TAP OUT WRESTLING 2: GORDON VS NOMAD - LIVE!
Mar 28, 2022 20:13:55 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Jimbo, and 1 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Mar 28, 2022 20:13:55 GMT -5
PRESENTS
Date: 27th February 2022
Venue: The Sands Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 490 (Capacity: 500)
The show starts with the house music blaring over the speakers. A packed room is filled with people positioned around banquet style circular tables. The national anthem has just finished as they applaud the departing singer. We cut to ringside where our two commentators sit.
Steve Morrison: WELCOME TO TAP OUT 2! Tonight we see a match that could well be Davina vs Goliath as Erin Gordon takes on the formidable NOMAD in our main-event!
Cross Recoba: That alone is a challenge for Erin but the build-up to this match has been dominated by the questions around Gordon’s fitness.
Steve Morrison: Not so much her fitness but her health, Poena did a number on her last time out and when it came to the weigh-ins last night, that air-cast was still there!
Cross Recoba: With her arm and shoulder damaged in last month’s main-event, she could have done without having her camp stunted by the loss of movement in her fingers.
We cut to a VT
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: Poena didn’t get the win but he did leave his mark in what we awarded as our Match of the Night!
Cross Recoba: Erin knows she needs to be at her best tonight, NOMAD showed he was no slouch when he put away Brad Kane in what was a shocking beginning to our first official show!
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!!
Steve Morrison: Kane, with all his years in the ring, didn’t find a way past NOMAD. Cross, if you’re in Erin’s corner, what is your strategy going to be?
Cross Recoba: Keep moving, take out the legs, and play the match on your terms. NOMAD can grapple, he showed he could keep up with Kane. He’s the biggest guy on the roster, so Erin’s got to get inside his guard and land those strikes we’ve seen her take down so many people before with and then get out unscathed where she can!
Steve Morrison: I personally can’t wait to see how that match turns out! Going back to Poena, he finds himself in our Co-Main Event of the evening and whilst nothing is predictable about the man, we can both assume he’s going to want to correct the loss against Gordond!
Cross Recoba: You know, people think Close Colins is on a hiding for nothing but having taken the time over the month to check in on our roster, his coaches say he’s improving every day and with his debut win over Jason Long - his confidence is high!
Steve Morrison: How do you even begin to prepare yourself for a challenge like Poena, especially when it’s only your second professional bout?
Cross Recoba: I don’t want to use kid gloves on Collins, or Jackalope for that matter. If they’re good enough, they’re old enough.
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: Collins came out of our first show to find that move was voted Move of the Night by our fans on the XHF Network!
Cross Recoba: Exactly. I’m not saying Poena is going to be an easy or even comfortable test. We saw that against Gordon.
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.
Steve Morrison: Pushing the rules to the limit at every turn, Poena doesn’t fight to win it seems. He goes out there to torture people!
Cross Recoba: Take it from someone who has been on the wrong side of him in a match, he’s relentless. Every time you think you’ve got all the angles worked out - he proves you wrong and makes you pay for it!
Steve Morrison: The betting line favors the main-event for Match of the Night tonight but this could well be an outside bet!
Cross Recoba: Any of tonight’s matches could, we open up the show with our first ever tag-team match!
Steve Morrison: Fans, if you haven’t seen the news on the Network. Wildcat Capone suffered an injury during his camp and Jason Long’s team upon hearing the news decided not to risk a substitute who could cause them to tear up all the hard work they put in this month.
Cross Recoba: He has the Rumble next month to focus on. We’ve both been in the game long enough to know that only smart decisions are right decisions. Every person in attendance tonight has received a code to get reduced price tickets for our April show as an apology that we didn’t deliver the whole card we advertised!
Steve Morrison: Focusing on the positives though, this tag-team match should see tonight’s card kick off with a bang!
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!
Steve Morrison: When Eddie Walker came out last month to make that announcement, you could hear the message boards coming to life. They’re excited to see what Cochrane can do after not having a regular schedule this year!
Cross Recoba: We don’t see eye-to-eye but pairing him with Jackalope was a conscious decision to use that experience of his and apply it to a wrestler that the fans have really gotten behind since the Supremacy Showcase!
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: The Dropkick King and the Chaos Bunny. If they have their way, we can expect to see high-flying and lightning quick action in our opener!
Cross Recoba: They’ll hope so but they won’t have it all their own way, not by a long-shot.
Steve Morrison: Brad was unlucky against NOMAD but he showed no signs of slowing down with age last time out…
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!
Steve Morrison: That match really set the tempo for the night and Kane looked to be riding high still from that victory over his brother, Spike, at Supremacy!
Cross Recoba: Confidence is a big advantage and that gave Kane an extra step against NOMAD even if he did come up short. Tonight though will be a chance for him to open up the Win column and build towards getting a late peak in his career!
Steve Morrison: Tommy Strychnine will be keen to help him with that, coming up just short against Jackalope. He surely can’t wait to try and correct what happened at our last show!
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!!!
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: If you want excitement and unpredictability - Tommy brings it every time!
Steve Morrison: What he possesses that no-one else in the match really does is that street-fighting bar-room brawling style he can switch to and change it up.
Cross Recoba: Kane brings the experience, Strych brings the unknown - it’s a good make-up as a team.
Steve Morrison: In the build-up to this tag-match it seemed that Kane and Strych may not be on the same page as partners.
Cross Recoba: When that bell rings they’ll have to sort it or open themselves up Adrien and Jackalope to pick them apart!
Steve Morrison: Before we cut to Laura for our first match, it’s Rumble season and we now know the 42 competitors that will compete for the X*Crown. Cross, you entered the 2020 Rumble - what can you tell the fans at home about it?
Cross Recoba: It’s quite possibly the most mentally and physically tiring match on the Network! You look at who is in for the belt this year and it’s as stacked as you’ve ever seen! I debated throwing my hat in the ring but maybe next year. I’m not risking Tap Out running smoothly for my own glory.
Steve Morrison: Tap Out has its fair share of representatives. Brad Kane, Jason Long, Adrien Cochrane, Erin Gordon, and that’s just the ones we know!
Cross Recoba: If any of them, even Adrien, brings home the X*Crown, they’ll be part of Tap Out history forever! I’ll be rooting for them but the Vegas line doesn’t see them as outright favorites. Dylan Black, Anthony Caffrey, Pepe Morales are all leading the way with the bookies!
Steve Morrison: Who’s your tip then? One of those names to win it?
Cross Recoba: If I’m going outside of the shortest odds then I like the look of Steve Awesome. At one of the all fed Network meetings I overheard several people talking up just how on form he has been in the last ten months or so!
Steve Morrison: And from the Tap Out roster?
Cross Recoba: Brad Kane could make some waves, Jason Long lives up to his Maverick name so work that one out, Adrien is likely to be involved in the last five or six and Erin - if she wants it, she could well be a dark horse in the match!
Steve Morrison: Don’t forget to add that to your reminders, folks! April 24th, only on the XHF Network!
The opening chords of Big Shot slam into the speakers, bringing the fans to their feet as Jackalope charges through the curtain.
Steve Morrison: Surely the home-town favorite!
Cross Recoba: He knows he'll have every fan behind him in this one!
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.
Steve Morrison: He might be young but he can put on a show!
Cross Recoba: He'll also have Walker and Cochrane feeding him advice leading up to now and during the match!
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: That look tells me we're in for a spectacle tonight!
The lights turn off for a moment. The dueLling guitar riffs from Simple Plan guitarists Sébastien Lefebvre and Jeff Stinco from their song “Last One Standing” as the screen reads “#Believe” in a light blue font. With a solitary spotlight on the top of the ramp, Adrien Cochrane appears the moment Pierre Bouvier’s vocals begin to echo throughout the venue.
“How many times are you gonna try to shut me out?
I told you once, told you twice, I ain't going to turn back around
You can say whatever, try to mess with me
I don't care, I'm not scared
You don't have to say you're sorry, save your sympathy
With a friend like you, I don't need an enemy
I would give you time if you were worth it
But guess what, you're not worth it”
Steve Morrison: He looks ready to go!
Cross Recoba: My money cashes the same, it's down to him to make the most of the stage we've given him.
Cochrane looks at the fans from the ramp for a moment, giving a smile as he makes his way down the ramp and to the ring, hitting as many high fives and fist bumps as he can on his way to his destination.
Steve Morrison: The fans seem happy he's here!
Cross Recoba: Personal differences aside, it was a no-brainer to pick his contract up alongside all that merch money he'll make me!
As Adrien leaps over the ropes to enter the squared circle and removes his black leather jacket to expose his #Believe shirt, he leans on the ropes with his fist in the air to the sound of the chorus.
“Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, I'm always going to be the last one standing
Whoa-oh, whoa-oh, because I'm never going to give up trying
And now I'm ready to go, I'm here, I'm waiting for you
And I'm gonna be the last one standing”
Steve Morrison: He's already giving Jackalope his last-minute pep talkQ!
Cross Recoba: It's easy for all that prep to disappear when your music hits, it's a wise move.
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.
Steve Morrison: Their opponents will want to put Jackalope off mentally.
Cross Recoba: Kane is dangerous that way, he'll have four or five plans for how this match can be won but all of them will focus on the rookie!
“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.”
Steve Morrison: With only two matches to his name on the Network, Jackalope must know he'll have been scouted and scrutinized!
Cross Recoba: Adrien isn't any safer, Kane will have studied every match he can to find a hole in the Dropkick King's game!
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.
Steve Morrison: He looks focused!
Cross Recoba: When Brad signed he told me he didn't want to be seen as just a gatekeeper to the title, he wanted the title!
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: That steely look in his eye is aimed directly at his opponents!
Cross Recoba: He'll want to score points in this war before the bell rings!
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.
Steve Morrison: Do you think Tommy and Brad have strategized?
Cross Recoba: Difficult to tell. On the one hand, you'd assume they have as Strych has been in both of Jackalope's matches but the way these two were in the promo material for the show? Who knows?
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.
Steve Morrison: He's splitting the crowd!
Cross Recoba: With good cause, who doesn't want to see Strych in the same ring as Cochrane?
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: Will Strych's showy side drive a divide between him and his partner?
Cross Recoba: We'll see but just look at the four men staring each other down!
Laura Messier: Introducing our first team, weighing in at a combined three-hundred-and-seventy pounds. They are JACKALOPE!! And... making his debut...ADRIEN...COCHRANE!!!!!
Adrien Cochrane is giving Jackalope some last-minute pointers or insight. The crowd pop for the hometown hero and the debuting babyface.
Laura Messier: They will be squaring off against a team that made weight at three-hundred-and-ninety-eight pounds...they are BRAD...FUCKING...KANE!!! Joining him is the ROCK'EM, SOCK'EM ROCKER...TOMMY...STRYCHNINE!!!
