TAP OUT WRESTLING 1: GORDON VS POENA - LIVE!
Feb 28, 2022 22:02:18 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Steve Awesome, and 6 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Feb 28, 2022 22:02:18 GMT -5
PRESENTS
Date: 27th February 2022
Venue: The Sands Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 490 (Capacity: 500)
Steve Morrison:: WELCOME TO TAP OUT WRESTLING! I’m your host, Steve Morrison:, and I’m joined on commentary by the co-owner of the company, Cross Recoba! Cross, what can we expect to see tonight?
Cross Recoba: Great to have you, Steve! We’ve got a card tonight that I’m excited to have my name attached to! I was overwhelmed by the support and interest we got off the back of our announcement at XHF’s Supremacy event and the four matches on the card tonight each have a different style or approach from any other match we’ll see tonight!
Brad is able to drop down before Spike can hit his legendary finisher. Spike is picked up into a torture rack as Brad is able to throw him down with the piledriver HITTING THE GODDAMN RECKLESS KILLING!
Steve Morrison:: We saw Brad Kane at Supremacy, where he took apart his brother and former X*Crown Champion, Spike Kane, in a match that drew plaudits not just across the Network but on message boards around the world!
Not done, Brad pulls Spike up and drops him on his head again with the Kirisute Gomen (Wrist-Clutch Fisherman’s Brainbuster)! Brad covers, hooking both legs.
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
The bell rings as Brad rolls off of his brother and a giant grin comes on his face.
Cross Recoba: Brad is the most experienced member on the roster and what he can bring to the company is evident as we can see on our screens right now. He won’t have it easy though.
The VT switches to highlights of NOMAD’s career.
Steve Morrison:: NOMAD has travelled the world like Kane and whilst he may not be the household name his opponent is, he does have skills on the mat that make you wonder if he can pull off an upset in our opener.
Cross Recoba: He was one of the casualties of the FWA folding, the vignette to tease his debut got me intrigued and when he signed his contract - I knew we had a great talent on board!
Video footage of Jason Long’s storied career across the Icons and New Age Killers starts to roll.
Steve Morrison:: In what was a bit of a coup according to the message boards, we’re going to see Jason Long debut in Tap Out, a former X*Crown Champion alongside a list of achievements that we could go into but speak for themselves. His range of moves from across the globe make him a tough opponent to figure out a strategy for but Close Collins has that unenviable task in his first match on the XHF Network…
Cross Recoba: Long’s quality has always shone through in every company he has stepped foot in. I was slightly disappointed that we never crossed paths in the AWF, he was no longer full-time in the company but came in for the Fired Up tournament in 2020 where he was unlucky to not beat Seth Dillinger…
Steve Morrison:: Although that all came to a head…
Cross Recoba: It did but tonight, we’re focusing on what Long can do against an opponent he can’t easily scout.
The footage goes into amateur recordings from the wrestling school that Close Collins was trained at.
Steve Morrison:: Armed with his father, himself a professional wrestler, at his side. Collins was seen as a pick-up that was for the long-term, not the short-term…
Cross Recoba: I went down to the wrestling school this footage is from, what he needs right now for his development is to be in the ring with seasoned competitors. His basics, his instincts are there, he just has to make sure he applies them correctly in a real-world situation.
A silhouette of a wrestler is shown with a question-mark on it.
Steve Morrison:: Lots of names have been rumoured to be the new signing. Do you want to give any clues away for who you’ve managed to snag?
Cross Recoba: Where’s the fun in that? Not only that, I believe our betting line is still open until the half-time interval for who it could be. All I will say was that it was a personal pleasure to get them on the roster!
Jackalope runs off the ropes and delivers a driven Basement Dropkick to the face off the rising Strychnine before draping him over the middle-rope and lifting a hand to the crowd. Coming off the ropes he looks for the Tiger Feint Kick BUT STRYCHNINE WISELY DUCKS OUT OF THE WAY!!
Steve Morrison:: Heading into our Co-Main Event, we have Jackalope who won over the crowd at Supremacy against a face we hadn’t seen for 18 months, Tommy Strychnine!
Cross Recoba: Both guys really impressed me in the Showcase, they’re similar to a point though. Take Jackalope…
CAPONE RUSHES THE RING TO BREAK UP THE HOLD WITH A KICK TO THE HEAD OF POENA!! JACKALOPE PROVIDES BACK-UP AND CUTS OFF STRYCHNINE WITH A FLYING HEADSCISSORS THAT SENDS THE ROCKER FLYING OUT THE RING!!
Cross Recoba: ... he’s raw but he brings an energy to the ring that instantly gets a crowd on-side with him.
Jackalope has once more used his agility and strength to get back to his feet. He uses a kick to break the hold enough so that he can duck under the other arm into a wristlock..JACKALOPE LEAPS FROM THE MIDDLE-ROPE TO THE TOP-ROPE AND BACKFLIPS INTO A DDT!!
Cross Recoba: He’s smooth with how he transitions in-ring, he makes you drawn to the monitor or the match - now I’m keen to see what he can do when we dial down the match’s capacity for chaos!
Springing back to his feet, Jackalope whips Strychnine into the corner post…HE LEAPS TO THE APRON AND LOOKS TO LAND A RUNNING KNEE TO THE HEAD BUT TOMMY MOVES!! …PELE KICK FROM THE ROCKER!!!
Steve Morrison:: But then Strych is always entertaining in the ring, call it a throwback to his days on tour with his band but you’re never more than a move or two away from having your jaw drop to the floor when you see what he can do inside the ropes.
Cross Recoba: You’re preaching to the converted. For those of you who aren’t so familiar with him - just check out the Draven-Strychnine trilogy in the AWF archive on the Network …after the show, obviously!
Struggling in the hold, Ashley finds herself once more fighting to establish ring position and an escape route. Capone looks to step through the ropes but Tommy Strychnine charges and levels Wildcat with a stiff forearm. He grabs the head of Capone and guillotines him on the top rope. Stepping through, the Rocker finds Capone teetering on the edge, CURB STOMP FROM THE APRON TO THE RINGSIDE FLOOR!!
Steve Morrison:: He can brawl, he can wrestle but - as I said - Strych’s most dangerous quality is his ability to improvise and to adapt on the fly inside the ring. That’s what Jackalope needs to watch for tonight, can he cope if Strych decides to go through the gears?
Cross Recoba: That’s almost an impossible question to answer on paper - you never know if you can until you have to! A fight camp might prepare you for it happening but if you don’t factor in conditioning then you’re going to struggle if he steps it up in the late stages of the match!
Capone can smell blood, he lifts Erin up once more and positions her in a Fireman’s Carry lift…GORDON DROPS DOWN THE BACK….HEADPULL BACKBREAKER!!
Steve Morrison:: Talking of impossible questions, who can decide who wins in our main event which sees Erin Gordon take on Poena!
WILDCAT DUCKS THE YAKUZA KICK AND COMES OFF THE ROPES…POENA DUCKS THE RETURN YAKUZA KICK…DISCUS ELBOW SMASH ROCKS CAPONE!!
Cross Recoba: We made the rules for who was in the main-event and these two brought it. Tommy wasn’t a passenger on the team by any measurable means but Poena booked his way into the match with a move that made us both wince at ringside.
POENA GETS A CROSS-LEGGED SUPLEX LIFT ON CAPONE BEFORE HE CAN INTERFERE..HE SWITCHES HIS KNEE OUT FOR THE RING APRON AS HE DROPS TO THE FLOOR, LEAVING CAPONE A BROKEN MESS!
Steve Morrison:: That isn’t an exaggeration, I saw quite a few fans now just pull a similar face to us at ringside as they saw the move and I’d wager the fans at home did the same!
Cross Recoba: Gordon on the other hand, she found the way to put the other team to bed!
WILLIAMS ARMS ARE TOO DAMAGED TO GET THE DOUBLE-UNDERHOOK IN…SLINGBLADE FROM GORDON TAKES DOWN THE FUTURE OF WOMEN’S WRESTLING!!
A smile breaks out across the face of Erin as she pictures her route to victory…She measures Williams up…SPINNING BACKFIST FROM HELL!!!
Steve Morrison:: It’s an interesting match-up on paper. You have the borderline insane Poena…
Cross Recoba: Borderline was superfluous there…
Steve Morrison:: Against the doggedness and understated power of Erin Gordon.
Charging into the ring, Williams leaves herself open for Poena to wrench the arm before connecting with a kick to the shoulder that echoes in the arena! Poena keeps hold of the arm and knees her in the breadbasket. He lifts her up…HAMMERLOCK POWERBOMB!!
Jackalope appraises his opponent and hits the ropes…Gordon goes once more for a lariat but it’s ducked and Kid Cryptid leaps for a rana…GORDON THROWS HIM FROM HER SHOULDERS AND NAILS HIM WITH A STAN HANSEN CALIBRE LARIAT!!
Cross Recoba: When we talk about the two, the one thing they have in common is the capacity to eat a punch, to take their punishment and use it to channel their next offensive play. This isn’t going to be a match for the purists, we know that much!
Steve Morrison:: What we also know is that the build-up to this match hasn’t been pretty either. Poena’s promotional work for this caused the Network’s Standards and Practices to consider editing the submission whereas Gordon left her opponent no doubt that she was confident that she had his ticket stamped!
Cross Recoba: Then all that’s left is to find out what happens when the bell rings!
Steve Morrison:: I see Lauren Messier at ringside looking ready to kick things off but before we do - a thank you to UP Wrestling, sponsors of tonight’s instant replays! If you haven’t had a chance to watch their “Blow Your Mind” show yet? Make sure to add it to your Network Watchlist when their insert pops up in a few seconds!
Add to your Network Watchlist Now
Laura Messier: The following contest is OUR FIRST TAP OUT MATCH ON A TAP OUT WRESTLING SHOW!!
The crowd cheers.
Laura Messier: Our opening contest is scheduled for ONE FALL!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!!
Laura Messier: Introducing our first competitor...
The lights in the arena shut off. The only thing that we see is the flashing of Brad Kane highlights on the video screens. A voice speaks through the arena’s sound system.
Laura Messier: Standing at six feet even, weighing two-hundred-and-twenty-three pounds..he hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland...
“Tonight the pain that they’re gonna feel after I’m done with you is gonna feed me. And give me, give me that oh so elusive happiness. I can’t wait to see them cry. I can’t wait to see shiver. I can’t wait for you to be droolin’ out your mouth not knowing where you are. You can call me sick, but the world is cold. Bundle up.”
Laura Messier: He is a three-time XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion....
And with that “Till It’s Gone” by Yelawolf blares into the arena. The crowd gets to their feet yelling along with the lyrics. Lights go crazy as Brad Kane steps out onto the stage with that smirk on his face. He stands in the strobe lights feeling the energy of the arena pump through his body. Brad inhales before yelling out a war scream pyro exploding. The lights kick back on while Brad Kane begins his walk to the ring.
Laura Messier: BRAD...FUCKING...KANE!!!!
