Northern Pro Wrestling -- June 18th, 2020
Jun 18, 2020 12:46:11 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer and ViciousLothario like this
Post by Oh-Oh on Jun 18, 2020 12:46:11 GMT -5
[Backstage.]
We watch as Oxford Osland approaches a shadowy figure in the distance. Osland walks with confidence, so we're to assume that this was pre-arranged. At first, it's Osland who does the talking. The verbiage that sticks out the most is when Osland asks if the man is still 'Morally Flexible'. We can't hear a response, so we're left to assume that this person answered the Yes/No question with a nod or a shake.
Osland reaches into his bag and pulls out an envelope. Without hesitation, he hands this over to the person in front of him. 'Now here is what I need you to do..."
--
Singles Match
15 Minute Time Limit
Callum Ross vs. Malek Fredericks w/ Lance Romance
--
Callum Ross has proven that he is willing to step up take any challenge that is presented. A month ago, he found himself tangled up with Malek's partner 'Lance Romance' and the numbers game got the best of him, allowing Lance to pick up the victory. The post match beatdown was very liberal, and it took Ross' coach Liam Beesley coming out to insert himself so the punishment wouldn't continue. Ross dedicated himself to training and evolving during the pandemic, and secured the final spot in Gus' Warehouse through the month of April. Ross has that rejuvenated confidence that he had been lacking over the past year, but he hasn't exactly been helping out his own cause as he continuously throws caution to the wind and accepts challenges from wrestlers who are more seasoned.
The word circulating around the locker room is that Ross requested this match with Fredericks to exact revenge for the way he was treated a month ago. Ross did so on his won accord, against the better judgment of Beesley.
Ross also learned that North American Cruiserweight Championship's number one contender; Willard Manchester is in a league above him when it comes to mat wrestling - as Manchester brought Ross into his world last week, and made short work of him. On paper, this contest should be a little closer, as Fredericks is willing to mix it up all over and isn't regarded as the ground specialist that Manchester is.
As the contest got underway, it was evenly matched, except for the fact that Lance and Malek were doing their best to intimidate Ross with their numbers. This seemed to be heading down a similar path as the match which took place a month ago, except at around the seven minute mark, Liam Beesley had seen enough. Beesley's presence was enough for Lance to back off, and not insert himself into the match any longer. Beesley also made sure to warn Malek that he wouldn't tolerate anything but a fair match going forward.
It's worth noting that KUMA still wasn't at ringside with his 'shooters club' teammates. In fact, KUMA hasn't been on NPW TV since he challenged Dusty Griffith to two operate matchups, where he was defeated soundly in both. After that, KUMA was also seen at Gus' warehouse training, and hasn't been seen in public with the rest of his stablemates since.
The fact that KUMA is legitimately feared in Western Canada, always served as an equalizer for Malek and Romance, regardless of the situation they found themselves in. With that being said, KUMA was also receiving training from Beesley, and nothing else had been made public about the status of their partnership.
Beesley's inclusion in this scenario was enough to rattle Fredericks, who was very aware of how dangerous the UK legend was. The fact that Beesley had decided to scale back his in-ring career in the short-term to help Gus train some of the wrestlers he saw potential in, spoke volumes of the level of respect that Beesley had earned, as well as the level of selflessness he carried himself with.
Callum's confidence seemed to rise, as did the level of precision with his movements and striking as the match wore on. Fredericks tried to cut corners to keep the momentum in his favour, but Ross was eventually able to overcome Malek's tactics, and finished the match by executing a Double Under-hook Driver for the three count.
Winner: Callum Ross (11:36) via Double Under-Hook Driver
--
[Backstage.]
[We cut to another area of the building, where Gus Arnold is working his way through a pile of paperwork on his desk. With Northern Pro Wrestling's recent inclusion into the XHF Network, Gus has a lot of red tape to navigate - as well as new contracts to have reviewed by his lawyers.]
[Tap. Tap.]
[Gus looked up, and a smile curled over is lips. The often gruff and distant patriarch of the NPW Organization doesn't usually offer up much in the way of emotion, but based on his reaction he's clearly happy.]
