Post by silentpartner on Apr 22, 2019 14:51:21 GMT -5
Sunday May 5th, 2019
From Salle Omnisport de Rades, Rades, Tunisia
The night started off with Black Blackman coming down to the ring by himself. Odd, since typically he’s led by his manager and equally confusing counterpart, Francis Ford Cuppola. On his way down to the ring, Black Blackman shouted curses and hexes at the audience in German, seemingly angry at his placement on the card, and the indignity at having to wrestle a woman named Indi, and not Indy as in Indiana Jones, whom fans who could understand him came to recognize as Black’s favorite fictional character.
All that aside, by the time Indi Rhyder arrived, Black had sufficiently tilted the crowd into her corner, so that by the time they locked up, this legacy wrestler had a solid cheering section rooting her on to overpower Blackman. Unfortunately, Black Blackman is still overwhelmingly strong even for the strongest of Valor roster members, and Indi Rhyder found herself repeatedly cornered and punished with backhand chops that grew louder and more vicious the more the crowd booed him.
Indi Rhyder looked stunned and felt the wrath of a Black Blackman on a mission to end her career before it got started, keeping her grounded and punishing her lower back with stomps and a series of gruelling submissions. To her credit, Indi muscled her way out of each one, forcing rope breaks, or simply managing to drag herself out of each incredibly painful looking hold. Indi managed to turn the tides after ducking a wicked short arm clothesline off the ropes and treating Black to a stiff kick to the midsection and hitting Black with an unexpected Spear that flattened the German terror.
From there, Indi impressed the fans with a string of incredibly deft high-flying virtuosity that seemed, at times, to verge on the preternatural. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky attributed much of his success to being where the puck was going to be, and in much the same fashion Indi was one step ahead of Blackman on several occasions being right where he was heading and flatting him with mushroom stomps and diving spears that Blackman tried but failed to have a concrete answer for.
Several failed mounted comebacks later would demolish the last remaining offence of Black Blackman as Indi Rhyder rose to the top turnbuckle and flattened Black with a molly go round she calls the Cool Rhyder, leaving Blackman down for the count. To finish him off, with the crowd firmly in her corner, Indi climbed the ropes once more and hit a picture perfect starship pain, the Kharmic Trip, and put Black Blackman down for the three count, and earned Indi Rhyder, albeit grudgingly, the respect of a man few could claim to have gained the respect of.
All that aside, by the time Indi Rhyder arrived, Black had sufficiently tilted the crowd into her corner, so that by the time they locked up, this legacy wrestler had a solid cheering section rooting her on to overpower Blackman. Unfortunately, Black Blackman is still overwhelmingly strong even for the strongest of Valor roster members, and Indi Rhyder found herself repeatedly cornered and punished with backhand chops that grew louder and more vicious the more the crowd booed him.
Indi Rhyder looked stunned and felt the wrath of a Black Blackman on a mission to end her career before it got started, keeping her grounded and punishing her lower back with stomps and a series of gruelling submissions. To her credit, Indi muscled her way out of each one, forcing rope breaks, or simply managing to drag herself out of each incredibly painful looking hold. Indi managed to turn the tides after ducking a wicked short arm clothesline off the ropes and treating Black to a stiff kick to the midsection and hitting Black with an unexpected Spear that flattened the German terror.
From there, Indi impressed the fans with a string of incredibly deft high-flying virtuosity that seemed, at times, to verge on the preternatural. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky attributed much of his success to being where the puck was going to be, and in much the same fashion Indi was one step ahead of Blackman on several occasions being right where he was heading and flatting him with mushroom stomps and diving spears that Blackman tried but failed to have a concrete answer for.
Several failed mounted comebacks later would demolish the last remaining offence of Black Blackman as Indi Rhyder rose to the top turnbuckle and flattened Black with a molly go round she calls the Cool Rhyder, leaving Blackman down for the count. To finish him off, with the crowd firmly in her corner, Indi climbed the ropes once more and hit a picture perfect starship pain, the Kharmic Trip, and put Black Blackman down for the three count, and earned Indi Rhyder, albeit grudgingly, the respect of a man few could claim to have gained the respect of.
Winner by Pinfall: INDI RHYDER
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Katya Durdjevic bursts through the curtain and into the Salle Omnisport de Rades with a huge smile and tons of excitement. She waves at fans as she skips down the ramp to the ring, hopping up on the apron and doing a little dance before slipping through the ropes and continuing to connect with the fans. In stark contrast Damien Miri saunters onto the stage, his Conglomerate hoodie pulled up over his head with his head down. When he looks up a slight smirk outlines his bearded face, and he continues that swagger as he heads down to the ring. Climbing the steps two at a time, when he leaps up onto the apron, he pulls the hoodie back and peers out at a booing crowd. The smirk turns into a cocky grin, and he slips through the ropes, ripping the hoodie off and tossing it to the tech down at ringside.
As the bell sounds, the bubbly personality of Katya Durdjevic fades, and her tone turns much more serious, while Damien Miri almost laughs at this metamorphosis, giving mock terror fingers to the booing crowd. When the two go to lock up, however, Damien is completely surprised when the woman shoots behind him, and instead of going for a waistlock proceeds to deliver forearm shots to his kidney's that have him high stepping it all the way to the ropes. He dips between them to separate himself from the woman, and the crowd cheers wildly as she scoots back to the center of the ring. She acknowledges them with a wave as Damien comes back into the ring, regarding the woman a little more seriously. When they lock up the second time, however, Damien is quick to jam a finger in her eye, momentarily blinding her and sending the fans into a frenzy of boo's.
From there Damien unloads on the woman with a barrage of fists, kicks, and clubbing blows. Being the larger opponent his attacks have Katya reeling every which away, some even sending her to the mat only for her to pop back up to get nailed again. Eventually Miri gets her lined up in a corner, and fires in several chops before sending her off to the opposite side with authority. Katya strikes the turnbuckles so hard it causes her to stumble out of the corner, and Damien comes rushing in with a Bicycle Kick that takes her head off. He promptly drops for an arrogant cover that only gets him a two count. Deciding to capitalize on this, he rises to drop the point of his elbow into the woman's skull several times, before pulling her up only to send her back down with a Snapmare, followed by a deep Chin Lock.
Djurdjevic works to get out of this for several minutes, eventually pushing both of them back to their feet where she allows herself to be pulled into a headlock rather than Damien loose control of the body part. Katya reaches down to pull Damien's right leg out from under him, forcing him to release the hold or fall flat on his face. He hops around to face her before going for an Inzuguri, but Katya ducks it, and his foot flies harmlessly overhead. From there she spikes his knee into the canvas, and for the first time it's Damien crying out in pain. She doesn't bother to follow up on the limb from there, the announcers calling out that mistake, but when she flashes past Miri to hit off the ropes and take him to the mat with a Head Scissors Take Down, they can't deny she may have a better plan.
Now Katya is fired up, and as Damien rises she rushes in with a Single Leg Dropkick that sends him back down to the mat. She waits for him to rise again, but this time from behind him, and when he's in position she rushes out with a Single Hand Bulldog that plants him face first down into the canvas. She shoots to her feet, hits off the ropes, and delivers a Baseball Slide like Dropkick right into the side of his head as it lifts off the canvas. This spins him over onto his back, and she goes for a cover, but only gets a two count. From here it's a game of cat and mouse, Damien from time to time able to grab hold of Katya, but her reversing out of it somehow to end up on top.
That is, until she tries to go for a Springboard Wheelbarrow Bulldog, but instead gets spun around into a Sit Out Powerbomb by Damien. He only gets a two and a half off the subsequent pin attempt, but when he pulls Katya to her feet, all in the arena are filled with a sense of dread. A hook of her head, a lift into a suplex, and then a Brainbuster down onto his knee, Leon's .22 has Katya all but laid out. Damien even hooks the leg deep for good measure, and is completely taken by surprise when at Two and Three-Quarters, Djurdjevic somehow kicks out. Miri is irate as he argues with the referee, but eventually turns his attentions back to Katya, pulling her up and putting her in Suplex position again. This time, however, Katya comes alive and kicks her feet, eventually falling forwards to land safely on her feet.
Damien rushes in for a clothesline attempt, but Katya ducks it, grabbing his arm as he goes. This causes him to whiplash a little, spinning back to face her as her foot comes up right under his jaw while she still maintains hold of his wrist, and she falls straight to her back, pulling his skull down right into her boot for a nasty looking Foot Stomp Facebreaker known as Deathblow! Miri snaps to the mat clutching his jaw, and Djurdjevic quickly rolls over top of him grabbing both legs and pulling them with her onto his chest for a pin. Miri kicks out, but not until after the three count, and he curses as Katya quickly rolls under the bottom rope to the outside rather than face a post mat beat down by the Conglomerate member. The ref joins her, and lifts her arm in victory, to a huge ovation by the crowd while in the ring, Damien Miri spits on the canvas and gives her a mock applause while still calling for her to get her ass back in the ring.
As the bell sounds, the bubbly personality of Katya Durdjevic fades, and her tone turns much more serious, while Damien Miri almost laughs at this metamorphosis, giving mock terror fingers to the booing crowd. When the two go to lock up, however, Damien is completely surprised when the woman shoots behind him, and instead of going for a waistlock proceeds to deliver forearm shots to his kidney's that have him high stepping it all the way to the ropes. He dips between them to separate himself from the woman, and the crowd cheers wildly as she scoots back to the center of the ring. She acknowledges them with a wave as Damien comes back into the ring, regarding the woman a little more seriously. When they lock up the second time, however, Damien is quick to jam a finger in her eye, momentarily blinding her and sending the fans into a frenzy of boo's.
From there Damien unloads on the woman with a barrage of fists, kicks, and clubbing blows. Being the larger opponent his attacks have Katya reeling every which away, some even sending her to the mat only for her to pop back up to get nailed again. Eventually Miri gets her lined up in a corner, and fires in several chops before sending her off to the opposite side with authority. Katya strikes the turnbuckles so hard it causes her to stumble out of the corner, and Damien comes rushing in with a Bicycle Kick that takes her head off. He promptly drops for an arrogant cover that only gets him a two count. Deciding to capitalize on this, he rises to drop the point of his elbow into the woman's skull several times, before pulling her up only to send her back down with a Snapmare, followed by a deep Chin Lock.
Djurdjevic works to get out of this for several minutes, eventually pushing both of them back to their feet where she allows herself to be pulled into a headlock rather than Damien loose control of the body part. Katya reaches down to pull Damien's right leg out from under him, forcing him to release the hold or fall flat on his face. He hops around to face her before going for an Inzuguri, but Katya ducks it, and his foot flies harmlessly overhead. From there she spikes his knee into the canvas, and for the first time it's Damien crying out in pain. She doesn't bother to follow up on the limb from there, the announcers calling out that mistake, but when she flashes past Miri to hit off the ropes and take him to the mat with a Head Scissors Take Down, they can't deny she may have a better plan.
Now Katya is fired up, and as Damien rises she rushes in with a Single Leg Dropkick that sends him back down to the mat. She waits for him to rise again, but this time from behind him, and when he's in position she rushes out with a Single Hand Bulldog that plants him face first down into the canvas. She shoots to her feet, hits off the ropes, and delivers a Baseball Slide like Dropkick right into the side of his head as it lifts off the canvas. This spins him over onto his back, and she goes for a cover, but only gets a two count. From here it's a game of cat and mouse, Damien from time to time able to grab hold of Katya, but her reversing out of it somehow to end up on top.
That is, until she tries to go for a Springboard Wheelbarrow Bulldog, but instead gets spun around into a Sit Out Powerbomb by Damien. He only gets a two and a half off the subsequent pin attempt, but when he pulls Katya to her feet, all in the arena are filled with a sense of dread. A hook of her head, a lift into a suplex, and then a Brainbuster down onto his knee, Leon's .22 has Katya all but laid out. Damien even hooks the leg deep for good measure, and is completely taken by surprise when at Two and Three-Quarters, Djurdjevic somehow kicks out. Miri is irate as he argues with the referee, but eventually turns his attentions back to Katya, pulling her up and putting her in Suplex position again. This time, however, Katya comes alive and kicks her feet, eventually falling forwards to land safely on her feet.
Damien rushes in for a clothesline attempt, but Katya ducks it, grabbing his arm as he goes. This causes him to whiplash a little, spinning back to face her as her foot comes up right under his jaw while she still maintains hold of his wrist, and she falls straight to her back, pulling his skull down right into her boot for a nasty looking Foot Stomp Facebreaker known as Deathblow! Miri snaps to the mat clutching his jaw, and Djurdjevic quickly rolls over top of him grabbing both legs and pulling them with her onto his chest for a pin. Miri kicks out, but not until after the three count, and he curses as Katya quickly rolls under the bottom rope to the outside rather than face a post mat beat down by the Conglomerate member. The ref joins her, and lifts her arm in victory, to a huge ovation by the crowd while in the ring, Damien Miri spits on the canvas and gives her a mock applause while still calling for her to get her ass back in the ring.
Winner by Pinfall: KATYA DJURDJEVIC
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HIGH OCTANE WRESTLING
Caroline O'Hara Burchill came down to the ring to a pretty good reaction, slapping hands as she does so and entering the ring to stretch against the ropes with determination on her face. When Leela Watts arrives, however, the building nearly blows it's stack, but if this bothers Caroline she doesn't show it. Leela slaps hands, points out T-shirts of hers in the crowd, and flashes her award winning smile before slipping into the ring. The bell sounds and the two blondes begin to circle, tying up and jockeying for position. Caroline being the mat technician, quickly slips into an ankle pick, taking Leela to the mat where she grounds her opponent with a miriad of moves from Arm Bar to Headlock to Ankle Lock.
Eventually Leela is able to escape to the safety of the ropes, and Caroline steps back to the center of the ring where she challenges her to face her again. Leela is a bit wary on her approach, and for good reason, as the methodical tactician quickly goes for a Double Leg Take Down, and right back into a series of holds. Leela appears to be at a clear disadvantage on the ground game, but when she is able to find separation, she surprises Caroline with a Falling Front Drop Kick that takes her off her feet.
From there, the match turns fast pace, and although Caroline is quick on her feet, it's obvious this is Leela's game. On one such flurry of moves, Watts rebounds off the ropes and baseball slides through a waiting Burchill's legs to end up behind her, and when Burchill spins to face she gets caught with a Jaw Breaker that stands her upright, followed by a breathtaking Springboard Moonsault that results in a pin attempt. Burchill makes it out at two and a half, but Leela is already back on her feet and in motion, hopping to the second turnbuckle where she waits for Burchill to rise, and then dives off with a Flying Clothesline that takes her head off. A second pinfall attempt sees a very long two count, and Leela looks ready to continue her momentum.
The rally is short lived, however, as she pulls Caroline up and tries to go for a Russian Leg Sweep. Caroline finds elbows directly into Watts' temple, and turns the Russian Leg Sweep intended for her into one of her own. From there, a very aggressive Caroline pulls Leela up and shoves her into the corner and into a seated position, grabbing the top rope, and then springboarding herself high into the air only to come down with a Double Stomp directly onto Leela's chest. She pulls her away from the ropes to attempt a cover, but Leela manages to get out at two and a half. From here Caroline shoots Leela off the ropes, and when she comes barreling back in, catches her in a sleeper hold that nearly ends the match. Leela at one point is guided all the way down to the mat where her lifeless arms are checked by the referee, but on the third and final fall, she comes alive and the fans urge her own to get back to her feet.
A quick turn to her side into a headlock position by Leela, and she lifts Caroline high into the air and then falls abruptly straight down with a Side Suplex that not only ends the hold, but leaves both ladies laid out on the canvas. After answering a count of six by the referee, Leela rushes in on a rising Caroline and catches her with a Lous Thesz Press followed by mounted punches, and when she fires up the crowd goes wild. Leela moves to the apron and up the turnbuckles, and once perched dives off into an amazing 450 Splash. Unfortunately it finds nothing but canvas as Caroline deftly slips out of the way.
As Watts works to get back up to her feet, Caroline slips up to a seated position on the top turnbuckle of the nearby corner, and when Leela turns herself in that direction she dives off to hook her around the head and floats her down hard to the canvas with a Tornado DDT that she quickly transitions into a Crossface Chicken Wing submission. The Killer Queen! Leela bucks and kicks to try and get out of the hold, but Caroline holds it tight, until finally, with no other recourse in site, Leela taps frantically against Caroline's thigh. The ref calls for the bell and Caroline releases the hold, the referee raising her arm in victory. Much to her surprise, the fans give her a larger ovation than when she came through the curtain, and she smiles brightly as she goes off to celebrate with them. Leela's long blonde hair flits back and forth as she shakes her head, rubbing her pain riddled shoulder while watching as the other blonde in this scenario takes all the glory.
Eventually Leela is able to escape to the safety of the ropes, and Caroline steps back to the center of the ring where she challenges her to face her again. Leela is a bit wary on her approach, and for good reason, as the methodical tactician quickly goes for a Double Leg Take Down, and right back into a series of holds. Leela appears to be at a clear disadvantage on the ground game, but when she is able to find separation, she surprises Caroline with a Falling Front Drop Kick that takes her off her feet.
From there, the match turns fast pace, and although Caroline is quick on her feet, it's obvious this is Leela's game. On one such flurry of moves, Watts rebounds off the ropes and baseball slides through a waiting Burchill's legs to end up behind her, and when Burchill spins to face she gets caught with a Jaw Breaker that stands her upright, followed by a breathtaking Springboard Moonsault that results in a pin attempt. Burchill makes it out at two and a half, but Leela is already back on her feet and in motion, hopping to the second turnbuckle where she waits for Burchill to rise, and then dives off with a Flying Clothesline that takes her head off. A second pinfall attempt sees a very long two count, and Leela looks ready to continue her momentum.
The rally is short lived, however, as she pulls Caroline up and tries to go for a Russian Leg Sweep. Caroline finds elbows directly into Watts' temple, and turns the Russian Leg Sweep intended for her into one of her own. From there, a very aggressive Caroline pulls Leela up and shoves her into the corner and into a seated position, grabbing the top rope, and then springboarding herself high into the air only to come down with a Double Stomp directly onto Leela's chest. She pulls her away from the ropes to attempt a cover, but Leela manages to get out at two and a half. From here Caroline shoots Leela off the ropes, and when she comes barreling back in, catches her in a sleeper hold that nearly ends the match. Leela at one point is guided all the way down to the mat where her lifeless arms are checked by the referee, but on the third and final fall, she comes alive and the fans urge her own to get back to her feet.
A quick turn to her side into a headlock position by Leela, and she lifts Caroline high into the air and then falls abruptly straight down with a Side Suplex that not only ends the hold, but leaves both ladies laid out on the canvas. After answering a count of six by the referee, Leela rushes in on a rising Caroline and catches her with a Lous Thesz Press followed by mounted punches, and when she fires up the crowd goes wild. Leela moves to the apron and up the turnbuckles, and once perched dives off into an amazing 450 Splash. Unfortunately it finds nothing but canvas as Caroline deftly slips out of the way.
As Watts works to get back up to her feet, Caroline slips up to a seated position on the top turnbuckle of the nearby corner, and when Leela turns herself in that direction she dives off to hook her around the head and floats her down hard to the canvas with a Tornado DDT that she quickly transitions into a Crossface Chicken Wing submission. The Killer Queen! Leela bucks and kicks to try and get out of the hold, but Caroline holds it tight, until finally, with no other recourse in site, Leela taps frantically against Caroline's thigh. The ref calls for the bell and Caroline releases the hold, the referee raising her arm in victory. Much to her surprise, the fans give her a larger ovation than when she came through the curtain, and she smiles brightly as she goes off to celebrate with them. Leela's long blonde hair flits back and forth as she shakes her head, rubbing her pain riddled shoulder while watching as the other blonde in this scenario takes all the glory.
Winner by Submission: Caroline O'Hara Burchill
MAIN SHOW
The scene kicking things off on the main card opens to Danny Rizzo already in the ring with a microphone in his hand and the UnYielding Championship draped over his shoulder. The usual nervous energy that abounds with him is just as present on this evening as it has ever been. Moments later, when “A Warriors Call” by Volbeat fades, Rizzo brings the microphone up to his lips and begins to speak.
DANNY RIZZO: You know, from day one I’ve had people doubting me. I’ve had people trying to take advantage of me. I’ve had people in my ear telling me that I just don’t have what it takes to make it here in Valor Pro Wrestling. But you know what I say?
Quickly he moves to a corner nearby and steps up onto the middle turnbuckle pad, hoisting the UnYielding Championship high above his head.
DANNY RIZZO: I say SCREW YOU! Because we made it. You, and I, and every single fan sitting at home. Man, woman or child. It doesn’t matter. We accomplished this together. And I mean that from the very bottom of my heart. That’s something that I should have been able to tell each one of you two weeks ago after I beat Brodie in the middle of this ring. But someone…
And the cheers that had existed before swiftly shift to boos. They all know who he is talking about and they know that soon enough they’ll be watching Danny go to war with her in the ring he was currently standing in.
DANNY RIZZO: Someone thought to take the moment that belonged to us and make it their own. And you know, that’s fine. But when you make a deal with the devil there is always a price to pay and that price is going to get paid tonight. Right here. In this very ring. And Dakota, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think you’re ready to pay that price. I don’t know if it’s attaching yourself to Cross Recoba that has caused it, or if it’s just your inability to find your footing in a talent pool as deep as the one that exists here. But what I do know is that you’ve gone from being a woman who would fight tooth and nail for everything they earned, to being a woman expecting everything handed to you on a silver platter.
Hopping down from the turnbuckle pad that he had been standing on and speaking from, Danny landed deftly on his feet, spinning to make eye contact with someone else who had always seemed to have a lot to say about him.
DANNY RIZZO: Now maybe that’s the sort of person who inspires a man like Ken Othello here. The sort that cheers for the villains in the movies. The sort that enjoys it when the wolf huffs and puffs and blows a house down. But what Ken fails to realize, Dakota, and what you fail to realize too is that the story never ends there. The villains, sure, they have their day. Thanos did. The Big Bad Wolf did. They have their moment in the spotlight to shine. And you had yours two weeks ago. But tonight…
His cheery smile fades into a look of intense seriousness.
DANNY RIZZO: Tonight, I’m coming for a wolf pelt. Tonight, I’m going to rip those infinity stones straight from your proverbial gauntlet. Tonight, I go for the head. And tonight, Dakota Jennings, you go back to square one.
With nothing left to say, Danny tosses the microphone straight at Ken Othello and then proceeds to continue to stare directly into the camera until the video footage shifts elsewhere.
DANNY RIZZO: You know, from day one I’ve had people doubting me. I’ve had people trying to take advantage of me. I’ve had people in my ear telling me that I just don’t have what it takes to make it here in Valor Pro Wrestling. But you know what I say?
Quickly he moves to a corner nearby and steps up onto the middle turnbuckle pad, hoisting the UnYielding Championship high above his head.
DANNY RIZZO: I say SCREW YOU! Because we made it. You, and I, and every single fan sitting at home. Man, woman or child. It doesn’t matter. We accomplished this together. And I mean that from the very bottom of my heart. That’s something that I should have been able to tell each one of you two weeks ago after I beat Brodie in the middle of this ring. But someone…
And the cheers that had existed before swiftly shift to boos. They all know who he is talking about and they know that soon enough they’ll be watching Danny go to war with her in the ring he was currently standing in.
DANNY RIZZO: Someone thought to take the moment that belonged to us and make it their own. And you know, that’s fine. But when you make a deal with the devil there is always a price to pay and that price is going to get paid tonight. Right here. In this very ring. And Dakota, I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think you’re ready to pay that price. I don’t know if it’s attaching yourself to Cross Recoba that has caused it, or if it’s just your inability to find your footing in a talent pool as deep as the one that exists here. But what I do know is that you’ve gone from being a woman who would fight tooth and nail for everything they earned, to being a woman expecting everything handed to you on a silver platter.
Hopping down from the turnbuckle pad that he had been standing on and speaking from, Danny landed deftly on his feet, spinning to make eye contact with someone else who had always seemed to have a lot to say about him.
DANNY RIZZO: Now maybe that’s the sort of person who inspires a man like Ken Othello here. The sort that cheers for the villains in the movies. The sort that enjoys it when the wolf huffs and puffs and blows a house down. But what Ken fails to realize, Dakota, and what you fail to realize too is that the story never ends there. The villains, sure, they have their day. Thanos did. The Big Bad Wolf did. They have their moment in the spotlight to shine. And you had yours two weeks ago. But tonight…
His cheery smile fades into a look of intense seriousness.
DANNY RIZZO: Tonight, I’m coming for a wolf pelt. Tonight, I’m going to rip those infinity stones straight from your proverbial gauntlet. Tonight, I go for the head. And tonight, Dakota Jennings, you go back to square one.
With nothing left to say, Danny tosses the microphone straight at Ken Othello and then proceeds to continue to stare directly into the camera until the video footage shifts elsewhere.
As Danny makes his way back up the ramp, "For The Glory" by All Good Things blares across the PA system while the camera shifts up to the main banner displayed at the top of the screen, and then to a sweeping shot of the Salle Omnisport de Rades. 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, "Brennan Devlin is a SEX GOD!", while another says, "WTC DESTINY!!", and another says, "Dakota Jennings can hit me with a steel chair anytime!" There's even one huge black and purple sign in the crowd that says, "Valor Pro Is About To Get Silky Smooth!" Several Danny Rizzo, Brodie Finality, The Spiral Effect, 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: Welcome everyone to the Salle Omnisport de Rades in the beautiful city of Rades, Tunisia for another episode of Blitz!
Kenneth Othello: Now streaming from two services, HOTV and Battleground Network!
LO: Right you are, Brother-O-Mine, and as you saw, Danny Rizzo is ready to put his UnYielding title on the line against the woman who crowned him with a chair last show, Dakota Jennings!
KO: Who the hell does that punk think he is, running his mouth at me like that? If I were still in my prime, I would have whipped his ass!
LO: (chuckles) I would like to see that, actually. Sounds to me like Danny Rizzo has a game plan here tonight that doesn't involve anyone, including you, putting him down for his beliefs.
KO: Yeah, and I guess that means appealing to these fans instead of keeping his eyes on the prize...
LO: We obviously just witnessed a different promo, Ken. I think Rizzo is walking into this title defense with eyes wide open after what we just heard.
KO: Whatever. That guy can soak up all the cheers he wants, but I don't know how many more chair shots his skull can take before he wises up to the situation at hand...
LO: You're always so negative towards the good men and women of Valor lately. I'm sorry, but you can be successful without being an asshole.
KO: Now where is the fun in that, Laur?
LO: (Rolling his eyes) Anyways, moving right along....How about our Main Event tonight?
KO: Oh yeah, thing's is about to get Silky Smooth around here!
LO: Right you are, Ken, as SILK will be coming into Valor to make history in our first ever inter-promotional match that involves a Best of Seven Series that has been lighting up the wrestling world between him and Cosmo Cooper!
KO: This will be Match 4 in that series, as the two are now at 2-1, in SILK's favor. It was advertised as Match 5, but apparently we're the only promotion who knows how to run our business correctly.
LO: No doubt, Ken!
KO: Who do you think is going to walk away to take the lead here? Just last night the two of them did battle at 4CW King's Road, and it was SILK who took the lead in the series...
LO: Well, I'm never one to bet against our Apex Champion, but at the same time, SILK is an enigmatic character that has proved he can hang already. After all, he did beat Cooper and two other men to become the WTC Destiny Champion in the first place...
KO: Yeah, and now they sit at 2-1, and if SILK wins this one here he may be able to carry that advantage all the way to an early victory. Might not even get seven matches out of this Best of Series.
LO: True, but before we can get into that, we've got the return of Brad Stokes on his talk show, Where There's Stokes, There's Fire, and he'll be interviewing the cryptic Spiral!
KO: That dude gives me the Hebe Jeebies.
LO: I think there are plenty of people who agree with you Ken, but he is a sound tactician who has rather quickly wormed his way into the Main Event scene thanks to his successful Chimera Tournament wins alongside Cross Recoba. Since then he's had a rivalry of sorts with Brennan Devlin, but now he's claiming that they are the saviors of Valor Pro.
KO: Uh....did Brennan get the memo, cause I don't think he's on board.
LO: I don't know, but hopefully Brad will get us some answers from The Pale King...
KO: Speaking of Devlin, he's in a match that I've been waiting on for a long time...
LO: Absolutely! Brodie and The Face of Wrestling have been in this company from the beginning, and yet they haven't really ever crossed paths except for in tag team situations. Now, they will be going one on one for the first time ever!
KO: Not only that, but there's some real heat going into this match! Brodie is the #1 Contender to Cosmo's Apex Championship, but Brennan has been on that scene since Cosmo came into the fed!
LO: Right you are, Brother-O-Mine, and he isn't planning on giving that spot up anytime soon, regardless of Brodie's legitimate claim.
KO: But even before we get to that, two more men who have been involved in this situation will face off for the first time ever, and their association goes all the way back to 2016 in Pure Amusement Wrestling!
LO: That's right, it's a night of firsts folks, as the leader of the Zombie Clan, Aokigahara Zombie, takes on The Fox, Cross Recoba!
KO: I'm torn, Laur. My initial instinct is to pull for Recoba, but at the same time.....Zombie Clan wrecks stuff, and you know how much I like a good wrecking!
LO: Well, it should be interesting to see if cunning can outwit insane, as Aoki has been on a roll, and remains undefeated within the fed...
KO: Yeah, but there's another guy that's been undefeated so far, and not only that, the people he's face have all left the promotion!
LO: You must be talking about Berlin Anderson, who will take on Julie Miri and Roxi Johnson in our Opening Bout...
KO: Here's the thing though, Laur, Julie Miri is going to be looking to rectify that loss alongside her husband last show, and Roxi Johnson has conscripted a new mission to take out all the competition on her way to gold here in Valor Pro. My only real gripe with that is.....how is she going to do that clean?
LO: I think Valor Pro's resident Superhero might just give everyone a lesson on how to eliminate the competition while maintaining her ethics.
KO: See, that's just it. If anyone else had said 'eliminate the competition', I'd be like...sure, take 'em out. Can't have challengers to the throne if no one can compete, but she's talking about this from a sense of honor. I don't get it.
LO: Trust me, Ken, none of us are surprised that you don't get honor.
Kenneth Othello shoots his brother a scathing glance, but Laurence just smirks and launches on.
LO: But with that being said, why don't we go ahead and see if we can't educate you, because that Opening Bout is up next!
Laurence Othello: Welcome everyone to the Salle Omnisport de Rades in the beautiful city of Rades, Tunisia for another episode of Blitz!
Kenneth Othello: Now streaming from two services, HOTV and Battleground Network!
LO: Right you are, Brother-O-Mine, and as you saw, Danny Rizzo is ready to put his UnYielding title on the line against the woman who crowned him with a chair last show, Dakota Jennings!
KO: Who the hell does that punk think he is, running his mouth at me like that? If I were still in my prime, I would have whipped his ass!
LO: (chuckles) I would like to see that, actually. Sounds to me like Danny Rizzo has a game plan here tonight that doesn't involve anyone, including you, putting him down for his beliefs.
KO: Yeah, and I guess that means appealing to these fans instead of keeping his eyes on the prize...
LO: We obviously just witnessed a different promo, Ken. I think Rizzo is walking into this title defense with eyes wide open after what we just heard.
KO: Whatever. That guy can soak up all the cheers he wants, but I don't know how many more chair shots his skull can take before he wises up to the situation at hand...
