TAP OUT WRESTLING 5: COLLINS VS DIAMOND
Jul 25, 2022 17:47:12 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Kira Izumi, and 1 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Jul 25, 2022 17:47:12 GMT -5
PRESENTS
Date: 23rd July 2022
Venue: The Sands Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 680 (Capacity: 700)
The cameras open up to a slightly larger ballroom, a sign that Tap Out Wrestling’s attendance is going in the right direction.
A selection of signs read:
* Spike Kane was robbed!
* Zoran will always be MY champ!
* Jackalope is my homeboy!
* Tasers for everyone!
* Mongo 0:18 says Goldbear just whooped my ass!
We cut to the announcers at ringside, Steve Morrison and Cross Recoba.
Steve Morrison: Welcome, fans, to Tap Out Wrestling 5…headlined by a battle for third position as we see the last matches before the Tap Out Openweight Title Tournament begins!
Cross Recoba: That’s right, Steve! Don’t worry, fans, we’ve got you covered if you’re wondering about the ramifications and possibilities that lay ahead of us on tonight’s show. We’ll be joined by wrestling legend, Va’aiga, who will be keeping both you and I up-to-date on the standings, match-by-match, reporting from the Tap Out SportsCenter!
Steve Morrison: With six competitors across four matches competing to make the cut for the tournament before we get to that main-event, we’re in for quite the night!
Cross Recoba: If it wasn’t clear yet, tonight will prove that at Tap Out Wrestling - EVERY. MATCH. COUNTS!
Steve Morrison: Our first match doesn’t just have those stakes. It raises them even higher.
Brad Kane: If I can’t beat you next month, Adrien, I will go to Cross Recoba and tell him to void my contract and I’ll leave Tap Out. If I cannot beat you, at 43 years old, I’ll exit this company and the Network!
Steve Morrison: Brad has put himself under immense pressure with those words…
Cross Recoba: If we find a way to bring him back from wherever he went on the GUNS finale…
Steve Morrison: His manager has assured us he will be here to compete tonight and so we have this situation - If Kane wins? He could get as high as fourth, even third and a better draw in the opening round of the tournament. That would INSTANTLY eliminate Cochrane…
Cross Recoba: It’d spoil the rest of the year for him here to boot!
Steve Morrison: You’re not wrong but don’t look so pleased about it! If Kane loses? He’s gone from the Network for good BUT Cochrane needs some luck to make the cut!
Cross Recoba: Can Cochrane keep his eye on the prize and not focus on Night of Champions?
Steve Morrison: He found himself in a strong pairing with Florida Man but he has to face his old foe, Dylan Black and the newcomer to the Network, Null!
Cross Recoba: It’s nailed on he’s going to mention ‘that’ win against Black. It’s as inevitable as losing your appetite during a Jeffrey Viper promo!
Steve Morrison: Well, tonight, Adrien’ll be hoping that it’s third time lucky tonight as he sits on a solitary point earned from what some are calling a candidate for Match of the Year!
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!!!
Cross Recoba: I can’t deny that he put in a great performance but losing to a debuting Jack Diamond puts a two-point gap between the two of them.
Steve Morrison: But you can’t say he wasn’t cheated out of victory!
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!!!
Cross Recoba: A veteran move, Cochrane got caught out by it and…well, I’m not going to lie to the Tap Out viewers - he should have seen it coming!
Steve Morrison: Well, I and all the other Guardians fans will be hoping he uses it as fuel to get past Kane tonight! After that, he’ll be keen to keep an eye on our next match which sees the debut of Wildcat Capone against Tommy Strychnine!
Cross Recoba: It’s a match that could well turn into a fantastic brawl….
Steve Morrison: These two men started the six-man tag-match at XHF Supremacy so have a claim for being the first men to compete under the Tap Out banner!
Cross Recoba: We can see just how volatile tonight’s match can be if we look to how they reacted back in January!
Capone looks for a running back elbow…STRYCH MOVES! The Rocker is back on the offensive and pins his opponent in the corner with his own side-elbow. He follows this up with a rapid flurry of punches, forearms and kicks that drop the rookie to the mat. Tommy takes four steps back and raises an arm to the crowd who cheer in anticipation….CANNONBALL SENTON ON THE SEATED CAPONE!!
Morrison: Capone might need to take a breather, he can’t keep eating these punches without them adding up!
THE TWO START GRAB EACH OTHER BY THE HEAD AND START TO RAIN DOWN BLOWS TO THE HEAD WITH LITTLE QUARTER ASKED FOR OR GIVEN!!!
Morrison: Both competitors are going at it full-bore!
Sneaking in a swift knee to the gut, CAPONE LANDS A ROARING ELBOW AND FOLLOWS UP WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX!
Steve Morrison: Capone took some time to hone his skills a bit more and to make sure he was in the best shape possible to compete. He was set to face-off against Long way back in March but that was then postponed and it all leads to tonight where he’ll make his official Tap Out debut!
Cross Recoba: He has a great chance to make an impression. Tommy has all the skills needed to become a player here but the luck and his form haven’t been on his side in the last few shows. If he needs motivation, he NEEDS to win tonight to get through to the tournament!
Steve Morrison: Capone isn’t going to make it easy for him..
Wildcat Capone: Ya see Tommy, i’m here to kick ass. To fight and beat some bitch ass mother fucker. I don’t give a damn if you used to be in a band or if you were a champion in the AWF. Right now you’re at the bottom of the list. A little punk who’s gonna get got and learn why they call me IRN FST. It ain’t some cute nickname, I earned that shit. I’ll knock your bitch ass out with these right here.
Cross Recoba: He knows he has nothing to lose. It’s his first singles match on the Network, he can’t qualify but he can make it as difficult as he can for Tommy to get a result tonight!
Steve Morrison: Our midcard match sees both individuals in a Sudden Death situation. Isabella Von Krauss and Jackalope both need a win to stay in the tournament and, on paper, you’d say the form of IVK is better than that of Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: It’s hard to disagree but Jackalope can come back. Whilst IVK showed off her guile last time out…
Strychnine, still a little dazed goes back to his corner for a second and 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!!
Cross Recoba: Jackalope can keep the match moving, making it difficult for Isabella to find an opening like she did against Strych.
Steve Morrison: Which brings us to our Co-main Event of the evening when Jason Long takes on Dani Anderson!
Cross Recoba: She might have lost against MYŌJIN but she put in a good showing and showed great heart in her losing effort!
Steve Morrison: With MYŌJIN chasing down Ana Somnia in Infinite Pro for their top belt, Dani can’t take the loss too badly.
Cross Recoba: She can’t afford to, with her and Long part of the ‘two-point’ club, it’s going to be a case of sink or swim in this match.
Steve Morrison: Long will want to build on his win over Jackalope and start showing people why he is almost-certainly a future first-ballot XHF Hall of Famer!
Cross Recoba: Both fighters can work a fast-paced match and neither of them are afraid of going for the high-stakes offense…
Steve Morrison: For the winner, a place in the tournament but for the loser?
Cross Recoba: One of these fighters WILL miss out. But, if they can put a run together outside of the tournament? They can get right back into the mix!
Steve Morrison: Which leaves us with just our main-event of the evening! Close Collins takes on The Icon, Jack Diamond!
Cross Recoba: Whilst the tournament might have come too soon for Jackalope, and I hope I’m proven wrong. Close has looked impressive, even in defeat!
Steve Morrison: That loss happened in a closely-fought match against Poena.
Cross Recoba: We’ll be hearing from both Poena and NOMAD later in the show…
Steve Morrison: We will but both of them will want to know what happens in our main-event. Collins took down Long in our first show, can he add another Icon tonight?
Cross Recoba: He’s had the time away to work on his game and I think a large part of how he is performing, compared to other rookies, is the influence of Tuff. Keeping his father in his corner is giving him an experienced viewpoint to assess each fight!
Steve Morrison: Can Tuff out-strategize Jack Diamond though? We saw how he outmanoeuvred Adrien; did the elder Collins ever come up against someone of his calibre in his career?
Cross Recoba: Diamond’s success might count against him, on the Network alone you have days of footage from his matches to pour over!
Steve Morrison: Jack will want to make it two from two but we know that Close will take him to the limit!
Cross Recoba: If I’m Tuff right now, I’m telling Close to push from the opening bell. Jack will want to win the match but he’ll also know that in one week he has the biggest match of his return so far as he enters an eight-man match for the X*Crown at Night of Champions!
Steve Morrison: You might be right, Cross, but you’d have to be a fool to think Diamond will be going half-speed in this match! We saw just how lethal he could be against Cochrane!
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!!!
Cross Recoba: Diamond has to be the favorite for the match but Collins can cause an upset. Beating Long was one thing but he held his own with Poena too!
Spritely and supple, The Young Suplex Master gets quickly back to his feet again, looking to pree his advantage. He doesn’t give Poena any time to think as he slips in behind and locks in a tight back waistlock, immediately falling backwards and sending The Sanctified One arcing over Close’s own head. Again, Close Collins holds on and wrestles Poena back to his feet immediately. Close slides one arm up into a Half Nelson and he drops backwards again SPIKING Poena with a Half and Half Suplex. Another swivel of the hips and another maintained hold sees the pair standing again and now Close moves up his other arm, now holding The Sanctified One in a Cobra Clutch. Close AGAIN throws Poena backwards, this time finally releasing his vice grip and dropping Poena right on the crown of his head. Poena slumps against the ropes and then, possibly deliberately, possibly tactically, falls through and down to the outside.
Steve Morrison: TUFFPLEX! And Poena is in a heap on the outside.
Cross Recoba: Close Collins appears to have gone through every suplex class that Jayson Matthews and his father ever offered.
Steve Morrison: What I do know is that tonight is going to be the biggest show we’ve put on…
Cross Recoba: The most expensive you mean…
Steve Morrison: Now, we go over to Va’aiga who’ll be keeping us up-to-date throughout the night!
Standing by in a studio is no other than the Maori Badass, Va’aiga. Several screens stand behind him.
Va’aiga: Kia ora, Tapout wrestling! For those who need to know and those who need to be told again, you’re looking at the former 5 time heavyweight champion of the world, The Maori Badass Va’aiga. And tonight, The Maori is here to keep you up-to-date as we go through the night and make sure you know the standings and implications in every match!
Va’aiga: With no Poena, NOMAD or Gordon here, every match still counts. Will Gordon be safe? The Maori does not know but that’s the risk she’s taken.
The rankings fade away as we’re back with Va’aiga.
Va’aiga: What the Maori does know is that Adrien Cochrane is under the gun. He needs to win, he needs to go for Match or Spot of the Night and even then…he needs Wildcat Capone to win! Tommy Strychnine? If he wins, Adrien is out but if that happens and Danni Anderson and Von Krauss win? That takes down Styrch’ too.
Va’aiga: The Maori’s telling you now, these brackets WILL change! Jack Diamond loses and he and Erin may find themselves in the last two places. And whoever ends up down there? You’re up against Poena or NOMAD in round one. No one wants to go through the tourname with a snapped motherfuckin’ finger and NOMAD has been on a tear. You get a bad matchup round one and you’re strugglin’ through Losers’! Even if you make it to the final you have to find TWO pinfalls or submissions while the motherfucker who cruised through the top bracket only gots ta beat you once.
Va’aiga: The Maori is gonna be here all night keepin’ you genned on how this all falls. Ka kite anō, Tapout!
Laura Messier: WELCOME TO TAP OUT WRESTLING FIVE!!!!!...Your opening match is set for one fall! 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: He knows that his destiny is not in his hands tonight!
Cross Recoba: All he can hope for is a win and the bonus points to fall in his favor.
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: Eddie Walker went through the eventualities, Va'aiga went through them too. He will be focused on the win first, knowing that he's in for a tense night regardless.
Cross Recoba: If he puts in a performance like he did against Diamond, the wins will start coming...
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: Are you turning into a Cochrane fan?
Cross Recoba: Pfft, if he could just wrestle without the inane talking I'd tolerate him.
Laura Messier: And his opponent...
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: That is the look of a man who has literally gone to hell and back!
Cross Recoba: He said in the build-up to tonight that he was relishing ruining the dreams of Cochrane. The loss to Spike won't have helped his preparation.
"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: What a war that was! Can he battle through the injuries and wear and tear that match put on him?
Cross Recoba: He has to know that Walker and Cochrane will have pored over that match ahead of tonight.
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: The intensity behind the scream is still there, can he back it up once that bell rings?
Cross Recoba: He put his contract on the line, a very lucrative one at that.
Laura Messier: From New Orleans, Louisiana, weighing in at one hundred ninety pounds, he is "THE DROPKICK KING"!!!! ...ADRIEN COCHRANE!!
Cochrane acknowledges the fans in the crowd before putting on a game-face that tells everyone watching, he didn't just come to win. He came to claim Match of the Night!
Laura Messier: And his opponent! 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!!!!
BK soaks in the atmosphere as he looks towards Cochrane and smiles, intent on stopping the tournament hopes of his opponent.
OPENING MATCH
Singles Match
Adrien Cochrane vs Brad Kane
The referee signals for a bell and we’re underway. There is careful circling to start, both competitors throwing loose kicks as range finders. Brad Kane is the first to land something of note as he tags Adrien Cochrane with a leg kick. Cochrane winces but fires back with a flat footed front kick that sends BK reeling back towards the ropes. The Irishman hooks his arms over the top rope to steady himself but The Dropkick King is quick to follow up, striding across the ring and lashing Kane across the chest with a fearsome knife edged chop. A second follows quickly, then a third before Brad Kane is sick of this, unravels his arms and switches the position, landing a chop of his own, a second, a third and a rapid fire machine gun chop sequence.
Steve Morrison: In a battle of strikes, who wins?
Cross Recoba: Adrien Cochrane has the technical edge, that’s for sure. But Brad Kane is double tough and that counts for a lot in this industry.
Kane grabs Cochrane and hauls the man from NOLA into a powerful Irish Whip. The Irishman follows until he hits mid ring and sets his feet for a shoulder block but Cochrane uses his mobility to leapfrog over the standing BK. Cochrane heads for the far ropes and bounces off, turning back towards Brad Kane. The Dropkick King leaps and corks his body up in mid air, looking for one of his oh so pretty Dropkicks. Brad, knowing exactly what’s coming, flattens himself to the mat and ducks out of the way but this is far from the first time Adrien’s had a dropkick avoided and he shapes his body in mid air as he falls post dropkick and turns the situation into an elbow drop! Kane rolls away before Cochrane has a chance for an early cover.
