s been promising all night that she would stop Tay and reason with her, and that’s just what we’re seeing right now.
Although we can’t hear Marina’s words we do see her lips flapping and her comments directed at a particularly interested Taylor. Whatever Marina says seems to be getting through to Tay, who lowers her head and shakes it, perhaps realizing that she’s made a fatal mistake. Marina then turns away from Tay and towards Wicked Intent, who continue to restrain Katelyn. The second she puts her attention on Lexy and Kat, it’s Tay who attacks. She leaps into the air and drives her titanium knee brace straight into the back of Marina’s skull.
Greyson: DAMMIT Tay. Marina’s your friend.
Frankie: No she isn’t, she’s a meddling do gooding bitch is what she is. Tay’s only friends are Monarchy.
Marina is laid out on the canvas with Lexy skipping around her pointing down in her direction and laughing. Kat has thrown a still unconscious Katelyn to the ground and then bends over her, sticking out her tongue while putting her thumbs to her ears and wiggling the rest of her fingers. Lexy then throws the World Title down onto Katelyn’s ribs. Meanwhile, just outside of the ring Selena continues to be man AND woman handled by Alistair, Lucas and Trinity. As Monarchy decimates anyone that dares defy them back inside of the squared circle Taylor is cocking back her head, extending her arms to her sides and embodying the messiah pose once again. She laughs and laughs and laughs at the expense of all the Monarchy’s victims. Just then, amidst all this chaos, Orlando Cruze comes sliding into the ring. He steps up right behind his wife, grabs her by the shoulder and spins her around so that the two come face to face.
Greyson: Ohhhh baby, this is gonna be interesting.
Sparkles: This is what we’ve been waiting all night long to see, Orlando Cruze finally cornering his wife and getting some answers for her actions.
Frankie: How dare he not be more supportive of his wife. Didn’t he read his vows at the wedding? Didn’t he promise to love, honor and obey Tay in sickness, health and treachery?
Greyson: I hardly think those are part of the sacred wedding vows.
Frankie: They should be.
Greyson: Orlando has stood back and he’s watched his wife disgrace the company he’s devoted much of his life to. He’s finally going to stand up against her.
Orlando now reveals that he has a microphone in his hand so that everyone, Tay AND the audience can hear what he has to say.
Orlando: I came out here THINKING I knew the right thing to do about all this (gestures to the bodies laid out in the ring with Monarchy stood above them), but now that I see what you’ve just done (puts finger into Tay’s sternum) it suddenly came to me how to fix everything. This has been a long time coming Tay, a very-very long time coming. I just have one thing to tell you. One little sentence that I SHOULD have said weeks ago….
Frankie: Oh man, don’t tell me, is Orlando going to ask for a divorce?
Greyson: It sounds like it.
Frankie: That would make Tay fair game right?
Greyson: Indeed.
Frankie: I always knew Orlando was a friggin idiot, can’t stand the guy.
A red faced and intense Orlando is right up in Taylor’s mug so that she can see the anger festering in his eyes.
Orlando: Taylor Chase….I WANT….you to know just how much I LOOOOOVEEE YOOOOOUUU!
Orlando drops the mic starts to cackle and extends his arms out to his sides. At first Tay looks stunned before a smile breaks across her face and she walks right into Orlando’s arms, the two hugging it out.
Greyson: WHAT!!!??!! NOOO!
Orlando and Tay continue to hug even as Lexy and Kat join in. Kat rests her cheek on Orlando’s shoulder while squeezing him and Tay tight. Now Trinity, Lucas and Alistair roll into the ring and jump into the hug as well.
Sparkles: Are we-are we seeing this? Has Orlando just joined Monarchy?
Frankie: I knew it, Orlando is a GENIUS. Man of the year. I’ve always respected and admired the Icon, but now I adore him even more.
Greyson: I don’t even know how to….there are no words….
The final unbearable image in the ring features Alistair, Lucas, Kat, Taylor, Trinity, Lexy and Orlando all joined hand in hand in hand with arms raised above their heads. They stand triumphant over the unconscious bodies of Selena, Marina and the World Champion Katelyn Buehler.
Frankie: Behold it. Breath it in. THIS….IS….DOMINANCE!
Monarchy go on celebrating to the cries of the crowd, but somehow Orlando Cruze’s laughter drowns out their angry voices.
FADE TO BLACK
Riot 37
AWAKENING
Two weeks ago the Tokyo Dome was home to a show that not only impacted the land of Japan but shook the world as a whole.
Instantly the viewing audience is treated to a recap of everything that transpired at what proved to be a pay-per-view that time will not so easily forget. The footage currently on screen showcases the many memorable moments coming out of the event, starting with clips of Johnny Kingdom standing on the stage overlooking thousands of screaming fans, before cutting to a shot of Taylor Chase’s bloodied face staring through the mesh of the cage that she is trapped inside of. This ghastly image is replaced by a shot of Karen McBride back flipping over the ropes in, you guessed it, super slow motion. The video transitions into scenes of Melissa Fairweather and Seraphina, wrestling valets, dressed as geishas and throwing rose petals on the steel ramp beneath their shuffling feet.
The video gets a little quicker in pace, picking up the momentum once it gets into shots of Rachel Tatum Lee giving Aaron Harrison the Dead in Tombstone right inside of a casket during the conclusion to their NHB Title match. The footage then builds into clips of Andre Jordan delivering the Game Changer on the challenger to his Evolution Championship Jeffrey Starxxx. The viewers then see Selena Frost and Deanna Springs pouring lard from the rafters onto the heads of their rivals the tag team champions Wicked Intent.
Newcomer Ricky Holt is seen in the video package slamming a dismembered frozen cow carcass over the back of Samantha Raine during the course of their hardcore match which went all over the building, including into the kitchen where the slab of meat was employed as a weapon. If cow’s being used as weapons wasn’t a significant enough indicator of the insanity we witnessed during this pay-per-view, the follow up scenes showcase Cindy Todd striking Orlando Cruze in the eyes with a barbwire wrapped fist in order to conclude their wild brawl. That’s followed up with a clip of Orlando slamming a steel chair over Cindy’s head in retaliation.
Then the video shows Johnny Kingdom giving his adversary Scott Cannon the brainbuster DDT that drives the back of Scott’s head onto the top of a turnbuckle post. This is followed up by a clip of Mordecai unexpectedly ripping his way up through the ring and interfering in the match by grabbing hold of Kingdom’s ankle before dragging him down into a pit that the monster created upon emerging from beneath the squared circle. Another jarring image plays that features Marina Valdivia being hit under the jaw with a superkick by her friend Alistair Taylor. Alistair double crossing his friend and costing her the Tag Team Titles.
Yet another major moment from the pay-per-view is recapped when Karen McBride is shown battling it out with Mordecai with the stipulation being that if McBride is victorious she gets another shot at reclaiming her Principle Ownership. Unfortunately Karen does not achieve the win she’s been waiting for for so very long on account of a betrayal from her trusted advocate Desmond Drake. He strikes Karen in the ribs with a kendo stick which allows Mordecai to hit her with a Last Ride Powerbomb to pick up the victory.
The video could end there but there are still several memorable moments in which to recap from this historic pay-per-view, including Scott Cannon staggering up the ramp holding aloft the briefcase containing his number one contender’s contract. The package cuts then to Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly of Wicked Intent delivering the NC-17 on their opponent Selena Frost in order to retain their IWC Tag Team Championships, mere moments after Alistair’s betrayal. This scene is proceeded by a recap of the show stealing Barbwire Steel Cage match pitting Taylor Chase against her sister Mika Kozlov. The two are featured using their environment to absolutely mangle one another, culminating to Taylor giving Mika a super powerbomb from the top rope through a table.
At last the video proceeds into visuals promoting the barbarity of the World Title match between Serenity and the challenger to her championship Katelyn Buehler. They battle not only up the ramp but up the Cartel-tron which Katelyn is knocked off of, resulting in her plunge through the wooden stage. Katelyn is then seen climbing off a stretcher and going after Serenity, eventually resulting in a Lou Thez Press that knocks both she and Serenity off the stage through a table. Some still frame ringside photos show Serenity slamming the World Title into Katelyn’s forehead, resulting in the closest nearfall maybe ever seen in the IWC. The video then cuts into another photo of Katelyn demolishing Serenity’s brow with the KTFO, but the roaring elbow only earns her a nearfall as well. Eventually we see Katelyn hitting a version of the Lethal Injection out of nowhere in order to drag Serenity’s head into a cutter on the World Title belt.
The very last scene extrapolated from the pay-per-view features an emotional Katelyn Buehler crowd surfing with the World Title held above her head and confetti raining from the rafters.
So what do you think will be the first image to greet you to open this post pay-per-view edition of Riot the second the show goes live? A shot of the ring ready to hold a match between IWC’s best athletes? No. A speech delivered by the brand spankin’ new World Champion Katelyn Buehler? Of course not. No-no-no, instead what we get is a close up of that shit eatin’ grin on the mug of the Principle Owner Silas Mason. The man who helms the Riot brand sits in his office, parked on the edge of his desk with the camera a mere centimeter removed from his face.
Silas: Ya’ll enjoy Awakening?
As if he doesn’t know the answer to that question.
Silas: Yer welcome.
Oh how the audience lets the obscenities fly.
Silas: Awakening was by far and away the best damn show this company has ever produced and is there any wonder why that is…..?
The camera pulls back from its uncomfortably close proximity to Silas’ face to bring into view his guests. Silas’ assistant Mason Van Stanton steps in and stops at one of his employer’s sides.
Mason: It’s because Awakening was booked by a distinguished gentleman who gives new meaning to the term ‘masculine’…..
To the other side of Silas steps the midget with a huge ego, Desmond Drake. Yet another member of Silas’ ever expanding staff.
Desmond: Awakening was put together by an iconic man who’s business acumen is only surpassed by his sheer virility…..
Silas: Awakening was presented by SILAS MASON.
Boy that grin on Silas’ face is more irritating than being stung by a whole nest of hornets.
Silas: The pay-per-view was a reminder to the whole wide world that I am the premier booker all throughout the wrestling Triad. My innovations made Awakening a record breaking, trend setting, revolutionary event that surpassed all past buy-rates, lit social media on fire, and made this shit-heel company sumthin it hasn’t been in over a year….entertaining. Tonight those same innovations that made Awakening special will be on display right here on Riot, cause I put together a lil’ sumthin-sumthin that’s gonna get started the second the show gets underway. As announced over social media, I personally arranged a 16 person tournament. A tournament that shall ultimately decide a brand new number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. And that tournament starts right….
Karen: Let me through!
Thank God the grin on Silas’ face is gone the moment he spots the door to his office bursting open with his nemesis Karen McBride trying to get through it. She finds her access to the room blocked by Silas’ security, the three burly Austrian beauties who have been instrumental in keeping Silas’ head off the chopping block. Silas rises from his desk and growls at Karen.
Silas: Now what’s all this fussin’ about?
Karen: You owe me, Silas! You owe me a fair shot at my Principle Ownership!
Silas: Ya got yer shot at Awakening.
Karen: You had me screwed AGAIN, by that stubby little Lollipop Guild mother-fucker right there.
She manages to point over the broad shoulders of one of Silas’ security at the alarmed Desmond.
Silas: Don’t matter. I made good on my promise, I told ya if ya beat Mordecai at the pay-per-view ya’d get a crack at me and MY ownership. Ya didn’t get the job done gainst that big summabitch, so guess what, yer shit outta luck baby. Ain’t no more shots in yer future.
Karen: I wouldn’t count on that Silas. I’m not resting until I get back what you stole from me…..
Silas: Yadda-yadda-yadda, we heard all this before. I’m sick of yer threats and I’m sick of seein’ yer face. So guess what sweetcheeks, yer taking that narrow ass on a long walk out of this here buildin’ and ya ain’t ever gonna step foot in MY ring again. Cause yer FIRED.
Although Karen should be shattered she isn’t, in fact she’s all the more determined to break through the wall of muscle that is denying her access to Silas’ throat. Unfortunately she can’t get past security and finds herself being pushed further and further back from Silas until she’s been escorted from his office altogether. Even though Karen is out of his line of sight Silas is still snarling, furious over the fact that she interrupted his gloating.
Silas: DAMMIT, get MY tournament started!
SELENA FROST VS. MIKA KOZLOV:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
The show goes live to the ring for the first time tonight, and the second it does we find the squared circle illuminated in a wintery blue shade with snowflakes descending unto the canvas. All the while ‘What I Believe’ by Skillet is echoing throughout the building indicating that world renowned grappler Selena Frost is on her way to the ring. She emerges from the back with the Queen of the Ring Championship around her waist and her beloved Deanna Springs stood behind her. The commentators are barely even given time to react to Selena’s arrival before she’s already in the ring removing her championship and readying for competition.
Greyson: We’re live here tonight from the Sappora Dome in the heart of Sappora Japan. This is Greyson Lovejoy joined by my broadcast colleagues Frankie Paradise and Sparkles, as we continue on the next leg of our international tour.
Frankie: It’s gonna be fuck-nuts awesome babay.
Sparkles: Fuck-nuts? Can you get those in a jar like pistachios?
Frankie: Ya know, I never did check.
Greyson: Oh what a show we’ve got on tap fellas, as we commence with the Number One Contender Tournament. Our Principle Owner Silas Mason touched on it earlier before he disgustingly fired Karen McBride.
Frankie: That firing was long past due. He dealt with that unruly employee for way too long. You don’t smart off to the boss and expect there NOT to be repercussions.
Greyson: We’ll talk about the McBride, Mason issues later, right now we need to focus on this upcoming match-up, a first round bout in the number one contender tournament. Selena Frost one of sixteen competitors who will compete for a future shot at the World Championship.
Sparkles: An eventual winner of this tournament will be crowned at our next pay-per-view Upping the Ante.
Greyson: So Selena has a huge opportunity right now. If she wins this tournament, she could very well be the first athlete to hold both the World Title and Queen of the Ring Title simultaneously. That would be a major feather under her cap.
Sparkles: Would be a nice way to rebound after the way Wicked Intent screwed her out of the Tag Team Titles at Awakening.
Selena is leaning over the ropes talking to her fiancée Deanna, the two discussing some last second strategy here on the cusp of what could quite possibly be the biggest match of Frost’s career. She’s barely even had time to hand her title belt to Deanna before the lyrics of her adversary’s theme music begin over the speakers. ‘I Started a Joke’ by Sydney Chase starts to play throughout the building at this point, letting the fans know that something truly wicked is on its way to the ring. Mika Kozlov, perhaps the most dangerous beauty in professional wrestling, slithers to the stage with a maniacal grin upon her face. She smiles at the audience and her opponent alike, but behind that grin hides a mind as depraved as the most sadistic of serial killers. Mika prepares to let lose her inner demons, and she’ll do so in the ring at that very moment. She crawls towards it and past the cage dancers shaking their asses on the stage.
Frankie: Surprised to see Mika Kozlov all smiles tonight given her loss to her sister Taylor Chase back at Awakening.
Greyson: She and Tay participated in the most barbaric match I think either us or the fans have ever witnessed. The two spilt so much blood in the confines of the Barbwire Steel Cage at the pay-per-view it’s a wonder they didn’t require multiple transfusions.
Sparkles: Are we even allowed to show some of the clips from that match?
AWAKENING
This video package focuses on the clash billed as the ‘Final Battle.’ The Barbwire Steel Cage bout at Awakening between Taylor Chase and Mika Kozlov. Watching from outside the cage is Cindy Todd, observing every moment of her teammate Mika’s performance and periodically tossing weapons into her New Eden ally. We see Mika hit Taylor with the Killing Joke only to have Tay kick out, being the first person to ever do so. The video then showcases Taylor super-powerbombing Kozlov off the turnbuckle and through a table. The final moments of the match feature Mika and Taylor climbing out of the cage and passing through barbwire in the process. They then battle at the top of the cage with their feet dangling above the ringside mats so far below. Eventually their hands slip from the mesh wall they were holding and Tay goes falling to the outside mats. Mika would have done the same but she finds her hair caught up in the barbwire, resulting in her dangling high above the ground unable to reach it.
After the match has concluded we see the previously unaired footage of Mika’s hair being cut from the barbwire by her ally Serenity. Once the bloodied Mika drops to ringside Serenity crouches beside her and tries to tend to her New Eden sister’s wounds. All the while Cindy Todd can be seen watching in the background, and watching disapprovingly, clearly unsatisfied by Mika’s loss.
SELENA FROST VS. MIKA KOZLOV:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
The show goes back live to the ring where Mika Kozlov is seated in the corner of the ring staring at a woman who will not be intimidated. Mika’s opponent looks right back at her, Selena Frost refusing to be effected by the haunting stare from the black eyes of her adversary.
Greyson: It was probably the most barbaric match in the history of the IWC, but although Mika lost she is still here to tell the tale of that encounter.
Frankie: Not only is she here, but she’s got a chance to advance in the Number One Contender’s Tournament. You know she is a former World Champion and she never got a rematch for the title when she lost it.
Greyson: Yeah, but she’s going up against a woman who has never been World Champion. Someone who is very hungry to make an impact in professional wrestling and create a legacy that people can get behind. Becoming the first person to hold the World and Queen of the Ring Titles simultaneously will definitely make that impact.
The bell rings and the moment it does Mika quickly crawls out of the corner and reaches out for Selena’s legs. The animalistic Mika tries to latch onto Selena’s legs only for them to pull back from her reach. The serpent like Kozlov slithers back on her hands and knees, staring at Selena with those same depraved eyes. Selena remains unaffected by the unorthodox nature of her opponent, once again approaching Kozlov only to be caught with a double inside leg trip. Mika lunges from her knees and grabs the creases of Selena’s legs, tearing them out from under her.
Selena collapses on her back with Mika crawling up beside her, landing punches across Selena’s face. This ferocity unleashed by Mika comes back to haunt her, because Selena is able to turn it to her advantage. She slips out from under the barrage of rights in order to grab hold of Mika’s arm and trap it in a fujiwara. Already Selena is focusing her attack on the arm of her adversary, no doubt a prelude for the Frost Bite still yet to come.
But Kozlov will not remain subjected to this torture for very long, refusing to allow her arm to get worked over. She tucks into a forward roll, ending up back on her feet and with her arm free. Mika then ricochets from the ropes, coming back in at Selena and running straight into her clutches. Selena catches Mika with an arm drag, flipping her adversary over square onto her back. Selena keeps a grip on Mika’s arm, popping up to her feet behind her seated opponent and establishing a textbook arm lock.
Greyson: Selena doing some sound fundamental wrestling that is catching Mika off guard. Mika’s been more attune to that brawling style she’s been forced to use in recent months.
Frankie: FORCED to use? Let’s be honest. Mika LOVES to brawl. I don’t think there’s anything more satisfying to her than the sound of her fist colliding with a victim’s skull.
Mika inches her way up from the ground and once upright finds her arm twisted around behind her back into the hammerlock. An aggrieved Mika turns from side to side, trying her best to squirm free. Finally she just reaches back over her shoulder, taking hold of Selena’s pony tail and yanking back on it. As a result of this blatant hair pull Selena is forced to break her submission. Mika keeps hold of Selena’s hair and uses it to swing her around then ultimately trap her in the side headlock. Selena takes Mika around the waist and steps back into the ropes, pulling Mika along with her. Both ladies hit the cables and once they bounce off Selena is finally able to create some separation. The Queen of the Ring Champion gives Mika a shove, forcing Kozlov to break her hold. Selena swings around quickly into the backslide.
Sparkles: BAAAAAACKSLIIIIDE!!
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Mika does not fall victim to the pin, dropping over to her knees with Selena grabbing her by the arm, stepping over it and straddling the bicep. So much pressure is applied on the arm that it feels as though it’s going to snap clean off from the shoulder. Mika obviously isn’t about to let that happen. With her free hand she grabs Selena by the ankle and gives it one good tug. As a result Selena stops straddling her opponent’s arm and falls flat on her face. The second Selena goes down Mika goes rolling, ending up seated right beside the Queen of the Ring Champion and trapping her neck in the side headlock. Enough pressure is exerted on the hold to injure Selena’s neck but she won’t be crippled not here in the opening round of this tournament. Selena starts to will her way up from the ground in spite of being trapped in the side headlock. Eventually she manages to use her stooped posture to her benefit, standing up in order to hit Selena with a belly to back suplex only to counter. In mid-air Kozlov breaks the side headlock then goes flipping over the shoulder of her adversary. Mika lands behind Selena then takes her around the waist, rolling her over backwards. Selena ends up folded over with her shoulders to the ring and Mika seated on the back of her legs.
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Selena manages to kick out dropping over to her stomach in the process. Mika lands on her seat beside her laid out opponent and applies ANOTHER side headlock.
Greyson: Well look at this, guess I was wrong about Mika being too use to brawling.
Sparkles: Mika really can do it all can’t she? She can brawl? She can chain wrestle? She’s got a penchant for barbarism but a talent for technical grappling as well.
Greyson: Let’s not sell Selena short, she’s arguably, pound for pound, the best technical wrestler in the company.
Frankie: How much does she actually weigh? Like half a pound?
Selena does not stay grounded on the canvas for very much longer, trying to inch her way up from the canvas and out of the side headlock, desperate not to lose here in the first round of the tournament. Before Selena can get up she finds Mika transitioning out of the side headlock by swinging her legs around and wrapping them about the far arm of Selena. Kozlov pulls her opponent onto the back of her shoulders via a modified crucifix roll up.
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Selena kicks out and FALLS to her knees, but it’s Mika’s wrist that FALLS into Selena’s hands. She jumps to her feet in an attempt to lock a submission on Mika’s limb but finds her opponent doing a headstand then kipping up to her feet in order to block the attempted hold. Mika then slaps the hands that were clasping at her wrist, knocking them away before then slapping Selena deliberately across the cheek. The shot knocks the taste out of Selena’s mouth and sends her twisting around into the cables, falling over them chest first. Mika grabs Selena’s legs, and lifts them into the air. The only thing that keeps Selena from falling to the canvas are the ropes her arms are draped over. Mika delivers a hard punt right into Selena’s bread-basket, causing her to lose her grip on the ropes. Mika then takes the legs that she was holding and places them over her shoulders before flipping Selena into an Alabama Slam. Mika drops with her shoulders into the creases of Selena’s knees, pushing down the Queen of the Ring Champion’s shoulders.
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Mika extends her feet back and places them over the very ropes that Selena was just pulled off of.
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Greyson: Mika’s got her feet all over those ropes.
The referee is about to make a three count but Selena’s shoulder is up before the official can finish doing his job. Mika is back up and actually snapping her teeth at the referee, who takes off running like a scared little puppy.
Greyson: MIKA’S TRYING TO BITE THE REFEREE!
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHA-AAAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Mika stops chasing the referee then turns back to her opponent, who was just inching their way up from the canvas. Mika takes Selena by the back of the head and starts to launch knees up into her face. The strikes have Selena stumbling back towards the ropes. Mika then goes for a big leaping knee only for Selena to catch it before it ever makes impact with her face. She hooks her arms around behind the creases of Mika’s legs, causing her opponent to sit on nothing but air. Eventually Selena turns her so that Mika DOES have something to sit on, the top cable. Mika doesn’t remain on this elevated perch for long. She is knocked right off the ropes when Selena leaps into a dropkick ON THE BUTTON.
The blow sends Mika back flipping off the ropes and crashing with a sickening thud to the outside mats.
Greyson: Mika taking a NASTY spill to the outside. That will exacerbate the injuries she suffered in that Steel Cage match last month at Awakening.
Sparkles: Selena getting a little more vicious as this match rolls alo…..AAAAHH!
The moment Mika gets to her feet outside of the ring she looks up to spot Selena dashing across the ring, springing from a set of ropes and then diving over the perpendicular cables in order to hit a splash on her opponent. Mika and Selena crash to the ground with the crowd cheering their heads off. Selena is back on her feet in almost an instant getting the fans even more riled up. Meanwhile her fiancée Deanna claps in the background, thoroughly enjoying the sight of Selena taking the lead in this opening round tournament match.
The Queen of the Ring Champion remains on the offensive, pulling her opponent up from the ground then elevating her over-head before ultimately dropping her jaw into the apron. Mika’s clock is rattled by the collision with the apron. Somehow she remains on her feet long enough to be rolled into the ring where she is trying to stand back up. Mika gets up to her elbows and knees just as Selena races past her, springs to the middle rope then twists away from them into a springboard twisting leg drop. Her thigh comes down right across the back of Mika’s head, pushing Kozlov’s face into the canvas as a result.
Mika rolls to her back looking even more dazed. Her positioning proves very advantageous to her opponent. Mika opens her eyes and spots Selena springing from the ropes once again and this time flipping back into the moonsault. She crashes into Kozlov’s chest and follows the lionsault up with the obligatory hook of the opponent’s leg.
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Mika’s arm shoots up from the canvas then immediately falls into Selena’s clutches. The Queen of the Ring Champion grabs Mika’s arm, stretches it out and then sits on the back of her shoulder. Selena straddles the arm of her adversary and pulls back on the wrist with enough force to separate the shoulder.
Greyson: Modified arm-bar once again established on Kozlov.
Sparkles: Is it possible to actually get Mika to tap?
Greyson: If anyone on this roster is capable of doing it, it would be Selena.
Mika, arguably the toughest woman in wrestling, works her way up to her knees but gets no further. Selena still has her adversary grounded by way of the modified arm bar. Mika puts a bit more power behind her ascent, finally forcing herself up to her feet while Selena stands beside her still mounting the arm of her opponent that extends between her legs. Selena takes instant advantage of both her opponent’s and her own position. She falls to her side and flips Mika over to her back in order to lock in the cross arm breaker.
Greyson: Selena’s going for it! Frost Bite! Frost Bite about to be applied.
Sparkles: The Queen of the Ring Champ’s almost got it locked in.
Frankie: But Mika’s got her hands clasped…she’s blocking it.
Mika has her fingers interlocked, fighting to keep her arm from being pulled down into the Frost Bite. Selena is pugnacious to get the hold established though and advance into the next round of the tournament. Selena keeps holding on even as Mika works her way up to her feet in spite of her opponent’s legs being wrapped around her arm. Mika now shows her sheer strength by standing up straight and in the process lifting Selena up from the ring. Selena still has Mika’s arm grapevined even as she’s lifted into the air and carried across the ring. Eventually Selena ends up being sat on the top rope and is forced to detach her legs from her opponent’s arms. Once freed Mika instantly takes to the air, leaping into a knee strike directly under Selena’s jaw. The blow sends Selena spilling back off the ropes and crashing to the outside.
Greyson: Now it’s Selena’s TURN!
Sparkles: She just took a spill to the outside just like Mika did earlier.
And the results of Selena’s fall were equally as devastating as Mika’s. An aching Selena uses the barricade to reach her feet, unaware that her opponent is lying in wait on the apron behind her. Mika leaps from the apron and embeds her feet right into Selena’s back, hitting a modified missile dropkick that launches Selena across the mats right into the steel steps. Selena takes a bad crash into the stairs which leaves her lifelessly spent across the floor. She rolls away from the stairs until she comes to a rest across her back. Sadly there is no rest for the weary. Selena’s chest is on the receiving end of a diving headbutt. Mika comes flying off the top rope and all the way down to ringside in order to drive her skull right into Selena’s collar bone.
Sparkles: No risk too great for Kozlov.
Greyson: She turned her head into a missile aimed and connecting with Selena’s chest.
Sparkles: She came all the way off the top rope and put her skull into Selena’s shoulder at ringside.
Frankie: They’re both showing how much advancing in this tournament means to them.
Greyson: The winner here moves on to the Quarter Finals and gets a step closer to becoming the number one contender for the World Championship.
The dive to the outside seems to have done a little damage to Mika as well, shaking up the very head she just drove into Selena’s shoulder. She gets up but does so with a handful of Selena’s hair. She stands Selena at ringside before Mika rolls into the ring and back out to break the official’s ten count. She then comes flying off the apron into a bionic elbow that nails Selena in the top of the head. The blow takes Selena right back down to the ground. She finds herself dragged up from it and eventually returned to the ring. Sadly for Selena it’s in the ring where she receives ANOTHER diving headbutt from Kozlov. Once again Mika flies off the top of a turnbuckle and comes down with her forehead right into Selena’s chest.
Greyson: Another headbutt!
Sparkles: That Mika is following up with a cover.
Kozlov crawls along into the cover, hooking a leg.
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Her opponent gets a shoulder up, the very shoulder that just suffered two diving head-drops. Kozlov crawls away from Selena and waits patiently. The second Selena gets to her knees she finds the side of her face crushed when Mika comes dashing in on all fours crashing the top of her head into Selena’s cheek. The headbutt knocks Selena to her back. She now looks up into the head that is coming down at her. Mika pulls Selena’s skull up by the bangs and then drives her forehead into the Queen of the Ring Champion’s face several times.
Mika goes on putting her head to very good use. Once she has Selena thoroughly incapacitated Mika takes her time in drawing her up to her feet. Mika traps Selena’s arms under Mika’s pits, exposing the Queen of the Ring Champion’s chest to numerous headbutts. Ultimately Mika uses the arms pinned under her pits to deliver an arm trap overhead suplex. Mika follows this up by grabbing Selena’s bangs, pulling her up to her feet and landing an absolutely vicious uppercut across her jaw. Selena is sent spiraling along into the cables, bouncing off then staggering into a boot that doubles her over. Mika then comes rushing in to deliver a high running knee to the face, slapping her straight in the brow. The shot has Selena standing up straight with her arms swinging out to her sides and her back bowing, about to go down to the ring. Mika then comes racing in to knock her adversary from her feet only to meet with shocking results. Selena suddenly catches the inbound Mika by the ears and nails a headbutt of her own. The shot takes a stunned Kozlov off of her feet and causes Selena to fall back against the ropes, placing the bulk of her weight against them.
Mika goes down but doesn’t stay down for very long. She’s already rushing to get back up and bearing down on Selena, who surprises her opponent with ANOTHER headbutt. This time Mika isn’t knocked off of her feet, instead she’s just knocked back.
Greyson: Selena proving her toughness.
Sparkles: Yeah, she’s showing she’s just as hard headed as Kozlov.
Mika shakes off the last headbutt then comes bolting straight at Selena, who has the wherewithal to jump out of the corner she was leaning on in the nick of time to avoid the spear of her opponent. As a result Mika flies past Selena, barely missing her and instead slamming the shoulder she had intended to drive into her opponent’s ribs into the exposed turnbuckle post. Mika stumbles back grabbing at her arm and Selena is grabbing at it too. She tucks Mika’s arm around behind her back into a hammerlock then lifts her into a belly to back suplex, slamming Mika down onto the arm that was folded under her. Selena then grabs that arm and pulls it with enough force to get her opponent up to her knees. Punches, elbows and headbutts are thrown into Mika’s arm, Selena doing everything in her power to set it up for the Frost Bite.
Selena takes the arm drapes it over the middle rope and then jumps into the air before coming down rump first right into the shoulder. Mika pulls the arm back to her chest and cradles it as she winces in pain. Selena dashes to Mika’s side and nails a front dropkick right to her shoulder. The collision takes Mika off of her knees and sends her rolling, rolling right along into the nearest corner. Mika pulls herself up to her feet with the use of just one good arm. Selena steps in in front of her, takes Mika’s wounded arm, folds it behind her back then puts her shoulder to Mika’s ribs. Selena pushes Mika back and drives her into the turnbuckle with the injured arm still trapped behind her, causing it to take much of the impact against the turnbuckle.
Mika doubles over clutching at the arm that has now gone limp, making it prime for the pickings. Selena takes hold of that arm and is no doubt a second or two away from placing it in the Frost Bite. That’s when Mika falls away from Selena and grabs her by the waistband in the process. As a result Selena is dragged forward and sent flying into the ropes. She spills through them to the outside, her back splatting across the very unforgiving mats. Selena forces her way up from the ground and then back into the ring. She is about half way through the ropes before Selena finds the back of her head hit with a double stomp!
Mika jumps in at Selena’s side and double stomps her to the back of the head. The collision sends Selena flipping into the ring and ultimately lying splayed across the canvas. Somehow Selena manages to begin working her way up from the ring but she’s only putting herself in Mika’s arms. Kozlov hooks both of them in preparation for the Das-vi-Dania. The double arm DDT threatens to spike Selena right on her head but she displays her championship pedigree by countering just in time to prevent a potential concussion. Selena stands up and attempts to back drop her way out of her predicament. But all Selena has done is traded one painful position for another. Mika unhooks the arms she had trapped and now puts one of her own around Selena’s neck, applying a front face lock. At the same time Mika wraps her legs around her opponent’s torso, establishing a body vice.
Greyson: Selena thought she was going to escape the Das-Vi-Dania but instead she set herself up for this double submission.
Sparkles: Focusing on a head that has been targeted numerous times during the course of this match.
Selena looks close to succumbing to the punishment, stooping closer and closer to the canvas. She refuses to bend at the knees, knowing she’ll never get up off of them should they hit the canvas. Somehow she summons the reserves of her strength to stand up straight, even with Mika still hanging from her neck. Selena then charges at the nearest turnbuckle and drives Mika’s spine into the corner with so much force it causes her to break both of her submission holds. She falls back against the corner while Selena stumbles away from her. Selena then comes racing back at Mika who ducks the attempted lariat from her opponent. As a result Selena and Mika trade positions. Now it’s Selena who ends up in the corner that Mika was just standing in. Selena spins around just as Mika back flips into a Pele kick, her shin connecting. The blow across the brow knocks Selena back into the corner, leaning on it for all she’s worth.
Mika now comes racing in and hits the spear she was looking for earlier, driving her shoulder right into Selena’s gut, sandwiching her between Mika and the turnbuckle. The demented Russian steps back and gets another running start behind a second shoulder to the ribs. Selena jumps from her feet to the middle rope then over the shoulder bound for her ribs. She flies right over her attacker and catches her by the hips, trying to pull Mika over into the sunset flip. Kozlov resists, trying to stay upright, refusing to be pulled back into the pin.
At last she roots her feet to the ring with the force of tree trunks. She then reaches down for Selena’s head only to find her opponent slipping not only through Mika’s hands but her legs as well. Selena kips up to her feet behind a still stooped over Mika before dashing to her side. She catches Mika’s arm and tries to flip her over into the Frost Bite. This time she’s successful, taking Mika to her back then locking up her arm.
Greyson: Frost Bite is applied! Is it possible? Is it possible that Mika is going to tap?
Sparkles: Is Selena Frost about to do what no one else has EVER been capable of doing?
Mika holds strong in spite of enduring the Frost Bite, which is zapping every last bit of strength and will from her wounded body. Selena seems to be verging ever so closer to another huge win to add to her list of accolades. Mika is not making that easy for her, scooting across her back with her foot ebbing ever so much closer to the ropes. She extends her ankle only to find it falling just shy of the cables.
Frankie: Extend that foot just a little further, just a little further Mika….
Sparkles: She’s almost there!
Mika’s foot continues to converge with the ropes, but she all of a sudden finds herself shut down when a bit more force is applied on her arm. Mika’s foot falls shy of the cables and her hands knot up into fists, fighting that nasty little thought that just popped into her head that maybe tapping out isn’t a bad idea after-all. Before Mika has an opportunity to further indulge that thought her mind and the minds of her attacker Selena are removed from their eternal struggle. What has taken Selena’s focus off of her submission? How about the presence of MONARCHY?
Yup.
Cameras cut to the stage where Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly, the IWC Tag Team Champions are standing. Trinity Street and Lucas Knight, the most influential figures in the lives of Lexy and Kat step to the sides of their respective charges. Trinity puts her elbow on Kat’s collar bone and leans into her protégé while Lucas stands behind Lexy and massages his student’s shoulders. All four individuals comprising the Monarchy stare down Selena in the ring and have obviously given her reason to take her attention off the submission she has Mika trapped in.
Greyson: It’s-it’s-it’s Monarchy! Why are these four out here?
Frankie: Selena took on Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel at Awakening for the Tag Team Championships but she failed miserably to beat them…
Greyson: She did NOT fail miserably. She was SCREWED Frankie. As that video before the show went on the air tonight revealed, it was the special referee for the Tag Team Title match Alistair Taylor who cost Selena and her partner Marina Valdivia the Tag Championships at Awakening.
Frankie: Selena deserved to be double crossed! Because you know what else that video you alluded to showed? Her and her fiancée Deanna dumping lard on the heads of Kat and Lexy. LARD! They probably still smell like pig shit! Not that it wouldn’t keep me from doing horrible-horrible things to their nether regions, but still….
Selena continues to stare down the Tag Team Champions who couldn’t be chewing on bubble gum anymore obnoxiously if they tried. The width of their grins grow when they step aside to accommodate the arrival of the very man instrumental in costing Selena the Tag Championships at Awakening. Kat and Lexy employ a Scott Hall inspired point in the direction of Alistair Taylor. He makes his way from the back and nestles himself in between the Tag Champs. It’s the wink that he gives Selena which finally causes the Winter Diamond to lose her cool. Selena releases Mika from the Frost Bite then rolls from the ring to exact her revenge on Alistair.
Sparkles: There’s the man you all were just talking about.
Greyson: Alistair Taylor, the very same individual who stabbed Selena and Marina Valdivia in their backs to keep them from taking the Tag Titles away from Wicked Intent. He’s here and his presence has just caused Selena to lose her focus.
Deanna dashes to Selena’s side, forcefully holding her fiancée back and keeping her from getting up the ramp to get her hands on the five individuals who caused her to suffer a very rare blemish in her otherwise perfect record.
Sparkles: Deanna doing the smart thing, keeping Selena from getting in over her head when it comes to picking a fight where it’s five on one.
Greyson: Selena doesn’t care about that. She just wants her hands on Alistair Taylor’s throat.
At last Selena comes to her senses, backing from her fiancée and towards the ring. Her eyes never leave the faces of the five arrogantly watching her from the stage, which proves to be a detriment. Selena ends up walking absent mindedly right into the arms of Mika, who was lying in wait behind her. Kozlov catches Selena around the neck, bridges her back then snaps her around so that the Queen of the Ring Champion’s face slams directly into the apron with the Killing Joke.
Greyson: THE KILLING JOKE INTO THE APRON!
Sparkles: There’s nothing but solid steel beneath that!
Somehow Selena is still on her knees but not by way of conscious choice. Her possibly cracked skull is leaning upon the ring apron her face just smashed against. Mika then rolls Selena into the ring and quickly crawls into the cover, hooking both of the Queen of the Ring Champion’s legs.
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Greyson: SHITBALLS!
In a very unfortunate turn of fate Selena finds her World Title ambitions put on hold, because Mika has just pinned her to advance in the Number One Contender Tournament. How does Mika celebrate, by giving an unconscious Selena a noogie.
Greyson: Uuuugh.
Frankie: Mika advances! Mika advances!!
Sparkles: One small step for man, one giant leap for Mika, a giant leap in the right direction.
Frankie: Mika ebbing so much closer to reclaiming the World Title.
Greyson: In spite of Selena Frost’s valiant effort Mika picks up the win and moves onto the next stage in the tournament.
Sparkles: It didn’t do Selena any favors having Monarchy show up at ringside distracting her.
Cameras cut back to the faces of the Monarchy members gathered on the stage. Their grins are so huge it looks like they have half a watermelon jammed into their mouths As they back through the curtains they take ine last moment to blow kisses towards Selena now recovering at ringside and her fiancée Deanna stooped beside her. Deanna trembles in rage at the sight of Kat waving goodbye with the use of her pinkie finger and Lexy using HER fingers to form the letter ‘L’ while mouthing the word ‘looooser.’ As Monarchy leaves, Mika sits there on the canvas taking such satisfaction in her win and her subsequent advancement in the tournament. And how does Mika celebrate? By laughing and laughing and laughing.
There is sparse lighting save for a single white ray that shines down on a legitimately unsettling sight, a mesh wall. The chain link fencing has been set up in some undisclosed location of the arena, blocking access to a long hallway that leads into imperceptible shadows. It’s from this blackness that a sound starts to emanate, the sound of clapping.
Cindy: Congratulations…..
The shadows give birth to form as the Queen of New Eden steps from the veil of darkness. She moves through the hall that ends at the mesh wall set up directly in front of the camera. Her fingers slip through the chain-links that her black eyes stare past.
Cindy: Your victory was expected Mika…..
It’s now clear that Todd is directing her monotone words towards her New Eden ally Mika Kozlov.
Cindy: But what I didn’t expect, was your LOSS at Awakening. Defeating Selena Frost this evening, advancing in the Number One Contender Tournament….I’m afraid it’s NOT enough to make up for failing at the pay-per-view against your sister. You failed at Awakening. You failed New Eden. You failed the Dark. You failed…..ME.
Her final word is spat with such venom.
Cindy: My Mika, my darling darling Mika, there is a toll to pay when you fail. Stay where you are, because the time is now for you to answer to the dark….to answer to ME.
The camera slowly zooms in past the mesh set up in front of Cindy’s face to capture the horror that is her demonic black eyes.
As if Karen McBride hasn’t suffered enough.
