NLW and XHF Network Presents | The Eve of Champions 2021
Jul 12, 2021 17:13:35 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 3 more like this
Post by Robbie A on Jul 12, 2021 17:13:35 GMT -5
Next Level Wrestling and The XHF Network Presents
THE EVE OF CHAMPIONS
LIVE from the Avron B Fogelman Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana
Airing on July 24th, 2021.
7 PM - On the XHF Network
'Rise' by David Guetta featuring Skylar Grey hits the sound system as the visual fades in on the Avron B Fogelman Arena which is packed to the brim with excited fans. While the usual NLW decor is present, it has been joined by the gold and black finery of not only Eve of Champions, but XHF's 20th Birthday as well. Golden lights swirl over the crowd as the camera pans over the crowd, picking up on more signs than usual thanks to the special occasion. One final swoop and the camera cuts to the announce desk, where the announce team is dressed to the nines for this special occasion.
Dan Simmons: Good evening, guys, gals, and non-binary pals... and welcome to Eve of Champions! I'm Dan Simmons, and joining me is Tommy West.
Tommy West: That's a new opening line for you, Dan. It's more inclusive for sure! Let me guess--your daughter clued you in on it?
Dan Simmons: Got it in one. But that aside, Tommy, I know I always say that we've got a night of action ahead of us... but tonight is on a whole new level. Not only are both of NLW's Championships on the line, but it's also the final night of round robin action for the G1, and the fate of the semi-finals hangs in the balance!
Tommy West: Right you are, Dan! Group A's final bouts feature Ryan Young going up against Waylon Kirk in a battle of redemption and MYŌJIN taking on Felix in what is easily the biggest match in the rookie Felix's career thusfar!
Dan Simmons: And Group B's rankings are going to come down to Big Bone facing off against Adam Sanders in a battle of the technicos and Ricardo Goon against El Rey in a bout that sees Ric's undefeated streak in the G1 in the balance!
Tommy West: And with the points being tight in both groups, anything can happen!
Dan Simmons: We're also going to be seeing the debut of not just one, but two new tag teams as the Time Jumpers go up against the newly-formed team of Cheez and Wellington Dunne, a combination now known as Tilted Cartridges! Both teams have the opportunity to leave quite the mark on NLW tonight, but who will seize the opportunity?
Tommy West: Speaking of opportunities... as you mentioned before, Dan, both of NLW's championships are on the line tonight. Graham Baker made good on his promise to take the Southern States Championship at Hostile Intent, but tonight he's got to worry about not only a vicious new challenger to the scene in Lazarus Arjen, but a pissed-off former champion in David Goon! This one's going to get violent!
Dan Simmons: And if that's not enough, 'Deathless' Tommy Kelly is going up against Finn Whelan, a man whose accomplishments elsewhere have been further enhanced by his performance since he signed the dotted line in NLW. Our main event is going to be straight fire!
Tommy West: And there's your daughter's influence again, Dan. I love it! And with all of this action, folks, we're also going to be hearing from BB Gunn about NLW's future, as well as appearances from other members of NLW's roster. But before we get to all of that, we've got great tag action opening the show. Let's get to it!
MATCH ONE
The Time Jumpers (Ciela Luiz & Makayla Vayden) vs The Tilted Cartridges (Wellington Dunne & Cheez)
After a number of questionable appearances, we actually started to see a different side to Cheez, for starters, he actually wanted to begin this match against the debuting Time Jumpers. Dunne was a bit uneasy about this proposition but Cheez was really quite insistent, and so he relented. He squared up with Ciela Luiz, and much to the crowd in the Fogleman, as well as The Mexican Sweetheart, Cheez caught her cold, ducking under the lock up attempt and hitting her with a dropkick which was enough to drop her. They both scrambled back to their feet and Cheez went for a clothesline which was well scouted and Cheez turned into a Pele kick to even the connected kicks at 1-1. They both returned to their feet and Luiz’s partner, Makayla Vayden called over, she wanted in and wasn’t willing to toy with the young streamer like her partner was. Luiz smirked and obliged, allowing Vayden in, and she charged at Cheez, who froze up a little which allowed her to slip behind and apply a waistlock, Cheez elbowed out and went to the ropes, Vayden was ready for him and sent him flying with a back body drop. She looked at the fallen gamer and laughed, but didn’t realise that when he went to the ropes, Wellington Dunne had made the blind tag, and suddenly she found herself being hoisted up and driven to the mat via a T-Bone suplex.
Cheez rolled out of the ring and went to his corner, Dunne went to work on Vayden, delivering a brainbuster no sooner had she got up from the suplex, he made the cover but was denied after two. He dragged her back up and threw her into a neutral corner, punishing the debutant with hard chops that sounded like they were echoing throughout the whole building. He whipped her to the opposite corner and charged after her, looking for a splash, but nobody was home. Vayden was onto the top rope like a flash, looking to end it early with Back to the Future [Eclipse], but Dunne was wise, and pounced on the ropes to take her feet out. He went back to the fallen Vayden, and looked for a superplex, but she blocked him, driving back at him with punches to the ribs. This subdued The Glasgow Bull, and she took flight with his head under her arm, drilling him with a tornado DDT. Both bodies went sprawling over the ring, and they instinctively went back to their corners, making the tag to their partners.
Cheez charged at Luiz, but she met him with a clothesline, he popped back up and took a second one, and when he rose back to his feet once more she whipped him to the ropes and he ran right into a standing hurricanrana, and before he could get his bearings she clocked him with Viva La Familia [shining wizard], making the cover, but getting a two count.
Luiz kept the pressure on Cheez, dragging him back up and keeping him disorientated with a snap suplex, and then stalked him until he returned to his feet, she looked to boot him in the gut but Cheez caught it, spun her around and hit a her with a boot of his own, and connected with a vertical suplex. Cheez held onto Luiz and spun the legs to get them back onto their feet, hitting a second suplex, and once more he spun the legs, looking to complete Like, Comment, Subscribe. Luiz however slipped behind when she was elevated, she push Cheez away, he turned around and ate a superkick, and barely kicked out before the three.
Dunne could see his partner was in trouble, and went to intervene, but the referee met him and despite Dunne’s protests, reminded him that he couldn’t do that. Meanwhile Luiz tagged in Vayden and the pair sized Cheez up, hitting Terminator [double shining wizard], Dunne was incensed, but immediately told the referee that both women were in the ring, and that there was no tag. The referee turned and having been distracted by Dunne was inclined to agree, and told Vayden to leave the ring. Vayden was less than impressed, and her protests were not very well by the referee who almost needed to drag her back to the corner. In all of the confusion, Dunne snuck back into the ring, and with Luiz’s back turned, he spun her around and hit Wild Ride [firemans carry neckbreaker] and placed Cheez on top of her fallen body. He then slipped out the ring, and ran around the ring, taking Vayden’s legs out from the apron. The referee, a pawn in all of this, turned to see the pin attempt and made the count, which was enough to put Luiz away!
[WINNERS: Tilted Cartridges Via Wild Ride at 08:04]
For the first time in a very long time, Rebecca Brookes has stepped back inside of the Avron B Fogelman Arena, and it almost feels therapeutic to her as she walks through the halls backstage and towards the locker room of her older brother. Having not seen him since the arrival of his child a couple of months ago, this feels like a moment where the two could bond with one another, and with Rebecca heading into the locker room, the first sight she sees is Ryan Young along with his wonderful fiance and their baby daughter. The trio look at Rebecca with smiles on their faces upon seeing her for the first time in a long time, sharing hugs all around between Rebecca, Ryan, and Selena.
RYAN YOUNG: Love, if you could. I think myself and Beckie have to discuss some things between ourselves.
Selena obligues, bringing their daughter and herself out of the room so it’s just left with the two siblings one on one, continuing to smile at one another before Rebecca would be the first one to speak.
REBECCA BROOKES: So, I hear you’ve got yourself a place here. Back to full-time now, are you?
Ryan laughs, turning around to reach into his gear bag as he prepares for his finale round match with Waylon Kirk later on in the night.