Kane's eye has gone from his opponents to the ring announcer. Tommy, in contrast seemingly psychs himself up as he paces around their corner.
OPENING MATCH
Tag-Team Match
Jackalope/Adrien Cochrane vs Brad Kane/Tommy Strychnine
Jackalope and Cochrane start with a quick discussion in their corner, deciding that the ‘Lope should start for their team. No such discussion happens between the other team as Tommy Strychnine immediately hops the top rope into the ring, hogging the spotlight as ever. Strych throws some flash yet largely ineffective strikes, Jackalope dodging with his amazing agility. Jackalope catches a flailing arm and whips Tapout’s biggest Rock Icon over with a snappy arm drag. Strych rolls back to his feet and catches an advancing Kid Cryptid with an arm drag of his own. Jackalope rolls to his feet and he goes for an arm drag again but Tommy counters with an Irish Whip sending Jackalope flying across the ring. Jackalope bounces off and leapfrogs Tommy as the Rock Star tries for a forearm, hitting the far ropes and coming back for a wheel kick which Strych flattens himself to the mat to dodge. Both men halt their pace and back off to their respective corners.
Steve Morrison: Fast start from these competitors here.
Cross Recoba: Jackalope is quicker than a hiccup and Tommy Strychnine is always flashy.
Now it’s the two experienced veterans who square off in the middle. Brad Kane fires off a sharp kick at Cochrane’s side, causing Adrien to emit an annoyed grunt. Cochrane responds with a sweet looking roundhouse to Kane’s ribs, causing the Ulsterman to swear. Brad Kane returns fire with a head high kick but Adrien is smart enough to block that rather than get his head kicked off. The Dropkick King uses a side Crescent Kick that forces Kane to put his meaty guard up. Kane jumps into a pump front kick that staggers Adrien but he uses the momentum against his opponent and rebounds off the ropes into a trademark dropkick. Kane goes reeling away towards his own corner and Strychnine tags himself in on Kane’s back.
Steve Morrison: It never ceases to amaze me how good Cochrane’s dropkicks look.
Cross Recoba: As a man with my own reputation for dropkicks, I can always appreciate a fellow master of the art.
Adrien Cochrane draws himself back onto his toes, looking to lash Strychnine with one of those precision strikes of his. The Original Guardian swings a leg sharply through the air but Strychnine is sneaky fast and he ducks under, rolling through to barrel over Cochrane by just throwing his body at Adrien’s plant leg. Tommy covers…
ONE!
And only one, but it gives Tommy the impetus to beat Cochrane to his feet after the kickout. Stryich goes for another Irish Whip and sends Adrien flying across the ring but this time Brad Kane leans out from his corner to plant a kick over the top rope to the back of The Dropkick King’s head. Cocrhane stumbles forwards and Strychnine grabs him around the neck and drops him with a snap DDT.
Steve Morrison: Brad Kane interceding himself there.
Cross Recoba: Smart tag wrestling, if a little rule bending.
Strychnine grabs Cochrane in a double chickenwing, marching Adrien over to the unfriendly corner and allowing Brad Kane to tag himself in. With Cochrane trapped, Brad Kane throws some stiff kicks into his opponent’s ribs. Tommy backs up a couple of steps and lifts Cochrane off the ground before dropping him forward into Brad Kane’s falling double knees to the chest! Tommy guards from Jackalope as Brad covers…
ONE!
TWO!
T.. Adrien kicks out.
Steve Morrison: DOUBLE TEAM GLAMMY SLAM INTO A LUNGBLOWER!
Cross Recoba: If Strychnine wins tonight it won’t have been a 6 minute SOLO effort.
Now Kane has a slightly stunned Dropkick King to inflict a little old fashioned violence upon. He goes straight to work, hoisting Cochrane off the mat and hooking a leg, falling backwards to sling Adrien over his head with an Exploder. Kane wheels round looking to follow up but hops over Cochrane’s body, rolling forward into a koppou kick that knocks Jackalope off the apron. The Ulsterman turns around and rushes Cochrane as he stands up, blasting him with a kick to the ribs when Adrien reaches a seated position. Kane drops to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Cochrane kicks ou!
Steve Morrison: P.K.!
Cross Recoba: Those sting. It’s a crushing blow to the ribs with a lot of force behind it.
Tommy Styrichnine is itching to get back into the match and Brad Kane gruffly drags Cochrane across the ring for a tag. The arms reach out but Cochrane uses the second’s respite to break Kane’s grip. Strych tries to cut of his retreat by running around him but ADRIEN KIPS UP! DROPKICK TO KANE! DROPKICK TO TOMMY! ADRIEN LEAPS TOWARDS HIS CORNER AND TAGS IN JACKALOPE!
Steve Morrison: TAG MADE! JACKALOPE IS IN!
Jackalope bounds over the ropes and goes straight for his two opponents! As Brad Kane stands, Jackalope leaps at him and hits a flying headscissors. Running full pelt, ‘Lope hits the ropes and bounces into another headscissors on Tommy Strychnine. Kane back up? DEAD MAN’S SWITCH! The reverse Sling Blade Bulldog! Strych back up? ANOTHER DEAD MAN’S SWITCH FOR HIM! Jackalope gets up and spreads his arms WIDE to the adoration of the crowd.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope is feeling it tonight!
Cross Recoba: A wrestling match can shift momentum in a heartbeat.
With both his opponents down, Jackalope goes straight for the ring apron and pumps up the crowd with some trademark bouncing on the ring apron before he slings himself up onto the top rope and bounces off into a beautiful forward travelling backflip, catching Tommy Strychnine around the neck as he falls…
AND BRAD KANE SPINS AND BACKFISTS JACKALOPE MID MOVE, INTERCEPTING HIS FINISH WITH ONE OF HIS OWN! KANE SLINGS STRYCHININE INTO THE CORNER TO BLOCK ADRIEN COCHRANE FROM ENTERING AND COVERS…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Laura Messier: The winners of this match, as a result of a pinfall, BRAD KANE AND TOMMY STRYCHNINE!!!
Steve Morrison: What a way to open up the night! That puts both of the victors into the win column but not the debut that Adrien Cochrane, nor Eddie Walker, would have wanted!
Cross Recoba: Maybe it was experience that was the deciding factor. Cochrane and Jackalope put in a great effort but ultimately, Kane and Strych just had that extra bit of experience.
Steve Morrison: Well, I’m certain that the gauntlet has been put down by these four men for others to match to steal the show but before we go to our next match we’re taking some time to tell you about UP Wrestling’s next show!
Cross Recoba: CJ Walker takes on three challengers in an Iron Glove match and that’s not even mentioning Trixie Mars and Adam Miller looking to defeat David Berg for the Sin City Championship!
Steve Morrison: Although the match that has me salivating is the electrified cage match where five competitors compete for the Elemental Shield! Talk about a stacked card!
Cross Recoba: Make sure to tune in on April 8th to see what looks like a great card!
Add to your Planner
HALF-TIME SHOW
Announcing the CAR Representative for the XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship Match in the April Rumble event.
CAR takes our selection for the XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship Match Representative very seriously. The selection process was long and arduous however we are confident in our selection.
Weiner McWeiner, the Big junk handler for the 'Don't Touch my Junk Racin' crew, has been a member of CAR in good standing since its founding. We are confident that he will open eyes to the unique CAR dynamic often in play. Whomever faces the CAR Rep will be forced to try and dominate a very hard competitor that will leave them panting, while the audience begs for more.
We catch up with the former AWF United States Champion, and new Tapout bog name draw, Erin Gordon as she walks through catering towards her locker room. A messenger comes up to her and stops. He smiles as he sees who it is and he approaches closer to talk. Erin has her hand wrapped up in a cast as she looks up at the man.
Messenger: Miss Gordon! Hi! I was just at your locker room with a delivery for you. Some good stuff. Uh this was with it but it fell out of the package on the way to the room so I came to get it. Since you’re here I’ll give it to you now.
He hands her an envelope. On it is written, “Erin. Sorry about the hand” As she looks it over, parsing through options in her mind: was it Poena being a dick? Nah, even as a joke this was not his style. Maybe Cross is apologizing? She gets a whiff of the envelope … It smells of musk and bad cologne with a hint of stale beer. Erin lets out a sigh before awkwardly nodding at the messenger.
Erin Gordon: …thanks.
Erin nods in appreciation and begins to walk to the locker room, struggling with her good hand to open the envelope. It seems to be sealed with some kind of industrial glue meant to protect from the elements. Upon getting it open a letter falls out. It’s written on what appears to be a blueprint for a mobile hunter’s lodge. Old and ratty. It’s like she can hear Aiden Merric’s voice reading it to her. Wait … no, she can hear it, it has a chip from one of those singing hallmark cards inside the envelope and it automatically speaks to her.
Merric: Hey Erin, that was a bloody amazing fight you gave that self-satisfied prick. What a complete drongo, man. Ya went easy on him if’n ya ask me. I mean … I got a shotgun pointed at my face for being friendly, he breaks your hand and you didn’t even castrate him! Right, right, sponsor money for the fed. I forgot. Understandable.
Erin’s eyeroll is so harsh the camera can almost hear it. She pushes open her locker room door to find a gift basket.
Merric: I felt bad I wasn’t there to help kick his ass after he tried to cripple your hand. So I got ya a little bit of the good stuff to help you heal and letcha know I’m thinkin’ bout … kicking Poena’s ass.
Gordon’s eyes go wide. In the basket is an assortment of very delicious looking Hickory Farms Sausages. On the basket is Aiden’s new cell phone number with the message, “Got me a burner phone. Realized I never gave ya a way to reach me and that ass phone was starting to stink…”
Merric: But hey don’t worry I know you ain’t the type of woman to fawn over a bloke, even one as handsome and debonair as yours truly, with store bought meat products. I got ya the good stuff. Homemade in me own kitchen, beef jerky and basket cheese. Had some milk left in the fridge after all! From the fine bovine in South Carolina. Don’t worry about where I got the beef from … and certainly don’t worry about the calls I may get from time to time from some dairy farmers in said municipality. If they can find me? Fair dinkum.
Sure enough she looks to the right of the basket and there is some homemade beef jerky and cheese. Which honestly shows a bit more know how than one would give Merric credit for.
Merric: Give me a call so I can add your number. I’ll be out of the country for March with Reign. Gotta get me some revenge on Donzig’s goons for him squeaking one past me. All the best. Aid-.. *zzzzzzzt*
The speech device conks out as the message was WAY too long. The silence that stretches afterward is long–very long, as a matter of fact, before Erin tucks the card into the basket. The camera cuts elsewhere as the Oncoming Storm just keeps staring at the unexpected gift she’s been given, brow furrowing in thought.
Steve Morrison: Well, Collins is already in the ring with his father, Tuff. How do you see him faring tonight?