After being screwed out of a shot at her Principle Ownership at Awakening, after being fired from her job at the start of the night, now she’s being escorted from the building, and worse yet It’s Silas’ private security doing the escorting. One of the burly Austrian brutes trailing behind Karen actually gives McBride a push to the back of her shoulder, compelling her to move faster down the hallway. One can hear the groan in the voices of the commentators when discussing Karen’s plight.
Greyson: Aaaah come on now, Karen McBride is being forced out of the building by Silas Mason’s security after she was fired earlier tonight.
Frankie: Silas is a saint for putting up with Karen for as long as he did. She should have been fired ages ago for challenging his authority as Principle Owner.
Greyson: I can’t stress enough how disgusted I am by this. Karen did not deserve to be robbed of her Principle Ownership nor to be walked out like this.
Sparkles: Wonder what Karen is going to do with her free time now that she’s been forced out of the profession she loves. Maybe bake Sparkles a giant cheese cake?
Greyson: Can’t believe we’re seeing Karen McBride for the last time.
Frankie: Good riddance.
A depleted Mika Kozlov crouches in the corner of the ring where a mere moment ago she was victorious in the opening round of the Number One Contender Tournament. The black eyes of the New Eden loyalist are directed to the entry way as if anticipating someone’s arrival. The voices of the commentators quiver with concern.
Sparkles: This is….bizarre.
Greyson: Before the break Mika Kozlov involved in an opening round match in the Number One Contender Tournament, but before she could leave the ring we saw her New Eden teammate Cindy Todd insist that she stay put.
Frankie: Yeah, Cindy was saying something or other about Mika paying some type of penance to the dark….
Greyson: Cindy apparently not very happy with her ally for failing to defeat Taylor Chase last month at Awakening.
Mika’s wait for Cindy lasts no longer.
Cindy: I’m glad you can follow simple instructions darling.
The entrance curtains open with Cindy Todd stepping out from behind them. Clasped in her hand is a microphone and standing behind her is the giant slab of meat known as Borislav. He faithfully follows Cindy towards the ring where the woman he has long protected, Mika, is anticipating him.
Cindy: At least you can do that correctly. But you want to know what you couldn’t do?
Questions Cindy once she rises to the apron and Borislav parts the ring ropes for her to slide through.
Cindy: You couldn’t fulfill the promise you made to eradicate your sister.
Mika looks almost ashamed by her loss to Taylor Chase at Awakening.
Greyson: Cindy Todd and New Eden’s beast Borislav out here denigrating Mika for failing to beat Taylor at Awakening.
Sparkles: Is this what Cindy meant by making Mika pay penance?
If only Mika was that lucky.
Cindy: You swore that you would be the one who laughed last in your Final Battle with your sister. But what did I hear after that clash inside of the Barbwire Steel Cage? I heard Taylor Chase’s name announced the winner. I heard Taylor Chase’s music playing throughout the arena. I heard Taylor Chase’s fans rejoicing. What I didn’t hear was LAUGHTER.
Well Mika is laughing now.
Mika: Hehehehehe, you hear me laughing now don’t you? Because nothing, not even everything my sestra put me through at Awakening can take the smile off my face.
Cindy: Oh darling, I enjoy laughter as well….
A giant hand wraps around the back of Mika’s head as Borislav reluctantly throws her down to the ring. Mika lands at the feet of Cindy who stoops to her fallen comrade.
Cindy: NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR LAUGHTER!
Borislav grabs Mika’s wrists and pins them down to the canvas. The already winded Mika is unable to stop Cindy from exiting the ring and procuring a bat wrapped in barbwire from beneath it.
Greyson: What are we seeing?
Frankie: Cindy uhhh-ummmm hey Cindy, you do realize that Mika is one of your own right?
Sparkles: Cindy promised penance.
Cindy is back in the ring standing over Mika who finds herself cast in a very unfamiliar role, as that of the defenseless victim.
Cindy: You failed me, Serenity failed me, the both of you failed to win your matches, the both of you failed to honor the DARK.
The barbwire bat swings down right into the flesh on Mika’s back, cutting right through it. Mika laughs her way through this anguish. Another swing of the bat into her kidneys challenges Mika’s ability to maintain her smile.
Cindy: You will never fail again.
The bat rends even more flesh from Mika’s body, blood oozing from multiple puncture wounds. Borislav, who is still holding Mika down, looks way, finding this whole scene difficult to watch.
Cindy: Should you fail New Eden once more this punishment will be nothing but a bed of roses compared to what I will do to you.
Barbwire rises above Cindy’s head and is about to come driving down into the skin that has been fileted from Mika’s spine. The torture is only going to get worse, or at least it would if not for the sudden burst of noise that sidetracks Cindy from bludgeoning her own teammate. Cindy’s hands are stayed from inflicting further punishment by the strange noise playing through the arena speakers. A voice that speaks in multiple overlapping tongues can be heard and before long the source comes into view. On the Cartel-tron yellowed and jagged teeth are now seen surrounded by gray ashen lips. Through these razor sharp teeth ancient Latin spills out.
Frankie: This again?
Greyson: We saw this at Awakening. This voice distracting Cindy.
Sparkles It caused her to fall victim to an attack by Orlando Cruze.
Greyson: But now it’s causing her to let up on her attack against Mika.
Cindy is so vexed by the images on the screen that she finally stops brutalizing her ally.
The barbwire is dropped at the side of its latest victim, a bloodied Mika who is rendered unable to squirm let alone stand. So Borislav helps her by quickly scooping Mika up across his chest and leading her from the ring. Cindy looks past the exiting Borislav and the limp Mika in his arms, all Todd cares about is the mouth that is still exaggerated to enormous proportions on the Cartel-tron, and the strange foreign dialect it is producing.
After seeing the suffrage inflicted on her fellow New Eden member there seems to be distress drawn in the lines of Serenity’s face. She paces her locker-room singing a nursery rhyme to herself.
Serenity: Ooooonnne twwwooooo, Cindy’s coming for you.
Threeeeeee fooooouurrr better lock your door.
Fiiiiiveee siiiix….
Susie: Erm Serenity…
Backstage Correspondent Susie Moore tentatively approaches with a microphone drawing towards Serenity’s lips.
Susie: Just a second ago in that ring we saw your New Eden stablemate Mika Kozlov savagely punished by Cindy Todd for losing her match at Awakening. Considering that you lost the World Championship at that same pay-per-view, are you worried that Cindy has a similar punishment in mind for you?
There is still no response from Serenity other than the hums of her nursery rhyme.
Serenity: Seeeeveeeen eiiiight, gonna stay up late….
Susie gives up, all but too eager to throw in the towel and hit the bricks. She is about half way out of the door before Serenity stops singing.
Serenity: Cindy wants a penance paid, she wants SUFFRAGE. But who says I have to be the one who suffers?
The wheels are turning in Serenity’s head, never-eeeeeevveerrr a good thing.
Serenity: Cindy wants a sacrifice to make up for my loss of the World Championship? Well it won’t be my head on the altar, heh-heh. Nnnniiiiine teeeeen, never sleep again….
Susie: What do you mean by that?
Serenity: Oooooonnnee twwwwwwoooo, Cindy’s coming for you.
Serenity goes on ignoring Susie’s questions in favor of humming that twisted melody.
An instrumental version of the Riot theme song is playing in the background while on the screen we can see new World Champion Katelyn Buehler entering the Sappora Dome. Gracing her torso is a black leather jacket, yet the most important part of her ensemble is the World Championship belt gleaming over her shoulder. The announcing trio sound excited given Katelyn’s arrival to the building with title in her possession.
Sparkles: There she be! The World Champion is in the house?
Frankie: Her house if you’d believe that catchphrase of hers that she’s always throwing around.
Greyson: We are scheduled to not only hear from the woman who won the World Title at Awakening but actually see her in competition against Lexy Chapel here tonight. What’s Katelyn going to say as she celebrates the biggest win of her wrestling career and gives us our first glimpse of her as champion?
Sparkles: We’ll be finding out pronto.
Greyson: All that and more still to come here tonight.
Voice: So many beautiful creatures….
A video package opens with a close up of sharp bicuspids. The bright white teeth are not forming a smile, they are upturning into a snarl.
Voice: So many pretty boys and girls….
The camera is now focused on big intense black pupils. The irises are ever so wide, ever so fierce, ever so crazed.
Voice: It’s like one big beauty pageant…
Growls the voice in the background while on the screen we see her gloved hands clinching into fists.
Voice: I detest beauty pageants….
The video cuts back to a close up of the mouth unleashing a roar.
Voice: I hunt beautiful creatures…
The eyes that were fixated on earlier are shown once more this time brimming with such rabid intensity that a tear is streaming from one of them.
Voice: I DESTROY pretty boys and girls….
One of the clinched fists seen a second earlier opens and the huge open palm shoots towards the camera.
Voice: I am the death of BEAUTY.
The following words flash across the screen.
MISS JON DEBUTS TONIGHT
Lucas Knight: This is the biggest opportunity of your career.
Lexy Chapel bobs her head upon listening to her mentor’s words. The Monarchy members are huddled together in the hallway while their teammates Kat Kelly and Alistair Taylor carry on their own conversation a few inches away. While Kat and Alistair are exchanging nothing but friendly banter Lucas’ words pack a far more poignant punch.
Lucas: Lexy Chapel in her first main event match versus the World Champion herself, Katelyn Buehler. I think it goes without saying that this is-this is HUGE.
Lexy: It’s epic….
Lucas: If you beat the Champ, your popularity is going to skyrocket. Just imagine beating Katelyn, the champion, the measuring stick, in your ROOKIE YEAR! I mean, pinning Katelyn SHOULD put you in top standing when it comes to challenging for the World Title.
A smirking Lexy looks from the Tag Team Title over one shoulder to her opposite shoulder presently deprived of gold.
Lexy: Guess it would be nice to have a matching set.
Lucas: And Kat….
He turns from Lexy to her partner Kat Kelly.
Lucas: You participate in the World Title Number One Contender Tournament. Winning puts you a step closer to ensuring that the Monarchy has total and complete supremacy over this federation.
Kat: Sounds like a good reason to have a….SOIREE.
Lucas smiles as he watches Kat twist her heel against the ground as a sign that the superkick soiree is gearing up.
Lucas: We’re inching closer and closer to our ultimate goal here ladies, to accomplishing what Monarchy was put together to do….DOMINATE.
Right at the end of Lucas’ sentence the door to his side opens and Trinity Street steps out into the hallway. She has a coy grin playing across her face. Her Monarchy associates gather in close around her, very interested in hearing what she has to say.
Kat: How did it go?
Lucas: Is she on board?
Trinity glances back over her shoulder at the room she just exited.
Trinity: I think what she needs is a little more…..convincing.
Everyone continues to orbit Trinity as she makes her way down the hall, leading Monarchy away from the door. The only thing that doesn’t follow Trinity is the camera, instead it remains on the door she just passed through. It slowly zooms in on the nameplate screwed into that door, which reads ‘Taylor Chase.’
Cameras transition back to the ring just as the next match is slated to take place inside of it.
[[ The arena suddenly goes dark as the arena lighting starts to simulate the look of lightning flashes. While the sound system starts to broadcast the sound of rain as white and blue confetti starts falling on both sides of the entrance. However, the sound of the rain is broken up with the voice of Samantha saying… “No rain on this parade…” which is followed by the start of “Unbreakable” by FireFlight. The Cartel-tron comes to life showing Samantha standing out in a pretty looking field when all of the sudden it starts raining down onto her. ]]
Where are the people that accused me? The ones who beat me down and bruised me…
[[As the video continues to play Sam continues to stand in the field without running for cover. Instead, she looks up at the sky allowing the rain to pelt her face as she raises both of her arms up and for a quick several moments the footage flips to Sam doing that same motion, but holding up GDW Undisputed title and Tag titles. ]]
This time I’m not scared…
[[ When Sam finally steps out from behind the curtain the video changes again, but this time it starts to show clips from her greatest matches with Angela Jameson, Feature Presentation, and Jasmine. The cheering actually gets just a little bit louder as the GDW Hall of Famer stands at the top of entrance ramp right in the epicenter of the confetti falling around her in ring attire. Sam smiles widely as she starts to make her way down to the ring. ]]
Now I am unbreakable, it’s unmistakable…
[[Sam alternates between the left and right side of the ring as she stops to take pictures with the fans, sign a few autographs, and for the younger fans giving a kiss on the cheek. ]]
Sometimes it’s hard to just keep going, but faith is moving without knowing…
[[Once she reaches the ring she walks over to the ring stairs and then jaunts up them on to the apron. She moves over to the center of the apron where she looks at all the fans with a smile on her face before she enters the ring, but she stops when she is just half way in to the ring. During that slight pause in her entering the ring she blows kisses to the fans before stepping through the middle ropes. ]]
Forget the fear it’s just a crutch…
[[Though the fans just continue to cheer her attention turns from them as she starts to stretch herself out a little bit more to get ready for her match. ]]
Greyson: Did Monarchy just come out of Taylor Chase’s dressing room?
Sparkles: What are they up to?
Frankie: Trinity Street having a closed door meeting with former three time World Champion, the ‘beloved’ Tay-Tay.
Greyson: Well let’s stop speculating about everything going down backstage and try to focus on what’s happening in the ring right now. Samantha Raine has a grand opportunity as she fights in the first round of the Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: I’m really-really surprised that Silas is letting her compete for a potential shot at the World Championship. The girl has not curried any favor with our Boss. In fact, if it were up to me, she wouldn’t be wrestling for a future title shot, she’d be in one of those cages on the stage shaking her ass.
Greyson: As flat out dumb as 99% of the things are that come from your mouth, Frankie, you did hit the nail on the head at least once. Samantha and Silas Mason have been at odds for a number of months, which resulted in Silas’ security staff costing Samantha a shot at the NHB Title at Awakening. So yes, it is a little peculiar that he would allow her to compete in this tournament tonight.
Sparkles: Well let’s find out who her opponent is going to be.
Jon’s music hits and the vision on the Jumbotron has her staring menacingly while throwing punches with her gloved hands in all directions. Soon Jon appears on stage to large boos, making a slow, deliberate walk to the ring with her head down. Once she arrives at the ring, she stomps up the steel stairs and steps through the ropes. Going to the middle of the ring she throws her head back with a primal scream and then shows her menacing glare for the first time, bouncing back and forth and the balls of her feet throwing punches, ready to take another victim.
Greyson: HOOOLY CHRIST.
Sparkles: It’s-it’s that beast who made her debut at Awakening.
Frankie: This woman is the size of a mac truck.
Greyson: And now it’s starting to make sense. Competing in this tournament wasn’t a gift for Samantha Raine, it’s a punishment. Silas has paired her off with this beast who has vowed to destroy beauty.
Sparkles: They don’t get no better looking than Raine.
Frankie: Her looks are going to be her undoing.
SAMANTHA RAINE VS. MISS JON:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
Samantha Raine is taken aback by the sheer enormity of her opponent. Miss Jon’s bulk towers before Raine, who can feel that cold chill rolling up her spine.
Greyson: Raine is in trouble…A LOT OF TROUBLE.
Frankie: You better believe that, if that beast Miss Jon could get the drop on me like she did at Awakening, then there’s no telling what she’s going to do to Raine.
Sparkles: Is it too late for Raine to forfeit?
Not only does Samantha NOT forfeit but she takes the fight to the behemoth she’s been given the unenviable task of fighting. She leaps into Miss Jon and swings her knuckles into either side of the behemoth’s face.
Greyson: Raine going right after Miss Jon.
Punches continue to drill either side of Miss Jon’s head, actually staggering the big brawler back. Raine then takes off into the ropes, ricochets from them and builds momentum behind a leaping clothesline. Just as Raine leaves her feet Miss Jon throws her bulk directly into her. The enormous chest of Miss Jon crushes Raine, swatting her from the air.
Sparkles: That heft of Miss Jon crashing right into Raine.
Greyson: That was like throwing a pebble at a freight train.
The wind has been knocked out of Raine but that’s not all that’s about to be beaten out of her. Miss Jon drags Raine along to her feet and lands a right hand across her ribs then a left to the other side. She then grabs Raine around the throat with both hands, deadlifts her and throws her into the corner. Raine no sooner hits the turnbuckle before she finds Miss Jon’s fists striking her in the abdomen. It’s starting to feel more and more like Raine’s ribs are being turned into dust by the high impact punches of the aggressive giant. Miss Jon prepares to do even more damage as she steps back to the middle of the ring to build momentum behind a giant splash.
Frankie: Raine’s about to get flattened like a pancake.
Sparkles: Sparkles has got some syrup handy.
Miss Jon’s gargantuan frame comes hurdling towards Raine and ultimately all of her weight collides with the corner. Somehow Raine has managed to step right out of the way, causing Jon to run past her and smash the turnbuckle. Oxygen has been knocked out of Miss Jon’s lungs and finds air further deprived to her body when Raine jumps on her back and applies a desperation sleeper hold.
Greyson: This is great strategy by Samantha Raine. Cut off the air supply with that sleeper. Wear this beast woman down.
That’s the strategy, and it seems to be proving effective….for a moment. Miss Jon shows her immense strength by flexing her shoulders and shirking Raine right off. As a result the Rogue Element is sent flying off of Miss Jon’s back and eventually crashing into the canvas. She rolls back to her feet then goes leaping at Miss Jon, catching her around the neck and trying to drop back into a DDT. However, Miss Jon counters before she can be spiked on her head. She puts her palms to Raine’s ribs and throws her into the air. Raine soars to the heavens, but what goes up must come down. Raine hits the ring and rolls to her back, unconsciously splayed looking up into the huge mass that is hurdling towards her. Miss Jon delivers a splash on her laid out adversary. Every fan in attendance lets out a groan at the sight of Miss Jon smushing Raine.
Greyson: All of Miss Jon coming down on top of Raine.
Sparkles: Yeesh! That’s got to be like an anvil crushing the top of Willie Coyote’s head.
Miss Jon remains stretched over Raine’s chest, now going for the pin.
1
2
Greyson: Miss Jon about to advance in the Number One Contender Tournament!
Just before the three can be counted somehow Raine manages to get her shoulder out from under her opponent’s bulk. Miss Jon does not react very well to this kick-out, the whites of her eyes widening.
Sparkles: Miss Jon THAT close to moving on in this tournament.
Greyson: Wouldn’t it be HUGE for Miss Jon to move one step closer to becoming the number one contender in her very first match with the IWC?
Frankie: She already had the defining moment of her career when she got to fondle me at Awakening.
Miss Jon hoists Raine up from the canvas and holds her in a scoop slam position….and keeps holding her….and keeps holding her…and yep….keeps holding her. A display of dominance is put on by Miss Jon who walks in circles around the canvas while Raine is loaded up on in her huge hands. The hefty woman finally scoop slams Raine down into the canvas with such force, putting a lot of strain on her opponent’s lower back. Raine rolls away from Jon and to the nearest set of ropes, using them to aid her up to her feet. From the corner of her eye she spots the snarling beast bearing down on her. Like a raging bull Miss Jon charges into Raine…no….into the ropes. Miss Jon’s target drops out of the way while pulling down the top rope. As a result Miss Jon’s momentum causes her to go spilling over Raine and over the cables, falling to the outside. In spite of her girth Miss Jon manages to land on her feet, turning her rage fueled eyes to the ring.
Raine is desperate to get momentum back in her favor, taking more chances. She flies over the top rope into a crossbody to the outside, slamming right into her adversary. Raine connects but her impact with her opponent does not have the desired effect. Miss Jon is still standing, and worse yet she has Raine caught across her chest. Miss Jon hustles across the outside mats and slams Raine’s kidneys into the exposed turnbuckle post.
Miss Jon turns away from the steel post with Raine still stretched across her chest. That’s until Raine is dropped with Miss Jon coming down on top of her with the world’s strongest slam. Raine’s back hits the ringside mats with crippling impact.
Sparkles: Raine unable to combat just the sheer size and power of this monstrosity.
Greyson: Specimens like Miss Jon are very rare in this industry.
Frankie: Well this bison woman is definitely achieving her goal. She’s destroying beauty one bimbo at a time.
Miss Jon pulls Raine up from the ground by the hair then throws her back into the ring like she were nothing but a ragdoll. Although Raine is hurting like she’s never hurt before she’s still working her way up standing just in time to be bowled over by the chest of her adversary. Miss Jon runs in and slams her front end right into Raine, taking her right back down to the canvas.
Frankie: Can they just ring the bell already and announce that Miss Jon moves onto the next stage in the tournament?
Greyson: They may just have to stop the match given the severity of the beating that Miss Jon is delivering on Raine right now.
Raine crawls away from the brute, trying to give herself a little space so that she can recuperate. Miss Jon catches Raine’s hair and yanks on it, forcing her up to her feet. Raine reaches her feet only to leave them, flipping back into a Pele kick. The blow nails Jon directly in the brow, rattling her brain just enough to send her staggering. Raine inches to her feet and sets aside her pain in order to inflict some on Miss Jon, her boot launching not into the behemoth’s bread basket. Miss Jon hunches into position to be hit with the Jem Star Stunner.
Greyson: JEM STAR STUNNER!
Raine is about to drop into her finisher….about to. Miss Jon grabs her by the shoulder, spins Raine around and nails her with an unbelievably stiff uppercut square under the jaw. The blow has not only sent spit flying from Raine’s mouth but her body stumbling back into the ropes. Miss Jon comes charging in only to have Raine launch her feet into the air, trying to drive her opponent back by driving her boots into her sternum. Miss Jon catches the feet that attempted to strike her sternum. She pushes them away and causes Raine to go swinging around so that she’s seated on the middle rope with her back aimed in Miss Jon’s direction. Miss Jon grabs Raine by the shoulder and then Samantha falls back, launching her legs over the top rope and right into her opponent’s face.
Miss Jon steps back to the middle of the ring trying to shake off that blow just delivered to her head. All the while Raine is desperately getting to her feet on the apron, clasping at the top rope. Her boots eventually find their way up onto it, springing from the cables into a lariat that connects right across Miss Jon’s throat. The collision has Jon reeling on her heels yet somehow remaining on her feet. Raine looks at her still upright opponent with a look of utter surprise. She takes off to the nearest turnbuckle, scaling it as fast as her wounded body will allow.
Raine is only on the top rope for a moment before her boots are flying off and connecting right with Miss Jon’s chest. The missile dropkick hits Miss Jon with such force but not enough force to knock her off of her feet. Miss Jon is still upright, swinging her arms to keep from going down.
Greyson: Miss Jon STILL on her feet!
Frankie: It’s gonna take a damned wrecking ball to knock her over.
Raine’s eyes are widening at the sight of Miss Jon still towering above the canvas.
This will not do.
Raine hurries towards the turnbuckle and hustles to the top. She then comes flying off right into a double axehandle aimed at Miss Jon’s head. She connects….ribs landing right on top of Miss Jon’s shoulder. A look of distress overcomes Raine’s face as she’s caught by her opponent then charged across the ring and has her body slammed with such ring shaking force against the turnbuckle she had just leaped out of.
Raine buckles in the corner, almost going over. She wishes she had fallen when looking up through her groggy eyes at Miss Jon charging into a devastating splash. Absolutely all of Miss Jon’s weight is thrown into Raine’s body, making her as flat as Spock’s personality.
Miss Jon follows up her splash with a double handed throat choke. She squeezes Raine’s neck, lifts her out of the corner and then turns before dropping to her knees and slamming her opponent down with the double hand chokebomb.
Greyson: Raine almost put right through the ring on that exchange.
Frankie: An exchange that is going to move Miss Jon into the next round of the tournament.
1
2
Not just yet it won’t, Raine gets her shoulder up in time to prevent succumbing to the three count.
Greyson: Raine continues to survive.
Frankie: Not a smart move. She’s only putting herself at risk of further injury the longer this battle goes.
The snarling Miss Jon exits the ring where a steel chair falls into her possession.
Frankie: Time for beauty to be destroyed.
Sparkles: We’re going to see Miss Jon’s MO.
Greyson: Miss Jon with a chair! Don’t let her bring that in the ring ref!
Frankie: This big bitch don’t care about getting disqualified. She just wants to fuck someone’s face up. And that someone is Samantha Raine.
Miss Jon is about to enter the ring only to stop and swing the chair in her hand at the announce table. A fearful Frankie lunges back from the table the moment the chair connects and his eyes see the steam pouring from Miss Jon’s nostrils.
Greyson: Careful about calling her a bitch, Frankie. Remember what she did to you back at Awakening.
Frankie: Oh I haven’t forgotten her attack on me, it’s why I brought along….
From beneath the announce table a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken is removed. Frankie positions it in front of him, almost using the deep fried goodness as a protective shield.
Greyson: What the hell is that?
Frankie: It’s chicken you idiot.
Greyson: I know that but….
Frankie: You know how a T-Rex can only see things that are moving? Well I believe Miss Jon can only see something if it’s been deep fried.
Sparkles: You’re giving her chicken as an offering?
Frankie: Yep.
Sparkles: But-but-but Miss Jon doesn’t want to be fed, Miss Jon wants to hunt.
The chicken goes ignored.
Before anyone can stop her, Miss Jon is in the ring with a steel chair in her hands. She just starts to lift it in anticipation of driving it down into Raine but instead the weapon finds its way back right into Miss Jon’s face. Raine has leaped back to her feet then into the air, a dropkick nailing the chair and causing it fly back into Miss Jon’s brow. The chair falls but NOT Miss Jon. She’s still upright, still stumbling around, still fighting. Raine stands up wearing a look of shock that even her last move, the dropkick into the chair, proved incapable of taking Miss Jon down. So Raine comes charging in only to end up lying out when Miss Jon nails her across the throat with a clothesline.
Sparkles: Even after taking a chair to the face Miss Jon manages to nail that throat crushing clothesline!
Greyson: This woman is a monster!
Frankie: Which is why I’ve taken the added precaution of not only bringing chicken out here to ward off Miss Jon, but I’ve also brought this can of bear repellent.
Greyson: Ummm, Frankie, that’s JUST a can of Axe Body Spray that you slapped a bear repellent sticker over.
Frankie: Axe Body Spray, bear repellent, same basic thing.
Miss Jon stands over her fallen opponent and the chair lying beside her. Soon that chair finds its way back up and into Miss Jon’s hands.
Greyson: Ref! Take that chair away from Miss Jon, for the love of God please stop her!
That’s exactly what the referee does, attempting to grab the chair out of Miss Jon’s hands the moment she raises it over head. Unfortunately the referee finds it a lot harder to take the weapon out of Miss Jon’s hands than he had counted on. He learns just how tight her grip is when Miss Jon throws the chair down of her own accord and wraps her palms around the referee’s throat. Nothing but a muffled scream can be heard as the referee is lifted into the air then slammed into the ring with a sit-out chokebomb.
Greyson: OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!
Sparkles: Miss Jon just shattered the referee into a thousand pieces.
Frankie: Never would have happened if he had brought along some fried chicken.
The ferocious, absolutely demented, and BEYOND crazed Miss Jon sits on the canvas with the whites of her eyes being particularly pronounced at the moment. Her dark pupils reflect the broken body of the referee stretched out on the canvas between her spread legs. She shoves the referee away then stands up, grabbing the chair the ref TRIED to take away from her. She then goes after Raine, who is using the ropes to reach her feet. The second Raine sees Miss Jon coming a fist is thrown into the goliath’s jaw. Raine punches Miss Jon several times, actually knocking her back.
Greyson: Raine trying to fight this beast off.
Sparkles: Is this match even still going? The ref is out cold!
Frankie: Well here comes another one, hopefully he brought some bear repellent with him.
Yet another official has slipped into the ring to replace the one who just fractured by Miss Jon. He gets there just in time to become ANOTHER victim of her wrath. Miss Jon turns away from Raine and throws a huge fist right down the ref’s gullet. The ref is knocked flat on his ass and the same fate will NOT befall Raine, who once again hurls fists into the beast woman’s face. The only thing that brings an end to this barrage of blows exchanged between both ladies is the arrival of a third referee, who stupidly jumps right in the middle of the anarchy. He first forces Raine and out of the ring before setting his sights on Miss Jon.
Greyson: And yet ANOTHER referee is out here.
Sparkles: This one’s calling for the bell!
The referee points straight at Miss Jon, then at the referees laid out around her before signaling for the bell.
Greyson: The referee just disqualified Miss Jon!
Sparkles: Sparkles don’t even think that’s going to be enough to stop her.
Frankie: Somebody throw some Twinkies at her!
The only thing thrown is the body of yet ANOTHER referee. He gets a boot to the abs proceeded by a sit-out powerbomb so devastating that it shakes the entire ring. A ring that Raine has rolled out of it in order to hold her potentially busted up ribs. She looks back into the squared circle where the ever menacing Miss Jon sits amidst a pile of bodies.
Greyson: This is insane, Miss Jon has just laid out almost the entire officiating pool.
Frankie: Which finally caused her to be disqualified, meaning that her opponent Samantha Raine has advanced in the tournament.
Greyson: I sincerely doubt that Miss Jon cares about the tournament or the World Championship.
It seems at the moment the only thing Jon cares about is the heart of Raine, deeply offended that it’s still beating. Raine glares right past into the ring, eager to show Miss Jon just how big her heart is.
The fans find themselves seriously hyped up when given another glimpse of the champion herself, Katelyn Buehler. This time she is not shown arriving in the building, but standing in her locker-room. She’s no longer holding her luggage, but now she’s got the World Championship in her hands. The belt hangs over her palms and is mere inches removed from her face. The commentators are getting more and more excited the closer we get to potentially hearing from the Champ.
Greyson: Moments from now Katelyn Buehler set to hit the ring and give us her first speech as champion.
Sparkles: She looks like she’s soaking it all in. This is the moment she’s waited all her life for.
Frankie: Yeah-yeah-yeah, we’ll hear from the pasty bitch in a minute or two.
Greyson: What’s Katelyn going to say when she finally hits the ring?
Cameras quickly cut to former World Champion Serenity sitting in a very dark room with the only light being provided by the burning candle she’s holding. As the wax leaks from the flaming ember Serenity’s sing-song voice fills the room.
Serenity: One twwwwwoo Cindy’s coming for you
Threeee fooour better lock your doors.
She goes on dementedly singing and looking down into the candle.
Greyson: It looks like Serenity is still on edge after seeing what Cindy Todd did to her teammate Mika Kozlov for losing back at Awakening.
Sparkles: Serenity knows she’s on borrowed time, that Cindy is going to punish her as well.
Frankie: But didn’t Serenity say that she was going to offer Cindy ANOTHER sacrifice to take some of the heat off of herself?
Greyson: Sure we’ll be finding out soon enough what idea Serenity has planned in that twisted brain of hers.
EARLIER TONIGHT
A video recap features what went down in the opening match of the Number One Contender Tournament. The screen is hit with shots of Selena Frost and Mika Kozlov battling each other in a hotly contested bout in an effort to advance to the next round of the tourney. It looks like Selena may very well be that individual who moves on, as she manages to get Mika trapped in the finishing submission hold the Frost Bite. The cross arm breaker ALMOST has Mika flirting with the idea of tapping out. Luckily for Mika the arrival of Monarchy, who come to a pause on the stage, have Selena so distracted that she breaks her own submission. She rolls out of the ring and tries to get her hands on the group watching her, the group that cost her the Tag Team Titles back at Awakening. Sadly Selena is so fixated on them that she doesn’t realize Mika has stepped in from behind her until it’s too late. Mika sends Selena’s head spiraling around into the ring apron via the Killing Joke. This face breaking move is followed by a pin in the middle of the ring. Yet again Monarchy manages to successfully cost Selena a match she seemed so close to winning.
Deanna: Where are you going?
Unfortunately Deanna Springs’ questions seem to be falling on deaf ears. It’s not that Selena Frost isn’t listening to her fiancée, it’s that she just doesn’t hear her. The only thing in Selena’s ear right now is the rage. Selena remains quiet, save for her deep breaths, as she marches down the corridor.
Deanna: Let’s not be brash….
Too late for that. A steel chair is already in Selena’s hands and the Queen of the Ring Champion has some very nasty intentions for it. She only stops storming down the corridor when she reaches the dressing room of Monarchy. She pauses right outside the door and prepares to make a big entrance.
Deanna: SELENA!
This shrill cry is made just as Selena’s foot connects with the door and almost knocks it right off its hinges. Her fiancée now watches as Selena stomps into the dressing room with both hands wrapped around the legs of the chair.
Frankie: Oh shit….Selena-Selena Frost breaking into Monarchy’s locker-room!
Greyson: She’s out for revenge against the group that cost her her match earlier tonight. This is an explosive situation.
Sparkles: Is Monarchy in there?
Greyson: For their sakes I hope not.
The camera finally looks over Selena’s shoulder and into the dressing room, revealing that save for Monarchy’s personal belongings there is no sight of the group that is being stalked by the Queen of the Ring Champion. A furious Selena grabs one of the gym bags she sees on the floor and throws it across the room.
Greyson: They’re not in there.
Sparkles: Sparkles guesses Selena’s hunt for Monarchy continues.
Cameras return to the ring just as “Satisfied” by Social Code blasts through the loud speakers. Instantly the lyrics of the entrance music are drowned out by the crowd’s uproar. All the fans lunge simultaneously to their feet to shower the NEW World Champion Katelyn Buehler with the ovation that she deserves. The moment they lock their eyes on Katelyn the reaction only gets louder. Katelyn steps out from the back wearing a black leather jacket and the proudest smile on her face.
Greyson: Here she is guys! Katelyn Buehler, our NEW World Champion!
Sparkles: But where’s her gold?
Frankie: Probably decided she wasn’t worthy of wearing it, which she isn’t, given the way she stole the championship from Serenity at Awakening.
Greyson: I’m getting real tired of having to correct your biased commentary, Frankie.
Frankie: Then don’t.
Greyson: Katelyn EARNED the championship after enduring one of the most hellacious matches of her career and finally defeating Serenity in one of the most emotional matches of both their careers.
Once on the ring apron Katelyn turns her back to the ropes, grabs the flaps of her jacket and rips it open to reveal the World Championship belt glistening around her waist.
Sparkles: There’s the championship!
Greyson: Katelyn wearing it with pride.
Frankie: She shouldn’t be wearing it. She shouldn’t be wearing anything. Hmmm…that would appease me.
A microphone at last finds its way into Katelyn’s hand, and so does the belt that WAS around her waist. Katelyn removes the belt, holds it up in front of her face and instantly cracks into laughter. The ovation, the championship, it all overwhelms Buehler with emotion. Without saying a word she lifts the title above her head and manages to get an even bigger response out of the crowd. Finally the belt drops back down to her forearm while tears well up in her eyes.
Greyson: Ha-ha, Katelyn relishing this, the moment she’s waited all her life for.
It takes a moment for Katelyn AND the crowd to settle down.
Katelyn: My whole life people have told me, Katelyn, you’re a dreamer. Katelyn, you’re chasing a fairy tale. Katelyn, you’re overreaching. I still remember the look on the faces of my sisters when I told them that I was going to become a professional wrestler. You want to know what their reply was? “Katelyn, you must be HIGH off your ASS if you think you can make it in the wrestling business.” Well….
The belt slowly begins to raise above Katelyn’s head resulting in another loud outpouring of emotion from the crowd.
Katelyn: I’m not going to say I proved all the doubters wrong, don’t need to…THIS (thrusts the belt aloft) says everything that needs to be said. Those who criticized me, who questioned me, who called me a dreamer, they were right, I am a dreamer, but guess what, I’m standing in this ring right now LIVING the DREEEEAAMM!
Another burst of emotion from the audience coincides with Katelyn dashing at the nearest corner, jumping onto the middle rope and thrusting her belt above head.
Katelyn: I am in a fairy tale, and this one had a happy ending.
She becomes a bit more composed as she drops from the corner and looks down at the belt draped over her forearm.
Katelyn: No….you know what, that was a poor choice of words. Because this isn’t the ‘ENDING.’ No, this is just the start. I worked so hard for this dream, and I’m not about to wake up from it any time soon. So get use to this image…..
The World Title finds its way back over Katelyn’s shoulder.
Katelyn: This title is going to grow very cozy sitting on my shoulder, cause it’s not going anywhere for a very-very long time…..
Serenity: Oh lover, you don’t have a choice in the matter.
Oh the hate….oh the hatred that flows from the audience at the sight of Serenity ruining this truly feel good moment. Everything sours, including Katelyn’s expression upon seeing her ex-fiancee and the ex-World Champion stepping in all her demonic demure to the stage.
Greyson: Things just got really tense out here. That’s the former champion Serenity.
Sparkles: The woman that Katelyn beat for the title at Awakening.
Frankie: The woman that was ROBBED of the title.
The long-time rivals who have been locked in a seemingly endless war continue their battle, only this time it’s a battle of words.
Serenity: I’m happy for you, Katie, I really am. You finally achieved what you’ve been after for an entire lifetime…
Muses Serenity on her way down the ramp.
Serenity: You made your fans, your kids, and your whole family proud. It’s all so touching, it brings a tear to my eye….
She plucks something from her eyeball while moving up the ring steps.
Serenity: Oops, no, it was just an eyelash.
Katelyn: Let me guess….
Before Serenity can enter the ring or go any further with her speech Katelyn is cutting her off.
Katelyn: You’re out here to congratulate me in some type of back handed fashion in an effort to goad me into giving you a rematch for the Championship, am I right?
Serenity: Weeeeellll, a title shot certainly wouldn’t hurt. But believe it or not doll-baby, I’m not here to take that championship from you.
Katelyn: Then what are you here for Abi? More games?
Serenity: No-no games, not this time. I’m here because I failed Cindy, and as you probably saw earlier tonight, she has no tolerance for failure. So I was thinking that….
Katelyn: What? What are you thinking? That if you came out here and beat me up, that maybe Cindy would forgive you and you wouldn’t get punished by mean ole’ mommy?
Serenity: Something along those lines.
Katelyn: Well Abi, you got a good idea there, just one flaw in your logic though. See, it’s not Cindy and her punishment you need to worry about…..
The belt falls out of Katelyn’s hands and her fist comes swinging along right into Serenity’s jaw. The crowd is going nuts as Serenity and Katelyn trade a barrage of punches with one another, picking up exactly where they left off last month at Awakening.
Greyson: Buehler and Serenity! They’re going at it!
Sparkles: The Champion battling it out with the former champion.
Frankie: These two will NEVER give this up.
The fist fight continues between these two bitter rivals. It only escalates when Katelyn manages to get her boot up and directly into Serenity’s jaw. The thrust kick has knocked Serenity back into the ropes and ultimately through them to the outside. Surprisingly she lands on her feet then reaches back into the ring to remove Katelyn from hers. Buehler is tripped onto her back and then her legs are pulled. Serenity drags Katelyn under the ropes to the outside of the squared circle. Once at ringside Katelyn is grabbed by the back of the head and thrown along into the barricade. Katelyn bounces off the steel and twists to the ground while Serenity follows along behind her.
Greyson: Serenity getting the better of Buehler.
Frankie: Of course. She’s desperate to take heat off her head. She saw what Cindy Todd did to Mika Kozlov earlier tonight for failing New Eden. Serenity doesn’t want Cindy to do the same thing to her.
Sparkles: So she’s out here trying to cripple Katelyn.
Serenity crouches behind Buehler, who is still using the barricade to reach her feet. Once Katelyn is upright Serenity comes barreling in from behind and lunging right into a spear. All of the impact is felt on Serenity, because her target has moved out of the way and caused Serenity to plow shoulder first into the barricade.
Greyson: Katelyn showing why she’s got that belt around her waist. Expert timing and cat like reflexes.
A shaken Serenity works her way up to her feet, clutching at the arm that took much of the collision with the barricade. Speaking of collisions, we now see Katelyn’s fist collide with Serenity’s jaw. A slew of punches are thrown upside Serenity’s head, backing the former World Champion up the ramp.
Sparkles: Oh crap, these two fighting on the stage, we saw what happened the last time they brawled up there.
Greyson: Yes Katelyn and Serenity only fell OFF the stage but they went THROUGH it!
Finally a punch lands with enough force across Serenity’s cheek to disorientate her to the point that she trips over her own feet. She takes a header to the stage and finds her rival’s boots driven down into her body. Katelyn stands over Serenity and stomps like she were putting out a fire. The only thing Katelyn is extinguishing though is the life from Serenity’s body. Just as Katelyn prepares to launch another boot upside Serenity’s head the World Champion is caught from behind by a clothesline. The crowd reacts with disgust at the sight of Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel assaulting Buehler.
Greyson: WICKED INTENT!
Sparkles: They’re attacking our World Champion!
Frankie: Sexy Lexy Chapel scheduled to face Katelyn later tonight but they’re getting an early start on the beating.
Katelyn has collapsed to the stage and is trying to cover her head with both hands in a feeble effort to block the barrage of stomps being delivered by Lexy and Kat. The stomping stops so that Kat can grab Katelyn’s arms, pin them behind her back and force her up to her feet. The World Champion seems defenseless, one rival in the form of Kat restraining her arms and the other rival in the form of Lexy about to superkick her in the jaw. Lexy steps in to deliver the knock out shot only to find HERSELF bowled over. Katelyn leans back into the woman who was holding her in order to lift her feet and put them into the woman who was about to superkick her. Lexy is pushed back and down to the stage.