LO: You're always so negative towards the good men and women of Valor lately. I'm sorry, but you can be successful without being an asshole.
KO: Now where is the fun in that, Laur?
LO: (Rolling his eyes) Anyways, moving right along....How about our Main Event tonight?
KO: Oh yeah, thing's is about to get Silky Smooth around here!
LO: Right you are, Ken, as SILK will be coming into Valor to make history in our first ever inter-promotional match that involves a Best of Seven Series that has been lighting up the wrestling world between him and Cosmo Cooper!
KO: This will be Match 4 in that series, as the two are now at 2-1, in SILK's favor. It was advertised as Match 5, but apparently we're the only promotion who knows how to run our business correctly.
LO: No doubt, Ken!
KO: Who do you think is going to walk away to take the lead here? Just last night the two of them did battle at 4CW King's Road, and it was SILK who took the lead in the series...
LO: Well, I'm never one to bet against our Apex Champion, but at the same time, SILK is an enigmatic character that has proved he can hang already. After all, he did beat Cooper and two other men to become the WTC Destiny Champion in the first place...
KO: Yeah, and now they sit at 2-1, and if SILK wins this one here he may be able to carry that advantage all the way to an early victory. Might not even get seven matches out of this Best of Series.
LO: True, but before we can get into that, we've got the return of Brad Stokes on his talk show, Where There's Stokes, There's Fire, and he'll be interviewing the cryptic Spiral!
KO: That dude gives me the Hebe Jeebies.
LO: I think there are plenty of people who agree with you Ken, but he is a sound tactician who has rather quickly wormed his way into the Main Event scene thanks to his successful Chimera Tournament wins alongside Cross Recoba. Since then he's had a rivalry of sorts with Brennan Devlin, but now he's claiming that they are the saviors of Valor Pro.
KO: Uh....did Brennan get the memo, cause I don't think he's on board.
LO: I don't know, but hopefully Brad will get us some answers from The Pale King...
KO: Speaking of Devlin, he's in a match that I've been waiting on for a long time...
LO: Absolutely! Brodie and The Face of Wrestling have been in this company from the beginning, and yet they haven't really ever crossed paths except for in tag team situations. Now, they will be going one on one for the first time ever!
KO: Not only that, but there's some real heat going into this match! Brodie is the #1 Contender to Cosmo's Apex Championship, but Brennan has been on that scene since Cosmo came into the fed!
LO: Right you are, Brother-O-Mine, and he isn't planning on giving that spot up anytime soon, regardless of Brodie's legitimate claim.
KO: But even before we get to that, two more men who have been involved in this situation will face off for the first time ever, and their association goes all the way back to 2016 in Pure Amusement Wrestling!
LO: That's right, it's a night of firsts folks, as the leader of the Zombie Clan, Aokigahara Zombie, takes on The Fox, Cross Recoba!
KO: I'm torn, Laur. My initial instinct is to pull for Recoba, but at the same time.....Zombie Clan wrecks stuff, and you know how much I like a good wrecking!
LO: Well, it should be interesting to see if cunning can outwit insane, as Aoki has been on a roll, and remains undefeated within the fed...
KO: Yeah, but there's another guy that's been undefeated so far, and not only that, the people he's face have all left the promotion!
LO: You must be talking about Berlin Anderson, who will take on Julie Miri and Roxi Johnson in our Opening Bout...
KO: Here's the thing though, Laur, Julie Miri is going to be looking to rectify that loss alongside her husband last show, and Roxi Johnson has conscripted a new mission to take out all the competition on her way to gold here in Valor Pro. My only real gripe with that is.....how is she going to do that clean?
LO: I think Valor Pro's resident Superhero might just give everyone a lesson on how to eliminate the competition while maintaining her ethics.
KO: See, that's just it. If anyone else had said 'eliminate the competition', I'd be like...sure, take 'em out. Can't have challengers to the throne if no one can compete, but she's talking about this from a sense of honor. I don't get it.
LO: Trust me, Ken, none of us are surprised that you don't get honor.
Kenneth Othello shoots his brother a scathing glance, but Laurence just smirks and launches on.
LO: But with that being said, why don't we go ahead and see if we can't educate you, because that Opening Bout is up next!
OPENING BOUT
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is the Opening Bout of the evening, and is a Triple Threat Match scheduled for one fall or submission...
"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, allowing flash photography to get their fill before starting her stride towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot seven and weighting in at 130 pounds, hailing from Chicago, Illinois.....Representing The Conglomerate, she is the current [R]evolution Pro Champion, THE MOON CHILD, JULIE MIRRRIIII!!
Julie reaches ringside and bounds up to the steps onto the ring apron where she pauses to swing herself around so that she hangs from the top rope by her arms, flashing a smile to the fans before swinging herself back around and into the ring. She nods along with her theme music, taking a second turnbuckle and unbuckling the [R]ev Pro title form her waist and hoisting it overhead.
LO: Julie Miri has made a name for herself all over the place as of late, competing in tag tournaments, being the current [R]evolution Pro Champion, and just last show vying for the Chimera Tag Team Championships! Thus far, she's been an impressive signing for Valor Pro.
KO: No doubt, but she's got two other folks to contend with this time around, and we'll just have to see how it goes...
The lights go dim, and 'The Touch' by Stan Bush 80's theme hits over the PA System. All of the lead lights pulse pink, and then swing down to illuminate the stage when Roxi Johnson bursts through the curtain full of energy. The fans come to their feet as she stops at the top of the ramp, running in place, and she pumps her fist in the air. A resounding cheer goes up as she moves from one end of the stage to the other, peering out at the crowd as they pump their fists right back at her.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing next, standing at five foot six and weighting in at 132 pounds, hailing from Tampa, Florida....she is Valor Pro's resident Super Hero....ROXI JOHNNSSOONNNN!!!
Roxi makes her way down the ramp, slapping hands with fans, and acknowledging signs that were made just for her. Reaching ringside she belly slides under the bottom rope, pops up to her feet, and then takes the second turnbuckle of the far corner, fist pumping in the air all the while.
LO: Roxi Johnson is a multiple time champion across multiple feds, and brings with her a Legacy that is hard to rival on any circuit!
KO: Yeah, but she didn't do so well at Allegiance in her UnYielding Championship opportunity, and she went to a draw the last time we saw her against Caroline O'Hara Burchill...
LO: True. I think she's coming for blood though. She has changed her game plan. In her own words, she's going to pick off the contenders throughout the fed until such a time that she's the last person atop the rankings, one win at a time.
KO: Well, we'll have to see if she can get it done here tonight...
The lights dim low as 'Hourglass' by A Perfect Circle hits over the PA System, and out steps Berlin Anderson wearing a velvet burgundy overcoat with tails, and a pair of leather pants with red straps crisscrossing down their sides. He pauses at the top of the stage as the fans begin to cheer, and he lowers the rose colored glasses he's wearing to peer out at the crowd. He pushes them back up and straightens up, smoothing out his jacket, and checking his rooster style haircut before making his way down to the ring with a confident grin.
Ring Announcer: Introducing third, standing at five foot eleven and weighing in at 182 pounds, hailing from Ash Tree Lane, this is....BERLIN ANDERSOOONNN!!
Anderson reaches ringside and hops up onto the apron, then walks along it to climb up to the second turnbuckle to stare out at the cheering crowd. He grins, shaking free from his overcoat to allow it to fall to the ground, and then lowers his shades once more before peeling them from his face to send them hurtling into the crowd. A group of overzealous fans reach for the sky to take home their very own keepsake from the show as Berlin leaps the rest of the way over the top rope to land in the ring. He immediately takes note of the two ladies that are eyeballing him at this point, and he flashes them a grin before stretching against the ropes.
LO: Berlin Anderson has three decisive victories under his belt since his debut, and has yet to be pinned or submitted since arriving in the company. Impressive resume, wouldn't you say?
KO: Considering one of those was a PPV victory against Zack Fantana, yeah, I'd say this guy is aces....only...he's in the ring with two very hungry ladies who crave a victory here tonight.
LO: Right you are, Brother-O-Mine, and we're going to see exactly how that's going to go, cause there's the bell!
KO: Who's going to make that first move....
Berlin seems to take that as his cue, bounding towards Roxi with a fast forearm strike that sets her staggering just as Julie rushes in from behind with a jumping heel kick to the back of Berlin, dropping him to a knee! Roxi's fast to recover, but instead of attacking Berlin, she instead launches forward, using his shoulders as a springboard to catch Julie off guard with a running front dropkick to the chest that sends her for a backroll across the ring! Berlin then catches Roxi from behind only to get caught with a fast back kick to the gut, followed by a Yoshi-Tonic pin!
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! To answer your question, everyone all at once! Roxi with a classic Yoshi-Tonic, but Berlin's going to need more softening up!
KO: And Here comes Julie!!!
From behind comes Julie with a float-over swinging neckbreaker, bringing Roxi down and quickly locking her down with a pinfall!
LO: SWINGING NECKBREAKER AND A PIN ON ROXI!
1...
2...
LO: Kick out at two, but don't take your eyes off Berlin....
Just as Julie sits up, in comes Berlin with a low orbit crossbody block into a double leg pin!!!
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! They are not paid by the hour folks! A most impressive low orbit Crossbody block by Berlin on Julie, but still not enough to put the Moon Child down!
KO: Looks like they want to finish this one early!
Julie and Berlin both get up at the same time with Julie firing off some rapid fire kicks to Berlin's legs and hips, forcing him back while advancing forward with each hit until she has him backed into a corner. Once there, she grips the ropes and starts to batter him more extensively with savage kicks dancing up and down his body. A final backspin kick to the jaw leaves him dazed, hanging in the ropes limply by his arms. Julie then goes straight for a recovering Roxi Johnson....
KO: Anywhere else, that'd be assault and battery but here? A good night's work.
LO: You cannot deny the martial arts acumen of Julie Miri who now has Roxi by the arm and setting her off for an Irish Whip, no-wait! REVERSED!
Julie grips Roxi by the arm, sending her for an Irish whip but is immediately reversed and sent running straight into Berlin's raised boot at the last second! She stumbles back and drops to a knee. As Berlin shoots himself for a seat onto the top rope, still shaking cobwebs free, Roxi bursts forward, leaps up, springs off of Julie's back and up onto Berlin's shoulders. After peppering him with a few quick shots, Julie quickly rolling off to one side, Roxi hooks her legs and backflips with a....
LO: HURRICANRANA OFF THE TOP ROPE AND HELD FOR A PIN!
KO: She's still got it Laur!
1...
2...
LO: THR-HERE COMES JULIE!
...Seeing Julie coming at her, Roxi releases the pinfall and answers with a hard chop across Julie's chest! Gritting her teeth, Julie answers with one even harder on Roxie! The two start chopping back and forth until finally Julie answers with a stiff forearm and a low spinning back kick to Roxi's gut, sending her staggering into the ropes! A quick running front dropkick sends Roxi up and over to the floor below!
LO: Impressive showing by Julie Miri so far, giving the Veteran Roxi Johnson a run for her money tonight!
KO: They've even kept the Perpetual motion machine from cranking into high gear tonight!
Speaking perpetual motion, as Julie gets to her feet, in comes Berlin with a running forearm taking her right down! She bounces back up as he rebounds off the nearby ropes, springing off with a dropkick rocking Julie off her feet yet again! He sprints off to the far ropes, snaps off, and just as Julie gets to her feet, takes her down one more time with Tilt-A-Whirl headscissors! He hops to his feet with a roar and several stomps!
KO: And he's back in the game!
LO: Roxi Johnson's climbing to the top rope from the outside!
KO: Not if Berlin has anything to say about it!
Just as Roxi climbs to the top rope for what she thinks is a sneak attack, suddenly Berlin turns around, rushes to the corner and cracks her with a quick slap chop that stuns her. He then climbs to the top, hooks her in a Uranage hold, and backflips off with-
LO: NETHERLANDS OFF THE TOP ROPE ON ROXI AND BERLIN WITH THE PIN!!!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Julie Miri with a running knee lift just peels Berlin right off Roxi!
KO: Beautiful! I love that lady's sense of timing!
Julie keeps the offense on Berlin, having learned the lesson of letting the man have even a second to breath. She batters him with kicks and fast, furious strikes only for him to catch her leg and go for an Enziguri kick! She ducks the shot, he lands on his foot only to hit a Mule Kick right under her chin, sending her staggering back. She cups at her jaw, muttering only what could be imagined as pained curses before turning and ducking a running forearm shot! Berlin hits the ropes and rebounds, Julie ducks too soon and Berlin kicks for her face, only to see her stand straight up as he wobbles off balance from the kick. Shoot kick to the gut doubles him over, Julie pulls him in to a front facelock and with a roar of pure strain and effort she lifts him up vertically, stumbles a bit towards the ropes, dips his 180 pound body forward to bounce his feet off the ropes and snaps back with-
LO: JULIE'S HALFMOON SUPLEX!
KO: She's stronger than she looks!
LO: But how much did that take out of her.... ROXI INCOMING!!!!
As Julie gets up, she's mowed down by Roxi and a savage running Clothesline! She immediately follows it up with a spring off the second rope and Lionsault pin on Julie's prone form!
LO: ROXI TAKES FLIGHT WITH A PIN!!!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Berlin ain't dead yet as he breaks up the pin with a boot to the back of Roxi's head!
LO: And he's on Roxi Johnson with a vengeance!
Roxi and Berlin trade shots back and forth, but the heavier man slowly, steadily starts winning the trade off, driving Roxi back with fewer and fewer strikes answering back until suddenly she halts him with a standing dropkick, knocking him back a couple steps. She rises to one knee, shaking her head briefly and as Berlin closes the gap without thinking on it too much, Roxi Back rolls to his left and into a leap onto the top rope, springs off and hits the Disaster kick with enough force that Berlin stumbles into and falls through the ropes to the floor outside! Roxi shakes her head and leans into the ropes for a moment to catch her breath.
LO: RAY OF HOPE KICK!!! DOWN GOES BERLIN!
KO: Out of the jaws of death she came swinging for the fences, but she can't make a pin on a guy outside the ring!
LO: JULIE MIRI!!!
Roxi's eyes go wide and she drops down from the ropes as Julie comes flying at her. At the last second, Julie saves herself from hitting the floor by gripping the ropes, dangling briefly before finding her footing and getting up on the Apron. She gets to her feet and regains her bearings just in time to be hit by a flying clothesline from Roxi Johnson that sends both women up and over to the floor in a heap! All three competitors now lay outside the ring recovering as the Referee begins a ten count....
LO: Roxi Johnson is trying to pull herself up by the ring apron, but Julie Miri just grabbed onto her belt buckle from behind and hoisted herself up using Roxi as a post.
KO: Roxi jerks away from her and goes in for a right hand, but Julie ducks it, slips her head under her arm, and SIDE SUPLEX SPINE FIRST DOWN ACROSS THE RING APRON!!
LO: MY GOD! That's the hardest part of the ring, and now Miri shoving Roxi Johnson to the interior and following her in, crawling over her for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Roxi Johnson manages to kick out at the last second, and Julie Miri is looking like a woman possessed! What does she have to do to put the Superhero away?
Julie pulls Roxi up to her feet and hooks her around the head, and then by the leg, and the fans come to their feet as she snaps her over into a Bridging Fisherman's Suplex!
LO: TOTAL ECLIPSE!
KO: THE REFEREE'S DROPPING INTO THE COUNT!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-OH MY GOD! BERLIN ANDERSON FLIES IN FROM OUT OF NOWHERE AND BREAKS UP THE PIN AT THE LAST POSSIBLE NANOSECOND!
KO: Where the hell did he come from?
Berlin looks a little haggard after the sudden interference, but Julie rises from the canvas with a newfound determination. She rushes in on the man as he moves in to swing a fist, and she leaps up, hooking his arm and swinging across his back into a crucifix. She manages to roll him backwards down into a pin, but Anderson rolls through and out of the crucifix, surprising Miri. She quickly scrambles to her feet only to walk right into a Parafuso Kick that takes her skull from her shoulders. Eyes roll into the back of her head, and she crumples to the mat while Berlin falls on top of her.
1...
2...
Roxi starts to crawl that way with an outstretched hand...
3!!!
The bell sounds and Roxi collapses to the mat in frustrating, her fist coming down hard. Berlin scoots away from Julie Miri to lean against the bottom rope, staring across the ring at the two ladies while taking deep breaths. The referee reaches down and raises Berlin's hand in victory, and after a second he grabs hold of the top rope and pulls himself up to his feet, turning to take the second turnbuckle in the nearby corner to celebrate.
RING ANNOUNCER: And winner of the match via pinfall......BERLIN ANDERSSOOONNNN!!!
Roxi looks up from the canvas and watches through gritted teeth as Julie Miri rolls outside the ring, and Berlin Anderson continues his celebration atop the ropes. She shakes her head in disappointment, and then rolls to the outside herself to leave the winner his spoils.
LO: Tough loss for Julie Miri, and though Roxi Johnson didn't take the pin, she looks just as upset.
KO: She was within an inch from breaking up that pin, but just couldn't get there in time, and Berlin Anderson continues his winning ways...
LO: Well, hopefully, neither of these women will follow his former opponents lead, and walk out on the company.
KO: Yeah, that would definitely suck, but that's what happened to Hogg Wilder, Zack Fantana, and Fallon Lockhart...
LO: Maybe this time will be different, but either way, you have to wonder what's next for this eccentric superstar?
KO: We'll have to wait to find out, cause I've got word something is going on in the back...
LO: Well what are we waiting for? Get back there!
The camera zooms in on Berlin as he walks the middle ropes and points out at signs made just for him, 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, allowing flash photography to get their fill before starting her stride towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot seven and weighting in at 130 pounds, hailing from Chicago, Illinois.....Representing The Conglomerate, she is the current [R]evolution Pro Champion, THE MOON CHILD, JULIE MIRRRIIII!!
Julie reaches ringside and bounds up to the steps onto the ring apron where she pauses to swing herself around so that she hangs from the top rope by her arms, flashing a smile to the fans before swinging herself back around and into the ring. She nods along with her theme music, taking a second turnbuckle and unbuckling the [R]ev Pro title form her waist and hoisting it overhead.
LO: Julie Miri has made a name for herself all over the place as of late, competing in tag tournaments, being the current [R]evolution Pro Champion, and just last show vying for the Chimera Tag Team Championships! Thus far, she's been an impressive signing for Valor Pro.
KO: No doubt, but she's got two other folks to contend with this time around, and we'll just have to see how it goes...
The lights go dim, and 'The Touch' by Stan Bush 80's theme hits over the PA System. All of the lead lights pulse pink, and then swing down to illuminate the stage when Roxi Johnson bursts through the curtain full of energy. The fans come to their feet as she stops at the top of the ramp, running in place, and she pumps her fist in the air. A resounding cheer goes up as she moves from one end of the stage to the other, peering out at the crowd as they pump their fists right back at her.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing next, standing at five foot six and weighting in at 132 pounds, hailing from Tampa, Florida....she is Valor Pro's resident Super Hero....ROXI JOHNNSSOONNNN!!!
Roxi makes her way down the ramp, slapping hands with fans, and acknowledging signs that were made just for her. Reaching ringside she belly slides under the bottom rope, pops up to her feet, and then takes the second turnbuckle of the far corner, fist pumping in the air all the while.
LO: Roxi Johnson is a multiple time champion across multiple feds, and brings with her a Legacy that is hard to rival on any circuit!
KO: Yeah, but she didn't do so well at Allegiance in her UnYielding Championship opportunity, and she went to a draw the last time we saw her against Caroline O'Hara Burchill...
LO: True. I think she's coming for blood though. She has changed her game plan. In her own words, she's going to pick off the contenders throughout the fed until such a time that she's the last person atop the rankings, one win at a time.
KO: Well, we'll have to see if she can get it done here tonight...
The lights dim low as 'Hourglass' by A Perfect Circle hits over the PA System, and out steps Berlin Anderson wearing a velvet burgundy overcoat with tails, and a pair of leather pants with red straps crisscrossing down their sides. He pauses at the top of the stage as the fans begin to cheer, and he lowers the rose colored glasses he's wearing to peer out at the crowd. He pushes them back up and straightens up, smoothing out his jacket, and checking his rooster style haircut before making his way down to the ring with a confident grin.
Ring Announcer: Introducing third, standing at five foot eleven and weighing in at 182 pounds, hailing from Ash Tree Lane, this is....BERLIN ANDERSOOONNN!!
Anderson reaches ringside and hops up onto the apron, then walks along it to climb up to the second turnbuckle to stare out at the cheering crowd. He grins, shaking free from his overcoat to allow it to fall to the ground, and then lowers his shades once more before peeling them from his face to send them hurtling into the crowd. A group of overzealous fans reach for the sky to take home their very own keepsake from the show as Berlin leaps the rest of the way over the top rope to land in the ring. He immediately takes note of the two ladies that are eyeballing him at this point, and he flashes them a grin before stretching against the ropes.
LO: Berlin Anderson has three decisive victories under his belt since his debut, and has yet to be pinned or submitted since arriving in the company. Impressive resume, wouldn't you say?
KO: Considering one of those was a PPV victory against Zack Fantana, yeah, I'd say this guy is aces....only...he's in the ring with two very hungry ladies who crave a victory here tonight.
LO: Right you are, Brother-O-Mine, and we're going to see exactly how that's going to go, cause there's the bell!
KO: Who's going to make that first move....
Berlin seems to take that as his cue, bounding towards Roxi with a fast forearm strike that sets her staggering just as Julie rushes in from behind with a jumping heel kick to the back of Berlin, dropping him to a knee! Roxi's fast to recover, but instead of attacking Berlin, she instead launches forward, using his shoulders as a springboard to catch Julie off guard with a running front dropkick to the chest that sends her for a backroll across the ring! Berlin then catches Roxi from behind only to get caught with a fast back kick to the gut, followed by a Yoshi-Tonic pin!
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! To answer your question, everyone all at once! Roxi with a classic Yoshi-Tonic, but Berlin's going to need more softening up!
KO: And Here comes Julie!!!
From behind comes Julie with a float-over swinging neckbreaker, bringing Roxi down and quickly locking her down with a pinfall!
LO: SWINGING NECKBREAKER AND A PIN ON ROXI!
1...
2...
LO: Kick out at two, but don't take your eyes off Berlin....
Just as Julie sits up, in comes Berlin with a low orbit crossbody block into a double leg pin!!!
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! They are not paid by the hour folks! A most impressive low orbit Crossbody block by Berlin on Julie, but still not enough to put the Moon Child down!
KO: Looks like they want to finish this one early!
Julie and Berlin both get up at the same time with Julie firing off some rapid fire kicks to Berlin's legs and hips, forcing him back while advancing forward with each hit until she has him backed into a corner. Once there, she grips the ropes and starts to batter him more extensively with savage kicks dancing up and down his body. A final backspin kick to the jaw leaves him dazed, hanging in the ropes limply by his arms. Julie then goes straight for a recovering Roxi Johnson....
KO: Anywhere else, that'd be assault and battery but here? A good night's work.
LO: You cannot deny the martial arts acumen of Julie Miri who now has Roxi by the arm and setting her off for an Irish Whip, no-wait! REVERSED!
Julie grips Roxi by the arm, sending her for an Irish whip but is immediately reversed and sent running straight into Berlin's raised boot at the last second! She stumbles back and drops to a knee. As Berlin shoots himself for a seat onto the top rope, still shaking cobwebs free, Roxi bursts forward, leaps up, springs off of Julie's back and up onto Berlin's shoulders. After peppering him with a few quick shots, Julie quickly rolling off to one side, Roxi hooks her legs and backflips with a....
LO: HURRICANRANA OFF THE TOP ROPE AND HELD FOR A PIN!
KO: She's still got it Laur!
1...
2...
LO: THR-HERE COMES JULIE!
...Seeing Julie coming at her, Roxi releases the pinfall and answers with a hard chop across Julie's chest! Gritting her teeth, Julie answers with one even harder on Roxie! The two start chopping back and forth until finally Julie answers with a stiff forearm and a low spinning back kick to Roxi's gut, sending her staggering into the ropes! A quick running front dropkick sends Roxi up and over to the floor below!
LO: Impressive showing by Julie Miri so far, giving the Veteran Roxi Johnson a run for her money tonight!
KO: They've even kept the Perpetual motion machine from cranking into high gear tonight!
Speaking perpetual motion, as Julie gets to her feet, in comes Berlin with a running forearm taking her right down! She bounces back up as he rebounds off the nearby ropes, springing off with a dropkick rocking Julie off her feet yet again! He sprints off to the far ropes, snaps off, and just as Julie gets to her feet, takes her down one more time with Tilt-A-Whirl headscissors! He hops to his feet with a roar and several stomps!
KO: And he's back in the game!
LO: Roxi Johnson's climbing to the top rope from the outside!
KO: Not if Berlin has anything to say about it!
Just as Roxi climbs to the top rope for what she thinks is a sneak attack, suddenly Berlin turns around, rushes to the corner and cracks her with a quick slap chop that stuns her. He then climbs to the top, hooks her in a Uranage hold, and backflips off with-
LO: NETHERLANDS OFF THE TOP ROPE ON ROXI AND BERLIN WITH THE PIN!!!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Julie Miri with a running knee lift just peels Berlin right off Roxi!
KO: Beautiful! I love that lady's sense of timing!
Julie keeps the offense on Berlin, having learned the lesson of letting the man have even a second to breath. She batters him with kicks and fast, furious strikes only for him to catch her leg and go for an Enziguri kick! She ducks the shot, he lands on his foot only to hit a Mule Kick right under her chin, sending her staggering back. She cups at her jaw, muttering only what could be imagined as pained curses before turning and ducking a running forearm shot! Berlin hits the ropes and rebounds, Julie ducks too soon and Berlin kicks for her face, only to see her stand straight up as he wobbles off balance from the kick. Shoot kick to the gut doubles him over, Julie pulls him in to a front facelock and with a roar of pure strain and effort she lifts him up vertically, stumbles a bit towards the ropes, dips his 180 pound body forward to bounce his feet off the ropes and snaps back with-
LO: JULIE'S HALFMOON SUPLEX!
KO: She's stronger than she looks!
LO: But how much did that take out of her.... ROXI INCOMING!!!!
As Julie gets up, she's mowed down by Roxi and a savage running Clothesline! She immediately follows it up with a spring off the second rope and Lionsault pin on Julie's prone form!
LO: ROXI TAKES FLIGHT WITH A PIN!!!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Berlin ain't dead yet as he breaks up the pin with a boot to the back of Roxi's head!
LO: And he's on Roxi Johnson with a vengeance!
Roxi and Berlin trade shots back and forth, but the heavier man slowly, steadily starts winning the trade off, driving Roxi back with fewer and fewer strikes answering back until suddenly she halts him with a standing dropkick, knocking him back a couple steps. She rises to one knee, shaking her head briefly and as Berlin closes the gap without thinking on it too much, Roxi Back rolls to his left and into a leap onto the top rope, springs off and hits the Disaster kick with enough force that Berlin stumbles into and falls through the ropes to the floor outside! Roxi shakes her head and leans into the ropes for a moment to catch her breath.
LO: RAY OF HOPE KICK!!! DOWN GOES BERLIN!
KO: Out of the jaws of death she came swinging for the fences, but she can't make a pin on a guy outside the ring!
LO: JULIE MIRI!!!
Roxi's eyes go wide and she drops down from the ropes as Julie comes flying at her. At the last second, Julie saves herself from hitting the floor by gripping the ropes, dangling briefly before finding her footing and getting up on the Apron. She gets to her feet and regains her bearings just in time to be hit by a flying clothesline from Roxi Johnson that sends both women up and over to the floor in a heap! All three competitors now lay outside the ring recovering as the Referee begins a ten count....
LO: Roxi Johnson is trying to pull herself up by the ring apron, but Julie Miri just grabbed onto her belt buckle from behind and hoisted herself up using Roxi as a post.
KO: Roxi jerks away from her and goes in for a right hand, but Julie ducks it, slips her head under her arm, and SIDE SUPLEX SPINE FIRST DOWN ACROSS THE RING APRON!!
LO: MY GOD! That's the hardest part of the ring, and now Miri shoving Roxi Johnson to the interior and following her in, crawling over her for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Roxi Johnson manages to kick out at the last second, and Julie Miri is looking like a woman possessed! What does she have to do to put the Superhero away?
Julie pulls Roxi up to her feet and hooks her around the head, and then by the leg, and the fans come to their feet as she snaps her over into a Bridging Fisherman's Suplex!
LO: TOTAL ECLIPSE!
KO: THE REFEREE'S DROPPING INTO THE COUNT!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-OH MY GOD! BERLIN ANDERSON FLIES IN FROM OUT OF NOWHERE AND BREAKS UP THE PIN AT THE LAST POSSIBLE NANOSECOND!
KO: Where the hell did he come from?
Berlin looks a little haggard after the sudden interference, but Julie rises from the canvas with a newfound determination. She rushes in on the man as he moves in to swing a fist, and she leaps up, hooking his arm and swinging across his back into a crucifix. She manages to roll him backwards down into a pin, but Anderson rolls through and out of the crucifix, surprising Miri. She quickly scrambles to her feet only to walk right into a Parafuso Kick that takes her skull from her shoulders. Eyes roll into the back of her head, and she crumples to the mat while Berlin falls on top of her.
1...
2...
Roxi starts to crawl that way with an outstretched hand...
3!!!
The bell sounds and Roxi collapses to the mat in frustrating, her fist coming down hard. Berlin scoots away from Julie Miri to lean against the bottom rope, staring across the ring at the two ladies while taking deep breaths. The referee reaches down and raises Berlin's hand in victory, and after a second he grabs hold of the top rope and pulls himself up to his feet, turning to take the second turnbuckle in the nearby corner to celebrate.
RING ANNOUNCER: And winner of the match via pinfall......BERLIN ANDERSSOOONNNN!!!
Roxi looks up from the canvas and watches through gritted teeth as Julie Miri rolls outside the ring, and Berlin Anderson continues his celebration atop the ropes. She shakes her head in disappointment, and then rolls to the outside herself to leave the winner his spoils.
LO: Tough loss for Julie Miri, and though Roxi Johnson didn't take the pin, she looks just as upset.
KO: She was within an inch from breaking up that pin, but just couldn't get there in time, and Berlin Anderson continues his winning ways...
LO: Well, hopefully, neither of these women will follow his former opponents lead, and walk out on the company.
KO: Yeah, that would definitely suck, but that's what happened to Hogg Wilder, Zack Fantana, and Fallon Lockhart...
LO: Maybe this time will be different, but either way, you have to wonder what's next for this eccentric superstar?
KO: We'll have to wait to find out, cause I've got word something is going on in the back...
LO: Well what are we waiting for? Get back there!
The camera zooms in on Berlin as he walks the middle ropes and points out at signs made just for him, before cutting backstage.
Brennan was seen in the back sitting to himself, meditating as he was never known to do prior to this moment. He relaxed for a moment before jumping as if the camera had spooked him.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “Ahhh! Ahhhhhh!!!! Didn’t see you there.”
He said in surprise as he held his hand over his heart, looking around as he stood up from the floor.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I know I have said a lot of things recently, some good, some bad… but let's face the facts…”
He walked down the locker room, the cameras following him as he slid some sunglasses on.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I’m Brennan Devlin, I fuck everything to death, that’s just a fact of life, and Brodie, you’ve done really well. You almost made it to Cosmo Cooper unscathed, almost. That’s over now.”
