TAP OUT WRESTLING 4: NOMAD/POENA VS GORDON/KANE - 5/22!
Jun 19, 2022 14:10:22 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Drag, and 1 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Jun 19, 2022 14:10:22 GMT -5
PRESENTS
Date: 22nd May 2022
Venue: The Sands Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 500 (Capacity: 500)
The show opens up to scan over the capacity crowd at The Sands Ballroom. A selection of signs in the crowd stand out:
* I’M YOUR ACES WILD, JACK! *
* HE WILL SANCTIFY YOU! *
* ESPER FAIRY FAN CLUB *
* ##### MONGO!*
* TOMMY STRYCH 2024! *
We cut to the announcers desk with Steve Morrison: and Cross Recoba.
Steve Morrison:: Welcome fans as we see Tap Out hold their biggest card yet!
Cross Recoba: Not just in the number of matches but also in the quality!
Steve Morrison:: With just tonight and our next show to go to determine who makes the top eight in the rankings and goes into the Openweight Title Tournament - EVERY.MATCH.COUNTS!
Cross Recoba: Exactly! We’re kicking off with a match where the slightly off-kilter but always snobbish Isabella Von Krauss squares off against the off-kilter but with no airs and graces, Tommy Strychnine!
Steve Morrison:: Can Tommy handle the threat of outside interference that I’d wager good money that IVK will use?
Cross Recoba: He knows the threat is there but what I love about The Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Rocker is that he simply won’t care! He’s going to go out there, put on a show and try and have fun in the process!
Steve Morrison:: And for IVK?
Cross Recoba: Like everyone who has joined as we’ve come along: the later you start, the more you need a win to start racking up the points that will get you into the tournament! Can she do it? Sure! Will it be easy? Not if you ask ANYONE who has stepped in the ring with Tommy Strychnine before!
Steve Morrison:: If we’re talking people who need to gain points quickly, Jason Long finds himself in the rare category of appearing on the first show and coming into our fourth, he’s yet to get off the board!
Cross Recoba: He’s a seasoned pro. Whatever you tell him, he knows it and now that he has Infinite Pro Wrestling up and running? He’ll want to show everyone on the Tap Out roster that his is the superior product!
Steve Morrison:: Standing in his way is the mercurial Jackalope though. We’ve seen him take down veterans before.
Cross Recoba: He’s the hometown fans’ favorite, I’ll tell you that much. If we gave away titles based on merchandise sold within the confines of Vegas? He’d be the Champ. What he hasn’t got right now is a fully-rounded ring-game. Everyone on The Strip will be pulling for him, it’s up to him to put this ‘on-the-job’ training into consecutive wins!
Steve Morrison:: He could cement his place in the tournament tonight if he wins.
Cross Recoba: And likewise, Long could put himself in an extremely competitive pack if he gets his arm raised at the end of the match!
Steve Morrison:: We also see our first Guest appearance from the XHF Network. MYOJIN squares off against Danni Anderson. Can Anderson pull another win off tonight?
Cross Recoba: It’s an interesting one. I’ve been asked about this match more than almost any other tonight. MYOJIN wants to use us to drive up his demand and price and he isn’t without merit. He’s done it in FIRESIDE and he’s done it with the XHF belts. What Danni brings tonight though is someone who can match almost every style he utilizes!
Steve Morrison:: What would be your advice to her if you were in her locker room tonight?
Cross Recoba: Keep it standing and if you take him to the mat? Don’t try and stay with him there!
Steve Morrison:: We saw her use that ADHD Moonsault last time out, I’d personally think that’s where her end-game has to be.
Cross Recoba: You’re not wrong. Her Pink Sugar Arm Attack leaves herself far too open to the endless arm and leg submissions that MYOJIN has made his career on!
Steve Morrison:: If you’re wondering what the Vegas line has to say on the matter - MYOJIN is the slight favorite although they’re seeing more people put money on Anderson for the win as the day has gone on!
Cross Recoba: If we did rounds, that’s what I’d go on but we’re not British.
Steve Morrison:: In our Co-Main Event of the evening we have what, on paper, is a wrestling fan’s dream match. Adrien Cochrane, master of the superkick and Cutter, squares off against Jack Diamond, master of the Superkick and Cutter!
Cross Recoba: That match is going to be one of such fine margins they’re almost transparent! Both are former X*Crown Champions! Both put out amazing showings in the XHF Rumble and both are driven by the desire to win!
Steve Morrison:: Eddie Walker is sure to have gone through the XHF Archives to dig out every tape he can for his prize client ahead of this one!
Cross Recoba: I’m nowhere near a Walker fan but you cannot deny that he takes his role in management seriously for his clients. He will have made him watch every triumph and every defeat that Diamond has suffered and you know there will be a gameplan drilled into The Cajun Sensation’s head as he comes out tonight!
Steve Morrison:: What of Diamond’s preparations?
Cross Recoba: He’ll have seen him in the Rumble, he would have taken notice. Jack is a rare breed. Tonight isn’t just about winning, it’s about reminding people why he and The Icons were so dominant in the XHF! When we fought to a draw in AWF, I saw why people rate him so highly and if these two both make the tournament, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see them face off in one of the later rounds!
Steve Morrison:: Which brings us to our Main Event! Uneasy bedfellows is a term that has been used to describe NOMAD and Poena!
Cross Recoba: They’re the top two ranked for a reason but even without their past problems, they’d be a pile of dynamite waiting to explode! Neither man would say a word positive about the other and that’s because, in their minds, they both believe they’re the best!
Steve Morrison:: NOMAD has, surprisingly, remained undefeated. The only man on the roster to do so! Don’t think that Poena has forgotten that if he wins, he helps his biggest rival on the roster maintain that record!
Cross Recoba: Exactly! Getting on the same page is their first challenge. They’re only going to make it harder for themselves to win if they don’t!
Steve Morrison:: Their opponents aren’t going to let that happen easily. Erin has a cross to bear against the pair of them. Her camp against NOMAD being so badly disrupted by the injuries she took from beating Poena!
Cross Recoba: I’ve stepped in the ring with Gordon and come out on the wrong side when she didn’t have a grudge. Would I envy either of her two opponents tonight? Not in the slightest. She has lived with more adversity in one lifetime than most would see in five and all it has done is shape her into one of the most efficient fighting machines I’ve seen!
Steve Morrison:: Brad Kane is also on a good run of form. Beating the team of Jackalope and Cochrane AND getting the pin and following it up with a turn in the Rumble that took people back to 2008!
Cross Recoba: BK won’t be fazed by his opponents. He has seen it all in his time in the ring. He even brought up Captain Howdy who put the fear of God into people watching wrestling in the mid-to-late noughties! He can match Poena for sheer brawling and he has a score to settle with NOMAD. If their team can work with less dysfunction than their opponents, they’re already halfway there in my mind!
Steve Morrison:: What’s for certain is that tonight is going to change a lot of fortunes for our roster! Let’s go down to ringside as Laura looks to introduce our first match of the evening!
* I’M YOUR ACES WILD, JACK! *
* HE WILL SANCTIFY YOU! *
* ESPER FAIRY FAN CLUB *
* ##### MONGO!*
* TOMMY STRYCH 2024! *
We cut to the announcers desk with Steve Morrison: and Cross Recoba.
Steve Morrison:: Welcome fans as we see Tap Out hold their biggest card yet!
Cross Recoba: Not just in the number of matches but also in the quality!
Steve Morrison:: With just tonight and our next show to go to determine who makes the top eight in the rankings and goes into the Openweight Title Tournament - EVERY.MATCH.COUNTS!
Cross Recoba: Exactly! We’re kicking off with a match where the slightly off-kilter but always snobbish Isabella Von Krauss squares off against the off-kilter but with no airs and graces, Tommy Strychnine!
Steve Morrison:: Can Tommy handle the threat of outside interference that I’d wager good money that IVK will use?
Cross Recoba: He knows the threat is there but what I love about The Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Rocker is that he simply won’t care! He’s going to go out there, put on a show and try and have fun in the process!
Steve Morrison:: And for IVK?
Cross Recoba: Like everyone who has joined as we’ve come along: the later you start, the more you need a win to start racking up the points that will get you into the tournament! Can she do it? Sure! Will it be easy? Not if you ask ANYONE who has stepped in the ring with Tommy Strychnine before!
Steve Morrison:: If we’re talking people who need to gain points quickly, Jason Long finds himself in the rare category of appearing on the first show and coming into our fourth, he’s yet to get off the board!
Cross Recoba: He’s a seasoned pro. Whatever you tell him, he knows it and now that he has Infinite Pro Wrestling up and running? He’ll want to show everyone on the Tap Out roster that his is the superior product!
Steve Morrison:: Standing in his way is the mercurial Jackalope though. We’ve seen him take down veterans before.
Cross Recoba: He’s the hometown fans’ favorite, I’ll tell you that much. If we gave away titles based on merchandise sold within the confines of Vegas? He’d be the Champ. What he hasn’t got right now is a fully-rounded ring-game. Everyone on The Strip will be pulling for him, it’s up to him to put this ‘on-the-job’ training into consecutive wins!
Steve Morrison:: He could cement his place in the tournament tonight if he wins.
Cross Recoba: And likewise, Long could put himself in an extremely competitive pack if he gets his arm raised at the end of the match!
Steve Morrison:: We also see our first Guest appearance from the XHF Network. MYOJIN squares off against Danni Anderson. Can Anderson pull another win off tonight?
Cross Recoba: It’s an interesting one. I’ve been asked about this match more than almost any other tonight. MYOJIN wants to use us to drive up his demand and price and he isn’t without merit. He’s done it in FIRESIDE and he’s done it with the XHF belts. What Danni brings tonight though is someone who can match almost every style he utilizes!
Steve Morrison:: What would be your advice to her if you were in her locker room tonight?
Cross Recoba: Keep it standing and if you take him to the mat? Don’t try and stay with him there!
Steve Morrison:: We saw her use that ADHD Moonsault last time out, I’d personally think that’s where her end-game has to be.
Cross Recoba: You’re not wrong. Her Pink Sugar Arm Attack leaves herself far too open to the endless arm and leg submissions that MYOJIN has made his career on!
Steve Morrison:: If you’re wondering what the Vegas line has to say on the matter - MYOJIN is the slight favorite although they’re seeing more people put money on Anderson for the win as the day has gone on!
Cross Recoba: If we did rounds, that’s what I’d go on but we’re not British.
Steve Morrison:: In our Co-Main Event of the evening we have what, on paper, is a wrestling fan’s dream match. Adrien Cochrane, master of the superkick and Cutter, squares off against Jack Diamond, master of the Superkick and Cutter!
Cross Recoba: That match is going to be one of such fine margins they’re almost transparent! Both are former X*Crown Champions! Both put out amazing showings in the XHF Rumble and both are driven by the desire to win!
Steve Morrison:: Eddie Walker is sure to have gone through the XHF Archives to dig out every tape he can for his prize client ahead of this one!
Cross Recoba: I’m nowhere near a Walker fan but you cannot deny that he takes his role in management seriously for his clients. He will have made him watch every triumph and every defeat that Diamond has suffered and you know there will be a gameplan drilled into The Cajun Sensation’s head as he comes out tonight!
Steve Morrison:: What of Diamond’s preparations?
Cross Recoba: He’ll have seen him in the Rumble, he would have taken notice. Jack is a rare breed. Tonight isn’t just about winning, it’s about reminding people why he and The Icons were so dominant in the XHF! When we fought to a draw in AWF, I saw why people rate him so highly and if these two both make the tournament, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see them face off in one of the later rounds!
Steve Morrison:: Which brings us to our Main Event! Uneasy bedfellows is a term that has been used to describe NOMAD and Poena!
Cross Recoba: They’re the top two ranked for a reason but even without their past problems, they’d be a pile of dynamite waiting to explode! Neither man would say a word positive about the other and that’s because, in their minds, they both believe they’re the best!
Steve Morrison:: NOMAD has, surprisingly, remained undefeated. The only man on the roster to do so! Don’t think that Poena has forgotten that if he wins, he helps his biggest rival on the roster maintain that record!
Cross Recoba: Exactly! Getting on the same page is their first challenge. They’re only going to make it harder for themselves to win if they don’t!
Steve Morrison:: Their opponents aren’t going to let that happen easily. Erin has a cross to bear against the pair of them. Her camp against NOMAD being so badly disrupted by the injuries she took from beating Poena!
Cross Recoba: I’ve stepped in the ring with Gordon and come out on the wrong side when she didn’t have a grudge. Would I envy either of her two opponents tonight? Not in the slightest. She has lived with more adversity in one lifetime than most would see in five and all it has done is shape her into one of the most efficient fighting machines I’ve seen!
Steve Morrison:: Brad Kane is also on a good run of form. Beating the team of Jackalope and Cochrane AND getting the pin and following it up with a turn in the Rumble that took people back to 2008!
Cross Recoba: BK won’t be fazed by his opponents. He has seen it all in his time in the ring. He even brought up Captain Howdy who put the fear of God into people watching wrestling in the mid-to-late noughties! He can match Poena for sheer brawling and he has a score to settle with NOMAD. If their team can work with less dysfunction than their opponents, they’re already halfway there in my mind!
Steve Morrison:: What’s for certain is that tonight is going to change a lot of fortunes for our roster! Let’s go down to ringside as Laura looks to introduce our first match of the evening!
Laura Messier: WELCOME!!! To Tap Out Wrestling 4!!! OPENING our night is a singles match between Isabella Von Krauss and Tommy Strychnine!!!
“Circus Apocalypse” by Vermillion Lies begins playing as Isabella von Krauss walks out from the back. She’s dressed in what appears to be a vibrant black and red ball gown as she heads down to the ring looking like she’s ready for the Prince’s Ball more than she is wrestling a match. She is followed by two clowns, Hohoho and Humhumhum, who are short and scrawny little guys.
Steve Morrison: Perhaps the most interesting member of the roster.
Cross Recoba: With Poena amongst our wrestlers, it’s a big shout but what she does bring is an unrelenting and unforgiving drive to win.
