The AWF Presents: Prestige 70 - LIVE from College Park, MD!
May 15, 2021 19:11:43 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Kira Izumi, and 4 more like this
Post by ForeverKuroi on May 15, 2021 19:11:43 GMT -5
Ascension Wrestling Federation Presents:
Live at the Xfinity Center in College Park, MD.
5/15/2021
Capacity: 17950
In Attendance: 3590
Backstage Tasmin Richards is seen moving into the building from outside, the Around the Clock title over her shoulder as she ums a happy tune, obviously pleased with her bounce back win at 69(giggity). She seems to have put what happened post match behind her as she smiles and nods at a few of the backstage staff before smiling and running up to someone throwing her arms around them.
Richards: UNCLE EDDIE!
Eddie Walker smiles and gives her a squeeze back before shaking his head.
Walker: Hey kid! Glad to see you're doing ok after...well after what happened after your ma-
Tasmin shakes her head and puts a single finger up pressing it on Eddies lips
Richards: No no...we do not talk about that. It was an anomaly and that's it, I'm forgetting it happened...so should you.
Eddie raises an eyebrow and nods slowly.
Walker: Well, I'm sure you want to go see Adam, but before you two go back home I have a few merchandising things for you to sign...
Tasmin nods as Eddie continues.
Walker: Check it out... Tasmin Richards tattoo sleeves. Little girls all around the country will be pretending they're you...
Tasmins jaw drops as Eddie shows her a picture on his phone.
Richards: OH MY GOD THAT'S AW-
The lights start to flicker on and off above them. Tasmin shakes her head as Eddie seems to not be phased.
Richards: I...I gotta go...
Tasmin backs up from Eddie and before he can protest she's gone.
The fireworks go off in front of this limited capacity crowd as the cameras turn to the two men presenting tonight's matches.
Taylor: Greetings XHF Network, I am Tommy Taylor with Cassius Romano and we are live from College Park, Maryland! And Cassius, we have three great matches coming tonight!!
Romano: We have Mad Dog Smith fighting Hayden Callahan in the opener. This is Hayden's first match after jumping ship from FIRESIDE to AWF. And we also have the Phoenix Championship on the line as Greg Adkins and Xiaolong challenge Frankie Webb.
Taylor: Not to mention our main event that pairs a few pay per view opponents. Cross Recoba and Chris Card have to reunite High Finance and team with the Jitterman. Across the ring from them is the skeptical XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion, Bloodied Fox with a tag team who are also fighting one another at Clash of the Icons: Betsy Granger and AWF Prestige Champion Adam Sanders.
Romano: We'll have to see who can work together and who won't. But let's get this first match rolling!
As the lights fade to darkness, the speakers inside the arena begin to play “To Whom It May Concern” by Ghostmane as the crowd switches on the flashlights on their phone as the singular spotlight shines down on the entrance curtain as it swings open and the lyrics hit the speakers.
“I broke the law in Madrid
And I'd do it again
I got a bitch in every city that I ever been
I thought the money would do something for the sadness in
Me but I'm deeper in the abyss than I have ever been”
The english-born anti-villain of AWF steps through the curtain, sporting his best three piece suit as he listens to the large amount of mixed cheers and boos that rain down from the rafters of the arena onto Hayden Callahan as he looks around the arena and then takes his slow walk to the ring, ignoring the crowd’s loud reaction as he reaches the ringside area.
Jessie Love: Introducing first... wrestling out of South London, England and weighing in tonight at two hundred and ten pounds... he is "The Ungovernable" HAYDEN CALLLLLAAAAAHAAAAAANNNN!
“Now I'm pushing a button, to self destruct me
And no, I don't wanna talk about it
I'll never take you up on your offer to try to help me out of it
It's just a matter of time, until I rest my eyes
Go to sleep, and never come out of it”
Callahan walks around the ring, glancing inside the ring and not paying any attention at his opponent as he continues to slowly circle around the ring and then climb up the ring steps, walking along the ring apron and looking out to the crowd with a blank expression on his face. Hayden brushes his feet along the apron before entering through the middle ropes and doing his slow walk around the ring, not hopping up any corners or posing to the fans like anyone else would do, just standing there and undressing from his three-piece suit and into his ring gear worn underneath.
Taylor: Hayden Callahan is back baby!
Romano: Yes, and it's curious to see how he'll change. Has he gotten better? Worse?
"Hungry Eyes" by Eric Carmen plays as Mad Dog Smith goes to the ring.
Taylor: You can love him, you can hate him, but you can't deny the fact that Mad Dog Smith is here, and he's one of a kind.
Romano: I can't tell who's going to win. We'll have to see.
Jessie Love: And his opponent, weighing in at one hundred seventy-five pounds, he is... MAD DOG SMITH!!
