Post by silentpartner on Nov 5, 2018 15:15:11 GMT -5
The scene opens to darkness, but suddenly there is a rectangle in the darkness, outlined by bright light. Suddenly the rectangle is pushed forward, and a doorway is revealed with the shadow of a man standing in its center. A hand moves inside the darkness, and a light switch is flipped, and the man is revealed as Zachariah Krahe. He has a duffel-bag slung over his shoulder as he enters, and he tosses it to the side before closing the door behind him. The camera pans around the room as Krahe enters the interior, noting a Halliburton briefcase sitting on a table along the far wall. Krahe's eyebrow shoots up as he steps over to the case, thumbs flicking the clasps on the front, and then pushing the top open.
The camera rises so that it is looking right over his shoulder, and from this view the case is revealed to contain bound stacks of hundred dollar bills, neatly arranged against the black satin interior. There is a folded note at the center of the cash, and Krahe carefully scoops it up so as to flip it open. On the paper, in short neat handwriting, is this message.
Krahe,
Here is the agreed upon sum, up front, as you requested. Zack Fantana does not make it in the gauntlet. As for the other thing, we'll discuss in detail if you're able to pull it off.
--Recoba
Krahe folds the note and tosses it back into the case, closes the top and resets the locking mechanism. He stares at the case for a moment before chuckling, and then looks over his shoulder so that the camera has a perfect view of his profile. A smile plays at his lips, and his eyes are dark and foreboding as the camera suddenly zooms in on his eyes, and then switches to his pupils, and is now flowing down a long tunnel at rapid speed.
Roman style pillars start cropping up on the edges of the tunnel with images of different Valor Pro superstars. One for Zombie, Devlin, Brodie, Hawkfield, Johnson, and then finally Zack Fantana. The pillars fall away as the camera keeps trudging forward, but this time there are two pillars blocking the way. On the left is Elina Cartel, the Monarch Championship over her shoulder. On the right is Ace Devereux, the Gladiator Championship over his. The camera doesn't slow, not even a bit, before crashing head long into the pillars. The screen explodes, and when the bright flash recedes, the 7 Pillars logo appears on the screen.
The atmosphere in the Futsal Arena in Rome, Italy is positively electric. Despite its infancy as a company, fans of Valor Pro Wrestling have arrived in force and threaten to blow the doors off the arena with sheer volume. Cameras pan overhead, and sweep the raucous crowd as lights sweep and pulse. Down at floor level, in front of their freshly minted announce table, sit the Othello Brothers, smiling and soaking up the crowd.
Laurence Othello: Good evening, fans, to a night you aren't going to forget. We are coming to you only on Fite TV from the Futsal Arena in Rome, Italy, birthplace of the empire that created the Western Hemisphere as we know it to bring you Valor Pro Wrestling's first ever pay-pew view event: The Seven Pillars.
Kenneth Othello: This one is going to be huge. Tonight, squaring off in just a few moments will be the Valor debut of Dakota Jennings against the richest man from Kansas--
LO: Sausalito, California, Ken.
KO: Sure. Davy Blossom! Not only that, but following hot on the heels of that match we're going to witness 'The Fox' Cross Recoba taking on Maverick Mason Jones. Let me say, Ken, tonight promises to be historic. Vanessa Byrne has made it her mission to put Valor Pro Wrestling on the map, and tonight she will do just that.
LO: Tonight is historic, no matter what, that's for sure. Not only is it our first time streaming on Fite TV, it's going to be the night when two titles become one when the Monarch Champion, Elina Cartel, faces Gladiator Champion Acve Devereux in a unification match to crown the first ever a--
KO: Don't spoil it, Laur.
LO: (Laughs) Right, right. You'll see it when we get there. And the night doesn't end there. Tonight, in honor of the seven hills of Rome, this pay Per View gets its namesake from that, and hosts a seven pillars match in which we're going to see seven competitors fight for their right to be Valor Pro's first UnYielding Champion!
KO: It's a huge match. Whoever makes it to the end will have overcome a gauntlet worthy of the greatest gladiators to grace the Roman Empire. This night is going to be explosive. Not to mention the surprises.
LO: Surprises?
KO: Surprises. Always surprises. Our illustrious General Manager is going to make sure this night sticks in the memory of all who witness this show long after the curtains are drawn and the lights go down.
LO: And I can't bloody wait. Let's get right down to it!
LO: We've got an exciting opening bout here between a debuting Dakota Jennings against the despicable Davy Blossom.
KO: Despicable? Davy is high class society, mate. I think you're just biased.
LO: Maybe you're right, and proud of it. I tend to agree with the rest of society where snobby cheats deserve to have their faces handed back to them.
KO: Opinions like that is the reason the world is in the state that its in, but regardless, let's get to our lovely ring announcer to get the details...
Ring Announcer: The following contest is our opening bout of the evening, and is scheduled for one fall or submission....
'The Heart Asks Pleasure First' by Michael Nyman hits over the PA System, and the fans instantly turn sour as at the top of the ramp appears Elegance, wearing a strapless silver gown and a matching clutch purse. She steps to the side, and her white gloved hands indicate the curtain where Davy Blossom appears, tuxedo with tails, top hat, cane, and all. His smile glows as he extends his arm, Elegance intertwining hers with his, and the two begin their way down to the ring regally with their noses in the air.
Ring Announcer: Being led to the ring by his valet, Elegance, he stands at six foot two and weights in at 230 pounds....hailing from Sausilito, California.....He is "The Dew Drop of Wrestling", "The Upper Crust of Society", "The Flower In A Bed Full Of Weeds".....DAVY BLOSSSOOMMMM!!
Davy seems satisfied with the introduction he most assuredly turned into the production team himself, while the ring announcer flips through her cue cards in confusion. Elegance takes the steps first, sitting on the middle rope to allow her man into the ring, and then him doing much the same with the bottom rope to allow her entry. She curtsies and he bows, all the while getting booed out of the arena.
LO: And this is the guy you says has all the answers?
KO: I didn't say he had all of them, just the good ones.
LO: Oh brother....
The mood completely shifts when the opening lyrics to 'Survival' by Eminem hits over the PA system, and purple lights begin flashing around the entrance way. Bursting through the curtain is Dakota Jennings hod nods her head to the beat of the song, stopping at the top of the ramp to throw one hand into the air to point at the sky. The fans react with a loud ovation as she starts down to the ring with swagger.
Ring Announcer: And introducing his opponent, standing at five foot six and weighing in at 115 pounds...making her Valor Pro debut from Scottsdale, Arizona.....She is DAKOTA JENNNINNNGGGSS!!
Kota by passes the steps to hop up on the ring apron, and look out at the crowd, calling out confidently to the crowd as her body moves to the music. She slips through the ropes to enter the ring, and regards Davy and Elegance with a smirk as she makes her way to the corner and hops to the second, fist pumping the air along with the crowds chants.
LO: Well, Dakota Jennings seems to have a fan following already in Valor Pro, but I wonder if these fans have took to their dirt sheets to see who her boyfriend is?
KO: Hey, I don't want to get into this with you again. Cross Recoba is awesome, and he'll have his chance to prove that here tonight, but I would dare say that he is the most impactful superstar we've had thus far in Valor Pro.
LO: Well, I can't deny that the man made an impact, and I'm sure Dakota Jennings is planning on making one herself if she can overcome the tag team of Davy Blossom and Elegance.
KO: Oh don't say it like that! She's facing Davy Blossom out here. Elegance is just an innocent advocate that has been unfairly labeled a distraction. She can't help that she's beautiful.
LO: ......Saved by the bell, cause here we go. Davy and Dakota are circling one another for a lock up, but wait....what is Blossom doing?
KO: He must have forgot something, cause he just disengaged and went over to talk to Elegance.
Davy slips his head through the ropes and opens his mouth, and Elegance produces a thin spray vial from somewhere in her dress, and gives him two squirts. He puckers his mouth, and checks his breath against the back of his hand. Satisfied, he asks for the vial which she provides, and returns to the ring, offering Dakota Jennings a chance to refresh her breath. Instead, Jennings slaps the piss out of the man. Davy is shocked, but the fans laughter seem to bring him back to reality as he rears back on Jennings with a sneer. Just then Elegance is on the ring apron, and she's calling for him to regroup over in the far corner. Davy steps over, and the two begin to converse. The ref starts asking what's going on, and all of this is all that Jennings can stand as she rushes the corner to break up the pow wow. Davy slips out of the way at the same time that Elegance drops down to the safety of the floor. Dakota's focus is split just long enough between the two, that by the time she turns back to Blossom she's caught right in the face with a forearm that knocks her back into the corner.
LO: Yeah. Those two are so culturally sophisticated that they do nothing but misdirect and cheat.
KO: Whatever works, brother of mine, and this ploy has worked!
Davy tee's off with right hands until the Ref, Diego Santiago, interjects and demands they get out of the corner. Davy complies, pulling Kota out, hooks her around the head, and takes her over with a snap-mare. This leaves Dakota in a sitting position, still near the corner, and Davy hops up to the second rope only to dive off and hook Jennings by the head on the way down with a massive neck snap. Kota recoils down to the mat holding her shoulders, and Davy grins at the booing crowd before coming back over and laying the boots to her. Elegance is the only one cheering him on from ringside when he pulls Jennings up to her feet, sends her off the ropes, and catches her coming back with a hip toss followed by a fist drop straight to her forehead. She clutches at her skull as Davy covers her for a quick pin attempt.
1...
LO: Dakota out at one, but Davy appears to have the control here in the early going.
KO: That's what its all about, Laur. Money, Power, and Control!
Laurence doesn't get a chance to respond before Davy has Dakota back up, hooks her around the midsection, and then thunders her back to the mat with a sidewalk slam. He's up in an instance as Dakota clutches at her lower back, giving him the perfect opportunity to take his measure, and then hover his knee over her face for what seems like an eternity before suddenly dropping to catch her in the forehead.
LO: This guy and his deliberate knee drop. I mean, he telegraphs it for so long I'm surprised that Dakota didn't just sweep his other leg out from under him. Now that would have been hilarious.
KO: Maybe so, but I guess that's why he makes sure they are sufficiently grounded so he can execute the maneuver. He's just trying to help bring a little drama to the cretins at home.
LO: Oh God...here he goes again....
The knee drop takes forever, the longest in the world, but this time when he drops there's nothing there to meet his knee but hard canvas. Davy winces a bit getting back to his feet where he catches an unbelievably stiff kick to his chest from Dakota that sends him stumbling into the ropes. When he bounces back, he's caught square in the face with a spinning heel kick that takes him down to the mat. It's Jennings turn at momentum now as she rushes the ropes only to springboard off into a moonsault turned into double knee's that find Davy's midsection. He kicks while holding his gut in pain, and Kota doesn't miss a beat as she falls back into the ropes once more, and rushes back out to simply throw her feet out from under her and crush Blossom with a running sentan. She flips over for the cover.
1...
2...
KO: Davy out at two, but that doesn't even deter Jennings, who's back on her feet and stalking towards the corner. She's perched on the top with one leap, and shes calling for Davy to get up. Don't do it Davy! It's a Trap!
LO: No, this is a trap! Davy is feigning to the ref that he's injured, and he's directed the man so that his back is directly in front of Dakota's perch!
KO: Haha, yeah. Look at this, Elegance just hopped up on the ring apron, and is trying to help Jennings down. What a peach!
LO: Help her down!?! She's trying to push her off the top rope, but Jennings is having none of it. SHE JUST KICKED ELEGANCE IN THE FACE AND OFF THE RING APRON!
KO: OH MY GOD! SHE'S A LADY!
LO: Whatever, but this distraction has given Davy all the time he needed, and he just shoved the referee out of the way and rushed the corner...OH! HE JUST SHOVED DAKOTA JENNING BACKWARDS AND SHE IMPACTED OFF THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
KO: Ouch! That didn't look good!
LO: Of course it didn't look good! That's at least a twelve foot drop, and now Davy is on the outside helping that Jezebel of a wife to her feet!
KO: Damn Laur, you're making it out as if this was somehow Elegance's fault!
LO: ARE WE EVEN WATCHING THE SAME MATCH?!?
Elegance assures Davy that she is fine, but she points in disdain at Dakota Jennings who is struggling to her feet, and Blossom turns in her direction with malicious intent in his expression. Stalking over he grabs the woman by a fistful of hair, and bounces her skull of the steel steps, before swinging her by the hair so that her body slams off the guard rail. Dakota slumps against the steel in pain as the Ref admonishes Davy, and demands he get it back in the ring before being counted out. Blossom sniffs the air and his expression is one of someone who has a nostril full of shit before he pulls Dakota up, and tosses her under the bottom rope. He hops up onto the ring apron, and makes his own way up to the top, albeit much slower than Dakota's leap.
KO: Well, this is different. Davy has decided to show us how he can fly, something that I don't believe he's ever displayed before.
LO: Good God, you're talking about the man like you know him intimately. HE JUST STARTED IN VALOR LAST WEEK!
KO: I don't know what to tell you, it's like we're connected.
Davy calls for silence from his perch, which only incites the Roman crowd to boo even louder, before he takes flight with a top rope leg drop. Unfortunately Jennings rolls out of the way at the last minute, leaving Davy to awkwardly paw at his bum in pain. Davy, still seated, is in perfect position for Dakota as she starts firing in rapid side kicks that the fans begins to count along with. When she gets to ten, she steps back into a Thai stance, and flashes her foot out for a roundhouse to Davy's skull. Either because he saw it coming, or because the ten other kicks knocked the bejesus out of him, Davy falls forward to avoid the blow, and upon realizing she missed, Dakota turns back to her opponent only to be thumbed in the eye for her effort.
LO: The ref all over Davy Blossom for that cheap shot, but Davy just waves him off as he gets to his feet, and comes up behind a blind Dakota!
KO: He gives her a shove, and this sends her toppling right the the middle and top rope back to the outside. Well that was unfortunate!
LO: Yeah, I'm sure that wasn't planned, cause while Davy argues with the referee in the center of the ring, Elegance is sneaking up on Jennings!
KO: I'm sure she's just going to give her more help like she did before.
Dakota leans against the ring apron, reaching up to the middle rope to help herself back in the ring, when Elegance rushes in behind her and clobbers her with her clutch bag. Jennings falls back to the floor clutching her spine, while Elegance zooms back around the ring post at a good distance to play innocent.
LO: Did you see that?!?! That clutch bag has to be loaded!
KO: Yeah, I'm sure it is, with cash.
LO: Oh come on, Ken, admit it. This isn't fair.
KO: Alright, alright, maybe that wasn't on the up and up, but it's done now, and it looks like Davy Blossom and company are going to get away with it.
Davy disengages with the referee now that Elegance is out of the way, and he deftly slips through the ropes only to pull Dakota up, and toss her back inside. He's in quickly, rolling her towards the ring, and then hooking her leg for the cover.
1...
2...
KO: Thre---NO! That was so freakin' close!
LO: I don't know what was in that clutch, but whatever it was, it almost bought Davy Blossom a victory.
Davy looks incensed that Dakota Jennings even dare to kick out after his cohorts careful planing, and he jerks the woman off the mat by her hair, and sends her to the far side ropes. He looks like he's ready for a spinebuster in the center of the ring when she returns, but as soon as she's lifted in the air, Dakota manages to hook him around the head, and swings her feet to spike his head off the mat with a modified tornado DDT. Elegance is beside herself on the outside, and is upon the apron in a flash, screaming at the referee that this is not fair. The referee threatens to send her to the back, but before he can do anything, Dakota Jennings is there, snatching Elegance by a fistful of blonde hair. The valet flails wildly, calming for just long enough to swing the clutch bag aimed at Dakota's face. Jennings catches her by the arm, however, and wrenches the purse free of her grasp before running her across the ring apron to slam face first into the ring post. Elegance is sent reeling to the concrete floor clutching her skull, while Jennings begins emptying the contents of the clutch bag.
LO: YOU SEE! I TOLD YOU! SHE HAD A BRICK IN THAT THING!
KO: That......is unfortunate.
LO: Yeah, and even more unfortunate is all of this has allowed Davy to make it back to his feet, and he looks like a rabid dog just begging for Dakota Jennings to turn back around.
KO: Well he's about to get his wish....Boot to the midsection, hook around the head, "DECRESCENDO AL PIANISSIMO OF THE WORLD'S MOST BREATHTAKING SYMPHONY"!!!
LO: In laymen's terms, a snap-mare neckbreaker...
KO: Yeah, and here goes Davy for the pin! 1...2....THRE-WHAT THE HELL?!?!
LO: Dakota Jennings got out at the longest two count in the world!
KO: Davy Blossom is beside himself, and rightfully so!
LO: Oh come on, now he's berating the referee for a slow count. Diego Santiago is just trying to do his job, and I didn't see it. Dakota Jennings just has a little more than Davy Blossom had counted on.
KO: I don't know......Santiago looks awfully Caucasian for a guy named Diego!
LO: What does that have to do with anything? All I know, is that Davy Blossom is done with the referee, and now he's calling for Elegance to get up. She's been down since being run face first into the ring post.
KO: I understand. The man is completely lost without her.
LO: Well, he's wasted an incredible amount of time that he could have used to hit Dakota with something else, and shes managed to get back to her feet over on the opposite side of the ring.
KO: Yeah, and it looks like Davy just realized that, cause he just tore across the ring to get at her!
Davy comes flying at Kota like a bat out of hell, but she manages to swing both feet up in the air which abruptly sends Davy crashing to the mat when his face meets the soles of her boots. He appears dazed as he slowly gets to his feet, giving Jennings enough time to quickly scramble to the top rope. When Davy turns back in her direction, she dives off to hook him around the head, and take him over in a devastating hurricanrana. Blossom's head spikes off the mat, and Dakota manages to reach back and hook one of his legs, bringing it all the way back to his chest while straddling his face for a pin.
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: It Came From Scottsdale see's Dakota Jennings get her first win here in Valor Pro over Davy Blossom!
KO: It came from where?
LO: Its the name of the move she just did.......you know what, nevermind.
Ring Announcer: And the winner of this match by Pinfall......DAKOTA JENNNINNNGGGSS!!
KO: Impressive debut from Dakota, and what did I tell you, Laur? No Recoba in sight!
LO: Will wonders never cease, but in this case, I might have made an exception. He could have balanced out the ridiculous amount of interference that Elegance brings to every Davy Blossom match.
KO: Hey, watch it. Davy may have lost this one, but she's still a lady.
LO: Whatever. Folks, we've got so much more in store for you tonight, but first, let's check to see what's going on with our backstage correspondents!
KO: Despicable? Davy is high class society, mate. I think you're just biased.
LO: Maybe you're right, and proud of it. I tend to agree with the rest of society where snobby cheats deserve to have their faces handed back to them.
KO: Opinions like that is the reason the world is in the state that its in, but regardless, let's get to our lovely ring announcer to get the details...
Ring Announcer: The following contest is our opening bout of the evening, and is scheduled for one fall or submission....
'The Heart Asks Pleasure First' by Michael Nyman hits over the PA System, and the fans instantly turn sour as at the top of the ramp appears Elegance, wearing a strapless silver gown and a matching clutch purse. She steps to the side, and her white gloved hands indicate the curtain where Davy Blossom appears, tuxedo with tails, top hat, cane, and all. His smile glows as he extends his arm, Elegance intertwining hers with his, and the two begin their way down to the ring regally with their noses in the air.
Ring Announcer: Being led to the ring by his valet, Elegance, he stands at six foot two and weights in at 230 pounds....hailing from Sausilito, California.....He is "The Dew Drop of Wrestling", "The Upper Crust of Society", "The Flower In A Bed Full Of Weeds".....DAVY BLOSSSOOMMMM!!
Davy seems satisfied with the introduction he most assuredly turned into the production team himself, while the ring announcer flips through her cue cards in confusion. Elegance takes the steps first, sitting on the middle rope to allow her man into the ring, and then him doing much the same with the bottom rope to allow her entry. She curtsies and he bows, all the while getting booed out of the arena.
LO: And this is the guy you says has all the answers?
KO: I didn't say he had all of them, just the good ones.
LO: Oh brother....
The mood completely shifts when the opening lyrics to 'Survival' by Eminem hits over the PA system, and purple lights begin flashing around the entrance way. Bursting through the curtain is Dakota Jennings hod nods her head to the beat of the song, stopping at the top of the ramp to throw one hand into the air to point at the sky. The fans react with a loud ovation as she starts down to the ring with swagger.
Ring Announcer: And introducing his opponent, standing at five foot six and weighing in at 115 pounds...making her Valor Pro debut from Scottsdale, Arizona.....She is DAKOTA JENNNINNNGGGSS!!
Kota by passes the steps to hop up on the ring apron, and look out at the crowd, calling out confidently to the crowd as her body moves to the music. She slips through the ropes to enter the ring, and regards Davy and Elegance with a smirk as she makes her way to the corner and hops to the second, fist pumping the air along with the crowds chants.
LO: Well, Dakota Jennings seems to have a fan following already in Valor Pro, but I wonder if these fans have took to their dirt sheets to see who her boyfriend is?
KO: Hey, I don't want to get into this with you again. Cross Recoba is awesome, and he'll have his chance to prove that here tonight, but I would dare say that he is the most impactful superstar we've had thus far in Valor Pro.
LO: Well, I can't deny that the man made an impact, and I'm sure Dakota Jennings is planning on making one herself if she can overcome the tag team of Davy Blossom and Elegance.
KO: Oh don't say it like that! She's facing Davy Blossom out here. Elegance is just an innocent advocate that has been unfairly labeled a distraction. She can't help that she's beautiful.
LO: ......Saved by the bell, cause here we go. Davy and Dakota are circling one another for a lock up, but wait....what is Blossom doing?
KO: He must have forgot something, cause he just disengaged and went over to talk to Elegance.
Davy slips his head through the ropes and opens his mouth, and Elegance produces a thin spray vial from somewhere in her dress, and gives him two squirts. He puckers his mouth, and checks his breath against the back of his hand. Satisfied, he asks for the vial which she provides, and returns to the ring, offering Dakota Jennings a chance to refresh her breath. Instead, Jennings slaps the piss out of the man. Davy is shocked, but the fans laughter seem to bring him back to reality as he rears back on Jennings with a sneer. Just then Elegance is on the ring apron, and she's calling for him to regroup over in the far corner. Davy steps over, and the two begin to converse. The ref starts asking what's going on, and all of this is all that Jennings can stand as she rushes the corner to break up the pow wow. Davy slips out of the way at the same time that Elegance drops down to the safety of the floor. Dakota's focus is split just long enough between the two, that by the time she turns back to Blossom she's caught right in the face with a forearm that knocks her back into the corner.
LO: Yeah. Those two are so culturally sophisticated that they do nothing but misdirect and cheat.
KO: Whatever works, brother of mine, and this ploy has worked!
Davy tee's off with right hands until the Ref, Diego Santiago, interjects and demands they get out of the corner. Davy complies, pulling Kota out, hooks her around the head, and takes her over with a snap-mare. This leaves Dakota in a sitting position, still near the corner, and Davy hops up to the second rope only to dive off and hook Jennings by the head on the way down with a massive neck snap. Kota recoils down to the mat holding her shoulders, and Davy grins at the booing crowd before coming back over and laying the boots to her. Elegance is the only one cheering him on from ringside when he pulls Jennings up to her feet, sends her off the ropes, and catches her coming back with a hip toss followed by a fist drop straight to her forehead. She clutches at her skull as Davy covers her for a quick pin attempt.
1...
LO: Dakota out at one, but Davy appears to have the control here in the early going.
KO: That's what its all about, Laur. Money, Power, and Control!
Laurence doesn't get a chance to respond before Davy has Dakota back up, hooks her around the midsection, and then thunders her back to the mat with a sidewalk slam. He's up in an instance as Dakota clutches at her lower back, giving him the perfect opportunity to take his measure, and then hover his knee over her face for what seems like an eternity before suddenly dropping to catch her in the forehead.
LO: This guy and his deliberate knee drop. I mean, he telegraphs it for so long I'm surprised that Dakota didn't just sweep his other leg out from under him. Now that would have been hilarious.
KO: Maybe so, but I guess that's why he makes sure they are sufficiently grounded so he can execute the maneuver. He's just trying to help bring a little drama to the cretins at home.
LO: Oh God...here he goes again....
The knee drop takes forever, the longest in the world, but this time when he drops there's nothing there to meet his knee but hard canvas. Davy winces a bit getting back to his feet where he catches an unbelievably stiff kick to his chest from Dakota that sends him stumbling into the ropes. When he bounces back, he's caught square in the face with a spinning heel kick that takes him down to the mat. It's Jennings turn at momentum now as she rushes the ropes only to springboard off into a moonsault turned into double knee's that find Davy's midsection. He kicks while holding his gut in pain, and Kota doesn't miss a beat as she falls back into the ropes once more, and rushes back out to simply throw her feet out from under her and crush Blossom with a running sentan. She flips over for the cover.
1...
2...
KO: Davy out at two, but that doesn't even deter Jennings, who's back on her feet and stalking towards the corner. She's perched on the top with one leap, and shes calling for Davy to get up. Don't do it Davy! It's a Trap!
LO: No, this is a trap! Davy is feigning to the ref that he's injured, and he's directed the man so that his back is directly in front of Dakota's perch!
KO: Haha, yeah. Look at this, Elegance just hopped up on the ring apron, and is trying to help Jennings down. What a peach!
LO: Help her down!?! She's trying to push her off the top rope, but Jennings is having none of it. SHE JUST KICKED ELEGANCE IN THE FACE AND OFF THE RING APRON!
KO: OH MY GOD! SHE'S A LADY!
LO: Whatever, but this distraction has given Davy all the time he needed, and he just shoved the referee out of the way and rushed the corner...OH! HE JUST SHOVED DAKOTA JENNING BACKWARDS AND SHE IMPACTED OFF THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
KO: Ouch! That didn't look good!
LO: Of course it didn't look good! That's at least a twelve foot drop, and now Davy is on the outside helping that Jezebel of a wife to her feet!
KO: Damn Laur, you're making it out as if this was somehow Elegance's fault!
LO: ARE WE EVEN WATCHING THE SAME MATCH?!?
Elegance assures Davy that she is fine, but she points in disdain at Dakota Jennings who is struggling to her feet, and Blossom turns in her direction with malicious intent in his expression. Stalking over he grabs the woman by a fistful of hair, and bounces her skull of the steel steps, before swinging her by the hair so that her body slams off the guard rail. Dakota slumps against the steel in pain as the Ref admonishes Davy, and demands he get it back in the ring before being counted out. Blossom sniffs the air and his expression is one of someone who has a nostril full of shit before he pulls Dakota up, and tosses her under the bottom rope. He hops up onto the ring apron, and makes his own way up to the top, albeit much slower than Dakota's leap.
KO: Well, this is different. Davy has decided to show us how he can fly, something that I don't believe he's ever displayed before.
LO: Good God, you're talking about the man like you know him intimately. HE JUST STARTED IN VALOR LAST WEEK!
KO: I don't know what to tell you, it's like we're connected.
Davy calls for silence from his perch, which only incites the Roman crowd to boo even louder, before he takes flight with a top rope leg drop. Unfortunately Jennings rolls out of the way at the last minute, leaving Davy to awkwardly paw at his bum in pain. Davy, still seated, is in perfect position for Dakota as she starts firing in rapid side kicks that the fans begins to count along with. When she gets to ten, she steps back into a Thai stance, and flashes her foot out for a roundhouse to Davy's skull. Either because he saw it coming, or because the ten other kicks knocked the bejesus out of him, Davy falls forward to avoid the blow, and upon realizing she missed, Dakota turns back to her opponent only to be thumbed in the eye for her effort.
LO: The ref all over Davy Blossom for that cheap shot, but Davy just waves him off as he gets to his feet, and comes up behind a blind Dakota!
KO: He gives her a shove, and this sends her toppling right the the middle and top rope back to the outside. Well that was unfortunate!
LO: Yeah, I'm sure that wasn't planned, cause while Davy argues with the referee in the center of the ring, Elegance is sneaking up on Jennings!
KO: I'm sure she's just going to give her more help like she did before.
Dakota leans against the ring apron, reaching up to the middle rope to help herself back in the ring, when Elegance rushes in behind her and clobbers her with her clutch bag. Jennings falls back to the floor clutching her spine, while Elegance zooms back around the ring post at a good distance to play innocent.
LO: Did you see that?!?! That clutch bag has to be loaded!
KO: Yeah, I'm sure it is, with cash.
LO: Oh come on, Ken, admit it. This isn't fair.
KO: Alright, alright, maybe that wasn't on the up and up, but it's done now, and it looks like Davy Blossom and company are going to get away with it.
Davy disengages with the referee now that Elegance is out of the way, and he deftly slips through the ropes only to pull Dakota up, and toss her back inside. He's in quickly, rolling her towards the ring, and then hooking her leg for the cover.
1...
2...
KO: Thre---NO! That was so freakin' close!
LO: I don't know what was in that clutch, but whatever it was, it almost bought Davy Blossom a victory.