They hold down the ropes for her to be able to step into the ring and follow her in.
Steve Morrison: That is true, if you’ve ever seen her in a match then you know that the rules seem to be an option for her as opposed to concrete. Here in her debut tonight you’ve got to wonder if she’s going to try and make a point to the rest of the roster!
Cross Recoba: It’s a valid point. Perhaps what sets her apart from Poena is she doesn’t serve a higher power, just a God-given right she thinks befalls her because of her name.
Isabella dances in the middle of the ring, doing a twirl as Hohoho lights the end of her dress on fire. You would think that Isabella would panic, but she spins in place, faster and faster as the flames catch and flash through the entire dress to leave black and red singlet. The twins leave the ring, but remain at ringside as Isabella gets ready for her match.
Steve Morrison: Looking at her, can you get a read on her thoughts?
Cross Recoba: Why try to understand it? Her game-face tells me she is ready for this match!
Laura Messier: And her opponent!!
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: He might count himself a little unlucky last time out. Danni Anderson put him away but, as I always say, Strych isn’t just a brawler…he can take it to the mat or take to the skies!
Cross Recoba: Above all, he can get a crowd behind him with just one move. Isabella can’t say that.
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: The fans haven’t let the loss affect their reaction!
Cross Recoba: You CANNOT count the man out of any match. He thrives on being the underdog, plays up to it in someways.
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: Isabella looks suitably unimpressed.
Cross Recoba: Tommy might just have upstaged her before the match, now he has to do it when the bell rings!
Laura Messier: Introducing first… she hails from Cologne, Germany... standing at five foot six inches tall and weighing in at one hundred and thirty-five pounds... the Daughter of Sin... ISABELLA VON KRAUSS!!!
Isabella Von Krauss looks at her opponent with eyes marked for death.
Laura Messier: And her opponent…from Louisiana, New Orleans..Standing at five-feet and ten inches, weighing in at one-hundred-and-seventy-five pounds...He is the Rock 'em, Sock 'em Rocker....TOMMY...STRYCHNINE!!!
Catching his opponent’s gaze, Strych responds with wild eyes and his tongue on full display.
OPENING MATCH
Singles Match
Isabella Von Krauss vs Tommy Strychnine
As the bell rings, the pair square off. IVK has a tight fighting stance, squiring up to Strychnine, looking ready to bust heads. Tommy, by contrast looks real loose, almost relaxed. Almost like he isn’t taking this contest seriously in the slightest. The Stadium Metal Striker drops his guard entirely, DARING von Krauss to hit him and with a snarl on her face like you’d just pissed in her cornflakes, Isabella hits a turning uppercut Shoutei that knocks the taste out of Tommy’s mouth.
Steve Morrison: Ooooh. I don’t think Tommy will make that mistake again.
Cross Recoba: The Shoutei. Half martial arts strike with centuries of tradition and practise behind it. Half bitch slap.
The strike seems to wake Tommy up and he tees off on von Krauss, Slashing away at IVK’s ribs with a pair of solid roundhouse kicks. The Daughter of Sin has to cover up against Tommy’s quick feet and she ducks as a huge Axl Kick tries to take her head clean off her shoulders but Tommy uses the momentum to wheel round on his front leg and clatter a huge Sebastian Bachfist into the side of her head. Von Krauss drops to the mat and Tommy covers…
ONE!
TWO!
T… von Krauss kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Tommy Strychnine knowing he has to take the fight to Isabella.
Cross Recoba: If you drop into casual mode for a split second against IVK she is going to destroy you. 135lbs of pure fury.
The Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rocker grabs Isabella off the mat and hooks in a tight front chancery. Tommy breathes in and hoists von Krauss up into a vertical suplex position with ease, smiling for the hard camera as he holds The Daughter of Sin aloft before dropping her back to the mat with a Vertical Suplex. Strych kips up athletically, pauses for a second to self-congratulate before lifting IVK up in a back waistlock. Tommy falls backwards, delivering a high angle German Suplex but von Krauss flips out of it in mid air, landing oh her feet. Tommy kips up again, pauses again and IVK, spotting that Tommy didn’t see the flip out and that the referee’s sight is blocked by Tommy, HITS A FLAIR-LIKE UPPERCUT LOW BLOW. Tommy drops to the mat and von Krauss covers…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Styrch kicks out.
With Strychnine down on the mat, von Krauss floats round into a top mount. She holds her fingers together, showing the crowd exactly what she’s doing before driving them downwards into Tommy’s throat. The Killer from Koln then spreads the hand back out into a direct choke on Strychnine, letting the referee get to a good four and a half of his five count before breaking the throttle. Von Krauss smiles as she simply changes hand and chokes Tommy out with the left for another four count. Again, Isabella switches hands and chokes for ANOTHER four count before rolling away and standing.
Steve Morrison: Isabella von Krauss skirting around the possibility of getting disqualified.
Cross Recoba: It’s been said before, if you need to bend rules to win you have to know how to do it and abusing the five count is a simple method.
Von Krauss has the bit between her teeth and the Psychopathic Style Icon reaches down to haul Tommy up and wildly sling him across the ring. Tommy rebounds off the far ropes as IVK carefully positions herself to drop toe hold Tommy throat first across the top rope. The Glam Metal God bounces off clutching at his throat and spluttering only to get grasped by von Krauss as she gets to her feet. Isabella traps Tommy with some solid overhooks and HEADBUTTS THE CRAP OUTTA HIM.
Cross Recoba: I’ve always said you had to use your head in pro wrestling.
Steve Morrison: Did you mean it that literally?
Cross Recoba: You do what it takes.
Stunned, Tommy walks carelessly in a tight circle as von Krauss backs up to get a short run up before launching herself through the air, wrapping her legs around Tommy Strychnine’s head and hitting a modified huracanrana, sending Tommy flying to the ropes, draped over the second one. The Daughter of Sin picks up the pace and rushes to Strych’s right, grabbing the top rope and flinging her body round to connect flush with both feet into Tommy’s face!
Steve Morrison: THE SLIP! THE SLIP! DIAL ZERO ELEVEN, FORTY-NINE, TWO TWO ONE!
IVK rushes to the ring to cover Tommy…
ONE!
TWO!
THR.. Strychnine kicks out!
There is a curious look on von Krauss’ face. Part disgust that she didn’t win, part enjoyment that she gets to inflict more pain on the usually swaggering but currently staggering Strychnine. Isabella slowly licks the knife edge of her hand in a way which would be sexual if it wasn’t so obviously plum crazy. She lines up to catch Tommy and spins into a huge chop to the back of Strych’s neck…
Steve Morrison: KRACK OF THE KHARNIVAL!
BUT STRYCHNINE DUCKS! NOT ONLY DOES ISABELLA VON KRAUSS MISS, BUT TOMMY DUCKS RIGHT INTO HER BACK AS SHE IS TURNED ROUND AND HOISTS HER UP INTO A TORTURE RACK! TOMMY STRYCHNINE, BARELY CONCIOUSLY AUTOPILOTS A FLICK THAT SEND VON KRAUSS UP AND OVER, HER FACE CRASHING INTO STRYCHNINE’S KNEE!
Steve Morrison: HOLY DRIVER!
Tommy covers…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO! Isabella kicks out.
Cross Recoba: It’s moments like that that which can turn a match.
Strychnine, still a little dazed goes back to his corner for a second and K a refreshing slug of his whiskey bottle, maybe trying to revive himself with a little Sourmash. Isabella von Krauss slowly gets back to her feet as Tommy takes a second mouthful of booze. The Rowdy Rock ‘n’ Roller stands and looks straight at the approaching von Krauss, placing two fingers on the back of his chin…
Steve Morrison: WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT!
…BUT BEFORE TOMMY CAN SPIT THE WHISKEY INTO ISABELLA’S FACE SHE SHOVES HER HAND INTO STRYCHNINE’S MOUTH! KNOWING JUST WHERE THE PRESSURE POINTS INSIDE THE HOUTH ARE, SHE PRESSES HARD ON TOMMY’S MANDIBLE NERVE, CASUING THE WHISKEY TO FALL BACK INTO HIS GULLET AND WINDPIPE!
Cross Recoba: OK, I’ve seen a lot of counters in my life but that’s a new one on me.
The pair fall to the mat, Tommy choking and spluttering, trying to clear his lungs of Jack Daniels. Von Krauss knows just what to do with a choking opponent and switches to a rear chinlock, angling Tommy’s head upwards so gravity is helping her keep the fluid from being coughed up by Strych. Tommy’s eyes bulge as he struggles for breath… AND HE TAPS.
Steve Morrison: THE LIGHTS DARKEN FOR TOMMY STRYCHNINE AND THAT IS IT!
DING! DING! DING!!
Laura Messier: Your winner of the match…via submission…ISABELLA…VON…KRAUSS!!!
Steve Morrison: A convincing win for the debuting IVK!
Cross Recoba: She played Tommy at her own game and came out on top. For all the negative criticism her entourage gets, she just shut a whole lot of those voices up with that win tonight!
Steve Morrison: It looks like Laura is ready for our next bout.
Laura Messier: Up next, we feature a singles match between Jackalope and Jason Long!!! Coming down the aisle first!
The opening chords of Big Shot slam into the speakers, bringing the fans to their feet as Jackalope charges through the curtain.
Steve Morrison: We haven’t seen Jackalope since his tag-team loss with Adrien Cochrane against Brad Kane and Tommy Strychnine at Tap Out Wrestling 2. What can the mysterious rookie bring to the table to ensure he picks up the win tonight?
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen him wow crowds but for Jackalope to develop as a wrestler, he needs to look at where he has fallen short, what didn’t work and then learn from it.
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 faces an experienced wrestler in Jason Long who lost in our first show against Close Collins. Would you have watched the tape in his shoes?
Cross Recoba: Of course! But would I expect Long not to be looking to make amends for the loss? Of course not! Jackalope and Collins are rookies and that’s where the similarities end. He has a seriously high-impact and high-flying offence. You don’t win by being like someone else, you have to make the fight your own…control the tempo you want!
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: He seems to be in good spirits, I’d expect he thinks he can get a result here tonight.
Cross Recoba: You’d love to see it, he just needs to focus on seeing the gaps in the match where he can take control and make them count!
Laura Messier: And his opponent!
The lights become dark and the screen lights up with a feed of static, just as the opening synth beat to ‘Kingslayer’ begins to play over the speakers before the song erupts the crowd and the lights come back to life, flashing down onto the stage and even onto the crowd itself. A singular spotlight separates itself from the rest and shines down onto the entrance curtain as the lyrics kick in.
“Hi, are you looking for the other side?
Feel like nothing ever seems quite right?
Are you circling the drainpipe, getting off on pain like
You're corrupted?”
As the lyrics continue, the figure of Jason Long steps out from behind the curtain to a loud ovation, with a large smile resting on his face as he stops at the top of the ramp. The King glances down onto the camera looking up towards him, a cocky smile being given towards the camera before opening up his jacket and pushing it behind him– beginning his walk down to the ring, mouthing off to the camera as he does.
“Kingslayer, destroying castles in thе sky
Kingslayer, forevermore the apple of my eye
I'd sacrifice my life to find you, Angel of the Blade
Kingslayer, come and collect us from the night”
Steve Morrison: Jason Long hasn’t fought here since our opening show and it’s a match he’ll want to forget!
Cross Recoba: With Infinite Pro Wrestling now under his name, featuring yours truly, the worry for me is that he might have extended himself too far. Where I can’t be completely certain on that statement is that he asked for this match tonight!
With the lights all focusing down onto the ringside area, Jason moves along the floor and hops up onto the apron - on the side where the hard cam can get a good look at him - as he leans back against the ropes before entering through the middle ropes. Jason heads into the closest corner to him and climbs up onto the second rope, looking out into the crowd as the introduction is given.
Steve Morrison: To atone for the loss?
Cross Recoba: I think he knows that the two can put on a match that will get people talking. For both men this match is a must-win. Jackalope can almost book his place in the Openweight tournament with a win and if Long loses tonight, he’d be a major long-shot to make the cut after our next show!
Just as his name is shouted down the microphone, Jason outstretched his arms wide and roars out to the crowd, keeping a smile on his face as he does. removes his leather ring jacket and throws it down to the ringside area before hopping down off of the ropes and leaning back against the turnbuckles.
Steve Morrison: He seems to be as amped up as Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: You don’t get as many accolades as Jason without being able to bring it in the ring! We could be seeing a sleeper hit for Match of the Night in just a few moments!
Laura Messier: Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada...Standing at five-feet and nine-inches, he is The Chaos Bunny.... JACKALOPE!!
Jackalope steps out from his corner and raises a closed fist. The Vegas crowd welcome their adopted son.
Laura Messier: Wrestling out of Wexford Town, County Wexford, Ireland and weighing in tonight at one hundred and ninety-five pounds…HE IS THE KING OF WRESTLING... THE BEST BOUT FUCKIN' MACHINE...THIS IS JAASSOOOONNNNNNN LOOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!
Long nods towards the crowd and flashes a smile towards his opponent, letting him know that he’s going to relish the action between the bells.
SECOND MATCH
Singles Match
Jackalope vs Jason Long
DING DING DING!
The bell sounds to start the match, and the two competitors start to circle one another to hopefully find an opening to get the match’s first offense. Jackalope makes the first step forward, but the experienced Jason Long kicks his planted leg. By the time Jackalope could react, he finds Long’s boot striking him in the back of the head followed by his palm doing the same to his jaw.
Steve Morrison: Jason Long gets the early start with a couple of strikes on Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: Long is a multiple-time champion with various world titles and an X*Crown to his name. And he is known for his striking ability. He won’t be a cakewalk for Jackalope.
Long tries to weaken the arm with an armbar, but Jackalope wastes no time getting the rope break for Steve Tyrell to call. Long stomps Jackalope a few times before gets back to his feet. Once Jackalope does get to his feet, the man formerly known as Maverick goes for a spinning heel kick, but Jackalope rolls under the foot this time. By the time Long reestablishes his balance from the missed kick, Jackalope slams him to the mat with a bulldog.