[Lee Stevens.]
[Gus opened the door, and the men exchanged a hearty handshake. Gus remarked that he didn't expect to see Lee until the 26th, where he would be taking part in the Battle Royal with a Title Shot of the Winner's choosing at stake. Lee responded that he wanted to head to the East Coast a week early to get acquainted with some of the competition - but more importantly, he was there to speak with Gus, a man he respected and valued.]
[Gus was jolly, and told Lee that he would've faxed him his contract to save him the trip. Lee said that he wanted to come and make it official face to face. Gus ended the segment by sharing with Lee that he was ecstatic about the two of them working together again.]
--
[In The Arena.]
[If their were fans, they would be on their feet. They would be chanting.]
[Wild Bronco!]
[Wild Bronco!]
[...]
[Dusty Griffith.]
[It had been nearly four months since Dusty Griffith had been in a Northern Pro Wrestling arena, but that is 100% due to the COVID-19 crisis, and absolutely nothing to do with Dusty's commitment to the organization.]
[The International Superstar from Boise Idaho marched to the ring with purpose.]
[Dusty asked for a mic, and called out Bloodline.]
[For weeks, Dusty had been calling for the best wrestlers in the company to step up and show themselves. Esteban Fuentes was one of the first men to accept the challenge. What was supposed to be a match of sportsmanship ended up being a brutal blindside when Fuentes aligned himself with Manuel Mayorga and Santiago Ortega. The three of them proclaimed that they were a more dangerous rendition of the powerhouse group that had terrorized wrestlers all over North America for the past two years. Mayorga and Ortega ousted Edgar Delgado, and in one fell swoop - brought Fuentes into the fold.]
[Not only that, but Bloodline were now wearing the Imperial Crown Tag Team Championships.]
[Dusty said that he wasn't leaving the ring until Bloodline forced him to. Dusty leaned back against the ropes, and looked down at his wrist as if he were counting time.]
[Moments passed, and Dusty got what he asked for.]
[Bloodline.]
[Esteban Fuentes and Manuel Mayorga walked out with their Imperial Crown Tag Team Championships draped over their shoulders.]
[Before the champions could make their way to the ring, Dusty decided to cut them off and the FIGHT began.]
[To his credit, Dusty is big enough and bad enough to take on two or three guys at a time. After the initial fury, Ortega dropped down and chop blocked Dusty from behind, and that's when Fuentes and Mayorga both pushed Griffith's face into the guardrail with as much force as they could muster. Stomps and kicks followed, before Mayorga suggested they roll Dusty into the ring where they could use the ropes to keep him at bay.]
[Dusty started to fight back, but he was eventually overwhelmed by the underhanded tactics of the three men that he had been desperate to get his hands on. Fuentes and Mayorga wrapped Dusty's arms up in the ropes, and he was completely at their mercy. Ortega climbed to the nearby top rope, and was looking to inflict some high impact damage. That was until he was launched off of the top rope down to the concrete floor by the very man that had been an enigma in recent months.]
[KUMA.]
[The Canadian Grizzly Bear.]
[The 6'6" 265 pound Hulk was there to even the odds and assist the man that had defeated him soundly back in January and February. KUMA entering the ring distracted the Tag Team Champions for a split second, which was all Dusty needed to break free. Griffith then proceeded to drop Fuentes on his head with a nasty Backdrop Driver. KUMA got ahold of Mayorga and launched him with a release overhead belly to belly suplex, which sent him over the top rope and crashing to the floor.]
[KUMA then walked up to Dusty with a look of admiration in his eye. KUMA confirmed that it was Dusty who showed him that he was 'living wrong' without even attempting to do so. KUMA knew that he needed to alter his approach and set out to do just that by training with Kenneth Marshall and Liam Beesley.]
[Dusty paused, before probing a little further. KUMA then said that he wasn't there to seek a third match, and that he was there to watch Dusty's back. Dusty said that while he appreciated the sentiment, he didn't 'need' anyone to watch out for him. KUMA nodded his head out of respect, and bowed out of the ring. As he did, he kept eye contact with the 'Wild Bronco' and asked him to 'think about it.' KUMA said that the two of them could take down Bloodline if they were on the same page.]
