The AWF Presents: Prestige 65 - LIVE from Des Moines, IA!
Feb 6, 2021 21:29:42 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Kira Izumi, and 2 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Feb 6, 2021 21:29:42 GMT -5
Ascension Wrestling Federation Presents:
Live at the Wells-Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA
02/06/2021
Capacity: 16111
In Attendance: 1611
Taylor: Welcome, fans, to AWF Prestige 65! We’re coming to you LIVE from the Wells-Fargo Arena here in Des Moines, Iowa and we’ve got a packed card for you tonight!
Romano: That’s right, including our main event with an Adam Sanders fresh off a tag-win and a tremendous haul of trophies from the XHF Network Awards a few nights previous!
Taylor: Supremacy was a great night for Ascension Wrestling, Sanders grabbed a tag-win with Adrien Cochrane against The Graham Brothers of FWA and Cross Recoba picked up a win when he pinned FIRESIDE’s Hayden Callahan!
Romano: That’s without the three spectacles that we provided, Tommy! First off, we witnessed a triple-threat where Betsy Granger might count herself lucky to escape with the title!
Taylor: I think you might be downplaying her performance but the one thing that was evident was that the war between Rob Garcia and Kira Izumi was far from over! Our second match, a steel cage that pitted Subject #42 against Neo James Carner!
Romano: You only had to look at the betting line before the match, Subject was the overwhelming favorite and why wouldn’t he be? He had the size and power advantage. The cage, in effect, would be seen as a weapon that he would have no problem exploiting…
Taylor: NJC had other plans, using the cage as a way to incapacitate his opponent on his way to victory and a second reign with the AWF United States title!
Romano: He becomes only the second man, after Danny Ray, to hold the title more than once!
Taylor: He’ll already have his eyes set on equalling the record for most days holding the belt and surprassing Seth Dillinger.
Romano: If he can get through Road to Victory and past Prestige 70, it’s a long way yet.
Taylor: Especially given the targets on the ReVenants’ backs. That much became evident in the hellacious Lumberjack that took place for the Prestige Title!
Romano: It was one for the ages. Williams though silenced the critics with a win that didn’t come without drama!
Taylor: We saw Fox nearly level Adam Sanders and Subject #42, Rob Garcia became the new AWF Around the Clock Champion, and wars being fought both inside the ring and out!
Romano: We’ve got confirmation that Fox won’t be here tonight but what of those that will be?
Taylor: In our main-event, we see Adam Sanders take on Aiden Merric and, Cass, what’s your take on the match?
Romano: You’re putting Sanders against a guy who hunts for fun, is Adam fully healed? Is this going to be a step too far for him?
Taylor: Both men were explicit in their words for one another. In our semi-main event we’ll have Frankie Webb take on Erin Gordon in a match that both competitors will want to shine in as we’re only three shows away from Road to Victory 4!
Romano: There isn’t a show in AWF where you can phone it in, just look at all the consequences that could come from the triple-threat match between Alessandro Quagliaterre, Abel Anderson and the Jitterman!
Taylor: How do you see that match going?
Romano: It’ll be hard-hitting and brutal but it has all the makings to be a sleeper hit of our year so far!
Taylor: Then we welcome back Greg Adkins as he goes toe-to-toe with Xiaolong!
Romano: You know that Felix Ziko will be watching that match with a blood-pressure monitor nearby!
Taylor: But first, we’’re opening the show with the first of our triple-threats and another returning star.
Romano: Ruiz is returning to our ring for the first time this year, but it’s not going to be a fiesta for him. Phoenix and Griffin both made their debuts in Laramie at the last show and both came out on the losing end, they must know that a win against Carlos could have eyes watching them for future opportunities.
Taylor: Let’s find out if they’re ready to take that chance as we join Jessie Love inside the ring!
Jessie Love: Welcome to PRESTIGE SIXTY-FIVE!
The crowd cheer in anticipation.
Jessie Love: We start our night with a TRIPLE-THREAT MATCH!!
Bamboleo" by Gypsy Kings hits over the P.A. System causing the fans to go crazy for they know what it means.
Jessie Love: Introducing our first competitor, returning to an AWF ring for the first time this year…
Carlos Ruiz walks out from the back posing for the crowd in his leather jacket that is zipped halfway up, pink speedo wrestling trunks, pink boots, and Maui Jim sunglasses.
Jessie Love: Making his way to the ring... from Madrid, Spain... weighing in at 212 pounds... CARLOOOOS RUUUUIIIIZ!
He stops on the way to the ring a couple of times to take selfies with the crowd.
Taylor: You can hear from the reaction of the Des Moines crowd, Carlos Ruiz clearly made an impression when he appeared last year!
Romano: When you think that he’s a European and he’s STILL universally loved, that tells you about the man!
He slides into the ring and blows kisses to the adoring fans. He smiles as he removes his jacket and sunglasses and hands them to the ringside attendant.
Jessie Love: Our second competitor….
The lights go out as Freak Like Me hits the speakers. A spotlight appears on stage and Angel appears posing. She points to the crowd as they cheer.
Jessie Love: Hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota and weighing in at one-hundred-and-thirty-five pounds….ANGEL...GRIFFIN!!
She walks with purpose down the ramp before sprinting and sliding into the ring.
Taylor: She might think herself unlucky to have come up short against Quagliaterre last time out but this is the perfect opportunity to set things right!
Romano: She brings a measured approach of technical ability mixed with high-risk offense!
Spinning she continues to point to the crowd before climbing the corner to once again pose for the crowd. Jumping down she leans against the ropes waiting on the final competitor.
Jessie Love: Our final entrant in the match…
The lights go out as the rhythmic beat of the opening of “The Phoenix” by Fall Out Boy hits the speakers. As the words “Put on your War Paint” echo the first time lights pop on to an explosion and Brendon Phoenix turns and yells. He begins his upbeat jog to the ring.
Jessie Love: Calling San Diego, California his home...he weighed in at two-hundred-and-twenty-two pounds...BRENDON...PHOENIX!!
Brendon slides into the ring raising his arms as he circles the middle of the ring. He steps up on the lower-rope leaning over at the middle pointing at the crowd. He repeats this on the three sides facing the audience before climbing to the corner raising his arm.
Taylor: We often get old how enthusiastic Brendon is but did it cost him against Xiaolong at Prestige Sixty-Four?
Romano: Xiaolong is no slouch, the key for Phoenix is to nullify Ruiz and hope, as the bigger competitor, he can find a window to take down Griffin!
He returns to the middle bouncing on his feet smiling as he prepares for the match.
Triple-Threat Match
Carlos Ruiz vs Angel Griffin vs. Brendon Phoenix
Taylor: Valentine looks happy enough with his pre-match instructions being understood..
Romano: You’ve got a short memory...
Before the bell rings, Carlos Ruiz takes the lead, he walks up to both Phoenix and Griffin and shakes their hands.
Taylor: For those of you who are new to AWF, Ruiz is a European gent!
Romano: I can tell you now, I can’t wait to open the bottle of Rioja he presented to us before the show!
A nod to Gabe Valentine from the Spaniard lets the referee know that he is now ready to begin the match.
Taylor: Gabe is failing to keep a straight face!
Phoenix and Griffin rush to the center of the ring and collide trading punches. Phoenix gets a gain on Angel and delivers three unanswered forearms before sending his opponent ot the ropes. She comes off the ropes, leapfrog from Phoenix...RUIZ WITH A HURRACANRANA THAT SENDS HER OUT OF THE RING!
Romano: Fast-paced start to the match.
Taylor: All three wrestle a high-impact, break-neck speed style. Fans, if you’re not aware, we’ll be seeing the XHF Junior-Heavyweight champion in an AWF ring next month.
Romano: This could well be seen as an audition...
Before the European has gotten to his feet, Phoenix is on top of him with a knee to the chest followed by a snapping knife-edge chop that reverberates around the Wells-Fargo Arena.
Crowd: Wooo!
Romano: Phoenix helping the crowd speak the international language of flair inside the ring
Taylor: Ruiz is the big scalp in the match, both of his opponents will know that to win they need to get him out of the picture.
Phoenix looks to send Ruiz to the ropes...he reverses...the Spanish Luchador drops to the mat, Brendon comes back around and leapfrogs the back-body drop attempt...GRIFFIN LANDS A SPRINGBOARD FLYING HEADSCISSORS!
Taylor: Someone needs to make a big statement to get the match under control!
As Phoenix slides to the corner, Ruiz bides his time...HE CATCHES THE RISING GRIFFIN WITH A STEP-UP ENZIGURI!
Romano: That could do it!
The Spaniard goes for the cover…
ONE…
TW-
PHOENIX HITS A TRIPLE JUMP TUMBLEWEED TO BREAK UP THE PIN!
Taylor: Brendon showing that parkour-influenced offense!
As Ruiz rolls off the pin, Brendon has already planned his next move as he leaps back from the middle rope with a splash. Steve Tyrell drops down to count once more…
ONE…
TWO…
CARLOS GRABS THE LEG AND YANKS BRENDON TO HIS FEET….DRAGON WHIP!
Romano: Smart move to try and work the leg by the European.
Ruiz rolls through, he passes Griffin as she gets to her feet...LEAPING NECKBREAKER!
Taylor: Carlos is staking a claim...
In a state of shock, Angel scrambles up and leans on the ropes...CARLOS CLOTHESLINES HER OVER THE TOP AND SKINS THE CAT!
Romano: Amazing agility from Ruiz, he’s clearly been adding to his game in the hiatus!
Pulling himself back into the ring, Carlos can do little to stop the blindside attack from Brendon Phoenix.
Taylor: Ruiz perhaps let his guard down a second there, could this be...
He whips Carlos into the corner….EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Taylor: THE FLURRY!
Grabbing the arm of Carlos, he looks to repeat the move...REVERSAL...FULL-NELSON SUPLEX!!!!
Taylor: NO! LUCHAPLEX!
Romano: Well-scouted reversal!
Ruiz drops down for a cover…
ONE….
TWO…
RUIZ MOVES OUT THE WAY AS GRIFFIN HITS A PICTURE-PERFECT MOONSAULT. SHE BOUNCES OFF PHOENIX….SUPERKICK FROM THE EUROPEAN!!!
Taylor: GRIFFIN WENT FOR THE SCORNED MONSAULT BUT RUIZ JUST LEVELLED HER WITH SPANISH EYES!!!
Romano: This has got to be it...
ONE….
TWO…
THREE…!!!!!
Taylor: A great return home for Carlos
Jessie Love: The winner of this match...CARLOS….RUIZ!!!!
Gabe Valentine raises the hand of the beaming Carlos Ruiz as Bamebleo fills the arena.
Backstage Abel Anderson is practising throwing kicks, slicing through the air with a ferocity that should scare any future opponent. From the back of the shot a shadow looms and attached to it is the impeccably dressed form of Chris Card.
Card: Tae tad. Good form.
Abel turns to face Card and is greeted by Card's best approximation of a warm smile.
Anderson: Chris.
Card: I watched your match last week.
Anderson: I noticed.
Card: And I was impressed. Very impressed.
Anderson: OK. Why? I didn't win.
Card:Wins and losses come and go in this business. But talent is a rare thing. And seamlessly blending mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and professional wrestling? Well, I'm a big fan of that.
Anderson: Because that's what you do.
Card: Nail on the head, there. Now I heard in your promo the suggestion that you might need a little extra coaching. Somebody who knows a little more of the dark arts of professional wrestling. Because as much as your loss last week was caused by Frankie Webb breaking up your Kata Gatame attempt, a hold which if you had locked in fully you'd have easily submitted Merric. you seemed a little short of experience against Merric's underhand tactics.
Anderson: You don't fight two men at once in the cage. And you don't get low blows or eye pokes. Unless you're watching Jon Jones.
Card: Quite. So I'm making you an offer. Twenty two years of experience and someone to watch your back. Someone who knows the ins and outs of this industry.
Anderson: What's the catch?
Card:You have to watch mine...
“Guttertrash” Greg Adkins walks out from the back while grabbing onto his big package. He walks halfway down the aisle before stopping to kiss a buxom fan (and coping a feel). He laughs after she smacks him and he heads down to the ring.
Taylor: What a way to begin a show! We have Greg Adkins coming back from his bad injury!
Romano: And I'm convinced this man is immortal. If alcoholism hasn't killed him, nothing will.
"Kung Fu Fighting" plays as Xialong runs to the ring, ready to begin the match.
Taylor: It seems that this match has become one of those with high AWF seniority. We have Xiaolong, formerly known as Little Dragon!
Romano: Time to show everyone just what old school AWF has!
Singles Match
Xiaolong vs. Greg Adkins
The bell rings. Greg Adkins greets Xiaolong with a toothy grin, but Xiaolong doesn't appear to be interested in pleasantries. Why, he's here to wrestle! Greg insists on a handshake, and in the spirit of sportsmanship, one of the AWF's core values, Xiaolong accepts! Greg smiles and holds onto the handshake a little too long. Xiaolong then takes the moment to take his hand away and finds that a weird film is coming from the hand. Xiaolong jerks his head back and turns to Greg Adkins. It doesn't take someone with X-Ray vision and could look past the mask to sense the level of disgust with not even knowing what the object could be. Xiaolong starts the match with a roundhouse kick! The move just surprised Adkins as it knocks him to the ground! The fans are shocked! They gasp! Greg Adkins shakes his head, throwing away some ring rust as he starts to reach behind him to reach the ropes so that he can stand back up.
Taylor: What the heck was that?! Greg Adkins got knocked down onto his ass!
Romano: Well, what do you expect? This was his chance to start anew, and he chose to continue his old dastardly ways.