Upon reaching ringside Brad hops up onto the ring apron. He stays there a moment to stare at the crowd before entering the ring. Kane goes to the corner heading up to the top turnbuckle. He yells out that same war scream as before, jumping off and doing the same on the opposite side of the ring. From there he stretches to the ropes while the song fades away.
Steve Morrison: Kane looking confident ahead of the match. His age may give him wisdom but by God it doesn't touch hi self-confidence!
Cross Recoba: I've seen him step toe-to-toe with people like Captain Howdy, one of the most deceptively evil wrestler I've come across in my time! What I've never seen him do is back down from a challenge!
Laura Messier: Introducing his oppponent...
Laura Messier: Coming to the ring from Colville, Washington...
Lights out. White flashes in time with a screeching ringing sound. Three times... Three more...
DRYWALL!
Laura Messier: He stands at six-feet-and-five inches and tips the scale two-hundred-and-eighty pounds!!!
A hulking figure bursts through the curtain into the view of the crowd as the lights flash on and off. The masked NOMAD stands there, bobbing slightly to the drumbeat.
IN PAIN, ASK FOR ASPIRIN.
THAT'S DRYWALL, THEY'LL COME BACK AGAIN.
Laura Messier: HE IS THE VIOLENT WANDERER!!!!
NOMAD takes his time in surveying his surroundings before he begins making his way toward the ring, ignoring the hands that reach or swipe at him from over the barriers. He climbs the closest set of stairs and kneels at the top while the song builds.
KEEP YA STILL, PILLED UP, FUCK IT ANOTHER DRILL, ANOTHER DEAL
ANOTHER KILL, DEGRADATION OF THE KIDNEY WHEEL
Laura Messier: NOMAD!!!!
He jumps up, then walks along the apron and steps between the ropes, whipping the balaclava off as he does. He approaches the center of the ring with arms outstretched, holding the mask in one hand. Then he simply makes his way to the near corner prepares for the match to start.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD looks unfazed at what stands in front of him. Does he know something we don't or has Kane played his hand well?
Cross Recoba: Even Kane admitted that this guy is HUGE! Kane's going to need to be weary of falling into the trap of thinking that the uknown gives him nothing to fear!
OPENING MATCH
Singles Match
Brad Kane vs NOMAD
“Big” John Quinn signals for the bell to ring as a hushed aura sweeps the room. NOMAD takes a step out from his corner but goes no further as he waits for what his opponent might do first. Kane, by contrast, hops on balls of his feet as if psyching himself up for what he knows will be another war.
Steve Morrison: Kane looking like he wants to keep up the momentum from Supremacy, Cross.
Cross Recoba: BK needs to have that adrenaline pumping, take it from me. When I faced off and beat Subject #42 I knew that I couldn’t afford to wait for it to kick in any later than the bell ringing to keep up a pace the bigger man couldn’t keep up with.
Steve Morrison: Fans, you have to realize that when you’re the size of someone like NOMAD, the amount of oxygen needed to pump blood around that frame is far more than a shorter or smaller competitor. NOMAD knows that his best chance is to get the job done sooner rather than later!
Cross Recoba: To add into that, Kane and Card’s playbooks aren’t too dissimilar and NOMAD has to know that there aren’t many situations that he hasn’t got a reference point for from earlier in his career!
Kane closes the distance, inviting NOMAD to come further out from his corner. The bigger man now with the greater urgency. He goes to grapple with Kane but BK ducks and gets behind the bigger man. He grabs a waistlock but the hold is only in momentarily before The Violent Wanderer reverses it and has a waistlock of his own. Kane tries to manipulate the arms of his opponent and escape the hold but finds that NOMAD’s power is too much for him to break out of it.
Steve Morrison: The Violent Wanderer doesn’t look like your average mat technician but he’s keeping up with Brad in these early stages.
Cross Recoba: It’s not ground-breaking stuff but my worry for Kane is that he hasn’t looked at the whole of his opponent’s game and has overlooked this side of his offense.
Taking a different tact, Kane quickly bursts towards the ropes and angles a leg to try and catch a rope-break but NOMAD is quick to put the breaks on. Reaching into the bag of tricks that has shaped his career over three different decades, he feints for a snap mare and then quickly reaches down as NOMAD leans back to take him to the mat with his leg. He spins around the leg as if to look for a leglock but The Violent Wanderer kicks him away before he can complete the move.
Steve Morrison: Brad getting the better of that exchange but NOMAD is showing he is no slouch…
Cross Recoba: That feint was done with all the expertise of a veteran.
The cameras catch a smile from Kane as if he were admiring the skill of his opponent. Turning around he sees the distance between them has shortened considerably with Nomad forcing him into a collar-and-elbow tie-up. The bigger man attempts to back Kane into the corner but, seeing his chance, BK hooks a leg around the bottom rope causing NOMAD to immediately break the hold.
Steve Morrison: Once more, the former X*Crown Champion is showing he knows exactly where he is inside those ropes.
Cross Recoba: If he can do that in the closing portion of the match, it’s something that every aspiring wrestler both in the back and watching at home should take notes on.
Brad spots his opening and launches a side-elbow to the head of NOMAD and it is quickly followed by a swift front-kick to the knee of the big man, causing him to lose his centre of balance. Kane dives for the leg and rolls forward, taking him down and opening the opportunity for him to drop a swift elbow to the knee of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: Rolling single-leg takedown and is he going to target the legs during the match?
Cross Recoba: It’s difficult to say but when you try to take down someone like NOMAD you don’t always get to dictate a body part, often you just chip away at what you have in front of you.
Realizing the window for attack isn’t possible, Kane rolls out of harm’s way and waits for NOMAD to get back to a vertical base. Brad steps towards NOMAD but doesn’t account for the incoming open-handed slap to the chest that winds him and gives NOMAD the chance to grab a side-wristlock. Kane rolls through and reverses the hold but before he can cinch it in, The Violent Wanderer yanks him towards him and connects with a forearm to the head and looks for a Full Nelson.
Steve Morrison: We just saw a brief glimpse of that power game that NOMAD has perfected in rings and bars globally.
Cross Recoba: But it was almost a means to an end, he went straight back to wrestling instead of brawling.
BK drops out to a seated position but NOMAD has it scouted and picks him up, as if looking for a Wheelbarrow suplex. He leans back but Brad uses his agility to TAKE HIM DOWN WITH A SIDE-HEADLOCK…NOMAD ROLLS HIM OVER…
ONE..
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: Excellent escape from Kane to get the side-headlock…
Cross Recoba: But NOMAD still managed to get a pin attempt in.
Steve Morrison: Is there a psychology of going for the early pin?
Cross Recoba: You might get lucky and catch them out but I always liked to use it to tell my opponents that I can get them pinned from any position…
Once more, the cameras see that Brad Kane is smiling as if he’s enjoying that his opponent can go with him on the mat.
Steve Morrison: Is that a show of respect from BK?
Cross Recoba: It’s more likely that the match is going to be more interesting for him than he expected.
As both men rise to their feet, NOMAD unleashes a thrusting uppercut but Kane weaves out of the way and uses NOMAD being off-balance to whip him back to the mat with a side Russian legsweep. Keeping hold of the arm, Kane drives a knee into the elbow joint of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: Again, Kane looks to chain a takedown into a striking attack.
Cross Recoba: Last time it was the leg, this time the arm but each time it’s making NOMAD’s life that little bit more difficult. Those power-based moves that he uses to put opponents away, they’re all the harder if you can’t plant a leg or rely on a lift.
Kane is eager to continue his offensive, he catches the rising NOMAD with a charging knee to the temple that keeps his opponent down on a knee. Taking steps back, BK charges at his opponent but before he can land a kick, NOMAD CATCHES HIM WITH A FOREARM TO THE TEMPLE THAT REARS HIM BACK! He follows it with alternating right and left forearms that rock the XHF legend….DISCUS LARIAT TAKES HIM DOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: BK tried to change gears but found NOMAD level with him!
Cross Recoba: Brad’s a guy who wants to kick you before dropping you on your head. He’s going to find that a little more difficult tonight but he’s a fighter and he’ll go out with his hand raised or not as one!
Grabbing full-mount, NOMAD continues his flurry with a hammerfist to the face! He looks to land another but Kane weaves his head out of the way and manages to hook his legs under the arms of his opponent for a pin attempt…
ONE…
NOMAD ROLLS OUT OF IT!
Steve Morrison: That agility that we said was going to be key at the top of the show came into play there.
Cross Recoba: It was a cute move from BK but was it too cute?
Showcasing his strength, NOMAD grabs the legs of Kane and deadlifts him into a powerbomb position…KANE UNLEASHES A FLURRY OF CLOSED HAND PUNCHES TO THE FACE OF THE VIOLENT WANDERER UNTIL HE DROPS HIM TO HIS FEET…KOPPU KICK!!
Crowd: BFK! BFK! BFK! BFK! BFK!
Steve Morrison: Fighting out of that powerbomb, Kane displaying that tenacity and fighting spirit that got his arm raised at Supremacy!
Cross Recoba: You call it tenacity, take it from someone who has shared a ring with him - he’s a stubborn son of a bitch!
This time, the smile on Kane’s face is all for him. NOMAD gets to his feet and the smaller competitor wastes no time in harrying him with a dropkick to his back that sends him into the ropes…Kane grabs a full-nelson of his own but NOMAD throws a reverse headbutt to break out of the hold. BK staggers back into the corner and has nowhere to go when the Wanderer avalanches him in the corner. Now walking out from the turnbuckle…SIDESLAM ON KANE!!
Steve Morrison: NOMAD now going into waters that Kane may not want to tread.
Cross Recoba: That sideslam not only knocks the wind out of your opponent, it cuts off any chance of Kane trying to recover that momentum.
The crowd’s chants immediately dissipate with the noise from the slam.
Steve Morrison: It’s also knocked the wind out of the crowd here at Tap Out Wrestling 1!
NOMAD makes sure to keep the pressure on as he drops a knee to the head of his opponent and lifts him back up to his feet. Once more he returns to the bar-room as he snaps Kane’s head back with an overhand right. He rears back and looks for a haymaker but Brad, almost by instinct, ducks and connects with a roundhouse kick to the head of his opponent that sends him leaning into the ropes…EXPLODER SUPLEX BY KANE!!!
Cross Recoba: You see, before you act surprised. Kane is going to be loving that exchange, the man claims to walk out of hell - you better believe that he’s going to enjoy being able to put the big man down with a suplex he has perfected in all of his years inside the ring!
With both men down, the camera sees Kane’s eyes dart about as if to get his bearings. NOMAD in contrast is already beginning to get up. The XHF veteran spots this and tries to get to his feet but finds only the arm of NOMAD hooked over his shoulder. He lifts him and bounces him off the ropes for a Slingshot Suplex…BK DROPS DOWN THE BACK AND THROWS HIS KICK FORWARD CONNECTING LIKE A WHIP TO DROP NOMAD TO A KNEE…A STIFF KICK TO THE HEAD OF HIS FOE KEEPS HIS THERE.
Steve Morrison: KILL SHOT!
