Post by Staff on Oct 7, 2018 13:05:15 GMT -5
The parking lot is all but empty, with the show just beginning a lot of the competitors are already inside, which makes the dark, fairly empty space the perfect location for Brodie. Leaning against the far wall, her foot kicked up against it and a cigarette hanging from her lips, she looks out at the parked cars standing a few feet away and smiles. Her eyes travel down to the white sheet beneath her feet, taped to the floor and just up against the wall, she sighs with a huff of smoke leaving her parted lips.
Brodie: Everyone’s a talker these days…
She grips the cigarette butt with her teeth, sucking in a drag and exhaling the smoke through her nose as she uses her hands to unravel a simple white painters mask.
Brodie: It’s not about show, it’s about tell. You’re gonna tell me what you can do before you can do it, last show, this show, next one too. It’s all about bravado with no aplomb, the great actors of the old stages would be horrified to see what we let this shit become.
She pushes off the wall and steps a little closer to the camera with a frown, letting the cigarette fall from her lips, her boot extinguishes the last of its light, just clear of the white sheer.
Brodie: Wrestlers And artists are a little alike, if a little was a lot and not at all, all at once, all ego and shit. Putting your work out there to be seen and judged, but turning deaf to the words you don’t like artists can’t sell paintings, wrestlers can fill seats, but still they’re paraded out like we should pay attention, like you’re really baring your souls. What souls? Souls sold to the devil in a promise you were never gonna keep.
She clucks her tongue, settling the mask over her face her words are somehow still prominent, as though the mask does nothing to muffle them as she turns back to the wall and scoops up a paint can.
Brodie: None alike, not quite like me… Guess that makes me special, daddy always said I was. Cause I only let you see what I want you to see, keep up, you’re all falling behind and I’m tired of waiting for you to sniff out breadcrumbs that lead to the truth, hiding in plain sight, for all to see but you’re still groping in the darkness like a blind man set upon an alleyway without a plan.
Her hand moves in time with her words, simple white paint begins to mark out her piece as she moves up and down the wall, simple shapes and wide details make it hard to see what she’s planning to cover the wall with, but she doesn’t break stride once.
Brodie: And its all a bit shit. Remember shit? Rydell was so full of it she forgot what she was saying half way through her little tape last time around, started stabbing in the dark hoping to hit a vein and how did that work out for her again? Oooh a failed debut against a nobody like me? Somebody sing the baby a lullaby because she’s gotta be wailing.
Bobbing on her toes, Brodie looks back at the camera with an exaggerated wink and a soft laugh.
Brodie: Don’t know me, can’t see me… How are you gonna put me down then kids? Did you think about that yet? Tryna catch a wild animal but setting the wrong traps, that’s alright, I don’t mind. All these big names falling past me while I climb a ladder not set up for me? Don’t mind if I do, don’t mind if you don’t, it’s all the same in the end really isn’t it?
When she turns to face the camera fully, the picture behind her on the wall is a giant white rabbit. Brodie starts to chuckle from behind the mask, tilting her head from side to side.
Brodie: I am the rabbit, catch me if you can.
Brodie: Everyone’s a talker these days…
She grips the cigarette butt with her teeth, sucking in a drag and exhaling the smoke through her nose as she uses her hands to unravel a simple white painters mask.
Brodie: It’s not about show, it’s about tell. You’re gonna tell me what you can do before you can do it, last show, this show, next one too. It’s all about bravado with no aplomb, the great actors of the old stages would be horrified to see what we let this shit become.
She pushes off the wall and steps a little closer to the camera with a frown, letting the cigarette fall from her lips, her boot extinguishes the last of its light, just clear of the white sheer.
Brodie: Wrestlers And artists are a little alike, if a little was a lot and not at all, all at once, all ego and shit. Putting your work out there to be seen and judged, but turning deaf to the words you don’t like artists can’t sell paintings, wrestlers can fill seats, but still they’re paraded out like we should pay attention, like you’re really baring your souls. What souls? Souls sold to the devil in a promise you were never gonna keep.
She clucks her tongue, settling the mask over her face her words are somehow still prominent, as though the mask does nothing to muffle them as she turns back to the wall and scoops up a paint can.
Brodie: None alike, not quite like me… Guess that makes me special, daddy always said I was. Cause I only let you see what I want you to see, keep up, you’re all falling behind and I’m tired of waiting for you to sniff out breadcrumbs that lead to the truth, hiding in plain sight, for all to see but you’re still groping in the darkness like a blind man set upon an alleyway without a plan.
Her hand moves in time with her words, simple white paint begins to mark out her piece as she moves up and down the wall, simple shapes and wide details make it hard to see what she’s planning to cover the wall with, but she doesn’t break stride once.
Brodie: And its all a bit shit. Remember shit? Rydell was so full of it she forgot what she was saying half way through her little tape last time around, started stabbing in the dark hoping to hit a vein and how did that work out for her again? Oooh a failed debut against a nobody like me? Somebody sing the baby a lullaby because she’s gotta be wailing.
Bobbing on her toes, Brodie looks back at the camera with an exaggerated wink and a soft laugh.
Brodie: Don’t know me, can’t see me… How are you gonna put me down then kids? Did you think about that yet? Tryna catch a wild animal but setting the wrong traps, that’s alright, I don’t mind. All these big names falling past me while I climb a ladder not set up for me? Don’t mind if I do, don’t mind if you don’t, it’s all the same in the end really isn’t it?
When she turns to face the camera fully, the picture behind her on the wall is a giant white rabbit. Brodie starts to chuckle from behind the mask, tilting her head from side to side.
Brodie: I am the rabbit, catch me if you can.
Kenneth Othello: Welcome fans to Flipping The Script Episode 4, where we are going to be recapping Valor Pro Wrestling's second Blitz show from the Gran Canaria Arena, in Las Palmas, Spain!
Laurence Othello: And who is we, Kenneth?
KO: (ha ha) We are your hosts, Kenneth Othello and Laurence Othello, the Othello Brothers!
LO: Folks, do we have a show for you. It's been a wild ride here in Las Palmas, where Ken and I have visited with fans and wrestlers alike. Nothing is hotter than VPW in this city at the moment.
KO: He's not lying. We have a Main Event on deck that was absolute chaos, and an undercard that nearly exploded before we could even get there.
LO: Not to mention, that opening segment from Brodie. She's not holding anything back when it comes to her fellow roster mates.
KO: That's just it, Laur. They might be members of the roster, but they certainly aren't mates. After everything that happened on this show, I think that has been established in spades.
LO: Well Kenneth, let's not hold the fans hostage any longer! Let's get on with the show!
Laurence Othello: And who is we, Kenneth?
KO: (ha ha) We are your hosts, Kenneth Othello and Laurence Othello, the Othello Brothers!
LO: Folks, do we have a show for you. It's been a wild ride here in Las Palmas, where Ken and I have visited with fans and wrestlers alike. Nothing is hotter than VPW in this city at the moment.
KO: He's not lying. We have a Main Event on deck that was absolute chaos, and an undercard that nearly exploded before we could even get there.
LO: Not to mention, that opening segment from Brodie. She's not holding anything back when it comes to her fellow roster mates.
KO: That's just it, Laur. They might be members of the roster, but they certainly aren't mates. After everything that happened on this show, I think that has been established in spades.
LO: Well Kenneth, let's not hold the fans hostage any longer! Let's get on with the show!
The cameras cut to the parking lot where a lithe figure dressed all in black has sheets across a small section of the parking lot, lining the furthest wall from the door. Her short black hair is bound to her head by the elastic of a stark white face mask, that stands out in the dim lighting of the lot. A soft hissing sound and the scruff of her boots against the cement are the only sounds to be heard. She drags the paint can mere inches from the wall before stepping back, dropping the can in her hand to her side and tilts her head up to admire her work.
The entire scene is hues of blue and grey, no other colors exist on the wall but the scene depicts burning hellfires, the anguished screams on the faces of pale blue souls as they writhe in the icy flames staring out from their place on the wall. Brodie grabs the mask from her face and tosses it to the floor, eyes narrowed admiring her piece she appears lost in her own little world until the start of a second set of footprints has her on alert.
Voice: Well, well, well…..what in Picasso’s name do we have here? A little Van Gogh painting the walls? How cute…
The deep voice forces her to turn and face the music, sounds of slow capping heard off screen leaving fans and viewers alike confused. Before long, Joel Hawkfield enters the shot with a smug look on his face as he examines the art on the wall. Curiously he strokes his beard, the demeanor of his face changing into something more serious and analytical the more he continues to look over the artwork.
Joel H: To be fair, this isn’t too, too bad. If there was a smidge of crimson and more detailed screams then maybe this would look better but what can you do? All artists have their own tastes and usually, there’s nothing wrong with that. This, however…
He shakes his head in shame, clicking his gums together whilst folding his arms over his chest.
Joel H: ...let’s just say some choice words are better left unsaid for a bland, rookie artist like yourself, little miss.
Joel stuffs his hands into his pockets continuing to stare at the painting, his attention now completely diverted from Brodie.
Brodie turns on her heels to look up at Joel with a curious smirk on her face, her fingers dance up and down the can of paint in her hand as she cocks her head off to the left.
Brodie: Oh, you’re one of those…
She sounds almost amused as she runs the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip before biting into it with an exhaled sigh through her nose.
Brodie: I could add a little crimson if you’re offering to donate…?
She steps up a little closer to him, pressing her forefinger against a particularly visible vein in his arm she quirks her brows, looking absolutely thrilled at the prospect.
Brodie: ...Or they can scrape it up off the canvas for me later, it’s your choice really.
A stifled laugh emits from the resident brute, casually brushing the young woman’s finger off his arm. Rather sinisterly, he flashes a smile at her along with his eyes possessing the look of malicious intent as he clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
Joel H: Oh honey...if you’re gonna talk dirty like that to someone save it for the bedroom. Not exactly one’s best interest to hit on a colleague and especially an older gentleman like myself...then again…
He chuckles at the thought.
Joel H: ...you youngins always knew how to rile up us older folk in some manner.
He cracks his neck, each accompanied by a faint chuckle before settling into a sinister, low-pitched laugh. Looking at the young artist, his eyes narrow at her with interest, trying to gauge her reaction but to no avail. Shaking his head, he gives her a few rough pats on the shoulder, somewhat stepping off to the side as he does so.
Joel H: A message for you, oh little Dali: ‘Round this company, what goes on back here is up to anyone. Paint the walls, graffiti the bathrooms, lockers, trash the place, it’s all whatever. In the ring, however, that’s where I take control of the brush. I become the lead painter and what I do, you follow, whether by choice or by force. There is no “let the brush do the work” in the ring like what you probably follow when you’re making your mediocre pieces out here in parking lots or backstage corridors. Out there, I’m the one always in control when it comes to putting on a display of art.
Another devilish grin graces his lips.
Joel H: Oh, and that offer you made, I’ll make sure medics are on standby for when I’m done with you. By the way, that work you have there is a 3/10 at best. Keep on trying, little miss, and don’t disappoint.
Laughing to himself, Joel turns to make an exit but instead stops in his stride, taking his vape pen out and taking a big hit on it, exhaling a rather large cloud accompanied by another laugh.
A twisted smile crosses her lips as she sidles up alongside him with a dramatic sigh, turning on her heels she all but dances around him, discarding the paint can and watching it rattle across the concrete floor she muses.
Brodie: It’s all the same for you old hats isn’t it? Sexualize and intimidate, no mastery, no originality… Nobody appreciates flair anymore!
Coming to stop in front of him once again she pulls the vape pen from his fingers and turns her nose up slightly.
Brodie: I don’t need advice from an abject failure pumping chemicals into his body in hopes of retaining some of the act tough without the risk of cancer clogging u9 needless cells that’ll burn out and die anyway… You want to talk about who leads who but here you sit, wondering into my little corner of the world and to what? Make lazy metaphors that turn momentary work into veiled threats?
She mocks the click of his tongue with one of her own, giggling in a malicious way and pushing up on her toes to meet his gaze with her own.
Brodie: A’s for talking dirty? I could do things to you that would make your toes curl up and your hairline grow back, you wouldn’t even know how to pronounce the games I like to play but alas… big ugly brutes aren’t really my aesthetic so.
She fakes a pout, dropping back into her heels with an excessive flutter of her eyelashes, holding the vape pen up to him.
Brodie: Thanks for the critique old man, now take your vape pen… and your vitamins and try to make it out to the ring for me, would you?
Joel simply stares at his possession in the woman’s hand, his eyes speaking complete confusion. With a quiet exhale, a slight smile crosses his lips followed by a slight laugh.
Joel H: You certainly got the spark I once had when I was your age, kiddo. If only I was wiser back then and realized many, many things much sooner I probably wouldn’t have had my ass kicked around so much but the past is the past. Ah, what am I saying? You probably don’t care what this aging artist has to say at this point, do you? Oh well. ‘Scuse me while I depart for the ring because you know...
He reaches for the vape pen, his fingertips making the slightest bit of contact with the object before his hand engulfs it...along with a bit of Brodie’s hand. He pulls her slightly forward, lowering his head next to her ear.
Joel H: Anything for the lady...just don’t be late.
In a flash, he nimbly removes the vape pen from her hand, stuffing it back into his pocket. Giving one last final smirk, he starts to walk off whistling to himself but faint words can still be heard in a rather musical manner…
Joel: “♪ Butterfly flies, she soars across the sky, she carries all her dreams, but the world has turned away. Butterfly’s high, high up in the sky, out of reach and sight, where no one’s ever tried. Butterfly falls, she doesn’t have her wings, she believes she can still fly, still no one looks her way. Butterfly’s alone, nobody understands, why she wants to try and fly ♪”
Unexpectedly, a rather light-hearted laugh emits from the big guy as he disappears from the shot, leaving Brodie to herself in the parking lot as the sound of a door closing echoes in the background.
Stepping back she watches him leave with an unimpressed glare, flipping him off directing her finger to the back of his head. She then turns and swipes up the paint can, spinning back to her work on the wall and muttering under her breath.
The entire scene is hues of blue and grey, no other colors exist on the wall but the scene depicts burning hellfires, the anguished screams on the faces of pale blue souls as they writhe in the icy flames staring out from their place on the wall. Brodie grabs the mask from her face and tosses it to the floor, eyes narrowed admiring her piece she appears lost in her own little world until the start of a second set of footprints has her on alert.
