Thursday Night Inferno #13 (November 11, 2021)
Nov 12, 2021 0:33:26 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 4 more like this
Post by Vodka Fizz on Nov 12, 2021 0:33:26 GMT -5
Marcus Washington: Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight is a special night. One hundred and three years ago today our enemies laid down their arms and brought an end to the first World War. This changed many lives, robbed families of their husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons. They died so that we might live, to protect our freedoms, and to defend the freedoms of other. We honor those people each year by remembering their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of those countless others who returned to their familes changed forever by the horrors of war. We will never forget.
Rather than the ceremonial flame, Marcus lights a single candle.
The camera zooms in on it, watching the flame flicker, then fades to black.
Walter Stanford: Tonight’s opening contest is scheduled for One Fall, and it is for the SPARK Championship!
The crowd cheers at the announcement!
Wright: SPARK Championship to kick off the show, the Heart of FIRESIDE Vodka Fizz vs. the up-and-comer from NLW, Felix!
Park: What happens if Felix wins? Does the title go to NLW?
Wright: I hope we don’t have to find out!
Stanford: Introducing first, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 250 pounds, he is FELLLLLLIIIIIIIXXXXXXXXXXX!
The lights go out as Felix's music, The Pledge of the Demon, starts up... leaving the stage completely black. As his music picks up a spotlight shines down onto Felix, who is facing away from the ring so the camera can focus on the intricate tattoo of a wolf in the Oriental style emblazed across his back. He turns as the camera moves back, a string of Buddhist Mala Beads around his neck, his eyes focusing on the ring as spotlights roam over the crowd. He heads down the ramp, the spotlight following him, bowing his head to any of his fans that have signs or are kids on the way down to the ring. As he arrives at ringside his eyes snap back to his opponent, keeping locked on them as he gets into the ring. He gives them a short bow, the Classic Palm to Fistbefore settling into his fighting stance as the lights return to normal.
Wright: The Pick Your Prize Battle Royale winner is ready to go; it was his first accomplishment in the XHF, will winning the championship be his second?
Park: An honorable and intense martial artist, this should be an interesting clash of styles with our champion.
Stanford: And his opponent…
The lights go down and blacklights come up, bathing the stage in purple. A hard, grungy bassline starts to play.
'Hey, turn the bass up. Turn the bass up!'
The base gets louder and grungier, and the lyrics come in as Vodka Fizz dives out on stage in a golf cart retrofitted with huge speakers that are playing his music. He is dressed in a full-length white fur coat, white shutter glasses, and an over-the-top white top hat, and as he drives the golf cart down the ramp he toasts fans with a yard-long cocktail flask hung around his neck full of some florescent liquid he drinks from as he drives down the ramp.
Stanford: …from Daytona Beach, Florida, weighing in at 220 pounds, he is the SPARK Champion, he is VODKAAAAAAAAA FIIIIIIIZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
When he gets to ringside, he drapes the fur coat over the seat of the golf cart and removes the top hat, keeping the shades on. he climbs up on the apron, turning to face the crowd and chugging the remnants of his large drink, finally striking a pose and spraying a mouthful of whatever it is up into the air and letting it rain over him. He grins and winks at the camera, then rolls backwards over the ropes into the ring.
Wright: The SPARK champion found out earlier this week that he’s on double duty tonight, defending his championship against Felix, and then fighting in a North Philly Street Fight against Spike Kane for the X-Crown championship!
Park: It’s a hell of a secondary prize for the EOD semifinalist, even better than the actual prize for winning End of Days this year!
Wright: That’s the beauty of being in FIRESIDE, big moments on the global stage are rewarded at home. Still, he can’t take his eyes off the ball, going for his second defense. If he can win this and another defense, he’ll receive a world title match.
Park: He can’t overlook Felix though, or the contender will make him pay. There’s the bell, here we go!
The bell rings and the champion extends a hand, offering a signing of respect for the martial artist. The two men shake, drawing cheers from the crowd before the handshake quickly turns into a test of strength with both men struggling to get the advantage on their adversary. Eventually, the test of strength is broken as the shorter but heavier Felix manages to get the upper hand, transitioning into a side headlock before shooting the champion into the ropes. Vodka Fizz comes charging back off the ropes ready to fire off a lariat, but the contender ducks down low and waits for the rebound, where he nearly takes Fizz’s head off with an open hand palm strike known as the Shotei, flipping the champion inside out!
Wright: That’s exactly what you were talking about! A devastating power move from the challenger in the early-goings, and now he’s in control!
Park: Can Felix keep the momentum going though?
Felix lowers himself to his opposition’s level and reaches for Fizz’s shoulders, pulling him back up to the mat before using his strength to whip the man into the corner. As Fizz stands against the turnbuckles, Felix brings his weight into a series of tiger palm strikes to the champion’s face as well as vicious knife-edge chops to his chest! Fizz is weary in the corner as Felix rears back, ready to take his head off!
Wright: Could we be seeing the full Hagakure here?
Park: If he can drive his knee into Fizz’s face, Felix will have firmly cemented himself in the driver’s seat!
The challenger jumps up to strike with his knee, but Fizz pulls the rope, hanging up Felix like wet laundry! Fizz gestures for the crowd to get into as he points at Felix, who is stuck between a rock and a hard place with the rope between his legs. The champion grabs the rope and begins bouncing it, causing his opponent to suffer as he’s taken for a ride!
Wright: A real dick move from the champion!
Park: The crowd loves it!
Vodka Fizz keeps it going as referee Melissa Davenport tries to get between the two, then starts a count as she moves to disqualify the champion!
...ONE!
...TWO!
...THREE!
...FOUR!
...Vodka Fizz stops bouncing the rope!
Wright: It was indeed a rope break, though Fizz has taken back control with some unconventional offense.
Park: That’s our champion for you, an unconventional guy through and through!
As the referee finishes admonishing the SPARK champion, he takes a few steps back, examining his opponent who has finally managed to free himself from the unfortunate predicament he found himself in. Vodka Fizz takes the opportunity to introduce himself to NLW’s rising star, getting a full head of steam before charging into a lariat, sending himself and Felix crashing down hard to the floor on the outside!
Wright: If this was the Pick Your Prize Battle Royale, I guess both men would have been out of the match there!
Park: The champion’s in control here, can he keep it going?
Both men are laying on the outside, causing the referee to begin her count!
...ONE!
Vodka Fizz uses the barricade to prop himself back up as he turns to the crowd once more, playing to them before getting his hands on Felix. To his credit, Felix doesn’t fully go along with being pulled back up to his feet, striking back at the champion’s core with some tiger palm strikes! The martial artist manages to free himself from Fizz’s grasp, popping him in the back of the head with an enziguri!
...TWO!
Wright: The contender fires back with a big enziguri!
Park: These two could go to war for this title, a championship that could really launch your career into the FIRESIDE stratosphere!
Wright: I don’t wanna know what NLW would do with it!
...THREE!
Felix returns to an upright position and grabs the SPARK champion firmly, but the champion this time is unwilling to go along with the plan, trying to fire a throat thrust into the challenger’s windpipe, but Felix gets behind Fizz and throws him almost clear across the ringside area with a german suplex, causing the champion to bang his head into the bottom of the steel steps on impact!
...FOUR!
Wright: Oh dear! Fizz’s head caught those hard steel steps on landing!
Park: That could knock a lesser man out cold!
Felix looks on as his opponent grabs the back of his head in pain, somehow not bleeding as a result of the hard impact. The referee’s count continues to climb as the challenger looks on to hit another move.
...FIVE!
Wright: The champion could be in trouble here!
Park: The challenger looks poised to make another big move!
The challenger reaches down and grabs Fizz, delivering a quick and vicious neck twist!
Wright: Tachi!
Park: Vicious and effective, this is starting to look more and more like Felix’s match to lose!
...SIX!
The #1 contender to the SPARK championship reaches down, soaking in the cheers of his fans for a few second as he recuperates before sending the champion into the ring. He decides to put Vodka Fizz out of his misery, going for a pin!
Wright: This might be it!
Park: The cover and the count!
...ONE!
...TWO!
...Vodka Fizz gets a hand on the rope! Fans cheer!
Wright: Fizz gets a hand on the rope, bringing some hope back to the FIRESIDE faithful!
Park: Felix is a novice in the ring and that might have cost him, if he was just a bit further away from the ring ropes we might be looking at a new champion here!
Wright: He’s got to keep a focused assault going here! Scrap anything from the bag of tricks that won’t help him target that injured head and upper neck of the champion!
Felix waits for his crawling opponent to make it back to his knees before reaching out to the crowd, which surprisingly all join along with him as he begins firing off shoot kicks to the champion’s chest! They count along! One! Two! Three! Felix rears back and fires off a spinning heel kick, but the champion already goes down before the kick can even arrive!
Wright: Felix just missed that fourth kick, but the damage may have already been done!
Park: Not the full Naginata, but enough of the Japanese Glaive to maybe put Fizz on dream street! I have a feeling we’re ticking down to a new champion!
Felix quickly goes for his second cover of the match!
...ONE!
...TWO!
...Vodka Fizz kicks out!
Wright: Only two!
As referee Melissa Davenport and Felix discuss the count, Fizz sneaks up from behind, rolling up the challenger into a schoolboy!
Wright: Out of nowhere, a schoolboy pin!
Park: Fizz might steal this one out from under Felix’s nose!
...ONE!
Felix kicks out!
Wright: The element of surprise didn’t do anything for Voddy there!
Park: But this might!
The two men get back to their feet, but Vodka Fizz handsprings into the ropes, before coming back and catching Felix with a stunner! The FIRESIDE crowd roars!
Wright: Uno Mas! Uno Mas!
Park: The champ’s not dead yet! Here’s the cover!
...ONE!
...TWO!
...Felix gets a foot on the bottom rope!
Wright: Two, only two for the champion, operating out of sheer reflex it seems!
Park: You have to stop a man like that any way you can, but does the champion even know where he is right now?
The champion rolls back up to his feet and claps along, getting the crowd involved as he waits for Felix to get back up, before trapping the bent-over champion in his version of an octopus hold, the Hanging Chad!
Wright: Hanging Chad! The champ’s got him trapped!
Park: Things are going from bad to worse for the NLW standout! Can the champ find a way to retain?
Vodka Fizz wrenches on the hold as Felix screams out in pain, his abdominals being stretched while his head is forced away from the rest of his body with Fizz’s leg! Felix reaches for the ropes, but it’s clear he’s caught in no man’s land as he’s a good distance away from the rest of the ring ropes!
Wright: He’s leeching the life out of him!
Park: These fans are on their feet though, cheering both men as Felix fights to get out of this hold!
Felix plants his feet on the ground and begins shaking, trying to fire himself up to free himself from the hold! Fizz wrenches the hold back once more, but Felix is reeling in the applause of his fans and manages to counter into a scoop powerslam, making the ring shake as both men land in the center of the ring!
Wright: There’s that Fighting Spirit from Felix!
Park: They call that Toukon!
Both men are down in the center of the ring, gassed from the intense contest. The crowd cheers for both to get going again, trying to cheer some life into both men. The referee begins counting!
...ONE!
Wright: This is a SPARK championship match, opening our Veteran’s Day edition of FIRESIDE, with champion Vodka Fizz defending against the challenger from NLW, Felix!
Park: It’s been a war so far, and only one man can walk out champion!
...TWO!
Both men are still down as suddenly, the lights go out!
Wright: What the-- what the hell?
Park: We seem to be experiencing some technical difficulties! Standby--
Voice: Vodka. Fizz.
Wright: Who is that??
A raspy voice purred and the screen of the tron flickered to life to reveal the masked form of Donzig reclining on the battered and carved chair that served as his throne. He lifts a hand, absently brushing his fingers across the mask before he turns his visage towards the camera. He sniffs, and his hand waves absently.
Donzig: I should thank you. You see? More than anyone else, you have brought me and Gavin closer together.
Donzig shrugged, and he slowly sat up with a shrug before he leaned forward. His hands dig into the arms of the chair, clawing at the worn carvings of the roaring lions on the ends of them as he continued.
Donzig: You are insolent. You are disrespectful. You played your little game with Drake for that trinket of yours, and you came out ahead. But in your words, eh? In your words I could hear the veiled insults not aimed at Gavin Drake.
Donzig lifted a hand, dragging a taped wrist across the mouth of his mask before he sat back again.
Wright: There is still a match going on!
Park: Someone turn the damn lights back on!
Donzig: No one. NO ONE speaks of the Scourge without paying the price, Fizz. No one puts my name in their fucking mouth without it tasting like ashes, Fizz. You wanted my attention? You wanted the eyes of Oblivion to find you, eh?
