NLW Ascendancy XI | Saturday, March 20th, 2021 | LIVE
Mar 6, 2021 20:43:57 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 3 more like this
Post by Kris on Mar 6, 2021 20:43:57 GMT -5
Next Level Wrestling Presents
ASCENDENCY XI
LIVE from the Avron B Fogelman Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana
Saturday, March 20th, 2021
The words “NEXT LEVEL WRESTLING” appear on the screen as the cold open begins, slowly fading away to black and leaving nothing but silence.
Narrator: Life is all about evolution.
A young woman’s voice is heard through the darkness as the opening feed brings us to the Avron B Fogelman Arena in New Orleans, but the time isn’t the same as today--no, this is October 3rd, 2020. This isn’t Ascendency XI, this is Ascendency I -- the very first episode of Next Level Wrestling. The venue is basic, minimal advertising around the building and crowds were only set to a mere number of people due to the global pandemic of COVID-19.
Narrator: What looks like a mistake to others has been a milestone in my life.
Flashes of the show’s highlights appear on the screen, all in black and white, which becomes a more recurring theme throughout the video package. Soon, the quick flashes change show, heading into the second episode and then into the third episode and finally into the fourth episode before leading into the very first Next Level Wrestling pay-per-view… Homecoming. Flashes of the night’s highlights came into view. Dylan Black defending his XHF X*Crown Championship against Big Bone and then to Leon Chant and Gerhard Bishop reaching a draw with one another, before the final flashes show Maze being crowned the inaugural NLW Heavyweight Champion. Confetti fell down from the ceiling as he celebrated in the ring.
Narrator: Even if people have betrayed me, even if my heart was broken--
The shots then fade into Ascendency V and to the Southern States Championship qualifiers, seeing Frank Dylan James and Jason Justice win their respective matches. Soon, fading into Ascendency VI and into Open Fight Night, finding shots of the hometown hero Adrien Cochrane standing tall victorious over HNDRXX and Jason Justice, and then to the XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship match where Jabroni was so close but came up short against the champion- MYOJIN.
Narrator: --even if people misunderstood or judged me, I have learned from these incidents.
The next shot we see is of Frank Dylan James becoming the first ever NLW Southern States Champion in controversial fashion after Justice just about kicking out at before three, and then with the next shot showing Leon Chant landing the Pop Up Powerbomb onto Maze and pinning him to become the new NLW Heavyweight Champion. Confetti falling down onto The Hired Gun.
Narrator: We are human and we make mistakes--
The final scenes showing Supremacy and the NLW Southern States Championship Cage Match where the West Virginia Lariat taking down Justice after a brutal war against one another. Soon the shots fade away and into Masquerade. Nathan Parker pulled off the unbelievable upset and pinned Frank Dylan James in the middle of the ring to end his reign as a champion. And then the last closing shot we see is the Ladder War main event, all four standing on the ladder before Takuma Okazaki takes out himself and Jabroni with the Big Tiger Destroyer through a ladder, and when it came down to Dresden and Chant, the challenger got the upper hand on the champion with a Triangle Choke- until Leon grabbed the championship with a free arm, pulling it down and retaining the championship.
Narrator: --but learning from them is what makes the difference.
“Miseria Cantare” -- AFI is heard in the background as the shot soon changes to the visual of the XHF X*Crown Championship, being held up by the champion himself, Dylan Black. Then to the many defenses and wins he’s had since his championship win. From the names like Rob Arnold, to Keith Williams, to Zoran Sainovic, to El Rey, to Hyperion, to Big Bone, and even to Eric Dane. As the music begins to rise and change to the beating drums known, soon the shots change from Dylan Black to Leon Chant and the NLW Heavyweight Championship resting on his shoulder, in the background are the many men and women he’s beaten to get to where he is today.
“Love your hate, your faith lost
You are now one of us
Love your hate, your faith lost
You are now one of us”
You are now one of us
Love your hate, your faith lost
You are now one of us”
The shot then fades into the neon lettering that spells out #BELIEVE in a light blue colour, stepping into the shot from the right is Adrien Cochrane and resting on his shoulder is the championship he’s cashing in to add into the collection of the X*Crown -- the New Generation Wrestling Championship. The shot then fades once more and walking into the left of the shot is Mystique, letting her hair flow through the wind as she walks, the neon lettering in the background reading “QUEEN OF THE RAT RACE”.
“Nothing from nowhere, I'm no one at all
Radiate, recognize one silent call
As we all form one dark flame... Incinerate!”
Radiate, recognize one silent call
As we all form one dark flame... Incinerate!”
We’re then greeted with the sight of the champions hitting their respective finishers on the many opponents that have come and gone since their reigns have begun, Dylan hitting his Electric Chair Driver finisher that he calls the Ragnorak and Leon Chant hitting his patented Pop Up Powerbomb finisher. Side to side are the shots, bodies laying on the mat and almost dead upon impact.
“Nothing from nowhere, I'm no one at all
Radiate, recognize one silent call
As we all form one dark flame
As we all form one dark flame
As we all…”
Radiate, recognize one silent call
As we all form one dark flame
As we all form one dark flame
As we all…”
Then the shot cuts to Adrien Cochrane and his run through AWF’s Fired Up tournament and then through his touring of NPW, NLW, Destiny Wrestling, J-ROK and many more. Connecting the Adrien Cutter on his opponents, even some of which from back in New Generation Wrestling. Names like Johnny Maverick, Trixie, Damon Graves, Kayla Richards, Dead Eye and many more. Before fading over to Mystique as her battles since arriving in Next Level Wrestling. Taking on the likes of Gerhard Bishop, Frank Dylan James, Rebecca Brookes, The Prick and more.
“Love your hate, your faith lost
You are now one of us”
You are now one of us”
The final shots being seen is the stare down of Mystique and Leon Chant, looking at one another and Mystique reaching out for the NLW Heavyweight Championship, wanting to be the champion at any cost.
“Love your hate, your faith lost
You are now one, one of us”
You are now one, one of us”
Before jump cutting to the previous interactions of both Adrien Cochrane and Dylan Black leading into this match, both men staring one another down and both championships being held up high above their heads before the music fades away as does the camera shot, fading away to black. The same woman’s voice heard before is heard, giving one final line to send us off.
Narrator: Welcome to the next evolution of Next Level Wrestling.
Soon, the feed opens back up to the sights of the roster of Next Level Wrestling being shown and the opening riffs of “Obey” -- Bring Me The Horizon feat. YUNGBLUD playing in the background, the quick flashes of each roster member hitting their respective moves are shown. Names like Rebecca Brookes, Tommy Kelly, Kai D Oh, El Rey and The Goons are shown, giving a brief preview of the Next Level in NLW.
“Another day another post-traumatic order
Brainwashed and feeling fine
I bit off more than I could chew when I looked closer
So I stabbed a fork in my eye”
Brainwashed and feeling fine
I bit off more than I could chew when I looked closer
So I stabbed a fork in my eye”
The champions of Next Level Wrestling are then shown, Nathan Parker with Michael Dundee by his side and the NLW Southern States Championship wrapped tightly around his waist before quickly fading into Leon Chant with The Academy in the background, the NLW Heavyweight Championship resting on his shoulder and in his clutches. Rob Arnold in the background with a hand on Chant’s free shoulder and on the right of Chant is Riley Richards with his vlogging camera and a smile on his face.