Voice: Well, well, well…..what in Picasso’s name do we have here? A little Van Gogh painting the walls? How cute…
The deep voice forces her to turn and face the music, sounds of slow capping heard off screen leaving fans and viewers alike confused. Before long, Joel Hawkfield enters the shot with a smug look on his face as he examines the art on the wall. Curiously he strokes his beard, the demeanor of his face changing into something more serious and analytical the more he continues to look over the artwork.
Joel H: To be fair, this isn’t too, too bad. If there was a smidge of crimson and more detailed screams then maybe this would look better but what can you do? All artists have their own tastes and usually, there’s nothing wrong with that. This, however…
He shakes his head in shame, clicking his gums together whilst folding his arms over his chest.
Joel H: ...let’s just say some choice words are better left unsaid for a bland, rookie artist like yourself, little miss.
Joel stuffs his hands into his pockets continuing to stare at the painting, his attention now completely diverted from Brodie.
Brodie turns on her heels to look up at Joel with a curious smirk on her face, her fingers dance up and down the can of paint in her hand as she cocks her head off to the left.
Brodie: Oh, you’re one of those…
She sounds almost amused as she runs the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip before biting into it with an exhaled sigh through her nose.
Brodie: I could add a little crimson if you’re offering to donate…?
She steps up a little closer to him, pressing her forefinger against a particularly visible vein in his arm she quirks her brows, looking absolutely thrilled at the prospect.
Brodie: ...Or they can scrape it up off the canvas for me later, it’s your choice really.
A stifled laugh emits from the resident brute, casually brushing the young woman’s finger off his arm. Rather sinisterly, he flashes a smile at her along with his eyes possessing the look of malicious intent as he clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
Joel H: Oh honey...if you’re gonna talk dirty like that to someone save it for the bedroom. Not exactly one’s best interest to hit on a colleague and especially an older gentleman like myself...then again…
He chuckles at the thought.
Joel H: ...you youngins always knew how to rile up us older folk in some manner.
He cracks his neck, each accompanied by a faint chuckle before settling into a sinister, low-pitched laugh. Looking at the young artist, his eyes narrow at her with interest, trying to gauge her reaction but to no avail. Shaking his head, he gives her a few rough pats on the shoulder, somewhat stepping off to the side as he does so.
Joel H: A message for you, oh little Dali: ‘Round this company, what goes on back here is up to anyone. Paint the walls, graffiti the bathrooms, lockers, trash the place, it’s all whatever. In the ring, however, that’s where I take control of the brush. I become the lead painter and what I do, you follow, whether by choice or by force. There is no “let the brush do the work” in the ring like what you probably follow when you’re making your mediocre pieces out here in parking lots or backstage corridors. Out there, I’m the one always in control when it comes to putting on a display of art.
Another devilish grin graces his lips.
Joel H: Oh, and that offer you made, I’ll make sure medics are on standby for when I’m done with you. By the way, that work you have there is a 3/10 at best. Keep on trying, little miss, and don’t disappoint.
Laughing to himself, Joel turns to make an exit but instead stops in his stride, taking his vape pen out and taking a big hit on it, exhaling a rather large cloud accompanied by another laugh.
A twisted smile crosses her lips as she sidles up alongside him with a dramatic sigh, turning on her heels she all but dances around him, discarding the paint can and watching it rattle across the concrete floor she muses.
Brodie: It’s all the same for you old hats isn’t it? Sexualize and intimidate, no mastery, no originality… Nobody appreciates flair anymore!
Coming to stop in front of him once again she pulls the vape pen from his fingers and turns her nose up slightly.
Brodie: I don’t need advice from an abject failure pumping chemicals into his body in hopes of retaining some of the act tough without the risk of cancer clogging u9 needless cells that’ll burn out and die anyway… You want to talk about who leads who but here you sit, wondering into my little corner of the world and to what? Make lazy metaphors that turn momentary work into veiled threats?
She mocks the click of his tongue with one of her own, giggling in a malicious way and pushing up on her toes to meet his gaze with her own.
Brodie: A’s for talking dirty? I could do things to you that would make your toes curl up and your hairline grow back, you wouldn’t even know how to pronounce the games I like to play but alas… big ugly brutes aren’t really my aesthetic so.
She fakes a pout, dropping back into her heels with an excessive flutter of her eyelashes, holding the vape pen up to him.
Brodie: Thanks for the critique old man, now take your vape pen… and your vitamins and try to make it out to the ring for me, would you?
Joel simply stares at his possession in the woman’s hand, his eyes speaking complete confusion. With a quiet exhale, a slight smile crosses his lips followed by a slight laugh.
Joel H: You certainly got the spark I once had when I was your age, kiddo. If only I was wiser back then and realized many, many things much sooner I probably wouldn’t have had my ass kicked around so much but the past is the past. Ah, what am I saying? You probably don’t care what this aging artist has to say at this point, do you? Oh well. ‘Scuse me while I depart for the ring because you know...
He reaches for the vape pen, his fingertips making the slightest bit of contact with the object before his hand engulfs it...along with a bit of Brodie’s hand. He pulls her slightly forward, lowering his head next to her ear.
Joel H: Anything for the lady...just don’t be late.
In a flash, he nimbly removes the vape pen from her hand, stuffing it back into his pocket. Giving one last final smirk, he starts to walk off whistling to himself but faint words can still be heard in a rather musical manner…
Joel: “♪ Butterfly flies, she soars across the sky, she carries all her dreams, but the world has turned away. Butterfly’s high, high up in the sky, out of reach and sight, where no one’s ever tried. Butterfly falls, she doesn’t have her wings, she believes she can still fly, still no one looks her way. Butterfly’s alone, nobody understands, why she wants to try and fly ♪”
Unexpectedly, a rather light-hearted laugh emits from the big guy as he disappears from the shot, leaving Brodie to herself in the parking lot as the sound of a door closing echoes in the background.
Stepping back she watches him leave with an unimpressed glare, flipping him off directing her finger to the back of his head. She then turns and swipes up the paint can, spinning back to her work on the wall and muttering under her breath.
LO: Let’s just get right into this thing, first match up, and I’ll tell you something this is one of my favorite type of matches.
KO: Look out, fans, Laurence has a wrestling hard-on.
LO: I’m serious. Way back at our exhibition show, we came across a, what would you call it--
KO: ..?
LO: --a meeting of the minds?
KO: Sure…
LO: Work with me here. So we first met Zachariah Krähe and Siberia Zombie as potential, what, sparring partners?
KO: Something, sure. It wasn’t your usual instant wrestling rivalry. I mean Zach was a late signing and didn’t get booked.
LO: Regardless of the specifics, these two met way back when, and are coming back together now, for this match, and you know that when there’s any type of history involved, regardless of whether they hate each other, love each other, best friends, worst enemies--
KO: --Whatever--
LO: Exactly. Whatever. It’s going to be a good match if they use their history as some type of fuel.
KO: Absolutely. Now Zach Krähe didn’t show his best colors his first time at bat.
LO: Arguably neither did Siberia Zombie. She was knocked out of contention for a belt due to--
KO: Joel Hawkfield’s “bloody artistry”.
LO: That’s one way of putting it.
KO: It’s how he puts it.
LO: This time? It’s these two, a woman who Zach Krähe might actually respect, and who, in her own right, is still finding her stride in Valor Pro.
KO: She’s still getting her feet under her. Which isn’t a knock. If she’s building off the foundation she already has, it’s a damn fine start.
LO: So let’s get to when these two finally lock up…
A shot of a staredown between the two. Krähe and Siberia at odds at either side of the ring with one another, looking apprehensive while the referee looks to either one of them, as if trying to psychically compel them to grapple.
KO: Finally. It took a minute or two.
LO: There’s a lot of components already built into this match.
KO: Could be more
LO: (Laughs) Could always be more with you. But they already had something to build off, this isn’t two people coming together for the first time. They had to test the waters, feel each other out a bit.
In the stands, the crowd’s volume level is ramping up as the two circle, go in for a tie up, which Zach immediately pulls out of, acting like he had an improper grip. Then he lunges in for another tie-up. Siberia braces into him and the two power back and forth before Krähe pulls himself away with a smirk, Siberia Zombie looks irritated as Krähe says a few antagonizing remarks the camera’s audio doesn’t pick up..
KO: He’s chirping her.
LO: Well, yeah. Krähe. Crow. This is a man who has a sardonic little smirk on his face no matter how you find him.
KO: A guy like this tests your mental endurance. For Siberia Zombie it’s the perfect test. She’s got an in-ring purpose you won’t find in many across the sport.
LO: It’s all in how focused she is on any given day though. A big enough distraction and she’s liable to tip and fall over.
KO: And that gets put to the test against Krähe.
After tense moments of tie-up attempts that go nowhere, they finally lock up in an exchange of arm drags and shoulder blocks and leap frogs all ending in a stalemate.
LO: Krähe went into this thing already thinking pretty highly of Siberia--
KO: Not sure this guy thinks highly of anyone.
LO: I think Siberia is one of the few who won’t condescend to.
KO: That’s something that’ll win him plenty of locker room friends.
A shot of a stiff european upper cut series from Krähe before he sends Siberia Zombie for the corner, and chases her in and slams a corner clothesline. Zach intends to throw some more weight around but Siberia Zombie swiftly arm drags a rushing Zachariah Krähe over and transfers fluidly into an arm bar that Krähe fights his way out of setting the competitors back at square one.
KO: Nice back and forth. Evenly traded sequences. Neither wrestler getting a foothold early. First five minutes? This thing was a mental test of wits more than anything physical.
LO: And the crowd was along for the ride. One thing I really like about this Krähe kid is he isn’t resigned to one style. He switches things up, tries new things, never sticks to a tactic. Look at this.
A shot of Krähe rebounding off the ropes and swinging a wicked roundhouse kick for Siberia Zombie’s head which she ducks but in the motion Krähe brings Zombie down with an impromptu bulldog he transfers into a cross face.
KO: It’s sloppy, lazy, but points for effort.
LO: That’s still going to hurt no matter how much he half asses it.
KO: I agree with you. Zach comes off as a bit of a smart ass who could likely do any one style well, but keeps himself from only doing one style. You know?
LO: And it had Siberia Zombie second guessing herself after a while.
A shot of Siberia Zombie catching Krähe off-guard and angling him for a back body drop that Krähe rolls over the back of her and lands behind her. Zombie wastes no time rushing for the ropes and returning for a DDT that Krähe turns into a bridging suplex pin!
LO: Sloppy, but effective.
KO: Can’t last though.
LO: No, it can’t. It never can. For every thing Krähe was doing right, and there’s a lot, he’s still up against a competitor who’s cut her teeth in some tough matches against some top competitors in this sport.
KO: Only a matter of time before she swung this match in her favor.
A shot of Siberia Zombie being irish whipped off the ropes, and Zach Krähe expecting the rebound but not the vicious spear Siberia hits him with.
LO: That’s a lot of force she’s packing there.
KO: (Laughs) It’s not what you’d be expecting from a woman her size, no.
LO: And you’re not expecting this, either.
From the ground, Siberia hooks Zach into a rolling triple gut wrench suplex and she covers.
1…
2..
LO: Zach’s the king of the near fall.
KO: There was a few of them. Siberia Zombie is capable of pulling a lot of weight. She’s got a lot of technique behind her. You do it right, and half the weight you don’t even have to lift, it’s all momentum and physics.
A clip of Siberia Zombie hitting Zach with a creative double underhook powerbomb pinning combo!
1…
2..
LO: Nothing doing though.
KO: Krähe must have a motor, or an extra battery pack, or something, cause it’s like no matter how many times Siberia looks to have him put away he gets a shoulder up, or a leg on the ropes, or something.
LO: Easy to get frustrated against a guy like that. Krähe’s not so much hitting her with his offense, he’s exhausting her with her own.
A shot of Zach Krähe rolling out to the outside from under the ropes, turns and catches a crowd-roaring soaring tope suicida from Siberia Zombie, the impact of which seems to wind both wrestlers.
KO: I love it. I absolutely love it.
LO: Siberia Zombie is so good at picking her spots. Not a single one goes to waste. She gets all of it. Watch this.
An impressive shot of Siberia Zombie rushing up the ring steps and slamming Krähe down on the outside once more with a hurricanarana that leaves them both breathing heavy on the concrete floor.
KO: And she’s not done.
LO: Never done. Offense went into overdrive. Siberia showed exactly why she’s the number one contender for the Monarch Championship.
Inside the ring, it’s a shot of a series of haymakers that stuns Krähe, Siberia rushes for the ropes charges and hits a picture perfect sunset flip!
1…
2..
KO: It’s amazing how many times Krähe kicks out. I was counting.
LO: How many?
KO: Well watch. It’s over 20.
Coming off a pin attempt Siberia Zombie hits two standing moonsaults in a row, each with it’s own pin attempt!
1..
2..
LO: Keeps kicking out.
KO: And the wear and tear is showing on Siberia Zombie.
LO: Great for the crowd though.
The crowd’s volume is intense as Zombie’s offense ramps up exponentially, only with Krähe to kick out. A clip of him rolling through a schoolboy pin to press Siberia down for a pin of his own which she kicks out of at 1!
KO: You could really see Zombie getting worked up.
LO: Wouldn’t you? Facing off against some guy who won’t stay down?
A clip of Krähe exchanging blows with Zombie, irish whipping her into the corner, rushing in after her only for her to evade sending him face first into the turnbuckle, on the rebound she downs him with a sitout facebuster and hooks the leg once more! The crowd counts along expecting this to be it!
1..
2…
3---
LO: So. Damn. Close!
KO: (Laughs) And you can see it on her face.
A shot of Siberia Zombie arguing with the official. She thinks she had the cover, the official disagrees, leaving room for Krähe to roll her up for a cover!
1..
2..
3--
Zombie kicks out last second!
KO: This is why you had that wrestling hard-on.
LO: (Laughs) Yes! What is it, fifteen minutes in?
KO: Or thereabouts, yeah.
LO: But Krähe keeps going.
A shot of Krähe hitting a stiff uppercut on Siberia Zombie, a knee to the midsection a quick snap suplex that leaves them both exhausted on the canvas. Krähe stirs first but their both climbing to their knees.
KO: And there’s not a single person in the crowd sitting down (laughs)
LO: Great opener.
Another exchange in the corner, Krähe has Zombie in the corner, only for Siberia to duck a lariat and turn the tables, setting Zach in the corner with a few midsection kicks before Krähe hooks a leg and hits her with a dragon screw that Zombie rolls through on and slams a super kick into a rapidly rising Krähe, and again they’re both down breathing heavy on the canvas.
