Battle of the Best: Night Two [PPV]
Jun 18, 2021 21:43:11 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 4 more like this
Post by Vodka Fizz on Jun 18, 2021 21:43:11 GMT -5
Stanford: And now to kick things off for the second night of Battle of the Best, lighting the fire is the former XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion who will be competing for the X*Crown Championship…. MYOOOJINNNNN!
Are you ready?
The crowd erupts with cheers at the challenger's entrance! The blonde emerges from the gorilla position, holding a torch in one hand and a mic in the other with a confident smile as they head down the ramp. They nod and grin towards the many fans in attendance showing them some love and positivity as they step onto the ring.
Wright: It seems like the Shining Star has something on their mind!
Park: And what a message to send to do this after the X*Crown Champion, Misha Constantine, gave the crowd a piece of his mind yesterday!
The crowd begins yelling a chant to the top of their lungs as MYOJIN raises the mic, but they stop once hearing them.
LET'S GO, MYO!
LET'S GO, MYO!
LET'S GO, MYO!
It seems to take the Shining Star off guard for a few moments, in a good way. Looking toward the pyre sitting in the ring, MYOJIN then turns to the lit torch in their hand, before raising the mic to their lips.
MYOJIN: HOW IS EVERYONE DOING TONIGHT?!
They yell passionately, their grin brightening as they hear a collective energetic roar from the audience. The Shining Star simply holds their mic out toward the sky.
MYOJIN: That wasn't loud enough- I'll ask again. I SAAAID HOW IS EVERYONE?!
They get an even louder response. MYOJIN simply nods.
MYOJIN: That's what I like to hear, darlings! ...So, after last night, I assume you all are definitely tired of hearing Constantine run his mouth, yeah? Well, don't worry- I won't be out here too long, it's just… There's something I want to say to each and every one of you here and listening at home.
MYOJIN's expression becomes more heartfelt, genuine as they turn to look into the hard camera.
MYOJIN: Thank you.
MYOJIN: I know that 2020 and 2021 have been rough for all of us. The pandemic, the isolation, loss of jobs, mental health decline, ...the loved ones lost along the way. It's been… hard. We've all been put through so much in one way or another- and yet, during all this… During all the setbacks and obstacles, you all.. keep supporting us. You keep tuning in to watch us. You show us your support and contrary to how Constantine wants to act, without you- without every single one of you, the XHF Network would not be alive today. Hell, FIRESIDE wouldn't have gotten this far if it weren't for all of you. So thank you. Thank you for allowing us to leave everything we have in the ring.
Clapping rings throughout the arena. MYOJIN begins pacing as they twirl the microphone in their hand.
MYOJIN: The reason I'm in this position, the reason I have the chance to challenge for the X*Crown is because you all believed in me. You gave me your faith- and I can never truly repay that.
MYOJIN: ...But I'm going to try my best to make sure your faith wasn't in vain. Tonight just might be the biggest match of my life- and the opportunity of a lifetime, and I promise you all- I'm not going to squander it.
MYOJIN: I'm going to beat Constantine. I'm going to become the X*Crown Champion- and most importantly, I'm taking FIRESIDE back. This isn't his company, this isn't his show. It's yours. Its mine. It's everyone in that locker room that gives their all whenever the bell rings!
MYOJIN: I made a promise a while back- that I'd never let you down, and I meant it.
The Shining Star then turns to the pyre and holds the torch out toward it- causing it to catch on fire, erupting with flames. The growing fire is followed by sparks and explosions of pyro at the entrance ramp! The blonde smiles once more, tossing the torch entirely into the pyre.
MYOJIN: Now with the formalities over… LET'S GET THIS THING ROLLING!
The knife comes down. It cuts deep. She cuts again. Now divided into four, Mistress Discipline stabs her fork into the soft cupcake. She looks over at Rios.
Mistress Discipline: Thank you for joining me for this celebration. I enjoyed teaming up in Call to Arms and it was good to see you again so quickly.
She sits at a white cloth-covered banquet table with Isabel Rios and a dozen assorted cupcakes spread out before them. Isabel finishes off half of a cupcake in one large bite, icing around her lips, chewing and swallowing before replying.
Isabel Rios: Thank you for inviting me! And for cupcakes! These are delicious, seriously. And it’s not like we aren’t burning the calories tonight!
The two women continue to make their way through a dozen cupcakes before glancing at the several more dozen boxes beside the cupcake table.
Mistress Discipline: I think Chaos overestimated how many cupcakes we would be able to enjoy. Did you want any extra to take home? There is no way I will take this many back to Chaos. Her on a sugar high is a dangerous thing.
Isabel Rios: I mean, I want to but I don’t think I can go through that many on my next cheat day. If I eat the rest of those my belt definitely won’t fit.
Mistress Discipline pulls out a cloth napkin to wipe off extra frosting. Rios digs a pack of baby wipes from the gym bag next to her seat, using one for her face and another for her hands. The two women stand and exit the room..
After the two women exit, Nick Von Erich enters the room. He surveys the carnage, then grins. He pulls out his cellphone.
Von Erich: Hey Evan. Yeah, they ate like two boxes. Guess now it's time to sit back and wait for the fun.
Von Erich hangs up his phone and walks off, whistling tunelessly to himself.
Wright: Starting off strong tonight with a match for the XHF Tag Team Championship!
Park: the Masters of the Mat have been putting in the work for their shot, but it's hard to see them making it past the Team USA tandem.
Stanford: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall, and is for the XHF Tag Team Championship!
The crowd is hot again and cheers for the titles.
Stanford: introducing first, the challengers! Weighing in at 425 pounds, they are the Masters of the Mat!
"Figure.09" blares over the PA system as Carnivore and Kira come down the entrance ramp. Carnivore only even acknowledges fans who are wearing Carnivore mask or shirts.
Stanford: Introducing next, they are the reigning XHF Tag Team Champions! Weighing in at 425 pounds, they are the Unique Stud alliance, they ate TEAM U.S.A!
A mash up of Hideki Naganuma's "Teknopathetic" and Metallica's "Don't Tread on Me" plays. After a good amount of drums, Donny comes out of the back with a cartwheel into a a front flip and lands in the modern super hero pose looking out at the crowd. Curtis emerges right behind him with a sledgehammer over his shoulder, and hoists it in the air when Donny hits the pose. A bunch of pyro in alternating red, white, and blue go off from the stage shooting into in succession away from the men as they are in pose. Donny springing forth and flips his way down the ramp, each one adding more twists than the last, finally landing perfectly. Curtis walks nonchalantly behind and gives Donny a thumbs up with his free hand at the finish. Donny jumps up to the apron and pulls the ropes down, using them to launch himself on top before moonsaulting off of them, again landing in that hero pose. As he does, Curtis rolls into the ring and climbs a turnbuckle, then points to the crowd with his hammer before hoisting it straight up into the air, and yells "BANG!"
Deville and Carnivore start off in the ring facing off against one another. Carnivore charges at Deville, who drops Carnivore on top the mat with a drop toehold and rolls up Carnivore in a magistral cradle!
Wright: Deville tries to end it early!
...ONE! TWO!!
Izumi breaks the tag with a dropkick that allows Carnivore to reverse the cradle into a pin of his own, but Deville immediately kicks out. Carnivore goes to the corner for the tag. Izumi comes in hot, but Deville cools him off with a thrust kick, followed by a bulldog facebuster.
Park: Kira Izumi is getting a taste of what Deville brings to the table!
Wright: The Studs are a tough act to follow.
Deville pushes his advantage with an attempt at a standing swanton, but Izumi moves out of the way. Deville crashes to the mat, and Izumi tags in Carnivore. Kira hauls Deville up off the mat and signals to Carnivore. Izumi hits the backstabber on Deville and Carnivore follows up with the sliding knee!
Park: Bai Bai from the Masters of the Mat!
Carnivore goes for the pin, but Kanyon interjects himself before the count can begin. Kanyon with a hugs spinebuster to Izumi, who he hauls up on his shoulders to dump over the top rope out of the ring. Carnivore hits Kanyon with a double axe-handle, but Kanyon no-sells the move and hits Carnivore with another big spinebuster. He drags Deville to their corner and gets out of the ring, shouting at his partner to tag him in.
Wright: Kanyon giving Deville a chance to tag out.
Carnivore gets to the MOTM corner first and looks for Izumi, who is still on the floor at ringside. Deville is still out, despite Kanyon shouting and clapping for him to come for the tag. Izumi gets up on the apron and Carnivore tags him in. Deville is finally inching closer to Kanyon, but Izumi blasts Kanyon off the apron with a running boot.
Wright: Izumi takes Kanyon out of the equation!
Park: Only time will tell if he's done enough damage to finish off Deville before Kanyon can interject himself again!
Izumi hauls Deville up off of the mat and whips him into the Masters of the Mat corner. Izumi runs in for a splash, but Deville dodges it and then landed a rolling German on Izumi. He follows it up this time with the standing senton, then follows it up with a standing shooting star press. He pulls Izumi up to his feet again and whips him into the ropes, but Carnivore blind tags in. Deville catches Izumi for a spinebuster of his own, but when he tries to set up the Main Attraction, Carnivore comes in and blasts him with a lariat.
Wright: The Masters of the Mat are in rare form tonight!
Park: Deville needs to get Kanyon in the ring.
Carnivore tries to pull up Deville, but Deville counters with a jawbreaker. He rolls to his corner and tags in Kanyon, who immediately nails Carnivore with the BANG!
Wright/Park: BANG!
Izumi rushes Kanyon, but the former president nails him with a BANG! of his own! Kanyon is the only person left on his feet in the ring and surveys the carnage with a wide, deranged grin on his face. He hauls Carnivore up off the mat and whips him into the corner, then does the same with Izumi. He charges into the corner and hits another BANG! on the Masters of the Mat!
Wright: Curtis Kanyon is a freight train!
Park: And the Masters of the Mat have been DECIMATED by the former president!
Kanyon tags in Deville then hauls Carnivore up off the mat. He whips him into the corner again, then the Studs set up and nail the BANG! BOOM! on Carnivore. Kanyon nods to Deville, who hauls up Kira who is also rewarded with a BANG! BOOM! for his trouble. Deville lays Izumi on top of Carnivore.
Park: What an exclamation point!
Wright: Team USA proves once again why they're the XHF and the FIRESIDE Tag Champions!
Deville tags kanyon back in, and the former president pins both of the Masters of the Mat!
...ONE! TWO! THREE!!!
Park: Just like that, the night is over for the Masters of the Mat!
Wright: They put up a valiant effort, but the studs are a runaway train at this point. I don't know who can stop them, but I can't wait to see it!
Stanford: The winners of this match by pinfall, and STILL the XHF Tag Team Champions.... TEAM USA!!!
Team USA stands tall each holding both of their Tag Titles. Each with a foot on top of Carnivores' seemingly lifeless body. Donny starts yelling at a ringside crew member and that person rushes to toss Deville a microphone.
Donny Deville: You see that everyone? Did you see THAT?! U.S.A. once again stands on top of the world! Opponent after opponent, show after show, we keep crushing all! We’ve held so much gold for so long we may as well be referred to as Fort Knox! Soon, people will have to be talking about the two of us being the best damn tag team this network has ever seen!
Donny pats the back of the former president and each of them grin from ear to ear.
Donny Deville: They say it’s lonely at the top, but I’ve got the best damn partner I could have asked for to stand here beside me. Yet we still are tasked with kicking down those who are grabbing at our ankles. People like...Adam and Besty. I saw your little challenge, and to be honest, I think it’s less about bringing glory to AWF and far more about the two of you coping with the fact the guardians didn’t get the job done at Call to Arms!
Donny and Kanyon both nod at each other, still beaming.
Donny Deville: So if you want round two against the ex-pres here...YOU GOT IT.
The crowd roars in excitement but Donny cuts them off.
Donny Deville: But remember! This time I’ll be in that ring too. You two won’t be able handle the full force of the U.S.A.! You’ll end up like this clown still in our ring.
Donny then proceeds to kick Carnivore a few times in the side. The man, after receiving a few blows, manages to roll under the bottom rope and then onto the floor below. Donny turns around and hands the mic to Kanyon.
Curtis Kanyon: Let this be a lesson! Anyone who gets in our way will feel… the… BANG!
Donny Deville: BOOM!
Wright: A dominant statement from Team USA!
Park: And next up, we have the FIRESIDE Final for the Battle of the Best!
Backstage stands Shane Locke, dressed in his wrestling gear, green cap upon his head. Muscled sheened with sweat, he is definitely ready, the appearance marred by only an extra bandage around his knee. He has the Spark Championship over one broad shoulder. To his right you seen an arm coming from off screen with a microphone in hand.
INTERVIEWER: Shane Locke, last night you defended the Spark Championship against the dangerous Zolothoch and tonight you take it out and are going to battle three more competitors coming right up. What's going through your head?
SHANE: I... I can't even put it into words. I can't put into words my experiences in Fireside in my still short time. I've fought in a prison. I won the Spark Championship and last night defended it. And tonight... man oh man, God help me... I am in a battle with four of the best in Fireside and four of the best in the rest of the XHF in a battle to determine who is the very best. And tonight I can only hope that's me. No... NO! With God in my heart, my lovely wife at ringside and my children, my friends and my family gathered at home watching and all the fans in the world I WILL win the Battle of the Best! You best believe that!
