TAPOUT PRESENTS: END OF DAYS: FORCES OF NATURE - EARTH
Oct 9, 2022 5:42:27 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Dave D-Flipz, and 2 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Oct 9, 2022 5:42:27 GMT -5
TAPOUT Wrestling, in association with The XHF Network, Proudly Presents: TAPOUT WRESTLING 7 - NOMAD VS. LONG AND END OF DAYS WEEK 1: FORCES OF NATURE - EARTH!
Date: 2nd October 2022
Venue: Lansky Ballroom, The Sands Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1000 (Capacity: 1000)
The show opens with a shot of a sold out Lansky Ballroom at The Sands Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sticking to tradition and not at all because we’ve invested in AI to run some camera shots, they pick out signs in the crowd:
ZORAN VS BIDEN - BOOK IT MONGO!
I’M THE BASTARD SON OF RAT BASTARD - PLEASE SEND CHILD SUPPORT!
REUNITE THE ICONS
DONZIG IS BAE
I’M RAGIN’ FOR THE CAJUN SENSATION!
We cut to ringside where Steve Morrison and Cross Recoba stand-by.
Steve Morrison: Welcome fans to perhaps the biggest Tap Out Show we’ve seen so far!
Cross Recoba: The sheer size of the card tells me it’ll be a while until that’s beaten.
Steve Morrison: That’s right, tonight we’ll be kicking off the End of Days tournament for both the X*Crown and XHF Tag Team contenders with six matches that will see twenty-four different wrestlers in contention!
Cross Recoba: We can let Randy and Hawke cover those but we’ll be rooting for Tap Out’s own Jack Diamond and new signing, Aiden Merric to make it through.
Steve Morrison: His selection raised eyebrows, Cross, you must know that?
Cross Recoba: It was an easy choice, with the tournament drawing our top stars out of contention, Merric is a talented wrestler who has proven himself when it comes to the big matches.
Steve Morrison: We’ll be giving you a rundown of our own matches, starting with a tag-team match that pits Jenna Scyde and Tommy Strychnine against the team of Wildcat Capone and Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: Jenna debuted at the last show and her package screams potential. I’m talking, if she puts her mind to it, she could be a Network force within the year. Teaming with the more experienced Strych will give her some guidance and nous…if she takes it.
Steve Morrison: We saw Tommy display a different attitude at Tap Out Wrestling 6, will we see less showmanship from him?
Cross Recoba: It’s tough to tell, I expect to see a more focused attitude but it’s Tommy - he’d put on a performance in a phone booth.
Steve Morrison: You might be right there. How do you think the team of two rookies will fare?
Cross Recoba: Wildcat and Jackalope have shown signs of developing into great athletes but both have shown signs where their inexperience has cost them. Tonight they have an opportunity to help coach each other.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope has surely given Capone the inside scoop on Strych given the amount of times they’ve faced off.
Cross Recoba: And Wildcat teamed with Scyde last time out so they can both aid the other.
Steve Morrison: We’ll be seeing that match later on tonight.
A graphic shows Sam Sawyer and James Dragon.
Steve Morrison: Our second match pits Sam Sawyer who made a great debut last month and won many plaudits, against James Dragon who launched his return to the ring with a showing that looked like he hadn’t missed a step since his last match on the XHF Network.
Cross Recoba: This has the chance to be a sleeper hit and on a show as high-profile as this, that could lead to much bigger things for both of them.
Steve Morrison: Can Sawyer cope with Dragon’s viciousness? They’ve got their speed and agility but if Dragon gets hold of them? I can’t see it going any other way than to James.
Cross Recoba: I said it last month but it’s worth repeating. People remember FIRESIDE for Misha, Majesty, Spike Kane and Natalie Burrows but Sam Sawyer was there each show impressing myself with each showing. Are they the finished article? Not quite but they’re not as far off as you might think.
Steve Morrison: You can see my point about Dragon though?
Cross Recoba: He’s the favorite on the Vegas line, no doubt. If he can focus the anger, the resentment to how he sees the world and put it into his work in the ring then it’ll be extremely close.
The overlay now shows Erin Gordon and Close Collins.
Steve Morrison: The first of our Openweight tournament matches pits Erin Gordon against Close Collins who both suffered losses last month and find themselves in the Losers bracket.
Cross Recoba: Both of them were unlucky to find themselves on that side of the draw. For Erin, it was a bad day at the office. Close just didn’t quite pose hard enough questions for Diamond, Close made him work for the win but he came up agonisingly short at the end.
Steve Morrison: Both competitors know that a loss this time would send them out of the tournament entirely. How will that affect how they approach the match?
Cross Recoba: If I were in their shoes I’d recognize that I’ve given myself a harder route but neither Erin nor Close are what you’d call mentally weak. Erin’s a farmer’s widow, they don’t come much tougher mentally than that. Close, he might be in his rookie year but you can see the influence Tuff has on him and his first priority will be on safeguarding the psyche of his son.
Steve Morrison: Erin has a smash-mouth approach to her wrestling, how does Close go about stopping it?
Cross Recoba: Ouch, Steve. Erin holds a win over me in our only encounter. What I can say from that is that until you hear the bell and your name being announced, don’t count her out. We’ve seen her come back against Poena, we’ve seen her take NOMAD to the absolute limit and who knows? If she were fully fit for that match with the Wanderer she might well have taken it.
Steve Morrison: The second of our matches on the Losers’ side of the bracket sees Adrien Cochrane pitted against Isabella von Krauss. It’s fair to say that Adrien’s 2022 might be known as his Annus Horribilis.
Cross Recoba: It hasn’t gone his way but then he set an incredibly high bar for himself last year.
Steve Morrison: Can he turn it around against The Daughter of Evil?
Cross Recoba: On paper, you’d have to say undeniably yes but matches aren’t decided on paper and you cannot factor in just how much of a say the clowns of von Krauss might have a say.
Steve Morrison: They’ve certainly had an effect on the fortunes of their mistress. She qualified for the tournament when her clowns threw Jackalope off his stride enough that she could capitalize. Last month, they nearly did the same to Jason Long.
Cross Recoba: You’d hope that Cochrane can take a page out of Jason’s book and overcome the distraction through experience but Isabella will stop at nothing to win the tournament for a belt she already considers her own.
Steve Morrison: How does she take down Cochrane?
Cross Recoba: Isabella is one of the more devious members of the roster. She doesn’t have the in-ring skills of a Diamond to fall back on but her brand of ruthless efficiency has served her well so far with a positive record thusfar.
Steve Morrison: Who do you think would fare better with the potential to face the loser of Jack Diamond and Poena?
Cross Recoba: Adrien would relish a chance to even the score against Jack Diamond after running him close in their first meeting. Would he do so well against Poena? I’d say that’s a match made for Isabella von Krauss, it wouldn’t be for the purists but it would be an interesting match-up of styles and, being serious, I’d be curious to know how the clowns come in on that one!
Steve Morrison: Then we get to our semi-finals on the Winners’ side of the tournament. We have Jack Diamond facing off against Po-
Cross Recoba: Actually, change of plan. That’s now the main event, The Diamond Lounge have sponsored the match and the Tap Out board wasn’t going to turn down silly money.
Steve Morrison: The Sands are going to be promoting a competitor?
Cross Recoba: We’ll live.
Steve Morrison: Okay, I’ll rephrase. In the first of our semi-finals, NOMAD seeks to retain his unbeaten record against a resurgent Jason Long.
Cross Recoba: It’s an interesting match, Long has been on an impressive run having chained together a trio of victories since his loss at the first Tap Out show to Close Collins. He took a break and has used it to channel his efforts into a far more focused output.
Steve Morrison: Is he the one to end NOMAD’s unbeaten run?
Cross Recoba: It’s always a possibility, the Catalyst has honed his craft and developed an arsenal that means he has some tricks up his sleeve regardless of the size of the opponent.
Steve Morrison: Facing off against someone who has an unbeaten record for the year has to have some psychological effect when you prepare?
Cross Recoba: I went from March to the last event of the year unbeaten before losing to Chris Card in 2020. From NOMAD’s side, I know that you can push that in the promotional cycle, try to get it into your opponent’s head and build yourself up beyond what they may see. What Long has to do is view it as a scalp, think about what it tells an opponent if you’re the ‘one’ in that record. If he were to face Poena next month, he has that one-up on him that HE beat NOMAD when Poena couldn’t.
Steve Morrison: Can NOMAD make it an even half-dozen tonight?
Cross Recoba: He can’t get complacent. What stands NOMAD apart is that he has truly bought into the Tap Out ethos of this being a sport first and entertainment second. He can’t say that Long isn’t a great wrestler, the stats and history books don’t lie so he already respects his opponent on some level.
Steve Morrison: Surely though, NOMAD can use that terrific size advantage to take him down?
Cross Recoba: NOMAD can wrestle on the mat, that’s what makes him such a great ‘big’ man in this sport. If that doesn’t work, he’s going to have to bring out some heavy-duty artillery like we’ve seen him unleash before to get the job done. What makes this match a step up for him though is that Long is a master of reversals. Ultimately, this match rests on a coin flip.
Steve Morrison: Finally in our main event-
Cross Recoba: Presented to you by the Diamond Lounge!
Steve Morrison: We see Poena and Jack Diamond square off in what is sure to be a turbo charged affair.
Jack stands in Ace’s room, watching him. His son is sleeping soundly, not realizing the traumatic events that took place the day before. Jack walks over and opens his son’s closet and peeks inside, wearing uneasiness on his face as he does so. He shuts it and then walks over to the window, raising the blinds, and checks it to make sure it’s closed, snug and locked. Satisfied at the stillness off the window, Jack lowers the blinds then opens them and looks out. He shakes his head and closes them before drawing the curtain shut. He takes a deep breath, as his thumb and middle finger goes to his temples, massaging out the stress before rubbing his eyeballs. He walks out of the room pulling the door shut behind him but just as it closes, the baby monitor lights up and a soft crackle of static is heard. Then lightly… almost as if it were a gust of wind, a breath comes out of the two-way monitor…
Poena:...REPENNNNTTTTTTT...
The scene fades to black.
Cross Recoba: Poena has been torturing not just the Diamond family but also the Diamond Lounge staff.
Dakota: : AHHHHHHH! JACK!!!!!!!
The screeching scream almost causes Jack to drop the glass decanter as he sets it down with a rattle and before he knows it has cleared several steps at a time on his way upstairs. He sprints down the hallway to Ace’s room where his son is crying loudly. Jack gets to the doorway and his son is wide eyed, his wife trembling by the changing table. As Jack comes up behind her, he sees that she has an old wooden box, open and stained red. Inside there is a human eyeball, the blood staining the inside of the box and the note accompanying it, also written in blood.
“We don’t need vision to see the sins of our fathers.
Easy is it for His servants to bring repentance to the filthy
When the sight is “tugged” away from their false securities.”
Steve Morrison: You have to say that this might be the most emotionally-charged match we’ve seen in a Tap Out ring.
Cross Recoba: Without a doubt. Poena has been building up this lore, almost legend, for how brutal he can be. He snapped the fingers of a referee, he pulverised the shoulder of Erin Gordon, he even snapped the fingers of our own Brandon McKay purely for having the temerity to have a sit-down interview with him. What he’s done to the Diamond family, immediate and extended, is something else.
Steve Morrison: Have the mind games stopped? Can Poena push him any further?
Cross Recoba: With Poena, it’s hard to say. He might push his luck, he might decide to let Jack think he has more up his sleeve. The trick to being effective with them is to never make it too obvious if you’ve hit the end or not. If he does push him further? We might see the fast-paced, high-flying action of Jack make way for a more strike-based approach.
Steve Morrison: If you were Diamond, would you be worried about the after-effects of the match? Win or lose, he has to fight in the tournament again and we’ve seen how Poena can have a lingering effect on you when Gordon came into Tap Out Wrestling 2 with a still damaged shoulder?
Cross Recoba: Diamond has to be careful. He has a match in the End of Days tournament before the main-event. If he lets Poena into his head, someone like Rat Bastard will take advantage. If he isn’t focused on that first match, Kira Izumi could rack up some real damage. Then, when the bell rings for our main event he has to try and come out with a win without any injuries that might cost him if he does get through to the next round of the XHF tournament.
Steve Morrison: Lastly, out of the two, who can go all the way in this one?
Cross Recoba: I’d argue that if we just take the Winners’ side of the equation, any of the four competitors could become our first champion. NOMAD is yet to be beaten, Long has come back with a new determination and he isn’t afraid of going big - remember he hit that Tombstone Piledriver from the top to take down Danni and make the tournament. Poena might not have as good a record as the other three but he has no Moral Event Horizon in him. Diamond has experience and ring smarts on his side and whilst his record isn’t as long-lasting as NOMAD’s, he’s still undefeated.
Steve Morrison: All valid points and ones we hope to find the answers to tonight. With that, I can see our broadcast colleagues are waiting to introduce our first XHF match. Over to you, Hawke and Angel!
Sticking to tradition and not at all because we’ve invested in AI to run some camera shots, they pick out signs in the crowd:
ZORAN VS BIDEN - BOOK IT MONGO!
I’M THE BASTARD SON OF RAT BASTARD - PLEASE SEND CHILD SUPPORT!
REUNITE THE ICONS
DONZIG IS BAE
I’M RAGIN’ FOR THE CAJUN SENSATION!
We cut to ringside where Steve Morrison and Cross Recoba stand-by.
Steve Morrison: Welcome fans to perhaps the biggest Tap Out Show we’ve seen so far!
Cross Recoba: The sheer size of the card tells me it’ll be a while until that’s beaten.
Steve Morrison: That’s right, tonight we’ll be kicking off the End of Days tournament for both the X*Crown and XHF Tag Team contenders with six matches that will see twenty-four different wrestlers in contention!
Cross Recoba: We can let Randy and Hawke cover those but we’ll be rooting for Tap Out’s own Jack Diamond and new signing, Aiden Merric to make it through.
Steve Morrison: His selection raised eyebrows, Cross, you must know that?
Cross Recoba: It was an easy choice, with the tournament drawing our top stars out of contention, Merric is a talented wrestler who has proven himself when it comes to the big matches.
Steve Morrison: We’ll be giving you a rundown of our own matches, starting with a tag-team match that pits Jenna Scyde and Tommy Strychnine against the team of Wildcat Capone and Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: Jenna debuted at the last show and her package screams potential. I’m talking, if she puts her mind to it, she could be a Network force within the year. Teaming with the more experienced Strych will give her some guidance and nous…if she takes it.
Steve Morrison: We saw Tommy display a different attitude at Tap Out Wrestling 6, will we see less showmanship from him?
Cross Recoba: It’s tough to tell, I expect to see a more focused attitude but it’s Tommy - he’d put on a performance in a phone booth.
Steve Morrison: You might be right there. How do you think the team of two rookies will fare?
Cross Recoba: Wildcat and Jackalope have shown signs of developing into great athletes but both have shown signs where their inexperience has cost them. Tonight they have an opportunity to help coach each other.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope has surely given Capone the inside scoop on Strych given the amount of times they’ve faced off.
Cross Recoba: And Wildcat teamed with Scyde last time out so they can both aid the other.
Steve Morrison: We’ll be seeing that match later on tonight.
A graphic shows Sam Sawyer and James Dragon.
Steve Morrison: Our second match pits Sam Sawyer who made a great debut last month and won many plaudits, against James Dragon who launched his return to the ring with a showing that looked like he hadn’t missed a step since his last match on the XHF Network.
Cross Recoba: This has the chance to be a sleeper hit and on a show as high-profile as this, that could lead to much bigger things for both of them.
Steve Morrison: Can Sawyer cope with Dragon’s viciousness? They’ve got their speed and agility but if Dragon gets hold of them? I can’t see it going any other way than to James.
Cross Recoba: I said it last month but it’s worth repeating. People remember FIRESIDE for Misha, Majesty, Spike Kane and Natalie Burrows but Sam Sawyer was there each show impressing myself with each showing. Are they the finished article? Not quite but they’re not as far off as you might think.
Steve Morrison: You can see my point about Dragon though?
Cross Recoba: He’s the favorite on the Vegas line, no doubt. If he can focus the anger, the resentment to how he sees the world and put it into his work in the ring then it’ll be extremely close.
The overlay now shows Erin Gordon and Close Collins.
Steve Morrison: The first of our Openweight tournament matches pits Erin Gordon against Close Collins who both suffered losses last month and find themselves in the Losers bracket.
Cross Recoba: Both of them were unlucky to find themselves on that side of the draw. For Erin, it was a bad day at the office. Close just didn’t quite pose hard enough questions for Diamond, Close made him work for the win but he came up agonisingly short at the end.
Steve Morrison: Both competitors know that a loss this time would send them out of the tournament entirely. How will that affect how they approach the match?
Cross Recoba: If I were in their shoes I’d recognize that I’ve given myself a harder route but neither Erin nor Close are what you’d call mentally weak. Erin’s a farmer’s widow, they don’t come much tougher mentally than that. Close, he might be in his rookie year but you can see the influence Tuff has on him and his first priority will be on safeguarding the psyche of his son.
Steve Morrison: Erin has a smash-mouth approach to her wrestling, how does Close go about stopping it?
Cross Recoba: Ouch, Steve. Erin holds a win over me in our only encounter. What I can say from that is that until you hear the bell and your name being announced, don’t count her out. We’ve seen her come back against Poena, we’ve seen her take NOMAD to the absolute limit and who knows? If she were fully fit for that match with the Wanderer she might well have taken it.
Steve Morrison: The second of our matches on the Losers’ side of the bracket sees Adrien Cochrane pitted against Isabella von Krauss. It’s fair to say that Adrien’s 2022 might be known as his Annus Horribilis.
Cross Recoba: It hasn’t gone his way but then he set an incredibly high bar for himself last year.
Steve Morrison: Can he turn it around against The Daughter of Evil?
Cross Recoba: On paper, you’d have to say undeniably yes but matches aren’t decided on paper and you cannot factor in just how much of a say the clowns of von Krauss might have a say.
Steve Morrison: They’ve certainly had an effect on the fortunes of their mistress. She qualified for the tournament when her clowns threw Jackalope off his stride enough that she could capitalize. Last month, they nearly did the same to Jason Long.
Cross Recoba: You’d hope that Cochrane can take a page out of Jason’s book and overcome the distraction through experience but Isabella will stop at nothing to win the tournament for a belt she already considers her own.
Steve Morrison: How does she take down Cochrane?
Cross Recoba: Isabella is one of the more devious members of the roster. She doesn’t have the in-ring skills of a Diamond to fall back on but her brand of ruthless efficiency has served her well so far with a positive record thusfar.
Steve Morrison: Who do you think would fare better with the potential to face the loser of Jack Diamond and Poena?
Cross Recoba: Adrien would relish a chance to even the score against Jack Diamond after running him close in their first meeting. Would he do so well against Poena? I’d say that’s a match made for Isabella von Krauss, it wouldn’t be for the purists but it would be an interesting match-up of styles and, being serious, I’d be curious to know how the clowns come in on that one!
Steve Morrison: Then we get to our semi-finals on the Winners’ side of the tournament. We have Jack Diamond facing off against Po-
Cross Recoba: Actually, change of plan. That’s now the main event, The Diamond Lounge have sponsored the match and the Tap Out board wasn’t going to turn down silly money.
Steve Morrison: The Sands are going to be promoting a competitor?
Cross Recoba: We’ll live.
Steve Morrison: Okay, I’ll rephrase. In the first of our semi-finals, NOMAD seeks to retain his unbeaten record against a resurgent Jason Long.
Cross Recoba: It’s an interesting match, Long has been on an impressive run having chained together a trio of victories since his loss at the first Tap Out show to Close Collins. He took a break and has used it to channel his efforts into a far more focused output.
Steve Morrison: Is he the one to end NOMAD’s unbeaten run?
Cross Recoba: It’s always a possibility, the Catalyst has honed his craft and developed an arsenal that means he has some tricks up his sleeve regardless of the size of the opponent.
Steve Morrison: Facing off against someone who has an unbeaten record for the year has to have some psychological effect when you prepare?
Cross Recoba: I went from March to the last event of the year unbeaten before losing to Chris Card in 2020. From NOMAD’s side, I know that you can push that in the promotional cycle, try to get it into your opponent’s head and build yourself up beyond what they may see. What Long has to do is view it as a scalp, think about what it tells an opponent if you’re the ‘one’ in that record. If he were to face Poena next month, he has that one-up on him that HE beat NOMAD when Poena couldn’t.
Steve Morrison: Can NOMAD make it an even half-dozen tonight?
Cross Recoba: He can’t get complacent. What stands NOMAD apart is that he has truly bought into the Tap Out ethos of this being a sport first and entertainment second. He can’t say that Long isn’t a great wrestler, the stats and history books don’t lie so he already respects his opponent on some level.
Steve Morrison: Surely though, NOMAD can use that terrific size advantage to take him down?
Cross Recoba: NOMAD can wrestle on the mat, that’s what makes him such a great ‘big’ man in this sport. If that doesn’t work, he’s going to have to bring out some heavy-duty artillery like we’ve seen him unleash before to get the job done. What makes this match a step up for him though is that Long is a master of reversals. Ultimately, this match rests on a coin flip.
Steve Morrison: Finally in our main event-
Cross Recoba: Presented to you by the Diamond Lounge!
Steve Morrison: We see Poena and Jack Diamond square off in what is sure to be a turbo charged affair.