Xiaolong allows Greg Adkins to get to his feet, but not much more, and certainly not enough to relax or wipe the sweat off his brow. Xiaolong sends a stiff punch and throws Adkins across to the ring to the ropes. Adkins bounces back and Xiaolong lifts Adkins up off the mat and over his head with a hip toss! Xiaolong doesn't let go. In fact, he holds his arm for a submission hold. This would be enough for most wrestlers to be screaming in pain, but Greg Adkins has a level of eery confidence in his abilities. His pulse is calm and his breath steady. Adkins tugs onto his arm and of course, Xiaolong doesn't let go. Adkins then reaches with his other arm. He grabs... the tush of Xiaolong! This is enough for the masked wrestler to stand up straight like a stiff tree. Greg then follows up by dropping his arm and PUNCHING the behind of Greg's knees. With all the fuss, Greg is able to slip his arm out.
Taylor: What!? There are at least a DOZEN ways to get out of this match, and of course he chose the one way that is not only unsportsmanlike... It might just be illegal!
Romano: I have a fleeting suspicion that it was Terry Bradshaw who brought Greg Adkins back in but with that said, he has a way about him, and it apparently works.
Greg Adkins is on his back and so is Xiaolong. Adkins takes advantage of the situation by rolling forward and capturing his opponent in a victory roll - one that Xiaolong would most certainly not forget despite top notch psychologists available. Junior Referee Steve Tyrell slides in for the pin count:
...One!
...Two!
...Kickout!
Taylor: Xiaolong is able to push through out of this gross pin.
Romano: But a two count is not good enough, and Xiaolong's not the type to just give up!
Greg Adkins gets up and grabs Xiaolong by THE ACTUAL MASK and gets him up to the face. He's so callous and forceful that parts of the skin-tone matching face was shown. Greg Adkins lifts Xiaolong for a body slam, but Xiaolong digs deep and manages to slip on his feet behind Adkins. He sends him over with an Irish whip to the ropes. Greg runs back... backwards, but manages to duck the incoming clothesline from the masked warrior. Greg continues onto the ropes and turns around so he's running forward. As he rebounds back once more, Xiaolong takes the time and effort to jump on the ropes. He bounces off and by the time that Greg bounces back, Xiaolong returns back with a springboard flying head scissors! Greg Adkins hits the floor and the crowd shows him a sincere pop of applause! For the first time, Greg loses the smile on his face and a bit of his cool. He looks back, realizes that he's steaming a bit and readjusts. He gives a polite and courteous nod.
Taylor: Xiaolong is back in this game! All he needs to do is commit!
Romano: And ignore everything about Greg Adkins that just doesn't fit with society.
The hair is now messed up all over Greg Adkins' head. The battle has been ferocious and has been taking a toll on everyone. Xiaolong, with his great and superb endurance, gets up first. He brings Adkins up and sent to the corner, where he rushes in for an elbow. However upon approach, Adkins hits Xiaolong with the shoulder turn, causing Xiaolong to burn a bit upon entry. Greg Adkins lifts himself up to the top rope and judges the distance to Xiaolong for a quick moment, but a quick moment is all that Xiaolong needs to recover! He runs up to Greg Adkins, and jumps up. He's looking to go for a monkey flip!
Taylor: Imagine how painful that it would be to slam into the mat from that distance!
Romano: I've been through it before, and it sure doesn't tickle. However, you should know that anything up high is high risk.
Greg Adkins is struggling as he's trying to fight his opponent, but Xiaolong has leverage on his side. Greg Adkins is trying to find a way to turn the tables to his favor. That's when he... EXHALES. Xiaolong twitches. The smell could even be smelled from those in the front row! Xiaolong tries to adjust, but Greg quickly uses his knee to kick Xiaolong off. He lands on his feet and Adkins finds that with the kick, his boot falls off his foot! That gives him an idea. ...Adkins shoves his foot into the face of Xiaolong, using the ropes to adjust but the referee is trying his best just not to lose his lunch. He doesn't see this happening! Xiaolong is choking. Not from the choke hold, but from the lack of human decency and the horrible smell! Xiaolong taps out!
Jessie Love: The winner of this match... Greg Adkins!
Taylor: ...What a way to win a match. He won because he smelled bad.
Romano: Look, I usually tell wrestlers to give it all that they have, but even I can't play Xiaolong here. Still, what a way to win. We got more for you as Prestige 65 will be coming in just a few moments!
We cut backstage to find Around The Clock Champion Rob Garcia innocently walking down a hallway. AWF official Gabe Valentine is suddenly on the camera and blocks Garcia’s path. He stops and goes to move around Valentine when suddenly, a small feminine looking figure in a black hoodie with the hood pulled up and a black bandana around her face appears behind Garcia. The woman does what Garcia did to Eddie Walker at Supremacy and pulls Rob down with a roll up.
Taylor: Hey, wait! What the hell?
Valentine slides down and counts the pinfall. Garcia doesn’t even know what’s going on.
ONE
TWO
THREE!
Taylor: Rob Garcia just lost the Around The Clock Championship?!
Romano: But to who?
Taylor: Whom...
Romano: Shut up!!
Rob looks shocked as the woman flips her hood back and pulls down the mask with a smile.
Romano: Is that Tasmin Richards?!
Taylor: Adam Sanders's fiancée and new signee to AWF!
Tasmin smiles and holds the title as she steps back, Rob still too stunned to move.
Tasmin Richards: Hey, don't worry, buddy. Adam’s face is still going to be near this. I'll just be wearing it at the time!
She turns and runs back down the hallway, slamming a door behind her.
Jessie Love: The following contest is scheduled for ONE FALL and is a triple-threat match!
The lights dim out to an almost pitch black darkness. The crowd falls silent wondering what is happening. The sound of a woman screams.
“OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
The lights turn back on illuminating brightly around the arena. Music subtly preludes into the arena, with a continuous phonetic utterance echoing around the venue by the same female who was screaming.
“Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum”
"Disturbia" by Rihanna then plays on the sound system, and the crowd immediately responded with a mixed reception. Alessandro Quagliaterre then bursts through the curtain full of energy. They are decisive in their indifference, not sure whether to love or hate him with the tension at a knife edge. He soaks in the atmosphere and poses at the top of the ramp with a couple of dabs. He elongates this action for a considerable length of time, and this pisses the crowd off.
“No more gas in the red
Can't even get it started
Nothing heard, nothing said
Can't even speak about it
All my life on my head
Don't want to think about it
Feels like I'm going insane
Yeah”
“It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
It's too close for comfort”
He smiles back at the crowd, unaffected by their response, and then in his own time, he slowly walks down the ramp without a care in the world.
Jessie Love: "Introducing from Alpine, New Jersey... weighing in at 240 pounds... ALESSANDRO... QUAGLIATERRE"
He really drags this on and extends the crowd patience to it fullest by taking as long as he wants. The audience gets frustrated throwing, even more, shade in the direction of Alessandro, but he brushes it off. He starts throwing $100 bills into the crowd and they immediately start giving him a huge ovation louder than the speed of sound.
“Throw on your brake lights
We're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind is in Disturbia”
“It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight
Your mind is in Disturbia
Ain't used to what you like
Disturbia
Disturbia”
Taylor: Part of our ‘Class of 2021’ that saw us welcome many stars, established and not, Quagliaterre proved the internet chatter about him right when he put away Angel Griffin!
Romano: Tonight could be a different challenge, neither of his opponents are as light as Angel is and both men present a different challenge to the other.
Taylor: He’ll be hoping the marriage of brawling and scientific wrestling will carry him once more to a win!
He then finally reaches the ring, and slowly walks up the steel steps, and poses some more on the turnbuckle, to really rub it into the crowd that he has arrived. He then flips down, waiting patiently by the corner of the ring, ready to unleash all types of hell on his opponent.
Jessie Love: Our second competitor…
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: Being led to the ring by his manager, John Eden, he stands at six-feet-and-nine inches, he weighs three-hundred-and-ten pounds...THE JITTERMAN!!!!
Then 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: It’s hard to argue that The Jitterman hasn’t made an impression on the AWF roster and audience!
Romano: He’s like no-one else on the roster. It’s telling that only his manager even goes near him outside of the ring!
Taylor: He could have the advantage tonight, his size could take away the power-led game of Abel Anderson!
They then slowly and methodically make their way to the ring and then lights eventually turn back to normal.
Jessie Love: Our final entrant for this triple-threat match…
"TO THE SOUND OF A HEARTBEAT POUNDING AWAY!"
The opening line blares through the PA as the light go out, a blue light illuminates the entrance ramp as we see, Ashley Anderson standing in the center of the spotlight. Abel makes his way through the curtain as his wife steps to the side giving Abel the spotlight.
Jessie Love: Accompanied by his wife, Ashley Anderson….fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada and weighing in at two-hundred-and-sixy-five pounds...BAD ASS...ABEL...ANDERSON!!
He bounces on his feet for a moment before the spotlight turns off, the house lights come back on as the couple walk to the ring, once they make it beside the ring,
Romano: Notice how Ashley is refusing to look in the direction of John Eden or The Jitterman!
Taylor: Abel has been up-front about taking the match to his opponents, will he be able to do that with one eye on Ashley?
Romano: He’s a professional, you don’t get the reputation he has within the MMA world without being able to conquer adversity!
Abel gives Ashley a quick kiss before rolling into the ring and climbing the nearest turnbuckle raising his arms toward the crowd. Abel then hops down and waits for his opponent.
Triple-Threat Match
Alessandro Quagliaterre vs The Jitterman vs. Abel Anderson
The three men eye each other carefully. Jitterman sways back and forth, simultaneously making himself harder to hit and looking like a man possessed, literally. Alessandro Quagliaterre looks openly confident, his easy smile showing off his massive self belief. Abel Anderson hold tight in his fighting stance, a little hunched up to make blocking easier and allowing himself to put a little extra snap behind his strikes. There is a palpable tension in the air as the tense stand off waits for someone to break it.
Taylor: Who do you favour in this match, Cassius?
Romano: Well, Quagliaterre is good and he knows it. Anderson is a hell of a talent. Jitterman is the biggest X factor in the match because you can never tell what he's going to do. So I think it's up in the air, Taylor.
Quagliaterre is the first to move. He closes on Jitterman and throws a solid jab, forcing The Sinister One to roll with the blow away from the contact. Jitterman uses the momentum in his favour as he reels towards Abel Anderson and throws a momentum enhanced right at Abel Anderson's head. Anderson dismissively blocks the strike and sends Jitterman away with the sheer power of his block alone. The Bad Ass capitalises on the clear space by launching himself towards Quagliaterre and throwing a punch with absolutely perfect form, forcing AQ to cover up and block with both his forearms. The trio back up a step and posture up again.
Taylor: Everything looks even between these great competitors.
Romano: This is going to be a battle of attrition, Taylor. It's a case of who can survive.
This time it's The Jitterman who breaks on the stand off, lurching towards Quagliaterre. He rears his arm back and lashes AQ's chest with a fierce knife edged chop. Quag sucks up the blow and turns to Anderson, firing a knife edged chop of his own at the brawny MMA expert which impacts on Anderson's rippling chest muscles with a satisfying smack. Anderson completes the circle with a vicious chop to Jitterman's chest, sending the mysterious murderer reeling. Jitterman regains his solid base and chops Quagliaterre again, a little more force behind the blow. AQ turns and chops Anderson again. Anderson chops Jitterman. Then all three men close in on each other and start throwing BOMBS, a wild flurry of strikes coming in from all directions. The three back off and breathe, taking a couple of seconds pause from the action.
Taylor: It has been a wild start here. These three men are firing shots that would knock a normal man out cold.
Romano: These aren't normal men though. These are AWF wrestlers.
Quagliaterre turns to Anderson and offers a knowing nod. The pair turn to Jitterman who leers back at them and grab an arm each, launching their freakish opponent at the ropes at high speed. As Jitterman rebounds the pair hold their arms out to a side and both snap their forearms upwards, hitting Jitterman with stereo backfists. Jitterman drops to the mat and Quagliaterre drops an elbow and rolls away followed by Anderson doing the same, rolling to the other side. As Anderson stands he drags Jitterman with him and whips him to the ropes again, Quag carefully circling round into position. With an effortless push Anderson flapjacks Jitterman high into the air and Anderson lands a VICIOUS punch into his solar plexus on the way down.
Taylor: It look like Quagliaterre and Anderson are working together.
Romano: Smart strategy. Alliances may be temporary in this sort of match but you have to take every little piece of leverage you can.
With Jitterman face down, Anderson reaches down and grabs him firmly about the waist. His enormous strength on full display, Anderson deadlifts the Sinister One off the mat as Quag backs off, allowing him the space to get a decent run up. As Anderson holds Jitterman with his feet slightly off the ground, the back waistlock hooked in tightly, AQ charges and extends an arm, hitting a vicious LARIATOOOO onto Jitterman's face which adds to the momentum of Anderson hitting a Deadlift German Suplex! Anderson holds onto the bridge...
ONE!
TWO!
T.. Quagliaterre stamps on the pile to stop the cover. Anderson rolls to his feet and offers a stern glare in Quag's direction but the cocky young star just shrugs in a "Had to do it, man" fashion.
Taylor: As you said, Romano. All alliances are temporary.
Romano: First pin wins. No one wants to be the third man out.
As his two opponents argue, Jitterman stands but both Quag and Double A catch him out of the corner of their eye and hit stereo back elbows into their bizarre opponent's stomach. The temporary alliance reformed rush the ropes at the same time and raise a leg each, flattening Jitterman with a double Big Boot. Anderson grabs Quagliaterre, taking him by surprise a little, and slams AQ right on top of Jitterman, causing an improvised senton of sorts. The quick thinking Quagliaterre hooks a leg from his back press...
ONE!
TWO!
...and Anderson is forced to stomp down on Quagliaterre's stomach to break the pin up.
Taylor: That was close.
Romano: I think it's going to break down about now. I can feel those kind of things.