RYAN YOUNG: I guess you can say that, yeah. I never thought I would be full-time again but it wasn’t until I was watching Clash of The Icons again and I thought to myself -- maybe I do deserve to come back in some form of capacity. FIRESIDE seemed nice, but I wouldn’t want to be apart of it. SWAT seemed okay to me, but again, wasn’t my cup of tea.
REBECCA BROOKES: So you came here - to Next Level Wrestling - and signed on the dotted line.
The Messiah soon turned around to face Rebecca, holding his knee pads and kick pads in his hands.
RYAN YOUNG: I was already signed to a contract here as a manager, who can compete if the time is right, and I did that with the G1 Tournament. Now, I found myself with an extension since Gunn came back. I found myself here full-time and competing at the highest caliber I could.
Ryan took a seat to begin placing the pads around his legs.
RYAN YOUNG: I fought hard against the X*Crown Champion and almost had him right where I wanted him. I had Felix where I needed and he scouted me, but it wasn't enough for him to keep focus to choke him out. Waylon Kirk, however, he’s a different breed. He’s talented. He’s scouted me well. I have a massive fear for this match, Beckie. I could be walking away with a victory and a place in the Semi-Finals, or I could be walking away with my head held in shame, as it stands though -- I’m one and one this year alone. I’m not looking to make that one and two against me, you know?
REBECCA BROOKES: I felt the same way, it’s been a hard six months for myself here. I might as well be dubbed the nearly-girl at the rate I’ve been fighting for. All of these championship contendership matches that I’ve been in and yet always coming so close but never enough to succeed past it.
RYAN YOUNG: I guess we’ve both come here to redeem ourselves, yeah? I know you’re fighting to prove that the championship reigns you’ve got to your name will mean something here too, and there’s a reason you’re one of the most feared women wrestlers right now here in Next Level Wrestling. Eli Dresden- she’s alright on a good day but you, Beckie, I know you’re different. I know you can do all of the great amazing things that I would have done too. Which is why I think that The Matthews Family is going to rock this roster with both of us back in the swing of things. I have that feeling, I have that kind of hope for the both of us, because I believe in us both.
Rebecca hears the words coming from her brother’s mouth and all she could do is smile from ear to ear, but she crouches down and looks directly into Ryan’s eyes, right at his eye level from where he sits.
REBECCA BROOKES: That’s why I came here, Ryan. I remember a year ago when you were going through it, I said I would help you and we could prove together why our bond is elite and strongful. That was a tag team idea we both had back then and you were so willing to do it, but then everything fell apart after Night of Champions and you fell into a period of depression. But you’ve recovered, you’ve broken those walls down and now, you’re back on your feet wrestling again like you were never gone. I’m not saying that you should be doing it, but Ryan, we need to do this and capitalise on what we have right now!
Ryan lowered his head, there’s a slight grin on his face hearing the idea once again after all of this time, but he’s not even stepped into the ring yet as an official member of the roster yet, and that’s kind of putting him off of the idea.
RYAN YOUNG: I’m trying to stay away from tag teams right now, after the last time I was in a tag team I trusted with my life in, it didn’t bode so well for me. Though, I’m not saying I wouldn’t trust you - because, come on, you’re my sister after all - but I need to break out as my own person. Not be the person everyone knows for being the cuck of the tag team he’s in. I’m sure you know how many times I’ve heard that phrase being used when I was in LGBTKO.
REBECCA BROOKES: Too many, I would assume.
Ryan raises his eyebrows to the answer that Rebecca gave.
REBECCA BROOKES: But trust me, I know that this’ll work out. You’ve got to have faith in this much like I have faith in this. It’s not something that we’ve got to focus on all the time, it’s a project, it’s something fresh for both of us. I’ve never been with a team before, and we’ve never shared the ring with one another before, so why not have the best of both worlds and get things right. Bring in this new era with a bang, and bring in our team, the team that’ll ascend to the heavens of Next Level Wrestling -- and hopefully, the XHF Network. Can’t you imagine that?
Ryan stands up, as does Rebecca, and places his hand on her shoulder.
RYAN YOUNG: Is this really what you wanted? Like, are you sure you want to do this?
Rebecca looks to Ryan… and gives a supportive nod in his direction. Ryan takes a deep breath and looks down to his feet, before bringing his head back up to look at his younger sister.
RYAN YOUNG: Then let’s try this out then. See how far we’ll come with it. But I need you to focus on yourself, and I focus on my own, but when the time calls for it, I promise this’ll work for both of us. Like you said, yeah?
REBECCA BROOKES: Exactly what I said. Now, we just need a team name, or are we just going to be Rebecca Brookes and Ryan Young?
Ryan goes silent for a moment, thinking to himself.
RYAN YOUNG: How about… The Heritage… I think that’ll work for both of us, right?
REBECCA BROOKES: Yeah, that’ll do. The Heritage. Ryan Young and Rebecca Brookes. This’ll work out perfectly for us. I just know it.
The fist bump that follows is one filled with some kind of emotion, the bond of siblings back together on the same page once again. With the feed soon fading out, and a logo appearing on the screen for everyone to see.
COMING SOON TO NEXT LEVEL WRESTLING
MATCH TWO
G1 TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
Ryan Young vs Waylon Kirk
With two technical high-flyers in the ring, it doesn't take long at all for Ryan Young and Waylon Kirk to pick up the pace. A collar-and-elbow tie-up ends almost as quickly as it begins in favor of Kirk elbowing his way free and whipping Young into the ropes--but unlike Ryan's match with MYŌJIN, the Messiah only manages to dodge the North Carolina native once before Waylon's planting Ryan with a stiff clothesline. Young doesn't stay on the mat for more than a second, but it's obvious by the way he arches a brow at his opponent that he understands that they're going to be playing things like that... and that's exactly what happens. The offensive flurry between the two evenly-matched wrestlers is more smash mouth than pretty, but it's ultimately Ryan's striking chops that give him the edge on Kirk, a well-placed kick landing in Waylon's solar plexus when he springboards off the rope catching the member of the New South mid-air to crash and burn on the canvas. The pinfall that follows just barely makes it to two, but Young keeps the pressure on Kirk, whipping his opponent into the corner before following him and connecting with his corner double knee strike, Waylon being sent to Nirvana in a way that he's not gonna enjoy! The second pinfall attempt of the match ends around two and a half when Kirk kicks out with authority--and while Waylon lets Ryan guide him to a vertical base? Kirk is the one to send Young into the ropes, catching him with a rebound spinning spinebuster that he sticks for a pinfall attempt of his own, Ryan kicking out just before the three!
The fans cheer for the flurry of near-finishes as both men get back to their feet, a smattering of trash-talk exchanged by the two men before they're back at one another's throats. The fans barely have a moment to catch their breath before Ryan, in particular, is turning it up to eleven, his desire for redemption reaching a fever pitch that drives him into hitting every strike with gusto as he drives Waylon back into the ropes--and as soon as Young's got Kirk where he wants him? Ryan attempts an Irish Whip, but Waylon reverses and sends the Messiah into the ropes, Young springboarding off with a roundhouse kick that Kirk barely manages to evade! As Waylon tries to right himself, Ryan lands on his feet and darts behind his opponent, hooking him up for a Dragon suplex before the Messiah sticks the landing for a count of two and a half. Kirk's eyes are a little hazy as he gets to his feet, but Young looks like a shark that's scented blood in the water as he stalks his prey, waiting for just the right moment to send himself into the ropes before roaring at Kirk with his patented bicycle knee strike... but the California Dream never materializes, Waylon evading on instinct! Young lands on his feet and snags Kirk by the wrist, sending him into the ropes--but all Ryan gets for his trouble is a tornado DDT that spikes his head into the mat! Waylon quickly goes to the outside before springboarding back in with a frog splash, the Bullfrog Splash connecting fully! The three-count that follows is academic, the win secured by Waylon after a hard-fought bout.
[WINNER: Waylon Kirk Via Bullfrog Splash at 09:01]
We fade back to the inside of the ring where BB Gunn stands by with a microphone in hand, with a massive wall of security standing right behind him, as he raises the microphone up to his mouth to greet the crowd in New Orleans tonight.
