Honor Bound - Live on the Battleground Network!
Aug 10, 2019 18:11:01 GMT -5
David Scott, The Fury, and 2 more like this
Post by silentpartner on Aug 10, 2019 18:11:01 GMT -5
By the time the show cuts into the live feed Frenzy and Berlin Anderson are already in the ring, and the huge crowd is primed for Valor Pro Action. It's obvious from the start that Berlin Anderson has the fan's support as he claps his hands and they join him just as the two men begin to circle in the ring. The enigmatic Frenzy stares wholes through Anderson with his odd colored eyes, and when the two move in to lock up, instead of a collar and elbow, who ducks his shoulder into Berlin's gut and sweeps his legs out from under him to take him down to the mat. Crawling on top of him he fires in piston like right hands that stun Berlin, not expecting this kind of violence right out of the gate, and is even more surprised when Frenzy leaps to his feet with Anderson's wrists fully controlled by his hands. Suddenly Frenzy begins stomping down into The Perpetual Motion Machine's face while pulling up on his arms at the same time, and the fans let out a bevy of boo's and gasps in response. This seems to only fuel the madman as he stomps away, and with a snarl delivers one final nasty blow that catches Berlin right under the chin before dropping to hook the leg for a cover!
He only gets a two and half there and he works Berlin back up to his feet to shoot him off the ropes. Those that knew Berlin would have said this was Frenzy's first mistake in the match, as Berlin bounces back with blinding speed and performs a baseball slide between the waiting Frenzy's legs. When the masked man spins around, Anderson is already rushing at the ropes in front of him, leaps to the middle, and then springboards into a beautiful Moonsault that takes Frenzy down to the mat. Berlin manages to hook both legs on his way down for a cover, but Frenzy kicks out at two before he can really lock them in.
Both men come to their feet and there is a quick exchange between the two of Irish whips, leap frogs, drop downs, and the action is so fast and furious, with so many variants and reversals, that it's hard for anyone to keep up. It isn't until Berlin lands a High Standing Dropkick in response to a High Cross Body from Frenzy, that the action slows down, as Berlin locks in a Chin Lock to try and keep the man grounded. This doesn't last long as Frenzy battles them both up to their feet, and a few well placed elbows to the gut loosens the hold. From there Frenzy manages to deliver a Head Scissor Take Over to Berlin, followed up with multiple forearms to the jaw that drive him back into the ropes. After a few suplexes followed by a failed comeback from Berlin, it appears that Frenzy is going to make short work of the popular superstar.
It isn't until he moves into hit a springboard Disaster Kick that Berlin surprises him by ducking under it, and catching him with a Superkick when he spins around. A short two count later, Berlin is heading to the top rope to wow the crowd with an unbelievable 450 Splash. Or he would have, if Frenzy hadn't gotten both knee's up to his chest. With Berlin grasping at his ribs and the breath knocked out of him, Frenzy kips up to his feet, finds that springboard from earlier, and buries the top of his boot into Berlin's mush with a Disaster Kick. Berlin snaps down to the canvas and Frenzy quickly falls on top of him with a hook of the leg for the 1, 2, 3!
He only gets a two and half there and he works Berlin back up to his feet to shoot him off the ropes. Those that knew Berlin would have said this was Frenzy's first mistake in the match, as Berlin bounces back with blinding speed and performs a baseball slide between the waiting Frenzy's legs. When the masked man spins around, Anderson is already rushing at the ropes in front of him, leaps to the middle, and then springboards into a beautiful Moonsault that takes Frenzy down to the mat. Berlin manages to hook both legs on his way down for a cover, but Frenzy kicks out at two before he can really lock them in.
Both men come to their feet and there is a quick exchange between the two of Irish whips, leap frogs, drop downs, and the action is so fast and furious, with so many variants and reversals, that it's hard for anyone to keep up. It isn't until Berlin lands a High Standing Dropkick in response to a High Cross Body from Frenzy, that the action slows down, as Berlin locks in a Chin Lock to try and keep the man grounded. This doesn't last long as Frenzy battles them both up to their feet, and a few well placed elbows to the gut loosens the hold. From there Frenzy manages to deliver a Head Scissor Take Over to Berlin, followed up with multiple forearms to the jaw that drive him back into the ropes. After a few suplexes followed by a failed comeback from Berlin, it appears that Frenzy is going to make short work of the popular superstar.
It isn't until he moves into hit a springboard Disaster Kick that Berlin surprises him by ducking under it, and catching him with a Superkick when he spins around. A short two count later, Berlin is heading to the top rope to wow the crowd with an unbelievable 450 Splash. Or he would have, if Frenzy hadn't gotten both knee's up to his chest. With Berlin grasping at his ribs and the breath knocked out of him, Frenzy kips up to his feet, finds that springboard from earlier, and buries the top of his boot into Berlin's mush with a Disaster Kick. Berlin snaps down to the canvas and Frenzy quickly falls on top of him with a hook of the leg for the 1, 2, 3!
Winner via Pinfall: FRENZY
Cutting to a side entry of the 02, the feed displays a black town car pulling up to a reserved parking space. The town car barely slows to a halt before Zack Fantana can be heard chirping from the backseat.
ZACK FANTANA: Maybe if you hadn’t taken thirty minutes to pick out your outfit, we’d be on time.
Zack Fantana emerges from the town car, lugging a duffle bag behind him. Shortly behind him follows Brad Stokes… in full gear?
As the pair edge closer to the camera, it becomes plainly obvious that Brad is wearing Zack’s gear from last summer as it’s stretched out and shorn in all the wrong places. The jacket and medium Fantanasy T-shirt, which matched Zack’s own, certainly weren’t doing him any favors either. And yet it seemingly does not bother him in the least.
BRAD STOKES: Well, Zack, it’s like they say. Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.
ZACK FANTANA: Brad, you’re an interviewer. We’re here to get your job back… as an interviewer. You know that, right?
Brad pays that no mind. Zack shakes his head and continues walking at a brisk pace as he pulls his phone out of his pocket.
ZACK FANTANA: I haven’t heard back from Benny since this morning. God, I hope he made his flight.
BRAD STOKES: Benny’s gonna be here?
ZACK FANTANA: He’s my partner, Brad. We’ve been over this.
Zack quickly checks his phone for the time, and Brad mirrors his actions.
BRAD STOKES: My God, he had better show up. I am not in physical shape to replace him in that match!
There’s not much to see under that jacket; however, we can tell that the man is, indeed, in no shape whatsoever. The look on his face shows concern, but also confusion given the fact that he’s still probably wondering why Benny is coming to the O2 arena. Nevertheless, the zooted out Brad Stokes that we saw back on Blitz #20, in Rio De Janeiro, no longer exists - thanks to his good friend right by his side. Both Zack and Brad are caught by surprise once they glance at an individual sitting in a meditation position by the corner of an area which appears to be where the VPW staff is keeping the in-ring paraphernalia. For a moment, they just observe as the man takes a long, deep diaphragmatic breath and exhale the air with grace. Finally, the camera focuses on that person and we can finally tell that it is Zack Fantana’s “mysterious” partner: Benny Stevens. Benny, now aware that he’s being watched, simply opens his eyes and calmly nods to Zack and Brad, who now make their way to the supposed Fantanasy apostle.
BENNY STEVENS: You are late, my bud Zachary.
The faint sounds of the crowd cheering can be heard as Benny slowly gets up to his feet, patting the dirt off his buttocks while sporting a rather motionless facial expression. He does not appear to be fazed. Zack narrows his eyes onto Benny, and then on Brad, and back to Benny, unwilling to admit fault.
ZACK FANTANA: Brad was doing his hair.
Even though Brad has cleaned up, any human being with a decent taste and basic observation abilities could tell that the man’s hair is a mess. Obviously, Benny notices that; however, he doesn’t show any specific emotion; therefore, simply ignoring what was just said.
BRAD STOKES: My man Benny. It’s good to see you alive and kicking, just like me! Zack is really shaping us up, ain’t he? Too bad I can’t say the same about his hair dryer, know what I mean?
Brad begins to straighten his hair, letting out a laugh as if he was trying to lighten up the mood. Benny remains unfazed, while Zack simply shakes his head in clear disappointment. Awkward moment for poor Brad Stokes.
BENNY STEVENS: Okay, you do you, B.S. … Anyway, shall we prepare ourselves? I’m ready, man. I can feel it. This is going to be an interesting night. It’s good to be back.
Brad suddenly stops, looking Benny up and down. He turns to Zack.
BRAD STOKES: Wait, why isn’t he in uniform? I thought it was part of the doctrine.
Benny actually smiles at the mention of a uniform.
BENNY STEVENS: Uniform, you say?
Brad furrows his brow, looking back to Zack for guidance.
ZACK FANTANA: Uh, he’s only a level 3 clearance.
That brings a wry smile to Brad’s face.
BRAD STOKES: I get you now.
Stokes taps Benny on the shoulder as he moves toward the arena.
BRAD STOKES: In time, kid. In time.
Benny watches, once again, with a smile on his face as Brad goes away. Knowing that Brad is far from hearing anything, he finally lets out a laugh. He then puts his hand on Zack’s shoulder, still looking in the direction of where Brad supposedly went.
BENNY STEVENS: He’s really taking this shit seriously, man. I wasn’t supposed to be laughing now, damn. Ruined my concentration.
ZACK FANTANA: We need to get that man his job back, STAT.
BENNY STEVENS: Yeah, yeah… Let’s roll, man.
They follow Brad’s lead into the arena as the broadcast moves forward.
ZACK FANTANA: Maybe if you hadn’t taken thirty minutes to pick out your outfit, we’d be on time.
Zack Fantana emerges from the town car, lugging a duffle bag behind him. Shortly behind him follows Brad Stokes… in full gear?
As the pair edge closer to the camera, it becomes plainly obvious that Brad is wearing Zack’s gear from last summer as it’s stretched out and shorn in all the wrong places. The jacket and medium Fantanasy T-shirt, which matched Zack’s own, certainly weren’t doing him any favors either. And yet it seemingly does not bother him in the least.
BRAD STOKES: Well, Zack, it’s like they say. Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.
ZACK FANTANA: Brad, you’re an interviewer. We’re here to get your job back… as an interviewer. You know that, right?
Brad pays that no mind. Zack shakes his head and continues walking at a brisk pace as he pulls his phone out of his pocket.
ZACK FANTANA: I haven’t heard back from Benny since this morning. God, I hope he made his flight.
BRAD STOKES: Benny’s gonna be here?
ZACK FANTANA: He’s my partner, Brad. We’ve been over this.
Zack quickly checks his phone for the time, and Brad mirrors his actions.
BRAD STOKES: My God, he had better show up. I am not in physical shape to replace him in that match!
There’s not much to see under that jacket; however, we can tell that the man is, indeed, in no shape whatsoever. The look on his face shows concern, but also confusion given the fact that he’s still probably wondering why Benny is coming to the O2 arena. Nevertheless, the zooted out Brad Stokes that we saw back on Blitz #20, in Rio De Janeiro, no longer exists - thanks to his good friend right by his side. Both Zack and Brad are caught by surprise once they glance at an individual sitting in a meditation position by the corner of an area which appears to be where the VPW staff is keeping the in-ring paraphernalia. For a moment, they just observe as the man takes a long, deep diaphragmatic breath and exhale the air with grace. Finally, the camera focuses on that person and we can finally tell that it is Zack Fantana’s “mysterious” partner: Benny Stevens. Benny, now aware that he’s being watched, simply opens his eyes and calmly nods to Zack and Brad, who now make their way to the supposed Fantanasy apostle.
BENNY STEVENS: You are late, my bud Zachary.
The faint sounds of the crowd cheering can be heard as Benny slowly gets up to his feet, patting the dirt off his buttocks while sporting a rather motionless facial expression. He does not appear to be fazed. Zack narrows his eyes onto Benny, and then on Brad, and back to Benny, unwilling to admit fault.
ZACK FANTANA: Brad was doing his hair.
Even though Brad has cleaned up, any human being with a decent taste and basic observation abilities could tell that the man’s hair is a mess. Obviously, Benny notices that; however, he doesn’t show any specific emotion; therefore, simply ignoring what was just said.
BRAD STOKES: My man Benny. It’s good to see you alive and kicking, just like me! Zack is really shaping us up, ain’t he? Too bad I can’t say the same about his hair dryer, know what I mean?
Brad begins to straighten his hair, letting out a laugh as if he was trying to lighten up the mood. Benny remains unfazed, while Zack simply shakes his head in clear disappointment. Awkward moment for poor Brad Stokes.
BENNY STEVENS: Okay, you do you, B.S. … Anyway, shall we prepare ourselves? I’m ready, man. I can feel it. This is going to be an interesting night. It’s good to be back.
Brad suddenly stops, looking Benny up and down. He turns to Zack.
BRAD STOKES: Wait, why isn’t he in uniform? I thought it was part of the doctrine.
Benny actually smiles at the mention of a uniform.
BENNY STEVENS: Uniform, you say?
Brad furrows his brow, looking back to Zack for guidance.
ZACK FANTANA: Uh, he’s only a level 3 clearance.
That brings a wry smile to Brad’s face.
BRAD STOKES: I get you now.
Stokes taps Benny on the shoulder as he moves toward the arena.
BRAD STOKES: In time, kid. In time.
Benny watches, once again, with a smile on his face as Brad goes away. Knowing that Brad is far from hearing anything, he finally lets out a laugh. He then puts his hand on Zack’s shoulder, still looking in the direction of where Brad supposedly went.
BENNY STEVENS: He’s really taking this shit seriously, man. I wasn’t supposed to be laughing now, damn. Ruined my concentration.
ZACK FANTANA: We need to get that man his job back, STAT.
BENNY STEVENS: Yeah, yeah… Let’s roll, man.
They follow Brad’s lead into the arena as the broadcast moves forward.
As the camera cuts back to the ring Tommy Crimson is in the ring and Maurice Yensman is making his way down the ramp, taunting the capacity crowd and pausing to argue with a fan at ringside. He laughs heartily before slapping a beverage out of the fans hand, but when he turns around he catches a fist to the jaw thanks to Tommy Crimson. Maurice is caught completely off guard as Tommy runs him by the back of the head to the opposite end of ringside only to release him to crash sternum first against the steel barricade. The fans cheer on Crimson, though they quickly turn to boos when he flips them off, just before tossing Yensman into the ring. The bell officially sounds as Tommy slides into the ring and furiously(Pun Intended) stomps away at Maurice as he tries to find his feet. Despite the onslaught he eventually does so, and is knocked back into the nearby corner as Crimson wades in with rights and lefts. Taking him by the wrist and sending him to the opposite side, Tommy follows Maurice in only to get surprised by a Stop-Short-Back-Elbow. This begs Crimson off for a moment, allowing Maurice enough time to spin around, leap up to the second turnbuckle, and then push off into a Flying Clothesline that results in a one count.
From there Maurice takes over, pulling Tommy up only to drop him again with a vicious right hand. He drops an elbow across the man's chest, hops up, does it again, and again to great effect before hooking the leg. This time he gets a two count but The Fury is already pushing to his feet, so Yensman saddles up beside him while hooking his arm and looping his inside leg, and drops straight back into a Side Russian Leg Sweep! Maurice pops up to taunt the crowd and strut around the ring while Tommy clutches at his spine and tries to find his footing. Just as Tommy gets there, Maurice falls back into the ropes and thunders back at his opponent, leaping into a Knee Strike that damn near caves his face in. Tommy is laid out, flat on his back, and Maurice lazily places a boot on his chest and does a mock pose down as the ref drops to make the count.
After a kick out at two and a half, Maurice trots over to the corner and lowers himself, indicating with his hand for Crimson to rise so he can be put away. The Fury slowly begins to comply, but when Yensman charges out of the corner looking for his patented spear, he's taken completely off guard when Tommy leap frogs and sends him passing harmlessly underneath. The New Yorker quickly spins around and catches a boot straight to the gut that doubles him over, and Tommy grabs his left wrist while hooking him around the head with the other arm, and spins through into a devastating Swinging Neck Breaker! Tommy crawls onto Maurice for the win, but comes up short at two and a half. By this time both men manage back to their feet and begin to trade heavy blows that knock them back for a loop. It doesn't appear that either is willing to back down, but in an effort to take the advantage Maurice ducks under one of The Fury's blows to slip in from behind, place his head under his arm, and lift him up onto his shoulder. Tommy starts hammering right hands down into Maurice's forehead, and just as he's about to fall back into a Side Suplex, manages to turn his body so that he falls down on top of Maurice with a Body Press instead.
After another long two count, it's Tommy who is in complete control, working Maurice over with stiff Kick combinations that leave the New Yorker reeling. He shoots him into the nearby corner and just as he's about to come in for a Big Splash, Maurice ducks out of the way and he finds nothing but the top turnbuckle buried in his gut. Tommy stumbles back out of the corner and Maurice blasts him from behind with a Double Ax Handle. Maurice leaps up to the second turnbuckle once more and holds his fist up to measure Crimson just before leaping off and driving it down into the back of his skull with a Fist Drop. Tommy flops around on the canvas clutching the back of his head, as Maurice shoots the half to get him over onto his back for a cover. Tommy kicks out, but Maurice promptly gets him onto his feet and then sends him off the ropes, catching him in a Sleeper Hold on his way back.
For long moments it looks like Tommy might go unconscious, even dropping down to his knees so that his arms dangle lifelessly down at his sides. The referee checks, and the arm drops to the canvas. Again, with the same result. One more time, and Tommy's arm comes alive as he pushes up to his feet and begins stalking around the ring with Yensman in tow. Finally he finds a nearby corner and turns so that he can crush Maurice between himself and the turnbuckles. It takes a few of these to finally get the New Yorker to let go, but when he does, Crimson takes a short step out of the corner, and then falls back while his right leg flash up into a Pele Kick that finds it's mark.
Maurice clutches at his nose as he stumbles out of the corner, and Crimson slides in behind him for a Snap German Suplex that folds him up like an accordion. With Yensman down on the mat by the corner they had been battling in, The Fury steps to the apron and then climbs the turnbuckles. He signals to the crowd this one is over before leaping into a High Angled Senton that sees him crash down across Maurice's midsection. Maurice's eyes bulge out of his head as the air is driven out of his lungs, and he coughs and sputters as Tommy rolls him back over and hooks the leg for the 1, 2, 3!
From there Maurice takes over, pulling Tommy up only to drop him again with a vicious right hand. He drops an elbow across the man's chest, hops up, does it again, and again to great effect before hooking the leg. This time he gets a two count but The Fury is already pushing to his feet, so Yensman saddles up beside him while hooking his arm and looping his inside leg, and drops straight back into a Side Russian Leg Sweep! Maurice pops up to taunt the crowd and strut around the ring while Tommy clutches at his spine and tries to find his footing. Just as Tommy gets there, Maurice falls back into the ropes and thunders back at his opponent, leaping into a Knee Strike that damn near caves his face in. Tommy is laid out, flat on his back, and Maurice lazily places a boot on his chest and does a mock pose down as the ref drops to make the count.
After a kick out at two and a half, Maurice trots over to the corner and lowers himself, indicating with his hand for Crimson to rise so he can be put away. The Fury slowly begins to comply, but when Yensman charges out of the corner looking for his patented spear, he's taken completely off guard when Tommy leap frogs and sends him passing harmlessly underneath. The New Yorker quickly spins around and catches a boot straight to the gut that doubles him over, and Tommy grabs his left wrist while hooking him around the head with the other arm, and spins through into a devastating Swinging Neck Breaker! Tommy crawls onto Maurice for the win, but comes up short at two and a half. By this time both men manage back to their feet and begin to trade heavy blows that knock them back for a loop. It doesn't appear that either is willing to back down, but in an effort to take the advantage Maurice ducks under one of The Fury's blows to slip in from behind, place his head under his arm, and lift him up onto his shoulder. Tommy starts hammering right hands down into Maurice's forehead, and just as he's about to fall back into a Side Suplex, manages to turn his body so that he falls down on top of Maurice with a Body Press instead.
After another long two count, it's Tommy who is in complete control, working Maurice over with stiff Kick combinations that leave the New Yorker reeling. He shoots him into the nearby corner and just as he's about to come in for a Big Splash, Maurice ducks out of the way and he finds nothing but the top turnbuckle buried in his gut. Tommy stumbles back out of the corner and Maurice blasts him from behind with a Double Ax Handle. Maurice leaps up to the second turnbuckle once more and holds his fist up to measure Crimson just before leaping off and driving it down into the back of his skull with a Fist Drop. Tommy flops around on the canvas clutching the back of his head, as Maurice shoots the half to get him over onto his back for a cover. Tommy kicks out, but Maurice promptly gets him onto his feet and then sends him off the ropes, catching him in a Sleeper Hold on his way back.
For long moments it looks like Tommy might go unconscious, even dropping down to his knees so that his arms dangle lifelessly down at his sides. The referee checks, and the arm drops to the canvas. Again, with the same result. One more time, and Tommy's arm comes alive as he pushes up to his feet and begins stalking around the ring with Yensman in tow. Finally he finds a nearby corner and turns so that he can crush Maurice between himself and the turnbuckles. It takes a few of these to finally get the New Yorker to let go, but when he does, Crimson takes a short step out of the corner, and then falls back while his right leg flash up into a Pele Kick that finds it's mark.
Maurice clutches at his nose as he stumbles out of the corner, and Crimson slides in behind him for a Snap German Suplex that folds him up like an accordion. With Yensman down on the mat by the corner they had been battling in, The Fury steps to the apron and then climbs the turnbuckles. He signals to the crowd this one is over before leaping into a High Angled Senton that sees him crash down across Maurice's midsection. Maurice's eyes bulge out of his head as the air is driven out of his lungs, and he coughs and sputters as Tommy rolls him back over and hooks the leg for the 1, 2, 3!
Winner via Pinfall: TOMMY CRIMSON
A glitching inverted cross flashes across the screen. The crowd in the O2 arena can still be heard but the cameras turn their attention to the backstage area. The hallways are bustling with some of the best wrestling talent on planet Earth for Honor Bound. The locker rooms are full of talent but a dark corner of the long hallway comes into focus. The camera pans closer into the darkness to reveal a figure sitting all alone in a folding chair at the very end up against a concrete wall. The camera continues to draw in closer to reveal the bright red hair of one, Tommy Crimson. Sweaty, battered, and bruised after a grueling match. The Fury found a dark corner to take it all in. Maurice Yensman proved to be a worthy adversary. The camera pans even closer to show the outline of Crimson’s face in the dark corner.
THE FURY: I found myself out there, deep in the “shit”.
Tommy leans in closer to reveal more of his face to the lens.
THE FURY: I belong here. I’ve worked for nearly twenty years to get the recognition that I deserve. I’m not upset about being on the preshow like someone of my talents would be, oh no. I find myself driven to climb the mountain known as Valor Pro until I reach the proverbial “cosmos”.
Crimson leans even further forward until the back legs of the folding chair comes up off the ground for a slight lift.
THE FURY: I find most of you inferior. Most of you are put together like a six year old’s first model car. There is no real substance behind you or your craft. There is an art to what we do and most of you have traded in your “brushes” for followers. Fuck You. I find it personally repulsive that many of you have been deemed, “pushable”.
Tommy grins before laughing at the very thought.
THE FURY: I noticed immediately how things work here by how Bryan Williams was treated upon his arrival. Ha! Weak.
Crimson mocks the shot callers openly to the Battleground Network cameras.
THE FURY: I can beat any of you on any given night and now you all know it. I fear not a single man nor woman in all of VPW. Why should I?
The Fury allows that question to linger in the dimly lit hallway briefly before continuing.
THE FURY: Between those ropes, I am a God amongst you. I put more time into this than any of you are even capable of. Most of you wrestle for other promotions while I will exclusively be here in Valor Pro. All of my time, effort, and genius will be unleashed here.
Crimson stands up to come face to face with the lens.
THE FURY: I’ve waited a long time to beat some of the talent that roams these halls. It will be a real pleasure to expose these frauds to the world. The foundation’s in which you have built your entire careers upon will crumble soon. I will use the ashes and rubble to build my fucking throne.
The Fury then pushes the camera way to be left alone to his thoughts. The camera man falls down onto his back then drops the expensive camera. The feed dies out from the dark hallway suddenly.
THE FURY: I found myself out there, deep in the “shit”.
Tommy leans in closer to reveal more of his face to the lens.
THE FURY: I belong here. I’ve worked for nearly twenty years to get the recognition that I deserve. I’m not upset about being on the preshow like someone of my talents would be, oh no. I find myself driven to climb the mountain known as Valor Pro until I reach the proverbial “cosmos”.
Crimson leans even further forward until the back legs of the folding chair comes up off the ground for a slight lift.
THE FURY: I find most of you inferior. Most of you are put together like a six year old’s first model car. There is no real substance behind you or your craft. There is an art to what we do and most of you have traded in your “brushes” for followers. Fuck You. I find it personally repulsive that many of you have been deemed, “pushable”.
Tommy grins before laughing at the very thought.
THE FURY: I noticed immediately how things work here by how Bryan Williams was treated upon his arrival. Ha! Weak.
Crimson mocks the shot callers openly to the Battleground Network cameras.
THE FURY: I can beat any of you on any given night and now you all know it. I fear not a single man nor woman in all of VPW. Why should I?
The Fury allows that question to linger in the dimly lit hallway briefly before continuing.
THE FURY: Between those ropes, I am a God amongst you. I put more time into this than any of you are even capable of. Most of you wrestle for other promotions while I will exclusively be here in Valor Pro. All of my time, effort, and genius will be unleashed here.
Crimson stands up to come face to face with the lens.
THE FURY: I’ve waited a long time to beat some of the talent that roams these halls. It will be a real pleasure to expose these frauds to the world. The foundation’s in which you have built your entire careers upon will crumble soon. I will use the ashes and rubble to build my fucking throne.
The Fury then pushes the camera way to be left alone to his thoughts. The camera man falls down onto his back then drops the expensive camera. The feed dies out from the dark hallway suddenly.
When the feed returns to ringside, Brodie is already in the ring staring down Roman Novack like a midnight snack, and the referee signals for the bell for the match to begin. The two lock up in the center of the ring, and go through an impressive array of chain wrestling and reversals before Novack manages to get the upper hand with a hammerlock. Unused to anyone being technically sound enough to beat her at a ground game, Brodie resorts to a back elbow to the face to escape the hold, and quickly transitions to a much more aggressive style that sees her deliver several Belly to Belly Suplexes that leave Novack seeking relief. So he quickly scoots to the outside for a breather, leaving Brodie to stalk the interior of the ring while the referee institutes a ten count.
Before she can get too far along Novack hops onto the apron and slips back through the ropes, and the match essentially restarts from a lock up. This time, however, it's Roman who takes the short cut, driving a Knee Lift into Brodie that lifts her high off the canvas. From there he slips behind the woman, slips his head under her arm, and drops an Atomic Drop that sends her rushing towards the ropes. She tumbles through the middle and top to the concrete floor below, and Novack is quick to follow her outside rather than offer her a chance to beat the count.
On the outside Novack delivers haymaker like right hands that lead Brodie around ringside until he gets her up against the ring apron and moves in for a sledgehammer like strike. Seeing one of her own favored moves coming from a mile away, Brodie ducks under it, and when Novack spins around he's caught with a T-Bone Release Suplex that sees him soar across the ringside area to land first against the Steel Barricade, and then on awkwardly on his neck and shoulders against the concrete. Just as the ref is about to count them both out, Brodie snatches up Novack and tosses him back into the ring. She goes for a cover, but only gets a two and a half. From there Brodie extends the man's left arm from his body and begins stomping away at it, and for the next several minutes works the arm over with various quick holds and strikes that will cause optimal damage to the shoulder area.
The fans begin to Buzz as they realize what it is she's setting up, but when she finally hooks him by the arm and tries to force him to the ground, he shows that he's obviously done his homework. Novack fights like hell to prevent being locked into the Crossface, and eventually breaks free of Brodie in order to thunder her down to the mat with a Big Boot right to the face. As Brodie starts to try and sit up, Roman hits off the ropes in front of her, thundering back to leave his feet into a front flip Block Buster that slams the back of Brodie's skull off the mat. It's his turn for a quick cover that results in two and a half before the kick out.
Roman is in his groove now, and he signals that the end is near as he pulls Brodie up to her feet. He scoops her up onto his shoulders and looks to want to go for a Death Valley Driver, but when he commits to tossing her legs forwards she follows through to land on her feet in front of him. Novack turns around just in time for The Submission Machine to boot his knee out from under him so that he lowers, hooks him around the head, and Snaps his skull to the mat with a thunderous DDT. Novack hit's the canvas just right, and to everyone's shock and dismay looks up at the camera to reveal that he's been busted open. At the sight of the blood Brodie's eye goes wild, and she doesn't ever allow him to get up to his feet before she dives on the man from behind and clamps on the Finality Crossface.
Roman screams out in pain as blood pours from the open wound from the top of his head into his mouth, creating a chilling scene of crimson stained teeth crying at the sky. Brodie, for her part, torques back with everything she's got, like a one eye crazed maniac. Novack clutches at the canvas with is free hand, pulling himself towards the ropes despite the colossal efforts of his opponent to rip his arm from his body. After awhile, and a disturbing length of time in the submission, he eventually does reach the ropes, but Brodie refuses to break. After being admonished by the referee several times, and riding two different five counts, Diego Santiago see's no other recourse but to call for the bell and disqualify her.
In the meantime, Roman has gone limp in Brodie's arms, but the Submission Machine refuses to release the hold even when the referee tries to physically get involved. Realizing he's lost total control of this situation, he motions to the back repeatedly until several burly security personnel belly slide into the ring and do their best to pry the Pitbull like Brodie off of Novack. She goes kicking and screaming unintelligible phrases while EMT's move around ringside to check on Novack.
Before she can get too far along Novack hops onto the apron and slips back through the ropes, and the match essentially restarts from a lock up. This time, however, it's Roman who takes the short cut, driving a Knee Lift into Brodie that lifts her high off the canvas. From there he slips behind the woman, slips his head under her arm, and drops an Atomic Drop that sends her rushing towards the ropes. She tumbles through the middle and top to the concrete floor below, and Novack is quick to follow her outside rather than offer her a chance to beat the count.
On the outside Novack delivers haymaker like right hands that lead Brodie around ringside until he gets her up against the ring apron and moves in for a sledgehammer like strike. Seeing one of her own favored moves coming from a mile away, Brodie ducks under it, and when Novack spins around he's caught with a T-Bone Release Suplex that sees him soar across the ringside area to land first against the Steel Barricade, and then on awkwardly on his neck and shoulders against the concrete. Just as the ref is about to count them both out, Brodie snatches up Novack and tosses him back into the ring. She goes for a cover, but only gets a two and a half. From there Brodie extends the man's left arm from his body and begins stomping away at it, and for the next several minutes works the arm over with various quick holds and strikes that will cause optimal damage to the shoulder area.
The fans begin to Buzz as they realize what it is she's setting up, but when she finally hooks him by the arm and tries to force him to the ground, he shows that he's obviously done his homework. Novack fights like hell to prevent being locked into the Crossface, and eventually breaks free of Brodie in order to thunder her down to the mat with a Big Boot right to the face. As Brodie starts to try and sit up, Roman hits off the ropes in front of her, thundering back to leave his feet into a front flip Block Buster that slams the back of Brodie's skull off the mat. It's his turn for a quick cover that results in two and a half before the kick out.
Roman is in his groove now, and he signals that the end is near as he pulls Brodie up to her feet. He scoops her up onto his shoulders and looks to want to go for a Death Valley Driver, but when he commits to tossing her legs forwards she follows through to land on her feet in front of him. Novack turns around just in time for The Submission Machine to boot his knee out from under him so that he lowers, hooks him around the head, and Snaps his skull to the mat with a thunderous DDT. Novack hit's the canvas just right, and to everyone's shock and dismay looks up at the camera to reveal that he's been busted open. At the sight of the blood Brodie's eye goes wild, and she doesn't ever allow him to get up to his feet before she dives on the man from behind and clamps on the Finality Crossface.
Roman screams out in pain as blood pours from the open wound from the top of his head into his mouth, creating a chilling scene of crimson stained teeth crying at the sky. Brodie, for her part, torques back with everything she's got, like a one eye crazed maniac. Novack clutches at the canvas with is free hand, pulling himself towards the ropes despite the colossal efforts of his opponent to rip his arm from his body. After awhile, and a disturbing length of time in the submission, he eventually does reach the ropes, but Brodie refuses to break. After being admonished by the referee several times, and riding two different five counts, Diego Santiago see's no other recourse but to call for the bell and disqualify her.
In the meantime, Roman has gone limp in Brodie's arms, but the Submission Machine refuses to release the hold even when the referee tries to physically get involved. Realizing he's lost total control of this situation, he motions to the back repeatedly until several burly security personnel belly slide into the ring and do their best to pry the Pitbull like Brodie off of Novack. She goes kicking and screaming unintelligible phrases while EMT's move around ringside to check on Novack.
Winner via Disqualification: ROMAN NOVACK
The scene fades into darkness but soon red words appear on the screen read by a hype-man voice over:
TONIGHT HONOR IS ON THE LINE
CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL BE CONTENDED
AND ALL WILL BE BOUND BY COMPETITION
For one this will be a triumphant return to reclaim their property, for the other an opportunity to educate in violence...
For one it will be a debut, while for three others it will be a proving ground...
For one it will be a grand entrance, another will be a mystery, while for the Champions it will be a testament to Tag Team Wrestling...For one it will be their last chance to get it done, while for the other to continue to be UnYielding...
AND THEN....
TWO MEN
MULTIPLE COMPANIES
ONE NIGHT
MATCH OF THE CENTURY
MULTIPLE COMPANIES
ONE NIGHT
MATCH OF THE CENTURY
The words are replaced with the the ending scene of the Rite of Kings Battle Royal;
- RITE OF KINGS -
Dempsey is unbalanced, and it’s clear on his face this wasn’t part of the plan when he went for one of his favorite signature maneuvers. Time seems to stand still as Dempsey bounces precariously on one leg, his other being held aloft by a lowered Chris Callum, both just barely fitting on the ring apron in such a position. Jack and Callum share a glance between Jack’s legs, and then there’s a wink from The Eternal, an ‘Oh Shit’ from Dempsey, and then an uppercut from Chris right into his opponent’s undercarriage.
Dempsey cries out in pain and grabs with both hands for his crotch just as Callum releases his hold on the back of his knee. Section 8 falls over like a tree, some of the fans in the front row even chanting ‘Timber’. He hits the concrete floor as Chris dumps himself through the ropes and back into the ring, and the bell sounds out.
RING ANNOUNCER: JACK DEMPSEY HAS BEEN ELIMINATED, BUT WILL FACE THE UNYIELDING CHAMPION AT THE NEXT BLITZ….WHICH MEANS….YOUR WINNER, AND NEW #1 CONTENDER TO THE APEX CHAMPIONSHIP…..THE ETERNAL, CHRIS CALLUMMMM!!
LO: OH MY GOD! CHRIS CALLUM IS THE NEW #1 CONTENDER IN HIS DEBUT MATCH!
KO: He told everyone, Laur! He couldn’t have made it anymore clear! He was here to take from those who had taken from him, and never even had the decency to say Thank You!
LO: He called out The Zombie Clan! He called out Cosmo! And now, he is on a collision course with The Apex!
- BLITZ#19 -
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! CHRIS CALLUM AND BRODIE ARE DONE! THEIR FINISHED!
KO: CALLUM JUST POWERBOMBED BRODIE THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!
LO: These fans are beside them selves as the referee starts a count in the ring, and Ken...I...I just don't see how they get up after that.
KO: Who in the hell says that they can?
The referee's count drones on, getting all the way up to six before Callum even stirs to attempt to drag himself out of the rubble. At seven Brodie stirs as well, while Callum has crawled halfway to the ring while the fans spur on the superstars to make it. Eight see's Brodie get out of the rubble, crawling on her belly towards the ring while Callum reaches up and grabs the apron. Nine, Callum gets on his feet and turns to look over his shoulder where Brodie has just reached the halfway mark across the floor. He takes a step forward as if he wants to try to get her back in the ring for the decisive victory, but as the referee's hands are about to come back up for Ten, he instead dives under the bottom rope to the interior of the ring where he lies on his back and sucks wind. The referee calls for the bell, and the fans are stunned as they watch Brodie finally reach the ring apron, but too late to save the match.
LO: Folks, I'm not sure what more we could have asked for out of these two, but I'm pretty sure neither of them wanted it to end this way.
KO: Maybe not, but maybe it's for the best, Laur. I mean....what more could they really have done?
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via Count Out, CHRIS CALLUM!
The scene fades back out to the black background to more words;
CHRIS CALLUM
THE ETERNAL
The scene fades to another voice, that of a female podcast reporter, as multiple shots of Cosmo Cooper appear on the screen from various Wrestling Magazines;
Cosmo Cooper, the Valor Pro Apex Champion, has been making the rounds as of late across the wrestling world to promote the company, taking on all comers and building their brand while catapulting his own into legendary status. He picked up the 4CW Kings Road Internet Championship, participated in multi-company tournaments, and has really embodied the nature of what being The Apex entails...
- EQUINOX -
Finally, Devlin moves in to swing another right, but at the last minute Cooper leans far back allowing Brennan's fist to pass harmlessly within an inch of him. The move causes Devlin to go off balance and he has to put both hands out in front of him or he would be face down in the canvas. And that's the moment that Cooper leans back in, puts both hands on the back of Devlin, and shoves up to his feet. He takes about three steps before collapsing back to the canvas, but three steps is all either of them needed.
LO: OH MY GOD!
KO: CAPUTO'S CALLING FOR THE BELL!
LO: COSMO COOPER'S DONE IT!
Ring Announcer: And the winner of this match, and the NEW APEX CHAMPION.....COSMO COOOPPPPEERRR!!
- BLITZ#15 -
LO: MY GOD! COOPER WAS ABOUT TO FALL TO THE OUTSIDE, BUT BRODIE’S HOLDING HIM UP WITH THE CAGE DOOR!
KO: SHE’S GOING TO CUT HIM IN HALF, LAUR! LOOK AT HER FACE!
Indeed, Brodie’s face is screwed up into one of rage, pulling with all her might against the chain link to put more pressure on Cooper’s spine, while pinning his chest against the doorframe. The hand that is inside the cage flops around, looking for something, anything to grab to help him get out of this painful predicament. Suddenly it finds Brodie’s face, and the woman shakes her head violently while leaning as far back as she can with the ropes in her way. Cooper finally finds her ear, grasping it with his fingers, while his thumb darts around like some videogame pro searching for the eye. When he finally finds it, he presses forward, illiciting a scream from Brodie, he violently yanks against the door dredging up a cry of pain from Cooper.
LO: GOD ALMIGHTY! STOP THIS THING! THEY’RE GOING TO KILL ONE ANOTHER!
Suddenly Cooper’s hand rares back from Brodie’s face, and like a snake strike his palm thrusts forward to strike her right in her injured eye socket. Brodie slides down the ropes to a seated position, her feet pushing the door out of her grasp, allowing Cosmo to fall out to land with a thud on the concrete. The bell sounds, but no one in the arena makes a sound, their breath held in by what they’ve just witnessed. It isn’t until the announcement is made that any life returns to South Africa.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match by escape of the cage……AND STILL APEX CHAMPION….COSMOOOO COOOOPPPEERRR!
- RITE OF KINGS -
LO: UP ALL NIGHT IN DAKOTA! THIS IS IT!
KO: CROSS FALLING FORWARDS OVER DEVLIN'S BODY....AND WAIT A MINUTE!
LO: COOPER'S BACK IN THE RING AND HE JUST SCRAMBLED CROSS UP BY THE SCRUFF OF HIS NECK AND THE SEAT OF IS PANTS....AND TOSSES HIM RIGHT THROUGH THE ROPES TO CRASH INTO BRODIE WHO JUST GOT BACK TO HER FEET!
KO: AHH!! THEY'RE BOTH WIPED OUT!
LO: COSMO RUSHING BACK AND SLIDING INTO A HOOK OF THE LEG!!!
KO: HE'S STEALING IT!
1...
2...
3!!!
The roof literally blows off the Covered Hall, the noise and electricity exploding in one crescendo as a tired, sweaty, battered champion falls off of Devlin's laid out body, and stares up at the lights.
RING ANNOUNCER: The winner of this match via pinfall......AND STILL APEX CHAMPION.....COSMO COOPER!!
The video replays return to the black screen, as the familiar hype voice returns;
THE APEX
COSMO COOPER
A fade into the final moments from Blitz#20: The Anniversary Show;- BLITZ#20: THE ANNIVERSARY SHOW (WAR GAMES) -
Over in the other ring Callum & Cooper, still on their knees, have relegated to just staring at each other when the bell sounds. Both men's arms feel like lead, but somehow, someway it doesn't stop Callum from slowly lifting his hand, and bringing lightly across Cooper's blood stained chest. Cooper grimaces, equally as weak, and much the same his hand lolls upwards and then plops down onto Callum's bright crimson chest. They both sit there for a few moments longer, breaths coming in shallow gasps when Katya Djurdjevic enters the ring and slides in next to Cosmo, placing a wary hand on his shoulder and shaking her head no, and then the announcer's voice comes across the loud speakers.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winners of this War Games.....COSMO COOPER, KATAY DJURDJEVIC, AND NSFW!!
Callum doesn't miss a beat, shaking his head as if none of it matters, reaching out and landing another weak chop. This wakes Cosmo up and he pushes Katya away from him so that he can deliver another of his own. Katya watches on in concern as the cage begins to ascend, and NSFW celebrate their victory in the other ring. The two men begin to breathe faster, almost as if realizing that Valor Officials will be down soon to break up their party, and that they have been through hell and back and probably won't be able to prevent it from happening. Seething they slowly rise and bloody, broken, and bleeding they tear right into each other with right hands as if restarting the match all over again. Djurdjevic backs up in dismay, this being one of the biggest wins of her career after coming home from Cooper's Beach Bash with the Cup of that event, but now watching it devolve between these two egos.
LO: I can't believe this....After everything these competitors have been through here tonight, Chris Callum and Cosmo Cooper won't let it die!
KO: Never, Laur! This is a blood feud. These guys were friends. They were mentor and student. And now....they are bitter enemies! All for one thing! One prize that stands above all the others!
LO: To claim that they are The Apex of this industry!
The cage passes the ropes and a group of VPW security swarm into the ring, half going for the challenger and the other half going for the champion. With the security is Riley Savall who enters the ring and tries to reason with Cosmo as the two men continue to clamor violently to get at one another. Eventually they are pulled apart to opposite ends of the ring. During the melee Danny Rizzo collects his UnYielding Championship and is soon joined by Kaven Drell who balefully look back into the ring at the fallen Recoba. Katya soon joins NSFW into the ring to celebrate over his prone body, and the fans begin to cheer as the focus is put back onto them, and not The Eternal and The Apex being carted off to the back along separate routes along the rampway.
And a final fade in as "Honor Is All We Know" by Rancid begins it's drum stick opening;
PROTEGE VERSUS MENTOR
FRIEND VERSUS FRIEND
LEGEND VERSUS LEGACY
BOUND BY THE PAST
LIBERATED BY TONIGHT
THESE TWO ARE....
and with a sudden flash to the logo....
The camera pulls back from the logo projected on the Big Screen above the stage and pyro blasts off as a panning shot of the sold out O2 Arena replaces the banner. The fans erupt as 'Honor Is All We Know' continues to blast through the speakers, holding up their signs and wearing their T-Shirts proudly. There are 'Justice For Dakota' signs, one that reads 'The Pale King Is Zombie Food', and another that says 'I'm Fantana's Mystery Partner'. Cooper, Djurdjevic, Rhyder, James, NSFW, Risen, and many more shirts permeate the crowd, an indication that the merchandise booths have been red hot for tonight's event. Finally, the camera switches to one that overlooks the arena from the top of the stage, and the camera begins to travel down the rampway, lifts over the ring, and then drops back down to settle on the announce booth where The Othello Brothers sit wearing tuxedos for Valor's big birthday event.