LO: I love it. I absolutely love it. Every exchange is a trade, it’s transactional, these two were highlighting exactly all the things that are great about this sport right now.
KO: You’ll find no argument here.
Another exchange, this time Krähe aims a boot for Zombie’s midsection, she spins him around, does her own kick and to everyone’s surprise puts him into the gory special!
KO: Stunning. Flawless execution.
LO: But she’s not done.
The clip carriers through with Zombie finishing Krähe off with the Gory bomb and hooks the leg!
1…
2..
3--
Zombie can’t believe it.
KO: Wouldn’t you just snap? After all that? That’s his twenty-third kickout.
LO: After her finisher.
KO: I’d snap. (laughs)
LO: Like what’s it gonna take to put him down, she’s thinking.
Krähe struggles to his feet with Siberia, once more, arguing with the referee about the cover. Seeing Zach on his feet, she quickly moves in and locks on a painful-looking octopus hold!
KO: Nowhere to go!
LO: There’s always nowhere to go… until there is somewhere to go (laughs)
Krähe is fading fast as Zombie pours on pressure in the octopus hold. Krähe, somehow, is powering through it, inch by inch towards the ropes. The crowd is roaring as it looks like Krähe won’t make it. How’s he going to get out of this? He kicks the middle rope and knocks them backward! Toppling them both to the canvas! Zombie still has the octopus hold locked on tight! But In a sudden rush of momentum Krähe rolls through the movement and winds up with Zombie’s shoulders down on the canvas with the hold still locked on!
1…
2…
3!!!
KO: And Krähe wins it!
LO: No wait.
Last minute, with Krähe’s arm raised, another official rushes the ring to set the other official straight.
KO: Arguing officials.
LO: It’s a tough call. I mean… it’s an unorthodox cover, but…
KO: Shoulders were down.
LO: Yeah, but… Krähe was tapping.
Indeed, while the audio is spotty, on the screen over the ramp, the official is pointing to a replay highlighting that Krähe was tapping out before the three count.
KO: Making it complicated (laughs).
The other official raises Zombie’s hand.
The other official says it’s Krähe.
LO: I like this because the one official has a goatee like he’s an evil official from a star trek mirror universe.
KO: Your nerd is showing.
LO: Whatever.
Krähe and Zombie both look to have won this. The in-ring official is entirely certain he’s made the right call. The argument continues with the crowd just as uncertain. Krähe makes a snide, off-audio, comment at Zombie that sets a tired Siberia Zombie off. She goes to the outside while the officials are still arguing and grabs a steel chair. At sight of the chair Krähe rolls out of the ring and the referees are suddenly looking at an angry Siberia Zombie holding a steel chair. Tense moments of Siberia informing them she knows Krähe tapped, the one official tells her Krähe didn’t tap, and Zombie takes them both out with the steel chair with Zach Krähe high-tailing it up the ramp, turning and giving Zombie one last look before exiting.
KO: By god I love it. She took both referees out.
LO: Cost her the match!
KO: Yeah, but she wins a moral victory. She had Krähe dead to rights.
LO: Either way you spin that, they both come out of it with pretty much what constitutes a victory.
KO: And it isn’t over.
LO: Not by a long shot.
KO: Look out, fans, Laurence has a wrestling hard-on.
LO: I’m serious. Way back at our exhibition show, we came across a, what would you call it--
KO: ..?
LO: --a meeting of the minds?
KO: Sure…
LO: Work with me here. So we first met Zachariah Krähe and Siberia Zombie as potential, what, sparring partners?
KO: Something, sure. It wasn’t your usual instant wrestling rivalry. I mean Zach was a late signing and didn’t get booked.
LO: Regardless of the specifics, these two met way back when, and are coming back together now, for this match, and you know that when there’s any type of history involved, regardless of whether they hate each other, love each other, best friends, worst enemies--
KO: --Whatever--
LO: Exactly. Whatever. It’s going to be a good match if they use their history as some type of fuel.
KO: Absolutely. Now Zach Krähe didn’t show his best colors his first time at bat.
LO: Arguably neither did Siberia Zombie. She was knocked out of contention for a belt due to--
KO: Joel Hawkfield’s “bloody artistry”.
LO: That’s one way of putting it.
KO: It’s how he puts it.
LO: This time? It’s these two, a woman who Zach Krähe might actually respect, and who, in her own right, is still finding her stride in Valor Pro.
KO: She’s still getting her feet under her. Which isn’t a knock. If she’s building off the foundation she already has, it’s a damn fine start.
LO: So let’s get to when these two finally lock up…
A shot of a staredown between the two. Krähe and Siberia at odds at either side of the ring with one another, looking apprehensive while the referee looks to either one of them, as if trying to psychically compel them to grapple.
KO: Finally. It took a minute or two.
LO: There’s a lot of components already built into this match.
KO: Could be more
LO: (Laughs) Could always be more with you. But they already had something to build off, this isn’t two people coming together for the first time. They had to test the waters, feel each other out a bit.
In the stands, the crowd’s volume level is ramping up as the two circle, go in for a tie up, which Zach immediately pulls out of, acting like he had an improper grip. Then he lunges in for another tie-up. Siberia braces into him and the two power back and forth before Krähe pulls himself away with a smirk, Siberia Zombie looks irritated as Krähe says a few antagonizing remarks the camera’s audio doesn’t pick up..
KO: He’s chirping her.
LO: Well, yeah. Krähe. Crow. This is a man who has a sardonic little smirk on his face no matter how you find him.
KO: A guy like this tests your mental endurance. For Siberia Zombie it’s the perfect test. She’s got an in-ring purpose you won’t find in many across the sport.
LO: It’s all in how focused she is on any given day though. A big enough distraction and she’s liable to tip and fall over.
KO: And that gets put to the test against Krähe.
After tense moments of tie-up attempts that go nowhere, they finally lock up in an exchange of arm drags and shoulder blocks and leap frogs all ending in a stalemate.
LO: Krähe went into this thing already thinking pretty highly of Siberia--
KO: Not sure this guy thinks highly of anyone.
LO: I think Siberia is one of the few who won’t condescend to.
KO: That’s something that’ll win him plenty of locker room friends.
A shot of a stiff european upper cut series from Krähe before he sends Siberia Zombie for the corner, and chases her in and slams a corner clothesline. Zach intends to throw some more weight around but Siberia Zombie swiftly arm drags a rushing Zachariah Krähe over and transfers fluidly into an arm bar that Krähe fights his way out of setting the competitors back at square one.
KO: Nice back and forth. Evenly traded sequences. Neither wrestler getting a foothold early. First five minutes? This thing was a mental test of wits more than anything physical.
LO: And the crowd was along for the ride. One thing I really like about this Krähe kid is he isn’t resigned to one style. He switches things up, tries new things, never sticks to a tactic. Look at this.
A shot of Krähe rebounding off the ropes and swinging a wicked roundhouse kick for Siberia Zombie’s head which she ducks but in the motion Krähe brings Zombie down with an impromptu bulldog he transfers into a cross face.
KO: It’s sloppy, lazy, but points for effort.
LO: That’s still going to hurt no matter how much he half asses it.
KO: I agree with you. Zach comes off as a bit of a smart ass who could likely do any one style well, but keeps himself from only doing one style. You know?
LO: And it had Siberia Zombie second guessing herself after a while.
A shot of Siberia Zombie catching Krähe off-guard and angling him for a back body drop that Krähe rolls over the back of her and lands behind her. Zombie wastes no time rushing for the ropes and returning for a DDT that Krähe turns into a bridging suplex pin!
LO: Sloppy, but effective.
KO: Can’t last though.
LO: No, it can’t. It never can. For every thing Krähe was doing right, and there’s a lot, he’s still up against a competitor who’s cut her teeth in some tough matches against some top competitors in this sport.
KO: Only a matter of time before she swung this match in her favor.
A shot of Siberia Zombie being irish whipped off the ropes, and Zach Krähe expecting the rebound but not the vicious spear Siberia hits him with.
LO: That’s a lot of force she’s packing there.
KO: (Laughs) It’s not what you’d be expecting from a woman her size, no.
LO: And you’re not expecting this, either.
From the ground, Siberia hooks Zach into a rolling triple gut wrench suplex and she covers.
1…
2..
LO: Zach’s the king of the near fall.
KO: There was a few of them. Siberia Zombie is capable of pulling a lot of weight. She’s got a lot of technique behind her. You do it right, and half the weight you don’t even have to lift, it’s all momentum and physics.
A clip of Siberia Zombie hitting Zach with a creative double underhook powerbomb pinning combo!
1…
2..
LO: Nothing doing though.
KO: Krähe must have a motor, or an extra battery pack, or something, cause it’s like no matter how many times Siberia looks to have him put away he gets a shoulder up, or a leg on the ropes, or something.
LO: Easy to get frustrated against a guy like that. Krähe’s not so much hitting her with his offense, he’s exhausting her with her own.
A shot of Zach Krähe rolling out to the outside from under the ropes, turns and catches a crowd-roaring soaring tope suicida from Siberia Zombie, the impact of which seems to wind both wrestlers.
KO: I love it. I absolutely love it.
LO: Siberia Zombie is so good at picking her spots. Not a single one goes to waste. She gets all of it. Watch this.
An impressive shot of Siberia Zombie rushing up the ring steps and slamming Krähe down on the outside once more with a hurricanarana that leaves them both breathing heavy on the concrete floor.
KO: And she’s not done.
LO: Never done. Offense went into overdrive. Siberia showed exactly why she’s the number one contender for the Monarch Championship.
Inside the ring, it’s a shot of a series of haymakers that stuns Krähe, Siberia rushes for the ropes charges and hits a picture perfect sunset flip!
1…
2..
KO: It’s amazing how many times Krähe kicks out. I was counting.
LO: How many?
KO: Well watch. It’s over 20.
Coming off a pin attempt Siberia Zombie hits two standing moonsaults in a row, each with it’s own pin attempt!
1..
2..
LO: Keeps kicking out.
KO: And the wear and tear is showing on Siberia Zombie.
LO: Great for the crowd though.
The crowd’s volume is intense as Zombie’s offense ramps up exponentially, only with Krähe to kick out. A clip of him rolling through a schoolboy pin to press Siberia down for a pin of his own which she kicks out of at 1!
KO: You could really see Zombie getting worked up.
LO: Wouldn’t you? Facing off against some guy who won’t stay down?
A clip of Krähe exchanging blows with Zombie, irish whipping her into the corner, rushing in after her only for her to evade sending him face first into the turnbuckle, on the rebound she downs him with a sitout facebuster and hooks the leg once more! The crowd counts along expecting this to be it!
1..
2…
3---
LO: So. Damn. Close!
KO: (Laughs) And you can see it on her face.
A shot of Siberia Zombie arguing with the official. She thinks she had the cover, the official disagrees, leaving room for Krähe to roll her up for a cover!
1..
2..
3--
Zombie kicks out last second!
KO: This is why you had that wrestling hard-on.
LO: (Laughs) Yes! What is it, fifteen minutes in?
KO: Or thereabouts, yeah.
LO: But Krähe keeps going.
A shot of Krähe hitting a stiff uppercut on Siberia Zombie, a knee to the midsection a quick snap suplex that leaves them both exhausted on the canvas. Krähe stirs first but their both climbing to their knees.
KO: And there’s not a single person in the crowd sitting down (laughs)
LO: Great opener.
Another exchange in the corner, Krähe has Zombie in the corner, only for Siberia to duck a lariat and turn the tables, setting Zach in the corner with a few midsection kicks before Krähe hooks a leg and hits her with a dragon screw that Zombie rolls through on and slams a super kick into a rapidly rising Krähe, and again they’re both down breathing heavy on the canvas.
LO: I love it. I absolutely love it. Every exchange is a trade, it’s transactional, these two were highlighting exactly all the things that are great about this sport right now.
KO: You’ll find no argument here.
Another exchange, this time Krähe aims a boot for Zombie’s midsection, she spins him around, does her own kick and to everyone’s surprise puts him into the gory special!
KO: Stunning. Flawless execution.
LO: But she’s not done.
The clip carriers through with Zombie finishing Krähe off with the Gory bomb and hooks the leg!
1…
2..
3--
Zombie can’t believe it.
KO: Wouldn’t you just snap? After all that? That’s his twenty-third kickout.
LO: After her finisher.
KO: I’d snap. (laughs)
LO: Like what’s it gonna take to put him down, she’s thinking.
Krähe struggles to his feet with Siberia, once more, arguing with the referee about the cover. Seeing Zach on his feet, she quickly moves in and locks on a painful-looking octopus hold!
KO: Nowhere to go!
LO: There’s always nowhere to go… until there is somewhere to go (laughs)
Krähe is fading fast as Zombie pours on pressure in the octopus hold. Krähe, somehow, is powering through it, inch by inch towards the ropes. The crowd is roaring as it looks like Krähe won’t make it. How’s he going to get out of this? He kicks the middle rope and knocks them backward! Toppling them both to the canvas! Zombie still has the octopus hold locked on tight! But In a sudden rush of momentum Krähe rolls through the movement and winds up with Zombie’s shoulders down on the canvas with the hold still locked on!
1…
2…
3!!!
KO: And Krähe wins it!
LO: No wait.
Last minute, with Krähe’s arm raised, another official rushes the ring to set the other official straight.
KO: Arguing officials.
LO: It’s a tough call. I mean… it’s an unorthodox cover, but…
KO: Shoulders were down.
LO: Yeah, but… Krähe was tapping.
Indeed, while the audio is spotty, on the screen over the ramp, the official is pointing to a replay highlighting that Krähe was tapping out before the three count.
KO: Making it complicated (laughs).
The other official raises Zombie’s hand.
The other official says it’s Krähe.
LO: I like this because the one official has a goatee like he’s an evil official from a star trek mirror universe.
KO: Your nerd is showing.
LO: Whatever.
Krähe and Zombie both look to have won this. The in-ring official is entirely certain he’s made the right call. The argument continues with the crowd just as uncertain. Krähe makes a snide, off-audio, comment at Zombie that sets a tired Siberia Zombie off. She goes to the outside while the officials are still arguing and grabs a steel chair. At sight of the chair Krähe rolls out of the ring and the referees are suddenly looking at an angry Siberia Zombie holding a steel chair. Tense moments of Siberia informing them she knows Krähe tapped, the one official tells her Krähe didn’t tap, and Zombie takes them both out with the steel chair with Zach Krähe high-tailing it up the ramp, turning and giving Zombie one last look before exiting.