Davy looks incensed that Dakota Jennings even dare to kick out after his cohorts careful planing, and he jerks the woman off the mat by her hair, and sends her to the far side ropes. He looks like he's ready for a spinebuster in the center of the ring when she returns, but as soon as she's lifted in the air, Dakota manages to hook him around the head, and swings her feet to spike his head off the mat with a modified tornado DDT. Elegance is beside herself on the outside, and is upon the apron in a flash, screaming at the referee that this is not fair. The referee threatens to send her to the back, but before he can do anything, Dakota Jennings is there, snatching Elegance by a fistful of blonde hair. The valet flails wildly, calming for just long enough to swing the clutch bag aimed at Dakota's face. Jennings catches her by the arm, however, and wrenches the purse free of her grasp before running her across the ring apron to slam face first into the ring post. Elegance is sent reeling to the concrete floor clutching her skull, while Jennings begins emptying the contents of the clutch bag.
LO: YOU SEE! I TOLD YOU! SHE HAD A BRICK IN THAT THING!
KO: That......is unfortunate.
LO: Yeah, and even more unfortunate is all of this has allowed Davy to make it back to his feet, and he looks like a rabid dog just begging for Dakota Jennings to turn back around.
KO: Well he's about to get his wish....Boot to the midsection, hook around the head, "DECRESCENDO AL PIANISSIMO OF THE WORLD'S MOST BREATHTAKING SYMPHONY"!!!
LO: In laymen's terms, a snap-mare neckbreaker...
KO: Yeah, and here goes Davy for the pin! 1...2....THRE-WHAT THE HELL?!?!
LO: Dakota Jennings got out at the longest two count in the world!
KO: Davy Blossom is beside himself, and rightfully so!
LO: Oh come on, now he's berating the referee for a slow count. Diego Santiago is just trying to do his job, and I didn't see it. Dakota Jennings just has a little more than Davy Blossom had counted on.
KO: I don't know......Santiago looks awfully Caucasian for a guy named Diego!
LO: What does that have to do with anything? All I know, is that Davy Blossom is done with the referee, and now he's calling for Elegance to get up. She's been down since being run face first into the ring post.
KO: I understand. The man is completely lost without her.
LO: Well, he's wasted an incredible amount of time that he could have used to hit Dakota with something else, and shes managed to get back to her feet over on the opposite side of the ring.
KO: Yeah, and it looks like Davy just realized that, cause he just tore across the ring to get at her!
Davy comes flying at Kota like a bat out of hell, but she manages to swing both feet up in the air which abruptly sends Davy crashing to the mat when his face meets the soles of her boots. He appears dazed as he slowly gets to his feet, giving Jennings enough time to quickly scramble to the top rope. When Davy turns back in her direction, she dives off to hook him around the head, and take him over in a devastating hurricanrana. Blossom's head spikes off the mat, and Dakota manages to reach back and hook one of his legs, bringing it all the way back to his chest while straddling his face for a pin.
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: It Came From Scottsdale see's Dakota Jennings get her first win here in Valor Pro over Davy Blossom!
KO: It came from where?
LO: Its the name of the move she just did.......you know what, nevermind.
Ring Announcer: And the winner of this match by Pinfall......DAKOTA JENNNINNNGGGSS!!
KO: Impressive debut from Dakota, and what did I tell you, Laur? No Recoba in sight!
LO: Will wonders never cease, but in this case, I might have made an exception. He could have balanced out the ridiculous amount of interference that Elegance brings to every Davy Blossom match.
KO: Hey, watch it. Davy may have lost this one, but she's still a lady.
LO: Whatever. Folks, we've got so much more in store for you tonight, but first, let's check to see what's going on with our backstage correspondents!
Through the doors barges W.P. Tango! It looks like he even brushed his teeth for the event as he makes his way into the backstage area with a toothy smile on his face. As he goes, he passes members of the roster standing around backstage, because that’s what they do when they aren’t wrestling! He looks excited and ready and just a little bit out of his mind! He’s about to make his way to see the owner of the company or maybe a custodian, depending on which door he chooses, when he’s confronted by a backstage staffer.
Staffer: Excuse me sir, but you shouldn’t be back here. This area is for VPW staff only.
WP: Oh, didn’t you get the memo? I’m staff now. Well, roster. I wrestle. I’m a wrestler. Pretty exciting.
Staffer: Your credentials, sir?
WP: Well that’s a tough one. I guess I’m just a go getter, a straight shooter. I see something and I go get it. Like the donuts for sale? I got one. I didn’t pay for it. I probably should have, but I was really hungry and didn’t have any money. I think that goes to show that when I want something, I make it happen. Great credentials for being a pro athlete.
Staffer: No, I mean as in a document to prove you have the right to be in this area.
WP: Oh! Of course!
Willie Pete digs in his pocket and all the while maintains an uncomfortable amount of eye contact with the staffer. He digs deep, damn near up to his elbow deep in his hip pocket. Finally, he produces a document from his pocket. He hands it over. The staffer takes a look at the document and eyes Willie.
Staffer: This is a receipt from McDonalds.
WP: Oh. Yeah! That’s right, I’d better take that. I ordered a double quarter pounder with cheese and only got a regular quarter pounder with cheese. Need to take this back in and get that pattie I was promised. That’s like two dollars worth of meat! Isn’t that crazy? You know what else is crazy? Why don’t they just call the double quarter pounder with cheese a half pounder with cheese? Sometimes I try, when I go in, to order a half pounder with cheese, but the person behind the counter looks at me like he has no fucking idea what I’m talking about.
Willie eyes the staffer for a moment.
WP: Kind of like how you’re looking at me right now.
Staffer: Sir, if you cannot produce valid documentation, I’m going to have to require you follow me to the exit, right now.
WP: Just a second.
Again, Willie Pete digs into his pocket and this time, there’s a more intense version of unnecessary eye contact maintained. Now his left hand enters his left hip pocket and both arms work in concert in an attempt to locate the valid documentation the staffer so desires. Willie Pete gasps a moment.
WP: No, that was just one of my testicles, hold on.
He continues digging.
Staffer: Sir, it’s clear that you do not have documentation. You’re not on the list, so please, follow me to the exit.
WP: List?! What list?! You’re saying that I have to be on a list?! Sounds an awful lot like the same list they put Jewish names on when they were planning on holocausting them! You might think I look jewish, but I’m clearly Armenian and Albanian, but all American! You can’t stiffle me!
He’s still digging in his pockets, to be clear.
Staffer: I meant no offense, sir, I’m simply referring to the list of staff and roster members allowed in this area.
WP: Oh? Well why didn’t you say that? Ha. Wow. Got racist pretty quick. You...I’m going to watch you.
Staffer: Sir, I’m not…
Before the staffer can utter another word, Willie Pete pulls out two fist fulls of…
WP: POCKET SAND!
Staffer: Excuse me sir, but you shouldn’t be back here. This area is for VPW staff only.
WP: Oh, didn’t you get the memo? I’m staff now. Well, roster. I wrestle. I’m a wrestler. Pretty exciting.
Staffer: Your credentials, sir?
WP: Well that’s a tough one. I guess I’m just a go getter, a straight shooter. I see something and I go get it. Like the donuts for sale? I got one. I didn’t pay for it. I probably should have, but I was really hungry and didn’t have any money. I think that goes to show that when I want something, I make it happen. Great credentials for being a pro athlete.
Staffer: No, I mean as in a document to prove you have the right to be in this area.
WP: Oh! Of course!
Willie Pete digs in his pocket and all the while maintains an uncomfortable amount of eye contact with the staffer. He digs deep, damn near up to his elbow deep in his hip pocket. Finally, he produces a document from his pocket. He hands it over. The staffer takes a look at the document and eyes Willie.
Staffer: This is a receipt from McDonalds.
WP: Oh. Yeah! That’s right, I’d better take that. I ordered a double quarter pounder with cheese and only got a regular quarter pounder with cheese. Need to take this back in and get that pattie I was promised. That’s like two dollars worth of meat! Isn’t that crazy? You know what else is crazy? Why don’t they just call the double quarter pounder with cheese a half pounder with cheese? Sometimes I try, when I go in, to order a half pounder with cheese, but the person behind the counter looks at me like he has no fucking idea what I’m talking about.
Willie eyes the staffer for a moment.
WP: Kind of like how you’re looking at me right now.
Staffer: Sir, if you cannot produce valid documentation, I’m going to have to require you follow me to the exit, right now.
WP: Just a second.
Again, Willie Pete digs into his pocket and this time, there’s a more intense version of unnecessary eye contact maintained. Now his left hand enters his left hip pocket and both arms work in concert in an attempt to locate the valid documentation the staffer so desires. Willie Pete gasps a moment.
WP: No, that was just one of my testicles, hold on.
He continues digging.
Staffer: Sir, it’s clear that you do not have documentation. You’re not on the list, so please, follow me to the exit.
WP: List?! What list?! You’re saying that I have to be on a list?! Sounds an awful lot like the same list they put Jewish names on when they were planning on holocausting them! You might think I look jewish, but I’m clearly Armenian and Albanian, but all American! You can’t stiffle me!
He’s still digging in his pockets, to be clear.
Staffer: I meant no offense, sir, I’m simply referring to the list of staff and roster members allowed in this area.
WP: Oh? Well why didn’t you say that? Ha. Wow. Got racist pretty quick. You...I’m going to watch you.
Staffer: Sir, I’m not…
Before the staffer can utter another word, Willie Pete pulls out two fist fulls of…
WP: POCKET SAND!
The staffer is immediately blinded by both the pocket sand and keen memories of King of the Hill as Willie Pete runs off down a hallway.
We cut to an action shot backstage at the Futsai Arena. Despite the white noise from the previous Blitz events, Roxi Johnson seems to have risen well above it in preparation for her quest to obtain the UnYielding Championship this evening at 7 Pillars. Engaging in warm-up stretches and dressed for battle, her focus looks disciplined. So much, in fact, that a pair of figures almost go unnoticed as they step into the shot.
Enter Davy Blossom and Elegance.
Despite their usual affliction for evening wear, it is a drastic deviation from standard for their present attire. Elegance is dressed in long flowing robes, only a few shades opaque enough to leave some room for imagination. Her hair is sculpted as if she were preparing to attend her senior prom: bunched up in a queen’s do and pinned together tightly at the crown of her skull.
Blossom, however, looks ridiculous.
A pair of feathers are tied tightly around his torso, pinned at his shoulder blades and stretching down to his ankles. A white loin cloth is his body’s only cover. In his left hand, he carries a longbow that is matched with a quiver of arrows hanging off a shoulder strap to his side.
We can only ascertain that since we’re in Rome, Davy Blossom and Elegance are indeed “doing as they do,” or at least did centuries ago.
Roxi turns and immediately casts a violent stare toward the pair, masquerading as characters of Roman folklore. However, her veteran sense is sharp enough to signal her brain that this is not the couple who would likely have the courage to attack her face-to-face. Understanding that her energy is best spared for her title opportunity, she mutters cautiously.
Roxi Johnson: What do you two want?
Elegance: Excusez-moi, mademoiselle. Is that any way to address what was once thought to be simply mythology, yet is now right before your very eyes? Psyche and Cupid, Italie’s most revered couple, has paid you a personal call.
Roxi rolls her eyes in indifference.
RJ: Great. Pleased to meet you. Take the costume party somewhere else.
E: Si vulgarie!
Davy chuckles, placing a comforting hand on Elegance’s shoulder to console her.
Davy Blossom: Now now, my uncovered treasure. As I warned you, we are not exactly dealing with someone entrenched in matters of foreign culture.
He turns to Roxi, clarifying their appearance.
DB: If I could beg your attention for just a moment.
RJ: Beg away.
Blossom nods, chuckling at what he thinks was a clever play on words by his nemesis.
DB: You see, upon hours and hours of self reflection, my songbird and I felt much remorse over the way we crudely used you as an example of our fine stature here in Valour Pro several weeks ago. Therefore, in the spirit of the oft-lauded humanities of Rome, we have come to extend an olive branch.
Roxi glares at Blossom suspiciously.
RJ: You have to realize by this point I’m not as stupid as you think I am.
DB: Well, certainly not stupid. Perhaps not quite as learned as myself, but rest assured that no assumptions have been made of your general acuity. Mademoiselle, I think you’ll find…
RJ: Let’s stop right there. As smart as you think you both are, let me point out a little discrepancy you might not have realized.
Roxi points at both Elegance and Davy as she makes her point known.
RJ: BOTH of you referred to me as ‘mademoiselle’ in what is the most cliched attempt at sounding sophisticated that I’ve ever heard. The fact is, that term is specifically reserved for single women: which I’m not. The proper term is ‘madame.’
Blossom chuckles, which is then in turn joined in by Elegance, who snakes her arms around his bear chest as they enjoy the laughter.
DB: And that, my dear, is PRECISELY why Cupid and Psyche have paid you a visit. You see, I am not a man who feels as though words are capable of mending a bond. Nay, I prefer action.
As coyly as possible, Elegance reaches into the quiver at Davy’s hip to withdraw an arrow, sneaking it behind her to gently place in his opposite hand.
DB: You see, while at present you may be Madame Johnson, it is clear as the stream of the Tiber River that the strain of our grueling travel schedule coupled with your desires for glory have placed an undue burden on your family life.
Roxi’s fist begins to ball up, should this be going in the direction that she suspects. Meanwhile, Blossom has taken a few paces back in preparation.
DB: Therefore, with the strike of Cupid’s arrow, the enchantment of a truer, more pure love shall fall upon you by laying sight on the first person you will see! Which will likely be that man holding the camera, right there. Nay, he is not of high stock nor of low cholesterol, but the two of you will have the ability to spend every waking moment together here in Valour Pro. And alas, you will then more accurately be deemed...a madame!
Davy, extremely catlike, places the arrow into his bow and quickly shoots it in Roxi’s general direction before she can react.
However, despite the fact that he was quick on the draw, his aim lacked something to be desired. The arrow flies way off target. A look of confusion spreads across his face, but it rapidly turns into a look of concern.
Roxi, using this moment to her advantage, shoves Elegance away from the scene and strikes Blossom with a hard elbow. This stuns Davy and doubles him over. This makes for a picture perfect setup to Johnson delivering a modified Ray of Hope, sending him crumpling to the floor.
Her two foes on the floor, Roxi notices the shoulder satchel next to her feet. Smiling, she retrieves two of the arrows from inside it. She strides over to Elegance, gently piercing her arm with the tip of the weapon.
She then turns to Blossom, and notices that he is in a position that not even the most moral person could resist taking advantage of in this situation. Like a medieval knight, Roxi holds the arrow up to her shoulders and DRIVES it directly into the rear end of “Cupid,” striking him with his own medicine.
RJ: Let’s just hope the first thing you two see is each other when you wake up.
Enter Davy Blossom and Elegance.
Despite their usual affliction for evening wear, it is a drastic deviation from standard for their present attire. Elegance is dressed in long flowing robes, only a few shades opaque enough to leave some room for imagination. Her hair is sculpted as if she were preparing to attend her senior prom: bunched up in a queen’s do and pinned together tightly at the crown of her skull.
Blossom, however, looks ridiculous.
A pair of feathers are tied tightly around his torso, pinned at his shoulder blades and stretching down to his ankles. A white loin cloth is his body’s only cover. In his left hand, he carries a longbow that is matched with a quiver of arrows hanging off a shoulder strap to his side.
We can only ascertain that since we’re in Rome, Davy Blossom and Elegance are indeed “doing as they do,” or at least did centuries ago.
Roxi turns and immediately casts a violent stare toward the pair, masquerading as characters of Roman folklore. However, her veteran sense is sharp enough to signal her brain that this is not the couple who would likely have the courage to attack her face-to-face. Understanding that her energy is best spared for her title opportunity, she mutters cautiously.
Roxi Johnson: What do you two want?
Elegance: Excusez-moi, mademoiselle. Is that any way to address what was once thought to be simply mythology, yet is now right before your very eyes? Psyche and Cupid, Italie’s most revered couple, has paid you a personal call.
Roxi rolls her eyes in indifference.
RJ: Great. Pleased to meet you. Take the costume party somewhere else.
E: Si vulgarie!
Davy chuckles, placing a comforting hand on Elegance’s shoulder to console her.
Davy Blossom: Now now, my uncovered treasure. As I warned you, we are not exactly dealing with someone entrenched in matters of foreign culture.
He turns to Roxi, clarifying their appearance.
DB: If I could beg your attention for just a moment.
RJ: Beg away.
Blossom nods, chuckling at what he thinks was a clever play on words by his nemesis.
DB: You see, upon hours and hours of self reflection, my songbird and I felt much remorse over the way we crudely used you as an example of our fine stature here in Valour Pro several weeks ago. Therefore, in the spirit of the oft-lauded humanities of Rome, we have come to extend an olive branch.
Roxi glares at Blossom suspiciously.
RJ: You have to realize by this point I’m not as stupid as you think I am.
DB: Well, certainly not stupid. Perhaps not quite as learned as myself, but rest assured that no assumptions have been made of your general acuity. Mademoiselle, I think you’ll find…
RJ: Let’s stop right there. As smart as you think you both are, let me point out a little discrepancy you might not have realized.
Roxi points at both Elegance and Davy as she makes her point known.
RJ: BOTH of you referred to me as ‘mademoiselle’ in what is the most cliched attempt at sounding sophisticated that I’ve ever heard. The fact is, that term is specifically reserved for single women: which I’m not. The proper term is ‘madame.’
Blossom chuckles, which is then in turn joined in by Elegance, who snakes her arms around his bear chest as they enjoy the laughter.
DB: And that, my dear, is PRECISELY why Cupid and Psyche have paid you a visit. You see, I am not a man who feels as though words are capable of mending a bond. Nay, I prefer action.
As coyly as possible, Elegance reaches into the quiver at Davy’s hip to withdraw an arrow, sneaking it behind her to gently place in his opposite hand.
DB: You see, while at present you may be Madame Johnson, it is clear as the stream of the Tiber River that the strain of our grueling travel schedule coupled with your desires for glory have placed an undue burden on your family life.
Roxi’s fist begins to ball up, should this be going in the direction that she suspects. Meanwhile, Blossom has taken a few paces back in preparation.
DB: Therefore, with the strike of Cupid’s arrow, the enchantment of a truer, more pure love shall fall upon you by laying sight on the first person you will see! Which will likely be that man holding the camera, right there. Nay, he is not of high stock nor of low cholesterol, but the two of you will have the ability to spend every waking moment together here in Valour Pro. And alas, you will then more accurately be deemed...a madame!
Davy, extremely catlike, places the arrow into his bow and quickly shoots it in Roxi’s general direction before she can react.
However, despite the fact that he was quick on the draw, his aim lacked something to be desired. The arrow flies way off target. A look of confusion spreads across his face, but it rapidly turns into a look of concern.
Roxi, using this moment to her advantage, shoves Elegance away from the scene and strikes Blossom with a hard elbow. This stuns Davy and doubles him over. This makes for a picture perfect setup to Johnson delivering a modified Ray of Hope, sending him crumpling to the floor.
Her two foes on the floor, Roxi notices the shoulder satchel next to her feet. Smiling, she retrieves two of the arrows from inside it. She strides over to Elegance, gently piercing her arm with the tip of the weapon.
She then turns to Blossom, and notices that he is in a position that not even the most moral person could resist taking advantage of in this situation. Like a medieval knight, Roxi holds the arrow up to her shoulders and DRIVES it directly into the rear end of “Cupid,” striking him with his own medicine.
RJ: Let’s just hope the first thing you two see is each other when you wake up.
LO: Uh.....what did I just see?
KO: First you saw a guy who really appreciates King of the Hill. It's the trailer trashes show of choice?
LO: Well, with a name Willie Pete....god damn, that sounds like a Mickey Mouse villain.
KO: And then you saw Davy Blossom getting his just desserts.
KO: First you saw a guy who really appreciates King of the Hill. It's the trailer trashes show of choice?
LO: Well, with a name Willie Pete....god damn, that sounds like a Mickey Mouse villain.
KO: And then you saw Davy Blossom getting his just desserts.
LO: He got something alright. Now that guy's a cartoon.
KO: Well I'll tell you what isn't cartoonish, and that is our next match. Take it away generic ring announcer...
Ring Announcer: The following contest is a standard match, and is set for one fall or submission...
'Turn To Stone' by Joe Walsh hits over the PA System, and from the curtain Cross Recoba appears coming to stand at the top of the ramp. He moves his shag haircut out of his face, and he doesn't seem to notice the wave of boo's that are being sent by the over zealous crowd. He unconsciously fingers the crucifix hanging from his neck, and suddenly his eyes snap up to the ring, and he starts his walk down the ramp.
Ring Announcer: Introducing first, standing at five foot ten and weighting in at 230 pounds, he currently hails from New York, New York.....this is 'The Fox' CROSS RECCCOOOBBBAAAA!!
Cross climbs the ring steps, and wipes both feet on the ring apron, before slipping between the ropes and grinning out at the crowd arrogantly. The fans return the grin with a series of 'asshole' chants, but Cross just shrugs and mouths off to those fortunate enough to afford front row seats.
LO: Cross Recoba may not have made it to the 7 Pillars of Rome Gauntlet match, but his influence is still felt with his appropriation of Zachariah Krahe to do his dirty work. If Cross has his way, Zack Fantana will not be walking out of the building tonight.
KO: He is as slippery as they come, but they don't call him 'The Fox' for nothing.
LO: Well he's going to have his hands full here tonight with this hot up and comer, Maverick Mason Jones.
"GTS" by Machine Gun Kelly hits over the PA system, and MMJ appears wearing basic black trunks and boots, a zipped black jacket with the hoodie pulled up over his head. From behind him his hype man, Ronan Brown, pops to the front, and starts bouncing from one end of the stage to the other talking his client up. Mason stares down at the ring where Cross Recoba awaits, and he lifts two taped hands to the hood to flick it back, starting a methodical walk to the ring.
Ring Announcer: And introducing his opponent, being led to the ring by 'Roadie' Ronan Brown....he stands at five foot eleven and weights in at 165 pounds, hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee....'MMJ', MAVERICK MASON JOOOONNNNEEESSS!!
Maverick reaches the ringside area and climbs the steps two at a time, still coldly staring at Recoba before slipping into the ring and stalking right towards his opponent. The referee, Diego Santiago, cuts him off before they can become engaged, and Maverick tears away from him back to his corner, ripping the zipper open, and tossing his jacket to Ronnie who nods and keeps talking trash.
LO: Maverick is an intense young man.
KO: You think? And did you see Cross when he came at him, he didn't even flinch, he just gave him a smirk almost daring him to try.
LO: Well, these two don't have to wait any longer, cause there's the bell and we're on our way!
The two men begin to circle one another, and Cross bates Maverick from a lock up into a headlock by faking right, but going left. Maverick almost immediately reaches through and grabs hold of Cross' wrist, and slowly begins powering out into a top wrist lock. Cross struggles against his opponent in amazement, and upon seeing that he is about to be put in a compromising position, stomps on Jones' foot, allowing him to pull him back into the headlock. The ref admonishes him, but he just shrugs, tightening up on the hold as Mason jockeys to get his head free. Eventually he manages it, and he pulls Recoba's arm as he goes, yanking it painfully into a hammerlock. Cross searches for a way out, but Jones has the hold locked in, and eventually he pulls them both to the ropes, hooking the top to force the break. Santiago reaches a count of four and a half before Jones finally lets go, and before making some space he slaps Cross in the back of the head.
LO: Wow, Maverick is showing his youth here by taking liberties with Cross Recoba, but the fans seem to have enjoyed it.
KO: I wonder if they would have enjoyed it if he had done that to one of their favorites. These folks are so biased!
LO: Either way, Cross seems a little bemused by the situation if not irritated. He's calling for them to lock up again, and OH! Stiff knee shot right to Jones' gut! And another one, and now Cross leading him to the corner and jamming his head down across the top turnbuckle.
KO: Guy isn't playing cute now, is he?
The question goes unanswered as Cross spins Maverick around in the corner, and fires in a chop that send an echo around the arena. Jones is in obvious pain as he tenses up to receive a second, third, and fourth from the veteran. With Mason's chest sufficiently on fire, Cross takes him by the wrist and whips him to the far side. Jones strikes the turnbuckles hard, and is given no reprieve as Cross follows him in with a clothesline that crushes him in the corner. Jones stumbles out a bit afterwards, and Cross is already backing into the ropes for spring only to come rushing back out to catch him behind the head and drive him to the mat with a facebuster. Cross is quickly back up to his feet, and as Maverick starts to rise, he falls into the rope once again and bounces back to catch the man in a swinging neck breaker.
LO: Devastating maneuver right there, and Recoba's going for the cover!
KO: Jones out at two, but now Cross is just hovering over him, paint brushing him in the face!
LO: I guess that's an answer to the disrespect from earlier...
Cross doesn't mess around for long before pulling Jones to his feet, and sending him for a ride to the ropes. Maverick bounces back, and ducks a clothesline attempt from Cross, and on the second round ducks under a back elbow. On the third, however, Cross drops his head for a back body drop, and this is when Jones stops short only to football punt him square in the face. This sends Recoba vertical in surprise, and that's all MMJ needs to nail him with a leaping knee that sends Cross to the mat. Cross holds his jaw as he tries to rise, but a well placed boot to the temple sends him onto his back, and Jones drops down on top of him and starts leveling heavy handed blows straight down into his skull. Cross does his best to cover up, but his head is battered back and forth until finally the referee pulls Jones off of him. The two have an exchange of words before Jones maneuvers past him to get back at Cross.
LO: Jones doesn't strike me as someone who wastes a lot of time, as he now has Cross in the corner, and just lights him up with peppering left jabs and big right hands.
KO: Santiago is warning him again, and he finally pulls Recoba out of the corner and hooks him around the head, taking him down to the mat with a snap suplex.
LO: Maverick pops up to his feet, takes aim, and eww....drops the point of his elbow right down into Recoba's skull!
KO: Follows that up with a pin attempt, but Cross is out at one.....I think Jones knew he wouldn't get him there, but is just forcing him to expend energy kicking out.
MMJ pulls Cross into a seated position only to lock in a deep double chicken wing that finds Recoba calling out in pain. Jones sits down into the move right behind Recoba, putting even more pressure on the hold, and Cross finds himself having to tell the referee 'no' repeatedly despite his obvious discomfort. Having the size advantage, Cross eventually manages to get his feet in under him, and he rolls backwards putting Jones into a pinning position, but also torquing his own arms in an unnatural way.
1...
2...
LO: That ploy caused Jones to release the hold so that he could get out of the pin, but I don't think you're arms are supposed to bend like that!
KO: Definitely not the optimal position for 'The Fox', as he struggles to get to his feet by the ropes. He better pay attention to Jones, who is on his feet as well, and JUST CAME BARRELING ACROSS THE RING WITH A CLOTHESLINE THAT SENT BOTH MEN TOPPLING OVER THE TOP ROPE!
LO: Folks, that concrete at ringside is unforgiving. No gimmicked mats for our superstars, just the cold hard reality of impact.
Santiago reaches a six count by the time Jones gets back to his feet, and he slips back into the ring and steps to the middle of the canvas. He waits for Recoba to get into a good position, and then he springs to the far side ropes and comes sailing back to fly through the middle cables for a suicide dive. Unfortunately for him, Cross saw the move coming, and deftly side stepped allowing Maverick to sail right by him and head first into the steel barricade. 'The Fox' chuckles a bit, despite having to use his forearm to wipe away a trickle of blood from his mouth, and doesn't allow Jones up to his feet before firing in rapid stomps across the man's prone body. Finally, at the count of eight, Recoba yanks Jones up and sends him back in the ring, following quickly.
LO: This is not the position you want to be in with a man like Cross Recoba. He has an entire history behind him for picking opponents apart, and it looks like his focus has shifted to MMJ's lower back.
KO: That's because he has a hold in his arsenal that no one has ever broken out of that focuses on that very area.
LO: Yeah, if he locks in Garibaldi's Guillotine then this one is all but over.
Cross doesn't bother with a cover as he pulls Jones to his feet, hooks him from the side, and then lifts him up only to drop him straight back down across his knee into a back breaker. He doesn't let loose of Jones from there, leaving the man's spine draped over his knee, and pushing down on the chin to wrench the back even worse. Jones cries out in pain, as Ronnie Brown runs around ringside beside himself, rallying in vain for his client to get out of this predicament. Cross sneers at the roadie before shoving Jones off his knee to land face down on the canvas. Recoba rises, hovers over the injured body part, and then drops a knee straight down into his spine. He pops back up and does it again, and then once more for good measure, eventually leaving his knee in Maverick's lower back while grabbing him by the ankle and arm, and then wrenching back.
LO: Jones is in trouble here, but I'm pretty sure this is all set up for something much worse.
KO: I don't know man, this might get the job done. Jones is dead center of the ring with no rope break in sight.
The drama intensifies as Cross stands up, puts his boot in the same spot his knee was just in, and then snaps to a seated position while still retaining hold of the ankle and arm. Jones clutches at his lower back in pain, and Recoba smirks before pulling him back, and forcing the cover.
1...
2...
3---NO!
KO: Long two count as Recoba pulls Jones back up, not even missing a beat.
LO: A boot to the midsection doubles Jones over, and now 'The Fox' hooks him around the waist, and lifts him up into a crucifix position.....
KO: Jones is flailing wildly now, and he manages to slip out to land behind Recoba.