LAURENCE OTHELLO: Welcome everyone to the sold out 02 Arena in London, England.....Welcome everyone to HONOR BOUND!
KENNETH OTHELLO: Tonight is going to be one hell of an event, Laur! Happy Birthday!
LO: Happy Birthday to you Ken!
KO: And Happy Birthday to Valor Pro Wrestling, and we have a stacked show that showcases what a year we've had!
LO: That's right, Ken. Just like our show opener suggested, we have one of the biggest Main Events in any promotions history where we will see The Eternal, Chris Callum, take on The Apex, Cosmo Cooper, for that every championship.
KO: That's right, and I believe tonight is the night. Chris Callum is going to be the man to dethrone Cosmo Cooper from the top of The Apex mountain. It's like he said, Laur, he doesn't just want it. He needs it. Not just to be champion, but to cement and already legendary career in the annals of history.
LO: Maybe so, but until I see it with my own eyes, I won't believe it. Since coming into Valor he has had epic battles against the best of the best, and has carried the Valor Pro name along with the Apex Championship to new heights within the industry.
KO: And Chris Callum hasn't? Give me a break.
LO: I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that there is a season for everything. Chris Callum had his season in Galveston Island Wrestling and the CWC, and now Cosmo has stepped into the limelight here in the new season.
KO: One thing is for sure, no matter who comes out the winner, neither man will ever be the same.
LO: That I don't doubt for a second, and speaking of that...you could say the same thing about our Semi-Main Event...
KO: The UnYielding title will be on the line as Danny Rizzo defends against Katya Djurdjevic in their third, and what could be final encounter, cause if Katya doesn't get it done here she's out of chances as long as Rizzo is the champion.
LO: Katya has been hot as of late with a big win at Cosmo's Beach Bash, and also the deciding factor in War Games last Blitz. I think maybe tonight is her night, especially since Kaven Drell will be banned from ringside.
KO: Well, I don't. I mean, I like Katya and most of our fans love her, but the fact is this will be her third attempt, and say what you will about their second encounter where Drell got ejected, Danny pinned her clean in the center of the ring after driving his knee through her face. I just think the rookie has more to learn before taking on a challenge of this level.
LO: You seriously aren't trying to convince our listeners that Kaven Drell hasn't been a factor in the matches. He was the one who introduced the steel chair into the Rite of Kings match, and part of the reason he was ejected in the second encounter was because of his involvement. I think that's a huge boon in the corner of Katya Djurdjevic.
KO: Agree to disagree, Laur, cause there's more on this show than just that...
LO: Indeed there is, as we have a huge return on our hands in the form of Zack Fantana, who before he was suspended by former GM, Vanessa Byrne, was one of the most popular superstars here at Valor Pro.
KO: Yeah, and until just recently, we found out that his mystery partner is none other than The Daredevil, Benny Stevens!
LO: Yeah, that's huge for Valor Pro for sure, but a little unfair to our Tag Champions considering how short notice the reveal was.
KO: Not only that, but apparently Francis Ford Cuppola is reversing all sorts of decisions, cause Brad Stokes will be joining them at ringside for this bout, and he's a complete idiot.
LO: True, which could be another factor against NSFW.
KO: Maybe, but I doubt it. Stokes is too stupid to be anything more than a distraction.
LO: Exactly my point. Although I will say that NSFW have been on fire as of late, knocking off the Zombie Vice Squad and then later Rekota to gain the Chimera Tag Team Championships. Then of course there was War Games, where they played a huge part of their team’s victory.
KO: Yeah, it's hard to think of them losing right now in what would be their first title defense.
LO: I guess we'll find out later on tonight, but before that.....we got Fatal Four Way action!
KO: Damn straight! David Scott, Moxie James, and Indi Rhyder all have a reason to be in this match as they are really hot right now in their singles career, but what about the bombshell that Bryan Williams would be debuting alongside them in this match!
LO: Pretty big news since Bryan Williams is a former two time 4CW Pride Champion, not to mention multiple time tag team champion at places like 4CW & Boardwalk. Not to mention he's coming in fresh after a brief hiatus after 4CW closed.
KO: And all of them will be battling it out for the first pinfall or submission which will earn them a shot at whoever the UnYielding Champ is at the next Blitz!
LO: We can't forget about the man who caused a lot of this controversy recently over who will run Valor Pro.
KO: Spiral is back, and he brought a new GM with him thanks to that lawsuit he filed earlier this summer against Valor Pro over Vanessa Byrne's leadership tactics. Now Byrne is out, and Cuppola is in, and even though it was determined that the Unleashed title is Valor Pro property, the first thing Francis did was give this guy a rematch against the man who took it off of him at Rite of Kings!
LO: And Aokigahara Zombie has lost no momentum since winning either. He still remains undefeated within the company, and not only that, defended the Unleashed Championship against his fellow stablemate, Kowloon Zombie.
KO: I'm betting that this one is going to be brutal, and get that way fast.
LO: Last Man Standing usually indicates that, yes.
KO: Well, Laur...that covers the bases, right? Can we get this party underway?
LO: No objections here…
Just then, the recognizable voice of Francis Ford Cuppola breaks onto the speakers.
Francis Ford Cuppola: Welcome! Welcome! Vilkommen! Vilkommen! One and all to the event to end all events. It’s finally here!
A spot light hits the ramp, and everyone would be forgiven for expecting to see the man himself striding down to the ring. Only there’s nothing.
LO: What’s going on?
FFC: You might say I’m Honor Bound to be here tonight!
He smirks whimsically at his own cleverness. Pull out to the ValorTron above the ramp, to a shot of Francis standing in a spotlight.
Back to the announce booth where the Othello Brothers are bewildered watching Francis on the screen.
KO: ...? Where the hell is he?
Reveal the O2 arena. The empty ring and the assembled crowd looking up at the ValorTron not quite certain what to make of what’s going on.
FFC: It’s been a long time coming. This fateful night is historic because at long last the Francis Ford Cuppola Experience has come to all you faithful fans!
On the tron, wherever Francis is, he’s standing on a grassy playing field speaking to a sold out crowd populating the stands who all look just as confused as the Valor fans do in the O2. Back to the announce table where, too, the Othello Brothers are verging on speechlessness.
LO: Is--is he?
KO: I think he went to the wrong venue.
FFC: I’m happy to be here in London, England to open the Valor Pro show--
Just then a loud marching band comes into view alongside Francis who looks characteristically confused. It’s the University of Delaware Marching Band and damn are they fantastic!
The Othellos: He’s in Delaware…?
FFC: Uh, okay. Y-you want me to belt a few huh?
There’s trumpets rocking on either side of him as Francis stands in the center of one of the UDMB’s precision march movements set to music. Francis searches his tuxedo pockets, presumably for some lyrics. He has to raise his voice over the marching band.
FFC: I mostly do raps...
LAURENCE OTHELLO: Welcome everyone to the sold out 02 Arena in London, England.....Welcome everyone to HONOR BOUND!
KENNETH OTHELLO: Tonight is going to be one hell of an event, Laur! Happy Birthday!
LO: Happy Birthday to you Ken!
KO: And Happy Birthday to Valor Pro Wrestling, and we have a stacked show that showcases what a year we've had!
LO: That's right, Ken. Just like our show opener suggested, we have one of the biggest Main Events in any promotions history where we will see The Eternal, Chris Callum, take on The Apex, Cosmo Cooper, for that every championship.
KO: That's right, and I believe tonight is the night. Chris Callum is going to be the man to dethrone Cosmo Cooper from the top of The Apex mountain. It's like he said, Laur, he doesn't just want it. He needs it. Not just to be champion, but to cement and already legendary career in the annals of history.
LO: Maybe so, but until I see it with my own eyes, I won't believe it. Since coming into Valor he has had epic battles against the best of the best, and has carried the Valor Pro name along with the Apex Championship to new heights within the industry.
KO: And Chris Callum hasn't? Give me a break.
LO: I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that there is a season for everything. Chris Callum had his season in Galveston Island Wrestling and the CWC, and now Cosmo has stepped into the limelight here in the new season.
KO: One thing is for sure, no matter who comes out the winner, neither man will ever be the same.
LO: That I don't doubt for a second, and speaking of that...you could say the same thing about our Semi-Main Event...
KO: The UnYielding title will be on the line as Danny Rizzo defends against Katya Djurdjevic in their third, and what could be final encounter, cause if Katya doesn't get it done here she's out of chances as long as Rizzo is the champion.
LO: Katya has been hot as of late with a big win at Cosmo's Beach Bash, and also the deciding factor in War Games last Blitz. I think maybe tonight is her night, especially since Kaven Drell will be banned from ringside.
KO: Well, I don't. I mean, I like Katya and most of our fans love her, but the fact is this will be her third attempt, and say what you will about their second encounter where Drell got ejected, Danny pinned her clean in the center of the ring after driving his knee through her face. I just think the rookie has more to learn before taking on a challenge of this level.
LO: You seriously aren't trying to convince our listeners that Kaven Drell hasn't been a factor in the matches. He was the one who introduced the steel chair into the Rite of Kings match, and part of the reason he was ejected in the second encounter was because of his involvement. I think that's a huge boon in the corner of Katya Djurdjevic.
KO: Agree to disagree, Laur, cause there's more on this show than just that...
LO: Indeed there is, as we have a huge return on our hands in the form of Zack Fantana, who before he was suspended by former GM, Vanessa Byrne, was one of the most popular superstars here at Valor Pro.
KO: Yeah, and until just recently, we found out that his mystery partner is none other than The Daredevil, Benny Stevens!
LO: Yeah, that's huge for Valor Pro for sure, but a little unfair to our Tag Champions considering how short notice the reveal was.
KO: Not only that, but apparently Francis Ford Cuppola is reversing all sorts of decisions, cause Brad Stokes will be joining them at ringside for this bout, and he's a complete idiot.
LO: True, which could be another factor against NSFW.
KO: Maybe, but I doubt it. Stokes is too stupid to be anything more than a distraction.
LO: Exactly my point. Although I will say that NSFW have been on fire as of late, knocking off the Zombie Vice Squad and then later Rekota to gain the Chimera Tag Team Championships. Then of course there was War Games, where they played a huge part of their team’s victory.
KO: Yeah, it's hard to think of them losing right now in what would be their first title defense.
LO: I guess we'll find out later on tonight, but before that.....we got Fatal Four Way action!
KO: Damn straight! David Scott, Moxie James, and Indi Rhyder all have a reason to be in this match as they are really hot right now in their singles career, but what about the bombshell that Bryan Williams would be debuting alongside them in this match!
LO: Pretty big news since Bryan Williams is a former two time 4CW Pride Champion, not to mention multiple time tag team champion at places like 4CW & Boardwalk. Not to mention he's coming in fresh after a brief hiatus after 4CW closed.
KO: And all of them will be battling it out for the first pinfall or submission which will earn them a shot at whoever the UnYielding Champ is at the next Blitz!
LO: We can't forget about the man who caused a lot of this controversy recently over who will run Valor Pro.
KO: Spiral is back, and he brought a new GM with him thanks to that lawsuit he filed earlier this summer against Valor Pro over Vanessa Byrne's leadership tactics. Now Byrne is out, and Cuppola is in, and even though it was determined that the Unleashed title is Valor Pro property, the first thing Francis did was give this guy a rematch against the man who took it off of him at Rite of Kings!
LO: And Aokigahara Zombie has lost no momentum since winning either. He still remains undefeated within the company, and not only that, defended the Unleashed Championship against his fellow stablemate, Kowloon Zombie.
KO: I'm betting that this one is going to be brutal, and get that way fast.
LO: Last Man Standing usually indicates that, yes.
KO: Well, Laur...that covers the bases, right? Can we get this party underway?
LO: No objections here…
Just then, the recognizable voice of Francis Ford Cuppola breaks onto the speakers.
Francis Ford Cuppola: Welcome! Welcome! Vilkommen! Vilkommen! One and all to the event to end all events. It’s finally here!
A spot light hits the ramp, and everyone would be forgiven for expecting to see the man himself striding down to the ring. Only there’s nothing.
LO: What’s going on?
FFC: You might say I’m Honor Bound to be here tonight!
He smirks whimsically at his own cleverness. Pull out to the ValorTron above the ramp, to a shot of Francis standing in a spotlight.
Back to the announce booth where the Othello Brothers are bewildered watching Francis on the screen.
KO: ...? Where the hell is he?
Reveal the O2 arena. The empty ring and the assembled crowd looking up at the ValorTron not quite certain what to make of what’s going on.
FFC: It’s been a long time coming. This fateful night is historic because at long last the Francis Ford Cuppola Experience has come to all you faithful fans!
On the tron, wherever Francis is, he’s standing on a grassy playing field speaking to a sold out crowd populating the stands who all look just as confused as the Valor fans do in the O2. Back to the announce table where, too, the Othello Brothers are verging on speechlessness.
LO: Is--is he?
KO: I think he went to the wrong venue.
FFC: I’m happy to be here in London, England to open the Valor Pro show--
Just then a loud marching band comes into view alongside Francis who looks characteristically confused. It’s the University of Delaware Marching Band and damn are they fantastic!
The Othellos: He’s in Delaware…?
FFC: Uh, okay. Y-you want me to belt a few huh?
There’s trumpets rocking on either side of him as Francis stands in the center of one of the UDMB’s precision march movements set to music. Francis searches his tuxedo pockets, presumably for some lyrics. He has to raise his voice over the marching band.
FFC: I mostly do raps...
The band is really giving it. They're professionals in the face of the fact some confused old guy is standing in the middle of their formation dressed to the nines trying to get out. Francis can't.
FFC: Alright, alright. Check it.
Francis starts bobbing his head along to the backbeat of the marching band.
FFC: Uh. Yeh. Uh huh. Yeh.
Francis is feeling the flow.
FFC: Uh. Yeah. Uh huh. Okay, that's enough. ENJOY THE SHOW VALOR PRO WRESTLING! HAHAH!
Francis lifts his hands and the crowd in Delaware is baffled.
Francis lifts his hands and the crowd in Delaware is baffled.
Back in the O2, with the Kenneth and Laurence looking puzzled as Francis tries unsuccessfully to find himself out of the maze of marching band members. Instead he finds himself just standing there waving as the band plays When the Saints Go Marching In.
Back to the Othellos as Francis’ feed cuts and a confused din falls over the crowd. Laurence scratches his forehead, attempting to stave off an approaching headache as Kenneth gives a forgiving shrug.
KO: Well, on the bright side, at least he remembered the name of the federation.
LO: ...
KO: Just when you thought he couldn’t set the bar any lower, huh?
Laurence winces, forcing a smile.
LO: He had literally one job.... You know what? Let’s just... get onto the actual show.
KO: Happily, brother of mine.
Back to the Othellos as Francis’ feed cuts and a confused din falls over the crowd. Laurence scratches his forehead, attempting to stave off an approaching headache as Kenneth gives a forgiving shrug.
KO: Well, on the bright side, at least he remembered the name of the federation.
LO: ...
KO: Just when you thought he couldn’t set the bar any lower, huh?
Laurence winces, forcing a smile.
LO: He had literally one job.... You know what? Let’s just... get onto the actual show.
KO: Happily, brother of mine.
It could potentially be called the biggest night of Valor Pro’s existence. Honor Bound was finally here and there were matchups high and low that had been, and were, hotly anticipated. Months upon months of bitter rivalries, insults and barbs traded back and forth, building to this very moment in time. Inside the building, even the most blissfully unaware person on the planet could have distinguished the excitement that was pulsating from seat to seat. And yet in that moment, instead of taking it all in, Danny Rizzo stood outside staring intently at the production truck as he rested his back against the side of the arena.
UNNAMED GUY: “You sure you want to go through with this?”
For a brief moment Danny glanced over at him. Any number of thoughts raced through his head but for the time being Rizzo decided to keep his cool.
DANNY RIZZO: “Yeah… I’m sure. Just do your part and Kaven will take care of the rest later on.”
Nodding his head, the other man scurried off quickly as Rizzo continued to stare at the production truck, well aware of the fact that there were cameras on him. Turning toward them, Rizzo stared directly into the lens and spoke.
DANNY RIZZO: “Somewhere, I know you’re watching. Somewhere, I know you’re listening. They provided the spark. Now it’s on you to…”
Chuckling to himself softly, Rizzo lets his words linger in the air, never finishing his sentence. Instead, he simply turns and walks away, heading back in toward the entrance. The camera lingers on him for a moment before shifting back to the production truck that Rizzo had been so focused on before the show transitions elsewhere.
UNNAMED GUY: “You sure you want to go through with this?”
For a brief moment Danny glanced over at him. Any number of thoughts raced through his head but for the time being Rizzo decided to keep his cool.
DANNY RIZZO: “Yeah… I’m sure. Just do your part and Kaven will take care of the rest later on.”
Nodding his head, the other man scurried off quickly as Rizzo continued to stare at the production truck, well aware of the fact that there were cameras on him. Turning toward them, Rizzo stared directly into the lens and spoke.
DANNY RIZZO: “Somewhere, I know you’re watching. Somewhere, I know you’re listening. They provided the spark. Now it’s on you to…”
Chuckling to himself softly, Rizzo lets his words linger in the air, never finishing his sentence. Instead, he simply turns and walks away, heading back in toward the entrance. The camera lingers on him for a moment before shifting back to the production truck that Rizzo had been so focused on before the show transitions elsewhere.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is a Last Man Standing Match, and is for the UNLEASHED CHAMPIONSHIP! The object of the match is for one superstar to beat down the other so that they will be unable to beat the referee's ten count. The man left on his feet will be declared the winner, and the Unleashed Champion!
‘Courage’ by the Minutemen hit’s over the PA System, and the fans blow the roof off the place as Aokigahara Zombie steps through the curtain wearing the Unleashed Championship around his waist. He doesn’t even make it out of the entrance-way before Spiral tears through the curtain and attacks him. He is on a mission and he wastes no time at all in starting the fight. But is the match started? Spiral punches Zombie in the face and hits a backdrop onto the stage. Spiral stomps on him slowly, multiple times landing some clean hits to the head. Fukushima emerges with a cart of items and looks to attack when Zombie stops her by bringing his hand up. She picks up the Unleashed Title belt and doesn’t advance. He goes up to his knees and Spiral grabs his head and knees him in the forehead. Spiral grabs the cart from Fukushima who points at him and yells some gibberish in Japanese and runs down the ramp to the ring.
LO: Has this match even officially started?
KO: Looks like it to me, cause the referee is making his way up the ramp!
LO: Uh….that might be a mistake! LOOK WHAT SPIRAL IS DOING!
Spiral loads Zombie inside and aims it at the ring. The referee dodges out of the way as Zombie zooms down the ramp and crashes into the ring apron as all sorts of sharp objects fly out with him. Spiral casually walks to the ring soaking in the mixed reaction from the crowd. Spiral picks Zombie up gently and then hits him with a kick to the crotch. Zombie limps away doubled over and Spiral sends a thrust kick to his head that smashes it against the corner post. Spiral throws Zombie into the ring and grabs the ref up to ring the bell.
LO: So the match hasn’t actually started…
KO: Guess not, but it’s about to…
The ref enters and officially and reluctantly starts the match and checks on Zombie who doesn’t stand up. Spiral pulls the ref back and points one finger up in the air and then another. The ref gets the hint and starts to count Zombie out.
1…
2…
Zombie stirs and starts to use the ropes to get up.
3…
4…
Zombie stands on his feet and stops the ref from counting. Zombie shoves him out of the way when he is ready and Spiral runs over to him to end it once and for all. Zombie lies back on the ropes and drops down pulling the top rope so that Spiral, well, spirals to the outside.
LO: Spiral takes a nasty spill to the outside, and Zombie rolls out to follow…
KO: I imagine this is about to get nasty considering the two individuals we’re dealing with here…
LO: I’d wager you’re right, Ken. After all, if you needed to gauge these two men’s headspace, just look at that sloppy grin on Aoki’s face…
Almost as if in response to the announce team, Aoki leans down and he grabs Spiral by the face and bites into his nose. Spiral kicks his legs in pain and finally gets Zombie off of him after a few punches to the gut. Spiral checks his nose as some blood trickles from the side. Zombie comes back and clutches Spiral’s head to twist his nose and ear after applying a headlock. Zombie pulls and puts all his weight on Spiral to stretch him out onto the ground.
LO: Zombie disgustingly showing us just how far he'll go in a match like this, as if Rite of Kings wasn't bad enough.
KO: No doubt, and now he's going up to the apron...AND GETS A RUNNING GO BEFORE LEAPING OFF FOR AN ELBOW TO THE BACK SPIRAL'S HEAD!
The crowd pops as Aokigahara looks around his spilled cart for something and finds a piece of a broken light tube. He looks sad for a moment when he sees that that area around the ring is littered with broken glass. Zombie goes over to Spiral and grabs him by the foot and pulls him over. Spiral struggles to stop him and tries to grab at anything around him. With one final pull, Zombie drags Spiral on the floor over the broken glass.
LO: OH MY GOD! THAT'S MALICIOUS!
KO: I Didn't expect any less form this lunatic!
Zombie leans over to check out his handiwork when Spiral hits him in the head with a broom handle he rummaged from the pile of fallen weapons. Spiral stands up and writhes in pain for a second before focusing his rage back on Zombie.
LO: Spiral now with that jagged light tube...and what's he doing?
KO: OH, THAT'S SICK!
LO: SPIRAL JUST DRUG THAT SHARD ACROSS ZOMBIE'S FOREHEAD, AND HE'S BEEN LASCERATED! BLOOD IS POURING EVERYWHERE WHILE SPIRAL IS BLEEDING FROM HUNDREDS OF TINY CUTS!
Spiral pins Zombie to the ground with a knee across the back of his shoulders and places the piece of glass on the side of Zombie’s head. Spiral then proceeds to punch Zombie on the side of the head and breaks the glass on it. Spiral keeps punching once it is broken in a fury.
KO: Spiral hammering away cutting up his own fists in the process of trying to shave meat off of Akoigahara's face, and the champion is trying to cover up, but to little effect...
LO: Spiral now getting to his feet and waiting for Aoki to stand, but he's blocking the referee's path to check on him and start the count. Apparently he has more damage to do.
KO: There is no doubt in my mind that The Pale King hates Aokigahara Zombie, and this is payback for what he considers an embarrassment at Rite of Kings!
Spiral laughs in Zombie’s face as Zombie tries to attack with groggy punches, backing up and dodging each swing. Spiral then waits for one last punch. When Zombie swings, Spiral jumps up at him and locks in the Go Back To Sleep. He wraps his legs around Zombie’s neck and arm then hangs off Zombie while controlling the wrist in the triangle choke. Zombie stays on his feet but Spiral pulls him down and punches him in the forehead. Zombie straightens up as much as he can to get out of Spiral’s reach but he still has the choke locked in.
LO: GO BACK TO SLEEP BY SPIRAL, AND ZOMBIE IS TRYING TO FIGHT IT OFF!
KO: That triangle choke will be devastating now that he's caused so much blood loss...wait...what the hell is Zombie doing?
LO: He's starting to slowly spin around, but he's gaining momentum, AND JUST LAUNCHED HIMSELF AT THE CLOSEST STEEL RING POST!
KO: It isn't clear if Spiral let go of the hold before getting his hands off to cover his head, but he is down.
LO: Zombie stumbling back to the barricade with a wicked crimson grin and the ref is finally allowed to start the count on Spiral!
1…
2…
3…
Spiral lifts his head in a daze and starts to lift his upper body.
4…
Spiral struggles to his hands and knees.
5…
Zombie sprints past the referee and hits Spiral with a running knee to the torso. He picks Spiral up himself and takes off running with his hair in his fist. Zombie slams Spiral into the barricades. Zombie gets a chair from under the ring and slides it under the ropes followed by Spiral. Zombie opens the chair and sets it up in the middle of the ring. He picks Spiral up onto his shoulder and tries to hit something onto the chair but Spiral squirms off. Spiral hits Zombie in the gut with a punching combination. Zombie covers up as Spiral continues his punches and feints until he stuns Zombie with an uppercut. Spiral wraps his arms around Zombie and hits a belly-to-back suplex so that Zombie’s head and body land on and flatten the chair.
LO: GOOD LORD! THIS IS CONCUSSION CITY!
KO: Is that anything like Truth and Consequences, New Mexico?
LO: NO! That is Aokigahara Zombie walking away from this with possible brain damage!
Spiral walks up to Zombie's face and wipes some blood from his nose then slaps him before taking his boot and grinding it on Zombie’s face. Zombie tries in vain to get his boot off of him and seems to be reaching for something in his kick pads. When Spiral goes to stomp on Zombie’s face, Zombie stabs him with something on his leg. Zombie grabs Spiral’s leg and Zombie holds up a rail spike.
LO: WHAT THE...
KO: CALL THE POLICE!
LO: ZOMBIE JUST STABBED THE CHALLENGER IN THE LEG WITH A RAIL SPIKE!
Zombie gets up holding Spiral’s leg and throws it to the side and as Spiral spins around Zombie rams the blunt end of the spike on Spiral’s head. Spiral crawls away and goes to the corner. Zombie runs at him and jumps up to stab down. Spiral gets out of the way and the spike stabs right through the top turnbuckle.
LO: AOKI IS TRYING TO MURDER HIM!
KO: Yeah, but Spiral managed to get out of the way and now Zombie is trying to dislodge the spike, BUT OH! Headbutt to the back of the head leaves him leaning against the corner...
LO: Oh God! What now?!? Spiral slips under Zombie and lifts him up to sit on the top turnbuckle, and Spiral now slides to the outside to grab a....what is that?
KO: THAT'S A HANGMAN'S NOOSE!
Spiral takes the spool of rope and whips Zombie’s back with it leaving some welts on his skin. Zombie almost falls off the top to the outside but Spiral climbs onto the second rope to catch him. Spiral wraps the rope around Aokigahara’s and then throws the champion's leg over the corner so that he is sitting with both legs on the same side. Spiral looks around the arena, paying special attention to those watching in the back, and then nods viciously as he places his hand on Zombie's shoulders.
LO: NO! HE WOULDN'T!
KO: OH YES HE WOULD, CAUSE HE JUST DID!
LO: SPIRAL JUST SHOVED ZOMBIE OFF THE TOP ROPE AND HE'S HANGING THE MAN! GOD ALMIGHTY, REFEREE! STOP THIS!
Zombie dangles from the rope in Spiral’s hands with his feet a few inches off the ground while struggling to get on the apron, but his one hand is trapped between the rope and his neck. There are a few screams from the audience calling for this to stop as Spiral screams from the second rope. Zombie struggles less and less. After a few harrowing moments, he goes limp and Spiral drops the man so that he tumbles to the concrete. Spiral leaps down to the ring as Zombie gets the rope off his neck and gasps for air. The ref starts his count.
1…
2…
3…
There is no movement from Zombie.
4…
5…
6…
Zombie starts to laugh?
7…
Zombie loosens the rope and starts to get up.
8…
9..
LO: What the hell man? How in the hell did he get up from a lynching!
KO: He's superhuman, Laur. Those damn Zombies go through some sort of ritual where they really do become the walking dead!
LO: Well I don't know about that, but the ref has stopped his count as Zombie is back on his feet, but immediately collapses by his weapons cart.
KO: No rest for the Wicked! Spiral coming out of the ring through the ropes to go after him, AND ZOMBIE JUST TURNED TO GET HIS FEET INTO THE SIDE OF THE CART AND CATAPULTED AT SPIRAL!
LO: Spiral hadn't made it all the way out of the ring...he's dangling there by the second rope, and now Zombie has the ring apron up and is searching around under the ring; As if that freakin' cart weren't bad enough!
KO: Never know what you might find...he's pulling out boards and tables, and...oh no....MORE LIGHT TUBES!
LO: Zombie now giving Fukushima instructions to set them up as he takes something and slides into the ring...
KO: He just pulled Spiral back in and shoots him off the ropes, and catches him in an Abdominal Stretch on his way back.
LO: Now his that foreign object....what is that? Oh my God!
KO: THAT IS FREAKIN NEEDLE!
Spiral’s icy demeanor breaks and screams as Zombie brings the long needle closer and closer to his face. His eyes go wide as Zombie punctures one cheek with the needle and pushes it through his mouth to puncture the other cheek from the inside. He lets Spiral go. Spiral drops to his knees and the needle can be clearly seen in his screaming mouth through both cheeks. Zombie kneels in front of him and grabs one end of the needle and then the other and forces Spiral to stand by pulling on them.
LO: GOOD LORD, THIS IS SICK!
KO: HE'S LITERALLY GOT THE GUY FISH HOOKED!
Zombie seems to enjoy pulling Spiral by the needle as he turns Spiral’s head diagonally in one direction and then another. He suddenly stops the dance and sighs before headbutting Spiral in the face. This doesn’t go well for Zombie as he goes down on one knee, with the match taking its toll. Spiral falls back to the corner and holds his nose as blood spills out of it freely now. Zombie advances on him and Spiral kicks back landing a blow to Zombie’s chest. Spiral pulls the needle right out of his cheek and then the other one to throw it to the side in disgust.
LO: That might be the most disgusting thing I've ever seen in this sport...
KO: Not..(blurp)...again...
As Kenneth Othello loses his dinner on commentary, Fukushima screams at Spiral and then tosses a chair up into the ring at him. He stares at the weapon and the strange girl for a moment, before turning back just in time to take a Dropkick from Zombie into the chair which flies up and bangs off his skull. Spiral drops down in a heap and Zombie looks over to the side of the ring to see that Fukushima has finished her work. Two tables are set up by the ring one on top of the other. In between the tables are an assortment of light tubes, barbed wire, and small wooden boards.
LO: Ken, seriously, you might not want to see this. I don't want to see this...
KO: Nah...(blurp)...I'm fine. Just give me a minute...
LO: I....I don't think you have a minute!
Zombie lifts Spiral to the top rope but Spiral shows him some resistance by elbowing him in the face. Each elbow sends splashes of blood flying from Zombie’s face. Zombie answers back with a huge lariat to the back of Spiral’s head. Zombie goes out to the apron and gets up on the top rope. He drags Spiral up with all his might to the second rope. They balance on the top as Zombie puts his head under Spiral’s arm. He drags Spiral up to the top and puts his arms around his waist. They slowly teeter back and Zombie lifts Spiral to hit wicked Backdrop Driver through all of the ringside toys, ending only after the abrupt stop of the concrete floor rushing up to meet them!
LO: JESUS CHRIST! TO THE LOST FROM AOKI TO SPIRAL FROM THE TOP ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE RING AND THROUGH A SMORGASBORD OF MAYHEM AND CARNAGE!
KO: God almighty...it's like they are floating in a sea of barbed wire, glass, and wood.
LO: Fukushima and the referee trying to clear some of the wreckage, and both competitors are lying motionless among the debris.
KO: Finally, the ref starting the count! What was he waiting for, a freakin' sign!
1..
2..
3..
4..
Zombie turns over in a bloody heap and starts to drag himself away from Spiral
5..
6..
Spiral raises an arm and reaches for Zombie’s leg.
7..
8..
Zombie gets up but Spiral stops him with a hand on his leg.
9..
Zombie pulls his leg free and stands up.
10!!!
Spiral is down and a slew of crew and officials pour out from the back to check on them.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of the match via KO.....AND STILL UNLEASHED CHAMPION....AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE!!
LO: There you have it folks. Thankfully this match is finally over, and Aoki has retained despite Spiral's best efforts...
KO: And that lunatic is just sitting on the apron watching as the EMT's dig out a path through the wreckage so that they can get a stretcher in there.
LO: Is...Oh my God! Is that a piece of table sticking out of Spiral's ribs?
KO: Wha....(BARF)
As Kenneth Othello repeats his guttural thoughts on the match, Aokigahara asks for a microphone. He sits on the ring apron and stares at Spiral as he is taken out of the wreckage of the match. The ref hands him the title and lifts his hands and Aokigahara holds it up. He speaks into the mic with his gruff voice while trying to catch his breath.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Spiral! Hey. Spiiiiiraaaal! Look at me. Look at this! This is the title that you brought into this company. You brought it over with pride and dared anybody to come and take it from you. The great Spiral! Look at this! I have your title. After everything you have gone through I want you to know that this is mines. I thought about what I would do if I won this match. I asked around for suggestions. Should this be the Bloodbowl Title? Or the Ironlands Sport Title? I wanted this to be your ultimate failure to see me parading around changing and shaping this legacy in MY image. But then I thought about it some more. I thought that maybe that wasn’t the way to go.
He pauses, wincing at some pain in his side before taking a shallow breath and continuing.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: So I will not change this name. This will still be the Unleashed Championship. That would be so much worse. And hey, you didn’t die! So I want you to watch me. Listen! Every time you hear the name of this title, know that I am the one that took this away from you. I am the one tainting your great legacy. Aokigahara is the one that didn’t give it back no matter what you did. I want you to ask yourself if this was all worth it. You lost it. You stole it back. You held this company hostage and you got that lady with the perky… personality fired. Worst of all, you laid a hand on my people! Look at you now… Anyway, when you pick yourself back up and they tape you together into one piece again. When you are whole once more you ask yourself if this was all worth it. When that answer becomes yes… you come back and try to make this title yours again.
Aoki flips the microphone over his shoulder to land in the ring which causes a loud feedback sound to screech across the PA before being cut by someone backstage. Aoki grins his bloody grin as he continues to sit and watch Spiral being hoisted up the ramp on the stretcher.
LO: Well there you have it folks...The Unleashed Championships is here to stay, and that is the man you're going to have to out-crazy if you're going to become it.
KO: Uh..I don't know if that's possible.
LO: You and me both, Brother-O-Mine, but let's check backstage where we have some Valor Pro superstars with some words for our capacity crowd...It'll also give you a chance to wash some of that nastiness out of your mouth.
KO: You're all heart, Laur...
The camera gets one last shot of Aoki sliding off the apron and being supported by Fukushima before cutting backstage to one of Valor's newest signees.
‘Courage’ by the Minutemen hit’s over the PA System, and the fans blow the roof off the place as Aokigahara Zombie steps through the curtain wearing the Unleashed Championship around his waist. He doesn’t even make it out of the entrance-way before Spiral tears through the curtain and attacks him. He is on a mission and he wastes no time at all in starting the fight. But is the match started? Spiral punches Zombie in the face and hits a backdrop onto the stage. Spiral stomps on him slowly, multiple times landing some clean hits to the head. Fukushima emerges with a cart of items and looks to attack when Zombie stops her by bringing his hand up. She picks up the Unleashed Title belt and doesn’t advance. He goes up to his knees and Spiral grabs his head and knees him in the forehead. Spiral grabs the cart from Fukushima who points at him and yells some gibberish in Japanese and runs down the ramp to the ring.
LO: Has this match even officially started?
KO: Looks like it to me, cause the referee is making his way up the ramp!
LO: Uh….that might be a mistake! LOOK WHAT SPIRAL IS DOING!
Spiral loads Zombie inside and aims it at the ring. The referee dodges out of the way as Zombie zooms down the ramp and crashes into the ring apron as all sorts of sharp objects fly out with him. Spiral casually walks to the ring soaking in the mixed reaction from the crowd. Spiral picks Zombie up gently and then hits him with a kick to the crotch. Zombie limps away doubled over and Spiral sends a thrust kick to his head that smashes it against the corner post. Spiral throws Zombie into the ring and grabs the ref up to ring the bell.
LO: So the match hasn’t actually started…
KO: Guess not, but it’s about to…
The ref enters and officially and reluctantly starts the match and checks on Zombie who doesn’t stand up. Spiral pulls the ref back and points one finger up in the air and then another. The ref gets the hint and starts to count Zombie out.
1…
2…
Zombie stirs and starts to use the ropes to get up.
3…
4…
Zombie stands on his feet and stops the ref from counting. Zombie shoves him out of the way when he is ready and Spiral runs over to him to end it once and for all. Zombie lies back on the ropes and drops down pulling the top rope so that Spiral, well, spirals to the outside.
LO: Spiral takes a nasty spill to the outside, and Zombie rolls out to follow…
KO: I imagine this is about to get nasty considering the two individuals we’re dealing with here…
LO: I’d wager you’re right, Ken. After all, if you needed to gauge these two men’s headspace, just look at that sloppy grin on Aoki’s face…
Almost as if in response to the announce team, Aoki leans down and he grabs Spiral by the face and bites into his nose. Spiral kicks his legs in pain and finally gets Zombie off of him after a few punches to the gut. Spiral checks his nose as some blood trickles from the side. Zombie comes back and clutches Spiral’s head to twist his nose and ear after applying a headlock. Zombie pulls and puts all his weight on Spiral to stretch him out onto the ground.
LO: Zombie disgustingly showing us just how far he'll go in a match like this, as if Rite of Kings wasn't bad enough.
KO: No doubt, and now he's going up to the apron...AND GETS A RUNNING GO BEFORE LEAPING OFF FOR AN ELBOW TO THE BACK SPIRAL'S HEAD!
The crowd pops as Aokigahara looks around his spilled cart for something and finds a piece of a broken light tube. He looks sad for a moment when he sees that that area around the ring is littered with broken glass. Zombie goes over to Spiral and grabs him by the foot and pulls him over. Spiral struggles to stop him and tries to grab at anything around him. With one final pull, Zombie drags Spiral on the floor over the broken glass.
LO: OH MY GOD! THAT'S MALICIOUS!
KO: I Didn't expect any less form this lunatic!
Zombie leans over to check out his handiwork when Spiral hits him in the head with a broom handle he rummaged from the pile of fallen weapons. Spiral stands up and writhes in pain for a second before focusing his rage back on Zombie.
LO: Spiral now with that jagged light tube...and what's he doing?
KO: OH, THAT'S SICK!
LO: SPIRAL JUST DRUG THAT SHARD ACROSS ZOMBIE'S FOREHEAD, AND HE'S BEEN LASCERATED! BLOOD IS POURING EVERYWHERE WHILE SPIRAL IS BLEEDING FROM HUNDREDS OF TINY CUTS!
Spiral pins Zombie to the ground with a knee across the back of his shoulders and places the piece of glass on the side of Zombie’s head. Spiral then proceeds to punch Zombie on the side of the head and breaks the glass on it. Spiral keeps punching once it is broken in a fury.
KO: Spiral hammering away cutting up his own fists in the process of trying to shave meat off of Akoigahara's face, and the champion is trying to cover up, but to little effect...
LO: Spiral now getting to his feet and waiting for Aoki to stand, but he's blocking the referee's path to check on him and start the count. Apparently he has more damage to do.
KO: There is no doubt in my mind that The Pale King hates Aokigahara Zombie, and this is payback for what he considers an embarrassment at Rite of Kings!
Spiral laughs in Zombie’s face as Zombie tries to attack with groggy punches, backing up and dodging each swing. Spiral then waits for one last punch. When Zombie swings, Spiral jumps up at him and locks in the Go Back To Sleep. He wraps his legs around Zombie’s neck and arm then hangs off Zombie while controlling the wrist in the triangle choke. Zombie stays on his feet but Spiral pulls him down and punches him in the forehead. Zombie straightens up as much as he can to get out of Spiral’s reach but he still has the choke locked in.
LO: GO BACK TO SLEEP BY SPIRAL, AND ZOMBIE IS TRYING TO FIGHT IT OFF!
KO: That triangle choke will be devastating now that he's caused so much blood loss...wait...what the hell is Zombie doing?
LO: He's starting to slowly spin around, but he's gaining momentum, AND JUST LAUNCHED HIMSELF AT THE CLOSEST STEEL RING POST!
KO: It isn't clear if Spiral let go of the hold before getting his hands off to cover his head, but he is down.
LO: Zombie stumbling back to the barricade with a wicked crimson grin and the ref is finally allowed to start the count on Spiral!
1…
2…
3…
Spiral lifts his head in a daze and starts to lift his upper body.
4…
Spiral struggles to his hands and knees.
5…
Zombie sprints past the referee and hits Spiral with a running knee to the torso. He picks Spiral up himself and takes off running with his hair in his fist. Zombie slams Spiral into the barricades. Zombie gets a chair from under the ring and slides it under the ropes followed by Spiral. Zombie opens the chair and sets it up in the middle of the ring. He picks Spiral up onto his shoulder and tries to hit something onto the chair but Spiral squirms off. Spiral hits Zombie in the gut with a punching combination. Zombie covers up as Spiral continues his punches and feints until he stuns Zombie with an uppercut. Spiral wraps his arms around Zombie and hits a belly-to-back suplex so that Zombie’s head and body land on and flatten the chair.
LO: GOOD LORD! THIS IS CONCUSSION CITY!
KO: Is that anything like Truth and Consequences, New Mexico?
LO: NO! That is Aokigahara Zombie walking away from this with possible brain damage!
Spiral walks up to Zombie's face and wipes some blood from his nose then slaps him before taking his boot and grinding it on Zombie’s face. Zombie tries in vain to get his boot off of him and seems to be reaching for something in his kick pads. When Spiral goes to stomp on Zombie’s face, Zombie stabs him with something on his leg. Zombie grabs Spiral’s leg and Zombie holds up a rail spike.
LO: WHAT THE...
KO: CALL THE POLICE!
LO: ZOMBIE JUST STABBED THE CHALLENGER IN THE LEG WITH A RAIL SPIKE!
Zombie gets up holding Spiral’s leg and throws it to the side and as Spiral spins around Zombie rams the blunt end of the spike on Spiral’s head. Spiral crawls away and goes to the corner. Zombie runs at him and jumps up to stab down. Spiral gets out of the way and the spike stabs right through the top turnbuckle.
LO: AOKI IS TRYING TO MURDER HIM!
KO: Yeah, but Spiral managed to get out of the way and now Zombie is trying to dislodge the spike, BUT OH! Headbutt to the back of the head leaves him leaning against the corner...
LO: Oh God! What now?!? Spiral slips under Zombie and lifts him up to sit on the top turnbuckle, and Spiral now slides to the outside to grab a....what is that?
KO: THAT'S A HANGMAN'S NOOSE!
Spiral takes the spool of rope and whips Zombie’s back with it leaving some welts on his skin. Zombie almost falls off the top to the outside but Spiral climbs onto the second rope to catch him. Spiral wraps the rope around Aokigahara’s and then throws the champion's leg over the corner so that he is sitting with both legs on the same side. Spiral looks around the arena, paying special attention to those watching in the back, and then nods viciously as he places his hand on Zombie's shoulders.
LO: NO! HE WOULDN'T!
KO: OH YES HE WOULD, CAUSE HE JUST DID!
LO: SPIRAL JUST SHOVED ZOMBIE OFF THE TOP ROPE AND HE'S HANGING THE MAN! GOD ALMIGHTY, REFEREE! STOP THIS!
Zombie dangles from the rope in Spiral’s hands with his feet a few inches off the ground while struggling to get on the apron, but his one hand is trapped between the rope and his neck. There are a few screams from the audience calling for this to stop as Spiral screams from the second rope. Zombie struggles less and less. After a few harrowing moments, he goes limp and Spiral drops the man so that he tumbles to the concrete. Spiral leaps down to the ring as Zombie gets the rope off his neck and gasps for air. The ref starts his count.
1…
2…
3…
There is no movement from Zombie.
4…
5…
6…
Zombie starts to laugh?
7…
Zombie loosens the rope and starts to get up.
8…
9..
LO: What the hell man? How in the hell did he get up from a lynching!
KO: He's superhuman, Laur. Those damn Zombies go through some sort of ritual where they really do become the walking dead!
LO: Well I don't know about that, but the ref has stopped his count as Zombie is back on his feet, but immediately collapses by his weapons cart.
KO: No rest for the Wicked! Spiral coming out of the ring through the ropes to go after him, AND ZOMBIE JUST TURNED TO GET HIS FEET INTO THE SIDE OF THE CART AND CATAPULTED AT SPIRAL!