“Think I'm losing my fucking mind
Don't know where to turn, now I'm blind
Destroy yourself it feels so good to fade away
Why, d'you want to hurt yourself?
Die, for something else?”
Don't know where to turn, now I'm blind
Destroy yourself it feels so good to fade away
Why, d'you want to hurt yourself?
Die, for something else?”
The champions then stare down the entire roster as they begin to surround and swarm the duo, challengers from the left and the right, more individual shots of those who surround them are shown in quick flashes. Scott Hampton, Eli Dresden, Al Jabroni, Takuma Okazaki, The New South, and many more.
“Don't let your conscience get in the way”
Just as that line is delivered, the champions look to one another and both smile before stepping out of the shot as flashes of NLW’s biggest highlights are shown.
“Obey
We hope you have a lovely day”
We hope you have a lovely day”
The first flashing shot shows Frank Dylan James performing the Mountain Top Knee Drop from the top of the fifteen foot high steel cage wall down onto the chest of Jason Justice at XHF Supremacy 2021.
“Obey
You don't want us to come out and play”
You don't want us to come out and play”
The second flashing shot shows Leon Chant delivering the Pop Up Powerbomb onto Rafe White from the very top rope at Ascendency III.
“Away, now now
There's nothing to see here
It's under control
We're only gambling with your soul”
There's nothing to see here
It's under control
We're only gambling with your soul”
The final shots shown are of Nathan Parker celebrating his championship win at NLW Masquerade after conquering the beast known as Frank Dylan James in an upset win and then fading to Leon Chant at the end of Ascendency VII holding the NLW Heavyweight Championship for the first time and confetti raining down onto him as he was crowned the new champion.
“Obey
Whatever you do, just don't wake up and smell the corruption”
Whatever you do, just don't wake up and smell the corruption”
Finally, we fade into LIVE at the Avron B Fogelman Arena, the fans are chanting “N-L-W” with Obey continuing to play overhead, they’re on their feet after watching the hype package for a stacked episode of Ascendency XI. The camera shot then brings us to ringside at the announce table for the commentators of the night.
Dan Simmons: WHAT A NIGHT WE HAVE INSTORE FOR YOU ALL! WELCOME TO ASCENDENCY ELEVEN! WELCOME TO NLW!
Tommy West: My name is Tommy West and by my side is my broadcast partner, “Deep South” Dan Simmons, and we’ve got one hell of a show for you all tonight. Definitely one of the most talked about episodes and it’s not even begun!
Dan Simmons: Oh indeed it has, tonight is two very special main events as the NLW Heavyweight Championship will be defended - Leon Chant will take on Mystique and when it’s all said and done, we move to the XHF X*Crown Championship match. It’s been hyped up for months now, it’s been the talk of the town and everyone in this arena will explode if it happens but the hometown star and NGW Champion, Adrien Cochrane, will take on Dylan Black, the reigning and defending champion for two hundred and three days!
Tommy West: Main events even Road To Victory couldn’t match in spectacles! But also tonight is Rebecca Brookes taking on the NLW Southern States Champion - Nathan Parker - in a non-title contest, and I’m sure the Californian Angel is looking to bounce back after Masquerade.
Dan Simmons: El Rey and Eli Dresden, both winning their matches on the last show, they’ve got a shot and a chance to face whoever walks out of the NLW Heavyweight Championship match here tonight! Number One Contenders match!
Tommy West: And that’s not all for crowning contenders… eight men will enter that ring and only one can walk out with the chance to become the new contender to the NLW Southern States Championship! Who’ll walk into Ascendency XII with that shot? Well, who knows? Who’ll Parker face in his first defence?
Dan Simmons: But we kick things off here tonight with a singles debut for both of these two, Kai D Oh taking on Neko Nyan Nyan! Let’s get this show on the road!
MATCH ONE
Kai D. Oh vs Neko Nyan Nyan
The bell rings and the two opponents stride toward the center of the ring... or, at least, Kai D. Oh approaches normally. Neko Nyan Nyan sort of scampers forward on all fours with a curious-sounding trill of a meow, earning a weird look from Kai and a long-suffering sigh from the referee. The Dragon God finds himself being batted at with a hand--er, a paw?--a couple of times along his leg. The amount of force used is not remotely enough to move the far larger man, looking almost like Neko is trying to play rather than fight. Tolerating a few more of those strikes if only to give Nyan an incredulous look, Kai's patience inevitably runs out when one of those swats goes from his thigh to a bit close to the loins of the World's Strangest Creature. The moment that happens, Kai lashes out with a vicious kick that sends Neko flying across the ring to a chorus of boos from the fans in attendance.
Quickly, however, the jeers turned to cheers as Nyan launches herself across the ring with an indignant yowl, clawing up his face as Oh's arms flail in an attempt to dislodge her! By the time that the referee finally gets the two beast-like competitors to separate, Kai's face is a mess of scratches and Neko's hair is standing on end, the latter hissing over the referee's shoulder. It looks like a housecat threat-posturing at a lion, but the crowd is eating it up, firmly in Neko's corner with cheers. It's clear that Kai's angry at his godly features being besmirched in such a fashion and, as soon as the referee is out of the way? Neko's enthusiasm to get back in Kai's face is punished with a stiff elbow that drives her backward, the Dragon God quickly following to smash her into the corner with aggressive shoulder thrusts over and over and over again, snarling out threats of severe bodily harm even as he inflicts exactly that--and when the referee once again intervenes via five count, Nyan crumples to the mat and the boos from the audience are thunderous.
Kai allows his attention to be drawn away from his opponent by the crowd's disapproval, turning his back on his downed opponent to demand the adulation he feels that he deserves. By the time that he's done jaw-jacking at the crowd, Neko has managed to make it to her feet--and when he turns around to go back to what he thinks will be more domination? She's surging forward, her Pounce taking the big man off his feet thanks to the element of surprise--and to make matters worse, she's following up with a pin attempt that gets to two! Of course, the Dragon God powers out... and once he's back up? The true onslaught of offense begins, Nyan decimated with a series of strikes that eventually leads to her being booted in the gut and, once she's doubled over, Kai is hauling her in close and hooking her up before hitting his take on the Batista Bomb, the Tatsumaki making the ring shake with the force it generates when it slams Neko into the canvas! From there, the pinfall is academic, as is the crowd's absolutely venomous jeers as Oh secures the victory in his debut.
[WINNER: Kai D. Oh Via Tatsumaki at 05:04]
We cut to the parking lot entrance, where the X*Crown Champion, Dylan Black has just entered the building ahead of his defence against Adrien Cochrane. He’s heading towards the locker rooms in order to make his final preparations, but stops as a voice catches his attention.
Arnold: You know if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you liked it around these parts.
Black turns, he’d almost passed Rob Arnold without having to interact, Rob was clearly not letting him get in the building so easily. Arnold, who was flanked by Riley Richards, smiled at the champion, who offered a smirk in return.