Katelyn spins away from Lexy and towards the other half of Wicked Intent, blasting Kat upside the head with a punch. Lexy scrambles back to her feet and assaults Katelyn with a double axehandle to the back. Surprisingly Katelyn stands tough, turning and throwing another punch that successfully lands on Lexy’s jaw. This brawl comes to an end only when the curtains open and Selena Frost comes tearing through them wielding a steel chair.
Greyson: There’s Selena Frost, and she’s still got that chair!
Frankie: Don’t you DARE hit Wicked Intent with that!
Selena never gets the opportunity, the mere sight of her with the chair in hand has got Wicked Intent sounding retreat. They take off down the ramp and leave Katelyn standing alongside Selena. Both of Wicked Intent’s latest victims seem itching for a fight. The World Champion and the Queen of the Ring Champion stand shoulder to shoulder shouting at Lexy and Kat, the Tag Team Champions, who back away from instead of stepping up to a battle. All the while Serenity sits off to the side of the stage, realizing that her plans have gone horribly awry.
Greyson: Selena evened up the odds but later tonight, it’s going to be Katelyn going it alone when she takes on Lexy Chapel.
Sparkles: Wicked Intent trying to weaken Katelyn on the eve of that match, but the World Champion holding her own and Selena turning the tide against them.
Frankie: Lexy’s going to make both these bitches pay, starting with Katelyn in tonight’s main event.
Cameras cut to a briefcase. The lens pulls back to reveal that it’s in the hands of Scott Cannon. Said case contains the contract guaranteeing Cannon a World Title shot at any time and any place of his choosing. It remains to be seen if that time or that place will be during the course of the evening. It seems to be a very real possibility given the orders he’s directing at his brothers Michael and David.
Scott: Tonight’s the night guys. Michael, you find a referee….
Michael: On it.
Scott: David, you find Mark Comeau or Susie Moore.
David: No problem.
Scott: Now that Johnny Kingdom is out of my way for good, there’s nothing protecting Katelyn Buehler and her World Championship.
The briefcase is raised and given a slap, resulting in a grin shared amongst the Cannon trio. In the background we hear the damn near spastic tones of the commentators.
Greyson: Oh my God…don’t tell me….don’t tell me that Scott Cannon is planning on cashing in his contract tonight!
Frankie: Oh man, this show just keeps getting better and better.
Sparkles: Now that his war with Johnny Kingdom is over, Scott is coming for the World Title!
Greyson: Our champion Katelyn Buehler better be on guard, Scott is coming for her championship tonight.
Mordecai: Oh how far the King has fallen….
A video starts to play with the narrator being the creature Mordecai. His voice over can be heard, in its ever deep chilling and gothic tone. While the viewers don’t see the creature they do see the results of his artistry and handiwork. First we’re given a glimpse of a table with a crown crafted from broken glass resting on top of it. In a quick flash the video cuts from the crown to a scene from the most recent IWC pay-per-view Awakening, where Johnny Kingdom finds himself in competition with Scott Cannon. The clip showcases Kingdom driving Scott’s head into the apron with the Exodus Finale, potentially closing in on victory against Cannon.
Mordecai: Johnny Kingdom was once the most honored man in this industry….
The image of the in ring action dissolves into another torture device manufactured by the enormous hands of the twisted goliath Mordecai. Now it’s a royal scepter with the pointy end of nails protruding outward from the staff. Another quick cut to the match between Cannon and Kingdom is featured, focusing this time on the Team Leader crawling towards Scott in the middle of the ring, preparing to make the cover. He stops about half way across the squared circle when a set of hands come bursting their way up through the ring, snatching hold of Kingdom’s ankle.
Mordecai: Johnny Kingdom was once respected, was once held in such esteem. He was once wrestling royalty…..
The video transitions from the wrestling bout to even more of Mordecai’s creations. This time focus is paid to a throne with jagged pieces of metal protruding through it, ensuring that it’s going to make for a very uncomfortable seat. We jump from that image to the action back at Awakening. Now it’s revealed that the hands that tore through the ring and grabbed Kingdom, belong to Mordecai. The man who has threatened Johnny for a number of weeks finally makes good on all his bone-chilling threats. A noose is wrapped around Kingdom’s neck and used to pull him down into the pit that Mordecai has made in the middle of the ring.
Mordecai: Now the King has fallen….He is weak…he is blood in the water…
A compilation of clips bombard the screen showing the crown of broken glass before cutting to Johnny being dragged down into Mordecai’s pit. Then we see the scepter of nails until the video jumps to a scene of Kingdom clawing at the canvas as he tries to prevent his decent into the depths of the hole Mordecai burrowed his way up through. Finally an image of the throne with jagged steel shards extending from its surface is shown, but that scene fades into a clip of Kingdom vanishing into the hole with Mordecai dragging him into the depths of depravity.
Mordecai: The King is no more….now all that is left….
This gruesome footage transitions to a table holding a burlap sack. There is some kind of liquid trying to bleed out through the fabric. The flies buzzing around delight in the stench emanating from the sack.
Mordecai: Is ruin….THIS….
A close up of the bleeding burlap sack.
Mordecai:….is all that is left of your fallen King.
An exterior view of a grocery store is provided. The sliding doors are the focal point and before long all the attention is on the person stepping through them. The doors part and Karen McBride can be seen exiting. After being escorted from the arena and fired earlier in the night, Karen has a little free time to do some shopping. Which explains the plastic bag hanging from her hand and her departure from the grocery store.
Karen: Think it’s that easy to get rid of me?
Questions McBride while reaching into the bag and removing a cheap but sure to be effective Halloween mask.
An expensive banquet of caviar and other such fine, egregiously overpriced foods have been set up in the locker-room. At the moment the ever gluttonous Great Ba-Bam is standing over the food stuffing his mouth.
Blaire: Guess it’s up to us to fix Karen’s problems again….
Groans Blaire McBride as she and her sister Melanie come into view. Obviously the two are not happy about the way the show commenced, with their sibling Karen being marched out of the building and unceremoniously deposed by Silas Mason.
Melanie: I think we’re off to a good start.
Optimistically replies Melanie while lifting a satchel into view. Once opened we can see hundreds of thousands of dollars stuffed inside.
Blaire: Desmond and Silas have to be going nuts knowing that we’re spending THEIR cash.
Melanie: At least this blood money (holds up satchel of cash) is going to a worthwhile cause.
Melanie looks from the moolah in the satchel to the huge Hindi stuffing caviar down his gullet.
Melanie: Enjoying the feast?
The Great Ba-Bam smiles, revealing that all of his teeth are caked in black caviar.
Blaire: All of this (gestures to the expensive platters of food) is courtesy of our esteemed Principle Owner Silas Mason….
KAT KELLY VS. RACHEL TATUM LEE:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
Cameras return to the ring where Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel are still standing. The two seem to be in a foul mood considering that their ambush on Katelyn Buehler did not go the way they had envisioned. Hopefully the pending bout will go a bit smoother. Speaking of smooth we now hear the voice of commentator Frankie Paradise.
Frankie: Seriously? The McBrides are spending that money they took from Desmond Drake back at Awakening?
Greyson: That was the bribe that Silas Mason gave Desmond to stab Blaire’s and Melanie’s sister in the back. So they might as well as put that cash to a worthwhile cause.
Sparkles: They should buy Sparkles a lifetime supply of Vaseline. My bottom gets chaffed with that hand up it all day long.
Expresses the puppet.
Greyson: It’ll be interesting to see what the McBrides spend that money on in their effort to drive Silas up a wall. Equally as interesting is the match we’ve got up next. It’s another bout in the Number One Contender Tournament. NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee battles Wicked Intent’s Kat Kelly.
Frankie: Kat’s pissed…..pissed BEYOOOOND pissed. She and Lexy tried to jump the World Champion before the break but they were thwarted.
Sparkles: Lexy still to face the World Champ later tonight, but right now Lexy’s partner Kat takes on the NHB Champion in an effort to advance in the tourn…..
Music that was highly unanticipated hits the PA system, bringing all other noise, including the voices of the commentators to a crashing halt. “Unsettling Differences” is playing over the PA system and Ricky Holt is coming down the ramp.
Greyson: Another wrinkle added to this tournament match.
Sparkles: That’s the man who won a shot at Rachel Tatum Lee’s NHB Title.
Greyson: Ricky Holt defeated two other opponents at Awakening to get a crack at Rachel and her belt, but it’s not a title he’s after right now. It’s the vacant chair right here beside us he’s got his sights on.
Sparkles: Seems we’re being joined by Holt here at the announce table, probably to study the woman he’ll challenge for the NHB Championship.
The once unoccupied chair behind the announce table soon finds itself filled. Ricky Holt slips in beside Frankie Paradise while sliding a headset over his ears.
Greyson: Ricky…
Holt’s palm opens and aims in Greyson’s direction, signaling that the commentator needs to shut his trap.
Ricky: Kill that noise and kill it quick. Not here for a ‘chat,’ least of all not with you Comeau and Sprinkles.
Frankie: HAHAHAHAHA!! AAAAAH-HAHAHAHAHA!
Greyson: Erm, the name is actually Greyson, and the puppet is Sparkles….
Ricky: Good for you. Honestly, your name could be Scarlet Johansson and I wouldn’t give two shits. The only thing on my mind right now, is this match coming up here next.
Sparkles: Understandable. You do have an NHB Title shot guaranteed against one of the combatants in this upcoming Tournament bout….
Ricky: Hold on-hold on-hold on. Why is there a puppet speaking to me right now? I refuse to engage this THING with a hand up its ass in conversation.
Frankie: Then you probably won’t want to talk to Greyson either. HAHAHAHA.
Frankie is shown going for a high five that Ricky does not reciprocate. In fact, Ricky just keeps on giving Frankie such a stern glare that it at last forces the commentator to awkwardly lower his hand. Focus at last gets back to the ring where Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel continue to exchange some notes seconds before Kat collides with the NHB Champion. Naturally all the strategizing in the world fails to prepare one for the task of facing NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee. The tunes of her entrance theme are now playing over the PA system and before long the vicious young lady will descend upon the ring. Before we get a glimpse of Rachel we see members of Tombstone emerging from the back. Goddard, Sundown and Elijah Dallas part the curtains so that Rachel can step through them. The ever intense champion quickly narrows the distance between the stage and the ring while allowing her belt to slip from her shoulder into her palm. She slides into the ring across her knees, whips back her hair and gives a bone jangling stare in the direction of Lexy and Kat.
Greyson: Good thing Rachel has brought along Tombstone, because the odds are definitely a little stacked up against her right now with Kat having Lexy in her corner and Ricky Holt being here at the announce table.
Ricky: Am I to presume that you’re one dimensional thinking leads you to believe I’m out here to run in and attack Lil Miss Hillybilly Tits?
Greyson: What else are we to infer from your presence here at the announce table?
Ricky: I could be out here for a whole slew of reasons. Maybe I just really enjoy Frankie’s company.
Frankie: Really?
Ricky: Heeeeeell no.
Frankie: Ouch. My pride.
Sparkles: Then care to enlighten us as to why you ARE here?
Ricky: ….
Sparkles: Sparkles asked you a questi….
Ricky: I’m not talking to a fucking puppet!
Greyson: Well while we try to discern Ricky’s motives for being here at ringside, let’s take a look back at Awakening and see why he might be in a bit of trouble if he chooses to tangle with Rachel Tatum Lee.
AWAKENING
A video package transports the viewers back to the Awakening pay-per-view, where a clash between Rachel Tatum Lee and Aaron Harrison is spotlighted. The NHB Champion defends her championship in a grueling casket match but ultimately a bruised and banged up Rachel emerges victorious. The final clip showcases Rachel delivering the Dead in Tombstone on Harrison INSIDE of the casket. The lid is then slammed on the coffin, trapping Harrison inside and ensuring Rachel is victorious. Rachel’s allies in the group Tombstone are responsible for taking the casket away, carting Harrison off to an undisclosed location.
KAT KELLY VS. RACHEL TATUM LEE:
NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TOURNAMENT
The show cuts back to live action where Rachel Tatum Lee prepares to inflict even more punishment, this time on her adversary Kat Kelly. Kat stares a hole through Rachel, realizing that the NHB Champion is standing in the way of a potential future World Title shot.
Greyson: We haven’t seen or heard from Aaron Harrison since he was hit with that Dead in Tombstone into a coffin at Awakening.
Frankie: Yeah, Tombstone took off with him and vowed to give Harrison the help he’s needed.
Ricky: They take him out behind a woodshed and put a bullet in his head?
Greyson: I don’t think so.
Ricky: Then they didn’t help him.
Cameras cut to the cynical Ricky Holt, the guest commentator watching Rachel, the woman he’ll challenge at a later date for the NHB Title. The bell finally sounds inside of the squared circle as Rachel and Kat start to tenuously emerge from their respective corners. The ever adventurous Kat actually holds out her hand, looking to start this match on a friendly note via a handshake.
Greyson: Are you kidding me? Kat actually thinks Rachel is going to fall for this?
Frankie: Hey, Kat could be sincere. She knows how big a match this is for herself and for Rachel.
Sparkles: Winner moves on in the tournament to crown a brand new number one contender to the World Champ….
Ricky: Why is the puppet still speaking?
Frankie: Cause we haven’t found tape thick enough to shut Greyson up, hahahahaha.
Rachel reacts to Kat’s extended hand by kicking it aside. Obviously Rachel is not falling into this trap. Her reluctance to shake Kat’s hand leads to an angered response, not by Kat but by her partner. Lexy leaps to the apron behind Rachel, shouting over the ropes at the NHB Champion.
Lexy: SHAKE HER FUCKING HAND! SHOW SOME CLASS!
Rachel’s idea of showing class? Fucking up Lexy’s face!
Rachel charges at the ropes Lexy is standing on the opposite side of and throws a jab at her face. Luckily for Lexy, and for her pretty face, she manages to leap back from the apron and avoid the blow. Rachel is so focused on Lexy though that she doesn’t spot Kat running up from behind and delivering a double axehandle smash. Rachel falls into the ropes, staying upright by leaning against them. Rachel finds it hard to remain on her feet when a knee launches into her ribs. Kat then hits a second knee and then grabs Rachel by the back of the head, runs her out of one set of ropes and throwing her through another.
Rachel drops onto her feet on the outside mats but almost loses her balance, staggering into the announce table then leaning over it. Her eyes shoot up straight into the face of the man seated on the opposite side of the table, the future challenger to her NHB Title Ricky Holt.
Ricky: What are you looking at? I’m just sitting here.
Greyson: Rachel knows, just like the rest of us know that you’re up to something, Ricky.
Ricky: Pfft….I’m just enjoying all the benefits of sitting here at the announce table. This chair is comfortable and if you don’t mind the smell coming off of you, Comeau, then it’s actually pretty nice out here.
Greyson: It’s GREYSON!
Rachel’s stare at Ricky serves as an ominous threat. She backs away from the table and turns to the ring just as Kat comes leaping over the top rope. She looks to take advantage of yet another distraction by a foreign body but Kat is unable to capitalize this time. Rachel sidesteps Kat and catches her on the way down with an uppercut. Kat’s jaw feels caved in and has her looking groggy. Nevertheless she shakes off the blow she just got from Rachel and builds a head of steam. Kat surprisingly rushes into a clothesline that is just as surprisingly countered. Rachel catches Kat with a hip toss that sends the Wicked Intent member plummeting back first into the ringside mats.
Greyson: Kat launched into a hard thud against those mats.
Rachel no sooner deposits Kat into the mats before seeing Lexy rounding the corner of the ring to help her partner out. The lightning quick Rachel swings around with her fist cocked back, ready to nail Lexy in the face. Wisely Lexy backs off and leaves Kat to the mercy of the NHB Champion. Rachel rolls into the ring to break the referee’s ten count and now watches as Kat struggles to her feet outside of the ring. Kat stands just as Rachel slides. A baseball slide dropkick hits Kat in the chest, launching her back and into the barricade. Kat staggers right past Goddard, Sundown and Elijah Dallas, the Tombstone members clearing out of the way in the nick of time.
Greyson: Kat tried to be the aggressor in this match but she’s learning what all of Rachel’s opponents eventually catch wind of, that Rachel can turn on the heat at the drop of a hat.
Sparkles: Rachel is often dubbed the most dangerous woman in professional wrestling for a reason and AND she’s held that NHB Title for over a year now. That just goes to show that her Violent Kind moniker ain’t no joke.
Greyson: What formula do you plan on using Ricky, to try and end Rachel’s historic championship reign?
Ricky: Rachel’s dangerous, you’re right about that, but does she have the intelligence to keep those homicidal urges of hers in check and keep her from making mistakes? See, my trainer taught me that it’s good to be aggressive, but to channel aggression properly, and I think Rachel’s inability to do that is what’ll be her death knell when she faces me for the title.
Kat continues to be the latest victim of the NHB Champion, languishing at ringside. Somehow Kat manages to get to her feet with the aid of the barricade, standing just as Rachel comes hurdling towards her. The NHB Champ takes off across the squared circle and dives through the ropes into the suicide head….SUPERKICK! Kat nails an airborne Rachel in the face with the SUPERKICK!
Greyson: OOOH! OH SO WICKED!
Frankie: On an airborne Rachel!
The NHB Champion is not only knocked out of the air but knocked out cold. She lays flat on the mats with her face caved in by the superkick. Her opponent is grabbed by the wrist and her body is led along to her feet. Kat throws the NHB Champion into the ring then scales the nearest corner. Somehow Rachel is getting up, albeit stooped over clutching at her jaw. That’s when Kat comes flying out of the corner into a big splash right on top of Rachel’s upper back. Rachel is knocked from her feet and driven down with her face taking a hard impact with the canvas. It isn’t long before Rachel is pushed to her back with Kat making the cover.
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Kat finds herself quite peeved when her opponent manages to kick out.
Greyson: Kat thought she had the win there.
Ricky: This is another thing I learned about our NHB Champion, she’s durable. It takes a lot to put her away and when her opponents can’t get the job done they get frustrated and they lose focus. I won’t fall victim to that same trend.
After giving the referee the look of death Kat continues to inflict torture on the NHB Champion. She steps over Rachel, takes her under the jaw and leads her up into the European Uppercut. The collision sends Rachel stumbling on back into the turnbuckle. Kat lines her up and comes charging in with a step up knee strike that nails the NHB Champion under the chin. Kat drops away from Rachel by rolling over backwards and onto her feet. She puts enough distance between herself and Rachel to get a running start behind a diving lariat. She hits a clothesline on her opponent’s throat, closing her airway. Rachel collapses out of the corner and finds her opponent’s boot coming down wedging against her throat. Kat pushes down on her knee, ensuring even more pressure is behind the foot crushing Rachel’s esophagus.
Sparkles: Kat singling out her opponent’s throat. What do you think of this strategy Ricky?
Ricky: Nope, still not doing it. Still not talking to a damned puppet.
The referee starts a five count on Kat that eventually compels her to take her boot from her adversary’s throat. She looks towards Lexy at ringside, who is cheering her tag team partner on and trying to get the Japanese fans rallied in support as well. The crowd sits on their hands, refusing to show Kat any type of love, even as she signals for another superkick. Kat crouches in anticipation of delivering the kick, almost licking her lips in the process. The NHB Champion forces her way up from the ring wearing the wounds of this physical bout. Kat’s boot lunges at Rachel’s jaw only this time it doesn’t connect with it’s target, instead it ends up wrapped in her adversary’s hands. Rachel has a vice grip on Kat’s leg, causing the Wicked Intent member to hop up and down on one foot. Kat eventually launches that foot into the air and whips around into an attempted enzugari. Rachel ducks her head and avoids taking another nasty kick upside the head. As a result Kat’s foot flies over her target and that boot ends up landing on the canvas. She has her back turned to Rachel, who is still holding onto the leg that she caught to start this whole process. Now Kat launches her planted foot into Rachel’s chest with an inverted dropsault.
The boot connects with the NHB Champion’s chest, knocking her back and towards the ropes. She ricochets from the cables then staggers along back into a drop toe hold from her opponent. Rachel falls flat on her face with Kat standing up beside her, stomping her foot in anticipation of hitting the Oh So Wicked.
Frankie: Nail it baby, nail that superkick.
Greyson: Kat going for it again!
Rachel rises to her knees just as Kat steps in and threatens to shatter her skull via the superkick. This time Rachel doesn’t catch her opponent’s boot, she goes rolling right under it. Rachel returns to her feet and goes scrambling into the nearest set of ropes, bouncing off of them. She comes charging towards Kat only for the Tag Team Champion to go for another drop toe hold. On this exchange Rachel manages to avoid the plummet to the canvas and instead roots her feet to the canvas before swinging around and putting her knees into Kat’s chest. She pushes down on Kelly’s shoulders, forcing them to the canvas while reaching back and hooking the creases of Kat’s knees.
Greyson: Nice counter by Rachel right into the pin.
Ricky: That was SUPPOSED to be impressive? Honestly, I’ve taken more impressive shits than that.
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Kat manages to get the legs that Rachel had hooked wrapped around the front of Rachel’s shoulders. Kat then sits up and rolls her opponent off of her chest and onto her back.
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Rachel doesn’t just get her shoulder up, she rolls backwards onto her feet and takes off into the ropes. She comes charging back at her seated opponent and swings her foot around into the roundhouse kick. Somehow Kat possesses the wherewithal to duck under the boot bound for her face. Rachel’s kick swings past her adversary’s skull, causing her back to be exposed to her opponent. Kat reaches up from the canvas and grabs Rachel’s waistband, pulling her over into the school boy. Kat instantly releases Rachel from the pin, allowing her to roll back and onto her knees, and for good reason….or wicked reason. The moment Rachel rolls to her knees and straightens her back she finds her jaw collapsed via the Oh So Wicked. The superkick nails Rachel directly under the jaw with enough force to knock her up from her knees and ONTO her feet. She staggers along into the ropes, bounces off them and then returns to Kat. But Rachel leaps into the Boot Licker, her heel catching Kat directly in the mouth.
Sparkles: Kat with the Oh So Wicked, but Rachel responds with the Boot Licker!
Greyson: Both these woman showing just how badly they want to advance in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Sparkles: Rachel a little more fired up than normal heading into this match considering everything that’s happened between herself and her ex-boyfriend Ethan Von Aaron over the past few weeks.
The Boot Licker has not only smashed Kat in the face but has knocked her out of the ring. Luckily for Kat she’s rolled to the outside and has put herself out of position to be pinned. She drops down in front of her partner Lexy at ringside. Lexy is right there checking on her teammate and trying to help her up. Just as Kat gets to her feet she and her teammate Lexy spot Rachel nearing the ropes in the ring above them. Rachel grabs the top rope and leaps over at her adversary. However, Lexy shoves Kat back so that she does not fall victim to whatever Rachel had in mind. As a result Rachel is forced to alter strategy, landing on her feet instead of on her opponent. Kat breathes a sigh of relief before turning back to the ring and spotting Rachel running across the apron then forward flipping off of it. She crashes with a senton sommersault right into Kat’s chest, taking her off of her feet. Kat collapses to her back with the NHB Champ coming down on top of her.
Greyson: Impressed yet Ricky?
Ricky: I’m supposed to be? News to me.
Greyson: How do you hope to end the over year long reign of Rachel when no one holds the answer as to how to keep her down?
Ricky: Rachel’s not Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers. She’s not invincible. She’s got her flaws and I’m seeing a lot of them right now.
Rachel pulls Kat up from the ground and throws her into the ring. The Tag Team Champion ends up splayed across the canvas on her back totally unaware that Rachel is scaling up a turnbuckle. Rachel comes flying out of that turnbuckle right into a high impact senton bomb that caves her opponent’s chest in. Rachel follows this last move up with a quick pin.
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The pin was quick but the three count wasn’t quick enough, Kat gets her shoulder up.
Greyson: This Tournament match rolling on. Who is going to advance to the next round and inch ever so much closer to becoming Number One Contender for the World Championship?
Kat keeps her hopes for victory alive after her kick out. There is no rest for the WICKED. Rachel pulls Kat up to her feet and now into position for the Dead in Tombstone.
The Tombstone Piledriver is coming but Kat surprises her opponent by slipping out of her clutches. Kat manages to slide up and over Rachel’s shoulder, coming down behind her back. Rachel looks to surprise her opponent by swinging around into a lighting fast clothesline. Kat has equally as quick reflexes though, ducking the clothesline bound for her throat. Confidence swells in Kat, realizing that she has Rachel right where she wants her. She turns, thinking she’ll be facing Rachel’s exposed back, but instead what she turns around into is the back heel kick that nails her in the ribs. Kat doubles over in front of her ever aggressive opponent. Rachel slaps her bicep as indication that the Laredo Lasso is coming Kat’s way. Rachel takes off into the ropes, bounces from them and comes back in at her adversary with the clothesline from hell intended for Kat’s throat. But Kat blocks Rachel’s clothesline by way of the SUPERKICK. The Oh So Wicked is delivered with such force to Rachel’s chin that it sends her stumbling back and falling against the cables.
Amazingly Rachel bounces from those ropes and the momentum carries her into the Boot Licker. In spite of the air that she gets beneath the leaping heel kick Rachel finds her boot ducked. Kat sees the Boot Licker coming and reacts in time to duck under it. Rachel lands on her knees as a result and starts to get up only to find the side of her face caved in with the Oh So Wicked.
Greyson: Two more superkicks to Rachel’s skull!
The second superkick has knocked Rachel off of her knees and onto her back. Kat jumps across Rachel’s chest and hooks the leg, watching as the referee’s hand swats the canvas.
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Frankie: Is Kat Kelly going to advance in the Number One Contender’s Tournament!?!
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Greyson: This is it!
Kat is a half second removed from advancing in the tournament before Rachel manages to just barely kick out. Kat’s partner looks astonished at ringside, Lexy yanking at her hair. Meanwhile those who accompanied Rachel to the squared circle, the members of Tombstone, are breathing a sigh of relief.
Sparkles: TWO Oh So Wicked superkicks still not sufficient enough to finish Rachel off in this ultra competitive opening round tournament bout.
Frankie: Ricky, seeing this type of performance from the woman you’ll be facing at a later date for the NHB Title, has GOT to be making you nervous.
Ricky: Do I look nervous to you?
Rachel is so banged up by the superkicks that she is unable to prevent the frog splash that Kat comes sailing off the nearest turnbuckle in order to deliver. Kat drives all the air out of Rachel’s body and hooks the leg that shot up into the air upon the impact.
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Yet again the NHB Champion prevents having her World Title ambitions concluded in this fashion, kicking out a moment before the three.
Greyson: Rachel kicking out again. She has been VERY vocal about the fact that she’s long considered herself to be neglected when it’s come to the world title discussion. Tonight she has the chance to change all of that.
Ricky: Awww….how pathetic. If she wanted to be considered for the World Title then she should have done something about it LONG ago. See, unlike her, unlike MOST of people on this roster, I don’t sit with my thumb up my ass WAITING for opportunities to be given to me.
Greyson: Is that why you pinned Mya Denton back at Awakening AFTER she had been attacked by Silas Security?
Ricky: Did I ask Silas Security to interfere? Nope. Think not. So it wasn’t like I was begging for a handout, all I did was took advantage of the chance presented before me. Anyone would have done the same, and if not they’re idiots.
Rachel lies on her back still suffering the debilitating blow via the superkick. Her opponent kneels beside her looking every bit exasperated by Rachel’s defiant kick out. Kat works her way back up to her feet with clumps of Rachel’s hair in her hands. Just as it looks like Rachel will end up back on her feet she instead leaves them in order to hit a jaw breaker. The blow has Rachel’s opponent reeling, Kat stumbling around clutching at her potentially unhinged jaw. Kat shows her threshold for pain by cracking her jaw back into place then running along right into the headbutt that launches directly into her gut. Rachel has turned her head into a battering ram, putting the top of it straight into her adversary’s lungs and sending her launching back into the ropes. Kat falls into the cables then through them, hitting the ground at the feet of her stunned tag team partner Lexy.
Frankie: Where does Rachel get this from? She takes the worse beating of her life night after night then gets right back up.
Sparkles: That’s how she’s managed to hold that NHB Title for over a year….
Ricky: Hope she’s savoring the moments she has with it because….
The commentators and their guest find themselves abruptly silenced.
The action inside of the ring comes to a crashing halt.
The fans stop screaming till their lungs hurt all because a strange sight has manifested upon the Cartel-tron. And that sight is Ethan Von Aaron, the ex boyfriend of the NHB Champion, who at the moment is lying on his side across a sofa. He provocatively has a leg raised and bent at the knee with one of his hands hanging over it. But it’s not just the pose he’s striking that is highly sexualized, because he’s also shirtless, and unfortunately, PANTSLESS. A bundle of red roses are placed right in front of his crotch, thank God, and one of them is held by the stem, Ethan twirling the flower between his fingers.
Ethan: Hey there sugar-tits!
Rachel’s whole body squirms at the sight of the nude Ethan addressing her from some undisclosed location bare chested, bare bottomed and all.
Greyson: That’s-THAT’S Ethan Von Aaron, that’s Rachel’s ex.
Sparkles: Oh God, the camera really does add ten pounds, and it’s all in the crotch region.
Ethan continues to expose all of his business to the woman who use to enjoy such a sight.
Ethan: Just thought I’d send along this little video message in order to remind you what you lost.
Smirks Ethan while removing a bottle of baby oil from the table top beside him. He squeezes an excessive amount onto his chest and begins to rub it in.
Ethan: Just think it USED to be your hands all over this body. Touching it, rubbing it, massaging it.
The longer this video plays on the screen the more unhinged Rachel becomes. She is so overwhelmed with rage at the images on the Cartel-tron that she has totally lost her focus on the match and her opponent in it. At the moment that opponent is rolling back into the ring and not empty handed. Kat has been helped up to her feet by Lexy and one half of the Tag Team Titles has been slipped into her hands.
Kat now lies in wait, crouching down behind Rachel and preparing to put the Tag Team Title to use. She sizes up the very woman who is completely drawn to the absolutely disgusting images on the Cartel-tron. Across the big screen the world is forced to watch as Ethan continues to lube himself up with baby oil.
Ethan: To think your skanky hands once touched these twelve pack abs. Not anymore. Now the only person allowed to fondle me is the GOOD, the HEAVENLY angel Alana Starr.
The fact that Ethan has moved onto another girlfriend, current X-Class Champ Alana Starr, is rubbed in, and so too is the baby oil smeared all over Ethan’s chest. Thank God in heaven that the video cuts out right then and there, conveniently at the exact same moment that Kat is dashing across the ring and swinging the Tag Team Title at the back of Rachel’s head. The referee is so focused on the Cartel-tron that he doesn’t see the ATTEMPTED use of the title. Kat puts all of her strength behind the swing of the belt but Rachel has turned in time to neutralize this threat by ducking down and diving over Kat’s hip. Kelly is caught with a school girl roll up. But Kat doesn’t stay down on her shoulders, she drops her belt, rolls over backwards to her feet and then scrambles right into Rachel, right into Rachel’s LOREDO LASSO!
Greyson: ANOTHER LOREDO LASSO!
Frankie: God I hope that didn’t close Kat’s throat.
Greyson: Why would you care if….never-mind.
The clothesline has knocked Kat to the canvas where she both of her legs are quickly hooked.
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Lexy is sliding into the ring to help her partner but she doesn’t get there in time to stop the referee’s hand from hitting the canvas for the third and the final time.
Frankie: AAAAAH!
Ricky: My ears.
Sparkles: She did it! She did it-she did it-she did it-she did it!!
Greyson: Rachel caught Kat with the Loredo Lasso, then she pinned her, then she pinned her!
Sparkles: She moves on in the tournament!
Frankie: That damn bitch.
The crowd sounds just as riled up as the commentators, but nowhere near as divisive. The stunned gawkers in attendance are screaming Rachel’s name as she wins this match but is afforded no time to celebrate. Already Kat’s partner is in the ring and Lexy is going straight after Rachel with one of the Tag Team Titles in her hands. But before the belt can ever meet Rachel’s skull she’s rolling from the squared circle. Rachel ends up at ringside where she should be expressing her pure delight over moving on in the tournament, but instead of focusing on victory her mind is on one thing, the travesty that just aired on the Cartel-tron featuring her ex-boyfriend.
Greyson: Rachel is going on in the tourney, but she can’t even enjoy this moment, not after what Ethan just aired on the cartel-tron.
Ricky: Her BOYFRIEND won’t be the last thing Rachel has to part with. When she and I meet for the NHB Title I can personally guarantee that….
Just as Ricky is about to finish his sentence he finds himself silenced by the body that comes flying over the announce table and crashing right into him. In one leap Rachel clears the table and turns herself into a projectile missile, crashing straight into Ricky, shutting him up and taking him over backwards in his chair to the floor.
Greyson: OH SHIT!
Sparkles: Rachel diving onto Ricky!
Frankie: Somebody contain this woman!
Rachel lies on top of Ricky and lays into his face with punches in spite of her target’s best efforts to cover up his head. The blows keep on landing amidst such a roar from the extremely energized audience.
Greyson: WHERE IS SECURITY!?!
Frankie: This is completely out of control!
The violence in the arena picks up and there is a very interested bystander watching it all from the backstage area. Mya Denton is stood in the guerilla position peeking through the curtains at what’s going on inside of the squared circle. Finally she parts from the curtains and starts to pace, seemingly anticipating something. That something is obviously not the woman who approaches her with microphone in hand. Correspondent Susie Moore closes in on Mya and catches her off guard.
Susie: Hey Mya, you waiting for someone?
Mya: Why do you ask?
Susie: Erm, just saw you loitering around here in the guerilla posit….
Mya: I’m waiting on Rachel.
Susie: Uhhhh, sure that’s smart?
Someone should question Mya’s sanity given the fact that she wants to talk to a woman who just went on a near killing spree at ringside.
Mya: I know Rachel’s not in a very good mood, but I could care less, I’ve got questions and she has answers. I need to know what she and Tombstone did to Aaron Harrison.
Susie: Why do you care?
Mya: I DON’T care about Aaron, what I care about is giving him a receipt for attacking my injured knee two months ago. That very well can’t happen if Rachel’s had him buried inside of that casket she threw him inside of back at Awakening. I deserve my payback on Harrison, and Rachel is not going to keep me from getting it.
The microphone that Susie was holding up to Mya’s lips is now shoved away. Mya is done talking, at least to anyone other than Rachel Tatum Lee. She goes on waiting in the guerilla position for Rachel’s arrival. The commentators sound off, clearly not liking where this is headed.
Frankie: Does Mya Denton have a death wish?
Greyson: No, she’s got a need for revenge against Aaron Harrison. She wants justice and she’s determined to get it at all cost.
Sparkles: Mya’s playing a very-very dangerous game right now.
There is a tremendous ovation at the sight of Taylor Chase the second the former three time World Champion appears in her dressing room. She sits in a steel folding chair, quietly contemplating the words that Trinity Street shared with her earlier tonight. A shadow appears across her, belonging to her husband Orlando Cruze. He walks by in the process of wrapping tape around his wrists in anticipation of his tag team bout still scheduled for the evening.
Orlando: Been meaning to ask what Trinity had to say to you.
Tay finally looks up as if she just now realizes her husband is in the room.
Taylor: The normal shtick.
Orlando: How interesting.
Taylor: But she made some pretty good points, this company HAS underappreciated me.
Orlando’s shoulders slouch and his chest sinks in.
Orlando: Tay….THIS company just named you to the Hall of Fame.
Taylor: Yeah, it’s an honor and all that jazz, but the Hall of Fame is reserved for people who’s careers are over. As much as the IWC would like to pretend that my time is done, it’s NOT.
Orlando: I understand you’re frustrated….
Taylor: Frustrated…God dammit I’m PISSED.
Proclaims Tay while standing and kicking the chair she was seated in aside.
Taylor: I’m a THREE TIME WORLD CHAMPION and I didn’t even get my rematch when I lost the belt instead they’re MAKING me compete in this Number One Contender Tournament. How am I expected to believe anything other than the fact that this company is out to bury me so they can try and create a NEW Taylor Chase?
Orlando: Tay….
Taylor: No. You know what, Trinity is right. I have been bottling up a lot of frustrations and it’s about time to get it all off my chest. I’m going to that ring and I’m going to say what I SHOULD have said a long-long time ago.
There’s nothing that Orlando can do about it other than watch as his wife walks right past him. The cameras cut to the hall that Taylor is stepping into.
Marina: Alright Taylor, it’s about time we had our talk.
Tay turns towards the inbound Marina Valdivia making her way down the corridor. The much beloved Valdivia stops beside the cold shoulder of the former World Champion.
Taylor: Our talk?
Marina: Remember Awakening? You promised me that we’d talk after the show.
Taylor: I did?
Marina: Yes, and it’s been a month since the pay-per-view yet we still haven’t talked, you’ve been avoiding me at all cost.
Taylor: Have I?
Marina: Enough Tay. Just give me five minutes, that’s all I’m asking for.
Taylor: Five minutes is four minutes too long. You’re timing flat out sucks. I’m busy right now, but hey….text me later, okay?
Tay slaps Marina on the bicep before walking around her and down the hall. A sigh of indignation escapes Marina as she powerlessly watches Tay make her way along towards the ring where the former World Champion will take the duct tape off her mouth and let her voice at last be heard.
Cameras cut to perhaps the biggest free agent signing in IWC history, Devon Kayl. He paces one of the halls while an instrumental version of the Riot theme song plays in the background and the commentators give the man who needs little hype, a dose of it anyhow.
Greyson: There’s the man who stunned the wrestling world back at Awakening.
Sparkles: Devon Kayl, former GCW Champion, made his debut at the pay-per-view, but coming up here next we’re going to hear what motivated him to come to the IWC.
Frankie: Devon to be interviewed by Mark Comeau right in the middle of the ring.
Sparkles: AND we’ll see him make his Riot in ring debut by taking on Ricky Holt. All that on tap after the blasted commercials! Don’t go anywhere.
Devon goes on pacing as he anxiously waits for his interview, but before that happens the show fades into the next commercial break.
Serenity: One two Cindy’s coming for you.
An increasingly unhinged Serenity is making her way down a corridor with her hands tangling her luscious blonde locks while she continues to hum this twisted nursery rhyme. The commentators are once again heard chiming in.
Greyson: As each second of this show winds away Serenity gets more and more uneasy.
Sparkles: Earlier tonight we saw her New Eden teammate Mika Kozlov punished by Cindy Todd for losing at Awakening, so one can imagine what Serenity’s in store for….
Frankie: Yah, she lost the World Title at Awakening, meaning that the punishment Cindy has in store for her will be a million times worse than the one inflicted on Mika.
Greyson: We saw Serenity try to make an amends with Cindy by attacking the World Champion, but that didn’t work out. So what is Serenity going to try next in order to work her way back into Cindy’s good graces?
Serenity goes on anxiously walking along and singing to herself. The soliloquy comes to an end when Serenity’s eyes drift to the walls that are closing in on her. Spread across these walls are dozens upon dozens of fliers…missing person fliers. Everywhere that Serenity looks she sees a picture of Cassidy Cage.
”Have You Seen This Woman?”
Reads the caption under the multiple photographs featuring Cassidy.
Serenity: Three four better lock your doors…
Serenity is now growling this tune rather than singing it. She grabs the fliers and starts to tear them off the walls. She even takes one of the missing person posters, wads it up, and starts to stuff it down her gullet, devouring it.
Rachel: HARRISON IS BURIED IN A SHALLOW GRAVE!
Screams Rachel Tatum Lee at the top of her lungs. It remains to be heard what’s louder, Rachel’s shouts or the sounds of her fists connecting with either side of Mya Denton pinned to the ground beneath her. Mya desperately tries to cover her head against this onslaught of shots from Rachel.
Rachel: If you want to find him? FINE. I’ll bury yer ass right beside him!
Threatens Rachel, and she’s making good on her chilling warning. Her fists go on colliding with Mya’s head, who clearly did not envision her conversation with the NHB Champion taking this route. Before Rachel can continue brutalizing Mya the fight is broken up….with ANOTHER fight.
Ricky Holt swoops in from behind Rachel going unnoticed right up until the trashcan in his hands swings down into her back. The NHB Champion is knocked off of Mya and left lying across her aching spine while the number one contender to her title prepares to bring a trashcan down into her face. Ricky swings the can right into CONCRETE, Rachel rolling out of the way before her face could be smashed into a thousand pieces.
Ricky lets go of the trashcan and then charges into Rachel with another weapon, his own shoulder. He slams it straight into Rachel’s ribs and pushes her along back first into the wall. Rachel throws both of her forearms over the back of her stooped attacker, trying to take Ricky down. That’s when members of her sect, Tombstone, come dashing into view, grabbing Ricky and forcing him back from Rachel. At the same time they restrain Rachel from the man who just blindsided her. The voices of the commentators erupt in the background.
Greyson: This is pure pandemonium!
Sparkles: First Rachel Tatum Lee attacks Mya Denton backstage and then Ricky Holt assaults Rachel from behind.
Frankie: To be fair Rachel had it coming after she assaulted Ricky while he was out here doing commentary.
Greyson: Rachel is not the person who Ricky wants to antagonize right now.
Sparkles: What’s gonna happen when those two collide for the NHB Championship?