KANE OFF THE ROPES…SLIDING BAKATARE KICK!
Steve Morrison: DEAD TO RIGHTS!
HE HOOKS HIM FOR A TIGER SUPLEX…HE ROLLS THROUGH…DRAGON SUPLEX!!!!
Steve Morrison: AMG SPECIAL NUMBER TWO!
Cross Recoba: Now we’ll see what NOMAD is made of!
He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
THR-KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: HE ESCAPES AT THE LAST!
Cross Recoba: If he’d have hooked the leg, he’d have had him!
Kane considers appealing to the “Big” John about the speed of the count but instead heads to the ropes once more as his opponent gets to his feet with unsure footing…NOMAD DUCKS THE YAKUZA KICK…BLACK HOLE SLAM!!!!
Steve Morrison: NOMAD turns Kane’s own momentum on him there!!
This time it’s the Violent Wanderer who drops to pin his opponent…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!!
Cross Recoba: What we’re seeing here is that, in our first ever match, we have two contenders for toughest guys on the roster!
NOMAD peels his opponent off the mat and puts him between his legs. The TOW cameras show the nonchalance with which he sets up his opponent. He wrenches him up before SMASHING HIM TO THE MAT!!
Steve Morrison: Snap Powerbomb AND KANE LOOKS BROKEN!!
Rolling him forward to his feet, Kane unsteady now as he sees NOMAD rush to him with a LARIAT…CROSS ARM-BREAKER FROM BK!!!
Cross Recoba: NEVER…never count out the man from Northern Ireland!
“Big” John is right with NOMAD as he finds his opponent has wasted no time in ensuring that the hold is in.
Steve Morrison: He’s working quickly to keep that hold locked in!
Cross Recoba: Kane knows he has to be quick to keep the pressure on!
NOMAD looks as if he knows he’s in trouble as he reaches for the ropes only to find that the veteran has the locked arm controlled enough to prevent a rope-break escape.
Steve Morrison: BK showing his ring awareness as he makes sure the locked arm is the one nearest the ropes.
Cross Recoba: You’ve got to pick the moves in your arsenal that make sense in that moment. You don’t have time to decide, you go with the one that comes to you. We’re talking milliseconds for a decision!
With an animalistic roar, NOMAD power his way to a knee. Using his free arm HE SCOOPS UP TAFKA RECKLESS JACK AND SWINGS HIM INTO A FALLING POWERBOMB TO BREAK THE HOLD!!
Steve Morrison: Almost a modified Crumbling Tower!
Cross Recoba: Kane needs to think fast now…
Once more he pushes Kane to his feet and this time MAKES NO MISTAKE AS HE CONNECTS WITH HIS UNDAMAGED ARM WITH A LARIAT!!!
Steve Morrison: He almost decapitated him there!
Cross Recoba: Notice how he switched his arm up, he knows he’s hurt from that armbreaker still!
Kane rolls to the apron with the impact leaving NOMAD staring a hole into the front row of the crowd at The Sands.
Steve Morrison: Again, Kane has the presence of mind to get out of Dodge!
Cross Recoba: It’s something you learn quickly in the ring, get to a position you can’t be pinned or submitted. That could be the apron, it could be the floor!
NOMAD cuts off Kane before he can use the space for a breather. He pulls him through the ropes…ROPE-HUNG DDT!!
Steve Morrison: NOMAD showing Kane some of his own medicine there, once more dropping him on his head!
Not content with letting his work speak for him, NOMAD grabs Kane by hair to get him to his feet and whips him to the ropes…HE LIFTS HIM ONTO HIS SHOULDERS LOOKING FOR A POP-UP DEATH VALLEY DRIVER…
Steve Morrison: Kane could be in trouble here…
KANE DROPS DOWN AND FIRES OFF A STIFF KICK TO THE DAMAGED ARM OF NOMAD!!...ACE CRUSHER…
Cross Recoba: COULD IT BE?
HE ROLLS THROUGH INTO A DRAGON SLEEPER!!!
Steve Morrison: AMG SPECIAL ONE!
Kane once more works the damaged arm of his opponent, making sure to stretch it out as he tries to choke the fight out of NOMAD. ..
Cross Recoba: Smart move, he’s tweaking that arm as much as he can. Capitalizing on the work that cross armbreaker did earlier in the match.
Steve Morrison: If he can get him down across his knee, this could seal it for BK!
The Dragon Sleeper seems to be taking effect, NOMAD’s body starting to sag, the veins on the neck of Kane becoming more and more prominent as he works the hold for all he can.
Steve Morrison: KANE WITH ALL THE WILL INSIDE OF HIM!
IN AN ACT OF SHEER DESPERATION, NOMAD RAKES THE EYES WITH HIS FREE ARM! KANE INSTINCTIVELY DROPS THE HOLD!
Cross Recoba: Straight of my own playbook!
NOMAD RUSHES TO THE ROPES AND LOOKS FOR A BICYCLE KICK…
Steve Morrison: MODIFIED NIHILUS PERHAPS?
KANE DUCKS AND CONNECTS WITH AN ENZIGURI THAT BOWS DOWN THE BIGGER MAN…HE HOOKS THE ARM AND REACHES DOWN FOR THE LEG…
Cross Recoba: THE AMG DRIVER! HE TOOK DOWN SPIKE WITH THIS!
NOMAD MOVES THE LEG TO BLOCK THE SUPLEX ATTEMPT AND SHOOTS AN UPPERCUT TO THE CHIN OF KANE AND LIFTS HIM ONTO HIS SHOULDERS…
Steve Morrison: NOMAD doesn’t want to go out the same way and now can Kane once more slip out of trouble?
Cross Recoba: This could be VERY bad for him if he can’t…
HE THROWS HIM DOWN INTO A PILEDRIVER!!!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Steve Morrison: SCORCHED EARTH!!
NOMAD covers, one arm over the chest, the other hooking the leg…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!
Laura Messier: Your winner, as a result of pinfall….NOMAD!!!!
Steve Morrison: NOMAD may have gotten the win but Brad Kane took him to the limit!
Cross Recoba: That might be true but The Violent Wanderer knows that he has written himself into Tap Out trivia by picking up the first win in our company’s history!
Steve Morrison: Both men making a case for why they could well be trouble for the rest of the roster…
Cross Recoba: And delivering in the opener like it was closing the show!
Steve Morrison: Talking of ups and downs, don't sleep on CAR's Sippy Cup Qualifier - watch the replay only on the XHF Network!
Cross Recoba: Did the Angry Mad Chemists win? I'm not watching if they didn't. They're the best damn team on the grid!
Steve Morrison: Why are you the ONLY person that still suffers from that stunt they pulled?
Add the Sippy Cup Qualifier to your List
Laura Messier: The following contest is a singles match, competitors need to secure a pinfall or submission for victory...
The lights become dark and the screen lights up with a feed of static, just as the opening synth beat to ‘Kingslayer’ begins to play over the speakers before the song erupts the crowd and the lights come back to life, flashing down onto the stage and even onto the crowd itself. A singular spotlight separates itself from the rest and shines down onto the entrance curtain as the lyrics kick in.
“Hi, are you looking for the other side?
Feel like nothing ever seems quite right?
Are you circling the drainpipe, getting off on pain like
You're corrupted?”
As the lyrics continue, the figure of Jason Long steps out from behind the curtain to a loud ovation, with a large smile resting on his face as he stops at the top of the ramp. The King glances down onto the camera looking up towards him, a cocky smile being given towards the camera before opening up his jacket and pushing it behind him– beginning his walk down to the ring, mouthing off to the camera as he does.
Laura Messier: Wrestling out of Wexford Town, County Wexford, Ireland and weighing in tonight at one hundred and ninety-five pounds…
“Kingslayer, destroying castles in thе sky
Kingslayer, forevermore the apple of my eye
I'd sacrifice my life to find you, Angel of the Blade
Kingslayer, come and collect us from the night”
Laura Messier: HE IS THE KING OF WRESTLING... THE BEST BOUT FUCKIN' MACHINE...
With the lights all focusing down onto the ringside area, Jason moves along the floor and hops up onto the apron - on the side where the hard cam can get a good look at him - as he leans back against the ropes before entering through the middle ropes. Jason heads into the closest corner to him and climbs up onto the second rope, looking out into the crowd as the introduction is given.
Laura Messier: THIS IS JAASSOOOONNNNNNN LOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!
Just as his name is shouted down the microphone, Jason outstretched his arms wide and roars out to the crowd, keeping a smile on his face as he does. removes his leather ring jacket and throws it down to the ringside area before hopping down off of the ropes and leaning back against the turnbuckles.
Steve Morrison: We've yet to anounce when we'll crown the inaugural Tap Out Wrestling Openweight Champion but Jason Long is The Collector in XHF!
Cross Recoba: He has to get through this with an unblemished copybook first. Close Collins watches from the ring, his father insistent he earn an entrance and he won't make it easy for The New Age Killer!
SECOND MATCH
Singles Match
Jason Long vs Close Collins
Close Collins and Jason Long walk slowly towards each other. Long extends a hand to the youngster and a sharp, emotionless handshake is the response from Close. The former Maverick backs off, looking to keep an early strike exchange at mid range. Long lashes in a kick, stinging the side of Close but the Second Generation Star’s face is unmoved, shrugging off the effects of the blow. Another roundhouse kick cuts through the air and stings the side of Close. The King goes back to the well and throws another fierce kick but this time Collins is sharp to react as he turns to catch the blow and steps through Long’s stance, hitting an inside heel trip that drops Long to the mat. The Irishman rolls away and back to his feet. A polite round of applause breaks out around the arena.
Steve Morrison: Close Collins showing he has more than a little technique.
Cross Recoba: I’m more impressed by his temperament. He has this aura of even temperateness. A lot of rookies would be a lot more hyped up. And that leads to mistakes.
Looking to capitalise immediately, Collins shoots for a double leg on Long but the canny Irishman sprawls and takes a front chancery. The King of Wrestling fires a couple of stiff upward knee strikes into Close’s face. Long rolls to a side, snapping down The Prodigy of the Potassium Powered Pugilist to the mat while maintaining the headlock and with the pair now on the mat, Long fires off some grounded palm strikes, repeatedly paintbrushing the back of Collins’ head. The Collins Progeny scoots backwards out of the way and rolls to his feet and the pair reset. The applause for this sequence is louder than the last.
Steve Morrison: Jason Long, a wealth of experience in his young frame.
Cross Recoba: The man has a ton of youthful energy. But he’s not the least experienced competitor in this match and we’ll have to see if that experience edge is the difference.
It’s Long who is first to act, closing space with a swift back elbow and as Collins’ guard goes high to prevent a second strike, The King of Wrestling goes for a tight waistlock. Close struggles to break free and as the rookie tries to use his arms to lever free, the Irishman performs a rapid go-behind and immediately goes to lever Collins over using nothing but pure strength. Long releases at the top point of the arc of his German Suplex but Collins uses his agility and flips through on the move, landing on his feet. With Jason’s back presenting itself, Collins grabs his own back waistlock and HE looks for a sharp German Suplex, and this time LONG flips out of the move. Close wheels instantly and the pair just close on each other and start trading shots!