BB GUNN: Ladies and gentlemen, it’s no secret that backstage of the last Ascendancy show went haywire and became a chaotic mess for a lot of us, with a certain someone who’s competing tomorrow night having his thoughts put into one of his former students and attacking him unprovokingly, and I feel the need to know what’s been going on with these two. I know you see the wall of security behind me and I know you’ll expect a massive fight to break out but not tonight, when we’re meant to be presenting ourselves to the XHF Network as a whole.
The crowd within New Orleans gives a slight boo to the disappointment of no fight breaking out.
BB GUNN: So please join me in welcoming one side of this party, he is one of the originals here to Next Level Wrestling - this is Scott Hampton!
‘33rd Blakk Glass’ plays out through the speakers and Scott Hampton walks through the curtains, nobody by his side as he continues his slow walk towards the ring, staring up at Gunn as he soon enters the ring. Still tweaking the ankle that Jason Long seemingly injured after the last showing of Next Level Wrestling.
BB GUNN: I know that yourself, Scott, felt as if you were robbed two weeks ago when you were suddenly attacked just twenty-four hours before your match with Aiden Merric. Although you didn’t win, you still proved a lot of people wrong when they said that you wouldn’t put in a good fight and a good showing-
Scott soon takes the microphone out of Gunn’s hand and walks back to lean against the ropes.
SCOTT HAMPTON: My apologies, Gunn, but I have become a very impatient man and I’ve been waiting all night long to see if Jason Long would show that ugly square-headed face around here. I want him out here right now so I could tell him face to face what he did to me and what he robbed me of.
Gunn mouths something towards Scott’s direction, and whatever it was, it lit a fuse within The Best Kept Secret.
SCOTT HAMPTON: I don’t get it, Gunn. You’ve been holding him back in case something breaks out again, like it has in the past, but may I remind you of what he did to me just two weeks ago in my own locker room where I wasn’t even ready to compete for. He locked my leg in a Heel Hook and almost… ALMOST… put me out of commission for a long time if it weren’t for security arriving later than usual and pulling him away from me. I had on-stand doctors for the XHF ask me if I wanted to pull out of the match because they were worrying about if I could stand up and be able to move around like I normally would.
BB GUNN: (off-mic) I know, mate. I know.
SCOTT HAMPTON: If it weren’t for Jason Long’s attack two weeks ago, I wouldn’t be standing here whining and complaining about him costing me the match now, would I? I would be already heading to Night of Champions and not even showing up here in person like some dumb idiot pulling double duty. I could have even been walking into the next show as the brand new XHF X*Crown Champion right now -- but here we are. Still trembling if enough weight is put onto it. When are you going to do something about it, Gunn? If anything, and if I were to be in charge, he’d never be allowed back into this building or around this company ever again. How many more times are you going to allow him back because he’s got a name value that’s as minimalistic as Jabroni’s winning record?
Gunn, for the most part, just stares right into Hampton’s eyes before stepping closer and closer to take the microphone from him, before taking a few steps back and allowing the wall of security to build the wall between Hampton and Gunn.
BB GUNN: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the AWF Hall of Famer, the former XHF X*Crown Champion and the current Project: Honor Prime and Noble Champion… JASON!... LOOOOOONGGGG!!!!!
‘Kingslayer’ hits the speakers and the curtain opens up wide for the arrival of The King, dressed to the nines in his finest of suits as he makes his way down to the ring, entering the side where Gunn stands and behind the wall that holds him back from Hampton. The music soon fades away and Jason stares right at Hampton from behind the wall of security with a cocky smile on his face. Gunn soon steps out to the ring apron so he could be in a close distance away from anything going wrong.
BB GUNN: Now, Jason. You’ve had time to listen to what Hampton thinks about your attack, but here, I want you to explain for your actions that caused what went down to happen. In your own words, of course, nothing here is going to be formal considering what Hampton has already said.
Jason soon takes the microphone from Gunn and walks around his space, trying to get the crowd pumped up as Hampton watches with a keen eye, still leaning back against the ropes.
JASON LONG: Let me explain this to you, Scott. I’ve always respected you as a student. I’ve always found you to be an amazing student of mine, and one I thought would be a great addition to any company that would sign him. I thought I achieved that with you. A successful, athletic, and dominant professional wrestler - and to think that I once called you the heir to my throne before my own flesh and blood - that’s how much hope I had for you.
The King would then sigh.
JASON LONG: There was a point in time when you wanted to be what you have become today, and I talked you out of it because I know that you wouldn’t benefit from it at all, because in my own mind, it just wasn’t what you represented and it wasn’t who you were. I knew that you’d try to break free from the shackles that you supposedly were held back by - and that’s when I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop what you tried to become - but you did it at such a horrible time that it made me think that all of the anger was towards me. Then, you attacked me, and then you made it personal with myself and Savannah. The more you did it, the more I began to have my blood boiling. And it made me realise that I needed to beat it out of you if I wanted to make you see what I could see.
Jason would then walk to the ropes and lean back on them, much like what Scott Hampton is doing right now.
JASON LONG: I sat there and I accepted that I could not put my hands on you. I sat there and called it down the middle for you when you beat Savannah at Hostile Intent, and when that final bell rung, I knew that I never put my hands on you. So, in that instance, I got my match with you that Gunn was going to provide me. Then it never produced because of Joe Blow and all of that bullshit. But now, I’ve come to collect my prize and my trophy for all of this… is your fucking head for all of the shit you’ve given me and those around me.
The crowd absolutely erupts at the idea produced by The King.
JASON LONG: Because I need to beat the fucking respect back into you. I need to beat the fucking respect back into what I used to know as Scott Hampton, the heir to my throne, but now thinks he’s ‘invincible’ and he’s ‘the best kept secret’ -- it’s funny, because I remember when I was the best kept secret back in 2018, Scott. Nice to know you still follow in my footsteps enough to take what used to be my old nickname. And it’s even funnier, because with me, I would have made sure that the best kept secret is you- I’d have made it known by now if you just stayed by my side. You did this to yourself because you wanted to act tough, Scott. Don’t blame any of this on me. This is all about your wrongdoings. Not mine.
Jason soon passes the microphone and Hampton walks over to take the microphone out of his hand, walking back to where he once stood and staring right into the eyes of Jason Long.
SCOTT HAMPTON: Haven’t you been paying attention, Jason? Haven’t you been paying attention that without your support, I’ve become something better than what I used to be. I have become something more than just a young rookie who has ambitions of making his mentor proud of him. Once I began to focus on the real goals in life, I knew what I wanted to do. I knew what I needed to do, and I succeeded in that, and now I’m right here where I am. I’ve gone for the contendership of the X*Crown when they never even gave me the chance for any of the Next Level Wrestling championships before. I’ve got that power, Jason. And I know I’ll be facing you before I even think of pulling the trigger on facing any of the champions, so Gunn, get down to the details of why we’re here and announce what he’s been asking for. The poor boy’s been begging for the spotlight on himself.
Gunn is handed back the microphone by Hampton as Gunn clears his throat.
BB GUNN: Well then, if you insist, Scott. We will be having a match between you two and it will be happening very soon, at the next pay-per-view of ours called Collision Course, and it will host Scott Hampton taking on Jason Long. But here’s the twist with this, gentlemen. In two weeks, I’ll be asking for both of you to come back into this ring, and you’ll be signing the contract for the match. At the current situation, I cannot hold this company responsible for what happens between the two of you. I really cannot. So, at Collision Course, gentlemen. You’ll be getting your wishes. You’ll be fighting for your lives. And whatever happens will be on your own. Not caused by Next Level Wrestling.
Gunn pauses for a moment, of course, for dramatic effect.
BB GUNN: Because your match at Collision Course will be an Unsanctioned Match. I’ll see you two in two weeks.
Gunn drops the microphone as Jason smiles at the announcement, rolling out of the ring whilst Scott is giving off a look of concern, knowing how ultraviolent that Jason can be heading into such a match like that. The feed soon fades into a commercial break for Night of Champions Twelve tomorrow night.