Singles Match
Hayden Callahan vs. Mad Dog Smith
Callahan walks to the centre of the ring offering a lock up to Mad Dog Smith. Smith saunters towards Callahan, sensually swaying with every step. The Gunslinger looks a little wary of The Consfuser’s, well confusing antics and as the Londoner wavers a little, Smith takes the opportunity to take half the knucklelock and walk Callahan’s arm to a side and then step through, flinging his arm over Hayden’s head and then rolling through into a hammerlock cradle!
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Callahan worms free and the pair reset.
Taylor: Mad Dog Smith wants to take this one to the bank in seconds!
Romano: Mad Dog is the master of many cradles. It’s the best weapon in his arsenal and that’s exactly why he’s going to go for it at every possible occasion.
The pair reset, Mad Dog throwing some lightning fast kicks that cause Callahan to back up and absorb a couple of nasty looking blows to his ribs. Miss XHF 2017 backs off and runs his hands back through his hair before performing a little strut towards the had cam. The Ungovernable Callahan simply charges at Mad Dog while his back is turned and leaps into the air, wrapping his foot around Smith’s face with a ganmengiri. Mad Dog staggers backwards as Callahan rolls away to his feet and hooks in a back waistlock. The Gunslinger falls back and suplexes Smith over with a tight German Suplex, rolling away and dropping a snap elbow onto Mad Dog before he has a second to recover.
Taylor: Hayden Callahan seems determined in his debut.
Romano: Fireside’s loss is the AWF’s gain. He’s got a bright future here on the two tone blue.
Callahan allows Mad Dog Smith to stand up, a little woozy and as Smith gets up to a vertical base, The Gunslinger charges the corner and with seemingly no effort at all leaps onto the second rope, then again, turning in mid flight to bounce off the adjacent side’s top rope and then off into full fight, catching Mad Dog on the jaw with both boots. Smith flies backwards as Callahan rights himself and as the Motherfucker of Dragons bounces out of control off the ropes, The Ungovernable One waits with his arms ready and inverts Mad Dog’s body… but Mad Dog Smith avoids getting driven down to the mat by slipping free from the grasp and lithely sliding between Callahan’s legs, hooking his body into a Schoolboy Roll Up!
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Callahan kicks out again.
Taylor: Mad Dog Smith with another attempt to steal the match!
Romano: Mad Dog is the consummate escape artist.
Positively seething, Callahan stands again, fire burning in his eyes. He charges at Mad Dog and just throws his body at the former Miss XHF’s kneeling form, connecting with an ugly but effective basement Spinning Heel Kick. The Gunslinger rolls through with the momentum of the move and once back on his feet, turns and runs back at Mad Dog, pumping his legs in the air and hitting a low pump kick to Mad Dog’s face. Hayden backs off and readies his next attack.
Taylor: I think Mad Dog Smith is getting into Hayden Callahan’s head.
Romano: Be careful of what you wish for, MD.
Callahan readies himself for another attack and waits for his opponent to get up to one knee. Mad Dog looks totally out of it as Hayden makes a quick going to sleep gesture with his palms against his face. Callahan readies his Tranquil-izing leg, cocking it back and firing a shot off at Mad Dog’s face… BUT THE CONFUSER WAS PLAYING IT CLEVER! CALLAHAN FLATTENS HIMSELF TO THE MAT AND WHIPS HAYDEN’S PLANT LEG OUT FROM UNDER HIM! Mad Dog springs to his feet and fires off a rapid succession of downward boots to Hayden’s body. Smith drags the Londoner up to his feet by the edge of his wrestling tights, giving him a slight wedgie in the process.
Taylor: Mad Dog Smith had woken up!
As fast as his little legs can carry him, Smith heads for the ropes. He rebounds off and hits a top speed rolling senton to his downed opponent. As quick as a flash Smith is up on his feet and he heads to a corner and ascends the turnbuckles. He franticly beckons Hayden Callahan back up to his feet and dives off, landing on The Ungovernable’s shoulders, spinning round and turning it into a Victory Roll!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE… NO! Callahan kicks out!
Taylor: DIVING TURNING VICTORY ROLL!
Romano: OK, that’s the first time I’ve heard that combination of words in that order.
Mad Dog is frantic and drags Hayden up off the mat. He wraps his arms across Callahan’s face, maybe looking for a submission, maybe looking for the ultra rare Kidnapping Diana Ross but whatever he was going for The Gunslinger has it sussed and slips free from the grip, dropping to the mat while whipping his leg backwards through the air, kicking The Confuser full in the face. Mad Dog rocks backwards but Callahan is stupid quick and is back to his feet, driving his forearm into Smith’s chin as he raises himself up. Mad Dog is left reeling as The Gunslinger rushes at his top speed past Smith, bouncing off the ropes and then LEAPING HIGH INTO THE AIR, DRIVING THE POINT OF HIS KNEE INTO THE BACK OF MAD DOG SMITH’S SKULL.