Black: You know, if you just wanted a closer look at the title I took away from you, all you had to do was ask, there’s no need for the cryptic greetings.
Arnold: Who said I was being cryptic? I think you’d be better suited around here. Japan is so far away, Japan…well, it’s just not Next Level, is it?
Black doesn’t rise to the baiting.
Arnold: Just thought it would be something to think about.
He winks, and a brought grin runs over his face.
Black: Come on Robbie, if this is your weak attempt at losing to me once again, all you have to do is ask. You know this. If you're feeling inspired for #3, you can enter the Rumble, but for now you’ll have to excuse me, I’ve got a title to defend. Don’t worry, I know where I’m going.
Black starts to turn away but Arnold has something else to say, which stops the X*Crown Champion in his tracks.
Arnold: I’m glad you brought that up, the Rumble. I’ve just come back from speaking to BB Gunn, he wanted confirmation of The Academy’s involvement at the Rumble.
Black: And there I was thinking that I’d retired you.
Black stifles a laugh.
Arnold: Retired me? Now Dylan I didn’t think you were a fantasist!
Dylan ignores this.
Black: Well I hope you survive long enough so I can one up you once again. Maybe after the third time you'll seek out a real retirement facility. Anywho, I’ll see you at the Rumble Rob-
Arnold: Oh, I’m not entering. I’m leaving your embarrassment up to Riley Richards.
Black: You are?
Richards: I am?!
Arnold: Yes, you are.
Arnold glares at Richards to shut up, before smirking at Dylan, slowly walking up to him to the point where they’re almost face to face.
Arnold: I’ll have my hands on the X*Crown again, don’t you worry, but it’ll be when you, or anybody else for that matter, least expects it.
Rob looks like he’s going to tap the title that’s resting on Dylan’s shoulder, but stops short, and places his hand back down by his side.
Arnold: In the meantime, think about it…Dylan Black, he’s always been Next Level…right?
Dylan almost looks like he's pondering it...after all, he came very close to signing with [REDACTED]. Choosing to not pleasure Rob with rebuttal, he instead turns to Riley Richards.
Black: I’ll see you at the Rumble then, kid. Now, I really have to get ready, you know what it’s like mate…well, you did.
Black smugly walks past Arnold and out of shot. Riley walks up to the leader of The Academy, standing in the space vacated by Dylan.
Richards: Seriously? I’m in the Rumble, Mr Arnold?
Arnold, who’s head had been turned to watch Black as he departs, spun his head back and glared at the young Bristolian. Richards decides that perhaps now isn’t the time, and we cut back to ringside.
MATCH TWO
Over The Top Battle Royal - Winner faces Nathan Parker at A12 for the Southern States Title
Al Jabroni vs Joe Blow vs Rafe White vs Michael Dundee vs Nate Pierce vs David Goon vs Waylon Kirk vs Cheez
All eight competitors took a moment to size each other up, they were all vary wary not to make a mistake, seven of the eight were very wary about the last man, Joe Blow. Why? Well because Joe had propped himself in the corner, lounging diagonally across two top ropes, an invitation to take him out…problem was you could probably smell him from the bleachers. As Dan Simmons said, it was a mix of bodily fluids and stale alcohol, but he wouldn’t disclose which bodily fluids, nor the type of alcohol, probably for the best, Tommy West was simply dry heaving at the thought. The bravest one to approach him was Michael Dundee, perhaps because as a cat man, and cat hoarder he’s used to all sorts of pungent smells, but even he got a few feet away and turned away in disgust. Dundee turned into a stiff clothesline from Pierce, and this started a fist fight amongst the competitors. Kirk went at Goon, following their recent history, Big Bone went at it with Al Jabroni, and Pierce continued to attack Dundee. This curiously left Cheez and Joe Blow in opposite corners, Joe daring somebody to attack, Cheez was watching, analysing who he could go after and keep out of danger.
In the middle of the ring, Pierce was hammering Dundee with short arm clotheslines, and finally he decided to grab “Cats” by the back of the head and launch him over the top rope. True to his name, Dundee landed on the apron, firmly on his feet. He looked impressed with himself for just a moment as Pierce levelled him with a big boot, sending him to the floor, and making him the first man eliminated.
[ELIMINATED: Michael Dundee at 01:40]
Pierce smirked from his handywork, but was soon hit by a dropkick to the back from Cheez, who clearly felt that now was the time to strike. The shot staggered Pierce forward and he slumped on the top rope, and Cheez ran across to try and dump him over, but The Whaler was having none of it, and elbowed the gamer in the face. Pierce targeted Cheez now, and looked to go on the offensive, but was met with an arm drag, Pierce would pop back up and be brought back down with two more arm drags before being hit with an atomic drop. Cheez kept the some what surprise offense up, and booted Pierce in the gut, and went looking for the first suplex in Like, Comment, Subscribe [three amigos], but he wasn’t able to lift Pierce, who replied with a shot to his ribs which broke the suplex hold, Pierce wasn’t too impressed by the attacks he’d just sustained, and decided to make an example out of Cheez for it, he grabbed him in a bearhug-type hold, headbutted him three times and then, with his back to the ropes, he launched Cheez out of the ring with an overhead belly to belly suplex!
[ELIMINATED: Cheez at 02:47]
Pierce looked around and decided that Joe Blow was still off limits, even though he looked like he may be asleep. Still, he joined Waylon Kirk who was trying to eliminate David Goon. Neither Goon nor Kirk really had much advantage over the other at this point, having traded blows and attempts to haul the other over the top rope, the same could be said for Jabroni and Big Bone. Who had moved from fighting in a corner as Big Bone was looking to hammer Jabroni with a powerbomb, Jabroni reversed this into a hurricanrana, a move which forced Big Bone forward and slumped on the second rope. Suddenly, Joe Blow saw an opportunity, like a seagull that sees an errand chip on the floor, he swooped in and hauled Big Bone over the top rope! Bone held on and landed on the apron. Blow reared back and looked to throw a right at the Esqueleto de Gran Fiesta, but Big Bone blocked it, and headbutted The Hobo in reply. Blow turned around, stumbling from the hit, right into an Al Jabroni Dropkick, which sent him stumbling back towards the ropes and specifically in Big Bone’s direction. Bone saw him coming, and dropped the top rope to send Joe over and out of the match!
[ELIMINATED: Joe Blow at 04:58]
Big Bone didn’t hang around and got back in the ring, he and Jabroni went back to trading shots. Meanwhile, Waylon Kirk was in a bit of trouble, Goon and Nate Pierce had Kirk hoisted up in the corner, trying to take him out, but Kirk wrapped his leg around a top rope, and his arm around the top rope on the diagonal. Kirk threw a few rights at Pierce which forced him back, and then at Goon, Goon stumbled back as well and this allowed Kirk to get back to a vertical base. As Pierce came back towards Kirk he was met with a knee lift, and Kirk quickly grabbed The Whaler’s head, hopped on the turnbuckle and hit a tornado DDT!
