The AWF Presents Road To Victory - LIVE from Charlotte, NC!
Mar 20, 2021 15:35:11 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Kira Izumi, and 2 more like this
Post by ForeverKuroi on Mar 20, 2021 15:35:11 GMT -5
Ascension Wrestling Federation Presents:
Live at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC.
3/20/2021
Capacity: 19077
In Attendance: 3815
The camera is wasting no time. The camera pans around quickly to the first few seconds through the loud and excited fans before the camera stops at the two commentators of Road To Victory.
Taylor: Welcome one and welcome all to The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina! I hope that you all have your seat belts on as we are now on the Road To Victory!
Romano: That's right! We have a very explosive show for you tonight. EVERY belt is on the line tonight!
Taylor: ...Even the Around The Clock Championship?
Romano: ...Do you even know what Around The Clock means? She defends it every second of every day!
Taylor: Ahah. I forgot! But other people are defending their championships, even the top of them all. Keith Williams!
Romano: You can surely find better ways of phrasing that, but yes. Keith Williams is taking on the challenger, Adam Sanders.
Taylor: As well as his best buddy, Betsy Granger. She's defending her belt around the young Frankie Webb!
Romano: He's got a hell of a fight ahead, much like former High Finance partners, Cross Recoba and Chris Card.
Taylor: These two have gone through hell, much like the hell that ReVenant Rob Garcia takes on Kira Izumi. True torment there!
Romano: A true test of agility, not unlike that from the Junior Heavyweight Division. We're showing our worth to the XHF Network community as Myojin approaches AWF-Town. He takes on Bloodied Fox.
Taylor: Aiden Merric is also hunting Tasmin Richards, but is he facing a beast so big that he can't even hunt it?
Romano: But let's not think that we have gone over ALL the belts. Tonight, Neo James Carner will be defending himself against Erin Gordon. He may be cocky and cool, but he just may need to scramble to try to hold onto that belt.
Taylor: But speaking of scrambles and belts, we have a scramble going on to see who will be able to bank for a belt that they earn. The most falls, you win and by how much determines the worth of your prize. Oh, and it starts... Now!
Romano: Enjoy Road To Victory, everyone!
"Kung Fu Fighting" plays as Xialong runs to the ring, ready to begin the match.
Taylor: We're starting this explosive shot off with one of the most senior members of the AWF staff, Xialong!
Romano: All these years and hasn't lost a beat.
"Bamboleo" by Gypsy Kings hits over the P.A. System and the crowd goes crazy for their Spanish Luchador! 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. He stops on the way to the ring a couple of times to take selfies with the crowd.
Jessie Love: Making his way to the ring... from Madrid, Spain... weighing in at 212 pounds... CARLOOOOS RUUUUIIIIZ!
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.
Taylor: Carlos is such a wonderful wrestler and he's so well mannered. I'm rooting for!
Romano: He has a lot of fire and desire. Don't dilly dally now!
Poppy electronic beats hit the sound system of the arena as “Hypa Hypa” by Eskimo Callboy begins to play. The lights surrounding the stage strobe blue and pink alternating colors with the beat as the rest darken almost completely. With the beat, Kallie Reznik appears from underneath the curtain, her arms behind her as she skips to the center of the stage. In her hair, she wears a pair of sequined Minnie Mouse ears and a white jacket over her ring attire. A bright, innocent smile paints her face as she sings along to the lyrics of the song, swaying side to side, bopping with it as she meets eyes with some of the fans in attendance.
♫HYPA HYPA, YOU’RE PRETTY AND I LIKE YA
MOVE YOUR BODY, GIRL, ALL NIGHT LONG
HYPA HYPA, YOU’RE PRETTY AND I LIKE YA
YOU’RE GONNA BE MY GIRL ALL NIGHT LONG♫
At the end of the phrase, Kallie turns her body and sightly, pops her hip out and raises her hand with a silly peace symbol held in it as she winks flirtatiously just as the heavier guitar riffs of the theme begins. With a grin, she begins to skip down to the ring, stopping to high five a couple of younger female fans along the way. She picks a special younger girl as she reaches the bottom of the ramp and takes the Minnie Mouse ears off her head, placing them on the head of the girl before she runs and slides under the ring.
♫ YOU ARE MY DRUG
YOU'RE EVERYTHING I WANT
I WOULD GIVE MY SOUL FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU AT ONCE
PUT YOUR HANDS UP
WELL, LET ME SEE YOU SHAKE YOUR HIPS ♫
Keeping at that run, Kallie rushes forward and grabs the top rope, slingshotting the rest of her body underneath it and sitting on the second rope, letting it bounce her up and down as she grins at the crowd, raising a hand in the air. The crowd pops happily for her, before she bounces herself off and begins to head for her corner, taking her ring jacket off and then leaning into the turnbuckle, grasping the ropes with both hands and testing the tension as her music fades out.
Taylor: Kallie Reznik is one of the hottest new talent here. I'm ready for all she has for me!
Romano: ...You sound like such a pervert, but she is very gifted in the ring.
As the word “Firecracker” appears on the large screen, red and green laser lights spin around the arena as The Soapgirls begin to sing the opening to the song. Then the word fades and is replaced by the name “Dakota” as the redhead makes her way out to the stage area, the fans becoming thunderous in their applause for her. She raises a single arm up before making her way down the aisle.
” Making her way down the aisle, she hails from Syracuse, New York, by way of Scottsdale, Arizona.....She is the Firecracker, The Chairwoman of the XHF, DAKOOOTTTAAA JJEEENNNIINNGGSSSS!!!”
Reaching the ring, she confidently strides up the steps before stepping under the second rope before climbing up one of the turnbuckles, raising a defiant middle finger toward her opponent as the fans cheer her relentlessly.
Taylor: Everyone, this is the winner of the End of Days tournament for 2020, Dakota Jennings!
Romano: And she's back. Since she's backed, she's done nothing but kick ass.
“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: This guy... He gives me the creeps!
Romano: I feel like his picture is on more than just AWF posters, but also on police stations.
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.
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.
They then slowly and methodically make their way to the ring and then lights eventually turn back to normal.
Taylor: This guy... He gives me the creeps!
Romano: You just said that about Adkins. ...Funny how context certainly changes the word.
XHF Phoenix Super Scramble Championship Match
Rules: A 30-Minute Match where your prize is based on how many falls the wrestler with the most falls secures. If you get two falls, you qualify for the XHF Phoenix Championship. Three falls, the AWF United States Championship. If you manage to get four or more falls, you get the chance to win the AWF Prestige Championship.
Xiaolong vs. Copycat vs. Carlos Ruiz vs. Kallie Reznik vs. Dakota Jennings vs. Greg Adkins vs. Jitterman vs. Jordan Cassidy
Taylor: This is a reminder to all of you at home. We have eight wrestlers in the ring. We have all three referees in the ring to keep the action as accurately tracked as possible. The match will run for thirty minutes. The winner of the match will be the one who has the most pinfall or submission victories in the duration of the match. The winner will receive a title shot based on how many falls they get.
Romano: Two falls gets them a Phoenix shot, three is a US, four or more is a Prestige shot.
Taylor: Indeed. There will be no disqualifications or count outs. But falls will only be legal in the ring. And if you look on the screen, you can see a nice little scoreboard and the time remaining, to help those follow where we are in the match.
DING DING DING
Head referee Gabe Valentine calls for the bell as Nate Biggs and Steve Tyrell maintain a perimeter around the ring. Kallie Reznik glances between Dakota Jennings and Carlos Ruiz. Carlos has his eyes on Dakota. Dakota on the other hand is trying to keep those two along with Greg Adkins in her line of sight. Xiaolong is the first person to finally make a move by leaping on the back of Ruiz, who throws a few elbows to get the two-time Phoenix Champion off of him. Copycat and Jordan Cassidy both go for the Jitterman but that ends up being a mistake as Jitterman quickly dispatches both of them by shoving them with each of his arms.
Taylor: And the action has begun!
Romano: If you can call what Copycat and Cassidy tried to do as action.
Dakota and Kallie start exchanging lefts and rights. Ruiz pulls off a powerslam on Xiaolong. Jitterman lifts Cassidy in the air and tosses him out of the ring. While this is all going on, Greg Adkins attempts to steal an early fall with a cover on Copycat. Steve Tyrell on the count!
ONE!!
TWO!!
Jitterman yanks Adkins off Copycat to prevent the fall from being won.
Taylor: Greg Adkins tries to get an easy fall right here.
Romano: It benefits no one to let someone win a fall. So you can expect the other six to be aware of pin attempts and submissions. It is advisable that you break up any that you see occurring.
Jitterman starts throwing wild strikes at Adkins, who is clearly regretting his strategy. Dakota finally manages to get a spinning heel kick to get an upper hand on Reznik. And speaking of spinning heel kicks, Xiaolong executes one on Carlos Ruiz.
Taylor: So much action going on at once!
Romano: This is a big clusterfuck right here. Chaos was to be expected!
Jitterman lands a pumphandle slam on Adkins, taking him out of the equation for the time being. As Dakota Jennings is about to grab the downed Kallie Reznik before she is grabbed by Jitterman. The sinister giant yanks Dakota Jennings away from Reznik.
Taylor: Wow, the look of fear on Dakota’s face!
Romano: I mean, what sane person wouldn’t! He’s Jitterman!
Dakota snaps out of her fear to try a shiranui, but Jitterman turns the move into a sidewalk slam. He grabs her by the throat and tilts her head a bit until Jitterman is taken down from behind… by Kallie Reznik, Carlos Ruiz, and Xiaolong. All three competitors work together to keep striking the big man until he is on the ropes. Dakota gets back up and the four of them efficiently hit a sidekick on Jitterman, sending him to the outside.
Taylor: Wow! What an effort to get the Jitterman out of the ring!
Romano: I mean, as terrifying as he is, you had four pretty legitimate competitors ganging up on him.
Taylor: Carlos, Dakota, Kallie, and Xiaolong… yeah, I wouldn’t want to face those four on my own. I don’t think I’d like fighting any combination of any two of them.
Romano: That’s why you’re calling the match. Welp, first official time marker.
Jessie Love: TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES REMAIN IN THE MATCH!!
Romano: So basically, we’ve had nothing happen in five minutes. What happens if there are no falls in thirty minutes? Sudden death? No one gets a title shot?
Taylor: I mean, they still got a lot of time.
The truce was off, as all four of the competitors started to battle it out near the ring ropes. Dakota had Xiaolong in a headlock until Carlos kicked her off of him, but Kallie jumps on Carlos’s back to slow him down. On the other side of the ring, Copycat and Jordan Cassidy were starting to get back into the ring. Cassidy takes a swing at Copycat, who barely gets out of the way in time. Cassidy then feels his legs being yanked out from underneath him and is pulled out of the ring by Greg Adkins. Once Adkins is in the ring, Copycat starts to thank him… only for Greg Adkins to grab him in a pump handle position.
Romano: Copycat should have known better than that!
Taylor: And here it comes! OVERDOSE!!
Adkins covers. The four competitors on the opposite end of the ring don’t see what happened. Gabe Valentine on the count.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: GREG ADKINS HAS SCORED HIS FIRST FALL!
Taylor: Well, there goes your scenario where no one gets any falls.
Romano: What lucky fool put money down on Adkins being the first to get a fall in this thing?
Taylor: I dunno. I feel like Copycat would have been a popular choice for the first one to eat a pinfall.
Dakota just realized what happened and immediately tees off on Adkins, but Adkins side steps the kick attempt. Adkins uses the momentum Dakota had to toss her out of the ring, but Xiaolong sends Adkins down the same road. Xiaolong turns around to see the Jitterman waiting for him.
Taylor: Where did he come from? I don’t remember seeing him getting back in the ring!
Romano: Xiaolong is probably regretting turning around. He might be wearing a mask but the terror is there!!
Taylor: He’s backing away but he’s out of real estate!
Xiaolong tries to strike the Jitterman but Jitterman shrugs it off easily. Jitterman only has to deliver one strike and Xiaolong tumbles over the ropes and onto the floor. Jitterman climbs over the ropes to pursue. Jordan Cassidy gets back into the ring and is immediately dropped with a hurricanrana. As soon as Carlos pops back up, he turns and sees Kallie diving off the top rope towards him.
Taylor: The Threads of the Moirai! Kallie Reznik was waiting for him!
Romano: Carlos was in an unfortunate position there. That’s the thing with these matches with so many wrestlers. Just when you do something right against one of them, another one takes advantage of you.
Taylor: Kallie waited til the right time. And now with the cover, Biggs on the count!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: KALLIE REZNIK HAS SCORED HER FIRST PINFALL!
Carlos kicks out just a hair too late. Upset with being pinned like that, he charges Reznik. Reznick is caught offguard and is dropped to the mat by the charge. After a few strikes, Carlos tries to lock in his Cangrejo Espanol but Copycat runs into the ring and… bumps into Carlos? Copycat tries to punch Carlos a few times before Carlos drops Reznik’s legs and clotheslines Copycat, who drops to the floor like the clothesline was the most devastating move ever.
Jessie Love: TWENTY MINUTES REMAIN IN THE MATCH!
Carlos yanks Copycat back up by Kallie grabs onto Carlos’s foot. By the time Carlos realizes this is going on, Kallie also has someone grabbing her foot… IT’S THE JITTERMAN FROM THE OUTSIDE!!
Taylor: Well, that’s nightmare inducing.
Romano: Kallie going to start having that replay in her bed every night!
Taylor: So in the ring, we still have Carlos, Copycat, and now Adkins.
Greg Adkins gets up and quickly tosses Copycat out of the ring before turning his attention to Carlos, who quickly hits a spinning heel kick on Guttertrash. Carlos turns around but Dakota Jennings was waiting for him.
Taylor: DKO MK I!!
Romano: Wait, Jordan Cassidy just entered the ring!
Dakota notices Cassidy and uses her feet to take him out as well.
Taylor: DKO MKII!!
Romano: Damn, Dakota just cleared house!
Taylor: She’s trying to cover both of them at the same time!
Romano: Can she do that? Well, Biggs and Tyrell are counting them…
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: DAKOTA JENNINGS HAS SCORED HER FIRST AND SECOND PINFALL!
Taylor: Wow, Dakota just went from zero falls to having the lead in the match!
Romano: Talk about turning the tables! The End of Days winner is on a roll now!
Taylor: If the score stands at this point, Dakota Jennings would win a shot at the XHF Phoenix Championship, currently held by Betsy Granger. Granted, Betsy is defending it against Frankie Webb tonight.
Romano: Can you imagine Betsy versus Dakota though? That match would be fire!
Dakota tries to get another cover on Carlos, who counters it into a small package.
ONE!!
TWO!!
Greg Adkins makes the save!! But it seems as though everyone forgot what was going on as Jitterman reemerges into the ring, drawing an instant reaction from all the fans in the reaction. Jordan Cassidy gets up only to be taken out with a Death Strike from the Jitterman. Dakota is dropped with a Lights Out. Carlos rolls out of the ring after already taken two finishers so far in the match, leaving Greg Adkins alone with the Jitterman.
Taylor: After easily removing Cassidy and Jennings, Jitterman has Greg Adkins trapped!
Romano: This is not good for Greg.
Jitterman steps closer before Greg Adkins licks both of his hands and hits Jitterman, his right following the left. Jitterman doesn’t react. He reaches his hand into his trunks, pulls it out and goes for the Dirty Claw, but Jitterman simply remains standing and eventually shoves Adkins off of him effortlessly. Jitterman doesn’t let Greg get up on his own, instead lifting him up and dropping him with the Crucifix. Jitterman gets the cover, and Valentine slides to count the pinfall.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: THE JITTERMAN HAS SCORED HIS FIRST PINFALL!
Carlos prods Xiaolong and Reznik on the outside. The three of them slide into the ring and instantly push Jitterman into the corner of the ring. Carlos and Xiaolong place Jitterman on the top rope and get him into suplex position.
Taylor: They’re getting the Jitterman into Superplex position! And Kallie Reznik is on the top rope on the other side!
Romano: They’re working together efficiently and that might be what they will have to do to occasionally equalize the Jitterman.
Xiaolong and Carlos Ruiz successfully superplex the Jitterman into the center of the ring, shaking it violently. By the time that happens, Kallie Reznik leaps off the top rope and hits a shooting star press. All three competitors try to get the cover on Jitterman, but Greg Adkins, Dakota Jennings, and Copycat pull them away. Kallie kicks Copycat off of her, sending Copycat into the corner. Carlos puts Dakota into a headlock and drives her to the mat with a DDT. Greg Adkins and Xiaolong exchange lefts and rights before Carlos takes out both men with a running crossbody. Carlos picks up Xiaolong and slams him with a luchaplex. Kallie Reznik lands a running dropkick on Greg Adkins, sending him to the floor outside the ring. Carlos hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Copycat before locking up with Kallie without realizing Copycat landed on the downed Xiaolong.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Romano: Did… that just happen?!
Taylor: Regardless of how it happened, it counts?
Romano: Alright then. Copycat is on the board.
Jessie Love: COPYCAT HAS SCORED HIS FIRST FALL! FIFTEEN MINUTES REMAIN IN THE MATCH!
