Blitz #16, Streaming Live on HOTV & Battleground Network!
May 19, 2019 12:50:30 GMT -5
Jack Dempsey likes this
Post by Staff on May 19, 2019 12:50:30 GMT -5
The veil was thin and had yet been completely lifted. The Metatron still existed, only in a new and somehow more official form. This new Metatron would rip the veil away with the hand strength of a man who was no stranger to near constant masturbation.
He had wild hair which paired well with the wild look in his eyes. His skin was olive, telling tales of a Greek descent. The southern hemisphere of his face was hidden behind a wild wiry beard boasting wisps of silver, only slightly giving away his age. Pulling away, he was revealed to be surprisingly tidy in an untailored suit. He flashed a smile, knowing that he had become and would be the only voice, the only connection the audience would have with Jack Dempsey, outside of the ring.
Jack didn’t do interviews. Jack just did the violence.
“My name is Lyle Vitalis and I will be, from here on, the voice of Jack Dempsey. I’m here to address Jack’s opponent “Deathrow”. Jack doesn’t have a Twitter account, any other social media connections, and I’m assuming a fairly limited knowledge of the internet. Unlike you and I, he has no need for such things. Fucking weird, right? I would die without Reddit. I used to have a Twitter account before it ceased being trendy. My profile picture was a Twinkie, but that’s unimportant. What IS important is that “Deathrow” has a twitter handle and he has it swoll like a used tampon. I read, aloud, what he wrote in regards to Jack and Jack had the following to say...”
Lyle pulled a carefully folded document out of his pocket and unfolded it slowly. Perhaps to increase the drama of what Jack had to say.
“Matt King, Deathrow, my opponent tonight, I was wrong about you. I believed you and I were somehow on a similar level. I saw a real dangerous man where a childish fuckface actually existed. I made a mistake when I judged a book by its cover. That’s on me. You complained and insulted others for using Twitter as some kind of chickenshit confessional and yet, you are guilty of the same sad behavior. You’re no different than the rest of them. So, fuck you. Tonight, I am going to put you down and give you a reason to complain further.”
With that said, Lyle folded the document and put it back into his pocket. Then returned to his sunshiney grin.
“Ok, so Jack didn’t really say that. I wrote it and it took me like all night. He should have said it, but he didn’t have anything to say. Honestly, when I read Deathrow’s tweets aloud, I was eating a pizza sub sandwich. It was delicious and made it nearly impossible to understand anything I said. BUT had he actually understood what I was saying, I would guess that he would have said something similar to what took me hours to write. Deathrow, or as I call you, Dumb Fucking Fucker Fuck, You’re a forgettable idiot and Jack is going to break your spirit tonight. Personally, I’m betting twenty dollars that you won’t be seen in Valor Pro again. IF you do show up again, Jack will be happy to kick your ass again. Your choice. Tonight, you die.”
Before Lyle walked away, he stopped lifting his right index finger, remembering something. He returned to his audience.
“Also, that pizza sub sandwich was made by Sal at Yum’s Sub Shop in Atlanta. Incredible sandwiches and thanks to this plug, I will be getting a free soda with my next purchase of a twelve inch sub sandwich. This is very exciting for me. I mean, sure, it’s not much, but this week it’s a small soda, maybe next week it’s a Lamborghini. Oh my god. A lambo would be amazing, right?”
With that said, the look in Lyle’s eyes changed to that of a man already driving his imaginary Lamborghini. Honestly, he looked like he belong in one. Picture it, the sunroof down with Lyle’s hair blowing in the wind. Incredible.
The take away in all of this, aside from a free beverage, is that Jack was underwhelmed with his opponent and was ready to kill him.
Dumb fat Deathrow Matt King unknowingly about to run right into the path of a Garbage Truck. Where he always belonged.
He had wild hair which paired well with the wild look in his eyes. His skin was olive, telling tales of a Greek descent. The southern hemisphere of his face was hidden behind a wild wiry beard boasting wisps of silver, only slightly giving away his age. Pulling away, he was revealed to be surprisingly tidy in an untailored suit. He flashed a smile, knowing that he had become and would be the only voice, the only connection the audience would have with Jack Dempsey, outside of the ring.
Jack didn’t do interviews. Jack just did the violence.
“My name is Lyle Vitalis and I will be, from here on, the voice of Jack Dempsey. I’m here to address Jack’s opponent “Deathrow”. Jack doesn’t have a Twitter account, any other social media connections, and I’m assuming a fairly limited knowledge of the internet. Unlike you and I, he has no need for such things. Fucking weird, right? I would die without Reddit. I used to have a Twitter account before it ceased being trendy. My profile picture was a Twinkie, but that’s unimportant. What IS important is that “Deathrow” has a twitter handle and he has it swoll like a used tampon. I read, aloud, what he wrote in regards to Jack and Jack had the following to say...”
Lyle pulled a carefully folded document out of his pocket and unfolded it slowly. Perhaps to increase the drama of what Jack had to say.
“Matt King, Deathrow, my opponent tonight, I was wrong about you. I believed you and I were somehow on a similar level. I saw a real dangerous man where a childish fuckface actually existed. I made a mistake when I judged a book by its cover. That’s on me. You complained and insulted others for using Twitter as some kind of chickenshit confessional and yet, you are guilty of the same sad behavior. You’re no different than the rest of them. So, fuck you. Tonight, I am going to put you down and give you a reason to complain further.”
With that said, Lyle folded the document and put it back into his pocket. Then returned to his sunshiney grin.
“Ok, so Jack didn’t really say that. I wrote it and it took me like all night. He should have said it, but he didn’t have anything to say. Honestly, when I read Deathrow’s tweets aloud, I was eating a pizza sub sandwich. It was delicious and made it nearly impossible to understand anything I said. BUT had he actually understood what I was saying, I would guess that he would have said something similar to what took me hours to write. Deathrow, or as I call you, Dumb Fucking Fucker Fuck, You’re a forgettable idiot and Jack is going to break your spirit tonight. Personally, I’m betting twenty dollars that you won’t be seen in Valor Pro again. IF you do show up again, Jack will be happy to kick your ass again. Your choice. Tonight, you die.”
Before Lyle walked away, he stopped lifting his right index finger, remembering something. He returned to his audience.
“Also, that pizza sub sandwich was made by Sal at Yum’s Sub Shop in Atlanta. Incredible sandwiches and thanks to this plug, I will be getting a free soda with my next purchase of a twelve inch sub sandwich. This is very exciting for me. I mean, sure, it’s not much, but this week it’s a small soda, maybe next week it’s a Lamborghini. Oh my god. A lambo would be amazing, right?”
With that said, the look in Lyle’s eyes changed to that of a man already driving his imaginary Lamborghini. Honestly, he looked like he belong in one. Picture it, the sunroof down with Lyle’s hair blowing in the wind. Incredible.
The take away in all of this, aside from a free beverage, is that Jack was underwhelmed with his opponent and was ready to kill him.
Dumb fat Deathrow Matt King unknowingly about to run right into the path of a Garbage Truck. Where he always belonged.
The first to ringside is Matt King, who storms to the ring wearing no shirt, a pair of jeans, and a towel over his head. He stalks up the steps and sweeps past the ropes to rip the towel off and hold both hands out at his sides to reveal his scarred body with a primal roar. While he still clamors around the ring looking threatening, Jack Dempsey makes his way past the curtain, a more casual approach to the ring. As he enters through the ropes, Matt King paces back and forth, while Dempsey doesn't pause for any fanfare before stepping to the center of the ring. King quickly joins him, the two men getting nose to nose, neither saying a word but intensely staring into one another's eyes.
When the bell sounds all hell breaks loose, both men bringing the crowd to their feet with rights and lefts aimed at their heads. The melee comes to an abrupt halt when King buries his thigh into Dempsey's gut with a High Knee Lift, followed by an elbow strike right to the back of his head. From here King brings the offense, keeping Dempsey on his toes with a Body Slam followed by falling Elbow Drops straight to his forehead in an attempt to bust him open. Dempsey manages to get back to his feet, but a Lariat puts him back down, and from there Matt drops down ontop of him to cradle his head, and fires in piston like right hands to his skull.
The tide turns when King shoots Dempsey off the ropes and attempts a Back Body which is stopped by a Football like punt to the face by Jack. With King fully upright clutching his nose, Dempsey launches himself at Deathrow with a Spear, and now it's him on top of Matt with the right hands. Working back up to their feet Jack slams King's skull off the top turnbuckle of the closest corner, spinning him around and whipping him hard to the other side. King strikes the turnbuckles with such authority that it sends him reeling back out, and Dempsey is their with a boot to the midsection followed by a Double Underhook DDT! A pin attempt afterwards is thwarted by a kick out at two and a half, and Jack pulls King back to his feet and puts him back in the corner.
Now sitting on the top turnbuckle, Dempsey joins Matt only to hook him by the head for a Superplex, but when he tries to lift him he finds the move blocked. King suddenly comes alive, firing in hard headbutts right across the bridge of Jack's nose that sends blood trickling down to pool at his lips. King then gives Dempsey a shove which sends him crashing to the mat, and King stands to his full height on the second rope before diving off with an elbow. The point jams itself into Jack's chest, and he flops around the ring like a fish before being forced to the mat for a pin. A two and a half count later he's kicked out, and King yanks him up and drives a forearm right into his jaw that sends him stumbling to the rope.
As Matt approaches, Dempsey's boot flashes out into his gut, and he delivers a hard right hand just above the eyebrow that has King reeling back to the center of the ring, blood dripping into his eye. Dempsey steps out to join him, and yells at the man, slapping his own face, and King snarls as he charges forward with a haymaker that sends Dempsey all the way back into the ropes. When Jack bounces back he does so swinging, a right hook to King's jaw that causes him to drop back a few steps. The two men continue this barbaric exchange of blows as the crowd begin to play into the action by making different noises for each competitor as they swing.
Finally, Matt goes for one too many swings on a Dempsey that won't back down, and when he's sent falling back into the ropes he bounces back with a devastating Clothesline From Hell that takes King's head off. As Deathrow crashes to the mat, the man also known as Section 8 falls on top of him and hooks the leg for the 1...2...3!! Dempsey doesn't offer much of a celebration after his hand is raised, instead spitting a mouthful of blood thanks to his possibly broken nose before walking up the ramp towards the exit.
When the bell sounds all hell breaks loose, both men bringing the crowd to their feet with rights and lefts aimed at their heads. The melee comes to an abrupt halt when King buries his thigh into Dempsey's gut with a High Knee Lift, followed by an elbow strike right to the back of his head. From here King brings the offense, keeping Dempsey on his toes with a Body Slam followed by falling Elbow Drops straight to his forehead in an attempt to bust him open. Dempsey manages to get back to his feet, but a Lariat puts him back down, and from there Matt drops down ontop of him to cradle his head, and fires in piston like right hands to his skull.
The tide turns when King shoots Dempsey off the ropes and attempts a Back Body which is stopped by a Football like punt to the face by Jack. With King fully upright clutching his nose, Dempsey launches himself at Deathrow with a Spear, and now it's him on top of Matt with the right hands. Working back up to their feet Jack slams King's skull off the top turnbuckle of the closest corner, spinning him around and whipping him hard to the other side. King strikes the turnbuckles with such authority that it sends him reeling back out, and Dempsey is their with a boot to the midsection followed by a Double Underhook DDT! A pin attempt afterwards is thwarted by a kick out at two and a half, and Jack pulls King back to his feet and puts him back in the corner.
Now sitting on the top turnbuckle, Dempsey joins Matt only to hook him by the head for a Superplex, but when he tries to lift him he finds the move blocked. King suddenly comes alive, firing in hard headbutts right across the bridge of Jack's nose that sends blood trickling down to pool at his lips. King then gives Dempsey a shove which sends him crashing to the mat, and King stands to his full height on the second rope before diving off with an elbow. The point jams itself into Jack's chest, and he flops around the ring like a fish before being forced to the mat for a pin. A two and a half count later he's kicked out, and King yanks him up and drives a forearm right into his jaw that sends him stumbling to the rope.
As Matt approaches, Dempsey's boot flashes out into his gut, and he delivers a hard right hand just above the eyebrow that has King reeling back to the center of the ring, blood dripping into his eye. Dempsey steps out to join him, and yells at the man, slapping his own face, and King snarls as he charges forward with a haymaker that sends Dempsey all the way back into the ropes. When Jack bounces back he does so swinging, a right hook to King's jaw that causes him to drop back a few steps. The two men continue this barbaric exchange of blows as the crowd begin to play into the action by making different noises for each competitor as they swing.
Finally, Matt goes for one too many swings on a Dempsey that won't back down, and when he's sent falling back into the ropes he bounces back with a devastating Clothesline From Hell that takes King's head off. As Deathrow crashes to the mat, the man also known as Section 8 falls on top of him and hooks the leg for the 1...2...3!! Dempsey doesn't offer much of a celebration after his hand is raised, instead spitting a mouthful of blood thanks to his possibly broken nose before walking up the ramp towards the exit.
Winner By Pinfall: JACK DEMPSEY!
The carpark of the arena is mostly empty aside from a Bright Yellow rental car which seems to have a few additions made to it, most noticeably is the giant daisy stuck to the roof and the few chairs scattered around the outside of the car. At the helm of the small semi circle is Indi Rhyder, she seems to be enjoying the company of some random people she’s met on her way to the arena.
Indi Rhyder: And Then Wolf ate the thing whole! You’ve never seen anything like it buds, he was just like..l AAAARGHHHHHHH
Indi throws her head back and opens her mouth wide, mimicking a werewolf tucking into an invisible lump of meat. As she brings her head back down, Indi noticed the camera and starts to laugh.
Indi Rhyder: Wooops! Didn’t see you there!
She winks at the camera in some mock conspiratorial way.
Indi Rhyder: Hey buds! Tonight we put to bed the age old argument, who’s greater a superhero or a Galactic Princess? Okayyyy so that probably isn’t really all that old of a question but still. If you listen to Rox, it’s the most important question to ever be asked by anyone ever!
Indi starts to giggle and shakes her head, reaching her hands out she wiggles the ends of her fingers.
Indi Rhyder: Can you feeeeeeeel it? The electricity in the air? This place is just charged with it and despite all the waaaayyyyy bigger names on the cards, I know that deep down you’re all really here for a spoiler alert!
As she says those last two words, flashing lights appear from the car and a wooooo sound goes off. Indi throws her hands over her mouth and looks sheepish for a moment.
Indi Rhyder: Okay Okay! No spoilers, just your friendly neighborhood Star Lord saying see you soon Rox, sure hope you bring your cape. You know… so I can bury you in it.
Indi Rhyder: And Then Wolf ate the thing whole! You’ve never seen anything like it buds, he was just like..l AAAARGHHHHHHH
Indi throws her head back and opens her mouth wide, mimicking a werewolf tucking into an invisible lump of meat. As she brings her head back down, Indi noticed the camera and starts to laugh.
Indi Rhyder: Wooops! Didn’t see you there!
She winks at the camera in some mock conspiratorial way.
Indi Rhyder: Hey buds! Tonight we put to bed the age old argument, who’s greater a superhero or a Galactic Princess? Okayyyy so that probably isn’t really all that old of a question but still. If you listen to Rox, it’s the most important question to ever be asked by anyone ever!
Indi starts to giggle and shakes her head, reaching her hands out she wiggles the ends of her fingers.
Indi Rhyder: Can you feeeeeeeel it? The electricity in the air? This place is just charged with it and despite all the waaaayyyyy bigger names on the cards, I know that deep down you’re all really here for a spoiler alert!
As she says those last two words, flashing lights appear from the car and a wooooo sound goes off. Indi throws her hands over her mouth and looks sheepish for a moment.
Indi Rhyder: Okay Okay! No spoilers, just your friendly neighborhood Star Lord saying see you soon Rox, sure hope you bring your cape. You know… so I can bury you in it.
The pop that greets Julie Miri when she arrives on the rampway, is one of recognition from the fans of a well-travelled Revolution Pro champion who did the title proud up until the very last. Buoyed, Julie Miri strode down to the ring confident and ready to fight. Standing across from her, the masked, expressionless visage of Kingsley Solomon who seemed only to dare Julie Miri to attack him. The callous early taunting from Kingsley worked. Julie’s early overeagerness got the better of her and she made some very early mistakes that put her at the mercy of the gambler, Kingsley Solomon who proceeded to work Julie Miri over with some of the stiffest shots, and hardest bumps Julie’s likely yet experienced in a Valor Pro ring.
Kingsley Solomon set to work wearing Julie down, working over Julie’s shoulder and arms with kicks, and drags, and throws and tosses and armbar traps that seemed to threaten to send Julie Miri into the same boat that sidelined Damien no less than a month prior. The crowd rallied behind Julie who gave resistance a valiant effort, but found herself consistently thwarted by Kinglsey Solomon who mixed up a wide range of deft acrobatic spotwork that kept Julie down, with fierce submission technical chain wrestling that kept Julie from mounting any true offense.
Until she caught Kingsley unawares on a rebound with a swift tornado DDT that gave the crowd a huge pop, and lit a fire in Julie Miri who exploded with offence that Kingsley tried to stop but couldn’t. Snap suplexes, transitioned into triangle chokes, surfboards, chickenwings, a veritable showcase of technical virtuosity that Kinglsey couldn’t match… until he did. A matrix evasion carried into a dragon screw that set Julie down for the count, which she kicked out of at the last second. Kingsley seemed to switch his offence up, fast then slow strikes, methodical and well paced to keep Julie off-guard throughout.
After moments of painful, torturous offence on julie Miri, Kingsley had her up and set up for his Ace of Spades, Destino finisher, flipping backwards and readying to plant Julie only she rotated through the move and hit Kinglsey with a destino instead! And the crowd was on it’s feet at the surprise reversal of fortune. The crowd behind her, Julie heaved Kinglsey up and hooked his leg, bringing him down with a bridging fisherman’s suplex, The Total Eclipse, and put Kingsley Solomon down for the three count earning a hard-fought, but well-deserved victory!
Kingsley Solomon set to work wearing Julie down, working over Julie’s shoulder and arms with kicks, and drags, and throws and tosses and armbar traps that seemed to threaten to send Julie Miri into the same boat that sidelined Damien no less than a month prior. The crowd rallied behind Julie who gave resistance a valiant effort, but found herself consistently thwarted by Kinglsey Solomon who mixed up a wide range of deft acrobatic spotwork that kept Julie down, with fierce submission technical chain wrestling that kept Julie from mounting any true offense.
Until she caught Kingsley unawares on a rebound with a swift tornado DDT that gave the crowd a huge pop, and lit a fire in Julie Miri who exploded with offence that Kingsley tried to stop but couldn’t. Snap suplexes, transitioned into triangle chokes, surfboards, chickenwings, a veritable showcase of technical virtuosity that Kinglsey couldn’t match… until he did. A matrix evasion carried into a dragon screw that set Julie down for the count, which she kicked out of at the last second. Kingsley seemed to switch his offence up, fast then slow strikes, methodical and well paced to keep Julie off-guard throughout.
After moments of painful, torturous offence on julie Miri, Kingsley had her up and set up for his Ace of Spades, Destino finisher, flipping backwards and readying to plant Julie only she rotated through the move and hit Kinglsey with a destino instead! And the crowd was on it’s feet at the surprise reversal of fortune. The crowd behind her, Julie heaved Kinglsey up and hooked his leg, bringing him down with a bridging fisherman’s suplex, The Total Eclipse, and put Kingsley Solomon down for the three count earning a hard-fought, but well-deserved victory!
Winner By Pinfall: JULIE MIRI!
Backstage, the Salle Moulay Abdellah hummed with energy.
Katya Djurdjevic moves with the abruptness of a jungle cat. The cells in her body have become restless.
Her face darkened by concentration, she believes a lot rests on tonight. There are nerves, but it's driven by excitement.
She wasn't going to take any chances with this one. She had long decided to take to the skies in this encounter with Caroline O’Hara Burchill.
After all, it’s the go-home show before Right of Kings. It was Katya’s first match on the main show.
And most of all…
The Shape of This League demands that she fires on all cylinders By Any Means Necessary.
Seeing the camera, Katya stops. She offers a small smile, and with feet planted wide, points to the skies with her right arm.
Katya Djurdjevic: Watch closely, wrestling fans. I’m bringing the heavy artillery tonight.
With a nod, Katya moves off, knowing her match draws near.
Katya Djurdjevic moves with the abruptness of a jungle cat. The cells in her body have become restless.
Her face darkened by concentration, she believes a lot rests on tonight. There are nerves, but it's driven by excitement.
She wasn't going to take any chances with this one. She had long decided to take to the skies in this encounter with Caroline O’Hara Burchill.
After all, it’s the go-home show before Right of Kings. It was Katya’s first match on the main show.
And most of all…
The Shape of This League demands that she fires on all cylinders By Any Means Necessary.
Seeing the camera, Katya stops. She offers a small smile, and with feet planted wide, points to the skies with her right arm.
Katya Djurdjevic: Watch closely, wrestling fans. I’m bringing the heavy artillery tonight.
With a nod, Katya moves off, knowing her match draws near.
Two women on a collision course met near identical greetings from the fans in Morocco. Both Roxi Johnson and Indi Rhyder made their way to the ring clapping hands, before making it very clear to everyone in attendance, as well as to each other, that this contest was to be all business. IN a test of strength, they locked up not once, not twice, but four times jockeying for position, each time Roxi locked on a quick side headlock but Indi quickly removed herself from the situation and gave no quarter or ground to Roxi who looked lazer-focused on putting the Star Lord down. The first real offence came when Roxi Johnson lifted up for a standing dropkick but found herself getting slammed down with an impromptu sitout powerbomb that seemed to knock some wind out of Roxi.
Worse for Roxi, Indi seemed intent on keeping Roxi down once she had her on the canvas. She capitalized with stomps, and when Roxi made it to her feet, with some gut shots for good measure, Indi trapped the arm, walked the ropes and and delivered a chop for her trouble. Indi’s goal seemed to be to dismantle Roxi’s offence before it could get started, and for the most part succeeded in the early moments of the match, but the veteran Roxi Johnson is a difficult fighter to oppose and keep ahead for long. Roxi reversed Indi’s offence with some solid footwork and put the intergalactic space princess down with running hurricanrana into a pin attempt, but only got a two-count.
Roxi never lost focus. Her kicks and punches all landed true, her dropkicks connected with a ferocity that would in no way betray how old Roxi feels, but Indi’s energy made it seem preternatural when she kept getting back up, even daring Roxi to hit her again at one point. Roxi obliged but Indi seemed to be on some otherworldly energy for this match, managing to bounce back after several dropkicks only to drop Roxi with a definitive-looking spear that may have been far more impactful than one might assume to look at Indi.
In the driver’s seat, Indi showcased some serious aerial chops, dropping a resurging Roxi with a flying thrust kick then keeping her down with an impressive meteora, moonsault, leg drop in sequence that wowed the crowd. When she went for the 3 count, however, Roxi Johnson showcased that trademark tenacity that’s seen her keep coming back for more, again and again kicking out from Indi Rhyder pin attempts, and returning the favor a yoshi tonic that Indi Rhyder looked, finally, to have a hard time answering. Roxi went on a good 4 minute tear of planting Indi again and again with a series of snap suplexes before securing her position in the driver’s seat of this match with a split-legged moonsault that brought Indi all the way to a count of 2 and half that made Roxi question whether Diego Santiago hadn’t missed a count.
Indi took advantage of Roxi’s loss of focus, hitting her in the back with a discus elbow that may have knocked Roxi senseless. Indi then kept Roxi down with a mushroom stomp that looked like it may have broken a bone on Roxi. The match quickly ended thereafter after indi hit a flawless starship pain, the Kharmic Trip, and kept Roxi down for the three count!
Worse for Roxi, Indi seemed intent on keeping Roxi down once she had her on the canvas. She capitalized with stomps, and when Roxi made it to her feet, with some gut shots for good measure, Indi trapped the arm, walked the ropes and and delivered a chop for her trouble. Indi’s goal seemed to be to dismantle Roxi’s offence before it could get started, and for the most part succeeded in the early moments of the match, but the veteran Roxi Johnson is a difficult fighter to oppose and keep ahead for long. Roxi reversed Indi’s offence with some solid footwork and put the intergalactic space princess down with running hurricanrana into a pin attempt, but only got a two-count.
Roxi never lost focus. Her kicks and punches all landed true, her dropkicks connected with a ferocity that would in no way betray how old Roxi feels, but Indi’s energy made it seem preternatural when she kept getting back up, even daring Roxi to hit her again at one point. Roxi obliged but Indi seemed to be on some otherworldly energy for this match, managing to bounce back after several dropkicks only to drop Roxi with a definitive-looking spear that may have been far more impactful than one might assume to look at Indi.
In the driver’s seat, Indi showcased some serious aerial chops, dropping a resurging Roxi with a flying thrust kick then keeping her down with an impressive meteora, moonsault, leg drop in sequence that wowed the crowd. When she went for the 3 count, however, Roxi Johnson showcased that trademark tenacity that’s seen her keep coming back for more, again and again kicking out from Indi Rhyder pin attempts, and returning the favor a yoshi tonic that Indi Rhyder looked, finally, to have a hard time answering. Roxi went on a good 4 minute tear of planting Indi again and again with a series of snap suplexes before securing her position in the driver’s seat of this match with a split-legged moonsault that brought Indi all the way to a count of 2 and half that made Roxi question whether Diego Santiago hadn’t missed a count.
Indi took advantage of Roxi’s loss of focus, hitting her in the back with a discus elbow that may have knocked Roxi senseless. Indi then kept Roxi down with a mushroom stomp that looked like it may have broken a bone on Roxi. The match quickly ended thereafter after indi hit a flawless starship pain, the Kharmic Trip, and kept Roxi down for the three count!
Winner by Pinfall: Indi Rhyder!
The capacity crowd is raucous as Blitz’s preliminary bouts rout wrap up with a tag team match with major implications. Bishop Church and Mike McGuire, NSFW, enter the staging area. The team pays little attention to the production crew that surrounds them. They speak just above an audible level as the camera seemingly films them in an obtrusive manner. For a moment, it could be construed that they were holding hands but they wrapped up the contact with a handshake.
MIKE MCGUIRE: You ready for this, bud? First page, new chapter.
Church looks up the stairs, at the thin black curtain separating them from the ringside area. And then back to Mike.
BISHOP CHURCH: Yes. New chapter, familiar faces. Same point to prove. The name of the game is tag team wrestling.
MIKE MCGUIRE: And nobody’s better at it than us.
This was only to each other. Their eye contact unflinching in their affirmation that whatever may come from facing this enigmatic pair that NSFW is what they say they are. Church nods and they walk up the stairs together. The camera cuts back to ringside.
MIKE MCGUIRE: You ready for this, bud? First page, new chapter.
Church looks up the stairs, at the thin black curtain separating them from the ringside area. And then back to Mike.
BISHOP CHURCH: Yes. New chapter, familiar faces. Same point to prove. The name of the game is tag team wrestling.
MIKE MCGUIRE: And nobody’s better at it than us.
This was only to each other. Their eye contact unflinching in their affirmation that whatever may come from facing this enigmatic pair that NSFW is what they say they are. Church nods and they walk up the stairs together. The camera cuts back to ringside.
The fans are on their feet the moment this match is announced, and NSFW is the first out to the ring to a huge ovation. McGuire and Bishop hit the ring, playing up to the capacity crowd and await their opponents. Brenna Gordon and Berlin Anderson come out next, and they also get a strong reaction from the crowd despite the fact that their entrance is more methodical. By the time they get to the ring, Berlin leaps up to the apron and vaults himself into the ring, stepping over and sitting on the middle rope so that Brenna can climb the steps and slips through. The electricity in the building is hot as everyone had been paying attention to the shade that had been thrown by both teams.
Mike McGuire and Brenna Gordon start out the match, and after a little jaw jacking as they circle, they lock up in the center of the ring. Some fancy chain wrestling takes place between the two, leading the fans to cheer for both, but is suddenly interrupted by a surprise hip toss by Gordon to McGuire, followed up by a High Standing Dropkick as he tries to rise. With McGuire on the ground she quickly locks in a Figure Four Legscissors that finds Mike fighting for air. Church, on the outside, looks concerned until his partner is able to claw his way to the ropes to force the break. From there Gordon yanks him up and into a headlock, and makes a tag to her partner.
Anderson quickly takes over where Brenna left off by Snapmaring McGuire into a seated position in the center of the ring, and then snapping him back to the canvas with a low running drop kick followed by a cover. He only gets a two count, but is quick to tag Brenna back in, holding Mike to the canvas as she hops up to the second rope in their corner, and then sails off with a knee drop right down across his head. As Berlin exits, Brenna is already locking Mike into a rear naked choke that once again has them gasping for breath. This time Mike looks as if he might fade, unable to get himself turned to crawl towards the ropes thanks to a Legscissors around his midsection by Gordon. As the ref checks his arm, and it drops two times, before a third attempt can be made, Bishop Church thunders into the ring and sends a boot into the side of Brenna's head.
This forces the break, and also brings Berlin into the ring, hopping all the way to the top turnbuckle, and then diving off with a Spinning Back Elbow that sends Church crashing to the mat, and rolling to try and get out of the ring. Berlin quickly gets to his feet and after hitting the ropes for spring, clears the top rope to land an amazing superman like Splancha down onto Bishop. With both men laid out on the outside of the ring, Brenna turns her attention back to McGuire only to find that they are back up and ready for action. Brenna tries for a double leg takedown but finds sharp elbow strikes down into her shoulder blades as she pushes Mike all the way back into the corner. As she tries to disengage she's caught flush under the jaw by a lifting Knee Strike that snaps her head back and sends her to the canvas.
