The AWF Presents Prestige 63 - LIVE from Omaha, NE!
Jan 6, 2021 22:58:57 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer and Kira Izumi like this
Post by ForeverKuroi on Jan 6, 2021 22:58:57 GMT -5
Ascension Wrestling Federation Presents:
Live at the CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, NE.
1/9/2021
Capacity: 18321
In Attendance: 1832
The T Rex theme hits and Tyrone Wrexx makes his was to the ramp way, he stops at the center of the entrance and poses as pyro's explode and then he heads to the ring high fiving the fans as he does so.
Taylor: Here comes Tyrone Wrexx in his second ever AWF match, first one Prestige!
Romano: He's quite the vivacious young fellow, and I think he has an easy match ahead of him, considering that his opponent is...
Knights of Cydonia" by Muse plays. ...and Copycat doesn't come out. The few fans that are in the audience shrug and look confused. That's when the large screen lights up. It shows the back office of the studio! There, the fans finds Subject 42 and Betsy Granger having a conversation with one another.
Subject 42: Ragh. R-ragh.
Betsy: Ragh ragh. Ragh.
Behind all of them in a quiet and cluttered corner are Terry Bradshaw and Copycat. They are spying on the two.
Copycat: Mr. Bradshaw, why are we here?
Bradshaw: Quiet, Copycat! We're biding our time.
Copycat: ...But for what? I don't even understand what they're saying!
Bradshaw: Well I don't know what the fuck Betsy is saying. She has some stupid dialect. Subject 42 is saying something about some guy named Erez and how he needs to lose weight and that he trains even the day after Christma-WAIT! NOW!
Bradshaw says this as Betsy walks away from Subject 42, leaving 42 by themselves. Terry Bradshaw pushes Copycat out in the open.
Bradshaw: Attack now and get that Around The Belt Championship!
With all the commotion, Subject 42 looks behind him and sees Copycat. Copycat comically swallows and with audible GULP. Not knowing what to do, he just charges at Subject 42.
Copycat: Aaaaaahhhhh!
Copycat comes after Subject 42 with a cross body. Subject 42 simply catches Copycat and takes him down with a backbreaker.
Subject 42: Ragh.
Subject 42 walks away, leaving Copycat by himself.
Singles Match
Tyrone Wrexx vs. Copycat
Tyrone Wrexx stands in the match, confused. It's only him. Copycat is now there.
Taylor: Copycat, you idiot... YOU HAVE A MATCH HERE!
Romano: Well, you can only blame him so much. He does have to deal with Terry Bradshaw.
Taylor: What even happens in this case?
Romano: Well, the referee now has to do a ten count. If Copycat doesn't get in the ring in time, he automatically forfeits.
As Cassius Romano stated, Junior Referee Steve Tyrell is in the ring, counting:
...One!
...Two!
...Three!
...Four!
...Five!
...Six!
...Seven!
...Eight!
...Nine!
"WAIT!"
That's what Copycat yells as he claws his way into view at the top of the ramp. The crowd gets up, gasps and looks at the young fighter trying desperately to make himself relevant.
Taylor: Cassius! It's Copycat! He showed up! How brave of him! He's been beaten and pulverized and yet despite it all, he's in the ring and ready to give it his all! We will finally have a match! We will finally-
...Ten!
The bell rings.
Jessie Love: Here is your winner of the match by forfeit... Tyrone Wrexx!
Copycat sees this and immediately bursts into a cascade of tears.
Romano: ...Tommy. You have to be in the RING to avoid forfeiting. You can't just tell people to wait. Why do I feel like I'm the only sane one in the room!?
Brendon stands in the gorilla position ready to go. His first match is looming and he is ready. He sees the countdown and he knows his first moments hitting the AWF ring are about to happen. Its just a meet and greet so to speak. A chance to say hi to the crowd and a moment for them to get to know him. His mind is racing and his heart is going a mile a minute. The adrenaline is creating a pit deeper then the abyss in his gut, no wait that’s the fear of rejection, all the what ifs that would hold him back.
His fathers voice just a silent whisper started reminding him why he was here. Reminding him of the sacrifices his dad made after his Mother died. The moments he gave up for his son to achieve everything he desired. Then he too was gone, but the whisper remained. Always cutting through the Doubt. Brendon smiled bot inwardly and outwardly as he looked up the match previously was ended and he waited.
The Phoenix by Fall out Boy blared through the speakers. It wasn’t his favorite group, but the words were his opus. The heavy staccato drums blared “PUT ON YOUR WAR PAINT”. Brendon appeared as the words echoed.
Phoenix: Let’s go!
Hee yells as he makes his way to the ring. He is light on his feet almost bouncing the whole way his adrenaline pushing him. All he is feeling is the ecstasy of the moment. Sliding under the ropes he bounces up to the quick pop from the crowd. Smiling he makes his way to each set of ropes pointing to each section.
Phoenix: Good Evening AWF. Thank you for the Welcome. I am so proud to be here tonight and introduce myself to you and get things moving here in Accension Wrestling. Accension is such an apt name, especially in my case. I’m here to ascend the ranks and bring you all with me.
He smiles as he looks back towards the entrance area.
Phoenix: Everyone of you in the back know what’s up. You all know the score. Each of you is here for one reason and I am no different. We are here to win the title. To put it all on the line for the gold. Not because we want gold but what it represents. Its time to change things. Its time to put on the war paint and go to war. I know I’m the new guy but I’m going to change the status quo.
Brendon gives a sly smile as he returns to the looking around at the crowd.
Phoenix: To you the fans of Ascension I promise to carry you with me everywhere I go. If I get knocked down like my name suggests I will rise from the ashes and reach new heights. Put on your War Paint with me and let’s go to war. I won’t promise it will be easy, but I promise you greatness.
He pauses a moment.
Phoenix: Lets Go!
He drops the mic as he slides out of the ring as his music hits. He walks back to the back smiling hoping the crowd buys in to his mission but only time will tell.
Drake's "Enemies" plays as Frankie Webb heads out into the arena. He shoots a quick glance to the fans in the arena and hops a few time. He has sleeveless hood over his head as he slowly makes himself to the ring. He walks toward the ring, displaying a fake err of confidence. As he approaches the ring, he takes the hood and tosses it out of the ring. He hops up and down, waiting for the match to begin.
Taylor: Here comes one of our most fresh faces within the AWF and our youngest member, Frankie Webb!
Romano: He has a lot of potential. He hasn't actually won yet either, but I would say that if he keeps at it, he can accomplish great things!
"Kung Fu Fighting" plays as Xialong runs to the ring, ready to begin the match.
Taylor: We all know that Frankie is going have his hands full here, because he's not shoved face to face with a former XHF Phoenix Champion, Xiaolong!
Romano: He's not one to scoff at, either. He's actually one of the longest lasting members of the AWF that's still here today. I think it's safe to say that we're both going to have an electrifying match!
Singles Match
Frankie Webb vs. Xiaolong
The bell rings. Frankie and Xiaolong stand opposite from one another in the ring. They circle around one another once before locking in for a momentous lockup. Frankie appears to pushing with sheer strength alone, whereas Xiaolong is clearly not giving his all. He appears to be gauging Frankie. It appears to work out well for him because Xiaolong is using Frankie's own strength against him. He drops to his knees and lifts his opponent up and over his shoulders. Frankie hits the mat hard and Xiaolong immediately holds Frankie's arm. He goes down and expertly applies an armbar. Frankie grits his teeth and tries to pull his arm out, but Xiaolong refuses to let go. Frankie tries to use his other arm to pull out his trapped arm, but Xiaolong kicks off the other foot and uses the curvature of the foot to block that. Frankie starts to thrash around, until he finds Junior Referee Steve Tyrell telling Xiaolong to let go.
Taylor: The foot on the ropes! That really saved his hide!
Romano: Yeah, but he did that entirely by accident. It wasn't ring awareness. This is the sort of inexperience that his manager kept going on about.
Frankie almost hugs the ropes and cautiously rises from the canvas, but Xiaolong holds his hands up in the air. He's making it clear that he's not going to be underhanded in his approach and that they're having a friendly match with one another. Frankie doesn't entirely trust him and slowly rises to his feet. He doesn't break eye contact but as he rises, Xiaolong keeps his word. They go back going forward for another lockup, but Frankie is actually the one to deceive Xiaolong! He moves forward with a kick to the stomach! Xiaolong is forced forward and Frankie grabs him by the shoulder. With as much force as he could muster, he drives him to the corner! With his opposite arm, Xiaolong tries to grasp the pained shoulder. But Frankie isn't done yet! He lets go of the shoulder and moves to the legs. Almost down by the ankles, he pulls back and up, which causes Xialong's face to hit the canvas!
Taylor: This is some really dirty tactics we're seeing from Frankie, here!
Romano: It seems like with a developing skill set, he's trying to see what works for him here. The conventional method didn't work, but this seems to fare better.