Carlos locks Kallie Reznik into an abdominal stretch, remembering that she got him earlier in the match when he had his back turned. Kallie eventually wiggles free and tries to snapmare, but Carlos rolls through it and drops a lariat on Reznik. And then he is finally able to lock in the move he tried earlier in the match…
Taylor: Cangrejo Espanol!! He’s got the Spanish Crab locked in this time!!
Romano: Kallie is nowhere near the ropes nor a competitor who is around to do anything. It’s not a match where tapping ends it. You gotta fight another fall.
Kallie does what is likely the smart thing due to the nature of the match. With no one coming to her rescue and no hope of getting to the ropes, Kallie submits so she doesn’t risk further damage for the rest of the match.
Jessie Love: CARLOS RUIZ HAS SCORED HIS FIRST FALL!
Taylor: And Carlos Ruiz gets a measure of revenge for earlier in the match. Remember when you were getting concerned that the falls weren’t coming early in the match?
Romano: Yeah, clearly it’s picked up. Seven falls later. And we’re just a bit past the halfway point.
Taylor: Dakota still has the lead with two falls right now. But the only people without one iare Xiaolong and Jordan Cassidy.
Carlos releases the hold but tries to lock it back in but Kallie kicks Ruiz in the gut. She kips up and bicycle kicks Ruiz. Dakota Jennings gets back into the ring and starts stalking Kallie. As soon as she turns around, Dakota hits her signature and Kallie “should have seen it coming”. Dakota gets the cover to try to get three.
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Kallie Reznik kicks out, knowing that three falls might be hard to overcome. On the other end of the ring, Xiaolong starts to pull himself up. Jitterman starts to sit up and that catches the attention of Dakota, Xiaolong, and even the returning Greg Adkins and Jordan Cassidy. Jordan Cassidy is the first to make a move at Jitterman with a punch. Cassidy takes a few steps from the giant and realizes that the Jitterman’s eyes are now locked on him. Cassidy rolls out of the ring and starts running around the ring with Jitterman in pursuit. While this is going on, Xiaolong uses this distraction to fire off a series of rainmakers on Adkins and finish off his strike combination with a superkick.
Taylor: Desolation!!
Romano: I don’t think anyone saw it either!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: XIAOLONG HAS SCORED HIS FIRST PINFALL!
Kallie Reznik gets up after seeing the pinfall Xiaolong just scored and immediately hits her own signature kick called Elysium. She hops onto the top rope to Split the Styx and remains on top of Xiaolong for a cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: KALLIE REZNIK HAS SCORED HER SECOND FALL! TEN MINUTES REMAIN IN THE MATCH!
Taylor: Dakota Jennings and Kallie Reznik are tied at two a piece.
Romano: And now we hit the single digits in terms of minutes remaining.
Taylor: So many people at one can still get in that mix with the two women too.
Kallie gets back up and immediately is met with Copycat… attempting to tackle her. Reznik uses this opening to land a Northern Lights Suplex, but when Kallies tries to bridge the move, Dakota Jennings breaks it up. The two women rise to their feet and start exchanging blows before Dakota lands a knee to the gut. As soon as Dakota tries to hit the DKO Mk I, Kallie holds onto the ropes. Kallie moves fast to hit her Ursa Major before Dakota could recover from the missed DKO. Cover by Reznik.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR...NO!!
Kallie gets the shoulder up. Dakota slams her fists to the mat that she keeps narrowly missing her third fall. Kallie rolls out of the ring to avoid being targeted again and before Dakota can follow, she is grabbed from behind and slammed to the ground with a german suplex. As soon as she pops back up to see who german suplexed her, she sees a foot colliding with her head.
Taylor: Carlos Ruiz with the Spanish Eyes!
Romano: He was pinned by Kallie and Dakota. He got revenge on Kallie with a submission. So maybe...
Taylor: This is how he gets Dakota back?
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: CARLOS RUIZ HAS SCORED HIS SECOND FALL!
Taylor: And now Carlos is in that deadlock with two falls each!
Romano: And most of all, he got revenge for the two falls he gave up. He has them over the people he is tied with too.
Taylor: These are true statements.
Jordan Cassidy realizes running in circles around the ring was doing him no good and takes off towards the entrance ramp with Jitterman still following him. Copycat is back in the ring and starts trying to fight Carlos from behind. While Carlos is able to dispatch Copycat easily with a snap suplex, Greg Adkins grabs Carlos in his “Little Ruiz” and squeezes. Carlos winces in pain.
Taylor: How is this legal?!
Romano: Well, it’s no disqualification.
Taylor: I meant in terms of law. He’s literally grabbing Carlos’s… ahem, sex organ.
The hold is thankfully split up by Xiaolong after he jumps on Greg’s back and locks in a chokehold of his own. Carlos rolls out of the ring to recover from that. Kallie Reznik is back up and quickly covers Copycat, who is still down from the earlier suplex.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR...BROKEN UP BY DAKOTA!!
Desperate to stay in the match, Dakota Jennings breaks up the pin attempt once more.
Taylor: Gotta give Dakota credit. She has broke up a lot of possible falls.
Romano: Someone is going to get a Phoenix or US shot instead of a Prestige because of her.
Taylor: That might frustrate the eventual winner. Though it might be her.
Romano: If it is, it will be BECAUSE of her ability to break up these falls.
Dakota is on one knee, breathing heavy. Kallie is on her knees and sucking air as well. Exhaustion is starting to set in for all the competitors as Jessie Love announces how much time is remaining.
Jessie Love: FIVE MINUTES OF MATCH TIME REMAINING
As soon as this happens, Jordan Cassidy slides into the ring. Jitterman enters right behind him. Both women go for Jitterman immediately, but Jitterman grabs both women and make them collide. Cassidy is cornered with nowhere to go until Jitterman starts choking him out with Sleep Tight. Cassidy doesn’t take long to fade as Valentine raises his arm three times and all three drop.
Jessie Love: THE JITTERMAN HAS SCORED HIS SECOND FALL!
Taylor: Now it’s a four-way tie at two falls a piece with under five minutes remaining.
Romano: Everyone in the ring is sapped of energy except the Jitterman.
Taylor: Jitterman hasn’t been pinned yet either.
Romano: Nope! And I don’t think that’s changing anytime soon.
Carlos strikes Jitterman from behind, hoping the sneak attack will work on but it does not. But that doesn’t stop Carlos from trying, hitting every strike with everything he’s got. Jitterman flinches a bit but not much more than that. He tilts his head in amusement at Carlos and looks to try to deliver a haymaker, but Xiaolong delivers a stiff kick to the back of Jitterman’s knee. Carlos uses this spot to go for a springboard moonsault. This is the first move in the whole match to finally take down Jitterman to the point where he looks pinnable. Carlos hooks the leg on Jitterman to try to take the lead.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR...NO!!
Kickout by Jitterman keeps the four-way tie. Jitterman gets back to his feet a bit more slowly than before. Carlos is also slow to his feet. Jitterman waits for Carlos to run to him and lands a powerslam on the Spanish Luchador. Reznik and Jennings get back to their feet and work together once more to take Jitterman out of the ring with stereo dropkicks. As Jitterman tumbles to the outside, Jessie makes her announcement.
Jessie Love: SIXTY SECONDS REMAIN IN THE MATCH!!
Taylor: Under a minute to go! Still tied between Carlos, Jitterman, Dakota, and Kallie.
Romano: I ask again what happens if the score remains the same. Do all four get Phoenix shots?
Taylor: I honestly do not know. I’m sure we’ll get some sort of clarification if it comes to that.
Adkins and Xiaolong rise to their feet. Dakota shows Xiaolong what comes from Syracuse with a release half-nelson suplex. Greg Adkins clotheslines Dakota from behind but before he can lock in the Pleasure Lock, Kallie Reznik lands a running leg drop bulldog on Greg. As Adkins tries to get back up, wanting to tie the other four so badly, Kallie does a move she rarely ever uses, frontflipping into a backstabber.
Taylor: Touch of the Erinyes!
Romano: Oh wow, that’s deep in her bag of tricks!
Taylor: She has about thirty seconds to score a pinfall. She had to. Cover!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jessie Love: KALLIE REZNIK HAS SCORED HER THIRD PINFALL!
Taylor: The tie is broken!
Romano: She just has to hold it twenty more seconds!
Xiaolong hits Reznik in the back of the head with a roundhouse kick. Xiaolong does the same to Dakota Jennings but Carlos sneaks into the ring behind Xiaolong. He’s clearly tired but determined.
Taylor: Ten seconds!
Romano: Carlos is going for something here. He has to be quick! He’s down to eight!
Xiaolong turns around and Carlos blasts Xiaolong with Spanish Eyes as soon as he turns around. Carlos drops to his knees after delivering the kick and crawls over to Xiaolong to get the pin but he hears an airhorn and the bell ring.
Jessie Love: Time has expired in this match!! Here is your winner and the number one contender to the AWF United States Championship, KALLIE REZNIK!!
Taylor: Man, what a match!! Poor Carlos was just a couple of seconds too slow to tie it up.
Romano: Poor Jitterman lost without getting pinned!
Taylor: And Jordan Cassidy will unfortunately go down as the person who couldn’t get a single fall in this match. But the important thing is, Kallie Reznik has a shot at the winner between Erin Gordon and Neo James Carner!
Backstage Frankie Webb is walking down one of the hallway areas, mopping sweat off his brow after his hard fought match with Kallie Reznik. He stops for a second as the always cordial Chris Card is skuling around the corner and greets Frankie with whatever his apporixamtion of warmth is.
Chris Card: Mr Webb. I wanted to have a quick word.
Frankie Webb: You really need to speak to Coach. He's my first contact for business arrangements.
Chris Card: Personally I'd rather talk to the, no offence to Coach intended, organ grinder rather than the monkey. It's your akill in the ring that brought me here not his.
Frankie Webb: So what do you want, Chris.
Chris Card: I have a simple proposition to you. You have a background in the marital arts. As do I.
Frankie Webb: I'm a judoka. It's a background.
Chris Card: And you're using that to aid your professional wrestling career, as do I.
Frankie Webb: Yuo.
Chris Card: You know who else does those two things?
Frankie Webb: Abel Anderson.
Card smiles, knowingly.
Chris Card: See, you're smart. You pick up on stuff easily. I like that about you too. What you need to pick up on, however, are some of the subtleties that grease the wheels of this industry. You need a little guidance in your career. And I can offer you that.
Frankie Webb: I get my guidance from Coach. It's worked fine so far.
Chris Card: I respect that. But is Coach an AWF Hall Of Famer? I'm not saying that you don't have a chance to succeed with your present arrangements. I'm saying you can succeed faster with a few choice pointers.
Frankie Webb: I just don't...
Chris Card: This isn't the sort of offer that comes without a time limit. You go back and talk to Coach. Fine. But I'm giving you the chance to reap significant rewards.
Frankie Webb: Or face consequences?
Chris Card: That would be coersion. Still in your shoes I'd rather be by my side than staring down the barrel of a 265lb shotgun. Think on it.
Frankie Webb: I will.
Card saunters off in his own direction leaving Frankie looking thoughtfully into the camera.
The music plays as red lights pulsate throughout the arena. We pan across the venue before resting on the stage. Kira can be seen moving erratically on the stage before he drops down to a laying position. He starts slithering and shaking about before he sits back up and chunky red liquid comes out of his mouth. He stands up and begins seductively spreading and wiping it all over himself before he crawls down the ramp way.
自由 愛情 暴動 権力
魔人婦穴 密売都市
政権 貧困 独裁 核
自由はあるだろ己の中
He starts to shake and move erratically around the ring, almost as if he's dancing in some weird twisted sort of way. He makes his way into the ring shortly after.
渦巻く歓声 実行 銃弾
減り込む ONE TWO 頭蓋 ONE TWO THREE
渦巻く銃声 耳を突いた
弾ける看守 笑い叫ぶ
He goes into the middle of the ring where he shakes and moves even more violently and erratically. Even more blood comes out of his mouth as he reaches up to the sky. He crawls into his corner where he sits and waits for the match to begin.
Taylor: This is Kira Izumi in all his fury!
Romano: And to him, this is home. Rob's going to Kira's house tonight.
🎶HARD🎶 by Tay-K and BloccBoy JB erupts over the sound system throughout the arena and a roar of boo's and jeers explodes from the crowd. The beat drops and out from the curtain walks Rob Garcia wearing what looks to be a mink coat. He stops and stands at the entrance ramp, staring at the crowd with a smug look upon his face. As he stands there, his manager, Jeff Noon then makes his way out holding a clipboard and he then stands to the right of Rob. Rob turns his head to look at Jeff, and they both nod, Rob then slowly makes his way down towards the ring, Jeff following behind. Rob stops half way and starts trash talking a fan, Jeff then uses his clipboard to block the fans face when they try to react and he then moves his hand forward to escort Rob to the ring. Rob jumps up on the ring apron, as Jeff runs up the steps, he walks to the turnbuckle, climbs it and raises his hand in the air holding up his index finger. The crowd continues to boo and yell insults and vulgar remarks at Rob as he yells "I'm the man! I'm number one! I'm the king of extreme!" He then jumps down off the turnbuckle and makes his way over to Noon.
Taylor: A renowned ReVenant, Rob's here and he's ready to rock!
Romano: Rob's has had a few matches that didn't end out his way. He's ready for a win, but against Kira in his own domain? He's got a hell of a hill to climb.
Singles Death Match
Kira Izumi vs. Rob Garcia
Nate Biggs looks cautiously as the two men remain in their corners. Jeff Noon can be heard delivering a psycho-like sermon.
Taylor: You only have to know what these two competitors are capable of to know that Biggs will have his work cut out tonight.
Romano: If it’s bordering on attempted murder, step in, else just do you job, where’s the problem?
Noon: HE COST YOU YOUR TITLE! SEND HIM BACK TO THE INDIES! SEND HIM TO HELL!
Jeff stands between his client and Kira, his words building up Garcia into a frenzy. The camera cuts to Izumi, he can be heard muttering curses in Japanese that thankfully, we can’t understand.
Taylor: Izumi knows that tonight is a huge opportunity for him. In all the times these two have faced off, he has never walked out with his arm raised.
Romano: Listen to any five second clip of what he said in the build-up to this match and you know he’s focused.
Taylor: That may be but Garcia has repeatedly shown how far he’ll go for a win in his time here and that’s without the added obstacle of Jeff Noon...
Exerting his authority early, Biggs firmly puts a hand on the shoulder of Izumi and his body language tells us that he isn’t going to hesitate in calling out anything that borders on criminal charge worthy assault. Kira nods whilst looking like he’s being lectured by an overbearing parent.
Romano: For those of you who haven’t seen Kira fight before, you’re going to find out why they call him Mr. Deathmatch. Just look at that stare towards Garcia!
Walking over to the other side, Nate points out of the ring and grabs Noon by the arm to escort him. Looking mortally offended, Jeff shakes free.
Noon (muttering): Hope you step on a lego in the middle of the night.
With his manager out the way, Garcia can be seen to almost be shaking with adrenaline and Noon-charged hatred. Biggs delivers the same instructions to the Revenant but no sign is evident that they’re registering.
Taylor: We’ve seen Garcia seek revenge since A Very AWF Christmas at the tail-end of last year. Kira cost him the match and his title that night and then neither one of them could beat Betsy Granger at XHF’s Supremacy event.
Having done all he can to lay down the law, Biggs signals for the bell.
Taylor: Here..we...go! Cassius, what do you think we’ll see in the opening exchanges?
Romano: ….
Taylor: Are you eating a hot-dog?
Romano (Mouth full): Come on, this is going to be like going to a ball-game, he’s got beer and tequila on sale too!
No sooner has the bell sounded than the two men charge into the ring and start to exchange stiff rights and lefts. Neither man is keen to show any sign of the pain from the blows and instead fire off their next shot with more force than the last.
Taylor: Both men unleashing a torrent of furious shots with neither man giving the other any quarter!
Izumi breaks the chain with a headbutt and follows it with a flicked uppercut that backs Garcia into the ropes. The J-ROK man grabs an arm and looks for an Irish Whip but Garcia has it scouted and reverses it. As Izumi comes back off the ropes he baseball slides through the legs of the Californian, Garcia spins to keep track of him...IZUMI POKES HIM IN THE EYE BEFORE DIGGING HIS TEETH INTO SOFT FLESHY TISSUE OF GARCIA’S EYEBROW!!!
Romano: THIRTY SECONDS IN AND KIRA GOES CANNIBAL!
Taylor: Invoking his inner Tyson, is this brutality for brutality’s sake or is there a gameplan?
Romano: Maim, Maim, Maim!
Reeling backwards, Garcia has little say in the matter as Izumi charges and lands a front-dropkick that shoots him into the turnbuckle. Kira keeps up the pressure and rolls backwards before charging with a roaring elbow that drops Garcia to the floor.
Taylor: Did you hear the connection?
Romano: We’re not going to see either man hold anything back tonight!
The fury is apparent as Kira grabs hold of the top-rope and uses it to get extra leverage, his foot pushing down into the throat of his nemesis. He lets up momentarily before raking his boot repeatedly across the face of Garcia.