LO: Recoba spins around quickly to try and catch MMJ with a clothesline, but Jones ducks under while at the same time hooking him around the waist, and DELIVERS A HUGE BELLY TO BACK RELEASE SUPLEX!!
KO: Damn, Recoba with a sickening landing, folded up like an accordion, but now both men are down.
LO: This leaves Santiago no choice but to start a ten count, and here's hoping that one of these men can make it back to their feet.
At the count of six Recoba manages to get to his feet first, but Jones is not too far behind managing up to a knee. Cross is a little dazed, but he manages to find his target, and he reaches out to pull Jones to his feet. This is when Maverick's hands flash up and catch 'The Fox' right in windpipe with a throat thrust. Surprised, Recoba falls back holding his throat, and Maverick hops up to both feet so that he can boot Cross in the gut, double under hook his arms, and then drop straight down into a vicious DDT. He manages to push the man over onto his shoulders, and cover him for a pin.
1...
2...
LO: Thre---NO! Cross out just before the ref's hand hit the mat, and Jones just fell to the side sucking wind.
KO: These guys sure are giving their all. Both their debuts didn't go the way they wanted, and neither man want's to leave here in defeat. What do you think its going to take to bring this match to a close?
LO: You know as well as I do, brother, it only takes one vital mistake, and I predict that is exactly what will happen in this one.
Jones manages back to his feet at the count of seven, staring down at Recoba in what could be a look or respect. Regardless, he signals to the crowd that its over, and they cheer as he pulls Cross up to his feet and onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry. Cross, despite being groggy, realizes his predicament and that he's being set up for Maverick's finisher, and comes alive with elbows to the side of the mans head. He manages to turn his body so that now he's hanging precariously upside down, and continues to wriggle free, coming down to the mat and pulling Jones with him into a sunset flip like pin.
1...
2...
3--NO!
LO: Jones surprised by that pin attempt, but manages to get out, but Cross is quick to his feet and maintains a hold on Mason's legs...wait...WAIT! CROSS PULLING MAVERICK'S LEGS UP HIGH, AND SWINGING OVER INTO GARIBALDI'S GUILLOTINE!!
KO: There dead center of the ring, Laur! This kid is about to tap!
The pain etched on Maverick Mason Jones' face is obvious as Cross cinches up even tighter, putting the pressure squarely on his lower back and neck which is being torqued by the awkward hold in relation to the canvas. Jones reaches out for ropes that aren't there, tries to push up, but the weight advantage that Recoba holds prevents him from getting anywhere. Finally, after a solid minute in the hold, his hands flashes out to the canvas in rapid succession, signaling the end of the match.
KO: HE TAPPED!
LO: Yeah, and now it's time for Cross to let go of the hold...but, oh come on, let the kid go!
Cross holds on viciously until the moment it looks like the ref may reverse the decision, and only then does he toss Maverick's legs down to the canvas, and raises his arms overhead in victory. The fans boo in admonishment as Recoba regards them with a cocksure grin, forcing the referee to lift his arm in victory.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match by submission.......'THE FOX'....CROSS RECOBBBBAAAA!!!
LO: Well, Cross Recoba finds success here on our first super show, and Maverick Mason Jones is sent back to the well to try again.
KO: Jones is lucky to be able to walk out of here after being locked in that hold. Wreaks havoc on the lower back and legs.
LO: Yeah, and the fact that Cross held it on for a few seconds longer despite the match being over didn't help either.
KO: Ah, he was just trying to school the guy. Give him something to think about.
LO: That is one education I could live without, Ken. But the record books will tell the story, and we have our much anticipated unification match coming up next.
Ring Announcer: The following contest is a standard match, and is set for one fall or submission...
'Turn To Stone' by Joe Walsh hits over the PA System, and from the curtain Cross Recoba appears coming to stand at the top of the ramp. He moves his shag haircut out of his face, and he doesn't seem to notice the wave of boo's that are being sent by the over zealous crowd. He unconsciously fingers the crucifix hanging from his neck, and suddenly his eyes snap up to the ring, and he starts his walk down the ramp.
Ring Announcer: Introducing first, standing at five foot ten and weighting in at 230 pounds, he currently hails from New York, New York.....this is 'The Fox' CROSS RECCCOOOBBBAAAA!!
Cross climbs the ring steps, and wipes both feet on the ring apron, before slipping between the ropes and grinning out at the crowd arrogantly. The fans return the grin with a series of 'asshole' chants, but Cross just shrugs and mouths off to those fortunate enough to afford front row seats.
LO: Cross Recoba may not have made it to the 7 Pillars of Rome Gauntlet match, but his influence is still felt with his appropriation of Zachariah Krahe to do his dirty work. If Cross has his way, Zack Fantana will not be walking out of the building tonight.
KO: He is as slippery as they come, but they don't call him 'The Fox' for nothing.
LO: Well he's going to have his hands full here tonight with this hot up and comer, Maverick Mason Jones.
"GTS" by Machine Gun Kelly hits over the PA system, and MMJ appears wearing basic black trunks and boots, a zipped black jacket with the hoodie pulled up over his head. From behind him his hype man, Ronan Brown, pops to the front, and starts bouncing from one end of the stage to the other talking his client up. Mason stares down at the ring where Cross Recoba awaits, and he lifts two taped hands to the hood to flick it back, starting a methodical walk to the ring.
Ring Announcer: And introducing his opponent, being led to the ring by 'Roadie' Ronan Brown....he stands at five foot eleven and weights in at 165 pounds, hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee....'MMJ', MAVERICK MASON JOOOONNNNEEESSS!!
Maverick reaches the ringside area and climbs the steps two at a time, still coldly staring at Recoba before slipping into the ring and stalking right towards his opponent. The referee, Diego Santiago, cuts him off before they can become engaged, and Maverick tears away from him back to his corner, ripping the zipper open, and tossing his jacket to Ronnie who nods and keeps talking trash.
LO: Maverick is an intense young man.
KO: You think? And did you see Cross when he came at him, he didn't even flinch, he just gave him a smirk almost daring him to try.
LO: Well, these two don't have to wait any longer, cause there's the bell and we're on our way!
The two men begin to circle one another, and Cross bates Maverick from a lock up into a headlock by faking right, but going left. Maverick almost immediately reaches through and grabs hold of Cross' wrist, and slowly begins powering out into a top wrist lock. Cross struggles against his opponent in amazement, and upon seeing that he is about to be put in a compromising position, stomps on Jones' foot, allowing him to pull him back into the headlock. The ref admonishes him, but he just shrugs, tightening up on the hold as Mason jockeys to get his head free. Eventually he manages it, and he pulls Recoba's arm as he goes, yanking it painfully into a hammerlock. Cross searches for a way out, but Jones has the hold locked in, and eventually he pulls them both to the ropes, hooking the top to force the break. Santiago reaches a count of four and a half before Jones finally lets go, and before making some space he slaps Cross in the back of the head.
LO: Wow, Maverick is showing his youth here by taking liberties with Cross Recoba, but the fans seem to have enjoyed it.
KO: I wonder if they would have enjoyed it if he had done that to one of their favorites. These folks are so biased!
LO: Either way, Cross seems a little bemused by the situation if not irritated. He's calling for them to lock up again, and OH! Stiff knee shot right to Jones' gut! And another one, and now Cross leading him to the corner and jamming his head down across the top turnbuckle.
KO: Guy isn't playing cute now, is he?
The question goes unanswered as Cross spins Maverick around in the corner, and fires in a chop that send an echo around the arena. Jones is in obvious pain as he tenses up to receive a second, third, and fourth from the veteran. With Mason's chest sufficiently on fire, Cross takes him by the wrist and whips him to the far side. Jones strikes the turnbuckles hard, and is given no reprieve as Cross follows him in with a clothesline that crushes him in the corner. Jones stumbles out a bit afterwards, and Cross is already backing into the ropes for spring only to come rushing back out to catch him behind the head and drive him to the mat with a facebuster. Cross is quickly back up to his feet, and as Maverick starts to rise, he falls into the rope once again and bounces back to catch the man in a swinging neck breaker.
LO: Devastating maneuver right there, and Recoba's going for the cover!
KO: Jones out at two, but now Cross is just hovering over him, paint brushing him in the face!
LO: I guess that's an answer to the disrespect from earlier...
Cross doesn't mess around for long before pulling Jones to his feet, and sending him for a ride to the ropes. Maverick bounces back, and ducks a clothesline attempt from Cross, and on the second round ducks under a back elbow. On the third, however, Cross drops his head for a back body drop, and this is when Jones stops short only to football punt him square in the face. This sends Recoba vertical in surprise, and that's all MMJ needs to nail him with a leaping knee that sends Cross to the mat. Cross holds his jaw as he tries to rise, but a well placed boot to the temple sends him onto his back, and Jones drops down on top of him and starts leveling heavy handed blows straight down into his skull. Cross does his best to cover up, but his head is battered back and forth until finally the referee pulls Jones off of him. The two have an exchange of words before Jones maneuvers past him to get back at Cross.
LO: Jones doesn't strike me as someone who wastes a lot of time, as he now has Cross in the corner, and just lights him up with peppering left jabs and big right hands.
KO: Santiago is warning him again, and he finally pulls Recoba out of the corner and hooks him around the head, taking him down to the mat with a snap suplex.
LO: Maverick pops up to his feet, takes aim, and eww....drops the point of his elbow right down into Recoba's skull!
KO: Follows that up with a pin attempt, but Cross is out at one.....I think Jones knew he wouldn't get him there, but is just forcing him to expend energy kicking out.
MMJ pulls Cross into a seated position only to lock in a deep double chicken wing that finds Recoba calling out in pain. Jones sits down into the move right behind Recoba, putting even more pressure on the hold, and Cross finds himself having to tell the referee 'no' repeatedly despite his obvious discomfort. Having the size advantage, Cross eventually manages to get his feet in under him, and he rolls backwards putting Jones into a pinning position, but also torquing his own arms in an unnatural way.
1...
2...
LO: That ploy caused Jones to release the hold so that he could get out of the pin, but I don't think you're arms are supposed to bend like that!
KO: Definitely not the optimal position for 'The Fox', as he struggles to get to his feet by the ropes. He better pay attention to Jones, who is on his feet as well, and JUST CAME BARRELING ACROSS THE RING WITH A CLOTHESLINE THAT SENT BOTH MEN TOPPLING OVER THE TOP ROPE!
LO: Folks, that concrete at ringside is unforgiving. No gimmicked mats for our superstars, just the cold hard reality of impact.
Santiago reaches a six count by the time Jones gets back to his feet, and he slips back into the ring and steps to the middle of the canvas. He waits for Recoba to get into a good position, and then he springs to the far side ropes and comes sailing back to fly through the middle cables for a suicide dive. Unfortunately for him, Cross saw the move coming, and deftly side stepped allowing Maverick to sail right by him and head first into the steel barricade. 'The Fox' chuckles a bit, despite having to use his forearm to wipe away a trickle of blood from his mouth, and doesn't allow Jones up to his feet before firing in rapid stomps across the man's prone body. Finally, at the count of eight, Recoba yanks Jones up and sends him back in the ring, following quickly.
LO: This is not the position you want to be in with a man like Cross Recoba. He has an entire history behind him for picking opponents apart, and it looks like his focus has shifted to MMJ's lower back.
KO: That's because he has a hold in his arsenal that no one has ever broken out of that focuses on that very area.
LO: Yeah, if he locks in Garibaldi's Guillotine then this one is all but over.
Cross doesn't bother with a cover as he pulls Jones to his feet, hooks him from the side, and then lifts him up only to drop him straight back down across his knee into a back breaker. He doesn't let loose of Jones from there, leaving the man's spine draped over his knee, and pushing down on the chin to wrench the back even worse. Jones cries out in pain, as Ronnie Brown runs around ringside beside himself, rallying in vain for his client to get out of this predicament. Cross sneers at the roadie before shoving Jones off his knee to land face down on the canvas. Recoba rises, hovers over the injured body part, and then drops a knee straight down into his spine. He pops back up and does it again, and then once more for good measure, eventually leaving his knee in Maverick's lower back while grabbing him by the ankle and arm, and then wrenching back.
LO: Jones is in trouble here, but I'm pretty sure this is all set up for something much worse.
KO: I don't know man, this might get the job done. Jones is dead center of the ring with no rope break in sight.
The drama intensifies as Cross stands up, puts his boot in the same spot his knee was just in, and then snaps to a seated position while still retaining hold of the ankle and arm. Jones clutches at his lower back in pain, and Recoba smirks before pulling him back, and forcing the cover.
1...
2...
3---NO!
KO: Long two count as Recoba pulls Jones back up, not even missing a beat.
LO: A boot to the midsection doubles Jones over, and now 'The Fox' hooks him around the waist, and lifts him up into a crucifix position.....
KO: Jones is flailing wildly now, and he manages to slip out to land behind Recoba.
LO: Recoba spins around quickly to try and catch MMJ with a clothesline, but Jones ducks under while at the same time hooking him around the waist, and DELIVERS A HUGE BELLY TO BACK RELEASE SUPLEX!!
KO: Damn, Recoba with a sickening landing, folded up like an accordion, but now both men are down.
LO: This leaves Santiago no choice but to start a ten count, and here's hoping that one of these men can make it back to their feet.
At the count of six Recoba manages to get to his feet first, but Jones is not too far behind managing up to a knee. Cross is a little dazed, but he manages to find his target, and he reaches out to pull Jones to his feet. This is when Maverick's hands flash up and catch 'The Fox' right in windpipe with a throat thrust. Surprised, Recoba falls back holding his throat, and Maverick hops up to both feet so that he can boot Cross in the gut, double under hook his arms, and then drop straight down into a vicious DDT. He manages to push the man over onto his shoulders, and cover him for a pin.
1...
2...
LO: Thre---NO! Cross out just before the ref's hand hit the mat, and Jones just fell to the side sucking wind.
KO: These guys sure are giving their all. Both their debuts didn't go the way they wanted, and neither man want's to leave here in defeat. What do you think its going to take to bring this match to a close?
LO: You know as well as I do, brother, it only takes one vital mistake, and I predict that is exactly what will happen in this one.
Jones manages back to his feet at the count of seven, staring down at Recoba in what could be a look or respect. Regardless, he signals to the crowd that its over, and they cheer as he pulls Cross up to his feet and onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry. Cross, despite being groggy, realizes his predicament and that he's being set up for Maverick's finisher, and comes alive with elbows to the side of the mans head. He manages to turn his body so that now he's hanging precariously upside down, and continues to wriggle free, coming down to the mat and pulling Jones with him into a sunset flip like pin.
1...
2...
3--NO!
LO: Jones surprised by that pin attempt, but manages to get out, but Cross is quick to his feet and maintains a hold on Mason's legs...wait...WAIT! CROSS PULLING MAVERICK'S LEGS UP HIGH, AND SWINGING OVER INTO GARIBALDI'S GUILLOTINE!!
KO: There dead center of the ring, Laur! This kid is about to tap!
The pain etched on Maverick Mason Jones' face is obvious as Cross cinches up even tighter, putting the pressure squarely on his lower back and neck which is being torqued by the awkward hold in relation to the canvas. Jones reaches out for ropes that aren't there, tries to push up, but the weight advantage that Recoba holds prevents him from getting anywhere. Finally, after a solid minute in the hold, his hands flashes out to the canvas in rapid succession, signaling the end of the match.
KO: HE TAPPED!
LO: Yeah, and now it's time for Cross to let go of the hold...but, oh come on, let the kid go!
Cross holds on viciously until the moment it looks like the ref may reverse the decision, and only then does he toss Maverick's legs down to the canvas, and raises his arms overhead in victory. The fans boo in admonishment as Recoba regards them with a cocksure grin, forcing the referee to lift his arm in victory.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match by submission.......'THE FOX'....CROSS RECOBBBBAAAA!!!
LO: Well, Cross Recoba finds success here on our first super show, and Maverick Mason Jones is sent back to the well to try again.
KO: Jones is lucky to be able to walk out of here after being locked in that hold. Wreaks havoc on the lower back and legs.
LO: Yeah, and the fact that Cross held it on for a few seconds longer despite the match being over didn't help either.
KO: Ah, he was just trying to school the guy. Give him something to think about.
LO: That is one education I could live without, Ken. But the record books will tell the story, and we have our much anticipated unification match coming up next.
KO: Wait. Let's go backstage, and catch up with one of our superstars.
Sitting in her locker room alone, Elina found herself holding Pandora’s jacket. She drew in Pandora’s scent from the jacket and breathed out as a tear rolled down her cheek. Pandora was gone and even Elina, with her abilities, couldn’t bring her back.
The door opened as Tony Sharpe walked in, sniffling himself, although it had little to do with the loss of Pandora Royce.
“Look uh, I’m not sure what you have planned for tonight, but can we make sure there’s no, you know, death or anything? I was just chewed up and spit out by management. Like I’m the fucking murderer or something,” he snorted, “Elina. Are you even listening to me?”
Elina looked up, revealing that she was in tears. She quickly wiped the tears away and composed herself.
Tony was taken aback, with an eyebrow raised he said, “Wow. Here for the longest time I had you figured for a fucking Vulcan, but you can show emotion. Incredible. Look, I know it’s fucked, but you have to push that emotion out of your mind.”
“Avoiding emotion is all I ever do, dear.”
“Don’t fucking call me ‘dear’.”
Elina stood up, “Do we have a problem?”
“Yeah I’d say we have a fucking problem, but we don’t have time to talk about it right now.”
There was a knock at the door - both Elina and Tony turned, staring daggers at the door. It slowly opened to reveal a fairly unassuming looking gent.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but it was difficult getting into here, given the security, and I really need to talk to Elina.”
Tony stared at the man with a look on his face reminiscent of a computer slowly booting up.
“Who the fuck are you and...no. You don’t need to talk to anyone. Get out of here.”
“I’m sorry, but I must talk to her.”
“I don’t think you get it -”
Elina interrupted, “Please leave.”
The man stood there, nearly trembling. He flinched as he said, “I don’t think you understand, I need to talk to you now. Six. Five. One. Two. Three.”
It’s as if all of the blood rushed from Elina’s face as she took a step back. Tony doesn’t even react. Elina finally sits in her chair.
“Come in. We’ll talk. But Tony - you and the camera need to go, right now.”
“O...k…” Tony said.
The man stepped into the room as Tony and the cameraman left the room, closing the door behind them.
The door opened as Tony Sharpe walked in, sniffling himself, although it had little to do with the loss of Pandora Royce.
“Look uh, I’m not sure what you have planned for tonight, but can we make sure there’s no, you know, death or anything? I was just chewed up and spit out by management. Like I’m the fucking murderer or something,” he snorted, “Elina. Are you even listening to me?”
Elina looked up, revealing that she was in tears. She quickly wiped the tears away and composed herself.
Tony was taken aback, with an eyebrow raised he said, “Wow. Here for the longest time I had you figured for a fucking Vulcan, but you can show emotion. Incredible. Look, I know it’s fucked, but you have to push that emotion out of your mind.”
“Avoiding emotion is all I ever do, dear.”
“Don’t fucking call me ‘dear’.”
Elina stood up, “Do we have a problem?”
“Yeah I’d say we have a fucking problem, but we don’t have time to talk about it right now.”
There was a knock at the door - both Elina and Tony turned, staring daggers at the door. It slowly opened to reveal a fairly unassuming looking gent.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but it was difficult getting into here, given the security, and I really need to talk to Elina.”
Tony stared at the man with a look on his face reminiscent of a computer slowly booting up.
“Who the fuck are you and...no. You don’t need to talk to anyone. Get out of here.”
“I’m sorry, but I must talk to her.”
“I don’t think you get it -”
Elina interrupted, “Please leave.”
The man stood there, nearly trembling. He flinched as he said, “I don’t think you understand, I need to talk to you now. Six. Five. One. Two. Three.”
It’s as if all of the blood rushed from Elina’s face as she took a step back. Tony doesn’t even react. Elina finally sits in her chair.
“Come in. We’ll talk. But Tony - you and the camera need to go, right now.”
“O...k…” Tony said.
The man stepped into the room as Tony and the cameraman left the room, closing the door behind them.
LO: One can only guess what that was about.
KO: I'm sure we'll find out in time, Laurence.
Before we can continue on with this Valor show. The lights dim and a spotlight appears on stage.
LO: And what's this now?
KO: Shhh.
There’s a small rumbling within the venue as we hear drums come to life somewhere in the backstage area. They echo around the building as it seems a drum line has appeared on the stage. They march and make line down either side of the entrance. As the drums keep time, the crowd begins to hear other instruments begin to play. Woodwinds and... brass? What are some others? Not sure, but a high school marching band playing in time begins to fire up. They’re all wearing green and white letterman jackets with CC on the chest.
As they all finally get into position, the lights go down. When they come back up, the band begins to play a cover of “Lifted” by CL. The crowd finally catches on and burst into a reaction as none other than Cosmo Cooper appears on the top of the ramp. Wearing a tracksuit jacket, a backwards flat-bill, his fighting shorts and flip-flops. Cosmo nods along with the band.
Some may ask how all of these people got to Italy. But Cosmo seems to know them all as he fist bumps them on the way down to the ring and then acts surprised when he sees the crowd. He points out to a few people before he leaps into the ring, drops to both knees and poses for the crowd as the band continues to play his music.
They abruptly stop and Cosmo is left with the cheers of the crowd. Closing his eyes he soaks it all in before he calls for a microphone.
COOPER: “I don’t really know how to start this thing…”
He slowly rose to a standing position as he kicked both of his flip flops off to feel more at home in the ring. Rubbing the back of his head he walked around the ring, still hearing the buzz of the crowd he closed his eyes.
COOPER: “That’s something that brought me here, like, you know? I’ve never watched a Valor show, but seeing clips online. I heard this crowd. I saw the passion here… I saw how talented the roster was. And I knew… that I couldn’t just watch this place grow without me. I knew I couldn’t watch this place succeed without… Cosmo Cooper.”
Another reaction as he walked around the ring with the microphone.
COOPER: “You see, the higher ups, the people who dish out the cash. They know what having a TV deal means. They know what having a PPV market means. So they had to bring in the biggest, they had to bring in the best. And you know what else they had to bring in… Legitimacy.”
Cooper leaned in the corner.
COOPER: “Because you know where I’VE been? I’ve been fighting in the cage. I’ve been doing MMA. I finished with a 3-1 record. I spend every single weekend being the most sought after wrestler in the world. But Valor knew what I knew. Sure, they have a nice little roster back there.”
He nodded casually to the curtain.
COOPER: “Look at the ‘vets’ back there. Have they accomplished what I have in three years in their career? Look the young wrestlers. Have they rose as quickly as I have. So I say that with no offense to anyone back there…. But there is a reason you started here… and there’s a reason why I was brought in. Because next show? You better add some more seats and make some more room in your pocket book, owners. Because Cosmo Cooper has arrived… and I won’t settle for anything else… but the top.”
The band began to play Cosmo out as he hopped out of the ring and went around ringside taking pictures with fans. Making sure to shake everyones hand or fist bump them on the way out.
As they all finally get into position, the lights go down. When they come back up, the band begins to play a cover of “Lifted” by CL. The crowd finally catches on and burst into a reaction as none other than Cosmo Cooper appears on the top of the ramp. Wearing a tracksuit jacket, a backwards flat-bill, his fighting shorts and flip-flops. Cosmo nods along with the band.
Some may ask how all of these people got to Italy. But Cosmo seems to know them all as he fist bumps them on the way down to the ring and then acts surprised when he sees the crowd. He points out to a few people before he leaps into the ring, drops to both knees and poses for the crowd as the band continues to play his music.
They abruptly stop and Cosmo is left with the cheers of the crowd. Closing his eyes he soaks it all in before he calls for a microphone.
COOPER: “I don’t really know how to start this thing…”
He slowly rose to a standing position as he kicked both of his flip flops off to feel more at home in the ring. Rubbing the back of his head he walked around the ring, still hearing the buzz of the crowd he closed his eyes.
COOPER: “That’s something that brought me here, like, you know? I’ve never watched a Valor show, but seeing clips online. I heard this crowd. I saw the passion here… I saw how talented the roster was. And I knew… that I couldn’t just watch this place grow without me. I knew I couldn’t watch this place succeed without… Cosmo Cooper.”
Another reaction as he walked around the ring with the microphone.
COOPER: “You see, the higher ups, the people who dish out the cash. They know what having a TV deal means. They know what having a PPV market means. So they had to bring in the biggest, they had to bring in the best. And you know what else they had to bring in… Legitimacy.”
Cooper leaned in the corner.
COOPER: “Because you know where I’VE been? I’ve been fighting in the cage. I’ve been doing MMA. I finished with a 3-1 record. I spend every single weekend being the most sought after wrestler in the world. But Valor knew what I knew. Sure, they have a nice little roster back there.”
He nodded casually to the curtain.
COOPER: “Look at the ‘vets’ back there. Have they accomplished what I have in three years in their career? Look the young wrestlers. Have they rose as quickly as I have. So I say that with no offense to anyone back there…. But there is a reason you started here… and there’s a reason why I was brought in. Because next show? You better add some more seats and make some more room in your pocket book, owners. Because Cosmo Cooper has arrived… and I won’t settle for anything else… but the top.”
The band began to play Cosmo out as he hopped out of the ring and went around ringside taking pictures with fans. Making sure to shake everyones hand or fist bump them on the way out.
{No Disqualification/Roster Is Barred From Ringside/Unification Match}
(The winner will be the Undisputed Apex Champion)
(The winner will be the Undisputed Apex Champion)
KO: That is massive news. Cosmo Cooper has signed with Valor Pro Wrestling and just put the entire roster on notice!
LO: It's big, sure, but we've got our sights set on more important things. The unveiling of the APEX Championship! And my doesn't it look nice.
KO: That was pretty important, Laur. Lots to talk about--
LO: Ken, the time for talk is over! The Undisputed top dog of our company is about to be decided between Elina Cartel and Ace Devereux!
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. These two have been involved in some capacity with one another since the beginning of the promotion, and if this was being scored on points, I think Ace Devereux has come into this match with a huge advantage over Cartel. Not only did he ensure victory alongside Siberia Zombie at Blitz#3 against 4th Estate, but at our go home show he managed to win against Elina's tag partner, Pandora Royce.
LO: Luckily this isn't going by points, but even if we were, need I remind you that Elina Cartel already beat Ace in a one on one match at the Exhibition Show, and that it was her team that went over on Blitz#2?
KO: Alright, I stand corrected. They are two and two, which only raises the stakes in this one.
LO: Right you are, brother-o-mine, and we're about to find out who will walk away with the gold right now!
Ring Announcer: Ladies and gentleman, our next match is a no disqualification unification match, and it is for the Undisputed Apex Championship! If any of the other members of the roster try to interfere in this match, then General Manager, Vanessa Byrne, has assured us that they will be terminated!
The 80's futuristic beats of ‘Machines’ by Giorgio Moroder fill the Futsai arena and the fans come to their feet as Elina Cartel comes barreling out of the curtain, the Monarch Champion snugly around her waist. She seems jazzed up as she comes to a stop at the top of the ramp, and puts a hand over her eyes, scanning the roaring crowd. She nods with a smile before making her way down the ramp, reaching down to slap a few hands as she goes.
Ring Announcer: Making her way to the ring, standing in at 5 foot 5, and weighting in at 115 pounds...Hailing from Los Angeles, California, she is the current Monarch Champion.....ELINA CARRRTEELLL!!
Upon reaching ringside she gets a stutter step to roll into the ring, and then pops up, making her way to the far corner and hopping to the second with hands raises over her head. She continues to bob her head to the beat of the music as she unstraps the Monarch Championship, and holds it high over her head.
LO: This crowd is absolutely electric for Elina Cartel, and she has to be considered the fan favorite in this contest.
KO: Certainly, but you know as well as I do, Laur. The fans don't know squat.
Before Laurence can reply, the whistling opening to 'House of The Rising Sun' by Five Finger Death Punch hits over the PA System. The mood shifts, as the fans begin to boo the melody, but really goes down hill when the lyrics begin, and out steps Ace Devereux. His glittering white smile beams out at the crowd, but his eyes belie a darkness as his fingers tap against the Gladiator Championship he wears around his waist.
Ring Announcer: And her opponent, he stands at 6 foot 3, and weights in at 232 pounds. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he is the current Gladiator Champion...ACE DEVEREUXXXX!
Ace continues to grin as he makes his way down the ramp, stopping occasionally to mouth off to a fan, or threaten to back hand another one. He shrugs his shoulders at the amount of heat he's receiving by the time he reaches ringside, and beams up at Elina Cartel as he climbs the steps and slips into the squared circle. The referee has to step into Elina's path as she cuts Ace a scathing look, more than ready to get this match underway. Ace shoos her back with his hand, still grinning, when he turns his back on her and yanks the Gladiator Championship free to raise it high above his head. Elina shakes her head when Ace turns back around, where he leans into the corner and arrogantly strokes the championship.
LO: Ace Devereux from the onset here causing problems, and all he did was show up!
KO: Come on, Laur. Ace is awesome! These people just don't appreciate the genius that he's applied to being Gladiator Champion!
LO: If you mean cheating and saying the most awful things about Elina Cartel, no, I'm pretty sure we're well aware.
KO: Either way, there's the bell, and this match is underway!