Frankie Webb gets up and stands right by his opponent's feet. He uses the legs to flip Xiaolong to his back so he can go for a pin but as soon as Xialong is on his back, he uses his legs to wrap around his opponent, almost in a triangle hold style. Xiaolong uses his impressive core strength to lift himself up from the horizontal basis. As he gets up completely off and more vertical, he brings Frankie back down with a DDT! Frankie goes down hard, but his arrogance and youth forces him to try to get up. Xiaolong uses the time very efficiently. He runs over to the ropes and rebounds to gain maximum velocity. He goes to the opposite ropes that matches perfectly with Frankie rising up because as soon as he puts two and two together and turns around, he gets every last bit of Xiaolong's springboard plancha! Frankie goes down and Xiaolong goes for the pin count. The referee is quick for the count:
...One!
...Two!
...Kickout!
Taylor: If you're facing Xialong, you do NOT want to let him have room to run around because then this happens!
Romano: No kidding! He has Frankie right where he wants him, and he fully intends to walk out of this match with his hands up in the air.
Xiaolong gets up and realizes that he needs to work a little harder in order to secure the win. Meanwhile, Frankie's eyes are glazed over as he tries to get up. As he rises from the mat, Xiaolong is committed to keeping the pressure on. Frankie finds that as he gets up from the canvas, Xiaolong is already in the midst of a springboard. He goes for a off-the-ropes body splash, but Frankie is able to dodge this one. He ducks the body. Xiaolong doesn't crash. He catches the ropes nearby to help keep his balance while he adjusts. He turns around and Frankie street-style shoves his opponent. Xiaolong is pushed away from the ropes, but isn't about to fall down. He's not damaged, but Frankie moves forward and sneaks his leg behind Xiaolong's leg and pushes him down. He falls! Frankie takes advantage of this with a series of strikes to the head. Xiaolong's on defense!
Taylor: There's the little bits of Judo peaking through!
Romano: Believe me, Frankie has a long way to go in trying to beat someone who's been wrestling with the AWF for almost two years, but it's certainly a start. He can lose this match in two seconds and still be accomplished by this feat alone.
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! Frankie is getting the wollop on Xiaolong but as soon as he rises his fist up for a match-ending punch, Xiaolong manages to maneuver his body between Frankie's legs, coming out from the back. Frankie punches the mat and his pained fist is paying the price! Xiaolong seeks to recover, but Frankie quickly turns around and dives down with a knee, striking him down. He covers for a pin:
...One!
...Two!
...Kickout!
Taylor: Xiaolong won't go down!
Romano: Of course he won't. He may be hurt but he has fight and Frankie's just getting frustrated. This is going to lead to some pretty poor decisions.
Frankie goes back to try to secure the mount position, but Xiaolong won't let that happen again. He uses his flexible left leg to strike Frankie at the side of the neck to knock his ass down. Xiaolong takes the moment to go to the top turnbuckle. Things are going high stakes! He positions himself for a five star frog splash! As soon as he jumps, however, he notices Frankie getting to his feet! With a little bit of luck and every ounce of aerodynamics under his control, Xiaolong hits the floor with a roll. As he gets up, he ducks a lackluster and reverses a clothesline from Frankie into a hip toss! He knows Frankie is about to get up and knows he's going to need this now. He goes to the turnbuckle behind him so he can catch him off guard. He's at the top of the turnbuckle. He waits until Frankie is on his feet. Top rope backstabber! DSD! He hits it!
Taylor: Make it or break it time!
...NO! Frankie catches him over his shoulder midair and slams him down with a Samoan Drop! Webb Drop! Xiaolong is down and Frankie just lies back down and lets gravity does its thing. Steve Tyrell makes the pin count:
...One!
...Two!
...THREE!
The bell rings.
Jessie Love: Here is your winner of the match - Frankie Webb!
Taylor: What a fantastic match! Xiaolong did a fantastic job and Frankie got his first win!
Romano: I'm incredibly surprised how Frankie could have landed that move. Just look at Xiaolong. He dominated the entire match!
The scene fades in backstage in the locker room. Subject 42 is taking a quick snooze with Tiny Mew napping on his chest. As he's sleeping, there's a creek. The door opens. In there sneaks the AWF CFO Terry Bradshaw. He looks behind him and waves the person behind him in, but makes sure to put his index finger to his lips. He's shushing the person behind him. Meanwhile as all of this happens, Subject 42 is still sound asleep, quietly muttering.
"R.. Ragh. R... Ragh."
Bradshaw invites the referee in. The referee notices both of Subject 42's shoulders touching the floor. The referee begins to count VERY quietly.
...One!
...Two!
...THREE!
Terry Bradshaw yells excitedly.
Bradshaw: TINY FUR IIS THE AWF AROUND THE BELT CHAMPION!
The loud noise instantly startles and wakes both Tiny Fur and Subject 42. Subject 42 wakes up in a grumpy rage.
Subject 42: RAGH!
Instantly, Bradshaw pulls the referee out of the room and runs away. The camera cuts back a different room, where a TV plays the screen we were just watching. The classic "someone's watching this TV" angle. The camera slowly pans out, to reveal X*Crown Champion Dylan Black watching the screen. Dressed in a suit and the title around his waist, he watches the end of the match play out. His face emotionless. The camera cuts to a close-up of Adam Sanders. Dylan just shakes his head and walks off left, as the TV turns off.
Jessie Love: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Coming to the ring first...
The arena goes dark and then the screen flickers on and there appears a wood, a robed man comes out onto the stage with some kind of book, he begins speaking to it and then out in the distance a figure saunters closer and closer and stops...that's when the music begins to play.
Jessie Love: Accompanied by his manager, John Eden, he stands at six-feet and nine inches and weighs in at three-hundred-and ten pounds...JITTERMAN!!!
The lights go out once again and when they appear back on, The Jitterman is there next to the robed man otherwise known as John Eden.
Taylor: Jitterman made a hell of an impression in his debut outing and just one look at him tells you the potential he has for success here in Ascension Wrestling!
Romano: We see some wrestlers come into the company with an impressive history to date but they can’t back it up, Jitterman...just look at him!
They then slowly and methodically make their way to the ring and then the lights eventually turn back to normal.
Taylor: He’ll have his work cut-out tonight…
Jessie Love: And his opponent…
*"Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" hits the arena as an imitation sandstorm is created in the entranceway and Aiden Merric emerges from it chewing nicotine gum and wearing a smug ass smile on his face. He spits the gum and puts a patch on his arm before stretching and walking to the ring with a purpose.
Jessie Love: Hailing from Coober Pedy, Australia. Standing at six-feet and two inches, and weighing two-hundred pounds...AIDEN...MERRIC!!!
He rolls into the ring and stretches on the ropes. The referee stops him and removes his various blades, ropes and other hunting equipment as he smirks. He then cracks his neck, waiting for the bell.
Taylor: You want to talk about the perfect opponent for Jitterman right now? Merric tops the list no matter how you cut it!
Romano: We saw Merric take out Tarrasque at A Very AWF Christmas, while Jitterman is similar in stature, he can’t be looking at this match the same way if he wants to be successful!
Taylor: You could well be right about The Big Game Hunter, Cassius. Jitterman won the opening Battle Royal and with it showed us the first glimpses into what he can do inside the ring.
Singles Match
The Jitterman vs. Aiden Merric
Nate Biggs looks to each man as he finishes up his pre-match checks and signals for the bell. Jitterman remains emotionless in his corner. John Eden steps down off the apron clutching the book that holds so much allure and mystery around his charge. Aiden Merric, in contrast, looks to be keyed up for the match, his stare fixed on his prey but a knowing smile the big man’s head back with informs us that he has a plan in place.
Taylor: Merric is looking at his target like he already has it in sights.
Romano: We’ve seen characters like Jitterman before, Natasha is a prime example. You can’t enter the ring with a rigid game-plan because these types of people don’t operate like a conventional opponent would.
Merric takes the initiative and begins to approach his opponent. Jitterman, sensing his clear size and power advantage, is slower to come forth. The two men meet, feet apart.
Taylor: Just look at the size difference!
Romano: Merric needs to invoke his inner Tyson to have a hope here. We’ve seen him brawl his way to victory time and time again but this is going to need him to get inside, land some blows, and then get back out before the big guy can lay a hand on him.
The Australian looks up at the big game in front of him, Jitterman cocks his head slightly as he assesses the man in front of him.
Taylor: Both men trying to suss the other out.
Romano: I’m not sure you see guys like Jitterman in the Outback and you know wherever Jitterman is or comes from, he won’t have seen people like Merric either!
The former XHF Phoenix Champion rears back and unleashes a forearm shot to the chest but Jitterman remains unremoved. He looks back up at his opponent who still looks at him with no expression or movement changed since before the strike.
Taylor: If you’re Merric right now, where do you go from here?
