Post by silentpartner on Apr 8, 2019 10:50:09 GMT -5
Sunday April 21st, 2019
From Paviihao Multiusos de Luanda, Luanda, Angola
“Lady Venom” by Swollen Members hits the speaker system, and the first thing fans in the Paviihao Multiusos de Luanda are treated to is a sight of Vanessa Byrne regally travelling down the ramp in a professional looking pantsuit with a noticeably buoyant swagger in her step and a microphone already in her hand. She even gives an earnest, genuine smile to some of the fans as she steps up to the ring and enters, giving the fans their moment to see what success looks like. And then, with a lick of her red lips she speaks.
Vanessa Byrne: Welcome, welcome, one and all, to Blitz number thirteen.
The crowd pops, and Vanessa surveys the crowd with her trademark cheshire grin.
Vanessa Byrne: We were this close, sports fans. This bloody close to me coming down here tonight to tell you that the show tonight will be a live event only. No home audience. No need for a camera crew. Just you, and the wrestlers, and honestly, that wouldn’t be so bad, would it Angola?
Huge pop.
Vanessa Byrne: For two weeks since Allegiance went off the air, quite literally, the news, aside from all the winners and losers, was that due to--
She hesitates a moment, licking her teeth as if cleaning something undesirable off the face of her pearly whites.
Vanessa Byrne: --programming disagreements with our former streaming broadcast partner, whose name shall not be mentioned, Blitz would no longer be aired on the screens of fans across the globe.
A boo now. All the right notes being struck.
Vanessa Byrne: My little trek down to the ring would have been a sorry one, fans. Since September, Valor Pro has been touring Europe, Asia and now the lovely continent of Africa, offering a brand of entertainment the likes of which you can’t get anywhere else. And that’s a fact.
Another pop. She’s like a maestro, plucking just the right strings with this capacity crowd.
Vanessa Byrne: As I said, we were almost cancelled. Done. Relegated to the best touring company in the business. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing. But, yours truly, as I’ve been known to do, came through. While most wrestling companies are satisfied with keeping the status quo, we here at Valor Pro Wrestling shook things up with what I’m about to tell you. We secured not one… but two broadcast contracts.
That smirk grows brighter with the dawning triumphal announcement.
Vanessa Byrne: From now on, Valor Pro’s flagship program Blitz, as well as all future super show events can be witnessed on two of the gold standard brands this industry has to offer in The Battleground Network, and HOTv.
The fans recognize both names and pop loudly.
Vanessa Byrne: Of course, fans watching at home already know this. You’ve tuned in to HOTv, or the Battleground Network, expecting the same old programming and found us, your new favorite wrestling company. And that, as they say, is how it’s done, my friends.
She’s gloating. Ready to drop the mic when the absolutely nonsensical gibberish of what must be five different theme songs playing at once nearly shatters everyone’s ear drums and out stutters Brad Stokes looking more clean than he’s ever looked, but clearly concerned.
Brad Stokes: Ms. Byrne? Ms. Byrne! Glad I found ya.
He has a microphone too.
Vanessa Byrne: Oh, great. You’re suspe--
Brad Stokes: That’s what I’m out here to talk to you about, Ms. Byrne! I know I’m chiefly responsible for why we had to switch broadcast networks--
Vanessa Byrne: You and a seemingly infinite supply of reasons, Bradley.
Brad Stokes: And for that, I couldn’t be any sorrier, Ms. Byrne. I’m so sorry. I’ve been up all night for weeks feeling like I got bugs crawling all over me I feel so guilty.
Vanessa Byrne: That’s literally the detox, Bradley. You’ve been a raging drug and alcohol addict for a very long time. Which is why this attempted intrusion into my golden moment is about to be cut short by security.
Brad Stokes: Wait! No! Hold it! I’m not here to make your life difficult, Ms. Byrne.
Vanessa Byrne: Too late.
Brad chuckles awkwardly. This is clearly a far less assured man than crowds are used to seeing.
Brad Stokes: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just came out here to ask one thing and I’ll never bother you again, I swear.
Vanessa Byrne: That remains to be seen. But ask away, Bradley, considering you’re literally barring the exit so I'm stuck here till you're finished.
He notices it and stammers a chuckle.
Brad Stokes: Haha. Yeah. So… look, with us getting this new broadcast contract, I was, kinda sorta, wondering if maybe you might consider, I dunno…
He sheepishly looks into the ground where his foot kicks nervously.
Vanessa Byrne: ...yes? Out with it.
Brad Stokes: Can I have my interview segment back please please please please I swear I’ll do better?!
The crowd pops. They remember it. Vanessa looks out to the crowd, gauging their reaction.
Vanessa Byrne: This lot appears to be fans of yours, Bradley.
They pop again. Brad looks rejuvenated.
Vanessa Byrne: The answer is still no.
It’s like she’s let the air out of the entire stadium.
Vanessa Byrne: I can’t have you jeopardizing this company’s future with your antics. You’re suspended, Bradley. Indefinitely. Until further notice. Read: Forever.
Brad Stokes: OH MY GOD WHY?!
He drops to his knees, supplicating whichever deity he believes in at the moment to give him his show back. Vanessa looks on pitifully.
BRAD STOKES: I’ll do anything! PLEASE. I’ve been sober for god knows how long, I got the three visitations from the Dickensian spirits. I’ve learned my lesson PLEASE LET ME HAVE MY SHOW BACK.
The crowd is hopeful, watching Brad grovel on the ramp.
Vanessa Byrne: It means that much to you?
Brad feels the glimmer of hope.
Brad Stokes: Yes! My life is meaningless without Where There’s Stokes There’s Fire!
An ‘awww’ sweeps the crowd. Vanessa considers.
Vanessa: Hmmmno.
Brad’s ready to cry. And then…
…: Hold it.
For Brad Stokes, it happens in slow motion. The crowd holds its breath. A figure steps out from the back, casting a shadow over Brad, as if blocking out the stadium lights that encircle a heavenly golden light like a halo around the shaded face Brad can't quite make out. He shields his eyes from this glorious vision that's almost blinding him. The voice booms through the speakers.
….: I’ll go in his place.
Brad’s jaw drops in the light of this divine intervention.
Vanessa Byrne: You’ll what?
….: I’ll take the suspension for him. Let my sacrifice pay his debt to you.
Vanessa Byrne: I…
It’s amazing. Vanessa’s speechless as she considers what’s being suggested. An Easter miracle even. Brad has that Hallelujah choir singing somewhere in his head as he shields his eyes from the bright light encircling his savior.
Vanessa Byrne: I… don’t know what to say.
…: Say yes, and accept me to suffer in his stead.
Brad’s in awe of the beauty of this moment.
Vanessa Byrne: I… guess we can do that.
The crowd pops loudly. Brad’s face is stunned, like a man on death row with his sentence now pardoned.
Brad Stokes: I… I can’t believe this. I--I got my show back.
…: Believe it.
The divine majesty places its hand upon Brad’s shoulder, and at once Brad loses all fear.
Brad Stokes: Thank you… but… who?
He rises to his feet, and that whole thing with the light shifts as his perspective changes so he can see the man who just saved him.
Brad Stokes: Zack Fantana?
Brad’s stunned as Zack smiles at him. Brad’s got that whole “Dream Weaver” song in his head as Zack looks at him though it’s obvious this is getting really awkward for the Fantanasy.
Zack Fantana: Remember what I’ve done here for you today, Brad.
And with that, and a friendly clasp on the shoulder, Zack turns to exit. Brad’s heart is overwhelmed until he realizes Zack Fantana just got suspended instead of him.
Brad Stokes: Wait!
Zack turns to look at Brad.
Brad Stokes: Where will you go?
Zack smiles. It’s a really profound moment.
Zack Fantana: I’ll be around, Brad. I’ll return one day. You’ll see.
Brad’s face brightens as Zack gives him a thumbs up. And then… exits. The moment is seriously profound, folks. IN the ring, Vanessa chimes in.
Vanessa Byrne: Alright, that’s enough. Let’s get on with the bloody show.
And out she goes to collect a Brad Stokes who seems to be crossing himself with a Z pattern now.
And away we go.
Vanessa Byrne: Welcome, welcome, one and all, to Blitz number thirteen.
The crowd pops, and Vanessa surveys the crowd with her trademark cheshire grin.
Vanessa Byrne: We were this close, sports fans. This bloody close to me coming down here tonight to tell you that the show tonight will be a live event only. No home audience. No need for a camera crew. Just you, and the wrestlers, and honestly, that wouldn’t be so bad, would it Angola?
Huge pop.
Vanessa Byrne: For two weeks since Allegiance went off the air, quite literally, the news, aside from all the winners and losers, was that due to--
She hesitates a moment, licking her teeth as if cleaning something undesirable off the face of her pearly whites.
Vanessa Byrne: --programming disagreements with our former streaming broadcast partner, whose name shall not be mentioned, Blitz would no longer be aired on the screens of fans across the globe.
A boo now. All the right notes being struck.
Vanessa Byrne: My little trek down to the ring would have been a sorry one, fans. Since September, Valor Pro has been touring Europe, Asia and now the lovely continent of Africa, offering a brand of entertainment the likes of which you can’t get anywhere else. And that’s a fact.
Another pop. She’s like a maestro, plucking just the right strings with this capacity crowd.
Vanessa Byrne: As I said, we were almost cancelled. Done. Relegated to the best touring company in the business. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing. But, yours truly, as I’ve been known to do, came through. While most wrestling companies are satisfied with keeping the status quo, we here at Valor Pro Wrestling shook things up with what I’m about to tell you. We secured not one… but two broadcast contracts.
That smirk grows brighter with the dawning triumphal announcement.
Vanessa Byrne: From now on, Valor Pro’s flagship program Blitz, as well as all future super show events can be witnessed on two of the gold standard brands this industry has to offer in The Battleground Network, and HOTv.
The fans recognize both names and pop loudly.
Vanessa Byrne: Of course, fans watching at home already know this. You’ve tuned in to HOTv, or the Battleground Network, expecting the same old programming and found us, your new favorite wrestling company. And that, as they say, is how it’s done, my friends.
She’s gloating. Ready to drop the mic when the absolutely nonsensical gibberish of what must be five different theme songs playing at once nearly shatters everyone’s ear drums and out stutters Brad Stokes looking more clean than he’s ever looked, but clearly concerned.
Brad Stokes: Ms. Byrne? Ms. Byrne! Glad I found ya.
He has a microphone too.
Vanessa Byrne: Oh, great. You’re suspe--
Brad Stokes: That’s what I’m out here to talk to you about, Ms. Byrne! I know I’m chiefly responsible for why we had to switch broadcast networks--
Vanessa Byrne: You and a seemingly infinite supply of reasons, Bradley.
Brad Stokes: And for that, I couldn’t be any sorrier, Ms. Byrne. I’m so sorry. I’ve been up all night for weeks feeling like I got bugs crawling all over me I feel so guilty.
Vanessa Byrne: That’s literally the detox, Bradley. You’ve been a raging drug and alcohol addict for a very long time. Which is why this attempted intrusion into my golden moment is about to be cut short by security.
Brad Stokes: Wait! No! Hold it! I’m not here to make your life difficult, Ms. Byrne.
Vanessa Byrne: Too late.
Brad chuckles awkwardly. This is clearly a far less assured man than crowds are used to seeing.
Brad Stokes: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just came out here to ask one thing and I’ll never bother you again, I swear.
Vanessa Byrne: That remains to be seen. But ask away, Bradley, considering you’re literally barring the exit so I'm stuck here till you're finished.
He notices it and stammers a chuckle.
Brad Stokes: Haha. Yeah. So… look, with us getting this new broadcast contract, I was, kinda sorta, wondering if maybe you might consider, I dunno…
He sheepishly looks into the ground where his foot kicks nervously.
Vanessa Byrne: ...yes? Out with it.
Brad Stokes: Can I have my interview segment back please please please please I swear I’ll do better?!
The crowd pops. They remember it. Vanessa looks out to the crowd, gauging their reaction.
Vanessa Byrne: This lot appears to be fans of yours, Bradley.
They pop again. Brad looks rejuvenated.
Vanessa Byrne: The answer is still no.
It’s like she’s let the air out of the entire stadium.
Vanessa Byrne: I can’t have you jeopardizing this company’s future with your antics. You’re suspended, Bradley. Indefinitely. Until further notice. Read: Forever.
Brad Stokes: OH MY GOD WHY?!
He drops to his knees, supplicating whichever deity he believes in at the moment to give him his show back. Vanessa looks on pitifully.
BRAD STOKES: I’ll do anything! PLEASE. I’ve been sober for god knows how long, I got the three visitations from the Dickensian spirits. I’ve learned my lesson PLEASE LET ME HAVE MY SHOW BACK.
The crowd is hopeful, watching Brad grovel on the ramp.
Vanessa Byrne: It means that much to you?
Brad feels the glimmer of hope.
Brad Stokes: Yes! My life is meaningless without Where There’s Stokes There’s Fire!
An ‘awww’ sweeps the crowd. Vanessa considers.
Vanessa: Hmmmno.
Brad’s ready to cry. And then…
…: Hold it.
For Brad Stokes, it happens in slow motion. The crowd holds its breath. A figure steps out from the back, casting a shadow over Brad, as if blocking out the stadium lights that encircle a heavenly golden light like a halo around the shaded face Brad can't quite make out. He shields his eyes from this glorious vision that's almost blinding him. The voice booms through the speakers.
….: I’ll go in his place.
Brad’s jaw drops in the light of this divine intervention.
Vanessa Byrne: You’ll what?
….: I’ll take the suspension for him. Let my sacrifice pay his debt to you.
Vanessa Byrne: I…
It’s amazing. Vanessa’s speechless as she considers what’s being suggested. An Easter miracle even. Brad has that Hallelujah choir singing somewhere in his head as he shields his eyes from the bright light encircling his savior.
Vanessa Byrne: I… don’t know what to say.
…: Say yes, and accept me to suffer in his stead.
Brad’s in awe of the beauty of this moment.
Vanessa Byrne: I… guess we can do that.
The crowd pops loudly. Brad’s face is stunned, like a man on death row with his sentence now pardoned.
Brad Stokes: I… I can’t believe this. I--I got my show back.
…: Believe it.
The divine majesty places its hand upon Brad’s shoulder, and at once Brad loses all fear.
Brad Stokes: Thank you… but… who?
He rises to his feet, and that whole thing with the light shifts as his perspective changes so he can see the man who just saved him.
Brad Stokes: Zack Fantana?
Brad’s stunned as Zack smiles at him. Brad’s got that whole “Dream Weaver” song in his head as Zack looks at him though it’s obvious this is getting really awkward for the Fantanasy.
Zack Fantana: Remember what I’ve done here for you today, Brad.
And with that, and a friendly clasp on the shoulder, Zack turns to exit. Brad’s heart is overwhelmed until he realizes Zack Fantana just got suspended instead of him.
Brad Stokes: Wait!
Zack turns to look at Brad.
Brad Stokes: Where will you go?
Zack smiles. It’s a really profound moment.
Zack Fantana: I’ll be around, Brad. I’ll return one day. You’ll see.
Brad’s face brightens as Zack gives him a thumbs up. And then… exits. The moment is seriously profound, folks. IN the ring, Vanessa chimes in.
Vanessa Byrne: Alright, that’s enough. Let’s get on with the bloody show.
And out she goes to collect a Brad Stokes who seems to be crossing himself with a Z pattern now.
And away we go.
Leela Watts is the first to make her way to the ring, living up to the fanfare that surrounds her as a golden haired hero to the masses, slapping hands and working up the crowd on her way down the ramp. Jennings bursts through the curtain to a chorus of boos, but if it bothers the woman it doesn't show, as she determinedly stalks down to the ring and rolls under the bottom rope, popping up and ready to go. Just before the bell rings, Jennings holds her hand up for a pause, and finally addresses the crowd by throwing her middle finger up in the air and displaying it in a wide circle to the audience before allowing it to settle in Leela's direction. Watts stares across the ring dumbfounded, shaking her head in disappointment as the referee finally gets things started.
The two women lock up in the center of the ring, and Leela takes Jennings through the paces of some fine chain wrestling until she's ultimately cut off with a severe knee lift to the midsection. From there Dakota proceeds to deliver what can only be described as a mugging, as she hammers the woman into the corner, and opens up with lefts and rights, eventually settling on grabbing the top rope and trying to stomp Leela Watt's from existence. A few times the referee is forced to intervene, but Dakota always lets up right before the five count, causing the crowd to boo even louder. She delivers the same sentiment to them from the start of the match before shooting Leela off the ropes.
Leela ends up coming back with a High Cross Body that leads to a short two count, but when both women come to their feet Jennings walks into back to back Arm Drags, and a High Standing Dropkick that keeps her on the mat. Leela quickly tries to capitalize by hitting off the ropes and coming in with a Rolling Senton, but Dakota manages to get out of the way, and on Watts' way back up is caught with a go behind Release German Suplex that dumps her on her shoulders and neck. From there Dakota waits for Leela to rise, and opens up with shoot like kicks to the woman's chest that has her knocking back and forth like a game of Pinball. When she goes for the big kick to the head, however, Leela manages to duck it, and from her knee's pops up into a European Uppercut that sends Dakota crashing to the mat.
From here Leela is quick as lightening, catching Dakota on her way back up to her feet with a Spin Wheel Kick, and then getting her up and shooting her off the ropes only to catch her with a High Back Body drop. Leela appears to be on fire, much to the fans delight, as she follows up with a Suplex, immediately followed by a High Elbow Drop from the second turnbuckle. She hooks the leg again, but Dakota kicks out at two and half. This time Leela pulls the woman up, and delivers a body slam by the nearby corner to put her in position, and then steps to the apron to climb the turnbuckles to the top. Once there, she signals to the crowd who come to their feet in excitement, only to have it knocked right out of them when Leela crashes and burns off of a Diving Headbutt.
The Woman is groggy as she rises, and when she turns she eats a Superkick from Dakota that nearly takes her head off. When she impacts off the mat, however, she ends up popping back up to her feet, to which Dakota promptly boots her in the gut, hooks her arms while spinning behind her, and then spins around until Leela's face is pointed towards the canvas. Jennings suddenly drops straight down, driving Leela's face directly into the canvas in her new finisher, Jennesis. The hook of the leg afterwards secures the three count, and Dakota pops up, demanding that the referee lift her hand before jerking away from him and heading to the outside.
The fans continue to boo, but move to the edge of their seats to see what the woman is doing as she marches over to the time keepers table and comes back with a steel chair. The referee tries to intervene, but the bell has already sounded, and with no fear of losing the match she shoves him to the side just as Leela rises. The sound of bone and flesh meets cold hard steel, and Watts is sent crashing to the mat clutching at her skull. Dakota doesn't stop there, standing over the woman, and driving the chair repeatedly down across her shoulders, hips, and midsection until finally discarding the mangled steel and demanding a microphone. The minute the mic hits her hand she steps back over to Leela, shoving her over onto her back, and putting her boot up on the woman's chest.
DAKOTA JENNINGS: Valor Pro.......do you see me now?
With that she drops the mic and exits the ring, the entire building creating a vaccum of boo's as she goes. The referee continues to check on Leela Watt's, who despite some intense bruising, looks like she'll be able to walk out on her own power. The scene cuts to backstage.
The two women lock up in the center of the ring, and Leela takes Jennings through the paces of some fine chain wrestling until she's ultimately cut off with a severe knee lift to the midsection. From there Dakota proceeds to deliver what can only be described as a mugging, as she hammers the woman into the corner, and opens up with lefts and rights, eventually settling on grabbing the top rope and trying to stomp Leela Watt's from existence. A few times the referee is forced to intervene, but Dakota always lets up right before the five count, causing the crowd to boo even louder. She delivers the same sentiment to them from the start of the match before shooting Leela off the ropes.
Leela ends up coming back with a High Cross Body that leads to a short two count, but when both women come to their feet Jennings walks into back to back Arm Drags, and a High Standing Dropkick that keeps her on the mat. Leela quickly tries to capitalize by hitting off the ropes and coming in with a Rolling Senton, but Dakota manages to get out of the way, and on Watts' way back up is caught with a go behind Release German Suplex that dumps her on her shoulders and neck. From there Dakota waits for Leela to rise, and opens up with shoot like kicks to the woman's chest that has her knocking back and forth like a game of Pinball. When she goes for the big kick to the head, however, Leela manages to duck it, and from her knee's pops up into a European Uppercut that sends Dakota crashing to the mat.
From here Leela is quick as lightening, catching Dakota on her way back up to her feet with a Spin Wheel Kick, and then getting her up and shooting her off the ropes only to catch her with a High Back Body drop. Leela appears to be on fire, much to the fans delight, as she follows up with a Suplex, immediately followed by a High Elbow Drop from the second turnbuckle. She hooks the leg again, but Dakota kicks out at two and half. This time Leela pulls the woman up, and delivers a body slam by the nearby corner to put her in position, and then steps to the apron to climb the turnbuckles to the top. Once there, she signals to the crowd who come to their feet in excitement, only to have it knocked right out of them when Leela crashes and burns off of a Diving Headbutt.
The Woman is groggy as she rises, and when she turns she eats a Superkick from Dakota that nearly takes her head off. When she impacts off the mat, however, she ends up popping back up to her feet, to which Dakota promptly boots her in the gut, hooks her arms while spinning behind her, and then spins around until Leela's face is pointed towards the canvas. Jennings suddenly drops straight down, driving Leela's face directly into the canvas in her new finisher, Jennesis. The hook of the leg afterwards secures the three count, and Dakota pops up, demanding that the referee lift her hand before jerking away from him and heading to the outside.
The fans continue to boo, but move to the edge of their seats to see what the woman is doing as she marches over to the time keepers table and comes back with a steel chair. The referee tries to intervene, but the bell has already sounded, and with no fear of losing the match she shoves him to the side just as Leela rises. The sound of bone and flesh meets cold hard steel, and Watts is sent crashing to the mat clutching at her skull. Dakota doesn't stop there, standing over the woman, and driving the chair repeatedly down across her shoulders, hips, and midsection until finally discarding the mangled steel and demanding a microphone. The minute the mic hits her hand she steps back over to Leela, shoving her over onto her back, and putting her boot up on the woman's chest.
DAKOTA JENNINGS: Valor Pro.......do you see me now?
With that she drops the mic and exits the ring, the entire building creating a vaccum of boo's as she goes. The referee continues to check on Leela Watt's, who despite some intense bruising, looks like she'll be able to walk out on her own power. The scene cuts to backstage.
Winner Via Pinfall: DAKOTA JENNINGS
He took a steadying breath but that did no good. As he looked down at his hands he watched as a tremor shook both of them briefly before he was able to will them to a halt. There could be no question that this was the biggest night of his career. It didn’t matter that there were questions about whether or not the program would air on television or just on YouTube. It didn’t matter that he had been in a main event match, and had competed on a pay per view before. This was a monumental deal and Danny Rizzo above anything else, was nervous. And so he sat outside, trying to will himself to calm down, in the middle of a place where he knew no one.
As he was crouched down, continuing to take deep breaths, a young boy approached him with curious eyes. Swallowing hard, Danny pushed himself up and tried to present himself as the role model that he wanted to be though he didn’t really feel like he fit the bill at that very moment in time.
LITTLE BOY: Hey mister.
Like he had learned to do, Danny put on a smile and reached his hand out for the young boy to shake. Glancing up, Danny noticed an adult couple that he assumed were this boy’s parents standing a few feet away looking at him apologetically.
LITTLE BOY: Are you a wrestler too?
To a certain extent relief washed over him, strangely enough. But with a nod of his head Danny answered without really saying much at all. But the smile that he had had to force onto his face a few moments earlier was now genuine. After everything that he had been through in the past few months he was beginning to wonder if he had lost himself. Or if he was developing some form of ego. The last thing that he wanted was to end up like NovaCaine and he imagined that that kind of change happened when one wasn’t paying attention.
DANNY RIZZO: I am, yeah. Got a big match tonight too against a pretty scary lady.
Excitement shone in the young man’s face as he eagerly held out a small notepad with a pen. The request was obvious.
LITTLE BOY: Would you sign this for me?
With a nod of his head Danny reached out and plucked the notepad and pen from the kids hands and quickly scribbled his name out onto the piece of paper with a short message written under it that he hoped might inspire him some day if he happened to look back years from now on this very day. As soon as Danny had finished signing the autograph the young boys parents came by and ushered him off, apologizing to Danny for the disturbance to which he waved his hands, letting the no it was no problem at all. But it was in that moment that Danny felt calm wash over him and as he turned back to the camera, he felt much more stout in heart than he had just a few minutes before.
DANNY RIZZO: Regardless of what you think, Brodie. My life is not made up of props and pieces of a set. Though I find it ironic someone who enjoys the spooky side of things as much as you clearly do complaining about props and things of that ilk. Everything about me is real. And you’re going to find out shortly just how real I am when, on this one night only, I remind the world that the monster in Valor’s Closet, as good as she is, is just as human as the rest of us.
A long, lingering stare followed before he turned and walked back into the building to prepare for what was going to be the fight of his life. And now he was ready.
As he was crouched down, continuing to take deep breaths, a young boy approached him with curious eyes. Swallowing hard, Danny pushed himself up and tried to present himself as the role model that he wanted to be though he didn’t really feel like he fit the bill at that very moment in time.
LITTLE BOY: Hey mister.
Like he had learned to do, Danny put on a smile and reached his hand out for the young boy to shake. Glancing up, Danny noticed an adult couple that he assumed were this boy’s parents standing a few feet away looking at him apologetically.
LITTLE BOY: Are you a wrestler too?
To a certain extent relief washed over him, strangely enough. But with a nod of his head Danny answered without really saying much at all. But the smile that he had had to force onto his face a few moments earlier was now genuine. After everything that he had been through in the past few months he was beginning to wonder if he had lost himself. Or if he was developing some form of ego. The last thing that he wanted was to end up like NovaCaine and he imagined that that kind of change happened when one wasn’t paying attention.
DANNY RIZZO: I am, yeah. Got a big match tonight too against a pretty scary lady.
Excitement shone in the young man’s face as he eagerly held out a small notepad with a pen. The request was obvious.
LITTLE BOY: Would you sign this for me?
With a nod of his head Danny reached out and plucked the notepad and pen from the kids hands and quickly scribbled his name out onto the piece of paper with a short message written under it that he hoped might inspire him some day if he happened to look back years from now on this very day. As soon as Danny had finished signing the autograph the young boys parents came by and ushered him off, apologizing to Danny for the disturbance to which he waved his hands, letting the no it was no problem at all. But it was in that moment that Danny felt calm wash over him and as he turned back to the camera, he felt much more stout in heart than he had just a few minutes before.
DANNY RIZZO: Regardless of what you think, Brodie. My life is not made up of props and pieces of a set. Though I find it ironic someone who enjoys the spooky side of things as much as you clearly do complaining about props and things of that ilk. Everything about me is real. And you’re going to find out shortly just how real I am when, on this one night only, I remind the world that the monster in Valor’s Closet, as good as she is, is just as human as the rest of us.
A long, lingering stare followed before he turned and walked back into the building to prepare for what was going to be the fight of his life. And now he was ready.
Caroline O’Hara Burchill and Roxi Johnson all but promised to eliminate one another in their build-up for this match, both women recognizing the need for a victory, and by the time the two hit the ring a stare down ensued that made the fans hungry for their first tie up. When they finally collide it was a collar and elbow tie up that sent them careening around the ring before Caroline locked Roxi into a headlock that ended with Roxi slamming the back of Caroline’s head off the canvas with a back body drop that set the tone for easily the next 2 minutes of action.
Roxi was determined to put Caroline away definitively, stomping the returning vet into the mat, and keeping Caroline grounded with some fine ground and pound. Roxi never let up, sending a stunned Caroline into the corner and preparing a shining wizard that Caroline dodged last minute. Roxi looked hurt, with her knee colliding awkwardly with the ring post, but Caroline refused to give Roxi an out, hitting Roxi with an STO into a backbreaker she then followed up with a key lock. It was all Roxi could do to escape with a rope break.
The action chased Roxi outside, with Caroline O’Hara deploying an impressively risky missile dropkick to the outside that connected with fearful precision. Caroline brought the fight to Roxi who looked to be losing steam only to reverse an irish whip that sent Caroline careening painfully into the ring steps. Roxi brought the fight back into the ring and hit Caroline with an impressive array of speed and flash that had Caroline reeling once more in the corner. This time, Roxi connected with a shining wizard and brought Caroline to the center of the ring. With the set up all but assured, Roxi set up Superhero Press splitlegged Moonsault that had all the fans in attendance on their feet, eager to witness!
But nobody was home for the final delivery, leaving a stunned Roxi open to a furious few minutes of Caroline O’Hara Burchill offense that saw a soccer kick send Roxi spilling once more to the outside. This time, with Caroline in pursuit, Roxi played a wise game of possum, drawing Caroline into an impromptu vicious back and forth between the two women that seemed to only drag them further from the ring. Neither woman seemed able to gain a definitive upper hand, with Roxi hitting Caroline with a DDT onto the ramp, only for Caroline to surprise Roxi with a sudden reversal into a painful looking gogoplata.
In the end, the referee made it to 10, and both women looked stunned as the double count out was announced.
Roxi was determined to put Caroline away definitively, stomping the returning vet into the mat, and keeping Caroline grounded with some fine ground and pound. Roxi never let up, sending a stunned Caroline into the corner and preparing a shining wizard that Caroline dodged last minute. Roxi looked hurt, with her knee colliding awkwardly with the ring post, but Caroline refused to give Roxi an out, hitting Roxi with an STO into a backbreaker she then followed up with a key lock. It was all Roxi could do to escape with a rope break.
The action chased Roxi outside, with Caroline O’Hara deploying an impressively risky missile dropkick to the outside that connected with fearful precision. Caroline brought the fight to Roxi who looked to be losing steam only to reverse an irish whip that sent Caroline careening painfully into the ring steps. Roxi brought the fight back into the ring and hit Caroline with an impressive array of speed and flash that had Caroline reeling once more in the corner. This time, Roxi connected with a shining wizard and brought Caroline to the center of the ring. With the set up all but assured, Roxi set up Superhero Press splitlegged Moonsault that had all the fans in attendance on their feet, eager to witness!
But nobody was home for the final delivery, leaving a stunned Roxi open to a furious few minutes of Caroline O’Hara Burchill offense that saw a soccer kick send Roxi spilling once more to the outside. This time, with Caroline in pursuit, Roxi played a wise game of possum, drawing Caroline into an impromptu vicious back and forth between the two women that seemed to only drag them further from the ring. Neither woman seemed able to gain a definitive upper hand, with Roxi hitting Caroline with a DDT onto the ramp, only for Caroline to surprise Roxi with a sudden reversal into a painful looking gogoplata.
In the end, the referee made it to 10, and both women looked stunned as the double count out was announced.