Cameras transport the viewing audience to the backstage area where Melanie and Blaire McBride are standing beside Eric Sailes and his gigantic tag team partner Tyson Galloway. Still clutched in Melanie’s hands is the satchel of cash that she and her sister Blaire took from Desmond Drake last month at Awakening. It’s unclear as to why the McBrides are in the company of these two men who give jobbers a bad rep.
Blaire: Eric….
Blaire greets Eric before turning to Tyson confusingly.
Blaire: And um…..you….
Tyson shrugs, no stranger to having his name forgotten.
Blaire: We have money burning a hole in that satchel (points to the bag in her sister’s hand) right now, so we’re in a spend-spend-SPEND type of mood.
Melanie: Which works out to your benefit Eric.
Eric: Erm, not to look a gift house in the mouth….
Melanie: Don’t you mean a gift hor….
Blaire: Mel-Mel-Mel, just don’t…
Blaire shakes both her head and her hand through the air.
Blaire: Don’t waste your breath correcting him.
Eric: Like I was saying. Not to be ungrateful, but didn’t you steal that money (points to the satchel) from Desmond Drake?
Melanie: Don’t worry about how we got this money, just focus on reaping the benefits.
Blaire: We know you and your partner here (pats Tyson’s shoulder) have had trouble coming across victories, sooooo we’ve decided to buy you a win.
Eric: Whoa, timeout, hold the clock…
Melanie: Don’t you mean hold the pho….
Blaire: MEL! What did I JUST tell you?
Eric: What do you mean you bought me a win?
Instead of answering Eric’s question Blaire is shouting over her shoulder for someone.
Blaire: Ooooh Gunner!
Professional jobber Gunner Bryant hurries along down the hall and pauses beside the McBrides.
Blaire: Drop.
The moment Blaire points to the floor that’s exactly where Gunner goes. He drops to his back, looking up at Sailes and Galloway.
Melanie: Alright Eric, pin him.
Sailes looks so excited, his eyes twisting back towards his tag team partner Tyson, who is equally as thrilled.
Eric: For reals?
Blaire: Yep, just pin him.
The giddy Sailes begins to drop down and make the cover on Gunner but is thwarted. Unfortunately for Sailes, losing is so engrained in his genetics that he can’t even pin someone when they’ve been paid to lay down for him. Tyson intervenes, grabbing Eric by the back of his head, twisting him around and throwing him face first into the wall. Sailes collapses unconscious across the ground, unable to pin Gunner, but Tyson is more than willing to cover the paid off jobber. Tyson drapes his big body across Gunner’s chest. At the same time Melanie falls to the floor to slap the concrete.
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And there’s the THREE.
Tyson: I DID IT! I DID IT!! OH MY GOD I DID IT!!!
It looks like Tyson has just won the World Championship. Tyson lunges to his knees with his hands on top of his head and his eyes bursting from their sockets.
Tyson: YES! YEEEESSSS!!!!
He jumps to his feet, hugs Melanie, then hugs Blaire, who doesn’t hug back, before skipping off down the hallway. Tyson steps over his out cold tag team partner, not even glancing back in Eric’s direction in the midst of this victory celebration.
Cameras transition back to the ring where interviewer Mark Comeau is located, arm in a sling, microphone to his mouth and IWC t-shirt wrapped about his torso.
Comeau: Ladies and gentlemen, at this time would you please welcome to the ring the IWC’s latest talent acquisition….DEVON KAYL!
The building rumbles with an enthusiastic outpouring of emotion at the sound of “Never Gonna Die” by Skillet playing throughout the arena’s PA system. Devon Kayl’s physical presence elicits an even bigger ovation. He emerges from the back in his wrestling gear and turns to look out over the thousands of Japanese fans cheering him on. Upon reaching the ringside area Devon throws a leg over the barricade and leans into the adoring audience. The commentators sound just as enthused as the fans.
Greyson: It was a stunner at Awakening when Devon Kayl showed up to the disbelief of the crowd, the locker-room, and even the three of us.
Sparkles: And he made a hell of an impact at the pay-per-view when he did show up.
Greyson: All night long Silas had been bragging about a big talent acquisition and when it was revealed that Devon, the former GCW Champion, was the talent in question he came out and dominated his opponent Flash Silver.
Frankie: Yep, Kayl made a red hot impact, but when he collides with Ricky Holt tonight he might find his momentum killed faster than any member of the Stark family in Game of Thrones.
Greyson: Yep, that’s to come later tonight, Devon Kayl to take on the Number One Contender to the NHB Title Ricky Holt.
At last Devon enters the ring where Comeau is waiting on him, in anticipation of conducting the interview EVERYONE has been dying to hear.
Comeau: Kayl, at Awakening we all saw you make a major splash when you made your official in ring debut with the IWC. Ever since that event fans have been asking, what convinced you to sign with us?
For a moment Devon contemplates his answer, finger raised to his chin in an introspective pose.
Devon: Weeeeellll there were quite a few motivations that influenced my decision. I look at the IWC and I see wall-to-wall talent. I see the greatest assemblage of skill in professional wrestling. Ladies like Taylor Chase-Cruze and Katelyn Buehler, guys like Orlando Cruze and Scott Cannon. I want to be amongst those ranks. I want to compete against that talent, against the absolute BEST.
Comeau: Moments after your debut at the pay-per-view, you stated that your goal was to become the World Champion. Do you still foresee that happening?
Devon: Absolutely-positively. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have goals, if I didn’t have aspirations that were set so high. I’m here to evolve and to climb the ladder until I’ve…..
The interview comes to an abrupt stop when a trashcan swings straight into the back of Devon’s skull. The blow is delivered by an enraged Ricky Holt.
Greyson: What’s this bullshit!?!
Sparkles: Ricky Holt blindsiding Devon Kayl. As Frankie touched on a few moments ago, these two are slated to battle one another as part of tonight’s edition of Riot.
Frankie: But Ricky ain’t waiting. The man is furious over what Rachel Tatum Lee did to him a few moments ago when he was out here at commentary.
Greyson: That doesn’t excuse his actions right now, attacking Kayl with a friggin steel trashcan while Kayl was conducting an interview.
Correspondent Mark Comeau hurries out of harm’s way, and leaves Devon Kayl behind where he’s subjected to even more punishment. Holt is stomping at the former GCW Champion until Kayl has stopped thrashing about. Now that Kayl isn’t moving Holt pulls him up to his feet and throws him through the ropes to the outside of the squared circle. Holt then picks up the microphone that had been dropped by Comeau upon fleeing from the ring.
Holt: Climb the ladder? CLIMB THE LADDER?
The second time Holt says these words their delivered with far more disdain and with an even sicker expression on his face.
Holt: I am so tired of that noise. Guys like me aren’t content to stand around WAITING for opportunity. No-no-hell no. And you know what else I’m tired of? Trivial matches like the one I’m SUPPOSED to be competing in tonight designed to do nothing more than give Kayl here a presence on the show. That isn’t happening, I refuse to be squandered….
As Holt goes on with his tirade inside of the ring, outside of the squared circle Kayl finds himself propped up by the shoulders of several referees. They aid an obviously injured Kayl to his feet and assist him towards the backstage area.
Holt: If I’m going to compete tonight, it’s going to be against Rachel Tatum Lee and it’s going to be for the NHB Championship.
This demand is actually met with some applause from the hyped audience.
Holt: So Rachel, I have no intention of leaving this ring until you drag yourself down here and give me the NHB Title shot that I EARNED! It’s time I take my OPPORTUNITY!
Holt punctuates his comment by spiking the microphone. He backs into a corner and tosses his arms over the ropes, getting comfortable just in case he has to wait on Rachel for a while.
Greyson: Ricky Holt calling out our NHB Champion Rachel Tatum Lee.
Frankie: Hey, he IS the number one contender to her title.
Greyson: But Rachel already wrestled once tonight in a grueling tournament match against Kat Kelly.
Sparkles: That wouldn’t stop Rachel from coming out here and defending her title against Holt.
Greyson: We’ll wait and see what happens, we have to go to commercial, but after the break is Rachel going to accept Holt’s challenge and defend her NHB Championship? Don’t go anywhere!
Cameras segue to a room with of all things a coffin set up straight in the middle of it. A figure draws nearer to this chamber of death. Rachel Tatum Lee’s guide, her Shepard, and the leader of Tombstone emerges from the blackness that surrounds the casket. Goddard approaches the coffin and puts his palms against it, leaning in close as he speaks to the person held inside.
Goddard: They’re looking for you, Harrison.
It becomes even more obvious that it’s Aaron Harrison, the man who was last seen being tossed into a coffin by Rachel one month ago, that is presently lying inside of the casket splayed before Goddard.
Goddard: They want you back.
The ever so chilling Goddard droops even closer to the coffin.
Goddard: But you’re not ready….not yet.
After making his opinion explicitly clear Goddard walks away from the coffin, the camera never turns from it though. Instead it zooms in, zooms in on the fingers that are sliding out from the interior of the casket.
Upon returning from commercial break cameras happen across Michael Cannon cornering referee Arnie Ficklebottom in the hallway. The official has been backed into a wall with palms defensively raised in the direction of the man breathing down his throat. Michael has his finger wedged deep into the referee’s chest.
Michael: I’m recruiting you for one reason and only one reason.
Informs Cannon, his finger putting a dent in the official’s sternum.
Michael: When my brother Scott cashes in his case and pins the World Champion you count the three. End….of…story.
BEFORE THE BREAK
A video package commences with the commentators overheard in the background explaining the images on the screen.
Greyson: Ladies and gentlemen, just before the commercial break we saw correspondent Mark Comeau interviewing IWC’s latest acquisition Devon Kayl before THIS happened.
The video shows Devon Kayl standing in the ring answering questions from Mark Comeau. That’s right up until Kayl finds the back of his head crushed with a trashcan. Ricky Holt bashes Kayl right upside his head and leaves him lying across the ground.
Sparkles: Ricky Holt, who WAS scheduled to face Kayl tonight, instead blindsided him with a trashcan.
Frankie: I like Holt’s attitude, cause he not only took out Kayl, but he also challenged Rachel Tatum Lee to an NHB Title shot and he wants it right now. Guy isn’t waiting for his opportunity.
Greyson: There are much better ways of going about it then the low road Holt is taking here.
Frankie: Hey, Rachel put her hands on Holt earlier, he should get a chance at some revenge.
Greyson: He did when he attacked Rachel backstage for Christ sakes!
The show returns to the ring where Ricky Holt is still standing and still waiting for his challenge to be answered.
Frankie: Is Rachel Tatum Lee going to come out here and defend her title against number one contender Ricky Holt or not?
Greyson: Rachel has already competed and that’s probably exactly why Ricky is making this challenge.
Sparkles: He must smell blood in the water.
Apparently Holt has grown weary of all this waiting. He picks back up the microphone he threw down to the ring earlier and uses it to call Rachel out yet again.
Holt: I can see why you’re ex dumped you, Rachel. You got no heart. You got no courage. You’re just a weak, pathetic….
The string of insults trails off when Holt gets more than a glimpse of Devon Kayl staggering to the stage. Referees surround Kayl and attempt to cut off his access to the ring. However, not even the herd of zebras can keep Holt back. He continues to limp along with a hand clutching the back of his neck. Obviously he’s still hurting after the attack from Holt moments ago.
Holt: Didn’t you get the point Kayl? Is it not getting through your thick skull as easily as that trashcan I just used to wail on you? Our match isn’t happening.
Reiterates Holt though his words continue to have zero impact on the man bound for the ring.
Holt: Fine, you want a little more? What I gave you a minute ago was just a taste….
Holt stomps towards the ropes that Kayl is now employing to drag himself up from the ring mats to the apron. Holt reaches over the cables to grab his wounded opponent only to have Kayl launch his leg over the ropes right upside his attacker’s head.
RICKY HOLT VS. DEVON KAYL
The kick nails Holt with such force that it has him doubling over and turning his side to the ropes, ropes that his opponent is now flying over. Kayl twists in mid-air, catches Holt around the neck and spikes him directly on top of his head with a DDT. One of the referees who tried to keep Kayl away from the ring is entering it and calling for the bell.
Greyson: Looks like we’re getting this match between Kayl and Holt after-all!
Sparkles: Devon not letting Holt off the hook.
Greyson: Holt, you’re not getting Rachel, but you are getting every last bit of Devon Kayl.
The impact of the DDT has left Holt’s mind numb and with a total unawareness of what’s to come next. He stumbles up to his feet and turns just as his adversary lunges in and connects with the code breaker. A fired up Kayl drives Holt’s head down into the shins. The blow has Holt popping back up to his feet and then stumbling back into the ropes. Luckily for Holt he spills through the cables and lands at ringside, putting some distance between himself and his opponent. But Kayl gives Holt no rest, hobbling towards the corner, climbing to the top then back flipping off of it into a moonsault. The crowd comes alive at the sight of Kayl’s moonsault taking Holt down outside of the ring.
Greyson: WHAT A MOONSAULT!
Frankie: Come on Holt, where’s all that technique and intelligence you were bragging about out here on commentary?
Sparkles: Holt’s been unable to employ any of his skills because Kayl has just not let up on him since the onset of this match.
The flustered Kayl pulls Holt to his feet and then into the ring. He starts to follow, climbing to the apron only to get no further on account of his adversary cutting him off. Holt charges at the ropes that Kayl is stooping down on the opposite side of. He drives his shoulder through the ropes and directly into Holt’s ribs, the collision knocking Holt back. Kayl then takes the top rope before forward flipping over it. He ends up rolling across the back of his slouching adversary and coming down on his feet. Kayl keeps his momentum going, running across the ring into the far ropes, ricocheting off and then charging back right into a lariat…a lariat delivered by his opponent. Holt dashes at Kayl and almost decapitates him with a clothesline so forceful that it actually sends Kayl into a corkscrew.
Frankie: Oooooh-ho-ho, that was a clothesline! THAT WAS A CLOTHESLINE!
Sparkles: Lethal lariat just unleashed by Holt.
Kayl is clasping at his throat and crawling towards the ropes. He uses them in a desperate effort to get back to his feet. Meanwhile Holt is now standing on the opposite side of those very cables and waits for his opponent to get up before flipping over the ropes. He goes flipping over Kayl’s arms, catches both of them and then drags him down into a flip over unprettier. The impressive maneuver drives Kayl’s face with such force against the canvas that it leaves him totally incapacitated. He has no defense against the fist that is dropping down straight into his forehead. Kayl rolls to his hands and knees, attempting to push himself back up to his feet. His ascent is complicated when a foot stomps down on his hand. Kayl pulls the hand in close to his gut, cradling it but in the process exposing his chest. Holt delivers a thunderous roundhouse kick to Kayl’s sternum, causing him to bridge back on his knees. Holt then rushes in at Kayl’s side and crushes the side of his face with a straight kick.
Greyson: That pre-match attack with the trashcan coming back to haunt Kayl at this point.
Sparkles: Holt has taken over and is just dominating Kayl now.
Holt takes hold of his opponent’s hair and uses it to pull him up to his feet before landing a clubbing strike over his back. The blow sends Kayl back down to the ring, landing on his knees. He then receives a second kick right across the chest. This onslaught of strikes has Kayl thoroughly discombobulated and now rolling back into the ropes. He employs them to stand up then turns just as Holt rushes in and clotheslines him across the throat. Holt takes Kayl by the wrist and pulls him out of the corner into a short arm lariat that is ducked. Kayl manages to crouch just in time to avoid the blow to his throat and then to swing around behind Holt, putting hands to his back. Holt is shoved along into the corner, twisting about in order to take the brunt of the impact with the turnbuckle on his back.
Kayl charges in and leaps, getting great height on a big stinger splash. Holt is crushed by the force of his opponent’s collision with him. He then goes staggering forward out of the corner while his adversary is dashing up behind him. Kayl catches the back of Holt’s head and pulls him down into a one handed bulldog. Kayl lands on his knees beside Holt while driving his face into the ring with such force. Holt pops back up from the ring and throws a few wild punches through the air before falling back into the corner.
Kayl sizes him up before charging at the seated Holt and connecting with a forward flipping cannonball.
Greyson: Kayl building momentum with this frenetic pace and these high impact moves.
Sparkles: Sparkles doesn’t know how wise it is for Kayl to be using his own body as a weapon like this given the fact that he was assaulted before the match even began.
Kayl rolls back out of the corner and away from his opponent while griping at his neck, still feeling the effects of that assault with the trashcan before the bout commenced. Somehow his adversary is standing up with the aid of the ropes. Holt is back on his feet, in large part thanks to the support of the turnbuckle he’s leaning back against. He groggily looks up at Kayl flying through the air into a SECOND Stinger Splash. This one is avoided though because Holt manages to sidestep Kayl, who goes flying right past him and into the turnbuckle. However, Kayl has the quick reflexes necessary to avoid an impact with the corner, instead he lands on the middle rope. A clubbing blow nails him in the kidneys, causing Kayl to bridge over backwards. Holt takes him around the neck then drives Kayl off the turnbuckle via the Eye of the Hurricane!
Greyson: That was a very nasty landing right across the back of Kayl’s head.
Sparkles: Holt intentionally going back to the head he bashed with that trashcan before this match got started.
Frankie: Guess that’s why they call him ‘The General’ he’s always got a war plan in mind.
The back of Kayl’s skull ricochets from the ring and he goes rolling over to his stomach. Holt stomps down on the back of his adversary’s neck, then the head, then the neck, then the head. He just keeps stomping and stomping at Kayl’s skull before ultimately keeping his boot wedged to the back of his opponent’s head. Holt begins to twist his foot from side to side, grinding the heel against the base of Kayl’s skull. Holt’s knee then finds its way down right into the back of Kayl’s head. This multiple shots to the cranium are clearly taking their toll on the former GCW Champion, who is now employing the ropes in order to ease himself back onto his feet. A kick to the side of the face isn’t delivered with nearly as much ease. Holt drives his boot upside Kayl’s head and takes him through the ropes, but not entirely. Kayl is caught before he goes completely through the cables, leaving him seated on the middle rope with his chin resting over the top cable. Holt charges in and nails a kick straight to Kayl’s chest, the blow knocking Devon off the middle rope and causing the back of his head to hit the apron as he crashes to the outside mats.
Greyson: Moves like that are not going to do any favors to Kayl’s head.
Frankie: Kayl might be regretting coming out here to fight now.
Holt rolls to the outside of the ring and looks out over the crowd with a sneer. He pulls his opponent, or more accurately, his victim up from the ground and into position for the piledriver.
Greyson: Holt setting up for a piledriver on the ring mats!
Sparkles: So much for Kayl and his quest for the World Title.
Holt prepares to tragically cut short Kayl’s IWC run via the piledriver on the mats. It’s just then that Kayl stands up and avoids calamity, delivering a back drop counter out of the piledriver predicament. Holt flips over and finds his spine smacking the thin protective mats. A cringing Holt grabs at his kidneys and rolls along in the direction of the ring. He gets back inside and back on his feet, grabbing at his kidneys all the while. Finally he turns to his opponent who is leaping from the apron and springing from the top rope. Kayl goes airborne in order to hit the dropkick directly on Holt’s chest. The kick takes Holt down, but not that long. He pops back up to his feet and goes after Kayl with a clothesline. However, Kayl drops to his back of his own accord, ducking the clothesline then kipping back up to his feet. Holt spins around and right into the Pele Kick smashing him straight in the face.
Holt is sent twisting into the corner, falling against it chest first. All the while his opponent is working his way up onto his feet. Kayl stands up in spite of everything he’s suffered throughout the course of the night. He stands up and raises an arm in order to signal for the Kayl-KO, perhaps the most devastating maneuver in his arsenal.
Greyson: Kayl is going to hit that move we saw him deliver at Awakening to finish off Flash Silver!
Sparkles: It’s just a testament to how good this man is that he comes back from the trashcan shot he took to the head to pull off the victory in this match.
Kayl’s body won’t let him forget what happened before this bout began, his neck screaming in pain. He fights right through it in order to grab Holt by the shoulder, twist him around and take him by the neck. The swinging neck breaker is employed to twist Holt around and normally this would be followed by the roaring elbow to the back of the head. Unfortunately in mid-rotation Kayl loses his grip on his opponent’s head in favor of grabbing at his own skull. The pain from the trashcan shot suddenly comes back to aggravate Kayl, causing him to release Holt. Kayl grabs the back of his head and Holt grabs at the back of his opponent’s trunks. Before Kayl knows what’s happening he’s being pulled over backwards into the school boy with both of his shoulders forced down into the canvas and all of Holt’s weight being put into the back of his thighs. The ref drops to make the count and the moment he does Holt lifts his feet and puts them over the middle rope.
1
Greyson: Hey ref, Holt’s feet are on the ropes.
2
Greyson: His feet are on the ropes REF!
The referee only sees one thing, Kayl’s shoulders compressed to the canvas, hence why he goes on making the three count.
Frankie: Holt with the win!
Greyson; But his feet were all over the ropes.
Frankie: Don’t matter if the ref don’t see it.
Greyson: What kind of logic is that? Of course it still matters.
Sparkles: Yeah, cause it just cost Kayl the match.
Kayl still manages to get his shoulder up, but it’s a few seconds too late to prevent taking the loss. He rolls to his knees looking ooooh so pissed as he realizes that that sound he hears is the bell chiming in the background. His groggy eyes lock on the three fingers the ref is waving in front of Kayl’s face. Soon that icy stare turns from the ref’s hand to the blood red flesh on stretched across Holt’s face. Even in victory Holt still manages to remain pissed off. He backs up the ramp feeling the effects of this physical match and looking back at the man who gave him a challenge he damn sure wasn’t anticipating tonight.
Greyson: What a heart breaker for Kayl.
Frankie: And what a momentum booster for Ricky Holt.
In spite of the fact that the match is over Kayl and Holt are still staring one another down and both men look like they can go another round or two.
The camera opens on the huge gashes oozing blood from Mika Kozlov’s flesh. She sits on a chair with her chest leaning over the backrest and her torso entirely exposed so that her wounds can be treated. The very deep fissures that have been opened in her upper back are presently being dabbed with an alcohol soaked cotton swab. Borislav tries his best to play the part of field medic, helping the very woman who he held down earlier. At the start of the night he may have rendered Mika defenseless against the punishment that was unleashed on her by their leader Cindy Todd, but now he renders her some medical assistance.
The camera slowly turns away from the dressing room where Borislav is helping Mika to the doorway where Serenity is standing. The face of Mika’s teammate Serenity comes into view as she peaks into the dressing room watching the blood drip from the lacerations on her New Eden sister’s back. Serenity finds this sight unsettling, though she is more uneasy when she realizes that she will be left in the exact same condition once Cindy gets ahold of her. The commentators surprisingly sound just as worried as Serenity looks.
Greyson: What a disturbing image it was at the start of the night when Cindy Todd ‘punished’ Mika Kozlov for losing at Awakening.
Sparkles: And she’s vowed to do the same to Serenity for dropping the World Title to Katelyn Buehler at the very same pay-per-view.
Frankie: Cindy putting all of New Eden on notice. The Suffering is upon them.
The haunting voice of Mordecai speaks in the background chilling listeners straight to their cores. As his disembodied tone can be heard in the background on the screen the fans are watching a video featuring a black and white photograph of Johnny Kingdom.
Mordecai: So you worry about Johnny Kingdom?
The photo on the screen is an old image showing Kingdom holding his newborn baby daughter close to his chest.
Mordecai: You fear for your King?
Another image is featured, this time it depicts Kingdom at a fanfest posing for a selfie with one of his biggest supporters. Of course Kingdom’s ideal pose is one where he’s putting said fan in a headlock.
Mordecai: Worry no more.
The next picture is of Kingdom seated at a table across from Orlando Cruze, the two tapping beer bottles together.
Mordecai: Fear no more.
The final scene is of a shocked Kingdom’s wide eyes upon finding a noose around his throat and his body being dragged into a pit that Mordecai has opened in the center of the ring.
Mordecai: Because the King has taken his throne…
In a quick flash the audience sees the wooden throne that Mordecai specially created for Kingdom. There are dozens of jagged steel shards protruding from the wooden backrest, and now they are smeared in blood.
Mordecai: The King has bared the weight of the crown upon his head.
The video cuts to the crown crafted out of broken glass, and this object Mordecai personally put together is also stained in droplets of blood.
Mordecai: The King has waved his royal scepter.
After another flash the viewers get a glimpse of even more of Mordecai’s handiwork, the video transitions to the scepter with nails sticking out of the shaft. Just like the crown, just like the throne, the scepter is dripping with sanguine.
Mordecai: And there is now nothing that remains of your fallen King to fear for.
A filled burlap sack comes into view that is stained by the red substance that is trying to bleed through it. A puddle of blood has formed beneath the sack on the table where it is situated.
Mordecai: Behold your FALLEN KING.
The monster references the sack seen on the screen.
An incredibly excited Tyson Galloway is standing in the parking garage with a gym bag over his shoulder and an IPhone to his ear. There is such energy and pep in his voice.
Tyson: Mom, I did it! I WON!
It seems Tyson is still glorifying the win that the McBride sisters bought for him earlier tonight.
Tyson: Call Grandma, put her on the line, she’s GOT to hear about this!
The celebratory Tyson moves along through the parking garage but the camera doesn’t follow him. Instead it now focuses on another figure making her way down the ramp into the parking garage. With a plastic grocery bag in hand Karen McBride has just re-entered the building. The commentators squeal in the background.
Greyson: Is that…is that Karen McBride!?!
Sparkles: IT IS!
Frankie: Oh great, we’ve got ourselves a disgruntled former employee situation here, someone get the coppers on the line.
Greyson: Karen was fired at the onset of Riot and ejected from the building, but nothing is going to keep our former Principle Owner out of the arena.
Frankie: What the hell does she think she’s doing here? She had better hope that the Boss doesn’t find out about this.
Greyson: Karen McBride entering the building, what’s going to happen next!?!
The feed returns live to the interior of the arena positioned on the hallway that has found itself papered with one missing person’s flier after another. The camera follows the canopy of posters requesting information on the whereabouts of the missing Cassidy Cage before reaching the person who has been hanging them. That same blond vixen spotted back at Awakening does exactly what she was spotted doing at the pay-per-view, hanging fliers in an effort to get Cassidy’s disappearance far more exposure. The commentators react in the background.
Frankie: Blondes….God bless ‘em.
Greyson: Hey, that’s that same woman we saw at Awakening hanging up fliers all around the arena.
Sparkles: She’s still looking for Cassidy Cage apparently.
Frankie: Yeah, but it doesn’t look like she’s gotten any closer to finding her, no matter how many of these damned annoying fliers she hangs up.
Greyson: Wonder if we’ll ever find out what happened to Cassidy Cage.
When the show cuts from that scene the viewers are instantly bombarded with images of a furious Mya Denton. At the moment Mya is taking out her frustrations on the catering table, repeatedly swinging a kendo stick into it.
Greyson: Mya Denton is NOT happy right now!
Sparkles: After getting jumped by Rachel Tatum Lee earlier in the night can you blame her?
Frankie: Plus she’s probably still upset over the fact that she was handed a loss back at the pay-per-view thanks to Silas Mason’s security force.
Mya goes on smashing the catering table with her kendo stick, smashing everything on top of it into crumbs.
Cameras switch from Mya Denton’s tirade to a conversation ongoing between Maxine Moore and Samantha Raine. Their words cannot be heard but it’s clear that their having a very tense conversation. Every time Maxine speaks she punctuates her sentences by slamming her chain wrapped knuckles into her palm.
Greyson: And there we see two more ladies who had a run in with Silas’ Private Security back at Awakening.
Sparkles: Yeah, Samantha Raine was shafted out of a victory back at the pay-per-view just like Mya was, and it was thanks to Silas’ goons.
Frankie: Plus Maxine jumped into the middle of things because that nose of hers is so damned big it can’t stay out of other people’s business
Raine and Maxine eventually conclude their conversation and take off down the hall. The area where they were just stood is suddenly enveloped by a huge black silhouette, a shadow that belongs to the enormous woman known as Miss Jon. Her hulking frame stops in front of the camera licking her lips ever so disturbingly while watching Raine walk away. Clearly Miss Jon has not forgotten the way her match with Raine ended earlier in the night.
Riot proceeds to gift its viewers with another image of bubbly backstage correspondent Susie Moore. She is standing in the interview area holding a microphone and looking eagerly towards the camera.
Susie: The shit be hittin’ the fan. What a cray-cray night we’ve seen so far and it just keeps getting wilder. At this moment we’re gonna spice it up even further because I’m going to interview Mordecai involving all these twisted videos he’s been airing throughout the night. Hopefully we’ll find out what he did back at Awakening when he got his hands on Johnny Kingdo….
Trinity: Afraid there’s been a change in schedule love.
First we see Trinity Street’s arm come into view, sliding over the back of Susie’s shoulders. Then we see Trinity Street’s smile, looking ever so much like the cat that just swallowed the canary.
Trinity: You won’t be interviewing Mordecai, because no one wants to hear what he has to say. Now my friend Taylor Chase on the other hand, that’s a different story, a TRUE Story, people SHOULD pay attention to everything she has to get off her chest. And guess what Susie….
Susie: Unicorns really do exist?
Trinity: No. We won’t have to wait very long to hear from Tay, I have it on very good authority that she’s on her way to the ring as we speak and what she says when she gets there will open a lot of eyes.
Cameras infiltrate the office of Silas Mason, the Principle Owner with his hands interlocked and his body reclined casually in the chair set up beside his desk. He seems to be musing over all the proceedings this evening.
Desmond: Those McBride bitches are spending MY MONEY!
Not even the annoying groans of Desmond Drake can remove the smirk that is settled on Silas’ face.
Desmond: The money YOU gave to me Silas. And-and their spending it on the stupidest stuff. I heard they bought the Hair-Doodes a solid gold blow dryer! A SOLID GOLD BLOW DRYER!!!
Silas: Relax Short-Round. I dealt with one McBride already, I can handle two more.
Before Desmond’s sniveling whining can go any further the door to the office opens with another of Silas’ assistants entering. Mason Van Stanton steps along into the office with a look of annoyance.
Mason: My esteemed Mr. Mason….
Silas: What is it?
Groans the Principle Owner.
Mason: I just got word that your former client Taylor Chase is on her way to the ring to make a fuss.
Silas: (Sarcastically) Oh heavens to bettsies, not a fuss.
Mason: Do you want me to send your muscle out to deal with this?
He gestures to the three thick ladies standing sentinel outside of Silas’ door.
Silas: Ta deal with Baby Doll? Naaaah….
Silas stands up, grabs his Stetson off the desk and slides it over his head.
Silas: I think I’ll handle Tay…..personally.
His fingers slide across the brim of his hat before he walks off. Silas’ assistants are left behind, Mason and Desmond unsure rather they should follow their boss.
Desmond: Should we go with him?
Mason: His ladies will go with him. They’ll make sure no one lays a finger on a single hair upon his head.
Desmond: Yeah, and if Silas’ bodyguards fail then whoever tries to hurt our boss will have ME to deal with….
Starxxx: YEAAAAH BOI!!!
The door bursts open with Jeffrey Starxxx walking right in. Starxxx’s loud entrance has Desmond squealing and leaping behind Mason for protection. The ever grinning Starxxx has his arms, which are covered in an expensive gray suit and gold wrist watches extended out to his side. Those arms eventually find their way around Mason’s body.
Starxxx: Hey PLAYA! Where’s the head honcho?
The gold rimmed sunglasses are snatched off of Starxxx’s nose in order to get a look at the empty chair set up beside Silas’s desk.
Mason: He had business to attend to.
Starxxx: Speaking of business, did ya have a chance to talk to him bout what we were discussin’ earlier tonight?
Mason: Not as of yet.
Starxxx: Awww come on man, don’t leave me hanging like this.
Mason: Calm down Jeff, I promise you I’ll talk to Silas the second he finishes handling this Taylor Chase business….
Desmond: And the matter of the McBrides spending the money they stole from me!
At last Drake works up the courage to speak up, although he still refuses to step out from behind Mason.
Starxxx: You just make sure that Silas realizes what a huge opportunity this is that I’m offering him.
So much going down backstage AND in the ring. The opening rift of ‘Boss’s Daughter’ is tearing through the PA system, the entrance music of Taylor Chase cuing up in the building to a thunderous uproar. It doesn’t take long for Taylor to make her way through the curtains and instantly start towards the ring showing little love to the fans.
Greyson: The Hall of Fame bound Taylor Chase making her way towards the squared circle.
Sparkles: What a night she had last month at Awakening when she finally put an end to her long standing rivalry with Mika Kozlov inside of the Barbwire Steel Cage.
Frankie: Yeah, that ended in barbaric fashion, but with the wrong winner.
This video package focuses on the clash billed as the ‘Final Battle.’ The Barbwire Steel Cage bout at Awakening between Taylor Chase and Mika Kozlov are lived. Watching from outside the cage is Cindy Todd, observing every moment of her teammate Mika’s performance and periodically tossing weapons into her New Eden ally. We see Mika hit Taylor with the Killing Joke only to have Tay kick out, being the first person to ever do so. The video then showcases Taylor super-powerbombing Kozlov off the turnbuckle and through a table. The final moments of the match feature Mika and Taylor climbing out of the cage and passing through barbwire in the process. They then battle at the top of the cage with their feet dangling above the ringside mats so far below. Eventually their hands slip and Tay goes falling to the outside mats. Mika would have done the same but she finds her hair caught up in the barbwire, resulting in her dangling high above the ground unable to reach it.
When cameras go back live to the ring Taylor Chase is already standing inside of it. Although the crowd is showering her with such adulation she spends absolutely no time pandering to her adoring crowd. She gets straight to what brought her to the squared circle.
Taylor: Two years ago I took a chance. I took a gamble. I risked everything by deciding to come back to professional wrestling.
Tay pauses to give time for the crowd to work their obligatory cheers out of their system.
Taylor: Doctors told me not to do it, friends told me not to do it, but at the end of the day I said to hell with them, to hell with each and every one of them. Wrestling is in my blood, and nothing is EVER going to keep me away from it. So regardless of the injuries I sustained to this knee (knocks at the steel plate beneath the skin on her kneecap) I decided to step back inside of a squared circle. It was a decision that would risk turning me into a cripple for the rest of my life. If I wasn’t ready, if this knee wasn’t fully healed up, and I got in a ring, then I was taking the chance of walking with a cane forever, if I could walk AT ALL. But I took that chance, and you want to know how I was rewarded for that sacrifice?
Tay suddenly turns a bit more surly and bitter.
Taylor: By being told that I’d HAVE to compete in a TOURNAMENT for a World Title shot instead of being rewarded one for all my efforts. By being forced to sit aside and told that I HAD to pass the torch to others, that I HAD to give others an opportunity to make names for themselves.
Tay has to pause for a second on account of her throat being clotted with such anger.
Taylor: I’ve held the World Championship THREE TIMES since I returned from injury. I’ve SAVED this company from the tyranny of the Sinistry. I’m a first ballad Hall of Famer. And yet with everything I’ve done for the IWC, with everything that I’VE made the IWC, I’m forced to jump through hoops for another title opportunity? I’m forced to take a backseat to others? I’m relegated to non-title matches against nothing opponents? How is this right? How can you justify this type of treatment?
The jaded words are now directed towards the curtains, Tay addressing her comments to the top brass of the IWC.
Taylor: Well newsflash, I’m NOT going to let you push me aside. I don’t take a backseat for ANYONE! I’m….
The chorus of “Glamorous” plays over the PA system, cutting Taylor off in mid-sentence. Taylor rolls her eyes at the sight of Marina Valdivia making her way through the curtains and heading down the ramp.
Greyson: That’s Marina Valdivia, former Queen of the Ring Champion headed down the ramp.
Sparkles: Taylor Chase doesn’t look all that happy to see Marina either.
Frankie: Marina has been gettin’ up in Tay’s business the past few weeks and it looks to me like Tay has grown sick of it.
Greyson: Marina has only tried to reach out to Tay concerning this change in her attitude, that’s all.
Once Marina has reached the ring a microphone is in her hands and being used to convey her disappointment to the beloved Taylor Chase.
Marina: Five minutes Tay, that’s all I’m asking for, five minutes of your time.
Taylor: Five minutes for what?
Marina: To talk about….(extends her open hand towards Tay)…THIS….this change in your attitude.
Taylor: What does my behavior or anything I say have to do with you?
Marina: I respect you Tay, as does everyone else in that locker-room. A lot of us look up to you and appreciate everything that you’ve done for this company…..
Taylor: You respect me? They (points in the direction of the locker-room) appreciate me? Okay, then where has their support been when I’ve needed them in my wars against the Sinistry, against New Eden? When Silas Mason was treating me like a slave? How come no one has come out to support me when the IWC has been trying to brush me off to the side like yesterday’s news?
Marina: I’ve always been behind you, Tay, every step of the way. In fact, you know what Tay, you were a huge part of why I signed with this company. I respected you so much I just knew I had to compete on the same roster as you. At the risk of sounding like some gushy little fangirl, I’m going to say it, I’m a Taylor Chase mark, as are the vast majority of the fans in this building tonight.
The crowd claps in agreement.
Marina: So we’re all (points to herself and the fans) concerned to see you acting the way you’re acting. Because we all know that at your core, this is not you. These words coming from your mouth aren’t yours. This behavior you’re exhibiting isn’t true Taylor behavior. You’ve let Trinity Street get into your head.
Taylor: Do I look like a puppet?
Sparkles: What’s wrong with puppets?
Greyson: Quiet Sparkles.
Taylor: I’m not. And I’m not an idiot either. A lot of what Trinity says makes sense. This company has used me up and now wants to throw me aside.
Marina: That’s not true Tay. If you thought the IWC was really capable of that then you never would have put your all into defending it. You’re not the type who puts their faith behind something that’s not going to reward it.
Taylor: …..
Marina: Deep down, you know that these grievances of yours are unjustified and that Trinity is blowing everything way out of proportions…..
Just as it seems that Marina is starting to break through all that hard-work that went into chipping past Tay’s attitude is undone by the lyrics bombarding the PA system. The tunes of “Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold are playing throughout the building just as Silas Mason makes his way out to the stage followed as always by his private security force.
Silas: Alright-alright-alright, are we done with this Lifetime movie of the week bleeding vagina bullshit yet?
The athletes in the ring and the crowd share a mutual disdain for the chauvinistic words of the world’s biggest sleezebag.
Silas: Haven’t we seen enough of this angel on one shoulder, devil on the other shoulder crap with you Baby Doll?
Taylor’s brow furrows into an ever so menacing glare.
Silas: I’m tired of yer drama eating into MY screen time on MY show. It’s bad enough ya poisoned my clients against me when ya were part of MY agency, but now yer turning viewers away and killing the ratings on MY Riot.
Taylor: Silas, you don’t want to piss me off right now.
Silas: Ya threatenin’ me Baby Doll? Ya jus go right ahead and ya do that, cause it’s high time I show ya, and everyone else in that locker-room what ‘appens to those who tussle with me.
Taylor: Fine Silas, go on making an ass of yourself, I’ve said my peace. I expect that there’ll be some type of changes made to accommodate….
Silas: Changes? Heh….heh….heh-heh….hahahahahaha! You expect me to make changes to make ya happy? HAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m done bending over backwards fer ya. I did that when ya were part of Silas World, I did everything in my power to keep a smile on yer face. Then ya turn around and put a knife right in my back. That ain’t ‘appening again, so I tell ya what Baby Doll, I ain’t doin ya no favors. Instead I’m goin’ to play right into yer delusions. Ya think yer being pushed aside, well guess what, now YOU ARE. Ya don’t want to compete in the Tournament I put together to crown a number one contender, then ya won’t. Yer tight lil’ ass is outta the tournament, and that means when it comes to any future World Title shots, yer shit outta luck!
”Hail to the King” plays over the speakers once again as Silas and his security move to the backstage area. He turns his back on the fuming Taylor Chase in the ring and the equally as outraged Marina Valdivia standing beside her.
Sparkles: Wait. What does Silas mean Taylor’s out of luck?
Frankie: I think he’s saying that Taylor has not just been removed from the Number One Contender Tournament but is totally out of World Title contention.
Greyson: Silas has just banned Taylor from World Title competition all because of some long shared animosity between these two.
Frankie: He just validated everything that Trinity’s been telling Taylor the past few weeks.
Greyson: How is Taylor going to react to this?
Cameras transition to the hallway where a disgruntled Flash Silver is standing with his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl on his face. The camera slowly pulls back to reveal that Melanie and Blaire McBride are standing in front of him. The siblings are clutching onto something with a black fabric thrown over it.
Blaire: We get that you’re still upset over your manager leaving you, Flash.
Melanie: It never feels good when you’re ditched.
Blaire: So we decided to help you out a little. We used that money we took from Desmond to buy you a brand new manager.
Flash’s disapproving stare transforms into one of optimism.
Flash: Really?
Blaire: Yep.
Melanie: It may not be Infinity, but we think he’s even better than your ex manager.
Blaire: Without further ado, allow us to introduce to you your new agent….
The tarp covering the person stood between the McBrides is yanked away to reveal the IWC Dalek. The sight of the mechanically enhanced being has Flash instantly face palming.