Changing tact, Merric heads to the ropes and lands a roaring elbow but still the behemoth stands there, emotionless and unmoved.
Romano: Stick and move, stick and move. If something isn’t working, you need alternatives and you need them quickly.
Merric reaches up and grabs the hair of Jitterman and brings his head within striking range. A flurry of quick jabs tee up and uppercut that sends the big man’s head back, a foot raised in the air as he’s caught off balance.
Taylor: Aiden seems intent on this route, and he seems to be making progress.
Seeing progress, Merric once more hits the ropes … JITTERMAN CHARGES HIM WITH A RUNNING KNEE TO THE GUT!
Romano: He was toying with him!
Taylor: We can’t see the expression under the mask but Jitterman made his intentions known with that knee!
The cameras show The Big Game Hunter holding his ribs as he tries to get back to his feet before his opponent takes the decision for him but he’s too late. Jitterman pulls him up and sends him to the corner with an Irish whip.
Romano: Merric needs to be careful, he could end up getting rag-dolled right out of this match!
The big man charges into the corner BUT MERRIC MOVES!
Taylor: It’s not often we see Merric have a speed advantage in a match but he uses it there!
Jab, jab, cross, and a boot to the midsection follow. Jitterman is having none of it though, he reaches out and turns the tables as he throws Merric into the turnbuckle. An uppercut sends Merric’s legs into the air only for them to land as the gargantuan wrestler doubles him over with a shot to the solar plexus and follows up with a clubbing forearm to the neck of his opponent.
Taylor: Kitterman is exerting his size advantage early doors.
Romano: It’s more than that though, whichever way he finishes it - both avenues open to him are incredibly focused on the neck of his opponent.
Merric staggers out from the corner but gets no chance to breathe as Jitterman scoops him up and delivers a backbreaker. The giant uses his size to extend a club like arm across his throat, simultaneously choking out the Australian and putting pressure on his spine.
Romano: See, even this is designed to wear out his opponent and put more pressure and wear and tear on the back of Merric.
In no mood for dirty tricks, Nate Biggs starts the count…
ONE...
TWO…
THREE…
FOUR…
F-
Taylor: Jitterman taking as much time as the rules allowed to release the chokehold.
The mysterious wrestler breaks the hold and locks eyes with Biggs. Jitterman walks over the chest of Merric as Biggs starts to back off as he senses danger. He drops a no-look elbow drop that connects with neck of his opponent and rolls through. Wrapping his hands around the head of Merric he tries to lock in a guillotine-like choke.
Taylor: It’s important to note that Biggs was handpicked for this match exactly for the reason of ensuring that someone could control Jitterman!
Romano: If he didn’t ask for danger money he’s an incredibly brave and stupid man...
Using his wiles, Merric fights against the move by wildly throwing punches that buy precious milliseconds of time for him to try to escape.
Taylor: Merric relying on that smashmouth style we’ve seen so many times before.
Putting a quick stop to the flurry, Jitterman lifts a knee and secures a standing guillotine.
Romano: Passion is one thing but Merric needs to be careful he didn’t just throw the match away. That’s three-hundred and ten pounds in a near seven-foot body wrapping around your neck and choking you out!
The leverage advantage coming into play, Merric finds himself struggling and in danger. His hands reach up hoping to grab an eye-gouge or rake but the height makes it difficult for him to effect any change.
MERRIC KICKS THE GHOULISH WRESTLER IN THE GOOLIES!
Taylor: Aiden going back to the bag of tricks that carried him to the longest XHF Phoenix title reign in recent history!
Romano: You hear people say it’s not the right way to go about wrestling but the right way is anything that means you win!
Realizing the window of opportunity is small, Merric goes on the attack. Jitterman throws a punch but the Australian weaves out the way...MERRIC CONNECTS WITH A DOUBLE EAR CLAP AND FOLLOWS IT UP WITH A HEADBUTT!
Taylor: BAG AND TAG!
Romano: What can he do to capitalize though?
For the first time in the match, Jitterman seems unsteady on his feet. John Eden can be heard calling to his charge from ringside. Merric sees his chance and runs to the ropes looking for the SPRINGBOARD SWISS UPPERCUT….JITTERMAN CATCHES HIM IN A WAISTLOCK!
Taylor: Merric, looking to get some momentum in the match, went looking for the Tranquilizer but now finds himself in a world of trouble!
Trying to escape, Merric leans forward to get some footing before sending stiff elbow shots to the head of his opponent but Jitterman continues ...GERMAN SUPLEX!
Taylor: HUGE German suplex, but how many more of those elbows do you think he could take, Cass?
Romano: More than Merric can take of suplexes like that one!
The cover…
ONE…
TWO…
T-KICKOUT!
Merric gets a shoulder up!
Taylor: Jitterman must sense victory is near but Merric still has enough left in the tank to get a shoulder up at the last!
The relative newcomer to AWF yanks Merric to his feet and scoops him up for a powerslam. Jitterman charges at the turnbuckle and rams the Australian into it at speed! He turns around and looks for the opposite corner BUT MERRIC SLIPS OUT THE BACK AND PUSHES HIM INTO THE TURNBUCKLE...THE BIG MAN STAGGERS BACKWARDS AND INTO A BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX!
Taylor: Merric capitalizing there with a huge suplex after that escape!
Romano: He’s cottoning onto the way to get ahead, use the big guy’s size against him!
Clearly showing the effects of the match, Merric holds his own back from the stress of the move and sees that his opponent is getting back to his feet. Not wanting to be beaten to the punch, Merric scrambles back up and rushes a lifting knee to the still-rising head of Jitterman. He follows up without hesitation, a judo-throw using the momentum to take the big man down.
Taylor: That’s not a knife...
QUICK-FIRE CHOPS TO THE THROAT!!!
Romano: That’s a knife!
Merric smells victory and rises to his feet, the big man is slower to react but gets back up...CHEEKY EYE POKE FROM THE ANTIPODEAN!
Taylor: Is that Merric showboating?
MERRIC GRABS A WAISTLOCK….
Romano: Looks like he’s spotted an opening...are we about to see Target Neutralized?
AS HE PULLS JITTERMAN TO HIM, LOOKING FOR A CLOTHESLINE, JITTERMAN COUNTERS WITH A SHOULDER CHARGE THAT FLOORS HIM!
Taylor: Jitterman once more using his brain to pull the match back towards his favor!
Still holding onto Merric’s arm, Jitterman wrenches him to his feet and lifts him across his shoulders…
DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!
Romano: More brute force trauma to the neck of Merric!
Taylor: Eden has drilled his man well ahead of this match!
Using his experience inside the ring, Merric instinctively rolls himself to the ropes until his head is on the apron to catch a breather. Jitterman isn’t so quick to gift him the opportunity and steps towards the Australian. Biggs catches him and warns him, the giant throws his hands in the air in innocence and sinisterly bends down to run a hand over the chest of Merric in a mock-caring way before backing off a step AND THEN DROPPING A KNEE THE THE CHEST OF HIS OPPONENT!
Taylor: Once more, Jitterman is intent on imposing his will on every part of the match, the match official included!
Biggs tries to admonish the masked man but is ignored as he steps over the top rope to the apron.
Romano: This could spell trouble for the man from Oz!
JITTERMAN TAKES A STEP AND DROPS A LEG ONTO THE HEAD OF MERRIC!!
Taylor: Eden seems to be encouraging him to do more damage!
Romano: We saw him go for a pin attempt earlier and it wasn’t quite enough. It makes sense he’s going to put it beyond doubt, gets the job done AND makes a statement!
Before the referee can start the count, Jitterman is back on the apron, he casts a quick look to his opponent before stepping into the ring.
Taylor: A glance from Jitterman can only mean trouble for the Big Game Hunter right now…
Romano: If he’s not in the Last Chance Saloon yet then the horse has just pulled up outside the door!
Merric starts to get back to a vertical base, he uses the ropes for stability. Jitterman approaches him and grabs him by the head but an eye-rake causes him to stagger back….MERRIC SPRINGBOARDS ONTO THE TOP-ROPE….SWISS UPPERCUT CONNECTS!!!
Taylor Desperation Tranquilizer from Merric!
Romano: He’s not an aerial wrestler though, Tommy, so if he doesn’t find a way to cut out the height difference, he’s only staving off the inevitable!
Merric: YOU LITTLE BEAUTY!
The Big Game Hunter keeps the pressure on and forces the big man to his feet by his hair. He sends him into the ropes and CHARGES HIM WITH A ROARING ELBOW! He follows it up with a kick to the stomach before attempting an Irish whip, it’s reversed… RUNNING BIG BOOT FROM JITTERMAN SENDS MERRIC TO THE APRON ONCE MORE!!
Taylor: Did you hear the connection there?
Romano: Jitterman has put Merric into a position where the cards all fall with the masked man.