Goon meanwhile cleared the cobwebs out and went after Kirk as he got back up from hitting the DDT, he pushed him back with some forearms before whipping him towards the ropes. As Kirk hit the ropes however, Ricardo Goon, who was at ringside despite not being cleared to wrestle, took Kirk’s legs out, dropping him face first to the mat. This got the attention of Beau Traywick and Jolene, who were also at ringside to support their New South brethren. Kirk got back to his feet and told Ricardo exactly what he thought of that, but with his back turned, David Goon snuck in and dumped him over the top rope!
[ELIMINATED: Waylon Kirk at 06:44]
As you can imagine, this caused a bit of commotion at ringside. Traywick was straight over to support his partner and this triggered David Goon to slide under the bottom rope and stand aside his brother. Referees desperately got in between the four men to stop a brawl.
Meanwhile this left Nate Pierce, Big Bone and Al Jabroni in the ring. Jabroni was wrapped around and over the ropes, desperately trying to deter Big Bone eliminating him. Pierce slowly gets up from the tornado DDT, and clubs the back of Big Bone, which allows Jabroni so safely drop to the mat. Pierce then grabbed the waist of Big Bone, looking for a German suplex, but Bone threw a couple elbows to stagger him back, and with The Whaler staggered, Big Bone hit the Bonesaw [burning lariat].
Al Jabroni was now back on his feet, and looked to surprise Big Bone, but David Goon was back in the ring, the referee’s having restored order and sent The New South back on their way. Goon didn’t allow Jabroni to make a move, cleaning him out with a superkick. This caught Big Bone’s attention and with Goon still looking at Jabroni, Big Bone looked for another Bonesaw, but Goon saw him last second, and ducked, and hit a full nelson suplex.
Bodies everywhere, Goon looked at Nate Pierce and clearly determined that he was the man to eliminate first, he dragged him to his feet and whipped him to the ropes, Pierce saw the clothesline coming from Goon and ducked, and on his return he bent Goon in half with the Puncture Wound [spear]. Pierce got back up to his feet, but was immediately floored, with Al Jabroni having recovered, took flight from the top rope and hit the Catch 22 [flying hurricanrana]. Pierce landed but the momentum had him staggering almost immediately up on his feet, albeit leaning against the ropes. Big Bone, having shaken off the effects of Goon’s attack, saw this, and hit another Bonesaw, this time to send Pierce over the top rope!
[ELIMINATED: Nate Pierce at 09:02]
Big Bone rested on the top rope, looking down at the fallen Pierce, but this allowed Al Jabroni to sneak up behind him and try and bundle him out. Big Bone was having none of it and threw an elbow at Al, who rolled back before attempting to charge down Big Bone once again, Big Bone saw him coming, and back body dropped Jabroni over the top!
[ELIMINATED: Al Jabroni at 09:47]
And then there were two, Big Bone and David Goon. Bone watched as Goon was getting to his feet, holding his ribs from the Puncture Wound he’d taken. The two men looked around as the crowd’s noise level went up, clearly enjoying what they’d seen so far. The two men didn’t hesitate, they launched into a war of right hands, brawling with each other to gain an advantage, eventually Big Bone was getting more shots in, and backed Goon against the ropes. He whipped him to the opposite ropes and went for a bicycle kick, Goon ducked and took Big Bone with a diving shoulder when he came back. Goon immediately dragged Big Bone to his feet and hoisted the luchador up, hitting a delayed vertical suplex.
Goon got straight back to his feet and sneered at his opponent, it seemed like David was about ready to finish this. He grabbed Big Bone by the back of the head and launched him over the top, but Big Bone landed on the apron, Goon tried a right to send him off but Bone blocked and hit a headbutt to stagger him back. Bone looked to his right, Mono Despiadado had been lurking nearby, and hopped onto the apron next to Big Bone, who picked him up, and threw him at Goon! The blue monkey from hell bounced off Goon, who fell to the floor, much to the crowd’s enjoyment! Big Bone went to get back in the ring, but his feet were being grabbed by Ricardo Goon, who upon seeing the antics of Mono Despiadado has snuck around to that part of the ring himself. Big Bone looked down and kicked Ricardo off, who stumbled back. Bone looked back to the ring…but David Goon was back on his feet and hit a superkick, Big Bone dropped off the apron to the floor, and David Goon had stole the win!
[ELIMINATED: Big Bone at 12:27, and therefore WINNER: David Goon]
MATCH THREE
Non-Title Match
Rebecca Brookes vs Nathan Parker
Parker and Brookes stare at each other for a moment. Brookes looks confident, an impressive feat for someone looking into the unhinged eyes of Parker. Parker moves first, launching a big haymaker, but Brookes ducks it expertly, nailing several low kicks to the knee. Parker growls and lunges, but Brookes sees him coming again, this time using his momentum against him, catching him under the arm he attempted a punch with and planting him with a Uranage Slam. The crowd pops as she transitions smoothly from the Uranage to a mount, laying into Parker with a flurry of powerful blows to the head. She doesn't get very much of a flurry out before the much bigger Parker shoves her off. She recovers quickly, but Parker rushes her before she can set herself and blasts her, head to head.
Brookes reels back against the ropes, and the crowd murmurs, knowing that's a dangerous place to be. Parker is quick to charge in and scoop Brookes up in a body slam position, but Brookes realizes how bad that is and starts flailing. She doesn't get completely free, but she's aware enough to grab the top rope and push against it. Parker struggles to get her loose so he can drop her on her head, but when that fails, he just braces himself, then launches her as hard as he can into the air. Brookes loses her grip on the top rope, but she lands on her back, not her head. Still, it was a hard landing, and it shows on her face as she arches her back in pain. Parker watches her keenly as she starts to recover, shaking the top rope as he waits. The crowd murmurs again as they anticipate what's about to happen. Parker runs back against the ropes and then dives over the top rope, nailing Brookes in the chest in a moment that makes the fans think WTF? He's slow to stand after the collision, but not as slow as Brookes. Luckily for both, the crazy maneuver broke the ten count, giving Parker time to get Brookes into the ring and go for a pin, though he only gets a two count.
Parker tries to end things early with his patented rear naked choke, but Brookes, not ready for Naptime, seizes him by the arm as he tries to roll her onto her stomach, pulling him down into a Triangle choke! Parker's eyes go wide as he realizes where he's at, but fortunately for him, Brookes has not worn him down far enough, and he lifts her up while in the Triangle. He then charges into the corner and slams her, powerbomb style, against the turnbuckles. The crowd boos as he crushes Brookes against the steel buckles, but the boos escalate as he drapes her in the corner, then makes a big show of charging back to the opposite corner. He then charges, full speed, toward Brookes, leaping into the air, but she ducks out of the corner and the Megaheadbutt he was looking for hits the top buckle! The thin pad is there, but it's not enough to keep from knocking him loopy. As he staggers back, Brookes slips behind him and wraps her arms around his waist, and she pops her hips to get Parker over her head in a big German suplex! Parker tries to roll through, but his response of trying to land another headbutt gives Brookes the opening to rush inside the attempt, heave him up on her shoulders in a Fireman's Carry, and with a cry matched with a crowd pop, she heaves Parker up and over into a falling neckbreaker! She goes for a pin off of Angel's Wings, but gets an agonizing two count.