Steve Morrison: Now that’s innovative from The Dropkick King!
Cross Recoba: The thing about being a world renowned dropkick artist is you have to miss a few to get that title. And knowing what to do when you whiff is part of the skill set.
With more than a little flair, Cochrane rolls off Brad Kane and back to his feet. The Cajun Sensation backs up and lines up a low kick, swinging his leg to catch BK in the ribs as Kane sits up. Adrien raises a finger as he lines up his next angel of attack, rushing past Kane, bouncing off the ropes at a rapid pace before running through and past BK, taking a look down to check hoow far Kane has raised his back off the mat before hitting the near ropes and diving two feet first into a running shotgun dropkick. Cochrane covers…
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Brad Kane kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Adrien Cochrane will dropkick you from anywhere, too anywhere, at any time.
Cross Recoba: Professional Wrestling is all about finding an edge and sticking to it. Cochrane is proving that right now.
As Adrien backs off to consider his next move, Brad Kane stands, shaking off the last couple of impacts. The Cajun Sensation charges back in, swinging for a high kick but Kane ducks and snaps off a rapid German Suplex. Cochrane gets back to his feet and Kane winds up the backfist, looking to spark Adrien out with a single blow. Cochrane has to back away to the ropes to avoid getting his head knocked off by the spinning Kane. With his back presented, just for a second, Kane stumbles backwards a half step post missed backfist and Cochrane dips his head under Brad Kane’s shoulder, backdropping Kane over the ropes and onto the ring apron, on his feet. Adrien backs away and charges again, looking for a leaping leg lariat over the ropes and both competitors fall off the ring apron in a crumpled heap.
Steve Morrison: Big spill to the outside there!
Cross Recoba: Adrien Cochrane needs to beware. Out of the ring is something Brad Kane is far more comfortable with.
On the outside, Adrien and Brad stand, slowly, untangling themselves. Adrien goes for a kick to the gut, nice and simple, looking to trap Brad Kane in a front facelock. BK is wise to this and ducks through so the pair are back to back before ducking a little and hook Adrien’s arms into a backside position. Kane lifts Cochrane’s arms a little and BACKSLIDES HIM INTO THE RING STEPS! COCHRANE’S SHOULDERS MEET THE STEEL!
Steve Morrison: OK that’s an innovative way to use your surroundings.
Cross Recoba: Even the simplest of moves can be accentuated with a hardcore edge if you know what you’re doing.
Brad Kane looks to finish Adrien off outside of the ring and roll him in. He lets Cochrane get to his feet on wobbly legs and steps to a side, corking his body up and then WHEELING AROUND INTO A MASSIVE URAKEN.. BUT ADRIEN COCHRANE DUCKS! BRAD KANE’S KNUCKLES CRASH INTO THE RING POSY!
Steve Morrison: BK BACKFIST TO THE RING POST! THAT COULD SHATTER YOUR HAND!
Cross Recoba: The problem with being outside. There’s so much to hurt your opponent with. But there’s so much to hurt YOURSELF with.
With Kane desperately clutching his fist, Adrien Cochrane has a thought. He use the time to back away from Brad Kane and starts walking slowly up the ramp. Kane is still in agony, that powerful backfist of his being his undoing. Cochrane walks a little further away. And further still. At the very top of the entrance ramp Cochrane turns….
Steve Morrison: What has Adrien Cochrane got in mind?
Cross Recoba: Oh, I can guess.
...BEFORE RUNNING, FULL PELT, DOWN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE ENTRANCE RAMP! AS HE APPROACHES THE RING, TRAVELLING AS FAST AS HIS LEGS WILL CARRY HIM COCHRANE COURSE CORRECTS TOWARDS KANE AND JUMPS, EXTENDING THE FLATS OF HIS FEET OUT AND NAILING BRAD KANE WITH THE BIGGEST DAMN RUNNING DROOOOOOOOOOOOOPKICK YOU HAVE EVER SEEN! KANE GOES FLYING!
Steve Morrison: DROOOOOOOOOOPKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK!
Cross Recoba: Short odds on that being the plan.
Adrien rolls Kane into the ring and then quickly climbs the ropes, calling his shot by ppointing at the fallen Brad Kane. As Kane slowly, ever so slowly gets his cohesion back, his shoulders leave the mat only for Adrien to come flying off the top, knees to shoulders, crushing Kane down to the mat…
Steve Morrison: CRESCENT CITY CONNECTION!
Knee press keeping Kane firmly pinned to the mat…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Laura Messier: The winner of our opening contest…THE CAJUN SENSATION…ADRIEN…COCHRANE!!
We cut to Va’aiga as he stands in the TOW SportsCenter.
Va’aiga: Looks like The Motherfucker went and did it! Now, he can only sit and wait.
Va’aiga: The Maori knows that sixth spot ain’t secure for the Cajun. It also means that Tommy needs to beat Wildcat Capone to remain in the game! Can he do it? That pressure is all on him, chur!
Va’aiga throws a shaka sign as we head back to ringside.
A public park is shown. Brandon McKay sits at a bench as the Summer sun rays beat down on the suited interviewer.
Brandon McKay: Thanks, Steve! I’m here at Lorenzi Park here in Las Vegas, Nevada. A surprising setting for a surprising guest. I’m joined here by none other than The Nightmare from the Ninth Deep..Poena.
The cameras show an extremely disgruntled figure. Poena is running his hands over each other, over and over, as he looks around the park. His tattered finery is even more obvious in the light, the blood stains standing out even more, just like his visible scars. He sneers when he sees other people enjoying the sun and the warmth, looking back over at Brandon after a moment.
Poena: You drag me from His glorious worship to answer meaningless questions out in this place of cheer and warmth? Ask them before I decide to use you for the offering…
Brandon McKay: I’ve got say Poena, I can understand why your opponents are worried about you…
McKay glances at the camera crew as if to see if they have his back.
Brandon McKay: With your seeding all but secure, you find yourself the top seed in the second half of the brackets. Will that be an advantage in the tournament or do you think some might see it as a target on your back?
Poena: The truly faithful always have a target on their back. Those who bring the truth… The sheep are the ones that feel fear. The others will talk tough and attempt to show their might, but they feel that fear in the depths of their soul… they know the predator is stalking them, and soon they will be nothing but food for my God.
McKay looks visibly shaken by the response. He clears his throat as if to move the interview forward.
Brandon McKay: You talk about your opponents and we’ve seen you have memorable matches at every Tap Out Wrestling show so far - is there anyone in particular you’re relishing stepping into the ring with?
Poena: Must you even ask? NOMAD requires more lessons in My God’s worship. The others are cows in a slaughterhouse, marching dumbly to their own death and destruction. Nomad understands, but CHOOSES to ignore! With his actions at the last, he continues to build the debt he owes to me and my God. I will drag him before Him and flay his flesh away till nothing remains but a screaming hunk of bone and GRISTLE!
The sunny and very public space chosen for the interview gives McKay no comfort as he visibly recoils at the emphasis on the last word. Wondering what he did to annoy Cross Recoba enough to land him this gig, he soldiers on.
Brandon McKay: With both of you on opposite sides of the bracket, can you keep it together enough to get to that meeting?
Poena: Do you doubt me, little sheep? Do you doubt the power of my God?
Poena growls and leans forward over the bench, his eyes focusing on Brandom for the first time… an intense stare. If McKay looked worried before, his eyes now dart looking for an exit that doesn’t exist.
Poena: Do you think that I won’t keep my word? That I won’t find him and bring him to his knees in blood and glorious pain? My rage may have taken me the first time we fought, But this time… This time I will break him.
The emphasis once more lands with enough venom to make our not so intrepid reporter squirm in his place.
Brandon McKay: Ermm…with so many stars in the tournament, is there not one you fear? Maybe one that you see as the dark horse of the tournament?
Poena: You think I fear any of them?
Poena’s voice has grown quiet at the mere thought, leaving his lips in a sibilant hiss as he grits his teeth.
Poena: If the little reporter doesn’t know what fear is, then perhaps I should show him… show him a taste of my God’s power.
Poena’s voice rises to a growl as he leans in again. McKay matches the movement by rearing his body backwards to keep the space.
Poena: I fear nothing, but if you ask who I think might surprise their foe and make it to fight The Dark Saviour in the final? Close… or Errrrrin. I would deeply enjoy breaking them again, watching the spirit in their eyes crumble. There are your dark horses, little fool.
McKay looks down to see that Poena has grabbed him by the collar. He coughs and once more indicates the hand on him. The Dark Saviour grunts as he lets the reporter go.
Brandon McKay: How can you be so sure you’ll make the final? With a fifty-fifty record, some might argue that splitting your time in Tap Out and HardKore World could be a distraction. What’s your strategy to make sure you come out with your arm raised as the first-ever Tap Out Wrestling Openweight Champion?
Poena: This sheep bleats in a most blasphemous way.
Poena locks eyes with Bradon, subjecting him to the full force of his hypnotic gaze, the madness in his red eye focused as in the other colors swirl in a mesmerizing way.
Poena: I will make it to the end of this trial by the virtue of my faith and the power of my God. I exist to spread his message of redeeming pain to you sorry rabbits. I am the predator, the snake. The poison of my words will weaken and corrupt till there is nothing left to stop me. Perhaps, little lamb, you need a taste… an object lesson in the foolishness of wasting His time. Drink of the rot you've earned!
Poena grins, his words and gaze having made Brandon unaware of his own hand moving and being grabbed… till it was far too late
SNAP
A bloodcurdling scream from McKay brings him back to reality. The feed fades as the camera crew rush to pull the interviewer out of harm’s way as Poena cackles madly.
Poena: This is what you all deserve! REPENT!!!
Laura Messier: Your second match of the evening is about to begin!
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: Ever the showman, can he make it through to the tournament tonight?
Cross Recoba: I'm a huge fan of Tommy but his last few matches have seen him come up short and he needs to redress that fact tonight!
Tommy spins around when the lyrics start and shrugs off the robe, lip-synching along to the song and imitating playing guitar as he makes his way down the ramp, stopping to take selfies and give high fives to fans along the way.
Steve Morrison: He has perhaps two of the most devastating moves in Tap Out. That slingshot springboard V-trigger and the slingshot somersault lariat.
Cross Recoba: He just hasn't found the opening for either the last couple of shows.
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: Tommy's the heavy favorite tonight, can he use his experience to carry him into the tournament?
Cross Recoba: You'd back him to but Jason Long knows all about troublesome rookies.
Laura Messier: And his opponent...
The opening lyrics of the song begin to play as the camera pans across the venue. It eventually cuts to show Wildcat up in the concession stands, walking through the door and into the highest row of seats on the ground floor of the crowd.
Steve Morrison: Fighting from Kentucky, raised in street gangs, can Capone take what he learnt on the streets and use it tonight?
Cross Recoba: He's not just a smash-mouth brawler, he takes nods from the strong style of Japan.
He beats his chest before throwing up some middle fingers as he walks through the fans and makes his way down the stairs.
Steve Morrison: Capone weighed in slightly heavier, will that be a deciding factor tonight?
Cross Recoba: Wildcat is the shorter wrestler so I'd expect his strikes to land a little harder.
He gets about halfway down before he starts walking through the crowd some more. Ignoring the hecklers and haters as he gets into the zone before his match. He gets a joint from behind his ear and lights it up, taking a few hits before walking towards the ring. He hops the barricade, moving in sync with the music, he looks around himself once more, taking it all in. Walking up the stairs he goes through the ropes and heads into the ring.
Steve Morrison: With no points on the board, Wildcat is fighting for pride and to put himself on the map.
Cross Recoba: Look at what happened to Collins. Wildcat will look at him in the main-event and know that he needs to work out how to get there so quickly in his career!
Laura Messier: TO MY RIGHT! 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!!!
Strych flashes a smile at the crowd and starts to run around his corner of the ring, perhaps trying to unnerve the rookie.
Laura Messier: And TO MY LEFT! Fighting out of Lexington, Kentucky...he weighs two-hundred-and-eight pounds...he is MR 859...The STONE...COLD...KILLA...WILDCAT...CAPONE!!!
The Kentucky Brawler looks unmoved by his opponent's antics and mind-games. He stares straight through the Rocker.
SECOND MATCH
Singles Match
Tommy Strychnine vs Wildcat Capone
“Big” John Quinn calls for the bell and we are LIVE!
Steve Morrison: This could be a PIVOTAL match in the tournament.
Cross Recoba: Strych knows that a win here would put Adrien’s spot in danger even after his win against Brad Kane.
Steve Morrison: He also knows that a loss here would effectively knock him out.
Cross Recoba: If the match starts to go against Tommy, I’m expecting him to go into the bag of tricks that “Big” John Quinn isn’t going to want to see.
Capone looks confident as he emerges from his corner. He swings an arm windmill style as if to stretch out his muscles ahead of the match. As he looks towards his opponent the smile he wore during the introductions has dropped into an expression of focus.
Steve Morrison: With his first match on a Tap Out branded show, Wildcat is looking like he’s ready to cause an upset.
Cross Recoba: He has everything to gain tonight. We only saw him in bursts during the six-man at Supremacy, now it’s time for him to take the opportunity and shine.
Strych turns to face the crowd and raises an arm to elicit cheers from the Vegas audience. Turning to face his opponent, he watches curiously as he sees the rookie circle around to his right. Each step deliberate so that he can track this almost unknown quantity.
Steve Morrison: Tommy looks wary of his opponent.
Cross Recoba: He’s at a disadvantage, Wildcat has had months of footage to go back on just in Tap Out. The only footage of Wildcat was in that six-man match and because of their nature, you find your own style being sped up and distorted. Tommy will have watched the match back, doubtless, but he’ll know it’s a facsimile at best.
Drawing closer to each other, Strych takes the opportunity to break the deadlock and reaches forward to grab an arm-and-collar lock-up..he eats a forearm! Wildcat stays with him and follows up with another forearm to the head of the Rock ‘em Sock ‘em Rocker!
Steve Morrison: Two big forearms from the rookie!
A third follows, pushing Tommy into the corner. IRN FST mixes it up with a boot to the midsection which is immediately followed with an open-handed uppercut to the chin.
Steve Morrison: The street-style brawling from Capone has put him in the driving seat in the early stages of the match.