Jack stands in Ace’s room, watching him. His son is sleeping soundly, not realizing the traumatic events that took place the day before. Jack walks over and opens his son’s closet and peeks inside, wearing uneasiness on his face as he does so. He shuts it and then walks over to the window, raising the blinds, and checks it to make sure it’s closed, snug and locked. Satisfied at the stillness off the window, Jack lowers the blinds then opens them and looks out. He shakes his head and closes them before drawing the curtain shut. He takes a deep breath, as his thumb and middle finger goes to his temples, massaging out the stress before rubbing his eyeballs. He walks out of the room pulling the door shut behind him but just as it closes, the baby monitor lights up and a soft crackle of static is heard. Then lightly… almost as if it were a gust of wind, a breath comes out of the two-way monitor…
Poena:...REPENNNNTTTTTTT...
The scene fades to black.
Cross Recoba: Poena has been torturing not just the Diamond family but also the Diamond Lounge staff.
Dakota: : AHHHHHHH! JACK!!!!!!!
The screeching scream almost causes Jack to drop the glass decanter as he sets it down with a rattle and before he knows it has cleared several steps at a time on his way upstairs. He sprints down the hallway to Ace’s room where his son is crying loudly. Jack gets to the doorway and his son is wide eyed, his wife trembling by the changing table. As Jack comes up behind her, he sees that she has an old wooden box, open and stained red. Inside there is a human eyeball, the blood staining the inside of the box and the note accompanying it, also written in blood.
“We don’t need vision to see the sins of our fathers.
Easy is it for His servants to bring repentance to the filthy
When the sight is “tugged” away from their false securities.”
Steve Morrison: You have to say that this might be the most emotionally-charged match we’ve seen in a Tap Out ring.
Cross Recoba: Without a doubt. Poena has been building up this lore, almost legend, for how brutal he can be. He snapped the fingers of a referee, he pulverised the shoulder of Erin Gordon, he even snapped the fingers of our own Brandon McKay purely for having the temerity to have a sit-down interview with him. What he’s done to the Diamond family, immediate and extended, is something else.
Steve Morrison: Have the mind games stopped? Can Poena push him any further?
Cross Recoba: With Poena, it’s hard to say. He might push his luck, he might decide to let Jack think he has more up his sleeve. The trick to being effective with them is to never make it too obvious if you’ve hit the end or not. If he does push him further? We might see the fast-paced, high-flying action of Jack make way for a more strike-based approach.
Steve Morrison: If you were Diamond, would you be worried about the after-effects of the match? Win or lose, he has to fight in the tournament again and we’ve seen how Poena can have a lingering effect on you when Gordon came into Tap Out Wrestling 2 with a still damaged shoulder?
Cross Recoba: Diamond has to be careful. He has a match in the End of Days tournament before the main-event. If he lets Poena into his head, someone like Rat Bastard will take advantage. If he isn’t focused on that first match, Kira Izumi could rack up some real damage. Then, when the bell rings for our main event he has to try and come out with a win without any injuries that might cost him if he does get through to the next round of the XHF tournament.
Steve Morrison: Lastly, out of the two, who can go all the way in this one?
Cross Recoba: I’d argue that if we just take the Winners’ side of the equation, any of the four competitors could become our first champion. NOMAD is yet to be beaten, Long has come back with a new determination and he isn’t afraid of going big - remember he hit that Tombstone Piledriver from the top to take down Danni and make the tournament. Poena might not have as good a record as the other three but he has no Moral Event Horizon in him. Diamond has experience and ring smarts on his side and whilst his record isn’t as long-lasting as NOMAD’s, he’s still undefeated.
Steve Morrison: All valid points and ones we hope to find the answers to tonight. With that, I can see our broadcast colleagues are waiting to introduce our first XHF match. Over to you, Hawke and Angel!
Hawke:As you can see from the Tron, we're kicking things off with the first match in the Tag Team Annihilator!
Randy: I'm really excited, End of Days is one of my favorite times of the year.
Hawke: Why's that?
Randy: Great action I get to call and great booze!
Hawke: That's literally every show you introduce.
Randy: Yes, but this is weekly! Aren't you supposed to introduce the first match?
Hawke: I'm pretty sure Bonnie has that under control.
Bonnie Jenkins: The following is a tag team match scheduled for ONE FALL! And is a first-round match in the 2022 TAG TEAM ANNIHILATOR! Entering first …
“Blasting the Hornet (Mega Man X3)” by Powerglove begins to play as Wellington Dunne strolls onto the stage. On his shoulders, throwing his fist in the air as if riding the Luck Dragon is Cheez. As they walk to the ring, Cheez begins throwing random items at the crowd. A Nintendo Power magazine from 1999, a Mario Odyssey hat, a Breath of the Wild shirt, a Crash Bandicoot plushy, and a Sonic the Hedgehog movie blu-ray. Dunne hoists him onto the apron and then rolls into the ring as Cheez climbs through the ropes. They pose for the crowd.
Bonnie Jenkins: Representing NLW, at a combined weight of 457 pounds, Wellington Dunne and Cheez, TILTED CARTRIDGES!
Randy: Hooray! I caught a Fire Emblem-themed liquor flask!
Hawke: I got a rock…
A DJ Marshmello-crafted mash-up of The Game’s “One Blood” and Metallica's "Don't Tread on Me" plays over the PA as Curtis and El Combatiente emerge from the entryway. Curtis has a sledgehammer over one shoulder. El Combatiente's manager Javier follows shortly behind them having settled his apparent visa issues. They look around soaking up their surrounding. Curtis hoists his hammer into the air. El Combatiente breaks into a full sprint for the ring and slides in. Curtis and Javier slowly walk to ringside and chat. El Combatiente stretches in the ring preparing for the match to begin as Curtis climbs a turnbuckle and points to the crowd with his hammer, then hoists it straight up into the air and yells "BANG!"
Bonnie Jenkins: And their opponents, representing uh … themselves … at a combined weight of 489 pounds, Former POTUS Curtis D. Kanyon and El Combatiente … EL BANG! HERMANOS!
Randy: HAIL TO THE CHIEF BABY!
Hawke: He’s not the president anymore Randy.
Randy: I know, it’s because I didn’t vote for him!
Hawke: He didn’t run … wait who DID You vote for?
Randy: I wrote in Chthulu, figured the guy deserves a spot, couldn’t be worse than any other candidate.
TAG TEAM ANNIHILATOR FIRST ROUND MATCH
Tag-Team Match
BANG! Hermanos vs Tilted Cartridges
The bell rings and El Combatiente and Cheez begin the match with a cordial handshake. Displaying respect is not often seen around the XHF and that earns them some cheers from the crowd. They then lock up! Collar and elbow in the center of the ring with EC powering Cheez into the corner. Cheez tries to push his way out but EC is too strong, so Cheez resorts to a sneaky knee to the abdomen to the gut of the former FIRESIDE Tag Team Champion! Combatiente chuckles and responds with a chop that echoes in the arena! Cheez holds his chest and groans before EC lifts his head back up and CHOP! The unofficial "XHF Gamer Champion" is bent over coughing and EC whips him to the opposite corner. Cheez hits the turnbuckles but explodes out with a dropkick that flattens El Combatiente! Kanyon's mouth is agape as he didn't expect such tenacity out of Cheez but Dunne is cheering his partner on from the corner!
Hawke: Cheez has been hiding it but he's definitely been putting some work in on his in-ring technique!
Randy: The only way to expand his in-ring knowledge would be to put away some Super Sake! Drink Responsibly!
Cheez stalks after EC like a Dead by Daylight hunter, poised to strike his crawling victim. He grabs EC by the back of the tights and lifts him up and onto his shoulder! Or... he would if he hadn't skipped arm day one too many times. He instead has to deadlift EC off the ground, THEN lift him onto his shoulders in a not-as-cool manner, and Cheez rams EC into the corner with the might of Kratos! Boom! The ring shakes ferociously and Cheez laughs as EC tries to crawl away again. He lifts EC up, SHINING WIZARD TO THE KING CHEDDAR! CHEEZ IS DOWN! EC IS DOWN! NOBODY'S MOVING! Both Kanyon and Dunne realize the situation they're in and begin to jump and shout, getting their teammate's attention to come on out and get them in the match! Cheez and EC are crawling away, towards their partners, who's gonna make it first? It's gonna be close! DOUBLE HOT TAG! EC AND CHEEZ ARE OUT, AND KANYON AND DUNNE ARE IN!
Hawke: Oh man, things are about to get hot-n-ready!
Randy: Like a Little Caesars pizza, this will be over in no time!
The two goliaths charge each other, meeting in the middle of the ring and exchanging several bombs between each other. Back and forth they go, punches and haymakers and all sorts of closed fist strikes fly, and Dunne ducks a big move and headbutts Kanyon square in the nose! Kanyon stumbles back and Dunne shoves him farther into a corner, rough housing him with a bunch of strikes to the midsection. A few stiff forearm strikes knock Kanyon loopy, as if he could get any loopier, and Dunne runs to the opposite side of the ring, before running back with a SPLASH onto Kanyon! He does this once, twice, three more times before Kanyon slumps to the floor. A sharp stomp right to the spine assures Kanyon will be down for a bit before Dunne puts him in a camel clutch! Shades of the Iron Sheik! Dunne growls and yells as Kanyon tries to squirm out of the hold. Kanyon gets an arm over Dunne's knee and cracks him across the head with an elbow, ending the hold and getting Dunne on his back! Kanyon goes for a cheeky pin but only secures a one-count! Dunne has gas in the tank!
Dunne pushes himself to his feet and is met with a stiff punch from Kanyon, before being Irish whipped into the ropes! Kanyon lifts him for a pop-up BA-NO! DUNNE DRIVES BOTH ELBOWS STRAIGHT DOWN ON KANYON'S NECK AS HE COLLAPSES TO THE MAT! BOTH BIG GUYS ARE DOWN BUT DUNNE IS ABLE TO WILL HIMSELF TO HIS FEET, CHEEZ IS ROARING FOR A TAG, AND DUNNE OBLIGES! Cheez and Dunne are both in the ring now, stomping away on the former President as the ref begins to count Dunne out. Dunne lifts Kanyon onto his shoulders, AND DROPS HIM DOWN WITH A FACEBUSTER! CHEEZ MEETS HIM HALFWAY WITH A CODEBREAKER! NEW GAME PLUS! NEW GAME PLUS! CHEEZ PINS KANYON, IT'S GOTTA BE OVER! ONE, TWO, TH-KICKOUUUUUT! HOW DID KANYON KICK OUT!
Randy: OH COME ON! I THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT WAS IT!
Hawke: You and a few thousand others.
Dunne didn't notice but Cheez is in shock, he opts to climb to the ropes to deliver the final nail in the coffin! Flying headbutt! CHEDDA HEADDA! NO! KANYON ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY AND CHEEZ FACEPLANTS ON THE MAT! KANYON ROLLS TO A CORNER, PULLING HIMSELF UP AS CHEEZ GROGGILY GETS UP IN THE CENTER OF THE RING! HOLDING HIS HEAD AFTER THAT AWFUL SCREW UP!
Randy: I think it's time for BANG! y Girar!
CHEEZ IS GROGGY IN THE RING! COMBATIENTE KNOWS WHAT'S UP AS KANYON GETS IN POSITION! BAAAAAAAANG! FOLLOWED BY A 630 SENTON ONTO CHEEZ! DUNNE TRIES TO STEP IN BUT EC DROPKICKS HIM OUT OF THE RING AND KANYON PINS CHEEZ! ONE, TWO, THREE THAT'S IT!
Bonnie Jenkins: The winners of this match and advancing to the semi-finals of the Tag Team Annihilator Tournament, El Combatiente! Curtis Kanyon! El BANG! Hermanos!
Hawke: What a win for the winners!
Randy: I'm gonna be honest I thought Cheez and Dunne had it for a few moments there, but they were too dismissive of the sheer dump truck-icity of our former President!
El BANG! Hermanos celebrate in the ring as Cheez walks out, ignoring Dunne's attempts to console his partner.
Hawke: Cheez has been hiding it but he's definitely been putting some work in on his in-ring technique!
Randy: The only way to expand his in-ring knowledge would be to put away some Super Sake! Drink Responsibly!
Cheez stalks after EC like a Dead by Daylight hunter, poised to strike his crawling victim. He grabs EC by the back of the tights and lifts him up and onto his shoulder! Or... he would if he hadn't skipped arm day one too many times. He instead has to deadlift EC off the ground, THEN lift him onto his shoulders in a not-as-cool manner, and Cheez rams EC into the corner with the might of Kratos! Boom! The ring shakes ferociously and Cheez laughs as EC tries to crawl away again. He lifts EC up, SHINING WIZARD TO THE KING CHEDDAR! CHEEZ IS DOWN! EC IS DOWN! NOBODY'S MOVING! Both Kanyon and Dunne realize the situation they're in and begin to jump and shout, getting their teammate's attention to come on out and get them in the match! Cheez and EC are crawling away, towards their partners, who's gonna make it first? It's gonna be close! DOUBLE HOT TAG! EC AND CHEEZ ARE OUT, AND KANYON AND DUNNE ARE IN!
Hawke: Oh man, things are about to get hot-n-ready!
Randy: Like a Little Caesars pizza, this will be over in no time!
The two goliaths charge each other, meeting in the middle of the ring and exchanging several bombs between each other. Back and forth they go, punches and haymakers and all sorts of closed fist strikes fly, and Dunne ducks a big move and headbutts Kanyon square in the nose! Kanyon stumbles back and Dunne shoves him farther into a corner, rough housing him with a bunch of strikes to the midsection. A few stiff forearm strikes knock Kanyon loopy, as if he could get any loopier, and Dunne runs to the opposite side of the ring, before running back with a SPLASH onto Kanyon! He does this once, twice, three more times before Kanyon slumps to the floor. A sharp stomp right to the spine assures Kanyon will be down for a bit before Dunne puts him in a camel clutch! Shades of the Iron Sheik! Dunne growls and yells as Kanyon tries to squirm out of the hold. Kanyon gets an arm over Dunne's knee and cracks him across the head with an elbow, ending the hold and getting Dunne on his back! Kanyon goes for a cheeky pin but only secures a one-count! Dunne has gas in the tank!
Dunne pushes himself to his feet and is met with a stiff punch from Kanyon, before being Irish whipped into the ropes! Kanyon lifts him for a pop-up BA-NO! DUNNE DRIVES BOTH ELBOWS STRAIGHT DOWN ON KANYON'S NECK AS HE COLLAPSES TO THE MAT! BOTH BIG GUYS ARE DOWN BUT DUNNE IS ABLE TO WILL HIMSELF TO HIS FEET, CHEEZ IS ROARING FOR A TAG, AND DUNNE OBLIGES! Cheez and Dunne are both in the ring now, stomping away on the former President as the ref begins to count Dunne out. Dunne lifts Kanyon onto his shoulders, AND DROPS HIM DOWN WITH A FACEBUSTER! CHEEZ MEETS HIM HALFWAY WITH A CODEBREAKER! NEW GAME PLUS! NEW GAME PLUS! CHEEZ PINS KANYON, IT'S GOTTA BE OVER! ONE, TWO, TH-KICKOUUUUUT! HOW DID KANYON KICK OUT!
Randy: OH COME ON! I THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT WAS IT!
Hawke: You and a few thousand others.
Dunne didn't notice but Cheez is in shock, he opts to climb to the ropes to deliver the final nail in the coffin! Flying headbutt! CHEDDA HEADDA! NO! KANYON ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY AND CHEEZ FACEPLANTS ON THE MAT! KANYON ROLLS TO A CORNER, PULLING HIMSELF UP AS CHEEZ GROGGILY GETS UP IN THE CENTER OF THE RING! HOLDING HIS HEAD AFTER THAT AWFUL SCREW UP!
Randy: I think it's time for BANG! y Girar!
CHEEZ IS GROGGY IN THE RING! COMBATIENTE KNOWS WHAT'S UP AS KANYON GETS IN POSITION! BAAAAAAAANG! FOLLOWED BY A 630 SENTON ONTO CHEEZ! DUNNE TRIES TO STEP IN BUT EC DROPKICKS HIM OUT OF THE RING AND KANYON PINS CHEEZ! ONE, TWO, THREE THAT'S IT!
Bonnie Jenkins: The winners of this match and advancing to the semi-finals of the Tag Team Annihilator Tournament, El Combatiente! Curtis Kanyon! El BANG! Hermanos!
Hawke: What a win for the winners!
Randy: I'm gonna be honest I thought Cheez and Dunne had it for a few moments there, but they were too dismissive of the sheer dump truck-icity of our former President!
El BANG! Hermanos celebrate in the ring as Cheez walks out, ignoring Dunne's attempts to console his partner.
The shot fades up on the XHF Network announce team.
Hawke: Up next is a match in the End of Days singles tournament.
Randy: And what a tournament it will be! 15 of the world’s greatest wrestlers and some girl in a bear costume will be competing for the XHF’s greatest prize, the X*Crown Championship.
Hawke: Tonight we will bring you the opening round matches which each consist of four wrestlers. These are double elimination matches, so the two competitors who don’t get pinned advance.
Randy: If i’m being honest, it is an unusual format that may end up rewarding the less courageous wrestlers. Speaking of unusual, The Sands Hotel has requested a special guest commentator for this match to help promote an upcoming event. Joining us is Las Vegas’ own Emery Endicott.
The shot zooms out and we see a bookish man in yuppie clothing. He wears a yacht captain hat with purple fox ears sewn into it.
Emery Endicott: A pleasure to be here, guys. You have a great crowd and I hope this place will be just as filled next weekend for my event, The Yachts of Yiffs Expo.
Hawke: I’m told this is the first ever simultaneous boat show and furry convention?
Emery Endicott: Yes, I previously ran those events separately and lost my ass on both of them. People just don’t go out as much in this post-covid world. I did notice there is very little overlap in the two groups and figure this might finally be the formula to sell out The Sands.
Bonnie Jenkins: The following End of Days tournament match is scheduled for TWO FALLS, the remaining two people will be moving forward to face each other next week! Introducing first, from here in sin city itself.............Rat Bastard!
The lights go out and "Tear Away" by Drowning Pool begins to play. The crowd starts to boo as there is a bright flashing of white lights. A red strobe light accompanies the music as Rat Bastard steps out into the entrance. He has a smug look and a Katana over his shoulder.
Randy: What a classy guy. Rat Bastard is bringing a samurai sword down to ring to make light of how Kira Izumi’s mother was murdered.
Rat Bastard points the sword threateningly at a fan holding a sign that says “RAT’S BASTARD” and has a picture of AVB being pinned by Syberus. Bastard slides into the ring and soaks in the boos.
Hawke: It's a risky move to try and upset Kira. You figure Rat would have his hands full enough with his sworn enemy Jack Diamond.
Emery Endicott: If I had to compare the first ever X*Crown champion to a boat, I’d say he’s a 2010 Sea Ray.
Hawke: Thanks, Emery.
"Money In The Bag" by Lights & Kieza plays into the arena before bills with Eadie’s face on them start raining down out of seemingly nowhere. A pristine white carriage with a white horse rolls onto the stage. The suit-wearing horseman steps off his seat, approaches the carriage and opens it for Eadie to step out, straight into a single spotlight that reflects how sparkly her bewitchingly alluring attire is.
Randy: Quite the entrance for the newcomer. Eadie is making her debut tonight, but what she lacks in experience is more than made up for in confidence.
Hawke: She calls herself the "The Princess of Prosperity" and this Beverly Park beauty has her eyes set on the X*Crown.
Emery waves at The Princess, but she shoves a disgusted palm in his face. Once ringside the Princess goes up the steps to get onto the apron before slowly bending over the middle rope to enter the ring, making sure to be purposely slow to show off her delectable derrière to the cameras. The moment she entered the ring Eadie shoos the referee so she could get to the exact middle of the ring to strike her signature over the shoulder pose.
Bonnie Jenkins: And next, from Beverly Park.....she is "The Princess of Prosperity".......Eadie!
Emery Endicott: What a gorgeous girl. The only boat worthy of her is a cruise ship!
Hawke: Don’t mention cruises. We’re going to be hearing more than enough about them later.
Randy: What? Oh! Yeah, don’t get me started on that guy.
“Oboro” By Dir En Grey plays as a man in a leather jacket and Oni masks storms down to the ring. The referee has to keep him separated from Rat Bastard.
Bonnie Jenkins: And from Shinhidaka, Hokkaido, Japan........an XHF Network mainstay..........Kira Izuuuuuuuuumi!
Randy: Unsurprisingly, Kira is livid to have Rat Bastard mock his family tragedies and mental issues. He also says he has a score to settle with Jack Diamond too.
Hawke: Kira is a former XHF Phoenix champion, but is still hunting for his first X*Crown. He has all the talent, but the danger tonight is his hatred for his opponents might get in the way.
Emery Endicott: I like his mask, but I imagine salt walter could ruin it.
The house lights go out as the crowd begins to buzz. 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.
Hawke: This crowd is firmly in the corner of Las Vegas’s own.
Emery Endicott: Not me, I’m rooting for Bastard because rats have fur.
Jack 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. He ascends the outside of the corner and plays to the crowd as more pyro goes off.
Hawke: Jack is looking to become a three time X*Crown champion, but I think that’s second on his list of priorities. First is teaching Rat a lesson for mocking Jack’s battle with mental health issues. He also is competing later tonight in the TAPOUT tournament too.
Jack glares at Rat Bastard as he removes his leather jacket, handing it to the timekeeper before heading to his corner and stretching and preparing for the match.
Bonnie Jenkins: And our final competitor.............TAPOUT'S OWN.........JACK DIAMOND!
Randy: Remember this is a two fall match. The wrestlers who get pinned are eliminated from the tournament.
Emery Endicott: And kids under 10 get into Yachts of Yiffs for free!
Hawke: Up next is a match in the End of Days singles tournament.
Randy: And what a tournament it will be! 15 of the world’s greatest wrestlers and some girl in a bear costume will be competing for the XHF’s greatest prize, the X*Crown Championship.