From there Mike leaps ontop of her and starts hammering away, eventually moving back to their feet and driving home hard stomps. They look over to see that Church has made his way back up onto the apron, and they drag Gordon to their corner to make a tag. Church wastes little time getting Brenna back on her feet only to hook her around the midsection and perform an Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex that finds her landing awkwardly in the corner. He drags her away from the ropes and hooks the log, but only gets a two and a half. Brenna reaches for her partner but is kept out of reach as Church exorcises a series of Suplexes that keep her grounded. After a few more pin attempts, it's clear that NSFW is looking to put the duo away.
Tagging in Mike, the two remain in the ring as Mike whips Brenna right for Bishop who is near the ropes. When she arrives he gives her another Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex that sends her flying right up and out of the ring to land with a hard thud against the concrete. Mike then rushes at Bishop as well, and he ducks his head, delivering a Body Drop that see's McGuire come crashing down right on top of Gordon. Just as Bishop raises back up he see's Anderson amazingly running across the top rope in his direction, and he defies gravity as he leaps off and Hurricanrana's Bishop skull first to the canvas. The referee tries his best to maintain control of the action, but Anderson hammers Church back to the ropes before whipping him to the other side. Just that moment Mike is trying to get back up onto the apron, and his own partner slams into him, sending him from the apron like a catapult to crash chest first across the Steel Barricade. Bishop spins around to see what he's hit, and realizing his mistake, tries to turn back to Berlin before the man gets any momentum.
It's too late, however, as Berlin charges right for him and nails him with an impressive Perafuso Kick that takes his head off. Church drops like a sack of bricks, but when Berlin covers him, the referee waves him off as he is not the legal man. Just then Brenna rolls into the ring and Berlin indicates that he and Church aren't legal, and he steps out onto their corner. Just as Brenna looks to the outside to try and spot McGuire, Anderson's foot is yanked out from under him by Mike, and he slams face first into the ring apron and then down to the floor. Brenna starts to react, but is caught from behind by a rising Church, and taken hard to the mat by a German Suplex.
As the referee argues with Church to get out of the ring, Mike enters and steps over, saying something to their partner. Bishop shrugs, yanks Mike's head down to tuck between his legs, and then delivers a volatile Powerbomb right down onto Brenna Gordon. As he backpedals to get out of the ring, Mike hooks her leg and presses his shoulders into her chest to ensure hers stay down on the mat. The referee drops and makes the one, two, three just as Berlin slides under the bottom rope to try and break it up.
The fans cheer both teams, but Berlin shakes his head as Bishop helps Mike back up to his feet to celebrate. Anderson grabs his partner by her wrists, and drags her until he can get her out of the ring, and then supports her as they make their exit, disappointment clear on her face. Anderson reassures her while, in the ring, NSFW continue to celebrate. Bishop takes a turnbuckle in their corner and holds his arms out wide, while Mike beats their chest, and nods emphatically.
Mike McGuire and Brenna Gordon start out the match, and after a little jaw jacking as they circle, they lock up in the center of the ring. Some fancy chain wrestling takes place between the two, leading the fans to cheer for both, but is suddenly interrupted by a surprise hip toss by Gordon to McGuire, followed up by a High Standing Dropkick as he tries to rise. With McGuire on the ground she quickly locks in a Figure Four Legscissors that finds Mike fighting for air. Church, on the outside, looks concerned until his partner is able to claw his way to the ropes to force the break. From there Gordon yanks him up and into a headlock, and makes a tag to her partner.
Anderson quickly takes over where Brenna left off by Snapmaring McGuire into a seated position in the center of the ring, and then snapping him back to the canvas with a low running drop kick followed by a cover. He only gets a two count, but is quick to tag Brenna back in, holding Mike to the canvas as she hops up to the second rope in their corner, and then sails off with a knee drop right down across his head. As Berlin exits, Brenna is already locking Mike into a rear naked choke that once again has them gasping for breath. This time Mike looks as if he might fade, unable to get himself turned to crawl towards the ropes thanks to a Legscissors around his midsection by Gordon. As the ref checks his arm, and it drops two times, before a third attempt can be made, Bishop Church thunders into the ring and sends a boot into the side of Brenna's head.
This forces the break, and also brings Berlin into the ring, hopping all the way to the top turnbuckle, and then diving off with a Spinning Back Elbow that sends Church crashing to the mat, and rolling to try and get out of the ring. Berlin quickly gets to his feet and after hitting the ropes for spring, clears the top rope to land an amazing superman like Splancha down onto Bishop. With both men laid out on the outside of the ring, Brenna turns her attention back to McGuire only to find that they are back up and ready for action. Brenna tries for a double leg takedown but finds sharp elbow strikes down into her shoulder blades as she pushes Mike all the way back into the corner. As she tries to disengage she's caught flush under the jaw by a lifting Knee Strike that snaps her head back and sends her to the canvas.
From there Mike leaps ontop of her and starts hammering away, eventually moving back to their feet and driving home hard stomps. They look over to see that Church has made his way back up onto the apron, and they drag Gordon to their corner to make a tag. Church wastes little time getting Brenna back on her feet only to hook her around the midsection and perform an Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex that finds her landing awkwardly in the corner. He drags her away from the ropes and hooks the log, but only gets a two and a half. Brenna reaches for her partner but is kept out of reach as Church exorcises a series of Suplexes that keep her grounded. After a few more pin attempts, it's clear that NSFW is looking to put the duo away.
Tagging in Mike, the two remain in the ring as Mike whips Brenna right for Bishop who is near the ropes. When she arrives he gives her another Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex that sends her flying right up and out of the ring to land with a hard thud against the concrete. Mike then rushes at Bishop as well, and he ducks his head, delivering a Body Drop that see's McGuire come crashing down right on top of Gordon. Just as Bishop raises back up he see's Anderson amazingly running across the top rope in his direction, and he defies gravity as he leaps off and Hurricanrana's Bishop skull first to the canvas. The referee tries his best to maintain control of the action, but Anderson hammers Church back to the ropes before whipping him to the other side. Just that moment Mike is trying to get back up onto the apron, and his own partner slams into him, sending him from the apron like a catapult to crash chest first across the Steel Barricade. Bishop spins around to see what he's hit, and realizing his mistake, tries to turn back to Berlin before the man gets any momentum.
It's too late, however, as Berlin charges right for him and nails him with an impressive Perafuso Kick that takes his head off. Church drops like a sack of bricks, but when Berlin covers him, the referee waves him off as he is not the legal man. Just then Brenna rolls into the ring and Berlin indicates that he and Church aren't legal, and he steps out onto their corner. Just as Brenna looks to the outside to try and spot McGuire, Anderson's foot is yanked out from under him by Mike, and he slams face first into the ring apron and then down to the floor. Brenna starts to react, but is caught from behind by a rising Church, and taken hard to the mat by a German Suplex.
As the referee argues with Church to get out of the ring, Mike enters and steps over, saying something to their partner. Bishop shrugs, yanks Mike's head down to tuck between his legs, and then delivers a volatile Powerbomb right down onto Brenna Gordon. As he backpedals to get out of the ring, Mike hooks her leg and presses his shoulders into her chest to ensure hers stay down on the mat. The referee drops and makes the one, two, three just as Berlin slides under the bottom rope to try and break it up.
The fans cheer both teams, but Berlin shakes his head as Bishop helps Mike back up to his feet to celebrate. Anderson grabs his partner by her wrists, and drags her until he can get her out of the ring, and then supports her as they make their exit, disappointment clear on her face. Anderson reassures her while, in the ring, NSFW continue to celebrate. Bishop takes a turnbuckle in their corner and holds his arms out wide, while Mike beats their chest, and nods emphatically.
Winners by Pinfall: NSFW
MAIN SHOW
Aokigahara Zombie stands at attention in front of his clan outside of the locker room area. He gives each of them a stern look. Kowloon is stone-faced and stares straight ahead. Fukushima looks nervous glancing every which way. Siberia looks annoyed and leans against the wall.
Aokigahara paces forward giving each one of his family members a stern gaze as he passes by then stands with his back to them.
AOKIGAHARA: Zombies! What is your purpose in life?!
KOWLOON: Sir! To inspire!
FUKUSHIMA: Uhm, to cause fear? No! To influence!
Siberia yawns and looks at her nails. Aokigahara steps backward and glares at her. She sighs and steps forward to return his leer.
SIBERIA: To incense.
AOKIGAHARA: That’s right! I think. That is the propaganda the big man wants to put out there and we do a good job of spreading this cause. I never really see eye to eye with him all the time...
The three others swivel their heads at him so fast they almost break their necks.
AOKIGAHARA: Anyway! When we came to Valor we rearranged the face of things like a good punch should do, you know? Like when you get it flush right on the cheek and you feel the face just sort of cave in and the bones give way to the force from your knuckles as bone meets bone and the flesh makes that slapping sound? And then when you get hit in the eye?!
SIBERIA: Hey! Hurry this up!
AOKIGAHARA: Oh, right. Where was I?
SIBERIA: Why are we here?
AOKIGAHARA: We are here to regroup! We need to refocus and drive this place to where we want it to go. You saw the rise Valor Pro, Siberia, and now we need to shape this place the right way. There are some people out that talk about destruction and violence but they’re not willing to go all the way. It’s been all about self-preservation. What we are here to do is to tear people out of that mind frame and try to make this place better for the greater good. That takes determination and, more importantly, a lot of sacrifices. We’ll help them out with that too.
SIBERIA: You came here for the greater good?
AOKIGAHARA: And a little bit of fun.
He smiles then points to Kowloon and Fukushima.
AOKIGAHARA: You can see it with these two. They have built up the tag division with us and made others rise up to the occasion. That Dakota Jennings has been touched in the mind, hasn’t she? That is a story for another time, but congratulations to the champions now.
Kowloon bites hit bruised up lower lip to contain shouting out and Fukushima tries to hide her face with her hair. Aokigahara then points to Siberia.
AOKIGAHARA: And you have a shot at the UnYielding Championship which you have that sweet love-hate relationship with. We have all felt that sting of that championship fight but that has changed. This is now your time. When you raise that championship tonight know that you have raised the profile of this whole company with it. You think it’s just Danny Rizzo that will benefit from this loss, but no! It’s Valor Pro as a whole. I want you to be as relentless as you promised. Show them all what it means to be a hero. Show them what it is that we do to this whole industry. Be a Zombie.
Aokigahara grins and pumps his fist then walks off motioning for the others to follow. Siberia looks at Fukushima and Kowloon. Fukushima runs after him. Kowloon walks on and brushes his hair from his face revealing the full effects of the beating she gave him.
KOWLOON: How does that saying go? “Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die.”
Siberia watches him walk off as Fukushima waits for him to hang off his arm to not be alone. Siberia thinks on this meeting for a moment and nods before walking in the opposite direction.
Aokigahara paces forward giving each one of his family members a stern gaze as he passes by then stands with his back to them.
AOKIGAHARA: Zombies! What is your purpose in life?!
KOWLOON: Sir! To inspire!
FUKUSHIMA: Uhm, to cause fear? No! To influence!
Siberia yawns and looks at her nails. Aokigahara steps backward and glares at her. She sighs and steps forward to return his leer.
SIBERIA: To incense.
AOKIGAHARA: That’s right! I think. That is the propaganda the big man wants to put out there and we do a good job of spreading this cause. I never really see eye to eye with him all the time...
The three others swivel their heads at him so fast they almost break their necks.
AOKIGAHARA: Anyway! When we came to Valor we rearranged the face of things like a good punch should do, you know? Like when you get it flush right on the cheek and you feel the face just sort of cave in and the bones give way to the force from your knuckles as bone meets bone and the flesh makes that slapping sound? And then when you get hit in the eye?!
SIBERIA: Hey! Hurry this up!
AOKIGAHARA: Oh, right. Where was I?
SIBERIA: Why are we here?
AOKIGAHARA: We are here to regroup! We need to refocus and drive this place to where we want it to go. You saw the rise Valor Pro, Siberia, and now we need to shape this place the right way. There are some people out that talk about destruction and violence but they’re not willing to go all the way. It’s been all about self-preservation. What we are here to do is to tear people out of that mind frame and try to make this place better for the greater good. That takes determination and, more importantly, a lot of sacrifices. We’ll help them out with that too.
SIBERIA: You came here for the greater good?
AOKIGAHARA: And a little bit of fun.
He smiles then points to Kowloon and Fukushima.
AOKIGAHARA: You can see it with these two. They have built up the tag division with us and made others rise up to the occasion. That Dakota Jennings has been touched in the mind, hasn’t she? That is a story for another time, but congratulations to the champions now.
Kowloon bites hit bruised up lower lip to contain shouting out and Fukushima tries to hide her face with her hair. Aokigahara then points to Siberia.
AOKIGAHARA: And you have a shot at the UnYielding Championship which you have that sweet love-hate relationship with. We have all felt that sting of that championship fight but that has changed. This is now your time. When you raise that championship tonight know that you have raised the profile of this whole company with it. You think it’s just Danny Rizzo that will benefit from this loss, but no! It’s Valor Pro as a whole. I want you to be as relentless as you promised. Show them all what it means to be a hero. Show them what it is that we do to this whole industry. Be a Zombie.
Aokigahara grins and pumps his fist then walks off motioning for the others to follow. Siberia looks at Fukushima and Kowloon. Fukushima runs after him. Kowloon walks on and brushes his hair from his face revealing the full effects of the beating she gave him.
KOWLOON: How does that saying go? “Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die.”
Siberia watches him walk off as Fukushima waits for him to hang off his arm to not be alone. Siberia thinks on this meeting for a moment and nods before walking in the opposite direction.
"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 Moulay Abdellah. 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, "FANTANA IS MY SAVIOR TOO", while another has "I Am Drunk Off Spiral", and still another says "The Fox v.s. The Face". Superhero Roxi, Danny Rizzo, NSFW, Dakota Jennings, and Berlin Anderson 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 Ravat, Morocco and another exciting episode of Blitz!
Kenneth Othello: Here we are only two weeks away from our next Pay-Per-View event, Rite of Kings, and we've got no matches booked at this time!
LO: Perhaps we'll find out more about the Apex Title picture moving forward when the champion, Cosmo Cooper, comes face to face once again with The Submission Machine, Brodie, on this weeks Where There's Stokes, There's Fire!
KO: After last show in that colossal Main Event I definitely believe there's more story to tell between those two.
LO: True, but what about Devlin? He and his new representative, Agent Orange were pretty adamant about him being the next in line to the title.
KO: All good points, Laur, but it's hard to focus on that when we're sitting on such a powder keg of good news...
LO: Do you want to tell them, or should I?
KO: Go ahead, Laur...i'm starting to get choked up about it.
LO: Folks, with all the new talent and exciting action that has been teeming recently in Valor Pro, we are excited to announce, back by popular demand, Flipping The Script will once again be streaming on Battleground Network and HOTV!
KO: That's right! All of the action that was previously relegated to post Blitz discussion that took place on our Undercards will now be featured in our old analytical format, and will appear on the Saturday's before a Blitz!
LO: Man, I've gotten so used to calling the action live, I'm not so sure how my analyzing skills have held up...
KO: It's just like riding a bike, Laur! So not only will you have us calling the action, you'll have an opportunity to see highlights of the matches unfold from all of our house shows and extra events.
LO: It's an exciting time to be a Valor Pro Wrestling fan, and our Main Event tonight is evidence of that...
KO: Oh yeah, The Fox versus The Face, Recoba versus Devlin!
LO: What do you think it would mean for Devlin's claims of being the rightful #1 Contender if Cross Recoba were to steal one from him here tonight?
KO: Well, Recoba has his own dog in this fight, so I figure it would reinforce his own claims to the throne.
LO: All that we know for certain is that it seems that everyone is gunning for the Apex Champion, and Cosmo Cooper already has his hands full with just the few we've mentioned.
KO: Speaking of having his hands full, what about the Unyielding bout tonight?
LO: I expect that will be hands, feet, possibly their own bodies on the line when Danny Rizzo defends his UnYielding Championship against Siberia Zombie!
KO: The Zombie Clan is looking for a re-emergence after losing the Chimera Tag Team Championships to Rekota, but Danny has been on a role and isn't planning on making it easy for anyone to take his title.
LO: No doubt about it, and considering the similar hard striking styles of the competitors, it should be one hell of a contest.
KO: But before we can even get to that we have the potential for a blood bath in Dakota Jennings and Spiral...
LO: Yeah, these are under normal match rules, but these two have never been known to stay on script. I mean, Spiral destroyed a six million dollar production truck last show for God's sake!
KO: And the show before that Dakota Jennings split Caputo's head wide open with a steel chair!
LO: I think poor Diego Santiago better keep his head on a swivel, or things are going to go completely awry in this one!
KO: Rite of Kings seems to have everyone on edge, and all of our Valor Pro Superstars seem to have a lot to say about it....everyone wants a spot on the show.
LO: Of course they do. This is going to be a huge event from The Covered Hall in Cairo, Egypt, and our first on our new networks. I think everyone from management down to ring crew understands that this needs to be a success.
KO: Which is a great segue into our Opening Bout of the night, Katya Durdjevic versus Caroline O'Hara Burchill!
LO: Both ladies had words to say on social media and on the Valor Pro website about tonight's match and what it means to their careers. Caroline needs this to help put her career back on track, while Djurdjevic believes this will give her a possible title shot on the Pay-Per-View.
KO: Well, the way she's shot up the Valor Pro Rankings, I think she might be right...
LO: But before we get into all of that, let's head to the backstage area where I hear we have another new arrival to the scene...
KO: Another one, Laur? Jesus, before this is finished, we're going to have to have three shows...
LO: More product, more money, Ken! Let's head backstage!
Laurence Othello: Welcome everyone to Ravat, Morocco and another exciting episode of Blitz!
Kenneth Othello: Here we are only two weeks away from our next Pay-Per-View event, Rite of Kings, and we've got no matches booked at this time!
LO: Perhaps we'll find out more about the Apex Title picture moving forward when the champion, Cosmo Cooper, comes face to face once again with The Submission Machine, Brodie, on this weeks Where There's Stokes, There's Fire!
KO: After last show in that colossal Main Event I definitely believe there's more story to tell between those two.
LO: True, but what about Devlin? He and his new representative, Agent Orange were pretty adamant about him being the next in line to the title.
KO: All good points, Laur, but it's hard to focus on that when we're sitting on such a powder keg of good news...
LO: Do you want to tell them, or should I?
KO: Go ahead, Laur...i'm starting to get choked up about it.
LO: Folks, with all the new talent and exciting action that has been teeming recently in Valor Pro, we are excited to announce, back by popular demand, Flipping The Script will once again be streaming on Battleground Network and HOTV!
KO: That's right! All of the action that was previously relegated to post Blitz discussion that took place on our Undercards will now be featured in our old analytical format, and will appear on the Saturday's before a Blitz!
LO: Man, I've gotten so used to calling the action live, I'm not so sure how my analyzing skills have held up...
KO: It's just like riding a bike, Laur! So not only will you have us calling the action, you'll have an opportunity to see highlights of the matches unfold from all of our house shows and extra events.
LO: It's an exciting time to be a Valor Pro Wrestling fan, and our Main Event tonight is evidence of that...
KO: Oh yeah, The Fox versus The Face, Recoba versus Devlin!
LO: What do you think it would mean for Devlin's claims of being the rightful #1 Contender if Cross Recoba were to steal one from him here tonight?
KO: Well, Recoba has his own dog in this fight, so I figure it would reinforce his own claims to the throne.
LO: All that we know for certain is that it seems that everyone is gunning for the Apex Champion, and Cosmo Cooper already has his hands full with just the few we've mentioned.
KO: Speaking of having his hands full, what about the Unyielding bout tonight?
LO: I expect that will be hands, feet, possibly their own bodies on the line when Danny Rizzo defends his UnYielding Championship against Siberia Zombie!
KO: The Zombie Clan is looking for a re-emergence after losing the Chimera Tag Team Championships to Rekota, but Danny has been on a role and isn't planning on making it easy for anyone to take his title.
LO: No doubt about it, and considering the similar hard striking styles of the competitors, it should be one hell of a contest.
KO: But before we can even get to that we have the potential for a blood bath in Dakota Jennings and Spiral...
LO: Yeah, these are under normal match rules, but these two have never been known to stay on script. I mean, Spiral destroyed a six million dollar production truck last show for God's sake!
KO: And the show before that Dakota Jennings split Caputo's head wide open with a steel chair!
LO: I think poor Diego Santiago better keep his head on a swivel, or things are going to go completely awry in this one!
KO: Rite of Kings seems to have everyone on edge, and all of our Valor Pro Superstars seem to have a lot to say about it....everyone wants a spot on the show.
LO: Of course they do. This is going to be a huge event from The Covered Hall in Cairo, Egypt, and our first on our new networks. I think everyone from management down to ring crew understands that this needs to be a success.
KO: Which is a great segue into our Opening Bout of the night, Katya Durdjevic versus Caroline O'Hara Burchill!
LO: Both ladies had words to say on social media and on the Valor Pro website about tonight's match and what it means to their careers. Caroline needs this to help put her career back on track, while Djurdjevic believes this will give her a possible title shot on the Pay-Per-View.
KO: Well, the way she's shot up the Valor Pro Rankings, I think she might be right...
LO: But before we get into all of that, let's head to the backstage area where I hear we have another new arrival to the scene...
KO: Another one, Laur? Jesus, before this is finished, we're going to have to have three shows...
LO: More product, more money, Ken! Let's head backstage!
We cut to backstage where we see a security guard standing at a door. Suddenly, the door opens and a man in a nice new suit comes through.
SECURITY GUARD: Can I help you?
MAURICE YENSMAN: I'm just here to check out the show.
SECURITY GUARD: Well you can't come into the building this way. This is the performers' entrance. Entrances to the venue are around the other side of the building.
MAURICE YENSMAN: Oh you must be mistaken. I'm Maurice Yensman. New fuckin' guy on the roster!
The security guard takes a look at his clipboard.
SECURITY GUARD: I'm sorry Mr. Yensman. I don't see your name.
MAURICE YENSMAN: What the fuck? It's okay. I'm new here. See?
Yensman holds up a copy of his contract, the one with someone else's name scratched out and his own written over it.
SECURITY GUARD: Yeaaah. That looks pretty fake to me. I'm sorry, but I cannot let you in.
MAURICE YENSMAN: Why the blue fuck does this keep happening to me?! First Upris... Look, go grab... someone who is a boss. I don't even know his... or her... name.
SECURITY GUARD: Sir, if you don't leave and enter like every other fan I'm going to have to have you escorted off of the premises.
MAURICE YENSMAN: I am not a fucking fan! You know what? Fuck it. You'll be hearing from me again!
Yensman storms out of the door and we return to ringside.
MAURICE YENSMAN: I'm just here to check out the show.
SECURITY GUARD: Well you can't come into the building this way. This is the performers' entrance. Entrances to the venue are around the other side of the building.
MAURICE YENSMAN: Oh you must be mistaken. I'm Maurice Yensman. New fuckin' guy on the roster!
The security guard takes a look at his clipboard.
SECURITY GUARD: I'm sorry Mr. Yensman. I don't see your name.
MAURICE YENSMAN: What the fuck? It's okay. I'm new here. See?
Yensman holds up a copy of his contract, the one with someone else's name scratched out and his own written over it.
SECURITY GUARD: Yeaaah. That looks pretty fake to me. I'm sorry, but I cannot let you in.
MAURICE YENSMAN: Why the blue fuck does this keep happening to me?! First Upris... Look, go grab... someone who is a boss. I don't even know his... or her... name.
SECURITY GUARD: Sir, if you don't leave and enter like every other fan I'm going to have to have you escorted off of the premises.
MAURICE YENSMAN: I am not a fucking fan! You know what? Fuck it. You'll be hearing from me again!
Yensman storms out of the door and we return to ringside.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is the OPENING BOUT of the evening, and is a singles match scheduled for one fall or submission...
"Hard White" by Nicki Minaj hits over the PA system and the lights flash along with the beat as Caroline O'Hara Burchill steps out from the curtain, coming to a pause at the top of the stage. The crowd reacts with a positive reaction as she peers out at them, many more cheers mingled in than there were last show. She nods, sniffs the air, and then smiles as she takes off in a confident stride down the ramp.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot four and weighing in at 120 pounds, hailing from Sydney, Australia....She is THE NEW CLASSIC....CAROLINE O'HARA BURCHILL!!
Caroline reaches ringside and whips herself around the guardrail and then charges up the steps, swinging herself through the ropes and into the ring where she throws both arms over her head. The fans react positively as she stalks back and forth in the ring before settling into the far corner to await her opponent.
LO: Caroline O'Hara Burchill took on Spiral last show in an epic No Disqualification match for the Unleashed Championship, and though she didn't come away with the title, she showed everyone here that she's tough as nails.
KO: No doubt, she kicked out after being powerbombed out of the ring through a table!
LO: I'm sure she's looking to come away with a victory here tonight to set her course back on the right path...
The lights dim and purple lights flash as "Warriors" by Papa Roach hit's over the PA System. When the lights come back to full Katya Durdjevic is bounding back and forth on the stage, one arm in the air pointing to the sky. She finally comes to a pause in the center of the stage, hand going to her waist before kicking off her back foot into a running in place walk to the ring. The fans cheer for the newcomer as she moves in a zig zag down the ramp, slapping hands as she goes.
RING ANNOUNCER: And introducing her opponent, standing at five foot nine and weighing in at 126 pounds, hailing from Moscow, Russia...She is The Straight Line Demon.....KATYA DURDJEVICCCC!!!!
Katya reaches ringside, and with a stutter step leaps to the ring apron, grips the top rope, and then vaults herself over the top rope and into the ring. She quickly steps up to the second turnbuckle of the closest turnbuckle, and again points heavenward while nodding along with her music. Caroline stretches herself on the ropes, keeping her eyes locked on her opponent as she plays up the crowd.
LO: Katya Durdjevic is undefeated thus far in Valor Pro, this being her third match in the company..
KO: So two victories is what you are trying to say, Laur.
LO: Yeah...
KO: Well then just say that!
LO: My point being is that one of those victories came over The Conglomerate's Damien Miri, and another over the veteran Roxi Johnson. I mean, those aren't slouches, Ken!
KO: Well when you put it like that, but still, I don't that that's prepared her for the likes of the 'Red Queen'...
LO: Caroline hasn't went by that moniker since returning, and it's obvious she's turned over a new leaf. That's why she's The New Classic...
KO: I guess we're about to find out, cause there's the bell...
The two women circle in the center of the ring before locking up, Katya Djurdjevic looking determined to try and keep up with the technical skill of Caroline by not giving her a chance to lock in any opening hold. Instead, she drives with all her might to push Burchill up against the ropes, but when the ref promptly calls for the break, the two women remain entangled, rolling along the ropes until Djurdjevic has Caroline hemmed up in the corner. The ref finds himself having to wedge himself between the two ladies, and Djurdjevic finally disentangles herself, hands up in the air as she back peddles to the center of the ring. Caroline just stares at her opponent for a moment, before moving back out to aggressively lock up with her once again. This time, before Katya can even react, Caroline shoots behind her low, grabbing her ankle as she goes and yanks it out from under her. Katya hits the mat front first, and Caroline leaps over the woman's body to end up at her head, pulling it into a side Headlock. Katya is already pushing to get them on their feet, and once there, lifts Caroline up for what looks like a Side Suplex, only Caroline expertly shifts forwards once she's in the air, and instead takes Katya thundering back to the mat with a Headlock Takeover.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic looks very aggressive out here against Caroline, but it's led to some mistakes against the ring veteran, who is now grinding the woman's head against her own body...
KO: Yeah, Djurdjevic is young and still learning, and what better teacher than Burchill to give her that lesson.
Katya pushes her fist into the mat to help push both women to their feet again, and this time she looks for a more conventional escape. Not finding one, she wraps her arms around Caroline's waist, and pushes the woman back into the ropes to force the break before shooting her off to the opposite side. Caroline rebounds and comes back to meet Katya in the center of the ring with momentum, but she surprised when the spry Russian drops to the mat, forcing her to hop over her or be tripped. Caroline rebounds once more as Katya gets up to her feet and catches her with a hip toss, or would have, if Caroline hadn't reversed by floating over in front of her, and attempting one of her own. Katya, however, straighten's up and refuses to be taken over, leading to Caroline to drive the side of her hip into the woman's gut to double her over. Caroline places the back of her knee over Katya's head to attempt a Rocker Dropper, but Djurdjevic suddenly stands up sending Caroline into a back flip. The crowd cheers as Burchill lands on her feet, and Katya looks surprised as well, moving in for a wild swing. Burchill ducks the move and as Katya spins back to face her, reaches up to hook her around the head, and snaps her back to the canvas with another Headlock Takeover.
LO: Djurdjevic beating the canvas with her fist in frustration, as Caroline has effectively took her back to the mat where she's the most dangerous!
KO: Yeah, I think Katya needs to slow it down, Laur. I'm all for aggressive, but it can also lead you to make mistakes...
Djurdjevic finds herself having to work the two women back up to their feet once again, this time slowly, as Caroline deeply grinds into the headlock. Back on their feet, Katya finds herself again having to push Caroline into the ropes, and once she breaks sends her to the opposite side. Caroline rebounds off the ropes and comes right back to Katya, who instead of trying anything fancy, posts up and then leaps into the air for a beautiful High Standing Dropkick that catches Burchill right in the mush. Caroline snaps down to the canvas, but pops right back up, walking into Katya who slips behind her, and then takes her hard to the canvas with a German Suplex into a bridge.
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! Burchill out at two, but Katya hasn't let loose the waist, instead helping the woman to her feet and pushing her forward...I think she's going for another German!
KO: Yeah, but Caroline has put on the brakes, and OH! Sharp elbows to the side of Djurdjevic's head forces her to let loose of the Waist Lock, and now Caroline surges forwards to rebound off the ropes, and WALKS RIGHT INTO A SNAP POWERSLAM! KATYA REMAINS ON TOP OF HER AND HOOKS THE LEG!