Merric looks in trouble and he knows it. As he forces himself back up, Jitterman is on him and has pulled him through the middle ropes...ROPE-ASSISTED DDT!
Taylor: THE JITTERBUG!
Jitterman sits up and starts to rock, John Eden can be heard calling for him to put away the Australian.
Romano: This could be the beginning of the end...
As the big guy gets to his feet, Merric can be seen stirring in the background. Jitterman measures the distance and waits for him to rise to his feet…
Romano: He’s measuring his opponent...
MERRIC STANDS AS JITTERMAN LOOKS FOR A SUPERMAN PUNCH BUT MERRIC ROLLS OUT THE WAY!
Taylor: He went for the Death Strike but Merric dodges it...
CHARGING TO THE CORNER, MERRIC SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE MIDDLE TURNBUCKLE AND CONNECTS WITH A SUPERMAN PUNCH OF HIS OWN THAT TAKES JITTERMAN TO A KNEE!
Taylor: STUN GUN!
Romano: Great adaptability from the Australian!
CHARGING OFF THE ROPES...LARIAT TO THE KNEELING JITTERMAN!
Taylor: MODIFIED CONTRACT FULFILLED!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
Jessie Love: The winner of this match, as a result of pinfall, AIDEN….MERRIC!!
The camera cuts to the cheap seats--right up in the nosebleed section, as a matter of fact. Even without COVID restrictions, this area would be sparsely populated. With them in place, there's nary a soul in sight. As the camera pans over to the right, the lens eventually focuses on a fan that's slouched in her seat a bit, a beer in one hand and a booted foot resting on her opposing knee. It takes the blond a moment to notice that she's being filmed, though rather than looking directly at the camera at first? She's speaking with a decidedly country sort of twang, her tone monotone, but welcoming all the same.
???: Take a load off. Ain't nobody usin' most of these seats anyway.
One can only assume the camera man is nodding before he sits down, a low sigh of relief picked up faintly by the on-board mic. The blond gives a sidelong glance in his direction before nodding slightly.
???: I was plannin' on havin' a beer ready for you, but that got shot down... so there's a Pepsi there if'n you want it. Figured it was the least I could do for makin' you hike up here.
Her gaze returns to the ring as it is readied for the next bout.
???: Management did offer me fancy ringside seats, y'know. Hell, they tried to give me the whole VIP experience. A hired car to bring me here from the motel, the secret hush-hush , access to the fancy caterin' the stuffed suits get--the whole lot.
Her head turns, stormcloud-colored eyes directly meeting the camera's lens.
???: I looked at'em like they'd lost their damn minds and bought my own ticket.
A swig of her beer is taken before she continues.
???: Would it have been nice to get all that? Sure, but it wouldn't have felt right. This might not be my first rodeo, but that don't mean I deserve special treatment. I need to earn my way up that ladder, same as I need to work my way up the card. There ain't no shame in starting at the bottom when you're the new wrestler in town, same as there ain't no shame in sittin' up here in the nosebleeds if that's all you can afford. We all gotta start out somewhere, don't we? And more importantly, without the new blood both in the squared circle and here in the seats, there ain't no show. And if there ain't no show... well, then there's no wrestling. Keepin' that in mind has kept me humble, but don't mistake that for me not thinkin' I can kick some ass in that ring down there. I know I can, and once I make my debut?
The faintest uptick of the left-hand corner of her mouth, eyes subtly narrowing as if she's somehow able to meet the gaze of any who will face her.
Turn To Stone by Joe Walsh fills the arena as the lights dim and a single spotlight illuminates the stage. Out from the curtain steps Cross Recoba, a titanium cane with a golden lion's head handle in one hand, touching the crucifix with the other. The HCW Diamond title is draped over his shoulder. The crowd responds with a chorus of boo's for The Fox while Cross uses the handle of the cane to push his shag hair cut from his face, flicking his head back confidently as he grins out at the audience obnoxiously. He holds up the cane that has caused so much trouble in the past to an even more venomous response from the fans, and he begins down the ramp still holding it aloft.
Jessie Love: "Coming to the ring, sttanding at six foot one and one inch, and weighing in at 230 pounds, hailing from New York, New York. and the self-proclaimed 'Box Office Smash of AWF'..... , 'THE FOX' CROSS RECOBBBAAA!!"
Recoba reaches ringside and holds the lions head handle of the cane up to his lips and kisses it for luck. He sets the cane to rest against the ring steps and then climbs them up onto the apron, and with a wipe of his feet slips between the ropes. He pops up with both hands out at his side, walking forward as if putting his glory on display, and delivers an over-exaggerated bow that causes the fans to crow even louder in disdain. Cross stands to his full height and smirks, stepping over to the far corner to await the beginning of the match.
The arena goes dark, with only a couple of spotlights highlighting the entrance. From the entranceway hooded, robed figures, each bearing a censer billowing out smoke, walk slowly in time with the pounding beats of "Lilith, Kali, Nemesis, Morrigan" by Inkubus Sukkubus, overlaid with the cawing of a flock of crows. As the vocals start and the crows melt away, these Cultists of The Goddess speak as one along with the music.
LILITH, KALI, NEMESIS, MORRIGAN
QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.
LILITH, KALI, NEMESIS, MORRIGAN
QUEEN OF THE DARKNESS, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT.
From within the thick clouds of smoke, Natasha appears as if from nowhere. She begins to walk, slowly, regally towards the ring. Her cultists file out as she steps through the ropes. She walks to the ropes facing the hard camers and grabs a firm hold, throwing her upper body backwards and screaming out the howl of the eternally mourning spirits. Finally Natasha steps into the middle of the ring and drop to one knee, grabbing hold of her right wrist with her left hand and singalling for the lights to come back up with an upwards motion.
Singles Match
Cross Recoba vs. Natasha
The two competitors close on each other, Cross Recoba looking to use his speed advantage by circling a little, Natasha wheeling on her feet so as to be always facing her opponent. Cross opens with a rangy roundhouse kick, The Goddess swatting the leg away with a solid block. Natasha attempts to close the distance and she swings an arm, looking for a knife edge chop. Cross hops backwards, light on his feet and Natasha cuts through nothing but air. The Goddess of Death looks annoyed at missing her target but her scowl is met by an amused gin from Cross.
Taylor: Cross Recoba has had first hand experience of Natasha.
Romano: She was his former cornerperson. It remains to be seen who got the most information out of the experience.
Again, Cross attempts to pick his spots, always sticking and moving as he hits a low roundhouse kick, tagging Natasha on her thigh. The Ice Queen grunts and lunges forwards, probably going for a lock up but Cross wheels away quickly to avoid Natasha's clutches. Recoba runs his fingers through his hair in a deliberate, "You just missed me," taunt. The Goddess throws him a look of total disgust as she tries to center herself and Cross again dips just into range and tags her again with a low roundhouse kick.
Taylor: Cross Recoba is like a matador!
Romano: He's keeping himself at range and striking when he can. It's a sound strategy.
Frustrated, Natasha lunges it, looking to grasp for something, anything that she can use to leverage her power advantage. Cross sees the lack of precision in his opponent's attack and swiftly raises a knee, catching The Goddess square in the breadbasket. Natasha stumbles forwards and The Man Worth A Million Lira grasps at her head, snapping her over with a sharply delivered suplex. Cross floats over into a quick cover...
ONE!
T... barely more than a one count before Natasha powers out.
Taylor: Cross looking to steal a quick win, there.
Romano: You don't win a match if you don't try every pin you can.
Cross is quickly back to his feet, looking to capitalise instantly. The Fox raises his boot into the air and slams it down into Natasha's sternum. Seeing that this seems to have an effect Cross repeats the deliberate stamping motion again before speeding up with an almost blur of quicker stomps, each blow chipping away at The Gothic Goddess' stamina a little more. Satsfied with the damage he has been able to inflict, Cross hauls Natasha off the canvas and turns her around by the head, placing it on his shoulder. Cross sits out with a sharp thud, hitting a Hangman's Neckbreaker. Again Cross manoeuvrers round into a pinning position.
ONE!
T... again Natasha powers out with ease.
Taylor: I don't think Cross' tactic of pinning Natasha fast is working.
Romano: It takes more effort to get out of a pin than to apply one. That's wrestling fundamentals.
Rushing the far ropes as his opponent begins to stand, Cross times his rebound perfectly to hit a running elbow smash right into The Gothic Goddess' face. As Natasha spins away with the force of the blow, Cross grabs her in a solid back waistlock and leans backwards, sending The Goddess sailing over his head with a beautiful German Suplex. Cross holds on, dragging Natasha back to her feet, still trapped in the back waistlock and ducks his head under her flailing left arm, brdinging backwards with a beautiful Saito Suplex. Cross holds onto the bridge this time...
ONE!
TWO!
T... Very little more than a two count.
Taylor: Cross Recoba is so silky smooth in the ring.