Hawke: Tonight we will bring you the opening round matches which each consist of four wrestlers. These are double elimination matches, so the two competitors who don’t get pinned advance.
Randy: If i’m being honest, it is an unusual format that may end up rewarding the less courageous wrestlers. Speaking of unusual, The Sands Hotel has requested a special guest commentator for this match to help promote an upcoming event. Joining us is Las Vegas’ own Emery Endicott.
The shot zooms out and we see a bookish man in yuppie clothing. He wears a yacht captain hat with purple fox ears sewn into it.
Emery Endicott: A pleasure to be here, guys. You have a great crowd and I hope this place will be just as filled next weekend for my event, The Yachts of Yiffs Expo.
Hawke: I’m told this is the first ever simultaneous boat show and furry convention?
Emery Endicott: Yes, I previously ran those events separately and lost my ass on both of them. People just don’t go out as much in this post-covid world. I did notice there is very little overlap in the two groups and figure this might finally be the formula to sell out The Sands.
Bonnie Jenkins: The following End of Days tournament match is scheduled for TWO FALLS, the remaining two people will be moving forward to face each other next week! Introducing first, from here in sin city itself.............Rat Bastard!
The lights go out and "Tear Away" by Drowning Pool begins to play. The crowd starts to boo as there is a bright flashing of white lights. A red strobe light accompanies the music as Rat Bastard steps out into the entrance. He has a smug look and a Katana over his shoulder.
Randy: What a classy guy. Rat Bastard is bringing a samurai sword down to ring to make light of how Kira Izumi’s mother was murdered.
Rat Bastard points the sword threateningly at a fan holding a sign that says “RAT’S BASTARD” and has a picture of AVB being pinned by Syberus. Bastard slides into the ring and soaks in the boos.
Hawke: It's a risky move to try and upset Kira. You figure Rat would have his hands full enough with his sworn enemy Jack Diamond.
Emery Endicott: If I had to compare the first ever X*Crown champion to a boat, I’d say he’s a 2010 Sea Ray.
Hawke: Thanks, Emery.
"Money In The Bag" by Lights & Kieza plays into the arena before bills with Eadie’s face on them start raining down out of seemingly nowhere. A pristine white carriage with a white horse rolls onto the stage. The suit-wearing horseman steps off his seat, approaches the carriage and opens it for Eadie to step out, straight into a single spotlight that reflects how sparkly her bewitchingly alluring attire is.
Randy: Quite the entrance for the newcomer. Eadie is making her debut tonight, but what she lacks in experience is more than made up for in confidence.
Hawke: She calls herself the "The Princess of Prosperity" and this Beverly Park beauty has her eyes set on the X*Crown.
Emery waves at The Princess, but she shoves a disgusted palm in his face. Once ringside the Princess goes up the steps to get onto the apron before slowly bending over the middle rope to enter the ring, making sure to be purposely slow to show off her delectable derrière to the cameras. The moment she entered the ring Eadie shoos the referee so she could get to the exact middle of the ring to strike her signature over the shoulder pose.
Bonnie Jenkins: And next, from Beverly Park.....she is "The Princess of Prosperity".......Eadie!
Emery Endicott: What a gorgeous girl. The only boat worthy of her is a cruise ship!
Hawke: Don’t mention cruises. We’re going to be hearing more than enough about them later.
Randy: What? Oh! Yeah, don’t get me started on that guy.
“Oboro” By Dir En Grey plays as a man in a leather jacket and Oni masks storms down to the ring. The referee has to keep him separated from Rat Bastard.
Bonnie Jenkins: And from Shinhidaka, Hokkaido, Japan........an XHF Network mainstay..........Kira Izuuuuuuuuumi!
Randy: Unsurprisingly, Kira is livid to have Rat Bastard mock his family tragedies and mental issues. He also says he has a score to settle with Jack Diamond too.
Hawke: Kira is a former XHF Phoenix champion, but is still hunting for his first X*Crown. He has all the talent, but the danger tonight is his hatred for his opponents might get in the way.
Emery Endicott: I like his mask, but I imagine salt walter could ruin it.
The house lights go out as the crowd begins to buzz. 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.
Hawke: This crowd is firmly in the corner of Las Vegas’s own.
Emery Endicott: Not me, I’m rooting for Bastard because rats have fur.
Jack 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. He ascends the outside of the corner and plays to the crowd as more pyro goes off.
Hawke: Jack is looking to become a three time X*Crown champion, but I think that’s second on his list of priorities. First is teaching Rat a lesson for mocking Jack’s battle with mental health issues. He also is competing later tonight in the TAPOUT tournament too.
Jack glares at Rat Bastard as he removes his leather jacket, handing it to the timekeeper before heading to his corner and stretching and preparing for the match.
Bonnie Jenkins: And our final competitor.............TAPOUT'S OWN.........JACK DIAMOND!
Randy: Remember this is a two fall match. The wrestlers who get pinned are eliminated from the tournament.
Emery Endicott: And kids under 10 get into Yachts of Yiffs for free!
END OF DAYS SINGLES TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH
Elimination Fatal 4-way (2 advance) Match
Eadie vs. Rat Bastard vs. Jack Diamond vs. Kira Izumi
The bell rings. Rat Bastard and Jack Diamond charge at each other. Rat Bastard never reaches his target as Kira Izumi flies in first with a double leg takedown. Izumi mounts the bigger competitor and begins to unleash a barrage of closed fist strikes. The crowd cheers.
Hawke: Kira takes Bastard down to the mat! Rat had tunnel vision for Jack and forgot about the other man he offended. Kira is wailing on him.
Randy: This is why you don’t anger all your opponents.
Jack Diamond lets Rat Bastard take the beating for a few seconds before interfering. He nails the distracted Kira Izumi with a superkick to the side of the head. Rat Bastard tries to sit up, but Jack Diamond then mounts him and begins delivering wild strikes of his own. The crowd goes even more nuts for the local hero.
Hawke: Jack Diamond couldn’t wait any longer to get his hands on the bastard either.
Emery Endicott: Everyone wants him. He’s like a 2022 Nimbus C11.
Eadie is still in her corner pouting, the newcomer frantically waves her arms to get the others attention.
Randy: The Princess feels left out. She planned to have a debut match, but everyone else is in a street brawl.
Kira Izumi leaps onto Jack Diamond’s back and attempts to trap him in a rear naked choke. The two enemies stumble backwards, off of Rat Bastard. The hated man is finally able to roll out of the ring to safety.
Hawke: The rat scurries away as Jack and Kira tussle.
Randy: No love lost between them either.
Rat hides from the action on the floor. Jack Diamond and Kira Izumi are back to their feet, the rivals exchanging heated words that soon become fists.
Randy: The big mouth bastard is hiding on the ground now. Fitting.
Hawke: Eadie still needs a dance partner.
Eadie rolls her eyes before exiting the ring. She heads over to the announce team desk and points at Emery.
Eadie: Out of my seat now! Give me the head set!
The furry leaps up and starts to head to the back. Eadie yanks him back.
Eadie: I didn’t say leave. Where am I supposed to put my feet?
Emery lowers to all fours and lets Eadie rest her feet on his back.
Hawke: What has happened to End of Days…
Jack Diamond irish whips Kira Izumi into the ropes, who ducks a clothesline on the way back. Kira Izumi comes off the opposite ropes and nails Jack Diamond with a stiff flying forearm.
Randy: Great shot from Kira.
Eadie: I will tell you what happened. These “men” were intimidated to be in the presence of a goddess like myself. None of them have the balls to tangle with The Princess, so I guess I will relax and face the winner next week.
Emery: Yes, slay queen.
Kira Izumi puts his opponent in an indian death lock. Referee Steve Tyrell asks if Jack Diamond wants to submit, but he shakes his head no.
Randy: Izumi is cranking in that submission, but Jack refuses to give in.
Hawke: Meanwhile Bastard is still hiding out on the floor.
Jack Diamond writhes on the mat in pain before sitting up and slapping Kira Izumi in the face.
Randy: Jack slaps away, but the Japanese star refuses to let go.
Eadie: Hang on, my footrest is asking what our furosonas would be. I guess something that could show off like a peacock or an elk with huge antlers. How about you, Joey?
Hawke: Not touching that one.
Jack Diamond continues to land slaps to the head of Kira Izumi, who is focused on keeping the submissive maneuver locked in.
Randy: I think I would be one of those turtles that live for centuries. The world keeps moving faster and faster. It would be nice to slow down and spend time with loved ones. I don’t remember the exact breed.
Eadie: I’ll ask my furniture. One second. He says it is the giant tortoise.
Kira Izumi breaks the holds and starts defending himself from the strikes.
Hawke: Anyway! Back to the match! Kira was forced to let go of the hold and protect his face.
The two men stumble to their feet. Kira Izumi scurries to get behind Jack Diamond and hits a tiger suplex.
Randy: Oh! What a move!
Hawke: Kira goes for the pin.
1…kick out!
Kira Izumi irish whips Jack into the ropes. Diamond ducks a clothesline and comes back the other way with a sling blade.
Hawke: Snake eyes!
Randy: Look out!
Jack doesn’t notice as Rat Bastard slides into the ring. Bastard charges in from behind and decks Jack. The crowd boos.)
Randy: What a tough guy. Rat waits until Jack’s back is turned to strike.
Bastard puts the boots to Jack as Kira Izumi raises to all fours.
Eadie: It is despicable. What kind of wrestler would hide at ringside and wait for the perfect moment to…
Eadie suddenly bolts out of her chair, yanking the head set free, and runs to the ring. She slides in behind Kira and delivers a somersault axe kick to their head.
Hawke: What a kick! Never let them know your next move.
Randy: She’s still wearing the headset. Eadie goes for the pin.
1…kickout!
Bastard picks Jack up and shit cans him over the top rope.
Randy: Rat happy to take things outside the ring again.
Hawke: No, I will not get you another headset, Emery.
Eadie pulls Kira Izumi up by his hair and delivers a Crash Thunder Buster.
Hawke: Crash Thunder Buster!
Randy: Eadien lifting that 200 pound man like it was nothing.
Bastard, now outside the ring, continues to put the boots to Jack.
Randy: The fans raining down trash and boos on Rat.
Kira Izumi gets back to his feet and swings at Eadie . She blocks the strike and headbutts him.
Randy: Damn! Eadie is more than a just pretty face or a furry bully.
Kira Izumi staggers back and Eadie wraps him up before landing a release belly to belly suplex.
Hawke: You would never guess how strong the princess is at first glance.
Rat irish whips Jack into the steps as the fans boo.
Randy: You would guess what a bastard Rat is though.
Eadie leans over to mock her downed opponent. She goes to put the headset on him, but Kira raises a leg straight up and kicks her in the face.
Hawke: Eadie paying the price for getting cocky.
Rat snatches a beer from the hands of a fan in the front row and tosses it in Jack’s face before hitting a brutal short arm clothesline.
Randy: I hope Rat is going to refund that guy’s twelve bucks.
Eadie is leaning against the ropes clutching her nose as Izumi springs up and hits a Saito Suplex to her.
Hawke: Saito Suplex! Kira isn’t out of this yet.
Eadie manages to make it up to her knees. Kira Izumi leaps up and connects with a Shining wizard.
Randy: What a shot to the back of her head. Go for the pin!
Rat attempts to shove Jack Diamond into the ring post, but he gets a hand up. Diamond back elbows Rat as the crowd cheers.
Randy: Yes! Vegas on Vegas crime!
Before Eadie can rise, Kira puts her in a muta lock. Jack Diamond runs up the ring steps and catches Rat with a leaping DDT.
Hawke: Oh, Kira has that locked in good. The rookie might be caught here. What a DDT from Jack. It is hard to keep up with all this action.
Eadie reaches out for the ropes, but they are too far away. She motions to Emery.
Eadie: FOOT REST! SAVE YOUR ELK QUEEN!
Randy: Don’t do it, man. You’re not trained. This isn’t your world.
Hawke: Jack gets the upper hand outside the ring.
Randy: While Emery looks to get the upper paw inside the ring.
Jack charges in, cactus clotheslining himself and Bastard over the barricade.
Randy: They’re spilling into the crowd! Jack and Rat are going to war!
Rat scrambles on all fours through the crowd trying to create space between himself and Jack.
Hawke: Rat is more interested in a tactical retreat.
Emery refuses to leave. Kira Izumi releases the lock and runs over. The japanese wrestler decks the promoter in the face and he collapses in the corner, blood pouring out of his nose.
Randy: Emery is down! Purple fox blood has been spilled here at End of Days slash TAPOUT!
Hawke: He didn’t die in vain though. Eadie is out of the muta lock.
Rat continues to push chairs around to slow his opponent's advance. Jack makes up the distance and leaps off a chair. He switchblades Rat onto the ballroom floor.
Hawke: SNAKE EYES ON THE BALLROOM FLOOR!
Randy: Rat thought he had created enough distance, but Diamond is one hell of an athlete.
Jack stumbles to his feet and goes for a wild haymaker. Rat grabs a fan by his Donzig shirt and yanks them in the way of the punch.
Hawke: Another civilian has been struck! That is two in this match alone!
Randy: He’s a Donzig fan. No big loss.
Steve Tyrell checks on the knocked out ring invader. Kira Izumi goes to pick up the prone Eadie, but she catches him with a low blow.
Randy: Eadie with an illegal strike while the ref deals with her fallen cuck.
Hawke: Smart move. I like how the princess thinks.
Jack looks down to help the wounded fan and Bastard pounces. He clocks Diamond with a big boot.
Randy: A big boot while Jack tries to help the wounded fan. Cheaters are thriving here.
Randy: Eadie bringing all her weight down on Kira as our guest is wheeled out. We’ll let you know if the alternative life boat show is postponed.
Rat picks up his enemy and delivers a careless fall away slam, sending Jack crashing into scattered empty chairs.
Hawke: Rat sends Diamond flying and isn’t too fussy about where he lands.
Eadie applies a muta lock of her own as Steve Tyrell checks to see if they would like to submit.
Randy: Wow! She’s using Kira’s own move on him. Remind me not to cross Eadie.
Eadie: YOU BROKE THE FOOT REST! WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO PUT MY FEET NOW?
Hawke: This is an audible. Her lock won’t be as effective as the one Kira has mastered over time.
Kira Izumi powers through the pain and manages to finally reach the ropes. Eadie breaks the hold after four.
Hawke: Waiting to the last second possible to break the hold. Though this match has no count outs there are still disqualifications to be mindful of.
Rat runs at full speed, no concern for the fans he’s plowing through, and hits a jumping elbow on the prone Diamond.
Randy: Rat isn’t being mindful of potential lawsuits.
Eadie heads to the apron and leaps back in the ring, connecting with a code red. She goes for a pin.
Hawke: CODE RED! AMAZING!
Randy: Eadie is the real deal. She goes for the pin.
Eadie starts to have a temper tantrum in the middle of the ring. Meanwhile, Rat Bastard powerbombs Jack over the barricade.
Hawke: Well, it seems that the bastard finally remembered he has to win this in the ring.
Eadie whips Kira Izumi towards the ropes. Before he reaches them, he dives over the top rope and crashes into Rat Bastard.
Hawke: Suicide dive! Kira went back to Rat the second he spotted him.
Randy: I told you the katana bit was a bad idea.
Kira Izumi picks up Rat Bastard and drags him towards the ring, only stopping to spit at the downed Jack Diamond.
Randy: There is so much bad blood in this match.
Eadie leaps onto Kira Izumi’s shoulders and hits a hurricanrana. Rat staggers up to his feet and puts the boots to the Japanese wrestler.
Randy: Rat now stomping away on Kira. He invited the lady to join him.
Hawke: This could be a dangerous alliance.
Rat and Eadie continue to stomp on Kira Izumi as the crowd boos. Bastard goes and sits on the top turnbuckle. He motions for her to bring Kira over.
Hawke: Oh no. I think Bastard is setting up for The Plague.
Out of nowhere, Jack springs up the steps and lands a cutter on Rat Bastard. The roof blows off the building at this.
Hawke: STACKED DECK! JACK HITS THE STACKED DECK!
Randy: Rat got angry at Kira and took his eyes off the prize.
Panicked, Eadie drops Kira and charges in. Jack has his back turned, about to head up the turnbuckle himself when she delivers a Crash Thunder Buster.
Hawke: Diamond was setting up for the Jackpot, but Eadie interferes.
Randy: Looks like she’s saving her new partner.
Eadie gets on the apron as Bastard staggers to his feet. She leaps in and hits a code red.
Hawke: CODE RED TO RAT!
Randy: I stand corrected. She goes for the pin.
The crowd cheers at Rat being eliminated. Eadie doesn’t even celebrate for a second. She immediately jumps on top of Jack Diamond.
Randy: Eadie just pinned the first ever X*Crown champion and she went straight back to work.
Hawke: This kid is smart. She knows the pin means nothing in this weird match. If she want to advance then she needs a second one.
Eadie tosses Jack into the corner where he lands on top of Rat. She sprints to the other side of the ring and pins Kira.
Randy: She goes for Kira!
Eadie runs her hand through her hair, frustrated.
Randy: Such fire, I think we’re witnessing the birth of a star tonight.
Hawke: I agree, but she’s going to have to put one of these two men down to advance still.
Eadie goes for a summersault axe kick on Kira, but he rolls out of the way.
Randy: Kira moves at the last second and gets to his feet.
Kira starts exchanging blows with Eadie as Rat Bastard comes to. He notices the dazed Diamond on top of him and loses it.
Randy: Oh no. That was the last person Rat wanted to wake up with in Vegas.
Hawke: He was pinned already. He needs to leave the ring.
Bastard has wrapped his hands around Jack’s neck and chokes him as officials storm out from the back. They try to drag the giant Rat out of the ring, but it isn’t easy.
Randy: Good luck trying to move a 285 pound bastard.
Kira has Eadie in a side headlock as Bastard and Jack roll out onto the floor by the announce table. Officials struggle to pull them apart and stand the men up.
Hawke: Things are breaking down out here and we still have one more pinfall to go.
Bastard is punching through office workers and makes his way over to the timekeepers area. He grabs something.
Randy: What is Rat doing…NO SOMEBODY STOP HIM.
Hawke: Rat’s getting the sword from his entrance! We need everyone out here now!
Rat tries to reach Jack with the katana. A sea of officials swarm him and attempt to wrestle the weapon away. The sword flies through the air and impales in the center of the ring. The crowd gasps as Steve Tyrell scrambles to get the dangerous item out of the ring.
Hawke: THAT IDIOT! SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!
Randy: Look at Eadie’s grin! She knows that the ref is distracted!
Eadie drops to her knees to go for another low blow, but Kira is quicker. He sprays a red mist in the woman’s eyes.
Hawke: Blood mist to the face!
Randy: Eadie just learned she’s not the only one who can cheat.
The princess stumbles around, trying to wipe her face clean. Kira lands a kick to her stomach then goes to end it.
Hawke: KIRA DRIVER ‘91!
Randy: Hell of a showing tonight from Eadie, but that should do it.
The ref hands the sword to an official then scrambles to count the pin.
Steve calls for the bell and there is an attempt to announce the winners, but too much chaos is going on at ringside.
Hawke: Folks, we’re trying to make an announcement. Things are out of control here. Kira Izumi and Jack Diamond advance tonight and will look to settle their rivalry next week in the round of eight.
Randy: If Jack even makes it to next week. Rat Bastard is trying to kill him now.
Hawke: Don’t forget Jack has another match tonight still too! This is insane.
Bonnie Jenkins (from ringside): Your winners! KIRA IZUMI AND JACK DIAMOND! Hey! Somebody stop them!
Rat Bastard and Jack break free of the officials and continue to swing at each other. Kira slide out of the ring and attempts to join the chaos as more officials sprint down and the shot fades out.
Hawke: Kira takes Bastard down to the mat! Rat had tunnel vision for Jack and forgot about the other man he offended. Kira is wailing on him.
Randy: This is why you don’t anger all your opponents.
Jack Diamond lets Rat Bastard take the beating for a few seconds before interfering. He nails the distracted Kira Izumi with a superkick to the side of the head. Rat Bastard tries to sit up, but Jack Diamond then mounts him and begins delivering wild strikes of his own. The crowd goes even more nuts for the local hero.
Hawke: Jack Diamond couldn’t wait any longer to get his hands on the bastard either.
Emery Endicott: Everyone wants him. He’s like a 2022 Nimbus C11.
Eadie is still in her corner pouting, the newcomer frantically waves her arms to get the others attention.
Randy: The Princess feels left out. She planned to have a debut match, but everyone else is in a street brawl.
Kira Izumi leaps onto Jack Diamond’s back and attempts to trap him in a rear naked choke. The two enemies stumble backwards, off of Rat Bastard. The hated man is finally able to roll out of the ring to safety.
Hawke: The rat scurries away as Jack and Kira tussle.
Randy: No love lost between them either.
Rat hides from the action on the floor. Jack Diamond and Kira Izumi are back to their feet, the rivals exchanging heated words that soon become fists.
Randy: The big mouth bastard is hiding on the ground now. Fitting.
Hawke: Eadie still needs a dance partner.
Eadie rolls her eyes before exiting the ring. She heads over to the announce team desk and points at Emery.
Eadie: Out of my seat now! Give me the head set!
The furry leaps up and starts to head to the back. Eadie yanks him back.
Eadie: I didn’t say leave. Where am I supposed to put my feet?
Emery lowers to all fours and lets Eadie rest her feet on his back.
Hawke: What has happened to End of Days…
Jack Diamond irish whips Kira Izumi into the ropes, who ducks a clothesline on the way back. Kira Izumi comes off the opposite ropes and nails Jack Diamond with a stiff flying forearm.
Randy: Great shot from Kira.