Taylor: Cassius, can you explain the danger of what Kira’s doing?
Romano: Each rake of the boot, look at how methodical he’s hitting them, each one of those rakes is going to irritate the skin, cause tiny cuts and abrasions. If sweat gets in those, you’re going to know about it immediately!
Puling Garcia to his feet, Kira targets the forehead of his opponent with a forearm strike and grabs a waistlock...GARCIA MULEKICKS HIM!!!
Taylor: Not the most technical or textbook escape but Rob looking to try and wrest back control of the match.
Catching his opponent as he falls to the floor, Garcia lands his own uppercut.
Romano: That’s going to rock him, he caught him as Izumi’s own momentum was taking him down!
Chaining together strikes, Garcia backs Kira into the opposite corner he found himself in. He pays back the headbutt with one of his own and then he rabbit punches his opponent in the windpipe!
Taylor: Cheap move by Garcia!
Romano: But effective!
The Revenant takes a few steps back, RUNNING SENTON TO THE CORNER!
Taylor: He follows it up with a reminder that, when he wants to, he can mix that luchador influenced offense into his bar brawling style!
Truly trying to exact revenge for what happened moments before, Garcia takes the opportunity to start to rake his boots over the head of Izumi.
Romano: This is a smart move by Rob. He’s neutralising what Kira did to him, we’re going to see this come into play as the match gets longer...
Grabbing a hand full of hair, Rob lifts up Izumi to his feet and spits in his face!
Taylor: OF ALL THE...
Switching to the arm, Garcia pulls him in ...KIRA DUCKS THE SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE!!...SAITO SUPLEX!!!
Romano: His vision might be a little blurry until the spit clears but that was as crisp a Saito Suplex as you’re likely to see!
Rocked and surprised, Garcia scrambles to his feet but Kira meets him...BRAINBUSTER!
Taylor: Can that put him away?
Kira goes for the first pin attempt of the match…
JEFF NOON DRAGS HIS CLIENT OUT OF THE RING!!
Romano: NOON’S TAKING NO CHANCES TONIGHT!
Izumi is irate! He leans over the ropes and starts to shout dog’s abuse at Noon in Japanese. The cameras catch Noon palm something to Garcia.
Taylor: What did he slip him?
Kira rolls out of the ring but is caught by another low-blow by his opponent...ROB LAUNCHES A RED POWDER INTO THE FACE OF IZUMI!
Romano: CAYENNE PEPPER!!
Taylor: They’re not passing up any opportunity to nickel and dime their way to victory!
Romano: Want to win a deathmatch? Get down to that level of detail!
Taylor: We heard Frankie Webb’s manager, Coach, ask him to let him be an advocate like Noon this week. I hope for that youngster’s conscience, he didn’t see that!
Seizing the opportunity, GARCIA HITS A NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX INTO THE RING APRON!!
Romano: Garcia’s playing a smart game so far. He’s using EVERY advantage he can within the environment he’s in!
Still trying to wipe the cayenne pepper from his face and eyes, Kira is powerless to stop Garcia grabbing his head and driving it repeatedly along the ring apron!!
Taylor: Those sickening thuds as he drives Izumi’s head into the apron are resounding around the arena!
The cameras catch Jeff Noon handing over a large amount of bills to the Hot Dog Vendor...THE VENDOR PASSES OVER THE HOT DOG CART TO NOON!
Taylor: WHAT IN THE?
Romano: Hungry work is death-match wrestling!
Reaching the end of the apron, Garcia wraps his arms around his opponent, he pulls him back and lifts up Izumi...RIPCORD PANCAKE INTO THE STEEL STEPS!
Taylor: Well, whilst his manager works on expanding his waistline, Garcia once more is using every possible surface and object he can to push his advantage!
A laugh is heard off-screen, the cameras catching Izumi’s face which is now busted open.
Romano: We’ve seen blood before in AWF but I get the feeling that this is the start of something our fans won’t have seen before!
Grabbing at the hot-dog cart, Noon passes over condiments to his client...SALT AND MUSTARD IS POURED LIBERALLY ONTO THE OPEN WOUNDS OF IZUMI!!
Taylor: I’VE SEEN IT ALL NOW!
Romano: You have no idea how much agony that’s going to be, literally pouring salts into the wounds of his opponent and then topping it off with mustard?
Taking a break from the attack, Garcia grabs a beer out of the hand of a fan and takes a sip. He lifts up Izumi and props him up against the ring-post before landing a knife-edge chop.
Crowd: WOOOOO!
Garcia takes another sip AND SPITS IT INTO THE FACE OF IZUMI!!!
Taylor: Garcia is showing Kira a new level of disrespect tonight!
Laughing as he turns his back on his opponent, Garcia reaches for the mustard again and spreads it on his fist.
Romano: Each one of those punches is going to spread more mustard and salt into the increasingly large cuts.
He reaches back to land an overhand right..IZUMI BLOCKS!.....GREEN MIST!!!
Taylor: KIRA HIT HIM WITH THE GREEN MIST!!
Picking up the condiments and KIRA TAKES THE TIME TO REPAY THE FAVOR! HE SCOOPS UP MUSTARD INTO HIS MOUTH AND SINKS HIS TEETH INTO THE FOREHEAD OF GARCIA AGAIN!
Taylor: Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it, Rob!
Sounds of pain escape from Rob, unable to do much about Kira rolling him back into the ring. Jeff Noon steps towards Kira but the Japanese wrestler shoots him a look that tells the manager to come no closer.
Taylor: Noon is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid to try and take on Izumi right now.
Back in the ring, Kira quickly and expertly dismantles the covering of the top and middle turnbuckles.
Romano: Being Japanese, Kira’s training was different to his American counterparts. You see how quickly he took those turnbuckles apart? Months of having to set-up and dismantle rings as part of his training and initiation into the sport.
The cameras show that Garcia is still feverishly trying to get the green mist out of his face but his hand is still covered in mustard.
Taylor: Rob’s finding himself in between a rock and a hard place. His sight limited, his ability to clear it away only causing more pain.
Showing no concern about his opponent, Kira lifts him up and in one fluid motion SENDS HIM HURTLING INTO THE EXPOSED TURNBUCKLES!!
Romano: GERMAN SUPLEX INTO THE STEEL OF THOSE EXPOSED TURNBUCKLES! HE’S BEEN OPENED UP!
Blood trickles down the forehead of Garcia. Leaving the ring, Kira’s march tips off the timekeeper to ask no questions. He stands up and Izumi snatches the chair and dives back into the ring.
Taylor: Our timekeeper clearly wanting no part of this action!
The Revenant sits back up but the first and last thing he sees is a STEEL CHAIR DRIVEN INTO HIS SKULL!
Taylor: Garcia given no time to duck out of the way of that steel chair shot from Izumi!
Holding the chair still, Kira examines it and sees the Garcia-shaped dent, he drags his opponent to the corner and places the chair over his face before stepping back.
RUNNING BASEMENT DROPKICK TO THE FACE!!!
Romano: Garcia’ll be lucky to not have a broken nose from that!
A contrasting shot, Garcia looking dazed and confused before the camera looks to Izumi whose smile reads more of derangement than happiness.
Taylor: We’ve passed the point of no return, this match is only going to get uglier and uglier!
Taking advantage, Kira lifts up Garcia to the top-turnbuckle and starts to climb up himself.
Romano: Exhibit A is being lined up on that front...
He tucks the head between his legs….PILEDRIVER FROM THE TOP TO THE APRON!!!
Taylor: TOP-ROPE DECAYED STATE OF MIND TO THE APRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Kira rolls off the apron and goes to make the cover, Biggs is a step behind getting to the outside…
ONE…
TWO…
NOON DRAGS IZUMI OFF HIS CLIENT!!
Romano: NOON STOPS THE MATCH FROM ENDING RIGHT THERE!
Taylor: But now, he has to deal with the consequences of his actions.
Letting go of the leg, the true horror of what Jeff has done hits him. Kira stands up and starts to back away, his arms in the air almost pleading an innocence that even he doesn’t believe.
Izumi: Yer’ dead!
Kira continues to step towards the Revenants’ advocate, Noon almost tripping himself over the ring steps as he backs away. The gap continually shrinking, the desperation on Noon’s face becomes greater and more evident with every foot of space that erodes.
Taylor: With each step that Izumi takes, Noon’s horror grows!
Noon drops to his knees and starts to beg once the gap is almost within touching distance...GARCIA LANDS A RUNNING JUMPING SPINNING DDT!!!!
Romano: NOON LURED HIM INTO THE OVERDOSE DDT!!
With his opponent stunned, Garcia looks under the ring. He throws out a spool of barbed wire into the ring, he grabs a table, and some light tubes. He assesses his options and plumps for a light-tube.
Taylor: And the match moves up another level…
Romano: Mr Deathmatch is about to be reintroduced to the King of Extreme...
Tapping it on the floor three times for luck, he yanks up a kneeling Kira so his face is now shown.
Garcia: MIKE PIAZZA SAYS FUCK YOU!!!!
Message from the LA Dodger Hall of Famer passed on...HE CONNECTS WITH A HOME-RUN DESERVING STRIKE OF THE LIGHT TUBE, THE SHARDS SHATTERING IN A CACOPHONY OF CARNAGE!!
Taylor: HE GOT ALL OF THAT!
Romano: Payback for the chairshot!
Free from his lucky escape, Noon is back at the hot-dog cart. He places tequila on a tray, lemons join them.Lastly he places a salt cellar down.
Taylor: What in the world is he doing?
Crowd: Dah-dah, dahdah,dahdah, dah-dah
Romano: I know, the crowd know, do you know? It’s like ABC!
Rushing to his charge, Noon presents the tray…
Taylor: You can’t take a drinks break in the middle of a deathmatch!!
Crowd: Dah-dah, dah, dah, dah-dah, dah
Rob places salt on his hand and licks it...HE POURS THE REST ONTO THE OPEN WOUNDS OF KIRA!
Crowd: Dah-dah, dahdah, dah-dah, dahdah,
He follows it up with a swig from the tequila bottle...THE REST OF THE BOTTLE DRENCHES KIRA!!
Crowd: Dah-Dah, Dah, Dah, Dah-Dah
Lastly, he sucks on a slice of lemon and proceeds to place the rest of the lemon in hand. LEMON JUICE SOAKED PUNCHES RAIN DOWN ON THE HEAD OF IZUMI!!!
Crowd: TEQUILA!
Romano: TEQUILA!
Taylor: You’ve got to be shitting me!
Garcia, satisfied that Kira is incapacitated for a while, starts to set up a table.
Romano: He’s not finished yet!
Garcia: JEFF, GET THE EXPLOSIVES!!
Taylor: Could this be the finale?
Romano: It’s the omega move!
The cameras catch a sheepish-looking Noon holding up a couple of sparklers.
Taylor: Izumi can breathe a sigh of relief that Noon clearly didn’t get the memo!
Shaking his head at the mistake, Rob looks for alternatives.
Romano: But now he has to contend with a further irritated Garcia and that’s only going to end badly.
He finds his answers with the tequila bottle, HE SHATTERS IT ON THE TABLE AND ROLLS KIRA ATOP…
Taylor: Glass shards went flying everywhere...
Romano: Except where the sticky tequila caught them...
Climbing onto the apron, Rob takes a quick glance over his shoulder and looks for the Asai Moonsault….KIRA MOVES AND GARCIA FEELS THE WRATH OF A THOUSAND SHARDS OF GLASS AND WOOD CUTTING HIS SKIN!
Taylor: THAT COULD BE A MOMENTUM SHIFTER IN THE FIGT!
Trying to sit up, the cameras catch Garcia’s face, a mix of blood, mustard and glass.
Romano: Both men looking like walking, talking Jackson Pollocks!
The J-ROK star now has a chance to go hunting under the ring, a rag, lighter fluid, and matches are pulled out and thrown into the ring. He pulls out a table covered with scissors on it.
Taylor: Where in the world did he get that?
Romano: The North Carolina State Arts & Crafts fair is in town next week!
He sets up the table and becomes aware that Jeff Noon is trying to sneak up on him...HE PULLS OUT A BOX CUTTER!
Taylor: Biggs! Step in!
Romano: You know if Adam Sanders is watching, his PTSD is setting in right now!
Taylor: Jackson Steele stressed this was a one-time only match stipulation but surely this is beyond the absurd now!
Seeing the blade, Noon once more backs away. Kira slides the box-cutter into his cargo pants and lifts up Garcia onto the apron. Climbing up, he hooks an arm and lifts him up and bounces him off the top-rope...JUMPING SLINGSHOT SUPLEX THROUGH THE SCISSOR TABLE!
Taylor: THAT HAS TO BE IT!!!
Kira covers…
ONE…
TWO…
THR-
ROB MANAGES TO GET AN ARM UP!!
Romano: Resilience in spades for that man!
Kira looks frustrated, he sees Jeff Noon approaching once more and only has to reach towards his pocket for Noon to take the hint and back away. Reaching down, Kira rolls Garcia into the ring.
Taylor: Noon is clearly wiser than he was before, not wanting any part of Kira whilst he has that box cutter to hand.
Looking to end the match, Kira picks up Rob BUT GARCIA GRABS THE BARBED WIRE AND GRINDS IT INTO THE FACE OF HIS OPPONENT!
Romano: Desperation move from the Revenant but can he follow it up?
Unsteady, but seemingly with a slight advantage, the Revanant pulls Kira back up AND PLANTS THE BARBED WIRE ATOP THE HEAD OF HIS RIVAL!
Taylor: IZUMI WITH A CROWN OF THORNS FROM THE KING OF EXTREME!
A stiff kick to the gut and he sets him up….A JUMPING PILEDRIVER PUSHES THE THORNS INTO THE TEMPLE OF IZUMI LEAVING HIM TO LOOK LIKE A JAPANESE JESUS!
Taylor: HOW MUCH MORE CAN EACH MAN TAKE??
Garcia looks for the win…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
THIS TIME IZUMI SUMMONS STRENGTH FROM AN UNKNOWN PLACE!!
Romano: You gotta ask yourself: is it shock, is it resolve, or is it experience that is giving these two men the ability to kick-out each time?
Garcia can hardly believe it!
Taylor: I don’t know and neither does Rob!
Outside the ring, Noon is squeezing a substance out from a bottle and onto his shoe.
Taylor: What is he doing?
The cameras show the manager grinding the bridge of his foot into the broken shards of glass.
Romano: That’s smart!
Biggs is dealing with a Garcia. Rob slaps his hand three times in succession but is only met with Nate holding two fingers up at him to signify the count.
Taylor: That he may be but his client isn’t taking the smartest route to winning the match if he thinks Biggs is going to budge on his decision!
KIRA COMES FROM BEHIND, HE WRAPS A BARBED-WIRED ARM AROUND THE NECK OF GARCIA...DRAGON SLEEPER!!!!
Taylor: Garcia’s trapped! This could be it!
Romano: Look at the barbs digging into the skin of Rob!
Thrashing in the hold, Rob realizes he has precious few options available to him. He tries to reach with his spare arm but Izumi has perfected the hold over the years he has spent in the ring. Fresh cuts open on his shoulder with every flex of the submission.
Taylor: Do rope breaks even count in a Deathmatch?
Romano: He’d waste too much energy even trying to make a break for an out like that...
Unleashing a gutteral roar, Garcia pushes up AND MANAGES A HEADSCISSOR TAKEDOWN FOR AN ESCAPE!
Taylor: GARCIA FINDS AN ANSWER!
Charging in for the kill, Garcia is caught off-guard by a drop-toe hold that catches his throat on the bottom rope.
Romano: Garcia guillotined on that bottom rope!
Taylor: Where is Izumi taking us next though?
Romano: You don’t want to know.
Taylor: No, I really don’t want to know!
A judo roll takes Izumi to where he wants to be. He grabs the rag and soaks it in lighter fluid.
Taylor: Is he?
Tying it around his knee, the crowd know what’s coming…
Romano: YES!!!
Crowd: ITAAAMI NO IZUUUMI! ITAAAMI NO IZUUUMI!
He sets light to the rag.
SHINING WIZARD CONNECTS WITH THE RISING GARCIA!!!!
Taylor: FLAMING ITAMI NO IZUMI!!!
The cameras catch Kira with a dead-eye stare kept on Garcia. He lifts him up and ducks between his legs to lift him onto his shoulders…
Taylor: This is it, he’s going for Houfuku...simply put, Revenge Suplex!
GARCIA DROPS DOWN THE BACK! Capitalizing, Garcia lifts him up in a back suplex AND DROPS HIM ONTO HIS KNEES AS HE FALLS BACK!!
Romano: NO! LUMBAR CHECK!
The rushing Revenant leaps onto the top-turnbuckle..
Taylor: IS GARCIA LOOKING FOR A MOONSAULT???
IZUMI SCRAMBLES TO HIS FEET AND LIFTS GARCIA OFF THE TOP AND ONTO HIS SHOULDERS….OCEAN CYCLONE SUPLEX INTO THE PIN!!!
Taylor: REVENGE SUPLEX! REVENGE SUPLEX FOR THE WIN!!!!