And with that Locke walks off to get ready!
Stanford: The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is the Fireside Fourway Match! The Fireside representatives who qualified last night will compete, with the winner being the first person to score a pinfall or submission! They will then go on to take on the XHF Fourway winner later tonight in the Battle of the Best finale!
The crowd cheers, caught up in the energy. The first guitar chords hit. Then that voice leading into "A Country Boy Can Survive" by Hank Williams Jr hits over the PA. Almost immediately, pacing in tune with the music is a tall, strongly structured gentleman. He has simple green trunks with double yellow vertical stripes on each side. Black knee pads and tall black boots finish off the simple wrestling ensemble.
Stanford: Hailing from Eugene, Oregon standing 6'3" and weighing in at 228lbs, this is... SHANE LOCKE!
Locke wastes little time heading to the ring, not bothering with exchanging high fives, not bothering with jibes, simply keeping an eye on the ring. Locke's reddish-brown mullet is capped with a heavily worn John Deere cap and his strong looking but not necessarily "jacked" frame is wrapped with a sleeveless flannel work shirt. He has a thick neck, wide chest and back, body hair evident. He has a frame powered by a lifetime of hard work rather then a gym. His forearms as especially think, capped with gnarled, thick hands and fingers. He takes no time to hit the steps and walk on in, wiping his boots on the apron before stepping in and heading right to his corner. He discards his shirt, throwing it to the side, taking off his hat with some reverence.
Wright: Shane Locke is a strong crowd favorite, and is heavily favored going into this match.
Park: I mean, look at him, Ollie. He's strong, he won a championship on his first night, and he's easy on the eyes.
Wright: And speaking of that championship, we have been told that Shane Locke will not be defending the Spark Championship tonight.
Stanford: Introducing next, from Daytona Beach, Florida, weighing in at 220 pounds, he is the ‘Dumpster Fire of FIRESIDE’, he is VODKAAAAAA FIIIIIZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
The lights go down and blacklights come up, bathing the stage in purple. A hard, grungy bassline starts to play.
“Hey, turn the bass up. Turn the bass up!”
The base gets louder and grungier, and the lyrics come in as Vodka Fizz dives out on stage in a golf cart retrofitted with huge speakers that are playing his music. He is dressed in a full-length white fur coat, white shutter glasses, and an over-the-top white top hat, and as he drives the golf cart down the ramp he toasts fans with a yard-long cocktail flask hung around his neck full of some florescent liquid he drinks from as he drives down the ramp. The crowd salutes the FIRESIDE favorite, even though a strong portion of fans boo him for his allegiance to New Money and Evan Valentine Junior. more of the fans seem to be on his side after his night one showing.
Wright: If Shane Locke is the odds favorite, Vodka Fizz has to be the grassroots favorite.
Park: After his showing last night, everyone here needs to be taking the Dumpster Fire seriously. Though who can say what will happen, since one of his opponents is his tag team partner.
Stanford: Introducing next, from Palm Springs, California, weighing in at 228 pounds, he is Evansent... EVAAAAAAAAN VAAAAAALEEEENTIIIIIIINE!
"Evansent" by Evan Valentine Jr starts to play, and Valentine emerges onto the stage to intense boos from the crowd. He waves his arms and pretends he can't hear the fans, gesturing for them to make more noise. Finally, he struts his way down to ringside and climbs into the ring.
Wright: No love lost between the Philly crowd and Valentine Jr tonight.
Park: I'm more surprised he hasn't brought his goons along. Although, with Fizz in the mix, maybe he has.
Stanford: Introducing finally, from Raleigh, North Carolina, and weighing in at 200 pounds, MIIIIIIISTREEEEESSSS DISCIPLIIIINE!!!
"The Planets Op. 32: IV. Jupiter- Bringer of Jollity" by Gustav Holst begins to play on the arena speakers. The lights dim slightly and a spotlight appears on the stage. Mistress Discipline steps onto the stage and adjusts the high collar and neckline of her trademark blue blouse. She marches to the ring with a purpose and without glasses because she wears contacts into the ring so she can see. She rolls into the ring and adjusts her trademark hair buns. She steps into the corner and begins stretching her arms while watching her opponents.
Wright: Mistress has to have her eyes on Shane Locke after he took the Spark Championship from her a few weeks ago.
Park: If she'd won that match, it could have been Mistress in the main event tonight. Talk about a stiff punch in the dick.
The referee calls for the bell and the four competitors in the ring waste no time in jockeying for position. Valentine and Discipline lock up while Locke and Fizz start off trading heavy blows. Fizz clobbers Locke with a straight punch and they go to the mat while Discipline takes control of Valentine, lifting the second generation saint onto her shoulders. Valentine manages to roll through and slides out of the ring, grabbing Discipline's feet and pulling her down to the mat. Fizz, in the meantime, is mounted on Locke and raining down punches on the farmer until Locke manages to hook Fizz with his leg and push the eccentric superstar down into an armbar. Fizz rolls through the armbar, landing on his feet and bouncing off the ropes, catching Locke with a knee to the face.
Wright: Fizz is really keeping up the intensity from last night while he takes it to the bigger, stronger Shane Locke.
Park: Something really lit a fire in Fizz, and I'm honestly curious how far it'll take him
Outside the ring, Discipline slams Valentine's head into the apron, then grabs him around the waist and suplexes him onto the ringside barrier. She grabs Evan to put him back into the ring, but Valentine slides out of her grasp again and jumps over the barrier into the crowd. Discipline reluctantly follows after Valentine, making sure to give the fans a wide berth, and barely manages to duck a chair shot from Valentine that sets the second generation wrestler off balance.
Wright: Valentine tries to turn the odds in his favor with a chair, but Mistress is having none of it.
Park: And since this is a four-way match, it's all perfectly legal.
Valentine spins to try and hit Discipline with the chair again, but Discipline counters with a bicycle kick that knocks the chair into Valentine's face. Valentine staggers and tries tossing the chair again, but Discipline dodges the swing and traps Valentines arm, bulldogging him to the floor. Discipline hauls Valentine up off the floor, but Valentine counters with a hard elbow to the abdomen, following up with a snapmare, and then a kick to the back of Discipline's head. Valentine tries for another kick but Discipline manages to dodge the kick, catching Valentine's leg and slamming him into the concrete floor with a leg drag.
Fizz and Locke continue to trade off blows in the ring with neither one willing to give the other an inch. Locke looks to be enjoying the exchange immensely, while Fizz refuses to sacrifice even an inch to the cowboy. Locke finally manages to catch Fizz off-guard with a headbut that staggers the eccentric, following up with a twisting belly-to-belly suplex. Locke grabs Fizz by the waist and hauls him up from the mat, physically hurling the eccentric to the mat.
Park: Locke showing off his impressive strength tossing around Fizz like a child's toy!
Fizz hits the mat in a handspring and hits the ropes, following through with an attempt at Uno Mas, but Locke catches him in the air, twists, and slams Fizz face first into the canvas. Locke with a double sledge to Fizz's back and Locke goes for a pin but Fizz counters into an armbar.
Outside the ring, Valentine and Discipline are brawling. Discipline chops Valentine as they go up the ramp. Discipline hurls a wild punch at Valentine, who ducks it and grabs Disicpline around the waist and follows up with a atomic drop. Discipline cries out in pain. Valentine continues his attack on the ramp. He tries for a suplex to Discipline on the ramp but she blocks it and counters with a suplex of her own. Discipline picks up Valentine and brings him back into the ring. Locks is still trapped in Fizz's armbar, but he is refusing to submit Fizz looks to be struggling against the farmer's strength, and Locke eventually manages to power out of the armbar.
Park: You know, that never fails to impress me.
Wright: It is a rather impressive showing.
Discipline rolls Valentine into the ring, and the second-generation snake slithers through and rolls out the other side, trying to create some distance. Discipline chooses to attack Locke instead with running dropkick thatFizz follows up with an elbow drop. Locke is quick to his feet and blasts Fizz with an elbow, sending Fizz and Discipline into the ropes. Locke chokes Fizz in the ropes but this time Valentine comes to the aid of his partner, with a picture perfect dropkick to the back of Locke's head.
Wright: This is the first interaction in this match between Fizz and Valentine.
Park: Will they work together, or will Fizz deliver on his promise to take his New Money stablemate down a peg or two?
Fizz answers the question with a forearm to Valentine but Valentine traps his arm and hits a backstabber to Fizz' elbow. Valentine and Fizz lock up and Pfizz drives a knee into Valentine's abdoment. Fizz shifts Valentine into position for the Mind Eraser and leaps, but Locke catches Fiss in the middle of the move and slams the eccentric superstar into the mat. Valentine rolls out of the ring, looking like he just saw the face of god. Locke goes for the pin!
...ONE! TWO! KICKOUT!
Locke goes for another pin, this time rolling Fizz into a small package!
...ONE! TWO! KICKOUT!
Locke with a reverse chin lock on Fizz. Fizz manages to get his feet under him and hits a jawbreaker to get out of the hold. Locke with a clothesline to Fizz. Locke throws Discipline through the ropes to the floor one more time. Locke with a snap mare and kick to the back for a near fall. Locke chokes Fizz in the ropes. Locke punches Fizz in the head and kicks him. Locke with an elbow to Fizz and Fizz hangs in the ropes and Locke with a leg drop from the second turnbuckle for a near fall. Locke puts Fizz in the corner with a modified Exploder. Locke with a knee to knock Discipline to the floor and then he hits a running kick to Discipline. Locke with a running knee to Fizz in the corner, followed by a headlock takedown into a sleeper hold.
Wright: Locke going for the sleeper hold.
Park: Not a move we've seen him use yet, but you have to appreciate the classics, Ollie!
Locke punches Fizz but Fizz punches back. They exchange punches but Locke with slaps and knees to Fizz to keep him down. Locke with a snap mare and reverse chin lock. Discipline kicks Locke but Locke sends Discipline back to the floor. Discipline with clothesline to Locke followed by a back body drop. Valentine with a forearm to knock Discipline to the apron. Fizz with a drop kick to Valentine and he goes to the floor. Fizz sets for a dive to the floor but Discipline with a quebrada onto Valentine and Locke. Discipline and Fizz stare each other down. Fizz gets into the ring and taunts Discipline with a 'come at me, bro' gesture. Discipline with kicks followed by a drop kick to the temple. Fizz goes for the handspring stunner but Discipline catches him and suplexes him into the mat. Discipline goes for a pin!
...ONE! KICKOUT!
Park: And a kickout with AUTHORITY from the dumpster fire!
Valentine clubs Discipline in the back of the head, then puts her on the top turnbuckle for a superplex but Discipline pushes him off with a head butt. Locke sends a charging Fizz into Discipline on the turnbuckles. Locke with a swinging fisherman's neck breaker for a near fall on Fizz
Wright: Locke has been dominant so far in this match!
Locke takes Fizz down and he goes for the Lockedown but Fizz . Locke with an enzuigiri to Fizz. Locke goes for a suplex but Fizz slides through and shoves Locke into the ropes. Fizz sets for the handspring stunner but Discipline stops him with a pump kick. Discipline follows up with a piledriver and goes for the pin!
...ONE!
Valentine breaks up the count with a dropkick to Discipline's face. He picks up Discipline and he puts her on the top turnbuckle. Valentine goes up top for a superplex but Locke climbs the turnbuckles as well. They go for a double superplex but Fizz comes under for a Tower of Doom and slams all three of the other wreslters to the mat. Fizz is the first to his feet and he punches Locke. Fizz with more forearms and he kicks Locke in the corner. Locke weathers the attack and grabs Fizz around the waist and physically hurls him out of the ring over the top rope.
Wright: An incredible show of strength from Shane Locke!
Park: Usually when I see Vodka flying it's because I ordered a cocktail on the plane.
Valentine goes to check on Fizz. In the ring, Locke and Discipline are locked up, but neither will give the other an inch. Locke finally manages to hit a belly to belly suplex, then tries to set up the bully choke.
Wright: If he gets this locked in, Shane Locke will win this match!
Park: Only if he can hold off long enough to keep Fizz of Valentine from breaking it up.
Fizz catches Locke with a dropkick out of nowhere. The farmer gets back to his feet and Fizz comes at him for a dropkick, but Locke catches him and slams him to the mat in a move that is almost a power bomb.
Wright: Good lord, the impact on that!
Park: He sure put some stank on it, Ollie!
Locke puts Fizz in an ankle lock. He pulls the ankle up to increase the pressure as Fizz howls in pain, but refuses to submit. Locke plants his foot on Fizz' knee and stomps on it, earning more howls from the eccentric superstar, but Fizz still refuses to submit. Fizz tries to get to the ropes but Locke pulls him back into the center of the ring. It looks like Fizz might tap as Locke continues his attack on Fizz' ankle and knee, but Discipline makes the save with a running big boot to Locke that sends Locke through the ropes. Discipline moves to continue her attack on Locke, challenging the larger man with slaps and kicks. She tries to suplex Locke back into the ring, but the farmboy blocks her attempt. Discipline punches Locke but Locke comes back with forearms of his own. They trade blows back and forth with neither gaining much headway. Locke finally takes the advantage when he grabs Mistress in a double-handed choke. He hauls her over the ropes, then nails a Bale Toss on the apron.