Cross Recoba: I've already said I don't believe in kid gloves. Close will be ready, his father wouldn't let him have it any other way. Now it's on him to step up!
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.
Steve Morrison: The guy gives me the ick!
Cross Recoba: But he can actually back it up in the ring. In the build-up he was talking like he wants to indoctrinate Close!
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.
Steve Morrison: First, he wants to break him mentally and physically!
Cross Recoba: We've seen evidence of the latter, just ask Erin Gordon. She got the win but at what cost?
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.
Steve Morrison: Tuff has backed Close off from his opponent and is standing in front of him!
Cross Recoba: He can't protect him once that bell rings!! Then it's just the two men in the match!
Laura Messier: AND NOW...FOR OUR CO-MAIN EVENT! Introducing first, accompanied by his father Tuff Collins. Fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska...CLOSE...COLLINS!!
The crowd get behind Collins, in part for his exploits last month in beating Jason Long and equally, he's facing Poena. Tuff is imparting as much knowledge as he can into the ear of his son as Laura continues the introductions.
Laura Messier: From the Ninth Deep...Standing at six-feet even and weighing a hundred-and-ninety pounds...The Sanctified One....POENA!!!!!!
Poena's smile grows twisted and deranged as he points towards Close and starts to laugh.
CO-MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Poena vs Close Collins
Close Collins walks towards the middle of the ring in his distinctive upright stance. He glares at Poena, trying to judge what The Sanctified One is going to do. The second-generation superstar lifts his arms high and out, offering a lockup to Poena. The always unorthodox Poena tilts his head to a side and grins, loping forwards and keeping his body low, in stark contrast to his opponent. The two men lock up, Close using his leverage to bend Poena’s legs downwards but The Dark Saviour breaks and wheels round Collins, jabbing the point of his elbow powerfully into base of the youngster’s spine. Close turns on the spot to face Poena again and the man from the ninth deep grins at him.
Steve Morrison: Poena showed last week that he’s a little different than your average opponent.
Cross Recoba: Different is one way to put it. He’s crazy dangerous and dangerously crazy.
Again, Close offers a lockup, going to the well of a traditional wrestling match start and again Poena floats behind. This time, rather than going for a strike he grabs a back waistlock, trying to hit a German Suplex. Close, however, was thinking two steps ahead and loosens the grip with a little shimmy then reaches down to grab Poena’s right arm, lifting it upwards as Collins ducks and the Matthews graduate flicks Poena over with a shoulder throw! Close drops a knee onto Poena’s chest and covers…
ONE!
TW.. not even a three count as Poena kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Solid technique from Close Collins.
Cross Recoba: The Seio Nage. It’s one of the basics for a judoka but it’s a basic because it works.
Collins is quickly back to his feet, and he is straight on Poena when The Sanctified One gets himself back vertical. A swift boot to the ribs doubles the maniacal Poena over and Close locks in a front chancery, hoisting Poena up with a smooth vertical suplex. Collins pops the hips and swivels back up to his feet, all the while keeping Poena’s head locked up and lifts him high up, again vertical suplex style but turns and drops to a seated position, crashing the messiah of his own church down hard onto the mat. Close Collins reaches over to improvise a pinning combination.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Poena squirms loose.
Steve Morrison: FALCON ARROW!
Cross Recoba: Deals happen all the time in the shady backrooms of Vegas.
Spritely and supple, The Young Suplex Master gets quickly back to his feet again, looking to pree his advantage. He doesn’t give Poena any time to think as he slips in behind and locks in a tight back waistlock, immediately falling backwards and sending The Sanctified One arcing over Close’s own head. Again, Close Collins holds on and wrestles Poena back to his feet immediately. Close slides one arm up into a Half Nelson and he drops backwards again SPIKING Poena with a Half and Half Suplex. Another swivel of the hips and another maintained hold sees the pair standing again and now Close moves up his other arm, now holding The Sanctified One in a Cobra Clutch. Close AGAIN throws Poena backwards, this time finally releasing his vice grip and dropping Poena right on the crown of his head. Poena slumps against the ropes and then, possibly deliberately, possibly tactically, falls through and down to the outside.
Steve Morrison: TUFFPLEX! And Poena is in a heap on the outside.
Cross Recoba: Close Collins appears to have gone through every suplex class that Jayson Matthews and his father ever offered.
As Poena recovers on the outside, Close Collins gets up on his toes, near jumping in place as he lines up for a big dive. The crowd in the arena gets on their feet to get a better look as the headstrong Collins rushes the far side ropes, rebounds off and rebounds, full pace, at the ropes where Poena is gathering himself. Close leaps, sailing clear over the ropes and flipping over to crash back first into his victim…
BUT POENA ROLLS UNDER THE RING AND COLLINS CRASHES BACK FIRST INTO THE THIN MATS OUTSIDE, HARD! You can see the pain shuddering through Close’s body as Poena rolls back out, lying next to his opponent, grinning his head off.
Steve Morrison: Holy shit! Close Collins just crashed and burned on that senton atómico!
Cross Recoba: It was an impulsive move. Poena had just the right amount of self-preservation skills to get the hell out of the way.
The grin turns to a giggle. Poena rises, a little slowly, to his feet and stomps down on his fallen opponent. With a sickening smile, Poena lifts the ringside mat under where he is standing and peels is away, revealing the bare concrete below. With a tug, The Sanctified One hauls Close Collins off the mat and traps him in a front chancery. The man who marches to his beat at his own drum carefully lines up poor Close before hoisting him up into a vertical suplex and then just releasing Collins mid air, letting gravity take it’s course as back meets concrete. Poena rubs his hands in glee. He looks up to note the referee has started a count and swiftly rolls in and back out of the ring to break it.
Steve Morrison: Poena wants to inflict more damage!
Cross Recoba: He’s ruthless in his pursuit of causing pain. Poena is not going to accept something like a count out victory.
With Close laid out on the floor, Poena uses his foot like a trowel and flips the youngster onto his face. The Sanctified One rains down stomps all along Close’s spinal column, trying to kick Collins’ spine through his chest. After finishing his assault, Poena tilts his head, surveying his handiwork and hauls Close off the concrete floor. Poena grabs one of the Matthews Trainee up and slings him roughly by arm arm so that the torque of Collins’ body causing him to careen out of control into the ring post, smashing his back into it. With a snake like speed, Poena rolls into the ring near the corner Close is slumping against and reaches through the ropes to grab both of Collin’s arms and just PULLS HARD, SLAMMING CLOSE COLLINS’ BACK AGAINST THE RING POST! ONCE! TWICE! THREE TIMES! FOUR TIMES! FIVE TIMES! Collins slumps to the floor again and Poena rolls out to restart the count again!
Steve Morrison: Poena is vicious in his assault! He’s making a target of Close’s spine and going after it like a rabid dog with a Wagyu steak!
Cross Recoba: Last week, arms. This week, back. When a strategy presents itself, Poena runs with it.
Peona rolls out of the ring again so he can heave Close Collins back inside. Almost speculatively he drops to hooka leg…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Close kicks out. Poena looks at the referee and giggles, almost like he didn’t want that to be the end of the match anyway. The Sanctified One stands and places the toe of his boot under Close’s chest before effortlessly flipping his opponent’s body onto its stomach. Leaping into the air, Poena tucks his knees in and extends them, driving both feet into Close Collins’ spine before falling backwards and connecting the flat of his back in the same area! Ponea sits up, emotionless as he considers his next move.
Steve Morrison: Double stomp into a senton. Poena showing a little more agility than last week.
Cross Recoba: Some people walk into a match with a strategy, some people call it on the fly. Most are a mix of both.
Steve Morrison: Which are you?
Cross Recoba: Oh, I like to plan. But I’m not sure Poena does the whole “planning” thing.
Poena rolls away and to his feet, looking to create a little space. As Close Collins sits up, clutching at his back in pain Poena charges from half ring and punts Collins right at the base of his spine. The Sanctified One backs off again and this time he allows Close to stand, wobbly from all the wear and tear on his back. Poena takes a short run up and then jumps, grabbing a leg scissor on Close’s far arm and a loose shoulder hold on his near before falling sideways, diving Collins’ shoulders into the mat at pace. With Close’s shoulders down the referee counts again…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Close kicks out again!
Steve Morrison: I think Close Collins is living on borrowed time.
With his opponent down, Poena sees an opportunity to exploit. He places his finger to his lips, almost daring the crowd to remain silent as he lifts Close’s arm up and zones right in on the fingers. The Sanctified One grabs hold of Close’s ring finger in one hand and index in the other and…
CLOSE COLLINS REACHES UP WITH HIS OTHER ARM AND CRADLES POENA!
ONE!
TWO!
T.. Poena shoves Close off him, violently.
Cross Recoba: Maybe he just bought himself some more.
Poena is up first with a look of DEATH on his face. He glares a hole through Close Collins and beckons the young starlet to stand. Poena slips to a side and throws a VICIOUS kick to the ribs. Close sucks it up and using the arm that’s not clutching his back, beckons for The Sanctified One to throw a second. Never one to turn down such an opportunity, a second NASTY kick follows up. Now Close just SCREAMS for Poena to, “COME ON!” The Demon from the Ninth Deep throws a third kick… AND CLOSE COLLINS CATCHES THE LEG AND HITS A SNAP LEG CAPTURE SUPLEX! POENA GOES FLYING ACROSS THE RING! Close… slumps forwards and breathes heavily.
Steve Morrison: Close Collins still has life in him!
Cross Recoba: But the question is how much. You can see the strain on his face.
In obvious agony, Close moves in towards Poena as The Sanctified One stands. Collins wraps his arms around Poena and rotates his hips, twisting the Dark Prophet around and dumping him on the mat with a sloppy looking Belly to Belly Suplex. Close desperately hold on for a cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Poena kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Not enough!
Close looks at the referee in desperation and disbelief. He turns back to Poena and summons the last of his strength to haul up Poena, wincing in pain. He locks in a front chancery, steels himself and goes to lift Poena up for his signature brainbuster…
But he just can’t manage it.
Close tries again. AGAIN he can’t get Poena up.
CLOSE TRIES A THIRD TIME. EVERY SQUARE INCH OF HIS FACE IS WRACKED WITH AGONY. AND JUST… JUST… JUST…
LIFTS POENA UP AND DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD WITH A BRAAAAAAAAAAINBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: Now’s your chance Close!
Collins knows that he needs a definite finish, and he walks over to the turnbuckles. Up one step. Uo another step. His progress is walking through molasses levels of slow but Poena appears to be down. Close steps up to the top and looks over his shoulder. Poena is slowly standing. Close crosses himself and changes plans, leaping off backwards, flipping and pirouetting mid air to crash into The Sanctified One.
Steve Morrison: THE FUTURE’S CALLING!