Taylor: DESOLATE MIDNIGHT! DESOLATE MIDNIGHT!
Hayden Callahan covers, hooking a leg…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Jessie Love: The winner of this match, by pinfall, HAYDEN CAAAAAAAALLAAAAAHAN!
Tasmin is back at it again, the ATC title in her hands as she breathes deep looking down one hallway and then another as she comes to catering, which seems suspiciously empty./ She takes a deep breath again and closes her eyes before stepping into the room.
Richards: It's ok, Tas. As Adam said it was just a power surge...everything is fine...it's fine....all is fine...
She steps forward and grabs a plate looking over the food, the lights behind her in the other room flicker and for a split second we see the outline of someone. Tasmin blinks as the lights flicker again and she turns to find no one there.
Richards: Where...where the hell is everyone? ...All the food is hot and fresh...usually there's wrestlers falling over themselves.....but it's..it's fine...
The lights go out completely and Tasmin squeals.
Richards: It's just a surge...or an outage....nothing to be worried about....you're a big girl, Tasmin...
The lights come back on and she sighs in relief before turning and stopping dead in her tracks, swallowing hard as the camera pans around to find a small doll sitting on top of the coffee machine. Dressed exactly like Tasmin is right now, with tattoos and colored hair.
Richards: No...NO....NOPE, NOPE, HELL NO AND FUCK NO...
She just puts the plate down and backs up running from the room slamming the large doors behind her.
Steele: Yes, sir. Yes, sir...
The cameras open up in Jackson Steele's office as he is on the phone. The person he is on the phone with is obvious by his tone but stating his name in the next sentence helps clear all doubt.
Steele: Correct, Mr. Horton. Well, we did officially name Aiden Merric as the number one contender to Erin Gordon for Clash of the Icons. And Cross Recoba versus Chris Card is also now in stone.
Romano: Oh wow! This is big news!
Taylor: Erin Gordon versus Aiden Merric for the United States Championship, that IS big news!!
Romano: What else can we learn!
Steele: You're working with who? Chris Card's legal team? Is this really necessary, sir?
Pause.
Steele: No, I'm not questioning your... no, I'm not... Mr. Horton will you...
Jackson Steele makes an annoyed face as he was clearly hung up on. He notices the camera on him.
Steele: Will you get out of here?!
Sanders: I dunno, Eddie. I'm not sure what you mean.
The cameras open to the Manager Extraordinaire speaking with the AWF Prestige Champion Adam Sanders.
Walker: I've been around Adrien a long time. I've seen what championships can do to people. Look what happened with Heather Halliwell and Adrien when the EXODUS Pro World Heavyweight Championship got between them. I love Betsy. I do. But at some point, she's going to do what's best for her.
Sanders: I... she's my best friend, Eddie.
Walker: I know, kid. I do. And I'm not saying that your friendship is in trouble. I'm just saying to be careful. I trust Betsy, I do. But I've been wrong before. And I don't want to be wrong again and have you on the receiving end of it.
Sanders: I appreciate the concern, I do. Let me go find Tasmin. She's been having nightmares lately, and I don't want her by herself for too long.
Walker: Especially since she has that Around the Clock title, am I right?! Anyway, I'll be checking in on Betsy. You know how to reach me.
With both men giving each other nods, they leave in opposite directions as the cameras head back to the ring for the next match.
Jessie Love: The following contest is set for one fall and is a triple-threat match for the XHF PHOENIX CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
“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).
Jessie Love: Introducing the first challenger...hailing from Tuscola, Illinois. He weighs one-hundred-and-sixty-five pounds….GUTTERTRASH...GREG...ADKINS!!!
He laughs after she smacks him and he heads down to the ring.
Taylor: One of the most polarizing men to enter an AWF ring, he’ll be pumped to get a chance to become a two-time Phoenix champion tonight!
Romano: He’s not going to have it easy, one opponent is a multiple holder and the current champ will have the confidence of being champion on his side!
Jessie Love: Our second challenger of the evening...
"Super Dragon's here and I'm ready for a fight!" is heard before "Kung Fu Fighting" plays and Little Dragon appears and storms ringside.
Jessie Love: Hailing from Hong Kong, China. Tipping the scales at two-hundred-and-twenty-five pounds...XIAOLONG!!
He reaches the ring and leaps over the top rope Luchador style and forward rolls to his feet in a dragon stance.
Taylor: How big a factor will his experience play in tonight’s proceedings?
Romano: You speak to any sports fan in the world and they’ll tell you that it’s easier to become a champion if you’ve had the experience of being one before!