LO: Spiral hadn't made it all the way out of the ring...he's dangling there by the second rope, and now Zombie has the ring apron up and is searching around under the ring; As if that freakin' cart weren't bad enough!
KO: Never know what you might find...he's pulling out boards and tables, and...oh no....MORE LIGHT TUBES!
LO: Zombie now giving Fukushima instructions to set them up as he takes something and slides into the ring...
KO: He just pulled Spiral back in and shoots him off the ropes, and catches him in an Abdominal Stretch on his way back.
LO: Now his that foreign object....what is that? Oh my God!
KO: THAT IS FREAKIN NEEDLE!
Spiral’s icy demeanor breaks and screams as Zombie brings the long needle closer and closer to his face. His eyes go wide as Zombie punctures one cheek with the needle and pushes it through his mouth to puncture the other cheek from the inside. He lets Spiral go. Spiral drops to his knees and the needle can be clearly seen in his screaming mouth through both cheeks. Zombie kneels in front of him and grabs one end of the needle and then the other and forces Spiral to stand by pulling on them.
LO: GOOD LORD, THIS IS SICK!
KO: HE'S LITERALLY GOT THE GUY FISH HOOKED!
Zombie seems to enjoy pulling Spiral by the needle as he turns Spiral’s head diagonally in one direction and then another. He suddenly stops the dance and sighs before headbutting Spiral in the face. This doesn’t go well for Zombie as he goes down on one knee, with the match taking its toll. Spiral falls back to the corner and holds his nose as blood spills out of it freely now. Zombie advances on him and Spiral kicks back landing a blow to Zombie’s chest. Spiral pulls the needle right out of his cheek and then the other one to throw it to the side in disgust.
LO: That might be the most disgusting thing I've ever seen in this sport...
KO: Not..(blurp)...again...
As Kenneth Othello loses his dinner on commentary, Fukushima screams at Spiral and then tosses a chair up into the ring at him. He stares at the weapon and the strange girl for a moment, before turning back just in time to take a Dropkick from Zombie into the chair which flies up and bangs off his skull. Spiral drops down in a heap and Zombie looks over to the side of the ring to see that Fukushima has finished her work. Two tables are set up by the ring one on top of the other. In between the tables are an assortment of light tubes, barbed wire, and small wooden boards.
LO: Ken, seriously, you might not want to see this. I don't want to see this...
KO: Nah...(blurp)...I'm fine. Just give me a minute...
LO: I....I don't think you have a minute!
Zombie lifts Spiral to the top rope but Spiral shows him some resistance by elbowing him in the face. Each elbow sends splashes of blood flying from Zombie’s face. Zombie answers back with a huge lariat to the back of Spiral’s head. Zombie goes out to the apron and gets up on the top rope. He drags Spiral up with all his might to the second rope. They balance on the top as Zombie puts his head under Spiral’s arm. He drags Spiral up to the top and puts his arms around his waist. They slowly teeter back and Zombie lifts Spiral to hit wicked Backdrop Driver through all of the ringside toys, ending only after the abrupt stop of the concrete floor rushing up to meet them!
LO: JESUS CHRIST! TO THE LOST FROM AOKI TO SPIRAL FROM THE TOP ROPE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE RING AND THROUGH A SMORGASBORD OF MAYHEM AND CARNAGE!
KO: God almighty...it's like they are floating in a sea of barbed wire, glass, and wood.
LO: Fukushima and the referee trying to clear some of the wreckage, and both competitors are lying motionless among the debris.
KO: Finally, the ref starting the count! What was he waiting for, a freakin' sign!
1..
2..
3..
4..
Zombie turns over in a bloody heap and starts to drag himself away from Spiral
5..
6..
Spiral raises an arm and reaches for Zombie’s leg.
7..
8..
Zombie gets up but Spiral stops him with a hand on his leg.
9..
Zombie pulls his leg free and stands up.
10!!!
Spiral is down and a slew of crew and officials pour out from the back to check on them.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of the match via KO.....AND STILL UNLEASHED CHAMPION....AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE!!
LO: There you have it folks. Thankfully this match is finally over, and Aoki has retained despite Spiral's best efforts...
KO: And that lunatic is just sitting on the apron watching as the EMT's dig out a path through the wreckage so that they can get a stretcher in there.
LO: Is...Oh my God! Is that a piece of table sticking out of Spiral's ribs?
KO: Wha....(BARF)
As Kenneth Othello repeats his guttural thoughts on the match, Aokigahara asks for a microphone. He sits on the ring apron and stares at Spiral as he is taken out of the wreckage of the match. The ref hands him the title and lifts his hands and Aokigahara holds it up. He speaks into the mic with his gruff voice while trying to catch his breath.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Spiral! Hey. Spiiiiiraaaal! Look at me. Look at this! This is the title that you brought into this company. You brought it over with pride and dared anybody to come and take it from you. The great Spiral! Look at this! I have your title. After everything you have gone through I want you to know that this is mines. I thought about what I would do if I won this match. I asked around for suggestions. Should this be the Bloodbowl Title? Or the Ironlands Sport Title? I wanted this to be your ultimate failure to see me parading around changing and shaping this legacy in MY image. But then I thought about it some more. I thought that maybe that wasn’t the way to go.
He pauses, wincing at some pain in his side before taking a shallow breath and continuing.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: So I will not change this name. This will still be the Unleashed Championship. That would be so much worse. And hey, you didn’t die! So I want you to watch me. Listen! Every time you hear the name of this title, know that I am the one that took this away from you. I am the one tainting your great legacy. Aokigahara is the one that didn’t give it back no matter what you did. I want you to ask yourself if this was all worth it. You lost it. You stole it back. You held this company hostage and you got that lady with the perky… personality fired. Worst of all, you laid a hand on my people! Look at you now… Anyway, when you pick yourself back up and they tape you together into one piece again. When you are whole once more you ask yourself if this was all worth it. When that answer becomes yes… you come back and try to make this title yours again.
Aoki flips the microphone over his shoulder to land in the ring which causes a loud feedback sound to screech across the PA before being cut by someone backstage. Aoki grins his bloody grin as he continues to sit and watch Spiral being hoisted up the ramp on the stretcher.
LO: Well there you have it folks...The Unleashed Championships is here to stay, and that is the man you're going to have to out-crazy if you're going to become it.
KO: Uh..I don't know if that's possible.
LO: You and me both, Brother-O-Mine, but let's check backstage where we have some Valor Pro superstars with some words for our capacity crowd...It'll also give you a chance to wash some of that nastiness out of your mouth.
KO: You're all heart, Laur...
The camera gets one last shot of Aoki sliding off the apron and being supported by Fukushima before cutting backstage to one of Valor's newest signees.
BRYAN WILLIAMS: Honor Bound. Valor Pro.
The scene opens up, as we see Bryan Williams standing backstage in the 02 Arena. Bryan is dressed for his match tonight, standing there in dirty denim and his stained letterman jacket. He greets us with a smile, in his hand he holds his rooster mask.
BW: It’s finally time. I hope you all have been waiting patiently for this, because I know I have. The last time I was here I told you all something. I gave you a great warning, because I knew what was about to come.
He leans against the wall, his demeanor doesn’t match up with the tone of his voice. His body is calm, but his words carry an underlying anger to them.
BW: Prepare for what’s coming! I gave you a head start, it was the best I could do at the time. You see, sometimes I can get myself ready for what’s about to happen. Lately it’s been getting harder. Tougher to control, I feel like a different person sometimes!
Bryan laughs, chuckling to himself as he continues.
BW: Despite it all, I learned to just let it happen. I go with the flow, and deal with the consequences later. That’s all I have to worry about.
He smiles again.
BW: Unfortunately, you’ve got a bigger problem on your hands. Now I’m about to step into the ring. I’m about to make Valor my new home. And everytime I do, everytime I walk down to that ring and step through those ropes the problem grows exponentially.
His smile fades, and now his body language matches his tone. He’s serious, Bryan stands up straight as he looks into the camera.
BW: I’m your problem now, Valor. You should have dealt with me when you had the chance. Tonight this issue becomes unyielding.
He stops. Bryan puts on the mask, and walks out of the frame as we cut away.
The scene opens up, as we see Bryan Williams standing backstage in the 02 Arena. Bryan is dressed for his match tonight, standing there in dirty denim and his stained letterman jacket. He greets us with a smile, in his hand he holds his rooster mask.
BW: It’s finally time. I hope you all have been waiting patiently for this, because I know I have. The last time I was here I told you all something. I gave you a great warning, because I knew what was about to come.
He leans against the wall, his demeanor doesn’t match up with the tone of his voice. His body is calm, but his words carry an underlying anger to them.
BW: Prepare for what’s coming! I gave you a head start, it was the best I could do at the time. You see, sometimes I can get myself ready for what’s about to happen. Lately it’s been getting harder. Tougher to control, I feel like a different person sometimes!
Bryan laughs, chuckling to himself as he continues.
BW: Despite it all, I learned to just let it happen. I go with the flow, and deal with the consequences later. That’s all I have to worry about.
He smiles again.
BW: Unfortunately, you’ve got a bigger problem on your hands. Now I’m about to step into the ring. I’m about to make Valor my new home. And everytime I do, everytime I walk down to that ring and step through those ropes the problem grows exponentially.
His smile fades, and now his body language matches his tone. He’s serious, Bryan stands up straight as he looks into the camera.
BW: I’m your problem now, Valor. You should have dealt with me when you had the chance. Tonight this issue becomes unyielding.
He stops. Bryan puts on the mask, and walks out of the frame as we cut away.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is set for one fall or submission, and is a Fatal Four Way Match where the winner will go on to the next Blitz for an UnYielding Championship opportunity!
“you should see me in a crown” by Billie Eilish's cryptic intro comes across the PA System and Moxie James bursts through the curtain and stop at the top of the ramp, cocking her hip to the side while her hand rests upon it. She's wearing a black singlet with a red long coat over top, and a Cat-In-The-Hat like hat but in Black and Red on top of her head. The fans giver her a big ovation and she gives a grin and a wink to the camera as she starts down the ramp towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot seven and weighting in at 137 pounds, hailing from Los Angeles, California...She is MOXXXIEEE JAMESSSSS!
Moxie reaches ringside and leaps to the apron, hooking the top rope with her arm while kicking a leg out that she swings through the ropes as she enters the ring. She turns to the corner closest to the ramp and hops to the second turnbuckle where she flips the top hat out into the crowd who scramble for the keepsake while she watches with amusement. She then drops down and lets the long coat fall from her shoulders as she prepares for her opponents.
LO: Moxie James is coming in off of a big win over David Scott, and I tell you....I don't know if anyone was expecting that.
KO: I wouldn't quite call it an upset, but when you have a mismatch of size like that it's always a little surprising.
LO: Either way, James looks ready for this, as she has been undefeated thus far in Singles Competition.
'Karma Chameleon' by the Culture Club hits over the PA System, and Indi Rhyder skips out onto the stage to an even bigger ovation than Moxie. She places her hand over her eyes to peer out at the crowd, a smile placed upon her lips. She turns to give the camera a wink as she passes on by down the ramp, slapping hands as she goes.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing next, standing at five foot five and weighting in at 130 pounds, hailing from Los Angeles, California....She is THE GALACTIC PRINCESS, INDI RHYDDEERRR!!
As she reaches ringside she makes a dash across the front row with one hand extended for high fives, and then turns abruptly to leap up onto the ring apron, and then hops up to the second rope from the outside. She repeats the hand motion, covering her eyes to take in the capacity crowd with a grin, and then hops over the top rope to land safely in the ring. She moves to the far corner and starts stretching along the ropes, casting a glance at Moxie as she does so.
LO: Indi Rhyder is a top tier athlete who has been on a tear as of late, her only hiccup being her one and only UnYielding title shot against Danny Rizzo.
KO: Yeah, Rizzo's caused quite a few of those hiccups over the past several months, hasn't he?
LO: Indeed he has, but Indi gets a second chance if she's able to win in this match, cause she'll go on to face whoever wins tonight in the UnYielding Championship match at the next Blitz.
KO: Maybe it is her night, but I got a feeling our next entrant won't be to keen on that.
The lights go down and white light engulfs the entrance as smoke pours out onto the stage as "Cradle to the Grave" by Five Finger Death Punch's slow intro starts over the PA System. Just as the lyrics kick in David Scott steps through the curtain wearing a sleeveless jean jacket with 'Battle Born' embroidered on the back and a black hood that is covering his head. He receives a mixed reaction as he comes to a pause at the top of the stage, his taped fists coming together in front of him, the right punching into the other. From there he tosses the hood back and makes his way down the ramp towards the ring in no particular hurry.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at six foot and weighting 230 pounds, hailing from Orange County, California....He is THE BATTLE BORN, DAVID SCOTTTTT!!
Scott reaches the ringside area and turns to use the steps up onto the apron of the ring and then swings into the squared circle, where he delivers a one/two punching combo before peeling out of his jacket and stepping to the nearest corner to climb the second turnbuckle. He beats his own chest hard before throwing both fists into the air. Some cheer, some boo, but he doesn't seem to care as he stares right at Moxie James.
LO: Well, that answers the question. No love lost for Moxie James by David Scott!
KO: Yeah, if looks could kill, Moxie would drop dead.
LO: Well, even so, hopefully David can keep his train of thought on the task at hand. He's got two other opponents in the ring with him.
KO: No worries, Laur, our final participant doesn't plan on letting anyone else forget him...
The lights go out in the arena as an 80's style synthesized pulse pushes over the speakers and neon pink, green, and yellow lights flash all over the smoky stage. Suddenly all of the lights converge and at the center of the stage is Bryan Williams, kneeling with his head down and wearing the famed Rooster mask over his head. He slowly rises like The Terminator and stares down the ramp towards the ring at his opponents, but when the musics main repetitive theme kicks in and he steps forward with a cocky yell(pun intended) as the lights come back to full. He navigates the ramp with a dangerous gait to his step while the fans go nuts at the appearance of the star.
RING ANNOUNCER: And lastly, standing at six foot two and weighting in at 192 pounds, hailing from New York, New York, he is BRYAN WILLIAAAMMSSS!
Bryan reaches ringside and leaps up to the apron, staring into the ring as all eyes are now on him. The blank expression from the mask is unsettling as he swings through the ropes to the interior, and then immediately grabs the only unoccupied corner to leap to the top rope and rip the Rooster mask off for the cheering crowd.
LO: Bryan Williams has finally arrived in Valor Pro Wrestling, and while I've heard several of the superstars in the back were a little perturbed by the news, it appears that he is here to stay!
KO: Not only that, Laur, but he gets to vie for an opportunity to face the UnYielding Champ in his very first match. That's unheard of?
LO: Sort of as unheard of as a man debuting and earning a shot at The Apex right out the gate, right?
KO: Touche
LO: The wrestlers are all in the ring and we are ready to go.
KO: This match could steal the show.
LO: Indeed, it very well could. Here we go!
The referee explains the rules of the match which comes easy since there are none. No disqualifications, no count outs.
DING!
David Scott rushes at Moxie James only to be cut off by Bryan Williams! Moxie watches this and gets caught from behind by Indi Rhyder, who grapples James into a standing headlock. Scott and Williams swap blows in the center of the ring!
KO: We are off to a fast start! All of these wrestlers want an UnYielding championship match on the next Blitz!
Scott begins to gain the upper hand working Williams toward the corner. Bryan suddenly kicks David in the gut to hook him for an exploder suplex into the corner! Scott bounces off the turnbuckles upside down to hit the mat hard. Williams quickly makes a cover!
… 1
LO: Broken up by Indi Rhyder!
KO: She had to release the headlock in order to do that.
Moxie comes running up from behind Indi, who still sits up on her and knees after breaking up the pin. James flies in with a big boot to the back of The Butterflies skull to drive her face first into the mat. Moxie turns to make a pin only to find Bryan Williams with a leg hooked!
… 1
KO: Broken up by Moxie James! She doesn’t seem too happy that Bryan pinned Indi there.
LO: This match is every man and woman for themselves. There are no friendships in this type of match up and if there was, it couldn’t possibly survive such a cut throat geared match.
Scott gets back to his feet to find Moxie and Williams fighting it out. Bryan whips James into the ropes then charges right behind her. She bounces off the ropes to slingshot back at Williams, who misses the clothesline! Moxie gets low to slide right between his legs! Bryan continues his forward momentum to bounce off the ropes to come right back at Moxie for a picture perfect step-up enziguri! James hits the mat flat on her back. Bryan goes to fall for a pin attempt when he Scott takes hold of him from behind! The eyes of Williams widen as he is back body dropped over the ropes and onto the apron! The violent nature of his landing is unsettling to most in the front row.
LO: Ouch! Did you see that?!
KO: I did. Bryan looked poised to take this one over but David Scott has other plans.
Scott looks down at Williams, who ends up on the outside floor. Indi Rhyder gets to her feet just behind Scott, but Moxie James comes up from behind Rhyder with a vicious swinging neckbreaker! James leaps back up to her feet to come face to face with David Scott! Scott throws a headbutt that sends Moxie back, where Indi rolls her up from the mat into a pin!
...1
…2
KO: Broken up by David Scott!
LO: Indi with the roll up out of nowhere.
Scott continues to stomp down on Indi while Bryan Williams climbs up on the apron. Moxie remains down but has began stir. Williams climbs up on the turnbuckles in the corner off the apron. Battle Born grapples up The Butterfly looking for a DDT. He cradles her head up along his side before turning toward the corner where Bryan Williams is perched on the top turnbuckle. Williams leaps off to catch Scott with double knees in the chest to essentially ride him to the mat but Scott falls back with Indi’s head still cradled for a DDT! The awesome maneuver riles up the crowd throughout!
LO: Wow! Scott had Indi ready for a DDT but Williams comes flying in with double knees.
KO: Indi still got the DDT! I can’t even explain what I just saw. Amazing.
Williams quickly gets to his hands and knees looking for someone to pin and reaches Scott to hook a leg but Moxie hooked Indi’s first to get the ref’s count.
1…
KO: Kick out by Indi Rhyder!
Moxie gets back to her feet quickly one to be taken down at the ankles by Rhyder! The double leg takedown smashes James face flush against the mat. Scott gets back up only to see Williams bounce off the ropes across the ring headed back at him full speed ahead. David shuffles his feet to take off right at Bryan! The two meet in the center of the ring with Battle Born catching Williams with a beautiful spinebuster!
LO: What a spinebuster! The impact shook the entire ring.
KO: I could feel that pain all the way over here.
Indi Rhyder quickly gets back to her feet on the other side of the ring away from Williams and Scott. She rushes over to Moxie, who remains down, to apply a figure four leg lock! James comes to life to thrash about on the mat looking for ropes. Scott kicks down at Williams before reaching down to grapple him back up. Battle Born then whips Bryan into the ropes with all he’s got! Williams hits the ropes to come right back at Scott. Bryan counters with a solid bicycle kick to the right knee of David! The violent kick puts Scott down immediately leading Bryan to hit the mat alongside Scott to apply a kneebar! The referee stands between the wrestlers to watch from a tap from Moxie or Scott. Indi continues to apply pressure with the figure four while across the ring Williams does the same with his kneebar.
KO: Double submissions! Moxie continues to pull herself closer to the ropes.
Williams continues to apply pressure to the previously injured knee of David Scott while Indi tries to tap Moxie James across the ring. Moxie begins to rock herself left to right. The Butterfly tries in vain to halt this but James manages to flip the two women over to reverse the pressure!
LO: Moxie has flipped the script on Indi’s figure four!
Indi looks over to see Scott in real pain. Williams with a menacing look across his face while he continues to torture David with the kneebar. Rhyder releases Moxie to get back to her feet quickly. She then rushes over at Williams for a knee to the back of the head! The sudden shot causes Bryan to release the kneebar to free David Scott. Williams hits his back leading Indi to hook a leg!
...1
KO: Kick out by Williams!
LO: Scott took some damage on that exchange as did Moxie. Now Indi and Williams are going at it!
Bryan gets back to his feet quickly after the kick out. David meets him with a solid right hook out of nowhere! The shot nearly buckles Williams, who stumbles back into the ropes. Moxie gets back to her feet on the opposite side of the ring to see Scott and Bryan at the ropes. She takes off full speed at them but Williams notices her while David follows Bryan’s stare to turn around to see a charging James! Williams quickly pulls the top rope down using his arm and body weight. Moxie catches Scott with a clothesline to send both wrestlers out of the ring with Williams pulling the ropes down! David and Moxie hit the apron to bounce out onto the outside floor.
LO: Williams continues to catch breaks in this huge match up.
KO: Scott had him literally on the ropes until Moxie fired up that rivalry again.
LO: They all want to win this one, Kevin. An UnYielding Championship opportunity is on the line!
Indi catches her breath in the corner while looking down at Moxie and Scott, who are rolling around on the outside floor fighting tooth and nail. She backs away from the corner only to be grabbed up from behind by Bryan Williams who delivers a blue thunder bomb! He transitions the maneuver into a pin!
...1
…2
KO: Kick out by The Butterfly! That was a close one.
LO: I thought for sure Bryan Williams was getting on his way to a title shot in his second match for Valor Pro. Wow, that was tight.
Scott begins to gain the upperhand on the outside while Bryan Williams frustration is evident. He hits the mat with two balled fists after the near pinfall before rolling out of the ring.
LO: Williams frustration has reached a boiling point here at Honor Bound.
KO: He appears to be coming this way. Uh-oh.
Williams walks past Scott and Moxie who continue to throw fists on the outside with no count out. Bryan walks over to the Othello brother’s table.
KO: What do you want?
Bryan indicates he wants Laurence’s chair before taking it with force!
LO: He took my chair!
KO: There’s no rules and Bryan Williams is well aware of that fact.
Williams unfolds the chair to make it flat so he can really swing it. David notices Bryan coming out of his peripheral vision. Williams swings the chair at David, who ducks leaving Moxie open for the shot! The edge of the chair cuts her across the forehead! Moxie ends up slumped up against the ring bleeding from her brow. Scott approaches Williams from behind leading him to swing back around with the chair suddenly! David ducks the chair to catch Williams with a kick to the gut! Bryan drops the chair out from the two men while leaning over. Scott cradles up Williams head before he spike DDT’s Bryan into the chair on the floor! The crowd pops as Williams is stood straight up into the air from the brutal maneuver face first into the chair!
KO: Did you see that! Your chair has changed the whole complexion of this matchup.
LO: Bryan introduced the weapon due to pure frustration and ends up eating it.
Scott quickly hoists up Williams to roll him back into the ring. Indi Rhyder hooks a leg as soon as Bryan is back in the ring.
...1
…2
LO: Broken up by David Scott!
Bryan’s lips were busted open from the DDT. Moxie slides back into the ring with a bloody face. The introduction of the chair has not worked out for either superstar thus far. Rhyder gets up after the kick out to be met by a shotgun drop kick from James! Indi hits the mat leading Moxie to rush to the closest corner in a hurry. Bryan rolls out of the ring as Battle Born approaches.
KO: Veteran move on Williams's part. He saw Scott coming and got out of the ring to gather himself.
LO: Moxie is on the move!
James hits the corner closest to Indi, who is laid out on her back. Moxie leaps up on the bottom turnbuckle to springboard herself split legged on the top ropes to moonsault back at Indi! James hits her mark and quickly hooks a leg!
...1
KO: Broken up by David Scott almost immediately!
LO: Williams has my chair again.
KO: Ha!
David breaks up the pin then rolls out of the ring to find Bryan Williams. Scott comes around the side of the ring in a rush only to be caught with the edge of the chair in the gut by Williams! The shot causes Battle Born to bend over. Bryan begins to hammer Scott across the back with the chair! David hits on knee only to be hit from the back again with a precise shot from Bryan! Scott hits the outside floor in a pile. Williams turns slowly back to the ring to see Indi and Moxie getting up to face off once more.
KO: I don’t think he’s finished with the chair.
LO: It’s already mangled and beat up. Before long there won’t be enough of the chair left to swing as a weapon.
Bryan slides back into the ring while still holding the chair. He gets up quickly and turns his aim to Moxie James who has stood up using the ropes to assist a bit. Williams walks past The Butterfly, who remains down still. Bryan suddenly takes off while holding the chair out from his body in order to swing it on the run. Moxie takes off running directly at her opponent! Indi bounces off the ropes behind Williams to take off at him from behind as well! The three wrestlers all meet in the center of the ring with Moxie drop kicking the left knee cap of Williams while Indi simultaneously catches him from behind with a bulldog! The maneuver ignites the crowd!
LO: Indi and Moxie working together on that exchange!
James quickly hooks a leg quick!
...1
KO: Broken up by The Butterfly, Indi Rhyder!
Indi and James come up fighting from their knees! Indi hits the jaw of Moxie without pity that slings blood from her face. James comes in suddenly with a headbutt! Then another! James gets up to both feet to hover above the rattled Rhyder. Moxie reaches down to grapple up her fallen foe, Indi. She cradles her up for a pumphandle murder driver! James immediately hooks a leg!
...1
…2
Moxie gets pulled off the pin by Scott from outside of the ring! Williams crawls over to James to hook a leg!
...1
KO: KICK OUT! Williams is irate.
LO: He needs to push the gas because he has been impressive thus far in his Valor Pro debut in my opinion.
KO: I second that.
Scott hammers Moxie on the outside of the ring with a chop across the throat! James attempts with little success to regain her ability to breath as Battle Born bends over to catch her onto his back. He lifts her up to deliver a wicked fireman’s carry onto the steel ring steps! David did not realize how close the pair was to the steps but none of the less continues to go after Moxie like a man with something to prove.
KO: OUCH! Moxie hit back first across those steps!
LO: Moxie is tough to keep down and you know she wants a win here tonight.
KO: They all do. Half of them are bleeding from their faces. What an intense match this has been thus far. All four wrestlers are winded but continue to fight on instinct alone at this point.
LO: Conditioning will come into play this deep into a fatal fourway with a championship match awarded to the winner.
Bryan and The Butterfly remain down inside the ring while David stalks Moxie on the outside. James rolls around on the outside floor now favoring her ribs. Scott picks her up off the floor to a vertical base. He swings her around looking to hit her in the face but she ducks it! He flies past and she pushes him with all she’s got face first into the ring post! Battle Born ends up doubled over in front of the announcer team.
LO: Scotts rage costs him there. He wants to prove he is better than Moxie so much that it may be affecting his judgement a bit.
KO: Battle Born wants to win above all but he has wanted to put the hurt on James throughout this one.
Rhyder and Williams stir inside the ring. Indi makes it to her feet while Bryan gets to a knee. Indi comes at Williams, who stands then swings around for a picture perfect superkick! Indi falls back leading Bryan to rush her! He spins her around to cradle her head up from behind. He then performs a wicked hero’s welcome!
KO: Solar Flare Homicide!
LO: Williams hooks a leg!
...1
...2
LO: Broken up by Moxie James! Wow, that was close!
KO: Williams nearly takes down Indi with one of his signature maneuvers.
James continues to stomp down onto Williams even after the pin break! Bryan rolls around on the mat until he makes it onto the apron. Moxie quickly makes her way over to the ropes to reach over and take hold of Bryan! Williams comes face to face with James from the apron but his feet is pulled out from him suddenly! David Scott yanks Bryan off the apron and he hits face first one the apron! Scott leaps up on the apron then glides between the top and middle rope for a shoulder to the midsection of Moxie James! The maneuver leads her to bend over where Scott reaches over the top rope to cradle up James! He attempts to hoist her up but she hooks her foot one the bottom rope! Scott becomes furious and uses a knee through the ropes to the rib cage to halt Moxie’s counters. Scott loses his grip on James, who gets rolled up from behind by Indi Rhyder!
...1
…2
KO: KICK OUT! Moxie James kicked out of the roll up to survive!
LO: That was a near pinfall. Rhyder continues to impress in this one as does Moxie. Scott was wanting to suplex her off the apron.
KO: He almost succeeded too.
Williams makes it to his feet on the outside only to be caught by David Scott! Battle Born then irish whips Bryan into the ring steps shoulder first! Williams crashes into the steps knocking them over completely. With no count outs, Scott is in no hurry to take the fight back to the ring. Williams stumbles to his hands and knees using the bottom ring steps to balance himself. Scott’s eyes are wide as he remembers Williams assaulting him earlier with the steel chair. David walks past Bryan and toward the top ring step that fell off when Williams crashed into them.
LO: What is he thinking?
KO: Scott remembers what Bryan did earlier with that chair.
LO: Oh, no.
Williams hovers on the bottom ring step while Scott picks up the top ring steps in his arms. He raises them up high while turning around to face Williams. David walks over closer to Bryan while raising the steel steps even higher into the air. Scott brings the steps down attempting to sandwich Williams head between the steps but Williams moves out of the way at the last possible moment. The steps clang against each other in a loud bang that can be heard throughout. Bryan takes off crawling around the ring apron after Scott’s attempt on his life.
LO: Scott has lost his ability for compassion at this time. He’s like a man possessed at this point and wanted to hurt Williams between those steps!
KO: David didn’t come out here to make friends but that was a bit out of character for him. He’s driven to win here tonight at any cost.
Moxie gets back to her feet in the ring just as Rhyder does. James gets trucked by Indi with a spear out of nowhere! Indi goes for a pin but gets pulled out of the ring before a count of one by Bryan Williams! Scott rolls into the ring and quickly hooks a leg on Moxie himself!
...1
...2
KO: KICK OUT by Moxie James! She refuses to lose here tonight.
LO: The blood on her face has even began to dry. Moxie looks like she’s been in a horror film here tonight.
Williams rolls into the ring while Indi recovers on the outside. Scott gets to his feet but can feel the vibration in the ring to know someone is behind him. Bryan takes off full speed at David, who turns to catch him with a violent discus elbow! The vicious shot turns Williams completely around leading Battle Born to dip low behind Bryan! Scott positions his head between the legs of Bryan before lifting up with all his might. Flashes in the crowd capture David lifting Williams high into the air on his shoulders in an electric chair position. Unbeknownst to Scott or Bryan, Indi Rhyder has climbed up on the apron from the outside of the ring. She rushes to the corner closest to them then scales the turnbuckles. Indi looks out at the two men as Scott hoists Williams high into the air looking for an electric chair facebuster. The Butterfly leaps off at the two men for a diving spear that catches Williams flush to knock him off the unsuspecting shoulders of David Scott! The crowd pops at the high flying maneuver. Rhyder hits the mat awkwardly on her left ankle.
LO: DID YOU SEE THAT!? Indi knocks Bryan Williams off the shoulders of David Scott by taking it to the air! What a maneuver!
KO: Williams rolled out of the ring! Veteran move.
Indi quickly also rolls out of the ring to nurse her injured left ankle. She obviously favors it as she hits her feet on the outside. Suddenly Bryan Williams takes hold of her from the floor! Rhyder fights at him but Bryan uses The Butterfly’s outfit to pull himself up in desperation. Scott walks over to the ropes to yell something at the two wrestlers only to get dumped through the ropes by Moxie James from behind! The crowd cheers Moxie on while David bounces off the apron, ending up at the feet of Bryan and Indi.
KO: Moxie stands tall in the ring!
LO: She needs to keep her foot on the gas if she wants an UnYielding title opportunity!
Rhyder and Williams swap punches on the outside with the larger Bryan starting to gain the advantage. Scott pops to his feet holding his side. Indi continues to favor her ankle leading Bryan to want to target it. Moxie hits the ropes just behind her to take off full speed across the ring. The crowds anticipation grows as she steps up on the middle rope to perform a picture perfect tornillo to the outside to take down Scott, Indi, and Williams! All wrestlers end up on the outside floor struggling to get up over the high flying maneuver.
LO: GOOD LORD! MOXIE JAMES HAS TAKEN OUT THE MATCH, BUT SHE'S ALREADY GETTING BACK TO HER FEET...
KO: Bryan Williams and Indi Rhyder are doing the same as David Scott crawls to try and get out of the line of fire!
LO: Indi with a Roundhouse Kick to William's gut, HOOKS HIM AROUND THE HEAD FROM THE FRONT....AND GOES FOR A SHIRANUI RIGHT BY THE GUARD RAIL BUT WILLIAMS GOT A HAND UP ON HER STOMACH TO STOP HER MOMENTUM! GOOD LORD!
KO: HE JUST SPIKED HER DOWN TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR LIKE A WIDE RECEIVER SCORING A TOUCHDOWN!
Williams stares down at Indi, and then looks up to see Moxie James watching on in shock by the ring apron. He charges at the woman but she comes out of her dismay in enough time to throw both feet up while using the ring apron for leverage to catch Bryan right in the face. He was going with enough momentum that the sudden stop sends him slamming down to the concrete, but before Moxie can intercept any new danger she finds herself being dragged up onto the ring apron by the hair of her head. She spins around and there is David Scott, who while the others were fighting around ringside had rolled back into the ring to take advantage of whoever was left standing.
LO: Moxie James yanked onto the apron painfully by her own hair, and now David Scott hooking her around the head...what is he looking to do?
KO: Whatever it is it isn't good...But wait...MOXIE DROPS STRAIGHT DOWN AND HANGS SCOTT ACROSS THE TOP ROPE!
David snaps back towards the center of the ring clutching his throat, giving Moxie enough time to grab the top rope and leap all the way to the top only to springboard off into a Somersault Senton that nails The Fighter as she rides him all the way down to crushing effect.
LO: SLAUGHTERAMA!
KO: AND SHE CAUGHT BOTH FEET AS THEY FLEW UP AFTER IMPACT FOR A PIN!
1...
2...
Bryan Williams pulls himself up and dives halfway into the ring to try and make the save...
3!!!
The crowd erupts as Moxie falls forwards and rolls quickly out of the ring as Bryan Williams rests on his elbows watching in disbelief. Scott clutches his midsection and writhes on the canvas while Indi Rhyder uses the guardrail to find her feet and looks around in confusion.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall, and GOING ON TO FACE THE UNYIELDING CHAMPION AT THE NEXT BLITZ....MOXIE JAMES!
LO: Moxie James just barely came away with a victory there as I thought Bryan Williams was going to break up the pin, but she somehow managed it leaving the rest of these participants in shock!
KO: No one more than David Scott! This is the second time he's been pinned by James in the last month!
Moxie falls back against the guardrail on her side of the ring and the fans all clamor to pat her on the back while she grins from ear to ear at the news that she's the next in line for an UnYielding Title shot. It all almost seems surreal to her as she lets the roar of the crowd sink in, and she slaps hands with those close enough to reach while making her way towards the exit. Bryan Williams has gotten to his feet with his hands on his hips in the ring, and he looks down at David Scott with a shake of his head before taking off to do the same. Indi looks a little disheartened as she rounds the ring post to head to the back, but when she looks up to see Moxie James' smiling and waving at the crowd from the top of the stage, she can't help but flash a smile of her own as people pat her on the back for her efforts.
LO: Well congratulations to Moxie for this big win here tonight, and we'll see what she can do when she faces whoever the UnYielding Champ will be.
KO: You mean Danny Rizzo?
LO: No. I mean whoever wins tonight between him and Djurdjevic.
KO: So you mean Danny Rizzo?
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as the camera shifts back to one last shot of Moxie James waving to the crowd before cutting backstage.
“you should see me in a crown” by Billie Eilish's cryptic intro comes across the PA System and Moxie James bursts through the curtain and stop at the top of the ramp, cocking her hip to the side while her hand rests upon it. She's wearing a black singlet with a red long coat over top, and a Cat-In-The-Hat like hat but in Black and Red on top of her head. The fans giver her a big ovation and she gives a grin and a wink to the camera as she starts down the ramp towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot seven and weighting in at 137 pounds, hailing from Los Angeles, California...She is MOXXXIEEE JAMESSSSS!
Moxie reaches ringside and leaps to the apron, hooking the top rope with her arm while kicking a leg out that she swings through the ropes as she enters the ring. She turns to the corner closest to the ramp and hops to the second turnbuckle where she flips the top hat out into the crowd who scramble for the keepsake while she watches with amusement. She then drops down and lets the long coat fall from her shoulders as she prepares for her opponents.
LO: Moxie James is coming in off of a big win over David Scott, and I tell you....I don't know if anyone was expecting that.
KO: I wouldn't quite call it an upset, but when you have a mismatch of size like that it's always a little surprising.
LO: Either way, James looks ready for this, as she has been undefeated thus far in Singles Competition.
'Karma Chameleon' by the Culture Club hits over the PA System, and Indi Rhyder skips out onto the stage to an even bigger ovation than Moxie. She places her hand over her eyes to peer out at the crowd, a smile placed upon her lips. She turns to give the camera a wink as she passes on by down the ramp, slapping hands as she goes.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing next, standing at five foot five and weighting in at 130 pounds, hailing from Los Angeles, California....She is THE GALACTIC PRINCESS, INDI RHYDDEERRR!!
As she reaches ringside she makes a dash across the front row with one hand extended for high fives, and then turns abruptly to leap up onto the ring apron, and then hops up to the second rope from the outside. She repeats the hand motion, covering her eyes to take in the capacity crowd with a grin, and then hops over the top rope to land safely in the ring. She moves to the far corner and starts stretching along the ropes, casting a glance at Moxie as she does so.
LO: Indi Rhyder is a top tier athlete who has been on a tear as of late, her only hiccup being her one and only UnYielding title shot against Danny Rizzo.
KO: Yeah, Rizzo's caused quite a few of those hiccups over the past several months, hasn't he?
LO: Indeed he has, but Indi gets a second chance if she's able to win in this match, cause she'll go on to face whoever wins tonight in the UnYielding Championship match at the next Blitz.
KO: Maybe it is her night, but I got a feeling our next entrant won't be to keen on that.
The lights go down and white light engulfs the entrance as smoke pours out onto the stage as "Cradle to the Grave" by Five Finger Death Punch's slow intro starts over the PA System. Just as the lyrics kick in David Scott steps through the curtain wearing a sleeveless jean jacket with 'Battle Born' embroidered on the back and a black hood that is covering his head. He receives a mixed reaction as he comes to a pause at the top of the stage, his taped fists coming together in front of him, the right punching into the other. From there he tosses the hood back and makes his way down the ramp towards the ring in no particular hurry.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at six foot and weighting 230 pounds, hailing from Orange County, California....He is THE BATTLE BORN, DAVID SCOTTTTT!!
Scott reaches the ringside area and turns to use the steps up onto the apron of the ring and then swings into the squared circle, where he delivers a one/two punching combo before peeling out of his jacket and stepping to the nearest corner to climb the second turnbuckle. He beats his own chest hard before throwing both fists into the air. Some cheer, some boo, but he doesn't seem to care as he stares right at Moxie James.
LO: Well, that answers the question. No love lost for Moxie James by David Scott!
KO: Yeah, if looks could kill, Moxie would drop dead.
LO: Well, even so, hopefully David can keep his train of thought on the task at hand. He's got two other opponents in the ring with him.
KO: No worries, Laur, our final participant doesn't plan on letting anyone else forget him...
The lights go out in the arena as an 80's style synthesized pulse pushes over the speakers and neon pink, green, and yellow lights flash all over the smoky stage. Suddenly all of the lights converge and at the center of the stage is Bryan Williams, kneeling with his head down and wearing the famed Rooster mask over his head. He slowly rises like The Terminator and stares down the ramp towards the ring at his opponents, but when the musics main repetitive theme kicks in and he steps forward with a cocky yell(pun intended) as the lights come back to full. He navigates the ramp with a dangerous gait to his step while the fans go nuts at the appearance of the star.
RING ANNOUNCER: And lastly, standing at six foot two and weighting in at 192 pounds, hailing from New York, New York, he is BRYAN WILLIAAAMMSSS!
Bryan reaches ringside and leaps up to the apron, staring into the ring as all eyes are now on him. The blank expression from the mask is unsettling as he swings through the ropes to the interior, and then immediately grabs the only unoccupied corner to leap to the top rope and rip the Rooster mask off for the cheering crowd.
LO: Bryan Williams has finally arrived in Valor Pro Wrestling, and while I've heard several of the superstars in the back were a little perturbed by the news, it appears that he is here to stay!
KO: Not only that, Laur, but he gets to vie for an opportunity to face the UnYielding Champ in his very first match. That's unheard of?
LO: Sort of as unheard of as a man debuting and earning a shot at The Apex right out the gate, right?
KO: Touche
LO: The wrestlers are all in the ring and we are ready to go.
KO: This match could steal the show.
LO: Indeed, it very well could. Here we go!
The referee explains the rules of the match which comes easy since there are none. No disqualifications, no count outs.
DING!
David Scott rushes at Moxie James only to be cut off by Bryan Williams! Moxie watches this and gets caught from behind by Indi Rhyder, who grapples James into a standing headlock. Scott and Williams swap blows in the center of the ring!
KO: We are off to a fast start! All of these wrestlers want an UnYielding championship match on the next Blitz!
Scott begins to gain the upper hand working Williams toward the corner. Bryan suddenly kicks David in the gut to hook him for an exploder suplex into the corner! Scott bounces off the turnbuckles upside down to hit the mat hard. Williams quickly makes a cover!
… 1
LO: Broken up by Indi Rhyder!
KO: She had to release the headlock in order to do that.
Moxie comes running up from behind Indi, who still sits up on her and knees after breaking up the pin. James flies in with a big boot to the back of The Butterflies skull to drive her face first into the mat. Moxie turns to make a pin only to find Bryan Williams with a leg hooked!
… 1
KO: Broken up by Moxie James! She doesn’t seem too happy that Bryan pinned Indi there.
LO: This match is every man and woman for themselves. There are no friendships in this type of match up and if there was, it couldn’t possibly survive such a cut throat geared match.
Scott gets back to his feet to find Moxie and Williams fighting it out. Bryan whips James into the ropes then charges right behind her. She bounces off the ropes to slingshot back at Williams, who misses the clothesline! Moxie gets low to slide right between his legs! Bryan continues his forward momentum to bounce off the ropes to come right back at Moxie for a picture perfect step-up enziguri! James hits the mat flat on her back. Bryan goes to fall for a pin attempt when he Scott takes hold of him from behind! The eyes of Williams widen as he is back body dropped over the ropes and onto the apron! The violent nature of his landing is unsettling to most in the front row.
LO: Ouch! Did you see that?!
KO: I did. Bryan looked poised to take this one over but David Scott has other plans.
Scott looks down at Williams, who ends up on the outside floor. Indi Rhyder gets to her feet just behind Scott, but Moxie James comes up from behind Rhyder with a vicious swinging neckbreaker! James leaps back up to her feet to come face to face with David Scott! Scott throws a headbutt that sends Moxie back, where Indi rolls her up from the mat into a pin!
...1
…2
KO: Broken up by David Scott!
LO: Indi with the roll up out of nowhere.
Scott continues to stomp down on Indi while Bryan Williams climbs up on the apron. Moxie remains down but has began stir. Williams climbs up on the turnbuckles in the corner off the apron. Battle Born grapples up The Butterfly looking for a DDT. He cradles her head up along his side before turning toward the corner where Bryan Williams is perched on the top turnbuckle. Williams leaps off to catch Scott with double knees in the chest to essentially ride him to the mat but Scott falls back with Indi’s head still cradled for a DDT! The awesome maneuver riles up the crowd throughout!
LO: Wow! Scott had Indi ready for a DDT but Williams comes flying in with double knees.
KO: Indi still got the DDT! I can’t even explain what I just saw. Amazing.
Williams quickly gets to his hands and knees looking for someone to pin and reaches Scott to hook a leg but Moxie hooked Indi’s first to get the ref’s count.
1…
KO: Kick out by Indi Rhyder!
Moxie gets back to her feet quickly one to be taken down at the ankles by Rhyder! The double leg takedown smashes James face flush against the mat. Scott gets back up only to see Williams bounce off the ropes across the ring headed back at him full speed ahead. David shuffles his feet to take off right at Bryan! The two meet in the center of the ring with Battle Born catching Williams with a beautiful spinebuster!
LO: What a spinebuster! The impact shook the entire ring.
KO: I could feel that pain all the way over here.