Dalek: EXTERMINATE! EXTERIMINATE! The McBrides are my….eeeeerm…Mc-BRIDES.
Flash: Jesus Tap Dancin’ Christ!
Flash throws his arms up in the air.
Flash: WHERE ARE YOU INFINITY!?!
Questions Flash as he steps out of view and goes on looking for Infinity. The McBride sisters turn to one another, shrug then look down at the ever lecherous Dalek.
Melanie: Maybe he’ll make a good stocking stuffer for Karen on Christmas.
The commentators chuckle ever so generically in the background.
Greyson: Hahahahaha, looks like Melanie and Blaire McBride still on that spending spree with money they snatched from Desmond Drake.
Frankie: They should be brought up on criminal charges dammit. They stole that money from Desmond back at Awakening.
Sparkles: It was money Silas used to bribe Desmond into stabbing their sister Karen McBride in the back.
Frankie: That doesn’t make what Melanie and Blaire are doing anymore legal.
Greyson: How much more do they have to spend before Silas and Desmond react?
Sparkles: Guess we’ll find out as this show continues to speed along.
Cameras now find their way into the interview area where backstage correspondent Susie Moore is standing right beside a highly disgruntled World Champion. Katelyn Buehler is rubbing at the back of her neck and coveting the title belt resting over her shoulder. A microphone hovers in front of her face, ready to catch every angered word emanating from her frowning lips.
Susie: Katelyn, a few minutes ago we saw Wicked Intent attack you….
Katelyn suddenly engulfs the microphone with her palm and pulls it right out of the correspondent’s hand.
Katelyn: Susie, get to steppin’….
Susie: Huh?
Katelyn: Skip, back flip, crab-walk, cartwheel, I don’t care how you get out of my face just as long as you do. Now GET!
Susie: I think I’ll pirouette.
As promised Susie pirouettes away from Katelyn and leaves the microphone in the World Champion’s hand. Buehler confusingly watches Susie dance her way out of frame before turning her focus to the camera.
Katelyn: Before I say anything about what those two walking GAP ads Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly just tried to do me I have to comment on that bullshit decision from Silas Mason. Fuck you Silas. Seriously, get fucked right in your ear. BOTH your ears. Banning Taylor from World Title contention is the worse business move you’ve made you son of a bitch. If it were up to me, if it were up to the fans, Taylor would be the first person in line to challenge me one on one for the title. It’s a match everyone wants to see you stupid monkey fucking bastard.
Try as she may Katelyn finds it very difficult to console herself.
Katelyn: Tay, you have my sympathy girl. But someone who won’t have my sympathy is Lexy Chapel. Attacking me from behind earlier on was a worse decision than Silas just banning Tay from title contention. You wanted to weaken me, but all you’ve done is made my resolve to kick your skanky ass all that much stronger. When this show started you were going into a match against a happy Katelyn….
A big goofy smile forms on her face.
Katelyn: But now you’re going into this match against a PISSED Katelyn.
Her expression changes to one of rage.
Katelyn: And there isn’t anything that’s going to save you now Lexy….Not even dropping to your knees and praying….
Katelyn falls to her knees and clasps her hands together while looking up towards the ceiling. She now emulates Lexy’s voice, or at least a very exaggerated British voice ripe with overemphasized English tropes.
Katelyn: GAHD…it’s yer lass Lexy here, and I’m just praying that the hymen I had broken when I was 11 years old after my Uncle Richy came to visit won’t be too mutilated when that bad ole’ Katelyn drives her boot right up my crotch during our match tonight. Please oh lord, protect me from Katelyn.
She leaps back to her feet and grimaces at the camera.
Katelyn: Nope, not even praying to God is going to save you, Lexy. Nor is Kat Kelly, nor is Lucas Knight, nor is Trinity Street, not a single member of Monarchy will keep you from suffering what you’ve got coming your way tonight. At Awakening I showed Serenity, the now EX Champion who’s house this is, and when we fight tonight Lexy, you’ll learn too that THIS…IS….MY….HOUSE!
For the second time this evening the parking garage comes into view. The camera focuses on the car that is cruising to a stop while the commentators speculate as to who might be behind the wheel.
Greyson: Who is this arriving to the arena?
Sparkles: Look at the vanity plate Lovejoy, look at the vanity plate!
Frankie: It can’t be.
The plate that has Sparkles going into fits reads as follows…”KINGDOM.”
Greyson: Is Johnny Kingdom here!?!
Frankie: How the hell did he get here? And how in the world did he get his own car all the way over to Japan?
Sparkles: It can’t be him, it CAN’T. Mordecai swore that there was nothing left of Kingdom after he got done with him at Awakening.
Greyson: What’s Kingdom going to do when his path crosses with Mordecai? I can’t believe he’s here!
Sparkles: Kingdom is here right as we’re on the verge of seeing tag team action as Marina Valdivia and Orlando Cruze team up to take on Scott Cannon and Alistair Taylor. So much going down here at Riot!
The cameras return to the parking garage where a car with tinted windows remains parked. Though we can’t see the driver we CAN see the vanity plate which apparently spoils their identity. It reads ‘KINGDOM.’ Again the commentators can be heard expressing their disbelief that the Team Leader has just arrived to the arena.
Sparkles: Sparkles is still really surprised by this. Before the break we saw Johnny Kingdom show up to the arena.
Greyson: Last month he was dragged beneath the ring by Mordecai and no one has seen or heard from Kingdom since. But that’s about to change.
Frankie: I refuse to believe it. I refuse to believe Kingdom is here. Mordecai told everyone that there is nothing left of Kingdom after he finished him off and I would never EVER question him. Because you know, I actually appreciate living.
Cameras segue to the hallway where Henry Van Stanton comes into view. He is standing in front of a giant silver crate, leaning back against it with one arm crossed over his chest and the other holding a cellphone up to his ear. The conversation he’s having has brought a giant smirk to Henry’s face.
Henry: You’re serious?
His smile broadens.
Henry: Just wait until Julia hears this. She’s going to be overjoyed.
Infinity: Hmmmm.
Henry lowers his phone, slightly, to acknowledge the woman who has just approached him. The former agent for Flash Silver nears Henry with a confident sway to her hips. Infinity looks into Henry’s baffled expression.
Henry: Something I can help you with?
Infinity: The total opposite. There is something I can help YOU with Mr. Van Stanton. Or to be more accurate, something I can help your friend Julia Braddock with.
Henry: What do you mean by that?
Infinity: I have a business proposition I’d like to make to Julia. Tell her to give me a call.
A card is handed to Henry, who awkwardly takes it. Before Infinity can clarify her intentions she is walking away, leaving Henry standing there with a puzzled expression on his face.
Henry: Oh, sorry.
The phone in his hand is lifted back to his ear.
Henry: Got distracted by something….
BEFORE THE BREAK
A video package rolls showcasing Taylor Chase standing in the ring and airing her grievances to a sympathetic audience. We then relive the sight of Marina Valdivia entering the ring to try and reason with her friend Taylor. That’s until another individual shows up who isn’t sympathetic and isn’t there for the purposes of reasoning with Tay. When Silas Mason arrives it’s to tear Taylor down and announce that she has just been removed from title contention from now until God only knows when.
A visually distraught Taylor Chase has moved into the guerilla position, walking away from the camera with her head hung and her thoughts burdening her. The tragic news she just received from Silas Mason was just another dagger plunged into her back and her former agent turned Principle Owner is twisting the handle.
Trinity: I warned you.
Informs the woman who was waiting in the hall for Taylor. The ever conniving and crafty Trinity Street has her arms stretched out to her sides and is inviting Taylor into them. Taylor hesitates and holds back from stepping into the hug that Trinity is offering her, knowing exactly what accepting that embrace would mean.
Cameras continue to get right where they need to be to capture every newsworthy moment coming out of this particularly chaotic edition of Riot. The theme track of ‘You Know My Name’ is belting through the loud speakers and Orlando Cruze is storming through the curtains to the track of his entrance music. The Japanese crowd and the commentators alike are very happy to see the world renowned Icon on his way to the ring.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks I can see smoke coming out of Orlando Cruze’s nostrils right now.
Greyson: The man is STEAMING after what Silas Mason just did to his wife, banning her from World Title contention.
Frankie: Come on guys, it’s not like Tay wasn’t asking for it what with being such a whiney cunt.
Greyson: Taylor deserves much better Frankie, she’s a former three time World Champion who has fought so hard for the IWC time and time and time again. She’s one of the first entrants in the IWC Hall of Fame for Christ sakes.
Orlando, decked out in his wrestling gear, makes his way around the ring and towards the time keeper, snatching a microphone straight from their hand.
Orlando: Silas Mason, boy oh boy did you just step it in big time.
The crowd very vocally agrees with Orlando as he makes his way up the steel ring steps and then proceeds to the top of a turnbuckle. He stands on the middle rope and looks over the ring through the curtains past the hallways past the door leading to Silas Mason’s office and into the soul of the Principle Owner.
Orlando: You’ve made so many mistakes in your years as an agent and your months as Principle Owner, but none of your mistakes have been as big as banning my wife from the championship she’s been fighting so hard to put on the map. What you just did was open Pandora’s Box.
This grave warning is delivered with an ever menacing tone to Orlando’s voice, speaking in a way we’ve never heard him speak before.
Orlando: All the energy that Tay has channeled into capturing and defending the World Title, is now going to be redirected into bringing you down Silas. And guess where I’ll be while she digs her claws into you? I’ll be the one pinning your arms behind your back as Tay tears you limb from limb.
All those in attendance are surprised to hear this out of the Icon and to see this edge to his persona.
Tabitha: Marina, please don’t go back out there.
The cameras cut to the guerilla position where Tabitha Silverstone is standing in front of her client Marina Valdivia, who is just itching to get back out to the squared circle.
Marina: I HAVE to. I-I-I feel so responsible for all of this.
Tabitha: You’re NOT. You can’t keep getting yourself in the middle of all this drama. You should be focusing on making Alistair pay for betraying all of us.
Marina: I care about Taylor and Orlando, I can’t help it. You NEED to understand that.
Marina ends the conversation on that note and starts to head for the curtains blocking her path to the entry way.
The show goes back to the ring where Orlando Cruze has dropped from the turnbuckle and is pacing the squared circle with microphone still in his hand and his mouth still running.
Orlando: And Cindy Todd, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you. What we started at Awakening WILL be finished. There is still much more SUFFERING to be had.
The microphone is tossed aside by a revved up Orlando, who drops down from the turnbuckle into the ring.
Greyson: Man, Orlando is REALLY worked up and rightfully so after what Silas Mason just did to Taylor Chase.
Frankie: Orlando ought to know better than to threaten Silas AND to threaten Cindy Todd all in the same breath. Those are two of the most dangerous individuals in all of professional wrestling.
Sparkles: Orlando not afraid to tangle with the mastermind Silas and the psychopath Cindy.
Frankie: He might not be afraid to do it but he’s going to regret it nevertheless.
The unbridled intensity of Orlando will be given a proper outlet in a matter of minutes when he and Marina Valdivia face off against Scott Cannon and Alistair Taylor.
Marina: You know what Orlando? I’m just as sick and fed up with all of this as you are.
There is a huge ovation for the angered Marina Valdivia heading through the curtains as she beats a path to the ring.
Frankie: Oh shut up already Marina.
Greyson: Relax Frankie, Marina cares about Taylor and Orlando, she doesn’t like seeing what either of them have been put through these past few months.
Sparkles: She expressed her concern for Taylor earlier tonight and that was right before Tay learned she was being pulled from title contention
Every muscle in Orlando’s body and every breath escaping from it are tensed when seeing his tag team partner for the evening entering the ring.
Marina: I thought Tay was being a little too paranoid when she came out to vent her frustrations earlier, but now I see that maybe she wasn’t wrong after-all, that she is being persecuted by the powers that be. She deserves better than this.
It takes a lot of self-restraint on Marina’s part to keep her cool.
Marina: Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do about this situation right now, but what we CAN do is honor your misses by kicking some ass in this ring.
The crowd lets loose at a fevered pitch.
Marina: I know in the past couple of weeks I’ve questioned you, Orlando, I’ve doubted that you were ready to get back in this ring and fight challenges like Cindy Todd and New Eden. But after what I saw from you at Awakening, when you took that chair and walloped Cindy right upside her skull I was never more happy to be proven so wrong.
In spite of these kind words Orlando’s attitude does not change whatsoever. He remains ever fixated on kicking some ass.
Marina: But I’m not the only one who’s doubted you. Scott Cannon, Alistair Taylor, they both doubt you two, and I think it’s high time you prove…them…WRONG!
All that is left for Marina to do is extend her hand to her tag team partner.
Marina: So what do you say we do that…partner?
Orlando’s eyes draw towards Marina’s hand and locks on it. After an awkward hesitation Orlando’s palm draws to Marina’s hand as well. The two show camaraderie on the eve of their tag team encounter with Scott Cannon and Alistair Taylor.
Greyson: Marina Valdivia and Orlando Cruze versus Alistair Taylor and Scott Cannon coming up next.
Marina Valdivia’s agent Tabitha Silverstone continues to fret. She swells with concern over the actions of her client throughout the evening. Tabitha goes on pacing the guerilla position and dwelling in thought.
Alistair: Tabitha-Tabitha-Tabitha….
Every inch of Tabitha instantly starts to seethe at the image of her EX client Alistair Taylor who ever so arrogantly swaggered directly into her path.
Alistair: Fairing well lovely?
Tabitha says nothing, just staring a hole right through Alistair’s grinning mug.
Alistair: Awwww, am I supposed to be intimidated by that look? I’m not. Actually, I’m honored by it. And you want to know why? Because you’re FINALLY paying attention to me.
These words have Tabitha shuddering in anger.
Alistair: After all these years I’m FINALLY your number one priority. I’m no longer just an afterthought. Admit it, ever since I superkicked Marina right in her face you haven’t been able to stop thinking about me, have you? When you go to bed at night you dream about the moment I put my boot upside Marina’s jaw.
Presently his boots are bringing him closer and closer to Tabitha. His hand extends and takes a lock of her hair, twirling it around his finger.
Alistair: That’s all I ever wanted Tabitha, to be the man everyone, including yourself, is thinking about. You know bloody well I was never meant to be a bodyguard, to be a pedestal for others to stand on. No-no-no, but that’s how you, Marina and Andre treated me. Now it’s time love that the three of you see me the same way Monarchy sees me…
The smarmy smirk on Alistair is enough to make one’s skin crawl. Luckily that smile is removed from Alistair’s face the moment he feels the hot breaths on the back of his neck, breaths belonging to Victoria Salinas.
Victoria: Did I interrupt something?
Alistair turns to Marina’s trusted ally and reproduces the same shit eating grin he aimed at Tabitha moments earlier. He then walks around Victoria and proceeds towards the ring. All the while Victoria is stepping to Tabitha’s side, the agent never looking away from the man she once considered a valuable client and a valuable friend.
Referee Arnie Ficklebottom reluctantly stands by in a backstage corridor party to a conversation ongoing between Michael and Scott Cannon. While Scott stands with his back facing his dressing room door and his briefcase in hand, Michael crosses his arms and takes in all of his brother’s orders.
Scott: You did good getting me a ref.
Scott pats the referee on his head like he were a puppy.
Scott: But there’s just one other thing I need you to do for me in order to make THIS (slaps his palm on the briefcase) a reality.
Michael: Name it.
Scott: I need you to….
Scott’s sentence comes to an abrupt end when he notices the camera filming his every word.
Scott: What are you doing here? Get the hell out of here!
Scott’s palm engulfs the camera lens.
The show transitions from the commercial to an anxious Serenity stood in a hallway. At the moment she is right in front of the very woman capable of putting fear into even her heart. Cindy Todd lurks before Serenity with her head craned to the side, pretending to sympathize with her New Eden follower. The only thing that separates these two is the very same wall of steel mesh that Cindy was stood behind earlier in the night when promising to punish both members of New Eden for their failures to win back at Awakening. That punishment has already been inflicted on Mika Kozlov, so that means Serenity’s head is next on the chopping block.
Serenity: I know I messed up at Awakening. I failed you.
Cindy: I wasn’t the only one you failed.
Serenity: I-I-I know, I let down the Dark AND New Eden. But I can make this right.
Cindy: Yes, you can….
The very same barbwire bat that was used to punish Mika Kozlov, Serenity’s ally, earlier in the night is raised in Cindy’s hands.
Serenity: I deserve to be punished, I realize that. Althoooough I can think of someone else you would probably enjoy punishing a lot more. And I happen to have a genius idea on how we can CRRUUUUSSSHHH him.
Cindy: Hmmmm, you have my curiosity…piqued.
ALISTAIR TAYLOR & SCOTT CANNON VS. ORLANDO CRUZE & MARINA VALDIVIA
Riot returns to a ring presently occupied by Marina Valdivia and Orlando Cruze, the partners eagerly awaiting the arrival of their opponents in this tag team encounter. The commentators continue to build up suspense for this impending confrontation.
Frankie: You bitches about ready for this one?
Sparkles: Dayum straight. Marina Valdivia and Orlando Cruze to compete in tag action against Alistair Taylor and Scott Cannon in a match we’ve been anticipating all night long.
Greyson: It seems Orlando and Marina got on the same page before the match could begin…
Frankie: Their going to need to be united given the caliber of opponent their facing. Alistair and Scott are dangerous on their own, imagine what they’ll do as a team.
The intro track of Alistair Taylor plays over the arena PA system and radically changes the tune in the building. Out strolls Alistair to the stage, as strobe lighting flashes behind his back. The moment he makes eye contact with Marina, who is waiting for him in the ring, a snide smirk forms on Alistair’s face.
Greyson: Boy how the issues between Alistair Taylor and Marina Valdivia have rapidly developed, building to this collision right here and right now.
Sparkles: It was back at Awakening where tensions exploded between Marina and her ex bodyguard Alistair.
Frankie: Roll the clip.
AWAKENING
A highlight video shows the culmination to the tag team encounter that Marina Valdivia participated in at Awakening. The viewers see the makings for a magic moment as Marina and her tag team partner Selena Frost close in on a victory over Wicked Intent. It appears Marina is going to hit the 450 splash on Lexy Chapel, make the pin and capture the Tag Team Titles. All the while the special referee for the match, Marina’s long time bodyguard Alistair Taylor prepares to make the count. Marina goes flipping through the air but is caught in mid-rotation via a superkick by ALISTAIR. He then follows up laying Marina out by doing the same to her partner, giving Selena the overdrive to set up a victory and successful Tag Title defense for Wicked Intent.
ALISTAIR TAYLOR & SCOTT CANNON VS. ORLANDO CRUZE & MARINA VALDIVIA
Coming back to live action we see Alistair Taylor standing on the apron, staring over the ropes at the very woman he double crossed at Awakening. The mere presence of her ex bodyguard has Marina digging her nails deep in her palms.
Greyson: Cannot wait to see Marina get her hands on Alistair as this tag match rolls along.
Sparkles: She’s waited a month since Awakening to get revenge and now it’s finally her opportunity.
Frankie: Marina is going to bite off more than she can chew when she tangles with Alistair. Mark my words.
”Bad To the Bone” starts over the PA system to the expected uproar. The crowd does not give Scott the friendliest of greetings upon his march to the stage. He promenades along through the curtains with his briefcase swaying to his side that holds a contract for a guaranteed World Title shot. Conspicuous by their absence are Michael and David Cannon, Scott’s siblings. Orlando’s eyes have honed in on Scott’s face, and soon the Icon’s hands will hone in on Scott’s throat.
Greyson: Scott Cannon carrying that briefcase with him everywhere he goes….
Frankie: He might not be after tonight. We all heard what he said earlier on, he plans on cashing in the case and capturing the World Championship from Katelyn Buehler.
Sparkles: But Scott might find that difficult after Orlando Cruze gets through with him tonight. Orlando and Scott have a looooong history with each other.
Greyson: For months Scott made no bones about it, he wanted Orlando’s wife.
Frankie: I think everyone wanted Tay at one point or another.
Greyson: Yeah, but Scott intentionally went out of his way to try and break up Orlando’s marriage, something Orlando has not forgotten nor forgiven.
At last it appears that Scott and Orlando are about to get their eagerly anticipated collision. Scott makes his way down the ramp and climbs to the apron but goes no further before a microphone is taken from his waistband and lifted to his lips.
Scott: You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this, Orlando.
Orlando has clearly been waiting JUST as long.
Scott: Ever since the day you married Tay, I’ve been anticipating the day where my elbow would crush in your face. So I hope the world appreciates the sacrifice I’m about to make.
The crowd, Orlando and his partner Marina alike take the bait, intrigued by the ambiguous nature of Scott’s revelation.
Scott: I came into tonight with a goal, a very specific goal, and it’s not beating you, Orlando.
The briefcase Scott is holding becomes everyone’s focal point.
Scott: When we do face off, it’s not going to be in some tag team match, no, it’ll be one on one. So instead of squandering the potential of a Scott Cannon versus Orlando Cruze collision in this diluted form (Scott points to his and Orlando’s respective tag partners) I’m stepping aside. Instead I’m going to give someone else an opportunity to take a few cracks at you ICON. My brother….MICHEAL CANNON!
The response is every bit as harsh as you would think as Michael’s music plays throughout the arena. The curtains part so that Michael can make his entrance to way too much ballyhoo. He swivels about on the stage and comes to a stop on his heels, pointing to the ring at a grinning Scott and an irate Orlando.
Greyson: Since when did Scott have the right to arbitrarily remove himself from matches and sub in others?
Frankie: Well if Silas isn’t putting a stop to it….
Greyson: That’s not a valid argument. The buck does not stop at Silas, nor does it stop at Scott Cannon.
Sparkles: Well if Scott’s unable to compete….
Greyson: He’s perfectly healthy! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him!
Frankie: Are YOU going to stop Scott from doing this?
Greyson: Erm no.
Frankie: Then stop siting there and bitching like a little ho. Enjoy the ride as we see Michael Cannon in his second IWC match.
Greyson: This is just flat out ridiculous.
Michael nears the squared circle where he will be subbing for his brother Scott. Upon reaching the ringside area Michael is pulled into a huddle with his sibling, he and Scott chatting amongst one another. All the while Michael’s tag team partner Alistair is watching from the squared circle. He looks very confused, shouting towards the Cannons and demanding some type of explanation as to what’s happening here. His preoccupation with Scott’s and Michael’s ringside discussion leads to devastating consequences for Alistair. Marina drops to her knees behind Alistair and gives him what she’s been dying to unleash for the past month, an uppercut right in the crotch.
Greyson: LOW BLOW!
Sparkles: Alistair had that coming. Marina finally getting a piece of him.
Frankie: That filthy little minx.
The bell rings to start this match right after Marina’s blow nails Alistair in his Johnson. Alistair stoops over cupping his crotch while Marina takes off into the ropes in front of him. She springs off the middle cable and then twists back towards Alistair, hitting the crossbody. Alistair is down, Marina is on top and her fist is landing across his face again and again.
Greyson: Marina just all over Alistair!
Michael finally comes rolling in to drag Marina off of his partner but he’s the one who might be in the need of saving. Orlando cuts Michael off by slamming a fist across his cheek, then delivering another and finally one last blow that sends his adversary flipping back over the ropes. Michael lands at Scott’s feet, his brother instantly checking on his condition. In the ring Marina is approaching the nearest corner, climbing up to the top and readying for the California Splash on Alistair.
Greyson: Marina might just end this quick.
The former Queen of the Ring Champion is just a moment removed from taking to the air. Alistair won’t be finished off that fast, rolling out of Marina’s flight path then out of the ring. Marina remains seated on the top rope, staring down to ringside where Alistair is regrouping. Marina drops down to the apron then dashes across it before ultimately leaping off into a hurricarana. She sends Alistair flipping into the ringside mats, his back hitting them hard. Alistair gets to his feet and receives a hard knife edge chop to the chest, sending him reeling towards the ring. He rolls in to escape Marina but puts himself in the clutches of her partner Orlando.
The Icon stands Alistair up and hits a European Uppercut across his jaw. Marina makes her way up to the apron standing on the opposite side of the ropes behind Alistair’s back. She takes his arms and pins them to his sides, leaving his chest exposed to the open hand palm strikes that Orlando is now delivering.
Frankie: Come on ref, do something about this blatant double teaming!
Greyson: This IS a tag team match, Frankie.
Frankie: Shush it!
Marina goes on clasping Alistair’s arms before her grip is broken, and not of her own accord. From below a set of hands grabs Marina’s ankle and pulls. Michael yanks Marina’s legs out from under her and causes her face to go plummeting into the apron. The impact is every bit as nasty as you would think, and it’s followed up with an even harder collision. Michael puts his shoulder to Marina’s ribs and charges her until her spine makes impact with the barricade.
Frankie: Thank you, Michael Cannon.
Sparkles: Michael showing us all here that Scott isn’t the only Cannon with a mean streak.
Scott beams with pride at the sight of his brother throwing Marina into the barrier. Back inside of the ring Alistair is free from Marina’s clutches but is unable to escape the beating that he’s getting. Orlando unleashes a series of high impact European Uppercuts on Alistair before leading him away from the ropes he was leaning on and throwing him into the opposite strands. Alistair bounces from the cables and is unable to avoid rushing right into his adversary’s running European Uppercut. Alistair falls to the ring and then goes scrambling from it. He rolls to the outside in an effort to get away from Orlando. But Cruze is right there behind him, following him from the squared circle. Orlando charges after one opponent yet his focus should have been on the other. Once at ringside Orlando finds his shoulder caught and his body twisted into a right hand. Michael goes for a punch that his opponent ducks. Orlando launches an arm across Michael’s chest and sets up for the uranage on the mats.
Greyson: Uranage!
Orlando is about to drive Michael into the ringside mats only to have Michael counter by way of putting his knee up and into his opponent’s ribs. Orlando doubles over, twisting away from Alistair, who unleashes a big boot across the Icon’s face. The kick to the skull has Orlando turning away from his attacker and towards another. Michael delivers a dropkick to Orlando’s chest. The Icon is ping ponged from one opponent to another. The dropkick sends Orlando turning towards Alistair, who stoops, catches him and then delivers the Alabama Slam.
Orlando is driven with enough force into the ringside mats to snap his spine clean in half. The slam into the mats has left Orlando incapacitated. Alistair takes advantage of his opponent’s positioning, climbing to the apron, dashing across it then diving off into a big elbow drop. Alistair and his partner Michael follow this up by pulling Orlando to his feet and rolling him inside. They are just about to follow him in and continue their beat-down only to find their plans turned on their ear. Both men look away from Orlando and towards the woman rushing across the apron above them. Orlando’s partner Marina leaps from the apron and hits a stereo clothesline on Michael and Alistair, knocking all three individuals to the ground. The crowd pops but another onlooker, Scott Cannon, cringes at the sight of his brother Michael taking such a nasty lariat to the throat.
Sparkles: Marina taking out her opponents with a STEREO LARIATO!
Greyson: This bout has been out of control from the word ‘go.’
Alistair returns to the ring rubbing at his throat, but it’s his stomach that he should be most concerned with protecting. Orlando gives him a swift kick to the ribs, doubling him over. Alistair then finds himself placed in a front chancery, just a moment removed from being spiked via the DDT. But he surprises his opponent via a counter, the reversal being a single leg flapjack that sends Orlando’s throat into the top rope. Orlando’s head snaps back from the ropes and yet he remains on his feet, stumbling along into Alistair’s arms. Alistair catches Cruze with an inverted headlock back breaker.
Alistair gets back to his feet brimming with confidence. That’s until he has his arrogance shaken by the sight of his rival Marina standing on a nearby corner, right on the cusp of going airborne. Marina is about to fly off the corner and collide with Alistair only to have her plans flipped upside down, right along with her body. Alistair’s partner Michael leaps up to the apron behind Marina, puts a hand to her backside and gives her a shove. Marina flips over and goes tumbling down from quite the height, eventually splashing the canvas where her back takes the brunt of the impact. Marina no sooner hits the ring before Alistair hits her ribs. He dashes forward, leaves his feet and connects with a back first senton splash right across her ribcage.
Greyson: Marina once again trying to get the drop on Alistair but it didn’t work out this time.
Frankie: Sure it did, it worked out GREAT for Alistair.
Although tags seem to be a formality in this match at this point, Alistair still makes one to Michael. Once in the ring Michael is all over BOTH of his still laid out opponents. He delivers stomps to Orlando, then turns and drops an elbow into Marina’s chest. As this beat-down goes on inside of the squared circle, just outside of it Scott Cannon watches gleefully, rather enjoying the sight of his brother’s actions. Michael pulls Marina up from the ring and scoop slams her. He then turns his efforts to Orlando, scooping him up as well and then turning before slamming him right across Marina’s mid-section.
Frankie: Man, one Cannon brother is just as vicious as the other. Now go after Orlando’s head!
Greyson: Orlando sidelined for years with head injuries, still surprised that he found a neurologist to clear him to return.
Right now Orlando might be regretting his return considering that he’s getting savagely assaulted by Michael. At the moment Orlando is on his knees with his back to the ropes and his throat being strangled by both of Michael’s hands. The referee, who has been unable to get any type of control over this match thus far, puts his foot down and starts a five count, right on the cusp of disqualifying Cannon.
Michael breaks his choke though and then comes charging into Orlando with a knee to the chest, crushing him between Cannon’s leg and the cables. Michael is about to inflict even further punishment on the Icon but runs into a roadblock. Orlando’s partner Marina is back on her feet and grabbing Michael from behind, taking his shoulder and spinning him around. Michael turns towards Marina and instantly lays her out with a right to the jaw.
Michael’s attention returns to Orlando, barreling towards his kneeling opponent. Michael runs right into Orlando…right into Orlando’s SHOULDER. The Icon catches his inbound adversary with the spinebuster. Orlando pops up to his feet and grabs Michael’s legs, starting to step through them in an effort to lock in the sharpshooter.
Greyson: Classic Cruze here, going for the sharpshooter!
That WAS Orlando’s plans, right up until Alistair decided to get involved. He climbs his team’s corner and now comes flying out of it, going for the clothesline on Cruze. The sharpshooter is broken on Michael in favor of transitioning into a crossface on Alistair. The airborne Alistair is caught by the arm he was swinging at Orlando and then he is dragged to the ring where the crippler crossface is locked in.
Greyson: CROSSFACE! Crossface locked in!
Alistair is flailing his free arm through the air, trying so desperately to resist the urge to tap out. Orlando only leans back further on the submission, putting even greater exertion on the arm of his adversary. Michael is about to intervene though, stepping in to break up the submission on his partner. Before he is able to intervene Michael finds himself caught from behind by the shoulder. Michael is swung around to face Marina, and now goes to lay her out with a right hand, a right hand that is ducked and transitioned into the drop toe hold. Marina transitions quickly into positon for the Cali Killer, she is just about to bridge back into the chin lock. Or at least she was until Michael manages to avoid being put in her finishing submission hold. He crawls across the ring and grabs the bottom rope, Marina unable to bridge back and get that chin-lock clamped on.
At the same time Alistair has managed to counter the submission that HE was suffering from. He rolls to his side and flips his opponent Orlando over him, causing the crossface to be broken in the process. Orlando ends up back on his feet with some space opened between he and his adversary. Alistair closes that gap, dashing in for a clothesline on Orlando that is ducked. Alistair’s momentum carries him past Cruze and into a drop toe hold by Marina. She leaps to her feet and bridges back into the Muta Lock. There is a loud reaction at the sight of Marina putting Alistair in the Cali Killer!!
Greyson: Alistair escapes the crossface only to end up in the Cali Killer!
Frankie: Don’t you let Monarchy down, don’t you tap out!
The pain is indescribable and has Alistair only a fraction of a second away from submitting. In an effort to prevent that from happening his partner Michael steps in to break up the hold, but it’s only Michael’s face that is broken when Orlando superkicks him right under the jaw,
Greyson: The scintillating SUPERKICK!
The kick has knocked Michael back and through the ropes, twisting to the outside of the ring where he will be unable to help Alistair. However Alistair is not quite as helpless as he might seem. He crawls across the ring and nears the ropes which provide his only salvation. He reaches out and grabs the bottom strand, forcing Marina to have to relinquish her submission.
Alistair’s partner grabs him by the wrists, Michael helping him from the ring. Marina then approaches the ropes that Alistair just slipped under. She takes the top cable and then comes flying over it, twisting around and coming down onto Alistair at ringside with a hurricarana….or at least an attempt at one. Alistair catches Marina, holds her up and exposes her spine to a powerbomb…a powerbomb right into the knees of his tag team partner. Michael hits a back stabber at the same time that Alistair delivers the powerbomb. Marina is left completely incapacitated as a result of this devastating tag team move.
Frankie: WWHOOOOA! Did ya guys see that? Michael Cannon and Alistair gelling pretty well as a team right now.
Greyson: That was a very nasty landing for Marina, subjected to that powerbomb back stabber combo.
Marina is left languishing at ringside but her partner is resolute in avenging her. Orlando steps across the ring, reaches over the ropes down to Michael, grabbing his hair. Michael is pulled up from the mats and to the apron where he promptly turns around and gouges Orlando straight in the eyes. Cruze twists away from Michael, who then comes flying over the top rope, twisting in mid-air and catching his opponent with a diamond cutter. Orlando’s face ricochets from the shoulder of one opponent and finds itself on the receiving end of a kick from another. Alistair returns to the ring just in time to come plowing boot first into Orlando, who has just popped up to his feet in time to be nailed with a sick kick. Orlando collapses to his back and lies their unable to block Michael from making the cover.
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Even that devastating combination from Michael and Alistair was not enough to keep the Icon down, he throws his arm up from the canvas. This kick out leaves Michael in none too pleasant a mood, and it has the exact same effect on his brother watching from ringside. With every second that passes Scott gets more and more anxious, his grip on the briefcase in his hand ever tightening.
Greyson: Scott looks like he might be losing confidence in his brother’s ability to keep Orlando down.
Sparkles: Michael’s been busting his ass in this match from the start but no amount of hustle in the world is getting the better of the Icon.
Orlando sluggishly works his way up from the canvas and right into the waiting hands of both Michael and Alistair. His opponents force Orlando’s back into the ropes where they proceed to pummel with him kicks and punches. Eventually Orlando is knocked back through the cables he was propped against, falling onto the apron. Michael follows him out, stepping to the apron and immediately trapping his adversary in a front facelock, going for a DDT on the apron. Orlando looks to be in a bad spot, seconds from finding his head, which has a history of trauma related injuries, spiked into the hardened ring apron. Orlando won’t spend another second on an operating room table though, he shoves Michael back and causes his spine to crash right into the exposed turnbuckle post.
Michael goes crashing to the outside of the ring while Orlando remains stood above him on the apron. It remains to be seen if Orlando will be standing there very much longer. Alistair has slipped onto the apron behind Orlando and is wedging hands to his back, giving the former World Champion a shove right into the very same turnbuckle Michael just crashed into. Orlando is about to hit the turnbuckle but before he does so he bends down so that his tag team partner can come flying off that very same corner and flying over his head. Marina soars through the air, leap frogging Orlando then landing on Alistair before turning and sending him flipping from the apron with a hurricarana.
Greyson: HOLY SHIT!
Sparkles: THAT was nuts!
Frankie: Man, a friggin hurricarana to the OUTSIDE OF THE RING!
Marina and Alistair lay on the mats looking spent after that last move which has really rallied up the crowd. Meanwhile Orlando is scooping Michael up at ringside and throwing him into the squared circle. Orlando enters and crawls to his side, grabbing his arm and locking in the crossface. Yet Michael won’t stay in the hold for long, twisting over to his side and forcing himself into a roll. Orlando is also forced to do the same, ending up on the back of his shoulders with Michael twisting around so that he’s wedging his own shoulders into the creases of Cruze’s knees. As a result Orlando is folded up and compressed into the pin.
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Orlando defiantly shoots his shoulder up into the air, kicking out just a second before he was caught with that roll up.
Greyson: Oh that was close.
Frankie: I was about to start an Irish jig, but Orlando’s kick out prevented that. Yes, all you fans watching around the world can blame Orlando for not seeing me dance the jig tonight.
Although Orlando is banged up he’s still working his way up from the ring and into a right hand across the jaw by Michael that puts him right back down. Michael then gets a lot of elevation behind a big jumping leg drop that connects straight across Orlando’s throat. This leg drop is followed by an acrobatic back roll, putting Michael directly on his feet. He’s right about to leave them though when he approaches the ropes, slips past them to the apron and then takes the top cable. His brother Scott is turning his back to the ring pre-emptively singing his brother’s praises. He doesn’t even bother to watch Michael taking to the top rope, springing off and flying directly into the SUPERKICK. Michael eats Orlando’s boot and damn sure won’t be asking for seconds.
Greyson: Michael flying right into the superkick!
Frankie: NOOOOO!!! I just swallowed my gum.
Frankie swallows his gum ironically at the same time that Michael swallows Orlando’s superkick. The impact to the jaw has knocked Michael flat on his back. At the exact same time Michael goes down, his other opponent Marina goes to the air. The whole building watches wide eyed as Marina comes back into the gold by flying off the top of a nearby turnbuckle and coming down into Michael with the 450 splash.
Greyson: CALIFORNIA SPLASH!
Marina remains draped across Michael’s chest, keeping him down while the official makes the count.
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Alistair tries to get into the ring and save his partner but his opponent Orlando cuts him off at the pass. Alistair back peddles from the squared circle, content now to watch as the referee finishes counting the three. Scott Cannon watches in total shock as his brother’s shoulders are pinned to the canvas.
Greyson: Marina and Orlando, they pulled it off!!
Sparkles: This is a gigantic personal victory for both of these athletes!
Greyson: Orlando scores the superkick on Cannon and then Marina hits the 450 splash in order to……LOOK OUT!
Orlando and Marina are in a celebratory mood, the two bumping knuckles after the match. However, that’s not the last thing bumped. All four members of New Eden come sliding into the ring and cut short the celebration by pouncing on Marina and Orlando.
Greyson: New Eden, they’re all over Orlando and Marina!
The bell goes on ringing in the background as an exhausted Orlando and an equally as depleted Marina find themselves suffering a hailstorm of stomps from Serenity, Borislav, a bandaged Mika and Cindy. Although blood is still seeping through the ace wrap bound about the torso of Mika she still manages to give Orlando a thrashing. She drops beside Orlando and begins to gnaw on the bridge of his nose. Meanwhile Marina is getting buried beneath the boots of Serenity. Cindy stands back and watches her disciples of the dark destroy their foes and is clearly enjoying what she’s seeing.
Frankie: Abandon hope, abandon faith, abandon pride, all there is now…is the SUFFERING!
Yet it may not be either Orlando or Marina on the receiving end of said suffrage. Cruze surprises Mika when he manages to block one of her punches and then nail a punch of his own to her wounded mid-section. At the same time Marina has caught one of the boots Serenity intended to drive into the back of her head. She stands up and swings Serenity’s captured boot right into the side of the monstrous Borislav’s face. The kick knocks the enormous Russian along into the ropes and then through them. Serenity turns back to Marina and finds herself caught by the back of the head before being led along to the cables and thrown over them.
Although she suffered a blow right into her already cut up mid-section, Mika pushes through her injuries and rushes right at Orlando, who is crouched beside the ropes. Orlando catches Mika coming in though and back drops her over the cables and to the mats.
Greyson: Marina and Orlando fighting back, their fighting back the onslaught of New Eden!
Sparkles: Now look who these two are left in the ring with.
Cindy Todd finds herself alone with Marina and Orlando. Her black eyes reflect the faces of two people she has repeatedly victimized in the past. Now they find themselves with an opportunity to at long last take their revenge. Instead of running, instead of showing even an inkling of fear, Cindy grins and actually approaches the two individuals hell-bent on destroying her faster than Liam Neeson destroys a Country accent. Cindy actually embraces the challenge of facing two at once.
Greyson: This woman is absolutely insane.
Sparkles: Cindy Todd welcoming a fight against Marina AND Orlando at the same time.
Orlando trembles with the anticipation of introducing his fist into Cindy’s face, aching to finish the fight he started with Todd back at Awakening. His knuckles leave his side and go to swing along into Cindy’s brow but they never make impact with their target. A briefcase cracks into the back of Orlando’s head. All in attendance react with rage at the sight of Scott Cannon slamming his steel case into Cruze’s cranium, taking him from his feet and down to the canvas.
Sparkles: What the hell!?!
Greyson: Scott Cannon just-just-just assaulting Orlando from behind with that briefcase!
Frankie: He avenged his brother is what he did! Orlando left Michael laying so Scott did the same to him.
Greyson: I am getting so sick of you standing up for the Cannon brothers and for New Eden. Even you have to realize just how ridiculous you sound justifying the actions of these assholes.
The blow to the head has left Orlando limp on the canvas. The man responsible for laying him out spends no time celebrating his assault on Cruze. Scott cradles his briefcase to his chest and then hightails it from the ring before he becomes just another victim of New Eden. Right now the group of psychopaths assembled under Cindy’s rule are looking right past Scott. They surround Orlando instead, crawling in from three different sides of the ring and grouping around Cruze.