Steve Morrison: Excellent counter by Jackalope!
Cross Recoba: His main skill is evasion. He is going to need to do a whole lot of that in order to pull off this upset.
Long gets back up but by the time he is on his feet, Jackalope springboards off the middle rope and moonsaults onto the former X*Crown Champion. Jackalope gets the cover.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Long kicks out angrily before using the drop toe hold to make sure Jackalope’s momentum ends there. Jason Long quickly runs against the ropes as Jackalope starts to get back up and…
Steve Morrison: K-TRIGGER!!
Cross Recoba: That’s a bicycle knee strike you don’t want to feel.
Steve Morrison: Long with the cover!
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
Steve Tyrell calls a rope break because Jason Long’s right foot was under the bottom rope. Jason Long starts to protest to no avail.
Steve Morrison: Looks like Long was just a little too close to the ropes.
Cross Recoba: Notice the quality refereeing we have here in Tap Out Wrestling. A keen eye by an experienced referee we got from AWF.
Long covers Jackalope from the opposite side, away from the ropes.
ONE!!
TWO!!
NO!!
This time, Jackalope kicks out. Jason Long looks upset as he believes he should have won the match on the pin attempt before that one, but instead of taking it out on Tyrell, he’s going to focus that anger on Jackalope. He deadlifts Jackalope off the mat and into a german suplex. He steps up for an axe kick as soon as Jackalope thought about getting up. Cover again.
ONE!!
TWO!!
TH…NO!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope again kicking out, this time out of the Back to Reality!
Cross Recoba: He’s tough but he needs to stop being the punching bag and do some punching himself. Jason Long is one of those wrestlers who can wear you out very fast if you let him.
Jackalope remains on the mat after kicking out as Jason Long looks down upon him. After shaking his head, Long climbs the top rope, which has everyone in the audience beginning to rise to their feet. Long looks disdainfully at Jackalope while calculating his flight and leaps for a 450 splash…
BUT NO ONE WAS HOME!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope rolled out of the way!! He rolled out of the way and every fan is on their feet!
Cross Recoba: He got the opening he needed. Now he has to do something with it!
Jason Long is writhing in pain after missing the high-flying move. Jackalope is still on the mat after rolling out of the way. Steve Tyrell counts to one to count out both wrestlers, but Jackalope yanks himself back up. Now he climbs the top rope and watches as Jason Long starts to get back to his feet before flying himself.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope connects with a Dragon Rana!! Jason Long just got swung around and dropped on his head.
Cross Recoba: Just what Jackalope needed.
Jackalope scrambles to Long hook the leg.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR…NO!!
Long kicks out at the last second to keep the match going. Jackalope tries to keep the offense going with a somersault leg drop across the chest of Jason Long. He places Long in the nearest corner before delivering a few strikes… but Long replies with a lariat of his own.
Steve Morrison: Wow, that nearly took Jackalope’s head off!
Cross Recoba: How the tides have turned.
Jason Long takes a few seconds to gather his bearings but Jackalope got back up a little quicker than he was expecting. Before Long could realize what was happening, Jackalope runs up behind him and slams his head to the mat with the Hold-Out Pistol.
Steve Morrison: What was that about tides turning, Cross?
Cross Recoba: No one said it couldn’t turn twice.
Cover by Jackalope!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR…NO!
Jason Long somehow finds a way to kick out!!
Steve Morrison: Jason Long keeps this match alive! How did he get out of that one?!
Cross Recoba: There’s a short list of people in the history of the Network who have held the X*Crown Championship. We are lucky to have three of them and one of them is this man, Jason Long. I didn’t hire him for the multiverse nonsense that comes with him. I signed him because he can put on matches like what we are seeing right now.
Jackalope remains on his knees for a moment, trying to process that the Hold-Out Pistol only got a two count. Jackalope returns to the springboard well as he hops off the middle rope for a dropkick on Long… but Long moves out of the way in time. Long is now the one springboarding as he hits a moonsault double stomp into the chest of Jackalope. Cover by Long.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR…NO!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope is still fighting!!
Cross Recoba: He’s a tough little competitor. I’m banking on that potential he is showing us right now. Look at him stand toe-to-toe with a superstar like Jason Long.
Jason Long shakes his head before yanking Jackalope back up to his feet. The former X*Crown Champion aims high with a roundhouse kick… but Jackalope bends over backwards to avoid it and moves behind Long. As soon as Long turns around, he is tackled with a spear.
Steve Morrison: Dead Man’s Switch! Jackalope might have it here.
Cross Recoba: This could be an upset that you could only see here at Tap Out Wrestling!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THRE…NO!!
Still no dice as Jason Long kicks out one more time. Jackalope slams both fists in the ground as he was sure he had Long that time. He racks his brain for something else he could try to pin the Catalyst. Finally, he climbs back on the top rope once more, this time facing away from the ring. He turns his head to see what position Long is in before flipping for his moonsault DDT, but Jason Long counters with a pele kick.
Steve Morrison: What a counter by Jason Long!
Cross Recoba: Long had to do something, but that experience of his came in handy as he had the perfect counter for that move. And now he is in position to finish this match.
Right as Cross Recoba finishes his sentence, a bent over Jackalope was stalked by Jason Long before driving him right into the mat with the Vanity Killer.
Steve Morrison: Vanity Killer!!
Cross Recoba: That devastating curb stomp. This should be the end. Cover by Steve Tyrell.
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
DING DING DING!!
Laura Messier: Here is your winner by pinfall… JASON LONG!!
Jason Long revels as “Kingslayer” echoes throughout the venue.
Steve Morrison: This win is a statement for Jason Long as we start to figure out who the favorites are to win the Openweight Championship.
Cross Recoba: He sent a message but there’s a lot of talent on this roster…Jason Long is definitely one of them.
Steve Morrison: Long reminding everyone just what he can do in the ring!
Cross Recoba: It was a good win and Jackalope shouldn’t lose hope tonight. I’m going to make a point to offer to sit-in on the review of the match with him and help him learn from it!
Steve Morrison: It also gets Jason on the board and with one show to go, he could force himself into the higher seeds with the right luck!
Cross Recoba: Both of them put on a show tonight, if they manage to pick up any bonus points - they earned it. Then it’s all on the pair of them to make sure they put themselves into a winning position at our next show!
Steve Morrison: I imagine the meeting to put the show together won’t be a straight-forward one with so many options for the roster to meet! Up next, we have our first Guest appearance as MYOJIN takes on The Ritalin Kid, Danni Anderson! We’re taking you to ringside with Laura Messier!
Laura Messier: Our next contest is the final one of our first-half! It’s scheduled for one-fall…coming down the aisle first!
The lights dim until they’re off and the 'Tron comes to life with a custom Fatal Fury gaming sprite of Danni Anderson in her pink Terry Bogard-styled ring attire. In unison, Terry Bogard’s sound clip--
“Are you OK?! BUSTER WOLF!”
--from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate rings true with the Danni sprite performing the Buster Wolf Desperation Move! This kick-starts “Speed Me Up" and it resonates from the PA system. Pink lights begin to flash to the beat of the music as the TOW Tron switches to a video collection of Danni’s best moments in professional wrestling.
“D-D-Daytrip took it to ten!
(HEY!)"
Right on cue with the "HEY!", a spotlight shines on the entrance to reveal Danielle Debaillion and Leina Rael-Debaillion posing back-to-back. Pink pyro shoots off from the stage at the same time to enhance their arrival!
Steve Morrison: An impressive debut win from Anderson. What made you pick her to face off against MYOJIN?
Cross Recoba: Firstly, I think she’s capable of the win tonight. Secondly, if you look at how these two fight - this has all the makings of a fast-paced, non-stop match full of action!
"Left my heart and my soul, you see that I ran.
Rings of gold and awards sit on my nightstand.
I've got something they want, but it's mine to give...
(Yeah!)"
Rising up, the fans CHEER aloud for the Pink Sugarplum Fairy and her awesomely adorable daughter. They even move to the music! Danni and Leina are dancing their way down the ramp and tagging the fans along the way.
Steve Morrison: Now, if she wins tonight she gets the standard two points, right? No bonus?
Cross Recoba: For taking on the match? She should get everyone’s respect. It’s a tough match but if she comes out on top, would you want to face her? A win here and we start talking about her as a dark horse for the tournament!
“Free my struggles, detach me from this island.
(Free!)
Bleed my knuckles, attack me for my finance.
I'm dealing with this pain, I just can't let you come throw it away!
(Ayy, ayy, ayy, ayy!)"
The Debaillion Ladies suddenly crouch down right next to each other at the end of the ramp. The retro sound effect of Sonic and Tails charging up kicks in before they run around the ring out of hyperactive energy. The fans are just enjoying every second of this!
"So I run!
(Yeah, yeah!)
Keep me up!
Creep on me, they speak on me!
They slow down when they bring me up like!
(Huh!)"
The Sweetheart Esper and the Cutest Little Badass have a sweet case of the zoomies until Danni jumps onto the ring apron. While Danni uses the top rope to springboard herself into the ring, Leina climbs up onto the commentary table and points up. Her mother sticks the landing with a cool pose in the ring and shouts!
Danni Anderson: "OOH RAH!"
Leina Rael & The Crowd: "OOH RAH!"
Danni bounces to the music and she's ready for the match to begin.
Steve Morrison: I ran into Leina before the show and she assured me that the camp has been varied, it’s been intense and it has been successful!
Cross Recoba: She’ll need it all to come together tonight as she faces one of the few people to hold not just the XHF Junior Heavyweight title but also the X*Crown! The fans believe in her, I believe in her - time to see if she believes she can do it!
Laura Messier: And her opponent!!
Are you ready?
The lights dim down while the catchy, fast paced rock of RAINBOWS by A9 echoes as a spotlight suddenly appears on a figure on the ramp, with his back turned and begins kneeling. Once the beat finally kicks in, MYOJIN explodes with energy- wearing a masquerade-style mask over his eyes, and turns around with a confident smile on his face, raising his arms to soak in the positive reaction from everyone around.
Steve Morrison: Since the demise of FIRESIDE, MYOJIN has been linked with a move to almost every company on the Network!
Cross Recoba: With good reason, the man is a multi-generational MMA star, he’s a license to print merchandising money but most importantly - he delivers every night inside that ring!
With his blonde locks hanging over his face. He then whips his head back, flipping his hair out of his face before excitedly running down the ring before performing a cartwheel and a jump, landing on his feet near ringside!
Steve Morrison: He’s certainly out to entertain the crowd tonight!
Cross Recoba: Danni can fly, she can strike, and she can bring that lucharesu skill to the ring. MYOJIN is equally as versatile!
He climbs up to the apron, grabs a hold of the top rope, and slingshots himself into the ring. MYOJIN performs a somersault roll, landing on his side with a hand on his hip. The other, taking off his mask to reveal his piercing blue eye contacts. He tosses it aside nonchalantly before climbing up the top turnbuckle, tilting his head upward as if he’s looking toward the sky- while the lights mimic stars above. He backflips off, back onto his feet while taking off his flamboyant coat and moving to his corner. The lights go back to normal as he checks his wrist tape. His charismatic smile fading to a more focused expression as he paces back and forth, ready for action.
Steve Morrison: Want to predict his battle plan?
Cross Recoba: Disarm, disable, defeat…simple as that.
Laura Messier: INTRODUCING FIRST! Hailing from Santa Monica, California. She made weight at a hundred-and-thirteen pounds and stands at five-feet and two inches! She is The Fairy Queen...The RITA-LIN KID....DANNI....ANDERSON!!!!!!
The crowd cheers loudly as she smiles to the camera.
Laura Messier: AND HER OPPONENT!! Fighting out of San Diego, California…he weighed in at one-hundred-and-sixty-five pounds…The SHINING…STAR!!! MYOJIN!!!
The multi-time champion flashes that charismatic smile once more as the capacity crowd cheer.
MIDCARD MATCH
Singles Match
Danni Anderson vs MYŌJIN
Danni sits on the middle-rope to let Leina Rael out of the ring as she joins the commentary booth.
Cross Recoba: Oh great, my favorite ‘co-worker’ is here.
Steve Morrison: Come on, Cross, she’s supporting her mother.
Cross Recoba: When I was her age, I supported my mother by running errands for the block for cash. This is just the Anderson family not wanting to use up their comp tickets!
Leina Rael: Evening, guys, what did I miss?
The match official, Steve Tyrell, delivers some final instructions to MYŌJIN. The much-decorated wrestler nods, his gaze on his opponent at all times as he acknowledges Tyrell’s instructions.
Steve Morrison: He knows that this match doesn’t just put him under the spotlight for a Tap Out contract, it puts him in the shop window for every fed on the Network!
Cross Recoba: We knew this would be the case when we made the deal. Last month was unfortunate that we couldn’t get him out of his FIRESIDE contract but this month. This month is a great opportunity for him to showcase his skills and show the Network why he is the hottest talent on the market today!
Leina Rael: Or he’ll lose to Mom…
Cross Recoba: *Audible sigh*
Walking over to Anderson and it’s a slightly different tale. She bounces from one foot to another, keeping her energy going ahead of her biggest challenge on the Network to date. As Steve tells her his expectations from each competitor, she smiles and even cracks a joke to lighten the mood.
Steve Morrison: She beat Strych last time out and now she faces a test tonight but, looking at her body language, she’s come prepared.
Leina Rael: We’ve seen the tapes, I’ll speak for Mom when I say her training camp couldn’t have gone ANY better!
With his pre-match work done, Tyrell calls for the bell.
Cross Recoba: Let’s find out if you’re right, Grogu!
*DING*
Anderson is quick out of the gate and catches MYŌJIN in his corner. She locks up with him but is quick to transition from the collar-and-elbow to a headlock. Firing off quick rabbit punches to the face of The Shining Star to try and rattle him.