He kept wandering through the back until he walked into a room with various bloodstains and a dim light. He gazed around before slowly backing up out of the room.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “... Wrong locker room…”
He turned and went back outside and closed the door shut behind him.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I have no idea whose locker room that was but someone should maybe check it for a murder. Anyway, Brodie, listen, you’ve done some stuff and it's all been nice. But you’re messing with something greater than you, something greater than this entire company.”
He paused for a moment, sighing.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I’m almost sorry for what I’m about to do to you in that ring… but not quite.”
He winked towards the camera before strutting off from the area, a confident swagger in his step as we fade into the next match.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “Ahhh! Ahhhhhh!!!! Didn’t see you there.”
He said in surprise as he held his hand over his heart, looking around as he stood up from the floor.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I know I have said a lot of things recently, some good, some bad… but let's face the facts…”
He walked down the locker room, the cameras following him as he slid some sunglasses on.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I’m Brennan Devlin, I fuck everything to death, that’s just a fact of life, and Brodie, you’ve done really well. You almost made it to Cosmo Cooper unscathed, almost. That’s over now.”
He kept wandering through the back until he walked into a room with various bloodstains and a dim light. He gazed around before slowly backing up out of the room.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “... Wrong locker room…”
He turned and went back outside and closed the door shut behind him.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I have no idea whose locker room that was but someone should maybe check it for a murder. Anyway, Brodie, listen, you’ve done some stuff and it's all been nice. But you’re messing with something greater than you, something greater than this entire company.”
He paused for a moment, sighing.
BRENNAN DEVLIN: “I’m almost sorry for what I’m about to do to you in that ring… but not quite.”
He winked towards the camera before strutting off from the area, a confident swagger in his step as we fade into the next match.
LO: Brennan Devlin's confident tonight, as usual...
KO: He's got every right to be, but we can't focus on that now.....The Fox is up next against a Zombie!
KO: He's got every right to be, but we can't focus on that now.....The Fox is up next against a Zombie!
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a Singles Match, and is 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: Last show Cross Recoba walked out as the victor, and the man he pinned was none-other than our current Apex Champion, Cosmo Cooper...
KO: Yeah, and now Cross is being forced to fight this crazy Zombie, while Cooper goes on to be in the Main Event later tonight. How the hell is that fair?
LO: Well, it's not like Recoba got that pin without assistance?
KO: What assisatance?
LO: Brennan Devlin came out to distract Cosmo, or did you forget that part?
KO: Are you kidding me? You're one of those Cosmo Cooper apologists aren't you? Everytime he eats a loss, it's somebody else's fault. It's not up to Cross Recoba to make sure that the champion is paying attention to him!
LO: Whatever....
'Courage' by The Minutemen hits over the PA system, and Aokigahara Zombie bursts through the curtain wearing his trademark leather jacket and beaming a toothy grin. The fans give a cheer despite themselves, knowing that whenever Aoki is involved, more than likely, insanity is sure to follow. The leader of the Zombie Clan stalks around the stage with his Chimera Tag Team Title in tow, beating his chest and letting out maniacal fits of laughter, until finally settling his gaze on the ring, running his thumb across his throat in the sign of execution. He laughs again just as he starts his walk down to the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: and Introducing his opponent, standing at five foot ten and weighting in at 230 pounds, hailing from Yamanashi, Japan....he represents The Zombie Clan, and is the DTW Eternal Warfare Champion, and one half of the current Chimera Tag Team Champions.......AOKIGAHARA ZOMMBBBIIEEE!!!
Zombie reaches ringside and rolls under the bottom rope into the ring, popping up and growling at Cross Recoba before allowing that sadistic grin to stretch back over his face. Cross rolls his eyes and comments that the referee should check the Zombie for weapons. Santiago shrugs his shoulders and steps over to do so, and just when Zombie lifts his leg so that he can pat down his boot, Aoki is lambasted by Running Forearm by Recoba that sends him slamming into the nearby corner. Santiago manages to get out of the way and admonishes, but seeing the attack is going to continue, signals for the bell for the match to start. Chops echo throughout the arena as Cross lays into Zombie, but not for long as Aoki starts returning each chop with a right fist. Eventually this knocks Cross off balance, giving Aoki a chance to fight out of the corner and takes them back out to the center of the ring.
LO: Aoki hammering away on Recoba, and OH! Recoba just ducked that one, and a Double Leg Take Down has Zombie on his back....RECOBA RETAINS CONTROL OF THE LEGS, AND IS WORKING TO FLIP HIM OVER INTO GARIBALDI'S GUILLOTINE!
KO: LOOKING TO PUT THIS ONE AWAY EARLY!
Cross has Aoki nearly turned over, but the leader of The Zombie Clan fights for everything he's worth, managing to get a leg free and back kicking Recoba hard in the chest to break free. He rolls himself backwards and up to his feet, but just as he charges in, Recoba recovers enough to launch himself into a Clothesline that takes Aoki's head off. Zombie comes up to his feet quickly, and is met with another Clothesline for his efforts. On the third attempt to rise, Cross hits off the ropes for some spring, and thunders back in only to hook his opponent by the head and take him crashing to the mat in a Swinging Neckbreaker!
LO: Recoba has Aokigahara Zombie on the ropes here as he snaps up to his feet, and hits off the ropes again....ROLLING KNEE DROP RIGHT DOWN ACROSS THE FOREHEAD OF ZOMBIE!!
KO: Haha, The Fox rolls up to his feet, and now he's showing off to these ungrateful fans!
The crowd boo's loudly at Recoba as he struts around the ring with hands out at his side. He turns his attention back to Zombie as the man tries to get to his feet, and just as he lifts up is met with a thunderous Chop that sends him sprawling back into the ropes. Cross follows him in, taking him by the wrist and shoots him to the opposite side. Aoki hits off the ropes and thunders back across the ring where Recoba steps to the center to meet him, dropping his head for a Back Body. Zombie, however, manages to put on the brakes, instead sending a football like punt right into the man's chest that knocks him upright. He follows this up with a running knee lift that sends Cross crashing to the mat. It's Zombie's turn to play the crowd, letting out a crazed growl and tensing his scarred chest as he steps around in front of Recoba, who is already rising to his feet.
LO: Zombie now grabbing Cross by the back of the head, and keeps him bent over as he drives UNFORGIVING Knee's right into the man's face!
KO: Hey! He can't do that! Cross Recoba spends a lot of money on maintaining his image! How is he supposed to be suave and debonair if Zombie rearranges his face!
On the final Knee Strike Zombie turns loose of Recoba's head, and the impact sends him stumbling into the nearby corner to rest against the top turnbuckle chest first. Zombie commits to a stuttering trot before leaping to the second rope, trapping Cross in the corner, and then starts hammering forearm shots directly into the back of the man's skull. Each time he does so Recoba's face bounces off the top turnbuckle, and the fans cheer and begin to count along. On the tenth Forearm Zombie drops down and takes a step back, and Cross stumbles groggily out of the corner before doing a face bump in the center of the ring. Zombie grins to the crowd as he hops up to the second rope once more, this time facing the ring, and then dives into a short Elbow Drop that catches Recoba right in the center of his shoulder blades. Cross bucks up from the sudden discomfort, but Zombie shoots the half and gets him onto his shoulders, hooking the leg.
1...
2...
LO: NO! Recoba out at two, and Zombie doesn't seem surprised as he sits on his knee's beside the man, and starts opening up with right hands to his face!
KO: Recoba quickly rolling away from the situation, and right under the bottom rope to the outside! Smart move to try and get some separation here...
Cross checks his jaw as he walks along the ring apron, never noticing Aoki who slips out to join him. The Zombie lets out a war cry as he rushes in on his prey, but is taken completely off guard when Cross suddenly side steps, spinning around to give Zombie a push for added momentum as he rushes face first into the steel ring post. Zombie's skull strikes the post and the sudden stop sends him spinning down to the concrete floor clutching his face. Cross, still rubbing his jaw, has a scowl on his face as he steps over to Aoki, lifts him up, and then whips him into the steel ring post for a second time much to the same result. Santiago admonishes him from the ring, while still maintaining his count, but Recoba doesn't give him a chance to continue as he picks up Zombie and tosses him under the bottom rope back into the ring.
LO: Cross following Aoki in and rolling him towards the center of the ring for a cover, and this one might be over!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Zombie out at two and a half, and quite frankly I'm surprised. Those steel ring posts don't move, and he got to taste it twice!
LO: Yeah, but I'll remind you that Aokigahara is not your average superstar. He's the kind of guy who will take a hit like that, and then say, 'Please sir, may I have another'...
KO: So what you're saying is he's crazy?
LO: I thought the last few shows were evidence of that...
KO: Touche.
Cross drags Zombie up to his feet, a little perturbed that his outside antics hadn't resulted in an early win. He doesn't stay up long, as Cross, capitalizing on the head damage, hooks him around the head and slowly spins him around to where they are both now back to back, and then suddenly drops to a seated position with the back of Zombie's neck impacting off his shoulder.
LO: Sick Hangman's Neck Breaker by Recoba, and he doesn't stop there as he's back on his feet, and Knee Drop right into the back of the man's skull....Again! AGAIN!
KO: Now The Fox is rocking and rolling!
Cross drops his knee down across Zombie's spine which causes him to naturally rise up, and when he does, Cross hooks him under the chin and rocks back into what appears to be a modified Camel Clutch that puts all of the pressure on the lower spine while wrenching the neck from the shoulders. Aoki can't help but cry out in pain as his damaged upper body is ravaged by the hold, his neck and head being the primary focus of the villainous Recoba. A clap goes up from the crowd, but Recoba rebukes this by screaming at Santiago, "Ask him Ref! ASK HIM!" Santiago is already in position, but does as he's bid, painful "No's" his only response from Zombie. The fan's support increases in volume, and Recoba suddenly finds himself being dragged by Zombie towards the ropes. His eyes go wide at the display of heroism, torquing back even farther, but still getting closer and closer to the ropes. Just as it appears that Zombie is about to get a finger on the bottom rope, Cross suddenly releases the hold, snaps up to his feet, and begins reigning down boots to the back of the man's shoulders and skull.
LO: Cross Recoba is stomping the hell out of Aokigahara Zombie, and The Clan leader really needs to find some escape...
KO: Must've heard you, Laur, cause Aoki just got hold of the ring apron and used it to pull himself under the bottom rope to the outside!
LO: Yeah, but he hit the floor hard, and is now rolling towards the guardrail to try and pull himself up.....meanwhile, Recoba is fuming in the ring, just waiting for him to get into position....
KO: Zombie back up now, and stumbling back towards the ring....BUT HERE COMES RECOBA WITH A FULL HEAD OF STEAM TO LEAP OVER THE TOP ROPE INTO A DROPKICK!
LO: A MILLION LIRA ON ZOMBIE! Cross is already back up, but....is he limping?
KO: Nah, he's all good. Pay no mind to that....
Cross does indeed to appear to have tweaked something on his dive to the outside, but he stomps his boot to the floor a few times to try and knock whatever it was back into place before scooping Zombie up off the floor. He tosses the leader of the Zombie Clan under the bottom rope into the ring, and quickly slides in after him, pushing him all the way to the center where he falls on him for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Aokigahara manages to roll the shoulder, and Cross looks pissed!
KO: Well wouldn't you be? He's been working this guy over for the past ten minutes, banged his skull off of a steel ring post twice....DOVE on him....and he just doesn't have the sense to stay down!
LO: What did Recoba expect? Aokigahara is a man who will put his body on the line to get the job done, and do so with a smile. He takes to violence with an almost maniacal approach, and not only that, but it amuses him!
Cross gets to his feet with a snarl, yanking Aoki up with him, spinning him around so the he's facing away. He yanks his head down into a dragon sleeper position, but doesn't maintain the submission long, grabbing a handful of tights and lifting him up for what appears to be his signature, The Skim, but to everyone's surprise, Aoki rolls through once on Cross' shoulder and lands safely behind him. He hooks Cross from behind with a Waistlock, and then rushes the man forwards so that his chest bumps off the top rope, and then drags him backwards into a rolling pin.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Only two and a half before the kick out, and Recoba rolls backwards and up to his feet, charges towards Zombie for a clothesline, BUT AOKI DUCKS IT!
KO: Recoba spins around, and SHOOT KICK TO THE RIGHT LEG! ANOTHER! ANOTHER! AND THAT ONE JUST SENT HIM CRASHING TO THE MAT!
LO: Aokigahara might have been taking punishment this entire time, but that doesn't mean he wasn't paying attention! He saw that twinge on Recoba's face after A Million Lira, and now he's going after the limb!
Recoba grabs at the ropes to get himself back upright, but Zombie is there with another shoot kick to the back of his knee, and The Fox lets out a yelp of pain as he quickly hobbles into the corner to lean against the turnbuckles. Zombie gives him a toothy grin as he comes wading in to send a front kick into the knee which buckles Cross, the ropes the only thing keeping him up. With an exposed front, Zombie shrugs, gets a fistful of hair, and drives his forehead right into Recoba's face, the headbutt sending Cross down to a seated position in a daze. Zombie takes a few steps back to the center of the ring, and then rushes forwards, leaving his feet and presenting both knee's like a battering ram that collides with either side of Recoba's skull!
LO: DOUBLE KNEE'S TO THE FACE CRUSHES RECOBA'S SKULL BETWEEN ZOMBIE AND THE BOTTOM TURNBUCKLE, AND GOOD GOD! The man's eyes just rolled into the back of his head!
KO: Zombie now has him by the ankle, and just drags him out to the center of the ring.....Wait...What's he doing? He should go for the cover!
LO: I told you this guy wasn't right in the head!
Instead of a cover, Zombie lifts the leg up, steps through, and then spins round while maintaining hold of the ankle, twisting Cross' knee and sending him into a fit of pain. The referee checks to see if Recoba want's to submit, but he shakes his head vehemently 'No' while Zombie Torques around again, sending out another cry from The Fox. "Ask him, Ref! Ask him! HAHAHAHHAHA" Aokigahara taunts, retorting the same lines once spoken by Cross when he had Zombie in a similar predicament. Aoki grins as he torques one more time before leaping into the air while still holding the ankle, and bringing his leg crashing down between Recoba's legs with a Leg Drop.
KO: THAT WAS A LOW BLOW!
LO: Santiago says it was the lower midsection, but not a direct violation of the rules...
KO: Well...well.....he's a moron!
Recoba clutches at his lower regions as Zombie comes up to his feet, and then proceeds to drop an elbow down across the man's chest, remaining there for a lazy cover.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Recoba out at two and half, and Zombie again seems unconcerned, helping Recoba up to his feet and pushing him back into the ropes...
KO: Zombie shoots Cross to the opposite side, steps out to the center to meet him, BUT CROSS WITH A BASEBALL SLIDE BETWEEN ZOMBIE'S FEET!
LO: Zombie spins around with a back fist, but Cross is low enough to avoid it, and SPRINGS UP INTO A MASSIVE EUROPEAN UPPERCUT THAT SENDS ZOMBIE TO THE CANVAS!
Zombie rolls to try and get to his feet, but Recoba stumbles in with a right hand that knocks him back into the nearby corner, following up with a well placed Chop that reverberates through the whole arena. At this point, Aoki's chest is red and bruised, making it a target as Cross fires in two more in quick succession. Zombie hangs from the ropes, allowing Recoba to easily slip his head under his arm and then lift him up into a seated position on the top turnbuckle. He steps up to the second, hooking the man around the waist for what looks like a Belly to Belly attempt. Aoki has just enough time to loop his legs through the ropes to prevent himself from being sent, and he rocks his head back, driving it forwards again into a headbutt. He nails Cross a few more times until The Fox is forced to step back down, and a targeted boot to the skull sends him stumbling back to the center of the ring. Zombie swings his legs around so that his boots rest on the second rope, and he stands to his full height before leaping off with a Double Ax Handle. Unfortunately for him, Cross is able to sidestep, burying his right fist in Zombie's gut as he lands, the momentum and impact causing him to cut a front flip down to the mat.
LO: Recoba possibly playing a little possum there to lure Zombie into that mistake, and now he looks to capitalize as he jerks Zombie up to his feet, hooks him around the head in a Dragon Sleeper, and TAKES HIM UP AND BACK DOWN INTO AN OSAKA STREET STUNNER!
KO: THE SKIM! RECOBA HOOKING THE LEG FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-KICK OUT! Zombie just barely able to get the shoulder off the mat before the count of three, and Recoba now shaking his head in frustration as he question's the referee!
KO: Well he's not going to get anything out of that idiot, and I think he realized that as he's back on his feet, and now has Zombie by both legs....This could be it!
Cross chokes up on Zombie's legs, and then commits to turn him over into Garibaldi's Guillotine, but the leader of Zombie Clan comes alive in resistance, realizing if he's turned then it is indeed over. Every muscle in Recoba's body bulges as he tries to force Aoki over, screaming down at the man, "Come on, you Son of a Bitch!" Zombie, for his part, continues to buck and struggle, refusing to allow the hold to be applied. The two men have squirmed with such effort that they end up all the way over by the ropes, and Zombie quickly grasps at the bottom and hooks it with both arms. Santiago calls for a break, and Recoba snarls at being denied, sending a soccer like punt right into the man's kidney's before dropping his legs. Aoki quickly rolls under the bottom rope to the outside, but quickly reaches back into the ring, managing to grab Cross' bad leg, and yanks it out from under him. Recoba, surprised, hit's the mat, and looks up to find that he's being dragged towards the nearby steel ring post.
KO: HE CAN'T DO THIS!
LO: I don't think anyone can stop him....Zombie now has Cross halfway in position, but The Fox wisely got his free boot up against the bottom turnbuckle to prevent himself from being dragged any further....OH!
KO: THAT BASTARD JUST BANGED HIS KNEE OFF THE RING APRON!! The boot holding him back just hit the mat, and now Zombie has the other leg fully extended, AND JUST RAMMED THE KNEE JOINT INTO THE STEEL POST!
Cross comes alive in agony, hands reaching for an opponent that is too far away, and before he can even think of an escape his knee is driven into the steel once again. Santiago threatens to disqualify Zombie, who finally lets go, and Cross pulls himself away from the trap and back to the center of the ring, but the damage is done. Zombie cackles as he slides back into the ring, and Cross puts both hands out in front of him to try and ward Aoki off, but it doesn't stop him from bringing his boot stomping down on the injured limb. Cross cries out again, and Zombie gives him no reprieve, jerking the leg off the canvas and swinging around it before falling back into a figure four. Cross comes alive in pain, grabbing at Zombie's foot to try and knock it loose to no avail. Eventually the pain is so great that he falls back to the canvas, his shoulders down on the mat.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Cross able to sit up out of the pin, but his leg is being assaulted by the vicious Zombie!
KO: This isn't fair! CROSS! CROSS!! YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT TO THE ROPES!
LO: Don't you think he know's that, Ken? He doesn't need you coaching from the sidelines....
Kenneth Othello sits on the edge of his seat as Recoba, ravaged by the pain, starts to try and drag himself and Aoki towards the ropes on his elbows. Each time he slides across the canvas, it puts more pressure on his injured knee, and he cries out in pain before finally fingering the bottom rope. Santiago calls for the break, but Zombie gives him an incredulous look, almost as if to say, "What? Why?", and the referee starts counting him down. At the count of four Aoki finally unhooks his foot and releases the hold, untangling his legs from Cross and getting to his feet with a wide grin as Recoba clutches at his knee.
LO: Zombie seems to really be enjoying himself now, stepping over to the corner and hopping up to sit on the top turnbuckle....just taunting Cross to get to his feet.
KO: This guy is a work hazard, Laur! He shouldn't be allowed to do this to someone of Cross' stature! Doesn't he know that Recoba just beat the Apex Champion last show!
LO: Oh, I'm sure he's aware...he just doesn't care. Recoba beats Cooper, and if Aoki beats Recoba, in his mind anyways, it's as good as claiming the same.
KO: That's ridiculous!
LO: Almost as ridiculous as Cross Recoba taking every advantage at every turn over every opponent?
KO: Whatever! This isn't the same!
While the announce team debates, Cross grabs the middle rope, then the top, and helps himself to his feet. He's wobbly now, hobbling away from the ropes, and for the first time realizing he doesn't have eyes on his opponent. He slowly scans the ring, turning in Aoki's direction, and just as he does the Zombie takes flight for another Double Ax Handle attempt. Shocking everyone, Cross launches himself at Zombie off his good leg, catching him with a Diving European Uppercut with enough force it stops his momentum dead in the air and sends him thundering down to the mat. Both men lay beside each other for the moment, Zombie dazed, Recoba in pain, and the referee has no other choice but to start a ten count for them to reach their feet.
LO: The Ref is at a count of six and Recoba just pushed up to a knee, and is now on his feet as Zombie tries to do the same...
KO: That uppercut took the wind out of his sails, Laur, and now Cross is signaling that it's over!
As Zombie gets all the way up, he doesn't have any time to catch his barrings, as Recoba steps in and scoops him up onto his shoulder. Aoki, realizing what this means, comes alive to fight to get out of what he knows is coming next. Cross ends up losing his grip on the man, and Zombie slides off his shoulder and down his back, shoving him hard from behind towards the ropes. Cross manages to turn so that he's coming back with momentum and tries to level Zombie with a Lariat, but Aoki ducks it, and when Cross spins around he finds the Zombie's fingers jammed right down his throat.
LO: ITAI CLAW!!
KO: NO! HE CAN'T DO THIS!!
LO: He can, and he is, Ken! Cross with a boot to Zombie...NO! ZOMBIE CAUGHT HIS LEG! WHAT THE!?!
KO: ZOMBIE JUST LIFTED CROSS UP AND CHOKE SLAMMED WITH HIS FINGERS STILL JAMMED INTO HIS MOUTH!! THIS ISN'T RIGHT!!
The sudden impact causes Recoba's teeth to clamp down, and Aokigahara Zombie cries out in pain, but then stifles it down with a barking laughter. He uses his other hand to grab the wrist of his hand that has fingers forced into Recoba's mouth, and pushes the fingers in all the way to the knuckle! Recoba spits and sputters, kicking under Zombie who's now sitting on him with the hold applied, but his struggle begins to lessen while Santiago drops down to check him. The longer he's in the submission, the more his eyes begin to gloss over, and his legs go slack against the canvas. Suddenly the eyelids flutter, and then his head lolls to the side as Santiago lifts his arm only to watch it drop lifelessly to the canvas. The referee holds up a finger, and then tries again, and once more the arm drops.
LO: This is it....Santiago's got his arm up.....AND CROSS RECOBA IS OUT!! The Referee is signaling for the bell!
KO: No...no....NO! This isn't happening! That laughing heyena is NOT strangling The Fox with his vile nasty fingers!
LO: Ken, I hate to tell you this, but it is not only happening.....It happened!
The bell echoes out into the arena while Santiago implores Zombie to let go of Cross. After a second, the enigmatic Aoki sneers and releases the hold, falling back onto his rump in tired laughter. The referee raises his saliva stained hand as the ring announcer make the announcement.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via Submission.......AOKIGAHARA ZOMMBBBIIEEE!!
Despite the bemusing expression, pain courses through Aoki as he rolls towards the ring apron and out of the ring, reaching up to his forehead that had previously struck the steel twice. He hobbles towards the ramp with one hand over his head, as Recoba finally comes to in the ring, and is in completely disbelief when the referee tells him he's lost. He uses the ropes to pull himself up to watch as Aoki reaches the top of the stage, where he turns to face the ring, and then points at Cross with another bout of hyena like laughter which sends Recoba into a fit. The Fox grabs the top rope and kicks the bottom several times, and then turns back to the referee to get in his face. The two argue, and by the time he's turned back around, Aoki is no longer there, the moment faded.
LO: Aokigahara Zombie remains undefeated since arriving in the company, and he hasn't taken on slouches either....going all the way through the Chimera Tag Tournament to become the champion beside Siberia, successfully defending against The Conglomerate, and now taking out Cross Recoba...
KO: You know what, fine! I can get behind somebody like Aokigahara, I mean, the whole Zombie Clan are a bunch of opportunist and usually the sort of thing I go for....but that claw? I can't get behind some dude jamming his filthy fingers into another dudes mouth...
LO: Well, that is a little disturbing every time I see it, but it's sure effective!
KO: I'd give up to, not even going to lie....
LO: (chuckles) well why don't we get our minds clear by taking a commercial break, and coming back to some more Valor Pro action, yeah?
Ken nods while in the ring Cross Recoba has finally exited, the crowd laughing and jeering him as he talks smack to all of them. The camera fades to commercial.
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RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a Singles Match scheduled for one fall or submission...
‘Resurrection by Erection’ by Powerwolf thrums through the arena speakers and the lights around the stage begin to flash with the drums. When 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: Introducing first, 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 with his hands over his head in premature victory.
LO: Brennan Devlin made his presence known last show during the Main Event where his entrance distracted Apex Champion, Cosmo Cooper, long enough for Cross Recoba to pull off an upset victory.
KO: Upset? What the hell? I wasn't upset by it! I though it was fantastic, and indicative of just how good Recoba really is....
LO: Whatever....Devlin wasn't the only one with a surprise entrance, however, when the woman he faces here tonight, Brodie appeared....and she made no qualms about it, she went right after Devlin, whom I'm sure she knows is trying to worm his way back into what she considers her title picture!
KO: And why wouldn't he? The Face of Wrestling has worked hard to make sure that his name is synonymous with Cosmo Coopers, and the idea that he is just going to go away after all of those efforts is foolhardy. Even if there is a new #1 Contender in town...
Speak of the devil....'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, the absence of the UnYielding Championship a strange sight after the past several weeks. 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 Brennan Devlin, her eyes narrowing to slits as red lips part over white teeth. With a snarl she stalks down the ramp, her eyes never leaving Devlin.
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 former UnYielding Champion, and the current #1 CONTENDER TO THE APEX CHAMPIONSHIP...THE SUBMISSION MACHINE...BROODDDIEEE!!
Brodie pauses at the bottom of the ramp, still staring a whole through Devlin, and much to everyone's surprise takes the steps to get into the ring rather than her customary roll in intimidation everyone had grown used to. Once in the ring she falls back into the corner, still with eyes on Devlin, and she scowls as he makes mocking faces in her direction.
LO: It's weird seeing Brodie out here without the UnYielding Championship, seeing as she's the one who finally broke the curse, and held the title for a number of defenses, including the likes of Zachariah Krahe, Zack Fantana, and Roxi Johnson...
KO: And then the upstart Danny Rizzo came along, and stole one from her....
LO: Indeed, that was Brodie's first loss since December, and that was in a tag match...
KO: Well, she looks to be taking a different tact here tonight, as she is usually in your face and quick to offense....instead, she's actually hanging back...
LO: Yeah, and I don't know why, but that scares me even more. But the time for worry is over, as there goes the bell, and now Brodie has come out of the corner and is circling with Devlin in the center of the ring!
The #1 Contender and The Face of Wrestling lock up, but as soon as they do Brodie slides through while taking Devlin by the wrist, and into a Arm Wringer. Devlin slaps his shoulder while Brodie takes a wide stance to deliver more torque, and just when it looks like he might go for a reversal, she gives the arm a yank, and then twists through once again. Devlin's face is suddenly serious, all jovial nature gone as he contemplates his predicament. With a nod of his head, he drops low into a forward roll to unwind his arm and comes back to his feet, spins through and under Brodie's arm to reverse the hold and put her in the Arm Wringer. He doesn't even attempt to twist a second time, instead getting a handful of the woman's hair, and yanks back hard to send her down to the canvas. Brodie looks up him wide eyed and full of rage, before rocking her knee's to her chest and kipping up before he can do anything further. Once solidly on her feet, she reaches with her other hand, slips back through under his arm, and reverses so that he's in the Arm Wringer once again. This time, however, she chokes up so that she now has control of the elbow, and places a boot into the back of Brennan's knee, forcing him down, and then steps over top of him, turning the hold into a Standing Arm Lock.
LO: Back and forth chain wrestling centered on the left arm, but now Brodie is in control. Devlin already pushing up to his feet to force her back into an Arm Wringer, but Brodie deftly slip under and behind him, pulling his arm back painfully into a Hammerlock!
KO: Devlin must have anticipated that, cause he reached between his legs the minute she did it and caught the back of her leg and takes her to the mat with a Heel trip!
LO: Devlin quick as a cat spins on Brodie, but she manages to get both feet up and plants them dead center of his chest, and with a great shove sends him crashing to the canvas!
KO: Both competitors wheel to their feet at the same time, and here comes Brennan...OH! Arm Drag by Brodie takes him down to the mat.....Devlin back up, walks into another one!
LO: Devlin back up a third time, but Brodie switches tactics into a Drop Toe Hold that sends him face first down into the canvas....The Submission Machine floats over...AND SHE'S GOING FOR THE FINALITY CROSSFACE!!
Devlin bucks, fights, and even bites to tear his arm out of the grasp of the wild woman, eventually getting free and rolling all the way across the ring, under the bottom rope, and to the outside where he turns to stare wide eyed at her while clutching his left elbow. Brodie comes up to one knee and returns the stare, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She pushes up to her feet, awaiting Devlin by stalking back and forth in the center of the ring. Meanwhile, Devlin takes almost all of the referee's count before finally hopping back up onto the ring apron, and sliding back into the ring.
LO: Brennan Devlin approaching Brodie with a little more respect as he comes back into this match, and now the two begin to circle one another once again....
KO: Collar and Elbow in the center of the ring, and Brodie goes for the arm again, but this time Brennan ducks under and goes behind for a Waist Lock. Brodie is struggling, but Brennan uses his size advantage to pick the woman up and cast her down to the mat with a Takedown!
LO: Brennan spins around to apply a Front Facelock on Brodie, but the woman is already pushing up to her feet, forcing Brennan to his, and he turns the hold into a Side Headlock to maintain control...
Brodie searches for an escape, and not finding one, digs in and pushes Brennan up against the ropes to shoot him to the other side, breaking the hold. Brennan hits off the opposite ropes and springs back as Brodie steps to the center of the ring where she's taken down with a shoulder tackle by the oncoming Devlin, who immediately tries to drop an elbow afterwards. Brodie is too quick, however, managing to roll out of the way and back up to her feet, and as Brennan comes up to his she lunges for him, grabbing him by the arm and swinging him around in attempt to force him to the canvas. Brennan fights to stop the momentum by putting on the brakes, and driving right fists into Brodie's skull. Eventually the Submission Machine is forced to let go of his arm to cover up, and he forces her all the way back into the ropes to shoot her off to the other side.
LO: Brodie on her way back now, and Devlin steps out to the center of the ring to meet her with a HIGH STANDING DROP KICK!
KO: BUT BRODIE JUST SWATTED HIS LEGS AWAY AND BRENNAN HITS THE MAT! On his way back up now, and Brodie rushes in, leaps up to plant both feet on his hips while hooking him around the head, and ROCKS BACK INTO A MONKEY FLIP THAT SENDS HIM SAILING ACROSS THE RING!
Brennan crashes unceremoniously to the mat in the nearby corner, but quickly scrambles up to his feet just in time to see Brodie charging in with a Lariat that knocks him back against the turnbuckles. Brodie commences to stomping away at Brennan's midsection, and The Face of Wrestling finds himself slipping with each hit until he ends up in a seated position. Brodie continues to stomp, the referee stepping in and trying to force her to let Devlin out of the corner, and when that fails, starts counting her down. At the count of four she finally relents, backing up to the center of the ring, and just as the referee steps back out of the way, comes rushing back in to deliver a knee strike right into the side of Devlin's head. Brennan clutches at his skull as he slips back under the bottom rope to the outside once again, this time trying to put some distance between him and the mad woman.
