NLW Ascendancy XXI | Saturday, September 18th, 2021 | LIVE
Sept 6, 2021 18:22:37 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Hyperion, and 3 more like this
Post by Kris on Sept 6, 2021 18:22:37 GMT -5
Next Level Wrestling Presents
ASCENDENCY XXI
LIVE from the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana
September 18th, 2021
The visual fades in the interior of the Lakefront Arena for this episode of Ascendancy, the fans cheering loudly in anticipation of the action that is about to take place. Spotlights of various colors swirl over the assembled fans as the cameras show different sections of the crowd, each of which is home to people holding signs supporting their favorites. There's one final pan over the crowd and the ring itself before the cameras cut to the announce booth, where we see Dan Simmons and Tommy West both ready to go.
Dan Simmons: Good evening, everyone, and welcome to another episode of Ascendancy! I'm Dan Simmons, and joining me tonight, as always, is Tommy West--and tonight, Tommy, the NLW Tag Team Title Tournament begins!
Tommy West: We've got a pair of first round matches, an appropriate number if you ask me! The Academy will be taking on the Time Jumpers, and the New South will be squaring off against New Money. All eyes will be on these two tag team matches for sure!
Dan Simmons: Tonight also sees the contendership of Lazarus Arjen's Southern States Championship being decided as Felix and the Thespian face off. There were some very harsh words thrown around by both competitors, and I for one think this is gonna be explosive!
Tommy West: Speaking of Arjen, he's gonna have his hands full tonight in our main event as he faces NLW's reigning Heavyweight Champion, Finn Whelan. In the war of singles champions, who will come out on top?
Dan Simmons: Before all of that, though, we've got Savannah Sunshine squaring off with Kylo Anderson. Both of these strong competitors are looking to get steady footing in NLW, and they're setting out to do just that tonight!
Tommy West: And starting us off is another case of new talents having the chance to establish themselves as Keahi Sparks faces Timothy Gates--and that action's gonna start right now!
MATCH ONE
Keahi Sparks vs Timothy Gates
The two circled the ring, and it looked as if Gates wanted to go for a collar and elbow tie up, but Sparks had other ideas, doubling him over with a boot to the midsection instead. She took him by the scruff of the neck and threw him into the corner, Sparks initiated a flurry of corner strikes, mixing up chops, haymakers and forearms smashes before she Irish whipped Gates across the ring to the opposite corner, she charged but ate an elbow from Gates, who tried to charge back at Sparks but ate a spinning spinebuster for his troubles, Sparks made a quick cover but received a short two count only.
Sparks wasn’t in any mood to let Gates have any space in this match, and she applied a grounded headlock, which she used to bring him back to his feet until she was ready to hit a vertical suplex. She brought him back up once again and sent him to the ropes, looking for a standing clothesline, but Gates ducked and hit a reach back neckbreaker to turn the momentum back over.
Gates wanted to pick up a head of steam, but Sparks wasn’t staying down for long, so he quickly acted, when she got to her feet he caught her with a dropkick, making Sparks stagger back into a corner. Gates charged in and nailed her with a step up knee strike in the corner, he grabbed her ina a headlock, dragged her two steps back and hit an implant DDT which got him a two count.
Gates brought his opponent back to her feet and sent her to the ropes, he went for a lariat but this was ducked, and Sparks came back and almost took his head off with a diving spinning European Uppercut! Sparks was no longer interested in playing around with “Golden” Gates, she demanded he get back to his feet, and when he did she grabbed him and hit Din’s Fire [overhead belly to belly suplex], to which she made the cover but gates kicked out. This didn’t matter to The Emerald Blade, and she brought him back up, and hit him with a falcon arrow. Instead of another cover however, she got back to her feet and approached the corner, and after a quick check on distance she hit Dive bomb [triple jump moonsault], which this time drew a cover, but Gates somehow kicked out again!
Many would be getting more annoyed by now, but not Sparks. She once again dragged Gates back up, who tried to fight back with a couple shots to the gut, but Sparks simply put a knee into him to subdue him once again. She sent him to the ropes and when he came back, she launched him into the air flapjack style, and planted a stiff sounding punch onto his jaw which reverberated across the Lakefront Arena. Having dealt out the Memories of Okinawa, Sparks covered again, and mercifully this was over.
[WINNER: Keahi Sparks Via Memories of Okinawa at 04:01]
We cut to the parking lot of the Lakefront Arena, where a perpetually pissed off looking individual marches towards the building. Wearing grey jeans, black boots and a black T-shirt, his frenzied dirty blonde hair and beard completing his unwelcoming appearance.
Dan Simmons: Oh what's-, er, well folks we are here live backstage where it would appear that Nathan Cage is making his way to the building...
Tommy West: ...Aaand he is not booked to compete tonight.