MATCH THREE
G1 TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
Big Bone vs Adam Sanders
The bell rings... and instead of the match beginning with a collar-and-elbow tie-up? It instead starts with a handshake, Adam Sanders extending his hand before Big Bone nods and takes it, the handshake brief before their hands part. That is where the collar-and-elbow tie-up takes place, a brief struggle for dominance happening thanks to Bone's weight advantage colliding with Sanders' strength advantage. The latter wins out ultimately, forcing Big Bone into the ropes before he's Irish Whipping the luchador across the ring, Adam goes for a clothesline, but Big Bone ducks under it--and on the rebound, Esqueleto de Gran Fiesta is nimbly diving over the ducked Awkward One before rebounding off the ropes for a third time and bulldogging Adam's head into the canvas! Such is the beginning of a brief run of offense for Big Bone, the pace kept too quick for Sanders to manage to get so much as a chop in edgewise--and on one fateful attempt? Instead of dodging, Bone catches Adam's hand, the arena going silent at the luchador's motioning... before a Finger Snap echoes throughout the arena, Wishbone leaving Sanders howling in pain! The quick roll-up that follows from Big Bone is quickly reversed by Sanders, the former AWF Prestige Champion getting a two count before the luchador kicks out!
Big Bone wags his finger in bemusement at Sanders once both men are back on their feet, the Awkward One taking it as an invitation to grab Esqueleto de Gran Fiesta's digit--but instead of returning finger snap fire? Sanders kicks Big Bone in the stomach before hauling him in and lifting the bigger man skyward before power bombing him to the canvas, Nerd Out connecting with ring-shaking force! Going for the pinfall, Bone kicks out at two, though it's obvious that the air has been driven out of the fun-loving luchador. Sanders maintains control after that, putting down any attempt that Big Bone makes to get momentum going. The fans are evenly split between supporting both men, even if Mono Despiadado does their best to sway support in the favor of their client. Unsatisfied when that does not happen, the pissed-off primate waits for the right moment to intervene... right as Sanders has Big Bone up on his shoulders, preparing to connect with his version of the Death Valley Driver. Jumping onto the apron, Mono snags Big Bone by the foot, throwing his weight backward to help the luchador get free--and before Adam can react? Big Bone is seizing the opportunity by instinct alone, lifting Sanders up before drilling him into the mat with his Fireman's Carry Snapmare Driver, Rattlin' Bones connecting! Collapsing atop the Awkward one, Esqueleto de Gran Fiesta gets the three count soon after, the crowd giving a mixed response at how the bout came to an end.
[WINNER: Big Bone Via Rattlin' Bones at 08:37]
We cut backstage and Kelly Ross is standing by, monitor over her shoulder.
Kelly Ross: Ladies and gentleman, I’m Kelly Ross and I’m here to do a special preview of tomorrow night’s Network special: Night Of Champions XII! Joining me for this preview is somebody who will be in action tomorrow night, NLW’s own Riley Richards!
Riley walks on screen, a microphone of his own in hand and stands the other side of the monitor.
Riley Richards: Hey Kelly, thanks for having me, hey NLW fans!
Kelly smiles, Riley as always looks a little lost at being on the big stage, so she rightly leads the conversation.
Kelly Ross: Great to have you here Riley, we’ll talk a little bit about your match a bit later on, but for now, let’s run through the other matches on the card…
The first graphic appears on the screen between them…
Riley Richards: So first up we have the XHF Phoenix Title match, Greg Atkins, who I’m pretty sure is Joe Blow’s cousin or something, takes on Redmond Fury. It’s a Prestige Class Rules match, which means they have to be a little nicer to each other or something…which I think puts Atkins at a disadvantage.
Kelly Ross: This may be the last time the title is defended, with the AWF closing it’s doors, the future of the title is unknown, so both men have a chance at making a little history for themselves.
Kelly Ross: Speaking of history, we will crown the first ever XHF Trios Champions, will it be the Revenants? Team Fairtex and Psychotic Goth? The KGB? Or The Bastards?
Riley Richards: I…I don’t know Kelly.
Kelly Ross: That was rhetorical Riley.
Riley blushes.
Riley Richards: Oh, okay!
Kelly Ross: We also have the XHF Women’s Championship being defended, Momoko Honda takes on Hannah Rockford, the division has thrived in J-ROK, and Honda has held the title since March, having beaten Bodhi, this will be a stern test against Rockford.
Riley Richards: The XHF Tag Team Championships will also be defended, The Hellhounds are the latest to challenge the BANG! Bros…wait, I thought it was the Unique Stud Alliance? What happened to Donny?
Kelly Ross: He was…replaced, Riley. Steve Awesome has taken his place, Curtis Kanyon is still the other half of the team however and-
Riley Richards: Another freebird change? Man, that’s been one helpful mechanic down the years, hasn’t it?
Kelly doesn’t quite know what to say, instead she opts to move on before too much of the curtain is pulled back.
Kelly Ross: The XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship continues it’s touring, and current Champion Bloodied Fox, who has also been champion since March, takes on El Combatiente in a LEGO Minefield match.
Riley Richards: A LEGO what? No thanks, it was bad enough when I was a kid waking up one morning and accidentally stepping on my half built race car…I always tidied my room better after that…
Kelly sighs, and moves on.
Kelly Ross: Finally, the main event sees MYOJIN, who we saw in action tonight as part of the G1, take on Nelly Angel, Spike Kane, Aiden Merric, D, Oxford Osland and Adrien Cochrane. Riley, who are you picking out of those guys?
Riley Richards: Ah Kelly you can’t put me on the spot like that.
Kelly Ross: Riley, you knew I was going to ask you this, we discussed it before we went on air.
Riley Richards: We did? My bad. Uhhh well, all of them deserve to be there, but who would I pick? I’d probably say Spike Kane, that dude is meant to be dead or something, I don’t care what type of match it is, if he’s an actual zombie like I reckon he may be, then you’re going to need a gun or knife to stop him, and that’s not allowed in this match…is it?
Kell shakes her head.
Riley Richards: Then yeah, I pick Spike Kane.
Kelly sighs again, the words “give me strength” leave her lips but are said in no more than a whisper, and the final graphic appears on the monitor.
Kelly Ross: So, circling back to your match, Riley you have an opportunity to win the XHF European Championship, how are you feeling?
Riley Richards: You know Kelly, I’m just excited now, all these guys are tough competitors, all of these guys are there on merit. That said, I’m going to make sure that Tommy Kelly, Wellington Dunne, Jason Long, Solomon Graham and the mystery entrant all know that they’ve been in a fight. But don’t get confused, I’m there to win, not just make up the numbers.
Kelly Ross: Mystery entrant? You mean Zoran?
Riley Richards: Excuse me?
Kelly Ross: Zoran Sainovic…he’s the mystery entrant, he revealed himself about two days ao.
Riley’s face freezes.
Riley Richards: Z-Zoran? Isn’t he the guy that stabs people?
Kelly Ross: He’s…been known to do that yes.
Riley Richards: And I’m in a match with him…where weapons are allowed?
Kelly goes to speak but it’s apparent that Riley was being rhetorical.
Riley Richards: Kelly I have to go…sit down somewhere…and maybe buy some body armor…I’ll…I’ll see you later.
The suddenly pale Riley Richards wanders off, mouth open. Kelly watches him leave and re-composes herself, before smiling broadly at the camera.
Kelly Ross: And that’s our special preview into tomorrow night’s Night of Champions XII, we hope you enjoy the show, but for now, back to ringside!
MATCH FOUR
G1 TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
El Rey vs Ricardo Goon
In stark contrast to how the previous match began, Ricardo Goon is jaw-jacking at El Rey even before the match begins--and once the bell rings? The disrespect from the younger Goon is only ramping up, the larger man smirking as his opponent glares daggers at him. Ric's mouth is only able to run for a few more seconds before El Rey is roaring across the ring, using his speed to connect soundly with a stiff forearm to Goon's mush that knocks him into the ropes and has the crowd cheering, clearly choosing ER as their favorite for this clash of rudos! This warm reception catches El Rey off-guard, his pause just long enough for Ric to recover and swing back at ER--but Rey slides beneath it, springboarding off the ropes to catch Goon with a forearm that knocks him off his feet! The pinfall attempt that follows only makes it to one, setting Goon off into a new fit of anger that has him taking full advantage of his size and strength advantage to slow the pace of the match down. At one point, El Rey just about gets the speed of the match back in his favor... but all it takes to bring that to an end is Ric catching him with a powerslam that shakes the ring when it connects, a two-count following shortly thereafter. It's a testament to how strongly the fans dislike Goon that they begin rallying behind Rey, trying to imbue him with their support--and when Goon catches wind of it and starts cussing out the crowd? The flash schoolboy from El Rey very nearly catches Ric napping, Goon kicking out at two and three quarters!