Quagliaterre stands and pushes Anderson. Anderson pushes back. Quaq pushes again. Double A pushes back. As the two argue, Jitterman slowly gets to his feet, leering again. Jitterman sneaks round behind the distracted Quagliaterre and locks in a tight back waist lock. Jitterman attempts to worm free and drags Jitterman towards the ropes without managing to break the hold. Anderson quickly circles in behind the pair and back waistlocks Jitterman before... GERMAN SUPLEXING BOTH MEN AT THE SAME TIME IN A HUGE DISPLAY OF STRENGTH! Anderson stands and offers himself the tiniest of smiles at his handiwork.
Taylor: MY GOD! Check out the strength of Abel Anderson!
Romano: That was certainly impressive. Anderson IS a physical freak after all.
After standing and surveying the wreckage, Anderson strides over to Quagliaterre. He hoists Quag off the mat with ease and steps forwards, dropping AQ's back across his knee. Quag jolts with pain but Anderson opts not to drop his less muscular opponent and lifts him again. Meanwhile Jitterman has slowly risen and as Anderson looks for a side slam, Jitterman sharply locks an inverted headlock in and the pair drop to the mat, Jits adding an inverted DDT into the slam. Anderson gives Jitterman a curious look but it's hard to make out exactly what the Cerebral Psychopath is thinking.
Taylor: Interesting double team there.
Romano: I don't think that's what Anderson had planned. But then Jitterman doesn't plan, he just acts.
Jitterman drops to his knees, flips Quagliaterre over and locks in double underhooks. He stands, dragging AQ up with him and gives a pointed look at Abel Anderson. Anderson looks uneasy at any temporary alliance with his unpredictable opponent but he offers a shrug and lifts Quag up by both legs, putting the cocksure young Quagliaterre at a dangerous angle. Jitterman falls backwards and drives AQ's head into the mat at a horrifyingly sharp angle. Jitterman quickly drops to cover...
ONE!
TWO!
TH... Anderson breaks that up sharpish. Jitterman rolls away, his mask rising and falling as if he is chuckling to himself.
Taylor: I always wonder what goes on in Jitterman's head.
Romano: I'm smart enough not to. Some things just aren't worth the risk of exploring.
The massive Jitterman picks himself off the mat and turns to face Anderson. The Mixed Martial Artist take a swing with one of his Knockout level elbow strikes. Jitterman takes it, right in the face and stands firm, almost daring Anderson to try again. Double A obliges, lashing out with a vicious fury. The third time ISN'T a charm though as Jitterman ducks a little, dropping a shoulder that allows him to jack Anderson up into a Canadian Backbreaker Rack before flipping the Bad Ass One over and dropping him face first to the canvas.
Taylor: Jitterman has some scary power when he needs to use it.
Romano: Everything about The Jitterman is scary. Physical and psychological intimidation are his game.
Quagliaterre has stood up in the mean time and picks up Anderson rather than tangling directly with Jitterman. He tags Anderson in the chest with a couple of fierce body blows that Anderson is too woozy from the Yokosuka Facebuster to attempt to block. AQ lifts Anderson by the leg and waist, turning smoothly through 180 degrees... AND JITTERMAN JUMPS UP AND PLANTS HIS KNEES INTO THE SMALL OF ANDERSON'S BACK AS QUAGLIATERRE COMPLETES THE SPINEBUSTER!
Taylor: OK that just looked painful.
Romano: Jitterman doesn't ask to cooperate with you. He just does it. And I wouldn't argue with him.
A cover from AQ...
ONE!
TWO!
TH... Jitterman breaks the cover up by physically hauling Quagliaterre's body off with a meaty hand. AQ rolls away and to his feet, backing off to make room. Jitterman backs off as well, creating space between the two. Quagliaterre fires himself up, slapping his head. With Anderson still down the pair CHARGE at each other. QUAGLIATERRE LOWERS HIS HEAD! JITTERMAN RAISES HIS BOOT! THERE IS AN ALMIGHTY CRASH MID RING AND BOTH MEN COLLAPSE TO THE MAT!
Taylor: ZIDANE HEADBUTT! LIGHTS OUT! IT'S CARNAGE HERE!
Romano: I'd say that Quagliaterre got the worst of that but you can break your leg going straight into a brick wall, never mind a charging bull like Alessandro is.
Gabe Valentine starts counting as everyone is down...
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
Anderson is the first man up.
FIVE!
SIX!
SEVEN!
Jitterman gets up, his leg showing signs of the jarring clash.
EIGHT!
NINE!
T... ALESSANDRO QUAGLIATELLE IS UP AS WELL!
With a swing of his mighty arm, Jitterman slaps AQ out of the way, sending the dazed fashion icon straight down to the mat. The monster turns to Abel Anderson and grabs out, locking in a tight waistlock. A standing switch delivered with a grace you would not expect out of a man his size puts The Jitterman behind Anderson and he raises his arms up, looking to lock in the Kata Ha Jime. Unfortunately for Jitterman, Abel Anderson knows exactly what to do to defend and he deftly grabs the arm off his own carotid artery before Jitterman can lock the hold in and bends it around, turning it into a standing Kata Gatame.
Taylor: SLEEP TIGHT COUNTERED... FROM OUTTA NOWHERE!
Getting up, Quagliaterre charges in to stop the submission predicament, driving his boot into Jitterman's back with such force it pushes both his opponents towards the ropes. Abel Anderson drops the submission hold and low bridges the top rope sending Jitterman out to the floor in an uncomfortable heap. But AQ is quick toe grab a free arm of Anderson's and whips him to the far ropes before hitting a sprint himself and leaping into a classic Lou Thesz press... AND ANDERSON INSTANTLY THROWS HIS LEGS UP AND LOCKS HIM INTO TIGHT CLOSED GUARD. Quag struggles, looking to free one of the legs and take Side Control, setting up Sweet Dreams but as he tries to reposition, ABEL ANDERSON CATCHES A FREE ARM AND TRAPS IT AGAINST QUAGLIATERRE'S OWN CAROTID!
Taylor: GROUNDED DEATH FROM OUTTA NOWHERE!
Romano: That is some slick wrestling. Shades of Maurice Greene vs Gian Vilante.
Jitterman gets to his feet and slowly begins to clamber up onto the ring apron but with Abel Anderson's SUBLIME MMA SKILLS has his hold locked in so tight that Quagliaterre has no choice but to submit. Gabe Valentine calls for the bell.
Jessie Love: Your winner, by submission... BAD ASS ABEL AAAAAAAAAAAANDEEEEEEERSOOOOOOOOOON!
Taylor: A heart stopping match. All three competitors should take credit for their performance.
Romano: There is no shame in tapping out when you're trapped.
Jessie Love: Up next is a singles match and our SEMI MAIN-EVENT!
The crowd cheer vociferously.
Jessie Love: Introducing first…
The overhead lights slowly go dark as the first strummed chords of 'Hurricane' fill the air, the crowd's cheers rising in response to the woman that is about to emerge.
Jessie Love: Residing in Blooming Valley, Pennsylvania...she stands at five-feet-and-eight inches and weighs one-hundred-and-sixty-three pounds….THE ONCOMING STORM...ERIN...GORDON!!!
Gray lights flare into being around the curtain when the song starts proper, illuminating the outline of the Oncoming Storm as she stands with her shoulders square and her hands curled into fists at her sides. The wind machine is on behind her, blowing her hair around as her gaze moves over the assembled crowd and the surroundings alike... before it settles upon the ring. As 'Hurricane' cuts to the chorus, she makes her way down the aisle, not shying away from the hands that reach out for her.
Taylor: She made quick work of Tyrone Wrexx in her debut, can she do the same here tonight?
Romano: If she can, it’ll put her name on the map here. Wrexx has size but Webb has been unlucky in his losses here since he joined in November!
Taylor: She looked incredibly versatile in the ring last week, showing brawling, speed and submission skills, tonight is a tremendous opportunity as we are just six weeks away from Road to Victory Four!
Erin's focus never wavers, even as she grabs onto the ropes and hauls herself up onto the apron. Wiping her feet, she climbs into the ring between the top and middle ropes before she heads to her corner, turning to rest her back against the turnbuckles. Only then does she play a little to the crowd, a single fist thrusting itself skyward to earn more cheers as her music fades.
Jessie Love: Introducing her opponent….
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.
Jessie Love: Fighting out of Saint George, Utah...he stands at six-feet-and-one-inch...FRANKIE WEBB!
He has a sleeveless hood over his head as he slowly makes himself to the ring. He walks toward the ring, displaying a fake err of confidence.
Taylor: At only sixteen years old, some have said that Webb could have the wrestling world at his feet as he progresses!
Romano: The tutelage of his coach is going to determine that. We’ve seen talents come through a couple of years older than him but they’ve become undone by slacking off when they think they’ve made it!
Taylor: If you’ve seen his promos this week, the one thing you can’t call him is unfocused!
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.
Singles Match
Erin Gordon vs. Frankie Webb
Taylor: We’ve got two wrestlers tipped for great things thus year but only one person can come out on top tonight!
Romano: It’s going to come down to who wants the match more, these matches often seem run-of-the-mill but every match in AWF has implications.
Steve Tyrell brings the two competitors into the center of the ring to deliver last-minute instructions. Webb and Gordon’s demeanours could not be more disparate as the camera flicks between them. Webb’s face wears an expression that could, at its simplest, be the definition of cocky. Gordon betrays the discomfort she has going into the match with such a young opponent.
Taylor: We saw a swagger in the step of Webb last tine out, he’ll hope for a better result but his opponent has vocally protested about the age of the rookie, her own son just a year younger than the sixteen year old Webb.
Trying to issue his instructions, Tyrell finds himself being remonstrated by Gordon.
Romano: She’s still not finished, at this point though you need to play the hand you’re dealt!
Without hearing the words it’s impossible to truly know what is being said but Tyrell’s reaction is to point down the aisle towards the back.
Taylor: Steve Tyrell clearly has explicit instructions...
In response, Gordon briefly opens her palms to the sky and motions towards Webb.
Romano: We’ve got the match booked, it’s time to make it count...
Once more, Tyrell stands his ground...WEBB SUCKER PUNCHES ERIN!
Taylor: The expression on Erin’s face might tip Frankie to the potentially fatal mistake he just made!
The bell rings and Webb wastes no time in letting his opponent adjust to the change in the state of play. He pushes his reach advantage, letting fly with quick-fire jabs that box The Oncoming Storm into the corner.
Romano: Some smart ring-generalling from the rookie, he’s using his height to guide Gordon into the turnbuckle.
Stunned from the blow, Gordon can do little to stop the flurry of left-and-rights that Webb sends into her midsection before rushing in with a knee! He grabs a front facelock and rolls back, taking his opponent to the mat with him.
Taylor: Judo throw from the rookie…
Romano:I believe the translation comes to Corner Overturning...
Finding herself in danger, Gordon does well to dodge the first mounted punch but eats the second one as it rains down.
Taylor: Webb has a mounted position, this could be a very quick match.
Catching the rhythm, Erin manages to use the youngster’s momentum against him and goes from bottom-position to mount. She quickly stands up but not before dropping a knee to the head of Frankie as she gets to her feet.
Romano: Smart move from The Oncoming Storm, she timed the reversal perfectly.
Tyrell finds himself again being held accountable for the match.
Gordon: What the hell were Steel and Ziko thinking?
Taylor: It seems that Gordon wants to get the job done quickly.
She turns around in time to catch the rising Webb in a side-headlock before taking him down to the mat. Gordon escapes and tries to wrap a sleeper into The Oncoming Storm.
Romano: Webb’s relying on his judo, it’s down to Gordon to try and move the match more into territory she can hold the advantage.
Erin leans back and rolls through into a North-South position before lifting up the teenager...NECKBREAKER!
Taylor: She’s headhunting it seems..
The cover…
ONE…
KICKOUT!
Casting a dismissive eye towards her opponent, Erin Gordon shakes her head.
Romano: If she can keep on the offense, we could be seeing her chain together successive wins...
Grabbing Webb by his head, Gordon unleashes a vicious European Uppercut, cursing under her breath as she connects.
Taylor: Both competitors can brawl but we saw last time out against Wrexx, Erin can mix it up with the best of them!
Gordon sends Webb to the ropes...LOU THESZ PRESS!!
Romano: Is brawling the best use of her experience?
Taylor: So far it looks like it isn’t hurting her!
Unloading on her opponent, Gordon delivers a forearm that stuns Webb.
Taylor: A sickening thud with that forearm!!
The Oncoming Storm lifts up the rookie and sends him to the ropes...reversal...Webb looks for a back body-drop...DROP-DOWN UPPERCUT FROM GORDON!
Romano: Webb showing a little naivety there...
As he reels back, Gordon catches him...HEADPULL BACKBREAKER!
Taylor: DOWNPOUR!
She once more looks for the cover..
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!
Romano: Webb showing he’s made of sterner stuff than his years might imply!
Once more, Gordon is less than impressed at Tyrell for counting a perceived slow count and Webb for his resillience.
Taylor: Erin doesn’t look like she’s settling into the match...
She picks up Frankie from the mat but he quickly rakes the eyes before whipping Gordon into the corner. HE FOLLOWS UP WITH A RUNNING BACK ELBOW!
Romano: We’re seeing a more direct style from Webb…
Taylor: It’s one way to brush over a sucker punch and an eye-rake...
Gordon slumps down as Webb drives another elbow into the side of her head.. Double-Wrist Clutch overhead arm-drag!
Romano:Lateral Drop…
Taylor: When did you become familiar with Judo?
Romano: We have Chris Card on the roster, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask someone even if they’re from a different martial arts background...
As he rolls back he lifts Gordon to her feet...Standing STO!!
Taylor: Judo-style trip there!
Romano: Could tell you the name but that sums it up.
Taylor: Frankie drops down...
Webb goes for the cover this time…
ONE…
Gordon kicks out!
Romano: Webb looking a little impatient there.