Indi Rhyder quickly gets back to her feet on the other side of the ring away from Williams and Scott. She rushes over to Moxie, who remains down, to apply a figure four leg lock! James comes to life to thrash about on the mat looking for ropes. Scott kicks down at Williams before reaching down to grapple him back up. Battle Born then whips Bryan into the ropes with all he’s got! Williams hits the ropes to come right back at Scott. Bryan counters with a solid bicycle kick to the right knee of David! The violent kick puts Scott down immediately leading Bryan to hit the mat alongside Scott to apply a kneebar! The referee stands between the wrestlers to watch from a tap from Moxie or Scott. Indi continues to apply pressure with the figure four while across the ring Williams does the same with his kneebar.
KO: Double submissions! Moxie continues to pull herself closer to the ropes.
Williams continues to apply pressure to the previously injured knee of David Scott while Indi tries to tap Moxie James across the ring. Moxie begins to rock herself left to right. The Butterfly tries in vain to halt this but James manages to flip the two women over to reverse the pressure!
LO: Moxie has flipped the script on Indi’s figure four!
Indi looks over to see Scott in real pain. Williams with a menacing look across his face while he continues to torture David with the kneebar. Rhyder releases Moxie to get back to her feet quickly. She then rushes over at Williams for a knee to the back of the head! The sudden shot causes Bryan to release the kneebar to free David Scott. Williams hits his back leading Indi to hook a leg!
...1
KO: Kick out by Williams!
LO: Scott took some damage on that exchange as did Moxie. Now Indi and Williams are going at it!
Bryan gets back to his feet quickly after the kick out. David meets him with a solid right hook out of nowhere! The shot nearly buckles Williams, who stumbles back into the ropes. Moxie gets back to her feet on the opposite side of the ring to see Scott and Bryan at the ropes. She takes off full speed at them but Williams notices her while David follows Bryan’s stare to turn around to see a charging James! Williams quickly pulls the top rope down using his arm and body weight. Moxie catches Scott with a clothesline to send both wrestlers out of the ring with Williams pulling the ropes down! David and Moxie hit the apron to bounce out onto the outside floor.
LO: Williams continues to catch breaks in this huge match up.
KO: Scott had him literally on the ropes until Moxie fired up that rivalry again.
LO: They all want to win this one, Kevin. An UnYielding Championship opportunity is on the line!
Indi catches her breath in the corner while looking down at Moxie and Scott, who are rolling around on the outside floor fighting tooth and nail. She backs away from the corner only to be grabbed up from behind by Bryan Williams who delivers a blue thunder bomb! He transitions the maneuver into a pin!
...1
…2
KO: Kick out by The Butterfly! That was a close one.
LO: I thought for sure Bryan Williams was getting on his way to a title shot in his second match for Valor Pro. Wow, that was tight.
Scott begins to gain the upperhand on the outside while Bryan Williams frustration is evident. He hits the mat with two balled fists after the near pinfall before rolling out of the ring.
LO: Williams frustration has reached a boiling point here at Honor Bound.
KO: He appears to be coming this way. Uh-oh.
Williams walks past Scott and Moxie who continue to throw fists on the outside with no count out. Bryan walks over to the Othello brother’s table.
KO: What do you want?
Bryan indicates he wants Laurence’s chair before taking it with force!
LO: He took my chair!
KO: There’s no rules and Bryan Williams is well aware of that fact.
Williams unfolds the chair to make it flat so he can really swing it. David notices Bryan coming out of his peripheral vision. Williams swings the chair at David, who ducks leaving Moxie open for the shot! The edge of the chair cuts her across the forehead! Moxie ends up slumped up against the ring bleeding from her brow. Scott approaches Williams from behind leading him to swing back around with the chair suddenly! David ducks the chair to catch Williams with a kick to the gut! Bryan drops the chair out from the two men while leaning over. Scott cradles up Williams head before he spike DDT’s Bryan into the chair on the floor! The crowd pops as Williams is stood straight up into the air from the brutal maneuver face first into the chair!
KO: Did you see that! Your chair has changed the whole complexion of this matchup.
LO: Bryan introduced the weapon due to pure frustration and ends up eating it.
Scott quickly hoists up Williams to roll him back into the ring. Indi Rhyder hooks a leg as soon as Bryan is back in the ring.
...1
…2
LO: Broken up by David Scott!
Bryan’s lips were busted open from the DDT. Moxie slides back into the ring with a bloody face. The introduction of the chair has not worked out for either superstar thus far. Rhyder gets up after the kick out to be met by a shotgun drop kick from James! Indi hits the mat leading Moxie to rush to the closest corner in a hurry. Bryan rolls out of the ring as Battle Born approaches.
KO: Veteran move on Williams's part. He saw Scott coming and got out of the ring to gather himself.
LO: Moxie is on the move!
James hits the corner closest to Indi, who is laid out on her back. Moxie leaps up on the bottom turnbuckle to springboard herself split legged on the top ropes to moonsault back at Indi! James hits her mark and quickly hooks a leg!
...1
KO: Broken up by David Scott almost immediately!
LO: Williams has my chair again.
KO: Ha!
David breaks up the pin then rolls out of the ring to find Bryan Williams. Scott comes around the side of the ring in a rush only to be caught with the edge of the chair in the gut by Williams! The shot causes Battle Born to bend over. Bryan begins to hammer Scott across the back with the chair! David hits on knee only to be hit from the back again with a precise shot from Bryan! Scott hits the outside floor in a pile. Williams turns slowly back to the ring to see Indi and Moxie getting up to face off once more.
KO: I don’t think he’s finished with the chair.
LO: It’s already mangled and beat up. Before long there won’t be enough of the chair left to swing as a weapon.
Bryan slides back into the ring while still holding the chair. He gets up quickly and turns his aim to Moxie James who has stood up using the ropes to assist a bit. Williams walks past The Butterfly, who remains down still. Bryan suddenly takes off while holding the chair out from his body in order to swing it on the run. Moxie takes off running directly at her opponent! Indi bounces off the ropes behind Williams to take off at him from behind as well! The three wrestlers all meet in the center of the ring with Moxie drop kicking the left knee cap of Williams while Indi simultaneously catches him from behind with a bulldog! The maneuver ignites the crowd!
LO: Indi and Moxie working together on that exchange!
James quickly hooks a leg quick!
...1
KO: Broken up by The Butterfly, Indi Rhyder!
Indi and James come up fighting from their knees! Indi hits the jaw of Moxie without pity that slings blood from her face. James comes in suddenly with a headbutt! Then another! James gets up to both feet to hover above the rattled Rhyder. Moxie reaches down to grapple up her fallen foe, Indi. She cradles her up for a pumphandle murder driver! James immediately hooks a leg!
...1
…2
Moxie gets pulled off the pin by Scott from outside of the ring! Williams crawls over to James to hook a leg!
...1
KO: KICK OUT! Williams is irate.
LO: He needs to push the gas because he has been impressive thus far in his Valor Pro debut in my opinion.
KO: I second that.
Scott hammers Moxie on the outside of the ring with a chop across the throat! James attempts with little success to regain her ability to breath as Battle Born bends over to catch her onto his back. He lifts her up to deliver a wicked fireman’s carry onto the steel ring steps! David did not realize how close the pair was to the steps but none of the less continues to go after Moxie like a man with something to prove.
KO: OUCH! Moxie hit back first across those steps!
LO: Moxie is tough to keep down and you know she wants a win here tonight.
KO: They all do. Half of them are bleeding from their faces. What an intense match this has been thus far. All four wrestlers are winded but continue to fight on instinct alone at this point.
LO: Conditioning will come into play this deep into a fatal fourway with a championship match awarded to the winner.
Bryan and The Butterfly remain down inside the ring while David stalks Moxie on the outside. James rolls around on the outside floor now favoring her ribs. Scott picks her up off the floor to a vertical base. He swings her around looking to hit her in the face but she ducks it! He flies past and she pushes him with all she’s got face first into the ring post! Battle Born ends up doubled over in front of the announcer team.
LO: Scotts rage costs him there. He wants to prove he is better than Moxie so much that it may be affecting his judgement a bit.
KO: Battle Born wants to win above all but he has wanted to put the hurt on James throughout this one.
Rhyder and Williams stir inside the ring. Indi makes it to her feet while Bryan gets to a knee. Indi comes at Williams, who stands then swings around for a picture perfect superkick! Indi falls back leading Bryan to rush her! He spins her around to cradle her head up from behind. He then performs a wicked hero’s welcome!
KO: Solar Flare Homicide!
LO: Williams hooks a leg!
...1
...2
LO: Broken up by Moxie James! Wow, that was close!
KO: Williams nearly takes down Indi with one of his signature maneuvers.
James continues to stomp down onto Williams even after the pin break! Bryan rolls around on the mat until he makes it onto the apron. Moxie quickly makes her way over to the ropes to reach over and take hold of Bryan! Williams comes face to face with James from the apron but his feet is pulled out from him suddenly! David Scott yanks Bryan off the apron and he hits face first one the apron! Scott leaps up on the apron then glides between the top and middle rope for a shoulder to the midsection of Moxie James! The maneuver leads her to bend over where Scott reaches over the top rope to cradle up James! He attempts to hoist her up but she hooks her foot one the bottom rope! Scott becomes furious and uses a knee through the ropes to the rib cage to halt Moxie’s counters. Scott loses his grip on James, who gets rolled up from behind by Indi Rhyder!
...1
…2
KO: KICK OUT! Moxie James kicked out of the roll up to survive!
LO: That was a near pinfall. Rhyder continues to impress in this one as does Moxie. Scott was wanting to suplex her off the apron.
KO: He almost succeeded too.
Williams makes it to his feet on the outside only to be caught by David Scott! Battle Born then irish whips Bryan into the ring steps shoulder first! Williams crashes into the steps knocking them over completely. With no count outs, Scott is in no hurry to take the fight back to the ring. Williams stumbles to his hands and knees using the bottom ring steps to balance himself. Scott’s eyes are wide as he remembers Williams assaulting him earlier with the steel chair. David walks past Bryan and toward the top ring step that fell off when Williams crashed into them.
LO: What is he thinking?
KO: Scott remembers what Bryan did earlier with that chair.
LO: Oh, no.
Williams hovers on the bottom ring step while Scott picks up the top ring steps in his arms. He raises them up high while turning around to face Williams. David walks over closer to Bryan while raising the steel steps even higher into the air. Scott brings the steps down attempting to sandwich Williams head between the steps but Williams moves out of the way at the last possible moment. The steps clang against each other in a loud bang that can be heard throughout. Bryan takes off crawling around the ring apron after Scott’s attempt on his life.
LO: Scott has lost his ability for compassion at this time. He’s like a man possessed at this point and wanted to hurt Williams between those steps!
KO: David didn’t come out here to make friends but that was a bit out of character for him. He’s driven to win here tonight at any cost.
Moxie gets back to her feet in the ring just as Rhyder does. James gets trucked by Indi with a spear out of nowhere! Indi goes for a pin but gets pulled out of the ring before a count of one by Bryan Williams! Scott rolls into the ring and quickly hooks a leg on Moxie himself!
...1
...2
KO: KICK OUT by Moxie James! She refuses to lose here tonight.
LO: The blood on her face has even began to dry. Moxie looks like she’s been in a horror film here tonight.
Williams rolls into the ring while Indi recovers on the outside. Scott gets to his feet but can feel the vibration in the ring to know someone is behind him. Bryan takes off full speed at David, who turns to catch him with a violent discus elbow! The vicious shot turns Williams completely around leading Battle Born to dip low behind Bryan! Scott positions his head between the legs of Bryan before lifting up with all his might. Flashes in the crowd capture David lifting Williams high into the air on his shoulders in an electric chair position. Unbeknownst to Scott or Bryan, Indi Rhyder has climbed up on the apron from the outside of the ring. She rushes to the corner closest to them then scales the turnbuckles. Indi looks out at the two men as Scott hoists Williams high into the air looking for an electric chair facebuster. The Butterfly leaps off at the two men for a diving spear that catches Williams flush to knock him off the unsuspecting shoulders of David Scott! The crowd pops at the high flying maneuver. Rhyder hits the mat awkwardly on her left ankle.
LO: DID YOU SEE THAT!? Indi knocks Bryan Williams off the shoulders of David Scott by taking it to the air! What a maneuver!
KO: Williams rolled out of the ring! Veteran move.
Indi quickly also rolls out of the ring to nurse her injured left ankle. She obviously favors it as she hits her feet on the outside. Suddenly Bryan Williams takes hold of her from the floor! Rhyder fights at him but Bryan uses The Butterfly’s outfit to pull himself up in desperation. Scott walks over to the ropes to yell something at the two wrestlers only to get dumped through the ropes by Moxie James from behind! The crowd cheers Moxie on while David bounces off the apron, ending up at the feet of Bryan and Indi.
KO: Moxie stands tall in the ring!
LO: She needs to keep her foot on the gas if she wants an UnYielding title opportunity!
Rhyder and Williams swap punches on the outside with the larger Bryan starting to gain the advantage. Scott pops to his feet holding his side. Indi continues to favor her ankle leading Bryan to want to target it. Moxie hits the ropes just behind her to take off full speed across the ring. The crowds anticipation grows as she steps up on the middle rope to perform a picture perfect tornillo to the outside to take down Scott, Indi, and Williams! All wrestlers end up on the outside floor struggling to get up over the high flying maneuver.
LO: GOOD LORD! MOXIE JAMES HAS TAKEN OUT THE MATCH, BUT SHE'S ALREADY GETTING BACK TO HER FEET...
KO: Bryan Williams and Indi Rhyder are doing the same as David Scott crawls to try and get out of the line of fire!
LO: Indi with a Roundhouse Kick to William's gut, HOOKS HIM AROUND THE HEAD FROM THE FRONT....AND GOES FOR A SHIRANUI RIGHT BY THE GUARD RAIL BUT WILLIAMS GOT A HAND UP ON HER STOMACH TO STOP HER MOMENTUM! GOOD LORD!
KO: HE JUST SPIKED HER DOWN TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR LIKE A WIDE RECEIVER SCORING A TOUCHDOWN!
Williams stares down at Indi, and then looks up to see Moxie James watching on in shock by the ring apron. He charges at the woman but she comes out of her dismay in enough time to throw both feet up while using the ring apron for leverage to catch Bryan right in the face. He was going with enough momentum that the sudden stop sends him slamming down to the concrete, but before Moxie can intercept any new danger she finds herself being dragged up onto the ring apron by the hair of her head. She spins around and there is David Scott, who while the others were fighting around ringside had rolled back into the ring to take advantage of whoever was left standing.
LO: Moxie James yanked onto the apron painfully by her own hair, and now David Scott hooking her around the head...what is he looking to do?
KO: Whatever it is it isn't good...But wait...MOXIE DROPS STRAIGHT DOWN AND HANGS SCOTT ACROSS THE TOP ROPE!
David snaps back towards the center of the ring clutching his throat, giving Moxie enough time to grab the top rope and leap all the way to the top only to springboard off into a Somersault Senton that nails The Fighter as she rides him all the way down to crushing effect.
LO: SLAUGHTERAMA!
KO: AND SHE CAUGHT BOTH FEET AS THEY FLEW UP AFTER IMPACT FOR A PIN!
1...
2...
Bryan Williams pulls himself up and dives halfway into the ring to try and make the save...
3!!!
The crowd erupts as Moxie falls forwards and rolls quickly out of the ring as Bryan Williams rests on his elbows watching in disbelief. Scott clutches his midsection and writhes on the canvas while Indi Rhyder uses the guardrail to find her feet and looks around in confusion.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall, and GOING ON TO FACE THE UNYIELDING CHAMPION AT THE NEXT BLITZ....MOXIE JAMES!
LO: Moxie James just barely came away with a victory there as I thought Bryan Williams was going to break up the pin, but she somehow managed it leaving the rest of these participants in shock!
KO: No one more than David Scott! This is the second time he's been pinned by James in the last month!
Moxie falls back against the guardrail on her side of the ring and the fans all clamor to pat her on the back while she grins from ear to ear at the news that she's the next in line for an UnYielding Title shot. It all almost seems surreal to her as she lets the roar of the crowd sink in, and she slaps hands with those close enough to reach while making her way towards the exit. Bryan Williams has gotten to his feet with his hands on his hips in the ring, and he looks down at David Scott with a shake of his head before taking off to do the same. Indi looks a little disheartened as she rounds the ring post to head to the back, but when she looks up to see Moxie James' smiling and waving at the crowd from the top of the stage, she can't help but flash a smile of her own as people pat her on the back for her efforts.
LO: Well congratulations to Moxie for this big win here tonight, and we'll see what she can do when she faces whoever the UnYielding Champ will be.
KO: You mean Danny Rizzo?
LO: No. I mean whoever wins tonight between him and Djurdjevic.
KO: So you mean Danny Rizzo?
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as the camera shifts back to one last shot of Moxie James waving to the crowd before cutting backstage.
Deep in the bowels of the O2, it’s as if monumental, cataclysmic history is happening just around the corner. She could hear a good deal of laughter and shouting and stamping of feet. Roars that make the streets shake
Fitting, really.
It was the biggest show of the year bar none. And Katya Djurdjevic stands ready for what may be her final chance at the UnYielding championship for the foreseeable future. But it could also be an advancement. Perhaps this match will prove to be the first step. The first true step towards becoming The Greatest Champion Under the Heavens. It will allow Valor’s most beloved daughter to progress
KATYA DJURDJEVIC: Hello, my friendly friends. Great events are in motion, the wheel of history is on the turn and Valor Pro will be at the forefront of the new wrestling order. . No matter how you look at it...Honor Bound is a monster event that has attracted tens of thousands of people. Where nearby tourists flood in non-stop. Where VIP guests from overseas are warmly welcomed and hosted in luxurious hotels. It is shaping up to be an unbelievable event.
She sighs as she casts a glance to the ceiling.
KATYA DJURCJEVIC: It's strange... I feel like, no matter how this all plays out, I can accept whatever happens. So long as I use up everything.
After a half-dozen heartbeats, Katya’s gaze falls on the camera again.
KATYA DJURDJEVIC: And I will.
Without another word, Katya Djurdjevic nods solemnly and marches off.
Cut to NSFW. Church and McGuire are making their way to gorilla as the camera backs away tracking them. They each have their half of the Chimeras draped over their shoulders.
CHURCH: Could have spent the last two weeks hypothesizing on who Zack’s partner is. Slapped his face on a board and webbed out the possible suspects. But one video submission later, we know. Whatever.
He looks over to Mike briefly as they both turned the corner.
CHURCH: Doesn’t matter much now.
MCGUIRE: Did it ever?
They shrug their shoulders.
MCGUIRE: It could have been the second coming of fuckin’ Wrestler Christ and we’d still handle it the same way we handle anybody who steps in there with us.
CHURCH: Thing is, Mike and I talked about this. Zack Fantana and Benny Stevens, in some way, are involved with this management mess. They can both contradict each other but something doesn't pass the smell test. The way I see it, I don’t really care who is in charge. Instead of running this place like a business, some see fit to use it as a bully pulpit. Problem with that is that we aren’t like Berlin Anderson and we aren’t your next marks. These Chimeras are staying clear of that.
MCGUIRE: We are the fuckin’ kings of tag team wrestling, and no other king, be it pale, crimson, or fuckin’ polka dot, are gonna tarnish our crowns.
Mike shoves past the camera, they and their partner walking to gorilla position in stride.
Fitting, really.
It was the biggest show of the year bar none. And Katya Djurdjevic stands ready for what may be her final chance at the UnYielding championship for the foreseeable future. But it could also be an advancement. Perhaps this match will prove to be the first step. The first true step towards becoming The Greatest Champion Under the Heavens. It will allow Valor’s most beloved daughter to progress
KATYA DJURDJEVIC: Hello, my friendly friends. Great events are in motion, the wheel of history is on the turn and Valor Pro will be at the forefront of the new wrestling order. . No matter how you look at it...Honor Bound is a monster event that has attracted tens of thousands of people. Where nearby tourists flood in non-stop. Where VIP guests from overseas are warmly welcomed and hosted in luxurious hotels. It is shaping up to be an unbelievable event.
She sighs as she casts a glance to the ceiling.
KATYA DJURCJEVIC: It's strange... I feel like, no matter how this all plays out, I can accept whatever happens. So long as I use up everything.
After a half-dozen heartbeats, Katya’s gaze falls on the camera again.
KATYA DJURDJEVIC: And I will.
Without another word, Katya Djurdjevic nods solemnly and marches off.
Cut to NSFW. Church and McGuire are making their way to gorilla as the camera backs away tracking them. They each have their half of the Chimeras draped over their shoulders.
CHURCH: Could have spent the last two weeks hypothesizing on who Zack’s partner is. Slapped his face on a board and webbed out the possible suspects. But one video submission later, we know. Whatever.
He looks over to Mike briefly as they both turned the corner.
CHURCH: Doesn’t matter much now.
MCGUIRE: Did it ever?
They shrug their shoulders.
MCGUIRE: It could have been the second coming of fuckin’ Wrestler Christ and we’d still handle it the same way we handle anybody who steps in there with us.
CHURCH: Thing is, Mike and I talked about this. Zack Fantana and Benny Stevens, in some way, are involved with this management mess. They can both contradict each other but something doesn't pass the smell test. The way I see it, I don’t really care who is in charge. Instead of running this place like a business, some see fit to use it as a bully pulpit. Problem with that is that we aren’t like Berlin Anderson and we aren’t your next marks. These Chimeras are staying clear of that.
MCGUIRE: We are the fuckin’ kings of tag team wrestling, and no other king, be it pale, crimson, or fuckin’ polka dot, are gonna tarnish our crowns.
Mike shoves past the camera, they and their partner walking to gorilla position in stride.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is set for one fall or submission, and is for THE CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS....
The house lights dim. Green and orange lights pulse with the opening of Papa Roach’s ‘Renegade Music’, the tron remaining black- and then flashing the words with the music
The pulsing lights intensify, accompanied by green and orange lasers, the screen flashing NSFW’s logo as Bishop Church and Mike McGuire appear in the entryway to a rousing ovation, sharing fistbumps with the fans by the barriers as they make their way to the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Now on their way to the ring, at a combined weight of 400 pounds, the CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! Mike McGuire and Bishop Church, N ...S ...F ...W!
Mike is in the ring bouncing back and forth to either side of the ring multiple times before John finally climbs up the ring steps. They meet in the middle of the ring and look to the crowd. With Bishop two steps behind, they both pose by standing on the second rope, titles raised in the air.
LO: The Chimera Tag Team Champions have been on quite the success tour since arriving in Valor Pro, and the fans have taken to them rather quickly..
KO: Yeah, but the guy whose scheduled to come out next was one of the biggest fan favorites that Valor Pro has ever seen. I wonder if he gets the same pop, and if that will throw the champs off their game?
LO: I highly doubt it. While NSFW is surely appreciative of the crowd support, at the end of the day they are all about Tag Team wrestling, thus why they are the champions in my opinion...
Suddenly 'Lucid Dreams' by Franz Ferdinand blares over the PA and the aforementioned 'Pop' is tremendous as Zack Fantana pushes through the curtain. He looks up with a genuine smile for the London crowd and claps his hands in admiration of his fans, pausing at the top of the stage to take in the crowd. That's when Brad Stokes suddenly appears excitedly, nearly knocking Fantana over in the process. Zack raises an eyebrow, but gives the beaming stokes a slap on the back, sending him on ahead down the ramp as Fantana salutes the crowd and follows.
Ring Announcer: Introducing one of the challengers, being led to the ring by Brad Stokes, standing at six foot even and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...He is a former VPW UnYielding Champion, and The LEADER OF THE FANTANSY MOVEMENT........ZACK FANTANNNAAAA!!!
The crowd responds huge once again as Zack pauses midway down the ramp while Stokes keeps on going to take his place by a neutral corner. Zack waves at various fans wearing old Fantanasy T-shirts, and then looks behind him back at the curtain, and with a shrug and a heavy sigh indicates with his head that his partner should come out.
LO: It's like he never left, Ken!
KO: Now that he's back.....I wish he'd go away!
LO: Say it isn't so.
KO: I'm talking about Stokes, Laur.
'Sex Type Thing' by Stone Temple Pilots cues up over the PA, and everyone in the arena looks to the top of the stage in anticipation. No one could have been prepared for what comes next. Out of the curtain steps none other than The Daredevil himself, Benny Stevens. The crowd goes nuts as Stevens, who hasn't been seen except for in Japan for nearly two years, holds his hand over his eyes to view the sold out arena and beams an infectious grin.
RING ANNOUNCER: And introducing his Mystery Partner, standing at six foot three and weighting in at 198 pounds, hailing from Seattle, Washington....He is known as THE DAREDEVIL, BENNY STEVVEEENNNSS!
The crowd pops again at the official announcement and Benny can't contain his excitement as he starts slapping hands from the ramp way, taking in the moment of his big return to a full time promotion. He joins Zack, whose been waiting on him, and after a brief nod the two men make their way down to the ring still giving out fives. The crowd eats it up as they finally reach ringside and Zack takes off into a leap onto the apron, and then in another spring up to the top rope where he throws both hands out at his sides. Benny does the same, but at the center of the ring, and cuts a front flip to land perfectly in the center of the ring where he jumps up and down. Zack eventually drops to the mat in the corner, and Benny drops back to confer with his partner while the fan buzzes at this exciting outcome.
LO: Well there you have it, folks.
KO: This whole thing has been terribly unfair to NSFW. We didn't find out that Benny Steven's was the mystery partner until earlier this weekend, and now the champions have to contend with not being able to prepare for one of their opponents, but now they have to come up with a game plan on the fly for the delusional former leader of a cult, and a ridiculous jumping bean.
LO: Whatever, Ken! You can deny it all you want, but I know you're excited to have these two guys in Valor Pro.
KO: I'll be excited when one of these vendors gets close enough for me to call out an order for some Nachos, but over this? Nah.
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as NSFW hand the tag team championships off to the referee. Mike heads for the corner and ducks through the ropes. They stand out on the apron while Church stays in the corner inside the ring. Zack and Benny stand along the ropes and begin to speak back and forth. Bishop stands in the corner ready to start the match for his team while Fantana and Stevens decide who start this one. Benny assures Zack, who respectfully relents. The two men share a handshake.
LO: Stevens and Fantana appear to not agree on who will begin the match up.
KO: That could be a bad sign to start off here.
LO: It appears Fantana agrees to Benny to start this one.
The referee holds the Chimera Tag Team Championships high into the air in the center of the ring. Fantana stands on the apron looking across at Mike, who does the same. Benny and Church stare one another down from across the ring as the referee hands the titles off to a ring grip before calling for the bell!
DING!
Daredevil and Church come face to face in the ring. Bishop extends a hand out toward Benny, who accepts in a show of real sportsmanship. The two men then lock up in the center of the ring in a mighty grapple! Benny gets swung left to right by the larger Church. Bishop gains the upper hand with a knee to the side of Stevens! He then irish whips Benny into the ropes. Church quickly then bounces off the ropes on the opposite side of the ring to build up real momentum. Daredevil slingshots back at Bishop, who misses the clothesline! Stevens ducks the attempt to hit the ropes again as does Church on the opposite side. The two men come flying back at one another again full speed ahead. This time Bishop stops dead to wrap both arms around Benny to use his own momentum to assist in a picture perfect belly to belly suplex!
KO: Wow! Did you see the height Daredevil got on that!?
LO: I did. The champions are rolling.
Benny hits the mat hard but still tries to reach Fantana. Stevens gets caught from behind by Bishop Church! He pulls at the right ankle to pull Benny back toward NSFW’s corner! Church holds on with both hands until he reaches the corner to tag in Mike!
LO: NSFW are working like a team by cutting off the ring for Stevens.
KO: Fantana wants a tag but Benny may as well be in China at the moment.
McGuire hits the ring in a hurry. They relieve Church by taking hold of Benny around the neck for a side headlock. Mike twists to apply more pressure but Stevens takes hold of the bottom rope to break the hold. McGuire immediately releases it.
KO: Stevens catches a break.
LO: McGuire applied the headlock to close the ropes that time.
Daredevil doesn’t even look to make a tag which appears to frustrate Fantana a bit but nevertheless, Mike charges at Benny, who catches them with a beautiful Pele kick! The sudden shot sends McGuire to the mat, flat on their back. Benny gets back to his feet quickly to leap on top of Mike for mounted punches! Stevens rain’s down pain onto one half of the Chimera Tag Team Champions.
LO: Benny Stevens has taken this one over!
Benny leaps up off Mike to stand alongside them for a wicked standing moonsault! Stevens quickly hooks a leg!
...1
…
KO: Broken up by Bishop Church before a count of two!
LO: NSFW wants to continue to hold those championships. They are honored to hold the titles.
KO: Stevens and Fantana would as well.
The referee encourages Church to go back to NSFW’s corner and he does. Stevens gets back to his feet as does Mike McGuire. Benny turns around to catch an elbow to the jaw from Mike! They then continue to throw solid punches, all aiming for Stevens face! Benny ends up in NSFW’s corner with Mike working the body then as soon as Stevens covers up, they go right back to the face! McGuire gets Daredevil propped up in the corner before delivering mid section stomps! Stomp after stomp until Stevens ends up in a seated position in the corner.
LO: NSFW continues to keep Benny in that corner away from his partner, Zack Fantana.
KO: Looks like Mike has other plans.
McGuire leaves Benny seated in the corner to take off for the corner on the opposite side of the ring where Fantana stands on the apron. Mike jaws with Zack briefly before turning around to take off running at Stevens, who leaps up out of nowhere to take off at McGuire! Benny nearly cuts them in two with a spear in the center of the ring. Both wrestlers hit the mat. The crowds anticipation continues to build as both Mike and Benny crawl towards their respective corners.
KO: That spear changed the game!
LO: Yes, it did. Now both are looking to make a tag!
KO: Who will make it first?!
Benny reaches out at Zack, who reaches across the top rope with all he’s got. McGuire crawls toward Church in the opposite direction. Mike picks up speed before getting to their hands and knees to lunge at Bishop for a tag! Church rumbles through the ropes to chase down Benny, who tags in Fantana! Bishop is in the center of the ring when Zack leaps from the apron to the top rope to springboard off at him! Fantana catches Church with a springboard dropkick!
KO: Fantana takes to the air right off the bat!
LO: Bishop Church is getting back up!
Fantana comes up from behind Bishop to catch him in an arm trap that Zack then transitions into a crowd pleasing swinging neck breaker! Fantana leaps back up to his feet to hit the ropes across the ring from the fallen champion. Bishop pushes himself on the mat onto his hands and knees only to catch a shining wizard from the incoming Zack Fantana, who hooks a leg after the violent maneuver.
...1
...2
LO: Broken up by Mike McGuire! NSFW continues to work together as a team while Fatana and Stevens are struggling with that aspect thus far.
KO: Fantana wants to win this match and so does Benny. They could make this work but they will have to in order to defeat the Chimera Tag Team Champs!
Mike returns to their corner after stomping out the pin. Zack holds the back of his head briefly due to the stomp but before he can turn around, gets grappled up from behind by Church! The eyes of Fantana widen as he is hoisted up and back over the big man’s head for a brutal german suplex that Bishop holds through for a pin!
...1
...2
LO: KICK OUT BY ZACK FANTANA!
KO: Where was Benny on that one!?
Zack gets to one knee after kicking out to look directly over at Stevens, who did not make it into the ring to break up the pin in time. Benny is in the ring and was on the way but late nonetheless. Bishop comes in from behind the still squatting Fantana quickly. Church quickly takes hold of Zack’s head from behind for a rear chinlock. Benny stomps on the apron in the corner to keep Fantana in this one. Brad Stokes beats the apron with both fists in order to cheer Zack on from the outside. Bishop suddenly comes forward with a knee to the back of Fantana’s head to send him face first to the mat! Church then backs up to tag in McGuire, who accepts then glides through the ropes. Bishop quickly pushes Fantana over onto his back. Mike then lowers their head toward Church, who cradles them up between his legs. Bishop lifts his partner up high into the powerbomb position before slamming them down! Miss! Zack rolls out of the way at the last possible moment!
KO: Fantana counters the double team by rolling out of the way. That could have been it.
LO: He needs to make it to Daredevil for a tag!
Fantana staggers from his head and knees up to both feet. Church helps Mike up after the miss. The champions get back to a vertical base just in time to watch Zack tag Benny into the match!
KO: Daredevil is legal.
LO: Fantana using the mistake to escape the clutches of NSFW with total success.
Stevens leaps up on the top rope from the apron to springboard off at both Mike and Bishop! Both wrestlers are caught with the crossbody! All three wrestlers crash onto the mat while Fantana gathers himself in the corner. Bishop rolls out of the ring after the referee indicates that Mike is legal.
LO: Stevens comes flying in to take down both members of NFSW!
KO: Stevens and Fantana seem to be getting it together the longer we go in this Chimera Tag Team Championship match.
Benny gets back up quickly only to fall back down on top of McGuire for a spinning elbow drop! Stevens quickly gets leaps up to head for the closest corner which is where Zack Fantana stands. Daredevil scales the turnbuckles in the corner to end up looking back out into the ring. McGuire slowly pushes themself up off the mat back to a vertical base. Mike turns around leading Stevens to reach down and tag in Fantana before leaping off at McGuire! The ensuing tornado DDT gets the crowd riled. Zack follows the lead by climbing up the turnbuckles on the same corner. Zack leaps off to perform a beautiful corkscrew somersault leg drop across the throat of Mike McGuire! Fantana then makes a cover!
...1
…2
KO: BROKEN UP BY BISHOP! That was close, Laurence.
LO: I thought we may have new champions but Church comes in with the save at the last possible moment.
KO: Benny, Zack, nor Stokes can believe it.
Fantana appears shocked that NSFW survived that but regains his focus to find Mike crawling toward their corner. Zack takes off after them but they manage to reach Bishop, who has had made it back to the corner!
KO: Tag made! Here comes the big man!
Bishop comes through the ropes with real velocity. He takes off at Fantana, who catches a vicious clothesline! Church then charges across the ring to hammer Benny off the apron! Stevens flies off backwards onto the unforgiving outside floor.
LO: Bishop Church has come in to clean house.
KO: I don’t think he nor Mike are done just yet.
McGuire reaches out for a tag and gets one! Mike glides through the ropes and points at Fantana, who begins to stir. Church positions himself at the ropes near where Benny is down on the outside. Mike quickly grapples up Zack to irish whip him straight into the awaiting arms of Bishop, who catches Fantana with a belly to belly suplex up and over the top rope! Zack flies out of the ring right on top of his partner, Benny Stevens! Benny and Zack stagger to their hands and knees quickly after such a brutal impact while Mike takes off running full speed at Bishop, who backbody drops them over the top rope and onto both Stevens and Fantana on the outside. The crowd pops for NSFW!
LO: Flight of Icarus! They have been perfecting that since arriving in Valor Pro.
KO: Now the results are showing!
McGuire gets up on the outside to find Fantana still on the floor. They pick him up to quickly roll him into the ring. Mike slides in the ring behind Zack to make a fast cover!
…1
…
KO: BROKEN UP BY Benny Stevens!
Stevens pulled Mike off Fantana from the apron to break the pin.
LO: Brad Stokes approved of that save!
KO: Of course, he did! Who do you think Stokes is rooting for here?
LO: Touche’.
Benny gets around the ring to make it back on the apron in his teams corner. Fantana gets back to his feet just as Mike slides back into the ring. Benny watches Zack close as he bounces off the ropes to catch McGuire as they get to their feet with a pointed sling blade! Fantana rolls to his feet to hit the ropes again while Mike stumbles up only to catch a flying forearm from the charging Zack! Fantana continues his momentum by rushing over to the corner where Benny watches intently. Zack leaps up on the middle rope to bounce on up to the top in a hurry. McGuire gets up slowly then turns around toward Fantana, who leaps off to capture Mike up in a blockbuster! Zack hooks a leg to pin one half of the tag team champions!
...1
…2
LO: BROKEN UP BY CHURCH!
KO: NSFW lives on. Fantana believed he had McGuire dead to rights on that exchange.
LO: Never sleep on NSFW. Ever.
Bishop stomps the pin out then continues to stomp down on Zack after the break until the referee comes in. Church immediately stop then walks back to NSFW’s corner. Zack holds his ribcage after the vicious stomps from the larger wrestler. McGuire uses this opportunity to crawl toward their corner. Fantana rolls over to push himself up off the mat. He looks up to see Benny reaching for a tag. McGuire tags in Bishop just as Zack tags in Stevens!
KO: Double tag!
Church hits the ring fast to make a mad dash right at Benny Stevens! Daredevil catches a precise running elbow to the face! Stevens falls back into the ropes only to slingshot forward into the awaiting arms of Bishop, who cradles up Benny for a vertical suplex! The violent impact shakes the entire ring.
LO: NSFW has taken back control of this one. The big man is rolling now.
KO: Fantana and Mike are both recovering in their respective corners so these two have to fight it out!
Church gets up alongside Benny to apply a heel hook! Bishop immediately begins to twist the ankle once the hold is locked in. Stevens reaches up to hold his face to convey real pain.
KO: Bishop has the heel hook locked in!
LO: Stevens might as well be a mile away from the ropes at this point.
KO: Will he tap?!
Bishop continues to punish Daredevil with the heel hook by applying more and more pressure. Fantana begins to stomp on the apron to keep Benny’s head in the game. Stevens continues to refuse to tap in almost defiance leading Church to continue.
LO: Benny refuses to give up!
KO: Bishop may break it off.
Benny digs into the mat with both hands then begins to ease himself over to the ropes. Each time he attempts this, Church reacts with more pressure. Fantana continues to stomp on the apron for support while Stevens inches closer and closer toward the ropes. Finally he makes one last lunge for them with success! Benny ends up with a handful of the bottom rope to break the hold. Bishop immediately breaks the heel hook once the referee calls for it.
KO: Benny survives! I thought for sure he was about to tap and NSFW would retain their coveted Chimera Tag Team titles.
LO: That was a close one but Daredevil refused to give in.
Benny gets back up after the rope break. He immediately is thinking tag but Bishop sees this coming and quickly cuts Stevens off from Fantana! Stevens kicks the big man in the gut leading him to fold over. Daredevil cradles up Church for a double underhook DDT! Then he hits the mat due to his now ailing ankle. McGuire stomps on the apron while slapping the top turnbuckle in the corner to get Bishop back on his feet with little success. Benny meanwhile, begins to slowly crawl toward Zack in the corner.
KO: What a counter by Benny!
LO: That DDT was brutal. Church remains on the mat while both Fantana and McGuire want tags.
KO: Looks like Zack may get his wish.
Benny continues to crawl toward the corner and finally lunges forward to slap hands with Zack Fantana. Tag made! Fantana comes flying through the ropes to catch Bishop now crawling toward the NSFW corner. Zack comes up from behind Church with a knee drop to the spine! The sudden shot stop Bishop on the mat dead. Zack continues by getting the larger wrestler back up to cradle him up.
LO: What is Fantana thinking here, Kevin?
KO: I believe he’s thinking pumphandle of some sort..
Zack pulls Church’s right arm through his legs before delivering a ring rattling pump handle gut buster! Fantana rushes over to the ropes to glide through, out onto the apron. He works the crowd briefly before focusing back in on Bishop Church, who slowly gets up. Church turns around as he reaches his feet leading Fantana to leap up on the top rope to springboard off with a roundhouse kick that catches the larger wrestler right on the jaw! Bishop hits the mat in a pile and Zack quickly hooks a leg!
...1
...2
KO: BROKEN UP BY MIKE MCGUIRE!
LO: They just saved this match up for NSFW.
Mike quickly rushes back over to their corner while Zack looks at the referee over the close count. The ref assures him it was only two before the break up by McGuire. These precious moments allows Bishop to crawl toward his corner. Mike reaches out as far as they possibly can, looking for a tag.
LO: Church is looking to tag out.
KO: Not if Fantana has anything to say about it!
Zack quickly gives chase but does not succeed in this particular endeavor. Bishop tags in McGuire, who comes through the ropes already looking for a fight! Mike begins hitting Zack in the face with a right fist while holding the back of his head for precision. Mike busts the nose of Fantana with one of these solid licks which leads him to hit a knee. Church is still in the ring and comes up to Fantana before the referee can react. He hoists him up into the air face to face while Mike hits the ropes just behind both men. Bishop gets Fantana up into the air then begins to fall back looking like he will smash Zack into the mat face first but Mike flies in to capture Fantana around the neck for a crowd pleasing tag team maneuver! McGuire quickly makes the cover!
…1
…2
KO: BROKEN UP BY BENNY STEVENS!
LO: NSFW can’t believe it! They thought they retained right there but Daredevil comes in to save the match.
Mike still looks a bit shocked but regains their focus quickly. Bishop rolls out of the ring to gather himself on the outside briefly before heading for the NSFW corner. Benny gets pushed back to his corner after the break by the referee leaving Mike and Zack in the ring to fight it out.
LO: Both teams have impressed me thus far, if I’m honest. Both have the will of a champion and its showing here tonight.
KO: That’s the truth! Both teams came looking for glory here tonight. Sadly, there can only be one winner.
McGuire comes up from behind Zack to grapple him up. Mike struggles a bit but then manages to irish whip the dazed Fantana into the ropes! Zack comes flying back at McGuire, who is thinking clothesline but misses! Fantana bounces off the ropes on the opposite side while Mike spins around just in time to get caught with a spanish fly by the charging Zack! They do a complete flip in the air to rile up the crowd. The maneuver puts McGuire on the mat in a daze. Fantana uses the opportunity to make his way along the ropes toward his partner in the corner, Benny Stevens!
KO: Fantana has got to make a tag.
LO: Benny appears to be still favoring that ankle but is the fresher of the two men at this point.
Fantana uses the ropes to assist him back to Daredevil, who reaches out for a tag…
LO: Tag made! Here comes Benny Stevens.
Stevens climbs up the turnbuckles in his teams corner from the apron. Bishop hits the top turnbuckle across the ring to get Mike up. Daredevil gets up on the top turnbuckle aiming for McGuire, who is laid out in the center of the ring. Benny works the crowd while standing high above before leaping off at a high angle! Stevens pumps twice in the air before nailing Mike with a frog splash! Daredevil then makes a cover after recovering from the crash landing.
...1
...2
LO: KICK OUT!
KO: Look at Benny’s face! He can’t believe it.
LO: Neither can Fantana in the corner. NSFW lives on.
McGuire rolls over onto their side after the incredible kick out. Benny appears to be growing with frustration but Fantana cheers him on from the corner and gets the crowd in on it. Stevens staggers to his feet still favoring his right ankle, that Mike suddenly kicks out from beneath Benny! He falls to the mat holding the injured ankle while McGuire slowly rises to both feet to hover above him. Mike runs toward the ropes across the ring to slingshot back at Daredevil full speed ahead. Stevens makes it to both knees just in time to catch a swinging neckbreaker from the charging Mike McGuire!
KO: Rubbernecker! Mike is not going for the pin?!
LO: I believe McGuire has different plans.
KO: Uh-oh.
Mike struts over to the corner closest to Benny. They climb up on the bottom turnbuckle to spring up to the middle then top. McGuire turns around to face out at Benny, who remains on the mat clutching at his ankle. Mike swiftly dives off aiming for a flying headbutt! Stevens moves out of the way at the last possible moment. Miss! McGuire crashes and burns face first on the mat. Stevens immediately begins to crawl toward his corner. Fantana reaches out while continuing to stomp on the apron to support his new partner.
LO: Stevens makes Mike miss their signature maneuver but remains in trouble until he can reach Fantana.
KO: Mike has made it back to their feet! Can you believe that?!
LO: The champions want to retain but Benny and Zack have other ideas.
Stevens continues to slowly crawl toward his corner. McGuire stumbles up somehow and hits the ropes for support. Benny can feel the movement behind him in the ring but does not lose his focus even slightly. Fantana reaches out as far as he possibly can.
LO: Almost…
KO: McGuire has somehow made it to their corner! Tag made by Mike!
