TAP OUT WRESTLING 8: LONG VS DIAMOND - LIVE
Nov 15, 2022 18:45:01 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Spike Kane, and 6 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Nov 15, 2022 18:45:01 GMT -5
PRESENTS
TAP OUT WRESTLING 8: LONG VS DIAMOND
Date: 13th November 2022
Venue: Lansky Ballroom, The Sands Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 1000 (Capacity: 1000)
The shot fades into the front of The Sands, already buzzing with various patrons and still more arriving in various cars. Occasional honking of horns echo in the vicinity as people struggle to make their way in and out of the roadways. One black Sedan in particular with a display of a Joker card on the hood pulls up by the front entrance, garnering some hushed whispers as it goes into Park and the rear passenger doors open up. On the side nearest to the camera, a rather large leg steps out followed by a tall figure, shades resting atop their forehead, and the whispers soon turn into loud murmurs as the camera pans up to reveal the brutish Harbinger, Hunter Storms. He pulls on the sides of his suit jacket, ensuring it's still snug while the camera pans over to the other side of the Sedan to reveal an equally well-dressed and latest signing in the leader of The Harbingers, Kingsley Solomon. The Harbinger of Despair takes in a loud inhale of the casino air, letting out a very satisfied exhale.
Kingsley Solomon: Ah…just like the Den though with a bit more flair and spice to it.
Hunter Storms: That and this is more of a casino unlike the Den which is more of a bar.
Kingsley Solomon: Oh but that part hardly matters! Both venues are home to wrestling promotions nevertheless and bring in quite the draws. That’s something you cannot deny.
Hunter Storms: Given who runs this joint, I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I found this place to be lacking.
Kingsley chuckles at the remark, unbuttoning his jacket before closing the door behind him. Storms closes the one on his side before joining his fellow Harbinger, the Tap Out talent patting the side of the car a few times to give it the signal to head off for the time being.
Hunter Storms: Can we also note that this appearance is for business? I’d advise against gambling while we’re here.
Kingsley Solomon: Sorry what’d you say? All I heard was the language of someone who doesn’t want to have fun this evening.
Hunter Storms: King…
Kingsley Solomon: Oh come on! A few rounds here and there and there’s also wrestling to enjoy tonight. What would Cross think if you showed up, one of his old pals and colleagues, and you weren’t enjoying yourself? You can loosen up on the bodyguard bit and mingle with people tonight like me. And who knows: maybe we can get a partnership going or put on an event together with some Tap Out talent. It’ll be great!
He pats Hunter’s arm a couple of times before beginning to make his way inside The Sands, leaving Cut-Throat to raise a hand to his face, slowly dragging it down its length before doffing the sunglasses and tucking them away in his suit jacket, following after his fellow Harbinger.
Hunter Storms: Thank god all this spending is on his account and not mine in the end…I shudder to think what that statement would look like at the end of the month…
We fade in from Kingsley Solomon and Hunter Storms to the Lansky Ballroom where the crowd cheers as the camera pans around. As always, the cameraman finds the best crowd signs:
* SAWYER WAS ROBBED!
* ICONCLASM? ICONGASM!
* ARE YOU DOWN TO CLOWN, ISABELLA?
* MONGO OWES ME FIVE DOLLARS!
* BLESSED ARE THE MATCHMAKERS
We cut to our commentators, Steve Morrison and Cross Recoba:
Steve Morrison: What was that?
Cross Recoba: Kingsley Solomon?
Steve Morrison: Have you signed the SCCW Owner to a contract?
Cross Recoba: It makes sense in almost every way. His style fits in with most of the roster, he’s based in Vegas and with the news that Erin Gordon and Adrien Cochrane are on hiatus from wrestling for a while, we had an opening. He’s here as my guest tonight ahead of his debut in December. Shall we focus on who’s competing tonight?
Steve Morrison: We kick off with a tag-team match between three people who know each other well and a man driven on by his failure at our last show.
Aiden, eyes bugging out of his head, stumbles backwards and drops to his knees in agony. Brittney moves forward to look at what she did. When a shadow falls over them. Hyperion sprints past them to the ropes and comes off and absolutely beheads Aiden from his knees with a First Principle that bends the hunter backwards and he strikes the mat, top of his head first. He falls limp to the mat. Hyperion turns his attention to the bear. He wants more. More glory. More fight. More blood. He gets close to her and … Brittney faints … on top of Aiden.
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Bonnie Jenkins: AIDEN MERRIC has been eliminated, advancing to the next round to fight one on one … HYPERION!!! and … uh … oh … poor girl … BRITTNEY BEAHR!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Bonnie Jenkins: AIDEN MERRIC has been eliminated, advancing to the next round to fight one on one … HYPERION!!! and … uh … oh … poor girl … BRITTNEY BEAHR!
Cross Recoba: Merric was unlucky…
Steve Morrison: A certain irony that the Big Game Hunter was eliminated by a bear…
Cross Recoba: He didn’t take the loss well and it could well be the team of Jackalope and Tommy Strychnine who pay for it.
Merric: This ain’t the time fer words, Tuck. I’m ready. I’m in the best shape of my life. And I am angry with a chip on my shoulder. Nothing personal to any of you three in this match. But I am hogging the glory here. You can all cry later, but I intend to make that investment in my abilities pay off. And if I ain’t the X*Crown champ or in the running for the inaugural champ here? I am going to build my winning streak. Happy bloody American Thanksgiving, Las Vegas. The hunter is here. And you are all my targets.
Steve Morrison: He’ll be joined by Wildcat Capone who is quietly going about his business the right way!
Cross Recoba: He manages to mix agility with power. Just look at how he’s put away opponents so far. On the one hand, there’s that belly-to-belly suplex and on the other, there’s that rolling Koppu kick that can and has come out of nowhere!
Steve Morrison: We saw that last time out where he teamed against one of his opponents tonight!
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: 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!!!