Both announcers carry clear unease in their tone at this information. Cage's presence in NLW has rarely been anything good. In spite of this, Kelly Ross appears on camera lightly jogging towards Cage, microphone in hand. Ever eager to get first crack at a potentially juicy story.
Cage's yelling is already picked up by the microphone before Kelly has even reached him.
Nathan Cage: So, what I believe we have here is a failure to communicate! Cause I coulda sworn last show I stood in front of a camera and said-
As he walks, Cage snatches the microphone out of Ross' hands much like he did last time. In the background, Ross throws her hands up in an exasperated "fuck it" manner and walks off. Cage continues his stride while his rant continues.
Nathan Cage: -And said that; anybody with the balls in NLW had better take a swing at me sooner rather than later. Cause I'm right goddamn here, and fixin' to cross out some names! Then I find out Nathan Cage ain't even scheduled for tonight! Which says to me one of two things.
He holds up a finger.
Nathan Cage: One - That every NLW competitor would be fine 'an dandy if they got in a car wreck, cause ain't none of 'em got a spine!
He holds up another.
Nathan Cage: Or two - that the people runnin' this shitshow can't tell their ass from their head, cause they don't know how to prioritize! 'Parently, there's some big bad prick runnin' around attackin' people left 'an right backstage. Now, ordinarily, I wouldn't give a damn. But if you're gonna knock around someone, ya do it face to face like a man, 'an not out in the boiler room like a little pussy! The NLW roster is on Nathan Fuckin' Cage's list, which now includes whatever sorry fuck chose to step in my territory!
Cage reaches the entrance door and turns to face the camera.
Nathan Cage: As far as I'm concerned, ain't no one else here has the drive to get shit done! Tommy Kelly's out scramblin' for his dentures! Eli Dresden's whisperin' sweet nothin's into the ear of some hapless freak! And who really gives a rat's ass what Finn Whelan's got to say about anything!? So with that in mind, I'm thinkin' I'll step in as judge, jury and sure as shit executioner, myself!
He shoves the door open where it slams wide against the wall with a thud. Before he enters into the darkness of the arena, he turns to the camera one last time.
Nathan Cage: 'An everyone here's guilty, until proven innocent.
With that, Cage slams the door in the cameraman's face.
Dan Simmons: In a strange strange turn of events. Nathan Cage, it would seem, is the Sheriff of NLW tonight?
Tommy West: Oh yeah, this should go juuust fine...
MATCH TWO
Kylo Anderson vs Savannah Sunshine
Kylo Anderson is in the ring, waiting and raring to go... but when Savannah Sunshine's entrance music hits? There's no sign of her. A second attempt to bring Sunshine out is made, but there's still no sign of the energetic fan favorite. Kylo paces to and fro in the ring in an attempt to contain his competitive energy as the referee motions for a production assistant, a terse conversation exchanged between the two men that ends with the latter rushing his way backstage--and thanks to the trend of people being taken out? A cameraman is quick to follow.
The cameraman and the P.A. get to the unconscious form of Savannah Sunshine the same time that B.B. Gunn does.
After demands for a medic are made at the top of his lungs, NLW's General Manager is quick to throw the match out wholesale. The camera cuts to a very displeased Kylo Anderson, but it's clear that there's nothing he can do about it. The air in the arena is quiet, reserved... nervous as the cameras cut elsewhere.
[WINNER: No Contest]
Chris Sanderson felt a little weird knocking on a locker room door. He'd never had too much luck with a situation like this, ever. Most of the time it led to a terrible situation, but this time, he was sure it'd be okay. In one hand was a pizza box as he waited. As the door swings open, the man on the other side of it looks quite surprised, desapite the name "Chris Sanderson" being on the door. Either way, the former AWF Prestige Champion greets the man he's slated to compete alongside.
Adam Sanders: Oh, hi. You have a... pizza? So I guess we've never... formally met?
The second generation competitor nods his head. While he never met Adam Sanders, Chris certainly knew of him. Mostly due to former NLW wrestler Betsy Granger and through social media.
Chris Sanderson: Well, I figure everyone likes pizza and I didn't know how to really make it up to you after you saved my ass last show. Didn't know what kind you liked, but everyone likes pepperoni, yeah?
He took a couple of steps into his locker room and set the pizza down on a table, Chris turned his attention back to Adam.
Chris Sanderson: So, we're paired up for the tag title tournament. Feel like we also needed to bond, so also hence the pizza.
Adam Sanders: Good, good. A very good idea since we only have limited knowledge of one another. What kind of... pizza is that?
Sanders asks his question while he finally enters the room, closing the door behind him. Chris opened the pizza box to show a few different kinds as there are four kinds on two slices each. One is basic pepperoni, one is buffalo chicken, one plain ass cheese and the fourth kind, well, it's Hawaiian.
Chris Sanderson: I managed to get a few kinds on one here. One of these is an incorrect choice, Adam. I feel like if you pick the kind with the pineapple, it's gonna be tough for us to get along.