1...
2...
LO: THR-NO! Two and a half that time, and I'm telling you, if she continues to hit these high impact moves, all the technical moves in the world won't be able to save Burchill!
Katya gets to her feet, pulling Burchill up along with her, and then fires in hard right hands that knocks the woman over into the nearby corner. She follows her in with boxing like rights and lefts, forcing The New Classic to try and cover up or be pummeled. Finally, Katya takes her by the wrist, and then shoots her to the opposite side with authority. Burchill rockets towards the opposing turnbuckles, but just as she reaches them she throws her hands out to grab the top rope, and leaps right up and over them to land on the ring apron. Katya, who was rushing in to try and nail her with something after she hit the turnbuckles, instead finds a Forearm shot right to the jaw that sends her stumbling back. Caroline quickly scales the turnbuckles from the outside, and as Katya takes a step forwards to try and stop her, she dives forwards into a sloppy, but effective, Missle Dropkick that sends Djurdjevic down to the mat hard.
LO: Caroline getting to her feet, but Katya isn't far behind her...But now it's Burchill's turn, swooping in on the woman with clubbing blows across the shoulders and neck, forcing her into the ropes where she whips her to the other side...
KO: Katya on her way back now, AND CAROLINE JUST CAUGHT HER COMING BACK WITH A STANDING SLEEPER HOLD!
Katya reacts in a mixture of surprise and panic, hands thrust out grasping at air, stumbling around and dragging Caroline with her. She eventually comes to a stop, realizing that her energy would be better spent trying to find a way out out of the submission rather than just aimlessly flailing around. But much like it's name implies, Djurdjevic finds herself becoming sluggish, her blood and oxygen supply to the brain being expertly cut off by Burchill. Katya suddenly drops to one knee, and before long she's down on both of them, giving Caroline all the leverage she needs to push her the rest of the way down to the mat. Katya's eyes are open, but their glossed over, lids fluttering from time to time until finally they don't open again. Burchill, sensing the upcoming submission, cinches in even tighter.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic might be out here, as her limbs have ceased their struggle and limply lie on the mat.
KO: Yeah, Santiago is checking her now, and....there goes the first arm test! One...
LO: The referee again lifting Katya's arm, and it limply falls to the mat for two...
KO: This is it, Laur, if she can't keep that arm afloat this match is over!
LO: And that's it folks, the arm just dropped...NO! WAIT! KATYA'S DIGGING IN DEEP!
Djurdjevic's outstretched hand trembles as her eyes pop open, and she roars in defiance. Digging in her knee's and her elbows, she forces herself and Caroline back up to a kneeling position, and then finally all the way back to their feet. Caroline remains in control of the hold, but Katya stumbles around the ring, dragging her along, building circular momentum until finally charging forward towards the closest corner. Katya drops down right as they arrive, her head and body going through the ropes, driving Caroline's face into the Turnbuckle. The shock breaks the hold and Caroline stumbles back holding her nose, as Katya comes up, taking in huge gulps of air. She turns around to face Caroline, leaning against the turnbuckles, and The New Classic rushes forwards to press the attack. Djurdjevic throws her boot up on instinct and Caroline once again finds her face smashing into a hard surface, stumbling back, and giving Katya an opportunity to hop up to the second turnbuckle.
LO: Katya on the second turnbuckle and Caroline just looked up after eating Djurdjevic's boot....AND LEAPING HURRICANRANA SENDS BURCHILL CRASHING TO THE MAT!
KO: Yeah, and amazingly, she popped right back up, but so did Katya....
LO: Djurdjevic with a Running Single Leg Dropkick drops Caroline once more, but she pops right up, ONLY TO BE TAKEN DOWN WITH A SECOND ONE!
KO: Caroline a little slower on the uptake now, but Katya is there to help her to her feet, and pushes her into the ropes only to send her soaring towards the opposite side!
LO: Burchill rebounding back, AND KATYA CATCHES HER WITH A BACKDROP SUPLEX FOLLOWED BY A COVER!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Burchill kicks out after a long two count, and now Katya is pulling her back up to her feet!
Djurdjevic drags Burchill over to the closest corner, and then Scoop Slams the woman down to the canvas in front of it. She stands over her with feet wide apart, nodding to the cheering crowd before shooting her index finger to the heavens. She promptly turns towards the corner and begins to ascend the turnbuckles with her back to her opponent, clearly intent on doing something spectacular. Unfortunately she isn't able to see that Caroline has flipped over onto her stomach, and is now drudging herself to her feet. Katya reaches the top rope and looks ready to do whatever it is she was about to attempt to do when Burchill rushes in from behind and shoves the woman's legs apart so that she comes crashing down crotch first on the top turnbuckle. Djurdjevic's face is a mixture of surprise and pain as she stares out at the sympathetic crowd, and Caroline runs her fingers through her hair before gabbing the ropes on either side of Katya to step up on the second turnbuckle behind her.
LO: Huge crash and burn for Katya Djurdjevic thanks to Burchill, and I do believe she was signaling for the big finisher she's been working on...Thundering Skies...
KO: Well, it looks like she's going to get the chance to work on it a little longer, cause Caroline looks poised to finish this thing!
Caroline slips her head under Katya's arm and wraps her arms around her waist. The former Russian Cyclist shakes her head emphatically 'No', but is unable to stop Burchill from lifting her up into the air where she falls straight back in an Avalanche Side Suplex that rattles the ring. The fans explode upon impact, shooting out of their seats in whoops and cheers as both ladies lie on the canvas in a pile.
LO: HUGE MOVE OFF THE TOP FOR BURCHILL, BUT NOW BOTH LADIES ARE DOWN!
KO: It looks like that may have hurt Caroline as much as it did her opponent, but I guess that's why the call it High Risk!
Santiago checks both ladies, but just as he's about to start a ten count, Caroline rolls onto her side, arm up in the air, and she slowly rolls so that when she falls forward her arm is draped over Katya's chest!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! DRUDJEVIC GET'S THE SHOULDER UP AT THE LAST MINUTE!
KO: Man, that was close, but she's still alive in this match!
Caroline shakes her head in frustration, and then sluggishly starts to move up to her feet. She reaches down to try and get Katya up as well, but she's taken off guard when the Russian hooks her around the head, and drags her down into a surprise Small Package!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Caroline kicking out after being shocked by the pin, and now both women are scrambling to their feet...Katya goes for a swing, but Caroline ducks under it while hooking her arm...hooks the other one....and pulls her forwards into a Backslide Pin!
1...
2...
KO: THR-NO! Drudjevic able to kick out and rolls up to her feet, Caroline lifts up to her knee's AND SHE GET'S NAILED BY A FRONT KICK TO THE FACE BY KATYA!!
LO: Caroline drops to her hands stunned...and keep your eyes on Djurdjevic! She hits off the ropes for momentum and comes back...RIGHT INTO A BASEMENT DROP KICK TO THE SIDE OF BURCHILL'S SKULL!!
KO: She's rolling her over onto her back for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! CAROLINE OUT JUST AS THE REFEREE'S HAND WAS COMING DOWN FOR THREE!
KO: Even Katya is questioning that call, but the Santiago is waving it off as two!
Katya looks a little flustered as she gets to her feet and pulls Caroline up with her. She hooks the woman around the head while draping Burchill's arm across her shoulders, then lifts her up into Suplex position. Caroline starts kicking the minute she's up in the air, and Drudjevic finds that she can't keep her aloft. Caroline ends up being set back down to the floor, and it's Burchill who snaps Katya over for a Snap Suplex, but instead of just the impact, Caroline rolls up and over Katya's body to her feet pulling Drudjevic up to a sitting position in the process. A few quick steps back to the nearby corner, and Burchill charges forward, throwing her boot out with a devastating football like punt to Katya's skull that sends her snapping down to the mat.
LO: DESTROYER!! AND NOW CAROLINE DROPS FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! I don't know how she did it after taking a shot like that, but Katya rolled the shoulder at the last possible second and beat the three!
LO: It's Caroline's turn to question the referee, but Santiago is adamant that the shoulder came up...and now we're back at square one!
Caroline steps to stand over Katya with her hands on her hips. A buzz goes through the arena as Caroline starts to nod, and backs her way into the corner, hopping up to sit on the top turnbuckle. She is determined now as she stands on the second rope, demanding that Katya get to her feet. Eventually Djurdjevic does so, still loopy after the devastating Destroyer Kick from moments ago. She finally manages up to her feet and in a punch drunk manner slowly turns in Caroline's direction. Caroline doesn't hesitate, diving straight for Katya and hooking her around the head, spinning her through into a Tornado DDT!
LO: KILLER QUEEN! AND NOW CAROLINE HAS HER IN THE CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING, AND KATYA DJURDJEVIC JUST CAME ALIVE IN PAIN!
KO: SHE'S GOING TO TAP, LAUR! SHE'S GOING TO TAP!
Katya's one free hand reaches for the sky as her other arm is wrench behind her, her face pulled in the opposite direction to try and dislocate the shoulder. Caroline is like a pitbull, latched onto the hold, but still can't seem to get her legs to find Katya's midsection as the woman keeps herself arched in an unnatural fashion. Katya's free hand suddenly comes poised over Caroline's arm, and at seeing that she has the woman ready to tap, she pulls back that much fiercer. Suddenly Katya somehow manages to get her feet under her, and in a thrusting motion swings them up over her trapped upper body, forcing Caroline's shoulders to the mat while she retains the hold. The referee seeing the shoulders down, drops to count the pin.
1...
2...
3!!!
Just at the sound of the referee's hand striking the mat for the third time, Katya's hand begins slapping Caroline's arm furiously. The New Classic lets loose of her, and pops up to her feet with her hands over her head only for the referee to pull them down, and wave her off. Caroline stares at Santiago as he tries to explain the situation, and she shakes her head 'No' violently, indicating that Katya had tapped out. The referee reasons that he understands, but it wasn't until after the three, and Caroline moves over to the closest corner and buries her forehead into the top turnbuckle as the bell sounds.
RING ANNOUNCER: AND THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH BY PINFALL.....KATYA DJURDJEVIC!!!
LO: That is a tough break for Caroline O'Hara Burchill, who put on one hell of a show here tonight, but at the end of the day the referee's ruling stands, and her shoulders were down for the three.
KO: These referee's man...I think they must be planning this crap.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic got the three, Ken. What more do you want?
KO: Yeah, but she tapped!
LO: AFTER THE THREE!
KO: Whatever! Well somebody tell her that, cause she don't look like much of a winner to me..
Katya lays in the center of the ring clutching at her shoulder and having trouble sitting up, when suddenly Caroline O'Hara Burchill appears in front of her. Djurdjevic looks up tiredly at Burchill, who blocks out the arena lights, and is ready to shy away from the woman if she attacks. Instead, much to her surprise, Caroline offers her a hand, and after hearing the explosion of cheers from the crowd, she takes it and allows Caroline to help her to her feet. The two women shake hands, and Caroline says something that leaves Katya nodding before making her way to the ropes to exit.
LO: Now see, that's class, Ken!
KO: That's bullshit is what that is! Caroline O'Hara Burchill's descent into this do-gooder role of hers has been one big pile of it!
LO: Sportsmanship and grace is obviously lost on you, Ken, so I'm not going to try and explain it. Either way you look at it, Katya Djurdjevic remains undefeated thus far in Valor Pro!
The camera focuses on Katya as she celebrates on the turnbuckles, eventually dropping down to ringside to high five her fans. The crowd continues to cheer as the scene cuts backstage.
"Hard White" by Nicki Minaj hits over the PA system and the lights flash along with the beat as Caroline O'Hara Burchill steps out from the curtain, coming to a pause at the top of the stage. The crowd reacts with a positive reaction as she peers out at them, many more cheers mingled in than there were last show. She nods, sniffs the air, and then smiles as she takes off in a confident stride down the ramp.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot four and weighing in at 120 pounds, hailing from Sydney, Australia....She is THE NEW CLASSIC....CAROLINE O'HARA BURCHILL!!
Caroline reaches ringside and whips herself around the guardrail and then charges up the steps, swinging herself through the ropes and into the ring where she throws both arms over her head. The fans react positively as she stalks back and forth in the ring before settling into the far corner to await her opponent.
LO: Caroline O'Hara Burchill took on Spiral last show in an epic No Disqualification match for the Unleashed Championship, and though she didn't come away with the title, she showed everyone here that she's tough as nails.
KO: No doubt, she kicked out after being powerbombed out of the ring through a table!
LO: I'm sure she's looking to come away with a victory here tonight to set her course back on the right path...
The lights dim and purple lights flash as "Warriors" by Papa Roach hit's over the PA System. When the lights come back to full Katya Durdjevic is bounding back and forth on the stage, one arm in the air pointing to the sky. She finally comes to a pause in the center of the stage, hand going to her waist before kicking off her back foot into a running in place walk to the ring. The fans cheer for the newcomer as she moves in a zig zag down the ramp, slapping hands as she goes.
RING ANNOUNCER: And introducing her opponent, standing at five foot nine and weighing in at 126 pounds, hailing from Moscow, Russia...She is The Straight Line Demon.....KATYA DURDJEVICCCC!!!!
Katya reaches ringside, and with a stutter step leaps to the ring apron, grips the top rope, and then vaults herself over the top rope and into the ring. She quickly steps up to the second turnbuckle of the closest turnbuckle, and again points heavenward while nodding along with her music. Caroline stretches herself on the ropes, keeping her eyes locked on her opponent as she plays up the crowd.
LO: Katya Durdjevic is undefeated thus far in Valor Pro, this being her third match in the company..
KO: So two victories is what you are trying to say, Laur.
LO: Yeah...
KO: Well then just say that!
LO: My point being is that one of those victories came over The Conglomerate's Damien Miri, and another over the veteran Roxi Johnson. I mean, those aren't slouches, Ken!
KO: Well when you put it like that, but still, I don't that that's prepared her for the likes of the 'Red Queen'...
LO: Caroline hasn't went by that moniker since returning, and it's obvious she's turned over a new leaf. That's why she's The New Classic...
KO: I guess we're about to find out, cause there's the bell...
The two women circle in the center of the ring before locking up, Katya Djurdjevic looking determined to try and keep up with the technical skill of Caroline by not giving her a chance to lock in any opening hold. Instead, she drives with all her might to push Burchill up against the ropes, but when the ref promptly calls for the break, the two women remain entangled, rolling along the ropes until Djurdjevic has Caroline hemmed up in the corner. The ref finds himself having to wedge himself between the two ladies, and Djurdjevic finally disentangles herself, hands up in the air as she back peddles to the center of the ring. Caroline just stares at her opponent for a moment, before moving back out to aggressively lock up with her once again. This time, before Katya can even react, Caroline shoots behind her low, grabbing her ankle as she goes and yanks it out from under her. Katya hits the mat front first, and Caroline leaps over the woman's body to end up at her head, pulling it into a side Headlock. Katya is already pushing to get them on their feet, and once there, lifts Caroline up for what looks like a Side Suplex, only Caroline expertly shifts forwards once she's in the air, and instead takes Katya thundering back to the mat with a Headlock Takeover.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic looks very aggressive out here against Caroline, but it's led to some mistakes against the ring veteran, who is now grinding the woman's head against her own body...
KO: Yeah, Djurdjevic is young and still learning, and what better teacher than Burchill to give her that lesson.
Katya pushes her fist into the mat to help push both women to their feet again, and this time she looks for a more conventional escape. Not finding one, she wraps her arms around Caroline's waist, and pushes the woman back into the ropes to force the break before shooting her off to the opposite side. Caroline rebounds and comes back to meet Katya in the center of the ring with momentum, but she surprised when the spry Russian drops to the mat, forcing her to hop over her or be tripped. Caroline rebounds once more as Katya gets up to her feet and catches her with a hip toss, or would have, if Caroline hadn't reversed by floating over in front of her, and attempting one of her own. Katya, however, straighten's up and refuses to be taken over, leading to Caroline to drive the side of her hip into the woman's gut to double her over. Caroline places the back of her knee over Katya's head to attempt a Rocker Dropper, but Djurdjevic suddenly stands up sending Caroline into a back flip. The crowd cheers as Burchill lands on her feet, and Katya looks surprised as well, moving in for a wild swing. Burchill ducks the move and as Katya spins back to face her, reaches up to hook her around the head, and snaps her back to the canvas with another Headlock Takeover.
LO: Djurdjevic beating the canvas with her fist in frustration, as Caroline has effectively took her back to the mat where she's the most dangerous!
KO: Yeah, I think Katya needs to slow it down, Laur. I'm all for aggressive, but it can also lead you to make mistakes...
Djurdjevic finds herself having to work the two women back up to their feet once again, this time slowly, as Caroline deeply grinds into the headlock. Back on their feet, Katya finds herself again having to push Caroline into the ropes, and once she breaks sends her to the opposite side. Caroline rebounds off the ropes and comes right back to Katya, who instead of trying anything fancy, posts up and then leaps into the air for a beautiful High Standing Dropkick that catches Burchill right in the mush. Caroline snaps down to the canvas, but pops right back up, walking into Katya who slips behind her, and then takes her hard to the canvas with a German Suplex into a bridge.
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! Burchill out at two, but Katya hasn't let loose the waist, instead helping the woman to her feet and pushing her forward...I think she's going for another German!
KO: Yeah, but Caroline has put on the brakes, and OH! Sharp elbows to the side of Djurdjevic's head forces her to let loose of the Waist Lock, and now Caroline surges forwards to rebound off the ropes, and WALKS RIGHT INTO A SNAP POWERSLAM! KATYA REMAINS ON TOP OF HER AND HOOKS THE LEG!
1...
2...
LO: THR-NO! Two and a half that time, and I'm telling you, if she continues to hit these high impact moves, all the technical moves in the world won't be able to save Burchill!
Katya gets to her feet, pulling Burchill up along with her, and then fires in hard right hands that knocks the woman over into the nearby corner. She follows her in with boxing like rights and lefts, forcing The New Classic to try and cover up or be pummeled. Finally, Katya takes her by the wrist, and then shoots her to the opposite side with authority. Burchill rockets towards the opposing turnbuckles, but just as she reaches them she throws her hands out to grab the top rope, and leaps right up and over them to land on the ring apron. Katya, who was rushing in to try and nail her with something after she hit the turnbuckles, instead finds a Forearm shot right to the jaw that sends her stumbling back. Caroline quickly scales the turnbuckles from the outside, and as Katya takes a step forwards to try and stop her, she dives forwards into a sloppy, but effective, Missle Dropkick that sends Djurdjevic down to the mat hard.
LO: Caroline getting to her feet, but Katya isn't far behind her...But now it's Burchill's turn, swooping in on the woman with clubbing blows across the shoulders and neck, forcing her into the ropes where she whips her to the other side...
KO: Katya on her way back now, AND CAROLINE JUST CAUGHT HER COMING BACK WITH A STANDING SLEEPER HOLD!
Katya reacts in a mixture of surprise and panic, hands thrust out grasping at air, stumbling around and dragging Caroline with her. She eventually comes to a stop, realizing that her energy would be better spent trying to find a way out out of the submission rather than just aimlessly flailing around. But much like it's name implies, Djurdjevic finds herself becoming sluggish, her blood and oxygen supply to the brain being expertly cut off by Burchill. Katya suddenly drops to one knee, and before long she's down on both of them, giving Caroline all the leverage she needs to push her the rest of the way down to the mat. Katya's eyes are open, but their glossed over, lids fluttering from time to time until finally they don't open again. Burchill, sensing the upcoming submission, cinches in even tighter.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic might be out here, as her limbs have ceased their struggle and limply lie on the mat.
KO: Yeah, Santiago is checking her now, and....there goes the first arm test! One...
LO: The referee again lifting Katya's arm, and it limply falls to the mat for two...
KO: This is it, Laur, if she can't keep that arm afloat this match is over!
LO: And that's it folks, the arm just dropped...NO! WAIT! KATYA'S DIGGING IN DEEP!
Djurdjevic's outstretched hand trembles as her eyes pop open, and she roars in defiance. Digging in her knee's and her elbows, she forces herself and Caroline back up to a kneeling position, and then finally all the way back to their feet. Caroline remains in control of the hold, but Katya stumbles around the ring, dragging her along, building circular momentum until finally charging forward towards the closest corner. Katya drops down right as they arrive, her head and body going through the ropes, driving Caroline's face into the Turnbuckle. The shock breaks the hold and Caroline stumbles back holding her nose, as Katya comes up, taking in huge gulps of air. She turns around to face Caroline, leaning against the turnbuckles, and The New Classic rushes forwards to press the attack. Djurdjevic throws her boot up on instinct and Caroline once again finds her face smashing into a hard surface, stumbling back, and giving Katya an opportunity to hop up to the second turnbuckle.
LO: Katya on the second turnbuckle and Caroline just looked up after eating Djurdjevic's boot....AND LEAPING HURRICANRANA SENDS BURCHILL CRASHING TO THE MAT!
KO: Yeah, and amazingly, she popped right back up, but so did Katya....
LO: Djurdjevic with a Running Single Leg Dropkick drops Caroline once more, but she pops right up, ONLY TO BE TAKEN DOWN WITH A SECOND ONE!
KO: Caroline a little slower on the uptake now, but Katya is there to help her to her feet, and pushes her into the ropes only to send her soaring towards the opposite side!
LO: Burchill rebounding back, AND KATYA CATCHES HER WITH A BACKDROP SUPLEX FOLLOWED BY A COVER!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Burchill kicks out after a long two count, and now Katya is pulling her back up to her feet!
Djurdjevic drags Burchill over to the closest corner, and then Scoop Slams the woman down to the canvas in front of it. She stands over her with feet wide apart, nodding to the cheering crowd before shooting her index finger to the heavens. She promptly turns towards the corner and begins to ascend the turnbuckles with her back to her opponent, clearly intent on doing something spectacular. Unfortunately she isn't able to see that Caroline has flipped over onto her stomach, and is now drudging herself to her feet. Katya reaches the top rope and looks ready to do whatever it is she was about to attempt to do when Burchill rushes in from behind and shoves the woman's legs apart so that she comes crashing down crotch first on the top turnbuckle. Djurdjevic's face is a mixture of surprise and pain as she stares out at the sympathetic crowd, and Caroline runs her fingers through her hair before gabbing the ropes on either side of Katya to step up on the second turnbuckle behind her.
LO: Huge crash and burn for Katya Djurdjevic thanks to Burchill, and I do believe she was signaling for the big finisher she's been working on...Thundering Skies...
KO: Well, it looks like she's going to get the chance to work on it a little longer, cause Caroline looks poised to finish this thing!
Caroline slips her head under Katya's arm and wraps her arms around her waist. The former Russian Cyclist shakes her head emphatically 'No', but is unable to stop Burchill from lifting her up into the air where she falls straight back in an Avalanche Side Suplex that rattles the ring. The fans explode upon impact, shooting out of their seats in whoops and cheers as both ladies lie on the canvas in a pile.
LO: HUGE MOVE OFF THE TOP FOR BURCHILL, BUT NOW BOTH LADIES ARE DOWN!
KO: It looks like that may have hurt Caroline as much as it did her opponent, but I guess that's why the call it High Risk!
Santiago checks both ladies, but just as he's about to start a ten count, Caroline rolls onto her side, arm up in the air, and she slowly rolls so that when she falls forward her arm is draped over Katya's chest!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! DRUDJEVIC GET'S THE SHOULDER UP AT THE LAST MINUTE!
KO: Man, that was close, but she's still alive in this match!
Caroline shakes her head in frustration, and then sluggishly starts to move up to her feet. She reaches down to try and get Katya up as well, but she's taken off guard when the Russian hooks her around the head, and drags her down into a surprise Small Package!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Caroline kicking out after being shocked by the pin, and now both women are scrambling to their feet...Katya goes for a swing, but Caroline ducks under it while hooking her arm...hooks the other one....and pulls her forwards into a Backslide Pin!
1...
2...
KO: THR-NO! Drudjevic able to kick out and rolls up to her feet, Caroline lifts up to her knee's AND SHE GET'S NAILED BY A FRONT KICK TO THE FACE BY KATYA!!
LO: Caroline drops to her hands stunned...and keep your eyes on Djurdjevic! She hits off the ropes for momentum and comes back...RIGHT INTO A BASEMENT DROP KICK TO THE SIDE OF BURCHILL'S SKULL!!
KO: She's rolling her over onto her back for a cover!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! CAROLINE OUT JUST AS THE REFEREE'S HAND WAS COMING DOWN FOR THREE!
KO: Even Katya is questioning that call, but the Santiago is waving it off as two!
Katya looks a little flustered as she gets to her feet and pulls Caroline up with her. She hooks the woman around the head while draping Burchill's arm across her shoulders, then lifts her up into Suplex position. Caroline starts kicking the minute she's up in the air, and Drudjevic finds that she can't keep her aloft. Caroline ends up being set back down to the floor, and it's Burchill who snaps Katya over for a Snap Suplex, but instead of just the impact, Caroline rolls up and over Katya's body to her feet pulling Drudjevic up to a sitting position in the process. A few quick steps back to the nearby corner, and Burchill charges forward, throwing her boot out with a devastating football like punt to Katya's skull that sends her snapping down to the mat.
LO: DESTROYER!! AND NOW CAROLINE DROPS FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! I don't know how she did it after taking a shot like that, but Katya rolled the shoulder at the last possible second and beat the three!
LO: It's Caroline's turn to question the referee, but Santiago is adamant that the shoulder came up...and now we're back at square one!
Caroline steps to stand over Katya with her hands on her hips. A buzz goes through the arena as Caroline starts to nod, and backs her way into the corner, hopping up to sit on the top turnbuckle. She is determined now as she stands on the second rope, demanding that Katya get to her feet. Eventually Djurdjevic does so, still loopy after the devastating Destroyer Kick from moments ago. She finally manages up to her feet and in a punch drunk manner slowly turns in Caroline's direction. Caroline doesn't hesitate, diving straight for Katya and hooking her around the head, spinning her through into a Tornado DDT!
LO: KILLER QUEEN! AND NOW CAROLINE HAS HER IN THE CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING, AND KATYA DJURDJEVIC JUST CAME ALIVE IN PAIN!
KO: SHE'S GOING TO TAP, LAUR! SHE'S GOING TO TAP!
Katya's one free hand reaches for the sky as her other arm is wrench behind her, her face pulled in the opposite direction to try and dislocate the shoulder. Caroline is like a pitbull, latched onto the hold, but still can't seem to get her legs to find Katya's midsection as the woman keeps herself arched in an unnatural fashion. Katya's free hand suddenly comes poised over Caroline's arm, and at seeing that she has the woman ready to tap, she pulls back that much fiercer. Suddenly Katya somehow manages to get her feet under her, and in a thrusting motion swings them up over her trapped upper body, forcing Caroline's shoulders to the mat while she retains the hold. The referee seeing the shoulders down, drops to count the pin.
1...
2...
3!!!
Just at the sound of the referee's hand striking the mat for the third time, Katya's hand begins slapping Caroline's arm furiously. The New Classic lets loose of her, and pops up to her feet with her hands over her head only for the referee to pull them down, and wave her off. Caroline stares at Santiago as he tries to explain the situation, and she shakes her head 'No' violently, indicating that Katya had tapped out. The referee reasons that he understands, but it wasn't until after the three, and Caroline moves over to the closest corner and buries her forehead into the top turnbuckle as the bell sounds.
RING ANNOUNCER: AND THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH BY PINFALL.....KATYA DJURDJEVIC!!!
LO: That is a tough break for Caroline O'Hara Burchill, who put on one hell of a show here tonight, but at the end of the day the referee's ruling stands, and her shoulders were down for the three.
KO: These referee's man...I think they must be planning this crap.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic got the three, Ken. What more do you want?
KO: Yeah, but she tapped!
LO: AFTER THE THREE!
KO: Whatever! Well somebody tell her that, cause she don't look like much of a winner to me..
Katya lays in the center of the ring clutching at her shoulder and having trouble sitting up, when suddenly Caroline O'Hara Burchill appears in front of her. Djurdjevic looks up tiredly at Burchill, who blocks out the arena lights, and is ready to shy away from the woman if she attacks. Instead, much to her surprise, Caroline offers her a hand, and after hearing the explosion of cheers from the crowd, she takes it and allows Caroline to help her to her feet. The two women shake hands, and Caroline says something that leaves Katya nodding before making her way to the ropes to exit.
LO: Now see, that's class, Ken!
KO: That's bullshit is what that is! Caroline O'Hara Burchill's descent into this do-gooder role of hers has been one big pile of it!
LO: Sportsmanship and grace is obviously lost on you, Ken, so I'm not going to try and explain it. Either way you look at it, Katya Djurdjevic remains undefeated thus far in Valor Pro!
The camera focuses on Katya as she celebrates on the turnbuckles, eventually dropping down to ringside to high five her fans. The crowd continues to cheer as the scene cuts backstage.
Dakota was sitting on one of the production cases, taping her wrists when Emily Burlingame decided to make her presence known.
“Miss Jennings, if we can get a moment of your time?”
Dakota, in a rare moment, patted the case next to her with a smile.
“So, last fortnight, we saw you lift your first ever title, not only in Valor Pro, but as a professional wrestler as a whole. How did you feel and how much did that change when Ms Byrne came out and made the announcement regarding you potentially losing those titles?”
“You know, Emily, sometimes you do actually ask intelligent questions, have you considered becoming an interviewer?” Dakota said sarcastically before speaking on.
“The problem with people like Vanessa Byrne is they’re bullies. She sits up there in her office, her little ivory tower, basically pissing on the people who work for her. The problem is, I was never into that sorta thing and would always tackle bullies whenever I could. Now, I know that the date is inevitable when I end up losing those tag titles, it’s as guaranteed as death, but don’t you worry, Em. I ALWAYS have a way to outsmart bullies and let’s be honest, judging by her fashion sense, it shouldn’t be too hard to outsmart Vanessa Byrne.”