Cross Recoba: Can he get a similar partnership going with Merric?
Steve Morrison: Both men are seemingly wanting to better their position in Tap Out…
Wildcat Capone: I think I’ve shown everyone why I'm already so damned good. Not even a full year in this shit and I’m holding my own against top talents. Because Wildcat Capone is that damned good. I've been fighting every day of my life since O was fourteen years old. And I aint stopped fighting since. That's why I'm as good as this shit as I am.
Cross Recoba: Capone, Strych and Jackalope know each other like the back of their hand going all the way back to where we started.
XHF SUPREMACY 2022
CAPONE RUSHES THE RING TO BREAK UP THE HOLD WITH A KICK TO THE HEAD OF POENA!! JACKALOPE PROVIDES BACK-UP AND CUTS OFF STRYCHNINE WITH A FLYING HEADSCISSORS THAT SENDS THE ROCKER FLYING OUT THE RING!!
Jackalope comes off the ropes looking for the Tiger Feint Kick BUT STRYCHNINE WISELY DUCKS OUT OF THE WAY!!
Steve Morrison: Tommy had that scouted, he himself uses a Tiger Feint Kick too!
Striking before Jackalope can reset himself, Tommy grabs a waistlock and pushes his opponent against the ropes. They roll backward and through…RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX!!
Cross Recoba: We’re seeing Strych on his game tonight!
It’s now Tommy’s turn to drape his opponent on the middle rope. He charges the opposite ropes and looks for his own Tiger Feint Kick…
Steve Morrison: Looking for Strych-One-Nine…
JACKALOPE MOVES AT THE LAST MOMENT AND GRABS A SCHOOLBOY!!!
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!
Strych has Capone rocked from a stiff shuffle of jabs. He spots Wildcat’s legs momentarily buckle and immediately swings a stiff kick to the knee of his opponent…STEP-UP
ENZIGURI TAKES CAPONE DOWN!!
Capone looks for a running back elbow…STRYCH MOVES! The Rocker is back on the offensive and pins his opponent in the corner with his own side-elbow. He follows this up with a rapid flurry of punches, forearms and kicks that drop the rookie to the mat. Tommy takes four steps back and raises an arm to the crowd who cheer in anticipation….CANNONBALL SENTON ON THE SEATED CAPONE!!
CAPONE RUSHES THE RING TO BREAK UP THE HOLD WITH A KICK TO THE HEAD OF POENA!! JACKALOPE PROVIDES BACK-UP AND CUTS OFF STRYCHNINE WITH A FLYING HEADSCISSORS THAT SENDS THE ROCKER FLYING OUT THE RING!!
Jackalope comes off the ropes looking for the Tiger Feint Kick BUT STRYCHNINE WISELY DUCKS OUT OF THE WAY!!
Steve Morrison: Tommy had that scouted, he himself uses a Tiger Feint Kick too!
Striking before Jackalope can reset himself, Tommy grabs a waistlock and pushes his opponent against the ropes. They roll backward and through…RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX!!
Cross Recoba: We’re seeing Strych on his game tonight!
It’s now Tommy’s turn to drape his opponent on the middle rope. He charges the opposite ropes and looks for his own Tiger Feint Kick…
Steve Morrison: Looking for Strych-One-Nine…
JACKALOPE MOVES AT THE LAST MOMENT AND GRABS A SCHOOLBOY!!!
ONE…
TW-
KICKOUT!
Strych has Capone rocked from a stiff shuffle of jabs. He spots Wildcat’s legs momentarily buckle and immediately swings a stiff kick to the knee of his opponent…STEP-UP
ENZIGURI TAKES CAPONE DOWN!!
Capone looks for a running back elbow…STRYCH MOVES! The Rocker is back on the offensive and pins his opponent in the corner with his own side-elbow. He follows this up with a rapid flurry of punches, forearms and kicks that drop the rookie to the mat. Tommy takes four steps back and raises an arm to the crowd who cheer in anticipation….CANNONBALL SENTON ON THE SEATED CAPONE!!
Steve Morrison: Since then, they’ve faced off numerous times and tonight might just be the most explosive encounter yet. With Jackalope and Tommy so used to being on opposite sides of the ring, the question across message boards is - can they co-exist on the same team?
Cross Recoba: Jackalope explained it better than I can.
Jackalope:It's funny that people are questioning if we can be a cohesive team, when surely it's our opposition who will have the bigger divide to cross. A professional and a thug really doesn't seem a more coherent prospect then two men dedicated to being the highlight of the night. Whatever differences we have, there's a lot more in common. I'd be disappointed if you're not smart enough to see that.
Steve Morrison: He seems optimistic. Can Tommy arrest his losing streak by teaming with Jackalope tonight?
Cross Recoba: You’d hope so, we’re yet to see the new attitude from Tommy pay off yet but he seems confident.
Tommy Strychnine: The first rule of being a showman is to keep them guessing. And baby, you know me. All the way down to the tips of my toes, Tommy Strychnine is a showman. But how far is he willing to take it? That's the sixty-four thousand dollar question, now, innit?
Steve Morrison: So many questions we’ll find the answers to in our opening match!
Cross Recoba: It’s looking like it could be one of the best starts to a show we’ve seen!
Steve Morrison: We’ve also got a Guest Match as REIGN’s Rat Bastard takes on Sam Sawyer.
Cross Recoba: Both fighters suffered disappointment in the End of Days cycle with The Awesome Bastards losing their tag-team shot to Bang! Hermanos and Sawyer came so close to bringing the XHF Junior Heavyweight title to Tap Out.
Steve Morrison: Now though, the two competitors face off tonight in a match that is sure to be hard-hitting!
Cross Recoba: I’m looking at the betting line and I feel like they’ve missed a trick making Rat the heavy favorite…
Steve Morrison: He is the more decorated and experienced wrestler…
Cross Recoba: Sawyer is on a roll. Taking down Dragon should have made people sit up and notice more.