ONE…
TWO….
THRE-
JEFF NOON PUNTS KIRA IN THE JAPANESE JEWELS!!!
Taylor: NO!!
Romano: NOON CONNECTS WITH THE GLASS ENCRUSTED BOOT TO THE BALLS!
Collapsing to the mat, Izumi is clearly in agony whilst Noon can be seen sliding out of the ring.
Taylor: HE CAN’T WIN LIKE THIS!!
Romano: He wants to put an exclamation mark on it...
Garcia gingerly gets to a vertical base. He bends down to pick something up but steadies himself as he does so. He throws something to Noon and then picks up the barbed wire.
Taylor: Where is this going?
Romano: You know exactly where...
Wrapping it around his knee, Garcia leans back into the turnbuckle to prepare him…
Taylor: He measures him...
RUNNING FLYING KNEE!!!!
Taylor: LIGHTS OUT FOR HARMABE!!
Romano: With 100% more barbed wire!
Garcia: THIS IS IT! JEFF!
Romano: He’s not finished yet!
Following his orders, Noon sprays the lighter fluid on the table and throws the now lit book of matches atop it.
Taylor: No….he can’t
Romano: He can!
As he’s lifted to his feet, Izumi slumps over the shoulder of his opponent which only makes it easier for Garcia to lift him to the top turnbuckle.
Taylor: COME ON KIRA!
Rob puts a foot on the second turnbuckle and ducks himself so that Kira is now over the back of him. He places a careful foot atop the top rope as he hooks the head under his arm and he leaps….
TOP ROPE KRYPTONITE KRUNCH FROM THE TOP ROPE AND THROUGH THE BURNING TABLE!!!
Taylor: HE HAS TO BE DEAD!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Garcia, marginally less broken than his rival, leans back and drapes an arm over his opponent.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!
Nate Biggs signals for the bell. Garcia can be seen victorious but broken, Izumi has yet to move.
Jessie Love: The winner of this match, as a result of pinfall, THE KING OF EXTREME….ROB….GARCIA!!!!
We cut backstage to find Kallie Reznik moving down a hallway towards catering. She turns and looks down at some food before looking up and tilting her head.
Reznik: Tasmin?
The camera pans across to find Tasmin Richards, wearing a chefs hat, an apron, holding a ladle and donning a giant, fake,super Mario moustache.
Richards: Who?. I think you have me confused with someone else young lady.
Kallie goes to say something but can’t quite get it out before stepping back and then looking down beside Tasmin where the ATC title belt is sitting, in clear view. With Tasmins name on it. Kallie clears her throat and points at it.
Reznik: You might want to hide that….
Tasmin looks down at it, her left hand moving slightly to the side before hitting the ATC title off the bench like a cat.
Reznik: Legit, what are you doing?
Richards: Serving food?
Reznik: Taz….
She throws her hands up and shakes her head.
Richards: I’m hiding in plain sight.
Kallie blinks and looks to the left and to the right before shaking her head.
Richards: Fine…..
Tasmin takes the apron off and rips off the giant moustache before wincing and rubbing her top lip. She picks up the ATC title belt and moves around the counter before handing Kallie a sandwich.
Reznik: Oh hey ham!
Richards: No...it’s a BLT….
Kallie makes a face as Tasmin holds the title close and the two move away from catering as Tasmin keeps checking corners.
As the opening notes begin, the lights go out, save for a single spotlight on the top of the stage. Betsy comes out, but she’s only a silhouette at this point. Just as the drum strikes it’s second note, Betsy dabs and the lights come back. The song starts from the refrain as Betsy starts dancing down the ramp.
“Sin City’s cold and empty
No one’s around to judge me
I can’t see clearly when your gone-one-one”
Arms out, Betsy begins twirling around wildly, blonde ponytail whipping about with her, as she slaps hands with fans on both sides of the ramp. The chorus hits just as Betsy baseball slides into the ring.
“And I said ooooh, I’m blinded by the lights
I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
And I said ooooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust”
As the chorus chimes on, Betsy bounces up and hops up onto every ring corner, pumping her fist in time with the song, getting the fans amped up for the upcoming bout. When she finishes this display, she starts bouncing in place, preparing mentally for the bout.
Taylor: And here we have come to our first championship match of the evening, and this is going to be a big one.
Romano: Betsy Granger has come to her first loss and now has a little kid challenging her. Believe me, she is not happy.
Drake's "Enemies" plays as Frankie Webb heads out into the arena. He shoots a quick glance to the fans in the arena and hops a few time. He has sleeveless hood over his head as he slowly makes himself to the ring. He walks toward the ring, displaying a fake err of confidence. As he approaches the ring, he takes the hood and tosses it out of the ring. He hops up and down, waiting for the match to begin.
Taylor: Frankie Webb is here! These two have faced each other, but he he is hoping that tonight, things will be a little bit different than last time.
Romano: Normally this would be an open and shut case, but Frankie isn't just any sixteen year old. Let's see what happens.
XHF Phoenix Championship Match
Betsy Granger (c) vs. Frankie Webb
The bell rings. Frankie Webb pops out of his corner and suspiciously approaches the more comfortable Betsy Granger. The two rotate around the ring for a little bit before approaching one another with a elbow and collar lockup. Frankie instantly drops down to a knee and flips Betsy with a fireman's carry over the shoulder. Frankie goes for an armbar, but the flexible uses Betsy uses her leg span flexibility and her core strength to escape the hold and square off, giving enough space. Frankie notices this and immediately goes for a street-like punch, but Betsy redirects the blow to the side by using her feet to shift his stance. Betsy capitalizes this by going for the armbar herself! She grabs the arm of Frankie but before she can grab the elbow and secure the lock, Frankie rolls forward and uses his arm to sweep Betsy. She essentially falls backwards. Frankie gets up and falls forward with a punch, but Betsy captures Frankie with a head scissors submission. Frankie is trying to posture up to allow the full submission control to the champion, but the audience is clapping, for what they are witnessing is great wrestling.
Taylor: Frankie is learning very quickly that Betsy Granger knows some martial arts herself!
Romano: This is a mistake on his part. He's been going off about learning more since their last match-up. It's time for him to prove it.
Frankie is continuing trying to get his body frame vertical to avoid Betsy pulling him in and bringing the submission in. Betsy uses her strong leg muscles to break through Frankie and pulls him in to adjust to a triangle hold. Frankie's arms land on the mat... except for one, which landed on the bottom rope. Junior Referee Steve Tyrell is quick to announce the rope break count to Betsy: ...One! ...Two! ...Three! ...Four! The brutal Betsy finally relents and lets go. Frankie is all red and heated. He's trying to get himself back to color as he's clinging to the ropes. Betsy shakes her head, and laughs. She mouths something the line of, "You have no business being in the ring with me." Those words were more than enough to lure Frankie out of the corner. He goes for the obvious punch, but Betsy just comes out of nowhere with the European Uppercut! Betsy Pop! Frankie is pushed back. Betsy slowly circles behind Frankie and gets him in a full nelson. She smiles. The crowd gets loud. We all know what's happening next.
Taylor: It's Betsy Granger's finishing full nelson facebuster! How do you pronounce that, Cassius?
Romano: Ich Muss Dich Brechen!
Betsy lifts Frankie up in the air! Frankie freaks out. His scrawny arms actually slip out. As Frankie lands on his feet, his jerks his body to be in the appropriate Judo position. He brings her up and over the hip as he goes for the Harai Goshi! Betsy Granger hits the floor. The crowd goes NUTS over this!
Taylor: Frankie Webb was able to hit his Judo signature! He's going for the pin!
Romano: All Frankie needs is a three count from the referee and instantly, his life changes!
He slides...
...One!
...Two!
...Thr- KICKOUT!
Frankie looks into the eyes of Betsy as she gets her shoulders up. She shoots him a look of a violent threat. He eyes promise him pain. Frankie Webb wisely backs off. Betsy doesn't break eye contact as she makes her way to her feet. Betsy now lives rent free in Frankie's mind. Frankie tries to back up, but he can't move as quickly backwards as Betsy does moving forward. She backs him up and checks him with a forearm. Then a second. Then a third! He's up against the ropes! Betsy pushes him back to the other side of the ropes with an Irish whip. Frankie hits the ropes and tries to rebound with an explosive punch, but Betsy Granger beats him with a flying leg lariat! Frankie Webb goes down! Betsy pops up and goes to the crowd near the corner. She gets her hands up in the air. The crowd cheers for her. Meanwhile, from behind her, Frankie slowly climbs up. He looks at her.
Taylor: You have to be careful, Betsy! You haven't won quite yet!
Frankie Webb slowly gets up behind Betsy. She's in perfect position for his finisher Samoan Drop, Webb Drop! He sneaks up behind her. He goes for it, but wait... Pele kick! Bah gawd, Betsy just sensed Frankie Webb and hit him with the Pele kick! Frankie goes down!
Romano: Great sensing by Betsy!
Betsy finds Frankie on the canvas. She goes in for the pin count:
...One!
...Two!
...Kickout!
Betsy wipes the sweat off her brow. Her hair is now a frizzled mess as she's trying to recover from her assault on a minor charge. She wants to finish this immediately. Betsy Granger brings Frankie to his feet. She begins to go behind him, looking to get his arms again. She wants to get the Ich Muss Dich Brechen again! She wants it to hit! She gets one arm hooped through before Frankie begins to freak out. He's feeling his loss comes out and instead turns around for a punch. Betsy manages to catch a punch, but there's a new fire in the eyes of Frankie, as if he caught his second wind. Frankie manages to aim lower and hits Betsy with a gut punch! The wind is knocked out from her stomach! Then with an uppercut, Betsy is knocked onto her back!
Taylor: Frankie is fighting! He wants this badly!
Romano: We're getting to the point in the match where anything can happen. Frankie's desperate. He'll do anything to win.
Frankie shoots forward with a punch, but Betsy's submission background leaves her very comfortable on her back. She catches him in spider guard position and instantly shifts her body to trap him into an armbar. Frankie's locked in! He's yelling! He's instantly uncomfortable and already crying for help. The look in Betsy's eyes is making it quite clear that she's not playing around. She instantly starts the torque. Junior Referee Steve Tyrell is asking Frankie. "Do you give up?! Do you submit!?" Frankie's shaking his head no. His face is red. He's obviously on his last straw. The fans are going nuts.
Romano: Look at this. Every single time I see Betsy Granger in the match, I'm amazed how she can pull something from nothing.
Taylor: Tap out, Frankie! You'll break or dislocate something if you keep that move on!
Frankie instantly feels like he's about to tap out, but notices something. Betsy's elbows. He notices how they're facing each other. Frankie Webb drops his weight down. Her shoulders are trapped underneath. Frankie's still in the submission hold and he's PRAYING that he can hold on. He even grabs the bottom rope, without thinking, on Betsy. This is technically a pin count:
...One!
...Two!
The pain is too much for Frankie. He's tapping on the bottom rope he's grabbing.
...But Steve Tyrell isn't seeing anything about the bottom rope or the tapping. He's too busy focused on Betsy's shoulders and IF THEY RISE UP!
...They don't! THREE!
The bell rings.
Jessie Love: Here is your winner and the NEW XHF Phoenix Champion - FRAAAANKKIIIIEEEEE WEEEEEEEBBBBBBBBB!
Frankie Webb is lying on the floor. He's in so much pain, he can't even grab the belt when Jessie Love tries to hand it to him. That's when the camera switches to the security barrier. A teenaged girl jumps over it and in toward the ring. It's Frankie's love interest, Cassie! She takes the belt on Frankie's behalf and lays it on his chest. She helps him up and hugs him.
Romano: Awww... That's so sweet. That's puppy love right there.
Taylor: As long as they don't try making puppies.
Romano: For Christ's sake, Tommy. They're both minors.
"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 the XHF Phoenix Championship around his waist. 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. The referee stops him and removes his various blades, ropes and other hunting equipment as he smirks. He then hands over his title belt and cracks his neck waiting for the bell.
Taylor: Something about this makes me feel like we got the wrong entrance...
Romano: *AHEM* AND HE'S FACING OFF AGAINST ONE OF THE NEWEST AWF WORKERS, TASMIN!
"Crawling in the dark" hits as Tasmin comes out in a leather biker jacket, a black top and baggy camo pants.
Jessie Love: Now making her way to the ring, standing 5'4 and weighing in at 110 pounds, from Norwhich England she is THE TASSSSSIIIE DEVIL TASSSMIN RIIICHARDS
She makes her way down to the ring slowly holding the lapels of her jacket before running over to the barricade as the chorus of Crawling in the dark" hits and she sings with the small crowd.
"Show me what its for, make me understand it. I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer!"
She high fives a few fans before springing and sliding under the bottom rope popping up to her knees and then nto her feet running to each corner jumping onto the middle rope.
Taylor: Tasmin Richards has taken down every opponent in her way. Will lightning strike again?
Romano: Well let's remember that she isn't going against just anyone. She's up against a hunter. How will this go down?
Singles Match
Aiden Merric vs. Tasmin Richards
DING DING DING
Tasmin Richards starts things off fast-paced with a running single-leg dropkick. Merric stumbles a bit from the speedy move from the youngster. As Aiden is stepping backward, Tasmin leaps up and hits a hurricanrana on the two-time Phoenix Champion. After a jumping tornado DDT, Tasmin goes for an early pin attempt.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Aiden Merric kicks out after Tasmin tries to sneak a quick win. Merric doesn’t let Tasmin get far before he gets a kneebar on her.
Taylor: Tasmin started flying early at Merric, but Merric goes immediately for a leg submission.
Romano: You see what he’s trying to do, right? He’s trying to ground her. Not sure what moves she can do if her legs are taken out.
Merric keeps the move going until Tasmin slips out of it. Merric gets to his feet once more and Tasmin isn’t far behind him. He swings a strike at her, but Tasmin counters into a hip toss, using Aiden’s forward momentum to make the 220 pounder fly over her. She bounces off the middle rope and tries to drive her knee into Merric, but Merric dodges, causing Tasmin’s knee to crash into the mat. Stalled by the pain, Tasmin can't move quick enough to avoid Merric dropping a knee of his own on her calf. He then hauls her up and sets up for Target Neutralized, looking to bring a quick end to the match, but as he spins her out on the ripcord Tasmin leaps and connects with a leg lariat, knocking him down.
Taylor: Great counter by Richards there.
Romano: True, but how long will she be able to keep doing stuff like that if he keeps focusing on her legs?
Tasmin takes the moment's respite to slap at her leg, trying to get the circulation going again. She stands as Merric reaches his knees, so she launches herself at him and connects with Shining Witch. Straight to the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Slapping the mat in frustration, Tasmin gets up and turns to run the ropes, only for Merric to punch her in the back of the knee. She stumbles, allowing him enough time to fully stand and, as she turns to fight back, connecting with the Bag and Tag. The crowd boos the vicious headbutt, but Merric simply smirks at them, locking in the kneebar once again. Tasmin tries to slip out again, but Merric's wise to it this time and blocks her, leaving her no choice but to grit her teeth and drag their combined weight to the ropes. Cheered on by the fans, Tasmin manages to force the break, Merric of course using every second of the 5 count before he does.
Taylor: Richards makes the ropes, but the damage may already be done.
Romano: The fans may not like what Merric's doing, Taylor, but they can't deny it's an effective strategy.
Aiden goads Tasmin as she struggles to her feet, and is rewarded with a stinging knife edge chop to the chest. He winces, then actually looks impressed and gives her a nod, before firing back with a clubbing forearm. Richards reels, but stays standing, chopping him once again. Another forearm is the reply. The fans alternate cheers and boos in rising volume as the pair exchange blows with increasing speed and ferocity. For all her heart, Tasmin can't match power with Merric and he takes over, forcing her across the ring with a series of unanswered strikes. Deciding he's softened her up enough, he grabs her and pops her up, looking for Tranquilizer, but Tasmin is able to jinx her head to avoid the blow, and hooks him on the way down, hitting him with Tazzie Devil.
Taylor: Holy smokes, what a reversal!
Romano: Indeed, but does she have enough left in the tank to capitalize?
Tasmin immediately rolls over to go for the cover, but Merric still has enough wherewithal to roll out to the floor. Snarling in frustration, Tasmin uses the ropes to pull herself up, gritting her teeth against the pain in her leg. Slapping it for circulation once more, she starts to run the ropes as Merric groggily stands on the outside. He has just enough time to point to his head to show the fans how smart he is before turning around into a Heatseeker. The fans roar their approval as the dive sends Merric slamming into the barricade. Noticeably limping, Tasmin slides back into the ring and goes for a second. Her run is slower this time however, and Aiden sees it coming. As she flies through the ropes once more, he shifts position and connects with a European Uppercut, knocking her out of midair. He hauls her up and rolls her in the ring, going straight into a cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
There's not much authority on the kick out though, and the ever patient hunter grins, sensing the end may be near. He stomps a few more times on the leg, then looks to hook on the kneebar once more, only for Tasmin to catch him in a small package.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Aiden kicks out, a look of fury on his face. He begins to rain elbows down on Tasmin's leg. She tries to fight him off, but he rakes at her eyes to force her back. Desperate, Tasmin pulls herself back to the ropes, the referee calling for a break. Aiden isn't listening, and the ref practically has to manhandle him off Richards. Merric takes offense, yelling at the ref, who angrily yells back, pointing to his shirt for justification. Her opponent's eyes off her, Tasmin pulls herself up with the ropes, clearly struggling to put weight on her leg. She looks at it, then looks at the top rope. The fans cheer as they realise the implication.