KO: By god I love it. She took both referees out.
LO: Cost her the match!
KO: Yeah, but she wins a moral victory. She had Krähe dead to rights.
LO: Either way you spin that, they both come out of it with pretty much what constitutes a victory.
KO: And it isn’t over.
LO: Not by a long shot.
Winner: Krähe by DQ (21:36)
Othello Verdict: 1/2
Othello Verdict: 1/2
“The reckoning is coming. A haze of superiority has lulled both fans and competitors into a false sense of security. You all think that this earth, this society, and ultimately humanity can sustain itself, but you’re wrong. The grass, the trees, the very blue sky you ignore whilst staring into your smartphones will one day disappear. One day soon. The reckoning is coming and I’m afraid there’s only so much I can do to stop it.”
It’s Elina. She’s serious.
“I wish this was a simple warning to ‘opponents’ and a dramatic claim that I will hold the Monarch Championship indefinitely. If only it were that simple. If only we still had time to sit back and revel in our own egos.”
Elina stops, knowing she’s not alone. She rises to her feet and turns around, expecting one of the Tonys (confusing already) but it isn’t. It’s someone she recognizes, but doesn’t. It’s a woman all to familiar, while being a complete stranger.
“You’ve had quite the run Elina.”
Elina steps forward.
“No need, Elina. If I were here to threaten you, you’d already know, wouldn’t you?”
An eyebrow raises.
“Or would you? Have you been distracted by…”
The woman pulls up the Monarch Championship, looks at it, and slings it to the side.
“Gold and leather. What’s the point of all of this?”
“You should know by now. Unless of course, you haven’t stopped to do your research.”
She shakes her head as Elina takes another step closer.
“You did this. You warn these people, but it’s you. You’re the one pulling the strings.”
Now they’re face to face.
Before another word can be said, the Tony, well, the Handsome one (less confusing) enters the room. He eyes up both women, but mainly the ‘new’ and taller one.
“Wow. I like what I see. Elina, you shouldn’t have. I know everything is legal in Spain, but she must have cost the big bucks.”
“I think you’re confusing Spain for Holland?” Elina hesitates.
“It’s all Europe,” Tony smiles at the new woman, “Roxanne, You don't have to put on the red light...Those days are over...You don't have to sell your body to the night...Rox…”
Before Tony can finish serenading the woman, she reaches out and grabs his testicles and gives them a firm squeeze - all while glaring at Elina.
“This is who you associate with?” She tightens her grip and Tony taps out on her shoulder, “This is who you look to save?”
“Let him go.”
The woman smiles - her teeth like fangs glint in the light.
Tony’s crying.
Finally, she releases Tony. He falls to his knees and immediately vomits.
“Elina. You had all of the potential in the world and now we must meet as adversaries. You’re right about one thing - the reckoning is coming, but it will be your own. I’ll be seeing you soon and you had better hope that, next time, you see me coming.”
The woman leaves Elina with a sobbing Tony.
As she leaves, she mutters, “The clock is ticking.”
Tony looks up at Elina, “That was actually kind of hot, in a really weird way.
Elina’s frozen.
It’s Elina. She’s serious.
“I wish this was a simple warning to ‘opponents’ and a dramatic claim that I will hold the Monarch Championship indefinitely. If only it were that simple. If only we still had time to sit back and revel in our own egos.”
Elina stops, knowing she’s not alone. She rises to her feet and turns around, expecting one of the Tonys (confusing already) but it isn’t. It’s someone she recognizes, but doesn’t. It’s a woman all to familiar, while being a complete stranger.
“You’ve had quite the run Elina.”
Elina steps forward.
“No need, Elina. If I were here to threaten you, you’d already know, wouldn’t you?”
An eyebrow raises.
“Or would you? Have you been distracted by…”
The woman pulls up the Monarch Championship, looks at it, and slings it to the side.
“Gold and leather. What’s the point of all of this?”
“You should know by now. Unless of course, you haven’t stopped to do your research.”
She shakes her head as Elina takes another step closer.
“You did this. You warn these people, but it’s you. You’re the one pulling the strings.”
Now they’re face to face.
Before another word can be said, the Tony, well, the Handsome one (less confusing) enters the room. He eyes up both women, but mainly the ‘new’ and taller one.
“Wow. I like what I see. Elina, you shouldn’t have. I know everything is legal in Spain, but she must have cost the big bucks.”
“I think you’re confusing Spain for Holland?” Elina hesitates.
“It’s all Europe,” Tony smiles at the new woman, “Roxanne, You don't have to put on the red light...Those days are over...You don't have to sell your body to the night...Rox…”
Before Tony can finish serenading the woman, she reaches out and grabs his testicles and gives them a firm squeeze - all while glaring at Elina.
“This is who you associate with?” She tightens her grip and Tony taps out on her shoulder, “This is who you look to save?”
“Let him go.”
The woman smiles - her teeth like fangs glint in the light.
Tony’s crying.
Finally, she releases Tony. He falls to his knees and immediately vomits.
“Elina. You had all of the potential in the world and now we must meet as adversaries. You’re right about one thing - the reckoning is coming, but it will be your own. I’ll be seeing you soon and you had better hope that, next time, you see me coming.”
The woman leaves Elina with a sobbing Tony.
As she leaves, she mutters, “The clock is ticking.”
Tony looks up at Elina, “That was actually kind of hot, in a really weird way.
Elina’s frozen.
KO: Good kind of dancing. None of that silly stuff.
LO: Two artists bound on a collision course.
KO: I like that we’re legitmizing their claim to artistry.
LO: Straight from the mouths of babes, Ken.
KO: So these two finally collide, and what do you think, Laur?
LO: There will be blood!
KO: (Laughs)
A clip of Hawkfield steamrolling right over Brodie before the bell rings with a massive charging lariat. The bell dings and Hawkfield is already stomping a mudhole into a cornered Brodie.
LO: Starts off with a cheap shot from Hawkfield.
KO: Not sure you can call it cheap when this guy’s out to murder you. Every shot is about equal, I’d say.
A shot of Brodie hooking Hawkfield’s leg and dragging him down and half out under the ropes where she does a legbreaker against the ring apron.
LO: Brodie working on the leg, and Joel doing a kind of an all-over thing.
KO: Two of the most vile competitors going in VPW in one ring. That there was no prior qualified hardcore stipulation on this match is almost criminal.
ON the outside a shot o Brodie aiming Hawkfield;s head against the guardrail, Hawkfield stops it and hits Brodie’s forehead off the guardrail instead.
KO: One thing I like about Brodie is she gives as good as she gets. And I don’t mean that sexually--
LO: Easy, big fella.
KO: I’m being on the level. Brodie doesn’t just talk like a psychopath, the more I see of her the more I’m convinced she actually is a psychopath.
LO: You’ll find no argument from me.
A shot of Hawkfield aiming BRodie’s head off the ring post. In spite of the pain, or perhaps because of it, Brodie slams an elbow into Hawkfield’s midsection, hits him with a snap shot to the throat the referee doesn’t see then slams Hawkfield into the nearby ring steps with a forced toe hold.
KO: Close near countout on the outside, but a least you can rest assured that no matter how out of control either of these two take this thing, it’ll never be entirely out of their control.
LO: I’m not quite so sure.
A shot of Brodie angrily stomping away at Hawkfield in the ring as the bigger man rolls away, making it look like Brodie’s almost playing whack-a-mole until Joel catches Brodie’s ankle and sends her to the canvas with a brutal dragon screw elbow to the back of the knee combination. Hawkfield is on Brodie quicker than she can outmaneuver him and he slams her hard with a spinebuster mounted punch combo.
LO: That took some wind out of Brodie’s sails.
KO: A man that big finally getting some heavy offense in will do that, I don’t care who you are.
A series of clips montage style of Hawkfield taking full advantage of his height and weight advantage. A series of loud and brutal knife edge chops stunning the smaller artiste. He slams Brodie with an exploder suplex; he catches her leg mid-kick and sending her into a bridging fisherman’s suplex.
LO: Brodie, I mean what, she’s not as experienced, but--
KO: She seems to be experienced where it counts.
Hawkfield looks to manhandle Brodie out of the corner once more and Brodie gouges Joel’s eye, slams a stiff kick to his knee then a shining wizard that looks to give HAwkfield a bloody nose.
LO: Bound to happen sooner than later with these two.
KO: And you just know Hawkfield’s going to return the favor.
Hawkfield ducks a running lariat from Brodie, turns her around and slams her with a double underhook piledriver. As the crowd looks on, a tempered Joel Hawkfield raises Brodie to her feet, keeps her stunned with a series of stiff backhands before aiming her into the corner. He forces Brodie up to the top turnbuckle and sets up a superplex to the outside where both he and Brodie crash down hard on the concrete!
LO: You’re right. It’s not a sanctioned hardcore match, but it may as well be.
An exhausted Brodie gets her face rearranged off the ring apron, both competitors are bloodied simply from careening each other’s face off objects rather than going full hardcore with implements. Hawkfield rushes a running knee into Brodie’s chin, and the poor woman looks like she can barely stand.
KO: Hawkfield’s just got too much weight to throw around. A woman like Brodie, as mean as she proved she could get, it’s just impossible to stand up, toe-to-toe, blow for blow, trading brutality with a man with so much mileage behind him in matches far worse than this one.
LO: Doesn’t mean she didn’t make Joel pay in other ways.
Hawkfield has Brodie back in the ring exhausted and down and as he goes for a cover she grabs hold of his leg, rolls through into mean looking ankle lock threatening to snap Hawkfield’s ankle.
KO: It must’ve taken a deep reach down inside the reservoir of that big man to get the rope break.
LO: Hawkfield, for all his strength, he can’t sustain that kind of offense if he’s getting hit with some, shall we say, surprising technical flare from a woman who shouldn’t know as much as she does.
KO: I kinda like the hidden master motif she’s got going for her.
LO: She’s definitely done some training. Like, look look. Watch this.
Hawkfield reaches for a sick looking left hook that Brodie catches, twists and drags Hawkfield to the ground and follows into an arm bar that Hawkfield is just lucky she didn’t lock on tight enough to hold him.
LO: She didn’t just pick that up from watching it on television.
KO: I don’t think that’s in question. But a man the size of Hawkfield is difficult to keep down for too long.
Brodie drags Hawkfield to a stand only to get rocked by a haymaker, then another then a short arm clothesline that Joel follows into a cover!
1..
2..
KO: So close!
LO: I like these matches where it could go either way, where it’s just going to take one lucky shot to put it away.
KO: More than a lucky shot, this one.
Hawkfield has Brodie up to her feet and whips her for the ropes going for a massive forearm that Brodie ducks and rebounds off the other ropes, ducking a grapple attempt and hitting the ropes one more time and surprising Hawkfield with a clever butterfly kick that comes unexpectedly and drops the big man like a sack of bricks!
1..
2..
3!
KO: Nice execution. Nice finisher. Brodie took this one the distance.
LO: It’s a lucky shot.
KO: A little bit better than a lucky shot, Laur.
LO: Had he hit her with one of those forearms we could be easily calling this match in Hawkfield’s favor.
KO: But he didn’t. Fancy little butterfly kick had Hawkfield moving in the wrong direction and got taken to task by a woman with a better strategy than he had.
LO: End of the day? That’s what matters. Brodie gets the pin. And I’d easily give this one a four stars.
KO: I agree.
Winner: Brodie by Pinfall, (13:29)
Othello Verdict:
Othello Verdict:
The shot opens up to Hawkfield slowly making his way down the corridor, heavily panting and sweating to the point he stops to lean up against the wall to catch his breath. After the short, he resumes his trek down the hall, using his hand for guidance as he traces the wall with it. After a few more seemingly long moments, he stumbles into his locker room, closing the door behind him but it does not fully close, instead leaving a gap just large enough to see some detail in the room. Hunched over with palms on the desk, Joel removes his mask, exposing the back of his head. The breaths now sound more panicked than exhaustion.
Joel: "What the hell is happening..."
He raises a hand up to his bearded face, evidently shaking as he stares at it.
Joel: "Why am I shaking like this? Is my touch deteriorating? Am I just not that refined in my art?"
Angrily, he knocks the desk over, sending its contents crashing to the floor in a storm of fury. Joel holds his hand in his heads as he looks down at it, part of his face being seen through the crack in the doorway, his eyes filled with rage and malice.
Joel: "This is not what I intended. Why do I struggle? Where is the me from two years ago? The artists who left bodies strewn about like discarded dolls, where is that aspect of me. RAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
In a fit of rage, he kicks out at the door, closing it shut as it collides with the camera lens, evidently cracking it before transitioning.
Joel: "What the hell is happening..."
He raises a hand up to his bearded face, evidently shaking as he stares at it.
Joel: "Why am I shaking like this? Is my touch deteriorating? Am I just not that refined in my art?"
Angrily, he knocks the desk over, sending its contents crashing to the floor in a storm of fury. Joel holds his hand in his heads as he looks down at it, part of his face being seen through the crack in the doorway, his eyes filled with rage and malice.
Joel: "This is not what I intended. Why do I struggle? Where is the me from two years ago? The artists who left bodies strewn about like discarded dolls, where is that aspect of me. RAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
In a fit of rage, he kicks out at the door, closing it shut as it collides with the camera lens, evidently cracking it before transitioning.
LO: I don't know about you, Ken, but I think that Joel Hawkfield might have a screw loose or something.
KO: Man, I'm to excited about this next bout to worry about whether that guy needs to go to the loony bin! Two beautiful women who couldn't be more polar opposite if we put the negative ends of two magnets together.
LO: What the hell, Ken. Is this science class?
KO: Nope, I'm just using imagery and synonims, Laur.
LO: Oh....so what? That supposed to make me the dumb one?
KO: Your words, not mine. How about we just focus on this match.
A clip of Roxi Johnson making her entrance into the arena, the fans on their feet in adulation. She high fives a few folks in the front row before hopping up on the ring apron, and climbing to the middle rope, hands over head. The roar from the crowd is deafening as a 'Roxi' chant erupts, and she nods along with her music as she slips into the ring.
KO: The fans were one hundred percent behind Roxi Johnson, the beloved ring veteran celebrating with the crowd.
LO: Celebrating prematurely, if you ask me. Although, the reaction to Megan Rydell's entrance definitely showed that magnet thingy you were talking about earlier.