At the sound of the bell Elina rushes right for Ace who quickly back peddles in surprise. She forces him all the way into the corner, and Ace puts his body between the top and middle rope to keep the woman away from him. The referee starts to interfere, but then, like a light bulb, realizes that this is no disqualification and backs off. Ace must have realized it at that moment too, as his smug expression changed to one of panic when Elina hopped right up to the second rope, and started hammering right hands down into his skull. Essentially trapped by the ropes he had tried to escape to, there isn't much he can do but try and cover up as Elina elicits a ten count from the crowd before taking Ace by a fist full of hair, and banging the side of his head off the steel ring post. This causes Ace to fall backwards, sending him haphazardly through the ropes to the outside. He's up quickly, but Elina makes the extra step up to the top, and dives down onto him with a double ax handle that sends him back down to the floor.
LO: Good God, Elina Cartel is like a ball of fire in there! You gotta believe she is using all of her pent up frustration and pain after what happened on our last show to her tag partner, Pandora Royce, to fuel this attack against Ace Devereux.
KO: I don't know what it is, but I thought we agreed not to mention that.
LO: I know, I know, but I don't see how we can't. I mean, this is getting crazy. Jesus, did you hear that knife edge chop?
Elina has Devereux draped across the guard rail, and she fires another chop in that leaves the fans 'Wooooing' in delight. She takes Devereux by the wrist, and whips him towards the steel steps in front of her, but Ace reverses at the last minute. Cartel loses no momentum as she leaps to land on the top step instead of crashing, and vaults herself straight back to catch Devereux with a back elbow that sends both down to the concrete. Elina rolls with the impact to land on her feet, and she quickly leaps onto Ace before he can rise, pinning his shoulders with her knees, and starts hammering unmerciful right hands into his face. She lets out a guttural scream as she rises off the man, looking around for whatever she might be able to use against him. Fortunately a fan in the front row is there with a chair on offer, and Elina takes it with an obliging nod, before bringing crashing down on Ace Devereux's back. He hollers out in pain while trying to crawl away, but Elina follows him with another chair shot that sends him face first down to the floor.
KO: Come on, Ref! Get in there! She's crazy!
LO: No disqualification, Ken. No shortcuts for Ace Devereux to take that Elina Cartel can't beat him to.
KO: This is so unfair!
Elina toss the chair off to the side of her, and reaches down to get a fistful of Ace's hair to help him to his feet and roll him back into the ring. She's in quickly after him, and makes a pin, but he's out at one and a half. She doesn't seem surprised when she jerks him up into a seated position, and very quickly applies a guillotine choke. Ace struggles against the hold, which only makes Elina cinch up even tighter.
LO: Ace is in real trouble here, as Elina has dominated the match thus far, and has this hold expertly applied.
KO: Well how was he supposed to know that Elina Cartel was going to come in here like a madwoman? I think she might have cracked.
LO: After everything that has happened to her over the past few weeks, and all the underhanded tactics that Ace has hand delivered, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.
KO: Ok, I take it back. Maybe you're the one that's cracked.
Ace positions up to one knee now, and the size difference is stark from this angle as this forces Elina all the way to her feet. With one massive heave, Ace not only makes it to his feet, but lifts Elina right up into the air, and then drops thunderously back to the mat for a massive side suplex. Ace staggers to his feet, wiping a hand of his face to try and shake the cobwebs from him his assault. There is no smile now, only a flash of malevolence, as he proceeds to kick Elina right in the face when she tries to rise, and then commences to stomping the holy hell out of her.
LO: Ace Devereux seems to have lost it here, and is literally kicking the shit out of Elina Cartel!
KO: Well wouldn't you, Laur? I mean, she came in here like a firecracker, sure, but where is the respect for the Gladiator Champion?
LO: Respect? RESPECT?!? Ace Devereux has done nothing but disrespect that title since he won it at the exhibition show!
KO: Whatever, the man knows what he wants, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it. Some people would say that's fortitude...
LO: Whatever you call it, Ace Devereux has managed to stomp Elina all the way out of the ring, and now he's following her out for what I'm sure is retribution.
Ace lands beside Elina Cartel who gingerly uses the steps to get to her feet. Ace is there in a flash, plunging his hands into the woman's hair and driving her face first down across the steel. Two more times finds Elina slumped across the top step, and Ace is quick to flip the ring apron up to look for something to use. The fans boo as he pulls his own steel chair out from under the ring, and the smile has returned to his face, but this time it is vicious. Teeth gritted he brings the chair up high, and brings it crashing down on Elina's shoulders and skull, using the steel steps like an anvil, and the chair like a hammer. Elina cradles her head as she slides off the steps and curls up in a fetal position on the floor, while Ace throws the chair down and jaws with the disapproving crowd.
LO: My God! Elina might be out!
KO: Yeah, that was pretty sick. She has a nasty gash on the top of her head where the steel struck. Ref might want to call this one.
LO: I don't think so. Elina Cartel wouldn't want it to end this way.
KO: Might not have any other choice.
Ace Devereux sadistically pulls Elina to her feet and half supports her as he rolls her back into the ring. He slips in after, lazily draping his body over hers without even hooking the leg.
1...
2...
3NO!
Elina's shoulder comes up at the last second, and Ace looks down at her in disappointment before pulling her to her feet, and tossing her back into a corner. He fires in unprotected rights and lefts to Cartel who slumps further down the turnbuckles until finally into a seated position. From there, Ace uses the rope for stability, as he piston fires stomps down into the woman's chest like he's trying to cave it in.
KO: Devereux is looking great here, Laur. I mean, this guy has slowed down the pace after that crescendo, and is really just punishing the Monarch Champion.
LO: I hate to say it, but the size factor is definitely playing out in this one. I mean, Ace has Elina by a hundred and fifteen pounds. Bottom line, that means he can hit harder and do more damage. She has to get out of this compromising situation if she's going to be able to use her advantage, which is speed.
Elina has been ravaged in the corner when Ace grabs her by the feet, and with one yank, pulls her away from the ropes. He smirks out at the crowd for a reaction before putting his foot on the woman's chest, and demanding that the referee make the count.
1...
2...
3NO!
Again Elina rolls the shoulder, and this time Ace is a little more than disappointed. He maliciously gets the woman to her feet, and then pushes her back into the ropes only to send her to the opposite side. Elina springs back, and Ace hooks her from the side for what looks like a tilt-a-whirl back breaker, but that is when Elina manages to wrap her legs around Aces head, and takes him over with a head scissors instead. Ace strikes the mat, but he springs up quickly, rushing back in to try and maintain the control he had previously enjoyed. Elina, however, manages to duck his clothesline attempt, and when he turns around, he walks right into a drop kick that sends him stumbling back into the corner. Woozy but still moving, Elina rushes the corner, but Ace grabs the top rope and pulls himself swiftly out of the way. Instead of crashing head long into the turnbuckles, Elina is able to put her hands out in front of her to grab the top rope, and she springboards up and over to land on the apron. Ace turns around to find this out, and he rushes in to try and nail her with a forearm. Elina manages to duck out of the way, and sends herself forwards through the top and middle rope to shoulder thrust Devereux in the guts. He stutter steps back holding his midsection, giving Elina all the time she needs to springboard up to the top, and then come flying off with a cross body that takes them both crashing to the mat. Elina remains on top of Ace's shoulders, and the ref drops for the pin.
1...
2...
LO: Ace out before the three, and Elina is already on her feet, but it sort of looks like she's on autopilot. That gash on the top of her head has left a read streak down the back of her hair, and even though she's on offense, her steps are staggered.
KO: Even so, man that woman has one mean autopilot!
Ace reaches his feet about the time that Elina hits off the ropes for momentum, and he looks up just in time to see her leap high into the air only to hook him around the head, spiking his skull off the canvas with a massive leaping DDT. Ace is the one who appears out of it as Elina scrambles up and over to the corner, climbing up to the top to a roaring reaction from the crowd. She pauses just long enough to get her bearings, and then soars off into a beautiful corkscrew plancha, her entire body crushing Devereux into the mat upon impact. She quickly rolls over and hooks his leg.
1...
2...
LO: 3--NO! Ace barely out at three, and Elina's face tells the story of this one folks. She thought she had him.
KO: Well, she didn't, and she's going to have to go back to the well to figure out what in her arsenal will put him down for good.
Elina gets to her feet and stares down at Ace Devereux who struggles to get past the pain in his midsection after having the woman land on him. Eventually Ace does begin to rise, and the fans come to their feet as they sense that this might be it for the Gladiator Champion. Elina takes up position some distance behind him, begging him to get vertical and turn in her direction. After an excruciatingly long sell, Ace finally obliges, and Elina springs forwards into her version of a 540 degree gyro crescent kick aimed to take his head off.
LO: ELINA CARTEL GOING FOR ECLIPSE, BUT ACE DEVEREUX DUCKED!
KO: Elina lands just past him, and she turns quickly to face him, and BAM! Walked right into an Ante Up European Uppercut!
Elina falls back into the ropes where her arms drape the top to keep her upright, giving Ace the time he needs to collect himself before charging at her with a clothesline that sends her over the top to crash hard to the floor. Ace slips through the ropes to land out beside her, and makes a b-line towards the steel steps where he starts rearranging the scenery. He pulls them out away from the ring, and kicks the top portion off of the base, leaving him a wide steel surface to play with. By the time he turns back to Elina, she has used the apron to get vertical, and he bounces her head off the edge of the mat for good measure before dragging her over to his set piece. Spinning Elina around, he hooks her around the waist from behind, and signals to the crowd that this is it.
LO: What the hell has he got planned here?
KO: I could be wrong, but I think he's going to german suplex her right onto the steps!
LO: Good god, he could break her neck!
KO: Yeah, and I don't think he much cares!
The fans are on their feet when Ace lifts Elina up and drops backwards into the German, releasing her so that she will fly and land on the steps and he will only take a bump to the concrete. Unfortunately for ace, Elina being so much lighter sends the woman soaring, and at the last minute she is able to tuck and use the momentum to spin so that she lands on her feet. Ace gets to his feet, pretty happy with himself, unaware until he turns around that Elina landed safe and sound. Enraged he rushes forwards, and it's at that moment that Elina nails him with her other finisher, Supernova.
LO: GOOD GOD, ACE DEVEREUX IS OUT!
KO: Yeah, and Elina seems pretty winded here. She's wasting a lot of time just getting her bearings so that she can try to get him in the ring.
LO: Oh no! We've mentioned the size difference before here. If this was falls count anywhere, Ace Devereux would be a goner right now, but it's not.
KO: Haha, and Ace Devereux is two hundred and thirty two pounds of dead weight that the hundred and fifteen pound Elina Cartel has to try and get back into the ring.
The struggle is real as Elina flexes every muscle she has getting Devereux partially up to the ring apron before he slips out of her grasp and ends up right back down at her feet. She almost seems desparate as the fans will her own with their cheers, and after a long minute, she finally gets him partially on the edge of the ring, and started under the bottom rope. Finally with one last shove she's managed it, but she looks completely spent as she gets herself back into the ring and hooks his leg for a cover.
1...
2...
3--NO!
LO: This one continues folks, and it's heartbreaking for Elina Cartel, because you have to believe that she would have had this if it had taken place in the ring.
KO: Whatever. Ace is still in it for the moment, and that means he still has a chance to snatch it out from under her.
Elina gets to her feet and stares down at Ace in bewilderment as he crawls towards the ropes so that he can use them to aide his rise. Cartel closes the distance between them, and moves to toss Ace off the ropes. Ace, however reverses it at the last minute, sending Elina to the far side, or so it seemed. He holds onto her wrist before she can go, yanking her back like a dance move that sees her spin so that her back is against his front. Still with her wrist, he shoves her forward unraveling her, and yanks her violently back to him while swinging with his forearm. It looks like the bullhammer is going to be completed, but in desperation Cartel ducks under him and to the side, using his own body momentum to break the hold he had on her arm. Ace spins to face her in shock, and is met right in the face with a gyro crescent kick that sends him crashing to the canvas.
LO: ECLIPSE! THIS HAS GOT TO BE IT!
KO: There's the cover!!
1...
2...
3!!!
Elina falls off of Ace absolutely exhausted and beat up, but there is a smile on her face as she takes long measured breaths.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match, and new Undisputed Apex Champion.....ELINA CARTEELLLLLL!!!!
LO: Elina Cartel takes her place in history here tonight, earning Valor Pro's top prize, and proving once and for all that she is the definition of Stardust!
KO: Yeah, yeah, I still can't believe it. I thought for sure that Ace would pull this one out of his bag of tricks, but in the end Cartel is the one with all the magic.
Devereux is up and confused, arguing with the referee about what exactly happened, and in complete disbelief when she hands both the Monarch Championship and Gladiator Championship over to Elina. He looks to be on the verge of imploding, when the new belt, the Apex Championship, is brought out from the back and presented to Elina as well. It looks like he may want to continue his protests, but he is forced out of the ring by security, and he dejectedly turns and makes his way to the back vowing revenge. Meanwhile, Elina gets to a corner and onto the second rope, lifting the new Apex Championship high over her head as the Gladiator and Monarch disappear to the back. The fans cheer wildly as gold and silver pyro bursts overhead, and Elina continues her celebration.
LO: Congratulations, Elina Cartel, you've certainly earned it, but folks, this night isn't done yet. We still have a hell of a main event coming up next.
KO: That's right, seven participants will go head to head, but I'm hearing word that there's something going on in the backstage area.
LO: Well, what are they waiting for, get us the feed.
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. These two have been involved in some capacity with one another since the beginning of the promotion, and if this was being scored on points, I think Ace Devereux has come into this match with a huge advantage over Cartel. Not only did he ensure victory alongside Siberia Zombie at Blitz#3 against 4th Estate, but at our go home show he managed to win against Elina's tag partner, Pandora Royce.
LO: Luckily this isn't going by points, but even if we were, need I remind you that Elina Cartel already beat Ace in a one on one match at the Exhibition Show, and that it was her team that went over on Blitz#2?
KO: Alright, I stand corrected. They are two and two, which only raises the stakes in this one.
LO: Right you are, brother-o-mine, and we're about to find out who will walk away with the gold right now!
Ring Announcer: Ladies and gentleman, our next match is a no disqualification unification match, and it is for the Undisputed Apex Championship! If any of the other members of the roster try to interfere in this match, then General Manager, Vanessa Byrne, has assured us that they will be terminated!
The 80's futuristic beats of ‘Machines’ by Giorgio Moroder fill the Futsai arena and the fans come to their feet as Elina Cartel comes barreling out of the curtain, the Monarch Champion snugly around her waist. She seems jazzed up as she comes to a stop at the top of the ramp, and puts a hand over her eyes, scanning the roaring crowd. She nods with a smile before making her way down the ramp, reaching down to slap a few hands as she goes.
Ring Announcer: Making her way to the ring, standing in at 5 foot 5, and weighting in at 115 pounds...Hailing from Los Angeles, California, she is the current Monarch Champion.....ELINA CARRRTEELLL!!
Upon reaching ringside she gets a stutter step to roll into the ring, and then pops up, making her way to the far corner and hopping to the second with hands raises over her head. She continues to bob her head to the beat of the music as she unstraps the Monarch Championship, and holds it high over her head.
LO: This crowd is absolutely electric for Elina Cartel, and she has to be considered the fan favorite in this contest.
KO: Certainly, but you know as well as I do, Laur. The fans don't know squat.
Before Laurence can reply, the whistling opening to 'House of The Rising Sun' by Five Finger Death Punch hits over the PA System. The mood shifts, as the fans begin to boo the melody, but really goes down hill when the lyrics begin, and out steps Ace Devereux. His glittering white smile beams out at the crowd, but his eyes belie a darkness as his fingers tap against the Gladiator Championship he wears around his waist.
Ring Announcer: And her opponent, he stands at 6 foot 3, and weights in at 232 pounds. Hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he is the current Gladiator Champion...ACE DEVEREUXXXX!
Ace continues to grin as he makes his way down the ramp, stopping occasionally to mouth off to a fan, or threaten to back hand another one. He shrugs his shoulders at the amount of heat he's receiving by the time he reaches ringside, and beams up at Elina Cartel as he climbs the steps and slips into the squared circle. The referee has to step into Elina's path as she cuts Ace a scathing look, more than ready to get this match underway. Ace shoos her back with his hand, still grinning, when he turns his back on her and yanks the Gladiator Championship free to raise it high above his head. Elina shakes her head when Ace turns back around, where he leans into the corner and arrogantly strokes the championship.
LO: Ace Devereux from the onset here causing problems, and all he did was show up!
KO: Come on, Laur. Ace is awesome! These people just don't appreciate the genius that he's applied to being Gladiator Champion!
LO: If you mean cheating and saying the most awful things about Elina Cartel, no, I'm pretty sure we're well aware.
KO: Either way, there's the bell, and this match is underway!
At the sound of the bell Elina rushes right for Ace who quickly back peddles in surprise. She forces him all the way into the corner, and Ace puts his body between the top and middle rope to keep the woman away from him. The referee starts to interfere, but then, like a light bulb, realizes that this is no disqualification and backs off. Ace must have realized it at that moment too, as his smug expression changed to one of panic when Elina hopped right up to the second rope, and started hammering right hands down into his skull. Essentially trapped by the ropes he had tried to escape to, there isn't much he can do but try and cover up as Elina elicits a ten count from the crowd before taking Ace by a fist full of hair, and banging the side of his head off the steel ring post. This causes Ace to fall backwards, sending him haphazardly through the ropes to the outside. He's up quickly, but Elina makes the extra step up to the top, and dives down onto him with a double ax handle that sends him back down to the floor.
LO: Good God, Elina Cartel is like a ball of fire in there! You gotta believe she is using all of her pent up frustration and pain after what happened on our last show to her tag partner, Pandora Royce, to fuel this attack against Ace Devereux.
KO: I don't know what it is, but I thought we agreed not to mention that.
LO: I know, I know, but I don't see how we can't. I mean, this is getting crazy. Jesus, did you hear that knife edge chop?
Elina has Devereux draped across the guard rail, and she fires another chop in that leaves the fans 'Wooooing' in delight. She takes Devereux by the wrist, and whips him towards the steel steps in front of her, but Ace reverses at the last minute. Cartel loses no momentum as she leaps to land on the top step instead of crashing, and vaults herself straight back to catch Devereux with a back elbow that sends both down to the concrete. Elina rolls with the impact to land on her feet, and she quickly leaps onto Ace before he can rise, pinning his shoulders with her knees, and starts hammering unmerciful right hands into his face. She lets out a guttural scream as she rises off the man, looking around for whatever she might be able to use against him. Fortunately a fan in the front row is there with a chair on offer, and Elina takes it with an obliging nod, before bringing crashing down on Ace Devereux's back. He hollers out in pain while trying to crawl away, but Elina follows him with another chair shot that sends him face first down to the floor.
KO: Come on, Ref! Get in there! She's crazy!
LO: No disqualification, Ken. No shortcuts for Ace Devereux to take that Elina Cartel can't beat him to.
KO: This is so unfair!
Elina toss the chair off to the side of her, and reaches down to get a fistful of Ace's hair to help him to his feet and roll him back into the ring. She's in quickly after him, and makes a pin, but he's out at one and a half. She doesn't seem surprised when she jerks him up into a seated position, and very quickly applies a guillotine choke. Ace struggles against the hold, which only makes Elina cinch up even tighter.
LO: Ace is in real trouble here, as Elina has dominated the match thus far, and has this hold expertly applied.
KO: Well how was he supposed to know that Elina Cartel was going to come in here like a madwoman? I think she might have cracked.
LO: After everything that has happened to her over the past few weeks, and all the underhanded tactics that Ace has hand delivered, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.
KO: Ok, I take it back. Maybe you're the one that's cracked.
Ace positions up to one knee now, and the size difference is stark from this angle as this forces Elina all the way to her feet. With one massive heave, Ace not only makes it to his feet, but lifts Elina right up into the air, and then drops thunderously back to the mat for a massive side suplex. Ace staggers to his feet, wiping a hand of his face to try and shake the cobwebs from him his assault. There is no smile now, only a flash of malevolence, as he proceeds to kick Elina right in the face when she tries to rise, and then commences to stomping the holy hell out of her.
LO: Ace Devereux seems to have lost it here, and is literally kicking the shit out of Elina Cartel!
KO: Well wouldn't you, Laur? I mean, she came in here like a firecracker, sure, but where is the respect for the Gladiator Champion?
LO: Respect? RESPECT?!? Ace Devereux has done nothing but disrespect that title since he won it at the exhibition show!
KO: Whatever, the man knows what he wants, and is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it. Some people would say that's fortitude...
LO: Whatever you call it, Ace Devereux has managed to stomp Elina all the way out of the ring, and now he's following her out for what I'm sure is retribution.
Ace lands beside Elina Cartel who gingerly uses the steps to get to her feet. Ace is there in a flash, plunging his hands into the woman's hair and driving her face first down across the steel. Two more times finds Elina slumped across the top step, and Ace is quick to flip the ring apron up to look for something to use. The fans boo as he pulls his own steel chair out from under the ring, and the smile has returned to his face, but this time it is vicious. Teeth gritted he brings the chair up high, and brings it crashing down on Elina's shoulders and skull, using the steel steps like an anvil, and the chair like a hammer. Elina cradles her head as she slides off the steps and curls up in a fetal position on the floor, while Ace throws the chair down and jaws with the disapproving crowd.
LO: My God! Elina might be out!
KO: Yeah, that was pretty sick. She has a nasty gash on the top of her head where the steel struck. Ref might want to call this one.
LO: I don't think so. Elina Cartel wouldn't want it to end this way.
KO: Might not have any other choice.
Ace Devereux sadistically pulls Elina to her feet and half supports her as he rolls her back into the ring. He slips in after, lazily draping his body over hers without even hooking the leg.
1...
2...
3NO!
Elina's shoulder comes up at the last second, and Ace looks down at her in disappointment before pulling her to her feet, and tossing her back into a corner. He fires in unprotected rights and lefts to Cartel who slumps further down the turnbuckles until finally into a seated position. From there, Ace uses the rope for stability, as he piston fires stomps down into the woman's chest like he's trying to cave it in.
KO: Devereux is looking great here, Laur. I mean, this guy has slowed down the pace after that crescendo, and is really just punishing the Monarch Champion.
LO: I hate to say it, but the size factor is definitely playing out in this one. I mean, Ace has Elina by a hundred and fifteen pounds. Bottom line, that means he can hit harder and do more damage. She has to get out of this compromising situation if she's going to be able to use her advantage, which is speed.
Elina has been ravaged in the corner when Ace grabs her by the feet, and with one yank, pulls her away from the ropes. He smirks out at the crowd for a reaction before putting his foot on the woman's chest, and demanding that the referee make the count.
1...
2...
3NO!
Again Elina rolls the shoulder, and this time Ace is a little more than disappointed. He maliciously gets the woman to her feet, and then pushes her back into the ropes only to send her to the opposite side. Elina springs back, and Ace hooks her from the side for what looks like a tilt-a-whirl back breaker, but that is when Elina manages to wrap her legs around Aces head, and takes him over with a head scissors instead. Ace strikes the mat, but he springs up quickly, rushing back in to try and maintain the control he had previously enjoyed. Elina, however, manages to duck his clothesline attempt, and when he turns around, he walks right into a drop kick that sends him stumbling back into the corner. Woozy but still moving, Elina rushes the corner, but Ace grabs the top rope and pulls himself swiftly out of the way. Instead of crashing head long into the turnbuckles, Elina is able to put her hands out in front of her to grab the top rope, and she springboards up and over to land on the apron. Ace turns around to find this out, and he rushes in to try and nail her with a forearm. Elina manages to duck out of the way, and sends herself forwards through the top and middle rope to shoulder thrust Devereux in the guts. He stutter steps back holding his midsection, giving Elina all the time she needs to springboard up to the top, and then come flying off with a cross body that takes them both crashing to the mat. Elina remains on top of Ace's shoulders, and the ref drops for the pin.
1...
2...
LO: Ace out before the three, and Elina is already on her feet, but it sort of looks like she's on autopilot. That gash on the top of her head has left a read streak down the back of her hair, and even though she's on offense, her steps are staggered.
KO: Even so, man that woman has one mean autopilot!
Ace reaches his feet about the time that Elina hits off the ropes for momentum, and he looks up just in time to see her leap high into the air only to hook him around the head, spiking his skull off the canvas with a massive leaping DDT. Ace is the one who appears out of it as Elina scrambles up and over to the corner, climbing up to the top to a roaring reaction from the crowd. She pauses just long enough to get her bearings, and then soars off into a beautiful corkscrew plancha, her entire body crushing Devereux into the mat upon impact. She quickly rolls over and hooks his leg.
1...
2...
LO: 3--NO! Ace barely out at three, and Elina's face tells the story of this one folks. She thought she had him.
KO: Well, she didn't, and she's going to have to go back to the well to figure out what in her arsenal will put him down for good.
Elina gets to her feet and stares down at Ace Devereux who struggles to get past the pain in his midsection after having the woman land on him. Eventually Ace does begin to rise, and the fans come to their feet as they sense that this might be it for the Gladiator Champion. Elina takes up position some distance behind him, begging him to get vertical and turn in her direction. After an excruciatingly long sell, Ace finally obliges, and Elina springs forwards into her version of a 540 degree gyro crescent kick aimed to take his head off.
LO: ELINA CARTEL GOING FOR ECLIPSE, BUT ACE DEVEREUX DUCKED!
KO: Elina lands just past him, and she turns quickly to face him, and BAM! Walked right into an Ante Up European Uppercut!
Elina falls back into the ropes where her arms drape the top to keep her upright, giving Ace the time he needs to collect himself before charging at her with a clothesline that sends her over the top to crash hard to the floor. Ace slips through the ropes to land out beside her, and makes a b-line towards the steel steps where he starts rearranging the scenery. He pulls them out away from the ring, and kicks the top portion off of the base, leaving him a wide steel surface to play with. By the time he turns back to Elina, she has used the apron to get vertical, and he bounces her head off the edge of the mat for good measure before dragging her over to his set piece. Spinning Elina around, he hooks her around the waist from behind, and signals to the crowd that this is it.
LO: What the hell has he got planned here?
KO: I could be wrong, but I think he's going to german suplex her right onto the steps!
LO: Good god, he could break her neck!
KO: Yeah, and I don't think he much cares!
The fans are on their feet when Ace lifts Elina up and drops backwards into the German, releasing her so that she will fly and land on the steps and he will only take a bump to the concrete. Unfortunately for ace, Elina being so much lighter sends the woman soaring, and at the last minute she is able to tuck and use the momentum to spin so that she lands on her feet. Ace gets to his feet, pretty happy with himself, unaware until he turns around that Elina landed safe and sound. Enraged he rushes forwards, and it's at that moment that Elina nails him with her other finisher, Supernova.
LO: GOOD GOD, ACE DEVEREUX IS OUT!
KO: Yeah, and Elina seems pretty winded here. She's wasting a lot of time just getting her bearings so that she can try to get him in the ring.
LO: Oh no! We've mentioned the size difference before here. If this was falls count anywhere, Ace Devereux would be a goner right now, but it's not.
KO: Haha, and Ace Devereux is two hundred and thirty two pounds of dead weight that the hundred and fifteen pound Elina Cartel has to try and get back into the ring.
The struggle is real as Elina flexes every muscle she has getting Devereux partially up to the ring apron before he slips out of her grasp and ends up right back down at her feet. She almost seems desparate as the fans will her own with their cheers, and after a long minute, she finally gets him partially on the edge of the ring, and started under the bottom rope. Finally with one last shove she's managed it, but she looks completely spent as she gets herself back into the ring and hooks his leg for a cover.
1...
2...
3--NO!
LO: This one continues folks, and it's heartbreaking for Elina Cartel, because you have to believe that she would have had this if it had taken place in the ring.
KO: Whatever. Ace is still in it for the moment, and that means he still has a chance to snatch it out from under her.
Elina gets to her feet and stares down at Ace in bewilderment as he crawls towards the ropes so that he can use them to aide his rise. Cartel closes the distance between them, and moves to toss Ace off the ropes. Ace, however reverses it at the last minute, sending Elina to the far side, or so it seemed. He holds onto her wrist before she can go, yanking her back like a dance move that sees her spin so that her back is against his front. Still with her wrist, he shoves her forward unraveling her, and yanks her violently back to him while swinging with his forearm. It looks like the bullhammer is going to be completed, but in desperation Cartel ducks under him and to the side, using his own body momentum to break the hold he had on her arm. Ace spins to face her in shock, and is met right in the face with a gyro crescent kick that sends him crashing to the canvas.
LO: ECLIPSE! THIS HAS GOT TO BE IT!
KO: There's the cover!!
1...
2...
3!!!
Elina falls off of Ace absolutely exhausted and beat up, but there is a smile on her face as she takes long measured breaths.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match, and new Undisputed Apex Champion.....ELINA CARTEELLLLLL!!!!
LO: Elina Cartel takes her place in history here tonight, earning Valor Pro's top prize, and proving once and for all that she is the definition of Stardust!
KO: Yeah, yeah, I still can't believe it. I thought for sure that Ace would pull this one out of his bag of tricks, but in the end Cartel is the one with all the magic.