Winner: Draw due to a Double Count Out
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Fallon Lockhart makes her way out to the ring to huge ovation, her cult following seeming only to have grown over her time here in Valor Pro. Berlin Anderson receives a pretty good ovation as well, his cool persona accentuated as he offers his rose tented glasses to a lucky fan at ringside. The two high flying extraordinaire lock up in the center of the ring, and float through some fancy chain wrestling and footwork to start things off, ending with Lockhart catching Anderson with several headlock takeovers that leave him grounded to the mat. Eventually he works his way out of it, and delivers back to back dropkicks that stun the Skellicorn.
From there Berlin executes a series of parkour like springboard strikes that keep Fallon on the mat, at one point even walking the ropes out to the center, and delivering a diving elbow that came up with a two count. One slip and Fallon takes control, delivering her own aerial style offense with a suicide dive through the ropes out onto Berlin that wipes both competitors out. After reaching a count of five, both make it back into the ring, and Fallon manages to nail Berlin with a sit out face buster, followed by a moonsault leg drop from the top turnbuckle. This results in a two and a half before the kick out, but it's clear that Fallon is ready to end things early.
Anderson has other plans, however, reversing a shoot off the ropes by Fallon, and nailing her with a hurricanrana as she returns. She seems out of it when she gets back to her feet, and he takes this opportunity to pull her into the corner, hop to the second, and deliver a Tornado DDT that plants her into the heart of the canvas. He gets a near three fall from there, but she does manage to roll the shoulder at the last second, leaving him to go to the top rope one more time. Just as it appears that Lockhart is done for, she manages to get out of the way of a Diving Senton that see's Berlin eat nothing but canvas.
With her opponent down, Fallon decides to go to the high rent district herself, but once perched on the top, Anderson surprises her by popping up off the mat, rushing into a leap that finds him on the turnbuckle with her, and then takes her for a plunge with his top rope moonsault uranage known as The Netherlands. To the dismay of the crowd he hooks the leg and the referee counts three. Berlin allows his hand to be raised in victory as Fallon pushes up to her feet, disappointment clear on her face. She paces with her hands on her hips until finally coming to some resolve, and steps over to Berlin and extends her hand. He eyes her warily, but accepts the gesture, and she nods while taking his wrist and lifting it herself while point at him. The fans cheer the exchange of good will as Fallon departs the ring, and Anderson continues his celebration.
From there Berlin executes a series of parkour like springboard strikes that keep Fallon on the mat, at one point even walking the ropes out to the center, and delivering a diving elbow that came up with a two count. One slip and Fallon takes control, delivering her own aerial style offense with a suicide dive through the ropes out onto Berlin that wipes both competitors out. After reaching a count of five, both make it back into the ring, and Fallon manages to nail Berlin with a sit out face buster, followed by a moonsault leg drop from the top turnbuckle. This results in a two and a half before the kick out, but it's clear that Fallon is ready to end things early.
Anderson has other plans, however, reversing a shoot off the ropes by Fallon, and nailing her with a hurricanrana as she returns. She seems out of it when she gets back to her feet, and he takes this opportunity to pull her into the corner, hop to the second, and deliver a Tornado DDT that plants her into the heart of the canvas. He gets a near three fall from there, but she does manage to roll the shoulder at the last second, leaving him to go to the top rope one more time. Just as it appears that Lockhart is done for, she manages to get out of the way of a Diving Senton that see's Berlin eat nothing but canvas.
With her opponent down, Fallon decides to go to the high rent district herself, but once perched on the top, Anderson surprises her by popping up off the mat, rushing into a leap that finds him on the turnbuckle with her, and then takes her for a plunge with his top rope moonsault uranage known as The Netherlands. To the dismay of the crowd he hooks the leg and the referee counts three. Berlin allows his hand to be raised in victory as Fallon pushes up to her feet, disappointment clear on her face. She paces with her hands on her hips until finally coming to some resolve, and steps over to Berlin and extends her hand. He eyes her warily, but accepts the gesture, and she nods while taking his wrist and lifting it herself while point at him. The fans cheer the exchange of good will as Fallon departs the ring, and Anderson continues his celebration.
Winner Via Pinfall: BERLIN ANDERSON
As the show intro is coming to and end, mics are cut and the arena is plunged into darkness. There’s an eerie still that takes over the place as seconds tick by and no sound or light comes back… it’s several long seconds before finally a single light comes on, trailing its way through the crowd it comes to stop at the curtain.
Softly at first music begins to rise up, a soft, haunting tune something akin to a Deathmarch, but softer. As the music continues, figures in sweeping blood red robes trimmed with Black begin to file out from behind the curtain. Five or six figures stand either side of the ramp, each clutch a jet black candle in their hands. The candle isn’t lit but as the music begins to rise four large men in matching robes appear. As they come out from behind the curtain, it becomes clear they are carrying an oak coffin. The coffin is shiny and new and atop it sits a bloom of foxgloves. The men carry the coffin down to the ring and, after maneuvering into it, they set the coffin on a slab that has been set up in the ring.
Back at the ramp, one by one the candles seem to light on their own, the figures holding the candles now signing along, harmonizing with the music as it continues to build to a crescendo. Finally, Brodie steps out from behind the curtain, a bouquet of foxgloves in her hands.
Dressed in a sweeping black gown made entirely of lace, as the arena lets begin to lift you can see the dress is completely see through, layers and layers of black lace wrapped around her form barely conceal the silk black underwear beneath. Her blue hair is swept up into a knot atop her head and her face is concealed with layers and layers of black lace veil.
Each time she pauses a candle, it flickers out, the figures filing behind her to follow her down the ramp. She stops at the ropes and allows each figure to file in, surrounding the casket before finally, Brodie steps into the ring. She rounds the casket on the pillar as the lights finally come up in the arena and she stands behind it, lifting her hands high above her head.
As she drops her hands, the music stops and each rove flickers, before dropping to the mat as though the figures beneath them were never truly there. Brodie doesn’t react at all, standing alone in the ring now she reaches under her gown to unstraps the unyielding championship from around her waist. Placing it atop the casket she turns and takes a microphone from her waistband, lifting the veil as her scarlet lips twist into a cruel smirk.
BRODIE: Here lies the man who once was destined for greatness. A man who was a promise, your savior…
She turns and slams both hands down on the hood of the casket, the championship belt slips down and to the mat as Brodie lifts her hands and slams her hands down once again with a growl.
BRODIE: He failed you. He was the promised one, he was the one who would salve the flames and extinguish the fires, HE was promised to ME and now… NOW.
Throwing herself down atop the casket she lets out a loud wail as though she’s a woman in mourning. Draped across the casket with a loud sob she shakes her head, bringing the mic to her lips.
BRODIE: Now… You’re all fucked.
With a scream she stands and lunges at the casket, upturning it onto the canvas and knocking over several tall candles that were set up around the faux altar. As share casket falls it spills open, the silk within it catching fire as the ring slowly starts to become one heaving ball of flames and anger.
Brodie stands in the middle of the flames, not a single one touches her or licks at the lace of her dress as it focuses and consumes the casket, reflecting back in her glassy eyes, her hands shaking as they clutch at the mic. Finally, she stoops down and plucks her championship belt from the flames, holding it to her cheek she lets out a long sigh.
As quick as the arena was lit up, it plunged into darkness once again. The crackling off he fire working its way across the wood is the only sound that can be heard until the lights come back on once again, nothing but smokey ash left in the ring and the fire entirely, put out.
Softly at first music begins to rise up, a soft, haunting tune something akin to a Deathmarch, but softer. As the music continues, figures in sweeping blood red robes trimmed with Black begin to file out from behind the curtain. Five or six figures stand either side of the ramp, each clutch a jet black candle in their hands. The candle isn’t lit but as the music begins to rise four large men in matching robes appear. As they come out from behind the curtain, it becomes clear they are carrying an oak coffin. The coffin is shiny and new and atop it sits a bloom of foxgloves. The men carry the coffin down to the ring and, after maneuvering into it, they set the coffin on a slab that has been set up in the ring.
Back at the ramp, one by one the candles seem to light on their own, the figures holding the candles now signing along, harmonizing with the music as it continues to build to a crescendo. Finally, Brodie steps out from behind the curtain, a bouquet of foxgloves in her hands.
Dressed in a sweeping black gown made entirely of lace, as the arena lets begin to lift you can see the dress is completely see through, layers and layers of black lace wrapped around her form barely conceal the silk black underwear beneath. Her blue hair is swept up into a knot atop her head and her face is concealed with layers and layers of black lace veil.
Each time she pauses a candle, it flickers out, the figures filing behind her to follow her down the ramp. She stops at the ropes and allows each figure to file in, surrounding the casket before finally, Brodie steps into the ring. She rounds the casket on the pillar as the lights finally come up in the arena and she stands behind it, lifting her hands high above her head.
As she drops her hands, the music stops and each rove flickers, before dropping to the mat as though the figures beneath them were never truly there. Brodie doesn’t react at all, standing alone in the ring now she reaches under her gown to unstraps the unyielding championship from around her waist. Placing it atop the casket she turns and takes a microphone from her waistband, lifting the veil as her scarlet lips twist into a cruel smirk.
BRODIE: Here lies the man who once was destined for greatness. A man who was a promise, your savior…
She turns and slams both hands down on the hood of the casket, the championship belt slips down and to the mat as Brodie lifts her hands and slams her hands down once again with a growl.
BRODIE: He failed you. He was the promised one, he was the one who would salve the flames and extinguish the fires, HE was promised to ME and now… NOW.
Throwing herself down atop the casket she lets out a loud wail as though she’s a woman in mourning. Draped across the casket with a loud sob she shakes her head, bringing the mic to her lips.
BRODIE: Now… You’re all fucked.
With a scream she stands and lunges at the casket, upturning it onto the canvas and knocking over several tall candles that were set up around the faux altar. As share casket falls it spills open, the silk within it catching fire as the ring slowly starts to become one heaving ball of flames and anger.
Brodie stands in the middle of the flames, not a single one touches her or licks at the lace of her dress as it focuses and consumes the casket, reflecting back in her glassy eyes, her hands shaking as they clutch at the mic. Finally, she stoops down and plucks her championship belt from the flames, holding it to her cheek she lets out a long sigh.
As quick as the arena was lit up, it plunged into darkness once again. The crackling off he fire working its way across the wood is the only sound that can be heard until the lights come back on once again, nothing but smokey ash left in the ring and the fire entirely, put out.
... and then... "For The Glory" by All Good Things blares across the PA system while the camera cuts from the main banner displayed at the top of the screen to a sweeping shot of the Paviihao Multiusos de Luanda. Pyro begins firing off across the stage, and the fans come to their feet at the sight of themselves on the big screen, cheering wildly and holding up their signs. One reads, "Brodie Can Put The Finality On Me!", while another says, "Cooper/Rizzo for the next American Election", and another says, "Cross Recoba Paid Me For Sex" Several Skellicorn, Jennings 100% Proof, Face of Wrestling, and Cooper Is King T-Shirts permeate the crowd, when suddenly the camera view shifts to one overlooking the ring. The camera zooms down the ramp, rises up over the top rope, through the ring, and finally drops down to settle on the announce booth where The Othello Brothers await with excited expressions.
LAURENCE OTHELLO: Yikes, chick is creepy--HEY! Welcome everyone to Blitz, and thank God....we're being broadcast!
KENNETH OTHELLO: I know right...big news, eh Laur. We're now on HOTV and Battleground Network!
LO: I'm not going to lie, I was concerned, but leave it to Vanessa Byrne to work out a deal so that we can continue bringing the Valor Pro Faithful our brand of action! And on two networks no less!
KO: Yeah. You'd think she could work out a deal to get rid of Brad Stokes, but instead Zack Fantana bit the bullet.
LO: It was his choice, Ken. He was just trying to help out his friend...
KO: Who the hell would be friends with a guy like that? Anyways...and has Brodie completely lost it?
LO: Did she ever have it?
KO: I don't know, but...uh...she just held a funeral for Zachariah Krahe and seems to be a little extra crazy, if that were even possible.
LO: I have to admit it is a little disturbing, but hopefully she'll have her act together by the time her UnYeilding Championship defense, because Danny Rizzo is coming into this thing HOT!
KO: Yeah, after that big win at Allegiance over arch-nemesis NovaCaine, I guess management decided to throw the kid a bone and give him this title opportunity. Me personally, I don't see it.
LO: You don't see what? An exciting new up and comer? A guy whose maintained his positivity and his fan base despite being drug through the mud for months? A man who stepped up to the plate and knocked NovaCaine right out of this freakin' fed? All I have to say about it, is AMEN!
KO: Yeah, but everyone knows you're biased.
LO: This would normally be the part where we bicker for the next ten minutes, but you know what....I'm so happy about this HOW deal, I'm just going to move on instead. Lets take a look at this Main Event...
KO: Oh, it's going to be awesome! The Fox sent a message to The Apex Champion at Allegiance during the Tag Team Turmoil Match that he is now in his sights!
LO: Yeah, but he's not the only one with a bone to pick with Cooper, as Brennan Devlin left him laying at the end of the show, and many a VPW superstar has come out of the woodwork with something to say about the current title picture.
KO: Yeah, but it was Brodie who won the #1 Contendership, and something tells me the rest better get at the back of the line or face the FINAL consequences.
LO: Ha, I see what you did there. Nice Pun, but do you really think Cross Recoba can take Cosmo Cooper. I mean, Cooper has been all over the world representing the fed, and I hear he has a Best of Seven match scheduled with Silk for the WTC Title, and rumor has it we may be hosting one of those matches!
KO: Really? That'd be huge! Cross promoting and everything. That's why when Recoba beats Cooper here tonight, it's going to send shockwaves through the wrestling world!
LO: Well, it remains to be seen if The Fox can do it, as I have full confidence that Cooper didn't take that loss from Allegiance lightly. He's a competitive spirit if I've ever seen one.
KO: Well, we also have another piece of fall out from Allegiance taking place later tonight, and it involves Cooper's former tag partner, Brennan Devlin!
LO: That's right, Devlin will be taking on the enigmatic Spiral, and those two got physical all through the Tag Team Turmoil match. Both came up with some near falls, but it was Brennan in the end with a Face Off that put Spiral down for his team.
KO: And that's the kind of guy who doesn't stay down for long. He's sort of creepy, not in 'you're hot but you're crazy' like Brodie way, but in a 'I might be an alien and this is just my meat suit' kind of way.
LO: I'd love to find holes in your logic, but I sort of agree with you.
KO: Well, will wonders never cease.
LO: You're right....what's happening to me.
KO: Anyways, how about that action on the Undercard?
LO: You know, it might be called that, but so far every match that lands there ends up being fantastic. The fans are certainly getting their money's worth!
KO: No doubt, and speaking of money....how about we make some by jumping to commercial and placing some of our branding out here on the announce table!
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as Kenneth sets a Mountain Dew out in plain view on the announce booth and delivers a cheesy grin, before the camera, indeed, cuts to commercial.
LAURENCE OTHELLO: Yikes, chick is creepy--HEY! Welcome everyone to Blitz, and thank God....we're being broadcast!
KENNETH OTHELLO: I know right...big news, eh Laur. We're now on HOTV and Battleground Network!
LO: I'm not going to lie, I was concerned, but leave it to Vanessa Byrne to work out a deal so that we can continue bringing the Valor Pro Faithful our brand of action! And on two networks no less!
KO: Yeah. You'd think she could work out a deal to get rid of Brad Stokes, but instead Zack Fantana bit the bullet.
LO: It was his choice, Ken. He was just trying to help out his friend...
KO: Who the hell would be friends with a guy like that? Anyways...and has Brodie completely lost it?
LO: Did she ever have it?
KO: I don't know, but...uh...she just held a funeral for Zachariah Krahe and seems to be a little extra crazy, if that were even possible.
LO: I have to admit it is a little disturbing, but hopefully she'll have her act together by the time her UnYeilding Championship defense, because Danny Rizzo is coming into this thing HOT!
KO: Yeah, after that big win at Allegiance over arch-nemesis NovaCaine, I guess management decided to throw the kid a bone and give him this title opportunity. Me personally, I don't see it.
LO: You don't see what? An exciting new up and comer? A guy whose maintained his positivity and his fan base despite being drug through the mud for months? A man who stepped up to the plate and knocked NovaCaine right out of this freakin' fed? All I have to say about it, is AMEN!
KO: Yeah, but everyone knows you're biased.
LO: This would normally be the part where we bicker for the next ten minutes, but you know what....I'm so happy about this HOW deal, I'm just going to move on instead. Lets take a look at this Main Event...
KO: Oh, it's going to be awesome! The Fox sent a message to The Apex Champion at Allegiance during the Tag Team Turmoil Match that he is now in his sights!
LO: Yeah, but he's not the only one with a bone to pick with Cooper, as Brennan Devlin left him laying at the end of the show, and many a VPW superstar has come out of the woodwork with something to say about the current title picture.
KO: Yeah, but it was Brodie who won the #1 Contendership, and something tells me the rest better get at the back of the line or face the FINAL consequences.
LO: Ha, I see what you did there. Nice Pun, but do you really think Cross Recoba can take Cosmo Cooper. I mean, Cooper has been all over the world representing the fed, and I hear he has a Best of Seven match scheduled with Silk for the WTC Title, and rumor has it we may be hosting one of those matches!
KO: Really? That'd be huge! Cross promoting and everything. That's why when Recoba beats Cooper here tonight, it's going to send shockwaves through the wrestling world!
LO: Well, it remains to be seen if The Fox can do it, as I have full confidence that Cooper didn't take that loss from Allegiance lightly. He's a competitive spirit if I've ever seen one.
KO: Well, we also have another piece of fall out from Allegiance taking place later tonight, and it involves Cooper's former tag partner, Brennan Devlin!
LO: That's right, Devlin will be taking on the enigmatic Spiral, and those two got physical all through the Tag Team Turmoil match. Both came up with some near falls, but it was Brennan in the end with a Face Off that put Spiral down for his team.
KO: And that's the kind of guy who doesn't stay down for long. He's sort of creepy, not in 'you're hot but you're crazy' like Brodie way, but in a 'I might be an alien and this is just my meat suit' kind of way.
LO: I'd love to find holes in your logic, but I sort of agree with you.
KO: Well, will wonders never cease.
LO: You're right....what's happening to me.
KO: Anyways, how about that action on the Undercard?
LO: You know, it might be called that, but so far every match that lands there ends up being fantastic. The fans are certainly getting their money's worth!
KO: No doubt, and speaking of money....how about we make some by jumping to commercial and placing some of our branding out here on the announce table!
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as Kenneth sets a Mountain Dew out in plain view on the announce booth and delivers a cheesy grin, before the camera, indeed, cuts to commercial.
Backstage, Brennan Devlin sat in front of a pile of locker room things, doors, tables and otherwise. He had a fire built up in the center of the floor as people passed by and gawked at him strangely. He sat on a steel chair as he held his hands out, getting warmed by the fire.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Keep lining them up, Valor. Keep lining them up and I’ll knock them down.
He stood up as the fire began to spread around the backstage area, connecting to some tables nearby as he stood by and glanced blanky.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Under Cosmo Cooper's tenure as champion, this company has had its deal to air at risk, it’s had everything at risk. He’s a horrific, terrible champion and Brodie is not enough. Her little generic spooky girl act is boring, bland, overdone.
He rolled his eyes as he watched the fire spread, some various stagehands showing up to try to put out the flame.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: We’ll get back to Cosmo, Brodie, Cosmo’s grandmother and whomever else later, though.
He walked from the people trying to control the blaze.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Spiral, your successes here, how few there actually are… It’s over now. There’s no more success, no more winning, no nothing. You’re gone… We aren’t going to be friends, pals, nothing. This is it for you… but I’m just getting started. And… you’re...
A crash from a nearby locker room was heard as a man wandered out in front of him. He stared him in the face.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Not supposed to be here?
Then another one walked into the hall and another one, numerous blonde men standing in place around him, all of them looking like him.
Their laughter began to echo out through the halls as Brennan backed against a wall and covered his ears as the horde seemed to overwhelm him.
MANY DEVLINS: Hahahahahaha!
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “Get out, get out!”
He struggled before starting to laugh himself, the halls now roaring with Brennan Devlin’s laughter for some time before the scene slowly faded.
The cameraman was overwhelmed by the sea of Devlins before finally, the camera got too busy and nothing could be seen.
Almost instantly, the camera started up again as Brennan stood and stared into the fire from earlier, a blank expression on his face.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: You can be a monster, Spiral. But you’re dealing with the Beast with Many Names.
He whistled a jaunty tune as he wandered away, the fire slowly spreading to the building as the crew in the back struggled to keep what he had caused to a minimum.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Keep lining them up, Valor. Keep lining them up and I’ll knock them down.
He stood up as the fire began to spread around the backstage area, connecting to some tables nearby as he stood by and glanced blanky.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Under Cosmo Cooper's tenure as champion, this company has had its deal to air at risk, it’s had everything at risk. He’s a horrific, terrible champion and Brodie is not enough. Her little generic spooky girl act is boring, bland, overdone.
He rolled his eyes as he watched the fire spread, some various stagehands showing up to try to put out the flame.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: We’ll get back to Cosmo, Brodie, Cosmo’s grandmother and whomever else later, though.
He walked from the people trying to control the blaze.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Spiral, your successes here, how few there actually are… It’s over now. There’s no more success, no more winning, no nothing. You’re gone… We aren’t going to be friends, pals, nothing. This is it for you… but I’m just getting started. And… you’re...
A crash from a nearby locker room was heard as a man wandered out in front of him. He stared him in the face.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Not supposed to be here?
Then another one walked into the hall and another one, numerous blonde men standing in place around him, all of them looking like him.
Their laughter began to echo out through the halls as Brennan backed against a wall and covered his ears as the horde seemed to overwhelm him.
MANY DEVLINS: Hahahahahaha!
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “Get out, get out!”
He struggled before starting to laugh himself, the halls now roaring with Brennan Devlin’s laughter for some time before the scene slowly faded.
The cameraman was overwhelmed by the sea of Devlins before finally, the camera got too busy and nothing could be seen.
Almost instantly, the camera started up again as Brennan stood and stared into the fire from earlier, a blank expression on his face.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: You can be a monster, Spiral. But you’re dealing with the Beast with Many Names.
He whistled a jaunty tune as he wandered away, the fire slowly spreading to the building as the crew in the back struggled to keep what he had caused to a minimum.
OPENING BOUT
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall or submission, and is for THE CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS!
"Dance in the Dark" by Lady Gaga hits over the PA system as the lights dim and purple lights begin to pulse flash across the stage. The fans give a mixed reaction as Julie Miri bursts through the curtain and saunters out to the stage with the [R]evolution Pro Championship snugly around her waist. She gives the crowd a confident smile as she whips her dark hair to the side and places her hand on her hip, awaiting her husband and tag partner. Her music is suddenly replaced with the opening beat and riff of 'Do I Wanna Know' by Arctic Monkeys, and soon after Damien Miri slowly strides past the curtain and onto the stage. The crowds mood turns from a mixed reaction to more boo's as his dark eyes scans the arena, before finally settling on his wife. He taps the face plate of three championships that sit on his waist, the 4CW Kings Road Championship out front with the OWF Mana behind that, and the OWF Trios Championship behind that. All three are stacked on top of the other, and he flashes her a grin as she rolls her eyes with a laugh. He offers her his arm and she slides hers through his, and the duo make their way down the ramp with moxy.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, weighting in at a combined weight of 349 pounds, she is the current [R]evolution Pro Champion, and he is the current OWF Mana & Trios Champion and 4CW Kings Road Champion....JULIE MIRI.....DAMIEN MIRI....THE CONGLOMERRAATTTEEEE!!!
The Miri's reach ringside and Julie untangles herself from Damien, heading up the steps onto the apron. Damien, however, leaps up instead, leaping over the top rope as Julie swings in through the middle and top. When both are in the ring they go to opposite corners and climb the second turnbuckles, Damien calling out to the crowd and slapping his championships again, while Julie pulls the [R]ev Pro title from her waist and lifts it into the air.
LO: It was a big get when Valor Pro was able to sign two members of the Conglomerate nearly back to back, and they are bringing with them a lot of clout to earn the opportunity at the Chimera Tag Champions this early in their stay.
KO: I know right, I mean shit, it's Damien Miri's debut match here in Valor Pro and it's for more gold. It already looks like if he wins anymore of the stuff then he's going to need a wheelbarrow to carry those championships to the ring!
LO: Well, as impressive as that may be, The Zombie Clan aren't without their own resumes, and currently...they hold the prize for tag teams here in Valor Pro!
Speaking of The Zombie Clan, the arena goes dark and the lights pulse white at the sound of marching zombies that appear on the big screen above the stage. After a moment Aokigahara stumbles out wearing his trademark leather jacket, followed by Siberia in her warring-dragons robe. On either of their shoulders are the Chimera Tag Team Championships, while Aoki wears the DTW Eternal Warfare Championship around his waist. Aoki shakes Siberia's shoulder, and the woman gives him a venomous sidelong glance, but cracks a smile as he points down to the ring and shambles on while she follows.
RING ANNOUNCER: And their opponents, weighting in at a combined weight of 360 pounds, and hailing from Japan and Russia respectively, he is the DTW Eternal Warfare Champion, and together they are the current CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS.....SIBERIA ZOMBIE...AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE....THE ZOMBIE CLAN!
Upon reaching ringside Aoki stutter steps towards the ring, and then rolls in quickly, popping up and beating his chest in the direction of the Miri's, while Siberia stalks up the steps, slips into the ring and manages to disrobe all at the same time. Aoki hands the DTW Eternal Warfare championship down to the ring attendant, and then gives their opponents a toothy grin as he hands over the Chimera Tag Championship to the referee. Siberia does the same, never taking her eyes off the Miri's who converse with one another about strategy, unperturbed by the attention their receiving.
LO: The Zombie Clans made waves at Allegiance by taking home the gold in a hard fought victory, and not only did they become Chimera Tag Team Champions, they catapulted to the top of the roster with wins over names like Cooper, Devlin, Recoba, and Spiral!
KO: No doubt, Laur, Aoki is crazy, and Siberia is tough as nails. It will be interesting to see what The Conglomerate will be able to do with this opportunity!
LO: Well, we're about to find out, cause it looks like Julie and Siberia are going to start this thing off, and there goes the bell!
The two women circle in the center of the ring and go for a lock up, but Julie drops to her knee's and takes Siberia to the mat with a Fireman's Carry Takeover. She immediately moves in to a Chin Lock, but Siberia is already pushing to her feet turning it into a headlock instead. She wraps her arms around Julie's waist and moves her towards the ropes, shooting her off and forcing a break. Julie hits off the opposite side, and when Siberia steps out to the center of the ring to meet her is bowled over by a Shoulder Tackle. Siberia slams down to the mat, and the two women exchange a brief glance before Miri takes off to hit off the ropes, but Zombie floats over onto her stomach in the same direction, forcing Julie to hop over her or be tripped. Julie continues on to hit off the ropes once again, and Siberia pops up to try for a hip toss, but Julie is able to float over the front of her and catches Siberia with one instead. When Miri moves in on Siberia, she brings both feet up and plants her soles in Julie's chest, shoving her backwards and to the mat. Both women roll up quickly, and pause to stare across at each other as the fans cheer and clap at the exchange.
LO: A little back and forth between the two women of this match, and the fans seem to appreciate it, but if we were keeping score it looked like Julie Miri took that exchange.
KO: Luckily this isn't a point game, and more of a contact sport.
Almost as if to accentuate Kenneth's point, when the two women move in to lock up again, instead of a collar and elbow, Siberia flashes out a lightening fast hip kick to Julie that begs the woman off. Siberia doesn't give her the chance to get away, closing the distance quickly and firing in another that sends her stumbling over to the corner. Julie almost immediately realizes her mistake, and moves to try and get out of the corner to keep from being trapped, but Siberia is already on her with fists-a-flying. Julie covers up the best she can from the rights, lefts, palm strikes, and kicks that come her way through the barrage, but the combo is finished off by a spinning roundhouse kick that catches her right in the midsection and crushes her against the corner. She slumps down to a seated position, and Siberia backs up only to run forward to throw her boot out and catches Julie right in the jaw with a Face Wash!
LO: Julie Miri pulling herself out of the corner clutching her jaw, and Siberia is coming in right behind her...grabs her by the back of the head and RUNS HER FACE FIRST INTO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RING!
KO: Spinning Miri back around now, and Buzzsaw like kicks right to the woman's chest has Julie reeling!
Siberia keeps up the offense by taking Julie by the wrist, and whips her hard for the opposite side. Julie strikes the turnbuckles hard and Zombie rushes in to follow up, but is surprised when Miri steps out with a back elbow that knocks the woman back. Julie rushes out of the corner with a diving clothesline that takes Zombie's head off. Both women get to their feet about the same time, but Siberia is booted in the gut which doubles her over, and Julie hooks her around the head, and takes her hard to the mat with a Snap Suplex into a float over pin.
1...
LO: Only a one count for Julie Miri there, and she just jerked Zombie up to her feet and drags her over to her corner to make a tag to her husband.
KO: Damien into the ring, and Julie has Siberia's arm up...Oooof! Plants a boot right to the woman's unguarded midsection, and that's some good tag team strategy out of this team.
LO: I would think so considering their personal relationship, but even before that they had a professional one in The Conglomerate, which includes the like of Arlo Rosabel, a former member of our roster!
Damien takes control of Siberia as Julie slips out onto the apron, and he drags her out to the center of the ring where he hooks her around the waist and takes her to the mat with a Gutwrench Suplex. He immediately snaps up, falling into the ropes for spring, and then comes back with a High Elbow Drop that lands with the point of his elbow dead center of Zombie's chest, crushing her into the mat. Afterwards he grins out at the crowd as he hooks her leg deep for a cover.
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LO: Strong kick out from Siberia, and Damien now lifts her up into a seated position, and Jeez! Dropping bomb like elbows right down into the back of the woman's neck before finally locking on a Chin Lock!
KO: That move puts a lot of pressure on the ligaments in the neck, and he's got his knee planted square in her shoulder blades to give him more torque. I've never seen anyone win a match off of one, but it is an effective way of wearing your opponent down, and especially for the man's finisher, which I hear is a wicked suplex piledriver!
Damien continues to crank on Siberia's neck as the woman stomps her boot on the canvas in frustration, grabbing at his wrists to try and alleviate the pressure. Miri won't relent, however, and she finds herself forced to turn to her side and try and get to one knee. Damien comes to his feet now, standing directly over her, suddenly changing his grip so that he now has her in a Neck Crank. As one hand pushes against the side of her head in one direction, the hand under her chin pulls in the opposite, and Siberia lets out a cry of pain as he applies it perfectly. Eventually she does get to her knee, and she shoves her way to her feet forcing Damien to slap on a Side Headlock or lose control. He grinds her skull with his elbow into his body, and she reaches out for ropes that are very far away. With a surprising burst of strength, Siberia manages to lift Damien into a Side Suplex position, but instead of dropping straight down to the mat, she sends him hurtling back down to his feet while placing her knee out in front of her for an Inverted Atomic Drop. This breaks the hold, but Damien spins back around with a clothesline that Siberia ducks under. When he spins back around he's met with a high front kick to the side of his head that sends both competitors tumbling to the mat.