Donzig rose angrily, and he tilted his head to glare at the camera. Then his hand lifted and he ripped the mask off, his cold eyes narrowed as he licked his lips. The mask was tossed onto the chair, and he lifted a hand to rake through his wild beard before he spat.
Donzig: Peek-a-boo, Fizz. You see? You may have beaten the young calf, but I promise you that you are not ready for the Old Bull. You wanted a war, Fizz? You wanted to see the Top Banana?
Donzig shrugged, and he smiled that evil smile.
Donzig: See you soon… and Felix? Hello again.
The crowd falls silent, but erupts in jeers and boos when the lights come back to life in angry red. And the Oblivion Death Squad and Sinclair Godfrey were making their way through the fans, shouldering through the ranks as they headed for the ring.
Wright: Donzig has sent his minions to punish the wrestlers in this SPARK Championship Match!
Park: Fizz seems to be catching the brunt of his attention, but we know he’s also been wanting to get back at Felix!
Fizz shouts at the trio, then flips them off to a big pop from the crowd. Felix looks on, realizing that this is about to be a two-on-three fight. Sinclair points at the ring and the Death Squad charges forward, leaping onto the ring before coming through the ropes. Fizz wastes no time, running in to start hammering punches and elbows at the smaller of the pair's head. Felix joins him, raining down tiger palm strikes and knife edge cops to the larger of the pair’s head as well! But Sinclair uses the opening to get inside the ring, and he spins Fizz around to throw a few hard shots of his own.
Wright: Sinclair Godrey and the Oblivion Death Squad are trying to lay waste to this SPARK championship match!
Park: Fizz and Felix aren’t backing down, but the numbers game might be too much!
Mormo grabs Felix and throws him at the ropes, and Moloch catches him with a shoulder block as he rebounds. They start to kick and stomp on Fizz, Moloch kneeling down to start punching him in the face and head as he struggles to cover himself. The fans boo, and Sinclair shouts once more to which Moloch draws back. Mormo grabs Fizz by the neck, dragging him to his feet as he slams down Fizz hard with a brutal chokeslam!
Wright: Fizz is in trouble! He’s got an X-Crown match later tonight!
Park: This match is in shambles! Felix has to be livid to have his opportunity ruined by this group of neanderthals!
A furious Felix leaps at the oncoming Moloch, raining tiger strikes on his head before he grabs at his arm when Moloch goes to swat him away! Felix delivers a hard bicycle knee strike to Moloch!
Wright: Felix fends off Moloch with part of the Uchi-Sute!
Park: This guy’s got heart and a warrior’s spirit, he’s not backing down!
The fans roar for Felix as he rolls back to his feet. Mormo is coming back to his feet, shaking his head angrily before Felix delivers an elbow smash, then tosses him to Fizz! Fizz hooks Mormo up for the Mind Eraser, but before he can hit it, Sinclair hits him in the eyes with the Black Mist!
Wright: Sinclair just spit something in Fizz’ eyes!
Park: That Black Mist hurts like hell, Ollie. I can tell you from experience.
The fans boo as Fizz grabs at his eyes, stumbling backwards as Sinclair snarls angrily as black ooze runs down her chin. She yells, and points at him as the Death Squad has had enough it seems. Mormo throws Fizz at the ropes, and the pair catch him in mid air for the Reality Falls! Fizz crashes to the mat in a heap.
Wright: Reality Falls!
Park: Fizz went for a ride, and Felix is about to join him it seems!
Felix turns around to fight back, but Mormo throws him at the ropes as well, connecting on another Reality Falls, decimating the NLW star!
Wright: Reality Falls part two! The referee has tossed this one out!
Park: Donzig has to be pleased with how this one went for his damned henchmen!
Sinclair claps with delight before she walks over to grab her partners’ arms and raise them. The fans throw trash and debris at the ring, the building filled with boos as Sinclair leans over Vodka Fizz and Felix as she speaks to them mockingly. Security finally rushes the ring, but Sinclair and the Death Squad bail through the crowd, leaving the SPARK championship match in a heap in the ring.
Wright: We’re going to need medical help out here!
Park: We need more security! NLW’s gonna be pissed at us!
Wright: If I was Felix, I’d be angry too! He was this close to becoming champ tonight!
We cut to Misha Constantine sitting in a darkened room in a suit, smiling as he faces the camera.
Constantine: Good evening ingrates. Since I haven't been booked for tonight's show I am not in the building, but I felt it necessary to explain what happened at the previous Inferno. While I could quite easily have won the qualification match, once I had the blank contract that Lucas Nix so stupidly carried to ringside in my possession, I no longer needed to expend the effort. It's called working smarter, not harder.
Now, I've had lawyers go over the contract, and it seems Anthony Caffrey was not smart enough to plan for this kind of eventuality. The contract works for whoever has it, therefore the next time you see it will be when I deploy it to reclaim the title that is rightfully mine. It doesn't matter whether it is Natalie Burrows or MAJESTY; whoever holds the stolen property in their grasp will be relinquishing it soon enough. However much it pains you, you will soon be kneeling once more to the Self-Made God of the XHF.
Stanford: The following match is for a shot at the Wildfire Championship and is scheduled for one fall!
The crowd roars in response, excited to see who gets to fight for the new championship
Stanford: Introducing first, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, weighing 223 pounds, he is ‘Reckless Jack’ BRAAAAAAD KAAAAAAAANEE!
The opening horns of “Torcher II” by DZK begin as the crowd gets to their feet. Once the song really begins, “Reckless Jack” Brad Kane steps out from the back. The former XHF World Champion makes his way to the ring as the long-time fans are excited to see him while some of the newer fans are disgusted by this man. "Reckless Jack" Brad Kane shows little emotion as he enters the ring, showing a face of hate for almost everyone he will get into the squared circle with. The song begins to fade away as he turns his attention to what matters.
Wright: Brad has been having a bit of a rough time lately, let’s see if this match can turn it around for him!
Park: Not if Zolothach has anything to say about it!
Stanford: And his opponent, from Paris, Illinois, weighing in at 165 pounds, she is ZOLOOOOOTHAAAAAAAAAACHHHHH!
“Cthulhu” by Gunship begins playing as torches all along the entranceway and aisle light up. “Zolothach” Tabitha Osborne walks out from the back with a wide grin as she takes in the boos from the crowd. She heads down to the ring with a sexy swagger (but she looks like a corpse so not very many catcalls). She rolls into the ring and leans in her corner.
Wright: Zolothach is here to try and get some momentum after losing the SPARK Championship at Burn It Down, likely over Brad’s dead body!
Park: Knowing her, that might be a little too on the nose.
After the bell, the match starts with Brad Kane and Zolothach measuring each other for a little, Zolothach glaring at Brad as he seems distinctly unimpressed by her corpse-like appearance. The two lock up moments later, both jockeying for leverage before Brad yanks Zolothach over in a hip toss and then catches her with a stiff dropkick as soon as she regains her feet! He quickly sprints to the ropes as she rolls back to her feet, smashing her back down with a heavy clothesline!
Wright: Brad coming out of the gate with a quick combo of moves! He’s gonna have to stay on the offensive if he wants to keep Zolothach down.
Park: Zolothach is one of the toughest women we have on the roster, and she’ll do what she needs to win. Brad’s going to be in for a rough night.
As Zolothach goes to rise Brad swings a heavy kick into Zolothach’s chest… WHICH SHE CATCHES! She yanks Brad closer, throwing him off-balance before she BITES DOWN ON HIS LEG!
Wright: Geez, you weren’t kidding! We’ve seen her do this a few times and it always looks painful!
The ref quickly starts chastening Zolothach for the bite, counting as she refuses to let go despite Brad throwing heavy punches to try and dislodge her!
1...
2…
3…
4…
Zolothach releases the bite, yanking Brad’s leg out from under him as she does… Spilling him to the floor! As he hits the canvas she quickly gets to her feet, stomping down on the spot she bit over and over! Brad manages to roll to his feet, barely avoiding Zolothach lunging in with a running thrust kick! Brad makes her pay for it instantly with a heavy kick to her back as she bounces from the ropes.
Wright: I heard that thud from here! Brad isn’t pulling any punches in this match and that’s exactly what he needs to do!
Park: But look at Zolothach! She’s still standing!
Zolothach had visibly tensed up in pain as the kick connected but now she’s turning with a baleful look in her eyes, snapping up into a STIFF Enzuigiri that levels Brad. She’s quick to capitalize, yanking Brad up just to PLANT him back down with a Gutbuster Drop! Brad rolls away, winded from the impact, as Zolothach climbs up the turnbuckle!
Wright: Zolothach is really turning it around here! She better be careful though, one misstep up there, and all this momentum will be wasted!
Zolothach waits for Brad to get back to his feet and turn toward him, leaping into the air and hitting a picture-perfect Dragon-rana! She grabs the leg, leaning in for the pin!
1...
2...
Brad kicks out!
Park: Looks like Kane still has some left in the tank, though we’ll have to see if it’s enough to turn this around.
Brad is starting to get visibly annoyed as he gets to his feet at the same time Zolotach rolls to hers. He comes in with a big lariat which Zolothach dodges as she sprints past him and BARELY ducks under the BK Backfist on the way back! She manages to rebound again, throwing herself into a hard chop block as Brad checks his momentum and takes him down HARD.
Wright: That would have taken Zolothach’s head clean off if it had connected!
Parker: She managed to make him pay for it, but yeah that was close!
Zolothach wastes no time now that she’s got Brad down again, quickly moving to lock in a deep Achilles Lock and wrenching back hard. Brad writhes in pain for a moment, scrambling for the ropes for a few moments before she cranks back on the hold again!
Wright: Good thinking on Zolothach’s part here… After that chop-block, Brad’s legs have got to be hurting!
Park: Even if he doesn’t tap here, his legs are taking a hell of a beating. That’s going to hurt his striking and power.
Brad reaches for the ropes one more time before the camera catches him mouthing “Alright, you rotten bitch.” before he starts bringing his heel down on Zolothach’s arms and head, bludgeoning her into letting go after a few hard strikes with his heel.
Park: Uh-oh, Brad’s temper is starting to shine through. It was just a matter of time till this happened.
Wright: It seems to be helping him for now, but he’s got to be careful or it might end up costing him!
Jack manages to get to his feet, cursing Zolothach’s name and just about everything else as he gets his feet under him and steps forward before SNAPPING a kick straight to her FACE. This puts her up to her knees, dazed from the impact. Jack snaps a kick into her chest, making her grunt out in pain as he throws kick after kick into her chest! “GONNA MAKE YOU AN A CUP, BITCH!” he yells, kicking two more before LEVELING her with a kick to the head.
Wright: What a tempo change from Brad! He’s like a whole different person! Are we sure he’s sane?
Park: We work at a place that has people like MAJESTY and Poena in it and you ask that?
Wright: … Good point.
Jack goes for the pin, grinding his forearm into Zolothach’s face as he does just for that little extra pain.
1…
2…
Zolothach manages to her shoulder up at the last moment!
Wright: How did she manage to kick out of that?!
Park: Brad is really pushing her but she won’t give up easily. Remember the sleeper hold at Burn It Down?
Jack seems even more incensed at Zolothach’s continued resilience, her kick-out only serving to add fuel to the fire. He quickly yanks her up by her hair into a cravate and slams a few knee strikes straight to her forehead before smashing her back down with a heavy short-arm clothesline. He yanks her up from the floor almost the second she hits the ground, jaw jacking a bit before pushing her back to the ropes and running back to quickly rebound, looking for the Dead Set!
Wright: Brad seems to be looking to put her down for good with this!
Zolothach manages to duck the boot at the last moment, quickly rebounding and SLAMMING Jack in the spine with a Jumping Side Kick as he tries to recover from the miss! As he bounces back from the hit she quickly jumps up, yanking him down into a Crucifix Bomb, holding for the pin!
1…
2…
Jack kicks out with centimeters to spare, rolling over to get to his feet only to catch an Axe Kick from Zolothach right to the back of his head making him crash back to the mat!
Wright: Close call for Brad there! He shouldn’t have given Zolothatch a moment to recover cause this is exactly what happens when you do.
Park: Right on the mark there… I’d be surprised if Brad is still conscious.
Zolothach has to take a moment to regain her bearings after the rapid series of moves, growling over at Jack for a moment before sliding in and going for The Stars Are Right! As she goes to yank Jack’s arm back he revives enough to resist, his arm straining as he tries to fight out!
Park: We’ve seen Zolothach out quite a few away with this over the time she’s been here… if she locks it in this match is over.
Wright: It looks like Brad isn’t willing to be sacrificed that easily though! Look at him fight!
