Thursday Night Inferno, Episode #5 [February 11th]
Feb 11, 2021 12:00:01 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Kira Izumi, and 3 more like this
Post by anthonycaffrey on Feb 11, 2021 12:00:01 GMT -5
The show opens with a different atmosphere to it as FIRESIDE’s owner, Anthony Caffrey, is already standing at the top of the ramp, not too far from the curtain. He is wearing a sharp black suit as he wears his XHF Tag Team Championship.
Anthony Caffrey: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Thursday Night Inferno!
The crowd cheers, but Caffrey, a man of many smiles, has a more grim look to his face.
Caffrey: I am Anthony Caffrey, the owner of this company, uh… shit… let me cut right to the chase.
He’s a little unsure of how to get into this speech.
Caffrey: Tonight, and I promise the rest of the show will be the high-octane excitement you’ve come to appreciate us for, but tonight we have to address a few rumors regarding the XHF Tag Team Championships, the Purple Emperors, and Radu Matei.
The crowd roars at the mention of Radu. Caffrey gives a deep sigh.
Caffrey: By now, you may have seen some of the rumors. The truth of the matter is: yes, the Purple Emperors are uh… going on a break, to say.
The crowd boos ferociously. Caffrey nods, taking another deep breath, putting his hand up to the crowd.
Caffrey: I... I really don’t know how long. It might be two months, might be two years, that might’ve been it for us on Sunday, folks. And what a way to go, how we’ve always gone: surviving just long enough to unleash an unholy asskicking.
The crowd roars as Caffrey smiles, if only for a brief few moments.
Caffrey: Radu is… stepping away. I think you’ve all seen the words by now as they’ve trickled in. Overwhelmingly motivating, helpful, a delight to work with, a gem of a man, an absolute gentleman, and a top class guy. As verbose as I can be, and trust me everyone’s accusing me of loving the sound of my own voice plenty, I wanted to add my own two cents.
He moves the microphone away for a few seconds, rubbing his eyes. The crowd cheers.
Caffrey: Radu Matei is all of those things, and much more. Radu is a sociable, surprisingly funny, charming good-willed dude. You know everything Radu does, he does for you---
He points to the crowd. They react accordingly.
Caffrey: ---something I’m trying to embody, he does so so flawlessly. And as a partn-- and as a friend, I’ve appreciated having his ear to learn on, his knowledge to grow from, and the feeling that whenever I faltered, Radu Matei was there to pick me back up, set me back on track, and we’d go kick whoever asses were across from us.
He laughs as the crowd cheers once more.
Caffrey: I’m going to miss Radu more than any of you, but he’d tell me straight to my face that he’ll miss all of you more than anything else. And so tonight -- as he hands over his half of the XHF Tag Team Championships, and gets to light the fire as the first and last non-FIRESIDER to do so, I’ve given him an opportunity to address all of you and tie up any loose ends. And Radu, Radu before you come out here and make your speech, just know one thing, the same thing I said to you privately.
He leans in for the camera.
Caffrey: You owe nobody anything. All you owe is to yourself to get better, heal up, and we’ll hopefully see each other on the other side. And when you’re back… when you’re back…. when…
He wipes his eyes.
Caffrey: ...when you’re back, I may have been The Best at some point, but I’d love one opportunity to wrestle against the Greatest of All Time. I’d love to have a one-on-one that isn’t in a dirty ass parking lot.
He smiles as the crowd cheers at the dream match potential. He turns up the intensity to as loud as he can go.
Caffrey: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GET ON YOUR FUCKING FEET AND GIVE A WARM, FIRESIDE WELCOME, TO ONE HALF OF THE XHF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, HE IS ‘DEATHLESS’, HE IS RADUUUUUUUUUUUUU MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIII!
Zero by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs pumps over the PA system to the delight of the crowd, as Deathless pushes through the backstage curtains. The Sacrificial Idol is still heavily bandaged from a taxing January. Having lost a substantial amount of weight, a tired looking Radu Matei slowly makes his way up to his partner.
Matei: Thank you, Anthony.
Raising a pained arm, Deathless waves to the crowd.
Matei: Evening.
Broken digits unfasten his coat, opening it to reveal the other half of the XHF Global Tag Championship.
Matei: You and me have said everything that needed to be said privately my friend. And while I’d like to have a one on one match with you, Anthony... this is likely my swan song. If this is it... I’m glad I got a chance to spread my wings as a Purple Emperor, and thank you for carrying me through one last crawl.
Breaking a few stitches as he shifts his weight, a now bleeding Matei takes off his half of the tag belts.
Matei: The XHF has the best damned tag wrestling in our sport of choice, and I know whoever you end up giving this too, you’ll continue to set the division on fire.
Deathless hands Caffrey the belt. The flash photography from the crowd suggests it was something he'd rather have done in private. Still there are things that need to be said. Looking at the bowl, Matei reaches into his breast pocket to remove a lighter. He looks at it for a second before turning to the audience.
Matei: You see… I was a bug who dreamed he was a man…
...and as a man invincible...
Thank you all for sharing in that dream.
...I wanted it to last forever, to be the man you thought I was. But even if I could pass for human, there are a few too many cracks in the form to be shatterproof.
So the dream has ended. I now wake to find that only the insect’s shell remains...
And with it, the only thing left to do...
Matei tosses the lighter into the bowl, setting it ablaze.
Matei: Is feed the flames.
Flinching as the warm light dances on his rough face, the broken champion turns, offering Caffrey a final handshake to a warm respectful applause from the crowd. His grip is weak as the two men exchange respectful words, then slowly head to the back.
Wright: A touching tribute to open the show for Radu Matei and the Purple Emperors, we'll have more on the XHF Tag Team Championship situation later tonight! In the mean time, my name is Oliver Wright, alongside my partner UnJoo Park, welcome to Thursday Night Inferno!
Park: Five of FIRESIDE’s talents are battling in this opening contest to make a name for themselves!
Wright: After Supremacy wasn’t in the card for them, we're getting right into the action as they get a chance to build new momentum!
Washington: Introducing first, from Krakow, Poland, weighing at 291 pounds, he holds the Combustion briefcase, he is the ‘Outcast’, he is LUUUUUUCAAASSSS NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIXXXXXXXXXXXX!
Into the trees
Past meadow grounds
And further away from my home
Baying behind me
I hear the hounds
Flock's chasing to find me alone
The overdriven guitar and haunting vocals of Opeth’s “Reverie/Harlequin Forest” kick in, cueing the arena lights to dim until only a single spotlight remains directed on the entrance curtain.
The imposing figure of Lucas Nix steps out into the light, his enormous frame clad in leather and fur, giving him the appearance of a menacing Gothic giant. He slowly makes his way down the aisle, his face twisted into a derisive sneer that leaves no doubt that this is a man full of rage and hate.
A trail of sickness
Leading to me
If I am haunted
Then you will see
Nix climbs the steps to the ring as the music tells a tale eerily similar to his own. He stands alone as he always has done, looking out upon a world that he feels has turned its back on him; he pauses as he lets his anger swell, his sneer giving way to a look of cruel determination, then steps silently over the top rope, ready to release his fury on his opponent.
Wright: Lucas Nix was not thrilled about being in this contest, seeing this as a punishment for the other competitors, to have to be in the ring with him!
Park: He’s not all that wrong, either-- Mistress, Callahan, and Lancaster didn’t get the job done at Supremacy.
Wright: Nix has also taken to putting a wrestler through our announce table each show…
Park: ...I really hope we can get through a program with the table in-tact. We’ll see.
Washington: Introducing next, from Daytona Beach, Florida, weighing in at 220 pounds, he is VODKAAAAAAA FIIIIIIIIZZZZ!
The lights go down and blacklights come up, bathing the stage in purple. A hard, grungy bassline starts to play.
'Hey, turn the bass up. Turn the bass up!'
The base gets louder and grungier, and the lyrics come in as Vodka Fizz dives out on stage in a golf cart retrofitted with huge speakers that are playing his music. He is dressed in a full-length white fur coat, white shutter glasses, and an over-the-top white top hat, and as he drives the golf cart down the ramp he toasts fans with a yard-long cocktail flask hung around his neck full of some florescent liquid he drinks from as he drives down the ramp.
When he gets to ringside, he drapes the fur coat over the seat of the golf cart and removes the top hat, keeping the shades on. He climbs up on the apron, turning to face the crowd and chugging the remnants of his large drink, finally striking a pose and spraying a mouthful of whatever it is up into the air and letting it rain over him. He grins and winks at the camera, then rolls backwards over the ropes into the ring.
Wright: Vodka Fizz has had a rough go of it in FIRESIDE, but he came this close to beating the now-world champion Esmur a few months ago!
Park: Tonight, Fizz is looking to break through and turn the almosts into accomplishments. The fans have taken a liking to the party boy, but he’s got a tough one tonight.
Washington: Introducing next, from Seattle, Washington, weighing in at 205 pounds, he is DERRRIIIICCCKKK LAAANCASSSTEERRR!
He smoothly walks out and stops after taking a few steps. Looking out at the crowd, he raises both arms up while nodding as if to say ‘yup take it in. I have arrived.’ He then bolts the rest of the way to the ring, sliding into it headfirst. After clearing the ropes he Kips back onto his feet springing off his hands, then immediately jumps forward into a handstand; he does this with one arm behind his back.
Wright: A talented enigma, Derrick Lancaster fell a little short in his attempt to win the multi-man Last Wrestler Standing match in an attempt to win Hyperion’s trident!
Park: The former XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion is looking to get back on the right track, and tonight’s his chance.
Wright: Speaking of, we’d like to wish MYOJIN the best of luck in his defense against at NPW’s Vicious Valentines on the 16th against Eron Hunter!
Park: Knock ‘em dead!