Jessie Love: And now for the CURRENT XHF PHOENIX CHAMPION!
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 a sleeveless hood over his head as he slowly makes himself to the ring.
Jessie Love: Fighting out of St. George, Utah. He weighs one-hundred-and-seventy pounds...FRANKIE...WEBB!!!
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: This kid could be the real deal, not even old enough to have a post-match drink and already a champion here in the AWF!
Romano: Age isn’t a factor when it comes to the drive and determination you need to go far in this sport!
XHF Phoenix Championship
Frankie Webb (c) vs. Xiaolong vs. Greg Adkins
Nate Biggs signals to the timekeeper as the match gets underway!
Taylor: What can we expect to see at the outset?
Adkins and Webb exchange a quick glance before they both storm towards Xiaolong. Realizing what’s happening, Little Dragon starts to throw kicks, first to the head of Adkins and then quickly to the body of Webb. The Chinese superstar tries to follow up once more with another kick to Webb but he catches it...Dragon Screw!
Romano: It’s clear that the two challengers have cottoned onto the fact that Xiaolong could be the wildcard in the match. His experience, his multiple reigns with the belt make him the easy target.
Swarming on the opportunity, Adkins is on Xiao like a bum on fries. Getting to his feet, Xiaolong is met immediately with a clinch of his head as Adkins looks to his bar-brawling experience with dirty boxing, pushing him into the corner.
Taylor: The hedonistic lifestyle of Adkins has inadvertently given him a PhD in bar-room brawling!
Romano: He’s staying on him, but I wonder if it’s the champ you want to have the mano y mano with….
Joining in on the ambush, the Phoenix champion shouts to Adkins.
Webb: GET OUT OF THE WAY!!
Adkins gets out of the way just in time to avoid being clattered by Webb, who connects with a running back elbow that sends a sickening crack around the arena.
Taylor: The two brawlers are forming a cohesive unit it seems.
Now slumped in the corner, Xiaolong can do little to stop Adkins following up the back elbow with an avalanche that drops him to the mat.
Taylor: Did he lick the side of his face when he hit that move?
Romano: He didn’t NOT lick the side of his face.
The two men left standing simultaneously look towards the corner and then back at themselves.
Taylor: We have a Mexican stand-off!
Adkins breaks the impasse with a rabbit punch to the throat of Webb that sends him reeling backwards. Unfazed by the morality of his move, Adkins follows up with forearms to the head of the champion that send him back against the ropes.
Taylor: Once more, Adkins goes back to the skills he picked up in dive bars from Tupelo to Tampa!
The Epitome of Excess pushes the rookie into the ropes and looks for an Irish Whip, WEBB REVERSES IT INTO A ROLLING ARMBAR!
Romano: That was a crisp reversal, Coach has done a great job in getting Webb to look at each situation as an opportunity!
Taylor: This could be a quick defense for the Champ!
Adkins screams out in pain as Webb looks to lock the hold in. Greg tries to keep his arm out of danger but it’s clear that he’s fighting a losing battle with the martial arts student. Webb throws himself back with a smile as Greg once more cries out in pain.
Taylor: Webb manipulated that hold to play to his advantage!
Romano: We’ve not seen much of a ground game from Guttertrash.
Assessing his situation, Adkins realizes he has few options but QUICKLY DUCKS HIS HEAD DOWN AS XIAOLONG SAILS OVER THE TOP OF HIM AND HITS A DROPKICK TO THE FACE OF WEBB!
Taylor: Who needs a ground game when the cavalry arrive?
Adkins rolls back to his feet to try and capitalize but Little Dragon rolls through and uses the middle-rope to connect with a turnaround dropkick to take Greg down. Webb, now back to his feet, goes for a big swinging punch but Little Dragon weaves out the way before charging at Webb who leapfrogs.. Adkins, halfway up, drops back down to the mat.
Taylor: What can the man from Hong Kong make from this?
Coming back off the ropes, Adkins this time has time to leapfrog him but Webb drops back to the mat.
Romano: The crowd are getting in on the act!
The camera pans to the crowd who, inspired by the action, have mirrored by doing ‘The Wave’ around the arena.
Taylor: For those of you at home, I’m shaking my head.
Xiaolong breaks the sequence by wrapping his arms around the ropes. Webb bites and charges first but is sent to the floor. Little Dragon doesn’t wait for Adkins and rushes off the ropes and swings for a clothesline but it’s ducked...TITTY TWISTER!!
Taylor: Still shaking my head.
Romano: Adkins held the belt before, it’s being able to pull moves like that out of the bag that got him there then, can he do it now?
Releasing the unorthodox hold, Xiaolong tries to get distance but turns his back on his opponent leaving him open. Adkins charges...bulldog!