Cross Recoba: Tommy is no slouch in that area though…
A flurry of punches rain down on the head of the former AWF United States champion. Capone props him back up in the corner and the hushed crowd hear the sickening thud of a headbutt.
Steve Morrison: A stiff headbutt and right now, I’m seeing comparisons between Capone and Tomohiro Ishii.
Cross Recoba: IRN FST, Stone Pitbull, it’s a fair comparison. Can he keep the intensity up like Ishii though?
Bringing his man out of the corner, Wildcat whips him to the ropes. Strych hurdles over the backdrop attempt and comes back off the ropes..Cross-body block!!
Steve Morrison: It hasn’t worked for Tommy!
Capone catches him and puts him over his shoulder. With a deft turn of his body he plants him with a running powerslam!
Cross Recoba: You don’t see that move often enough for my liking!
Steve Morrison: He drilled him into the canvas!
Cross Recoba: Each of the moves he likes to finish matches with target the head and neck of their opponents, that powerslam isn’t going to do either body part many favors.
He gets to his feet and the business face drops momentarily as he takes in the applause from sections of the crowd. With the acknowledgement done he runs off the ropes and sees Strych start to sit up…Sliding Clothesline!!
Steve Morrison: SLIDING D!
He makes the cover..
ONE..
T-
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: Maybe a bit premature but I’d put good money on Wildcat wanting to finish the match with either his Koppu kick or the Thunder Fire Bomb!
Steve Morrison: You might be right. Capone though is looking to keep on top of his opponent.
Tommy uses his agility to move outside of the reach of Capone and uses his opponent’s inexperience to catch him with a dropkick as he rushes in.
Cross Recoba: He baited him into a mistake.
Steve Morrison: Perhaps his inexperience came to the fore there.
Using his in-ring years, Strych catches the rookie out as he steps towards him with a fireman’s carry takedown. Leaving no time for Wildcat to recover, Tommy places a side-headlock on his opponent.
Steve Morrison: What’s the rationale behind slowing the match down now?
Cross Recoba: It’s about controlling the tempo. Strych will know that Wildcat will want to show off his skills in this match, make a good first impression.
Rotating his opponent round, Strych tries to hide several closed fist punches but Quinn spots them almost immediately.
ONE…
Strych carries on.
Steve Morrison: Oblivious to the count!
TWO…
A smile as he lands another punch
Cross Recoba: You get til the count of five, he’s just exploiting that rule.
THREE…
Another punch and this time a wink to the match official.
Steve Morrison: And taunting an official who won’t stand for much more gloating!
FOUR…
Strych puts his punching arm into the air as if to signify he’ll keep the headlock on by itself.
Steve Morrison: Finally, a clean break.
Capone tries to swing a leg towards the ropes but his more experienced opponent has his legs pointing towards the middle of the ring.
Cross Recoba: Those punches, legal or not, will have served their purpose.
Steve Morrison: Wildcat didn’t get the memo…
Changing tact, Capone starts to use his power advantage. He pushes up onto his knee.
Cross Recoba: Can Tommy adjust the hold, make him bear the weight of him?
Keeping the momentum going, he powers back to a standing base. Strych keeps the headlock in place. Capone pushes his opponent into the ropes and fires him off.
Steve Morrison: He hits the ropes…
Strych rolls under the clothesline attempt. Capone turns around with the momentum and is met with a PELE KICK!! Tommy follows this up immediately with a sharp elbow drop to the sternum of Capone.
Steve Morrison: A quick one-two from The Rocker!
Cross Recoba: He’s reminding Wildcat that he can brawl, he can fly but he can also wrestle. He’ll want to get inside the head of the rookie.
Bringing IRN FST back to his feet, Tommy shows off his own brawling skills with alternating rights and left to the body of Capone, pushing him back against the ropes. Quinn asks Strychnine to step back, The Rocker complies..
Steve Morrison: Perhaps Quinn’s words earlier had an effect…
HE CONNECTS WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT WITH WILDCAT STILL ON THE ROPES!
Cross Recoba: Or he lured the official into a false sense of security.
Steve Morrison: It was nothing but a cheap shot!
Cross Recoba: An effective cheap shot.
Wildcat turns and holds onto the ropes but The Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Rocker drives a forearm into the kidneys of Capone…GERMAN SUPLEX!!
Steve Morrison: He rolls through…
TOMMY GOES FOR THE PIN WITH A STANDING MOONSAULT…
ONE…
TWO….
KICKOUT!
Steve Morrison: Capone gets an arm up!
Using the arm that Wildcat raised off the mat, Strychnine drags him to his feet and pulls him in for an uppercut…he swings a kick…Capone catches it and throws a forearm to the head of the Rocker…
Steve Morrison: He read the move well, what can he do with it? He spins him around..
LEG-CAPTURE GERMAN SUPLEX WITH A BRIDGE…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: That impact must have shaken the spine of his opponent!
Cross Recoba: If Tommy thought this would be a walk in the park for the two points, that move definitely readjusted his viewpoint.
Strychnine rolls to his feet but Capone cuts him off before he can make a move. He connects with a vicious knife-edge chop…
Crowd: WOOOOO!!!
Steve Morrison: Wildcat continues to pressure Strychnine.
He throws another one, the sound of it connecting echoing throughout the arena. A snap kick to the gut allows Capone to send his opponent into the corner.
Cross Recoba: Wise approach, he’s cut the ring off.
Wildcat grabs the head of Tommy…headbutt! He takes a few steps backwards…ROARING ELBOW!! Strych stumbles out, clearly dazed…
Steve Morrison: Tommy’s in trouble…
BRAINBUSTER!!!
Cross Recoba: Once more he goes back to targeting the neck of his opponent!
Steve Morrison: He dropped him like a stack of dimes!
As Strych’s head meets the canvas, a roar from the crowd is heard.
Steve Morrison: The Vegas crowd are firmly behind the debuting wrestler.
IRN FST looks for the pin.
ONE…
TWO..
T-KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: This time, Tommy gets a shoulder up!
Reacting quickly, Capone grabs the raised arm and uses it to bring Strych to his feet. He connects with a short-arm side-elbow to the head of his opponent and headbutts him once more for good measure.
Steve Morrison: What can he make of this?
Cross Recoba: He has his arms around the waist…
GUTWRENCH SUPLEX!
Steve Morrison: Can he turn this offense into a winning position?
Cross Recoba: He’s in the moment, which makes it hard to find the best time to go for a killer blow. Add in the lack of experience inside the ring and it’s hard to pull him up on.
The long hair of Strychnine is used to bring him to his knees. Still holding onto the mane, WILDCAT UNLEASHES WITH A SERIES OF VICIOUS KAWADA KICKS TO THE FACE OF HIS OPPONENT!!
Steve Morrison: Each kick connecting flush with the face of Strych!
Cross Recoba: Notice how he’s flicking his boot as it connects. He’s making sure those laces open up tiny cuts. Not enough to bleed but if you get sweat in them? It’s going to be a painful distraction when you need your full focus!
The rookie keeps hold of the hair still and brings him to his feet. He lifts him onto his shoulders…
Steve Morrison: He looks for that Death Valley Driver…
Cross Recoba: His own momentum has been turned against him!
STRYCH DROPS DOWN THE BACK AND GRABS A SLEEPER-HOLD!
Steve Morrison: Once more, Tommy tries to put the tempo back on his terms!
Cross Recoba: Jim Londos introduced it to wrestling in the thirties and there’s a reason why it’s lasted ninety-one years in the game!
Taking advantage of Capone’s inexperience, the Rocker has the hold cinched in. He scans the ring and pivots his opponent so his back is to the ropes.
Steve Morrison: Excellent ring control from the more experienced wrestler.
Cross Recoba: The sleeper isn’t just a move to transition from, it makes your opponent have to fight against it to escape it. Each attempt that fails saps energy from you and, if you don’t have an immediate escape, it will just grind you down.
Capone tries to grab the head of his opponent but Tommy rears his head back away from the reach of the rookie.
Steve Morrison: Wildcat perhaps trying too hard for a way out. He went for that escape option but telegraphed it.
Using the slight height advantage, Tommy leans all of his weight down into the hold. The camera zooms out to show that Wildcat’s leg is slowly folding under him as he comes down to a knee.
Tommy Strychnine: ASK HIM!
“Big” John looks to Capone.
Wildcat Capone: NO!!
Taking his man further to the mat, Strych further imposes his weight onto IRN FST.
Cross Recoba: Look how Tommy is making him carry his weight. These two aren’t dissimilar in size and weight but these small touches are going to reduce whatever power advantage Wildcat had.
Once more, Quinn checks to see if Capone is still conscious. Tommy takes advantage and adjusts his body, placing his feet on the middle rope for more leverage.
Steve Morrison: Quinn can’t see it! The crowd do though!
The crowd boos and the feet drop back to the mat.
Cross Recoba: You’ve got to take your chances.
Quinn lifts the arm…
IT FALLS!
He checks again…
IT FALLS ONCE MORE!
Steve Morrison: Wildcat finds himself in critical danger here!
A third check..
IT FALLS BUT CAPONE STOPS IT FROM GOING ALL THE WAY!!
The crowd start to get behind the Kentucky native.
Crowd: LET’S GO WILDCAT! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* LET’S GO WILDCAT! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Steve Morrison: Can Capone reverse his fortunes?
He fights to a knee as the crowd’s fervor increases.
Steve Morrison: He’s halfway there.
Cross Recoba: That hold will have taken its toll. Strychnine is making him fight for every inch.
Battling against the hold, he manages to weave his body out of the sleeper but Tommy manages to keep hold of him in a side-headlock.
Steve Morrison: Is he looking for the suplex?
Releasing the hold, The Rocker connects with an uppercut to the throat of the rising Capone, taking the breath out of his opponent once more.
Steve Morrison: He just took the wind right out of him!
RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP TO THE TURNBUCKLE!
Cross Recoba: You should never just see Strych as one-dimensional. He loves to play that opinion up!
Tommy grabs the head…BULLDOG!!
Cross Recoba: He knows his place is at stake tonight. He knows he can’t risk doing just enough to get by!
Rushing to the turnbuckle, Tommy leaps to the top…
Steve Morrison: Can he connect?
REVERSE FACING SENTON!!!
Steve Morrison: STAGE DRIVE!
TOMMY LEANS BACK WITH THE COVER…
ONE…
TWO…
THR-KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: Let down by the nonchalant cover. He hooks a leg, covers a shoulder? This one was over!
The look on Strych’s face tells us everything. He can’t believe it!
Steve Morrison: Now he has to pick himself back up and work out a new plan to get the win!
As Tommy stands up, “Big” John is quick to emphasise that it wasn’t a three-count.
Cross Recoba: Quinn cutting him off before he can protest.
Steve Morrison: With the way he’s taunted the match official, he deserves it!
Strych goes to the ropes as Wildcat starts to get to his feet.
AXE KICK!
Steve Morrison: HE MISSES!
WILDCAT MOVES OUT THE WAY….ROLLING KOPPU KICK!!
Steve Morrison: ONE LESS BITCH!
Both men are flat on their back as Quinn starts the count.
Cross Recoba: But he can’t take advantage of it!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
Strych starts to stir. The camera shows Capone breathing heavily.
Steve Morrison: Strych might be the fresher man.
Cross Recoba: But he has to realize that he cannot keep taking those blows to the head and hope to come out with the win!
FOUR…
FIVE…
Tommy starts to get to his feet.
Steve Morrison: The Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Wrestler can see that his opponent is still trying to find that second wind.
SIX…
SEVEN…
The Rocker stops the count as he gets back to a vertical base. He walks over to his opponent and begins to bring him back to his feet.
SAITO SUPLEX OUT OF NOWHERE FROM CAPONE!!!
Steve Morrison: JUICY!!!
Cross Recoba: Can he take advantage of it though?
Still showing the after-effects of the sleeperhold, Wildcat’s footing looks unsure as he scoops up Strychnine from the mat and places his head between his legs.
Steve Morrison: Wildcat wants to end this. Could we see Protect Ya’ Neck?
HE LIFTS HIM UP…
TOMMY ROLLS DOWN THE BACK OF HIM AND HOOKS HIS HANDS AROUND HIS LEGS…SLINGSHOT INTO THE TURNBUCKLE!!
Cross Recoba: Desperate times call for desperate measures!
Steve Morrison: He’s not finished yet!
Strychnine goes to the opposite corner…HANDSPRING DROPKICK TAKES CAPONE TO A SEATED POSITION…
Steve Morrison: He connected at full-force with that dropkick!
Rolling to the center of the ring, Tommy charges in….ROLLING SENTON!!!
Cross Recoba: Can he find that rhythm?
He props up Wildcat….SHINING WIZARD!!!!
Steve Morrison: He nearly decapitated him!
HE COVERS…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
CAPONE WEAKLY KICKS OUT!!!
Steve Morrison: He kicks out at the last!
Cross Recoba: I can’t see this match going much longer. Both competitors look dead on their feet!
Picking up his opponent, Strych connects with a flurry of forearms…Wildcat stumbles back into the ropes AND FLOORS TOMMY WITH A ROARING ELBOW!!
Steve Morrison: A wicked roaring elbow from the Kentucky native has Strych reeling!
Cross Recoba: He ate those forearms and fed them back to Tommy. A great display of what the Japanese would call ‘fighting spirit’.
Steve Morrison: He isn’t done yet…
Staggering back, the Rocker is helpless to stop Capone hitting a lifting tackle that takes him into the corner.
Steve Morrison: Almost a rugby tackle there as he dumps Tommy into the turnbuckles!
Cross Recoba: Wildcat needs this offensive play to work as I can’t see him being able to hit another one of this intensity.
Capone connects with alternating rights and lefts to the jaw of Strych and finishes with a headbutt.
Steve Morrison: That sickening thud goes right through you.
Cross Recoba: It is, however, highly effective.
Rearing back, CAPONE LANDS A HUGE SPLASH IN THE CORNER!
Steve Morrison: Wildcat has a rhythm going…
Lifting his opponent to the top-rope, Wildcat follows….
Cross Recoba: Is he going to put an exclamation mark on the match?
TOP ROPE BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX!!!!!
Steve Morrison: TOP-ROPE TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY!!
He hooks the leg…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
“Big” John Quinn calls for the bell.
Laura Messier:: The winner of this match, as a result of a pinfall…WILDCAT….CAPONE!!!!