Washington: Introducing next, from South London, England, weighing in at 210 pounds, he is ‘The Ungovernable’, he is HAYYYYYYDEEEN CAALLLLLLAHAAAANNNNN!
As the lights fade to darkness, the speakers inside the arena begin to play “To Whom It May Concern” by Ghostmane as the crowd switches on the flashlights on their phone as the singular spotlight shines down on the entrance curtain as it swings open and the lyrics hit the speakers.
“I broke the law in Madrid
And I'd do it again
I got a bitch in every city that I ever been
I thought the money would do something for the sadness in
Me but I'm deeper in the abyss than I have ever been”
The english-born villain of FIRESIDE steps through the curtain, sporting his best three piece suit as he listens to the large amount of boos that rain down from the rafters of the arena onto Hayden Callahan as he looks around the arena and then takes his slow walk to the ring, ignoring the crowd’s loud reaction as he reaches the ringside area.
“Now I'm pushing a button, to self destruct me
And no, I don't wanna talk about it
I'll never take you up on your offer to try to help me out of it
It's just a matter of time, until I rest my eyes
Go to sleep, and never come out of it”
Callahan walks around the ring, glancing inside the ring and not paying any attention at his opponent as he continues to slowly circle around the ring and then climb up the ring steps, walking along the ring apron and looking out to the crowd with a blank expression on his face. Hayden brushes his feet along the apron before entering through the middle ropes and doing his slow walk around the ring, not hopping up any corners or posing to the fans like anyone else would do, just standing there and undressing from his three-piece suit and into his ring gear worn underneath.
Wright: The villain Hayden Callahan had a downright dastardly match at Supremacy against Cross Recoba, which would certainly explain all the booing as he makes his entrance tonight!
Park: He dropped the guy on his head on the steel steps! I’m surprised the Network didn’t fine or suspend him!
Wright: Instead, he’s got this match, and after featuring a more laid-back, devious style against Cross, it’ll be interesting to see if it carries forward to this match.
Park: I think you’re sweeping over the whole ‘dropped on his head’ part of the story quite a bit!
Wright: He’s also been blaming Caffrey for his faults lately, but I have a feeling he won’t be complaining if he takes the win tonight.
Washington: And finally, from Raleigh, North Carolina, weighing in at 200 pounds, she is MISTRESSSSSSSSSS DISSSSSSSSCIPPPPLINEEEE!
"The Planets Op. 32: IV. Jupiter- Bringer of Jollity" by Gustav Holst begins to play on the arena speakers. The lights dim slightly and a spotlight appears on the stage. Mistress Discipline steps onto the stage and adjusts the high collar and neckline of her trademark blue blouse. She marches to the ring with a purpose and without glasses because she wears contacts into the ring so she can see. She rolls into the ring and adjusts her trademark hair buns. She steps into the corner and begins stretching her arms while awaiting her opponent (she will not be bending over).
Wright: NPW’s Isabel Rios scored the win of her career at Supremacy, knocking off Discipline in a show-stealer of a match!
Park: Good for her, but the FIRESIDE favorite has been a bit of a hole since the loss to Misha Constantine at Good Riddance.
Wright: Discipline has the chance to right the ship tonight. This should be a good one.
Before the bell can ring for the five-way match, Marcus Washington gets back on the microphone.
Washington: Ladies and gentlemen, I am now being informed that the winner of this match will become one of the two contenders for the newly-created SPARK Championship at Fuel for the Fire!
The fans roar in approval!
Wright: Whoah! There were rumors of this championship back in October, and now it’s finally coming to FIRESIDE!
Park: We’ll see what happens; rumor has it that the title will be defended every show, with those who can build up a streak earning a shot at the world championship!
Wright: This five-way just got that much crazier! There’s the bell!
The bell rings and the match is on as right away, Hayden Callahan and Derrick Lancaster start trading strikes, as well as the pairing of Mistress Discipline and Vodka Fizz. Lucas Nix rolls out of the ring with his arms up, protesting the match on the outside. The crowd boos his efforts as he folds his arms and stands by the ring. He does not pay them any mind as they continue to voice their disapproval.
Wright: Lucas Nix has publicly stated that he will not be the gatekeeper for FIRESIDE, he will not be Caffrey’s punisher.
Park: He’s a man of principle, but I don’t see him walking up that ramp. He’s still in this match.
Derrick Lancaster quickly finds himself yeeted to the floor courtesy of Callahan, who takes no care in making sure he doesn’t land on his head, but Lancaster makes sure to get a hand up to cushion his fall to the outside. Vodka Fizz has wrestled Mistress Discipline into a corner and looks to toss her to the outside, but the technician jumps up with the aid of the ropes and locks in a headscissors, keeping Fizz at bay. Callahan and Nix stare down at each other as Lucas Nix grabs Lancaster off the ground and sends him crashing into the barricade with brutal force, tossing him around like a sack of spuds.
Wright: The deviousness of Callahan and the power of Nix on display here!
Park: Nix seems more than happy to take the opportunities he wants here.
Hayden Callahan comes over to see his two opponents in the corner and gets low, grabbing Fizz’s feet and turning them both up and over the top rope, where both feet hit the floor. He eyes up Lucas Nix once more, who doesn’t do anything this time to stop him as he builds up momentum and performs a Fosbury Flop, crashing down onto Fizz and Discipline on the outside!
Wright: He got hangtime on that one!
Park: Callahan has blamed the booking for his issues in FIRESIDE, is tonight a fresh start for him?
All five competitors are on the outside, with the only one left standing being Lucas Nix. He slowly and methodically walks around the ringpost to where his downed opponents are and selects his prey, raising Vodka Fizz back up to his feet. He looks at the steel steps and goes to irish whip Fizz into them, but Fizz plants his feet and tries his best to resist. Nix responds with a hard knee to Fizz’s gut, dropping the party boy down to a crawling position. Lucas Nix looks up only to be met with a dropkick from Derrick Lancaster, who has jumped off of Fizz’s back to knock over the larger competitor!
Wright: Lancaster got the rough end of it at Supremacy, but moves like that should change his fortune!
Park: He used Vodka Fizz as a springboard there! Impressive!
Mistress Discipline has gotten back up to her feet and Derrick Lancaster takes a wide berth of her, staying away from one of his most constant FIRESIDE rivals as she gets her hands on Hayden Callahan. The referee is powerless to get anyone back into the ring as she tries to wrap her hands around Callahan’s head for the gogoplata!
Wright: Naughty Child! Discipline looking to take out one of her opponents here early!
Park: If she can get this locked in, she might be able to not just take him out, but pick up the early win!
‘The Ungovernable’ Hayden Callahan fights to resist the hold, grabbing the ringpost with both of his hands and holding on, doing his best to resist being pulled down. He makes another effort by grabbing Discipline’s legs, suddenly trapping her into a powerbomb position. He looks to lift her up above his head, but instead, he takes the side of her body and just slams it straight into the steel steps with violent force! The crowd boos!
Wright: OH NO! Callahan just slammed Discipline’s side and skull into those steels steps!
Park: It’s a hell of a counter, but with the way Discipline is grabbing her head, that’s not good!
Mistress Discipline grabs her head and yells out in pain as Dr. Lagari and the medical team are out to check on her and make sure she’s okay. The crowd fiercely meets the Englishman, who gives the American crowd a mocking salute before turning his attention back to the opposition and the now upright Fizz who has just managed to slam Derrick Lancaster down hard on the outside. As Callahan turns, Vodka Fizz does a handspring, catching him with a stunner!
Wright: Uno Mas from Fizz! He caught him out of nowhere with that!
Park: Can he get him back in the ring for a pin?
Vodka Fizz makes it back to his feet and works to get Hayden Callahan back into the ring. He manages to do so, and hooks the leg!
...ONE..
...TWO…
Lucas Nix grabs Fizz’s leg and pulls him out hard to the floor! The crowd boos!
Wright: Strong pullout game there from NIx!
Park: Please tell me you didn’t just say that.
Wright: What?
Lucas Nix grabs the smaller competitor and sticks his thumbs directly in his eyes, brutally gouging them as the crowd voices their disapproval once more. He spots Derrick Lancaster bouncing off the ropes and gaining speed, and Lancaster leaps for the tope suicida, only to be caught by the big man! Nix responds by getting a running start of his own and dropping Derrick with a powerslam on the outside!
Wright: The raw power of this man is incredible!
Park: He just grabbed Lancaster mid-air like it was nothing!
Mistress Discipline manages to get back up on her feet, waving off the concussion protocols at ringside. The medical staff confirms with the commentary team that she’s clear to continue, and she gets into the ring while Callahan is still laying on the mat. She does her best to shake off the confusion and spinning feeling, looking to take Callahan’s arm and lock in the Detention! Callahan manages to crawl over to the ropes, but with there not being any rope breaks, he’s unable to create distance as she changes her mind, locking in the Suspension instead!
Wright: A woman of seemingly 1000 holds, Discipline locks in the Suspension!
Park: When she’s in her element, there are very few that can stop her from enforcing her will!
Hayden Callahan’s face immediately starts turning red as Discipline torques more pressure onto the hold. He reaches his hand out to look for the ropes or some kind of salvation, and he gets it… but in the form of Lucas Nix, who has grabbed his hand and won’t let him tap! Nix keeps Discipline from fullying applying pressure by forcefully pulling his opponent out of the hold and out of the ring, where Callahan falls to the floor!
Wright: Lucas Nix is making it clear tonight that he won’t be having anyone else win this match!
Park: He can only play enforcer for so long, though!
As Lucas Nix is standing over Hayden Callahan, the crowd’s cheers begin to get louder as Vodka Fizz is now standing behind him with his arms out, waiting for Nix to turn around. Nix does so and walks right into a hard throat thrust that knocks him backwards, and a hard enziguri takes the Outcast down! Fizz looks over for his next big move and spots the announce table, gesturing for the commentators to clear a path!