Steve Morrison: A bright start for The Ritalin Kid…
Taking the match to the mat with a headlock takedown her joy is short-lived as MYŌJIN sweeps his body around into a headscissors. The Shining Star tries to lock it in, his mixed-martial art instincts sparking to life but The Ritalin Kid quickly pivots her body as she battles to her knees.
Cross Recoba: That’s a great adjustment she made there, MYŌJIN can end matches in a heartbeat!
Leina Rael: If you look at the make-up of your roster, Cross, a lot of them are hybrids of strikers and submissions.
Cross Recoba: Thanks for that summary. Anything else?
Steve Morrison: Danni looks to be out of the woods…
Wrestling her head free, she flips forward into a pin…
O-
Cross Recoba: Cute idea but…
MYŌJIN rolls her forward…
O-
Steve Anderson: The Shining Star counters…
Anderson adjusts the balance…
O-
Leina Rael: She’s showing him she’s not a pushover.
Showing tremendous strength, MYŌJIN bridges his body up and twists round into a backslide..
ONE…
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: Excellent technical display from both competitors.
Steve Morrison: Anderson is on the move…
Leaving no time for Shouta to recover, The Sweetheart Esper rolls backwards and immediately explodes with a guided front-dropkick that catches the face of her opponent as he rises, sending him backwards.
Leina Rael: That was as crisp as a Cochrane dropkick!
Steve Morrison: It definitely connected!
No sooner has MYŌJIN got to his feet than he sees Danni leap onto the top-rope and leap towards him….SPRINGBOARD ARM-DRAG!
Cross Recoba: She’s keeping the pace and pressure on.
Leina Rael: You know it, I know it, and the crowd knows it!
The crowd start to get behind The Ritalin Kid.
Crowd: LET’S GO DANNI! LET’S GO DANNI! LET’S GO DANNI! LET’S GO DANNI!
Feeding off the crowd’s energy, she hits the ropes…A RANA SENDS MYŌJIN INTO THE CORNER!!
Steve Morrison: The whip on that move!
Spotting where The Shining Star landed, a smile is shown on Anderson’s face.
Leina Rael: The gameplan is paying off!
She rushes towards him…
HANDSPRING BACK ELBOW!!
Cross Recoba: MYŌJIN’s own Comet Dust Buster! Will he appreciate the move or will it spur him on even more?
Staggering out from the corner, MYŌJIN looks slightly unsure of his footing.
Steve Morrison: Right now he needs his ring awareness to kick in.
Seeking to take advantage of her momentum, Danni rushes from behind and leaps…
Leina Rael: Here..we…go!
SHOULDER-SPIN RANA….NO!!!
Steve Morrison: He caught her!
MYŌJIN PUSHES HER INTO THE AIR…SINGLE-ARM DDT!!
Cross Recoba: Once more to the arm! MYŌJIN has won so many titles on the Network and he has done so because there isn’t a part of the body he can’t target and systematically take apart!
Steve Morrison: He has to be in the conversation for having the best ring awareness on the Network!
The chants for The Ritalin Kid hush with the impact.
Cross Recoba: Where’re your mom’s fans now?
Leina Rael: Just wait, the match isn’t a sprint…
Holding onto the arm, Shouta pushes for the armbar but Danni isn’t making it easy for him.
Steve Morrison: The Ritalin Kid is fighting to stop MYŌJIN from exploiting that arm.
Swiftly changing tact, MYŌJIN settles for stretching the arm out flat. In a fluid motion he leaps up and drives a knee into the elbow joint of his opponent.
Cross Recoba: That was measured with pinpoint accuracy! Not only has he got a range of ways to make you tap from arm-based submissions but the Pink Sugar Attack that we saw last time out isn’t going to be as effective if he carries on with the focus on the arm!
The cameras stay with Anderson as her facial expression tells you everything you need to know about the pain the knee has put her in.
Leina Rael: COME ON, MOM!
Leaving no time for Danni to lick her wounds, The Shining Star pulls her to her feet by her arm and twists it into a standing armbar.
Steve Morrison: Working that arm once again!
Cross Recoba: He’s a third-generation MMA fighter, that was his game before he started to wrestle, this approach will have been drilled into him since he was in diapers!
Demonstrating his ability to switch between styles, MYŌJIN unleashes an unforgiving kick right into the shoulder socket of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: Those educated feet are leaving a mark!
And again with the swift martial arts kick to the shoulder.
Cross Recoba: I’ve been in a position where an opponent targeted my arm and you quickly learn about muscles that you didn’t even know you had!
ONCE MORE!…Just for luck.
Leina Rael: She still has her feet and speed…
Holding onto the arm, he whips her to the ropes…
Steve Morrison: What’s he looking for here?
The Ritalin Kid fires back with a Shotgun dropkick!!
Steve Morrison: AN EXPLOSIVE DROPKICK TO BRING THE MATCH BACK TOWARDS HER!!
Rolling forward, she thrusts her hand forward and connects with a Shotei palm strike and follows up with a European Uppercut!
Steve Morrison: Those quick strikes from across the world seem to be buying her some ring real estate…
Leina Rael: The Vesper Fairy isn’t just a high-flyer, you know!
A kick to the head that resounds around the Ballroom of The Sands keeps MYŌJIN dazed.
Cross Recoba: MYŌJIN finds himself against the ropes with not a lot of options on where to go…
She rolls backwards before charging forward….A LEG LARIAT SENDS MYŌJIN TO THE FLOOR…THE SEMPER FAIRY HANGS ONTO THE TOP ROPE BY A SINGLE ARM!!!
CROWD: THAT WAS AWESOME! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Steve Morrison: TO THE FLOOR HE GOES!
The camera shows MYŌJIN looking in agony. A replay shows that he landed on his upper-back from the fall.
Cross Recoba: Not a clean fall either, if Danni can look to exploit that.
Leina Rael: You saw against Strych, she has the moves for it.
Danni, having skinned the cat, dashes to the far ropes…
Steve Morrison: Not looking to take a break, what will she do now?
MYŌJIN STANDS ONLY TO SEE ANDERSON LEAP TO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AND FALL ONTO HIM!
Leina Rael: TORPEDO PLANCHA!!
Steve Tyrell starts the count.
ONE…
Danni having landed on MYŌJIN rolls to her knees.
Steve Morrison: With a cushioned fall, Danni might be in the driving seat right now.
TWO…
MYŌJIN is moving but at a much slower rate.
Cross Recoba: The Shining Star got hit with two huge moves in succession.
THREE…
Using his hair to help her, Anderson picks up her opponent and rolls him into the ring. She leaps up to the apron.
Leina Rael: This one’s for the highlight reel…
Getting to his feet, MYŌJIN looks up and sees The Ritalin Kid now atop the top-rope…DOUBLE-JUMP SPRINGBOARD HURRANCANRANA!!!
Leina Rael: FLOWER HURRICANE!!
She looks for the cover…
ONE…
T-KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: MYŌJIN isn’t done yet…
Both competitors rush to their feet.
Cross Recoba: This could be the pivot point of the match…
A wild clothesline from Anderson is MATRIX DODGED BY MYŌJIN! Anderson carries on but MYŌJIN DASHES TO THE OPPOSITE ROPES…RIDER KICK TO THE SHOULDER OF THE RITALIN KID TAKES HER DOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: Fans, notice how he changed up that Rider Kick to aim directly on her shoulder which, by now, surely must be damaged!
Leina Rael: Mom thrives on a challenge…
Cross Recoba: So did Sisyphus..
Leina Rael: What?
Cross Recoba: Watch the match, you might miss something.
Before Danni can take stock of her situation, The Shining Star has her arm and delivers a series of unforgiving punt kicks to the shoulder.
Steve Morrison: He isn’t kicking her shoulder, he’s kicking THROUGH her shoulder!!
Once more lifting his opponent by her arm, he twists it into another standing armbar before swinging a leg over and dropping her to the mat!!
Cross Recoba: He isn’t finished…
This time he seamlessly transitions to bending her arm back over his leg.
Steve Morrison: He’s working that arm, knowing that a win here will not only increase demand but drive up his asking price!
Looking to hyperextend the arm, MYŌJIN rocks back.
Cross Recoba: He’s looking to increase the torque he can get. When he moves back, the shoulder comes with but the body does not.
He does so again…
Leina Rael: Come on…
A third time BUT THE RITALIN KID ROLLS THROUGH WITH IT TO END UP IN A PIN!!
Leina Rael: YEAH!
Steve Morrison: Can she catch out The Shining Star?
ONE…
TW-KICKOUT!!!
Cross Recoba: A nice idea but Shouta is no-one’s fool.
Both competitors scramble to their feet. Anderson, keen to regain some control on the match, throws a roundhouse kick..MYŌJIN CATCHES HER FOOT…
Steve Morrison: She has to be wary of that Dragon Screw leg whip…
ENZIGURI FROM THE RITALIN KID!!
Leina Rael: He needs to watch her standing foot!
Danni rears back two paces…SPINNING KNEE STRIKE TO THE HEAD DROPS THE KNEELING SHINING STAR TO THE MAT!!
Steve Morrison: Big-Bada-BOOM!
The crowd now firmly behind her once more. She dashes to the ropes and leaps to the top …
Cross Recoba: High risk gambit…
MYŌJIN begins to get up…ASAI DDT DROPS HIM TO THE FLOOR!!!
Leina Rael: SPARKLY DDT!!
The Ritalin Kid covers and hooks a leg!!
ONE…
TWO…
THR…
MYŌJIN kicks out!!!
Steve Morrison: The Shining Star isn’t done yet!
Cross Recoba: You can only assume that the work he put into working her arm has paid off. She hooked the leg but didn’t have the strength to prevent the kick-out!
Anderson wastes no time protesting to the official and leaps to the apron…
Leina Rael: She’s moved past that!
As MYŌJIN gets to his feet we see him become alerted to the rise in the crowd’s cheers…
SPRINGBOARD SPINNING HEADSCISSORS TAKEDOWN!!!
Steve Morrison: We saw last time out that The Ritalin Kid will go for the unexpected and when she does, you’ve little chance of stopping her!
Danni debates the pin but decides against it. She lifts up the Guest Wrestler and whips him to the corner.
Cross Recoba: Look at that speed!
Leina Rael: She practices 10m springs daily!
RUNNING CANNONBALL SENTON CONNECTS!!!
Steve Morrison: Just minutes ago, Danni looked on the outs in this match but could she pull off an upset that would, without doubt, make her name on the Network?
Keeping the pace going, she drags The Shining Star out of the corner…
Cross Recoba: This could be it….
TRIPLE-JUMP MOONSAULT!!!
Steve Morrison: She hooks the leg once more!
Another cover…
ONE…
TWO…
MYŌJIN GETS HIS FREE LEG ON THE ROPE!!
Cross Recoba: Anyone wanting to enter the ring as a career, let what you just saw be the example for why I’d say ring awareness is worth far more than any other skill in the ring!
Steve Anderson: The crowd seem deflated!
The drop from fervent to silent in the crowd is pronounced.
With both competitors on their feet, Anderson charges in…MYŌJIN CUTS HER OFF WITH A THRUST KICK!!!
Steve Morrison: Right under the chin, that could knock you out in one!
Leina Rael: She’s on her feet still!
Staggering into the ropes, Danni is unsighted as The Shining Star soars…SPRINGBOARD CORKSCREW POISON RANA!!!
Cross Recoba: Planted square on her head!
He hooks his legs around her in a headscissor as he wrenches the arm…
Leina Rael: Roll out of it…
HE CINCHES IN THE HEADSCISSORS KIMURA LOCK!!
Steve Morrison: AQUILA!
Cross Recoba: His bottom leg is pushing her free arm away!
ANDERSON LOOKS FOR A WAY OUT…
Leina Rael: YOU CAN DO IT!
Cross Recoba: From here you might spot the escape but in her position? It’s not so easy to see!
Steve Morrison: It looks like The Vesper Fairy thinks she knows the exit…
SHE ATTEMPTS TO TRY AND ROLL BUT MYŌJIN ADJUSTS AND SHE ONLY MAKES IT WORSE!!
Cross Recoba: He cut her off and turned it to his advantage. Her arm is now at a worst angle than before and it’s allowed him to exert even more pressure!!
SHE TAPS!!!
Leina Rael: NO!!
TYRELL CALLS FOR THE BELL!!!
Steve Morrison: MYŌJIN gets the win but Leina, I can’t think of many people on the roster who’d be able to do much better when found in that hold.
Cross Recoba: He had a gameplan, he stuck to it and it came together exactly how his camp will have intended.
*DING*
Laura Messier: Your winner of the match via submission, THE SHINING STAR….MYŌJIN!!!
Steve Tyrell raises the arm of MYŌJIN as Leina Rael leaves commentary to check on her mother.
Steve Morrison: Danni might think herself unlucky. She finds herself in a position going into the last show before the tournament where anything less than a win leaves her at the mercy of the other matches!
Cross Recoba: She’s hardly going to be alone in that respect, what she did do tonight though was show that she can change up a gameplan when Plan A isn’t as effective as she hoped!
Steve Morrison: That’s for certain. Folks, we’re cutting to our half-time show but join us after for Jack Diamond vs Adrien Cochrane, followed by our main-event where Poena and NOMAD join forces, for however long that lasts, to take on Brad Kane and Erin Gordon!
HALF-TIME SHOW
Laura Messier: WELCOME BACK!! IT’S TIME FOR OUR CO-MAIN EVENT…OF THE EVENING!!! Coming to the ring first…
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: Cochrane comes into this match after a extremely memorable stint in the XHF Rumble!
Cross Recoba: Do I like the guy? No way, but even I’d struggle to say he had a bad showing in front of the global audience!
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: With both men sharing the superkick and cutter, could we see Adrien shying away from using them?
Cross Recoba: You might have your gameplan set-up to avoid it, the rationale being that your opponent will know his way out but if you spot a chance to put them down? You take it! Look at what happened when Adrien faced Long in SCCW, one Adrien Cutter was all it took to put him away. THAT is a finisher!
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: The crowd are pulling for him!
Cross Recoba: I think they sense that they’re about to witness a potential Tap Out Match of the Year candidate!