Webb reacts by grabbing a headlock and dragging Gordon up to her feet. She fights the hold and forces him to the ropes. Steve Tyrell starts a count..
ONE…
WEBB RAKES HER EYES ACROSS THE ROPES!
Taylor: Once more the Rookie goes outside the rules for an answer!
Romano: It’s a smart move, the time with Coach is paying off...
Releasing the hold, Webb waits as she staggers away, blinded by the manouevere...SNAP OVERHEAD BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX!
Romano: Front Uranage!
Taylor: Interesting adaption of a belly-to belly suplex
Romano: It’s a versatile move, you can look like you’re going for a trip, feint, and then release them into that!
The camera catches Webb as he takes his time to press his advantage. Finally, he walks over to his opponent and cockily presses a forearm across her chest…
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!
Taylor: The nonchalant attitude might have been the difference between a win and opening the match back up.
Romano: We both know Erin was always kicking out there...
With a handful of hair, Webb brings Gordon back to her feet and sends her to the ropes...he ducks down but she leapfrogs...SECOND ROPE BACK-ELBOW!!
Taylor: Excellent counter from The Oncoming Storm!
The crowd show their appreciation as she rolls backwards and waits for Webb...he sits up...SLIDING LARIAT!!!! She scrambles quickly to cover and put the match to bed…
Taylor: DRAGGING WINDS!
ONE…
TWO….
THR-WEBB THROWS A SHOULDER UP!
Romano: The kid is showing real fighting spirit tonight!
Gordon now can’t control her frustration, she pops up onto her feet and starts to question the speed of the count..
Taylor: Tyrell WILL throw the match out in Webb’s favor if she carries on.
WEBB SNEAKS UP BEHIND HER...HE ROLLS HER UP WITH A HANDFUL OF TRUNKS!!
ONE…
GORDON TRIES TO KICK OUT TO NO AVAIL
TWO…
HER LEGS KICKING TO NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR!
THREE!!!!
Romano: He got her!
Taylor: With an underhanded pin!
Romano: It was almost certainly an accident.
Taylor:....
The bell rings as Webb scoots out of the ring before Gordon can react. As Erin sits up, the fury in her face is evident amongst the disbelief.
Jessie Love: The winner of this match, as a result of pinfall, FRANKIE….WEBB!!
“Enemies” by Drake fills the Wells-Fargo arena, the camera shows Webb hold up his arm in victory as he backs down the ramp. In contrast, Webb remains in a state of furious disbelief as we cut back to the announce team.
Taylor: Gordon can feel cheated there!
Romano: She spent as much time protesting the age of her opponent as she did trying to put him away!
Taylor: Webb though showing a darker side to him, the rookie seemingly embracing areas of the sport we’ve not seen him do before.
Romano: You can understand it, Gordon was clinical in her debut win last time out, Webb knows that a win against her will keep his stock high.
Taylor: We’ll see what this means for the Man from St. George in the near-fu-
Tommy Taylor is cut-off mid-sentence.
Romano: Could we be seeing another ReVenant title celebration?
Taylor: I hope for my own stomach we don’t!
Romano: They’re the XHF Stable of the Year, that’s a fan-voted accolade!
Taylor: You can’t always trust people, Cassius, people buy Coldplay albums and read TMZ!
Romano: Confirmed, Tommy Taylor hates success!
Taylor: That’s not true! Look, Jessie Love is ringside for our MAIN EVENT! Who will come out on top between Adam Sanders and Aiden Merric?
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: The following contest is our main event and is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, 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!
Taylor: Adam Sanders is here with his first match since Battle for Hegemony and Supremacy. He split those two matches by winning one of them and falling short on the other one.
Romano: Well, one was a lot more important than the other one.
Taylor: He didn’t get pinned.
Romano: He got “something’d” though.
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
"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.
Jessie Love: And his opponent from Coober Pedy, Australia, weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds… AIDEN “OUTBACK” MERRIC!!
Taylor: Aiden Merric had some strong words for his opponent tonight.
Romano: Quite ironic that he had strong words saying his opponent was soft.
Taylor: Adam didn’t take too kindly to those comments either, making it very clear he is going to make Merric eat those words.
Romano: He can “want” to make Merric eat those words all he wants. Only way to do it is to get the win here tonight.
He spits the gum and puts a patch on his arm before stretching and walking to the ring with a purpose. He rolls into the ring and stretches on the ropes. Steve Tyrell stops him and removes his various blades, ropes and other hunting equipment as he smirks. He then cracks his neck, waiting for the bell.
Main Event
Singles Match
Adam Sanders vs. Aiden Merric
As “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked” fades from the PA system, Aiden Merric looks over at the removed weapons and then back at Adam Sanders, who is still looking at them quizzically. Merric gives a wide grin as he sees Adam’s reaction.
Romano: He’s sending a message to Adam… “That’s right, kid. Those are for you.”
Taylor: He made it very clear how he feels about Adam and made sure he showed as many sharp objects as he could.
Romano: He’s rattling Adam’s head more than anything. But here’s the bell. Let’s get a match going!!
DING DING DING
With Adam’s eyes still widened at all the knives, Merric hits a thrusting front kick on the distracted Adam Sanders. Sanders stumbles a bit and lands on ropes. Merric goes for a lariat, but Adam ducks and hits a front kick of his own. Merric goes down to the mat and rolls out of the ring.
Romano: Merric is smartly getting out of the ring to make Adam come to him.
Taylor: Well, this is the first match that has Adam wearing that chest protector under his shirt because of his Battle for Hegemony injury.
Romano: Well, Merric will still find ways to attack the chest. Most of his moves do, after all.
Sanders rolls out of the ring to pursue Merric, but that was exactly what Aiden Merric wanted. As soon as Adam’s feet hit the floor, Merric was dropping Adam to the mat with a shoulder tackle and started letting out a flurry of punches.
Romano: Gotta be smarter than that, Adam! You fell for the trap!
Taylor: Aiden Merric is getting as many punches as he can.
Romano: Of course he is, he called Adam “soft”. So he’s trying to make a point.
After what felt like ten to fourteen punches, Adam finally shoves Merric off. Steve Tyrell starts barking at both men to return to the ring or he will start the count out. Adam slides back into the ring. Merric is in a second later and takes a stomp from Adam for his tardiness. Sanders yanks Merric up and throws him into the corner for Adam to be the one to show off his striking ability with ten strikes. Sanders, unlike Merric, stopped at ten with Tyrell’s count.
Taylor: You might not like to hear this, but Adam Sanders might be one of the best strikers in the AWF.
Romano: Yeah, but he doesn’t have what it takes to put away the wily Aiden Merric.
Sanders places Merric in a position to lift him up for his powerbomb, but Merric gets a low blow that Tyrell couldn’t see from his angle.
Romano: There’s that sneaky veteran move by Aiden Merric!
Taylor: You mean outright cheating.
Romano: Whatever it takes to win. Hope Tasmin Richards isn’t trying to have kids!
Merric takes advantage of this to drive Adam into the mat with a DDT. Tyrell asks if Merric used an illegal move and Merric glares at him to stop talking. Cover by Merric.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Kickout by Adam Sanders! Merric scoffs before sending Adam into the ropes and hopes to have Adam rebound into a knee, but Adam holds onto the top rope. Merric charges, but Adam sends him tumbling to the outside by yanking down the top rope. Merric pulls himself up using the apron and finds Adam’s two feet colliding with his jaw.
Taylor: Baseball slide from Adam Sanders!! This could shift momentum!
Romano: Well, it’s on the outside. Things can change fast out there.
As Adam tries to pick up Merric again, Merric rakes Adam’s eyes. He slams Adam’s head into the ring steps before rolling him back into the ring. He hooks Adam’s leg.
ONE!!
TWO!!
T...NO!!
Merric wastes no time hooking his arm around Adam’s head to fling up across the ring into a suplex… but the suplex also hits Steve Tyrell…
Taylor: Oh no, we don’t have a referee now!
Romano: Now the match is really getting interested!!
Merric is fully aware of this. He pulls out one of his knives that was removed from his person at the beginning of the match.
Taylor: Wait, how did he get that?!
Romano: He spent a good bit of time outside the ring during this match. Is it impossible for him to have snagged one while he was outside?
Taylor: I mean… no.
Romano: Exactly!
The first thing Merric does with this knife is cut the shoulder straps holding Adam’s chest protector. After cutting around the velcro on Adam’s waist, he yanks the chest protector off. He holds it in the air like it is some sort of trophy to add to his collection. The fans in the audience start to boo Merric as he holds the knife in his hand once more for all to see.
Taylor: This is terrible. Hasn’t Adam been through enough yet?!
Romano: Third times a charm. Aiden Merric could end his career here!
Still brandishing the Bowie knife he used to cut off the chest protector, Aiden Merric now stands over his prey. He mouths the word “soft” at Sanders before Sander gets the strength to kick his hand, causing Merric to drop the knife. The fans cheer as Adam yanks both legs from underneath the longest former Phoenix Champion. Both men fight to get back up and Adam delivers a big kick to Merric’s midsection. This time, he is able to lift Aiden Merric in the air for his powerbomb with no issues. He slams Merric into the center of the ring with his signature Nerd Out and hooks the leg… but Steve Tyrell is still down!
Taylor: I don’t think Adam knew Tyrell was down.
Romano: Nope. Fans just counted to three, but it doesn’t count. Merric isn’t even trying to kick out.
As Romano stated, Merric is still on his back in the ring but laughing at the fact Adam didn’t realize Tyrell is down. Adam gets back up to check on Tyrell before Merric lands a second low blow on Sanders. He waits for Sanders to turn back around and pops up to deliver a stiff uppercut, more commonly known as the Tranquilizer. He pulls out a pair of brass knuckles to put on his right hand and waits for Sanders to pull himself up. Once he does, he leaps for his brass knuckles-assisted superman punch, also known as the Stun Gun. Sanders drops like a pile of bricks to the center of the ring.
Taylor: This is awful. Adam should have won the match with his trademark powerbomb. And now Aiden Merric has taken him out with a pair of brass knuckles.
Romano: All’s fair when the referee is down.
Deciding he isn’t done yet, Aiden Merric rolls out of the ring to find the knife Adam kicked out of his hands moments ago. He also digs under the ring for a rope. He rolls back into the ring and puts Adam into one of the corners. He wraps the rope around Adam’s throat and starts choking out the Awkward One. He holds out the knife in the face of Adam Sanders, who is struggling to breathe once more. Merric begins to describe the knife in great detail as he did in one of the videos leading up to the match. He doesn’t use the knife though, opting for his machine gun knife edge chops to Adam’s throat, ironically named “This Is A Knife”.
Taylor: Ouch, a different kind of knife on Adam.
Romano: Remember, he isn’t wearing the chest protector anymore.
It was almost as though Romano spoke it into existence as Merric began chopping Adam’s chest as well. He flashes the knife once more before… ADAM GRABS HIS ARM!! Sanders does the only thing he can do with the position Merric has him in: a front kick to the face. But as the kick happens, Adam gains control of the knife, which he uses to cut the rope from behind his head to free himself.
Taylor: Adam fights back!! And the fans are behind him now!
Romano: Yeah, but watch out, Merric is waiting for him!!
Merric goes for the Tranquilizer again, but Sanders grabs the arm and tosses him across the ring with an arm drag. Sanders quickly lands a dropkick on Merric, which puts Merric on the ropes. Adam Sanders is on his hands and knees with the entire crowd on their feet, cheering him on. He pulls himself off and sees Merric going for a leap to perhaps hit the Stun Gun again, but Sanders catches him in mid-air and drops him with a spinebuster. Sanders pulls Merric up and puts him in a fireman’s carry position before dropping the two-time Phoenix Champion on his head.
Taylor: The Dream Breaker!! Adam hit the Dream Breaker!!
Romano: Steve Tyrell is still down though!
Remember this, Adam rolls on the mat back to Tyrell, shaking him awake. As soon as Tyrell shows signs of life, Adam stumbles toward Merric and gets the cover. Steve Tyrell crawls over and does the count.
ONE!!
…
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
…
THREE!!
Steve Tyrell calls for the bell before collapsing on the mat. Sanders rolls off Aiden Merric to the nearest corner as “Underclass Hero” starts to fill the venue.
Jessie Love: Here is your winner… The Awkward One, ADAM SANDERS!!
Adam Sanders starts using the corner to pulls himself off the mat.
Taylor: Adam Sanders fought through so much to get this win. There were so many times in this match where it did not look good for the Awkward One.
Romano: Merric had him so many times. And now he’s getting up and realized the match was lost.
Taylor: Oh no, he’s picking up the bowie knife again.
Taylor wasn’t the only one who noticed it. Adam sees this as well. The Awkward One’s eyes widen as he sees Merric turn back towards him with the knife in his hand. His facial expression screams “Not again” without him having to say a word. His eyes widen even more before he takes the knife and throws it down at Adam’s feet. The blade of the knife is sticking into the mat with the intricate handle facing up. Merric gives Adam a quick nod before rolling out of the ring to the sound of Cage the Elephant.
Taylor: What was that all about?
Romano: Aiden Merric is a man with a code. He was bested. Now he moves on.
Taylor: So the knife is… a trophy for Adam to have from the match?
Adam Sanders looks completely stunned as he watches Merric walk back up the ramp. He pulls the knife out of the ring and examines it, still confused by the interaction.
Taylor: It appears Merric has changed his mind about Adam Sanders being soft.
Romano: It appears so. Merric punished Adam as much as he could, but the kid got back up after all of it.
Taylor: Well, that’s it for us here at Prestige. I’m Tommy Taylor, this is Cassius Romano. We will see you guys in two weeks for Prestige Sixty-Six!!
The last shot we see before the show fades to black is Adam Sanders still examining the knife in the middle of the ring.