Wright: Vodka Fizz looking for his moment in the sun here and I think he has our eyes on the table!
Park: It’s fair game to turn the tables on Nix here, let’s see what Fizz has in mind!
Vodka Fizz measures his man, hoisting up Lucas Nix and kicking his legs into paste before he accepts his fate of laying on the announce table. What Fizz doesn’t notice is Derrick Lancaster charging at his legs, sliding under them and driving Fizz’s neck down to the floor with a neckbreaker! Lancaster quickly follows with the backflip double stomp, finishing off the combination!
Wright: Backdoor from Lancaster!
Park: Fizz never saw it coming!
Lancaster turns around, only to be caught by a Busaiku Knee Strike by Callahan! He goes down hard!
Wright: Gunslinger II! Things are breaking down in a hurry out here!
Park: Fizz never saw it coming!
Hayden Callahan stands over the body of Derrick Lancaster, who has been seemingly knocked onto dream street, as the crowd boos loudly. Callahan stops bragging when a hand is wrapped around his throat.
Wright: Uh oh! Nix has him by the throat!
Park: Callahan might be about to go for a ride here!
Lucas Nix has peeled himself off the announce table, and he towers over a foot above Callahan! Callahan does his best to fight out of the choke, but finds himself chokeslammed through the announce table!
Wright: Chokeslam by Nix! There goes the neighborhood!
Park: The height Callahan got there and the way his head bounced off the floor, both were brutal!
Nix turns his attention to Mistress Discipline in the center of the ring, who’s been eyeing and waiting for her opportunity. The crowd’s excitement picks up as Lucas Nix grabs the ropes and begins to pull himself up, but before he can get all the way up onto the apron, Discipline catches him with a bicycle knee strike, knocking him back to the floor!
Wright: Final Bell! Discipline picked her spot and just sent the big man crashing down!
Park: That’s a big fish in the pond to take out! Listen to how loud this crowd is now!
Wright: She’s gotta have eyes in the back of her head now! Vodka Fizz has slid in right behind her!
Vodka Fizz grabs Mistress’s arms from behind, looking for the inverted double-underhook facebuster known as the Mind Eraser, but Mistress shoves her way out and catches him with a shining big boot! Before Fizz can even hit the mat, she grabs him and lifts him up, slamming Fizz back down to the mat with a sit-out powerbomb!
Wright: Expulsion! Everyone’s down on the outside! This could be it!
Park: The cover and the count!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THREE!
The bell rings!
Washington: Here is your winner, advancing on to the SPARK Championship Match at Fuel for the Fire, MIIIIISTRESSSSSSSSSS DISCIPLINEEEE!
Wright: In a five-way sprint of a match, Discipline used her wits to pick up a big victory!
Park: She was voted ‘Best Wrestler Not to Win Gold’ at the XHF Awards, and these fans are loving that she has a chance to change her fortunes at Fuel for the Fire!
On the outside, Lucas Nix is back to his feet and not happy about missing out on the victory. He takes the Combustion briefcase and absconds up the ramp with it. Back in the ring, Discipline has her hand raised by the referee.
Wright: Lucas Nix had his way with the field tonight, but Discipline outfoxed him tonight and shut down Vodka Fizz for the win.
Park: After that scary collision with the steps, Discipline seems ready, but I doubt this is the last we see of these two.
Washington: The following contest is scheduled for One Fall! If Jonnie Valentine wins, he and a partner of his choosing will receive a future FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship match! Introducing first…
Before Marcus can announce Jonnie Valentine, Valentine’s assistant pops up. He takes the microphone and speaks with a deep ring announcer voice.
Greg the Assistant: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Thursday Night Inferno! Regardless of its place on the card, this is Your Main Event Of The Evening. It is scheduled for One Fall! Your referee leases a 2014 Ford Fiesta.
Referee Chris Mardinly mouths "What's wrong with that?" as the crowd laughs at him.
Greg the Assistant: Introducing first, Jonnie Valentine's personal poet, Lanny Poffo!
Park: This has seemingly become an entire operation around Jonnie!
Wright: I love it!
The now-familiar crowd roars as Lanny Poffo devilishly grins. He takes the microphone and reads his poem off of an index card taped to the back of a frisbee.
Lanny Poffo: If you ever can't fall asleep
Don't take a sleeping pill
Just watch a match
with 'Devilish' Donnie Deville
Jonnie will be the winner
And do it with grace and no remorse
Donnie will take home the loser's purse
And go back to the pommel horse
But Jonnie won't, please don't fret
Because he has made a fortune
That's why he has a house in Palm Springs
And Donnie sleeps in Portland!
Wright: An excellent poem from Mr. Poffo!
Park: I gotta admit, that one got me a bit.
The Philadelphia fans cheer and Lanny spins the frisbee out into the audience. He hands the microphone to Greg the Assistant, and skips and prances around ringside. Then "MMMBop" by Hanson plays and the crowd jumps to their feet. "Jealous Much?" Jonnie Valentine jogs down to ringside slapping the fans hands, wearing a teal satin jacket that says "Jealous Much?" in cursive writing. He takes a fans sign that says "Fireside's Rocky Balboa" and shows it to the crowd. He gets on the apron and his music cuts out but the audience continues singing.
Audience: Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du, oh yeah
Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba du dop
Ba du bop, ba du dop
Ba du, yeah
Jonnie Valentine pats his heart then steps into the ring.
Greg the Assistant: Introducing at this time, he is from The Playground of the Stars, Palm Springs, California; he stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs 234 pounds; he is the former SWAT World Heavyweight Champion; he is The Cutest Buddhist, he is The Suburban Commando; he is California Rich, But A Pennsylvania Billionaire...'JEALOUS MUCH? 'JONNIE VALENTINE!!!
The fans give Jonnie a roaring ovation. He leans against the ropes, waiting for his opponent.
Wright: Jonnie’s looking to bounce back from his match at Battle for Hegemony, where he met the short end of the stick but fought hard.
Park: He’s also been given this match as a way to stick it to our champions, who did nothing wrong in their handlings of Ron Hamilton last show!
Wright: Nothing wrong? They may very well have broken his neck!
Washington: And his opponent, weighing 155 pounds, he is one half of the FIRESIDE Tag Team Champions, he is ‘Devilish’ Donny Deville!
Donny comes out of the back with a cartwheel into a front flip and lands in the modern superhero pose looking out at the crowd. He nods to them briefly before springing forth and flipping his way down the ramp, each one adding more twists than the last, finally landing perfectly. He pulls the ropes down and uses them to launch himself on top before moonsaulting off of them, again landing in that hero pose as he holds the FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship above his head with a defiant look on his face.
Park: The FIRESIDE Tag Team Champion has had his share of disagreements with Anthony Caffrey, who holds the XHF Tag Team Championships. We’re still due an announcement about those, but Oliver, Deville’s just doing what it takes to win and stay champion. You wouldn’t know.
Wright: I know not to injure the competition after a match, and so does Deville! Now he has to pay the price, fighting Valentine and if Valentine wins, he gets a future tag title match.
Park: President Curtis Kanyon was also originally booked for one of these defenses of his team’s honor, but he hasn’t yet been medically cleared following the Last Wrestler Standing war at Supremacy.
Wright: Let’s see what happens here!
Before the bell can even ring, Jonnie demands that his opponent is checked for foreign objects. ‘Devilish’ Donny Deville rolls his eyes, holding out his hands and arms, showing that he’s brought nothing illegal to the match. Valentine yells at Chris to double check, and he does so, angering Deville further.
Wright: Valentine’s already getting in Deville’s head, upsetting him with the double checking!
Park: Deville can bring it in the ring without any weaponry at his disposal, this is just nonsense now!
The pat down finally concludes, but Deville has a clever look in his eye, asking the referee to do the same for Jonnie. Jonnie graciously extends his arms to be checked, and as the referee goes to begin, Donny Deville charges across the ring, nailing a shotgun dropkick that sends Donny up and over the ropes, where he crashes down to the floor!
Wright: A cheap shot from Donny before this one even begins!
Park: Cheap? If Jonnie’s going to get the referee involved, Donny may as well do the same!
The crowd boos the Olympian and former PSW World Champion as he eyes up the former SWAT World Champion, waiting for him to get back into the ring. The fans rally behind Jonnie who does a big comedic shaking of his head, slapping some sense back into himself before climbing back in. Referee Chris Mardinly calls for the bell, and the match is on.
Wright: As the bell now rings, this battle of former world champions is under way.
Park: It’s big stakes and big opportunities for the two of them. Jonnie Valentine could walk out of this with a FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship match, and Deville could walk out of this one having defeated the company’s X-Crown candidate singlehandedly. What a moment that would be for Donny.
‘Devilish’ Donny Deville gestures for his challenger to step up for a test of strength, and the two men lock up in the center of the ring, showcasing the size advantage for Jonnie as he throws Deville down for a headlock takedown and quickly locks up into another headlock. Deville is fast to his feet, but Jonnie shows some surprising agility, running up the turnbuckle and delivering another headlock takedown. He locks in yet another headlock, and turns this one into a pinning position.
...ONE…
...Deville kicks out, and kicks Jonnie in the face before he can lock on another headlock!
Wright: The man of a thousand headlocks got a little greedy there and paid the price!
Park: If he wants to use his technical skills to make a mockery of his opponent, Deville will quickly put an end to that lollygagging!
Jonnie Valentine is still down on the mat as Deville uses the ropes to assist him in leaping up and dropping a big knee across the back of Valentine’s head. He jumps up once again and twists on landing to turn it into an elbow, driving it into Valentine’s back. The crowd is not a fan of their boy getting beat up, and they let Deville hear it. He makes a show of closing an ear to them, only drawing more ire as he uses the ropes to push Valentine out onto the floor, with Valentine almost landing on his head!
Wright: The champion is on top of it here, using everything at his disposal to beat Valentine back.