Romano: He's a craftsman in the ring. He is, however, facing someone who is, in his own words, a concrete brick.
Cross stands and gives the hard camera a glance. He reaches down at Natasha's prone form and scoops her off the canvas, holding Natasha's body in an inverted waist lock, head pointed precariously downwards towards the mat...
Taylor: UP ALL NIGHT IN DAKOTA!
Steeling himself to end the match right here, right now, Cross tries to jump into the air, aiming to drive Natasha's skull into the canvas with his lethal finishing manoeuvre. Natasha counters, kicking her legs in the air to make it as difficult as possible for Cross to deliver the coup de grace on the match. Trying again, Cross attempts to leave the mat again, finishing the match in a heartbeat. But NATASHA KICKS HER LEGS AGAIN AND LEVERS HERSELF OVER CROSS' HEAD, LANDING ON THE MAT BEHIND HIM AND REVERSING THE HOLD!
Taylor: NO! GODDESS OF DEATH! CROSS IS ABOUT TO GET HIS NECK BROKEN!
Natasha threads her arm through Cross's legs and grips him in the reverse Gotch Cradle. She lets out a high pitched scream, the Howl of the Baintsí, and prepares to put Cross on the shelf for an indefinite amount of time. BUT CROSS FLEXES HIS LEG AND KNEES HER IN THE SKULL WITH A FLAILING LIMB! The knee connects again! And again! Natasha's grip slips under the pressure and Cross slides down to the mat and underneath Natasha's legs. Cross whips Natasha's legs out from underneath her and The Goddess drops to mat level, ample chest first. The Fox sits up and flips Natasha over so she is lying face up. Recoba then stands and turns, placing his legs across Natasha's so they apply downwards pressure as he bridges backwards...
Taylor: EUROPEAN CLUTCH!
ONE!
TWO!
TH.... Natasha uses her arms to throw Cross' body off.
Taylor: That was close!
Romano: You keep trying, eventually something will work.
Standing back up, The Fox grabs for an arm of Natasha and drags her standing. Cross heaves with all his might and whips Natasha into the turnbuckle, hard. Cross follows in, leaping into a picture perfect dropkick and rolling back to his feet. Cross follows in with a charging back elbow smash that leaves The Gothic Goddess staggering out of the corner. With cat like agility and grace Cross hops to the top turnbuckle and dives onto Natasha's shoulders, looking for his Diving Reverse Huracanrana. Recoba leans backward, trying to spike Natasha's head on the mat but as he tries to wrench Natasha back, The Goddess of Death leans forwards against the flow of the move and Cross is left hanging from her neck. Cross uses his leg strength to leverage himself up to try again but Natasha is ready, reaching her long arms up and grabbing Cross by the wrists when she gets a chance. Cross shakes his head but Natasha falls backwards with Cross pinned and unable to protect himself, driving him into the turnbuckle back first!
Taylor: TURNBUCKLE JAPANESE OCEAN CYCLONE SUPLEX!
Romano: That's the first time I've ever seen that done!
Natasha flashes a look of disdain around the arena as she backs off before charging into the corner, hurling herself at Cross' seated form and sandwiching his head between the turnbuckle and her leg. She follows quickly by standing, hauling Cross to his feet by the hair. With an eerie snakelike form The Goddess slips over the ropes, inverting herself and wrapping her legs around Cross' neck.
Taylor: SEAL THE GATES!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIV... Natasha slithers out of the hold at the last second before a disqualification.
Romano: She only has five seconds of it. But it's a painful five seconds.
Gliding between the ropes, Natasha is ready to strike again. Cross grabs at his throat, spluttering a little from the suspended neck lock but The Goddess isn't going to allow him any time to recover as she scoops The Fox off the mat and drops him firmly across her knee. Before Cross can slide down to mat level, Natasha grabs him around the waist and slides behind. With an almost effortless show of power, The Guardian of the Gates snaps Cross over her head with a German Suplex. Natasha stands up, her facial expression blank.
Taylor: There's something unearthly about Natasha. It's like she doesn't feel emotion at all.
Romano: I'd call Natasha a strange individual but I think that much is obvious from watching her.
The Goddess reaches down to drag Cross to a standing position and locks in a suplex clutch. She lifts Recoba into the air, holding him there for a full five seconds as she backpedals a couple of steps and falls backwards, dropping The Fox back first across the top rope. Cross bounces off and falls in a heap back in the ring as Natasha swivels her hips and gets to a vertical base in the most serpentine of fashions. As the Las Vegas resident slowly sits up, Natasha rushes the ropes behind where he is sat, bounces off and flips over forwards, grabbing his head as she somersaults and cracking his neck with the effort. Natasha covers...
ONE!
TWO!
TH... Cross kicks out.
Taylor: Not enough there for The Goddess.
Romano: But she's hitting the spine with everything. It's all going to shoot pain through your body with every move the victim takes.
Standing slowly and gracefully, Natasha waits for Cross to get up himself. She stares at his every move as The Man Worth A Million Lira gets to his feet, clutching at his back. Right as he gets up onto two feet, The Goddess lands a sharp knee into Cross' sternum, doubling her unfortunate opponent over. Natasha grabs Cross' arms in her opposite ones and draws them across his own throat, trapping him for a short pause before flipping over, wrenching his neck as the pair fall.
Taylor: THE CAULDRON!
Natasha covers...
ONE!
TWO!
THR.. Cross kicks out.
Taylor: That was REAL close.
Romano: Natasha has the edge here. That's for sure.
Natasha has this distant stare in her eyes and she stands. Cross Recoba works his way up to one knee and looks up. Natasha doesn't flinch. Cross slowly gets up to his feet and from out of her temporary moment of fugue, The Goddess strikes. NATASHA TURNS EXTENDING HER HAND OUT AND LOOKING TO CONNECT WITH DESTINY'S PALM... BUT CROSS SUMMONS UP SOME RESERVE OF ENERGY AND DUCKS! CROSS GRABS A BACK WAISTLOCK WHILE NATASHA IS TURNED AROUND, THEN BENDS THE GODDESS INTO AN INVERTED FACELOCK, SUPLEXES NATASHA OVER INTO A THREE QUARTER FACELOCK AND SITS OUT, DRIVING HER CHIN DOWN ONTO HIS SHOULDER!
Taylor: THE SKIM! THE SKIM!
Cross covers...
ONE!
TWO!
THR.. Natasha kicks out!
Both competitors are quickly to their feet and Cross throws a stiff elbow strike. Natasha throws one instantly back. Cross throws a second. Natasha responds in kind. Cross adds a third. Again Natsha fries straight back and it's almost as if something snaps in Cross' head as HE BILITZES NATASHA WITH STRIKES. ELBOW! CHOP! ELBOW! CHOP! LEFT FOOT ROUNDHOUSE! RIGHT FOOT ROUNDHOUSE! NATASHA IS STAGGERED. CROSS RUSHES FOR THE CORNER AND LEAPS UP! HE SOARS OFF ONTO NATASHA'S SHOULDERS AND LEANS BACK, LOOKING FOR THE DIVING POISONED RANA AGAIN! Natasha tries to lean forward out of the move but CROSS SHIFTS HIS WEIGHT WITH NATASHA AND ROLLS FORWARD INSTEAD! AS CROSS ROLLS THROUGH, FLIPPING FORWARD AND TRAPPING NATASHA'S SHOULDERS WITH HIS LEGS!
Taylor: VICTORY ROLL!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Taylor: CROSS RECOBA WINS!
Romano: And he did it by outwrestling Natasha. See, I told you you have to go for every pinfall attempt to win.
Jessie Love: THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH, BY PINFALL CROOOOOOOOOOSS RECOOOOOOOOOOOOOBAAAAAAAAA!!
Cross' music has barely had time to fire up when the harsh beats of "Good L_ck (Yo_re F_cked)" start up across the arena.
Chris Card: Cross, Cross, Cross.
Chris Card, microphone in hand, appears through the entrance gate. As Natasha sits in the corner, probably fuming Cross scowls at his tag partner and mouths "What do you want?" at the camera.
Chris Card: Firstly may I say, congratulations on your win this week. I was watching backstage and, let me just tell you, all the boys were glued to the monitor at that performance. I can see why you went undefeated for so long last year. But secondly, and most importantly, I have to say my piece on the events of A Very AWF Christmas. I apologise. I fully apologise for how the finish to that match transpired. I know I had to dip into my bag of tricks in order to gain that victory. I think this emphasises how good a professional wrestler you are.
Card begins to walk down the ramp and towards the ring.
Chris Card: I just hope that you will accept my apology and this great project we have in High Finance can continue. I never intended for our friendship to sour. Believe me when I say, and you know I don't tell lies, that friendships can be tested by the heat of battle and that you have every right to be pissed off at me. I have talked to many of my top investment agents about getting you some better backers and I'm sure that in the fullness of time you'll reap the benefits of what I'm doing for you.