Live at the Wells-Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA
02/06/2021
Capacity: 16111
In Attendance: 1611
Taylor: Welcome, fans, to AWF Prestige 65! We’re coming to you LIVE from the Wells-Fargo Arena here in Des Moines, Iowa and we’ve got a packed card for you tonight!
Romano: That’s right, including our main event with an Adam Sanders fresh off a tag-win and a tremendous haul of trophies from the XHF Network Awards a few nights previous!
Taylor: Supremacy was a great night for Ascension Wrestling, Sanders grabbed a tag-win with Adrien Cochrane against The Graham Brothers of FWA and Cross Recoba picked up a win when he pinned FIRESIDE’s Hayden Callahan!
Romano: That’s without the three spectacles that we provided, Tommy! First off, we witnessed a triple-threat where Betsy Granger might count herself lucky to escape with the title!
Taylor: I think you might be downplaying her performance but the one thing that was evident was that the war between Rob Garcia and Kira Izumi was far from over! Our second match, a steel cage that pitted Subject #42 against Neo James Carner!
Romano: You only had to look at the betting line before the match, Subject was the overwhelming favorite and why wouldn’t he be? He had the size and power advantage. The cage, in effect, would be seen as a weapon that he would have no problem exploiting…
Taylor: NJC had other plans, using the cage as a way to incapacitate his opponent on his way to victory and a second reign with the AWF United States title!
Romano: He becomes only the second man, after Danny Ray, to hold the title more than once!
Taylor: He’ll already have his eyes set on equalling the record for most days holding the belt and surprassing Seth Dillinger.
Romano: If he can get through Road to Victory and past Prestige 70, it’s a long way yet.
Taylor: Especially given the targets on the ReVenants’ backs. That much became evident in the hellacious Lumberjack that took place for the Prestige Title!
Romano: It was one for the ages. Williams though silenced the critics with a win that didn’t come without drama!
Taylor: We saw Fox nearly level Adam Sanders and Subject #42, Rob Garcia became the new AWF Around the Clock Champion, and wars being fought both inside the ring and out!
Romano: We’ve got confirmation that Fox won’t be here tonight but what of those that will be?
Taylor: In our main-event, we see Adam Sanders take on Aiden Merric and, Cass, what’s your take on the match?
Romano: You’re putting Sanders against a guy who hunts for fun, is Adam fully healed? Is this going to be a step too far for him?
Taylor: Both men were explicit in their words for one another. In our semi-main event we’ll have Frankie Webb take on Erin Gordon in a match that both competitors will want to shine in as we’re only three shows away from Road to Victory 4!
Romano: There isn’t a show in AWF where you can phone it in, just look at all the consequences that could come from the triple-threat match between Alessandro Quagliaterre, Abel Anderson and the Jitterman!
Taylor: How do you see that match going?
Romano: It’ll be hard-hitting and brutal but it has all the makings to be a sleeper hit of our year so far!
Taylor: Then we welcome back Greg Adkins as he goes toe-to-toe with Xiaolong!
Romano: You know that Felix Ziko will be watching that match with a blood-pressure monitor nearby!
Taylor: But first, we’’re opening the show with the first of our triple-threats and another returning star.
Romano: Ruiz is returning to our ring for the first time this year, but it’s not going to be a fiesta for him. Phoenix and Griffin both made their debuts in Laramie at the last show and both came out on the losing end, they must know that a win against Carlos could have eyes watching them for future opportunities.
Taylor: Let’s find out if they’re ready to take that chance as we join Jessie Love inside the ring!
Jessie Love: Welcome to PRESTIGE SIXTY-FIVE!
The crowd cheer in anticipation.
Jessie Love: We start our night with a TRIPLE-THREAT MATCH!!
Bamboleo" by Gypsy Kings hits over the P.A. System causing the fans to go crazy for they know what it means.
Jessie Love: Introducing our first competitor, returning to an AWF ring for the first time this year…
Carlos Ruiz walks out from the back posing for the crowd in his leather jacket that is zipped halfway up, pink speedo wrestling trunks, pink boots, and Maui Jim sunglasses.
Jessie Love: Making his way to the ring... from Madrid, Spain... weighing in at 212 pounds... CARLOOOOS RUUUUIIIIZ!
He stops on the way to the ring a couple of times to take selfies with the crowd.
Taylor: You can hear from the reaction of the Des Moines crowd, Carlos Ruiz clearly made an impression when he appeared last year!
Romano: When you think that he’s a European and he’s STILL universally loved, that tells you about the man!
He slides into the ring and blows kisses to the adoring fans. He smiles as he removes his jacket and sunglasses and hands them to the ringside attendant.
Jessie Love: Our second competitor….
The lights go out as Freak Like Me hits the speakers. A spotlight appears on stage and Angel appears posing. She points to the crowd as they cheer.
Jessie Love: Hailing from St. Paul, Minnesota and weighing in at one-hundred-and-thirty-five pounds….ANGEL...GRIFFIN!!
She walks with purpose down the ramp before sprinting and sliding into the ring.
Taylor: She might think herself unlucky to have come up short against Quagliaterre last time out but this is the perfect opportunity to set things right!
Romano: She brings a measured approach of technical ability mixed with high-risk offense!
Spinning she continues to point to the crowd before climbing the corner to once again pose for the crowd. Jumping down she leans against the ropes waiting on the final competitor.
Jessie Love: Our final entrant in the match…
The lights go out as the rhythmic beat of the opening of “The Phoenix” by Fall Out Boy hits the speakers. As the words “Put on your War Paint” echo the first time lights pop on to an explosion and Brendon Phoenix turns and yells. He begins his upbeat jog to the ring.
Jessie Love: Calling San Diego, California his home...he weighed in at two-hundred-and-twenty-two pounds...BRENDON...PHOENIX!!
Brendon slides into the ring raising his arms as he circles the middle of the ring. He steps up on the lower-rope leaning over at the middle pointing at the crowd. He repeats this on the three sides facing the audience before climbing to the corner raising his arm.
Taylor: We often get old how enthusiastic Brendon is but did it cost him against Xiaolong at Prestige Sixty-Four?
Romano: Xiaolong is no slouch, the key for Phoenix is to nullify Ruiz and hope, as the bigger competitor, he can find a window to take down Griffin!
He returns to the middle bouncing on his feet smiling as he prepares for the match.
Triple-Threat Match
Carlos Ruiz vs Angel Griffin vs. Brendon Phoenix
Taylor: Valentine looks happy enough with his pre-match instructions being understood..
Romano: You’ve got a short memory...
Before the bell rings, Carlos Ruiz takes the lead, he walks up to both Phoenix and Griffin and shakes their hands.
Taylor: For those of you who are new to AWF, Ruiz is a European gent!
Romano: I can tell you now, I can’t wait to open the bottle of Rioja he presented to us before the show!
A nod to Gabe Valentine from the Spaniard lets the referee know that he is now ready to begin the match.
Taylor: Gabe is failing to keep a straight face!
Phoenix and Griffin rush to the center of the ring and collide trading punches. Phoenix gets a gain on Angel and delivers three unanswered forearms before sending his opponent ot the ropes. She comes off the ropes, leapfrog from Phoenix...RUIZ WITH A HURRACANRANA THAT SENDS HER OUT OF THE RING!
Romano: Fast-paced start to the match.
Taylor: All three wrestle a high-impact, break-neck speed style. Fans, if you’re not aware, we’ll be seeing the XHF Junior-Heavyweight champion in an AWF ring next month.
Romano: This could well be seen as an audition...
Before the European has gotten to his feet, Phoenix is on top of him with a knee to the chest followed by a snapping knife-edge chop that reverberates around the Wells-Fargo Arena.
Crowd: Wooo!
Romano: Phoenix helping the crowd speak the international language of flair inside the ring
Taylor: Ruiz is the big scalp in the match, both of his opponents will know that to win they need to get him out of the picture.
Phoenix looks to send Ruiz to the ropes...he reverses...the Spanish Luchador drops to the mat, Brendon comes back around and leapfrogs the back-body drop attempt...GRIFFIN LANDS A SPRINGBOARD FLYING HEADSCISSORS!
Taylor: Someone needs to make a big statement to get the match under control!
As Phoenix slides to the corner, Ruiz bides his time...HE CATCHES THE RISING GRIFFIN WITH A STEP-UP ENZIGURI!
Romano: That could do it!
The Spaniard goes for the cover…
ONE…
TW-
PHOENIX HITS A TRIPLE JUMP TUMBLEWEED TO BREAK UP THE PIN!
Taylor: Brendon showing that parkour-influenced offense!
As Ruiz rolls off the pin, Brendon has already planned his next move as he leaps back from the middle rope with a splash. Steve Tyrell drops down to count once more…
ONE…
TWO…
CARLOS GRABS THE LEG AND YANKS BRENDON TO HIS FEET….DRAGON WHIP!
Romano: Smart move to try and work the leg by the European.
Ruiz rolls through, he passes Griffin as she gets to her feet...LEAPING NECKBREAKER!
Taylor: Carlos is staking a claim...
In a state of shock, Angel scrambles up and leans on the ropes...CARLOS CLOTHESLINES HER OVER THE TOP AND SKINS THE CAT!
Romano: Amazing agility from Ruiz, he’s clearly been adding to his game in the hiatus!
Pulling himself back into the ring, Carlos can do little to stop the blindside attack from Brendon Phoenix.
Taylor: Ruiz perhaps let his guard down a second there, could this be...
He whips Carlos into the corner….EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Taylor: THE FLURRY!
Grabbing the arm of Carlos, he looks to repeat the move...REVERSAL...FULL-NELSON SUPLEX!!!!
Taylor: NO! LUCHAPLEX!
Romano: Well-scouted reversal!
Ruiz drops down for a cover…
ONE….
TWO…
RUIZ MOVES OUT THE WAY AS GRIFFIN HITS A PICTURE-PERFECT MOONSAULT. SHE BOUNCES OFF PHOENIX….SUPERKICK FROM THE EUROPEAN!!!
Taylor: GRIFFIN WENT FOR THE SCORNED MONSAULT BUT RUIZ JUST LEVELLED HER WITH SPANISH EYES!!!
Romano: This has got to be it...
ONE….
TWO…
THREE…!!!!!
Taylor: A great return home for Carlos
Jessie Love: The winner of this match...CARLOS….RUIZ!!!!
Gabe Valentine raises the hand of the beaming Carlos Ruiz as Bamebleo fills the arena.
Backstage Abel Anderson is practising throwing kicks, slicing through the air with a ferocity that should scare any future opponent. From the back of the shot a shadow looms and attached to it is the impeccably dressed form of Chris Card.
Card: Tae tad. Good form.
Abel turns to face Card and is greeted by Card's best approximation of a warm smile.
Anderson: Chris.
Card: I watched your match last week.
Anderson: I noticed.
Card: And I was impressed. Very impressed.
Anderson: OK. Why? I didn't win.
Card:Wins and losses come and go in this business. But talent is a rare thing. And seamlessly blending mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and professional wrestling? Well, I'm a big fan of that.
Anderson: Because that's what you do.
Card: Nail on the head, there. Now I heard in your promo the suggestion that you might need a little extra coaching. Somebody who knows a little more of the dark arts of professional wrestling. Because as much as your loss last week was caused by Frankie Webb breaking up your Kata Gatame attempt, a hold which if you had locked in fully you'd have easily submitted Merric. you seemed a little short of experience against Merric's underhand tactics.
Anderson: You don't fight two men at once in the cage. And you don't get low blows or eye pokes. Unless you're watching Jon Jones.
Card: Quite. So I'm making you an offer. Twenty two years of experience and someone to watch your back. Someone who knows the ins and outs of this industry.
Anderson: What's the catch?
Card:You have to watch mine...
“Guttertrash” Greg Adkins walks out from the back while grabbing onto his big package. He walks halfway down the aisle before stopping to kiss a buxom fan (and coping a feel). He laughs after she smacks him and he heads down to the ring.
Taylor: What a way to begin a show! We have Greg Adkins coming back from his bad injury!
Romano: And I'm convinced this man is immortal. If alcoholism hasn't killed him, nothing will.
"Kung Fu Fighting" plays as Xialong runs to the ring, ready to begin the match.
Taylor: It seems that this match has become one of those with high AWF seniority. We have Xiaolong, formerly known as Little Dragon!
Romano: Time to show everyone just what old school AWF has!
Singles Match
Xiaolong vs. Greg Adkins
The bell rings. Greg Adkins greets Xiaolong with a toothy grin, but Xiaolong doesn't appear to be interested in pleasantries. Why, he's here to wrestle! Greg insists on a handshake, and in the spirit of sportsmanship, one of the AWF's core values, Xiaolong accepts! Greg smiles and holds onto the handshake a little too long. Xiaolong then takes the moment to take his hand away and finds that a weird film is coming from the hand. Xiaolong jerks his head back and turns to Greg Adkins. It doesn't take someone with X-Ray vision and could look past the mask to sense the level of disgust with not even knowing what the object could be. Xiaolong starts the match with a roundhouse kick! The move just surprised Adkins as it knocks him to the ground! The fans are shocked! They gasp! Greg Adkins shakes his head, throwing away some ring rust as he starts to reach behind him to reach the ropes so that he can stand back up.
Taylor: What the heck was that?! Greg Adkins got knocked down onto his ass!
Romano: Well, what do you expect? This was his chance to start anew, and he chose to continue his old dastardly ways.
Xiaolong allows Greg Adkins to get to his feet, but not much more, and certainly not enough to relax or wipe the sweat off his brow. Xiaolong sends a stiff punch and throws Adkins across to the ring to the ropes. Adkins bounces back and Xiaolong lifts Adkins up off the mat and over his head with a hip toss! Xiaolong doesn't let go. In fact, he holds his arm for a submission hold. This would be enough for most wrestlers to be screaming in pain, but Greg Adkins has a level of eery confidence in his abilities. His pulse is calm and his breath steady. Adkins tugs onto his arm and of course, Xiaolong doesn't let go. Adkins then reaches with his other arm. He grabs... the tush of Xiaolong! This is enough for the masked wrestler to stand up straight like a stiff tree. Greg then follows up by dropping his arm and PUNCHING the behind of Greg's knees. With all the fuss, Greg is able to slip his arm out.