Taylor: Crisp takedown for the Illinois native there!
Seeing an opportunity, Greg leaps to the top-rope and lifts his arms up, popping the crowd in the process.
Romano: This could be risky...
In spending too long showboating, Adkins has let it go to his head. The crowd noise rises as Webb appears on the apron...WEBB CHARGES ACROSS THE APRON AND SPRINGBOARDS OFF THE MIDDLE ROPE AND CONNECTS WITH AN ENZIGURI TO THE SKULL OF ADKINS THAT SENDS HIM TO THE MAT!!
Taylor: AMAZING AGILITY FROM THE CHAMP!
Romano: Xialong dropped like a stone!
Dropping back to the apron, Webb catches Xiaolong trying to charge him off the apron by driving his shoulder into his breadbasket. Capitalising on this, Webb slingshots over the ropes with a sunset flip attempt but Little Dragon rolls through AND LOOKED FOR A BOMAYE BUT WEBB DUCKS OUT AND CATCHES AN ANKLE LOCK!
Taylor: Webb’s looking for a submission it seems tonight.
Romano: He knows that he doesn’t have to lose tonight to see the title go away from him.
The rookie pulls the man who held his belt into the center of the ring and starts to really work the hold. He starts to crank the hold but Adkins has gotten back to his feet AND LOCKS IN THE CROTCH CLAW OF DOOM!
Taylor: REALLY?
Romano: He has a five-count to break it,
Nate Biggs starts a count…
ONE…
TWO....
THREE…
FOUR….
Adkins reluctantly releases the hold but can’t capitalize on the underhanded tactic as the referee admonishes him for his actions.
Taylor: And he took every second he could to keep the hold in and Biggs isn’t going to let him do it a second time!
Xiaolong in contrast, is in pole position to capitalize. He has worked his way to the turnbuckle and climbs up to the top.
Romano: Has the wrestler with the most experience managed to manipulate the match his way?
Getting to his feet, Webb sees Biggs lambasting Adkins but is unsighted to the danger that lies behind him...TOP ROPE BACKSTABBER!!!
Taylor: DSD!!!
Biggs hears the pop from the crowd and turns around. Adkins spies Xiaolong getting back to his feet and Webb incapacitated and rushes past the referee….PUMP-HANDLE REVERSE PILEDRIVER!!!
Taylor: OVERDOSE!!! This could be it!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
Jessie Love: The winner of this match ANNNNNNNDDDD NEWWW XHF PHOENIX CHAMPION…..GREG…...ADKINS!!!!
The screen flickers and we are treated to an up close camera angle of Tasmin Richards, kind of like that scene from the Blair Witch project. We are obviously seeing footage from Tasmins iPhone. She breathes deep, in a dark room, her eyes watery and she sniffs in a few times.
Richards: I've been in here for the last twenty minutes or so, I don't know what the hell is happening. But, if I don't make it...someone please tell Adam I love him, look after bacon seed...and please don't let my sister eat him....
There is a loud crash. Tasmin jumps and whimpers.
Richards: OH GOD WHAT WAS THAT?
Tasmin breathes heavy, she takes a few steps forward and swallows hard before closing her eyes, she tries to calm herself down and she stops breathing...but the heavy sound is still there, her eyes spring open. And then, she hears it. Music. Like from a music box. But the tune is to her entrance theme. Crawling in the dark. And a voice....
OnE tWo, jItTeRs coMin FoR yOu
tHrEe FOur, shuT tHe dOoR
fiVe siX
The music stops, Tasmin's breathing shakes.
DiDn't yoU lIKe mY giFt?
Tasmin screams, the phone moves fast as a sudden blinding light comes in, she seems to have left the room and she is running down a hallway. We then cut back to ringside.
Jessie Love: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is our main event six-man tag team match!!
The fans begin to cheer at the start of the main event.
"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 cheers. Cross uses the handle of the cane to push his shag hair cut from his face, flicking his head back confidently as he smiles towards the audience. He holds up the cane that has caused so much trouble in the past to an even more rapturous response from the fans, and he begins down the ramp still holding it aloft.
Jessie Love: Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada, weighing in at two hundred thirty pounds, he is the self-proclaimed “Box Office Smash of AWF”... CROSS RECOBA!!
Recoba reaches ringside and holds the lion’s 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 cheer even louder. Cross stands to his full height and smirks, stepping over to the far corner to await the beginning of the match.
Romano: The biggest mystery is how he and one his partners are gonna work together tonight. Not to mention he is coming off a loss against one of his opponents.
Taylor: He is hoping to bounce back from that Fox loss by getting a win over Fox’s team tonight, that’s for sure.
The arena goes dark and then the screen flickers on and there appears a wood, a robed man comes out onto the stage with some kind of book, he begins speaking to it and then out in the distance a figure saunters closer and closer and stops...that's when the music begins to play.