Jack struggles against her but she manages to get his arm back with the leverage, seeming to laugh as she reaches in for the neck hold! That laugh quickly turns to a scream as JACK BITES DOWN ON HER WRIST, making her break the hold!
Park: Turn about is fair play! A good way to break a hold but that can’t have been pleasant for Brad either.
Zolothach manages to make it back to her feet at around the same time but is still reeling from the sudden reversal of fortune, letting Jack slip around behind her and NAIL her to the mat with a Tiger Suplex before rolling back to his feet and BLASTING her with a Kill Shot! Zolothatch crumples to the matt from the brutal kick to the temple but Jack isn’t finished, likely remembering her resilience earlier, and yanks her up before spinning and CRACKING her in the jaw with a mighty BK Backfist. He moves in quickly as she falls, going for the pin!
1…
2…
3!!!
The bell rings as Brad rolls off of Zolotach, standing shakily as his hand is raised after the brutal fight.
Stanford: Here is your winner, qualifying for a shot at the Wildfire Championship, BRAAAAAAD KAAAAAAAANEE!
Wright: What a great match that was! It went back and forth but in the end, Brad’s aggression carried him to the win.
Parker: Take nothing away from Zolothach, she was so close to winning in the end but ended up getting a taste of her own medicine! I hope we see these two again in the future!
Brad... or Jack... Kane looks satisfied as he has his hand raised, finally earning his first win in FIRESIDE.
Walter Stanford: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! The winner will decide the stipulation for their match on next month's Inferno for the FIRESIDE Tag Team Championship!
The crowd cheers.
Walter Stanford: Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Union Jack, from Mexico City, Mexico, weighing in at 155 pounds, representing Bear O'Dactyl, he is PEEEQUUEEEÑOOOOOO DINOSAAAAAAURRRRIOOOOO!
BOOM BOOM ACKA-LACKA LACKA BOOM!
BOOM BOOM ACKA-LACKA LACKA BOOM BOOM!!
’Walk the Dinosaur’ by Was (not was) starts to play, fans, especially the younger ones, begin clapping along to the silly, but infectious beat of the song.
Practically slithering through the curtain, Pequeño Dinosaurio is welcomed to a modest cheer for the brightly coloured técnico who was nearing the end of his rookie year!
Dark green scaled boots lead to a slight fade to light green as his tights approach his waist. His scaled costume is completed with a cape, giving him the look of a pterodactyl!
Making his way to the ring, he shows his love for the fans as he goes, stopping especially to interact with the children of the crowd.
Reaching the ring, the former Television and Tagteam champion leaps from the floor to the ring apron before bounding over the top rope to enter the ring.
Going to all four corners, the brightly coloured rookie poses with his arms outstretched, his ‘wings’ ready to soar to new heights.
Wright: Dinosaurio is the son of the legendary Tiranosaurio. What a chance for this youngster to show us what he's got, and gain some momentum going into his Tag Title match. He's only nineteen, UnJoo!
Park: Dinosaurio and Jack had an impressive win over the Time Jumpers last month, but tonight is a whole new ball game.
Walter Stanford: And his opponent, accompanied to the ring by El Combatiente, from Washington D.C., weighing in at 270 pounds, representing El BANG! Hermanos, he is one half of the FIRESIDE Tag Team Champions, and the former President of the United States, CURRRRTISSSS D... KAAAAANNNYYOOOOOOONNNNN!
"Don't Tread on Me" by Metallica blares over the P.A. Former President Curtis D. Kanyon emerges from the curtain when the cymbal crashes at the 30 second mark. He's got a sledgehammer slung over one shoulder and his Fireside tag team title over the other. Curtis pounds his chest with his fist then raises the hammer in the air. He walks down to the ring, nodding to the fans. He grabs a "BANG!" sign from a fan and shows it to the camera, giving a thumbs up before he tosses it back into the crowd. Curtis then climbs into the ring and goes to the turnbuckles. He climbs a turnbuckle and points to the crowd with his hammer, then hoists it straight up into the air and yells "BANG!" He jumps down and gives his hammer to the ref, ready for action!
Wright: After six months as a double tag champion, at End of Days Kanyon lost the XHF Tag Titles he held with Steve Awesome to the Crinkly Bottom Boys.
Park: And he's still fuming about that. He looks like he wants to take it out on Dinosaurio tonight.
Kanyon has a scowl on his face as he waits for the bell to ring. When it does, he rushes to Dinosaurio with a clothesline but Dinosaurio ducks under with a forward roll. Dinosaurio rolls to his feet and turns to face Kanyon. Kanyon charges at Dinosaurio again but gets caught in an arm drag. Dinosaurio follows it up with a dropkick sending Kanyon to the mat. He quickly goes for the cover. Kanyon shoves Dinosaurio off of him and both wrestlers shoot to their feet. They stare each other down, Kanyon looking incensed. Kanyon starts to advance but Dinosaurio takes him off guard with a series of kicks to his thigh. Dinosaurio then locks Kanyon's head in position for a DDT.
Wright: Dinosaurio is on a roll here!
Park: He's having some trouble with the DDT. Kanyon's too strong.
Kanyon manages to shove Dinosaurio away. Dinosaurio runs towards Kanyon but Kanyon bows his head and plows the crown right into the middle of Dinosaurio's mask!
Wright: Oh my god! What a headbutt!
Park: Did you hear that!?
Instead of going for the cover, Kanyon starts stomping away on Dinosaurio's limp body. When he calms himself, he looks out at Union Jack on the outside. He gives Jack a menacing stare, then runs to the ropes, bounces off them and drives his elbow into Dinosaurio's chest.
Wright: And now Kanyon wants to show Bear O'Dactyl who's boss.
Park: Take a good look, Jack.
Kanyon gets up, looking focused. He bounces off the ropes and delivers another elbow drop. Dinosaurio clutches his chest and rolls over onto his belly. Kanyon grabs his head and lifts him to his feet. He holds Dinosaurio in place by his head, pausing to talk trash to Union Jack. Dinosaurio suddenly pulls Kanyon into a small package!
...ONE!
...TWO!
...THR-KICKOUT!
Park: Did he get him?!
Both men quickly rise to their feet, Dinosaurio still in pain. Without hesitation Kanyon knocks him down to the mat with a huge clothesline.
Wright: Kanyon doesn't know what hit him. That was almost a disaster.
Kanyon takes this moment to get his breath back, his face in a state of disbelief. El Combatiente taps his hand firmly on the mat and shouts words of encouragement to him. Dinosaurio struggles back to his feet and walks into a front face lock. Kanyon hits a powerful vertical suplex. He drags Dinosaurio back upright and hoists him up onto his shoulders for a Death Valley Driver. Before he can hit the move, Dinosaurio slips out and lands on his feet. He steps onto Kanyon's chest for an enzuigiri but Kanyon ducks. Dinosaurio gets back up and Kanyon boots him in the chest. He whips Dinosaurio towards the corner but the whip is reversed. Dinosaurio doesn't have the power to send Kanyon away with much force. Kanyon jogs over to the corner and stops himself with a boot on the middle turnbuckle. He turns around and eyes Dinosaurio up. Kanyon charges over and dives towards Dinosaurio's chest with the BANG! Dinosaurio dives out of the way and Kanyon crashes shoulder first into the corner post!
Wright: He dodged the BANG! Dinosaurio's still alive!
Dinosaurio pulls Kanyon out of the corner and lays him on the mat facing upwards. He climbs up to the top turnbuckle, looks out at the fans as they cheer, then hits a phoenix splash! But hits nothing but canvas!
Wright: Kanyon rolled out of the way!
Park: Beautiful move, but Dinosaurio just knocked himself out.
Both men lay motionless on the mat. Kanyon recovers first and gets to his knees. He brings Dinosaurio up with them, then grabs him roughly in a body slam position and places him in a tree of woe. He kicks Dinosaurio's chest relentlessly for almost ten seconds then throws him back down hard to the mat. Kanyon makes a throat cut gesture.
Wright: What's Kanyon looking for?
He lifts Dinosaurio up and places his head between his legs. He lifts him up then lands a sitout piledriver.
Wright: No!
Park: That was ugly.
Kanyon hooks his leg.
...ONE!
...TWO!
...Dinosaurio kicks out!
Wright: No! Dinosaurio hangs in there!
Park: Kanyon just can't put him away!
Growing increasingly frustrated, Kanyon hoists Dinosaurio back upright and locks in a bearhug. He starts squeezing the life out of Dinosaurio, wrenching his body back and forth with scary power. Dinosaurio looks to be in agony as he struggles to break free. Kanyon keeps the hold locked in tight, and weakens Dinosaurio to the point where he stops struggling.
Wright: He's out!
Park: That could be all she wrote.
Union Jack starts tapping his hand on the mat with a steady rhythm, encouraging the fans to start clapping. Dinosaurio seems to wake up but is still completely helpless. Kanyon looks at the fans with a scowl as El Combatiente yells his name, telling him not to stop. The fans cheer as Dinosaurio slowly raises his arm into the air. He doesn't have the strength to fight out of the move and his arm falls back down. Instead, he butts Kanyon in the head!
Park: What?! Is he crazy?!
Wright: Kanyon's still got it locked in!
The move hurts Dinosaurio more, but Kanyon looks shaken. Dinosaurio headbutts him again and Kanyon releases the hold. Dinosaurio holds his head, looking hurt, then brushes it off. He sprints past Kanyon and handsprings into the ropes. He bounces back and uses the back of his head to smash into Kanyon with a third headbutt!
Wright: Another headbutt! Kanyon's rocked!
Park: I don't believe it!
Kanyon is dazed and looks about to fall down. He just manages to keep his balance while Dinosaurio climbs to the top turnbuckle. Dinosaurio hits a missile dropkick to the face of Kanyon, taking him down. Kanyon quickly gets back to his feet, shaken but not badly hurt. Dinosaurio runs to the ropes, bounces off them and leaps into a headscissors. He rotates once, then sails around Kanyon's back and back up into a double rotation but Kanyon throws Dinosaurio off of him, cutting the move short and causing Dinosaurio to crash hard, face down into the mat.
Wright: Great counter from Kanyon!
Kanyon is stunned however and takes a moment to recover, allowing Dinosaurio back to his feet. Kanyon runs towards him but is caught with a dropkick to the legs, tripping him up and sending him tumbling forward into the ropes. Dinosaurio pulls him out of the ropes and locks him in a 3/4 facelock then runs up the turnbuckles with a Sliced Bread.
Wright: Caída de Dinosaurio!
Dinosaurio goes full circle and lands on his feet but Kanyon remains upright, now free of the hold.
Park: Kanyon got out!
Dinosaurio waits on Kanyon turning around and jumps onto his head looking for a hurricanrana. Kanyon holds him in place, about to hit a powerbomb. Dinosaurio manages to straighten up, step onto Kanyon's shoulders and leap onto the top corner rope. He immediately springs off it with a backflip, landing so he's face to face with Kanyon. He backs away as Kanyon starts running at him. Kanyon ducks under Dinosaurio's leap frog. Kanyon goes all the way to the opposite corner. Dinosaurio backs into his own corner. Both men sprint towards each other at the same time and Kanyon flattens Dinosaurio with the BANG!
Wright: BANG!
Park: Got him!
Kanyon hooks his leg.
...ONE!
...TWO!
...THREE!
The referee calls for the bell.
Walter Stanford: Here is your winner, CUURRRRRTIIIISSSSS D... KAAAAAANNNYYOOOOOOOOONNNNNN!
El Combatiente joins Kanyon in the ring. The other half of the Tag Team Champions high fives his partner. Both men raise their arms in victory.
Wright: Convincing win by Kanyon. Dinosaurio frustrated him at times, but he was no match in the end.
Park: Bear O'Dactyl have a mountain to climb to get to the championships now. Next time it will be the champs' rules.
Greg, Jonnie's Assistant: Hello ladies and (ahem) gentlemen, welcome to The Hearth in Philadelphia, P.A.!
The boos rise over Greg's voice and scattered "Fuck You Evan! *clap* *clap* *clap-clap-clap-clap* chants begin.
Greg, Jonnie's Assistant: Despite its placement on the card, this is your Main Event of the evening as the winner -- our dearest Evan -- will advance to the Wildfire Championship Match!
"Gucci Gucci" by Kreayshawn plays and The Hearth rocks with boos. After a few moments, Evan Valentine Jr. walks out in a Carson Wentz Colts jersey. The lights go out and a spotlight hits him as he holds his arms out, drinking in the hate. The lights come back up and he walks to the ring, slapping signs out of his camera shot. Middle fingers so close they nearly touch him stick out from dozens of fans near the aisle. He stops next to one fan and lets him talk shit to the side of his face while he chews gum. He nods then keeps on going until he gets to the ring apron. He tugs on his Carson Wentz jersey then steps through the ropes. He then then steps on the middle of the second rope, bouncing up and down while the audience jeers and tosses soda cups at him.