Brookes tries to finish things off by going for the Dark Moon, but as she lifts Parker's legs, he pulls his knees close and shoves as hard as he can, making Brookes stagger back against the ropes. Parker pushes himself up slowly, sees Brookes charging in again to keep the pressure on, and catches Brookes on the way by, wrapping his thick arms around her throat for a sleeper hold! Brookes's eyes bulge as he constricts her throat, but before he can drop her to the mat, she shifts her weight, elbowing Parker in the midsection to loosen the grip. She then grabs the offending arm as she twists around behind Parker, but what feels at first like a hammerlock counter turns quickly into an inverted headlock, and before Parker can regain his feet, Brookes roars as she heaves the dense Parker up by the head! She doesn't get a full rotation, but the impact of head to canvas is still devastating, and the Dawn of the Goddess brings a three count and a victory to Rebecca Brookes!
[WINNER: Rebecca Brookes Via Dawn Of The Goddess at 14:21]
The camera cuts to the hallway just beyond the Gorilla position, and what the crowd sees has it cheering faintly in the background. In a rare moment of seriousness, Eli Dresden is in the middle of doing a couple last-minute stretches, her expression one of total focus. Considering what's at stake--and how badly she wants to beat El Rey's ass in particular--that's no surprise.
Tommy West: The last time anyone saw Eli look this serious about a match, she bested a self-proclaimed God when no one thought she could make a mark.
Dan Simmons: By now, anyone that underestimates her is obviously not paying attention. She might be one of the smallest members of NLW's roster, but the size of the fight in this particular dog is damn near endless.
Tommy West: That it is. To tweak a quote from Game of Thrones, 'Even the smallest wrestler can cast a very large shadow.'
On the screen, Eli can be seen turning her head toward someone off-frame... and when the camera moves to see what she sees? There stands Leon Chant, the NLW Heavyweight Championship on his shoulder. The crowd's cheers spike both at their beloved champion and at the intense rivalry that has quickly formed between Chant and Dresden.
Dan Simmons: Speaking of large shadows...the final moments of the main event at Masquerade are looming large over Eli's mind tonight, and it's all because of that man.
Tommy West: I get the feeling that no matter how their matches go tonight, it's not going to change the fact that these two are on a collision course for the ages!
Dresden's eyes narrow, as do Chant's--but before anything can even be said? A producer is walking into the shot and making a beeline for the blond. Whatever is said cannot be heard, but Eli nods before turning her gaze to the champion...
Dan Simmons: What's going on--
...and holding her finger in a 'V' shape in front of her mouth before wagging her tongue at Leon! Leon's eyes go wide as saucers as Eli does a little finger wave before following the producer out of the shot.
Tommy West: I can't help but wonder what would've happened if it wasn't for how Eli was called away, though she was definitely called away with good reason.
Dan Simmons: Absolutely, because El Rey versus Eli Dresden for a shot at the NLW Heavyweight Championship is starting... now!
MATCH FOUR
Number #1 Contendership Match for the NLW Heavyweight Title
El Rey vs Eli Dresden
With the bell ringing and the match getting underway, Dresden looks to begin the match with a Collar and Elbow Tie Up but the young blood rookie doesn’t actually want to- teasing it but then walking away all casually, keeping a smile on his face as he does, but of course, Dresden doesn’t want something like that to happen and wasn’t too keen on the idea either. Pushing the kid into the corner but he’s able to lift his foot up and catch himself before hitting the turnbuckles. Dresden looks to take advantage of the situation but El Rey with the Back Elbow connecting onto her jaw, he climbs to the second rope, leaping back and catching her with the Poisonrana! Spiked her head into the mat early on and El Rey is already proving to himself why he should be at the pinnacle of Next Level Wrestling early on in this match, heading to the second ropes in the corner once again and waiting patiently for Dresden to make her way onto her feet. El Rey leaps for the Meteora but Dresden catches him mid-flight with the Dropkick! El Rey hits the mat hard and rolls out of the ring, but Eli Dresden springs to her feet and looks to take some high-flying risks. Rebounding off of the ropes and taking flight with the Spaceman Plancha over the ropes and down onto El Rey!
Dresden picks up El Rey and throws them into the ring but El Rey comes back with a Tiger Feint Kick along the apron, right to the face of Dresden. The referee is up to the count of four as El Rey gets to his feet onto the apron, taking a few steps back and making space between him and Dresden, watching her get back to her feet as El Rey looks to make a move--but Dresden leaped onto the apron and launches El Rey into the crowd with a Hurricanrana off the apron! A couple of the front rows are taken down! Dresden grabs onto El Rey and throws him into the ring, stopping the count at a very close nine. Dresden looks to make quick work of El Rey as she sends him into the turnbuckles with a Shotgun Dropkick, rolling back onto her feet and eyeing up El Rey in the corner… Shooting Star Cannonball--SIT OUT POWERBOMB FROM EL REY! Roll over to the knees, El Rey’s got a hold of her head and landing Sliced Bread [Standing Backflip Cutter]. Dresden almost lands on her neck from the Backflip Cutter and El Rey hooks the legs but only gets a two count on Dresden.
El Rey drags Dresden back up to her feet, looking for the Society Killer, but Dresden counters with a back body drop which has El Rey landing on his feet, Hook Kick from behind by Dresden stuns the young kid as she turns him around and kicking him in the gut, hooking both arms and up into the vertical position for the Tiger Driver ‘98! Dresden dropped El Rey right on the point of his head and now she’s dragging him into the corner, taking a few steps back before charging in with the INCOMING! [Shooting Star Cannonball] Dresden got all of it as she pulled El Rey out of the corner and into the pinfall but she’s able to get a two count. Dresden walks around the ring, wondering what to do next as she looks back over at El Rey, sitting in the same position as he was when she hit the Shooting Star Cannonball. Dresden makes the charge and El Rey moves through the ropes, but as he looks back, Dresden stops in her tracks. Smiling--no, grinning from ear to ear like a cheshire cat. El Rey with the leg sweep, then the kick to the head, front headlock as he drags her up to her feet… Front Flip DDT! Dresden rolls to her feet… Jumping Thrust Kick to the head of El Rey!
Dresden once again used the arsenal of Jason Long even after Masquerade ended with the Assassin’s Blade kick but she needs to finish this quick, bringing El Rey to his feet but he goes behind Dresden and lands the X-Plex [Straitjacket German Suplex] and with the bridge for the pin but a very, very close three count was made. El Rey grabs a hold of Dresden, going for the Society Killer but Dresden brings herself onto his shoulders to make sure the arms aren’t hooked by his legs. Dresden forces El Rey into the corner but El Rey is climbing up, possibly looking for a Second Rope Society Killer but his foot slips and takes a seat on the top rope, leaving an opening for Dresden to hit The GDI [Arabian Moonsault Slam] making the cover and counting three.