Jessie Love: From parts unknown, weighing in at three hundred and ten pounds, he is… THE JITTERMAN!!
Then the lights go out once again and when they appear back on The Jitterman is there next to the robed man otherwise known as John Eden.
They then slowly and methodically make their way to the ring and then lights eventually turn back to normal.
Taylor: The terrifying, the intense, the Jitterman
Romano: That man is haunting the dreams of at least one person in that locker room.
Taylor: And he’s hoping to haunt this match.
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…
Jessie Love: And their partner, from Toronto, Ontario, weighing in at two hundred twenty and a half pounds, he is Technical Perfect… Big Match… CHRIS CARD!!
The lights go back up and purple 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.
Romano: The best, simply put.
Taylor: We know your feelings on Card. But how will he fare in this match with a partner he is likely not to cooperate with.
Romano: Because he is… Technical Perfection!
The arena lights pulse red as BFG Division 2020 rips and tears through the speakers and Bloodied Fox makes his way out, the XHF Junior Heavyweight title around his waist and the Alepou Aegis on his right arm. The fans cheer as he walks down the ramp and slides into the ring, mounting the corner turnbuckles and unfastening the belt, raising it in salute in his left hand.
Jessie Love: And their opponents, from Reading, England, weighing in at one hundred ninety-five pounds, he is the XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion… BLOODIED FOX!!
Taylor: The first man in AWF to win the Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Romano: He’s a former Prestige, US, and Phoenix Champion. There’s little Fox hasn’t done in this company.
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.
Jessie Love: From Toronto, Ontario, weighing in at one hundred thirty-five pounds, she is the Impossible Traveler… BETSY GRANGER!!
“Sin City’s cold and empty
No one’s around to judge me
I can’t see clearly when your gone-one-one”
Arms out, Betsy begins twirling around wildly, blonde ponytail whipping about with her, as she slaps hands with fans on both sides of the ramp. The chorus hits just as Betsy baseball slides into the ring.
“And I said ooooh, I’m blinded by the lights
I can’t sleep until I feel your touch
And I said ooooh, I’m drowning in the night
Oh, when I’m like this, you’re the one I trust”
As the chorus chimes on, Betsy bounces up and hops up onto every ring corner, pumping her fist in time with the song, getting the fans amped up for the upcoming bout. She holds up the belt with her other hand as she dances to the music. When she finishes playing up the fans, she starts bouncing in place, preparing mentally for the bout.
Taylor: The former Phoenix Champion is making her way down to the ring, and she has a chance to add the top title in all of AWF to her list next.
Romano: If she can handle fighting her best friend.
Taylor: Regardless, she is one of the fastest rising stars in all of the AWF.
The drum fill followed by the opening guitar riff for the title track off the fourth studio album by Canadian punk band Sum 41 begins to blare on the Ascension PA system. The fans begin to cheer as the lights go dark and a single spotlight appears on the ramp.
One, two, three, four
The rest of the band joins the guitar as Adam Sanders emerges behind the curtain. The fans give the Awkward One loud cheers as the spotlight follows his trek towards the ring.
Jessie Love: From Grand Rapids, Michigan, weighing in at two hundred forty pounds, he is the Awkward One… ADAM SANDERS!!
Well, I won’t be caught living in a dead end job
While praying to my government guns and gods
Now it’s us against them, we’re here to represent
And spit right in the face of the establishment!
Sanders walks up the stairs, walks down the apron a bit and puts both arms in the air. The fans continue to give loud cheers for the AWF competitor as he steps between the top and middle rope to enter the ring. He steps on the opposite turnbuckle, the chorus of the song becomes the backdrop for him to hop back into the ring.
Well because we're doing fine, and we don't need to be told
That we're doing fine, 'cause we won't give you control.
And we don't need anything from you,
'Cause we'll be just fine, and we won't be bought and sold, just like you
Taylor: And here he is, the AWF Prestige Champion!
Romano: While he may be joining his teammates over in his corner, he has to remember that one of them have eyes on his belt.
Taylor: Well, they are partners for tonight. And it looks like Card and Fox want to start things off so let’s get to it!
Six-Man Tag Match
Impossibly Awkward (Adam Sanders and Betsy Granger) and Bloodied Fox vs. High Finance (Cross Recoba and Chris Card) and the Jitterman
DING DING DING
Chris Card and Bloodied Fox open things up for their respective teams. The Junior Heavyweight Champion sees Big Match Card wanting to lock up. Bloodied Fox turns to his partners, shakes his head, and obliges.
Romano: Bloodied Fox knows this is a bad idea.
Taylor: He doesn’t have a choice though.
Romano: I mean, probably not. But that doesn’t make it any less of a bad idea.