Steve Morrison: They’re confident of tonight’s match.
Sam Sawyer: You might have come looking for Jack Diamond... but I'm the one you're fighting. Tap Out trusted me to represent them well. I want to do that, and I want to go 3-0. I know you're not scared of me, but you should probably at least take me seriously. You called yourself a demon before the Wonder Crush Death Match in J-ROK, and called your opponent a little baby monster. But that monster... and the Wonder Crush structure... was too much for you. I'm still preparing for a demon, or something worse. But maybe when you step into Tap Out, you're the little baby.”
Sam stares into the camera, stern and emotionless.
Sam Sawyer: I know you live in Las Vegas, but you haven't experienced Tap Out... or me... so, be at your best.
Cross Recoba: Rat Bastard will be keen to push the size advantage he holds to get the win in the match.
Steve Morrison: We’ll find out when those two enter the ring.
Cross Recoba: This is Tap Out, we’ve seen how experience doesn’t always trump the day.
Steve Morrison: Close Collins will be hoping that’s true when he takes on NOMAD in the first of three Openweight tournament matches.
Cross Recoba: It’s a huge ask of Close to get the win tonight but if he does so, he could have the edge on either Poena or IVK, they’re almost certainly expecting to face the Violent Wanderer in the next round.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD, despite his loss to Long last month, has yet to be pinned or submitted in the ring. Can Close be that man? Is it too much to ask of the rookie?
Cross Recoba: Collins’ first match saw him hand Long the only loss of his Tap Out career, anything is possible with that kid!
Steve Morrison: A lot of people are looking at other sports like Soccer or American Football and feeling that NOMAD, like a big team being rocked by an upset loss, may take out his frustrations on his next opponent and make an example of them to remind their rivals who’s boss.
Cross Recoba: I’m expecting NOMAD to come out the gate swinging but he’s not going to get it all his own way tonight.
Steve Morrison: What would you say is Sloane’s best way to victory?
Cross Recoba: It’s keeping on Close constantly and, as we’ve seen him do before, leaving no holes in his game that Collins can exploit. We could look at that over-the-shoulder piledriver as perhaps his most lethal weapon but in this match when I look at it? I’d be looking towards that Wrist-Clutch Bicycle Kick to bring the win home, it’s a move that can happen in the blink of an eye.
Steve Morrison: If you’re Tuff, what would be the gameplan for Close?
Cross Recoba: Don’t let NOMAD control the tempo. Collins’ arsenal is made up of a lot of suplexes but he’s going to have to leave those at the door and go back to basics going against someone of his opponent’s size. If he can keep the bigger man off his feet and he can control the ground game, he can look to pull off what people have said is impossible.
Steve Morrison: Whoever wins that match will go on to face the victor of our co-main event as Isabella von Krauss and Poena go up against one another.
Cross Recoba: It’s going to be a bloodbath…
Steve Morrison: If Close and NOMAD are capable of putting on a technical masterclass, Poena and IVK are more likely to turn this match into a Pier Six Brawl!
Cross Recoba: Poena can wrestle, we know that but I had one of our backstage crew tell me they overheard The Anointed One psyching himself up earlier and he couldn’t tell if he took IVK’s words ahead of the match as flattery or an insult.
Steve Morrison: You can hear the full account on the XHF Network but for now, here are just some of the words IVK had for her opponent.
Isabella von Krauss: Religion will lie at my feet, broken like the world governments. All will pray to me for delivery from destruction,pain,and death. Like a merciful lady, I will grant death to those who wish it. Championship and world dominion are my fates. Poena, your fate is to be defeated. Your fate is to burn like Jackalope’s world. Like Jackalope himself when the creature that destroyed his world allies with me and takes him as a gift
Cross Recoba: Isabella HAS to keep her eyes on the prize in this match and put Jackalope to one side for now. Poena took Diamond to the limit last time out and on a different day he’d be facing Jason Long. If von Krauss can keep her focus, she can take this match, especially if her clowns continue to cause chaos from the outside of the ring.
Steve Morrison: Poena has been explicit on that front.
Poena: Will you try to bribe me then, perhaps? Use that vast fortune as the empty toy it's always been for you. Did you honestly think it would fill the hole in you? That is even more laughable than the thought of your clowns interfering in our match. You see, I have a very special message for them both.
Poena looks into the camera, his red eye glowing as his voice slips into a growl of warning and promise.
Poena: If either of you so much as think about trying to interfere, I won't get distracted by you as so many have. Instead, I will hunt you both down and capture you afterwards. After I make you scream to Him for mercy, I will make you eat each other bit by bit. I will replace your eyes with broken glass and your pride with fingers. Whatever your bitch of a mistress threatens will be nothing compared to the horror I will drag your souls through on the way to the burning embrace of My God.
Cross Recoba: We both know he’s capable of following through on that threat.
Steve Morrison: For sure and he’s already shown the contempt he holds Isabella in.
Poena: So come to my altar in the desert of broken glass, Isabella Worthington, and face me. Fight me so that I can feel the pain you offer before I break you. Your eye rakes, chokes, low blows, and interference might have saved you in every other match... But what will you do against someone like me? Someone who not only welcomes pain but thrives on it? Anything you can do to me, I've already done to myself tenfold. Hurt me and I'll return your wonderful gift of agony in ways you can't imagine. Perhaps, this time when your little minion sets your dress ablaze you should just let it consume you. It would be far more merciful in the end than I shall be.
Cross Recoba: Isabella can give as good as she gets in the ring and verbally.
Isabella von Krauss: Poena, such sights I have to show you. Such wonders you have to feel as I pry you apart and pin the remains to the mat to claim my victory.
She finishes getting dressed and puts her wrestling gear into a duffel so she can take it to the hotel that she has rented an entire floor of. The staff will clean the clothing.
Isabella von Krauss: See you soon, Poena. Your time is running out. Taste each moment before we face each other, as if they were your last.
Steve Morrison: Care to make a prediction on the winner?