Taylor: What!? There are at least a DOZEN ways to get out of this match, and of course he chose the one way that is not only unsportsmanlike... It might just be illegal!
Romano: I have a fleeting suspicion that it was Terry Bradshaw who brought Greg Adkins back in but with that said, he has a way about him, and it apparently works.
Greg Adkins is on his back and so is Xiaolong. Adkins takes advantage of the situation by rolling forward and capturing his opponent in a victory roll - one that Xiaolong would most certainly not forget despite top notch psychologists available. Junior Referee Steve Tyrell slides in for the pin count:
...One!
...Two!
...Kickout!
Taylor: Xiaolong is able to push through out of this gross pin.
Romano: But a two count is not good enough, and Xiaolong's not the type to just give up!
Greg Adkins gets up and grabs Xiaolong by THE ACTUAL MASK and gets him up to the face. He's so callous and forceful that parts of the skin-tone matching face was shown. Greg Adkins lifts Xiaolong for a body slam, but Xiaolong digs deep and manages to slip on his feet behind Adkins. He sends him over with an Irish whip to the ropes. Greg runs back... backwards, but manages to duck the incoming clothesline from the masked warrior. Greg continues onto the ropes and turns around so he's running forward. As he rebounds back once more, Xiaolong takes the time and effort to jump on the ropes. He bounces off and by the time that Greg bounces back, Xiaolong returns back with a springboard flying head scissors! Greg Adkins hits the floor and the crowd shows him a sincere pop of applause! For the first time, Greg loses the smile on his face and a bit of his cool. He looks back, realizes that he's steaming a bit and readjusts. He gives a polite and courteous nod.
Taylor: Xiaolong is back in this game! All he needs to do is commit!
Romano: And ignore everything about Greg Adkins that just doesn't fit with society.
The hair is now messed up all over Greg Adkins' head. The battle has been ferocious and has been taking a toll on everyone. Xiaolong, with his great and superb endurance, gets up first. He brings Adkins up and sent to the corner, where he rushes in for an elbow. However upon approach, Adkins hits Xiaolong with the shoulder turn, causing Xiaolong to burn a bit upon entry. Greg Adkins lifts himself up to the top rope and judges the distance to Xiaolong for a quick moment, but a quick moment is all that Xiaolong needs to recover! He runs up to Greg Adkins, and jumps up. He's looking to go for a monkey flip!
Taylor: Imagine how painful that it would be to slam into the mat from that distance!
Romano: I've been through it before, and it sure doesn't tickle. However, you should know that anything up high is high risk.
Greg Adkins is struggling as he's trying to fight his opponent, but Xiaolong has leverage on his side. Greg Adkins is trying to find a way to turn the tables to his favor. That's when he... EXHALES. Xiaolong twitches. The smell could even be smelled from those in the front row! Xiaolong tries to adjust, but Greg quickly uses his knee to kick Xiaolong off. He lands on his feet and Adkins finds that with the kick, his boot falls off his foot! That gives him an idea. ...Adkins shoves his foot into the face of Xiaolong, using the ropes to adjust but the referee is trying his best just not to lose his lunch. He doesn't see this happening! Xiaolong is choking. Not from the choke hold, but from the lack of human decency and the horrible smell! Xiaolong taps out!
Jessie Love: The winner of this match... Greg Adkins!
Taylor: ...What a way to win a match. He won because he smelled bad.
Romano: Look, I usually tell wrestlers to give it all that they have, but even I can't play Xiaolong here. Still, what a way to win. We got more for you as Prestige 65 will be coming in just a few moments!
We cut backstage to find Around The Clock Champion Rob Garcia innocently walking down a hallway. AWF official Gabe Valentine is suddenly on the camera and blocks Garcia’s path. He stops and goes to move around Valentine when suddenly, a small feminine looking figure in a black hoodie with the hood pulled up and a black bandana around her face appears behind Garcia. The woman does what Garcia did to Eddie Walker at Supremacy and pulls Rob down with a roll up.
Taylor: Hey, wait! What the hell?
Valentine slides down and counts the pinfall. Garcia doesn’t even know what’s going on.
ONE
TWO
THREE!
Taylor: Rob Garcia just lost the Around The Clock Championship?!
Romano: But to who?
Taylor: Whom...
Romano: Shut up!!
Rob looks shocked as the woman flips her hood back and pulls down the mask with a smile.
Romano: Is that Tasmin Richards?!
Taylor: Adam Sanders's fiancée and new signee to AWF!
Tasmin smiles and holds the title as she steps back, Rob still too stunned to move.
Tasmin Richards: Hey, don't worry, buddy. Adam’s face is still going to be near this. I'll just be wearing it at the time!
She turns and runs back down the hallway, slamming a door behind her.
Jessie Love: The following contest is scheduled for ONE FALL and is a triple-threat match!
The lights dim out to an almost pitch black darkness. The crowd falls silent wondering what is happening. The sound of a woman screams.
“OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
The lights turn back on illuminating brightly around the arena. Music subtly preludes into the arena, with a continuous phonetic utterance echoing around the venue by the same female who was screaming.
“Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum
Bum bum be-dum, bum bum be-dum bum”
"Disturbia" by Rihanna then plays on the sound system, and the crowd immediately responded with a mixed reception. Alessandro Quagliaterre then bursts through the curtain full of energy. They are decisive in their indifference, not sure whether to love or hate him with the tension at a knife edge. He soaks in the atmosphere and poses at the top of the ramp with a couple of dabs. He elongates this action for a considerable length of time, and this pisses the crowd off.
“No more gas in the red
Can't even get it started
Nothing heard, nothing said
Can't even speak about it
All my life on my head
Don't want to think about it
Feels like I'm going insane
Yeah”
“It's a thief in the night
To come and grab you
It can creep up inside you
And consume you
A disease of the mind
It can control you
It's too close for comfort”
He smiles back at the crowd, unaffected by their response, and then in his own time, he slowly walks down the ramp without a care in the world.
Jessie Love: "Introducing from Alpine, New Jersey... weighing in at 240 pounds... ALESSANDRO... QUAGLIATERRE"
He really drags this on and extends the crowd patience to it fullest by taking as long as he wants. The audience gets frustrated throwing, even more, shade in the direction of Alessandro, but he brushes it off. He starts throwing $100 bills into the crowd and they immediately start giving him a huge ovation louder than the speed of sound.
“Throw on your brake lights
We're in the city of wonder
Ain't gonna play nice
Watch out, you might just go under
Better think twice
Your train of thought will be altered
So if you must falter be wise
Your mind is in Disturbia”
“It's like the darkness is the light
Disturbia
Am I scaring you tonight
Your mind is in Disturbia
Ain't used to what you like
Disturbia
Disturbia”
Taylor: Part of our ‘Class of 2021’ that saw us welcome many stars, established and not, Quagliaterre proved the internet chatter about him right when he put away Angel Griffin!
Romano: Tonight could be a different challenge, neither of his opponents are as light as Angel is and both men present a different challenge to the other.
Taylor: He’ll be hoping the marriage of brawling and scientific wrestling will carry him once more to a win!
He then finally reaches the ring, and slowly walks up the steel steps, and poses some more on the turnbuckle, to really rub it into the crowd that he has arrived. He then flips down, waiting patiently by the corner of the ring, ready to unleash all types of hell on his opponent.
Jessie Love: Our second competitor…
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: Being led to the ring by his manager, John Eden, he stands at six-feet-and-nine inches, he weighs three-hundred-and-ten pounds...THE JITTERMAN!!!!
Then 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: It’s hard to argue that The Jitterman hasn’t made an impression on the AWF roster and audience!
Romano: He’s like no-one else on the roster. It’s telling that only his manager even goes near him outside of the ring!
Taylor: He could have the advantage tonight, his size could take away the power-led game of Abel Anderson!
They then slowly and methodically make their way to the ring and then lights eventually turn back to normal.
Jessie Love: Our final entrant for this triple-threat match…
"TO THE SOUND OF A HEARTBEAT POUNDING AWAY!"
The opening line blares through the PA as the light go out, a blue light illuminates the entrance ramp as we see, Ashley Anderson standing in the center of the spotlight. Abel makes his way through the curtain as his wife steps to the side giving Abel the spotlight.
Jessie Love: Accompanied by his wife, Ashley Anderson….fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada and weighing in at two-hundred-and-sixy-five pounds...BAD ASS...ABEL...ANDERSON!!
He bounces on his feet for a moment before the spotlight turns off, the house lights come back on as the couple walk to the ring, once they make it beside the ring,
Romano: Notice how Ashley is refusing to look in the direction of John Eden or The Jitterman!
Taylor: Abel has been up-front about taking the match to his opponents, will he be able to do that with one eye on Ashley?
Romano: He’s a professional, you don’t get the reputation he has within the MMA world without being able to conquer adversity!
Abel gives Ashley a quick kiss before rolling into the ring and climbing the nearest turnbuckle raising his arms toward the crowd. Abel then hops down and waits for his opponent.
Triple-Threat Match
Alessandro Quagliaterre vs The Jitterman vs. Abel Anderson
The three men eye each other carefully. Jitterman sways back and forth, simultaneously making himself harder to hit and looking like a man possessed, literally. Alessandro Quagliaterre looks openly confident, his easy smile showing off his massive self belief. Abel Anderson hold tight in his fighting stance, a little hunched up to make blocking easier and allowing himself to put a little extra snap behind his strikes. There is a palpable tension in the air as the tense stand off waits for someone to break it.
Taylor: Who do you favour in this match, Cassius?
Romano: Well, Quagliaterre is good and he knows it. Anderson is a hell of a talent. Jitterman is the biggest X factor in the match because you can never tell what he's going to do. So I think it's up in the air, Taylor.
Quagliaterre is the first to move. He closes on Jitterman and throws a solid jab, forcing The Sinister One to roll with the blow away from the contact. Jitterman uses the momentum in his favour as he reels towards Abel Anderson and throws a momentum enhanced right at Abel Anderson's head. Anderson dismissively blocks the strike and sends Jitterman away with the sheer power of his block alone. The Bad Ass capitalises on the clear space by launching himself towards Quagliaterre and throwing a punch with absolutely perfect form, forcing AQ to cover up and block with both his forearms. The trio back up a step and posture up again.
Taylor: Everything looks even between these great competitors.
Romano: This is going to be a battle of attrition, Taylor. It's a case of who can survive.
This time it's The Jitterman who breaks on the stand off, lurching towards Quagliaterre. He rears his arm back and lashes AQ's chest with a fierce knife edged chop. Quag sucks up the blow and turns to Anderson, firing a knife edged chop of his own at the brawny MMA expert which impacts on Anderson's rippling chest muscles with a satisfying smack. Anderson completes the circle with a vicious chop to Jitterman's chest, sending the mysterious murderer reeling. Jitterman regains his solid base and chops Quagliaterre again, a little more force behind the blow. AQ turns and chops Anderson again. Anderson chops Jitterman. Then all three men close in on each other and start throwing BOMBS, a wild flurry of strikes coming in from all directions. The three back off and breathe, taking a couple of seconds pause from the action.
Taylor: It has been a wild start here. These three men are firing shots that would knock a normal man out cold.
Romano: These aren't normal men though. These are AWF wrestlers.
Quagliaterre turns to Anderson and offers a knowing nod. The pair turn to Jitterman who leers back at them and grab an arm each, launching their freakish opponent at the ropes at high speed. As Jitterman rebounds the pair hold their arms out to a side and both snap their forearms upwards, hitting Jitterman with stereo backfists. Jitterman drops to the mat and Quagliaterre drops an elbow and rolls away followed by Anderson doing the same, rolling to the other side. As Anderson stands he drags Jitterman with him and whips him to the ropes again, Quag carefully circling round into position. With an effortless push Anderson flapjacks Jitterman high into the air and Anderson lands a VICIOUS punch into his solar plexus on the way down.
Taylor: It look like Quagliaterre and Anderson are working together.
Romano: Smart strategy. Alliances may be temporary in this sort of match but you have to take every little piece of leverage you can.
With Jitterman face down, Anderson reaches down and grabs him firmly about the waist. His enormous strength on full display, Anderson deadlifts the Sinister One off the mat as Quag backs off, allowing him the space to get a decent run up. As Anderson holds Jitterman with his feet slightly off the ground, the back waistlock hooked in tightly, AQ charges and extends an arm, hitting a vicious LARIATOOOO onto Jitterman's face which adds to the momentum of Anderson hitting a Deadlift German Suplex! Anderson holds onto the bridge...
ONE!
TWO!
T.. Quagliaterre stamps on the pile to stop the cover. Anderson rolls to his feet and offers a stern glare in Quag's direction but the cocky young star just shrugs in a "Had to do it, man" fashion.
Taylor: As you said, Romano. All alliances are temporary.
Romano: First pin wins. No one wants to be the third man out.
As his two opponents argue, Jitterman stands but both Quag and Double A catch him out of the corner of their eye and hit stereo back elbows into their bizarre opponent's stomach. The temporary alliance reformed rush the ropes at the same time and raise a leg each, flattening Jitterman with a double Big Boot. Anderson grabs Quagliaterre, taking him by surprise a little, and slams AQ right on top of Jitterman, causing an improvised senton of sorts. The quick thinking Quagliaterre hooks a leg from his back press...
ONE!
TWO!
...and Anderson is forced to stomp down on Quagliaterre's stomach to break the pin up.
Taylor: That was close.
Romano: I think it's going to break down about now. I can feel those kind of things.