McGuire makes the tag then hits a knee close to the ropes. Benny suddenly lunges out at Zack to make the tag! Fantana bounces through the ropes like a man possessed! Stevens rolls underneath the bottom rope to catch his bearings on the apron. Zack hits the ring aiming for Bishop, the legal man. Church comes right at Fantana, who catches him with a step-up enziguri! The violent kick sends the big man to a knee in a daze.
KO: Fantana has injected life back into his team!
LO: Benny is still down on the apron while both members of NSFW remain in the ring.
Zack rushes over to the ropes near Bishop and Mike. Both NSFW members stumble to their feet at the same time. Fantana gets to the ropes and glides through to end up on the apron facing back into the ring. Mike and Church turn toward him leading him to leap up on the top rope to springboard off into a picture perfect moonsault! Zack catches both NSFW members with the maneuver and all three wrestlers crash to the mat. Fantana hits awkward and remains on the mat alongside both McGuire and Bishop. Everyone is now down leading the referee to begin his count.
LO: Everyone is down! The referee begins his count and any disqualification favors the champions.
KO: You know that NSFW do not want to retain that way.
LO: That’s true.
The Ref continues to drone on as the fans watch on with bated breath to see which superstar, if any, would get to their feet first. Just at seven Benny grabs hold of the top rope and hoists himself up, and he calls out for Zack emphatically while stretching his hand as far as he can into the ring. Zack responds to the call, looking up, and as the count almost reaches ten he digs into the mat and leaps across the ring to slap Stevens' hand! At that same moment Mike McGuire and Bishop Church manage to push off of each other to get vertical, and the referee goes ahead and signals for the match to continue as Benny quickly scales to the top turnbuckle. The Chimera Tag Champs look dazed, much as they did moments ago for Zack Fantana, and Benny lets out a loud shout to the fans before launching himself off the top. Bishop Church quickly scoops Mike up into a cradle and launches The Bronx Brawler in Benny's direction, and Mike has only seconds to straighten themselves out into a Drop Kick that lands dead center of The Daredevil's chest.
KO: DAMN!
LO: BISHOP CHURCH JUST LOBBED HIS PARTNER AT BENNY STEVENS LIKE A LAWN DART!
KO: And that's after it looked like they might be done for, but I guess they had a last second gasp of desperation!
LO: I don't know what it was, BUT I DO KNOW THAT BENNY IS GETTING UP ON SOME UNSTABLE LEGS, AND RUNNING KNEE STRIKE BY CHURCH!
KO: RIGHT INTO A KNOCKED FOR SIX BY MCGUIRE!
TOGETHER: BATTER UP, MFer!
Benny hits the mat in a lump as Church falls upon him for a cover. As Zack tries to come back into the ring, Mike rushes over and cuts him off with a boot to the midsection that drops him back down to a knee on the apron...
1...
2...
3!!!
The bell sounds as Fantana drops down off the ring apron and shakes his head a bit in frustration, while Mike rejoins their partner in the center of the ring to help get him on their feet. Both NSFW members fall into the ropes for some extra support as they nod their heads in exhaustion while the referee hands them their titles, and then lifts both of their hands.
RING ANNOUNCER: and the winner's of the match via pinfall, and STILL YOUR CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS....N.S.F.W!!
McGuire and Church push off the ropes to hoist the Chimera Tag Championships above their head, but before they actually get a chance to celebrate the crowd pops signaling something is amiss. NSFW both look to Fantana and Stevens, but Zack is just now helping Benny out of the ring. Behind them, however, comes Fukushima Zombie and a heavily bandaged Aokigahara Zombie down the ramp. Just as NSFW steps forwards to try and throw a warning to the opponents they just defeated, they are lambasted from behind by Kowloon & Siberia who came from the crowd behind them.
LO: WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE INSANE ZOMBIES UP TO!
KO: WHAT THEY'RE BEST AT! ABSOLUTE MAYHEM!
Zack looks up into the ring in surprise as McGuire and Church are driven down to the canvas, but he doesn't get much of a chance to gawk before Benny Stevens is ripped out of his arms and he is caught by a Mandable Claw shoved right down his throat.
LO: AOKIGAHARA WITH THE ITAI CLAW ON ZACK FANTANA, AND FUKUSHIMA JUST SENT BENNY STEVENS CRASHING INTO THE STEEL STEPS WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT IT SENT THE TOP PORTION SKIDDING ACROSS RINGSIDE!
Inside the ring Mike McGuire tries to get to their feet but Kowloon picks up the smaller superstar, hoists them over his head in an impressive Gorilla Press, and launches them out of the ring to land unceremoniously on the concrete floor outside. The Siberian Buzzsaw lies in wait as Bishop Church starts to slowly rise, and just when he's halfway up fires off a Roundhouse Kick right to the back of his skull. If cartoons were real, this would be about the point that little birdies flew around the man's head, as his eyes roll back and flops down the rest of the way to the canvas. On the outside of the ring Zack Fantana struggles against the claw, but after putting up such a valiant effort in the bout seconds ago he quickly fades down to the floor. Benny tries to reach out for his partner, but a stiff Soccer Kick to his aching ribs from Fuki ends the attempt.
LO: GOOD GOD! The Zombie Clan have laid out both the challengers and the champions!
KO: That's one way of saying they want the next title shot!
Aoki suddenly yanks his hand free of Zack and runs his fingers across his throat before thrusting them towards the back, and the rest of the Zombies file in behind him as he goes. As they reach the top of the stage and the superstars they left behind writhe in pain, Aoki turns and holds his hand out only for Fuki to supply him with a microphone. He raises it to his lips, the bandages across his body already showing the signs that whatever stitches he had received have been opened back up.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Congratulations, and Welcome Back. Signed...Zombie Clan!
Aoki lets out a fit of insane laughter which forces him to grab at his injured body as Kowloon and Siberia share a look, and Fuki sways back and forth like a child caught in her own magical world. When Aoki turns they all follow him through the curtain, leaving the camera to pan around ringside at all of the downed superstars.
LO: I....I think the might be insane.
KO: That match with Spiral wasn't proof enough for you?
LO: I know, but...damn. Let's just cut to someone backstage.
And the camera does just that...
The house lights dim. Green and orange lights pulse with the opening of Papa Roach’s ‘Renegade Music’, the tron remaining black- and then flashing the words with the music
‘BUT NOTHING CHANGES
UNTIL THE PEOPLE GET LOUD!’
The pulsing lights intensify, accompanied by green and orange lasers, the screen flashing NSFW’s logo as Bishop Church and Mike McGuire appear in the entryway to a rousing ovation, sharing fistbumps with the fans by the barriers as they make their way to the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: Now on their way to the ring, at a combined weight of 400 pounds, the CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! Mike McGuire and Bishop Church, N ...S ...F ...W!
Mike is in the ring bouncing back and forth to either side of the ring multiple times before John finally climbs up the ring steps. They meet in the middle of the ring and look to the crowd. With Bishop two steps behind, they both pose by standing on the second rope, titles raised in the air.
LO: The Chimera Tag Team Champions have been on quite the success tour since arriving in Valor Pro, and the fans have taken to them rather quickly..
KO: Yeah, but the guy whose scheduled to come out next was one of the biggest fan favorites that Valor Pro has ever seen. I wonder if he gets the same pop, and if that will throw the champs off their game?
LO: I highly doubt it. While NSFW is surely appreciative of the crowd support, at the end of the day they are all about Tag Team wrestling, thus why they are the champions in my opinion...
Suddenly 'Lucid Dreams' by Franz Ferdinand blares over the PA and the aforementioned 'Pop' is tremendous as Zack Fantana pushes through the curtain. He looks up with a genuine smile for the London crowd and claps his hands in admiration of his fans, pausing at the top of the stage to take in the crowd. That's when Brad Stokes suddenly appears excitedly, nearly knocking Fantana over in the process. Zack raises an eyebrow, but gives the beaming stokes a slap on the back, sending him on ahead down the ramp as Fantana salutes the crowd and follows.
Ring Announcer: Introducing one of the challengers, being led to the ring by Brad Stokes, standing at six foot even and weighting in at 205 pounds, hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...He is a former VPW UnYielding Champion, and The LEADER OF THE FANTANSY MOVEMENT........ZACK FANTANNNAAAA!!!
The crowd responds huge once again as Zack pauses midway down the ramp while Stokes keeps on going to take his place by a neutral corner. Zack waves at various fans wearing old Fantanasy T-shirts, and then looks behind him back at the curtain, and with a shrug and a heavy sigh indicates with his head that his partner should come out.
LO: It's like he never left, Ken!
KO: Now that he's back.....I wish he'd go away!
LO: Say it isn't so.
KO: I'm talking about Stokes, Laur.
'Sex Type Thing' by Stone Temple Pilots cues up over the PA, and everyone in the arena looks to the top of the stage in anticipation. No one could have been prepared for what comes next. Out of the curtain steps none other than The Daredevil himself, Benny Stevens. The crowd goes nuts as Stevens, who hasn't been seen except for in Japan for nearly two years, holds his hand over his eyes to view the sold out arena and beams an infectious grin.
RING ANNOUNCER: And introducing his Mystery Partner, standing at six foot three and weighting in at 198 pounds, hailing from Seattle, Washington....He is known as THE DAREDEVIL, BENNY STEVVEEENNNSS!
The crowd pops again at the official announcement and Benny can't contain his excitement as he starts slapping hands from the ramp way, taking in the moment of his big return to a full time promotion. He joins Zack, whose been waiting on him, and after a brief nod the two men make their way down to the ring still giving out fives. The crowd eats it up as they finally reach ringside and Zack takes off into a leap onto the apron, and then in another spring up to the top rope where he throws both hands out at his sides. Benny does the same, but at the center of the ring, and cuts a front flip to land perfectly in the center of the ring where he jumps up and down. Zack eventually drops to the mat in the corner, and Benny drops back to confer with his partner while the fan buzzes at this exciting outcome.
LO: Well there you have it, folks.
KO: This whole thing has been terribly unfair to NSFW. We didn't find out that Benny Steven's was the mystery partner until earlier this weekend, and now the champions have to contend with not being able to prepare for one of their opponents, but now they have to come up with a game plan on the fly for the delusional former leader of a cult, and a ridiculous jumping bean.
LO: Whatever, Ken! You can deny it all you want, but I know you're excited to have these two guys in Valor Pro.
KO: I'll be excited when one of these vendors gets close enough for me to call out an order for some Nachos, but over this? Nah.
Laurence Othello rolls his eyes as NSFW hand the tag team championships off to the referee. Mike heads for the corner and ducks through the ropes. They stand out on the apron while Church stays in the corner inside the ring. Zack and Benny stand along the ropes and begin to speak back and forth. Bishop stands in the corner ready to start the match for his team while Fantana and Stevens decide who start this one. Benny assures Zack, who respectfully relents. The two men share a handshake.
LO: Stevens and Fantana appear to not agree on who will begin the match up.
KO: That could be a bad sign to start off here.
LO: It appears Fantana agrees to Benny to start this one.
The referee holds the Chimera Tag Team Championships high into the air in the center of the ring. Fantana stands on the apron looking across at Mike, who does the same. Benny and Church stare one another down from across the ring as the referee hands the titles off to a ring grip before calling for the bell!
DING!
Daredevil and Church come face to face in the ring. Bishop extends a hand out toward Benny, who accepts in a show of real sportsmanship. The two men then lock up in the center of the ring in a mighty grapple! Benny gets swung left to right by the larger Church. Bishop gains the upper hand with a knee to the side of Stevens! He then irish whips Benny into the ropes. Church quickly then bounces off the ropes on the opposite side of the ring to build up real momentum. Daredevil slingshots back at Bishop, who misses the clothesline! Stevens ducks the attempt to hit the ropes again as does Church on the opposite side. The two men come flying back at one another again full speed ahead. This time Bishop stops dead to wrap both arms around Benny to use his own momentum to assist in a picture perfect belly to belly suplex!
KO: Wow! Did you see the height Daredevil got on that!?
LO: I did. The champions are rolling.
Benny hits the mat hard but still tries to reach Fantana. Stevens gets caught from behind by Bishop Church! He pulls at the right ankle to pull Benny back toward NSFW’s corner! Church holds on with both hands until he reaches the corner to tag in Mike!
LO: NSFW are working like a team by cutting off the ring for Stevens.
KO: Fantana wants a tag but Benny may as well be in China at the moment.
McGuire hits the ring in a hurry. They relieve Church by taking hold of Benny around the neck for a side headlock. Mike twists to apply more pressure but Stevens takes hold of the bottom rope to break the hold. McGuire immediately releases it.
KO: Stevens catches a break.
LO: McGuire applied the headlock to close the ropes that time.
Daredevil doesn’t even look to make a tag which appears to frustrate Fantana a bit but nevertheless, Mike charges at Benny, who catches them with a beautiful Pele kick! The sudden shot sends McGuire to the mat, flat on their back. Benny gets back to his feet quickly to leap on top of Mike for mounted punches! Stevens rain’s down pain onto one half of the Chimera Tag Team Champions.
LO: Benny Stevens has taken this one over!
Benny leaps up off Mike to stand alongside them for a wicked standing moonsault! Stevens quickly hooks a leg!
...1
…
KO: Broken up by Bishop Church before a count of two!
LO: NSFW wants to continue to hold those championships. They are honored to hold the titles.
KO: Stevens and Fantana would as well.
The referee encourages Church to go back to NSFW’s corner and he does. Stevens gets back to his feet as does Mike McGuire. Benny turns around to catch an elbow to the jaw from Mike! They then continue to throw solid punches, all aiming for Stevens face! Benny ends up in NSFW’s corner with Mike working the body then as soon as Stevens covers up, they go right back to the face! McGuire gets Daredevil propped up in the corner before delivering mid section stomps! Stomp after stomp until Stevens ends up in a seated position in the corner.
LO: NSFW continues to keep Benny in that corner away from his partner, Zack Fantana.
KO: Looks like Mike has other plans.
McGuire leaves Benny seated in the corner to take off for the corner on the opposite side of the ring where Fantana stands on the apron. Mike jaws with Zack briefly before turning around to take off running at Stevens, who leaps up out of nowhere to take off at McGuire! Benny nearly cuts them in two with a spear in the center of the ring. Both wrestlers hit the mat. The crowds anticipation continues to build as both Mike and Benny crawl towards their respective corners.
KO: That spear changed the game!
LO: Yes, it did. Now both are looking to make a tag!
KO: Who will make it first?!
Benny reaches out at Zack, who reaches across the top rope with all he’s got. McGuire crawls toward Church in the opposite direction. Mike picks up speed before getting to their hands and knees to lunge at Bishop for a tag! Church rumbles through the ropes to chase down Benny, who tags in Fantana! Bishop is in the center of the ring when Zack leaps from the apron to the top rope to springboard off at him! Fantana catches Church with a springboard dropkick!
KO: Fantana takes to the air right off the bat!
LO: Bishop Church is getting back up!
Fantana comes up from behind Bishop to catch him in an arm trap that Zack then transitions into a crowd pleasing swinging neck breaker! Fantana leaps back up to his feet to hit the ropes across the ring from the fallen champion. Bishop pushes himself on the mat onto his hands and knees only to catch a shining wizard from the incoming Zack Fantana, who hooks a leg after the violent maneuver.
...1
...2
LO: Broken up by Mike McGuire! NSFW continues to work together as a team while Fatana and Stevens are struggling with that aspect thus far.
KO: Fantana wants to win this match and so does Benny. They could make this work but they will have to in order to defeat the Chimera Tag Team Champs!
Mike returns to their corner after stomping out the pin. Zack holds the back of his head briefly due to the stomp but before he can turn around, gets grappled up from behind by Church! The eyes of Fantana widen as he is hoisted up and back over the big man’s head for a brutal german suplex that Bishop holds through for a pin!
...1
...2
LO: KICK OUT BY ZACK FANTANA!
KO: Where was Benny on that one!?
Zack gets to one knee after kicking out to look directly over at Stevens, who did not make it into the ring to break up the pin in time. Benny is in the ring and was on the way but late nonetheless. Bishop comes in from behind the still squatting Fantana quickly. Church quickly takes hold of Zack’s head from behind for a rear chinlock. Benny stomps on the apron in the corner to keep Fantana in this one. Brad Stokes beats the apron with both fists in order to cheer Zack on from the outside. Bishop suddenly comes forward with a knee to the back of Fantana’s head to send him face first to the mat! Church then backs up to tag in McGuire, who accepts then glides through the ropes. Bishop quickly pushes Fantana over onto his back. Mike then lowers their head toward Church, who cradles them up between his legs. Bishop lifts his partner up high into the powerbomb position before slamming them down! Miss! Zack rolls out of the way at the last possible moment!
KO: Fantana counters the double team by rolling out of the way. That could have been it.
LO: He needs to make it to Daredevil for a tag!
Fantana staggers from his head and knees up to both feet. Church helps Mike up after the miss. The champions get back to a vertical base just in time to watch Zack tag Benny into the match!
KO: Daredevil is legal.
LO: Fantana using the mistake to escape the clutches of NSFW with total success.
Stevens leaps up on the top rope from the apron to springboard off at both Mike and Bishop! Both wrestlers are caught with the crossbody! All three wrestlers crash onto the mat while Fantana gathers himself in the corner. Bishop rolls out of the ring after the referee indicates that Mike is legal.
LO: Stevens comes flying in to take down both members of NFSW!
KO: Stevens and Fantana seem to be getting it together the longer we go in this Chimera Tag Team Championship match.
Benny gets back up quickly only to fall back down on top of McGuire for a spinning elbow drop! Stevens quickly gets leaps up to head for the closest corner which is where Zack Fantana stands. Daredevil scales the turnbuckles in the corner to end up looking back out into the ring. McGuire slowly pushes themself up off the mat back to a vertical base. Mike turns around leading Stevens to reach down and tag in Fantana before leaping off at McGuire! The ensuing tornado DDT gets the crowd riled. Zack follows the lead by climbing up the turnbuckles on the same corner. Zack leaps off to perform a beautiful corkscrew somersault leg drop across the throat of Mike McGuire! Fantana then makes a cover!
...1
…2
KO: BROKEN UP BY BISHOP! That was close, Laurence.
LO: I thought we may have new champions but Church comes in with the save at the last possible moment.
KO: Benny, Zack, nor Stokes can believe it.
Fantana appears shocked that NSFW survived that but regains his focus to find Mike crawling toward their corner. Zack takes off after them but they manage to reach Bishop, who has had made it back to the corner!
KO: Tag made! Here comes the big man!
Bishop comes through the ropes with real velocity. He takes off at Fantana, who catches a vicious clothesline! Church then charges across the ring to hammer Benny off the apron! Stevens flies off backwards onto the unforgiving outside floor.
LO: Bishop Church has come in to clean house.
KO: I don’t think he nor Mike are done just yet.
McGuire reaches out for a tag and gets one! Mike glides through the ropes and points at Fantana, who begins to stir. Church positions himself at the ropes near where Benny is down on the outside. Mike quickly grapples up Zack to irish whip him straight into the awaiting arms of Bishop, who catches Fantana with a belly to belly suplex up and over the top rope! Zack flies out of the ring right on top of his partner, Benny Stevens! Benny and Zack stagger to their hands and knees quickly after such a brutal impact while Mike takes off running full speed at Bishop, who backbody drops them over the top rope and onto both Stevens and Fantana on the outside. The crowd pops for NSFW!
LO: Flight of Icarus! They have been perfecting that since arriving in Valor Pro.
KO: Now the results are showing!
McGuire gets up on the outside to find Fantana still on the floor. They pick him up to quickly roll him into the ring. Mike slides in the ring behind Zack to make a fast cover!
…1
…
KO: BROKEN UP BY Benny Stevens!
Stevens pulled Mike off Fantana from the apron to break the pin.
LO: Brad Stokes approved of that save!
KO: Of course, he did! Who do you think Stokes is rooting for here?
LO: Touche’.
Benny gets around the ring to make it back on the apron in his teams corner. Fantana gets back to his feet just as Mike slides back into the ring. Benny watches Zack close as he bounces off the ropes to catch McGuire as they get to their feet with a pointed sling blade! Fantana rolls to his feet to hit the ropes again while Mike stumbles up only to catch a flying forearm from the charging Zack! Fantana continues his momentum by rushing over to the corner where Benny watches intently. Zack leaps up on the middle rope to bounce on up to the top in a hurry. McGuire gets up slowly then turns around toward Fantana, who leaps off to capture Mike up in a blockbuster! Zack hooks a leg to pin one half of the tag team champions!
...1
…2
LO: BROKEN UP BY CHURCH!
KO: NSFW lives on. Fantana believed he had McGuire dead to rights on that exchange.
LO: Never sleep on NSFW. Ever.
Bishop stomps the pin out then continues to stomp down on Zack after the break until the referee comes in. Church immediately stop then walks back to NSFW’s corner. Zack holds his ribcage after the vicious stomps from the larger wrestler. McGuire uses this opportunity to crawl toward their corner. Fantana rolls over to push himself up off the mat. He looks up to see Benny reaching for a tag. McGuire tags in Bishop just as Zack tags in Stevens!
KO: Double tag!
Church hits the ring fast to make a mad dash right at Benny Stevens! Daredevil catches a precise running elbow to the face! Stevens falls back into the ropes only to slingshot forward into the awaiting arms of Bishop, who cradles up Benny for a vertical suplex! The violent impact shakes the entire ring.
LO: NSFW has taken back control of this one. The big man is rolling now.
KO: Fantana and Mike are both recovering in their respective corners so these two have to fight it out!
Church gets up alongside Benny to apply a heel hook! Bishop immediately begins to twist the ankle once the hold is locked in. Stevens reaches up to hold his face to convey real pain.
KO: Bishop has the heel hook locked in!
LO: Stevens might as well be a mile away from the ropes at this point.
KO: Will he tap?!
Bishop continues to punish Daredevil with the heel hook by applying more and more pressure. Fantana begins to stomp on the apron to keep Benny’s head in the game. Stevens continues to refuse to tap in almost defiance leading Church to continue.
LO: Benny refuses to give up!
KO: Bishop may break it off.
Benny digs into the mat with both hands then begins to ease himself over to the ropes. Each time he attempts this, Church reacts with more pressure. Fantana continues to stomp on the apron for support while Stevens inches closer and closer toward the ropes. Finally he makes one last lunge for them with success! Benny ends up with a handful of the bottom rope to break the hold. Bishop immediately breaks the heel hook once the referee calls for it.
KO: Benny survives! I thought for sure he was about to tap and NSFW would retain their coveted Chimera Tag Team titles.
LO: That was a close one but Daredevil refused to give in.
Benny gets back up after the rope break. He immediately is thinking tag but Bishop sees this coming and quickly cuts Stevens off from Fantana! Stevens kicks the big man in the gut leading him to fold over. Daredevil cradles up Church for a double underhook DDT! Then he hits the mat due to his now ailing ankle. McGuire stomps on the apron while slapping the top turnbuckle in the corner to get Bishop back on his feet with little success. Benny meanwhile, begins to slowly crawl toward Zack in the corner.
KO: What a counter by Benny!
LO: That DDT was brutal. Church remains on the mat while both Fantana and McGuire want tags.
KO: Looks like Zack may get his wish.
Benny continues to crawl toward the corner and finally lunges forward to slap hands with Zack Fantana. Tag made! Fantana comes flying through the ropes to catch Bishop now crawling toward the NSFW corner. Zack comes up from behind Church with a knee drop to the spine! The sudden shot stop Bishop on the mat dead. Zack continues by getting the larger wrestler back up to cradle him up.
LO: What is Fantana thinking here, Kevin?
KO: I believe he’s thinking pumphandle of some sort..
Zack pulls Church’s right arm through his legs before delivering a ring rattling pump handle gut buster! Fantana rushes over to the ropes to glide through, out onto the apron. He works the crowd briefly before focusing back in on Bishop Church, who slowly gets up. Church turns around as he reaches his feet leading Fantana to leap up on the top rope to springboard off with a roundhouse kick that catches the larger wrestler right on the jaw! Bishop hits the mat in a pile and Zack quickly hooks a leg!
...1
...2
KO: BROKEN UP BY MIKE MCGUIRE!
LO: They just saved this match up for NSFW.
Mike quickly rushes back over to their corner while Zack looks at the referee over the close count. The ref assures him it was only two before the break up by McGuire. These precious moments allows Bishop to crawl toward his corner. Mike reaches out as far as they possibly can, looking for a tag.
LO: Church is looking to tag out.
KO: Not if Fantana has anything to say about it!
Zack quickly gives chase but does not succeed in this particular endeavor. Bishop tags in McGuire, who comes through the ropes already looking for a fight! Mike begins hitting Zack in the face with a right fist while holding the back of his head for precision. Mike busts the nose of Fantana with one of these solid licks which leads him to hit a knee. Church is still in the ring and comes up to Fantana before the referee can react. He hoists him up into the air face to face while Mike hits the ropes just behind both men. Bishop gets Fantana up into the air then begins to fall back looking like he will smash Zack into the mat face first but Mike flies in to capture Fantana around the neck for a crowd pleasing tag team maneuver! McGuire quickly makes the cover!
…1
…2
KO: BROKEN UP BY BENNY STEVENS!
LO: NSFW can’t believe it! They thought they retained right there but Daredevil comes in to save the match.
Mike still looks a bit shocked but regains their focus quickly. Bishop rolls out of the ring to gather himself on the outside briefly before heading for the NSFW corner. Benny gets pushed back to his corner after the break by the referee leaving Mike and Zack in the ring to fight it out.
LO: Both teams have impressed me thus far, if I’m honest. Both have the will of a champion and its showing here tonight.
KO: That’s the truth! Both teams came looking for glory here tonight. Sadly, there can only be one winner.
McGuire comes up from behind Zack to grapple him up. Mike struggles a bit but then manages to irish whip the dazed Fantana into the ropes! Zack comes flying back at McGuire, who is thinking clothesline but misses! Fantana bounces off the ropes on the opposite side while Mike spins around just in time to get caught with a spanish fly by the charging Zack! They do a complete flip in the air to rile up the crowd. The maneuver puts McGuire on the mat in a daze. Fantana uses the opportunity to make his way along the ropes toward his partner in the corner, Benny Stevens!
KO: Fantana has got to make a tag.
LO: Benny appears to be still favoring that ankle but is the fresher of the two men at this point.
Fantana uses the ropes to assist him back to Daredevil, who reaches out for a tag…
LO: Tag made! Here comes Benny Stevens.
Stevens climbs up the turnbuckles in his teams corner from the apron. Bishop hits the top turnbuckle across the ring to get Mike up. Daredevil gets up on the top turnbuckle aiming for McGuire, who is laid out in the center of the ring. Benny works the crowd while standing high above before leaping off at a high angle! Stevens pumps twice in the air before nailing Mike with a frog splash! Daredevil then makes a cover after recovering from the crash landing.
...1
...2
LO: KICK OUT!
KO: Look at Benny’s face! He can’t believe it.
LO: Neither can Fantana in the corner. NSFW lives on.
McGuire rolls over onto their side after the incredible kick out. Benny appears to be growing with frustration but Fantana cheers him on from the corner and gets the crowd in on it. Stevens staggers to his feet still favoring his right ankle, that Mike suddenly kicks out from beneath Benny! He falls to the mat holding the injured ankle while McGuire slowly rises to both feet to hover above him. Mike runs toward the ropes across the ring to slingshot back at Daredevil full speed ahead. Stevens makes it to both knees just in time to catch a swinging neckbreaker from the charging Mike McGuire!
KO: Rubbernecker! Mike is not going for the pin?!
LO: I believe McGuire has different plans.
KO: Uh-oh.
Mike struts over to the corner closest to Benny. They climb up on the bottom turnbuckle to spring up to the middle then top. McGuire turns around to face out at Benny, who remains on the mat clutching at his ankle. Mike swiftly dives off aiming for a flying headbutt! Stevens moves out of the way at the last possible moment. Miss! McGuire crashes and burns face first on the mat. Stevens immediately begins to crawl toward his corner. Fantana reaches out while continuing to stomp on the apron to support his new partner.
LO: Stevens makes Mike miss their signature maneuver but remains in trouble until he can reach Fantana.
KO: Mike has made it back to their feet! Can you believe that?!
LO: The champions want to retain but Benny and Zack have other ideas.
Stevens continues to slowly crawl toward his corner. McGuire stumbles up somehow and hits the ropes for support. Benny can feel the movement behind him in the ring but does not lose his focus even slightly. Fantana reaches out as far as he possibly can.
LO: Almost…
KO: McGuire has somehow made it to their corner! Tag made by Mike!
McGuire makes the tag then hits a knee close to the ropes. Benny suddenly lunges out at Zack to make the tag! Fantana bounces through the ropes like a man possessed! Stevens rolls underneath the bottom rope to catch his bearings on the apron. Zack hits the ring aiming for Bishop, the legal man. Church comes right at Fantana, who catches him with a step-up enziguri! The violent kick sends the big man to a knee in a daze.
KO: Fantana has injected life back into his team!
LO: Benny is still down on the apron while both members of NSFW remain in the ring.
Zack rushes over to the ropes near Bishop and Mike. Both NSFW members stumble to their feet at the same time. Fantana gets to the ropes and glides through to end up on the apron facing back into the ring. Mike and Church turn toward him leading him to leap up on the top rope to springboard off into a picture perfect moonsault! Zack catches both NSFW members with the maneuver and all three wrestlers crash to the mat. Fantana hits awkward and remains on the mat alongside both McGuire and Bishop. Everyone is now down leading the referee to begin his count.
LO: Everyone is down! The referee begins his count and any disqualification favors the champions.
KO: You know that NSFW do not want to retain that way.
LO: That’s true.
The Ref continues to drone on as the fans watch on with bated breath to see which superstar, if any, would get to their feet first. Just at seven Benny grabs hold of the top rope and hoists himself up, and he calls out for Zack emphatically while stretching his hand as far as he can into the ring. Zack responds to the call, looking up, and as the count almost reaches ten he digs into the mat and leaps across the ring to slap Stevens' hand! At that same moment Mike McGuire and Bishop Church manage to push off of each other to get vertical, and the referee goes ahead and signals for the match to continue as Benny quickly scales to the top turnbuckle. The Chimera Tag Champs look dazed, much as they did moments ago for Zack Fantana, and Benny lets out a loud shout to the fans before launching himself off the top. Bishop Church quickly scoops Mike up into a cradle and launches The Bronx Brawler in Benny's direction, and Mike has only seconds to straighten themselves out into a Drop Kick that lands dead center of The Daredevil's chest.
KO: DAMN!
LO: BISHOP CHURCH JUST LOBBED HIS PARTNER AT BENNY STEVENS LIKE A LAWN DART!
KO: And that's after it looked like they might be done for, but I guess they had a last second gasp of desperation!
LO: I don't know what it was, BUT I DO KNOW THAT BENNY IS GETTING UP ON SOME UNSTABLE LEGS, AND RUNNING KNEE STRIKE BY CHURCH!
KO: RIGHT INTO A KNOCKED FOR SIX BY MCGUIRE!
TOGETHER: BATTER UP, MFer!
Benny hits the mat in a lump as Church falls upon him for a cover. As Zack tries to come back into the ring, Mike rushes over and cuts him off with a boot to the midsection that drops him back down to a knee on the apron...
1...
2...
3!!!
The bell sounds as Fantana drops down off the ring apron and shakes his head a bit in frustration, while Mike rejoins their partner in the center of the ring to help get him on their feet. Both NSFW members fall into the ropes for some extra support as they nod their heads in exhaustion while the referee hands them their titles, and then lifts both of their hands.
RING ANNOUNCER: and the winner's of the match via pinfall, and STILL YOUR CHIMERA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS....N.S.F.W!!
McGuire and Church push off the ropes to hoist the Chimera Tag Championships above their head, but before they actually get a chance to celebrate the crowd pops signaling something is amiss. NSFW both look to Fantana and Stevens, but Zack is just now helping Benny out of the ring. Behind them, however, comes Fukushima Zombie and a heavily bandaged Aokigahara Zombie down the ramp. Just as NSFW steps forwards to try and throw a warning to the opponents they just defeated, they are lambasted from behind by Kowloon & Siberia who came from the crowd behind them.
LO: WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE INSANE ZOMBIES UP TO!
KO: WHAT THEY'RE BEST AT! ABSOLUTE MAYHEM!
Zack looks up into the ring in surprise as McGuire and Church are driven down to the canvas, but he doesn't get much of a chance to gawk before Benny Stevens is ripped out of his arms and he is caught by a Mandable Claw shoved right down his throat.
LO: AOKIGAHARA WITH THE ITAI CLAW ON ZACK FANTANA, AND FUKUSHIMA JUST SENT BENNY STEVENS CRASHING INTO THE STEEL STEPS WITH ENOUGH FORCE THAT IT SENT THE TOP PORTION SKIDDING ACROSS RINGSIDE!
Inside the ring Mike McGuire tries to get to their feet but Kowloon picks up the smaller superstar, hoists them over his head in an impressive Gorilla Press, and launches them out of the ring to land unceremoniously on the concrete floor outside. The Siberian Buzzsaw lies in wait as Bishop Church starts to slowly rise, and just when he's halfway up fires off a Roundhouse Kick right to the back of his skull. If cartoons were real, this would be about the point that little birdies flew around the man's head, as his eyes roll back and flops down the rest of the way to the canvas. On the outside of the ring Zack Fantana struggles against the claw, but after putting up such a valiant effort in the bout seconds ago he quickly fades down to the floor. Benny tries to reach out for his partner, but a stiff Soccer Kick to his aching ribs from Fuki ends the attempt.
LO: GOOD GOD! The Zombie Clan have laid out both the challengers and the champions!
KO: That's one way of saying they want the next title shot!
Aoki suddenly yanks his hand free of Zack and runs his fingers across his throat before thrusting them towards the back, and the rest of the Zombies file in behind him as he goes. As they reach the top of the stage and the superstars they left behind writhe in pain, Aoki turns and holds his hand out only for Fuki to supply him with a microphone. He raises it to his lips, the bandages across his body already showing the signs that whatever stitches he had received have been opened back up.
AOKIGAHARA ZOMBIE: Congratulations, and Welcome Back. Signed...Zombie Clan!
Aoki lets out a fit of insane laughter which forces him to grab at his injured body as Kowloon and Siberia share a look, and Fuki sways back and forth like a child caught in her own magical world. When Aoki turns they all follow him through the curtain, leaving the camera to pan around ringside at all of the downed superstars.
LO: I....I think the might be insane.
KO: That match with Spiral wasn't proof enough for you?
LO: I know, but...damn. Let's just cut to someone backstage.
And the camera does just that...
We open with Cosmo throwing his hands up.
COOPER: I don’t know, does it matter what I say? I’ve spent the last… how long? Saying how I am THE APEX. Every time I post a picture, every time I cut a promo. I talk about being THE APEX. What does it mean? The top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point. To reach a high point or climax. The best of the best. How many times have I spewed it, only for Chris Callum and his silver tongue to come in and claim that I’m trying to paint myself as an underdog… and I’ve just went along with it. Why not? No matter how many times I say that I am the Apex, no matter how many times I tell Chris that my reign is six times the reign he had in Galveston. No matter how cocky I am, he’s gotta’ stick with his promo points because it’s the only thing he knows, and fine. I’ll live with it.
Cosmo paused.
COOPER: You know how fucking stupid it is to just yell back and forth how the other one isn’t the underdog? Again, it’s why I went along with it. To prove how dumb, it is, how stupid it sounds. I’ve just let you run over my accomplishments and let you run down all the other work I put into other companies as The Apex, something you’ll never do. But if that’s what you must do, if that’s the tactics you have to resort to beat me, or to get in my head, it isn’t going to work. Everyone I know sees through you, including me. Everyone, even the management here knows that Chris Callum beating Cosmo Cooper is a band aid for whoever the next champion will be. I am not challenging you again for it, and I’ll shake your hand, hug you, and love you after this match since it means so much to you.
Cooper nodded.
COOPER: If you need it so bad, take it. Just know you’ll always be second place. You’ll be second place in winning the title after me, you’ll be second place in holding the belt as long as me. You’ll be second place, and for what? The need to beat me? The need to feel validated? So congratulations, Chris Callum. When you become Apex Champion you will not do so as the dominate force you were in Galveston, you will be a transitional champion. You will be a placement holder until I am ready to come take the title back, and in the meantime all of those people I fended off? You’ll struggle to beat, because they don’t have Cosmo Cooper across the marquee. With or without the title, I am the Apex. With or without the title I can draw the most money. With or without the title I will always be better than you.
With a sigh, Cosmo took one lasting glance on the Apex Championship before he walked away.
COOPER: I don’t know, does it matter what I say? I’ve spent the last… how long? Saying how I am THE APEX. Every time I post a picture, every time I cut a promo. I talk about being THE APEX. What does it mean? The top or highest part of something, especially one forming a point. To reach a high point or climax. The best of the best. How many times have I spewed it, only for Chris Callum and his silver tongue to come in and claim that I’m trying to paint myself as an underdog… and I’ve just went along with it. Why not? No matter how many times I say that I am the Apex, no matter how many times I tell Chris that my reign is six times the reign he had in Galveston. No matter how cocky I am, he’s gotta’ stick with his promo points because it’s the only thing he knows, and fine. I’ll live with it.
Cosmo paused.
COOPER: You know how fucking stupid it is to just yell back and forth how the other one isn’t the underdog? Again, it’s why I went along with it. To prove how dumb, it is, how stupid it sounds. I’ve just let you run over my accomplishments and let you run down all the other work I put into other companies as The Apex, something you’ll never do. But if that’s what you must do, if that’s the tactics you have to resort to beat me, or to get in my head, it isn’t going to work. Everyone I know sees through you, including me. Everyone, even the management here knows that Chris Callum beating Cosmo Cooper is a band aid for whoever the next champion will be. I am not challenging you again for it, and I’ll shake your hand, hug you, and love you after this match since it means so much to you.
Cooper nodded.
COOPER: If you need it so bad, take it. Just know you’ll always be second place. You’ll be second place in winning the title after me, you’ll be second place in holding the belt as long as me. You’ll be second place, and for what? The need to beat me? The need to feel validated? So congratulations, Chris Callum. When you become Apex Champion you will not do so as the dominate force you were in Galveston, you will be a transitional champion. You will be a placement holder until I am ready to come take the title back, and in the meantime all of those people I fended off? You’ll struggle to beat, because they don’t have Cosmo Cooper across the marquee. With or without the title, I am the Apex. With or without the title I can draw the most money. With or without the title I will always be better than you.
With a sigh, Cosmo took one lasting glance on the Apex Championship before he walked away.
The crowd is lightning hot coming off another intense tag team battle. Expertly the camera crew does a wonderful job of focusing in on an assortment of signs in support of competitors like Cosmo, Katya, NSFW, Indi Rhyder and others. Oddly, however, there’s no commentary provided by any of the Othello brothers. In fact, it can be quickly picked up that there’s no sound that can be heard at all. That is, there’s no sound until suddenly the entire arena is plunged into darkness. The instant that the lights are extinguished, sound returns and the surprised screamed and uncertain cries of the live audience echo and reverberate around the O2 Arena.
??: “Shhhh...shhhh little sheep. Shhhh.”
A voice cuts out over the cries and, in spite of its efforts, it is not soothing at all. The cries of uncertain only elevate until a burst of light explodes and focuses in on a single figure, bald and with a large beard, sitting halfway up the lower bowl with a sinister smile on his face and a microphone in his hand. That man is none other than Kaven Drell.
KAVEN DRELL: “Calm yourselves. Quit your bleating. You see, I’ve been given instructions that I had been barred from ringside this evening but there was nothing that said I could not buy a ticket and enjoy the show from the midst of my wayward flock.”
A heavy sigh escapes him as the response around him is not exactly one of pleasure to see his presence. It’s no secret that many attribute the shift in the UnYielding Champions attitude to his influence. There displeasure slides off of him with ease, though.
KAVEN DRELL: “Yes, yes I know you insolent sheep. I know that you don’t like your shepherd. But I know what is best. I know that the machine that makes this company go is riddled with corruption. I know that the board is only concerned with lining their pockets, and that they could care less about the hard work put in by every single man and woman on this roster. It doesn’t matter how much blood or sweat you spill for them. There is no gratitude for the bodies that are broken and battered every single week. No no. As long as you continue to buy their souvenir cups, and pay their skyrocketing ticket prices. Nothing will change. But some of you…”
He smirks, and around the arena a few smaller lights flicker to life, illuminating shirts that read Drells patented phrase that he has been preaching for weeks on end now.
KAVEN DRELL: “Some of you have had your eyes opened. Some of you have chosen to follow the white Rabbit. Some of you have taken the blue pill and you can see for yourselves now. You’ve eaten the fruit of the tree. Tonight is the night we stand. Tonight is the night we begin to rise. Tonight is the night, my friends. They’ve given you the spark… now…”
Around the arena soft chants of “let it burn” begin to rise as Drell nods his head in approval.
KAVEN DRELL: “Tonight, the machine begins to burn. Let the fire spread…”
Laughing, or more cackling, Drell extends his hands outward and tilts his head backward with his eyes closed before the building is plunged into darkness once more.
??: “Shhhh...shhhh little sheep. Shhhh.”
A voice cuts out over the cries and, in spite of its efforts, it is not soothing at all. The cries of uncertain only elevate until a burst of light explodes and focuses in on a single figure, bald and with a large beard, sitting halfway up the lower bowl with a sinister smile on his face and a microphone in his hand. That man is none other than Kaven Drell.
KAVEN DRELL: “Calm yourselves. Quit your bleating. You see, I’ve been given instructions that I had been barred from ringside this evening but there was nothing that said I could not buy a ticket and enjoy the show from the midst of my wayward flock.”
A heavy sigh escapes him as the response around him is not exactly one of pleasure to see his presence. It’s no secret that many attribute the shift in the UnYielding Champions attitude to his influence. There displeasure slides off of him with ease, though.
KAVEN DRELL: “Yes, yes I know you insolent sheep. I know that you don’t like your shepherd. But I know what is best. I know that the machine that makes this company go is riddled with corruption. I know that the board is only concerned with lining their pockets, and that they could care less about the hard work put in by every single man and woman on this roster. It doesn’t matter how much blood or sweat you spill for them. There is no gratitude for the bodies that are broken and battered every single week. No no. As long as you continue to buy their souvenir cups, and pay their skyrocketing ticket prices. Nothing will change. But some of you…”
He smirks, and around the arena a few smaller lights flicker to life, illuminating shirts that read Drells patented phrase that he has been preaching for weeks on end now.
KAVEN DRELL: “Some of you have had your eyes opened. Some of you have chosen to follow the white Rabbit. Some of you have taken the blue pill and you can see for yourselves now. You’ve eaten the fruit of the tree. Tonight is the night we stand. Tonight is the night we begin to rise. Tonight is the night, my friends. They’ve given you the spark… now…”
Around the arena soft chants of “let it burn” begin to rise as Drell nods his head in approval.
KAVEN DRELL: “Tonight, the machine begins to burn. Let the fire spread…”
Laughing, or more cackling, Drell extends his hands outward and tilts his head backward with his eyes closed before the building is plunged into darkness once more.
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is scheduled for one fall or submission, and is for THE UNYIELDING CHAMPIONSHIP!!
The lights dim and purple bulbs flash as "Warriors" by Papa Roach hit's over the PA System. The lights converge on the center of the stage and standing there is Katya Djurdjevic with one hand pointing to the sky. The crowd goes absolutely nuts as she makes her way down the ramp, slapping hands, and pausing for photo-ops. She only manages to get halfway towards the ring before the announcer decides to go ahead with the particulars.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot nine and weighing in at 126 pounds, hailing from Moscow, Russia...She is The Straight Line Demon.....KATYA DURDJEVICCCC!!!!
Katya finally reaches ringside and leaps onto the apron, vaulting herself over the top rope. She quickly steps up to the second turnbuckle of the closest turnbuckle, and again points heavenward while nodding along with her music.