LO: Damien Miri is dazed after that kick by Siberia, but she's been worked over here for awhile now, and desperately needs to make a tag.
KO: Yeah, and she's crawling that way, but Miri just reached out and grabbed her by the ankle.....He's back on his feet and he's dragging her back to his corner!
Damien reaches back and Julie slaps his hand for a tag, coming quickly into the ring as Siberia rolls to her back to try and fight up, but it's for naught as Julie drops an elbow of her own silencing the rebellion. Julie pops back up quickly, and drops a second one as Damien steps out onto the apron, and she pops for a third that leaves Siberia clutching her chest. Julie quickly moves in for a deep hook of the leg, and Santiago drops to make the count.
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LO: THRE-NO! Siberia out at two and half, and Julie Miri is already pulling her to her feet...tosses her back into her corner, and follows up by placing her boot right into Siberia's throat to choke the woman! Come On!
KO: These two look great out here, Laur! They have kept Siberia off balance this entire time, and are maintaining great tag team control!
LO: Well the referee has started a five count, and Miri at four and a half lets off of the choke and pulls Siberia out to the center of the ring...boots her in the midsection to double her over...falls into the ropes for spring...and COMES OUT WITH A SWINGING NECKBREAKER!
KO: They're really focusing their attack now on Siberia's neck, and I'm telling you, Laur.....it's working!
Siberia clutches the back of her neck with one hand, while the other reaches out for Aoki who paces back and forth in their corner, sending up curses in Japanese. Julie reaches down and takes Zombie by the chin, pulling her up and then pushes her back into the ropes. She takes her by the wrist and shoots her off, and as Siberia rebounds Miri steps to the center of the ring to meet her with a ring rattling Spinning Spine Buster that has the fans come to their feet. Siberia lies limp after the impact, and Julie quickly floats over into a pinning situation.
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LO: THREe-NO! Aokigahara Zombie into the ring with a stomp to the back of Julie Miri's head to break up the pin, but HERE COMES DAMIEN MIRI!
KO: AOKI DUCKS HIS CLOTHESLINE, DAMIEN TURNS BACK AROUND AND....SPINNING BACK FIST FROM AOKI SENDS HIM CRASHING TO THE MAT!
LO: JULIE MIRI JUST DOVE ONTO AOKI'S BACK AND HAS HIM IN A SLEEPER! Aoki stumbling around the ring with Julie in two....OH! JUST FELL STRAIGHT BACK INTO ONE OF THE NEUTRAL CORNERS CRUSHING JULIE!
KO: The referee is trying to get Aoki out of the ring, meanwhile Siberia has stumbled up to her feet, obviously her neck still hurting.....But Damien's coming up....ROUNDHOUSE KICK JUST TOOK THE MAN'S HEAD OFF!
Damien hit's the mat cradling his skull, but he's already rolling for the ring apron as Aoki throws both hands up and agree's to exit leaving the two legal participants in the ring. Julie looks to have had the wind knocked out of her when Aoki crushed her, and she stumbles towards her corner, but Damien is still down. She turns to look just as a Running Falling Dropkick from Zombie sends her crashing into her own corner with such authority that she falls into a seated position against the bottom turnbuckle. Siberia here's Aoki's crowing behind her, and she drags herself up after the move to stumble her way over and slap his hand. Aoki eagerly comes into the ring as Julie pulls herself up by the ropes, and he comes charging in with a Big Splash that crushes her once again. He spins around and hooks the woman around the head, giving her a Snapmare down to a seated position in the center of the ring. Before she's even landed he is running past her towards the ropes, and after getting some spring, rebounds back to throw his boot out to impact right off her face.
LO: Julie Miri snapped down to the canvas after that low boot by Aoki, and Damien Miri is finally back up...BUT AOKI RUSHES THE CORNER WITH A FOREARM SMASH THAT EJECTS DAMIEN FROM THE APRON DOWN TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
KO: The Zombies now showing their tag team chops, cause no partner means no chance at a tag!
Julie works her way up to her feet clutching her nose when Aoki turns back in her direction. He takes off in a sprint towards the woman to try and take her head off with a clothesline, but at the last minute she ducks under it. Zombie quickly spins back around and walks right into Miri who ducks low, and in an impressive bout of strength, lifts the man up on her shoulders and then snaps him over to land on his head with a sick Death Valley Driver.
LO: OH MY GOD! How in the hell did Julie Miri get him up and over, for one thing....and second, did you see how he landed on his head?
KO: Yeah, the execution was a little sloppy because of the size difference and the desperation of it.....but sometimes sloppy hurts more, and I think this is one of those cases!
Julie sits on her knee's for a minute trying to catch her breath as Aoki claws for the ropes. She shakes the cobwebs as she rises, ensuring that Zombie won't make it back to his feet by placing some well placed stomps into the back of the man's head. On the outside, Damien has climbed to his feet, and he hops up onto the apron, slapping the top turnbuckle and thrusting a very angry hand into the ring indicating he wants some payback. Julie obliges, tagging the man in as she moves to the apron, and he thunders in as Aoki gets halfway to his feet, blasting him with a Running Kneelift that sends Zombie stumbling over into the corner. From there Damien opens up with right hands, rocking Zombie's head back with each shot, and the referee has to step in to try and calm the man down or risk disqualification. Damien finally relents, backing off to roar at the crowd, but when he comes back in to collect Zombie, he's surprised by a boot to the gut.
LO: Man this thing has intensified as Aoki hops up to the second turnbuckle, and SUNSET FLIP OFF THE ROPES TAKES DAMIEN DOWN INTO A PIN!
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KO: Kick out at two, both men coming to their feet....Damien goes for a clothesline but Zombie ducks it, spins around, and goes for one of his own...BUT DAMIEN DUCKS IT!
LO: Both men just rushed the ropes on opposite sides, coming back now....DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE SENDS BOTH MEN CRASHING TO THE MAT!
Zombie and Miri roll away from each other to lie on their sides to suck wind, while their partners on the outside try and encourage them to get over and make a tag. Damien is the first to stir, and he crawls on his elbows towards his corner, soon followed by Aoki who does the same thing. At about the same time they reach their partner's hands, and the fans come to their feet at Julie and Siberia thunder into the ring. They go right for one another, and Siberia goes for a forearm smash, but Julie ducks under it and slips in behind her, hooking her around the waist and runs her towards the ropes. Siberia's chest bounces off the top rope and Julie uses that extra momentum to drag the woman down into a rolling pin.
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Siberia not only manages to kick out, but gives Julie a shove at her lower back that throws her bottom forwards while Zombie drags her shoulders back, and ends the surprise move into a reversal pin that sees Julie's head between Siberia's legs that are holding her shoulders down, while she pulls back on her feet.
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2...
Julie kicks forward instead of out, and she rolls through that she know has her knee's resting on Zombie's shoulders, while she has both legs hooked under her arms for a pin.
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LO: Zombie with another kick out, and both women quickly to their feet and Siberia goes for a front kick, but Julie ducks it....steps in beside her, and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP TAKES SIBERIA TO THE MAT!
KO: Julie just rolled up to her feet, and she's calling for Siberia to do the same and she's complying.....hooks her around the head, and SLING SHOT SUPLEX BY MIRI!
LO: She calls that The Half Moon, and it might just be enough to end this thing as she floats over into a cover!
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KO: THREe-NO! Aoki back into the ring to make another save, but Damien in as well....AND SUPERKICK TAKES AOKI'S HEAD OFF!
Aoki hits the mat and rolls for the outside with Damien in hot pursuit as Julie clutches the back of her head, but nods in reassurance that she won't be interrupted again. Julie grabs Siberia and jerks her up to her feet, hooking her around the head, and then reaches down and pulls the woman's knee up to her chest with the other. She looks primed to take Siberia over into her finishing move, but sudden punches to her ribs from Siberia prevents her from maintaining her hold on her leg. With both feet back under her, Siberia hooks Julie by her head, and then lifts her up in Suplex position, only to stumble forwards and drop her gut first across the top rope. Julie looks shocked and in pain as she dangles there draped across the top rope like a sheet being put out to dry, but it doesn't last long as Siberia steps forward with an almost football like Punt that sends the woman soaring backwards all the way down to the concrete floor.
LO: GOOD GOD! HELL OF A FALL FOR JULIE MIRI TO THE HARD CONCRETE!
KO: Yeah, and Siberia now making her way over to the nearby corner, and is starting to climb...
Just as Siberia get's perched on the top rope, Damien Miri appears out of nowhere on the apron to grab her by the ankle, nearly causing her to lose her footing. Just as suddenly Damien's foot is yanked out from under him by a recovering Aoki, who apparently had taken some hard shots from the Son of Seattle, evident by the swelling in his left eye. Damien falls face first to the apron, and Siberia readjusts herself, just as Julie Miri starts to get to her feet. With a quick glance back at Aoki who waves her own to fly, she leaps from the top into a High Cross Body down onto Julie that takes the women crashing to the floor and crushes her into the concrete.
LO: HUGE MOVE OFF THE TOP FROM SIBERIA, BUT NOW THE REFEREE HAS STARTED A COUNT, AND AOKI IS STOMPINGON DAMIEN MIRI ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RING!
KO: I don't know if they are going to make it back up after that, but Aoki seems to just be enjoying the fight...
Aoki suddenly becomes aware of the count as it reaches six, and he abandon's Damien to step around the ring to help his partner back into the ring. Siberia is shoved under the bottom rope at the count of eight, but Julie Miri has managed to pull herself up by use of the ring apron. Aoki turns his attention to preventing her from getting back into the ring, but is blasted down to the floor from behind by Damien Miri, who clutches his ribs thanks to those stomps from earlier. Julie gives a nod of thanks before rolling in just at the moment the ref was about to call it, but Santiago falls back and signals that the match is still on. Unfortunately for Julie, Siberia has already gained her feet, and when she pushes up to hers she turns just in time to take a Running Superkick that takes her head off. Siberia drops for the cover and a hook of the leg.
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LO: THREe-NO! Damien Miri was still nearby, and just dove into the ring through the ropes to knock Siberia off of his wife!
KO: Siberia getting to her feet now, and boot to the midsection by Damien doubles her over....Hook of the head...lifts her up into Suplex position, and THEN DROPS HER INTO A BRAINBUSTER AGAINST HIS KNEE!
LO: LEON'S .22!!!
KO: I don't know who the hell Leon is, but GOOD GOD....Siberia's out....and he just dragged Julie on top of her.
The referee doesn't immediately make the count, instead admonishing Damien who agree's wholeheartedly in the vein of getting the man to focus on the pin, and he quickly makes his way back to his corner and out of the ring. Santiago turns around, and seeing the women in the same position, can only shrug before dropping to make the count.
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LO: THREe-NO! Aoki in this time to shove Julie off of Siberia and save the match, and Damien is coming back in....AND THE REFEREE IS HAVING A MELTDOWN!
KO: Haha....Damien and Aoki are just staring at Santiago as he goes off on both of them, threatening to throw the match out....And I can't believe it....They are actually retreating back to their corners.
The fans laugh and cheer as the referee straightens his zebra stripes and takes a deep breath, before turning his attention back to the two women down in the center of the ring. Julie slowly starts moving towards her corner, while Siberia does the same seconds later. The fans come to their feet as both women get closer and closer, until Julie manages to get a boot under her and dives to tag in her husband. Damien Miri quickly bounds over the ropes, and comes rushing in just as Siberia tags in Aoki. Zombie doesn't have time to try and get into the ring, instead opting to shove Siberia out of the way just as Miri takes flight into a Diving Forearm. The blow finds it's mark, and Aoki drops to the apron, and then rolls off down to the floor below. Aoki quickly scrambles to his feet, and Damien reaches through the middle and top rope to get a hold of the man, and that is the exact moment that Zombie reaches up and jams his fingers right down Miri's throat!
LO: ITAI CLAW ON DAMIEN MIRI, AND HE'S STRUGGLING TO PUSH HIMSELF BACK INTO THE RING, BUT ZOMBIE JUST HOPPED ONTO THE APRON AND IS FOLLOWING HIM IN WHILE MAINTAINING THE HOLD!
KO: Julie Miri just got back to her feet in the corner, and sees what's happening to her husband....She slips into the ring, and rushes right for them, BUT SIBERIA SHOVES HER OFF TRAJECTORY AND BACK OUT OF THE RING!
LO: Siberia going after Julie to keep her at bay, while Aokigahara Zombie has Damien Miri dead center of the ring, and he just went down to one knee!
KO: Man, of all the submission moves I've seen in my career, that has got to be the worst.
LO: May not be the most painful, but it certainly is the most visually disturbing...
Damien is on both knee's now, and from time to time he attempts to try and hit Aoki low, but the Zombie manages to dance around these. Eventually Aoki takes him all the way down to his elbow, and the fluttering movements of Miri's eyelashes show the signs that he might be going out. Rather than submitting, however, Damien suddenly comes alive, snaking his legs around Aoki's arm and hooking him into a Triangle Choke. Aoki's tongue wags out of his head at the sudden pressure against his throat, but he still doesn't release the hold, instead pushing Damien from his back up onto his shoulders, settling all of his weight on the man allowing his fingers to literally push past Damien's mouth and into his throat where he gags and chokes. The referee seeing that Miri's shoulders are indeed down, drops to make the count.
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3!!!
The bell sounds, but both men are still locked in their respective acts of choking the other out when Siberia slides into the ring and unhinges Damien from her partner, while at the same time yanking Aokigahara off the man. Aoki gives Siberia a dangerous look, but the woman stands firm in her stance with a hand on his chest. He looks from Siberia down to Damien, and then back to Siberia, and then gives the woman a toothy grin before cackling wildly and stepping over to the referee to take his half of the Chimera Tag Team gold.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winners of this match....and STILL CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS.....THE ZOMBIE CLANNNN!!
Julie quickly comes into the ring, keeping a wary eye on the Zombies to help her husband to his feet. The two teams stare at one another in what could almost be described as a standoff, before Julie finally directs Damien to exit the ring. The Miri's conduct a slow back peddle up the ramp, never taking their eyes of Siberia and Aoki, who stand there with their championships slung over their shoulder watching their exit.
LO: The Zombie Clan with their first successful title defense, but man, it was a tough bout....and from the looks of it, this could be far from over.
KO: Other than the fact that The Zombies have secured their position as a serious threat to this fed, this match also showed that The Conglomerate is here, and that they mean business. Damien & Julie Miri are dangerous customers.
LO: And one has to wonder if any more of their ilk will be joining them to even the odds...
KO: Don't know about that, but for now, it looks as if The Zombie Clan remains supreme.
As Damien and Julie move through the curtain to the back, the Zombies relax a bit, holding the Chimera Tag Championships high above their head to a mixed reaction from the crowd. The camera zooms in on Aoki, who despite winning, doesn't seem completely satisfied with being pulled off of Damien, before cutting backstage.
"Dance in the Dark" by Lady Gaga hits over the PA system as the lights dim and purple lights begin to pulse flash across the stage. The fans give a mixed reaction as Julie Miri bursts through the curtain and saunters out to the stage with the [R]evolution Pro Championship snugly around her waist. She gives the crowd a confident smile as she whips her dark hair to the side and places her hand on her hip, awaiting her husband and tag partner. Her music is suddenly replaced with the opening beat and riff of 'Do I Wanna Know' by Arctic Monkeys, and soon after Damien Miri slowly strides past the curtain and onto the stage. The crowds mood turns from a mixed reaction to more boo's as his dark eyes scans the arena, before finally settling on his wife. He taps the face plate of three championships that sit on his waist, the 4CW Kings Road Championship out front with the OWF Mana behind that, and the OWF Trios Championship behind that. All three are stacked on top of the other, and he flashes her a grin as she rolls her eyes with a laugh. He offers her his arm and she slides hers through his, and the duo make their way down the ramp with moxy.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, weighting in at a combined weight of 349 pounds, she is the current [R]evolution Pro Champion, and he is the current OWF Mana & Trios Champion and 4CW Kings Road Champion....JULIE MIRI.....DAMIEN MIRI....THE CONGLOMERRAATTTEEEE!!!
The Miri's reach ringside and Julie untangles herself from Damien, heading up the steps onto the apron. Damien, however, leaps up instead, leaping over the top rope as Julie swings in through the middle and top. When both are in the ring they go to opposite corners and climb the second turnbuckles, Damien calling out to the crowd and slapping his championships again, while Julie pulls the [R]ev Pro title from her waist and lifts it into the air.
LO: It was a big get when Valor Pro was able to sign two members of the Conglomerate nearly back to back, and they are bringing with them a lot of clout to earn the opportunity at the Chimera Tag Champions this early in their stay.
KO: I know right, I mean shit, it's Damien Miri's debut match here in Valor Pro and it's for more gold. It already looks like if he wins anymore of the stuff then he's going to need a wheelbarrow to carry those championships to the ring!
LO: Well, as impressive as that may be, The Zombie Clan aren't without their own resumes, and currently...they hold the prize for tag teams here in Valor Pro!
Speaking of The Zombie Clan, the arena goes dark and the lights pulse white at the sound of marching zombies that appear on the big screen above the stage. After a moment Aokigahara stumbles out wearing his trademark leather jacket, followed by Siberia in her warring-dragons robe. On either of their shoulders are the Chimera Tag Team Championships, while Aoki wears the DTW Eternal Warfare Championship around his waist. Aoki shakes Siberia's shoulder, and the woman gives him a venomous sidelong glance, but cracks a smile as he points down to the ring and shambles on while she follows.
RING ANNOUNCER: And their opponents, weighting in at a combined weight of 360 pounds, and hailing from Japan and Russia respectively, he is the DTW Eternal Warfare Champion, and together they are the current CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS.....SIBERIA ZOMBIE...AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE....THE ZOMBIE CLAN!
Upon reaching ringside Aoki stutter steps towards the ring, and then rolls in quickly, popping up and beating his chest in the direction of the Miri's, while Siberia stalks up the steps, slips into the ring and manages to disrobe all at the same time. Aoki hands the DTW Eternal Warfare championship down to the ring attendant, and then gives their opponents a toothy grin as he hands over the Chimera Tag Championship to the referee. Siberia does the same, never taking her eyes off the Miri's who converse with one another about strategy, unperturbed by the attention their receiving.
LO: The Zombie Clans made waves at Allegiance by taking home the gold in a hard fought victory, and not only did they become Chimera Tag Team Champions, they catapulted to the top of the roster with wins over names like Cooper, Devlin, Recoba, and Spiral!
KO: No doubt, Laur, Aoki is crazy, and Siberia is tough as nails. It will be interesting to see what The Conglomerate will be able to do with this opportunity!
LO: Well, we're about to find out, cause it looks like Julie and Siberia are going to start this thing off, and there goes the bell!
The two women circle in the center of the ring and go for a lock up, but Julie drops to her knee's and takes Siberia to the mat with a Fireman's Carry Takeover. She immediately moves in to a Chin Lock, but Siberia is already pushing to her feet turning it into a headlock instead. She wraps her arms around Julie's waist and moves her towards the ropes, shooting her off and forcing a break. Julie hits off the opposite side, and when Siberia steps out to the center of the ring to meet her is bowled over by a Shoulder Tackle. Siberia slams down to the mat, and the two women exchange a brief glance before Miri takes off to hit off the ropes, but Zombie floats over onto her stomach in the same direction, forcing Julie to hop over her or be tripped. Julie continues on to hit off the ropes once again, and Siberia pops up to try for a hip toss, but Julie is able to float over the front of her and catches Siberia with one instead. When Miri moves in on Siberia, she brings both feet up and plants her soles in Julie's chest, shoving her backwards and to the mat. Both women roll up quickly, and pause to stare across at each other as the fans cheer and clap at the exchange.
LO: A little back and forth between the two women of this match, and the fans seem to appreciate it, but if we were keeping score it looked like Julie Miri took that exchange.
KO: Luckily this isn't a point game, and more of a contact sport.
Almost as if to accentuate Kenneth's point, when the two women move in to lock up again, instead of a collar and elbow, Siberia flashes out a lightening fast hip kick to Julie that begs the woman off. Siberia doesn't give her the chance to get away, closing the distance quickly and firing in another that sends her stumbling over to the corner. Julie almost immediately realizes her mistake, and moves to try and get out of the corner to keep from being trapped, but Siberia is already on her with fists-a-flying. Julie covers up the best she can from the rights, lefts, palm strikes, and kicks that come her way through the barrage, but the combo is finished off by a spinning roundhouse kick that catches her right in the midsection and crushes her against the corner. She slumps down to a seated position, and Siberia backs up only to run forward to throw her boot out and catches Julie right in the jaw with a Face Wash!
LO: Julie Miri pulling herself out of the corner clutching her jaw, and Siberia is coming in right behind her...grabs her by the back of the head and RUNS HER FACE FIRST INTO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE RING!
KO: Spinning Miri back around now, and Buzzsaw like kicks right to the woman's chest has Julie reeling!
Siberia keeps up the offense by taking Julie by the wrist, and whips her hard for the opposite side. Julie strikes the turnbuckles hard and Zombie rushes in to follow up, but is surprised when Miri steps out with a back elbow that knocks the woman back. Julie rushes out of the corner with a diving clothesline that takes Zombie's head off. Both women get to their feet about the same time, but Siberia is booted in the gut which doubles her over, and Julie hooks her around the head, and takes her hard to the mat with a Snap Suplex into a float over pin.
1...
LO: Only a one count for Julie Miri there, and she just jerked Zombie up to her feet and drags her over to her corner to make a tag to her husband.
KO: Damien into the ring, and Julie has Siberia's arm up...Oooof! Plants a boot right to the woman's unguarded midsection, and that's some good tag team strategy out of this team.
LO: I would think so considering their personal relationship, but even before that they had a professional one in The Conglomerate, which includes the like of Arlo Rosabel, a former member of our roster!
Damien takes control of Siberia as Julie slips out onto the apron, and he drags her out to the center of the ring where he hooks her around the waist and takes her to the mat with a Gutwrench Suplex. He immediately snaps up, falling into the ropes for spring, and then comes back with a High Elbow Drop that lands with the point of his elbow dead center of Zombie's chest, crushing her into the mat. Afterwards he grins out at the crowd as he hooks her leg deep for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: Strong kick out from Siberia, and Damien now lifts her up into a seated position, and Jeez! Dropping bomb like elbows right down into the back of the woman's neck before finally locking on a Chin Lock!
KO: That move puts a lot of pressure on the ligaments in the neck, and he's got his knee planted square in her shoulder blades to give him more torque. I've never seen anyone win a match off of one, but it is an effective way of wearing your opponent down, and especially for the man's finisher, which I hear is a wicked suplex piledriver!
Damien continues to crank on Siberia's neck as the woman stomps her boot on the canvas in frustration, grabbing at his wrists to try and alleviate the pressure. Miri won't relent, however, and she finds herself forced to turn to her side and try and get to one knee. Damien comes to his feet now, standing directly over her, suddenly changing his grip so that he now has her in a Neck Crank. As one hand pushes against the side of her head in one direction, the hand under her chin pulls in the opposite, and Siberia lets out a cry of pain as he applies it perfectly. Eventually she does get to her knee, and she shoves her way to her feet forcing Damien to slap on a Side Headlock or lose control. He grinds her skull with his elbow into his body, and she reaches out for ropes that are very far away. With a surprising burst of strength, Siberia manages to lift Damien into a Side Suplex position, but instead of dropping straight down to the mat, she sends him hurtling back down to his feet while placing her knee out in front of her for an Inverted Atomic Drop. This breaks the hold, but Damien spins back around with a clothesline that Siberia ducks under. When he spins back around he's met with a high front kick to the side of his head that sends both competitors tumbling to the mat.
LO: Damien Miri is dazed after that kick by Siberia, but she's been worked over here for awhile now, and desperately needs to make a tag.
KO: Yeah, and she's crawling that way, but Miri just reached out and grabbed her by the ankle.....He's back on his feet and he's dragging her back to his corner!
Damien reaches back and Julie slaps his hand for a tag, coming quickly into the ring as Siberia rolls to her back to try and fight up, but it's for naught as Julie drops an elbow of her own silencing the rebellion. Julie pops back up quickly, and drops a second one as Damien steps out onto the apron, and she pops for a third that leaves Siberia clutching her chest. Julie quickly moves in for a deep hook of the leg, and Santiago drops to make the count.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Siberia out at two and half, and Julie Miri is already pulling her to her feet...tosses her back into her corner, and follows up by placing her boot right into Siberia's throat to choke the woman! Come On!
KO: These two look great out here, Laur! They have kept Siberia off balance this entire time, and are maintaining great tag team control!
LO: Well the referee has started a five count, and Miri at four and a half lets off of the choke and pulls Siberia out to the center of the ring...boots her in the midsection to double her over...falls into the ropes for spring...and COMES OUT WITH A SWINGING NECKBREAKER!
KO: They're really focusing their attack now on Siberia's neck, and I'm telling you, Laur.....it's working!
Siberia clutches the back of her neck with one hand, while the other reaches out for Aoki who paces back and forth in their corner, sending up curses in Japanese. Julie reaches down and takes Zombie by the chin, pulling her up and then pushes her back into the ropes. She takes her by the wrist and shoots her off, and as Siberia rebounds Miri steps to the center of the ring to meet her with a ring rattling Spinning Spine Buster that has the fans come to their feet. Siberia lies limp after the impact, and Julie quickly floats over into a pinning situation.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Aokigahara Zombie into the ring with a stomp to the back of Julie Miri's head to break up the pin, but HERE COMES DAMIEN MIRI!
KO: AOKI DUCKS HIS CLOTHESLINE, DAMIEN TURNS BACK AROUND AND....SPINNING BACK FIST FROM AOKI SENDS HIM CRASHING TO THE MAT!
LO: JULIE MIRI JUST DOVE ONTO AOKI'S BACK AND HAS HIM IN A SLEEPER! Aoki stumbling around the ring with Julie in two....OH! JUST FELL STRAIGHT BACK INTO ONE OF THE NEUTRAL CORNERS CRUSHING JULIE!
KO: The referee is trying to get Aoki out of the ring, meanwhile Siberia has stumbled up to her feet, obviously her neck still hurting.....But Damien's coming up....ROUNDHOUSE KICK JUST TOOK THE MAN'S HEAD OFF!
Damien hit's the mat cradling his skull, but he's already rolling for the ring apron as Aoki throws both hands up and agree's to exit leaving the two legal participants in the ring. Julie looks to have had the wind knocked out of her when Aoki crushed her, and she stumbles towards her corner, but Damien is still down. She turns to look just as a Running Falling Dropkick from Zombie sends her crashing into her own corner with such authority that she falls into a seated position against the bottom turnbuckle. Siberia here's Aoki's crowing behind her, and she drags herself up after the move to stumble her way over and slap his hand. Aoki eagerly comes into the ring as Julie pulls herself up by the ropes, and he comes charging in with a Big Splash that crushes her once again. He spins around and hooks the woman around the head, giving her a Snapmare down to a seated position in the center of the ring. Before she's even landed he is running past her towards the ropes, and after getting some spring, rebounds back to throw his boot out to impact right off her face.
LO: Julie Miri snapped down to the canvas after that low boot by Aoki, and Damien Miri is finally back up...BUT AOKI RUSHES THE CORNER WITH A FOREARM SMASH THAT EJECTS DAMIEN FROM THE APRON DOWN TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
KO: The Zombies now showing their tag team chops, cause no partner means no chance at a tag!
Julie works her way up to her feet clutching her nose when Aoki turns back in her direction. He takes off in a sprint towards the woman to try and take her head off with a clothesline, but at the last minute she ducks under it. Zombie quickly spins back around and walks right into Miri who ducks low, and in an impressive bout of strength, lifts the man up on her shoulders and then snaps him over to land on his head with a sick Death Valley Driver.
LO: OH MY GOD! How in the hell did Julie Miri get him up and over, for one thing....and second, did you see how he landed on his head?
KO: Yeah, the execution was a little sloppy because of the size difference and the desperation of it.....but sometimes sloppy hurts more, and I think this is one of those cases!
Julie sits on her knee's for a minute trying to catch her breath as Aoki claws for the ropes. She shakes the cobwebs as she rises, ensuring that Zombie won't make it back to his feet by placing some well placed stomps into the back of the man's head. On the outside, Damien has climbed to his feet, and he hops up onto the apron, slapping the top turnbuckle and thrusting a very angry hand into the ring indicating he wants some payback. Julie obliges, tagging the man in as she moves to the apron, and he thunders in as Aoki gets halfway to his feet, blasting him with a Running Kneelift that sends Zombie stumbling over into the corner. From there Damien opens up with right hands, rocking Zombie's head back with each shot, and the referee has to step in to try and calm the man down or risk disqualification. Damien finally relents, backing off to roar at the crowd, but when he comes back in to collect Zombie, he's surprised by a boot to the gut.
LO: Man this thing has intensified as Aoki hops up to the second turnbuckle, and SUNSET FLIP OFF THE ROPES TAKES DAMIEN DOWN INTO A PIN!
1...
2...
KO: Kick out at two, both men coming to their feet....Damien goes for a clothesline but Zombie ducks it, spins around, and goes for one of his own...BUT DAMIEN DUCKS IT!
LO: Both men just rushed the ropes on opposite sides, coming back now....DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE SENDS BOTH MEN CRASHING TO THE MAT!
Zombie and Miri roll away from each other to lie on their sides to suck wind, while their partners on the outside try and encourage them to get over and make a tag. Damien is the first to stir, and he crawls on his elbows towards his corner, soon followed by Aoki who does the same thing. At about the same time they reach their partner's hands, and the fans come to their feet at Julie and Siberia thunder into the ring. They go right for one another, and Siberia goes for a forearm smash, but Julie ducks under it and slips in behind her, hooking her around the waist and runs her towards the ropes. Siberia's chest bounces off the top rope and Julie uses that extra momentum to drag the woman down into a rolling pin.
1...
2...
Siberia not only manages to kick out, but gives Julie a shove at her lower back that throws her bottom forwards while Zombie drags her shoulders back, and ends the surprise move into a reversal pin that sees Julie's head between Siberia's legs that are holding her shoulders down, while she pulls back on her feet.
1...
2...
Julie kicks forward instead of out, and she rolls through that she know has her knee's resting on Zombie's shoulders, while she has both legs hooked under her arms for a pin.
1...
2...
LO: Zombie with another kick out, and both women quickly to their feet and Siberia goes for a front kick, but Julie ducks it....steps in beside her, and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP TAKES SIBERIA TO THE MAT!
KO: Julie just rolled up to her feet, and she's calling for Siberia to do the same and she's complying.....hooks her around the head, and SLING SHOT SUPLEX BY MIRI!
LO: She calls that The Half Moon, and it might just be enough to end this thing as she floats over into a cover!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Aoki back into the ring to make another save, but Damien in as well....AND SUPERKICK TAKES AOKI'S HEAD OFF!