Marina makes an attempt to spare Orlando any further suffrage at the hands of New Eden but finds her act of mercy complicated. The man she just fought and who once protected her, Alistair Taylor, has jumped to the apron behind Marina and has grabbed her arms. Before Marina realizes what’s happening to her her arms are being wrapped up in the ropes. Although Marina thrashes around she is unable to free herself from the top and middle cable that have been used to tie her in place.
Greyson: Alistair tying Marina up, keeping her from interfering in whatever New Eden has planned for Orlando.
Sparkles: It looks like he is the one that New Eden have set their sights on.
Orlando, who is entirely incapacitated after taking that blow to the head from the briefcase, now finds his limp limbs falling into the clutches of New Eden. Mika and Borislav have grabbed Orlando’s arms and are dragging him away from the ring.
Greyson: Where is New Eden taking Orlando?
Sparkles: They tried to poison him with tear-gas at Awakening, so who knows how they plan on topping that.
Frankie: The Suffering is about to begin.
Marina desperately tries to get her arms free from the ropes in order to help Orlando but is too weakened by her previous match to break free. She powerlessly watches as Serenity draws nearer. She bends down in front of Marina and takes her under the jaw, raising her head so that they make eye contact.
Serenity: Consider yourself lucky that it’s not you we’re here for, but don’t worry, your turn is coming.
Serenity leans in and kisses Marina on the forehead like a mother giving a loving smooch to their newborn. She then walks away from Marina who goes on kicking and thrashing in a desperate effort to break free from the ropes. Cindy watches all of this rather approvingly. She and Serenity spend little more time ominously threatening Marina, because reinforcements are dashing down the ramp to come to her aid. Andre Jordan, Victoria Salinas and Tabitha Silverstone slide under the ropes, entering the ring and forcing what remains of New Eden out of it. Cindy and Serenity mosey away from the squared circle where Marina’s friends are trying to pry the ropes away from her still trapped arms.
Greyson: Thank God for Silverstone International. Who knows what New Eden would have done to Marina if they hadn’t just intervened.
Sparkles: But from the sounds of it, New Eden weren’t here for Marina, they got what they came for…
Frankie: Orlando Cruze. And it was Scott Cannon who served Orlando up to them on a silver platter.
Greyson: And it was Alistair Taylor who tied Marina up to the ropes to keep her from helping Orlando.
A video package set to a truly chilling melody begins to play upon the screen. The footage features old images of Johnny Kingdom kneeling on top of the now infamous Weapon’s Lair triple cage. The World Title hangs from his bloodied hands. As this visual of one of Kingdom’s proudest moments plays we also hear a voice in the background that has no business singing the Team Leader’s praises.
Mordecai: He has overcome so much adversity.
Another clip focuses on a past match between Kingdom and Orlando Cruze culminating in the delivery of the Exodus Finale. It’s in the midst of Kingdom hitting his finishing move that the video freezes inexplicably and the voice-over of Mordecai is heard once more.
Mordecai: He has fought through injuries.
A photograph shows Kingdom’s face submerged behind a mask of blood, crying out in agony. A second later another image shows Kingdom, still suffering that same blood loss coming off the top rope to deliver the 450 splash on his age old rival AWOL.
Mordecai: He has battled through insurmountable odds.
The video skips to another milestone moment in Kingdom’s career as he stands alone in the ring and battles the Five Star Society entirely on his own, yet never gives up, never surrenders even when overwhelmed.
Mordecai: He has risen time after time in defiance.
The next clip shows Kingdom straining every muscle in his body as he rises from a ring covered in broken glass, having just survived the very first and very last glass tables match against Daemon Frost.
Mordecai: But he will NOT rise again.
Once more the video switches back to the faithful night of Awakening where Mordecai decided to get the jump on an unsuspecting Kingdom. After wresting the match of his life Kingdom finds his foot caught by a set of hands ripping their way up through the ring. Although Johnny fights for freedom he is ultimately dragged down into a pit by the monstrous fiend who has taken possession of him, Mordecai.
Mordecai: In spite of all the rumors, the King has fallen, and this time he will NOT rise…
The final image is that of the bloated burlap sack, blood secreting through the fabric and pooling on the table below.
Mordecai: For THIS is ALL that now remains of the King’s legacy.
Melanie: I don’t get it….
Gripes Melanie McBride while holding up a satchel full of money. She and her sister Blaire stand on either side of the bag staring down into the stacks of cash held within it.
Melanie: We’ve been spending money like crazy tonight and there’s STILL so much left.
Blaire: And we STILL haven’t got a reaction out of Desmond or Silas.
Melanie: You would figure that spending THEIR money would be enough to send them over the edge.
Blaire: Maybe we just have to take it up a notch.
Melanie: I’m willing to do anything to get those idiots to renege on firing Karen.
Blaire: I have an idea……
Taylor: Where did they take him!?!
A frantic Taylor Chase is hurrying down the hall in the hopes of catching up with New Eden. She is desperate to keep them from leaving the arena with her husband, Orlando Cruze, in their possession. So she runs as fast as her legs will carry her down the hall nervously brushing aside the hair in her face in the process. The voices of the commentators sound every bit as on edge as Taylor appears to be.
Greyson: Taylor Chase desperately trying to catch up with New Eden.
Sparkles: Who have just taken off with her husband after they jumped Orlando Cruze in the ring.
Frankie: Tay better get to her man fast.
Greyson: Can Taylor find Orlando before it’s too late? Fine out as Riot rolls along!
The second the show returns from commercial break the viewers discover the grim fate befalling their beloved Orlando Cruze. His unconscious body is being thrown into the trunk of a car by members of New Eden. Mika Kozlov and Borislav trap Orlando inside while Serenity and Cindy Todd stand back in the parking garage supervising.
Serenity: We got him, just like I promised you we would.
Serenity giddily turns to Cindy.
Serenity: Should I take him to the dum…..?
Cindy: Borislav will handle that.
Already Borislav is jumping behind the wheel of the car and driving it out of the garage
Cindy: I need you here…
Cindy instructs Serenity.
Cindy: How else am I to REWARD you?
Serenity lets loose with a smile and a giggle.
Serenity: Will there be cake?
Deanna: They got off too easy Selena…
Groans Deanna Springs as she stands back watching her fiancée pace the locker-room. Selena Frost walks back and forth past a set up steel folding chair, refusing to sit herself down on it.
Deanna: Monarchy needs to suffer a lot worse for what they did to you earlier.
Selena: Oh, they will.
Promises the Queen of the Ring Champion. She stops pacing and then reaches down to pick up the chair in the center of the room.
Selena: Because when Katelyn goes to that ring to face Lexy Chapel tonight, she won’t be going out there alone.
The chair is folded up in Selena’s hands and carried out of the room.
A fed up Mya Denton continues to stomp down the hallway with kendo stick in her hand. As Mya marches along down the hall she comes to an intersecting corridor that Maxine Moore and Samantha Raine are stepping out of. All three ladies converge.
Maxine: Headed somewhere?
Maxine looks down at the kendo stick in Mya’s hand.
Mya: Same place you’re probably headed.
Mya acknowledges the chain wrapped around Maxine’s fist.
Raine: Maxine and I were just reminiscing about what Silas Mason had his bodyguards do to us back at Awakening.
Mya: Oh, I haven’t forgotten.
Raine: We saw what Rachel (Tatum Lee) did to you earlier on…
Maxine: She definitely deserves what you were planning on doing to her in retaliation….
Once more Maxine glances at the kendo stick.
Maxine: But maybe you wouldn’t mind pitching in to help us make Silas regret his decision to send his gestapo after us.
Mya: Hmmmm, such a tempting offer.
Now all three ladies are joined as they head towards the ring. The three are disappearing behind the camera that remains stationed on the hall. At the end of the corridor a massive force has just stepped into view. The menacing Miss Jon is watching the trio of ladies determined to get into trouble, but what they don’t know, is that trouble is following them.
Cameras return to the ring just as the lyrics of “American Dreamgirl” are bombarding the PA system. Everyone and their mother and their grandmother and their great grandmother are on their feet screaming as Melanie and Blaire, the McBride sisters who have been on a spending spree throughout the night, make their way towards the ring. They do not emerge from the back empty handed, they have a huge silver tray held out between them with something piled high on top of it and covered in black cloth. The commentators sound particularly interested in finding out the motives of the McBride sisters.
Frankie: Here comes trouble, nothing but trouble.
Greyson: That’s Melanie and Blaire McBride, we’ve seen them throughout the night spending the bribe money that they stole from Desmond Drake back at Awakening.
Frankie: The lousy good for nothing thieves!
Greyson: Are you mad that they took that money from Desmond, or are you upset that they haven’t bought you anything with it yet?
Frankie: I think we both know the answer to that question. And FYI, I really wouldn’t mind having a new hot tub in my dressing room.
Sparkles; If the McBrides don’t buy it for you, Sparkles will.
Frankie: Really? How can you afford to buy me a hot tub?
Sparkles: Buy? Who needs to buy anything? Sparkles has a straw. I’ll just stick in your tub and blow real hard to make bubbles.
Greyson: That’s not how a hot tub works and I did NOT need that visual. Can we just get back to the McBride sisters PLEASE?
Blaire and Melanie capture the focus of the commentators when they reach the announce table still holding the big tray out between themselves. Eventually the tray finds its way to the space right in front of Sparkles.
Sparkles: What is this?
Greyson: It looks like Melanie and Blaire have used some of that money to buy you something Sparkles.
Frankie: WHAT? They could have got me Direct TV in my dressing room.
Melanie: This is all yours Sparkles.
The clothe that was hanging over the items lumped upon the tray is pulled aside to reveal a pile of cheese.
Blaire: This is five pounds of Caciocavallo Podolico, one of the world’s rarest and most expensive fine cheeses. All courtesy of Silas Mason and Desmond Drake.
Sparkles: Sparkles could die right now.
Frankie: You probably will when your stomach explodes after eating five pounds of this smelly cheese.
After depositing their latest expenditure at ringside Melanie and Blaire carry what remains of the money they pilfered from Desmond into the squared circle.
Blaire: Earlier tonight a grave injustice was committed.
Melanie: Our sister Karen was unceremoniously and unprofessionally fired by everyone’s favorite womanizing scumbag Silas Mason.
Unanimous jeers are overheard, a typical response when hearing the name of the Principle Owner
Blaire: Screwing her out of her Principle Ownership by paying off that obnoxious imp Desmond to double cross her back at Awakening was bad enough, but firing Karen has just taken this to a whole new level.
Melanie: You’ve forced our hand, Silas.
The satchel that has been carried around throughout the evening is opened to reveal the multitudes of cash still tucked inside.
Melanie: That’s why we’ve been having ourselves one heck of a spending splurge with YOUR moolah.
Blaire: Recognize this bag Silas? It’s the one you gave Desmond at Awakening to bribe him into turning on Karen. Well now this bag, and everything in it, is ours!
Melanie: No, Blaire, what’s inside that bag belongs to these PEOPLE!
A handful of money is taken from the satchel and thrown into the audience. Money starts to rain down on the crowd who are eager to snatch it up.
Greyson: Melanie and Blaire showering the fans with money. These people didn’t expect this, they’re so fortunate.
Frankie: Pfft. Good luck with that exchange rate.
More and more money is thrown from the ring and towards the audience leaping into the air to grab wads of cash
Silas: Nice ladies, real nice.
The crowd feels like they just suffered a gut-punch, a mule kick to the testicles and a knee to the taint at the sight of Silas Mason. He walks out to the stage once again followed by his bodyguards. The three muscle bound ladies stare threatening over Silas’ shoulders at the two women in the ring who have antagonized him so.
Frankie: It’s about time you put your boot down Silas. I have to take a second to commend this man….
Greyson: Just a second? I find that hard to believe.
Frankie: No one needs your cynicism Lovejoy. Like I was saying, Silas deserves praise, he has been absolutely on fire tonight when dealing with all these ingrates. He banned Taylor Chase from World Title contention and he fired Karen McBride. Can’t wait to see what he does to Melanie and Blaire.
Sparkles would add his two cents if cheese weren’t being shoveled into the puppet’s mouth. No force on earth could ever close Silas’ mouth however.
Silas: Ya girls really do know how to hit me where it hurts the most, in my wallet. But here’s the thing, what’s in that satchel ya got there, ain’t nothin’ but a drop in the bucket to me. It ain’t gonna have no effect on my bottom line whatsoever. So if ya think throwing that money around and spending it on all that crap you’ve bought throughout the night is gonna make me bend to yer will and rehire yer sister, ain’t happenin.’
The crowd nor the McBrides obviously do not like the sounds of that.
Silas: Though it still does sting a wee bit watching ya spend even a dime of what I exploited so many athletes to earn. So here’s what I’m about to do. I’m gonna make a compromise.
Melanie and Blaire are not here to settle for anything short of Karen’s reinstatement.
Blaire: We’re not interested in a compromise Silas.
Silas: Now-now-now, jus hear me out. I think yer gonna like these terms. Here’s what I have in mind. If ya drop that satchel and leave the ring right this second then I won’t send my security staff down to that ring and have ‘em rip the tits off ya.
The McBrides scoff at the notion.
Silas: See, I’m always willing to bargain babies. Jus give up that money and nuttin’ bad will happen to ya.
Melanie: Silas, if we DID give up this satchel, then what would happen to us would be a thousand times worse than a beating from your bodyguards. We’d have to deal with the shame of knowing we failed Karen…
Silas: Honey-pie, that’s gonna happen rather ya give up the cash or not.
Blaire: We’re not giving up ANYTHING Silas.
Silas: Fair enough (he says with an indifferent shrug). Ladies, (turns to his bodyguards) do yer thing.
The Austrians nod at Silas and then walk around him towards a ring where the McBrides show no inkling of backing down. Silas waits on the stage, watching as Melanie and Blaire prepare to be slaughtered by his security staff.
Frankie: Can somebody get Silas a reclining chair and a bag of popcorn?
Greyson: Only that sick, twisted son of a bitch could take such grim satisfaction in the misfortune of the McBrides.
Blaire and Melanie have gone back to back, their fists raised out to their sides. They watch as the three members of Silas Security inch their way up to the aprons. They behave like a pack of lionesses crouching in the brush and waiting to leap out at their pray.
Sparkles: The McBride sisters surrounded. Don’t hurt them, they bought me cheese!
Loud cheers echo throughout the arena at the sight of Samantha Raine and Mya Denton dashing down the ramp.
Greyson: Here comes the cavalry!
Sparkles: Samantha Raine and Mya Denton want themselves a piece of Silas Security!
Greyson: Silas’ bodyguards cost them a shot at the NHB Championship, now their costing Silas Security a shot at the McBrides.
Once in the ring Raine wraps her fist around the cheek of one of the Austrian ladies. At the same time Mya, who came to the ring with a kendo stick in hand, is now swinging her weapon right upside the temple of another of Silas’ personal security. As if things weren’t already bad enough for the three bodyguards now Maxine Moore is spotted heading for the ring with a steel chain wrapped around her knuckles.
Greyson: And there’s the Red Widow, Maxine Moore!
Sparkles: She was involved in that brawl with Silas Security at Awakening as well.
Maxine picks up right where she left off with the big Austrian bodyguards, slapping her chain wrapped fist directly into one of their guts. At the same time Mya has another of the bodyguards reeling back into the ropes on the receiving end of one punch after another. Raine has another Silas Security bent over a rope blasting her across her back with forearm shivers. As this fight wages on Blaire and Melanie distance themselves from it, rolling to the outside of the ring and observing the violence rather than participating in it. Silas is also watching, but he does not take the same delight in this brawl as either Melanie or Blaire do.
Blaire: Hey SILAS, you want to talk bargains? We’ve got one for you…
Blaire shouts over the ring occupied by brawling beauties to the ramp occupied by a sneering Silas.
Blaire: How about you book a HARDCORE Six Person Tag Team match between your bodyguards and their opponents Samantha Raine, Mya Denton and Maxine Moore? Or do you have the balls to make it happen?
Silas doesn’t even think about it, feeling his manhood challenged.
Silas: Alright GOOD! Ladies (shouts at his bodyguards) crush ‘em!
RAINE & DENTON & MAXINE VS. SILAS SECURTY:
HARDCORE SIX PERSON TAG
Raine, Maxine and Mya started off strong but now find themselves on the defensive, fending off the three Silas Security members assaulting them. Referee Michelle Blacker is in the ring calling for the bell, and that’s just about where her job is going to start and stop given the Hardcore Rules established for this match.
Greyson: Looks like it’s on guys, Hardcore Six Person Tag.
Sparkles: Silas Security versus Samantha Raine, Maxine Moore and Mya Denton. Thank you McBrides for making this match a possibility and for the cheese.
Mya has been knocked over the ropes with a clothesline by one member of Silas Security. Just as Mya starts to get up on the outside mats she finds herself heaved into the air and scoop slammed across the floor. Back in the squared circle Raine is being whipped across the ring into the ropes, ricocheting off and coming back into a double spinebuster by two members of Silas Security. The brute strength of these bodyguards is further displayed when they catch an inbound Maxine and throw her into the air before spiking her down with the double back suplex side slam.
Sparkles: These ladies Silas has hired obviously have some wrestling credentials.
Frankie: Silas wouldn’t have hired them if they weren’t as dangerous as Chuck Norris when someone was threatening to shave his goatee.
One of the Austrian femmes has picked up Maxine’s chain and is wrapping it around her knuckles. She instructs her teammate to stand Maxine up and hold her in place so that a shot with the chain can be delivered. Maxine is propped up with arms pinned behind her back and her ribs exposed to the chain laced knuckles swinging directly into her abs. Another blow from the chain nails Maxine’s stomach.
Meanwhile, outside of the squared circle another member of Silas Security has another of their opponents held up in a powerbomb position. She charges into a running powerbomb, on the verge of driving Mya’s body into the mats. However, Mya reaches out, grabbing the ring ropes that she was being ran past and holds them tight. She ends up pulling herself over the head of the bodyguard then standing up on the apron. The Silas Security member spins about and spots her opponent jumping from the ring and into a tornado DDT.
Greyson: Mya getting her team back into this!
Blaire and Melanie cheer over what they just saw Mya pull off. Inside of the ring another blow from the chain crushes Maxine’s ribs. At last the Silas Security member who was restraining Maxine’s arms is forced to let go when a kendo stick smacks her right in the spine. Maxine’s partner Samantha Raine has just come to her aid. The recipient of the blow from the cane turns around in anguish before receiving ANOTHER shot from the kendo stick, this time right across the forehead.
Sparkles: Raine just lighting them up with the kendo stick.
The Silas Security member with chain wrapped knuckles launches a boot into Raine’s ribs, causing her victim to double over and to drop the kendo stick she had been holding. Now the bodyguard swings the chained up fist at Raine’s face, but Raine manages to duck the blow. As a result the bodyguard spins totally around, gets a boot to the gut and finds that shot proceeded by the JEM STAR STUNNER!
Frankie: STTTUNNNAAAH!
Another of Silas Security dashes in behind Raine. An inverted headlock is applied and the bodyguard pulls Raine to her feet in anticipation of hitting the reverse DDT. She drops down and drives the back of Raine’s head with such force into the canvas. She then pops up to her feet and spots Mya springing from the apron back into the ring. Unfortunately Mya flies head long right into a collision with the kendo stick.
Frankie: That’s right baby, treat her ass like a piñata on Cinco de Mayo!
Mya falls flat and wraps hands around her cracked head. Her attacker stands at the side of Mya and lifts the cane into the air, about to bring it down once again into Denton’s already traumatized body. She takes a second to glance up the ramp at Silas and get his seal of approval to effectively end Mya’s career. A thumbs up is all the confirmation she needs. Silas gives her the go ahead and is now about to watch one of his more disgruntled employees taken out.
What Silas doesn’t realize is that while he remains preoccupied with Mya’s decimation a fan is jumping the guardrail behind him. An individual wearing a cheap ‘Scream’ themed Halloween mask clears the barricade and sneaks up on the Principle Owner.
Frankie: Silas Security about to earn their bloated paycheck by….whoa-whoa, someone grab that fan!
Greyson: It looks like a member of our audience has just jumped the barricade.
Sparkles: But Silas’ Security are too busy fighting in the ring to protect their boss on the ramp.
The only member of Silas Security that is still standing has dropped the kendo stick she was about to use on her enemy in order to warn her Boss. Unfortunately her words don’t reach Silas in time, he’s already being bowled over by a bicycle kick right on the back of his head.
Frankie: OH SHIT! That fan-that dumbass fan just kicked Silas!
Greyson: Not just a kick, but a bicycle kick…a very impressive bicycle kick at that.
The fan who blindsided Silas is now taking him around the neck, applying a cobra clutch. The gagging Principle Owner is dragged up from the ground and then up the ramp, vanishing backstage.
Greyson: That fan dragging Silas Mason backstage!
Sparkles: First Orlando Cruze abducted by New Eden and now Silas Mason abducted by a crazed fan!
Frankie: Do something security, DO SOMETHING!
At the moment the only member of Silas Security who is in a position to lend aid to him is having a hard enough time protecting herself. She finds herself on the receiving end of a shuffle side kick. Maxine drives her boot under the jaw of the bodyguard. The blow sends the guard spiraling around right into Mya, who has recovered just in time to smack her in the skull with a step up enzugari. The stiff kick across the back of the head has sent her twisting around into Raine’s arm, followed by the Jem Star Stunner.
Sparkles: STUUUUNNNNAAAAHH!!!
Greyson: Silas Security screwed Raine out of a number one contendership to the NHB Title at Awakening and now they’re paying for it big time.
Frankie: WHAT HAPPENED TO SILAS!?!
The Jem Star Stunner has the bodyguard popping up to their feet and staggering unconsciously right into a punch by Maxine aided by the chain around her knuckles. The blow has knocked the Silas Security member completely out cold. She lies on the canvas beneath the body of Raine. Referee Blacker is in the process of making the count but the Silas Security member who was given the DDT outside of the ring is trying to intervene. She gets to the apron before being knocked back to ringside by the kendo stick shot unleashed by Mya. There is now nothing to prevent the three count.
1
2
The building lets out quite the ovation at the sight of Raine, Maxine and Mya getting their revenge on Silas Security.
Sparkles: If those Austrian chicks wanted to make Silas happy, Sparkles thinks they just failed. Epic failed!
Greyson: Silas is going to be pissed, and not only because his bodyguards just lost this match but because they are probably going to be in no condition to continue watching his back toni….
Greyson goes as quite as a cadaver when the tunes of Miss Jon’s entrance music start to bombard the PA system. The curtains open just as the enormous woman bent on the destruction of beauty stomps along to the stage. Goosebumps are forming on the flesh of every fan and hairs are standing up on the back of their necks at the spine chilling sight heading along down the ramp.
Frankie: Ooooh fuck…
Sparkles: Sheeee’s heeeereee.
Greyson: Dear God its Miss Jon…it’s MISS JON!
Sparkles: And it doesn’t look like she’s forgotten her encounter with Samantha Raine earlier tonight.
Raine is unsure what to think and what to do when she sees the biggest woman she’s ever locked eyes on bearing down upon her. Miss Jon never blinks, nor shows even a hint of emotion other than the typical air of intensity that seeps from her every pour. She finally enters the ring and prepares to go straight after Raine, to finish what they commenced earlier in the night. Raine isn’t backing down, ready to go another round with Miss Jon. That is until Maxine and Mya, who leaped to ringside, reach into the squared circle and grab Raine’s ankles, dragging her out. Raine thrashes to get lose and to get her hands on Miss Jon but finds her arms and legs restrained to her sides. Mya and Maxine keep her from making what could be a career shortening choice and instead lead her away from the squared circle.
Although Miss Jon COULD pursue Raine, she doesn’t. Instead she settles for what’s at her immediate disposal. She pulls one of the Silas Security guards up from the ground and into a spinning back fist. The move that Miss Jon has dubbed, ‘Eat It, Barbie,’ nails the bodyguard in the face with so much force that it almost sends her head spinning into a total 360.
The second that the bodyguard is struck with the punch, another of Silas Security tries to come to her aid. Miss Jon twists around and catches that guard by the hair, pulling her head under her seat. After unleashing a primal shriek Miss Jon hoists the Silas Security guard up and into a sit-out powerbomb. The ‘Up Yours, Bobby Walker’ connects with enough force to put the Silas Security member right through the canvas.
Greyson: Miss Jon has destroyed Silas Security.
Frankie: Wrong place, wrong time.
Miss Jon twists to a knee with her eyes locked on Raine. Samantha shows no fear of the strength and rage just displayed by Miss Jon, still trying to get free from those restraining her so she can return to the ring.
Frankie: You’re one lucky bitch Raine.
Greyson: Raine is not afraid of Miss Jon.
Frankie: She should be.
A set of Kevlar gloves are slipping over Scott Cannon’s hands in preparation for what may be the biggest moment of his career. Sitting on the bench in the locker-room in front of him is his brother Michael, unwinding after the physical tag team bout he just competed in. Loitering in the background is referee Arnie Ficklebottom.
Scott: You did good out there.
Michael: Could have done better.
Scott: (Shaking his head) You did exactly what needed to be done mate. You sent a message to Orlando Cruze.
Michael: I think the message YOU send tonight is going to be much stronger.
The door to the locker-room opens almost on cue. Another of the Cannon siblings steps inside, David moving towards his brothers while flanked by backstage correspondent Mark Comeau.
David: It took some doing but I finally convinced our pal Mark Comeau to come along.
A hand pats the shoulder of the correspondent, who sighs in annoyance.
Scott: Good job. Then I guess there’s only one thing left for us to do.
A briefcase holding the contract for a World Title shot is elevated in Scott’s hands.
Scott: Time to put this puppy to good use.
Borislav: I am here….
New Eden’s brute muscle Borislav stands in the camera’s forefront with a phone to his ear. The scenery surrounding him is not what viewers are accustomed to. He’s not in a hallway, not in a dressing room, not in the locker-room, he’s in the wide open expanse of the world beyond the walls of the arena. The only thing that encloses him now are hundreds and hundreds of rusted, shattered and in some cases crushed old cars.
Borislav: Give the word.
He requests as his hand hovers over a lever. The cords leading from it are attached to a huge steel compactor. Sitting inside of it is a car, one that has Orlando Cruze tied up behind the steering wheel. Borislav stands in the junkyard ready to reduce Orlando and the car he’s inside into nothing but a crushed cube. All Borislav needs is the ‘word.’
MOMENTS AGO
The commentators can be heard going absolutely nutter-butters over the scenes that are being rehashed as part of this video recap.
Sparkles: Wow-wow-wowzer, what a series of events that unfolded right before the commercial break!
Greyson: We saw an impromptu Hardcore Six Person Tag booked by Silas Mason while the Principle Owner was on hand to watch the bout. It was his bodyguards competing against Mya Denton, Samantha Raine and Maxine Moore.
Clips of the six person tag are shown while Silas Mason observes from the entrance ramp. As he watches the bout he doesn’t watch the crowd, where a figure has jumped over the barricade wearing a ‘Scream’ ghost-face themed Halloween mask. The fan hits Silas in the back of the head with a bicycle kick before placing him in a cobra clutch and using the submission to drag him away.
Frankie: Because Silas’ security were so busy fighting in the ring they were unable to protect their Boss from being attacked by this crazed fan.
Greyson: Who then dragged Silas to the backstage area where God only knows what’s happening to him.
Sparkles: Sparkles really hopes this doesn’t end in one of those Heinderich rape poem scenes.
Viewers don’t have to wait long to find out what happened to Silas Mason. He lies on the floor in a hallway, a chair wedged to his throat. Seated in the chair is the same ‘fan’ who blindsided him mere moments ago, and they are now leaning their face over the backrest, looking down at the gagging Principle Owner. All Silas can see as he looks up is the cheap Halloween mask staring down at him.
Fan: Think it would be THAT easy to get rid of me?
The ‘Scream’ mask is removed to reveal Karen McBride’s face.
Karen: Thought you would have realized by now that I’m a very-very stubborn woman.
Silas tries to speak but Karen puts a little more weight into the chair that is pressing against his airway.
Karen: Shhhh…I’m speaking now, and you’re listening.
Silas: What….what do ya want ya bit…
Even more pressure is exerted on Silas’ throat.
Karen: I said SHUT UP! You know what I want, and you’re going to give it to me. You’re going to give me one more shot at the Principle Ownership.
Silas: Fuc….
Karen pushes down on the chair and renders Silas silent.
Karen: What was that? I didn’t hear a ‘yes.’
Silas: Aaaarrgh….FINE!! Ya got yer shot!
Karen: I want that in writing!
A wadded up document is taken from Karen’s back pocket and lowered towards the asphyxiated Silas. A pen is then forced into his hand. The shaking Silas does his best to put his signature on the contract.
Karen: Thanks Silas, pleasure doing business with you.
Karen slips off the chair that was choking Silas and walks away. The Principle Owner is left rubbing his throat and swearing in spite of his almost shattered windpipe.
Frankie: Tell me that didn’t just happen.
Greyson: It was Karen McBride under the mask, she’s the one who attacked Silas at ringside.
Sparkles: And she just forced Silas to give her one final shot at reclaiming her Principle Ownership.
Frankie: There’s going to be hell to pay for this, HELL…TO….PAY!
There is a loud reaction for the ever alluring and oh so enchanting Julia Braddock. At present she is standing in her locker-room confusingly staring at the flier held between her hands. Before long she starts to feel a chill up her back, realizing that someone is standing in the room with her.
Infinity: Hmmmm….
Julia’s brow twitches as she looks over her shoulder at the woman who eyes her from afar.
Julia: Yeah?
Infinity stops looking Julia over and then smiles in her direction before simply walking away with no explanation. It seems this awkward experience has left Julia largely nonplussed, putting her focus back on the flier she’s holding. That’s before she hears distant voices drawing nearer. Into the room steps her trainer Glenn Braddock, and her advisor Henry Van Stanton, the two in the middle of a conversation.
Glenn: Henry-Henry-Henry, we talked about this. It’s a distraction she doesn’t need.
Henry: I think this is a tremendous opportunity though. I mean, I don’t see how it could hurt her career.
At last Julia takes her attention off the flier in her hands in order to stare down the two men walking towards her.
Julia: Are you two arguing AGAIN?
Henry: Not really arrrggguuiing, just talking.
Julia: Care to fill me in?
Glenn: We have differing opinions on ways to elevate your standing here in the IWC.
Henry: While Glenn wants you to focus on training-training-training, I think you can afford a minute or two to increase your media exposure.
Julia: Meaning?
Henry: I sent out some fillers to Hollywood and I got a few bites.
Julia: Reeeeaaally?
Henry: Apparently there are a number of directors who are very interested in putting that gorgeous face of yours on the big screen.
Julia: So what you’re trying to tell me is that you want me to get into acting?
Henry: I do, but Glenn being Glenn, has his reservations.
Glenn: I just fear that it’s going to be a distraction.
Henry: Personally, I don’t see the harm in it. If anything, it’s only going to benefit your career in the long run. Just think of all the avenues that acting would open to you.
Julia mulls over her options.
Julia: It’s something to think about.
Henry: Yes it is.
Glenn: I guess at the end of the day the decision is yours.
Julia: We’ll talk about acting later, right now my mind is on wrestling.
The flier she was reading descends to the floor as Julia walks past it. The camera zooms in on the poster Julia dropped, revealing the picture of Cassidy Cage and the caption “Have You Seen This Woman?”
Greyson: Who is hanging these fliers all around the building?
Sparkles: Sparkles found a bunch of them covering the walls of the stall in the men’s room.
Frankie: They’re EVERYWHERE. I mean, wait a minute…..wait just a damn minute!
Cameras go to the ringside area capturing an outraged Frankie Paradise standing up behind the announce table. He is reaching around behind his back and ripping something off of his leather jacket. He reveals that one of the fliers he was JUST complaining about has been taped to his back.
Frankie: AHHH…HOW!?! How in the hell did this get on my back?
Greyson: I haven’t a clue how that’s even possible.
Sparkles: Is there nowhere these fliers won’t pop up?
Riot goes back to the ring just in time to catch the entrance track of Julia Braddock playing in the background. At the moment the beautiful Braddock is moving down the ramp followed by her advisor Henry Van Stanton and her uncle Glenn. The two most influential men in her life continue to trail her towards the squared circle where she will be slated to compete in a matter of moments. The commentators hype this upcoming performance.
Sparkles: Julia Braddock looks like she’s walking on air right now.
Greyson: Rightfully so. Last month at Awakening she at last put an end to Lukas Montgomery and Mason Van Stanton interfering in her career.
Sparkles: Yuppers, she won a hard fought match against Lukas and superkicked a steel chair into the face of her ex manager Mason in the process.
Frankie: Can’t believe Julia would do that to Mason, after everything the man did for her.
Greyson: You mean abducting her and trying to brainwash her?
Frankie: Exactly.
New life is breathed into Julia’s lungs upon entering the ring and running the ropes. Henry and Glenn continue to watch proudly from ringside.
Greyson: This is the first time in a long while that Julia steps into competition without having to look over her shoulder in fear that either Mason or Lukas are out to interfere in her business.
Frankie: If Mason did come out here she should drop to her knees and express such gratitude to him for the lengths he went to in order to make her a star. And then she could you know, do something else while she’s down there on her knees.
Julia continues to run the ropes in anticipation of her opponent’s arrival until….
Woman: Excuse me, excuse me, sorry to do this.
All attention now deviates to the stage where the same woman only briefly seen at the pay-per-view as well as this evening papering the walls with fliers is now standing. A bundle of missing person fliers are tucked under her armpit as she heads down the ramp in the direction of a confused Julia.
Frankie: Hey-hey-hey, things getting…..arousing. ANOTHER blond heading into the ring. Can never have too many blonds in the same space at the same time.
Sparkles: Can’t that cause some type of temporal rift though?
Frankie: That’s only if Ron Silver is pushed into a younger version of Ron Silver.
Sparkles: Oh, okay.
Greyson: That’s definitely not Ron Silver coming down the ramp, that’s the woman we saw putting up fliers back at the pay-per-view and here tonight.
Frankie: SHE’S responsible for this? For this damn flier on my back!?!
Greyson: I guess she would have to be.
Frankie: How the fuck did something that hot get so close to me and NOT set off my radar?
This blond bombshell juggles the fliers and microphone in her hands as she gets into the ring.
Woman: Julia, I don’t mean to come out here and interrupt your match….
Julia Braddock’s eyebrow rises to show just how confused she is.
Woman: But I have an urgent message that I can’t wait any longer to deliver.
She turns from Julia to the equally as vexed fans.
Woman: My name is Emily…Emily Cage, and up until a few months ago, my sister was a mainstay here on the IWC roster. You might recognize her….
One of the fliers in her hands is raised, showing an image of the missing Cassidy Cage.
Emily: A couple weeks ago Cassidy Cage was facing New Eden in this ring, and then, immediately following that match she just VANISHED. Poof, gone, like that *snaps fingers* And in spite of everything I’ve done to try and track her down, there’s still no trace of her. So where do we go from here? Well it’s pretty obvious that I have to start spreading my message to a bigger audience. I have to get this (holds up picture of Cassidy) out to more media sources. So that’s why I’m here right now asking everyone watching all around the world to take a look at this flier and memorize the number. I’ll be available morning, noon, night, 24/7 to answer your calls. If you got any information about my sister’s disappearance PLEASE just pick up your phone and dial.
Emily looks over her shoulder at Julia who is graciously affording the young lady the opportunity to address the thousands in attendance.
Emily: That includes you too Julia. If you got information, I want to hear it.
Now Julia’s eyebrow is arching past her forehead and reaching her hairline.
Julia: Erm…I don’t know anything.
Emily: Come on-come on, I don’t have time for games. You HAVE to know something.
Julia: I-I-I don’t.
Emily lowers her face into her hand for a moment.
Emily: I’m loosing my patience with you and everyone else in this company. Everyone I talk to just wants to wash their hands of my sister and pretend that she never existed. You HAVE to know something.
Julia shrugs her shoulders all the way up to her earlobes.
Julia: Listen dear, I BARELY knew your sister. I mean, the few times we DID talk she kind of rubbed me the wrong way.
Emily: Why are you lying to me?
Julia: I’m not lying.
Emily: Why are you doing this? What game are you playing?
It becomes painfully obvious to Julia that Emily is suffering tunnel vision, unable to see or hear anything that is coming from Braddock’s mouth. She just turns her back on Emily and starts to walk away.
Emily: Don’t you turn your back on me! Don’t you turn your back on my sister!!
Emily slams a handful of fliers over Julia’s spine, the blow taking her down to the canvas.
Greyson: HEY! Emily Cage attacking Julia!
Frankie: Woman has got a bit of a mean streak to her, as well as enormous jugs.
Emily throws aside her handful of missing person posters as she steps over Julia.
Emily: You know something and you’re going to tell me, even if I have to beat the truth out of you.
EMILY CAGE VS. JULIA BRADDOCK
Referee Marcus Mayfield is sliding into the ring and trying to pull Emily off of Julia but instead he gets shoved back so that her boots could go on colliding with her victim’s body. The referee finally reconciles with signaling for the bell.
Sparkles: It looks to me like this has just turned into a match guys.
Greyson: Head Referee Marcus Mayfield is using his discretion to start a match between Emily Cage and the woman she just assaulted Julia Braddock.
Frankie: Seems like a plausible reason if ever to start a bout.
Julia tries to work her way up in spite of being hit with an onslaught of strikes by her attacker. Emily shows she has some talents extending beyond knowing when to attack when one’s back is turned. She drags Julia across the ring by the back of the head and introduces her face to the top turnbuckle pad. A stunned Julia bounces off the corner and then staggers back into the aggressive Emily’s hands. She is caught and then charged face first into the corner a second time, Julia’s brow bouncing back from the turnbuckle.
Emily: Tell me what you know!
Insists Emily as she embeds her shoulder into Julia’s spine then hoists her onto the top rope. Julia now falls back, finding herself in a tree of woe. Her face is then on the receiving end of a running knee strike. The beating continues with Emily bending down ramming her shoulder repeatedly against Julia’s ribs.
Emily then steps back to the middle of the ring and gets the running start behind another knee to her adversary’s skull. The collision leaves Julia completely incapacitated and Marcus desperately trying to separate her legs from the ropes they’re tangled up in. Eventually he gets her lose and lets Julia crumble to the canvas, hands slowly inching their way up towards her face.
Emily: You have to know something, YOU HAVE TO.
Screeches Emily at the top of her lungs. It’s difficult for Julia to give any information when her throat is being crushed under Emily’s boot.
The referee starts a five count to make Emily stop choking Julia out. The boot is taken from Julia’s throat and now her attacker is dragging her up to her feet. Emily has a firm hold on Julia’s head while charging her across the ring and towards the corner. Emily throws her adversary’s brow into the turnbuckle but it never makes contact. Right before her head makes contact with the corner Julia drops down into a baseball slide, avoiding the turnbuckle and slipping under the ropes.
Emily goes after her, sliding under the cables and keeping after Julia. She catches up with her or more accurately its Julia’s bicep that catches up with Emily, a clothesline knocking her flat on her back. Emily falls to the mats but quickly tries to get up only to have the back of her head caught and her face dragged along into the nearest set of steel steps. Emily’s face is swung into the steps, rattling her brain, though it seems to be rattled enough already.
Emily ends up back in the squared circle, popping up to her feet before receiving yet another clothesline to the throat. Julia sends her to the canvas but she’s not down on her back for very long. Emily rushing to her feet and then into a spinning back kick to the gut, doubling her over. Her head is then caught and her body is snapped over into the suplex.
Greyson: Julia working her way back into this match after just a BRUTAL start.
Sparkles: It’s a safe bet that Julia didn’t see Emily’s assault coming, and it’s taken her this long to get over the assault before the match even got underway.
Julia shows that she’s still a little banged up as a result of that attack even while ascending to her feet. She takes hold of Emily’s hair, pulls her to her knees and then throws her throat over the middle cable. Julia rushes in behind Emily, leaps into the air and drapes her thigh over the back of her opponent’s head. Emily’s throat is squished against the middle rope, causing her head to snap back and her body to go rolling towards the middle of the ring. She just starts to stand up before finding her body caught from behind and on the receiving end of the Russian Leg Sweep. Julia hits the move then floats over onto Emily’s chest into the lateral press.
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Emily’s arm shoots out from under her opponent. Julia drags Emily along to her feet and sets up for another snap suplex. This time Emily manages to block the move by wrapping her leg around Julia’s. Again Julia goes for another suplex but Emily goes on preventing it via intertwining their legs. Emily finally reverses by putting her hands to Julia’s ribs and shoving her back. Emily then closes the distance between she and Julia via a clothesline. However, Julia possesses lightning fast reflexes, side stepping the clothesline, catching Emily and then delivering a snap Russian Leg Sweep, or at least that was her intention. Just as Julia prepares to fall back into the move, Emily twists around into a devastating short arm lariat that takes both ladies down to the canvas.
Greyson: I am seriously impressed by Emily Cage.
Sparkles: She’s got some skills.
Greyson: And Julia is finding that out the hard way right now.
Frankie: Which is only fitting, considering every time I see Julia I get hard myself.