Chris cracked a smile, not completely serious. Adam hopes to appears such a worry as he helps himself to a slice of the pepperoni.
Chris Sanderson: So tell me a bit about yourself.
Adam Sanders: Well, I'm from Michigan but live in North Carolina now. Engaged. I went from a fan in the stands to wrestling in the ring. I'm sure you've heard who trained me.
Chris Sanderson: You bet. I'm from Boston. Live in Miami. Wrestling since I was 16. Married. Two kids.
Adam Sanders: I do not have any kids currently. I've recently won my first world title shortly before AWF closed its doors. I can work with a team as I've won a trios championship in a previous company as well. And I was originally going to be in this competition with my best friend but... well, she decided to pursue her own dreams, and it isn't here.
Chris nodded his head. He understood what Adam was going through as everyone in this sport has been let down by someone.
Chris Sanderson: Yeah, sorry to hear about that, honestly. Used to date her sister, actually.
He let a little laugh out. Adam, knowing Adelaide Granger pretty well, does the same.
Chris Sanderson: I can play well with others though. Just won tag titles with my half brother. Been in some tournaments like this with people I hardly knew and did well. Been a top guy before, didn't go to well due to my right elbow being in some rough shape, but it's all fixed now. This is all I've wanted to do with my life, well, besides be a film director, anyways.
Adam Sanders: Funny how we all spend so much time and energy in this combative competition and yet we all have our little passions outside the ring. I actually do a lot of computer tech stuff as a hobby. No one ever thinks the guy who drops people on the heads in the ring can take apart a computer and put it back together in under two hours.
Sanders, starting to come out of his shell a little bit, takes another bite of his pepperoni pizza before now being the one to wonder a bit.
Adam Sanders: There's a lot of talented teams in this tournament. Some of which have been working together for a long time. I appreciate you stepping in to be my partner but part of me is curious if this is just because I came to your aid...
Chris, with a slice of the buffalo chicken, nodded his head.
Chris Sanderson: I won't lie to you, it was a good chunk of why I stepped in. I figure a guy helped me in a time of need, and I give back.
A bite follows.
Chris Sanderson: Plus, honestly, it'd just be great to hold another tag team championship. Until recently it had been a minute since I was able to call myself champion, and since I got a taste of it again, I want more. It's like a drug, you know?
Adam Sanders: Absolutely. I was Prestige Champion a few months ago and now I've been trying to get there again. It's why I challenged for the Southern States and was in the G1. So what do we call ourselves? I'm sure our last names being so similar might make a name easy to come up with.
Chris exhaled slowly and put his pizza down. He swings an arm around Adam's shoulder and smirks.
Chris Sanderson: I had a feeling this may come up. Have you seen this car insurance ads on TV? Where the guy asks for sprinkles?
Adam Sanders: Yes.
Chris Sanderson: To me, a team name is like that guy who wanted sprinkles. It's for winners, Adam Sanders. If we win this tournament, and bring those NLW Tag Titles around our waists, we'll come up with a team name. Until that time comes to pass, amigo, we just go with Sanderson and Sanders, or vice versa.
Adam Sanders: Fair enough. So I guess we better start breaking down the teams in this thing with specific emphasis on our first round opponents. You know, once the cameras are gone from this room.
As Sanders finishes that sentence, he glances right at the camera. Sanderson also takes a glance at the camera operator and narrows the eyes.
Chris Sanderson: In the words of our opponents in two weeks time? BRRRAAAAAAPPPPPPPP!
That certainly won't piss off The Goons. The Awkward One's eyes widen before shrugging and taking yet another bite of his pizza. The camera crew catches one last audible sentence from the room before switching back to the ring.
Adam Sanders: We should also discuss what we could do as a tag team finisher as well...
MATCH THREE
NLW Tag Team Championship Tournament - Round One Match
The New South vs New Money
Starting for New Money, somewhat surprisingly was Nick Von Erich. El Rey seemed confident enough in his tag partner, or maybe it was just arrogance, when it comes to El Rey it’s always a fine line. Staring NVE down was Beau Traywick, who was laser focused, as was the theme for this New South 2.0. With further encouragement from his corner, Von Erich engaged Traywick with a collar and elbow tie up, and to everybody’s shock he took control, placing Traywick in a headlock. Beau wasn’t having any of it and sent him to the ropes, but Von Erich took him down with a shoulder charge…to even his own shock! El Rey barked at him to keep on him, and he did just that, bringing him back to his feet and sending him to the ropes again, NVE bent down for a body drop but ate a boot to the face for his trouble. Traywick wanted to follow with a clothesline as he straightened his opponent up, but the third generation superstar ducked and went to the ropes himself, coming back and flooring Beau with a cross body.