LO: These fans are losing their mind as Katya Djurdjevic will be going for her third attempt at the UnYielding Championship!
KO: Yeah, they love her, Laur. No doubting that.
LO: What about you, Ken? I'm sensing some hesitation on your part.
KO: I don't know...she's a little goodie two shoes, and quite frankly, I think Rizzo has a point.
LO: Well, if he does, he'll get the chance to prove it here tonight as Kaven Drell will be banned from ringside.
Speak of the devil...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 rips 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, and shakes his head as the boos reign down upon him from the capacity crowd. He chuckles slightly, and with a tilt of his head in annoyance he starts down the ramp towards the ring.
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 gets a running go and slides 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 with another volley of boo's in his direction, and his resolve seems to harden to steel as he drops down and stares across the ring at Katya Djurdjevic with disdain. He shakes his head, unhooks the belt, and kisses the face plate before handing it off to the referee.
LO: Danny Rizzo almost looks naked out here without his partner in crime, Kaven Drell.
KO: So that's what you do all day? Sit around and picture Danny Rizzo naked?
LO: What? NO!
KO: Well I can tell you this, Danny picked up the title without Drell, and he can take it home without him too!
LO: Lets just see what Katya has to say about that, cause there's the bell...
Katya stares across the ring with a bit of trepidation in her movements as the two warily begin to circle on the outer edges of the ring, eventually pushing forwards into a collar and elbow tie up. Djurdjevic immediately ducks to the right and ends up behind Danny with a Waist Lock, but a swift back elbow breaks the hold and stuns Katya, allowing him to perform a standing switch. He doesn’t contain the Waist Lock long before reaching down and hooking her around the ankle, picking it out from under the woman to send her face first down to the mat. He quickly floats over and lands in a seated position beside her head to clamp on a Head Lock. He releases it for just a moment, getting a fistful of hair to grind her face into the canvas disrespectfully and then puts the hold back on with a laugh while the boo’s pour in.
LO: I just don’t get how Danny Rizzo could so completely turn from the plucky guy we all came to love during his first few matches.
KO: Simple, Laur. The guy woke up. He realized that these fans are fickle and will turn on you at the drop of a hat.
LO: I don’t think so. This is a fundamental shift in thinking that gradually built and only got worse with the introduction of Kaven Drell to his inner circle.
KO: Whatever. Drell’s not at ringside for this one, so don’t even try to use that as an excuse when Danny beat’s Katya from pillar to post!
As the announce team bicker, in the ring, Katya has pushed Danny up to a standing position and is working him towards the ropes. Once there she shoots him off to the other side, and as he rebounds, she hits the deck, forcing him to hop over her or be tripped. Danny hit’s off the ropes once more, and Katya pops up off the mat only to perform a high leaping split that leap frogs Danny who passes underneath to keep his momentum. Danny is at full speed when he returns, and Katya rolls down to the mat while lifting her legs into the air overtop of her, catching Rizzo in the chest and sends him flipping forwards with a Monkey Flip!
LO: Rizzo hits the canvas and is immediately back up and coming back at Katya, BUT SHE CATCHES HIM COMING IN WITH AN ARMDRAG!
KO: Danny back up, AND WALKS RIGHT INTO ANOTHER ONE!
LO: The champion slower to his feet this time and Katya patiently waiting for him to come at her again, Standing Drop Kick!
KO: NO! Danny swatted it away, and Katya on her way back up now…AND HE JUST GOT A FISTFUL OF HAIR AND RAN HER RIGHT UP AND OVER THE TOP ROPE TO LAND ON THE CONCRETE BELOW!
LO: Danny get some admonishment by the referee, and it looks to me like Katya landed mostly on her hip there as she comes up with a slight limp…
KO: The champion has got the challenger off her game. Sure, she got some quick action in there, but she doesn’t seem herself….like she’s nervous or something.
LO: Well you just saw her glance over at the time keepers table at the UnYielding Championship, and I think she realizes this is her last chance to get this done.
KO: Well she better keep eyes on Rizzo, cause he just bailed out of the ring on the opposite side and is sneaking his way around to her position…
Djurdjevic shakes her head while the fans all try to get her attention, but by the time she realizes anything is amiss Danny slams into her left leg with a chop block that sends her crashing to the floor. The Referee starts a count on the two competitors as Danny gets to his feet and grabs hold of Katya’s leg by the ankle, extending it to it’s fullest before driving measured boots directly into her hamstring. The fans boo as he continues stomping away at the injured limb, until finally at a count of seven he scoops Katya up and shoves her under the bottom rope back into the ring.
LO: This is an unfortunate turn of events for Katya Djurdjevic, who has obviously tweaked that leg upon that auspicious landing to the outside, and Danny Rizzo is all over it.
KO: The mark of a great champion, Laur! Rizzo back into the ring as Katya gets up a bit wobbly…AND CHOP BLOCK RIGHT BACK TO THAT LEG!
LO: Katya is in obvious pain here as Rizzo grabs her by the ankle and drags her back over to the ropes…places the foot on the bottom rope, and SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE SECOND ONLY TO BRING HIS TAILBONE CRASHING DOWN INTO HER KNEE!
KO: Well there goes her flying game…
Katya cries out as she claws at the canvas to get away from her assailant, but Danny grabs the ankle and puts it along the rope one more time before doing the same exact thing to the same effect. This time he allows the woman to crawl to the center of the ring before coming in from behind to grab her by the ankle again, this time placing his boot in the bend of her knee and lifting it high off the canvas before driving it straight down into the mat. Katya tries to grab at the injured limb but Danny doesn’t give her much choice, instead driving the knee back into the mat just to watch her squirm.
LO: Danny Rizzo is relentless here now that he see’s the weakness, and this is a bit out of his game as a technical striker.
KO: You have to adapt the game plan to fit the situation, Laur, and right now Rizzo is like a shark in the water that smells blood...
Danny allows for Katya to crawl her way over to the corner where she grabs at the ropes to pull herself up, all the while strutting behind her and talking shit to the booing crowd. When she’s finally vertical he spins her around and grabs her leg by the knee, lifting it up and lacing it between the middle and bottom rope, wrenching against the knee as if he’s trying to snap her lower leg off. Katya lets out a scream as the referee admonishes, eventually having to start a five count that Danny Breaks at four and three quarters. Even then he doesn’t fully relent, just giving enough separation to stop the count before driving unforgiving boots into the dangling knee. Again the ref intercedes with a count, and Danny rides it all the way to the end before back up with hands raised.
LO: The Ref is really letting the champion have it now, giving Katya a chance to untangle herself from the ropes….
KO: Danny nodding along like a good competitor should, and now sidestepping the official to return to his prey…OH!
LO: Katya Djurdjevic with a knife edge chop out of the corner…another…ANOTHER!
KO: Get on that leg, Danny…don’t give her any opportunities.
But Rizzo isn’t given much of a choice as the Straight-Line Demon drives Danny straight back with chop after chop until they are in the center of the ring. She then takes one step back onto her good leg and pushes off to catch Danny square in the chin with a beautiful High Standing Dropkick. The fans explode as Katya pushes up to her feet, hobbling a bit, and as Danny rises she nails him with forearm shots that push him back into the ropes. Once there she takes him by the wrist and whips him to the far side, but at the last minute he puts on the brakes and reverses it. Katya is sent careening in a stuttering fashion towards the ropes, and Danny posts up in the center of the ring to catch her with a clothesline. Instead, Katya ducks and hooks the arm as she goes, using the momentum to swing her legs up to trap the other one, and then rolls backwards into a Crucifix Pin!
1…
2…
LO: KICK OUT! Rizzo out at two, and already back up to his feet, but so is Katya!
KO: Rizzo with a wild swing, but Katya ducks it and ends up behind him….Knee Lift to the spine bends the champion back, and Katya hooks him in a Dragon Sleeper….INVERTED DDT!
LO: Katya with another cover, this time a hook of the leg!
1…
2…
KO: KICK OUT! Danny out again, and this time Katya is the one helping him to his feet….OH! A thunderous chop sends him stumbling back into the corner…
LO: AND HERE COMES KATYA WITH A CROSS BODY SPLASH….NO! DANNY JUST DROPPED TO A SEATED POSITION AND DJURDJEVIC LANDS ACROSS THE TOP TURNBUCKLE GUT FIRST!
KO: Danny scrambling to his feet, and OH! HIGH BOOTS TO THE MIDSECTION HAS KATYA BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE TOP ROPE…and now what’s he doing?
LO: Danny just stepped up to the second, and scooped Katya up into his arm…oh…this doesn’t look good…
KO: AVALANCHE FALL AWAY SLAM!
LO: KATYA IS GRASPING AT HER LOWER SPINE, AND RIZZO NOW CRAWLING OVER AND PUSHES HER DOWN TO THE CANVAS WITH A HOOK OF HE LEG!
1…
2…
KO: THRE-KICK OUT! Katya kicking out to fight another day, but man…I tell you right now this has been Danny Rizzo’s night!
LO: It would seem so as he quickly switches gears back to the leg, rolling her over onto her stomach, and NOW HAS HER IN A SINGLE LEG BOSTON CRAB!
KO: She’s center of the ring, Laur! Nowhere to go unless she taps!
Katya cries out in pain, burring her face into the palms of her hands as she shakes her head vehemently ‘No’ to the referee’s questions. Danny sits back on Katya’s lower spine while pulling the limb so far back that her knee is nearly pointing to the sky, maximum torque bringing forth another cry from the beautiful Russian. The Ref remains in position to accept her submission, but Katya continues to shake her head ‘No’ despite the pressure being put on her left leg. Instead, she bites into her lip with enough force to bring blood, and claws at the mat to inch herself and Rizzo towards the closest ropes.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic is willing herself towards those ropes despite the pain she’s in, and just look at her. She’s staring at the UnYielding Championship sitting on the time keepers table the entire time.
KO: Well she can stare at it all she wants, because right now she’s in danger of submitting to the man whose name is on the face plate!
The trek is arduous but Katya eventually manages to get her fingers onto the bottom rope, and the referee snaps over in front of Rizzo and demands a break. Danny looks back in surprise, and in what can only be described as rage, torques back even further on the limb if that were possible. Katya cries out, gripping the rope that much tighter with this renewed torture, and The Ref starts a thunderous five count. Just as he’s about to call it, Danny lets loose of the hold and steps out to the center of the ring with his hands on his hips, cursing as the fans boo him for all he’s worth.
LO: Danny looks a little irritated here that the submission didn’t put Katya away, but it’s obvious to me that the damage has been done…I mean…just look at her.
KO: Yeah, she is barely able to get back on her feet thanks to those ropes, and the left leg is completely useless. Not a good sign when seventy percent of your move set involves flying off your feet.
LO: Rizzo now looking over his shoulder behind him, and see, that right there is what I’m talking about. That is the face of a man who is wanting to destroy this young lady here tonight instead of just pin her in the spirit of competition.
KO: Are you even hearing yourself, Laur! Katya Djurdjevic has been spouting off at the mouth about how she’s going to be the best UnYielding Champion, how she’s going to take it to new heights, etc., etc. Wouldn’t you be offended if you were the current champion who had already done just that?
LO: Maybe, but this isn’t just about a title anymore. It’s personal between these two. I believe Danny Rizzo wants to destroy Katya Djurdjevic because she reminds him of the rookie he used to be, a reminder of what he’s now become.
As Kenneth Othello shrugs that notion off, Danny falls back into the ropes behind him and rushes back across the ring towards Katya, who is still trying to find solid footing on her bum leg. Katya looks up just in the nick of time to see Danny coming, and as he leaves his feet for a Kinshasa Knee Strike, she drops flat to the canvas. The rage washes away from Danny’s face and is replaced by shock as his knee clears the top rope, but his other leg does not, sending him into a dangerous flip over and down to the ring apron onto the back of his neck, to which he bounces and lands head first down to the concrete floor.
LO: OH MY GOD!
KO: DANNY RIZZO MAY HAVE JUST BROKE HIS FREAKIN’ NECK!
LO: The referee now exiting the ring to check on Danny who is clutching at the back of his head, and hell…even the challenger is looking on in surprise!
KO: Whatever! I bet she’s loving this after everything those two have been through!
LO: Well what was she supposed to do, Ken? Let Rizzo cave her skull in with the Warrior’s Call?
KO: I don’t know, but this is the worst thing that could have happened to the UnYielding Champion!
Despite his inability to nod his head in any coherent way, Danny waves the referee off and he looks up into the ring and shrugs his shoulders in Katya’s direction before indicating that the match would continue. Katya watches all of this with wild eyes that flick over to the title sitting on the table, followed by a determined nod as that may have been the only affirmation she needed. Katya quickly hobbles over to the nearby corner, and with a shove off of her good leg, leaps to perch herself on the top rope. Just as Danny starts to pull himself up with one hand on the apron, the other clutching the back of his head, Katya tentatively stands up to her full height. By the time Danny lets go of the apron to search for Katya in the ring, he looks up just in time to see her leap off with a HIGH Crossbody that catches him flush and crushes him back down to the concrete.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
KO: EVEN WITH A CLIPPED WING KATYA FLEW!
LO: And she may very well have destroyed the champion and her own knee by the looks of it!
KO: What happens here if they can’t continue, Laur? I mean…this is her last chance, right?
LO: You gotta believe that meant pinfall or submission...surely, they wouldn’t hold a count out loss against her?
KO: I don’t think so, Brother-O-Mine. I’m pretty sure this is it, whatever may come.
LO: Then here’s to praying that Katya Djurdjevic can get Danny Rizzo back into the ring!
Both competitors are laid out motionless on the floor as The Ref stares at both of them, hands on top of his head in confusion. After a moment his senses return to him, and he shrugs before sliding back into the ring, and then standing to start a ten count. The fans watch on anxiously as the referee’s count climbs while the two superstars remain knocked out on the floor. Finally, at the count of seven, Katya begins to stir, clawing her way towards the ring apron and up to her feet at nine. She rolls quickly into the ring, and then right back out, restarting the referee’s count as the fans urge her on.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic not taking any chances. She could have picked up a count out victory there, but it wouldn’t have brought home the title….
KO: Yeah, and now she’s pulling Danny up to his feet and dragging him over to the apron…
LO: RIZZO JUST KNOCKED KATYA’S HANDS A WAY AND LANDS A HEADBUTT RIGHT TO HER NOSE THAT SENDS HER CAREENING BACK AGAINST THE STEPS!
KO: Danny still a little loopy, but he advances with a Clothesline…BUT KATYA DROPS HER SHOULDER AND SENDS HIM UP AND OVER THE STEPS TO LAND HARD ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
Katya wheels around the steps the best she can, a new fire in her belly as the fans cheer her own. There is a bubbling rage within her eyes as a fan holds a chair out in front of her, and she grabs the weapon. For just a moment it looks like she might strike Danny, whose tiredly gotten to all fours, but as the referee warns her and the roar of the crowd closes in, she eventually tosses the chair to the side and shakes her head now, pointing at the title she so desperately wants to call her own.
LO: Djurdjevic deciding that the belt is worth more than revenge, a sentiment that I’m not so sure Danny Rizzo would have given her if the shoe was on the other foot.
KO: Whatever, Laur. Danny Rizzo has epitomized what it is to carry that title with honor and class, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let you besmirch his good name!
LO: Oh, it is getting deep in here. Anyways, Danny helped himself up and Katya gave him that extra nudge to get him back into the ring, and she’s now on the apron calling for him to get to his feet…
KO: What do you think she’s got in mind?
LO: I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put anything past her at this point. She needs to put Danny away now before he can get the chance to gather himself.
Danny claws up to his feet, still suffering the effects of that nasty spill from earlier and stumbles his way around the ring until turning in Katya’s direction. This was obviously what she was waiting for, as she grips the top rope and springboards up to the top, pushing off with her good leg to whip the other around into a Diving Spin Wheel Kick that catches Danny flush in the face. He crashes to the mat as Katya rolls up to her feet, and with a short hop over his body lands so she’s facing away from him, and then delivers a one-legged Standing Moonsault to crush him into the mat even further. She hooks the leg for a cover.
1…
2…
LO: THREe-NO! Danny gets the shoulder up, and Katya rolls off of him in utter dismay!
KO: She thought that was her shot, but Rizzo denied her….but Katya is looking for more as she pulls herself up and hobbles over to the corner…you don’t think she’d attempt this on a bad leg do you?
LO: I think at this point she’ll do whatever it takes, and if that means heading to the top for Thunder Skies, then yes….that’s what she’ll do.
Katya tentatively makes her way to the corner and hops from one turnbuckle to the next until coming to a perch on the very top. The crowd are on their feet in anticipation as she stands to her full height, and she pats her chest over her heart and says a prayer as she situates herself across the turnbuckle. Everyone watches on in bated breath as she heaves herself into the inverted spin associated with her finishing move, and a collective cry goes up from the crowd when Danny Rizzo deftly rolls towards that same corner to get out of the way. Katya slams hard against the canvas, bounces, and immediately grabs at her torn knee as Danny claws at the ropes to get to his feet.
LO: DANNY RIZZO WASN’T THERE FOR THUNDERING SKIES, AND KATYA DJURDJEVIC IS WILD WITH PAIN!
KO: That leg is finished, Laur…I’m telling you….and now Rizzo is on his feet in the corner, and he’s begging for Katya to even think about getting up…
LO: With the way his left knee is trembling, I’m going to assume we’re about to see his Warrior’s Call, but can he land it…
KO: Oh, he’s going to land it, Laur! He’s going to cut Katya’s dreams down right here and no...What the hell?
LO: KATYA DJURDJEVIC JUST ROLLED ALL THE WAY TO THE ROPES AND TO THE OUTSIDE ON INSTINCT!
KO: That’s bull crap! She knew Danny was about to put her away, and she flaked out!
LO: No, what she did is show veteran prowess for a rookie who hasn’t been in our business but for a little less than a year!
Danny seethes inside the ring as Katya grabs at her worked over leg and hobbles around on the outside. She doesn’t get much of a reprieve, however, when the fans come alive to warn her of impending danger. She whirls around just in time to see Danny Rizzo soaring through the middle and top rope into a suicide dive that rockets her towards the steel guard rail like a shot gun blast. Danny falls to the concrete floor on his stomach as she slides to a seated position unsure of whether to clutch at her ribs or her spine while the referee starts another ten count from the ring.
LO: THESE TWO ARE LEAVING IT ALL OUT HERE, KEN, IN A TEST OF WILLS TO FIND OUT WHICH OF THEM WILL BE CROWNED UNYIELDING!
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. That belt has become a symbol for the next step in a superstar’s career, and Danny Rizzo has held onto it with a tenacity we haven’t seen since he took it off of Brodie!
LO: I agree, but you have to be impressed with Katya Djurdjevic! She’s taken her lumps in this match, but the belt means so much to her that she just won’t stay down!
KO: Well they are both down right now, and the ref is all the way up to a six count as the two stir to try and get back into the action!
Danny is the first to get to his feet at the count of eight, and dives under the bottom rope to roll to the center of the ring. Katya is up by the guardrail, but the distance to the ring looks huge as nine rings out. Just as the ref is about to lift his hands for ten, Djurdjevic makes a mad hobbling dash and with a leap of her own dives through the ropes to land halfway into the ring. The ref counts it, and signals for the match to continue.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic just barely able to beat the count, but The Ref is going to allow it as she pushes back out onto the apron and uses the ropes to pull herself up to her feet.
KO: SHE BETTER WATCH OUT, CAUSE HERE COMES RIZZO WITH A FULL HEAD OF STEAM…..AND HE WALKS RIGHT INTO A PELE KICK OUT OF NOWHERE!
LO: Yeah, but Danny was just knocked back and not off his feet as Katya scrambles to get back to hers…
KO: Katya with another single leg springboard up to the top rope, and dives off for a Crossbody…RIGHT INTO A HIGH STANDING DROPKICK FROM RIZZO THAT KNOCKS HER OFF COURSE!
The fans can’t help but cheer as shades of the former Risen come into play after a breathtaking counter that looked sure to put him down. That quickly fades as Danny Rizzo gets back to his feet and screams at the crowd to shut their mouths, resulting in cacophony of boo’s launched in his direction. Danny looks completely enraged as he grabs Katya up and leads her towards the turnbuckles where he shoves her back and opens up with rights and lefts, beating her all the way down into a seated position. He stalks out away from the corner shaking his fists at his side, and then spins around on a dime and rushes right back at her looking for a knee attack. Instead, Katya grabs the top rope and yanks herself up, throwing her good foot out in front of her just in time to catch Danny in the face. He recoils backwards clutching at his neck which snapped back from the impact, and as he turns back around Katya pushes up to the second, and leaps forwards to catch him around the head with a ring rattling Blockbuster!
LO: The lanes have shifted once again, folks, as Katya Djurdjevic was given a body part that she can target in Danny Rizzo’s bad neck!
KO: Yeah, that didn’t look like a good landing for the UnYielding Champion. I hear that Kaven Drell is an expert at these sorts of stingers. Someone get him out here to check on the champion!
LO: Let’s not, and say we did….Katya taking a long time to recover here herself, and just now able to claw her way back over to Danny to try and attempt a cover…
1…
2…
KO: THREe-NO! Danny rolls the shoulder at the last possible second, and saves his title reign!
Katya sits up beside Danny and stares at her hands, shaking her head in disbelief at the kick out. She pushes to get up to her feet, but when she hobbles around to try and pick Danny up off the canvas, his right boot flashes out like lightening and strikes her right in her bad limb. Her knee buckles right out from under her and she drops down to the other one, only for Danny to roll backwards up to his feet, fall back into the ropes, and thunder back with a low drop kick that snaps her down to the mat!
LO: BLACK ROSE OUT OF NOWHERE!
KO: RIZZO IS GOING TO GET IT DONE HERE! HE’S GOT A HOOK OF THE LEG!
1…
2…
LO: THREE!NO! GOD ALMIGHTY IT WAS SO CLOSE!
KO: AND DANNY CAN’T BELIEVE IT! HE’S LIVID!
Rizzo snaps up off the canvas to get in the referee’s face and then collapses back down to a knee before grabbing the ropes to steady himself so he can get back up and continue his tirade. The Ref continues to wave him off and signal two in his direction, and the UnYielding Champion kicks at the bottom rope in frustration as the fans jeer him. Hearing some of their calls, Danny’s head snaps up and he breathes heavily as he stares out at the ungrateful crowd before dropping down and rolling out of the ring and stalking over to the timekeeper’s table. He scoops up the UnYielding Championship and waves goodbye to the crowd as he makes his way around ringside towards the ramp.
LO: ARE YOU FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME!
KO: HELL YEAH! RETAIN THE TITLE KID!
LO: NOT LIKE THIS! DANNY RIZZO IS ABANDONING THE MATCH AND THE REF HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO START A COUNT!
KO: Just calm down, Laur…he’s stopped on the rampway, he’s thinking about it. Give the guy a breather for Christ’s sake!
LO: That’s the most absurd thing I think I’ve ever heard you say, Kenneth Othello! This is an UnYielding Title match, and one does not get a breather when the stakes are this high…
Katya finally begins to stir in the middle of the ring as Danny stares down at his title, and though he didn’t hear the words of Laurence Othello it’s obvious that they somehow reached Rizzo. He sighs heavily while turning back towards the ring and stalks his way back to ringside where he tosses the title under one of the corners and rolls back into the ring. He pulls himself up and approaches a rising Djurdjevic, but when he reaches out to grab hold of the challenger her injured foot rises up to catch him right under the jaw while her hands grip him by the wrist, and she snaps backwards to the mat, pulling him along for the ride.
LO: DEATHBLOW!
KO: AHH! I TOLD YOU DANNY! YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT WHILE THE GETTING WAS GOOD!
LO: This arena has just come unglued, and Katya Djurdjevic may have just secured her goal as she claws her way on top of Danny for a cover!
1…
2…
KO: THREE!NO! THANK GOD!
LO: DANNY RIZZO SHOOTS HIS SHOULDER OFF THE MAT JUST AT THE REFEREE’S HAND WAS COMING DOWN FOR THREE!
KO: HAHA! KATYA THINKS SHE’S WON! SHE JUST ROLLED OVER TO SCOOP UP THE UNYIELDING CHAMPIONSHIP AND IS CLUTCHING IT TO HER CHEST!
LO: OH no…this is hearbreaking…The referee just yanked it out of her hands, and is telling her that it was only a long two count.
Katya looks at the referee with tears in her eyes as she settles back on her haunches, realizing how close she was to the dream and being told she had to go a little bit farther. She shakes her head in disbelief as he lays the title back under the corner, and signals that the match must go on. The realization that once again she had been robbed of the title settles in, and her look of surprise turns to one of rage. Katya lunges forwards and grabs hold of the title once more, jerking up off the canvas and wheels around to face Danny Rizzo. The fans all urge her on while the referee steps out in front of her with two warning hands in her path. Danny, for his part, has moved up to his knees, and upon seeing this he grins bigger than shit, and waves Katya on along with the crowd.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic is standing there with her destiny in her hands, but which destiny will it be? To Crown Danny Rizzo, or to be the new UnYielding Champion?
KO: I don’t know, Laur, but Danny is egging her own…..begging her to nail him right in his skull.
LO: Of course he is! If she does that she forfeits any future shot at the title, and he goes on to be the champion….Katya, I just hope you think long and hard about your next move.
She stands there for what feels like forever, taking in all of the different reactions from Rizzo, the fans, and even the referee. Even the title whispers to her, the weight of it, the feel of it in her hands. Finally, her mind made up, she hoists the title up and makes like she’s going to rush in on Danny, but instead of swinging the title she tosses it to the referee and instead leaves her feet to drive her knee into Danny’s mush with an ungodly Kenshasa Knee Strike!
LO: OH MY GOD! THE WARRIORS CALL!
KO: SHE CAN’T DO THAT! THIEF! THIEF!
LO: WELL SHE JUST DID, AND NOW FALLS OVER RIZZO FOR AN EXHAUSTED PIN!
1…
2…
KO: THREE!NO! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!
LO: DANNY GOT THE SHOULDER UP AGAIN!
KO: I TOLD YOU LAUR! I TOLD YOU! HE…IS…UNYIELDING! HE IS THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD!
LO: OK! FINE! You've convinced me, But Good Lord...where do you go from here?
KO: A damn fine question, Brother-O-Mine, and I'm not quite sure.
Katya Djurdjevic pushes at her knee cap which may be dislocated before getting tiredly to her feet, and the toll this match is obvious as she falls back to use the top rope to help hold her up. She balefully stares at Danny Rizzo, a mixture of disbelief and awe mingling to equal out to some measure of respect. But she can't think of that now. Not when she's this close. So she abandons the aide of the ropes to stumble back over to Rizzo only to bend over and grip him around the head to try and pull him up off the canvas. It's then that everyone gets the shock of a lifetime, when Rizzo hooks her around the head and winds his legs in with hers, and pulls her down into a Small Package Pin!
1...
2...
LO: THREE!NO! KATYA JUST BARELY GOT HER LEGS FREE TO ROLL THE SHOULDER, AND SHE COMES UP QUICKLY TO HER FEET! DANNY ON HIS KNEE'S, AND OH COME ON!
KO: HAHA! GOUGED HER RIGHT IN THE EYE WITH HIS THUMB!
Katya falls back blinded by the surprise move, falling into the ropes and using them to guide her over to the nearby corner. Danny gets to his feet and then collapses again, crawling on hands and knees towards the challenger only to grab the ropes on either side of her and pull himself to press his body against hers to keep her trapped. The Referee admonishes as Rizzo reaches up to find Katya's hairline, and rakes his fingers down and across her eyes once more, sending the woman into a shriek as she tries to blindly battle him away. Danny grabs Katya by the wrist and whips her hard to the opposite side so that when she strikes the turnbuckles she slams face first down to the mat. He looks haggard as he sits against the corner he threw her from, begging her to get to her feet so that he can finally end this thing.
LO: Danny Rizzo has cheated his way to this opportunity, and he's lucky he didn't get disqualified.
KO: The official wouldn't do that, Laur. The stakes are too big, and now Danny is about to drive one into Katya's coffin!
Katya slowly rises off the mat, still feeling her way around after having her eyes callously gouged by the champion, and Rizzo nods repeatedly to psyche him up for what he knows is coming. Just as she's close enough to be in the right position, Danny thunders out of the corner to charge across the ring, leaps into the air and extends the knee, but to everyone's disbelief Katya throws herself at the mat as she did once before in the contest. This time, however, Danny manages to get his hands out in front of him to grab the top rope and partially brings himself to a stop just as his knee painfully strikes the top turnbuckle. He grimaces as he shakes out the pain in his leg, turning around just in time to be crushed into the corner by a Big Splash from Katya. Danny is led stumbling out away from the corner, and Katya quickly steps up to the second rope as he stumbles about. When he turns back in her direction she dives off the ropes to go for what looks like a Hurricanrana, but Danny stops short and slams her hard to the mat for a Powerbomb instead. With his face buried in her chest, he spins her on the canvas and digs in to push her knee's up onto her chest for a pin while Katya frantically kicks her feet to get out. The referee drops for the count, just out of position to see Danny throw both of his feet up onto the second rope.
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME!
KO: WHAT DID I TELL YOU, LAUR! YOU OWE ME DINNER!
LO: I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS! WHAT A TRAVESTY!
Rizzo quickly rolls under the bottom rope as the referee rushes over to where the UnYielding Championship rests in one of the corners only to scoop it up and head outside as well. Katya lies flat on her back, one hand clutching at her injured knee, while the other hovers over her mouth. Her entire body trembles as she stares blankly up at the lights, the realization not fully setting in.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall...and STILL YOUR UNYIELDING CHAMPION...DANNY RIZZO!
Tears well up in Katya's eyes as the announcement reverberates across the stadium, nearly drowned out by the tremendous boo's levied at the champion as Danny Rizzo hoists the UnYielding Title above his head in sweet triumph. He wears a wicked grin on his face as he clutches the belt to his chest, taunting the crowd about their fallen hero left defeated in the ring.
LO: This makes me fucking sick...
KO: WHOA! LAUR!
LO: NO! FUCK IT! Katya Djurdjevic already had a huge stipulation hanging over her head during one of the biggest title opportunities of her young career, and this asshole couldn't beat her straight up! He had to cheat.
KO: He did EXACTLY what he's been preaching for these long months, Laur! He retained the UnYielding Title by any means necessary, and I'm not afraid to say that I admire that man!
LO: I can't believe you, Ken. That was as blatant a robbery as I've ever seen, but unfortunately the referee didn't see it! And now this young woman is left to feel that loss for who knows how long. All because this asshole has decided to become EVERYTHING he once professed to hate. I hope him and Kaven Drell both burn in hell!
KO: No, Laur...it's Burn It Down.
LO: OH SHUT THE FUCK UP, KEN!
Laurence Othello flips his headset off and stands up to take a breather as Danny pauses at the top of the ramp to soak in the massive reaction. Despite the overwhelming negative response, a few lighters go up in the arena to signify 'Burn It Down' despite the fact that they are being drowned out. Danny chuckles as Katya finally sits up in the ring, still shaking like a leaf and staring blankly at the referee who is concerned by her mannerisms that she might have a concussion. Danny has long since taken his championship into the backstage area before Katya finally moves to exit the ring. The heartbroken fans pour out their love for the superstar, but she shuffles up the ramp like she's lost. She pauses as well at the top of the ramp and gives one last forlorn look back to the ring, and with shoulders slack makes her way through the curtain as the scene cuts to backstage.
The lights dim and purple bulbs flash as "Warriors" by Papa Roach hit's over the PA System. The lights converge on the center of the stage and standing there is Katya Djurdjevic with one hand pointing to the sky. The crowd goes absolutely nuts as she makes her way down the ramp, slapping hands, and pausing for photo-ops. She only manages to get halfway towards the ring before the announcer decides to go ahead with the particulars.
RING ANNOUNCER: Introducing first, standing at five foot nine and weighing in at 126 pounds, hailing from Moscow, Russia...She is The Straight Line Demon.....KATYA DURDJEVICCCC!!!!
Katya finally reaches ringside and leaps onto the apron, vaulting herself over the top rope. She quickly steps up to the second turnbuckle of the closest turnbuckle, and again points heavenward while nodding along with her music.
LO: These fans are losing their mind as Katya Djurdjevic will be going for her third attempt at the UnYielding Championship!
KO: Yeah, they love her, Laur. No doubting that.
LO: What about you, Ken? I'm sensing some hesitation on your part.
KO: I don't know...she's a little goodie two shoes, and quite frankly, I think Rizzo has a point.
LO: Well, if he does, he'll get the chance to prove it here tonight as Kaven Drell will be banned from ringside.
Speak of the devil...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 rips 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, and shakes his head as the boos reign down upon him from the capacity crowd. He chuckles slightly, and with a tilt of his head in annoyance he starts down the ramp towards the ring.
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 gets a running go and slides 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 with another volley of boo's in his direction, and his resolve seems to harden to steel as he drops down and stares across the ring at Katya Djurdjevic with disdain. He shakes his head, unhooks the belt, and kisses the face plate before handing it off to the referee.
LO: Danny Rizzo almost looks naked out here without his partner in crime, Kaven Drell.
KO: So that's what you do all day? Sit around and picture Danny Rizzo naked?
LO: What? NO!
KO: Well I can tell you this, Danny picked up the title without Drell, and he can take it home without him too!
LO: Lets just see what Katya has to say about that, cause there's the bell...
Katya stares across the ring with a bit of trepidation in her movements as the two warily begin to circle on the outer edges of the ring, eventually pushing forwards into a collar and elbow tie up. Djurdjevic immediately ducks to the right and ends up behind Danny with a Waist Lock, but a swift back elbow breaks the hold and stuns Katya, allowing him to perform a standing switch. He doesn’t contain the Waist Lock long before reaching down and hooking her around the ankle, picking it out from under the woman to send her face first down to the mat. He quickly floats over and lands in a seated position beside her head to clamp on a Head Lock. He releases it for just a moment, getting a fistful of hair to grind her face into the canvas disrespectfully and then puts the hold back on with a laugh while the boo’s pour in.
LO: I just don’t get how Danny Rizzo could so completely turn from the plucky guy we all came to love during his first few matches.
KO: Simple, Laur. The guy woke up. He realized that these fans are fickle and will turn on you at the drop of a hat.
LO: I don’t think so. This is a fundamental shift in thinking that gradually built and only got worse with the introduction of Kaven Drell to his inner circle.
KO: Whatever. Drell’s not at ringside for this one, so don’t even try to use that as an excuse when Danny beat’s Katya from pillar to post!
As the announce team bicker, in the ring, Katya has pushed Danny up to a standing position and is working him towards the ropes. Once there she shoots him off to the other side, and as he rebounds, she hits the deck, forcing him to hop over her or be tripped. Danny hit’s off the ropes once more, and Katya pops up off the mat only to perform a high leaping split that leap frogs Danny who passes underneath to keep his momentum. Danny is at full speed when he returns, and Katya rolls down to the mat while lifting her legs into the air overtop of her, catching Rizzo in the chest and sends him flipping forwards with a Monkey Flip!
LO: Rizzo hits the canvas and is immediately back up and coming back at Katya, BUT SHE CATCHES HIM COMING IN WITH AN ARMDRAG!
KO: Danny back up, AND WALKS RIGHT INTO ANOTHER ONE!
LO: The champion slower to his feet this time and Katya patiently waiting for him to come at her again, Standing Drop Kick!
KO: NO! Danny swatted it away, and Katya on her way back up now…AND HE JUST GOT A FISTFUL OF HAIR AND RAN HER RIGHT UP AND OVER THE TOP ROPE TO LAND ON THE CONCRETE BELOW!
LO: Danny get some admonishment by the referee, and it looks to me like Katya landed mostly on her hip there as she comes up with a slight limp…
KO: The champion has got the challenger off her game. Sure, she got some quick action in there, but she doesn’t seem herself….like she’s nervous or something.
LO: Well you just saw her glance over at the time keepers table at the UnYielding Championship, and I think she realizes this is her last chance to get this done.
KO: Well she better keep eyes on Rizzo, cause he just bailed out of the ring on the opposite side and is sneaking his way around to her position…
Djurdjevic shakes her head while the fans all try to get her attention, but by the time she realizes anything is amiss Danny slams into her left leg with a chop block that sends her crashing to the floor. The Referee starts a count on the two competitors as Danny gets to his feet and grabs hold of Katya’s leg by the ankle, extending it to it’s fullest before driving measured boots directly into her hamstring. The fans boo as he continues stomping away at the injured limb, until finally at a count of seven he scoops Katya up and shoves her under the bottom rope back into the ring.
LO: This is an unfortunate turn of events for Katya Djurdjevic, who has obviously tweaked that leg upon that auspicious landing to the outside, and Danny Rizzo is all over it.
KO: The mark of a great champion, Laur! Rizzo back into the ring as Katya gets up a bit wobbly…AND CHOP BLOCK RIGHT BACK TO THAT LEG!
LO: Katya is in obvious pain here as Rizzo grabs her by the ankle and drags her back over to the ropes…places the foot on the bottom rope, and SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE SECOND ONLY TO BRING HIS TAILBONE CRASHING DOWN INTO HER KNEE!
KO: Well there goes her flying game…
Katya cries out as she claws at the canvas to get away from her assailant, but Danny grabs the ankle and puts it along the rope one more time before doing the same exact thing to the same effect. This time he allows the woman to crawl to the center of the ring before coming in from behind to grab her by the ankle again, this time placing his boot in the bend of her knee and lifting it high off the canvas before driving it straight down into the mat. Katya tries to grab at the injured limb but Danny doesn’t give her much choice, instead driving the knee back into the mat just to watch her squirm.
LO: Danny Rizzo is relentless here now that he see’s the weakness, and this is a bit out of his game as a technical striker.
KO: You have to adapt the game plan to fit the situation, Laur, and right now Rizzo is like a shark in the water that smells blood...
Danny allows for Katya to crawl her way over to the corner where she grabs at the ropes to pull herself up, all the while strutting behind her and talking shit to the booing crowd. When she’s finally vertical he spins her around and grabs her leg by the knee, lifting it up and lacing it between the middle and bottom rope, wrenching against the knee as if he’s trying to snap her lower leg off. Katya lets out a scream as the referee admonishes, eventually having to start a five count that Danny Breaks at four and three quarters. Even then he doesn’t fully relent, just giving enough separation to stop the count before driving unforgiving boots into the dangling knee. Again the ref intercedes with a count, and Danny rides it all the way to the end before back up with hands raised.
LO: The Ref is really letting the champion have it now, giving Katya a chance to untangle herself from the ropes….
KO: Danny nodding along like a good competitor should, and now sidestepping the official to return to his prey…OH!
LO: Katya Djurdjevic with a knife edge chop out of the corner…another…ANOTHER!
KO: Get on that leg, Danny…don’t give her any opportunities.
But Rizzo isn’t given much of a choice as the Straight-Line Demon drives Danny straight back with chop after chop until they are in the center of the ring. She then takes one step back onto her good leg and pushes off to catch Danny square in the chin with a beautiful High Standing Dropkick. The fans explode as Katya pushes up to her feet, hobbling a bit, and as Danny rises she nails him with forearm shots that push him back into the ropes. Once there she takes him by the wrist and whips him to the far side, but at the last minute he puts on the brakes and reverses it. Katya is sent careening in a stuttering fashion towards the ropes, and Danny posts up in the center of the ring to catch her with a clothesline. Instead, Katya ducks and hooks the arm as she goes, using the momentum to swing her legs up to trap the other one, and then rolls backwards into a Crucifix Pin!
1…
2…
LO: KICK OUT! Rizzo out at two, and already back up to his feet, but so is Katya!
KO: Rizzo with a wild swing, but Katya ducks it and ends up behind him….Knee Lift to the spine bends the champion back, and Katya hooks him in a Dragon Sleeper….INVERTED DDT!
LO: Katya with another cover, this time a hook of the leg!
1…
2…
KO: KICK OUT! Danny out again, and this time Katya is the one helping him to his feet….OH! A thunderous chop sends him stumbling back into the corner…
LO: AND HERE COMES KATYA WITH A CROSS BODY SPLASH….NO! DANNY JUST DROPPED TO A SEATED POSITION AND DJURDJEVIC LANDS ACROSS THE TOP TURNBUCKLE GUT FIRST!
KO: Danny scrambling to his feet, and OH! HIGH BOOTS TO THE MIDSECTION HAS KATYA BOUNCING UP AND DOWN ON THE TOP ROPE…and now what’s he doing?
LO: Danny just stepped up to the second, and scooped Katya up into his arm…oh…this doesn’t look good…
KO: AVALANCHE FALL AWAY SLAM!
LO: KATYA IS GRASPING AT HER LOWER SPINE, AND RIZZO NOW CRAWLING OVER AND PUSHES HER DOWN TO THE CANVAS WITH A HOOK OF HE LEG!
1…
2…
KO: THRE-KICK OUT! Katya kicking out to fight another day, but man…I tell you right now this has been Danny Rizzo’s night!
LO: It would seem so as he quickly switches gears back to the leg, rolling her over onto her stomach, and NOW HAS HER IN A SINGLE LEG BOSTON CRAB!
KO: She’s center of the ring, Laur! Nowhere to go unless she taps!
Katya cries out in pain, burring her face into the palms of her hands as she shakes her head vehemently ‘No’ to the referee’s questions. Danny sits back on Katya’s lower spine while pulling the limb so far back that her knee is nearly pointing to the sky, maximum torque bringing forth another cry from the beautiful Russian. The Ref remains in position to accept her submission, but Katya continues to shake her head ‘No’ despite the pressure being put on her left leg. Instead, she bites into her lip with enough force to bring blood, and claws at the mat to inch herself and Rizzo towards the closest ropes.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic is willing herself towards those ropes despite the pain she’s in, and just look at her. She’s staring at the UnYielding Championship sitting on the time keepers table the entire time.
KO: Well she can stare at it all she wants, because right now she’s in danger of submitting to the man whose name is on the face plate!
The trek is arduous but Katya eventually manages to get her fingers onto the bottom rope, and the referee snaps over in front of Rizzo and demands a break. Danny looks back in surprise, and in what can only be described as rage, torques back even further on the limb if that were possible. Katya cries out, gripping the rope that much tighter with this renewed torture, and The Ref starts a thunderous five count. Just as he’s about to call it, Danny lets loose of the hold and steps out to the center of the ring with his hands on his hips, cursing as the fans boo him for all he’s worth.
LO: Danny looks a little irritated here that the submission didn’t put Katya away, but it’s obvious to me that the damage has been done…I mean…just look at her.
KO: Yeah, she is barely able to get back on her feet thanks to those ropes, and the left leg is completely useless. Not a good sign when seventy percent of your move set involves flying off your feet.
LO: Rizzo now looking over his shoulder behind him, and see, that right there is what I’m talking about. That is the face of a man who is wanting to destroy this young lady here tonight instead of just pin her in the spirit of competition.
KO: Are you even hearing yourself, Laur! Katya Djurdjevic has been spouting off at the mouth about how she’s going to be the best UnYielding Champion, how she’s going to take it to new heights, etc., etc. Wouldn’t you be offended if you were the current champion who had already done just that?
LO: Maybe, but this isn’t just about a title anymore. It’s personal between these two. I believe Danny Rizzo wants to destroy Katya Djurdjevic because she reminds him of the rookie he used to be, a reminder of what he’s now become.
As Kenneth Othello shrugs that notion off, Danny falls back into the ropes behind him and rushes back across the ring towards Katya, who is still trying to find solid footing on her bum leg. Katya looks up just in the nick of time to see Danny coming, and as he leaves his feet for a Kinshasa Knee Strike, she drops flat to the canvas. The rage washes away from Danny’s face and is replaced by shock as his knee clears the top rope, but his other leg does not, sending him into a dangerous flip over and down to the ring apron onto the back of his neck, to which he bounces and lands head first down to the concrete floor.