“What about your thoughts on your upcoming match against Spiral? We know he’s a little, well, unstable.”
“We had a little, debate, on social media and it ended up, once again, with me threatening to hit him upside his stupid head, but make no bones about it Em, I like the guy, he seems to see the bigger picture about this place, plus, he has a certain amount of respect for, shall we say, destruction? I mean, c’mon, who didn’t lose their shit when he drove Ol’ Van’s nice truck off that pier? I mean, I was giggling so much, I nearly dropped my title!”
Emily smiled awkwardly before climbing down off the crate.
“Thanks for your time, Miss Jennings.”
“No problem, buddy!” She called in response with a little wave before tearing her wrist tape off with clenched teeth.
“Miss Jennings, if we can get a moment of your time?”
Dakota, in a rare moment, patted the case next to her with a smile.
“So, last fortnight, we saw you lift your first ever title, not only in Valor Pro, but as a professional wrestler as a whole. How did you feel and how much did that change when Ms Byrne came out and made the announcement regarding you potentially losing those titles?”
“You know, Emily, sometimes you do actually ask intelligent questions, have you considered becoming an interviewer?” Dakota said sarcastically before speaking on.
“The problem with people like Vanessa Byrne is they’re bullies. She sits up there in her office, her little ivory tower, basically pissing on the people who work for her. The problem is, I was never into that sorta thing and would always tackle bullies whenever I could. Now, I know that the date is inevitable when I end up losing those tag titles, it’s as guaranteed as death, but don’t you worry, Em. I ALWAYS have a way to outsmart bullies and let’s be honest, judging by her fashion sense, it shouldn’t be too hard to outsmart Vanessa Byrne.”
“What about your thoughts on your upcoming match against Spiral? We know he’s a little, well, unstable.”
“We had a little, debate, on social media and it ended up, once again, with me threatening to hit him upside his stupid head, but make no bones about it Em, I like the guy, he seems to see the bigger picture about this place, plus, he has a certain amount of respect for, shall we say, destruction? I mean, c’mon, who didn’t lose their shit when he drove Ol’ Van’s nice truck off that pier? I mean, I was giggling so much, I nearly dropped my title!”
Emily smiled awkwardly before climbing down off the crate.
“Thanks for your time, Miss Jennings.”
“No problem, buddy!” She called in response with a little wave before tearing her wrist tape off with clenched teeth.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a singles match scheduled 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, her Chimera Tag Team Championship snugly around her waist. 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 Sprial, and there is a slight cheer that goes up from the audience at the sight. 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...She is one half of the CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS....THE FIRECRACKER....DAKOTA JENNINNGGGSSS!!
Dakota reaches ringside and tosses the Chair in over the top rope as she takes the steps, and then slips 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: Last show Dakota Jennings, alongside Cross Recoba, ended The Zombie Clan's tag team winning streak, and dethroned them as The Chimera Tag Team Champions!
KO: It was Rekota's night to be sure, but I hear Dakota demanded this match because she felt that Spiral disrespected her man at the end of that show...
LO: It's funny to think of Jennings, whose used that chair she brings to the ring in almost every situation as of late, could take umbrage over a matter of respect....
KO: Watch it, Laur, or she'll wrap that steel around your head!
Before the announcer can continue War Drums bang out into the arena, followed by a guitar riff as 'Counting Bodies Like Sheep (The Pale King Remix)' by A Perfect Circle fills the speakers. The lights dim and the stage lights flash white with the beat as Spiral steps stoically out onto the stage with the Unleashed Championship tucked into the crux of his arm. The crowd give a mixed reaction as he stares casually out at the crowd as if they are beneath him, his eyes finally settling on the ring. His jaw sets just before he steps off the stage and onto the ramp, making his way methodically towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing her opponent, standing at six foot three and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark...He is the current UNLEASHED CHAMPION...'THE PALE KING' SPIRRRAALLL!!
A statuesque coldness surrounds the man as he reaches ringside and climbs the steps onto the apron, swinging into the squared circle in an easy fluid motion that belies a serpents grace. He steps to the center of the ring, and Jennings rises from her seat to meet him, and the two superstars come nose to nose. Referee Santiago is forced to push himself between the two, asking for their championships, and informing Dakota to lose the chair or be disqualified. Dakota just smirks, unhooking the Chimera Championship and handing it over while using her foot to kick the chair out of the ring where it clatters against the concrete floor. Spiral shows no emotion as he hands the Unleashed belt over, rocking his head from side to side like a snake unhinging it's jaws.
LO: Tensions already brewing before the bell has even sounded, and man...you can feel it between these two, and as far as I can tell they don't even have any major beef.
KO: It's just in their character, Laur. It's what happens when two Alpha personalities come face to face, especially considering both competitors have no problem with taking short cuts.
LO: I can't believe you admitted that out loud!
KO: Nah, I'll admit they take short cuts, and promote the fact that I have no problem with it.
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as the bell sounds, and the two superstars step to the center of the ring and start jawing. Spiral turns his nose up at something Jennings just spewed, and from out of nowhere he fires in a right hand. At least he thought it was out of nowhere, so imagine his surprise when Jennings brings her left arm up to block it, and fires in a right of her own. Spiral takes a step back, but Jennings is on him, right hands continuing to find their mark. After about three, The Pale King starts firing right back, and before you know it the two are swinging and kicking with abandon to an arena that actually pops for the disliked superstars. Eventually, Spiral's size advantage gives way, and Dakota finds herself taking more and more hits that send her in a haze stumbling towards the ropes. From there he takes her by the wrist and whips her to the opposite side where she rebounds back to duck his Clothesline attempt. She continues through with momentum to rebound once more, and as Spiral spins around to try again, she takes him by surprise with a Falling Front Drop Kick that sends him falling back into the ropes.
LO: Spiral just caught himself across the top rope to keep from falling through them, and HERE COMES DAKOTA WITH A SPIN WHEEL KICK THAT SENDS HIM DUMPING TO THE OUTSIDE ANYWAYS!
KO: Kota like a cat able to hook the top rope as she spun through the kick, and she lands safely on the ring apron as Spiral tries to get back to his feet...
LO: Spiral fully upright, BUT HERE COMES JENNINGS IN CANNONBALL FLIP RIGHT OFF THE RING APRON TO WIPE HIM BACK OUT!
Dakota rolls up to her feet with hands extended to her side, and the fans boo her for the display. She yells something at one of the kids in the front row, and then turns around to catch a forearm to the gut from a rising Spiral. She begs off a little, which is more than enough for Spiral to lurch forwards into a Spear that takes her down to the floor. Once she's down, he positions himself on top of her, and unloads with right hands down into her skull. It isn't until he's given her a proper beating that he realizes that the referee is almost at a nine count. The Pale King quickly leaps to his feet and rolls under the bottom rope to stop the count only to roll back out to join his prey.
KO: I think Spiral may have grown a little too accustomed to those hardcore rules of his, because he almost just got himself counted out.
LO: Yeah, and he seems just a tad bit too comfortable on the outside for my taste, pulling Jennings up and WHIPS HER RIGHT AT THE STEEL RING POST!
Jennings comes barreling towards the unforgiving steel, but at the last second she commits to a dive that sees her slide under the bottom turnbuckle of that post and all the way back out the other side. Spiral's eyebrow arches at this, as he fast walks to round the corner only to be caught with a charging Lous Thesz Press from Jennings that drives him to the concrete followed by piston like right hands! Spiral tries his best to cover up, eventually working his hand up to Dakota's face in order to shove her backwards away from him. Spiral quickly rises, looking up just in time to see Jennings coming right for him, and he quickly side steps, placing his hands on her back as she passes to force her to strike the Steel Ring Post chest first!
LO: Spiral finally got Dakota to taste the steel, and now he's got a fistful of hair, raring it back...BUT DAKOTA GETS HER BOOT UP TO STOP HERSELF FROM GOING FORWARD!
KO: Sharp elbows to the gut has Spiral backing away from the post, and now she's got him by the seat of the pants and the back of the head and RAMS HIM SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE POST INSTEAD!
Spiral falls away from the post but doesn't leave his feet, instead making his way over to the other side of the ring where he slides under the bottom rope to the interior. Jennings massages her chest as she rolls in after him, but Spiral catches her coming in by popping up to his feet and laying the boots to her. The referee tries to intercede but he get's pushed aside, and Spiral grabs the top rope while angling his boot under Dakota's chin to nearly stand on the woman's neck. She kicks and flops, choking, as the referee starts a stern count that ends at four and a half when spiral finally breaks and steps back while Jennings tries to catch her breath. She pulls herself up in the nearby corner, and that is about all the room Spiral is going to give her as he wades in with a high knee lift into her sternum.
LO: Spiral trying to crush Jennings into the turnbuckles with those high knee's, and now dragging her out away from them...
KO: Hooks around the waist...AND OVERHEAD BELLY TO BELLY SENDS DAKOTA SOARING HALF WAY ACROSS THE RING!
Jennings slams against the canvas with enough authority that she pops back up to her feet and stumbles her way into the opposite corner. Spiral comes charging out of the one she was just in like a locomotive, taking to the air to land on her with a Big Splash that jams her up even further into the turnbuckles. As he steps away this time she comes stumbling out and crumples to the mat, and he quickly drops to his knees and hooks her leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Dakota Jennings just barely getting out, and we're early into this match...
KO: Spiral has done an effective job of cutting her off and using his size advantage to a huge advantage...
Spiral yanks Jennings off the mat with a fistful of hair and pushes the woman back into the corner, words spitting out as he rares back and drives a fist right into her jaw. The impact drops her down to a seated position against the bottom turnbuckle, and Spiral backpedals to the opposite corner only to charge forward to throw his boot out for a Foot Wash. To his surprise Dakota drops all the way down and his foot harmlessly sails past her head, moving through the bottom and middle rope and tripping him up. Dakota pushes herself out from under the man, and just about the time he's able to disentangle himself from the ropes, she rushes in with a flying forearm smash that crushes him against the turnbuckles. From there Jennings opens up with right hands to the face, and Spiral finds himself trying to cover up before eventually shoving her back to try and find some reprieve.
LO: Jennings knocked back a step, but just as Spiral steps out of the corner she's right back on him, fists finding their mark to push him back in.
KO: Kota is fired up now after that near fall, and she steps up to the second turnbuckle to get leverage and is driving piston like right hands down into the man's forehead!
Spiral's head snaps back several times before he plants his hands on Dakota's abdomen, and then shoves her backwards. She hits the mat, but rolls through with it to end up on her feet, and as Spiral tries to charge out at her from the corner she ducks his Lariat. He spins around to find that Dakota is back on the second turnbuckle, facing the ring, and his eyes go wide as saucers as she dives off to hook him around the head, and then snaps him skull first to the center of the canvas with a Hurricanrana!
LO: IT CAME FROM SCOTTSDALE!
KO: JENNINGS HOOKED THE LEGS FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! And it's Spiral's turn to barely get out of a pinning predicament, and Jennings looks fit to be tied because of it!
Jenning's shoves her finger in the referee's face, and Santiago adamantly signals two while backpedaling all the way into the nearby corner. Dakota finally flashes her gaze back over to Spiral, who is struggling to get to his feet by the ropes. She disregards the referee, zeroing in on her prey and rushes at the man with evil intentions. Unfortunately for her, Spiral has had just enough time to see her coming, and he leaps into the air to snatch her around her left arm with his legs, quickly lacing them into a Triangle Choke. This is obviously reactionary, as he didn't give himself enough room to fall back to the canvas, instead landing on the top rope, slips off, and ends upside down with his head on the ring apron as Dakota is pulled nearly out of the ring. Somehow, he manages to retain his hold on her wrist, allowing him to keep his legs wrapped around her arm and she remains in the choke.
LO: SPIRAL HAS JENNINGS LOCKED INTO HIS GO BACK TO SLEEP, BUT HE'S HANGING UPSIDE DOWN ON THE ROPES!
KO: YEAH, AND TECHNICALLY THAT'S A ROPE BREAK! THE REFEREE HAS STARTED A COUNT ON SPIRAL!
LO: BUT IF HE LET'S GO THERE'S NO WHERE FOR HIM TO LAND BUT THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
KO: THE REF'S UP TO FOUR!
Before Santiago can call out five, Spiral lets go of the wrist and his legs and he indeed falls awkwardly against the apron on the back of his head before crashing against the floor. Jennings snaps back from the rope and slams against the canvas, clutching at her throat and choking for breath. Santiago finds himself in a new spot now, with Spiral on the outside of the ring clutching the back of his head the referee starts a count out.
LO: Wouldn't this be a shame if this match ended in a count out after being so physical, but Spiral is having trouble getting back to his feet after landing so unceremoniously on the concrete floor!
KO: Yeah, well Kota just sat up in the ring, and she's still gasping for air after being locked in his submission finisher for only about five seconds!
LO: Jennings now scooting over to the edge of the ring, and Spiral finally trying to pull himself up...Jennings drops out to join him, gets him the rest of the way to his feet, and WHIPS HIM TOWARDS THE STEEL STEPS...NO! REVERSAL! AND DAKOTA JENNINGS JUST BLASTED THROUGH THE STEPS SO HARD THE TOP PORTION DISLODGED FROM THE BOTTOM!!
KO: Spiral on his way over, still clutching the back of his skull, and now pulls Jennings up while Santiago has started a new count on both competitors!
Spiral brings Dakota back over beside the ring apron, pulls her head back, and then drives it forward to slam off the hardest part of the ring. She drops to a knee, and he finds himself having to force her back up, only to do so once again. This time Dakota drops all the way down onto her side, and Spiral looks up at the referee who is up to seven. Spiral shrugs, sliding under the bottom rope to break the count and pushes back to the outside to pull Jennings back up to her feet. He drags her by the hair around ringside to the commentators side of the ring, and the announcers quickly abandon their table as he slings Jennings across the surface to crash against their seats, and then down to the floor.
LO: The action has found it's way over here to our neck of the woods, Dakota Jennings being slung right across our announce booth...
KO: Spiral stepping around the table and pulling Jennings back up to her feet, AND JENNINGS WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT AS SHE RISES!
LO: Spiral now falling back now, and here comes Jennings, and SHE SLAMS HIM FACE FIRST DOWN ACROSS THE TABLE!
KO: Uh-Oh! The Firecracker looks hot now, and she just stalked around the table and....AND SHE'S GOT HER STEEL CHAIR!
The referee abandons the count and dives out of the ring, putting himself in the path of the chair toting Jennings. She rares back like she might give the shot to him, and Santiago flinches with hands up to try and shield himself. Dakota smirks, and shoves the man out of the way so that she can resume her course towards Spiral. Just as she brings the chair up high overhead, the referee latches onto it, yanking it free from her hands. Jennings slowly turns around, a twitch coming into her right eye as the referee starts backing away with her weapon, begging her to get it back in the ring.
LO: Dakota....Don't do it! You're already in enough trouble thanks to your treatment of referee's!
KO: NO SUCH LUCK, LAUR! DAKOTA JENNINGS JUST FOREARMED THE REF INTO NEXT WEEK, AND HE IS DOWN!
LO: GOD DAMN IT! THIS WOMAN IS A MENACE!
The fans boo loudly as Dakota stands over the referee, reaching down to recover her chair with a snarl. She turns around just in time to see Spiral charging right at her. She instinctively swings the chair, but Sprial ducks it, and when she spins around she takes a boot to the midsection that knocks it from her hands and bends her over. Spiral grabs her by the back of her tights and head, and then rushes her towards the apron where he sends her soaring under the bottom rope and back into the ring. Spiral then looks down to the chair and a sly smile comes across his lips as he reaches down and scoops it up, moving over to the ring and slipping in as Jennings slowly tries to get to her feet.
LO: The referee is down, and now Spiral has Jenning's steel chair here....SPIRAL WINDING UP AND STEPPING FORWARD...
KO: JENNINGS DUCKS UNDER THE SWING, BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION, AND DDT DROPS SPIRAL DEAD CENTER OF THE RING!
LO: Dakota Jennings just barely getting out of tasting some of her own medicine, but I think she now realizes that she can't win this match without a referee!
KO: I don't know that she cares, Laur. She's up and has her chair, and she just set it up in the center of the ring....Spiral is pawing at the chair, using it to help himself up, but here comes Dakota!
Jennings grabs Spiral by the wrist and digs her shoulder into his chest to push him back into the ropes, and then moves to whip him to the far side. Spiral manages to reverse it, and it's now Dakota rebounding off the ropes and heading back. Just when it looks like she's about to bowl Spiral over, he suddenly shifts and drops to his side, entangling his legs with hers as she passes, and sends her sailing face first down into the steel chair with a Drop Toe Hold!
LO: MY GOD! JENNINGS JUST GOT WRECKED, AND NOW SPIRAL SCOOTING OVER TO HOOK THE LEG!
KO: BUT THERE'S STILL NO REFEREE!!
LO: By all rights this match should probably be thrown out...WAIT! HERE COMES SENIOR OFFICIAL CARMEN CAPUTO! SHE BELLY SLIDES INTO THE RING TO MAKE THE COUNT!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! GOOD LORD, DAKOTA ROLLED THE SHOULDER!
LO: Spiral is up to his feet like a madman! He just scooped up that mangled chair, and moves to strike Dakota while she's lifeless on the mat...AND CAPUTO JUST GRABBED THE CHAIR RIGHT OUT OF HIS HANDS!
KO: Ummmm that might not have been wise considering what happened to Santiago when he tried that with Dakota....
LO: Carmen Caputo will not be bullied, regardless of what happened to her just last show at the hands of Dakota Jennings, but Spiral is looking her up and down like she is a piece of meat!
Spiral steps methodically forward as Caputo backs herself into the corner, and she warns the man that she'll throw the match out if he doesn't relent. She tosses the chair over the top rope to clatter against the floor, and Spiral watches it land, eyes slowly drifting back to Caputo. Finally he shrugs, and turns like he's going to turn his attention back to Jennings.
LO: Thank God! I think we might finally have some order restored to this....WHAT THE HELL!
KO: SPIRAL JUST TURNED BACK AROUND AND SPEARED CARMEN CAPUTO RIGHT OUT OF HER SHOES!
The fans boo as Spiral rises, a visceral sneer across his expression as he toes the woman under the bottom rope and over the apron to crash against the concrete floor. Spiral doesn't seem to even acknowledge the boos he's receiving as he turns back towards the ring and is taken completely by surprise by a Superkick from Jennings that snaps him down to the mat. Dakota drops to her knee's, looking up to reveal a stream of blood flowing down her forehead as she falls forwards to the canvas.
LO: JENNINGS WITH A DKO TO SPIRAL, BUT SHE HAS BEEN SPLIT WIDE OPEN THANKS TO THAT CHAIR!
KO: Both competitors down in the ring, and there aren't any referee's left in the promotion to even end this thing!
LO: I don't even know what to think right now! Both should be disqualified for what's transpired out here tonight...wait a minute...WHO THE HELL IS THAT!?!
A masked luchador wearing black slacks and a VPW referee shirt appears at the top of the stage, and charges down the ramp for the ring. The fans all look on in confused expression as he belly slides into the ring, and rushes over to check on Spiral, and then over to Dakota. Seeing that neither is really responding, he pops up to his feet, and starts delivering a ten count to see if someone can get back to their feet. The crowd, not sure who this masked referee is, start to count along with him.
KO: Are you seeing this? Do you not recognize the man, the myth, the legend?
LO: NO! What the hell is this, Ken!
KO: That is Theodore Refano, better known as The Ref! Vanessa Byrne must have seen fit to sign another referee after what happened to Caputo last show!
LO: That's The Ref?
KO: Seems so, Laur, cause he's all the way up to a count of seven....eight....nine....Wait...What's going on!
Diego Santiago has somehow managed to pull himself up onto the ring apron, and he has The Ref's full attention as he calls for him to cease his count. Instead, he points at Spiral, and signals that he should be the winner and to disqualify Dakota Jennings. The Ref steps over to confer, the two having a bit of a debate when, on the other side of the ring, Carmen Caputo fights to get herself up on the apron clutching her midsection. She waves off whatever it is that Santiago is saying, and she points at Jennings, and demands that The Ref disqualify Spiral. Santiago shakes his head and steps through the ropes, which only draws Caputo in as well. All three referee's begin debating in the center of the ring on who should be disqualified, and who should be declared the winner.
LO: Well while these three have their official's pow wow, Dakota Jennings and Spiral are grasping at the ropes to try and pull themselves up to their feet...
KO: You gotta believe that whoever gets the next move probably has this match in the bag...
LO: If they don't both get disqualified before getting the chance to continue, Ken...
The two competitors catch a glimpse of each other at the same time, and as the referee's continue to have their pow-wow Spiral and Jennings charge at one another. Dakota throws up her boot to try for another Superkick, but Spiral manages to duck under it, and as he continues his momentum runs an arm between her legs and then forces her up into a Torture Wrack position on his shoulders. She kicks and flails, knowing what he's about to do, but it's for naught as he throws her up and out, and then drives his knee into the back of her skull on her way down. She hits the canvas with a thud, drawing the attention of all three referee's, and Spiral drops for a cover!
LO: SPIRAL EFFECT TO DAKOTA JENNINGS! AND THE REFEREE'S ARE JUST STARING DOWN AT SPIRAL AS HE HOOKS THE LEG!
KO: Uh....what are they going to do?
The refs look back and forth at one another comically before all three drop to count in unison...
1...
2...
3!!!
Spiral pushes off of Jennings and slinks over to a seated position with his back up against the ropes as he wipes sweat from his brow while staring at the downed Firecracker.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall.....THE PALE KING...SPIRAL!
Spiral continues to stare at Dakota until she starts to get to her feet, and he gives the camera a 'Spiral' like smile just as he slips under the bottom rope to make his way towards the ramp.
LO: No celebrating. No emotion. Just that strange emotionless smile that the Valor Pro Faithful have come to know....
KO: That dude gives me the creeps, I'm not even going to lie...
LO: Dakota Jennings is getting to her feet as well...and WHOA! The referee's all ducked out of the ring as she went crazy, and she's throwing a proper fit!
KO: I can't say I blame her really. Damn referee's are a menace around here lately.
LO: I think Jennings and Spiral are the menace, but at least our referee's weren't seriously injured this time...
KO: Yeah, Yeah...enough about the Zebras. I hear word backstage that a camera has caught up with Spiral, and maybe he'll finally explain his actions last show...
LO: Well then what are we waiting for? Get back there!
The camera focuses on Dakota Jennings still fuming inside the ring while the official's plead with her to depart until cutting backstage.
Spiral stalks down the hallway, sweat still pouring down his body considering he had just been involved in what could be considered one of the most controversial matches in VPW History against Dakota Jennings. The fight had showcased both competitors violent natures, and had brought out a frustration in the man that usually isn’t allowed to surface. He looks up to notice the cameraman that is filming behind him for the first time, and just when he’s about to say something, he stops short before bumping into none other than General Manager, Vanessa Byrne. Her arms are already crossed over her chest, and her green eyes sparkle as she addresses The Pale King.
VANESSA BYRNE: It seems we have a problem, Mr. Spiral…
Her foot begins to tap, a sign that despite her own usually cool demeanor, the man in front of her has been successful in tapping into a nerve.
SPIRAL: Ah, I think you mean you have a problem. I’ve never been happier and you should be as well. I am here to unburden you, Ms. Vanessa, to rid you of all this. But it’s like the old song says: Happy is a bumpy road. You’ll get there, sport. You just need someone to drag you down that road, kicking and screaming, until you’re nothing but scrapes and bruises and a big ol’ grin. That’s what I am here to do, Ms. Vanessa. I told you. I told EVERYONE. I’m going to wrench this place away from your scrawny, veiny, liver-spotted hands and do the only sane thing a man can do in this insane world—strangle it…like an unwanted child. I’ll keep my hands around Valor’s throat, tighter and tighter with every labored breath, until it’s let out its final gasp. But I won’t let go yet, no-no. I’ll keep squeezing until it’s a blue, bloated husk of what it once was. Then I will walk away satisfied and the world will be better for it. Now, if you’ll excuse me…
He moves to walk past her but she holds her position. A thin smile comes across her lips though the gesture never reaches her eyes.
VANESSA BYRNE: Interesting choice of words, considering where you come from, and the ordeal in New Orleans that preceded your arrival here in Valor Pro. Yes, we were well aware of your legal troubles when we agreed to allow you to sign with the promotion. Matter of fact, it is probably the only reason you were signed. The buzz, and all that.
She pauses, the smile finally finding some real reflection of her feelings as she watches Spiral’s eyes go cold and hard.
VANESSA BYRNE: I don’t know what has possessed you to decide to do battle with me, and I don’t really care. I can assure you, I am more than capable of holding my own. What I do care about is my staff and crew, and quite frankly what I watched you do last show and just moments ago I can’t let stand. Now I know that putting you in some unfair match stipulation or threatening violence wouldn’t really accomplish anything. That is your main bread and butter after all, you’d probably enjoy it.
She uncrosses one of her arms and brings her hand up to her chin, index finger tapping her lips until her eyes go wide, as if a light bulb had just gone off.
VANESSA BYRNE: BUT given the situation you found yourself in before arriving, your representative, Patrick LeRoux, made it quite clear that you were in dire straits financially. It’s the reason we were able to pick you up at a bargain. So I’m going to hit you where it hurts. Now let me see, a production truck costs around eight million dollars, pain and services to the two staff members that were assaulted, your actions here tonight…..I’d say that brings us to a fine of ten million dollars.
Byrne’s smirk is genuine now, while Spiral takes a step forward, his dead eyes penetrating. Vanessa nods her head curtly, and four security personnel seem to appear out of nowhere.
VANESSA BYRNE: Since I know you can’t come up with that sort of capital, how about we just withhold the money from your contract until the end of the year.
Byrne moves to walk past Spiral, but pauses, turning her head slightly to add.
VANESSA BYRNE: By the by, if the moment was lost on you, I would suggest you keep your focus on the active competitors of this organization, and off of my non-competitive employee’s.
Spiral watches mortified as she walks away. His face is twisted into a mask of hatred and his lips open to say something as she bounces off with that stupid, pleased look on her face, but he withholds comment. Instead his eyes tick left to the camera, settling on the audience for a beat before turning and walking off.
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, her Chimera Tag Team Championship snugly around her waist. 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 Sprial, and there is a slight cheer that goes up from the audience at the sight. 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...She is one half of the CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS....THE FIRECRACKER....DAKOTA JENNINNGGGSSS!!
Dakota reaches ringside and tosses the Chair in over the top rope as she takes the steps, and then slips 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: Last show Dakota Jennings, alongside Cross Recoba, ended The Zombie Clan's tag team winning streak, and dethroned them as The Chimera Tag Team Champions!
KO: It was Rekota's night to be sure, but I hear Dakota demanded this match because she felt that Spiral disrespected her man at the end of that show...
LO: It's funny to think of Jennings, whose used that chair she brings to the ring in almost every situation as of late, could take umbrage over a matter of respect....
KO: Watch it, Laur, or she'll wrap that steel around your head!
Before the announcer can continue War Drums bang out into the arena, followed by a guitar riff as 'Counting Bodies Like Sheep (The Pale King Remix)' by A Perfect Circle fills the speakers. The lights dim and the stage lights flash white with the beat as Spiral steps stoically out onto the stage with the Unleashed Championship tucked into the crux of his arm. The crowd give a mixed reaction as he stares casually out at the crowd as if they are beneath him, his eyes finally settling on the ring. His jaw sets just before he steps off the stage and onto the ramp, making his way methodically towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing her opponent, standing at six foot three and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark...He is the current UNLEASHED CHAMPION...'THE PALE KING' SPIRRRAALLL!!
A statuesque coldness surrounds the man as he reaches ringside and climbs the steps onto the apron, swinging into the squared circle in an easy fluid motion that belies a serpents grace. He steps to the center of the ring, and Jennings rises from her seat to meet him, and the two superstars come nose to nose. Referee Santiago is forced to push himself between the two, asking for their championships, and informing Dakota to lose the chair or be disqualified. Dakota just smirks, unhooking the Chimera Championship and handing it over while using her foot to kick the chair out of the ring where it clatters against the concrete floor. Spiral shows no emotion as he hands the Unleashed belt over, rocking his head from side to side like a snake unhinging it's jaws.
LO: Tensions already brewing before the bell has even sounded, and man...you can feel it between these two, and as far as I can tell they don't even have any major beef.
KO: It's just in their character, Laur. It's what happens when two Alpha personalities come face to face, especially considering both competitors have no problem with taking short cuts.
LO: I can't believe you admitted that out loud!
KO: Nah, I'll admit they take short cuts, and promote the fact that I have no problem with it.
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as the bell sounds, and the two superstars step to the center of the ring and start jawing. Spiral turns his nose up at something Jennings just spewed, and from out of nowhere he fires in a right hand. At least he thought it was out of nowhere, so imagine his surprise when Jennings brings her left arm up to block it, and fires in a right of her own. Spiral takes a step back, but Jennings is on him, right hands continuing to find their mark. After about three, The Pale King starts firing right back, and before you know it the two are swinging and kicking with abandon to an arena that actually pops for the disliked superstars. Eventually, Spiral's size advantage gives way, and Dakota finds herself taking more and more hits that send her in a haze stumbling towards the ropes. From there he takes her by the wrist and whips her to the opposite side where she rebounds back to duck his Clothesline attempt. She continues through with momentum to rebound once more, and as Spiral spins around to try again, she takes him by surprise with a Falling Front Drop Kick that sends him falling back into the ropes.
LO: Spiral just caught himself across the top rope to keep from falling through them, and HERE COMES DAKOTA WITH A SPIN WHEEL KICK THAT SENDS HIM DUMPING TO THE OUTSIDE ANYWAYS!