Cross looks deep in thought as Card steps into the ring.
Chris Card: Regarding that morality clause that you are so rightly annoyed about, I'm sure my legal team will me able to pick holes in it the second they get their hands on it.
Beckoning for the mic to be held to his lips, Cross gets a few words in edgeways.
Recoba: That's not the point, Chris.
Chris Card: OK, maybe it isn't. I'm willing to let you do whatever you want Cross. Hell, even if you wanted to dissolve High Finance as a unit, and I so wish that's not the case, then will you at least do me the honour of accepting a handshake and we part as friends? It would mean a lot to me.
Cross Recoba: Hold on there, Chris. I know how this goes. You apologise, we shake hands, you do your "I'll leave you my Calling Card" trick and I get superkicked in the face. The answer is no.
Chris Card: I promise. I promise that I am not going to Calling Card you in the face.
Recoba: Again, I know your game Chris. Now by saying you won't Calling Card me you're just going to attack me in a different way and you still wouldn't be lying.
Chris Card: I'd be a damn fool to attack you, Cross. But and here's a better cast iron promise, I promise not to attack you. Period. End of. Capiche?
Card extends his hand to Cross Recoba. The Fox stares at it for a second, a conflicted look written deep in his expressive face. Finally, after what seems an eternity, Cross edges a hand forward. Card closes in and gives Cross the firmest, warmest of handshakes, microphone in his other hand.
Chris Card: I hoped this would happen. I talked to a senior business partner of mine and they came up with the perfect resolution to all of this.
And Card plants his feet and whips Cross over to the corner where Natasha has been waiting, regaining strength. Natasha extends her arm out and CATCHES CROSS BY THE THROAT. NATASHA STEPS OUT OF THE CORNER, CROSS RECOBA IN HER GRASP, LIFTS HIM INTO THE AIR AND SITS OUT, CHOKESLAMMING HIM INTO THE MAT.
Taylor: HAND OF FATE! HAND OF FATE! THAT SNAKE CARD!
Romano: Well while Taylor here fumes, we need to cut to commercial.
Cutting back from the last match, Copycat reluctantly approaches the locker room. He looks back to Terry Bradshaw, who gives thumbs up and smiles with encouragement. Copycat slowly approaches the door as he reaches for the handle, the door SLAMS wide open and smacks Copycat in the face. He drops down instantly. Subject 42 is leaving the room. Right behind them is Adam Sanders. He instantly rushes in to Copycat's aid.
Sanders: Hey buddy, you OK? Y'know Subject, you have to be a bit more careful.
Subject 42: Ragh.
Adam Sanders gets to the point where he's able to help Copycat get up.
Sanders: Hey, we're going to get ready for our match. Just don't open up the crate in there. We don't want Tiny Fur to run away.
Copycat: Oh yeah... No problem. Good luck in your match.
The two, followed by Betsy, walk away and toward the ring. Terry Bradshaw hides until Subject 42 passes by. At that time, Terry Bradshaw rushes in to the locker room, where Copycat is. Terry Bradshaw immediately goes to the cat crate.
Copycat: Hold on there, Mr. Bradshaw! We were told not to-
Bradshaw: Stop talking and let me get this crate open!
Copycat sighs.
The scene cuts back to the upcoming match.
"If it bleeds, we can kill it."
"And we ain't got time to bleed.
"Turbo Killer" by Carpenter Brut begins to play and the lights in the arena are snuffed out. Red lights on the stage blink on and off, on and off, showing the outline of three figures that make their way out from behind the curtains.
As the music picks up, the red lights start to blink more rapidly, and eventually the arena lights come back to life. Who are the three mystery men? The ReVenants! Neo Carner, Rob Garcia, and Keith Williams! Rob is posed in the middle of the three, back to the camera with his arms and clenched fists out to the side of his body, while the other two are leaned over towards him and both pointing at Rob with their two index fingers. Garcia spins around, a big grin on his face as he points to his two partners in crime. The Big Bad Wolves bump fists, immediately drawing back to pose some more, taking in the reaction of the crowd. Some people love it, but most people seem to hate it and the obvious nature of their super cockiness.
The ReVenants make their way down to the ring, taunting the fans as they go and being especially generous with the middle fingers. Upon reaching ringside, Keith does his usual groin thrusting of the bottom rope and mustache stroking. Rob fakes out any fan foolish enough to think they can touch him or go for a high five, all the while laughing the entire time in their face. Neo enters the ring, grasping the top rope and pulling back on it, releasing it only to flex his muscles for the enjoyment of... Everyone! Keith and Rob join him, the three posing together in the middle of the ring. To really make it feel special, several streams of red pyro go off behind them as they all stop posing now, taking to their corner and joking around with one another.
"In the Hall of the Mountain King" plays as the fans pop for the Freak. Subject #42 emerges at the top of the ramp, swings up its arms, and lets out a giant ragh for the crowd:
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
They join the beast. Subject continues its walk down the ramp stepping over the ropes and into the ring. May God have mercy on their opponent.
The drum fill followed by the opening guitar riff for the title track off the fourth studio album by Canadian punk band Sum 41 begins to blare on the Ascension PA system. The fans begin to cheer as the lights go dark and a single spotlight appears on the ramp.
One, two, three, four
The rest of the band joins the guitar as Adam Sanders emerges behind the curtain. The fans give the Awkward One loud cheers as the spotlight follows his trek towards the ring.
Jessie Love: From Grand Rapids, Michigan, weighing in at two hundred forty pounds, he is the Awkward One… ADAM SANDERS!!
Well, I won’t be caught living in a dead end job
While praying to my government guns and gods
Now it’s us against them, we’re here to represent
And spit right in the face of the establishment!
Sanders walks up the stairs, walks down the apron a bit and puts both arms in the air. The fans continue to give loud cheers for the AWF competitor as he steps between the top and middle rope to enter the ring. He steps on the opposite turnbuckle, the chorus of the song becomes the backdrop for him to hop back into the ring.
Well because we're doing fine, and we don't need to be told
That we're doing fine, 'cause we won't give you control.
And we don't need anything from you,
'Cause we'll be just fine, and we won't be bought and sold, just like you
As the opening notes begin, the lights go out, save for a single spotlight on the top of the stage. Betsy comes out, but she’s only a silhouette at this point. Just as the drum strikes it’s second note, Betsy dabs and the lights come back. The song starts from the refrain as Betsy starts dancing down the ramp.
“Sin City’s cold and empty
No one’s around to judge me
I can’t see clearly when your gone-one-one”
Arms out, Betsy begins twirling around wildly, blonde ponytail whipping about with her, as she slaps hands with fans on both sides of the ramp. The chorus hits just as Betsy baseball slides into the ring.
“And I said ooooh, I’m blinded by the lights
I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
And I said ooooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust”
As the chorus chimes on, Betsy bounces up and hops up onto every ring corner, pumping her fist in time with the song, getting the fans amped up for the upcoming bout. She holds up the belt with her other hand as she dances to the music. When she finishes playing up the fans, she starts bouncing in place, preparing mentally for the bout.
"In the Hall of the Mountain King" plays as the fans pop for the Freak. Subject #42 emerges at the top of the ramp, swings up its arms, and lets out a giant ragh for the crowd:
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
They join the beast. Subject continues its walk down the ramp stepping over the ropes and into the ring. May God have mercy on their opponent.
The drum fill followed by the opening guitar riff for the title track off the fourth studio album by Canadian punk band Sum 41 begins to blare on the Ascension PA system. The fans begin to cheer as the lights go dark and a single spotlight appears on the ramp.
One, two, three, four
The rest of the band joins the guitar as Adam Sanders emerges behind the curtain. The fans give the Awkward One loud cheers as the spotlight follows his trek towards the ring.
Jessie Love: From Grand Rapids, Michigan, weighing in at two hundred forty pounds, he is the Awkward One… ADAM SANDERS!!
Well, I won’t be caught living in a dead end job
While praying to my government guns and gods
Now it’s us against them, we’re here to represent
And spit right in the face of the establishment!
Sanders walks up the stairs, walks down the apron a bit and puts both arms in the air. The fans continue to give loud cheers for the AWF competitor as he steps between the top and middle rope to enter the ring. He steps on the opposite turnbuckle, the chorus of the song becomes the backdrop for him to hop back into the ring.
Well because we're doing fine, and we don't need to be told
That we're doing fine, 'cause we won't give you control.
And we don't need anything from you,
'Cause we'll be just fine, and we won't be bought and sold, just like you
As the opening notes begin, the lights go out, save for a single spotlight on the top of the stage. Betsy comes out, but she’s only a silhouette at this point. Just as the drum strikes it’s second note, Betsy dabs and the lights come back. The song starts from the refrain as Betsy starts dancing down the ramp.