Crowd: LET'S GO JAY-SON! LET'S GO CLOSE! LET'S GO JAY-SON! LET'S GO CLOSE!
Steve Morrison: The action is picking up!
Cross Recoba: Two young stars looking to beat the snot out of each other. This is what Tapout Wrestling was built for.
Punches from Close. Short back elbows and palm strikes from Jason. Neither man seems to have the advantage from short range and Long is savvy enough to realise that. He ducks out backwards, dodging a high hook from the rook and sets his feet in a wider kicking stance. As Collins walks in to try and land another punch, The Best Bout Machine puts his educated feet to work and hits a massive crescent kick, connecting solidly with Collins’ jaw. Close looks unmoved as he instinctively lifts his hand to his face to reset his jaw a little and his Irish opponent uses his fleet footedness to leap into range, ducking his head under Close’s back and jacking him up into a Canadian Backbreaker before flicking Collins over into a vicious knee strike to the face. Long covers…
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Collins kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Death Cult for a two count! Do you think Long is looking to put the kid away as fast as he can?
Cross Recoba: Everything Long has looks deadly. Anything he can do could end the match. He just has to keep doing them.
Long backs up, stalking his downed opponent and creating a little space for himself. A little beckoning motion with his right hand signals that he wants Close Collins to get up, if only just a little. Close is slow to get to a knee as Collins heads off full speed past him, rebounding off the far ropes and jumping, pumping his legs and ramming his kneecap into the base of Close’s skull. Long drops to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Collins kicks out.
Crowd: OH, CLO-O-OSE COL-LINS! OH, CLO-O-OSE COL-LINS!
Steve Morrison: T-VIRUS! Long is picking up the pace!
Cross Recoba: Jason Long is all energy and high impact. A high pace suits his skill set and you should always work your own game.
Hopping up to his feet, Long fires off a pair of sharp kicks, smashing the toe of his boot into Close Collins’ rib cage. The King of Wrestling grabs an arm of Collins and hauls him to a vertical base, eyeing the corner for a second before launching the rookie across the ring against the turnbuckle. Long charges in, raising his knee up and slamming it into Close’s breadbasket. As Close Collins stumbles out of the corner, The Best Bout Machine grabs Close and inverts him, draping him over the top rope in the Tree of Woe! The Wexford Warrior points to the sky and steps through the ropes.
Crowd: YEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!
Steve Morrison: Looks like Jason Long is gonna fly!
Cross Recoba: He’s going to put an exclamation mark on the match with the soles of his feet.
Long waits, picking his spot, feeling the energy of the packed arena course through his body. He looks downwards to pick his time when Collins is exposing his belly trying to get up… BUT CLOSE COLLINS HAS A TON OF CORE STRENGTH AND HE SITS ALL THE WAY UP FROM THE POSITION! COLLINS PUNCHES LONG IN THE BREADBASKET TO STUN THE IRISHMAN, THEN A SECOND TIME BEFORE REACHING UP AND LAUNCHING LONG ACROSS THE RING, KEEPING HOLD OF THE TOP ROPE WITH HIS LEGS!
Crowd: HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT!
Steve Morrison: SPIDER GERMAN SUPLEX!
Cross Recoba: That’s the problem with high risk. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t.
Steve Morrison: You have to marvel at the strength of Close Collins.
Cross Recoba: My scouting network picks only the best.
Collins hauls himself up to the top rope and turns, keeping a close eye on Jason Long. He breathes in deeply and LEAPS OFF THE TOP ROPE, TRAVELLING FORWARDS BUT FLIPPING BACKWARDS AS HE LANDS FLUSH ACROSS JASON LONG’S CHEST!
ONE!
T.. NO! COLLINS FLOATS OVER RATHER THAN COVER AND LOCKS IN A HALF NELSON BLOOD CHOKE!
Steve Morrison: THE KATAHAJIME! LAST CALL! LAST CALL!
The referee gets down to check on Long whose eyes are bulging as Collins fidgets around with the judo choke, wiggling around to find the perfect position to keep his facelocking arm right over Jason’s carotid artery. Long feels himself fading..
AND TAPS.
Laura Messier: The winner of the match, by submission, CLOOOOOSE COOOOOLIIIINS!
The crowd bursts into a round of applause for both men's efforts in the match.
Steve Morrison: A victory for the debuting Collins.
Cross Recoba: I think this guy has a bright future in the industry. Jason Long is a hell of a competitor and it’s a great achievement to overcome him in your first match.
Steve Morrison: We shall have to wait and see.
Don't miss Conquest Wrestling's debut show, add to your playlist now!
HALF-TIME SHOW
Laura Messier: Welcome back! Our next match is set for one fall...introducing first...
Laura Messier: Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada...
The opening chords of Big Shot slam into the speakers, bringing the fans to their feet as Jackalope charges through the curtain.
Laura Messier: Standing at five-feet and nine-inches, he is The Chaos Bunny!!!
He runs full tilt down the ramp and slides into the ring, rolling to his feet and spinning like a dervish as he soaks everything in.
Laura Messier: JACKALOPE!!
He finally slows enough to mount a turnbuckle, a grin on his face as he salutes the fans before backflipping to the mat again.
Steve Morrison: After a stand-out showing where, despite being on the losing team, he stod out enough to earn his spot in this match.
Cross Recoba: The kid really excites me for the potential and ability he has inside that ring...
Laura Messier: And his opponent...
Laura Messier: From Louisiana, New Orleans..
The lights go down and the sound of people cheering starts to play. Spotlights come up in pairs, focused on the stage until 'Like A Rockstar' starts to play as fog covers the stage and strobing purple lights play along with the song. Slowly a platform rises from the center of the stage, revealing a figure in an elaborate velvet robe, with "Tommy Strychnine" signed on the back in flickering LEDs.
Laura Messier: Standing at five-feet and ten inches, weighing in at one-hundred-and-seventy-five pounds
Tommy spins around when the lyrics start and shrugs off the robe, lip-synching along to the song and imitating playing guitar as he makes his way down the ramp, stopping to take selfies and give high fives to fans along the way.
Laura Messier: He is the Rock 'em, Sock 'em Rocker....TOMMY...STRYCHNINE!!!
When he gets to the ring, he poses on the turnbuckle with his guitar, pretending to play along with the song, before handing off the guitar to the ring crew and doing a flip off the turnbuckle into a powerslide as pyro goes off from the corners of the ring.
Steve Morrison: Strych might well find himself at home here in Vegas. The fans in attendance are certainly attuned to the showmanship
Cross Recoba: Strych may not always come out with his arm raised but I have NEVER seen a dull match with him involved! Tonight though, he'll want to keep Jackalope on the losing end of their encounters!
CO-MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Jackalope vs Tommy Styrichnine
“Big” John Quinn seems happy with his pre-match checks and signals for the timekeeper to get the Co-Main underway.
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen all kinds of styles on display tonight, here we have the ever-resourceful Tommy Strychnine facing off against Jackalope, a wrestler never shy of the audacious and high-risk! Cross, what’s the strategy to look for from both men?
Cross Recoba: The Chaos Bunny has to stick and move. I’ve seen Strych take down men who want to stand and brawl with him and if that isn’t your bag, it’s a suicide mission to try. Tommy on the other hand, he needs to make sure he doesn’t take his opponent for a fool. These two spent enough time in each other’s company during the Showcase match that I can’t for a minute think that either of them doesn’t know where their key to victory lies!
Both men are quick to get the match underway. Jackalope rushes out from his corner, his opponent has the same idea. The Rocker cuts Jackalope off though and throws a quick right to the temple of his opponent before locking him up with a collar and elbow tie-up. The hold is momentary though, Strych transitions quickly to a headlock but can’t quite seal it in before Kid Cryptid has slipped out the back of it. He quickly hops onto the shoulders of The Rock’ Em Sock ‘Em Rocker but is quickly thrown forward and spun round and straight into a release arm-drag.
Steve Morrison: We’ve got two brawlers in the main-event tonight but I’m not sure either of them bring the technical approach that Tommy does, he avoided a potential rana from Crytpid there with ease.
Cross Recoba: It’s early days but both men showed their strengths in that exchange.
The Chaos Bunny is quick to his feet and this time he circles his opponent. He dodges a straight right and throws a counter-kick to the shoulder that lands. He grabs the arm of Tommy and tries to send him to the ropes, it’s quickly reversed…
Strych drops down…Jackalope passes over
Coming back off the ropes and he ducks the leapfrog attempt…
Steve Morrison: Is this a stale-mate?
Cross Recoba: Something will give, it always does…
The third time, Tommy shows his hand too early as he drops his head looking for a back-body drop…Kid Cryptid delivers a rising knee to the head of his opponent that snaps him back to a vertical base. He rears back into the ropes…a pinpoint dropkick takes Strych down to the mat as the crowd start to cheer the bright and fast-paced start to the match.
Steve Morrison: The rookie wrestler is definitely trying to keep the match within his comfort zone.
Cross Recoba: It’s an encouraging start for him but you can never get a quick path to the experience that someone like Tommy holds inside that ring…
Not wanting to lose focus, Kid Cryptid focuses on his next move. He sees Tommy is equally quick to get back to his feet and charges at him with a spinning wheel kick BUT TOMMY DIVES TO THE MAT AS CRYPTID SKIDS INTO THE ROPES!
Steve Morrison: Almost prophetic with your words there, Cross.
Cross Recoba: I mentioned earlier about Close Collins needing to progress now by being in the ring with more experienced wrestlers and the same is true with Jackalope. He telegraphed the move a little and Tommy’s management will have gone to pains to put together a scouting video in his preparation for the match tonight.
The more experienced wrestler now shows the years inside the ring he has over his foe as he clotheslines Jackalope over the ropes to the floor!
Steve Morrison: Is Strych taking the match to an environment now where he can inflict damage in one of his more preferred manners - the smash-mouth brawling that has served him so well?
Cross Recoba: We’ll see. Sometimes predicting what the guy is going to do is a wasted exercise as he’ll always veer to the unexpected.
Strych wastes a few precious seconds showboating to the crowd who give him a mixed reaction.
Steve Morrison: Ever the showman!
The cameras show Jackalope getting to his feet as he places a hand to his head. The background shows a charging Tommy…CORKSCREW PLANCHA OVER THE ROPES TO THE CHAOS BUNNY TAKING BOTH MEN DOWN TO THE FLOOR!!
Steve Morrison: TOMMY JUST WIPED OUT KID CRYPTID AND WHAT AIR HE CAUGHT JUST THEN!
Cross Recoba: Pretty much a picture-perfect plancha, he made sure that not only did Jackalope catch all of that but also that he minimized the impact he himself absorbed!
Crowd: THE MAN CAN DIVE! THE MAN CAN FLY! THE MAN CAN DIVE! THE MAN CAN FLY!
Strych, having let his opponent absorb the impact of the move, rolls to his feet and gives the rookie no time to catch his breath as he pulls him to his feet and throws him into the ring steps!