[Dusty continued to focus on KUMA, but didn't respond. The veteran grappler wouldn't be so quick to forget, and he certainly wasn't going to make a rash decision or unveil his train of thought. ]
--
[Backstage.]
[Eric Dane and Steve Greer are speaking words of encouragement to Tyrone Walker, as he's set to defend the North American Cruiserweight Championship later in the show. We overhear Dane confirm that he has issued the 'Lumber Jack Challenge' to Osland and I-69 for Night of Champions - and he is assured by both Walker and Greer that they will be there to support him.]
[Walker asks Greer if he'll be his 'second' out there, and Greer agrees without hesitation. Walker said that Greer should remember Leon Van Zandt from their time together in KINGS '16. Greer nods, and said he wasn't sure where 'LVZ's' head was, but he assumed that he hadn't forgotten that the two of them had a very close battle.]
[Cut.]
--
[In The Arena.]
Gus Arnold walked to the ring, with a mic in his hand. The owner of Northern Pro Wrestling waited a few moments, and then reminded everyone that on June 26th, there would be a 10 man battle royal where the winner would receive a future championship match against 'any' champion of his choosing. Gus said, that this didn't rule out the Imperial Crown Tag Team Championships, and the winner would be eligible to enlist a partner of his choosing to challenge for the titles.
Without further ado, Gus announced the ten men who had been selected.
Ralph Erickson
- Gus said that the former Canadian Commonwealth Champion had proven to be loyal, and was on the cusp of regaining a championship in Northern Pro Wrestling on more than one occasion.
Malek Fredericks
- Gus spoke about Malek's experience all over Western Canada, and how based on his track record in NPW - he was a worthy selection.
Zeze Taborda
- One of the newest signings in 'NPW' who went out of his way to get involved in the main event of last week's show. Zeze has talked a big game upon his arrival, and this would his opportunity to back it up.
Andrew Brookes
- Brookes was also keen to make an impact last week, as he taunted Gordon Carlson from a distance. Brookes will now have an opportunity to prove his worth.
Lance Romance
- The second member of 'The Shooters Club' to be invited to this match. Lance has been on a hot streak since returning from PURE-1 in the UK.
Henry Bryndisarson
- Henry is one of the newest signings to Northern Pro. Henry is a grinder, and his ability to impose his will has many believing that he will be a contender in NPW.
Callum Ross
- Callum has been very active since returning from my warehouse this past spring, and looks to parlay his growth into a championship opportunity.
Santiago Ortega
- One of the founding father's of the bloodline stable has been itching to show what he can do inside of a Northern Pro Wrestling ring. This will give him the opportunity to do so.
Lee Stevens
- I'm persoanlly ecstatic to have been able to bring Lee into the fold. Lee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to NPW, and this will serve as an opportunity for him to make an immediate impact.
KUMA
- Finally, The Canadian Grizzly will be involved in this contest. I had the pleasure of watching KUMA evolve and change his thought process first hand. He's going to be a difficult 'out' in this contest.
[...]
Gus took a moment to allow for this announcement to resonate with the viewers, before respectfully excusing himself.
--
[Backstage.]
[Last minute preparations for Willard Manchester, as he gets himself amped for the match. Manchester had made a habit of cornering Leon Van Zandt throughout his time in NPW - and this would be Leon's chance to return the favour. As we saw earlier, it appears as though Greer will be in Walker's corner, so the anticipation for this match up has increased even more.]
--
[Backstage.]
[KUMA is about to exit the arena, when he is approached by Malek Fredericks and Lance Romance. Finally, the 3 members of the Shooters Club are in each other's presence.]
[Malek cuts to the chase, and asks KUMA where has been.]
[KUMA said he's been training, and improving.]
[Based on his body language, he expects this confrontation to escalate.]
[Lance jumps in, and asks why KUMA hasn't been returning their calls.]
[KUMA abruptly stated that he felt he had 'out grown' them. He no longer believed that he was a proper fit for their group, and wanted to seek his own journey going forward.]