“Bitch don’t kill my vibe” by Lemar starts to play across the ballroom. Quinn grabs the hand of Capone to raise it. Tommy is still flat on his back as he sees his tournament hopes fade.
Steve Morrison: A lifeline for Adrien!
Cross Recoba: And a great debut for Wildcat!
Steve Morrison: This is where the dream ends for Tommy.
Cross Recoba: In terms of being the first Openweight Champion in Tap Out history, yes. But I have some plans to make sure that anyone who doesn’t make the cut won’t get bored being in Tap Out.
Steve Morrison: It’s time to go over to Va’aiga and find out how the tables are looking ahead of Jackalope taking on Isabella Von Krauss!
Va’aiga: What a debut for Wildcat, the motherfucker went out there and spoiled Tommy’s title hopes! Impressive stuff but The Maori thinks he needs to add a motherfuckin’ lariat to his arsenal!
Va’aiga: Now we have the first of the sudden death matches. Can Jackalope get into the tournament and chalk one up in front of his own iwi? The Maori’s unsure, von Krauss is a sick bitch! A win for either would cement their spot and I can’t see either of them slackin’ off in tonight’s contest!
Steve Morrison: August on the Network looks to have a bright start as Wrestle: UK brings us Legacy: Nottingham.
Cross Recoba: I’ve spoken to fans at Infinite Pro events and they’re ecstatic that the Network now seems to have a focus on the British isles.
Steve Morrison: And presumably, it drives up your asking price for IPW?
Cross Recoba: Every cloud…
Steve Morrison: On August 6th, Wrestle: UK presents a card that has two matches that really stand out. Firstly, the six-man match to determine the contender for their Commonwealth title…
Cross Recoba: You’ve got a heap of talent in there. From the established Rob Riot, all the way to a guy I saw during my brief SWAT stay - David Vector. Vector will be looking to make his name in this match!
Steve Morrison: It has to play on the current champion’s mind, how will that affect his preparation for his defence that night against Psychotic Goth?
Cross Recoba: There’s two schools of thought for this one. Firstly, if you’re not prepared for your match the day of the show, it’s never a good sign. Ergo, if you have everything in order then you can start to see where the danger in your next contender lies and work out where the gaps exist that you can exploit. Alternatively, you don’t get to become a champion without some level of skill and maybe Eron Hunter is just going to see the match as an inevitability.
Steve Morrison: IF he retains…
Cross Recoba: Of course.
Steve Morrison: Closing out the show is a match that has bloodbath written all over it. Donzig and Eddie D face-off in what promises to be a match guaranteed to have the fans talking about it long after the final bell has rang.
Cross Recoba: Hardcore is Donzig’s style and Eddie D has the power to make any match with weapons involved into one of his own making. For me though, I can’t help but think Donzig might be at a disadvantage. He has a two-out-of-three falls match against Esmeralda Von Krauss at Night of Champions and that’ll be his fifth match-up in July. Eddie doesn’t have that issue, he’ll be the fresher man by far.
Steve Morrison: Don’t miss it, folks. Wrestle: UK’s Legacy: Nottingham show airs exclusively on the XHF Network on August 6th!
Laura Messier: It's time...for your mid-card match of the evening!
“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: Of all the people on the roster, Isabella has to be one of the most divisive members here in Tap Out!
Cross Recoba: She doesn't take prisoners, she doesn't care how she gets success - she just wants it!
They hold down the ropes for her to be able to step into the ring and follow her in.
Steve Morrison: Her goons, as always are joining her at ringside. They could play a deciding factor tonight.
Cross Recoba: IVK will have done her due dilligence, if they can stop Jackalope getting into his groove then they've done their job.
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: With this being a sudden death situation, Isabella is only too aware that failure is not an option.
Cross Recoba: A large reason she was brought in to Tap Out is that she is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Tonight's situation provides the perfect occasion for her to put those strengths at the forefront of her gameplan.
The opening chords of Big Shot slam into the speakers, bringing the fans to their feet as Jackalope charges through the curtain.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope could make a real statement with a win tonight.
Cross Recoba: He's easily one. oour most popular wrestlers but his inexperience has translated into spotty form. If he can turn it around with a win tonight, he could have a good chance of making his name in the tournament.
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 seems amped up for the match tonight!
Cross Recoba: Jackalope is the heavier competitor, a situation he might not see too often.
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'll need all of his skills tonight. He must realize he is facing three opponents instead of just one.
Cross Recoba: I've been in this situation, the key is to make sure that you never forget that the one is the ring is your main priority. Hohoho and Humhumhum may try to impose themselves on the match but he cannot let them dictate the bout!
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!!!
Von Krauss stares a hole through Jackalope with contempt.
Laura Messier:And her opponent! Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada...Standing at five-feet and nine-inches, he is The Chaos Bunny.... JACKALOPE!!
The hometown hero gets a cheer from the crowd as he lifts up a fist and starts to bounce on the balls of his feet.
MIDCARD MATCH
Singles Match
Isabella Von Krauss vs Jackalope
With Laura Messier stepping out of the ring, Steve Tyrell takes a moment to deliver some last-minute instructions to the two competitors.
Steve Morrison: This match could test Tyrell’s skills.
Cross Recoba: He served his apprenticeship in Ascension Wrestling. If he can handle Legion he can handle a pair of clowns.
Steve Morrison: I was on about Isabella, we saw just how cunning she can be when she beat Tommy Strychnine last month.
He ushers Hohoho and Humhumhum out of the ring, they leave albeit begrudgingly. As Tyrell explains to IVK what he expects, the eagle-eyed viewer can spot the exact syllable she tunes his voice out on as her eyes roll into the back of her head. She nods, trying to speed the procession up until Tyrell stops talking. She gives a final nod to be rid of him.
Steve Morrison: One word describes the look worn by von Krauss, contempt.
Tyrell starts to deliver the same instructions to Jackalope; he looks psyched up for the match. He turns his back so that he can focus whilst Tyrell delivers his expectations. IVK PEARL HARBORS HIM WITH A RUNNING FOREARM TO THE BACK OF HEAD!!
Steve Morrison: She jumped the bell!
The bell rings.
Cross Recoba: The match is underway!
Not letting up from her unsporting attack, IVK continues to trap Jackalope in his corner. Her fists connecting with his face again and again. She sneaks a Rabbit punch to the Adam’s Apple of her opponent.
Steve Morrison: This is nothing short of common assault!
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen Jackalope take to the skies at every opportunity, this is containment. Nothing more, nothing less.
Tyrell starts to remonstrate with her, she turns to face the lecture AND MULE KICKS JACKALOPE AS SHE DOES SO!
Steve Morrison: Tyrell had no chance in seeing that.
Cross Recoba: Straight out of my own playbook.
Steve Morrison: What she lacks in technical skills, she makes up for upstairs. I’m being charitable.
With the lecture over, The Daughter of Evil turns her attention back to Jackalope who has been dropped to the mat by the kick. She starts to lay the boots into him, each stomp that connects keeping Kid Cryptid down.
Steve Morrison: Isabella is determined to keep Jackalope grounded.
Cross Recoba: She doesn’t need the finesse of a Poena, this is playing to her strengths!
She leans over and replaces the boots with punches to the head of her opponent.
Steve Morrison: Unrelenting in her attack, Cross, can she keep this up?
Cross Recoba: She’ll keep going. The question is how much of this can Jackalope take and still hope to mount an attempt for the win?
Going back to the stomps, she places a boot on the throat of Jackalope and uses the top-rope for leverage, choking him out. Steve Tyrell starts the count…
Steve Morrison: She isn’t even trying to hide the cheating now!
Cross Recoba: IVK knows she needs to win to guarantee a place in the tournament. If anything, her commitment to making the cut needs applauding!
Steve Morrison: Unbelievable…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
FOUR…
FI-
She lifts the boot off of his throat and smiles with fake sincerity at the match official.
Steve Morrison: von Krauss eking out every millisecond she could of Tyrell’s count.
Using the top-rope for momentum, she leaps up and DRIVES A KNEE INTO THE THROAT OF HER OPPONENT!!!
Steve Morrison: He could have an esophageal rupture from that move!
Cross Recoba: Let Steve call the match in the ring, just let the fans at home know what they’re seeing.
Steve Morrison: Tyrell agrees with me!
Once more, Tyrell finds himself having to lay down the law and warns IVK that he can and will throw out the match if she continues.
Steve Morrison: She needs to tread carefully…
Grabbing the Chaos Bunny by his legs and positioning his head onto the ring apron…SHE GUILLOTINES HIM ON THE BOTTOM ROPE!!!
Steve Morrison: That’s DQ-worthy!
Cross Recoba: Perfectly legal. Jackalope though might not have the same spring in his step we’ve seen in each of his matches.
Jackalope holds his throat with both hands, struggling to get air back into his body.
Steve Morrison: Can Jackalope overcome what’s been a less than ideal start?
Cross Recoba: He should have rolled out of the ring to buy time to recover.
Giving her opponent no time to fully recover from the onslaught, IVK drags him up and grabs a front-facelock. She twists…Swinging neckbreaker!
Steve Morrison: Finally, an actual wrestling move.
Cross Recoba: The swinging neckbreaker has been the cornerstone of her offense since we’ve seen her on the Network.
She rolls over and hooks the leg…
ONE…
T-
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: He might be short in the gas tank but his tenacity remains!
Beating the Chaos Bunny to their feet, IVK lands a rising knee to the face that puts him on his back once more and dives to the mat with a forearm that finds its home. In full-mount now, she lets fly with quick jabs to the forehead of Jackalope. She stands up abruptly, almost pleased with her work and approaches Tyrell explaining that she can fight fair.
Steve Morrison: Odd, she wasn’t even close to being cautioned…
Hohoho and Humhumhum GRAB JACKALOPE AND PULL HIM TOWARDS THEM! With his head hanging off the apron one of the clowns drives an elbow right into his windpipe!
Steve Morrison: Someone needs to get those clowns out of there!
Cross Recoba: Excellent game management from Isabella.
The crowd boo vociferously but The Daughter of Sin has ensured that Tyrell has his back to the cheating.
Steve Morrison: Can’t Tyrell hear the boos?
Cross Recoba: You can’t officiate on crowd reaction, Steve.
Seeing that her clowns have done her bidding, IVK grabs the head of Kid Cryptid…SPINNING NECKBREAKER!
Steve Morrison: Once more she goes back to the neckbreaker!
Cross Recoba: Looking for the pin here…
She hooks a leg…
ONE…
T-
KICKOUT!
Steve Morrison: Even with the leg hooked, Kid Crypid shows that he’s down but not out in this match!
Looking incensed at the front on Jackalope for kicking out, IVK lifts up Jackalope…he answers with a knee to the midsection and follows it up with a Pump Kick.
Steve Morrison: He’s trying to get some distance between the two…
Jackalope rushes towards von Krauss and leaps, he pushes up…WHEELBARROW ARM-DRAG!!
Cross Recoba: There’s that agility and speed that makes Jackalope such fun to watch and a nightmare to face!
Steve Morrison: He’s looking to chain his offense together.
He keeps hold of the arm and uses it to bring her to her feet. He snaps the arm towards him…A HURRICANRANA TAKES HER DOWN!!
Steve Morrison: A short-arm hurricanrana sends IVK ot the mat!
She rushes back to her feet but Kid Cryptid keeps on her with a Japanese arm-drag. He rolls backwards and rushes off the ropes…BASEMENT DROPKICK TO THE FACE OF ISABELLA!
Steve Morrison: He’s making sure he gets payback for the early stages of the match!
Cross Recoba: Whilst Isabella has the clowns in her corner, Jackalope has enlisted his extra man.
Steve Morrison: The crowd are almost deafening in their support.
Crowd: JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE!
Isabella looks up and starts to pull herself towards the ropes. The Chaos Bunny rushes to the ropes..FLIPPING NECKBREAKER!!
Steve Morrison: Right out of the pages of Curt Hennig!
Cross Recoba: Is it enough to get the pin now though?
He drops for a cover…
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: She pushes the Chaos Bunny off of her.
Cross Recoba: He hasn’t completed his work yet.
Quick to his feet, Vegas’ adopted son charges at The Daughter of Sin…SPINNING WHEEL KICK…NO!! IVK DUCKS!!
Steve Morrison: She had that kick scouted!
Cross Recoba: Can Jackalope keep on the pressure?
Rolling over the top, Jackalope is stopped by the ropes. He gets back to a standing base BUT von KRAUSS CATCHES HIS HEAD WITH A LIFTING MUAY THAI TIGER KNEE!
Steve Morrison: Straight out of the Sagat playbook!
Cross Recoba: First Danni brings Final Fight to the ring so of course Street Fighter needed to make an appearance.
Steve Morrison: She connected cleanly and Jackalope could be in real danger.
Grabbing at the multi-coloured hair of Jackalope, she wrenches him to his feet and scoops him onto her shoulder. She runs forward and plants him with a shoulder-breaker.
Steve Morrison: Softening him up for The Krack of the Kharnival, perhaps?
Keeping hold of her man, she lifts him back onto her shoulder…MICHINOKU DRIVER!!!
Cross Recoba: SHE PLANTED HIM CLEAN ATOP HIS HEAD!
ONE…
JACKALOPE GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES…
TWO…
THE REF DOESN’T SEE IT AND MISSES ONE OF THE CLOWNS PUSHING IT OFF!
THR-
JACKALOPE GETS A SHOULDER UP!!
Steve Morrison: What a series of events in a matter of seconds!
Cross Recoba: That’s a sign that Jackalope has taken onboard his previous matches and improved from them.
Steve Morrison: HoHoHo managed to take that leg off the rope without the referee seeing a thing!
Cross Recoba: But he managed to adapt even after the interference.
Kid Cryptid is quick to his feet and rushes to the ropes to threaten the literal pair of clowns. In return, they goad the Vegas resident.
Steve Morrison: It’s a trap, Jackalope!
Taking full advantage of the distraction, IVK leaps up and wraps her legs under the arms of Jackalope and falls backwards into a pin…
ONE…
TWO…
JACKALOPE ROLLS OUT FROM THE PIN!
Steve Morrison: A cute pin attempt from the Daughter of Sin but still the Chaos Bunny rallies on!
Keeping up the high-tempo of the match, both fighters are back on their feet. A quick triplet of kicks from Jackalope find their mark, each one sending IVK back. Jackalope grabs her arm and whips her to ropes before following her into them. He comes off the ropes and meets her as she rebounds off the opposite set…SPINNING WHEEL KICK!