Steve Morrison: Tommy invoking Axl Rose versus Metallica fans as he continues his assault on the ringside floor!
ONE…
The Rocker casts an eye out to the crowd, he catches sight of the guard rail that separates the crowd from the ringside action and a smile forms on his face.
Cross Recoba: I’d say the guard-rail is a surprise but then the man does have a finisher called The Stage Dive!
TWO…
Once more pulling Jackalope to his feet, he whips him to the guard-rail BUT KID CRYPTID LEAPS ONTO THE GUARDRAIL AND BACKFLIPS OVER THE RUSHING TOMMY!
Steve Morrison: Amazing balance and agility from the rookie!
THREE…
Turning around, Tommy has no time to block or avoid the rana that sends him backwards towards the announce table.
Steve Morrison: Kid Cryptid quickly turns the situation to his advantage!
Cross Recoba: Don’t make Mongo add a line item to our budget for announce tables!
FOUR…
Jackalope rolls Tommy into the ring and climbs onto the apron. He springs to the top-rope and comes off the top with a springboard dropkick to the delight of the crowd.
Steve Morrison: A great dropkick from Jackalope but how sustainable is this tempo the deeper this match goes?
Cross Recoba: We’ll see if he adapts. Right now, whatever works is the best action.
Staying on the offensive, Jackalope follows this with a running swanton bomb and leans back for the cover…
ONE…
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: Early pin attempt doesn’t catch Tommy sleeping!
Keen to keep the high-tempo up, Jackalope lifts up his opponent but Strych disguises a rabbit punch to the throat that buys him time to run and lift a knee into the bread basket of his opponent. Smelling blood, Tommy takes advantage and unleashes a series of quick straight rights that rock his opponent with each strike.
Cross Recoba: Each of those punches landed with precision!
Steve Morrison: Slightly unsporting way to get back into the match though.
Cross Recoba: Whatever works, you’re going to hear that a lot in Tap Out, Steve.
Grabbing Jackalope’s arm, Strych whips him into the turnbuckle and follows it in with a running elbow strike to the face!
Steve Morrison: The Rookie finding himself literally trapped in a corner.
The rookie now slumped in the corner, leaning against the middle turnbuckle, Tommy runs and LAUNCHES A HANDSPRING DROPKICK TO THE FACE OF KID CRYPTID CAUSING HIM TO STAGGER DRUNKENLY FROM THE CORNER…STRYCH SENDS HIM RIGHT BACK WHERE HE CAME WITH A RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: He needs to act soon, Tommy looks to be building up a rhythm. He sent Kid Cryptid into that turnbuckle at full-force!
CHARGING, THE ROCKER LANDS A CANNONBALL SENTON TO HIS SEATED FOE!
Cross Recoba: THIS was one of the reasons I love watching Tommy wrestle. He switches from style to style with each move. It makes him hard to plan for and unpredictable to watch!
Strych looks for the quick cover, hooking a leg…
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: That may be but Jackalope withstood that barrage and the fans seems to be getting behind him!
Crowd: LET’S GO, CRYPTID! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* LET’S GO, CRYPTID! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Tommy steps between the ropes and scouts his opponent, still weary from the triad of moves he just endured. Jackalope rises, still groggy and unsighted…SPRINGBOARD BULLDOG TAKES HIM BACK DOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: The crowd willing him on, can Jackalope find a way back into the match?
The cameras show Jackalope looking dazed as he stares up at the very ornate ceiling at The Sands.
Cross Recoba: Al Costello will be pleased that the money he spent decorating this room didn’t go unnoticed on the Network!
Tommy stalks his prey like a Lion scouts a wounded Gazelle on the serengeti, circling as if to plot his next move.
Steve Morrison: Is this where the experience comes into it? Tommy isn’t rushing into his next assault.
Cross Recoba: He’s in the driving seat. If you’re there, you get no favors for acting rashly.
Rising, Jackalope fails to see the Strych danger behind him and finds himself in a sleeper hold.
Steve Morrison: Tommy looking to sap the energy and pace that Jackalope started the match with.
Cross Recoba: Tuna’s brother Dave isn’t going to rave about this move but even he can’t say it isn’t effective when it comes to grinding your opponent down!
Once more digging into his bag of tricks, Tommy uses his top hand to enact more punishment and almost rakes it across his opponent’s forehead, using the studded wristband on his arm for added pain.
Steve Morrison: Those wristbands are being pushed across the forehead of Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: Smart move. Each of those rakes are going to cause little pin-like abrasions and cuts on the skin of Kid Cryptid. Trust me, when you’re trying to stay focused there are few things more distracting than the pain of your sweat and the salt within it going into those cuts!
The rookie looks like he might be fading as Strych holds the move in tight, Jackalope’s arms flail wildly, searching for the escape he needs to find.
Steve Morrison: Is Jackalope in the last ditch saloon?
Jackalope pries at the arms of his opponent but can’t budge them.
Cross Recoba: He needs to act fast after such a bright start tonight in the match.
Making sure he’s still in the match, “Big” John asks Jackalope if he wants to quit but a determined shake of his head stops the enquiry.
Steve Morrison: The air might be draining from him but his spirit isn’t!
Cross Recoba: Then he needs to make his move now or all the spirit in the world isn’t going to stop medical science deciding the match!
Sensing he has one shot, JACKALOPE CHARGES AT THE TURNBUCKLE AND FLINGS HIMSELF TO THE MAT SENDING TOMMY HEADFIRST INTO THE TURNBUCKLE TO BREAK THE HOLD!!
Steve Morrison: DESPERATION ESCAPE FROM JACKALOPE BUYS HIM ANOTHER SHOT IN THE MATCH!
Using the ropes to bring him back to his feet, Kid Cryptid leans on them to ensure the referee will allow him the time to get his breath back.
The Rocker checks for any blood and finds none. He starts towards The Chaos Bunny and goes to grab him but Jackalope takes him down with an arm-drag and THEN USES THE ARM TO LAUNCH A SHORT-ARM STEP-UP ENZIGURI!!!
Steve Morrison: Unorthodox but effective chain of moves from Jackalope!
Cross Recoba: It’s definitely bought him some time.
Once more going to the ropes to recover. He learns from earlier in the match and leans against them, his eyes never leaving his opponent.
Cross Recoba: Now he’s learning from the match. Previously, he didn’t think about where his opponent was when he did this. Now? Now he’s picking up those tricks that only experience can give you!
As Tommy begins to get back to his feet, Kid Cryptid looks to cut him off but he is doubled-over with a quick and short hook to the abdomen. Tommy hooks his arm, looking to go for a suplex…JACKALOPE DROPS AROUND THE BACK…SHOULDER-SPIN RANA SENDS TOMMY TO THE RINGSIDE FLOOR ONCE MORE!!
Steve Morrison: This match heads to the outside as the fans wait with bated breath for what their hometown kid can do next…
Crowd: GO CRYPT-ID! GO CRYPT-ID! GO CRYPT-ID! GO CRYPT-ID!
Buoyed on by the crowd getting behind him, Jackalope charges the opposite ropes AND LANDS A SPACE FLYING TIGER DROP TO THE OUTSIDE!!!
Steve Morrison: OH MY LORD! DID YOU SEE THAT???
Cross Recoba: But at what cost, Steve, what damage did he take with that one?
Crowd: THAT WAS AWESOME! THAT WAS AWESOME! THAT WAS AWESOME!
“Big” John Quin starts the count as he looks outside to the wreckage at ringside.
ONE…
TWO…
Still neither man stirs.
THREE…
Jackalope is up to his knees and brings Strych up with him.
Steve Morrison: Both competitors feeling the effects of the match now.
Cross Recoba: It’s hard to say who is feeling it worse. Has Jackalope got his oxygen tank back up and running? Have the repeated blows to the head of Strych added up?
FOUR…
Tommy unloads a desperate European Uppercut that snaps Jackalope back…HE SEIZES THE OPENING AND A RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP SENDS JACKALOPE INTO THE RINGSIDE APRON!
Steve Morrison: Once more, Tommy showing his ring smarts as he uses the ring itself once more to inflict damage to his opponent!
Cross Recoba: I have a theory that Tommy is A LOT smarter than the image he projects. That ring presence, that innovativeness to use what is around him tells me it has merit.
FIVE…
Tommy pushes Jackalope onto the apron and pulls himself up after, using his foot to push his opponent into the ring. He steps between the ropes in a deliberate manner.
Steve Morrison: Again, Tommy is keen to not expend energy needlessly.
Cross Recoba: He’s been in this position time and time again, he knows what he needs to get to the end of the match.
Now on his knees, Jackalope looks up to see a swift kick to the head is being thrown by Strych and there is nowhere out. The Rocker uses his opponent’s hair to drag him back up and a stiff forearm sends him into the turnbuckle once more.
Steve Morrison: Cutting the ring off from his opponent.
Grabbing the middle rope either side of the corner, Strych drives his shoulder into the stomach of his opponent repeatedly.
Cross Recoba: If the effects of the sleeper hold had worn off then Jackalope is going to find himself back there soon if those driving shoulders continue much more.
Slumped, The Chaos Bunny can’t fight it as Tommy turns him and perches him atop the top rope…
Steve Morrison: What are we looking for here?
Beginning the climb, Tommy lifts Jackalope onto his shoulders to once more observe the ceiling…
Steve Morrison: Oh no, IT CAN’T BE!
Cross Recoba: YES, YES IT CAN!!
TOP-ROPE USHIGOROSHI!!!!!
Steve Morrison: TOP ROPE HOLY DRIVER!!
Cross Recoba: That’s it, that HAS to be it!
Crowd: LET’S GO, STRYCH! WE WANT CRYPTID! LET’S GO, STRYCH! WE WANT CRYPTID! LET’S GO, STRYCH! WE WANT CRYPTID!
Both men look broken by the move, “Big” John looks across at them, ready to start the count but Tommy very slowly rolls onto his stomach and drapes an arm over his opponent…
ONE…
TWO…
THR-KICKOUT!!!
The horrified look on Strych’s face is captured perfectly by the camera.
Steve Morrison: Tommy can’t believe it!
Cross Recoba: I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! HE HAD HIM!
He picks up the Rookie and starts to unload with a barrage of quick rights and lefts that pushes his opponent to the ropes.He whips him to the ropes…Jackalope baseball slides between his legs…KID CRYPTID GOES FOR A FLYING HEADSCISSORS BUT STRYCHNINE TURNS IT INTO A BACKBREAKER!!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope went to the well too many times there. High risk means high reward but only if it pays off!
Cross Recoba: He’s in a very dangerous position right now.
Holding his opponent over his back, The Rocker drives pointed elbow strikes to the face of his opponent. After half a dozen strikes, with one more for luck, Strychnine drags his opponent by the hair and positions him on the middle-rope.
Steve Morrison: We know what this is…
Tommy Strychine: THIS IS MY FINAL SONG OF THE NIGHT!
Charging, Tommy connects with a Tiger Feint Kick and stays on the outside..