Devereux is up and confused, arguing with the referee about what exactly happened, and in complete disbelief when she hands both the Monarch Championship and Gladiator Championship over to Elina. He looks to be on the verge of imploding, when the new belt, the Apex Championship, is brought out from the back and presented to Elina as well. It looks like he may want to continue his protests, but he is forced out of the ring by security, and he dejectedly turns and makes his way to the back vowing revenge. Meanwhile, Elina gets to a corner and onto the second rope, lifting the new Apex Championship high over her head as the Gladiator and Monarch disappear to the back. The fans cheer wildly as gold and silver pyro bursts overhead, and Elina continues her celebration.
LO: Congratulations, Elina Cartel, you've certainly earned it, but folks, this night isn't done yet. We still have a hell of a main event coming up next.
KO: That's right, seven participants will go head to head, but I'm hearing word that there's something going on in the backstage area.
LO: Well, what are they waiting for, get us the feed.
A success. Vanessa Byrne knew it would be, and it was. Legs folded, a finely rolled cherry-flavored cigar rolling between her thumb and forefinger watching the Fite TV stream of 7 Pillars with a triumphant smirk. Cosmo Cooper, a proverbial feather in her proverbial cap, was just the signing coup the company needed to place it squarely upon the map where only the best promotions resided.
Then the door opened.
Feverishly, Brian McPhee takes a seat at her desk. You'd expect to see more confidence from a man of his stature but truth be told, he was quite intimidated by Vanessa Byrne.
Vanessa Byrne: Ah, Mr. McPhee. I expected it would be a phone call rather than a face-to-face meeting.
Brian stops himself and looks her in the eye with concern.
Brian McPhee: Is that a problem?
She smiles calmly. If it were a problem, she didn’t let on.
Vanessa Byrne: It's nice to meet you, Brian.
Brian sucks in some air and ruffles his scruffy blonde hair with his right hand and says...
Brian McPhee: Likewise, but seriously what’s up with the security? It's as if someone has died around here….
Vanessa Byrne raises an eyebrow and sighs uneasily.
Brian McPhee: Oh, too soon? Listen, your PR team has done quite a brilliant job in smoothing things over; in fact, there's hardly any news outlets covering the story. It probably helps that Valor Pro Wrestling isn't the biggest promotion that I have worked with but nonetheless, commendable...
Vanessa Byrne: What exactly is your play here, Mr. McPhee?
Under her glare, Brian McPhee takes a deep breath and looks off into the distance.
Brian McPhee: I need to find a reasonable spot for my client to participate so that she can fulfill her athletic endeavors...
Vanessa Byrne: In other words, she isn't a wrestler.
Brian McPhee let's out a nervous laugh.
Brian McPhee: Those are a dying breed, Ms. Byrne. Her name is Vannah White. An up and coming YouTube sensation and fan favorite. Granted, she's a bit green inside the squared circle but what's the difference between a neck breaker and literally breaking someone's neck, all in the name of competition, right?
Vanessa Byrne: A lawsuit, Brian. The difference is a lawsuit. Do you really think it's in my best interest to gamble and take a chance on your little pet project and risk the integrity and competitive standards of our company? I’m going to have to pass.
Brian is taken aback by the response but peacefully takes a stand. He offers a handshake to Vanessa Byrne to which she kindly, refuses. With a sly grin he spins around and heads for the door but before he grabs the handle he stops and slowly turns around...
Brian McPhee: It's a shame, really... Vannah had really taken a special liking to Valor Pro Wrestling but then that horrible, horrible death happened. And I told her, Vannah... you should give them another chance. I told her, I know you REALLY want to make a video on this and that you REALLY wanted to get some justice for whatever her name is...
She closes her and eyes and shakes her head, as Brian looks up at the ceiling and snaps his fingers trying to recall the name, what was it again? Vanessa watches him patiently.
He sarcastically slaps his knee, as he now confidently prances on over to Vanessa Byrne.
Brian McPhee: Yeah, you know... her name doesn't really matter, unless you want to make it matter. See, it takes about one hashtag on twitter from @vannahwhite2 with something catchy like #JusticeforPayton to set this entire thing on fire and for what? All because you didn't want to give a sweet little girl from London a chance at achieving her dreams? Come on, Nessa... have a heart.
She eyed him there, like a puppy dog she were deciding whether to adopt or send to the pound. She inhaled a little and thought, her gaze turning to the headshots of Vannah White Brian had sent over and looked thoughtful. Pretty, she thought. I could sell this.
Vanessa Byrne: All right, Brian. Have it your way. I’ll have my marketing team get in touch with your people. We’ll need to book a photoshoot, and start pushing your girl as our It girl. How does that sound?
He lit up like a Christmas tree as he made direct eye contact with Vanessa.
Brian McPhee: It sounds like you're a women who is swayed by logic over emotion, I wish my ex fiance was more like you…
His voice trails off as his gaze awkwardly lingers on. Vanessa being the professional she is takes this as a cue to move things along as she tips her head with a nod and shows McPhee his exit as the scene fades...
Then the door opened.
Feverishly, Brian McPhee takes a seat at her desk. You'd expect to see more confidence from a man of his stature but truth be told, he was quite intimidated by Vanessa Byrne.
Vanessa Byrne: Ah, Mr. McPhee. I expected it would be a phone call rather than a face-to-face meeting.
Brian stops himself and looks her in the eye with concern.
Brian McPhee: Is that a problem?
She smiles calmly. If it were a problem, she didn’t let on.
Vanessa Byrne: It's nice to meet you, Brian.
Brian sucks in some air and ruffles his scruffy blonde hair with his right hand and says...
Brian McPhee: Likewise, but seriously what’s up with the security? It's as if someone has died around here….
Vanessa Byrne raises an eyebrow and sighs uneasily.
Brian McPhee: Oh, too soon? Listen, your PR team has done quite a brilliant job in smoothing things over; in fact, there's hardly any news outlets covering the story. It probably helps that Valor Pro Wrestling isn't the biggest promotion that I have worked with but nonetheless, commendable...
Vanessa Byrne: What exactly is your play here, Mr. McPhee?
Under her glare, Brian McPhee takes a deep breath and looks off into the distance.
Brian McPhee: I need to find a reasonable spot for my client to participate so that she can fulfill her athletic endeavors...
Vanessa Byrne: In other words, she isn't a wrestler.
Brian McPhee let's out a nervous laugh.
Brian McPhee: Those are a dying breed, Ms. Byrne. Her name is Vannah White. An up and coming YouTube sensation and fan favorite. Granted, she's a bit green inside the squared circle but what's the difference between a neck breaker and literally breaking someone's neck, all in the name of competition, right?
Vanessa Byrne: A lawsuit, Brian. The difference is a lawsuit. Do you really think it's in my best interest to gamble and take a chance on your little pet project and risk the integrity and competitive standards of our company? I’m going to have to pass.
Brian is taken aback by the response but peacefully takes a stand. He offers a handshake to Vanessa Byrne to which she kindly, refuses. With a sly grin he spins around and heads for the door but before he grabs the handle he stops and slowly turns around...
Brian McPhee: It's a shame, really... Vannah had really taken a special liking to Valor Pro Wrestling but then that horrible, horrible death happened. And I told her, Vannah... you should give them another chance. I told her, I know you REALLY want to make a video on this and that you REALLY wanted to get some justice for whatever her name is...
She closes her and eyes and shakes her head, as Brian looks up at the ceiling and snaps his fingers trying to recall the name, what was it again? Vanessa watches him patiently.
He sarcastically slaps his knee, as he now confidently prances on over to Vanessa Byrne.
Brian McPhee: Yeah, you know... her name doesn't really matter, unless you want to make it matter. See, it takes about one hashtag on twitter from @vannahwhite2 with something catchy like #JusticeforPayton to set this entire thing on fire and for what? All because you didn't want to give a sweet little girl from London a chance at achieving her dreams? Come on, Nessa... have a heart.
She eyed him there, like a puppy dog she were deciding whether to adopt or send to the pound. She inhaled a little and thought, her gaze turning to the headshots of Vannah White Brian had sent over and looked thoughtful. Pretty, she thought. I could sell this.
Vanessa Byrne: All right, Brian. Have it your way. I’ll have my marketing team get in touch with your people. We’ll need to book a photoshoot, and start pushing your girl as our It girl. How does that sound?
He lit up like a Christmas tree as he made direct eye contact with Vanessa.
Brian McPhee: It sounds like you're a women who is swayed by logic over emotion, I wish my ex fiance was more like you…
His voice trails off as his gaze awkwardly lingers on. Vanessa being the professional she is takes this as a cue to move things along as she tips her head with a nod and shows McPhee his exit as the scene fades...
{7 Pillars of Rome Gauntlet Match}
(The first two participants will start the match, and when a winner is decided, the next participant will enter. The Participants are listed in their order of appearance.)
Pyro erupts at the top of the ramp drawing everyone's attention to the stage where 7 pillars of flame, each a different color, signals that the Main Event has arrived. The crowd erupts with glee as the past several weeks of Valor Pro action unfolds on the tron above the flames.
LO: Well, Ken, we're finally here, and we're going to crown the first ever UnYIELDING champion!
KO: Folks, in the past several weeks the drama surrounding this match unfolded, as divisions were eliminated, and everyone was gathered under one banner of competition.
LO: The path wasn't easy either, as each participant in this match had to earn their spot in one scenario or another, starting with a #1 contender for the Monarch Championship, which after our last match, no longer exists.
KO: Kimitsu Zombie earned that right, but instead of a shot at that title, received the coveted number seven spot in this match, ensuring her with the best position to pick up the victory.
LO: Our next entrant was Joel Hawkfield, who earned his spot over Roxi Johnson at Blitz#3, and was randomly drawn to sit dead center of the ballet at number 4. But with everything that's been revealed about his condition, it was determined by his doctors that he could not fly out, so he will no longer be in the match.
KO: That's a tough break, Laur, but health and safety first.
LO: In the only other match that guaranteed someone a spot, Zack Fantana and Brennan Devlin battled it out where the winner would get the next best slot in the gauntlet, number six, and the loser would get the dreaded number one, and we all know how that turned out.
KO: Damn right! Cross Recoba arrived on the scene, and laid both men out with his Up All Night In Dakota piledriver. My only real question is, why did he ensure that Devlin won the match?
LO: I don't know, but it has been revealed that Zachariah Krahe, our number three participant, has been paid off by Cross to ensure that Fantana does not make it out of this tournament alive. Obviously Recoba has a major issue with Fantana!
KO: No doubt, the deck is stacked against the leader of Fantanasy. But that leaves us with only two spots to discuss, number 2, which is Roxi Johnson, and number 5, Brodie.
LO: Both are fan favorites Ken, but the jaded out there have said they don't feel that Roxi Johnson should have been given a second chance. I don't agree with that, but your thoughts?
KO: Look, bottom line, she got it, and she made the most of it. She's our own resident superhero round these parts, and regardless of whether I think the whole thing is a bit cliche, you can't deny her veteran status in this industry.
LO: Agreed, and Brodie overcame what seemed like insurrmountable odds when she faced Davy Blossom, who's wife made the encounter a two on one affair much as she did earlier tonight.
KO: At the end of the day though, the wild haired vixen pulled out the victory, and there's no denying her talent in the ring. She's got as much of a chance here as anyone.
LO: Well, Ken, I believe we've hyped ourselves up enough, and I'm ready for the action, so lets go to the ring announcer for the details.
Ring Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, this is your MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!
The crowd has come unglued.
Ring Announcer: This contest is the 7 Pillars Gauntlet Match, and the rules are simple. The first two participants will start the match, and the normal rules apply. The objective is to win by pinfall or submission. After a winner has been decided, the next participant in the series will make their entrance, and the match will start again, until all seven competitors have made their appearance. The final show down will determine the first ever UnYIELDING Champion!
'Lucid Dreams' by Franz Ferdinand hits over the PA System, and the fans are on their feet as Zack Fantana steps out onto the stage, a determined expression on his face. That doesn't deter him from acknowledging the crowd who buzz wildly as he starts his trek down to the ring, slapping a few hands as he goes.
Ring Announcer: Introducing the number one spot in the gauntlet, standing at six foot, and weighting in at 205 pounds, he hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...He is the self ordained leader of the Fantanasy Movement, ZACK FANNNTANNNNAAAAA!!
Zack takes the ring steps two at a time before coming onto the apron and spinning so that he is hanging from the top rope by his arms. The fans cheer as he nods confidently before spinning himself through the ropes to enter the ring. He runs to a corner and leaps to land on the second rope, throwing his fists above his head to another huge ovation. He drops down, and stretches against the ropes, awaiting his opponent.
KO: This man has one hell of a hill to climb already just from this position in the gauntlet, but factoring in the Cross Recoba hit, do you think he even has a chance.
LO: If there's anyone in this promotion that can overcome these types of odds, it's Zack Fantana, but he will definitely have his hands full, because if you think that was a huge ovation, wait til our next competitor makes her entrance.
Right on cue, 'The Touch' by Stan Bush fills the arena, and the fans go absolutely bonkers. A pink flood light fills the entrance to illuminate the smoke that has appeared on the stage, and Roxi Johnson bursts through the curtain to a huge ovation. She whips her hair around, and throws up hand signals to the crowd, who happily return them. She holds her hands out to the right as she slow jogs down the ramp so that she can touch as many fans as she can.
Ring Announcer: And his opponent, the number two spot in the gauntlet, standing at five foot six, and weighing in at 132 pounds..hailing from Tampa, Florida....She is Valor Pro's resident Superhero....ROXI JOHNSONNNN!!
Roxi hops up onto the ring apron, and then all the way to the top rope where she rests on her knee while whipping her hair which seems to send the fans into a frenzy. Finally, she springs down into the ring, and does a running in place jog, locking eyes with Zack Fantana who comes out of the corner, eager to start what is sure to be a long night for one of them.
LO: Man alive, these fans love Roxi Johnson.
KO: That's because everyone loves a nostalgia act, but does she really believe that she stands a chance against someone the caliber of Fantana?
LO: Come on, Ken, she's a real life superhero! She stands better than a chance!
KO: Well, I guess we'll find out, cause there's the bell and here we go!
Roxi and Zack begin to circle one another warily before locking up in the center of the ring. Roxi proves her speed advantage by immediately slipping under Zack's left side to end up behind him into a waist lock. Zack jockeys a bit, using his size to maneuver them around the ring, until finally being able to break Roxi's grasp, and spin around to hook her into a headlock. Roxi struggles at first until settling in, using her shoulder and low center of gravity to push Zack into the ropes, and then send him to the opposite side. Zack returns and bowls right over Roxi with a shoulder tackle. The two exchange a glance before Zack slips to the side to get a boost from the ropes, but Roxi floats over onto her stomach, forcing Zack to hop over her. Zack springs back again, but this time Roxi is on her feet, and she meets him with a dropkick that sends Fantana crashing to the mat.
LO: Fantana already back on his feet and moving, but Roxi is there to catch him with a snap arm drag. Back up again, and walks head long into another. Back up one more time, and Roxi catches him with a surprise chop that sends him reeling back into the corner.
KO: Well, I guess she does stand a chance. Roxi is lighting him up here!
Roxi winds up with another chop that echoes through out the arena, before grabbing Zack by his wrist to shoot him to the opposite side. Zack reverses, and Roxi rushes the corner but instead of impacting, she runs right up the turnbuckles, and as Zack follows her in he is caught with a spinning plancha from the top that sends both crashing to the mat. Roxi is back on her feet and already into the ropes for momentum before Zack can even make it all the way up, and when he turns into her she nails him with a running front drop kick that knocks him down once again. She's quick to make a hook of the leg.
1...
2...
KO: Barely a two count there, but Roxi Johnson is in complete control, and I believe she's surprised Zack Fantana here.
LO: Definitely got the jump on him.
Roxi is up to her feet, and she waits by the ropes for Fantana to get to his. He's slow in his rise, a little winded by the fast and furious pace that Roxi has set in the early going, but eventually he makes it. Roxi is in motion, using the ropes for some spring, and rushes back at Fantana. Unfortunately for her, Fantana has the where with all to catch her coming in with a lightening fast powerslam that see's him put her into a pinning predicament.
1...
2...
KO: Roxi out at two, and Fantana is using that sudden stop to catch his breath.
LO: Yeah, but I wouldn't suggest taking too long, as Roxi Johnson is already making it back to her feet!
As if on cue, Zack steps over to a rising Roxi, and hooks her around the midsection before she has a chance to react, and takes her back down to the mat with a gut-wrench suplex. The fans give a mixed reaction when he gets back to his feet, falls back into the ropes for spring, and then comes back to her prone body with a jumping double leg drop. He slides over into the cover, hooking both legs for good measure.
1...
2...
LO: Roxi Johnson out after a long two count, and just like that Fantana has found his stride.
KO: I knew it wouldn't take him long to get back on top.
Zack seems to realize that wouldn't be enough as he pulls Roxi up to her feet, and pushes her back into the ropes only to send her to the opposite side. Roxi returns and ducks his clothesline attempt, springing back only to duck his back elbow. Finally on her third time around, Zack posts up center of the ring to catch her, but instead she leaps high into the air and hooks him around the head with her legs. She falls back to try and turn it into a hurricanrana, but Fantana, in a testament of strength, manages not to be pulled over. Roxi, now dangling in the air, looks panicked as Zack reaches down and yanks her back up to sit on his chest, and abruptly sits out into a powerbomb. He throws his feet over her shoulders, and pushes her legs up onto her chest for a pin.
1...
2...
3--NO!
KO: That was almost it for Roxi Johnson, but she just barely rolled her shoulder out from under Fantana's boot at the last second!
LO: Bottom line, many more high impact slams like that, and Roxi's not going to be able to use her speed to counter Fantana's obvious size advantage.
Disappointment crosses Fantana's face as he yanks Roxi up to her feet, and sends a forearm right into her jaw which sends her stumbling over to the corner. He leads in with another that rocks her skull back, and then slips his head under her arm to lift her so that she's sitting on the top rope. Fantana scales the ropes in front of her, and hooks her around the head, looking for a superplex. Roxi, however, locks her legs around the turnbuckle, and try as he might, he can't break her free. He finally lets go and pushes her head back, making to give her another shot, but before he can fire off she sends one of her own into his exposed midsection. Zack doubles over, and Roxi shifts so that she can catch him in the ribs with several rapid fists. Finally, she unhooks her legs and stands up on the second rope so that she can deliver a headbutt that sends Zack crashing down to the mat. He's in perfect position as she steps up to the top rope, begging for Zack to get to his feet. He eventually does, and when he turns to find his opponent, she sails off the top to hook him around the head snapping him down with a blockbuster.
LO: DAMN! The back of Fantana's head just crashed into the canvas, and he appears to be out of it!
KO: Roxi Johnson's going for a cover! She's going to advance in this gauntlet!
1...
2...
3--NO!
Fantana just barely gets his shoulder off the mat as the ref's hand comes down for three, but he show's Roxi the two as she comes up, burying her hands in her hair out of frustration. She gets to her feet, a bit wobbly from the punishment dished out, and looks around the ring in desperation for her next move. Noticing Fantana's perfect positioning in the center of the ring, a light bulb goes off, and she nods in determination as the fans come to their feet just before she dashes towards the ropes. She uses her momentum to hop to the second rope, and springboards backwards into a beautiful lionsault. Unfortunately, she can not stop this momentum in time to prevent from crashing down on Fantana, who has pulled his knee's up to his chest.
KO: OH! Zack gets his knee's up and Roxi crashes and burns! She might have broke a rib there, Laur!
LO: Yeah, and Fantana is getting to his feet, and he's signaling that this is the end. Roxi is holding her midsection as she rises, and Fantana just went into motion, springboard off the second, and FLIGHT OF FANTASY!
KO: Hell of a forearm smash, and he's following it up with a pin!
1...
2...
3----NO!
Zack can't believe it when Roxi's shoulder comes up just before the ref's hand hit's the mat, and he shakes his head in frustration. He pulls himself up and makes his way over to a corner, and starts his climb to the top.
KO: Zack Fantana is looking to put Roxi away here, and you got to believe that he's going for Lucid Dreams. If he hits this, it's ov.....wait a minute.
LO: Oh come on, what the hell is he doing out here?
The fans are on their feet in boo's, confusing Zack who is now perched on the top rope. A random female voice in the audience screams, 'We love you, Zach', and he smirks, finding the audience member. Only problem is, she isn't looking at him, but up at the top of the stage. Zack turns from his perch, and much to his chagrin spies Zachariah Krahe standing at the top of the ramp. His expression is bemused as he reaches into his leather jacket pocket, and pulls forth a rolled cigarette, placing it carefully into his mouth before striking a match and lighting it. He shrugs to Zack after taking a puff and emitting a plume of smoke, and indicates that he should pay attention to the action inside of the ring.
LO: Zachariah Krahe has absolutely no business being out here!
KO: Well, he is next in line after the winner of this match has been determined.
LO: Yeah, and he should be waiting his turn in the back just like everyone else that's in the gauntlet! Everyone knows his intentions out here! He's been paid off by Cross Recoba to eliminate Zack Fantana from this match!
KO: Whatever his motivations may be, this has caused a bit of a distraction for Zack Fantana, as it appears that Roxi is getting to her feet, and he's none the wiser.
Roxi has no idea why Fantana is on the top rope facing the opposite direction, and she doesn't think on it too long before rushing over and yanking his legs apart so that he crotches himself on the top turnbuckle. For the first time she see's Krahe at the top of the ramp, and she warily keeps an eye on him as she climbs up to the second rope with Zack. Krahe allows a chuckle, taking another puff of his cigarette, indicating with his free hand that she should pay attention to her opponent as well. The move is unsettling, but Roxi heeds the warning, as she steps all the way to the top, leaps, and then takes Fantana over in a top rope frankenstiener. Fantana strikes the canvas hard, and Roxi is quick to scramble over for the cover.
1...
2...
3-----NO!
KO: Roxi Johnson can't believe that Zack Fantana managed to kick out, and quite frankly, neither can I!
LO: Yeah, but this distraction caused by Zachariah Krahe's presence has thrown this whole match off balance. Roxi can't be one hundred percent certain that the mercenary isn't out here to cost her so that he has the honors of dispatching Fantana.
KO: Well, it looks to me like she's focused well enough, cause shes signaling for Fantana to get back to his feet!
Fantana is obviously woozy as he struggles to regain his feet, and Roxi Johnson is positioned just to the side of him, ready to strike. The minute he's upright Roxi is in motion, hopping up to the second rope, and springboarding off with a disaster kick. To everyone's surprise, Fantana ducks under the move, and when Roxi lands he grabs her from behind with a waistlock, taking her up into the air for a belly-to-back suplex, but instead bringing her crashing down onto his knee's for a back breaker.
LO: SLEEP APNEA!
KO: I don't believe it!
LO: Fantana barely crawling, but he drapes his arms over her shoulders for the cover! 1...
KO: 2...
BOTH: 3!! This one is over, and Fantana has advanced!
Ring Announcer: The winner of this contest, and advancing in the 7 Pillars of Rome Gauntlet Match, ZACK FANT....
The ring announcer is abruptly cut off as Zachriah Krahe rushes into the ring, flipping Fantana over onto his back, and laying in piston like right hands down into the unprotected man's face. The referee is all over Krahe, having not even helped Roxi Johnson out of the ring yet, but Krahe pays little mind as his fists continue impacting off of Fantana's skull. Finally Zach pops up off of his prey, and he stalks the referee all the way back into the corner, pointing to the time keeper for the official to start the match. Reluctantly, seeing no other alternative, Carmen Caputo signals for the bell, and the match officially begins.
LO: I can't believe this! Zack Fantana has been busted open the hard way by those unprotected shots from Zachariah Krahe, and the official just started this match!
KO: Well what did you want her to do, Laur? According to the rules, Krahe didn't do anything wrong. The match hadn't officially started!
LO: Oh, brother of mine, we must be looking at a different rule book! Everything about this situation is wrong!
Blood pours from an open gash right above Zack Fantana's left eye as he stumbles and falls into a corner, the ropes the only thing holding him up. Roxi Johnson slowly makes her way up the ramp holding her lower back, but all eyes are glued to Zachariah Krahe as he saunters over to Fantana, and drives a right hand into his jaw. Zack's head snaps back, allowing Krahe to follow up with a back elbow that lands right into his throat. Fantana pulls at the top rope to try and get out of the corner, while clutching his newly injured esophagus. Krahe takes this moment to hook Zack in a headlock, trapping his head between his body and the top rope. With a vicious sneer he leads Fantana across the top rope, dragging his bad eye over the tape covered steel wire. The fans wince as he lets Fantana go, and he drops to his knees, blood spurting out onto the canvas.
LO: Caputo is all over Krahe who holds both hands in the air and backs off like he's completely innocent. What a joke!
KO: Laur, the man was offered a lot of cash from Recoba to prevent Fantana from getting any farther in this gauntlet, and he accepted. Now he has always been something of an enigma, with the fans not really sure which way to feel about him, but at the end of the day this is what Zachariah Krahe does, or have you not been paying attention to his promos in the off time?
LO: Maybe so, but that doesn't make it right.
KO: Think of it this way...He isn't a bad guy, nor is he a good guy. He is whatever the situation calls for. So getting upset over the man's apathy doesn't really make any sense.
LO: Oh Yeah, that right there looks really apathetic!
As the commentators bantered back and forth, Krahe had dumped Fantana to the outside, where he followed him out only to bang his already wounded skull off the steel guard rail. He now slips his head under his arm from behind, lifts him up like a side suplex, but instead of falling back, brings Zack crotch first down across the top of the guard rail. The fans let out a collective gasp as Zack straddles the steel, open mouthed, and in obvious pain. From the ring, referee Caputo is up to a five count, and Krahe slips under the bottom rope to break it, before rolling back to the outside.
KO: Zachariah is very measured here, taking all the time he needs to inflict whatever damage he wants to Fantana.
LO: That's sort of what happens when you jump somebody before the bout, Ken.
KO: Even so, Fantana had a grueling match with Roxi before this, and given the added advantage of being fresh and getting the jump, Krahe is in complete control.
Krahe helps Fantana off the guard rail by delivering a running clothesline that nearly takes the man's head off. The fans begin to throw popcorn and trash, but Zachariah Krahe doesn't seem bothered by it as he pulls Zack up to his feet, and then runs him head first under the bottom rope, and back into the ring. He follows him back inside, and he plops over top of him for a cover.
1...
2...
3----NO!
LO: Fantana out on an excruciatingly long 2 count, and I'm not sure if he can take much more, and this is only the second contest in this gauntlet!
KO: Yeah, he might want to consider getting one of his Fantanasy members to come out and replace him after all this.
Krahe pulls Zack up to his feet, and hooks him around the head, and then snaps him over into a suplex. He doesn't relinquish his hold as he spins them both around, drags Fantana up, and delivers another. With another spin, he has him back up, and one more time Fantana is snapped to the mat. This time, Krahe floats over and hooks the leg this time to execute a pin.
1...
2...
3----NO!
LO: My God, where is he finding the will to get out of this? I mean, it's just barely, but still!
KO: You know, if you've been watching our programming for the past few months, and don't respect Zack Fantana, I'm pretty sure he's changed your mind in this contest.
Krahe doesn't seem put out by the kick out, rather mechanically yanking Zack back to his feet only to shove him back into a corner. A few hard right hands cause Zack to slip a bit, but he isn't allowed to go down as Krahe grabs him by the wrist, and sends him spiraling towards the other side. Fatnana hit's the turnbuckles with such velocity that it pops him back out, and he stumbles forward while Zachariah comes barreling towards him. Krahe dives with a spear, but at the last minute Fantana falls to his side, and Krahe continues sailing right through the top and middle turnbuckle, all the way shoulder first into the steel ring post.
KO: I'm not so sure that was a counter, rather than Fantana not being able to stay on his feet after this assault he's taken.
LO: Either way, Krahe is clutching at his shoulder as he turns to face his opponent, and ZACK FANTANA JUST NAILED HIM WITH A SUPER KICK!
KO: GOOD GOD! That was like a shotgun blast going off right to Krahe's face!
Krahe crashes to the mat, and Fantana crumples down beside him completely spent. Caputo checks with both men, and not getting a response, starts a ten count. Around the six mark, Krahe rolls over onto his stomach and crawls towards the corner he was damaged in, using the turnbuckles to pull himself up. At the same time, Fantana has managed to do the same on the opposite side. The referee signals that the fight should continue, and Zach and Krahe stare at each other from across the ring in contempt. Suddenly both tear out of their respective corners, rushing each other that results in Fantana ducking a clothesline attempt by Krahe. When Zachariah turns back around, he's caught right in the face with a pele kick that sends him stumbling back to the ropes, tripping him right through the middle and top to crash on the concrete below.
LO: Zachariah Krahe trying to find his footing on the outside, and a battered and beaten Zack Fantana just pulled himself up by use of the ropes. He see's Krahe, and here comes the leader of Fantanasy with a CORKSCREW SUICIDE DIVE!
KO: Jesus, that wiped both of them out, and Caputo's got no choice but start a count. Hey, Laur, what happens if both get counted out here?
LO: Good question. I'd assume that the gauntlet would resume with our next two participants.