Laura Messier: Facing off against him…
The house lights go out as the crowd begins to buzz.
Top, to the top, ain't never gonna stop
To the top, to the top, ain't never gonna stop
Pyro explodes as the chorus of "Legendary" by Skillet begins to play and the crowd erupts into cheers and chants begin to break out of "Icons" and "Diamond Club".
Jack Diamond emerges on the stage with a huge grin on his face, nodding his head to the beat of the music.
Steve Morrison: This might just be the most anticipated debut on the Network since we saw his opponent at Tap Out Wrestling 2!
Cross Recoba: I’m not going to lie, putting Zoran on notice was my second priority at the Rumble. My first was bringing The Ace of Spades to The Sands!
He adjusts his leather jacket and soaks in the moment. He mouths the word "Legendary" and begins to make his way to the ring acknowledging the fans as only Jack Diamond can do. As he gets to the ring, he climbs the stairs and walks the apron over to the far turnbuckle. He ascends the outside of the corner and plays to the crowd as more pyro goes off.
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, legendary
Steve Morrison: Do you think Jason Long might have played a part in signing him?
Cross Recoba: It won’t have hurt! I told him that Tap Out has the highest quality roster on the Network and tonight he faces off against one of our best!
Jack jumps down into the ring and heads to the center before throwing up the Diamond sign to loud cheers. He removes his leather jacket, handing it to the timekeeper before heading to his corner and stretching and preparing for the match.
Steve Morrison: He looks ready to make some waves!
Cross Recoba: This match can go either way and neither fighter is going to put it on the plate for the other!!
Laura Messier: Introducing first!!! From New Orleans, Louisiana, weighing in at one hundred ninety pounds, he is "THE DROPKICK KING" ...ADRIEN… COCHRANE!!
Adrien mouths #Believe into the camera and smiles!
Laura Messier: And his opponent! From Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Cherokee, North Carolina. He is an AWF Hall of Famer…JACK…FUCKING…DIAMOND!
A wink to the camera is all Diamond gives away as Laura leaves the ring.
CO-MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Adrien Cochrane vs Jack Diamond
Steve Tyrell finishes off giving his pre-match instructions as this match gets underway. The crowd, already hyped for the Co-Main, erupt in cheers as the bell rings and the two men start to emerge from their respective corners.
Steve Morrison: Some would say, Cross, that this has all the makings of a main event for any company on the Network!
Cross Recoba: I don’t hand out debuts in the main-event, Steve. Reputation gets you to the dance but it doesn’t get you center stage!
Steve Morrison: What that means for the crowd in attendance tonight and the fans watching courtesy of the XHF Network is that this could be the best money they’ve spent to watch wrestling in a while. After this you have Brad Kane and Erin Gordon versus Poena and NOMAD!
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen some great matches so far and you’d be surprised if this was the one to let the run down.
Steve Morrison: The crowd are baying for this match but it seems they’re split in their loyalties!
CROWD 1: LETS GO COCHRANE *CLAP, CLAP, CLAPCLAPCLAP* LETS GO COCHRANE *CLAP, CLAP, CLAPCLAPCLAP*
CROWD 2: FUCK HIM UP, DIAMOND, FUCK HIM UP!! FUCK HIM UP, DIAMOND, FUCK HIM UP!!
Diamond seems amped up for his a return to a ‘local’ company on the Network, he raises an arm to the crowd who cheer, his eyes never leaving Adrien at any point.
Steve Morrison: You’ve been inside the ring with Diamond, does he look like he has approached this match any less sure of himself for his absence?
Cross Recoba: Absolutely not. Jack, Jason, Bobby - they know the advantage of appearing to be at the top of their game. If you can start to have your opponent wonder if they’re keyed up as much as you are, you’ve got a headstart!
Equally wary, Cochrane takes his eye off of Jack for a second to acknowledge the split portion of the crowd on his side. He circles as he heads for the center of the ring.
Steve Morrison: Adrien’s got to be equally as motivated as his opponent tonight. He was unlucky in the tag-team match and put in a great Rumble showing. Can he place himself right in contention for a plum spot in the Tap Out Openweight Tournament with a win?
Cross Recoba: Like him or loathe him, you cannot take away the tenacity he shows when he competes! Just listen to the crowd get behind him, he’s inspiring.
Steve Morrison: Did his fanbase factor into his signing?
Cross Recoba: It didn’t put me off it…
Steve Morrison: And we are go!
THE TWO MEN LOCK UP!
Steve Morrison: Neither man really has a physical advantage over the other…
Cross Recoba: Meaning that it’ll become a question of technique.
Steve Morrison: An area neither man are short in.
It’s a stalemate as both men look to gain leverage over the other, their near identical body shape and size cancelling out any strength advantage they could gain.
Steve Morrison: Both men wrestle a similar style and neither one seems to have a power advantage, how do you negate that?
Cross Recoba: Timing and decision-making, Steve, that’s going to be the only deciding factor for the entire match!
Diamond commits first and dives under with a hammerlock, it’s immediately reversed but only for a moment, Jack regains the hold but Cochrane looks to charge the ropes to toss him between the ropes to the outside until The Icon grabs the ropes and looks to Tyrell to enforce the break.
Steve Morrison: Tyrell asserting his authority on the match early on.
Cross Recoba: He was Junior Match Official at AWF, he’s done enough now to be trusted with a big match.
Cochrane returns to the center of the ring, the cameras catching a smile from Jack, clearly appreciating that his Tap Out debut isn’t one to pad the record books.
Steve Morrison: Is that a sign of mutual appreciation?
Cross Recoba: It’s a sign that Jack knows there isn’t going to be an easy match for him at any Tap Out event.
They lock-up once more but this time Cochrane wastes no time grabbing a headlock but before it’s cinched in, Diamond escapes out the back and wraps his arms around the waist of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: Can The Icon make use of the advantage?
The Dropkick King reminds The Icon he isn’t a slouch in technical ability as he slips out of the hold to a wristlock but The Ace of Spades rolls through before kicking Adrien in the midsection and using his leg to backflip into a hip-toss position. Jack makes a headlock takedown but misses the elbow. Diamond finds himself on all-fours as he finds nothing but mat and leaves himself open. Running Cradle!!
O…
Cross Recoba: That was a smooth pin attempt.
Steve Morrison: This match is getting off to a frantic start…
Diamond kicks out and grabs a headlock in an attempt to slow down the match; Cochrane once more rolls him over for the pin..
O…
Steve Morrison: Is this an attempt to wear down the debuting Icon?
Cross Recoba: It’s a warning to tell your opponent ‘I can pin you from anywhere’.
DIamond kicks out and as both men start to stand The Icon sneaks a small package…
O…
Steve Morrison: And there’s Jack’s answer that he can too!
Knowing the trick, Adrien pivots his weight to gain a pinning package himself…
O…
Cross Recoba: Both men are showing the other that this is yet another area where there might be a cigarette paper between them.
Again, Diamond kicks out and rolls away from his opponent. He charges at The Original Guardian, who evades him with a standing leapfrog. Coming back again and this time it’s The Icon who leapfrogs in stride as Cochrane looks for a back-body drop. Coming back a third time and a baseball slide sends Diamond between the legs of his opponent. He takes a step back…ICON KICK!!! NO! COCHRANE DUCKS…STANDING DROPKICK FROM THE KING SENDS HIM TO THE MAT!!!
Steve Morrison: And THAT is how Cochrane got the title of the Dropkick King!
Cross Recoba: Well scouted from the Guardian and it seems the crowd liked the execution too!
Crowd: DROPKICK KING! DROPKICK KING! DROPKICK KING! DROPKICK KING! DROPKICK KING!
Spotting The Icon against the ropes, Adrien looks to send him over the top to the floor with a clothesline…JACK DUCKS AND SENDS HIM OVER BUT ONLY AS FAR AS THE APRON!
Steve Morrison: Has Diamond cottoned on?
As he turns, Diamond finds Cochrane spearing his midsection before going for a Sunset Flip…Diamond rolls through and grabs his legs. Spinning around the left one…
Steve Morrison: Is this an early attempt for Aces Wild Leglock?
…Adrien pushes him away and rolls through for a rising dropkick but The Icon steps back! Leaning back into the ropes…Spinning heel kick drops The Cajun Sensation to the mat.
Cross Recoba: I find myself unsurprised that Diamond stepped out of that one. A mixture of good scouting and opportunism swings the pendulum to the debutant!
Steve Morrison: An AWF Hall of Famer is hardly a debutant…
Cross Recoba: I just wanted Diamond to hear it on the replay…
Deciding against going for a pin, Diamond stomps the midsection of his opponent as a prelude to picking up the leg of Adrien. He drives a knee behind the knee-joint of his opponent and keeps hold of the leg as he does so.
Steve Morrison: He’s focusing on the leg of his opponent.
Cross Recoba: For two good reasons, that Figure Four Leglock can finish matches and if it takes away or diminishes a large portion of his opponent’s offense? You’d be mad not to!
He twists around the leg once more but this time he drops a leg on it.
Steve Morrison: Crisp legdrop from Jack!
Cross Recoba: He thought about stretching Adrien’s leg from there but he’s keeping the match moving…
Using the hair of his opponent to lift him up, Diamond backs his rival into the corner and
connects with a forearm to the head of his opponent. He takes a step back before silencing the crowd with a horrific-sounding knife-edge chop.
Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Steve Morrison: That chop echoed around the Ballroom!
A handmark is visible on the Guardian’s chest but he has no time to focus on that as The Ace of Spades pulls him from the corner and looks to hip-toss him but the former FWA star reverses it and looks for his own…LIGHTNING QUICK EYE-POKE FROM DIAMOND…HE GOES FOR A CUTTER…COCHRANE REACTS ON INSTINCT AND HOOKS A HALF-NELSON REVERSE RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP!!!
Crowd: HO-LY SHIT!! HO-LY SHIT!! HO-LY SHIT!! HO-LY SHIT!! HO-LY SHIT!!
Steve Morrison: COCHRANE KEEPS HIMSELF IN THE GAME!!
Cross Recoba: A cutter from EITHER man could end the match right there and then!
In an act of vengeance, The Original Guardian uses the arm of his opponent to roll him onto his back before delivering a leg-drop of his own to his opponent. He holds onto the arm and tries to set-up an armbar but the veteran of the Network quickly rises to his feet…Cochrane attempts an arm-triangle but Jack uses his free arm to dive forward with a forearm to the throat that Referee Tyrell misses!
Steve Morrison: Cochrane looking to soften up that arm but Jack used all his guile to conceal his method of escape from the referee!
Cross Recoba: You can’t blame Tyrell for missing that one, straight out of the playbook of people like Dillinger and Card!
The cameras catch Cochrane holding his throat with one hand, his other pointing to his throat. Tyrell asks Diamond, who has backed off and is met with a gesture of his hand out by his sides, palms up.
Cross Recoba: I LOVE that show of confusion from Diamond!
Steve Morrison: He can toy with the ref but I’d think twice about doing so with The Cajun Sensation!
His show of penance over, The Icon rushes forward and drives a Baseball Slide dropkick to the face of his opponent, sending him under the ropes to the apron.
Steve Morrison: He DROVE his feet into the face there!
Giving his opponent no room to breathe, Diamond grabs the head of the Guardian Leader and rams it into the turnbuckle!
Cross Recoba: Diamond seems to have turned the match up a notch…
Holding on, Diamond throws his opponent’s arm over his shoulder and lifts him up for a suplex…NO! He drops him stomach first on the ropes and follows up with a lifting knee that leaves Cochrane holding onto the top rope and his footing on the apron!
Steve Morrison: The Guardian finds himself in a precarious spot here.
The Icon climbs through the middle rope and pulls Adrien’s arm off the top-rope, using it to drag him into an elbow strike to the head. HE HOOKS UP THE HEAD…
Cross Recoba: CUTTER TO THE FLOOR!
COCHRANE USES HIS MOMENTUM AGAINST HIM AND SENDS HIM FLYING TO THE RINGSIDE FLOOR!!
Steve Morrison: Adrien once more showing that he knows the playbook and Diamond landed right on his tailbone!!
Crowd: THAT WAS AWESOME! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* THAT WAS AWESOME! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Steve Tyrell starts his count…
ONE…
The cameras show Jack holding his back as he scrambles against the barrier, using the count to wear off the impact.
Steve Morrison: A smart move, he’s using the count to cover for him.
TWO…
Adrien dives between the ropes and breaks into a sprint…
Cross Recoba: It won’t be smart if he doesn’t spot the oncoming danger…
THREE…
Cochrane leaps over the top-rope…
FOUR…
GUIDED TOPE DROPKICK TO THE FACE!!!!
Steve Morrison: A MILLION LIRA DROPKICK! RIGHT ABOUT OF OUR OWN COLOR COMMENTATOR’S PLAYBOOK!!
Cross Recoba: Oh, I noticed!
The crowd get to their feet as they chant:
Crowd: STAND UP! IF YOU LOVE COCHRANE! STAND UP! IF YOU LOVE COCHRANE! STAND UP! IF YOU LOVE COCHRANE!
Steve Morrison: Fans, if you’re unfamiliar with the chant, I’ve been told we have several British bachelor parties in attendance tonight who must think they’re at the soccer!
The cameras catch Adrien’s face as hears the fans chant his name and looks to see a near standing reception for the move. Tyrell is forced to restart the count.
ONE…
Jack is yet to stir but, buoyed on by the crowd, Adrien takes the initiative and rolls him into the ring as he himself climbs onto the ring-apron…
Steve Morrison: He looks like he’s going for something big…
SPRINGBOARD SWANTON BOMB!!!!
Steve Morrison: FLIGHT ONE EIGHTY TWO!!!
Cochrane leans back to cover…
ONE..
TW-KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: Jack managed to kickout much to the delight of his fans!
The Diamond section of the crowd roar into life as their man survives for now.