Aoki hits the mat and rolls for the outside with Damien in hot pursuit as Julie clutches the back of her head, but nods in reassurance that she won't be interrupted again. Julie grabs Siberia and jerks her up to her feet, hooking her around the head, and then reaches down and pulls the woman's knee up to her chest with the other. She looks primed to take Siberia over into her finishing move, but sudden punches to her ribs from Siberia prevents her from maintaining her hold on her leg. With both feet back under her, Siberia hooks Julie by her head, and then lifts her up in Suplex position, only to stumble forwards and drop her gut first across the top rope. Julie looks shocked and in pain as she dangles there draped across the top rope like a sheet being put out to dry, but it doesn't last long as Siberia steps forward with an almost football like Punt that sends the woman soaring backwards all the way down to the concrete floor.
LO: GOOD GOD! HELL OF A FALL FOR JULIE MIRI TO THE HARD CONCRETE!
KO: Yeah, and Siberia now making her way over to the nearby corner, and is starting to climb...
Just as Siberia get's perched on the top rope, Damien Miri appears out of nowhere on the apron to grab her by the ankle, nearly causing her to lose her footing. Just as suddenly Damien's foot is yanked out from under him by a recovering Aoki, who apparently had taken some hard shots from the Son of Seattle, evident by the swelling in his left eye. Damien falls face first to the apron, and Siberia readjusts herself, just as Julie Miri starts to get to her feet. With a quick glance back at Aoki who waves her own to fly, she leaps from the top into a High Cross Body down onto Julie that takes the women crashing to the floor and crushes her into the concrete.
LO: HUGE MOVE OFF THE TOP FROM SIBERIA, BUT NOW THE REFEREE HAS STARTED A COUNT, AND AOKI IS STOMPINGON DAMIEN MIRI ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RING!
KO: I don't know if they are going to make it back up after that, but Aoki seems to just be enjoying the fight...
Aoki suddenly becomes aware of the count as it reaches six, and he abandon's Damien to step around the ring to help his partner back into the ring. Siberia is shoved under the bottom rope at the count of eight, but Julie Miri has managed to pull herself up by use of the ring apron. Aoki turns his attention to preventing her from getting back into the ring, but is blasted down to the floor from behind by Damien Miri, who clutches his ribs thanks to those stomps from earlier. Julie gives a nod of thanks before rolling in just at the moment the ref was about to call it, but Santiago falls back and signals that the match is still on. Unfortunately for Julie, Siberia has already gained her feet, and when she pushes up to hers she turns just in time to take a Running Superkick that takes her head off. Siberia drops for the cover and a hook of the leg.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Damien Miri was still nearby, and just dove into the ring through the ropes to knock Siberia off of his wife!
KO: Siberia getting to her feet now, and boot to the midsection by Damien doubles her over....Hook of the head...lifts her up into Suplex position, and THEN DROPS HER INTO A BRAINBUSTER AGAINST HIS KNEE!
LO: LEON'S .22!!!
KO: I don't know who the hell Leon is, but GOOD GOD....Siberia's out....and he just dragged Julie on top of her.
The referee doesn't immediately make the count, instead admonishing Damien who agree's wholeheartedly in the vein of getting the man to focus on the pin, and he quickly makes his way back to his corner and out of the ring. Santiago turns around, and seeing the women in the same position, can only shrug before dropping to make the count.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Aoki in this time to shove Julie off of Siberia and save the match, and Damien is coming back in....AND THE REFEREE IS HAVING A MELTDOWN!
KO: Haha....Damien and Aoki are just staring at Santiago as he goes off on both of them, threatening to throw the match out....And I can't believe it....They are actually retreating back to their corners.
The fans laugh and cheer as the referee straightens his zebra stripes and takes a deep breath, before turning his attention back to the two women down in the center of the ring. Julie slowly starts moving towards her corner, while Siberia does the same seconds later. The fans come to their feet as both women get closer and closer, until Julie manages to get a boot under her and dives to tag in her husband. Damien Miri quickly bounds over the ropes, and comes rushing in just as Siberia tags in Aoki. Zombie doesn't have time to try and get into the ring, instead opting to shove Siberia out of the way just as Miri takes flight into a Diving Forearm. The blow finds it's mark, and Aoki drops to the apron, and then rolls off down to the floor below. Aoki quickly scrambles to his feet, and Damien reaches through the middle and top rope to get a hold of the man, and that is the exact moment that Zombie reaches up and jams his fingers right down Miri's throat!
LO: ITAI CLAW ON DAMIEN MIRI, AND HE'S STRUGGLING TO PUSH HIMSELF BACK INTO THE RING, BUT ZOMBIE JUST HOPPED ONTO THE APRON AND IS FOLLOWING HIM IN WHILE MAINTAINING THE HOLD!
KO: Julie Miri just got back to her feet in the corner, and sees what's happening to her husband....She slips into the ring, and rushes right for them, BUT SIBERIA SHOVES HER OFF TRAJECTORY AND BACK OUT OF THE RING!
LO: Siberia going after Julie to keep her at bay, while Aokigahara Zombie has Damien Miri dead center of the ring, and he just went down to one knee!
KO: Man, of all the submission moves I've seen in my career, that has got to be the worst.
LO: May not be the most painful, but it certainly is the most visually disturbing...
Damien is on both knee's now, and from time to time he attempts to try and hit Aoki low, but the Zombie manages to dance around these. Eventually Aoki takes him all the way down to his elbow, and the fluttering movements of Miri's eyelashes show the signs that he might be going out. Rather than submitting, however, Damien suddenly comes alive, snaking his legs around Aoki's arm and hooking him into a Triangle Choke. Aoki's tongue wags out of his head at the sudden pressure against his throat, but he still doesn't release the hold, instead pushing Damien from his back up onto his shoulders, settling all of his weight on the man allowing his fingers to literally push past Damien's mouth and into his throat where he gags and chokes. The referee seeing that Miri's shoulders are indeed down, drops to make the count.
1...
2...
3!!!
The bell sounds, but both men are still locked in their respective acts of choking the other out when Siberia slides into the ring and unhinges Damien from her partner, while at the same time yanking Aokigahara off the man. Aoki gives Siberia a dangerous look, but the woman stands firm in her stance with a hand on his chest. He looks from Siberia down to Damien, and then back to Siberia, and then gives the woman a toothy grin before cackling wildly and stepping over to the referee to take his half of the Chimera Tag Team gold.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winners of this match....and STILL CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS.....THE ZOMBIE CLANNNN!!
Julie quickly comes into the ring, keeping a wary eye on the Zombies to help her husband to his feet. The two teams stare at one another in what could almost be described as a standoff, before Julie finally directs Damien to exit the ring. The Miri's conduct a slow back peddle up the ramp, never taking their eyes of Siberia and Aoki, who stand there with their championships slung over their shoulder watching their exit.
LO: The Zombie Clan with their first successful title defense, but man, it was a tough bout....and from the looks of it, this could be far from over.
KO: Other than the fact that The Zombies have secured their position as a serious threat to this fed, this match also showed that The Conglomerate is here, and that they mean business. Damien & Julie Miri are dangerous customers.
LO: And one has to wonder if any more of their ilk will be joining them to even the odds...
KO: Don't know about that, but for now, it looks as if The Zombie Clan remains supreme.
As Damien and Julie move through the curtain to the back, the Zombies relax a bit, holding the Chimera Tag Championships high above their head to a mixed reaction from the crowd. The camera zooms in on Aoki, who despite winning, doesn't seem completely satisfied with being pulled off of Damien, before cutting backstage.
The last time we left off with Cosmo and Leela, Watts had gotten rather short with Cosmo because he had chased reporters off rather than let them badger her about where the “old” Leela had gone, and if she could really cut it in a place like Valor. Since the two hadn’t got to speak about it. The most they had done was polite nods in the hallway, and then there was the presence of Danny now. Whatever they were, friends, foes, or just acquaintances, Cosmo didn’t want to get in the middle of it. We catch the Apex Champion now, not wanting to bother Leela. There seems to be a tiny pin in his hand which reads “THE GREEN BASTARD” with Bubbles face on it from Trailer Park Boys. He simply leaves it for her before walking away, his head darts up towards the camera as he tosses his hair, the Apex Championship firmly on his shoulder.
COOPER: I wonder what ol’ Cross is going to say once I beat him, you know? Leading up to this match all he has wanted is my attention. When he got it? He faltered under the weight like I knew he would. Folded like a cheap tent. Bowed out as quickly as he had rushed in to try and respond to me. As we’ve gotten closer and closer to the match?
Cosmo shrugged.
COOPER: Nothing. Not a word. Not a quick quip or a tweet. I thrive off shutting people up, I thrive off proving I am the very best this business has to offer. If history repeats itself, Cross will go to a company to join a weakened tournament to try and prove something because he ran up against… me. I told him once and I’ll tell him again for the world to hear. He looked into the camera.
COOPER: You’re an idiot for goading me. You’re a dumbass for trying to get my attention. You should have let well enough alone and tried to sneak up on me and get your win… instead… you’re just going to be right back where you started before. Taking these shots at me that I’LL never see because I don’t bother to keep up with your little career… nor do I try and keep up with your shitty tweets. If it makes you feel any better? Take solace in the fact that you… ‘got under my skin’ or that ‘you’re living rent free inside of my head’ take solace that it’s going to hand you the biggest L you’ve had since coming to Valor… but more important it’s going to show that I haven’t defended this Apex Championship for good reason. Because nobody has earned it, and now FINALLY someone has… and it damn sure isn’t you Recoba. So, after I HAND you this L? You can head to the back of the line… or do like others. Run off to 4CW at its weakest the first time you can get a title opportunity without working long term for one. It’s worked well for other members on this roster.
Cooper winked as he walked off towards his locker room.
COOPER: I wonder what ol’ Cross is going to say once I beat him, you know? Leading up to this match all he has wanted is my attention. When he got it? He faltered under the weight like I knew he would. Folded like a cheap tent. Bowed out as quickly as he had rushed in to try and respond to me. As we’ve gotten closer and closer to the match?
Cosmo shrugged.
COOPER: Nothing. Not a word. Not a quick quip or a tweet. I thrive off shutting people up, I thrive off proving I am the very best this business has to offer. If history repeats itself, Cross will go to a company to join a weakened tournament to try and prove something because he ran up against… me. I told him once and I’ll tell him again for the world to hear. He looked into the camera.
COOPER: You’re an idiot for goading me. You’re a dumbass for trying to get my attention. You should have let well enough alone and tried to sneak up on me and get your win… instead… you’re just going to be right back where you started before. Taking these shots at me that I’LL never see because I don’t bother to keep up with your little career… nor do I try and keep up with your shitty tweets. If it makes you feel any better? Take solace in the fact that you… ‘got under my skin’ or that ‘you’re living rent free inside of my head’ take solace that it’s going to hand you the biggest L you’ve had since coming to Valor… but more important it’s going to show that I haven’t defended this Apex Championship for good reason. Because nobody has earned it, and now FINALLY someone has… and it damn sure isn’t you Recoba. So, after I HAND you this L? You can head to the back of the line… or do like others. Run off to 4CW at its weakest the first time you can get a title opportunity without working long term for one. It’s worked well for other members on this roster.
Cooper winked as he walked off towards his locker room.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a singles match scheduled for one fall or submission...
War Drums bang out into the arena, followed by a guitar riff as 'Counting Bodies Like Sheep (The Pale King Remix)' by A Perfect Circle fills the speakers. The lights dim and the stage lights flash white with the beat as Spiral steps stoically out onto the stage to a mixed reaction. He stares casually out at the crowd as if they are beneath him, his eyes finally settling on the ring. His jaw sets just before he steps off the stage and onto the ramp, making his way methodically towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at six foot three and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark...He is 'THE PALE KING' SPIRRRAALLL!!
A statuesque coldness surrounds the man as he reaches ringside and climbs the steps onto the apron, swinging into the squared circle in an easy fluid motion that belies a serpents grace. He makes straight for the far corner, turning to lean against the turnbuckles, disregarding the crowd in favor of intently watching the entrance way.
LO: Spiral and Devlin hooked up on several occasions during the Main Event of Allegiance, both men trying to take the other to task.
KO: Not only that, they've been taking jabs at each other on Twitter for the past few weeks, and I don't think Spiral really likes anyone, but he certainly doesn't like Brennan Devlin.
LO: Well, I can understand that.
KO: Whatever. Devlin is the best! He'll fuck your roster to death!
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as horses cry out through the arena, an almost like Castlevania like intro bringing those in attendance to their feet as ‘Resurrection by Erection’ by Powerwolf thrums through the speakers. The lights around the stage begin to flash with the drums, and as the chorus kicks off, Brennan Devlin bursts through the curtain wearing a leather vest with 'I Fucked Your Roster To Death' embroidered on the back. The arena explodes with boos as Devlin stops at the top of the ramp to soak them in, running his finger up his body, past his face, and into his hair before flicking his hands out towards the crowd. With a laugh and a shit eating grin, Brennan begins his strut down to the ring, grabbing his crotch as he goes.
RING ANNOUNCER: and introducing his opponent, standing at six foot one and weighting in at 230 pounds...hailing from San Andreas, California....'THE FACE OF WRESTLING' BRENNAN DEVLINNNN!!!
Devlin reaches ringside and leaps up onto the apron, walking along the side and continues to present his crotch to the booing front row. He chuckles again, swinging into the ring, and pulls his vest off to toss to the ring attendant as he jogs in place, and continues his stupid grin directed right at Spiral.
LO: Spiral doesn't look impressed with Devlin's arrival or new entrance music, matter of fact, he looks like he may be ready to knock that smirk right down The Face of Wrestling's gullet.
KO: No doubt, but I don't think that's going to be as easy a task as he thinks.
LO: Well we're about to find out, cause Santiago just called for the bell, and we're underway.
Devlin continues to smirk as Spiral continues to regard him coolly from the corner. Suddenly The Pale King is in motion, rushing right at Devlin, whose eyes go to the size of saucers just before he's speared to the canvas with Spiral on top of him laying in vicious blows. Spiral continues hammering until Brennan can shove him off, and he quickly gets to his feet, but Spiral is already there with a Kneelift that knocks him back into the ropes. A follow up right hand finds Brennan's jaw, and he tumbles right through the middle and top ropes out onto the apron. Spiral reaches over the top to get a fistful of blonde hair and yanks Brennan up, hooking him around the head, and grabs a handful of tights. With a heave he has The Face Of Wrestling vertical in the air, and then falls back into a perfect Suplex. Brennan clutches his spine as Spiral flashes up, and begins laying the boots to the man.
LO: GOOD GOD SPIRAL IS ON FIRE!
KO: I honestly didn't know he had it in him. Even when he's going nuts he seems calm!
Brennan manages to roll out from under a few of the stomps, allowing him to get to one knee, but Spiral comes in on the attack once more. Devlin allows himself to be pulled the rest of the way up, but then suddenly places the top of his head under Spiral's jaw while lacing his fingers behind the man's head, and then drops straight down to his knee's for a Jawbreaker. Spiral stumbles away clutching his chin, as Devlin comes up looking pissed. Spiral turns around to face his foe near the ropes only to find that Brennan is coming right for him with a lariat that sends The Pale King up and over the top rope to crash against the concrete floor below. Devlin spits and slips through the ropes to land outside beside Spiral, pulling the man up only to Irish Whip him towards the steel barricade around ringside. Spiral manages to turn at the last second and slams spine first into the steel, and Devlin rushes in for another Lariat, but this time Spiral ducks his head and sends Brennan soaring through the air with a Back Body Drop over the guardrail.
LO: HOT DAMN! DEVLIN JUST TOOK OUT A FEW FANS IN THE FRONT ROW, AND NOW SPIRAL IS REACHING OVER THE BARRIER TO GET HIM TO HIS FEET AND SLAMS HIM HEAD FIRST INTO THE TOP OF THE STEEL!
KO: Devlin is using the barrier to pull himself away from Spiral, but he's still out there with the fans!
LO: Spiral following behind, reaching out to get a hold of him again...AND OH! DEVLIN JUST THREW THE CONTENTS OF A FANS BEVERAGE UP INTO SPIRALS FACE!
Spiral recoils as what appears to be orange soda drips from his hair, nose, and chin, giving Devlin enough time to hop up to the barrier, and soar through the air to take Spiral's head off with a Flying Clothesline. Brennan hits the floor rolling, coming up to his feet and dashing to the ring to slide in under the bottom rope. He moves the referee out of the way, breaking his count which was nearly at ten, and begs for Spiral to get up to his feet from inside the ring. Slowly but surely Spiral does so, and Brennan hits off the opposite side ropes for spring to come thundering back across, leap up to the top rope, and then launch himself into a Diving Splancha down onto Spiral. Unfortunately for Devlin, Spiral manages to lunge out of the way, and with nothing to stop his fall he crashes down painfully to the concrete floor.
LO: NOBODY HOME FOR BRENNAN DEVLIN, AND....It looks like he may have tweaked his left knee on the landing!
KO: Yeah, he's cradling the joint, trying to get to his feet....BUT HERE COMES SPIRAL WITH A CHOP BLOCK THAT SENDS HIM RIGHT BACK DOWN!
Spiral gives Brennan a grim visage as he grabs the left leg by the ankle and gives it a yank to watch as Brennan cries out in pain. With what appears to be satisfaction on his face, he drags The Face of Wrestling over to the nearby steel steps, and slams that same leg down against them. Brennan's cry is louder this time as he tries to scoot away, but Spiral instead gets hold of him and yanks him to his feet, shooting him back under the bottom rope into the ring. Spiral hops up onto the ring apron and casually slips through the ropes, taking his time as Brennan continues to scoot away from him. When he reaches down to grab for the injured leg again, he gets a boot from the other to the face for his trouble, but with a snarl and a stomp to the injured knee Brennan is unable to keep up the resistance. He grabs him by the leg once more, dragging him to the center of the ring, where he drops an elbow down into the knee joint. Brennan reacts by grabbing for his knee, and Spiral takes that as a cue to drop another elbow, and then another, and finally on the forth time he remains in position, pulling the leg back to trap behind his own foot for a Leg Lock.
LO: Brennan Devlin is in real trouble here as he writhes on the canvas after being trapped in this submission move. Who knows how much damage he's done to that knee?
KO: Apparently a lot, because ever since he tried that dive he hasn't been able to do anything!
Brennan begins to pull himself along his elbows towards the ropes, but before he can even reach them Spiral releases the hold and comes up to his feet, laying in a stomp to the joint that ceases Brennan's attempts. He reaches down to grab the leg and spins Devlin around so that his lower half is facing the ropes, and then places his ankle on the bottom rope so that it's elevated. Spiral grabs the top and steps up to the second, using it to spring into the air and then drops straight down with his knee into the joint. Devlin cries out in pain and immediately starts to scoot away while Spiral looks on like a shark smelling blood in the water. He approaches, reaching down to take the leg again, but in a surprise move Brennan hooks him around the head, and takes the man to the mat into a small package pin.
1...
2...
LO: THR-KICK OUT! Spiral rolling out of the pin and scrambles back over to mount Brennan...SAVAGELY HAMMERING FISTS INTO THE MAN'S SKULL!
KO: He doesn't seem to appreciate that quick pin attempt, and has settled on just beating the hell out of Devlin so he can't mount any comebacks!
Spirals fist pumps like a piston until finally coming to a stop, pushing up to his feet and dragging Brennan by the hair of the head as he does. Once on their feet, Spiral reaches down and pulls Brennan's left leg up off the mat, and then lifts him high into the air only to bring the knee and shin down across his own for a Knee-Breaker. Brennan falls to the mat in pain while Spiral maintains control of the leg, and he quickly spins around it, pulling Devlin's free leg up, and when he falls back to the mat he has The Face of Wrestling in a Figure Four Leg Lock dead center of the ring. Brennan goes wild in pain, blonde hair flipping back and forth as he shakes his head 'No', but at one point falls back to the mat to take a count of two from the referee. He sits back up, pushing against Spiral foot to try and release the hold, but a vicious pull by Spiral sends him snapping back to the mat with hands shoved into his eyes.
LO: The figure four is a hold that puts tremendous pressure on the knee, and Spiral has it executed in perfect position.
KO: Yeah, Devlin really only has two options here. He can try and drag them to the ropes, which is going to put even more pressure on that knee, or try and reverse it and put the pressure back on Spiral. Easier said than done...
Devlin decides on option one, and places both elbows under him to try and pull his body while at the same time dragging Spiral behind him. Each inch closer he comes to the rope he finds himself having to stop, the pain from the hold doing its job as it sends unpleasant shooting sensations through his legs. Spiral, seeing what Devlin is trying to do, digs in with both hands on the mat, and drags him back out to the center of the ring much to Brennan's chagrin. Brennan's shoulders hit the mat a second time, and Santiago is there to make the count, but just at two and a half Devlin sits up to break it, roaring into the ether. With a sudden rock of his hips to the right, both men end up on their side, and for the first time a look of concern crosses Spiral's face. He tries to tip them back over, but Devlin is already ahead of him, swinging a second time with his hips, which whips them over onto their stomachs, reversing the pressure from the hold.
LO: BRENNAN DEVLIN HAS REVERSED THE HOLD, AND NOW IT'S SPIRAL WHOSE GRITTING HIS TEETH AGAINST THE PAIN!
KO: Spiral reaching back now, trying to force the leg that has Brennan's trapped loose....and he just did. Disentangling themsleves from one another now, and stumbling up to their feet!
Once spiral is upright, he stomps into the canvas to try and realign his knee joint, and then rushes in on Brennan just as he gets to his. Devlin, who is near the ropes, drops down to his bottom, pulling the top rope with him. Spiral tumbles right over with a sick thud against the concrete below, and Brennan gingerly gets to his feet, his knee obviously hanging on by a thread as he hobbles through the ropes to the outside. As Spiral moves to get to his feet, Brennan takes off in a stuttering run, the best he can do at this point, and hooks the man around the head as he passes by, dragging him for a bit before finally kicking his legs out and Bulldogging him face first into the top of the steel steps. Spiral snaps back clutching at his face as Brennan rubs his ass, looking back with some of his confidence returning in his grin.
LO: Big move by Brennan Devlin as Spiral crawls the length of the ring to get away from him, but Devlin is hobbling right after him....
KO: Spiral pulling himself up by the ring apron, and DEVLIN WITH A HANDFUL OF HAIR JUST BANGED HIS SKULL OFF THE STEEL RING POST!
Spiral spins around and stumbles prone back to the floor, and when he looks up the camera catches a thin line of blood trickling down from a gash on his forehead. The Pale King snarls at the taste, reaching up to grab the apron, and pull himself up. He turns to where he expects Devlin to be right behind him, but is surprised that he's not. When he turns further to scan the ring he only gets a split second before Devlin dives through the middle and bottom rope of the corner like superman taking flight, hooks Spiral around the head, and then spins around into a Tornado DDT that plants the mans skull into the heart of the concrete floor. Spiral hits with such impact that the rest of his body flips over and he lands on his back, and the gash in his forehead is no longer a trickle, but a crimson mask.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! BRENNAN DEVLIN WITH A DEATH DEFYING LEAP THROUGH THE ROPES INTO A TORNADO DDT ON THE FLOOR, AND SPIRAL IS BUSTED WIDE OPEN!
KO: That's a new one from Devlin, showing some innovation here....but he's still gripping at that knee as he gets to his feet. He really needs to consider another tactic than this high risk offense!
LO: You have to admit that it has been effective, even if he is doing damage to himself. Devlin now pulling Spiral up, and just threw him back into the ring. He follows suit, and hooks the leg for a cover!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Spiral out at two and three quarters, and Devlin is questioning the referee who is waving it off at two...
Devlin shakes his head in disbelief as he falls back into the nearby corner to lean into the turnbuckles, giving his knee a moment to rest. Spiral rolls over onto his stomach, blood pooling on the mat below him as he starts to push up onto his hands and knees. The Face of Wrestling looks out at the crowd, all of them knowing what he's thinking as he flashes them that trademark shit eating grin, and he grips the top rope ready to spring out of the corner. Just as Spiral comes into position, Devlin fires out in a B-line towards the man, and he leaps up with his right foot high into the air to bring crashing down for his famous curb stomp. Instead, Spiral lifts up quickly off the ground, Devlin's foot finding his shoulder instead, launching him high up into the air in surprise. As he makes his sudden descent back towards the canvas, Spiral swings up with a massive European Uppercut that sends Brennan crashing to the canvas. The fans come to their feet with a collective 'Ooooohhhhhh' as Spiral drops haphazardly to make a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Devlin out at about the same time that Spiral kicked out moments ago, and this crowd is shocked by that brilliant reversal into the uppercut!
KO: It was pretty awesome considering the man's bleeding like a stuck pig. It came completely out of nowhere!
Spiral forces himself to his feet as Devlin gets to one foot and then stumbles back down to his knee, falling against the middle rope so that his chest leans against it. He's obviously out of it after the surprise blow, and Spiral takes the opportunity to hit off the opposite ropes and thunder across the ring, leaping so that both legs slip through the middle and top rope while the rest of him lands squarely on the back of Devlin's head to crush his throat on the middle rope. Spiral sits there for a few moments after his landing, choking the Face of Wrestling until Santiago reaches a four count to which he finally slides off of him. Brennan comes off the rope sputtering and gasping for air as he crawls on his knees over to the corner where he pushes up to his feet off the turnbuckles. When he manages to catch his breath long enough to look up, it's just in time to see Spiral leap into a Running Big Splash that crushes him into the corner. Spiral steps out of the way to allow Brennan to stumble out towards the center of the ring, and then rushes in from behind with another chop block that sends him crashing to the mat, crying out in pain.
LO: And just like that The Pale King is back to his methodical destruction of Brennan Devlin's left knee.
KO: Smart move, Laur. He's rung his bell so that he can't put up much of a fight when he slaps on another submission!
Contrary to Kenneth Othello's assessment, however, when Spiral tries to take Brennan by the leg and spin him over, a fight is exactly what he gets. Several boots square to the Pale King's face leaves him begging off from Devlin as Brennan forces himself up to his feet. Right hands reign in knocking Spiral back towards the ropes where he grabs him by the wrist and shoots him to the opposite side. Brennan steps out to the center of the ring to meet him as he rebounds, and just as Spiral is about to meet him in the center of the ring, he catches The Pale King coming in with a snap Power Slam that crushes him into the mat. Devlin hooks his leg for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Spiral just barely out there, but Devlin is already moving him up to his feet, and EYE RAKE BY SPIRAL!
KO: Devlin begging off and falls back into the corner rubbing at his eyes, and the referee is all over Spiral who just pushed him out of the way and follows Devlin in!
LO: What the hell is he doing....GOOD GOD! HE'S GOT HIS THUMBS JAMMED INTO HIS EYES! HE'S TRYING TO TAKE THE MANS EYES RIGHT OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS!
The refree counts down, and just as he's about to call for the bell Spiral relents, backing up. The look on his face is one of visceral rage, however, and the crowd becomes silent as Brennan falls to one knee rubbing at his eyes in pain. The referee continues to dress Spiral down who looks as if he could give three shits less as he steps into the corner, lifts Brennan back to his feet, and then delivers a haymaker right that drops Devlin back down to a seated position. From there he grabs the top rope, and proceeds to savagely lay the boots into the man's midsection as if he's trying to find the center of a tootsie pop.
LO: SPIRAL IS STOMPING DEVLIN LIKE HE'S TRYING TO PUT OUT A FIRE!
KO: Yeah, this dude has snapped, and whats on the other side of that calm veneer isn't pretty.
LO: Well, we've always said that if there was any man who could make a person crack, it was Brennan Devlin, and you got to believe....that isn't an enviable quality at this moment in time!
Santiago forces himself between Spiral and Devlin, pushing the man away, and Spiral responds on instinct, raring his fist back to strike. Santiago puts both hands out in front of him, and almost as if a light bulb goes off, Spiral slowly lowers his fist and backs off as the ref threatens disqualification. In the meantime, Devlin reaches up to grab the top rope and pull himself up to his feet, leaning back heavily in the corner. After nodding to Santiago for the match to continue, he signals for Spiral and Devlin to get back at it. Spiral needs no convincing, charging right for Devlin with another Big Splash. Unfortunately for Santiago, Devlin grabs hold of his shoulders from behind, and pulls him into harms way to take the brunt of the impact. The referee is crushed between Devlin and Spiral, and when The Pale King steps away in surprise, he crumples to the mat out of it. He took some of the steam out of the move for Devlin, but not all of it, and he stumbles out of the corner clutching his spine. The look of surprise by Spiral is fleeting, and he steps out to grab a fistful of Devlin's hair to drag him to the center of the ring, hoists him up onto his shoulders in a torture rack position, and then dumps him over into a Knee Strike right to the face.
LO: SPIRAL EFFECT ON DEVLIN, BUT WE HAVE NO REFEREE!!
KO: Spiral staring down at Devlin now, and man...he looks scary here....
Spiral reaches up to smear the blood from his gash down his face, and then turns to exit the ring. The fans watch on confusedly as he flips the apron up onto the edge of the ring, and fishes underneath until grabbing hold of something solid. When his hand emerges it is grasping a solid lead pipe used to twist the turnbuckles into place. There is no expression on the man's face now as he slinks back into the ring like a snake, rising to his feet like a specter as Brennan Devlin struggles to his feet. The fans issue boo's, but they are on their edge of their seat in blood lust for what comes next. Just as Devlin turns towards Spiral, he brings the lead pipe swinging down from overhead, and it gives a dull 'PANK' as it collides with Brennan's forehead. The Face of Wrestling crashes to the mat clutching his face, and when he pulls his hands away blood pours from out of his hairline.
LO: MY GOD! NOW DEVLIN IS BUSTED OPEN, AND SPIRAL IS JUST STANDING THERE WITH ZERO EXPRESSION!
KO: I'm telling you man, this guy is cold blooded!
Santiago begins to stir over in the corner, and Spiral allows a glance down at the bloodied weapon in his hand. With some hesitation he tosses the pipe under the bottom rope to rattle across the concrete floor when it lands, and then he drops down to make a lazy cover over Brennan Devlin. It still takes Santiago some time to regain his barrings, but once he looks over to see the cover, he starts pulling himself that way. Finally flopping down beside the two men, he raises his hand to start the count.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! MY GOD! BRENNAN DEVLIN SOMEHOW MIRACULOUSLY GOT HIS SHOULDER UP AT THE LAST SECOND!
KO: Oh....I....I don't know if he should have done that...
Spiral rises off of Devlin and the cool expression has turned wicked as he spits on the canvas in disdain. Caputo slowly gets to her feet as well, laying back into the ropes to try and ascertain exactly what's happened. Spiral doesn't allow her to process for too long as he reaches down and yanks Devlin to his feet, lifting him back up into rack position. Brennan suddenly starts struggling, blood dripping from his wound to cascade down Spiral's shoulder. He manages to get his leg free, and starts bringing his knee right into the side of The Pale King's head, eventually tipping him over to where he is able to land behind him. Spiral quickly spins around, and that's when Devlin hooks him around the head for a cutter, or would have, if Spiral hadn't shoved him forwards. Brennan rebounds off the ropes and walks right into a waiting Spiral, who lifts him up onto his shoulders once more. This time, however, Brennan leaps with the lift, causing him to flip right up and over in front of Spiral, where he immediately leaps into the air and reaches back, this time catching Spiral with the cutter he was looking for earlier.