Wright: Oh my god! Bale Toss on the apron!
Park: That can't have felt good.
Locke climbs back in the ring, only to be caught by Fizz in a sort of modified pounce. Fizz's knee buckles, so he isn't able to capitalize. Locke uses the ropes to pull himself back to his feet, only for Vodka to jump on him and hook the farmer up in the flying octopus hold!
Wright: For the second time in two nights, Fizz is going to the well with the Hanging Chad!
Park: And after such a physical match so far, he might be able to put this hoss down!
Locke looks like he's starting to fade, but he plants his foot and, with a roar of effort, Locke powers through the hold and hurls Fizz off his shoulders onto the mat!
Wright: Locke powers through the octopus hold!
Park: You don't see that often! Locke is a legitimate beast, and with his wife watching at ringside, he's more motivated than ever to look good!
Fizz looks startled, but scrambles to his feet. He winces again, finding it difficult to put weight on the leg Locke worked over. Locke blasts him with a running lariat, but Fizz lands on his feet and launches a wheel kick at Locke. Locke ducks the kick and blasts Fizz with a straight punch that Fizz returns with a similar punch of his own!
Wright: The crowd is into it as Vodka Fizz and Shane Locke trade blows!
Park: Fizz can barely put any weight on his leg after the excellent joint work from Locke earlier, but the Dumpster Fire isn't letting that slow him down!
Fizz and Locke are battering each other while Discipline is still trying to pull herself together after the Bale Toss on the apron. Valentine is conspicuous in his absence. Locke catches Fizz with a sharp elbow and looks like he's going to get the better of the eccentric. He follows up with a haymaker that Fizz ducks and counters with a jawbreaker. Locke stumbles back into the ropes and bounces off and Fizz blasts him with a short-arm lariat that sends Locke tumbling through the ropes.
Park: Vodka Fizz is showing Shane Locke why his is the ticket to watch tonight!
Wright: And the crowd is loving it!
Fizz tries to capitalize on his advantage, but his knee and ankle give out again. He manages to stay on his feet, then looks at Locke, and then at the ropes, then grins. He launches himself into a handspring, bounces off the ropes and catches Shane Locke with the handspring stunner across the top rope! Locke is launched off the apron and crashes to the floor!
Wright: UNO MAS!
Park: And across the top rope to boot! Shane Locke isn't coming back from that anytime soon!
Fizz kips up to his feet, roaring at the crowd who roars back. He turns just in time to catch a vicious running knee from Mistress Discipline, who is quick to follow up with the Expulsion!
Wright: Mistress Discipline with a sit-out powerbomb to turn it around!
Park: Just like that, all of Fizz' momentum is gone.
Wright: That's the problem with four-way matches, Unjoo. You can never count anyone out.
Mistress looks at the prone Fizz then sets up to lock in the Detention, but before she can do so, Evan Valentine blasts her in the back with a chair.
Wright: That snake Valentine finally picks his moment to strike!
Park: Valentine bending the rules as far as he can without breaking them to give himself the advantage is a classic Valentine move.
Mistress manages to stay on her feet and turns to face Valentine only to get rocked again with an unprotected chair shot right across the top of her head to boos from the Philadelphia crowd. Discipline crumples to the mat, and Evan tosses down the chair. He hauls Discipline up off the mat and sets up for the arm trap Burning Hammer! Valentine flips off the crowd and then drops Discipline on the chair!
Wright: Evansent on the steel chair!
Park: Goodnight, MD!
The booing intensifies as Evan goes for the pin. With Locke and Fizz down for the count, there is nobody to break it up. The crowd start chanting for Mistress Discipline...
...ONE! TWO!
....THREE!!!
...But it is too little too late! The referee calls for the bell!!
Stanford: The winner of the match by pinfall and moving on to the Battle of the Best final to represent FIRESIDE.... EVAAAAAAN VAAAAALENTIIIIIINE!!
Wright: After all that, Unjoo. After all that, after great showings from Shane Locke, Mistress Discipline, and Vodka Fizz, Evan Valentine steals the win and moves on to face the XHF representative the Best of the Best final.
Park: I bet Jonnie Valentine is over the moon right now.
Evan, for his part, looks somewhere between shocked and elated. Nick Von Erich, Malcolm Evans, and El Rey rush the ring to celebrate with him. Vodka Fizz, for his part, has an unreadable expression on his face as he uses the ropes to pull himself back to his feet. The other four members hold up their fists toward the Dumpster Fire for a five-way fist bump, but Vodka just limps past them and exits the ring.
Wright: It looks like there may be a widening rift between Vodka Fizz and his stablemates.
Park: This could be the end of the Fizz/Valentine tandem.
Wright: Only time will tell, Unjoo.
The camera cuts to the locker room of Eli Dresden. Faintly, the crowd can be heard cheering the blond as she finishes lacing up her boots, gaze intent on the task at hand. Bruises aplenty litter her skin, but she’s moving well in spite of the discomfort she is surely feeling. One final tug and Eli nods to herself, looking up at the camera as she finally notices its presence.
Dresden: Oh, hey, hot stuff--and by that, I mean FIRESIDE, of course.
And there’s that trademark smirk, the blond looking pleased at her pun. Dresden sits upright, hands settling on the bench on either side of herself.
Dresden: Seems to me that I’m just the scourge of spoiled little rich brats, huh? Never thought I’d see the day where I make so many of’em pissed off at the same time, but hey--makin’ three of’em throw a tantrum simultaneously is a personal best. Wonder if I oughta start collectin’ titles like Daenarys.
After a moment’s pondering, Eli clears her throat.
Dresden: Eli Dresden, First of Her Name, Claimer of Sluts, Holder of the Trident, Ruiner of Spoiled Manchildren’s Plans… Slapper of Asses?
A pause; she shakes her head.
Dresden: Naw, that’d be too mean to the ring announcers. Besides, if I wanna be known by titles? I want them to be actual titles. Titles like the NLW Heavyweight Title. Titles like the FIRESIDE World Title. Titles like the X*Crown. Titles like… being named the Best of the motherfuckin’ Best.
Eli’s expression grows more serious as she leans forward slightly, blue eyes focused on the lens in a direct stare.
Dresden: I know that if I want to claim the title of Battle of the Best and the opportunities that it represents, then I’m gonna have to put myself through Hell to get there. Two matches--one of which is a clusterfuck of violence, and the other which is a gutcheck in a way that can’t be put into words--stand between me and bein’ the winner. I’m gonna have to push through a metric fuckton of blood,sweat, tears, and pain to get there… there’s no gettin’ around it.
A pause; that smirk returns.
Dresden: Good thing that none of that scares me, huh? Shit, if anything, I’ve built a career out of walkin’ into situations just like this and comin’ out the victor on the other side… and trust me when I say that I’m willin’ to go to whatever extremes I have to, not to mention go through anyone that stands in my way. Isabel Rios, Donzig, and Dylan Black? Sorry not sorry, but I’m gonna be the one left standing after our fatal fourway is over. And whoever makes it to the finals with me, well…
Trailing off, her smirk goes deadly sharp.
Dresden: Same goes for you too, buttercup. It don’t matter who you think you are. At the end of Battle of the Best, only one person will be standing… and her name is Eli Dresden.
A wink… and the camera cuts away.
Stanford: The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is the XHF Fourway Match! Four XHF wrestlers who qualified last night will compete, with the winner being the first person to score a pinfall or submission! They will then go on to take on the Fireside Fourway winner in tonight's BOTB finale!
The crowd roars!
Wright: Here comes our second fourway, and let’s hope these four can follow the FIRESIDERs we just saw!
Park: Whoever wins this match gets to fight Evan Valentine junior, so you know his eyes will be glued to a screen somewhere in the back!
“A SPECIAL PLACE IN HEEEEEEEE-E-E-E-ELLLLLL!"
The lights flash green as the riffs to Reid Henry’s hit new single hits the PA system, uplifting and electric! The curtains between the wrestling word and gorilla open up and Dylan pushes his way through them! He pauses, posing for the crowd before strolling down the ramp ever so casually.
Stanford: Introducing first, from Boston Massachusetts, sttanding at 6'3" and weighing in at 218 pounds, he is “The Messiah of Mayhem,” DYLAAAAAAAAAAN BLAAAAAAAAAACK!
Dylan rolls under the bottom ropes and holds his hands up in the ring, creating a small lightning arc! He gestures in the boos from those in attendance and just gives off the biggest smirk before he slinks into his corner.
Wright: The former X-Crown champion made somewhat short work of an old J-ROK foe to advance in this tournament.
Park: You say that like beating a member of Sky Force isn’t a big deal-- they’re one of the best tag teams in the modern XHF, of course it’s a big deal!
Wright: Dylan has to be eyeing up that possible X-Crown incentive, and now he’s two wins away from potentially jumping to the front of the line.
Park: It is worth noting that winning the tournament gets you either a world championship match OR a shot at the X-Crown, so who knows? If he wins, he might end up getting stuck fighting our new world champion!
Wright: I don’t think anyone wants to square off with MAJESTY!
The light go down, and then come up an angry red. Flames explode from the either side of the ramp, jets and bursts of flame erupting into the air. Donzig walks from the back, wearing his skull mask with his hood up. He pauses, glaring out across the crowd before he shakes his head before walking down the ramp slowly. He circles around the ring, still watching the crowd before pausing to watch the announce team before he climbs the stairs.
Wright: Donzig turned some serious heads last night, beating Hyperion cleanly in the center of the ring!
Park: If this was 2019, that’d be automatically worth a world championship of some sort. But nope, he still has to work his way through this field.
Stanford: Introducing next, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 215 pounds, he is DONZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGG!
Wright: Can you imagine? A month ago, no one knows his name in the XHF besides his work on the indies, and now he’s this close to becoming the Best!
Park: Talk about strapping yourself to a rocket!
He stops at the ropes, reaching up to shove his hood back before stepping through the ropes. Then he takes off the mask, and shakes his head at the fans with a scowl before he leans back in his corner. Arms resting on the ropes while waiting for the match to start.
Stanford: Introducing next, their opponent, from Ontario, Canada, weighing in at 161 pounds, she is SWAT’s Amazon Champion, she is ISAABEELLLL RIOOOOOOOOOSSSSSS!
The lights dim as the opening riff of "Knocking At The Door" hits, then as the horns pop a spotlight illuminates the Amazons championship belt, held high one-handed. "I'm knockin' at the door!" and the spotlight expands, lighting up Isabel Rios, standing in black and red trunks with RIOS in gold lettering across the back, with matching sports bra, kickpads over black amateur-style boots and knee pads, wrists taped.
Wright: We do have to apologize to SWAT for last night, where where Walter called Rios the NPW Amazon champion.
Park: It’s no worries though. Everyone wants Rios. She’s this close to one more big win-- she’s on the verge of breaking out, if she hasn’t already.
"Got the north star guidin' me, it's the fire burnin' inside of me" and Rios starts down to the ring, lowering the belt down onto her shoulder as the spotlight continues to follow her to the ring. Rios hops up to the ring apron, raising the belt again. "That's me, I'm knockin' at the door!" and the lights flash on, Rios holding her pose with the raised belt, grinning at the fans, into the hard camera, before stepping into the ring, ready for the fight.
Wright: Rios took down Keith Williams in a contentious match to get here, can she become the best woman in the entire XHF tonight?
Park: Not just the best woman--- THE best.
Stanford: Ladies and gentlemen, joining us now is a very special guest...CUESTACK FEATURING DAVID HASSLEHOFF!
Wright: Whoah! What in the world?
Park: The rumors were true! I thought the story of him getting held at PHL were bullshit! The living legend is in the house!
The crowd hits their feet, roaring with cheers as the camera cuts over to one side of the entrance stage, where CueStack is set up and ready to go. David--the man, the myth, the legend--waves to the fans with a smirk before nodding to the band, the first hard-hitting duo of notes of 'Through the Night' being hit.
David Hasslehoff: Through the night... until dawn is in sight!
As the song kicks into gear, the overhead lights dim as blue and pink lights swirl over the arena, a combination of the music and the already-electric atmosphere of Battle of the Best combine to whip the crowd into a frenzy of cheers. And when Eli Dresden emerges from behind the curtain with a bounce in her step and that infamous smirk on her lips, the cheers get all the louder as the blond bounds to the opposing corner of the stage to play to the crowd, a fist thrusting itself skyward before she's making a beeline to get to David's side as he hits that long, solo note. One can hardly blame Eli for headbanging her heart out for a moment before she's looping an arm around the legend's shoulders in a gesture of thanks before letting Hasslehoff get back to doing what he does best. As he hits the first verse, Eli makes her way down to the ring, slapping hands and basking in the support of the fans before she hits the bottom of the ramp--and as the song winds up to the chorus?
Wright: This is insane!
Park: We talked about backing up the BRINKS truck to make this happen, what do you think it costs for a legend like the Hoff?
Eli's sliding into the ring, kipping up to the two-beat before the chorus hits with a vengeance.
Stanford: And finally, also from Pittsburgh, PA, weighing in at 143 pounds, she is ELIIIIIIII DRESSSSSSSDEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNN!