LO: Brodie not waiting on Devlin this time as she slips through the ropes to go after him, and Devlin has no idea!
KO: Brodie just comes rushing in from behind and got two fistfuls of hair, and RUNS HIM FACE FIRST DOWN INTO THE TOP OF THE STEEL STEPS!
Devlin falls away from the steps and starts crawling towards the announce booth with Brodie in pursuit. She catches up to him before he can fully get to his feet, getting another fistful of hair and slamming his face off the top of the announce table. The Othello's are quick to abandon their post as Brodie takes Brennan by the wrist and pushes him back away from the desk, before whipping him hard right for it. Devlin hits the desk and flips over top of it, landing in a pile at the feet of The Othello's, who scramble to get away from the action.
LO: GOOD GOD THEY ARE RIGHT OUT HERE AT OUR FEET, AND HERE COMES BRODIE!
KO: THE SUBMISSION MACHINE HAS DEVLIN BACK UP, AND WHIPS HIM RIGHT BACK OVER OUR BOOTH TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE RING!
LO: Brodie did not come into this match looking to play! She wants to eliminate the threat of Brennan Devlin to her Apex Championship aspirations, and wants her sole purpose to be Cosmo Cooper!
Devlin grabs at the ring apron to get up to his feet, and when he turns to see Brodie's position, she's coming right for him. He quickly thrusts himself under the bottom rope to the safety of the ring, but Brodie belly slides in right beside him, and both competitors come to their feet quickly. Brodie rushes at Devlin with a Double Chop, but he manages to duck under it, and when she spins around to face him he throws a Superkick into her jaw that takes her head off!
LO: MY GOD! You talk about a stop in momentum! Brennan Devlin may have just broke Brodie's jaw with that shot!
KO: Well no more than what she was trying to do to him out here, but Devlin isn't able to follow up....she's been on him like white on rice, and he's taking a second to catch his breath...
Devlin holds onto the rope shaking his head to try and get rid of the cobwebs, while Brodie crawls over to the corner and uses the turnbuckles to get to her feet. Devlin looks up to watch this, and shakes his head again, this time for a different reason. Brodie turns around in the corner just in time to see Brennan take a quick step trot into a Big Splash that crushes her against the turnbuckles. He steps out of the way as she stumbles back to the center of the ring, and then comes rushing in from behind her to dive into a Leg Lariat from behind that sees him ride her all the way down to the canvas. The impact to her front flips her over onto her back, and Brennan slides in for a cover and a hook of the leg.
1...
2...
LO: THR-NO! Brodie with an emphatic kick out at two and a half, and Brennan already pulling her back to her feet. Hooks her around the head now, and SNAP SUPLEX TAKES HER BACK TO THE MAT!
KO: Brennan floats over with the move, and hooks the leg a second time!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Brodie again kicks out, and now Brennan pops up to his feet, and....what the hell? He's gyrating much to the chagrin of this capacity crowd!
Devlin finishes his sexual inuendos and offers a huge grin before leaping straight up into the air, and then extending his elbow out from his body on his way down into a heavy Elbow Drop to Brodies chest. He doesn't stop there, popping up and doing it again, again, and again, until finally, he trots over to the second rope, hops up to the second turnbuckle and flicks his fingers before diving off and nailing her with an Elbow from that height. He quickly hooks the leg deep, nodding his head with the count.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Brodie kicks out once more, and now Brennan looks a little perturbed...
KO: Well, he just shrugged it off, and the smile is back, as he lifts her up to a seated position, and then applies a Rear Nake Choke to try and drive the air out his opponent...
Brennan mockingly shakes Brodie around like a rag doll, chuckling all the while, jawing with the crowd at ringside as he continues to tighten his grip on Brodie's throat. For her part, Brodie reaches her hand out in a daze for ropes that are nowhere near her, until that hands slowly drops to the canvas. Upon seeing this, the referee gets close, checking the hold and the woman, and gets no response. Brennan grins, falling onto his back and dragging Brodie with him, wrapping both his legs around her for a body scissors to add to the discomfort. From time to time the arm lifts off the canvas to signify that Brodie isn't done yet, but the movements become more and more sluggish as Brennan continues to apply the pressure, and eventually the referee checks her arm to find it flop lifelessly to the canvas. Santiago hold up one finger, and then tries the arm again, where it drops much the same, and a second finger comes up. He goes for a third time, and just as her arm drops it comes an inch short of hitting the canvas, instead hovering there until her hand balls up into a fist. With a roar Brodie's eyes pop open, and Devlin's faces goes from supreme confidence to concern as she begins driving elbows into his exposed ribs.
LO: Brodie fighting desperately to get out of this submission hold, but Devlin tenaciously holding on for dear life.....
KO: Yeah, but one of those rib shots from Brodie just got Devlin to release the body scissors, and SHE JUST FLIPPED BACKWARDS INTO A PINNING PREDICAMENT ON BRENNAN!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Brennan lets go of the hold and kicks out, and now he's up to his feet...Brodie up to her knee's, and here comes Devlin with a shoot kick, but BRODIE DUCKS IT AND MANAGES TO SCOOP HIM BACK DOWN INTO A SCHOOLBOY PIN!
1...
2...
KO: THR-NO! Brennan kicks out, and back up to his feet, AND BRODIE EXPLODES FORWARDS WITH A DOUBLE CHOP TAKE DOWN THAT SENDS DEVLIN THUNDERING TO THE MAT!
The fans are on their feet as Brodie takes in gasping gulps of breath while Devlin lays on the mat dazed after the sudden burst of offense and near falls. Slowly Brodie gets up to her feet, soon followed by Devlin, and upon seeing Brodie leaned up against the ropes, Brennan takes off in a sprint to attempt a Clothesline. Brodie, however, ducks her head at the last minute, sending Devlin up and over the top rope instead. Fortunately for him, he's able to grab the top rope on his way over, spinning in mid air to land safely on the ring apron. He grabs the top rope as Brodie turns to see her handy work, and springboards up to the top, and then flies off into a Diving Clothesline. Much to everyone's surprise, Brodie spins around to sidestep it, grabbing his arm on his way down, and falling with him all the way to where he eats the canvas. His arm is yanked back into the waiting grasp of her legs, and both of her hands lace under his chin as she rocks back violently into her finishing move.
LO: FINALITY CROSSFACE! DEVLIN'S FACE A MASK OF PAIN AS BRODIE PROCEEDS TO TRY AND REMOVE HEAD FROM SHOULDERS!
KO: AHHH!! BRENNAN! YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT TO THE ROPES!!
Devlin is already reaching for them, but finds himself dead center of the ring with a 150 pound woman wrenching on his arm, shoulder, and neck. The pain is astounding as he cries out while Brodie repositions to get more of him pulled awkwardly back, and he finds his hand hovering over the mat in contemplation of tapping out. Santiago is there to check him, and despite his body language he vehemently screams 'No' when questioned. After a few more moments in the hold, the audience watches as that same hand begins to slowly descend to the canvas much the same as Brodie's had when she was locked into the Rear Naked Choke. The referee checks his arm and it goes limply to the canvas, and Santiago holds up one hand. A second check sees the same result, and now two fingers are thrust into the air. Brodie, seeing this, roars as she wrenches back even harder if it were possible, causing a cry of pain to erupt from Devlin's lips. With this newfound discomfort he finds himself suddenly alive, clawing at the canvas, each grab at the mat dragging him and Brodie towards the ropes.
LO: Brennan Devlin is desperately trying to claw his way to the ropes, and Brodie is latched onto him like a piranha!
KO: Yeah, but he's making progress...he's almost there!
LO: Brennan reaching.....and HE JUST BARELY MAKES IT!
KO: YEAH, AND BRODIE DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE!
Santiago calls for the break, but like she has several times before, Brodie refuses, continuing to crank the neck as Brennan cries out even louder. The referee starts a count, and just as he's about to call for the bell and a disqualification, Brodie finally releases the hold, rolling up to her feet in a rage at Brennan's refusal to give up. Devlin claws at the ropes to get up to his feet, and Brodie watches this with contempt before stalking over and hooking him around the waist from behind. She drags Brennan from the ropes, and in a burst of strength takes him over with a German Suplex that see's him fold up like an accordion. The Submission Machine doesn't stop there, however, retaining her hold on the Waist Lock and rolling Brennan back into a seated position, helps him back to his feet, and then delivers another German, this time with a bridging pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Brennan barely rolls the shoulder out of that pin attempt, and Brodie back on her feet now stalking towards the referee....AND SANTIAGO JUST LEAPED THROUGH THE ROPES TO THE OUTSIDE!
KO: Do you blame him? This woman is dangerous!
Brodie stalks back and forth on the edge of the ropes, looking down at the referee in disgust, before turning her ire back to Devlin who crawls for the corner with his good arm. She stomps her way over to him as he gets halfway to his feet, and clubs him across the shoulders with her forearm. Standing him up against the turnbuckles she takes his arm, weaves it through the ropes, and then places a boot on the middle so that she can pull with all of her strength. Brennan cries out again in pain, and Santiago cautiously comes back into the ring, and starts a count on The Submission Machine. At four and a half she breaks, and then throws a boot square into the injured shoulder before Devlin can untangle it from the ropes. He shoves the woman back with his good arm, pushing past her while clutching at his bad shoulder, and she watches him go through narrowed eyes.
LO: Brodie rushing out of the corner behind Devlin...RUNS RIGHT PAST HIM AND HOOKS HIM AROUND THE HEAD AS SHE GOES...BULLDOG STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: Devlin is laid out dead center of the ring, and Brodie now heading back to that corner and just stepped out onto the apron.....she's going up top!
Brodie reaches the top turnbuckle and stands to her full height to stare down at her prey. The fans come to their feet as she snarls and leaps forward, both hands going out at her sides like a bird taking flight, as she comes rushing towards the canvas looking for a headbutt down on Brennan's bad shoulder. At the last possible second, Devlin rolls abruptly to his right, and Brodie goes painfully face first down into the mat.
LO: DEVLIN MOVED, AND BRODIE JUST ATE A MOUTHFUL OF CANVAS....MY GOD!
KO: Both competitors are down in the center of the ring, and Santiago is starting a ten count!
Santiago gets all the way to the count of six before either superstar begins to move, and reaches eight before they pull themselves up to their feet on opposite sides of the ring thanks to the ropes. The two look up from their positions to see that they are directly across from one another, and Devlin pushes off the ropes in a stuttering walk towards the center of the ring while Brodie does much the same. When they finally meet both go for right hands, fists reverberating off of skulls as they both take an off kilter step back. They come in swinging once again, and once more both hit pay dirt, wobbly legs barely able to keep them upright. On the third time, however, Brodie is the one to swing, while Devlin ducks, and every fan in the arena comes to their feet as he leaps up to try and hook her around the head for a cutter. He manages to get one hand around her head, but is completely surprised when both her hands come to his shoulders, and shoves him forward. This breaks his haphazard grip, and he falls spine first to the canvas in surprise.
LO: Brennan Devlin just went for Face Off, but Brodie shoved him away, and now Brennan rolling over to push up to his feet....BUT BRODIE IS BACK ON HIM! SHE HAS THE ARM PULLED BACK, HEAD HOOKED!
KO: FINALITY CROSSFACE!!
A roar rips through the woman like before, and with that roar comes the flexing of muscles and the separation of tendons as she yanks back awkwardly on Brennan Devlin's head. Mouth hanging open, eyes the size of saucers, Devlin reaches out with his free hand towards ropes that seem miles away. It was bad enough the first time she had him in this hold, but now they've went for another eight minutes, and he suddenly finds that he's tired. Even so, his hand claws out to find canvas, to drag himself and her towards the ropes. This time, however, Brodie, arm still trapped, digs her heels into the canvas, stopping the already slow progression. Devlin shakes his head 'No' the best he can with his neck being cranked back, and with a sudden movement folds his free shoulder in under himself, pivots his body, and yanks Brodie over his body into a pinning predicament while she holds onto the submission like a pit bull.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! BRODIE ROLLS BACK THROUGH ON BRENNAN, AND MY GOD! I THINK SHE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO TIGHTEN UP WITH IT!!
KO: COME ON DEVLIN!! AHHH! YOU'RE THE FACE OF WRESTLING!
Devlin reaches up and manages to find Brodie's hands under his chin, and he worms one of her fingers into his grasp, giving it a vicious yank to the side in hopes the sudden shooting pain in her hand will cause her to release the hold. Brodie does yell out, this time not in rage but in agony, but as she does so her eyes narrow, and she pulls incredibly far back with the fingers she still has locked around Devlin's skull. The Face of Wrestling looks up at the referee in torture, and his free hand releases her finger and bangs off the canvas. The referee turns and calls for the bell as the crowd sends up a cheer for Brodie despite normally being unsure of her.
LO: Hot Damn! Brodie did it! That's why she's the #1 Contender to the Apex Championship!
KO: This...this is a travesty! HEY! LET HIM OUT OF THE HOLD YOU EVIL HARPY!
Brodie doesn't look like she's going to, the light starting to go out in Devlin's eyes, but when Santiago threatens to reverse the decision, she finally releases. Devlin's face plops to the mat as Brodie pushes up to a knee's, resting her fist on the other while looking down at Devlin with a sneer. She allows the referee to lift her arm, and then yanks it away from him as she pushes up to her feet and stalks along the ropes.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via submission......BRODIEEEE!!
Brodie doesn't even acknowledge the announcement, instead swinging herself through the middle ropes to the outside, and then power walking up the ramp to leave Brennan behind clutching his shoulder.
LO: Where do you think she's going?
KO: I don't know, but I wouldn't want to be there when she arrives!
LO: Well, Brodie walks away the winner here in this exciting match up, and you have to wonder where that leaves Brennan Devlin?
KO: What do you mean where does that leave him? He's The Face of Wrestling!
LO: I know, as you so passionately pointed out right before he tapped..
KO: Yeah, well somebody needs to be passionate about it! If not for Cosmo Cooper, Devlin would be the Apex Champion!
LO: Maybe, but...well..like you said, there was Cosmo Cooper.
KO: Whatever, man! Get backstage before I get pissed, and have to teach my brother who was the better worker...
LO: Oh....you want to go there?
The two announcers bicker as Brennan exits the ring under the bottom rope looking pissed, and still gripping his shoulder. He jaws with the fans as he heads up the ramp, and the camera shifts backstage.
‘Resurrection by Erection’ by Powerwolf thrums through the arena speakers and the lights around the stage begin to flash with the drums. When 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: Introducing first, 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 with his hands over his head in premature victory.
LO: Brennan Devlin made his presence known last show during the Main Event where his entrance distracted Apex Champion, Cosmo Cooper, long enough for Cross Recoba to pull off an upset victory.
KO: Upset? What the hell? I wasn't upset by it! I though it was fantastic, and indicative of just how good Recoba really is....
LO: Whatever....Devlin wasn't the only one with a surprise entrance, however, when the woman he faces here tonight, Brodie appeared....and she made no qualms about it, she went right after Devlin, whom I'm sure she knows is trying to worm his way back into what she considers her title picture!
KO: And why wouldn't he? The Face of Wrestling has worked hard to make sure that his name is synonymous with Cosmo Coopers, and the idea that he is just going to go away after all of those efforts is foolhardy. Even if there is a new #1 Contender in town...
Speak of the devil....'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, the absence of the UnYielding Championship a strange sight after the past several weeks. 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 Brennan Devlin, her eyes narrowing to slits as red lips part over white teeth. With a snarl she stalks down the ramp, her eyes never leaving Devlin.
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 former UnYielding Champion, and the current #1 CONTENDER TO THE APEX CHAMPIONSHIP...THE SUBMISSION MACHINE...BROODDDIEEE!!
Brodie pauses at the bottom of the ramp, still staring a whole through Devlin, and much to everyone's surprise takes the steps to get into the ring rather than her customary roll in intimidation everyone had grown used to. Once in the ring she falls back into the corner, still with eyes on Devlin, and she scowls as he makes mocking faces in her direction.
LO: It's weird seeing Brodie out here without the UnYielding Championship, seeing as she's the one who finally broke the curse, and held the title for a number of defenses, including the likes of Zachariah Krahe, Zack Fantana, and Roxi Johnson...
KO: And then the upstart Danny Rizzo came along, and stole one from her....
LO: Indeed, that was Brodie's first loss since December, and that was in a tag match...
KO: Well, she looks to be taking a different tact here tonight, as she is usually in your face and quick to offense....instead, she's actually hanging back...
LO: Yeah, and I don't know why, but that scares me even more. But the time for worry is over, as there goes the bell, and now Brodie has come out of the corner and is circling with Devlin in the center of the ring!
The #1 Contender and The Face of Wrestling lock up, but as soon as they do Brodie slides through while taking Devlin by the wrist, and into a Arm Wringer. Devlin slaps his shoulder while Brodie takes a wide stance to deliver more torque, and just when it looks like he might go for a reversal, she gives the arm a yank, and then twists through once again. Devlin's face is suddenly serious, all jovial nature gone as he contemplates his predicament. With a nod of his head, he drops low into a forward roll to unwind his arm and comes back to his feet, spins through and under Brodie's arm to reverse the hold and put her in the Arm Wringer. He doesn't even attempt to twist a second time, instead getting a handful of the woman's hair, and yanks back hard to send her down to the canvas. Brodie looks up him wide eyed and full of rage, before rocking her knee's to her chest and kipping up before he can do anything further. Once solidly on her feet, she reaches with her other hand, slips back through under his arm, and reverses so that he's in the Arm Wringer once again. This time, however, she chokes up so that she now has control of the elbow, and places a boot into the back of Brennan's knee, forcing him down, and then steps over top of him, turning the hold into a Standing Arm Lock.
LO: Back and forth chain wrestling centered on the left arm, but now Brodie is in control. Devlin already pushing up to his feet to force her back into an Arm Wringer, but Brodie deftly slip under and behind him, pulling his arm back painfully into a Hammerlock!
KO: Devlin must have anticipated that, cause he reached between his legs the minute she did it and caught the back of her leg and takes her to the mat with a Heel trip!
LO: Devlin quick as a cat spins on Brodie, but she manages to get both feet up and plants them dead center of his chest, and with a great shove sends him crashing to the canvas!
KO: Both competitors wheel to their feet at the same time, and here comes Brennan...OH! Arm Drag by Brodie takes him down to the mat.....Devlin back up, walks into another one!
LO: Devlin back up a third time, but Brodie switches tactics into a Drop Toe Hold that sends him face first down into the canvas....The Submission Machine floats over...AND SHE'S GOING FOR THE FINALITY CROSSFACE!!
Devlin bucks, fights, and even bites to tear his arm out of the grasp of the wild woman, eventually getting free and rolling all the way across the ring, under the bottom rope, and to the outside where he turns to stare wide eyed at her while clutching his left elbow. Brodie comes up to one knee and returns the stare, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. She pushes up to her feet, awaiting Devlin by stalking back and forth in the center of the ring. Meanwhile, Devlin takes almost all of the referee's count before finally hopping back up onto the ring apron, and sliding back into the ring.
LO: Brennan Devlin approaching Brodie with a little more respect as he comes back into this match, and now the two begin to circle one another once again....
KO: Collar and Elbow in the center of the ring, and Brodie goes for the arm again, but this time Brennan ducks under and goes behind for a Waist Lock. Brodie is struggling, but Brennan uses his size advantage to pick the woman up and cast her down to the mat with a Takedown!
LO: Brennan spins around to apply a Front Facelock on Brodie, but the woman is already pushing up to her feet, forcing Brennan to his, and he turns the hold into a Side Headlock to maintain control...
Brodie searches for an escape, and not finding one, digs in and pushes Brennan up against the ropes to shoot him to the other side, breaking the hold. Brennan hits off the opposite ropes and springs back as Brodie steps to the center of the ring where she's taken down with a shoulder tackle by the oncoming Devlin, who immediately tries to drop an elbow afterwards. Brodie is too quick, however, managing to roll out of the way and back up to her feet, and as Brennan comes up to his she lunges for him, grabbing him by the arm and swinging him around in attempt to force him to the canvas. Brennan fights to stop the momentum by putting on the brakes, and driving right fists into Brodie's skull. Eventually the Submission Machine is forced to let go of his arm to cover up, and he forces her all the way back into the ropes to shoot her off to the other side.
LO: Brodie on her way back now, and Devlin steps out to the center of the ring to meet her with a HIGH STANDING DROP KICK!
KO: BUT BRODIE JUST SWATTED HIS LEGS AWAY AND BRENNAN HITS THE MAT! On his way back up now, and Brodie rushes in, leaps up to plant both feet on his hips while hooking him around the head, and ROCKS BACK INTO A MONKEY FLIP THAT SENDS HIM SAILING ACROSS THE RING!
Brennan crashes unceremoniously to the mat in the nearby corner, but quickly scrambles up to his feet just in time to see Brodie charging in with a Lariat that knocks him back against the turnbuckles. Brodie commences to stomping away at Brennan's midsection, and The Face of Wrestling finds himself slipping with each hit until he ends up in a seated position. Brodie continues to stomp, the referee stepping in and trying to force her to let Devlin out of the corner, and when that fails, starts counting her down. At the count of four she finally relents, backing up to the center of the ring, and just as the referee steps back out of the way, comes rushing back in to deliver a knee strike right into the side of Devlin's head. Brennan clutches at his skull as he slips back under the bottom rope to the outside once again, this time trying to put some distance between him and the mad woman.
LO: Brodie not waiting on Devlin this time as she slips through the ropes to go after him, and Devlin has no idea!
KO: Brodie just comes rushing in from behind and got two fistfuls of hair, and RUNS HIM FACE FIRST DOWN INTO THE TOP OF THE STEEL STEPS!
Devlin falls away from the steps and starts crawling towards the announce booth with Brodie in pursuit. She catches up to him before he can fully get to his feet, getting another fistful of hair and slamming his face off the top of the announce table. The Othello's are quick to abandon their post as Brodie takes Brennan by the wrist and pushes him back away from the desk, before whipping him hard right for it. Devlin hits the desk and flips over top of it, landing in a pile at the feet of The Othello's, who scramble to get away from the action.
LO: GOOD GOD THEY ARE RIGHT OUT HERE AT OUR FEET, AND HERE COMES BRODIE!
KO: THE SUBMISSION MACHINE HAS DEVLIN BACK UP, AND WHIPS HIM RIGHT BACK OVER OUR BOOTH TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR IN FRONT OF THE RING!
LO: Brodie did not come into this match looking to play! She wants to eliminate the threat of Brennan Devlin to her Apex Championship aspirations, and wants her sole purpose to be Cosmo Cooper!
Devlin grabs at the ring apron to get up to his feet, and when he turns to see Brodie's position, she's coming right for him. He quickly thrusts himself under the bottom rope to the safety of the ring, but Brodie belly slides in right beside him, and both competitors come to their feet quickly. Brodie rushes at Devlin with a Double Chop, but he manages to duck under it, and when she spins around to face him he throws a Superkick into her jaw that takes her head off!
LO: MY GOD! You talk about a stop in momentum! Brennan Devlin may have just broke Brodie's jaw with that shot!
KO: Well no more than what she was trying to do to him out here, but Devlin isn't able to follow up....she's been on him like white on rice, and he's taking a second to catch his breath...
Devlin holds onto the rope shaking his head to try and get rid of the cobwebs, while Brodie crawls over to the corner and uses the turnbuckles to get to her feet. Devlin looks up to watch this, and shakes his head again, this time for a different reason. Brodie turns around in the corner just in time to see Brennan take a quick step trot into a Big Splash that crushes her against the turnbuckles. He steps out of the way as she stumbles back to the center of the ring, and then comes rushing in from behind her to dive into a Leg Lariat from behind that sees him ride her all the way down to the canvas. The impact to her front flips her over onto her back, and Brennan slides in for a cover and a hook of the leg.
1...
2...
LO: THR-NO! Brodie with an emphatic kick out at two and a half, and Brennan already pulling her back to her feet. Hooks her around the head now, and SNAP SUPLEX TAKES HER BACK TO THE MAT!
KO: Brennan floats over with the move, and hooks the leg a second time!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Brodie again kicks out, and now Brennan pops up to his feet, and....what the hell? He's gyrating much to the chagrin of this capacity crowd!
Devlin finishes his sexual inuendos and offers a huge grin before leaping straight up into the air, and then extending his elbow out from his body on his way down into a heavy Elbow Drop to Brodies chest. He doesn't stop there, popping up and doing it again, again, and again, until finally, he trots over to the second rope, hops up to the second turnbuckle and flicks his fingers before diving off and nailing her with an Elbow from that height. He quickly hooks the leg deep, nodding his head with the count.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Brodie kicks out once more, and now Brennan looks a little perturbed...
KO: Well, he just shrugged it off, and the smile is back, as he lifts her up to a seated position, and then applies a Rear Nake Choke to try and drive the air out his opponent...
Brennan mockingly shakes Brodie around like a rag doll, chuckling all the while, jawing with the crowd at ringside as he continues to tighten his grip on Brodie's throat. For her part, Brodie reaches her hand out in a daze for ropes that are nowhere near her, until that hands slowly drops to the canvas. Upon seeing this, the referee gets close, checking the hold and the woman, and gets no response. Brennan grins, falling onto his back and dragging Brodie with him, wrapping both his legs around her for a body scissors to add to the discomfort. From time to time the arm lifts off the canvas to signify that Brodie isn't done yet, but the movements become more and more sluggish as Brennan continues to apply the pressure, and eventually the referee checks her arm to find it flop lifelessly to the canvas. Santiago hold up one finger, and then tries the arm again, where it drops much the same, and a second finger comes up. He goes for a third time, and just as her arm drops it comes an inch short of hitting the canvas, instead hovering there until her hand balls up into a fist. With a roar Brodie's eyes pop open, and Devlin's faces goes from supreme confidence to concern as she begins driving elbows into his exposed ribs.
LO: Brodie fighting desperately to get out of this submission hold, but Devlin tenaciously holding on for dear life.....
KO: Yeah, but one of those rib shots from Brodie just got Devlin to release the body scissors, and SHE JUST FLIPPED BACKWARDS INTO A PINNING PREDICAMENT ON BRENNAN!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Brennan lets go of the hold and kicks out, and now he's up to his feet...Brodie up to her knee's, and here comes Devlin with a shoot kick, but BRODIE DUCKS IT AND MANAGES TO SCOOP HIM BACK DOWN INTO A SCHOOLBOY PIN!
1...
2...
KO: THR-NO! Brennan kicks out, and back up to his feet, AND BRODIE EXPLODES FORWARDS WITH A DOUBLE CHOP TAKE DOWN THAT SENDS DEVLIN THUNDERING TO THE MAT!
The fans are on their feet as Brodie takes in gasping gulps of breath while Devlin lays on the mat dazed after the sudden burst of offense and near falls. Slowly Brodie gets up to her feet, soon followed by Devlin, and upon seeing Brodie leaned up against the ropes, Brennan takes off in a sprint to attempt a Clothesline. Brodie, however, ducks her head at the last minute, sending Devlin up and over the top rope instead. Fortunately for him, he's able to grab the top rope on his way over, spinning in mid air to land safely on the ring apron. He grabs the top rope as Brodie turns to see her handy work, and springboards up to the top, and then flies off into a Diving Clothesline. Much to everyone's surprise, Brodie spins around to sidestep it, grabbing his arm on his way down, and falling with him all the way to where he eats the canvas. His arm is yanked back into the waiting grasp of her legs, and both of her hands lace under his chin as she rocks back violently into her finishing move.
LO: FINALITY CROSSFACE! DEVLIN'S FACE A MASK OF PAIN AS BRODIE PROCEEDS TO TRY AND REMOVE HEAD FROM SHOULDERS!
KO: AHHH!! BRENNAN! YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT TO THE ROPES!!
Devlin is already reaching for them, but finds himself dead center of the ring with a 150 pound woman wrenching on his arm, shoulder, and neck. The pain is astounding as he cries out while Brodie repositions to get more of him pulled awkwardly back, and he finds his hand hovering over the mat in contemplation of tapping out. Santiago is there to check him, and despite his body language he vehemently screams 'No' when questioned. After a few more moments in the hold, the audience watches as that same hand begins to slowly descend to the canvas much the same as Brodie's had when she was locked into the Rear Naked Choke. The referee checks his arm and it goes limply to the canvas, and Santiago holds up one hand. A second check sees the same result, and now two fingers are thrust into the air. Brodie, seeing this, roars as she wrenches back even harder if it were possible, causing a cry of pain to erupt from Devlin's lips. With this newfound discomfort he finds himself suddenly alive, clawing at the canvas, each grab at the mat dragging him and Brodie towards the ropes.
LO: Brennan Devlin is desperately trying to claw his way to the ropes, and Brodie is latched onto him like a piranha!
KO: Yeah, but he's making progress...he's almost there!
LO: Brennan reaching.....and HE JUST BARELY MAKES IT!
KO: YEAH, AND BRODIE DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE!
Santiago calls for the break, but like she has several times before, Brodie refuses, continuing to crank the neck as Brennan cries out even louder. The referee starts a count, and just as he's about to call for the bell and a disqualification, Brodie finally releases the hold, rolling up to her feet in a rage at Brennan's refusal to give up. Devlin claws at the ropes to get up to his feet, and Brodie watches this with contempt before stalking over and hooking him around the waist from behind. She drags Brennan from the ropes, and in a burst of strength takes him over with a German Suplex that see's him fold up like an accordion. The Submission Machine doesn't stop there, however, retaining her hold on the Waist Lock and rolling Brennan back into a seated position, helps him back to his feet, and then delivers another German, this time with a bridging pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Brennan barely rolls the shoulder out of that pin attempt, and Brodie back on her feet now stalking towards the referee....AND SANTIAGO JUST LEAPED THROUGH THE ROPES TO THE OUTSIDE!
KO: Do you blame him? This woman is dangerous!
Brodie stalks back and forth on the edge of the ropes, looking down at the referee in disgust, before turning her ire back to Devlin who crawls for the corner with his good arm. She stomps her way over to him as he gets halfway to his feet, and clubs him across the shoulders with her forearm. Standing him up against the turnbuckles she takes his arm, weaves it through the ropes, and then places a boot on the middle so that she can pull with all of her strength. Brennan cries out again in pain, and Santiago cautiously comes back into the ring, and starts a count on The Submission Machine. At four and a half she breaks, and then throws a boot square into the injured shoulder before Devlin can untangle it from the ropes. He shoves the woman back with his good arm, pushing past her while clutching at his bad shoulder, and she watches him go through narrowed eyes.
LO: Brodie rushing out of the corner behind Devlin...RUNS RIGHT PAST HIM AND HOOKS HIM AROUND THE HEAD AS SHE GOES...BULLDOG STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: Devlin is laid out dead center of the ring, and Brodie now heading back to that corner and just stepped out onto the apron.....she's going up top!
Brodie reaches the top turnbuckle and stands to her full height to stare down at her prey. The fans come to their feet as she snarls and leaps forward, both hands going out at her sides like a bird taking flight, as she comes rushing towards the canvas looking for a headbutt down on Brennan's bad shoulder. At the last possible second, Devlin rolls abruptly to his right, and Brodie goes painfully face first down into the mat.
LO: DEVLIN MOVED, AND BRODIE JUST ATE A MOUTHFUL OF CANVAS....MY GOD!