Having very nearly lost in such a fashion, to say that Ric loses his shit is a little bit of an understatement. The brutality he unleashes begins with Goon literally just--hurling El Rey across the ring into one of the turnbuckles before charging in with a big splash that sends Rey stumbling forward to collapse near the middle of the ring. Rolling ER over, Goon takes to the high rent district, trash-talking even as he leaps off the top rope for a diving headbutt... but at the last moment, El Rey rolls out of the way, leaving Ric to eat the mat! Both men remain down on the mat as the referee counts them both, the crowd once again rallying behind El Rey as he slowly makes his way to his feet before Ric can do the same, the youngster quickly ascending the turnbuckle to the top rope as Goon rolls onto his back. Launching himself off of it, El Rey begins the rotations needed for his 630 senton--but Ric gets his knees up early enough for him to correct himself, landing on his feet as Ric gets up, clearly displeased at his game of playing possum not working. El Rey runs himself into the ropes to gather momentum, ducking under the clothesline attempt... but when he rebounds back? Ric catches him in a pop-up powerbomb, Troy connecting with gusto! The heat is absolutely nuclear as Ric gets the three-count, Group B block ending with Ricardo Goon cruising into the semi-finals.
[WINNER: Ricardo Goon Via Troy at 09:07]
The scene changes from ringside to a shot of an old wartime people transporter, viewed from the POV of someone at the front of the boat. They turn around and we see “Disco Boy” Johnny B, Noel Edmonds, and Mr Blobby dressed in army fatigues. Blobby has even gone to the lengths of having what look to be bullets across his chest.
‘LOCATION: THE ENGLISH CHANNEL...SOMEWHERE OFF THE COAST OF NORMANDY’
The curiosity of what the bullets are is soon solved as Blobby rips one in half and snorts the first half, his eyes grow huge.
“Disco Boy” Johny B (resigned): Oh no…
The second half disappears up his nostril quicker than a fed by Christian hits the wall.
“Disco Boy” Johny B: That’s his FIFTH ONE!
Noel Edmonds: If we’d only taken a plane…he can’t be without his sherbert dib-dabs...
“Disco Boy” Johny B: If Jabroni hadn’t had turned up at my parents asking where Carson the Butler was and heckling the church organist for the Downton Abbey theme…
Mr. Blobby (rage-filled): BLOOOOOOOBBBBBYYYYY!!!!!
A voice comes from behind the Go-Pro.
Al Jabroni: Look! It’s simple, we get in, we scout the location for my next film, we get out!
Noel Edmonds: Do you think it’s TOO subtle for ‘your’ type of films?
Al Jabroni: It’s simple, ‘The D-Day’. People’ll think it’s historic and shit. You either get the reference or you don’t, either way - you pay!
“Disco Boy” Johny B: And this was better than wrestling school how?
Jabroni spins back around as the beach is in-sight. A horde of angry cheese-eating surrender monkeys are lined up on the beach. The adults hold signs and pitchforks, some hold signs of pitchforks. The children though, they’ve become the archers.
Noel Edmonds: Have those children got...sling-shots?
“Disco Boy” Johny B (sighing): Well, this is payback for Agincourt…
The transporter stops and the trap drops down. Blobby invokes the spirit of a Nam veteran possessed and charges to the front.
Mr. Blobby: BLOOOOBBBYYYY!!!!
The camera cuts to a shot from the ocean, the frame-rate slows down as ‘Adagio for Strings’ starts to play in the background, the only other sound is the projectiles cutting through the air. We see the ‘missiles’ hit the surface of the water and follow the trail underneath the swoll of the sea.
Noel Edmonds: Blobby! Wait!!
The bearded midget of 90’s UK light-entertainment is too late though. Blobby is cut down by a ‘bullet’. Then another takes a knee away and he sinks into the water. A red colouring tints the surface. Underneath we see it is coming from Blobby who tries in vain to snap open yet another sherbert dib-dab only to see the water brush it away in a mist.
Mr. Blobby (gurgling): Blobby?
“Disco Boy” Johny B: Is he bleeding!?!
“Disco Boy” Johnny B looks panicked but Edmonds is quick to comfort him.
Noel Edmonds: It’s what happens when he gets wet, nothing to be alarmed!
“Disco Boy” Johny B: So it’s from his suit?
Noel Edmonds: His suit! What suit?!?
“Disco Boy” Johny B looks resigned as if this isn’t the weirdest situation he has found himself in since last year. It’s barely the weirdest situation since lunchtime.
Al Jabroni: MEN! HEAD FOR THE HEDGEHOGS!!!!
“Disco Boy” Johny B (to Edmonds): He means the metal crosses.
Al Jabroni: We need to distract them, use the pamphlets I gave you!
Jabroni quickly pulls up Blobby who is grabbing at his chest as if shot.
Noel Edmonds: The paper packets have been breached. He’s going to go rogue!
The four ‘men’ charge towards the metal crosses. They duck behind as the cameraman follows in vain.
*BOOM!!*
The cameraman’s feed goes airborne and when he lands he sees what was his leg a couple of metres away from him.
Cameraman: THERE’S STILL LIVE MINES!!!
“Disco Boy” Johny B: AL! IT’S TOO DANGEROUS!!! THEY HAVE LAND MINES!
Al Jabroni (distracted): Yes, I know - land mines. No time to update their TripAdvisor page...men, man your weapons.
All four men undo their rucksacks and pull out pamphlets (paper really) which have headlines and propaganda such as:
‘YOUR MOTHER IS A HAMSTER’
‘HOW TO USE SOAP’
‘HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF GILLETTE? WAIT UNTIL YOUR HUSBAND HERE’S THIS!’
‘DID YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF TAXATION IN MAINLAND EUROPE? NO WONDER GERARD DEPARDIEU LEFT!’
Noel Edmonds: Do you not think these are outdated? I mean really?
Al Jabroni ponders the question momentarily.
Al Jabroni: They won’t know. Trust me. INFANTRY ON FIVE….FIVE!!
The foursome throw the leaflets up in the air. The French welcome committee rush to pick them up.
Frenchman: The English and Americans, they come here and they litter!
Frenchman #2: They probably think they’re in Margate.
Frenchman: Highest tax-rate in Europe...it’s Finland, Denmark and Austria...and that’s if you don’t have a good accountant.
Frenchman #2: CHILDREN!
The cameras cut back to the ‘invaders’.
“Disco Boy” Johny B: SHIT!
Al Jabroni: Move to second position!
They reach in their bags once more and this time start to crumple up the paper.
Al Jabroni: And….FIRE!!!
They launch a barrage of further littering.
Frenchman #2: I THINK I HAVE A PAPERCUT ON MY EYE!
Jabroni is keen to keep up the momentum as the crowd back off slightly.
Al Jabroni: COMMENCE GRAPE SHOT!
All four men pick up the pebbles on the beach and launch them at the crowd!
Crowd: OW!!!!
Al Jabroni: Switch to close-combat weapons...AND CHARGE!!
The four men rush the crowd and let loose with handfuls of sand which clears a path.
Al Jabroni: QUICK! A BUNKER, SHELTER!!
Edmonds, Disco Boy and Jabroni are free but they turn back and Blobby has been restrained.
Noel Edmonds: Use the smoke bomb!
Blobby, having no smoke bomb improvises. He grabs at his chest! The slightly damp powder explodes from the leftover packets.
Frenchman: MY EYE! IT’S SHERBERT, I CAN’T SEE! … I HAVE LESS VISION THAN A WILD CAFF!!