Cross Recoba: Cochrane reminding the AWF Hall of Famer that he can end this match with something other than the Adrien Cutter…
Hooking the arm of the Icon over his shoulder, Cochrane drags Jack to his feet before whipping him over with a snap suplex. The Original Guardian keeps hold of the arm and spins around it BUT DIAMOND ROLLS HIM UP!
Steve Morrison: Jack has come into tonight wanting to make sure he ends up on the scoreboard!
ONE…
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: With only one more event to go after this, it’s pretty much shit or get off the pot!
Steve Morrison: Adrien ensuring he won’t walk away with nothing tonight as he wasn’t falling victim that time!
Rolling backwards, Adrien leans into the ropes and launches at Jack with a Spinning Heel Kick but finds nothing but air!!
Steve Morrison: Great timing from Diamond as he dropped to the floor.
Cross Recoba: Who will get their wits together first?
Barely back to his feet and The Dropkick King eats a standing enziguri!!
Steve Morrison: Clean connection to the temple!
Cross Recoba: He had him set-up for that moments before Adrien saw it coming!
Steve Morrison: These men are like-for-like and it’ll be fine margins like just then that’ll determine the outcome.
Still dazed but with it just about right now, Jack once more goes to the leg of his opponent and takes the foot into this hands before flipping forward, wrenching the limb!!
Steve Morrison: Modified stump puller.
Cross Recoba: He put his own stamp on it, it’s what makes you stand out. Learn the textbook way and put your own spin on it!
Grabbing his opponent’s head, Diamond doesn’t give him any time to recuperate. Instead, he pulls him to his feet and whips him into the corner.
Steve Morrison: The Icon looking to take a page out of cage-fighting here as he backs him into a corner and cuts the ring off.
DIAMOND FOLLOWS UP WITH A RUNNING KNEE TO THE HEAD THAT DROPS THE GUARDIAN TO THE FLOOR!!
Cross Recoba: He’s picking up steam and Adrien needs to get him off-kilter if he wants anything from this match.
Taking a step back, DIAMOND SMASHES INTO HIM WITH A RUNNING BASEMENT DROPKICK!!!
Steve Morrison: HE EIGHTY-SIXED HIM!!
The crowd is getting into the Diamond run.
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen Cochrane conquer the odds more than once but even the most ardent Guardian fan can’t be enjoying the watch right now.
Peeling the one-time FWA Anarchy Champion from the corner, Diamond rolls him away from the turnbuckle and leaps to the top-rope.
Steve Morrison: Could it be…
FOUR-FUCKING-FIFTY SPLASH!!!
Steve Morrison: SHUFFLE DECK!
Cross Recoba: The fans are loving this, they’ve broken out the White Stripes!
Crowd: WOAHH, JACK FUCK-ING DIA-MOND! WOAHH, JACK FUCK-ING DIAMOND!!
Steve Morrison: Could The Cajun Sensation’s period of controlling the match be his saving grace now?
Still not recovered from Adrien’s earlier attacks, he plants himself into a pinning position.
Cross Recoba: It’s a pin but he didn’t hook the leg.
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: A rare show of complacency from The Icon might have cost him victory just then!
The Guardian fans in attendance match the roar from those of The Icons!
Cross Recoba: Which means the advert for my company right now is people who follow The Guardians…if Tap Out wasn’t making so profitable, I might actually wretch.
Steve Morrison: No time for financials now, Cross. Both men are down but Diamond looks as if he’s making a play to get to his feet.
Cochrane holds his stomach as he rolls to his side. Jack rolls to his feet, as much on instinct as anything else.
Steve Morrison: How much of a psychological boost is it to win these ‘foot races’?
Cross Recoba: When you look up and see your opponent already on his feet, you know you’re fighting uphill!
Watching his opponent intently, Jack waits…
Steve Morrison: Diamond scouting and stalking his opponent.
No sooner has Adrien gotten halfway up than The Icon grabs his arm and whips him to the ropes, he ducks down for a back body drop but Cochrane rolls over the top…
Steve Morrison: Misjudgement from Jack and it could backfire…
Cross Recoba: Cochrane leaps…
ADRIEN CUTTER…NO!! DIAMOND PUSHES HIM ONCE MORE TO THE ROPES…
Steve Morrison: The Ace of Spades saved himself!
SUPERKICK!! CAUGHT BY DIAMOND! HE SPINS HIM AROUND…
Cross Recoba: Great block on the Lightning Strike but what now?
CUTTER…..NO!!! ADRIEN QUICKLY MANEUVERS DIAMOND INTO A REVERSE DDT!!!
Steve Morrison: Cochrane buys himself some breathing room!
Cross Recoba: He can’t afford to try and catch his breath. Jack Diamond took me to a draw in AWF and it took me all of one attempt at getting a breather in before I learnt that he will take advantage of your being lax!
Steve Morrison: Cochrane has shown time and time again how much he has in the tank!
Both men are down, Tyrell looks to Diamond who is flat on his back and then to Cochrane. He lifts his arms but sees Adrien start to make his way towards Diamond. He drapes an arm over him.
Cross Recoba: This might not be enough but it will force Jack to have to use more energy.
ONE…
TWO…
AGAIN THE ICON KICKS OUT!!
Steve Morrison: Adrien is going to have go again as we’re heading into what might be the longest match we’ve seen on a Tap Out show!
Cross Recoba: Both of these men have great resilience and stamina, now we’re going to see who has the edge!
The Original Guardian visibly takes a deep breath as he lifts Diamond to his feet. He pushes him into the ropes and whips him, it’s reversed…Headscissors Takedown and Adrien hangs on…
Steve Morrison: LULLABY BALLAD!
He fights to get the arm triangle in but The Icon has it scouted and uses his experience to twist his way out. In an instant, Jack Fucking Diamond whips his legs around Cochrane’s…FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK!!
Cross Recoba: ACES WILD!
Steve Morrison: He’s already softened up that leg somewhat, can The Dropkick King survive a move that has put countless opponents away?
Both men spot the nearest rope with which Adrien can escape. Using all of his strength, Cochrane tries to drag the hold towards it but he finds himself fighting Jack, who is using the movement to pivot the rope towards him.
Steve Morrison: Is Cochrane aware that he might be helping Jack?
Cross Recoba: You’ve got to make a play for it. If your only reaching point is the center of the ring in a hold like this, you’re done for!
Steve Morrison: With each movement Adrien makes, Jack counter-adjusts it so that whilst they may get closer, it’s to HIS advantage!
Steve Tyrell is checking on Adrien, asking if he wants to tap but he shakes his head in defiance. With the referee as a distraction, Diamond finds himself with an opening and he takes it! He now has a rope just mere inches from him!
Cross Recoba: Jack finds himself with what he himself would refer to as ‘The Nuts’ here.
Steve Morrison: For those not familiar with Poker parlance, he has the best hand.
Cross Recoba: Where the two men differ is that only Diamond will scheme in that ring, Cochrane might adjust his plans but we know that Jack will do whatever it takes to get victory. Can Adrien do that?
Still making sure that he wants to continue, Tyrell asks Cochrane once more if he’d like to throw in the towel. The camera capturing the dogged determination on The Original Guardian’s face. A wave of boos can be heard throughout the ballroom of The Sands.
Steve Morrison: If you’re wondering why the crowd is booing, we’re working on getting you the shot…
The source of the anger is seen on camera as Tyrell remains oblivious, Diamond uses the middle rope to gain added leverage to the hold.
Crowd Member: C’mon, Ref! Look at Diamond!
Cross Recoba: You knew this was always going to happen.
Steve Morrison: Can he keep it hidden? Surely Tyrell will spot him!
Steve Tyrell spins quickly but The Icon has reverted to a legal application of the hold. The TOW official looks confused but goes back to checking on Cochrane.
Cross Recoba: All that extra leverage adds precious pounds to the pressure he’s exerting on the legs of Cochrane. Adrien has to be in agony and yet The Ace of Spades keeps it on the QT!
Steve Morrison: Every second that goes by with Jack’s cheating is going to take its toll on Adrien, if he can survive this hold.
Once more, Diamond uses the ropes and the crowd’s ire continues to grow. Steve spins around and, using his ring experience, Diamond is whiter than white.
Cross Recoba: He’s selling the ref a crock!
Steve Morrison: Tyrell is looking for clues…
TYRELL NOTICES THE MIDDLE ROPE SHAKING!
The Guardian section of the crowd cheer wildly.
Steve Morrison: Has he just cost himself the match?
Cross Recoba: He hasn’t been asked to break the hold yet…
The official threatens to throw the match out but Diamond once more uses his hands to gesture that he is as pure as the white driven snow.
Steve Morrison: Still Adrien battles in the hold.
Cross Recoba: That could change, look!
Capitalizing on the window, COCHRANE LETS OUT A ROAR AS HE STARTS TO ROLL THE HOLD OVER…
Steve Morrison: Diggin deep, the Dropkick King is looking to turn the tables on DIamond!
DIAMOND TRIES TO FIGHT IT BUT ADRIEN CONTINUES TO MAKE PROGRESS…
Cross Recoba: Adrien has a firm hand planted ready to go…
HE ROLLS HIM OVER!!
Steve Morrison: HE REVERSED ACES WILD!!!
THE ICON LOOKS TO BE IN AGONY!!
Cross Recoba: Adrien needs to get as much damage out of this hold as he can because you can be sure Cochrane took a lot himself stuck in that hold!
DIAMOND GRABS THE ROPES AND FORCES THE REF TO BREAK THE HOLD!!!
Steve Morrison: THE MATCH CARRIES ON!
Using the ropes to get to his feet whilst protected, Jack glances over his shoulder and sees that Adrien’s still feeling the effects of the hold. He storms to the corner and hops onto the middle rope.
Cross Recoba: Is he upping the stakes?
Crowd: HIT THE JACK-POT! *STOMP* *STOMP* *STOMP, STOMP, STOMP* HIT THE JACKPOT
Steve Morrison: Both men have come back from moves that might put the majority of people down tonight!
Turning to the crowd, Diamond nods as if in agreement and starts to make his way to the top…COCHRANE TAKES HIM DOWN WITH A SMALL PACKAGE FROM THE SECOND ROPE!!!
Steve Morrison: DID YOU SEE THAT?!?
ONE…
TWO…
TH-
KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: Barely, just barely, but The Ace of Spades found enough in him to kick-out!
Cross Recoba: We knew this was going to be close but this looks like it’ll be millimeters that decide the outcome!
Both men rush to their feet but it’s Diamond who wins the foot-race. He lands a brace of kicks to the chest of his opponent before whipping him to the corner…
Steve Morrison: Could it be?
He raises an arm as the crowd as they sense what’s coming…
Cross Recoba: The crowd sense it…
He charges in and leaps…
Steve Morrison: DIAMOND SPLASH!!
NOBODY’S HOME!!!
Cross Recoba: Last minute evasion from Cochrane!
The Cajun Sensation unloads with his own flurry of kicks but there’s a noticeable buckle when he puts his injured leg down. He works through it and mounts the second turnbuckle as Diamond remains upright only thanks to the turnbuckles. He starts to punch as the crowd count along.
Steve Morrison: You know the Guardians fans are getting into this next part!
ONE!!!
TWO!!!
THREE!!
FOUR!!!
FIVE!!!
SIX!!!
SEVEN!!!
EIGHT!!!!
NINE!!!
Cochrane milks a millisecond for effect.
TEN!!!!
Cross Recoba: He didn’t hold back on a single punch!
Steve Morrison: What has he got left in his locker?
Stepping down to the mat, he catches Diamond before he can drop to the corner and puts him atop the top turnbuckle and climbs to the second…
Steve Morrison: Is this going to be a hurricanrana?
Cross Recoba: He wouldn’t dare hit a Stacked Deck…
Steve Morrison: Or would he?
DD-FUCKING-T FROM THE TOP ROPE!!!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! THIS IS AWESOME! HOLY SHIT! THIS IS AWESOME! HOLY SHIT! THIS IS AWESOME! HOLY SHIT! THIS IS AWESOME!
The crowd falls silent as Adrien makes the strongest cover he can…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
JACK DIAMOND GETS A SHOULDER UP AT THE LAST!
Steve Morrison: ….How? Nothing more, nothing less but how did he do that?
Cross Recoba: That’s one for the post-event press conference, Steve…
The TOW camera staff earn their paycheck in one shot as the look of disbelief on The Cajun Sensation’s face is everyone in attendance and at home!
Steve Morrison: HE CAN”T BELIEVE IT…WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT!
Cross Recoba: If Jack didn’t get that Aces Wild leglock locked in for so long and so well, this match wouldn’t still be going right now. That’s all I have!
Snapping himself back into the match, Adrien rolls to his feet and starts to test the injured leg. The first few steps look ropey but by the fifth he almost seems to be able to counteract the damage, at least in appearance.
Steve Morrison: That damage to his legs, targeted whenever they could be by Diamond, is evident with every step.
Cross Recoba: He’s been here, he knows that he can fight through the pain…
The Original Guardian crouches down, as much to test the damage as it is to watch his opponent with every ounce of concentration inside of him.
Steve Morrison: This might mean his Crescent City Connection has been taken away from him.
Cross Recoba: Added bonus, there’s a move that is instant death for his opponent!
The cameras cut to The Icon, who has returned to the ropes. He takes his time to get to his feet. Each moment meaning a less rattled head without making much difference to the injured leg of his opponent. As he grabs onto the top rope, the after-shock of the DDT kicks in…he takes a misstep and turns around…
Cross Recoba: NO, JACK!
SUPERKICK CONNECTS!!!
Steve Morrison: LIGHTNING STRIKE!!!
Sensing victory is nearing, Cochrane lifts up his opponent and put him into the Fireman’s Carry position..
Cross Recoba: Adrien isn’t sure of the power in his legs…
Steve Morrison: Could it be the Dream Breaker?
Cross Recoba: The match is his for the taking…
HIS LEG BUCKLES AT THE WRONG TIME AND DIAMOND DROPS BEHIND HIM!!!
Steve Morrison: HIS LEGS FAILED HIM AT THE LAST!!