Greg, Jonnie's Assistant: And from the home of the Bighorn Sheep, The Desert Tortoise, and The 2021 Battle of the Best Tournament Winner, Palm Springs, California; He stands 5 feet 11 inches tall; He Stole All The Swole At 228 pounds; He's Got So Much Bread He Smells Like A Bakery. The Only Cut He's Getting Tonight Is Of The Gate. He's The Southpaw Who's Mongo's Right Hand Man....EVAN...VALENTINE...JR.!!!!
The boos are very loud as Evan continues to bounce on the middle of the second rope with his hand to his ear. He asks the camera, "You hear that?" then says "Watch this." He spits his gum out at the crowd and the boos get louder.
Wright: And here’s Evan Valentine Jr.! He’s fresh off of teaching the children!
Park: I feel bad for the children.
Rio Grande by Mezcaleros plays over the sound system as you hear the revs of the motorcycle as you see Daku ride out of the curtain and stops his Suzuki Harley style motorcycle that's got blue and black colours with his motorcycle club, The Cutting Blades name with a spider with knives all over it. Daku does his typical knife cut symbol with the fans booing him as he then continues to ride down to the ramp with flames coming out the side of the stage. He goes around once on his Suzuki bike before he stops it right on the right outside of the ramp and turns the engine off with placing his jacket onto it.
Stanford: From Hamamatsu, Japan, weighing 245 pounds he is The Knife of Motorcycles, Daku Suzuki.
Daku slides into the ring and closes his eyes to show his necklace of a knife and a motorcycle on it and does his cutthroat signal before spreading his arms. Daku then opens his eyes and takes off his necklace and drops it on the floor as Daku holds onto the ropes, looking at the entranceway, waiting for the bell to ring for this match.
Wright: Here comes Daku Suzuki, he looks like a man on a mission tonight!
Park: He probably has the biggest challenge of his career tonight, facing a former X*Crown champion.
The bell rings as the two men come out of their respective corners. Evan goes for a lock up, but Daku ducks and dives around the side of Evan and rolls him up with a schoolboy! 1! Kickout! Evan rolls up to his feet and Daku meets him with a knife edge chop to the chest. Evan makes a 360, holding his chest in pain. When he’s back face to face with Daku, he delivers a chop of his own! Daku backs up, tightening his chest, then with a smirk on his face he goes back with another chop! Evan backs up, looking pissed and Daku waves him on, so Evan delivers another chop to the chest back! Daku felt the burn on that one. He gives the audience a look of cheerfulness as he’s enjoying this back and forth. Daku rears back and goes for another chop, but this time Evan grabs the arm and takes him down into a Fujiwara arm bar!
Wright: Starting off hot!
Park: Valentine already showing off his mat prowess.
Daku quickly scooches to the ropes for a break. Evan lets go at three and backs away from Daku, letting him pull himself up. Evan winks at Daku once he’s up and ready. Daku shakes out his right arm and then charges at Evan. He goes for a haymaker, but Evan ducks and grabs the other, previously attacked arm, and jumps back with a backstabber to the elbow! Daku rolls around holding his arm in pain as Evan kips up and brushes off his shoulder. Daku scrambles to his feet and Evan grabs the arm and wrenches it. Evan then hammers an elbow into the arm and wrenches it again. Daku tries to push him off and makes it to the ropes, and hooks a leg into the rope, forcing a break.
Park: Evan Valentine has found a target and he’s zeroed in on it!
Wright: Daku Suzuki needs to be on defense now.
Evan backs up, but smacks Suzuki in the back of the head as he does. Suzuki’s grin is long gone by now. Instead, it’s replaced with a scowl. He shakes his arm out, and starts to circle Evan, who’s begging him to make another move. Daku signals for a lock up. Evan chuckles and cockily nods, sure. Daku and Evan goes to lock up and then struggle for control in the middle of the ring. Daku starts getting the better and backs Evan into a corner. Daku holds Evans in the corner and forces the ref to get between the two to separate them. As he does, Daku hits a thumb to Evan’s throat behind the referee’s back. Evan comes out of the corner choking and gagging. Daku grabs him by the face with the good arm and hits the Throttle Cutter Slam! He covers. One! Two! Kickout.
Wright: Daku is getting back on track!
Park: Daku doing whatever he can to get a win here.
Daku then lands a few punches to the head of Evan before pulling him up off the mat. Daku then hits a throat thrust, causing Evan to gasp for air. Daku takes this opportunity to hit a spinning back fist! Evan stumbles into the ropes. He bounces out into Daku’s waiting arm where he grabs him and swings him for the start of the Knife Cutter!
Wright: Could we see the Knife Cutter right here?
Park: Daku’s looking to punch his ticket!
But Evan uses the swinging momentum to flip around the back of Daku and grabs him for a DDT on the way down. Both men lay on the mat for a few seconds. Evan gets up on all fours and grabs Daku’s right arm on the mat, then drives a knee into it. Then again. He tries for a third, but Daku yanks his arm away, and rolls around holding it. Evan gets to his feet and stalks Daku. Daku gets to all fours and Evan soccer kicks the same arm!
Park: Ouch! That’s got to hurt!
Wright: Evan is not deviating from the game plan.
Daku rolls to the corner and sits up holding his arm. He pulls himself up with the good arm and Evan charges in. Daku gets a boot up, but Evan stops short and grabs the foot. Evan throws the foot down and goes for a Left Hand jab, but Daku dodges and Evan punches the turnbuckle! Daku sneaks behind Evan and locks in the Knife Choke! Evan squirms around looking for a way out, but Daku holds him back. Evan starts punching at the bad arm, loosening Daku’s grip. Evan then uses his feet to climb the turnbuckles while still in the choke hold. He pushes back and floats over Daku as Daku lands on his back. Evan however, doesn’t stay on top of Daku, instead letting Daku sit up and Evan grabs him in a Chicken Wing with the bad arm!
Wright: Evan’s looking for that Evan is a Place on Earth!
Park: Can he get the win and advance to the Wildfire Championship Match?
Daku waves the good arm around, trying to get at Evan, and Evan captures the other arm, into a Double Chicken Wing! Daku writhes around in pain and stretches his legs out to try and reach the ropes. Evan rolls himself and Daku away from the ropes while keeping the Double Chicken Wing locked in, getting them sitting in the middle of the ring. Evan wrenches back and Daku with nowhere to go is forced to tap out!
Wright: It’s over! Evan Valentine Jr. with the submission!
Park: Wow!
Stanford: Here is your winner, Evan Valentine Junior!
The referee raises Evan’s hand as the crowd begins to boo wildly. Valentine takes a bow for his hating fans.
Wright: The former X-Crown champion with an impressive performance!
Park: Daku was game, but Valentine would not be denied tonight!
Stanford: The following match is a Flag Match….for the XHF Juuunnniooorrrrr Heavyweeeiiigghhhttt Championshiiiiip!
Gimme Some Lovin' by The Spencer Davis Group hits the sound system as Florida Man comes dancing through the curtain and down the ramp, waving and smiling to fans as he does so.
Stanford: Whoever captures their flag from the ring corners wins the match, and will become the champion! Introducing first, the challenger from Florida! FLORIDA MAN!
Wright: Well, Floida Man has surely made his presence felt in FIRESIDE lately and becomes the latest contender in a long line to challenge Bloodied Fox for the XHF Junior Heavyweight Title!
Park: It’s getting to the point where we’re asking “is there anybody who can take the title from Fox?
The arena lights pulse red as Tom Morello's guitar slams through the speakers, the fans cheering and singing along as Bloodied Fox steps through the curtain and raises the XHF Junior Heavyweight title high. Banging his head to the beat, he strides down the ramp and circuits the ring, bumping fists with anyone who wants it, before sliding in and standing midring. He tears off his entrance mask as the chorus hits, screaming out the lyrics along with the crowd, a grin on his face. He points up to the state flag of Florida.
Wright: You know, when we booked a Flag Match for Veterans Day, I think we were expecting you know, the flags of the countries?
Park: I wouldn’t have expected anything less from Florida Man.
Stanford: And the challenger, from Anaheim, California, she is the Californian Angel, the Goddess of War, she is REBECCCCCCCAAAAAA BROOOOOOKEEEEEEESSSSSS!
The beats of “Headshot” begin to play throughout the arena as the house lights shine down a blue hue, circling around the arena and the stage.
Wright: This could be a career night for Brookes, first with a shot to become the XHF Junior Heavyweight champion, then she could become a tournament finalist and take one step closer to winning the Kindling!
Park: I’m excited for her! She’s great and the crowd is really getting on her side.
The crowd sings the chorus in waiting for Rebecca Brookes. They cheer wildly, waiting for her to break through the curtain and emerge through to greet her adoring audience. Time begins ticking and ticking, to the point where the commentators have to fill time waiting for her.
Wright: What’s Brookes’ strategy tonight?
Park: She’s gotta just nail someone with that bicycle knee strike of hers. The American flag and the title are hers if she can just take her opponents down with the flag.
With no Brookes in sight, Stanford awkwardly continues on.
Stanford: And his opponent, they are the XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion, BLOODIIIIEEEEEEDDD FOOOOOOXXXXX!
Park: The champion has fought long and hard to keep the belt.
Wright: It is certainly a great reign Bloodied Fox is currently creating, whether you go by the old XHF era or the Network era.
Park: Fox is, of course, going for the LGBT flag in that corner.
Wright: One of the best LGBT wrestlers -- hell, best wrestlers to ever do it, but he’s repping his community with pride tonight.
The referee calls for the bell and the two competitors prepare for the battle. The crowd is confused as there’s still no sign of Brookes.
Wright: Well, this three-way match begins without one of its competitors!
Park: Weird, there has to be some kind of explanation!
Florida Man begins to flex his muscles as Fox comes flying out of the corner with a diving forearm. It rocks Flo, who staggers a foot, so Fox hits the ropes again and hits another causing the same reaction. As Bloodied Fox goes for a third, Flo catches him and hits a belly to belly suplex! Fox rolls through to his feet and goes for another one, but this time Florida Man catches Fox and sends them over the top rope to the outside.
Park: Well, holy crap, that was straight to the outside!
Wright: I don’t even think he meant to do that.
Flo leaps over the ropes, running towards Bloodied Fox with a clothesline, but Fox catches Florida Man unaware with a superkick. As Flo reels back, rubbing his eyes, Fox snaps forward with a sling blade, taking Florida Man to the ground and going to town with a vicious series of kicks to the Floridian’s torso.
Wright: Wow Fox is trying to finish this with a burst of energy.
Park: That’s not a bad tactic, tire out Florida Man and coast to victory.
Florida Man blocks the flurry of offense, lashing out with a stiff kick to the side of Fox’s knee, causing the champion to stagger back, giving Flo the chance to get back to his feet and recover. The American snaps forward, repaying the stinging superkick from earlier with a savage eye gouge that sends Fox reeling against the barricade. Flo grabs Fox by the neck, before gesturing towards the crowd and then Fox’s exposed chest, before laying into him with brutal cross chops that quickly leave angry welts on Fox’s chest.
Wright: Oooh, did you hear those chops?
Park: I think the whole world heard those chops.
Wright: Maybe Brookes heard them?
Park: Where is she? She’s missing out on this match!
Wright: I’m trying to figure this out, people are looking but no one knows!
Before Fox can get his bearings and try to work a strategy to counter the chops, Flo grabs Bloodied Fox by the neck and throws him bodily into the steel steps, leaving the XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion wincing in pain as his body spasms and arches from the impact. Flo watches him, breathing heavily as he catches his breath, before stalking over to the announce tables and grabbing a chair. As Fox tries to get to his feet, Florida Man drives the base of the chair into his gut, pinning Fox to the floor as he tries to angle the chair in such a way that he can sit on it.
Park: That is one way to use a chair.
Wright: It’s….well it works.
Fox, however, fights out from under the furniture, shoving it and Flo away from him. Fox reaches under the ring, pulling out…a baseball bat!
Park: Well, things just picked up.
Wright: There’s no disqualifications in a Flag Match!
Fox swings the bat, before rushing towards Florida Man and battering him against the announce table. Flo throws up his arms to try to block the onslaught, but Fox’s ferocity is enough that Flo clearly begins to break down, the force of Fox’s strikes shaking the table underneath him. He isn’t able to get any shots to Flo’s head, but by the time Fox drops the bat on the floor Florida Man is clutching both of his arms in agony. Fox circles around him, determined. He looks up towards the flag in the corner, before looking back down to Florida Man.