Breaking free, the pink and yellow monster rushes to join them but recoils as he sees the bunker, it has sandbags all around.
“Disco Boy” Johny B: Noel! Why won’t he come?!?
Al Jabroni: BB Gunn warned me about this!
“Disco Boy” Johny B: BB Gunn? What did he say?
Al Jabroni: He said Blobby HATES sandbags...at least it sounded like Blobby, who else could he mean?
The scene freezes as the four men face down the advancing French crowd.
MATCH FIVE
G1 TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND
Felix vs MYOJIN
Felix is always stoic and intense, but he seems to have found a new level as he faces down the X*Crown Champion. MYŌJIN seems pleased with this, and rather than beginning with a handshake? The two competitors bow to one another respectfully before circling each other, sizing one another up. It doesn't take long for chain wrestling to ensue, champion and rookie exchanging holds rapid-fire. Some holds most wrestling fans recognize like side headlocks or headscissors, but for a second there they seem to both be judoka, either gripping and throwing each other in new and exotic ways, but neither stays down long, both knowing they can't afford to stay down long enough to get into trouble. Things take a turn when Felix stays still long enough for MYŌJIN to surprise him with a Harai Goshi takedown, then cinches in a Rear Naked Choke, and Felix's promise is put to the test. He grits his teeth and starts turning red, but fights through, pulling himself to the ropes for a break. The X*Crown Champion allows the break as Felix favors his neck visibly. The next few minutes is a concentrated assault on Felix's neck, with headlocks and leaping enzuigiris and even a FIgure Four Stump Puller at one point, but no matter what Felix endures, he fights to get out or retaliate. He finally gets an opening when MYŌJIN tries to take his head off with a Rider Kick, but Felix slides under, and the Shining Star lands awkwardly, leaving Felix open to start going wild with a flurry of Tiger Claw strikes to the body and head, each one pushing MYŌJIN backwards more and more. Felix maneuvers them into a corner and unleashes a flurry of more Tiger Claws, adding in knife edge chops. MYŌJIN tries to shrink away to escape the relentless assault, but Felix strikes with a buzzsaw kick, still in the corner, when MYŌJIN's head is between the top and middle turnbuckles. Felix pulls MYŌJIN away from the ropes to try a pin, but only gets two!
Felix is visibly tired, but his expression has not lost any of the intensity the crowd has come to expect and MYŌJIN explicitly asked for. As the fans loudly cheer on both men, they slowly get to their feet--a momentary pause in the action taken for a very brief conversation that no one can make out for sure, but the nod the men share makes it clear that the respect very much so remains before they collide in the middle of the ring anew. Felix is running on fumes by now, and the Shining Star isn't faring much better, though the latter's experience allows them to seize a tiny opportunity to capitalize on, the X*Crown Champion tangling the rookie's legs up with his own in a flurry of twists and turns of their body until the Imanari Roll is cinched in, Felix screaming as he gets ensnared in Orion! It's obvious the submission hold is an agonizing one, MYŌJIN showing no mercy in how they wrench on the hold with all their might in the middle of the ring. Felix is in No Man's Land and both he and the fans know it, the crowd cheering both Felix's show of guts and the Shining Star's refusal to release the hold. Gritting his teeth and fighting through the pain, Felix falls back for a moment--but it becomes clear that he does so to work up momentum, instinct driving him forward to shift his weight to rock MYŌJIN back onto his shoulders and plants his foot as best as he can, the ref only able to slide into position quickly thanks to how closely he has been monitoring the situation. The entanglement of limbs winds up being the mistake that costs MYŌJIN a perfect record, the Shining Star unable to kick out in time to keep the biggest upset of the G1 from happening!
[WINNER: Felix Via Reversal at 12:42]
MATCH SIX
NLW SOUTHERN STATES CHAMPIONSHIP - NEW ORLEANS STREET FIGHT
Graham Baker (c) vs Lazarus Arjen vs David Goon
Before the match started, a number of weapons were placed around the ring by NLW crew, which all three men on their ring entrance would take the time to examine before entering the ring. It was pretty clear they’d want to use as many of these to gain an advantage. Surprisingly, none of the three men brought any of these weapons to the ring with them, nor did they force the match to start earlier than planned, which given how volatile they are made for quite a shock. Whilst this was probably a relief to BB Gunn, it didn’t take away from the fact that all three men were champing at the bit as they stood in the ring, awaiting the opening bell. In fact as the bell rang it appeared that all bets were off, and Baker and Goon immediately started brawling. Arjen on the other hand acted like he was on fire, stopping, dropping and rolling out of the ring, he made a beeline for the nearest available steel chair. Goon and the incumbent champion Baker didn’t care, there was enough unfinished business here. Perhaps Baker should have cared a bit more however, as Arjen promptly returned and smashed the chair on his back, which proved effective in breaking up the fight he and David Goon were having. Arjen smashed the chair a second time on Bakers back and he dropped to his knees. Goon looked at Lazarus and wasn’t willing to suffer the same fate, and promptly took Arjen down with a spear, mounting The Violent Artist and putting rights into the side of his skull.
The Champion, Baker, slowly got back to his feet as Goon was going in on Arjen and saw the chair lying next to them, he didn’t hesitate to pick it up and slam it across Goon’s back, before throwing the older Goon brother over the top rope so he could focus on Lazarus. Arjen was back on his feet, shaking the cobwebs out from the right hands. Baker didn’t allow any time to adjust and booted him in the gut, following up with a double underhook suplex. He stood up and scanned the ring floor, perhaps checking for David Goon, or perhaps deciding which weapon to collect. He was unable to go any further with this however as David goon was back in the ring, and smashed a kendo stick across his back to subdue him, and then cracked it so hard on his head that not only caused an impact cut to appear down his forehead but it snapped the stick in half. The shot also sent Baker crumpling to the mat, and rolling out of the ring to protect himself from further damage.
David Goon still held onto the half of the kendo stick that he was holding, and approached the fallen Arjen who had got back to one knee, he forced the stock across his face in a sleeper type hold and wrenched at him, Arjen was quick to sense the danger though and reached back, delivering a snapmare to release the hold. Goon scrambled back to his feet and charged Arjen back down, planting a boot in his face before Arjen could fully recover. Goon then picked Arjen to his feet and launched him over the top rope, Arjen held on and landed on the apron however, and goon went to finish the job but got a punch in the face for his efforts, Arjen grabbed Goon and hit a vertical suplex to the outside, where a table was lurking, sending Goon crashing through it!
Arjen rose from the rubble of the table and looked around for another weapon, Graham Baker however had collected a baseball bat, and when Lazarus turned around Baker swung hard into his gut, Arjen doubled over and went to the floor, the impact seemingly winding him. Baker then turned his attention to Goon, who was crawling out of the broken table. He followed him like a predator, he started to wind up as Goon reached the steel steps to get to his feet, but just as he was about to strike he turned ninety degrees and instead swung into the gut of the onrushing Ricardo Goon, who had ran out from the back and was clearly willing to take one for the team. This distraction was enough to allow David Goon hit a superkick and take the champion down.
Goon shook his head, perhaps still groggy from being put through the table, he looked around and approached a member of the audience, he asked for, and was given their Mardi Gras beads. Goon produced a twisted smile he approached the champion and wrapped the beads around his neck, choking him almost to the point of unconsciousness, the only thing that stopped him was Arjen arriving on the scene with a fire extinguisher, firing it at Goon and forcing him to stumble back and fall against the steel steps. Arjen threw the extinguisher to one side and looked for a knee strike, but Goon dived out of the way sending Arjen crashing and burning.
All three men were down but at least stirring, and instinctively they crawled either towards or into the ring, Baker was in first, and wasn’t empty handed, he brought and set up a table, Arjen was next to make it to the ring, curiously though David Goon had collected something off his brother who wasn’t fairing too well from the ball bat shot he took earlier…it was a steel pipe, the same that Goon had used to take Joshua Darkwood out two weeks’ ago. Baker and Arjen in the meantime had sized each other back up and were trading punches. Arjen went for a kick but Baker caught his foot, and spun him around, Arjen went a whole 360 and ate a Bastard Surprise [bicycle big boot], the champion made the cover but Goon broke it up. Goon told Baker to get up, the pipe elevated in his hand, ready to strike, Baker got up and turned around, but he saw the pipe and ducked past the shot, Goon turned around having missed and was doubled over from a stiff boot from baker, who proceeded to hit a bucklebomb on the former champion, who released the pipe from his grip.