ADRIEN SWINGS AN ELBOW STRIKE THAT CONNECTS…HE LOOKS FOR THE ADRIEN CUTTER…
Cross Recoba: NO! THE ICON HAS IT COVERED!!
DIAMOND PUSHES HIM AWAY, PANCAKING STEVE TYRELL IN THE CORNER!!!
Steve Morrison: Jack Fucking Diamond knew EXACTLY what he was doing!
Adrien realizes what just happened and turns around…SUPERKICK!!!
Cross Recoba: ICON KICK!!
Crowd: CHEATING BASTARD! CHEATING BASTARD! CHEATING BASTARD! CHEATING BASTARD!
Steve Morrison: A large section of the Ballroom at The Sands has no problem telling Jack how they feel!
With a veteran’s ability to tune out the crowd, Diamond rolls out the ring and starts to look under the ring apron.
Cross Recoba: He wants to end this now…
HE PULLS OUT A CHAIR!!
Steve Morrison: Cochrane’s staring to come to but he has NO idea how much danger he is in!
The Guardian section of the crowd become even more vehement in their calls for the ref to wake up.
Cross Recoba: Every Guardian fan here and at home must be willing for Tyrell to get up from the canvas!
Diamond rolls into the ring with a chair and stands up with it raised above his head.
Steve Morrison: This might just be the only way either man is getting put down tonight…
Cochrane can be seen getting back to his feet.
Steve Morrison: We know that Adrien’s legs have taken a lot of damage tonight. He’ll be focused more on those than the foreign object!
A quick check by Diamond and he sees Tyrell starting to rouse.
Cross Recoba: That’s what we call a lifesaver check.
DIAMOND BANGS THE CHAIR ON THE FLOOR AND THROWS IT AT ADRIEN WHO CATCHES IT…
THE ICON DROPS TO THE FLOOR!!
Steve Morrison: This might be the most despicable act of unsporting behavior we’ve seen!
TYRELL GETS TO HIS FEET AND SEES THE CHAIR IN THE HANDS OF THE ORIGINAL GUARDIAN AND STARTS TO THREATEN TO DISQUALIFY HIM!!
Steve Morrison: This is insane! Adrien is protesting his innocence and surely, of all the people on the Network, he’d be the last person to use a weapon! It’s in the Guardians handbook!
Cross Recoba: Desperate times though…
Adrien Cochrane: ASK THE CROWD!!!!
TYRELL ASKS THE CROWD WHO ALL SEEM TO BACK HIM UP!
JACK FUCKING DIAMOND DIVES WITH A ROLL-UP AND A HANDFUL OF TIGHTS…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
Steve Morrison: I DON’T BELIEVE IT!!
Cross Recoba: HE GOT HIM!!!
The bell rings as Laura Messier makes the announcement.
Laura Messier: The Winner of this match as a result of pinfall, THE ICON…JACK…DIAMOND!!!
A large section of the crowd break out into boos. Jack doesn’t even wait for the announcement to finish before he has rolled out of the ring knowing he snatched a victory.
Steve Morrison: Look at the cowardly way he took that win!
Cross Recoba: But it’ll go in the record books and that’s all that will matter to him! He gets the points!
As “Legendary” by Skillet fills the arena, somewhat muting the boos, Adrien can be seen petitioning Steve Tyrell who stands by his decision as we cut to ringside.
Steve Morrison: Cochrane is going to feel hard done by but he might just have won over the entire audience tonight with that display!
Cross Recoba: He also knows that he is going to have to face whatever comes at him at Tap Out Wrestling 5 and come out with nothing less than a win and that…that’s a lot of pressure!
Diamond’s music fades out and the crowd give Cochrane a standing ovation as he rolls out of the ring and walks to the back.
Steve Morrison: Diamond may have gotten the win but Cochrane just showed exactly why there was a bidding war for his services and what an asset he can be to Tap Out Wrestling!
Laura Messier: IT’S TIME…FOR OUR MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!! Introducing our first tag-team…
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: He looks all business!
Cross Recoba: The man is only too aware that even his own partner is after him in this match, that’s before we get to the opponents!
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: Can Poena and NOMAD co-exist on the same side?
Cross Recoba: NOMAD, yes but Poena? That’s a whole different ball-game. NOMAD will know that a win here tonight all but books him a plum draw in the Openweight tournament!
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.
Steve Morrison: Can he keep his own partner in check whilst the match progresses?
Cross Recoba: We’re about to find out!
Nisi per dolorem potest salvari... The lights go pitch back as the eerie bells and words 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: Last show, Poena didn’t just lose the match but he lost the match by snapping the finger of a match official. Message boards were alight when it was announced he wouldn’t be fined!
Cross Recoba: He lost the match. No win bonus, no shiny points…well, except Move of the Night and when that happens, how can you go against the voter base?
As the music picks up the red spotlights stay on him as he lowers his arms and walks toward the ring holding his twisted rosary in his hands as if praying as he walks down the ramp, his crazed smile breaking out into an even crazier grin as he does.
Steve Morrison: Poena will want to settle the score with Erin from Tap Out Wrestling 2 but what about Brad Kane?
Cross Recoba: Did you see Kane’s promos? He was poking a nest of hornets. If he wasn’t on the radar of The Sanctified One before, he certainly is now!
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 with the rosary clenched in his right hand, whispering a silent prayer to himself and yelling “REPENT!” to the heavens before smirking at the crowd and getting up to his feet. The two partners lock eyes.
Steve Morrison: Can you feel the tension between the two of them?
Cross Recoba: That’s what makes this match exciting, it’s a powder keg of resentment and collaboration!
Laura Messier: And now…for their opponents!!!
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: Given the month off last show, Erin will be chomping at the bit to get revenge against the team of Poena and NOMAD!
Cross Recoba: For those of you who missed it. Poena snapped fingers which was bad enough but he did enough damage that it is still a hotly contested topic on the XHF message board as to whether NOMAD would have pulled off his main-event win against Gordon were she fully fit!
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: Now, fully recovered, she is intent on making sure that her opposition remember that she is gunning for that top seed in the tournament!
Cross Recoba: Only a fool would discount her. She was one of the first calls I made when I got the sign-off on Tap Out Wrestling. She has fire, she has speed and she has a spinning backfist that would put fear into any wrestler on the Network!
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: She had no issue walking right past her opponents. If they were hoping for fear, she brought none tonight!
Cross Recoba: Teamed with Kane, this could be what the Southern folk would call ‘a real barn-burner’ of a match!
The lights in the arena shut off. The only thing that we see is the flashing of Brad Kane highlights on the video screens. As the highlights fill the screen, “And I Return To Nothingness" by Lorna Shore blares into the arena. The crowd gets to their feet yelling along with the lyrics.
Steve Morrison: The crowd are happy to welcome back Brad Kane to the Sands Ballroom!
Cross Recoba: New manager, new theme, same BK who has been around the world and wrestled for longer than some of our own wrestlers could walk on two feet!
"From the earth we will return
An inevitable fate
The undeniable truth
The paragon of life
Return to the earth
I shut my eyes and world drops dead
I lift my head and all is born again"
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. Upon reaching ringside Brad hops up onto the ring apron.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD has to be his focus, revenge for what happened at our inaugural show?
Cross Recoba: That’s an added bonus. He’s made it clear he wants to win but if he gets the chance to put NOMAD in his place? He’ll take it
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: Have you seen him this intense, intent on victory before?
Cross Recoba: Gordon and Kane have a leg-up on their opponents, they’re pretty much on the same page. The BK Backfist isn’t going to be upstaged by Gordon’s own but if they can fight together, we’ve got ourselves a hell of a main-event!
Laura Messier: Introducing first from Colville, Washington...He stands at six-feet-and-five inches and tips the scale at two-hundred-and-eighty pounds!!! HE IS THE VIOLENT WANDERER!!!! NOMAD!!!!
NOMAD stands stoically.
Laura Messier: And his partner! From the Ninth Deep...Standing at six-feet even and weighing a hundred-and-ninety pounds...The Sanctified One....POENA!!!!!!
The cameras catch a maniacal expression form on Poena as he plans his next torture session.
Laura Messier: And their opponents! 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!!!!
Gordon’s eyes remain locked squarely across the ring.
Laura Messier: And her partner…Standing at six feet even, weighing two-hundred-and-twenty-three pounds..he hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland...He is a three-time XHF Junior Heavyweight Champion...BRAD...FUCKING...KANE!!!!
Kane looks nowhere but NOMAD.
MAIN EVENT
TAG-TEAM MATCH
NOMAD/Poena vs Erin Gordon/Brad Kane
Poena and NOMAD begin the match by arguing on the apron about who should start the match. Eventually NOMAD gets annoyed enough to just let his insane partner open. Meanwhile Erin Gordon is more than willing to let Brad Kane, a little wary about Poena after getting her fingers snapped by the Dark Messiah at Tapout 1. Kane and Poena walk to the middle of the ring and start throwing huge, meaty roundhouse kicks at the other’s side. The Insane One goes high with a Crescent Kick that Kane sharply ducks and turns, whipping his arm around and attempting to level Poena with an early BK Backfist but Poena whoops like a monkey as he dodges out of the way. The pair close the distance and start throwing elbows at each other’s faces. Finally, spent from the early effort both men back off and tag out.
Steve Morrison: Fast start from these heavy handed hitters.
Cross Recoba: Any one of those shots could knock a normal fighter out. But there are no normal fighters in Tapout Wrestling.
inaaina
Stepping over the top rope, the ginormous NOMAD stomps over to mid ring, establishing his territory. The Monster of the World opens up with weighty forearms but Erin, trained stand up artist that she is, jukes and jives, making NOMAD whiff his blows and tagging him with some straight shots after he’s missed a couple. Finally, NOMAD goes for a standing lariat which Erin ducks, places her arm across The Violent Wanderer’s upper body and using every ounce of leverage she can get, drops NOMAD to the mat with an STO!
Steve Morrison: SPACE TORNADO OGAWA!
Cross Recoba: Very appropriate from the Oncoming Storm.
NOMAD reaches back for his corner and tags in Poena, the Machiavellian Maniac gleefully tagging himself in. Erin Gordon doesn’t know what to do with this, her face conflicted about whether to retreat immediately or just go for it. She thinks for a second and then GOES HAM on Poena, using a blitz of inaccurate, wildly thrown punches. Poena is backed up under a whirlwind of blows and finally, with his back to the ropes has to cover up. Erin grabs for his hand and with a vengeful steel in her gaze, grabs Poena’s fingers and slowly stretches them out, shushing the crowd…
Steve Morrison: Could Erin be after a little piece of revenge?
…and NOMAD blind tags himself in on Poena’s back, steps over the top rope and just shoves Erin away with all of his might.
Cross Recoba: Not today, Erin. Not today.
Eyes fixed on Erin Gordon as she gets to her feet, NOMAD leans back on the ropes and charges, jumping and shaping his body in mid air, clattering into Erin and connecting his foot roughly at head height. Showcasing an agility that men forty pounds lighter than him often lack, NOMAD rolls through following the massive heel kick back to his feet. The Monstrous Mastadon charges at Erin again as she gets to a seated position and with a huge swing of his tree trunk leg NOMAD powers the toe of his boot into The Oncoming Storm’s spine. NOMAD follows with a huge standing splash that splats poor Gordon to the mat and stops to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
T… Brad Kane sprints over to break it up.
Steve Morrison: That was close. NOMAD is such a physical specimen he can down you with the simplest of manoeuvres.
Cross Recoba: There are faster wrestlers in the industry. There are bigger, more physical wrestler. But NOMAD has a unique combination of both size and speed that’s hard to stop.
NOMAD looks to prove the commentators right as he hauls Erin off the mat, slinging her into the ropes, Erin wincing as her back hits them before The Monster of the World snags her as she rebounds, swivelling in place and dropping her back first to the mat with a spinning Sidewalk Slam. Compared to his unhinged tag partner, NOMAD is cool, calm and catastrophically destructive. He grabs Erin off the mat and stuffs her into a standing head scissors before lifting her up as if she weighed about the same as a piece of paper and POWERBOMBING HER DOWN TO THE MAT LIKE A USED DISHRAG! NOMAD keeps the press pin…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Brad Kane has to come out and break it up again.
Steve Morrison: CRUMBLING TOWER! Erin Gordon got folded in half!
Cross Recoba: Credit to Brad Kane, he’s been on point with his pin breakups in this match.
Meanwhile on the ring apron Poena is near foaming at the mouth waiting to get in again. NOMAD walks over to his own corner and shrugs his massive shoulders, tagging The Sanctified One back in. Poena rushes across the ring, blasting Erin with a basement dropkick. Poena manically wheels round as he stand back up and uses his toes to flip The Oncoming Storm’s body over. With a wild eyed stare Poena circles around Erin, each sideways step being followed by a big stomp to Erin’s back. Step, stomp. Step, stomp. Step, Stomp. Step, stomp, Step, stomp, stomp, stompstompstompstompSTOMP! The Insane Invocator flips Erin back over and covers…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Brad Kane rushes in to break the pin AGAIN!
Steve Morrison: Erin Gordon has taken such a beating so far.
Cross Recoba: But there’s no quit in The Oncoming Storm. Lesser competitors would have signalled for the referee to stop it. Maybe even the medical staff.
Poena smiles that sickening smile he only gets when he’s REALLY dishing out the punishment. He kneels down on the mat next to Erin and reaches for a leg, grabbing it and holding it across his own shoulder, suspending Erin by her own body weight, stretching out that damaged back. The Oncoming Storm’s face is wracked with pain and Poena couldn’t be more convinced as he shouts “REPENT!” at the top of his lungs. Erin inches closer to her corner and Brad Kane reaches his hand out, each time Poena adjusts his grip to increase the torque on Erin’s back, the Pennsylvania native gets a little closer….
Steve Morrison: This could be it. It’s Erin will to win against her failing spine.
Cross Recoba: Erin Gordon has shown in the past that she doesn’t give in easily.