Cross Recoba: This time he connected and made her eat all of it!
Steve Morrison: It all stemmed from those quick feet of his. Tap Out has some tremendous strikers on the roster but Jackalope keeps improving in that area match-to-match!
The crowd continue to be behind Jackalope.
Crowd: WE LOVE YOU CRYPTID, WE DO! WE LOVE YOU CRYPTID, WE DO! WE LOVE YOU CRYPTID, WE DO! OH, CRYPTID WE LOVE YOU!
Steve Morrison: Another British stag do in attendance?
Cross Recoba: Have you not seen the US vs British soccer fan videos on TikTok? It came from there!
Steve Morrison: At least it doesn’t mention Adam Johnson…Jackalope looks buoyed on by the crowd support, Can he get a sustained period on top of this match?
A quick smile from the multi-colored luchador prefaces him picking up von Krauss. He uses her arm to bring her into an elbow smash to the side of the temple that leaves her dazed…
Steve Morrison: He gears up…
GUYVER KICK!!
Steve Morrison: UNLUCKY RABBIT’S FOOT!
He takes a few steps back from his fallen opponent but HOHOHO TRIES TO GRAB HIM!!
Cross Recoba: You won’t admit it but this is an extremely well-engineered plan from von Krauss to disrupt any momentum that Jackalope gets!
A SHARP BOOT THE MIDSECTION OF HOHOHO DOUBLES HIM OVER!!!
Steve Morrison: That’ll teach him.
JACKALOPE SENDS HOHOHO FLYING OFF THE APRON WITH A BULLET-LIKE DROPKICK TO HIS HEAD!!
Cross Recoba: That might even rival Cochrane’s!
The Chaos Bunny glances at the Daughter of Sin as she remains down. He leaps through the ropes to the apron and runs towards the turnbuckle…
Steve Morrison: Jackalope is being forced to take high-risks…will it pay off?
HIS SOMERSAULT LEGDROP LANDS!!!
He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
TH-
KICKOUT!!!
IVK gets an arm up at the last!
Steve Tyrell: TWO!!!
Steve Morrison: IVK showing she knows the meaning of tenacity as well!
Cross Recoba: You don’t get to her level of cruelty without being able to handle at least some damage.
The referee’s announcement deflates the crowd slightly.
Trying to keep his momentum going, Jackalope picks up Isabella once more and backs her to the ropes...IVK GOUGES THE EYE OF JACKALOPE BUT TYRELL CAN SEE NOTHING!!
Steve Morrison: Once more, IVK uses the referee’s view against him!
Cross Recoba: If I open a wrestling school, that will be a clip I use to teach the dark arts of the ring!
The fans boo but the match continues. IVK swings her arms..EAR POP! Quickly dropping to a knee she targets a palm strike to the knee of Jackalope…She hooks the head in a front-facelock…
Steve Morrison: She goes back to the well…
ANOTHER SWINGING NECKBREAKER!
Cross Recoba: Notice how she torques the neck of Jackalope each time. Without it, that neckbreaker is painful but the addition causes that extra damage upon impact!
She hangs onto the head and rotates them both, locking on a front-facelock. She pulls them up so both competitors are on their knees. She pushes her body up…
Steve Morrison: Can you see that glint in her eye? It spells nothing but trouble!
A VICIOUS KNEE TO THE RIBS OF HER OPPONENT!!
AND ANOTHER!!!
THE THIRD AND FINAL ONE DRIVES THROUGH THE RIBS!!
Cross Recoba: Our medical staff will be on standby after this match. Jackalope’ll be lucky if all he has are bruised ribs. I’m sure I heard a crack!
Keeping hold of the head, The Daughter of Sin grabs the shoulder of Jackalope and spins him around BEFORE LAUNCHING HIM SHOULDER FIRST INTO THE RINGPOST!!
Steve Morrison: We all heard that clank as shoulder met post!
She peels him from the corner with a roll-up…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
JACKALOPE KICKS OUT TO A THUNDEROUS ROAR FROM THE VEGAS CROWD!!
Steve Morrison: The Chaos Bunny is determined to come through this!
Cross Recoba: He knows how big of a deal his qualification to the tournament would be. The exposure it’d get him and even the experience it would bring to him. He’s guaranteed two matches if he makes the cut and think about what he could learn from a Diamond or a Cochrane!
Steve Morrison: Neither of those, nor Jackalope are there yet and IVK seems determined to not just win the match but to maim her opponent in the process!
Cross Recoba: IF Jackalope gets through this, whoever he does face will surely be keeping tabs on how complete a camp he undertakes with the injuries he must have suffered in this match!
IVK quickly whips Jackalope to the corner and charges in…NO-ONE’S HOME!
Steve Morrison: He got out of Dodge!
Cross Recoba: von Krauss rebounded from the corner!
QUICK TO CAPITALIZE, JACKALOPE HITS A REVERSE SLINGBLADE!!
Steve Morrison: HOLD OUT PISTOL!!
Rolling through, Jackalope gets to the apron…
Steve Morrison: He has options here. Could we see a Shooting Star or moonsault DDT?
Cross Recoba: Depends how much he has left in the tank…
Humhumhum hangs onto his boot!
Steve Morrison: The clowns are relentless!
Kicking the clown away, Jackalope takes a couple of steps…RUNNING ROLLING SENTON TAKES DOWN THE CLOWN!!!
Crowd: THAT WAS AWESOME! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* THAT WAS AWESOME!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope takes out the interference but at what cost?
Cross Recoba: IVK’s starting to get to her feet.
Favoring his shoulder, Jackalope climbs back onto the apron but IVK looks to grab him…he drives a shoulder into the midsection of von Krauss…
Steve Morrison: What can he make of this?
HE LEAPS WITH THE SUNSET FLIP…
ONE…
TWO…
T-
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: IVK’s head bounced off the mat as she went over there!
Cross Recoba: He got the power the move needed in there.
As the two wrestlers rise, Jackalope grabs the head of IVK and inflicts a neckbreaker of his own!
Steve Morrison: A bit of tit-for-tat…
Following up the move with a swift kick-to-the-gut, Jackalope grabs IVK with a double-leg lift…
Steve Morrison: He has her in the air…
HE GUILLOTINES von KRAUSS ON THE TOP ROPE!!
Cross Recoba: That whiplash effect rocked her head back!
The cameras zoom in to see Isabella using the ropes to gain some time to recover.
Steve Morrison: von Krauss might not know where she is.
Cross Recoba: The ropes’ll be a clue but as for where the Chaos Bunny is, she’s going to be lost!
Jackalope spots the opening and charges off the ropes…
SIX-ONE-NINE!!!
Steve Morrison: BUCK YOU!!!
Climbing into the ring he waits as he catches a moment.
Cross Recoba: He knows what needs to come next, the crowd can sense it!
Jackalope arches backwards…SPIDER WALK…
Steve Morrison: Could it be?
The Daughter of Sin hasn’t spotted the danger…
Cross Recoba: Isabella’s stumbling and unsighted…
SPEAR! SPEAR! SPEAR! SPEAR! SPEAR!
Steve Morrison: DEAD MAN’S SWITCH!!
The ballroom erupts and Jackalope looks to make the cover, hooking the leg…
Cross Recoba: He wants to make sure…
THE CLOWNS HAVE ENTERED THE RING!!
Steve Morrison: Can you believe it? They need to be sent to the back!
Steve Tyrell goes to go for the count but spots the intrusion!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope could have the win sewn up but for the clowns!
Crowd: ONE…TWO…THREE!!!
Jackalope realises the referee is nowhere to be seen and spies the source of the distraction.
Cross Recoba: He needs to think carefully…
Tyrell starts to shepherd them out but JACKALOPE STEAMS IN, LOOKING TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS!!
IVK LOW BLOWS HIM!
Steve Morrison: Utilizing that distraction to perfection.
Cross Recoba: Clearly part of their gameplan.
She lifts him up and over with a snap suplex and rolls…
Steve Morrison: She continues…
ANOTHER SNAP SUPLEX!
Steve Morrison: She’s not done…
THIS TIME AS SHE ROLLS, SHE FLOATS OVER WITH THE SUPLEX!!
ONE…
TWO…
THRE…
TYRELL SPOTS THE LEG ON THE ROPES THIS TIME!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope gets out of dodge!
Cross Recoba: This has been a war between two people determined to make the cut for the tournament!
Steve Morrison: The loser will know that they’ll have to rely on bonus points to remain in the tournament and neither fighter will want to face NOMAD in the quarter-finals!
The crowd come back to life as their hometown hero survives!
Cross Recoba: Can Jackalope rally to a victory tonight?
Steve Morrison: Every person inside the arena tonight is pulling for him.
IVK lifts Jackalope to his feet…STEP-UP ENZIGURI CONNECTS WITH THE SIDE OF VON KRAUSS’ HEAD!!
Steve Morrison: He drops her to the mat with that kick!
He drops back into an arch…
Cross Recoba: We know what that spider walk means…
HE GOES FOR THE SPEAR…
JACKALOPE EATS A KNEE TO THE FACE…
Steve Morrison: Isabella drew him in and connected flush with that knee!
Cross Recoba: She’s not finished yet…
BACKFLIP KICK FROM ISABELLA!
Steve Morrison: FEET OF DESPAIR!!!
SHE FOLLOWS UP WITH A ROUNDHOUSE KICK!
Cross Recoba: She got him with the double! Jackalope is in trouble…
Climbing to the top-rope she leaps off the top…
Steve Morrison: He’s back on his feet but he can’t see what’s coming…
A FLYING KUNG-FU CHOP TO THE BACK OF THE NECK TAKES DOWN KID CRYPTID!!
Steve Morrison: KRACK OF THE KHARNIVAL FROM THE TOP!
Cross Recoba: That dropped Jackalope like ‘that’!
She covers…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!!
Tyrell signals for the bell as the clowns enter the ring.
Steve Morrison: Von Krauss ekes out the victory, not without assists from her clowns!
Cross Recoba: Doesn’t change the fact that she has booked her place in the tournament!
Laura Messier: The winner of this match…ISABELLA…VON…KRAUSS!!!
Tyrell goes to lift her arm up in victory but the Daughter of Evil shakes off his hand as if disgusted by the idea. She rolls out of the ring with her clowns in tow.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope has every right to feel hard done by. The fight was never fair even before the bell had rung!
Cross Recoba: He might have lost the match but he has won over every fan in attendance tonight and no doubt a few more watching on the Network!
The cameras show the crestfallen face of Jackalope as he sees his tournament dreams disappear.
Steve Morrison: Can he still make the cut? We’ll be going to Va’aiga for the latest update!
HALF-TIME SHOW
We return from the halftime break to a pre-recorded video, depicting a dark room somewhere backstage. Chair, desk and a curtain in the background with Tap Out logo emblazoned in the centre. This image lies still for a few moments, before a figure enters the frame. Dragging the chair back and sitting down, revealing a microphone in hand as he rests his elbows on the desk.
No One: Y’know, back in twenty nineteen when I stood in an AWF ring and told Danica Ziko to take the job and stick it… It felt like the weight of the world left my shoulders. Like all the time spent spinning my wheels was just the prologue to some grand story of triumph that was about to play out.
No One: I did what you’re supposed to do if you wanna be the biggest star possible, I bet on myself. Bet that I was above having a finger stuck in my face and told what my place was. Bet that I could be the professional wrestler that all the other men and women at my level were pretending they could be. So, I jump ship to AXW where my future starts.
The figure looks ahead, out to some vague distance that chronicles every beat of the story in vivid detail. The lights in the room turn on, illuminating their drab contents. None more so than the man sat in the chair, James Dragon.
James Dragon: And AXW closes, of course. So I'm left on my ass out without a job. I figure the wrestling world’s just not ready yet for James Dragon. So, I go back to acting. Something that’d been blossoming for me before I dipped my toe into the XHF Network. As it turns out, acting’s no longer ready for me either. What d’you do then?
Face turning to the camera, expression unreadable. There is no indication of feeling beyond the fact that his question is not rhetorical, he is still trying to find an answer.
James Dragon: Years of… drinking, working dead end jobs, wondering where exactly things didn’t work out. The world isn’t a very nice place, I’m not naive. I know it doesn’t pan out how it should for everyone. But I had it all just… just slightly away from my grasp. I reached out, then it was gone. Which, I guess, leads me here.
Gesturing outwards with both arms, basking in the sanctity of the Sands Hotel & Casino, the home of Tap Out. Enthusiasm dripping from his words and movements like tar. His arms drop back onto the table.
James Dragon: I’m under no illusions about my place here. There’s a JD that showed himself through something like this not too long ago. My time on the Network has taken great pains to highlight there’s a vast difference in perception between James Dragon and Jack Diamond. I’m not here to rekindle the glory days or try and desperately cling on to relevancy I know isn’t there any more. I’m here… I’m here…
Words fail him. Dragon shuts his eyes, grimacing. They open, glassy and lifeless as he stares back towards the camera.
James Dragon: Tap Out is filled with some of the best professional wrestlers on the planet. Established veterans like Brad Kane and Jack Diamond, up-and-coming prospects like Poena or Close Collins. I have, personally, had the honour and privilege of helping train NOMAD, aka James Sloane. I understand how I look, compared to that roster.
Knuckles clench gently. Dragon’s jaw slides outwards as he looks away.
James Dragon: I was - and occasionally still am - an extremely overqualified manual labourer. When I do work, I make somewhere around twenty seven thousand a year. At home, I’m surrounded by reminders of my own failed potential in two different fields. My name value is nonexistent and I have watched all of my friends, colleagues and enemies surpass me in every way imaginable. I don’t know why I’m in Tap Out.
His eyes narrow.
James Dragon: I’m hoping to figure that out.
He stands and walks away, leaving the Tap Out logo hanging quietly as we fade back to ringside.
Steve Morrison: Yet another signing for Tap Out. Longtime fans of the Network may remember his time in AWF where he was often tipped for success and showed flashes of being able to one day headline Clash of the Icons. Do you think he'll rediscover that form?
Cross Recoba: He wouldn't have a contract if I thought he wouldn't! Dragon isn't NOMAD big but he is has a size advantage on the majority of the roster. Combine that with a mean streak tied to a brain wired for technical wrestling and it's a no-lose pick-up for Tap Out Wrestling!
Steve Morrison: And presumably, you two were fine when signing the contract?