Goon was down on the apron, Arjen was stirring and Baker was on one knee, looking for his second wind. He saw Arjen getting to his feet and looked to take him out with the Half Life Bomber [running pumper bomber lariat], Arjen ducked and lifted him up in an electric chair drop position, before driving the champion through the table with the L.D. 50 [assault driver], Arjen made the cover and looked to be the new champion, but suddenly the pin was broken up by David Goon, who had ascended the top rope and hit Cielo Alto [leaping frog splash] onto the two men!
Goon rolled away to the ropes, where he started demanding something from his brother, who was just about recovered from earlier, Ricardo went under the ring and produced a cinderblock, which drew gasps from the crowd and a lot of concern from Dan Simmons on commentary. He passed it to his brother who got back to his feet and lifted it high above his head. Graham Baker was down and quite possibly out, but Lazarus Arjen was stirring once again, Goon smirked and watched him get up to his feet, and as Arjen turned around he marched towards him, looking to finish not only the match put possibly his opponent’s career. Arjen realised what was happening and dive-rolled away, he instinctively grabbed the steel pipe and Goon turned around, block still high above his head, and Arjen slammed the pipe right between the eyes. Goon went down like a felled tree, blood immediately drawn, Arjen made the cover and with Baker barely moving…he got the three!
[WINNER AND NEW NLW SOUTHERN STATES CHAMPION: Lazarus Arjen Via Steel Pipe at 18:11]
We head to the office of General Manager BB Gunn, who is sat smiling behind his desk, a familiar sight perhaps, but he looks particularly pleased with himself.
BB Gunn: Well folks, that’s all the round-robin matches for G1 in the books, and what a few weeks it has been. Twelve matches, none of them failed to disappoint, I was certainly entertained and I hope you all were too. Of course, the G1 doesn’t stop there, oh no! Let’s take a look at the standings from the group rounds…
![[INSERT FINAL GRAPHICS HERE]](https://ephemeral-echoes.net/NLW/G1/GroupARound3.png)
BB Gunn: So in Group A, unfortunately despite that majorly impressive win, Felix is eliminated along with Ryan Young, who made a great showing as well. As you can see, MYŌJIN and Waylon Kirk tied on four points, but because MYŌJIN beat Kirk when they went head to head, he is the winner of the group, and Waylon Kirk will go through as runner up to face the winner of Group B which is of course Ricardo Goon, who impressively won all three of his matches. Joining Ricardo and facing MYŌJIN is...Wait a minute...
Gunn looks a bit harder at the table, and checks his notes in front of him.
BB Gunn: So all three of them are on two points...and they all beat each other...so there's no head to head advantage...well...shit.
He thinks a bit more, I think it's safe to say this was not planned.
BB Gunn: Aha! I know!
He slaps both hands on the table and grins.
BB Gunn: Since there's no easy way to split the three of you, El Rey, Adam Sanders, Big Bone, get yourselves down to the ring right now, we're going to settle this with a triple threat, sudden death match, winner progresses to the semi finals!
Dan Simmons: Well that's one way to do it!
Tommy West: You mean I have to keep an eye for that damn blue monkey again?
Dan Simmons: You should be more excited that we're getting such a big impromptu match, Tommy!
Tommy West: I'd be more excited if that damn blue monkey wasn't around. you know he stole my wallet once?
Dan Simmons: So you say, partner...so you say.
MATCH SEVEN
G1 ROUND 1 ELIMINATOR
El Rey vs Big Bone vs Adam Sanders
All three men had hurried out under the instruction of BB Gunn, but honestly they looked a little tired. Big Bone and Adam Sanders, having already been at it once tonight, seemingly wanted to go again for round two, and went straight for each other, perhaps Sanders feeling he wanted to make amends. This suited El Rey, who stood back and let the other two go after each other whilst he could continue to recover from his loss to Ricardo Goon. Sanders and Big Bone caught wise to this pretty quickly, especially when El Rey took a pot shot at Big Bone whilst he was attempting a suplex attempt on The Awkward One. They decided to put their differences aside and go to work on El Rey, trading shots before a dropkick from Big Bone put El Rey in Sanders’ path, and he planted him with a spinebuster. El Rey rolled away and this allowed Big Bone and Sanders to continue their battle. Sanders managed to gain an advantage following a failed Bonesaw attempt from Big Bone, Sanders replied by hitting a Lightning Strike superkick which earned a two count. Sanders was keeping an eye out for Mono Despiadado after his earlier antics, however it was El Rey who he should have been looking for, who surprised him with a springboard DDT.
El Rey then went after Big Bone, using his array of speed based attacks to subdue the luchador. Big Bone wasn’t going to let him have it all his own way however, and as El Rey went for a hurricanrana, Bone halted the momentum, lifting him back and dropping him with a powerbomb! Bone stumbled back a few steps on impact, what he didn’t expect was for Sanders to be back on the turnbuckle, he turned and was hit with Flight of The Dragonite, which sent him rolling to the apron for solace.
Sanders looked at the fallen El Rey and dragged him to his feet, he went for This is Awkward but El Rey dropped behind and caught Sanders cold, hitting Xed Out but only getting a two count. Rey got back to his feet, but before he could do any further damage to The Awkward One, he was spun around by a returning Big Bone, who hit him with a Bonesaw for a cover and two count. Big Bone picked Sanders up and tossed him over the top rope, giving Sanders a second visit to the floor below. He turned back to El Rey who was slowly getting to his feet and went for a bicycle kick but Rey avoided it, and put a boot into the Esqueleto de Gran Fiesta’s gut, and looked for the Society Killer, Big Bone powered out, hitting a back body drop and as El Rey scrambled back to his feet, he hit Rattlin’ Bones. He started a cover, but Adam Sanders intervened, diving in at two and a half to break the count. Sanders gave the luchador a taste of his own medicine, throwing him over the top rope, he bundled El Rey back to his feet and hit This is Awkward for good measure, making the cover and despite Big Bone getting close, he couldn’t stop the three count, meaning Adam Sander was advancing to the G1 semi finals!
[Winner: Adam Sanders via This is Awkward at 07:22]
We shift back to BB Gunn's office.
BB Gunn: Well, I'm glad that's sorted! So in two week's time, our semi finals will be MYŌJIN taking on Adam Sanders and two old enemies clash once more as Ricardo Goon takes on Waylon Kirk!
He nods in approval before shifting gear.
BB Gunn: Now whilst summer may be in full swing, I’m starting to look at the fall, in part because we’re approaching the first full year of being Next Level, but also because in these nine months, we’ve started to attract, let’s say…bigger fish than we perhaps expected. In it’s short time, Next Level Wrestling has become recognized for not just having up and coming talent, but being somewhere were top level talent comes to perform. Some of that top level talent…well, they like it here, and want to stick around.
He smirks.
BB Gunn: Now I’ll let you all speculate who that may be, because they’ll reveal themselves when they’re good and ready. However with this talent arriving, I’ve had to consider NLW as a brand, as an image. We are, and always will be committed to New Orleans, however after Collision Course…we will be moving out of the Fogleman.
There are boos loud enough that he can hear them from his office.
BB Gunn: I know, and I understand, this has been an amazing home for us, and no doubt we will return at some point, but for now we have to expand our horizons. So from September 4th our new home will be the Lakefront Arena!
He once again looks pleased with himself but raises a finger.
BB Gunn: Oh and it gets better, Next Level Wrestling has secured a deal to stage all of it’s Pay Per View shows in front of an even bigger capacity crowd, and starting with Homecoming II, we will be showcasing our talent from The Smoothie King Center! Ladies and Gentleman, The Next Level…has only just got going.