[Malek and Lance looked at each other, and both brushed it off. Malek backed off and said "No problem big guy."]
[Lance decided to follow suit, and the two of them backed away, and allowed KUMA to resume his exit. But before KUMA was out of ear-shot, Malek couldn't help himself.]
["If you think Dusty Griffith would give you the time of day, you're mistaken. You'll be back."]
[...]
[Cut.]
--
Main Event
North American Cruiserweight Championship
30 Minute Time Limit
Tyrone Walker (c) w/ Steve Greer vs. Willard Manchester w/ Leon Van Zandt
--
These two men wrestled to a time limit draw back in February, but it would be Tyrone Walker who would win the 2nd Annual Cruiserweight Cup, and walked away with the North American Cruiserweight Championship in the process. This match would hopefully push the division to new heights and beyond, as there is a lot of posturing going on the upper end of the rankings. Manchester was nearly ten years younger than Walker, and their styles couldn't be more opposite. Walker wants to throw caution to the wind and fly around the ring using every rope or turnbuckle as a weapon. Manchester would much prefer to take the match to the mat, where he tends to have an advantage over 95% of his opponents.
The battle was epic and the two competitors put on a show. Walker dug deep to keep up with Manchester, who seemed to be dictating the pace of the match early on. An early highlight was a slingshot DDT that Walker seemingly executed out of the air, which changed the dynamic of the match.
Greer and Leon were on the outside, neither man made to move towards the other, but both seemed to be there to ensure that the match played out the way it should.
[Backstage.]
The camera went split screen as the action continued in the ring.
[Aaron Vasquez.]
Vasquez pushed a large dumpster in front of a locker room door. As the camera panned closer, we could see the word 'Team Danger". We were left to deduce that Eric Dane was still in the locker room, perhaps watching the match on a monitor. Once the split screen action took place, Dane must've realized that he was now locked in the dressing room with no way out.
'Chico' stood close by, to make sure that officials from the company wouldn't come near the dumpster. Nobody had arrived yet, but if they decided to do so, they would be met by an angry Vasquez who also had a steel chair at his disposal.
A few moments passed, and Oxford Osland along with I-69 walked down the hall. Osland nodded to Vasquez, who just stared ahead coldly. This was clearly a business arranagement and nothing more.
[Bang. Bang.]
[We could hear Dane threatening Vasquez, but most of the content was BEEPED! BEEPED!]
[Back to the ring.]
As the match wore on, it was clear that the wrestlers and their seconds were oblivious to what was taking place backstage. Manchester thought he had Walker locked up tight in a boston Crab, but Walker was somehow able to roll through, and hold Manchester down for the three count.
Winner and STILL North American Cruiserweight Champion: Tyrone Walker (18:22)
--
Manchester was visibly upset, but Leon encouraged him to fight another day. Greer entered the ring with the championship belt in hand, and presented it to his long time tag team partner.]
[Oxford Osland.]
[I-69.]
The three men rushed the ring and blindsided Walker and Greer. Osland took the exhausted champion down with a release German Suplex, and nearly catapulted him into the third row. I-69 swarmed Greer, and despite his best efforts to fight off the cavalry, the numbers game did play a factor. Before long, it was 3 on 1 - as I-69 execute a high/low attack, while Osland slapped on a nasty looking Dragon Sleeper with a body scissors. Greer was fading fast, and he had no referee or ring ropes to break the hold.
Walker did his best to clear the cob webs, but he was blistered with his own championship belt. The shot seemed to cut him slightly over his eye, and blood started to pour. Osland yanked Walker up by his neck and shouted at him.
"Be sure to tell 'Dane' -- We ACCEPT his little challenge for Night of Champions."
[Osland drove Walker's head into the mat with extreme force after a nasty DDT.
--
[Backstage.]
Aaron Vasquez is nowhere to be seen. NPW officials, including Gus Arnold shove the dumpster away from the locker room door, as an irate Eric Dane exits and rushes to ringside. The only problem was, the damage had been done. By now, Osland and his cronies had exited through the side door, and were on the way of town.... at least for the night.