Julia is clutching at her throat as she rolls away from Emily and into the nearest set of ropes. As she ascends to her feet Julia is unaware that she’s putting herself in a very undesirable predicament, at her adversary’s mercy. That opponent comes rushing in and swinging around into the 619, Emily’s shins hurdling at Julia’s face. Somehow Julia manages to duck under the legs that go swinging directly over her head. Emily swings completely through and then comes down to her feet right in front of Julia, who immediately hits the drop toe hold. Emily’s throat falls over the middle rope which goes on supporting her jaw, holding her up.
Julia rolls to the apron and then comes dashing across it before leaving her feet and going for a basement dropkick, only for it to miss. Emily pulls her head back at the last second and prevents having her face crushed by her opponent’s boots. Julia starts to sit up on the apron where she just missed her move before finding her face on the receiving end of a 619.
Emily swings her legs through the ropes and crashes them right into Julia’s brow. The impact knocks Julia over and ultimately collapsing to the outside mats.
Frankie: Not the face!
Greyson: Emily busting out a modified 619.
Sparkles: Gonna be kinda hard for Julia to divulge any information on Emily’s missing sister if Julia’s mouth is busted.
Emily follows her opponent to the outside where she takes a handful of Julia’s hair. An addled Julia is unable to block having her head swung and swung HARD right into the announce table.
Greyson: These two right out here in front of us!
Sparkles: You’re lucky Frankie, I think there’s an impression of Julia’s face left in our announce table.
Frankie: I call dibs on it.
As Julia rolls into the ring Emily continues to keep after her. Emily lifts one of her legs and clutches her ankle until she is doing a standing splits. She then comes down with her elevated leg into a modified leg drop across Julia’s throat. At just the last second Julia rolls clear of the leg that was coming down at her throat, meaning all that Emily has to show for her flexibility is a painful landing. She does the splits across the canvas, resulting in a loud groan from the unfortunate Emily. Things are only about to get worse for her considering that Julia has rolled to the outside of the ring and to the apron where she prepares to go springboard. To the top rope Julia leaps before taking to the air and coming down in the form of a clothesline that collapses Emily’s throat.
Both Henry Van Stanton and Glenn Braddock at ringside are clapping their hands in support for Julia, who is getting things rolling back in her favor. Speaking of rolling, that’s exactly what her body does, ending up back on her feet and on the middle strand of the nearest turnbuckle.
Greyson: The Queen’s Ransom is coming.
Sparkles: Emily showed a lot of skill in this match but Julia has those veteran instincts.
Once again Julia takes to the air, flipping towards Emily and into the Queen’s Ransom. The flipover portion of Julia’s blockbuster is the only stage of the move that proves successful. Emily drops to the ring and avoids the neck-breaker, causing Julia to hit the ring back first with nothing to show for her efforts. She then rolls over to her feet and turns to Emily, who is already upright and inbound. But Emily dashes right into her waiting opponent’s leg lariat. Julia throws her leg across Emily’s throat and drives her down to the canvas. Julia twists to her side, moving towards the turnbuckle she flew out of moments ago. Yet again Julia climbs to the middle strand and in moments will come flying off into the Queen’s Ransom. She is just about to leave her feet and flip into the blockbuster only to be cut off. Emily dashes towards Julia and catches her by the stomach and the knee, throwing her into a gorilla press. Julia flies across the ring, crashes across her back and ends up splayed across her stomach. An effort is made to reach her feet but she only gets so far before a fameasser drags her face right back down into the ring. Emily connects with the move that crushes her opponent’s face into the canvas.
Emily: Where is she! WHERE IS SHE!?!
Instead of going for the pin Emily opts to go after information. She pulls Julia’s head up from the canvas and shouts into her adversary’s face.
Emily: WHERE IS SHE!!??!!
Greyson: Emily refuses to believe that Julia has no information on the disappearance of Emily’s sister.
Sparkles: This girl seems a bit….TOUCHED.
Frankie: I think of one or two areas I wouldn’t mind touching on her.
Greyson: Pretty sure that’s not what Sparkles meant by ‘touched.’
Emily wraps her hands around Julia’s ears and lifts up on her head before swinging it down against the canvas. The back of Julia’s skull cracks against the canvas.
Emily: TEEEELLL MEE!
Cries out Emily before driving Julia’s head against the canvas once more.
Emily: TEEEEELL ME!
Orders Emily while slamming the back of her opponent’s head against the ring. The unhinged Emily exits the ring and finds one of the fliers she brought out here with her. Upon returning to the squared circle she takes the flier, opens it and holds up Julia’s head so that she can get a good look at the picture on the paper now being put right in front of her face.
Emily: Look at her. Look at my sister. You can help me bring her home!
The flier is then tossed aside while Emily’s fists are thrown into Julia’s brow. Emily drags Julia up from the ring and tosses her into the corner and once she’s dispensed with her opponent she goes back to brandishing the flier.
Emily: You people have seen her, I know you’ve seen her.
The fanatical Emily screams as she lifts the flier overhead, pointing at it and the fans she directs her shouts at.
Emily: Why aren’t you helping?
At last Emily gets so fed up she just drops the flier and turns back towards Julia, who has been given adequate time to recover in the corner. Emily barrels straight at Julia only to run jaw first into the heel of her adversary. Julia swings her boot around and cracks Emily in the mouth, the blow staggering her back. Emily tries to get her footing but it’s all pretty pointless considering she’s taken off of them the moment Julia comes flying off the turnbuckle and into the Queen’s Ransom.
Greyson: There it is!
Sparkles: Julia finally hitting it! Finally hitting the Queen’s Ransom.
Greyson: Will it be enough though?
We all find out just as Julia makes the lateral press.
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There is a loud ovation from the two men who flanked Julia to the ring, Henry and Glenn, when they watch her hand raised aloft in victory.
Greyson: After a rather unusual start to this match Julia manages to overcome the attack right at the start to pick up her win.
Sparkles: But Emily showed us all something tonight.
Frankie: I wish she had shown more. We’re talking about her legs right?
Sparkles: Actually I was talking about her wrestling skills.
A tried and achy Julia gets up celebrating while Henry and Glenn join her in the ring, taking her wrists and extending her arms above her head.
Greyson: Julia Braddock picks up ANOTHER win here on Riot, keeping so much momentum on her side.
Sparkles: She’s putting together quite the winning streak ever since she shed her old image.
Frankie: Pfft, won’t last.
Julia goes on celebrating this moment along with Henry and Glenn while in the background we can see the vanquished foe gathering up her fliers. Emily stands up at ringside and throws the fliers into the crowd.
Emily: HELP ME FIND HER!
Cameras return to the parking garage where that same car with the vanity plate reading ‘KINGDOM’ remains the focal point. The commentators continue to weigh in on the potential of seeing Johnny Kingdom here tonight.
Frankie: What is this guy waiting for?
Greyson: We saw Johnny Kingdom’s car arrive earlier in the night, one has to assume he’s inside just anticipating the moment he can get his hands on the monster Mordecai who assaulted him last month at Awakening.
Sparkles: But if you believe what Mordecai says, then Kingdom is NO MORE.
Greyson: Guess we’ll be finding out later ton…..now who’s this?
Headlights can be seen in the distance, with a car making its way down the ramp leading into the parking garage.
Sparkles: Someone else showing up late to the Sappora Dome.
The car parks and the driver’s side door flies open to reveal the person behind the wheel, the last person anyone could have suspected. The arena lets loose with quite the ovation at the sight of Uprising World Champion Vanilla Skyy.
Sparkles: WHOOOOAAA!
Greyson: Vanilla Skyy is in the building!
Sparkles: That’s Uprising’s Champion, she’s on the other roster.
Frankie: So why is she here?
Skyy throws her World Title over her shoulder and heads along into the building.
Another gothic tune only enhances the fear conjured by the clips playing on the screen. A crown crafted out of broken glass, a throne with jagged shards of steel sticking through the backrest and arm supports, and a scepter with rusted nails sticking out from the shaft….the camera passes over all of these torture devices. Suddenly static begins to burst across the screen and before long the pixilation dissipates in order for the face of the monster Mordecai to come into view.
Mordecai: They call me a liar?
His eyes close and his head leans back, as if listening to some form of heavenly choir.
Mordecai: But you didn’t hear his screams.
A quick flash of violent imagery consumes the screen showing the much beloved and respected Johnny Kingdom being pulled down by a noose into a pit formed in the center of the ring. The video goes back to Mordecai’s face.
Mordecai: They say Kingdom is a survivor.
Mordecai’s eyes open and the dark centers of them narrow upon the camera stationed right in front of his face.
Mordecai: But you didn’t see all the blood.
In another flash there are images of the crown shown moments ago only now it is covered in blood.
Mordecai: They say Kingdom is here tonight.
A chuckle emanates from the fiend.
Mordecai: But they didn’t see what I did to him.
One last explosion of imagery focuses on Kingdom desperately clawing at the canvas in a feeble effort to keep from being pulled down deeper and deeper into the hole that Mordecai has torn through the ring.
Mordecai: You doubt me? You think there’s no PROOF?
The video switches back over to Mordecai’s face, wearing an expression of amusement.
Mordecai: Then it’s time I show the world just how far the King….has….FALLEN.
Cameras segue to the backstage area where Evolution Champion Andre Jordan is swinging his arms out to his sides readying his body for the unenviable task ahead of himself. He goes on limbering up in his locker-room while the voices of the commentators prepare us fir Andre’s uphill battle.
Sparkles: Before the commercial break we heard that the beast Mordecai is headed to the ring to confront Johnny Kingdom, but here’s another man he should be worried about.
Greyson: The Evolution Champion Andre Jordan set to face Mordecai in the Number One Contender Tournament.
Frankie: Was nice knowing you, Andre. Kinda.
Greyson: Andre has a heck of a task ahead of him, but think about what he’ll earn should he defeat Mordecai, a shot at the World Championship that has long eluded him throughout his IWC career….
Andre goes on readying himself for his match, but all his focus goes right out the window when seeing the woman who has just entered his dressing room. That woman being Mika Kozlov. Although she is still on the mend after the brutality inflicted on her earlier in the night, she maintains a certain sexuality in her steps. Before Dre can react to the very woman who just a few months prior beat him senseless while his arms were wrapped in barbwire, she breaks the invisible force-field that constitutes Andre’s personal space by sliding her finger across his chest. That finger then goes back to Mika’s lips, tongue extending through it and licking the tip of her index.
Mika: Good luck out there…
A speechless Dre stands there, eyes awkwardly blinking and mind struggling to fathom what any of this encounter was about. He just watches Mika walk away licking her lips as if savoring the way Dre tastes.
Cameras cut back to the interior of the arena right as “You’ve Never Known Such Fear” starts to play over the PA system. In spite of the intense feelings of dread that are brought on by his arrival the crowd still heckles Mordecai. He steps out through the immense fog blanketing the stage and rampway. He slowly walks through the mist and to the ring. The commentators resist the urge to whimper at the sight of the beast entering the squared circle.
Greyson: Brace yourself guys, Mordecai is heading out here.
Sparkles: And we all know Johnny Kingdom is in the parking garage waiting on this demon.
Greyson: The second Mordecai enters that ring Kingdom won’t be waiting in the parking garage any longer. We’re going to see violence erupt between these two.
Frankie: Mordecai will wipe the floor with him again.
Greyson: Mordecai had better hope Kingdom doesn’t come at him before the Tournament Match he’s slated to compete in against Andre Jordan.
Sparkles: Yeah, Mordecai to take on Andre in the Number One Contender Tournament
Once in the ring the creature has claimed a microphone.
Mordecai: You want to see him?
The soul wrenching voice of the monster effects the fans at a spiritual level.
Mordecai: You think the Fallen King is waiting to claim his revenge?
Mordecai’s head cranes towards the entry way.
Mordecai: Are you listening Johnny Kingdom? Are you here to prove that you weren’t BROKEN at Awakening? Are you back there in the parking garage waiting for just the right time to take your revenge on me? Maybe by costing me my match against Andre Jordan in the tournament tonight? What’s it to be Kingdom, are we to dance in the depths of hell or not?
The Cartel-tron lights up and shows the parking garage where the car apparently holding Johnny Kingdom is still parked.
Mordecai: These people want proof….then why wait to give it to them? Show them the truth, show them what has become of you after our encounter at Awakening.
The driver’s side door of Kingdom’s car flies open.
Greyson: It’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen right now.
Sparkles: Kingdom’s not waiting any longer.
The crowd is getting very excited as a figure begins to exit the car, and that figure is NOT Johnny Kingdom. To the dismay of thousands it’s Mrs. R, the handler for Mordecai, who steps out of the car.
Greyson: That’s NOT Kingdom, that’s Mrs. R.
Sparkles: Mordecai’s equally as depraved colleague.
The ghostly apparition wears a smile on her face.
Mrs. R: The people want Kingdom? Then let us not deny them. HERE is Johnny Kingdom.
A full burlap sack is taken out of the car and raised in Mrs. R’s arms. A sanguine fluid stains the lining of the sack. Cameras cut back to the ring where Mordecai unleashes a laugh so horrifying in nature that it’s a wonder standards and practices haven’t stepped in to censor it.
Mordecai: There’s your PROOF!
The crowd let’s out a harrowing cry in retaliation.
Greyson: This is-this is-this is SICK!
Sparkles: Is Mordecai saying that all that remains of Kingdom is inside of that sack?
Frankie: Kingdom’s never looked better, hahahaha.
Greyson: Hopefully the same fate is not suffered by Mordecai’s opponent in the Number One Contender Tournament, that match coming up next.
The show switches to the backstage area where Andre Jordan, the Evolution Champion, finds himself pacing beside correspondent Susie Moore. The two occupy the interview area but Andre looks anxious to leave it in order to get to the ring and get his hands on his opponent.
Susie: Andre, seconds from now you face Mordecai in the opening round of the Number One Contender Tournament. What kind of strategy are you going to employ against the monster who took out the legendary Johnny Kingdom?
Andre goes on pacing and shifting his title belt over his shoulder.
Andre: Strategy? THIS is the only strategy you can use against Mordecai.
The Evolution Champion throws his hands up into the air.
Andre: There is no strategy you can employ against something as unpredictable as that THING I’m scheduled to face. Just when you think you got the monster pegged he goes and performs one of these Texas Chainsaw Massacre stunts, throwing you off your game. So there is NO strategy you can use against him.
Susie: Then what do you plan on doing?
Andre: Again, when it comes to a monster like Mordecai, a thing that internalizes nothing but chaos, there is no plan.
Susie: Other than what, surrendering?
Andre: A lot of people might consider that their only option, but I guess I’m in the minority. I’ve waited two years to get an opportunity at the World Title, and I’m not about to let CHAOS keep me from advancing one step closer to the number one contendership. So I guess if I stand any chance at beating Mordecai, it’s to become just as twisted as he is.
Andre heads off towards the ring with Susie watching in wide-eyed optimism.
Greyson: It’s coming up next, Andre Jordan to face Mordecai in the first round of the Number One Contender Tournament.
Sparkles: Dre is in for the fight of his life.
Orlando Cruze’s eyes slowly begin to open, regaining consciousness only to realize that his wrists are bound to a steering wheel. He looks around realizing that he’s trapped inside of a car. Eventually his eyes spot the man leering at him through the passenger window. Borislav is crouched beside the car and the giant steel compactor the vehicle has been parked inside of.
Borislav: Soon….
Informs Borislav while holding a phone and pointing at the lever controlling the compactor.
Mason: I’m so sorry Silas.
Desmond: This is all OUR fault.
An apologetic Mason Van Stanton and Desmond Drake stand on either side of Silas Mason, as the Principle Owner stomps along towards his office. His hand is rubbing at his throat, which is still aching after having a chair wedged against it moments ago.
Silas: Yes it is, your BOTH to blame for what jus ‘appened to me. Where were ya when that bitch McBride had me pinned under a chair?
Desmond: Tell us how to make it up to you.
Silas is too angry to even think, he just wants to return to his office where he could find some much needed solitude. Sadly there are two people in his way who are not about to let him make it into his office.
Selena: Rather you want me out there or not is irrelevant.
Informs the Queen of the Ring Champion Selena Frost, directing her words at World Champion Katelyn Buehler.
Selena: When you go to that ring to fight Lexy, I’m going to follow you every step of the way.
Katelyn: Save it Selena. I don’t NEED your help against Lexy. I’ll kick her ass, and anyone’s ass that decides to interfere in my match.
Selena: You won’t have to worry about interference when I’m out there and you have the power of the Believe Movement on your side.
Silas: Would ya two get the fuck out of my way!?!
Shouts a very impatient Silas as he attempts to push right through Selena and Katelyn in order to reach his office.
Katelyn: SILAS!
As if the Principle Owner hasn’t been manhandled enough for one evening, now he finds his wrist caught in Katelyn’s hand.
Silas: Now what do YOU want?
Katelyn: To talk about what you did to Taylor earlier. I don’t know where you get off banning her from World Title competition.
Silas: Cause she’s a disrespectful lil cunt just like you…
Katelyn lowers her head and smiles.
Katelyn: I’d be careful Silas, very careful how you talk to me.
Her hands lash out and grab Silas’ jacket.
Katelyn: I’d very much like to leave our history behind us. So don’t go dredging up old wounds.
The collar is let go as Katelyn gives him a ‘pass’ just this once. Katelyn has bigger fish to fry at the moment, given the fact that she is minutes removed from facing Lexy. She gets back to her conversation with Selena as the two walk away, leaving Silas behind grinding his teeth. His words seep through his bicuspids and reach the ears of his assistants, Mason and Desmond still cowering in his shadow.
Silas: Boys.
Mason: Yes?
Silas: I want ya to go out and give a message to my friend Mordecai….
The viewers are treated to yet another glimpse of the Uprising World Champion Vanilla Skyy. She is presently making her way down a corridor with one of the most prestigious belts in the business hanging over her shoulder. The commentators can only speculate as to why Skyy is in attendance this evening.
Frankie: What is SHE doing here?
Greyson: I haven’t a clue as to why Vanilla Skyy is in the building.
Sparkles: The Uprising World Champion remaining vague, for the moment.
Greyson: Can’t wait to find out what has brought her here on Riot.
ANDRE JORDAN VS. MORDECAI:
#1 CONTENDER TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH
Cameras have returned to the ring where a man who personifies danger is currently waiting on his opponent. Mordecai rests with his back to the corner of the squared circle and his arms cast over the ropes, casually anticipating his adversary’s arrival.
Greyson: We’ve got another first round match in the Number One Contender Tournament coming up here next with Mordecai already in the ring waiting on his opponent.
Sparkles: Hopefully the Evolution Champion Andre Jordan fares a little better than Mordecai’s last victim Johnny Kingdom.
Greyson: Who we thought was in attendance…
Frankie: But he waaaaasn’t. It was your classic bait and switch.
”We Own It” starts to play throughout the arena and all the spotlights in the building have turned to the crowd. Standing at the top of a stairwell is the Evolution Champion himself Andre Jordan. He heads down the steps with his title hanging from his hand and a hoodie wrapped around his torso. Following right behind Andre is his manager Tabitha Silverstone.
Greyson: Andre Jordan has been….
Frankie: That’s right, he’s a has-been.
Greyson: You didn’t let me finish my sentence, I was saying Andre HAS BEEN waiting for an opportunity like this since the day he set foot in the IWC…
Sparkles: This man has done it all. He’s been Evolution Champion TWICE. He’s won the Tag Team Titles, he’s lasted for over an hour in our annual Rumble match, but for all his accolades he has never been the World Champion.
Greyson: He can move one step closer to changing that if he beats Mordecai and advances to the next round in the tournament.
Frankie: IF he beats Mordecai.
Greyson: You just HAVE to emphasis that, don’t you?
The Evolution Title is removed from Dre’s waist and given to Tabitha before he dares enter the ring where the leviathan is waiting on him. Although Mordecai plays cool, calm and collective, everyone knows that the second the bell sounds that docile demeanor will not last. And there IS the bell. The moment Andre’s boots hit the canvas he instantly finds himself on the defensive. Mordecai lunges across the ring and grabs Dre around the throat, already setting up for the chokeslam.
Greyson: Chokeslam right out of the gates!
Mordecai starts to lift Mordecai but doesn’t get him very far. A boot nails the demon in his gut and allows Dre to slip out of his opponent’s massive hand. Andre then takes Mordecai by the back of the head and dashes him across the ring, eventually slamming his face right into the turnbuckle. Mordecai turns around and receives one punch after another across the cheek. Dre flat out unloads on Mordecai until the big man’s knees begin to buckle. Once the fiend begins to crouch Andre comes diving into his chest with a big stinger splash.
This collision between Dre and Mordecai does not yield the desired result. Mordecai is not going down, instead he’s gingerly walking out of the corner. Andre chops him across the chest which seems to more so annoy Mordecai than damage him. So Andre punches Mordecai in the jaw to strikingly similar results. The goliath looks un-phased, prompting Andre to kick him to the gut. This blow DOES effect Mordecai, doubling him over and leaving him susceptible to his opponent’s finisher. Andre hooks up the arms as he sets to deliver the pedigree.
Greyson: Mordecai went for the chokeslam early and now Andre going for the Game Changer early as well.
The Game Changer may advance Andre in the tournament, IF he could successfully deliver it. Needless to say he doesn’t. Instead Andre is sent flying over the ropes after Mordecai back drops his way out of the predicament. Unbeknownst to Mordecai however, his adversary lands on his feet instead of on his back. From ringside Andre reaches into the ring, grabbing Mordecai’s feet and pulling them with enough force to send the beast dropping to his back. Andre acts quick, realizing that there won’t be very many opportunities to take advantage of a downed Mordecai. Dre grabs the top rope and comes corkscrewing over it and crashing into his laid out adversary with a splash…or that was the end result he had mapped out in his head. As he speculated before the match could begin Andre’s plans are irrelevant. The second he comes down into his splash he finds his throat caught in Mordecai’s hand. Andre’s eyes widen as he finds himself being pushed against his will to his feet and then thrown into the air with a chokeslam bringing him back down to earth.
Frankie: He hits it…Mordecai caught Dre with the chokeslam!
Greyson: Nothing being held back in the early goings of this one ladies and gentlemen.
Sparkles: Both these guys know what’s on the line.
After Andre’s body makes impact with the canvas he finds himself buried under the weight of his adversary.
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Shockingly Andre gets his shoulder up before the three. His opponent responds by clasping his hands around Andre’s throat and dragging him up to his knees. Mordecai stares down into Andre’s face while squeezing his larynx in both of his huge hands. Eventually Mordecai lifts Dre up from the canvas and throws him by the throat into a turnbuckle. Mordecai then comes rushing in and throws a boot at Dre’s face, the kick connecting with enough force to knock the recipient over the cables. Andre twists to the outside of the ring, and this time he does not land on his feet, no, he goes down flat on his face.
Mordecai now stalks him, but not in typical fashion. He climbs a turnbuckle and crouches in anticipation of diving off into Andre at ringside.
Frankie: Ohhh my oh my, big man’s about to fly.
Greyson: We saw him do this against Karen McBride at Awakening. He’s about to hit the top rope clothesline to the outside of the ring.
Although Tabitha is screaming at her client, trying her best to warn Andre, he still rises unsuspecting into a rather grim fate. Mordecai comes flying from the top rope and his clothesline hits….absolutely NOTHING. Somehow Andre still possessed the presence of mind to drop to the mats and avoid the lariat that goes sailing over his head. Mordecai falls to the ground and finds himself rolling across it straight back to his feet. The creature collapses against the barricade, leaning back first against it. The barrier holds him up just long enough for his chest to be collapsed when Andre comes flying into it with the stinger splash.
Greyson: Andre splashing him outside of the ring.
Mordecai bounces off the barricade, twisting his side to Andre and suffering for it. Dre steps under Mordecai’s arm and then lifts him into the Tide Turner.
Greyson: TIDE TURNER INTO THE MATS!
Mordecai is hoisted onto the arms of the Evolution Champion only for him to slip OFF of those arms before his body ever makes impact with the mats. He drops to his feet behind Andre then gives him a shove right into the ring apron. If Mordecai was hoping that Andre’s body would hit the apron, he better bury those hopes where the sun doesn’t shine. Andre jumps over the apron and back into the ring. He then bolts across it into the far ropes, ricochets off and builds all the momentum of a freight train. Andre makes his grand exit from the ring via a diving head-butt that nails Mordecai with enough force to knock him back into the announce table.
Greyson: Suicide dive by Dre….
Sparkles: The first of many to come!
Dre bounces off of Mordecai and then returns to the ring. Once again he rehashes the same sequence of events culminating to yet another dive through the ropes and a second collision with Mordecai. Somehow the beast is still on his feet with his back supported by the announce table. Andre isn’t about to let Mordecai stay upright for long. The Evolution Champion returns to the ring and for the third time repeats the same course of actions that ends with his body diving through the cables into the third suicide dive headbutt. Andre’s skull makes impact with Mordecai, albeit it’s with his BOOT. Andre’s dive is countered by a big boot landing right upside the Evolution Champion’s head.
Frankie: That’ll kill your momentum in a hurry.
Greyson: And Andre just started to find his footing against Mordecai.
Frankie: Yeah, he really did find some footing, Mordecai’s foot right in his mouth.
Sparkles: Hahahaha, that was great Frankie.
Dre lies on the mats suffering from the nastiest big boot he’s ever felt. Moments after Mordecai destroyed Andre with boot he drags what remains of the Evolution Champion from the ground then into the ring. Andre fights his way to an upright base with his legs wobbling beneath him. Those shaking knees are taken out from under him when Andre is hit with a clothesline from Mordecai, who just came flying off the top rope.
Frankie: And theeeeereee’s the clothesline off the top rope by Mordecai. He is OWNING the Evolution Champion. Just flat out OWNING him.
Greyson: Andre knew going into this that he was fighting an uphill battle.
Frankie: Uphill? More like IMPOSSIBLE battle.
Mordecai crawls over Dre and puts his palms down on the champion’s chest, pushing his shoulders to the canvas.
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Mordecai didn’t push hard enough because Andre is able to get one of those shoulders up from the ring. Now the beast pushes down on Andre with his boot instead of his hands, wedging his foot right to the his opponent’s throat. A five count starts before Mordecai takes his foot away from Andre’s throat to prevent being disqualified by the referee. Mordecai plucks Andre from the canvas and loads him up onto a shoulder before connecting with the Snake Eyes. Dre’s dropped forehead first across the top of a turnbuckle, his face snapping back from the impact.
Frankie: You know what the sad thing is? Andre actually THOUGHT he stood a chance in this match.
Sparkles: You know what else is sad? That people still mistake me for Tickle Me Elmo. If one more person tickles my stomach I’m gonna lose it!
Andre looks spent after this latest blow to the head, and unfortunately there’s another yet to come. Mordecai runs across the ring and unleashes ANOTHER big boot on his opponent draped across the turnbuckle. The boot doesn’t fly into it flies PAST Andre’s head. The kick is side stepped and as a result Mordecai’s leg goes flying over the top rope, leading to him being crotched on the cable.
Andre takes advantage of his adversary’s positioning, dashing into the ropes running perpendicular to the ones that Mordecai is straddling. Andre springs from the middle rope, twists in mid-air and then delivers a lariat on Mordecai’s throat. The impact knocks the creature back but not off the ropes. He twists around and leans back against the very strands that he was just crotched over. Andre charges in and hits a second lariat across Mordecai’s throat, the blow bridging him back over the ropes but not sending him flipping to the outside.
Andre runs into the far ropes, ricochets from them and returns to his opponent with a third lariat. This time Mordecai retaliates before he can be hit with the lariat. He steps away from the ropes he was leaning over and drives his boot directly under Andre’s chin. The kick has Dre stumbling back but surprisingly staying on his feet. Mordecai looks to deliver another blow that WILL topple is adversary. He rushes at Dre and charges right into a dropkick that lands straight across his jaw. The kick lands with so much force that it sends Mordecai reeling back into the ropes and leaning over them. He starts to straighten up just before his opponent rushes in and nails him across the throat with such a high impact clothesline. FINALLY Mordecai is sent flipping back over the ropes and crashing down to ringside. Though he should be laid out, he isn’t, Mordecai lands on his feet, staying upright. Well at least he’s upright just long enough to have Dre dive through the ropes and hit ANOTHER suicide head-butt. At last the behemoth has been toppled, Mordecai knocked flat across his back.
Greyson: Andre has got Mordecai off of his feet!
Sparkles: Opportunities like these are fleeting. Dre had better take advantage of it.
That’s just what Andre does. He jumps to the apron, slaps a fist to his chest to get the crowd amped up then dives into Mordecai with the frog splash elbow…the Big Air connecting. Mordecai is sandwiched between Dre and the ringside mats. The fans are really starting to rally behind Andre, and for good reason, he is battling back against the behemoth. Andre returns to the ring to break the official’s ten count. Meanwhile at ringside Mordecai is already ascending back to his feet, much to the chagrin of the entire audience. Mordecai stands all the way up just as his adversary comes flying over the top rope into a corkscrew crossbody that connects. Mordecai is knocked form his feet with Dre coming down on top of his sternum.
Greyson: Dre’s got the momentum of this match swinging in his direction. Keep it up Dre! KEEP IT GOING!
Although he’s banged up and aching from head to toe due to the physicality of this match Andre is able to get back to his feet and into the ring. It doesn’t take long for Mordecai to follow. He sits up on the mats and looks as if he hasn’t suffered a single shot during the course of this match. The leviathan gets to his feet with the aid of the apron and then starts to slide into the ring.
Andre comes dashing towards Mordecai and into a baseball slide dropkick. His feet travel right OVER Mordecai’s head, the beast ducking down in the nick of time to avoid a collision. Mordecai reaches up towards Dre, putting hands to his chest and stomach. Andre is shocked to discover that he’s being elevated high above the head of his adversary. Andre thrashes about as he’s carried around the ringside area and to the base of the ramp.
Greyson: Look at the strength of Mordecai!
Sparkles: He’s just carrying Andre around like he’s a small child.
Mordecai finally stops toying with Andre and tosses him down onto the steel ramp.
Greyson: Andre plummeting from over seven feet in the air right into that steel.
Frankie: Andre should have listened. He should have listened when people said that he was getting in over his head when it came to fighting this gargantuan beast.
Andre looks depleted upon his collision with the ramp, the impact taking everything out of him. There is no rest for the weary, Andre finding himself dragged up from the ramp and then loaded onto Mordecai’s shoulder. Another Snake Eyes connects, this time dropping Andre’s face right across the hardened ring apron. Andre’s head bounces from the ring and leads to him being incapacitated. He turns with his back to the very apron his face just bashed against and then finds his throat closed when Mordecai rushes in and clotheslines him. Andre loses his footing and collapses to his seat, leaning back against the ring and propping him up. He sits up only so that his chest can be crushed with stomps by Mordecai and his brow can be busted by right hands from the monster’s massive knuckles.
Greyson: Mordecai better be careful that he and Andre aren’t counted out.
Mordecai drags the Evolution Champion up from the ground then rolls him into the ring. Before he gives chase to Andre the crowd is forced to look at the demented delight brooding in Mordecai’s eyes. He looks out over the sea of fans, causing them to feel as if they’re caught in a white squall. At last Mordercai follows his opponent into the ring. He gets his knees on the canvas before finding his jaw caved in with a superkick!
Sparkles: THE SONIC BOOM!
Mordecai bends back on his knees as a result of suffering that lethal kick just unleashed by his opponent. To the dismay of thousands Mordecai shakes off the kick to the skull and actually tries to stand back up. He gets about half way to his feet before finding his shin superkicked.
Andre delivers the thrust kick to Mordecai’s leg and takes it out from under him, bringing the beast back to his knees. Andre then delivers a SECOND Sonic Boom on Mordecai’s jaw, knocking him flat on his back.
Greyson: This is the first time that Andre has had Mordecai on his back. Make the cover and advance in the tournament!
Andre hurries into the lateral press across the behemoth’s sternum.
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Thousands and thousands of jaws simultaneously drop when Mordecai doesn’t just kick out but THROWS Andre off the press and into the air. Andre lands on his knees looking as stunned as the crowd sounds. He is wide eyed at the sight of Mordecai sitting up even after taking all the punishment that was just inflicted on him.
Frankie: Fuck me raw with a chainsaw!
Greyson: Mordecai didn’t kick out, he THREW Andre off the cover!
Sparkles: That settles it, Mordecai is Satan. Sparkles knew I shouldn’t have played with that Ouija board back in high-school.
Andre is shaken to his core by this display of pure power and resilience by his depraved foe. Already Mordecai is ascending to his feet in spite of the punches landing across his forehead. Andre slugs Mordecai right between the eyes and knocks him back into the corner, which aids him in staying on his feet. Andre then comes charging in and leaps into Mordecai with his feet wedging against the creature’s stomach. Dre starts to unload on Mordecai with both fists, one after another flying into the brow of the beast.
Greyson: Andre putting all of his…..ummmm, someone explain to me why Mason Van Stanton is coming down the ramp?
Sparkles: Sparkles can pretend to know.
Frankie: And I can speculate while making references to my enormous penis.
As swept up into the action as the fans might be their eyes can’t help but to drift to the ramp where Mason Van Stanton is standing. The assistant to Principle Owner Silas Mason is presently making his way towards the ring with a bit of trepidation considering the closer he gets to the squared circle the closer he gets to Mordecai.
At the moment Mason might not have much to fear considering that Mordecai’s face is being crushed by the multiple punches being unloaded by Andre. Finally Mordecai puts an end this onslaught by putting his hands to Andre’s ribs and shoving him back. Andre flies across the ring and crashes onto his back. There’s now a great space between Andre and Mordecai, but there’s very little distance between Mordecai and Mason.
At the moment Mason is on the outside mats directly below Mordecai, shouting something into the ring. Mordecai looks annoyed by Mason’s presence, and even more agitated by Andre’s onslaught. The Evolution Champion jumps onto Mordecai again and starts to rain down a deluge of fists into his face. This time Mordecai counters out of his predicament by grabbing Andre’s legs, stepping out of the corner then dropping back. As a result Andre’s face comes crashing down into the turnbuckle, his head snapping back with near neck breaking force.
After dumping Andre’s head into the corner Mordecai rises to his knees but ascends no further. He looks through the ropes lined up directly in front of him, staring to the ring apron where Mason Van Stanton is crouching. He is now whispering something to Mordecai, and whatever he says has put the monster in a far better mood.
Greyson: What is Van Stanton saying to Mordecai?
Sparkles: Is he out here on behalf of Silas?
Frankie: Whatever Van Stanton is promising Mordecai, it looks like it may have just put a smile on this psychopath’s face.
One man who isn’t smiling is Andre, who keeps on the offensive. He dashes in behind Mordecai, grabs him by the shoulder and spins him right around into a hard punch across the jaw. Mordecai leans back against the ropes while receiving knife edge chops and punches across the face. Dre is about to continue his onslaught before it comes to an end when Mordecai drives his massive skull into his head. Dre falls away from Mordecai then crawls into the nearest corner, sitting up against it. Mordecai follows him into the corner and starts to stomp away at Dre’s chest between throwing punches into his face.
The referee has seen enough of this onslaught in the corner and now intervenes. He grabs Mordecai by the arm and attempts to drag him away from Andre but has little luck in doing so. Mordecai shoves the referee back with the ease of swatting aside a gnat. He then goes back to stomping and punching at Andre in the corner.
Andre’s agent Tabitha Silverstone speaks up from ringside, shouting at the referee to do something. Instead of making the fatal error of grabbing Mordecai the referee starts a five count instead.
Greyson: If Mordecai’s not careful he’s going to get himself DQed.
Mordecai’s response to a potential disqualification? He grabs the tag rope hanging from the top of the turnbuckle, wraps it around Andre’s neck and uses it to choke him. The official has no other recourse but to finish his count of five then signal for the bell.
Greyson: Mordecai got himself disqualified!
Frankie: What’s up with this guy? He just cost HIMSELF a potential shot at the World Title.
Sparkles: Mordecai is out of the Number One Contender Tournament,
Mordecai goes on choking Andre with the tag rope until the Evolution Champion has gone blue. The referee knows he’ll live to regret it, but he steps in and grabs Mordecai’s arm, trying to pry him off the Evolution Champion. Mordecai responds by throwing the referee back across the ring and then going after Dre. It seems Andre isn’t quite as defenseless as he seemed though, throwing punches that successfully land across Mordecai’s face. These blows knock Mordecai back to the center of the ring where he is then exposed to a running lariat. Andre starts to run into the ropes in order to ricochet off and build some momentum behind his clothesline. He dashes into the cables that Mason Van Stanton is now standing on the opposite side of. Andre stops just short of the ropes Mason is stood beyond and threatens to punch Silas’ assistant right across the face. Andre’s cocked fist is caught from behind, falling into the clutches of Mordecai. Before Dre can stop it he’s being pulled around into a boot to the gut and is unable to stop the lighting fast Mordecai from lifting him into the Embrace the Dark.
Mordecai’s Last Ride Powerbomb drives Andre into the canvas with so much force that his body nearly goes right through the ring.
Greyson: AH GAHD! ANDRE BROKEN IN HALF!
Sparkles: A powerbomb that forceful has to inflict a few internal injuries.
Frankie: If Andre is lucky that’s all he’s got.
Andre lies unconscious on the ring at this point while Mordecai’s shadow is cast over him. The beast looks down at his latest victim before staring up into the smile on Mason Van Stanton’s face.
Greyson: What did Mason Van Stanton tell Mordecai?
Sparkles: Whatever it was it got Mordecai to pretty much just throw this opportunity to advance in the tournament out the window.
Greyson: Andre advances as a result, but what’s left of him to compete in the next round?
Tabitha slides into the ring and scoots on her knees to her client’s side. All the while she stares scornfully at Mordecai, who looks back at the agent with an ever so twisted sneer.
A vehicle screeches to a stop just outside of a rather sizeable junkyard somewhere in the outskirts of the city. It doesn’t take long before the driver is revealed as Taylor Chase. She jumps out of the car and heads to the huge chain link doors barring her entrance.
Greyson: Is that Taylor Chase?
Sparkles: It looks like she just got to the junkyard where New Eden’s Borislav is holding her husband captive.
Greyson: Is she going to get to Orlando Cruze before he’s crushed inside of that giant steel compactor?
Mason: So what Silas needs to know is if you’re up for the challenge.
Upon returning from commercial break cameras are centered on the face of Mason Van Stanton. He stands in a corridor looking at a figure lingering out of view.
Mason: Are you willing to take the opportunity he’s offering you?
At last the camera brings into view the man Mason is consorting with, and that man is Mordecai. The sinister sadist stares past Mason while considering the rare chance that has been extended to him.
The tunes of “Judge & Jury” are presently piping through the loud speakers to a horrendous outpouring of emotion from the crowd. Within seconds of the entrance music cuing up in the building the curtains in the entry way open to reveal Cindy Todd, Serenity and a bandaged Mika Kozlov stepping through. The trio walk along towards the ring while Cindy brandishes the very weapon responsible for the ace wrap lining Mika’s torso, that weapon being a barbwire wrapped bat.
Sparkles: New Eden on their way down the ramp.
Greyson: This is about the time where I start needing a fresh pair of undershorts.
Frankie: These ladies have had quite the night haven’t they?
Sparkles: First Cindy Todd punishes Mika Kozlov for her loss at Awakening, then Serenity, fearing suffering a similar fate, aids in the abduction of Orlando Cruze to take some heat off of herself.
Frankie: People warned and warned and warned Orlando until they were blue in the face. They told him time and time again that Orlando was getting in over his head when it came to tangling with Cindy. Did he listen? Fuck no he didn’t.
Greyson: Orlando has come back to the IWC not with fear in his heart, but with a determination to stop New Eden at all cost….
Sparkles: At what may very well be a GRAVE cost.
All of New Eden consume the ring but it’s only Cindy’s voice that consumes the PA system, using the microphone in the hand opposite to the one holding a barbwire bat.
Cindy: When I make promises, I keep them. None of my warnings, none of my threats are ever to be taken lightly. So what does Orlando Cruze do with this knowledge? How does he respond to my vow that he will suffer? He mocks me. He makes a joke of me. Well I hope he laughed long, he laughed hard, because it will be the last time he EVER laughs. It’s just as I told Mika this evening, the time for laughter has come to an end. Earlier tonight Serenity came to me with such a novel idea….
Informs Cindy while approaching the former World Champion Serenity.
Cindy: Throughout her journeys here in this forsaken and accursed land she happened across an auto recycling plant just a breath removed from this foul building. When she saw it she thought to herself, ‘my, what wonderful toys there must be inside,’ and she was right. She told me there was one toy that Orlando would just loooove to play with. You want to know what toy it is that Serenity told me about….a compactor, a giant steel compactor, and Orlando will get to play with it all night long.
The crowd is more and more on edge with every word produced by Cindy.
Cindy: Before we watch what’s to become of the Icon and his new toy, I need to take a moment and congratulate Serenity.
The villainous vixen being referenced blushes and gives Cindy a dismissive wave.
Cindy: Without you dear, I never would have got the idea to stuff Orlando inside of that compactor and squeeze him until his body is as flat as his personality. So I think it’s time I properly expressed my gratitude.