Cross Recoba: But at what cost?
The howl of pain from Collins as his back hits Poena’s body is loud and anguished. Both men are down and the referee puts on a ten count for a double knockout…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE! Poena is up…
SIX!
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
NINE!
TE…. CLOSE COLLINS IS UP! HE TURNS TO FACE POENA! And Poena, having noted the referee is resetting position after being down to check the double down… KICKS HIM SQUARE IN THE NUTS. Close stumbles forwards…CROSSED LEGGED SUPLEX LIFT. DROPPED STRAIGHT DOWN, THE CENTER OF CLOSE’S SHOULDERS CRASHING RIGHT ONTO POENA’S KNEE. POENA COVERS…
Steve Morrison: ANATHEMA! NOT LIKE THIS!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Steve Morrison: Damn you, Poena. Close tried everything. But a low blow was the difference. Damn you.
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.
Steve Morrison: Eager to keep her unbeaten record intact from Supremacy, I'm expecting her to come out the blocks at pace tonight!
Cross Recoba: She's a fighter and I know she'd have appealed and appealed if the doctors ruled her out tonight.
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.
Steve Morrison: That air cast on her left arm, that tells you that she isn't fully fit but she won't deprive the fans on that injured side.
Cross Recoba: It does however make for a fine target for her opponent!
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: A born fighter, tonight she gets to take on the biggest man on the roster, can she pull it off?
Cross Recoba: Erin is farmer-tough. She won't see him as a giant, she'll see him as a larger target for her offense! She'll have her defence down, in short - I wouldn't bet against her tonight!
Lights out. White flashes in time with a screeching ringing sound. Three times... Three more...
DRYWALL!
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.
Steve Morrison: Coming off what may be the biggest win of his career, NOMAD earned his place in the match tonight.
Cross Recoba: We don't do gimmes here. He put in a hell of a performance to beat Brad Kane last month and now he gets the top match to push his case for why he should stay here!
IN PAIN, ASK FOR ASPIRIN.
THAT'S DRYWALL, THEY'LL COME BACK AGAIN.
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.
Steve Morrison: He isn't giving much aeway with only body language to read.
Cross Recoba: World-travelled, Sloane might be an unfamiliar name but he showed last month that he picked up more than postcards on his travels!
KEEP YA STILL, PILLED UP, FUCK IT ANOTHER DRILL, ANOTHER DEAL
ANOTHER KILL, DEGRADATION OF THE KIDNEY WHEEL
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.
With both competitors in the ring, Laura steps into the center.
Laura Messier: IT'S TIME FOR OUR MAIN-EVENT!!!
The crowd pop for the denouement of the show.
Laura Messier: Hailing from Blooming Valley, Pennsylvania....She stands at five-feet and eight inches and weighed in at one-hundred-and-sixty-three pounds...THE ONCOMING STORM...ERIN...GORDON!!!!
Erin looks ready-to-go. Her feet constantly moving as she bounces in situ, clearly raring to go and prove that the set-back in preparation for thre match.
Laura Messier: Coming to the ring from Colville, Washington...He stands at six-feet-and-five inches and tips the scale two-hundred-and-eighty pounds!!! HE IS THE VIOLENT WANDERER!!!! NOMAD!!!!
Showing little to no emotion, NOMAD nods his head towards "Big" John Quinn with the slightest acknowledgement before returning to his stoic stance.
MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Erin Gordon vs NOMAD
“Big” John Quinn calls for the bell as the two competitors come out of their corners. NOMAD seems happy to circle his opponent. Gordon, on the other hand, bounces from one foot to the other as she ducks down as if looking for an early take down.
Steve Morrison: Erin is going to need to work that agility advantage as best as she can.
Cross Recoba: If she can keep the tempo up, it puts the ball in her court.
Erin dashes forward and lands a rushing punch to the midsection as she goes behind the bigger man. She starts to unleash a barrage of quick kicks to the back of her opponent, trying to cut him down to size.
Steve Morrison: As expected, those kicks are going to be favored over throwing fists.
Cross Recoba: Ol’ righty as she calls it might be there but she can’t risk giving up that injured arm so easily.
NOMAD shows little sign of buckling and tries to turn around but is cut off by a quick-fire Superman punch that rocks him much to the enjoyment of the Vegas crowd.
Steve Morrison: Erin piling on the pressure and tempo early on.
Cross Recoba: Kane seemed happy to trade holds with him, Gordon isn’t a Greco-Roman grappler when fully fit, tonight we’re going to see that smash mouth style of hers in spades!
Coming off the ropes, Gordon levels a chop-block to the back of her opponent’s knee and rolls forward into another sprint. This time she chop-blocks the front of the knee to keep the big man rocking. She delivers a low dropkick that takes the big man down and charges the ropes…CROSS-BODY BLOCK!!! NO! NOMAD CATCHES HER!!
Steve Morrison: That high-speed offense comes with risk and Gordon might find out just what that is now!
Cross Recoba: If we’re talking turning points in a match, this is textbook!
NOMAD charges with Gordon across him into the turnbuckle!! He drops her to the floor and rolls her to the apron. Now it’s his turn to rush off the ropes, he pushes forward a gigantic boot but Gordon ducks and NOMAD finds himself crotched on the top rope. Erin leaps to the top turnbuckle…A DROPKICK SENDS NOMAD TO THE FLOOR!!
Steve Morrison: Gordon seems to have rescued her match with that exchange.
Cross Recoba: NOMAD isn’t a stranger to a brawl and this match is about to get down and dirty!
Stunned but eager to not stay down, Sloane gets to his feet but GORDON LEAPS FROM THE APRON WITH AN INVERTED BULLDOG TO TAKE HIM DOWN!!
Steve Morrison: Slick takedown from the Oncoming Storm! Using her momentum to take the big man down to the mat!
Cross Recoba: She has him on the outside but what can you do with a guy that size and with that much of a weight advantage? I hope Erin has a plan!
Feeding off the crowd, Erin cracks a slight smile as she holds her air-cast clad arm.
Steve Morrison: For now, she knows she has the crowd to help power her through what could well be a war!
ONE…
Getting to his feet, NOMAD has little say in the matter as those educated feet of Gordon go back to machine-gun fire like kicks to his midsection, pushing him against the announce table.
Cross Recoba: Hold on, this isn’t the Nelly Angel show! Don’t break the announce table!
TWO…
Going to the well one too many times, Gordon looks shocked as NOMAD catches her foot! The only sense of expression being the weary eyes behind the mask as he pushes her back a few steps BEFORE BIEL TOSSING HER INTO THE RINGSIDE BARRIER!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A THROW!!
Cross Recoba: Sheer athleticism from the Wanderer! She didn’t touch the floor until she hit the barrier!
THREE…
Once more, Erin holds the damaged limb. NOMAD ensuring her left shoulder connected first with the barricade. She can put up little resistance as NOMAD rushes in with an elbow to the side of her head, pancaking her in the process.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD is starting to make that extra weight and power work for him…
Cross Recoba: This slowed pace suits his game far more than it does Erin’s! He can break people down at this speed!
FOUR…
NOMAD drags her by the hair and rolls her into the ring to break the count. He steps onto the apron and drags her damaged arm onto the apron before stomping on the fingers Poena targeted last month!
Steve Morrison: We knew those injuries would come into play, Cross, but that was brutal!
Cross Recoba: It was effective! Think of her offense, it’s largely based around huge strikes and lariats!
Writhing in pain, Gordon is helpless to move out of the way of the dropped elbow from NOMAD as he grabs her arm and proceeds to wrench it, compounding the damage from Poena.
Steve Morrison: He’s honing in on that arm and this might be another first for Tap Out - a submission victory!
Cross Recoba: Even if he doesn’t go for the sub, he knows that while her kicks are lethal, they don’t compare to the Nor’easter or Windswept!
Almost toying with her, he stands up and quickly stomps the damaged hand once more.
Steve Morrison: The Tap Out medical team must be on stand-by for after this match, NOMAD isn’t in any hurry to end this and is seemingly disabling that hand from being a factor in the match!
Cross Recoba: We’re yet to crown the inaugural Tap Out Openweight Champion and NOMAD knows that each match is an audition for why he should be in contention!
He pulls her up by her hair and grabs a double-underhook…Butterfly Suplex.
Steve Morrison: If you’re eagle-eyed, fans, you’ll notice he tweaked that double-underhook hold he had, further wrenching that damaged arm of his opponent!
Cross Recoba: Those little details decide whether osmeone is a good or a great wrestler!
Pulling her to her knees, NOMAD comes off the ropes…KNEELING BIG BOOT!!
Steve Morrison: That patented boot!
Cross Recoba: Is it enough for him to get a pinfall?
He drops for the cover…
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!!
Gordon raises her damaged arm in spite of herself.
Steve Morrison: DEFIANT!
Cross Recoba: Gordon’ll be the first to admit that she’s a stubborn mule with the best of them!
NOMAD leaves her no say in the matter as he drags her to her feet and clobbers her with forearms that send her into the turnbuckle. He steps back before unloading alternating hooks to the body of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: Stiff body blows are going to deplete that tank of Gordon’s!
Cross Recoba: Smart move, he knows she can go longer than he can in this match. Each blow is taking away a little more wind in her tank!
Doubled-over, Gordon drops to the mat with a clubbing forearm from NOMAD. She has no time to get distance between herself and Sloane as he picks her up once more before sending her to the corner again.
Steve Morrison: Relentless assault from NOMAD!
Cross Recoba: Just look at her past matches, anytime someone gives her a moment to think, they pay for it!
NOMAD rushes in looking for a splash BUT GORDON WEAVES BETWEEN THE ROPES AND CONNECTS WITH A SWINGING ENZIGURI!!
Steve Morrison: Erin escapes at the last and connects with a vicious enziguri!
Cross Recoba: Can you hear the crowd growing in support for her?
The crowd start to get behind The Oncoming Storm. She quickly mounts the second turnbuckle and rapidly unloads with right fists to the head.
Crowd: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! TEN!!
Steve Morrison: She’s going back to what she knows, no thrills brawling!
Cross Recoba: It looks to have dazed NOMAD.
Jumping backwards she quickly spins and charges…RUNNING HIGH-KNEE TO THE TEMPLE OF NOMAD!! She grabs the dazed big man…STO!!! She rolls away from her downed opponent and crouches down.
Steve Morrison: Measuring him up…
Gordon rushes in WITH A LOU THESZ PRESS! What follows are rapid-fire punches to the forehead of her opponent.
Crowd: LET’S GO GORDON! LET’S GO GORDON!!
Steve Morrison: I wouldn’t be surprised if she busted him open with those punches!
Cross Recoba: At the very least, she’ll have scrambled his brains!
She raises her damaged arm in acknowledgement of the fans’ support.
Steve Morrison: That’s fighting spirit right there!