Darting over to the nearest turnbuckle, Dresden hops up onto the middle ropes before thrusting a fist skyward anew, the blond playing to the crowd just a little more as the chorus goes on--and as the final notes are hit? She's hopping down, turning mid-air to face her opponent as she cracks her knuckles and waits for the match to begin.
Wright: The former NLW world champion with a hell of an entrance, but can she finish what she started last night?
Park: A victory over El Rey got her here, and we’ll see what she can do now! There’s the bell, we’re rolling right into this match!
The bell rings and the match quickly breaks down, with Dylan Black being antagonized by Eli Dresden, who has popped two fridge magnets onto Black’s metallic hands!
Wright: That’s one way to mark your territory! Dresden just put her initials on Black in the form of fridge magnets!
Park: I’m not sure if agitating Black is the best way for her to begin a match like this!
Oh, it’s absolutely not a great idea as while the fans do laugh, the laughter is quickly interrupted by the sound of a metallic fist catching Dresden right underneath the chin. She is knocked stumbling backwards, right into the arms of Donzig, who attempts to pop her up for a powerbomb, only for Isabel Rios to dive under the falling Dresden and knock Donzig into the corner with a running shoulder block! The crowd cheers!
Wright: Rios throwing all of her weight behind that shoulder block, knocking Donzig into the corner!
Park: I’m amazed she was even able to get under Dresden there!
Isabel Rios charges forward, only to walk right into the grasp of Dylan Black, who hurls both he and Rios down to the mat with an impressive Spanish Fly! Black takes a few moments to brag, but Dresden has leaped frog over him to send him flying with a lucha-style armdrag on the way down! Dresden gets back up to stand over the champion, but is met by a running Donzig who takes her down to the mat with a Lou Thesz Press!
Wright: These four are flying around the ring now at a break-neck pace!
Park: Just when someone takes the momentum, someone else is there to take it right back!
Donzig manages to get in a few solid lefts and rights before having to stop as Dylan Black has bounced off the ropes and come back screaming towards him, firing off a shotgun dropkick that knocks the former CWA Grand Slam champion out of the ring!
Wright: Black sends Donzig to the floor!
Park: Is he looking to fly now?
Definitely not much of a high-flier, Dylan Black instead finds himself looking over the ropes, only to find himself grabbed tightly from behind by Isabel Rios, who manages to throw him over the ropes and straight onto the floor with a nasty release german suplex!
Wright: Rios just owned the 2021 Rumble winner with that suplex! Wow!
Park: Her technical superiority in the ring allows her to get the advantage on opponents like this, that was a german suplex worthy of trending on Twitter and TikTok!
Rios is back up to her feet and now finds herself looking at the two gentlemen on the outside, not someone who often goes up for high-risk maneuvers, and seems a bit hesitant. More of a human highlight reel is Eli Dresden, who has snuck up behind her and… seems to be whispering something in Rio’s ear! The two communicate, and Rios soon drops into position, willing to be used to elevate Dresden! The crowd cheers, anticipating a big move!
Wright: How about a little girl power, UnJoo!
Park: They do say we have to work together…
Dresden pumps up her arms, getting the crowd excited, before bouncing off the ropes and running towards Rios to leap off, and as she puts a foot on Rios’ back, Rios picks the ankle and halts her momentum dead in her tracks, turning it into a roll-up instead! Referee Chris Mardinly makes the count!
ONE…
TWO…
...Eli Dresden kicks out!
Wright: Isabel Rios just suckered Eli Dresden in on that one, and Dresden almost paid the price!
Park: Life isn’t about stepping on other women to succeed, Oliver! Rios just reminded her in the worst way!
As Dresden gets over the shock of the roll-up, Rios throws a brutal elbow, straight to the jaw!
Park: I take it back -- that’s the WORST reminder!
On the outside of the ring, Donzig has decided to take full advantage of the no-disqualifications, his eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas day as he pops up the FIRESIDE apron and looks under the ring to reveal an assort of weapons he can use to cause harm on his opponents. The first thing that seems to catch his giddy eyes is a spare ring rope, potentially used for replacements. Instead, it’ll be used as a weapon as the wrestler ignores the Philadelphians’ passionate cries for tables.
Wright: I can’t believe these fans want to see more violence after last night!
Park: I had just gotten over that visual, Oliver! I do not need to be reminded of what happened to Esmur!
Wright: Ladies and gentlemen, we still don’t have a medical update---
Donzig takes the spare ring rope, whipping it against the back of Dylan Black and immediately leaving a big red welt!
THWACK!
Wright: OH! We might need one on Dylan’s back after that!
Park: You could feel that from over here. Ow!
Donzig is loving his choice of weapon, spinning it around like a propeller as he looks for his next move with the ropes. He works to wrap it around the neck of Dylan and then stands on his back, pulling his head and throat backward! Black is choking!
Wright: Look at this sick choke from the self-proclaimed Scourge!
Park: You can see Black’s eyes almost popping out of his head here! He may have replaced many other body parts, but his throat is definitely not one of them!
Black is desperately working his hands underneath the rope, trying to create some space to breathe for his throat and to stop having his head and neck pulled off of his shoulders. It isn’t quite working, but luckily for him, Isabel Rios has taken the opportunity to get an attack of advantage on Donzig, breaking a kendo stick over his forehead and drawing blood!
Wright: We have blood, ladies and gentlemen!
Park: Rios has had issues with Donzig’s disciple in the past, and clearly Donzig is very hard-headed with a move like that!
Rios holds up what’s left of the stick for the crowd, only to turn around to catch the full body of Eli Dresden, who has sprung off the ropes and leapt off the rope with a shooting star press!
Wright: OH-EM-GEE!
Park: Dresden just paid Rio back in full with that move, taking her out and lighting up this crowd!
The roaring cheers from the crowd only get louder as Dresden yells for them to make some noise, being the only one currently standing. She wastes no time in launching herself towards Dylan Black, crashing down on him with a shooting star cannonball press!
Wright: INCOMING!
Park: Both the name of the move and the sound most appropriate to make before she lands! The former NLW world champ is rolling!
Dresden wastes no time in grabbing Black, sending him back into the ring! She hooks the leg!
...ONE…
...TW-Black gets the shoulder up!
Wright: Black gets the shoulder up, but the damage has been done! Look at the welt on his back and those marks from that rope wrapped around his throat!
Park: Becoming The Best certainly means taking a few bumps and bruises along the way!
Dresden leans back in her corner, measuring up Black, ready to put him away!
Wright: She’s looking for the OMFN! If she hits this, it might be goodnight Mr. Black!
Park: Donzig and Rios are both down! This is her chance!
Dresden comes forward with speed, but gets absolutely rocked by a Disasterpiece from a surprisingly still-game Black! She goes down in a hurry, and Black wastes no time, tying up the back of her legs before yoinking her head up with a handful of lush blonde hair!
Wright: Black’s looking for the dynamic outro! This won him the match last night!
Park: Could this be it?!
Just as Black’s foot is about to slam down into the base of Dresden’s neck, he gets absolutely blasted by a chair! But it’s not a traditional chair shot, as instead Donzig has swung it like an axe, blasting him with the long part of the chair instead!
Wright: OH- Heaven Style chairshot from Donzig, and now the left side of Black’s head has opened up as well!
Park: This is becoming a bloodier match by the second!
Donzig goes for the cover!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...Eli Dresden saves the match by double axe handling Donzig’s back, breaking up the pin!
Wright: Somehow, Eli managed to come back to life for just a few seconds, saving herself and Dylan the match!
Park: Rios is still down on the floor -- if Donzig can just get both of these two down, he’ll have his ticket punched for the finale!
Dresden quickly learns to regret keeping the match going, as Donzig strikes again with the long end of the chair, driving it right into her abdomen!
Wright: Yowch!
He places the chair down on top of her chest and looks over to the ropes, building up a head of speed before jumping at the ropes and backflipping off them, crashing down onto Dresden and the chair with a second-rope lionsault!
Wright: A backflip off the middle rope! I didn’t know Donzig could move like that!
Park: That might be the end of Dresden’s night!
Wright: Might be the end of Donzig’s night as well, landing on a chair like that!
Donzig rolls over, clutching his own ribs in pain, potentially regretting having sacrified his body like that. Still, he has enough time to cover Dresden, making sure to hook the leg!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...T-Isabel Rios saves the match, kicking Donzig right in the teeth!
Wright: Rios saves the match and he’s going to be missing a molar after that one!
Park: There’s a few good dentists in Philadelphia, someone pass their numbers along!
The Citizens Bank Park crowd pops for Rios, who looks over at the ropes with a sly look in her eyes, only briefly breaking to clutch her midsection for a few moments, as she gets the upper hand on the self-proclaimed Scrouge, knocking him back again with more hard kicks. She whips him into the corner and sets him up on the top rope, before beginning to look to the floor!
Wright: What’s that look in her eyes?
Park: You have to be willing to put it all on the line to be the Best, and I think Rios has something in mind!
Isabel Rios gets behind Donzig on the top rope and looks for a safe place for herself to land, grabbing Donzig into a reverse DDT before lifting him up vertically!
Wright: REDTAIL DRIVER TO THE OUTSIDE!
Rios and Donzig crash down hard to the floor as the crowd pops loudly, chanting obscenities at the insanity of dropping the man on his head on the outside from elevated heights. Dr. Lagari is immediately out to check on both competitors, throwing up an “X” for Donzig, who is not moving after being basically lawn-darted into the floor.
Wright: I think Donzig’s night might be over after that one! What a move!
Park: She drove him down right on the back of his head on the floor, I’m surprised she didn’t break his neck on that one!
Medical assistance floods the ringside area to help get Donzig out of there as the crowd is still on their feet cheering. Rios clutches her midsection for a few moments before rising back to her feet, a new confidence running through her as she looks at a now-standing Dylan Black and a still-down Eli Dresden. She peels the ring apron up and sends the crowd into a frenzy by grabbing a ladder, and then a table, sending both into the ring!
Wright: Rios is out here to prove herself once and for all, and barring whatever seems to be wrong with her midsection, she’s this close to getting it done!
Park: Who will meet Evan Valentine Jr. in the finale?
Black has put an end to the festivities by getting his hands on the ladder, immediately making Rios pay for bringing it into the ring by taking her out at the knees with it. He sets a table up in the corner after setting the ladder down. As Rios gets back to her feet, she jumps up from behind Rios and leaps up, spiking her head and neck first into the steel with a poisonrana!
Wright: HEADSTRONG RIGHT ONTO A LADDER!
Park: The medical team might need to look at Rios now too!
The crowd boos loudly as Dylan Black rolls back up to his feet. He throws the chair from the ring at the medical staff, doing his best to keep them from grabbing Rios and removing her from the match as well. The chair actually strikes Dr. Lagari, drawing louder heat!
Wright: The good doctor is down!
Park: That’s certainly a fine of some sort, but look at Black! After taking such a beatdown, here he is, lashed with the ropes, choked with them, opened up with a steel chair, and yet he’s the only one still up!
Wright: If he turns around he might find that last part to be not exactly truthful!
Dylan Black does turn around, just in time for Eli Dresden to send him crashing through the table in the corner with a sling blade!
Wright: OMFN! Dresden’s done it!
Park: She’s not done though! She knows she has to keep both of these competitors down!
Eli Dresden, feeling another huge win coming her way, looks up at the ladder, then back down at Rios, who is still grabbing the back of her head. Dresden looks at the ladder again, then gestures for the crowd to get loud once more before picking up Rios onto her shoulders and beginning to climb!
Wright: Where’s Dresden going?!
Park: My God, she’s carrying Rios up the ladder with her!
Dresden gets about halfway up before Isabel Rios comes back to life, the SWAT Amazon Champion fighting her way out of the grip of the former NLW world champion as if her life depended on it. She lands a rung above Dresden and tries to wrap her legs around Eli’s head, trying to lock in the Koji Clutch from this angle!
Wright: Rios digging down deep in her back of tricks here, trying to choke out Dresden from all this height!
Park: If she gets this fully applied, and she has to be careful to hold onto the ladder here -- she could send an unconscious Dresden crashing back to the mat!
Wright: But one slip -- one slip could cost her everything!
Rios kicks at Dresden’s head, trying to get her opened up so she can lock the Koji Clutch in! Dresden fights back, firing away with lefts and rights before moving to her hands, trying to pry Rios’ hands off of the ladder! At one point she manages to, but Rios’ legs are wrapped around Dresden, keeping her from plummeting to the mat!
Wright: Look ma, no hands!
Park: Can Rios pull the arm and fully lock this in?!
Digging down deep, Dresden headbutts Rios’ leg, and the crowd on the edge of their seats exclaims as Rios barely manages to hold on by one leg! Dresden responds by swinging her back into the ladder, where her face crashes into the top rung! Before Rios can even react, Dresden gets her turned around, before leaping off the upper middle rungs of the ladder in a backflip, taking Rios with her as both land hard into the mat with a modified Arabian moonsault slam!
Wright: HOLY--- GDI! GDI! GDI OFF THE LADDER!
Park: That’s gotta be it!
Wright: She may have just taken herself out at the same time, but all she has to do is make the cover and she’s won this match!
Park: This crowd is electric!