Eadie: I will tell you what happened. These “men” were intimidated to be in the presence of a goddess like myself. None of them have the balls to tangle with The Princess, so I guess I will relax and face the winner next week.
Emery: Yes, slay queen.
Kira Izumi puts his opponent in an indian death lock. Referee Steve Tyrell asks if Jack Diamond wants to submit, but he shakes his head no.
Randy: Izumi is cranking in that submission, but Jack refuses to give in.
Hawke: Meanwhile Bastard is still hiding out on the floor.
Jack Diamond writhes on the mat in pain before sitting up and slapping Kira Izumi in the face.
Randy: Jack slaps away, but the Japanese star refuses to let go.
Eadie: Hang on, my footrest is asking what our furosonas would be. I guess something that could show off like a peacock or an elk with huge antlers. How about you, Joey?
Hawke: Not touching that one.
Jack Diamond continues to land slaps to the head of Kira Izumi, who is focused on keeping the submissive maneuver locked in.
Randy: I think I would be one of those turtles that live for centuries. The world keeps moving faster and faster. It would be nice to slow down and spend time with loved ones. I don’t remember the exact breed.
Eadie: I’ll ask my furniture. One second. He says it is the giant tortoise.
Kira Izumi breaks the holds and starts defending himself from the strikes.
Hawke: Anyway! Back to the match! Kira was forced to let go of the hold and protect his face.
The two men stumble to their feet. Kira Izumi scurries to get behind Jack Diamond and hits a tiger suplex.
Randy: Oh! What a move!
Hawke: Kira goes for the pin.
1…kick out!
Kira Izumi irish whips Jack into the ropes. Diamond ducks a clothesline and comes back the other way with a sling blade.
Hawke: Snake eyes!
Randy: Look out!
Jack doesn’t notice as Rat Bastard slides into the ring. Bastard charges in from behind and decks Jack. The crowd boos.)
Randy: What a tough guy. Rat waits until Jack’s back is turned to strike.
Bastard puts the boots to Jack as Kira Izumi raises to all fours.
Eadie: It is despicable. What kind of wrestler would hide at ringside and wait for the perfect moment to…
Eadie suddenly bolts out of her chair, yanking the head set free, and runs to the ring. She slides in behind Kira and delivers a somersault axe kick to their head.
Hawke: What a kick! Never let them know your next move.
Randy: She’s still wearing the headset. Eadie goes for the pin.
1…kickout!
Bastard picks Jack up and shit cans him over the top rope.
Randy: Rat happy to take things outside the ring again.
Hawke: No, I will not get you another headset, Emery.
Eadie pulls Kira Izumi up by his hair and delivers a Crash Thunder Buster.
Hawke: Crash Thunder Buster!
Randy: Eadien lifting that 200 pound man like it was nothing.
1…
2…
Kickout!
Bastard, now outside the ring, continues to put the boots to Jack.
Randy: The fans raining down trash and boos on Rat.
Kira Izumi gets back to his feet and swings at Eadie . She blocks the strike and headbutts him.
Randy: Damn! Eadie is more than a just pretty face or a furry bully.
Kira Izumi staggers back and Eadie wraps him up before landing a release belly to belly suplex.
Hawke: You would never guess how strong the princess is at first glance.
Rat irish whips Jack into the steps as the fans boo.
Randy: You would guess what a bastard Rat is though.
Eadie leans over to mock her downed opponent. She goes to put the headset on him, but Kira raises a leg straight up and kicks her in the face.
Hawke: Eadie paying the price for getting cocky.
Rat snatches a beer from the hands of a fan in the front row and tosses it in Jack’s face before hitting a brutal short arm clothesline.
Randy: I hope Rat is going to refund that guy’s twelve bucks.
Eadie is leaning against the ropes clutching her nose as Izumi springs up and hits a Saito Suplex to her.
Hawke: Saito Suplex! Kira isn’t out of this yet.
Eadie manages to make it up to her knees. Kira Izumi leaps up and connects with a Shining wizard.
Randy: What a shot to the back of her head. Go for the pin!
1…
2…
Kickout!
Rat attempts to shove Jack Diamond into the ring post, but he gets a hand up. Diamond back elbows Rat as the crowd cheers.
Randy: Yes! Vegas on Vegas crime!
Before Eadie can rise, Kira puts her in a muta lock. Jack Diamond runs up the ring steps and catches Rat with a leaping DDT.
Hawke: Oh, Kira has that locked in good. The rookie might be caught here. What a DDT from Jack. It is hard to keep up with all this action.
Eadie reaches out for the ropes, but they are too far away. She motions to Emery.
Eadie: FOOT REST! SAVE YOUR ELK QUEEN!
Randy: Don’t do it, man. You’re not trained. This isn’t your world.
Jack waits for Rat Bastard to rise and hits a dropkick that knocks his opponent into the guardrail. Emery slides into the ring. referee Steve Tyrell turns away from the hold to focus on the intruder.
Hawke: Jack gets the upper hand outside the ring.
Randy: While Emery looks to get the upper paw inside the ring.
Jack charges in, cactus clotheslining himself and Bastard over the barricade.
Randy: They’re spilling into the crowd! Jack and Rat are going to war!
Rat scrambles on all fours through the crowd trying to create space between himself and Jack.
Hawke: Rat is more interested in a tactical retreat.
Emery refuses to leave. Kira Izumi releases the lock and runs over. The japanese wrestler decks the promoter in the face and he collapses in the corner, blood pouring out of his nose.
Randy: Emery is down! Purple fox blood has been spilled here at End of Days slash TAPOUT!
Hawke: He didn’t die in vain though. Eadie is out of the muta lock.
Rat continues to push chairs around to slow his opponent's advance. Jack makes up the distance and leaps off a chair. He switchblades Rat onto the ballroom floor.
Hawke: SNAKE EYES ON THE BALLROOM FLOOR!
Randy: Rat thought he had created enough distance, but Diamond is one hell of an athlete.
Jack stumbles to his feet and goes for a wild haymaker. Rat grabs a fan by his Donzig shirt and yanks them in the way of the punch.
Hawke: Another civilian has been struck! That is two in this match alone!
Randy: He’s a Donzig fan. No big loss.
Steve Tyrell checks on the knocked out ring invader. Kira Izumi goes to pick up the prone Eadie, but she catches him with a low blow.
Randy: Eadie with an illegal strike while the ref deals with her fallen cuck.
Hawke: Smart move. I like how the princess thinks.
Jack looks down to help the wounded fan and Bastard pounces. He clocks Diamond with a big boot.
Randy: A big boot while Jack tries to help the wounded fan. Cheaters are thriving here.
EMTs help roll Emery from the ring as Eadie stalks her prey. Kira Izumi rises to all fours and the princess leaps off their back to hit a step up senton.
Randy: Eadie bringing all her weight down on Kira as our guest is wheeled out. We’ll let you know if the alternative life boat show is postponed.
Rat picks up his enemy and delivers a careless fall away slam, sending Jack crashing into scattered empty chairs.
Hawke: Rat sends Diamond flying and isn’t too fussy about where he lands.
Eadie applies a muta lock of her own as Steve Tyrell checks to see if they would like to submit.
Randy: Wow! She’s using Kira’s own move on him. Remind me not to cross Eadie.
Eadie: YOU BROKE THE FOOT REST! WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO PUT MY FEET NOW?
Hawke: This is an audible. Her lock won’t be as effective as the one Kira has mastered over time.
Kira Izumi powers through the pain and manages to finally reach the ropes. Eadie breaks the hold after four.
Hawke: Waiting to the last second possible to break the hold. Though this match has no count outs there are still disqualifications to be mindful of.
Rat runs at full speed, no concern for the fans he’s plowing through, and hits a jumping elbow on the prone Diamond.
Randy: Rat isn’t being mindful of potential lawsuits.
Eadie heads to the apron and leaps back in the ring, connecting with a code red. She goes for a pin.
Hawke: CODE RED! AMAZING!
Randy: Eadie is the real deal. She goes for the pin.
1…
2…
Kickout!
Eadie starts to have a temper tantrum in the middle of the ring. Meanwhile, Rat Bastard powerbombs Jack over the barricade.
Hawke: Well, it seems that the bastard finally remembered he has to win this in the ring.
Eadie whips Kira Izumi towards the ropes. Before he reaches them, he dives over the top rope and crashes into Rat Bastard.
Hawke: Suicide dive! Kira went back to Rat the second he spotted him.
Randy: I told you the katana bit was a bad idea.
Kira Izumi picks up Rat Bastard and drags him towards the ring, only stopping to spit at the downed Jack Diamond.
Randy: There is so much bad blood in this match.
Eadie leaps onto Kira Izumi’s shoulders and hits a hurricanrana. Rat staggers up to his feet and puts the boots to the Japanese wrestler.
Randy: Rat now stomping away on Kira. He invited the lady to join him.
Hawke: This could be a dangerous alliance.
Rat and Eadie continue to stomp on Kira Izumi as the crowd boos. Bastard goes and sits on the top turnbuckle. He motions for her to bring Kira over.
Hawke: Oh no. I think Bastard is setting up for The Plague.
Out of nowhere, Jack springs up the steps and lands a cutter on Rat Bastard. The roof blows off the building at this.
Hawke: STACKED DECK! JACK HITS THE STACKED DECK!
Randy: Rat got angry at Kira and took his eyes off the prize.
Panicked, Eadie drops Kira and charges in. Jack has his back turned, about to head up the turnbuckle himself when she delivers a Crash Thunder Buster.
Hawke: Diamond was setting up for the Jackpot, but Eadie interferes.
Randy: Looks like she’s saving her new partner.
Eadie gets on the apron as Bastard staggers to his feet. She leaps in and hits a code red.
Hawke: CODE RED TO RAT!
Randy: I stand corrected. She goes for the pin.
1…
2….
3!
The crowd cheers at Rat being eliminated. Eadie doesn’t even celebrate for a second. She immediately jumps on top of Jack Diamond.
1…
2…
Kickout!
Randy: Eadie just pinned the first ever X*Crown champion and she went straight back to work.
Hawke: This kid is smart. She knows the pin means nothing in this weird match. If she want to advance then she needs a second one.
Eadie tosses Jack into the corner where he lands on top of Rat. She sprints to the other side of the ring and pins Kira.
Randy: She goes for Kira!
1…
2…
Kickout!
Eadie runs her hand through her hair, frustrated.
Randy: Such fire, I think we’re witnessing the birth of a star tonight.
Hawke: I agree, but she’s going to have to put one of these two men down to advance still.
Eadie goes for a summersault axe kick on Kira, but he rolls out of the way.
Randy: Kira moves at the last second and gets to his feet.
Kira starts exchanging blows with Eadie as Rat Bastard comes to. He notices the dazed Diamond on top of him and loses it.
Randy: Oh no. That was the last person Rat wanted to wake up with in Vegas.
Hawke: He was pinned already. He needs to leave the ring.
Bastard has wrapped his hands around Jack’s neck and chokes him as officials storm out from the back. They try to drag the giant Rat out of the ring, but it isn’t easy.
Randy: Good luck trying to move a 285 pound bastard.
Kira has Eadie in a side headlock as Bastard and Jack roll out onto the floor by the announce table. Officials struggle to pull them apart and stand the men up.
Hawke: Things are breaking down out here and we still have one more pinfall to go.
Bastard is punching through office workers and makes his way over to the timekeepers area. He grabs something.
Randy: What is Rat doing…NO SOMEBODY STOP HIM.
Hawke: Rat’s getting the sword from his entrance! We need everyone out here now!
Rat tries to reach Jack with the katana. A sea of officials swarm him and attempt to wrestle the weapon away. The sword flies through the air and impales in the center of the ring. The crowd gasps as Steve Tyrell scrambles to get the dangerous item out of the ring.
Hawke: THAT IDIOT! SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!
Randy: Look at Eadie’s grin! She knows that the ref is distracted!
Eadie drops to her knees to go for another low blow, but Kira is quicker. He sprays a red mist in the woman’s eyes.
Hawke: Blood mist to the face!
Randy: Eadie just learned she’s not the only one who can cheat.
The princess stumbles around, trying to wipe her face clean. Kira lands a kick to her stomach then goes to end it.
Hawke: KIRA DRIVER ‘91!
Randy: Hell of a showing tonight from Eadie, but that should do it.
The ref hands the sword to an official then scrambles to count the pin.
1…
2…
3!
Steve calls for the bell and there is an attempt to announce the winners, but too much chaos is going on at ringside.
Hawke: Folks, we’re trying to make an announcement. Things are out of control here. Kira Izumi and Jack Diamond advance tonight and will look to settle their rivalry next week in the round of eight.
Randy: If Jack even makes it to next week. Rat Bastard is trying to kill him now.
Hawke: Don’t forget Jack has another match tonight still too! This is insane.
Bonnie Jenkins (from ringside): Your winners! KIRA IZUMI AND JACK DIAMOND! Hey! Somebody stop them!
Rat Bastard and Jack break free of the officials and continue to swing at each other. Kira slide out of the ring and attempts to join the chaos as more officials sprint down and the shot fades out.
Laura Messier: Our first Tap Out Match of the night is a tag-team match, scheduled for one fall!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
A curvy female silhouette appears in the entrance way shielded from our view by clouded glass as ‘Feelin’ myself’ by Nikki Minaj (feat. Beyoncé) begins. Her hips sway in a hypnotic rhythm with the music.
Transitioning from sexy to strong, the glass before the silhouette shatters as Nikki Minaj starts rapping and Jenna Scyde hits a full double bicep pose.
Steve Morrison: She certainly has the build to make an impact in this match.
Cross Recoba: That’s what happens when you’ve been a star from high school track to mixed-martial arts.
Boos, cheers and cat calls erupt from all corners of the arena, some loved her, some hated her…but they all watched her!
Strutting to the ring like a runway model, Jenna ignores outstretched hands in favour of signs made by young female fans and hopeful young men alike.
Mugging for the camera, Jenna makes sure to get her social accounts out there and remind everyone just who the true ‘it girl’ of wrestling is!
Steve Morrison: She was perhaps unlucky in her debut, is tonight the night she turns it around?
Cross Recoba: I’d like to think so. On paper, she has every attribute you look for and as an added bonus, no-one on the Network was competing against us. I’d like to see her carve out a name for herself in the ring tonight.
Passing the announce tables, Jenna is sure to remind them to “call my shit right”.
Stepping into the ring, the ‘genetically superior’ Jenna Scyde walks the ring like a red carpet, owning every inch.
Her arms are outstretched, daring the fans to show her that their favourite wrestler was half as good as her.
Her smirk is almost as chiselled as her physique as she soaks in the love and hate of the fans in equal measure. Jenna tests the ropes and shrugs her shoulders, she’s ready.
Steve Morrison: She looks ready for the fight, what can she learn from her partner?
Cross Recoba: Tommy has always been great at finding another gear when others can’t. If we’re talking mentally? It’s when to go big and when to stay safe.
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: We saw a new side to Tommy last month.
Cross Recoba: I don’t see that as necessarily a bad thing though.
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: You think it might arrest the losing streak?
Cross Recoba: If he can channel the attitude he had when he produced wars against Vincent Draven? It’s only a good thing.
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: He still seems to have kept his showmanship.
Cross Recoba: That could all change when the bell rings. He knows Jackalope better than anyone, it’s who has whose number when the match starts on that score.
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: He looks ready for this one.
Cross Recoba: Wildcat is raw but he’s one to watch and without the pressure of the tournament, he can use these matches to work on his craft.
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: His strong-style offense has proven effective but how will it fare against the experience of Tommy and the pure athleticism of Scyde?
Cross Recoba: That’s what makes this match interesting. You’d say Tommy is the best technical wrestler, Jenna has such a great athletic background and her MMA experience means she can finish a match in a heartbeat. Capone and Jackalope need to marry up the strong-style with lucha-inspired offense to try and get the win.
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: Looking over at his opponents, he doesn’t seem fazed.
Cross Recoba: When you’ve had the background that he’s had, it’d take a lot to get a reaction.
The opening chords of Big Shot slam into the speakers, bringing the fans to their feet as Jackalope charges through the curtain.
Steve Morrison: Coming in full-pelt, Jackalope looks amped up!
Cross Recoba: He knows he’s one of the fan favorites in Tap Out. Some people thrive on that, helps them push through the barriers.
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: Scyde looks unimpressed by what’s in front of her.
Cross Recoba: He’ll test those track skills, Jackalope doesn’t do anything at half-pace!
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: Does this showboating put a target on his back?
Cross Recoba: Perhaps but once that bell rings, target or no target - it’ll come down to which team wants it more and can form a cohesive unit!
With the two teams in the ring, Laura Messier steps into the center.
Laura Messier: Introducing our first team, with a combined weight of three-hundred-and-thirty-seven pounds…JENNA SCYDE AND TOMMY STRYCHNINE!!!
The camera shows the team standing, nonchalantly.
Laura Messier: And their opponents, tipping the scales at a combined weight of three-hundred-and-eighty-eight pounds…WILDCAT CAPONE AND JACKALOPE!!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
A curvy female silhouette appears in the entrance way shielded from our view by clouded glass as ‘Feelin’ myself’ by Nikki Minaj (feat. Beyoncé) begins. Her hips sway in a hypnotic rhythm with the music.
Transitioning from sexy to strong, the glass before the silhouette shatters as Nikki Minaj starts rapping and Jenna Scyde hits a full double bicep pose.
Steve Morrison: She certainly has the build to make an impact in this match.
Cross Recoba: That’s what happens when you’ve been a star from high school track to mixed-martial arts.
Boos, cheers and cat calls erupt from all corners of the arena, some loved her, some hated her…but they all watched her!
Strutting to the ring like a runway model, Jenna ignores outstretched hands in favour of signs made by young female fans and hopeful young men alike.
Mugging for the camera, Jenna makes sure to get her social accounts out there and remind everyone just who the true ‘it girl’ of wrestling is!
Steve Morrison: She was perhaps unlucky in her debut, is tonight the night she turns it around?
Cross Recoba: I’d like to think so. On paper, she has every attribute you look for and as an added bonus, no-one on the Network was competing against us. I’d like to see her carve out a name for herself in the ring tonight.
Passing the announce tables, Jenna is sure to remind them to “call my shit right”.
Stepping into the ring, the ‘genetically superior’ Jenna Scyde walks the ring like a red carpet, owning every inch.
Her arms are outstretched, daring the fans to show her that their favourite wrestler was half as good as her.
Her smirk is almost as chiselled as her physique as she soaks in the love and hate of the fans in equal measure. Jenna tests the ropes and shrugs her shoulders, she’s ready.
Steve Morrison: She looks ready for the fight, what can she learn from her partner?
Cross Recoba: Tommy has always been great at finding another gear when others can’t. If we’re talking mentally? It’s when to go big and when to stay safe.
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: We saw a new side to Tommy last month.
Cross Recoba: I don’t see that as necessarily a bad thing though.
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: You think it might arrest the losing streak?
Cross Recoba: If he can channel the attitude he had when he produced wars against Vincent Draven? It’s only a good thing.
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: He still seems to have kept his showmanship.
Cross Recoba: That could all change when the bell rings. He knows Jackalope better than anyone, it’s who has whose number when the match starts on that score.
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: He looks ready for this one.
Cross Recoba: Wildcat is raw but he’s one to watch and without the pressure of the tournament, he can use these matches to work on his craft.
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: His strong-style offense has proven effective but how will it fare against the experience of Tommy and the pure athleticism of Scyde?
Cross Recoba: That’s what makes this match interesting. You’d say Tommy is the best technical wrestler, Jenna has such a great athletic background and her MMA experience means she can finish a match in a heartbeat. Capone and Jackalope need to marry up the strong-style with lucha-inspired offense to try and get the win.
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: Looking over at his opponents, he doesn’t seem fazed.
Cross Recoba: When you’ve had the background that he’s had, it’d take a lot to get a reaction.
The opening chords of Big Shot slam into the speakers, bringing the fans to their feet as Jackalope charges through the curtain.
Steve Morrison: Coming in full-pelt, Jackalope looks amped up!
Cross Recoba: He knows he’s one of the fan favorites in Tap Out. Some people thrive on that, helps them push through the barriers.
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: Scyde looks unimpressed by what’s in front of her.
Cross Recoba: He’ll test those track skills, Jackalope doesn’t do anything at half-pace!
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: Does this showboating put a target on his back?
Cross Recoba: Perhaps but once that bell rings, target or no target - it’ll come down to which team wants it more and can form a cohesive unit!
With the two teams in the ring, Laura Messier steps into the center.
Laura Messier: Introducing our first team, with a combined weight of three-hundred-and-thirty-seven pounds…JENNA SCYDE AND TOMMY STRYCHNINE!!!
The camera shows the team standing, nonchalantly.
Laura Messier: And their opponents, tipping the scales at a combined weight of three-hundred-and-eighty-eight pounds…WILDCAT CAPONE AND JACKALOPE!!
Tag-Team Match
Tommy Strychnine & Jenna Scyde vs. Wildcat Capone & Jackalope
“Big” John Quinn first approaches the team of Jackalope and Capone. The two rookies nod along, keen to make sure they don’t incur his wrath during the match. Whilst we can’t hear exactly what has been said, Quinn’s motions of hair-grabbing and pointing at his eyes tell us that he isn’t in the mood for any cheating today.
Steve Morrison: Last month we saw Quinn eject the clowns of von Krauss. He won’t want a repeat tonight.
Cross Recoba: This might not be the team in the ring I’d be worried about in this match if I was “Big” John!
As Quinn walks away, Jackalope raises an arm to a receptive Vegas crowd.
Crowd: JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE!
A smile forms on the face of Kid Cryptid.
Steve Morrison: The man who survived entering a dinosaur’s mouth might well be the most popular wrestler with our Vegas crowd we’ve seen so far tonight!