KO: Kota like a cat able to hook the top rope as she spun through the kick, and she lands safely on the ring apron as Spiral tries to get back to his feet...
LO: Spiral fully upright, BUT HERE COMES JENNINGS IN CANNONBALL FLIP RIGHT OFF THE RING APRON TO WIPE HIM BACK OUT!
Dakota rolls up to her feet with hands extended to her side, and the fans boo her for the display. She yells something at one of the kids in the front row, and then turns around to catch a forearm to the gut from a rising Spiral. She begs off a little, which is more than enough for Spiral to lurch forwards into a Spear that takes her down to the floor. Once she's down, he positions himself on top of her, and unloads with right hands down into her skull. It isn't until he's given her a proper beating that he realizes that the referee is almost at a nine count. The Pale King quickly leaps to his feet and rolls under the bottom rope to stop the count only to roll back out to join his prey.
KO: I think Spiral may have grown a little too accustomed to those hardcore rules of his, because he almost just got himself counted out.
LO: Yeah, and he seems just a tad bit too comfortable on the outside for my taste, pulling Jennings up and WHIPS HER RIGHT AT THE STEEL RING POST!
Jennings comes barreling towards the unforgiving steel, but at the last second she commits to a dive that sees her slide under the bottom turnbuckle of that post and all the way back out the other side. Spiral's eyebrow arches at this, as he fast walks to round the corner only to be caught with a charging Lous Thesz Press from Jennings that drives him to the concrete followed by piston like right hands! Spiral tries his best to cover up, eventually working his hand up to Dakota's face in order to shove her backwards away from him. Spiral quickly rises, looking up just in time to see Jennings coming right for him, and he quickly side steps, placing his hands on her back as she passes to force her to strike the Steel Ring Post chest first!
LO: Spiral finally got Dakota to taste the steel, and now he's got a fistful of hair, raring it back...BUT DAKOTA GETS HER BOOT UP TO STOP HERSELF FROM GOING FORWARD!
KO: Sharp elbows to the gut has Spiral backing away from the post, and now she's got him by the seat of the pants and the back of the head and RAMS HIM SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE POST INSTEAD!
Spiral falls away from the post but doesn't leave his feet, instead making his way over to the other side of the ring where he slides under the bottom rope to the interior. Jennings massages her chest as she rolls in after him, but Spiral catches her coming in by popping up to his feet and laying the boots to her. The referee tries to intercede but he get's pushed aside, and Spiral grabs the top rope while angling his boot under Dakota's chin to nearly stand on the woman's neck. She kicks and flops, choking, as the referee starts a stern count that ends at four and a half when spiral finally breaks and steps back while Jennings tries to catch her breath. She pulls herself up in the nearby corner, and that is about all the room Spiral is going to give her as he wades in with a high knee lift into her sternum.
LO: Spiral trying to crush Jennings into the turnbuckles with those high knee's, and now dragging her out away from them...
KO: Hooks around the waist...AND OVERHEAD BELLY TO BELLY SENDS DAKOTA SOARING HALF WAY ACROSS THE RING!
Jennings slams against the canvas with enough authority that she pops back up to her feet and stumbles her way into the opposite corner. Spiral comes charging out of the one she was just in like a locomotive, taking to the air to land on her with a Big Splash that jams her up even further into the turnbuckles. As he steps away this time she comes stumbling out and crumples to the mat, and he quickly drops to his knees and hooks her leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! Dakota Jennings just barely getting out, and we're early into this match...
KO: Spiral has done an effective job of cutting her off and using his size advantage to a huge advantage...
Spiral yanks Jennings off the mat with a fistful of hair and pushes the woman back into the corner, words spitting out as he rares back and drives a fist right into her jaw. The impact drops her down to a seated position against the bottom turnbuckle, and Spiral backpedals to the opposite corner only to charge forward to throw his boot out for a Foot Wash. To his surprise Dakota drops all the way down and his foot harmlessly sails past her head, moving through the bottom and middle rope and tripping him up. Dakota pushes herself out from under the man, and just about the time he's able to disentangle himself from the ropes, she rushes in with a flying forearm smash that crushes him against the turnbuckles. From there Jennings opens up with right hands to the face, and Spiral finds himself trying to cover up before eventually shoving her back to try and find some reprieve.
LO: Jennings knocked back a step, but just as Spiral steps out of the corner she's right back on him, fists finding their mark to push him back in.
KO: Kota is fired up now after that near fall, and she steps up to the second turnbuckle to get leverage and is driving piston like right hands down into the man's forehead!
Spiral's head snaps back several times before he plants his hands on Dakota's abdomen, and then shoves her backwards. She hits the mat, but rolls through with it to end up on her feet, and as Spiral tries to charge out at her from the corner she ducks his Lariat. He spins around to find that Dakota is back on the second turnbuckle, facing the ring, and his eyes go wide as saucers as she dives off to hook him around the head, and then snaps him skull first to the center of the canvas with a Hurricanrana!
LO: IT CAME FROM SCOTTSDALE!
KO: JENNINGS HOOKED THE LEGS FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! And it's Spiral's turn to barely get out of a pinning predicament, and Jennings looks fit to be tied because of it!
Jenning's shoves her finger in the referee's face, and Santiago adamantly signals two while backpedaling all the way into the nearby corner. Dakota finally flashes her gaze back over to Spiral, who is struggling to get to his feet by the ropes. She disregards the referee, zeroing in on her prey and rushes at the man with evil intentions. Unfortunately for her, Spiral has had just enough time to see her coming, and he leaps into the air to snatch her around her left arm with his legs, quickly lacing them into a Triangle Choke. This is obviously reactionary, as he didn't give himself enough room to fall back to the canvas, instead landing on the top rope, slips off, and ends upside down with his head on the ring apron as Dakota is pulled nearly out of the ring. Somehow, he manages to retain his hold on her wrist, allowing him to keep his legs wrapped around her arm and she remains in the choke.
LO: SPIRAL HAS JENNINGS LOCKED INTO HIS GO BACK TO SLEEP, BUT HE'S HANGING UPSIDE DOWN ON THE ROPES!
KO: YEAH, AND TECHNICALLY THAT'S A ROPE BREAK! THE REFEREE HAS STARTED A COUNT ON SPIRAL!
LO: BUT IF HE LET'S GO THERE'S NO WHERE FOR HIM TO LAND BUT THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
KO: THE REF'S UP TO FOUR!
Before Santiago can call out five, Spiral lets go of the wrist and his legs and he indeed falls awkwardly against the apron on the back of his head before crashing against the floor. Jennings snaps back from the rope and slams against the canvas, clutching at her throat and choking for breath. Santiago finds himself in a new spot now, with Spiral on the outside of the ring clutching the back of his head the referee starts a count out.
LO: Wouldn't this be a shame if this match ended in a count out after being so physical, but Spiral is having trouble getting back to his feet after landing so unceremoniously on the concrete floor!
KO: Yeah, well Kota just sat up in the ring, and she's still gasping for air after being locked in his submission finisher for only about five seconds!
LO: Jennings now scooting over to the edge of the ring, and Spiral finally trying to pull himself up...Jennings drops out to join him, gets him the rest of the way to his feet, and WHIPS HIM TOWARDS THE STEEL STEPS...NO! REVERSAL! AND DAKOTA JENNINGS JUST BLASTED THROUGH THE STEPS SO HARD THE TOP PORTION DISLODGED FROM THE BOTTOM!!
KO: Spiral on his way over, still clutching the back of his skull, and now pulls Jennings up while Santiago has started a new count on both competitors!
Spiral brings Dakota back over beside the ring apron, pulls her head back, and then drives it forward to slam off the hardest part of the ring. She drops to a knee, and he finds himself having to force her back up, only to do so once again. This time Dakota drops all the way down onto her side, and Spiral looks up at the referee who is up to seven. Spiral shrugs, sliding under the bottom rope to break the count and pushes back to the outside to pull Jennings back up to her feet. He drags her by the hair around ringside to the commentators side of the ring, and the announcers quickly abandon their table as he slings Jennings across the surface to crash against their seats, and then down to the floor.
LO: The action has found it's way over here to our neck of the woods, Dakota Jennings being slung right across our announce booth...
KO: Spiral stepping around the table and pulling Jennings back up to her feet, AND JENNINGS WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT AS SHE RISES!
LO: Spiral now falling back now, and here comes Jennings, and SHE SLAMS HIM FACE FIRST DOWN ACROSS THE TABLE!
KO: Uh-Oh! The Firecracker looks hot now, and she just stalked around the table and....AND SHE'S GOT HER STEEL CHAIR!
The referee abandons the count and dives out of the ring, putting himself in the path of the chair toting Jennings. She rares back like she might give the shot to him, and Santiago flinches with hands up to try and shield himself. Dakota smirks, and shoves the man out of the way so that she can resume her course towards Spiral. Just as she brings the chair up high overhead, the referee latches onto it, yanking it free from her hands. Jennings slowly turns around, a twitch coming into her right eye as the referee starts backing away with her weapon, begging her to get it back in the ring.
LO: Dakota....Don't do it! You're already in enough trouble thanks to your treatment of referee's!
KO: NO SUCH LUCK, LAUR! DAKOTA JENNINGS JUST FOREARMED THE REF INTO NEXT WEEK, AND HE IS DOWN!
LO: GOD DAMN IT! THIS WOMAN IS A MENACE!
The fans boo loudly as Dakota stands over the referee, reaching down to recover her chair with a snarl. She turns around just in time to see Spiral charging right at her. She instinctively swings the chair, but Sprial ducks it, and when she spins around she takes a boot to the midsection that knocks it from her hands and bends her over. Spiral grabs her by the back of her tights and head, and then rushes her towards the apron where he sends her soaring under the bottom rope and back into the ring. Spiral then looks down to the chair and a sly smile comes across his lips as he reaches down and scoops it up, moving over to the ring and slipping in as Jennings slowly tries to get to her feet.
LO: The referee is down, and now Spiral has Jenning's steel chair here....SPIRAL WINDING UP AND STEPPING FORWARD...
KO: JENNINGS DUCKS UNDER THE SWING, BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION, AND DDT DROPS SPIRAL DEAD CENTER OF THE RING!
LO: Dakota Jennings just barely getting out of tasting some of her own medicine, but I think she now realizes that she can't win this match without a referee!
KO: I don't know that she cares, Laur. She's up and has her chair, and she just set it up in the center of the ring....Spiral is pawing at the chair, using it to help himself up, but here comes Dakota!
Jennings grabs Spiral by the wrist and digs her shoulder into his chest to push him back into the ropes, and then moves to whip him to the far side. Spiral manages to reverse it, and it's now Dakota rebounding off the ropes and heading back. Just when it looks like she's about to bowl Spiral over, he suddenly shifts and drops to his side, entangling his legs with hers as she passes, and sends her sailing face first down into the steel chair with a Drop Toe Hold!
LO: MY GOD! JENNINGS JUST GOT WRECKED, AND NOW SPIRAL SCOOTING OVER TO HOOK THE LEG!
KO: BUT THERE'S STILL NO REFEREE!!
LO: By all rights this match should probably be thrown out...WAIT! HERE COMES SENIOR OFFICIAL CARMEN CAPUTO! SHE BELLY SLIDES INTO THE RING TO MAKE THE COUNT!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! GOOD LORD, DAKOTA ROLLED THE SHOULDER!
LO: Spiral is up to his feet like a madman! He just scooped up that mangled chair, and moves to strike Dakota while she's lifeless on the mat...AND CAPUTO JUST GRABBED THE CHAIR RIGHT OUT OF HIS HANDS!
KO: Ummmm that might not have been wise considering what happened to Santiago when he tried that with Dakota....
LO: Carmen Caputo will not be bullied, regardless of what happened to her just last show at the hands of Dakota Jennings, but Spiral is looking her up and down like she is a piece of meat!
Spiral steps methodically forward as Caputo backs herself into the corner, and she warns the man that she'll throw the match out if he doesn't relent. She tosses the chair over the top rope to clatter against the floor, and Spiral watches it land, eyes slowly drifting back to Caputo. Finally he shrugs, and turns like he's going to turn his attention back to Jennings.
LO: Thank God! I think we might finally have some order restored to this....WHAT THE HELL!
KO: SPIRAL JUST TURNED BACK AROUND AND SPEARED CARMEN CAPUTO RIGHT OUT OF HER SHOES!
The fans boo as Spiral rises, a visceral sneer across his expression as he toes the woman under the bottom rope and over the apron to crash against the concrete floor. Spiral doesn't seem to even acknowledge the boos he's receiving as he turns back towards the ring and is taken completely by surprise by a Superkick from Jennings that snaps him down to the mat. Dakota drops to her knee's, looking up to reveal a stream of blood flowing down her forehead as she falls forwards to the canvas.
LO: JENNINGS WITH A DKO TO SPIRAL, BUT SHE HAS BEEN SPLIT WIDE OPEN THANKS TO THAT CHAIR!
KO: Both competitors down in the ring, and there aren't any referee's left in the promotion to even end this thing!
LO: I don't even know what to think right now! Both should be disqualified for what's transpired out here tonight...wait a minute...WHO THE HELL IS THAT!?!
A masked luchador wearing black slacks and a VPW referee shirt appears at the top of the stage, and charges down the ramp for the ring. The fans all look on in confused expression as he belly slides into the ring, and rushes over to check on Spiral, and then over to Dakota. Seeing that neither is really responding, he pops up to his feet, and starts delivering a ten count to see if someone can get back to their feet. The crowd, not sure who this masked referee is, start to count along with him.
KO: Are you seeing this? Do you not recognize the man, the myth, the legend?
LO: NO! What the hell is this, Ken!
KO: That is Theodore Refano, better known as The Ref! Vanessa Byrne must have seen fit to sign another referee after what happened to Caputo last show!
LO: That's The Ref?
KO: Seems so, Laur, cause he's all the way up to a count of seven....eight....nine....Wait...What's going on!
Diego Santiago has somehow managed to pull himself up onto the ring apron, and he has The Ref's full attention as he calls for him to cease his count. Instead, he points at Spiral, and signals that he should be the winner and to disqualify Dakota Jennings. The Ref steps over to confer, the two having a bit of a debate when, on the other side of the ring, Carmen Caputo fights to get herself up on the apron clutching her midsection. She waves off whatever it is that Santiago is saying, and she points at Jennings, and demands that The Ref disqualify Spiral. Santiago shakes his head and steps through the ropes, which only draws Caputo in as well. All three referee's begin debating in the center of the ring on who should be disqualified, and who should be declared the winner.
LO: Well while these three have their official's pow wow, Dakota Jennings and Spiral are grasping at the ropes to try and pull themselves up to their feet...
KO: You gotta believe that whoever gets the next move probably has this match in the bag...
LO: If they don't both get disqualified before getting the chance to continue, Ken...
The two competitors catch a glimpse of each other at the same time, and as the referee's continue to have their pow-wow Spiral and Jennings charge at one another. Dakota throws up her boot to try for another Superkick, but Spiral manages to duck under it, and as he continues his momentum runs an arm between her legs and then forces her up into a Torture Wrack position on his shoulders. She kicks and flails, knowing what he's about to do, but it's for naught as he throws her up and out, and then drives his knee into the back of her skull on her way down. She hits the canvas with a thud, drawing the attention of all three referee's, and Spiral drops for a cover!
LO: SPIRAL EFFECT TO DAKOTA JENNINGS! AND THE REFEREE'S ARE JUST STARING DOWN AT SPIRAL AS HE HOOKS THE LEG!
KO: Uh....what are they going to do?
The refs look back and forth at one another comically before all three drop to count in unison...
1...
2...
3!!!
Spiral pushes off of Jennings and slinks over to a seated position with his back up against the ropes as he wipes sweat from his brow while staring at the downed Firecracker.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall.....THE PALE KING...SPIRAL!
Spiral continues to stare at Dakota until she starts to get to her feet, and he gives the camera a 'Spiral' like smile just as he slips under the bottom rope to make his way towards the ramp.
LO: No celebrating. No emotion. Just that strange emotionless smile that the Valor Pro Faithful have come to know....
KO: That dude gives me the creeps, I'm not even going to lie...
LO: Dakota Jennings is getting to her feet as well...and WHOA! The referee's all ducked out of the ring as she went crazy, and she's throwing a proper fit!
KO: I can't say I blame her really. Damn referee's are a menace around here lately.
LO: I think Jennings and Spiral are the menace, but at least our referee's weren't seriously injured this time...
KO: Yeah, Yeah...enough about the Zebras. I hear word backstage that a camera has caught up with Spiral, and maybe he'll finally explain his actions last show...
LO: Well then what are we waiting for? Get back there!
The camera focuses on Dakota Jennings still fuming inside the ring while the official's plead with her to depart until cutting backstage.
VANESSA BYRNE: It seems we have a problem, Mr. Spiral…
Her foot begins to tap, a sign that despite her own usually cool demeanor, the man in front of her has been successful in tapping into a nerve.
SPIRAL: Ah, I think you mean you have a problem. I’ve never been happier and you should be as well. I am here to unburden you, Ms. Vanessa, to rid you of all this. But it’s like the old song says: Happy is a bumpy road. You’ll get there, sport. You just need someone to drag you down that road, kicking and screaming, until you’re nothing but scrapes and bruises and a big ol’ grin. That’s what I am here to do, Ms. Vanessa. I told you. I told EVERYONE. I’m going to wrench this place away from your scrawny, veiny, liver-spotted hands and do the only sane thing a man can do in this insane world—strangle it…like an unwanted child. I’ll keep my hands around Valor’s throat, tighter and tighter with every labored breath, until it’s let out its final gasp. But I won’t let go yet, no-no. I’ll keep squeezing until it’s a blue, bloated husk of what it once was. Then I will walk away satisfied and the world will be better for it. Now, if you’ll excuse me…
He moves to walk past her but she holds her position. A thin smile comes across her lips though the gesture never reaches her eyes.
VANESSA BYRNE: Interesting choice of words, considering where you come from, and the ordeal in New Orleans that preceded your arrival here in Valor Pro. Yes, we were well aware of your legal troubles when we agreed to allow you to sign with the promotion. Matter of fact, it is probably the only reason you were signed. The buzz, and all that.
She pauses, the smile finally finding some real reflection of her feelings as she watches Spiral’s eyes go cold and hard.
VANESSA BYRNE: I don’t know what has possessed you to decide to do battle with me, and I don’t really care. I can assure you, I am more than capable of holding my own. What I do care about is my staff and crew, and quite frankly what I watched you do last show and just moments ago I can’t let stand. Now I know that putting you in some unfair match stipulation or threatening violence wouldn’t really accomplish anything. That is your main bread and butter after all, you’d probably enjoy it.
She uncrosses one of her arms and brings her hand up to her chin, index finger tapping her lips until her eyes go wide, as if a light bulb had just gone off.
VANESSA BYRNE: BUT given the situation you found yourself in before arriving, your representative, Patrick LeRoux, made it quite clear that you were in dire straits financially. It’s the reason we were able to pick you up at a bargain. So I’m going to hit you where it hurts. Now let me see, a production truck costs around eight million dollars, pain and services to the two staff members that were assaulted, your actions here tonight…..I’d say that brings us to a fine of ten million dollars.
Byrne’s smirk is genuine now, while Spiral takes a step forward, his dead eyes penetrating. Vanessa nods her head curtly, and four security personnel seem to appear out of nowhere.
VANESSA BYRNE: Since I know you can’t come up with that sort of capital, how about we just withhold the money from your contract until the end of the year.
Byrne moves to walk past Spiral, but pauses, turning her head slightly to add.
VANESSA BYRNE: By the by, if the moment was lost on you, I would suggest you keep your focus on the active competitors of this organization, and off of my non-competitive employee’s.
Spiral watches mortified as she walks away. His face is twisted into a mask of hatred and his lips open to say something as she bounces off with that stupid, pleased look on her face, but he withholds comment. Instead his eyes tick left to the camera, settling on the audience for a beat before turning and walking off.
Featuring: Cosmo Cooper & Brodie
“Lucid Dreams”, the Gregorian chant version of Franz Ferdinand’s song, and a ‘rendition’ we’ll say of Zack Fantana’s theme music, hits the speakers and everyone’s a bit confused by what they’re hearing. It sounds… reverent., awe-inspiring… gospel-y, even.
Until Brad Stokes enters the arena donning a sort of, i guess best to be described as a sort of priest’s frock but with yet another printed logo on it that reads “Leader of the Fantanaite Flock” in really cool stylish lettering. This would be what a Kiss fan would look like if Kiss did church music, for real. Brad holds a candle in his hands as he proceeds solemnly down the ramp towards the ring, careful not to extinguish the flame which symbolizes his undying commitment to the whole Fantana thing, presumably, idk.
Fans clap him on the back and he blesses and annoints them with some sort of oil that’s in his pocket, or it’s alcohol, who can tell. Brad proceeds up the steps and into the ring where he lights a few candles on a table and sits down in a chair set up next to two others in the middle of the ring.
The fans die down.
Brad Stokes: In this the year of our Lord Fantana twenty nineteen, veni vidi vici, coitus interruptus, in spiritus sancti, Dominus vobiscum, in excelsis Fantana, Glory hallelujah twenty hail Fantanas and we’re good to go! Alright! AHAHA! Here we be! Hello land of the heathens, Morocco, home of the moors and all the unwashed masses still suckling at the teat of unrighteousness.
Boos.
BS: That’s no way to treat an elder of the church. But Fantana said to forgive the infidels for they will be thrown through a burning table, thus ending the match. Ding ding ding!
Brad bows his head. He then F-crosses himself to sanctify the words and we’re back at it.
BS: Anyway, we got a bunch of unfantana-like folks set to be interviewed tonight, so let’s just bring them out for the sake of humoring them, and we can all get back to our lives, spreading the good word about the things Zack Fantana does on the reg, alright? Bring um on out.
Prototype by Viktoria Modesta plays as Brodie makes her way down the ramp. Unlike her usual entrance, she seems almost disinterested, an intricately decorated eyepatch covering her injured eye and her usually brightly colored hair a more muted honey blonde. She pauses only to look over the crowd before slinking into the ring in a very slow, methodical way. Brodie takes a seat with an eyepatch. Brad Stokes eyes her as one he recognizes from his past life of debauchery, probably from a poster or something…
And then “Lifted” by CL hits and the capacity crowd in Ravat, Morrocco is on its feet as the Apex Champion himself steps onto the ramp with the gleaming Apex Championship rests quite comfortably on his shoulder. He doesn’t look entirely pleased to be out here for this reason, he’s barefoot, looking ready to wrestle rather than participate in an interview segment with Brad Stokes. He steps down to the ring with his eyes locked crossly on Brodie and BRad. Once inside, Cosmo takes his seat to the other side of Brad, separating himself from Brodie with Brad in between.
Brad Stokes: Whoa whoa… hold on a second… what in Fantana’s name is going on here, huh?
The crowd din is loud with two of Valor Pro’s most recognizable faces both in the ring. The tension is palpable… the last time these two were seen it was in an absolutely violent contest on the last Blitz. Brad notes Brodie’s eyepatch a second time…
Brad Stokes: Do I detect a bit of animosity between you tw--
Cosmo Cooper: No. You don’t, idiot. Whatever animosity there was between us was settled last week on Blitz. When I beat you. Isn’t that right, Brodie?
It’s basically a mic drop. The crowd pops loudly, remembering the five star match these two put on to close out the show. Brodie is unphased.
Brodie: It talks. It sings. It dances. Nothing is over, golden boy. Whatever happened to her votes of confidence? Whatever happened--
Cosmo rolls his eyes. As far as he’s concerned this match has been decided, and quite definitively. Cosmo busts in.
Cosmo Cooper: What is your problem, Brodie? Do you just ignore facts and see what you want? Oh. I forgot… that eyepatch makes it so you don’t see much at all, huh?
Antagonistic crowd noise. The tension is palpable.
Brad Stokes: Haha. You know… even with the eyepatch…
Brad’s considering Brodie quietly in his mind.
Brad Stokes: I’d still hit--
He wakes up mid sentence and crosses himself with the letter F.
Brad Stokes: I mean WHOA! Hahah!
Cosmo isn’t having this.
Cosmo Cooper: There’s nothing left to say about Jolly Roger over here. I’m the Apex. Everyone else is looking up at me.
Brodie looks bored to be there, giving a yawn of disinterest.
Cosmo Cooper: Or did I hit your head so hard off that cage you forgot how things turned out for you? Look, Brad?
Brad Stokes: Yes, my kid?
Cosmo gives Brad a condescending double take before continuing.
Until Brad Stokes enters the arena donning a sort of, i guess best to be described as a sort of priest’s frock but with yet another printed logo on it that reads “Leader of the Fantanaite Flock” in really cool stylish lettering. This would be what a Kiss fan would look like if Kiss did church music, for real. Brad holds a candle in his hands as he proceeds solemnly down the ramp towards the ring, careful not to extinguish the flame which symbolizes his undying commitment to the whole Fantana thing, presumably, idk.
Fans clap him on the back and he blesses and annoints them with some sort of oil that’s in his pocket, or it’s alcohol, who can tell. Brad proceeds up the steps and into the ring where he lights a few candles on a table and sits down in a chair set up next to two others in the middle of the ring.
The fans die down.
Brad Stokes: In this the year of our Lord Fantana twenty nineteen, veni vidi vici, coitus interruptus, in spiritus sancti, Dominus vobiscum, in excelsis Fantana, Glory hallelujah twenty hail Fantanas and we’re good to go! Alright! AHAHA! Here we be! Hello land of the heathens, Morocco, home of the moors and all the unwashed masses still suckling at the teat of unrighteousness.
Boos.
BS: That’s no way to treat an elder of the church. But Fantana said to forgive the infidels for they will be thrown through a burning table, thus ending the match. Ding ding ding!
Brad bows his head. He then F-crosses himself to sanctify the words and we’re back at it.
BS: Anyway, we got a bunch of unfantana-like folks set to be interviewed tonight, so let’s just bring them out for the sake of humoring them, and we can all get back to our lives, spreading the good word about the things Zack Fantana does on the reg, alright? Bring um on out.
Prototype by Viktoria Modesta plays as Brodie makes her way down the ramp. Unlike her usual entrance, she seems almost disinterested, an intricately decorated eyepatch covering her injured eye and her usually brightly colored hair a more muted honey blonde. She pauses only to look over the crowd before slinking into the ring in a very slow, methodical way. Brodie takes a seat with an eyepatch. Brad Stokes eyes her as one he recognizes from his past life of debauchery, probably from a poster or something…
And then “Lifted” by CL hits and the capacity crowd in Ravat, Morrocco is on its feet as the Apex Champion himself steps onto the ramp with the gleaming Apex Championship rests quite comfortably on his shoulder. He doesn’t look entirely pleased to be out here for this reason, he’s barefoot, looking ready to wrestle rather than participate in an interview segment with Brad Stokes. He steps down to the ring with his eyes locked crossly on Brodie and BRad. Once inside, Cosmo takes his seat to the other side of Brad, separating himself from Brodie with Brad in between.
Brad Stokes: Whoa whoa… hold on a second… what in Fantana’s name is going on here, huh?
The crowd din is loud with two of Valor Pro’s most recognizable faces both in the ring. The tension is palpable… the last time these two were seen it was in an absolutely violent contest on the last Blitz. Brad notes Brodie’s eyepatch a second time…
Brad Stokes: Do I detect a bit of animosity between you tw--
Cosmo Cooper: No. You don’t, idiot. Whatever animosity there was between us was settled last week on Blitz. When I beat you. Isn’t that right, Brodie?
It’s basically a mic drop. The crowd pops loudly, remembering the five star match these two put on to close out the show. Brodie is unphased.
Brodie: It talks. It sings. It dances. Nothing is over, golden boy. Whatever happened to her votes of confidence? Whatever happened--
Cosmo rolls his eyes. As far as he’s concerned this match has been decided, and quite definitively. Cosmo busts in.
Cosmo Cooper: What is your problem, Brodie? Do you just ignore facts and see what you want? Oh. I forgot… that eyepatch makes it so you don’t see much at all, huh?
Antagonistic crowd noise. The tension is palpable.
Brad Stokes: Haha. You know… even with the eyepatch…
Brad’s considering Brodie quietly in his mind.
Brad Stokes: I’d still hit--
He wakes up mid sentence and crosses himself with the letter F.
Brad Stokes: I mean WHOA! Hahah!
Cosmo isn’t having this.
Cosmo Cooper: There’s nothing left to say about Jolly Roger over here. I’m the Apex. Everyone else is looking up at me.
Brodie looks bored to be there, giving a yawn of disinterest.
Cosmo Cooper: Or did I hit your head so hard off that cage you forgot how things turned out for you? Look, Brad?
Brad Stokes: Yes, my kid?
Cosmo gives Brad a condescending double take before continuing.
Cosmo Cooper: There is no one left in this company for me to beat. I’ve beaten Devlin who knows how many times. Brodie--
Brad Stokes: What about Cross Recoba?
Cosmo Cooper blows the question off.
Cosmo Cooper: Cross is a lucky man. One win. One lucky win, but he’s a footnote. Brodie’s reign as UnYielding champion was impressive, it’s no more impressive than Danny Rizzo’s, both of which stand in the shadow of my reign as Apex Champion.
He holds up four fingers for the crowd to see.
Cosmo Cooper: 4 months. 4 months of me representing this championship everywhere I go in everything I do.
He pats it on his shoulder.
Cosmo Cooper: 4 months of me sending every single challenger back down to the bottom of the mountain. There’s a reason Vanessa chose me as her champion. It’s not because of my name. It’s not because of what I am to this sport. All of that comes with the fact that every Cosmo Cooper match is a main event match. Every time I set foot in that ring I earn this championship. So if all of this is some silly build-up to a match at Rite of Kings, spare me. There’s no one that deserves a shot at this championship. I’ve beaten them all.