KO: Both competitors are down in the center of the ring, and Santiago is starting a ten count!
Santiago gets all the way to the count of six before either superstar begins to move, and reaches eight before they pull themselves up to their feet on opposite sides of the ring thanks to the ropes. The two look up from their positions to see that they are directly across from one another, and Devlin pushes off the ropes in a stuttering walk towards the center of the ring while Brodie does much the same. When they finally meet both go for right hands, fists reverberating off of skulls as they both take an off kilter step back. They come in swinging once again, and once more both hit pay dirt, wobbly legs barely able to keep them upright. On the third time, however, Brodie is the one to swing, while Devlin ducks, and every fan in the arena comes to their feet as he leaps up to try and hook her around the head for a cutter. He manages to get one hand around her head, but is completely surprised when both her hands come to his shoulders, and shoves him forward. This breaks his haphazard grip, and he falls spine first to the canvas in surprise.
LO: Brennan Devlin just went for Face Off, but Brodie shoved him away, and now Brennan rolling over to push up to his feet....BUT BRODIE IS BACK ON HIM! SHE HAS THE ARM PULLED BACK, HEAD HOOKED!
KO: FINALITY CROSSFACE!!
A roar rips through the woman like before, and with that roar comes the flexing of muscles and the separation of tendons as she yanks back awkwardly on Brennan Devlin's head. Mouth hanging open, eyes the size of saucers, Devlin reaches out with his free hand towards ropes that seem miles away. It was bad enough the first time she had him in this hold, but now they've went for another eight minutes, and he suddenly finds that he's tired. Even so, his hand claws out to find canvas, to drag himself and her towards the ropes. This time, however, Brodie, arm still trapped, digs her heels into the canvas, stopping the already slow progression. Devlin shakes his head 'No' the best he can with his neck being cranked back, and with a sudden movement folds his free shoulder in under himself, pivots his body, and yanks Brodie over his body into a pinning predicament while she holds onto the submission like a pit bull.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! BRODIE ROLLS BACK THROUGH ON BRENNAN, AND MY GOD! I THINK SHE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO TIGHTEN UP WITH IT!!
KO: COME ON DEVLIN!! AHHH! YOU'RE THE FACE OF WRESTLING!
Devlin reaches up and manages to find Brodie's hands under his chin, and he worms one of her fingers into his grasp, giving it a vicious yank to the side in hopes the sudden shooting pain in her hand will cause her to release the hold. Brodie does yell out, this time not in rage but in agony, but as she does so her eyes narrow, and she pulls incredibly far back with the fingers she still has locked around Devlin's skull. The Face of Wrestling looks up at the referee in torture, and his free hand releases her finger and bangs off the canvas. The referee turns and calls for the bell as the crowd sends up a cheer for Brodie despite normally being unsure of her.
LO: Hot Damn! Brodie did it! That's why she's the #1 Contender to the Apex Championship!
KO: This...this is a travesty! HEY! LET HIM OUT OF THE HOLD YOU EVIL HARPY!
Brodie doesn't look like she's going to, the light starting to go out in Devlin's eyes, but when Santiago threatens to reverse the decision, she finally releases. Devlin's face plops to the mat as Brodie pushes up to a knee's, resting her fist on the other while looking down at Devlin with a sneer. She allows the referee to lift her arm, and then yanks it away from him as she pushes up to her feet and stalks along the ropes.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via submission......BRODIEEEE!!
Brodie doesn't even acknowledge the announcement, instead swinging herself through the middle ropes to the outside, and then power walking up the ramp to leave Brennan behind clutching his shoulder.
LO: Where do you think she's going?
KO: I don't know, but I wouldn't want to be there when she arrives!
LO: Well, Brodie walks away the winner here in this exciting match up, and you have to wonder where that leaves Brennan Devlin?
KO: What do you mean where does that leave him? He's The Face of Wrestling!
LO: I know, as you so passionately pointed out right before he tapped..
KO: Yeah, well somebody needs to be passionate about it! If not for Cosmo Cooper, Devlin would be the Apex Champion!
LO: Maybe, but...well..like you said, there was Cosmo Cooper.
KO: Whatever, man! Get backstage before I get pissed, and have to teach my brother who was the better worker...
LO: Oh....you want to go there?
The two announcers bicker as Brennan exits the ring under the bottom rope looking pissed, and still gripping his shoulder. He jaws with the fans as he heads up the ramp, and the camera shifts backstage.
Ah, there she is. With her chestnut hair, cheerful, ready to burst into laughter for no reason at all, like a child.
Katya Djurdjevic parks herself on a wooden crate., water bottle in hand. She unscrews the top for a swig before pouring the contents over her head.
Still feeling the effects of her hard hitting contest with Damien Miri, the leggy Russian greets us with a welcoming smile.
Katya Djurdjevic: As expected, a match with Damien Miri was a serious challenge. I’d been told I can expect a high standard in all my matches here, but experiencing it is another thing entirely.
She heaves a sigh,but her eyes keep their lighthearted cheer.
Katya Djurdjevic: But that’s exactly what I came here for! I'm no good to you if I operate on half-throttle or at half-passion. The sport needs people that give the crowd a spectacle. If I was gonna wrestle anywhere, it had to be somewhere worthy of my time and energy. The stars themselves need to hear of my name if I’m to achieve my goals. So open your eyes wide whenever I step into a Valor Pro. I promise you I will prove my true worth every time I leap into that ring.
Katya leaps off the crate, but needs a few moments to balance herself. Then she smiles.
Katya Djurdjevic: Because I’m gonna turn this place on its ear. Mark my words.
With that, she slowly takes her leave and our cameras take flight.
Katya Djurdjevic parks herself on a wooden crate., water bottle in hand. She unscrews the top for a swig before pouring the contents over her head.
Still feeling the effects of her hard hitting contest with Damien Miri, the leggy Russian greets us with a welcoming smile.
Katya Djurdjevic: As expected, a match with Damien Miri was a serious challenge. I’d been told I can expect a high standard in all my matches here, but experiencing it is another thing entirely.
She heaves a sigh,but her eyes keep their lighthearted cheer.
Katya Djurdjevic: But that’s exactly what I came here for! I'm no good to you if I operate on half-throttle or at half-passion. The sport needs people that give the crowd a spectacle. If I was gonna wrestle anywhere, it had to be somewhere worthy of my time and energy. The stars themselves need to hear of my name if I’m to achieve my goals. So open your eyes wide whenever I step into a Valor Pro. I promise you I will prove my true worth every time I leap into that ring.
Katya leaps off the crate, but needs a few moments to balance herself. Then she smiles.
Katya Djurdjevic: Because I’m gonna turn this place on its ear. Mark my words.
With that, she slowly takes her leave and our cameras take flight.
Featuring: Spiral
REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH.
Depeche Mode’s classic hit thumps its twangy beat as all eyes move toward the entrance ramp. All those faces full of hope as the unfamiliar music plays. Who could it be? A new signee to Valor, perhaps? All that excitement builds and builds until finally, a figure struts out from backstage and its…Brad Stokes.
Every Tunisian in the building buries the needle for disappointment. They’re hooping and hollering and booing, but Mr. Stokes isn’t hearing any of it. The look on his face is pure joy and he walks with a spring in his step. This isn’t the usual Brad Stokes, and to underline that, he’s sporting a new look from his usual trademark duds. His old leather jacket has been traded in for a white leather jacket to match his white jeans and white-rimmed sunglasses. Even his hair has had a makeover. It’s combed! Granted, poorly, but still, an effort was made to slick back that unruly mop of hair.
Stokes pauses for a moment to grab his jacket’s zipper. He teases pulling it down to reveal his custom-made t-shirt for the evening but he stops himself and waves it off. Not yet, he mouths with a wave of his hand and starts the walk down to the ring. Along the way he pulls a stick of gum from his pocket and shoves it into his mouth. He balls up the foil and stops long enough to flick it into the face of one of the kids at ringside but…he stops himself. He holds up his left hand while his right pulls out another stick of gum and hands it to the kid, who takes it from him with a big smile.
Something is different about Brad Stokes. Even the way he hurries up the stairs and ducks through the ropes is with a bit more pep than usual. The camera switches to a full shot of the ring. The canvas has been covered by a lush red carpet and a table is set up in the center of the squared circle. A short tripod sits on top, holding what appears to be a picture frame, but it’s hidden under a cloth.
When the music is killed the confusion of the fans is obvious. The usual boos seem to cut Stokes to the quick, but most people are just dumbfounded.
BRAD STOKES: HELLO Tunisia!
The boos jerk his head back and forth as his eyes search the crowd through the dark lenses of his sunglasses.
BS: Hold up! I know what you’re thinking. It’s the same ol’ Brad Stokes. But look at me! I’ve changed! Oh, what, you don’t believe me? Okay. Check THIS out.
He grabs the zipper of his jacket and yanks it down. The front opens up and reveals Zack Fantana’s face, all blown up and ironed-on to a white t-shirt. The sight of Mr. Fantanasy sparks the crowd into a fury. They’re cheering for Fantana and Stokes is nodding his head.
BS: Almost getting fired was the best thing to happen to me because I finally realized that I was taking life for granted. Sure, I have the good looks of a Zack Fantana, and we all know my collection of The Carpenters memorabilia rivals any fan alive or dead. But there was something missing in my life — a purpose. And two weeks ago I was given a purpose from this man right here!
Stokes grabs the sheet and pulls it away, revealing a canvas painting of Zack Fantana with a halo over his head, wearing a toga, and holding a baby whose face looks suspiciously similar to Brad Stokes…
BS: Zack Fantana sacrificed himself for all of us to ensure that you people never have to go without your favorite wrestling personality: Me! Brad Stokes! It’s because of him that I am able to bring you the NEW and IMPROVED Where There’s Stokes, There’s Fire. Now, as the First Decean of the Church of Fantanaism, I’m not going to tell you to donate your hard earned money to me later tonight, but I will be outside after the show if you wish to make an offering. I’ll be blasting Billy Squire and preaching the Word of the Prime Fantana on the parking lot tram.
Stokes stops and holds a finger up.
BS: BUT, as much as I would love to talk about all the things I have in common with Zack Fantana, like our luxurious locks and our Charles Atlas physiques, this wouldn’t be an episode of WTSTF without a guest. So, without further ado…
He turns to face the stage and points.
BS: He’s the Duke of Spook! The Doc of Shock! The Man with No Tan! Say hello to death himself…SPIRAL!
GO BACK TO SLEEP!
Counting Bodies Like Sheep slams right into the chorus. The lights around the arena strobe red as the camera cranes over the stage. After a beat, Spiral walks out from the gorilla position wearing a black pinstripe suit, tailored, and carrying a large silver briefcase.
The Pale King looks out over the sea of angry faces with a smile carved across his face. He then starts down the ramp with purpose. The camera follows him from behind to ringside. He pushes the briefcase in first then climbs in after it. As he stands, he walks to the far turnbuckle and climbs to the second rung. As his music fades out, he gives another glare then jumps down. A microphone gets handed to him from one of the ring crew.
BS: Listen to these people! How does it make you feel knowing these people hate you?
Spiral waits for a moment to respond, giving the crowd the opportunity to rattle the arena with their disapproval.
SPIRAL: Do you think they can understand a word you’re saying, Mr. Stokes? Or are they simply booing because they’ve been told I’m the villain and you look like an idiot with Zack Fantana’s face printed on your chest?
Stokes looks around the arena as they continue to boo, as if he didn’t even realize they might not speak American. He points at his chest and the crowd pops. He points at Spiral and the crowd boos. Chest? Pop! Spiral? Boo!
SPIRAL: ENOUGH, you imbecile. The answer to your question is simple: I don’t care what these people think about me, anymore than I care what you think, or those wrestlers in the back think, and I certainly don’t care what Vanessa Byrne thinks about me.
The mention of Byrne’s name draws a mixed reaction.
SPIRAL: Look at you, Mr. Stokes. What is this ridiculous outfit you’re wearing?
BS: It’s my new look. I’m First Deacon in the Church of Fantanaism. I have to dress the part in service of my savior!
SPIRAL: Do you really think Zack Fantana would walk out to save a pathetic little heap of human waste such as yourself?
BS: Well, I…
SPIRAL: Put a pin in that. You know Zack Fantana was already on his way out the door, driven away by Vanessa Byrne, just like she drove away FiteTV. He saw a chance to stick it back to her by saving your job. That’s it. You’re nothing more than a thorn stuck in her side care of Fantana.
BS: Well, I think I heard her call me a prick once, but I thought it was about something else.
Spiral sets his microphone down on the table and grabs the Fantana painting.
BS: Hey, I can understand if you want to look closer at it. Just be careful. I paid an art student in beer and let me tell you, he had expensive taste. He demanded Miller High Life. The Champagne of Beers! I tried to negotiate him down to Natty Ice but…
Spiral suddenly breaks the canvas frame over his knee and rips the painting apart!
BS: Holy Fantana! Nooo!
The crowd is raging as Zack’s face is torn in two and tossed over the top rope. Spiral picks the microphone back up.
SPIRAL: Zack Fantana isn’t your savior, Mr. Stokes. He saw the writing on the wall and ran away. Like a coward.
BS: How dare you! Zack would never run away from you or that old hag…I mean very nice lady Vanessa Byrne!
SPIRAL: When I signed with Valor Pro Wrestling, I was told how lucky I was to be employed again. How lucky I was for any company to sign me to their roster because of my past. And what did they do? Bury me in a ridiculous tag team tournament. A complete waste of my talents and an insult to everything I’ve achieved in my career.
Spiral looks around the arena.
SPIRAL: But I wanted that belt. I wanted to win just to shove it down all your throats. So at Blitz 11 I did exactly what I needed to do to win. I played by their rules and won without breaking a sweat. It left Vanessa Byrne embarrassed. It left all those producers who follow her around with egg on their face. And the only thing they could do to save themselves from their embarrassment was to screw me over any chance they could get. But none of these so-called wrestlers stood a chance against world class athletes such as myself and Cross Recoba, so they decided to change the rules. They stuck is in a match with all the other tag teams, including Neo Tokyo and the #Trendsetters who received byes simply for existing. And that, Mr. Stokes, is the hypocrisy of tag team wrestling. If you just sit around long enough with some other person and call yourselves a team, eventually someone’s going to give you a title shot out of pity.
Spiral walks over to pick his briefcase up off the carpet. He walks it over to the tag and sets it down.
SPIRAL: They stacked the deck against us at Allegiance to deprive me of a Valor World Championship but what they don’t realize is they did me a favor. You see, the Chimera Tag Team Championship is not worthy to go around my waist. It is not worthy of the Pale King. And another reason I don’t need a Valor championship belt is…
Spiral opens the case, revealing his own championship belt. He takes it out and hoists it over his head. In the middle of the gold face plate is a fist over a five point star. Embossed over top is the word UNLEASHED.
SPIRAL: I already have a world championship.
He soaks in heckles and hoots of displeasure.
SPIRAL: The UNLEASHED World Championship. EARNED with blood and bone. Fought in cages all across the world, where there are no Carmen Caputo’s to enforce The Company’s narrative. THIS is a title paid for in years off your life.
Brad Stokes rubs the butt of his chin.
BS: I mean, it’s kind of nice but…
SPIRAL: Remember earlier when you said Zack Fantana saved you?
BS: Well, yeah! It was only, like, three minutes ago…
SPIRAL: Do you think he’d do it again?
Before Brad Stokes can answer, Spiral leaps on him and tackles him through the ropes, sending the belt and microphones falling to the carpet. The two land with a thud outside but Spiral is on his feet in a split second. He starts stomping Brad into the concrete. He then reaches down, takes a fistful of hair, and drags the host around the corner and down the camera side of the ring. He lets go long enough to lift the ring apron and reach into the darkness. What comes out out is a strand of barbed wire.
He climbs to his feet and begins wrapping the length of wire around his right fist, all while staring at Brad Stokes as he starts to crawl away, but not quite fast enough. With a improvised glove of razor-sharp metal, he stalks Stokes down the side of the ring, until the host makes it to the steel steps. As he stands on his wobbly legs, Spiral grabs his shoulder, spins him around, and drives that barbed wire hand into Brad’s face!
Stokes hits the ground and tries to squirm away. Spiral can be heard screaming after him:
SPIRAL: WHERE’S ZACK, MR. STOKES? I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO SAVE YOU.
He goes after Stokes and grabs the man by the hair again. When he pulls back on Brad’s head, the camera sees blood pouring out of several cuts on his forehead. It’s running down his face and painting his white leather jacket, shirt, and pants crimson red.
Spiral yanks Brad around and puts him on his knees near the ringpost, laying his head on the steel steps.
SPIRAL: ZACK FANTANA ISN’T GOING TO SAVE YOU.
Spiral grabs the chair from the timekeeper, folds it up while turning back to Stokes who’s bleeding all over the step.
SPIRAL: NO ONE CAN.
Spiral slams the chair not once, but twice, smashing Stokes’ body between it and the steel stairs. He then turns, tossing it aside, and watches the bloody and unconscious Stokes slide off onto the concrete. Spiral reaches down with his left hand and wipes it across Stokes face. He stands, holding up the blood-covered hand as he climbs back into the ring. He walks over and picks the belt up, smearing the blood on the gold face plate, then throws it over his shoulder and grabs one of the microphones.
SPIRAL: I am the UNLEASHED Champion of a World without restrictions. A world without law and order. A world without referees to protect you or The Company to push you to the top for selling the most t-shirts. A world where you fight another human to near death just to get your hand raised. Not for fame or fortune—for the reckoning! And I will defend my belt against anyone who wants to pay the admission fee.
He lifts his right hand and squeezes, tightening the barbed wire and sending it digging into his skin. Blood trickles down the metal strands, turning the sleeve of his shirt red.
SPIRAL: Blood and bone.
A Perfect Circle hits the sound system. Spiral stares forward with a sinister smile creeping and crawling across his lips.
Depeche Mode’s classic hit thumps its twangy beat as all eyes move toward the entrance ramp. All those faces full of hope as the unfamiliar music plays. Who could it be? A new signee to Valor, perhaps? All that excitement builds and builds until finally, a figure struts out from backstage and its…Brad Stokes.
Every Tunisian in the building buries the needle for disappointment. They’re hooping and hollering and booing, but Mr. Stokes isn’t hearing any of it. The look on his face is pure joy and he walks with a spring in his step. This isn’t the usual Brad Stokes, and to underline that, he’s sporting a new look from his usual trademark duds. His old leather jacket has been traded in for a white leather jacket to match his white jeans and white-rimmed sunglasses. Even his hair has had a makeover. It’s combed! Granted, poorly, but still, an effort was made to slick back that unruly mop of hair.
Stokes pauses for a moment to grab his jacket’s zipper. He teases pulling it down to reveal his custom-made t-shirt for the evening but he stops himself and waves it off. Not yet, he mouths with a wave of his hand and starts the walk down to the ring. Along the way he pulls a stick of gum from his pocket and shoves it into his mouth. He balls up the foil and stops long enough to flick it into the face of one of the kids at ringside but…he stops himself. He holds up his left hand while his right pulls out another stick of gum and hands it to the kid, who takes it from him with a big smile.
Something is different about Brad Stokes. Even the way he hurries up the stairs and ducks through the ropes is with a bit more pep than usual. The camera switches to a full shot of the ring. The canvas has been covered by a lush red carpet and a table is set up in the center of the squared circle. A short tripod sits on top, holding what appears to be a picture frame, but it’s hidden under a cloth.
When the music is killed the confusion of the fans is obvious. The usual boos seem to cut Stokes to the quick, but most people are just dumbfounded.
BRAD STOKES: HELLO Tunisia!
The boos jerk his head back and forth as his eyes search the crowd through the dark lenses of his sunglasses.
BS: Hold up! I know what you’re thinking. It’s the same ol’ Brad Stokes. But look at me! I’ve changed! Oh, what, you don’t believe me? Okay. Check THIS out.
He grabs the zipper of his jacket and yanks it down. The front opens up and reveals Zack Fantana’s face, all blown up and ironed-on to a white t-shirt. The sight of Mr. Fantanasy sparks the crowd into a fury. They’re cheering for Fantana and Stokes is nodding his head.
BS: Almost getting fired was the best thing to happen to me because I finally realized that I was taking life for granted. Sure, I have the good looks of a Zack Fantana, and we all know my collection of The Carpenters memorabilia rivals any fan alive or dead. But there was something missing in my life — a purpose. And two weeks ago I was given a purpose from this man right here!
Stokes grabs the sheet and pulls it away, revealing a canvas painting of Zack Fantana with a halo over his head, wearing a toga, and holding a baby whose face looks suspiciously similar to Brad Stokes…
BS: Zack Fantana sacrificed himself for all of us to ensure that you people never have to go without your favorite wrestling personality: Me! Brad Stokes! It’s because of him that I am able to bring you the NEW and IMPROVED Where There’s Stokes, There’s Fire. Now, as the First Decean of the Church of Fantanaism, I’m not going to tell you to donate your hard earned money to me later tonight, but I will be outside after the show if you wish to make an offering. I’ll be blasting Billy Squire and preaching the Word of the Prime Fantana on the parking lot tram.
Stokes stops and holds a finger up.
BS: BUT, as much as I would love to talk about all the things I have in common with Zack Fantana, like our luxurious locks and our Charles Atlas physiques, this wouldn’t be an episode of WTSTF without a guest. So, without further ado…
He turns to face the stage and points.
BS: He’s the Duke of Spook! The Doc of Shock! The Man with No Tan! Say hello to death himself…SPIRAL!
GO BACK TO SLEEP!
Counting Bodies Like Sheep slams right into the chorus. The lights around the arena strobe red as the camera cranes over the stage. After a beat, Spiral walks out from the gorilla position wearing a black pinstripe suit, tailored, and carrying a large silver briefcase.
The Pale King looks out over the sea of angry faces with a smile carved across his face. He then starts down the ramp with purpose. The camera follows him from behind to ringside. He pushes the briefcase in first then climbs in after it. As he stands, he walks to the far turnbuckle and climbs to the second rung. As his music fades out, he gives another glare then jumps down. A microphone gets handed to him from one of the ring crew.
BS: Listen to these people! How does it make you feel knowing these people hate you?
Spiral waits for a moment to respond, giving the crowd the opportunity to rattle the arena with their disapproval.
SPIRAL: Do you think they can understand a word you’re saying, Mr. Stokes? Or are they simply booing because they’ve been told I’m the villain and you look like an idiot with Zack Fantana’s face printed on your chest?
Stokes looks around the arena as they continue to boo, as if he didn’t even realize they might not speak American. He points at his chest and the crowd pops. He points at Spiral and the crowd boos. Chest? Pop! Spiral? Boo!
SPIRAL: ENOUGH, you imbecile. The answer to your question is simple: I don’t care what these people think about me, anymore than I care what you think, or those wrestlers in the back think, and I certainly don’t care what Vanessa Byrne thinks about me.
The mention of Byrne’s name draws a mixed reaction.
SPIRAL: Look at you, Mr. Stokes. What is this ridiculous outfit you’re wearing?
BS: It’s my new look. I’m First Deacon in the Church of Fantanaism. I have to dress the part in service of my savior!
SPIRAL: Do you really think Zack Fantana would walk out to save a pathetic little heap of human waste such as yourself?
BS: Well, I…
SPIRAL: Put a pin in that. You know Zack Fantana was already on his way out the door, driven away by Vanessa Byrne, just like she drove away FiteTV. He saw a chance to stick it back to her by saving your job. That’s it. You’re nothing more than a thorn stuck in her side care of Fantana.
BS: Well, I think I heard her call me a prick once, but I thought it was about something else.
Spiral sets his microphone down on the table and grabs the Fantana painting.
BS: Hey, I can understand if you want to look closer at it. Just be careful. I paid an art student in beer and let me tell you, he had expensive taste. He demanded Miller High Life. The Champagne of Beers! I tried to negotiate him down to Natty Ice but…
Spiral suddenly breaks the canvas frame over his knee and rips the painting apart!
BS: Holy Fantana! Nooo!
The crowd is raging as Zack’s face is torn in two and tossed over the top rope. Spiral picks the microphone back up.
SPIRAL: Zack Fantana isn’t your savior, Mr. Stokes. He saw the writing on the wall and ran away. Like a coward.
BS: How dare you! Zack would never run away from you or that old hag…I mean very nice lady Vanessa Byrne!
SPIRAL: When I signed with Valor Pro Wrestling, I was told how lucky I was to be employed again. How lucky I was for any company to sign me to their roster because of my past. And what did they do? Bury me in a ridiculous tag team tournament. A complete waste of my talents and an insult to everything I’ve achieved in my career.
Spiral looks around the arena.
SPIRAL: But I wanted that belt. I wanted to win just to shove it down all your throats. So at Blitz 11 I did exactly what I needed to do to win. I played by their rules and won without breaking a sweat. It left Vanessa Byrne embarrassed. It left all those producers who follow her around with egg on their face. And the only thing they could do to save themselves from their embarrassment was to screw me over any chance they could get. But none of these so-called wrestlers stood a chance against world class athletes such as myself and Cross Recoba, so they decided to change the rules. They stuck is in a match with all the other tag teams, including Neo Tokyo and the #Trendsetters who received byes simply for existing. And that, Mr. Stokes, is the hypocrisy of tag team wrestling. If you just sit around long enough with some other person and call yourselves a team, eventually someone’s going to give you a title shot out of pity.
Spiral walks over to pick his briefcase up off the carpet. He walks it over to the tag and sets it down.
SPIRAL: They stacked the deck against us at Allegiance to deprive me of a Valor World Championship but what they don’t realize is they did me a favor. You see, the Chimera Tag Team Championship is not worthy to go around my waist. It is not worthy of the Pale King. And another reason I don’t need a Valor championship belt is…
Spiral opens the case, revealing his own championship belt. He takes it out and hoists it over his head. In the middle of the gold face plate is a fist over a five point star. Embossed over top is the word UNLEASHED.
SPIRAL: I already have a world championship.
He soaks in heckles and hoots of displeasure.
SPIRAL: The UNLEASHED World Championship. EARNED with blood and bone. Fought in cages all across the world, where there are no Carmen Caputo’s to enforce The Company’s narrative. THIS is a title paid for in years off your life.
Brad Stokes rubs the butt of his chin.
BS: I mean, it’s kind of nice but…
SPIRAL: Remember earlier when you said Zack Fantana saved you?
BS: Well, yeah! It was only, like, three minutes ago…
SPIRAL: Do you think he’d do it again?
Before Brad Stokes can answer, Spiral leaps on him and tackles him through the ropes, sending the belt and microphones falling to the carpet. The two land with a thud outside but Spiral is on his feet in a split second. He starts stomping Brad into the concrete. He then reaches down, takes a fistful of hair, and drags the host around the corner and down the camera side of the ring. He lets go long enough to lift the ring apron and reach into the darkness. What comes out out is a strand of barbed wire.
He climbs to his feet and begins wrapping the length of wire around his right fist, all while staring at Brad Stokes as he starts to crawl away, but not quite fast enough. With a improvised glove of razor-sharp metal, he stalks Stokes down the side of the ring, until the host makes it to the steel steps. As he stands on his wobbly legs, Spiral grabs his shoulder, spins him around, and drives that barbed wire hand into Brad’s face!
Stokes hits the ground and tries to squirm away. Spiral can be heard screaming after him:
SPIRAL: WHERE’S ZACK, MR. STOKES? I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO SAVE YOU.
He goes after Stokes and grabs the man by the hair again. When he pulls back on Brad’s head, the camera sees blood pouring out of several cuts on his forehead. It’s running down his face and painting his white leather jacket, shirt, and pants crimson red.
Spiral yanks Brad around and puts him on his knees near the ringpost, laying his head on the steel steps.
SPIRAL: ZACK FANTANA ISN’T GOING TO SAVE YOU.
Spiral grabs the chair from the timekeeper, folds it up while turning back to Stokes who’s bleeding all over the step.
SPIRAL: NO ONE CAN.
Spiral slams the chair not once, but twice, smashing Stokes’ body between it and the steel stairs. He then turns, tossing it aside, and watches the bloody and unconscious Stokes slide off onto the concrete. Spiral reaches down with his left hand and wipes it across Stokes face. He stands, holding up the blood-covered hand as he climbs back into the ring. He walks over and picks the belt up, smearing the blood on the gold face plate, then throws it over his shoulder and grabs one of the microphones.
SPIRAL: I am the UNLEASHED Champion of a World without restrictions. A world without law and order. A world without referees to protect you or The Company to push you to the top for selling the most t-shirts. A world where you fight another human to near death just to get your hand raised. Not for fame or fortune—for the reckoning! And I will defend my belt against anyone who wants to pay the admission fee.
He lifts his right hand and squeezes, tightening the barbed wire and sending it digging into his skin. Blood trickles down the metal strands, turning the sleeve of his shirt red.
SPIRAL: Blood and bone.
A Perfect Circle hits the sound system. Spiral stares forward with a sinister smile creeping and crawling across his lips.
We open to pitch black and utter silence. The camera rests still for a few moments with not even the slightest of light or the littlest of peeps to give a hint as to what’s going on.
Voice: To be above the Cosmos…
Suddenly, stars begin to fill the lower half of the room and even all over the floor of it. The upper half of the room gets lit up on majestic greens, purples, pinks and blues swirling around each other, giving off a beyond the stars or heavenly like feel.
SILK: 2-1 Cosmo. Right now, I sit above ya and every single lap of this bullshit marathon ya mouth been runnin’.
SILK smirks, though his eyes stay shaded behind his dark framed Fendi glasses, confidence from them almost pierces his lenses.
SILK: “Broken record” doesn’t even begin to describe the points regurgitated in the presser ya put on, the promo for Valor ya put out or the little speech ya had at King’s Road. Ya talk ‘bout generic, yet keep hittin’ the same points in generic ass pieces where ya literally sit there and talk to a fuckin’ camera.
SILK shakes his head and tosses in a scoff for good measure.
SILK: Ya wanna know the real difference between us? I entertain while ya come off like greek vanilla yogurt - plain.
The arrogance once again remerges upon his face after being serious for only a moment.
SILK: You know why I’m up 2-1 Cosmopolitan? Cause you’re too worried ‘bout social media presence and tryin’ to pass off women who lay with ya boi as actresses cause ya reachin’ so hard to try and assassinate my character cause ya can’t say a damn thing ‘bout my in ring work. It’s a ploy that reeks of desperation but because ya girl feeds into ya narrative and likes ya shit, it boosts ya ego to the point ya start to believe the bullshit ya be spewin’.
The stars below SILK begin to flicker.
SILK: Even in the Cosmos, stars become weak like ya performance in this series through matches two and three.
A cocky shrug escapes SILK’s body.
SILK: Eventually, those same stars die too Cosmo…
The stars all go out, leaving the bottom half of the room and the floor now black though SILK’s frame stays illuminated by the upper half of the rooms breathtaking imagery.
SILK: Ya boi will, you will, everyone in ya little group of three or four circle jerkers will and what’s crazy is on the path ya headed? Ya gon’ go from bein’ seen as one of the brightest talents on the planet to one of the biggest assholes walkin’ the face of it. Just at the beginnin’ of March shit was straight. Ya gave me respect by recognizin’ me as one of this industry’s best as well as even sayin’ “real recognize real” when I shouted ya out. Since then though? Either a wild night with that waste yute Riley on the beach got sand all up in ya vagina or ya saw my star shining brighter and brighter, startin’ to elevate beyond the celestial plane, which ya just couldn’t bare to see or have happen on ya watch - like a hater.