“Sin City’s cold and empty
No one’s around to judge me
I can’t see clearly when your gone-one-one”
Arms out, Betsy begins twirling around wildly, blonde ponytail whipping about with her, as she slaps hands with fans on both sides of the ramp. The chorus hits just as Betsy baseball slides into the ring.
“And I said ooooh, I’m blinded by the lights
I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
And I said ooooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust”
As the chorus chimes on, Betsy bounces up and hops up onto every ring corner, pumping her fist in time with the song, getting the fans amped up for the upcoming bout. She holds up the belt with her other hand as she dances to the music. When she finishes playing up the fans, she starts bouncing in place, preparing mentally for the bout.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
The ReVenants (Keith Williams, Neo James Carner, and Rob Garcia) vs. Impossibly Awkward (Subject #42, Betsy Granger, and Adam Sanders)
The match starts off with Subject #42 and Rob Garcia stepping into the ring from their respective corners. Garcia is suddenly impressed by the giant size of the United States Champion. The bell sounds and the bout begins.
DING DING DING
Taylor: Garcia isn’t sure what exactly to do with Subject #42 right in front of him.
Romano: And I think he waited too long to do something about it.
Subject #42 immediately takes Garcia and lifts him in the air with an easy scoop slam. And by easy, we mean it was like he was a cruiserweight in terms of how smooth the move was. Garcia pops up and eats a huge haymaker from the former X*Crown Champion.
Subject #42: RAGH!!
Taylor: Yeah. We hear you, Subject.
Romano: I wonder if Betsy is gonna translate that for us.
Taylor: I doubt that will be necessary.
Subject bounces off the ropes and drops the leg on Rob Garcia’s back. Garcia quickly scampers to his corner to tag in the Prestige Champion. Keith Williams hesitantly steps into the ring and looks on at his opponent.
Romano: Keith Williams is staring down the “creature” who messed with the championship count for his stable. As the top champion, it is his responsibility to avenge them in this match!
Taylor: Well, Subject #42 doesn’t exactly look impressed. Adam and Betsy have it kinda easy, don’t they? Let them fight Subject #42 first.
Subject goes for a strike, but Keith is able to evade and the strike at the back of Subject’s knee with his right boot. Subject swings again, but Keith counters it into an armbar. He is then surprised that Subject easily powers out of the move.
Taylor: Ohhh, that’s a blind tag to Neo. Nate Biggs saw it but Subject didn’t.
Romano: This will have to be part of their strategy to work together.
Subject lifts Keith in the air before Neo James Carner kicks at the same leg as Keith. After a knee to the gut, NJC is able to land an axe kick on the back of the head of Subject #42.
Taylor: Now might be a good time for one of the members of Impossibly Awkward to get in this match.
Romano: NJC is laughing at the young tag team before continuing to work on the United States Champion, a championship he just lost at A Very AWF Christmas.
Neo looks down at Subject and looks to go for the Neo Sympho-Knee, but Subject rolls out of the way before tagging in Betsy Granger. Carner glances over at the Phoenix Champion with a look of unimpressed disgust. Betsy, on the other hand, is able to deliver a reverse roundhouse kick right to the shin of Neo James Carner. Carner responds swiftly with a hip toss neckbreaker. When Betsy springs up, she is dropped with a snap arm trap cutter.
Romano: And our true United States Champion shows Betsy Granger how a true champion fights.
Taylor: Are you suggesting Betsy isn’t a true champion?
Romano: I’m suggesting that Betsy needed Kira Izumi to interfere to win her championship while Neo should still be the United States Champion. Cover by Neo.
ONE!!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!
Granger shows the world she isn’t done yet. As Neo lifts her up and gets in a suplex position, Betsy delivers a quick knee to the midsection and delivering the Betsy Bop, getting quite the reaction from the limited capacity crowd. She leaps up for her signature hurricanrana driver called Plante de Visage, but Neo James Carner counters into a quick powerbomb. Carner goes for another cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!
Betsy Granger is still staying alive for her team. Neo gets back up and looks over at the opposing corner, mocking them for leaving their smallest member to be taken down with power moves when suddenly…
Taylor: BETSY WITH A ROLL UP!! BETSY WITH A ROLL UP!!
Romano: Kickout, Neo!! Garcia, Williams, do something!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Neo James Carner is able to get his shoulder off the mat. But the moment Neo’s eyes aren’t facing Betsy, she gets the tag to Adam Sanders.
Taylor: Now Impossibly Awkward are the ones using the blind tag.
Romano: Copycats.
Taylor: No, he’s backstage right now.
Romano: YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!
Carner, unaware of the tag, grabs Betsy to lift her in the air military press style, but he realizes another person entered the ring a second too late. Sanders lays out Carner with his forearm, with Betsy in good position to fall on Carner in a crossbody style landing.
Romano: Ouch. Lariat. That had to hurt.
Taylor: Like him or not, Adam Sanders is one of the better strikers in the Network.
Romano: But had a hard time talking when he’s uncomfortable. How the hell did those two become friends again?!
Sanders looks like he wants to go ahead and end the match by going for the Dream Breaker, but Carner rolls off his shoulders and gets the tag back to Keith Williams. Williams is able to dodge the lariat from Adam and land one of his own. Keith lands a snap suplex on the Awkward One and quickly gets the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
T...NO!!
Keith keeps the offense going with a bicycle kick as soon as Sanders gets up. Sanders pulls himself up into a neutral corner before another kick from Williams sends him into the turnbuckle. Keith Williams puts Adam up top and climbs up for a super german suplex… but a left elbow from Adam… and another… and another and then a right and Keith Williams drops off the top rope.
Taylor: And Adam is able to save himself from the high impact move.
Romano: And he looks like he’s going to try to fly like that Pokémon he likes so much…
Adam carefully turns around and waits for Keith to get up. The moment he does, Adam leaps and hits the Flight of the Dragonite on the Prestige Champion. Cover by Adam!
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Williams kicks out. Adam goes to tag in Subject #42 when something on the video screen shows up. This catches the attention of all six competitors. They see the floor of the locker room with a slight tilt. The screen soon moves around before eventually stopping at...
Tiny Fur: Mew!
Copycat: I finally got it open! Now what did you want me to do with h-
Bradshaw: Hey, Copycat. Do me a favor and pet the kitty.
Copycat: Mr. Bradshaw, why do you have your phone pointing toward me? Are you taking a video?
Bradshaw: Nevermind about that! Just pet the kitty!
Copycat: Uhhh... Okay?
Copycat touches the cat and pets her. That's when Terry Bradshaw pulls out a laser pointer. He shines the light right by Tiny Fur's feet. Tiny Fur, in all excitement, slaps her paws on the mat to try to catch the light. She does that a couple of times, before Terry Bradshaw puts the light away.
Bradshaw: DING DING DING! Copycat, did you see that?
Copycat: Uhhh... Yeah? Cats love laser pointers.
Bradshaw: No! Tiny Durr slapped their paws and tapped out to your VICIOUS hold! You beat them! Copycat my boy, you're the new AWF Around The Belt Champion!
Copycat: It's Tiny Fur and it's the Around The Clock Champ- Wait... I'm the champion?
Bradshaw: Aren't you excited?!
Copycat looks at Tiny Fur and then the door of the locker room.
Copycat: When Subject #42 finds out, I am going to be in SO much trouble...
The camera cuts to the ring.
Subject #42: RAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!
Taylor: Oh my God, Copycat just became the Around the Clock Champion!!
Romano: And Subject does not look happy about it.
Taylor: Think it’s over the championship or him touching Tiny Fur.
Romano: Either way, it looks like Subject isn’t sticking around for this.
Subject leaps off the apron and starts walking backstage. Adam and Betsy looked stunned, especially Betsy who looks almost hurt that Subject just left in the middle of the match. This gives the ReVenants exactly the opening they needed…
Taylor: Nate Biggs was looking at the screen and didn’t see Keith Williams hit the low blow on Sanders!
Romano: And Carner and Garcia just took out Betsy from the outside.
Taylor: Impossibly Awkward is undermanned. This three-to-two advantage is clearly in the favor of the ReVenants.
Romano: It’s not their fault Subject left the match!
Neo James Carner tosses Betsy into the barricade and drives his shoulder into her ribs. Rob Garcia climbs the top rope and leaps with a senton bomb on the downed Adam Sanders. Keith Williams taunts Sanders before covering him. Biggs on the count!
Taylor: No, not like this.
Romano: Sometimes, wrestling isn’t fair. You just have to deal with it.
Taylor: And here it comes
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR...NO!!
Romano: What the hell?!
Taylor: Adam Sanders keeps fighting!
Romano: If he knows what’s good for him, he will stand down! These men will break you to the point where you can’t fight for the X*Crown this month.
Keith Williams looks annoyed, as does Garcia. They line up Adam before delivering a double big boot onto the Awkward One. But Williams does not elect to go for the cover. He waits for Neo James Carner to roll back into the ring.