Rios has landed closer to the broken table than the ladder, while Dresden has landed closer to the center of the ring! Dresden hasn’t begun to crawl just yet as the crowd chants for her to come alive and get across the ring! As she begins to move though, the referee suddenly drops into position! Dylan Black drags himself from the wreckage of the table to flop an arm over the remains of Rios!
Wright: She’s beginning to- wait, NO! NOT LIKE THIS!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THREE!
The crowd holds their heads in their hands, their loud cheers quickly turning into vicious boos as they stare in disbelief, but the referee does indeed call for the ball!
Stanford: Here is your winner, and advancing to the Battle of the Best finale…. DYLAAAAAAAAAAAN BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKK!
Wright: Stolen valor tonight ladies and gentlemen, as the still-breathing corpse of Dylan Black just robbed Eli Dresden of her moment!
Park: I’m sick to my stomach just looking at it!
The look on Eli Dresden’s face says it all. She is furiously upset, as is the crowd, as Dylan Black, with the same metallic hand that had magnets thrust on them at the beginning of the match, gives her the finger.
Wright: Every competitor in this match just put on an absolute war, an instant classic of a fourway!
Park: Donzig had to be taken out to the back, but he was destroying people with his choice of weapons before Rios laid him out with that brutal Redtail Driver to the floor!
Wright: Rios came this close to winning too, if that Koji Clutch had been fully locked in, she might have forced the submission right on top of that ladder!
Park: But it just--just wasn’t in the cards for her, or for Dresden, as that damned Dylan Black comes through on yet another huge match!
Wright: He’s one step closer to potentially winning back the Crown, if he can even stand at this point!
Doing her best to hold her head high, Eli Dresden has pulled herself out of the ring and made her way towards the exit. Dylan Black, on the other hand, is holding his body up in the corner, and the camera captures everything wrong with him. For being almost a bionic man, you wouldn’t guess it by the welts on his back, the rope burn around his neck, and the still-bleeding left side of his head. He is a crumpled heap in the corner.
Wright: And so we’ll have our---
Suddenly, General Manager Marcus Washington makes an appearance at the top of the ramp!
Washington: Ladies and gentlemen, are we all having a good time?
The crowd has a mixed reaction after seeing Dylan rob Dresden of her moment.
Wright: What’s he doing out here?
Park: I have no idea---
Washington: Before we have ourselves the Battle of the Best finale, I would like to take a minute and introduce you to my first signing as general manager of FIRESIDE…
Wright: OH MY--
Washington: ...SPIIIIIIIIIKEEEEEEEEEEEE KAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEE!
Wright: --GOD!
Park: Could it be? Oh my God, it is!
Spike Kane walks through the curtain, rolling his wrists, a man on a mission. Longtime fans of the Man Defying Death cheer as he walks down to the ring with his eyes set for Dylan Black.
Wright: Death be not proud as Spike Kane, the former IWF world champion, is coming after Dylan Black!
Park: They’re due to square off in July, but what the hell is he doing right now?!
Wright: And can you believe it?! He’s officially a member of FIRESIDE!
Spike Kane slides into the ring and looks at the mangled body of Dylan Black in the corner, who is doing his best to pull himself together. He leaves the corner and tries to defend himself from his attacker, but Kane lifts him high up before swooping down on top of him, planting him onto the mat with a jackhammer!
Wright: Spike Impaler! Spike Impaler!
Park: Dylan Black has just seen a ghost ladies and gentlemen, and that ghost has kicking Black’s ass on his mind!
Wright: I don’t think he’s done!
Kane ignores the loud reactions of the crowd, a man with his own goals in mind, as he takes a look up at the ladder, somehow still standing after everything going on. He grabs Black, who it should be said -- isn’t moving at all -- and loads him up onto his shoulders, climbing the ladder with one hand while holding Black up with the other.
Wright: Where’s he going with Black? Why is he doing this?
Park: I don’t have an answer to your second question, but I guarantee Black wouldn’t like my answer to the first!
Once Spike Kane reaches the top, he sets Black down and maneuvers to the other side of the ladder. He looks at the ring mat before popping up Black and powerbombing him off the top of the ladder!
Wright: BLOOD GOD’S WRATH OFF THE LADDER!
Park: OH MY GOD!
The crowd is losing their minds at this point as Black is out cold at the bottom of the ladder. Kane just leans over it, looking down at the Messiah of Mayhem who has just fallen to Earth. He smiles and works his way back down the ladder, hopping off.
Wright: A message sent by FIRESIDE’s newest signing!
Park: Spike Kane just absolutely destroyed Dylan Black! What does this all mean?
Kane exits over the barricade, not here for the people or the press as he disappears into the cold Philadelphia night. The medical staff move to check in on Black, who is down and clearly still very out.
Wright: Carnage in the ring, ladies and gentlemen… I’d be amazed if Black wakes back up before tomorrow at this point!
Park: He’s definitely on dream street!
We catch one of the medical staff members trying to use smelling salts for Black before a familiar song hits the speakers. It’s Evansent, by Evan Valentine Jr..
Wright: What now?
A thrilled Evan Valentine Jr. comes out to his own music and begins running down to the ring at full speed.
Wright: Wait a minute---
Park: --oh no--
Wright: Black might not be with us right now, but this tournament isn’t over!
Park: The finale hasn’t happened yet!
Park: This can’t be happening! Black can’t even compete!
Evan Valentine Jr. has a smile that could run all the way to Brooklyn as he slides into the ring, obviously not caring one bit at all for Dylan Black’s health as the medical staff somehow get him vertical, but it’s clear he’s being propped up. He calls for the referee to begin the finale match, but the referee is clearly doing the right thing, not letting this match happen by any circumstances!
Washington: Get that bell rung Mardinly, or I’ll rip up your contract! The show must go on!
Wright: This is not what I expected out of Washington!
Park: Black just went through hell, was sent to hell by Spike Kane, and now hell is about to freeze over as Evan Valentine Jr. wants this finale to happen right here, right now!
Against his better judgement, referee Chris Mardinly advises the medical staff to leave the ring! They do so, leaving Black to rest against a corner! He’s barely even on two feet!
Wright: This isn’t right! This isn’t fair!
Park: Valentine’s only had to go through one real match this entire tournament, and now he has this hand-delivered on a silver platter!
Stanford: Ladies and gentlemen, uh, this is the Battle of the Best finale! The winning wrestler will receive either a FIRESIDE World Championship or X-Crown Championship match at a future date!
The crowd boos, knowing what’s about to happen. Even Stanford looks horrifically uncomfortable at having to call this match.
Stanford: Introducing first, from Boston, Massachusetts, representing the XHF, he is the Messiah of Mayhem, weighing in at 218 pounds, he is Dylan Black!
The camera pans over to Black, who is leaning against the ropes. The look in his eyes, barely a look at all, indicates that while they may be open, there may very well be nobody home right now.
Wright: He must be concussed.
Park: This isn’t right, Oliver!
Stanford: And his opponent, from Palm Springs, California, representing FIRESIDE, he is the son of Hardkore Jonnie Valentine, he is Evan Valentine Junior!
Wright: The fans around Citizens Bank Park are booing their brains out right now, and I don’t blame them!
Park: This is not the ending to the tournament anyone wants!
The bell rings! Dylan doesn’t even get to come out of his corner, as Valentine Jr. charges across the ring and delivers a Picture Perfect Dropkick!
Wright: Shades of his father--
Park: ---COME ON DYLAN, KICK OUT OF THIS!
...ONE!
...TWO!
...THREE!
Evan Valentine Jr. springs back up to his feet, instantly running around the ring, having just won the biggest match of his career!
Even Walter Stanford is pissed to be doing the call.
Stanford: Here is your winner of Battle of the Best, receiving a future world or X-Crown title match, and becoming… The Best... Evan Valentine Junior.
Stanford drops the microphone, rubbing his face, knowing he’ll have to find the enthusiasm to call the X-Crown match in a few minutes. The commentators at ringside still can’t believe it.
Park: FUCK!
Wright: I feel ya UnJoo, 100%. Dylan Black just fought through a war and had his chance at redemption pulled out from under him, courtesy of Marcus Washington, Spike Kane, and Dylan Black!
Park: What does this all mean going forward? Damnit!
El Rey, Malcolm Evans, and Nick Von Erich come running down the ramp to celebrate, dogtackling Evan as he celebrates. A large trophy is unveiled at ringside and handed over to Evan, who quickly is lifted up onto the shoulders of El Rey. The crowd is absolutely furious, even throwing things at the ring.
Wright: Not how anyone wanted this to end...
Park: Get them out of the ring, start the X-Crown match! No one wants to see these guys right now! As least let me call something that would bring me joy!
Wright: A bitter end to this Battle of the Best tournament, as Evan Valentine Jr., surrounded by his New Money associates who certainly had a hand in the evening’s affairs, picks up the biggest win of his life!
The million-dollar smile of Evan Valentine Junior as he holds up the trophy while being held up by the three men around him is the last thing we see before the scene cuts away.
Stanford: The following main event is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the X-CROOOOOOWWWNNN CHAAAAAMPIIIIIONNNNNNNNSHIPP!
Citizens Bank Park goes absolutely bonkers. They’ve been through a lot of great action this weekend, and here’s the finishing bow on top of everything.
Wright: This is personal, this is bitter, two of the top wrestlers in FIRESIDE, hell the entire XHF, and it’s the main event of Battle of the Best!
Park: Evan Valentine Jr. may have been crowned The Best tonight, but these two could certainly have their own claims to the moniker!
Wright: I’m so excited, this crowd has been through so much and is still alive. We have the privilege to call another one of these big, prestigious matches, and here we go.
Stanford: Introducing first, the challenger…
Are you ready?
The lights dim down in Citizens Bank Park while the catchy, fast paced rock of RAINBOWS by A9 echoes as a spotlight suddenly appears on a figure on the ramp, with their back turned and begins kneeling. Once the beat finally kicks in, MYOJIN explodes with energy- wearing a masquerade-style mask over his eyes, and turns around with a confident smile on his face, raising their arms to soak in the positive reaction from the stadium.
Stanford: ...from San Diego, California, weighing in at 165 pounds, they are the Shining Star, they are MYOJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNN!
Wright: MYOJIN has gotten here through many twists and turns. They’re the longest reigning XHF Junior Heavyweight champion in modern history, and after putting FIRESIDE on the map with his reign, they had earned a world championship match.
Park: They had come home to FIRESIDE after losing the title in a valiant war against Bloodied Fox, only to cross paths with an angry and bitter Misha Constantine, who wasn’t featured on the Fuel for the Fire card and took his anger out on the Shining Star.
Wright: It’s amazing, those two weren’t on the card three months ago, and here they are, about to do battle for the biggest prize in our sport.
Park: MYOJIN vowed revenge, and after brutalizing Misha’s bodyguard with a chair, costing Misha a FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship match, and somehow staying on his best behavior for the Crown match, tonight the Self-Made God wants to put an end to the Shining Star once and for all.
They climb up to the apron, grab a hold of the top rope, and slingshot themself into the ring. MYOJIN performs a somersault roll, landing on his side with a hand on their hip. The other, taking off their mask to reveal their piercing blue eye contacts. They toss it aside nonchalantly before climbing up the top turnbuckle, tilting their head upward as if they’re looking toward the sky- while the lights mimic stars above. They backflip off, back onto their feet while taking off their flamboyant coat and moving to his corner. The lights go back to normal as they check their wrist tape. Their charismatic smile fading to a more focused expression as they paces back and forth, ready for action, doing their best to shake out the nerves.
Wright: You can see the nerves creeping through the Shining Star, this is the biggest match of their life tonight and they know it.
Park: MYOJIN has been on a tear ever since joining our company though. Since October, they’ve NEVER lost at a FIRESIDE show.
Wright: And they don’t plan on it tonight. Months of frustration, anger, and revenge, and now he’s left to wait for the champion.
There is a longer, more dramatic pause as we all wait for the X-Crown champion, who is playing the long game and making the challenger wait. MYOJIN smacks their wrists, trying to keep the adrenaline down as the announcement begins.
Stanford: And their opponent…
The arena lights cut out. A ring of fire ignites at the head of the entrance way, in the middle of which rises a golden throne, seating a figure in golden armour:
"I still want 'em to eat. But they're gonna have to be at a different table."
'Hellhounds' kicks in, the crowd booing vociferously as the Self-Made God-Emperor of the XHF, the X*Crown champion, Misha Constantine stands from the throne, walking to the ring, heedless of the scorn. Slung across one shoulder is Dylan Black's custom X*Crown title belt.
Wright: There’s our X-Crown champion, a modern legend in his own right, the first FIRESIDE World Champion.
Park: Cocky doesn’t even begin to describe it, Oliver. This man spent a considerable amount of time changing the X-Crown vault to fit his image. He plans on being champion for a long, long time, even if these fans hate his guts.
Stanford: ...from Los Angeles, California, weighing in at 175 pounds, BOW BEFORE HIM AS HE IS YOUR SELF-MADE GOOOOOOOOD, HE IS THE X-CROWN CHAMPION, HE IS MIIIIIIIIIISHHHHHHHHAAA CONSSSSTAAAAAAANTINEEEEEEEEE!
Attention: your god's talking,
the one you idolize and all copy.
If you were anything at all like me,
you'd hate your own guts and cut your wrists.