[WINNER: Eli Dresden via The GDI @ 12:51]
CO- MAIN EVENT - MATCH FIVE
NLW Heavyweight Title Match
Leon Chant (c) vs Mystique
The bell rings, the crowd are excited and the first main event of the night has begun. The crowd are all behind Leon Chant tonight, rooting for the babyface champion, but once the attention is turned to the challenger. The New Orleans crowd turned on a dime, showering Mystique with heavy, heavy boos. Mystique makes a move and grabs the leg of Leon Chant and connects a Dragon Leg Screw Whip, pushing the sole of Leon’s foot into the ground. Mystique goes for it again and is successful, she’s trying to take the legs of Leon Chant out early and she’s succeeding in her tactics. The right leg of Chant is slowly going numb, Mystique begins dragging Chant to the corner, using the ring post to wrap Chant’s leg around and stomp onto it, the referee heading to the outside and pulling Mystique away from Chant, but she gets one final stomp in as she breaks free from the referee’s grasp. Chant finally makes his way back into the ring fully, shaking off the pain in his right knee, as The Academy watches on in worry. They’ve not witnessed Chant is vulnerable before. Mystique slides into the ring, behind Chant, and is stalking her prey, but pulling Chant up to her feet and connecting a hard Backdrop Driver onto Chant.
Mystique already has full control of the match and is once again going for the leg of Leon Chant, the size difference between the two was already increasingly obvious in height and weight and body measurements, but she’s once again going for those Dragon Screw Leg Whips and driving the sole of the foot down into the mat, trying to weaken the ankle of Chant some more. One turns to two and two turns to three, so on and so forth until the sixth attempt and Chant kicks the knee of Mystique with his free leg. Chant uses the opportunity to head to the ropes for leverage but Mystique stomps down onto his right ankle, the ankle she’s been targeting since the start. Mystique tries to go for the early Long Kiss Goodnight but Chant fights through and counters by rolling over and tossing Mystique into the turnbuckles. The challenger goes head first into the middle turnbuckle and that gives Chant some time to recover, pulling himself back up to his feet and using the ropes for leverage, shaking his foot around and rolling his ankles.
Chant finally stands on both feet but he can feel the sharp pain in his right ankle, he knows it won’t be easy to recover so quickly, slowly making his way over to Mystique but she catches him on the jaw with a Knee Strike and then going for a Spinning Back Elbow but Chant catches the arm, lifting her up off of her feet and slamming her against the mat with the Half Nelson Suplex. Mystique almost rolls out of the ring from the impact, but she gets back to her feet and charges into the ropes, rebounding off of the ropes and going for the Dropkick- Chant rolls out of the way. Trying to rush to his feet but the ankle gives away and he crumbles down to the mat, Mystique is back to her feet as well… Punt Kick to the head of the champion! Mystique goes for the cover on the champion but he kicks out just before two.
The champion pushes Mystique away but she comes back looking for the kick to the face but Chant catches the leg, he’s bringing himself up to his feet slowly and pulling Mystique in... Exploder Suplex! Mystique is sent flying across the ring, finding herself in the corner and Chant stumbles over with a huge Lariat in the corner, and then more Lariats into the chest and neck area of Mystique. Chant is firing off with everything he has, he knows he’s at a disadvantage here now, he knows he’s got a huge problem if Mystique capitalises on it. Chant grabs Mystique by the throat and hoists her up, chokeslamming her down onto the turnbuckles out of frustration and anger, Chant takes a few steps back and takes her head off with the Discus Lariat! Mystique folds in half over the sheer power of the Lariat as Chant falls down for the cover but only getting a two count. The champion kneeling before his challenger, he looks down on Mystique and begins to bash in her skull with the heavy forearm strikes, over and over and over and over and over again.
Mystique looks worse for wear, looking absolutely horrible and Chant finally gets to his feet, looking around him and hearing the crowd cheering him on BUT MYSTIQUE HAS THE ANKLE, PULLING CHANT DOWN TO THE MAT AND LOCKING IN THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT! HE’S GOT THE ANKLE LOCK APPLIED ONTO THE RIGHT LEG! THE CHAMPION IS IN SHEER PAIN! BRUTAL PAIN RUSHING THROUGH HIS LEG! But Chant grabs onto the bottom rope, making Mystique break the submission but she holds it for the four seconds she had in the count, and Mystique throws Chant into the corner. She goes for the Captivation but Chant pops her up and goes for the Powerbomb-- but the ankle gives away again! Mystique pulls Chant into the middle of the ring and connects The Beheading [Jaw-jacker] as she rebounds off of the ropes and runs towards Chant- POP UP POWERBOMB! Chant got all of the Powerbomb, making her land on her neck, and made the jackknife cover, putting all of his weight on Mystique and he got the three count!
[WINNER: Leon Chant via Pop Up Powerbomb @ 16:26]
The lights turn off for a moment. The dueling guitar riffs from Simple Plan guitarists Sébastien Lefebvre and Jeff Stinco from their song “Last One Standing” as the screen reads “#Believe” in a light blue font. With a solitary spotlight on the top of the ramp, Adrien Cochrane appears the moment Pierre Bouvier’s vocals begin to echo throughout the venue.
Cochrane looks at the fans from the ramp for a moment, giving a smile as he makes his way down the ramp and to the ring, hitting as many high fives and fist bumps as he can on his way to his destination.
Dan Simmons: Well partner, it's been an amazing night so far, but we have one bit of business left...The XHF X*Crown.
As Adrien leaps over the ropes to enter the squared circle and removes his black leather jacket to expose his #Believe shirt, as well as the NGW Championship, he leans on the ropes with his fist in the air to the sound of the chorus. He then hands the belt to the referee for safekeeping during the match.
Tommy West: I'm telling you now Simmo, since this match got made two weeks ago I have been getting more and more excited by the day, I think I'm gonna enjoy this one.
The lights dim, and some inspirational music begins to play. The NLW tron cuts to some slides from All That Glitters in 2020, where Dylan’s reign as X*Crown Champion would begin. We watch his first defense against Brewer, merging the GWA World Championship into the X*Crown. End of Days is up next, as we see Lord Dominicus and Evil-Borg powerbomb Dylan off the cell, their comeuppance, and Dylan knocking down Dev to retain. Some shots of his fights with Big Bone and Eric Dane, before Supremacy where he’s bloodied by Dar and B.B.W, fighting off the KGB, and putting Pepe through a table. One more shot of his moonsault in FWA that helped him beat Koch Knocher before a single frame of Adrien Cochrane sits in the frame… before a sharp cut to black…
"Blood, Tears, Dust" by Lacuna Coil hits the sound system, and there is an eruption for the X*Crown Champion. A moment passes before Dylan Black walks out. Decked in all white and red gear, he has his custom X*Crown belt around his waist. Around his neck are the GWA and ICW Championships, staples of his past and his reign. He flaunts all the gold, sauntering down the aisle as he gets to the ring. He pauses, as his eyes lock with Adrien’s. He takes off the GWA and ICW Championships, handing them to a ringside attendant. He slides into the ring and stands in the center, glancing at Adrien before he poses in the center, raising the X*Crown for all to see. The ref asks for the X*Crown, and Dylan gives it a kiss on the center plate before handing it off.