Taylor: Surely she can't be thinking Air Richards, with her leg in that condition?
Romano: Desperate times call for desperate measures, Taylor.
With Aiden and the ref still jawing, Tasmin steps out onto the apron and grabs the top rope ready to springboard. The cheers of the fans catch Merric's attention and his eyes widen as he sees what's happening. As Tasmin leaps to the top rope, Aiden shoves the ref back into it, wobbling the rope enough that she misses and lands back on the apron, crying out in pain as the hard landing jars her wounded leg. Merric advances on her, and in desperation she semi-steps through the ropes and launches at him with a Slingshot Spear. With so little strength left in her launching leg, however, she connects with little force, allowing Merric to easily hit her with a gutwrench suplex. Ignoring the referee's remonstrations about laying hands on him, Aiden moves quickly to the fallen Tasmin's legs and locks in a figure four. Richards cries out in agony as the ref gets close to check for a submission. She tries with all her might to roll over and reverse the pressure, but with so little leverage in this position against a larger opponent, and so much pain, it's a fruitless struggle. As Aiden rears back and works the hold harder, Tasmin is left with no choice and taps, the ref immediately calling for the bell.
Jessie Love: Your winner, via submission, Aiden Merric!!!
Taylor: A battling performance by Tasmin Richard there, but in the end it was not to be.
Romano: Merric came in with a gameplan that neutralized her strengths and executed it flawlessly.
The ref looks to have been expecting to forceably disentangle the pair, but Merric releases the hold as the bells rings, not willing to cripple a worthy opponent if he's not being paid to. He stands over the prone Tasmin and nods before exiting the ring, leaving the disconsolate woman lying there as we cut away.
Jessie Love: The following match is for the AWF United States Championship!
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. 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. 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: Now in the ring, standing 5’8 and weighing in at 163 pounds, from Blooming Valley Pennsylvania. The oncoming storm, ERIN GOOOORDON
Romano: Erin has been ana amazing competitor since coming into AWF, and now she had such an amazing opportunity
Taylor: The united states championship has such a rich history and Erin has all the tools to do this...
A cavalcade of clapping begins as the D.R.U.G.S. tune "King I Am" blares over the sound system.
"You can feel the fear when I walk by
Tail between your legs make 'em run and hide
And I can see the pain pouring out your eyes
I think I am finally, starting to feel like the KING I AM!
The song kicks in over the loudspeakers as the sound of guitars ascend to the boiling point and the song engages. Neo begins to make a triumphant strut down to the ring, his chin held high as his hands lay at his side moving with his stride, t. He looks down all around the ramp, keeping his bearded chin up as he glides effortlessly forward in a striding saunter. The pompous cocky attitude radiating from his being at this point.
Neo makes it to the ringside area as he circles around the ring, jumping up effortlessly onto the apron and climbs into the ring. He walks over to the ropes on the side of the stage as he grabs the top rope with his hands and then yanks down on it, flexing all of his muscles before releasing it, a giant white and red pyro exploding out the top of the nearby turnbuckle like a mortar.
Jessie Love: And her opponent, standing 6’3 and weighing in at 249 pounds, from Buena Park California, He is the United States Champion….NEO JAMES CARNER
Taylor: Here we go, the US champion in the house and he honestly looks annoyed he has to be out here
Romano: All the revenants look that way.
AWF United States Championship Match
Neo James Carner (c) vs. Erin Gordon
DING DING DING!
And the match begins, NJC rushes Erin and goes for a right hand, Erin ducks it, NJC goes for a back elbow and Erin dodges again before hitting the ropes. NJC goes for a side kick, Erin rolls under it, slides on her knees and back to her feet before giving a smirk showing off her speed, she takes off and leaves her feet hitting a diving european uppercut. It hits Carner in the face who stumbles back into the ropes, Erin leaps in the air and hits a dropkick sending the much taller champion over the top rope to the floor. Erin pops to her feet and hits the ropes before jumping and going for a baseball slide dropkick. Neo though moves out of the way and grabs the apron catching Erin in it. Erin stands on the floor and Neo goes for a hard right but Erin ducks into the apron skirt and slides under it back across to the other side of the ring. Neo slams his hand on the apron and points across the ring at Gordon who just smiles and slides back in the ring.
Taylor: Damn Erin Gordon's speed is giving NJC a bit of a fit. I mean he’s bigger, he’s stronger and he might even be better. But it means nothing if he can’t catch her.
Romano: The longer the match goes it might end up in NJC’s favor, Erin will slow down and if he catches her...well...it could be game over man, game over.
NJC carefully gets back up onto the apron and in the ring, he tilts his head and calls for a collar and elbow. Erin shakes her head and as they step in she tries to duck into, Carner though shows his high ring IQ and catches Erin pulling her back up before ducking down himself with a double leg taking her down to the mat, he flips Erin onto her stomach and spins around her body before hooking his hands around her waist with a gator roll before standing up and deadlift Erin as he gets to his feet throwing Gordon across the ring with a gutwrench suplex slamming her down. But Carner keeps his hands locked, rolls over her body and gets back to his feet again carrying the smaller grappler around before throwing her back again. Erin lands hard and moans in pain.
Carner walks over to one of the cameras and drops to one knee looking right into it before pointing at himself arrogantly and making the “belt motion”. The crowd lets him know how much they dislike his attitude and boos. Erin Gordon pulls herself up with the ropes. NJC runs in and grabs a hold of her before throwing Erin back with a release german suplex. Erin lands hard on the back of her neck and NJC moves around her with a small shake of his head before pulling Erin back up again and hitting a second german suplex this time with a bridge.
ONE!
TWO!
Erin kicks out.
Romano: That was close. Gordon got slammed right on the back of her neck not once but twice and this is exactly what we were talking about.
Taylor: NJC got his hands on Erin and now it’s on his terms, she needs to break away and create some distance if she’s going to take control
Romano: Easier said than done...
Carner grabs Gordon and sets her up for a russian leg sweep, as they land Carner rolls over, pulling Gordon face down before locking in a fujiwara armbar. Erin reaches out towards the ropes with her free hand and drags herself over, reaching out with her fingertips and just getting there causing the break. NJC keeps his hand around Erins wrist and pulls her back into the center of the ring, Erin gets to her feet, slaps NJC’s hand away and leaps up hitting an enzuguri right to the side of Carners head, Carner stumbles back and Erin stays on the attack hitting a superman punch!. Carner again stumbled landing in the corner, Gordon runs in and hits a corner high knee. She calls for the “Nor’easter” but as she spins NJC ducks it and kicks Erin in the stomach, hooking her and lifting her up for the CLOCK TOWER BOMB!. Erin lands on the back of her head and Carner goes for the pin hooking the outside leg.
ONE!
TWO!
Erin kicks out!.
Taylor: Carner is doing everything he can to keep that United States title
Romano: Attitude aside he has been a great champion, and of course money comes with it.
Carner seems angry that Erin dared kick out, he pulls her up and shoves her into the corner with an amazing amount of disdain. He hits a hard knife edge chop, Erin covers up, NJC puts her arm over the top rope and slams in another. Erin tries to get out but Carner catches her then throws Erin Gordon across the ring with a belly to belly. She lands hard and Carner stays on the attack pulling her back up again into a butterfly suplex transitioning it into an armbar on the way down. Gordon though kicks out her legs and feels for the ropes causing the hold to break. Carner gets in the referees face before setting Gordon up for the Cross Punisher Bomb. He throws her up and slams her down going for a pin.
ONE!
TWO!
Gordon kicks out again and Carner loses it. Frustrated that Erin just won’t quit.
Taylor: Neo James Carner is furious.
Romano: It’s not the referees fault that Erin Gordon has heart and refuses to stay down.
NJC shakes his head and backs up into the corner, he calls for the Neo Classical Knee Strike. Gordon pulls herself up and Carfner goes for it, Erin moves out of the way and hits the ropes before hitting the Windswept! Carner is down!. Erin pins.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Taylor: She did it!
Romano: THE REIGN OF CARNER IS OVER!
Tasmin Richards slowly makes her way back down the aisle after a barn burner of a match with Aiden Merric.
Taylor: That was one hell of a match...
Sweat drips down her forehead and she has her hands on her hips as a ref walks up and hands her the ATC championship. As it’s handed off, out from the curtain steps the manager of the ReVenants, Jeff Noon. He’s holding a cake with one giant candle lit on it.
Taylor: What the hell is this?!
Romano: It’s Jeff Noon! And he’s brought cake!
Tasmin looks at Noon disgusted and even though she’s just been through a rough match she’s about to beat the breaks off Noon, and who is slowly making his way towards her. As she gets ready to lay Jeff out…
Taylor: No Tasmin! It’s a trap!
*CRASH!!!*
Rob Garcia sends a steel chair smashing into the back of the head of Tasmin. She goes flying forward and lands face first sliding into the ground.
Taylor: That no good dirty bastard!
The crowd erupt into a storm of boo’s and jeers, as Rob slams the steel chair into the back of Tasmin over and over again until the chair is bent out of shape.
Taylor: What a cowardly attack by Rob Garcia! Why do this?!
Romano: Rob already has the ATC championship and now he’s taking Tasmins fake title!
Rob goes to cover Tasmin. As a ref slides:
...One!
...Two!
...Three!
As the referee quickly counts Tasmin kicks out but just too late! Rob quickly gets to his feet as the ref then hands him off Tasmin's ATC title!
As they’re about to run off Jeff looks down at Tasmin and throws the cake at her completely missing and hitting the floor. The crowd then start to boo even harder. The two then run off into the arena.
Taylor: Well Cassius I am very excited for this next contest.
Romano: Indeed Tommy. The XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship is on the line and has never been in AWF. A win here would bring a global title back to AWF for the first time in over a calendar year.
ALL CONTROL ARTS RELEASED - GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL
The arena lights pulse red as BFG Division 2020 rips and tears through the speakers and Bloodied Fox makes his way out. The fans cheer as he walks down the ramp and slides into the ring, standing in the center and raising his fist in salute to them.
Jessie Love: Entering the ring first, representing the Ascension Wrestling Federation, at five foot nine inches and one hundred ninety-five pounds … from Reading, Berkshire, England … BLOODIED … FOX!
Are you ready?
The lights dim down while the catchy, fast paced rock of RAINBOWS by A9 echoes as a spotlight suddenly appears on a figure on the ramp, with his back turned and begins kneeling. Once the beat finally kicks in, MYŌJINJIN explodes with energy- wearing a masquerade-style mask over his eyes, and turns around with a confident smile on his face, raising his arms to soak in the positive reaction from everyone around.
With his blonde locks hanging over his face. He then whips his head back, flipping his hair out of his face before excitedly running down the ring before performing a cartwheel and a jump, landing on his feet near ringside!
He climbs up to the apron, grabs a hold of the top rope, and slingshots himself into the ring. MYŌJINJIN performs a somersault roll, landing on his side with a hand on his hip. The other, taking off his mask to reveal his piercing blue eye contacts. He tosses it aside nonchalantly before climbing up the top turnbuckle, tilting his head upward as if he’s looking toward the sky- while the lights mimic stars above. He backflips off, back onto his feet while taking off his flamboyant coat and moving to his corner. The lights go back to normal as he checks his wrist tape. He hands off the XHF Junior Heavyweight title to the referee. His charismatic smile fading to a more focused expression as he paces back and forth, ready for action.
Jessie Love: And his opponent, representing Fireside, at five foot nine and one hundred sixty-five pounds, fighting out of San Diego, California … he is the reigning XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion … MYŌJIN!
Romano: Nate Biggs is the referee for this contest and that is the prize Tommy. The XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Taylor: Can the Vulpine warrior bring the title home to us?
XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship Match
MYOJIN (c) vs. Bloodied Fox
The two competitors begin circling each other. MYŌJIN slowly moves in close and Fox unleashes a kick. MYŌJIN dodges as Fox spins and ends up facing him again with a smirk on his face. The champ is unfazed and charges in. A grapple takes both been around the ring. They spin back and forth trying to get the advantage. As they reapproach the center of the ring, Fox is able to duck behind with a rear waistlock. MYŌJIN taps his hands and then grabs them. He wrenches the interlocked fingers apart and then drops to the mat and pulls Fox over with a snap mare. Fox nips up to his feet catching MYŌJIN with an arm drag. The hold is maintained and sunk into an arm wrench. Now it is MYŌJIN who kips up and uses all his might to bring the arms of Fox up and over his head. A boot is buried into Fox’s gut and MYŌJIN rolls over his back and kicks out the back of Fox’s knees. Once Fox is to his knees MYŌJIN unleashes a buzzsaw kick to the head that Fox barely dodges by rolling forward. Fox grabs the ropes and pulls up to his feet and leaps to the middle rope as MYŌJIN charges in. Fox leaps off with a springboard enzuigiri that MYŌJIN matrix dodges under.
Taylor: What a spectacle Cassius! All this fast paced action.
Romano: I’m tired already just watching it.
Both men get back to a vertical base and look at each other. A bit of respect shown with a nod by the fighters. This time the Shining Star holds his hands up for a test of strength. Fox nods and engages. Both men show strain as their arms push out to either side and they end up chest to chest. Fox’s right arm begins to lift up … then the left. Both men’s arms are up and the champ is being slowly bent backwards. With a plant of his feet Fox leans forward hard forcing both of MYŌJIN’s hands to the mat in a back bend. MYŌJIN strains before dropping the bridge to land on his posterior. This pulls Fox off balance and he stumbles forward right into a pair of boots to the chest. With a strong push the challenger is sent careening back into the ropes. As he returns, the champ catches him with a monkey flip and he holds on. MYŌJIN flips backwards with Fox and lands on top in a mount.
ONE!
Fox pulls his right arm off the canvas and then releases the fingers of the Fireside star and hits a big elbow to the side of the head. The positions now reverse as Fox ends up in a top mount ahead of guard and rains down a hard left elbow and then a pair of right hands. Nate Biggs warns him about closed fists. Fox grabs a front headlock on MYŌJIN and pulls him to a standing position. He calls for a DDT but MYŌJIN crouches and then sends Fox overhead with a back body drop. The ever-agile vulpine lands on his feet and falls to one knee with a hand on the mat for balance. MYŌJIN turns and is met with a jaw breaker. He recoils holding his face and is met by a rising Fox with a perfect dropkick to the chest.
Taylor: What a spectacular kick from Fox. He’s got the advantage!
Romano: It’s still early yet and MYŌJIN has spent 100 days as the junior heavyweight champion for a reason.
Rolling backwards and back to his knees MYŌJIN ducks a Vulp Trigger roundhouse kick. He springs to his feet and hits a rising Fox with a stiff kick to the chest. SMACK SMACK SMACK, three quick kicks to the chest have Fox reeling and MYŌJIN grabs his shoulder and pushes him to the ropes before whipping him. He follows Fox who leaps onto the middle rope and springs over MYŌJIN with a backflip to land on his feet. MYŌJIN handsprings into the ropes and rebounds back with a back elbow taking Fox to the mat. He hits a standing moonsault and stays on for a lateral press.
ONE!
Fox throws the shoulder up with authority
Romano: This match may turn on who is able to take control of the pace first. Right now it’s all back and forth with no advantage to be pressed.
Taylor: Reminds you of when you wrestled?
Romano: Pfft I didn’t do no flippy sh…stuff!
MYŌJIN doesn’t let up, wasting no time pulling Fox to sitting position and locking in a surfboard stretch. With his arms stretched all the way out Fox starts shouting and trying to wriggle free of the knee in his back. The hold is wrenched harder and Nate Biggs checks on Fox who shouts “NO” quite emphatically. A headbutt to the right shoulder of Fox causes him to shout in agony. Another to the left shoulder and MYŌJIN is adding to the torment of the hold.
Taylor: Have you ever seen such a creative way of amplifying a simple hold?
Romano: Maybe once but this is quite creative. If a little self-defeating. His head has to be throbbing.
One foot is planted to the mat … then the other. Slowly but surely, Fox begins to push against the knee and use it to get to a standing base. He then ducks underneath the arm of the champ and hits a saito suplex with authority. Both men are slow to get up. Nate Biggs lets this play out without counting for now. Bloodied Fox slowly gets to his feet and leans in the corner. He shakes out his shoulders and notices MYŌJIN pushing to his hands and knees. He moves in with four quick kawada kicks to the face as MYŌJIN arches his back up holding his nose. A basement dropkick sends the shining star sprawling to the mat. He rolls under the bottom rope to the apron to catch a breather.
Romano: Excellent ring awareness by the Junior Heavyweight Champ here.
Taylor: Fox needs to stay on him! And there he goes.