She casts a glance at her opponent before stepping through the ropes to the apron. NOMAD GETS TO HIS FEET AND SPRINTS AT HER BEFORE SHE CAN LEAP UP AND CONNECTS WITH A FOREARM SMASH!!
Steve Morrison: He cut her off from that springboard clothesline!
Cross Recoba: He’s not finished yet!
NOMAD lifts her up in a suplex…BEFORE BOUNCING HER OFF THE ROPES AND OVER INTO A COVER!!
Steve Morrison: Textbook slingshot suplex!
Cross Recoba: Is it enough though?
ONE…
TWO…
T-KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: She gets an arm up once more!
Cross Recoba: I can tell you now, that’s going to frustrate NOMAD, each time your opponent kicks out you question what should be the next move!
Gordon manages to get her good arm up but NOMAD grabs hold of it and twists it, raising her to her feet for long enough for him to drop a leg over the shoulder and bring her back to the mat.
Steve Morrison: He’s switched arms but is that the right move?
Cross Recoba: If she isn’t going to use her left, why leave her other arm alone?
He tries to transition to her injured arm and grabs the hand but Gordon gets a small package…
Steve Morrison: Sneaky pin attempt!
ONE…
TW-KICKOUT!!
The crowd still behind her drives Gordon to her feet, she holds her arm momentarily but drops it as she ducks a punch and swings her legs up…
Steve Morrison: Quick thinking from Gordon…
Cross Recoba: Can she parlay it into a sustained period of offense though or even get the win with the Arm Triangle?
She just about has the hold locked in she falls to her back but NOMAD is struggling and making it increasingly hard for her to cinch it in.
Steve Morrison: Gordon’s fighting to get the hold in, the injured arm not helping and NOMAD making life as difficult as he can.
Cross Recoba: He’s going to need all that power to get out of this one!
Adjusting as best as she can, she relaxes into the hold as she finally feels it’s locked in. “Big” John Quinn drops to the mat to see if NOMAD is still conscious and willing to fight. Quinn grows interested as NOMAD’s arm rises in the air but he grabs the hand of Gordon and tries to bend back the fingers of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: You can hear the cry of pain from Erin!
Cross Recoba: Can he escape or is she too stubborn to give up the hold?
Struggling and fighting to keep the hold in, Gordon screams in pain and conviction as she battles with the big man to keep control of the submission.
Steve Morrison: Both fighters giving it their all in that ring! They both know the importance of the match!
Cross Recoba: Gordon will want to go into the Rumble as fresh as she can be and with a win, I can’t see both of those things happening tonight at this rate!
NOMAD changes tact and UNLEASHES A HAMMERFIST WITH HIS FREE HAND WHICH BUYS HIM ROOM!
Steve Morrison: It won’t make any wrestling playbooks but those hammerfists are delivered with brute force!
Gordon abandons the hold and rolls quickly to her feet; she catches the big man with a Bionic Elbow which rocks him back. A quick dash to the ropes and a chop block takes him down!
Steve Morrison: Gordon gave up the hold when she realized she was going to take more damage the longer the hold was in!
Cross Recoba: But she expertly changed tact to keep him down, if you weelll
She watches him slowly rise and charges the ropes…SLIDING LARIAT WITH THE AIR CAST!!!
Steve Morrison: DRAGGING WINDS!!!
Cross Recoba: Quinn either missed or ignored the cast’s role in that one!
THE COVER…
ONE…
TWO…
T-KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: She hooked the leg but with her damaged arm, would that have been the end if she was fully fit?
Cross Recoba: We’ll never know, she needs to focus on what’s ahead, not in the past!
Springing back to her feet, Gordon measures him and looks for a roundhouse kick but it’s caught. NOMAD SPINS HER AROUND AND LIFTS HER ONTO HIS SHOULDERS!!!
Steve Morrison: Could we be seeing the Hatred from Death Valley?
Cross Recoba: NO!
GORDON DROPS DOWN THE BACK AND LANDS A HAIR-PULL BACKBREAKER!!!
Steve Morrison: DOWNPOUR!!!
Cross Recoba: She covers once more and hooks the leg with the good arm!
She once more covers…
ONE…
TWO…
T-
NOMAD KICKS OUT ONCE MORE!!!
Steve Morrison: She must be thinking what she needs to do to put the big man away!
Cross Recoba: NOMAD’s fighting spirit isn’t too bad either it seems!
Gordon, seated, looks for her next move. She rushes at the rising NOMAD but he weaves out the way of the lariat. He looks for a roundhouse kick of his own but The Oncoming Storm rolls out from it and springs back with a Superman Punch!
Steve Morrison: She has him dazed.
Cross Recoba: I think I know where she’s going next…
A quick leap to the outside AND SHE GOES FOR THE SPRINGBOARD CLOTHESLINE…NOMAD CATCHES HER ONCE MORE AND THROWS HER EITHER SIDE OF HIS HEAD…FOLDING POWERBOMB!!!
Steve Morrison: CRUMBLING TOWER!!
Cross Recoba: This could be it!! NOMAD could get a second consecutive scalp here in Tap Out!!
He leans forward and covers her with a large forearm.
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: A lazy pin might cost him!
Cross Recoba: He thought he’d done enough, Gordon thrives on proving people wrong!!
Perhaps realizing the nonchalant cover wasn’t enough,he starts to choke Gordon out with an illegal forearm across the throat. Quinn starts the count…
Steve Morrison: What a cheap move!
Cross Recoba: It’s a solid move, once more he’s looking to take the fight left in her and extinguish it!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
FOUR…
Steve Morrison: NOMAD barely making the count!
Cross Recoba: You get five seconds to break it, why not use four and a half of them?
NOMAD lifts her from the mat as she reaches for her throat. He whips her to the ropes, she ducks the lariat AND COMES BACK WITH A SLINGBLADE! NO! NOMAD SWINGS HER THROUGH INTO A BLACK HOLE SLAM!!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A REVERSAL!! Gordon looked for Windswept but NOMAD had her measured!
Cross Recoba: Once more NOMAD finds himself in the driving seat and Gordon in a perilous predicament!
NOMAD can sense the end is coming. He lifts her up and grabs a wrist-clutch…
Steve Morrison: Nihilus incoming!
Cross Recoba: Her arm might be the least of her injuries if he nails this!
HE SPINS HER FOR THE BICYCLE KICK BUT SHE ROLLS OUT THE WAY AND “BIG” JOHN QUINN EATS NIHILUS!!!
Steve Morrison: “Big” John got all of that!
Cross Recoba: Instinctive evasion from Gordon leaves us with no match official and a NOMAD who has found his rhythm!
QUINN IS DOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: He might be out cold!
NOMAD goes to meet the rising Gordon but SHE LANDS A JAWBREAKER TO STAGGER HIM!!
Steve Morrison: Smart move from The Oncoming Storm…
Cross Recoba: Buys her time and space but he’s still not down!
HAIR-PULL BACKBREAKER FROM GORDON!!!
Steve Morrison: ANOTHER DOWNPOUR!!
Cross Recoba: What can she follow this up with??
Gordon waits patiently for her opponent to rise…SPINNING BACKFIST WITH THE AIR CAST!!! NOMAD DROPS TO THE FLOOR…
Steve Morrison: NOR’EASTER!!!
GORDON COVERS…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!!!
QUINN IS STILL DOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: Come on, she’s beat the big man!
Cross Recoba: No ref, no pinfall, no win, Steve…
Erin looks to rouse the referee who is slowly coming to. She spins but walks straight into a LARIAT FROM HELL THAT SPINS HER TO THE CANVAS!!
Steve Morrison: THAT ALMOST BEHEADED HER!!
Cross Recoba: And Quinn is coming to!
Quinn gets to his feet as NOMAD dead-lifts Gordon over his shoulder….HE DROPS HER INTO A PILEDRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: SCORCHED EARTH! HE PUT KANE AWAY WITH THIS, CAN IT GET ANOTHER VICTIM?
Cross Recoba: He’s got the leg hooked!
HE COVERS…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!!!
Laura Messier: The winner of your main event via pinfall….THE VIOLENT WANDERER…NOMAD!!!
Steve Morrison: The fans are making their feelings known!
Cross Recoba: That’s how it goes sometimes. Gordon put up a hell of a fight but NOMAD got her in the end!
The boos from the crowd fill the arena as his music hits and Quinn lifts his arm in victory.
Steve Morrison: I’m sure that Gordon won’t let this win by NOMAD go! She’ll be petitioning you for a rematch in May!
Cross Recoba: She’s welcome to it, both competitors put on a great show tonight!
Cross Recoba: WHAT A WAY TO END THE SHOW! A HUGE WIN FOR NOMAD!
Steve Morrison: That win might be enough to send him to the top of the rankings. Have we got a Match of the Night?
Cross Recoba: It's tough but just pipping the other two to the award is Poena vs Close Collins, what a showing from both men!
CAR takes our selection for the XHF Junior Heavyweight Championship Match Representative very seriously. The selection process was long and arduous however we are confident in our selection.
Weiner McWeiner, the Big junk handler for the 'Don't Touch my Junk Racin' crew, has been a member of CAR in good standing since its founding. We are confident that he will open eyes to the unique CAR dynamic often in play. Whomever faces the CAR Rep will be forced to try and dominate a very hard competitor that will leave them panting, while the audience begs for more.
We catch up with the former AWF United States Champion, and new Tapout bog name draw, Erin Gordon as she walks through catering towards her locker room. A messenger comes up to her and stops. He smiles as he sees who it is and he approaches closer to talk. Erin has her hand wrapped up in a cast as she looks up at the man.
Messenger: Miss Gordon! Hi! I was just at your locker room with a delivery for you. Some good stuff. Uh this was with it but it fell out of the package on the way to the room so I came to get it. Since you’re here I’ll give it to you now.
He hands her an envelope. On it is written, “Erin. Sorry about the hand” As she looks it over, parsing through options in her mind: was it Poena being a dick? Nah, even as a joke this was not his style. Maybe Cross is apologizing? She gets a whiff of the envelope … It smells of musk and bad cologne with a hint of stale beer. Erin lets out a sigh before awkwardly nodding at the messenger.
Erin Gordon: …thanks.
Erin nods in appreciation and begins to walk to the locker room, struggling with her good hand to open the envelope. It seems to be sealed with some kind of industrial glue meant to protect from the elements. Upon getting it open a letter falls out. It’s written on what appears to be a blueprint for a mobile hunter’s lodge. Old and ratty. It’s like she can hear Aiden Merric’s voice reading it to her. Wait … no, she can hear it, it has a chip from one of those singing hallmark cards inside the envelope and it automatically speaks to her.