LO: OH MY GOD!
KO: DANNY RIZZO MAY HAVE JUST BROKE HIS FREAKIN’ NECK!
LO: The referee now exiting the ring to check on Danny who is clutching at the back of his head, and hell…even the challenger is looking on in surprise!
KO: Whatever! I bet she’s loving this after everything those two have been through!
LO: Well what was she supposed to do, Ken? Let Rizzo cave her skull in with the Warrior’s Call?
KO: I don’t know, but this is the worst thing that could have happened to the UnYielding Champion!
Despite his inability to nod his head in any coherent way, Danny waves the referee off and he looks up into the ring and shrugs his shoulders in Katya’s direction before indicating that the match would continue. Katya watches all of this with wild eyes that flick over to the title sitting on the table, followed by a determined nod as that may have been the only affirmation she needed. Katya quickly hobbles over to the nearby corner, and with a shove off of her good leg, leaps to perch herself on the top rope. Just as Danny starts to pull himself up with one hand on the apron, the other clutching the back of his head, Katya tentatively stands up to her full height. By the time Danny lets go of the apron to search for Katya in the ring, he looks up just in time to see her leap off with a HIGH Crossbody that catches him flush and crushes him back down to the concrete.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
KO: EVEN WITH A CLIPPED WING KATYA FLEW!
LO: And she may very well have destroyed the champion and her own knee by the looks of it!
KO: What happens here if they can’t continue, Laur? I mean…this is her last chance, right?
LO: You gotta believe that meant pinfall or submission...surely, they wouldn’t hold a count out loss against her?
KO: I don’t think so, Brother-O-Mine. I’m pretty sure this is it, whatever may come.
LO: Then here’s to praying that Katya Djurdjevic can get Danny Rizzo back into the ring!
Both competitors are laid out motionless on the floor as The Ref stares at both of them, hands on top of his head in confusion. After a moment his senses return to him, and he shrugs before sliding back into the ring, and then standing to start a ten count. The fans watch on anxiously as the referee’s count climbs while the two superstars remain knocked out on the floor. Finally, at the count of seven, Katya begins to stir, clawing her way towards the ring apron and up to her feet at nine. She rolls quickly into the ring, and then right back out, restarting the referee’s count as the fans urge her on.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic not taking any chances. She could have picked up a count out victory there, but it wouldn’t have brought home the title….
KO: Yeah, and now she’s pulling Danny up to his feet and dragging him over to the apron…
LO: RIZZO JUST KNOCKED KATYA’S HANDS A WAY AND LANDS A HEADBUTT RIGHT TO HER NOSE THAT SENDS HER CAREENING BACK AGAINST THE STEPS!
KO: Danny still a little loopy, but he advances with a Clothesline…BUT KATYA DROPS HER SHOULDER AND SENDS HIM UP AND OVER THE STEPS TO LAND HARD ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
Katya wheels around the steps the best she can, a new fire in her belly as the fans cheer her own. There is a bubbling rage within her eyes as a fan holds a chair out in front of her, and she grabs the weapon. For just a moment it looks like she might strike Danny, whose tiredly gotten to all fours, but as the referee warns her and the roar of the crowd closes in, she eventually tosses the chair to the side and shakes her head now, pointing at the title she so desperately wants to call her own.
LO: Djurdjevic deciding that the belt is worth more than revenge, a sentiment that I’m not so sure Danny Rizzo would have given her if the shoe was on the other foot.
KO: Whatever, Laur. Danny Rizzo has epitomized what it is to carry that title with honor and class, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let you besmirch his good name!
LO: Oh, it is getting deep in here. Anyways, Danny helped himself up and Katya gave him that extra nudge to get him back into the ring, and she’s now on the apron calling for him to get to his feet…
KO: What do you think she’s got in mind?
LO: I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put anything past her at this point. She needs to put Danny away now before he can get the chance to gather himself.
Danny claws up to his feet, still suffering the effects of that nasty spill from earlier and stumbles his way around the ring until turning in Katya’s direction. This was obviously what she was waiting for, as she grips the top rope and springboards up to the top, pushing off with her good leg to whip the other around into a Diving Spin Wheel Kick that catches Danny flush in the face. He crashes to the mat as Katya rolls up to her feet, and with a short hop over his body lands so she’s facing away from him, and then delivers a one-legged Standing Moonsault to crush him into the mat even further. She hooks the leg for a cover.
1…
2…
LO: THREe-NO! Danny gets the shoulder up, and Katya rolls off of him in utter dismay!
KO: She thought that was her shot, but Rizzo denied her….but Katya is looking for more as she pulls herself up and hobbles over to the corner…you don’t think she’d attempt this on a bad leg do you?
LO: I think at this point she’ll do whatever it takes, and if that means heading to the top for Thunder Skies, then yes….that’s what she’ll do.
Katya tentatively makes her way to the corner and hops from one turnbuckle to the next until coming to a perch on the very top. The crowd are on their feet in anticipation as she stands to her full height, and she pats her chest over her heart and says a prayer as she situates herself across the turnbuckle. Everyone watches on in bated breath as she heaves herself into the inverted spin associated with her finishing move, and a collective cry goes up from the crowd when Danny Rizzo deftly rolls towards that same corner to get out of the way. Katya slams hard against the canvas, bounces, and immediately grabs at her torn knee as Danny claws at the ropes to get to his feet.
LO: DANNY RIZZO WASN’T THERE FOR THUNDERING SKIES, AND KATYA DJURDJEVIC IS WILD WITH PAIN!
KO: That leg is finished, Laur…I’m telling you….and now Rizzo is on his feet in the corner, and he’s begging for Katya to even think about getting up…
LO: With the way his left knee is trembling, I’m going to assume we’re about to see his Warrior’s Call, but can he land it…
KO: Oh, he’s going to land it, Laur! He’s going to cut Katya’s dreams down right here and no...What the hell?
LO: KATYA DJURDJEVIC JUST ROLLED ALL THE WAY TO THE ROPES AND TO THE OUTSIDE ON INSTINCT!
KO: That’s bull crap! She knew Danny was about to put her away, and she flaked out!
LO: No, what she did is show veteran prowess for a rookie who hasn’t been in our business but for a little less than a year!
Danny seethes inside the ring as Katya grabs at her worked over leg and hobbles around on the outside. She doesn’t get much of a reprieve, however, when the fans come alive to warn her of impending danger. She whirls around just in time to see Danny Rizzo soaring through the middle and top rope into a suicide dive that rockets her towards the steel guard rail like a shot gun blast. Danny falls to the concrete floor on his stomach as she slides to a seated position unsure of whether to clutch at her ribs or her spine while the referee starts another ten count from the ring.
LO: THESE TWO ARE LEAVING IT ALL OUT HERE, KEN, IN A TEST OF WILLS TO FIND OUT WHICH OF THEM WILL BE CROWNED UNYIELDING!
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. That belt has become a symbol for the next step in a superstar’s career, and Danny Rizzo has held onto it with a tenacity we haven’t seen since he took it off of Brodie!
LO: I agree, but you have to be impressed with Katya Djurdjevic! She’s taken her lumps in this match, but the belt means so much to her that she just won’t stay down!
KO: Well they are both down right now, and the ref is all the way up to a six count as the two stir to try and get back into the action!
Danny is the first to get to his feet at the count of eight, and dives under the bottom rope to roll to the center of the ring. Katya is up by the guardrail, but the distance to the ring looks huge as nine rings out. Just as the ref is about to lift his hands for ten, Djurdjevic makes a mad hobbling dash and with a leap of her own dives through the ropes to land halfway into the ring. The ref counts it, and signals for the match to continue.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic just barely able to beat the count, but The Ref is going to allow it as she pushes back out onto the apron and uses the ropes to pull herself up to her feet.
KO: SHE BETTER WATCH OUT, CAUSE HERE COMES RIZZO WITH A FULL HEAD OF STEAM…..AND HE WALKS RIGHT INTO A PELE KICK OUT OF NOWHERE!
LO: Yeah, but Danny was just knocked back and not off his feet as Katya scrambles to get back to hers…
KO: Katya with another single leg springboard up to the top rope, and dives off for a Crossbody…RIGHT INTO A HIGH STANDING DROPKICK FROM RIZZO THAT KNOCKS HER OFF COURSE!
The fans can’t help but cheer as shades of the former Risen come into play after a breathtaking counter that looked sure to put him down. That quickly fades as Danny Rizzo gets back to his feet and screams at the crowd to shut their mouths, resulting in cacophony of boo’s launched in his direction. Danny looks completely enraged as he grabs Katya up and leads her towards the turnbuckles where he shoves her back and opens up with rights and lefts, beating her all the way down into a seated position. He stalks out away from the corner shaking his fists at his side, and then spins around on a dime and rushes right back at her looking for a knee attack. Instead, Katya grabs the top rope and yanks herself up, throwing her good foot out in front of her just in time to catch Danny in the face. He recoils backwards clutching at his neck which snapped back from the impact, and as he turns back around Katya pushes up to the second, and leaps forwards to catch him around the head with a ring rattling Blockbuster!
LO: The lanes have shifted once again, folks, as Katya Djurdjevic was given a body part that she can target in Danny Rizzo’s bad neck!
KO: Yeah, that didn’t look like a good landing for the UnYielding Champion. I hear that Kaven Drell is an expert at these sorts of stingers. Someone get him out here to check on the champion!
LO: Let’s not, and say we did….Katya taking a long time to recover here herself, and just now able to claw her way back over to Danny to try and attempt a cover…
1…
2…
KO: THREe-NO! Danny rolls the shoulder at the last possible second, and saves his title reign!
Katya sits up beside Danny and stares at her hands, shaking her head in disbelief at the kick out. She pushes to get up to her feet, but when she hobbles around to try and pick Danny up off the canvas, his right boot flashes out like lightening and strikes her right in her bad limb. Her knee buckles right out from under her and she drops down to the other one, only for Danny to roll backwards up to his feet, fall back into the ropes, and thunder back with a low drop kick that snaps her down to the mat!
LO: BLACK ROSE OUT OF NOWHERE!
KO: RIZZO IS GOING TO GET IT DONE HERE! HE’S GOT A HOOK OF THE LEG!
1…
2…
LO: THREE!NO! GOD ALMIGHTY IT WAS SO CLOSE!
KO: AND DANNY CAN’T BELIEVE IT! HE’S LIVID!
Rizzo snaps up off the canvas to get in the referee’s face and then collapses back down to a knee before grabbing the ropes to steady himself so he can get back up and continue his tirade. The Ref continues to wave him off and signal two in his direction, and the UnYielding Champion kicks at the bottom rope in frustration as the fans jeer him. Hearing some of their calls, Danny’s head snaps up and he breathes heavily as he stares out at the ungrateful crowd before dropping down and rolling out of the ring and stalking over to the timekeeper’s table. He scoops up the UnYielding Championship and waves goodbye to the crowd as he makes his way around ringside towards the ramp.
LO: ARE YOU FREAKIN’ KIDDING ME!
KO: HELL YEAH! RETAIN THE TITLE KID!
LO: NOT LIKE THIS! DANNY RIZZO IS ABANDONING THE MATCH AND THE REF HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO START A COUNT!
KO: Just calm down, Laur…he’s stopped on the rampway, he’s thinking about it. Give the guy a breather for Christ’s sake!
LO: That’s the most absurd thing I think I’ve ever heard you say, Kenneth Othello! This is an UnYielding Title match, and one does not get a breather when the stakes are this high…
Katya finally begins to stir in the middle of the ring as Danny stares down at his title, and though he didn’t hear the words of Laurence Othello it’s obvious that they somehow reached Rizzo. He sighs heavily while turning back towards the ring and stalks his way back to ringside where he tosses the title under one of the corners and rolls back into the ring. He pulls himself up and approaches a rising Djurdjevic, but when he reaches out to grab hold of the challenger her injured foot rises up to catch him right under the jaw while her hands grip him by the wrist, and she snaps backwards to the mat, pulling him along for the ride.
LO: DEATHBLOW!
KO: AHH! I TOLD YOU DANNY! YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT WHILE THE GETTING WAS GOOD!
LO: This arena has just come unglued, and Katya Djurdjevic may have just secured her goal as she claws her way on top of Danny for a cover!
1…
2…
KO: THREE!NO! THANK GOD!
LO: DANNY RIZZO SHOOTS HIS SHOULDER OFF THE MAT JUST AT THE REFEREE’S HAND WAS COMING DOWN FOR THREE!
KO: HAHA! KATYA THINKS SHE’S WON! SHE JUST ROLLED OVER TO SCOOP UP THE UNYIELDING CHAMPIONSHIP AND IS CLUTCHING IT TO HER CHEST!
LO: OH no…this is hearbreaking…The referee just yanked it out of her hands, and is telling her that it was only a long two count.
Katya looks at the referee with tears in her eyes as she settles back on her haunches, realizing how close she was to the dream and being told she had to go a little bit farther. She shakes her head in disbelief as he lays the title back under the corner, and signals that the match must go on. The realization that once again she had been robbed of the title settles in, and her look of surprise turns to one of rage. Katya lunges forwards and grabs hold of the title once more, jerking up off the canvas and wheels around to face Danny Rizzo. The fans all urge her on while the referee steps out in front of her with two warning hands in her path. Danny, for his part, has moved up to his knees, and upon seeing this he grins bigger than shit, and waves Katya on along with the crowd.
LO: Katya Djurdjevic is standing there with her destiny in her hands, but which destiny will it be? To Crown Danny Rizzo, or to be the new UnYielding Champion?
KO: I don’t know, Laur, but Danny is egging her own…..begging her to nail him right in his skull.
LO: Of course he is! If she does that she forfeits any future shot at the title, and he goes on to be the champion….Katya, I just hope you think long and hard about your next move.
She stands there for what feels like forever, taking in all of the different reactions from Rizzo, the fans, and even the referee. Even the title whispers to her, the weight of it, the feel of it in her hands. Finally, her mind made up, she hoists the title up and makes like she’s going to rush in on Danny, but instead of swinging the title she tosses it to the referee and instead leaves her feet to drive her knee into Danny’s mush with an ungodly Kenshasa Knee Strike!
LO: OH MY GOD! THE WARRIORS CALL!
KO: SHE CAN’T DO THAT! THIEF! THIEF!
LO: WELL SHE JUST DID, AND NOW FALLS OVER RIZZO FOR AN EXHAUSTED PIN!
1…
2…
KO: THREE!NO! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!
LO: DANNY GOT THE SHOULDER UP AGAIN!
KO: I TOLD YOU LAUR! I TOLD YOU! HE…IS…UNYIELDING! HE IS THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD!
LO: OK! FINE! You've convinced me, But Good Lord...where do you go from here?
KO: A damn fine question, Brother-O-Mine, and I'm not quite sure.
Katya Djurdjevic pushes at her knee cap which may be dislocated before getting tiredly to her feet, and the toll this match is obvious as she falls back to use the top rope to help hold her up. She balefully stares at Danny Rizzo, a mixture of disbelief and awe mingling to equal out to some measure of respect. But she can't think of that now. Not when she's this close. So she abandons the aide of the ropes to stumble back over to Rizzo only to bend over and grip him around the head to try and pull him up off the canvas. It's then that everyone gets the shock of a lifetime, when Rizzo hooks her around the head and winds his legs in with hers, and pulls her down into a Small Package Pin!
1...
2...
LO: THREE!NO! KATYA JUST BARELY GOT HER LEGS FREE TO ROLL THE SHOULDER, AND SHE COMES UP QUICKLY TO HER FEET! DANNY ON HIS KNEE'S, AND OH COME ON!
KO: HAHA! GOUGED HER RIGHT IN THE EYE WITH HIS THUMB!
Katya falls back blinded by the surprise move, falling into the ropes and using them to guide her over to the nearby corner. Danny gets to his feet and then collapses again, crawling on hands and knees towards the challenger only to grab the ropes on either side of her and pull himself to press his body against hers to keep her trapped. The Referee admonishes as Rizzo reaches up to find Katya's hairline, and rakes his fingers down and across her eyes once more, sending the woman into a shriek as she tries to blindly battle him away. Danny grabs Katya by the wrist and whips her hard to the opposite side so that when she strikes the turnbuckles she slams face first down to the mat. He looks haggard as he sits against the corner he threw her from, begging her to get to her feet so that he can finally end this thing.
LO: Danny Rizzo has cheated his way to this opportunity, and he's lucky he didn't get disqualified.
KO: The official wouldn't do that, Laur. The stakes are too big, and now Danny is about to drive one into Katya's coffin!
Katya slowly rises off the mat, still feeling her way around after having her eyes callously gouged by the champion, and Rizzo nods repeatedly to psyche him up for what he knows is coming. Just as she's close enough to be in the right position, Danny thunders out of the corner to charge across the ring, leaps into the air and extends the knee, but to everyone's disbelief Katya throws herself at the mat as she did once before in the contest. This time, however, Danny manages to get his hands out in front of him to grab the top rope and partially brings himself to a stop just as his knee painfully strikes the top turnbuckle. He grimaces as he shakes out the pain in his leg, turning around just in time to be crushed into the corner by a Big Splash from Katya. Danny is led stumbling out away from the corner, and Katya quickly steps up to the second rope as he stumbles about. When he turns back in her direction she dives off the ropes to go for what looks like a Hurricanrana, but Danny stops short and slams her hard to the mat for a Powerbomb instead. With his face buried in her chest, he spins her on the canvas and digs in to push her knee's up onto her chest for a pin while Katya frantically kicks her feet to get out. The referee drops for the count, just out of position to see Danny throw both of his feet up onto the second rope.
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME!
KO: WHAT DID I TELL YOU, LAUR! YOU OWE ME DINNER!
LO: I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS! WHAT A TRAVESTY!
Rizzo quickly rolls under the bottom rope as the referee rushes over to where the UnYielding Championship rests in one of the corners only to scoop it up and head outside as well. Katya lies flat on her back, one hand clutching at her injured knee, while the other hovers over her mouth. Her entire body trembles as she stares blankly up at the lights, the realization not fully setting in.
RING ANNOUNCER: And the winner of this match via pinfall...and STILL YOUR UNYIELDING CHAMPION...DANNY RIZZO!
Tears well up in Katya's eyes as the announcement reverberates across the stadium, nearly drowned out by the tremendous boo's levied at the champion as Danny Rizzo hoists the UnYielding Title above his head in sweet triumph. He wears a wicked grin on his face as he clutches the belt to his chest, taunting the crowd about their fallen hero left defeated in the ring.
LO: This makes me fucking sick...
KO: WHOA! LAUR!
LO: NO! FUCK IT! Katya Djurdjevic already had a huge stipulation hanging over her head during one of the biggest title opportunities of her young career, and this asshole couldn't beat her straight up! He had to cheat.
KO: He did EXACTLY what he's been preaching for these long months, Laur! He retained the UnYielding Title by any means necessary, and I'm not afraid to say that I admire that man!
LO: I can't believe you, Ken. That was as blatant a robbery as I've ever seen, but unfortunately the referee didn't see it! And now this young woman is left to feel that loss for who knows how long. All because this asshole has decided to become EVERYTHING he once professed to hate. I hope him and Kaven Drell both burn in hell!
KO: No, Laur...it's Burn It Down.
LO: OH SHUT THE FUCK UP, KEN!
Laurence Othello flips his headset off and stands up to take a breather as Danny pauses at the top of the ramp to soak in the massive reaction. Despite the overwhelming negative response, a few lighters go up in the arena to signify 'Burn It Down' despite the fact that they are being drowned out. Danny chuckles as Katya finally sits up in the ring, still shaking like a leaf and staring blankly at the referee who is concerned by her mannerisms that she might have a concussion. Danny has long since taken his championship into the backstage area before Katya finally moves to exit the ring. The heartbroken fans pour out their love for the superstar, but she shuffles up the ramp like she's lost. She pauses as well at the top of the ramp and gives one last forlorn look back to the ring, and with shoulders slack makes her way through the curtain as the scene cuts to backstage.
The scene opens to a shot of Indi Rhyder sitting in a folding chair while her left leg rests across another folding chair with an ice pack on her ankle. She's watching a monitor that has the show on it, but it is on a delay so we're left witnessing the last few vestiges of the previous UnYielding Title match. She puckers her lips at the sight of Danny Rizzo using both legs on the ropes for leverage to pick up the win and tut-tut-tut's the screen while shaking her head. She's suddenly startled when the door to her locker room bursts open, and the camera swings up to see Cross Recoba rushing into the room wearing a blue Armani suit with a gold tie and his patented Lion Handled Cane. Indi barely gets to her feet in time to take that cane's handle right to the gut, and she clutches at her stomach as she drops to her knee's. Cross catches her by the back of her ponytail before she fall the floor, and leans down to get rest his cheek beside hers before whispering into her ear.
CROSS RECOBA: Just so we're clear, I haven't forgotten that embarrassment from a couple of shows ago...consider this a challenge.
He pauses to sneer the last words...
CROSS RECOBA: Galactic Princess...
With that he slams her face forward to strike the seat of the chair she had been sitting in and then straightens up to smooth out his suit. Tossing the cane up in the air only to snatch it back down to his side in his other hand, he whistles a little tune as he exits the room. The camera follows him as he goes, and then spins back to Indi Rhyder lying on the floor nursing her a cut over her right eye and balefully watching the man disappear around the corner. The scene cuts elsewhere.
CROSS RECOBA: Just so we're clear, I haven't forgotten that embarrassment from a couple of shows ago...consider this a challenge.
He pauses to sneer the last words...
CROSS RECOBA: Galactic Princess...
With that he slams her face forward to strike the seat of the chair she had been sitting in and then straightens up to smooth out his suit. Tossing the cane up in the air only to snatch it back down to his side in his other hand, he whistles a little tune as he exits the room. The camera follows him as he goes, and then spins back to Indi Rhyder lying on the floor nursing her a cut over her right eye and balefully watching the man disappear around the corner. The scene cuts elsewhere.
CHRIS CALLUM: I think all of you have grown too accustomed to calling Cosmo Cooper “The Apex”. I think you have all forgotten what it means.
He looked up at the camera as he ripped off the roll of tape and smile.
CHRIS CALLUM: To be at the top of the ladder for two hundred days requires so much strength, talent, and composure. If anyone knows, it’s me. Cosmo has been running too hot and too fast for too long. But all this time he’s been able to skate by because no one like me was around to challenge him. And now… well… I’m here. And he’s here too. Something’s gotta give.
He lifted his head, beaming with confidence.
CHRIS CALLUM: Tonight is the night I’ve been waiting for all summer. Tonight is the night I was looking forward to the moment I stepped into that Battle Royal at Rite of Kings. I pick my spot, I earned my opportunity… all for this moment. It’s the moment Cosmo Cooper has dreading because it’s the moment his fantasy begins to unravel before your eyes. It’s the moment your unbeatable, infallible champion crumbles at my feet. And you have to accept the fact that the Apex never really was the Apex… that there was always a real conqueror out there… just not here. I’m going to prove it all tonight. Months in the making.
He took a step toward the camera.
CHRIS CALLUM: So sit back. Grab a soda and some popcorn. Relish these last moments you’ll have with Cosmo. Because the end is near.
He smiles. We cut to ringside.
KO: Are you finally back to your senses?
LO: I just needed a moment. Sorry for that folks. That was unbecoming of a professional journalist, but I just couldn't take it. Let's just try to get back on track.
KO: Damn right, Brother-O-Mine, cause we've heard from the champion...we've heard from the challenger...there's nothing left to do but to get to it!
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is scheduled for pinfall or submission and is your MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! Billed as the match of the century....It is for THE APEX CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
The lights dim as the opening riffs of "Villain" by Skarlett Riot hits over the PA System. Lights flash around the entrance with the beat of the song, and the curtain pushes back and Chris Callum saunters out onto the stage. He pauses at the top of the ramp as the boos pour onto him, and he closes his eyes, lifting his head to soak in the disdain. When his eyes open his head tilts down to stare down at the ring for a long moment. A determined expression comes over him as he takes his first steps down the ramp towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at six foot and weighting in at 180 pounds, hailing from Berkeley, California...He is the #1 Contender for the Apex Championship, THE ETERNAL, CHRIS CALLUUMMMM!
Callum reaches ringside and rounds to take the steps up to the apron where he starts to swing his leg through the ropes, but then pauses to regard the booing crowd with a look of disgust. Despite the majority, there are a few fans out in this crowd that scream for Callum, die hard fans who follow the man like a cult. Callum points at one just as he slips into the ring, and bounces up and down as he stares back up at the stage in anticipation.
LO: Chris Callum is all business here, and it's quite obvious he doesn't care much what these fans have to say.
KO: Rightfully so, Laur. These idiots aren't in the ring. They aren't going to do his fighting for him. No, Callum has all of his energy focused on the task at hand.
LO: Becoming Apex Champion?
KO: Precisely!
The lights cut out once again and the familiar finger snaps from 'Lifted' by CL come over the speakers. Stage lights begin flashing gold and silver, converging on the stage where Cosmo Cooper is already standing, baseball cap covering his head that is staring down at the steel. The Apex Championship sits snugly around his waist, and the O2 Arena goes nuts at the sight of him. After a few moments he allows his head to lift, and he looks out at the crowd under the brim of his hat with a confident grin before reaching up and taking it by the brim, and sends it into the crowd like a discus. Fans clammer to get hold of the keepsake as Cosmo starts his trek down the ramp.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at six foot two and weighting in at 232 pounds....hailing from Santa Rosa, California...He is the 4CW Internet Champion, and THE REIGNING APEX CHAMPION, THE GRAPS JESUS, COSMO COOOPPPEERRRR!!
Cosmo reaches ringside and steps around to the corner of the ring but instead of doing his customary pow-wow withthe crowd, he charges up the steps and vaults himself up and over the top rope and into the ring. He unhooks the Apex strap and lifts the championship up in Callum's direction, and The Eternal allows a grim smile as he simply rotates his shoulder, getting loose for the event.
LO: These two are casting daggers at one another already, but no one has made a move to start things early...
KO: Why would they? Let them savor this moment. This is the Match of The Century, Laur. Can't you feel the electricity?
LO: Of course I do, but during War Games, Cooper couldn't wait to get his hands on Callum....it's just surprising is all.
KO: What's surprising that this match didn't come with a stipulation or anything. After everything that's happened, you'd think Steel Cage. No Disqualification....what? Why are you shaking your head?
LO: Cause this isn't about a gimmick, Ken. These two chose a one on one wrestling match because they both want to prove that they are the absolute best wrestler in the world.
Cooper and Callum stare across the ring at one another as Senior Official, Carmen Caputo, checks the men's tights and boots for any foreign objects. Satisfied that they are clean, she calls for a good fight, and then signals for the bell and swipes her hands in front of her for them to go at it. Neither man moves and the tension in the building becomes palpable as the anticipation lingers thick in the air. Finally the two begin to circle along the outside edges of the ropes, inching closer and closer to the center where they eventually move in for a Collar-And-Elbow Tie Up. They jockey for position, neither men wanting to give an inch, locked together like two bulls doing combat. Eventually Cosmo's size advantage comes into play, and with measured steps forces Callum back into the far corner. The referee calls for a break, and Cosmo slowly disengages with hands innocently in the air as the two continue to stare as he backs out to the center of the ring. Callum runs his fingers along the brim of his jaw just before stepping out of the corner, and the two lock up one more time. This time Callum quickly slides his hand back to Cosmo's wrist, steps under and through, and brings around into a Dragon Twist that has the Champion slapping his shoulder uncomfortably. The Eternal doesn't give him any chance at reversal before twisting and spinning through a second time to torque the arm to such a point that Cosmo is forced to bend forwards or have his arm snapped.
LO: Callum takes early control of the arm, and that certainly neutralizes any size advantage!
KO: No doubt, but Cosmo already has the gears grinding....And there he goes into a front roll onto his back, followed by a kip up, a standing switch, and now a reversal into a Dragon Twist of his own!
LO: Now it's Callum slapping at his shoulder as Cooper follows through into another torque like twist, and OH! Look at this!
KO: Cooper with a step down onto Callum's knee to force him down to a kneeling position, and feeds the arm through into a standing top wrist lock...
LO: Yeah, but Callum is already forcing his way back up to his feet, and Cooper now switching to a hammerlock....The Eternal looking for a way out but unable to find one, DEFTLY DROPS DOWN TO ONE KNEE AND DRAGS COOPER OVER TO LAND ON HIS BACK!
KO: The arm is free now and as Cosmo tries to get to his feet Callum slides in with a deep headlock, RIGHT INTO A TAKEOVER!
LO: Cooper lifts his legs and is able to get them around Chris' neck, pulling him back and breaking the hold with a Leg Scissors....Callum with a kip up and out of the hold, and now Cosmo scrambles to his feet to join him...
KO: And walks RIGHT into a hip toss, followed up by an elbow drop..NO! COOPER GOT OUT FO THE WAY!
LO: Cooper back up and he goes to drop the elbow, but NOW Callum rolls out of the way!
KO: Both men coming back up to their feet and charge in...DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE KNOCKS BOTH MEN OFF BALANCE AND THEY FALL BACK INTO OPPOSITE ROPES!
LO: And now they are back to staring at one another as this capacity crowd comes to their feet in cheers and applause.
Neither man joins in the crowds jubilation over the impressive chain wrestling, instead start rounding each other once again before moving in to lock up. This time it's Cooper who jerks Callum's head down into a Headlock, and immediately Callum tries to wriggle out of the hold, but Cosmo keeps it deep. Realizing he isn't going to get out of the hold, he pushes Cosmo back towards the ropes, but when he goes to push the champion to the other side, Cooper retains hold of the Headlock and drags Callum all the way down to his knee's. Callum slaps the mat in frustration while the referee gets onto Cooper about not breaking at the ropes, but she allows the hold to stand now that they are away from them. Chris slowly forces Cooper back up to a standing position, and from there grips him behind the legs and lifts him into Side Suplex position. Cooper, anticipating this, heaves him self forwards, and follows all the way down into a perfect Headlock Takeover of his own. Callum reaches with his legs like Cooper had done, but The Apex shifts so that he can't be caught, and instead chokes up on the hold to grind Chris' head against his body.
LO: This won't win any matches, but what it will do is tire your opponent out so that they have to struggle even harder to stay in the fight.
KO: No doubt. These two guys can both go high, but their main focus is usually a ground strategy with some hard strikes in between. It will be interesting to see how those similar styles spell out as the match progresses.
LO: Well, Callum has managed to spin around and is forcing Cooper back up to his feet....and look at this, he's pushing out from underneath into a Top Wrist Lock! He's almost got spun around there, and he's using all of his strength to force Cooper back to the mat...
KO: Cooper is tipping while Callum has the leverage, and he's slowly but surely pushing him down...Ha! Cooper bridges his head, and that just goes to show you his neck strength!
LO: Yeah, but that could also lead to early injury if he's not careful, especially now that Callum putting a knee into his ribs to try and force him to the mat!
KO: Wow! Look at this...what strength from Cooper!
Slowly but surely Cooper forces his way off the mat, and he grits his teeth into Callum's straining face as he amazingly gets back up to a vertical base, reversing the Top Wrist Lock. As Callum's arm is bent back, he suddenly finds himself forced back into the Headlock, causing him to slap at Cosmo's sides in irritation.
LO: Well, we're right back where we left off with Cooper in control, and now Callum forcing him back to the ropes to send him off....it looks like Cosmo is going to try and hold on again, BUT A YANK OF THE HAIR BY CALLUM SENDS COOPER CRASHING DOWN TO THE MAT INSTEAD!
KO: That's one way to get out of it!
LO: Cooper scrambles to his feet, and CALLUM IS THERE WITH A CHOP THAT LIGHTS HIM UP! ANOTHER ONE! ANOTHER! Good God you can hear those in the cheap seats!
Callum chops Cooper back all the way to the ropes where he takes him by the wrist and whips him to the opposite side. The move is reversed at the last second by the champion, and the challenger ends up rebounding off the ropes and careening back uncertainly. Cooper steps forward and plants himself in Callum's path, but the added momentum from the ropes gives him all the aide he needs to plow right through him with a Shoulder Tackle. Callum immediately falls to the side ropes for some spring, and Cooper floats over onto his stomach to force him over, and he continues on to the ropes once again. Cooper rises and moves to jump into the air for a Leap Frog, but Callum suddenly stops short and catches him around the back of the legs while burying his shoulder into his abdomen, forcing him down to the mat with a ring rattling Spine Buster. But he doesn't stop there as he pops up still retaining hold of both of the Champion's legs, chokes up, and begins to try and turn him over into a Standing Boston Crab!
LO: OH MY GOD! CALLUM HAS COOPER STUNNED AND IS TRYING TO GET HIM TURNED OVER INTO THE KING'S WRATH!
KO: AHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! COOPER COULD TAP RIGHT HERE!
LO: Well, he doesn't have it locked in just yet...Cooper is still squirming and kicking his feet....AND WOW! WHAT LEG STRENGTH FROM THE CHAMPION!
KO: Yeah, Callum just sent into a flip with a twist of the hips from Cooper, and now both men scrambling up to their feet...Callum up first and rushes in...RIGHT INTO A SCOOP UP TO THE SHOULDER INTO TOMBSTONE POSITION FROM COOPER!
LO: THE ETERNAL IS KICKING HIS LEGS FOR ALL HE'S WORTH, PUSHING HIMSELF FURTHER UP ONTO COOPER'S SHOULDER AND FINALLY SLIDES DOWN BEHIND HIM INTO A WAISTLOCK!
KO: Callum churning his feet like a bulldozer and pushes Cooper forwards towards the ropes chest first, bounces back, and drags him down into a Rolling Pin!
1...
2...
LO: Cooper with an emphatic kick out sends Callum hurtling towards the ropes, but he gets turned in time to bounce and SLIDES INTO A FOREARM STRIKE RIGHT TO COOPER'S SKULL AS HE SAT UP! Callum now hooking the leg quickly...
1...
2...
KO: Another kick out from Cooper at two, and he just shoved Chris away as both men get to their feet...Callum charges RIGHT INTO A SUPERKICK FROM COOPER!
LO: GOOD LORD! THAT TOOK THE MAN'S HEAD OFF!
KO: Cooper drops for a hook of the leg...
1...
2...
LO: It's Callum's turn this time to kick out at two, and again both men coming up to their feet and Cooper grabs out and snatches the challenger right back into a Headlock!
KO: Yeah, but I think the mat game is over with, cause Callum is driving in rabbit punches to Cosmo's kidneys as he drives him towards the corner...
LO: And now that Cooper's trapped quickly turns those into Shoulder Thrusts that are hemming the champion up against the turnbuckles!
Callum drives his shoulder repeatedly into The Apex's abdomen with enough force that by the time he's done Cooper is driven halfway between the top and middle turnbuckle. Callum draws back just enough so that he can raise his own body up, and starts firing in right hands that bounce off the champion's skull. The referee tells him to get it out of the corner, and Callum does so, hooking Cooper by the head and leading him a few steps away from the turnbuckles only to Snap him back down to the mat with a lightening fast Suplex. Callum floats over after impact and scoops the leg for a pin.
1...
2...
KO: KICK OUT! They can't seem to keep each other down for more than two
LO: Yeah, and he's already moving both up to their feet and pushing Cooper into the ropes only to shoot him to the other side...
KO: Cosmo on his way back now and Callum steps to the center to catch him coming in, Whoa!
LO: Cooper baseball slides between Callum's legs and pops up from behind...Callum spins around and walks RIGHT INTO A RELEASE BELLY TO BELLY!
Callum slams off the canvas, but instead of trying to get to his feet, rolls to the outside in an attempt to slow down the action. As he moves along the edges of the ring, he turns back to see Cosmo charging at him and just as he commits to a Suicide Dive through the middle and top rope, The Eternal leaps up into a European Uppercut that effectively cuts him off. The fans 'oooo' and 'aaaaa' as Cosmo hits the ring apron thanks to the abrupt stop, while Callum hooks him around the head and drags him away from the ring until only his shins are holding him up. With an intense grunt Callum drops straight down into a devastating DDT on the concrete that turns the mostly boisterous crowd into a unified gasp.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
KO: CHRIS CALLUM JUST DROVE COOPER'S DOME DOWN INTO THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
LO: He can't beat him out there, but he sure as hell can maim him...and oh, No...The Apex Champion is split wide open!
Blood pours down Cooper's face as Callum yanks him up unphased by the spectacle. The fans at ringside begin to boo The Eternal as he moves to toss him back inside the ring, but pulls up short so that his head remains exposed out on the ring apron. Callum leaps up to the apron and backs up to the corner, hopping up so that he's perched with one foot on the ropes and the other on the turnbuckle rung. Blood begins to drip at a fast paced down from Cooper's wound, forming a pool on the floor below him. The fans all wave Callum off from what is his obvious intent, but he has none of it, leaping from his position to extend his right knee out and slam it into the back of Cooper's skull on his way down. The rest of Cooper's body dumps back out of the ring and onto the concrete once again, and he clasps at the top of his head as Callum stares down at him drenched in his opponent's blood.
LO: Nasty Knee strike on top of that disgusting DDT from before, and now the challenger is in complete control!
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. Chris Callum didn't come to play, and he is proving that now that the gloves are off!
Callum reaches down to pull up a mostly dead weight Cooper, resulting in him having to strain to even get the man to a point that he can hold him in place against the ring apron. With a few more heaves he's able to get him up onto the edge and rolls him under the bottom rope into the ring. He follows smoothly, floating through so that he can hook the outside leg deep for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! COOPER OUT AT THREE AND THREE QUARTERS, AND CHRIS CALLUM IS LIVID!
KO: I don't know, man. Cooper should have just took the 'L' and lived to fight another day. He's done for...
LO: Well that isn't what Cosmo Cooper does, Ken! He doesn't just call himself The Apex because he's the champion, but because every time he steps foot in that ring he gives us all of him!
KO: Well, all of him is about to get his ass whooped, cause Callum just slid up beside him and cradled his head, and BEATING the shit out of him!
Piston like right hands drive right down into the lacerated forehead of the champion, and Cooper's feet flop with each blow as Callum is unrelenting. Finally the challenger ceases, fists covered in blood, and he throws himself back on top of Cosmo for another cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREE!NO! Cooper able to roll the shoulder before the referee's hand came down, and Callum is nearly beside himself.
Indeed The Eternal has lost his cool, first arguing with the referee, and when that doesn't result in anything stepping over to the corner and laying his head on the top turnbuckle in contemplation. Finally he peeks over at where he left Cosmo, and to his dismay the champion is pulling on his elbows, though his entire body is shaking from the trauma, to try and reach the ropes so he can pull himself up. Callum nods his head deviously and takes a position where he can easily close the distance and take him out with another vicious shot. The going is slow as Cooper manages to grab the middle, then the top rope, and pull himself up across the ring. The minute he's in position, Callum charges across the ring looking for a clothesline that would dump the Cosmo over the top, but instead Cooper manages to drop his shoulder and sends The Eternal soaring high above the ropes to clear the ring by nearly five feet. Callum slams sickly down to the concrete from nearly fifteen feet in the air, and the following bounce looks as bad as the first. Cosmo is left lying against the ropes, but he nods his head like Callum had moments before, and searches for a handhold that will get him outside to join his opponent.
KO: THAT WAS INSANE HEIGHT!
LO: THESE GUYS ARE LAYING IT ALL ON THE LINE HERE TONIGHT, AND SOME WOULD SAY THIS HAS BEEN TIT-FOR-TAT WITH THESE INSANE LANDINGS!
KO: Yeah, but Cooper can barely stand. Look at him...he looks punch drunk!
Cooper stumbles from the ring over to where Callum landed, and the challenger clutches at his lower spine as he tries to get up, pain etched on his face. Cooper pauses to watch as Callum grabs the guardrail in front of him for leverage and pulls himself to his feet, and right when he turns around Cosmo sprints in with a High Cross Body that dumps both men up and over the guardrail and into the front row! Fans scatter as moments later the two men rise, trading punches and chops, brawling all along the front row. Callum grabs the back of Cosmo's head and tries to jam it down into the top of the barrier, but a violent jut of his elbow prevents it, allowing him to turn the tables and drive Callum face first into the unforgiving steel. With a handful of the back of Chris' tights, Cosmo sends him flipping back over the guardrail into the ringside area. Callum finds his feet once more while Cooper steps up onto a chair and then the top rail, and then leaps forward into a Flying Knee that catches The Eternal right between the shoulder blades. The move sends Callum hurtling towards the ring post face first like a shotgun blast, and upon impact causes him to leave his feet an spin around so that he lands face down on the opposite end from where he came.
LO: GOOD LORD! CALLUM STRUCK THAT POST WITH SUCH VELOCITY IT NEARLY TURNED HIM INSIDE OUT!
KO: THIS IS STARTING TO FEEL LIKE A CAR WRECK!
LO: And look at this...now Callum is busted wide open...
KO: Where the hell is the referee in all of this! Why isn't she counting anyone out or disqualifying them, or SOMETHING!
LO: Carmen Caputo knows what's at stake, and she knows these two men. I'm sure if either goes for a foreign object or things get too out of hand she'll call it, but she isn't going to end a major challenge like this on a draw if she can help it.
The Senior Official has no way of hearing the announce team thanks to the insane amount of ruckus created by the fans, but she heads to the outside to cut Cosmo off before he can get hold of Callum again and demands that they return to the ring. Cooper nods tiredly, and when he bends to pull Chris up to his feet it is hard to figure out whose blood is whose. The champion shoots him under the bottom rope to roll onto his back near the corner, and Cosmo grabs the middle rope to hoist himself up onto the apron. For the first time he looks out at the roaring fans and gives them the trademark grin and nod, and they come to life as he slowly climbs the corner to perch himself on the top rope.
LO: Cosmo looks ready to fly and Callum is still down...OH MY GOD!
KO: SHOOTING STAR PRESS FROM THE CHAMPION--BUT CALLUM MOVES! CALLUM MOVES!
LO: Chris Callum was able to roll himself towards the corner as Cosmo descended from that high arching move, and now Cosmo is clutching at his chest...he may have seriously injured himself here.
KO: Callum is clawing at the ropes to get himself vertical, while Cosmo crawls for the ring apron on his stomach!
Callum's hand presses firmly to his forehead to try and staunch the blood flow, but the crimson liquid oozes through his fingers as he stares over to see Cosmo trying to pull himself up by use of the ropes. He abandons the wound with a shake of his head, steps through the ropes out onto the apron, and reaches over to get a fistful of Cosmo's sweaty, bloody, blonde locks. He assists with getting Cooper on his feet and then hooks him around the head, getting a handful of his tights with the other hand. The fans come to their feet once again in awe as Callum lifts Cooper up into the air and then falls so that he lands on the apron, but the champion crashes to the concrete below.
LO: JESUS CHRIST! CHRIS CALLUM JUST SUPLEXED COOPER FROM THE RING TO THE CONCRETE OUTSIDE!
KO: AND HE ISN'T DONE LAUR! HE JUST ROLLED OFF THE APRON AND YANKED COOPER UP BY THE HAIR OF THE HEAD, AND RAN HIM GUT FIRST INTO THE STEEL STEPS!
LO: Cooper sliding off and falling to his knees right out here in front of us...and OH NO! WHAT IS CALLUM DOING!
The Eternal swipes his hands across the announce table as The Othello's scatter, clearing the surface of any loose equipment before turning his attention back to an ailing Cosmo. Caputo exits the ring and tries to get between the two men, but a wild eyed glance from Callum puts her on her heels, and she has no other choice but to slip back into the squared circle to start a count. Callum pulls Cooper up and places him on the table, joining him by stepping up onto one of the announce teams chairs. He only partially pulls him up, instead tucking the man's head between his legs, and much like what happened with him and Brodie lifts Cosmo up for a Spin Out Powerbomb. This time, however, Cosmo suddenly hooks both legs around Callum's head, and with lightening speed snaps backwards into a Hurricanrana that spikes The Eternal's skull off the table and sends him careening down to the floor.