Brad kinda nervously taps a set of cue cards off his smock.
Brad Stokes: Actually... haha.. *tugs at his priest collar nervously* it is.
Cosmo rolls his eyes once more.
Cosmo Cooper: So what, I’m supposed to accept a challenge from who, Brodie again? That’s not a challenge. That's a joke.
Brodie: You have a lot of difficulty accepting inevitability, soldier boy.
Cosmo Cooper: You’re not inevitable, Brodie. You’re yesterday’s news on repeat. You're the bottom bar of a CNN newsfeed. Nobody cares.
Brad Stokes: Well actually, it’s not just Brodie you’re facing according to--
Cosmo Cooper: And Devlin?
Brad Stokes: Well… yeah.
Cosmo Cooper: I have nothing left to prove against Brennan Devlin.
Brad Stokes: Yeah, but… it’s not just Brennan and Brodie.
Cosmo looks a little taken aback.
Cosmo Cooper: Who then?
Brad Stokes looks to his cue card.
Brad Stokes: Says here… you’ll also be facing Cross Recoba, too.
Cosmo rolls his eyes.
Cosmo Cooper: Changes nothing. Cross Recoba? Kudos on the roll-up, buddy. You won one, but not handily. Catch me once and I pat you on the back. But I promise you, you won’t catch me twice, Cross. As for Brodie? Brennan Devlin. I don’t care who. Vanessa sets them up. I knock them down. I don’t care if the entire roster comes down to the ring. I’m the Apex Champion. I don’t intend on that changing anytime soon.
He’s done talking. Glaring at Brad, Cosmo gets up, drops the microphone down onto the ring just seconds before the audio tech shuts it off. It gives a loud pop as Cosmo exits the ring woith the Apex Champion slung across his shoulder, glaring at Brodie as he passes. He walks up the ramp and he’s gone. Brad looks to Brodie who smirks at him knowingly.
Brad Stokes: Okay… so… uhh it’s just you and me…
Brodie begins to laugh softly, leaning back in her seat she seems to shift entirely in her persona, turning her head to regard Brad with a light smile.
Brodie: Funny, isn’t it?
Before he can respond she presses a finger to her own lips with a shushing sound.
Brodie: He stomps his feet and wails. Thinking as children always do, that holding his breath til he gets his own way will work this time. The truth of the matter is, Cosmo Cooper did not BEAT me, he escaped me. He fell, quite literally, fell into his first and only retention of the championship he cradles to him like a child.
She lifts a hand, leaning in closer to Brad she runs her finger along the underside of his jaw and stops, resting her finger at his chin.
Brodie: Tell me Brad… does it look as though I am blinded by this eye patch? Do I seem slower? Less ready to tear the head off anyone who would dare question my capability?
For a moment, horny Brad looks to be salivating at the closeness of he and Brodie, but the new and improved, more righteous Brad Stokes kicks in.
Brad Stokes: I--I don’t know. Eye patches. Looks more like you’ve got amblyopia or something, amiright folks? Hahaha.
He awkwardly pulls away, looking out into the arena, potentially for some help. A smirk and quirk of her brow precedes Brodie sitting back once again.
Brodie: Cooper can whine on and on about how there’s no challenges left for him in this company. But all that does, is show his fear. And he should be afraid, he’s smart to be afraid… He took something from me Brad so now? I won’t rest until I’ve taken everything from him.
Sliding off her chair she leans in uncomfortably close to Brad and with purpose, slowly lifts her eyepatch so only he can see what’s underneath. Brodie then lets it fall back into place as she nods.
Brodie: That, will be the last thing Cooper sees before his championship, his fans, his adoration from our questionable leadership… all of it, is taken from him. And do you know what’s gonna be left when I strip all of that away?
She holds a hand up and shakes her head.
Brodie: You Don’t. But you’re going to find out. Everyone is.
A sweeping finality to it as she stands and turns. You’d expect the ever-loquacious Brad Stokes to chime in with something, but his face is locked… seemingly unmoving, a look of sheer terror at whatever he’s gazed upon beneath that eyepatch. Brodie has a devilish smirk on her face as she calmly, impishly exits the ring with the crowd murmuring to themselves… what an unexpected way to end a Brad Stokes segment. Brad’s not moving. Locked in place…
Moments of Brad Stokes being stuck like that. Is... is this part of the show? What did he see… what’s happened? Paramedics rush the ring to revive Brad who may have just died…. He's nonresponsive... they set him onto a stretcher looking like rigor mortis has set in rapidly... and off he goes to the hospital.
Brad Stokes: What about Cross Recoba?
Cosmo Cooper blows the question off.
Cosmo Cooper: Cross is a lucky man. One win. One lucky win, but he’s a footnote. Brodie’s reign as UnYielding champion was impressive, it’s no more impressive than Danny Rizzo’s, both of which stand in the shadow of my reign as Apex Champion.
He holds up four fingers for the crowd to see.
Cosmo Cooper: 4 months. 4 months of me representing this championship everywhere I go in everything I do.
He pats it on his shoulder.
Cosmo Cooper: 4 months of me sending every single challenger back down to the bottom of the mountain. There’s a reason Vanessa chose me as her champion. It’s not because of my name. It’s not because of what I am to this sport. All of that comes with the fact that every Cosmo Cooper match is a main event match. Every time I set foot in that ring I earn this championship. So if all of this is some silly build-up to a match at Rite of Kings, spare me. There’s no one that deserves a shot at this championship. I’ve beaten them all.
Brad kinda nervously taps a set of cue cards off his smock.
Brad Stokes: Actually... haha.. *tugs at his priest collar nervously* it is.
Cosmo rolls his eyes once more.
Cosmo Cooper: So what, I’m supposed to accept a challenge from who, Brodie again? That’s not a challenge. That's a joke.
Brodie: You have a lot of difficulty accepting inevitability, soldier boy.
Cosmo Cooper: You’re not inevitable, Brodie. You’re yesterday’s news on repeat. You're the bottom bar of a CNN newsfeed. Nobody cares.
Brad Stokes: Well actually, it’s not just Brodie you’re facing according to--
Cosmo Cooper: And Devlin?
Brad Stokes: Well… yeah.
Cosmo Cooper: I have nothing left to prove against Brennan Devlin.
Brad Stokes: Yeah, but… it’s not just Brennan and Brodie.
Cosmo looks a little taken aback.
Cosmo Cooper: Who then?
Brad Stokes looks to his cue card.
Brad Stokes: Says here… you’ll also be facing Cross Recoba, too.
Cosmo rolls his eyes.
Cosmo Cooper: Changes nothing. Cross Recoba? Kudos on the roll-up, buddy. You won one, but not handily. Catch me once and I pat you on the back. But I promise you, you won’t catch me twice, Cross. As for Brodie? Brennan Devlin. I don’t care who. Vanessa sets them up. I knock them down. I don’t care if the entire roster comes down to the ring. I’m the Apex Champion. I don’t intend on that changing anytime soon.
He’s done talking. Glaring at Brad, Cosmo gets up, drops the microphone down onto the ring just seconds before the audio tech shuts it off. It gives a loud pop as Cosmo exits the ring woith the Apex Champion slung across his shoulder, glaring at Brodie as he passes. He walks up the ramp and he’s gone. Brad looks to Brodie who smirks at him knowingly.
Brad Stokes: Okay… so… uhh it’s just you and me…
Brodie begins to laugh softly, leaning back in her seat she seems to shift entirely in her persona, turning her head to regard Brad with a light smile.
Brodie: Funny, isn’t it?
Before he can respond she presses a finger to her own lips with a shushing sound.
Brodie: He stomps his feet and wails. Thinking as children always do, that holding his breath til he gets his own way will work this time. The truth of the matter is, Cosmo Cooper did not BEAT me, he escaped me. He fell, quite literally, fell into his first and only retention of the championship he cradles to him like a child.
She lifts a hand, leaning in closer to Brad she runs her finger along the underside of his jaw and stops, resting her finger at his chin.
Brodie: Tell me Brad… does it look as though I am blinded by this eye patch? Do I seem slower? Less ready to tear the head off anyone who would dare question my capability?
For a moment, horny Brad looks to be salivating at the closeness of he and Brodie, but the new and improved, more righteous Brad Stokes kicks in.
Brad Stokes: I--I don’t know. Eye patches. Looks more like you’ve got amblyopia or something, amiright folks? Hahaha.
He awkwardly pulls away, looking out into the arena, potentially for some help. A smirk and quirk of her brow precedes Brodie sitting back once again.
Brodie: Cooper can whine on and on about how there’s no challenges left for him in this company. But all that does, is show his fear. And he should be afraid, he’s smart to be afraid… He took something from me Brad so now? I won’t rest until I’ve taken everything from him.
Sliding off her chair she leans in uncomfortably close to Brad and with purpose, slowly lifts her eyepatch so only he can see what’s underneath. Brodie then lets it fall back into place as she nods.
Brodie: That, will be the last thing Cooper sees before his championship, his fans, his adoration from our questionable leadership… all of it, is taken from him. And do you know what’s gonna be left when I strip all of that away?
She holds a hand up and shakes her head.
Brodie: You Don’t. But you’re going to find out. Everyone is.
A sweeping finality to it as she stands and turns. You’d expect the ever-loquacious Brad Stokes to chime in with something, but his face is locked… seemingly unmoving, a look of sheer terror at whatever he’s gazed upon beneath that eyepatch. Brodie has a devilish smirk on her face as she calmly, impishly exits the ring with the crowd murmuring to themselves… what an unexpected way to end a Brad Stokes segment. Brad’s not moving. Locked in place…
Moments of Brad Stokes being stuck like that. Is... is this part of the show? What did he see… what’s happened? Paramedics rush the ring to revive Brad who may have just died…. He's nonresponsive... they set him onto a stretcher looking like rigor mortis has set in rapidly... and off he goes to the hospital.
DANNY RIZZO: “Morocco…”
As Danny began to talk to the fans through the lens of a camera, an odd question popped into his head. They had been travelling the world since he had signed his contract with Valor, and in many of the places they went English was not the common language. How many fans had he spoken to in the past actually had been able to understand him? How many had simply cheered because that was what they thought they were supposed to do? Though he was fairly certain it didn’t matter one way or the other, it caused him to cock his head to the side slowly with a quizzical look on his face before shaking it away and continuing on.
DANNY RIZZO: “If this is the last night that I get to walk out to that ring as UnYielding Champion, it has been a fun ride. From the moment I stepped into the ring for this company, you all have had my back. You’ve supported me, fueled me, and driven me to become the best version of myself that I possibly could be. And sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the things that really matter. Sometimes it’s easy to get so lost in the madness that is this business, that you forget who you are. I think there have been times when I’ve even lost sight of who I was. Times when I’ve been pushed to the absolute limit. NovaCaine did it for months. And still you stood behind me, believing in me, and knowing that at the end of the day that I would do what was right. If tonight is the end of my chapter as the UnYielding Champion, I can walk out of this building with my head held high knowing that two weeks from now, no matter what, you all will still have my back.”
His fingers slid over the shining belt that was wrapped firmly around his waist, ready for him to walk out onto the stage with it on full display. That would come in a few moments. For now, though, there was still more he had to say.
DANNY RIZZO: “But, boy, if tonight isn’t the end what a resume we’ve built together, huh? Without being bogged down in the muck and the mire of a mudslinging contest like we’ve seen between Cosmo and Brodie, and Cosmo and Brennan for the past few months. We’ll have overcame a walking nightmare in Brodie. A turncoat in Dakota. A shooting star in Berlin Anderson. And a buzzsaw in Siberia Zombie. So I promise you, when I go out there in just a few moments. I’m going to leave it all out there. Regardless of the outcome. Regardless of whether, when I make the trek back to my locker, I still have this championship around my waist or not. I will give it my all from start to finish. For you. This is what we do. This is who we are. We rise. Endlessly.”
Nodding his head toward the camera, Danny turns and walks out of sight. Lingering, the camera stays focused on the spot where he had been for a few long moments.
Which pass.
And even more pass.
Until the familiar bearded face of Kaven Drell appears once more. Smirking his deranged smile into the camera, Drell cocks his head and looks curiously into the lens.
KAVEN DRELL: “Don’t worry, Valor fans. While Danny rises, I’m here to set fire to everything beneath.”
Turning his attention toward where Danny had just disappeared, Drell cackles, unhinged, for just a moment before reaching out and shoving the cameraman down. In the chaos, the camera slams to the ground, coming to rest pointed in a direction that shows Drells feet shuffling off in the direction that the UnYielding champion had gone.
As Danny began to talk to the fans through the lens of a camera, an odd question popped into his head. They had been travelling the world since he had signed his contract with Valor, and in many of the places they went English was not the common language. How many fans had he spoken to in the past actually had been able to understand him? How many had simply cheered because that was what they thought they were supposed to do? Though he was fairly certain it didn’t matter one way or the other, it caused him to cock his head to the side slowly with a quizzical look on his face before shaking it away and continuing on.
DANNY RIZZO: “If this is the last night that I get to walk out to that ring as UnYielding Champion, it has been a fun ride. From the moment I stepped into the ring for this company, you all have had my back. You’ve supported me, fueled me, and driven me to become the best version of myself that I possibly could be. And sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the things that really matter. Sometimes it’s easy to get so lost in the madness that is this business, that you forget who you are. I think there have been times when I’ve even lost sight of who I was. Times when I’ve been pushed to the absolute limit. NovaCaine did it for months. And still you stood behind me, believing in me, and knowing that at the end of the day that I would do what was right. If tonight is the end of my chapter as the UnYielding Champion, I can walk out of this building with my head held high knowing that two weeks from now, no matter what, you all will still have my back.”
His fingers slid over the shining belt that was wrapped firmly around his waist, ready for him to walk out onto the stage with it on full display. That would come in a few moments. For now, though, there was still more he had to say.
DANNY RIZZO: “But, boy, if tonight isn’t the end what a resume we’ve built together, huh? Without being bogged down in the muck and the mire of a mudslinging contest like we’ve seen between Cosmo and Brodie, and Cosmo and Brennan for the past few months. We’ll have overcame a walking nightmare in Brodie. A turncoat in Dakota. A shooting star in Berlin Anderson. And a buzzsaw in Siberia Zombie. So I promise you, when I go out there in just a few moments. I’m going to leave it all out there. Regardless of the outcome. Regardless of whether, when I make the trek back to my locker, I still have this championship around my waist or not. I will give it my all from start to finish. For you. This is what we do. This is who we are. We rise. Endlessly.”
Nodding his head toward the camera, Danny turns and walks out of sight. Lingering, the camera stays focused on the spot where he had been for a few long moments.
Which pass.
And even more pass.
Until the familiar bearded face of Kaven Drell appears once more. Smirking his deranged smile into the camera, Drell cocks his head and looks curiously into the lens.
KAVEN DRELL: “Don’t worry, Valor fans. While Danny rises, I’m here to set fire to everything beneath.”
Turning his attention toward where Danny had just disappeared, Drell cackles, unhinged, for just a moment before reaching out and shoving the cameraman down. In the chaos, the camera slams to the ground, coming to rest pointed in a direction that shows Drells feet shuffling off in the direction that the UnYielding champion had gone.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is scheduled for one fall or submission, and is for THE UNYIELDING CHAMPIONSHIP...
The sound of wind blows through the arena, and then the marching beat of Wanli by Hyukoh spills over the PA System. Just as the riffs begin out steps Siberia Zombie wearing her trademark silk robe with two warring dragons snaking across it, and she doesn't even pause at the top of the stage as she continues to march along with the beat of the song down the ramp.
Ring Announcer: And making her way to the ring, standing at five foot six and weighting in at 130 pounds, hailing from Siberia, Russia...Representing The Zombie Clan, THE SIBERIAN BUZZSAW.....SIBERIA ZOMBIEEEE!!!
Zombies march leads her to the steps at ringside, taking them two at a time to end up on the apron, and then climbing the ropes to stand on the second, her arms out at her side with an intense stare out at the cheering crowd. She eventually steps up to the top, and hops down inside of the ring, flicking her shoulders which sends the silk floating down to the mat as she takes a fighting stance where she stands.
LO: The Zombie Clan lost their Chimera Tag Team Championships last show, and immediately following the program Aokigahara Zombie took to Twitter to proclaim that would be the last time anyone takes anything from them...
KO: And now Siberia Zombie is out here looking to take away Danny Rizzo's UnYielding Championship...
LO: A bold claim and move on the part of The Zombies, who if they win here tonight will be one step closer to dominating the company in another championship division...
The opening drums of 'A Warrior's Call' by Volbeat strikes across the capacity crowd and they all turn 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...THE RISEN....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. Siberia sizes him up with a glance, still retaining her fighters stance to await the sound of the bell.
LO: Danny Rizzo has defied all the odds, taking down Brodie to become the champion, and then going on to defend his belt with class and gusto!
KO: Yeah, but you can tell that do-gooder veneer is starting to tarnish, Laur. He's a champion now, and he's feeling the pressure of that constant target on his back!
LO: I will admit that Danny has taken on a more aggressive side since his beginnings with the company, but that seems a natural conclusion as we enter into his eleventh match, and his third title defense.
KO: Well we're about to see what happens when two pure strikers go head to head, cause there's the bell, and this thing is underway!
Zombie and Rizzo begin to circle one another before locking up in the center of the ring. Rizzo moves quickly into a go behind Waist Lock on Siberia, but the deft woman performs a standing switch, putting herself behind the champion instead. Rizzo searches for an escape until finally reaching down and grabbing Siberia by her wrists and using his size advantage to force the woman's arms apart. He quickly transitions both hands over to her right wrist, and performs a Judo throw that sends her flipping over and down to the mat. He drops to his knees, locking her into an Arm Bar, but Siberia is already spinning up to her knee and fighting up to her feet. Danny repositions again, this time taking her into an Arm Wringer, twisting under a second time to really torque the shoulder.
LO: A little chain wrestling to start this off, and I have to say I'm a little surprised.
KO: Maybe they are just feeling each other out before throwing hands. They both have watched the tapes, and seem to know what's to come, but want to see where the other is at beforehand.
Siberia slaps at her twisted up shoulder, and then commits to a front roll which relieves some of the pressure. She pops back up to her feet and moves into a reversal that twists Rizzo's arm, but stops halfway to fire a back kick right into the champion's face that sends him crashing to the mat. The fans come out of their seats to see what they came here to see out of this match, as Siberia quickly tries to High Stomp Danny. The champion, however, rolls out of the way, and the fans give a mixed reaction as Siberia continues to follow him, High Stomping and missing every time while Rizzo stays on the move. Eventually he rolls right under the bottom rope to the outside, and Siberia is forced to stop by the ropes, both competitors exchanging a dangerous glance. Siberia eventually smirks, stepping to the center of the ropes and sitting on the middle with a wave of her hand, inviting Rizzo back into the ring.
LO: Siberia Zombie having a little fun at the champions expense, and Danny doesn't look too happy about it as he paces on the outside with hands on hips.
KO: That's a surprising sight to see out of Siberia considering her honorable past, but I guess what she said this week in VPW programming was for real.
Siberia slips off the rope and steps to the center of the ring to give Danny a fair chance to reenter the match, and he quickly leaps up to the apron and springs into the ring, the two exchanging some banter before circling one another once again. The two move in to lock up, but it's Danny who ducks out of the way this time, and when Siberia spins around she's caught with a Left Jab that causes her to take a step back. It's followed by two more lefts that put her on her back foot, but she springs forwards with a high arching Front Kick only for Danny to duck out of it's path. When she spins around it's a Right Hook that sends her stumbling down to a knee, but she pops back up only to catch a quick forearm shot that sends her stumbling into the ropes. Danny quickly moves in to take her by the wrist, and whips her to the opposite side.
LO: Siberia Zombie on the rebound now, and Danny moves out to the center of the ring and ducks his head for a Back Body, BUT SIBERIA ROLLS RIGHT ACROSS HIS BACK TO LAND ON HER FEET BEHIND HIM!
KO: She kept her momentum to bounce off the ropes one more time as Danny spins around to face her, and SHE LEAVES HER FEET FOR A SINGLE LEG DROP KICK!
Danny hits the mat, but is up quickly, stutter stepping his way back towards the nearby corner. Siberia comes up as well, following him in with rights and lefts that keep him boxed in. She quickly transitions to her educated feet, Shoot Kicks finding their mark against Danny's chest and lifting him right off the ground with their impact. The crowd begin to count along with her, but before they can get anywhere she finishes the combination with a Low Spinning Roundhouse to the gut that doubles Danny over. She hooks him around the head and pulls him away from the turnbuckles, swinging her left foot out and then bringing it forward like lightening as she drives his skull into the canvas with a DDT. She quickly nudges him over onto his back, and hooks his leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! The champion out at two, and Siberia pulls him up to a seated position.....rushes past him to hit the turnbuckles of the corner, and CHARGES BACK OUT WITH A LOW DROP KICK THAT SENDS HIM SLAMMING BACK TO THE MAT!
KO: Zombie has momentum here as she is up and returning to the corner...hops up to the second, and COMES FLYING OFF WITH A LEG DROP THAT FINDS IT'S MARK ACROSS RIZZO'S SKULL!
LO: She's hooking the leg again!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Two and a half count this time, but every time she puts him to the mat like that the champion expends more energy trying to get out of it!
Zombie pushes up off her knee and pulls Danny with her, pushing him back into the corner and nailing him with a Palm Thrust to the temple before taking him by the wrist, and sending him to the other side. She follows in close behind him, but is taken completely off her guard when Danny grabs the top rope and throws his legs and body high up into the air. Siberia passes beneath him to strike the top turnbuckle chest first, and as Danny's body descends, he twists it around to hook her around the waist and drags her down into a Sunset Flip Pin out of the corner.
1...
2...
LO: NO! Siberia kicks out, and now Danny back to his feet...Siberia trying to get to hers, but here's Danny...RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP PUTS HER DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: The Champion quick to his feet, and doesn't even go to the apron to scale the ropes...just bounds right up to the top, and SHORT DIVING ELBOW DROP FINDS IT'S MARK IN THE CENTER OF SIBERIA'S CHEST!
LO: It's Danny with another cover...
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Two and half for Danny, and man...these two are evenly matched!
Danny pulls Siberia up, but gets caught with a surprise forearm to his gut that begs him off. He moves back in to try and regain control, but another shot to the midsection forces him to take a step back, and Siberia pushes up to her feet and drives the top of her skull right under Rizzo's chin. Danny's head snaps back as he stumbles into the ropes, and when his head drops his eyes go wide as Siberia comes rushing right at him with a lariat that sends both competitors tumbling up and over the top rope to bounce off the apron and then crash to the floor.
LO: Crash and burn for both challenger and champion, but Siberia is gripping the apron and pulling herself up!
Siberia hops up onto the ring apron and beckons for Danny Rizzo to get to his feet, and just as he does she rushes along the ring apron and flips off the side into a Rolling Senton that wipes out both competitors once again. This time they both stay down for a moment, prompting Caputo to start a ten count from the edge of the ring. When she reaches four both Siberia and Danny begin to stir, and by six both have pulled themselves to their feet. Siberia moves in to strike at Rizzo, but he ducks under the swing and slips his head under her arm, lifts her up, and then tosses her up and out to land spine first on the ring apron. Siberia lets out a wail as she clutches at her lower back, and Danny steps forwards and shoves her under the bottom rope and back into the ring.
KO: That was a nasty landing for the challenger!
LO: Yeah, and now Danny hops up onto the ring apron, grips the top rope, and SPRINGBOARD SHOOTING STAR PRESS CRUSHES ZOMBIE INTO THE MAT!
KO: DANNY HOOKS THE LEG FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Siberia Zombie gets her shoulder up at the nick of time, and Danny slams his fist off the mat in frustration!
KO: We've seen this happen to him in the past, and he really just needs to keep his focus. He has the woman down, now all he has to do is put her away...
Danny steps to the opposite side of the ring and leans on the top rope, indicating with his hand that he wants Siberia to rise. Eventually she does so, albeit slowly, and when she's in perfect position, Danny charges right at her. He leaps into the air, his knee shooting out for his patented Kinshasa Knee Strike, but to everyone's surprise, Siberia ducks under it at the last second to allow Rizzo to sail right past her. Danny doesn't even get the chance to turn back around before Siberia rushes him from behind with a Waist Lock, running him into the ropes chest first, and then drags him down into a Rolling Pin.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Danny just shoved Siberia's hips off the back of her legs and sat forward to trap her shoulders to the mat!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Siberia just pitched her whole body backwards to put Danny onto his back, and she pulled his legs with her into a pin...NO! Wait a minute, she just pulled him all the way forward onto his knee's, Danny trying to rise...ROUNDHOUSE KICK TAKES HIS HEAD OFF!!
Danny crumples to the mat, and Siberia tiredly falls on top of him, not even bothering to hook the leg.
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Rizzo just saved his championship by getting the shoulder up at the last possible nanosecond, and now it's Siberia Zombie who is lying on her back beside him frustrated.
The referee waves the three fingers Siberia holds up at her, and the Zombie shakes her head before sitting up to stare down at Danny beside her. She eventually gets to her feet and reaches down to pull Danny up and pushes him into the ropes before whipping him to the other side. Danny rebounds and Siberia squares up to catch him coming in, which is why when he drops into a low drop kick, it takes her completely by surprise. Siberia drops to one knee, and Danny scrambles to hit off the ropes once more for spring and rushes back at her into a nasty looking Shining Wizard!
KO: BLACK ROSE!
LO: FOLKS, SIBERIA ZOMBIE'S EYES JUST ROLLED INTO THE BACK OF HER HEAD AS SHE CRUMPLED TO THE MAT, AND NOW DANNY IS HOOKING THE LEG DEEP AND PRAYING FOR THREE!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! Good god that was so close!
LO: Danny Rizzo can't believe it as he falls over onto his side and beats the canvas...
KO: These two are in a clutch now, and Danny Rizzo must be wondering what he has to do to put Siberia Zombie away!
Danny pulls himself up to his feet, and with a shake of his head reaches down to pull Siberia up as well. That's when he's taken completely off guard as she hooks him around the head and drags him to the mat into a Small Package Pin!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Rizzo kicks out and scrambles to his feet, but Siberia is right behind him...
KO: Rizzo with a right hand, but Siberia ducks it...Boot to the midsection doubles him over....she steps up and tucks the head between her legs, AND TREMENDOUS POWER BY SIBERIA ZOMBIE AS SHE GETS HIM UP INTO A GORY SPECIAL...
LO: AND SHE SITS OUT INTO A FACE BOMB! AIBIDZI CALLING!!
Siberia sits there for a moment, breathing heavily and obviously tired, the match having taken so much out of both competitors. Just as she moves to make the cover "Counting Bodies Like Sheep" by A Perfect Circle and Spiral steps out onto the stage carrying a wooden baseball bat, drawing every eye, including Siberia's, to the the entry way. The crowd boo's loudly as he starts his way down towards the ring, and Zombie has no other choice but to get to her feet and prepare for the attack she's sure this dangerous man is planning.
LO: What is this asshole doing out here? Didn't General Manager Byrne make it clear to him....Stay out of other people's business!
KO: Yeah, well he just made it to ringside, and he's pointing with that bat past Siberia to the ring where Danny Rizzo is getting to his feet...
LO: Siberia glances back to see it, and HERE SHE COMES WITH A SUPERKICK! NO! DANNY DUCKED IT!
KO: HIT'S OFF THE ROPES, AND THE WARRIOR'S CALL TAKES THE SIBERIAN BUZZSAW'S HEAD OFF! THERE'S THE COVER!
1...
2...
3!!!
The bell sounds and just as Danny Rizzo gets to his feet he's clobbered from behind by the baseball bat wielding psychopath known as Spiral. Danny is sent sprawling to the canvas, and Spiral takes both ends of the bat into his hands, and then uses the thick end to drive straight down into Danny's skull as he tries to get to his feet. When Danny looks up, a gash in his forehead pours blood as Spiral turns his attentions back to Siberia Zombie.
LO: DAMN HIM! WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS!
KO: THE GUY WITH THE BASEBALL BAT! THAT'S WHO! DON'T GET UP SIBERIA!
Unfortunately she can't hear the announce team as she forces herself by use of the ropes up to her feet. Upon seeing Spiral coming at her, she rushes forwards instead, only for him to switch his grip on the bat to a traditional hold, and swings it into her midsection like he's chopping wood. The blow knocks her feet right out from under her and she lands front first to the canvas cradling her midsection, and Spiral nudges her over with the end of the bat to place it right under her chin.
LO: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! GET SECURITY OUT HERE!
KO: I don't know that any of the staff want to get near this guy while he still has that baseball bat....
Spiral slides out of the ring, tossing the bat to the side, and walks to a crew member at the timekeeper's table. The young man flinches, thinking Spiral is going to hit him, but instead he just takes the microphone out of his hand. He gives the man a wink before turning back to the ring and rolling in under the bottom rope. He stands and marches into the middle of the chaos he has sown.
SPIRAL: THIS is me limiting myself to the confines of active competitors.
The building comes down on him in waves of boos.
SPIRAL: I am a wild thing without definition. I cannot be reasoned with. I cannot be concealed or restrained and I will not be ignored. There are no more barriers to cross. I feel good. I feel lethal. And it’s time the world takes notice…Now, play my music.
He drops the microphone and climbs out of the ring as A Perfect Circle counts bodies like sheep over a chorus of boos. Siberia Zombie and Danny Rizzo both lay in heaps clutching at their battered bodies, while halfway up the ramp Spiral stops and looks back over his shoulder. The cameraman shadowing him focuses on the severe look on his face and the very Spiral like smile creeping and crawling its way from ear to ear, just before the scene cuts backstage.