Park: It’s not looking good for Valentine!
Deville gets a tight grip on the top rope and looks for his opportunity to fly down and strike Valentine, but he quickly has to turn the springboard into a roll to avoid an already-up Valentine’s picture-perfect dropkick!
Wright: Valentine almost turned Deville’s lights out with his own dropkick there! That could have been fatal to Donny!
Park: The champion’s just as agile as Valentine, if not more!
Jonnie Valentine meets Deville on the outside and begins firing knife-edge chops into the opponent’s sternum, drawing ‘woos’ from the crowd. Deville looks to create some space and get away, but Valentine hooks his arm around Deville’s head and another under his leg, looking for a regalplex! He goes to throw Deville, but Deville impressively lands on the barricade!
Wright: Cat-like quickness from the champ!
Park: It’s hard to pin him down!
Deville leaps down as the referee’s count continues to climb, looking to immediately catch Valentine for the Tumbler on the outside, but Valentine responds with a sickening back body drop, launching Deville high enough to send the gymnast crashing back into the ring!
Wright: Whoah! The star of Pixar’s Pacman giving out some airtime!
Park: I’ve never seen a back body drop that high!
Valentine climbs back in as the crowd cheers and grabs the smaller competitor, slamming him down hard with a chickenwing body slam! He then performs a double stomp to the back of the elbow and locks in a fujiwara armbar, looking to submit the champion!
Wright: Valentine’s cracking down on that arm of Deville’s, looking for the submission!
Park: Can Deville break free or is this it?
“Ask him, Chris!” rings out through the arena as Valentine keeps the pressure applied. Referee Chris Mardinly obliges the request, but Deville shakes his head no and continues to battle against the champion, pulling himself closer to the ropes before finally locking the bottom rope into the grip of his free hand. The referee counts to three and Valentine eventually breaks the hold, clearly wishing he could’ve kept it applied longer. He scoops up Deville and whips him into the corner, climbing up to the top rope. He begins swinging away with lefts and rights. The audience counts along!
ONE! TWO!
THREE! FOUR!
FIVE! SIX!
SEVEN! EIGHT!
Deville pulls Valentine’s leg, sending him falling and bouncing off the top rope with a thud!
Wright: Valentine had him in the palm of his hand there, but Deville found a way out!
Park: But the damage is done! Look at that cut on his forehead!
Deville checks the cut to reveal that he’s been cut open the hard way as he begins to softly bleed. With a downed Valentine at his feet, he uses the ropes to go high up, then turns around on the ropes. He leaps backward and delivers a front flip, crashing down onto Valentine! He hooks the leg!
Wright: A reverse 450 splash! This could be it!
Park: The cover and the count!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...Valentine gets a foot on the ropes!
Wright: No! Valentine stay alive with a cheeky foot on the ropes!
Park: You can see that’s upset Deville!
Deville yells at the referee, screaming at him that the count was slow and that the foot didn’t happen in time. The two men continue to argue back and forth, but it becomes clear that Deville’s not going to win the argument. He turns back around and goes to pick up Jonnie, only to be trapped in the inside cradle!
Wright: Inside cradle! Inside cradle!
Park: Jonnie got him!
...ONE…
..TWO…
...THR-NO!
‘Devilish’ Donny Deville kicks out!
Wright: This crowd came unglued here and that was almost the end of the tag team champion right there!
Park: So close, yet so far!
The crowd begins to clap along with Jonnie Valentine as he backs up in the corner, looking for his opportunity to dropkick Deville into three Thursdays from now. Deville is taking plenty of time to get back to his feet, even weirdly banging on the ringpost, before finally pulling himself up in the corner. Valentine charges forward for the picture perfect dropkick, but whiffs on the move as Deville athletically clears the kick! Jonnie crashes down in the corner!
Wright: Picture Perf-no! Check out the elevation from Deville there!
Park: It’s hard to see why people hate this guy! Look at the agility on display as he’s able to avoid Valentine again!
Instead of moving in to attack Jonnie, Deville begins arguing again with the referee! He turns the referee and disputes the referee’s involvement in the match, arguing that Jonnie should be disqualified and that the earlier count was too fast!
Wright: What’s Deville doing now?
Park: He’s so worked up that this could cost him! He’s got to focus on Valentine!
As the argument continues, the crowd boos as the ring apron pops up on the outside of the ring to reveal President Curtis Kanyon! Kanyon swings the sledgehammer, nailing Jonnie Valentine with it and ducking back under the apron! The crowd boos furiously as Valentine begins to bleed!
Wright: Goddamnit! Kanyon just screwed Valentine with that sledgehammer!
Park: Deville wasn’t angry, he was distracting the ref!
Wright: Look at that smug smile on the face of Deville!
Deville pulls Valentine out of the corner before backflipping onto him and crashing down on his sternum with a double foot stomp!
Wright: THE Main Attraction! Damnit! The champions just screwed over Jonnie Valentine!
Park: The referee never saw it! Here’s the pin!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THREE!
The bell rings!
Washington: Here is your winner, one half of the FIRESIDE Tag Team Champions, ‘Devilish’ Donny Deville!
Wright: No! This isn’t fair!
Park: How many times I gotta tell ya life isn’t fair, Oliver? Deville just had a career-making win and all you can do is complain!
Wright: A career-making win with a sledgehammer right to Jonnie’s head!
Deville takes his tag team championship and rolls out of the ring to the entrance ramp, where he’s joined by Curtis Kanyon, who’s wielding his trusty sledgehammer. The two celebrate their efforts, having gotten one over on another challenge Caffrey’s thrown their way. The crowd is not nearly as enthusiastic as the pair as medical staff check on Valentine, showering the two men in loud boos as they continue to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Wright: I’m sure there’ll be consequences to these actions too!
Park: And I’m sure the Unique Stud Alliance will be ready for them!
The crowd pops for the dorky poster as the man represented, Anthony Caffrey, is back out to make an announcement. He walks down the ramp and lets the crowd get an eyeful of the graphic for a few moments before continuing. He is a mix of emptions tonight as he stands in the center of the ring.
Caffrey: Ladies and gentlemen, I came out here to announce my search for a replacement -- as if Radu could ever be replaced, but after the events we just saw, I would like to turn my attention to our tag team division for a moment. The Open Door Policy, even in its first week, is a great success as the House of Lords and New Age Killers have stepped through the threshold to challenge the Nihilists and Five and Divine. That is great news.
The crowd cheers.
Caffrey: Of course, the winning teams will receive future shots against our tag team champions--
They boos loudly for the Unique Stud Alliance. Caffrey can barely hide his disdain for the duo.
Caffrey: --at Fuel for the Fire. However, earlier tonight, our tag team champions took advantage of the rules and our referee. This is not the first time those two men, Curtis Kanyon and 'Devilish' Donny Deville, have abused and gone around the sytems in place to cheat the rules and potentially cripple the competition. So tonight, while Deville’s win still stands, I am still granting Valentine the spoils of his match: he, too, will be receiving a future FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship match!
The crowd cheers the decision!
Wright: Some poetic justice from Caffrey!
Park: Justice? Deville won against Valentine fair and square, and now they’re being screwed by the owner!
Caffrey: Therefore, next Inferno, our main event will be a triple threat tag team match between the two teams that win tonight and the team of Valentine and a partner of his choice. While every team involved will have a future championship match, that match will decide who gets the first shot at Fuel for the Fire!
The crowd roars!
Wright: Three-way tag match next week, with the winners getting the first shot at the Unique Stud Alliance!
Park: Justice? Deville won against Valentine fair and square, and now they’re being screwed by the owner!
Caffrey: Now about the search for a replacement--- some of you may have thought that I just had a replacement ready to go. The truth is, I do not. But the other truth is, well, it's a pretty good bargain.
He lifts the other XHF Tag Team Championship off his shoulder for a few moments.
Caffrey: If you would like to be an XHF Tag Team Champion with Philadelphia's favorite son and run rampant through the XHF's tag teams, as I've never lost a tag team match in my career, reach out to me. If you'd like to represent these fans and others all around the world, get in touch. This is not a bit, this is a real request. The Purple Emperors may be no more, but that doesn't mean we can't create something just as beautiful. All you have to is get in touch about being my replacement, as I'm just looking for a friend---
Suddenly, Caffrey is cut off by the Tron lighting up!
Wright: What is he doing out here?
Park: There is no love lost between the Purple Emperors and the Unique Stud Alliance, but tonight's not the night for this!
Former President Curtis D. Kanyon emerges from the curtain shortly after his name appears on screen. He's got a sledgehammer slung on his shoulder and his Fireside Tag Title over the other. Curtis pounds his chest with his free fist, then raises his championship in the air. He walks down to the ring, pointing to the fans with his hammer. Curtis makes his way down to the ring and places the hammer next to the steps. He rolls into the ring and climbs the nearest turnbuckle. He shouts at the fans and pounds his chest again. He points to the crowd and yells "BANG!" He then jumps down and looks at Caffrey. Former President Kanyon has a big smirk on his face as he looks Caffrey up and down. The ring announcer hands him a mic.
Kanyon: A little birdie told me you were missing a tag team partner. Actually, a lot of birdies. My socials blew up. I read all the messages, because, I don’t know if you heard, but I’m out of a job as of last month. But this was an opportunity too good to pass up. Because if there’s one thing I know almost as well as being President, it’s...well, being an X*Crown champion. But is there is one thing I know almost as well as that...it’s being a world champion. Buuuuut, if there is one thing I know almost as well as all those other things, it’s being--
Caffrey: 'A tag team champion'. This is literally the same speech you gave to accept that Fireside Tag Team championship without lifting a finger.