Quagliaterre stands and pushes Anderson. Anderson pushes back. Quaq pushes again. Double A pushes back. As the two argue, Jitterman slowly gets to his feet, leering again. Jitterman sneaks round behind the distracted Quagliaterre and locks in a tight back waist lock. Jitterman attempts to worm free and drags Jitterman towards the ropes without managing to break the hold. Anderson quickly circles in behind the pair and back waistlocks Jitterman before... GERMAN SUPLEXING BOTH MEN AT THE SAME TIME IN A HUGE DISPLAY OF STRENGTH! Anderson stands and offers himself the tiniest of smiles at his handiwork.
Taylor: MY GOD! Check out the strength of Abel Anderson!
Romano: That was certainly impressive. Anderson IS a physical freak after all.
After standing and surveying the wreckage, Anderson strides over to Quagliaterre. He hoists Quag off the mat with ease and steps forwards, dropping AQ's back across his knee. Quag jolts with pain but Anderson opts not to drop his less muscular opponent and lifts him again. Meanwhile Jitterman has slowly risen and as Anderson looks for a side slam, Jitterman sharply locks an inverted headlock in and the pair drop to the mat, Jits adding an inverted DDT into the slam. Anderson gives Jitterman a curious look but it's hard to make out exactly what the Cerebral Psychopath is thinking.
Taylor: Interesting double team there.
Romano: I don't think that's what Anderson had planned. But then Jitterman doesn't plan, he just acts.
Jitterman drops to his knees, flips Quagliaterre over and locks in double underhooks. He stands, dragging AQ up with him and gives a pointed look at Abel Anderson. Anderson looks uneasy at any temporary alliance with his unpredictable opponent but he offers a shrug and lifts Quag up by both legs, putting the cocksure young Quagliaterre at a dangerous angle. Jitterman falls backwards and drives AQ's head into the mat at a horrifyingly sharp angle. Jitterman quickly drops to cover...
ONE!
TWO!
TH... Anderson breaks that up sharpish. Jitterman rolls away, his mask rising and falling as if he is chuckling to himself.
Taylor: I always wonder what goes on in Jitterman's head.
Romano: I'm smart enough not to. Some things just aren't worth the risk of exploring.
The massive Jitterman picks himself off the mat and turns to face Anderson. The Mixed Martial Artist take a swing with one of his Knockout level elbow strikes. Jitterman takes it, right in the face and stands firm, almost daring Anderson to try again. Double A obliges, lashing out with a vicious fury. The third time ISN'T a charm though as Jitterman ducks a little, dropping a shoulder that allows him to jack Anderson up into a Canadian Backbreaker Rack before flipping the Bad Ass One over and dropping him face first to the canvas.
Taylor: Jitterman has some scary power when he needs to use it.
Romano: Everything about The Jitterman is scary. Physical and psychological intimidation are his game.
Quagliaterre has stood up in the mean time and picks up Anderson rather than tangling directly with Jitterman. He tags Anderson in the chest with a couple of fierce body blows that Anderson is too woozy from the Yokosuka Facebuster to attempt to block. AQ lifts Anderson by the leg and waist, turning smoothly through 180 degrees... AND JITTERMAN JUMPS UP AND PLANTS HIS KNEES INTO THE SMALL OF ANDERSON'S BACK AS QUAGLIATERRE COMPLETES THE SPINEBUSTER!
Taylor: OK that just looked painful.
Romano: Jitterman doesn't ask to cooperate with you. He just does it. And I wouldn't argue with him.
A cover from AQ...
ONE!
TWO!
TH... Jitterman breaks the cover up by physically hauling Quagliaterre's body off with a meaty hand. AQ rolls away and to his feet, backing off to make room. Jitterman backs off as well, creating space between the two. Quagliaterre fires himself up, slapping his head. With Anderson still down the pair CHARGE at each other. QUAGLIATERRE LOWERS HIS HEAD! JITTERMAN RAISES HIS BOOT! THERE IS AN ALMIGHTY CRASH MID RING AND BOTH MEN COLLAPSE TO THE MAT!
Taylor: ZIDANE HEADBUTT! LIGHTS OUT! IT'S CARNAGE HERE!
Romano: I'd say that Quagliaterre got the worst of that but you can break your leg going straight into a brick wall, never mind a charging bull like Alessandro is.
Gabe Valentine starts counting as everyone is down...
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
Anderson is the first man up.
FIVE!
SIX!
SEVEN!
Jitterman gets up, his leg showing signs of the jarring clash.
EIGHT!
NINE!
T... ALESSANDRO QUAGLIATELLE IS UP AS WELL!
With a swing of his mighty arm, Jitterman slaps AQ out of the way, sending the dazed fashion icon straight down to the mat. The monster turns to Abel Anderson and grabs out, locking in a tight waistlock. A standing switch delivered with a grace you would not expect out of a man his size puts The Jitterman behind Anderson and he raises his arms up, looking to lock in the Kata Ha Jime. Unfortunately for Jitterman, Abel Anderson knows exactly what to do to defend and he deftly grabs the arm off his own carotid artery before Jitterman can lock the hold in and bends it around, turning it into a standing Kata Gatame.
Taylor: SLEEP TIGHT COUNTERED... FROM OUTTA NOWHERE!
Getting up, Quagliaterre charges in to stop the submission predicament, driving his boot into Jitterman's back with such force it pushes both his opponents towards the ropes. Abel Anderson drops the submission hold and low bridges the top rope sending Jitterman out to the floor in an uncomfortable heap. But AQ is quick toe grab a free arm of Anderson's and whips him to the far ropes before hitting a sprint himself and leaping into a classic Lou Thesz press... AND ANDERSON INSTANTLY THROWS HIS LEGS UP AND LOCKS HIM INTO TIGHT CLOSED GUARD. Quag struggles, looking to free one of the legs and take Side Control, setting up Sweet Dreams but as he tries to reposition, ABEL ANDERSON CATCHES A FREE ARM AND TRAPS IT AGAINST QUAGLIATERRE'S OWN CAROTID!
Taylor: GROUNDED DEATH FROM OUTTA NOWHERE!
Romano: That is some slick wrestling. Shades of Maurice Greene vs Gian Vilante.
Jitterman gets to his feet and slowly begins to clamber up onto the ring apron but with Abel Anderson's SUBLIME MMA SKILLS has his hold locked in so tight that Quagliaterre has no choice but to submit. Gabe Valentine calls for the bell.
Jessie Love: Your winner, by submission... BAD ASS ABEL AAAAAAAAAAAANDEEEEEEERSOOOOOOOOOON!
Taylor: A heart stopping match. All three competitors should take credit for their performance.
Romano: There is no shame in tapping out when you're trapped.
Jessie Love: Up next is a singles match and our SEMI MAIN-EVENT!
The crowd cheer vociferously.
Jessie Love: Introducing first…
The overhead lights slowly go dark as the first strummed chords of 'Hurricane' fill the air, the crowd's cheers rising in response to the woman that is about to emerge.
Jessie Love: Residing in Blooming Valley, Pennsylvania...she stands at five-feet-and-eight inches and weighs one-hundred-and-sixty-three pounds….THE ONCOMING STORM...ERIN...GORDON!!!
Gray lights flare into being around the curtain when the song starts proper, illuminating the outline of the Oncoming Storm as she stands with her shoulders square and her hands curled into fists at her sides. The wind machine is on behind her, blowing her hair around as her gaze moves over the assembled crowd and the surroundings alike... before it settles upon the ring. As 'Hurricane' cuts to the chorus, she makes her way down the aisle, not shying away from the hands that reach out for her.
Taylor: She made quick work of Tyrone Wrexx in her debut, can she do the same here tonight?
Romano: If she can, it’ll put her name on the map here. Wrexx has size but Webb has been unlucky in his losses here since he joined in November!
Taylor: She looked incredibly versatile in the ring last week, showing brawling, speed and submission skills, tonight is a tremendous opportunity as we are just six weeks away from Road to Victory Four!
Erin's focus never wavers, even as she grabs onto the ropes and hauls herself up onto the apron. Wiping her feet, she climbs into the ring between the top and middle ropes before she heads to her corner, turning to rest her back against the turnbuckles. Only then does she play a little to the crowd, a single fist thrusting itself skyward to earn more cheers as her music fades.
Jessie Love: Introducing her opponent….
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.
Jessie Love: Fighting out of Saint George, Utah...he stands at six-feet-and-one-inch...FRANKIE WEBB!
He has a sleeveless hood over his head as he slowly makes himself to the ring. He walks toward the ring, displaying a fake err of confidence.
Taylor: At only sixteen years old, some have said that Webb could have the wrestling world at his feet as he progresses!
Romano: The tutelage of his coach is going to determine that. We’ve seen talents come through a couple of years older than him but they’ve become undone by slacking off when they think they’ve made it!
Taylor: If you’ve seen his promos this week, the one thing you can’t call him is unfocused!
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.
Singles Match
Erin Gordon vs. Frankie Webb
Taylor: We’ve got two wrestlers tipped for great things thus year but only one person can come out on top tonight!
Romano: It’s going to come down to who wants the match more, these matches often seem run-of-the-mill but every match in AWF has implications.
Steve Tyrell brings the two competitors into the center of the ring to deliver last-minute instructions. Webb and Gordon’s demeanours could not be more disparate as the camera flicks between them. Webb’s face wears an expression that could, at its simplest, be the definition of cocky. Gordon betrays the discomfort she has going into the match with such a young opponent.
Taylor: We saw a swagger in the step of Webb last tine out, he’ll hope for a better result but his opponent has vocally protested about the age of the rookie, her own son just a year younger than the sixteen year old Webb.
Trying to issue his instructions, Tyrell finds himself being remonstrated by Gordon.
Romano: She’s still not finished, at this point though you need to play the hand you’re dealt!
Without hearing the words it’s impossible to truly know what is being said but Tyrell’s reaction is to point down the aisle towards the back.
Taylor: Steve Tyrell clearly has explicit instructions...
In response, Gordon briefly opens her palms to the sky and motions towards Webb.
Romano: We’ve got the match booked, it’s time to make it count...
Once more, Tyrell stands his ground...WEBB SUCKER PUNCHES ERIN!
Taylor: The expression on Erin’s face might tip Frankie to the potentially fatal mistake he just made!
The bell rings and Webb wastes no time in letting his opponent adjust to the change in the state of play. He pushes his reach advantage, letting fly with quick-fire jabs that box The Oncoming Storm into the corner.
Romano: Some smart ring-generalling from the rookie, he’s using his height to guide Gordon into the turnbuckle.
Stunned from the blow, Gordon can do little to stop the flurry of left-and-rights that Webb sends into her midsection before rushing in with a knee! He grabs a front facelock and rolls back, taking his opponent to the mat with him.
Taylor: Judo throw from the rookie…
Romano:I believe the translation comes to Corner Overturning...
Finding herself in danger, Gordon does well to dodge the first mounted punch but eats the second one as it rains down.
Taylor: Webb has a mounted position, this could be a very quick match.
Catching the rhythm, Erin manages to use the youngster’s momentum against him and goes from bottom-position to mount. She quickly stands up but not before dropping a knee to the head of Frankie as she gets to her feet.
Romano: Smart move from The Oncoming Storm, she timed the reversal perfectly.
Tyrell finds himself again being held accountable for the match.
Gordon: What the hell were Steel and Ziko thinking?
Taylor: It seems that Gordon wants to get the job done quickly.
She turns around in time to catch the rising Webb in a side-headlock before taking him down to the mat. Gordon escapes and tries to wrap a sleeper into The Oncoming Storm.
Romano: Webb’s relying on his judo, it’s down to Gordon to try and move the match more into territory she can hold the advantage.
Erin leans back and rolls through into a North-South position before lifting up the teenager...NECKBREAKER!
Taylor: She’s headhunting it seems..
The cover…
ONE…
KICKOUT!
Casting a dismissive eye towards her opponent, Erin Gordon shakes her head.
Romano: If she can keep on the offense, we could be seeing her chain together successive wins...
Grabbing Webb by his head, Gordon unleashes a vicious European Uppercut, cursing under her breath as she connects.
Taylor: Both competitors can brawl but we saw last time out against Wrexx, Erin can mix it up with the best of them!
Gordon sends Webb to the ropes...LOU THESZ PRESS!!
Romano: Is brawling the best use of her experience?
Taylor: So far it looks like it isn’t hurting her!
Unloading on her opponent, Gordon delivers a forearm that stuns Webb.
Taylor: A sickening thud with that forearm!!
The Oncoming Storm lifts up the rookie and sends him to the ropes...reversal...Webb looks for a back body-drop...DROP-DOWN UPPERCUT FROM GORDON!
Romano: Webb showing a little naivety there...
As he reels back, Gordon catches him...HEADPULL BACKBREAKER!
Taylor: DOWNPOUR!
She once more looks for the cover..
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!
Romano: Webb showing he’s made of sterner stuff than his years might imply!
Once more, Gordon is less than impressed at Tyrell for counting a perceived slow count and Webb for his resillience.
Taylor: Erin doesn’t look like she’s settling into the match...
She picks up Frankie from the mat but he quickly rakes the eyes before whipping Gordon into the corner. HE FOLLOWS UP WITH A RUNNING BACK ELBOW!
Romano: We’re seeing a more direct style from Webb…
Taylor: It’s one way to brush over a sucker punch and an eye-rake...
Gordon slumps down as Webb drives another elbow into the side of her head.. Double-Wrist Clutch overhead arm-drag!
Romano:Lateral Drop…
Taylor: When did you become familiar with Judo?
Romano: We have Chris Card on the roster, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to ask someone even if they’re from a different martial arts background...
As he rolls back he lifts Gordon to her feet...Standing STO!!
Taylor: Judo-style trip there!
Romano: Could tell you the name but that sums it up.
Taylor: Frankie drops down...
Webb goes for the cover this time…
ONE…
Gordon kicks out!