The scene behind him grows brighter and the colors begin to swirl at an even more rapid rate.
SILK: Ya know what’s the best part of all this though Cosmo? Win, lose or draw, I’ve proven Valor’s “Golden Boy” to be nothin’ more than a “Golden Girl” - caught up in ya feelin’s so bad for everyone to see like ya didn’t get to kiss the boy ya crushed on durin’ recess.
All the imagery behind SILK explodes into a stardust like substance that fills the room.
SILK: 3-1 awaits ya after tonight Cosmo and in the end of all this? At the rate ya goin’, ya gon’ turn to the booze and end up as a drunk trailer park supervisor somewhere with no aspirations, just bitterness that’ll have ya continuin’ to plot against ya boi. Can already picture ya now, conspirin’ to bring upon ya boi’s downfall while Riley and ya play “shit bee pollinates the shit flower” in ya spare time.
As the stardust continues to fall, the room starts to get darker as there’s no backdrop for light anymore.
SILK: After tonight, at most only three opportunities remain to redeem ya damn self Cosmo but seein’ as how bitch made ya been actin’ lately, I don’t think ya have a single redeemin’ quality left in ya so don’t worry, I’ll make this rest of this series quick and painless.
SILK flashes a wink before the final cluster of stardust fades away causing the room and the picture to go black.
Voice: To be above the Cosmos…
Suddenly, stars begin to fill the lower half of the room and even all over the floor of it. The upper half of the room gets lit up on majestic greens, purples, pinks and blues swirling around each other, giving off a beyond the stars or heavenly like feel.
SILK: 2-1 Cosmo. Right now, I sit above ya and every single lap of this bullshit marathon ya mouth been runnin’.
SILK smirks, though his eyes stay shaded behind his dark framed Fendi glasses, confidence from them almost pierces his lenses.
SILK: “Broken record” doesn’t even begin to describe the points regurgitated in the presser ya put on, the promo for Valor ya put out or the little speech ya had at King’s Road. Ya talk ‘bout generic, yet keep hittin’ the same points in generic ass pieces where ya literally sit there and talk to a fuckin’ camera.
SILK shakes his head and tosses in a scoff for good measure.
SILK: Ya wanna know the real difference between us? I entertain while ya come off like greek vanilla yogurt - plain.
The arrogance once again remerges upon his face after being serious for only a moment.
SILK: You know why I’m up 2-1 Cosmopolitan? Cause you’re too worried ‘bout social media presence and tryin’ to pass off women who lay with ya boi as actresses cause ya reachin’ so hard to try and assassinate my character cause ya can’t say a damn thing ‘bout my in ring work. It’s a ploy that reeks of desperation but because ya girl feeds into ya narrative and likes ya shit, it boosts ya ego to the point ya start to believe the bullshit ya be spewin’.
The stars below SILK begin to flicker.
SILK: Even in the Cosmos, stars become weak like ya performance in this series through matches two and three.
A cocky shrug escapes SILK’s body.
SILK: Eventually, those same stars die too Cosmo…
The stars all go out, leaving the bottom half of the room and the floor now black though SILK’s frame stays illuminated by the upper half of the rooms breathtaking imagery.
SILK: Ya boi will, you will, everyone in ya little group of three or four circle jerkers will and what’s crazy is on the path ya headed? Ya gon’ go from bein’ seen as one of the brightest talents on the planet to one of the biggest assholes walkin’ the face of it. Just at the beginnin’ of March shit was straight. Ya gave me respect by recognizin’ me as one of this industry’s best as well as even sayin’ “real recognize real” when I shouted ya out. Since then though? Either a wild night with that waste yute Riley on the beach got sand all up in ya vagina or ya saw my star shining brighter and brighter, startin’ to elevate beyond the celestial plane, which ya just couldn’t bare to see or have happen on ya watch - like a hater.
The scene behind him grows brighter and the colors begin to swirl at an even more rapid rate.
SILK: Ya know what’s the best part of all this though Cosmo? Win, lose or draw, I’ve proven Valor’s “Golden Boy” to be nothin’ more than a “Golden Girl” - caught up in ya feelin’s so bad for everyone to see like ya didn’t get to kiss the boy ya crushed on durin’ recess.
All the imagery behind SILK explodes into a stardust like substance that fills the room.
SILK: 3-1 awaits ya after tonight Cosmo and in the end of all this? At the rate ya goin’, ya gon’ turn to the booze and end up as a drunk trailer park supervisor somewhere with no aspirations, just bitterness that’ll have ya continuin’ to plot against ya boi. Can already picture ya now, conspirin’ to bring upon ya boi’s downfall while Riley and ya play “shit bee pollinates the shit flower” in ya spare time.
As the stardust continues to fall, the room starts to get darker as there’s no backdrop for light anymore.
SILK: After tonight, at most only three opportunities remain to redeem ya damn self Cosmo but seein’ as how bitch made ya been actin’ lately, I don’t think ya have a single redeemin’ quality left in ya so don’t worry, I’ll make this rest of this series quick and painless.
SILK flashes a wink before the final cluster of stardust fades away causing the room and the picture to go black.
KO: Did you hear that Laur? He's going to turn Cosmo into a drunk trailer park supervisor!
LO: Yeah, I heard, and he may very well get the victory here tonight, and advance to be 3-1 against Cooper, but I seriously doubt this Best of Series is going to reshape Cosmo's whole career. After all, he's still our Apex Champion...
KO: That's just the thing though, Laur. If SILK wins this Series, what's to stop him from coming to Valor Pro and taking that too!
LO: I guess we'll have to see what happens later on tonight, cause right now we've got a title match to think about...
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a Singles Match for the UNYIELDING CHAMPIONSHIP, and is set for one fall or submission...
The lights dim and a red line appears on the Big Screen above the stage, and when the opening screech of 'Vicious' by Halestorm hits over the PA System, the red line pulses like a heartbeat. Dakota Jennings bursts through the curtain wearing one of her '100 Proof Redhead Bombshell' T-shirt, steel chair in tow. The fans send up a loud chant of boo's as she stops at the top of the stage and thrusts the chair into the air. On the seat is the face of Danny Rizzo, which sends the fans into even more of a tizzy. Red lips part into a wicked smile as she keeps the chair aloft, stalking down the ramp towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing the challenger, standing at five foot six and weighting in at 115 pounds, she hails from Scottsdale, Arizona.......DAKOTA JENNINNGGGSSS!!
Dakota reaches ringside and tosses the Chair in over the top rope as she takes the steps, and then steps through the ropes to step to the center of the ring where she throws both hands up, middle finger swinging around to the booing crowd. She spins around, ending in a laugh, before picking up the chair, opening it up, and having a seat to await her opponent.
LO: This change in Dakota Jennings has brought with it a general disrespect for the fans, and the rest of our roster, and I don't think I much care for it.
KO: Are you kidding me, dude! This is exactly what I'm talking about! Dakota Jennings off off the Strawberry Shortcake ride with Vannah White, and stepped right on the cyclone, and that's what I predict will happen here tonight! She's going to tear Danny Rizzo up!
LO: Danny's undergone some changes as well, though I believe his are a bit more mature than Kota's. Either way, we'll find out tonight whose ideology wins out in the end.
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 moment to pat the UnYielding Championship that sits snugly around his waist, before he takes off for 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.....He is the UNYIELDING CHAMPION...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 unhooking the strap from around his waist at the same time. He turns to face Dakota, who continues to sit on her chair, looking board as he hands the belt off to Caputo. The referee holds it over her head, and then passes it to the time keeper, signaling that Dakota needed to lose the chair if she wanted to start the match.
LO: Danny Rizzo made huge waves last show with his defeat of Brodie, and the kid has really been on a roll as of late. The UnYielding Championship looks good on him.
KO: So did that steel chair last show....
LO: Uh...I wouldn't go that far, but yes, Dakota Jennings did ring the rookies bell. Lets see what happens here though, now that she actually has to straight up fight the man!
KO: Obviously she has no qualms about it, cause she just tossed the chair under the bottom rope, and looks ready to take Rizzo's head off!
Caputo signals for the bell, and the two competitors move in to lock up, but Dakota quickly ducks under Danny Rizzo's grasp and drives a knee into his midsection. A well placed elbow to the back of his head has him drop to a knee, but he pops back up only for Jennings to deliver a right hand that sends him stumbling into the nearby corner. Dakota comes in like a wrecking ball, rights and lefts flying as Danny uses his combat expertise to try and cover up. She uses this opportunity to go low, sending some shoot kicks to his midsection that open up his head for a hay-maker right that has him using the top rope to keep himself upright.
LO: Dakota Jennings has come into this match on the attack, and has Danny Rizzo hemmed up in the corner with nowhere to go!
KO: Damn right....No handshakes and hugs here, Baby! She's come to ring this kid's bell and take home the gold!
Danny, finding no end in sight to this barrage, does the only thing he can, and shoves the woman back. His obvious size advantage sends her flying to the mat, but she rolls right through and thunders back in before he can recover, resuming her assault. Again Danny gives her a shove, and again she rolls back up and comes in swinging. For a third time Danny shoves the woman back, having just enough time to wipe away some spittle that had formed in the corner of his mouth, but this time when Dakota rushes back in he manages to throw both boots up to catch her right in the face which begs her off. Dakota checks her jaw, and with a vicious sneer moves back in on the attack, but again she's caught with another set of boots to the face that knock her back. Danny quickly grabs the top rope and hoists himself to the second turnbuckle, and dives off before she has the chance to try anything else, taking her head off with a Diving Clothesline.
LO: Big move to get himself out of that corner and out of the clutches of Dakota Jennings, but now the champion is going to have to see if he can't keep her down, as she's coming right back up to her feet!
KO: Danny hunkering down to lay in wait, and Dakota turns in his direction...and HE EXPLODES RIGHT INTO HER WITH A YAKUZA KICK THAT TAKES HER HEAD OFF!
LO: He's already dropping to follow up with a cover and a hook of the leg!
1...
2...
KO: Kick out! Only a two count as Danny pulls Dakota up to her feet, and takes her by the wrist into a dragon twist. Dakota slapping at her shoulder, and Danny spins through one more time, really putting some torque on her arm...
LO: OH! Dakota with a well placed boot to his gut doubles him over, but he still has hold of her wrist....and she just ran towards the ropes dragging him along....WALKS UP THE ROPES...AND LEAPS ONTO HIS SHOULDERS ONLY TO TAKE HIM DOWN TO THE MAT WITH A HEADSCISSORS TAKEOVER!
Danny pops up after the move and charges back at Dakota, but she catches him coming in with a Drop Toe Hold that sends him chest first down across the middle rope. He hangs there precariously as she moves up to his feet and falls back into the opposite ropes for spring, barreling back across the ring to leap so that both feet go through the middle rope to end with her sitting on the back of Rizzo's head, choking him. He clutches at his throat as Dakota slides off of him, and he spits and sputters trying to find breath, walking on his knee's towards the nearby corner. Dakota drops back to the center of the ring, begging for him to turn around, and he does so just in time to see her come charging in with a Falling Front Dropkick that crushes him against the turnbuckles. He drops to a seated position, and Dakota comes up, saddles up beside the ropes some distance form him, and then rushes back in with a Foot Wash!
LO: DAKOTA JENNING IS TRYING TO TAKE DANNY'S FACE FROM HIS SKULL!
KO: Damn....this chick is vicious.
LO: I don't agree with everything she's said in recent weeks since turning on her partner, and then her dastardly sneak attack on Leela Watts, and then again on Rizzo after he won the UnYielding Championship, but I have to admit that it is effective!
Danny clutches at his face as Dakota grabs him by the boot and drags him out away from the ropes, dropping down to hook his leg authoritatively for a cover.
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Danny out at two and a half, but he's going to have to come up with some offense, and in a hurry. The longer she stays on top of him, the harder it's going to be for him to rise back up against the tide!
Dakota, on the other hand, has no intentions of letting Danny rise, instead mounting his shoulders with her knees and sitting on his midsection, driving hard right hands into his unprotected skull. Danny is bludgeoned this way a few times, but surprises everyone when both of his legs swing up to hook her around the arms, and sits forwards to force her shoulders to the mat into a pin.
1..
2...
LO: THRE-No! Dakota Jennings kicks out, and she looks pissed as both competitors get to their feet. Here comes Dakota with a running knee, but Danny is able to side step it...
KO: OH! Dakota Jennings turns around to a boot to the midsection to double her over, and DANNY WITH A DDT RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE SQUARED CIRCLE!
Danny gets to his feet and watches in disbelief as Dakota is already on her hands and knees heading that way herself. He looks out to the cheering crowd and nods, before taking off to hit against the ropes for spring, coming back just as she comes fully vertical to nail her with a Basement Dropkick that see's her go face first back down into the canvas. She rises up to her knee's as Danny scrambles to his feet to hit off the ropes once more, and just as the initial shock from the dropkick subsides Dakota looks up just in time to be caught with a Shining Wizard that takes her head off!
LO: BLACK ROSE TO JENNINGS, WHO MAY BE OUT!
KO: DANNY WITH A COVER!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Dakota Jennings barely rolled the shoulder before the count of three, and Danny is sitting there dumbfounded staring at the referee as she waves it off as two!
KO: That was by nanoseconds, Laur, but Kota's still in this fight!
LO: Well Danny Rizzo doesn't seem to think for long, as he falls back into the corner, and begs for her to get to her feet to a huge ovation from this capacity crowd!
Dakota groggily gets one knee under her followed by the other, and she clutches the side of her head where Rizzo's boot struck the side of her head. As soon as she's on her feet, Danny rushes out of the corner, barreling in on her with a leap and extension of his right leg, but before he can fully commit, Dakota responds with a lightening quick Superkick that puts a sudden stop to his momentum and sends him crashing to the mat.
LO: THAT SUPERKICK FROM DAKOTA JENNINGS LOOKED LIKE A CAR CRASH FOR DANNY RIZZO, AND NOW SHE'S DROPPING TO HOOK THE LEG HERSELF!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! GOD ALMIGHTY IT WAS SO CLOSE THAT EVEN THE REFEREE IS LOOKING AT HER OWN HAND!
Dakota, still a little woozy, snaps at Caputo who finally waves it off as two, raising Jennings' ire even further. She gets right in the referee's face, a jabbing finger finding its way into the VPW emblem sewn onto the chest of her zebra stripes. Caputo's demeanor quickly changes, and she slaps Dakota's hand away and lifts the patch to indicate that she will not be bullied, taking a step forward so that Jennings is forced to back up. Right into a haphazard roll up from Danny Rizzo!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Dakota Jennings kicks out, and comes right up to her feet and back into the referee's face, just berating her for almost costing her this title shot....
KO: Uh...Kota....Danny's getting up! JENNINGS! CALM DOWN AND FOCUS!
Dakota doesn't heed Kenneth Othello as she and the referee bicker back and forth, allowing the UnYielding Champion time to find his feet. Caputo points past Jennings shoulder to Rizzo, and Dakota turns her neck to follow the direction of her finger, and upon seeing Rizzo convalescing over in the corner, screws her face up into a scowl. Jennings abandons the referee and starts over to Danny, but he takes a step out of the corner with a Overhand Right that knocks her back. Dakota determinedly tries to step back into his space, but another one has her stumbling all the way back to the center of the ring, and when she gains her barrings, Danny charges out of the corner only to sail past her. He hooks her head as he goes, snapping her painfully down to the mat with a Slingblade that brings the fans to their feet!
LO: Big move from Rizzo, as he is back on his feet, pumping his fists to draw energy from this crowd....and now he's heading to the apron, and starting to climb the nearby corner!
KO: Danny at the top....WAIT A MINUTE! DAKOTA JUST PUSHED UP TO HER FEET AND DOVE FOR THE TOP ROPE! DANNY'S LOST HIS FOOTING! OHHHH!!
LO: DANNY JUST CROTCHED HIMSELF ON THE TURNBUCKLE!!
Danny clutches at his nether regions in shock and pain as Dakota pulls herself up by use of that same rope, stepping over to the corner and up to the second turnbuckle to join him. She gets a fistful of hair and rocks his head back, hard right hands finding their mark against his skull, each one snapping his neck back with the impact. Finally, with Rizzo in a daze, she hooks him around the head and takes him over into a perfectly executed Suplex!
LO: SUPERPLEX TO DANNY RIZZO FROM DAKOTA JENNINGS, AND NOW BOTH COMPETITORS ARE DOWN IN THE RING!
KO: Caputo checking on them, and now backing up and starting a count!
The referee gets all the way up to five before either superstar begins to stir, but it's Dakota who rolls over onto her stomach, subsequently draping an arm over Danny's chest.
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Danny just barely out of that near fall, and now both are trying to get to their feet...
KO: Dakota up first, and she looks to be loading her boot up.....SUPERKICK!
LO: NO! DANNY DUCKED IT! Dakota spins around, and Danny with a running clothesline...NO!
KO: DAKOTA DUCKED THAT! Danny spinning around now, SUPERKICK!!
LO: GOOD GOD SHE MIGHT HAVE KILLED HIM!
Dakota stumbles a bit trying to orient herself, but eventually falls forward to hook the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! OH MY GOD! DANNY RIZZO JUST KICKED OUT OF HIS SECOND SUPERKICK!
KO: HOW IN THE HELL DOES HE KEEP DOING THAT!
Dakota Jennings stares up dumbfounded at Caputo who flashes the two, and then her surprise turns to visceral rage. She pushes up to her feet and has some difficulty getting a prone Danny Rizzo up to his, but eventually she does so, getting a handful of hair with one hand and a handful of tights with the other, and then runs him right towards the ropes to pitch him through the top and middle to the outside. Danny hits off the concrete hard, and Dakota slips through right after him, laying in some harsh boots to the back of the man's skull causing him to cover up.
LO: Dakota Jennings looks absolutely unhinged out here after that kick out from the UnYielding Champion, and now she steps over to the steel steps and kicks the top portion right off of the bottom!
KO: Dakota now struggling to hoist the top portion up onto her shoulder...I mean, good God, she's only 115 pounds!
LO: Maybe so, but she's got them perched on her shoulder, and she's calling for Rizzo to get up, but using much more colorful language than I care to repeat...
KO: Caputo is trying to admonish her, but I don't think Dakota gives a crap at this point.....she want's to hurt this kid permanently!
Danny slowly complies with Dakota's demands, rising groggily to his feet. As soon as he's in position she takes off into a trot, steel steps still on her shoulder, with the edge pointed right at Danny Rizzo's skull. Danny has just enough time to look up and make a mad dash for the ring, belly sliding to the safety of the interior as Dakota tries to put on the breaks, letting the steps clatter harmlessly to the concrete beneath her.
LO: Danny Rizzo may have just saved his career with that quick thinking, let alone the UnYielding Championship....
KO: Yeah, but Jennings looks more pissed than ever as she leaps up onto the ring apron....
LO: OH MY GOD! DANNY CHARGES RIGHT FOR DAKOTA AND SENDS HER FLYING TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR WITH A SINGLE LEG DROPKICK!!
KO: Where does this little snot keep getting this energy from! Now he's climbing the turnbuckles....perched on the top....
LO: HIGH CROSS BODY DOWN ONTO JENNINGS JUST WHEN SHE GOT BACK TO HER FEET! THEY ARE BOTH WIPED OUT!
The fans are alight at the crazy action as the referee steps to the edge of the ring in shock, and seeing no other recourse, begins the process of counting the two superstars out. Just as she reaches six, Danny grabs for the ring apron and pulls himself up. He turns to find that Dakota is struggling to rise, and he helps her the rest of the way up and tosses her head first under the bottom rope and back into the ring. He slides in quickly, but before he can try and pin her shoulders to the mat he finds that she is rolling across the canvas to the opposite side of the ring and back to the outside. Danny bangs his fist off the mat in frustration, getting to his feet and watching for an opportune moment. He finds it when she finally stops pacing the floor, turning back to come back into the ring only to find Rizzo charging right for her.
LO: DANNY FLIES THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPES INTO A SUICIDE DIve....NO!
KO: KOTA GOT OUT OF THE WAY AND DANNY RIZZO JUST HAD A MESSY LANDING ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR HIMSELF!
Jennings, now with her barrings intact, grabs Danny up off the floor and its her turn to toss him back into the ring. She quickly follows, rolling him to the center of the ring, where she hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-KICK OUT! GOOD GOD, AT THE LAST SECOND!
KO: Jennings was counting along with the ref she was so sure she'd get a three, and now her and the referee are right back in each others faces....OH NO!
Dakota Jennings shoves referee Caputo, and the senior official's jaw stiffens as she looks down at her stripes. To everyone's surprise, including Dakota's, Caputo steps right up into her face and gives her a shove....right into the arms of Danny Rizzo, who rolls her up in a shocking schoolboy pin. Caputo shakes her head and curses under her breath as she drops down for the pin.
1...
2...
3!!!
KO: WHAT THE HELL, MAN! ARE YOU GOING TO SIT THERE AND TELL ME THIS WAS FAIR?
LO: I....I.....I don't know what to say....You can't put your hands on a referee...
KO: FINE! Disqualify her, but don't retaliate and then count the three!
Danny Rizzo rolls out of the way as the bell sounds, and Caputo hands him the UnYielding Championship. Dakota rolls out of the ring, red faced and furious, and she stalks around the outside like a bull in a china shop. Danny looks down at the belt, not really sure what all happened, but he grins at knowing that he got the victory. He hops up to his feet, and rushes to take the second turnbuckle of the nearby corner while Caputo signals that he is, indeed, the winner.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via Pinfall....AND STILL UNYIELDING CHAMPION.....DANNNYYY RIZZZOOOO!!!
*CLANG*
Danny's head snips around at the sound of steel on bone, a sound he has painfully grown accustomed to. His eyes go wide as he watches Dakota Jennings dislodge a steel chair from around Caputo's head, and aims a dangerous stare in his direction.
LO: OH MY GOD!
KO: THAT'S WHAT SHE GETS!
Danny quickly hops over the top rope to land on the outside below, spinning around just in time to see Jennings bring the chair down in the corner he was standing. He tosses the UnYielding Championship over his shoulder and casts a concerned look at the downed referee in the ring, and Dakota gives him a smirk, nodding for him to come on back in and save her. Danny hesitates, giving it some thought, but just when he takes a step forward security rushes past him and slides into the ring. Dakota laughs tossing the chair aside, allowing herself to be guided out of the ring. Danny side steps as the team escort her up the ramp and through the curtain, and then shakes his head in disbelief along with the fans. Slowly they begin to cheer again, and he allows a smile while taking selfies with fans at ringside.
LO: I'm sorry, our senior official didn't not deserve that.....Dakota Jennings is a menace!
KO: HEY! Caputo cost her a title match...I think it was to light a sentence.
LO: How can you say that? She's our colleague!
KO: Yeah, and if you were the one costing Dakota Jennings a match, I wouldn't stand up to save you from her wrath either!
LO: How comforting....wait....she's still in the back....what the hell?
KO: CUT! CUT!
The camera quickly cuts from Danny giving out high fives at ringside to the backstage area...
LO: Yeah, I heard, and he may very well get the victory here tonight, and advance to be 3-1 against Cooper, but I seriously doubt this Best of Series is going to reshape Cosmo's whole career. After all, he's still our Apex Champion...
KO: That's just the thing though, Laur. If SILK wins this Series, what's to stop him from coming to Valor Pro and taking that too!
LO: I guess we'll have to see what happens later on tonight, cause right now we've got a title match to think about...
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a Singles Match for the UNYIELDING CHAMPIONSHIP, and is set for one fall or submission...
The lights dim and a red line appears on the Big Screen above the stage, and when the opening screech of 'Vicious' by Halestorm hits over the PA System, the red line pulses like a heartbeat. Dakota Jennings bursts through the curtain wearing one of her '100 Proof Redhead Bombshell' T-shirt, steel chair in tow. The fans send up a loud chant of boo's as she stops at the top of the stage and thrusts the chair into the air. On the seat is the face of Danny Rizzo, which sends the fans into even more of a tizzy. Red lips part into a wicked smile as she keeps the chair aloft, stalking down the ramp towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing the challenger, standing at five foot six and weighting in at 115 pounds, she hails from Scottsdale, Arizona.......DAKOTA JENNINNGGGSSS!!
Dakota reaches ringside and tosses the Chair in over the top rope as she takes the steps, and then steps through the ropes to step to the center of the ring where she throws both hands up, middle finger swinging around to the booing crowd. She spins around, ending in a laugh, before picking up the chair, opening it up, and having a seat to await her opponent.
LO: This change in Dakota Jennings has brought with it a general disrespect for the fans, and the rest of our roster, and I don't think I much care for it.
KO: Are you kidding me, dude! This is exactly what I'm talking about! Dakota Jennings off off the Strawberry Shortcake ride with Vannah White, and stepped right on the cyclone, and that's what I predict will happen here tonight! She's going to tear Danny Rizzo up!
LO: Danny's undergone some changes as well, though I believe his are a bit more mature than Kota's. Either way, we'll find out tonight whose ideology wins out in the end.
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 moment to pat the UnYielding Championship that sits snugly around his waist, before he takes off for 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.....He is the UNYIELDING CHAMPION...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 unhooking the strap from around his waist at the same time. He turns to face Dakota, who continues to sit on her chair, looking board as he hands the belt off to Caputo. The referee holds it over her head, and then passes it to the time keeper, signaling that Dakota needed to lose the chair if she wanted to start the match.
LO: Danny Rizzo made huge waves last show with his defeat of Brodie, and the kid has really been on a roll as of late. The UnYielding Championship looks good on him.
KO: So did that steel chair last show....
LO: Uh...I wouldn't go that far, but yes, Dakota Jennings did ring the rookies bell. Lets see what happens here though, now that she actually has to straight up fight the man!
KO: Obviously she has no qualms about it, cause she just tossed the chair under the bottom rope, and looks ready to take Rizzo's head off!
Caputo signals for the bell, and the two competitors move in to lock up, but Dakota quickly ducks under Danny Rizzo's grasp and drives a knee into his midsection. A well placed elbow to the back of his head has him drop to a knee, but he pops back up only for Jennings to deliver a right hand that sends him stumbling into the nearby corner. Dakota comes in like a wrecking ball, rights and lefts flying as Danny uses his combat expertise to try and cover up. She uses this opportunity to go low, sending some shoot kicks to his midsection that open up his head for a hay-maker right that has him using the top rope to keep himself upright.
LO: Dakota Jennings has come into this match on the attack, and has Danny Rizzo hemmed up in the corner with nowhere to go!
KO: Damn right....No handshakes and hugs here, Baby! She's come to ring this kid's bell and take home the gold!
Danny, finding no end in sight to this barrage, does the only thing he can, and shoves the woman back. His obvious size advantage sends her flying to the mat, but she rolls right through and thunders back in before he can recover, resuming her assault. Again Danny gives her a shove, and again she rolls back up and comes in swinging. For a third time Danny shoves the woman back, having just enough time to wipe away some spittle that had formed in the corner of his mouth, but this time when Dakota rushes back in he manages to throw both boots up to catch her right in the face which begs her off. Dakota checks her jaw, and with a vicious sneer moves back in on the attack, but again she's caught with another set of boots to the face that knock her back. Danny quickly grabs the top rope and hoists himself to the second turnbuckle, and dives off before she has the chance to try anything else, taking her head off with a Diving Clothesline.
LO: Big move to get himself out of that corner and out of the clutches of Dakota Jennings, but now the champion is going to have to see if he can't keep her down, as she's coming right back up to her feet!
KO: Danny hunkering down to lay in wait, and Dakota turns in his direction...and HE EXPLODES RIGHT INTO HER WITH A YAKUZA KICK THAT TAKES HER HEAD OFF!
LO: He's already dropping to follow up with a cover and a hook of the leg!
1...
2...
KO: Kick out! Only a two count as Danny pulls Dakota up to her feet, and takes her by the wrist into a dragon twist. Dakota slapping at her shoulder, and Danny spins through one more time, really putting some torque on her arm...
LO: OH! Dakota with a well placed boot to his gut doubles him over, but he still has hold of her wrist....and she just ran towards the ropes dragging him along....WALKS UP THE ROPES...AND LEAPS ONTO HIS SHOULDERS ONLY TO TAKE HIM DOWN TO THE MAT WITH A HEADSCISSORS TAKEOVER!
Danny pops up after the move and charges back at Dakota, but she catches him coming in with a Drop Toe Hold that sends him chest first down across the middle rope. He hangs there precariously as she moves up to his feet and falls back into the opposite ropes for spring, barreling back across the ring to leap so that both feet go through the middle rope to end with her sitting on the back of Rizzo's head, choking him. He clutches at his throat as Dakota slides off of him, and he spits and sputters trying to find breath, walking on his knee's towards the nearby corner. Dakota drops back to the center of the ring, begging for him to turn around, and he does so just in time to see her come charging in with a Falling Front Dropkick that crushes him against the turnbuckles. He drops to a seated position, and Dakota comes up, saddles up beside the ropes some distance form him, and then rushes back in with a Foot Wash!
LO: DAKOTA JENNING IS TRYING TO TAKE DANNY'S FACE FROM HIS SKULL!
KO: Damn....this chick is vicious.
LO: I don't agree with everything she's said in recent weeks since turning on her partner, and then her dastardly sneak attack on Leela Watts, and then again on Rizzo after he won the UnYielding Championship, but I have to admit that it is effective!
Danny clutches at his face as Dakota grabs him by the boot and drags him out away from the ropes, dropping down to hook his leg authoritatively for a cover.
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Danny out at two and a half, but he's going to have to come up with some offense, and in a hurry. The longer she stays on top of him, the harder it's going to be for him to rise back up against the tide!
Dakota, on the other hand, has no intentions of letting Danny rise, instead mounting his shoulders with her knees and sitting on his midsection, driving hard right hands into his unprotected skull. Danny is bludgeoned this way a few times, but surprises everyone when both of his legs swing up to hook her around the arms, and sits forwards to force her shoulders to the mat into a pin.
1..
2...
LO: THRE-No! Dakota Jennings kicks out, and she looks pissed as both competitors get to their feet. Here comes Dakota with a running knee, but Danny is able to side step it...
KO: OH! Dakota Jennings turns around to a boot to the midsection to double her over, and DANNY WITH A DDT RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE SQUARED CIRCLE!
Danny gets to his feet and watches in disbelief as Dakota is already on her hands and knees heading that way herself. He looks out to the cheering crowd and nods, before taking off to hit against the ropes for spring, coming back just as she comes fully vertical to nail her with a Basement Dropkick that see's her go face first back down into the canvas. She rises up to her knee's as Danny scrambles to his feet to hit off the ropes once more, and just as the initial shock from the dropkick subsides Dakota looks up just in time to be caught with a Shining Wizard that takes her head off!
LO: BLACK ROSE TO JENNINGS, WHO MAY BE OUT!
KO: DANNY WITH A COVER!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Dakota Jennings barely rolled the shoulder before the count of three, and Danny is sitting there dumbfounded staring at the referee as she waves it off as two!
KO: That was by nanoseconds, Laur, but Kota's still in this fight!
LO: Well Danny Rizzo doesn't seem to think for long, as he falls back into the corner, and begs for her to get to her feet to a huge ovation from this capacity crowd!
Dakota groggily gets one knee under her followed by the other, and she clutches the side of her head where Rizzo's boot struck the side of her head. As soon as she's on her feet, Danny rushes out of the corner, barreling in on her with a leap and extension of his right leg, but before he can fully commit, Dakota responds with a lightening quick Superkick that puts a sudden stop to his momentum and sends him crashing to the mat.