Wright: He could end this, but I think he wants to make sure he ends this.
Park: That could come back to bite him in the ass.
Flo shakily rises to his feet, slapping feeling back into both of his arms, swinging them in an effort to get the blood pumping. Fox is still down on the outside.
Wright: We’re getting word that Brookes has been located-- in the Hearth parking lot?
Park: Let’s cut to the parking lot!
The camera pops as a limping Rebecca Brookes is seen passing through the double doors of the parking lot into the backstage area. She looks furious and is wielding a metal pipe that has traces of blood on it. The camera captures her moving with purpose and her bloody kneecap as she continues towards the ring area!
Wright: Someone jumped Brookes in the parking lot!
Park: Oh no! Give her credit, she’s doing her best to hobble out here!
Wright: She’s got another match later tonight too, this is no good!
Back in the ring, Fox nods at the man as he staggers upright… but then Flo lunges forward, slamming Fox to the ground and laying into him with a HUGE Thesz Press!
Wright: OH HO! OUT OF NOWHERE!
Park: Agile move by Florida Man!
Flo is shouting with incoherent rage as he lays into Fox on the ground, the press transitioning into a simple ground and pound. Fox tries to block the frenzied, rage and grief fueled assault, but can only do so much as Flo throws everything he has into the prone Fox!
Park: Florida Man really does embody the state of Florida doesn’t he?
Wright: That’s some genuine emotion there, for….some reason.
Flo lets up after a few long moments, exhausted, over the battered and bruised but not quite bloodied Fox… he looks up at the flag from downl on the outside of the ring. Instead he stands up, still not quite steady on his feet, and hauls Fox up with him. He throws Fox callously onto the apron, shoving him under the ropes before walking back and picking up Fox’s own bat that, so very recently, was used to batter his arms damn near into noodles. He tests the weight once, twice, before rolling in to try to finish the job.
Park: Oh boy...
Wright: Well, one good turn does deserve another.
By the time Flo gets back into the ring, Fox has used the ropes to climb back to his feet. He isn’t standing tall and proud, his face looking somewhat like freshly tenderized steak, but he gives a bloody smile and beckons Flo to bring it on. Flo gives another guttural shout and charges forward, the baseball bat raised high… but Fox goes low, catching Flo before he can bring the weapon down and pulling Flo into a snap FOX TRAP SUPLEX into the turnbuckles, sending the bat rolling to the other side of the ring!
Park: Wow, did you see that!?
Wright: The Champ caught Florida Man offguard there.
The XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion rolls outside of the ring and sets up a table, before slowly marching across the ring, cocking his head before storming across the ring, leaping into the air, and slamming his feet into the face of Florida Man with a huge dropkick which rocks the head of Florida Man back into the turnbuckle. Fox rolls away and tries to catch his breath, thinking about going for the flag.
Wright: Is Fox going to finally make a move for the flag?
Park: He better at least start thinking about it.
Florida Man snaps to his feet, anger and adrenaline driving his movements more than anything else. He rushes forward, trying to catch Fox off balance, but Fox ducks under him, moving around and hitting the ropes before coming back with the BLOODY RAIN!!! Flo drops to the mat like a sack of potatoes, and Fox thinks about going for the flag, but Flo grabs his leg. With a quick kick to the face, Flo drops the hold. Fox nods to himself, and the crowd before heading to the ropes. Fox signals for it, and leaps through the air with the jumping into and then off of the ropes for the Air Vulpine!! BUT FLORIDA MAN GOT HIS KNEES UP!
Wright: OH NO! KNEES UP!
Park: Florida Man has clearly been doing some scouting.
The two roll on the floor, before they begin to eye each other’s respective flags. They both begin to crawl across the ring towards the corners. Fox grabs the ropes, and launches up onto the turnbuckle, while Flo is pulling themselves up with their upper arm strength.
Park: They’re almost neck and neck here.
Wright: HERE! IT! GOES!
Bloodied Fox is on top of the top turnbuckle, as he grabs Florida Man’s flag with both hands. While in the opposite corner Florida Man is using the turnbuckle to pull himself up. He reaches for the flag and tries to pull it out of the holder when “Headshot” by Lil Tjay hits the arena speakers!
Park: Wait, what’s going on?
Wright: It’s Brookes!
The crowd roars as Rebecca Brookes emerges at the top of the ramp, brandishing a steel pipe and a furious look on her face as she hobbles down to the ring, doing her best to keep her composure as she slides into the ring.
Wright: She can barely walk!
Park: But look at the look on her face! She is determined as all hell!
Fox and Florida Man do their best to turn their attention to Brookes, but she’s coming in like a ball of hot fury! She ducks a flying lariat from Fox and strikes with a hard chop to the back of the neck, then a clubbing forearm to the back of the head, followed by a bridging full nelson suplex!
Wright: Watch the Throne!
Park: Is it too little too late for Brookes though?
Brookes, knowing she’s in a bad way, looks up towards the American flag and begins to climb for it. Her footing is clearly shaken, and Florida Man takes advantage of this when he goes low with a brutal chop block!
Wright: Oh oof!
Park: Just sick to watch!
Florida Man tries to brag as he laughs at Brookes, but she sweeps his leg from the mat and takes him down, raining down punches in a ball of fire! She curses and screams at him, and it becomes apparent that he may have been behind the parking lot assault! She goes to reach for the lead pipe and blasts him with it!
Wright: Brookes is getting payback here!
Park: Good for her! Get him!
She goes to reach back to strike him again, only to have her arms trapped, and she’s sent flying out of the ring with Bloodied Fox’s version of an exploder suplex, the B4!
Wright: Oh no-- Fox caught her lying in wait!
Park: The champ’s got some regrets there, but it’s all in the name of being champion!
Bloodied Fox turns his attention back to the corner where the LGBT flag is flying high. He begins slowly but steadily working his way towards it, exhausted from the war he’s been fighting with Florida Man. He gets to the turnbuckles and begins to ascend.
Wright: Fox may be about to win here!
Park: If he takes down his flag, it’s over!
He reaches up for the flag and goes to take it down, only for the lights to go off!
Wright: Wait a minute! What the hell?
Park: Who turned the damn lights off?
CRASH!
There is an audible crash and an “ooh” from the crowd before the lights come back on and Bloodied Fox is no longer in the ring, but is instead at ringside laying amongst the wreckage of a table.
Wright: WHO PUT FOX THROUGH THE TABLE!?
Park: Oh my God!
Wright: Fox is down! Fox is down!
Park: And look who’s still standing!
Florida Man looks around confused, he notices that Fox is down at ringside. He looks around again, before looking at the crowd, he grins, and then he smiles, before he reaches up for the flag of Florida, climbing to the second turnbuckle, he lifts it into the air and waves it above his head as the referee calls for the bell.
Stanford: Here is your winner….aaaaaaaannnnnnddd….NEW!!! XHF! JUNIOR! HEAVYWEIGHT! CHAMPION! FLORIDAAAAAAA MAAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!
Park: The majestic reign of Bloodied Fox has finally come to an end -- at the hands of Florida Man??
Wright: We have a new XHF Jr Heavyweight Champion, what a night for Florida Man! Murphy’s Law, I guess? What the hell?
A rousing round of disappointment permeates the Hearth as the reign of Bloodied Fox comes to a screeching halt. Florida Man takes a victory lap around the ring before he’s even given the championship. Meanwhile, medics have run to the ring to check on Bloodied Fox and Rebecca Brookes.
Wright: Bloodied Fox did everything in his power, and both he and Brookes got screwed out of the title here!
Park: That damned Florida Man!
Florida Man holds the title high, drawing furious boos from the crowd. There is a new XHF Junior Heavyweight champion.
Stanford: Ladies and gentlemen! The following contest is a qualifying match for the Wildfire championship!
Stanford: Introducing first, from Carlysle, Cumbria and weighing in at 253 pounds, he is…. GAVIIIIIIIN DRAAAAAAKE!
Human by Rag 'n' Bone Man starts to play, and Gavin Drake makes his way to the ring.
Wright: Drake has had a tough time of it lately, he has to be itching for a win tonight.
Park: After his drubbing at the hands of Vodka Fizz, he’s gotta be feeling pretty down. Who knows how that will affect this match with MYOJIN.
Stanford: And his opponent, from San Diego, California and weighing in at 165 pounds, he is the shining star, MYYOOOOOOJIIIIIIIIN!!!
The lights dim down while the catchy, fast paced rock of RAINBOWS by A9 echoes as a spotlight suddenly appears on a figure on the ramp, with his back turned and begins kneeling. Once the beat finally kicks in, MYOJIN explodes with energy- wearing a masquerade-style mask over his eyes, and turns around with a confident smile on his face, raising his arms to soak in the positive reaction from everyone around.
With his blonde locks hanging over his face. He then whips his head back, flipping his hair out of his face before excitedly running down the ring before performing a cartwheel and a jump, landing on his feet near ringside!
He climbs up to the apron, grabs a hold of the top rope, and slingshots himself into the ring. MYOJIN performs a somersault roll, landing on his side with a hand on his hip. The other, taking off his mask to reveal his piercing blue eye contacts. He tosses it aside nonchalantly before climbing up the top turnbuckle, tilting his head upward as if he’s looking toward the sky- while the lights mimic stars above. He backflips off, back onto his feet while taking off his flamboyant coat and moving to his corner. The lights go back to normal as he checks his wrist tape. His charismatic smile fading to a more focused expression as he paces back and forth, ready for action.
Park: MYOJIN is on a hot streak since he came back from his hiatus after losing the X-Crown to Evan Valentine Jr.
Wright: Now he has a chance to be the face of a whole new division. If you ask me, MYOJIN has to be the favorite to win this thing.
Drake and MYOJIN stare each other down for a moment, before Drake raises his fist to offer MYOJIN a fist bump, which MYOJIN returns in a surprising show of respect between the pair. The referee calls for the bell, and Drake is quick to attack with a hard left cross that sets MYOJIN staggering. MYOJIN tries to create some distance between them, but Drake grabs him by the head from behind, slamming MYOJIN down into his knee.
Wright: Strong start from Drake!
Park: MYOJIN is well versed in stiff moves.
MYOJIN clutches his head, but Drake makes no move to go for the pin, shouting at MYOJIN to get up. Drake crouches in the corner as MYOJIN gets back to his feet, aiming for the running dropkick, but MYOJIN gets out of the way. Drake hits the turnbuckle hard, and MYOJIN follows up with a bulldog, following up with a springboard moonsault. MYOJIN goes for a pin, but Drake kicks out with authority before the ref can count one. Both men are quick back to their feet. MYOJIN charges at Drake, but Drake turns MYOJIN inside out with an absolutely brutal clothesline. Drake hauls MYOJIN back to his feet, whipping MYOJIN into the corner. Drake follows MYOJIN into the corner with a running dropkick to a huge pop from the crowd. Drake kips up and grabs MYOJIN, whipping him into the opposite corner and following with another running dropkick. Again, he grabs MYOJIN and whips him into the opposite corner, following with a third running dropkick.
Wright: Gavin Drake is proving why he’s made of!
Park: MYOJIN definitely needs to mount some offense if he wants to beat Drake tonight.
MYOJIN staggers out of the corner and falls to his knees. Drake goes to haul him to his feet but MYOJIN counters with a jawbreaker, followed by a thrust kick to the chin that sets Drake staggering. MYOJIN attacks again with another thrust kick, but Drake still manages to stay on his feet. MYOJIN bounds off the ropes and hits Drake with a running dropkick of his own, knocking Drake off his feet. MYOJIN goes for the pin!
ONE! TWO!!
Kickout!
Park: Near fall for MYOJIN!
Wright: Drake is bringing it tonight!
Drake scrambles to his feet, still trying to get his bearings. MYOJIN comes in and grapples with Drake, transitioning to a waistlock and driving sharp punches into Drake’s kidneys. Drake locks an arm around MYOJIN’s head, driving punches of his own into MYOJIN’s head. Drake gets the better of the exchange, and counters with a headlock driver. Drake goes for the pin.
ONE! TWO!! THRE-
Kickout!
Wright: MYOJIN digging deep to kick out of that one.
MYOJIN is slow to start to move again. Drake is standing over him with a savage grin on his face. He taunts MYOJIN, slapping him and shouting at him to get back to his feet. MYOJIN finally starts to climb to his feet and Drake is quick to strike, running to the ropes and vaulting to the top one, executing a springboard moonsault. Rather than go for the pin, Drake gets back to his feet and taunts MYOJIN, smirking. MYOJIN finally starts to stir and this time Drake grabs him, yanking him to his feet and setting up the Hangover Kudo Driver. He nails the move to a huge pop from the crowd.