I want all of your dead bodies on the lawn,
and I want the law on me,
and I wanna give whatever I got to your bitch!
Wright: It was that moment, that moment after winning the X-Crown champion, that we thought we’d see some change, with the fans on his side for defeating Dylan Black.
Park: Instead he flipped them all the finger. He’ll never change, Oliver, and don’t you dare ask him to do so.
Misha walks up the ring steps and enters between the ropes, moving to the middle of the ring. He hits hidden catches in the armour, letting it fall away to stand there in his ring gear.
Though I remain guilty, they ask me how I plead.
Plead? I don't plead to no man!
I don't get on my knees!
Misha raises the championship in one hand as the other gives the crowd the middle finger; turning slowly to allow everyone a good view of both.
Wright: So the Self-Made God vs. the Shining Star. Who’s going to win, what are we on the lookout for?
Park: I couldn’t predict it, Draft Kings has it very close, I don’t think anyone know who’s going to win. Honestly? Look for both of these wrestlers to beat the hell out of each other in order to become the top dog on all of the Network.
I'm goin' to Hell! Oh well! Who's comin' with me?
I'm goin' to Hell! For what?
For the murder of my enemies!
I'm goin' to Hell! Oh well! Who's comin' with me?
I'm goin' to Hell! For what?
For the murder of my enemies!
The camera cuts away from ringside to get a view of Misha Constantine’s bodyguard, Johnny Five, who has one hand on the apron. The referee raises the X-Crown high above her head and hands it off to the timekeeper, but Five quickly grabs it for safekeeping, holding it tightly.
Wright: And there’s the other half of Five and Divine, Johnny Five, personal bodyguard to Constantine.
Park: We’ve seen Five get involved with Constantine’s matches before, if I could say anything, MYOJIN’s got to keep an eye on him, the champion and his protector will do anything to protect the crown and the throne.
The bell rings.
Wright: There’s the bell! Misha Constantine vs. MYOJIN for the X-Crown Championship in front of a legal-capacity Citizens Bank Park, here we go!
The two men don’t circle up, they don’t take a moment to acknowledge the crowd and the moment, as instead they begin immediately trying to beat the holy hell out of another. Fists are flying as well as kicks in what can only be described as a flurry rush from both competitors, each one trying to land a shot that softens up their opponent enough to gain an advantage allowing them to go on the offensive. Realizing that trying to go kick-for-kick with MYOJIN simply isn’t worth it, the champion resorts to driving a thumb right into the eye of the challenger, in plain view of the referee.
Wright: Constantine with a blatant disregard for the rules with that eye gouge!
Park: That’s one of the advantages Misha has tonight. I’m sure there would be a riot on our hands if they lost by disqualification or countout, therefore retaining the championship, but I’m also sure Constantine wouldn’t give a damn what they think.
The booing crowd doesn’t like what they see as Constantine grabs MYOJIN, slapping their hand away from their eyes as they try to protect themselves from a cheap follow-up attack, and whips them into the ropes. The Shining Star bounces off the ropes and dodges a clothesline attempt from the Self-Made God, only to immediately eat an Au Batido Kick on the rebound! The challenger goes down as the crowd boos the impressive maneuver!
Wright: Flexible and agile, the champion uses his speed to capitalize on his cheating!
Park: He didn’t climb to the top of the mountain without having multiple ways to end you. If he plants MYOJIN with the Irae Dei or the Divine Fire Driver tonight, this one’s over.
Misha Constantine is deliberately working at a snail’s pace to drain MYOJIN’s adrenaline and cut the fans off from inspiring them to new heights. Constantine grabs them by the wrists and the crowd only boos as they know what’s coming next as the man begin stomping slowly, yet absolutely viciously, on his opponent’s head. Each stomp seems to be more painful than the last, some of them even bounce MYOJIN’s head off the mat! Constantine only retreats back to his corner when it becomes clear that he’s busted open his challenger, in which he takes a moment to enjoy the fruits of his labor. The crowd doesn’t share his joy.
Wright: Oh no, those damned stomps have opened up the challenger, and this doesn’t look good if you’re a MYOJIN fan right now!
Park: The X-Crown champion is in the driver’s seat after exchanging an opening volley with MYOJIN, and this could be an early night at this pace.
Dr. Lagari has come out from the backstage area to officially check in on the Shining Star, running concussion protocols as referee Melanie Davenport forces Misha Constantine to stand back in the corner. The camera gets a close-up on a bloody MYOJIN holding his head -- you can see the cut directly running diagonally on his forehead in between his fingers. Lagari tries to wipe away some of the blood, but declares that the match should go on and that the Shining Star is still okay to compete.
Wright: We talked about a countout or disqualification, but I don’t think either of us had ref stoppage on our dance cards. Those stomps are absolutely nasty!
Park: He’ll take victory any way he can tonight to walk out of Philadelphia still the champion. Night of Champions is shaping up to be a hellish competition on its own, and he’s the type of guy always thinking seven steps ahead.
Coming off the pause, Misha Constantine charges forward, stomping on MYOJIN’s head one more time! The crowd becomes even more hostile as he hooks the leg for a pin!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...MYOJIN kicks out!
Wright: Never a graceful champion, that Misha Constantine.
Park: This is crossing the line from grace to malicious spite, Oliver. We talked about these two hating each other and how much MYOJIN has interfered with Constantnie’s career lately, Misha looks like he’s trying to return the favor by ending MYOJIN’s!
The booing crowd is growing increasingly upset at what they’re seeing as Misha gets a running start and slams down onto his challenger with a shooting star press. The champion takes a deliberate few moments to target the challenger once again, this time playing mindgames, slapping Shouta upside his head. The mockery is low, with the champion smiling.
Misha Constantine: Where’s your PRIDE?
Constantine uses the ropes for leverage and springs skyward before coming back down into a dropkick, knocking MYOJIN down to the floor! The crowd lets him hear it!
Wright: We may never know how our X-Crown champion felt about MYOJIN invoking pride during this month, but that dropkick may have given us an answer.
Park: I’ve never heard consistent loud booing like this. This crowd is up in arms!
Referee Melanie Davenport begins her count as MYOJIN crawls around on the outside. Constantine waits, hands shaking, ready to go for the springboard.
...ONE!
MYOJIN shakes off the cobwebs, but the sound reveals that Misha Constantine is on the move…
...TWO!
...and Misha Constantine springboards off the ropes, turning 450 degrees to splash down for the Orbital Strike…
Wright: ORBITAL STRIKE!
...only to be caught by a jumping corkscrew roundhouse kick from MYOJIN! THE CROWD ROARS!
Park: NO! LOVE FROM OSAKA! LOVE FROM OSAKA!!!!
Wright: WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
The instant replay captures it all as the crowd immediately breaks into a MYO-JIN chant at full volume: Constantine charging off the ropes, springboarding into the front flip, and not having even a second of time as the challenger pops up and nails the spinning corkscrew kick at just the right moment. The replay even reveals a tooth going flying out on impact as both men crash back onto the floor!
Wright: This crowd just had their fire relit in a big way, I don’t know the challenger dug down and found that one but wow!
Park: You can only kick a person when they’re down down so many times before they kick back!
MYOJIN has finally made it back to his feet and the look on his face -- the anger, the passion, the pure fire -- indicates that Misha Constantine has fucked up, to put it gently. MYOJIN grabs Constantine’s ankle and takes a good look at the ringpost. The look in his eyes to back down Johnny Five could scare a lion off a wildebeest corpse.
...ONE!
Wright: I’ve never seen that look in MYOJIN’s eyes before!
Park: I’ve never seen it either!
BANG!
MYOJIN slams Misha Constantine’s heel into the ringpost!
Wright: OH! OUCH!
Park: My God!
...TWO!
And then again!
BANG!
The sound echoes throughout the ringside area as Misha’s ankle meets the metal!
...THREE!
Wright: I don’t think he’s going to be able to walk after those
Park: MYOJIN’s not done!
BANG!
...FOUR!
The bloodthirsty crowd cheers as MYOJIN releases the hold on his opponent’s ankle. Misha, to the surprise of no one, is screaming his damn head off at having his ankle smashed against the ringpost repeatedly by the determined challenger. Constantine uses the mobility he has left to get himself away from MYOJIN and behind Johnny Five.
...FIVE!
Wright: That level of ruthless aggression is exactly what MYOJIN needed to come back in this match. Constantine isn’t going to be walking around so full of himself after something like that.
Park: I’m wondering if Misha can even walk at this point!
...SIX!
MYOJIN and Misha Constantine’s bodyguard don’t exchange words, just looks. The man has put himself in front of the champion, and the threats between the two become more and more apparent, to the point that neither man wants to strike the other.
Wright: MYOJIN and Johnny Five are locked in a bitter staredown right now. Five seems to be threatening to throw the first punch, and if he does, Misha will get disqualified and MYOJIN will lose out on their only shot at the X-Crown before Night of Champions!
Park: On the other hand, that look from Myo seems to say that if Five tries that, MYOJIN will end him!
Wright: Who’s going to swing first?
...SEVEN!
The referee’s count seems to shake MYOJIN out of the staredown, realizing that they and their opponent are in danger of being counted out. The Shining Star ducks back into the ring, as first to reset the count, but then he seems to shake off the notion, instead grabbing the top rope. He grabs the top rope and spins to land on it, before leaping backward into a spaceman moonsault, crashing down onto Johnny Five!
...ONE!
Wright: MYOJIN with the 180 moonsault, taking down Five, as Misha seems to have gotten out of the way!
Park: Check the replay on that one-- I’m not so sure Five wasn’t pushed into him!
UnJoo Park’s eyes are 100% correct as the instant replay captures the graceful flip through the air and Misha Constantine sacrificing his bodyguard to keep himself in-tact, still from a seated position on the floor. The crowd is live and hot, cheering for the Shining Star -- only for the cheering to be interrupted by Misha getting back to his feet and falling into them with an european uppercut!
...TWO!
Wright: A falling uppercut from the champion, but I’m not sure that’s what he had in mind!
Park: I’m not sure if he can stand! We’ve seen this before when he fought Esmur in a Workhorse Match, if you can destroy part of his body, it greatly limits the champion’s mobility!
Wright: And you know that MYOJIN is looking for that imanari roll of his, the Orion! We’ve seen champions felled from all over the Network due to that move, no one’s gotten out, and Constantine could be next!
The commentators aren’t wrong about the state of peril Misha finds himself in as he loosens his footwear to try to check on his ankle. He curses out Dr. Lagari for even getting near him to check on the injury before using the barricade to push himself back up. MYOJIN, on the other hand, is still on the ground, holding his head right where he was punched.
...THREE!
Wright: We also don’t know the state of MYOJIN’s head -- Dr. Lagari waved him off in concussion protocols...
Park: ...but to be honest, a show this big, do you think he’s even allowed to completely stop an X-Crown match for an injury like that?
Wright: I don’t want to get into those details… but Misha’s gotta be looking for that DeityDT, a move that helped him get an edge over our new world champion, and might put MYOJIN in the hospital!
Park: If he can stand, Oliver!
...FOUR!
Credit where credit is due, Misha Constantine is back up. He tests his ankle and the weight, but it’s clear by the wincing that no, this is not going to be okay any time soon. He looks around and spots Five, who has gotten back to his feet as well, and the two men discuss. They seem to be planning something as MYOJIN also gets vertical.
Johnny Five suddenly takes one big wide step, almost assuming the position of an NFL lineman protecting his quarterback. The crowd boos loudly as Misha takes a seat, using his arm strength to propel himself up onto the barricade. MYOJIN has made their way around to Misha’s side of the ring, and as the situation becomes more clear, the fans
begin to boo loudly.
...FIVE!
Wright: Misha seems to have no interest in getting back in the ring...
Park: ...that’s the thing, he doesn’t have to get back in! Sure, it’s a loss, but if he gets counted out, he’s still X-Crown champion!
Wright: Oh no!
Park: And to make matters worse for the challenger, you’ve got the brickhouse known as Johnny Five in between them. This is brilliant!
Misha Constantine laughs and smiles, having figured out a plan. He waves goodbye to MYOJIN, unable to escape the match, but plenty content to have Five ruin it for the Shining Star. The hard-working crowd gets loudly against the champion once again as MYOJIN stares at Five, who openly taunts them.
Johnny Five: Woah woah, you better turn around and cut your losses, the Main Man isn’t losing the Crown to you today!
MYOJIN only watches as Constantine shakes his head. You can read the “nope” on his lips.
...SIX!
Wright: What a bastard!
Park: He’s a bastard, but he’s an X-Crown bastard!
MYOJIN takes a few moments to laugh to himself, shaking his head. He turns around, and the crowd boos. Johnny Five takes a few moments to celebrate…
...only for MYOJIN to suddenly turn around and sprint forward, twisting his body to backflip and elbow Five right in the face! The crowd cheers loudly!
...SEVEN!
Wright: Comet Dust Elbow!
Park: Thanks for coming, Johnny!
MYOJIN quickly gets back up. Misha is waving his hands in front of him for some kind of mercy, but MYOJIN grabs him by the injured foot and yoinks him off the barricade, where the back of his head hits the floor on landing! They then get the champion back up, sending him into the ring and quickly following him back inside!