KO: I think you mean, Polar Opposites.
A clip of Megan Rydell breaking through the curtain, her hype man, Spencer Walsh, jumping around on stage, and really talking his client up. Rydell's face is all business as she stalks down to the ring, with Walsh hyping her as they go. When they reach ringside, Megan climbs the steps and enters the ring, and Walsh gives her a few words of advice before fading into the background.
KO: That guy Walsh sure does know how to Thanos away doesn't he?
LO: Yeah, it's kind of like watching Infinity War, and hearing two gloved fingers snap.
KO: Be that as it may, this match started up with some fine chain wrestling that caused Megan Rydell to rethink her approach to Roxi Johnson.
LO: Yeah, Roxi looked solid here, leading Megan into reversals, and ending each exchange with a release arm drag that left Rydell staring bitterly across the ring at her opponent.
KO: On the third tie-up, however, Roxi managed to push Rydell all the way back into a corner, and when she went for the clean break, Rydell snuck in a harsh knee to Roxi's solar plexus.
LO: There he goes again. Why can't you just say stomach? Bread basket? Gut? Why do you have to make it sound so uppity.
KO: I have my reasons....
LO: Staying on focus, Rydell followed this up with several vile forearms to Johnson, and then finished it all out with a spinning back fist that sent Roxi stumbling right through the middle and top rope to topple out of the ring.
A clip plays of Megan Rydell following Roxi out to the floor, positioning herself behind the veteran as she rises. As soon as she's on her feet, Megan rushes Roxi and gives her a shove, sending her head first right into the steel ring post. Roxi careens off the steel and goes back down to the floor, but Rydell wastes little time as she confidently gets her back up, and shoves her under the rope into the ring. Rydell slides in after, and quickly hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
KO: And that is when the referee saw that Megan Rydell had her feet on the ropes for leverage. After some admonishment, Rydell proceeded to unmercifully lay the boots to Roxi, who hadn't quite recovered from that shot against the ring bell.
LO: Yeah, Rydell definitely showed us her vicious side in this one! The ref had to physically pull her off of Roxi after two long countdowns. She's really lucky she didn't get disqualified.
A clip of Rydell mouthing off to the official, before turning her focus back on Roxi, but as she approaches the woman in the corner, Roxi grabs hold of the ropes on either side of her, and uses them to allow both feet to rise and slam into Rydell's chest. Megan hits the canvas hard, but is on her way back up, only to be put back down with a running clothesline. Megan pops back up, and again is taken down by Roxi. Rydell is a little slower on the draw now, and Roxi helps her up, sends her off the ropes, and catches her with a drop kick on the way back.
KO: Roxi went for a quick pin, but Rydell was out at one, and from here Roxi put Rydell into a rear naked choke, and worked Megan over for awhile.
LO: She did manage to make it back to her feet, and send some elbows into her gut for a separation, but when she tried to capitalize, Roxi caught her coming in with a sleeper hold that almost ended the whole thing.
KO: Roxi kept Rydell locked in the sleeper until both women dropped down to the canvas, and if you didn't know any better, the way Rydell sat limply in Roxi's lap, you'd have thought they were sharing a tender moment.
LO: Rydell, however, came alive just when it appeared she was about to go out, and with no help from the fans who booed the whole way. By the time Rydell made it back to her feet, she managed to pivot to the side of Roxi, and lay her out with side suplex.
KO: Unfortunately, this left both women down on the mat for a short count before they got back to their feet.
A shot of Megan Rydell woozily holding onto the top rope after being locked into two submissions back-to-back, and Roxi Johnson pulling herself up, holding her lower back thanks to that suplex. Roxi shakes her head at Megan, and then rushes in at the woman only for Megan to duck her shoulder at the last minute and send Roxi up and over the ropes to the outside. Johnson manages to grab hold of the top rope as she flies, and lands on the ring apron behind Rydell. Megan turns around, and is infuriated to see Roxi still standing, rushing forwards to try and send her from the apron to the concrete below. Roxi stops this, however, by dropping her shoulder between the middle and top rope, and jamming it into Megan's midsection. Rydell recoils, and Roxi takes this opportunity to springboard to the top rope, and come off with what she thought was going to be a hurricanrana. Instead, Megan Rydell grabs Roxi by the hips, and drives her down wickedly into the canvas for a powerbomb!
LO: Right there, I was pretty sure Megan Rydell should have went for a cover after such devastation, but after what happened next, I think it's safe to say she was pissed off.
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. This was a woman on a mission to maim somebody!
Rydell's face is screwed up into a rage as she yanks Roxi up by the hair of the head, and then sends her hard into the corner. She rushes into follow her and nails her with a back elbow, using her bodyweight to crush Roxi like a vice. She lifts the veteran up onto the top rope, and starts to climb up with her, when Roxi starts hammering blows into Rydell to stall her. Rydell is knocked back to the canvas, but manages to land on her feet, and Roxi re-positions herself on the turnbuckle. Just then, Rydell hops up to the middle rope for a short springboard, and sails backwards with a Pele kick that catches Roxi right in the face. Johnson almost falls backwards off the top rope to the concrete below, but somehow manages to stay upright. It's obvious that the move has left her dazed, as Rydell gets back to her feet, climbs up with Roxi, looking out at the booing crowd in defiance.
KO: Beautiful Super Plex off the top rope, and we were both pretty sure this one was over.
LO: Rydell made the cover, and I swear to you folks, it was so close to being a three count, it had to be two and three quarters.
KO: More like two and ninety-five cents!
LO: Why are you always trying to steal my thunder?
In the next clip, Megan Rydell's face is priceless as she stares out at a cheering crowd after Roxi Johnson got her shoulder up from the pin attempt. If Megan was angry before, now she was furious, getting to her feet and arguing with the ref and pointing down at Roxi in disgust. Meanwhile, Roxi Johnson slowly crawls towards the ropes, and uses them to help get on her feet. Rydell turns back to Roxi, and shakes her head angrily, stalking over to strike her with one of her wicked kicks. Roxi manages to bring both arms up in time to block the move, and is just fast enough to snatch her ankle before it goes back down to the canvas. Megan looks on at Roxi in surprise as Roxi starts nodding at her, forcing her, on one leg, back into the center of the ring. The fans come to their feet just as Rydell goes for an inzuguri, but Roxi ducks under the attempt, letting go of the foot, allowing Megan to fall flat on her face. Rydell tries to recover quickly, but Roxi shoves her from behind, almost to say tit-for-tat from earlier in the match. Rydell bounces into the ropes, but hooks the top rope to keep from bouncing back, and turns around just in time to take a hellacious front dropkick from Roxi that sends Megan sailing right over the top rope to the hard concrete below.
KO: The ref tried to start a count on Rydell from here, but it was apparent she was going to make it back to her feet and beat the count.
LO: That is until Roxi Johnson went soaring through the ropes with a suicide dive that took both women out. Then we didn't know whether either one of them were going to break the count.
The Ref reaches a count of six when Roxi begins to stir, using the ring apron to help herself to her feet. Rydell pushes up to her knee's, but Roxi is there to help her the rest of the way up, and tosses her back into the ring. Roxi follows close behind, and tries to go for a pin, but Rydell shoves her off, rolling away from her. Roxi watches on bewildered, unsure whether to respect such tenacity, or to pity it. Either way, frustration is apparent when she gets to her feet, and calls for Rydell to rise. Megan manages to use the ropes to puller herself up, and she turns to find Roxi Johnson rushing her way. Rydell manages to duck under a clothesline attempt, but Roxi manages to slow her momentum, and spin around on a dime. Unfortunately, she catches a boot to her midsection for her trouble, and Rydell hooks her around the head to go for her Beautiful Disaster DDT. She attempts to lift Roxi Up, ready to fall back, but in a brilliant move, Roxi manages to jump with the lift, causing her head to come unhooked and cut a front flip that see's her land on her feet, while Rydell strikes the mat. Megan gets up quickly after realizing the futility, but just when she's upright, she catches a devastating Ray of Hope from a springboarding Roxi. Rydell crumbles, and Roxi quickly hooks the leg.
1...
2...
3!
KO: And there you have it folks. Roxi Johnson showing the younger talent that it doesn't matter if there's a little dust on the bottle, but what's inside that counts.
LO: ....I'm not sure Roxi Johnson's going to appreciate that reference.
KO: I meant it as a compliment.
LO: But still...
KO: Whatever! What I'm trying to say is that Roxi Johnson is veteran in this business. A ring general, if you will, and she just proved it right here tonight on Blitz! And the fans ate it up!
A clip of Roxi taking the second rope, arms over head, nodding in confident victory. The fans go Bonkers! Meanwhile, Rydell clutches at her face as she rolls under the bottom rope to the outside, furious at the loss, but concerned about her nose. Roxi continues the celebration by dropping out of the ring, and slapping hands with fans in the front row, ensuring that all in attendance get their moneys worth.
KO: Now, before my tag partner, and brother, get the chance to accuse me of anymore misogynistic comments, let's check out this clip from Zack Fantana.
KO: Man, I'm to excited about this next bout to worry about whether that guy needs to go to the loony bin! Two beautiful women who couldn't be more polar opposite if we put the negative ends of two magnets together.
LO: What the hell, Ken. Is this science class?
KO: Nope, I'm just using imagery and synonims, Laur.
LO: Oh....so what? That supposed to make me the dumb one?
KO: Your words, not mine. How about we just focus on this match.
A clip of Roxi Johnson making her entrance into the arena, the fans on their feet in adulation. She high fives a few folks in the front row before hopping up on the ring apron, and climbing to the middle rope, hands over head. The roar from the crowd is deafening as a 'Roxi' chant erupts, and she nods along with her music as she slips into the ring.
KO: The fans were one hundred percent behind Roxi Johnson, the beloved ring veteran celebrating with the crowd.
LO: Celebrating prematurely, if you ask me. Although, the reaction to Megan Rydell's entrance definitely showed that magnet thingy you were talking about earlier.
KO: I think you mean, Polar Opposites.
A clip of Megan Rydell breaking through the curtain, her hype man, Spencer Walsh, jumping around on stage, and really talking his client up. Rydell's face is all business as she stalks down to the ring, with Walsh hyping her as they go. When they reach ringside, Megan climbs the steps and enters the ring, and Walsh gives her a few words of advice before fading into the background.
KO: That guy Walsh sure does know how to Thanos away doesn't he?
LO: Yeah, it's kind of like watching Infinity War, and hearing two gloved fingers snap.
KO: Be that as it may, this match started up with some fine chain wrestling that caused Megan Rydell to rethink her approach to Roxi Johnson.
LO: Yeah, Roxi looked solid here, leading Megan into reversals, and ending each exchange with a release arm drag that left Rydell staring bitterly across the ring at her opponent.
KO: On the third tie-up, however, Roxi managed to push Rydell all the way back into a corner, and when she went for the clean break, Rydell snuck in a harsh knee to Roxi's solar plexus.
LO: There he goes again. Why can't you just say stomach? Bread basket? Gut? Why do you have to make it sound so uppity.
KO: I have my reasons....
LO: Staying on focus, Rydell followed this up with several vile forearms to Johnson, and then finished it all out with a spinning back fist that sent Roxi stumbling right through the middle and top rope to topple out of the ring.
A clip plays of Megan Rydell following Roxi out to the floor, positioning herself behind the veteran as she rises. As soon as she's on her feet, Megan rushes Roxi and gives her a shove, sending her head first right into the steel ring post. Roxi careens off the steel and goes back down to the floor, but Rydell wastes little time as she confidently gets her back up, and shoves her under the rope into the ring. Rydell slides in after, and quickly hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
KO: And that is when the referee saw that Megan Rydell had her feet on the ropes for leverage. After some admonishment, Rydell proceeded to unmercifully lay the boots to Roxi, who hadn't quite recovered from that shot against the ring bell.
LO: Yeah, Rydell definitely showed us her vicious side in this one! The ref had to physically pull her off of Roxi after two long countdowns. She's really lucky she didn't get disqualified.
A clip of Rydell mouthing off to the official, before turning her focus back on Roxi, but as she approaches the woman in the corner, Roxi grabs hold of the ropes on either side of her, and uses them to allow both feet to rise and slam into Rydell's chest. Megan hits the canvas hard, but is on her way back up, only to be put back down with a running clothesline. Megan pops back up, and again is taken down by Roxi. Rydell is a little slower on the draw now, and Roxi helps her up, sends her off the ropes, and catches her with a drop kick on the way back.
KO: Roxi went for a quick pin, but Rydell was out at one, and from here Roxi put Rydell into a rear naked choke, and worked Megan over for awhile.
LO: She did manage to make it back to her feet, and send some elbows into her gut for a separation, but when she tried to capitalize, Roxi caught her coming in with a sleeper hold that almost ended the whole thing.
KO: Roxi kept Rydell locked in the sleeper until both women dropped down to the canvas, and if you didn't know any better, the way Rydell sat limply in Roxi's lap, you'd have thought they were sharing a tender moment.
LO: Rydell, however, came alive just when it appeared she was about to go out, and with no help from the fans who booed the whole way. By the time Rydell made it back to her feet, she managed to pivot to the side of Roxi, and lay her out with side suplex.
KO: Unfortunately, this left both women down on the mat for a short count before they got back to their feet.
A shot of Megan Rydell woozily holding onto the top rope after being locked into two submissions back-to-back, and Roxi Johnson pulling herself up, holding her lower back thanks to that suplex. Roxi shakes her head at Megan, and then rushes in at the woman only for Megan to duck her shoulder at the last minute and send Roxi up and over the ropes to the outside. Johnson manages to grab hold of the top rope as she flies, and lands on the ring apron behind Rydell. Megan turns around, and is infuriated to see Roxi still standing, rushing forwards to try and send her from the apron to the concrete below. Roxi stops this, however, by dropping her shoulder between the middle and top rope, and jamming it into Megan's midsection. Rydell recoils, and Roxi takes this opportunity to springboard to the top rope, and come off with what she thought was going to be a hurricanrana. Instead, Megan Rydell grabs Roxi by the hips, and drives her down wickedly into the canvas for a powerbomb!
LO: Right there, I was pretty sure Megan Rydell should have went for a cover after such devastation, but after what happened next, I think it's safe to say she was pissed off.
KO: No doubt about it, Laur. This was a woman on a mission to maim somebody!