Drake refuses to go for the pin again, shaking his head as he gets back up to his feet, crouching over the prone form of MYOJIN and shouting at him to get to his feet again. Drake shakes his head, pulling MYOJIN up to his feet and signalling for the Reignmaker. He whips MYOJIN into the ropes, but out of nowhere MYOJIN reverses into a DDT leaving both men prone.
Park: MYOJIN is putting up a hell of a fight.
Wright: Nobody expected MYOJIN to give Drake this much trouble, but this has been one hell of a match so-far.
MYOJIN is the first back to his feet and he crouches in the corner, setting up for the spear. Drake finally gets up, turning in time to catch a spear from MYOJIN, who immediately goes for the pin.
ONE!
Kickout!
Wright: The incredible resilience of Gavin Drake is on display tonight.
Park: That spear barely phased Drake.
Drake gets to his feet again, turning to catch another spear from MYOJIN, who mounts Drake and starts driving sharp blows into Drake's face. Drake counters with a headscissors and MYOJIN breaks away. Drake uses the corner ropes to pull himself to his feet, MYOJIN charges in to attack, but Drake stops him cold with a superkick! Rather than go for the pin, however, Drake turns back to the turnbuckle, yanking off the turnbuckle pad. He goes to pick up MYOJIN, setting up a for the buckle bomb on the exposed turnbuckle, but MYOJIN reverses it into a sunset flip. MYOJIN goes for the pin.
ONE! TWO!! THRE-
Kickout by Drake!
Park: And Drake kicks out!
Wright: It’s going to take more than that!
Drake looks like he’s getting frustrated and stomps away from MYOJIN, trying to compose himself. MYOJIN gets to his feet, shaking off the cobwebs, and charges at Drake, intending to take the advantage back if he can. Drake turns to walk into a devastating clothesline from MYOJIN. MYOJIN is quick to capitalize, hooking Drake into a Cross Armbar. Drake howls in pain as MYOJIN continues to apply pressure, but he refuses to submit. MYOJIN shouts at him to surrender, but Drake keeps shouting no. Drake tries to break free, straining against MYOJIN, but it seems inevitable that Drake is going to be forced to surrender.
Drake makes like he's going to tap but doesn't, letting out a bellow of pain as he manages to exert enough force to flip over MYOJIN, though MYOJIN is still managing to exert enough force that Drake looks to be in agony. Drake manages to get his feet underneath him and brute force his way to his feet. MYOJIN still refuses to let go, but there is a look of awe on his face as Drake manages to lift him above his head. Finally Drake turns and slams MYOJIN into the turnbuckle in an absolutely brutal buckle bomb. MYOJIN is out, but Drake hasn't escaped unscathed either, as Drake leaps away rather than going for the pin, heavily favoring his shoulder.
Park: Gavin Drake may have just missed out on his best chance yet to end this match.
Drake and MYOJIN both struggle their way back to their feet and MYOJIN is the first to strike, chopping Drake across the chest. Drake responds in kind, coming back with a left cross to the Jaw that sets MYOJIN staggering. MYOJIN comes back with a cross of his own. Drake comes back with a knee to the gut, followed up with a facebuster knee. MYOJIN staggers again and Drake takes the corner, waiting for his moment to strike. MYOJIN seems to get his bearings in time for Drake to hit him with a running dropkick into the corner. He follows it up with an irish whip into the opposite corner and another running dropkick.
The crowd pops and Drake pauses his offense for a moment to play to the crowd, preparing for something big. Drake runs for a third dropkick but MYOJIN dodges at the last moment and Drake eats the turnbuckle. MYOJIN follows up with a bulldog, putting Drake in the mat. He plays to the crowd, who pops for MYOJIN, who hauls Drake back to his feet. Before he can lock up, Drake claps his hands over MYOJIN's ears, disorienting MYOJIN. MYOJIN yelps and rolls away, disoriented. The referee goes to check on MYOJIN, who immediately responds with a double knee facebuster!
MYOJIN doesn't realize it was the referee he took out and goes for the pin. Drake smirks and drops down, counting a two count before stopping. MYOJIN looks bewildered, then locks eyes with Drake, who smirks as MYOJIN panics when he realizes he's taken out the referee. MYOJIN springs to his feet, trying to attack Drake but Drake drives a knee into MYOJIN's gut, pushing him into a standing headscissors. Drake hauls MYOJIN up onto his shoulders in position for an electric chair drop. MYOJIN notices Drake is heading for the exposed turnbuckle and starts to struggle, driving punches into Drake' head, but Drake is resolute, getting MYOJIN into position and dropping him face first on the exposed turnbuckle to a collective "OH!" from the crowd.
Wright/Park(in unison): Oh my god!
Crowd: HO-LY SH*T! HO-LY SH*T!
Drake looks at the unmoving MYOJIN and the still recovering ref and then grins. Drake hauls MYOJIN up to his feet and sets him up for a powerbomb this time, dropping MYOJIN spine-first on the turnbuckle to another gasp from the crowd. He doesn't release the powerbomb, hauling MYOJIN up again and slamming him on the exposed turnbuckle again, and then a third time, before spinning and hitting MYOJIN with the Reignmaker. Drake goes for the pin, but the ref is slow to respond.
ONE! TWO!!
Suddenly, with a burst of energy out of nowhere, MYOJIN reverses the pin into a modified cradle, grabbing the ropes out of the referee’s view to give himself more leverage. Drake struggles, but can’t get quite enough leverage to kick out.
ONE! TWO!! THREE!!!
Park: MYOJIN has conquered Gavin Drake!
Wright: I don’t know about you, UnJoo, but I’m looking forward to the next round to see if Myojin can keep this up!
Stanford: The winner of this match, qualifying for a shot at the Wildfire Championship, MYOJIN!!
Stanford: Ladies and gentlemen! The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a Tornado Tag Team Match to determine the Kindling Finalists!
The beats of “Headshot” begin to play throughout the arena as the house lights shine down a blue hue, circling around the arena and the stage. Soon comes The Californian Angel standing front and center of the stage, with a shine to her eye as she looks around the arena with a smile on her face. Rebecca looks around the arena before she slowly twirls around on the top of the ramp, showing off the sparkling gems within her ring jacket.
Stanford: Introducing first… wrestling out of Anaheim, California and weighing in tonight at one hundred and fifty-nine pounds… She is “The Californian Angel”, “The Goddess of War”... REBECCA BROOOOOOKESSSSSSSSSS!!!!
Rebecca takes one final deep breath before she could make her charge to the ring, high fiving every fan that she passes and hugging the children that reach out to her. The crowd sings the chorus as Rebecca makes her way around the ring, climbing onto the apron and looking out to the thousands of fans as she raises her hand up to the air and waves to the fans, the crowd cheering wildly for Rebecca as she nods her head before entering the ring as she heads to the corner and climbs to the second rope as Rebecca soaks in the crowd's cheerful reaction.
Wright: The crowd loves Rebecca Brookes.
Park: She’s a great wrestler, and I’m looking forward to see if she can keep bringing it as hard as she did last week.
The arena lights dim as a bassline begins to play. While a silver mist slowly fills the stage, the fans wait in anticipation. A deep voice starts singing in a whisper. Then, a dark figure walks through the mist. Completely decked out in black, the teenager slowly walks forward. The camera mostly keeps its distance. Different angles give a better look, but their face is still mostly obscured in darkness. After climbing the steps and entering the ring, the volume of the music increases.
"I hear the sons of the city and dispossessed
Get down, get undressed
Get pretty but you and me
We got the kingdom, we got the key
We got the empire, now as then
We don't doubt, we don't take direction"
The mist has thinned but the arena is still dark. The song quietens down.
"Lucretia, my reflection, dance the ghost with me"
Then reaches its loud finale. The lights come back on and the fans cheer. The camera focuses on Sam Sawyer's cold, glaring face.
Stanford: And her partner, from Houston, Texasand weighing in at 160 pounds, they are… SAAAAAAAAM SAWYEEEEER!!
Sam makes his way down to the ring. Brookes offers him a high five, but Sawyer just looks at her blankly, then goes to lean against one of the turnbuckles.
Wright: Brookes trying to reach out to Sam, but they seem pretty disinterested in niceties.
Park: Sam Sawyer is my kinda kid.
Stanford: And their opponents, introducing first, from San Diego, California and weighing in at 299 points, Ehe is EDWAAAAAARD ZEEEEEEEEPP!!
The menacing synth and deliberate drums of "Blood Moon" by Dance With The Dead signals the arrival of Ed Zepp, who stalks toward the ring with a look of annoyance that's obvious even through his pair of dark sunglasses. He bounds up to the apron with one step and over the top rope with another, then briefly points a fist to the crowd around him.
Wright: Zepp is the biggest man in this match, and he’s here to make an impact.
Park: He’s a big, intimidating dude, and he has to be the favorite to win the Kindling.
Stanford: And his partner, from Alsace-Lorraine, France, and weighing in at 230 pounds, she is…. AAAAAAPAAAAAATHYYYYYYY!!!!
SKYND - Michelle Carter starts to play, and Apathy makes her way to the ring.
Wright: Just like everyone else, Apathy is here with a chip on her shoulder and something to prove.
Park: Considering her and Zepp have a combined 199 pounds on Sawyer and Brookes, she should have an easy time of it.
The referee calls for the bell and the match is underway. Zepp & Apathy are on the same page, and the pair attack Sawyer and Brookes respectively. Zepp rains heavy blows on Sawyer, who does their best to weather the monstrous man’s attacks, while Apathy whips Brookes into the ropes and catches her with a cane toss, catching her in mid air in a sleeper hold.
Wright: Zepp and Apathy are wasting no time!
Park: Sawyer’s doing alright, but Brookes seems to be missing a step since her last strong showing.
Brookes tries to get a foot on the ropes to try and force a break, but the official waves it off. Brookes manages to get a grip on Apathy’s head and drops to the mat, hitting the other woman with a Jawbreaker to break the sleeper hold. Sawyer, for their part, manages to weather the seven-foot-tall Zepp’s attack, but it is a lariat from behind from Brookes that gives the young gun a chance to fight back. Sawyer blasts Zepp with a knee. Brookes does the same. Sawyer fires off a second knee. Brookes does as well. Zepp stumbles into the ropes and both Sawyer and Brookes nail him with shotgun dropkicks to send the monstrous wrestler out to the floor.
Park: Great tandem offense from Brookes and Sawyer!
Wright: If they can stay on the same page, they might just take this one, UnGoo.
Brookes offers a fist bump to Sawyer, who just stares at her. Sawyer turns to walk away, but Brookes grabs them. Sawyer shoves her, and she shoves back. It looks like the duo is going to come to blows until Apathy wipes them both out with a double lariat.
Wright: And just like that, the dream is dead.
Park: Sawyer and Brookes must know they’ll need to work together if they want to win this match.
Apathy hauls Sawyer up from the mat, setting them on their feet. She launches herself into the ropes and tries for another clothesline, but Sawyer ducks at the last moment. Apathy bounds off the opposite ropes and Brookes levels her with a discus elbow that Sawyer follows up with a shining wizard.
Wright: Brookes and Sawyer showing that great teamwork again!
Park: It seems like they don’t rub each other the right way, though.
Brookes goes for the pinfall, but Sawyer pulls her off of Apathy and pins her instead.
ONE! TWO!!
Kickout by Apathy!
Brookes pulls Sawyer to his feet and shouts at them. Sawyer rolls his eyes and turns his back on her. Brookes looks disgusted, stomping her feet, but Sawyer seems largely nonplussed by the whole exchange. Zepp is back up on the apron. Sawyer spots him and they charge at the big man, hitting with a football tackla and grabbing around his waist. Brookes follows up with a step-up leg lariat, using Sawyer to get the height she needs to catch Zepp in the throat, driving Zepp to the floor in a huge leg drop.
Wright: It is an absolute shame that Brookes and Sawyer can’t get along.
Park: With moves like that, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that duo as the Fireside tag champs.
Brookes and Zepp brawl outside of the ring. Sawyer prepares for a slingshot crossbody to Zepp, but Apathy catches them around the waist and goes for the overhead belly to back suplex. Sawyer lands on their feet, following up with a running knee strike to the back of Apathy’s head. They follow up with the STO!
Wright: This Corrosion from Sawyer!
Park: You know what that means!
Sawyer goes up top and launches himself off for the Sawyersault, but Apathy gets her knees up. Sawyer is sidelined, writhing and gasping as they try and catch their breath
Wright: Sawyer could have broken ribs after that!
Park: It’s a smart defensive move.