The final camera shot of the night is of Eric Dane leaning over his fallen brothers, knowing full well that he was responsible for bringing them into the fold.
[Cut.]
We watch as Oxford Osland approaches a shadowy figure in the distance. Osland walks with confidence, so we're to assume that this was pre-arranged. At first, it's Osland who does the talking. The verbiage that sticks out the most is when Osland asks if the man is still 'Morally Flexible'. We can't hear a response, so we're left to assume that this person answered the Yes/No question with a nod or a shake.
Osland reaches into his bag and pulls out an envelope. Without hesitation, he hands this over to the person in front of him. 'Now here is what I need you to do..."
--
Singles Match
15 Minute Time Limit
Callum Ross vs. Malek Fredericks w/ Lance Romance
--
Callum Ross has proven that he is willing to step up take any challenge that is presented. A month ago, he found himself tangled up with Malek's partner 'Lance Romance' and the numbers game got the best of him, allowing Lance to pick up the victory. The post match beatdown was very liberal, and it took Ross' coach Liam Beesley coming out to insert himself so the punishment wouldn't continue. Ross dedicated himself to training and evolving during the pandemic, and secured the final spot in Gus' Warehouse through the month of April. Ross has that rejuvenated confidence that he had been lacking over the past year, but he hasn't exactly been helping out his own cause as he continuously throws caution to the wind and accepts challenges from wrestlers who are more seasoned.
The word circulating around the locker room is that Ross requested this match with Fredericks to exact revenge for the way he was treated a month ago. Ross did so on his won accord, against the better judgment of Beesley.
Ross also learned that North American Cruiserweight Championship's number one contender; Willard Manchester is in a league above him when it comes to mat wrestling - as Manchester brought Ross into his world last week, and made short work of him. On paper, this contest should be a little closer, as Fredericks is willing to mix it up all over and isn't regarded as the ground specialist that Manchester is.
As the contest got underway, it was evenly matched, except for the fact that Lance and Malek were doing their best to intimidate Ross with their numbers. This seemed to be heading down a similar path as the match which took place a month ago, except at around the seven minute mark, Liam Beesley had seen enough. Beesley's presence was enough for Lance to back off, and not insert himself into the match any longer. Beesley also made sure to warn Malek that he wouldn't tolerate anything but a fair match going forward.
It's worth noting that KUMA still wasn't at ringside with his 'shooters club' teammates. In fact, KUMA hasn't been on NPW TV since he challenged Dusty Griffith to two operate matchups, where he was defeated soundly in both. After that, KUMA was also seen at Gus' warehouse training, and hasn't been seen in public with the rest of his stablemates since.
The fact that KUMA is legitimately feared in Western Canada, always served as an equalizer for Malek and Romance, regardless of the situation they found themselves in. With that being said, KUMA was also receiving training from Beesley, and nothing else had been made public about the status of their partnership.
Beesley's inclusion in this scenario was enough to rattle Fredericks, who was very aware of how dangerous the UK legend was. The fact that Beesley had decided to scale back his in-ring career in the short-term to help Gus train some of the wrestlers he saw potential in, spoke volumes of the level of respect that Beesley had earned, as well as the level of selflessness he carried himself with.
Callum's confidence seemed to rise, as did the level of precision with his movements and striking as the match wore on. Fredericks tried to cut corners to keep the momentum in his favour, but Ross was eventually able to overcome Malek's tactics, and finished the match by executing a Double Under-hook Driver for the three count.
Winner: Callum Ross (11:36) via Double Under-Hook Driver
--
[Backstage.]
[We cut to another area of the building, where Gus Arnold is working his way through a pile of paperwork on his desk. With Northern Pro Wrestling's recent inclusion into the XHF Network, Gus has a lot of red tape to navigate - as well as new contracts to have reviewed by his lawyers.]
[Tap. Tap.]
[Gus looked up, and a smile curled over is lips. The often gruff and distant patriarch of the NPW Organization doesn't usually offer up much in the way of emotion, but based on his reaction he's clearly happy.]
[Lee Stevens.]