Steve Morrison: STRYCH-ONE-NINE!!!
Cross Recoba: He’s not done yet, he wants to put an exclamation mark on this one!
Waiting patiently, he picks the moment when he sees Kid Cryptid eventually rise. He uses the top rope to somersault over the ropes and charges at the dazed Jackalope…
Steve Morrison: HE’S LOOKING FOR THE NOVEMBER RAINMARKER
Cross Recoba: HERE IT COMES!
JACKALOPE DUCKS THE BUCKSHOT LARIAT AND SPIDERWALKS….TOXIC SPIDER SPEAR!!
Steve Morrison: DEAD MAN’S SWITCH! DID YOU SEE THAT?
Cross Recoba: It doesn’t look like he is going to be able to gain an advantage from it though…
This time, “Big” John has no choice but to start to count both men out on the canvas…
ONE…
TWO…
Once more, no movement is registered from either man as the referee looks over them.
THREE…
FOUR….
Still no sign of life from either competitor.
Steve Morrison: Both men paying the price for the war they’ve waged tonight!
FIVE…
Strych raises his head and looks towards Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: Tommy knows he needs to win this foot-race.
Steve Morrison: What if he doesn’t?
Cross Recoba: Then, based off what the kid has shown me tonight, he could well have gambled and lost it all.
SIX…
Jackalope waves an arm as if looking for a rope that isn’t going to be there.
Steve Morrison: Kid Cryptid looking dazed from the battle.
SEVEN…
Strych now to his knees, he moves to Jackalope. Kid Cryptid has his elbows up but not much more. Rushing to take advantage, The Rocker comes off the ropes and leaps…
Cross Recoba: Tommy looking to put him down once more…
JACKALOPE AVOIDS THE AXE KICK…POISON RANA!!!
Steve Morrison: He spiked him right on his head!!!
Now on the defensive unexpectedly, Tommy clings to the middle rope but doesn’t spot Jackalope charging in…BIG BOSSMAN MIDDLE-ROPE LEG CLOTHESLINE TO THE BACK OF HIS NECK!
Steve Morrison: The fans are going to be able to find out which one of these men do this move better.
Cross Recoba: Does Tommy have this move’s number though…
Running on nothing but adrenaline now, Jackalope looks to the crowd before charging at his opponent - TIGER FEINT KICK!!!
Steve Morrison: BUCK YOU!!!
Leaning heavily on the top-rope, The Chaos Bunny waits patiently with each second allowing him to find where his second or third wind might be.
Cross Recoba: Can he afford to wait for Tommy to get up?
Strych starts to rise…JACKALOPE LEAPS ONTO THE TOP ROPE AND SPINS…SHOOTING STAR DDT!!!
Steve Morrison: EL-AHRAIRAH DDT! He caught him!
Cross Recoba: I’m shaking my head at the height he got on that leap!
Leaning back onto The Rocker, Jackalope can do little more than hook the leg and hope…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
The bell rings!!!
Laura Messier: Your winner of this match via pinfall…KID CRYPTID…JACKALOPE!!!
As his music plays, Jackalope finds himself being lifted up by “Big” John Quinn and almost leans on him as his hand is raised.
Cross Recoba: Jackalope pulls out the win as his cult following begins or maybe it’s now growing!
Steve Morrison: Tommy was unlucky, that missed Strych-One-Nine would have thrown anyone else’s momentum off but he had a back-up plan…
Cross Recoba: Which Jackalope had scouted…anyways, ready to find out our big signing?
Steve Morrison: Are you clowning me?
Cross Recoba: No, I believe they have the market cornered in Philadelphia for that…anyways, ROLL THE VT!
We cut to the video screen…
Taylor: Everyone's down! What happens next!? What happens next!?
Romano: Well we'll see who faces the team of Chris Card and Natasha or Dinosaur Bones and Subject #42. The team that faces them? We'll know that VERY soon.
The person who slides to their feet first are actually two people. And both of them from the same team! It's Anthony Caffrey and Neo James Carner! The hot headed NJC gets up, spits venom at his partner and pushes him. The aggravated and annoyed Caffrey pushes back and HARDER. He doesn't watch his partner fall. Instead, he focuses on kicking Adam Sanders. But when NJC gets pushed back, ADRIEN COCHRANE forces himself to grab him and pulls him back for a school boy! Anthony Caffrey doesn't see this happen, but Steve Tyrell did! NJC is kicking! Adrien is putting ALL HIS ENERGY into securing this pin!
...One!
...Two!
...THREE!
Caffrey gets distracted by the bell and his eyes goes bloodshot as Jessie Love takes the microphone.
Jessie Love: Here are your winners and now heading to the Fired Up Semifinals Match - Adrien Cochrane and Adam Sanders!
Taylor: Wait! They won! They pulled all the scraps together and were able to pull through somehow!
Adrien Cochrane: This…
The item is revealed to be a championship belt from somewhere not associated to the XHF Network.
Adrien Cochrane: ...is the New Generation Wrestling Championship. This is a world title that I won on July 8th, 2018 against a man competing later tonight. I defended it once on the final NGW show two weeks later. The company closed after that show. Here, have a look…
Cochrane hands Dylan Black the championship belt he won from Johnny Maverick almost three years ago. Dylan takes the belt, with an eyebrow raised. It takes a second, but it clicks what Adrien is putting down.
Adrien Cochrane: Do you remember what I told you when we first met in that huge mess that was going on for the FWA Anarchy Title? I wanted to see how we stack up in a real fight. That remains true, Dylan. There is no greater test than going against someone who is showing themselves to be one of the best champions I’ve seen, in the middle of a historic run. To face you with your belt on the line, even if it ends up being for nought, is still a test to prove just where I am. If I lose, then you add another name to your list of defeated contenders. And you add this…
The Dropkick King pats the NGW Title, which is still in Dylan’s hands.
Adrien Cochrane: …To the biggest prize in all of wrestling. Meanwhile, I get the chance to prove that I do #Believe in myself, to step up when the chips are down. This belt has been in my home since the company closed, almost never leaving my fireplace mantel. It deserves better than that. It deserves to be something bigger than just a display in my living room. I want NGW to live on… and I would love an opportunity to have a match with you, just me… and you.
The X*Crown Champion smiles, and hands the NGW Championship back to its owner, the smile quickly fading.
Dylan Black: Truly, I am honored you would desire to put forth your title to challenge for mine. I would love the chance to take you one, mano-e-mano. Belt or no belts on the line, I am going to give you the match of your life.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Adrien grabs Solomon by the head to go for the finishing move, but Graham shoves Adrien off of him and into the ropes… but apparently Adrien had a plan for that as well as Adrien takes that as an invitation to springboard off the middle rope and plant both of his knees into Solomon’s shoulders. Cochrane grabs both Graham’s legs to complete his finish of the Crescent City Connection and gets the three count as Graham couldn’t get out until after the bell had already rung.
::CHEYENNE GRAHAM::
Here is your winner… “The Dropkick King” ADRIEN COCHRANE!!
::JAMES WILLIS::
Well, Solomon did his best to try to get his hire. He fought a hard, tough match.
::LATE NIGHT::
Indeed. But Adrien showed us just why Graham wanted to sign him in the first place. Now Eddie Walker seems to be giving Adrien a thumbs up, I’m guessing to show approval for the match’s result.
Walker gave Adrien the thumbs up, but it was when Adrien gave the thumbs up back that Walker made his move. Walker politely takes the contract from Selena Firehouse and slides it into the ring. Cochrane picks it up and looks at Solomon Graham, who is sitting in the corner and looking confused. But everyone was confused when they saw what happened next: Cochrane takes the pen and signs his name on the last page.
::LATE NIGHT::
Wait, did he just…?
::JAMES WILLIS::
Cochrane just signed the contract?! Did he… did he just become the newest member of the FWA roster?!
::LATE NIGHT::
And he just officially challenged for the XHF X*Crown earlier tonight. Whoa, this is huge!
Dylan got to his feet and again protested with the referee, but the referee again told him the count was steady and fair, and that the shoulder was up before his hand hit the mat for the third time. Dylan frowned, but his gaze was immediately back to the challenger, who was stirring, although it looked like it was on pure instinct, he looked vacant. Dylan walked over to Adrien, who used Dylan as a crutch to get back to his feet, possibly not aware of where he was, Dylan allowed him to get to one knee before hooking him in a fishermans, he was going to hit Ragnarok, but before he could, The Dropkick King reversed into a small package! Dylan kicked straight out, and both men instinctively got to their feet, even Cochrane, Dylan scrambled towards the challenger who ducked his clothesline attempt, and hit another Adrien Cutter! Cover! One….two……………..three!
DING DING DING!
Dan Simmons: I don’t believe it! He did it! He did it Tommy!
The New Orleans crowd erupt even louder than they have done at any point before, the camera focuses briefly on Adrien’s wife and children who are at ringside, their faces a mix of shock, delight and pure adulation. The referee collects the X*Crown title and approaches Adrien, who has rolled off Dylan Black and is sat up, trying to process what just happened. The referee presents the title to Cochrane, and his eyes almost pop out of his head, it starts to sink in…
Marty Watts: Here is your winner, and NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW XHF X*Crown Champion, The Dropkick King, ADRIEN COCHRANE!
The crowd explode again as the new champion gets to his feet and holds his new title aloft with one hand, the other hand over his mouth, speechless.
Tommy West: The hometown boy did it Simmo!
Dan Simmons: He did more than that partner, he has finally ended the reign of Dylan Black!
The FWA natives grow restless as El Rey LEAPS onto the top rope, lunging towards Adrien feet-first… only to be met with the SINGLE MOST GRACEFUL Dropkick that Adrien has thrown thus far, not just in FWA, but in the entire XHF Network!!! The natives pop big time as Adrien’s feet connect with El Rey’s jaw, SNAPPING his neck BACK and sending him crashing down to the mat, skidding along until he’s stopped by the bottom rope!! El Rey can’t get up, but Adrien’s not done yet! He picks him back up, wraps his arms around his neck and drops him with an Adrien Cutter (Diamond Cutter) for the pinfall, and the natives count in sync with Edgar Brown!
1.
2.
3!!!!!
DING DING DING DING DING
::CHEYENNE GRAHAM::
Here is your winner, AAAAAND STILL the XHF X*Crown champion, ADRIEEEEN COOOOCHRANE!!!!!!!!
“Last One Standing” hits as Adrien rises to his feet. Edgar Brown takes the belt and hands it off to Adrien, who groggily takes it and holds it high above his head. Eddie Walker climbs the ring steps, enters the ring and holds his clients hand up. The confetti comes down from the ceiling as this happens, and the fans begin chanting…
“DROP-KICK KING! DROP-KICK KING! DROP-KICK KING!”
The Freak somehow pops its eyes open and roars with rage and rolls violently over. It stands up and roars. Then wobbles … then drops to a knee. Adrien slowly pushes to his feet. Dropkick to the chest. Subject is floored. Adrien crawls over for a cover but two white hands grasp his throat. Subject sits up, blood dripping from its hand and Adrien’s head. It slowly pushes to its feet. The right arm wavers as it lifts Adrien up. Adrien somehow manages to hit the right arm hard enough to drop free and ADRIEN CUTTER!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-NO!