Rydell's face is screwed up into a rage as she yanks Roxi up by the hair of the head, and then sends her hard into the corner. She rushes into follow her and nails her with a back elbow, using her bodyweight to crush Roxi like a vice. She lifts the veteran up onto the top rope, and starts to climb up with her, when Roxi starts hammering blows into Rydell to stall her. Rydell is knocked back to the canvas, but manages to land on her feet, and Roxi re-positions herself on the turnbuckle. Just then, Rydell hops up to the middle rope for a short springboard, and sails backwards with a Pele kick that catches Roxi right in the face. Johnson almost falls backwards off the top rope to the concrete below, but somehow manages to stay upright. It's obvious that the move has left her dazed, as Rydell gets back to her feet, climbs up with Roxi, looking out at the booing crowd in defiance.
KO: Beautiful Super Plex off the top rope, and we were both pretty sure this one was over.
LO: Rydell made the cover, and I swear to you folks, it was so close to being a three count, it had to be two and three quarters.
KO: More like two and ninety-five cents!
LO: Why are you always trying to steal my thunder?
In the next clip, Megan Rydell's face is priceless as she stares out at a cheering crowd after Roxi Johnson got her shoulder up from the pin attempt. If Megan was angry before, now she was furious, getting to her feet and arguing with the ref and pointing down at Roxi in disgust. Meanwhile, Roxi Johnson slowly crawls towards the ropes, and uses them to help get on her feet. Rydell turns back to Roxi, and shakes her head angrily, stalking over to strike her with one of her wicked kicks. Roxi manages to bring both arms up in time to block the move, and is just fast enough to snatch her ankle before it goes back down to the canvas. Megan looks on at Roxi in surprise as Roxi starts nodding at her, forcing her, on one leg, back into the center of the ring. The fans come to their feet just as Rydell goes for an inzuguri, but Roxi ducks under the attempt, letting go of the foot, allowing Megan to fall flat on her face. Rydell tries to recover quickly, but Roxi shoves her from behind, almost to say tit-for-tat from earlier in the match. Rydell bounces into the ropes, but hooks the top rope to keep from bouncing back, and turns around just in time to take a hellacious front dropkick from Roxi that sends Megan sailing right over the top rope to the hard concrete below.
KO: The ref tried to start a count on Rydell from here, but it was apparent she was going to make it back to her feet and beat the count.
LO: That is until Roxi Johnson went soaring through the ropes with a suicide dive that took both women out. Then we didn't know whether either one of them were going to break the count.
The Ref reaches a count of six when Roxi begins to stir, using the ring apron to help herself to her feet. Rydell pushes up to her knee's, but Roxi is there to help her the rest of the way up, and tosses her back into the ring. Roxi follows close behind, and tries to go for a pin, but Rydell shoves her off, rolling away from her. Roxi watches on bewildered, unsure whether to respect such tenacity, or to pity it. Either way, frustration is apparent when she gets to her feet, and calls for Rydell to rise. Megan manages to use the ropes to puller herself up, and she turns to find Roxi Johnson rushing her way. Rydell manages to duck under a clothesline attempt, but Roxi manages to slow her momentum, and spin around on a dime. Unfortunately, she catches a boot to her midsection for her trouble, and Rydell hooks her around the head to go for her Beautiful Disaster DDT. She attempts to lift Roxi Up, ready to fall back, but in a brilliant move, Roxi manages to jump with the lift, causing her head to come unhooked and cut a front flip that see's her land on her feet, while Rydell strikes the mat. Megan gets up quickly after realizing the futility, but just when she's upright, she catches a devastating Ray of Hope from a springboarding Roxi. Rydell crumbles, and Roxi quickly hooks the leg.
1...
2...
3!
KO: And there you have it folks. Roxi Johnson showing the younger talent that it doesn't matter if there's a little dust on the bottle, but what's inside that counts.
LO: ....I'm not sure Roxi Johnson's going to appreciate that reference.
KO: I meant it as a compliment.
LO: But still...
KO: Whatever! What I'm trying to say is that Roxi Johnson is veteran in this business. A ring general, if you will, and she just proved it right here tonight on Blitz! And the fans ate it up!
A clip of Roxi taking the second rope, arms over head, nodding in confident victory. The fans go Bonkers! Meanwhile, Rydell clutches at her face as she rolls under the bottom rope to the outside, furious at the loss, but concerned about her nose. Roxi continues the celebration by dropping out of the ring, and slapping hands with fans in the front row, ensuring that all in attendance get their moneys worth.
KO: Now, before my tag partner, and brother, get the chance to accuse me of anymore misogynistic comments, let's check out this clip from Zack Fantana.
Winner: Roxi Johnson by pinfall, (10:23)
Othello Verdict:
Othello Verdict:
Prior to the event, Zack Fantana was strolling through the venue, happening upon the catering table where a large group of security guards were gathered. Noticing this, Zack plucked the coffee pot off of the table and took it over to them.
Zack: Hey fellas, how’s it going? Zup. I know it’s gonna be a long night for you boys so I did brewed this coffee up special for you, just how you like it.
Two of the security guards traded glances with one another and then back at Zack.
Security Guard: Black?
Zack: Well, yeah. Go on. Dig in, boys.
He set the pot onto the table, not 4 feet from where the coffee maker was missing its pot.
Emily Burlingame: Uh, what are you doing, Zack?
Zack turned to find that VPW’s interviewer and a camera crew had crept up beside him.
Zack: What am I doing? I’m taking care of the boys, Emily. Did you know that every match I’ve had in Valor Pro has had some form of outside interference? I’m trying to ensure that these boys have enough fuel to stop that from happening tonight.
The security guards rolled their eyes.
Emily: Speaking of which, you have a six person tag match tonight. What’s your plan for tonight?
Zack: Look, there’s a lot of stories going into this. Arlo and Brennan have their spat about how alike they may or may not be. Elina Cartel is probably looking to try to preserve herself for her upcoming title defense against Siberia Zombie. Pandora Royce is, uh… Look, Tony Sharpe has some anecdotes and a lot of unresolved anger issues to work through on the company’s dime. Ace Devereaux is wrestling with the concept of being a fighting champion in a combat sport.
Zack shook his head.
Zack: I guess I see where the confusion comes from. The guy lost his debut match and still somehow made it out as the champion in the first night, so maybe he’s just not hip to the ‘results of matches matter’ concept when it comes to title shots. He wants to run his mouth about how no one stacks up to him, but he doesn’t have it in him to prove it. Perhaps the saddest part of it all is that Ace isn’t ashamed of his actions. In fact, Ace is so proud of how petty he is that he went on Flipping the Script to brag about it.
Zack paused as a mini Flipping the Script graphic whizzed across the screen.
Zack: He actually implied that I’d be better off going after the Monarch Champion - you know, Elina Cartel, the woman he got defeated by in his first match.
Fantana chuckled and turned to the camera.
Zack: Ace, buddy, that’s cute and all, but face it, you’re not even a draw. They had to make the main event a six person tag because you’ve got no stroke. They teamed me with you in a fleeting effort to give their Gladiator champ the rub.
He turned back to Emily.
Zack: Look at what happened two weeks ago. Ace Devereaux arrives and the star rating plummets. Well, Ace, you don’t get to disrespect the sanctity of my Othello star rating and get away with it. You’re gonna get what’s coming to you.
Emily: It sounds like you may not be planning on cooperating with Ace tonight.
Zack: Emily, I’m a professional. I’ll do what I was paid to do but I really have nothing to prove in this match. I have no ulterior motives. I just want the championship match opportunity that I was robbed of, or I want Valor Pro to give me store credit for the ‘Ace Devereaux is a fighting champion’ sales pitch that I bought when I was moved into this division. That’s all, Emily. That’s all I want.
He backed up and out of frame as the screen transitioned into the next segment.
Zack: Hey fellas, how’s it going? Zup. I know it’s gonna be a long night for you boys so I did brewed this coffee up special for you, just how you like it.
Two of the security guards traded glances with one another and then back at Zack.
Security Guard: Black?
Zack: Well, yeah. Go on. Dig in, boys.
He set the pot onto the table, not 4 feet from where the coffee maker was missing its pot.
Emily Burlingame: Uh, what are you doing, Zack?
Zack turned to find that VPW’s interviewer and a camera crew had crept up beside him.
Zack: What am I doing? I’m taking care of the boys, Emily. Did you know that every match I’ve had in Valor Pro has had some form of outside interference? I’m trying to ensure that these boys have enough fuel to stop that from happening tonight.
The security guards rolled their eyes.
Emily: Speaking of which, you have a six person tag match tonight. What’s your plan for tonight?
Zack: Look, there’s a lot of stories going into this. Arlo and Brennan have their spat about how alike they may or may not be. Elina Cartel is probably looking to try to preserve herself for her upcoming title defense against Siberia Zombie. Pandora Royce is, uh… Look, Tony Sharpe has some anecdotes and a lot of unresolved anger issues to work through on the company’s dime. Ace Devereaux is wrestling with the concept of being a fighting champion in a combat sport.
Zack shook his head.
Zack: I guess I see where the confusion comes from. The guy lost his debut match and still somehow made it out as the champion in the first night, so maybe he’s just not hip to the ‘results of matches matter’ concept when it comes to title shots. He wants to run his mouth about how no one stacks up to him, but he doesn’t have it in him to prove it. Perhaps the saddest part of it all is that Ace isn’t ashamed of his actions. In fact, Ace is so proud of how petty he is that he went on Flipping the Script to brag about it.
Zack paused as a mini Flipping the Script graphic whizzed across the screen.
Zack: He actually implied that I’d be better off going after the Monarch Champion - you know, Elina Cartel, the woman he got defeated by in his first match.
Fantana chuckled and turned to the camera.
Zack: Ace, buddy, that’s cute and all, but face it, you’re not even a draw. They had to make the main event a six person tag because you’ve got no stroke. They teamed me with you in a fleeting effort to give their Gladiator champ the rub.
He turned back to Emily.
Zack: Look at what happened two weeks ago. Ace Devereaux arrives and the star rating plummets. Well, Ace, you don’t get to disrespect the sanctity of my Othello star rating and get away with it. You’re gonna get what’s coming to you.
Emily: It sounds like you may not be planning on cooperating with Ace tonight.
Zack: Emily, I’m a professional. I’ll do what I was paid to do but I really have nothing to prove in this match. I have no ulterior motives. I just want the championship match opportunity that I was robbed of, or I want Valor Pro to give me store credit for the ‘Ace Devereaux is a fighting champion’ sales pitch that I bought when I was moved into this division. That’s all, Emily. That’s all I want.
He backed up and out of frame as the screen transitioned into the next segment.
KO: Now's the moment you've all been waiting for. How in the hell were these teams expected to get along considering everything that happened over the past few shows?
LO: Maybe that's just it, Ken. They weren't. It is an obvious power play by management to generate heat with everyone in the ring, and set even bigger targets on the champion's backs.
KO: We heard earlier in the show what 4th Estate and Zack Fantana thought about this match, but it was certain after the bell sounded that they were all questioning each others motives.
LO: All with the exception of 4th Estate, who are legit tag team partners, which I felt gave 4th Estate & Devlin an advantage in this match.
KO: Whoa, Laur! Don't give the match away to them just yet. Let's see how this thing started first.
A clip of the crowd on their feet as 4th Estate, Elina Cartel and Pandora Royce, come waltzing out to the ring to their theme music, 'Machines' by Giorgio Moroder. Another clip of the two women in the ring playing up to the crowd, Elina with the Monarch Championship held over head, just before Brennan Devlin appears at the top of the aisle to a mixed reaction. He stalks to the ring, and jaws with some of the fans.
LO: It appeared to me that 4th Estate got a huge pop, but the minute Devlin's music hit, the fans took a turn.
KO: Way to point out the Face/Heel dynamic, brother.
LO: Oh, shut the hell up and watch the opposing team make their entrance.
A shot of Arlo Rosabel bursting through the curtain like he's the second coming, seeming to be much more into his entrance than the rest of the crowd. He's soon followed by Zack Fantana who gets a mixed reaction, but those who cheer are die hard Fantanasy fans. Finally, out comes Ace Devereux, Gladiator Championship slung over his shoulder, and a glistening white smile displayed to the crowd which draws a chorus of boo's.
KO: And just like the event promotions promised, this one turned into a cluster right out of the gate.
LO: He's not lying about that. Arlo hadn't even made it into the ring yet before Brennan Devlin dove to the outside landing on Rosabel. There wasn't much damage done in the moment, but the two men sent fists-a-flying back and forth, eventually spilling up and over the guardrail into the crowd.
KO: This left the other folks in the match to gawk, before finally Zack Fantana got into the ring to start the match. Was it just me, or did Ace Devereux look reluctant to step into their corner?
LO: I don't think it was you, Ken. This whole thing seemed to generate a lot of reluctance, but we eventually got an official start to the match.
KO: Right you are Laur, we finally got to see the in-ring debut of Pandora Royce, who locked up with Zack Fantana, trading move for move with the leader of Fantanasy in a series of chain wrestling holds.
LO: That is until Zack managed to catch her with a elbow to the jaw to get out of a hammerlock. From there, Fantana took charge!
A Shot of Zack Fantana rebounding off the rope towards a stunned Royce only to take her head off with a Discus Elbow Smash. Pandora hits the mat hard, but doesn't have time to recover before Zack drives his forearm right down across her face, and quickly hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
KO: It was way too early in the match for that, and Pandora kicked out at two. However, Zack didn't appear to be finished with the woman yet, pulling her up and sending her into the turnbuckle.
LO: He followed that up with a jumping high knee, or...he would have if Pandora hadn't managed to duck out of the way.
A clip of Zack striking the top turnbuckle knee first. He grimaces while massaging his knee, while Pandora rushes in from behind, taking him down with a chop block. A shot of Pandora working over Fantana's knee with a spinning toe hold before placing her own knee on top of his, and dropping straight down to crush it into the canvas. Finally, Pandora drags Zack by his injured leg over to her corner, and tags in her tag team partner.
KO: 4th Estate really showed some solid tag team wrestling here, as both women made quick tags in and out, and stayed focused on Zack Fantana's knee.
LO: Exactly. Keep him away from his corner, and stay focused on dismantling the limb that has been affected. It's basic tag team strategy 101. I would just like to point out, however, these two ladies kept it 100% professional in the ring. No short cuts. No underhanded tactics. After last week, it was a great thing to see.