Bloodied Fox locks up with Card and tries to get behind the former Prestige Champion, but Card turns it into an easy STO. Fox pops back up and gets dropped with a neckbreaker. Before Fox can get back to his feet, Chris Card is trying to rip his arm off with an armbar.
Taylor: Chris Card has the early advantage at this stage of the match.
Romano: He’s Technical Perfection. This is to be expected. And Chris Card having the advantage at ANY stage of the match is to be expected.
Taylor: Well, there’s a lot of match to go as Bloodied Fox is able to get to the ropes.
Card keeps applying the armbar while Gabe Valentine starts counting to ten. As soon as Valentine hit the number four, someone else broke up the armbar.
Taylor: Adam Sanders stomps on Card to get him off Fox!!
Romano: Well that’s not exactly fair.
Taylor: Neither is holding the submission after the rope break!
Gabe Valentine starts dealing with Adam Sanders and orders him to go back to the outside. While Chris Card sees this and thinks he can go for a low blow kick on the XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion, Betsy Granger immediately pulls Fox to the side so the kick misses. Fox, realizing what is going on, quickly hits a dropkick on Card. As Card scrambles back to his feet, he is tossed across the ring with a belly to belly suplex. Cover by Bloodied Fox.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Taylor: And a kickout by Chris Card. But Bloodied Fox has certainly turned the tables.
Romano: Chris Card is a genius. He will get out of this.
And get out of this he does… by tagging in the Jitterman. Jitterman enters the ring, and Bloodied Fox gives a visible gulp. But the courage of the Junior Heavyweight Champion cannot be understated as he looked up at a man who was a foot taller and over one hundred pounds heavier than him and didn’t back down. He leaps for a jumping enzijuri, but it doesn’t do much to Jitterman. Jitterman responds with a haymaker that takes Fox off his feet. Fox pops back up only to be taken down with a vicious big boot.
Taylor: Lights Out!
Romano: And Fox’s are certainly out!
Taylor: Cover!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
T...NO!!
Fox kicks out and quickly gets the tag to Adam Sanders.
Taylor: Well, you know, if you’re way too undersized, get someone bigger!
Romano: Well, Jitterman is still way bigger than Adam Sanders!
Sanders wasn’t going to let that stop him after he hits the ring with a lariat immediately. Jitterman responds with a backbreaker, dropping the Prestige Champion with ease.
Taylor: A backbreaker from the Jitterman! Down goes the champion!
Romano: Tasmin Richards is watching this from the back and likely feeling quite uncomfortable right now.
Jitterman follows this up with a vertical suplex before hooking the leg.
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Adam Sanders gets his shoulder up. Jitterman tilts his head like he is a bit amused before trying to hit Sanders with the double arm DDT, but Sanders counters it with a few elbows to the ribs and a hip toss. As soon as Jitterman is back on his feet, Adam is the one to hit a double arm DDT, though his goes by the name the Motor City Circuit. Cover by Adam!
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Jitterman not only kicks out, he sends Adam flying into his corner. Jitterman looks at Sanders before sending Cross Recoba to replace him. And now, with Clash of the Icons right around the corner, the two men who had a heated encounter at the pay per view are now in the ring together.
Taylor: Cross Recoba remembers the This Is Awkward he took from Adam Sanders last year.
Romano: Getting close to the anniversary of that night too. And Sanders looks like he didn’t forget about Cross antagonizing him that night either.
Cross delivers a chop to Sanders’s chest. Adam responds with the same to Recoba. Another by Cross. Another by Adam. Cross switches up with an elbow strike and Adam delivers a knee. Before Adam could do anything more, he is slammed with yet another suplex. Cover by Cross.
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Adam Sanders keeps fighting again. Cross lands a facebuster before locking a crossface on Adam. The Prestige Champion starts to yelp as he can feel his shoulder wanting to pop out of its socket. Bloodied Fox hops into the ring to try to make the save before Chris Card grabs him by his feet. As Betsy looks into the ring to try to make the save herself, Chris Card shouts something to her.
Card: Is that really what’s best for you?
Betsy looks over at Card, confused by his inquiry as Adam is still suffering at the hands of Cross’s crossface. She looks back at her best friend and then at Chris Card again.
Card: Think about the championship. Think about what a bum shoulder can do for you.
Betsy looks like she is struggling with processing everything going on. She sees her best friend, suffering, perhaps in danger of submitting or severely injuring his shoulder. Bloodied Fox is thrown into the barricade by Cross before Jitterman grabs him and lifts him in the air.
Taylor: Come on, Betsy! Why do you even have to think about this?!
Romano: She knows letting Cross take out Adam makes winning the Prestige Championship easier for her.
Taylor: This is your best friend, Betsy!
Romano: This is your big break, Betsy!