Kanyon: Well... yes. But I've already defended it more times than that nobody that had it before. And now, the Fireside tag titles are a hotter commodity than the XHF tag titles. So I'm out here to give you the rub kid! Even if you tried to bully me and my little buddy last show and this one, I'll let that slide and bail you out of your jam. Because I am a kind, giving former President, and I'm giving you the gift of greatness, all you have to do... is take my hand... and make me... the replacement.
Curtis holds out his hand and awaits Caffrey to shake it. The crowd gets loud, chanting "NO!" at the situation in the ring.
The look of hatred between the two men is palpable.
Caffrey responds back with a raised voice.
Caffrey: Are you fucking kidding me?
The crowd roars at the words of the defiant hometown champion.
Kanyon looks him dead in the eyes, knowing more than him in this moment.
Kanyon: I didn't say I was replacing Matei.
BAM! Caffrey is clocked with a sledgehammer from the side by Donny Deville! The boos are deafening as blood begins trickles out of the owner’s head with the FIRESIDE tag team champions standing over him.
Wright: What the hell? What the hell!?!
Park: A despicable move by Deville and Kanyon!
Wright: NO! This isn't right!
Deville takes Kanyon’s hammer and drives it into the ribcage of the owner, leaving him gasping for breath. Each shot is more sickening than the rest, but the pair isn't done, throwing Caffrey out of the ring and dragging the bloody champion up the ramp.
Wright: Where are they going? I don’t like what these guys are planning!
Park: Someone needs to help!
The booing from the crowd begins to drown out the commentary as Kanyon calls the shots, waiting for the former Purple Emperor to be lifted back to his feet. Deville pulls Caffrey towards the edge of the stage with ease as he's unable to fight back.
Kanyon gets himself in position, ready to take off. Deville gives him a thumbs up, and Kanyon charges forward, spearing Caffrey off the stage as Deville slams down onto him with a double foot stomp! The only thing breaking the fall is a stack of tables on the outside of the ring!
Wright: BANG BOOM OFF THE STAGE AND THROUGH THE TABLE!
The jeering, screaming, and hollering builds throughout the arena as the three men lay in a pile of destruction.
Park: We’re going to need the medical team out here!
The FIRESIDE Tag Team Champion grab each other’s hands and pull each other up through the rubble and splinters of the tables. Security is on the scene to get them to leave, but they take a moment to rip the XHF Tag Team Championships off of Caffrey and hold them high. The crowd’s booing has reached its peak as the two men bask in their glory.
Wright: The Unique Stud Alliance just made a hellacious impact on the champion!
Park: What the hell does this mean for the XHF tag team championships?
Wright: What does it mean for Caffrey?
The champions are forced to leave the XHF titles behind as they’re escorted out, but the damage is done. The last visual before a commercial break is a barely-conscious Caffrey being helped by the medical staff.
Washington: Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen… this next tag team contest is scheduled for One Fall! The winning team will earn a future FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship Match, and fight in next week’s three-team tag match to determine who fights the champions at Fuel for the Fire!
Wright: Well, after that heinous act, I guess we have to keep moving. And this next match has a lot of bad blood behind it.
Park: The Nihilists cost Dinosaur Bones a shot at the world championship, which Esmur then went onto win, and then their no disqualification match was interrupted by Five and Divine. This is the blow-off tonight between the Nihilists and Bones, as Bones old friend Lord Dominicus showed up last Inferno to make the save.
Washington: Introducing first… weighing in at a combined weight of 397 pounds, they are Gebin and the FIRESIDE World Champion Esumr, you know them as the NIHILISTSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
The arena dims down to pitch blackness. Two male voices are heard saying, “EMBRACE … ETERNITY”.
The new video package for the reborn Nihilists plays on the XtremeTron. "Saviour of Nothing" by Disturbed begins to play and a single light brown spotlight illuminates the stage. On the stage stands Gebin, hair flowing, wearing his light up Covid Mask and illuminated battle gloves. He raises his hands and the columns of LED light illuminate the stage in purple. Stepping into the brown spotlight walks Esmur complete with his luchador mask. He steps up and stares into the ring before looking out at the Fireside faithful. He is wearing a robe that is adorned with religious iconography from pretty much every religion, the symbols are all drawn on fire for emphasis. He pulls his robe off into his arms and tosses it at his feet as a column of red light illuminates it. This reveals his Fireside World Championship which he pats as he begins to move.
Wright: The crowd’s up for seeing our new world champion in his first match on television since winning the gold!
Park: A crazy Workhorse Match that went down to the wire resulted in the championship changing hands with Esmur flexing his technical skills to take the lead in the final moments, and now the non-believers are ready to chase even more gold.
Wright: Can Esmur and Gebin punch their ticket to a future title shot? I’m sure they’d love to get their hands on ‘Devilish’ Donny Deville one more time, seeing as how Deville beat them for the titles in the first place!
Finally, he pulls off his mask revealing his face and his trim brown hair and goatee. Gebin follows him and catches the mask as he tosses it. The two men mean business as they quickly walk to the ring and slide under the bottom rope. The push to their feet and step to the center of the ring as the spotlight turns slowly follows them to the ring. The two men remain back to back facing the two sides of the crowd left and right of the entryway. The song and lights fade back to normal as Esmur hands the timekeeper his Fireside World Championship belt and the men get ready to wrestle.
Washington: And their opponents… weighing a combined 500 pounds, they are the team of Dinosaur Bones and Lord Dominicus, the HOOOOUSEEEEEEEEEEEE OF LOOOOOOOOORRDSSS!
“Bear Song” by Green Jello, an aggressive metal song, begins to play over the arena speakers. Oliver Wright had braced himself knowing that these Dinosaur Bones entrances usually come with a roar, having taken to tightly gripping the desk. He relaxes his grip.
Wright: Whew, you know, I prepped hard this week, finally expecting the--- AH!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wright jumps up from the table in shock. UnJoo Park laughs at him.
Wright: Damnit!
Park: I keep telling you to prepare yourself!
The song changes to “Walk the Dinosaur” by George Clinton as Lord Dominicus emerges from the back, riding his noble gigantic partner down the ramp to cheers from the crowd. Dinosaur Bones moves with an impressive speed for literally carrying a man as if he were a toddler, getting down to the ring in short order. Dominicus dismounts and the two exchange last-minute strategy, with Dinosaur Bones deciding to start. The new FIRESIDE World Champion elects to go first for his team.
Wright: If you’ve not been watching NPW -- first, start doing that -- and second, you’re in for a treat with the FIRESIDE debut of Lord Dominicus!
Park: I’m excited to see what he can do here, and his partner Dinosaur Bones is certainly larger than life on his own! There’s the bell, here we go with Bones leading off against Esmur!
The bell rings and the match is on. These two have matched up before, and it’s clear from the get-go that each as their own strategy as they look to land the first offensive move. Dinosaur Bones tries to reach out and grab Esmur, but Esmur is a bit quicker and Bones’ arms are painfully short. The world champion strikes first with a low kick to Bones’ leg and starts a rally of kicks, swatting at the bigger competitor and moving away with each successful strike. Bones eventually has to bend over in pain, leading Esmur to jump up to try to hit the reverse bulldog known as the Fade Out, but Bones nails him with a tail swipe, knocking the champion down!
Wright: Dinosaur Bones getting some payback on Esmur as this match gets underway.
Park: That damn tail of his should be treated as a foreign object! Every shot from it is stiffer than the last!
UnJoo Park’s complaints about the tail fall on deaf ears as the Dread Lord bounces off the ropes and drops a massive leg and tail on the chest of the world champion. He hooks the leg for the early cover.
...ONE…
...Esmur kicks out!
Wright: I’m sure the champion agrees with you after that leg drop!
Park: Right against the sternum! Ouch!
Dinosaur Bones leans back and tags out to Lord Dominicus, who draws cheers from the Lordites as he tags in. The embodiment of evil tries to communicate a move to his partner, but the flailing arms indicate he didn’t mean to get thrown at Esmur as he’s sent flying with a crossbody. The move is effective, but Dominicus seems shaken by the crossbody. Still, he hooks a leg upon landing.
...ONE…
...Esmur kicks out!
Wright: An unconventional landing from an unconventional team, but it worked!
Park: I always have a rule: if it looked dumb but hurt the opponent, it isn’t dumb!
Dominicus looks over at Bones with a ‘what gives’ expression and taking his eye off the FIRESIDE World Champion proves to be a bad move as Esmur pops back up to his feet and quickly locks in a dragon sleeper, knocking Dominicus to his knees and working over his windpipes. Dominicus yells out in pain, not expecting the hold.
Wright: The technical wizardry of Esmur is on display once again! He won the world champion thanks in very large part to a sharpshooter, and now he breaks out the dragon sleeper!
Park: I’m not convinced there’s a hold he doesn’t know!
Dominicus reaches out for the ropes but the savvy champion swats his arms away, keeping him from reaching freedom. Gebin reaches his hand out for the tag and Esmur slaps it while keeping the hold applied. Gebin bounces off the ropes and batters Dominicus with an elbow strike, then another, and a third before Esmur finally breaks the hold!
Wright: A different version of the Fractured Psyche but it’s put Gebin right in the driver’s seat!
Park: We can slowly see a plan forming from the former XHF tag team champions: isolate Lord Domincus from Dinosaur Bone and turn this into a two-on-one!
Gebin considers going for the pin but instead reaches out and tags back out to Esmur, and the pair hit an impressive double suplex on the NPW star. Esmur hooks the leg!
...ONE…
...TW-Lord Dominicus gets a shoulder up!
Esmur works to maintain the isolation, grabbing Lord Dominicus by the legs and looking for the sharpshooter that destroyed Constantine’s legs and lower back, but Dominicus spins, sending Esmur away. Dominicus comes back up to his feet right before Esmur can turn around, throwing the champion in what looks like a german suplex but quickly turns into a flying armbar!
Wright: Whoah! I’ve never seen that before!