LO: FACE OFF!! FROM OUT OF NOWHERE!
KO: And look....Spiral flipped over onto his back after impact...and Devlin landed and bounced so that he's laying across the man's torso!
1...
2...
3!!!
The fans forget themselves and explode after such a bloody show, despite most of them hating Brennan Devlin, and not much liking Spiral either for that matter. The bell sounds, but both men lay there not moving, proceeding to bleed on one another in a heap.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall.......BRENNAN DEVLINNNNN!!!
Eventually Devlin rolls off of Spiral and onto his knee's, head down to rest upon his forearms. Spiral rolls for the edge of the ring, dumping out to the floor and barely getting his feet under him as he does. Both men are a bloody mess as Santiago moves between either one of them to check if they can make it on their own power. Spiral recoils from the man in a rage, stalking towards the ramp, but looking over his shoulder at Devlin who has made it to his feet thanks to the ropes. The Face of Wrestling looks up to watch The Pale King go, a grin coming to his lips despite the blood that still flows freely.
LO: Both of these men took each other to the limit, and both leave tonight a blood stained mess!
KO: Yeah, it was pretty brutal right out of the gate, but man....Spiral took it to another level with that lead pipe.
LO: All I know is that he seems to have only two speeds. Eerily stoic, or absolute psychopath. I can't tell you, to be honest, which terrifies me more.
KO: In the end though, it wasn't enough...The Face of Wrestling saw to that.
LO: I don't know, Ken. Devlin barely pulled this one out of his bag of tricks. I still don't know how he kicked out after getting beamed in the head by the pipe.
KO: Because he's the real deal, Laur! He keeps telling everyone that, but you all have your stars hitched to Cosmo Cooper! I'm a real Devlinite, man, and he's convincing more and more every show!
LO: Just keep this thought in mind....this man would sell you out in a heartbeat if it meant one more chance at the Apex Championship.
KO: I know. That's what I call dedication!
Laurence Othello buries head in his hands in dismay as Kenneth grins over at him. The camera focuses on Devlin in the ring, talking smack to the crowd, and celebrating his victory before cutting backstage.
War Drums bang out into the arena, followed by a guitar riff as 'Counting Bodies Like Sheep (The Pale King Remix)' by A Perfect Circle fills the speakers. The lights dim and the stage lights flash white with the beat as Spiral steps stoically out onto the stage to a mixed reaction. He stares casually out at the crowd as if they are beneath him, his eyes finally settling on the ring. His jaw sets just before he steps off the stage and onto the ramp, making his way methodically towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at six foot three and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark...He is 'THE PALE KING' SPIRRRAALLL!!
A statuesque coldness surrounds the man as he reaches ringside and climbs the steps onto the apron, swinging into the squared circle in an easy fluid motion that belies a serpents grace. He makes straight for the far corner, turning to lean against the turnbuckles, disregarding the crowd in favor of intently watching the entrance way.
LO: Spiral and Devlin hooked up on several occasions during the Main Event of Allegiance, both men trying to take the other to task.
KO: Not only that, they've been taking jabs at each other on Twitter for the past few weeks, and I don't think Spiral really likes anyone, but he certainly doesn't like Brennan Devlin.
LO: Well, I can understand that.
KO: Whatever. Devlin is the best! He'll fuck your roster to death!
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as horses cry out through the arena, an almost like Castlevania like intro bringing those in attendance to their feet as ‘Resurrection by Erection’ by Powerwolf thrums through the speakers. The lights around the stage begin to flash with the drums, and as the chorus kicks off, Brennan Devlin bursts through the curtain wearing a leather vest with 'I Fucked Your Roster To Death' embroidered on the back. The arena explodes with boos as Devlin stops at the top of the ramp to soak them in, running his finger up his body, past his face, and into his hair before flicking his hands out towards the crowd. With a laugh and a shit eating grin, Brennan begins his strut down to the ring, grabbing his crotch as he goes.
RING ANNOUNCER: and introducing his opponent, standing at six foot one and weighting in at 230 pounds...hailing from San Andreas, California....'THE FACE OF WRESTLING' BRENNAN DEVLINNNN!!!
Devlin reaches ringside and leaps up onto the apron, walking along the side and continues to present his crotch to the booing front row. He chuckles again, swinging into the ring, and pulls his vest off to toss to the ring attendant as he jogs in place, and continues his stupid grin directed right at Spiral.
LO: Spiral doesn't look impressed with Devlin's arrival or new entrance music, matter of fact, he looks like he may be ready to knock that smirk right down The Face of Wrestling's gullet.
KO: No doubt, but I don't think that's going to be as easy a task as he thinks.
LO: Well we're about to find out, cause Santiago just called for the bell, and we're underway.
Devlin continues to smirk as Spiral continues to regard him coolly from the corner. Suddenly The Pale King is in motion, rushing right at Devlin, whose eyes go to the size of saucers just before he's speared to the canvas with Spiral on top of him laying in vicious blows. Spiral continues hammering until Brennan can shove him off, and he quickly gets to his feet, but Spiral is already there with a Kneelift that knocks him back into the ropes. A follow up right hand finds Brennan's jaw, and he tumbles right through the middle and top ropes out onto the apron. Spiral reaches over the top to get a fistful of blonde hair and yanks Brennan up, hooking him around the head, and grabs a handful of tights. With a heave he has The Face Of Wrestling vertical in the air, and then falls back into a perfect Suplex. Brennan clutches his spine as Spiral flashes up, and begins laying the boots to the man.
LO: GOOD GOD SPIRAL IS ON FIRE!
KO: I honestly didn't know he had it in him. Even when he's going nuts he seems calm!
Brennan manages to roll out from under a few of the stomps, allowing him to get to one knee, but Spiral comes in on the attack once more. Devlin allows himself to be pulled the rest of the way up, but then suddenly places the top of his head under Spiral's jaw while lacing his fingers behind the man's head, and then drops straight down to his knee's for a Jawbreaker. Spiral stumbles away clutching his chin, as Devlin comes up looking pissed. Spiral turns around to face his foe near the ropes only to find that Brennan is coming right for him with a lariat that sends The Pale King up and over the top rope to crash against the concrete floor below. Devlin spits and slips through the ropes to land outside beside Spiral, pulling the man up only to Irish Whip him towards the steel barricade around ringside. Spiral manages to turn at the last second and slams spine first into the steel, and Devlin rushes in for another Lariat, but this time Spiral ducks his head and sends Brennan soaring through the air with a Back Body Drop over the guardrail.
LO: HOT DAMN! DEVLIN JUST TOOK OUT A FEW FANS IN THE FRONT ROW, AND NOW SPIRAL IS REACHING OVER THE BARRIER TO GET HIM TO HIS FEET AND SLAMS HIM HEAD FIRST INTO THE TOP OF THE STEEL!
KO: Devlin is using the barrier to pull himself away from Spiral, but he's still out there with the fans!
LO: Spiral following behind, reaching out to get a hold of him again...AND OH! DEVLIN JUST THREW THE CONTENTS OF A FANS BEVERAGE UP INTO SPIRALS FACE!
Spiral recoils as what appears to be orange soda drips from his hair, nose, and chin, giving Devlin enough time to hop up to the barrier, and soar through the air to take Spiral's head off with a Flying Clothesline. Brennan hits the floor rolling, coming up to his feet and dashing to the ring to slide in under the bottom rope. He moves the referee out of the way, breaking his count which was nearly at ten, and begs for Spiral to get up to his feet from inside the ring. Slowly but surely Spiral does so, and Brennan hits off the opposite side ropes for spring to come thundering back across, leap up to the top rope, and then launch himself into a Diving Splancha down onto Spiral. Unfortunately for Devlin, Spiral manages to lunge out of the way, and with nothing to stop his fall he crashes down painfully to the concrete floor.
LO: NOBODY HOME FOR BRENNAN DEVLIN, AND....It looks like he may have tweaked his left knee on the landing!
KO: Yeah, he's cradling the joint, trying to get to his feet....BUT HERE COMES SPIRAL WITH A CHOP BLOCK THAT SENDS HIM RIGHT BACK DOWN!
Spiral gives Brennan a grim visage as he grabs the left leg by the ankle and gives it a yank to watch as Brennan cries out in pain. With what appears to be satisfaction on his face, he drags The Face of Wrestling over to the nearby steel steps, and slams that same leg down against them. Brennan's cry is louder this time as he tries to scoot away, but Spiral instead gets hold of him and yanks him to his feet, shooting him back under the bottom rope into the ring. Spiral hops up onto the ring apron and casually slips through the ropes, taking his time as Brennan continues to scoot away from him. When he reaches down to grab for the injured leg again, he gets a boot from the other to the face for his trouble, but with a snarl and a stomp to the injured knee Brennan is unable to keep up the resistance. He grabs him by the leg once more, dragging him to the center of the ring, where he drops an elbow down into the knee joint. Brennan reacts by grabbing for his knee, and Spiral takes that as a cue to drop another elbow, and then another, and finally on the forth time he remains in position, pulling the leg back to trap behind his own foot for a Leg Lock.
LO: Brennan Devlin is in real trouble here as he writhes on the canvas after being trapped in this submission move. Who knows how much damage he's done to that knee?
KO: Apparently a lot, because ever since he tried that dive he hasn't been able to do anything!
Brennan begins to pull himself along his elbows towards the ropes, but before he can even reach them Spiral releases the hold and comes up to his feet, laying in a stomp to the joint that ceases Brennan's attempts. He reaches down to grab the leg and spins Devlin around so that his lower half is facing the ropes, and then places his ankle on the bottom rope so that it's elevated. Spiral grabs the top and steps up to the second, using it to spring into the air and then drops straight down with his knee into the joint. Devlin cries out in pain and immediately starts to scoot away while Spiral looks on like a shark smelling blood in the water. He approaches, reaching down to take the leg again, but in a surprise move Brennan hooks him around the head, and takes the man to the mat into a small package pin.
1...
2...
LO: THR-KICK OUT! Spiral rolling out of the pin and scrambles back over to mount Brennan...SAVAGELY HAMMERING FISTS INTO THE MAN'S SKULL!
KO: He doesn't seem to appreciate that quick pin attempt, and has settled on just beating the hell out of Devlin so he can't mount any comebacks!
Spirals fist pumps like a piston until finally coming to a stop, pushing up to his feet and dragging Brennan by the hair of the head as he does. Once on their feet, Spiral reaches down and pulls Brennan's left leg up off the mat, and then lifts him high into the air only to bring the knee and shin down across his own for a Knee-Breaker. Brennan falls to the mat in pain while Spiral maintains control of the leg, and he quickly spins around it, pulling Devlin's free leg up, and when he falls back to the mat he has The Face of Wrestling in a Figure Four Leg Lock dead center of the ring. Brennan goes wild in pain, blonde hair flipping back and forth as he shakes his head 'No', but at one point falls back to the mat to take a count of two from the referee. He sits back up, pushing against Spiral foot to try and release the hold, but a vicious pull by Spiral sends him snapping back to the mat with hands shoved into his eyes.
LO: The figure four is a hold that puts tremendous pressure on the knee, and Spiral has it executed in perfect position.
KO: Yeah, Devlin really only has two options here. He can try and drag them to the ropes, which is going to put even more pressure on that knee, or try and reverse it and put the pressure back on Spiral. Easier said than done...
Devlin decides on option one, and places both elbows under him to try and pull his body while at the same time dragging Spiral behind him. Each inch closer he comes to the rope he finds himself having to stop, the pain from the hold doing its job as it sends unpleasant shooting sensations through his legs. Spiral, seeing what Devlin is trying to do, digs in with both hands on the mat, and drags him back out to the center of the ring much to Brennan's chagrin. Brennan's shoulders hit the mat a second time, and Santiago is there to make the count, but just at two and a half Devlin sits up to break it, roaring into the ether. With a sudden rock of his hips to the right, both men end up on their side, and for the first time a look of concern crosses Spiral's face. He tries to tip them back over, but Devlin is already ahead of him, swinging a second time with his hips, which whips them over onto their stomachs, reversing the pressure from the hold.
LO: BRENNAN DEVLIN HAS REVERSED THE HOLD, AND NOW IT'S SPIRAL WHOSE GRITTING HIS TEETH AGAINST THE PAIN!
KO: Spiral reaching back now, trying to force the leg that has Brennan's trapped loose....and he just did. Disentangling themsleves from one another now, and stumbling up to their feet!
Once spiral is upright, he stomps into the canvas to try and realign his knee joint, and then rushes in on Brennan just as he gets to his. Devlin, who is near the ropes, drops down to his bottom, pulling the top rope with him. Spiral tumbles right over with a sick thud against the concrete below, and Brennan gingerly gets to his feet, his knee obviously hanging on by a thread as he hobbles through the ropes to the outside. As Spiral moves to get to his feet, Brennan takes off in a stuttering run, the best he can do at this point, and hooks the man around the head as he passes by, dragging him for a bit before finally kicking his legs out and Bulldogging him face first into the top of the steel steps. Spiral snaps back clutching at his face as Brennan rubs his ass, looking back with some of his confidence returning in his grin.
LO: Big move by Brennan Devlin as Spiral crawls the length of the ring to get away from him, but Devlin is hobbling right after him....
KO: Spiral pulling himself up by the ring apron, and DEVLIN WITH A HANDFUL OF HAIR JUST BANGED HIS SKULL OFF THE STEEL RING POST!
Spiral spins around and stumbles prone back to the floor, and when he looks up the camera catches a thin line of blood trickling down from a gash on his forehead. The Pale King snarls at the taste, reaching up to grab the apron, and pull himself up. He turns to where he expects Devlin to be right behind him, but is surprised that he's not. When he turns further to scan the ring he only gets a split second before Devlin dives through the middle and bottom rope of the corner like superman taking flight, hooks Spiral around the head, and then spins around into a Tornado DDT that plants the mans skull into the heart of the concrete floor. Spiral hits with such impact that the rest of his body flips over and he lands on his back, and the gash in his forehead is no longer a trickle, but a crimson mask.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! BRENNAN DEVLIN WITH A DEATH DEFYING LEAP THROUGH THE ROPES INTO A TORNADO DDT ON THE FLOOR, AND SPIRAL IS BUSTED WIDE OPEN!
KO: That's a new one from Devlin, showing some innovation here....but he's still gripping at that knee as he gets to his feet. He really needs to consider another tactic than this high risk offense!
LO: You have to admit that it has been effective, even if he is doing damage to himself. Devlin now pulling Spiral up, and just threw him back into the ring. He follows suit, and hooks the leg for a cover!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Spiral out at two and three quarters, and Devlin is questioning the referee who is waving it off at two...
Devlin shakes his head in disbelief as he falls back into the nearby corner to lean into the turnbuckles, giving his knee a moment to rest. Spiral rolls over onto his stomach, blood pooling on the mat below him as he starts to push up onto his hands and knees. The Face of Wrestling looks out at the crowd, all of them knowing what he's thinking as he flashes them that trademark shit eating grin, and he grips the top rope ready to spring out of the corner. Just as Spiral comes into position, Devlin fires out in a B-line towards the man, and he leaps up with his right foot high into the air to bring crashing down for his famous curb stomp. Instead, Spiral lifts up quickly off the ground, Devlin's foot finding his shoulder instead, launching him high up into the air in surprise. As he makes his sudden descent back towards the canvas, Spiral swings up with a massive European Uppercut that sends Brennan crashing to the canvas. The fans come to their feet with a collective 'Ooooohhhhhh' as Spiral drops haphazardly to make a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Devlin out at about the same time that Spiral kicked out moments ago, and this crowd is shocked by that brilliant reversal into the uppercut!
KO: It was pretty awesome considering the man's bleeding like a stuck pig. It came completely out of nowhere!
Spiral forces himself to his feet as Devlin gets to one foot and then stumbles back down to his knee, falling against the middle rope so that his chest leans against it. He's obviously out of it after the surprise blow, and Spiral takes the opportunity to hit off the opposite ropes and thunder across the ring, leaping so that both legs slip through the middle and top rope while the rest of him lands squarely on the back of Devlin's head to crush his throat on the middle rope. Spiral sits there for a few moments after his landing, choking the Face of Wrestling until Santiago reaches a four count to which he finally slides off of him. Brennan comes off the rope sputtering and gasping for air as he crawls on his knees over to the corner where he pushes up to his feet off the turnbuckles. When he manages to catch his breath long enough to look up, it's just in time to see Spiral leap into a Running Big Splash that crushes him into the corner. Spiral steps out of the way to allow Brennan to stumble out towards the center of the ring, and then rushes in from behind with another chop block that sends him crashing to the mat, crying out in pain.
LO: And just like that The Pale King is back to his methodical destruction of Brennan Devlin's left knee.
KO: Smart move, Laur. He's rung his bell so that he can't put up much of a fight when he slaps on another submission!
Contrary to Kenneth Othello's assessment, however, when Spiral tries to take Brennan by the leg and spin him over, a fight is exactly what he gets. Several boots square to the Pale King's face leaves him begging off from Devlin as Brennan forces himself up to his feet. Right hands reign in knocking Spiral back towards the ropes where he grabs him by the wrist and shoots him to the opposite side. Brennan steps out to the center of the ring to meet him as he rebounds, and just as Spiral is about to meet him in the center of the ring, he catches The Pale King coming in with a snap Power Slam that crushes him into the mat. Devlin hooks his leg for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Spiral just barely out there, but Devlin is already moving him up to his feet, and EYE RAKE BY SPIRAL!
KO: Devlin begging off and falls back into the corner rubbing at his eyes, and the referee is all over Spiral who just pushed him out of the way and follows Devlin in!
LO: What the hell is he doing....GOOD GOD! HE'S GOT HIS THUMBS JAMMED INTO HIS EYES! HE'S TRYING TO TAKE THE MANS EYES RIGHT OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS!
The refree counts down, and just as he's about to call for the bell Spiral relents, backing up. The look on his face is one of visceral rage, however, and the crowd becomes silent as Brennan falls to one knee rubbing at his eyes in pain. The referee continues to dress Spiral down who looks as if he could give three shits less as he steps into the corner, lifts Brennan back to his feet, and then delivers a haymaker right that drops Devlin back down to a seated position. From there he grabs the top rope, and proceeds to savagely lay the boots into the man's midsection as if he's trying to find the center of a tootsie pop.
LO: SPIRAL IS STOMPING DEVLIN LIKE HE'S TRYING TO PUT OUT A FIRE!
KO: Yeah, this dude has snapped, and whats on the other side of that calm veneer isn't pretty.
LO: Well, we've always said that if there was any man who could make a person crack, it was Brennan Devlin, and you got to believe....that isn't an enviable quality at this moment in time!
Santiago forces himself between Spiral and Devlin, pushing the man away, and Spiral responds on instinct, raring his fist back to strike. Santiago puts both hands out in front of him, and almost as if a light bulb goes off, Spiral slowly lowers his fist and backs off as the ref threatens disqualification. In the meantime, Devlin reaches up to grab the top rope and pull himself up to his feet, leaning back heavily in the corner. After nodding to Santiago for the match to continue, he signals for Spiral and Devlin to get back at it. Spiral needs no convincing, charging right for Devlin with another Big Splash. Unfortunately for Santiago, Devlin grabs hold of his shoulders from behind, and pulls him into harms way to take the brunt of the impact. The referee is crushed between Devlin and Spiral, and when The Pale King steps away in surprise, he crumples to the mat out of it. He took some of the steam out of the move for Devlin, but not all of it, and he stumbles out of the corner clutching his spine. The look of surprise by Spiral is fleeting, and he steps out to grab a fistful of Devlin's hair to drag him to the center of the ring, hoists him up onto his shoulders in a torture rack position, and then dumps him over into a Knee Strike right to the face.
LO: SPIRAL EFFECT ON DEVLIN, BUT WE HAVE NO REFEREE!!
KO: Spiral staring down at Devlin now, and man...he looks scary here....
Spiral reaches up to smear the blood from his gash down his face, and then turns to exit the ring. The fans watch on confusedly as he flips the apron up onto the edge of the ring, and fishes underneath until grabbing hold of something solid. When his hand emerges it is grasping a solid lead pipe used to twist the turnbuckles into place. There is no expression on the man's face now as he slinks back into the ring like a snake, rising to his feet like a specter as Brennan Devlin struggles to his feet. The fans issue boo's, but they are on their edge of their seat in blood lust for what comes next. Just as Devlin turns towards Spiral, he brings the lead pipe swinging down from overhead, and it gives a dull 'PANK' as it collides with Brennan's forehead. The Face of Wrestling crashes to the mat clutching his face, and when he pulls his hands away blood pours from out of his hairline.
LO: MY GOD! NOW DEVLIN IS BUSTED OPEN, AND SPIRAL IS JUST STANDING THERE WITH ZERO EXPRESSION!
KO: I'm telling you man, this guy is cold blooded!
Santiago begins to stir over in the corner, and Spiral allows a glance down at the bloodied weapon in his hand. With some hesitation he tosses the pipe under the bottom rope to rattle across the concrete floor when it lands, and then he drops down to make a lazy cover over Brennan Devlin. It still takes Santiago some time to regain his barrings, but once he looks over to see the cover, he starts pulling himself that way. Finally flopping down beside the two men, he raises his hand to start the count.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! MY GOD! BRENNAN DEVLIN SOMEHOW MIRACULOUSLY GOT HIS SHOULDER UP AT THE LAST SECOND!
KO: Oh....I....I don't know if he should have done that...
Spiral rises off of Devlin and the cool expression has turned wicked as he spits on the canvas in disdain. Caputo slowly gets to her feet as well, laying back into the ropes to try and ascertain exactly what's happened. Spiral doesn't allow her to process for too long as he reaches down and yanks Devlin to his feet, lifting him back up into rack position. Brennan suddenly starts struggling, blood dripping from his wound to cascade down Spiral's shoulder. He manages to get his leg free, and starts bringing his knee right into the side of The Pale King's head, eventually tipping him over to where he is able to land behind him. Spiral quickly spins around, and that's when Devlin hooks him around the head for a cutter, or would have, if Spiral hadn't shoved him forwards. Brennan rebounds off the ropes and walks right into a waiting Spiral, who lifts him up onto his shoulders once more. This time, however, Brennan leaps with the lift, causing him to flip right up and over in front of Spiral, where he immediately leaps into the air and reaches back, this time catching Spiral with the cutter he was looking for earlier.
LO: FACE OFF!! FROM OUT OF NOWHERE!
KO: And look....Spiral flipped over onto his back after impact...and Devlin landed and bounced so that he's laying across the man's torso!
1...
2...
3!!!
The fans forget themselves and explode after such a bloody show, despite most of them hating Brennan Devlin, and not much liking Spiral either for that matter. The bell sounds, but both men lay there not moving, proceeding to bleed on one another in a heap.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall.......BRENNAN DEVLINNNNN!!!
Eventually Devlin rolls off of Spiral and onto his knee's, head down to rest upon his forearms. Spiral rolls for the edge of the ring, dumping out to the floor and barely getting his feet under him as he does. Both men are a bloody mess as Santiago moves between either one of them to check if they can make it on their own power. Spiral recoils from the man in a rage, stalking towards the ramp, but looking over his shoulder at Devlin who has made it to his feet thanks to the ropes. The Face of Wrestling looks up to watch The Pale King go, a grin coming to his lips despite the blood that still flows freely.
LO: Both of these men took each other to the limit, and both leave tonight a blood stained mess!
KO: Yeah, it was pretty brutal right out of the gate, but man....Spiral took it to another level with that lead pipe.
LO: All I know is that he seems to have only two speeds. Eerily stoic, or absolute psychopath. I can't tell you, to be honest, which terrifies me more.
KO: In the end though, it wasn't enough...The Face of Wrestling saw to that.
LO: I don't know, Ken. Devlin barely pulled this one out of his bag of tricks. I still don't know how he kicked out after getting beamed in the head by the pipe.
KO: Because he's the real deal, Laur! He keeps telling everyone that, but you all have your stars hitched to Cosmo Cooper! I'm a real Devlinite, man, and he's convincing more and more every show!
LO: Just keep this thought in mind....this man would sell you out in a heartbeat if it meant one more chance at the Apex Championship.
KO: I know. That's what I call dedication!
Laurence Othello buries head in his hands in dismay as Kenneth grins over at him. The camera focuses on Devlin in the ring, talking smack to the crowd, and celebrating his victory before cutting backstage.
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RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is scheduled for one fall or submission, and is for THE UNYIELDING CHAMPIONSHIP!!
The opening drums of 'A Warrior's Call' by Volbeat strikes across the capacity crowd and they all turn back to the stage to see Danny Rizzo rip through the curtain right at "LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!" He pauses for a second, a wary hand going to his taped ribs, but he shakes the thought away and nods confidently. He takes to one side of the stage jumping up and down, and then to the other, pumping a fist as the song breaks into 'Fight, Fight, Fight'. He finally comes to a stop at the top of the ramp, points down at the ring, and bounces up and down excitedly before taking off into a sprint.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at five foot eleven and 202 pounds, hailing from Dayton, Ohio.....This Is DANNY RIZZZOOOO!!
Before the announcement even has a chance to end Danny has slid right into the ring, rushing a neutral corner and taking the second turnbuckle while beating his chest and letting out a warrior yell. The fans respond favorably, loudly cheering 'Fight! Fight! Fight!' in his direction, and he drops to the mat nodding, looking pumped up for his first title challenge.
LO: Danny Rizzo overcame the challenge of NovaCaine at Allegiance, and he did so without having to give up himself in the process.
KO: Yeah, Yeah. The kid got a win. Woopity-Dooo!
LO: Sort of bleak, even for you. You have to admit, Danny Rizzo is fast becoming a fan favorite in Valor Pro, and that's evident by this opportunity he's been bestowed here tonight.
KO: Ok, fine. But it still would have been nice to see NovaCaine bust this bastard in the mouth and draw out his dark side.
LO: Well, NovaCaine won't be doing anything in Valor Pro, as his past offenses finally caught up with him and it's the reason he's not on this tour!
The announce team are cut off from further explaining as 'Prototype' by Viktoria Modesta hits over the system and as the first stanza of "I'm The Pro, I'm The Pro, I'm The Prototype' kicks in Brodie bursts through the curtain out onto the stage to a mixed, but loud, reaction. She stalks back and forth on the stage, dragging the UnYielding Championship behind her, staples lining her forehead where Roxi Johnson spilled her blood at Allegiance. Suddenly she comes to a dead stop in the center of the stage and slowly turns her head towards the ring where she stares down at Danny Rizzo, and her eyes narrow to slit as red lips part over white teeth. With a snarl she stalks down the ramp, dragging the UnYielding Championship behind her.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making her way to the ring, standing at five foot eleven and weighing 150 pounds, hailing from Manhattan, New York....She is the #1 CONTENDER TO THE APEX CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THE CURRENT UNYIELDING CHAMPION...THE SUBMISSION MACHINE...BROODDDIEEE!!
Brodie rolls under the bottom rope into the ring with the belt in tow, pops up, and steps right in Danny's direction while holding the championship above her head with one hand. The referee intercepts her to hold her back, and she steps in the opposite direction before handing the belt off to Caputo. Danny watches all of this with wide eyes, but if there are any butterflies, he quickly douses them out with a few stretches against the ropes.
LO: I'd look that way too if I stood across the ring from one of the most dominant entities in our company!
KO: Damn right, that boy thought NovaCaine was tough, he hasn't experienced anything yet. Brodie competed in a brutal Hell In A Cell against Roxi Johnson, and although Valor Pro's resident Superhero took her to the limit, she still emerged victorious.
LO: Not only that, she became the #1 Contender to the Apex Championship to go along with her UnYielding retention, and some folks in VPW have already taken exception.
KO: Just say it....Brennan Devlin is going to make sure she doesn't make it to the Apex.
LO: That remains to be seen, but until then, let's see what Danny Rizzo can do against the champion as Caputo just signaled for the bell.
As soon as the bell sounds Brodie makes a dash right for Danny who is taken by surprise by the attack, eating a Double Chop take down that sends him crashing to the mat. He pops up quickly, but Brodie is already on him, a barrage of rights and lefts that have him falling back into the ropes. Brodie gets hold of his left arm and instinct kicks in for Danny, firing out with rights of his own that beg the UnYielding Champion off. Danny tries to step out from the ropes, but Brodie comes right back in with vicious forearms that knock the rookie for a loops and almost through the ropes to the outside. He's able to catch himself on the middle, and ends up on the apron instead, and Brodie gets a handful of hair, and then runs him along the apron straight for the steel ring post of the nearby corner. Danny manages to get his foot out in front of him at the last second to stop their momentum, and he gets grip on Brodie's head and slams her face off the top turnbuckle instead.
LO: Brodie quick on the attack in the early going, and she seems almost possessed after that unsettling funeral she held for Zachariah Krahe at the top of the show...
KO: Yeah, but that shot against the turnbuckle has caused her to beg off for a second, and now Danny's gripping the top rope....SPRINGBOARD INTO AN AX HANDLE JUST TOOK BRODIE TO THE MAT!
LO: Brodie back up to her feet, and Danny firing in with jabs that have the woman stumbling....BIG RIGHT HAND TAKES HER BACK DOWN!
Brodie impacts off the mat, but bounces right back up, and Danny continues with the right hands that knock her back into the ropes. He takes her by the wrist and shoots her off, and when she rebounds rushes out to meet her with a Knee Lift. Brodie, However, leaps over the knee and laces her arm through Danny's legs, dragging him down into a Schoolboy Pin instead.
1...
2...
LO: Danny with a kick out at two after that surprise pin, and both competitors to their feet, and BRODIE WITH A LARIAT THAT TAKES DANNY'S HEAD OFF!
KO: And look at her, she's right on him as he tries to get back up....SHE'S GOT CONTROL OF THE ARM!!
Brodie puts all of her weight into Danny to try and force him back down to kiss the canvas, but the man uses his size advantage to prevent that from happening, instead forcing them up to their feet. Brodie, realizing she won't be able to apply her dread submission this time, instead decides to work the arm by spinning through into a Dragon Arm Twist. Danny slaps his shoulder at the discomfort, but Brodie spins through a second, and a third time that has Danny back down on one knee in pain. She continues to torque at the arm before suddenly bringing her knee up to strike the elbow joint. The impact causes her to loose hold of his wrist, but the damage is done as Danny grabs at his elbow and falls back into the nearby corner. Brodie follows him in, getting hold of the arm again and wrapping it around the top rope before placing her boot on the middle rope and yanking violently against the wrist. Danny cries out in pain while at the same time banging his right fist off the woman's head, forcing her to let go of him. As he tries to snake his arm out from between the ropes, however, she answers back with a leaping knee right into his shoulder that sends shockwaves through his arm.
LO: Danny Rizzo grabbing at his arm as he pushes past Brodie out of the corner, but she is already on him...already grabbing for that arm, extends it, and delivers a boot right into his armpit at the shoulder!