NVE brought Traywick back to his feet and dragged him to the corner having wrenched the arm, tagging El Rey in. El Rey went straight to work with his array of strikes, moving around Traywick to keep him guessing before placing another kick or punch on him. After delivering two consecutive snap suplexes, he tagged Von Erich back in, who seemed to be growing in confidence. Nick brought Traywick back to his feet and hit a very well rehearsed vertical suplex, and even made the cover for a short two count. This didn’t deter him, and he went once more for a vertical suplex, but Traywick slipped behind and got his first piece of offence in with a backstabber. El Rey suddenly looked worried, and with good reason, as Beau quickly hit a standing moonsault, covering for two. Traywick dragged NVE to his corner and tagged in Waylon Kirk.
Kirk took Nick and hoisted him up, opening his offence with a fall away slam. Nick reached out to his New Money teammate but it was for naught as Kirk leaned over him and deadlifted him in a full Nelson position, which he converted into an actual full Nelson slam! Not satisfied enough, he brought Nick back to his feet and went for a Alabama slam, which he connected with, but as he went for the cover he was informed that Nick wasn’t the legal man. This confused Kirk, who hadn’t noticed that he attempted the move slightly too close to the New Money corner, and El Rey has snuck a tag in. He stood up and turned around to receive a flying hurricanrana from El Rey!
El Rey wasn’t looking to let Kirk have any room to breathe. He dragged Kirk straight back up and hit a dragon suplex, before working on Kirk’s stability, hitting two dragon screws in a row to have Kirk holding his knee, and now it was his turn to reach out for his partner, who was helpless in the opposite corner. El Rey dragged him back up once more and looked for an Irish whip, Kirk reversed and body dropped El Rey over the top rope, but the youngster landed on the apron, Kirk turned and ate a forearm sending him back, and El Rey hit a spring board dropkick to bring him back in the ring. He immediately went to the corner, hit the top rope and hit a 630 senton, which earned him a long two count. El Rey slowly waited for Kirk to get back up, and looked for a superkick, but Kirk caught his foot, spun him 360, and hit a sit out piledriver in the middle of the ring! Kirk was gassed though, and this meant both men could only try and crawl to their corner to make a tag…
El Rey got the tag to Von Erich, but so did Kirk to Traywick, and Beau came flying in with a big clothesline to Nick, and then another. El Rey was back up but he received a shotgun dropkick that took him out of the ring. Traywick went back to Von Erich, who was stumbling to his feet, and with is back to Traywick, he received not a single, nor double, but a triple German Suplex. Beau was feeling it and went to the top rope, perhaps looking for a Shooting Star Press, but El Rey popped back up onto the apron and pushed him off the top rope to the mat. Waylon Kirk saw this and knocked him back down with a flying forearm, before launching himself over the rope as El Rey began to climb back to his feet, taking both of them out with a vaulted cross body! This left Nick Von Erich and Beau Traywick in the ring. Nick sensed a chance and as both men slowly got back up he hit a discuss lariat. He looked around for support but his teammate was down and out on the outside, so he dug deep and in homage to his family name, signalled for the claw! He stalked Traywick to get up, and the New South member slowly got back up Nick went to claw him but Traywick rolled past him, and Nick turned around to eat a tiger feint kick! Traywick immediately locked in the Bourbon Sunrise [tequila sunrise] and Nick tapped!
[WINNER: The New South Via Bourbon Sunrise at 09:44]
Felix's theme music starts up as the video package starts playing and a quote appears on the screen...
A man cannot understand the art he is studying if he only looks for the end result without taking the time to delve deeply into the reasoning of the study. - Miyamoto Musashi
Before showing Felix doing a variety of practices, drills, and exercises... from running down a broken road to working battle ropes and more as his voice is heard.
Felix: With everything that you do, you have to ask... why have I chosen to walk this path? So many people want the titles and the glory, but they won't put in the work for it. Every time you study your craft you get one step closer to mastery. Mastery is an obsession, and those who are obsessed with becoming are the ones that will become more than they are.
Why do I do what I do? Why do I want what I want? I fight to become more than I am. I fight to chase my obsession with becoming a master. I want to test myself against the strongest that the world has to offer because that is the only way I can truly grow. I feel the light burning inside of me, the light that drives to me fight through any pain... any sorrow... abandonment, and betrayal... I only feel that grow stronger when I am fighting someone that truly tests me. I live for those moments and I've lived my whole life chasing them.
A quote appears across the screen while the visuals fade...
I choose to live by choice and not by chance. - Miyamoto Musashi
...before the visuals come back to Felix sparring with other martial arts teachers and running through the martial arts forms he knows... snapping through each at speed.
Felix: When I chose to come to NLW I was scorned by the teachers and the masters that I used to idolize but I came anyway. Why? Because this is what I want... what I need. This is my dream and I will fight with every fiber of my being, every single moment of my life, to chase it. I will become a master. I will become all that I can be and then I will surpass even that to go beyond my limits... to become more than a master... to become a true champion.
A quote appears on the screen as the video shifts from the training montage...