Wright: That’s one way to bring the champion back into the action!
Park: MYOJIN is like a shark in the water right now!
MYOJIN grabs the leg, but Constantine quickly gets a hand on the bottom rope! The referee gets in between to break things up!
Wright: You can feel it in the air, this crowd knows it could be only a matter of time!
Park: You can sense that in the challenger as well! We still haven’t seen Misha fully mobile like he was at the beginning of this contest!
The Shining Star has the crowd on their feet, ready for the submission, but Johnny Five hops up on the apron to distract them!
Wright: He’s not supposed to be up there!
MYOJIN drops Five with another Love, From Osaka! But as he turns around once he gets back to his feet, he’s jumped on by Constantine, who plants him with the DeityDT! The crowd’s excitement quickly ceases!
Wright: DeityDT! Misha off the distraction!
Park: Five paid the price for Constantine but thaty may have been enough! That’s the sound of thousands of people entering a panic, Oliver! The cover and the count!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THR-NO!
...MYOJIN gets the shoulder up!
The crowd roars!
Wright: The Shining Star gets the shoulder up, but at what cost? They just got dropped right on their injured head...
Park: It might have been pure instinct, it’s tough to say!
Constantine rolls over and grabs at his injured foot, wincing in pain as he hoists himself up, cursing out the referee as he pulls himself towards the ropes. Climbing up is a painful experience, and the grumbling only gets louder as he ascends. He finally makes it up to the top rope and holds himself steady, doing his best to try to center himself despite not wanting to put weight on the injured foot.
Wright: Constantine going up into the high-risk, high-reward district...
Park: ...he hits the Irae Dei, this one’s over!
Before Misha can quite take off, MYOJIN is back on his feet! He climbs the ropes, but is left open to a hard shot from Constantine, who is doing his best to target the Shining Star’s skull one more time! Misha hits a hard shot, knocking one of MYOJIN’s hands off of the top rope! He dangles back, before coming back with a stiff punch of his own, knocking the champion from his position of comfort!
Wright: This night might be over for whoever falls here!
Park: Back and forth, back and forth!
Constantine strikes with a furious headbutt, almost knocking his opponent to the mat! MYOJIN somehow hangs on, but the champion grabs them, hooking their arms and lifting him up!
Wright: Divine Fire Driver!
Park: The Shining Star is about to crash land!
MYOJIN shuffles his weight forward, somehow landing back on the top rope! He grabs the underside of Misha Constantine’s leg and pulls backward, falling off the rope with the champion -- INTO THE ORION!
Wright: ORION! ORION! ORIOOOON!
Park: It’s one of the most effective submissions in the world right now and it’s locked dead-on on Constantine!
Wright: Constantine’s trapped! Nowhere to go! Five can’t save him now, he’s out cold on the floor!!
Constantine screams out in furious anger at the pain he’s in, but his screams are outmatched by the screams of passion from the crowd! They know this is it! Constantine swats at the ropes desperately, but he’s just out of reach! The crowd is buzzing!
Wright: This is already one of the longest times someone’s been in this hold!
Park: He can’t hold out much longer!
MYOJIN and Constantine trade screams as you can almost hear the tearing and cracking of something in Constantine’s leg!
Wright: How much more can he take?
Park: This might do it!
SNAP!
Park: I know that sound anymore! That’s it! That’s the sound of broken bones ladies and gentlemen!
Constantine taps out!
Wright: He’s tapping… wait, he’s tapping! HE’S TAPPING!
Park: NEW CHAMP! NEW CHAMP!
The bell rings! It takes a few moments for the crowd to process the announcement, but the sound that comes out of them is tens of thousands of men, women, and children screaming out in joy!
Stanford: Here is your winner, and the NEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW X-CROOOOOOOWN CHAMPPPPPPPIOOOOOOON, THE SHOOOOOOOOOOOTING STARRRRRRRRR, MYOOOOOOOOOOOOOJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN!
Wright: At Fuel for the Fire, was told he wasn’t deserving as Misha Constantine destroyed him in the ring, and tonight, MYOJIN proved he was deserving and then some!
Park: We have a new X-Crown champion, Oliver! I can’t believe it!
Wright: You better believe it, the Shining Star, the King of the Junior Heavyweights, now the top dog on all of the XHF!
MYOJIN receives the X-Crown championship from the referee and is immediately emotional, taking the time to soak it all in as the crowd uses every last bit of energy they have to congratulate the champion, cheering at the top of their lungs. After a brief embrace with the gold, MYOJIN climbs the ropes and points at the title, before pointing at all of the fans in attendance!
Wright: Misha was more than game tonight, dominant as ever, but MYOJIN dug down for a different level and proved he’s the real deal, ladies and gentlemen!
Park: Night of Champions awaits, but tonight, MYOJIN drinks for free in this town, the man having just committed deicide on The Self-Made God!
Wright: Ladies and gentlemen, that’s UnJoo Park, my name is Olver Wright, and behalf of all of FIRESIDE and our guests, thanks for watching!
The last visual we see is shot from the ringside floor, looking up at the new champion as fans chant their name. Fireworks are going off in the night sky as we see the look on the face of the Shining Star, MYOJIN, having risen to write his name in the stars of the Philadelphia skyline. The look can be best summed up in one word: proud.
With their blonde locks hanging over his face. He then whips his head back, flipping their hair out of his face before excitedly running down the ring before performing a cartwheel and a jump, landing on their feet near ringside!
Wright: It’s amazing, those two weren’t on the card three months ago, and here they are, about to do battle for the biggest prize in our sport.
Park: MYOJIN vowed revenge, and after brutalizing Misha’s bodyguard with a chair, costing Misha a FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship match, and somehow staying on his best behavior for the Crown match, tonight the Self-Made God wants to put an end to the Shining Star once and for all.
They climb up to the apron, grab a hold of the top rope, and slingshot themself into the ring. MYOJIN performs a somersault roll, landing on his side with a hand on their hip. The other, taking off their mask to reveal their piercing blue eye contacts. They toss it aside nonchalantly before climbing up the top turnbuckle, tilting their head upward as if they’re looking toward the sky- while the lights mimic stars above. They backflip off, back onto their feet while taking off their flamboyant coat and moving to his corner. The lights go back to normal as they check their wrist tape. Their charismatic smile fading to a more focused expression as they paces back and forth, ready for action, doing their best to shake out the nerves.
Wright: You can see the nerves creeping through the Shining Star, this is the biggest match of their life tonight and they know it.
Park: MYOJIN has been on a tear ever since joining our company though. Since October, they’ve NEVER lost at a FIRESIDE show.
Wright: And they don’t plan on it tonight. Months of frustration, anger, and revenge, and now he’s left to wait for the champion.
There is a longer, more dramatic pause as we all wait for the X-Crown champion, who is playing the long game and making the challenger wait. MYOJIN smacks their wrists, trying to keep the adrenaline down as the announcement begins.
Stanford: And their opponent…
The arena lights cut out. A ring of fire ignites at the head of the entrance way, in the middle of which rises a golden throne, seating a figure in golden armour:
"I still want 'em to eat. But they're gonna have to be at a different table."
'Hellhounds' kicks in, the crowd booing vociferously as the Self-Made God-Emperor of the XHF, the X*Crown champion, Misha Constantine stands from the throne, walking to the ring, heedless of the scorn. Slung across one shoulder is Dylan Black's custom X*Crown title belt.
Wright: There’s our X-Crown champion, a modern legend in his own right, the first FIRESIDE World Champion.
Park: Cocky doesn’t even begin to describe it, Oliver. This man spent a considerable amount of time changing the X-Crown vault to fit his image. He plans on being champion for a long, long time, even if these fans hate his guts.
Stanford: ...from Los Angeles, California, weighing in at 175 pounds, BOW BEFORE HIM AS HE IS YOUR SELF-MADE GOOOOOOOOD, HE IS THE X-CROWN CHAMPION, HE IS MIIIIIIIIIISHHHHHHHHAAA CONSSSSTAAAAAAANTINEEEEEEEEE!
Attention: your god's talking,
the one you idolize and all copy.
If you were anything at all like me,
you'd hate your own guts and cut your wrists.
I want all of your dead bodies on the lawn,
and I want the law on me,
and I wanna give whatever I got to your bitch!
Wright: It was that moment, that moment after winning the X-Crown champion, that we thought we’d see some change, with the fans on his side for defeating Dylan Black.
Park: Instead he flipped them all the finger. He’ll never change, Oliver, and don’t you dare ask him to do so.
Misha walks up the ring steps and enters between the ropes, moving to the middle of the ring. He hits hidden catches in the armour, letting it fall away to stand there in his ring gear.
Though I remain guilty, they ask me how I plead.
Plead? I don't plead to no man!
I don't get on my knees!
Misha raises the championship in one hand as the other gives the crowd the middle finger; turning slowly to allow everyone a good view of both.
Wright: So the Self-Made God vs. the Shining Star. Who’s going to win, what are we on the lookout for?
Park: I couldn’t predict it, Draft Kings has it very close, I don’t think anyone know who’s going to win. Honestly? Look for both of these wrestlers to beat the hell out of each other in order to become the top dog on all of the Network.
I'm goin' to Hell! Oh well! Who's comin' with me?
I'm goin' to Hell! For what?
For the murder of my enemies!
I'm goin' to Hell! Oh well! Who's comin' with me?
I'm goin' to Hell! For what?
For the murder of my enemies!
The camera cuts away from ringside to get a view of Misha Constantine’s bodyguard, Johnny Five, who has one hand on the apron. The referee raises the X-Crown high above her head and hands it off to the timekeeper, but Five quickly grabs it for safekeeping, holding it tightly.
Wright: And there’s the other half of Five and Divine, Johnny Five, personal bodyguard to Constantine.
Park: We’ve seen Five get involved with Constantine’s matches before, if I could say anything, MYOJIN’s got to keep an eye on him, the champion and his protector will do anything to protect the crown and the throne.
The bell rings.
Wright: There’s the bell! Misha Constantine vs. MYOJIN for the X-Crown Championship in front of a legal-capacity Citizens Bank Park, here we go!
The two men don’t circle up, they don’t take a moment to acknowledge the crowd and the moment, as instead they begin immediately trying to beat the holy hell out of another. Fists are flying as well as kicks in what can only be described as a flurry rush from both competitors, each one trying to land a shot that softens up their opponent enough to gain an advantage allowing them to go on the offensive. Realizing that trying to go kick-for-kick with MYOJIN simply isn’t worth it, the champion resorts to driving a thumb right into the eye of the challenger, in plain view of the referee.
Wright: Constantine with a blatant disregard for the rules with that eye gouge!
Park: That’s one of the advantages Misha has tonight. I’m sure there would be a riot on our hands if they lost by disqualification or countout, therefore retaining the championship, but I’m also sure Constantine wouldn’t give a damn what they think.
The booing crowd doesn’t like what they see as Constantine grabs MYOJIN, slapping their hand away from their eyes as they try to protect themselves from a cheap follow-up attack, and whips them into the ropes. The Shining Star bounces off the ropes and dodges a clothesline attempt from the Self-Made God, only to immediately eat an Au Batido Kick on the rebound! The challenger goes down as the crowd boos the impressive maneuver!
Wright: Flexible and agile, the champion uses his speed to capitalize on his cheating!
Park: He didn’t climb to the top of the mountain without having multiple ways to end you. If he plants MYOJIN with the Irae Dei or the Divine Fire Driver tonight, this one’s over.
Misha Constantine is deliberately working at a snail’s pace to drain MYOJIN’s adrenaline and cut the fans off from inspiring them to new heights. Constantine grabs them by the wrists and the crowd only boos as they know what’s coming next as the man begin stomping slowly, yet absolutely viciously, on his opponent’s head. Each stomp seems to be more painful than the last, some of them even bounce MYOJIN’s head off the mat! Constantine only retreats back to his corner when it becomes clear that he’s busted open his challenger, in which he takes a moment to enjoy the fruits of his labor. The crowd doesn’t share his joy.
Wright: Oh no, those damned stomps have opened up the challenger, and this doesn’t look good if you’re a MYOJIN fan right now!
Park: The X-Crown champion is in the driver’s seat after exchanging an opening volley with MYOJIN, and this could be an early night at this pace.
Dr. Lagari has come out from the backstage area to officially check in on the Shining Star, running concussion protocols as referee Melanie Davenport forces Misha Constantine to stand back in the corner. The camera gets a close-up on a bloody MYOJIN holding his head -- you can see the cut directly running diagonally on his forehead in between his fingers. Lagari tries to wipe away some of the blood, but declares that the match should go on and that the Shining Star is still okay to compete.
Wright: We talked about a countout or disqualification, but I don’t think either of us had ref stoppage on our dance cards. Those stomps are absolutely nasty!
Park: He’ll take victory any way he can tonight to walk out of Philadelphia still the champion. Night of Champions is shaping up to be a hellish competition on its own, and he’s the type of guy always thinking seven steps ahead.
Coming off the pause, Misha Constantine charges forward, stomping on MYOJIN’s head one more time! The crowd becomes even more hostile as he hooks the leg for a pin!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...MYOJIN kicks out!
Wright: Never a graceful champion, that Misha Constantine.