Cross Recoba: Medical insurers.
Steve Morrison: Which leads us to the main-event. An ICONIC CIVL WAR!
Cross Recoba: Are you hoping that gets turned into a TikTok sound?
Steve Morrison: No. But you even said yourself, how many companies can be able to say they have the roster to put on a match like this one?
Cross Recoba: They can’t, it’s plain and simple. This is a match that has happened ONCE before and that was FOUR YEARS ago.
Steve Morrison: That’s right, in 2018 at the XHF Arena in Minnesota, Jack Diamond put his X*Crown title on the line against his fellow Icon, Jason Long at Global Dominance
GLOBAL DOMINANCE 2018
The ladder reaches the metal platform and Maverick begins to set it up, Diamond slowly climbs the cage. When the ladder is set up, Maverick looks back at the Ace of Spades and says "Fuck it" before rushing up the ladder and towards the titles. Diamond, seeing this, climbs up the cage quicker than usual and makes it to the metal platform. He shakes his head disapprovingly at the Mercenary as Mav looks on, one hand touching the title. Maverick looks down at Barratt ringside, and he's got a poker face on, his arms folded, he then looks back at Jack.
Joey: And after all that, Maverick is just going to steal an easy win by taking advantage of Diamond's help?
King: Yes! Do it kid! Forget the Icons!
Maverick sighs and jumps down from off the ladder and back onto the metal platform, Diamond pulls up his fists, this is how he wants it to go down, fighting. They both charge at one another and hit open fist strikes as the crowd cheer them on. However, they're both nearing the edge of the platform, Maverick nearly falling off. Diamond shoots out his arm and prevents Maverick from falling to his doom. He pulls him back onto the middle of the platform, but Maverick punches him with a closed fist to the face, anger taking over him. "I don't need saving, I don't need your sympathy!". Diamond is shocked and holds his jaw in pain, Maverick has thrown the first closed fist of the matchup. He shakes his head in
disbelief, smiling almost.
There's fire in Maverick's eyes, Diamond seems to always be one step ahead of him. He's lost all hope. He slowly crawls back to his feet as Diamond looks down at his struggling friend, helping him up! WAIT! NO! Maverick suckers him in and gets him into position for the... SWITCHBLADE! He HITS IT! The ladder gets knocked down but just manages to stay upon the metal platform, Diamond landing just on the edge as well! Maverick scrambles onto his knees and looks at the fallen ladder, he's weak and fatigued, but he must capitalize on the situation. He crawls towards it and pulls it back into the middle of the platform. His arms are sloppy and weak. He slowly gets to his feet and tries to pull it up, but he just can't muster up the strength required. His whole back is red, no doubt from the devastating bumps he took upon the platform. He falls to his knees and wipes the sweat away from his upper lip.
Joey: Maverick is really struggling here.
King: Hey wait, what's Bobby Barratt doing?!
Bobby Barratt can't bear to watch it anymore. He drops the belt next to his chair and rushes up the cage, joining Maverick in the middle of the platform. He says he's here to help, proceeding to help Maverick in lifting the ladder back up. The crowd is half-cheering, half booing. Barratt helps Maverick to get onto the first rung, the rest is up to him. He heads towards Jack Diamond, who's semi-conscious on the metal ground, he lightly slaps his face, trying to wake him up. The Ace of Spades slowly becomes more and more conscious as Barratt points at the struggling Maverick, very slowly climbing the rungs of the ladder. Barratt slowly drags Diamondback to his feet and heads him towards the ladder
King: What is this?! This is unfair!
Joey: Hey, Barratt helped Maverick, it's only fair he helps out Diamond as well!
Diamond slowly begins to climb the rungs, Maverick nearing the top. Barratt watches on with nervous eyes. Maverick gets his hands on the title, but as soon as he does so Jack thumps him in the chest, before reaching the top as well. Maverick punches back and both men go back and forth for the final time upon the ladder.
Joey: This will be detrimental in finding out who's the strongest between these two!
King: They're both on an even playing field, whoever falls off now, it's all over for them!
Barratt can hardly watch as Diamond flails on the ladder with one arm, Maverick flailing with one arm as well. The punches have gotten much slower, yet much more powerful, every time garnering an even louder pop from the already exhausted crowd! Diamond shakes his head, he's not going to lose the X*Crown Championship on his first defense! Maverick shouts a cry of anger and swings for one final punch, but Diamond blocks it with his spare hand, and punches him with his other! HOLY SHIT! MAVERICK FALLS!!!!THUMP!!! !;Maverick's bo dy crumples upon the metal platform, unmoving, unconscious! Barratt rushes to his aid and falls to his knees as Jack Diamond reaches up for the final time and pulls down the X*Crown Championship, the crowd cheering like crazy! DING! DING! DING!
Joey: Diamond has done it! Diamond has retained the X*Crown Championship, King!
King: I knew he would do it, Hawke! You know what's made under pressure?! Diamonds!
Cross Recoba: That was then, now we have two very different men. Just look at this.
2018
Jason Long: Not that my moment is beating Jack, the guy I have been in the shadow of for the last year, but my moment of actually facing Jack. It's something I wanted for so long.
2022
Jason Long: The memories are memories for a reason, Jack, and I cannot understand why you won’t just let them go. This whole sport has evolved overtime and it’s changed, the landscape has changed, the past is gone for a reason but you want to bring it back, thinking your old ways can still hang in this modernised era. You’re like one of those veteran wrestlers who thinks that they can still hang onto something from their past and it’ll continue to be relevant in days like these.
Jason Long: Not that my moment is beating Jack, the guy I have been in the shadow of for the last year, but my moment of actually facing Jack. It's something I wanted for so long.
2022
Jason Long: The memories are memories for a reason, Jack, and I cannot understand why you won’t just let them go. This whole sport has evolved overtime and it’s changed, the landscape has changed, the past is gone for a reason but you want to bring it back, thinking your old ways can still hang in this modernised era. You’re like one of those veteran wrestlers who thinks that they can still hang onto something from their past and it’ll continue to be relevant in days like these.