Anyone can give up. It's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart... That is true strength. - Miyamoto Musashi
Before disappearing as the camera moves in from the side to focus on the intense and determined stare of Felix... the calm and controlled fire that can outlast anything set against it.
Felix: I have no regrets... I have no fear. This is my destiny and nothing... no one will stand in its way.
The video package fades.
MATCH FOUR
NLW Tag Team Championship Tournament - Round One Match
The Academy vs The Time Jumpers
Leon Chant and Makayla Vayden start the match as legal wrestlers. Though they are both the larger members of their teams, Leon outsizes Makayla significantly, so it's no surprise that Makayla tries to outrun Leon, as he remembers her cheapshotting him during the 8-person tag. She gets in several quick shots, ducking out of the way before he catches her, but it's inevitable that he does, and when she tries a springboard moonsault, he catches her in a big way, driving her into the canvas with a big powerslam! Leon keeps his eyes locked on Ciela while he tags in Riley. Riley is quick to come in, and he has a significant size advantage, so he decides he's going to try out something new, locking Makayla down with a chinlock. It's clear this isn't his style when Makayla starts to power her way out. He looks concerned as she works her way up to her feet, but when she elbows him to get separation, he remembers what he's doing and blasts her with a European Uppercut. This sends her staggering back, and Riley hits another to get her into the ropes, but she's close enough for Ciela to tag in, and when Riley tries to intercept her, she blocks a punch and jumps to kick him in the head, and as he is stunned, Ciela slips into the ring and the Time Jumpers nail tandem Superkicks. Despite being Faced, Riley kicks out of Ciela's pin attempt.
Ciela attempts to keep Riley off balance with a slew of quick strikes and keeping him whirling around trying to keep up with her. She nails a good Pele kick as part of her flurry, and it looks like he's properly dizzy, as he drops down to one knee. Ciela rushes in to go for Viva la Familia, but the Shining Wizard is out of the tower today as Riley pops up and hits his own Superkick! He goes for a cover but only gets two. He doesn't bother doing ground work this time, settling for a few stomps before backing into the ropes, making room for the roll leading up to St. Paul's Carnival Special. But Makayla is there to pull the ropes down and he tumbles backward to the outside. The crowd boos as Leon tries to get into the ring, but the ref holds him up. He calls out Makayla, rightly, but the distraction lets her do more shenanigans, taking the loopy Riley and shoving him face first into the ring post! The crowd boos more, but Leon takes the hint and backs out of the ring so the ref can officiate properly. Makayla heaves Riley into the ring with visible effort, and while Ciela doesn't look jazzed, she goes for a cover, also getting a two count.
Makayla shouts to let her back in, which Ciela does. She helps Ciela get Riley back up, but they manage and whip Riley into a neutral corner. Makayla drops down and Ciela runs forward, but Riley springs to life in time to spring off Makayla's back and blast Ciela with a forearm before she can stop herself. Riley quickly tags in Leon, who barrels toward Makayla, sandwiching her into the corner with a lariat. As she staggers out, he puts her into powerbomb position, and Riley springs up to the top rope. Then Leon lifts, then Riley leaps and blasts Makayla with a European Uppercut as Leon plants her in the center of the ring. Riley ducks out to block Ciela so Leon can score an Academic Three Count.
[WINNER: The Academy Via Final Lesson at 6:24]
We cut to backstage, where Nathan Cage looms over a clearly terrified Marty Watts. The ring announcer has his head turned away from Cage to avoid his gaze, but the Rabid Dog continues to lay into him.
Nathan Cage: So. Tell me. Marty. Little squirrely guy like yourself. On every show. Pushed around cause who in the hell isn't capable of doin' so to you. Kinda guy who might resort to, I dunno, attackin' people from behind like a little bitch?
Marty Watts: N-no, no... It's not-
Nathan Cage: Look at me.
Marty Watts: I- I don't wanna do that-
Nathan Cage: LOOK AT ME!
With trepidation, Watts turns his head to meet Cage's gaze. Instead of relenting now that his demands are met, this seems to only infuriate Cage further as he grabs Watts up by his shirt collar. Watt's expression turns from nervousness to outright fear as his stumbled words are drowned out by the fury of Nathan Cage.
Nathan Cage: TALK YA LIL FUCK! WHO DID IT!? WHO!? WHO!?
BB Gunn: Cage! Put him down!
The sudden arrival of Gunn turns Cage's attention away from Watts. Wisely, Watts seizes the opportunity to get free from Cage's presence and quickly sprints off. Cage appears unconcerned with this as he turns completely towards Gunn.
BB Gunn: Now I appreciate your... Enthusiasm, in helping us put this attacker business to bed. But you showed up here unannounced tonight and on top of my own investigations, I gotta deal with people pulling me aside to tell them the maniac I regrettably hired is terrorizing every member of staff that crosses his path.