A shot of Elina Cartel dragging Zack Fantana to the center of the ring, looking over at Ace Deveroux in defiance, before spinning through to lock Zack into a figure four leg lock. Zack comes alive with emotion, grabbing at his knee in pain, and striking the mat with his fist in frustration. The referee is right there to take his submission, but Zack vehemently shakes his head no in answer. Ace Devereux watches on with a smirk, as Zack begins to use his elbows to pull himself and his opponent towards the ropes. Reaching out desperately, Fantana barely fingertips the ropes, but it's enough for the ref to force the break.
LO: At this point, I genuinely believed that Zack's knee might be finished, but he surprised us all when Elina Cartel tried to set him up for another figure four leg lock, and Zack pulled her down into a small package.
KO: Yeah, but that only got him a count of one, and Elina was back on her feet to try and keep her bigger opponent grounded.
LO: No such luck, however, when Elina went for a spinning heel kick and Zack ducked it. Cartel recovered quickly to her feet, but unfortunately walked right into an Exploder suplex that sent her sailing halfway across the ring.
KO: Both superstars were down for a five count before they started edging their way towards their respective corners. Unfortunately for Zack, when he finally made it to his own, Ace Devereux didn't appear to want anything to do with a tag.
A scene of Zack Fantana using the ropes to help him to his feet, hobbling over to Ace Devereux, who has his arms crossed just staring at the man with a grin. Zack appears furious as he extends his hand again, waiting for Ace to tag himself into the match. Devereux shrugs his shoulders, and looks over his shoulder to flash the crowd a grin, when Fantana tags the Gladiator Champion the hard way. With an open hand slap. Devereux stands there on the apron stunned as Zack slips through the ropes on the outside, and shrugs his own shoulders in mock fashion. This is all the distraction that 4th Estate needs, as Elina makes the tag to Pandora, who rushes into the opposite corner and throws both feet out in front of her to catch Devereux in the chest. Ace flys from the ring apron down to the concrete, and just when it appears he's going to make it back to his feet, Pandora soars from the top rope to crash down on him with a flying crossbody.
KO: Pandora Royce was a ball of fire after that hot tag, as she rolled Devereux back into the ring and immediately went for a pin.
LO: The Gladiator Champion got his shoulder up at two and a half, but 4th estate wasn't done with him yet.
A clip of Royce quickly tagging in Elina Cartel, who runs on the apron to the corner adjacent to theirs, while Royce begins climbing their corner. Once both women are perched on the top rope, the fans are on their feet as Devereux shakily makes it to his feet. Both women take flight at the same time, throwing their feet out for two flying drop kicks that send Ace crashing to the mat.
KO: They call that Meteoric, and you gotta believe that would have been it if Arlo and Devlin hadn't made their second entrances of the night!
LO: I'm here to tell you, Ken, these two guys were all over the damn place!
A clip of Arlo Rosabel crashing through the curtain, soon followed by Brennan Devlin who has a vicious look in his eyes. The fans pop, realizing the two men had fought all the way through the crowd, into the backstage area, and are now making their way back down the aisle way. Brennan tries to get a handful of Arlo's hair, but Arlo drives a forearm into his gut instead. Meanwhile, in the ring, Elina Cartel crawls over and makes a cover on Ace Devereux, who just took a massive finisher.
1...
2...
KO: I swear I thought the refs hand was going to hit the mat for three, but that's when Arlo tossed Brennan Devlin into the ring, inadvertently breaking up the pinfall and saving his own team.
LO: That Arlo is one lucky bastard, and I'm sure he'll take full credit for the save even though it was obvious that he had no idea anyone was even being pinned at the moment he did it.
KO: Be that as it may, things broke down even further from here.
A clip of Elina Cartel getting to her feet ready to strike whoever broke up the pin, stopping just short as she realizes it was actually her own tag partner for the evening. Brennan gets up to his feet as Elina throws her hands out at her side, and the two begin to bicker. Just then, Arlo Rosabel hops up onto the apron, springboards to the top, and sails off with a shooting star press that see's him bulldoze into Elina Cartel and Brennan Devlin. Unfortunately at their feet was the still downed Ace Devereux, who took all three bodies crashing down on top of him. With those four down in the ring, Pandora makes it back outside to her corner, where she extends her hand and begs Elina to make a tag. Zack Fantana watches all of this in disbelief, but then finally shakes his head, and jumps onto the ring apron, extending his hand inside the ring much the same.
LO: And finally it looked like there was actually going to be a tag team match between these dysfunctional brands.
KO: Yeah, and this was the definition of a 'Hot' Tag!
A scene of Elina Cartel belly crawling to her corner, while Ace Devereux pushes bodies off his own in order to do the same. At almost exactly the same time, Elina and Ace dive for their respective partners, and manage to make the tag. Zack and Pandora bolt into the center of the ring, Arlo and Brennan having rolled out on opposite sides under the ropes, and begin exchanging right hands. Zack, being the bigger of the two, takes the advantage and runs Pandora back into the ropes to send her off. Pandora returns like a lightening bolt from the far side, and just as Zack looks to go for another exploder suplex, Royce catches him right in the gut with a spinning roundhouse kick instead. Fantana doubled over for a second, giving Pandora the time she needed to reposition, and then send the flat of her boot right into Zack's face like a football punt. This knocks Zack back upright and into the ropes, and when he rebounds, Pandora is there with an impressive flurry of open palm thrusts, thigh sweeps, and finishes the combo off with a reverse hook kick that sends Fantana to the mat. She drops quickly for a cover.
1...
2...
3NO!
KO: No one was even there to save Fantana, but he was able to get the shoulder up at the last minute on his own. Pandora looked really impressive here, following up her fist of fury by going back to Fantana's injured leg, and working it over. Finally, when she had him where she wanted him, she looked to put him away.
LO: Yeah, but Fantana, the consummate professional, had other ideas.
A clip of Pandora rebounding off the ropes, and careening back at Fantana with her Love & Kisses flying knee finisher, only for Zack to duck out of the way at the last minute. When Pandora lands, she tries to pivot back to face her opponent, and is caught instead by a boot to the midsection, a hook around the head, a lift into a vertical suplex position, and then she is dropped unceremoniously into a brainbuster that connects with Fantana's knee.
LO: Fantana calls that move The Reverie, and I was pretty sure that this match was over, but the impact to his knee must have aggravated the injury that 4th Estate had been focusing on all night, because Zack couldn't make the cover.
KO: No, instead he clawed his way over to his corner, and made a tag to the recovered Arlo Rosabel.
A clip of Arlo making the tag, and then climbing up to the top turnbuckle. He signals to the crowd with a confident expression, and the fans boo him as he takes his time to fly. When he does, however, it is with a breath taking moonsault double stomp that finds Pandora crushed into the mat. Arlo takes a bow, before dropping on top of Pandora for a cover.
1...
2...
3NO! Brennan Devlin is there in the ring to break up the pin, and he has Arlo up in a flash, hammering away at the young man.
LO: It looked like the referee was considering tossing this match, as he couldn't get Devlin out of the ring and off of Arlo. Man, these guys have heat!
KO: Damn right! From start to finish, if anything came out of this, it's even more animosity between those two.
LO: And I didn't even think that was possible.
KO: Well while the referee was distracted with Brennan Devlin, that's when things broke down even further.
Ace Devereux stalks over to the time keepers desk, a look of disdain on his face, snatches up the Gladiator Championship, and marches towards the aisle way. Zack Fantana, still favoring his injured leg, hops down off the apron, and takes exception to Ace trying to exit the match. Meanwhile, Arlo slowly belly crawls towards his corner, only to find that no one is there. He shakes his head in disbelief as right out in front of him are Fantana and Devereux having a war of words on the outside, when Devereux finally concedes, and starts to walk back towards the ring. Just then, he snaps the belt up and lunges to take Fantana's head off, but Zack manages to duck out of the way at the last instant, knowing better than to trust the Gladiator Champion. Devereux snaps around, and walks right into a belly to belly that Zack turns into a lumbar check. Sleep Apnea!
KO: And folks....if that wasn't bad for this team, things got worse.
LO: Arlo looked like he was about ready to pull his hair out in frustration at the scene laid out before him, but he got back to his feet and turned back around just in time to see Pandora Royce make a lunging tag for none other than Brennan Devlin!
Arlo shakes his head in disbelief as Devlin pops back into the ring, and he rushes out to meet the man in the center of the ring. He goes for a clothesline, but Devlin ducks it, allowing Arlo to continue through to the ropes. With Momentum now, Arlo springs back, leaving his feet for a front drop kick, but Devlin side steps again, allowing Arlo to crash to the mat. This time Devlin hits off the ropes, just as Arlo is trying to rise, hops up, and steps straight down on the back of his head, driving him face first into the canvas with a curb stomp.
LO: FACE TIME!
KO: From there Devlin dropped down for a cover, and by the time Zack Fantana realized what was going on from the entrance path, 4th Estate had come around to block him from interfering with the pin!
1...
2...
3!
KO: I think it's safe to say that Brennan Devlin redeemed himself from that loss back on the exhibition show, and he and the 4th Estate just got a massive victory over three talented opponents.
LO: Yeah, one of which, our Gladiator Champion, was still down on the outside thanks to Zack Fantana. HIS TAG TEAM PARTNER!
KO: Those are the breaks in these crazy matches. Zack Fantana even commented about it earlier in his promo this week.
A shot of Brennan Devlin standing over the prone body of Arlo Rosabel, staring out at Zack Fanatana, and the still down Ace Devereux. Elina Cartel accepts her Monarch Champion from the referee, and then confidently raises it one handed to cheers from the crowd. Meanwhile, Pandora uncertainly slaps a few hands at ringside while seeming to react to a conversation that isn't there. Zack bitterly shakes his head in frustration, and casts a disgusted glance down at Ace Devereux before slowly back peddling up the aisle so that he can keep everyone in his line of site.
LO: Man, if anyone had a reason to be paranoid, it has to be Fantana. On the Exhibition show he gets dragged into a surprise championship match, first official Blitz he gets taken out by the man at his feet, and now all of this.
KO: Yeah, and as crazy as all of this was, we still have an announcement from our General Manager that we hear could set the whole place on fire. Let's check it out.
LO: Maybe that's just it, Ken. They weren't. It is an obvious power play by management to generate heat with everyone in the ring, and set even bigger targets on the champion's backs.
KO: We heard earlier in the show what 4th Estate and Zack Fantana thought about this match, but it was certain after the bell sounded that they were all questioning each others motives.
LO: All with the exception of 4th Estate, who are legit tag team partners, which I felt gave 4th Estate & Devlin an advantage in this match.
KO: Whoa, Laur! Don't give the match away to them just yet. Let's see how this thing started first.
A clip of the crowd on their feet as 4th Estate, Elina Cartel and Pandora Royce, come waltzing out to the ring to their theme music, 'Machines' by Giorgio Moroder. Another clip of the two women in the ring playing up to the crowd, Elina with the Monarch Championship held over head, just before Brennan Devlin appears at the top of the aisle to a mixed reaction. He stalks to the ring, and jaws with some of the fans.
LO: It appeared to me that 4th Estate got a huge pop, but the minute Devlin's music hit, the fans took a turn.
KO: Way to point out the Face/Heel dynamic, brother.
LO: Oh, shut the hell up and watch the opposing team make their entrance.
A shot of Arlo Rosabel bursting through the curtain like he's the second coming, seeming to be much more into his entrance than the rest of the crowd. He's soon followed by Zack Fantana who gets a mixed reaction, but those who cheer are die hard Fantanasy fans. Finally, out comes Ace Devereux, Gladiator Championship slung over his shoulder, and a glistening white smile displayed to the crowd which draws a chorus of boo's.
KO: And just like the event promotions promised, this one turned into a cluster right out of the gate.
LO: He's not lying about that. Arlo hadn't even made it into the ring yet before Brennan Devlin dove to the outside landing on Rosabel. There wasn't much damage done in the moment, but the two men sent fists-a-flying back and forth, eventually spilling up and over the guardrail into the crowd.
KO: This left the other folks in the match to gawk, before finally Zack Fantana got into the ring to start the match. Was it just me, or did Ace Devereux look reluctant to step into their corner?
LO: I don't think it was you, Ken. This whole thing seemed to generate a lot of reluctance, but we eventually got an official start to the match.
KO: Right you are Laur, we finally got to see the in-ring debut of Pandora Royce, who locked up with Zack Fantana, trading move for move with the leader of Fantanasy in a series of chain wrestling holds.
LO: That is until Zack managed to catch her with a elbow to the jaw to get out of a hammerlock. From there, Fantana took charge!
A Shot of Zack Fantana rebounding off the rope towards a stunned Royce only to take her head off with a Discus Elbow Smash. Pandora hits the mat hard, but doesn't have time to recover before Zack drives his forearm right down across her face, and quickly hooks the leg for a cover.
1...
2...
KO: It was way too early in the match for that, and Pandora kicked out at two. However, Zack didn't appear to be finished with the woman yet, pulling her up and sending her into the turnbuckle.
LO: He followed that up with a jumping high knee, or...he would have if Pandora hadn't managed to duck out of the way.
A clip of Zack striking the top turnbuckle knee first. He grimaces while massaging his knee, while Pandora rushes in from behind, taking him down with a chop block. A shot of Pandora working over Fantana's knee with a spinning toe hold before placing her own knee on top of his, and dropping straight down to crush it into the canvas. Finally, Pandora drags Zack by his injured leg over to her corner, and tags in her tag team partner.
KO: 4th Estate really showed some solid tag team wrestling here, as both women made quick tags in and out, and stayed focused on Zack Fantana's knee.
LO: Exactly. Keep him away from his corner, and stay focused on dismantling the limb that has been affected. It's basic tag team strategy 101. I would just like to point out, however, these two ladies kept it 100% professional in the ring. No short cuts. No underhanded tactics. After last week, it was a great thing to see.
A shot of Elina Cartel dragging Zack Fantana to the center of the ring, looking over at Ace Deveroux in defiance, before spinning through to lock Zack into a figure four leg lock. Zack comes alive with emotion, grabbing at his knee in pain, and striking the mat with his fist in frustration. The referee is right there to take his submission, but Zack vehemently shakes his head no in answer. Ace Devereux watches on with a smirk, as Zack begins to use his elbows to pull himself and his opponent towards the ropes. Reaching out desperately, Fantana barely fingertips the ropes, but it's enough for the ref to force the break.
LO: At this point, I genuinely believed that Zack's knee might be finished, but he surprised us all when Elina Cartel tried to set him up for another figure four leg lock, and Zack pulled her down into a small package.