Cross Recoba: He was unlucky not to pull off the upset but that was one reason I gave him the shot, he’ll learn from it and come out on top next time he has a belt in his sights.
The team of Scyde and Strych have their last-minutes strategy talk interrupted by Quinn. He specifically singles out Tommy for the focus of the pre-match briefing. Jenna appears unfazed, seemingly focusing more on how she can make this match her stand-out performance than she is on what Quinn has to say.
Steve Morrison: Do they look on the same page to you?
Cross Recoba: It’s hard to say. This is a new look, new attitude Tommy and Jenna’s confident and comes from a sports background where there was no team.
Steve Morrison: Comparatively, we know that whilst brief, Jackalope and Wildcat were on the same team at the six-man tag match at XHF’s Supremacy event.
Cross Recoba: It won’t make them the second coming of the Icons right away but it might at least give them an idea of what their opponent can do on their team.
Steve Morrison: We’re seeing the fourth time this year that Jackalope and Strych have faced off. I have Strych up by one so far. Both of his wins coming from multi-man matches, can he make it three tonight?
Cross Recoba: I’m expecting a more vicious side of Strychnine to come through tonight. He knows what both these men can do and you’d like to think he knows ways he can nullify their strengths.
Turning to Jenna, we can see “Big” John immediately recognize that she isn’t paying attention. His actions become bigger and his body language more deliberate.
Steve Morrison: It’s becoming a theme with Scyde, she might be a hell of an athlete but a nightmare to deal with as an official.
Cross Recoba: I can understand why she’s acting like this but, knowing John, I wouldn’t recommend people imitating this stance.
Almost yawning, Jenna brushes him off with what some lip-readers might interpret as a ‘Whatever’.
Steve Morrison: She’s looking self-assured, do you think Tommy will have given her info on her opponents?
Cross Recoba: Most likely, but is she likely to listen? She’s always been told she’s the best in every sport she’s in - Tap Out will be no different.
With his patience exhausted, Quinn calls for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
Wildcat starts in the ring with The Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Wrestler.
Steve Morrison: Both men are up there for being the best brawlers in Tap Out, this could be evenly matched.
Cross Recoba: It’ll come down to which of them can go the extra mile.
With the sound of the crowd’s anticipation dropping as they wait for the two fighters to begin, a lone fan’s voice is heard.
Fan: FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU!
Within milliseconds the fan is no longer alone.
Crowd: FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU!
The cameras catch the New Orleans native rolling his eyes as he heads to the center of the ring.
Steve Morrison: I think the crowd here at The Sands have made their minds up on who they want to win tonight.
Cross Recoba: Tommy will have his own reasons for what he did last show but if it brings results, how much stock do you put in what a fan thinks?
Wildcat is more reserved, remembering how dangerous Tommy could be in the ring at Supremacy.
Steve Morrison: Capone is looking a little cagier than Strych.
Cross Recoba: He’s seen up close what an on-form Tommy can do.
Taunting the less experienced wrestler, Strych makes an overexaggerated motion as he looks to lock-up. Capone goes for the arm-and-collar tie-up but the more agile wrestler ducks behind and grabs a waistlock. He rushes Wildcat to the ropes but the man from Kentucky holds on. Releasing the hold, Strych takes a step back and lets Capone turn to face him. TOMMY OPEN-HAND SLAPS CAPONE!
Steve Morrison: A complete sign of disrespect from the Rocker!
Laughing, Strych skips backwards to the center of the ring and holds his hands up with a smile.
Cross Recoba: He’s trying to get into the head of the less experienced wrestler, he wants to know how far he can push Wildcat before he snaps.
Steve Morrison: Would he do that against Poena?
Capone leans back to his corner, Jackalope telling him not to let his head go.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope telling his partner to wrestle the gameplan they had set out.
Cross Recoba: Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. Capone needs to keep his guard up.
Returning back to his opponent, Wildcat Capone is more cautious. Strych protests his innocence and goes to lock-up in a deliberate manner. Placing an arm on the back of Capone’s neck, he uses his other arm to demonstrate he wants to play fair.
Steve Morrison: Is he serious?
With some assurance, Capone locks up and the two men jostle to establish control of the lock-up. With his power advantage, Capone looks to be able to use it to bring the taller man to his level. A loud grunt emits from the Lexington Brawler as he drives Strychnine up against the ropes.
Steve Morrison: Capone showing that he perhaps wins the battle of pound-for-pound strength.
Cross Recoba: There’s no perhaps about it.
Letting go immediately, Wildcat goes to take a step back BUT TOMMY CATCHES HIM WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A CHEAP SHOT!
The Lansky Ballroom is awash with boos once more.
Cross Recoba: It was the right move though….
Staggering back, Capone is helpless to stop another European Uppercut connecting that pushes him up against the ropes. A lifting knee to the ribcage of Capone gives Tommy the time he needs to send him to the corner.
Steve Morrison: Wildcat finds himself on the wrong side of the opening minutes of the match.
Pelting towards his opponent, Strych leaps looking for the Big Corner Splash…
Cross Recoba: This could be big…
NO-ONE’S HOME!!!
Steve Morrison: CAPONE MOVES AT THE LAST MOMENT!
Staggering out from the corner, Strych walks right into his comeuppance. Capone circles him as he connects with jabs, never staying in one place or allowing Tommy to reset his own feet. Wildcat grabs his head..headbutt!
Steve Morrison: It’s not quite a Va’aiga headbutt but his days of street fighting appear to be what’s needed right now!
Tommy is given no quarter as he’s scooped onto the shoulder of the Lexington Streetfighter…POWERSLAM!
Steve Morrison: Raw power on display!
Cross Recoba: If he can build from this, his team could get a huge advantage!
Eager to keep on top of his opponent, Wildcat once more grabs the head of his opponent and lifts him to his knees…KAWADA KICKS!!
Steve Morrison: All the way from Japan!
Capone sprints to the ropes…SLIDING ELBOW!!
Steve Morrison: SLIDING D!!!
Cross Recoba: As crisp as you’ll ever see!
Showing off tremendous power, CAPONE DEADLIFTS STRYCH TO THE MAT WITH A SAITO SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: JUICY!!
Cross Recoba: I’d be inclined to go for the pin. He dropped him nearly vertical on his head there!
With his opponent down, Capone drags Strych by the arm to his corner and tags in Jackalope.
Steve Morrison: Instead he brings in Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: This could be interesting…
Jackalope slingshots himself over the top-rope and lands an elbow drop. He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
T-
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: Not quite enough to put away the Rocker!
Cross Recoba: Both men know each other better than anyone else on the Tap Out roster!
Not wasting time protesting, Jackalope rolls into an arch…
Steve Morrison: Well, we all know what this is…
He lines up Strych….
Cross Recoba: It might not put him away, but it’ll definitely put him down…
STRYCH MOVES OUT THE WAY OF THE SPEAR!!!
Steve Morrison: This time Tommy moves out the way, Jackalope found nothing but turnbuckle!
Jackalope rebounds from the corner…GERMAN SUPLEX!!
Cross Recoba: Veteran move right th-
KID CRYPTID LANDS ON HIS FEET!!!
Steve Morrison: The Chaos Bunny’s agility saves him!
He takes Tommy down to his knees with a chop block and keeps running…
Cross Recoba: This isn’t good for the New Orleans Native!
SHINING WIZARD!!!
Steve Morrison: A quickfire combo keeps Jackalope in control!
SCYDE PULLS STRYCH OUT OF DANGER BEFORE JACKALOPE CAN MAKE THE PIN!
Cross Recoba: And Scyde announces her appearance in the match with the save!
Tagging herself in, Jenna leaps over the ropes and connects with a discus clothesline that takes her down to the mat with her opponent.
Steve Morrison: Crisp, as always.
She scoops up Jackalope and body slams him.
Cross Recoba: Jenna has all the makings of a future star. You see people being able to do the fantastical but not have a solid grasp of the basics, Scyde isn’t like that.
Grabbing a front-facelock, she looks to lift him over for a suplex but Jackalope drops down the back and hits the ropes…HE DUCKS THE BICYCLE THRUST KICK ATTEMPT AND COMES BACK WITH A SPINNING HEEL KICK!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope says ‘Screw your basics!’
Rolling through he leaps off the middle rope…ASAI MOONSAULT!!!
ONE…
TWO
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: Not enough on Jenna just yet.
Jade immediately rolls to her feet but Kid Cryptid grabs a headlock. She lifts him up…
Steve Morrison: Blue Thunder Bomb? NO!
Jackalope spins around and hits a rana to take her back down!!
Cross Recoba: He’s getting his stride back…
Looking back at Jenna, Jackalope quickly makes it to the top-rope.
Steve Morrison: He’s looking for that moonsault DDT…
SCYDE CLUBS HIM IN THE BACK!
Cross Recoba: Being the fresher wrestler in the ring, she managed to recover that situation well.
TOP-ROPE BACK SUPLEX!!
Steve Morrison: Is that going to do it?
She hooks his legs and rolls backwards…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: The way she folded him up with the backwards roll was smart. That kickout is going to take more out of him than if she just hooked the leg.
Annoyed at the sheer temerity of Jackalope kicking out, Jenna uses his hair to pull him up and sends him to the ropes…POP-UP!!!
Steve Morrison: SAMOAN DROP?
TILT-A-WHIRL ARM DRAG FROM JACKALOPE!!
Cross Recoba: Kid Cryptid shows why he’s the Tap Out crowd’s hometown hero!
He tags in Capone who meets the oncoming Strych…THUNDER FIRE POWERBOMB!!!
Steve Morrison: Wildcat showing great vision to cut off the intrusion!
Scyde struggles to her feet using the ropes. Jackalope rushes off the ropes and ROLLS UP HER BACK…GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: I don’t think we’ve seen someone hit a German suplex like that before!
Cross Recoba: It’s a smart way to hit it, the roll up the back will give him more momentum as he comes down to throw her!
Jackalope picks her back up and whips her towards his partner…
Steve Morrison: Could this be a double-team?...
ROLLING KOPPU KICK!!
Steve Morrison: ONE…LESS…BITCH!!!
CAPONE, THE LEGAL MAN, COVERS!!!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
Quinn calls for the bell!
Laura Messier: Your winners of this match, the team of WILDCAT CAPONE….AND JACKALOPE!!!
Steve Morrison: Last month we saw Quinn eject the clowns of von Krauss. He won’t want a repeat tonight.
Cross Recoba: This might not be the team in the ring I’d be worried about in this match if I was “Big” John!
As Quinn walks away, Jackalope raises an arm to a receptive Vegas crowd.
Crowd: JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE!
A smile forms on the face of Kid Cryptid.
Steve Morrison: The man who survived entering a dinosaur’s mouth might well be the most popular wrestler with our Vegas crowd we’ve seen so far tonight!
Cross Recoba: He was unlucky not to pull off the upset but that was one reason I gave him the shot, he’ll learn from it and come out on top next time he has a belt in his sights.
The team of Scyde and Strych have their last-minutes strategy talk interrupted by Quinn. He specifically singles out Tommy for the focus of the pre-match briefing. Jenna appears unfazed, seemingly focusing more on how she can make this match her stand-out performance than she is on what Quinn has to say.
Steve Morrison: Do they look on the same page to you?
Cross Recoba: It’s hard to say. This is a new look, new attitude Tommy and Jenna’s confident and comes from a sports background where there was no team.
Steve Morrison: Comparatively, we know that whilst brief, Jackalope and Wildcat were on the same team at the six-man tag match at XHF’s Supremacy event.
Cross Recoba: It won’t make them the second coming of the Icons right away but it might at least give them an idea of what their opponent can do on their team.
Steve Morrison: We’re seeing the fourth time this year that Jackalope and Strych have faced off. I have Strych up by one so far. Both of his wins coming from multi-man matches, can he make it three tonight?
Cross Recoba: I’m expecting a more vicious side of Strychnine to come through tonight. He knows what both these men can do and you’d like to think he knows ways he can nullify their strengths.
Turning to Jenna, we can see “Big” John immediately recognize that she isn’t paying attention. His actions become bigger and his body language more deliberate.
Steve Morrison: It’s becoming a theme with Scyde, she might be a hell of an athlete but a nightmare to deal with as an official.
Cross Recoba: I can understand why she’s acting like this but, knowing John, I wouldn’t recommend people imitating this stance.
Almost yawning, Jenna brushes him off with what some lip-readers might interpret as a ‘Whatever’.
Steve Morrison: She’s looking self-assured, do you think Tommy will have given her info on her opponents?
Cross Recoba: Most likely, but is she likely to listen? She’s always been told she’s the best in every sport she’s in - Tap Out will be no different.
With his patience exhausted, Quinn calls for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
Wildcat starts in the ring with The Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Wrestler.
Steve Morrison: Both men are up there for being the best brawlers in Tap Out, this could be evenly matched.
Cross Recoba: It’ll come down to which of them can go the extra mile.
With the sound of the crowd’s anticipation dropping as they wait for the two fighters to begin, a lone fan’s voice is heard.
Fan: FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU!
Within milliseconds the fan is no longer alone.
Crowd: FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU!
The cameras catch the New Orleans native rolling his eyes as he heads to the center of the ring.
Steve Morrison: I think the crowd here at The Sands have made their minds up on who they want to win tonight.
Cross Recoba: Tommy will have his own reasons for what he did last show but if it brings results, how much stock do you put in what a fan thinks?
Wildcat is more reserved, remembering how dangerous Tommy could be in the ring at Supremacy.
Steve Morrison: Capone is looking a little cagier than Strych.
Cross Recoba: He’s seen up close what an on-form Tommy can do.
Taunting the less experienced wrestler, Strych makes an overexaggerated motion as he looks to lock-up. Capone goes for the arm-and-collar tie-up but the more agile wrestler ducks behind and grabs a waistlock. He rushes Wildcat to the ropes but the man from Kentucky holds on. Releasing the hold, Strych takes a step back and lets Capone turn to face him. TOMMY OPEN-HAND SLAPS CAPONE!
Steve Morrison: A complete sign of disrespect from the Rocker!
Laughing, Strych skips backwards to the center of the ring and holds his hands up with a smile.
Cross Recoba: He’s trying to get into the head of the less experienced wrestler, he wants to know how far he can push Wildcat before he snaps.
Steve Morrison: Would he do that against Poena?
Capone leans back to his corner, Jackalope telling him not to let his head go.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope telling his partner to wrestle the gameplan they had set out.
Cross Recoba: Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. Capone needs to keep his guard up.
Returning back to his opponent, Wildcat Capone is more cautious. Strych protests his innocence and goes to lock-up in a deliberate manner. Placing an arm on the back of Capone’s neck, he uses his other arm to demonstrate he wants to play fair.
Steve Morrison: Is he serious?
With some assurance, Capone locks up and the two men jostle to establish control of the lock-up. With his power advantage, Capone looks to be able to use it to bring the taller man to his level. A loud grunt emits from the Lexington Brawler as he drives Strychnine up against the ropes.
Steve Morrison: Capone showing that he perhaps wins the battle of pound-for-pound strength.
Cross Recoba: There’s no perhaps about it.
Letting go immediately, Wildcat goes to take a step back BUT TOMMY CATCHES HIM WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A CHEAP SHOT!
The Lansky Ballroom is awash with boos once more.
Cross Recoba: It was the right move though….
Staggering back, Capone is helpless to stop another European Uppercut connecting that pushes him up against the ropes. A lifting knee to the ribcage of Capone gives Tommy the time he needs to send him to the corner.
Steve Morrison: Wildcat finds himself on the wrong side of the opening minutes of the match.
Pelting towards his opponent, Strych leaps looking for the Big Corner Splash…
Cross Recoba: This could be big…
NO-ONE’S HOME!!!
Steve Morrison: CAPONE MOVES AT THE LAST MOMENT!
Staggering out from the corner, Strych walks right into his comeuppance. Capone circles him as he connects with jabs, never staying in one place or allowing Tommy to reset his own feet. Wildcat grabs his head..headbutt!
Steve Morrison: It’s not quite a Va’aiga headbutt but his days of street fighting appear to be what’s needed right now!
Tommy is given no quarter as he’s scooped onto the shoulder of the Lexington Streetfighter…POWERSLAM!
Steve Morrison: Raw power on display!
Cross Recoba: If he can build from this, his team could get a huge advantage!
Eager to keep on top of his opponent, Wildcat once more grabs the head of his opponent and lifts him to his knees…KAWADA KICKS!!
Steve Morrison: All the way from Japan!
Capone sprints to the ropes…SLIDING ELBOW!!
Steve Morrison: SLIDING D!!!
Cross Recoba: As crisp as you’ll ever see!
Showing off tremendous power, CAPONE DEADLIFTS STRYCH TO THE MAT WITH A SAITO SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: JUICY!!
Cross Recoba: I’d be inclined to go for the pin. He dropped him nearly vertical on his head there!
With his opponent down, Capone drags Strych by the arm to his corner and tags in Jackalope.
Steve Morrison: Instead he brings in Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: This could be interesting…
Jackalope slingshots himself over the top-rope and lands an elbow drop. He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
T-
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: Not quite enough to put away the Rocker!
Cross Recoba: Both men know each other better than anyone else on the Tap Out roster!
Not wasting time protesting, Jackalope rolls into an arch…
Steve Morrison: Well, we all know what this is…
He lines up Strych….
Cross Recoba: It might not put him away, but it’ll definitely put him down…
STRYCH MOVES OUT THE WAY OF THE SPEAR!!!
Steve Morrison: This time Tommy moves out the way, Jackalope found nothing but turnbuckle!
Jackalope rebounds from the corner…GERMAN SUPLEX!!
Cross Recoba: Veteran move right th-
KID CRYPTID LANDS ON HIS FEET!!!
Steve Morrison: The Chaos Bunny’s agility saves him!
He takes Tommy down to his knees with a chop block and keeps running…
Cross Recoba: This isn’t good for the New Orleans Native!
SHINING WIZARD!!!
Steve Morrison: A quickfire combo keeps Jackalope in control!
SCYDE PULLS STRYCH OUT OF DANGER BEFORE JACKALOPE CAN MAKE THE PIN!
Cross Recoba: And Scyde announces her appearance in the match with the save!
Tagging herself in, Jenna leaps over the ropes and connects with a discus clothesline that takes her down to the mat with her opponent.
Steve Morrison: Crisp, as always.
She scoops up Jackalope and body slams him.
Cross Recoba: Jenna has all the makings of a future star. You see people being able to do the fantastical but not have a solid grasp of the basics, Scyde isn’t like that.
Grabbing a front-facelock, she looks to lift him over for a suplex but Jackalope drops down the back and hits the ropes…HE DUCKS THE BICYCLE THRUST KICK ATTEMPT AND COMES BACK WITH A SPINNING HEEL KICK!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope says ‘Screw your basics!’
Rolling through he leaps off the middle rope…ASAI MOONSAULT!!!
ONE…
TWO
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: Not enough on Jenna just yet.
Jade immediately rolls to her feet but Kid Cryptid grabs a headlock. She lifts him up…
Steve Morrison: Blue Thunder Bomb? NO!
Jackalope spins around and hits a rana to take her back down!!
Cross Recoba: He’s getting his stride back…
Looking back at Jenna, Jackalope quickly makes it to the top-rope.
Steve Morrison: He’s looking for that moonsault DDT…
SCYDE CLUBS HIM IN THE BACK!
Cross Recoba: Being the fresher wrestler in the ring, she managed to recover that situation well.
TOP-ROPE BACK SUPLEX!!
Steve Morrison: Is that going to do it?
She hooks his legs and rolls backwards…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!
Cross Recoba: The way she folded him up with the backwards roll was smart. That kickout is going to take more out of him than if she just hooked the leg.
Annoyed at the sheer temerity of Jackalope kicking out, Jenna uses his hair to pull him up and sends him to the ropes…POP-UP!!!
Steve Morrison: SAMOAN DROP?
TILT-A-WHIRL ARM DRAG FROM JACKALOPE!!
Cross Recoba: Kid Cryptid shows why he’s the Tap Out crowd’s hometown hero!
He tags in Capone who meets the oncoming Strych…THUNDER FIRE POWERBOMB!!!
Steve Morrison: Wildcat showing great vision to cut off the intrusion!
Scyde struggles to her feet using the ropes. Jackalope rushes off the ropes and ROLLS UP HER BACK…GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: I don’t think we’ve seen someone hit a German suplex like that before!
Cross Recoba: It’s a smart way to hit it, the roll up the back will give him more momentum as he comes down to throw her!
Jackalope picks her back up and whips her towards his partner…
Steve Morrison: Could this be a double-team?...
ROLLING KOPPU KICK!!
Steve Morrison: ONE…LESS…BITCH!!!
CAPONE, THE LEGAL MAN, COVERS!!!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!
Quinn calls for the bell!
Laura Messier: Your winners of this match, the team of WILDCAT CAPONE….AND JACKALOPE!!!
Laura Messier: The following contest is set for one fall!
"Shadowplay" by Joy Division opens immediately on the hit of the guitar and out comes James Dragon. No fanfare and no emotion as he briskly makes his way to the ring, beset on all sides by an energized crowd. His dead eyed gaze never leaves the ring.
Steve Morrison: Dragon reminded long-term viewers just what he’s capable of and for those who hadn’t seen him before, you have to say he made an impression.
Cross Recoba: A former AWF United States Champion, James has still got enough left in his bones to become a player here in Tap Out!
To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you
Well I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you
In a room with a window in the corner, I found truth.
Steve Morrison: We saw a vicious side from Tommy Strychnine earlier but what Dragon put forth at our last show was nothing short of a clinical breakdown of his opponents.
Cross Recoba: That’s why tonight’s match is such a test for Sawyer. They impressed but cn they step up to Dragon’s level?