Angel: How do they keep going?
Hawke: They’re both punch drunk, I think.
Angel: Amateurs. I don’t need to be punched. I just use booze! *downs a Big Gulp of Super Sake, belches*
Adrien rolls under the bottom rope. Subject, miraculously, climbs to its feet. With every last ounce of energy, Adrien springs up and off the top rope. Double knees to the shoulders. The Crescent City Connect lands flush. Subject is down and pinned beneath the knees as Adrien grabs its legs as they kick up and holds the pin.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Subject violently kicks out JUST as the three hits.
DING DING DING!
Angel: HOLY HELL HE DID IT!
Hawke: I don’t know if it’s an upset but sixteen dropkicks from the king and a flurry of unexpected offense and the Freak is down.
Subject stares at the ref with disbelief as Adrien collapses onto the middle rope, pumping both fists to the crowd through the ropes.
Walter Stanford: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner, and advancing to the main event of Night of Champions … from FWA … ADRIEN COCHRANE!
Angel: I can’t believe it!
The dropkick sends Dresden quite a few feet to the mat and Adrien down as well. The fans start chanting “holy shit” after the ladder hopscotch to dropkick Dresden, even if it likely looked more impressive than the damage it did to Dresden. In fact, both Eli and Adrien start moving around the same time. Eli is on the ropes opposite Adrien. Adrien, on the other hand, grabs the small ladder and is ready to use it as a weapon. Adrien swings… AND MISSES! Eli Dresden dodges it with an impressive roll under the ladder. She drops Cochrane with a spinning DDT. She positions the ladder and waits for Adrien to get back up.
Hawke: She wants to OMFN him into that ladder, doesn’t she?
Randy: Yuuuuuup!
Hawke: And here it comes!!
Dresden jumps to hit her finishing move to send Adrien’s body into the ladder… BUT COCHRANE DUCKS!! As soon as Eli turns around, Cochrane hits a finisher of his own.
Hawke: ADRIEN CUTTER!! Eli Dresden just went FACE FIRST into that steel!
Randy: Just when you think he has nothing left!
Hawke: Eli has done SO MUCH to Adrien in this match. But he still has some fight left in the tank!
Eli Dresden, as a result of the Adrien Cutter, is finally got blood trickling down her forehead to match Adrien’s crimson mask. Adrien looks up at the ladder and sees his opportunity. He starts climbing. And climbing. And climbing.
Adrien carefully starts to unhook the briefcase, almost losing his balance at one point… then finally securing it to end the match. The camera cuts to a clearly conflicted Eddie Walker in his cage as the bell sounds to call for the end of the match.
DING DING DING!!
"AND I’M GONNA BEEEEEEE, THE LAST ONE STANDING!!”
Hawke: Adrien Cochrane has done it!
Randy: I hope she doesn’t have to do that babysitting gig anytime soon and has a chance to recuperate after this hellacious match! These two nearly killed each other!
Hawke: Even Adrien is having a hard time getting back to the floor right now.
Adrien Cochrane’s feet finally safely touch the ground before he collapses into the ropes as Bonnie Jenkins makes the announcement.
Bonnie Jenkins: Here is your winner… The Dropkick King, ADRIEN COCHRANE!!
Cochrane looks through all the steel ladders over to his opponent. “Last One Standing” cuts off as Cochrane looks over at Eli Dresden, who is still in the corner, seated and devoid of any and all energy. And that’s when Adrien finally spoke to his opponent…
Adrien Cochrane: All of this… for him…?
Eli’s response is a simple nod. Adrien nods his head in reply before doing something no one expected him to do… he slides the briefcase in Dresden’s direction.
Adrien Cochrane: You deserve this.
Cross Recoba: You’re silent but go on, ask me how…
Steve Morrison: HOW? You HATE Eddie Walker’s stable!
The lights cut off with the exception of one on the entrance ramp. A couple of seconds later, “Hero” by Weezer starts to play on the PA system.
“When I was a kid, I thought I'd save the world
Running 'round and chasing all the criminals
Swinging on a web, flying in the sky
Shooting lasers from my eyes
But now I know it never was my destiny
It's not my place in life, not who I'm meant to be
And I don't need the glory, I don't need the fame
And I don't wanna wear this cape”
As the pre-chorus starts, Eddie Walker appears from behind the curtain, easily recognizable with the giant spike of hair atop his head. He walks down to the ring with a microphone in hand to the sound of cheers from the fans.
Laura Messier: Everyone please welcome, from Houston, Texas…he is the Manager Extraordinaire, EDDIE WALKER!!
Walker rolls into the ring before smiling at all the fans… until his eyes reach Cross Recoba on the outside of the ring.
Cross Recoba: Business is business and when a contract comes up like that. You take it, even if it meant having to go to Card’s beloved Canada!
Steve Morrison: THE MAN HATES YOU! JUST LOOK AT THE LOOK HE JUST SHOT YOU!
Cross Recoba: And yet, he can’t lay a finger on me. Isn’t it great? I’M EDDIE WALKER’S BOSS! I’m not going to step in the ring, not going to main event, not even going to compete in Tap Out...not ONE of them can touch me!
Eddie Walker: GOOD EVENING, LAS VEGAS!!
All the fans pop as they are addressed by the Manager Extraordinaire.
Eddie Walker: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls… and Mr. Recoba…
He raises an eyebrow at Cross Recoba.
Eddie Walker: Just before XHF Supremacy hit the airwaves a month ago, I was notified from the XHF Network offices. You see, when a company is part of the XHF umbrella, there’s a whole book of little tiny things that talks about what the companies can and can’t do. There was one such statute that was very rarely used. When a company under the Network closes, another company has the option to buy the contract of one of the wrestlers without them signing a new deal. Or even having control over where they go.
Cross Recoba: You hear that? The words of a broken man…
Eddie Walker: It’s not often it happens because you essentially have to pay a certain amount up front based on the guaranteed salary and years remaining on the deal. And you’re stuck with the same contract that the previous company had agreed to terms with… every… single… word of it. No matter how insignificant.
Walker glares back at Cross Recoba as he emphasizes that portion of the bylaw that Recoba had used.
Cross Recoba: Kids, let this be the first lesson in business that ‘Mr Recoba’ teaches you.
Steve Morrison: I can’t believe what I’m seeing…I’m not too sure the Vegas audience can believe it either! This takes an already talented roster and…
Cross Recoba: …and you just wait!
Eddie Walker: See, Adrien and I… we’ve dealt with owners who were “less than pleasant” to deal with. So something I try to do is put protections in the contracts of my clients in case an owner does go on a power trip. Something Solomon Graham didn’t worry too much about agreeing to but now you’re stuck with it, Mr. Recoba. So you can’t give him the run-down locker room out of spite or fire him without paying out the length of the contract or a laundry list of things to him from an ownership standpoint. Hell, he can even waive his show check to not appear on a show he isn’t booked to compete on.
The fans start to grow slightly restless before Walker continues.
Eddie Walker: But let me tell you something about the Dropkick King… the Original Guardian… the Cajun Sensation… he will be competing IN THIS RING at TAP OUT WRESTLING TWO!!
The fans once again began cheering.
Eddie Walker: Cross Recoba may doubt Cochrane’s talent. He may think of him as an overrated competitor. But you had to pay up to get him and now you’re getting what you paid for, Mr. Recoba. And let me tell you why…
Steve Morrison: You HAVE to rate Adrien Cochrane! The man walked into a ring with Dylan Black and beat him! He didn’t just beat him, he did what no-one else had done in months - they took away his XHF X*Crown title!
Cross Recoba: For which he’ll draw me lots of money…go on, Eddie - DRAW…ME….MONEYYYY!
Eddie Walker: Because Adrien will come to this ring every damn month and show you how driven he is. How determined he is. How resilient he is. And he will make a living out of silencing your degrading commentary for the remainder of that contract. You want the Dropkick King, Mr. Recoba? At Tap Out Wrestling 2, you got him!
“Hero” by Weezer resumes playing as Eddie Walker drops his microphone and shrugs at Cross Recoba before rolling out the ring.
Steve Morrison: IT’S OFFICIAL, FANS! NEXT MONTH WE WILL SEE ADRIEN COCHRANE IN A TAP OUT RING!!
Cross Recoba: The question, not just for him but everyone on the roster is - who will face him first?!
Steve Morrison: I’ve got to say, I was looking forward to the show before it kicked off but now? Now I’m salivating for the main event!
Cross Recoba: Well, it helps that with all the new companies debuting and somehow on the same weekend, that we managed to avoid running into one of the bigger companies. Take NLW’s Masquerade last weekend, title changes and their own debut of a former X*Crown Champion.
Steve Morrison: We’re going to an advert break before the main event aren’t we?
Your playlist needs the recap of NLW's Masquerade on it!
Laura Messier: And now...IT'S TIME FOR YOUR MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!!
The crowd cheer wildly.
Laura Messier: Introducing first...
Laura Messier: Hailing from Blooming Valley, Pennsylvania....
The overhead lights slowly go dark as the first strummed chords of 'Hurricane' fill the air, the crowd's cheers rising in response to the woman that is about to emerge. Gray lights flare into being around the curtain when the song starts proper, illuminating the outline of the Oncoming Storm as she stands with her shoulders square, her hands curled into fists at her sides.
Laura Messier: She stands at five-feet and eight inches and weighed in at one-hundred-and-sixty-three pounds...
The wind machine is on behind her, blowing her hair around as her gaze moves over the assembled crowd and the surroundings alike... before it settles upon the ring. As 'Hurricane' cuts to the chorus, she makes her way down the aisle, not shying away from the hands that reach out for her.
Laura Messier: THE ONCOMING STORM...ERIN...GORDON!!!!
Erin's focus never wavers, even as she grabs onto the ropes and hauls herself up onto the apron. Wiping her feet, she climbs into the ring between the top and middle ropes before she heads to her corner, turning to rest her back against the turnbuckles. Only then does she play a little to the crowd, a single fist thrusting itself skyward to earn more cheers as her music fades.
Steve Morrison:
Cross Recoba:
Laura Messier: And her opponent...
Laura Messier: From the Ninth Deep...
During the quiet opening of the song, the lights go pitch back as the eerie bells and sounds fill the arena. Each time the choir sings, red spotlights blaze down, revealing Poena standing at the top of the ramp, a black silhouette with his arms raised out to the sides with his palms and face up to the heavens.
Laura Messier: Standing at six-feet even and weighing a hundred-and-ninety pounds...
As the music picks up the red spotlights stay on him as he lowers his arms and walks toward the ring tossing pamphlets about his “religion” over the teeming masses as he walks down the ramp, his crazed smile breaking out into an even crazier grin as he does.
Laura Messier: The Sanctified One....POENA!!!!!!
He rolls into the ring as the spotlights turn to brightest white, going to his knees in the same pose he held on the ramp, either whispering a silent prayer to himself or yelling “REPENT!” to the heavens before smirking at the crowd and getting up to his feet.
MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Erin Gordon vs Poena
Steve Morrison: Well, here we go! It’s main event time.
Cross Recoba: As the owner, I wouldn’t put the names on the marquee if I didn’t have the confidence in this to deliver. As a fan, I’m glad to be this close to the action.
Erin Gordon and Poena close on each other. Erin keeps a tight fighting stance, looking to exploit any opportunity to strike. Poena sways a little, his expression unreadable, meaningless. Erin rears back her fist and slams her knuckles straight onto Poena’s forehead, causing Poena to offer a bulging eyed stare and a grin that almost demands Erin tries again. Never one to back down from a challenge, Erin fires off another stiff right hand and this time Poena wheels away, grinning to himself. Poena turns back and mouths, “Hit me again” towards the Oncoming Storm who smashes him again. This time Poena’s expression turns to a frown, and he strikes back. Erin takes three rapid fire closed fist punches and doesn’t particularly shift position herself so The Sanctified One follows up with a huge headbutt. Both competitors stagger backwards but Poena recovers his composure first.
Steve Morrison: Fists are flying here in the Vegas night!
Cross Recoba: These pair came to throw down. This is going to be hard hitting.
Drawing back for another strike, Poena lashes a knife edge chop across Gordon’s upper pectoral area. A second follows before Gordon has chance to recover and using the momentum of the stroke, Poena wheels round on the ball of his back leg, connected with a rolling chop to the side of Gordon’s neck. Poena grins again and drops to his knees, firing an upward throat thrust, jamming his fingers straight at The Storm’s windpipe. Gordon steps backwards, choking a little and the referee admonishes Poena who stares daggers in return.
Steve Morrison: Poena isn’t afraid of striking at vital points.
Cross Recoba: Under unified MMA rules Gordon would get 2 minutes to recover after that. Here in Tapout? Provided you don’t push it too much, a little telling off and get back to fighting.
As Poena attempts to follow up, he reaches out for Erin’s arm, looking to grab hold for some nefarious purpose. Erin allows her arm to be taken and then summons up enough burst strength to drag The Sanctified across her body, firing a stiff back elbow into his jaw. The Oncoming Storm shows no sign of abating as she fires off three swift body hooks, alternating fists before slipping behind Poena and ducking her head under the former cultist, positioning him for a back suplex but spinning round and hitting a stiff spinning lariat that drops Poena to the mat.
Steve Morrison: Gordon boasts a huge variety of striking offense.
Cross Recoba: Heavy-handed, hard-hitting action. That’s what you get with Ms Gordon.
With her opponent downed, The Oncoming Storm knows that she can’t allowing her maniacal opponent time to recover. Gordon lines up her shot and balls her stone fist up tight, falling down to mat level and dropping that fist right into Poena’s sternum. Erin kips up, earning a pop from the crowd and balls the fist again. Another fist drop follows and a second kip up, even prettier than the first. Erin prepares a third but as Poena rolls away to dodge, Erin pounces, taking a back mount and begins raining down hammer fists to the back of Poena’s skull. Satisfied with the damage done, Gordon flips The Sanctified Poena like a pancake and hooks the leg…
ONE!
TWO!
T… not close.
Cross Recoba: That’s Erin Gordon in a nutshell. Amazing speed and heavy hitting offense in close proximity. It’s a hell of a cocktail.
Steve Morrison: Let’s see how she capitalises on that flurry.
Erin positions herself ready to strike as Poena stands. With The Sanctified One temporarily a little unaware of his surroundings, Gordon grabs a loose arm and whips Poena hard into the turnbuckles. The force of the whip was so massive that the unstable competitor didn’t even have time to turn and take the impact on his back and he slumps, arms out, over the top rope. Erin backs up and charges, full speed, driving her knee into the small of Poena’s back and then turning quickly, grabbing Poena’s neck as he starts to stumble backwards and taking him down to the mat with a Neckbreaker Drop. Gordon covers again…
ONE!
TWO!
THR.. Poena kicks out.
Crowd: LET'S GO ER-IN! LET#S GO ER-IN!
Steve Morrison: It doesn’t look like Poena is going to go down that easily.
Cross Recoba: It’s going to take something powerful to take out The Sanctified Poena, that’s for sure.
A little frustrated, Erin Gordon postures up and lays in a downwards left punch onto the floored Poena. Then a meaty right body shot. Then a strong, sharp left hand… which Poena catches! Poena’s face contorts into a sick smile as he drags the hand down to his mouth and BITES ERIN GORDON’S FINGERS! The Oncoming Storm is forced to loosen her position and try to free her hand and The Sanctified One seizes the opportunity to muscle the pile over, using Erin’s arm as a lever. Poena keeps firm hold of the wrist and raises his right arm up, HAMMERING the point of his elbow into Erin’s shoulder. Poena floats out to the side and throws his legs around Erin’s shoulder, barring the arm out.
Crowd: PLEASE DON'T TAP! PLEASE DON'T TAP!
Steve Morrison: Poena is going to position himself to inflict maximum damage.
Cross Recoba: Technical wrestlers love to isolate a body part. Sociopathic ones just like to hurt people.
Steve Morrison: And which is Poena?
Cross Recoba: A little from column A, a little from column B.
Never losing control of the wrist, Poena turns, forcing Erin Gordon to flip onto her belly so as not to get her arm ripped out of its socket. The Sanctified Poena pulls the arm up into a wakigatame and slides his hands up from the wrist so they grab hold of Erin’s index and pinkie fingers…
Steve Morrison: Oh no…
SNAP!
Erin grits her teeth to try to mask a pained howl as her fingers are separated, The crowd are stunned into silence, trying to comprehend the brutality.
Steve Morrison: The Fervent Prayer. That looks painful.
Cross Recoba: It is, Steve. It is.
Again, not relinquishing wrist control Poena looks positively rabid as he carefully stands and places the sole of his boot on Erin’s tricep. Relishing every second of it, Poena looks out to the crowd, taking his sweet time before finally loosing the wrist as he drives the foot down, smashing Gordon’s arm into the mat. Gordon rolls onto her stomach and clutches at the targeted arm but that leaves her legs unguarded, and the former cultist carefully threads one of his own legs inbetween, locking in an Inverted Indian Deathlock…
Steve Morrison: This cannot be good.
Cross Recoba: I think I know what Poena is setting up for, but I wouldn’t begin to claim I canread what’s going on in that man’s brain.
Poena leans forward and grabs onto first Erin’s injured left arm, then her right, pulling her clear of the mat. He holds the elevated surfboard for a couple of seconds before stepping forward with his free leg and stomping down...ON THE BACK OF ERIN’S SHOULDER! ERIN COLLAPSES TO THE MAT IN PAIN! There is an audible gasp from the crowd again at the ferocity of Poena's targeted attack.
Steve Morrison: CURB STOMP TO THE SHOULDERBLADE!
Cross Recoba: OK, that’s a variation I don’t think I’ve seen.
Smirking like he’s truly enjoying himself, Poena just starts laying in kick after kick, stomp after stomp into Erin’s left arm. Erin’s face screws up into absolute agony as Poena lays in boot after boot, acting like a god damned (and he’d take that as a compliment) meat tenderizer. Finally, Poena lets up and wheels away giggling then licks his finger, holds it in the air as if he’s checking the wind direction and CHARGES IN FULL SPEED, PUNT KICKING ERIN RIGHT IN THE ARM! The Sanctified One takes a few seconds to admire his handiwork.
Crowd: BOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Steve Morrison: Poena is savage. He’s like a rabid dog chewing on a bone.
Cross Recoba: A bone whose owner is still alive and horribly, horribly conscious.
Poena drops to mat level and goes to bar out the arm one more time. He grabs the wrist and pulls back and with a shout of “REPENT!” he nearly locks the hold fully in… BUT ERIN SCREAMS, PARTLY IN EFFORT PARTLY IN PURE AGONY AND TURNS POENA OVER INTI A FLASH CRADLE!
ONE!
Not even a two count! Poena gets up and he is PISSED OFF. He lashes out with a wild haymaker to Erin Gordon as she carefully stands... which she takes! Erin responds in kind, other arm hanging limply as she throws a meaty punch. Poena takes it. A punch back from Poena. ERIN TAKES IT. A PRECISE PUNCHFROM THE OMCOMING STORM. POENA TAKES IT! POENA AIMS A PUNCH FOR THE INJURED SHOULDER, KNOWING ERIN GORDON CANNOT BLOCK…BUT SHE SURE CAN DODGE! ERIN STRIKES… RIGHT CROSS! RIGHT CROSS! RIGHT CROSS! ERIN BACKS UP A HALF STEP AND LEAPS… SUUUUPERMAN PUUUNCH! POENA DROPS TO THE MAT!
Steve Morrison: ERIN GORDON IS FEELING IT!
Cross Recoba: Did you spot how she struck Poena at an angle to allow her to fall onto her right shoulder? Veteran savvy.
Crowd: LET'S GO ER-IN! LET'S GO ER-IN! LET'S GO ER-IN!
Erin stands, knowing her options are limited by her physical health. She can’t hit Windswept. She can’t lock in Twist’er Off. But there is one thing that hasn’t failed her in this match. Poena slowly gets to his feet, dazed by Erin’s punch combination… ERIN SPINS IN A TIGHT CIRCLE AND EXTENDS HER GOOD ARM, CLOUTING POENA WITH HER BACKFIST…
Steve Morrison: THE WIND PICKS UP! NOR’EASTER!
Crowd: YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!
Poena slumps to his knees, Erin spins again… ANOTHER ROLLING BACKFIST!
Steve Morrison: NOR’EASTER! MAKE IT TWO!
Finally, Poena drops to his back… Erin covers with a back press, making sure to hook the leg wit her good arm…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Crowd: ERIN GOR-DON! ERIN GOR-DON!
Erin's music starts up once again as the referee goes to lift her left arm and she pointedly tells him to grab the other one. Erin's left arm is well beyond even being lifted after the damage Poena has done.
Steve Morrison: It took TWO Nor’easter’s to put Poena away!
Cross Recoba: Poena was never going to make it easy on Gordon. That was the beauty of the match, the fortuitous way it fell into place but if it wasn’t tonight - they showed me at Supremacy that they could headline any show under my banner!
Steve Morrison: And tonight they set the standard for what I and I’m sure anyone in attendance or at home expects in a main-event here!
Cross Recoba: With that in mind, viewers after the show we’ll open it up for you to vote for your Move of the Night. Remember that the winner will get a half-point towards their ranking so think long, think hard and watch it twice or thrice if you need to! What I can announce is that the Match of the Night, with heavy competition, was our main event!
Steve Morrison: Meaning that Gordon already has herself a point lead on the rest of the winners tonight and Poena finds himself right in the middle of the scoring!
Cross Recoba: It could all change at our next show on the 27th March, RIGHT HERE AT THE SANDS!
Steve Morrison: And with that, we’re out of time. I’m Steve Morrison, joined by Cross Recoba. Good night!