KO: Yeah, but that only got him a count of one, and Elina was back on her feet to try and keep her bigger opponent grounded.
LO: No such luck, however, when Elina went for a spinning heel kick and Zack ducked it. Cartel recovered quickly to her feet, but unfortunately walked right into an Exploder suplex that sent her sailing halfway across the ring.
KO: Both superstars were down for a five count before they started edging their way towards their respective corners. Unfortunately for Zack, when he finally made it to his own, Ace Devereux didn't appear to want anything to do with a tag.
A scene of Zack Fantana using the ropes to help him to his feet, hobbling over to Ace Devereux, who has his arms crossed just staring at the man with a grin. Zack appears furious as he extends his hand again, waiting for Ace to tag himself into the match. Devereux shrugs his shoulders, and looks over his shoulder to flash the crowd a grin, when Fantana tags the Gladiator Champion the hard way. With an open hand slap. Devereux stands there on the apron stunned as Zack slips through the ropes on the outside, and shrugs his own shoulders in mock fashion. This is all the distraction that 4th Estate needs, as Elina makes the tag to Pandora, who rushes into the opposite corner and throws both feet out in front of her to catch Devereux in the chest. Ace flys from the ring apron down to the concrete, and just when it appears he's going to make it back to his feet, Pandora soars from the top rope to crash down on him with a flying crossbody.
KO: Pandora Royce was a ball of fire after that hot tag, as she rolled Devereux back into the ring and immediately went for a pin.
LO: The Gladiator Champion got his shoulder up at two and a half, but 4th estate wasn't done with him yet.
A clip of Royce quickly tagging in Elina Cartel, who runs on the apron to the corner adjacent to theirs, while Royce begins climbing their corner. Once both women are perched on the top rope, the fans are on their feet as Devereux shakily makes it to his feet. Both women take flight at the same time, throwing their feet out for two flying drop kicks that send Ace crashing to the mat.
KO: They call that Meteoric, and you gotta believe that would have been it if Arlo and Devlin hadn't made their second entrances of the night!
LO: I'm here to tell you, Ken, these two guys were all over the damn place!
A clip of Arlo Rosabel crashing through the curtain, soon followed by Brennan Devlin who has a vicious look in his eyes. The fans pop, realizing the two men had fought all the way through the crowd, into the backstage area, and are now making their way back down the aisle way. Brennan tries to get a handful of Arlo's hair, but Arlo drives a forearm into his gut instead. Meanwhile, in the ring, Elina Cartel crawls over and makes a cover on Ace Devereux, who just took a massive finisher.
1...
2...
KO: I swear I thought the refs hand was going to hit the mat for three, but that's when Arlo tossed Brennan Devlin into the ring, inadvertently breaking up the pinfall and saving his own team.
LO: That Arlo is one lucky bastard, and I'm sure he'll take full credit for the save even though it was obvious that he had no idea anyone was even being pinned at the moment he did it.
KO: Be that as it may, things broke down even further from here.
A clip of Elina Cartel getting to her feet ready to strike whoever broke up the pin, stopping just short as she realizes it was actually her own tag partner for the evening. Brennan gets up to his feet as Elina throws her hands out at her side, and the two begin to bicker. Just then, Arlo Rosabel hops up onto the apron, springboards to the top, and sails off with a shooting star press that see's him bulldoze into Elina Cartel and Brennan Devlin. Unfortunately at their feet was the still downed Ace Devereux, who took all three bodies crashing down on top of him. With those four down in the ring, Pandora makes it back outside to her corner, where she extends her hand and begs Elina to make a tag. Zack Fantana watches all of this in disbelief, but then finally shakes his head, and jumps onto the ring apron, extending his hand inside the ring much the same.
LO: And finally it looked like there was actually going to be a tag team match between these dysfunctional brands.
KO: Yeah, and this was the definition of a 'Hot' Tag!
A scene of Elina Cartel belly crawling to her corner, while Ace Devereux pushes bodies off his own in order to do the same. At almost exactly the same time, Elina and Ace dive for their respective partners, and manage to make the tag. Zack and Pandora bolt into the center of the ring, Arlo and Brennan having rolled out on opposite sides under the ropes, and begin exchanging right hands. Zack, being the bigger of the two, takes the advantage and runs Pandora back into the ropes to send her off. Pandora returns like a lightening bolt from the far side, and just as Zack looks to go for another exploder suplex, Royce catches him right in the gut with a spinning roundhouse kick instead. Fantana doubled over for a second, giving Pandora the time she needed to reposition, and then send the flat of her boot right into Zack's face like a football punt. This knocks Zack back upright and into the ropes, and when he rebounds, Pandora is there with an impressive flurry of open palm thrusts, thigh sweeps, and finishes the combo off with a reverse hook kick that sends Fantana to the mat. She drops quickly for a cover.
1...
2...
3NO!
KO: No one was even there to save Fantana, but he was able to get the shoulder up at the last minute on his own. Pandora looked really impressive here, following up her fist of fury by going back to Fantana's injured leg, and working it over. Finally, when she had him where she wanted him, she looked to put him away.
LO: Yeah, but Fantana, the consummate professional, had other ideas.
A clip of Pandora rebounding off the ropes, and careening back at Fantana with her Love & Kisses flying knee finisher, only for Zack to duck out of the way at the last minute. When Pandora lands, she tries to pivot back to face her opponent, and is caught instead by a boot to the midsection, a hook around the head, a lift into a vertical suplex position, and then she is dropped unceremoniously into a brainbuster that connects with Fantana's knee.
LO: Fantana calls that move The Reverie, and I was pretty sure that this match was over, but the impact to his knee must have aggravated the injury that 4th Estate had been focusing on all night, because Zack couldn't make the cover.
KO: No, instead he clawed his way over to his corner, and made a tag to the recovered Arlo Rosabel.
A clip of Arlo making the tag, and then climbing up to the top turnbuckle. He signals to the crowd with a confident expression, and the fans boo him as he takes his time to fly. When he does, however, it is with a breath taking moonsault double stomp that finds Pandora crushed into the mat. Arlo takes a bow, before dropping on top of Pandora for a cover.
1...
2...
3NO! Brennan Devlin is there in the ring to break up the pin, and he has Arlo up in a flash, hammering away at the young man.
LO: It looked like the referee was considering tossing this match, as he couldn't get Devlin out of the ring and off of Arlo. Man, these guys have heat!
KO: Damn right! From start to finish, if anything came out of this, it's even more animosity between those two.
LO: And I didn't even think that was possible.
KO: Well while the referee was distracted with Brennan Devlin, that's when things broke down even further.
Ace Devereux stalks over to the time keepers desk, a look of disdain on his face, snatches up the Gladiator Championship, and marches towards the aisle way. Zack Fantana, still favoring his injured leg, hops down off the apron, and takes exception to Ace trying to exit the match. Meanwhile, Arlo slowly belly crawls towards his corner, only to find that no one is there. He shakes his head in disbelief as right out in front of him are Fantana and Devereux having a war of words on the outside, when Devereux finally concedes, and starts to walk back towards the ring. Just then, he snaps the belt up and lunges to take Fantana's head off, but Zack manages to duck out of the way at the last instant, knowing better than to trust the Gladiator Champion. Devereux snaps around, and walks right into a belly to belly that Zack turns into a lumbar check. Sleep Apnea!
KO: And folks....if that wasn't bad for this team, things got worse.
LO: Arlo looked like he was about ready to pull his hair out in frustration at the scene laid out before him, but he got back to his feet and turned back around just in time to see Pandora Royce make a lunging tag for none other than Brennan Devlin!
Arlo shakes his head in disbelief as Devlin pops back into the ring, and he rushes out to meet the man in the center of the ring. He goes for a clothesline, but Devlin ducks it, allowing Arlo to continue through to the ropes. With Momentum now, Arlo springs back, leaving his feet for a front drop kick, but Devlin side steps again, allowing Arlo to crash to the mat. This time Devlin hits off the ropes, just as Arlo is trying to rise, hops up, and steps straight down on the back of his head, driving him face first into the canvas with a curb stomp.
LO: FACE TIME!
KO: From there Devlin dropped down for a cover, and by the time Zack Fantana realized what was going on from the entrance path, 4th Estate had come around to block him from interfering with the pin!
1...
2...
3!
KO: I think it's safe to say that Brennan Devlin redeemed himself from that loss back on the exhibition show, and he and the 4th Estate just got a massive victory over three talented opponents.
LO: Yeah, one of which, our Gladiator Champion, was still down on the outside thanks to Zack Fantana. HIS TAG TEAM PARTNER!
KO: Those are the breaks in these crazy matches. Zack Fantana even commented about it earlier in his promo this week.
A shot of Brennan Devlin standing over the prone body of Arlo Rosabel, staring out at Zack Fanatana, and the still down Ace Devereux. Elina Cartel accepts her Monarch Champion from the referee, and then confidently raises it one handed to cheers from the crowd. Meanwhile, Pandora uncertainly slaps a few hands at ringside while seeming to react to a conversation that isn't there. Zack bitterly shakes his head in frustration, and casts a disgusted glance down at Ace Devereux before slowly back peddling up the aisle so that he can keep everyone in his line of site.
LO: Man, if anyone had a reason to be paranoid, it has to be Fantana. On the Exhibition show he gets dragged into a surprise championship match, first official Blitz he gets taken out by the man at his feet, and now all of this.
KO: Yeah, and as crazy as all of this was, we still have an announcement from our General Manager that we hear could set the whole place on fire. Let's check it out.
Winner: 4th Estate & Brennan Devlin, by pinfall. (28:34)
Othello Verdict: 1/2
Othello Verdict: 1/2
Vanessa Byrne: Hello friends, fans, and even foes of Valor Pro Wrestling.
Fade in to a real Masterpiece Theater of an office. There's a roaring fire in an opulent fireplace nestled into a wall surrounded by bookcases loaded with rare and priceless books. We have here, a rare, up-close and personal glimpse of the VPW GM, Vanessa Byrne, seated at a large oaken desk, well organized and decorated with some picture frames and trophy pieces under glass left meticulously out of focus. The scene is decidedly regal, almost presidential. Our view centers on Vanessa Byrne, delightfully British with an unmistakable scar down the right side of her face marring her otherwise gorgeous features.
Vanessa Byrne: Some of you may remember me. I'm Vanessa Byrne, General Manager of Valor Pro Wrestling. Thank you for being a part of our second episode of Blitz. I hope you enjoyed it. As I, and the rest of the administrative staff of Valor Pro Wrestling work tirelessly to improve the product you've just enjoyed, there comes a time upon reaching certain milestones when my appearance on your screens and desktops will become necessary in order to inform you of important goings on as pertains to the operations of this growing federation. This happens to be one of those times.
She folds her hands neatly on the desk and gets comfortable.
VB: We come to a point at which the future of this company is becoming clearer. We now know that on November eighteenth, Valor Pro Wrestling will be hosting its first super-show in Rome, Italy. In honor of so historic a setting, we have decided to call this super show... The Seven Pillars. This is a name with special significance not just to the empire that once claimed Rome as its capitol, but also because it will be the type of match showcased on this super show.
She smiles, eyeing the frame comfortably.
VB: You look confused. I'll explain. Eagle-eyed fans, and even some clever members of the Valor roster have noted that we began this journey as a federation divided into weight classes. I'm sure for those fans of Zack Fantana's twitter feed, or his delightfully glib promotional segments, you will have noticed that he has shifted from competing solely for the Monarch championship in the beginning, to more recently challenging for the Gladiator Championship. The reality we've discovered of booking shows within the confines of a weight class system is quite difficult, and have chosen to do away with the weight classes altogether. But, I'm sure you're thinking that we're left, then, with the small matter of those title belts recently awarded to Elina Cartel and Ace Devereux. You, fans, are truly wise for noticing that small problem. What we have decided to do is hold a Unification match at our first super show. The winner of this match will become holder of the Unified Gladiator Championship.
She smiles, relaxing, letting the news sink in.
VB: 'But, Vanessa--' you cry, rightfully, 'you said it was a 7 Pillars match!'
She condescends to you.
VB: Right you are, friends. On the same night we unify the title belts into one championship, we unveil another title belt, challenged for by 7 members of the roster whose entry into the gauntlet will be determined over the coming weeks, and the seventh of whom, has already been determined thanks to her victory last show, Siberia Zombie. Confused? You poor things. Not to worry, friends. It'll become clearer as the moment of unveiling approaches. For now? Sit tight. Know that I and my staff are working at ever-improving Valor Pro Wrestling for the better. For now, I've been Vanessa Byrne, sending it back to the Othello Brothers to close out their wonderful podcast. Good bye.
She blows a delightful kiss, and the scene fades back to the studio.
KO: Good God! Did you hear that!
LO: Of coarse I heard it, ken! That is a huge announcement for everyone in Valor Pro Wrestling!
KO: It definitely changes the landscape of the game, and opens up avenues for some where there may not have been any.
LO: Now that you mention it Ken, the Main Event we just witnessed was booked almost like someone knew that it would create the twists and turns as a prelude to this announcement!
Kenneth and Laurence both look directly into the camera in suspicion.
LO: And what about the fact that we have our first named Super Show, 7 Pillars, and it's going to take place Live in ROME!
KO: Where apparently there is going to be a new champion crowned for a brand new title in a seven person gauntlet match!
LO: Folks, all we can tell you is that you better stay tuned into the podcast as we investigate this ground breaking announcement, and follow us on Twitter @othellobros for exclusive glimpses into the lives of our VPW wrestlers! I am Laurence Othello...
KO: And I'm Kenneth Othello...
Together: And this has been, Flipping The Script!
LO: Of coarse I heard it, ken! That is a huge announcement for everyone in Valor Pro Wrestling!
KO: It definitely changes the landscape of the game, and opens up avenues for some where there may not have been any.
LO: Now that you mention it Ken, the Main Event we just witnessed was booked almost like someone knew that it would create the twists and turns as a prelude to this announcement!
Kenneth and Laurence both look directly into the camera in suspicion.
LO: And what about the fact that we have our first named Super Show, 7 Pillars, and it's going to take place Live in ROME!
KO: Where apparently there is going to be a new champion crowned for a brand new title in a seven person gauntlet match!
LO: Folks, all we can tell you is that you better stay tuned into the podcast as we investigate this ground breaking announcement, and follow us on Twitter @othellobros for exclusive glimpses into the lives of our VPW wrestlers! I am Laurence Othello...
KO: And I'm Kenneth Othello...
Together: And this has been, Flipping The Script!