The jeers or sympathetic applause do not let up as Dragon ascends the stairs and enters the ring, expression still a shadow. Only when he moves his back to the corner and flicks his hair up does he emote, letting out a short primal yell, eager to begin.
Steve Morrison: He’s ready for battle!
Cross Recoba: A win here for Dragon would really build the case for him being in line for a shot against whoever becomes our first Openweight champion!
The arena lights dim as a synth bassline begins to play, the foggy neon on the tron becoming the main source of light. The tension in the song starts to pick up, and upon reaching the climax, the first verse begins and the arena lights flash briefly before returning to a dim glow, now with the same neon colors as the tron.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer could well make a case for being pound-for-pound the strongest member of the Tap Out roster!
Cross Recoba: They’re well-suited to their moveset which shows that they possess intelligence from the outset. Too often you see Junior Heavyweights with moves that are instantly cancelled once they face heavier opponents. Theirs is well-rounded and adaptable enough to take down any opponent.
The fans cheer when Sam Sawyer walks out onto the stage, their face calm and focused. On their way down they slap the hand of every fan who offers, with a faint smile of gratitude.
Steve Morrison: They’ve quickly built a rapport up with the Tap Out faithful.
Cross Recoba: It’s easy to see why, they’re able to mix up power and striking with the occasional high-risk move to light up a crowd!
They climb the steps and enter the ring, now focused entirely on the match ahead.
Steve Morrison: They lock eyes with Dragon as they enter the ring.
Cross Recoba: This is where the battle begins, keep an eye on their reactions during Laura’s announcements and you might get a clue on who has the upper hand mentally.
Laura Messier: To my left! He stands at six-feet even and hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada…JAMES…DRAGON!!
Dragon remains stone-faced, the veteran stares down his opponent.
Laura Messier: To my right! They hail from Houston, Texas and stand at five-feet and six inches….SAM…SAWYER!!
Sawyer raises their arm to a cheer from the crowd. They bounce on the balls of their feet awaiting the start of the match.
"Shadowplay" by Joy Division opens immediately on the hit of the guitar and out comes James Dragon. No fanfare and no emotion as he briskly makes his way to the ring, beset on all sides by an energized crowd. His dead eyed gaze never leaves the ring.
Steve Morrison: Dragon reminded long-term viewers just what he’s capable of and for those who hadn’t seen him before, you have to say he made an impression.
Cross Recoba: A former AWF United States Champion, James has still got enough left in his bones to become a player here in Tap Out!
To the centre of the city where all roads meet, waiting for you
To the depths of the ocean where all hopes sank, searching for you
Well I was moving through the silence without motion, waiting for you
In a room with a window in the corner, I found truth.
Steve Morrison: We saw a vicious side from Tommy Strychnine earlier but what Dragon put forth at our last show was nothing short of a clinical breakdown of his opponents.
Cross Recoba: That’s why tonight’s match is such a test for Sawyer. They impressed but cn they step up to Dragon’s level?
The jeers or sympathetic applause do not let up as Dragon ascends the stairs and enters the ring, expression still a shadow. Only when he moves his back to the corner and flicks his hair up does he emote, letting out a short primal yell, eager to begin.
Steve Morrison: He’s ready for battle!
Cross Recoba: A win here for Dragon would really build the case for him being in line for a shot against whoever becomes our first Openweight champion!
The arena lights dim as a synth bassline begins to play, the foggy neon on the tron becoming the main source of light. The tension in the song starts to pick up, and upon reaching the climax, the first verse begins and the arena lights flash briefly before returning to a dim glow, now with the same neon colors as the tron.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer could well make a case for being pound-for-pound the strongest member of the Tap Out roster!
Cross Recoba: They’re well-suited to their moveset which shows that they possess intelligence from the outset. Too often you see Junior Heavyweights with moves that are instantly cancelled once they face heavier opponents. Theirs is well-rounded and adaptable enough to take down any opponent.
The fans cheer when Sam Sawyer walks out onto the stage, their face calm and focused. On their way down they slap the hand of every fan who offers, with a faint smile of gratitude.
Steve Morrison: They’ve quickly built a rapport up with the Tap Out faithful.
Cross Recoba: It’s easy to see why, they’re able to mix up power and striking with the occasional high-risk move to light up a crowd!
They climb the steps and enter the ring, now focused entirely on the match ahead.
Steve Morrison: They lock eyes with Dragon as they enter the ring.
Cross Recoba: This is where the battle begins, keep an eye on their reactions during Laura’s announcements and you might get a clue on who has the upper hand mentally.
Laura Messier: To my left! He stands at six-feet even and hails from Toronto, Ontario, Canada…JAMES…DRAGON!!
Dragon remains stone-faced, the veteran stares down his opponent.
Laura Messier: To my right! They hail from Houston, Texas and stand at five-feet and six inches….SAM…SAWYER!!
Sawyer raises their arm to a cheer from the crowd. They bounce on the balls of their feet awaiting the start of the match.
Tag-Team Match
James Dragon vs. Sam Sawyer
Sam Sawyer circles as the bell sounds, trying to look for a hint of an opening in James Dragon’s defences as he turns, never letting them out of his sight. The cagey veteran offers out a lock up which Sawyer declines and chooses to fire off a kick to the midsection which Dragon bats away. The Nobody steps in and catches Sawyer’s arm first so they cannot block before firing off a couple of fierce forearms to Sawyer’s jaw. The Texan rears back to lessen the impact of the blow before diving forward and lowering their head, driving their should into Dragon’s midsection, wrapping him up and taking Drag off his feet. Sawyer throws a couple of downward palm strikes from the mount but Dragon sweeps to reverse posture and fires off some short elbows from within Sawyer’s guard. Dragon muscles his way loose and allows Sawyer to stand rather than keeping this fight on the ground.
Steve Morrison: So far this is looking less like a wrestling match and more like a fight.
Cross Recoba: That probably favours Sawyer. Dragon’s a wily old head in the game, though and he probably know he needs to use his power to take control.
The gritty look on James Dragon’s face and the little beckoning movement for Sam Sawyer to stand is an indication that Dragon is happy to trade in the opening stages of this match though. Eas Sawyer gets to their feet, Dragon is quick to thrust his knee right into their breadbasket, forcing wedge of spittle to be emitted from Sawyer’s mouth. Dragon follows quickly, throwing sharp body strikes with the point of his elbows and then just unloading a crushing palm strike to the bridge of Sawyer’s nose. Sam steps back out of it and pumps their fists, issuing a loud, “C’MON!” Sawyer ducks their head before moving back in, avoiding a second high palm strike and hitting a powerful rising palm of their own that catches James Dragon under his chin. Dragon is slightly off balance and Sawyer drops to their knees and hits an upwards throat chop that sends Dragon staggering towards the ropes. Sawyer waits and takes a couple of strong steps forward before LIGHTING UP THE SIDE OF DRAGON’S FACE WITH A COLD, COLD SLAP!
Steve Morrison: Sam Sawyer telling James Dragon to go forth and multiply there!
Cross Recoba: Slapping the taste fully out of James Dragon’s mouth.
And Dragon looks PISSED. He comes off the ropes at full speed and throws an elbow right at Sawyer’s jaw and they duck. Dragon throws one with the other arm. Sawyer ducks again. Grimacing, Dragon throws one with the original arm, now desperately looking to cleave head from body and this time Sawyer takes a step back, letting The Nobody spin round with his own momentum before grabbing a back waistlock and hitting a beautiful German Suplex, briding for a pin cover…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Dragon gets a shoulder off the mat.
Steve Morrison: Do you think that antagonizing James Dragon is sound strategy?
Cross Recoba: It’s certainly A strategy. Throw the man off his game, make openings where there wouldn’t normally be any.
The first to get up is Sawyer. They line up with Dragon and take a few steps of run up before driving their knee firmly into James Dragon’s head as he begins to stand up, spilling the grizzled veteran down flat to the mat again. Checking their angles, Sawyer backs off to a corner, knowing that they have enough time to line up another shot. Sawyer draws a bead on their victim and allows Dragon to get to one knee before charging in once again, turning their body sideways in mid air and using Dragon’s own knee as a springboard in order to smash their knee full into the side of Dragon’s cranium. Sawyer drops to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Dragon kicks out. Sawyer throws the Puroresu Love horns as a tribute to that move’s inventor.
Steve Morrison: SHINING WIZARD!
Cross Recoba: Not enough. But if James Dragon keeps getting his bell rung like that then his chances of winning this match are very low.
Sam Sawyer points to the sky and slowly turns their finger around in the air. James Dragon is laying on the mat, a little stunned and Sawyer takes very little time in asencding the turnbuckle befor GRACEFULLY SOARING OFF, ROTATING IN MIDAIR…
Steve Morrison: SAWYERSAULT! SAWYERSAULT!
BUT JAMES DRAGON ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY! SAWYER SPLATS HARD ON THE MAT IN THE ROUGH AREA DRAGON WAS LAYING IN.
Cross Recoba: Maybe a little too early to go for the killing blow in the match. This could be the opportunity that James Dragon needs.
With a look mixed of annoyance and general disgruntlement, Dragon draws back to a vertical base. He turns and hauls Sawyer off the mat and up into a fireman’s carry, spinning quickly through 180 degrees and releasing, sending Sawyer flying off his shoulders and down into a crumpled heap on the mat. The Nobody offers a weary smile as he moves in, hitting a huge knee drop across the chest of Sam Sawyer. Dragon quickly regains his standing position and raises hisknee up again, dropping a second thunderous knee across his prone opponent. A quick hook of the leg…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… and Sawyer kicks out.
Steve Morrison: James Dragon, taking a little control over the flow of the match.
Cross Recoba: Control is vital in a match like this. And James Dragon is a man that knows that.
At mat level, Dragon flips Sam Sawyer over before grabbing them in a solid back waistlock. Dragon draws his feet in and stands, never releasing his grip on his opponent and upon getting back to his feet, Dragon arches backwards and German Suplexes Sawyer, releasing mid arc for an incredibly painful landing. With his opponent down and groggy, James Dragon takes his sweet time getting to his feet and turning into the perfect position so that when Sam hauls their ass off the canvas one swift, painful knee to the midsection allows the No One to lock in a standing head scissors. Dragon hooks one arm of Sawyer, then the other, bending them behind their back before casually lifting and flipping Sam Sawyer over mid air, sitting out and crashing Sam’s back into the canvas. James Dragon stays in place to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Sawyer raises their shoulder.
Steve Morrison: Everything James Dragon does is designed to wear down his opponent and break their spirit. He’s become a cold, calculating wrestler.
Cross Recoba: Exposure to certain wrestlers will leave you in that kind of state. Personally, I aim to keep that sort of wrestler well away from my federation.
Dragon is on his feet again, glowering at Sam Sawyer as they lie supine on the mat. He hauls Sawyer up again, this time by an arm and keeping the arm trapped tight, The Nobody uses his free arm to shush the crowd before dragging his victim in, STRAIGHT INTO A HEAD TO HEAD COLLISION THAT MAKES A MASSIVE THUDDING SOUND! Dragon keeps that arm control and flings Sam Sawyer across the ring, waiting from them to bounce off and return before scooping them up for a Sidewalk Slam and moving his knee into position so that slam ends up as a HUGE backbreaker. Without any thought, James Dragon swings a clubbing arm across, clotheslining Sawyer off his knee where they are still laying.
Steve Morrison: HARSH REALITY! Man, that had to hurt.
Cross Recoba: I scouted James Dragon thoroughly before bringing him into the fold here at Tapout. He’s added so much more venom and spite to his offense over his career.
Looking to stand and trade after this little flurry of attacks, Dragon lets Sawyer regain a vertical position, the Texan looking a little woozy. The No One fires off an elbow again which rockes Sawyer’s jaw. Then a second. James Dragon’s eyes narrow as he rears an arm back and throws it in, looking to clothesline Sam Sawyer out of their damn boots. AND SAWYER DUCKS TURNING THEIR HEIGHT DISADVANTAGE INTO AN ADVANTAGE! Sawyer grabs for the flailing arm and twists it behind James Dragon’s back and then reaches over to hook in an inverted facelock… BEFORE SNAPPING DRAGON DOWN WITH A HAMMERLOCK INVERTED DDT! Sawyer covers…
ONE! James Dragon kicks out with authority and stands right back up, ABSOLUTELY FUMING!
Steve Morrison: I think Sam Sawyer just pushed one of Dragon’s buttons there.
Cross Recoba: I think that’s calculated. It can be easier to fight an opponent who’s overcommitting to his actions.
The seething James Dragon lines up a huge swing of his tightly balled fist and as Sawyer stands he FIRES a looping punch towards them. Sam Sawyer ducks and tees off on Dragon’s leg with a stinging kick. Dragon grunts and throws an overhand punch with his other arm, a blow that would crush a wrestler’s skull if it landed. But it doesn’t land as Sawyer weaves to a side, easily avoiding the blow and lashing another kick to Dragon’s leg. Sam backs away to a corner to give the fuming James Dragon time to gather himself for an attack and Dragon comes in like a heat seeking missile, lower his body so he can crush Sam Sawyer's ribcage against the metal post. DRAGON CHARGES AND SAWYER SLIPS TO A SIDE, FORCING JAMES DRAGON TO POST HIMSELF. HIS OWN SHOULDER MEETING THE COLD, UNFORGIVING STEEL!
Steve Morrison: Misfunction at the junction! James Dragon goes hard into the corner post!
Cross Recoba: As I predicted. Turn your opponent’s rage against them.
Sam Sawyer takes a careful look at the situation. They grab the body of James Dragon and slide him onto the second rope, head and shoulders draped over the middle rope before lifting up Dragon’s legs and slide them over the adjacent ropes, making a wrestler shaped bridge across the ring. Sawyer looks up to the sky and hops onto the second rope, using it as a springboard to bounce onto the very top. One swift look downwards at the suspended James Dragon, one long breath in and…
Steve Morrison: JAMES DRAGON IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION! IT COULD BE TIME FOR THE SAWYERSAULT!
SAWYER JUMPS OFF THE TOP ROPE, BACKFLIPPING IN THE AIR AND ROTATING THEIR BODY SO THEIR CHEST CRASHES DOWN FULL FORCE ONTO THE SMALL OFF JAMES DRAGON’S BACK! THE PAIR COLLAPSE TO THE MAT AND SAWYER HOLDS THEIR RIBS FOR A SHORT SECOND BEFORE FLIPPING DRAGON OVER AND FURTHER FROM THE ROPES BEFORE COVERING…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Laura Messier: The winner of this match…by way of a pinfall…SAM….SAWYER!!!
Steve Morrison: A great win from Sawyer. Some would call it an upset but I’ve seen what they can do in FIRESIDE and after an impressive debut, they continue to make this look like a shrewd bit of business, Cross.
Cross Recoba: Our scouting and acquisition team work to ensure that every signing is someone who can come in and be utilised in a better way than they were elsewhere. Look at NOMAD, look at Poena for two easy examples. Sawyer has made a statement tonight though and don’t be surprised if you see her pitted against some of the people in the tournament as they drop out.
Steve Morrison: They could make a great case for themselves for being in contention to face whoever walks out as the first Tap Out Openweight champion.
Steve Morrison: So far this is looking less like a wrestling match and more like a fight.
Cross Recoba: That probably favours Sawyer. Dragon’s a wily old head in the game, though and he probably know he needs to use his power to take control.
The gritty look on James Dragon’s face and the little beckoning movement for Sam Sawyer to stand is an indication that Dragon is happy to trade in the opening stages of this match though. Eas Sawyer gets to their feet, Dragon is quick to thrust his knee right into their breadbasket, forcing wedge of spittle to be emitted from Sawyer’s mouth. Dragon follows quickly, throwing sharp body strikes with the point of his elbows and then just unloading a crushing palm strike to the bridge of Sawyer’s nose. Sam steps back out of it and pumps their fists, issuing a loud, “C’MON!” Sawyer ducks their head before moving back in, avoiding a second high palm strike and hitting a powerful rising palm of their own that catches James Dragon under his chin. Dragon is slightly off balance and Sawyer drops to their knees and hits an upwards throat chop that sends Dragon staggering towards the ropes. Sawyer waits and takes a couple of strong steps forward before LIGHTING UP THE SIDE OF DRAGON’S FACE WITH A COLD, COLD SLAP!
Steve Morrison: Sam Sawyer telling James Dragon to go forth and multiply there!
Cross Recoba: Slapping the taste fully out of James Dragon’s mouth.
And Dragon looks PISSED. He comes off the ropes at full speed and throws an elbow right at Sawyer’s jaw and they duck. Dragon throws one with the other arm. Sawyer ducks again. Grimacing, Dragon throws one with the original arm, now desperately looking to cleave head from body and this time Sawyer takes a step back, letting The Nobody spin round with his own momentum before grabbing a back waistlock and hitting a beautiful German Suplex, briding for a pin cover…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Dragon gets a shoulder off the mat.
Steve Morrison: Do you think that antagonizing James Dragon is sound strategy?
Cross Recoba: It’s certainly A strategy. Throw the man off his game, make openings where there wouldn’t normally be any.
The first to get up is Sawyer. They line up with Dragon and take a few steps of run up before driving their knee firmly into James Dragon’s head as he begins to stand up, spilling the grizzled veteran down flat to the mat again. Checking their angles, Sawyer backs off to a corner, knowing that they have enough time to line up another shot. Sawyer draws a bead on their victim and allows Dragon to get to one knee before charging in once again, turning their body sideways in mid air and using Dragon’s own knee as a springboard in order to smash their knee full into the side of Dragon’s cranium. Sawyer drops to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Dragon kicks out. Sawyer throws the Puroresu Love horns as a tribute to that move’s inventor.
Steve Morrison: SHINING WIZARD!
Cross Recoba: Not enough. But if James Dragon keeps getting his bell rung like that then his chances of winning this match are very low.
Sam Sawyer points to the sky and slowly turns their finger around in the air. James Dragon is laying on the mat, a little stunned and Sawyer takes very little time in asencding the turnbuckle befor GRACEFULLY SOARING OFF, ROTATING IN MIDAIR…
Steve Morrison: SAWYERSAULT! SAWYERSAULT!
BUT JAMES DRAGON ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY! SAWYER SPLATS HARD ON THE MAT IN THE ROUGH AREA DRAGON WAS LAYING IN.
Cross Recoba: Maybe a little too early to go for the killing blow in the match. This could be the opportunity that James Dragon needs.
With a look mixed of annoyance and general disgruntlement, Dragon draws back to a vertical base. He turns and hauls Sawyer off the mat and up into a fireman’s carry, spinning quickly through 180 degrees and releasing, sending Sawyer flying off his shoulders and down into a crumpled heap on the mat. The Nobody offers a weary smile as he moves in, hitting a huge knee drop across the chest of Sam Sawyer. Dragon quickly regains his standing position and raises hisknee up again, dropping a second thunderous knee across his prone opponent. A quick hook of the leg…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… and Sawyer kicks out.
Steve Morrison: James Dragon, taking a little control over the flow of the match.
Cross Recoba: Control is vital in a match like this. And James Dragon is a man that knows that.
At mat level, Dragon flips Sam Sawyer over before grabbing them in a solid back waistlock. Dragon draws his feet in and stands, never releasing his grip on his opponent and upon getting back to his feet, Dragon arches backwards and German Suplexes Sawyer, releasing mid arc for an incredibly painful landing. With his opponent down and groggy, James Dragon takes his sweet time getting to his feet and turning into the perfect position so that when Sam hauls their ass off the canvas one swift, painful knee to the midsection allows the No One to lock in a standing head scissors. Dragon hooks one arm of Sawyer, then the other, bending them behind their back before casually lifting and flipping Sam Sawyer over mid air, sitting out and crashing Sam’s back into the canvas. James Dragon stays in place to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Sawyer raises their shoulder.
Steve Morrison: Everything James Dragon does is designed to wear down his opponent and break their spirit. He’s become a cold, calculating wrestler.
Cross Recoba: Exposure to certain wrestlers will leave you in that kind of state. Personally, I aim to keep that sort of wrestler well away from my federation.
Dragon is on his feet again, glowering at Sam Sawyer as they lie supine on the mat. He hauls Sawyer up again, this time by an arm and keeping the arm trapped tight, The Nobody uses his free arm to shush the crowd before dragging his victim in, STRAIGHT INTO A HEAD TO HEAD COLLISION THAT MAKES A MASSIVE THUDDING SOUND! Dragon keeps that arm control and flings Sam Sawyer across the ring, waiting from them to bounce off and return before scooping them up for a Sidewalk Slam and moving his knee into position so that slam ends up as a HUGE backbreaker. Without any thought, James Dragon swings a clubbing arm across, clotheslining Sawyer off his knee where they are still laying.
Steve Morrison: HARSH REALITY! Man, that had to hurt.
Cross Recoba: I scouted James Dragon thoroughly before bringing him into the fold here at Tapout. He’s added so much more venom and spite to his offense over his career.
Looking to stand and trade after this little flurry of attacks, Dragon lets Sawyer regain a vertical position, the Texan looking a little woozy. The No One fires off an elbow again which rockes Sawyer’s jaw. Then a second. James Dragon’s eyes narrow as he rears an arm back and throws it in, looking to clothesline Sam Sawyer out of their damn boots. AND SAWYER DUCKS TURNING THEIR HEIGHT DISADVANTAGE INTO AN ADVANTAGE! Sawyer grabs for the flailing arm and twists it behind James Dragon’s back and then reaches over to hook in an inverted facelock… BEFORE SNAPPING DRAGON DOWN WITH A HAMMERLOCK INVERTED DDT! Sawyer covers…
ONE! James Dragon kicks out with authority and stands right back up, ABSOLUTELY FUMING!