Park: This is crossing the line from grace to malicious spite, Oliver. We talked about these two hating each other and how much MYOJIN has interfered with Constantnie’s career lately, Misha looks like he’s trying to return the favor by ending MYOJIN’s!
The booing crowd is growing increasingly upset at what they’re seeing as Misha gets a running start and slams down onto his challenger with a shooting star press. The champion takes a deliberate few moments to target the challenger once again, this time playing mindgames, slapping Shouta upside his head. The mockery is low, with the champion smiling.
Misha Constantine: Where’s your PRIDE?
Constantine uses the ropes for leverage and springs skyward before coming back down into a dropkick, knocking MYOJIN down to the floor! The crowd lets him hear it!
Wright: We may never know how our X-Crown champion felt about MYOJIN invoking pride during this month, but that dropkick may have given us an answer.
Park: I’ve never heard consistent loud booing like this. This crowd is up in arms!
Referee Melanie Davenport begins her count as MYOJIN crawls around on the outside. Constantine waits, hands shaking, ready to go for the springboard.
...ONE!
MYOJIN shakes off the cobwebs, but the sound reveals that Misha Constantine is on the move…
...TWO!
...and Misha Constantine springboards off the ropes, turning 450 degrees to splash down for the Orbital Strike…
Wright: ORBITAL STRIKE!
...only to be caught by a jumping corkscrew roundhouse kick from MYOJIN! THE CROWD ROARS!
Park: NO! LOVE FROM OSAKA! LOVE FROM OSAKA!!!!
Wright: WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
The instant replay captures it all as the crowd immediately breaks into a MYO-JIN chant at full volume: Constantine charging off the ropes, springboarding into the front flip, and not having even a second of time as the challenger pops up and nails the spinning corkscrew kick at just the right moment. The replay even reveals a tooth going flying out on impact as both men crash back onto the floor!
Wright: This crowd just had their fire relit in a big way, I don’t know the challenger dug down and found that one but wow!
Park: You can only kick a person when they’re down down so many times before they kick back!
MYOJIN has finally made it back to his feet and the look on his face -- the anger, the passion, the pure fire -- indicates that Misha Constantine has fucked up, to put it gently. MYOJIN grabs Constantine’s ankle and takes a good look at the ringpost. The look in his eyes to back down Johnny Five could scare a lion off a wildebeest corpse.
...ONE!
Wright: I’ve never seen that look in MYOJIN’s eyes before!
Park: I’ve never seen it either!
BANG!
MYOJIN slams Misha Constantine’s heel into the ringpost!
Wright: OH! OUCH!
Park: My God!
...TWO!
And then again!
BANG!
The sound echoes throughout the ringside area as Misha’s ankle meets the metal!
...THREE!
Wright: I don’t think he’s going to be able to walk after those
Park: MYOJIN’s not done!
BANG!
...FOUR!
The bloodthirsty crowd cheers as MYOJIN releases the hold on his opponent’s ankle. Misha, to the surprise of no one, is screaming his damn head off at having his ankle smashed against the ringpost repeatedly by the determined challenger. Constantine uses the mobility he has left to get himself away from MYOJIN and behind Johnny Five.
...FIVE!
Wright: That level of ruthless aggression is exactly what MYOJIN needed to come back in this match. Constantine isn’t going to be walking around so full of himself after something like that.
Park: I’m wondering if Misha can even walk at this point!
...SIX!
MYOJIN and Misha Constantine’s bodyguard don’t exchange words, just looks. The man has put himself in front of the champion, and the threats between the two become more and more apparent, to the point that neither man wants to strike the other.
Wright: MYOJIN and Johnny Five are locked in a bitter staredown right now. Five seems to be threatening to throw the first punch, and if he does, Misha will get disqualified and MYOJIN will lose out on their only shot at the X-Crown before Night of Champions!
Park: On the other hand, that look from Myo seems to say that if Five tries that, MYOJIN will end him!
Wright: Who’s going to swing first?
...SEVEN!
The referee’s count seems to shake MYOJIN out of the staredown, realizing that they and their opponent are in danger of being counted out. The Shining Star ducks back into the ring, as first to reset the count, but then he seems to shake off the notion, instead grabbing the top rope. He grabs the top rope and spins to land on it, before leaping backward into a spaceman moonsault, crashing down onto Johnny Five!
...ONE!
Wright: MYOJIN with the 180 moonsault, taking down Five, as Misha seems to have gotten out of the way!
Park: Check the replay on that one-- I’m not so sure Five wasn’t pushed into him!
UnJoo Park’s eyes are 100% correct as the instant replay captures the graceful flip through the air and Misha Constantine sacrificing his bodyguard to keep himself in-tact, still from a seated position on the floor. The crowd is live and hot, cheering for the Shining Star -- only for the cheering to be interrupted by Misha getting back to his feet and falling into them with an european uppercut!
...TWO!
Wright: A falling uppercut from the champion, but I’m not sure that’s what he had in mind!
Park: I’m not sure if he can stand! We’ve seen this before when he fought Esmur in a Workhorse Match, if you can destroy part of his body, it greatly limits the champion’s mobility!
Wright: And you know that MYOJIN is looking for that imanari roll of his, the Orion! We’ve seen champions felled from all over the Network due to that move, no one’s gotten out, and Constantine could be next!
The commentators aren’t wrong about the state of peril Misha finds himself in as he loosens his footwear to try to check on his ankle. He curses out Dr. Lagari for even getting near him to check on the injury before using the barricade to push himself back up. MYOJIN, on the other hand, is still on the ground, holding his head right where he was punched.
...THREE!
Wright: We also don’t know the state of MYOJIN’s head -- Dr. Lagari waved him off in concussion protocols...
Park: ...but to be honest, a show this big, do you think he’s even allowed to completely stop an X-Crown match for an injury like that?
Wright: I don’t want to get into those details… but Misha’s gotta be looking for that DeityDT, a move that helped him get an edge over our new world champion, and might put MYOJIN in the hospital!
Park: If he can stand, Oliver!
...FOUR!
Credit where credit is due, Misha Constantine is back up. He tests his ankle and the weight, but it’s clear by the wincing that no, this is not going to be okay any time soon. He looks around and spots Five, who has gotten back to his feet as well, and the two men discuss. They seem to be planning something as MYOJIN also gets vertical.
Johnny Five suddenly takes one big wide step, almost assuming the position of an NFL lineman protecting his quarterback. The crowd boos loudly as Misha takes a seat, using his arm strength to propel himself up onto the barricade. MYOJIN has made their way around to Misha’s side of the ring, and as the situation becomes more clear, the fans
begin to boo loudly.
...FIVE!
Wright: Misha seems to have no interest in getting back in the ring...
Park: ...that’s the thing, he doesn’t have to get back in! Sure, it’s a loss, but if he gets counted out, he’s still X-Crown champion!
Wright: Oh no!
Park: And to make matters worse for the challenger, you’ve got the brickhouse known as Johnny Five in between them. This is brilliant!
Misha Constantine laughs and smiles, having figured out a plan. He waves goodbye to MYOJIN, unable to escape the match, but plenty content to have Five ruin it for the Shining Star. The hard-working crowd gets loudly against the champion once again as MYOJIN stares at Five, who openly taunts them.
Johnny Five: Woah woah, you better turn around and cut your losses, the Main Man isn’t losing the Crown to you today!
MYOJIN only watches as Constantine shakes his head. You can read the “nope” on his lips.
...SIX!
Wright: What a bastard!
Park: He’s a bastard, but he’s an X-Crown bastard!
MYOJIN takes a few moments to laugh to himself, shaking his head. He turns around, and the crowd boos. Johnny Five takes a few moments to celebrate…
...only for MYOJIN to suddenly turn around and sprint forward, twisting his body to backflip and elbow Five right in the face! The crowd cheers loudly!
...SEVEN!
Wright: Comet Dust Elbow!
Park: Thanks for coming, Johnny!
MYOJIN quickly gets back up. Misha is waving his hands in front of him for some kind of mercy, but MYOJIN grabs him by the injured foot and yoinks him off the barricade, where the back of his head hits the floor on landing! They then get the champion back up, sending him into the ring and quickly following him back inside!
Wright: That’s one way to bring the champion back into the action!
Park: MYOJIN is like a shark in the water right now!
MYOJIN grabs the leg, but Constantine quickly gets a hand on the bottom rope! The referee gets in between to break things up!
Wright: You can feel it in the air, this crowd knows it could be only a matter of time!
Park: You can sense that in the challenger as well! We still haven’t seen Misha fully mobile like he was at the beginning of this contest!
The Shining Star has the crowd on their feet, ready for the submission, but Johnny Five hops up on the apron to distract them!
Wright: He’s not supposed to be up there!
MYOJIN drops Five with another Love, From Osaka! But as he turns around once he gets back to his feet, he’s jumped on by Constantine, who plants him with the DeityDT! The crowd’s excitement quickly ceases!
Wright: DeityDT! Misha off the distraction!
Park: Five paid the price for Constantine but thaty may have been enough! That’s the sound of thousands of people entering a panic, Oliver! The cover and the count!
...ONE…
...TWO…
...THR-NO!
...MYOJIN gets the shoulder up!
The crowd roars!
Wright: The Shining Star gets the shoulder up, but at what cost? They just got dropped right on their injured head...
Park: It might have been pure instinct, it’s tough to say!
Constantine rolls over and grabs at his injured foot, wincing in pain as he hoists himself up, cursing out the referee as he pulls himself towards the ropes. Climbing up is a painful experience, and the grumbling only gets louder as he ascends. He finally makes it up to the top rope and holds himself steady, doing his best to try to center himself despite not wanting to put weight on the injured foot.
Wright: Constantine going up into the high-risk, high-reward district...
Park: ...he hits the Irae Dei, this one’s over!
Before Misha can quite take off, MYOJIN is back on his feet! He climbs the ropes, but is left open to a hard shot from Constantine, who is doing his best to target the Shining Star’s skull one more time! Misha hits a hard shot, knocking one of MYOJIN’s hands off of the top rope! He dangles back, before coming back with a stiff punch of his own, knocking the champion from his position of comfort!
Wright: This night might be over for whoever falls here!
Park: Back and forth, back and forth!
Constantine strikes with a furious headbutt, almost knocking his opponent to the mat! MYOJIN somehow hangs on, but the champion grabs them, hooking their arms and lifting him up!
Wright: Divine Fire Driver!
Park: The Shining Star is about to crash land!
MYOJIN shuffles his weight forward, somehow landing back on the top rope! He grabs the underside of Misha Constantine’s leg and pulls backward, falling off the rope with the champion -- INTO THE ORION!
Wright: ORION! ORION! ORIOOOON!
Park: It’s one of the most effective submissions in the world right now and it’s locked dead-on on Constantine!
Wright: Constantine’s trapped! Nowhere to go! Five can’t save him now, he’s out cold on the floor!!
Constantine screams out in furious anger at the pain he’s in, but his screams are outmatched by the screams of passion from the crowd! They know this is it! Constantine swats at the ropes desperately, but he’s just out of reach! The crowd is buzzing!
Wright: This is already one of the longest times someone’s been in this hold!
Park: He can’t hold out much longer!
MYOJIN and Constantine trade screams as you can almost hear the tearing and cracking of something in Constantine’s leg!
Wright: How much more can he take?
Park: This might do it!
SNAP!
Park: I know that sound anymore! That’s it! That’s the sound of broken bones ladies and gentlemen!
Constantine taps out!
Wright: He’s tapping… wait, he’s tapping! HE’S TAPPING!
Park: NEW CHAMP! NEW CHAMP!
The bell rings! It takes a few moments for the crowd to process the announcement, but the sound that comes out of them is tens of thousands of men, women, and children screaming out in joy!
Stanford: Here is your winner, and the NEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW X-CROOOOOOOWN CHAMPPPPPPPIOOOOOOON, THE SHOOOOOOOOOOOTING STARRRRRRRRR, MYOOOOOOOOOOOOOJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN!
Wright: At Fuel for the Fire, was told he wasn’t deserving as Misha Constantine destroyed him in the ring, and tonight, MYOJIN proved he was deserving and then some!
Park: We have a new X-Crown champion, Oliver! I can’t believe it!
Wright: You better believe it, the Shining Star, the King of the Junior Heavyweights, now the top dog on all of the XHF!
MYOJIN receives the X-Crown championship from the referee and is immediately emotional, taking the time to soak it all in as the crowd uses every last bit of energy they have to congratulate the champion, cheering at the top of their lungs. After a brief embrace with the gold, MYOJIN climbs the ropes and points at the title, before pointing at all of the fans in attendance!
Wright: Misha was more than game tonight, dominant as ever, but MYOJIN dug down for a different level and proved he’s the real deal, ladies and gentlemen!
Park: Night of Champions awaits, but tonight, MYOJIN drinks for free in this town, the man having just committed deicide on The Self-Made God!
Wright: Ladies and gentlemen, that’s UnJoo Park, my name is Olver Wright, and behalf of all of FIRESIDE and our guests, thanks for watching!
The last visual we see is shot from the ringside floor, looking up at the new champion as fans chant their name. Fireworks are going off in the night sky as we see the look on the face of the Shining Star, MYOJIN, having risen to write his name in the stars of the Philadelphia skyline. The look can be best summed up in one word: proud.