KO: Danny drops to one knee, and Brodie going to step through for what looks like an Armbar, BUT DANNY JUST GRABBED HER BY THE ANKLE AND YANKED HER FEET OUT FROM UNDER HER!
LO: Brodie goes face first into the canvas, and Danny with his arm free from her grasp is up to his feet, and DROPS AN ELBOW DEAD CENTER OF HER SPINE!
KO: He's back up, and drops another...and another....and another! And now he's straddling her back, and HEAVY FOREARMS DOWN INTO THE BACK OF HER HEAD!
The fans let out a cheer as Danny opens up on the offensive, each shot slamming into the back of Brodie's head and then bounding her forehead off the canvas. Eventually he comes back up to his feet and pulls Brodie with him, keeping her in front of him as he wraps his arms around her waist, and then takes her up and over into a perfect German Suplex into a bridge.
1...
2...
LO: Kick out by Brodie at two, and now Danny is pulling her to her feet again and shoving her back into the ropes....Irish Whip sends her to the other side, and she rebounds off, and here comes Danny WITH A LIGHTENING FAST SPIN WHEEL KICK THAT TAKES HER BACK DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: Danny quickly scrambling back over to grab both legs and pulls them back for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Brodie out at two and a half this time, and Danny looks to be on fire here as he pulls Brodie up and a nasty uppercut sends her falling back into the corner!
Danny approaches Brodie with both hands up in a fighters stance, two left jabs flashing out to catch the woman in the jaw. Her head snaps back, and just when it looks like she's about to slump, an uppercut right lifts her back up. He follows this up by stepping in to trap the champion in the corner, and then drives heavy back elbows directly into the side of her head. The more damage she receives, the more Brodie slumps, until eventually falling to a seated position. Quickly Danny takes a few steps back only to rush back at the corner, falling into a low Basement Dropkick that crushes the woman against the bottom turnbuckle. Brodie clutches her chest and slumps all the way to the mat, rolling under the bottom rope and finding an escape to the outside. Danny comes up and watches as she claws the apron to keep herself upright, walking along its edge, and he hits off the ropes on the opposite side for some spring.
LO: Rizzo coming back hot, and BASEBALL SLIDE UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE...BUT BRODIE MOVED!
KO: Danny slips out right in front of her, and OH! BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION, TUCK OF HIS HEAD....POWERBOMB DOWN ONTO THE APRON!
LO: GOOD LORD! BRODIE IS GIVING UP AT LEAST FIFTY POUNDS HERE, BUT SOMEHOW SHE GOT HIM UP AND DROPPED HIM SPINE FIRST AGAINST THE HARDEST PART OF THE RING!
Danny clutches at his back in obvious pain as he scoots across the floor on his stomach, while Brodie takes this reprieve to catch her breath. As Danny tries to push up to his feet, she stalks over, keeping an ear as the count from the referee rises, and reaches down to jerk Danny up to his feet. She runs him right at the ring, but at the last second switches it to a toss that sends him rolling back in and to the center of the canvas. She hops up onto the apron to break the count, and then starts to climb the nearby corner. When she reaches the top turnbuckle, she stands to her full height, and the fans come to their feet as she roars at the same time she leaps, lasting a nasty Diving Headbutt!
LO: BRODIE FROM THE HIGH RENT DISTRICT DOWN ONTO DANNY RIZZO, AND NOW SHE'S HOOKING THE LEG FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Rizzo kicks out at the last possible second, and Brodie is up to her feet and has backed Caputo all the way into the corner to protest!
LO: Well what does she want the referee to do about it? She made a fair count and Danny got his shoulder up.
KO: Um....I don't think there's much reason left inside Brodie's thinking, or haven't you noticed...she's gone loco!
Brodie eventually abandons her rage at the referee and turns it back on Danny Rizzo, who has crawled his way over to the ropes and began to pull himself up. She snarls right before sprinting right for him, and Danny looks up to see her coming in time to duck his head and send her up and over the top rope in a Back Body. Fortunately for Brodie she's able to grab the top rope on her way over, swinging and twisting in mid air to land safely on the ring apron. Danny stumbles out from the ropes gripping his shoulder, and turns to find The Submission Machine did not indeed go out of the ring. He rushes in on the attack but Brodie ducks her head and thrusts herself through the middle and top ropes into the approaching Rizzo's gut. Danny begs off clutching his midsection, and Brodie slips back into the ring to rush right for him for another Double Chop. Instead, Danny takes a stutter step in her direction, and leaps into the air to catch her in a Sling Blade that snaps the back of her head down to the canvas.
LO: Big move from Danny Rizzo as he comes back up to his feet, and man, you can tell that this championship opportunity has taken it's toll on the young man.
KO: Yeah, he can't figure out which part of him hurts worse, his left arm or his midsection after that nasty shoulder thrust from Brodie.
LO: Speaking of the champion, she's already getting to her feet, and Danny Rizzo at this point probably feels like he's in there with one of the old Hollywood Monsters rather than a fellow wrestler, cause she just keeps on coming!
Danny watches Brodie rise with a newfound respect for the UnYielding Champion, but he won't let that take away from what might be his only opportunity. He rushes right for the woman as she finally gets vertical, and she turns right into a Yakuza Kick that takes her head off and snaps her back down to the mat. Much to his surprise, Brodie is already rising up to one knee, and he shakes his head in disbelief before hitting off the ropes for spring, and then nailing her with a Shining Wizard Kick that sends her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she hits the canvas.
LO: BLACK ROSE! And Danny quickly scrambling into a deep cover!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Brodie out at the last possible nanosecond, and Danny can't believe it....he's just sitting beside her staring at her!
LO: To be honest, he's probably thinking what will he have to do if that didn't do it?
Danny slowly rises, nodding his head, and then looking out at the crowd as he does so, feeding from the mounting energy they are sending his way. He makes his way over to the far corner where he turns to wait for Brodie to rise, bidding her do so by trying to levitate her with his outstretched hand. Slowly but surely Brodie does manage to get to her feet, and just when she turns in Rizzo's direction he breaks out of the corner on a collision course with the champion. He swings his right leg around for his Kinshasa knee, but miraculously Brodie ducks under it. Danny sails over the woman and comes to a sliding stop, spinning around and rushing at her once more. This time, however, Brodie is the one that's ready, and she side steps and hooks him by the arm as he goes. Danny spins with Brodie in control, spiraling the two of them all the way down to the canvas where she grapevines his arm, and then wraps both of her hands around his chin and torques back viciously.
LO: FATALITY CROSSFACE!
KO: Oh this rookie's goose is cooked!
The fans boo as Brodie roars out into the ether, her face twisted into a vicious snarl as she rocks Danny's head awkwardly away from his shoulders while his arm is fully extended by her legs. Caputo drops into position to check for a submission as Danny cries out now in pain, each torque and re-grasp allowing Brodie to lock the hold on more effectively.
LO: Danny Rizzo is in some real trouble here as he claws with everything he has towards the ropes, but Brodie is not making it easy at all...
KO: Damn right, she's not. She looks like some sort of creature from the Hammer Film series. I....I think she enjoys this!
Danny comes to a halt in his effort to drag himself and Brodie towards the ropes, and his hand rises off the mat for a moment and Caputo gets low, ready to take his tap out surrender. Many of the fans at ringside are sure that's exactly what is about to happen, but suddenly Danny comes alive again, clawing at the mat with more vigor until finally coming within reach of the bottom rope and grasping it with his fingertips. Caputo calls for the break, but like many times before, Brodie shakes her head vehemently 'No', seeming to rock back even further if it were possible. Caputo starts a five count, and just at the moment it appears that she may have to call it, Brodie finally releases the hold and snaps up to her feet, stalking around the ring like a madwoman.
LO: Brodie did not appreciate having to break the crossface, and she looks even more dangerous now that she's tasted blood in the water.
KO: God damn right. She's like jaws out here, parting the waters with that giant fin until the next victim falls into her mouth!
Danny claws at the ropes to get to his feet, finally snagging the top and dragging himself up. He grabs at his shoulder as he turns and walks out towards the ring, right into the waiting arms of Brodie, who takes him by the injured arm, and then snaps down into an Arm Breaker that sends Rizzo reeling away from her in pain. She grabs him by the injured shoulder and yanks him back to the mat so that she can hook his leg for the cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Danny able to kick out at the last second, and Brodie coming up to her feet and laying the boots right into that injured arm.
KO: Danny scooting for all he's worth across the canvas to get away from her, and stumbles up to his feet, but Brodie fires right in with rights that knock him back into the corner.
LO: Brodie opening up with hard forearm strikes really doing a number on Rizzo, and now takes him by that same wrist to lead him back out to the center of the ring...
Brodie twists underneath Danny's arm and steps behind him, drawing him into a hammerlock. Before he has the chance to search for an escape, she switches the hand she's using to grip and slips back out in front of him, scooping him up with a boost of strength only to send him crashing to the canvas with a Hammerlock Body Slam. Danny's full weight comes down across the injured arm, and he screams in pain as he clutches at the shoulder once more in what is quickly becoming a familiar sight. Brodie reaches down to extend the arm again, but suddenly finds herself pulled down by Rizzo into a small package pin!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Brodie kicks out, and she comes up fuming! Danny trying to get to his feet, and BRODIE WITH A RUNNING KNEE RIGHT TO THE SHOULDER SENDS HIM TUMBLING TO THE OUTSIDE!
KO: As if Brodie wasn't scary enough for the past few minutes, she now looks reinvigorated by that attempt to sneak one past her as she slips to the outside after Rizzo!
Danny looks battered as he tries with one hand to pull himself to his feet by the apron while the other is tucked close to his side. Brodie comes in grabbing two fistfuls of hair, and drives Danny face first down into the ring apron. Now that he's dazed she grabs his arm and drags him over to the steel steps where she lays it out on the top even while she climbs. There, fully extended, she stomps down right into the elbow joint, the unforgiving steel offering no where for the bone to go. Danny cries out again, recoiling and pushing himself back into the ring to roll to the center to try and put distance between him and this demon.
LO: Brodie has Rizzo on the ropes, and now she's back on the apron, climbing to the top once more. I don't think I've ever seen her attempt to fly this often in a match...
KO: It's for all the marbles, Laur. She's got a championship to defend, and she's going to soften Danny up to the point he wishes he were never born, and then she's going to bring some Finality to his suffering!
Brodie reaches the top of her perch to stare down at her prey as he lay across the canvas, seemingly preoccupied by the injury she's given him. She doesn't hear the fans who boo her, dismissing them as nothing but white noise. Then she soars, leaping from the top, arms out at her side, aiming herself for a second Diving Headbutt right down into Danny Rizzo's aching shoulder. Only problem is, this time, he isn't there when she lands. Brodie tastes canvas as she smashes face first with the mat, and both competitors are left laying there side by side for the referee to eventually start a ten count.
LO: Brodie with a big crash and burn there on her second attempt at the Diving Headbutt, but Danny is too out of it from the pain in his arm to capitalize on it.
KO: Both competitors are down and getting counted out by Caputo, whose at a count of five...wait....Danny's starting to stir...
LO: Yeah, but much to his chagrin, so is Brodie...
Both competitors reach their feet at the count of eight, and upon seeing Rizzo upright, Brodie moves right in only to be surprised by a sudden right hand that halts her approach. Danny fires in another, and another, and as Brodie reels on her feet, he realizes he can't use his other hand, so he completes a full revolution spin into a Falling Clothesline that takes her head off. Danny pushes up to his feet, falling into the corner to keep himself upright as Brodie struggles to sit up. Danny nods to the rhythm of the now clapping crowd, everyone in Angola urging him on. Brodie finally pushes up to her feet while Danny springs into action, rushing right at her for another Kenshasa Knee strike.
LO: THE WARRIORS CALL!! NO!! BRODIE DUCKED IT AGAIN!!
KO: Danny spins around and BRODIE WITH A BUTTERFLY KICK!!
LO: NO!! DANNY DUCKED UNDER THAT ONE TOO...Brodie pivoting back around, and....WARRIORS CALL TAKES HER HEAD OFF!!
KO: OH MY GOD! THIS LITTLE SHIT IS ABOUT TO DO IT!
Danny quickly crawls on top of Brodie and hooks her leg deep.
1...
2...
3!!!
Danny falls off of Brodie face first to the canvas, clutching at his battered arm as Caputo signals for the bell and is handed the UnYielding Championship through the ropes. She steps over to Danny and kneels down beside him to inform him that he just won his first championship. He doesn't appear to hear her, but the next announcement jogs him from the fog of pain.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match by pinfall, AND THE NEW UNYIELDING CHAMPION......DANNY RIZZZZOOOOO!!
Danny looks up from the canvas in shock just in time to see Brodie roll under the bottom rope to the outside on the other side of the ring. The woman stares down at the mat in complete and utter disbelief, cocking her head to the side as if taking instruction from some unseen visitor, and then clutching at her own hair and letting out a blood curdling scream to try and get them to leave her alone. She shoots a baleful look at Danny who gets to his feet for fear he might have to defend himself again, but then suddenly she begins to nod, turning and stalking up the ramp towards the back as if she's being beckoned by someone else. Danny watches on dumbfounded as she goes, and then looks down at the title being presented to him by the referee. For a moment he can't believe it, the fans cheering wildly in the background as he holds the UnYielding Championship aloft from himself, but when he looks up to see the support of the fans he almost looses it. Finally he composes himself, and with a huge rookie grin he allows Caputo to raise his hand in victory.
LO: Danny Rizzo has had an incredible journey on his way to this moment, and he just got a pin over one of the most dominant forces in this business.
KO: Kid must be riding high....hell, I still can't believe it.
LO: Well believe it, Brother-O-Mine, cause Danny Rizzo is our new UnYielding Champion!
Danny takes the second turnbuckle of the nearby corner, thrusting the championship over his head before leaping down and moving to the outside to celebrate at ringside directly with the fans. They clamor around him to pat him on the back and take selfies, and Danny eats it up, more than willing to be the people's champion. Suddenly Danny falls forward from the throng of fans as if pushed, and when he turns in the direction of the assault, a steel chair comes crashing down onto his skull with such impact that his head peaks through the seat as he crumples to the ground. The shocked fans part to reveal Dakota Jennings, who hops the guardrail and snatches up the UnYielding Championship to look down into the face plate. The fans suddenly come back to reality all at once as a torrid of boo's ring out as Dakota smirks, dramatically draping the championship across Danny's torso, his head still lodged into the chair.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! DID YOU SEE WHAT THAT BITCH JUST DID?!?!
KO: HAHA! She just challenged Danny Rizzo for his newly won UnYielding Championship!
LO: He just barely escaped this match with his arm intact, just won his first championship ever, and Dakota Jennings couldn't even let him have that.
KO: Maybe that's because she's sick and tired of everyone overlooking her even though she's one of the folks around here wreaking the most havoc! I mean...she put Vannah White out of business, Laur! That's huge!
LO: You're absolutely right, if anyone were winning awards for being the biggest snake in the grass, she and her boyfriend would win hands down, but COME ON!
Dakota mockingly nudges the chair with her foot which causes Danny's head to loll around, bringing on an even louder negative reaction from the fans. Dakota rolls her eyes, and then points at the championship, before making her way towards the ramp to exit.
LO: First Leela Watts, and now Danny Rizzo....God Almighty, is anyone safe?
KO: If Dakota Jennings doesn't start getting what she wants, apparently not!
The camera cuts back to a down Danny Rizzo as Medical Staff rush to ringside to try and remove the steel chair from his head, and then cuts to a shot of Dakota Jennings still at the top of the stage, blowing mock kisses that she turns into the bird at the fans before eventually cutting to commercial.
The opening drums of 'A Warrior's Call' by Volbeat strikes across the capacity crowd and they all turn back to the stage to see Danny Rizzo rip through the curtain right at "LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!" He pauses for a second, a wary hand going to his taped ribs, but he shakes the thought away and nods confidently. He takes to one side of the stage jumping up and down, and then to the other, pumping a fist as the song breaks into 'Fight, Fight, Fight'. He finally comes to a stop at the top of the ramp, points down at the ring, and bounces up and down excitedly before taking off into a sprint.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at five foot eleven and 202 pounds, hailing from Dayton, Ohio.....This Is DANNY RIZZZOOOO!!
Before the announcement even has a chance to end Danny has slid right into the ring, rushing a neutral corner and taking the second turnbuckle while beating his chest and letting out a warrior yell. The fans respond favorably, loudly cheering 'Fight! Fight! Fight!' in his direction, and he drops to the mat nodding, looking pumped up for his first title challenge.
LO: Danny Rizzo overcame the challenge of NovaCaine at Allegiance, and he did so without having to give up himself in the process.
KO: Yeah, Yeah. The kid got a win. Woopity-Dooo!
LO: Sort of bleak, even for you. You have to admit, Danny Rizzo is fast becoming a fan favorite in Valor Pro, and that's evident by this opportunity he's been bestowed here tonight.
KO: Ok, fine. But it still would have been nice to see NovaCaine bust this bastard in the mouth and draw out his dark side.
LO: Well, NovaCaine won't be doing anything in Valor Pro, as his past offenses finally caught up with him and it's the reason he's not on this tour!
The announce team are cut off from further explaining as 'Prototype' by Viktoria Modesta hits over the system and as the first stanza of "I'm The Pro, I'm The Pro, I'm The Prototype' kicks in Brodie bursts through the curtain out onto the stage to a mixed, but loud, reaction. She stalks back and forth on the stage, dragging the UnYielding Championship behind her, staples lining her forehead where Roxi Johnson spilled her blood at Allegiance. Suddenly she comes to a dead stop in the center of the stage and slowly turns her head towards the ring where she stares down at Danny Rizzo, and her eyes narrow to slit as red lips part over white teeth. With a snarl she stalks down the ramp, dragging the UnYielding Championship behind her.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making her way to the ring, standing at five foot eleven and weighing 150 pounds, hailing from Manhattan, New York....She is the #1 CONTENDER TO THE APEX CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THE CURRENT UNYIELDING CHAMPION...THE SUBMISSION MACHINE...BROODDDIEEE!!
Brodie rolls under the bottom rope into the ring with the belt in tow, pops up, and steps right in Danny's direction while holding the championship above her head with one hand. The referee intercepts her to hold her back, and she steps in the opposite direction before handing the belt off to Caputo. Danny watches all of this with wide eyes, but if there are any butterflies, he quickly douses them out with a few stretches against the ropes.
LO: I'd look that way too if I stood across the ring from one of the most dominant entities in our company!
KO: Damn right, that boy thought NovaCaine was tough, he hasn't experienced anything yet. Brodie competed in a brutal Hell In A Cell against Roxi Johnson, and although Valor Pro's resident Superhero took her to the limit, she still emerged victorious.
LO: Not only that, she became the #1 Contender to the Apex Championship to go along with her UnYielding retention, and some folks in VPW have already taken exception.
KO: Just say it....Brennan Devlin is going to make sure she doesn't make it to the Apex.
LO: That remains to be seen, but until then, let's see what Danny Rizzo can do against the champion as Caputo just signaled for the bell.
As soon as the bell sounds Brodie makes a dash right for Danny who is taken by surprise by the attack, eating a Double Chop take down that sends him crashing to the mat. He pops up quickly, but Brodie is already on him, a barrage of rights and lefts that have him falling back into the ropes. Brodie gets hold of his left arm and instinct kicks in for Danny, firing out with rights of his own that beg the UnYielding Champion off. Danny tries to step out from the ropes, but Brodie comes right back in with vicious forearms that knock the rookie for a loops and almost through the ropes to the outside. He's able to catch himself on the middle, and ends up on the apron instead, and Brodie gets a handful of hair, and then runs him along the apron straight for the steel ring post of the nearby corner. Danny manages to get his foot out in front of him at the last second to stop their momentum, and he gets grip on Brodie's head and slams her face off the top turnbuckle instead.
LO: Brodie quick on the attack in the early going, and she seems almost possessed after that unsettling funeral she held for Zachariah Krahe at the top of the show...
KO: Yeah, but that shot against the turnbuckle has caused her to beg off for a second, and now Danny's gripping the top rope....SPRINGBOARD INTO AN AX HANDLE JUST TOOK BRODIE TO THE MAT!
LO: Brodie back up to her feet, and Danny firing in with jabs that have the woman stumbling....BIG RIGHT HAND TAKES HER BACK DOWN!
Brodie impacts off the mat, but bounces right back up, and Danny continues with the right hands that knock her back into the ropes. He takes her by the wrist and shoots her off, and when she rebounds rushes out to meet her with a Knee Lift. Brodie, However, leaps over the knee and laces her arm through Danny's legs, dragging him down into a Schoolboy Pin instead.
1...
2...
LO: Danny with a kick out at two after that surprise pin, and both competitors to their feet, and BRODIE WITH A LARIAT THAT TAKES DANNY'S HEAD OFF!
KO: And look at her, she's right on him as he tries to get back up....SHE'S GOT CONTROL OF THE ARM!!
Brodie puts all of her weight into Danny to try and force him back down to kiss the canvas, but the man uses his size advantage to prevent that from happening, instead forcing them up to their feet. Brodie, realizing she won't be able to apply her dread submission this time, instead decides to work the arm by spinning through into a Dragon Arm Twist. Danny slaps his shoulder at the discomfort, but Brodie spins through a second, and a third time that has Danny back down on one knee in pain. She continues to torque at the arm before suddenly bringing her knee up to strike the elbow joint. The impact causes her to loose hold of his wrist, but the damage is done as Danny grabs at his elbow and falls back into the nearby corner. Brodie follows him in, getting hold of the arm again and wrapping it around the top rope before placing her boot on the middle rope and yanking violently against the wrist. Danny cries out in pain while at the same time banging his right fist off the woman's head, forcing her to let go of him. As he tries to snake his arm out from between the ropes, however, she answers back with a leaping knee right into his shoulder that sends shockwaves through his arm.
LO: Danny Rizzo grabbing at his arm as he pushes past Brodie out of the corner, but she is already on him...already grabbing for that arm, extends it, and delivers a boot right into his armpit at the shoulder!
KO: Danny drops to one knee, and Brodie going to step through for what looks like an Armbar, BUT DANNY JUST GRABBED HER BY THE ANKLE AND YANKED HER FEET OUT FROM UNDER HER!
LO: Brodie goes face first into the canvas, and Danny with his arm free from her grasp is up to his feet, and DROPS AN ELBOW DEAD CENTER OF HER SPINE!
KO: He's back up, and drops another...and another....and another! And now he's straddling her back, and HEAVY FOREARMS DOWN INTO THE BACK OF HER HEAD!
The fans let out a cheer as Danny opens up on the offensive, each shot slamming into the back of Brodie's head and then bounding her forehead off the canvas. Eventually he comes back up to his feet and pulls Brodie with him, keeping her in front of him as he wraps his arms around her waist, and then takes her up and over into a perfect German Suplex into a bridge.
1...
2...
LO: Kick out by Brodie at two, and now Danny is pulling her to her feet again and shoving her back into the ropes....Irish Whip sends her to the other side, and she rebounds off, and here comes Danny WITH A LIGHTENING FAST SPIN WHEEL KICK THAT TAKES HER BACK DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: Danny quickly scrambling back over to grab both legs and pulls them back for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Brodie out at two and a half this time, and Danny looks to be on fire here as he pulls Brodie up and a nasty uppercut sends her falling back into the corner!
Danny approaches Brodie with both hands up in a fighters stance, two left jabs flashing out to catch the woman in the jaw. Her head snaps back, and just when it looks like she's about to slump, an uppercut right lifts her back up. He follows this up by stepping in to trap the champion in the corner, and then drives heavy back elbows directly into the side of her head. The more damage she receives, the more Brodie slumps, until eventually falling to a seated position. Quickly Danny takes a few steps back only to rush back at the corner, falling into a low Basement Dropkick that crushes the woman against the bottom turnbuckle. Brodie clutches her chest and slumps all the way to the mat, rolling under the bottom rope and finding an escape to the outside. Danny comes up and watches as she claws the apron to keep herself upright, walking along its edge, and he hits off the ropes on the opposite side for some spring.
LO: Rizzo coming back hot, and BASEBALL SLIDE UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE...BUT BRODIE MOVED!
KO: Danny slips out right in front of her, and OH! BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION, TUCK OF HIS HEAD....POWERBOMB DOWN ONTO THE APRON!
LO: GOOD LORD! BRODIE IS GIVING UP AT LEAST FIFTY POUNDS HERE, BUT SOMEHOW SHE GOT HIM UP AND DROPPED HIM SPINE FIRST AGAINST THE HARDEST PART OF THE RING!
Danny clutches at his back in obvious pain as he scoots across the floor on his stomach, while Brodie takes this reprieve to catch her breath. As Danny tries to push up to his feet, she stalks over, keeping an ear as the count from the referee rises, and reaches down to jerk Danny up to his feet. She runs him right at the ring, but at the last second switches it to a toss that sends him rolling back in and to the center of the canvas. She hops up onto the apron to break the count, and then starts to climb the nearby corner. When she reaches the top turnbuckle, she stands to her full height, and the fans come to their feet as she roars at the same time she leaps, lasting a nasty Diving Headbutt!
LO: BRODIE FROM THE HIGH RENT DISTRICT DOWN ONTO DANNY RIZZO, AND NOW SHE'S HOOKING THE LEG FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Rizzo kicks out at the last possible second, and Brodie is up to her feet and has backed Caputo all the way into the corner to protest!
LO: Well what does she want the referee to do about it? She made a fair count and Danny got his shoulder up.
KO: Um....I don't think there's much reason left inside Brodie's thinking, or haven't you noticed...she's gone loco!
Brodie eventually abandons her rage at the referee and turns it back on Danny Rizzo, who has crawled his way over to the ropes and began to pull himself up. She snarls right before sprinting right for him, and Danny looks up to see her coming in time to duck his head and send her up and over the top rope in a Back Body. Fortunately for Brodie she's able to grab the top rope on her way over, swinging and twisting in mid air to land safely on the ring apron. Danny stumbles out from the ropes gripping his shoulder, and turns to find The Submission Machine did not indeed go out of the ring. He rushes in on the attack but Brodie ducks her head and thrusts herself through the middle and top ropes into the approaching Rizzo's gut. Danny begs off clutching his midsection, and Brodie slips back into the ring to rush right for him for another Double Chop. Instead, Danny takes a stutter step in her direction, and leaps into the air to catch her in a Sling Blade that snaps the back of her head down to the canvas.
LO: Big move from Danny Rizzo as he comes back up to his feet, and man, you can tell that this championship opportunity has taken it's toll on the young man.
KO: Yeah, he can't figure out which part of him hurts worse, his left arm or his midsection after that nasty shoulder thrust from Brodie.
LO: Speaking of the champion, she's already getting to her feet, and Danny Rizzo at this point probably feels like he's in there with one of the old Hollywood Monsters rather than a fellow wrestler, cause she just keeps on coming!
Danny watches Brodie rise with a newfound respect for the UnYielding Champion, but he won't let that take away from what might be his only opportunity. He rushes right for the woman as she finally gets vertical, and she turns right into a Yakuza Kick that takes her head off and snaps her back down to the mat. Much to his surprise, Brodie is already rising up to one knee, and he shakes his head in disbelief before hitting off the ropes for spring, and then nailing her with a Shining Wizard Kick that sends her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she hits the canvas.
LO: BLACK ROSE! And Danny quickly scrambling into a deep cover!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Brodie out at the last possible nanosecond, and Danny can't believe it....he's just sitting beside her staring at her!
LO: To be honest, he's probably thinking what will he have to do if that didn't do it?
Danny slowly rises, nodding his head, and then looking out at the crowd as he does so, feeding from the mounting energy they are sending his way. He makes his way over to the far corner where he turns to wait for Brodie to rise, bidding her do so by trying to levitate her with his outstretched hand. Slowly but surely Brodie does manage to get to her feet, and just when she turns in Rizzo's direction he breaks out of the corner on a collision course with the champion. He swings his right leg around for his Kinshasa knee, but miraculously Brodie ducks under it. Danny sails over the woman and comes to a sliding stop, spinning around and rushing at her once more. This time, however, Brodie is the one that's ready, and she side steps and hooks him by the arm as he goes. Danny spins with Brodie in control, spiraling the two of them all the way down to the canvas where she grapevines his arm, and then wraps both of her hands around his chin and torques back viciously.
LO: FATALITY CROSSFACE!
KO: Oh this rookie's goose is cooked!
The fans boo as Brodie roars out into the ether, her face twisted into a vicious snarl as she rocks Danny's head awkwardly away from his shoulders while his arm is fully extended by her legs. Caputo drops into position to check for a submission as Danny cries out now in pain, each torque and re-grasp allowing Brodie to lock the hold on more effectively.
LO: Danny Rizzo is in some real trouble here as he claws with everything he has towards the ropes, but Brodie is not making it easy at all...
KO: Damn right, she's not. She looks like some sort of creature from the Hammer Film series. I....I think she enjoys this!
Danny comes to a halt in his effort to drag himself and Brodie towards the ropes, and his hand rises off the mat for a moment and Caputo gets low, ready to take his tap out surrender. Many of the fans at ringside are sure that's exactly what is about to happen, but suddenly Danny comes alive again, clawing at the mat with more vigor until finally coming within reach of the bottom rope and grasping it with his fingertips. Caputo calls for the break, but like many times before, Brodie shakes her head vehemently 'No', seeming to rock back even further if it were possible. Caputo starts a five count, and just at the moment it appears that she may have to call it, Brodie finally releases the hold and snaps up to her feet, stalking around the ring like a madwoman.
LO: Brodie did not appreciate having to break the crossface, and she looks even more dangerous now that she's tasted blood in the water.
KO: God damn right. She's like jaws out here, parting the waters with that giant fin until the next victim falls into her mouth!
Danny claws at the ropes to get to his feet, finally snagging the top and dragging himself up. He grabs at his shoulder as he turns and walks out towards the ring, right into the waiting arms of Brodie, who takes him by the injured arm, and then snaps down into an Arm Breaker that sends Rizzo reeling away from her in pain. She grabs him by the injured shoulder and yanks him back to the mat so that she can hook his leg for the cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Danny able to kick out at the last second, and Brodie coming up to her feet and laying the boots right into that injured arm.
KO: Danny scooting for all he's worth across the canvas to get away from her, and stumbles up to his feet, but Brodie fires right in with rights that knock him back into the corner.
LO: Brodie opening up with hard forearm strikes really doing a number on Rizzo, and now takes him by that same wrist to lead him back out to the center of the ring...
Brodie twists underneath Danny's arm and steps behind him, drawing him into a hammerlock. Before he has the chance to search for an escape, she switches the hand she's using to grip and slips back out in front of him, scooping him up with a boost of strength only to send him crashing to the canvas with a Hammerlock Body Slam. Danny's full weight comes down across the injured arm, and he screams in pain as he clutches at the shoulder once more in what is quickly becoming a familiar sight. Brodie reaches down to extend the arm again, but suddenly finds herself pulled down by Rizzo into a small package pin!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Brodie kicks out, and she comes up fuming! Danny trying to get to his feet, and BRODIE WITH A RUNNING KNEE RIGHT TO THE SHOULDER SENDS HIM TUMBLING TO THE OUTSIDE!