[Gus opened the door, and the men exchanged a hearty handshake. Gus remarked that he didn't expect to see Lee until the 26th, where he would be taking part in the Battle Royal with a Title Shot of the Winner's choosing at stake. Lee responded that he wanted to head to the East Coast a week early to get acquainted with some of the competition - but more importantly, he was there to speak with Gus, a man he respected and valued.]
[Gus was jolly, and told Lee that he would've faxed him his contract to save him the trip. Lee said that he wanted to come and make it official face to face. Gus ended the segment by sharing with Lee that he was ecstatic about the two of them working together again.]
--
[In The Arena.]
[If their were fans, they would be on their feet. They would be chanting.]
[Wild Bronco!]
[Wild Bronco!]
[...]
[Dusty Griffith.]
[It had been nearly four months since Dusty Griffith had been in a Northern Pro Wrestling arena, but that is 100% due to the COVID-19 crisis, and absolutely nothing to do with Dusty's commitment to the organization.]
[The International Superstar from Boise Idaho marched to the ring with purpose.]
[Dusty asked for a mic, and called out Bloodline.]
[For weeks, Dusty had been calling for the best wrestlers in the company to step up and show themselves. Esteban Fuentes was one of the first men to accept the challenge. What was supposed to be a match of sportsmanship ended up being a brutal blindside when Fuentes aligned himself with Manuel Mayorga and Santiago Ortega. The three of them proclaimed that they were a more dangerous rendition of the powerhouse group that had terrorized wrestlers all over North America for the past two years. Mayorga and Ortega ousted Edgar Delgado, and in one fell swoop - brought Fuentes into the fold.]
[Not only that, but Bloodline were now wearing the Imperial Crown Tag Team Championships.]
[Dusty said that he wasn't leaving the ring until Bloodline forced him to. Dusty leaned back against the ropes, and looked down at his wrist as if he were counting time.]
[Moments passed, and Dusty got what he asked for.]
[Bloodline.]
[Esteban Fuentes and Manuel Mayorga walked out with their Imperial Crown Tag Team Championships draped over their shoulders.]
[Before the champions could make their way to the ring, Dusty decided to cut them off and the FIGHT began.]
[To his credit, Dusty is big enough and bad enough to take on two or three guys at a time. After the initial fury, Ortega dropped down and chop blocked Dusty from behind, and that's when Fuentes and Mayorga both pushed Griffith's face into the guardrail with as much force as they could muster. Stomps and kicks followed, before Mayorga suggested they roll Dusty into the ring where they could use the ropes to keep him at bay.]
[Dusty started to fight back, but he was eventually overwhelmed by the underhanded tactics of the three men that he had been desperate to get his hands on. Fuentes and Mayorga wrapped Dusty's arms up in the ropes, and he was completely at their mercy. Ortega climbed to the nearby top rope, and was looking to inflict some high impact damage. That was until he was launched off of the top rope down to the concrete floor by the very man that had been an enigma in recent months.]
[KUMA.]
[The Canadian Grizzly Bear.]
[The 6'6" 265 pound Hulk was there to even the odds and assist the man that had defeated him soundly back in January and February. KUMA entering the ring distracted the Tag Team Champions for a split second, which was all Dusty needed to break free. Griffith then proceeded to drop Fuentes on his head with a nasty Backdrop Driver. KUMA got ahold of Mayorga and launched him with a release overhead belly to belly suplex, which sent him over the top rope and crashing to the floor.]
[KUMA then walked up to Dusty with a look of admiration in his eye. KUMA confirmed that it was Dusty who showed him that he was 'living wrong' without even attempting to do so. KUMA knew that he needed to alter his approach and set out to do just that by training with Kenneth Marshall and Liam Beesley.]
[Dusty paused, before probing a little further. KUMA then said that he wasn't there to seek a third match, and that he was there to watch Dusty's back. Dusty said that while he appreciated the sentiment, he didn't 'need' anyone to watch out for him. KUMA nodded his head out of respect, and bowed out of the ring. As he did, he kept eye contact with the 'Wild Bronco' and asked him to 'think about it.' KUMA said that the two of them could take down Bloodline if they were on the same page.]