Merric: Hey Erin, that was a bloody amazing fight you gave that self-satisfied prick. What a complete drongo, man. Ya went easy on him if’n ya ask me. I mean … I got a shotgun pointed at my face for being friendly, he breaks your hand and you didn’t even castrate him! Right, right, sponsor money for the fed. I forgot. Understandable.
Erin’s eyeroll is so harsh the camera can almost hear it. She pushes open her locker room door to find a gift basket.
Merric: I felt bad I wasn’t there to help kick his ass after he tried to cripple your hand. So I got ya a little bit of the good stuff to help you heal and letcha know I’m thinkin’ bout … kicking Poena’s ass.
Gordon’s eyes go wide. In the basket is an assortment of very delicious looking Hickory Farms Sausages. On the basket is Aiden’s new cell phone number with the message, “Got me a burner phone. Realized I never gave ya a way to reach me and that ass phone was starting to stink…”
Merric: But hey don’t worry I know you ain’t the type of woman to fawn over a bloke, even one as handsome and debonair as yours truly, with store bought meat products. I got ya the good stuff. Homemade in me own kitchen, beef jerky and basket cheese. Had some milk left in the fridge after all! From the fine bovine in South Carolina. Don’t worry about where I got the beef from … and certainly don’t worry about the calls I may get from time to time from some dairy farmers in said municipality. If they can find me? Fair dinkum.
Sure enough she looks to the right of the basket and there is some homemade beef jerky and cheese. Which honestly shows a bit more know how than one would give Merric credit for.
Merric: Give me a call so I can add your number. I’ll be out of the country for March with Reign. Gotta get me some revenge on Donzig’s goons for him squeaking one past me. All the best. Aid-.. *zzzzzzzt*
The speech device conks out as the message was WAY too long. The silence that stretches afterward is long–very long, as a matter of fact, before Erin tucks the card into the basket. The camera cuts elsewhere as the Oncoming Storm just keeps staring at the unexpected gift she’s been given, brow furrowing in thought.
Steve Morrison: Well, Collins is already in the ring with his father, Tuff. How do you see him faring tonight?
Cross Recoba: I've already said I don't believe in kid gloves. Close will be ready, his father wouldn't let him have it any other way. Now it's on him to step up!
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.
Steve Morrison: The guy gives me the ick!
Cross Recoba: But he can actually back it up in the ring. In the build-up he was talking like he wants to indoctrinate Close!
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.
Steve Morrison: First, he wants to break him mentally and physically!
Cross Recoba: We've seen evidence of the latter, just ask Erin Gordon. She got the win but at what cost?
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.
Steve Morrison: Tuff has backed Close off from his opponent and is standing in front of him!
Cross Recoba: He can't protect him once that bell rings!! Then it's just the two men in the match!
Laura Messier: AND NOW...FOR OUR CO-MAIN EVENT! Introducing first, accompanied by his father Tuff Collins. Fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska...CLOSE...COLLINS!!
The crowd get behind Collins, in part for his exploits last month in beating Jason Long and equally, he's facing Poena. Tuff is imparting as much knowledge as he can into the ear of his son as Laura continues the introductions.
Laura Messier: From the Ninth Deep...Standing at six-feet even and weighing a hundred-and-ninety pounds...The Sanctified One....POENA!!!!!!
Poena's smile grows twisted and deranged as he points towards Close and starts to laugh.
CO-MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Poena vs Close Collins
Close Collins walks towards the middle of the ring in his distinctive upright stance. He glares at Poena, trying to judge what The Sanctified One is going to do. The second-generation superstar lifts his arms high and out, offering a lockup to Poena. The always unorthodox Poena tilts his head to a side and grins, loping forwards and keeping his body low, in stark contrast to his opponent. The two men lock up, Close using his leverage to bend Poena’s legs downwards but The Dark Saviour breaks and wheels round Collins, jabbing the point of his elbow powerfully into base of the youngster’s spine. Close turns on the spot to face Poena again and the man from the ninth deep grins at him.
Steve Morrison: Poena showed last week that he’s a little different than your average opponent.
Cross Recoba: Different is one way to put it. He’s crazy dangerous and dangerously crazy.
Again, Close offers a lockup, going to the well of a traditional wrestling match start and again Poena floats behind. This time, rather than going for a strike he grabs a back waistlock, trying to hit a German Suplex. Close, however, was thinking two steps ahead and loosens the grip with a little shimmy then reaches down to grab Poena’s right arm, lifting it upwards as Collins ducks and the Matthews graduate flicks Poena over with a shoulder throw! Close drops a knee onto Poena’s chest and covers…
ONE!
TW.. not even a three count as Poena kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Solid technique from Close Collins.
Cross Recoba: The Seio Nage. It’s one of the basics for a judoka but it’s a basic because it works.
Collins is quickly back to his feet, and he is straight on Poena when The Sanctified One gets himself back vertical. A swift boot to the ribs doubles the maniacal Poena over and Close locks in a front chancery, hoisting Poena up with a smooth vertical suplex. Collins pops the hips and swivels back up to his feet, all the while keeping Poena’s head locked up and lifts him high up, again vertical suplex style but turns and drops to a seated position, crashing the messiah of his own church down hard onto the mat. Close Collins reaches over to improvise a pinning combination.
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Poena squirms loose.
Steve Morrison: FALCON ARROW!
Cross Recoba: Deals happen all the time in the shady backrooms of Vegas.
Spritely and supple, The Young Suplex Master gets quickly back to his feet again, looking to pree his advantage. He doesn’t give Poena any time to think as he slips in behind and locks in a tight back waistlock, immediately falling backwards and sending The Sanctified One arcing over Close’s own head. Again, Close Collins holds on and wrestles Poena back to his feet immediately. Close slides one arm up into a Half Nelson and he drops backwards again SPIKING Poena with a Half and Half Suplex. Another swivel of the hips and another maintained hold sees the pair standing again and now Close moves up his other arm, now holding The Sanctified One in a Cobra Clutch. Close AGAIN throws Poena backwards, this time finally releasing his vice grip and dropping Poena right on the crown of his head. Poena slumps against the ropes and then, possibly deliberately, possibly tactically, falls through and down to the outside.
Steve Morrison: TUFFPLEX! And Poena is in a heap on the outside.
Cross Recoba: Close Collins appears to have gone through every suplex class that Jayson Matthews and his father ever offered.
As Poena recovers on the outside, Close Collins gets up on his toes, near jumping in place as he lines up for a big dive. The crowd in the arena gets on their feet to get a better look as the headstrong Collins rushes the far side ropes, rebounds off and rebounds, full pace, at the ropes where Poena is gathering himself. Close leaps, sailing clear over the ropes and flipping over to crash back first into his victim…
BUT POENA ROLLS UNDER THE RING AND COLLINS CRASHES BACK FIRST INTO THE THIN MATS OUTSIDE, HARD! You can see the pain shuddering through Close’s body as Poena rolls back out, lying next to his opponent, grinning his head off.
Steve Morrison: Holy shit! Close Collins just crashed and burned on that senton atómico!
Cross Recoba: It was an impulsive move. Poena had just the right amount of self-preservation skills to get the hell out of the way.
The grin turns to a giggle. Poena rises, a little slowly, to his feet and stomps down on his fallen opponent. With a sickening smile, Poena lifts the ringside mat under where he is standing and peels is away, revealing the bare concrete below. With a tug, The Sanctified One hauls Close Collins off the mat and traps him in a front chancery. The man who marches to his beat at his own drum carefully lines up poor Close before hoisting him up into a vertical suplex and then just releasing Collins mid air, letting gravity take it’s course as back meets concrete. Poena rubs his hands in glee. He looks up to note the referee has started a count and swiftly rolls in and back out of the ring to break it.
Steve Morrison: Poena wants to inflict more damage!
Cross Recoba: He’s ruthless in his pursuit of causing pain. Poena is not going to accept something like a count out victory.
With Close laid out on the floor, Poena uses his foot like a trowel and flips the youngster onto his face. The Sanctified One rains down stomps all along Close’s spinal column, trying to kick Collins’ spine through his chest. After finishing his assault, Poena tilts his head, surveying his handiwork and hauls Close off the concrete floor. Poena grabs one of the Matthews Trainee up and slings him roughly by arm arm so that the torque of Collins’ body causing him to careen out of control into the ring post, smashing his back into it. With a snake like speed, Poena rolls into the ring near the corner Close is slumping against and reaches through the ropes to grab both of Collin’s arms and just PULLS HARD, SLAMMING CLOSE COLLINS’ BACK AGAINST THE RING POST! ONCE! TWICE! THREE TIMES! FOUR TIMES! FIVE TIMES! Collins slumps to the floor again and Poena rolls out to restart the count again!
Steve Morrison: Poena is vicious in his assault! He’s making a target of Close’s spine and going after it like a rabid dog with a Wagyu steak!
Cross Recoba: Last week, arms. This week, back. When a strategy presents itself, Poena runs with it.
Peona rolls out of the ring again so he can heave Close Collins back inside. Almost speculatively he drops to hooka leg…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Close kicks out. Poena looks at the referee and giggles, almost like he didn’t want that to be the end of the match anyway. The Sanctified One stands and places the toe of his boot under Close’s chest before effortlessly flipping his opponent’s body onto its stomach. Leaping into the air, Poena tucks his knees in and extends them, driving both feet into Close Collins’ spine before falling backwards and connecting the flat of his back in the same area! Ponea sits up, emotionless as he considers his next move.
Steve Morrison: Double stomp into a senton. Poena showing a little more agility than last week.
Cross Recoba: Some people walk into a match with a strategy, some people call it on the fly. Most are a mix of both.
Steve Morrison: Which are you?
Cross Recoba: Oh, I like to plan. But I’m not sure Poena does the whole “planning” thing.
Poena rolls away and to his feet, looking to create a little space. As Close Collins sits up, clutching at his back in pain Poena charges from half ring and punts Collins right at the base of his spine. The Sanctified One backs off again and this time he allows Close to stand, wobbly from all the wear and tear on his back. Poena takes a short run up and then jumps, grabbing a leg scissor on Close’s far arm and a loose shoulder hold on his near before falling sideways, diving Collins’ shoulders into the mat at pace. With Close’s shoulders down the referee counts again…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Close kicks out again!
Steve Morrison: I think Close Collins is living on borrowed time.
With his opponent down, Poena sees an opportunity to exploit. He places his finger to his lips, almost daring the crowd to remain silent as he lifts Close’s arm up and zones right in on the fingers. The Sanctified One grabs hold of Close’s ring finger in one hand and index in the other and…
CLOSE COLLINS REACHES UP WITH HIS OTHER ARM AND CRADLES POENA!
ONE!
TWO!
T.. Poena shoves Close off him, violently.
Cross Recoba: Maybe he just bought himself some more.