Park: A flying armbar like that is a perfect move to rip someone’s arm out of the socket! Esmur could be in trouble here!
Lord Dominicus takes it to the world champion and makes him suffer with the armbar, but the champion knows his way in and out of the ring, which he shows by hooking his leg onto the rope! Dominicus keeps the move held up to a count of four and relinquishes it, and now finally has a chance to tag out to Dinosaur Bones!
Wright: Dominicus finally fends off the assault, but can he crawl to the corner and find relief in the form of his tag team partner?
Park: It’s a long crawl, but this crowd is down to give him some support!
The crowd cheers along as Lord Dominicus begins the army crawl towards the far corner. As he makes it halfway across the ring, Esmur does a falling leap into his own corner, tagging Gebin back into the match! Dominicus is so close to Bones, but Gebin runs up and locks Lord Dominicus’ head between his legs, and then flips forward with a sunset flip powerbomb!
Wright: Chaos Theory! Gebin cuts off the intervention at one of the last possible seconds!
Park: This is why the Nihilists are an established team throughout the Network, the ability to stay one step ahead of their opponents!
Gebin hooks the leg!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...Lord Dominicus kicks out!
Gebin grabs the darkest of evils and pulls him away from his corner, dragging him closer to the Nihilists’ half of the ring. Once he’s in the position Gebin wants, Gebin climbs the top rope, looking to put him away with the Empty Abyss!
Wright: Gebin looks like he’s about to fly!
Park: Not if Dinosaur Bones has anything to say about it!
Dinosaur Bones has come around the ringpost to the side of the ring with Gebin on it, but pays the price as Gebin extends out a leg and knocks him back to the apron with a rope-assisted dropkick! This buys Lord Dominicus just enough time to come running across the ring, jumping onto the top turnbuckle with Gebin and drawing cheers from the crowd!
Wright: Whoah! What a leap from Dominicus!
Park: This type of thing typically doesn’t end well for one of these competitors! Two’s a crowd up there on the top rope!
The two men show an impressive amount of balance as they trade European Uppercuts on the top ropes, showing how divided the fans are as both men draw cheers with each strike! Gebin teeters as he’s struck, and then Dominicus does the same! Back and forth the two men go, with each man looking like he could plummet to his doom at any time! Gebin goes for another European Uppercut but gets both of his eyes poked by Dominicus!
Wright: Dominicus just blinded him there!
Park: It’s a classic from the days of the stooges, but the two-finger eyepoke can do that to anyone!
Dominicus avoids the desperate flail from Gebin and actually manages to pick him up and turn him around on the top turnbuckle. Dominicus raises a dark and evil arm to the crowd before grabbing Gebin’s head and springboarding off the top, coming down to the mat with his opponent firmly locked in an Asai DDT!
Wright: Demon’s Invert from the top rope! That’s gotta be it!
Park: What a drop! Dominicus just made a believer out of a lot of these fans! The cover and the count!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THR-Esmur dropkicks Lord Dominicus, saving the match for his team!
Wright: The champion makes the save, keeping his partner alive in this match!
Park: A good idea at the time, but it’s only infuriated Dinosaur Bones!
Bones angrily stomps on the steel steps and draws the clapping cheers of the crowd as he’s angered by the save. The referee ushers Esmur back into his corner and Dinosaur Bones reaches an arm out before having a better idea and reaching his tail out, trying to give Dominicus everything he needs to make the tag. Dominicus begins crawling over, and slowly but surely, he dives and makes the tag!
Wright: Tag made! In comes the Dread Lord!
Park: An angry Dread Lord at that!
Gebin is a little too far away to make the tag, but Esmur jumps over the ropes to defend his friend and is immediately squished in the neutral corner for his troubles! The FIRESIDE tag team champion somehow remains standing as Lord Dominicus calls out for a ride, jumping on the back of Dinosaur Bones!
Wright: What’s this about to be?
Park: I don’t know, but I wouldn’t want to be a Nihilist right now!
Dinosaur Bones gets a running start and charges at the Nihilists, ducking his head down at the last moment as Lord Dominicus nails the double clothesline, taking them both out! Unfortunately, it’s too close to the ropes, and when Bones lifts his head, Lord Dominicus goes flying over the ropes and crashes down hard on the outside!
Wright: A double clothesline but the flight plan goes a little screwy for Dominicus!
Park: He completely fell out of the sky on that one!
Esmur and Gebin are both down as Dinosaur Bones waits in the corner for Gebin to come to his feet! Once Gebin does, he’s taken skyward and then backward as Dinosuar Bones drops him on his head with a high angle backdrop driver!
Wright: The Extinction Connection! Goodnight Gebin!
Park: Can Dinosaur Bones finally get his revenge once and for all?
Bones hooks the leg as Dominicus grabs the champion’s leg, keeping from intervening!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THREE!
The bell rings and the crowd cheers!
Washington: Here are your winners, earning a FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship match and advancing to next week’s three-team tag match, Lord Dominicus and Dinosaur Bones, THHHHEEE HOOOUSEEE OOOOOFFF LOOOOOOORRRDSSSSS!
Wright: Yes he can! Dinosaur Bones scores a huge win for his team, earning the House of Lords a future title match! What a match!
Park: The Nihilists isolated Dominicus away from Bones all night, knowing that it could spell doom for them if he got the tag, and it did!
Wright: Don’t forget that impressive Demon’s Invert though! I don’t know what they would have done without it!
As the House of Lords take a victory lap outside of the ring with Dominicus riding his tag team partner, the camera gets a close-up on the FIRESIDE World Champion checking on his partner.
Wright: A setback tonight for Esmur, and you have to wonder if Daku Suzuki and Otto Ritter are looking at this as an opportunity!
Park: It’s one thing to chase, but it’s another to be the top of the mountain!
The party continues for the House of Lords, as Dominicus rides all the way back up the ramp!
Washington: This tag team contest is scheduled for One Fall! The winning team will earn a future FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship Match, and fight in next week’s three-team tag match to determine who fights the champions at Fuel for the Fire!
Wright: Jonnie Valentine and the House of Lords have punched their ticket to next week, which of these duos will join them?
Park: I know the crowd was upset and letting us hear it earlier, but man I’m not sure they’re gonna love either of these pairings.
Washington: Introducing first, coming through the open door, weighing in a combined 397 pounds, they are James Raymond and Jason Long, the NEW AGEEEE KILLLLERRRSSSS!
The heavy beats of "No Love" by Death Grips hits the speakers as the house lights shine down to the drumming beat over the speakers. Flashes of Jason Long and James Raymond with their respective singles championship gold appears on the Tron with each beat that passes. The crowd is already booing in disapproval.
Wright: A bit of an anti-homecoming for Jason Long, these Philadelphian fans are like elephants!
Park: You don’t get to destroy a Super Bowl trophy and waltz into an arena like this!
"How the trip
Never stops
On and on
It's beyond insane
Why I set
Myself up
In a raging sea of flames?"
The instrumental pours through the P.A. System as the lights come to life and flash down onto the stage, the New Age Killers logo filling the Tron as some of the fans within the arena bang their heads to the beat of the song. The house light spiraled around the arena as the Tron flashes the team work of both Jason Long and James Raymond as a team.
"You're fit ta learn the proper meaning of a beatdown
Madness chaos in the brain
Let my blood flow, make my blood flow through you mane
You got no business questioning a thang"
Once the lyrics hit the speakers, the curtain flies open and The New Age Killers slowly walkthrough, making their presence known with each step they take before stopping at the top of the ramp and looking out to the sold-out arena in front of them. Jason looks out to the crowd, James crouches down and brushes his hand along the steel floor below. Jason taps James on the shoulder as he rises up to his feet and they both look at one another, smiling before looking out to the crowd once more. James Raymond and Jason Long masterfully avoid the objects being thrown at Long as they come down the ramp.
Wright: For those of you not in the know, almost two years ago the artist formerly known as Maverick destroyed the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl trophy, and these fans tonight clearly haven’t forgiven him!
Park: They came to do what Long always does: hop from place to place and hoard as much gold as possible. The journey starts tonight against their opponents, then potentially the FIRESIDE Tag Team Champions, then the XHF Tag Team Champions. But I don’t think Philly is about to let that go unchecked.
“Never not on it, leanin' so hard you're ashamed
You can't dismiss this sick transmission huffs your brain
Exhale your will and forget I ever knew you
Fuck do you do?
Fuck a man wit hips for hulu”
They soon fist bump and make their way down to the ring, sliding under the bottom rope and leaping up onto the turnbuckles, on opposite sides of one another, as they stand there and soak in the crowd’s positive reactions for both men. They both drop down from the ropes and stand in their respected corner, waiting for their challengers to enter the arena with a dead serious look to their eyes.
Wright: For those of you not in the know, almost two years ago the artist formerly known as Maverick destroyed the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl trophy, and these fans tonight clearly haven’t forgiven him!
Park: They came to do what Long always does: hop from place to place and hoard as much gold as possible. The journey starts tonight against their opponents, then potentially the FIRESIDE Tag Team Champions, then the XHF Tag Team Champions. But I don’t think Philly is about to let that go unchecked.
Washington: And introducing their opponents, weighing in tonight at 400 pounds, they are Johnny Five and Misha Constantine, FIIIIIIVEEE ANNND DIIIVIIIIIIIIIIINEEEE!
The lights cut out and an ominous drumbeat begins to pound. As it crescendos, pyro erupts and a spotlight hits on Misha Contantine and Johnny Five, as a mash up of 'I Got 5 On It' and 'In The Name Of God' hits the speakers.
I got 5 on it!!!
Flames!!!
In the age of Hell!!!
In the age of fire!!!
They head down the ramp, Five gleefully flexing and jawing with fans, as Misha is laser focused on the ring.
Wright: A bitter look on the face of Misha, losing the FIRESIDE World Championship at Supremacy...