Sure enough, the former Prestige Champ dives to the mat and reaches through the ropes with a few mounted palm stikes as Nate Biggs counts to four. Fox pulls back and puts his hands up in innocence. He sprints off the opposing ropes as MYŌJIN pulls up using the ropes to his feet. He leaps for a dropkick through the ropes but MYŌJIN moves and as Fox slides between the top and middle rope, the Shining Star unleashes a jumping axe kick to the stomach. Fox lands on the apron with his tailbone and MYŌJIN drifts back along the apron and runs to him with the rolling savate kick to the face. Fox hits his back on the ropes and slings forward to the floor face first.
Taylor: HOLY HELL! What a Kiss and Tell from the champion!
Romano: Yeah and now Fox is kissing the floor.
Nate Biggs begins the count on Fox as MYŌJIN leans back against the ring post to catch his breath from the ferocious assault he endured moments ago. As Nate Biggs hits 3, Fox pulls himself up on the barricade and MYŌJIN drops to the mat below. He kicks Fox in the ribs, then again, then again. He turns Fox and hits a spinning back fist. Fox lands draped over the barricade holding his face. Retreating for a moment, the champ rolls into the ring at seven and back out again. Both hands grasp the shoulders of Fox and pull him off the barricade and pull him into a backstabber! They roll through but as MYŌJIN tries to lock in the crossface, Fox slides MYŌJIN’s hands up and off his face then forward rolls away from the Shining Star. MYŌJIN moves in again but Fox grabs the front of his tights and pulls him nose first into the barricade.
Romano: Doing whatever you have to to survive. Fox is a master at work.
Taylor: Still he needs to get into the ring to win.
As if he heard the commentary, Fox slides between the legs of MYŌJIN and rolls into the ring. At eight MYŌJIN turns to return to the ring when Fox comes sailing over the top rope with a springboard frog splash cross body!
Taylor: OH MY GOD AIR VULPINE EXTREME!
Both men are down and this time Nate Biggs doesn’t count as he hears the crowd going wild and chooses to let them go. He does however lean over the ropes to check on the health of both fighters. The medics check on the men for a brief moment before being waved off. Fox grabs a handful of hair and hails MYŌJIN to a standing position then whips him under the bottom rope and pulls his head back under the ropes. One roundhouse head kick later and the champ is reeling in the middle of the ring holding his now bleeding nose.
Romano: Fox now firmly in control. The question is … is Shouta the type of fighter to see red when bleeding and get better? Or crumble.
Soaking in the cheers of the home team fans, Fox takes a moment to stretch out his shoulders again before leaping to the apron. He climbs the ropes and perches. Shouta slowly comes to his feet rubbing blood from his nose. He turns and Fox goes aerial again for a hurricanrana! Somehow though, MYŌJIN manages to sidestep and catch the flying fox mid fight with a double knee arm breaker to the right arm. Again both men are down. Blood stains the ring under the champion. The challenger is now rolling around in agony holding his right arm and shoulder. Fireside’s own is first to his feet and unleashes some Garvin stomps to the right shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers before moving to the other side with stomps on the left shoulder and fingers as well.
Taylor: It seems our esteemed junior heavyweight champ has a target to focus on now.
Romano: Smart strategy to set up the various submissions he can spring from seemingly anywhere!
MYŌJIN props up the right arm so the hand is open palm on the mat and bent at the elbow. He stomps the elbow and Fox cries out in agony. MYŌJIN then wrenches the arm back and falls to the mat with an arm breaker. Fox scrambles to the corner and pulls himself to his feet with his left arm. MYŌJIN charges him and hits a cannonball senton sandwiching the former Prestige champ. MYŌJIN rolls up and grabs the right arm. He places his right leg on Fox’s face and falls to the mat with the facebreaker! A pop is heard and Fox rolls out to the floor under the ropes.
Taylor: Oh I’m going to be sick. Fox’s shoulder just dislocated.
Romano: This may be getting dire for our favorite underdog.
Fox stands up and quickly drops to his knees outside, and sure enough, his right arm is limp. MYŌJIN waits for the opportune moment and then leaps over the top rope with a front flip. Fox rolls towards the ring and MYŌJIN lands on his feet before somersaulting forward to dissipate the momentum. He leaps onto the barricade and springs back with a moonsault. Fox somehow manages to step back and hit a Vulp Trigger to the face of the falling MYŌJIN!
Taylor: HOW DID HE DO THAT!?
The champ is laid out on the outside. Nate Biggs leans over to tell Fox to take inside but Fox holds his left index finger up as if telling the official to wait. He walks over to the crowd and grabs a corn cob from a fan … how unsanitary. Walking to the ringpost, Fox puts the cob in his mouth and bites down then rams his right shoulder hard into the post with a loud pop!
Romano: Did … did he just reset that shoulder?
Taylor: *leaning under the table making unsavory sounds*
Romano: Oh put it together Taylor.
Taylor: Yeah sure.
Teeth clenched, The former XHF Global Tag Champ stumbles from the post and shakes out his right arm. He still favors it but at least it moves. The corn cob is spit from the mouth of the vulpine scavenger as he stalks his quarry. MYŌJIN has begun to crawl up the steel steps. Fox charges. MYŌJIN sees and looks to defend but Fox dropkicks the steel steps! The stairs dislodge and MYŌJIN stumbles and falls from the top landing on his left knee on the lower portion of the steps. Sensing blood, Fox grabs MYŌJIN and using his left arm and body weight he shoves MYŌJIN leg first into the ring post. The champ grabs his left leg in agony.
Romano:Interesting, Fox is looking to remove the explosive high flying moves of MYŌJIN by taking out his legs.
Fox rolls him into the ring and climbs the top rope. He leaps off with a senton splash to the back of the champion. The crowd begins to chant Fox’s name as he dives on for a pin.
ONE!
TW-Kickout
Fox raises an eyebrow at how much fight the champ still has. He grabs the left leg of the supine Kuromiya. He stomps the hamstring before snapping the foot down with a DDT under his left arm. Fox rolls to his side without releasing and cinches in a knee bar. The Shining Star’s eyes water in agony as he howls to the heavens. Fox torques the hold hard to one side, then the other. MYŌJIN uses all of his reserved strength to slowly crawl towards the ropes.
Romano: The saving grace for the champ is that Fox has the hold cinched in with only one arm.
Taylor: Nate Biggs is constantly checking for the tap out. Can he make it to the ropes? … YES! HE DID!
Fox releases the hold and shakes out his right arm. Shouta pulls himself under the ropes and uses them to get onto his right leg on the apron. But a swift sweep below the ropes removes that base from him and he is forced to land on his left foot and his knee promptly gives out. Fox leaps to the middle rope, stomping the hands of MYŌJIN in the process then springs up and through the ropes with a dropkick to the chest sending the Shining Star to the floor one more time. Nate Biggs begins to count as a wounded champion shuffles on the floor. The ever opportunistic scavenger steps to the apron resetting the count and then leaps off with a double foot stomp to the left ankle of MYŌJIN! A blood curtling shout is released from the maw of the fading shining star.
Taylor: At least Fox isn’t all that heavy or that could have done some serious damage.
Fox reaches down and grabs the champ by the hair with his injured arm and pulls him towards the left fist. MYŌJIN grabs the right arm with all he has and snaps it toward the ground pulling Fox down and hyperextending that elbow and shoulder again. Shouta rolls to his knees and unleashes a shotei to the nose followed by a flurry of chops to the chest. He hobbles to his feet, mostly on his right leg. He shakes out the left leg to get blood back to it then unloads with a question mark kick and a switchblade kick in quick succession sending Fox face first to the floor. MYŌJIN stumbles back favoring that left leg. He looks to the crowd and feels the eyes on him. Some of the crowd are turning around and supporting the Fireside faithful. He hops on his right leg up the steel steps. From the apron he looks down at Fox.
Taylor: What is he planning here Cassius?
Romano: Something ill-advised if I had to guess Tommy.
Taylor: OH MY GOD! LIGHTS OUT OSAKA!
Sure enough the champ leaps off the apron with a spinning roundhouse to Fox as he tries to stand. MYŌJIN hops on one leg to grab Fox and slowly but surely hauls him into the ring at 8 and rolls in himself at 9 with a Japanese leg roll pin!
ONE!
TWO!
Kickout by Fox.
MYŌJIN is clearly frustrated. He stares at the right arm of Fox and smiles. He hooks the legs of Fox around his right leg, arches back, and grabs the arms of Fox and wrenches then into a double chicken wing!
Romano: That’s the Vogue Lock Two Tommy! Fox needs to find a way to get out of it!
Fox is screaming in agony with every second his shoulders are being wrenched out of their sockets. He flails his head around and lifts his arm as if to tap … but a chant of FOX FOX FOX from the crowd rises and he clenches his fist in the hold and grits his teeth. He looks for some way out after nearly 40 seconds in the hold and finally he seems to have an idea. He rocks towards the right. As Fox howls in pain from the injured shoulder now taking more punishment, so does MYŌJIN as his left leg is now bearing the weight. After three seconds the leg gives out and the hold is broken. Fox rolls into the corner.
Taylor: What a creative escape!
Both men are panting in exhaustion and pain. Blood is now dried and caked on the face of the Shining Star. Rising to his one good leg, the champ hobbles towards the prone challenger when Fox pounces with a chop block to the front of the right leg sending MYŌJIN face first into the middle turnbuckle. Fox rolls him out of the corner with a small package but instead rolls him over mid move and locks in the Hangman’s Clutch!
Romano: That’s the Lament Configuration! MYŌJIN is in serious trouble!
Taylor: I think they’re too close to the ropes.
In a prophetic moment, Taylor is right and MYŌJIN takes about eight seconds to scoot just slightly forward and reach out to grab the rope. Fox is forced to relinquish the hold. But he pulls the champ to the center of the ring and locks in an STF! The injured leg is trapped as Fox wrenches the neck with mostly his left hand. Thinking quickly though, the champ rolls to the side into a pinning combination.
ONE!
TWO!
Fox releases the hold
MYŌJIN rolls backwards and gets a headscissor on the challenger and pulls him down into a double arm bar! Fox however uses the same strategy and just falls forward into jackknife style pin!
ONE!
TWO!
MYŌJIN breaks the hold and rolls the shoulder.
Fox pulls him to his feet and the two begin to trade palm strikes and chops. Sweat flies from both men with each blow. MYŌJIN boots Fox in the gut and winces at using his hurt leg to strike. He then hits a tai-otoshi sending Fox to the mat. Fox quickly retracts his arms to prevent the follow-up armbreaker. Shouta however just hits a standing moonsault. He pushes to his foot and hits a standing shooting star press!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-NO!
Fox rolls the shoulder. The champ stands up and shakes out that leg again. He brushes his hair back out of his face with a smirk. He turns to the corner and points to the crowd as he hops on his right leg to the middle rope, then to the top rope. He takes a second to get situated. He looks for the imploding 450 he calls the Falling From Heaven but Fox is right on him and holds his legs causing MYŌJIN to fall onto Fox’s shoulders. Fox tries to pull him into an electric chair drop but MYŌJIN holds the top turnbuckle. With one arm, Fox is not powering him off the ropes. MYŌJIN pulls himself back onto the top rope and uses his bad leg to kick Fox in the chest three times to send him back to the floor. The champ sits on the top turnbuckle and rubs his leg. Fox springs up next to him and gets a back elbow for his trouble.
Romano: Again Fox is sent sprawling to the mat. MYŌJIN slowly pulls himself to the top again.
Taylor: At some point he has to forego this tactic and try to put Fox away!
Romano: He may feel like he needs to use the aerial attack to do it!
MYŌJIN is now perched on the top rope and leaps! Fox however rolls out of the way. He leaps himself to the middle rope as Shouta manages to land on his feet. His left leg buckles allowing Fox to get to the top. MYŌJIN still lunges and shoves the legs to crotch Fox on the top rope. Both men take a few seconds to gather themselves. MYŌJIN climbs up slowly next to Fox. Fox punches him in the gut a few times. He then uses all his might to shove him. The Shining star hits the mat and rolls backwards then lunges back in again! He punches Fox a few times then climbs up next to him. Fox now starts to stand on the top rope with one foot, the other on the middle. He headbutts the champ! MYŌJIN stumbles off the ropes and to his knees on the floor. Fox signals to the crowd for the BlooDDTed but MYŌJIN springs to life and hops up next to him and backflips WITH FOX in the Spanish Fly off the top!
Taylor: HOLY *BLEEP* CASSIUS! THAT WAS AN AMAZING FLASHING LIGHTS DELUXE!
Romano: It has to be over. Fox’s eyes are completely glazed over.
The champ can’t roll onto the challenger right away as he grabs that left knee again which bounced off the mat. He pounds the mat a few times and slowly scoots his way over to Fox and hooks the far leg.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
NO!
Fox somehow gets a foot on the bottom rope! MYŌJIN cannot believe it. He holds the sides of his head in exasperation. He flops to the side and rubs his leg trying to get it to cooperate. MYŌJIN crawls to the ropes and uses them to get to his feet. He approaches Fox and SMALL PACKAGE!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-NO!
MYŌJIN manages to kick free. THIS IS AWESOME chants start up. He rolls to his knees in frustration and pulls Fox to his feet. The two men stand toe to exhausted toe. A palm strike from Fox. Chop from MYŌJIN. Open hand slap from Fox. Forearm shiver from MYŌJIN. Fox swings his left arm but MYŌJIN leaps up and locks in a crucifix! He’s looking for the Stargazer. Fox manages to lean forward preventing the pin. He uses all his might to hold the Shining Star up. And swings him back out in front of him. MYŌJIN lands on his feet but Fox is holding his right arm with his own left. He pulls MYŌJIN in and hits the superman palm strike!
Romano: HOW DID HE DO THAT?
Taylor: FOX JUST NAILED THE BLOODY RAINMAKER!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
NO!
MYŌJIN somehow out of instinct rolls the shoulder. Both men are exhausted and laying on the mat. Nate Biggs begins to count. The fans erupt in FIGHT FOREVER chants. Fox is stirring first at three. By five he is on his hands and knees and MYŌJIN has rolled to his stomach. Fox is to his feet at seven. MYŌJIN is up and wobbly at nine. Fox looks for the BlooDDTed again but MYŌJIN manages to squirm out of it and hits a satellite DDT. He pins!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-NO!
Fox somehow kicks out again. MYŌJIN just smirks at this and laughs a bit. He nods and pushes to his feet. He drags Fox towards the corner and then ever so gingerly climbs to the bottom rope. Then to the middle rope. Fox kips up. He leaps up behind and hits the Fox Trap Suplex off the middle rope and bridges back!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Nate Biggs calls for the bell!
DING DING DING!
Jessie Love: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner and NEW XHF JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION …… BLOODIED FOX!
Taylor: HE DID IT! WHAT A FOX TRAP SUPLEX! Fox is your new champion and AWF has control of a global title once more!
Romano: That was a hard fought win and neither man should go home disappointed in that showing. These two men put on a spectacle we can only hope our main event can top!
Neither man has moved. Nate Biggs checks on them. Fox begins to stir. He rolls to his knees holding his injured right arm. He looks at the ref and asks him if it was three. Nate Biggs nods and Fox’s eyes go wide with joy. The belt is handed to the new champ and Biggs raises the left arm of Fox in victory as he clutches the belt to his chest with the right. Fox looks at the belt and soaks in the admiration of the fans. He looks behind him as Shouta is slowly coming to. He is rubbing that injured left leg. Fox walks over to him
Taylor: What is Fox doing?
Romano: The lead up to this match was VERY contentious. This could be anything.
Fox straps the belt to his waist and looks very seriously at MYŌJIN. MYŌJIN just looks at the belt and sighs. Fox extends a hand. His left of course. MYŌJIN looks confused. The fans chant for both men. They each look around the arena. MYŌJIN grabs the hand and lets Fox help him up. MYŌJIN pulls Fox in close and looks in his eyes with a stern look. Then his gaze softens and he nods and lifts Fox’s left hand to the sky. The two men shake hands as Fox’s music hits and MYŌJIN rolls out of the ring. Fox leaps to the middle rope and holds up the title to the crowd.
The scene cuts to the office of Felix Ziko. Jackson Steele is right next to him.
Ziko: You really think we should do that?
Steele: The alternative would be worse when you factor in The ReVenants.
Ziko: We aren't going to bully them. This match goes against what this belt stands for.
Steele: Think of it as damage control. Plus, if they want a bite, it's their fault if they can't chew it.
Ziko: Ugh, fine.
Felix Ziko looks at the camera.
Ziko: Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for this back and forth to end. At Prestige 68 for the first time in the ring, the Around The Belt Championship will be defended. It will be the new Champion, Rob Garcia, squaring off against Tasmin Richards!
Steele: And now let's enjoy more Road To Victory!
The camera switches to the ring.
The hard electronic beats of "Good L_ck (Yo_'re F_cked)" start up around the arena while purple and white beams of light shine on the entrance gate As the opening scream sounds out, Card steps through the gate and surveys the crowd. Card takes a slow walk down to the ring and steps through the ropes, followed by the beams. The lights change from beams to spinning spotlights as the music gets lower just before the chorus...