LO: AN AWKWARD VERSION OF THE LEELA BOMB, BUT COSMO PULLED IT OFF MUCH TO CALLUM'S DETRIMENT!
KO: HE JUST SPLINTERED OUR TABLE WITH THE DUDE'S HEAD...
LO: At least it didn't go down, Ken...and now Cooper crawling off the table and scooping up Callum....wait....THE REFEREE IS NEARLY AT TEN!
Cooper seems to realize this as Laurence Othello screams it out over the den of the capacity crowd, and he abandons Callum so that he can leap for the bottom rope. He slides in just as she's about to call for ten, but before she can get her hands all the way up he flashes to his feet and grabs her wrists. Caputo yanks her arm free as Cosmo shakes his head 'No', and the fans cheer him even wilder as he turns back towards the ropes to leave the woman in disbelief.
LO: Cosmo Cooper could have taken a count out victory there, but he wouldn't allow it. Both of these men have come to far, over vast distances in their careers, to have this moment.
KO: To prove who is the best!
LO: Exactly! But while Cooper was doing that, Callum managed to fall back into our announce booth...and I'll be honest, Ken, I think that's the only thing holding him up.
Cosmo drops down and spies Callum looking damn near green leaned up against the announce table, and he nods just before charging at the man. Just as he reaches him, Callum suddenly comes alive, digging both hands into Cosmo's chest and popping him up into the air, catches him so that he's sitting on his chest, and then spins him out and down to Powerbomb him through the announce table. The fans go nuts as The Eternal falls back to the floor in a daze, and Cosmo is left in a heap of splinters.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! SPIN OUT POWERBOMB FROM CALLUM!
KO: I KNEW THAT TABLE WOULDN'T MAKE IT!
LO: What more violence can these two men come up with? What lengths will they go just to answer that question?
KO: I'm going to predict it will go until neither one of them is left standing.
The referee has no other choice but to start a count from inside the ring and as the number climbs the fans begin to fall silent into a hush, intently watching to see if this could end in what everyone involved would call a travesty. By Six Callum claws towards the ring apron, and at Seven parts of the table begins to move as Cosmo tries to sit up. At Nine The Eternal crawls partially up onto the ring apron while Cosmo crawls on hands and knee's towards the ring. Just as the referee is about to flash all ten fingers, Callum hoists himself the rest of the way into the ring just in time to watch Cooper launch himself under the bottom rope at the same time. The two men, bloody, sweaty messes that they are, push up to to their knee's to sit back on their haunches in exhaustion. The buzz has returned to the arena when Cosmo lazily swipes the first chop across Callum's chest. The man recoils for just a second, before lobbing his body forward with a chop of his own. The scene is like a replay from War Games, both men trading blow for blow as they bob back and forth like punching bags thanks to the impacts.
LO: Both men fighting from their knees because their bodies are just too give out, and My God...I just don't think words can describe this feeling in the O2 Arena!
KO: It's been an epic night thus far, and in no small part thanks to this match, and I for one feel honored to bear witness to it...no pun intended.
Callum accepts another chop, and through gritted teeth forces one of his legs to get under him just as he fires in a hard right hand. Cosmo reels, but manages to do the same with his own foot, and strikes right back with a palm thrust. Callum actually uses the force of the blow to push off his foot and manages to get to his feet, stutter stepping back into the ropes which bounce him right back. He throws his boot out to try and kick Cosmo, but The Apex suddenly thrusts off the mat as well. He snatches the oncoming boot and pulls Callum along with it into his waiting arms, where he scoops him up onto his shoulder, and with as much speed as he can muster spins into a Tombstone Piledriver!
LO: CRATER MAKER! CRATER MAKER! THIS IS IT!
KO: WHA! THAT CAME DAMN NEAR OUT OF NOWHERE!
LO: Cosmo is slapping the mat beside Chris Callum who is laid out....willing himself to drape the arm over the challenger!
KO: AND THERE IT IS! CAPUTO IN POSITION TO COUNT...
1...
2...
LO: THREE!NO! MY GOD! HOW IN THE HELL DID HE DO IT!
KO: CHRIS CALLUM ROLLED THAT SHOULDER JUST AS THE REFEREE'S HAND WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE MAT! I SWEAR TO GOD IT WAS A MILLISECOND FROM BEING OVER!
Cooper falls onto his back and runs his fingers through his hair which is blood soaked and stringy from the sweat. He stares up into the lights as if internally searching for the answers, perhaps actually sending a prayer to the wrestling gods just to let there be an end. They lay there for long moments, but when the referee moves in to start a count Cosmo waves her way and searches his feet. It takes a second, but he finally pushes up to a vertical base, and the fans cheer wildly as he bends over and paws at Callum to try and get him up as well. This is no easy feat as Callum is dead weight, and Cosmo exerts every ounce of energy he has just getting the man up to his knee's. He reaches down from that position and in a true testament of strength, dead lifts Chris up onto his shoulder once again. Callum, however, doesn't stay dead. He shoves with everything he has on Cosmo's chest while kicking his legs out behind him. Eventually he slides up and over to land behind the champion, and when Cosmo spins around he launches himself into a clothesline. Cooper drops, either on instinct or out of exhaustion, and Callum's arm and body soars harmlessly over head. Or....almost.
LO: GOD ALMIGHTY! COOPER DUCKED AND CHRIS CALLUM JUST TOOK CAPUTO'S HEAD OFF WITH THAT CLOTHESLINE!
KO: AHHH! WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW!
LO: Hopefully someone in the back can get another referee down here, but for now both competitors and the official are down in the ring!
KO: Yeah, but Callum is clawing to get to the ropes while Cosmo scoots on his bum towards the opposite side of the ring!
LO: These two men have been through a war here tonight, both bloodied and out of it...I just can't believe they have anymore energy to spend.
KO: Don't say that Laur, cause Cosmo and Chris just got back to their feet!
Cooper is up a step sooner than Callum, but it's still a shock to see that he has the energy left to charge at the man as he uses the ropes to hold himself upright. Because everything has slowed down, Callum gets one extra second to drop down and roll out of the ring as Cooper has to put on the brakes to keep from plowing into the ropes. Callum drops to his knees at ringside and checks his aching forehead that still oozes blood, as Cooper leans with both arms over the top rope desperately trying to get hold of the man.
KO: That's a veteran move by Callum right there! He got out of the ring before Cooper could attack, and now Cosmo is going to have to go back out there into no man's land after him.
LO: Maybe so, but just look at these too, Ken! They can barely stand...wait a minute? What is this?
KO: Uh-Oh...SECURITY! A FAN JUST JUMPED THE BARRICADE!
The over exuberant figure wearing a black hoodie slides into the ring behind Cosmo as the fans warn the champion loudly. Cooper looks around confused for a moment, and just when he's about to follow the pointing fingers with his eyes, he's spun around and blasted down to the canvas with a vicious RKO. The fan quickly rolls out on the side from where he came, reaches into his hoodie pocket and produces a bottle of water, and tosses it's contents onto the downed referee.
LO: WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!
KO: DIDN'T YOU RECOGNIZE THE MOVE!
LO: NO! NO!
As Caputo spits and sputters, shaken awake by the sudden dousing, the hooded figure quickly rushes out of ringside and up the ramp as Chris Callum claws at the apron, completely oblivious to what just happened. All he sees is Cosmo Cooper, The Apex Champion, lying in the center of the ring, and he pulls against the ropes to hoist himself back into the ring. Caputo uses the ropes herself to try and get back to her feet, looking around confusedly to try and figure out what happened. Callum stares down at Cosmo, then up to her, and then back to The Apex. Suddenly as if a light bulb has gone off in his head, he reaches down and drags Cooper up to his feet and slips behind him, lifts him up into a Wheelbarrow Position, and then drives him face first into the mat with a Face Buster!
LO: CHRIS-CROSS! CHRIS-CROSS TO COOPER, BUT THAT COMES AFTER THE...
KO: WHO CARES, LAUR! THERE'S THE HOOK OF THE LEG!
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: OH! MY! GOD!
KO: DIDN'T I TELL YOU, LAUR! CHRIS CALLUM IS THE ETERNAL!
LO: NO! CHRIS CALLUM JUST BECAME THE APEX!
The bell sounds as Callum falls off of Cooper and the brutality of the match finally catches up to him. He just lies there for a long moment beside his apprentice, his friend, his bitter enemy and allows the roaring crowd to drown out the buzzing in his own head.
RING ANNOUNCER: The winner of the match by pinfall, AND YOUR NEW APEX CHAMPION....CHRIS CALLUM!
At the top of the ramp the hooded figure watches the proceedings as the celebratory confetti rains down in the O2 Arena. All that can really be seen of his face at this vantage point is the lower half, which is peeled back into a huge sarcastic grin from ear to ear. A hand slowly but steadily reaches up to the hood, and with a yank he reveals himself to the world.
LO: I KNEW IT! I KNEW THAT WAS A FACE OFF EARLIER! FUCKING BRENNAN DEVLIN!
KO: WOW! I can't believe it, Laur....HE'S BACK!
Devlin turns that grin towards the camera that is right up in his face, and he winks just before saying..
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Told you Cooper, me and you forever...
And with that he turns quickly and escapes through the curtain. Meanwhile, back in the ring, EMT's have come from the side area around the amp to check on Cosmo while Callum is helped to sit up next to the ropes. He closes his eyes and lets his head lean back to take in a deep breath before turning his gaze down at the Apex Championship resting in his hands. He nods his head earnestly as he allows the referee and an EMT attendant help him onto his feet, and then he shrugs them aside to lean against the ropes and stare out at the capacity crowd going wild.
LO: This...I can't believe this. Brennan Devlin just stole this from them.
KO: What the hell are you talking about?
LO: He stole the Apex Championship from Cosmo Cooper....and he stole the undisputed clean victory from Chris Callum. This...god damn him.
KO: Oh quit your whining! Chris Callum is the new Apex Champion, JUST like I said he would be. Danny Rizzo beat Katya Djurdjevic in her last chance to take the title from him, JUST like I said he would. AND Devlin's back! It's wins all around, Laur!
LO: Oh yeah, it's such a huge win for us. Rizzo cheats Katya, Devlin cheats everyone. I don't blame Chris Callum for any of this. He doesn't have a clue. He still doesn't....just look at him.
KO: Yeah, he's king shit now. He beat Cooper. He's the new Apex.
LO: I don't think anyone can take anything away from the 200+ day Odyssey that was Cosmo Cooper's Apex Championship run or the things he's done for Valor Pro Wrestling. I think he's right. Even without the title, he'll always be The Apex.
KO: Yeah, well that's all well and good, but here.....tonight.....Chris Callum is THE ETERNAL!
LO: You're right, Ken. And what happens when Chris Callum finds out he was cheated out of his decisive victory over Cooper? That was the whole point for him. This was about more than just titles, and you know it.
KO: Well, I guess he'll just have to walk up to Brennan Devlin and give him a big ole' hug. It's what I'd do if I were him.
LO: That's just it, Ken. You aren't.
The Othello Brothers chatters cuts out after that and the camera focuses on Chris Callum standing in the center of the ring, Apex Championship being placed around his waist by the referee. Confetti continues to reign down as Caputo steps beside him, takes him by the wrist, and lifts his arm in victory. Everyone in the arena goes ballistic, all but one. Cosmo Cooper watches from the ramp where he has shoved the EMT's away from him. His expression isn't angry, it isn't even that upset. It's just blank. He continues to stare as the referee leads Callum around the ring to soak in the cheers and light boo's, and the camera focuses on the scene inside the ring before fading to the Battleground Network logo, then to the VPW logo, and then to black.
LO: I just needed a moment. Sorry for that folks. That was unbecoming of a professional journalist, but I just couldn't take it. Let's just try to get back on track.
KO: Damn right, Brother-O-Mine, cause we've heard from the champion...we've heard from the challenger...there's nothing left to do but to get to it!
RING ANNOUNCER: The following contest is scheduled for pinfall or submission and is your MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! Billed as the match of the century....It is for THE APEX CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
The lights dim as the opening riffs of "Villain" by Skarlett Riot hits over the PA System. Lights flash around the entrance with the beat of the song, and the curtain pushes back and Chris Callum saunters out onto the stage. He pauses at the top of the ramp as the boos pour onto him, and he closes his eyes, lifting his head to soak in the disdain. When his eyes open his head tilts down to stare down at the ring for a long moment. A determined expression comes over him as he takes his first steps down the ramp towards the ring.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at six foot and weighting in at 180 pounds, hailing from Berkeley, California...He is the #1 Contender for the Apex Championship, THE ETERNAL, CHRIS CALLUUMMMM!
Callum reaches ringside and rounds to take the steps up to the apron where he starts to swing his leg through the ropes, but then pauses to regard the booing crowd with a look of disgust. Despite the majority, there are a few fans out in this crowd that scream for Callum, die hard fans who follow the man like a cult. Callum points at one just as he slips into the ring, and bounces up and down as he stares back up at the stage in anticipation.
LO: Chris Callum is all business here, and it's quite obvious he doesn't care much what these fans have to say.
KO: Rightfully so, Laur. These idiots aren't in the ring. They aren't going to do his fighting for him. No, Callum has all of his energy focused on the task at hand.
LO: Becoming Apex Champion?
KO: Precisely!
The lights cut out once again and the familiar finger snaps from 'Lifted' by CL come over the speakers. Stage lights begin flashing gold and silver, converging on the stage where Cosmo Cooper is already standing, baseball cap covering his head that is staring down at the steel. The Apex Championship sits snugly around his waist, and the O2 Arena goes nuts at the sight of him. After a few moments he allows his head to lift, and he looks out at the crowd under the brim of his hat with a confident grin before reaching up and taking it by the brim, and sends it into the crowd like a discus. Fans clammer to get hold of the keepsake as Cosmo starts his trek down the ramp.
RING ANNOUNCER: And making his way to the ring, standing at six foot two and weighting in at 232 pounds....hailing from Santa Rosa, California...He is the 4CW Internet Champion, and THE REIGNING APEX CHAMPION, THE GRAPS JESUS, COSMO COOOPPPEERRRR!!
Cosmo reaches ringside and steps around to the corner of the ring but instead of doing his customary pow-wow withthe crowd, he charges up the steps and vaults himself up and over the top rope and into the ring. He unhooks the Apex strap and lifts the championship up in Callum's direction, and The Eternal allows a grim smile as he simply rotates his shoulder, getting loose for the event.
LO: These two are casting daggers at one another already, but no one has made a move to start things early...
KO: Why would they? Let them savor this moment. This is the Match of The Century, Laur. Can't you feel the electricity?
LO: Of course I do, but during War Games, Cooper couldn't wait to get his hands on Callum....it's just surprising is all.
KO: What's surprising that this match didn't come with a stipulation or anything. After everything that's happened, you'd think Steel Cage. No Disqualification....what? Why are you shaking your head?
LO: Cause this isn't about a gimmick, Ken. These two chose a one on one wrestling match because they both want to prove that they are the absolute best wrestler in the world.
Cooper and Callum stare across the ring at one another as Senior Official, Carmen Caputo, checks the men's tights and boots for any foreign objects. Satisfied that they are clean, she calls for a good fight, and then signals for the bell and swipes her hands in front of her for them to go at it. Neither man moves and the tension in the building becomes palpable as the anticipation lingers thick in the air. Finally the two begin to circle along the outside edges of the ropes, inching closer and closer to the center where they eventually move in for a Collar-And-Elbow Tie Up. They jockey for position, neither men wanting to give an inch, locked together like two bulls doing combat. Eventually Cosmo's size advantage comes into play, and with measured steps forces Callum back into the far corner. The referee calls for a break, and Cosmo slowly disengages with hands innocently in the air as the two continue to stare as he backs out to the center of the ring. Callum runs his fingers along the brim of his jaw just before stepping out of the corner, and the two lock up one more time. This time Callum quickly slides his hand back to Cosmo's wrist, steps under and through, and brings around into a Dragon Twist that has the Champion slapping his shoulder uncomfortably. The Eternal doesn't give him any chance at reversal before twisting and spinning through a second time to torque the arm to such a point that Cosmo is forced to bend forwards or have his arm snapped.
LO: Callum takes early control of the arm, and that certainly neutralizes any size advantage!
KO: No doubt, but Cosmo already has the gears grinding....And there he goes into a front roll onto his back, followed by a kip up, a standing switch, and now a reversal into a Dragon Twist of his own!
LO: Now it's Callum slapping at his shoulder as Cooper follows through into another torque like twist, and OH! Look at this!
KO: Cooper with a step down onto Callum's knee to force him down to a kneeling position, and feeds the arm through into a standing top wrist lock...
LO: Yeah, but Callum is already forcing his way back up to his feet, and Cooper now switching to a hammerlock....The Eternal looking for a way out but unable to find one, DEFTLY DROPS DOWN TO ONE KNEE AND DRAGS COOPER OVER TO LAND ON HIS BACK!
KO: The arm is free now and as Cosmo tries to get to his feet Callum slides in with a deep headlock, RIGHT INTO A TAKEOVER!
LO: Cooper lifts his legs and is able to get them around Chris' neck, pulling him back and breaking the hold with a Leg Scissors....Callum with a kip up and out of the hold, and now Cosmo scrambles to his feet to join him...
KO: And walks RIGHT into a hip toss, followed up by an elbow drop..NO! COOPER GOT OUT FO THE WAY!
LO: Cooper back up and he goes to drop the elbow, but NOW Callum rolls out of the way!
KO: Both men coming back up to their feet and charge in...DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE KNOCKS BOTH MEN OFF BALANCE AND THEY FALL BACK INTO OPPOSITE ROPES!
LO: And now they are back to staring at one another as this capacity crowd comes to their feet in cheers and applause.
Neither man joins in the crowds jubilation over the impressive chain wrestling, instead start rounding each other once again before moving in to lock up. This time it's Cooper who jerks Callum's head down into a Headlock, and immediately Callum tries to wriggle out of the hold, but Cosmo keeps it deep. Realizing he isn't going to get out of the hold, he pushes Cosmo back towards the ropes, but when he goes to push the champion to the other side, Cooper retains hold of the Headlock and drags Callum all the way down to his knee's. Callum slaps the mat in frustration while the referee gets onto Cooper about not breaking at the ropes, but she allows the hold to stand now that they are away from them. Chris slowly forces Cooper back up to a standing position, and from there grips him behind the legs and lifts him into Side Suplex position. Cooper, anticipating this, heaves him self forwards, and follows all the way down into a perfect Headlock Takeover of his own. Callum reaches with his legs like Cooper had done, but The Apex shifts so that he can't be caught, and instead chokes up on the hold to grind Chris' head against his body.
LO: This won't win any matches, but what it will do is tire your opponent out so that they have to struggle even harder to stay in the fight.
KO: No doubt. These two guys can both go high, but their main focus is usually a ground strategy with some hard strikes in between. It will be interesting to see how those similar styles spell out as the match progresses.
LO: Well, Callum has managed to spin around and is forcing Cooper back up to his feet....and look at this, he's pushing out from underneath into a Top Wrist Lock! He's almost got spun around there, and he's using all of his strength to force Cooper back to the mat...
KO: Cooper is tipping while Callum has the leverage, and he's slowly but surely pushing him down...Ha! Cooper bridges his head, and that just goes to show you his neck strength!
LO: Yeah, but that could also lead to early injury if he's not careful, especially now that Callum putting a knee into his ribs to try and force him to the mat!
KO: Wow! Look at this...what strength from Cooper!
Slowly but surely Cooper forces his way off the mat, and he grits his teeth into Callum's straining face as he amazingly gets back up to a vertical base, reversing the Top Wrist Lock. As Callum's arm is bent back, he suddenly finds himself forced back into the Headlock, causing him to slap at Cosmo's sides in irritation.
LO: Well, we're right back where we left off with Cooper in control, and now Callum forcing him back to the ropes to send him off....it looks like Cosmo is going to try and hold on again, BUT A YANK OF THE HAIR BY CALLUM SENDS COOPER CRASHING DOWN TO THE MAT INSTEAD!
KO: That's one way to get out of it!
LO: Cooper scrambles to his feet, and CALLUM IS THERE WITH A CHOP THAT LIGHTS HIM UP! ANOTHER ONE! ANOTHER! Good God you can hear those in the cheap seats!
Callum chops Cooper back all the way to the ropes where he takes him by the wrist and whips him to the opposite side. The move is reversed at the last second by the champion, and the challenger ends up rebounding off the ropes and careening back uncertainly. Cooper steps forward and plants himself in Callum's path, but the added momentum from the ropes gives him all the aide he needs to plow right through him with a Shoulder Tackle. Callum immediately falls to the side ropes for some spring, and Cooper floats over onto his stomach to force him over, and he continues on to the ropes once again. Cooper rises and moves to jump into the air for a Leap Frog, but Callum suddenly stops short and catches him around the back of the legs while burying his shoulder into his abdomen, forcing him down to the mat with a ring rattling Spine Buster. But he doesn't stop there as he pops up still retaining hold of both of the Champion's legs, chokes up, and begins to try and turn him over into a Standing Boston Crab!
LO: OH MY GOD! CALLUM HAS COOPER STUNNED AND IS TRYING TO GET HIM TURNED OVER INTO THE KING'S WRATH!
KO: AHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! COOPER COULD TAP RIGHT HERE!
LO: Well, he doesn't have it locked in just yet...Cooper is still squirming and kicking his feet....AND WOW! WHAT LEG STRENGTH FROM THE CHAMPION!
KO: Yeah, Callum just sent into a flip with a twist of the hips from Cooper, and now both men scrambling up to their feet...Callum up first and rushes in...RIGHT INTO A SCOOP UP TO THE SHOULDER INTO TOMBSTONE POSITION FROM COOPER!
LO: THE ETERNAL IS KICKING HIS LEGS FOR ALL HE'S WORTH, PUSHING HIMSELF FURTHER UP ONTO COOPER'S SHOULDER AND FINALLY SLIDES DOWN BEHIND HIM INTO A WAISTLOCK!
KO: Callum churning his feet like a bulldozer and pushes Cooper forwards towards the ropes chest first, bounces back, and drags him down into a Rolling Pin!
1...
2...
LO: Cooper with an emphatic kick out sends Callum hurtling towards the ropes, but he gets turned in time to bounce and SLIDES INTO A FOREARM STRIKE RIGHT TO COOPER'S SKULL AS HE SAT UP! Callum now hooking the leg quickly...
1...
2...
KO: Another kick out from Cooper at two, and he just shoved Chris away as both men get to their feet...Callum charges RIGHT INTO A SUPERKICK FROM COOPER!
LO: GOOD LORD! THAT TOOK THE MAN'S HEAD OFF!
KO: Cooper drops for a hook of the leg...
1...
2...
LO: It's Callum's turn this time to kick out at two, and again both men coming up to their feet and Cooper grabs out and snatches the challenger right back into a Headlock!
KO: Yeah, but I think the mat game is over with, cause Callum is driving in rabbit punches to Cosmo's kidneys as he drives him towards the corner...
LO: And now that Cooper's trapped quickly turns those into Shoulder Thrusts that are hemming the champion up against the turnbuckles!
Callum drives his shoulder repeatedly into The Apex's abdomen with enough force that by the time he's done Cooper is driven halfway between the top and middle turnbuckle. Callum draws back just enough so that he can raise his own body up, and starts firing in right hands that bounce off the champion's skull. The referee tells him to get it out of the corner, and Callum does so, hooking Cooper by the head and leading him a few steps away from the turnbuckles only to Snap him back down to the mat with a lightening fast Suplex. Callum floats over after impact and scoops the leg for a pin.
1...
2...
KO: KICK OUT! They can't seem to keep each other down for more than two
LO: Yeah, and he's already moving both up to their feet and pushing Cooper into the ropes only to shoot him to the other side...
KO: Cosmo on his way back now and Callum steps to the center to catch him coming in, Whoa!
LO: Cooper baseball slides between Callum's legs and pops up from behind...Callum spins around and walks RIGHT INTO A RELEASE BELLY TO BELLY!
Callum slams off the canvas, but instead of trying to get to his feet, rolls to the outside in an attempt to slow down the action. As he moves along the edges of the ring, he turns back to see Cosmo charging at him and just as he commits to a Suicide Dive through the middle and top rope, The Eternal leaps up into a European Uppercut that effectively cuts him off. The fans 'oooo' and 'aaaaa' as Cosmo hits the ring apron thanks to the abrupt stop, while Callum hooks him around the head and drags him away from the ring until only his shins are holding him up. With an intense grunt Callum drops straight down into a devastating DDT on the concrete that turns the mostly boisterous crowd into a unified gasp.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY!
KO: CHRIS CALLUM JUST DROVE COOPER'S DOME DOWN INTO THE CONCRETE FLOOR!
LO: He can't beat him out there, but he sure as hell can maim him...and oh, No...The Apex Champion is split wide open!
Blood pours down Cooper's face as Callum yanks him up unphased by the spectacle. The fans at ringside begin to boo The Eternal as he moves to toss him back inside the ring, but pulls up short so that his head remains exposed out on the ring apron. Callum leaps up to the apron and backs up to the corner, hopping up so that he's perched with one foot on the ropes and the other on the turnbuckle rung. Blood begins to drip at a fast paced down from Cooper's wound, forming a pool on the floor below him. The fans all wave Callum off from what is his obvious intent, but he has none of it, leaping from his position to extend his right knee out and slam it into the back of Cooper's skull on his way down. The rest of Cooper's body dumps back out of the ring and onto the concrete once again, and he clasps at the top of his head as Callum stares down at him drenched in his opponent's blood.
LO: Nasty Knee strike on top of that disgusting DDT from before, and now the challenger is in complete control!
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. Chris Callum didn't come to play, and he is proving that now that the gloves are off!
Callum reaches down to pull up a mostly dead weight Cooper, resulting in him having to strain to even get the man to a point that he can hold him in place against the ring apron. With a few more heaves he's able to get him up onto the edge and rolls him under the bottom rope into the ring. He follows smoothly, floating through so that he can hook the outside leg deep for a cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREe-NO! COOPER OUT AT THREE AND THREE QUARTERS, AND CHRIS CALLUM IS LIVID!
KO: I don't know, man. Cooper should have just took the 'L' and lived to fight another day. He's done for...
LO: Well that isn't what Cosmo Cooper does, Ken! He doesn't just call himself The Apex because he's the champion, but because every time he steps foot in that ring he gives us all of him!
KO: Well, all of him is about to get his ass whooped, cause Callum just slid up beside him and cradled his head, and BEATING the shit out of him!
Piston like right hands drive right down into the lacerated forehead of the champion, and Cooper's feet flop with each blow as Callum is unrelenting. Finally the challenger ceases, fists covered in blood, and he throws himself back on top of Cosmo for another cover.
1...
2...
LO: THREE!NO! Cooper able to roll the shoulder before the referee's hand came down, and Callum is nearly beside himself.
Indeed The Eternal has lost his cool, first arguing with the referee, and when that doesn't result in anything stepping over to the corner and laying his head on the top turnbuckle in contemplation. Finally he peeks over at where he left Cosmo, and to his dismay the champion is pulling on his elbows, though his entire body is shaking from the trauma, to try and reach the ropes so he can pull himself up. Callum nods his head deviously and takes a position where he can easily close the distance and take him out with another vicious shot. The going is slow as Cooper manages to grab the middle, then the top rope, and pull himself up across the ring. The minute he's in position, Callum charges across the ring looking for a clothesline that would dump the Cosmo over the top, but instead Cooper manages to drop his shoulder and sends The Eternal soaring high above the ropes to clear the ring by nearly five feet. Callum slams sickly down to the concrete from nearly fifteen feet in the air, and the following bounce looks as bad as the first. Cosmo is left lying against the ropes, but he nods his head like Callum had moments before, and searches for a handhold that will get him outside to join his opponent.
KO: THAT WAS INSANE HEIGHT!
LO: THESE GUYS ARE LAYING IT ALL ON THE LINE HERE TONIGHT, AND SOME WOULD SAY THIS HAS BEEN TIT-FOR-TAT WITH THESE INSANE LANDINGS!
KO: Yeah, but Cooper can barely stand. Look at him...he looks punch drunk!
Cooper stumbles from the ring over to where Callum landed, and the challenger clutches at his lower spine as he tries to get up, pain etched on his face. Cooper pauses to watch as Callum grabs the guardrail in front of him for leverage and pulls himself to his feet, and right when he turns around Cosmo sprints in with a High Cross Body that dumps both men up and over the guardrail and into the front row! Fans scatter as moments later the two men rise, trading punches and chops, brawling all along the front row. Callum grabs the back of Cosmo's head and tries to jam it down into the top of the barrier, but a violent jut of his elbow prevents it, allowing him to turn the tables and drive Callum face first into the unforgiving steel. With a handful of the back of Chris' tights, Cosmo sends him flipping back over the guardrail into the ringside area. Callum finds his feet once more while Cooper steps up onto a chair and then the top rail, and then leaps forward into a Flying Knee that catches The Eternal right between the shoulder blades. The move sends Callum hurtling towards the ring post face first like a shotgun blast, and upon impact causes him to leave his feet an spin around so that he lands face down on the opposite end from where he came.
LO: GOOD LORD! CALLUM STRUCK THAT POST WITH SUCH VELOCITY IT NEARLY TURNED HIM INSIDE OUT!
KO: THIS IS STARTING TO FEEL LIKE A CAR WRECK!
LO: And look at this...now Callum is busted wide open...
KO: Where the hell is the referee in all of this! Why isn't she counting anyone out or disqualifying them, or SOMETHING!
LO: Carmen Caputo knows what's at stake, and she knows these two men. I'm sure if either goes for a foreign object or things get too out of hand she'll call it, but she isn't going to end a major challenge like this on a draw if she can help it.
The Senior Official has no way of hearing the announce team thanks to the insane amount of ruckus created by the fans, but she heads to the outside to cut Cosmo off before he can get hold of Callum again and demands that they return to the ring. Cooper nods tiredly, and when he bends to pull Chris up to his feet it is hard to figure out whose blood is whose. The champion shoots him under the bottom rope to roll onto his back near the corner, and Cosmo grabs the middle rope to hoist himself up onto the apron. For the first time he looks out at the roaring fans and gives them the trademark grin and nod, and they come to life as he slowly climbs the corner to perch himself on the top rope.
LO: Cosmo looks ready to fly and Callum is still down...OH MY GOD!
KO: SHOOTING STAR PRESS FROM THE CHAMPION--BUT CALLUM MOVES! CALLUM MOVES!
LO: Chris Callum was able to roll himself towards the corner as Cosmo descended from that high arching move, and now Cosmo is clutching at his chest...he may have seriously injured himself here.
KO: Callum is clawing at the ropes to get himself vertical, while Cosmo crawls for the ring apron on his stomach!
Callum's hand presses firmly to his forehead to try and staunch the blood flow, but the crimson liquid oozes through his fingers as he stares over to see Cosmo trying to pull himself up by use of the ropes. He abandons the wound with a shake of his head, steps through the ropes out onto the apron, and reaches over to get a fistful of Cosmo's sweaty, bloody, blonde locks. He assists with getting Cooper on his feet and then hooks him around the head, getting a handful of his tights with the other hand. The fans come to their feet once again in awe as Callum lifts Cooper up into the air and then falls so that he lands on the apron, but the champion crashes to the concrete below.
LO: JESUS CHRIST! CHRIS CALLUM JUST SUPLEXED COOPER FROM THE RING TO THE CONCRETE OUTSIDE!
KO: AND HE ISN'T DONE LAUR! HE JUST ROLLED OFF THE APRON AND YANKED COOPER UP BY THE HAIR OF THE HEAD, AND RAN HIM GUT FIRST INTO THE STEEL STEPS!
LO: Cooper sliding off and falling to his knees right out here in front of us...and OH NO! WHAT IS CALLUM DOING!
The Eternal swipes his hands across the announce table as The Othello's scatter, clearing the surface of any loose equipment before turning his attention back to an ailing Cosmo. Caputo exits the ring and tries to get between the two men, but a wild eyed glance from Callum puts her on her heels, and she has no other choice but to slip back into the squared circle to start a count. Callum pulls Cooper up and places him on the table, joining him by stepping up onto one of the announce teams chairs. He only partially pulls him up, instead tucking the man's head between his legs, and much like what happened with him and Brodie lifts Cosmo up for a Spin Out Powerbomb. This time, however, Cosmo suddenly hooks both legs around Callum's head, and with lightening speed snaps backwards into a Hurricanrana that spikes The Eternal's skull off the table and sends him careening down to the floor.
LO: AN AWKWARD VERSION OF THE LEELA BOMB, BUT COSMO PULLED IT OFF MUCH TO CALLUM'S DETRIMENT!
KO: HE JUST SPLINTERED OUR TABLE WITH THE DUDE'S HEAD...
LO: At least it didn't go down, Ken...and now Cooper crawling off the table and scooping up Callum....wait....THE REFEREE IS NEARLY AT TEN!
Cooper seems to realize this as Laurence Othello screams it out over the den of the capacity crowd, and he abandons Callum so that he can leap for the bottom rope. He slides in just as she's about to call for ten, but before she can get her hands all the way up he flashes to his feet and grabs her wrists. Caputo yanks her arm free as Cosmo shakes his head 'No', and the fans cheer him even wilder as he turns back towards the ropes to leave the woman in disbelief.
LO: Cosmo Cooper could have taken a count out victory there, but he wouldn't allow it. Both of these men have come to far, over vast distances in their careers, to have this moment.
KO: To prove who is the best!
LO: Exactly! But while Cooper was doing that, Callum managed to fall back into our announce booth...and I'll be honest, Ken, I think that's the only thing holding him up.
Cosmo drops down and spies Callum looking damn near green leaned up against the announce table, and he nods just before charging at the man. Just as he reaches him, Callum suddenly comes alive, digging both hands into Cosmo's chest and popping him up into the air, catches him so that he's sitting on his chest, and then spins him out and down to Powerbomb him through the announce table. The fans go nuts as The Eternal falls back to the floor in a daze, and Cosmo is left in a heap of splinters.
LO: GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! SPIN OUT POWERBOMB FROM CALLUM!
KO: I KNEW THAT TABLE WOULDN'T MAKE IT!
LO: What more violence can these two men come up with? What lengths will they go just to answer that question?
KO: I'm going to predict it will go until neither one of them is left standing.
The referee has no other choice but to start a count from inside the ring and as the number climbs the fans begin to fall silent into a hush, intently watching to see if this could end in what everyone involved would call a travesty. By Six Callum claws towards the ring apron, and at Seven parts of the table begins to move as Cosmo tries to sit up. At Nine The Eternal crawls partially up onto the ring apron while Cosmo crawls on hands and knee's towards the ring. Just as the referee is about to flash all ten fingers, Callum hoists himself the rest of the way into the ring just in time to watch Cooper launch himself under the bottom rope at the same time. The two men, bloody, sweaty messes that they are, push up to to their knee's to sit back on their haunches in exhaustion. The buzz has returned to the arena when Cosmo lazily swipes the first chop across Callum's chest. The man recoils for just a second, before lobbing his body forward with a chop of his own. The scene is like a replay from War Games, both men trading blow for blow as they bob back and forth like punching bags thanks to the impacts.
LO: Both men fighting from their knees because their bodies are just too give out, and My God...I just don't think words can describe this feeling in the O2 Arena!
KO: It's been an epic night thus far, and in no small part thanks to this match, and I for one feel honored to bear witness to it...no pun intended.
Callum accepts another chop, and through gritted teeth forces one of his legs to get under him just as he fires in a hard right hand. Cosmo reels, but manages to do the same with his own foot, and strikes right back with a palm thrust. Callum actually uses the force of the blow to push off his foot and manages to get to his feet, stutter stepping back into the ropes which bounce him right back. He throws his boot out to try and kick Cosmo, but The Apex suddenly thrusts off the mat as well. He snatches the oncoming boot and pulls Callum along with it into his waiting arms, where he scoops him up onto his shoulder, and with as much speed as he can muster spins into a Tombstone Piledriver!
LO: CRATER MAKER! CRATER MAKER! THIS IS IT!
KO: WHA! THAT CAME DAMN NEAR OUT OF NOWHERE!
LO: Cosmo is slapping the mat beside Chris Callum who is laid out....willing himself to drape the arm over the challenger!
KO: AND THERE IT IS! CAPUTO IN POSITION TO COUNT...
1...
2...
LO: THREE!NO! MY GOD! HOW IN THE HELL DID HE DO IT!
KO: CHRIS CALLUM ROLLED THAT SHOULDER JUST AS THE REFEREE'S HAND WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE MAT! I SWEAR TO GOD IT WAS A MILLISECOND FROM BEING OVER!
Cooper falls onto his back and runs his fingers through his hair which is blood soaked and stringy from the sweat. He stares up into the lights as if internally searching for the answers, perhaps actually sending a prayer to the wrestling gods just to let there be an end. They lay there for long moments, but when the referee moves in to start a count Cosmo waves her way and searches his feet. It takes a second, but he finally pushes up to a vertical base, and the fans cheer wildly as he bends over and paws at Callum to try and get him up as well. This is no easy feat as Callum is dead weight, and Cosmo exerts every ounce of energy he has just getting the man up to his knee's. He reaches down from that position and in a true testament of strength, dead lifts Chris up onto his shoulder once again. Callum, however, doesn't stay dead. He shoves with everything he has on Cosmo's chest while kicking his legs out behind him. Eventually he slides up and over to land behind the champion, and when Cosmo spins around he launches himself into a clothesline. Cooper drops, either on instinct or out of exhaustion, and Callum's arm and body soars harmlessly over head. Or....almost.
LO: GOD ALMIGHTY! COOPER DUCKED AND CHRIS CALLUM JUST TOOK CAPUTO'S HEAD OFF WITH THAT CLOTHESLINE!
KO: AHHH! WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW!
LO: Hopefully someone in the back can get another referee down here, but for now both competitors and the official are down in the ring!
KO: Yeah, but Callum is clawing to get to the ropes while Cosmo scoots on his bum towards the opposite side of the ring!
LO: These two men have been through a war here tonight, both bloodied and out of it...I just can't believe they have anymore energy to spend.
KO: Don't say that Laur, cause Cosmo and Chris just got back to their feet!
Cooper is up a step sooner than Callum, but it's still a shock to see that he has the energy left to charge at the man as he uses the ropes to hold himself upright. Because everything has slowed down, Callum gets one extra second to drop down and roll out of the ring as Cooper has to put on the brakes to keep from plowing into the ropes. Callum drops to his knees at ringside and checks his aching forehead that still oozes blood, as Cooper leans with both arms over the top rope desperately trying to get hold of the man.
KO: That's a veteran move by Callum right there! He got out of the ring before Cooper could attack, and now Cosmo is going to have to go back out there into no man's land after him.
LO: Maybe so, but just look at these too, Ken! They can barely stand...wait a minute? What is this?
KO: Uh-Oh...SECURITY! A FAN JUST JUMPED THE BARRICADE!
The over exuberant figure wearing a black hoodie slides into the ring behind Cosmo as the fans warn the champion loudly. Cooper looks around confused for a moment, and just when he's about to follow the pointing fingers with his eyes, he's spun around and blasted down to the canvas with a vicious RKO. The fan quickly rolls out on the side from where he came, reaches into his hoodie pocket and produces a bottle of water, and tosses it's contents onto the downed referee.
LO: WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!
KO: DIDN'T YOU RECOGNIZE THE MOVE!
LO: NO! NO!
As Caputo spits and sputters, shaken awake by the sudden dousing, the hooded figure quickly rushes out of ringside and up the ramp as Chris Callum claws at the apron, completely oblivious to what just happened. All he sees is Cosmo Cooper, The Apex Champion, lying in the center of the ring, and he pulls against the ropes to hoist himself back into the ring. Caputo uses the ropes herself to try and get back to her feet, looking around confusedly to try and figure out what happened. Callum stares down at Cosmo, then up to her, and then back to The Apex. Suddenly as if a light bulb has gone off in his head, he reaches down and drags Cooper up to his feet and slips behind him, lifts him up into a Wheelbarrow Position, and then drives him face first into the mat with a Face Buster!
LO: CHRIS-CROSS! CHRIS-CROSS TO COOPER, BUT THAT COMES AFTER THE...
KO: WHO CARES, LAUR! THERE'S THE HOOK OF THE LEG!
1...
2...
3!!!
LO: OH! MY! GOD!
KO: DIDN'T I TELL YOU, LAUR! CHRIS CALLUM IS THE ETERNAL!
LO: NO! CHRIS CALLUM JUST BECAME THE APEX!
The bell sounds as Callum falls off of Cooper and the brutality of the match finally catches up to him. He just lies there for a long moment beside his apprentice, his friend, his bitter enemy and allows the roaring crowd to drown out the buzzing in his own head.
RING ANNOUNCER: The winner of the match by pinfall, AND YOUR NEW APEX CHAMPION....CHRIS CALLUM!
At the top of the ramp the hooded figure watches the proceedings as the celebratory confetti rains down in the O2 Arena. All that can really be seen of his face at this vantage point is the lower half, which is peeled back into a huge sarcastic grin from ear to ear. A hand slowly but steadily reaches up to the hood, and with a yank he reveals himself to the world.
LO: I KNEW IT! I KNEW THAT WAS A FACE OFF EARLIER! FUCKING BRENNAN DEVLIN!
KO: WOW! I can't believe it, Laur....HE'S BACK!
Devlin turns that grin towards the camera that is right up in his face, and he winks just before saying..
BRENNAN DEVLIN: Told you Cooper, me and you forever...
And with that he turns quickly and escapes through the curtain. Meanwhile, back in the ring, EMT's have come from the side area around the amp to check on Cosmo while Callum is helped to sit up next to the ropes. He closes his eyes and lets his head lean back to take in a deep breath before turning his gaze down at the Apex Championship resting in his hands. He nods his head earnestly as he allows the referee and an EMT attendant help him onto his feet, and then he shrugs them aside to lean against the ropes and stare out at the capacity crowd going wild.
LO: This...I can't believe this. Brennan Devlin just stole this from them.
KO: What the hell are you talking about?
LO: He stole the Apex Championship from Cosmo Cooper....and he stole the undisputed clean victory from Chris Callum. This...god damn him.
KO: Oh quit your whining! Chris Callum is the new Apex Champion, JUST like I said he would be. Danny Rizzo beat Katya Djurdjevic in her last chance to take the title from him, JUST like I said he would. AND Devlin's back! It's wins all around, Laur!
LO: Oh yeah, it's such a huge win for us. Rizzo cheats Katya, Devlin cheats everyone. I don't blame Chris Callum for any of this. He doesn't have a clue. He still doesn't....just look at him.
KO: Yeah, he's king shit now. He beat Cooper. He's the new Apex.
LO: I don't think anyone can take anything away from the 200+ day Odyssey that was Cosmo Cooper's Apex Championship run or the things he's done for Valor Pro Wrestling. I think he's right. Even without the title, he'll always be The Apex.
KO: Yeah, well that's all well and good, but here.....tonight.....Chris Callum is THE ETERNAL!
LO: You're right, Ken. And what happens when Chris Callum finds out he was cheated out of his decisive victory over Cooper? That was the whole point for him. This was about more than just titles, and you know it.
KO: Well, I guess he'll just have to walk up to Brennan Devlin and give him a big ole' hug. It's what I'd do if I were him.
LO: That's just it, Ken. You aren't.
The Othello Brothers chatters cuts out after that and the camera focuses on Chris Callum standing in the center of the ring, Apex Championship being placed around his waist by the referee. Confetti continues to reign down as Caputo steps beside him, takes him by the wrist, and lifts his arm in victory. Everyone in the arena goes ballistic, all but one. Cosmo Cooper watches from the ramp where he has shoved the EMT's away from him. His expression isn't angry, it isn't even that upset. It's just blank. He continues to stare as the referee leads Callum around the ring to soak in the cheers and light boo's, and the camera focuses on the scene inside the ring before fading to the Battleground Network logo, then to the VPW logo, and then to black.