Park: ...AND dealing with James Raymond’s comments about his gender identity. I have a feeling that man is out for blood tonight.
Grab your 40, let's get keyed!!!
War!!!
In the name of God!!!
In the holy empire!!!
Both men slide into the ring, Johnny posing on the turnbuckles as Misha kips up in the center of the ring, ignoring the audience studiously as the crowd also boos the pair.
Wright: We also finally get to see Johnny Five in a sanctioned match. His interference in the Workhorse Match kept Misha in the contest, and he’s been a powerful enforcer.
Park: Five is Misha’s girlfriend’s brother, but the two have already displayed a solid chemistry together. But man, the daggers Misha is staring into Raymond, no wonder he wants to start.
Wright: But Jason Long’s going to start in his place instead, and there’s the bell!
Misha Constantine yells for the coward to step into the ring and fight him but James Raymond has no desire to mix it up in the early-goings with the seriously-angry former world champion. Jason Long is up for the task, however, coming in with a hard palm strike and then immediately spinning into a back elbow, knocking Constantine down to the mat. Long jumps over Constantine and Constantine gets back to his feet, barely avoiding a step-up axe kick by rolling forward into a capoeira scorpion kick!
Wright: Feet of fury on display early as Long and Constantine look to tenderize one another!
Park: The Kingslayer vs. The Self-Made God could main event anywhere in the XHF, and we’re getting it for free right now!
Constantine attempts to stay on the offensive, looking to lock up Long’s wrists and stomp on his head like he did to Esmur at Supremacy, but Long eludes his grip and slides through his leg, looking to create space. He bounces off the ropes and fires off a hesitation dropkick, knocking Constantine back and through the ropes, where he crashes down to the outside of the ring!
Wright: Long sends Constantine out of the ring with that dropkick!
Park: Constantine has fought bigger guys and technicians, but this is the first we’re seeing with him having to deal with a fellow speedster!
Wright: Not to mention that this is a battle of former world champions!
Jason Long gets a full head of steam, bouncing off the ropes before charging forward and leaping over the top rope with no hands, taking down the former FIRESIDE world champion with the plancha!
Wright: An aerial assault here!
Park: Beautiful move there!
Long’s fans attempt to vocally outweigh his detractors but it’s not much use. Jason shakes his head and grabs Misha off the floor, not even letting the referee get to a count of three before getting him back into the ring. Now that Misha is down, James Raymond is more than eager to get his licks in, sticking out his hand for a tag. The tag is made and Raymond grabs Constantine in an inverted wheelbarrow before Long launches off the middle, coming down hard with a double foot stomp!
Wright: Sundown Syndrome from the 2020 J-ROK Sakura Tag League winners!
Park: They might have just cracked Constantine sunny side down there!
James Raymond hooks the leg!
...ONE…
...TWO- Misha Constantine kicks out!
Wright: The New Age Killers in full control here, one of the first teams to walk through the Open Door and take advantage of it. Who else would you like to see in FIRESIDE?
Park: Well, we’ve already seen the ReVenants, SKY Force, maybe The Academy or Heat Rocks?
Wright: Anything can happen!
Raymond stands over Misha Constantine and slaps the back of his head, adding insult to injury as the downed formed champion crawls around on the mat and looks for a potential opening. Raymond looks for his moment and stomps directly on Constantine’s ankle, sending him screaming out in pain through the arena. He grabs Constantine and lifts him back up to his feet, using his weight advantage to control the Self-Made God. Johnny Five yells at him from his corner, and Raymond looks over to snap back at the bodyguard, giving Constantine enough time to break free of the hold and to handspring off the ropes, cracking into Raymond with a handspring back elbow!
Wright: Johnny Five pays dividends for Constantine there!
Park: You can’t take your eyes off the ball around Misha!
A hurting Misha angrily slaps the hand of Johnny Five and the newcomer finally makes his in-ring debut, charging in and smacking down Raymond with a leaping clothesline. The action quickly begins to accelerate as James comes back up only to be brought down hard with a spinebuster! Five shakes the ropes, getting amped up as the anti New Age Killer crowd nearly seems to get behind the newcomer, who begins chopping into his opponent’s chest with his feet, kicking him repeatedly before finishing the combo with a running enziguri!
Wright: He calls that Tenderization!
Park: It’s easy to see why! Look how red Raymond’s chest is now!
Knowing he should go for a pin, Johnny Five covers Raymond’s shoulders.
...ONE…
...TW-James Raymond kicks out!
Wright: Can you imagine if that had done it for Five there? Pinning a former world champion in your first match is a great boost to a young career!
Park: But James Raymond’s a tough guy, he’s not about to give up on this one!
Johnny Five looks to take advantage of his momentum but the energy coursing through his body might be too much for him, seemingly unable to decide what his next course of action is. He finally decides, turning around and leaping backward with a spin a standing corkscrew moonsault, but James Raymond gets his knees up! Five lands gutfirst onto Raymond’s trap and goes down clutching his ribcage. James crawls over to the corner, where his ring veteran partner is chomping at the bits to tag in. He does so, and the crowd knows what’s coming, booing him once more.
Wright: A former X-Crown champion now in the ring with someone making their professional debut; this might get ugly!
Park: We’ll see what kind of fighting spirit Five’s got!
Jason Long almost smirks as he ascends to the top rope, looking to strike down his opponent and claim his future championship match. He leaps forward with both feet, looking to perform the Blood Dragon, but Johnny Five manages to duck out of the way! Long lands on his feet and grabs Five, pulling him close and knocking him down with a savage discus lariat! He leans against the ropes and shakes his head as the crowd boos!
Wright: Kingmaker! You have to wonder if this crowd’s also got it in for Long, having ended the career of Philadelphia’s other favorite son!
Park: Dillinger had turned his back on the fans, but a Philadelphian’s a Philadelphian all the way through. It was a brutal war those two had.
Long makes no effort to make a cover, bouncing off the ropes and laying out Five further with a brutal shining wizard! The former X-Crown champion makes it back to his feet and takes a look over at Constantine, asking him where the hell he found Five. He backs up in his corner looking for the Vanity Killer, ready to put Five away.
Wright: If Jason Long hits that punt, you can forget about it, ladies and gentlemen.
Park: Valentine and the House of Lords have punched their tickets, is Long about to punch his?
James Raymond sticks out his hand to tag in, and Long pauses for a few moments before obliging him, tagging him in. Raymond calls for Long for a move and goes to the other side of a downed Johnny Five, with Jason and James now looking to put him away with the Event Horizon. Five slowly stumbles back up to his feet…
Wright: The New Age Killers are about to evict Johnny onto dream street!
Park: I don’t think he knows where he is!
…and as he stumbles, Jason Long begins moving in but James Raymond is taken out by Constantine, who lands on him with a 450 crossbody from the top rope!
Wright: Constantine from out of nowhere with that Orbital Strike!
Park: He’s never been one to follow the rules, and he just saved his partner with that one!
Long moves in anyway for the superkick, only to be caught with a german suplex that sends him crashing down to the outside! Constantine is ushered out of the ring by referee Chris Mardinly, but it doesn’t matter much as he’s quickly tagged in! Five sticks around just long enough for the two to grab Raymond by the arms and throw unison knees directly into his face!
Wright: Righteous Kill!
Park: Constantine finally gets his hands - or knees -- on Raymond!
Misha Constantine knows he should move to close out the match, but he can’t resist acting on his wrath, grabbing Raymond by the wrists and stomping on his head repeatedly! He stomps three times, with each stomp having more sickening and stomach-turning force behind it! Raymond falls back down to the mat as Constantine climbs back up to the top rope, looking to fly!
Wright: We’ve seen Constantine’s wrath tonight, and we may be about to see Irae Dei right here!
Park: How apropos!
Before Constantine can take off though, Jason Long jumps on the apron, grabbing Constantine’s foot! The crowd boos before Five comes around the ringpost and launches himself at Long, taking both men out with a stinger splash that ends with both men on the floor! Constantine leaps, connecting on the Shooting Star Senton!
Wright: Irae Dei! The wrath of God!
Park: He hooks the leg!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THREE!
Washington: Here are your winners, earning a future FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship Match, and spot in next week’s three-team tag match, Johnny FIve and Misha Constantine, FIIIIIIIVEEEEEEEEE AND DIIIIIIIIVINNNNNEEE!
Wright: Constantine gets his payback on James Raymond and the New Age Killers!
Park: The former world champion gets the job done tonight against a pair that absolutely brought it and even dominated some parts of this match-up!
Constantine has his arm lifted by the referee, but he is still looking on in anger. It takes Johnny Five rejoining him in the ring for the anger to cease, for now.
Wright: Johnny Five looked a little new out there, but he managed to hold his own!
Park: Jason Long and James Raymond had their way with him, but that’s something you just have to learn how to deal with by continuously wrestling. A solid win for the new pairing.
Wright: We’ll have to see if the New Age Killers can get back on the winning track and continue their journey towards the tag team gold, but we’ll be seeing Five and Divine in next week’s main event!
Washington: Tonight’s main event is scheduled for One Fall! The winner will fight Esmur at Fuel for the Fire for the FIRESIDE World Championship!
Wright: It’s both of these wrestler’s first singles matches here in FIRESIDE, but both men made their XHF debuts in a big way, knocking off Johnny Styler and Deco to earn huge opportunities!
Park: Both men will receive shots at the championship, but tonight it’s all about who goes first!
Washington: Introducing first, from Hamburg, Germany, weighing in at 195 pounds, he is OTTTTTOOOOOOOO RIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTEEERRRRRRRR!
The opening riff begins to play as lights flicker off and on. We pan across the venue as the song continues. The opening words begin as we see Otto come out from the back. He walks up to the stage before pausing and surveying the venue. He walks down the ring with his hands behind his back, walking around the ring as the chaotic instrumentals blare over the speaker. He walks up the steps and onto the apron before wiping his feet and entering the holy land. He takes a step into the middle of the ring before pointing up a finger to the sky and mouthing something in German.