Steve Morrison: I think Sam Sawyer just pushed one of Dragon’s buttons there.
Cross Recoba: I think that’s calculated. It can be easier to fight an opponent who’s overcommitting to his actions.
The seething James Dragon lines up a huge swing of his tightly balled fist and as Sawyer stands he FIRES a looping punch towards them. Sam Sawyer ducks and tees off on Dragon’s leg with a stinging kick. Dragon grunts and throws an overhand punch with his other arm, a blow that would crush a wrestler’s skull if it landed. But it doesn’t land as Sawyer weaves to a side, easily avoiding the blow and lashing another kick to Dragon’s leg. Sam backs away to a corner to give the fuming James Dragon time to gather himself for an attack and Dragon comes in like a heat seeking missile, lower his body so he can crush Sam Sawyer's ribcage against the metal post. DRAGON CHARGES AND SAWYER SLIPS TO A SIDE, FORCING JAMES DRAGON TO POST HIMSELF. HIS OWN SHOULDER MEETING THE COLD, UNFORGIVING STEEL!
Steve Morrison: Misfunction at the junction! James Dragon goes hard into the corner post!
Cross Recoba: As I predicted. Turn your opponent’s rage against them.
Sam Sawyer takes a careful look at the situation. They grab the body of James Dragon and slide him onto the second rope, head and shoulders draped over the middle rope before lifting up Dragon’s legs and slide them over the adjacent ropes, making a wrestler shaped bridge across the ring. Sawyer looks up to the sky and hops onto the second rope, using it as a springboard to bounce onto the very top. One swift look downwards at the suspended James Dragon, one long breath in and…
Steve Morrison: JAMES DRAGON IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION! IT COULD BE TIME FOR THE SAWYERSAULT!
SAWYER JUMPS OFF THE TOP ROPE, BACKFLIPPING IN THE AIR AND ROTATING THEIR BODY SO THEIR CHEST CRASHES DOWN FULL FORCE ONTO THE SMALL OFF JAMES DRAGON’S BACK! THE PAIR COLLAPSE TO THE MAT AND SAWYER HOLDS THEIR RIBS FOR A SHORT SECOND BEFORE FLIPPING DRAGON OVER AND FURTHER FROM THE ROPES BEFORE COVERING…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Laura Messier: The winner of this match…by way of a pinfall…SAM….SAWYER!!!
Steve Morrison: A great win from Sawyer. Some would call it an upset but I’ve seen what they can do in FIRESIDE and after an impressive debut, they continue to make this look like a shrewd bit of business, Cross.
Cross Recoba: Our scouting and acquisition team work to ensure that every signing is someone who can come in and be utilised in a better way than they were elsewhere. Look at NOMAD, look at Poena for two easy examples. Sawyer has made a statement tonight though and don’t be surprised if you see her pitted against some of the people in the tournament as they drop out.
Steve Morrison: They could make a great case for themselves for being in contention to face whoever walks out as the first Tap Out Openweight champion.
Bonnie Jenkins: The following contest is a four way dance scheduled for two falls! The two winners will go on to the next round of the End of Days tournament to face each other!
The heavy strums of a guitar play as the lights dim and swirl around the arena.
All the spotlights convene on the stage where a figure rises from the stage. He slowly spins with his arm outstretched, the hand just slightly crackling with electricity.
Dylan flips his hair back as the lights come up with the chorus. Pausing at the top of the stage to the boos from the crowd, he offers no more than a smirk before walking down the ramp, a few ballsy fans pelting him with some trash as he makes sure to savor every second of this. He gets to where the ramp meets the ringside area and pauses, bouncing on the balls of his feet before walking to the steps. He gets up them and gets into the ring, standing in the center. Antonio Katō stands in the ring, microphone in hand as the music dies down.
Antonio Katō: And now in the ring at this time... HE STANDS AT SIX-FEET-THREE-INCHES TALL, and weighed in tonight at a slim TWO-HUNDRED-AND-SEVEN-POUNDS, he is the SUPREME PILLAR OF VIOLENCE, the BOSTON CYBORG MANIAC, and you all know him as the GREATEST X*CROWN CHAMPION OF THE XHF NETWORK ERA! THE REIGNING, NON-DEFENDING XHF HARDCORE CHAMPION! THE DAAAAAAAAAEMON! OF MAAAAAAAYHEM! DYLAAAAAAAAAAAN! BLAAAAAAAAAACK!
Dylan raises his arm in the air, a fist in the pose of E.V.E. He turns to his corner, leaning into it while waiting for the match to start. Completely ignoring whoever may already be in or coming down to the ring.
Hawke: Why has he never gotten the one arm replaced with a new one? It was cybernetic before. Why not reach out to the Trons again?
Randy: That’s a really good question. I don’t have an answer for that.
Hawke: Maybe Dylan likes to wrestle one armed?
Randy: That is a good answer. Allow me to give another one. I don’t care.
Bonnie Jenkins: And next to come down to the ring...
The slow beginning to ‘Styles Clash’ plays through the P.A. System in the arena as the house lights flash down onto the stage once the beat kicks in and onto the entrance curtain as the crowd awaits the arrival of James Raymond and raining down the mixture of cheers and boos from every inch of the arena. The figure of James slowly passes through the curtain from Gorilla Position as he looks around the arena. The half-mask worn around his head doesn’t give James the advantage of expressing himself, but from the way he’s looking around the arena and soaking in the crowd’s negative reaction, his nods are in approval of how the crowd feels about him. James begins his walk to the ring, the spotlights following him down the ramp as he ignores those who reach out for him, even going as far as kicking the barricade that holds the fans back as he passes by. The Coventry native makes his way to ringside and walks around the ring until he’s leapt onto the ring apron where the hard cam faces, from there he begins to unwrap the mask from behind his head, pulling away at the final knot as the ring announcer begins his introduction.
Bonnie Jenkins: … wrestling out of Coventry City, England though residing in Shibuya City, Japan and weighing in tonight at one hundred and eighty-seven pounds… THE BROKEN CROWN... JAMES RAAAAAYYYYMOOONNNDDDDDD!
Upon hearing his name being announced, James pulls the mask away from his head and reveals the bottom half of facial features to the hard camera that points right down at him, finally getting a good look at his cocky grin rubbed all over his face before he passes through the ropes and enters the ring, looking around the arena with that same shit-eating smug look on his face as he slips free from his ring jacket and places it down in his corner, ready for the match to begin / ready for his opponent to enter the arena.
Hawke: Does James Raymond wrestle with one arm too?
Randy: Why would he do that? He has both arms.
Hawke: Just wondering as it seems that James really isn’t “present” in this match.
Randy: Oh. That’s par for the course, I think.
Hawke: Shitty, but yeah.
Randy: When push comes to shove, James is a low tier wrestler. I don’t know how he lands these big time matches.
Bonnie Jenkins: And next to come down to the ring…”the Hardcore Hammer” Jakie Wentzel!
The screen cuts to static as the lights dim. The opening guitar riffs of “Domino the Destitute” play over the PA system. As the music builds, the screen displays picturesque scenery; farmland, tractors, quilts, friendly faces on porches. When the lead vocals come in the scene shatters into a blood red logo of Jakie Wentzel. As the music continues, flashes of Wentzel are shown intermeshed with horrific imagery. Torn blue jeans, a skull tattooed arm, burning crosses, maggots eating flesh, a pool of blood. The final shot shows Wentzel putting on a set of brass knuckles that pulls back to a full body shot. He smashes his fist into the screen, which goes black as the spotlights rise up on the entrance ramp.
Jakie Wentzel enters down the ramp slowly in his trademark white v-neck tee shirt, black suspenders, torn blue jeans, and black boater hat. He does not acknowledge the screaming fans, and avoids eye contact.
As Wentzel makes his way to the ring, he stops and tips his hat to the commentary booth and referee. He then throws his hat into the audience and gestures to the person who gets the hat with a quiet “Thank ye, naw onst.”
Entering the corner of the ring, he kneels and says a short prayer before pumping his left fist in the air, displaying his glistening brass knuckles.
Hawke: I hope that Jakie intends on putting away those brass knuckles. This isn’t that kind of match!
Randy: And why not? I don’t know if there are rules to this match.
Hawke: There should be.
Randy: And my response is. Who cares? Jakie seems vacant headed here tonight. I wonder if he’s worried about his little Amish home that really isn’t Amish anymore since I think they have all of the modern comforts after their old town was destroyed.
Bonnie Jenkins: And last to the ring…Donzig!
The light go down, and then come up an angry red. Flames explode from the eithr side of the ramp, jets and bursts of flame erupting into the air. Donzig walks from the back, wearing his skull mask with his hood up. He pauses, glaring out across the crowd before he shakes his head before walking down the ramp slowly. He circles around the ring, still watching the crowd before pausing to watch the announce team before he climbs the stairs. He stops at the ropes, reaching up to shove his hood back before stepping through the ropes. Then he takes off the mask, and shakes his head at the fans with a scowl before he leans back in his corner. Arms resting on the ropes while waiting for the match to start.
Hawke: Donzig has been on a downward spiral since his defeat at the hands of Esmeralda von Krauss.
Randy: He needs to get over the petty shit and count his blessings.
Hawke: Right.
Randy: I mean his wrestling company could have been gutted by a move.
Hawke: Donzig has a wrestling company?
Randy: Well, no, but you know what I mean.
The heavy strums of a guitar play as the lights dim and swirl around the arena.
"You say I need psychotherapy
Now you're making me mad
I say you quit trying to fix me
Or this is gonna get bad"
Now you're making me mad
I say you quit trying to fix me
Or this is gonna get bad"
All the spotlights convene on the stage where a figure rises from the stage. He slowly spins with his arm outstretched, the hand just slightly crackling with electricity.
"If you want a battle, I'll give you a war
Think you control me, don't know what you're in for
Keep coming at me, keep coming, you'll see
Keep pushing, keep pushing, pushing on me
IF YOU WANT CRAAAAAAAAAAZY!
I'LL GIVE YOU PSYCHOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Think you control me, don't know what you're in for
Keep coming at me, keep coming, you'll see
Keep pushing, keep pushing, pushing on me
IF YOU WANT CRAAAAAAAAAAZY!
I'LL GIVE YOU PSYCHOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Dylan flips his hair back as the lights come up with the chorus. Pausing at the top of the stage to the boos from the crowd, he offers no more than a smirk before walking down the ramp, a few ballsy fans pelting him with some trash as he makes sure to savor every second of this. He gets to where the ramp meets the ringside area and pauses, bouncing on the balls of his feet before walking to the steps. He gets up them and gets into the ring, standing in the center. Antonio Katō stands in the ring, microphone in hand as the music dies down.
Antonio Katō: And now in the ring at this time... HE STANDS AT SIX-FEET-THREE-INCHES TALL, and weighed in tonight at a slim TWO-HUNDRED-AND-SEVEN-POUNDS, he is the SUPREME PILLAR OF VIOLENCE, the BOSTON CYBORG MANIAC, and you all know him as the GREATEST X*CROWN CHAMPION OF THE XHF NETWORK ERA! THE REIGNING, NON-DEFENDING XHF HARDCORE CHAMPION! THE DAAAAAAAAAEMON! OF MAAAAAAAYHEM! DYLAAAAAAAAAAAN! BLAAAAAAAAAACK!
Dylan raises his arm in the air, a fist in the pose of E.V.E. He turns to his corner, leaning into it while waiting for the match to start. Completely ignoring whoever may already be in or coming down to the ring.
Hawke: Why has he never gotten the one arm replaced with a new one? It was cybernetic before. Why not reach out to the Trons again?
Randy: That’s a really good question. I don’t have an answer for that.
Hawke: Maybe Dylan likes to wrestle one armed?
Randy: That is a good answer. Allow me to give another one. I don’t care.
Bonnie Jenkins: And next to come down to the ring...
The slow beginning to ‘Styles Clash’ plays through the P.A. System in the arena as the house lights flash down onto the stage once the beat kicks in and onto the entrance curtain as the crowd awaits the arrival of James Raymond and raining down the mixture of cheers and boos from every inch of the arena. The figure of James slowly passes through the curtain from Gorilla Position as he looks around the arena. The half-mask worn around his head doesn’t give James the advantage of expressing himself, but from the way he’s looking around the arena and soaking in the crowd’s negative reaction, his nods are in approval of how the crowd feels about him. James begins his walk to the ring, the spotlights following him down the ramp as he ignores those who reach out for him, even going as far as kicking the barricade that holds the fans back as he passes by. The Coventry native makes his way to ringside and walks around the ring until he’s leapt onto the ring apron where the hard cam faces, from there he begins to unwrap the mask from behind his head, pulling away at the final knot as the ring announcer begins his introduction.
Bonnie Jenkins: … wrestling out of Coventry City, England though residing in Shibuya City, Japan and weighing in tonight at one hundred and eighty-seven pounds… THE BROKEN CROWN... JAMES RAAAAAYYYYMOOONNNDDDDDD!
Upon hearing his name being announced, James pulls the mask away from his head and reveals the bottom half of facial features to the hard camera that points right down at him, finally getting a good look at his cocky grin rubbed all over his face before he passes through the ropes and enters the ring, looking around the arena with that same shit-eating smug look on his face as he slips free from his ring jacket and places it down in his corner, ready for the match to begin / ready for his opponent to enter the arena.
Hawke: Does James Raymond wrestle with one arm too?
Randy: Why would he do that? He has both arms.
Hawke: Just wondering as it seems that James really isn’t “present” in this match.
Randy: Oh. That’s par for the course, I think.
Hawke: Shitty, but yeah.
Randy: When push comes to shove, James is a low tier wrestler. I don’t know how he lands these big time matches.
Bonnie Jenkins: And next to come down to the ring…”the Hardcore Hammer” Jakie Wentzel!
The screen cuts to static as the lights dim. The opening guitar riffs of “Domino the Destitute” play over the PA system. As the music builds, the screen displays picturesque scenery; farmland, tractors, quilts, friendly faces on porches. When the lead vocals come in the scene shatters into a blood red logo of Jakie Wentzel. As the music continues, flashes of Wentzel are shown intermeshed with horrific imagery. Torn blue jeans, a skull tattooed arm, burning crosses, maggots eating flesh, a pool of blood. The final shot shows Wentzel putting on a set of brass knuckles that pulls back to a full body shot. He smashes his fist into the screen, which goes black as the spotlights rise up on the entrance ramp.
“If you had the courage to stop me from turning into what would be the worst in everybody’s eyes.”
Jakie Wentzel enters down the ramp slowly in his trademark white v-neck tee shirt, black suspenders, torn blue jeans, and black boater hat. He does not acknowledge the screaming fans, and avoids eye contact.
“Hey, I’m no Angel, or the Devil of your conscience, to tell you what to be…good, bad, ugly or otherwise.”
As Wentzel makes his way to the ring, he stops and tips his hat to the commentary booth and referee. He then throws his hat into the audience and gestures to the person who gets the hat with a quiet “Thank ye, naw onst.”
“If you had good common sense, your choices would be gleaming, flawless.
I want no part in this self-deprecating worthless chemistry.”
I want no part in this self-deprecating worthless chemistry.”
Entering the corner of the ring, he kneels and says a short prayer before pumping his left fist in the air, displaying his glistening brass knuckles.
“We made our beds to lie in them, proud;
Proud of our great mistakes
This warring knife, the flash of its blade.
Turn about face, I implore you, Brother.
Don’t walk away…don’t walk away from me.
Cause this is our war!”
Proud of our great mistakes
This warring knife, the flash of its blade.
Turn about face, I implore you, Brother.
Don’t walk away…don’t walk away from me.
Cause this is our war!”
Hawke: I hope that Jakie intends on putting away those brass knuckles. This isn’t that kind of match!
Randy: And why not? I don’t know if there are rules to this match.
Hawke: There should be.
Randy: And my response is. Who cares? Jakie seems vacant headed here tonight. I wonder if he’s worried about his little Amish home that really isn’t Amish anymore since I think they have all of the modern comforts after their old town was destroyed.
Bonnie Jenkins: And last to the ring…Donzig!
The light go down, and then come up an angry red. Flames explode from the eithr side of the ramp, jets and bursts of flame erupting into the air. Donzig walks from the back, wearing his skull mask with his hood up. He pauses, glaring out across the crowd before he shakes his head before walking down the ramp slowly. He circles around the ring, still watching the crowd before pausing to watch the announce team before he climbs the stairs. He stops at the ropes, reaching up to shove his hood back before stepping through the ropes. Then he takes off the mask, and shakes his head at the fans with a scowl before he leans back in his corner. Arms resting on the ropes while waiting for the match to start.
Hawke: Donzig has been on a downward spiral since his defeat at the hands of Esmeralda von Krauss.
Randy: He needs to get over the petty shit and count his blessings.
Hawke: Right.
Randy: I mean his wrestling company could have been gutted by a move.
Hawke: Donzig has a wrestling company?
Randy: Well, no, but you know what I mean.
END OF DAYS SINGLES TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND MATCH
Elimination Fatal 4-way (2 advance) Match
Dylan Black vs. Jakie Wentzel vs. Donzig vs. James Raymond
As the bell rings to start the match, James Raymond and Dylan Black square off with fisticuffs while Donzig and Jakie Wentzel go at it. James stuns Dylan with a hard right hand and goes for an uppercut to lay him out when Dylan catches the fist. James’ face goes pale as Dylan uses his enhanced strength in his arm to crush James’ hand. Jakie takes a wild swing with the pair of brass knuckles that the referee saw but didn’t take away when Donzig kicks him in the gut and hits the Event Horizon! Dylan sends an electric shock through James’ body and hits the Dynamic Outro!
Hawke: Is the match over just like this?
Randy: It sure seems like it. James Raymond and Jakie Wentzel are out cold.
Donzig goes for the pinfall on Jakie. Dylan sees the ref get into position to count as he is about to go for the cover on James Raymond.
One
Tw-Dylan breaks the pinfall!
Donzig jumps to his feet, irate at Dylan Black. He shoves the former X*Crown champion, who shoves him right back. Donzig kicks Dylan in the gut to double him over and hits a double axe handle uppercut to send Dylan flying backwards to the mat. Donzig again goes for the pinfall on Jakie Wentzel.
Two
Hawke: I’m not following the logic here. This match could already be over!
Randy: Yeah, but Dylan doesn’t want to face Donzig in the second round.
Donzig stands up and is dropped to one knee with a thunderous headbutt. He responds with a solid punch to Dylan’s midsection to double him over. He grabs Dylan and hits a gutwrench suplex. He stands up and kicks Dylan in the ribcage a few times before dropping down and going for the pinfall on James Raymond, who is laying on the mat as if dead. The referee gets into position.
One
Donzig starts to stand up, but Dylan kicks him in the side of the face to roll him away. Donzig gets to his feet and lunges at Dylan Black, knocking him down with a shoulder charge. Donzig goes to the ropes and bounces as Dylan is starting to get back up and takes him down with a lou thez press where he mounts Dylan and begins pounding him with lefts and rights.
Hawke: You know I still find Dylan at something of a disadvantage in only using one arm in his wrestling matches.
Randy: He did win the Hardcore title with only one arm.
Hawke: That he did.
Randy: So, he can win this match with just the one arm too.
Donzig gets Dylan up, only to send him back to the mat with a short arm clothesline. Dylan rolls over and works on getting back to his feet with the one arm when Donzig kicks him in the butt to land Dylan on top of Jakie’s prone form. The ref gets into position.
One
Bonnie Jenkins: Jakie Wentzel has been eliminated!
Dylan gets back to his feet and throws a punch at Donzig, who dodges it with ease and returns with one of his own. He then kicks Dylan in the gut and goes for the Event Horizon, but Dylan pushes him to the ropes with electricity arcing between Donzig’s back and Dylan’s palm. Dylan drops and goes for the pinfall on James Raymond. Donzig turns around and just…watches as the ref gets into position.
One
Bonnie Jenkins: James Raymond has been eliminated. This means that Dylan Black and Donzig will move on to round two!
Randy: Wow, that was quick work from D&D.
Hawke: I doubt they want to be called that. Regardless though it was an impressive display by the two. I'd say this match should be seen as a warning to whoever ends up crossing one of them in round three!
Hawke: Is the match over just like this?
Randy: It sure seems like it. James Raymond and Jakie Wentzel are out cold.
Donzig goes for the pinfall on Jakie. Dylan sees the ref get into position to count as he is about to go for the cover on James Raymond.
One
Tw-Dylan breaks the pinfall!
Donzig jumps to his feet, irate at Dylan Black. He shoves the former X*Crown champion, who shoves him right back. Donzig kicks Dylan in the gut to double him over and hits a double axe handle uppercut to send Dylan flying backwards to the mat. Donzig again goes for the pinfall on Jakie Wentzel.
One
Two
Thr-Dylan breaks the pinfall again!
Hawke: I’m not following the logic here. This match could already be over!
Randy: Yeah, but Dylan doesn’t want to face Donzig in the second round.
Donzig stands up and is dropped to one knee with a thunderous headbutt. He responds with a solid punch to Dylan’s midsection to double him over. He grabs Dylan and hits a gutwrench suplex. He stands up and kicks Dylan in the ribcage a few times before dropping down and going for the pinfall on James Raymond, who is laying on the mat as if dead. The referee gets into position.
One
Two
Thr-Dylan breaks the pinfall!
Donzig starts to stand up, but Dylan kicks him in the side of the face to roll him away. Donzig gets to his feet and lunges at Dylan Black, knocking him down with a shoulder charge. Donzig goes to the ropes and bounces as Dylan is starting to get back up and takes him down with a lou thez press where he mounts Dylan and begins pounding him with lefts and rights.
Hawke: You know I still find Dylan at something of a disadvantage in only using one arm in his wrestling matches.