Although Serenity expects to be lavished with praise she’s instead languishing due to the forearm over her back. Mika dashes in behind her teammate, nails her between the shoulder blades and knocks her flat.
Greyson: What’s this?
Serenity tries to get up but finds her wrists pinned down to the canvas. Although Mika is bleeding through the bandages wrapped around her torso she still manages to hold Serenity down. Cindy steps to Serenity’s side and squeezes the handle of the barbwire bat.
Cindy: I told you dear that there would be punishment for your failure at Awakening, and nothing you’ve done tonight will get me to change that decree.
The barbwire comes swinging down into Serenity’s back, tearing right through her flesh. The blow to her spine has Serenity grimacing and blood seeping from the wound in her spine. Cindy swings the bat again into Serenity’s back, rending even more flesh from it.
Cindy: Now that I have given you incentive to never fail the DARK again….
Starts Cindy while slamming the bat against Serenity’s back a third time.
Cindy: Let’s find out just how much fun Orlando is having with his latest toy.
The barbarism continues in the ring and on location in the junkyard. The Cartel-tron now provides images from the scene of many wrecked automobiles that had been crushed under the weight of the very same compactor that Orlando Cruze is trapped inside of. He sits behind the wheel of a car with his wrists tied to the steering wheel, leaving him defenseless against the giant metal trap that looks to condense every bone in his body into dust.
Taylor: ORRRLLLANDO!
Shouts the former three time World Champion Taylor Chase as she navigates her way through the wreckage of twisted metal lining the pathways where she walks.
Orlando: Tay! TAY! I’m here!
Orlando looks around when hearing his name, desperate to lock eyes on his wife. Taylor finally comes into view, stepping around a smashed up Toyota. She spots Orlando and comes racing towards him.
Orlando: Get out of here Tay, it’s not safe!
Taylor: I’m not leaving you.
Tay shouts back while stepping up into the compactor and opening the door of the car Orlando is still tied to. She reaches in and starts to unfasten his wrists, totally unaware that the trunk of the Toyota she just walked past has started to open. Borislav climbs out of that trunk and reveals that he is holding a rusted muffler.
Orlando: WATCH OUT!
Warns Orlando just a second too late. The muffler in Borislav’s hands cracks Taylor in the back, dropping her to her knees. Borislav then throws his weapon inside and smiles at what he sees, Orlando AND Taylor defenseless inside of the compactor.
Borislav: Two for one.
He muses before proceeding towards the lever to the compactor, looking to crush not only Cruze but Chase as well. He grabs the lever but never gets a chance to pull it down and activate the machine. Luckily for his intended victim, Orlando manages to get out of the bindings holding him to the steering wheel. He jumps from the car and races towards Borislav, his fist hurdling into the big Russian’s jaw. Borislav responds with a blow of his own. The two go on exchanging punches until they absent mindedly work their way up a small ladder and onto the top of the compactor that threatened to crush Orlando moments earlier. They go on fighting on top of this giant steel death trap, and it seems Borislav is getting the better of his adversary. That is until he gets too ahead of himself, charging in with a clothesline to decapitate Cruze. Only Orlando isn’t beheaded, no, he goes on putting his head to good use by ducking the lariat and catching Borislav with a uranage, a uranage onto the steel roofing.
Orlando rolls off of Borislav and off of the compactor. He then helps Taylor up, who was still suffering from the blow she took to the back of the head.
Sparkles: Orlando just gave Borislav a damned Rock Bottom onto the top of that steel compactor.
Greyson: And now he and Taylor are getting the hell out of that junkyard!
Frankie: Damn-damn-damn, New Eden was soooo close to squashing Orlando like he’s squashed so many others in the past.
Cameras transition to the locker-room reserved for the group known as Monarchy. While Trinity Street, Lucas Knight and Kat Kelly are seated on a sofa huddled around a tablet and looking very concerned about the scene they just watched, the fourth member of their contingent Lexy Chapel is off to the side doing squats to limber up for the upcoming match against World Champion Katelyn Buehler.
Sparkles: It looks like Monarchy aren’t too happy about what they just saw involving Taylor Chase.
Frankie: Erm why are you concentrating on THAT when you have Lexy Chapel on the screen stretching?
Greyson: Well she’s stretching in anticipation of facing off against World Champion Katelyn Buehler. Opportunities don’t get any bigger than this, especially for young athletes like Lexy Chapel.
Sparkles: It’s Lexy versus Katelyn coming up here in a matter of…..
Sparkles finds himself cut off by the urgent scene that is presently taking over the screen.
Comeau: So why do you guys need me again?
David: Shut up and move your ass! You’re going to make the announcement that Scott is cashing in his briefcase!
A shove is given to Backstage Correspondent Mark Comeau, compelling him to move along down the hall. He reluctantly does as instructed, complying with the Cannons who are following behind him. It’s not just David coercing Comeau into cooperation, but Michael and perhaps most importantly Scott as well. In one hand Scott holds the shirt of another individual forced into cooperation, referee Arnie Ficklebottom, while Scott’s opposite palm grips the briefcase he is seconds from cashing in to seemingly become the World Champion.
Greyson: Our main event is coming up next, but it looks like Scott Cannon is about to throw a wrinkle into the proceedings. I think he’s about to cash in his briefcase.
Frankie: Scott Cannon was SERIOUS about this?
Sparkles: As serious as diarrhea after eating Chipotle.
Greyson: Katelyn Buehler is seconds from taking on Lexy Chapel, but now she’s got the added pressure of Scott Cannon cashing in that case to potentially take her World Championship.
Sparkles: Things getting crazier with each passing second that Riot remains on the air.
Greyson: Are we about to have a brand new World Champion crowned? Don’t go anywhere!
MOMENTS AGO
A video recounts the utterly stunning moment that happened before the commercial break while the commentators highlight all the insanity going down seconds ago. We relive images of Cindy Todd first punishing a member of her own New Eden sect by bashing Serenity over the back with a baseball bat over and over again, subjecting her to a gruesome punishment in retaliation for her loss back at Awakening.
Sparkles: Man did things ever get twisted before we went to commercial.
Greyson: Indeed, it all started when Cindy Todd finally gave Serenity the punishment she’s been promising all night long. Then THIS happened….
Although Cindy is busy punishing Serenity the Queen of New Eden takes a moment to demand that some equally as gruesome footage be aired on the Cartel-tron. Said footage features Orlando Cruze tied to a steering wheel and trapped inside of a car that has been parked in the middle of a giant steel compactor. New Eden’s brute Borislav has been tasked with controlling the lever that will activate the car crusher. Taylor Chase is shown arriving just in time to prevent her husband from being squished like a bug. Unfortunately Tay is jumped from behind by Borislav, who came out of hiding to bludgeon her with a car muffler.
Sparkles: Borislav was going to crush Orlando in that compactor but then his wife Tay showed up and saved the day, or so we thought.
Greyson: Borislav was hiding in the wings and attacked Taylor from behind with a muffler…a friggin MUFFLER!
Frankie: Then Borislav went back to try and crush Orlando AND Tay before that bald bastard Cruze managed to get himself untied.
Borislav and Orlando are featured trading blows and ending up on top of the very compactor that threatened to squeeze the life out of Cruze moments earlier. The gigantic steel monstrosity comes back to haunt Borislav however when he’s given a Rock Bottom right on top of it.
Greyson After freeing himself from the car and the compactor Orlando fought Borislav to the top of that car crusher and gave him the uranage directly into it.
Sparkles: Only in the IWC, only in the IWC.
Greyson: And speaking of things that could only happen in this federation, look at who just came out here.
The video stops rolling in order to bring us to a live action imagery from the ring which at the moment is being surrounded by Scott Cannon, his brothers Michael and David, as well as their captives referee Arnie Ficklebottom and interviewer Mark Comeau.
Sparkles: Scott said he was going to do it guys, and it looks like he’s setting up shop here at ringside so he can pick the perfect moment to cash in his briefcase.
Greyson: World Champion Katelyn Buehler set to face off against Lexy Chapel coming up here next, but how in the hell can the champ concentrate when she knows Scott Cannon is sitting right there at ringside anticipating the opportunity to cash in his guaranteed title opportunity?
Sparkles: It definitely casts a black cloud over Katelyn’s head.
Frankie: Which is NOT a good thing considering that Katelyn needs all the sunshine that that pale skin can get.
Greyson: Scott has definitely put Katelyn in an awkward spot here.
Steel folding chairs have been set up beneath all three Cannon brothers so they can make themselves cozy at ringside. Mark Comeau and Arnie Ficklebottom are FORCED to stand beside the Cannons, pouting every second that they HAVE to be out here.
As Scott Cannon watches the entry way his hand remains planted on top of the briefcase that rests across his knees, just itching to cash it in.
Greyson: When’s it gonna happen? When’s Scott going to use it? Can Katelyn handle facing Lexy while Scott is at ringside waiting to….
It’s right at this point in time that music plays over the loud speakers that absolutely NO ONE anticipated hearing. ‘U & UR Hands’ is the music that is piping all throughout the arena, which can mean only one thing, that Uprising World Champion Vanilla Skyy is on her way. The fans didn’t expect to see her, the commentators didn’t expect to see her, and the Cannons damn sure didn’t expect to see her either. Scott straightens up in his chair and smiles when seeing his ‘special friend,’ Vanilla Skyy making her way to the stage wearing the Uprising World Heavyweight Title over her shoulder.
Sparkles: It’s Vanilla Skyy in the flesh!
Frankie: Flesh I’d like to see a lot more of.
Greyson: I can’t believe she’s here. Does Drew Bryant know that his brand’s champion is on our show here tonight?
Sparkles: No one knew that Skyy was going to in attendance here tonight. Nobody.
Frankie: Not even Scott Cannon, and as I understand it, he and Skyy have quite the ‘intimate’ relationship. Which roughly translated means they’ve been banging like bunnies.
Greyson: We really didn’t need a translation for that AT ALL.
Scott has risen all the way to his feet in order to get a much better look at Skyy, drinking in the sight of the champion. To his dread Scott realizes that Skyy is not moving any closer to him, instead she remains on the stage with a microphone in her hand.
Skyy: Well hi there Japan.
Skyy winks at all those Japanese gawkers in attendance chanting her name.
Skyy: And howdy Scott….
Cameras cut briefly back to Scott who is all smiles.
Skyy: I hate to do this to you, but before you come out here to do what I HEARD you were planning on doing, I think you and I NEED to talk.
Scott may be looking at Skyy like she’s got two heads, but he would never in a million years deny Skyy’s request for the two of them to share some alone time. He starts to walk to the back with his briefcase never leaving his hand. David grabs his brother by the wrist, stopping him and reminding him why they came out here. Scott looks back and puts a hand reassuringly to David’s shoulder.
Scott: Ease up.
David: But the title…
Pleads David while gesturing towards the ring, but Scott isn’t paying attention. His focus is entirely on the woman he is drawing closer and closer to. Eventually Skyy and Scott join arms and go to the back while David’s arms are going up into the air. He turns to his other brother Michael, who looks equally as confused.
Greyson: Scott leaving with Vanilla Skyy.
Sparkles: And his brothers aren’t all too thrilled about this.
Frankie: They should be. Whatever Vanilla Skyy has to say to Scott could have waited until after he cashed in his briefcase. She just complicated everything!
The World Champion Katelyn Buehler and Queen of the Ring Champion Selena Frost are shown headed towards the guerilla position while an instrumental version of the Riot theme song plays in the background.
Sparkles: Sparkles thinks that Katelyn Buehler may have just dodged a bullet.
Frankie: Nuh-uh, she’s still got a gun pressed directly to her temple and its Lexy Chapel’s finger on the trigger.
Greyson: Katelyn to face Lexy Chapel one on one, and Selena Frost is going to be in Katelyn’s corner. You’re not going to want to miss this one ladies and gentlemen. It’s coming up next.
The show transitions to that same eerie chain link wall of steel that was seen earlier in the evening when Cindy Todd issued her twisted edict. Yet again Cindy stands on the opposite side of what resembles a cage wall, her forehead wedged against it and her words filtering through it. Behind her the viewers can see her New Eden allies Serenity and Mika Kozlov sitting on the floor nursing the injuries that Cindy has inflicted on them throughout the night.
Cindy: I hope what happened to the two of you has put things into perspective.
Neither Mika nor Serenity respond, they just continue to sit there and bleed.
Cindy: Your losses at Awakening disrupted our plans and so you HAD to be punished. But Katelyn Buehler, she upset my plans as well, and so she too must know what it is to feel the SUFFERING.
When cameras return live to Riot the focus is on the locker-room of Scott Cannon, who finds himself at the moment seated in a chair in front of Vanilla Skyy. They both cling to their most prized possessions. While Scott holds his briefcase, Skyy holds her World Title. But those material objects are NOT what they value the most, no, it’s the hands they clasp. Skyy and Scott share a tender embrace via their interlocked palms.
Skyy: I know you don’t believe it, But in your heart you really are a GOOD man.
Scott smiles.
Scott: Careful that Alana doesn’t sue you for copyright infringement.
Skyy dismisses the gest she hears in Scott’s tone.
Skyy: I know you have a bad reputation in this business…
Scott: Heh, the worse.
Skyy: But the fans, and all those in the locker-room haven’t seen the side of you that I have. It’s time they see it Scott…
Scott: And how do I go about changing their opinion of me?
Skyy: For starters, you don’t cash in THIS…
She kicks the briefcase with the toe of her boot.
Skyy:….during Katelyn’s match tonight.
Scott doesn’t like her suggestion.
Scott: Vee…
Skyy: Listen to me. You’ve been in this company for a year and have worked your ass off to get where you are today, right on the verge of being World Champion. So ask yourself, after all this work you’ve done, after all this time you’ve invested, do you want everyone to respect you for FINALLY becoming champion, or everyone to HATE you for the WAY you became champion? This HERE (now she picks up the case) is opportunity, but that opportunity is more than just a shot at the World Title. It’s an opportunity to change how the world sees you, and to make you proud of the man who looks back at you in that mirror every morning.
Scott: What would you have me do?
Skyy: Don’t cash in the case tonight, not when Katelyn is vulnerable. Announce that you’re cashing it in for a fair one on one WRESTLING match against Katelyn at Upping the Ante. Challenge her at the pay-per-view and prove that you’re a good man.
Scott looks down at the floor while whispering to himself.
Scott: Scott Cannon…a GOOD man? A good man…
A relieved Mark Comeau breathes a sigh of relief now that he has been freed from the clutches of the Cannon brothers. The interviewer moves as far from the ring as he can get, almost running down the hall.
Mason: MARK!
Comeau stops cold in his tracks and sighs when he sees Mason Van Stanton swooping in before him and blocking his path.
Mason: Glad I caught up with you. I got a major-MAJOR announcement to make on behalf of Silas Mason.
Comeau: I was actually hoping to get out of the buil….
Mason: That’s just dandy. Anyway, where’s your microphone?
Comeau: Erm….I think I have it.
Mason: Snap, snap, come on, come on, whip that puppy out.
A groaning Comeau removes the mic from his back pocket and raises it to Mason’s mouth.
Mason: A little closer.
The mic moves within an inch of Mason’s mouth.
Mason: Do I look good, am I camera ready?
Asks Van Stanton while wetting back his hair and fixing the collar of his jacket. At last he’s satisfied that he looks good enough to address the thousands watching through the camera he is staring excitedly into.
Mason: Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that in two weeks time, there WILL be a World Title match. Katelyn Buehler defends the championship one on one against…..MORDECAI.
KATELYN BEUHLER VS. LEXY CHAPEL
The feed goes back to the ring just in time to catch the entrances for the main event.
As the spotlights flash across the stage and the video screens come to life, “Cynics and Critics” by Icon For Hire hits the PA system.
“We’re not cynics; we just don’t believe a word you say
We’re not critics, we just hate it all anyway”
As the music continues we see the curtain part and Lexy Chapel comes walking out with Tag Team Title gold gleaming around her waist. Naturally Lexy doesn’t go anywhere without others nipping at her heels. Her tag partner Kat Kelly isn’t the only one following, also walking along behind Lexy are Lucas Knight and Trinity Street.
Frankie: All of Monarchy is representin’.
Greyson: Of course Lexy Chapel doesn’t come out here alone, heaven forbid that happen.
Sparkles: So much for Lucas Knight and Trinity Street having her fight her own battles.
Greyson: That was the case several weeks ago when they allowed their charges Kat Kelly and Lexy to fight their own battles in order to show the crowd what the young ladies were capable of, but it seems they’ve changed their stance now that Lexy is competing in her first one on one main event match.
Frankie: Against the World Champion no less. Can you imagine if Lexy were to win against Katelyn? That would make her rookie year the most dominant in wrestling history.
Greyson: She’s gonna have her work cut out for her if she wants to make that a possibility, because she’ll be facing a woman who is riding the biggest wave of momentum we’ve ever seen.
And that woman isn’t waiting any longer to head for the ring. Lexy has just gotten into the squared circle and left Monarchy at the base of the ramp before the entrance music of her opponent starts through the speakers. “Satisfied” by Social Code is blasting through the PA system and getting the biggest reaction of the night. The response is justified considering that it’s the World Champion herself, Katelyn Buehler making her way through the curtains. Katelyn heads straight for the squared circle and Selena Frost, coveter of the Queen of the Ring Championship is trying to keep up with her.
Greyson: Listen to the ovation for the champ!
Sparkles: At Awakening Katelyn did what so many people thought she couldn’t. She FINALLY won the World Championship in a hellacious match against Serenity.
Frankie: I still don’t know how Katelyn survived that match to become champion. Or how she avoided getting slaughtered by Wicked Intent when they got the drop on her earlier tonight.
Greyson: Lexy and her partner Kat tried to jump Katelyn earlier tonight after her first speech as World Champion and that fact hasn’t been sitting well with her.
Sparkles: That’s part of the reason Selena Frost is coming out with her for this match, to make sure Kat, Lucas and Trinity don’t interfere.
Frankie: Katelyn’s going to need all the protection in the world considering that every member of Monarchy are in….AAAAH!
The moment Katelyn enters the ring the champion drops her belt and spends no time pandering to the audience. Instead she charges straight at Lexy and catches her totally off guard with a spear into the ribs. A stunned Lexy is driven back into the ropes and goes spilling through them, while Katelyn’s shoulder remains wedged to her opponent’s stomach the entire time.
Sparkles: Katelyn spearing Lexy right outta that ring.
Greyson: You don’t mess with the World Champion!
Lexy and Katelyn hit the mats then fight their way back to their feet. Punches are thrown and connect with one another’s faces and this continues for several seconds until Katelyn takes Lexy’s wrist then launches her straight into the barricade. Lexy body twists so that it’s her back that takes the brunt of the impact on the barrier. She doesn’t just make contact with the barricade but goes flipping right over it into the crowd. Monarchy move in to try and help Lexy but Selena Frost is right there to block their path. She steps around the ring with a chair now in her hands, threatening all three Monarchy members with it. Meanwhile behind Selena the woman she came out to help, Katelyn, is climbing the barrier to go after Lexy.
Greyson: This brawl going into the crowd.
Sparkles: We’ve seen some wild fights between Katelyn and Lexy in the past, but it’s been in tag team action with Taylor Chase as Katelyn’s partner. This is the first time these two have faced in one on one action.
Katelyn continues to exact revenge on Lexy for her attempted ambush earlier tonight. She delivers a headbutt on Lexy then puts her shaken up opponent in a front chancery. Lexy is snapped over into a suplex right across the exposed concrete floor. Lexy sits up screaming in pain.
Greyson: Suplex straight onto the exposed cement.
Sparkles: This match is starting to resemble that chaotic war Katelyn waged against Serenity at Awakening.
A handful of Lexy’s hair is used to pull her up to her feet and then send her flying back over the barricade. Lexy hits the ringside mats with her back AGAIN taking much of the punishment. The increasingly desperate tag team champion reaches up from the mats and grabs the ring apron using it to drag her up to her feet. Katelyn swoops in and buries a shoulder to Lexy’s ribs, once again driving her back this time kidneys first right into the steel steps. Lexy bridges back over the stairs, her spinal column feeling that it might have just been snapped in half.
Frankie: Do something ref!
Greyson: The official is powerless Frankie, he can’t get this match or our World Champion under control.
Katelyn continues to make the ringside area her domain which makes it a costly gamble when she throws Lexy into the squared circle. The Wicked Intent member struggles to her feet just in time to find her opponent’s boot hurdling into her ribs. Lexy doubles over and then finds her temple on the receiving end of a forearm shiver so stiff it sends her twisting around and falling into the turnbuckle. Katelyn rushes in and jumps into the air, burying her knee against Lexy’s mouth. That same knee draws back from Lexy’s face and then swings right back into her teeth. Katelyn keeps ramming her knee again and again against Lexy’s mug before rearing her head and letting out a primal scream. Her knee goes to crush Lexy’s face once more but this time the target ducks down out of the way. Katelyn’s knee misses and the momentum of that botched execution has Katelyn swinging around so that she’s sitting on the top rope.
She faces the ring and faces the woman dashing towards her. Lexy runs up the turnbuckle in front of Katelyn and charges along right into her adversary’s forehead. Katelyn delivers a headbutt that drives Lexy back down to the ring. Katelyn starts to get her footing beneath her now on the top rope, preparing perhaps to come leaping from the turnbuckle. Before she can go airborne Katelyn finds herself unexpectedly caught around the waist and leaving her feet not of her own volition. Lexy runs up the turnbuckle and catches Katelyn around the mid-section before lifting her into a Canadian back breaker straight across the top of the turnbuckle.
Greyson: Ooooh maaaaaan!! BACK BREAKER ACROSS THE TOP OF THE TURNBUCKLE! Her back is broken, Katelyn’s back IS BROKEN!
Frankie: That’ll be just the momentum changer Lexy needs.
Katelyn comes twisting down from the turnbuckle and to the canvas where her hand instinctively draws towards her kidneys. Amazingly she’s already progressing towards her feet but doing so to great expense to her well-being. The moment Katelyn stands up she’s caught from behind by her opponent and given a Russian Leg Sweep that flings her back first right into the turnbuckle. Katelyn bounces from the corner a SECOND time then comes tumbling towards the ring. She tries to get up only to have Lexy stand directly on top of Katelyn’s lower back. The World Champion lies on her stomach crying out in pain while Lexy remains stood on her kidneys, crushing them beneath her boots. She holds the top rope to give her balance while digging her heels in deep against Katelyn’s kidneys. Lexy then leaps over the very rope she was just holding and twists around to land on the apron. She then comes flipping back over that same rope in order to hit a senton bomb straight across Katelyn’s spine.
Greyson: Hot shot senton deliberately aimed at Katelyn’s back.
Sparkles: We knew coming into this that we were going to get an ultra competitive main event and that’s exactly what we’ve seen thus far.
Katelyn struggles to her feet and to put any pressure on her back. Lexy has no problem putting pressure on that spine though, delivering a dropkick that connects right between Katelyn’s kidneys. The impact sends Katelyn flying towards the turnbuckle and slamming against it chest first, her arms falling over the top rope. She remains on her feet just long enough for her opponent to come diving in, Lexy driving both of her knees directly into Katelyn’s back.
Lexy bounces off of her opposition then back flips to the middle of the ring where she proceeds to use her knees in a different way, by dancing the Charleston.
Frankie: That’s it, get down, party like its 1955.
Greyson: Why does Lexy do this? She’s got Katelyn on the defensive and yet she stops in order to showboat?
Frankie: Cause Lexy has got it and she’s gonna flaunt it.
Lexy stops dancing the Charleston and starts jiving her way towards her adversary. Katelyn has her back to the turnbuckle and now Lexy’s foot to her throat. Color comes back to Katelyn’s face, and that color is blue, as she chokes and gasps for air. The referee starts a count in order to threaten Lexy with disqualification. Lexy lowers her foot before she can be disqualified and inserts her knee in Katelyn’s ribs to do even more damage.
A handful of Katelyn’s hair is taken as she’s charged out of the corner and hit with a one handed bulldog right in the middle of the ring. Lexy rests on her knees beside an unconscious Katelyn while shouting into her face.
Lexy: Who’s house is it?
The fans are jumping all over Lexy for mocking Katelyn’s catchphrase. And as if that weren’t bad enough now Lexy is doing a Ric Flair inspired strut across the ring. Trinity, Lucas and Kat are shouting from ringside, insisting that Lexy knock it off and stay on the World Champion. Lexy chuckles and shouts back at her Monarchy allies to ‘chillax.’ She then reaches down for Buehler only to find HERSELF caught then pulled down into the small package.
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Greyson: Katelyn with the roll-up!
The ref is about to finish the count but Lexy is ever defiant, kicking out before the three. She lunges to her feet and immediately takes Katelyn down with a clothesline to the throat. As Katelyn goes down Lexy stands tall, once again mocking her adversary.
Lexy: That’s it? That’s the best you got for me? Well here’s what I got….for you.
Lexy licks her index fingers, lifts her hands out to her sides and then gives Katelyn a crotch chop. Shen follows this up with the SUPERKICK. That’s when all her taunting comes to a close because her kick never hits Katelyn’s jaw, instead it’s caught in the World Champion’s hands. Katelyn holds tight to Lexy’s boot and stares a hole through Lexy’s stunned face.
Greyson: This is the part where all that gloating and goading comes back to haunt you Lexy.
Frankie: Let her go Kate, or at least suck her toes.
The only thing that is going to be sucked is the sweat on Katelyn’s knuckles. She pushes Lexy’s foot down to the canvas and then throws her punch at the Tag Team Champion’s face. Lexy manages to duck the punch bound for her face and swoops in behind Katelyn. Her opponent turns around right into the SUPERKICK….but now it’s time for Katelyn to DUCK. One kick misses its mark, however the kick that proceeds it DOES hit paydirt. After missing her superkick Lexy swings around to face the thrust kick that Katelyn is delivering. The kick to the mouth has shut Lexy up and sent her staggering back into the ropes, ricocheting off then returning to her adversary’s waiting arms. Katelyn takes Lexy over into a super quick lightning spiral. The SLO slams the back of Lexy’s head with such force that it sounds like a clap of thunder has just erupted throughout the building.
Lexy’s skull bounces from the canvas and causes her to flip back onto her knees. Her groggy expression is wiped from her face via the running knee strike that smashes her right in the brow.
Sparkles: Note to self, never taunt Katelyn with the crotch chop!
Greyson: Everything that Lexy has put Lexy through throughout the night is being avenged and then some.
Now Katelyn is about to have the ultimate revenge, the pinfall victory over an unconscious Lexy.
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Lucas Knight starts to crawl into the ring to break up the pin but Katelyn spots him coming. She lets go of the leg she had hooked in order to get her hands on Lexy’s mentor. Luckily for Lucas he manages to avoid Katelyn altogether, rolling from the ring and doing so in a hurry. Katelyn is still going after him though until he’s completely removed from the squared circle. Unfortunately her preoccupation with Lucas may come back to bite her big time.
Katelyn’s opponent is back on her feet and is running in behind Katelyn, taking her around the waist. Before we can find out what Lexy had in store for her target, her move is countered. Katelyn swings right out of Lexy’s arms then switches around behind her adversary’s back, hooking the arms in order to perform the backslide.
Sparkles: BAAAACKSSSSLIIIIDEEEE!!!!
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The moment that Lexy kicks out she goes falling over to her knees right in front of her opponent, who is also still in a kneeling base. Lexy leaps into the air and puts her foot to the back of Buehler’s head, pushing her face down into the canvas with a modified curb stomp.
Frankie: THAT was impressive!
Katelyn’s head bounces from the ring and she pops up to her knees, looking spent. Right at that exact same moment Lexy comes hurdling towards her prone prey before realizing that her target was playing possum. Katelyn leaps form her knees to her feet then catches Lexy coming in with a tilt a whirl right into the back-breaker.
Lexy’s spine bridges over Katelyn’s knee and remains in that position before for a few seconds. Eventually she’s pulled off that knee and onto her feet, Lexy finding herself then standing on wobbly legs as her adversary runs into the ropes. Katelyn builds a head of steam as she runs directly into Lexy’s SUPERKICK.
Frankie: SOMETHING WICKED!
Greyson: Completely out of nowhere!
Katelyn is knocked flat to her back as Lexy, who takes no time to showboat on this exchange, falls into the lateral press.
Greyson: We’re going to see an upset here, a MAJOR upset!
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Frankie: The rookie just pinned the World Cham….
Not yet she hasn’t.
Katelyn throws her arm into the air and kicks out a mere fraction of a second before her shoulders could be counted down. Lexy leans back from Katelyn, resting on her knees and slapping her hands onto her downright STUNNED features.
Greyson: Lexy like the rest of us, just blown away that Katelyn got her shoulder up after the superkick.
Sparkles: Lexy put all she had behind that kick too.
A sweaty Lexy works her way back to her feet with her opponent’s head in her hands. She pulls Katelyn up to her feet only to throw her off them as the World Champ flies to the outside of the ring. Katelyn lands right at the feet of Kat, Lucas and Trinity, all of Lexy’s associates gathering around the scrap that has just been fed to them under the table.
Frankie: Sick her Monarchy, sick her!
Greyson: Something has GOT to be done about this.
Something IS done about it, and it’s Selena Frost who takes care of the Monarchy dilemma. She comes barreling around the ring and drives the chair she’s been holding since she followed Katelyn to the ring, to smash Lucas Knight right in his kidneys. Trinity and Kat instantly retaliate on Lucas’ behalf, charging at Selena, who drops the chair and starts to throw punches.
Greyson: It’s exploding! This whole situation at ringside between Selena Frost and Monarchy is breaking down.
Sparkles: Selena holding to the vow she made to have Katelyn’s back.
Greyson: And she’s also getting some retribution on Monarchy for costing her a spot in the number one contender tournament earlier tonight.
The arena is erupting at the sight of Monarchy and Selena going to war at ringside. Eventually the focus of the fans returns to one of the combatants actually competing in this main event, Katelyn, watching as she drags herself up from ringside and to the apron. However Katelyn’s opponent was waiting for her. Lexy storms across the ring, reaches through the ropes and grabs Katelyn by the hair. She starts to drag Katelyn over the cables but then the World Champ counters, turning her back on Lexy, taking her around the neck and dropping into a stunner. Lexy’s throat snaps off the top rope and she goes twirling like a tornado towards the center of the ring. When she eventually turns back to face Katelyn she finds the World Champion leaping into her with the Lou Thez Press.
Punches nail Lexy to either side of her face while she desperately tries to cover up. At the threat of a disqualification Katelyn stops punching Lexy and works her way into one of the corners. Katelyn slaps her forearm against her own palm, signaling that the roaring elbow is coming.
Greyson: Like Babe Ruth, Katelyn is calling her shot.
Sparkles: She’s making it official, the KTFO is coming.
Frankie: Don’t stand up Lexy, for the love of all that is good and holy stay down!
Lexy is unaware that she’s standing up right into the KTFO. Katelyn is almost salivating at the thought of hitting it, of crushing Lexy’s face with the forearm. At last Lexy is on her feet and at long last she gets smacked right in the temple with the roaring elbow…no….Lexy stoops down in the nick of time to catch the inbound Katelyn by the creases of her knees, tear her legs out from under her body and then flip forward into the jackknife cover.
Frankie: Yes! Yes! Lexy’s caught Katelyn! Make the count ref, make it quick!
The official is in position and slapping the ring.
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The moment Lexy’s face cracks a smile she finds her confidence shattered when Katelyn manages to kick out.
Greyson: No, this match carries on.
Lexy rolls away from Katelyn with a look of total despair hanging across her face. She lunges to her feet and then dashes along towards Katelyn, but finds that her adversary is already leaping towards her with the Lou Thez Press. This time Lexy reaches out and catches Katelyn by the creases of her knees, dropping Buehler to the ring and now going for the sharpshooter.
Frankie: Go Lexy go!
Greyson: Sharpshooter coming!
Lexy is about to roll Katelyn over to her stomach and put the pressure on the small of the World Champion’s back, an area that has been targeted throughout this match. Katelyn manages to block the submission from being applied though, bending her legs just enough to draw Lexy towards her. All of the World Champion’s leg strength is then employed to push Lexy back, sending her corkscrewing towards the corner. Just as Lexy prepares to hit the corner she turns and leaps to the middle rope, springing off.
Katelyn has no idea that Lexy has taken to the air before the champion has reached her feet and finds Lexy’s legs locking around her head. A hurricarana flips Katelyn over and into the pin.
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Greyson: Lexy’s going to do it again!
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The ref’s hand is a centimeter removed from the canvas before Katelyn sits up, kicking out and in the process sending her opponent rolling backwards. Lexy returns to her feet and dashes towards Katelyn, successfully ducking under an attempted clothesline and then allowing her momentum to carry her into a turnbuckle. Lexy scales it to the middle rope and then leaps off, twisting back towards Katelyn…no….twisting back towards Katelyn’s roaring elbow. The KTFO smashes Lexy directly across the chin.
Greyson: Katelyn’s done it! She’s dropped Lexy with the KTFO! Make the cover Katelyn, make the cover!!
Sparkles: Pin her champ! Pin her right now!
An exhausted yet very emotional Katelyn sits on her knees beside an opponent who was just knocked into next month via the roaring elbow. Katelyn finally throws an arm over that opponent, putting an end to the ever arrogant adversary.
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Greyson: The World Champion’s momentum conti….
The referee’s hand is flying towards the ring but before he could make the three official his body goes flying under the ropes. And who pulled the referee out of the ring resulting in them crashing onto their face at ringside? Was it a member of Monarchy? No. It was the ruler of New Eden, CINDY TODD.
Greyson: Cindy…CINDY TODD….she just dragged the referee out of the ring.
Sparkles: And his head took a nasty bump on the floor as a result.
Frankie: HAZZAH!
Cindy’s black eyes never leave the body of Katelyn, even while Todd was pulling the referee from the ring. Though the ref left the squared circle Cindy is entering it, with a barbwire wrapped bat in her hands.
Greyson: Oh God this is horrible. Cindy Todd promised that there would be one more punishment to be dealt out tonight.
Frankie: Katelyn’s about to get the same treatment that Mika Kozlov and Serenity have received throughout the evening.
Cindy steps towards the kneeling Katelyn and swings the bat down at her back, ready to rip flesh for the third time tonight. Just as Katelyn is about to be carved like a pumpkin on Halloween the bat hurdling towards her is caught. The fans let lose at the sight of Katelyn grabbing the weapon and blocking it from making impact with her body. Cindy actually looks stunned that Katelyn has caught the bat and is now forcing it back.
Greyson: Nuh-uh Cindy.
Sparkles: Look at the expression on Cindy’s face. She can’t believe this.
Katelyn stands up with the bat that was going to tear her apart still being restrained even as Cindy channels all of her strength into forcing the weapon down into her next victim’s face. Katelyn shakes her towards the black eyes of her attacker, or at least she STARTS to shake her head until a boot nails her in the ribcage. Cindy kicks Katelyn in the gut and knocks her back, but she rips the bat out of Cindy’s hands in the process. Those hands then fly into Katelyn’s face, Cindy punching the World Champion in the kisser. Katelyn responds with a deliberate blow of her own, going back and forth with the Queen of New Eden.
As if there wasn’t enough going on already now cameras are cutting away from the ring to the guerilla position backstage where Taylor Chase and Orlando Cruze are standing.
Frankie: DA HALE!?!
Sparkles: Taylor! Orlando! They’ve made it back to the arena!
Frankie: If I were them I’d be running as far away from this arena as possible. For God sakes Cindy Todd and New Eden just tried to throw Orlando in a car compactor and crush him!
Taylor is holding the back of her neck after earlier tonight she was struck by a muffler….yes…a MUFFLER of all things, but she’s also being held back by her husband.
Orlando: Are you sure about this?
Taylor: There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the right move.
Orlando has no other recourse but to take his hand off of Tay, mostly because it’s slapped away. He steps aside so that Taylor can stomp towards the curtains separating her from the stage.
Greyson: And Taylor is coming out here!
Sparkles: Taylor Chase on her way to the ring!!
Frankie: She’s coming for Cindy Todd.
KATELYN BEUHLER VS. LEXY CHAPEL
Cameras cut back to the ring where Cindy is still interfering in the main event by exchanging punches with Katelyn. The two fight back and forth amidst an increasingly loud roar from the crowd. Meanwhile Katelyn’s ACTUAL opponent in this match, Lexy Chapel, is sitting in a corner holding her head in her palms after suffering the KTFO. Meanwhile at ringside Selena, the woman who accompanied Katelyn to the ring, is presently battling those who tried to run interference against her, Lexy’s crew Monarchy. Just because there wasn’t ENOUGH going on in and around the ring the curtains are parting with ANOTHER individual making their way towards the chaos.
Greyson: HERE SHE COMES!!
Sparkles: Taylor Chase! Taylor Chase!
Frankie: Someone stop this ignorant bitch before she interferes in this match! Oh how I can’t stand her!
Nothing and no one is going to stop Taylor, who walks right past the brawl at ringside, letting nothing keep her from the woman in the ring. Cindy has no idea that Taylor is coming after her, far too busy battling Katelyn. That fight comes to an end when Cindy rakes Katelyn’s eyes, sending the World Champion twisting away from New Eden’s Queen. As Katelyn backs off Cindy, Taylor is drawing nearer. She slides into the ring and picks up the baseball bat wrapped in barbwire that was dropped moments ago. It doesn’t stay on the canvas for long, Tay snatching it up and pulling back to swing at an unsuspecting Cindy.
Todd looks back just in time to see the bat coming at her, prompting her to fall to the ring and avoid taking the shot that was intended for her. Cindy rolls out of the squared circle then stares back into it at the bat in Taylor’s hands and the rage that is swelling up behind Chase’s eyes.
Greyson: Cindy got out of the way.
Sparkles: Tay a second from revenge on New Eden and….
Suddenly everything goes quiet when Taylor whips around and drives the barbwire bat right between Katelyn Buehler’s eyes. Everyone falls into a total stunned silence at the sight of Taylor Chase bludgeoning Katelyn, knocking her out cold.
Greyson: I……don’t…..believe it.
The bat just used to assault the World Champion slowly slips out of Taylor’s hand and lands beside her unconscious victim. Katelyn lies on the ring with blood dribbling down from her scalp, lacerated after this unexpected attack by a woman she trusted.
Greyson: Wh…wh…why Taylor?
Frankie: Because she’s the most awesome beautiful and amazing woman on the planet.
Sparkles: Did this really just happen?
As surreal and shocking a moment as this is, it only gets all that much worse when Taylor grabs Katelyn’s opponent by the wrist. She drags Lexy across the ring and drapes the Tag Champ’s arm across the World Champ’s chest. Tay then backs up into the turnbuckle, watching as the official who has just regained consciousness, enters the ring to make the count.
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Everyone, maybe even Satan himself, are sick to the pits of their stomachs at the sight of Lexy picking up the win, all after Taylor’s shocking betrayal.
Greyson: I…I just refuse to believe what we witnessed.
Sparkles: This building is in absolute SHOCK.
The fans either have their hands on top of their heads, are shaking their heads, or are doing both in reaction to Taylor’s inconceivable actions. As if blasting Katelyn in the face with the barbwire bat wasn’t reprehensible enough at that very moment we see her inching out of the corner and towards the woman she aided a moment ago. Lexy gets to a knee looking at Tay with wide eyes. At the same time Trinity, Lucas and Kat, all of Lexy’s Monarchy allies have slid into the ring, gathering around their teammate in order to protect her. The woman they were brawling with at ringside, Selena is now crouching over Katelyn, checking on her as she lies on the mats bleeding badly from the forehead.
Back inside of the ring the crowd realizes that Monarchy aren’t in the ring to protect Lexy from Taylor.
Tay steps closer and closer to Monarchy before her chillingly intense face breaks with a snide smile. At that precise moment Trinity jumps towards Tay and wraps around her, the two embracing in a hug.
Greyson: NO! Just no! Say it isn’t so!
Frankie: It’s real! It’s DAMN real! Feel it, feel this moment!
The rest of Monarchy surround Taylor and all join in one big disgusting group hug.
Greyson: I’m just…I’m just….I can’t even process what I’m seeing.
Frankie: EMBRACE IT! Taylor Chase has just joined Monarchy!!
This moment becomes all the more repulsive when a hooping and hollering Alistair Taylor comes skipping down the ramp. He excitedly enters the ring and jumps into the hug with the rest of Monarchy.
Greyson: And there’s Alistair Taylor, just to make this even more intolerable.
Alistair isn’t the last person to show up, but the individual stepping to the stage now is NOT joining in the celebration. Marina Valdivia mirrors the exact same reaction as the crowd. She stops at the top of the ramp watching as Taylor Chase is lifted onto the shoulders of Alistair and Lucas. As she’s lifted into the air that sneer on her face becomes all that more pronounced.
Greyson: I refuse to believe this. I can’t believe we’re seeing Taylor Chase and Monarchy….TOGETHER!
Frankie: Behold the event that is going to change professional wrestling FOREVER!
Sparkles: Our whole world has just been turned upside down.
Taylor continues to smile as she sits upon the shoulders of Monarchy and the crowd pelts the ring with trash.
FADE TO BLACK
IWC 