KO: As if Brodie wasn't scary enough for the past few minutes, she now looks reinvigorated by that attempt to sneak one past her as she slips to the outside after Rizzo!
Danny looks battered as he tries with one hand to pull himself to his feet by the apron while the other is tucked close to his side. Brodie comes in grabbing two fistfuls of hair, and drives Danny face first down into the ring apron. Now that he's dazed she grabs his arm and drags him over to the steel steps where she lays it out on the top even while she climbs. There, fully extended, she stomps down right into the elbow joint, the unforgiving steel offering no where for the bone to go. Danny cries out again, recoiling and pushing himself back into the ring to roll to the center to try and put distance between him and this demon.
LO: Brodie has Rizzo on the ropes, and now she's back on the apron, climbing to the top once more. I don't think I've ever seen her attempt to fly this often in a match...
KO: It's for all the marbles, Laur. She's got a championship to defend, and she's going to soften Danny up to the point he wishes he were never born, and then she's going to bring some Finality to his suffering!
Brodie reaches the top of her perch to stare down at her prey as he lay across the canvas, seemingly preoccupied by the injury she's given him. She doesn't hear the fans who boo her, dismissing them as nothing but white noise. Then she soars, leaping from the top, arms out at her side, aiming herself for a second Diving Headbutt right down into Danny Rizzo's aching shoulder. Only problem is, this time, he isn't there when she lands. Brodie tastes canvas as she smashes face first with the mat, and both competitors are left laying there side by side for the referee to eventually start a ten count.
LO: Brodie with a big crash and burn there on her second attempt at the Diving Headbutt, but Danny is too out of it from the pain in his arm to capitalize on it.
KO: Both competitors are down and getting counted out by Caputo, whose at a count of five...wait....Danny's starting to stir...
LO: Yeah, but much to his chagrin, so is Brodie...
Both competitors reach their feet at the count of eight, and upon seeing Rizzo upright, Brodie moves right in only to be surprised by a sudden right hand that halts her approach. Danny fires in another, and another, and as Brodie reels on her feet, he realizes he can't use his other hand, so he completes a full revolution spin into a Falling Clothesline that takes her head off. Danny pushes up to his feet, falling into the corner to keep himself upright as Brodie struggles to sit up. Danny nods to the rhythm of the now clapping crowd, everyone in Angola urging him on. Brodie finally pushes up to her feet while Danny springs into action, rushing right at her for another Kenshasa Knee strike.
LO: THE WARRIORS CALL!! NO!! BRODIE DUCKED IT AGAIN!!
KO: Danny spins around and BRODIE WITH A BUTTERFLY KICK!!
LO: NO!! DANNY DUCKED UNDER THAT ONE TOO...Brodie pivoting back around, and....WARRIORS CALL TAKES HER HEAD OFF!!
KO: OH MY GOD! THIS LITTLE SHIT IS ABOUT TO DO IT!
Danny quickly crawls on top of Brodie and hooks her leg deep.
1...
2...
3!!!
Danny falls off of Brodie face first to the canvas, clutching at his battered arm as Caputo signals for the bell and is handed the UnYielding Championship through the ropes. She steps over to Danny and kneels down beside him to inform him that he just won his first championship. He doesn't appear to hear her, but the next announcement jogs him from the fog of pain.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match by pinfall, AND THE NEW UNYIELDING CHAMPION......DANNY RIZZZZOOOOO!!
Danny looks up from the canvas in shock just in time to see Brodie roll under the bottom rope to the outside on the other side of the ring. The woman stares down at the mat in complete and utter disbelief, cocking her head to the side as if taking instruction from some unseen visitor, and then clutching at her own hair and letting out a blood curdling scream to try and get them to leave her alone. She shoots a baleful look at Danny who gets to his feet for fear he might have to defend himself again, but then suddenly she begins to nod, turning and stalking up the ramp towards the back as if she's being beckoned by someone else. Danny watches on dumbfounded as she goes, and then looks down at the title being presented to him by the referee. For a moment he can't believe it, the fans cheering wildly in the background as he holds the UnYielding Championship aloft from himself, but when he looks up to see the support of the fans he almost looses it. Finally he composes himself, and with a huge rookie grin he allows Caputo to raise his hand in victory.
LO: Danny Rizzo has had an incredible journey on his way to this moment, and he just got a pin over one of the most dominant forces in this business.
KO: Kid must be riding high....hell, I still can't believe it.
LO: Well believe it, Brother-O-Mine, cause Danny Rizzo is our new UnYielding Champion!
Danny takes the second turnbuckle of the nearby corner, thrusting the championship over his head before leaping down and moving to the outside to celebrate at ringside directly with the fans. They clamor around him to pat him on the back and take selfies, and Danny eats it up, more than willing to be the people's champion. Suddenly Danny falls forward from the throng of fans as if pushed, and when he turns in the direction of the assault, a steel chair comes crashing down onto his skull with such impact that his head peaks through the seat as he crumples to the ground. The shocked fans part to reveal Dakota Jennings, who hops the guardrail and snatches up the UnYielding Championship to look down into the face plate. The fans suddenly come back to reality all at once as a torrid of boo's ring out as Dakota smirks, dramatically draping the championship across Danny's torso, his head still lodged into the chair.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! DID YOU SEE WHAT THAT BITCH JUST DID?!?!
KO: HAHA! She just challenged Danny Rizzo for his newly won UnYielding Championship!
LO: He just barely escaped this match with his arm intact, just won his first championship ever, and Dakota Jennings couldn't even let him have that.
KO: Maybe that's because she's sick and tired of everyone overlooking her even though she's one of the folks around here wreaking the most havoc! I mean...she put Vannah White out of business, Laur! That's huge!
LO: You're absolutely right, if anyone were winning awards for being the biggest snake in the grass, she and her boyfriend would win hands down, but COME ON!
Dakota mockingly nudges the chair with her foot which causes Danny's head to loll around, bringing on an even louder negative reaction from the fans. Dakota rolls her eyes, and then points at the championship, before making her way towards the ramp to exit.
LO: First Leela Watts, and now Danny Rizzo....God Almighty, is anyone safe?
KO: If Dakota Jennings doesn't start getting what she wants, apparently not!
The camera cuts back to a down Danny Rizzo as Medical Staff rush to ringside to try and remove the steel chair from his head, and then cuts to a shot of Dakota Jennings still at the top of the stage, blowing mock kisses that she turns into the bird at the fans before eventually cutting to commercial.
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HIGH OCTANE WRESTLING
MAIN EVENT
RING ANNOUNCER: The following is a Non-Title Match scheduled for one fall or submission....
'Turn To Stone' by Joe Walsh fills the arena as the lights dim and a single spot light illuminates the stage. Out from the curtain steps Cross Recoba, a titanium cane with a golden lion's head handle in one hand, touching the crucifix with the other. The crowd responds with a chorus of boo's for The Fox while Cross uses the handle of the cane to push his shag hair cut from his face, flicking his head back confidently as he grins out at the audience obnoxiously. He holds up the cane that has caused so much trouble in the past to an even more venomous response from the fans, and he begins down the ramp still holding it aloft.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot ten and weighting in at 230 pounds, hailing from New York, New York...He is the former UnYielding Champion, 'THE FOX' CROSS RECOBBBAAA!!
Recoba reaches ringside and holds the lions head handle of the cane up to his lips and kisses it for luck. He sets the cane to rest against the ring steps, and then climbs them up onto the apron, and with a wipe of his feet slips between the ropes. He pops up with both hands out at his side, walking forward as if putting his glory on display, and delivers an over exaggerated bow that causes the fans to crow even louder in disdain. Cross stands to his full height and smirks, stepping over to the far corner to await his opponents arrival.
LO: Cross Recoba sees himself as the only one in the promotion of any value, despite having problems holding onto championships.
KO: Are you kidding me? The guy is a two time UnYielding Champion!
LO: Yeah, and he got the first by paying off Zachariah Krahe to earn it for him and then hand it over.
KO: Cross made that right when he beat Krahe for the championship...
LO: And then he lost it right back to him at Equinox...
KO: You know what...SHUT UP LAURENCE!
Laurence Othello chuckles as Kenneth fumes, but both perk up as the lights dim and the familiar finger snaps from 'Lifted' by CL come over the speakers. Stage lights begin flashing gold and silver, converging on the stage where Cosmo Cooper is already standing, baseball cap covering his head that is staring down at the steel. The Apex Championship sits snugly around his waist, and the African crowd goes nuts at the sight of him. After a few moments he allows his head to lift, and he looks out at the crowd under the brim of his hat with a confident grin before reaching up and taking it by the brim, and sends it into the crowd like a discus. Fans clammer to get hold of the keepsake as Cosmo starts his trek down the ramp.
RING ANNOUNCER: And introducing his opponent, standing at six foot two and weighting in at 232 pounds....hailing from Santa Rosa, California...He is the General Managers Champion of Choice, the reigning Apex Champion, THE GRAPS JESUS, COSMO COOOPPPEERRRR!!
Cosmo reaches ringside and steps around to the corner of the ring where the steps reside, and falls back into the guardrail where the front row fans all pat him on the back while he nods, looking up into the ring at Cross with a grin. After a second he pops off the rail and up the steps, springboarding over the top rope into the ring and spins around, leaping up to the second turnbuckle while simultaneously peeling the title from his waist and hoisting it with one hand triumphantly into the air. He gets a huge pop and he nods to the crowd, sticking his thumb over his shoulder and chuckling, as if saying 'No Sweat'. He drops back down and as he hands the championship off to the referee he takes on a more serious demeanor, just staring across the ring at Recoba who watches all of this with a snide smirk of his own.
LO: Cosmo Cooper and Recoba came face to face for the first time in the Main Event of Allegiance, and it was obvious from the start that Cross was trying to make a statement at the expense of the Apex Champion.
KO: No doubt! Cross is the ultimate opportunist, and will stop at nothing until he's the top of this industry. Beating Cooper here tonight would no doubt put everything into question going forward with any and all challengers to the Apex.
LO: Maybe so, but Brodie has a date with destiny, and Cooper still has his problems with Devlin to resolve. I'm not so sure that the title picture can take too many more people trying to horn in on the action!
KO: Be that as it may, this is Recoba's chance to do just that, and there goes the bell to start it!
Cooper steps confidently to the center of the ring where Recoba joins him, the two men exchanging some verbal sparring. Recoba says something disparaging, and Cooper rolls his eyes, looking at the crowd and shrugging his shoulders as if dismissing the man. When he turns his head back to regard Recoba, however, The Fox reaches up and smacks him right across the jaw out of nowhere. The audience lets out an audible gasp as Cooper's head lolls to the side, and when he brings it back around to regard the man, his face has went from almost smug confidence to one of anger. Recoba's eyes go wide, contemplating the slap as a mistake, but before Cooper can make a move Cross tucks tale and runs for the ropes. Cooper with a snarl gives pursuit, grabbing at Cross right as he dives out of the ring. Cooper follows him out, and Recoba takes off in a sprint around the corners of the ring with the Apex Champion in hot pursuit. When they reach the side of the ring where the Ramp dumps into ringside, Recoba suddenly pivots back towards the ring and belly slides under the bottom rope. Cooper, so caught up in his pursuit, follows suit, but is surprised when he enters to reigning down stomps from Recoba, this being his plan all along.
LO: Recoba suckering the champion back into the ring, and was able to scramble to his feet and start laying in the boots to Cosmo before he realized what was happening....
KO: Yeah, but that isn't keeping Cooper down. He's taking the hits and still rising up!
Cooper reaches his feet, and Recoba switches tactics, moving from stomps to Knife Edge Chops that echo throughout the arena. The chops have an effect, forcing Cooper along the ropes until settling into a corner where Cross really unloads on him with one, two, three, and a final chop that has Cosmo shoving past him to stumble towards the center of the ring. Recoba gives a sardonic grin as he pursues, spinning the man around and laying in a massive chop that sends Cooper crashing to the mat. He doesn't stay down as he comes right back up, and Cross is there to meet him with another chop that sends him falling into the ropes. From there, Cross takes him by the wrist and shoots him to the opposite side.
LO: Cooper rebounds off the ropes and is barreling back in now, and OH! Cross out to meet him with a Running Knee that sends Cooper into a front flip before slamming into the mat!
KO: Cooper already moving up, but Cross is there with an elbow down across the man's head to force him back down to the mat.....FOOTBALL LIKE PUNT FROM RECOBA RIGHT INTO COSMO'S RIBS!
The punt actually lifts Cosmo off the canvas, and he rolls a few paces towards the ropes clutching his rib cage in obvious pain. Cross doesn't waste anytime, stepping over and driving a knee down into Cooper's gut which elicits a grunt from the champion. A few follow up boots have Cosmo all the way up against the bottom rope, and that's when Recoba takes a few steps back and then rushes forwards into a Baseball Slide that ejects Cooper right under the rope and painfully to the concrete floor. The referee admonishes Cross who completely ignores him, slipping out under the bottom as well to land beside Cooper. As the champion pushes up to his feet, Recoba rushes in at him from the side and leaps into a Running Knee that strikes Cooper right in the hip, and sends him stumbling haphazardly forward to crash gut first across the steel guard rail.
LO: It's obvious at this point that Cross has decided to target Cooper's midsection, which might be throwing the champion off his game as Recoba usually targets the lower back for Garibaldi's Guillotine or the head for Up All Night In Dakota...
KO: That's why it's genius, Laur. Switching up tactics right from the start to throw Cosmo off the scent...
Cross pulls Cooper off the guard rail, spinning him around and lifting him up onto his shoulder, and then tossing him up into the air to come crashing down across the top of the steel chest and ribs first. Cooper falls away from the guardrail with a red whelps on his chest from the chops, and an obvious injury from this focus on his midsection. Recoba watches as he pulls himself towards the ring with a shit eating grin, taking his opponents moment of vulnerability to turn to the crowd and deliver a pompous bow. The African crowd reign down a chorus of boo's at The Fox, and he feigns mock offense before turning back to Cooper who has reached the ring apron and pulled himself up. Recoba steps in behind him and gets a handful of tights, tossing him under the bottom rope and back into the ring.
LO: Both competitors coming back into the ring now, and Recoba pulls the champion up to his feet, lifts him up into a standing Fireman's Carry....and BRINGS HIM CRASHING DOWN ACROSS HIS KNEE INTO A GUT BUSTER!
KO: That looks to have knocked the wind out of Cooper, and now Recoba going for a lackadaisical cover!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Cooper kicks out at two and half, and you can tell by Recoba's expression he wasn't expecting that to put the champion away, but instead wanted Cosmo to expend energy having to kick out.
KO: Not only that, he gets the chance to disrespect the champ with that shoddy cover...
The smirk is still in place as Recoba pulls Cosmo up to his feet and then delivers a nasty chop that knocks him back into the corner. Cross steps over and grabs the middle rope on either side of Cooper, and then lowers his shoulder and drives it into the mans midsection. Cooper gives an 'Ooof' as he's driven into the turnbuckles, but his expression goes from discomfort to pain as Recoba continues the Shoulder Thrusts repeatedly until Cooper is nearly folded up between the top and middle turnbuckle. In this position Cooper's red chest is prominently displayed, and Recoba makes a disparaging remark just before winding up and delivering a thunderous chop that rings out through the arena. Cosmo stumbles out of the corner and follows the ropes out to the center of them, pursued by Recoba, who has no indication that he's going to give the man a second of reprieve.
LO: Cross Recoba now taking Cooper by the wrist, and shoots him off the ropes to the other side....Cooper on his way back now, and WALKS RIGHT INTO AN ABDOMINAL STRETCH!
KO: Oh man! That's going to wreak havoc on the ribs and midsection that Cross has been targeting!
Cooper cries out and then vehemently shakes his head 'No' to the referee who is asking for his submission, while Cross continues to crank against the mans trapped arm. Just for good measure, Cross takes his free arm and centers his elbow on Cooper's exposed torso, and begins driving the point directly into his ribs, each blow causing a new cry of pain from the champion.
LO: I really can't believe this, Ken. This has all been Cross Recoba so far in this match...
KO: I'm not surprised. It's obvious that Recoba came in here with a game plan to throw Cooper off the scent. That's why he may be the finest strategist here in Valor Pro.
LO: Certainly as we pointed out before, he is the most opportunistic, which is working to his advantage right now in this match!
The Angola crowd begin to clap to try and send their vibes towards their Apex Champion, slowly at first, but soon picking up speed. This indeed does seem to do something to Cooper, who grits his teeth through the pain and starts nodding with the rhythm of the noise. With a sudden burst of strength, Cooper manages to get Recoba's leg unhooked from his, and takes the man up and over with a Judo like Hip Toss that sends him down to the mat. Recoba pops up quickly, but Cooper is there to meet him with a Lariat that sends him back down. Again he pops up, and again is dropped to the canvas by another Lariat. This time Recoba gets up a little more cautiously, but it doesn't help as Cooper comes in with end over end right hands that bounce off of Cross' skull and drive him back into the ropes. Cooper takes him by the wrist and shoots him off only for Recoba to return, walking right into an Overhead Release Belly to Belly Suplex that sends him rocketing towards the other side of the ring.
LO: The Apex champion has come alive here, and Cooper over near the ropes trying to scramble up....and here comes Cosmo....BUT RECOBA DUCKS HIS HEAD AND SENDS HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A BACK BODY DROP!
KO: NO! Cosmo caught the top rope on his way over and swung back around to land on the apron....Recoba stepping out to the center of the ring doesn't realize that he didn't eliminate the champion!
Recoba catches on to the crowd reaction and spins around just in time to see Cooper leap to the top rope and springboard off into a massive Superman Punch that sends Cross to the canvas like a sack of potatoes. Despite the impact Recoba is already trying to roll up to his feet, when Cooper comes in with rights and lefts, forcing him back into the corner where he traps him and starts delivering shoot kicks. Recoba begins to slump, and as if looking for revenge from earlier, Cooper eagerly lifts the man's chin, and fires in a murderous chop that sends a smack throughout the arena.
LO: Good God! Cooper just lit up Cross Recoba with that one, and IS NOW RAPID FIRE CHOPPING THE MAN INTO OBLIVION!
KO: HEY! HE CAN'T DO THAT!
LO: Well it looks like he just did, as he's chopped Recoba all the way into a seated position against the turnbuckles.....now what's he doing?
KO: Cooper steps out to the center of the ring and then comes rushing back in....LOW FALLING DROPKICK RIGHT INTO RECOBA'S FACE!!
Recoba clutches at his nose as he scrambles to get out of the corner on his hands and knee's, and as he gets to the center of the ring Cooper comes right after him, wrapping him up in a waistlock from behind. From the canvas, every muscle in Cooper's body is flexed to the max as he dead lifts Cross out in front of him, and then takes him back and over in a German Suplex. Cross folds up like an accordion, and cooper bridges with the move to make it a pin.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Just two and half after that beautiful dead lift German, but Cooper is already pulling Cross to his feet for something else...
Cooper takes Recoba by the back of the head and runs him straight for the nearby corner, driving him face first into the top turnbuckle. Cross impacts and tries to clutch at his face, but Cooper has already spun him around and took him by the wrist, whipping him hard towards the far side. Recoba manages to turn his body at the last second, striking the turnbuckles with force and slumping a bit, but Cosmo is already rushing in on him, leaping into the air and delivering a High Knee that catches Recoba right under the chin and ends with him standing on the top turnbuckle. Despite his bruised chest and the damage that's been done, Cooper offers the Angola crowd a wink before pivoting to hook Recoba around the head and leaps out towards the canvas with a Bulldog that drives The Fox face first into the canvas. He immediately shoots the half and hooks the leg for a pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Recoba out at two and three quarters, and Cooper slaps the mat on his way back up to his feet indicating that he felt like that was a three.
KO: Well much like SJW's in the West, his feelings don't mean a damn thing! It was only two!
LO: You really love Cross Recoba, don't you?
KO: What's not to love? Good looking, rich as all hell, genius, and has a hot freakin' girlfriend in Dakota Jennings. Dude has it all!
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes, while back in the ring, Cosmo Cooper steps through the ropes to the apron and begins to climb the corner he had just delivered his last bit of offense from. Perched on the top turnbuckle he stands to his full height, but before he has the chance to fly, he watches as Cross Recoba quickly rolls from his position under him towards the bottom rope and to the outside. The fans boo Recoba unmercifully as he wipes at his face, turning to look up at Cooper with a grin. The grin quickly fades as just as he glances in that direction Cooper leaps from the top into a Senton that sees his body be used as a weapon as it crashes down on Recoba, wiping both men out of the match.
LO: GOOD GOD! COSMO COOPER WITH A DEATH DEFYING LEAP FROM THE TOP, AND NOW BOTH MEN ARE DOWN!
KO: Now why the hell would he do something like that....they're both going to get counted out!
Caputo drones out her count, and at five, Cooper begins to stir. He's soon followed by Recoba, but Cooper is able to get up a split second before The Fox, grabbing him by the tights and shooting him back into the ring. Cooper hops up onto the apron, grips the top rope, and waits for Recoba to gingerly get to his feet. Just as Recoba turns in Cooper's direction, he sling shots himself into the ring with a Torpedo Headbutt that drops Cross to the mat in a heap. He quickly scrambles over and hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cross just barely able to roll the shoulder, and now Cooper is up and asking the ref who is waving him off with a two.
KO: Recoba showing his resiliency, but he's got to get the momentum back on his side, or this thing is over!
LO: I don't think he's going to get the chance, Ken, cause Cooper's signaling to the crowd that it's time for the Crater Maker!
The fans go wild as Cooper pulls Recoba up, and then scoops him up onto his shoulder and gets him in Tombstone position. The Fox begins struggling vehemently on instinct, kicking his legs violently until Cooper is bent backwards trying to maintain the weight. Suddenly Cooper buckles and falls back which allows Cross to land on his feet, and now lift Cooper up into position for his own version of the Tombstone. Much the same as before, it's Cooper's turn to kick and struggle, ending in the same result. Back and forth the men go, trading the Tombstone position to try and end this match, each time getting closer and closer to the ropes.
LO: I can't believe this! We knew the two men shared the same finisher, but both are showing how adept they are at getting out of it...
KO: Yeah, but eventually someone is going to go forwards instead of backwards, and the man to pull that off has a pretty good chance of winning this thing!
LO: Not if...OH NO! CROSS RECOBA WAS THE LAST TO REVERSE, AND HIS LEGS WENT RIGHT UP AND OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH NO WHERE LEFT TO LAND!
KO: YEAH, AND HE TOOK COSMO COOPER WITH HIM!
Both men take a dangerous tumble over the top rope to land hard on the concrete floor. Caputo comes to the edge of the ring, as shocked as the fans, but she quickly regains her composure so that she can start another count.
LO: Both men hit hard on that exchange, and let me tell you folks, the concrete is unforgiving. No pads here in Valor Pro!
KO: Most definitely, and you have to wonder if either of them is going to make it back into the ring!
Caputo reaches a count of six this time before anyone is able to stir, and as the count continues to rise, both men groggily get to their feet about the same time thanks to the ring apron. Cooper and Recoba's heads loll up at the same time, and the men exchange a tired glance just as Caputo reaches nine. With a snarl, both competitors vault under the bottom rope, and roll up to their feet simultaneously to a huge ovation from the crowd.
LO: Both men back up in the ring now, and RECOBA WITH A MASSIVE CHOP TO COOPER DEAD CENTER OF THE RING!
KO: YEAH, BUT COOPER ANSWERS RIGHT BACK WITH ONE OF HIS OWN!
LO: They are laying in chop after chop, battling for supremacy, both of them knowing that the winner of this match can shape the narrative moving forwards as this has quickly escalated to a bitter rivalry!
The chops continue to ring out until one chop from Cooper is ducked by Recoba, and when the Apex spins back around, he's booted in the midsection to double him over, and then driven head first into the mat with a Lifting Sit Out DDT. Recoba is unable to immediately capitalize on his fortune, instead he sucks wind and massages his own bruising chest. Eventually he makes it back to his feet, and with an obnoxious crow to the crowd, rolls Cooper onto his back and lifts both of his legs up by their ankles.
LO: Oh no!
KO: Oh yes! He's going for Garibaldi's Guillotine!
LO: Cross choking up so that he has both legs hooked, but Cooper just came alive with struggle....He knows what this will mean if Cross gets him turned over! No one has ever broken out of the hold!
KO: Recoba's struggling to maintain hold of the legs, AND COOPER JUST MANAGED TO GET A HANDFUL OF CROSS' HAIR AND DRAGS HIM DOWN INTO AN AWKWARD SMALL PACKAGE!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Recoba manages to kick out, and both men scrambling for their feet....RECOBA WITH A SUPERKICK!
KO: COOPER DUCKED IT! Cross spins around, and SUPERKICK FROM COOPER NEARLY TAKES HIS HEAD OFF!
Recoba crashes to the mat, and Cooper drops to his knees, his head pounding, ribs aching, and altogether tired. He pushes up to his feet, reaching down to pull Recoba up, when suddenly Cross spins around behind him, yanking his head down into a Dragon Sleeper, and with a fistful of tights lifts him up for his Osaka Stunner called The Skim. Unfortunately for Cross, however, Cooper is able to use the shifting momentum to flip right out of his grasp to land behind him, hooking him in a waistlock and runs him towards the ropes. Recoba's chest bounces off the ropes, and Cooper drags him down into a rolling pin. Before Caputo can even make the one count Cross rolls right through, and as Cosmo leaps to his feet, charges for him with a lariat. Cooper ducks under, and spins back around just in time to see Cooper springboard off the second rope, swinging around for a dropkick. Instead of taking the hit, Cooper steps forward and lowers himself, and as Recoba passes over him, he stands up abruptly to snatch the man out of the air, putting him in perfect position for the Crater Maker!
LO: COOPER GOING FOR THE CRATER MAKER AGAIN, BUT RECOBA IS SHOVING AGAINST THE MAN'S MIDSECTION...SLIDING HIGHER AND HIGHER UP ONTO THE SHOULDERS UNTIL SLIPPING RIGHT OVER AND BEHIND COOPER!
KO: COOPER FALLS FLAT ON HIS BACK AND SNAPS HIS FOOT UP!! PELE KICK CATCHES CROSS FLUSH IN THE FACE!
Recoba doesn't hit the mat, but instead is sent sprawling back against the ropes where he stumbles back out while Cooper quickly scrambles back to his feet to meet him with a roundhouse kick. Cross ducks under the flying foot, and when Cooper reorients himself he's caught with a nasty chop that rattles his insides. Cooper begs off in surprise, and Cross follows up with a boot to the midsection that doubles him over, and steps through with a Swinging Neckbreaker that sends both men crashing to the mat.
LO: GOOD GOD! What a series of back and forth action, and now Cross just rolled over and draped his arm over Cooper's chest!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! HOT DAMN IT WAS SO CLOSE THAT EVEN THE REFEREE IS QUESTIONING HERSELF!
As Caputo backs away from the competitors in shock, Recoba doggedly raises his head, crawling over to the ropes so that they can help to get him on his feet. He turns to regard Cooper with a grimace, and shakes his head as the Apex Champion rolls over onto his knees in an attempt to push up off the mat. With a determined sneer, Cross steps over and pulls Cosmo up to his feet, scooping him up onto his shoulder for another attempt at Up All Night In Dakota. At this point, it's no surprise to anyone that Cooper begins to kick and squirm, and instead of allowing it to put him in a compromising position as it had done before, Cross simply sets cooper back down on his feet, hooks the man behind both knee's, and yanks his feet out from under him. Cosmo hits the back of his head as he slams into the mat, and with both legs in his grasp, Recoba moves to go back into Garibaldi's Guillotine!
LO: CROSS RECOBA GOING FOR HIS DREAD SUBMISSION ONCE MORE, BUT COOPER MANAGES TO GET A LEG FREE AND STARTS FIRING UNANSWERED SHOTS RIGHT INTO THE MAN'S UNPROTECTED FACE!
KO: Cross is loosing his grip on the other leg, and that last shot just sent him begging off....Cooper rolls backwards and up to his feet, BUT HERE COMES RECOBA!
LO: COSMO DUCKS UNDER THE WILD SWING FROM RECOBA, LEAPS UP SO THAT HE'S SITTING ON THE BACK OF HIS SHOULDERS, AND REVERSE SPIKE RANA!!
KO: LEELA BOMB!!
Cosmo falls forwards to hug the mat after the nasty maneuver, while Cross Recoba rolls around clutching the top of his skull in pain. Cooper begins to nod along with the cheering crowd, knowing that all he has to do is crawl over there and make the pin, and this war of attrition could finally be over. He starts to do just that when "Resurrection (by Erection)" by Powerwolf hits over the PA System drawing every eye in the building towards the entrance way in shock.
LO: GOD....DAMN...IT!!
KO: YASSSSSSSS!!
Brennan Devlin pushes through the curtain to a massive outpouring of boo's, but it doesn't deter the shit eating grin he beams out at the audience. His forehead sports a bandage from his brutal contest earlier in the night with Spiral, and he's wearing on of his "I heart Roster's To Death" T-shirts as he bebops down the ramp towards the ring.
LO: What the hell is this idiot doing here?
KO: He's just checking in on his former tag team partner, and making sure the Apex Champion knows that this thing between the two of them isn't over, no matter who the #1 Contender is.
LO: Well this is bullshit....Cosmo nearly had this match in hand, and now he's up and standing next to the ropes having to keep an eye on the threat outside the ring!
KO: Yeah, maybe he should worry about the threat inside the ring, cause it doesn't look like The Fox is as incapacitated as Cooper may have believed.
While Cooper jaws with Devlin, who has stopped about halfway down the ramp, Cross Recoba slips his arm through Cosmo's legs from behind and drags him down into a surprise schoolboy pin. The referee quickly slides into position to make the count, distracted enough by Devlin's appearance that she doesn't notice the blatant handful of tights in Recoba's grasp.
1...
2...
3!!!
Just at the three count Cooper manages to kick out, but when he comes up to question the referee she holds up three. The fans let out a collective boo as Cross Recoba scoots over to sit in the far corner, a wicked grin on his face as Cooper seethes and argues with the referee. Devlin up on the ramp falls to the steel, beside himself with laughter as the announcement is made.
RING ANNOUNCER: and the winner of this match via pinfall......CROSS RECOBBBAAAA!!
Suddenly 'Prototype' by Viktoria Modesta hits over the PA System, and the entire arena explodes, again all eyes turning towards the entrance. Brodie bursts through the curtain like a madwoman, fists already clenched down at her side, stalking back and forth and muttering to herself. Her blue hair is disheveled and her make up streaks down her face to give her dark mood and even scarier appearance. Her head shakes violently 'No', and she starts yelling at whoever she believes is talking to her in an unintelligible howl until finally she comes to a stop dead center of the stage.