CO- MAIN EVENT - MATCH SIX
XHF X*Crown Title Match
Dylan Black (c) vs Adrien Cochrane
Adrien took a moment to stare down at his NGW Title, the uninitiated would suggest this was goodbye, but the reality it was becoming something bigger. Of course, should he win this match he would get to hold it again, but not as NGW Champion, as X*Crown Champion. Dylan Black on the other hands stayed in his corner, haven already given up the X*Crown to the referee. Whilst Adrien was taking a moment to soak it all in, the title, the home town crowd, Black seemed to be much his usual self. It wouldn’t be arrogant to assume for Dylan, this was just another X*Crown defence, sure, he didn’t have the crowd behind him, but he was used to that. He was used to the NLW surroundings of the Avron B. Fogleman Arena, having successfully defending here against Big Bone back at Homecoming. Indeed, since winning the title from Rob Arnold at All That Glitters he had defended on a number of stages, big, small, overseas, Dylan Black had checked them all off. So perhaps this was just “another” defence for him, but rest assured you could see in his eyes that it was no less important than the last defence, or indeed the next defence should he triumph tonight.
With both titles raised by the referee, both men were ready to go. The bell rang and the two men started circling each other, the crowd buzzing in anticipation in the background, whilst neither man were NLW roster members, they were ready to support the home town boy in Cochrane. Adrien and Dylan continued to circle each other but Black bull-rushed up to Adrien and locking him up. Black, with almost thirty pounds and a mechanical hand in his favour, started to overpower Cochrane, and made the advantage count, dropping the challenger with leg sweep. Black quickly mounted his opponent and started throwing forearms in a ground and pound effort, Adrien held his arms up to block before quickly rolling out. Both men scrambled back to opposite corners and stared each other down once more, a smirk on the X*Crown Champion’s face crept in as they both rose to their feet.
They circled each other again and this time Dylan looked for a jab with his robotic hand, but Adrien had it scouted, ducking under and Dylan spun around to be met by a dropkick, what else from the Dropkick King? Both men hit the mat and were straight back up, only for the same to happen, Dylan looked for a jab, Adrien ducked under and took him down with a dropkick. Again, they scrambled back to their feet and this time Dylan looked for a bicycle kick, but Adrien was again ready for it, and this time hit a dropsault. Dylan bounced across the ring and rolled onto the apron, whilst Adrien sprung back up and screamed “believe” to the crowd, who were getting hotter by the second. He turned his attention back to Dylan, what was getting back to his feet, and charged at him, he looked to hit a baseball slide but Dylan jumped, so Adrien slid to the outside of the ring, alert to Dylan landing back on the apron, he dragged his legs out, so Dylan’s face slammed onto the ring apron!
Adrien knew he couldn’t let Dylan have any breathing room if he was going to be successful today, and no sooner had Dylan’s face landed on the ring apron, he threw him back into the ring. Cochrane climbed onto the apron, and when Dylan got back to his feet, he took flight with a springboard dropkick attempt, but Dylan sidestepped him, meaning he crash landed in the middle of the ring. Dylan staggered back and grabbed his jaw, and Adrien rolled in the opposite direction and to his feet. They took a moment to look to the crowd, who appreciated the fast start from both men.
The two men look to lock up once again, but Dylan surprised Adrien with a knee to his side. Dylan Irish whipped Adrien, but The Original Guardian reversed it and this sent Dylan into the corner. Cochrane not only reversed the move, but followed the champion so closely that as Dylan landed in the corner Adrien smashed into him with a Stinger splash! Adrien didn’t stop, he started to unload with right hand after right hand on Black. Dylan, on the defensive now, kicked Adrien in the side to force him to stop, and this allowed him to come back at the challenger, and they trade blows. Dylan pulled his hand back, looking for a strike with his heavier, robotic hand, but Adrien is once again wise to it and hit Dylan with a knee lift.
Cochrane whipped Dylan to the opposite corner and once again charged at the champion, but this time Dylan got both his feet up, sending the challenger back a couple steps, he charged again but Dylan once again put his boots up, and followed up by slipping back onto the second turnbuckle, and drilling Adrien with a axe handle smash. He gathers the challenger back up and quickly quietens the crowd by drilling the New Orleans native with a brainbuster. He followed with an early cover but would only get two.
Dylan swiftly brought Adrien back to his feet but his opponent pushed him back, and as Dylan tries a lariat to reply, he ducked past and ran to the ropes, he came back and sent Dylan to the mat with a diving forearm. Adrien was straight to his feet but kept his opponent grounded with a standing moonsault, the pin attempt would only get a one count. This didn’t phase the challenger, who brought Dylan back up and once again sent him into the corner, this time he was looking for a running shotgun dropkick, but Dylan moved, meaning Adrien’s feet hit the corner, and he bounced backwards in an ugly fashion, landing close to his neck, which he immediately started to hold. Dylan smirked at the damage caused, and goes so far as to taunt Cochrane, telling him “not to do a Maverick” on him. Eddie Walker, who had been a complete non factor so far, got a little closer to the ring and checked on Cochrane, who was clearly in some bother but indicated he’d be fine to carry on, as Dan Simmons noted, he wasn’t going to quit so quickly and simply into one of the biggest opportunities of his career.
Dylan didn’t seem to care either way, he had made a reputation for holding onto these collective championships, and wasn’t intending on losing them now. He circled over Adrien and grabbed him around the waist after he had rolled onto his stomach , and showed an impressive amount of strength to hit a deadlift German suplex, a move that would do no favours to Cochrane’s neck. Dylan knew it too, and smiled once more as the crowd booed him, not that he cared. He pulled Adrien back to his feet and wrenched the neck some more, turning The Dropkick King around and dropping him with a neckbreaker. He covered for a two count, but as both men sat up following the near fall, you could see the damage taking it’s toll on Adrien, who was again holding his head and grimacing.
Dylan wiped some sweat out of his face and watched Adrien get back to his feet and stuck immediately with a knee to the gut. Feeling in control, he whipped Adrien to the ropes, and looked to drop him with a chop, but Adrien again ducked one of his attacks, and on the return he brought the champion down with a head scissors takedown which he converted into a triangle choke! The crowd began to get to their feet in anticipation, but Dylan shuffled rapidly towards the ropes, getting a foot to the rope to break the Lullaby Ballad. After letting the referee’s count go to three, Adrien broke the hold quickly got back to one knee in order to compose himself. He looked over his shoulder and saw Dylan using the ropes to get back to his feet. He kept the pressure on the champion, planting a boot in his cut and hit a double underhook suplex. He started to fire up once more, and watched Dylan from the opposite side of the ring use the ropes again to get back up, he ran at the X*Crown Champion, but Dylan dropped the top rope, sending Adrien crashing and burning to the floor below!
Dylan was on his knees and looked at the challenger as he gathered himself on the outside. After he paused to get a large lungful of air, Dylan stepped out onto the apron and as Adrien was back to one knee, he sent him back down by hopping off the apron and landing a bionic elbow to the back of Cochrane’s head. Black looked around and decided it was time to make use of some of his preferred background – hardcore. He grabbed Adrien by the back of the head and dragged him towards the ring steps, looking to slam his head into it, but Cochrane planted his hands down, shaking his head in defiance. He planted his elbow into Dylan’s gut and didn’t hesitate in slamming Dylan’s head into the steps! With the referee’s count creeping up, he slid the Champion back into the ring and rolled in straight behind him.