The referee makes it to an eight count before Fantana is able to pull himself under the rope, but as soon as the count is broken, he slips back out. Covered in blood and sweat, Fantana helps Krahe the rest of the way up to his feet, and then sends him sailing shoulder first into the steel steps. Zachariah strikes with such impact that the top step flies from the base, sending it skidding across ringside. Zack gingerly makes his way over to his fallen opponent, and pulls him up only to toss him back into the ring. Krahe rolls with the momentum to come to a rest dead center of the ring. Fantana hops up onto the ring apron, and makes his way to the top with some effort before coming to rest on his perch. He stands to his full height, and the fans come alive as he gives them a salute just before taking flight with a mesmerizing corkscrew shooting star press.
LO: LUCID DREAMS!! Zachariah Krahe just got crushed, and the move took something out of Fantana as well, but he's still able to get the pin!
KO: 1...
LO: 2...
KO: THRE- KRAHE JUST KICKED OUT!
The fans are as beside themselves as the announce team, while both men lay motionless in the ring after the surprising kick out. Caputo even shakes her head in disbelief, but finds no other recourse than to start another ten count. At the count of seven both men start moving, but instead of away from each other they are crawling towards each other. By the count of nine both men have managed, with the help of the other, to get back onto wobbly legs. Suddenly pushes Zack further up, and lays in a wicked haymaker. The blow knocks Zack back into the ropes, and he bounces back in answer with one of his own. Krahe nearly goes down, but instead regains his balance, and fires off with another shot. It's Zack's turn to almost hit the canvas, but somehow he's still on his feet, and answers once again with a fist of his own.
LO: These two men are out on their feet, and it is just their instinct to keep on swinging.
KO: Maybe, but it looks to me like Zack Fantana's punches are carrying a little more steam.
Krahe is rocked back one more time, but when he answers he finds his fist blocked, followed by another right hand by Zack. Another. Another! Krahe is rocked all the way back to the ropes now, and Zack fires up, taking him by the wrist and sending him to the far side. Before Krahe can return Zack has hopped over the top rope to the ring apron, and once Krahe has made it to the halfway point, he springboards to the top, and comes sailing off for a forearm smash. Krahe sees it coming, however, and commits to a front roll that dodges the blow. Fantana lands safely in the center of the ring, while Krahe rolls back up to his feet, and hits off the ropes that Zack had just been standing on. Fantana is quick to spin around and go on the attack, but just as he does, Krahe comes rushing back in with a high Busaiku Knee Strike that nearly takes the leader of Fantanasy's head off.
LO: Oh no....
KO: OH yes! Krahe dropping for the cover, 1...2...3!!!
Ring Announcer: And the winner of this match, and advancing in the Gauntlet.....ZACHARIAH KRAAAHEEE!!!
LO: I can't believe this one is over for Zack Fantana! I mean, he had a hell of a contest with Roxi before Krahe came out to distract him, and then get the jump on him. It...it just doesn't seem fair.
KO: All's fair in love and war, Laur, and these two went through a war. I'm the first to admit that I was overly critical of Fantana, but the fact is, he put on one hell of a showing....he just won't be showing anymore tonight.
Krahe falls back into the corner, wiping the sweat from his brow as he watches Zack Fantana being helped out of the ring by officials. Fantana jerks away from the aide, and turns to stare daggers back at Krahe who shrugs non-challantly despite how much the effort has taken out of him.
KO: Well folks, Joel Hawkfield was supposed to be at this event as the 4th participant, but due to medical complications was unable to travel, therefore, Krahe will be getting a bye on that one, and will go straight on to face a woman he knows all too well from their previous encounters, Brodie!
LO: Yeah, and after that business with Zack Fantana, I'm not so sure that Krahe will have what it takes to take on a fresh Brodie. He was able to pull out victory in their last encounter just by the skin of his teeth!
'Viktoria Modesta' by Prototype hits over the PA system and just as Zack Fantana makes it past the curtain, out bursts Brodie, all wild hair and leather jacket. She pumps her fist into the air for an absolutely ravenous crowd who cheer her name. She grins, bringing her fist down to point at the man in the ring. Krahe smirks, pulling himself out of the corner he was leaning in, and stands dead center of the ring, beckoning for her to come get some.
Ring Announcer: Introducing our 5th competitor, standing at five foot eleven and weighting in at 150 pounds, she hails from Manhattan, New York....THIS IS BRODDIIEEEE!!
Brodie watches Krahe's expression and actions from the stage, and a coy smile splays across her face as she nods, removing her leather jacket, and then sprinting down the ramp towards the ring. She hits the ring like a ball of fire, sliding under the bottom rope, and running right up to meet Krahe who swings with a clothesline. She ducks it, hitting off the ropes behind him, only to catch him with a step up shining wizard that sends him crashing to the mat. She quickly hops over, and goes for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: Krahe out at two, and he's moving to his feet, but Brodie's already there with forearm smashes that send him falling back into the ropes. She takes him by the wrist and whips him to the far side, but he reverses it!
KO: Krahe on his way back now, and Brodie rushes right for him. Krahe able to put on the brakes, and catches Brodie by the side, lifting her up into a tilt-a-whirl that BRODIE TURNS INTO AN ARM DRAG! Krahe back up, and he runs right for her, but she quickly drops to her side and catches him with a drop toe hold...
Krahe's face impacts with the mat, and Brodie quickly leaps right up and over his body to land beside his head, grapevining his left arm, and then hooking him under the chin for a crossface. Zach cries out as she torques back, her face a vicious mask with a twinkle in her eye. He reaches out with his free arm, and starts dragging both of them towards the ropes, but when he reaches the halfway point, Brodie releases the crossface and drives three short but precise elbows right into his skull, before locking him back in. This stops his momentum, and he shakes his head 'No' to Caputo's continued questions for a submission. Finally Krahe manages to roll his free arm under himself, propping himself up, and yanking Brodie over his body and putting her shoulder the mat. This gets him a one count, before she yanks back hard, rolling him right back onto his stomach still in the crossface.
LO: Brodie has a tired Zachariah Krahe in trouble here with this submission hold, and despite his best efforts here to get out of it, she's kept him locked in like a pit bull!
KO: Well it's not like he didn't just have a match of the year candidate performance with Zack Fantana before Brodie even made it out here, but regardless, he's clawing once again for the ropes.
LO: This time Krahe looks like he's going to get the bottom rope for a break, but as soon as he got his fingers on it, Brodie releases the hold, gets to her feet, and starts reigning stomps directly down onto that injured shoulder. I think the girl has a game plan!
KO: You think!
The fans cheer as Brodie uses the second rope to spring up into the air only to driver her knee right down into the insertion of Krahe's left arm to his shoulder. He cries out and rolls quickly away from her, but isn't able to get to his feet before Brodie is on him, taking him by the wrist and pulling it over into a dragon twist. Krahe slaps at the injured body part while shaking his head, only for Brodie to spin through again while holding onto the wrist. His arm is sufficiently twisted now, but she doesn't seem satisfied, as she spins one more time. That is one to many, it appears, as there is no more torque to be had to the arm, which forces Krahe to perform a front flip to land hard flat onto his back. Brodie, never letting go of the arm, drops down into an armbar submission that see's Krahe come alive in surprise pain.
LO: The submission specialist looks like she is going to try and break Zach's arm, and he looks worse for ware here.
KO: Well no crap, Laur! She hasn't let up one second since she came through the curtain. Brodie's like a woman possessed here!
LO: Maybe she is, Ken. Maybe she's possessed by this opportunity to be the first ever UnYielding champion, or maybe she's possessed by the very man she's trying to submit in the ring. Zachariah Krahe certainly didn't seem to be able to slow down in completing his mission of eliminating Zack Fantana. Maybe this is fate, paying him back like a bitch.
KO: Damn, Laurence. You sure don't like this guy, or you like Zack Fantana way too much. Either way, Krahe is positioning for something here...Oh, he's managed to roll his feet up and over his head, this changes the position of his arm in the hold, and he just pushed Brodie up onto her shoulders even though he's still trapped! He's got a handful of Brodie's tights, and Caputo is saying this is a pin!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-Brodie gets out at the last possible second, but that's because Krahe had the aide of the tights! That forced a break of the hold, and Zachariah Krahe is taking this brief opportunity to put some distance between him and Brodie, but she's not having any of it. She's coming right back in with right hands that have him hemmed up in the corner.
KO: Yeah, but Krahe just shoved her back, but here she comes again....RIGHT INTO A BIG BOOT FROM KRAHE!
LO: Brodie down on the mat now, but she's already getting back up, and here comes Krahe RIGHT INTO A RUNNING PUNT KICK THAT JUST TOOK BRODIE'S HEAD OFF!
Brodie is lifeless in the center of the ring, the fans booing vehemently as Krahe drops to his knees out of breath. He shakes his head at the woman in front of him as he falls on top of her, hooking her leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! BRODIE GOT OUT BEFORE THE THREE! God that was so close, Ken.
KO: Yeah, and Zachariah Krahe looks a little gassed here as he more stumbled to his feet than got up.
LO: Hell, I don't blame him. That's his first bit of real offense against Brodie thus far, but God, what a kick!
Zach stares down at the woman from the corner that's helping to keep him up, and its obvious he's trying to figure out what to do next, when he looks over to the top rope. He shrugs, looking a little uncertain, as he slips out to the ring apron and starts to climb. He gets to the top, and just when he does, Brodie has already started rolling to the opposite side of the ring, going right up under the bottom rope to land out at ringside much to Krahe's chagrin. The fans all laugh at him as he hops back down from the top with nothing to show for it, a little frustration telling in his movements.
LO: Brodie with the presence of mind to get out of dodge before Krahe could do whatever it was he planned on doing there.
KO: Yeah, that was a veteran move out of this young former artist. Got to give her props.
LO: Well, Krahe is watching her from inside the ring now, and Brodie just made it up to her feet....what is he doing....OH MY GOD!
KO: ZACHARIAH KRAHE JUST TOOK A RUNNING LEAP RIGHT OVER THE TOP ROPE TO COME CRASHING DOWN ONTO BRODIE! HE TOOK OUT OUR CAMERAMAN TOO!
The fans all erupt in cheers, despite the fact that it was Krahe performing the death defying move, being so fickle that they have already forgotten that he's facing their favorite, Brodie, and what he had just done previously to Zack Fantana for Cross Recoba. Krahe is slow to get to his feet, but he manages it, getting a fistful of Brodie's hair to ensure she does the same. Much to everyone's surprise Brodie suddenly comes alive, throwing Krahe's hands up and out, and then boots him square in the gut only to hook him around the head, and spike him down to the concrete with a destructive DDT.
LO: These fans are on their feet for Brodie as she gets to her feet, and rolls back into the ring to break the count, but she's right back out to see this one through. It's pretty obvious that she wants to pin Zachariah Krahe, for no other reason than she owes him one.
KO: I don't know, that might have been a mistake on her part. A count out victory is just as good in a match like this as a pinfall or submission.
LO: That's not how she does things. Besides, this ensures the action continues, and this one is about as drama filled as I've ever seen.
Krahe has managed to get to his feet, and Brodie nails him with a forearm smash that sends him stumbling up the ramp back towards the stage. She shakes her head, listening for the count which is up to three, when she follows him up the ramp and nails him with another one. Zach continues to fall back, reaching the top of the ramp now, holding his jaw and waving her off. Brodie tries to get hold of Krahe's injured arm, but he recoils back, knocking her away with his free hand. The two have made it fully onto the stage, and Brodie takes another swing at Krahe, who ducks the blow, while at the same time grabbing the right side of the curtain, jerking it free so that it floats down over top of Brodie. It's obvious the woman is outraged as she fights to get from under what is nothing more than a king size sheet. Unfortunately for her, Krahe grabs the left curtain and pulls it free as well, winding it around Brodie's blind, flailing body, essentially tying her up. He then takes off into a gallop back to the ring, belly sliding back in right at the count of eight. He rises to one knee, looking back up at the stage with a mischievous grin as Brodie tears free from the mess he had left her in.
LO: I can not believe this.....
KO: Freakin' genius....
Caputo looks down at Krahe and shakes her head, but then turns back to Brodie and calls out 'Ten'. It takes a minute for the woman to realize what just happened here, and her jaw opens in surprise, and then snaps closed in absolute fury. She stalks down the ramp towards the object of her disdain when security appears to cut her off from the ring, where Zachariah Krahe grins down at her, indicating he outsmarted her by pointing at his left temple.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match by count out, and advancing in the gauntlet, ZACHARIAH KRAHEEEE!!
The fans fill the arena with boos, and a few pieces of balled up trash find their way into the ring as Krahe falls back into the far corner, rubbing at his injured shoulder. Brodie spits at the feet of security as she curls her lip, and turns to begrudgingly exit. Krahe breathes a congratulatory sigh of relief, lowering his head while still massaging his shoulder, but it snaps quickly back up when the sounds of 'Salvation Code' by Scandroid hits over the PA system. Brennan Devlin steps through the open hole, the curtain having just been used for treachery, and he allows a chuckle while looking at the curtains still laying around the stage. He wags his finger at Krahe in the ring, signaling shame, shame, shame while still sharing a laugh with no one, the crowd booing like crazy.
Ring Announcer: Introducing the number six spot in the gauntlet, standing at six foot one and weighting in at 230 pounds, hailing from San Andreas, California.....He is 'THE FACE OF WRESTLING', BRENNAN DEVLINNNN!!!
Devlin bebops down the ramp towards the ring, offering to slap a fans hand only to retract it when they go for it, laughing. He doesn't appear to be too concerned with the broken down man awaiting him in the ring, and he's overly confident considering what number he's entering. Finally, having wasted enough time jawing with the fans, Devlin climbs the steps, and enters the ring, pointing at the mat to indicate that Krahe should just lay down and take the loss.
LO: What a dick!
KO: Which one?
LO: Both I guess. Zachariah Krahe may have gotten under my skin here tonight, but at lease he has a motivation, albeit skewed. But him.....he....he's just a dick!
KO: Brennan Devlin?
LO: Yes! Devlin is the kind of guy who wouldn't have needed any money to pull off what Krahe has done here tonight. He'd do it just for the sheer spite of it all.
KO: I think you're being a little unfair, Laurence. Sure, Brennan Devlin would have done all of those things, but he would have done it to be crowned the UnYielding Champion. This guy is a thoroughbred whose hell bent on proving he's the best in the world, and I'm not so sure he has much more to prove.
LO: Whatever. There's the bell, and this match is officially underway.
Krahe and Devlin begin circling each other in the ring, and Brennan continues to be cocksure, even indicating to Krahe's shoulder with a wink. Krahe is doubly cautious as the two go for a lock up, but sure enough, Devlin manages to get Krahe into a swift dragon twist. The much fresher man makes another spin through, this time yanking down hard on the wrist which snaps Krahe down to his hands and knee's. Still retaining hold of the wrist, Devlin spins round to hook the arm around his own leg, and then launches himself over Krahe's body into an armwrench inside cradle pin.
1...
2...
KO: Krahe out at two, and both men moving quickly to their feet, but as Krahe reaches for Devlin he hooks him around the head and pulls him down into a small package!
LO: 1...2...Zachariah out again at two. Both men quickly up once more, and Devlin able to slip past Krahe to hook him in a waistlock from behind. He runs him towards the ropes, and rolls backwards and all the way through so that he's got Zach pinned and is just sitting on the back of his legs.....1....2....
KO: Krahe able to reach up and grab Devlin's shoulders, and yank him down to the mat so that his legs are now over his shoulders for a pin! 1...2...
LO: Devlin just shoved Krahe's legs off of him to break the pin, and Krahe rolled all the way back so that he comes up on his knee's....Devlin pops up to his feet, and CATCHES HIM WITH A SHORT SIDE KICK RIGHT UNDER THE JAW!. Krahe woozy and still on his knee's, and Devlin hooks him around the head, and spikes his skull straight down into the canvas with a short DDT! Going for the pin again!
KO: 1....2....THRE-NO! Krahe got the shoulder up, and Devlin is up now just strutting around the ring, winking to a booing crowd.
Devlin feels that he has Krahe in complete control, and for the moment, he does, having cause Zachariah to expend a great deal of energy getting in and out of those quick succession pins. He reaches down and yanks the man up by his hair, running him face first into the top turnbuckle of the nearby corner. He spins Krahe around, and fires in a chop that lights up the mans chest, and then does it again. Another one. A fourth one! A fifth one! And just when the crowd starts to chant along he shakes his head 'No' and wags his finger, bringing the boo's right back to him. He confidently takes Krahe by the wrist and sends him to the far side where Zach hit's the turnbuckles hard. He slumps down, obviously spent, when Devlin comes rushing across the ring to nail him with a splash.
LO: KRAHE GOT OUT OF THE WAY THERE, and Devlin lands sternum first across the top turnbuckle!
KO: Krahe taking a few steps away to the center, and he comes barreling back in with a spear....DEVLIN JUST LEAP FROGGED HIM AND KRAHE WENT THROUGH THE MIDDLE AND TOP ROPE TO CRASH SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE RING POST!
LO: Steel on flesh is never good folks, but especially not if you already have an injured shoulder, and that looked sick!
Devlin is grinning like a mad man, just begging Krahe to untangle himself from the corner. He eventually does so, clutching at his injured body part, and turning back to face his opponent. He walks right into a high standing dropkick from Brennan, whose feet target the injured shoulder. Krahe flys back into the corner like he was ejected from a car, slamming the turnbuckles, and finding himself sliding down into a seated position. Devlin, back up on his feet, turns to see this, and makes with his hands like he's taking aim with a camera, before barreling across the ring and catching Krahe with a boot that appears to go right through his face, but rather washes his jaw.
LO: Good God, Krahe's eyes just rolled back into his head, and this one might be over right now.
KO: If not, Caputo might need to call it.
Brennan is all smiles as he confidently jerks Krahe out of the corner, steps over and past him, and then hops up to the top with his legs spread far apart so that his thighs hit off the ropes, and he springs back into a wicked snap moonsault that crushes Krahe into the mat. Devlin hooks the leg non-challantly, and with his free hand counts along with the ref...
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO!! KRAHE GOT OUT BEFORE THE THREE!
LO: And Brennan Devlin looks pissed! He's arguing with Caputo, and indicating that should have been it, but she's not having any of it!
Brennan turns from Caputo in disgust, and stares down at Zachariah Krahe who is barely moving. He nods at some affirmation that no one has given, and steps to the center of the ring where he indicates with his stance that he wants Krahe to rise. It takes a moment, but eventually Zachariah Krahe obliges by use of the ropes, and he appears completely out of it when he turns to try and find Devlin. Brennan springs into action, leaping into the air and catching the man around the head for what is most assuredly meant to be FACE OFF! Krahe, however, hooks the top rope with his arm, preventing himself from being taken down while Brennan is the only one to strike the mat. Devlin slaps the mat in frustration, and quickly comes back up to his feet, only to be booted in the midsection, hooked around the head and leg, and taken down to the mat with a fisherman's suplex bridged into a pin.
1...
2...
LO: Devlin is out at two, and already back on his feet, and he looks fit to be tied. He's stomping the holy hell out of Zachariah Krahe who could barely make it to his knee's despite having just delivered offense!
KO: The wear and tear of the gauntlet has caught up to him, Laur. I don't think he can hold out too much longer!
Brennan gets control of himself, pausing to measure every stomp so that they catch the joints perfectly to deliver that much more damage. When he gets over to Zachariah's injured shoulder, however, he viciously stomps into it over and over, until finally pulling him up to his feet, and hooking him up in a hammer lock. Krahe cries out at the simple hold, his shoulder looking to be barely held together to his body, and Devlin snarls insults into his ear just before dropping straight back while bringing his leg up. Krahe's arm impacts off of Devlin's knee and his own body weight, and when he falls to the canvas he flops around like a fish out of water in obvious pain. Devlin gets to his knees with a grin, and points for Caputo to get down for the pinfall. He hooks both legs when he covers, yanking them high up onto Krahe's chest.
1...
2...
3--NO!
KO: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!
LO: Krahe is obviously showing his own fortitude here tonight, as his shoulder has been completely mangled, and Brennan Devlin is nearly beside himself after that pin escape.
KO: Well hell, Laur, what does he have to do to put this guy away? By all rights, Zachariah Krahe shouldn't be able to continue in this match!
LO: Regardless, he holds on for just a few more moments, and we'll just see if he can turn this back around so that he can capitalize.
Devlin berates Caputo for her slow count, but the woman defends herself, shoving her two fingers into his face. Devlin sneers at as he pulls Krahe up only to toss him between the ropes to the concrete below. He is admonished by Caputo again, but he waves her off before slipping out after his pray. He snatches Krahe up by the hair of the head, and then buries a well placed knee in his gut which bends him over. Grabbing a handful of tights and hair, he runs Krahe shoulder first into the steel steps, and the man emits a yelp of pain as he clutches at the injured limb. Devlin jive talks him as he grabs Krahe by the injured arm, pulling him to his feet and directing him towards the ring post that has no stairs. He slips the arm under the rope, snatching it on the other side, and leers at Krahe before yanking it hard so that Krahe’s shoulder strikes the steel.
LO: Good God! Krahe’s being brutalized here! THERE HE GOES AGAIN!
KO: Brennan Devlin has Zachariah at his mercy, and he finally tosses him back into the ring, but I think the ring post has done the trick.
Devlin slips in after Krahe, rolling him away from the ropes, then covers and hooks the leg.
1…
2…
LO: THRE-NO!! WHERE IS HE GETTING THIS FROM!
KO: I don’t know, brother-o-mine, but at this point he may very well be ending his own career. That shoulder can’t take much more, and Brennan Devlin is in an all out tantrum.
Devlin again is screaming at Caputo who threatens to eject him from the ring if he doesn’t get control of himself. He shakes his head in disdain, and turns to stare at his opponent who is still writhing on the canvas. He stalks over, jerking Krahe up, and shoving him into the nearby corner. He takes his frustrations out in the form of right hands to the skull that nearly drive Krahe back into a seated position. Just before he’s about to be prone, Devlin yanks him back up, puts his head under his arm, and then lifts him to sit on the top rope. He soon joins him by climbing to the second, and when he does, he pulls Krahe forwards so that he can get him in a double underhook. The very action of pulling against his bad arm sends Zach into motion, and he struggles back and forth to get free. The movement causes Devlin to let loose and drop back down to the canvas, and when he tries to step up one more time, he finds Krahe’s boot on his chest. Krahe gives a violent shove with his foot, and Devlin stumbles back right into the unaware referee.
LO: THE BACK OF BRENNAN DEVLIN’S SKULL JUST BOUNCED OFF OF CATHRINE CAPUTO’S FACE!
KO: We got a referee down, and Devlin’s cradling his head, and ZACHARIAH KRAHE JUST CAME OFF THE SECOND WITH A CLOTHESLINE THAT TORE BRENNAN’S HEAD OFF!!
Both competitors and the referee are down in the ring, and the fans are on their feet, excited what crazy antics are next. Zachariah Krahe slowly rolls towards the ropes for assistance, or at least that’s what everyone thinks until he continues to the outside where he lands on his feet beside the ring. He flips the apron up, and searches under the ring, until finally producing a steel chair held by his good hand. He slips the chair into the ring and follows it in, using the ropes to first get to his feet, and then to prop himself up.
LO: Krahe just introduced a foreign object into this match, and that’s all we need after everything we’ve already seen.
KO: Hey, he’s got a bad wing, and this is definitely an equalizer.
LO: Whatever. Well it looks like Krahe is bending down to pick up the weapon, BUT BRENNAN DEVLIN JUST DOVE ACROSS THE RING TO GRAB IT WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE OTHER END!
KO: Well, the best laid plans…..
Devlin rises, staring hard across the steel chair at Krahe, who has hold with his one good limb. Krahe pulls the chair to try and break Devlin’s grasp, but he has the obvious advantage with both hands, and he shakes his head vehemently ‘No’ before yanking the chair from Zach’s grasp. Or he would have, if Krahe had still been holding it. The lack of resistance sends the chair arching wide, and right into the skull of referee Caputo.
LO: MY GOD! THE REFEREE JUST ATE STEEL!
KO: Yeah, and look….she’s cradling her head, and calling for the bell!
LO: Not again!
KO: Damn sure looks like it!
Brennan Devlin stands shocked in the ring, the smoking gun still in his hands, until he realizes what is happening and he tosses it to the side. He reaches down to try and help Caputo up, but she slaps his hands away, indicating that he had done more than enough. He shakes his head comically ‘No’ as Caputo slides herself over to the ropes to confer with the ring announcer, and Brennan grabs the top rope and kicks the bottom several times before returning to plead.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match due to Disqualification…ZACHARIAH KRAHEEEE!!!
KO: Brennan Devlin is having a complete meltdown, but the referee is having none of it.
She waves her hands to signal disqualification again, and he jumps to the second rope, signaling now with his arms by waving them in front of him. He looked like he was trying to call a baseball player out at home plate, and the fans unmercifully laugh and jeer him, sending him even further over the edge.
LO: Brennan Devlin is pissed, and rightfully so, and I think its settling in that our referee isn’t going to reverse the decision. I don’t know how I feel about this, Laur. Sure, Krahe brought the weapon into the ring, but certainly Devlin would have used it. Do you think this was Krahe’s plan all along.
KO: Yep, and speaking of weapons, Devlin just turned back to Zachariah Krahe, and I don’t think this is going to end well.
Krahe slowly backs up into the corner, putting his good hand in front of him to try and dissuade Devlin who has now picked up the chair. Devlin mouths a lot of things that are unintelligible at Krahe, and raises the chair high overhead to strike. Or he would have, if the referee hadn’t snatched it out of his hands from behind at the last second. Devlin turns around and manages to get out, “What the fuck?” before being tackled by the same security team that has made an appearance after each one of Krahe’s victories.
LO: Well, Brennan Devlin is being forcibly removed from ringside, and I guess this thing continues.
KO: Yeah, but how much more can Krahe take. I mean, his arm is just dangling from that bad shoulder.
As Brennan Devlin is pulled kicking and screaming up the aisle, ‘Wanli’ by Hyukoh fills the Futsai Arena, and the fans come to their feet as Siberia Zombie appears on the stage. She takes one glance at Devlin being removed, and then another to her opponent in the ring, and her eyes narrow before she starts her march down to the ring.
Ring Announcer: and making her way to the ring, standing at five foot six, and weighting in at 130 pounds, she hails from Siberia, Russia and is the final participant in this 7 Pillars of Rome Gauntlet Match…….SIBERIA ZOMBIEEE!!
Zombie reaches the ringside area and disposes of her Asian silk robe before climbing the steps one at a time to stand on the apron. She hasn’t taken her eyes off of Krahe, and before entering the ring she shakes her head in disapproval or disappointment. Take your pick.
LO: Siberia Zombie looks ready for this one, and Zachariah Krahe looks like a bit of a mess. His arm is just barely attached to his shoulder, he’s covered in sweat and Fantana’s blood, and he looks all around disheveled.
KO: Well wouldn’t you if you’d been through everything he’s been through here tonight?
LO: Maybe so, but the bell just sounded, and these two have met in the center of the ring and they are just staring at each other.
Zombie sizes Krahe up, and he gives her a toothy grin, blood mingled in with his spittle, as he extends his hand for her to shake it. The fans boo loudly as Siberia looks down at the extended palm, then around the arena at the fans who all signal, ‘No’. Finally her gaze settles back on Krahe, who’s giving her his most innocent look. She answers this with a war cry, and her fists and feet go into motion as she backs him up into the far corner with a martial arts style barrage.
KO: Siberia opening up Krahe strong and fast, and she’s got him hemmed up in the corner. He’s covering up the best he can, but a few of those blows are finding their way to that bum shoulder of his, and each time he’s in a little more pain.
LO: Yeah, and Zombie doesn’t appear to have any indication of quitting.
Zombie manages to rock Krahe with a well-placed strike to his face, and while he clutches at his nose, this gives her the opportunity to lay in rapid fire front kicks into his gut which double him over. She backs off a bit, and then lifts her right leg high into the air only to bring it crashing down on the back of his skull with a scissor kick. Krahe falls out of the corner clutching the back of his head, and Zombie hops up to the second, and delivers a double stomp right between his exposed shoulder blades.
LO: OH MY GOD! The minute that Zombie landed that double stomp, Zachariah Krahe emitted what could only sound like a wounded animal!
KO: Yeah, she caught those shoulders pretty good, and that one of Krahe’s is ruined.
Zombie stares at her opponent for just a moment out of concern, but her face turns to steel, realizing there was no room for that here. She stalks over, extends the wounded limb, and then drives a knee straight down into the socket. Krahe rolls away from her, clutching at the shoulder, and slipping to the outside shaking his head in pain.
LO: Krahe just trying to put some distance between him and Zombie, but the Siberian Buzzsaw is having none of it. She’s right out after him, and now he’s leading her on a chase around ringside!
KO: Baiting her in, more like. He just rolled back into the ring, and here she comes, but…..he wasn’t able to make it back to his feet in time to capitalize! He’s done man, I’m telling you!
Zombie cocks her head to the side, fist raised defensively in front of her, as Krahe struggles to maintain his balance. He holds his good hand out to dissuade her while the bad one dangles helplessly at his side. She methodically stalks him, eyes darting from the desperate look on his face to the injured limb, and she shakes her head ‘No’ at any doubts creeping into her head. This was her enemy, not some fool that she met sometimes randomly outside the ring. Or perhaps not so randomly. Perhaps that had been his design all along. It was obvious by his performance here tonight that he was capable of misdeeds.