The sound of wind blows through the arena, and then the marching beat of Wanli by Hyukoh spills over the PA System. Just as the riffs begin out steps Siberia Zombie wearing her trademark silk robe with two warring dragons snaking across it, and she doesn't even pause at the top of the stage as she continues to march along with the beat of the song down the ramp.
Ring Announcer: And making her way to the ring, standing at five foot six and weighting in at 130 pounds, hailing from Siberia, Russia...Representing The Zombie Clan, THE SIBERIAN BUZZSAW.....SIBERIA ZOMBIEEEE!!!
Zombies march leads her to the steps at ringside, taking them two at a time to end up on the apron, and then climbing the ropes to stand on the second, her arms out at her side with an intense stare out at the cheering crowd. She eventually steps up to the top, and hops down inside of the ring, flicking her shoulders which sends the silk floating down to the mat as she takes a fighting stance where she stands.
LO: The Zombie Clan lost their Chimera Tag Team Championships last show, and immediately following the program Aokigahara Zombie took to Twitter to proclaim that would be the last time anyone takes anything from them...
KO: And now Siberia Zombie is out here looking to take away Danny Rizzo's UnYielding Championship...
LO: A bold claim and move on the part of The Zombies, who if they win here tonight will be one step closer to dominating the company in another championship division...
The opening drums of 'A Warrior's Call' by Volbeat strikes across the capacity crowd and they all turn 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...THE RISEN....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. Siberia sizes him up with a glance, still retaining her fighters stance to await the sound of the bell.
LO: Danny Rizzo has defied all the odds, taking down Brodie to become the champion, and then going on to defend his belt with class and gusto!
KO: Yeah, but you can tell that do-gooder veneer is starting to tarnish, Laur. He's a champion now, and he's feeling the pressure of that constant target on his back!
LO: I will admit that Danny has taken on a more aggressive side since his beginnings with the company, but that seems a natural conclusion as we enter into his eleventh match, and his third title defense.
KO: Well we're about to see what happens when two pure strikers go head to head, cause there's the bell, and this thing is underway!
Zombie and Rizzo begin to circle one another before locking up in the center of the ring. Rizzo moves quickly into a go behind Waist Lock on Siberia, but the deft woman performs a standing switch, putting herself behind the champion instead. Rizzo searches for an escape until finally reaching down and grabbing Siberia by her wrists and using his size advantage to force the woman's arms apart. He quickly transitions both hands over to her right wrist, and performs a Judo throw that sends her flipping over and down to the mat. He drops to his knees, locking her into an Arm Bar, but Siberia is already spinning up to her knee and fighting up to her feet. Danny repositions again, this time taking her into an Arm Wringer, twisting under a second time to really torque the shoulder.
LO: A little chain wrestling to start this off, and I have to say I'm a little surprised.
KO: Maybe they are just feeling each other out before throwing hands. They both have watched the tapes, and seem to know what's to come, but want to see where the other is at beforehand.
Siberia slaps at her twisted up shoulder, and then commits to a front roll which relieves some of the pressure. She pops back up to her feet and moves into a reversal that twists Rizzo's arm, but stops halfway to fire a back kick right into the champion's face that sends him crashing to the mat. The fans come out of their seats to see what they came here to see out of this match, as Siberia quickly tries to High Stomp Danny. The champion, however, rolls out of the way, and the fans give a mixed reaction as Siberia continues to follow him, High Stomping and missing every time while Rizzo stays on the move. Eventually he rolls right under the bottom rope to the outside, and Siberia is forced to stop by the ropes, both competitors exchanging a dangerous glance. Siberia eventually smirks, stepping to the center of the ropes and sitting on the middle with a wave of her hand, inviting Rizzo back into the ring.
LO: Siberia Zombie having a little fun at the champions expense, and Danny doesn't look too happy about it as he paces on the outside with hands on hips.
KO: That's a surprising sight to see out of Siberia considering her honorable past, but I guess what she said this week in VPW programming was for real.
Siberia slips off the rope and steps to the center of the ring to give Danny a fair chance to reenter the match, and he quickly leaps up to the apron and springs into the ring, the two exchanging some banter before circling one another once again. The two move in to lock up, but it's Danny who ducks out of the way this time, and when Siberia spins around she's caught with a Left Jab that causes her to take a step back. It's followed by two more lefts that put her on her back foot, but she springs forwards with a high arching Front Kick only for Danny to duck out of it's path. When she spins around it's a Right Hook that sends her stumbling down to a knee, but she pops back up only to catch a quick forearm shot that sends her stumbling into the ropes. Danny quickly moves in to take her by the wrist, and whips her to the opposite side.
LO: Siberia Zombie on the rebound now, and Danny moves out to the center of the ring and ducks his head for a Back Body, BUT SIBERIA ROLLS RIGHT ACROSS HIS BACK TO LAND ON HER FEET BEHIND HIM!
KO: She kept her momentum to bounce off the ropes one more time as Danny spins around to face her, and SHE LEAVES HER FEET FOR A SINGLE LEG DROP KICK!
Danny hits the mat, but is up quickly, stutter stepping his way back towards the nearby corner. Siberia comes up as well, following him in with rights and lefts that keep him boxed in. She quickly transitions to her educated feet, Shoot Kicks finding their mark against Danny's chest and lifting him right off the ground with their impact. The crowd begin to count along with her, but before they can get anywhere she finishes the combination with a Low Spinning Roundhouse to the gut that doubles Danny over. She hooks him around the head and pulls him away from the turnbuckles, swinging her left foot out and then bringing it forward like lightening as she drives his skull into the canvas with a DDT. She quickly nudges him over onto his back, and hooks his leg for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: KICK OUT! The champion out at two, and Siberia pulls him up to a seated position.....rushes past him to hit the turnbuckles of the corner, and CHARGES BACK OUT WITH A LOW DROP KICK THAT SENDS HIM SLAMMING BACK TO THE MAT!
KO: Zombie has momentum here as she is up and returning to the corner...hops up to the second, and COMES FLYING OFF WITH A LEG DROP THAT FINDS IT'S MARK ACROSS RIZZO'S SKULL!
LO: She's hooking the leg again!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Two and a half count this time, but every time she puts him to the mat like that the champion expends more energy trying to get out of it!
Zombie pushes up off her knee and pulls Danny with her, pushing him back into the corner and nailing him with a Palm Thrust to the temple before taking him by the wrist, and sending him to the other side. She follows in close behind him, but is taken completely off her guard when Danny grabs the top rope and throws his legs and body high up into the air. Siberia passes beneath him to strike the top turnbuckle chest first, and as Danny's body descends, he twists it around to hook her around the waist and drags her down into a Sunset Flip Pin out of the corner.
1...
2...
LO: NO! Siberia kicks out, and now Danny back to his feet...Siberia trying to get to hers, but here's Danny...RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP PUTS HER DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: The Champion quick to his feet, and doesn't even go to the apron to scale the ropes...just bounds right up to the top, and SHORT DIVING ELBOW DROP FINDS IT'S MARK IN THE CENTER OF SIBERIA'S CHEST!
LO: It's Danny with another cover...
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Two and half for Danny, and man...these two are evenly matched!
Danny pulls Siberia up, but gets caught with a surprise forearm to his gut that begs him off. He moves back in to try and regain control, but another shot to the midsection forces him to take a step back, and Siberia pushes up to her feet and drives the top of her skull right under Rizzo's chin. Danny's head snaps back as he stumbles into the ropes, and when his head drops his eyes go wide as Siberia comes rushing right at him with a lariat that sends both competitors tumbling up and over the top rope to bounce off the apron and then crash to the floor.
LO: Crash and burn for both challenger and champion, but Siberia is gripping the apron and pulling herself up!
Siberia hops up onto the ring apron and beckons for Danny Rizzo to get to his feet, and just as he does she rushes along the ring apron and flips off the side into a Rolling Senton that wipes out both competitors once again. This time they both stay down for a moment, prompting Caputo to start a ten count from the edge of the ring. When she reaches four both Siberia and Danny begin to stir, and by six both have pulled themselves to their feet. Siberia moves in to strike at Rizzo, but he ducks under the swing and slips his head under her arm, lifts her up, and then tosses her up and out to land spine first on the ring apron. Siberia lets out a wail as she clutches at her lower back, and Danny steps forwards and shoves her under the bottom rope and back into the ring.
KO: That was a nasty landing for the challenger!
LO: Yeah, and now Danny hops up onto the ring apron, grips the top rope, and SPRINGBOARD SHOOTING STAR PRESS CRUSHES ZOMBIE INTO THE MAT!
KO: DANNY HOOKS THE LEG FOR A COVER!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Siberia Zombie gets her shoulder up at the nick of time, and Danny slams his fist off the mat in frustration!
KO: We've seen this happen to him in the past, and he really just needs to keep his focus. He has the woman down, now all he has to do is put her away...
Danny steps to the opposite side of the ring and leans on the top rope, indicating with his hand that he wants Siberia to rise. Eventually she does so, albeit slowly, and when she's in perfect position, Danny charges right at her. He leaps into the air, his knee shooting out for his patented Kinshasa Knee Strike, but to everyone's surprise, Siberia ducks under it at the last second to allow Rizzo to sail right past her. Danny doesn't even get the chance to turn back around before Siberia rushes him from behind with a Waist Lock, running him into the ropes chest first, and then drags him down into a Rolling Pin.
1...
2...
LO: THRE-NO! Danny just shoved Siberia's hips off the back of her legs and sat forward to trap her shoulders to the mat!
1...
2...
KO: THRE-NO! Siberia just pitched her whole body backwards to put Danny onto his back, and she pulled his legs with her into a pin...NO! Wait a minute, she just pulled him all the way forward onto his knee's, Danny trying to rise...ROUNDHOUSE KICK TAKES HIS HEAD OFF!!
Danny crumples to the mat, and Siberia tiredly falls on top of him, not even bothering to hook the leg.
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Rizzo just saved his championship by getting the shoulder up at the last possible nanosecond, and now it's Siberia Zombie who is lying on her back beside him frustrated.
The referee waves the three fingers Siberia holds up at her, and the Zombie shakes her head before sitting up to stare down at Danny beside her. She eventually gets to her feet and reaches down to pull Danny up and pushes him into the ropes before whipping him to the other side. Danny rebounds and Siberia squares up to catch him coming in, which is why when he drops into a low drop kick, it takes her completely by surprise. Siberia drops to one knee, and Danny scrambles to hit off the ropes once more for spring and rushes back at her into a nasty looking Shining Wizard!
KO: BLACK ROSE!
LO: FOLKS, SIBERIA ZOMBIE'S EYES JUST ROLLED INTO THE BACK OF HER HEAD AS SHE CRUMPLED TO THE MAT, AND NOW DANNY IS HOOKING THE LEG DEEP AND PRAYING FOR THREE!
1...
2...
KO: THREE-NO! Good god that was so close!
LO: Danny Rizzo can't believe it as he falls over onto his side and beats the canvas...
KO: These two are in a clutch now, and Danny Rizzo must be wondering what he has to do to put Siberia Zombie away!
Danny pulls himself up to his feet, and with a shake of his head reaches down to pull Siberia up as well. That's when he's taken completely off guard as she hooks him around the head and drags him to the mat into a Small Package Pin!
1...
2...
LO: THREE-NO! Rizzo kicks out and scrambles to his feet, but Siberia is right behind him...
KO: Rizzo with a right hand, but Siberia ducks it...Boot to the midsection doubles him over....she steps up and tucks the head between her legs, AND TREMENDOUS POWER BY SIBERIA ZOMBIE AS SHE GETS HIM UP INTO A GORY SPECIAL...
LO: AND SHE SITS OUT INTO A FACE BOMB! AIBIDZI CALLING!!
Siberia sits there for a moment, breathing heavily and obviously tired, the match having taken so much out of both competitors. Just as she moves to make the cover "Counting Bodies Like Sheep" by A Perfect Circle and Spiral steps out onto the stage carrying a wooden baseball bat, drawing every eye, including Siberia's, to the the entry way. The crowd boo's loudly as he starts his way down towards the ring, and Zombie has no other choice but to get to her feet and prepare for the attack she's sure this dangerous man is planning.
LO: What is this asshole doing out here? Didn't General Manager Byrne make it clear to him....Stay out of other people's business!
KO: Yeah, well he just made it to ringside, and he's pointing with that bat past Siberia to the ring where Danny Rizzo is getting to his feet...
LO: Siberia glances back to see it, and HERE SHE COMES WITH A SUPERKICK! NO! DANNY DUCKED IT!
KO: HIT'S OFF THE ROPES, AND THE WARRIOR'S CALL TAKES THE SIBERIAN BUZZSAW'S HEAD OFF! THERE'S THE COVER!
1...
2...
3!!!
The bell sounds and just as Danny Rizzo gets to his feet he's clobbered from behind by the baseball bat wielding psychopath known as Spiral. Danny is sent sprawling to the canvas, and Spiral takes both ends of the bat into his hands, and then uses the thick end to drive straight down into Danny's skull as he tries to get to his feet. When Danny looks up, a gash in his forehead pours blood as Spiral turns his attentions back to Siberia Zombie.
LO: DAMN HIM! WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS!
KO: THE GUY WITH THE BASEBALL BAT! THAT'S WHO! DON'T GET UP SIBERIA!
Unfortunately she can't hear the announce team as she forces herself by use of the ropes up to her feet. Upon seeing Spiral coming at her, she rushes forwards instead, only for him to switch his grip on the bat to a traditional hold, and swings it into her midsection like he's chopping wood. The blow knocks her feet right out from under her and she lands front first to the canvas cradling her midsection, and Spiral nudges her over with the end of the bat to place it right under her chin.
LO: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! GET SECURITY OUT HERE!
KO: I don't know that any of the staff want to get near this guy while he still has that baseball bat....
Spiral slides out of the ring, tossing the bat to the side, and walks to a crew member at the timekeeper's table. The young man flinches, thinking Spiral is going to hit him, but instead he just takes the microphone out of his hand. He gives the man a wink before turning back to the ring and rolling in under the bottom rope. He stands and marches into the middle of the chaos he has sown.
SPIRAL: THIS is me limiting myself to the confines of active competitors.
The building comes down on him in waves of boos.
SPIRAL: I am a wild thing without definition. I cannot be reasoned with. I cannot be concealed or restrained and I will not be ignored. There are no more barriers to cross. I feel good. I feel lethal. And it’s time the world takes notice…Now, play my music.
He drops the microphone and climbs out of the ring as A Perfect Circle counts bodies like sheep over a chorus of boos. Siberia Zombie and Danny Rizzo both lay in heaps clutching at their battered bodies, while halfway up the ramp Spiral stops and looks back over his shoulder. The cameraman shadowing him focuses on the severe look on his face and the very Spiral like smile creeping and crawling its way from ear to ear, just before the scene cuts backstage.
Winner By Pinfall: Danny Rizzo
We cut backstage, a staff member wheels a box of merch clearly stating ‘FANTANANITE T-SHIRTS’ past the cameraman, obviously on his way to Brad Stokes. We pan left and see a plaque adorning a door - ‘Temporary Office of Vanessa Byrne’. Into view walks Cross Recoba. A screen-within-the-screen appears in the bottom left with the caption earlier. It shows Recoba suited up and carrying a briefcase in each hand.
KO: Fans, this footage was shot earlier today when Cross was arriving at the arena.
LLO: A photo of this leaked onto Twitter and people have been speculating all day what could be the purpose of the second briefcase.
KO: I’m leaning towards it containing a brick, it’s one way to make sure Devlin will stay down in the main event!
Cross still holds the briefcases in the main picture as the smaller screen dissolves. He is clad out in his ring gear, clearly ready for the match. He lifts one of the briefcases and pauses as if second-guessing himself. He goes to knock on the door but changes his mind and uses it to open the door. The cameraman follows from behind and we see Vanessa Byrne on the phone, her face remains impassive as she talks.
VANESSA BYRNE: ...look, the opportunity for exposure is obvious. This year alone has seen us go to Russia, Japan, I’m calling you from Morocco. If that doesn’t scream mo-
Byrne turns her head in horror as Recoba leans over her shoulder and presses the ‘End Call’ button on her cell.
KO: Fans, this footage was shot earlier today when Cross was arriving at the arena.
LLO: A photo of this leaked onto Twitter and people have been speculating all day what could be the purpose of the second briefcase.
KO: I’m leaning towards it containing a brick, it’s one way to make sure Devlin will stay down in the main event!
Cross still holds the briefcases in the main picture as the smaller screen dissolves. He is clad out in his ring gear, clearly ready for the match. He lifts one of the briefcases and pauses as if second-guessing himself. He goes to knock on the door but changes his mind and uses it to open the door. The cameraman follows from behind and we see Vanessa Byrne on the phone, her face remains impassive as she talks.
VANESSA BYRNE: ...look, the opportunity for exposure is obvious. This year alone has seen us go to Russia, Japan, I’m calling you from Morocco. If that doesn’t scream mo-
Byrne turns her head in horror as Recoba leans over her shoulder and presses the ‘End Call’ button on her cell.
VANESSA BYRNE: Are you looking for the unemployment office? Because that's where you're headed. That's an important--
Cross motions towards the other side of her desk and we see the two briefcases propped on top of one another on one of the chairs opposite her own.
CROSS RECOBA: Future business can wait. Now is the time for current affairs...
Vanessa scowls, the call that one half of the Chimera Tag-Team Champions had ended was worth a minimum of six figures to the company. This conversation’s value currently read at whatever the price would be for a packet of whatever the South African equivalent to Advil ran to. Cross sat down in the chair next to the briefcases.
CROSS RECOBA: So, last week I think we can all agree tempers flared and we all did things that, in hindsight, we’re not proud of.
VANESSA BYRNE: I don't agree to that. I'm quite satisfied.
CROSS RECOBA: Future business can wait. Now is the time for current affairs...
Vanessa scowls, the call that one half of the Chimera Tag-Team Champions had ended was worth a minimum of six figures to the company. This conversation’s value currently read at whatever the price would be for a packet of whatever the South African equivalent to Advil ran to. Cross sat down in the chair next to the briefcases.
CROSS RECOBA: So, last week I think we can all agree tempers flared and we all did things that, in hindsight, we’re not proud of.
VANESSA BYRNE: I don't agree to that. I'm quite satisfied.
Cross stumbles momentarily before continuing.
CROSS RECOBA: Right. Well, I think I can speak for Dakota when I say that what you saw with her and Caputo at Blitz Fourteen was purely her passion and desire to win, not just a match, but a title here in Valor Pro Wrestling. Surely that’s an asset to the company, that she’d be willing to do whatever it took to prove her worth to the company and the industry?
Byrne studies Cross for a moment. He was charming but so were many of the men she’d encountered on her rise to the position of General Manager of VPW. They’d been the ones only too eager to help her when she started her career competing in the ring and ultimately, the vast majority didn’t act too far outside of their own interests.
VANESSA BYRNE: Mr Recoba, you're going the wrong way to fight for the job security of the woman you're currently sleeping with. She's proven herself a liability to this company with her stupid, shortsighted antics.
She narrowed her eyes at him coldly.
CROSS RECOBA: Right. Well, I think I can speak for Dakota when I say that what you saw with her and Caputo at Blitz Fourteen was purely her passion and desire to win, not just a match, but a title here in Valor Pro Wrestling. Surely that’s an asset to the company, that she’d be willing to do whatever it took to prove her worth to the company and the industry?
Byrne studies Cross for a moment. He was charming but so were many of the men she’d encountered on her rise to the position of General Manager of VPW. They’d been the ones only too eager to help her when she started her career competing in the ring and ultimately, the vast majority didn’t act too far outside of their own interests.
VANESSA BYRNE: Mr Recoba, you're going the wrong way to fight for the job security of the woman you're currently sleeping with. She's proven herself a liability to this company with her stupid, shortsighted antics.
She narrowed her eyes at him coldly.
VANESSA BYRNE: Though now I’m wondering which of you is dumb and which is dumber. Your offer is not accepted. Get out.
Finality. Cross’ mouth drops open at being dismissed so easily. He goes to talk but is suddenly aware of two heavyset men who don’t look the kind to negotiate. He grabs the briefcases and backs out of the room as we cut back to ringside.
Finality. Cross’ mouth drops open at being dismissed so easily. He goes to talk but is suddenly aware of two heavyset men who don’t look the kind to negotiate. He grabs the briefcases and backs out of the room as we cut back to ringside.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a singles match scheduled for one fall or submission, and is your MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!!
'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, Chimera Tag Team Championship snugly around his waist. 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 one half of the CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS....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, tapping the face plate of his championship while stepping over to the far corner to await his opponent.
LO: Cross Recoba has had a few hiccups in his rise through the rankings, but it's safe to say that he's also had some major triumphs despite how tainted they may be...
KO: What the hell are you talking about, Laur! He is a two time UnYielding Champion, he made it all the way to the Main Event of Allegiance by beating half the roster in a Battle Royal, he has the only pinfall victory against the Apex Champion in singles competition, and now he's a Chimera Tag Team Champion alongside his girlfriend, Dakota Jennings! There's nothing tainted about that!
LO: No, nothing at all. Only....his first UnYielding Championship reign came because he paid Zachariah Krahe to win it for him, and he made it to the Main Event of Allegiance after already being eliminated from the Chimera Tag Tournament in the first round. Not to mention that the pinfall victory against Cooper you're referring to came after a distraction from his opponent here tonight, and those Chimera Tag Team Championships didn't come until after chair shots from his illustrious partner.
KO: You are so negative, and just can't admit when I'm right.
LO: Trust me, Ken, I'm waiting for the day that you are. Then, and only then, will I eat my words.
The conversation doesn't get the chance to continue as ‘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 Am Faceless' embroidered on the back. The arena explodes with boos as Devlin stops at the top of the ramp to soak them in, staring down at the ring at Cross Recoba with a sardonic grimace.
RING ANNOUNCER: Making his way to the ring, 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 keep his eyes glued on Recoba who returns the gaze intently. He pushes his way through the ropes, and falls back into the corner, rocking his head from side to side as if to get rid of the kinks in his neck.
LO: I can't believe this guy...It's like he really has had a metamorphosis into a different person...
KO: heh, heh, heh....He's one of the few around here i do believe in!
LO: Ken, just because Brennan Devlin says he's the #1 Contender, does not make him the #1 Contender! Brodie and Cosmo have unfinished business as we saw earlier tonight, and Devlin has done nothing but stick his nose into that conflict.
KO: Yeah, and he's been successful at it to. Everyone knows that Devlin and Cooper's business wasn't concluded, but Brodie went and won herself a #1 Contendership, and even I have to admit she did great in her title shot. It was super close. But in the end, Cooper is still the Apex, and Devlin made claim to be the next in line.
LO: By whose authority?
KO: Laur...he's The Face of Wrestling...
Kenneth says it so matter of fact that Laurence is speechless for a moment, but just as he's about to come up with a reply the bell sounds. Devlin and Recoba stand there for a moment just staring at one another, the bravado and pandering having melted away to the seriousness at hand. Eventually both men push out of their corners and step to the center of the ring, coming nose to nose before the first derogatory words begin to flow. Cross says something and then smirks, turning an eye to the crowd with an expression that says, ‘Am I Right?’ Brennan says something in response that brings Recoba’s head snapping back into focus, the two nearly touching foreheads as they mean mug one another. Finally, Recoba takes a step back with a shrug, and then slaps Devlin right across the jaw. The Face of Wrestling's head snaps around and he stares down at the canvas for a moment while the fans have their fun jeering, before he reaches up to slap Cross in response. The two men stare at each other now, their intensity growing, until both men rare back and start laying in heavy rights with lightening fast speed.
LO: THIS THING HAS BROKEN OPEN, AND BOTH MEN ARE JUST HAMMERING AWAY IN THE CENTER OF THE RING!
KO: I know they would hate to hear this and would never admit it, but they are a lot alike…
LO: You’re right, Ken, I don’t think they’d appreciate you saying that…
The two men continue to trade blows, Cross eventually grabbing for Devlin’s head and forcing him to lock up, both jockeying back and forth all the way into the ropes, rolling along them despite the referee’s pleas to break. Brennan ends up with his back in a corner, and Cross gets a fistful of hair to force him back against the turnbuckles. The referee admonishes until he finally breaks, backing up a step before firing in a thunderous chop. The fans ‘Woooo’ at the same time that Devlin reacts with a chop of his own. Cross send in another chop, then Devlin, both men’s chests turning an unnatural shade of red.
LO: Both men laying in those nasty sounding chops, and now it’s Devlin fighting his way out of the corner…
KO: Cross pushed back to the center of the ring, and he ducks under one of Devlin’s chops and moves into a Waist Lock from behind…
LO: Devlin already firing elbows into the side of his head which breaks his hold…and now Devlin rushes the ropes for spring..
KO: AND REBOUNDS RIGHT INTO A HIP TOSS FROM RECOBA!
Brennan quickly scrambles back up to his feet, only to walk into another Hip Toss, this one followed by an Elbow Drop. Devlin manages to roll out of the way, and as Recoba pops up catches him with a Release Arm Drag. As soon as Cross lands he’s back on his feet and feeds right into another one. Devlin now attempts an Elbow of his own, but much to the same result as Cross rolls out of the way. Both men come up quickly to their feet and pause before engaging again, drawing an actual clap from the crowd.
LO: Both men now putting on the brakes, and this capacity crowd seems to appreciate what they are giving them here tonight!
KO: Yeah, yeah…but we both know these guys don’t care what these Neanderthals think. They are here for one reason, and one reason only, and that’s to prove who is the best!
The two men begin circling one another before locking up in the center of the ring, but that is quickly contested when Cross rakes Devlin across the eyes. The referee admonishes Recoba who steps back with hands innocently in the air, but then he steps right back into Devlin’s blind spot and digs in even deeper to the eye area with both hands. Devlin stumbles back towards the ropes rubbing at his eyes as Cross grins at the referee’s threats of calling it.
LO: Cross Recoba finally getting down to the business he knows best…Cheating!
KO: Whatever, Laur! This man is a ring general, and he’s about to show you why!
Cross takes a blind Devlin by the wrist and whips him to the opposite side where he rebounds and charges back. Just as he reaches the center of the ring, Cross steps forward and catches him in a Spinning Power Slam that puts Devlin onto his back, and he hooks the leg for a cover.
1…
2…
LO: THR-NO! Devlin out at two and a half, and he’s still having trouble with his vision after having his eyes gouged by The Fox…
KO: Recoba now on his feet, and he just took Devlin’s feet by his ankles and lifted them up…HE’S GOING FOR IT!
LO: BRENNAN DEVLIN IS FIGHTING LIKE HELL TO KEEP RECOBA FROM LOCKING HIM INTO GARABALDI’S GUILLOTINE, AND HAS MANAGED TO GET ONE LEG FREE…
KO: Blind kicks find their mark against Recoba’s chest knocking him away, and now Devlin crawling over to the ropes to help guide himself up…
LO: Cross sees it, and here he comes charging in….BRENNAN HEARD HIM COMING AND DROPS DOWN, PULLING THE TOP ROPE WITH HIM!!
Cross tumbles over the top rope and crashes hard against the concrete floor, and Devlin helps himself back up, still wiping at his eyes and trying to shake the cobwebs. The Face of Wrestling seems to have some of his vision back as he starts over to the nearby corner and starts to climb the turnbuckles. Just as he perches himself on the top Recoba gets to his feet, and he looks up just in time to see Devlin dive off and crown him on top of the head with a Double Ax Handle!
LO: Cross Recoba is down once again thanks to a flying Devlin, who is already pulling the man up to his feet…
KO: Devlin has a hold of his wrist and IRISH WHIPS HIM TOWARDS THE STEEL BARRICADE!
Recoba is barely able to turn his body so that he crashes into the barricade spine first instead of head on, and the impact sends him stumbling out clutching his lower back. Devlin closes the gap and scoops Cross up onto his shoulder, and then tosses him out a ways to come crashing down across the top of the guard rail chest first. The Fox drops to his knee’s in pain, but Devlin won’t let him rest, pulling him up by a fistful of hair and tosses him under the bottom rope into the ring.
LO: Devlin got some payback for that eye rake earlier by doing damage outside the ring, and now he follows Cross Recoba back inside…
KO: Recoba getting to his feet, and HERE COMES DEVLIN WITH A SWINGING NECKBREAKER FOLLOWED BY A PIN!
1…
2…
LO: THREe-NO! Recoba able to kick out after a long two count, and Devlin now pulls him up to a seated position and applies a Chin Lock!
Cross reaches out to the far away ropes to no avail while his neck is wrench back with Devlin’s knee firmly in the center of his shoulder blades for leverage. A few well-timed yanks as The Fox crying out, and seeing that he has to do something, he quickly rolls to his hip to take some of the pressure off. This forces Brennan to switch holds to maintain control of the head, pulling Cross into a deep Side Headlock. The Fox manages to get a knee under himself and he pushes up, forcing Devlin to move up along with him.
LO: Recoba now searching for an escape, but isn’t finding one…wait….He lifts Brennan into the air, and SIDE SUPLEX STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: Bought himself some separation there, and he’s now crawling his way towards the corner to try and use the turnbuckles to get himself up…but Brennan is right behind him!
Both men get to their feet at about the same time, but Devlin get’s eyes on Recoba first, and he charges right for the man. Just as he leaps for a Big Splash, Recoba side steps and Brennan crashes chest first into the top turnbuckle. He clutches his chest as he stumbles back to the interior of the ring, and Cross moves in front of him and takes him to the mat with a Standing Double Leg Take Down. Now in control of his lower half again, Cross chokes up to Brennan’s knees while the fans come to their feet in anticipation of his dread submission hold. Cross, however, surprises everyone, when he falls back with his knee’s buried in Devlin’s rear to send him Catapulting towards the corner he had previously struck!
LO: BRENNAN DEVLIN SENT RIGHT OVER THE TOP TURNBUCKLE TO GO FACE FIRST INTO THE TOP OF THE RING POST!