Cross Recoba: I hate Chris Card, he hates Chris Card. It was almost like a Freemason meeting!
Steve Morrison: Folks, don’t forget we are just one week out from XHF’s Night of Champions. Coming to you live on the 29th July only on the XHF Network!
Cross Recoba: It’s a stacked card and one where you can see title matches from almost every company on the Network take place in one night!
Steve Morrison: Not us though…
Cross Recoba: It’s why we’re doing this whole tournament though…two matches stand out for Tap Out though. First, we have Adrien Cochrane teaming up with Florida Man to take on Dylan Black and Null!
Steve Morrison: If they win, they’ll face whoever comes out on top between Nelly Angel and Darlene Price and El Combatiente and Aiden Merric!
Cross Recoba: I’m not even hiding the fact that I want Merric and El Combatiente to face off in the final for the XHF Junior Heavyweight title!
Steve Morrison: Not Cochrane?
Cross Recoba: And give him another platform?
Steve Morrison: In the main-event, we see Jack Diamond try to bring home the X*Crown to Tap Out as he squares off against seven other competitors!
Cross Recoba: He should have put Rat Bastard away, that’s the kind of thing that’ll come back and haunt you!
Steve Morrison: Some tremendous talent on display in that match, and across the evening. Cross, are you not going to take an interest in the Infinite Pro Wrestling title match?
Cross Recoba: Explain this to me, I win the IPW Openweight title and I have to defend within the first two shows. What does Ana Somnia get? Some form of Oprah platform to bore the crowds to death with and then a show off! She’s going to be the exact opposite of a fighting champion!
Steve Morrison: So, you want MYŌJIN to come out on top?
Cross doesn’t respond. He reaches under the desk and places a MYŌJIN t-shirt from the XHF Shop on the announcer’s table.
Steve Morrison: That settles that then. Fans, this could be THE EVENT OF THE YEAR on the Network! Make sure to add it to your planner and don’t miss out on what could be the night where two Tap Out stars win the top Network belts on one show!
Steve Morrison: It wasn't just Poena who had a visit from Brandon McKay. He caught up with the Number One seed in the tournament to get his thoughts on how he saw the competition going down.
We cut to a pre-recorded video tape.
The view of the Nevada desert remains limited, the flickering light of a campfire illuminates only the very near as the camera shows a stick being used to stoke the flames into action by an unseen hand.
The eerie silence of the desertscape is only broken intermittently by the cracks and hisses that the fire emits.
The camera pans and we see XHF Columnist and now seemingly reporter, Brandon McKay sitting on a log fashioned into a makeshift bench. As he turns to greet the camera and audience at The Sands Hotel and Casino and at home, it is evident he isn’t too comfortable in his current surroundings.
Brandon McKay: Welcome, Tap Out fans!...
The pause weighs heavy in the Nevada night air.
Brandon McKay: I’m Brandon McKay with you for If The Walls Could Talk: On the Road! I’m joined by none other than the locked-in Number One seed for Tap Out Wrestling’Openweight tournament and still undefeated….NOMAD!
Cut to NOMAD. He stokes the fire, his body language unreadable if gauging his demeanour.
Brandon McKay: Thanks, NOMAD, for taking the time to talk to me. I know the fans have been getting behind you as you continue to brush past every obstacle placed in your way. Will that undefeated streak and your top seeding being cemented give you a psychological edge over your opponents in the tournament?
NOMAD lets the stick fall into the fire, embers rise into the air in response. He then drops into a low crouch.
NOMAD: No.
An awkward pause. McKay is puzzled. NOMAD sighs.
NOMAD: All being number one does is put ya on a pedestal. All it does is create pressure. Pressure to perform, pressure to win. Some people can handle it, some people can't. I can. I feed off of it. That's what drives me, and in turn, what will keep me at number one. I ain't so naive as to think I can't be beaten, but it ain't gonna happen anytime soon.
McKay smiles, as if trying to establish some kind of rapport with Sloane.
Brandon McKay: With that confidence you must see the tournament as an opportunity to face off against some of the stars of the Tap Out roster that you haven’t faced. Who’s the name that stands out most as the one you’d want to face in the ring?
NOMAD smirks and eyes the camera momentarily.
NOMAD: Jason Long.
Brandon McKay: Really? Jason Long?
NOMAD: When I first signed with Recoba, Jason Long was the guy I asked for out of the gate. I got Brad Kane instead, which while I appreciated what that match meant, was a step down from what I wanted. Even if it doesn't happen in this tournament, it is gonna happen eventually.
McKay smiles and relaxes, not much but enough to ask his next question with more confidence than trepidation.
Brandon McKay: You mention Long and, providing he beats Danni Anderson, he could well be your first-round opponent. We saw him lose in a flash knockout at GUNS Fight Club 1, will you be looking for your Scorched Earth Piledriver to make quick work of him and your other opponents? Or is this where you tell us you’ve got another gear to step up to that you haven’t shown yet?
NOMAD: Knowledge is key. See, knowledge is often forgotten in my opinion. I believe that knowledge should be a basic fundamental, taught alongside hiptosses and headlock. Yet everything you do or say gives a bit of that knowledge away so I ain’t gonna give it away for free. Whether it's a piledriver, or a classic boot upside the dome, that all comes secondary to knowledge.
NOMAD taps two fingers to his temple.
NOMAD: This, up here, is where the greatest victories come from.
Brandon McKay: So just what are you thinking about exactly?
NOMAD flashes a quick smile and responds coldly.
NOMAD: I ain't giving it away for free.
Thrown by the cryptic response, Brandon attempts to go to his next question. His words come out slow and measured as if gauging where the line is.
Brandon McKay: Going back to Long, is he your outside tip to go all the way in the tournament? There must be someone in the running that you can see winning if it can’t be you…
NOMAD: If it can’t be me?
NOMAD stands from his low crouch.
NOMAD: I’m not concerned with what might happen, or who will make the finals. The only person I want to see standing in the ring when this reaches the end is me. I’m not thinking about dark horses, or what anyone else is doing, or where they could end up. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. My focus is singular. My focus is what’s best for TAPOUT, and what is best for TAPOUT is for me to become the first ever champion in company history.
McKay goes to respond, NOMAD cuts him off by raising a hand.
NOMAD: Listen, I know what the company line is right. I know what the answer that you want me to say is. You want me to say “I want Poe in the finals” because we have some unfinished business. That’s partly true, I don’t like leaving things unfinished and as far I’m concerned he ain’t been finished yet but whenever he stands across from me again? He will be. Whether or not it happens in this tournament is not something I care about. What we’re talking about here is bigger than any grudge, it’s bigger than any one person, we’re talking about a championship, about a chance I’ve never had before. FAW, NGW, ARK, ACE, Rocket Pro, Japan, England, Mexico. All the places I’ve ever been I’ve never once been THE guy, I’ve never been at the top. I’ve always known that I could be up there, but never reached it.
NOMAD: TAPOUT is my shot! Hell, it might be my last shot to be at the top. So I ain’t letting any goddamned thing get in the way of that!
With that, the camera throws back to the announce team at ringside.
Steve Morrison: It's going to take a lot of guts and determination to try and take down NOMAD.
Cross Recoba: He's self-aware enough to know that this might be the best chance he gets on the Network, that he's put in the hard yards and now just has to make sure he can see it through to completion.
Steve Morrison: That is true. We've got Va'aiga on hand to let us know how those standings are looking and what the possible brackets could look like!
Va’aiga: The Maori has seen some wars in the ring and THAT. WAS. A. WAR! Jackalope came close but von Krauss lived up to her rep tonight!
Va’aiga: Who will join them in the tourney? Will it be Jason Long proving why he’s a motherfucking Icon or will we see the luchadora, Danni celebrating?
Laura Messier: AND NOW...FOR YOUR CO-MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!!
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.
Steve Morrison: You know what this means? Your favorite co-commentator will be joining us!
Cross Recoba: I can't wait...
“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!
"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: Much like our last match, whoever wins will make the cut for the tournament and Danni's lucha-inspired offense has become a crowd favorite but can it get her to the dance?
Cross Recoba: She might meet her match tonight. If she can address where she fell short against MYOJIN last month then she has a great chance. Long won't make it easy for her though. He knows his reputation would take a HUGE dent if he didn't make the cut.
“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!"
Out of the ring, Leina grins and jumps down to take her place at the commentary table. In the ring, Danni bounces to the music and she's ready for the match to begin.
Steve Morrison: Here she is. Cross, what's her key to victory?
Cross Recoba: Danni needs to make sure that she calculates every risk before committing to it. MYOJIN worked out that if she overextends herself, half of his job is done and all he had to do was target her weak spot.
The sounds of a siren playing in the background of the whispers of a voice, the lights become dark inside of the arena as the titantron lights up with a feed of static, showing multiple shots of Jason Long holding a collection of championships over the past five years.
As the opening synthwave beat to ‘Kingslayer’ begins to play over the speakers and echoing throughout the arena as it erupts the crowd, a singular spotlight separates itself from the rest and shines down onto the entrance curtain. With the vocals from Oli Sykes kicking in, 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.
Steve Morrison: Long will want to make the cut, as we said earlier, but what's the pressure on him going to be like?
Cross Recoba: With his fellow Icon, Jack Diamond, looking good to be in the tournament it's going to play on the competitiveness that makes Long such a dogged and successful wrestler. If he doesn't make the cut it won't just be weighing on his mind but that of his peers as to whether he's gone soft.
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.
Steve Morrison: Putting away Jackalope last month saw a return to form for Long, you'd have to say that Danni is similar in her ring-style.
Cross Recoba: She is but Long needs to make sure that he can take charge of the match, make her do the hard yards...
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 hardcam 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.
Steve Morrison: Long tends to break down opponents, make them pay and work on the counter and, for me, Danni has shown that she wrestles for the highlight reels a bit too much. Where might he find a potential banana skin in the match?
Cross Recoba: Danni's high-octane. inthat ring. She's going to want to keep the match moving and at a horrifically fast pace. If Jason lets her do this, he might find it hard to get back into the match!
Jason out-stetches his arms wide and roars out to the crowd, keeping a smile on his face as he does. He 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: Can The Catalyst take down the Semper Fairy?
Cross Recoba: We'll start to find out in just a couple of minutes!
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!!!!!!
Danni smiles for the camera before getting back into the game and looking across the ring at The Big Bout Machine.
Laura Messier:And their opponent… wrestling out of Wexford Town, County Wexford, Ireland and weighing in tonight at one hundred and ninety-five pounds… HE IS THE LAST BREATHING MERCENARY… THE KING OF WRESTLING… THIS IS JAAAAAASSSOONNNNNNNNNNN LOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!!
As his name is called, Long holds out his arm at full stretch and takes in the roar of the crowd.
CO-MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Danni Anderson vs Jason Long
“Big” John Quinn seems satisfied that all is in place and calls for the bell!
Steve Morrison: What can we expect to see with these two competitors, Cross?
Cross Recoba: Fast paced and frantic action. Both can take to the skies, both have hard-hitting offense and possess moves that can end the match in a heartbeat.
Both competitors rush towards the center of the ring. Long immediately looks for a head kick but finds himself spinning round as The Ritalin Kid ducks before grabbing a waistlock and pushing the King of Wrestling to the ropes. She looks to use the momentum to roll him up but he hangs onto the ropes and rolls into the center of the ring.
Steve Morrison: Anderson looking for the quick pin.
Leina Rael: You never know when you can catch someone out with a flash pinfall.
Cross Recoba: Long knows the dangers of that. Just look at his match against Nelly Angel at the first GUNS Fight Club event.
The Icon once more rushes in and is taken down by a headlock. Before The Sweetheart Esper can get it locked in, she finds herself with her shoulders to the mat…
O-
Steve Morrison: Long going for the same opening gambit…
Leina Rael: Mom drills herself on reversing these in her camps.
She pivots her weight back to resume the headlock but, once more, it is only momentary before Jason slips out the backdoor and grabs a hammerlock. Not wanting to be trapped on the mat, Anderson pushes the move to a standing base. In reply, The Catalyst transitions to an arm bar but that is only a stop-gap so that he can whip her towards him…an arm-drag takes the action back to the mat.
Cross Recoba: The Icon’s reminding us all that his mat game is up there with the best in the business.
Steve Morrison: It’s not often he’ll find himself in the ring with someone as quick as himself but tonight might just be that occasion.
Holding onto the armbar, Long tries to keep the hold in place but The Semper Fairy keeps things moving and gets to her feet. Still with her arm locked, she jumps onto the top-rope and flips backwards to unhook herself. Throwing a head kick of her own, this time it’s Long who ducks. He lifts her up for a back suplex…she flips over the top of him and leaps up looking for a shoulder-spin hurricanrana…Long throws her off his shoulder before she can spin!
Leina Rael: Come on, Mom!
Steve Morrison: Neither competitor has a clear advantage just yet…
Cross Recoba: They’re working out each other’s weaknesses. It’s going to be cat and mouse until an opening appears.
Before Danni can navigate her way out of trouble, Long grabs another waistlock, she drops out of it to a seated position but The Best Bout Machine knows the trick and grabs her waist looking for a Wheelbarrow Suplex…Danni takes him down once more with a headlock takedown from the peak of the height!
Steve Morrison: A smooth counter from Anderson.
Leina Rael: Oh no…
Long rolls with it into another pin.
O-
KICKOUT!
Steve Morrison: Those quick pins take their toll. Cross, you’ve said it before but what’s the rationale behind it?
Cross Recoba: You still have to kick out, you still have to expend energy and psychologically? Your opponent is telling you they can get a pin from anywhere.
Both competitors rush to their feet. This time it’s Danni who closes the gap, Jason drops to the floor, she comes back and he leapfrogs her…once more she returns and this time she somersaults into a Judo Roll to avoid the Monkey Flip and leaps off the middle-rope for a springboard back-elbow…Long catches her by the waist…DEADLIFT GERMAN SUPLEX WITH A BRIDGE!!
Steve Morrison: What athleticism from Long!
ONE…
SHE KICKS OUT!!!
Leina Rael: Come on, get back in the game!
Rolling to her feet, she judo rolls out of the way and catches her opponent with a quick double-jab combo ending with a kick to the head that puts Long through the ropes onto the apron.
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen Danni take advantage of this situation multiple times in Tap Out.
Cross Recoba: She’s off...
Thinking fast, she rushes to the ropes with a hesitation dropkick that drops The Big Bout Machine to the floor!