Sawyer & Apathy are both down in the ring while Brookes and Zepp continue to trade blows on the outside. It looks like Brookes might take the advantage, until Zepp catches her with a hard kick to the abdomen. He hauls her up by the throat with both hands and hits Psychomania, dropping her across the barricade!
Wright: PSYCHOMANIA!
Park: Brookes has to be donezo after that.
Zepp finally makes his way back into the ring. Apathy is back on her feet as well, though Sawyer still appears to be recovering. Zepp shouts something at Apathy, who rolls her eyes but goes to the corner opposite Sawyer. Zepp hauls Sawyer up off the mat by the throat and fires off another Psychomania, but this time Apathy is in place to catch Sawyer and hit a lungblower!
Wright: What even was that?!
Park: Looks like Sawyer and Brookes aren’t the only ones with good tag team chemistry!
Zepp goes for a pinfall on Sawyer!
ONE! TWO!!
Brookes breaks up the pin with a running bicycle Knee to Ed Zepp!
Wright: DESOLATE MIDNIGHT! This is how Brookes won her qualifier!
Park: But she still has Apathy to contend with
Apathy grabs Brookes before she can capitalize on Zepp being down, hauling the Californian onto her shoulders and obliterating her with the DQD!
Wright: And speaking of Apathy, she puts Brooks down with the Dynast Queen Driver!
Park: Everyone is down in the ring! If someone can’t muster the gas to get up, it looks like the gauntlet finals are going to be Ed Zepp vs Apathy!
Apathy goes for the pin!
ONE! TWO!!
Sawyer makes the save!
Wright: Somehow Sam Sawyer managed to save his partner from being pinned!
Park: Somehow they always manage to surprise us!
Apathy is quick to her feet. Sawyer goes for their running lariat, but Apathy ducks it and hits a lariat of her own. Apathy hauls Sawyer up off the mat and hits them with a Saito Suplex. She picks them up again and nails another. She hauls them up and hits a third Saito Suplex! She hauls them up again and hits the Tiger/Dragon suplex combo!
Wright: Apathy is going wild with the suplexes!
Park: This chick is wrecking shop Ollie!
Apathy hauls Sawyer up again, firing off an overhead belly to back suplex, but Sawyer lands on their feet and follows up with a springboard moonsault to the prone Apathy. They roll through and run to the opposite ropes, hitting another springboard moonsault. They go up top, aiming for another Sawyersault, this time nailing the move!
Wright: Sawyer nails the Sawyersault!
Park: If they can capitalize, Sawyer and Brookes still have a chance to move on to the finals!
Sawyer goes up top again and launches themself off the turnbuckle for another Sawyersault. He nails it, but before he can go for the pinfall, Zepp grabs him by the throat, nailing the Mute Button!
Wright: Zepp just hit a pause button on whatever momentum Sam Sawyer had!
Park: He calls that the Mute Button, so you’re not far off.
Zepp goes for the pin!
ONE! TWO! THR-
Kickout by Sawyer!
Wright: Somehow Sam Sawyer found the energy to kickout!
Park: Sawyer is impressive as hell, and he’s proving tonight why he’s in this semifinal match.
Zepp hauls Sawyer up off the mat, aiming for another Mute Button, but Sawyer counters it with a Get Fucked slap!
Wright: Sawyer with the slap!
Zepp laughs the move off, and Sawyer slaps him again. Zepp lets go of his throat and Sawyer hits another slap, and another, and another.
Park: Rapid fire slap from Sam!
Wright: But they don’t seem to be having an effect.
Zepp finally responds with a backhand to Sawyer. Sawyer staggers back, and Zepp grabs them by the throat again. Sawyer counters with a kick to the groin and he follows it up with This Corrosion! He rolls Zepp over and hooks up the Sawyer Lock and the mick man is immediately screaming. It looks like Zepp might tap out, but just before the big man taps, Apathy breaks the hold with a hard kick to Sawyer’s ribs.
Wright: Apathy saves the match for her team!
Park: Sawyer was so close.
Apathy hauls Sawyer up off the mat, hooking up for Death Before Dishonor, but before she can hit the move, Brooks hits her from behind with the rebounding spear! Brookes kips up to her feet, pulling Apathy up from the mat and going for the Desolate Midnight! Apathy counters the move with a pump kick. She hauls Brookes up off the mat and snaps off a Death Before Dishonor, rolling through and hitting a second Death before Dishonor! Zepp all but hurls Sawyer out of the ring while Apathy goes for the pin!
ONE! TWO!! THREE!!!
The referee calls for the bell, and Sawyer looks furious while Zepp and Apathy stare each other down in the ring.
Stanford: The winner of this contest by pinfall and advancing to the Kindling finals… Edward Zepp and Aaaaaapaaaaathyyyyyyyy!
Wright: Apathy and Zepp have punched their card to go to the Kindling Finals!
Park: A heartbreaking ending for Sam Sawyer and Rebecca Brookes to be sure.
Wright: They fought hard. They did their best, but unfortunately the tandem of Ed Zepp and Apathy proved to be too much for them.
Park: I dunno about you, Ollie, but I’m looking forward to seeing Zepp versus Apathy on the next Inferno.
Stanford: The following contest is the North Philly Street Fight, and it is for the X-Crown Championship!
The crowd launches to their feet!
Stanford: Whoever pins or submits their opponent in this no-disqualification match will be the winner!
Wright: X-Crown time, UnJoo. Always a pleasure, always an honor, and tonight we’ve got two fierce competitors out to settle the score!
Park: Vodka Fizz came up just short in End of Days, but ended up earning a one-on-one with the X-Crown champion anyway!
Wright: It pays to be in the best company in the XHF!
Stanford: Introducing first, the challenger…
The lights go down and blacklights come up, bathing the stage in purple. A hard, grungy bassline starts to play.
'Hey, turn the bass up. Turn the bass up!'
The base gets louder and grungier, and the lyrics come in.
Stanford: ...from Daytona Beach, Florida, weighing in at 220 pounds, he is VODDDDDDKAAAAAA FIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZ!
Wright: A whirlwind of an evening for Fizz -- the SPARK Championship match ended in an unsatisfactory manner, he got jumped by Donzig’s goons, and now he has a chance at the X-Crown!
Park: This could be his moment!
The crowd is on their feet, waiting for Vodka Fizz and his golf cart to come driving down the ramp. Nothing happens.
Wright: As much as I like Dizzie Rascal, this seems like a long time to wait?
Park: I only disagree on one count, and it’s not about the length of time!
The music stops. Confused, Walter Stanford stands back up to announce the other competitor in the match.
Stanford: And the challenger…
The lights go out as the beginning of "Bow Down" by I Prevail plays through the PA system, as a circle of flames erupts on the stage. Through the flames, slowly emerges Spike Kane as he fully emerges, the song kicks in.
Stanford: ...from Belfast, Ireland, weighing in at 240 pounds, he is the X-Crown champion… he is SPIKEEEEEEEEEEEE KAAAAAAAAANEEEEEEEE!
"GET ON YOUR KNEES AND BOW DOWN!!!"
Spike steps through the flames and heads to the ring, taking off his jacket as he prepares for a fight.
Wright: You have to wonder what condition Spike Kane is in after that hellacious three-way at End of Days!
Park: He outlasted Steve Awesome and showed Dakota Jennings the door, cementing himself as the greatest wrestler in the XHF right now. I’m sure the boost to his ego is enough to carry him through any pain he’s suffering.
Kane has a small smile on his face as he hands the X-Crown over to the timekeeper. There is still a lack of Vodka Fizz at ringside, so Walter stands back up to make the announcement again.
Stanford: And from Daytona Beach, Florida, weighing in at 220 pounds, he is VODDDDDDKAAAAAA FIIIIIIIIIIZZZZZZZ!
The music hits the speakers again. Still, nothing, until…
"Don't Tread on Me" by Metallica blares over the P.A. Former President Curtis D. Kanyon emerges from the curtain when the cymbal crashes at the 30 second mark. He's got a sledgehammer slung over one shoulder and his Fireside tag team title over the other. Curtis pounds his chest with his fist then raises the hammer in the air. He walks down to the ring, nodding to the fans. Curtis then climbs into the ring and goes to the turnbuckles. He climbs a turnbuckle and points to the crowd with his hammer, then hoists it straight up into the air and yells "BANG!"
Wright: What the hell? What is Kanyon doing out here?
Park: One fourth of the Bang Bros with El Combatiente, Steve Awesome, and Spike himself, this is an interesting time to insert himself!
As the music fades, Kanyon has a microphone.
Kanyon: Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to announce on behalf of that jackass Anthony Caffrey, your X-Crown championship match tonight has been cancelled.
The crowd boos loudly!
Kanyon: I have attained footage of SPARK Champion Vodka Fizz, he was found beaten and bloody and barely moving just a few moments ago, not from drinking in an alley like the loser he is, but from some kind of heinous assault! Roll footage!
Wright: This is some bullshit! Vodka Fizz already mugged once tonight!
Park: What is going on?
The crowd boos loudly as Kanyon points his hammer towards the big screen. We see Vodka Fizz being helped by medical personnel. His golf cart has been absolutely trashed, flipped over just next to him with the visible tires having been popped. There is broken glass everywhere as a broken Fizz is tended to by Dr. Lagari and the rest of the medical staff.
Wright: Someone attacked him!
Park: I think that someone is right in the ring, Oliver!
As the footage of Vodka Fizz being helped by the medical staff plays, Kanyon is beaming, a big smile on his face. He points and laughs at the SPARK champion with Spike Kane, and the two enjoy it. Kanyon even does a playful swing of his hammer, demonstrating the main method of attack. The footage ends and Kanyon turns back to Spike.
Kanyon: Such a shame, no Vodka Fizz in this X-Crown match!
The crowd boos. Kanyon gives them acknowledgement.
Kanyon: We all know that archaic thirty day defense rule… so how about instead of that loser, you and I have a match instead?
The crowd’s booing only gets louder as Fizz is being is screwed out of his shot.
Wright: This isn’t fair! This isn’t happening! Is this happening?
Park: Vodka Fizz’s loss is President Kanyon’s gain! This would be a hell of a match!
Walter Stanford looks utterly lost at ringside until Kanyon yells at him to announce him.
Stanford: Ladies and gentlemen, uh… replacing Vodka Fizz, weighing in at 290 pounds, he is one half of the FIRESIDE Tag Team Champions, he is CURTISSSSSS KAAAAANYYYYYONNNNNN!
Kanyon holds up the hammer, drawing a pop from that portion of the fanbase that thinks he can do no wrong, but the rest of the crowd boos both men pretty wildly, even chanting “YOU SCREWED FIZZ! YOU SCREWED FIZZ!”
Wright: This is a tragedy! This might turn into a riot!
Park: I haven’t seen a group of Philadelphians this mad since Nick Sirianni preached about flowers!
But before the bell can ring, “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” hits the arena speakers. The crowd pops loudly as the resident Philadelphian and owner of FIRESIDE passes through the curtain with microphone in hand, shaking his head.
Wright: Some order may have just arrived!
Park: Order? This could lead to even more chaos!
Anthony Caffrey: No-no-no-no-no… that’s not how this is goin’ down, boys. There’s no Kanyon vs. Kane match happening tonight, contrary to you with your multiple screws loose Curtis, my head doesn’t screw off.
Caffrey gets a pop from the crowd.
Caffrey: Yeah that’s right. F-U Caffrey? Fuck you both right back! You both can’t just commandeer a main event like that. I know Spike that you only have interest in that triple threat match in December where you get to dick around with two other losers who can’t beat me…
He’s pissed.
Caffrey: ...but as long as you have pen to paper here, you are under my jurisdiction. I don’t know why I’m surprised a guy who cracks deals with Marcus would pull some kind of shit like this, but this isn’t how we’re gonna play. And as for you, Kanyon…
Caffrey points down to the ring.
Caffrey: ...I know you have some kind of defense next week against Bear-O-Dactyl in a Waterbed Match, but you have run roughshod over my tag team division long enough. Quite frankly, you’ve made my life hell over this past year. You’ve embarrassed me with any chance you had, you took my XHF Tag Team Championships, you cost me the Rumble, you put my tag team partner and my best friend into a coma, you’ve put me through more tables than I can count-- and now tonight, you take an X-Crown match from the heart of FIRESIDE, Vodka Fizz.
The crowd pops for Fizz.
Caffrey: You take, you take, and you take. Well, Curtis, take one more thing: next Inferno, you still have your defense, but you better keep your eye on your television, because I will be stepping in the ring next Inferno as well. My tag team partner and I will be walking through the Open Door, and after we pass through, I’m gonna beat the daylights out of you and take your goddamn championship.
The crowd roars for the big announcement!