The hometown hero stalked the champion as they both got back to their feet, admittedly Dylan Black was much slower from the shot to the steps, Dylan slowly turned into a belly to belly suplex, which once again grounded the champion, and the challenger quickly got back to his feet and sprinted to the corner, climbing the top rope. He screamed “believe” once more at the New Orleans crowd, and took off, hitting Flight One Eight Two [swanton bomb], making the cover but only getting two.
Adrien wasn’t detracted by the two count, quite the contrary, he was beginning to build up more and more momentum. He brought Dylan back to his feet and after a couple of forearm shots he looked to Irish whip the champion to the corner, Black reversed but as he followed Cochrane, he didn’t expect to be blindsided by Adrien hopping up the tunbuckle and connecting with the Ace-inator [whisper in the wind], Adrien covered for another two count, but it wasn’t far off the three. Adrien knew it too, his hands found the back of his head to match the look of disbelief at how close that was. He wasn’t in the business of giving up however, and kept the pressure on the X*Crown Champion, again dragging him back to his feet and whipping him to the corner. He ran, looking for a splash, but Dylan stepped away, and as the challenger snapped back, the champion leaped up and hit Headstrong [poisonrana]. It was now Dylan’s turn to cover and get a two count, but you could see on his face that he was perhaps happier to just receiver a slight respite.
After taking a moment, Dylan gets back into it, bringing Cochrane up to his feet and staggering him back with a headbutt, Adrien stumbled back into the corner and Dylan went into him with shoulder charges to the midsection, grinding his opponent down some more. With Adrien slightly doubled over, Dylan dragged him a couple steps out from the corner in a suplex position, and hit a snap suplex. He got back up and stood over Adrien, looking to roll him over so he could look for the Dynamic Outro [wicked stepsister], but Adrien sensed danger, and put Dylan in a small package which the champion sprung out of at two. The crowd’s excitement of a possible Adrien comeback was soon sniffed out as both men got to their feet immediately after the kickout, but Dylan was sharper and planted a strong kick in The Dropkick King’s gut, he didn’t hesitate in his follow up, hitting a Royal Massacre [package piledriver], he covered the challenger who landed hard on his head…but only got two.
Dylan briefly questioned the count to the ref, holding three hopeful fingers up, but the referee was happy that it was two. After a rueful shake of the head, he dragged Adrien to his feet, he reared his robotic hand back, and put a hard punch square between his eyes, dropping Cochrane hard. Despite the impact, Cochrane was still stirring, and rolled onto his front in order to get up, Black watched the effort for a moment before hauling Adrien between his legs, and grabbing him around the waist, he lifted him for a powerbomb, but out of nowhere Adrien countered with a DDT! Both men where on their backs, and the referee began to count, the crowd were willing both men back to their feet, although the chant was all for Adrien, as they screamed “believe” over and over again. As the referee got to five, both champion and challenger had crawled to a corner, and were slowly using the ropes to get them to their knees. As the referee made it to seven, both were slowly on their feet, legs wobbling, sweat pouring, certainly would still be on their backs if it wasn’t for the ropes.
Almost in sync by now, both men dig deep and took another large breath, and turned to face each other, they stumbled forward and Dylan took a clumsy right hand shot, which Adrien blocked and offers one of his own in return. Dylan stumbled back and Adrien steadied himself and went for a spinning wheel kick, Dylan ducked and Adrien span back around to be met with a kick to the gut, Dylan hooked him for a suplex, Adrien went up but dropped behind, and Dylan turned around right into an Adrien Cutter! Cochrane covered, referee in place, one….two……thr-NO! Dylan rolled a shoulder up at the last moment!
Adrien looked shocked and the crowd cannot believe it either! He got back to his feet, the crowd spurring him on, he went to the ring Apron, and watched Dylan slowly get back to his feet. Dylan was all over the place, and Adrien took off, looking for the Crescent City Connect [springboard meteora], but Dylan dropped to the mat, avoiding the attack! With Dylan dropping early enough, Adrien adjusted and landed at the middle of the ring with a forward roll to allow for the momentum. He rolled up onto his feet and turned, running back towards Black, who had quickly got back to his feet as well, Black dropped Adrien into the second rope with a drop toe hold, and with no hesitation he pulled him back with a wheelbarrow facebuster, not done there he grabbed Adrien’s arms, and hit the Dynamic Outro! Dylan covered, one…two….thr- NO…NO? Adrien Cochrane somehow, by the deepest will from the bottom of his gut rolled his shoulder off the mat! Dylan couldn’t believe it, he was sure his opponent would be out cold!
Dylan got to his feet and again protested with the referee, but the referee again told him the count was steady and fair, and that the shoulder was up before his hand hit the mat for the third time. Dylan frowned, but his gaze was immediately back to the challenger, who was stirring, although it looked like it was on pure instinct, he looked vacant. Dylan walked over to Adrien, who used Dylan as a crutch to get back to his feet, possibly not aware of where he was, Dylan allowed him to get to one knee before hooking him in a fishermans, he was going to hit Ragnarok, but before he could, The Dropkick King reversed into a small package! Dylan kicked straight out, and both men instinctively got to their feet, even Cochrane, Dylan scrambled towards the challenger who ducked his clothesline attempt, and hit another Adrien Cutter! Cover! One….two……………..three!
[WINNER: Adrien Cochrane Via Adrien Cutter at 28:10]
DING DING DING!
Dan Simmons: I don’t believe it! He did it! He did it Tommy!
The New Orleans crowd erupt even louder than they have done at any point before, the camera focuses briefly on Adrien’s wife and children who are at ringside, their faces a mix of shock, delight and pure adulation. The referee collects the X*Crown title and approaches Adrien, who has rolled off Dylan Black and is sat up, trying to process what just happened. The referee presents the title to Cochrane, and his eyes almost pop out of his head, it starts to sink in…
Marty Watts: Here is your winner, and NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW XHF X*Crown Champion, The Dropkick King, ADRIEN COCHRANE!
The crowd explode again as the new champion gets to his feet and holds his new title aloft with one hand, the other hand over his mouth, speechless.
Tommy West: The hometown boy did it Simmo!
Dan Simmons: He did more than that partner, he has finally ended the reign of Dylan Black!
Adrien looks around, his instinct is to go to the nearest turnbuckle and climb it, raising his title once more, he screams “believe” at the fans, who scream it back at him. He drops down and turns, Dylan Black is sat up in the middle of the ring, dazed, but aware of the reality of what just happened. Adrien approaches the now former champ and offers his hand. Dylan looks at the hand for a moment, and slowly nods, accepting the hand and being brought to his feet. They exchange a handshake.
Tommy West: Let’s just take this moment to acknowledge just what a reign this was folks, Dylan Black was champion for just over two hundred days, the respect should not just be between these two men, we should all respect what Dylan Black has done.
Black nods once more, and exits the ring, allowing Adrien to have his moment.
Dan Simmons: I couldn’t agree more, but it is now the time of Adriene Cochrane, it’s his time! Folks, that is all we have time for, from Tommy and myself on this historic night for not just Next Level Wrestling, but for the XHF, goodnight!
We fade out to Adrien heading out the ring to celebrate with his family, as well as the hometown fans.