ONE MILLION VOICES CALL FROM THE OTHER SIDE
IF YOU COULD HEAR THEM YOU WOULD BE TERRIFIED...
The lights go back up and puple and white pyro fires off from the ring ropes as the chorus begins
GOOD LUCK!
YOU'RE FUCKED!
AND WE HATE TO SEE YOU GO MAN, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS YOU'RE SCREWED!
Card poses in the center of the ring, crossing his thumbs over where his heart would sit. The lights go up and Card moves over to his own corner and relaxes, the referee checking him over and finding nothing wrong.
Taylor: The AWF Hall of Famer is here! It's Chris Card!
Romano: He's got some business to take care of tonight. Can he stand up to his old High Finance buddy?
Turn To Stone by Joe Walsh fills the arena as the lights dim and a single spotlight illuminates the stage. Out from the curtain steps Cross Recoba, a titanium cane with a golden lion's head handle in one hand, touching the crucifix with the other. The HCW Diamond title is draped over his shoulder. The crowd responds with a chorus of boo's for The Fox while Cross uses the handle of the cane to push his shag hair cut from his face, flicking his head back confidently as he grins out at the audience obnoxiously. He holds up the cane that has caused so much trouble in the past to an even more venomous response from the fans, and he begins down the ramp still holding it aloft.
Jessie Love: "Coming to the ring, sttanding at six foot one and one inch, and weighing in at 230 pounds, hailing from New York, New York. and the self-proclaimed 'Box Office Smash of AWF'..... , 'THE FOX' CROSS RECOBBBAAA!!"
Recoba reaches ringside and holds the lions head handle of the cane up to his lips and kisses it for luck. He sets the cane to rest against the ring steps and then climbs them up onto the apron, and with a wipe of his feet slips between the ropes. He pops up with both hands out at his side, walking forward as if putting his glory on display, and delivers an over-exaggerated bow that causes the fans to crow even louder in disdain. Cross stands to his full height and smirks, stepping over to the far corner to await the beginning of the match.
Taylor: Cross has been thinking about this match for days. Weeks. Months. Chris Card lives rent free here.
Romano: A win here would give him some peace of mind. He's looking for that here tonight.
Singles Match
Chris Card vs. Cross Recoba
The bell rings and Chris Card and Cross Recoba move slowly in towards each other. Cross goes for an arm straight away and wrings it out to a side, sliding down into a wrist lock that traps Card. The Fox controls his Canadian opponent, walking slowly round behind while keeping control looking to twist Card back into a chickenwing. Card’s arm gets bent behind his own back but the crafty Canuck drops his shoulder a little and reaches his free arm back to grab Cross’ head, snapmaring his former tag team partner over while unwinding his own arm and reversing the pressure on the wristlock. Card steps over to scissor the arm, looking to hyperextend Cross’ arm out with a juji gatame bur The Fox reaches across and Gable grips his hands together so Card can’t get the armbar fully locked in. Card throws a few nasty downward elbows to Cross’ shoulder but Cross snakes around the ring and puts his foot on the bottom rope, Gabe Valentine calling for the break which Card does quite quickly.
Taylor: This may be a heated rivalry but this is quite the technical start.
Romano: Cross needs to prove he’s better than Card. This isn’t about settling a blood feud, this is about proving your skill and going toe to toe in a technical exchange with Chris Card is going along in that direction.
It’s Card who is the first to act when the fighters reset, shooting for a single leg takedown but Cross is wise to that and sprawls a little, raching down to control Card’s head. The Man Worth A Million Lira threads an arm under Card’s neck and reaches across to grab his own wrist before muscling Card down to the canvas. Attempting a Gator Roll, Cross flips over so he can get some extra torque on Card’s neck but Technical Perfection uses the slight loosening of the grip to thread his own through and frees himself as Cross tries to flip him over.
Taylor: This is some seriously high level mat wrestling. Who do you think has the edge, Cassius?
Romano: I think this is Chris Card’s natural game. Cross is taking a huge risk in attempt to go hold for hold with Card.
Card immediately pounces into the North/South position and after throwing in another couple of elbows, feels for Cross’ head and wraps his arms in tight, looking for the Cuban Can Opener. Cross uses the lack of instant grip as Card tries to apply the submission and uses his bodyweight and a careful arm placement to flip the pile putting him in Side Control. Showing that he’s definitely been watching the tapes, Cross draws his arms back to lock up Card’s neck in a D’Arce Choke and Chris Card is having NONE of that, rotating his body round so he can get his foot on the bottom rope before Cross can lock in his own damn move on him.
Taylor: Omega Clutch attempt from Cross Recoba!
Romano: That would be a hell of a way to win, beating a man with his own hold. The problem is that Chris Card knows all the escapes to it AND he knows the danger of it.
Another reset and both men are back to their feet. Cross lashes a chop across Chris Card’s chest, one which echoes around the arena and the crowd, less scattered than usual but still quite sparsely packed offer up a huge Charlotte roar of…
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOO!
...as Card rears back a step, the ferocity of Cross Recoba’s knife-edge being a step above what he usually offers up. Card steels himself and launches back with a European Uppercut that rocks Cross, forcing the Vegas native to take a half step backwards. There is an audible grunt from Cross’ lips as he takes the power of Card’s strike full on the chin but this only leads to him redoubling his efforts as he draws his arm back and fires off another knife edge chop that looks like it could shatter a man’s ribcage.
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOO!
This time The Real Man’s Wrestler looks physically shaken, rocked by the force of the blow. Still, he has enough about him to take two seconds to compose himself and return fire with another European uppercut. There looks to be a little less power behind this one though and The Fox is barely moved by it. Cross grabs his former tag team partner by the shoulders and muscles Chris Card round so his back is in line with the corner post before rearing back and hitting another knife-edged chop….
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
...and as Card takes a step backwards Cross follows in with another one….
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
...and another one…
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
...and another one that puts Card firmly in the corner…
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
...before absolutely going HAM with machine-gun style chops that just keep hitting and hitting, each one in sequence attacking the beet red area that has come up on Chris Card’s chest.
Taylor: It’s chops for dinner tonight in Charlotte!
Romano: The fire and the venom coming from Cross Recoba. It’s like a symphony of violence, and he’s the conductor.
The Man Worth A Million Lira grabs Chris Card by the shoulders and just throws him out of the corner like a sack of potatoes. Cross walks over to where The Real Man’s Wrestler is lying face down on the mat and drops to one knee… by placing that knee right in the small of Card’s back. Slapping the sides of Card’s chest, Cross gets Card to loose his arms a little and the second Card does that reflexive flail, The Fox just grabs hold of both of Chris Card’s wrists and pulls backwards, wrenching Technical Perfection’s spinal column in the process. Technical Perfection shakes off the referee when asked if he wants to quit and Cross obviously wants to improve the position he’s in to something more damaging.
Taylor: Cross Recoba has Chris Card pretty much at his mercy here.
Romano: And I don’t think he’s going to show Card any.
Cross lets Card’s arms flop back down to the mat and drops down into a back mount, throwing sharp strikes to the back of Card’s head from his position of superiority. The Man Worth A Million Lira hooks his legs in and goes to wrap up the Canadian’s head, looking for a neck crank but this time it’s that tricksy Chris Card who, with his arms now free, pushes Cross’ legs out and up and gets just enough position to shoot himself out, before rolling out into a crouching position. Card instantly scrambles forwards into a mount and Cross, again knowing the tape on Card, throws his legs round in a rubber guard.
Taylor: These wrestlers are so amazingly fluid. It’s turned into an old school catch as catch can fight out there.
Romano: This is the sort of action that you can only watch on and learn something new about the art of wrestling, because it’s Rembrandt and Van Gogh painting duelling masterpieces in here.
Seeing an opportunity, Card immediately throws a couple of short forearms to attempt to discombobulate his former partner, then feigns a third, allowing Recoba a chance to get an arm up defensively. Technical Perfection, always thinking many steps ahead grabs the arm straight away and locks it against the side of Cross’ own neck and threads his other arm underneath the Vegas native’s head. Cross struggles against the hold but Card has that arm locked in tight, every second that passes denying blood flow to Recoba’s brain as the Arm Triangle is locked in tight as anything.
Taylor: KATA GATAME!
Romano: That’s Abel Anderson’s finisher. Card is always picking up new tricks off people he works with.
Recoba’s face is beginning to turn purple as Card puts the squeeze on him, rather literally. With no easy way to verbally tap available, Gabe Valentine wheels round the pair to look for Cross’ free arm, checking whether he is going to tap physically. Card, knowing he has two ways to win the match from this position, uses the choke to push The Fox’s shoulder down flat to the mat without letting up the pressure of Cross’ carotid. Valentine is in the perfect position to count…
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Cross manages somehow to raise a shoulder. Chris Card grits his teeth and tries harder to squeeze on the vice like grip he has on Recoba.
Taylor: Is Cross Recoba going to have to tap?
Romano: I think he would rather pass out than tap out. But he loses either way.
A zoom in from one of the ringside cameras shows exactly how much Cross is suffering in the hold, the very life being squeezed out of him by the pressure of Card’s hold and the lack of blood heading to the Italian-American’s brain. The crowd noise builds, chants for Cross and the odd shout of support carry throughout the cavernous Carolina arena. Valentine checks Cross’s arm but it’s not dropping as The Man Worth A Thousand Bullets appears to have a very deep fuel tank for fighting out of dangerous submissions. Trying to switch it up and apply even more pressure by scooting to a side, removing the pinning option but allowing him to flatten his belly to the canvas to crank harder. With the reduced pressure on his body, however, Cross gets a little more room to wriggle and he contorts his body to spin a little and stretch his far leg out JUST enough that the very tip of his toes touches the bottom rope. Gabe Valentine puts on a count…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIV… Card breaks the choke.
Taylor: That was so close to being a disqualification!
Romano: If there is one man who knows how to work the full length of a five count without being disqualified, it’s Chris Card.
Both men return to their feet, Cross sucking in air like it was going out of fashion. Technical Perfection throws a range finding front kick to get a good feel on the distance between himself and Recoba. A sharply thrown roundhouse kick to Cross’ thigh rasps through the air, then a second one. Cross seems unable to respond as he is still busy getting that sweet, sweet oxygen back into his brain. Looking to knock Cross down, possibly out, The Real Man’s Wrestler cocks his leg back and snaps it out with a face height side kick…
Taylor: CALLING CARD!
BUT CROSS RECOBA DUCKS DOWN AND SHOOTS FOR A SINGLE LEG, TAKING CARD DOWN WITH EASE!
Romano: Well avoided. And this, children, is why you do your homework
The Vegas native postures up, taking the full mount. With an aggression rarely seen from the usually calm Fox, Cross fires down a series of blistering fast palm-heel strikes, looking to smear Card’s nose across his smug, smug face. The crowd are now actively buzzing at The Fox’ performance but their mood is instantly killed as Technical Perfection reaches up to catch an arm, possibly looking to go back to the head and arm choke, from the bottom this time. This time Cross is wise to it and uses his other arm to S-Grip his hands together, preventing Card from fully extending it and pinning it. Card tries to up kick his former partner’s arm free but Cross just absorbs the poorly thrown blow and uses The Real Man’s Wrestler’s hold on his arm as a lever, stepping forward to create a pinning situation…
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Card has to shed the hold to break free.
Crowd: CROSS RE-CO-BA! CROSS RE-CO-BA!
Taylor: That was really close. Chris Card was nearly hoisted by his own petard.
Romano: The problem with using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu moves in a pro wrestling match? You’re not watching your shoulders inside the octagon.
Practically already being stood up, Cross easily gets the drop on Chris Card and his leg is already swinging to connect a roundhouse kick into Big Match Card’s Big Match ribs as the Canadian stands. Card winces as Recoba waits for a half-second and tees off on his former partner again, this time allowing his momentum from the roundhouse kick to wheel himself around and hit a stylish spinning back kick. The Man Worth A Million Lira grabs a tight waistlock on the Canadian, before floating around into a back waistlock and powering The Real Man’s Wrestler over with a sharply delivered German Suplex. Cross covers…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Card kicks out.
Crowd: CROSS RE-CO-BA! CROSS RE-CO-BA!
Taylor: That was real close.
Romano: Real close counts for nothing here.
Cross just stays lying there and attempts to pin Card again!
ONE!
TWO!
TH… CARD KICKS OUT!
And for a third time, frustration clearly beginning to set in…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… CARD KICKS OUT!
Crowd: CROSS RE-CO-BA! CROSS RE-CO-BA!
Cross allows his opponent to get to a kneeling position and throws a BOMB of an elbow to the side of Card’s face. Sweat flicks, arcing through the night air. Technical Perfection responds with an elbow of his own which Cross takes with the steely determination of a man for whom a loss would be devastating. Another elbow from The Fox. Another one from Card. Now Cross just starts paintbrushing his former tag partner with an array of random loose strikes, loking for one to connect flush. Card takes four or five blows but like a Venus Fly Trap, it’s only a matter of time before The Real Man’s Wrestler sees an overhand hammer blow come in that he likes the look of and as quick as a flash, Card has his arms around Cross Recoba’s neck, Gable gripping them behind his head…
Taylor: OMEGA CHOKE! OMEGA CHOKE!
Shrugging his shoulder to make Cross flip to his back, Technical Perfection has Cross almost locked tight in his variation of the D’Arce Choke. Cross desperately tries to unthread his arm, but you can see the life fading from him….
Crowd: PLEASE DON’T TAP! PLEASE DON’T TAP!
But Cross is fading fast. It’s not a hold you can last long in. Cross sternly refuses to tap out but Gabe Valentine is in perfect position to check on Cross again, that oxygen leaving his brain once more. Desperately trying anything, ANYTHING to escape, Cross tries to roll away and get closer to the ropes BUT CARD GATOR ROLLS WITH HIM AND THE CHOKE WILL NOT BREAK! Gabe Valentine is right there to check…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Valentine calls for the bell!
Jessie Love: The winner of this match, by pinfall, CROSS RECOOOOOOBAAAAAAA!
Taylor: What just happened?
Romano: I have no idea, Taylor. Let’s have a look at the footage.
Taylor: I think the boys in the VT room have the clip for us right now…
The replay plays for the crowd, who were a little stunned. As Card Gator Rolls to maintain the Omega Choke, the position he lands in has his shoulders on the mat. Cross is applying downward pressure, possibly accidentally, and THAT’S what Gabe Valentine counted! As the crowd see the replay on the big screen a HUGE cheer erupts for Cross Recoba, even a crowd chant of…
Crowd: OH CRO-OS RECOOOBA! OH CRO-OS RECOOOBA!
In the ring, Cross looks about ready to throw up as the oxygen all hits his system at once. Chris Card, however, has a quizzical expression on his face as if, having watched the replay at the same time as the crowd, he found the way the match ended REALLY interesting.
Taylor: Well, there you have it. Cross Recoba was the better man, just like he said he’d be.
Romano: It was on a knife-edge right to that finish. This is the sort of action you only get in the AWF.
The lights fade to black, then the lights start blaring red along the entrance gate. That's when the opening riff to "Revolution Begins" by Arch Enemy begins to play. Kuroi walks into view with a scowl on his face. He looks left and right, pitying those in the crowd. Those who claim to care about action and excitement, but stay in chairs and judge while sitting on their fat asses. Kuroi shifts his attention to the ring then marches his way inside. As he climbs the stairs and gets inside, he jumps up and down, preparing himself to demolish.
Taylor: It's Kuroi! What's he doing here?
Romano: ...Don't you remember Clash of the Icons? Natasha essentially CRIPPLED him! I don't think it's a mystery why here's here.
Kuroi commands someone at ringside to pass him microphone. He scowls and addresses the crowd with his low, booming voice.
Kuroi: One year ago. One year ago, I walked tall as the most physically dominant wrestler in this federation. One year ago, my strength was unmatched and I was going to drag people kicking and screaming to my level whether they wanted to or not. One year ago, Legion was the most powerful stable this federation has ever seen. And then it ended in an instant.
Kuroi snaps his fingers dramatically.
Kuroi: My neck was shattered. Both my C3 and C4 vertebrae were cracked. Doctors told me I would be lucky to walk again never mind compete. The rehab process was the most grueling thing I have ever gone through. But here I stand. I have walked through hell and I kept going. It takes more than a career threatening neck injury to stop this beast because I am more than I am just a beast. And now? Debts need to be repaid. I know you’re here, Natasha. I know you’re lurking somewhere. I'm not sure if you'd thought about what happened that fateful night at Clash of the Icons last year. I have to ask you, did you think I was dead? Did you think I'd forget? Did you think I wouldn't come here? You didn't kill me, and now you see what happens now. Show yourself.
Nothing happens.
Kuroi: I am not asking, I am demanding. Show yourself Natasha.
Nothing happens.
Kuroi: Debts must be paid. Show yourself Natasha Niamh Fizttpatrick Murphy.
Nothing happens.
Kuroi: SHOW YOURSELF GODDESS OF DEATH!