Randy: He did win the Hardcore title with only one arm.
Hawke: That he did.
Randy: So, he can win this match with just the one arm too.
Donzig gets Dylan up, only to send him back to the mat with a short arm clothesline. Dylan rolls over and works on getting back to his feet with the one arm when Donzig kicks him in the butt to land Dylan on top of Jakie’s prone form. The ref gets into position.
One
Two
Three!
Bonnie Jenkins: Jakie Wentzel has been eliminated!
Dylan gets back to his feet and throws a punch at Donzig, who dodges it with ease and returns with one of his own. He then kicks Dylan in the gut and goes for the Event Horizon, but Dylan pushes him to the ropes with electricity arcing between Donzig’s back and Dylan’s palm. Dylan drops and goes for the pinfall on James Raymond. Donzig turns around and just…watches as the ref gets into position.
One
Two
Three
Bonnie Jenkins: James Raymond has been eliminated. This means that Dylan Black and Donzig will move on to round two!
Randy: Wow, that was quick work from D&D.
Hawke: I doubt they want to be called that. Regardless though it was an impressive display by the two. I'd say this match should be seen as a warning to whoever ends up crossing one of them in round three!
Lights go out.
Red light illuminates enough for the fans to cheer as they see Brendan Harding and Jack Gaines makes their way out to RichaadEB's cover of Toby Fox's Black. Harding slaps a few hands on the way to the ring, while Jack seems laser focused on the upcoming fight. Both men slide into the ring, Jack taking one knee in the center as Brendan stnads behind him, removing his crowned wolf mask and saluting the fans.
Bonnie Jenkins: The following contest is a tag-team match as part of the first round of the Tag-Team Annihilator tournament! Entering the ring at this time, weighing in at a combined 425 pounds! They are the Black Knife Cabal! Jack ‘Ripper’ Gaines! Brendan Harding!
The fans cheer, and the pair watch up the ramp with Harding looking especially annoyed as he mutters something to Gaines.
Hawke: Harding no doubt telling Gaines, how much he is going to hate this.
Randy: There is alot of bad blood between Harding, his husband, and Donzig-gun. I mean did you hear the hard words that Harding had for the Baroness?
Hawke: Imagine someone not loving Sinclair Godfrey.
Speaking of, the lights go down again as flames erupt along the ramp with gouts of fire. And then the lights turn a sullen red as the slender figure of the Baroness of Donzig-gun appears at the top of the ramp, she pauses to toss back her hair before her arms spread and the hulking forms of Mormo and Moloch stomp out behind her. Their faces hidden behind their black skull tactical masks before they start down the ramp, clearly ready for a fight as Sinclair follows behind them.
Hawke: Real talk: Can you tell them apart?
Randy: According to XHF legend not even Donzig himself can tell them apart. But I understand that Mormo is the big one.
Bonnie Jenkins: Their opponents representing Donzig-gun, and accompanied to the ring by Lady Sinclair Godfrey! Weighing in at 620 pounds! Mormo! Moloch! They are the Oblivion Death Squad!
The fans boo, as Mormo and Moloch remove their masks before climbing inside of the ring. Sinclair leans on the apron flashing her wicked grin up at Harding, clearly amused as Moloch points at him to yell something in Albanian. The Black Knife Cabal are not backing down though, and Harding steps forward as Gaines takes the corner.
Randy: Harding ready to take the fight to the ODS!
Sinclair slaps the mat, barking orders before Mormo steps to the outside before the ref calls for the bell.
"Make her a member of the Midnight Crew..."
Red light illuminates enough for the fans to cheer as they see Brendan Harding and Jack Gaines makes their way out to RichaadEB's cover of Toby Fox's Black. Harding slaps a few hands on the way to the ring, while Jack seems laser focused on the upcoming fight. Both men slide into the ring, Jack taking one knee in the center as Brendan stnads behind him, removing his crowned wolf mask and saluting the fans.
Bonnie Jenkins: The following contest is a tag-team match as part of the first round of the Tag-Team Annihilator tournament! Entering the ring at this time, weighing in at a combined 425 pounds! They are the Black Knife Cabal! Jack ‘Ripper’ Gaines! Brendan Harding!
The fans cheer, and the pair watch up the ramp with Harding looking especially annoyed as he mutters something to Gaines.
Hawke: Harding no doubt telling Gaines, how much he is going to hate this.
Randy: There is alot of bad blood between Harding, his husband, and Donzig-gun. I mean did you hear the hard words that Harding had for the Baroness?
Hawke: Imagine someone not loving Sinclair Godfrey.
"The chase is on, the traps are set
Won't let them drag me back there again
The ball on that chain, it bears my name
To tame the beast in me
I still believe in life before death
It fuels the fire in me
I will run 'til I die
Under these black skies
Tyrannic law, a razor claw
In the eye of the storm"
Won't let them drag me back there again
The ball on that chain, it bears my name
To tame the beast in me
I still believe in life before death
It fuels the fire in me
I will run 'til I die
Under these black skies
Tyrannic law, a razor claw
In the eye of the storm"
Speaking of, the lights go down again as flames erupt along the ramp with gouts of fire. And then the lights turn a sullen red as the slender figure of the Baroness of Donzig-gun appears at the top of the ramp, she pauses to toss back her hair before her arms spread and the hulking forms of Mormo and Moloch stomp out behind her. Their faces hidden behind their black skull tactical masks before they start down the ramp, clearly ready for a fight as Sinclair follows behind them.
Hawke: Real talk: Can you tell them apart?
Randy: According to XHF legend not even Donzig himself can tell them apart. But I understand that Mormo is the big one.
Bonnie Jenkins: Their opponents representing Donzig-gun, and accompanied to the ring by Lady Sinclair Godfrey! Weighing in at 620 pounds! Mormo! Moloch! They are the Oblivion Death Squad!
The fans boo, as Mormo and Moloch remove their masks before climbing inside of the ring. Sinclair leans on the apron flashing her wicked grin up at Harding, clearly amused as Moloch points at him to yell something in Albanian. The Black Knife Cabal are not backing down though, and Harding steps forward as Gaines takes the corner.
Randy: Harding ready to take the fight to the ODS!
Sinclair slaps the mat, barking orders before Mormo steps to the outside before the ref calls for the bell.
TAG TEAM ANNIHILATOR FIRST ROUND MATCH
Tag-Team Match
Black Knife Cabal vs. Oblivion Death Squad
Moloch charges in, lunging at Harding as Brendan steps aside. He starts firing off kicks at the back of his legs making the bigger man stagger before he turns. Harding nails a dropkick that throws Moloch backwards, and the fans are loving it! Then Harding stumbles, turning to glare at Sinclair who shrugs.
Hawke: Sinclair grabbed his foot! She tripped him!
Randy: How can you even say that! Sinclair is a flower!
Harding kicks at the ropes, and then turns only to find himself grabbed by Moloch! The fans boo, and Moloch hits a quick DDT! The fans boo, and Moloch snarls before he jerks Harding back to his feet before he drives Harding back to the mat with a Ura Naga!
Hawke: Good god!
Randy: He’s fine! He’s fine!
Moloch drags Harding into their corner, and makes the tag to Mormo. Then he charges across the ring, hammering a quick elbow into the face of Gaines! The fans are furious, and the ref grabs at Moloch to get out of the ring. Mormo meanwhile hauls Harding up, and drives a brutal looking Thrust Kick into his stomach. Harding falls against the ropes, and motions for him to bring it on which draws a roar from the crowd.
Hawke: Sinclair Godfrey is loving this! Look at her, she is ordering Mormo to punish Brendan Harding!
Randy: You know say what you want, but Donzig-gun never forgets a slight.
Mormo batters a few punches into Harding before he throws him at the ropes for a Spinebuster! The fans boo, and Harding is sprawled on the mat as Mormo goes for the cover. But Sinclair slaps her hands on the apron, screaming at him with a shake of her head.
Hawke: I can’t believe what I am seeing! Is she serious?
Randy: First time?
Mormo shrugs, and grabs Harding to pull him across the mat before he makes the tag to Moloch! The fans boo, and Moloch stomps his boot down on his back before he lifts him into the air. The ref calls for Moloch to get out, counting down before the pair hit Harding with the OMEN MACHINE!
Hawke: Harding is broken in half! The ODS have him isolated, and they are just battering him down!
Randy: Listen, I am not an expert. But the Death Squad are machines, and this is what they do! You were here last year, I think.
Hawke: You don’t remember?
Randy: I had been drinking!
Meanwhile, Sinclair is mocking Brendan from the outside fairly leaning under the ropes as she curses at him. And Harding limps across the ring, crawling for his corner before Mooch drags him back to theirs with a barrage of elbows and kicks.
Hawke: The arrogance of these people! This is disgusting! They are just toying with Harding!
Randy: You know it might be the sake, but Godfrey is actually kind of hot.
Hawke: She’s a lunatic!
Gaines tries to get in the ring, yelling at the Death Squad as the ref grabs him to push him back. And of course, when he does the pair start double teaming and choking Harding! Even Sinclair leaning in to choke him over the ropes. The ref argues with Gaines, and then turns as Harding starts to get away again!
Randy: Harding getting closer this time!
Moloch grabs for his ankle, and Harding rolls over to start driving his boot into his face. Kicking at his head and shoulders, before he shoves off with a final lunge to slap his hand against Gaines!
Hawke: Tag! Tag!
The fans are on their feet as ‘Ripper’ Gaines dives across the ropes, firing a huge clothesline off at Moloch. The big man is rocked backwards, and Gaines starts laying in chops that force Moloch towards the corner! The fans are going wild, and then Ripper hits a shotgun dropklck that sends him flying against the turnbuckle!
Randy: Ripper Gaines coming in this match like a ball of fire! He is battering Moloch!
Hawke: This is what he has to do! He has to keep Moloch off balance, and not let him tag in Mormo!
Ripper drives a few knees into Moloch’s gut, and then grabs his head for the DDT! The fans are eating it up, and Gaines makes the cover!
1….
Moloch flings him off, snarling as he comes back to his feet!
Hawke: The power of the ODS is so dangerous! They can turn the match in an instant!
Moloch comes to his feet, shaking his head before Gaines dives onto his back. His arms coil around his head and neck as he yanks backwards. Moloch flails, trying to shake him off as Gaines hauls backwards as he rises. Then his legs wrap around his sides, and Sinclair is furious!
Hawke: Brilliant! Even someone the size of Moloch has to breath, all those huge muscles need oxygen!
Randy: The Baroness is not happy!
Moloch stumbles, shaking his head before he finally drives himself backwards to slam Gaines against the turnbuckle again and again. He grabs the ropes, driving back with a roar as Jack Gaines falls free, and he grabs him before he lifts him into the air. DEATH VALLEY DRIVER INTO THE TURNBUCKLE! The fans boo, and Moloch makes the cover.
1…
2…
….
Harding dives inside, breaking the pin as the fans cheer as he rolls back to the outside as Moloch lunges at him.
Randy: Nice move by Harding! That was a close one!
Roll up from Gaines as Moloch is yelling at Harding! The fans pop, and the ref makes the count!
1…
2…
KICKOUT!
A groan, and Moloch is back on his feet to drive a huge knee into the head of Gaines before he flings him into their corner. Tag to Mormo, and Sinclair smirks at Harding as the bigger of the Death Squad drags his partner to his feet.
Hawke: Gaines in trouble as Sinclair orders her minions onward!
Mormo whips Gaines at the ropes, and Harding makes the blind tag before Mormo plants him with a thunderous Spinebuster! The fans groan, and Mormo makes the pin even as the ref waves him off. He looks up confused as does Sinclair, and Harding dives inside to hit the THANIX CANNON! The fans explode, and Mormo sprawls on the mat before he starts to rise with a shake of his head. But Harding starts battering his head and shoulders with knee strikes before he is shoved back.
Hawke: Harding is bringing the fight to the Death Squad! And these fans are on their feet!
Randy: High impact offense from the BKC!
Omae wa mou Shindeiru! Mormo staggers, and drops to a knee even as Sinclair orders Moloch into the ring! But Gaines runs at him, hitting a DDT off the ropes as Sinclair screams in fury as Gaines leans against the corner before he lifts Mormo with a roar of pure defiance into a cradle piledriver! Harding leaps onto the trunbuckle, and comes down with a huge stomp! Destined Death!
Hawke: I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!
Randy: I can but I am drunk, sir.
Harding makes the cover, and Gaines leans up over him as he presses down as the ref goes for the count!
1…
2…
….
Sinclair drags Mormo’s foot under the ropes, yelling at the ref as the fans are furious! Harding glares at the Baroness, and he comes to his feet to curse at her. Sinclair laughs at him, shrugging as she steps back. Gaines grabs for his partner, but is flung across the mat with a Release German Suplex! Harding turns to be grabbed by the oncoming Moloch who flungs him into the air across his shoulder! Mormo stumbles to his feet, and catches him! REALITY FAILS! The fans groan, booing as Sincair points at the corner as she yells at Mormo. The Death Squad trade tags, and Moloch stares at Harding as she rubs her hands together as Mormo sags against the ringpost with a shake of his head.
Randy: This could be it! I am not sure what Sinclair has in mind beyond punishing Brendan Harding!
Moloch picks Brendan up, HIGH up and starts falling backwards. Mormo quickly dashes around behind him and as he's coming down grabs Harding with a double-knee facebreaker!
Hawke: OMEN MACHINE!
Moloch goes for the pin!
Hawke: Not like this!
Randy: Is he even the right guy!?
1....
Hawke: I somewhat lost track, which one is-
Randy: JACK IS SLIDING IN!
2...
Jack Gaines is sliding in but is suddenly sliding out!? Sinclair has yanked the more violent half of the team out!
Hawke: The ref didn't see it!
3.
Bonnie Jenkins: Your winners, I guess, and moving on to the next round of the Tag Team Annihilator......THE OBLIVION DEATH SQUAD!
Randy: As you said earlier, not like this.
Hawke: I don't know, fair is fair.
Randy: Wait, now you're ok with this?
Hawke: They won by the ref's decision.
Randy: You're a mercurial man, Joey.
Gaines is irate but is unable to get his revenge on Sinclair and her cohorts as she's already run to them and he's got to check on his partner.
Hawke: Sinclair grabbed his foot! She tripped him!
Randy: How can you even say that! Sinclair is a flower!
Harding kicks at the ropes, and then turns only to find himself grabbed by Moloch! The fans boo, and Moloch hits a quick DDT! The fans boo, and Moloch snarls before he jerks Harding back to his feet before he drives Harding back to the mat with a Ura Naga!
Hawke: Good god!
Randy: He’s fine! He’s fine!
Moloch drags Harding into their corner, and makes the tag to Mormo. Then he charges across the ring, hammering a quick elbow into the face of Gaines! The fans are furious, and the ref grabs at Moloch to get out of the ring. Mormo meanwhile hauls Harding up, and drives a brutal looking Thrust Kick into his stomach. Harding falls against the ropes, and motions for him to bring it on which draws a roar from the crowd.
Hawke: Sinclair Godfrey is loving this! Look at her, she is ordering Mormo to punish Brendan Harding!
Randy: You know say what you want, but Donzig-gun never forgets a slight.
Mormo batters a few punches into Harding before he throws him at the ropes for a Spinebuster! The fans boo, and Harding is sprawled on the mat as Mormo goes for the cover. But Sinclair slaps her hands on the apron, screaming at him with a shake of her head.
Hawke: I can’t believe what I am seeing! Is she serious?
Randy: First time?
Mormo shrugs, and grabs Harding to pull him across the mat before he makes the tag to Moloch! The fans boo, and Moloch stomps his boot down on his back before he lifts him into the air. The ref calls for Moloch to get out, counting down before the pair hit Harding with the OMEN MACHINE!
Hawke: Harding is broken in half! The ODS have him isolated, and they are just battering him down!
Randy: Listen, I am not an expert. But the Death Squad are machines, and this is what they do! You were here last year, I think.
Hawke: You don’t remember?
Randy: I had been drinking!
Meanwhile, Sinclair is mocking Brendan from the outside fairly leaning under the ropes as she curses at him. And Harding limps across the ring, crawling for his corner before Mooch drags him back to theirs with a barrage of elbows and kicks.
Hawke: The arrogance of these people! This is disgusting! They are just toying with Harding!
Randy: You know it might be the sake, but Godfrey is actually kind of hot.
Hawke: She’s a lunatic!
Gaines tries to get in the ring, yelling at the Death Squad as the ref grabs him to push him back. And of course, when he does the pair start double teaming and choking Harding! Even Sinclair leaning in to choke him over the ropes. The ref argues with Gaines, and then turns as Harding starts to get away again!
Randy: Harding getting closer this time!
Moloch grabs for his ankle, and Harding rolls over to start driving his boot into his face. Kicking at his head and shoulders, before he shoves off with a final lunge to slap his hand against Gaines!
Hawke: Tag! Tag!
The fans are on their feet as ‘Ripper’ Gaines dives across the ropes, firing a huge clothesline off at Moloch. The big man is rocked backwards, and Gaines starts laying in chops that force Moloch towards the corner! The fans are going wild, and then Ripper hits a shotgun dropklck that sends him flying against the turnbuckle!
Randy: Ripper Gaines coming in this match like a ball of fire! He is battering Moloch!
Hawke: This is what he has to do! He has to keep Moloch off balance, and not let him tag in Mormo!
Ripper drives a few knees into Moloch’s gut, and then grabs his head for the DDT! The fans are eating it up, and Gaines makes the cover!
1….
Moloch flings him off, snarling as he comes back to his feet!
Hawke: The power of the ODS is so dangerous! They can turn the match in an instant!
Moloch comes to his feet, shaking his head before Gaines dives onto his back. His arms coil around his head and neck as he yanks backwards. Moloch flails, trying to shake him off as Gaines hauls backwards as he rises. Then his legs wrap around his sides, and Sinclair is furious!
Hawke: Brilliant! Even someone the size of Moloch has to breath, all those huge muscles need oxygen!
Randy: The Baroness is not happy!
Moloch stumbles, shaking his head before he finally drives himself backwards to slam Gaines against the turnbuckle again and again. He grabs the ropes, driving back with a roar as Jack Gaines falls free, and he grabs him before he lifts him into the air. DEATH VALLEY DRIVER INTO THE TURNBUCKLE! The fans boo, and Moloch makes the cover.
1…
2…
….
Harding dives inside, breaking the pin as the fans cheer as he rolls back to the outside as Moloch lunges at him.
Randy: Nice move by Harding! That was a close one!
Roll up from Gaines as Moloch is yelling at Harding! The fans pop, and the ref makes the count!
1…
2…
KICKOUT!
A groan, and Moloch is back on his feet to drive a huge knee into the head of Gaines before he flings him into their corner. Tag to Mormo, and Sinclair smirks at Harding as the bigger of the Death Squad drags his partner to his feet.
Hawke: Gaines in trouble as Sinclair orders her minions onward!
Mormo whips Gaines at the ropes, and Harding makes the blind tag before Mormo plants him with a thunderous Spinebuster! The fans groan, and Mormo makes the pin even as the ref waves him off. He looks up confused as does Sinclair, and Harding dives inside to hit the THANIX CANNON! The fans explode, and Mormo sprawls on the mat before he starts to rise with a shake of his head. But Harding starts battering his head and shoulders with knee strikes before he is shoved back.
Hawke: Harding is bringing the fight to the Death Squad! And these fans are on their feet!
Randy: High impact offense from the BKC!
Omae wa mou Shindeiru! Mormo staggers, and drops to a knee even as Sinclair orders Moloch into the ring! But Gaines runs at him, hitting a DDT off the ropes as Sinclair screams in fury as Gaines leans against the corner before he lifts Mormo with a roar of pure defiance into a cradle piledriver! Harding leaps onto the trunbuckle, and comes down with a huge stomp! Destined Death!
Hawke: I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it!
Randy: I can but I am drunk, sir.
Harding makes the cover, and Gaines leans up over him as he presses down as the ref goes for the count!
1…
2…
….
Sinclair drags Mormo’s foot under the ropes, yelling at the ref as the fans are furious! Harding glares at the Baroness, and he comes to his feet to curse at her. Sinclair laughs at him, shrugging as she steps back. Gaines grabs for his partner, but is flung across the mat with a Release German Suplex! Harding turns to be grabbed by the oncoming Moloch who flungs him into the air across his shoulder! Mormo stumbles to his feet, and catches him! REALITY FAILS! The fans groan, booing as Sincair points at the corner as she yells at Mormo. The Death Squad trade tags, and Moloch stares at Harding as she rubs her hands together as Mormo sags against the ringpost with a shake of his head.
Randy: This could be it! I am not sure what Sinclair has in mind beyond punishing Brendan Harding!
Moloch picks Brendan up, HIGH up and starts falling backwards. Mormo quickly dashes around behind him and as he's coming down grabs Harding with a double-knee facebreaker!
Hawke: OMEN MACHINE!
Moloch goes for the pin!
Hawke: Not like this!
Randy: Is he even the right guy!?
1....
Hawke: I somewhat lost track, which one is-
Randy: JACK IS SLIDING IN!
2...
Jack Gaines is sliding in but is suddenly sliding out!? Sinclair has yanked the more violent half of the team out!
Hawke: The ref didn't see it!
3.
Bonnie Jenkins: Your winners, I guess, and moving on to the next round of the Tag Team Annihilator......THE OBLIVION DEATH SQUAD!
Randy: As you said earlier, not like this.
Hawke: I don't know, fair is fair.
Randy: Wait, now you're ok with this?
Hawke: They won by the ref's decision.
Randy: You're a mercurial man, Joey.
Gaines is irate but is unable to get his revenge on Sinclair and her cohorts as she's already run to them and he's got to check on his partner.
HALF-TIME SHOW