NOMAD storms into the ring, trying to play defense against Brad Kane and the referee has to physically order him back to his own corner. Meanwhile Erin uses one last huge exertion and stretches out to touch Brad Kane’s hand… AND REACHES! BRAD KANE JUMPS OVER THETO THE MATCH!
Steve Morrison: TAG MADE! TAG MADE!
Kane lashes through the air with his leg and smacks Poena clear out of the hold with a Killshot instep to the temple. Not allowing Poena a second to get his bearings, Kane snatches him off the ground and DUMPS HIM SQUARE ON HIS HEAD WITH A DEADLIFT GERMAN SUPLEX! NOMAD finishes arguing with the ref and storms in to try and help… AND BRAD KANE EXPLODER SUPLEXES THE 280lb MAN LIKE HE WAS A GOD DAMN CRUISERWEIGHT! Kane snatches Poena off the mat… HALF AND HALF SUPLEX! Now he turns back to NOMAD upon standing, double chickenwing… TIGER SUPLEX! ROLLED THROUGH! NOW INTO A FULL NELSON… DRAGON SUPLEX! Kane holds the bridge…
NO COUNT! The referee explains to Kane that neither man is legal!
Steve Morrison: AMG SPECIAL #2! BUT NO COUNT As Tommy Strychnine might say, Whiskey Tango FOXTROT?
Cross Recoba: NOMAD caused the referee to miss the tag. You may not like it but it’s smart strategy.
With NOMAD down from the devastating combo, Brad Kane knows he needs Erin’s help again to win the match. Erin is standing, slowly, still clutching her back. BK stands and carefully positions himself to a side of where Poena will end up standing and looks at Erin while he pumps his fist like a shotgun. Erin slowly, carefully walks over to the other side and Brad audibly counts, “ONE, TWO…” and on THREE both Kane and Gordon spin in opposite directions, SMASHING POENA IN THE FACE IN HIGH QUALITY STEREO!
Steve Morrison: BK BACKFIST AND NOR’EASTER!
Poena drops to the mat and Kane turns to Erin, about to tell her to make the pin… but while all of that was going on, NOMAD has had time to get himself standing and HE CHARGES AT THE BACKFISTING DUO WITH A BRUTAL, SAVAGE, FEROCIOUS, TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE DOUBLE LAAAAAAAAAAAAARIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATOOOOOOOOO FROM HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLL! NOMAD surveys the situation and knowing who the legal pair are he hoists POENA off the mat and HITS HIS OWN PARTNER WITH A POP UP DEATH VALLEY DRIVER ON TOP OF ERIN’S PRONE BODY! NOMAD dives on top of Brad Kane as Poena is left in a kind of improvised back press on the squished Erin Gordon…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
*DING* *DING* *DING*
Laura Messier: Your winners in this match via pinfall….The team of NOMAD and POENA!!!!!!
The cameras focus on the broken pile that is Poena and Erin.
Steve Morrison: Did I just see Hatred From Death Valley?
Cross Recoba: Yes.
Steve Morrison: On his own partner?
Cross Recoba: Yes.
Steve Morrison: And it worked?
Cross Recoba: Yes.
Steve Morrison: Well… that’s one hell of a way to end a show.
Steve Morrison: Fast start from these heavy handed hitters.
Cross Recoba: Any one of those shots could knock a normal fighter out. But there are no normal fighters in Tapout Wrestling.
inaaina
Stepping over the top rope, the ginormous NOMAD stomps over to mid ring, establishing his territory. The Monster of the World opens up with weighty forearms but Erin, trained stand up artist that she is, jukes and jives, making NOMAD whiff his blows and tagging him with some straight shots after he’s missed a couple. Finally, NOMAD goes for a standing lariat which Erin ducks, places her arm across The Violent Wanderer’s upper body and using every ounce of leverage she can get, drops NOMAD to the mat with an STO!
Steve Morrison: SPACE TORNADO OGAWA!
Cross Recoba: Very appropriate from the Oncoming Storm.
NOMAD reaches back for his corner and tags in Poena, the Machiavellian Maniac gleefully tagging himself in. Erin Gordon doesn’t know what to do with this, her face conflicted about whether to retreat immediately or just go for it. She thinks for a second and then GOES HAM on Poena, using a blitz of inaccurate, wildly thrown punches. Poena is backed up under a whirlwind of blows and finally, with his back to the ropes has to cover up. Erin grabs for his hand and with a vengeful steel in her gaze, grabs Poena’s fingers and slowly stretches them out, shushing the crowd…
Steve Morrison: Could Erin be after a little piece of revenge?
…and NOMAD blind tags himself in on Poena’s back, steps over the top rope and just shoves Erin away with all of his might.
Cross Recoba: Not today, Erin. Not today.
Eyes fixed on Erin Gordon as she gets to her feet, NOMAD leans back on the ropes and charges, jumping and shaping his body in mid air, clattering into Erin and connecting his foot roughly at head height. Showcasing an agility that men forty pounds lighter than him often lack, NOMAD rolls through following the massive heel kick back to his feet. The Monstrous Mastadon charges at Erin again as she gets to a seated position and with a huge swing of his tree trunk leg NOMAD powers the toe of his boot into The Oncoming Storm’s spine. NOMAD follows with a huge standing splash that splats poor Gordon to the mat and stops to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
T… Brad Kane sprints over to break it up.
Steve Morrison: That was close. NOMAD is such a physical specimen he can down you with the simplest of manoeuvres.
Cross Recoba: There are faster wrestlers in the industry. There are bigger, more physical wrestler. But NOMAD has a unique combination of both size and speed that’s hard to stop.
NOMAD looks to prove the commentators right as he hauls Erin off the mat, slinging her into the ropes, Erin wincing as her back hits them before The Monster of the World snags her as she rebounds, swivelling in place and dropping her back first to the mat with a spinning Sidewalk Slam. Compared to his unhinged tag partner, NOMAD is cool, calm and catastrophically destructive. He grabs Erin off the mat and stuffs her into a standing head scissors before lifting her up as if she weighed about the same as a piece of paper and POWERBOMBING HER DOWN TO THE MAT LIKE A USED DISHRAG! NOMAD keeps the press pin…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Brad Kane has to come out and break it up again.
Steve Morrison: CRUMBLING TOWER! Erin Gordon got folded in half!
Cross Recoba: Credit to Brad Kane, he’s been on point with his pin breakups in this match.
Meanwhile on the ring apron Poena is near foaming at the mouth waiting to get in again. NOMAD walks over to his own corner and shrugs his massive shoulders, tagging The Sanctified One back in. Poena rushes across the ring, blasting Erin with a basement dropkick. Poena manically wheels round as he stand back up and uses his toes to flip The Oncoming Storm’s body over. With a wild eyed stare Poena circles around Erin, each sideways step being followed by a big stomp to Erin’s back. Step, stomp. Step, stomp. Step, Stomp. Step, stomp, Step, stomp, stomp, stompstompstompstompSTOMP! The Insane Invocator flips Erin back over and covers…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Brad Kane rushes in to break the pin AGAIN!
Steve Morrison: Erin Gordon has taken such a beating so far.
Cross Recoba: But there’s no quit in The Oncoming Storm. Lesser competitors would have signalled for the referee to stop it. Maybe even the medical staff.
Poena smiles that sickening smile he only gets when he’s REALLY dishing out the punishment. He kneels down on the mat next to Erin and reaches for a leg, grabbing it and holding it across his own shoulder, suspending Erin by her own body weight, stretching out that damaged back. The Oncoming Storm’s face is wracked with pain and Poena couldn’t be more convinced as he shouts “REPENT!” at the top of his lungs. Erin inches closer to her corner and Brad Kane reaches his hand out, each time Poena adjusts his grip to increase the torque on Erin’s back, the Pennsylvania native gets a little closer….
Steve Morrison: This could be it. It’s Erin will to win against her failing spine.
Cross Recoba: Erin Gordon has shown in the past that she doesn’t give in easily.
NOMAD storms into the ring, trying to play defense against Brad Kane and the referee has to physically order him back to his own corner. Meanwhile Erin uses one last huge exertion and stretches out to touch Brad Kane’s hand… AND REACHES! BRAD KANE JUMPS OVER THETO THE MATCH!
Steve Morrison: TAG MADE! TAG MADE!
Kane lashes through the air with his leg and smacks Poena clear out of the hold with a Killshot instep to the temple. Not allowing Poena a second to get his bearings, Kane snatches him off the ground and DUMPS HIM SQUARE ON HIS HEAD WITH A DEADLIFT GERMAN SUPLEX! NOMAD finishes arguing with the ref and storms in to try and help… AND BRAD KANE EXPLODER SUPLEXES THE 280lb MAN LIKE HE WAS A GOD DAMN CRUISERWEIGHT! Kane snatches Poena off the mat… HALF AND HALF SUPLEX! Now he turns back to NOMAD upon standing, double chickenwing… TIGER SUPLEX! ROLLED THROUGH! NOW INTO A FULL NELSON… DRAGON SUPLEX! Kane holds the bridge…
NO COUNT! The referee explains to Kane that neither man is legal!
Steve Morrison: AMG SPECIAL #2! BUT NO COUNT As Tommy Strychnine might say, Whiskey Tango FOXTROT?
Cross Recoba: NOMAD caused the referee to miss the tag. You may not like it but it’s smart strategy.
With NOMAD down from the devastating combo, Brad Kane knows he needs Erin’s help again to win the match. Erin is standing, slowly, still clutching her back. BK stands and carefully positions himself to a side of where Poena will end up standing and looks at Erin while he pumps his fist like a shotgun. Erin slowly, carefully walks over to the other side and Brad audibly counts, “ONE, TWO…” and on THREE both Kane and Gordon spin in opposite directions, SMASHING POENA IN THE FACE IN HIGH QUALITY STEREO!
Steve Morrison: BK BACKFIST AND NOR’EASTER!
Poena drops to the mat and Kane turns to Erin, about to tell her to make the pin… but while all of that was going on, NOMAD has had time to get himself standing and HE CHARGES AT THE BACKFISTING DUO WITH A BRUTAL, SAVAGE, FEROCIOUS, TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE DOUBLE LAAAAAAAAAAAAARIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATOOOOOOOOO FROM HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLL! NOMAD surveys the situation and knowing who the legal pair are he hoists POENA off the mat and HITS HIS OWN PARTNER WITH A POP UP DEATH VALLEY DRIVER ON TOP OF ERIN’S PRONE BODY! NOMAD dives on top of Brad Kane as Poena is left in a kind of improvised back press on the squished Erin Gordon…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
*DING* *DING* *DING*
Laura Messier: Your winners in this match via pinfall….The team of NOMAD and POENA!!!!!!
The cameras focus on the broken pile that is Poena and Erin.
Steve Morrison: Did I just see Hatred From Death Valley?
Cross Recoba: Yes.
Steve Morrison: On his own partner?
Cross Recoba: Yes.
Steve Morrison: And it worked?
Cross Recoba: Yes.
Steve Morrison: Well… that’s one hell of a way to end a show.
Cross Recoba: End a show? It’s a way to make sure that everyone who leaves tonight knows that, in NOMAD’s mind, he IS Tap Out Wrestling!
Steve Morrison: With just one show left, how do the standings look?
Cross Recoba: Before we show the standings, the Tap Out Wrestling board have awarded the Co-Main Event of Cochrane vs Diamond with the Match of the Night Award. An extra point goes into their columns.
Cross Recoba: The winning team in our main event, if that even is the right word to use based on tonight, is assured a place in the tournament along with Close Collins. The bigger question is who is going to use Tap Out Wrestling 5 to stake their claim in the tournament and fight for those better seeded positions?
Steve Morrison: And that is the key there. We’ve said it before but EVERY. MATCH. COUNTS! Can Brad Kane keep in the running? Can Adrien sneak in with an improvement on his solitary point? Outside of the top 3, maybe even the top 5, no-one is safe! And even those who think they might be - they could drop in the rankings! A match against a still-undefeated NOMAD? A war with Poena? Do you want that in the opening stages of the tournament?
Cross Recoba: This is it! Fans, the lines to vote for your Move of the Night are open. Even a half-point on that table would make a difference to every competitor who fought tonight! Lines are open until Wednesday when we’ll award the Move with most votes the award and potentially move those rankings!
Steve Morrison: As for what to expect beyond a night of consequences at Tap Out Wrestling 5? We’ve got an analyst for the night to give you Live rankings and explain the implications BEFORE and AFTER every match! The show will be announced as soon as those votes are tabulated. SAVE THE DATE - JULY 24th! I’m Steve Morrison, alongside Cross Recoba. We look forward to seeing you next time!!
Steve Morrison: With just one show left, how do the standings look?
Cross Recoba: Before we show the standings, the Tap Out Wrestling board have awarded the Co-Main Event of Cochrane vs Diamond with the Match of the Night Award. An extra point goes into their columns.
Cross Recoba: The winning team in our main event, if that even is the right word to use based on tonight, is assured a place in the tournament along with Close Collins. The bigger question is who is going to use Tap Out Wrestling 5 to stake their claim in the tournament and fight for those better seeded positions?
Steve Morrison: And that is the key there. We’ve said it before but EVERY. MATCH. COUNTS! Can Brad Kane keep in the running? Can Adrien sneak in with an improvement on his solitary point? Outside of the top 3, maybe even the top 5, no-one is safe! And even those who think they might be - they could drop in the rankings! A match against a still-undefeated NOMAD? A war with Poena? Do you want that in the opening stages of the tournament?
Cross Recoba: This is it! Fans, the lines to vote for your Move of the Night are open. Even a half-point on that table would make a difference to every competitor who fought tonight! Lines are open until Wednesday when we’ll award the Move with most votes the award and potentially move those rankings!
Steve Morrison: As for what to expect beyond a night of consequences at Tap Out Wrestling 5? We’ve got an analyst for the night to give you Live rankings and explain the implications BEFORE and AFTER every match! The show will be announced as soon as those votes are tabulated. SAVE THE DATE - JULY 24th! I’m Steve Morrison, alongside Cross Recoba. We look forward to seeing you next time!!