MATCH EIGHT - MAIN EVENT
NLW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Tommy Kelly (c) vs Finn Whelan
There was a tension in the air between these two when the bell rang. Kelly, the seasoned professional (well, if you ignore the amount of alcohol he consumes) had seen a number of Finn Whelan’s in his time, but that didn’t mean that he was about to underestimate him, far from it, he knew exactly how dangerous that made him. Likewise Whelan had been in the game long enough to not only know that opportunities like this don’t often come along, so needed to make everything count, especially against a competitor of Tommy Kelly’s calibre. Kelly, who had brought both the NLW Heavyweight and XHF European Titles to the ring with him, made the first offensive steps, looking to lock up Whelan, who was hesitant, and backed himself into the nearest corner. Kelly persisted and went to tie up but Whelan slipped by, which forced Kelly now in the corner, which allowed Whelan to take the first shot, planting a chop on Kelly’s chest. He smirked and backed up, which drew a smirk from the champion as well.
Whelan encouraged Kelly forward and this time the two did lock up, and Kelly indeed had the advantage, and in a show of what can only be described as sportsmanship, he backed Whelan into the corner, made the clean break, and then put a chop onto the challengers chest, before backing off with a very similar looking smirk. Whelan nodded and allowed himself to flash a smirk as well. With that, like a cork from a champagne bottle, this match popped into life, Whelan charged and the two began trading fists, forearms, kicks, whatever they could throw at each other, respect be damned, they were going to fight.
The man known to many as StormCrow took advantage of the brawl, that was more his forte, he knocked Whelan back with a consecutive rights and backed him to the ropes, he sent him across the ring with an Irish whip and hit a rolling elbow to take the challenger down. Whelan wasn’t down for long, as Kelly himself went to the ropes, but Whelan surprised him with an armdrag, Kelly rolled and got back up, but Whelan followed him to the corner where he had positioned himself and hit a monkey flip to send him back to the middle of the ring. Again, both men where up quickly, but Kelly wasn’t in the mood for any more of this tit for tat nature, and connected with a superman punch to floor Whelan.
Kelly didn’t allow for any break in pressure, he brought the challenger back to his feet and hit a headbutt to stagger him, an inverted atomic drop followed to disorientate further, and a big boot to finish to drop him. Kelly jacked the crowd up a little before going back to work, he brought Whelan back to his feet but Whelan threw some defensive punches back, which Kelly replied with a couple of his own. He whipped Whelan across the ring and body dropped him over the top rope, Whelan however landed on his feet and as Kelly turned he took a kick through the second rope to his chest, and Whelan then sprung back over, hitting a slingshot DDT to down the champion!
Whelan took a moment to get some air back in his lungs but knew he had to take advantage now, and went right to work on the champion. He charged at Kelly and went at him with a multitude of kicks, backing him up to the corner. He whipped him to the opposite corner and followed him in and nailed a corner knee into bulldog combination. Instead of a pin attempt, he tried to tried to apply The Underdog [kimura lock], but Kelly wisely shuffled to the ropes, and under the referee’s instruction Finn released the hold attempt and backed off. He went back on the offensive as Kelly climbed to his feet, planting a few forearms on him before looking for a shortarm clothesline, Kelly ducked and looked for a German suplex, Whelan blocked, and threw an elbow up, he spun around and instinctively hit Revelation 6:4 [bitter end] out of nowhere! He covered, but no sooner had the referee counted two, he stopped, because Tommy Kelly’s instinctive right foot was on the rope! Whelan couldn’t believe it, and attempted to protest to the referee, who was quite happy that Kelly did it himself, despite BODHI being at ringside. Replays would confirm her non-interference as well, Kelly had indeed found the rope on his own accord. Whelan sighed and went back to Kelly, who had got himself back to one groggy knee, he went to grab him but Kelly sprung up, flipped Finn over his back and applied RedRum [neck/hip toss into chokehold combination]! Whelan was suddenly in trouble, with the champion wrenching his neck, he used all of his energy to shimmy to the ropes, and desperately grabbed the ropes, despite his face turning redder and redder.
Kelly broke the hold but had the look of a man who was really hoping that submission was going to put his opponent away. He dragged Whelan back to his feet and sent him to the ropes, he went for a spinning back elbow but Whelan ducked and came back, pouncing on Kelly with a Thez press which he followed up with punches. Tommy Kelly didn’t let Whelan have his way for long, pushing him off and scrambling to his feet. Whelan charged at Kelly and looked for discus lariat, but this time it was Kelly who ducked, Whelan spun around and charged again, but was rocked by a huge spinebuster from the champion! Kelly looked around and instinctively went to the top rope, with the crowd well behind him, the Crow soared again, hitting Nevermore [flying elbow drop] and making the cover, but Finn kicked out at two and a half.
Despite the two count, Kelly started to feel it by this point, he knew the momentum had just swung back in his favour and he needed to make it count. He got back to his feet and begged Whelan to get up, Whelan slowly got back to his feet and Kelly went for Death Becomes You, but Whelan flipped out, landing back on his feet, Deathless tries to take his head off with a lariat and Whelan ducks, taking his momentum to the ropes, Kelly turns and is cleaned out with Fenian Rising [sling blade], Whelan struggles to make the cover but drapes an arm over for 1…2….no! The StormCrow still had life left. Both men are gassed though, and roll to opposite corners for some further separation, digging deeper and deeper with each second that goes by.
The crowd were on their feet, willing both men on at this point, and both of them seemed to be lifted by this, although with a lot of help from the ring ropes to steady themselves. They approached each other and started trading right hands, slow, tired right hands but enough to leave a mark on each other. Whelan goes for a bigger shot and Kelly scouts it, ducking and immediately he connected with a back suplex. Kelly sat up and slapped the mat to further encourage himself, and roared at Whelan to get up, he once again went for Death Becomes You, but broke the hold because he was distracted…Wellington Dunne was at ringside and he’d collected the European Championship from the timekeeper’s table, he smirked at Kelly, raising the title aloft…The crowd were less than impressed, although their mood changed when Riley Richards sprinted down to ringside, he clearly wasn’t impressed with Dunne’s antics and snatched the title from him, telling him there was a time and a place, and this wasn’t it. Dunne’s simple reply was to cold-cock him, and this sparked a brawl between the two European Title challengers at Night of Champions. This huge distraction allowed Whelan to recover and attack, and using what he had left, he hit Revelation 6:4 for a second time, he put whatever part of his body he could over the champion. 1….2…………3!
[WINNER AND NEW NLW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Finn Whelan Via Revelation 6:4 at 20:21]
The crowd were explosive as the bell rings, "Black Lungs" by The Architects booms out of the PA system!
Dan Simmons: I don't believe it! Tommy Kelly has finally been beaten! Finn Whelan has made history here tonight!
Tommy West: Maybe Simmo, but you have to wonder if Dunne and Richards hadn't stuck their noses in what may have happened!
Dunne and Richards were quickly cut to at this point, still brawling away up the ramp and out of sight, this allowed Finn Whelan his moment, the referee handed him the NLW Heavyweight Title which he stared at for a moment before lifting it triumphantly aloft!
Dan Simmons: there will be plenty of opinions, questions and answers as time goes by about all that, but the fact remains that we have a new champion here in Next level Wrestling!
The camera cuts to Tommy Kelly, who is sat on the ring apron looking up the ramp, anger in his eyes.
Tommy West: I think Wellington Dunne and Riley Richards may face some of those questions tomorrow night when Kelly gets his hands on them at Night of Champions!
Dan Simmons: Richards may play innocent but he certainly didn't help remove the distraction that Dunne was out here to cause. I think you may be right partner. But folks, that's all we have time for tonight, what a night it's been as well! We have our final four in the inaugural G1 tournament, we have a new Southern States Champion, and I'll say it once again, Finn Whelan is our new NLW Heavyweight Champion! Tune into the XHF Network tomorrow night where you'll see Tommy Kelly, Riley Richards and Wellington Dunne all in action as they compete for the XHF European Title as well as major matches, including the final of the Trios Tournament to crown the first ever XHF Trios Title holders, also the XHF Tag team Titles, the Women's Title and X*Crown are all up for grabs. As for us? We'll be back in two weeks, from me and Tommy...goodnight!