[Dusty continued to focus on KUMA, but didn't respond. The veteran grappler wouldn't be so quick to forget, and he certainly wasn't going to make a rash decision or unveil his train of thought. ]
--
[Backstage.]
[Eric Dane and Steve Greer are speaking words of encouragement to Tyrone Walker, as he's set to defend the North American Cruiserweight Championship later in the show. We overhear Dane confirm that he has issued the 'Lumber Jack Challenge' to Osland and I-69 for Night of Champions - and he is assured by both Walker and Greer that they will be there to support him.]
[Walker asks Greer if he'll be his 'second' out there, and Greer agrees without hesitation. Walker said that Greer should remember Leon Van Zandt from their time together in KINGS '16. Greer nods, and said he wasn't sure where 'LVZ's' head was, but he assumed that he hadn't forgotten that the two of them had a very close battle.]
[Cut.]
--
[In The Arena.]
Gus Arnold walked to the ring, with a mic in his hand. The owner of Northern Pro Wrestling waited a few moments, and then reminded everyone that on June 26th, there would be a 10 man battle royal where the winner would receive a future championship match against 'any' champion of his choosing. Gus said, that this didn't rule out the Imperial Crown Tag Team Championships, and the winner would be eligible to enlist a partner of his choosing to challenge for the titles.
Without further ado, Gus announced the ten men who had been selected.
Ralph Erickson
- Gus said that the former Canadian Commonwealth Champion had proven to be loyal, and was on the cusp of regaining a championship in Northern Pro Wrestling on more than one occasion.
Malek Fredericks
- Gus spoke about Malek's experience all over Western Canada, and how based on his track record in NPW - he was a worthy selection.
Zeze Taborda
- One of the newest signings in 'NPW' who went out of his way to get involved in the main event of last week's show. Zeze has talked a big game upon his arrival, and this would his opportunity to back it up.
Andrew Brookes
- Brookes was also keen to make an impact last week, as he taunted Gordon Carlson from a distance. Brookes will now have an opportunity to prove his worth.
Lance Romance
- The second member of 'The Shooters Club' to be invited to this match. Lance has been on a hot streak since returning from PURE-1 in the UK.
Henry Bryndisarson
- Henry is one of the newest signings to Northern Pro. Henry is a grinder, and his ability to impose his will has many believing that he will be a contender in NPW.
Callum Ross
- Callum has been very active since returning from my warehouse this past spring, and looks to parlay his growth into a championship opportunity.
Santiago Ortega
- One of the founding father's of the bloodline stable has been itching to show what he can do inside of a Northern Pro Wrestling ring. This will give him the opportunity to do so.
Lee Stevens
- I'm persoanlly ecstatic to have been able to bring Lee into the fold. Lee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to NPW, and this will serve as an opportunity for him to make an immediate impact.
KUMA
- Finally, The Canadian Grizzly will be involved in this contest. I had the pleasure of watching KUMA evolve and change his thought process first hand. He's going to be a difficult 'out' in this contest.
[...]
Gus took a moment to allow for this announcement to resonate with the viewers, before respectfully excusing himself.
--
[Backstage.]
[Last minute preparations for Willard Manchester, as he gets himself amped for the match. Manchester had made a habit of cornering Leon Van Zandt throughout his time in NPW - and this would be Leon's chance to return the favour. As we saw earlier, it appears as though Greer will be in Walker's corner, so the anticipation for this match up has increased even more.]
--
[Backstage.]
[KUMA is about to exit the arena, when he is approached by Malek Fredericks and Lance Romance. Finally, the 3 members of the Shooters Club are in each other's presence.]
[Malek cuts to the chase, and asks KUMA where has been.]
[KUMA said he's been training, and improving.]
[Based on his body language, he expects this confrontation to escalate.]
[Lance jumps in, and asks why KUMA hasn't been returning their calls.]
[KUMA abruptly stated that he felt he had 'out grown' them. He no longer believed that he was a proper fit for their group, and wanted to seek his own journey going forward.]
[Malek and Lance looked at each other, and both brushed it off. Malek backed off and said "No problem big guy."]