Steve Morrison: Is Long right? Has Diamond changed with the times? Is it all a mind game to get in his head? What is certain is that Long has thrived since the time of the Icons. An X*Crown reign, twice he’s held the XHF Tag-Team titles and that’s without including his Hall of Fame worthy AWF run!
Cross Recoba: Long’s a generational talent but then so is Diamond. He’s still undefeated, he has still proven that there’s enough in the tank that even the betting line can’t split these two.
Steve Morrison: You can’t question the hunger that still exists…
Jack Diamond:While you’ve gone around and coined yourself the “King of Fuck Shit Mountain” I have been the King of THE mountain, whether I’m active or not. I tried, Mav, I really tried to look out for you at every turn. When I gave you this casino and you pissed it away to someone of more mouth but lesser talent… it was me who had to clean that up and steal my brainchild back. When Bobby and I turned the keys over to you for the AWF Icons, you made such a mockery of that with your recruiting that I had to get the band back together just to save face. When you needed someone to help whip your talent in Ireland in shape, it was me who stepped in and busted my ass for you and your company. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy doing those things, and it’s not like I wouldn’t do them again... That’s why brothers are for, but to think that you went around and claimed to be the last true Icon?
Jack spits.
Jack Diamond: That, I have a problem with. So here we are Mav. We go into Tap Out Eight as the headline match. The way it SHOULD be. The winner gets some time to put in a hell of a camp for the finals while the loser has to work their way back to the final and ultimately has to beat the winner twice. Do you have goosebumps yet? I do. I know I’m not facing the same nervous kid I did in twenty-eighteen. You are damn near my equal now…. Damn near…
Jack spits.
Jack Diamond: That, I have a problem with. So here we are Mav. We go into Tap Out Eight as the headline match. The way it SHOULD be. The winner gets some time to put in a hell of a camp for the finals while the loser has to work their way back to the final and ultimately has to beat the winner twice. Do you have goosebumps yet? I do. I know I’m not facing the same nervous kid I did in twenty-eighteen. You are damn near my equal now…. Damn near…
Cross Recoba: Diamond can see that it’s no longer a mentor-student match-up and one far closer to equals. Long perhaps seems fixated on the fact that Jack might still see what he saw at Global Dominance.
Steve Morrison: Last time out it was for the X*Crown Championship, this time out it’s for a place in the final of the Openweight tournament! The loser still has a chance to get there but for the winner, it means you’ve got up to two months to run the camp that’ll take you into the final.
Cross Recoba: As well as that, the winner of tonight’s match will start the final needing only one pinfall or submission to win. Whoever he faces will need to get two to win, such is the way the tournament is set-up.
Steve Morrison: It’ll be something that hasn’t escaped the attention of either man.
Cross Recoba: What we have is a match that if it exceeds its potential won’t just be the match of the night but in contention for match of the year!
Steve Morrison: We’ve got it all to come tonight, starting with our first match which Laura’s standing by in the ring ready to announce!
Laura Messier: Ladies and Gentlemen, WELCOME TO TAP OUT WRESTLING 8! It's time for our first match...
"Ain't No Rest for the Wicked" hits the arena as an imitation sandstorm is created in the entranceway and Aiden Merric emerges from it chewing nicotine gum and wearing a smug ass smile on his face.
Steve Morrison: Whilst he didn't find luck in the End of Days tournament, Merric seems to be using that as a catalyst going into tonight's match.
Cross Recoba: His record speaks for itself, the longest XHF Phoenix champion in the title's history is a great achievement. He took that belt and elevated it to a position where every defense had a gravitas to it that was lacking before him.
He spits the gum and puts a patch on his arm before stretching and walking to the ring with a purpose. He rolls into the ring and stretches on the ropes.
Steve Morrison: He's already earmarked Jackalope as his main focus in the match and, personally, if I were the fan favorite, I'd be concerned.
Cross Recoba: Jackalope always brings a wow factor to his matches but Aiden's Ripcord Lariat is indiscriminate when it comes down to putting a match to bed.
The referee stops him and removes his various blades, ropes and other hunting equipment as he smirks. He then cracks his neck, waiting for the bell.
Steve Morrison: Stylistically, Aiden and his partner match-up well. Both men like to bring it down to street level, can they get on the same page?
Cross Recoba: Tag matches often come down to this. You could put any two of the Network's best together but if they don't click or gel? It becomes a recipe for disaster.
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 to get this match underway. We've seen Capone put in some impressive performances for someone in his debut year.
Cross Recoba: Wildcat might not win an amateur tournament but what's impressed me the most in his outings has been the intensity he brings to the fore.
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: He knows both of his opponents well and, like his partner, he seems to have an axe to grind with Jackalope.
Cross Recoba: I wouldn't say he's only focused on one opponent, he's trying to get into the head of Tommy by bringing up his record. It's a brave strategy because if you've seen the Strych I have? You know what he's capable of when the chips are down.
He gets about halfway down before he starts walking through the crowd some more. Ignoring the hecklers and haters as he gets into the zone before his match. He gets a joint from behind his ear and lights it up, taking a few hits before walking towards the ring. He hops the barricade, moving in sync with the music, he looks around himself once more, taking it all in. Walking up the stairs he goes through the ropes and heads into the ring.
Steve Morrison: With the possibility of some big names either out of the tournament or getting a month's break from it, Capone knows a good showing here could give him his biggest match, and payday, yet come next month's show.
Cross Recoba: He cost Strych his place in the tournament and he's made no bones about wanting a singles match that matters, now is his time to go and earn it!
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: Tommy's new attitude didn't win out last time out but we did see what affect it had on his approach in the ring.
Cross Recoba: It seems like he's downplaying those crowd-pleasing aerial moves and putting the focus more on the smashmouth brawling that he holds in his locker. If he combines that with his mat game then it could be a winning combination.