Gunn's tone is restrained but dripping with barely contained venom at how much more difficult the Rabid Dog has made his job tonight. Contrary to Watts, Gunn shows Cage no fear in his address.
Nathan Cage: How have those investigations been goin' exactly? Cause, correct me if I'm wrong, I seem to remember this happenin' for some time 'fore you got off your ass to do somethin' about it.
Cage gets in the face of Gunn. His eyes narrow as he directs his perpetual anger towards his boss.
Nathan Cage: Ya talk a lotta shit and ya wrap it up with a smile, cause that's what you suits do ain't it? Ya'd rather die before you go back to bein' a two bit fuckin' commentator, so after tryin' to hope it goes away on it's own, you're forced to act like you're doin' somethin' about it. You appreciate Nathan Cage, ain't that great. Reality is, you should on your hands and fuckin' knees THANKING me!-
BB Gunn: Thanking you?!-
Nathan Cage: -That's right! For doin' you the favour of gettin' shit done! Some asshole's able to walk around and put several idiots outta commission cause the NLW roster's made outta tissue paper, and cause ain't no one willin' to pull 'em outta whatever hole they've crawled into. S'only so many places to hide and unlike your detective bullshit, Nathan Cage will smoke out every hole a weasly little bastard can crawl into!
BB Gunn: And what about you, Nathan? Huh? Big old convict talks on and on about how badly he's gonna beat this person or this or this. Is it really enough to count you out as a suspect just cause you don't like how the attacker operates? Nobody asked you and nobody really wanted you to be here tonight, yet here you are. Maybe, you're just planning another ambush while putting on another facade. Exactly like you did when we signed your sorry ass! Acting like a guy seeking redemption when in reality you're just a damn psychopath!
Cage chuckles, mirthlessly.
Nathan Cage: That right?
BB Gunn: Yeah, maybe it is!
Nathan Cage: Well this "psychopath'll" go back to feedin' your roster their own entrails. But, I wanna wish ya luck in doin' your fuckin' job with this guy, so here's to ya!
Cage extends his middle finger and presses it against Gunn's face. Gunn, immediately furious at the clear disrespect, bats away Cage's arm and pushes him backwards.
Cage processes this for a moment before taking a step forward and giving Gunn a much stronger two handed shove to his chest. Knocking the general manager to the floor in a second. Still clearly incensed, Gunn looks up at Cage.
Nathan Cage: Now, I wanna make clear, I've kicked the head in of people for a whole lot fuckin' less. If I wasn't so sure you'd take it right to court I would rip your goddamn head clean off right here. So, consider it a professional courtesy and your one and only warnin' not to try me again.
Nathan Cage: Or the next time I drop your ass, you ain't gettin' back up.
Cage hisses his last words with as much sincerity as an unhinged thug can muster. He marches off down the hall before Gunn can retort. Gunn shakes his head and lets out a sound of annoyance as he gets back to his feet, dusts himself off and continues his investigation.
MATCH FIVE
Number One Contendership Match for the NLW Southern States Championship
Felix vs The Thespian
The air between Felix and the Thespian is rife with tension, the referee placing himself between the two competitors to ensure that nothing happens before the bell rings to signify the beginning of the match. As soon as it does, the ref is quick to back out of the way... but while Felix is advancing in the name of getting things underway? The Thespian is not taking the bait. Instead, the masked man is making a show out of circling the ring, moving with a melodramatic flair that is obviously a mockery of the things the Tactician said leading up to this number one contendership opportunity. This, of course, only serves to ramp up the seriousness of Felix's expression, the disrespect earning a setting of his jaw before he's closing the distance in an attempt to lock up with the Thespian--but again, he is denied, the latter ducking past the Warrior to once again play to the crowd with a flourish. Felix's expression goes from stoic to outright annoyed in response, though he holds the reins of his temper tight to keep from snapping on Theo outright.
When the Thespian goes for another feint, Felix follows, catching the smaller man from behind and throwing Theo with a German Suplex that lands hard. The Tactician is quick to get to his feet, a Buzzsaw Kick connecting that sends the Thespian sprawling backward! The offensive pressure is kept on the Thespian, Felix choosing not to go for the pinfall. Instead, as soon as Theo sits up, he's taking a stiff football kick to the back--and it's that part of the anatomy that the Warrior zeroes in on offensively. It seems that Felix is determined to prove that his style of no-nonsense fighting is superior, and judging by the histrionic responses Theo is giving, he is both winning and losing that proverbial argument because of how the fans are responding to both men. Felix has the edge in regards to cheers, but the fans are also going along with the Thespian's reactions to the offense being mounted against him. Such becomes crystal clear when, after connecting with the Naginata, Felix goes for the pinfall... and Theo kicks out at 2.9 not because he is defeated, but for the drama of the moment, something that becomes clear when the smaller man does a little bow.