Wright: Whoah! Caffrey’s getting involved!
Park: Enough is apparently enough!
Kanyon finds a microphone.
Kanyon: You don’t even have friends!
Caffrey points down to the ring one more time.
Caffrey: And as for you, Mr. Kane… next Inferno, next Inferno you’re going to defend that X-Crown championship around your shoulder against Vodka Fizz, but there’s two conditions. One…
He puts up a middle finger.
Caffrey: ...you best put your boys on him as security detail, because if he doesn’t make it to that match in one piece, I’m stripping you of the Crown!
Wright: He can’t do that, can he? Mongo would never approve!
Park: It’s happened before! It’s antiquated as hell, but that thirty day defense rule is a real bitch sometimes!
Caffrey: And two… I don’t want any of your boys getting involved, so we’re gonna have ourselves a match that properly embodies the asskicking you deserve. It’s not just going to be a match in a steel dome… we’re also gonna hang weapons from the dome itself… and to keep your boys out, we’re gonna wrap the damn dome in barbed wire. Next Inferno, it’ll be the heart of FIRESIDE, Vodka Fizz vs. Spike Kane for the X-Crown Championship… in DRAAAAAAAAAAAGONNNNNN’SSSSSSSSSSS DENNNNNNNNNNN!
The crowd launches into a huge pop!
Wright: Dragon’s Den! Dragon’s Den!
Park: This might have come back to bite Kanyon and Kane hard! Oh boy!
Caffrey lowers the microphone, miming shooting his hand as if it were a gun in Kanyon and Kane’s direction, mouthing the word “BANG” before heading to the back. The crowd continues to chant “DRAG-ON’S DEN” as the BANG Bros are left furious and frustrated in the ring.
Stanford: The following contest is the MAJESTY’s Realm Match and it is for the FIRESIDE World Championship!
The crowd roars!
Wright: Oh boy… no idea what to expect on this one.
Park: I’m gettin’ chills just thinking about it!
Stanford: Please turn your attention to the big screen!
We cut away from the big screen to a dark forest. It is eerily quiet as Natalie Burrows, the FIRESIDE World champion, arrives on screen with referee Chris Mardinly in tow.
Burrows: Ah, quit bein’ such a baby.
Mardinly: This is not a fair punishment-- I don’t wanna be here!
Burrows: Cameraman John is fine and you’ll be too. Come on.
The Southern Belle gives the scaredy-cat referee a playful smack on the back of the head. The two continue to trod through the forest before coming across an illuminated tree stump. This appears to be some kind of gateway to the realm itself, with bursts of oversized mushrooms of wildly different colors growing at the stump. There is a sealed plastic food container on top of the stump, along with a note. Burrows reads it out loud.
Burrows: Hello, friend. I made you those delicious cookies! See you soon.
Burrows smiles when she sees what’s been provided: the cookies are ladyfinger biscuits, similar to the ones Burrows made for MAJESTY a few weeks back. She reaches in and gives one to the cameraman and to the referee.
Burrows: What a nice thing! I left them this recipe, you should have one too.
Referee Chris Mardinly hits the ground with a hard thud shortly thereafter. Burrows and the cameraman already have a mouthful of biscuit before the effect also overtakes them.
When the camera returns to capturing footage, the change is abundantly clear. Most of the tress have cleared out of the forest, and the trees that are left have been twisted wildly, almost as if by hand. The camera turns to capture behind them, and it’s clear whatever the way they took to get into the forest has seemingly ceased to exist, a blurry blackness behind them. Burrows pulls herself back up slowly, holding her head.
Burrows: Well, I’ve had better nights…
Mardinly: What the… oh my… oh my God, I’m gonna be sick!
Burrows: What the hell you bellyachin’ about now?
The lid has reappeared on the Tupperware container. The camera captures its contents, and suddenly it becomes clear why Mardinly has moved to find a tree to throw up behind.
The camera shifts far away from the container, almost missing the FIRESIDE world champion’s reaction as she is disgusted by what she sees. The container of lady fingers is thrown against a tree. Burrows is left to stand by the stump by herself as an all-encompassing laugh begins around her. The laugh echoes through the trees, a bellowing echo so powerful that it shakes them.
Burrows stumbles backwards herself, almost losing her balance at the powerful laugh. She grabs onto the stump, and the camera picks up that there is another note. As the champion rights herself, she picks it up, though it is dripping with black liquid. As she lifts the paper, drops of it begin to fall onto the stump -- and as each bit of the toxic ooze drips, it burns the stump, similar to a steak hitting a hot pan. She moves the paper away from the stump, and reads three more words.
Burrows: See... you... soon.
She rips the paper in half in frustration, stopping short of the large splotch of black ooze. As she leans on the stump to regain her composure, a series of loud unsettling calls ring through the forest.
Crows: KRAW! KRAW! KRAW!
A group of black crows swoop down on the champion, sending her running deeper into the trees. These crows are the size of toddlers, with bulging black bellies and wide wingspans.
Crows: KRAW! KRAW! KRAW!
Burrows trips on a long, twisted branch, falling to the ground. The sprinting cameraman captures one of the crows crashing down to the champion, pecking with its carnivorous beak. Burrows screams as a chunk of flesh from her shoulder is taken by the beast.
Crows: KRAW! KRAW! KRAW!
Before the crow can continue its assault, Burrows grabs it and hooks its wings behind its body before turning it over in a swift movement, breaking its back with the Acceptance double underhook backbreaker!
Crows: KRAW! KRAW!
She returns to her feet just as another crow swoops in. This time, Burrows is prepared, knocking it out of the bleak black sky with a Denial leg lariat. The crow leaps back at the champion, but she catches it and turns it, breaking it with a Grief Cycle tilt-a-whirl-backbreaker. Burrows takes a breath to contain herself, before realizing there’s one more big burly crow.
Crow: KRA-AAAAAAAAAAH!
It has landed on the ground, its beak expanding to seemingly take over its whole head as black ooze projects out of the bird. Burrows has managed to dodge this toxicity, which burns the grass upon impact with the ground. She responds by running up and hitting it with a feint shining wizard into a reverse roundhouse, known as the Epiphany!
Crow: KRAH!
The bird’s head leaves its body, almost crashing into the lens of the camera!
The camera visibly shakes as its operator shudders. The forest, a flurry of horrific noises only a few moments ago, is now eerily quiet and extra dark. Burrows looks down at the championship wrapped around her waist and takes the time to catch her breath, not expecting some of the demonic beasts of this forest. She grabs her phone out of her pocket-- there is no service, but there is still battery in the phone. She switches on the flashlight function and continues down a path indicated with a large blood red arrow. The bottom of the arrow has multiple holes in it, missing pieces as a result of the dried black ooze caked on.
The light only continues to be so helpful as a rolling mist begins to settle throughout the realm, obscuring the camera's view of the referee and the FIRESIDE world champion. The mist gets so bad that it's hard for the cameraman to make out where they are. He begins calling towards them.
Cameraman: Natalie? Chris?
Burrows: Over here!
The mist dissipates just enough to capture the roughed-up world champion. There is no indication on where the referee has gotten off to, and the mist is too thick to see him. The pair venture forward to find him, when her eyes go wide.
Voice: Mom! Mom?!
The camera captures Burrows inaudibly cursing out the forces at play, looking around frantically trying to find her son.
Burrows: Dommy! Dommy, where are you?
Dominic: I don’t know! Where are you?
The voice of the four year old seems to be coming from every direction.
Dominic: I’m scared!
As a shaken Burrows tries to pierce the mist, the voice seems to get no closer or further, but the fear in it is palpable.
Burrows: Dommy, Doomy, it’s going to be okay-- it’s going to be okay Dommy, just stay calm… is your sister with you?
Dominic: No I haven’t seen her or Johnny.
Burrows: Okay, okay… is there anything near you?
Dominic: There’s a body-- it’s on the ground, it isn’t moving...
Burrows curls up in an instinctual reaction. She shakes her head, knowing she has to keep pressing forward.
Burrows: Okay Dommy… they’re just… sleeping… mommy is coming, don’t worry, mommy is coming.
Dominic: AHHHHHHH!
Dom’s scream pierces the mist!
Burrows: Dom!
Emerging from the mist is a large brown bear with glowing red eyes! It charges into Burrows, knocking her to the ground!
Bear: ROOOOAR!
The mist clears and more blood is shed as the bear swipes its giant paws at Burrows. She jams her thumb into its eye and then manages to throw the bear off of herself in a feat of furious rage, quickly getting back up to her feet. The camera catches that the bear has the black ooze leaking out of its mouth as it rears up onto its hind legs, ready to charge again. The champion stands her ground, waiting for her chance to outsmart the large beast.
The bear charges, only to be pushed up into the air and slammed down with a furious version of Natalie’s Rydeen Bomb, the Hitting Bottom! She reels back, screaming as she stomps away at the bear, trying her damndest to incapacitate the beast!
Burrows: GAAAAHHHHH!
She delivers her scissor kick, the Closure, driving her heel straight down upon the base of the beast’s skull! A loud crack sound is heard as the bear goes down, and the fight ceases.
The only sound left in MAJESTY’s realm at this point is the champion’s heavy breathing. She shakes her head as she pushes off the ground to get back up, then takes a look at the bear. The bear is no longer moving, a pool of black ooze gathered underneath its mouth.
Mardinly: There you guys are! Jesus I’ve been lookin’ all over!
The punished referee moves through the trees, closing in on the position. There is no ooze or red eyes, he appears to be normal. Instead of a sigh of relief, Burrows questions him.
Burrows: Where have you been?
Mardinly: I was going to ask you the same thing!
Burrows: Have you seen my son?
He shakes his head before a look of horror befalls his face.
Mardinly: No-- oh God, is he here??
Burrows: You haven’t heard him screaming?
Mardinly: No, I just heard you… what are you talking about?
Burrows: He was SCREAMING FOR HIS MOTHER--
Mardinly: I didn’t hear anything!
Burrows puts her head in her hands, needing a few moments to catch everything. The thought of hallucinations runs through her mind, realizing that there have been tricks played on her to induce sheer terror. Her hand balls up into a fist as she lets out a loud sigh.
Burrows: THIS ENDS NOW. DO YOU HEAR ME? THIS ENDS NOW!
All at once, a shockwave emanates throughout the realm, ripping through the trees and causing any remaining leaves to drop on the ground. The very fabric of reality almost seems to tear, revealing a broken body on the ground. An endless darkness swoops through the forest, only illuminating Burrows, the referee, the body, and the FIRESIDE world championship. The darkness then begins to… hum, and a gravelly voice beckons from it.
Caring about someone else...
The voice almost seems to beckon, drawing Burrows toward the body.
...is a sign of weakness.
Burrows: NO! NO IT ISN’T! COMPASSION IS HOW WE FIND OUR STRENGTH! COME OUT HERE, YOU CRUEL BASTARD!
The hum of the darkness continues before picking up in intensity.
A deal is a deal! They broke our covenant...
Burrows: COME OUT HERE!
The hum only gets louder!
....SO I BROKE THEM!
All of the remaining light in the forest evaporates, leaving just a focus on the broken body. The camera captures Burrows running to the body, only to discover it’s MAJESTY! MAJESTY is lying on the ground, unconscious and barely breathing.
Burrows: MAJESTY! NO!
Burrows holds her friend in her hands. The ooze drips down their black-stained chest as they continue to cough up the toxic substance.
Look upon my works, ye warrior, and despair.
Burrows: WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?
The hum dissipates; only to be replaced with a heinous laugh that rings throughout.
Wrong… there is no wrong in the way we lead, through violence and without mercy. You made them soft. I will fortify them again.
Somewhere in the distance, a ring bell is rung.
Now take your win and leave this place. Do not interfere, or the poison will take over. And do not return.
Burrows: I’m not going to…
Another scream permeates the forest. Burrows’ eyes go wide.
Burrows: ...WHERE IS HE? DAMN YOU!
Having to choose between her friend and family, Burrows tightens in response to the sound of her son screaming again.
GO!
It takes the referee dropping into position to make the count for Burrows to make a motion. Reluctantly, she puts an arm over her fallen friend, realizing she can do nothing else at this point.
Mardinly ...ONE! ...TWO! ...THREE! Ring the bell!
The bell rings as Burrows rises from her friend’s unconscious corpse. MAJESTY stops coughing up the black ooze as Mardinly raises Burrows’ arm, looking thankful as a mystical blue portal opens up between the trees.
Burrows is handed the FIRESIDE World Championship. She looks on at the darkness, fists balled up in furious anger, as the referee forcefully grabs her, tearing her away from her friend for their safety. We hear one more thing as the cameraman steps through the portal.
As for you...