Romano: Webb looking a little impatient there.
Webb reacts by grabbing a headlock and dragging Gordon up to her feet. She fights the hold and forces him to the ropes. Steve Tyrell starts a count..
ONE…
WEBB RAKES HER EYES ACROSS THE ROPES!
Taylor: Once more the Rookie goes outside the rules for an answer!
Romano: It’s a smart move, the time with Coach is paying off...
Releasing the hold, Webb waits as she staggers away, blinded by the manouevere...SNAP OVERHEAD BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX!
Romano: Front Uranage!
Taylor: Interesting adaption of a belly-to belly suplex
Romano: It’s a versatile move, you can look like you’re going for a trip, feint, and then release them into that!
The camera catches Webb as he takes his time to press his advantage. Finally, he walks over to his opponent and cockily presses a forearm across her chest…
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!
Taylor: The nonchalant attitude might have been the difference between a win and opening the match back up.
Romano: We both know Erin was always kicking out there...
With a handful of hair, Webb brings Gordon back to her feet and sends her to the ropes...he ducks down but she leapfrogs...SECOND ROPE BACK-ELBOW!!
Taylor: Excellent counter from The Oncoming Storm!
The crowd show their appreciation as she rolls backwards and waits for Webb...he sits up...SLIDING LARIAT!!!! She scrambles quickly to cover and put the match to bed…
Taylor: DRAGGING WINDS!
ONE…
TWO….
THR-WEBB THROWS A SHOULDER UP!
Romano: The kid is showing real fighting spirit tonight!
Gordon now can’t control her frustration, she pops up onto her feet and starts to question the speed of the count..
Taylor: Tyrell WILL throw the match out in Webb’s favor if she carries on.
WEBB SNEAKS UP BEHIND HER...HE ROLLS HER UP WITH A HANDFUL OF TRUNKS!!
ONE…
GORDON TRIES TO KICK OUT TO NO AVAIL
TWO…
HER LEGS KICKING TO NOWHERE IN PARTICULAR!
THREE!!!!
Romano: He got her!
Taylor: With an underhanded pin!
Romano: It was almost certainly an accident.
Taylor:....
The bell rings as Webb scoots out of the ring before Gordon can react. As Erin sits up, the fury in her face is evident amongst the disbelief.
Jessie Love: The winner of this match, as a result of pinfall, FRANKIE….WEBB!!
“Enemies” by Drake fills the Wells-Fargo arena, the camera shows Webb hold up his arm in victory as he backs down the ramp. In contrast, Webb remains in a state of furious disbelief as we cut back to the announce team.
Taylor: Gordon can feel cheated there!
Romano: She spent as much time protesting the age of her opponent as she did trying to put him away!
Taylor: Webb though showing a darker side to him, the rookie seemingly embracing areas of the sport we’ve not seen him do before.
Romano: You can understand it, Gordon was clinical in her debut win last time out, Webb knows that a win against her will keep his stock high.
Taylor: We’ll see what this means for the Man from St. George in the near-fu-
Tommy Taylor is cut-off mid-sentence.
Romano: Could we be seeing another ReVenant title celebration?
Taylor: I hope for my own stomach we don’t!
Romano: They’re the XHF Stable of the Year, that’s a fan-voted accolade!
Taylor: You can’t always trust people, Cassius, people buy Coldplay albums and read TMZ!
Romano: Confirmed, Tommy Taylor hates success!
Taylor: That’s not true! Look, Jessie Love is ringside for our MAIN EVENT! Who will come out on top between Adam Sanders and Aiden Merric?
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: The following contest is our main event and is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, 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!
Taylor: Adam Sanders is here with his first match since Battle for Hegemony and Supremacy. He split those two matches by winning one of them and falling short on the other one.
Romano: Well, one was a lot more important than the other one.
Taylor: He didn’t get pinned.
Romano: He got “something’d” though.
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
"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.
Jessie Love: And his opponent from Coober Pedy, Australia, weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds… AIDEN “OUTBACK” MERRIC!!
Taylor: Aiden Merric had some strong words for his opponent tonight.
Romano: Quite ironic that he had strong words saying his opponent was soft.
Taylor: Adam didn’t take too kindly to those comments either, making it very clear he is going to make Merric eat those words.
Romano: He can “want” to make Merric eat those words all he wants. Only way to do it is to get the win here tonight.
He spits the gum and puts a patch on his arm before stretching and walking to the ring with a purpose. He rolls into the ring and stretches on the ropes. Steve Tyrell stops him and removes his various blades, ropes and other hunting equipment as he smirks. He then cracks his neck, waiting for the bell.
Main Event
Singles Match
Adam Sanders vs. Aiden Merric
As “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked” fades from the PA system, Aiden Merric looks over at the removed weapons and then back at Adam Sanders, who is still looking at them quizzically. Merric gives a wide grin as he sees Adam’s reaction.
Romano: He’s sending a message to Adam… “That’s right, kid. Those are for you.”
Taylor: He made it very clear how he feels about Adam and made sure he showed as many sharp objects as he could.
Romano: He’s rattling Adam’s head more than anything. But here’s the bell. Let’s get a match going!!
DING DING DING
With Adam’s eyes still widened at all the knives, Merric hits a thrusting front kick on the distracted Adam Sanders. Sanders stumbles a bit and lands on ropes. Merric goes for a lariat, but Adam ducks and hits a front kick of his own. Merric goes down to the mat and rolls out of the ring.
Romano: Merric is smartly getting out of the ring to make Adam come to him.
Taylor: Well, this is the first match that has Adam wearing that chest protector under his shirt because of his Battle for Hegemony injury.
Romano: Well, Merric will still find ways to attack the chest. Most of his moves do, after all.
Sanders rolls out of the ring to pursue Merric, but that was exactly what Aiden Merric wanted. As soon as Adam’s feet hit the floor, Merric was dropping Adam to the mat with a shoulder tackle and started letting out a flurry of punches.
Romano: Gotta be smarter than that, Adam! You fell for the trap!
Taylor: Aiden Merric is getting as many punches as he can.
Romano: Of course he is, he called Adam “soft”. So he’s trying to make a point.
After what felt like ten to fourteen punches, Adam finally shoves Merric off. Steve Tyrell starts barking at both men to return to the ring or he will start the count out. Adam slides back into the ring. Merric is in a second later and takes a stomp from Adam for his tardiness. Sanders yanks Merric up and throws him into the corner for Adam to be the one to show off his striking ability with ten strikes. Sanders, unlike Merric, stopped at ten with Tyrell’s count.
Taylor: You might not like to hear this, but Adam Sanders might be one of the best strikers in the AWF.
Romano: Yeah, but he doesn’t have what it takes to put away the wily Aiden Merric.
Sanders places Merric in a position to lift him up for his powerbomb, but Merric gets a low blow that Tyrell couldn’t see from his angle.
Romano: There’s that sneaky veteran move by Aiden Merric!
Taylor: You mean outright cheating.
Romano: Whatever it takes to win. Hope Tasmin Richards isn’t trying to have kids!
Merric takes advantage of this to drive Adam into the mat with a DDT. Tyrell asks if Merric used an illegal move and Merric glares at him to stop talking. Cover by Merric.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Kickout by Adam Sanders! Merric scoffs before sending Adam into the ropes and hopes to have Adam rebound into a knee, but Adam holds onto the top rope. Merric charges, but Adam sends him tumbling to the outside by yanking down the top rope. Merric pulls himself up using the apron and finds Adam’s two feet colliding with his jaw.
Taylor: Baseball slide from Adam Sanders!! This could shift momentum!
Romano: Well, it’s on the outside. Things can change fast out there.
As Adam tries to pick up Merric again, Merric rakes Adam’s eyes. He slams Adam’s head into the ring steps before rolling him back into the ring. He hooks Adam’s leg.
ONE!!
TWO!!
T...NO!!
Merric wastes no time hooking his arm around Adam’s head to fling up across the ring into a suplex… but the suplex also hits Steve Tyrell…
Taylor: Oh no, we don’t have a referee now!
Romano: Now the match is really getting interested!!
Merric is fully aware of this. He pulls out one of his knives that was removed from his person at the beginning of the match.
Taylor: Wait, how did he get that?!
Romano: He spent a good bit of time outside the ring during this match. Is it impossible for him to have snagged one while he was outside?
Taylor: I mean… no.
Romano: Exactly!
The first thing Merric does with this knife is cut the shoulder straps holding Adam’s chest protector. After cutting around the velcro on Adam’s waist, he yanks the chest protector off. He holds it in the air like it is some sort of trophy to add to his collection. The fans in the audience start to boo Merric as he holds the knife in his hand once more for all to see.
Taylor: This is terrible. Hasn’t Adam been through enough yet?!
Romano: Third times a charm. Aiden Merric could end his career here!
Still brandishing the Bowie knife he used to cut off the chest protector, Aiden Merric now stands over his prey. He mouths the word “soft” at Sanders before Sander gets the strength to kick his hand, causing Merric to drop the knife. The fans cheer as Adam yanks both legs from underneath the longest former Phoenix Champion. Both men fight to get back up and Adam delivers a big kick to Merric’s midsection. This time, he is able to lift Aiden Merric in the air for his powerbomb with no issues. He slams Merric into the center of the ring with his signature Nerd Out and hooks the leg… but Steve Tyrell is still down!
Taylor: I don’t think Adam knew Tyrell was down.
Romano: Nope. Fans just counted to three, but it doesn’t count. Merric isn’t even trying to kick out.
As Romano stated, Merric is still on his back in the ring but laughing at the fact Adam didn’t realize Tyrell is down. Adam gets back up to check on Tyrell before Merric lands a second low blow on Sanders. He waits for Sanders to turn back around and pops up to deliver a stiff uppercut, more commonly known as the Tranquilizer. He pulls out a pair of brass knuckles to put on his right hand and waits for Sanders to pull himself up. Once he does, he leaps for his brass knuckles-assisted superman punch, also known as the Stun Gun. Sanders drops like a pile of bricks to the center of the ring.
Taylor: This is awful. Adam should have won the match with his trademark powerbomb. And now Aiden Merric has taken him out with a pair of brass knuckles.
Romano: All’s fair when the referee is down.
Deciding he isn’t done yet, Aiden Merric rolls out of the ring to find the knife Adam kicked out of his hands moments ago. He also digs under the ring for a rope. He rolls back into the ring and puts Adam into one of the corners. He wraps the rope around Adam’s throat and starts choking out the Awkward One. He holds out the knife in the face of Adam Sanders, who is struggling to breathe once more. Merric begins to describe the knife in great detail as he did in one of the videos leading up to the match. He doesn’t use the knife though, opting for his machine gun knife edge chops to Adam’s throat, ironically named “This Is A Knife”.
Taylor: Ouch, a different kind of knife on Adam.
Romano: Remember, he isn’t wearing the chest protector anymore.
It was almost as though Romano spoke it into existence as Merric began chopping Adam’s chest as well. He flashes the knife once more before… ADAM GRABS HIS ARM!! Sanders does the only thing he can do with the position Merric has him in: a front kick to the face. But as the kick happens, Adam gains control of the knife, which he uses to cut the rope from behind his head to free himself.
Taylor: Adam fights back!! And the fans are behind him now!
Romano: Yeah, but watch out, Merric is waiting for him!!
Merric goes for the Tranquilizer again, but Sanders grabs the arm and tosses him across the ring with an arm drag. Sanders quickly lands a dropkick on Merric, which puts Merric on the ropes. Adam Sanders is on his hands and knees with the entire crowd on their feet, cheering him on. He pulls himself off and sees Merric going for a leap to perhaps hit the Stun Gun again, but Sanders catches him in mid-air and drops him with a spinebuster. Sanders pulls Merric up and puts him in a fireman’s carry position before dropping the two-time Phoenix Champion on his head.
Taylor: The Dream Breaker!! Adam hit the Dream Breaker!!
Romano: Steve Tyrell is still down though!
Remember this, Adam rolls on the mat back to Tyrell, shaking him awake. As soon as Tyrell shows signs of life, Adam stumbles toward Merric and gets the cover. Steve Tyrell crawls over and does the count.
ONE!!
…
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
…
THREE!!
Steve Tyrell calls for the bell before collapsing on the mat. Sanders rolls off Aiden Merric to the nearest corner as “Underclass Hero” starts to fill the venue.
Jessie Love: Here is your winner… The Awkward One, ADAM SANDERS!!
Adam Sanders starts using the corner to pulls himself off the mat.
Taylor: Adam Sanders fought through so much to get this win. There were so many times in this match where it did not look good for the Awkward One.
Romano: Merric had him so many times. And now he’s getting up and realized the match was lost.
Taylor: Oh no, he’s picking up the bowie knife again.
Taylor wasn’t the only one who noticed it. Adam sees this as well. The Awkward One’s eyes widen as he sees Merric turn back towards him with the knife in his hand. His facial expression screams “Not again” without him having to say a word. His eyes widen even more before he takes the knife and throws it down at Adam’s feet. The blade of the knife is sticking into the mat with the intricate handle facing up. Merric gives Adam a quick nod before rolling out of the ring to the sound of Cage the Elephant.
Taylor: What was that all about?
Romano: Aiden Merric is a man with a code. He was bested. Now he moves on.
Taylor: So the knife is… a trophy for Adam to have from the match?
Adam Sanders looks completely stunned as he watches Merric walk back up the ramp. He pulls the knife out of the ring and examines it, still confused by the interaction.
Taylor: It appears Merric has changed his mind about Adam Sanders being soft.
Romano: It appears so. Merric punished Adam as much as he could, but the kid got back up after all of it.
Taylor: Well, that’s it for us here at Prestige. I’m Tommy Taylor, this is Cassius Romano. We will see you guys in two weeks for Prestige Sixty-Six!!
The last shot we see before the show fades to black is Adam Sanders still examining the knife in the middle of the ring.