Crowd: LET’S GO DAN-NI! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* LET’S GO DAN-NI!
Leina Rael: That drove Jason to the floor!
Steve Morrison: She’s not finished yet…
Almost feeding off the crowd, she hits the ropes…A CARTWHEEL MOONSAULT OVER THE ROPES CONNECTS!!!
Crowd: THAT WAS AWESOME! THAT WAS AWESOME! THAT WAS AWESOME!
Steve Morrison: The crowd shows their appreciation for what was a highly impressive attack.
Cross Recoba: Impressive, yes. Was it the right move? I’d have left it out. Far too many variables outside the ring that can switch the momentum.
Leina Rael: We’ll see what happens tomorrow night at IPW’s Adrenaline, shall we?
Cross Recoba: I retain, next question.
Quinn has no choice but to start the count…
ONE…
Danni starts to roll to her feet.
Steve Morrison: She made sure that Jason absorbed all of the impact from that moonsault.
TWO…
Long is dazed against the barrier. The Ritalin Kid sprints towards him and launches herself…
Leina Rael: Here we go…
THREE…
THE ICON MOVES OUT THE WAY AS A FRONT DROPKICK DOES NOTHING BUT BUCKLE THE LEGS OF ANDERSON!!
Cross Recoba: That barrier has just taken her advantage away from her.
Steve Morrison: Was Long playing possum?
FOUR…
Long scoops up Anderson onto this shoulders…HE CHARGES AT THE RING POST!!!
Cross Recoba: This could be costly…
THE CLANG STILL RESOUNDS AROUND THE BALLROOM!
Steve Morrison: That sound has just silenced the audience in one hit!
FIVE…
The former XHF Tag-Team Champion rolls Anderson into the ring and leaps to the apron.
Cross Recoba: He’s got his hands around the top rope…
SPRINGBOARD CLOTHESLINE!!
Leina Rael: She can come back from this…
Steve Morrison: The Icon is making it difficult for her now.
Long drops down for the cover…
ONE…
TW-KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: She got the shoulder up. That’s the smart move, less energy than physically kicking out…
Leina Rael: You don’t become a Guardian without some ring smarts…
Picking up the Ritalin Kid by her hair, Long grabs her arm and whips her to the ropes..SHE DUCKS UNDER, HOLDING ONTO HIS ARM TO BRING HIM TOWARDS HER…SHE MISSES WITH THE HIGH KICK AS LONG ROLLS OUT THE WAY!
Steve Morrison: Long seemingly has an answer for her every move thusfar…
The Best Bout Machine catches her on the turn with an Overhead kick!
Steve Morrison: Pele kick! He’s rolling to the apron…
Cross Recoba: This has bad news written all over it for Anderson fans…
SPRINGBOARD KNEE STRIKE TO THE HEAD!!
Steve Morrison: HE LEVELLED HER!
Anderson gets to her feet, acting on a fighter’s instinct but walks into A HANDSPRING ENZIGURI!!!
Cross Recoba: He measured her for that perfectly!
Stumbling from the blow, The Semper Fairy finds herself against the turnbuckles…HESITATION DROPKICK FROM THE IRISH NATIONAL!!
Steve Morrison: Anderson finds herself behind the eight-ball at every turn!
Leina Rael: You never count The Ritalin Kid out!
Cross Recoba: She needs to get in the game immediately or this could be all over.
He lifts her up onto the top turnbuckle…
Steve Morrison: You can feel the atmosphere change…
The crowd noise drops in anticipation as Jason slings her arm over his shoulder…
HE LIFTS FOR A SUPLEX BUT SHE DROPS DOWN THE BACK TO THE SECOND TURNBUCKLE!!
Leina Rael: Yes!
WITHOUT LETTING LONG RECOVER SHE LEAPS UP…CRUCIFIX PIN FROM THE TOP-ROPE!!
ONE…
T-KICKOUT BY THE ICON!!
Steve Morrison: Long looked for the Cosmic Convergence suplex but she had it scouted!
Cross Recoba: He didn’t get the twist in soon enough, if he’d have done that she’d be out of luck to even attempt the crucifix.
Leina Rael: And THAT is why the Ritalin Kid should never be counted out!
The two competitors rush back to their feet. A high kick from Long is ducked and Anderson connects with a Shotei palm strike that catches The Catalyst mid-step and sends him reeling back.
Steve Morrison: Excellent counter from Danni.
Cross Recoba: Can she put the building blocks together?
A European uppercut connects with the chin of the Irishman and a front-dropkick sends him into the corner.
Leina Rael: She’s starting to get into the match…
Machine-gun like kicks to the body drop the former X*Crown Champion to the mat!
Steve Morrison: Rapid-fire kicks to the midsection of Long…
ROLLING SENTON IN THE CORNER!! SHE ROLLS HIM INTO THE CENTER OF THE RING!
Cross Recoba: This is where the match is going to get interesting…
Steve Morrison: Anderson has managed to get the match back on her side.
Leina Rael: She’s moving it up a gear…
Diving between the ropes, she stands on the apron and turns to the crowd making a rolling gesture with her hands.
Crowd: CRACK SHOOT! CRACK SHOOT! CRACK SHOOT! CRACK SHOOT! CRACK SHOOT!
Steve Morrison: The crowd know what to suspect…
Long starts to pick himself up. The Ritalin Kid wraps her fists around the top-rope and leans back.
Crowd: wooooOOOOOAAAAHHHHHH….
Steve Morrison: She leaps…
SPRINGBOARD FRONT-FLIP KICK CONNECTS!!!
Crowd: AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
Leina Rael: CRACK SHOOT!!!
Anderson hooks the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
KICKOUT FROM THE CATALYST!!!
Cross Recoba: Long still has enough to survive.
Steve Morrison: And opinion in the ballroom tonight is split right down the middle!
Crowd: LET’S GO JASON! JASON SUCKS! LET’S GO JASON! JASON SUCKS! !LET’S GO JASON! JASON SUCKS!
Both competitors get to their feet, it’s Anderson who makes the first move as she rushes in searching for a back elbow…it’s ducked and instead LONG HITS A SPINEBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: He plants her down!
Cross Recoba: Did you see that whip?
Not stopping his own momentum, Long hits the ropes…SHINING WIZARD!!!!
Steve Morrison: He drove that impact right through her!
The Last Breathing Mercenary leaps to the top-rope….
Steve Morrison: This could be huge…
FOUR-FIFTY SPLASH!!
ONE…
TWO…
THR-
DANNI BARELY GETS A SHOULDER UP!!!
Leina Rael: Come on!!
Steve Morrison: Can The Semper Fairy get back into the match?
Cross Recoba: Long isn’t going to give her a chance…
He decides against asking Quinn how long three seconds should be and rushes to the ropes…BASEMENT DROPKICK SENDS THE RITALIN KID TO THE FLOOR!!!
The Crowd are split on whether or not that was entirely sporting.
Cross Recoba: They can boo but it was entirely legal.
Steve Morrison: It was but was it fair?
Cross Recoba: Pfft?
Heading to the ropes…LONG FLIES THROUGH THE AIR…
Leina Rael: NO!!!!
OVER THE TOP ROPE NO-HANDED CORKSCREW MOONSAULT PLANCHA!!!!
Steve Morrison: What a move!
Cross Recoba: That united the crowd!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Anderson looks like she took the full force of the impact! Long, in comparison, is slightly better off. He lays, eyes wide open, looking at the lights as he catches his breath.
Steve Morrison: It ignited the crowd but at what cost to Long?
Cross Recoba: He’s going to want to get a bonus point alongside a win to make sure of his qualification.
ONE…
Anderson joins in with catching her breath, albeit holding her ribs as she does so.
Steve Morrison: She’s favoring the ribs, could this be her undoing?
Leina Rael: She has more to her game than just the Double-rotation moonsault. She’ll adapt…
TWO…
Long lifts up his opponent and delivers a triad of forearms to the head that push her against the ring apron.
Cross Recoba: Setting her up for further punishment to the ribs.
Steve Morrison: You might be right there, Cross.
THREE...
Rearing back, he pushes off his back foot looking for a knee to the midsection…HE MISSES AND CONNECTS WITH THE RING!
Leina Rael: YES!
Steve Morrison: How much damage did Long’s knee take?
FOUR…
Connecting with a rising kick to the head of the doubled-over Icon, she rolls him into the ring.
Steve Morrison: Danni looking to bring the action back to the ring…
FIVE…
Keeping her eyes firmly fixed on her opponent, she starts to slowly climb onto the apron.
Leina Rael: You see that focus?
Cross Recoba: She needs to, if she lets her concentration slip then she’s as good as finished with Long in the ring.
The cameras cut to The King of Wrestling as he plants a foot and starts to push his body up from it.
Steve Morrison: Long’s knee seems to be holding.
Cross Recoba: But if I were Danni, I’d see it as a huge target to aim for…
With The Ritalin Kid just about on the ring apron, Jason rushes her but eats a shoulder to the midsection…ROPE-ASSISTED ENZIGURI!!
Leina Rael: That’s why The RItalin Kid is a crowd-favorite wherever she goes. She incorporates her environment into her offense.
Cross Recoba: That alone won’t get her points on the board. She needs to take down someone who is seen as the outside bet for the whole tournament.
Stumbling back from the head-kick, Long remains unsighted as Danni leaps off the top-rope…SPRINGBOARD SPINNING HEADSCISSORS!!
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen her use that move in every match so far in Tap Out.
Cross Recoba: If it works…
Long rolls through to his feet, keen to not leave himself open to his opponent’s high-flying offense…HE’S MET WITH A DROPKICK TO THE KNEE!
Steve Morrison: She goes back to the knee that just minutes ago was driven into the ring apron!
Cross Recoba: I’d focus exclusively on that body part.
Leina Rael: Mom has other ideas…
Charging to the ropes, The Sweetheart Esper leaps…ASAI DDT!!
Leina Rael: SPARKLY!!
Steve Morrison: She planted him with that DDT!
She makes the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
TH…
LONG GETS AN ARM UP!!!
Cross Recoba: Jason showing the resilience that made him a multi-time champion across the Network.
The crowd falls silent, as if they too can’t believe this match continues.
Steve Morrison: The Vegas crowd thought she had him!
Danni waits patiently as Long rolls to his feet….
RANA!!!!
Leina Rael: Spike him on his head again!
NO!!! LONG HOOKS HER ARMS ON THE WAY DOWN….
Cross Recoba: She went to the well too many times…
TIGER DRIVER ‘98!!!
Steve Morrison: CROWN TUNDRA!!!
The crowd are calling for him to make the pin but he rolls into the corner and takes some time to recover.
Steve Morrison: Surely he has to go for the pin?
Cross Recoba: It’d stand to reason but sometimes you just need to buy space from your opponent.
Seeing The Ritalin Kid start to move, Long pulls himself up by the middle-rope.
Steve Morrison: Long looks for a high-risk move…
He charges in and LEAPS…
Leina Rael: He missed it!
SHE ROLLS BACKWARDS…LONG TURNS AROUND…LEAPING SUPERGIRL PUNCH!!
Steve Morrison: POWER DUNK!!
With the match catching up with her, she drapes an arm over Long…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: Jason’s tenacity isn’t just a bonus to his own game but it also is going to sap the confidence of his opponent’s.
Steve Morrison: I don’t think there was anyone in the audience who expected him to kick out of that! She caught him with his own momentum and it looked like a straight KO!
The happy-go-lucky smile on Anderson’s face is still there but only just. As Long sits up, she takes him back to the ground with a dropkick to the face.
Leina Rael: She isn’t giving him any room to recover!
She leaps to the top turnbuckle and signals to the crowd…
Steve Morrison: This could be it…
DOUBLE-ROTATION MOONSAULT!!!
Leina Rael: ADHD!!!!
NO-ONE’S HOME!!!
Cross Recoba: Now she’s in trouble…
AS SHE GETS TO HER FEET, THE MAN WHO WON’T DIE LEVELS HER WITH A BICYCLE KNEE STRIKE!!!
Steve Morrison: K-TRIGGER!!!
The Icon looks down at Anderson and debates the pin. Deciding against it, he whips her viciously to the corner.
Cross Recoba: He wants to make a statement.
Perching the Semper Fairy on the top turnbuckle, he starts to climb.
Steve Morrison: He’s going for the move of the night.
Cross Recoba: All points count!
He swings her up with a Pumphandle lift…
Steve Morrison: It couldn’t be…
Cross Recoba: It is…Leina, you not watching?
SPINNING ARM-TRAPPED TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER FROM THE TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Morrison: SUPER KINGSLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!
He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!!
Quinn calls for the bell!
Laura Messier: The winner of this contest. THE CATALYST…..JASON….LONG!!!!
‘Sanjuro’ by Denzel Curry blares over the speakers. Quinn raises Long’s hand in victory before he rolls out the ring, leaving the broken body of Anderson as Leina rolls into the ring. We cut back to the announce team.
Cross Recoba: Long clearly wanting to put in the best case he can for those bonus points!
Steve Morrison: He might not be able to hit that on people the size of NOMAD but Jason just showed us how far he’ll go to get his hands on the Tap Out Openweight Title!
Cross Recoba: How will it work out for him? Let’s go to Va’aiga who’ll be able to tell us who, right now, is in or out of the tournament!
Va’aiga: And with that we get to our main event, my brothers and sisters!
Va’aiga: Both men are safe but The Maori knows that neither man will want to lose. A loss for Close would be damn near certain to put him against IVK and those clowns showed us how they give the edge to her! Diamond losing would mean Poena, could he beat him? Maybe but we’ve seen that sick motherfucker snap bones on wrestlers, officials and interviewers! What The Maori hopes for is that they go all-out and look for that bonus point! The Maori can’t wait!
Laura Messier: IT'S TIME!!! FOR YOUR MAIN EVENT!!!!
In the ring already is Close Collins, his father feeding him with the game-plan they've spent weeks devising. Close nods along as possibly his biggest challenge is on the horizon.
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. 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.
Steve Morrison: With an impressive win against Cochrane AND the Match of the Night bonus, Diamond has put himself in a prime position to not just qualify for the tournament but also to get a favorable seeding!
Cross Recoba: He has but will his mind be on that tonight or looking a week ahead to his X*Crown shot at Night of Champions?
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: You think that might affect him tonight?
Cross Recoba: It'll affect me. My gracious response to his 'borrowing' of my HCW Diamond title only lasts as long as he is in contention to bring home the X*Crown title!