After dealing with the internal conflict of what to do… Betsy makes her decision… she saves her best friend and kicks Cross Recoba off of him! Outside the ring, Chris Card shakes his head with disappointment.
Taylor: Phew, she made the right choice.
Romano: And this is why she won’t win the title.
Taylor: She can still win the title, she just doesn’t want to win it THAT way.
Romano: She had the chance. That’s all we need to remember.
Betsy has another person to help now: Bloodied Fox. She leaps over the top rope and crashes into the Jitterman, who looks like he had ill intent. Adam and Cross start to get back to their feet but it was Adam who moves first.
Taylor: Lightning Strike!
Romano: Down goes Cross!
Taylor: This could be it! Cover!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Cross is able to still kick out before the three count! Adam Sanders gets back up and start feeling the effects of the crossface from earlier and looks at his corner to see Betsy has returned and wants in the match. Adam tags in his Impossibly Awkward tag team partner, marking her first time legal in the match.
Taylor: And here comes Betsy Granger.
Romano: The former Phoenix Champion and number one contender to the Prestige Champion!
Betsy is quick to deliver a roundhouse kick to Cross’s head as soon as he tries to get back to his feet. This prompts a slide-in from Chris Card. Whatever Card has planned is thwarted by Bloodied Fox, who gets a question mark kick on Card before he can do anything to Betsy Granger.
Taylor: Bloodied Fox with the save!
Romano: Well, he has no skin in the game to leave Betsy hanging.
Fox throws more strikes into Chris Card as Jitterman comes into the ring only to be met with a flying clothesline from the top rope by Adam Sanders.
Taylor: Flight of the Dragonite! Betsy has Cross in the ring with no interference now!
Romano: See, Adam should have had more hesitation than that. At least Betsy thought about leaving Adam to the crossface.
Betsy lands a pele kick on Cross Recoba before getting another cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH...NO!!
Cross Recoba still got the shoulder up. Cross trips Betsy on her way back up to her feet and with that slight delay to her getting up, he is able to turn the tables in a big manner.
Taylor: The Sicillian Typewriter on Betsy Granger! This could be it!
Romano: Now Cross with the cover!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR...NO!!
Cross slaps the mat in frustration as Betsy gets the shoulder up. And as both competitors get to their feet, Betsy gets the Betsy Bop in, which catches Recoba off guard. As Recoba stumbles backward, Betsy kips up and lands her hurricanrana driver called the Plante de Visage on Cross. But she doesn’t follow it up with a pinfall.
Romano: Oh, she’s got some bad intent right here.
Taylor: I think she’s about to try to get Cross to tap with him in the center of the ring.
Romano: Shame she couldn’t have this type of attitude when Cross had Adam in that crossface.
Betsy locks in the Tuez les étoules on Cross Recoba in the center of the ring. Both Adam Sanders and Bloodied Fox start to deal with Jitterman on the apron to prevent him from making the save. Chris Card, however, steps into the ring with no one between him and the submission. Card looks down at Betsy and Cross and… watches.
Taylor: What the hell is Card doing?
Romano: He’s making a business decision.
Taylor: Cross is his partner!
Romano: And his pay per view opponent. And they haven’t really been partners for a few months now.
Card: This is the decision you should have made, Granger.
Chris Card… steps out of the ring and starts walking up the apron. Cross Recoba is facing this direction and his eyes are in disbelief as he sees Card giving up on him. Jitterman can’t make the save because of the two-on-one going on… now on the outside of the ring. Cross Recoba has no choice if he wants to fight another day…
DING DING DING
“Blinding Lights” starts blaring as Betsy immediately releases the hold, in disbelief that she was able to get a victory over Cross Recoba… even if was under these circumstances.
Jessie Love: Here are your winners… Betsy Granger, Bloodied Fox, and Adam Sanders!!
Taylor: Betsy Granger is stunned that she got the win as she talked a lot about how much of a legend Cross Recoba is.
Romano: Well, she won because Chris Card let her win.
Taylor: What is with that? Card cost himself the match.
Romano: There’s another match with much higher stakes on the line. Card knows that.
The first thing Betsy does once the euphoria wears off is to check on Adam, who was in that crossfire a bit longer than he'd like. Cross Recoba is still locking eyes with Chris Card, who is still on the entrance ramp.
Taylor: Well, Adam is telling Betsy he is okay. So that's good news.
Romano: And look at those daggers Cross is sending Card. Man, if looks could kill.
Taylor: They probably would. Regardless, my name is Tommy Taylor. This is Cassius Romano. In two weeks, we have our go-home show before Clash of the Icons. We will see you there!
The final shot the cameras get of the show is Chris Card smirking at Cross Recoba's glare followed by Betsy celebrating with Adam Sanders.