KO: THE FACE OF WRESTLING TASTED STEEL AS HE COMES PUNCH DRUNK STUMBLING AWAY FROM THE CORNER…
LO: And Cross is waiting to meet him from behind, pulls his head back and hooks him in a Dragon Sleeper….OSAKA STREET STUNNER!!
KO: THE SKIM TO DEVLIN, AND RECOBA IS HOOKING THE LEG!
1…
2…
LO: THREE-NO! Devlin’s left shoulder shoots off the canvas before the count of three, and Cross Recoba is arguing with the referee…
KO: That was damn close, but Caputo is adamant that it was only two…Recoba now turning his attention back to Devlin, and he’s got evil intentions all over his face!
Recoba hot steps it back over to Devlin who has gotten to his hands and knee’s, and he pulls the man up while getting a handful of tights, and runs him head first through the top and middle ropes so that he crashes to the concrete below. The ground camera picks up the words ‘Get up you son of a bitch!’ as Recoba beckons with his hands, and as Devlin starts to comply, he rushes the opposite side ropes.
LO: Devlin is a little farther away from the ring apron than Recoba thought as he thunders back across the ring and LEAPS OVER THE TOP ROPE FOR A MILLION…NO!! DEVLIN DUCKED UNDER IT AND CAUGHT HIM AROUND THE HEAD AS HE PASSED! OH MY GOD!
KO: FACE OFF! FACE OFF DOWN TO THE CONCRETE!
LO: Cross Recoba may have a broken neck after this, and now both men are down on the outside of the ring….Caputo is starting a count!
KO: Forget the count! Get EMT’s down here….They might be dead!
The fans are in complete awe as the ref continues her countdown, getting to a dangerous seven before either competitor bothers to move. Just as she’s about to call it, Brennan Devlin springs to his feet and slides into the ring to break the count, immediately pushing himself back out. He clutches his own head with one hand as he reaches down and gets ahold of Cross by his with the other. He struggles to get Cross to his feet, The Fox appearing unconscious, but eventually gets him up against the apron and under the bottom rope. He rolls him towards the center of the ring where he flops down on top of him.
1…
2…
LO: THREE-NO! MY GOD THE REFEREE WAS A CENTIMETER OFF THE CANVAS FOR THREE, BUT NO SUCH LUCK FOR BRENNAN DEVLIN!
KO: Devlin is beating his fists against the canvas, and there is a sense of desperation in his expression as he gets to his feet…
LO: I believe that Brennan Devlin just hit one of his biggest offensive moves, on the concrete floor, no less, and it wasn’t enough to put Reoba down for the three count…
KO: To be fair, those guys spent a lot of time on the outside, and even longer getting Recoba back into the ring….But Devlin seems to have finally calmed down, and now he’s looking at Cross like a man posessesed!
Devlin falls back into the corner, the toe of his boot tapping against the canvas in anticipation as Recoba rolls onto his side and then his stomach. Everyone knows what is coming, and Devlin doesn’t even try to hide it as his toe strikes the mat harder and harder. Cross gets one hand in under him, then the other, and with a great heave he pushes himself up onto his knee’s. It’s at that moment that Devlin comes charging out of the corner, leaps into the air, and aims his boot directly down towards Recoba’s head!
LO: FACE TIM—NO! RECOBA SOMEHOW MANAGED TO ROLL OUT OF THE WAY AS DEVLIN’S BOOT STOMPS DOWN WHERE HIS HEAD HAD BEEN SECONDS AGO!
KO: The Fox isn’t stopping there….he’s rolled all the way to the edge of the ring and to the outside! What a genius!
LO: Brennan Devlin doesn’t seem to think so as he has a torrent of disgust and disbelief etched on his brow….
KO: Wait! What is he doing? BRENNAN DEVLIN WITH A BASEBALL SLIDE DROP KICK RIGHT UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE TO RECOBA!
Cross is sent off of his feet like a shotgun blast, and he crashes hard to the concrete once again as Devlin pushes himself the rest of the way out of the ring to join him. Devlin is talking to himself now as he pulls Recoba up to his feet only to hook him around the head, looking for another Face Off. Cross, however, gives Brennan a powerful shove forwards instead, and he rushes gut first into the steel steps in his path.
LO: GOOD GOD! BRENNAN DEVLIN JUST GORED HIMSELF ON THE STEPS, AND HERE COMES RECOBA!
KO: FISTFUL OF HAIR AND BOUNCES DEVLIN’S SKULL OFF THE TOP OF THE STEPS, AND NOW TOSSES HIM BACK INTO THE RING!
Brennan rolls to where he’s laying right in front of the closest corner, and Cross hops up to the top turnbuckle, turning himself to where he’s sitting ontop of it. He stands to his full height on the second rope, and the fans boo him as he launches himself forwards into a fist drop straight down into Brennan’s skull. The Face of Wrestling flops around clutching at his skull, as Recoba pins him and hooks the leg for good measure.
1…
2…
LO: THREE-NO! Devlin out at two and three quarters, and now Cross has him by the legs for the third time in this contest, dragging him to the center of the ring and trying to turn him into Garabaldi’s Guillotine!
KO: Yeah, but Devlin is no fool! He knows what it means if he’s trapped in the hold, and he’s fighting like hell, no matter how hurt he might be!
Brennan continues to struggle, but this time Cross is relentless, refusing to let loose. Finally, Brennan draws both knee’s to his chest and plants the bottom of his boots on Recoba’s, and then shoves straight back with all his might. Recoba is forced to let go as he falls back into the ropes which spring him forwards, and just as he does Devlin kips up to his feet and lays him out with a massive boot to the face that takes his head off!
LO: KIP UP INTO A SUPERKICK HAS LAID RECOBA OUT!
KO: Yeah, but Devlin can’t follow up…he just crumpled down beside him…
LO: The referee starting a ten count, but Wait! Devlin is slowly rolling over onto his side, and just crawled over to drape an arm over Recoba’s chest!
1…
2…
KO: THREE-NO! Recoba just came within an inch of losing this thing, and now both men are lying there tired in the center of the ring!
Both men crawl for the ropes as Caputo's ten count rings out in their ears, and they are in a moment of desperation to get back to their feet. Devlin manages it just a second before Recoba, and upon seeing the man, rushes right for him to try for a lariat. Recoba, however, ducks the move, and Devlin keeps on going towards the ropes, steps up to the second and then the top, and springs backwards into an Asai Moonsault. He comes down right on Cross, but instead of wiping the man out as intended, The Fox pitches his whole body forwards, planting the top of Devlin's skull on the canvas in a Tombstone Piledriver!
LO: UP ALL NIGHT IN DAKOTA!
KO: HE WILL BE LATER IF HE PULLS THIS OFF! HE JUST FELL FORWARDS ON TOP OF A LAID OUT DEVLIN!
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: Good God Almighty! Cross Recoba just defeated Brennan Devlin out of nowhere!
KO: That's usually Devlin's line, but yeah...
The bell sounds as Cross falls off of Devlin and lies beside him for a moment, nodding his head as if he knew this would be the outcome all along. The referee kneels down beside him to lift his arm, and he forces the man to help him up, and with some help from the ropes, he demands the referee lift his arm proper.
RING ANNOUNCER: and the winner of this contest via pinfall....THE FOX....CROSS RECOBA!!
LO: You know what this means, right? This man is going to be insufferable.
KO: Worse than that....what does this mean for Devlin's chances at being the #1 Contender to the Apex Championship?
LO: I don't know....he's lost to Cooper, he's lost to Brodie, and now he's lost to Recoba. It's the one thing they all have in common...
KO: But...he's the Face of Wrestling...
LO: Not according to this new version...
The announces continue to muse as Recoba struts around the ring, dragging the referee along, forcing him to keep his hand raised for all to see. The fans boo him immensely, so when the boo's come for a different reason, he has no clue. Behind him Devlin rises, groggy at first, but shaking the cobwebs with every gesture. Finally his eyes lock in on Recoba, and with a wicked grin that belies a man who just lost a match, he spins The Fox around and drops him where he stands with a lightening fast Face Off! The crowd pops a bit despite their disdain for Devlin, and he slithers on his belly back a pace to stare at the prone Chimera Tag Team Champion. His nose curls in disgust as he pushes up to his knees, and wild eyes tell a different story than the usual jovial Devlin. He beats his chest, and snarls down into the prone Recoba's face...
BRENNAN DEVLIN: I AM THE VOID, CROSS......I AM THE VOID THAT CONSUMES....WIN OR LOSE....YOU....ALL OF YOU WILL GO DARK!
Devlin pops up and casts a threatening glance at the booing audience before slipping through the ropes, and making his way up the ramp. Recoba lays in the middle of the ring, still stunned, uncertain of what just happened. With the help of the ring crew, Cross makes his way up the ramp looking stunned, leaving the crowd with a lot to ponder as they begin to file out of the arena.
Cut to an overhead shot of the arena.
'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, Chimera Tag Team Championship snugly around his waist. 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 one half of the CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS....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, tapping the face plate of his championship while stepping over to the far corner to await his opponent.
LO: Cross Recoba has had a few hiccups in his rise through the rankings, but it's safe to say that he's also had some major triumphs despite how tainted they may be...
KO: What the hell are you talking about, Laur! He is a two time UnYielding Champion, he made it all the way to the Main Event of Allegiance by beating half the roster in a Battle Royal, he has the only pinfall victory against the Apex Champion in singles competition, and now he's a Chimera Tag Team Champion alongside his girlfriend, Dakota Jennings! There's nothing tainted about that!
LO: No, nothing at all. Only....his first UnYielding Championship reign came because he paid Zachariah Krahe to win it for him, and he made it to the Main Event of Allegiance after already being eliminated from the Chimera Tag Tournament in the first round. Not to mention that the pinfall victory against Cooper you're referring to came after a distraction from his opponent here tonight, and those Chimera Tag Team Championships didn't come until after chair shots from his illustrious partner.
KO: You are so negative, and just can't admit when I'm right.
LO: Trust me, Ken, I'm waiting for the day that you are. Then, and only then, will I eat my words.
The conversation doesn't get the chance to continue as ‘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 Am Faceless' embroidered on the back. The arena explodes with boos as Devlin stops at the top of the ramp to soak them in, staring down at the ring at Cross Recoba with a sardonic grimace.
RING ANNOUNCER: Making his way to the ring, 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 keep his eyes glued on Recoba who returns the gaze intently. He pushes his way through the ropes, and falls back into the corner, rocking his head from side to side as if to get rid of the kinks in his neck.
LO: I can't believe this guy...It's like he really has had a metamorphosis into a different person...
KO: heh, heh, heh....He's one of the few around here i do believe in!
LO: Ken, just because Brennan Devlin says he's the #1 Contender, does not make him the #1 Contender! Brodie and Cosmo have unfinished business as we saw earlier tonight, and Devlin has done nothing but stick his nose into that conflict.
KO: Yeah, and he's been successful at it to. Everyone knows that Devlin and Cooper's business wasn't concluded, but Brodie went and won herself a #1 Contendership, and even I have to admit she did great in her title shot. It was super close. But in the end, Cooper is still the Apex, and Devlin made claim to be the next in line.
LO: By whose authority?
KO: Laur...he's The Face of Wrestling...
Kenneth says it so matter of fact that Laurence is speechless for a moment, but just as he's about to come up with a reply the bell sounds. Devlin and Recoba stand there for a moment just staring at one another, the bravado and pandering having melted away to the seriousness at hand. Eventually both men push out of their corners and step to the center of the ring, coming nose to nose before the first derogatory words begin to flow. Cross says something and then smirks, turning an eye to the crowd with an expression that says, ‘Am I Right?’ Brennan says something in response that brings Recoba’s head snapping back into focus, the two nearly touching foreheads as they mean mug one another. Finally, Recoba takes a step back with a shrug, and then slaps Devlin right across the jaw. The Face of Wrestling's head snaps around and he stares down at the canvas for a moment while the fans have their fun jeering, before he reaches up to slap Cross in response. The two men stare at each other now, their intensity growing, until both men rare back and start laying in heavy rights with lightening fast speed.
LO: THIS THING HAS BROKEN OPEN, AND BOTH MEN ARE JUST HAMMERING AWAY IN THE CENTER OF THE RING!
KO: I know they would hate to hear this and would never admit it, but they are a lot alike…
LO: You’re right, Ken, I don’t think they’d appreciate you saying that…
The two men continue to trade blows, Cross eventually grabbing for Devlin’s head and forcing him to lock up, both jockeying back and forth all the way into the ropes, rolling along them despite the referee’s pleas to break. Brennan ends up with his back in a corner, and Cross gets a fistful of hair to force him back against the turnbuckles. The referee admonishes until he finally breaks, backing up a step before firing in a thunderous chop. The fans ‘Woooo’ at the same time that Devlin reacts with a chop of his own. Cross send in another chop, then Devlin, both men’s chests turning an unnatural shade of red.
LO: Both men laying in those nasty sounding chops, and now it’s Devlin fighting his way out of the corner…
KO: Cross pushed back to the center of the ring, and he ducks under one of Devlin’s chops and moves into a Waist Lock from behind…
LO: Devlin already firing elbows into the side of his head which breaks his hold…and now Devlin rushes the ropes for spring..
KO: AND REBOUNDS RIGHT INTO A HIP TOSS FROM RECOBA!
Brennan quickly scrambles back up to his feet, only to walk into another Hip Toss, this one followed by an Elbow Drop. Devlin manages to roll out of the way, and as Recoba pops up catches him with a Release Arm Drag. As soon as Cross lands he’s back on his feet and feeds right into another one. Devlin now attempts an Elbow of his own, but much to the same result as Cross rolls out of the way. Both men come up quickly to their feet and pause before engaging again, drawing an actual clap from the crowd.
LO: Both men now putting on the brakes, and this capacity crowd seems to appreciate what they are giving them here tonight!
KO: Yeah, yeah…but we both know these guys don’t care what these Neanderthals think. They are here for one reason, and one reason only, and that’s to prove who is the best!
The two men begin circling one another before locking up in the center of the ring, but that is quickly contested when Cross rakes Devlin across the eyes. The referee admonishes Recoba who steps back with hands innocently in the air, but then he steps right back into Devlin’s blind spot and digs in even deeper to the eye area with both hands. Devlin stumbles back towards the ropes rubbing at his eyes as Cross grins at the referee’s threats of calling it.
LO: Cross Recoba finally getting down to the business he knows best…Cheating!
KO: Whatever, Laur! This man is a ring general, and he’s about to show you why!
Cross takes a blind Devlin by the wrist and whips him to the opposite side where he rebounds and charges back. Just as he reaches the center of the ring, Cross steps forward and catches him in a Spinning Power Slam that puts Devlin onto his back, and he hooks the leg for a cover.
1…
2…
LO: THR-NO! Devlin out at two and a half, and he’s still having trouble with his vision after having his eyes gouged by The Fox…
KO: Recoba now on his feet, and he just took Devlin’s feet by his ankles and lifted them up…HE’S GOING FOR IT!
LO: BRENNAN DEVLIN IS FIGHTING LIKE HELL TO KEEP RECOBA FROM LOCKING HIM INTO GARABALDI’S GUILLOTINE, AND HAS MANAGED TO GET ONE LEG FREE…
KO: Blind kicks find their mark against Recoba’s chest knocking him away, and now Devlin crawling over to the ropes to help guide himself up…
LO: Cross sees it, and here he comes charging in….BRENNAN HEARD HIM COMING AND DROPS DOWN, PULLING THE TOP ROPE WITH HIM!!
Cross tumbles over the top rope and crashes hard against the concrete floor, and Devlin helps himself back up, still wiping at his eyes and trying to shake the cobwebs. The Face of Wrestling seems to have some of his vision back as he starts over to the nearby corner and starts to climb the turnbuckles. Just as he perches himself on the top Recoba gets to his feet, and he looks up just in time to see Devlin dive off and crown him on top of the head with a Double Ax Handle!
LO: Cross Recoba is down once again thanks to a flying Devlin, who is already pulling the man up to his feet…
KO: Devlin has a hold of his wrist and IRISH WHIPS HIM TOWARDS THE STEEL BARRICADE!
Recoba is barely able to turn his body so that he crashes into the barricade spine first instead of head on, and the impact sends him stumbling out clutching his lower back. Devlin closes the gap and scoops Cross up onto his shoulder, and then tosses him out a ways to come crashing down across the top of the guard rail chest first. The Fox drops to his knee’s in pain, but Devlin won’t let him rest, pulling him up by a fistful of hair and tosses him under the bottom rope into the ring.
LO: Devlin got some payback for that eye rake earlier by doing damage outside the ring, and now he follows Cross Recoba back inside…
KO: Recoba getting to his feet, and HERE COMES DEVLIN WITH A SWINGING NECKBREAKER FOLLOWED BY A PIN!
1…
2…
LO: THREe-NO! Recoba able to kick out after a long two count, and Devlin now pulls him up to a seated position and applies a Chin Lock!
Cross reaches out to the far away ropes to no avail while his neck is wrench back with Devlin’s knee firmly in the center of his shoulder blades for leverage. A few well-timed yanks as The Fox crying out, and seeing that he has to do something, he quickly rolls to his hip to take some of the pressure off. This forces Brennan to switch holds to maintain control of the head, pulling Cross into a deep Side Headlock. The Fox manages to get a knee under himself and he pushes up, forcing Devlin to move up along with him.
LO: Recoba now searching for an escape, but isn’t finding one…wait….He lifts Brennan into the air, and SIDE SUPLEX STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE MAT!
KO: Bought himself some separation there, and he’s now crawling his way towards the corner to try and use the turnbuckles to get himself up…but Brennan is right behind him!
Both men get to their feet at about the same time, but Devlin get’s eyes on Recoba first, and he charges right for the man. Just as he leaps for a Big Splash, Recoba side steps and Brennan crashes chest first into the top turnbuckle. He clutches his chest as he stumbles back to the interior of the ring, and Cross moves in front of him and takes him to the mat with a Standing Double Leg Take Down. Now in control of his lower half again, Cross chokes up to Brennan’s knees while the fans come to their feet in anticipation of his dread submission hold. Cross, however, surprises everyone, when he falls back with his knee’s buried in Devlin’s rear to send him Catapulting towards the corner he had previously struck!
LO: BRENNAN DEVLIN SENT RIGHT OVER THE TOP TURNBUCKLE TO GO FACE FIRST INTO THE TOP OF THE RING POST!
KO: THE FACE OF WRESTLING TASTED STEEL AS HE COMES PUNCH DRUNK STUMBLING AWAY FROM THE CORNER…
LO: And Cross is waiting to meet him from behind, pulls his head back and hooks him in a Dragon Sleeper….OSAKA STREET STUNNER!!
KO: THE SKIM TO DEVLIN, AND RECOBA IS HOOKING THE LEG!
1…
2…
LO: THREE-NO! Devlin’s left shoulder shoots off the canvas before the count of three, and Cross Recoba is arguing with the referee…
KO: That was damn close, but Caputo is adamant that it was only two…Recoba now turning his attention back to Devlin, and he’s got evil intentions all over his face!
Recoba hot steps it back over to Devlin who has gotten to his hands and knee’s, and he pulls the man up while getting a handful of tights, and runs him head first through the top and middle ropes so that he crashes to the concrete below. The ground camera picks up the words ‘Get up you son of a bitch!’ as Recoba beckons with his hands, and as Devlin starts to comply, he rushes the opposite side ropes.
LO: Devlin is a little farther away from the ring apron than Recoba thought as he thunders back across the ring and LEAPS OVER THE TOP ROPE FOR A MILLION…NO!! DEVLIN DUCKED UNDER IT AND CAUGHT HIM AROUND THE HEAD AS HE PASSED! OH MY GOD!
KO: FACE OFF! FACE OFF DOWN TO THE CONCRETE!
LO: Cross Recoba may have a broken neck after this, and now both men are down on the outside of the ring….Caputo is starting a count!
KO: Forget the count! Get EMT’s down here….They might be dead!
The fans are in complete awe as the ref continues her countdown, getting to a dangerous seven before either competitor bothers to move. Just as she’s about to call it, Brennan Devlin springs to his feet and slides into the ring to break the count, immediately pushing himself back out. He clutches his own head with one hand as he reaches down and gets ahold of Cross by his with the other. He struggles to get Cross to his feet, The Fox appearing unconscious, but eventually gets him up against the apron and under the bottom rope. He rolls him towards the center of the ring where he flops down on top of him.
1…
2…
LO: THREE-NO! MY GOD THE REFEREE WAS A CENTIMETER OFF THE CANVAS FOR THREE, BUT NO SUCH LUCK FOR BRENNAN DEVLIN!
KO: Devlin is beating his fists against the canvas, and there is a sense of desperation in his expression as he gets to his feet…
LO: I believe that Brennan Devlin just hit one of his biggest offensive moves, on the concrete floor, no less, and it wasn’t enough to put Reoba down for the three count…
KO: To be fair, those guys spent a lot of time on the outside, and even longer getting Recoba back into the ring….But Devlin seems to have finally calmed down, and now he’s looking at Cross like a man posessesed!
Devlin falls back into the corner, the toe of his boot tapping against the canvas in anticipation as Recoba rolls onto his side and then his stomach. Everyone knows what is coming, and Devlin doesn’t even try to hide it as his toe strikes the mat harder and harder. Cross gets one hand in under him, then the other, and with a great heave he pushes himself up onto his knee’s. It’s at that moment that Devlin comes charging out of the corner, leaps into the air, and aims his boot directly down towards Recoba’s head!
LO: FACE TIM—NO! RECOBA SOMEHOW MANAGED TO ROLL OUT OF THE WAY AS DEVLIN’S BOOT STOMPS DOWN WHERE HIS HEAD HAD BEEN SECONDS AGO!
KO: The Fox isn’t stopping there….he’s rolled all the way to the edge of the ring and to the outside! What a genius!
LO: Brennan Devlin doesn’t seem to think so as he has a torrent of disgust and disbelief etched on his brow….
KO: Wait! What is he doing? BRENNAN DEVLIN WITH A BASEBALL SLIDE DROP KICK RIGHT UNDER THE BOTTOM ROPE TO RECOBA!
Cross is sent off of his feet like a shotgun blast, and he crashes hard to the concrete once again as Devlin pushes himself the rest of the way out of the ring to join him. Devlin is talking to himself now as he pulls Recoba up to his feet only to hook him around the head, looking for another Face Off. Cross, however, gives Brennan a powerful shove forwards instead, and he rushes gut first into the steel steps in his path.
LO: GOOD GOD! BRENNAN DEVLIN JUST GORED HIMSELF ON THE STEPS, AND HERE COMES RECOBA!
KO: FISTFUL OF HAIR AND BOUNCES DEVLIN’S SKULL OFF THE TOP OF THE STEPS, AND NOW TOSSES HIM BACK INTO THE RING!
Brennan rolls to where he’s laying right in front of the closest corner, and Cross hops up to the top turnbuckle, turning himself to where he’s sitting ontop of it. He stands to his full height on the second rope, and the fans boo him as he launches himself forwards into a fist drop straight down into Brennan’s skull. The Face of Wrestling flops around clutching at his skull, as Recoba pins him and hooks the leg for good measure.
1…
2…
LO: THREE-NO! Devlin out at two and three quarters, and now Cross has him by the legs for the third time in this contest, dragging him to the center of the ring and trying to turn him into Garabaldi’s Guillotine!
KO: Yeah, but Devlin is no fool! He knows what it means if he’s trapped in the hold, and he’s fighting like hell, no matter how hurt he might be!
Brennan continues to struggle, but this time Cross is relentless, refusing to let loose. Finally, Brennan draws both knee’s to his chest and plants the bottom of his boots on Recoba’s, and then shoves straight back with all his might. Recoba is forced to let go as he falls back into the ropes which spring him forwards, and just as he does Devlin kips up to his feet and lays him out with a massive boot to the face that takes his head off!
LO: KIP UP INTO A SUPERKICK HAS LAID RECOBA OUT!
KO: Yeah, but Devlin can’t follow up…he just crumpled down beside him…
LO: The referee starting a ten count, but Wait! Devlin is slowly rolling over onto his side, and just crawled over to drape an arm over Recoba’s chest!
1…
2…
KO: THREE-NO! Recoba just came within an inch of losing this thing, and now both men are lying there tired in the center of the ring!
Both men crawl for the ropes as Caputo's ten count rings out in their ears, and they are in a moment of desperation to get back to their feet. Devlin manages it just a second before Recoba, and upon seeing the man, rushes right for him to try for a lariat. Recoba, however, ducks the move, and Devlin keeps on going towards the ropes, steps up to the second and then the top, and springs backwards into an Asai Moonsault. He comes down right on Cross, but instead of wiping the man out as intended, The Fox pitches his whole body forwards, planting the top of Devlin's skull on the canvas in a Tombstone Piledriver!
LO: UP ALL NIGHT IN DAKOTA!
KO: HE WILL BE LATER IF HE PULLS THIS OFF! HE JUST FELL FORWARDS ON TOP OF A LAID OUT DEVLIN!
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: Good God Almighty! Cross Recoba just defeated Brennan Devlin out of nowhere!
KO: That's usually Devlin's line, but yeah...
The bell sounds as Cross falls off of Devlin and lies beside him for a moment, nodding his head as if he knew this would be the outcome all along. The referee kneels down beside him to lift his arm, and he forces the man to help him up, and with some help from the ropes, he demands the referee lift his arm proper.
RING ANNOUNCER: and the winner of this contest via pinfall....THE FOX....CROSS RECOBA!!
LO: You know what this means, right? This man is going to be insufferable.
KO: Worse than that....what does this mean for Devlin's chances at being the #1 Contender to the Apex Championship?
LO: I don't know....he's lost to Cooper, he's lost to Brodie, and now he's lost to Recoba. It's the one thing they all have in common...
KO: But...he's the Face of Wrestling...
LO: Not according to this new version...
The announces continue to muse as Recoba struts around the ring, dragging the referee along, forcing him to keep his hand raised for all to see. The fans boo him immensely, so when the boo's come for a different reason, he has no clue. Behind him Devlin rises, groggy at first, but shaking the cobwebs with every gesture. Finally his eyes lock in on Recoba, and with a wicked grin that belies a man who just lost a match, he spins The Fox around and drops him where he stands with a lightening fast Face Off! The crowd pops a bit despite their disdain for Devlin, and he slithers on his belly back a pace to stare at the prone Chimera Tag Team Champion. His nose curls in disgust as he pushes up to his knees, and wild eyes tell a different story than the usual jovial Devlin. He beats his chest, and snarls down into the prone Recoba's face...
BRENNAN DEVLIN: I AM THE VOID, CROSS......I AM THE VOID THAT CONSUMES....WIN OR LOSE....YOU....ALL OF YOU WILL GO DARK!
Devlin pops up and casts a threatening glance at the booing audience before slipping through the ropes, and making his way up the ramp. Recoba lays in the middle of the ring, still stunned, uncertain of what just happened. With the help of the ring crew, Cross makes his way up the ramp looking stunned, leaving the crowd with a lot to ponder as they begin to file out of the arena.
Cut to an overhead shot of the arena.
And then the entire arena is plunged into darkness, a cool chill begins to spill through the air, awakening the hairs on the back of your neck. Everyone heading for the exit stops... the show isn't done. It feels as though the atmosphere itself has disappeared and you could very well be alone now, everyone else gone into the darkness. Until.
A single light, resting on the screen, it seems to burn as though it is a candle light burning through paper, bright and vicious it begins to eat its way across the screen itself until you feel blinded, your eyes stinging and watering. Or maybe, just one of them, cover it up, so you can see as she sees.
A familiar, blood soaked rabbit head sits in the middle of an empty room. Some threads from where it was stitched to the head of a woman who’s name Brodie no longer speaks, hang from the neck of the head. The white rabbit seems almost grey, forgotten in the darkness.
One black dead eye rests in its head even now, but the other is noticeably missing and just an empty, deep hole sits where the eye once was. It’s all you can focus on for some time, that missing eye, the emptiness where something once was and then…
The strike of a match.
The head is the first to go and you can almost feel the burn, the heat through the screen as the white, blood stained fur is engulfed in the flames. As they lick up the sides of the head and begin to spread, her voice rings out above the crackling of the fire.
Brodie: Cleanse it with fire, all that once was exists no more. A closed chapter and the beginning of something new. You. Cosmo Cooper, will learn the true value of atonement.
The fire spreads beyond the head and seemingly onto the screen itself, nothing but angry, hot flames sprawling across all that the eye can see and the gentle crooning sound of her laughter, echoing somewhere in the distance, somewhere between the fire and the darkness.
End.
A single light, resting on the screen, it seems to burn as though it is a candle light burning through paper, bright and vicious it begins to eat its way across the screen itself until you feel blinded, your eyes stinging and watering. Or maybe, just one of them, cover it up, so you can see as she sees.
A familiar, blood soaked rabbit head sits in the middle of an empty room. Some threads from where it was stitched to the head of a woman who’s name Brodie no longer speaks, hang from the neck of the head. The white rabbit seems almost grey, forgotten in the darkness.
One black dead eye rests in its head even now, but the other is noticeably missing and just an empty, deep hole sits where the eye once was. It’s all you can focus on for some time, that missing eye, the emptiness where something once was and then…
The strike of a match.
The head is the first to go and you can almost feel the burn, the heat through the screen as the white, blood stained fur is engulfed in the flames. As they lick up the sides of the head and begin to spread, her voice rings out above the crackling of the fire.
Brodie: Cleanse it with fire, all that once was exists no more. A closed chapter and the beginning of something new. You. Cosmo Cooper, will learn the true value of atonement.
The fire spreads beyond the head and seemingly onto the screen itself, nothing but angry, hot flames sprawling across all that the eye can see and the gentle crooning sound of her laughter, echoing somewhere in the distance, somewhere between the fire and the darkness.
End.