Felix seeing that returns him to the more bestial side that revealed itself when he faced off against Donzig, calculation being abandoned for brutality... and it is then that the Thespian truly takes his proverbial gloves off. Taking a moment to show off the mask of Thalia, Life's A Comedy is, for lack of a better word, activated before it is quickly followed up with a flurry of Tiger Palm Strikes and knife-edge chops. The blows are matched one-for-one by Felix at first, but gradually the Thespian is able to slowly but surely drive Felix back into the corner--and once that happens? Theo throws a dramatic knee at Felix's face to finish off the Hagakure combo, but Felix manages to shift his position so it's only a glancing blow. In doing so, however, the Warrior has fallen right into the Thespian's trap. As that knee is thrown, Theo quickly covers his face with both gloved hands, the pantomime of comedy and tragedy the beginning of The Masks of the Theater... and when Felix's instinct guides him out of the way of that knee? It leads to the Warrior being caught in a clinch, Theo quickly dragging the larger man out of the corner before delivering a series of knee strikes before he shifts to cravate knee strikes--and when Felix is wobbling on his feet? The Thespian is backing up, then connecting with a Bicycle Knee Strike, Uchi-Sute completed with the motion! Dropping atop the fallen Tactician, the Thespian hooks both legs, the three-count that follows securing the match against Lazarus Arjen for the Southern States Championship!
[WINNER: The Thespian Via
-x-
Of a madman touched by the wisdom of a Great One.
Making contact with eldritch wisdom is indeed a blessing, for even if it drives a man mad, it allows one to serve a grander purpose in life, for posterity.
We open on Mehrunes Smith sat in a chair with the camera looking over his shoulder from behind his back, shooting a shot of the mask which sits under a dim light on the table in front of Mehrunes.
I’ve had people wonder. Where did the mask come from? Well, truth be told, I don’t know myself. I think this mask follows a path, like we all do, but it’s path leads it to me. Reading through the history of those touched by The Dreamer, I’ve seen some mention a mask. Whether or not this is the same one, I cannot be sure. The details of that book are as vague as the history of this mask. All I know is this,
I went to sleep one night.
And I had yet another communication with The Dreamer.
It chose me that night.
I promised to be a worthy champion.
And then in the morning, it was sitting on the bench in my kitchen. Staring at me.
A heavy set of footsteps approach, Fargo walks into the light in front of Mehrunes and the camera pans up to catch him. His cold gaze piercing into the camera.
I’m not a man with many friends, if I have any at all, and those that I thought I did left me to rot. Which, in hindsight, has been for the best. I drifted. I roamed. I searched but didn’t know what it was that I was searching for. What it turned out to be, was a purpose. A simple purpose. To improve myself, to become a better wrestler than I ever have been, and finally, to be a champion worthy of The Dreamer itself.
I don’t know how, but he found me. A former student and rival seeking me out and pulling me out of this hole of listlessness that I found myself in. I was emotionless, completely. I was empty and wrestling, my mistress, my only love, was not enough anymore. Mehrunes found me, The Dreamer, It found me, God found me. And now?
I am ready.
For The End to arrive.
MAIN EVENT - MATCH SIX
Champion versus Champion - Non-Title
Finn Whelan (C) vs Lazarus Arjen (C)
After the bell rings, Finn and Lazarus stare each other down for a moment, the crowd murmuring as they build to a crescendo, waiting to see what would happen. Then the tension erupts in a cheer as the two champions rush each other and start blasting each other with strikes. Finn's height advantage means he has enough leverage to push Lazarus back into a corner, but Lazarus reverses quickly and starts a Violence Party, blasting Finn with forearms and chops. Finn weathers this for a few seconds before roughly shoving Lazarus away. Lazarus stumbles a bit and winds up with his back to Finn, which is bad for him because Finn grabs him and German Suplexes him into the turnbuckles. The crowd cheers as they watch the two champs going hard already. Finn turns around and jumps on Lazarus before he can get out of the corner, blasting him with forearms while he's trapped. The official is quick to chide Finn, but the Heavyweight Champion uses the full five-count before relenting. As he is pulled out of the corner, Lazarus chuckles a little bit.
Lazarus pulls himself up in the corner as Finn pushes past the ref, wanting to continue the assault, but Lazarus counters with a blatant headbutt. Finn staggers back, and Lazarus has an opening to barrel into Finn's knee with a knee block. As Finn falls, cradling his knee, Lazarus gets to work stomping every extremity he can get his feet to. Fingers, toes, elbows, forehead, ribs, whatever. The referee gets them separated for a second, giving Finn time to get to all fours, but Lazarus gets by long enough to blast him with a basement dropkick to the head. That sends Finn outside the ring, and Lazarus gets a more extensive lecture to ignore. Lazarus eventually gets out of the lambasting to drop out to ringside, but as he goes to pull Finn up, Finn yanks on his tights to pull Lazarus into the barricades shoulder-first. The referee starts counting the pair out, but Finn rolls in and back out to break the count before grabbing Lazarus and throwing him into the ring steps! Lazarus is the one clutching his knees now as Finn stalks over. Lazarus is struggling to get up with the help of the apron, so Finn helps, then turns his back to go for the ScRM, but Lazarus counters and whips Finn overhead with a Dragon Suplex! The crowd winces at the big suplex on the floor, and the referee shouts some more, but it proves ineffective as Lazarus breaks the count this time.