Tommy spins around when the lyrics start and shrugs off the robe, lip-synching along to the song and imitating playing guitar as he makes his way down the ramp, stopping to take selfies and give high fives to fans along the way.
Steve Morrison: He still sees himself as a showman, he warned people that he was going to see how far he could push it.
Cross Recoba: He should know what both his opponents can do. Merric and Tommy were in AWF together and Capone and Strych have tangled more than once.
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: His partner seems to think they're going to be on the same page given how often they've faced off but I found it interesting that Tommy said nothing to confirm or deny that.
Cross Recoba: Like the man himself says, keep everyone guessing...
The opening chords of Big Shot slam into the speakers, bringing the fans to their feet as Jackalope charges through the curtain.
Steve Morrison: Perhaps the man with the most interrupted preparations for the match. He managed to stave off the clowns of IVK in the build-up to tonight.
Cross Recoba: He needs to put that to the back of his mind. We've seen his inexperience cost him once or twice, he can't go into this match thinking about anything else other than the win.
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: Interestingly his partner shows no emotion one way or the other to his partner entering the ring.
Cross Recoba: They'll need some communication to last this match.
He finally slows enough to mount a turnbuckle, a grin on his face as he salutes the fans before backflipping to the mat again.
Steve Morrison: His partner might not be fully behind him but the local crowd still see him as 'one of their own'.
Cross Recoba: A lot of the Vegas locals are tipping him to have a breakout year in 2023, I hope they're right.
With the four men inside the ring, Laura Messier makes her introductions.
Laura Messier: Introducing first, the team to my left. They weigh in at a combined total of four-hundred-and-twenty-eight pounds. AIDEN MERRIC AND WILDCAT CAPONE!!
The brawling duo look to their opponents and start to strategize.
Laura Messier: And their opponents, weighing in at a combined three-hundred-and-fifty-five pounds...TOMMY STRYCHINE AND JACKALOPE!!!
The crowd's positive reaction for Jackalope and polar opposite for Tommy makes for an interesting crowd noise.
OPENING MATCH
TAG-TEAM MATCH
Aiden Merric/Wildcat Capone vs Tommy Strychnine/Jackalope
“Big” John Quinn brings all four men into the center of the ring and delivers his expectations for the match in unison. Of the four men, only Jackalope really seems to be paying him the deference he should be accorded.
Steve Morrison: Quinn has a lot of big personalities to deal with inside that ring tonight.
Cross Recoba: Quinn’s our Head Official for a reason, he should have this covered.
A stiff pointed finger that scans across all of them tells us that Quinn has no intention of starting the night off with people flouting his rules. With that he calls for the bell.
*DING* *DING* *DING*
Strych and Wildcat step between the ropes to the apron leaving Merric and Jackalope to start the match out for their teams.
Steve Morrison: Both men are unfamiliar with the other so this will be interesting.
Cross Recoba: Equally, Wildcat was partnered with Jackalope at our last show so this is cautious but sensible.
The Chaos Bunny is quick to rush his opponent and slides through Merric’s legs, quickly grabbing a waistlock before transitioning into a headlock. Merric reacts instantaneously, picking up the lighter wrestler for a back suplex but Jackalope is wise to it and rolls out the back and hits a basement dropkick to the legs of his opponent, taking him to the mat.
Steve Morrison: Agility is going to be key to Jackalope’s success against Merric.
Cross Recoba: Merric’s an interesting individual, light-enough to compete for the XHF Junior Heavyweight but with a moveset that takes cues from far larger wrestlers.
Grabbing a front-facelock, Jackalope doesn’t take into account the forty-pounds of difference in weight. That difference allows Merric to power up to his knees and, with a surge of power, charge his opponent into the turnbuckle.
Steve Morrison: He might not be a true heavyweight but he just forced Jackalope into the corner with ease!
Cross Recoba: This’ll be a good test for the rookie, Merric didn’t grow up in the business but he has been in the ring long enough to know more than a few tricks.
The Australian delivers a headbutt that elicits a sickening thud upon impact. He throws himself into the corner with a back elbow but Jackalope moves out the way and darts a high kick that finds its mark on the temple of his target…a Japanese Arm-drag takes them out of the corner.
Steve Morrison: Can Jackalope build from this?
Rising to his feet, Merric is hit with an unsighted front dropkick that sends him back a few steps. Following up on it, Kid Cryptid leaps up for a rana but is thrown over the top of Aiden…Merric connects with a 180o forearm to the face of his prey.
Steve Morrison: Almost a half-turn Discus Punch from the Aussie!
Cross Recoba: But even on that half-rotation he managed to floor Jackalope!
He scoops up the Vegas resident…POWERSLAM FROM MERRIC!
Steve Morrison: Big impact from Merric!
ONE…
T-
JACKALOPE GETS AN ARM UP!
Steve Morrison: No luck from the early pin from the debutant!
Pulling his opponent to his feet, Merric whips Jackalope to the corner and follows up…Jackalope runs up the turnbuckle…backflip…WHEELBARROW ARMDRAG!!
Cross Recoba: Jackalope is dangerous because whilst he may only have a dozen or so root moves, he has SO many different ways to hit them and hit them well!
Holding onto the arm of the Aussie, Jackalope pulls him to his feet and brings them to the ropes…he leaps, still with the arm of Merric….RANA INTO A PIN!
Steve Morrison: He had total wrist control there.
Cross Recoba: The key is that he knew exactly where he was taking his opponent, no wasted movement!
ONE…
T-
MERRIC KICKS OUT CONVINCINGLY!
Steve Morrison: Merric kicks out with ease.
Undeterred, Jackalope dashes to the ropes….TILT-A-WHIRL HEADSCISSORS!
Cross Recoba: Jackalope is getting some momentum behind him…
Seeing a window with Merric on his knees, Kid Cryptid charges forward…SHINING WIZARD…
Steve Morrison: This could be gamechanging…
NO!! MERRIC DUCKS OUT OF IT!!