Wright: The German Ring General is a man of a notoriously few words, but they’re all about beating respect for the sport into his opponents.
Park: He’s a no nonsense kind of guy, having turned on a bit of a second wind and gotten the victory over Styler. This should be a battle.
Washington: And his opponent…
Rio Grande by Mezcaleros plays over the sound system as you hear the revs of the motorcycle as you see Daku ride out of the curtain and stops his Suzuki Harley style motorcycle that's got blue and black colours with his motorcycle club, ‘The Cutting Blades’ name with a spider with knives all over it. Daku does his typical knife cut symbol with the fans booing him as he then continues to ride down to the ramp with flames coming out the side of the stage. He goes around once on his Suzuki bike before he stops it right on the right outside of the ramp and turns the engine off with placing his jacket onto it.
Washington: From Hamamatsu, Japan, he is The Knife of Motorcycles, weighing in at 245 pounds, he is DAKKKUUUU SUUUUZUUUUKIII!
Daku slides into the ring and closes his eyes to show his necklace of a knife and a motorcycle on it and does his cutthroat signal before spreading his arms. Daku then opens his eyes and takes off his necklace and drops it on the floor as Daku holds onto the ropes, eyeing up his opponent and ignoring the jeering crowd.
Wright: A man with a taste for entrances, Daku Suzuki comes from the legendary Suzuki family, a fact he will not let you forget.
Park: But you also shouldn’t forget that he’s a more-than-capable wrestler to boot, Oliver. He grounded J-ROK’s Deco in Fed Warfare like we’ve never seen before and picked up the victory.
Wright: He also called Otto, quote unquote, ‘lazy’ and ‘shit’. We’ll see if he thinks the same after this one is over.
Park: There’s the bell! Ritter vs. Suzuki, with the winner going to Fuel for the Fire to fight Esmur for the championship!
The bell rings and it becomes immediately clear that Daku Suzuki came to fight, balling up his fists and just straight-up punching Otto Ritter back into the corner. Ritter gets his hands up to defend himself but not before finding a thumb jammed directly into his throat by the opponent. He gasps for air as the referee backs Ritter out of the corner, but Ritter wastes absolutely no time in delivering a hard clothesline that knocks Das Blitzkind over their ropes to the floor.
Wright: A powerful, hard-hitting display from Daku Suzuki here as he knocks Ritter out of the ring with authority!
Park: This is his chance to show the world what he can do, and he’s making the most of it.
The motorcyclist hops down from the ring apron and takes the time to admire himself in one of his bike’s mirrors, drawing criticism and booing from the crowd before he returns his attention to his opponent. Suzuki lifts him back up and over his head before coming forward, dropping him hard on the outside with a shinbreaker!
ONE! TWO!
Suzuki pays little mind to the count as he grabs Ritter and leans his leg against the steel steps, prepared to inflict more suffering upon his opponent. He takes a few steps in reverse before shifting his momentum forward, leaping and striking the steel steps with a dropkick as Ritter dodges out of the way!
THREE! FOUR!
Wright: Otto Ritter uses his speed to avoid what could have been a very bad situation for him!
Park: Suzuki will be feeling that one tomorrow morning!
Otto Ritter pulls his opponent back to his feet before twisting his arm and leaping forward, spinning and hitting one of the prettiest armdrags you’ve ever seen! Suzuki gets back up, only to be met by Ritter using his opponent’s midsection as a stepping stone to flip and roll over his opponent, locking him in a short arm scissor takedown!
Wright: Whoah! He practically just stood up on Suzuki there!
Park: Do you know how badly I wanna see this guy fight Deville now? Look at this aerial technician ability on display!
FIVE! SIX!
Ritter reply respects the wishes of the referee and scoops Daku back up, rolling him into the ring. The crowd cheers as he scales the top rope and waits for Suzuki to slowly stumble back to his feet. He walks along the ropes and leaps forward for a hurricanrana, but the Knife of Motorcycle catches him and spins him around, sending Ritter down to the mat with an electric chair drop!
Wright: This is a full-on sprint between these two men!
Park: Both of them want that first opportunity at Esmur!
Daku Suzuki responds with an elbow drop directly to the chest. He pulls up Ritter to a sitting position and locks his arm around Ritter’s neck, locking his tight with his other hand to create an air-tight Japanese stranglehold! Ritter is in a bad position as Suzuki begins to choke the life out of him!
Wright: Strangehold from Suzuki! The circus from Ritter might be run out of town real quickly here!
Park: It’s hard to breathe in this hold, let alone think!
Ritter grabs at the ropes and looks for a way out of the hold, swinging his hands wildly towards them, but he’s just a bit too far away. He also immediately slumps over, and Suzuki begins yelling in his native tongue at the referee, before yelling in English for the referee to check him for unconsciousness! The crowd boos!
Wright: Suzuki feels he’s already won this match! Could it be?
Park: It would match the nature of both of these competitors!
The referee comes over and lifts the arm of Otto Ritter. It drops like a stone in the water, and things aren’t looking good for the German. The referee lifts his arm once more, and as the crowd begins to cheer, the arm once again drops.
Wright: Wow! If this arm drops one more time, Suzuki’s won!
Park: He called Ritter lazy, but I never imagined he’d put him to sleep!
Referee Chris Mardinly raises the arm one more time… but as it begins to drop, Ritter balls up a fist, not letting it go all the way down! The crowd cheers as the match can continue, and Otto Ritter finds his footing and gets back up to a standing position! The hold is still applied by Suzuki, but not for long as the German competitor runs up the ropes and onto the shoulders of Suzuki, before rolling forward into a short arm takedown into a triangle choke!
Wright: Blitzcombination! Ritter gets himself free and now has turned the tables on Suzuki!
Park: Back and forth, could this be the end of Suzuki now?
Suzuki wildly flails his legs into the mat, banging them out of frustration and trying to find the bottom rope to force a break. He is mere inches away, but Ritter keeps the hold applied, trying his best to choke him out! His shoulders go down, and the referee drops down for the count!
...ONE…
...TW-
Suzuki lifts his shoulder up!
Wright: He almost caught him for the three there!
Park: Suzuki’s got to find a way out of this before he passes out or finds his shoulders down for the count!
With the shift in his weight, Daku finally finds the bottom rope. The referee counts for only a few seconds before Ritter releases the hold respectfully, then rolls back into the corner.
Wright: A rolling, mobile offense against the technical brawling of Suzuki tonight!
Park: Two great new talents, but only one can walk away with the match at Fuel for the Fire!
Daku Suzuki pulls himself back up by the ropes and holds himself in the corner, only for Otto Ritter to come running forward, jumping into a monkey flip, but Suzuki doesn’t flip! Instead, he palms Ritter’s head, and delivers a devastating Iron Claw Slam to the mat below!
Wright: Catch me as you can wrestling turns into caught as Suzuki plants Ritter with the Throat Cutter Slam!
Park: This could be it!
Suzuki hooks the leg!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...TH-NO!
Otto Ritter gets a shoulder up! The crowd cheers!
Wright: Ritter survives the slam, but at what cost?
Park: Suzuki’s waiting for him, ready to put him away!
Otto Ritter crawls on the mat as he tries to create some space away from Suzuki, but Suzuki impatiently pursues him, only for Ritter to go straight through his legs! Ritter gets back up to his feet and grabs Suzuki’s arm, before stepping over it and transitioning to his backside! He leaps over Suzuki and then gets down and crawls backwards behind him one more time, popping the crowd as he steps over a ducking Suzuki and rolls him up!
Wright: That’s the Marsch in Richtung Freiheit! Protest für den Frieden!
Park: What?
Wright: It’s the same roll-up that pinned Styler at Supremacy! There’s the count!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THR-NO!
Daku Suzuki kicks out!
Wright: A burst of agility from Ritter there, but that might be all he had left!
Park: And Suzuki’s clearly got a bit more in the tank!
Before Suzuki can return to his feet, Ritter takes one of Suzuki’s legs and torques it behind his own neck, before stomping on his head to begin a stretch muffler! Before the hold can be fully applied, Ritter impressively rises to his feet with the leg still wrapped around his neck, and his own leg wrapped around Suzuki, trapping him in a modified dragon sleeper!
Wright: What the-- what the hell is this?
Park: I was told that’s the Komm Süßer Tod - a wicked modified dragon sleeper that translates to Come Sweet Death!
Wright: Things aren’t looking good for Suzuki here, getting trapped in this painful hold twisting and torquing his whole body!
Park: And he’s being choked out at the same time!
Suzuki reaches out for the ropes with a free hand, desperate to keep his standing position and get the break. His hand closes, but not around the ropes as he drops backward with a brutal thud. The referee doesn’t even bother to raise his arm, calling for the bell instead!
Washington: Here is your winner, OTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOO RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTERRRRRR!
Wright: Daku Suzuki came with brutal power and strikes, but the agile Ritter managed to stay a step ahead of him!
Park: Not to mention the sweet death choke! The way Suzuki hit the mat there, I don’t think he’ll be waking up anytime soon!
The crowd cheers as Das Blitzkind has his arm raised.
Wright: The newcomer Otto Ritter looks for the biggest win of his career on March 25th, taking on Esmur for the FIRESIDE World Championship at Fuel for the Fire!
Park: That should be a great one! And next Inferno, Jonnie Valentine and a partner take on the House of Lords and Five and Divine, with the winner fighting the Unique Stud Alliance at that event!
Wright: I’m looking forward to that! My name’s Oliver Wright, that’s UnJoo Park, thank you for watching!
Park: Goodnight!
The last thing we see is Otto Ritter standing on the top rope, pointing at the cheering crowd, and then miming the FIRESIDE World Championship being wrapped around his waist.