LO: THAT SUPERKICK FROM DAKOTA JENNINGS LOOKED LIKE A CAR CRASH FOR DANNY RIZZO, AND NOW SHE'S DROPPING TO HOOK THE LEG HERSELF!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! GOD ALMIGHTY IT WAS SO CLOSE THAT EVEN THE REFEREE IS LOOKING AT HER OWN HAND!
Dakota, still a little woozy, snaps at Caputo who finally waves it off as two, raising Jennings' ire even further. She gets right in the referee's face, a jabbing finger finding its way into the VPW emblem sewn onto the chest of her zebra stripes. Caputo's demeanor quickly changes, and she slaps Dakota's hand away and lifts the patch to indicate that she will not be bullied, taking a step forward so that Jennings is forced to back up. Right into a haphazard roll up from Danny Rizzo!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Dakota Jennings kicks out, and comes right up to her feet and back into the referee's face, just berating her for almost costing her this title shot....
KO: Uh...Kota....Danny's getting up! JENNINGS! CALM DOWN AND FOCUS!
Dakota doesn't heed Kenneth Othello as she and the referee bicker back and forth, allowing the UnYielding Champion time to find his feet. Caputo points past Jennings shoulder to Rizzo, and Dakota turns her neck to follow the direction of her finger, and upon seeing Rizzo convalescing over in the corner, screws her face up into a scowl. Jennings abandons the referee and starts over to Danny, but he takes a step out of the corner with a Overhand Right that knocks her back. Dakota determinedly tries to step back into his space, but another one has her stumbling all the way back to the center of the ring, and when she gains her barrings, Danny charges out of the corner only to sail past her. He hooks her head as he goes, snapping her painfully down to the mat with a Slingblade that brings the fans to their feet!
LO: Big move from Rizzo, as he is back on his feet, pumping his fists to draw energy from this crowd....and now he's heading to the apron, and starting to climb the nearby corner!
KO: Danny at the top....WAIT A MINUTE! DAKOTA JUST PUSHED UP TO HER FEET AND DOVE FOR THE TOP ROPE! DANNY'S LOST HIS FOOTING! OHHHH!!
LO: DANNY JUST CROTCHED HIMSELF ON THE TURNBUCKLE!!
Danny clutches at his nether regions in shock and pain as Dakota pulls herself up by use of that same rope, stepping over to the corner and up to the second turnbuckle to join him. She gets a fistful of hair and rocks his head back, hard right hands finding their mark against his skull, each one snapping his neck back with the impact. Finally, with Rizzo in a daze, she hooks him around the head and takes him over into a perfectly executed Suplex!
LO: SUPERPLEX TO DANNY RIZZO FROM DAKOTA JENNINGS, AND NOW BOTH COMPETITORS ARE DOWN IN THE RING!
KO: Caputo checking on them, and now backing up and starting a count!
The referee gets all the way up to five before either superstar begins to stir, but it's Dakota who rolls over onto her stomach, subsequently draping an arm over Danny's chest.
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Danny just barely out of that near fall, and now both are trying to get to their feet...
KO: Dakota up first, and she looks to be loading her boot up.....SUPERKICK!
LO: NO! DANNY DUCKED IT! Dakota spins around, and Danny with a running clothesline...NO!
KO: DAKOTA DUCKED THAT! Danny spinning around now, SUPERKICK!!
LO: GOOD GOD SHE MIGHT HAVE KILLED HIM!
Dakota stumbles a bit trying to orient herself, but eventually falls forward to hook the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! OH MY GOD! DANNY RIZZO JUST KICKED OUT OF HIS SECOND SUPERKICK!
KO: HOW IN THE HELL DOES HE KEEP DOING THAT!
Dakota Jennings stares up dumbfounded at Caputo who flashes the two, and then her surprise turns to visceral rage. She pushes up to her feet and has some difficulty getting a prone Danny Rizzo up to his, but eventually she does so, getting a handful of hair with one hand and a handful of tights with the other, and then runs him right towards the ropes to pitch him through the top and middle to the outside. Danny hits off the concrete hard, and Dakota slips through right after him, laying in some harsh boots to the back of the man's skull causing him to cover up.
LO: Dakota Jennings looks absolutely unhinged out here after that kick out from the UnYielding Champion, and now she steps over to the steel steps and kicks the top portion right off of the bottom!
KO: Dakota now struggling to hoist the top portion up onto her shoulder...I mean, good God, she's only 115 pounds!
LO: Maybe so, but she's got them perched on her shoulder, and she's calling for Rizzo to get up, but using much more colorful language than I care to repeat...
KO: Caputo is trying to admonish her, but I don't think Dakota gives a crap at this point.....she want's to hurt this kid permanently!
Danny slowly complies with Dakota's demands, rising groggily to his feet. As soon as he's in position she takes off into a trot, steel steps still on her shoulder, with the edge pointed right at Danny Rizzo's skull. Danny has just enough time to look up and make a mad dash for the ring, belly sliding to the safety of the interior as Dakota tries to put on the breaks, letting the steps clatter harmlessly to the concrete beneath her.
LO: Danny Rizzo may have just saved his career with that quick thinking, let alone the UnYielding Championship....
KO: Yeah, but Jennings looks more pissed than ever as she leaps up onto the ring apron....
LO: OH MY GOD! DANNY CHARGES RIGHT FOR DAKOTA AND SENDS HER FLYING TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR WITH A SINGLE LEG DROPKICK!!
KO: Where does this little snot keep getting this energy from! Now he's climbing the turnbuckles....perched on the top....
LO: HIGH CROSS BODY DOWN ONTO JENNINGS JUST WHEN SHE GOT BACK TO HER FEET! THEY ARE BOTH WIPED OUT!
The fans are alight at the crazy action as the referee steps to the edge of the ring in shock, and seeing no other recourse, begins the process of counting the two superstars out. Just as she reaches six, Danny grabs for the ring apron and pulls himself up. He turns to find that Dakota is struggling to rise, and he helps her the rest of the way up and tosses her head first under the bottom rope and back into the ring. He slides in quickly, but before he can try and pin her shoulders to the mat he finds that she is rolling across the canvas to the opposite side of the ring and back to the outside. Danny bangs his fist off the mat in frustration, getting to his feet and watching for an opportune moment. He finds it when she finally stops pacing the floor, turning back to come back into the ring only to find Rizzo charging right for her.
LO: DANNY FLIES THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPES INTO A SUICIDE DIve....NO!
KO: KOTA GOT OUT OF THE WAY AND DANNY RIZZO JUST HAD A MESSY LANDING ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR HIMSELF!
Jennings, now with her barrings intact, grabs Danny up off the floor and its her turn to toss him back into the ring. She quickly follows, rolling him to the center of the ring, where she hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-KICK OUT! GOOD GOD, AT THE LAST SECOND!
KO: Jennings was counting along with the ref she was so sure she'd get a three, and now her and the referee are right back in each others faces....OH NO!
Dakota Jennings shoves referee Caputo, and the senior official's jaw stiffens as she looks down at her stripes. To everyone's surprise, including Dakota's, Caputo steps right up into her face and gives her a shove....right into the arms of Danny Rizzo, who rolls her up in a shocking schoolboy pin. Caputo shakes her head and curses under her breath as she drops down for the pin.
1...
2...
3!!!
KO: WHAT THE HELL, MAN! ARE YOU GOING TO SIT THERE AND TELL ME THIS WAS FAIR?
LO: I....I.....I don't know what to say....You can't put your hands on a referee...
KO: FINE! Disqualify her, but don't retaliate and then count the three!
Danny Rizzo rolls out of the way as the bell sounds, and Caputo hands him the UnYielding Championship. Dakota rolls out of the ring, red faced and furious, and she stalks around the outside like a bull in a china shop. Danny looks down at the belt, not really sure what all happened, but he grins at knowing that he got the victory. He hops up to his feet, and rushes to take the second turnbuckle of the nearby corner while Caputo signals that he is, indeed, the winner.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via Pinfall....AND STILL UNYIELDING CHAMPION.....DANNNYYY RIZZZOOOO!!!
*CLANG*
Danny's head snips around at the sound of steel on bone, a sound he has painfully grown accustomed to. His eyes go wide as he watches Dakota Jennings dislodge a steel chair from around Caputo's head, and aims a dangerous stare in his direction.
LO: OH MY GOD!
KO: THAT'S WHAT SHE GETS!
Danny quickly hops over the top rope to land on the outside below, spinning around just in time to see Jennings bring the chair down in the corner he was standing. He tosses the UnYielding Championship over his shoulder and casts a concerned look at the downed referee in the ring, and Dakota gives him a smirk, nodding for him to come on back in and save her. Danny hesitates, giving it some thought, but just when he takes a step forward security rushes past him and slides into the ring. Dakota laughs tossing the chair aside, allowing herself to be guided out of the ring. Danny side steps as the team escort her up the ramp and through the curtain, and then shakes his head in disbelief along with the fans. Slowly they begin to cheer again, and he allows a smile while taking selfies with fans at ringside.
LO: I'm sorry, our senior official didn't not deserve that.....Dakota Jennings is a menace!
KO: HEY! Caputo cost her a title match...I think it was to light a sentence.
LO: How can you say that? She's our colleague!
KO: Yeah, and if you were the one costing Dakota Jennings a match, I wouldn't stand up to save you from her wrath either!
LO: How comforting....wait....she's still in the back....what the hell?
KO: CUT! CUT!
The camera quickly cuts from Danny giving out high fives at ringside to the backstage area...
We go backstage where Emily Burlingame is waiting by with a just released Dakota Jennings, who is tearing off her wrist tape with a decidedly angry look across her features, her messy hair hanging in threads over her forehead as Security leaves her dressing room.
EMILY BURLINGAME: ”Dakota, Miss Jennings? If we could have just a few minutes of your time, I just want to ask you for your reflections on what just happened?”
Dakota looked her up and down, her expression changing from one of total anger to complete disgust.
DAKOTA JENNINGS: ”You know, people like you disgust me, people who have never stepped foot into a ring but feel that have some right to live vicariously through people like me, but, if you must know, I have been happier. I fought tooth and nail against Danny Rizzo and it still wasn’t enough and part of me really wants to congratulate him on a great defense, but then another part of me really wants to crown him again, with a steel chair. And as for Senior Official, Caputo, bitch had it coming...”
She bundled some of the wrist tape into a ball and shot it across the corridor before speaking again.
DAKOTA JENNINGS: ”I expect no sympathy though because I really don’t need it but you can all mark my words, Valor Pro, I will be back for that championship, even if I have to climb back up the ladder again, because as far as I’m concerned, I will never be satisfied until all of your eyes are on me and I get to stand in that ring with that title, looking down on all of you like the idiots that you are.”
Dakota gives the viewers a glare through the camera, and then shoves a stunned Burlingame out of her dressing room. The scene cuts back to ringside.
EMILY BURLINGAME: ”Dakota, Miss Jennings? If we could have just a few minutes of your time, I just want to ask you for your reflections on what just happened?”
Dakota looked her up and down, her expression changing from one of total anger to complete disgust.
DAKOTA JENNINGS: ”You know, people like you disgust me, people who have never stepped foot into a ring but feel that have some right to live vicariously through people like me, but, if you must know, I have been happier. I fought tooth and nail against Danny Rizzo and it still wasn’t enough and part of me really wants to congratulate him on a great defense, but then another part of me really wants to crown him again, with a steel chair. And as for Senior Official, Caputo, bitch had it coming...”
She bundled some of the wrist tape into a ball and shot it across the corridor before speaking again.
DAKOTA JENNINGS: ”I expect no sympathy though because I really don’t need it but you can all mark my words, Valor Pro, I will be back for that championship, even if I have to climb back up the ladder again, because as far as I’m concerned, I will never be satisfied until all of your eyes are on me and I get to stand in that ring with that title, looking down on all of you like the idiots that you are.”
Dakota gives the viewers a glare through the camera, and then shoves a stunned Burlingame out of her dressing room. The scene cuts back to ringside.
MAIN EVENT
LO: Well, thanks to Dakota Jennings, Diego Santiago will be officiating this match instead of our senior official, Carmen Caputo...
KO: I got a bad feeling about this. I mean, Caputo showed in that last match what a biased official she can be, but Santiago....well....he's just an idiot!
LO: I'm not getting into another debate with you over Caputo, but I will say, this probably wasn't what Valor Pro Management had hoped for....
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is our Main Event of the evening, and is Match 4 in a Best of Seven Series to determine the WTC DESTINY CHAMPIONSHIP!!
The opening chords of the intro to "Purple Rain" by Prince begins as the lights in the arena dim. A light fog fills the entrance ramp as deep purple and pink strobes begin to light up the ramp and the entrance way.
♫ I never meant to cause you any sorrow...I never meant to cause you any pain ♫
The crowd begins to buzz as the ramp continues to fill with the light fog.
♫ I only wanted to one time to see you laughing...I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain ♫
From the back emerges Sean Isaac Leonard Kennedy crawling slowly and seductively towards the top of the ramp. His gold framed glasses glisten from the reflection of the strobe lights while his bandana looks to be lit up by the strobes as well, giving it a black light effect to make it look as if it's glowing. His shirt is open and his purple silk wrestling pants slightly sparkle as well thanks to the lighting effects, the WTC Destiny title pulsing with purple. SILK finally gets to his feet and holds his hands out, taking in all the cheers from onlooking women and the jeers from the jealous men next to them. He inhales the love and the hate deeply before continuing his onward journey of smoothness to the ring, walking slowly and taking in the atmosphere fully.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at six foot five and weighting in at 255 pounds, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia....He is the current WTC DESTINY CHAMPION....He is Your Girls Favorite Grappler, The Black Anaconda, The Swag King Kong......SILLLKKKKKK!!!
SILK slides under the bottom rope and crawls towards the middle of the ring as a spotlight surrounds him. He makes slow and steady provocative gestures towards the ring mat with his hips while pointing towards a screaming female fan in the front row as he winks towards her and follows it up with a kiss in her direction that makes her knees weak and her heart melt.
The lights come back up as SILK makes his way back up to his feet to hand off the WTC Destiny Championship to the referee.
LO: SILK, much like Cosmo, hangs his hat in many promotions and has done well in all of them, making a himself a household name in the sport of professional wrestling.
KO: Yeah, and on top of that, he's a chick magnet!
LO: Excuse me?
KO: Laur....didn't you listen to what they called him during the announcement? I mean.....he's the Black Anaconda!
LO: I...I don't know what that has to do with anything.
KO: Yep, and that's why you ain't getting laid....
Laurence Othello shoots his brother a scathing look 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 SILK 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 drops down with a serious expression leveled at SILK, who beams a shit eating grin in his direction.
LO: Man this crowd is pumped for this one, a big fight feel has filled the arena here in Africa...
KO: Yeah, these two guys have faced each other on three separate occasions at this point, and now here we are in Match 4...
LO: Who do you think will win?
KO: I mean, I'm always betting on the home team, even though I think Brennan Devlin is the best in our business.
LO: How can you say that? Cosmo has not only proved why he's the Apex Champion, but he's also represented our company across the world in tournaments and one off appearances. Brennan Devlin only ever spouts out bullshit about himself, and disparaging remarks towards peoples grandmothers.
KO: I don't expect you to understand, Laur. Kind of like how you're running your mouth when the bell just sounded, and now we're going to see these two try and tear each other apart.
Laurence Othello's eyes go wide as he turns back towards the ring, and indeed the bell has sounded, as SILK and Cooper circle in the center of the ring.
The two men lock up and jockey for position before SILK pulls Cooper into a side Headlock, grinding Cosmo's skull against his body with his elbow. Cosmo searches for an escape, and not finding one, forces his hands into a Top Wrist Lock, slowly but surely pushing SILK's arms away from his head, and turning so that he is now facing the man, both of them fighting for control. SILK's eyes go wide as he finds himself forced backwards, Cooper's left leg slipping behind his right, helping the effort. Cosmo manages to force SILK all the way to the mat, but The Black Anaconda performs a bridge, not allowing his shoulders to touch. They hold this pose for a moment, Cosmo trying to force his weight onto SILK, but eventually the larger of the two miraculously begins to rise from the canvas until they are back in their former standing positions. With a sudden burst of strength, SILK forces the top wrist back into the side headlock, and Cooper once again finds himself at a disadvantage.
LO: Display of strength by SILK there to get out of that precarious situation, and now is back in firm control of Cooper, who now opts to force him into the ropes.....Shoots SILK to the other side forcing the break, and steps out to the center to meet him ONLY TO BE DRIVEN TO THE MAT WITH A SHOULDER BLOCK TAKEDOWN!
KO: The two men exchange a brief glance before SILK moves to hit off the ropes, but Cooper floats over onto his stomach forcing SILK to have to hop over him or be trippped....SILK continues his momentum to hit off the other side, and is coming back now as Cooper hops up and goes for a hip toss....
LO: NO! Reversed! Now it's SILK going for a hip toss, but Cooper won't budge...drives a fist into his midsection doubling him over, places his knee on the back of his head for a Famasser, BUT SILK STANDS STRAIGHT UP SENDING COOPER INTO A BACK FLIP! COOPER LANDS ON HIS FEET!
KO: SILK with a lariat attempt, but Cooper ducks it, and SILK continues his momentum to the ropes, bounces back RIGHT INTO A HIGH STANDING DROPKICK FROM COOPER!
SILK snaps down to the mat, but pops right back up, walking into a Release Arm Drag from cooper that sends him flying across the ring. He impacts and again pops right up, and rushes right into another Arm Drag. This time SILK is a little slower on his rise, and Cooper is there to meet him with some palm thrusts that force him into the ropes. Cooper takes SILK by the wrist and shoots him off the ropes, stepping out to the center of the ring only to be met with a surprise Cross Body by SILK as he rebounds. This takes Cooper down to the mat, but instead of allowing a pin, he uses the bounce from the ring to shove SILK off of him. SILK rolls up to his feet just as Cooper kips up, and as he steps in is caught by a surprise back kick to his gut by Cosmo which doubles him over. Cooper spins around and hooks him by the head to try for a Suplex, but SILK slips his foot between Cosmo's legs for a block, leaving Cooper trying to lift him two more times with no success. A few rabbit like shots to Cooper's ribs has him begging off, giving SILK the opportunity to take him to the canvas with a Suplex of his own.
LO: These two are fast and furious, back and forth, almost as if they know what the other is going to go for before they even do it!
KO: Well, this is their fourth match in a two week period, and I think the feeling out process is over...
SILK springs back to his feet and moves to hit off the ropes, but again Cooper floats over onto his stomach to force SILK to hop over him and continue through to the other side. As he rebounds off the ropes, Cosmo leaps to his feet and catches him running back in for a high arching Release Belly to Belly. SILK soars through the air and lands spine first against the canvas, while his legs tangle painfully with the ropes. He moves to get to his feet clutching his lower back only to look up just in time to see Cooper charging right in with a lariat that sends him tumbling right up and over the top rope to the concrete below. The fans come to their feet as Cooper holds both fists out at his side and roars, and the cheers are overwhelming as he watches SILK pull himself up thanks to the Apron. Cosmo rushes the opposite side ropes for spring, and then thunders back across the ring, soaring right over the top rope into a Splancha that sends SILK crashing back down to the concrete!
LO: Cosmo Cooper flies with success, rolling up to his feet, and holding his hand over his eyes to peer out at this audience that has just come unglued!
KO: He needs to keep his focus here on the task at hand...from all the footage I've seen, you don't take your eyes off of SILK.
LO: No doubt, Ken, but these two guys are some of the top tier in our industry, and with that comes quite a bit of ego. I'm sure when SILK has the upper hand, we'll see some of that flash and pomp that he's become famous for...
Cooper does turn his attention back to SILK, who grabs at the apron to try and pull himself up to his feet. Cosmo smirks as he steps in, grabbing the man from behind and hoisting him back into the ring before leaping up to the apron himself. As SILK gets to his feet in the squared circle, Cosmo grips the top rope in anticipation, and just as SILK turns in his direction he launches himself into his Torpedo Headbutt. To the complete shock of the crowd, SILK sidesteps the oncoming Cooper and throws his boot out for a front kick that catches him right in the side of his skull and knocks him painfully off course. Cosmo hits the mat in a heap, and as he rises to his feet looks up just in time to see SILK charging right at him, committing to a Bicycle Knee Strike that sends him crashing back down to the canvas. Cooper clutches at his face as SILK runs his fingers through his hair, and then mockingly roars up into the heavens the way Cosmo had done earlier. This gets a mixed reaction from the crowd as SILK smirks, strutting over to Cosmo to yank him up off the mat.
LO: And there it is...
KO: I guess you were right...
LO: And that also is what makes this an even playing field. Both men are at the top of their game, and equally have hubris that isn't altogether unwarranted...
SILK takes Cooper by the back of the head and rushes him face first into the nearby corner, bounding his skull off the top turnbuckle. Spinning him around now, SILK fires in a chop that echoes throughout the arena, and blows a kiss to the crowd before firing in a second. Just as the chop lands, however, Cooper fires right back with one of his own, answered by another from SILK. The two men trade chops in the corner, their chests growing red and bruised from the effort, before SILK finally ceases the exchange with a low Knee Lift that knocks the wind out of Cosmo. He takes the Apex Champion by the wrist and gets a lead on him as he shoots him to the far side, and when Cooper strikes the turnbuckles, he hits with such force that it snaps him face first down to the mat. SILK rushes in and drops to the mat for a baseball slide right into the man's face as he tries to rise, and Cooper again finds himself clutching at his face.
LO: Man, it seems like SILK is trying to rearrange Cooper's face out here.
KO: Maybe he's trying to make him unmarketable. I mean, you can't very well get those endorsement deals if your grills all jacked up.
LO: Either way, he just pulled Cooper up, hooks him around the head, and RUNS HIM OUT OF THE CORNER INTO A BULLDOG THAT SLAMS HIM FACE FIRST INTO THE CANVAS! NOW HE'S GOING FOR A PIN!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Cooper out at two and a half, and now SILK up to his feet...and....uh...what is he doing?
SILK runs his fingers up and down his body in a gyrating motion, all the while flashing his bright smile out at the fans who watch on. Just when it appears that he's about to reach a crescendo, he lifts up onto his toes, and drops his knee right into Cosmo's skull, causing the man to flop around on the mat holding his face like a fish out of water. SILK grins, yanking Cosmo back down onto his shoulders, and hooking the leg deep for another pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! SILK really going out of his way to incite this crowd, but he's popular enough that there are still cheers mingled in with those boo's.
KO: Give him time, Laur.....I got the feeling if he can continue to dominate Cooper he may turn the whole crowd!
SILK pulls Cooper up off the mat after the near fall, hooking him around the head and then lifts him up into Suplex position. Before he can do anything further, however, Cooper's knee is dropping down into the top of his skull, and eventually forces him to set the man back down onto his feet. Cooper knocks SILK away from him with right hands, following up with a barrage of Palm Thrusts and Knee Strikes that put The Black Anaconda on the defensive. Cooper drives him all the way into the ropes, takes him by the wrist, and then shoots him to the opposite side. As SILK rebounds, Cooper steps out to the center of the ring to meet him with a spin, and catches him coming in with a Discus Forearm Smash that sends him crashing to the mat. Cooper runs his hands down his face, stopping to try and readjust his jaw after some of the damage received earlier, but as the hand drops to his side and SILK tries to clamor to his feet, it's obvious by his expression that there is no more 'Mr. Nice Guy'.
LO: Cooper coming in on SILK with a snarl, and LIGHTS HIM UP WITH A CHOP! SILK sent flopping back into the corner, and it's followed up with another, another.....and NOW SWITCHES OVER TO SHOOT KICKS TO THE CHEST THAT HAVE SILK REELING!
KO: Cooper unloading on SILK now, each kick has him lifting right off the canvas....and now Cooper hooks him around the waist, and ANOTHER RELEASE BELLY TO BELLY SENDS SILK FLYING ACROSS THE RING!
SILK crashes to the mat in the opposite corner, and he sits up to grab at the ropes to pull himself up to his feet. He turns around just in time to see Cooper charging at him into a Big Splash that he takes the full brunt of, crushing him against the turnbuckles. Cooper dances out to the center of the ring, and SILK stumbles out in a daze, leaving him wide open for a Running Superman Punch that sends him crumpling to the mat. Cooper quickly drops and hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! SILK out at two and a half, and Cooper now mounts him...AND UNLOADS WITH PISTON LIKE RIGHT HANDS DOWN INTO THE MAN'S SKULL!
KO: Hell yeah! Now it's a fight!
SILK manages to shove Cosmo off of him, and rolls to a knee to push up to his feet. Unfortunately he turns to walk right into Cooper who scoops him up onto his shoulder, and into Tombstone position. SILK suddenly comes alive, knowing what this sets up, and begins kicking violently to get out of it. This throws Cosmo off balance, and he starts to stumble backwards, so much so that as SILK pushes himself further and further up onto his shoulder, his legs actually slip over the top rope, and with a final push he lands safely on the apron behind Cosmo. Cosmo spins around, and SILK hooks the top rope, falling back to use the spring from the rope to catapult his foot up to strike Cooper right in the side of the head. This begs Cooper off, clutching the side of his head, and when he turns in that direction again SILK drives his shoulder through the middle and top rope into his gut to double him over. SILK slips back between the ropes to grip the top once more, and launches himself back into the ring into a front flip over Cooper, grabbing his hips as he goes, and thundering him down to the mat into a Sunset Flip!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cooper just barely kicked out, and now both men coming to their feet....AND COOPER WALKS RIGHT INTO A BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION, FOLLOWED BY A B.J. STUNNER!
KO: Yeah, but Cooper hit the mat and rolled up to his feet, and SILK is charging right for him....SUPERKICK FROM COOPER TAKES HIS HEAD OFF!
LO: Both men collapse to the canvas....and My God....What a see-saw match up!
The two competitors breathe heavily as they lay on the mat, the referee checking on both, and then reluctantly beginning a ten count. At the count of five the two men begin to stir, Cooper pushing up to his knee's, and SILK sitting up. They both look over at one another and lock eyes for a moment before begrudgingly pushing the rest of the way up. They step to the center of the ring where they square up, Cooper firing in the first right hand only for SILK to come back with one of his own. The fans come to their feet as the two men trade blows back and forth, each thrown punch coming slower and slower without any end in sight. Suddenly SILK ducks one of Cooper's fists, steps into the gap, and then lifts him up and over into a High Fireman's Carry Slam!
LO: BAREBACK!
KO: What?
LO: That's what SILK calls that move, as he crawls over and drapes his arm over the Apex Champion's chest!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cooper able to roll the shoulder before the referee's hand could hit the mat for three, and now SILK shaking his head, possibly showing signs of frustration as he comes to his feet.
KO: Well, I'd be frustrated too. I mean, these guys have been going non-stop since the bell rang, and both have hit their spots. Now it's time to see what else they have left in the tank to see this through to the final stretch.
SILK reaches down and pulls Cooper to his feet, pushing him back into the ropes, and shoots him off to the far side. He steps out to the center as Cosmo rebounds and swings for a Lariat, but it's ducked and Cooper continues to the ropes to rebound back a second time. This time SILK swings around into a Spinning Back Fist, but again Cooper ducks it and continues through. By the time SILK has reoriented from the missed fist, he turns around to find that Cooper has already rebounded and launches himself into the Torpedo Headbutt he had sought earlier in the match. This time it connects, the top of his skull connecting dead center of SILK's sternum like a cannon ball blast, sending the man sprawling to the mat in surprise pain, and the breath completely knocked out of him. Cosmo crawls over to his opponent, and it's his turn to drape an arm over SILK's chest.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! SILK just barely got the shoulder up, and now both men are lying on the canvas once more...and Santiago is going for another ten count....
KO: We saw this before with Cooper and Devlin....these two are just so good that they may cancel one another out!
At the count of six Cooper crawls towards the ropes, as SILK does the same on the other side, and both men reach them at the count of eight to pull themselves up to their feet. They look over the shoulders at one another doggedly before nodding, and then both take off into a charge towards the center of the ring. Cooper goes for a leaping knee strike that catches SILK in his chest, knocking him back to fall against the second rope, and when he springs back up to his feet he falls forwards with a Rebound Clothesline that takes Cooper's head off. The fans begin to cheer as SILK pushes up to his feet, and as Cosmo works to get to his, The Black Anaconda rushes in on him and catches him with a Swinging Neck Breaker that sends both men crashing down to the mat. SILK starts to go for a cover, and then thinks better of it, shaking his head, and makes his way over to the nearest corner only to step out onto the apron. He begins to make the long climb to the top while Cooper remains out of it on the canvas.
LO: SILK has reached his perch on the top, and he now stands at his full height.....I don't think their is a fan not on his feet right now, all clamoring to see what the Silky Smooth Superstar is about to do!
KO: SILK LEAPING HIGH INTO THE AIR WITH THE ELBOW EXTENDED...NO! COOPER MOVED! COOPER MOVED!
LO: COSMO COOPER GOT OUT OF THE WAY AT THE LAST SECOND, AND SILK ATE NOTHING BUT CANVAS FOR HIS EFFORTS!
The collective 'OOOOOOO' from the crowd puts an exclamation on the point as SILK clutches at his midsection after crashing and burning on the mat, while Cosmo lies off to the side sucking wind. Santiago looks as shocked as everyone else as he starts his count, growing concerned that these two men may damage each other to the point that neither can continue. He gets all the way to seven before Cosmo rolls over to the ropes, and then hooks the middle to push himself up at the count of eight. He stares over at SILK, who sits on his knee's, and the charismatic superstar waves Cooper tiredly towards him in a taunting gesture.
LO: Even down and out, SILK still has breath in his body, and is still challenging a disbelieving Cosmo Cooper!
KO: Kid's got moxy, you have to admit!
Cosmo's face screws up into an uncharacteristically vicious expression, and he charges at SILK, throwing his boot out to try and take his head off. SILK manages to duck under the boot, and runs his hands between the Apex Champion's legs to pull him down into a schoolboy pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cooper kicks out, and comes up to his feet, ONLY TO WALK INTO A SMALL PACKAGE FROM SILK!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Cooper kicks out once again, and now both men scrambling to their feet! SILK with a boot to Cooper's midsection, NO! Cooper catches his foot and now has him hopping around on one leg....INZUGURI...NO! COOPER DUCKED IT AND SILK JUST LANDED FACE FIRST ON THE CANVAS!
LO: Cooper still has control of the boot he stopped, but SILK rolls over onto his back, AND PUTS THE OTHER ONE RIGHT INTO COOPER'S FACE!
KO: Cooper stumbling back holding his nose, and SILK JUST KIPPED UP IN FRONT OF HIM WITH A SUPERKICK OF HIS OWN!
LO: BUT COOPER DUCKS IT AS WELL.....SILK spins around, and here comes Cosmo with a clothesline, but SILK lowers his head, and SUNSET FLIP BY COSMO DRAGS SILK DOWN INTO A PIN!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-SILK JUST SWUNG BOTH LEGS BACK AND ROLLED OVER ONTO HIS KNEE'S, AND BURIES HIS SHOULDERS INTO THE BACK OF COSMO'S FOR A PIN OF HIS OWN!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-ANOTHER REVERSAL! COOPER GAVE THE BACK OF SILK'S SKULL A SHOVE WHICH CAUSED HIM TO FLIP FORWARDS ON HIS SHOULDERS WHILE COSMO SAT UP!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-SILK JUST KICKED FORWARD AND IS NOW SITTING ON COSMO'S CHEST! THE SHOULDERS ARE DOWN!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-KICK OUT! Both men quickly to their feet, and DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE WIPES BOTH COMPETITORS OUT!