Cross Recoba: Merric knew what to expect, the Shining Wizard is effective when hit but is almost oversubscribed these days. If you’re on your knees and see someone coming in - hit the deck.
With a quick sprint, Merric wraps his arms around the sides of Jackalope…SAITO SUPLEX!!
Steve Morrison: What a way to change the momentum!
Using the hair of his opponent, Aiden brings Jackalope to his feet. He hangs onto the hair and lets loose with wild kicks that connect with the head of his opponent!
Steve Morrison: Merric favors a smashmouth offense like we’re seeing now, what kind of match should we expect when we see him in the ring?
Cross Recoba: It’s hard-hitting and unforgiving in style, he isn’t looking down the line to fifteen minutes from the present he’s about the most amount of damage in the shortest amount of time!
Still keeping his opponent upright, Merric connects with a combo of a driving knee to the gut, a headbutt, and an uppercut that drops Jackalope to his knees. The former XHF Phoenix Champion sets him up…Jumping suplex!
Steve Morrison: Crisp takeover from Aiden!
Dropping to his knees, Merric changes his mind on the cover and instead pulls the head of The Chaos Bunny up and hits him with short punches to the face.
Cross Recoba: Those punches are powerful but measured, he’s letting the motion and gravity do the work.
Jackalope is yanked to his feet once more and Aiden wraps him up in a waistlock. He tries to grab the wrist of his opponent but Kid Cryptid charges the ropes…Merric rolls backwards…
Steve Morrison: Jackalope looked for the escape there but did he get it?
Cross Recoba: Merric let go before he needed to, he has something up his sleeve…
Leaping forward for another rana, Jackalope finds himself thrown off the shoulders of Merric…ANOTHER HEADBUTT FROM THE AUSSIE…SUPERMAN PUNCH!!
Steve Morrison: STUN GUN!
Cross Recoba: Merric tracks big game for fun, he KNEW that if he gave Jackalope enough rope he’d go for the extreme!
This time Aiden goes for the pin…
Steve Morrison: He hooks the leg!
Cross Recoba: Clever girl…
STRYCH COMES INTO THE RING AND DRAGS JACKALOPE TO THEIR CORNER AND TAGS HIMSELF IN!!
Steve Morrison: The two men who have faced each other more than any others have in Tap Out now make for easy bedfellows!
Cross Recoba: Strych isn’t in this profession to lose.
The two men stare each other down before battling off with concurrent right hands, neither man getting the advantage.
Steve Morrison: Despite being in AWF at the same time, they’ve never faced off.
Cross Recoba: They’re at a stalemate for now, that’s going to change!
Merric throws an overhand right and follows in with a left-hook! STRYCH SLAPS THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN-HANDED!!
Steve Morrison: THE BARE-FACED CHEEK!
Cross Recoba: That was great!
The cameras capture Tommy laughing to himself for his insolence.
Steve Morrison: For a man on a losing streak, he has little shame.
Cross Recoba: Win or lose, Tommy always wants to keep himself entertained even if no-one else in the arena is in on the joke.
The Rocker ducks a hook thrown in retaliation and lands a European Uppercut that takes them against the ropes. A quick eye-rake from the musician leaves Merric open..dropkick!
Steve Morrison: Crisp dropkick but only on the cards thanks to that eye-rake.
Cross Recoba: But he disguised it from Quinn so with that I say ‘what eye-rake?’
Aiden rushes to get back to his feet but Tommy grabs his arm and tries to send him to the ropes, it’s reversed….TOMMY DUCKS THE CLOTHESLINE…RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX FROM STRYCH!!
Steve Morrison: A staple of his moveset but a highly effective one!
He throws himself across the ring to cover…
Cross Recoba: Is it enough to get the job done?
ONE…
TW-
MERRIC GETS A SHOULDER UP!
Steve Morrison: Merric refuses to stay down!
Tommy grabs Aiden by the head but the Australian sits up and fires off a stiff forearm. Another sets Strych back a couple of steps but that’s all the Big Game hunter needs.
Cross Recoba: Aiden starting to up the intensity it seems.
Steve Morrison: Big shots landed and now Tommy finds himself on defense.
Bursting into life, Merric starts to unleash rapid-fire chops to the chest of Tommy that backs him into the corner! For luck, or because he can, Merric fires off one more knife-edge chop.
Crowd: WOOOOOO!!!
Steve Morrison: THIS IS A KNIFE SENDS TOMMY INTO THE CORNER!
With force, Merric sends Strych to the opposite corner and follows in…BIG CORNER ELBOW SMASH LEAVES TOMMY STAGGERING OUT…
Steve Morrison: It seems that Aiden has reached a level that Tommy hasn’t stepped up to yet.
Cross Recoba: He will, he just needs to do it sooner rather than la-
POP-UP EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!!
Steve Morrison: TRANQUILIZER AND TOMMY COULD BE IN TROUBLE!
The crowd pop for the move because ‘Fuck Tommy Strychnine!’ says the crowd.
Steve Morrison: Merric finds himself with a fanbase purely based on not being Strych!
Cross Recoba: The Vegas fans still haven’t forgotten how he turned on them two months ago.
Using the Rocker’s hair to bring him to his feet, Merric unleashes a series of clubbing blows over the shoulder of his opponent with each one landing on his breastbone.
Steve Morrison: The Rocker is taking a beating!
Aiden grabs a reverse facelock and lifts…HE BOUNCES HIM OFF THE ROPES AND OVER INTO A REVERSE SUPLEX!!
Steve Morrison: SLINGSHOT REVERSE SUPLEX!
Cross Recoba: We could be seeing an abrupt end to our opening match!
This time, he rolls over and makes the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
T-
STRYCH THROWS A SHOULDER UP!
Steve Morrison: How did he do that?