[Lance decided to follow suit, and the two of them backed away, and allowed KUMA to resume his exit. But before KUMA was out of ear-shot, Malek couldn't help himself.]
["If you think Dusty Griffith would give you the time of day, you're mistaken. You'll be back."]
[...]
[Cut.]
--
Main Event
North American Cruiserweight Championship
30 Minute Time Limit
Tyrone Walker (c) w/ Steve Greer vs. Willard Manchester w/ Leon Van Zandt
--
These two men wrestled to a time limit draw back in February, but it would be Tyrone Walker who would win the 2nd Annual Cruiserweight Cup, and walked away with the North American Cruiserweight Championship in the process. This match would hopefully push the division to new heights and beyond, as there is a lot of posturing going on the upper end of the rankings. Manchester was nearly ten years younger than Walker, and their styles couldn't be more opposite. Walker wants to throw caution to the wind and fly around the ring using every rope or turnbuckle as a weapon. Manchester would much prefer to take the match to the mat, where he tends to have an advantage over 95% of his opponents.
The battle was epic and the two competitors put on a show. Walker dug deep to keep up with Manchester, who seemed to be dictating the pace of the match early on. An early highlight was a slingshot DDT that Walker seemingly executed out of the air, which changed the dynamic of the match.
Greer and Leon were on the outside, neither man made to move towards the other, but both seemed to be there to ensure that the match played out the way it should.
[Backstage.]
The camera went split screen as the action continued in the ring.
[Aaron Vasquez.]
Vasquez pushed a large dumpster in front of a locker room door. As the camera panned closer, we could see the word 'Team Danger". We were left to deduce that Eric Dane was still in the locker room, perhaps watching the match on a monitor. Once the split screen action took place, Dane must've realized that he was now locked in the dressing room with no way out.
'Chico' stood close by, to make sure that officials from the company wouldn't come near the dumpster. Nobody had arrived yet, but if they decided to do so, they would be met by an angry Vasquez who also had a steel chair at his disposal.
A few moments passed, and Oxford Osland along with I-69 walked down the hall. Osland nodded to Vasquez, who just stared ahead coldly. This was clearly a business arranagement and nothing more.
[Bang. Bang.]
[We could hear Dane threatening Vasquez, but most of the content was BEEPED! BEEPED!]
[Back to the ring.]
As the match wore on, it was clear that the wrestlers and their seconds were oblivious to what was taking place backstage. Manchester thought he had Walker locked up tight in a boston Crab, but Walker was somehow able to roll through, and hold Manchester down for the three count.
Winner and STILL North American Cruiserweight Champion: Tyrone Walker (18:22)
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Manchester was visibly upset, but Leon encouraged him to fight another day. Greer entered the ring with the championship belt in hand, and presented it to his long time tag team partner.]
[Oxford Osland.]
[I-69.]
The three men rushed the ring and blindsided Walker and Greer. Osland took the exhausted champion down with a release German Suplex, and nearly catapulted him into the third row. I-69 swarmed Greer, and despite his best efforts to fight off the cavalry, the numbers game did play a factor. Before long, it was 3 on 1 - as I-69 execute a high/low attack, while Osland slapped on a nasty looking Dragon Sleeper with a body scissors. Greer was fading fast, and he had no referee or ring ropes to break the hold.
Walker did his best to clear the cob webs, but he was blistered with his own championship belt. The shot seemed to cut him slightly over his eye, and blood started to pour. Osland yanked Walker up by his neck and shouted at him.
"Be sure to tell 'Dane' -- We ACCEPT his little challenge for Night of Champions."
[Osland drove Walker's head into the mat with extreme force after a nasty DDT.
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[Backstage.]
Aaron Vasquez is nowhere to be seen. NPW officials, including Gus Arnold shove the dumpster away from the locker room door, as an irate Eric Dane exits and rushes to ringside. The only problem was, the damage had been done. By now, Osland and his cronies had exited through the side door, and were on the way of town.... at least for the night.
The final camera shot of the night is of Eric Dane leaning over his fallen brothers, knowing full well that he was responsible for bringing them into the fold.
[Cut.]