Poena is up first with a look of DEATH on his face. He glares a hole through Close Collins and beckons the young starlet to stand. Poena slips to a side and throws a VICIOUS kick to the ribs. Close sucks it up and using the arm that’s not clutching his back, beckons for The Sanctified One to throw a second. Never one to turn down such an opportunity, a second NASTY kick follows up. Now Close just SCREAMS for Poena to, “COME ON!” The Demon from the Ninth Deep throws a third kick… AND CLOSE COLLINS CATCHES THE LEG AND HITS A SNAP LEG CAPTURE SUPLEX! POENA GOES FLYING ACROSS THE RING! Close… slumps forwards and breathes heavily.
Steve Morrison: Close Collins still has life in him!
Cross Recoba: But the question is how much. You can see the strain on his face.
In obvious agony, Close moves in towards Poena as The Sanctified One stands. Collins wraps his arms around Poena and rotates his hips, twisting the Dark Prophet around and dumping him on the mat with a sloppy looking Belly to Belly Suplex. Close desperately hold on for a cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Poena kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Not enough!
Close looks at the referee in desperation and disbelief. He turns back to Poena and summons the last of his strength to haul up Poena, wincing in pain. He locks in a front chancery, steels himself and goes to lift Poena up for his signature brainbuster…
But he just can’t manage it.
Close tries again. AGAIN he can’t get Poena up.
CLOSE TRIES A THIRD TIME. EVERY SQUARE INCH OF HIS FACE IS WRACKED WITH AGONY. AND JUST… JUST… JUST…
LIFTS POENA UP AND DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD WITH A BRAAAAAAAAAAINBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: Now’s your chance Close!
Collins knows that he needs a definite finish, and he walks over to the turnbuckles. Up one step. Uo another step. His progress is walking through molasses levels of slow but Poena appears to be down. Close steps up to the top and looks over his shoulder. Poena is slowly standing. Close crosses himself and changes plans, leaping off backwards, flipping and pirouetting mid air to crash into The Sanctified One.
Steve Morrison: THE FUTURE’S CALLING!
Cross Recoba: But at what cost?
The howl of pain from Collins as his back hits Poena’s body is loud and anguished. Both men are down and the referee puts on a ten count for a double knockout…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE! Poena is up…
SIX!
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
NINE!
TE…. CLOSE COLLINS IS UP! HE TURNS TO FACE POENA! And Poena, having noted the referee is resetting position after being down to check the double down… KICKS HIM SQUARE IN THE NUTS. Close stumbles forwards…CROSSED LEGGED SUPLEX LIFT. DROPPED STRAIGHT DOWN, THE CENTER OF CLOSE’S SHOULDERS CRASHING RIGHT ONTO POENA’S KNEE. POENA COVERS…
Steve Morrison: ANATHEMA! NOT LIKE THIS!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Steve Morrison: Damn you, Poena. Close tried everything. But a low blow was the difference. Damn you.
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.
Steve Morrison: Eager to keep her unbeaten record intact from Supremacy, I'm expecting her to come out the blocks at pace tonight!
Cross Recoba: She's a fighter and I know she'd have appealed and appealed if the doctors ruled her out tonight.
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.
Steve Morrison: That air cast on her left arm, that tells you that she isn't fully fit but she won't deprive the fans on that injured side.
Cross Recoba: It does however make for a fine target for her opponent!
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: A born fighter, tonight she gets to take on the biggest man on the roster, can she pull it off?
Cross Recoba: Erin is farmer-tough. She won't see him as a giant, she'll see him as a larger target for her offense! She'll have her defence down, in short - I wouldn't bet against her tonight!
Lights out. White flashes in time with a screeching ringing sound. Three times... Three more...
DRYWALL!
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.
Steve Morrison: Coming off what may be the biggest win of his career, NOMAD earned his place in the match tonight.
Cross Recoba: We don't do gimmes here. He put in a hell of a performance to beat Brad Kane last month and now he gets the top match to push his case for why he should stay here!
IN PAIN, ASK FOR ASPIRIN.
THAT'S DRYWALL, THEY'LL COME BACK AGAIN.
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.
Steve Morrison: He isn't giving much aeway with only body language to read.
Cross Recoba: World-travelled, Sloane might be an unfamiliar name but he showed last month that he picked up more than postcards on his travels!
KEEP YA STILL, PILLED UP, FUCK IT ANOTHER DRILL, ANOTHER DEAL
ANOTHER KILL, DEGRADATION OF THE KIDNEY WHEEL
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.
With both competitors in the ring, Laura steps into the center.
Laura Messier: IT'S TIME FOR OUR MAIN-EVENT!!!
The crowd pop for the denouement of the show.
Laura Messier: Hailing from Blooming Valley, Pennsylvania....She stands at five-feet and eight inches and weighed in at one-hundred-and-sixty-three pounds...THE ONCOMING STORM...ERIN...GORDON!!!!
Erin looks ready-to-go. Her feet constantly moving as she bounces in situ, clearly raring to go and prove that the set-back in preparation for thre match.
Laura Messier: Coming to the ring from Colville, Washington...He stands at six-feet-and-five inches and tips the scale two-hundred-and-eighty pounds!!! HE IS THE VIOLENT WANDERER!!!! NOMAD!!!!
Showing little to no emotion, NOMAD nods his head towards "Big" John Quinn with the slightest acknowledgement before returning to his stoic stance.
MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Erin Gordon vs NOMAD
“Big” John Quinn calls for the bell as the two competitors come out of their corners. NOMAD seems happy to circle his opponent. Gordon, on the other hand, bounces from one foot to the other as she ducks down as if looking for an early take down.
Steve Morrison: Erin is going to need to work that agility advantage as best as she can.
Cross Recoba: If she can keep the tempo up, it puts the ball in her court.
Erin dashes forward and lands a rushing punch to the midsection as she goes behind the bigger man. She starts to unleash a barrage of quick kicks to the back of her opponent, trying to cut him down to size.
Steve Morrison: As expected, those kicks are going to be favored over throwing fists.
Cross Recoba: Ol’ righty as she calls it might be there but she can’t risk giving up that injured arm so easily.
NOMAD shows little sign of buckling and tries to turn around but is cut off by a quick-fire Superman punch that rocks him much to the enjoyment of the Vegas crowd.
Steve Morrison: Erin piling on the pressure and tempo early on.
Cross Recoba: Kane seemed happy to trade holds with him, Gordon isn’t a Greco-Roman grappler when fully fit, tonight we’re going to see that smash mouth style of hers in spades!
Coming off the ropes, Gordon levels a chop-block to the back of her opponent’s knee and rolls forward into another sprint. This time she chop-blocks the front of the knee to keep the big man rocking. She delivers a low dropkick that takes the big man down and charges the ropes…CROSS-BODY BLOCK!!! NO! NOMAD CATCHES HER!!
Steve Morrison: That high-speed offense comes with risk and Gordon might find out just what that is now!
Cross Recoba: If we’re talking turning points in a match, this is textbook!
NOMAD charges with Gordon across him into the turnbuckle!! He drops her to the floor and rolls her to the apron. Now it’s his turn to rush off the ropes, he pushes forward a gigantic boot but Gordon ducks and NOMAD finds himself crotched on the top rope. Erin leaps to the top turnbuckle…A DROPKICK SENDS NOMAD TO THE FLOOR!!
Steve Morrison: Gordon seems to have rescued her match with that exchange.
Cross Recoba: NOMAD isn’t a stranger to a brawl and this match is about to get down and dirty!
Stunned but eager to not stay down, Sloane gets to his feet but GORDON LEAPS FROM THE APRON WITH AN INVERTED BULLDOG TO TAKE HIM DOWN!!
Steve Morrison: Slick takedown from the Oncoming Storm! Using her momentum to take the big man down to the mat!
Cross Recoba: She has him on the outside but what can you do with a guy that size and with that much of a weight advantage? I hope Erin has a plan!
Feeding off the crowd, Erin cracks a slight smile as she holds her air-cast clad arm.
Steve Morrison: For now, she knows she has the crowd to help power her through what could well be a war!
ONE…
Getting to his feet, NOMAD has little say in the matter as those educated feet of Gordon go back to machine-gun fire like kicks to his midsection, pushing him against the announce table.
Cross Recoba: Hold on, this isn’t the Nelly Angel show! Don’t break the announce table!
TWO…
Going to the well one too many times, Gordon looks shocked as NOMAD catches her foot! The only sense of expression being the weary eyes behind the mask as he pushes her back a few steps BEFORE BIEL TOSSING HER INTO THE RINGSIDE BARRIER!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A THROW!!
Cross Recoba: Sheer athleticism from the Wanderer! She didn’t touch the floor until she hit the barrier!
THREE…
Once more, Erin holds the damaged limb. NOMAD ensuring her left shoulder connected first with the barricade. She can put up little resistance as NOMAD rushes in with an elbow to the side of her head, pancaking her in the process.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD is starting to make that extra weight and power work for him…
Cross Recoba: This slowed pace suits his game far more than it does Erin’s! He can break people down at this speed!
FOUR…
NOMAD drags her by the hair and rolls her into the ring to break the count. He steps onto the apron and drags her damaged arm onto the apron before stomping on the fingers Poena targeted last month!
Steve Morrison: We knew those injuries would come into play, Cross, but that was brutal!
Cross Recoba: It was effective! Think of her offense, it’s largely based around huge strikes and lariats!
Writhing in pain, Gordon is helpless to move out of the way of the dropped elbow from NOMAD as he grabs her arm and proceeds to wrench it, compounding the damage from Poena.
Steve Morrison: He’s honing in on that arm and this might be another first for Tap Out - a submission victory!
Cross Recoba: Even if he doesn’t go for the sub, he knows that while her kicks are lethal, they don’t compare to the Nor’easter or Windswept!
Almost toying with her, he stands up and quickly stomps the damaged hand once more.
Steve Morrison: The Tap Out medical team must be on stand-by for after this match, NOMAD isn’t in any hurry to end this and is seemingly disabling that hand from being a factor in the match!
Cross Recoba: We’re yet to crown the inaugural Tap Out Openweight Champion and NOMAD knows that each match is an audition for why he should be in contention!
He pulls her up by her hair and grabs a double-underhook…Butterfly Suplex.
Steve Morrison: If you’re eagle-eyed, fans, you’ll notice he tweaked that double-underhook hold he had, further wrenching that damaged arm of his opponent!
Cross Recoba: Those little details decide whether osmeone is a good or a great wrestler!
Pulling her to her knees, NOMAD comes off the ropes…KNEELING BIG BOOT!!
Steve Morrison: That patented boot!
Cross Recoba: Is it enough for him to get a pinfall?
He drops for the cover…
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!!
Gordon raises her damaged arm in spite of herself.
Steve Morrison: DEFIANT!
Cross Recoba: Gordon’ll be the first to admit that she’s a stubborn mule with the best of them!