Halfway down the ramp Brennan Devlin stares wide eyed at the crazed woman as her head slowly turns to look down in his direction. Her face twists into a mask of violence, her fists opening to reveal blue tufts yanked right out of her own skull that float down to the steel grating. Her body turns towards the ring to match the direction her gaze falls, and it shakes with an uncontrollable rage as the fists clench once more. With a terrifying roar she stalks forwards down the ramp, while Devlin turns to look back towards the ring, surprise still evident on his face.
In the ring Cooper watches, and seeing that Devlin is trapped between the Apex Champion and the crazed form UnYielding Champion, the irritation from earlier fades into a half smile. Devlin seeing this rolls his eyes, shrugs, and turns to charge at the threat that is looming only a few steps away from him now. The fans explode as Brodie and Devlin clash on the ramp with fists-a-flying, settling into piston like right hands that bounce off one another's skulls.
LO: GOOD GOD! BRODIE AND DEVLIN ARE TRYING TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART, AND LOOK.....CROSS RECOBA IS SNEAKING UP ON COSMO COOPER...
KO: DAMN! COOPER MUST HAVE SENSED IT CAUSE HE JUST TURNED AROUND AND DELIVERED A CHOP! BUT RECOBA ANSWERS BACK!
LO: AND NOW THOSE TWO ARE BRAWLING IN THE RING AS WELL! GOD ALMIGHTY! IT'S CHAOS OUT HERE!
Just when the fans didn't think anymore pandemonium could happen in one Main Event spot, the Big Screen above the stage flickers to life, and the sound of marching zombies fills the arena. The Angola crowd, already on their feet, clamor forwards even more as the entire Zombie Clan files out onto the stage. Aokigahara laughs maniacally, pointing at the competitors brawling around the ring, and then signals that the real insanity can now begin.
Aokigahara and Siberia rush right past Brodie and Devlin, leaving them for Fukushima and Kowloon who waste little time in breaking up their brawl to incite one of their own. Devlin splits off and starts hammering away with Kowloon, while the two horror shows of Valor Pro, Fukushima and Brodie, tear into one another.
Cross and Cosmo pause in their efforts to destroy one another just in time to turn into the Chimera Tag Team Champions as they hit the ring, with Aokigahara and Cross trading blows while Siberia goes right after Cooper, the Siberian Buzzsaw squaring up with the MMA expert.
LO: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT HERE?!? RECOBA, COOPER, DEVLIN, BRODIE, AND THE ZOMBIE CLAN.....THEY ARE TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER!
KO: IT'S MOUNT OLYMPUS, LAUR, AND THE GODS ARE IN REVOLT!
The melee continues chaotically around the ring while security pours out of the back to try and gain some measure of control over the situation, but they find themselves beaten back by the brazen competitors as they all vie to get another piece of one another. The camera pulls back into a wide shot of the arena which catches all of the action at once, leaving the announce team speechless, the fans roaring, just before the cutting backstage.
'Turn To Stone' by Joe Walsh fills the arena as the lights dim and a single spot light illuminates the stage. Out from the curtain steps Cross Recoba, a titanium cane with a golden lion's head handle in one hand, touching the crucifix with the other. The crowd responds with a chorus of boo's for The Fox while Cross uses the handle of the cane to push his shag hair cut from his face, flicking his head back confidently as he grins out at the audience obnoxiously. He holds up the cane that has caused so much trouble in the past to an even more venomous response from the fans, and he begins down the ramp still holding it aloft.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot ten and weighting in at 230 pounds, hailing from New York, New York...He is the former UnYielding Champion, 'THE FOX' CROSS RECOBBBAAA!!
Recoba reaches ringside and holds the lions head handle of the cane up to his lips and kisses it for luck. He sets the cane to rest against the ring steps, and then climbs them up onto the apron, and with a wipe of his feet slips between the ropes. He pops up with both hands out at his side, walking forward as if putting his glory on display, and delivers an over exaggerated bow that causes the fans to crow even louder in disdain. Cross stands to his full height and smirks, stepping over to the far corner to await his opponents arrival.
LO: Cross Recoba sees himself as the only one in the promotion of any value, despite having problems holding onto championships.
KO: Are you kidding me? The guy is a two time UnYielding Champion!
LO: Yeah, and he got the first by paying off Zachariah Krahe to earn it for him and then hand it over.
KO: Cross made that right when he beat Krahe for the championship...
LO: And then he lost it right back to him at Equinox...
KO: You know what...SHUT UP LAURENCE!
Laurence Othello chuckles as Kenneth fumes, but both perk up as the lights dim and the familiar finger snaps from 'Lifted' by CL come over the speakers. Stage lights begin flashing gold and silver, converging on the stage where Cosmo Cooper is already standing, baseball cap covering his head that is staring down at the steel. The Apex Championship sits snugly around his waist, and the African crowd goes nuts at the sight of him. After a few moments he allows his head to lift, and he looks out at the crowd under the brim of his hat with a confident grin before reaching up and taking it by the brim, and sends it into the crowd like a discus. Fans clammer to get hold of the keepsake as Cosmo starts his trek down the ramp.
RING ANNOUNCER: And introducing his opponent, standing at six foot two and weighting in at 232 pounds....hailing from Santa Rosa, California...He is the General Managers Champion of Choice, the reigning Apex Champion, THE GRAPS JESUS, COSMO COOOPPPEERRRR!!
Cosmo reaches ringside and steps around to the corner of the ring where the steps reside, and falls back into the guardrail where the front row fans all pat him on the back while he nods, looking up into the ring at Cross with a grin. After a second he pops off the rail and up the steps, springboarding over the top rope into the ring and spins around, leaping up to the second turnbuckle while simultaneously peeling the title from his waist and hoisting it with one hand triumphantly into the air. He gets a huge pop and he nods to the crowd, sticking his thumb over his shoulder and chuckling, as if saying 'No Sweat'. He drops back down and as he hands the championship off to the referee he takes on a more serious demeanor, just staring across the ring at Recoba who watches all of this with a snide smirk of his own.
LO: Cosmo Cooper and Recoba came face to face for the first time in the Main Event of Allegiance, and it was obvious from the start that Cross was trying to make a statement at the expense of the Apex Champion.
KO: No doubt! Cross is the ultimate opportunist, and will stop at nothing until he's the top of this industry. Beating Cooper here tonight would no doubt put everything into question going forward with any and all challengers to the Apex.
LO: Maybe so, but Brodie has a date with destiny, and Cooper still has his problems with Devlin to resolve. I'm not so sure that the title picture can take too many more people trying to horn in on the action!
KO: Be that as it may, this is Recoba's chance to do just that, and there goes the bell to start it!
Cooper steps confidently to the center of the ring where Recoba joins him, the two men exchanging some verbal sparring. Recoba says something disparaging, and Cooper rolls his eyes, looking at the crowd and shrugging his shoulders as if dismissing the man. When he turns his head back to regard Recoba, however, The Fox reaches up and smacks him right across the jaw out of nowhere. The audience lets out an audible gasp as Cooper's head lolls to the side, and when he brings it back around to regard the man, his face has went from almost smug confidence to one of anger. Recoba's eyes go wide, contemplating the slap as a mistake, but before Cooper can make a move Cross tucks tale and runs for the ropes. Cooper with a snarl gives pursuit, grabbing at Cross right as he dives out of the ring. Cooper follows him out, and Recoba takes off in a sprint around the corners of the ring with the Apex Champion in hot pursuit. When they reach the side of the ring where the Ramp dumps into ringside, Recoba suddenly pivots back towards the ring and belly slides under the bottom rope. Cooper, so caught up in his pursuit, follows suit, but is surprised when he enters to reigning down stomps from Recoba, this being his plan all along.
LO: Recoba suckering the champion back into the ring, and was able to scramble to his feet and start laying in the boots to Cosmo before he realized what was happening....
KO: Yeah, but that isn't keeping Cooper down. He's taking the hits and still rising up!
Cooper reaches his feet, and Recoba switches tactics, moving from stomps to Knife Edge Chops that echo throughout the arena. The chops have an effect, forcing Cooper along the ropes until settling into a corner where Cross really unloads on him with one, two, three, and a final chop that has Cosmo shoving past him to stumble towards the center of the ring. Recoba gives a sardonic grin as he pursues, spinning the man around and laying in a massive chop that sends Cooper crashing to the mat. He doesn't stay down as he comes right back up, and Cross is there to meet him with another chop that sends him falling into the ropes. From there, Cross takes him by the wrist and shoots him to the opposite side.
LO: Cooper rebounds off the ropes and is barreling back in now, and OH! Cross out to meet him with a Running Knee that sends Cooper into a front flip before slamming into the mat!
KO: Cooper already moving up, but Cross is there with an elbow down across the man's head to force him back down to the mat.....FOOTBALL LIKE PUNT FROM RECOBA RIGHT INTO COSMO'S RIBS!
The punt actually lifts Cosmo off the canvas, and he rolls a few paces towards the ropes clutching his rib cage in obvious pain. Cross doesn't waste anytime, stepping over and driving a knee down into Cooper's gut which elicits a grunt from the champion. A few follow up boots have Cosmo all the way up against the bottom rope, and that's when Recoba takes a few steps back and then rushes forwards into a Baseball Slide that ejects Cooper right under the rope and painfully to the concrete floor. The referee admonishes Cross who completely ignores him, slipping out under the bottom as well to land beside Cooper. As the champion pushes up to his feet, Recoba rushes in at him from the side and leaps into a Running Knee that strikes Cooper right in the hip, and sends him stumbling haphazardly forward to crash gut first across the steel guard rail.
LO: It's obvious at this point that Cross has decided to target Cooper's midsection, which might be throwing the champion off his game as Recoba usually targets the lower back for Garibaldi's Guillotine or the head for Up All Night In Dakota...
KO: That's why it's genius, Laur. Switching up tactics right from the start to throw Cosmo off the scent...
Cross pulls Cooper off the guard rail, spinning him around and lifting him up onto his shoulder, and then tossing him up into the air to come crashing down across the top of the steel chest and ribs first. Cooper falls away from the guardrail with a red whelps on his chest from the chops, and an obvious injury from this focus on his midsection. Recoba watches as he pulls himself towards the ring with a shit eating grin, taking his opponents moment of vulnerability to turn to the crowd and deliver a pompous bow. The African crowd reign down a chorus of boo's at The Fox, and he feigns mock offense before turning back to Cooper who has reached the ring apron and pulled himself up. Recoba steps in behind him and gets a handful of tights, tossing him under the bottom rope and back into the ring.
LO: Both competitors coming back into the ring now, and Recoba pulls the champion up to his feet, lifts him up into a standing Fireman's Carry....and BRINGS HIM CRASHING DOWN ACROSS HIS KNEE INTO A GUT BUSTER!
KO: That looks to have knocked the wind out of Cooper, and now Recoba going for a lackadaisical cover!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Cooper kicks out at two and half, and you can tell by Recoba's expression he wasn't expecting that to put the champion away, but instead wanted Cosmo to expend energy having to kick out.
KO: Not only that, he gets the chance to disrespect the champ with that shoddy cover...
The smirk is still in place as Recoba pulls Cosmo up to his feet and then delivers a nasty chop that knocks him back into the corner. Cross steps over and grabs the middle rope on either side of Cooper, and then lowers his shoulder and drives it into the mans midsection. Cooper gives an 'Ooof' as he's driven into the turnbuckles, but his expression goes from discomfort to pain as Recoba continues the Shoulder Thrusts repeatedly until Cooper is nearly folded up between the top and middle turnbuckle. In this position Cooper's red chest is prominently displayed, and Recoba makes a disparaging remark just before winding up and delivering a thunderous chop that rings out through the arena. Cosmo stumbles out of the corner and follows the ropes out to the center of them, pursued by Recoba, who has no indication that he's going to give the man a second of reprieve.
LO: Cross Recoba now taking Cooper by the wrist, and shoots him off the ropes to the other side....Cooper on his way back now, and WALKS RIGHT INTO AN ABDOMINAL STRETCH!
KO: Oh man! That's going to wreak havoc on the ribs and midsection that Cross has been targeting!
Cooper cries out and then vehemently shakes his head 'No' to the referee who is asking for his submission, while Cross continues to crank against the mans trapped arm. Just for good measure, Cross takes his free arm and centers his elbow on Cooper's exposed torso, and begins driving the point directly into his ribs, each blow causing a new cry of pain from the champion.
LO: I really can't believe this, Ken. This has all been Cross Recoba so far in this match...
KO: I'm not surprised. It's obvious that Recoba came in here with a game plan to throw Cooper off the scent. That's why he may be the finest strategist here in Valor Pro.
LO: Certainly as we pointed out before, he is the most opportunistic, which is working to his advantage right now in this match!
The Angola crowd begin to clap to try and send their vibes towards their Apex Champion, slowly at first, but soon picking up speed. This indeed does seem to do something to Cooper, who grits his teeth through the pain and starts nodding with the rhythm of the noise. With a sudden burst of strength, Cooper manages to get Recoba's leg unhooked from his, and takes the man up and over with a Judo like Hip Toss that sends him down to the mat. Recoba pops up quickly, but Cooper is there to meet him with a Lariat that sends him back down. Again he pops up, and again is dropped to the canvas by another Lariat. This time Recoba gets up a little more cautiously, but it doesn't help as Cooper comes in with end over end right hands that bounce off of Cross' skull and drive him back into the ropes. Cooper takes him by the wrist and shoots him off only for Recoba to return, walking right into an Overhead Release Belly to Belly Suplex that sends him rocketing towards the other side of the ring.
LO: The Apex champion has come alive here, and Cooper over near the ropes trying to scramble up....and here comes Cosmo....BUT RECOBA DUCKS HIS HEAD AND SENDS HIM OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH A BACK BODY DROP!
KO: NO! Cosmo caught the top rope on his way over and swung back around to land on the apron....Recoba stepping out to the center of the ring doesn't realize that he didn't eliminate the champion!
Recoba catches on to the crowd reaction and spins around just in time to see Cooper leap to the top rope and springboard off into a massive Superman Punch that sends Cross to the canvas like a sack of potatoes. Despite the impact Recoba is already trying to roll up to his feet, when Cooper comes in with rights and lefts, forcing him back into the corner where he traps him and starts delivering shoot kicks. Recoba begins to slump, and as if looking for revenge from earlier, Cooper eagerly lifts the man's chin, and fires in a murderous chop that sends a smack throughout the arena.
LO: Good God! Cooper just lit up Cross Recoba with that one, and IS NOW RAPID FIRE CHOPPING THE MAN INTO OBLIVION!
KO: HEY! HE CAN'T DO THAT!
LO: Well it looks like he just did, as he's chopped Recoba all the way into a seated position against the turnbuckles.....now what's he doing?
KO: Cooper steps out to the center of the ring and then comes rushing back in....LOW FALLING DROPKICK RIGHT INTO RECOBA'S FACE!!
Recoba clutches at his nose as he scrambles to get out of the corner on his hands and knee's, and as he gets to the center of the ring Cooper comes right after him, wrapping him up in a waistlock from behind. From the canvas, every muscle in Cooper's body is flexed to the max as he dead lifts Cross out in front of him, and then takes him back and over in a German Suplex. Cross folds up like an accordion, and cooper bridges with the move to make it a pin.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Just two and half after that beautiful dead lift German, but Cooper is already pulling Cross to his feet for something else...
Cooper takes Recoba by the back of the head and runs him straight for the nearby corner, driving him face first into the top turnbuckle. Cross impacts and tries to clutch at his face, but Cooper has already spun him around and took him by the wrist, whipping him hard towards the far side. Recoba manages to turn his body at the last second, striking the turnbuckles with force and slumping a bit, but Cosmo is already rushing in on him, leaping into the air and delivering a High Knee that catches Recoba right under the chin and ends with him standing on the top turnbuckle. Despite his bruised chest and the damage that's been done, Cooper offers the Angola crowd a wink before pivoting to hook Recoba around the head and leaps out towards the canvas with a Bulldog that drives The Fox face first into the canvas. He immediately shoots the half and hooks the leg for a pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Recoba out at two and three quarters, and Cooper slaps the mat on his way back up to his feet indicating that he felt like that was a three.
KO: Well much like SJW's in the West, his feelings don't mean a damn thing! It was only two!
LO: You really love Cross Recoba, don't you?
KO: What's not to love? Good looking, rich as all hell, genius, and has a hot freakin' girlfriend in Dakota Jennings. Dude has it all!
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes, while back in the ring, Cosmo Cooper steps through the ropes to the apron and begins to climb the corner he had just delivered his last bit of offense from. Perched on the top turnbuckle he stands to his full height, but before he has the chance to fly, he watches as Cross Recoba quickly rolls from his position under him towards the bottom rope and to the outside. The fans boo Recoba unmercifully as he wipes at his face, turning to look up at Cooper with a grin. The grin quickly fades as just as he glances in that direction Cooper leaps from the top into a Senton that sees his body be used as a weapon as it crashes down on Recoba, wiping both men out of the match.
LO: GOOD GOD! COSMO COOPER WITH A DEATH DEFYING LEAP FROM THE TOP, AND NOW BOTH MEN ARE DOWN!
KO: Now why the hell would he do something like that....they're both going to get counted out!
Caputo drones out her count, and at five, Cooper begins to stir. He's soon followed by Recoba, but Cooper is able to get up a split second before The Fox, grabbing him by the tights and shooting him back into the ring. Cooper hops up onto the apron, grips the top rope, and waits for Recoba to gingerly get to his feet. Just as Recoba turns in Cooper's direction, he sling shots himself into the ring with a Torpedo Headbutt that drops Cross to the mat in a heap. He quickly scrambles over and hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cross just barely able to roll the shoulder, and now Cooper is up and asking the ref who is waving him off with a two.
KO: Recoba showing his resiliency, but he's got to get the momentum back on his side, or this thing is over!
LO: I don't think he's going to get the chance, Ken, cause Cooper's signaling to the crowd that it's time for the Crater Maker!
The fans go wild as Cooper pulls Recoba up, and then scoops him up onto his shoulder and gets him in Tombstone position. The Fox begins struggling vehemently on instinct, kicking his legs violently until Cooper is bent backwards trying to maintain the weight. Suddenly Cooper buckles and falls back which allows Cross to land on his feet, and now lift Cooper up into position for his own version of the Tombstone. Much the same as before, it's Cooper's turn to kick and struggle, ending in the same result. Back and forth the men go, trading the Tombstone position to try and end this match, each time getting closer and closer to the ropes.
LO: I can't believe this! We knew the two men shared the same finisher, but both are showing how adept they are at getting out of it...
KO: Yeah, but eventually someone is going to go forwards instead of backwards, and the man to pull that off has a pretty good chance of winning this thing!
LO: Not if...OH NO! CROSS RECOBA WAS THE LAST TO REVERSE, AND HIS LEGS WENT RIGHT UP AND OVER THE TOP ROPE WITH NO WHERE LEFT TO LAND!
KO: YEAH, AND HE TOOK COSMO COOPER WITH HIM!
Both men take a dangerous tumble over the top rope to land hard on the concrete floor. Caputo comes to the edge of the ring, as shocked as the fans, but she quickly regains her composure so that she can start another count.
LO: Both men hit hard on that exchange, and let me tell you folks, the concrete is unforgiving. No pads here in Valor Pro!
KO: Most definitely, and you have to wonder if either of them is going to make it back into the ring!
Caputo reaches a count of six this time before anyone is able to stir, and as the count continues to rise, both men groggily get to their feet about the same time thanks to the ring apron. Cooper and Recoba's heads loll up at the same time, and the men exchange a tired glance just as Caputo reaches nine. With a snarl, both competitors vault under the bottom rope, and roll up to their feet simultaneously to a huge ovation from the crowd.
LO: Both men back up in the ring now, and RECOBA WITH A MASSIVE CHOP TO COOPER DEAD CENTER OF THE RING!
KO: YEAH, BUT COOPER ANSWERS RIGHT BACK WITH ONE OF HIS OWN!
LO: They are laying in chop after chop, battling for supremacy, both of them knowing that the winner of this match can shape the narrative moving forwards as this has quickly escalated to a bitter rivalry!
The chops continue to ring out until one chop from Cooper is ducked by Recoba, and when the Apex spins back around, he's booted in the midsection to double him over, and then driven head first into the mat with a Lifting Sit Out DDT. Recoba is unable to immediately capitalize on his fortune, instead he sucks wind and massages his own bruising chest. Eventually he makes it back to his feet, and with an obnoxious crow to the crowd, rolls Cooper onto his back and lifts both of his legs up by their ankles.
LO: Oh no!
KO: Oh yes! He's going for Garibaldi's Guillotine!
LO: Cross choking up so that he has both legs hooked, but Cooper just came alive with struggle....He knows what this will mean if Cross gets him turned over! No one has ever broken out of the hold!
KO: Recoba's struggling to maintain hold of the legs, AND COOPER JUST MANAGED TO GET A HANDFUL OF CROSS' HAIR AND DRAGS HIM DOWN INTO AN AWKWARD SMALL PACKAGE!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Recoba manages to kick out, and both men scrambling for their feet....RECOBA WITH A SUPERKICK!
KO: COOPER DUCKED IT! Cross spins around, and SUPERKICK FROM COOPER NEARLY TAKES HIS HEAD OFF!
Recoba crashes to the mat, and Cooper drops to his knees, his head pounding, ribs aching, and altogether tired. He pushes up to his feet, reaching down to pull Recoba up, when suddenly Cross spins around behind him, yanking his head down into a Dragon Sleeper, and with a fistful of tights lifts him up for his Osaka Stunner called The Skim. Unfortunately for Cross, however, Cooper is able to use the shifting momentum to flip right out of his grasp to land behind him, hooking him in a waistlock and runs him towards the ropes. Recoba's chest bounces off the ropes, and Cooper drags him down into a rolling pin. Before Caputo can even make the one count Cross rolls right through, and as Cosmo leaps to his feet, charges for him with a lariat. Cooper ducks under, and spins back around just in time to see Cooper springboard off the second rope, swinging around for a dropkick. Instead of taking the hit, Cooper steps forward and lowers himself, and as Recoba passes over him, he stands up abruptly to snatch the man out of the air, putting him in perfect position for the Crater Maker!
LO: COOPER GOING FOR THE CRATER MAKER AGAIN, BUT RECOBA IS SHOVING AGAINST THE MAN'S MIDSECTION...SLIDING HIGHER AND HIGHER UP ONTO THE SHOULDERS UNTIL SLIPPING RIGHT OVER AND BEHIND COOPER!
KO: COOPER FALLS FLAT ON HIS BACK AND SNAPS HIS FOOT UP!! PELE KICK CATCHES CROSS FLUSH IN THE FACE!
Recoba doesn't hit the mat, but instead is sent sprawling back against the ropes where he stumbles back out while Cooper quickly scrambles back to his feet to meet him with a roundhouse kick. Cross ducks under the flying foot, and when Cooper reorients himself he's caught with a nasty chop that rattles his insides. Cooper begs off in surprise, and Cross follows up with a boot to the midsection that doubles him over, and steps through with a Swinging Neckbreaker that sends both men crashing to the mat.
LO: GOOD GOD! What a series of back and forth action, and now Cross just rolled over and draped his arm over Cooper's chest!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! HOT DAMN IT WAS SO CLOSE THAT EVEN THE REFEREE IS QUESTIONING HERSELF!
As Caputo backs away from the competitors in shock, Recoba doggedly raises his head, crawling over to the ropes so that they can help to get him on his feet. He turns to regard Cooper with a grimace, and shakes his head as the Apex Champion rolls over onto his knees in an attempt to push up off the mat. With a determined sneer, Cross steps over and pulls Cosmo up to his feet, scooping him up onto his shoulder for another attempt at Up All Night In Dakota. At this point, it's no surprise to anyone that Cooper begins to kick and squirm, and instead of allowing it to put him in a compromising position as it had done before, Cross simply sets cooper back down on his feet, hooks the man behind both knee's, and yanks his feet out from under him. Cosmo hits the back of his head as he slams into the mat, and with both legs in his grasp, Recoba moves to go back into Garibaldi's Guillotine!
LO: CROSS RECOBA GOING FOR HIS DREAD SUBMISSION ONCE MORE, BUT COOPER MANAGES TO GET A LEG FREE AND STARTS FIRING UNANSWERED SHOTS RIGHT INTO THE MAN'S UNPROTECTED FACE!
KO: Cross is loosing his grip on the other leg, and that last shot just sent him begging off....Cooper rolls backwards and up to his feet, BUT HERE COMES RECOBA!
LO: COSMO DUCKS UNDER THE WILD SWING FROM RECOBA, LEAPS UP SO THAT HE'S SITTING ON THE BACK OF HIS SHOULDERS, AND REVERSE SPIKE RANA!!
KO: LEELA BOMB!!
Cosmo falls forwards to hug the mat after the nasty maneuver, while Cross Recoba rolls around clutching the top of his skull in pain. Cooper begins to nod along with the cheering crowd, knowing that all he has to do is crawl over there and make the pin, and this war of attrition could finally be over. He starts to do just that when "Resurrection (by Erection)" by Powerwolf hits over the PA System drawing every eye in the building towards the entrance way in shock.
LO: GOD....DAMN...IT!!
KO: YASSSSSSSS!!
Brennan Devlin pushes through the curtain to a massive outpouring of boo's, but it doesn't deter the shit eating grin he beams out at the audience. His forehead sports a bandage from his brutal contest earlier in the night with Spiral, and he's wearing on of his "I heart Roster's To Death" T-shirts as he bebops down the ramp towards the ring.
LO: What the hell is this idiot doing here?
KO: He's just checking in on his former tag team partner, and making sure the Apex Champion knows that this thing between the two of them isn't over, no matter who the #1 Contender is.
LO: Well this is bullshit....Cosmo nearly had this match in hand, and now he's up and standing next to the ropes having to keep an eye on the threat outside the ring!
KO: Yeah, maybe he should worry about the threat inside the ring, cause it doesn't look like The Fox is as incapacitated as Cooper may have believed.
While Cooper jaws with Devlin, who has stopped about halfway down the ramp, Cross Recoba slips his arm through Cosmo's legs from behind and drags him down into a surprise schoolboy pin. The referee quickly slides into position to make the count, distracted enough by Devlin's appearance that she doesn't notice the blatant handful of tights in Recoba's grasp.
1...
2...
3!!!
Just at the three count Cooper manages to kick out, but when he comes up to question the referee she holds up three. The fans let out a collective boo as Cross Recoba scoots over to sit in the far corner, a wicked grin on his face as Cooper seethes and argues with the referee. Devlin up on the ramp falls to the steel, beside himself with laughter as the announcement is made.
RING ANNOUNCER: and the winner of this match via pinfall......CROSS RECOBBBAAAA!!
Suddenly 'Prototype' by Viktoria Modesta hits over the PA System, and the entire arena explodes, again all eyes turning towards the entrance. Brodie bursts through the curtain like a madwoman, fists already clenched down at her side, stalking back and forth and muttering to herself. Her blue hair is disheveled and her make up streaks down her face to give her dark mood and even scarier appearance. Her head shakes violently 'No', and she starts yelling at whoever she believes is talking to her in an unintelligible howl until finally she comes to a stop dead center of the stage.
Halfway down the ramp Brennan Devlin stares wide eyed at the crazed woman as her head slowly turns to look down in his direction. Her face twists into a mask of violence, her fists opening to reveal blue tufts yanked right out of her own skull that float down to the steel grating. Her body turns towards the ring to match the direction her gaze falls, and it shakes with an uncontrollable rage as the fists clench once more. With a terrifying roar she stalks forwards down the ramp, while Devlin turns to look back towards the ring, surprise still evident on his face.
In the ring Cooper watches, and seeing that Devlin is trapped between the Apex Champion and the crazed form UnYielding Champion, the irritation from earlier fades into a half smile. Devlin seeing this rolls his eyes, shrugs, and turns to charge at the threat that is looming only a few steps away from him now. The fans explode as Brodie and Devlin clash on the ramp with fists-a-flying, settling into piston like right hands that bounce off one another's skulls.
LO: GOOD GOD! BRODIE AND DEVLIN ARE TRYING TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART, AND LOOK.....CROSS RECOBA IS SNEAKING UP ON COSMO COOPER...
KO: DAMN! COOPER MUST HAVE SENSED IT CAUSE HE JUST TURNED AROUND AND DELIVERED A CHOP! BUT RECOBA ANSWERS BACK!
LO: AND NOW THOSE TWO ARE BRAWLING IN THE RING AS WELL! GOD ALMIGHTY! IT'S CHAOS OUT HERE!
Just when the fans didn't think anymore pandemonium could happen in one Main Event spot, the Big Screen above the stage flickers to life, and the sound of marching zombies fills the arena. The Angola crowd, already on their feet, clamor forwards even more as the entire Zombie Clan files out onto the stage. Aokigahara laughs maniacally, pointing at the competitors brawling around the ring, and then signals that the real insanity can now begin.
Aokigahara and Siberia rush right past Brodie and Devlin, leaving them for Fukushima and Kowloon who waste little time in breaking up their brawl to incite one of their own. Devlin splits off and starts hammering away with Kowloon, while the two horror shows of Valor Pro, Fukushima and Brodie, tear into one another.
Cross and Cosmo pause in their efforts to destroy one another just in time to turn into the Chimera Tag Team Champions as they hit the ring, with Aokigahara and Cross trading blows while Siberia goes right after Cooper, the Siberian Buzzsaw squaring up with the MMA expert.
LO: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT HERE?!? RECOBA, COOPER, DEVLIN, BRODIE, AND THE ZOMBIE CLAN.....THEY ARE TRYING TO KILL EACH OTHER!
KO: IT'S MOUNT OLYMPUS, LAUR, AND THE GODS ARE IN REVOLT!
The melee continues chaotically around the ring while security pours out of the back to try and gain some measure of control over the situation, but they find themselves beaten back by the brazen competitors as they all vie to get another piece of one another. The camera pulls back into a wide shot of the arena which catches all of the action at once, leaving the announce team speechless, the fans roaring, just before the cutting backstage.
The scene emerges once more, security pouring out of the back to try and rectify the situation, forcing themselves between and pulling apart the competitors in and around ringside who continue to try and kick, bite, and mangle whomever they were paired off with. The camera slowly backs out to reveal that this is a monitor backstage, and as it pulls back further a shoulder appears, and then a back. It's a man, but nothing more than a shadow in this dimly lit corridor, and his hands are behind his back, one clasping the other. He watches the drama unfold on the screen until cocking his head to the side, and looking down as if listening to someone speak to him off camera. The light catches his profile, and it reveals the still blood stained face of Spiral, having not even cleaned himself off from his encounter with Brennan Devlin earlier in the night.
Whatever it is that's said seems to please him, and his mouth draws up into a half smile before turning back to the screen where security has finally seemed to subdue the fighters and start dragging them to different corners of the arena. The Blitz Logo flashes up on the screen, followed by the logos for HOWTV and Battleground Network, and then fade to black.
Whatever it is that's said seems to please him, and his mouth draws up into a half smile before turning back to the screen where security has finally seemed to subdue the fighters and start dragging them to different corners of the arena. The Blitz Logo flashes up on the screen, followed by the logos for HOWTV and Battleground Network, and then fade to black.