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 and Rat Bastard went to war at Overheated, how much damage do you think he's carrying tonight?
Cross Recoba: That's only going to matter if Tuff and Close have worked it out. We saw last month how adept he is at changing up his gameplan and the question is - can Close match or outhink him?
Laura Messier: INTRODUCING FIRST!!!! Accompanied by Tuff Collins! From Omaha, Nebraska!...He made weight two-hundred-and-nineteen pounds...CLOSE!!!!!! ... COLLLINNNSSS!!
Close remains focused on Diamond, barely registering the crowd's support of him.
Laura Messier:AND HIS OPPONENT!! Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Cherokee, North Carolina. He made weight at one-hundred-and-ninety-five pounds...THE ACE...OF SPADES!!! JACK....DIAMOND!!!
Diamond, in contrast, looks relaxed and like this could be any match in the world for him.
"Big" John Quinn ushers Tuff out of the ring as he goes through what he expects from each competitor.
MAIN EVENT
Singles Match
Close Collins vs Jack Diamond
Jack and Close waste no time after the bell rings. Jack Diamond goes straight for a side headlock, turning it into a top wristlock with his unmistakable slickness. Jack torques on the wrist, pushing Close Collins down to a knee but as Jack straightens the arm out for maximum pressure, Close Collins rolls through and reverses the hold, regaining a vertical base. Close walks round, steppting a leg behind The Ace Of Spades’ trailing leg and looking for a judo style trip to take Diamond over. Jack. However, spreads his base wide to take the impact as softly as possible and instantly kips up, turning the hold over again as he gets back to his feet. Jack slings the youngster off him and shapes for an intercepting move but Close slides away under the bottom rope and runs his fingers through his wild hair.
Steve Morrison: Close Collins keeping up in the early grappling exchanges with the far more experienced Jack Diamond.
Cross Recoba: Jack is a grinder though. He will wear you down and capitalise on any openings he can scratch out.
Beckoning Close back into the ring, Jack gives Close space to regroup, even offeriong a somewhat sincere round of applause at the kid’s skill. As the pair close the distance, Jack goes straight for a front facelock, snapping Close Collins over with a rapid fire suplex. Collins rolls away and back to his feet and composes himself and this time as Diamond comes in again, Close throws a shoulder fake and then ducks low, grabbing an arm and sending Jack sprawling to the mat with an Ipponzei. Jack stand up quickly and walks in, grabbing a waistlock leading standing switch with incredible slickness and a rapid German Suplex. Close rolls away to his feet again, looking for some much needed breathing room. Jack doesn’t give Close an inch of space and is on him like a flash, a couple of meaty knife edged chops lighting up Close’s chest. A third chop is attempted but Close sways his body downwards and steps through, tripping Jack over with an O Soto Gari! Close stays down to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Jack kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Close Collins nearly steals an early one!
Cross Recoba: The kid seems to be getting more impact from those judo throws every week. He’s got more promise than most wrestlers his age that I’ve seen.
Close pumps his fists, psyching himself up. He allows Jack Diamond time to stand and then lashes a kick across Jack’s chest, connecting solidly with the flat of his foot with a satisfying smacking sound. Jack grunts and curls his lip before returning fire with a solid kick back to Collins’ chest, using the beet red mark from his earlier chops as a target. Collins shows no signs of pain but he does have to take a big step backwards to steady himself. With Jack’s chest firmly in his crosshairs, crashing into The Ace’s chest with a second mawashigeri. Jack’s return strike seems to have a little less power than before but he again crashes his own foot back into Close Collins’ chest. Collins fires back again, and it appears that he’s practically daring Jack to kick him one more time. Diamond nods, as if there in an unspoken agreement between to combatants to prove whose strikig is better and he… stomps on Close’s foot to unbalance him, steps to a side and kicks Colins in the calf to send Close down to one knee and the corks his leg, extending a straight side kick right into Close’s face.
Steve Morrison: ICONKICK!
Cross Recoba: Ah, the naivety of youth. And the savoir faire of a veteran to exploit that.
Instead of covering, Jack Diamond follows up with some pointed stomps, attacking the surprisingly muscular legs of Collins. Four or five times the sole of The Icon’s boot crashes into Close Collins’ thigh, each one designed to slow the youngster down. With Close not in any position to defend himself, Jack rushes the ropes and at full pelt rebounds into a basement angled dropkick, firing his feet into Collins’ left leg. Close grabs for his leg out of pain and Jack takes this as a signal his strategy is working. He stands, hauling Collins off the mat with him and lifts the judoka off the mat, dropping Close shin first across his knee. Jack drops the point of his elbow right onto Close’s leg and then hooks it for a cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Close rolls a shoulder to break the count.
Steve Morrison: It looks like Jack Diamond has a target in this match.
Cross Recoba: Jack is thinking Aces Wild. He’s a man who knows his strategy and he’s setting it out right now.
Jack stands and has a brief think about his next move. He goes for the basics and throw a couple of short kicks at Close Collins’ leg after standing and then hauls Collins up, Close looking more than a little pained at the state of his leg when forced to stand on it. The Icon grabs for an arm and swings Collins round like he’s throwing a hammer, sending Close flying across the ring towards the corner. Close winces with every forced step but he can’t stop himself and crashes into the turnbuckle pads, leaving his back exposed. Diamond follows in immediately, dropping to clip Collins’ leg as he rushes through. As Jack slides out of the ring with the momentum he lands cat like on his feet. Jack Diamond grabs Close’s injured leg and pulls the youngster out toward the apron, draping the leg over the edge before using his famous chest high kicks to smash into Coillins’ calf. With the leg exposed and vulnerable, Jack makes space for himself and back up, charging in and leaping into the air and crashing chest into leg into the hardest part of the ring.
Steve Morrison: Did Jack Diamond just Diamond Splash Close’s leg?
Cross Recoba: When your tools don’t fit your strategy you can change your tools, you can change your strategy but the very best improvise.
Warming up a little to being in control, Jackie Boy slides back under the bottom rope and stalks Close Collins. Not the weird, snakelike stalking of Poena, just the cold, ruthless assassin like precision that XHF fans have come to expect from The Ace of Spades. Jack waits, judging Close’s current health as he watches Collins gingerly stand. As soon as Close has had time to slowly turn to face Jack, Diamond charges in and just boots his weak leg from underneath him. Diamond throws close back into the corner, adding a couple of chops just to keep Collins stunned enough for what he has planned next and then Jack forms a gun with his hand, backs off again, points at Close’s leg and pulls the trigger, rushing in with a massive dropkick to the leg. Jack gets back to his feet and throws the ace to an enormous crowd reaction, both positive from the hardcore LV crowd and boos from those who, quite rightly, are feeling a little sorry for the beleaguered Close.
Steve Morrison: Close’s leg just got EIGHTY-SIXED!
Jack knows the end is near and lifts the uninjured leg up, rotates round to make a four and put all the pressure on the injured one. Lose howls in pain… BUT REACHES OUT AND GRABS THE BOTTOM ROPE!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIV… Diamond breaks the hold.
Steve Morrison: ACES WILD! Jack Diamond using all of that five count.
Cross Recoba: He may have put that hold on too close to the ropes but it’s all additional damage.
And Jack Diamond has had enough. He stands, grabbing Close Collins by his bad leg and drags the young starlet backward into the middle of the ring. Jack bends over to switch legs, lifts up the good one to apply Aces Wild, turns round to lock in his leg snapping finish and… CLOSE COLINS REACHES UP AND SMALL PACKAGES HIM! THE PINNING HOLD IS LOCKED IN TIGHT!
ONE!
TWO!
THR… JACK KICKS OUT!
Steve Morrison: OOOOH! That was… a tight call!
Cross Recoba: Look at Jack. He has a face like thunder on him! And after that cheeky pin attempt, I would too.
Close slowly gets to his feet as Jack turns away, looking to lock in a lightning quick three-quarter facelock….
Steve Morrison: STACKED DECK!
… BUT CLOSE COLLINS WRAPS HIS ARMS AROUND DIAMOND’S THROAT AND ON ONE LEG, LEVERS HIM OVER IN A SWINGING HEAD AND ARM SUPLEX!
Steve Morrison: NO! TUFFPLEX! TUFFPLEX! TUFFPLEX!
The energy of the arena is flowing through Close Collins. He stands again and prepares for Jack Diamond. The Icon storms back to within range but using his strong leg as a plant foot, CLOSE COLLINS TAKES DIAMOND OVER WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF HIP TOSSES!
Steve Morrison: HANE GOSHI!
Jack rolls through and heads back in and CLOSE HIP TOSSES HIM AGAIN!
Steve Morrison: MAKE THAT TWO!
Now Jack’s arms are a little looser as he heads in again… Close Collins fires off a stupidly fast barrage of palm heel strikes and then crosses Jack Diamond’s arms, whipping him over with a highly improvised full body Judo throw!
Steve Morrison: CROSS ARMED UCHI MATA!
Close Collins breathes in and out, heavily. He looks down and positions himself perfectly for one last high impact move. Somehow, somehow managing rto get enough spring off his one good foot, Close backflips while travelling forwards, crashing his chest into Jack Diamond’s prone body.
Steve Morrison: STANDING SHOOTING STAR PRESS!
Close hooks a leg…
ONE!
TWO!
THRE… NO! JACK KICKS OUT! CLOSE LOOKS DISTRAUGHT!
Cross Recoba: If he’d have hit that from the top rope, that would have been it. But I doubt he has the strength to climb at this point.
But Close Collins can’t hear Cross’ sage advice and uses the short breather he has while Jack Diamond recovers to pick himself up and head for the turnbuckles. Close plants his good foot on the bottom rope. Then he places his bad leg on that rope, struggling with the pressure and the pain. Taking his sweet time he moves onto the second rope, letting out a howl of pain as he is forced to place all his weight on the injury for just the briefest of seconds. Close grunts, shaking his head furiously and begins rhythmically slapping the top turnbuckle to psyche himself up for the rest of the climb. Finally, with no small effort he reaches the top and turns, looking down at where Jack Diamond is…
AND WHERE JACK DIAMOND IS IS RUSHING AT HIM WITH A DROPKICK TO THE LEG! CLOSE DROPS DOWN TO A SEATED POSITION BUT THAT’S JUST WHERE JACK DIAMOND WANTS HIM! DIAMOND STRETCHES CLOSE’S BODY OUT FROM THE ROPES, LOCKS IN THE THREE QUARTER FACELOCK AND JUMPS OUT OF THE CORNER, IMPACTING CLOSE’S CHIN ONTO THE ICON’S SHOULDER!
Cross Recoba: And THERE’S the Stacked Deck.
Steve Morrison: STACKED DECK! STACKED DECK!
Jack thinks for the briefest of seconds about going for the pin but instead rolls Close Collins’ legs well away from the ropes and locks in that Figure Four, pretty damn snappily.
Steve Morrison: ACES WILD!
And given the effort of the match and the laser focus Diamond has had on his leg, Collins has no other choice and he furiously pounds the mat.
Cross Recoba: Smart kid. When you’re trapped, don’t risk your future trying to fight it. No shame in tapping there.
Steve Morrison: What a match! Close gave it his all but Jack Diamond is your winner.
Laura Messier: Your winner of the main event via submission…JACK…FUCKING…DIAMOND!!!
Va’aiga: Here we have it, motherfuckers! This is what the table looks like after that match…
Va’aiga: Now, the only thing that can change those brackets are the bonus points. The Maori’s picked the Match of the Night tonight, I don’t know any of the motherfuckers in the ring tonight and The Maori’s Choice is Isabella von Krauss vs Jackalope. It was violence and you damn straight The Maori knows violence!
Va’aiga: What cost Jackalope? His record of 1-3 against Adrien’s 1-2 record. But, don’t forget, motherfuckers, you have the Move of the Night to decide on. The Maori knows you’ll make the right decision and with that - haere rā, motherfuckers!
Va’aiga throws one last shaka sign as we cut back to the commentary team.
Va’aiga:BOO-YAH!
Steve Morrison: Thanks, Va'aiga! Cross, do you agree with his pick for Match of the Night?
Cross Recoba: It's hard to argue against it. Jackalope might be out of contention right now but if he doesn't get the bonus point, I've got a match up my sleeve for him next month that'll soften the loss.
Steve Morrison: We'll have to wait until then to find out what you're working on...Fans, if you're wondering why we're still hearing Diamond's music, he got mobbed by fans and has only just got to the ramp!
Jack walks up the ramp, just as he opens the curtain, he jumps back, in a stunned and disorientated state. Grabbing his face, covering it with his hands.
Falling to the ground he rolls around, yelling out in pain, as he is kicking his legs into the air, and against the ramp, with loud inconsistent thuds.
The crowd is confused and shocked,. A quite mumble begins to stir through the arena.
Rat Bastard steps through the curtain, a can of black spray paint in one hand, and a microphone in the other.
The smirk on his face is clear, even from the cheap seats. Watching Jack, as he rolls about in pain, he sprays the paint into the air, letting out a laugh, before addressing the crowd.
Rat Bastard: I told you, I told you, Jack. I warned you to look around every corner, Jack. I told you that we weren't done after Overheated, but I guess.......
Rat shrugs his shoulders towards the crowd.
Rat Bastard: I guess you just couldn't see where I was coming from, huh?
Medics begin to rush out from the back, tending to the injured Diamond, who is still holding his face. The camera zooms in and you can see the black spray paint covering his forehead, eyes, and the dripping of it on bridge of his nose.
Rat Bastard: See you at Night of Champions, Jack...Let's just hope you can see me there too.
Rat drops the microphone, a thud echoes through the arena, just before it picks up the voice of a Medic yelling for an Ambulance.
Steve Morrison: Can you believe it? Rat Bastard couldn't wait until Night of Champions!
Cross Recoba: He couldn't wait for the eight-man match next weekend!
Rat glares out at the crowd, a smirk on his face as he ducks back through the curtain.
Steve Morrison: He looks happy with himself but will Diamond make him pay?
Cross Recoba: If he hadn't already with his insistence he won the match between the two at Overheated, Rat Bastard has just painted a huge target on his back come Night of Champions!
Steve Morrison: Be sure not to miss that event, it looks like it could be the biggest on the XHF Network of the year! We'll see you next month, I'm Steve Morrison joined by Cross Recoba, don't forget to get your votes in for Move of the Night in. Entries are now open!