And then the lights go out. All you can see is the flashes of several mobile phones from the scattered crowd, trying to get a sight of what’s going on in the ring. Several tense seconds pass before the lights go back up. Standing facing Kuroi is Natasha, dressed in her full regal attire, a cloak of raven’s feathers topping her usual corset and leather pants combination and a totally blank expression. The crowd goes deathly silent as Kuroi stares a hole right through his former stablemate and...
Taylor: KUROI!
Romano: WHAT IS HE DOING!?
HE TAKES A KNEE!
Kuroi: If you wanted to kill me, you would have. I'm not an idiot, and I think you know that. You were proclaiming your deity status and I dismissed it as foolishness. You've sought out to teach me a lesson. Well, consider your lesson learned. I'm now here to join you once again and seize the AWF by the throat.
Natasha pulls a small pouch from her pocket and dips her finger inside. She places it on Kuroi’s forehead and draws a line of ash downwards, ceremonially. She then beckons for the microphone to be passed up to her.
Natasha: To the ashes we were sent. From the ashes we shall rise. You demanded strength, Kuroi. I forced you to fight back from injuries the unworthy would never have managed to return from. I made you show the greatest strength of all. The strength to return no matter what the odds. Now is the time for you to take what you have learned. Arise, Kuroi.
Kuroi stands.
Natasha: We have much to discuss.
And with that the lights go out again for a five second darkness break and when they go up again the ring is clear and Natasha and Kuroi are nowhere to be seen.
Taylor: Is this Legion!? Did Legion just return!?
Romano: I'm not sure if this is Legion or... what it is, but it's something and it starts with a shiver down my spine.
The arena is plunged into darkness as "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin echoes out of the speakers, triggering the attention of those in attendance to the stage where dark blue lights have started to flash in rhythm to the music.
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break
When the levee breaks I'll have no place to stay
As the tempo of the song picks up, it can barely be seen that someone has made their way out in the pitch black, planting themselves in the middle of the stage. The lights return and we're shown the back of Keith Williams as he's pointing at what's on his clothing. He's noticeably wearing a black denim vest with patches of bands on the front, the words "Paragon of Sleaze" printed on the back in a death metal/black metal stylized font, and directly below this is a giant mustache graphic.
Williams spins around, stroking his mustache and gleefully taking a look out at the crowd. He slowly saunters his way down the rampway to ringside, taking his time to taunt fans on either side of him. As he reaches the ring, Keith goes to enter by rolling under the bottom rope, but hesitates for a moment to thrust against it to the beat of the song, eventually getting to his feet and treating everyone with another round of mustache strokes for good measure. He mounts the turnbuckle nearest to him, hopping up to the middle rope and posing with his arms spread wide. As the music dies down, KW abandons his post and tosses his vest to a company stooge on the outside, taking to practicing his elbows in the corner before the match begins.
Taylor: The AWF Prestige Champion is here and he's ready to make an example out of Adam Sanders.
Romano: If Adam is anything like Bloodied Fox or Greg Adkins, he's going to have a bad time.
The drum fill followed by the opening guitar riff for the title track off the fourth studio album by Canadian punk band Sum 41 begins to blare on the Ascension PA system. The fans begin to cheer as the lights go dark and a single spotlight appears on the ramp.
One, two, three, four
The rest of the band joins the guitar as Adam Sanders emerges behind the curtain. The fans give the Awkward One loud cheers as the spotlight follows his trek towards the ring.
Jessie Love: From Grand Rapids, Michigan, weighing in at two hundred forty pounds, he is the Awkward One… ADAM SANDERS!!
Well, I won’t be caught living in a dead end job
While praying to my government guns and gods
Now it’s us against them, we’re here to represent
And spit right in the face of the establishment!
Sanders walks up the stairs, walks down the apron a bit and puts both arms in the air. The fans continue to give loud cheers for the WCG 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
Taylor: Adam Sanders, this is his big shot. He's tried this belt once more at Fired Up, and failed.
Romano: Adam has faced a lot of losses recently, but a win here would actually be the win. The main event is about to begin!
AWF Prestige Championship Match
Keith Williams (c) vs. Adam Sanders
After Gabe Valentine lifts up the AWF Prestige Championship in the air, Keith Williams gives a thoroughly disgusted glare at Adam Sanders, who is doing everything in his power to not show any emotion whatsoever. The bell rings and the AWF Prestige Title match has begun.
DING DING DING!!
The two men stare down for a moment. And that’s when Keith Williams lures Adam in with a single word, “BORING”. Adam takes a swing and Williams uses his forward momentum to send him against the ropes and down to the mat with a rotating spinebuster.
Taylor: Keith Williams was smart and got Adam to do what he wanted him to do. And a spinebuster as a result.
Romano: Adam has to keep his emotions in check as much as he can. Williams is going to look for every little advantage he can poke out of him.
Williams yanks Adam back up by the hair and tries to place Adam in the corner, but Adam fights back with a left and a right and a left. And the fans start getting behind every single strike from the Awkward One.
Taylor: And there’s some life from the challenger!
Romano: It’s punches. Big deal…
Taylor: Well, the crowd is into it.
Adam gets one more right in before Keith counters with a knife edge chop that catches Sanders off guard. He delivers another and another and the fourth one takes Adam off his feet. Keith mounts Adam and starts delivering as many punches as he can before he is ordered to stop or be disqualified. Keith scoffs in the direction of Valentine before throwing a few stomps on Sanders until Adam trips the planted foot on the next stomp.
Taylor: Momentum has shifted back and forth. These men will not rest until they leave with this championship.
Romano: Keith is willing to go further than Adam. This is a fact. You have to give him the advantage long term.
Taylor: We’ll have to see.
As soon as Keith gets back to his feet, he is dropped with a strong lariat from the Awkward One. With Keith on the mat, Adam quickly locks in one of his trademark submissions on the Prestige Champion.
Romano: Well, I guess the comments by Keith makes this move fitting…
Taylor: Adam has the Death By Powerpoint locked in on, Keith. Can Keith get out of this camel clutch?
Romano: He’s trying, that’s for sure!
Keith winces in pain from the submission. After using all his strength to pull closer to the ropes, eventually he gets it to make Adam release the hold. Adam lifts Keith and drops him on his head with a brainbuster. Cover by Sanders.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Keith gets the shoulder up after two. Keith, knowing he needs to do something to take momentum back, looks at the angle that Gabe Valentine and takes a quick shot at Adam that would normally get him disqualified. As Adam drops down, Keith disguises it with a small package, holding Adam’s tights.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Now it’s Adam’s turn to kick out.
Romano: Keith pulling out all the stops to get this win.
Taylor: You mean a low blow and holding tights?
Romano: Exactly! He will do whatever it takes to win, something Adam WON’T do!
Keith places Adam on the ropes and gives a few more knife edge chops to the chest. After his fourth one, he clotheslines the Awkward One to the outside. Keith yells at Gabe Valentine to start counting.
One…
Two…
Adam starts using the apron to pull himself up, but Keith executes a baseball slide to keep Adam outside while remaining in the ring.
Romano: See? That’s brilliant strategy by our Prestige Champion!
Taylor: It’s cheap.
Romano: So is your suit.
Three…
Four…
Adam is using the barricade to get up this time, learning his lesson from the baseball slide. Keith looks prepared to repeat the move if necessary.
Taylor: Be careful, Adam. You know what he’s gonna do.
Romano: Can’t get back in the ring, lose by count out.
Five…
Six…
After analyzing the situation, Adam approaches the ring with Keith trying to repeat the baseball slide… but Adam sidesteps and yanks Keith out of the ring, resetting the count. Before Keith could realize what was going on, Adam Sanders was driving his knee into Williams and dropping him a DDT.
One…
Adam, realizing a count out win does him no good, rolls Keith back into the ring before sliding in himself. Sanders bounces off the ropes and comes back with a running leg drop on the back of Keith’s head. Cover by Sanders!
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
As both men get to their feet, Keith lands an uppercut. While Adam staggers from the strike, Keith lands a snap suplex on Sanders. He guides Adam up how he wants him for a german suplex and repeats with a Regal Plex and holds on with the pin.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Taylor: It’s two counts all around as Adam kicks out of the Regal Plex.
Romano: Sooner or later, one of these men need to do something to really take the fight out of their opponent.
Taylor: I think I know who you think will.
Romano: You already know.
Keith shakes his head in disgust before picking Adam up once more. He places Adam in a fireman’s carry before spinning around, eventually dropping Adam onto the mat. Feeling that this would only be another two fall, Keith gets a few stomps in on Adam’s head before getting the Texas Cloverleaf on Sanders.
Taylor: Texas Cloverleaf!! Adam is in trouble!
Romano: If he knows what’s good for him, he will tap and fight another day. He still has a US shot in his back pocket if he wants to try to go after Erin Gordon. Maybe Keith is too tough for him.
Taylor: Well, Sanders looks to be trying to get to the ropes.
It takes longer than Adam would have liked, but eventually he reaches for the bottom rope. Keith doesn’t release the hold immediately though, having to be counted then told by Gabe Valentine to stop. When Keith does release it, he gives Adam a few more stomps to the back of the head. Adam pulls himself up using the turnbuckle, and Keith slams his head into it. Keith gets a few chops in on the cornered Adam before charging from one corner to the other and using all his weight to crush Adam Sanders as best he can.
Romano: Keith is firmly in control of this match, as he should be!
Taylor: Adam is definitely at the disadvantage as Keith piles on the damage on him.
Keith starts to choke Adam with his boot until Valentine counts to ten. Once he does he starts to place the Awkward One on the top rope. He climbs up top for a superplex… BUT SANDERS FIGHTS HIM OFF!! Keith drops from the top rope. By the time he gets back to his feet, Adam has already leaped off the top rope…
Romano: Oh come on, Keith… you can’t be letting him do this!
Taylor: Adam Sanders scores the Flight of the Dragonite! Keith Williams is down! Cover!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
T...NO!!
Keith Williams kicks out once more. Keith gets another uppercut on Adam and goes for a lariat, but Sanders ducks… with Keith hitting Gabe Valentine instead!
Romano: Ref’s down! I don’t think Adam saw it either!
Taylor: Keith did though! And Adam is grabbing Keith.
Sanders quickly takes advantage of the miss by grappling Keith and eventually getting him up into suplex position and dropping him into a piledriver.
Taylor: This Is Awkward!!
Romano: You mean “From Russia With Hate”?
Taylor: I mean, Adam uses it under a different name. A bit awkward they both use this move with different names though.
Romano: It’s going to be even more awkward for Adam when he realizes the referee is down and can’t count this pinfall.
Adam hooks the leg and the crowd counts to three, but Gabe Valentine is still on the mat. Keith doesn’t even try to kick out, but instead starts laughing. As soon as Adam gets up to check on Valentine, Keith delivers another low blow.
Romano: Hope he and Tasmin aren’t trying to have kids.
Taylor: This is awful! Keith is outright cheating now!
Romano: Oh, it’s about to get worse!
Keith tosses Adam outside the ring and follows. The first thing he does is drape the Awkward One across the barrier and throws a few chops on him before irish whipping him into the ring steps. He hits a bicycle kick on Sanders while Sanders was still on the steps. The kick dislodges the steps from the ring, which gives Keith another idea.
Romano: That’s right, Keith!! Do it!!
Taylor: This is disgusting.
Romano: He is doing what is necessary to win the match!
Keith uses part of the steps as a landing point, he picks up Sanders and hits the From Russia With Hate onto the ring steps.
Romano: So now we’re going to use the Keith name?
Taylor: Well, Keith used it this time so yeah.
Romano: Well, Sanders is out like a light!
Keith rolls Sanders back into the ring, but not before putting a steel chair on the apron for him to use. After a few chair shots to Adam’s back and head, he gets the chair out of clear sight. He prods Valentine to get ready to count. Keith taunts Adam inaudible to the camera before hooking the leg.
Romano: Time to retain!
Taylor: I hate this!
Romano: I love it!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR… NO!!!
Romano: What?!
Taylor: Adam kicked out!!
Romano: How though?
Keith is fuming. He starts telling Valentine to count faster before trying again.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR… NO!!
Adam Sanders kicks out again. Keith gets up and lifts the chair. With Valentine unaware of what’s going on, Keith strikes Valentine from behind with the chair. He then uses the chair a few times on Adam once more. Adam begins to start bleeding from the forehead.
Taylor: This has gone too far!! Keith needs to be stopped!!
Romano: Well, Adam should stop him then!
Taylor: That’s not what I mean!
Keith decides to go bigger with the chair as he places Adam’s head inside the chair. Keith starts to climb the top rope.
Taylor: Please, don’t! This is a man’s life right here! This could break his neck! Tasmin, Betsy, get down here!!
Romano: If you let them come out, Garcia and Carner will be right behind them. They are better off letting this remain one-on-one…
Taylor: This can’t happen!
Keith jumps to do a double leg stomp… but Adam gets out of the way!!
Taylor: Signs of life from Adam Sanders!
Romano: He still has that chair on his head.
Taylor: He’s taking it off now!
It was hard to tell if Keith was hurt from the missed stomp or annoyed. But he takes a second longer than he might have wanted to as Sanders stumbles to his feet. Keith turns to see Sanders up. Keith takes a swing, thinking Adam is too weak to fight back, but Sanders ducks. By the time Keith turns back around, he sees Adam’s heel connecting with his jaw.
Taylor: Lightning Strike! Adam got the superkick!!
Romano: Well, Valentine is still down. So don’t celebrate yet!
As Keith drops to the mat, so does Adam. Along with Gabe Valentine, all three men are down in the ring. The first person to do anything is actually Valentine, but it was to roll to a different position and remain down. At the same time, Adam Sanders and Keith Williams start to get back up. With every fan chanting his name, Adam beats Keith to his feet. He takes advantage of this by grabbing Keith by both arms and executing the Motor City Circuit on the Prestige Champion, which brings both men to the mat.
Taylor: Motor City Circuit!!
Romano: Still no referee, Taylor.
Taylor: Anything he can do to Keith helps though!
The double arm DDT actually causes Keith to start bleeding as well now. But Keith wasn’t going to take this lying down, grabbing the chair once more and taking a shot at Adam’s knee. This causes Adam Sanders to grab at his knee in pain. Keith Williams gets back up with the chair in hand and sees Sanders on the ropes and smacks him again with the chair across his back.
Romano: And then Adam takes his ten millionth chair shot of the match.
Taylor: Adam knows that chair quite intimately now.
Romano: And Keith isn’t done with it.
Keith drops it to the mat and uses Adam’s own signature onto the chair. After hitting the double arm DDT, Williams scolds the crowd for daring to cheer for Sanders.
Romano: There’s a good Motor City Circuit right there!
Taylor: Keith is just doing everything he can to punish Sanders at this point.
Romano: That is the point. Winning is good. Making sure he doesn’t come back is even better. You think he wants to see Adam against after he retains tonight? No, he wants to make sure Adam never challenges him for the Prestige ever again.
After looking at the state Adam Sanders was in, Keith starts to try to help Gabe get back up. As Valentine is taking longer than Keith would like, he places Adam on the ropes. He picks up the chair one last time and swings… but Adam dodges!! The result of the missed chair shot was unideal for the Prestige Champion…
Taylor: The chair hit Keith! He swung, missed, and the ropes made the chair hit himself in the face!!
Romano: Keith! Don’t hit YOURSELF with the chair!! Hit Adam!!
Keith stumbles back after the chair shot. Adam hears the chanting of his name one last time and uses everything he’s got to go back on the offensive. Keith stumbles forward, and Adam uses this to put Keith into a fireman’s carry position and delivers his Death Valley Driver.
Romano: Oh no.
Taylor: The Dream Breaker! And Valentine might be in position to count! New champion?!
Romano: Gabe, don’t get up!! Stay down!!
Gabe Valentine turns around just in time to see the finisher. Adam drops down to his knees and gets the cover. Valentine sees the cover and counts.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
DING DING DING
Romano: What?!
Taylor: He did it!! Adam Sanders did it!
Romano: No, no, no!img
Jessie Love: Here is your winner… AND THE NEW AWF PRESTIGE CHAMPION, ADAM SANDERS!!
Adam Sanders remains on his knees as the guitar solo for Underclass Hero blares all throughout the arena. Confetti starts to pour down from above as the championship belt is handed to Adam Sanders from the timekeeper.
Taylor: Adam Sanders has been through it all in AWF. He debuted at Clash of the Icons last year and had to deal with Cross Recoba mocking his shy personality.
Romano: Laid out Cross, at least.
Taylor: He has won and lost matches against all the ReVenants, who have hounded him his entire time here in the company. He was stabbed and set on fire at AWF Fright Night in the End of Days tournament.
Romano: He got stabbed again at Battle for Hegemony too.
Taylor: And here he is, the new champion of AWF!
Tasmin Richards has run down to the ring and embraces her fiance, who is still on his knees. Williams is on the outside, dumbstruck that his run with the championship is over. Tasmin helps Adam get back to his feet as he holds the AWF Prestige Championship in the air with his other hand.
Taylor: Well, we had pretty much every title change hands tonight.
Romano: Well, not the Around the Clock title, but you’re right about that.
Taylor: But tonight was a big, historic night! We thank all of you for joining us. I’m Tommy Taylor with Cassius Romano, signing off. See you all at Prestige 68!