Taylor: This doesn’t look good. It’s three against one in the ring.
Romano: Hey, the ReVs are smart and strategic. Adam Sanders has been a pain in their asses since he got here.
Taylor: But this is madness! This is just...
Romano: Again, this isn’t ballet. You step into the ring in a match with the three ReVenants, you have to know that this is a possible outcome.
The three look like they want to have Adam Marked for Death. Williams prepares to set up the Gory Driver as Garcia and Carner get in position to get their strikes in… but Adam fights Williams off!! Carner and Garcia take off to land their strikes anyway, but Adam evades them, causing the two men to collide.
Taylor: A sign of life from Adam Sanders!!
Romano: How is this possible!!
Taylor: Fight young man, fight!!
Romano: He can barely stand!!
Keith is getting up, but the other two are still down for the time being. Adam, in an act of desperation, makes a huge clothesline on the Prestige Champion before Keith could get his footing. Neo is up and gives Adam a few strikes but Adam fights back with strikes of his own until Carner is off his feet. He turns to Garcia and delivers a big boot.
Taylor: The kid is fighting!
Romano: This can’t be possible!
Remembering that Keith is the legal man, Adam quickly delivers the Motor City Circuit on Williams. He hooks the leg!!
Taylor: Sanders going for the improbable win!
ONE!!
Both Neo James Carner and Rob Garcia both grab a leg and yank him off Williams, who isn’t far behind getting back up. Carner and Rob Garcia drop Adam in the middle of the ring with a German suplex and neckbreaker combination. Garcia and Williams follow this up with a double knee drop on him before Williams hooks the leg once more.
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Taylor: Betsy Granger comes out of nowhere to break up the pinfall on her best friend!
Romano: Yeah, but they’ve got consequences for those actions, Betsy.
Garcia is clearly the one who wants his hands on Granger, tossing her with a belly to belly suplex. He drills her to the mat with the Over Dose, laying her down in the ring next to the downed Adam Sanders.
Romano: Well, they are in an impossibly awkward situation as they are outnumbered and over matched. Adam and Betsy are both down.
Taylor: I can’t believe I’m watching this.
Romano: And it looks like they are finally going to go for the pin.
Subject #42: RAAAAAAAAAGH!!
The few social distanced fans suddenly go wild as Subject #42 comes charging through the curtain and sprinting to the ring. This causes the ReVenants to go ahead and go for the cover, Keith on Sanders as the legal combination.
Taylor: SUBJECT #42 IS BACK!!
Romano: HURRY AND GET THE WIN!!
Taylor: NEO AND GARCIA ON DEFENSE!!
Romano: COUNT IT, BIGGS!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR...NO!!!
Subject #42 charges right through Carner and Garcia to break up the pin before the three count with amazing speed and power.
Taylor: Holy cow!!
Romano: How is that even possible?!
Taylor: Well, it happened. Subject is just not human!
Romano: This is just not fair!!
Taylor: What were you saying about things not being fair?
Neo James Carner strikes Subject first, but a quick toss sends him out of the ring. Garcia gets the same treatment. Keith Williams gets up and is lifted high in the air and is tossed into Garcia and Carner on the outside. Jeff Noon jumps on the apron to try to come up with something before Subject #42 looks at him menacingly and shows off their... lungs?
Subject #42: RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!
Jeff Noon’s eyes widen as he falls backward from the apron, almost appearing to be a botched hop off. He sees Subject’s eyes still glaring at him. This prompts Noon to scamper to his feet and hightail up the ramp.
Romano: Hey, where the hell are you going, Noon?! Get back here and do your job!!
Taylor: I’d like to see you step up there and try to get in Subject’s path!
Romano: That’s not my job, it’s Noon’s!
Taylor: And just like that, Jeff Noon is G-O-N-E GONE!
Garcia slips back into the ring and drives his shoulder into the same leg that was targeted on Subject earlier in the match. Neo James Carner is back on the apron. So is Betsy Granger. Keith Williams gets back into the ring and clotheslines Subject out the ring. Adam Sanders pulls himself back up and does the same to Rob Garcia.
Taylor: Finally, some semblance of order.
Romano: The two men still in the ring are the legal competitors.
Taylor: And Adam is going to try to tag in Granger now.
Romano: Well, I think Keith Williams has something to say about that.
Williams grabs Sanders by the leg and pulls him away from his corner. Tag to Carner. Both men lift Adam up and drop him with a monkey flip and powerslam combination. Carner hooks the leg, knowing how much punishment Adam Sanders has gone through in the match.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THRE...NO!!
Taylor: Kickout by Adam Sanders!!
Romano: How is he still fighting?!
Taylor: The kid has heart. This is why he has just as much a chance at the X*Crown as any for Supremacy!
Romano: Well, he still has to pin a ReVenant, or at least get a tag to get someone else to do so. Heart may stop you from losing matches, but it won’t win them.
Neo James Carner lifts Adam up to possibly set up the Spatial Rend, but Adam is able to counter it into a floatover DDT. Both men are down.
Taylor: And with that, both men are down!
Romano: Come on, Carner!! Tag in Rob!!
Taylor: And it looks like Betsy wants the tag for her team.
Romano: Get to Rob, Neo! Don’t let them get Betsy in the ring.
Nate Biggs starts counting both me out as they are still motionless on the mat.
One
Two
Neo is stirring. Adam is still not moving.
Three
Four
Neo starts crawling for his corner. Adam has rolled over to his back instead of being in the prone position.
Five
Adam rolls again, slightly closer to his corner. Neo is reaching for Rob’s outstretched arm…
Six
TAG TO GARCIA!! But Adam is starting to reach for Betsy’s hand…
Romano: Stop him, Rob! Quick!!
Taylor: He’s almost there and… TAG TO BETSY!!
Betsy takes the hot tag and slingshots into the ring with a dropkick. She kips up and lands a spinning heel kick on Keith Williams, who immediately stormed the ring as well. But that’s not the worst of the ReVenants problem.
Romano: Oh no, get that thing out of the ring!!
Taylor: I think Subject interpreted Keith entering the ring as an invitation to do so too.
Neo James Carner is quickly lifted in the air by Subject #42 military press style and tossed to the outside like he did to Keith earlier in the match. Speaking of Keith Williams, he clotheslines Subject to the outside once more, but Adam Sanders is back up and waiting for him to turn around…
Taylor: DREAM BREAKER!!
Romano: But Keith nor Adam is the legal man!!
Taylor: Yeah… but he is…
The “he” in question is Rob Garcia, who is slowly getting to his feet with Adam on one side of him and Betsy on the other. They charge at the same time, with Adam hitting a lariat on Rob’s jaw and Granger getting a low sweeping kick on the back of his legs.
Taylor: Oh wow, what a thunderous double team move!
Romano: This can’t be!!
Taylor: Cover by Betsy!! Subject is back in the ring! Both they and Adam are there to protect the cover!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
DING DING DING!!
Jessie Love: Here are your winners… IMPOSSIBLY AWKWARD AND SUBJECT #42!!
Granger immediately hugs Subject #42 as Blinding Lights starts playing all over the arena. Adam is still holding himself up with the ropes, but is all smiles as he is victorious against the group that has given him so many problems since his AWF debut.
Taylor: Betsy, Adam, and Subject pulled it off!!
Romano: Ugh, I wish Subject hadn’t come back!
Taylor: And what’s more, it was Betsy pinning Garcia without interference!
Romano: Yeah, well, this match wasn’t the title match. She’s gonna have to give him that rematch soon and that won’t end like this one did. No Subject or Adam to help her then!
Taylor: Yeah well, this guy might be there....
Kira Izumi slides into the ring out of nowhere. The other five competitors don't even realize what's going on until Rob Garcia is tackled out of the ring. Garcia doesn't take this sitting down, throwing punches back at Kira. The fight goes into the stands with the camera cutting in close on them and then on Betsy Granger watching from the ring.
Taylor: It appears as though they are not quite done with one another.
Romano: You appear to be right. This confrontation is far from other.
Taylor: But either way, we're out of time. I'm Tommy Taylor with Cassius Romano. We will see you in two weeks for the next Prestige!
We cut to a different room, where a TV plays the screen we were just watching. The classic "someone's watching this TV" angle. The camera slowly pans out, to reveal X*Crown Champion Dylan Black watching the screen. Dressed in a suit and the title around his waist, he watches the end of the match play out. His face emotionless. The camera cuts to a close-up of Adam Sanders. Dylan just shakes his head and walks off left, as the TV turns off.
We cut to a different room, where a TV plays the screen we were just watching. The classic "someone's watching this TV" angle. The camera slowly pans out, to reveal X*Crown Champion Dylan Black watching the screen. Dressed in a suit and the title around his waist, he watches the end of the match play out. His face emotionless. The camera cuts to a close-up of Adam Sanders. Dylan just shakes his head and walks off left, as the TV turns off.