LO: Siberia Zombie sure is taking a long time to strike here. She’s been coiled like that for a couple of seconds.
KO: I think that strange relationship between these two is starting to play itself out here at 7 Pillars.
Zombie steels herself, and rushes forwards her foot rising to strike the injured arm. Krahe manages to catch the oncoming strike, and holds her foot there for a moment. Zombie makes to pull away but they lock eyes, and he flashes a grin before bending down and kissing her right on the mouth. When he pulls away her eyes go wide in surprise, and then narrow in suspicious, and then fill with rage at the presumptuousness. She doesn’t get long to process those feelings, as Krahe hooks her around the head and snatches her down to the canvas into a small package. Caputo is there to count.
1…
2…
3!!
LO: I can’t believe this! Zachariah Krahe has stole another one!
KO: No, he stole ‘THE ONE’, because he just won the whole damn thing!
Ring Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, the winner of this match by pinfall, and your NEW UNYIELDING CHAMPION……ZACHARIAH KRAHHEEE!!
Zombie sits up in disbelief as Krahe lays motionless on the mat, his useless arm slung over his waist. A range of emotions wash over her face as the fans are all standing slack jawed at what just happened. Finally, she looks over at Krahe, who continues to just lay there as Caputo brings the UnYielding Championship over and places it in his good hand. He closes his eyes and clutches the belt as Siberia rolls out of the ring, her movements mimicking her namesake as she heads to up the ramp.
LO: Well....I don't know what kind of relationship those two had, but I'd say it's pretty well damaged.
KO: Maybe so, but he's the champion, and that's all that matters.
Krahe doesn't go through the usual fanfare of someone who just won a championship, and several of the fans boo as he rolls to get out of the ring. He stumbles a few times on his way up the ramp, at one point even falling to his ass, still clutching at his injured shoulder in discomfort. The championship lays at his feet until he manages to find the will to grab it, continue out of the arena.
LO: God, what a strange guy...
KO: Yep. I'd say for our first super show this was a success.
LO: It definitely had it's ups and downs, twists and turns.
KO: Byrne really earned her bonus tonight, marrying the Valor Pro product that everyone knows and loves with the new format of Fite TV.
LO: Not mention the two huge signings she just made in Cosmo Cooper and Vannah White!
KO: Dakota Jennings and Cross Recoba both found their first success here tonight, and they did it in style.
LO: Elina Cartel is our first Apex Champion, and she earned every bit of it in a fantastic bout against Ace Devereux. She's really proven that she deserves to be at the top of the mountain.
KO: And what about what we just witnessed? A gauntlet match that started with 7 Pillars of this promotion, that ended up being only six of them, but I don't feel like we really lost anything.
LO: Damn right, this one was crazy, and from beginning of the night to the very end I can't help but feel that Cross Recoba couldn't have written this any better if he had been in the production truck himself.
KO: He definitely had a lot at stake here tonight, and as far as I can tell, got exactly what he wanted.
LO: The question now, is what did the second part of that note we saw at the top show mean?
KO: I guess we'll find out when Blitz#5 graces the airwaves of Fite TV.
LO: Folks, we thank you for joining us tonight, and look forward to the future of Valor Pro.
KO: I am Kenneth Othello...
LO: And I am Laurence Othello....
TOGETHER: We are the Othello Brothers, and this has been....7 PILLARS!!
“I truly hope you don't expect me to kiss it better.” The voice was almost angelic enough to be from heaven, but something about the smooth heated velvet caress of it could only make one think of sin.
So many people thought the devil was an ugly old man with horns, but Krähe knew better. The devil was a woman with a body like sin and the voice of an angel, and whether it was lucky or not she was one of the closest things to a friend that he had.
“Do I look like I need to miss a mouth size piece of flesh to you? Besides I have no idea where that mouth has been lately so no thank you.”
A feminine chuckle filled his ears, and he could almost see her mick pout by voice alone. “I am sure my mouth has been in better places than yours, but that is neither here nor there. I believe we are long past due for a little heart to heart.”
Krähe smiled at that with his eyes still closed.
“Whatever you say Lady Munin...You're the boss.”
The scene fades to the VPW logo brought by Fite TV, and then to black.
LO: Well, Ken, we're finally here, and we're going to crown the first ever UnYIELDING champion!
KO: Folks, in the past several weeks the drama surrounding this match unfolded, as divisions were eliminated, and everyone was gathered under one banner of competition.
LO: The path wasn't easy either, as each participant in this match had to earn their spot in one scenario or another, starting with a #1 contender for the Monarch Championship, which after our last match, no longer exists.
KO: Kimitsu Zombie earned that right, but instead of a shot at that title, received the coveted number seven spot in this match, ensuring her with the best position to pick up the victory.
LO: Our next entrant was Joel Hawkfield, who earned his spot over Roxi Johnson at Blitz#3, and was randomly drawn to sit dead center of the ballet at number 4. But with everything that's been revealed about his condition, it was determined by his doctors that he could not fly out, so he will no longer be in the match.
KO: That's a tough break, Laur, but health and safety first.
LO: In the only other match that guaranteed someone a spot, Zack Fantana and Brennan Devlin battled it out where the winner would get the next best slot in the gauntlet, number six, and the loser would get the dreaded number one, and we all know how that turned out.
KO: Damn right! Cross Recoba arrived on the scene, and laid both men out with his Up All Night In Dakota piledriver. My only real question is, why did he ensure that Devlin won the match?
LO: I don't know, but it has been revealed that Zachariah Krahe, our number three participant, has been paid off by Cross to ensure that Fantana does not make it out of this tournament alive. Obviously Recoba has a major issue with Fantana!
KO: No doubt, the deck is stacked against the leader of Fantanasy. But that leaves us with only two spots to discuss, number 2, which is Roxi Johnson, and number 5, Brodie.
LO: Both are fan favorites Ken, but the jaded out there have said they don't feel that Roxi Johnson should have been given a second chance. I don't agree with that, but your thoughts?
KO: Look, bottom line, she got it, and she made the most of it. She's our own resident superhero round these parts, and regardless of whether I think the whole thing is a bit cliche, you can't deny her veteran status in this industry.
LO: Agreed, and Brodie overcame what seemed like insurrmountable odds when she faced Davy Blossom, who's wife made the encounter a two on one affair much as she did earlier tonight.
KO: At the end of the day though, the wild haired vixen pulled out the victory, and there's no denying her talent in the ring. She's got as much of a chance here as anyone.
LO: Well, Ken, I believe we've hyped ourselves up enough, and I'm ready for the action, so lets go to the ring announcer for the details.
Ring Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, this is your MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!
The crowd has come unglued.
Ring Announcer: This contest is the 7 Pillars Gauntlet Match, and the rules are simple. The first two participants will start the match, and the normal rules apply. The objective is to win by pinfall or submission. After a winner has been decided, the next participant in the series will make their entrance, and the match will start again, until all seven competitors have made their appearance. The final show down will determine the first ever UnYIELDING Champion!
'Lucid Dreams' by Franz Ferdinand hits over the PA System, and the fans are on their feet as Zack Fantana steps out onto the stage, a determined expression on his face. That doesn't deter him from acknowledging the crowd who buzz wildly as he starts his trek down to the ring, slapping a few hands as he goes.
Ring Announcer: Introducing the number one spot in the gauntlet, standing at six foot, and weighting in at 205 pounds, he hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...He is the self ordained leader of the Fantanasy Movement, ZACK FANNNTANNNNAAAAA!!
Zack takes the ring steps two at a time before coming onto the apron and spinning so that he is hanging from the top rope by his arms. The fans cheer as he nods confidently before spinning himself through the ropes to enter the ring. He runs to a corner and leaps to land on the second rope, throwing his fists above his head to another huge ovation. He drops down, and stretches against the ropes, awaiting his opponent.
KO: This man has one hell of a hill to climb already just from this position in the gauntlet, but factoring in the Cross Recoba hit, do you think he even has a chance.
LO: If there's anyone in this promotion that can overcome these types of odds, it's Zack Fantana, but he will definitely have his hands full, because if you think that was a huge ovation, wait til our next competitor makes her entrance.
Right on cue, 'The Touch' by Stan Bush fills the arena, and the fans go absolutely bonkers. A pink flood light fills the entrance to illuminate the smoke that has appeared on the stage, and Roxi Johnson bursts through the curtain to a huge ovation. She whips her hair around, and throws up hand signals to the crowd, who happily return them. She holds her hands out to the right as she slow jogs down the ramp so that she can touch as many fans as she can.
Ring Announcer: And his opponent, the number two spot in the gauntlet, standing at five foot six, and weighing in at 132 pounds..hailing from Tampa, Florida....She is Valor Pro's resident Superhero....ROXI JOHNSONNNN!!
Roxi hops up onto the ring apron, and then all the way to the top rope where she rests on her knee while whipping her hair which seems to send the fans into a frenzy. Finally, she springs down into the ring, and does a running in place jog, locking eyes with Zack Fantana who comes out of the corner, eager to start what is sure to be a long night for one of them.
LO: Man alive, these fans love Roxi Johnson.
KO: That's because everyone loves a nostalgia act, but does she really believe that she stands a chance against someone the caliber of Fantana?
LO: Come on, Ken, she's a real life superhero! She stands better than a chance!
KO: Well, I guess we'll find out, cause there's the bell and here we go!
Roxi and Zack begin to circle one another warily before locking up in the center of the ring. Roxi proves her speed advantage by immediately slipping under Zack's left side to end up behind him into a waist lock. Zack jockeys a bit, using his size to maneuver them around the ring, until finally being able to break Roxi's grasp, and spin around to hook her into a headlock. Roxi struggles at first until settling in, using her shoulder and low center of gravity to push Zack into the ropes, and then send him to the opposite side. Zack returns and bowls right over Roxi with a shoulder tackle. The two exchange a glance before Zack slips to the side to get a boost from the ropes, but Roxi floats over onto her stomach, forcing Zack to hop over her. Zack springs back again, but this time Roxi is on her feet, and she meets him with a dropkick that sends Fantana crashing to the mat.
LO: Fantana already back on his feet and moving, but Roxi is there to catch him with a snap arm drag. Back up again, and walks head long into another. Back up one more time, and Roxi catches him with a surprise chop that sends him reeling back into the corner.
KO: Well, I guess she does stand a chance. Roxi is lighting him up here!
Roxi winds up with another chop that echoes through out the arena, before grabbing Zack by his wrist to shoot him to the opposite side. Zack reverses, and Roxi rushes the corner but instead of impacting, she runs right up the turnbuckles, and as Zack follows her in he is caught with a spinning plancha from the top that sends both crashing to the mat. Roxi is back on her feet and already into the ropes for momentum before Zack can even make it all the way up, and when he turns into her she nails him with a running front drop kick that knocks him down once again. She's quick to make a hook of the leg.
1...
2...
KO: Barely a two count there, but Roxi Johnson is in complete control, and I believe she's surprised Zack Fantana here.
LO: Definitely got the jump on him.
Roxi is up to her feet, and she waits by the ropes for Fantana to get to his. He's slow in his rise, a little winded by the fast and furious pace that Roxi has set in the early going, but eventually he makes it. Roxi is in motion, using the ropes for some spring, and rushes back at Fantana. Unfortunately for her, Fantana has the where with all to catch her coming in with a lightening fast powerslam that see's him put her into a pinning predicament.
1...
2...
KO: Roxi out at two, and Fantana is using that sudden stop to catch his breath.
LO: Yeah, but I wouldn't suggest taking too long, as Roxi Johnson is already making it back to her feet!
As if on cue, Zack steps over to a rising Roxi, and hooks her around the midsection before she has a chance to react, and takes her back down to the mat with a gut-wrench suplex. The fans give a mixed reaction when he gets back to his feet, falls back into the ropes for spring, and then comes back to her prone body with a jumping double leg drop. He slides over into the cover, hooking both legs for good measure.
1...
2...
LO: Roxi Johnson out after a long two count, and just like that Fantana has found his stride.
KO: I knew it wouldn't take him long to get back on top.
Zack seems to realize that wouldn't be enough as he pulls Roxi up to her feet, and pushes her back into the ropes only to send her to the opposite side. Roxi returns and ducks his clothesline attempt, springing back only to duck his back elbow. Finally on her third time around, Zack posts up center of the ring to catch her, but instead she leaps high into the air and hooks him around the head with her legs. She falls back to try and turn it into a hurricanrana, but Fantana, in a testament of strength, manages not to be pulled over. Roxi, now dangling in the air, looks panicked as Zack reaches down and yanks her back up to sit on his chest, and abruptly sits out into a powerbomb. He throws his feet over her shoulders, and pushes her legs up onto her chest for a pin.
1...
2...
3--NO!
KO: That was almost it for Roxi Johnson, but she just barely rolled her shoulder out from under Fantana's boot at the last second!
LO: Bottom line, many more high impact slams like that, and Roxi's not going to be able to use her speed to counter Fantana's obvious size advantage.
Disappointment crosses Fantana's face as he yanks Roxi up to her feet, and sends a forearm right into her jaw which sends her stumbling over to the corner. He leads in with another that rocks her skull back, and then slips his head under her arm to lift her so that she's sitting on the top rope. Fantana scales the ropes in front of her, and hooks her around the head, looking for a superplex. Roxi, however, locks her legs around the turnbuckle, and try as he might, he can't break her free. He finally lets go and pushes her head back, making to give her another shot, but before he can fire off she sends one of her own into his exposed midsection. Zack doubles over, and Roxi shifts so that she can catch him in the ribs with several rapid fists. Finally, she unhooks her legs and stands up on the second rope so that she can deliver a headbutt that sends Zack crashing down to the mat. He's in perfect position as she steps up to the top rope, begging for Zack to get to his feet. He eventually does, and when he turns to find his opponent, she sails off the top to hook him around the head snapping him down with a blockbuster.
LO: DAMN! The back of Fantana's head just crashed into the canvas, and he appears to be out of it!
KO: Roxi Johnson's going for a cover! She's going to advance in this gauntlet!
1...
2...
3--NO!
Fantana just barely gets his shoulder off the mat as the ref's hand comes down for three, but he show's Roxi the two as she comes up, burying her hands in her hair out of frustration. She gets to her feet, a bit wobbly from the punishment dished out, and looks around the ring in desperation for her next move. Noticing Fantana's perfect positioning in the center of the ring, a light bulb goes off, and she nods in determination as the fans come to their feet just before she dashes towards the ropes. She uses her momentum to hop to the second rope, and springboards backwards into a beautiful lionsault. Unfortunately, she can not stop this momentum in time to prevent from crashing down on Fantana, who has pulled his knee's up to his chest.
KO: OH! Zack gets his knee's up and Roxi crashes and burns! She might have broke a rib there, Laur!
LO: Yeah, and Fantana is getting to his feet, and he's signaling that this is the end. Roxi is holding her midsection as she rises, and Fantana just went into motion, springboard off the second, and FLIGHT OF FANTASY!
KO: Hell of a forearm smash, and he's following it up with a pin!
1...
2...
3----NO!
Zack can't believe it when Roxi's shoulder comes up just before the ref's hand hit's the mat, and he shakes his head in frustration. He pulls himself up and makes his way over to a corner, and starts his climb to the top.
KO: Zack Fantana is looking to put Roxi away here, and you got to believe that he's going for Lucid Dreams. If he hits this, it's ov.....wait a minute.
LO: Oh come on, what the hell is he doing out here?
The fans are on their feet in boo's, confusing Zack who is now perched on the top rope. A random female voice in the audience screams, 'We love you, Zach', and he smirks, finding the audience member. Only problem is, she isn't looking at him, but up at the top of the stage. Zack turns from his perch, and much to his chagrin spies Zachariah Krahe standing at the top of the ramp. His expression is bemused as he reaches into his leather jacket pocket, and pulls forth a rolled cigarette, placing it carefully into his mouth before striking a match and lighting it. He shrugs to Zack after taking a puff and emitting a plume of smoke, and indicates that he should pay attention to the action inside of the ring.
LO: Zachariah Krahe has absolutely no business being out here!
KO: Well, he is next in line after the winner of this match has been determined.
LO: Yeah, and he should be waiting his turn in the back just like everyone else that's in the gauntlet! Everyone knows his intentions out here! He's been paid off by Cross Recoba to eliminate Zack Fantana from this match!
KO: Whatever his motivations may be, this has caused a bit of a distraction for Zack Fantana, as it appears that Roxi is getting to her feet, and he's none the wiser.
Roxi has no idea why Fantana is on the top rope facing the opposite direction, and she doesn't think on it too long before rushing over and yanking his legs apart so that he crotches himself on the top turnbuckle. For the first time she see's Krahe at the top of the ramp, and she warily keeps an eye on him as she climbs up to the second rope with Zack. Krahe allows a chuckle, taking another puff of his cigarette, indicating with his free hand that she should pay attention to her opponent as well. The move is unsettling, but Roxi heeds the warning, as she steps all the way to the top, leaps, and then takes Fantana over in a top rope frankenstiener. Fantana strikes the canvas hard, and Roxi is quick to scramble over for the cover.
1...
2...
3-----NO!
KO: Roxi Johnson can't believe that Zack Fantana managed to kick out, and quite frankly, neither can I!
LO: Yeah, but this distraction caused by Zachariah Krahe's presence has thrown this whole match off balance. Roxi can't be one hundred percent certain that the mercenary isn't out here to cost her so that he has the honors of dispatching Fantana.
KO: Well, it looks to me like she's focused well enough, cause shes signaling for Fantana to get back to his feet!
Fantana is obviously woozy as he struggles to regain his feet, and Roxi Johnson is positioned just to the side of him, ready to strike. The minute he's upright Roxi is in motion, hopping up to the second rope, and springboarding off with a disaster kick. To everyone's surprise, Fantana ducks under the move, and when Roxi lands he grabs her from behind with a waistlock, taking her up into the air for a belly-to-back suplex, but instead bringing her crashing down onto his knee's for a back breaker.
LO: SLEEP APNEA!
KO: I don't believe it!
LO: Fantana barely crawling, but he drapes his arms over her shoulders for the cover! 1...
KO: 2...
BOTH: 3!! This one is over, and Fantana has advanced!
Ring Announcer: The winner of this contest, and advancing in the 7 Pillars of Rome Gauntlet Match, ZACK FANT....
The ring announcer is abruptly cut off as Zachriah Krahe rushes into the ring, flipping Fantana over onto his back, and laying in piston like right hands down into the unprotected man's face. The referee is all over Krahe, having not even helped Roxi Johnson out of the ring yet, but Krahe pays little mind as his fists continue impacting off of Fantana's skull. Finally Zach pops up off of his prey, and he stalks the referee all the way back into the corner, pointing to the time keeper for the official to start the match. Reluctantly, seeing no other alternative, Carmen Caputo signals for the bell, and the match officially begins.
LO: I can't believe this! Zack Fantana has been busted open the hard way by those unprotected shots from Zachariah Krahe, and the official just started this match!
KO: Well what did you want her to do, Laur? According to the rules, Krahe didn't do anything wrong. The match hadn't officially started!
LO: Oh, brother of mine, we must be looking at a different rule book! Everything about this situation is wrong!
Blood pours from an open gash right above Zack Fantana's left eye as he stumbles and falls into a corner, the ropes the only thing holding him up. Roxi Johnson slowly makes her way up the ramp holding her lower back, but all eyes are glued to Zachariah Krahe as he saunters over to Fantana, and drives a right hand into his jaw. Zack's head snaps back, allowing Krahe to follow up with a back elbow that lands right into his throat. Fantana pulls at the top rope to try and get out of the corner, while clutching his newly injured esophagus. Krahe takes this moment to hook Zack in a headlock, trapping his head between his body and the top rope. With a vicious sneer he leads Fantana across the top rope, dragging his bad eye over the tape covered steel wire. The fans wince as he lets Fantana go, and he drops to his knees, blood spurting out onto the canvas.
LO: Caputo is all over Krahe who holds both hands in the air and backs off like he's completely innocent. What a joke!
KO: Laur, the man was offered a lot of cash from Recoba to prevent Fantana from getting any farther in this gauntlet, and he accepted. Now he has always been something of an enigma, with the fans not really sure which way to feel about him, but at the end of the day this is what Zachariah Krahe does, or have you not been paying attention to his promos in the off time?
LO: Maybe so, but that doesn't make it right.
KO: Think of it this way...He isn't a bad guy, nor is he a good guy. He is whatever the situation calls for. So getting upset over the man's apathy doesn't really make any sense.
LO: Oh Yeah, that right there looks really apathetic!
As the commentators bantered back and forth, Krahe had dumped Fantana to the outside, where he followed him out only to bang his already wounded skull off the steel guard rail. He now slips his head under his arm from behind, lifts him up like a side suplex, but instead of falling back, brings Zack crotch first down across the top of the guard rail. The fans let out a collective gasp as Zack straddles the steel, open mouthed, and in obvious pain. From the ring, referee Caputo is up to a five count, and Krahe slips under the bottom rope to break it, before rolling back to the outside.
KO: Zachariah is very measured here, taking all the time he needs to inflict whatever damage he wants to Fantana.
LO: That's sort of what happens when you jump somebody before the bout, Ken.
KO: Even so, Fantana had a grueling match with Roxi before this, and given the added advantage of being fresh and getting the jump, Krahe is in complete control.
Krahe helps Fantana off the guard rail by delivering a running clothesline that nearly takes the man's head off. The fans begin to throw popcorn and trash, but Zachariah Krahe doesn't seem bothered by it as he pulls Zack up to his feet, and then runs him head first under the bottom rope, and back into the ring. He follows him back inside, and he plops over top of him for a cover.
1...
2...
3----NO!
LO: Fantana out on an excruciatingly long 2 count, and I'm not sure if he can take much more, and this is only the second contest in this gauntlet!
KO: Yeah, he might want to consider getting one of his Fantanasy members to come out and replace him after all this.
Krahe pulls Zack up to his feet, and hooks him around the head, and then snaps him over into a suplex. He doesn't relinquish his hold as he spins them both around, drags Fantana up, and delivers another. With another spin, he has him back up, and one more time Fantana is snapped to the mat. This time, Krahe floats over and hooks the leg this time to execute a pin.
1...
2...
3----NO!
LO: My God, where is he finding the will to get out of this? I mean, it's just barely, but still!
KO: You know, if you've been watching our programming for the past few months, and don't respect Zack Fantana, I'm pretty sure he's changed your mind in this contest.
Krahe doesn't seem put out by the kick out, rather mechanically yanking Zack back to his feet only to shove him back into a corner. A few hard right hands cause Zack to slip a bit, but he isn't allowed to go down as Krahe grabs him by the wrist, and sends him spiraling towards the other side. Fatnana hit's the turnbuckles with such velocity that it pops him back out, and he stumbles forward while Zachariah comes barreling towards him. Krahe dives with a spear, but at the last minute Fantana falls to his side, and Krahe continues sailing right through the top and middle turnbuckle, all the way shoulder first into the steel ring post.
KO: I'm not so sure that was a counter, rather than Fantana not being able to stay on his feet after this assault he's taken.
LO: Either way, Krahe is clutching at his shoulder as he turns to face his opponent, and ZACK FANTANA JUST NAILED HIM WITH A SUPER KICK!
KO: GOOD GOD! That was like a shotgun blast going off right to Krahe's face!
Krahe crashes to the mat, and Fantana crumples down beside him completely spent. Caputo checks with both men, and not getting a response, starts a ten count. Around the six mark, Krahe rolls over onto his stomach and crawls towards the corner he was damaged in, using the turnbuckles to pull himself up. At the same time, Fantana has managed to do the same on the opposite side. The referee signals that the fight should continue, and Zach and Krahe stare at each other from across the ring in contempt. Suddenly both tear out of their respective corners, rushing each other that results in Fantana ducking a clothesline attempt by Krahe. When Zachariah turns back around, he's caught right in the face with a pele kick that sends him stumbling back to the ropes, tripping him right through the middle and top to crash on the concrete below.
LO: Zachariah Krahe trying to find his footing on the outside, and a battered and beaten Zack Fantana just pulled himself up by use of the ropes. He see's Krahe, and here comes the leader of Fantanasy with a CORKSCREW SUICIDE DIVE!
KO: Jesus, that wiped both of them out, and Caputo's got no choice but start a count. Hey, Laur, what happens if both get counted out here?
LO: Good question. I'd assume that the gauntlet would resume with our next two participants.
The referee makes it to an eight count before Fantana is able to pull himself under the rope, but as soon as the count is broken, he slips back out. Covered in blood and sweat, Fantana helps Krahe the rest of the way up to his feet, and then sends him sailing shoulder first into the steel steps. Zachariah strikes with such impact that the top step flies from the base, sending it skidding across ringside. Zack gingerly makes his way over to his fallen opponent, and pulls him up only to toss him back into the ring. Krahe rolls with the momentum to come to a rest dead center of the ring. Fantana hops up onto the ring apron, and makes his way to the top with some effort before coming to rest on his perch. He stands to his full height, and the fans come alive as he gives them a salute just before taking flight with a mesmerizing corkscrew shooting star press.
LO: LUCID DREAMS!! Zachariah Krahe just got crushed, and the move took something out of Fantana as well, but he's still able to get the pin!
KO: 1...
LO: 2...
KO: THRE- KRAHE JUST KICKED OUT!
The fans are as beside themselves as the announce team, while both men lay motionless in the ring after the surprising kick out. Caputo even shakes her head in disbelief, but finds no other recourse than to start another ten count. At the count of seven both men start moving, but instead of away from each other they are crawling towards each other. By the count of nine both men have managed, with the help of the other, to get back onto wobbly legs. Suddenly pushes Zack further up, and lays in a wicked haymaker. The blow knocks Zack back into the ropes, and he bounces back in answer with one of his own. Krahe nearly goes down, but instead regains his balance, and fires off with another shot. It's Zack's turn to almost hit the canvas, but somehow he's still on his feet, and answers once again with a fist of his own.
LO: These two men are out on their feet, and it is just their instinct to keep on swinging.
KO: Maybe, but it looks to me like Zack Fantana's punches are carrying a little more steam.
Krahe is rocked back one more time, but when he answers he finds his fist blocked, followed by another right hand by Zack. Another. Another! Krahe is rocked all the way back to the ropes now, and Zack fires up, taking him by the wrist and sending him to the far side. Before Krahe can return Zack has hopped over the top rope to the ring apron, and once Krahe has made it to the halfway point, he springboards to the top, and comes sailing off for a forearm smash. Krahe sees it coming, however, and commits to a front roll that dodges the blow. Fantana lands safely in the center of the ring, while Krahe rolls back up to his feet, and hits off the ropes that Zack had just been standing on. Fantana is quick to spin around and go on the attack, but just as he does, Krahe comes rushing back in with a high Busaiku Knee Strike that nearly takes the leader of Fantanasy's head off.
LO: Oh no....
KO: OH yes! Krahe dropping for the cover, 1...2...3!!!
Ring Announcer: And the winner of this match, and advancing in the Gauntlet.....ZACHARIAH KRAAAHEEE!!!
LO: I can't believe this one is over for Zack Fantana! I mean, he had a hell of a contest with Roxi before Krahe came out to distract him, and then get the jump on him. It...it just doesn't seem fair.
KO: All's fair in love and war, Laur, and these two went through a war. I'm the first to admit that I was overly critical of Fantana, but the fact is, he put on one hell of a showing....he just won't be showing anymore tonight.
Krahe falls back into the corner, wiping the sweat from his brow as he watches Zack Fantana being helped out of the ring by officials. Fantana jerks away from the aide, and turns to stare daggers back at Krahe who shrugs non-challantly despite how much the effort has taken out of him.
KO: Well folks, Joel Hawkfield was supposed to be at this event as the 4th participant, but due to medical complications was unable to travel, therefore, Krahe will be getting a bye on that one, and will go straight on to face a woman he knows all too well from their previous encounters, Brodie!
LO: Yeah, and after that business with Zack Fantana, I'm not so sure that Krahe will have what it takes to take on a fresh Brodie. He was able to pull out victory in their last encounter just by the skin of his teeth!
'Viktoria Modesta' by Prototype hits over the PA system and just as Zack Fantana makes it past the curtain, out bursts Brodie, all wild hair and leather jacket. She pumps her fist into the air for an absolutely ravenous crowd who cheer her name. She grins, bringing her fist down to point at the man in the ring. Krahe smirks, pulling himself out of the corner he was leaning in, and stands dead center of the ring, beckoning for her to come get some.
Ring Announcer: Introducing our 5th competitor, standing at five foot eleven and weighting in at 150 pounds, she hails from Manhattan, New York....THIS IS BRODDIIEEEE!!
Brodie watches Krahe's expression and actions from the stage, and a coy smile splays across her face as she nods, removing her leather jacket, and then sprinting down the ramp towards the ring. She hits the ring like a ball of fire, sliding under the bottom rope, and running right up to meet Krahe who swings with a clothesline. She ducks it, hitting off the ropes behind him, only to catch him with a step up shining wizard that sends him crashing to the mat. She quickly hops over, and goes for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: Krahe out at two, and he's moving to his feet, but Brodie's already there with forearm smashes that send him falling back into the ropes. She takes him by the wrist and whips him to the far side, but he reverses it!