Lazarus pulls Finn up, wanting more punishment, but Finn quickly snaps to and slams Lazarus's head on the apron. He pushes Lazarus into the ring, but before he does he looks up the ramp to see "Deathless" Tommy Kelly on the ramp. He isn't doing anything but looks somewhere between meaningfully and menacingly at Finn, who just blows him off to continue the match. He slides in and gets a two-count on Lazarus. Finn then hits a jumping knee drop as Tommy wanders closer to the ring, getting another two count. Finn goes for another knee drop, but Lazarus dodges this one, and as Finn recoils, springs up and catches Finn before dropping him with a nasty looking DDT. He gets a two-count as well, t hen does some mouthing off to Tommy, asserting that this is Lazarus's show. Tommy just shrugs and keeps watching Finn like a hawk. Finn is struggling to get up, so Lazarus helps by pulling him up into piledriver position, then heaves him up and drops him directly onto his head with a spike piledriver! But Contusio Cerebri is not enough, and Finn kicks out again.
Lazarus has had just about enough and gets his elbow out, looking for Finit Hec, Deo, but as he rushes forward, Finn surges forward also, catching Lazarus with an inverted Lungblower! As his knees drive the air from Lazarus, he recoils backward into the ropes, but bounces with enough momentum to stumble forward into a lifting underhook DDT Finn calls TITIM CEANN! He hooks Lazarus for the cover but gets another near fall! The crowd is cheering, both for the wrestlers (one traditionally well loved, one in his home turf) and for the violence they are creating. One person not smiling is Tommy Kelly, who just smirks at Finn as he tries to readjust after the near fall. Tommy says something to him, but it's hard to hear. Whatever it is, Finn isn't a fan, and Tommy responds by hopping up onto the apron. While champion and challenger are jaw-jacking, the other two challengers are coming down. Leon gets to the ring, yanking Tommy off the apron. This causes Tommy to round on Leon and start running his mouth. Eli is jaw-jacking at both of the other contenders, and the official tells all three of them to clear off.
The distraction costs Finn in the end, as it allows Lazarus to grab a screwdriver while he's not being watched and stab it into the side of Finn's head! The crowd boos as Lazarus violently throws the screwdriver away, launching it into the barricade before the ref turns around. This gives Lazarus the opening to take the woozy Finn, hook him for a Butterfly DDT, and drop him to the mat. The fans try to draw the referee's attention to the weapon, but all the ref sees is a cover, and Lazarus gets a three count tainted with boos (and a little bit of blood trickling out of Finn's temple).
[WINNER: Lazarus Arjen Via Metamorphosis at 10:03]
Arjen gets to his feet with a smile on his face, knowing full well he's stolen one here. Meanwhile the camera cuts to the three challengers for Finn Whelan's NLW Heavyweight Title, who had reached the entranceway but not quite left yet, they stare each other down a bit awkwardly, before looking back to the ring, where Finn Whelan is stirring and not looking at all happy with his challengers for what's just happened.
Dan Simmons: Partner if looks could kill all three of them would be six foot under!
Tommy West: No Simmo, I can feel the heat coming from Finn's eyes, they'd be cremated!
Dan Simmons: Well in two week's he'll be able...hang on a minute, I'm being told something in my ear...at the anniversary show, not only will Finn Whelan get the chance to get revenge on these three, but it will be in a no disqualification match!
Tommy West: What?!
Dan Simmons: That's what I've just been old from the back, BB Gunn has ordered the main event to be no disqualifications, so we may find that the champion will want to make that revenge a little stronger!
Meanwhile, back in the ring, Arjen has received his Southern States Title from the referee, which he holds aloft to the crowd who respond in boos. However their boos tail off, because somebody else has entered the ring...
Tommy West: Look, Simmo! That freak's here too!
The freak that West so bluntly describes is The thespian, who has slipped into the ring and is stood patiently behind the champion. Arjen turns around slowly, sensing there may be danger behind him. He stares The Thespian down, who interestingly doesn't go for an attack, instead he looks dead into the eyes of the champion, before gazing intently at the title, which is raised once more in an equal sign of defiance and strength from Lazarus.
Dan Simmons: Folks, in two weeks time, the six men and women out here right now go to war for the two singles titles in Next Level Wrestling as we celebrate one year of being on your screens, and whilst I'd love to see a preview right now, I'm afraid that's all we have time for. What a show it has been, and I have no doubt that in two weeks we will bring you even more action! Until then, it's goodnight from me and Tommy!