NOMAD leaves her no say in the matter as he drags her to her feet and clobbers her with forearms that send her into the turnbuckle. He steps back before unloading alternating hooks to the body of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: Stiff body blows are going to deplete that tank of Gordon’s!
Cross Recoba: Smart move, he knows she can go longer than he can in this match. Each blow is taking away a little more wind in her tank!
Doubled-over, Gordon drops to the mat with a clubbing forearm from NOMAD. She has no time to get distance between herself and Sloane as he picks her up once more before sending her to the corner again.
Steve Morrison: Relentless assault from NOMAD!
Cross Recoba: Just look at her past matches, anytime someone gives her a moment to think, they pay for it!
NOMAD rushes in looking for a splash BUT GORDON WEAVES BETWEEN THE ROPES AND CONNECTS WITH A SWINGING ENZIGURI!!
Steve Morrison: Erin escapes at the last and connects with a vicious enziguri!
Cross Recoba: Can you hear the crowd growing in support for her?
The crowd start to get behind The Oncoming Storm. She quickly mounts the second turnbuckle and rapidly unloads with right fists to the head.
Crowd: ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EIGHT! NINE! TEN!!
Steve Morrison: She’s going back to what she knows, no thrills brawling!
Cross Recoba: It looks to have dazed NOMAD.
Jumping backwards she quickly spins and charges…RUNNING HIGH-KNEE TO THE TEMPLE OF NOMAD!! She grabs the dazed big man…STO!!! She rolls away from her downed opponent and crouches down.
Steve Morrison: Measuring him up…
Gordon rushes in WITH A LOU THESZ PRESS! What follows are rapid-fire punches to the forehead of her opponent.
Crowd: LET’S GO GORDON! LET’S GO GORDON!!
Steve Morrison: I wouldn’t be surprised if she busted him open with those punches!
Cross Recoba: At the very least, she’ll have scrambled his brains!
She raises her damaged arm in acknowledgement of the fans’ support.
Steve Morrison: That’s fighting spirit right there!
She casts a glance at her opponent before stepping through the ropes to the apron. NOMAD GETS TO HIS FEET AND SPRINTS AT HER BEFORE SHE CAN LEAP UP AND CONNECTS WITH A FOREARM SMASH!!
Steve Morrison: He cut her off from that springboard clothesline!
Cross Recoba: He’s not finished yet!
NOMAD lifts her up in a suplex…BEFORE BOUNCING HER OFF THE ROPES AND OVER INTO A COVER!!
Steve Morrison: Textbook slingshot suplex!
Cross Recoba: Is it enough though?
ONE…
TWO…
T-KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: She gets an arm up once more!
Cross Recoba: I can tell you now, that’s going to frustrate NOMAD, each time your opponent kicks out you question what should be the next move!
Gordon manages to get her good arm up but NOMAD grabs hold of it and twists it, raising her to her feet for long enough for him to drop a leg over the shoulder and bring her back to the mat.
Steve Morrison: He’s switched arms but is that the right move?
Cross Recoba: If she isn’t going to use her left, why leave her other arm alone?
He tries to transition to her injured arm and grabs the hand but Gordon gets a small package…
Steve Morrison: Sneaky pin attempt!
ONE…
TW-KICKOUT!!
The crowd still behind her drives Gordon to her feet, she holds her arm momentarily but drops it as she ducks a punch and swings her legs up…
Steve Morrison: Quick thinking from Gordon…
Cross Recoba: Can she parlay it into a sustained period of offense though or even get the win with the Arm Triangle?
She just about has the hold locked in she falls to her back but NOMAD is struggling and making it increasingly hard for her to cinch it in.
Steve Morrison: Gordon’s fighting to get the hold in, the injured arm not helping and NOMAD making life as difficult as he can.
Cross Recoba: He’s going to need all that power to get out of this one!
Adjusting as best as she can, she relaxes into the hold as she finally feels it’s locked in. “Big” John Quinn drops to the mat to see if NOMAD is still conscious and willing to fight. Quinn grows interested as NOMAD’s arm rises in the air but he grabs the hand of Gordon and tries to bend back the fingers of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: You can hear the cry of pain from Erin!
Cross Recoba: Can he escape or is she too stubborn to give up the hold?
Struggling and fighting to keep the hold in, Gordon screams in pain and conviction as she battles with the big man to keep control of the submission.
Steve Morrison: Both fighters giving it their all in that ring! They both know the importance of the match!
Cross Recoba: Gordon will want to go into the Rumble as fresh as she can be and with a win, I can’t see both of those things happening tonight at this rate!
NOMAD changes tact and UNLEASHES A HAMMERFIST WITH HIS FREE HAND WHICH BUYS HIM ROOM!
Steve Morrison: It won’t make any wrestling playbooks but those hammerfists are delivered with brute force!
Gordon abandons the hold and rolls quickly to her feet; she catches the big man with a Bionic Elbow which rocks him back. A quick dash to the ropes and a chop block takes him down!
Steve Morrison: Gordon gave up the hold when she realized she was going to take more damage the longer the hold was in!
Cross Recoba: But she expertly changed tact to keep him down, if you weelll
She watches him slowly rise and charges the ropes…SLIDING LARIAT WITH THE AIR CAST!!!
Steve Morrison: DRAGGING WINDS!!!
Cross Recoba: Quinn either missed or ignored the cast’s role in that one!
THE COVER…
ONE…
TWO…
T-KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: She hooked the leg but with her damaged arm, would that have been the end if she was fully fit?
Cross Recoba: We’ll never know, she needs to focus on what’s ahead, not in the past!
Springing back to her feet, Gordon measures him and looks for a roundhouse kick but it’s caught. NOMAD SPINS HER AROUND AND LIFTS HER ONTO HIS SHOULDERS!!!
Steve Morrison: Could we be seeing the Hatred from Death Valley?
Cross Recoba: NO!
GORDON DROPS DOWN THE BACK AND LANDS A HAIR-PULL BACKBREAKER!!!
Steve Morrison: DOWNPOUR!!!
Cross Recoba: She covers once more and hooks the leg with the good arm!
She once more covers…
ONE…
TWO…
T-
NOMAD KICKS OUT ONCE MORE!!!
Steve Morrison: She must be thinking what she needs to do to put the big man away!
Cross Recoba: NOMAD’s fighting spirit isn’t too bad either it seems!
Gordon, seated, looks for her next move. She rushes at the rising NOMAD but he weaves out the way of the lariat. He looks for a roundhouse kick of his own but The Oncoming Storm rolls out from it and springs back with a Superman Punch!
Steve Morrison: She has him dazed.
Cross Recoba: I think I know where she’s going next…
A quick leap to the outside AND SHE GOES FOR THE SPRINGBOARD CLOTHESLINE…NOMAD CATCHES HER ONCE MORE AND THROWS HER EITHER SIDE OF HIS HEAD…FOLDING POWERBOMB!!!
Steve Morrison: CRUMBLING TOWER!!
Cross Recoba: This could be it!! NOMAD could get a second consecutive scalp here in Tap Out!!
He leans forward and covers her with a large forearm.
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: A lazy pin might cost him!
Cross Recoba: He thought he’d done enough, Gordon thrives on proving people wrong!!
Perhaps realizing the nonchalant cover wasn’t enough,he starts to choke Gordon out with an illegal forearm across the throat. Quinn starts the count…
Steve Morrison: What a cheap move!
Cross Recoba: It’s a solid move, once more he’s looking to take the fight left in her and extinguish it!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
FOUR…
Steve Morrison: NOMAD barely making the count!
Cross Recoba: You get five seconds to break it, why not use four and a half of them?
NOMAD lifts her from the mat as she reaches for her throat. He whips her to the ropes, she ducks the lariat AND COMES BACK WITH A SLINGBLADE! NO! NOMAD SWINGS HER THROUGH INTO A BLACK HOLE SLAM!!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A REVERSAL!! Gordon looked for Windswept but NOMAD had her measured!
Cross Recoba: Once more NOMAD finds himself in the driving seat and Gordon in a perilous predicament!
NOMAD can sense the end is coming. He lifts her up and grabs a wrist-clutch…
Steve Morrison: Nihilus incoming!
Cross Recoba: Her arm might be the least of her injuries if he nails this!
HE SPINS HER FOR THE BICYCLE KICK BUT SHE ROLLS OUT THE WAY AND “BIG” JOHN QUINN EATS NIHILUS!!!
Steve Morrison: “Big” John got all of that!
Cross Recoba: Instinctive evasion from Gordon leaves us with no match official and a NOMAD who has found his rhythm!
QUINN IS DOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: He might be out cold!
NOMAD goes to meet the rising Gordon but SHE LANDS A JAWBREAKER TO STAGGER HIM!!
Steve Morrison: Smart move from The Oncoming Storm…
Cross Recoba: Buys her time and space but he’s still not down!
HAIR-PULL BACKBREAKER FROM GORDON!!!
Steve Morrison: ANOTHER DOWNPOUR!!
Cross Recoba: What can she follow this up with??
Gordon waits patiently for her opponent to rise…SPINNING BACKFIST WITH THE AIR CAST!!! NOMAD DROPS TO THE FLOOR…
Steve Morrison: NOR’EASTER!!!
GORDON COVERS…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!!!
QUINN IS STILL DOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: Come on, she’s beat the big man!
Cross Recoba: No ref, no pinfall, no win, Steve…
Erin looks to rouse the referee who is slowly coming to. She spins but walks straight into a LARIAT FROM HELL THAT SPINS HER TO THE CANVAS!!
Steve Morrison: THAT ALMOST BEHEADED HER!!
Cross Recoba: And Quinn is coming to!
Quinn gets to his feet as NOMAD dead-lifts Gordon over his shoulder….HE DROPS HER INTO A PILEDRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: SCORCHED EARTH! HE PUT KANE AWAY WITH THIS, CAN IT GET ANOTHER VICTIM?
Cross Recoba: He’s got the leg hooked!
HE COVERS…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!!!
Laura Messier: The winner of your main event via pinfall….THE VIOLENT WANDERER…NOMAD!!!
Steve Morrison: The fans are making their feelings known!
Cross Recoba: That’s how it goes sometimes. Gordon put up a hell of a fight but NOMAD got her in the end!
The boos from the crowd fill the arena as his music hits and Quinn lifts his arm in victory.
Steve Morrison: I’m sure that Gordon won’t let this win by NOMAD go! She’ll be petitioning you for a rematch in May!
Cross Recoba: She’s welcome to it, both competitors put on a great show tonight!
Cross Recoba: WHAT A WAY TO END THE SHOW! A HUGE WIN FOR NOMAD!
Steve Morrison: That win might be enough to send him to the top of the rankings. Have we got a Match of the Night?
Cross Recoba: It's tough but just pipping the other two to the award is Poena vs Close Collins, what a showing from both men!