KO: MY GOD! THIS IS INSANE!
Again both men are on the canvas sucking wind, and Santiago watches on in amazement before being drawn back to reality to start another ten count. He gets all the way to the count of seven before both men stir, rolling over onto their backs, both wiping sweat from their eyes. Just as she's about count ten, they rock their knee's up to their chests, and both kip up to their feet. Cooper swings his foot around for a Back Round House Kick to SILK's skull, but the Black Anaconda ducks under it causing Cosmo's foot to sail harmlessly over head. While he's off balance, SILK takes a step forward while still low, bringing his head between the Apex Champion's legs, and with a burst of strength suddenly stands up in Electric Chair Drop position! Before he can push up to perform his famous finisher, The SILKplex, Cooper pitches forwards into a surprise Victory Roll Up!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! SILK just barely got out of that, and both men scrambling to their feet....Cooper rushes in, and SILK with a boot to his midsection...tucks the head, and SIT OUT POWERBOMB!
KO: HE RETAINS CONTROL OF THE LEGS FOR A PIN!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!
KO: NEITHER CAN SILK!
LO: SILK is pleading with the referee, but Santiago is waving it off at two, and now he beats the mat in frustration. SILK getting to his feet, and reaches down to pull up Cooper....pulls his arm out to his side, I THINK HE'S ABOUT TO GO FOR THE SILKY SMOOTH DDT!
KO: HE GETS A LITTLE MOMENTUM AND FLIPS UP AND OVER TO HOOK COOPER BY THE HEAD ON HIS WAY THROUGH...WAIT! COOPER CAUGHT HIS LEG TO STOP SILK FROM DROPPING AND PULLS HIM DOWN......HE JUST PULLED HIM INTO TOMBSTONE POSITION!!
LO: CRATER MAKER!! SILK IS OUT, AND COOPER JUST FELL FORWARDS ON TOP OF HIM! SANTIAGO'S COUNTING IT AS A PIN!
1...
2...
3!!!
Santiago calls for the bell and the fans erupt as Cosmo falls off of SILK to lay beside the man, both competitors more than a little out of it after such a contest. Santiago checks on both, and then lifts Cooper's arm off the canvas to signify victory.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of Match 4 in this Best of Seven Series.....THE APEX CHAMPION....COSMO COOPPPPEEERRRR!!
SILK rolls towards the edge of the ring and slips under the bottom rope to rest against the ring apron. The time keeper brings the WTC Destiny Championship over to him, and he snatches it out of the man's hands, clutching it to his chest as he balefully stares up into the ring at Cosmo Cooper, who has been helped to his feet and now rests against the ropes with a slight smile tugging at his lips. SILK shakes his head 'No', knowing that they have two more battles to go, and slowly begins to slide around the ring to back peddle up the ramp while Cooper watches him, holding the Apex Champion aloft on his shoulder. He looks to his own title, and now in victory, turns to take the second turnbuckle of the far corner, thrusting the belt over his head.
LO: Well there you have it folks! Cosmo Cooper has won match three in his home fed, and SILK leaves Valor Pro with that sinking feeling that every champion has before going into the last stretch of a big match....
KO: Yeah, and now they are tied back up, 2 for 2. But since this business is concluded, let's talk about what happens next for the Coop Man in Valor?
LO: What do you mean?
KO: Well, Brodie and Brennan Devlin tried to kill each other out here tonight, and they are essentially fighting over the same thing.....who gets to face the Apex Champion? Brodie is the rightful #1 Contender, but Devlin won't go away. What does Byrne do in a situation like that?
LO: All good questions, but folks we're out of time!
KO: I am Kenneth Othello....
LO: And I am Laurence Othello....
THE OTHELLO BROTHERS: And we are The Othello Brothers signing off....
The camera closes up on Cooper as he holds the Apex Champion aloft while he bounces on the middle rope before suddenly cutting backstage....
KO: I got a bad feeling about this. I mean, Caputo showed in that last match what a biased official she can be, but Santiago....well....he's just an idiot!
LO: I'm not getting into another debate with you over Caputo, but I will say, this probably wasn't what Valor Pro Management had hoped for....
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is our Main Event of the evening, and is Match 4 in a Best of Seven Series to determine the WTC DESTINY CHAMPIONSHIP!!
The opening chords of the intro to "Purple Rain" by Prince begins as the lights in the arena dim. A light fog fills the entrance ramp as deep purple and pink strobes begin to light up the ramp and the entrance way.
♫ I never meant to cause you any sorrow...I never meant to cause you any pain ♫
The crowd begins to buzz as the ramp continues to fill with the light fog.
♫ I only wanted to one time to see you laughing...I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain ♫
From the back emerges Sean Isaac Leonard Kennedy crawling slowly and seductively towards the top of the ramp. His gold framed glasses glisten from the reflection of the strobe lights while his bandana looks to be lit up by the strobes as well, giving it a black light effect to make it look as if it's glowing. His shirt is open and his purple silk wrestling pants slightly sparkle as well thanks to the lighting effects, the WTC Destiny title pulsing with purple. SILK finally gets to his feet and holds his hands out, taking in all the cheers from onlooking women and the jeers from the jealous men next to them. He inhales the love and the hate deeply before continuing his onward journey of smoothness to the ring, walking slowly and taking in the atmosphere fully.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at six foot five and weighting in at 255 pounds, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia....He is the current WTC DESTINY CHAMPION....He is Your Girls Favorite Grappler, The Black Anaconda, The Swag King Kong......SILLLKKKKKK!!!
SILK slides under the bottom rope and crawls towards the middle of the ring as a spotlight surrounds him. He makes slow and steady provocative gestures towards the ring mat with his hips while pointing towards a screaming female fan in the front row as he winks towards her and follows it up with a kiss in her direction that makes her knees weak and her heart melt.
The lights come back up as SILK makes his way back up to his feet to hand off the WTC Destiny Championship to the referee.
LO: SILK, much like Cosmo, hangs his hat in many promotions and has done well in all of them, making a himself a household name in the sport of professional wrestling.
KO: Yeah, and on top of that, he's a chick magnet!
LO: Excuse me?
KO: Laur....didn't you listen to what they called him during the announcement? I mean.....he's the Black Anaconda!
LO: I...I don't know what that has to do with anything.
KO: Yep, and that's why you ain't getting laid....
Laurence Othello shoots his brother a scathing look 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 SILK 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 drops down with a serious expression leveled at SILK, who beams a shit eating grin in his direction.
LO: Man this crowd is pumped for this one, a big fight feel has filled the arena here in Africa...
KO: Yeah, these two guys have faced each other on three separate occasions at this point, and now here we are in Match 4...
LO: Who do you think will win?
KO: I mean, I'm always betting on the home team, even though I think Brennan Devlin is the best in our business.
LO: How can you say that? Cosmo has not only proved why he's the Apex Champion, but he's also represented our company across the world in tournaments and one off appearances. Brennan Devlin only ever spouts out bullshit about himself, and disparaging remarks towards peoples grandmothers.
KO: I don't expect you to understand, Laur. Kind of like how you're running your mouth when the bell just sounded, and now we're going to see these two try and tear each other apart.
Laurence Othello's eyes go wide as he turns back towards the ring, and indeed the bell has sounded, as SILK and Cooper circle in the center of the ring.
The two men lock up and jockey for position before SILK pulls Cooper into a side Headlock, grinding Cosmo's skull against his body with his elbow. Cosmo searches for an escape, and not finding one, forces his hands into a Top Wrist Lock, slowly but surely pushing SILK's arms away from his head, and turning so that he is now facing the man, both of them fighting for control. SILK's eyes go wide as he finds himself forced backwards, Cooper's left leg slipping behind his right, helping the effort. Cosmo manages to force SILK all the way to the mat, but The Black Anaconda performs a bridge, not allowing his shoulders to touch. They hold this pose for a moment, Cosmo trying to force his weight onto SILK, but eventually the larger of the two miraculously begins to rise from the canvas until they are back in their former standing positions. With a sudden burst of strength, SILK forces the top wrist back into the side headlock, and Cooper once again finds himself at a disadvantage.
LO: Display of strength by SILK there to get out of that precarious situation, and now is back in firm control of Cooper, who now opts to force him into the ropes.....Shoots SILK to the other side forcing the break, and steps out to the center to meet him ONLY TO BE DRIVEN TO THE MAT WITH A SHOULDER BLOCK TAKEDOWN!
KO: The two men exchange a brief glance before SILK moves to hit off the ropes, but Cooper floats over onto his stomach forcing SILK to have to hop over him or be trippped....SILK continues his momentum to hit off the other side, and is coming back now as Cooper hops up and goes for a hip toss....
LO: NO! Reversed! Now it's SILK going for a hip toss, but Cooper won't budge...drives a fist into his midsection doubling him over, places his knee on the back of his head for a Famasser, BUT SILK STANDS STRAIGHT UP SENDING COOPER INTO A BACK FLIP! COOPER LANDS ON HIS FEET!
KO: SILK with a lariat attempt, but Cooper ducks it, and SILK continues his momentum to the ropes, bounces back RIGHT INTO A HIGH STANDING DROPKICK FROM COOPER!
SILK snaps down to the mat, but pops right back up, walking into a Release Arm Drag from cooper that sends him flying across the ring. He impacts and again pops right up, and rushes right into another Arm Drag. This time SILK is a little slower on his rise, and Cooper is there to meet him with some palm thrusts that force him into the ropes. Cooper takes SILK by the wrist and shoots him off the ropes, stepping out to the center of the ring only to be met with a surprise Cross Body by SILK as he rebounds. This takes Cooper down to the mat, but instead of allowing a pin, he uses the bounce from the ring to shove SILK off of him. SILK rolls up to his feet just as Cooper kips up, and as he steps in is caught by a surprise back kick to his gut by Cosmo which doubles him over. Cooper spins around and hooks him by the head to try for a Suplex, but SILK slips his foot between Cosmo's legs for a block, leaving Cooper trying to lift him two more times with no success. A few rabbit like shots to Cooper's ribs has him begging off, giving SILK the opportunity to take him to the canvas with a Suplex of his own.
LO: These two are fast and furious, back and forth, almost as if they know what the other is going to go for before they even do it!
KO: Well, this is their fourth match in a two week period, and I think the feeling out process is over...
SILK springs back to his feet and moves to hit off the ropes, but again Cooper floats over onto his stomach to force SILK to hop over him and continue through to the other side. As he rebounds off the ropes, Cosmo leaps to his feet and catches him running back in for a high arching Release Belly to Belly. SILK soars through the air and lands spine first against the canvas, while his legs tangle painfully with the ropes. He moves to get to his feet clutching his lower back only to look up just in time to see Cooper charging right in with a lariat that sends him tumbling right up and over the top rope to the concrete below. The fans come to their feet as Cooper holds both fists out at his side and roars, and the cheers are overwhelming as he watches SILK pull himself up thanks to the Apron. Cosmo rushes the opposite side ropes for spring, and then thunders back across the ring, soaring right over the top rope into a Splancha that sends SILK crashing back down to the concrete!
LO: Cosmo Cooper flies with success, rolling up to his feet, and holding his hand over his eyes to peer out at this audience that has just come unglued!
KO: He needs to keep his focus here on the task at hand...from all the footage I've seen, you don't take your eyes off of SILK.
LO: No doubt, Ken, but these two guys are some of the top tier in our industry, and with that comes quite a bit of ego. I'm sure when SILK has the upper hand, we'll see some of that flash and pomp that he's become famous for...
Cooper does turn his attention back to SILK, who grabs at the apron to try and pull himself up to his feet. Cosmo smirks as he steps in, grabbing the man from behind and hoisting him back into the ring before leaping up to the apron himself. As SILK gets to his feet in the squared circle, Cosmo grips the top rope in anticipation, and just as SILK turns in his direction he launches himself into his Torpedo Headbutt. To the complete shock of the crowd, SILK sidesteps the oncoming Cooper and throws his boot out for a front kick that catches him right in the side of his skull and knocks him painfully off course. Cosmo hits the mat in a heap, and as he rises to his feet looks up just in time to see SILK charging right at him, committing to a Bicycle Knee Strike that sends him crashing back down to the canvas. Cooper clutches at his face as SILK runs his fingers through his hair, and then mockingly roars up into the heavens the way Cosmo had done earlier. This gets a mixed reaction from the crowd as SILK smirks, strutting over to Cosmo to yank him up off the mat.
LO: And there it is...
KO: I guess you were right...
LO: And that also is what makes this an even playing field. Both men are at the top of their game, and equally have hubris that isn't altogether unwarranted...
SILK takes Cooper by the back of the head and rushes him face first into the nearby corner, bounding his skull off the top turnbuckle. Spinning him around now, SILK fires in a chop that echoes throughout the arena, and blows a kiss to the crowd before firing in a second. Just as the chop lands, however, Cooper fires right back with one of his own, answered by another from SILK. The two men trade chops in the corner, their chests growing red and bruised from the effort, before SILK finally ceases the exchange with a low Knee Lift that knocks the wind out of Cosmo. He takes the Apex Champion by the wrist and gets a lead on him as he shoots him to the far side, and when Cooper strikes the turnbuckles, he hits with such force that it snaps him face first down to the mat. SILK rushes in and drops to the mat for a baseball slide right into the man's face as he tries to rise, and Cooper again finds himself clutching at his face.
LO: Man, it seems like SILK is trying to rearrange Cooper's face out here.
KO: Maybe he's trying to make him unmarketable. I mean, you can't very well get those endorsement deals if your grills all jacked up.
LO: Either way, he just pulled Cooper up, hooks him around the head, and RUNS HIM OUT OF THE CORNER INTO A BULLDOG THAT SLAMS HIM FACE FIRST INTO THE CANVAS! NOW HE'S GOING FOR A PIN!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Cooper out at two and a half, and now SILK up to his feet...and....uh...what is he doing?
SILK runs his fingers up and down his body in a gyrating motion, all the while flashing his bright smile out at the fans who watch on. Just when it appears that he's about to reach a crescendo, he lifts up onto his toes, and drops his knee right into Cosmo's skull, causing the man to flop around on the mat holding his face like a fish out of water. SILK grins, yanking Cosmo back down onto his shoulders, and hooking the leg deep for another pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! SILK really going out of his way to incite this crowd, but he's popular enough that there are still cheers mingled in with those boo's.
KO: Give him time, Laur.....I got the feeling if he can continue to dominate Cooper he may turn the whole crowd!
SILK pulls Cooper up off the mat after the near fall, hooking him around the head and then lifts him up into Suplex position. Before he can do anything further, however, Cooper's knee is dropping down into the top of his skull, and eventually forces him to set the man back down onto his feet. Cooper knocks SILK away from him with right hands, following up with a barrage of Palm Thrusts and Knee Strikes that put The Black Anaconda on the defensive. Cooper drives him all the way into the ropes, takes him by the wrist, and then shoots him to the opposite side. As SILK rebounds, Cooper steps out to the center of the ring to meet him with a spin, and catches him coming in with a Discus Forearm Smash that sends him crashing to the mat. Cooper runs his hands down his face, stopping to try and readjust his jaw after some of the damage received earlier, but as the hand drops to his side and SILK tries to clamor to his feet, it's obvious by his expression that there is no more 'Mr. Nice Guy'.
LO: Cooper coming in on SILK with a snarl, and LIGHTS HIM UP WITH A CHOP! SILK sent flopping back into the corner, and it's followed up with another, another.....and NOW SWITCHES OVER TO SHOOT KICKS TO THE CHEST THAT HAVE SILK REELING!
KO: Cooper unloading on SILK now, each kick has him lifting right off the canvas....and now Cooper hooks him around the waist, and ANOTHER RELEASE BELLY TO BELLY SENDS SILK FLYING ACROSS THE RING!
SILK crashes to the mat in the opposite corner, and he sits up to grab at the ropes to pull himself up to his feet. He turns around just in time to see Cooper charging at him into a Big Splash that he takes the full brunt of, crushing him against the turnbuckles. Cooper dances out to the center of the ring, and SILK stumbles out in a daze, leaving him wide open for a Running Superman Punch that sends him crumpling to the mat. Cooper quickly drops and hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! SILK out at two and a half, and Cooper now mounts him...AND UNLOADS WITH PISTON LIKE RIGHT HANDS DOWN INTO THE MAN'S SKULL!
KO: Hell yeah! Now it's a fight!
SILK manages to shove Cosmo off of him, and rolls to a knee to push up to his feet. Unfortunately he turns to walk right into Cooper who scoops him up onto his shoulder, and into Tombstone position. SILK suddenly comes alive, knowing what this sets up, and begins kicking violently to get out of it. This throws Cosmo off balance, and he starts to stumble backwards, so much so that as SILK pushes himself further and further up onto his shoulder, his legs actually slip over the top rope, and with a final push he lands safely on the apron behind Cosmo. Cosmo spins around, and SILK hooks the top rope, falling back to use the spring from the rope to catapult his foot up to strike Cooper right in the side of the head. This begs Cooper off, clutching the side of his head, and when he turns in that direction again SILK drives his shoulder through the middle and top rope into his gut to double him over. SILK slips back between the ropes to grip the top once more, and launches himself back into the ring into a front flip over Cooper, grabbing his hips as he goes, and thundering him down to the mat into a Sunset Flip!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cooper just barely kicked out, and now both men coming to their feet....AND COOPER WALKS RIGHT INTO A BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION, FOLLOWED BY A B.J. STUNNER!
KO: Yeah, but Cooper hit the mat and rolled up to his feet, and SILK is charging right for him....SUPERKICK FROM COOPER TAKES HIS HEAD OFF!
LO: Both men collapse to the canvas....and My God....What a see-saw match up!
The two competitors breathe heavily as they lay on the mat, the referee checking on both, and then reluctantly beginning a ten count. At the count of five the two men begin to stir, Cooper pushing up to his knee's, and SILK sitting up. They both look over at one another and lock eyes for a moment before begrudgingly pushing the rest of the way up. They step to the center of the ring where they square up, Cooper firing in the first right hand only for SILK to come back with one of his own. The fans come to their feet as the two men trade blows back and forth, each thrown punch coming slower and slower without any end in sight. Suddenly SILK ducks one of Cooper's fists, steps into the gap, and then lifts him up and over into a High Fireman's Carry Slam!
LO: BAREBACK!
KO: What?
LO: That's what SILK calls that move, as he crawls over and drapes his arm over the Apex Champion's chest!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cooper able to roll the shoulder before the referee's hand could hit the mat for three, and now SILK shaking his head, possibly showing signs of frustration as he comes to his feet.
KO: Well, I'd be frustrated too. I mean, these guys have been going non-stop since the bell rang, and both have hit their spots. Now it's time to see what else they have left in the tank to see this through to the final stretch.
SILK reaches down and pulls Cooper to his feet, pushing him back into the ropes, and shoots him off to the far side. He steps out to the center as Cosmo rebounds and swings for a Lariat, but it's ducked and Cooper continues to the ropes to rebound back a second time. This time SILK swings around into a Spinning Back Fist, but again Cooper ducks it and continues through. By the time SILK has reoriented from the missed fist, he turns around to find that Cooper has already rebounded and launches himself into the Torpedo Headbutt he had sought earlier in the match. This time it connects, the top of his skull connecting dead center of SILK's sternum like a cannon ball blast, sending the man sprawling to the mat in surprise pain, and the breath completely knocked out of him. Cosmo crawls over to his opponent, and it's his turn to drape an arm over SILK's chest.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! SILK just barely got the shoulder up, and now both men are lying on the canvas once more...and Santiago is going for another ten count....
KO: We saw this before with Cooper and Devlin....these two are just so good that they may cancel one another out!
At the count of six Cooper crawls towards the ropes, as SILK does the same on the other side, and both men reach them at the count of eight to pull themselves up to their feet. They look over the shoulders at one another doggedly before nodding, and then both take off into a charge towards the center of the ring. Cooper goes for a leaping knee strike that catches SILK in his chest, knocking him back to fall against the second rope, and when he springs back up to his feet he falls forwards with a Rebound Clothesline that takes Cooper's head off. The fans begin to cheer as SILK pushes up to his feet, and as Cosmo works to get to his, The Black Anaconda rushes in on him and catches him with a Swinging Neck Breaker that sends both men crashing down to the mat. SILK starts to go for a cover, and then thinks better of it, shaking his head, and makes his way over to the nearest corner only to step out onto the apron. He begins to make the long climb to the top while Cooper remains out of it on the canvas.
LO: SILK has reached his perch on the top, and he now stands at his full height.....I don't think their is a fan not on his feet right now, all clamoring to see what the Silky Smooth Superstar is about to do!
KO: SILK LEAPING HIGH INTO THE AIR WITH THE ELBOW EXTENDED...NO! COOPER MOVED! COOPER MOVED!
LO: COSMO COOPER GOT OUT OF THE WAY AT THE LAST SECOND, AND SILK ATE NOTHING BUT CANVAS FOR HIS EFFORTS!
The collective 'OOOOOOO' from the crowd puts an exclamation on the point as SILK clutches at his midsection after crashing and burning on the mat, while Cosmo lies off to the side sucking wind. Santiago looks as shocked as everyone else as he starts his count, growing concerned that these two men may damage each other to the point that neither can continue. He gets all the way to seven before Cosmo rolls over to the ropes, and then hooks the middle to push himself up at the count of eight. He stares over at SILK, who sits on his knee's, and the charismatic superstar waves Cooper tiredly towards him in a taunting gesture.
LO: Even down and out, SILK still has breath in his body, and is still challenging a disbelieving Cosmo Cooper!
KO: Kid's got moxy, you have to admit!
Cosmo's face screws up into an uncharacteristically vicious expression, and he charges at SILK, throwing his boot out to try and take his head off. SILK manages to duck under the boot, and runs his hands between the Apex Champion's legs to pull him down into a schoolboy pin.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Cooper kicks out, and comes up to his feet, ONLY TO WALK INTO A SMALL PACKAGE FROM SILK!
1...
2...
KO: THREe-NO! Cooper kicks out once again, and now both men scrambling to their feet! SILK with a boot to Cooper's midsection, NO! Cooper catches his foot and now has him hopping around on one leg....INZUGURI...NO! COOPER DUCKED IT AND SILK JUST LANDED FACE FIRST ON THE CANVAS!
LO: Cooper still has control of the boot he stopped, but SILK rolls over onto his back, AND PUTS THE OTHER ONE RIGHT INTO COOPER'S FACE!
KO: Cooper stumbling back holding his nose, and SILK JUST KIPPED UP IN FRONT OF HIM WITH A SUPERKICK OF HIS OWN!
LO: BUT COOPER DUCKS IT AS WELL.....SILK spins around, and here comes Cosmo with a clothesline, but SILK lowers his head, and SUNSET FLIP BY COSMO DRAGS SILK DOWN INTO A PIN!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-SILK JUST SWUNG BOTH LEGS BACK AND ROLLED OVER ONTO HIS KNEE'S, AND BURIES HIS SHOULDERS INTO THE BACK OF COSMO'S FOR A PIN OF HIS OWN!
1...
2...
LO: THRE-ANOTHER REVERSAL! COOPER GAVE THE BACK OF SILK'S SKULL A SHOVE WHICH CAUSED HIM TO FLIP FORWARDS ON HIS SHOULDERS WHILE COSMO SAT UP!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-SILK JUST KICKED FORWARD AND IS NOW SITTING ON COSMO'S CHEST! THE SHOULDERS ARE DOWN!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-KICK OUT! Both men quickly to their feet, and DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE WIPES BOTH COMPETITORS OUT!
KO: MY GOD! THIS IS INSANE!
Again both men are on the canvas sucking wind, and Santiago watches on in amazement before being drawn back to reality to start another ten count. He gets all the way to the count of seven before both men stir, rolling over onto their backs, both wiping sweat from their eyes. Just as she's about count ten, they rock their knee's up to their chests, and both kip up to their feet. Cooper swings his foot around for a Back Round House Kick to SILK's skull, but the Black Anaconda ducks under it causing Cosmo's foot to sail harmlessly over head. While he's off balance, SILK takes a step forward while still low, bringing his head between the Apex Champion's legs, and with a burst of strength suddenly stands up in Electric Chair Drop position! Before he can push up to perform his famous finisher, The SILKplex, Cooper pitches forwards into a surprise Victory Roll Up!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! SILK just barely got out of that, and both men scrambling to their feet....Cooper rushes in, and SILK with a boot to his midsection...tucks the head, and SIT OUT POWERBOMB!
KO: HE RETAINS CONTROL OF THE LEGS FOR A PIN!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!
KO: NEITHER CAN SILK!
LO: SILK is pleading with the referee, but Santiago is waving it off at two, and now he beats the mat in frustration. SILK getting to his feet, and reaches down to pull up Cooper....pulls his arm out to his side, I THINK HE'S ABOUT TO GO FOR THE SILKY SMOOTH DDT!
KO: HE GETS A LITTLE MOMENTUM AND FLIPS UP AND OVER TO HOOK COOPER BY THE HEAD ON HIS WAY THROUGH...WAIT! COOPER CAUGHT HIS LEG TO STOP SILK FROM DROPPING AND PULLS HIM DOWN......HE JUST PULLED HIM INTO TOMBSTONE POSITION!!
LO: CRATER MAKER!! SILK IS OUT, AND COOPER JUST FELL FORWARDS ON TOP OF HIM! SANTIAGO'S COUNTING IT AS A PIN!
1...
2...
3!!!
Santiago calls for the bell and the fans erupt as Cosmo falls off of SILK to lay beside the man, both competitors more than a little out of it after such a contest. Santiago checks on both, and then lifts Cooper's arm off the canvas to signify victory.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of Match 4 in this Best of Seven Series.....THE APEX CHAMPION....COSMO COOPPPPEEERRRR!!
SILK rolls towards the edge of the ring and slips under the bottom rope to rest against the ring apron. The time keeper brings the WTC Destiny Championship over to him, and he snatches it out of the man's hands, clutching it to his chest as he balefully stares up into the ring at Cosmo Cooper, who has been helped to his feet and now rests against the ropes with a slight smile tugging at his lips. SILK shakes his head 'No', knowing that they have two more battles to go, and slowly begins to slide around the ring to back peddle up the ramp while Cooper watches him, holding the Apex Champion aloft on his shoulder. He looks to his own title, and now in victory, turns to take the second turnbuckle of the far corner, thrusting the belt over his head.
LO: Well there you have it folks! Cosmo Cooper has won match three in his home fed, and SILK leaves Valor Pro with that sinking feeling that every champion has before going into the last stretch of a big match....
KO: Yeah, and now they are tied back up, 2 for 2. But since this business is concluded, let's talk about what happens next for the Coop Man in Valor?
LO: What do you mean?
KO: Well, Brodie and Brennan Devlin tried to kill each other out here tonight, and they are essentially fighting over the same thing.....who gets to face the Apex Champion? Brodie is the rightful #1 Contender, but Devlin won't go away. What does Byrne do in a situation like that?
LO: All good questions, but folks we're out of time!
KO: I am Kenneth Othello....
LO: And I am Laurence Othello....
THE OTHELLO BROTHERS: And we are The Othello Brothers signing off....
The camera closes up on Cooper as he holds the Apex Champion aloft while he bounces on the middle rope before suddenly cutting backstage....
The scene opens to an impromptu office in the back where Vanessa Byrne and Dugan Callahan sit watching a monitor that has Cosmo still celebrating in the ring after his victory. Byrne has a smug look of satisfaction on her face as Dugan shrugs, uncorking a snifter and pouring himself another drink. Suddenly the door to the office bursts open, the door swinging in so hard that it bangs off the concrete wall as if kicked in. The camera swings around, and standing in the door frame with a visceral scowl stands Brodie. Vanessa stares at the Submission Machine with upraised eyebrows, and Callahan finishes the pour on his drink with a slight smirk. Brodie has none of these as she stalks right for the desk, much the way she does her opponents, and upon reaching it slams her fists down on the surface while at the same time leaning dangerously close to Byrne.
BRODIE: NO...MORE...PRETENDERS!
The women stare at one another in silence, Byrne not backing down in the least. It is so quiet in fact, that you could hear the proverbial pin drop, that is until ice cubes clink in a glass off to the side followed by the slurping sound of someone taking a drink. This draws Vanessa's eye towards Callahan, who stares intently at the substance in his cup, sloshing it around a little so that the ice cubes swirl before looking up. His eyes go wide in surprise, realizing for the first time that the attention is now on him. He clears his throat gruffly while taking another sip at the same time, before setting the glass down on the corner of the desk.
CALLAHAN: I take it you want your title shot, then?
As if the question were rhetorical, which it was, Brodie's head snaps in Dugan's direction and her lips peel back to expose her white teeth in a gruesome grin. Callahan smirks, taps the edge of his glass with his pinky finger, and then looks back up with a nod. Brodie's grin fades, her eyes narrowing, and she finally lifts off the desk to regard both the VPW figure heads.
BRODIE: No interference.....He's mine.
She pauses, cocking her head to the side slightly, and then a more natural smile washes over her face, leaving Vanessa and Dugan to exchange a worried glance.
BRODIE: Mine alone....
Brodie turns on her heel as abruptly as she had entered, and stalks out the door to make her exit humming a haunting tune. The camera swings back around to Byrne and Callahan just as the Lead Booker lifts his glass back up to his lips. Byrne lets out an exasperated sigh, and a shakes her head as she mutters under her breath.
VANESSA BYRNE: It's no wonder we got kicked off of FiteTV.....
Callahan nearly spits out his drink in laughter, as Byrne casts him a sidelong glance just before the Valor Pro logo flashes, followed by Battleground Network and HOTV logos, and then fade to black.
BRODIE: NO...MORE...PRETENDERS!
The women stare at one another in silence, Byrne not backing down in the least. It is so quiet in fact, that you could hear the proverbial pin drop, that is until ice cubes clink in a glass off to the side followed by the slurping sound of someone taking a drink. This draws Vanessa's eye towards Callahan, who stares intently at the substance in his cup, sloshing it around a little so that the ice cubes swirl before looking up. His eyes go wide in surprise, realizing for the first time that the attention is now on him. He clears his throat gruffly while taking another sip at the same time, before setting the glass down on the corner of the desk.
CALLAHAN: I take it you want your title shot, then?
As if the question were rhetorical, which it was, Brodie's head snaps in Dugan's direction and her lips peel back to expose her white teeth in a gruesome grin. Callahan smirks, taps the edge of his glass with his pinky finger, and then looks back up with a nod. Brodie's grin fades, her eyes narrowing, and she finally lifts off the desk to regard both the VPW figure heads.
BRODIE: No interference.....He's mine.
She pauses, cocking her head to the side slightly, and then a more natural smile washes over her face, leaving Vanessa and Dugan to exchange a worried glance.
BRODIE: Mine alone....
Brodie turns on her heel as abruptly as she had entered, and stalks out the door to make her exit humming a haunting tune. The camera swings back around to Byrne and Callahan just as the Lead Booker lifts his glass back up to his lips. Byrne lets out an exasperated sigh, and a shakes her head as she mutters under her breath.
VANESSA BYRNE: It's no wonder we got kicked off of FiteTV.....
Callahan nearly spits out his drink in laughter, as Byrne casts him a sidelong glance just before the Valor Pro logo flashes, followed by Battleground Network and HOTV logos, and then fade to black.