KO: Krahe on his way back now, and Brodie rushes right for him. Krahe able to put on the brakes, and catches Brodie by the side, lifting her up into a tilt-a-whirl that BRODIE TURNS INTO AN ARM DRAG! Krahe back up, and he runs right for her, but she quickly drops to her side and catches him with a drop toe hold...
Krahe's face impacts with the mat, and Brodie quickly leaps right up and over his body to land beside his head, grapevining his left arm, and then hooking him under the chin for a crossface. Zach cries out as she torques back, her face a vicious mask with a twinkle in her eye. He reaches out with his free arm, and starts dragging both of them towards the ropes, but when he reaches the halfway point, Brodie releases the crossface and drives three short but precise elbows right into his skull, before locking him back in. This stops his momentum, and he shakes his head 'No' to Caputo's continued questions for a submission. Finally Krahe manages to roll his free arm under himself, propping himself up, and yanking Brodie over his body and putting her shoulder the mat. This gets him a one count, before she yanks back hard, rolling him right back onto his stomach still in the crossface.
LO: Brodie has a tired Zachariah Krahe in trouble here with this submission hold, and despite his best efforts here to get out of it, she's kept him locked in like a pit bull!
KO: Well it's not like he didn't just have a match of the year candidate performance with Zack Fantana before Brodie even made it out here, but regardless, he's clawing once again for the ropes.
LO: This time Krahe looks like he's going to get the bottom rope for a break, but as soon as he got his fingers on it, Brodie releases the hold, gets to her feet, and starts reigning stomps directly down onto that injured shoulder. I think the girl has a game plan!
KO: You think!
The fans cheer as Brodie uses the second rope to spring up into the air only to driver her knee right down into the insertion of Krahe's left arm to his shoulder. He cries out and rolls quickly away from her, but isn't able to get to his feet before Brodie is on him, taking him by the wrist and pulling it over into a dragon twist. Krahe slaps at the injured body part while shaking his head, only for Brodie to spin through again while holding onto the wrist. His arm is sufficiently twisted now, but she doesn't seem satisfied, as she spins one more time. That is one to many, it appears, as there is no more torque to be had to the arm, which forces Krahe to perform a front flip to land hard flat onto his back. Brodie, never letting go of the arm, drops down into an armbar submission that see's Krahe come alive in surprise pain.
LO: The submission specialist looks like she is going to try and break Zach's arm, and he looks worse for ware here.
KO: Well no crap, Laur! She hasn't let up one second since she came through the curtain. Brodie's like a woman possessed here!
LO: Maybe she is, Ken. Maybe she's possessed by this opportunity to be the first ever UnYielding champion, or maybe she's possessed by the very man she's trying to submit in the ring. Zachariah Krahe certainly didn't seem to be able to slow down in completing his mission of eliminating Zack Fantana. Maybe this is fate, paying him back like a bitch.
KO: Damn, Laurence. You sure don't like this guy, or you like Zack Fantana way too much. Either way, Krahe is positioning for something here...Oh, he's managed to roll his feet up and over his head, this changes the position of his arm in the hold, and he just pushed Brodie up onto her shoulders even though he's still trapped! He's got a handful of Brodie's tights, and Caputo is saying this is a pin!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-Brodie gets out at the last possible second, but that's because Krahe had the aide of the tights! That forced a break of the hold, and Zachariah Krahe is taking this brief opportunity to put some distance between him and Brodie, but she's not having any of it. She's coming right back in with right hands that have him hemmed up in the corner.
KO: Yeah, but Krahe just shoved her back, but here she comes again....RIGHT INTO A BIG BOOT FROM KRAHE!
LO: Brodie down on the mat now, but she's already getting back up, and here comes Krahe RIGHT INTO A RUNNING PUNT KICK THAT JUST TOOK BRODIE'S HEAD OFF!
Brodie is lifeless in the center of the ring, the fans booing vehemently as Krahe drops to his knees out of breath. He shakes his head at the woman in front of him as he falls on top of her, hooking her leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! BRODIE GOT OUT BEFORE THE THREE! God that was so close, Ken.
KO: Yeah, and Zachariah Krahe looks a little gassed here as he more stumbled to his feet than got up.
LO: Hell, I don't blame him. That's his first bit of real offense against Brodie thus far, but God, what a kick!
Zach stares down at the woman from the corner that's helping to keep him up, and its obvious he's trying to figure out what to do next, when he looks over to the top rope. He shrugs, looking a little uncertain, as he slips out to the ring apron and starts to climb. He gets to the top, and just when he does, Brodie has already started rolling to the opposite side of the ring, going right up under the bottom rope to land out at ringside much to Krahe's chagrin. The fans all laugh at him as he hops back down from the top with nothing to show for it, a little frustration telling in his movements.
LO: Brodie with the presence of mind to get out of dodge before Krahe could do whatever it was he planned on doing there.
KO: Yeah, that was a veteran move out of this young former artist. Got to give her props.
LO: Well, Krahe is watching her from inside the ring now, and Brodie just made it up to her feet....what is he doing....OH MY GOD!
KO: ZACHARIAH KRAHE JUST TOOK A RUNNING LEAP RIGHT OVER THE TOP ROPE TO COME CRASHING DOWN ONTO BRODIE! HE TOOK OUT OUR CAMERAMAN TOO!
The fans all erupt in cheers, despite the fact that it was Krahe performing the death defying move, being so fickle that they have already forgotten that he's facing their favorite, Brodie, and what he had just done previously to Zack Fantana for Cross Recoba. Krahe is slow to get to his feet, but he manages it, getting a fistful of Brodie's hair to ensure she does the same. Much to everyone's surprise Brodie suddenly comes alive, throwing Krahe's hands up and out, and then boots him square in the gut only to hook him around the head, and spike him down to the concrete with a destructive DDT.
LO: These fans are on their feet for Brodie as she gets to her feet, and rolls back into the ring to break the count, but she's right back out to see this one through. It's pretty obvious that she wants to pin Zachariah Krahe, for no other reason than she owes him one.
KO: I don't know, that might have been a mistake on her part. A count out victory is just as good in a match like this as a pinfall or submission.
LO: That's not how she does things. Besides, this ensures the action continues, and this one is about as drama filled as I've ever seen.
Krahe has managed to get to his feet, and Brodie nails him with a forearm smash that sends him stumbling up the ramp back towards the stage. She shakes her head, listening for the count which is up to three, when she follows him up the ramp and nails him with another one. Zach continues to fall back, reaching the top of the ramp now, holding his jaw and waving her off. Brodie tries to get hold of Krahe's injured arm, but he recoils back, knocking her away with his free hand. The two have made it fully onto the stage, and Brodie takes another swing at Krahe, who ducks the blow, while at the same time grabbing the right side of the curtain, jerking it free so that it floats down over top of Brodie. It's obvious the woman is outraged as she fights to get from under what is nothing more than a king size sheet. Unfortunately for her, Krahe grabs the left curtain and pulls it free as well, winding it around Brodie's blind, flailing body, essentially tying her up. He then takes off into a gallop back to the ring, belly sliding back in right at the count of eight. He rises to one knee, looking back up at the stage with a mischievous grin as Brodie tears free from the mess he had left her in.
LO: I can not believe this.....
KO: Freakin' genius....
Caputo looks down at Krahe and shakes her head, but then turns back to Brodie and calls out 'Ten'. It takes a minute for the woman to realize what just happened here, and her jaw opens in surprise, and then snaps closed in absolute fury. She stalks down the ramp towards the object of her disdain when security appears to cut her off from the ring, where Zachariah Krahe grins down at her, indicating he outsmarted her by pointing at his left temple.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match by count out, and advancing in the gauntlet, ZACHARIAH KRAHEEEE!!
The fans fill the arena with boos, and a few pieces of balled up trash find their way into the ring as Krahe falls back into the far corner, rubbing at his injured shoulder. Brodie spits at the feet of security as she curls her lip, and turns to begrudgingly exit. Krahe breathes a congratulatory sigh of relief, lowering his head while still massaging his shoulder, but it snaps quickly back up when the sounds of 'Salvation Code' by Scandroid hits over the PA system. Brennan Devlin steps through the open hole, the curtain having just been used for treachery, and he allows a chuckle while looking at the curtains still laying around the stage. He wags his finger at Krahe in the ring, signaling shame, shame, shame while still sharing a laugh with no one, the crowd booing like crazy.
Ring Announcer: Introducing the number six spot in the gauntlet, standing at six foot one and weighting in at 230 pounds, hailing from San Andreas, California.....He is 'THE FACE OF WRESTLING', BRENNAN DEVLINNNN!!!
Devlin bebops down the ramp towards the ring, offering to slap a fans hand only to retract it when they go for it, laughing. He doesn't appear to be too concerned with the broken down man awaiting him in the ring, and he's overly confident considering what number he's entering. Finally, having wasted enough time jawing with the fans, Devlin climbs the steps, and enters the ring, pointing at the mat to indicate that Krahe should just lay down and take the loss.
LO: What a dick!
KO: Which one?
LO: Both I guess. Zachariah Krahe may have gotten under my skin here tonight, but at lease he has a motivation, albeit skewed. But him.....he....he's just a dick!
KO: Brennan Devlin?
LO: Yes! Devlin is the kind of guy who wouldn't have needed any money to pull off what Krahe has done here tonight. He'd do it just for the sheer spite of it all.
KO: I think you're being a little unfair, Laurence. Sure, Brennan Devlin would have done all of those things, but he would have done it to be crowned the UnYielding Champion. This guy is a thoroughbred whose hell bent on proving he's the best in the world, and I'm not so sure he has much more to prove.
LO: Whatever. There's the bell, and this match is officially underway.
Krahe and Devlin begin circling each other in the ring, and Brennan continues to be cocksure, even indicating to Krahe's shoulder with a wink. Krahe is doubly cautious as the two go for a lock up, but sure enough, Devlin manages to get Krahe into a swift dragon twist. The much fresher man makes another spin through, this time yanking down hard on the wrist which snaps Krahe down to his hands and knee's. Still retaining hold of the wrist, Devlin spins round to hook the arm around his own leg, and then launches himself over Krahe's body into an armwrench inside cradle pin.
1...
2...
KO: Krahe out at two, and both men moving quickly to their feet, but as Krahe reaches for Devlin he hooks him around the head and pulls him down into a small package!
LO: 1...2...Zachariah out again at two. Both men quickly up once more, and Devlin able to slip past Krahe to hook him in a waistlock from behind. He runs him towards the ropes, and rolls backwards and all the way through so that he's got Zach pinned and is just sitting on the back of his legs.....1....2....
KO: Krahe able to reach up and grab Devlin's shoulders, and yank him down to the mat so that his legs are now over his shoulders for a pin! 1...2...
LO: Devlin just shoved Krahe's legs off of him to break the pin, and Krahe rolled all the way back so that he comes up on his knee's....Devlin pops up to his feet, and CATCHES HIM WITH A SHORT SIDE KICK RIGHT UNDER THE JAW!. Krahe woozy and still on his knee's, and Devlin hooks him around the head, and spikes his skull straight down into the canvas with a short DDT! Going for the pin again!
KO: 1....2....THRE-NO! Krahe got the shoulder up, and Devlin is up now just strutting around the ring, winking to a booing crowd.
Devlin feels that he has Krahe in complete control, and for the moment, he does, having cause Zachariah to expend a great deal of energy getting in and out of those quick succession pins. He reaches down and yanks the man up by his hair, running him face first into the top turnbuckle of the nearby corner. He spins Krahe around, and fires in a chop that lights up the mans chest, and then does it again. Another one. A fourth one! A fifth one! And just when the crowd starts to chant along he shakes his head 'No' and wags his finger, bringing the boo's right back to him. He confidently takes Krahe by the wrist and sends him to the far side where Zach hit's the turnbuckles hard. He slumps down, obviously spent, when Devlin comes rushing across the ring to nail him with a splash.
LO: KRAHE GOT OUT OF THE WAY THERE, and Devlin lands sternum first across the top turnbuckle!
KO: Krahe taking a few steps away to the center, and he comes barreling back in with a spear....DEVLIN JUST LEAP FROGGED HIM AND KRAHE WENT THROUGH THE MIDDLE AND TOP ROPE TO CRASH SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE RING POST!
LO: Steel on flesh is never good folks, but especially not if you already have an injured shoulder, and that looked sick!
Devlin is grinning like a mad man, just begging Krahe to untangle himself from the corner. He eventually does so, clutching at his injured body part, and turning back to face his opponent. He walks right into a high standing dropkick from Brennan, whose feet target the injured shoulder. Krahe flys back into the corner like he was ejected from a car, slamming the turnbuckles, and finding himself sliding down into a seated position. Devlin, back up on his feet, turns to see this, and makes with his hands like he's taking aim with a camera, before barreling across the ring and catching Krahe with a boot that appears to go right through his face, but rather washes his jaw.
LO: Good God, Krahe's eyes just rolled back into his head, and this one might be over right now.
KO: If not, Caputo might need to call it.
Brennan is all smiles as he confidently jerks Krahe out of the corner, steps over and past him, and then hops up to the top with his legs spread far apart so that his thighs hit off the ropes, and he springs back into a wicked snap moonsault that crushes Krahe into the mat. Devlin hooks the leg non-challantly, and with his free hand counts along with the ref...
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO!! KRAHE GOT OUT BEFORE THE THREE!
LO: And Brennan Devlin looks pissed! He's arguing with Caputo, and indicating that should have been it, but she's not having any of it!
Brennan turns from Caputo in disgust, and stares down at Zachariah Krahe who is barely moving. He nods at some affirmation that no one has given, and steps to the center of the ring where he indicates with his stance that he wants Krahe to rise. It takes a moment, but eventually Zachariah Krahe obliges by use of the ropes, and he appears completely out of it when he turns to try and find Devlin. Brennan springs into action, leaping into the air and catching the man around the head for what is most assuredly meant to be FACE OFF! Krahe, however, hooks the top rope with his arm, preventing himself from being taken down while Brennan is the only one to strike the mat. Devlin slaps the mat in frustration, and quickly comes back up to his feet, only to be booted in the midsection, hooked around the head and leg, and taken down to the mat with a fisherman's suplex bridged into a pin.
1...
2...
LO: Devlin is out at two, and already back on his feet, and he looks fit to be tied. He's stomping the holy hell out of Zachariah Krahe who could barely make it to his knee's despite having just delivered offense!
KO: The wear and tear of the gauntlet has caught up to him, Laur. I don't think he can hold out too much longer!
Brennan gets control of himself, pausing to measure every stomp so that they catch the joints perfectly to deliver that much more damage. When he gets over to Zachariah's injured shoulder, however, he viciously stomps into it over and over, until finally pulling him up to his feet, and hooking him up in a hammer lock. Krahe cries out at the simple hold, his shoulder looking to be barely held together to his body, and Devlin snarls insults into his ear just before dropping straight back while bringing his leg up. Krahe's arm impacts off of Devlin's knee and his own body weight, and when he falls to the canvas he flops around like a fish out of water in obvious pain. Devlin gets to his knees with a grin, and points for Caputo to get down for the pinfall. He hooks both legs when he covers, yanking them high up onto Krahe's chest.
1...
2...
3--NO!
KO: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!
LO: Krahe is obviously showing his own fortitude here tonight, as his shoulder has been completely mangled, and Brennan Devlin is nearly beside himself after that pin escape.
KO: Well hell, Laur, what does he have to do to put this guy away? By all rights, Zachariah Krahe shouldn't be able to continue in this match!
LO: Regardless, he holds on for just a few more moments, and we'll just see if he can turn this back around so that he can capitalize.
Devlin berates Caputo for her slow count, but the woman defends herself, shoving her two fingers into his face. Devlin sneers at as he pulls Krahe up only to toss him between the ropes to the concrete below. He is admonished by Caputo again, but he waves her off before slipping out after his pray. He snatches Krahe up by the hair of the head, and then buries a well placed knee in his gut which bends him over. Grabbing a handful of tights and hair, he runs Krahe shoulder first into the steel steps, and the man emits a yelp of pain as he clutches at the injured limb. Devlin jive talks him as he grabs Krahe by the injured arm, pulling him to his feet and directing him towards the ring post that has no stairs. He slips the arm under the rope, snatching it on the other side, and leers at Krahe before yanking it hard so that Krahe’s shoulder strikes the steel.
LO: Good God! Krahe’s being brutalized here! THERE HE GOES AGAIN!
KO: Brennan Devlin has Zachariah at his mercy, and he finally tosses him back into the ring, but I think the ring post has done the trick.
Devlin slips in after Krahe, rolling him away from the ropes, then covers and hooks the leg.
1…
2…
LO: THRE-NO!! WHERE IS HE GETTING THIS FROM!
KO: I don’t know, brother-o-mine, but at this point he may very well be ending his own career. That shoulder can’t take much more, and Brennan Devlin is in an all out tantrum.
Devlin again is screaming at Caputo who threatens to eject him from the ring if he doesn’t get control of himself. He shakes his head in disdain, and turns to stare at his opponent who is still writhing on the canvas. He stalks over, jerking Krahe up, and shoving him into the nearby corner. He takes his frustrations out in the form of right hands to the skull that nearly drive Krahe back into a seated position. Just before he’s about to be prone, Devlin yanks him back up, puts his head under his arm, and then lifts him to sit on the top rope. He soon joins him by climbing to the second, and when he does, he pulls Krahe forwards so that he can get him in a double underhook. The very action of pulling against his bad arm sends Zach into motion, and he struggles back and forth to get free. The movement causes Devlin to let loose and drop back down to the canvas, and when he tries to step up one more time, he finds Krahe’s boot on his chest. Krahe gives a violent shove with his foot, and Devlin stumbles back right into the unaware referee.
LO: THE BACK OF BRENNAN DEVLIN’S SKULL JUST BOUNCED OFF OF CATHRINE CAPUTO’S FACE!
KO: We got a referee down, and Devlin’s cradling his head, and ZACHARIAH KRAHE JUST CAME OFF THE SECOND WITH A CLOTHESLINE THAT TORE BRENNAN’S HEAD OFF!!
Both competitors and the referee are down in the ring, and the fans are on their feet, excited what crazy antics are next. Zachariah Krahe slowly rolls towards the ropes for assistance, or at least that’s what everyone thinks until he continues to the outside where he lands on his feet beside the ring. He flips the apron up, and searches under the ring, until finally producing a steel chair held by his good hand. He slips the chair into the ring and follows it in, using the ropes to first get to his feet, and then to prop himself up.
LO: Krahe just introduced a foreign object into this match, and that’s all we need after everything we’ve already seen.
KO: Hey, he’s got a bad wing, and this is definitely an equalizer.
LO: Whatever. Well it looks like Krahe is bending down to pick up the weapon, BUT BRENNAN DEVLIN JUST DOVE ACROSS THE RING TO GRAB IT WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE OTHER END!
KO: Well, the best laid plans…..
Devlin rises, staring hard across the steel chair at Krahe, who has hold with his one good limb. Krahe pulls the chair to try and break Devlin’s grasp, but he has the obvious advantage with both hands, and he shakes his head vehemently ‘No’ before yanking the chair from Zach’s grasp. Or he would have, if Krahe had still been holding it. The lack of resistance sends the chair arching wide, and right into the skull of referee Caputo.
LO: MY GOD! THE REFEREE JUST ATE STEEL!
KO: Yeah, and look….she’s cradling her head, and calling for the bell!
LO: Not again!
KO: Damn sure looks like it!
Brennan Devlin stands shocked in the ring, the smoking gun still in his hands, until he realizes what is happening and he tosses it to the side. He reaches down to try and help Caputo up, but she slaps his hands away, indicating that he had done more than enough. He shakes his head comically ‘No’ as Caputo slides herself over to the ropes to confer with the ring announcer, and Brennan grabs the top rope and kicks the bottom several times before returning to plead.
Ring Announcer: The winner of this match due to Disqualification…ZACHARIAH KRAHEEEE!!!
KO: Brennan Devlin is having a complete meltdown, but the referee is having none of it.
She waves her hands to signal disqualification again, and he jumps to the second rope, signaling now with his arms by waving them in front of him. He looked like he was trying to call a baseball player out at home plate, and the fans unmercifully laugh and jeer him, sending him even further over the edge.
LO: Brennan Devlin is pissed, and rightfully so, and I think its settling in that our referee isn’t going to reverse the decision. I don’t know how I feel about this, Laur. Sure, Krahe brought the weapon into the ring, but certainly Devlin would have used it. Do you think this was Krahe’s plan all along.
KO: Yep, and speaking of weapons, Devlin just turned back to Zachariah Krahe, and I don’t think this is going to end well.
Krahe slowly backs up into the corner, putting his good hand in front of him to try and dissuade Devlin who has now picked up the chair. Devlin mouths a lot of things that are unintelligible at Krahe, and raises the chair high overhead to strike. Or he would have, if the referee hadn’t snatched it out of his hands from behind at the last second. Devlin turns around and manages to get out, “What the fuck?” before being tackled by the same security team that has made an appearance after each one of Krahe’s victories.
LO: Well, Brennan Devlin is being forcibly removed from ringside, and I guess this thing continues.
KO: Yeah, but how much more can Krahe take. I mean, his arm is just dangling from that bad shoulder.
As Brennan Devlin is pulled kicking and screaming up the aisle, ‘Wanli’ by Hyukoh fills the Futsai Arena, and the fans come to their feet as Siberia Zombie appears on the stage. She takes one glance at Devlin being removed, and then another to her opponent in the ring, and her eyes narrow before she starts her march down to the ring.
Ring Announcer: and making her way to the ring, standing at five foot six, and weighting in at 130 pounds, she hails from Siberia, Russia and is the final participant in this 7 Pillars of Rome Gauntlet Match…….SIBERIA ZOMBIEEE!!
Zombie reaches the ringside area and disposes of her Asian silk robe before climbing the steps one at a time to stand on the apron. She hasn’t taken her eyes off of Krahe, and before entering the ring she shakes her head in disapproval or disappointment. Take your pick.
LO: Siberia Zombie looks ready for this one, and Zachariah Krahe looks like a bit of a mess. His arm is just barely attached to his shoulder, he’s covered in sweat and Fantana’s blood, and he looks all around disheveled.
KO: Well wouldn’t you if you’d been through everything he’s been through here tonight?
LO: Maybe so, but the bell just sounded, and these two have met in the center of the ring and they are just staring at each other.
Zombie sizes Krahe up, and he gives her a toothy grin, blood mingled in with his spittle, as he extends his hand for her to shake it. The fans boo loudly as Siberia looks down at the extended palm, then around the arena at the fans who all signal, ‘No’. Finally her gaze settles back on Krahe, who’s giving her his most innocent look. She answers this with a war cry, and her fists and feet go into motion as she backs him up into the far corner with a martial arts style barrage.
KO: Siberia opening up Krahe strong and fast, and she’s got him hemmed up in the corner. He’s covering up the best he can, but a few of those blows are finding their way to that bum shoulder of his, and each time he’s in a little more pain.
LO: Yeah, and Zombie doesn’t appear to have any indication of quitting.
Zombie manages to rock Krahe with a well-placed strike to his face, and while he clutches at his nose, this gives her the opportunity to lay in rapid fire front kicks into his gut which double him over. She backs off a bit, and then lifts her right leg high into the air only to bring it crashing down on the back of his skull with a scissor kick. Krahe falls out of the corner clutching the back of his head, and Zombie hops up to the second, and delivers a double stomp right between his exposed shoulder blades.
LO: OH MY GOD! The minute that Zombie landed that double stomp, Zachariah Krahe emitted what could only sound like a wounded animal!
KO: Yeah, she caught those shoulders pretty good, and that one of Krahe’s is ruined.
Zombie stares at her opponent for just a moment out of concern, but her face turns to steel, realizing there was no room for that here. She stalks over, extends the wounded limb, and then drives a knee straight down into the socket. Krahe rolls away from her, clutching at the shoulder, and slipping to the outside shaking his head in pain.
LO: Krahe just trying to put some distance between him and Zombie, but the Siberian Buzzsaw is having none of it. She’s right out after him, and now he’s leading her on a chase around ringside!
KO: Baiting her in, more like. He just rolled back into the ring, and here she comes, but…..he wasn’t able to make it back to his feet in time to capitalize! He’s done man, I’m telling you!
Zombie cocks her head to the side, fist raised defensively in front of her, as Krahe struggles to maintain his balance. He holds his good hand out to dissuade her while the bad one dangles helplessly at his side. She methodically stalks him, eyes darting from the desperate look on his face to the injured limb, and she shakes her head ‘No’ at any doubts creeping into her head. This was her enemy, not some fool that she met sometimes randomly outside the ring. Or perhaps not so randomly. Perhaps that had been his design all along. It was obvious by his performance here tonight that he was capable of misdeeds.
LO: Siberia Zombie sure is taking a long time to strike here. She’s been coiled like that for a couple of seconds.
KO: I think that strange relationship between these two is starting to play itself out here at 7 Pillars.
Zombie steels herself, and rushes forwards her foot rising to strike the injured arm. Krahe manages to catch the oncoming strike, and holds her foot there for a moment. Zombie makes to pull away but they lock eyes, and he flashes a grin before bending down and kissing her right on the mouth. When he pulls away her eyes go wide in surprise, and then narrow in suspicious, and then fill with rage at the presumptuousness. She doesn’t get long to process those feelings, as Krahe hooks her around the head and snatches her down to the canvas into a small package. Caputo is there to count.
1…
2…
3!!
LO: I can’t believe this! Zachariah Krahe has stole another one!
KO: No, he stole ‘THE ONE’, because he just won the whole damn thing!
Ring Announcer: Ladies and Gentleman, the winner of this match by pinfall, and your NEW UNYIELDING CHAMPION……ZACHARIAH KRAHHEEE!!
Zombie sits up in disbelief as Krahe lays motionless on the mat, his useless arm slung over his waist. A range of emotions wash over her face as the fans are all standing slack jawed at what just happened. Finally, she looks over at Krahe, who continues to just lay there as Caputo brings the UnYielding Championship over and places it in his good hand. He closes his eyes and clutches the belt as Siberia rolls out of the ring, her movements mimicking her namesake as she heads to up the ramp.
LO: Well....I don't know what kind of relationship those two had, but I'd say it's pretty well damaged.
KO: Maybe so, but he's the champion, and that's all that matters.
Krahe doesn't go through the usual fanfare of someone who just won a championship, and several of the fans boo as he rolls to get out of the ring. He stumbles a few times on his way up the ramp, at one point even falling to his ass, still clutching at his injured shoulder in discomfort. The championship lays at his feet until he manages to find the will to grab it, continue out of the arena.
LO: God, what a strange guy...
KO: Yep. I'd say for our first super show this was a success.
LO: It definitely had it's ups and downs, twists and turns.
KO: Byrne really earned her bonus tonight, marrying the Valor Pro product that everyone knows and loves with the new format of Fite TV.
LO: Not mention the two huge signings she just made in Cosmo Cooper and Vannah White!
KO: Dakota Jennings and Cross Recoba both found their first success here tonight, and they did it in style.
LO: Elina Cartel is our first Apex Champion, and she earned every bit of it in a fantastic bout against Ace Devereux. She's really proven that she deserves to be at the top of the mountain.
KO: And what about what we just witnessed? A gauntlet match that started with 7 Pillars of this promotion, that ended up being only six of them, but I don't feel like we really lost anything.
LO: Damn right, this one was crazy, and from beginning of the night to the very end I can't help but feel that Cross Recoba couldn't have written this any better if he had been in the production truck himself.
KO: He definitely had a lot at stake here tonight, and as far as I can tell, got exactly what he wanted.
LO: The question now, is what did the second part of that note we saw at the top show mean?
KO: I guess we'll find out when Blitz#5 graces the airwaves of Fite TV.
LO: Folks, we thank you for joining us tonight, and look forward to the future of Valor Pro.
KO: I am Kenneth Othello...
LO: And I am Laurence Othello....
TOGETHER: We are the Othello Brothers, and this has been....7 PILLARS!!
He literally felt like a pair of horses had tried to tear him in half and then stamped on him for good measure. There wasn't an inch of Krähe's body that didn't hurt, he didn't even want to open his eyes. Honestly laying on the cold bench by his locker felt like absolute heaven, and for a moment that and the pain were the only two things that existed. That, and the ten extra pounds of gold that lay casually draped over his midsection, the UnYielding belt straps dangling on either side of him.
“I truly hope you don't expect me to kiss it better.” The voice was almost angelic enough to be from heaven, but something about the smooth heated velvet caress of it could only make one think of sin.
So many people thought the devil was an ugly old man with horns, but Krähe knew better. The devil was a woman with a body like sin and the voice of an angel, and whether it was lucky or not she was one of the closest things to a friend that he had.
“Do I look like I need to miss a mouth size piece of flesh to you? Besides I have no idea where that mouth has been lately so no thank you.”
A feminine chuckle filled his ears, and he could almost see her mick pout by voice alone. “I am sure my mouth has been in better places than yours, but that is neither here nor there. I believe we are long past due for a little heart to heart.”
Krähe smiled at that with his eyes still closed.
“Whatever you say Lady Munin...You're the boss.”
The scene fades to the VPW logo brought by Fite TV, and then to black.