Cross Recoba: Tommy loves three things - playing live music, keeping people talking about him and partying. He’s a firm believer that any publicity is good.
For his efforts, Tommy finds himself hauled up and receives a knee in the chest for good measure. Aiden backs him to the ropes and sends him running to the opposite side of the ring…Tommy leapfrogs over the ducked Australian who turns around…STEP-UP ENZIGURI!!
Steve Morrison: With a great show of agility, Tommy finds himself with a chance to get back in the match!
Dashing to the turnbuckle, Tommy leaps to the middle rope, then the top before jumping and spinning around…TRIPLE-JUMP BULLDOG!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT…A…MOVE!!
Tommy goes for the pin and folds up Merric like an accordion.
ONE…
TW-
MERRIC ROLLS THE SHOULDERS OF TOMMY OVER INTO HIS OWN PIN…
ONE…
STRYCH ROLLS OUT OF IT AND CHARGES INTO A BOOT TO THE MIDSECTION…BUTTERFLY SUPLEX!
Steve Morrison: Merric came down full-force atop of his Strych!
Cross Recoba: People say that he isn’t the most polished in the ring but if you can add those little touches to basic moves, you’ll go far.
With his opponent down, Aiden tags in Wildcat.
Steve Morrison: After so long on the sidelines, Capone enters the fray.
Cross Recoba: He’ll be wound tight after such a wait, we could see some fireworks right now!
Capone wastes no time in laying the boots into Tommy.
Steve Morrison: No frills but no quarter paid!
Cross Recoba: Capone’s fighting education was less on aesthetics and more on getting the job done.
Wrenching his opponent to his feet, Capone holds onto his head and delivers a trio of short but stiff forearms to the head of the Rocker. He lets go…A ROARING ELBOW SENDS STRYCH INTO THE ROPES!
Steve Morrison: HUGE STRIKE FROM WILDCAT!
The Lexington native grabs a waistlock and pivots as he lifts…GERMAN SUPLEX INTO THE TURNBUCKLE!!
Steve Morrison: A page from Strych’s own playbook!
Cross Recoba: Capone’s putting a case forward for why he could well be our rookie stand-out.
Wildcat charges forward with a guttural yell, STRYCH MOVES OUT THE WAY OF THE CORNER PANCAKE…SNAP USHIGOROSHI FROM STRYCH!!
Steve Morrison: TOMMYKNOCKER!
Cross Recoba: He can hit that from ANYWHERE!
Tommy stares at Cross after hitting the move as if to make a point.
Steve Morrison: Strych made no bones about his apathy for another tag-team match, is he protesting to you?
Cross Recoba: I am but one voice on a committee of more than me.
He covers Capone…
ONE…
KICKOUT BY THE KENTUCKIAN!
Steve Morrison: Would he have put him away if he didn’t take time to signal his discontent?
Not deterred, Strych brings Capone to his feet, Irish whip is reversed but Capone wrenches Tommy back his way…SLEEPER!!
Cross Recoba: He could end up paying a very high price.
Capone looks to have the Sleeper Hold locked in. Tommy charges towards the corner and ducks down, sending Capone head-first into the turnbuckle…
Cross Recoba: Strych took advantage of IRN FST’s inexperience there.
RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP FROM TOMMY, HE ROLLS THROUGH AND HITS ANOTHER, HE ROLLS ONCE MORE …GANNOSUSKE CLUTCH!!
Steve Morrison: POISON PIN!
ONE…
TWO…
MERRIC LEVELS STRYCH WITH A RUNNING KNEE THAT BREAKS UP THE PIN!!
Steve Morrison: HUGE KNEE FROM THE AUSSIE!
Cross Recoba: It seems that both teams are relatively on the same page with their partners.
As his partner exits the ring before Quinn can admonish him, Capone rolls over and sees the sprawled out body of Tommy. Rolling to his feet, he brings Strych to his knees…REPEATED KAWADA KICKS TO THE HEAD OF THE ROCKER!!!
Steve Morrison: Tommy might do well to remember his own name at this point!
Cross Recoba: I have to say that being able to watch people like Capone improve every month is an amazing sight. He beat Strych to cost him his place in the Openweight tournament and now he can put him away again and remind people that he’s a force to be reckoned with!
Spotting his next move, Capone rolls Strych into the corner and moves back into the center of the ring…RUNNING KNEE TO THE FACE OF THE SEATED STRYCH!!
Steve Morrison: Huge cannonball!
Cross Recoba: It looks like he knows it’s time to put this match away!
Dragging The Rocker from the corner, Capone lifts him across his shoulders…DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: WHEELZ OF STEEL!
He makes the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
JACKALOPE BREAKS THE PIN UP WITH A SPRINGBOARD ELBOW DROP!!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope keeps his partner in it!
Cross Recoba: He managed to land that elbow directly onto the neck of Wildcat!
Taking a cue from Merric, Jackalope dives out the ring and avoids Quinn.
Steve Morrison: Quinn hasn’t had a chance to stamp his authority on the match.
Cross Recoba: If he lets the match flow, I’ve no complaints.
Capone crawls to the ropes to get back to his feet. Strych is back to a vertical base but he wobbles as he plants his foot. Walking towards Capone, Tommy cuts off a punch with one of his own and sends him to the ropes…
Steve Morrison: Tommy throwing punches like a fight over last call!
He ducks his head down as if for a Back Body Drop….ELEVATED INVERTED ATOMIC DROP!
Cross Recoba: Superb execution!
JACKALOPE TAGS HIMSELF IN AND CONNECTS WITH A LEDROP BULLDOG!
Steve Morrison: Fluid teamwork from Jackalope and Strych!
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT FROM CAPONE!
Steve Morrison: A great display of heart from Capone tonight!
The Chaos Bunny pulls Wildcat up and hooks him for a DDT but Wildcat throws him over with a Northern Lights Suplex!
Cross Recoba: He saw the opportunity to gain control and took it with no hesitation!
ONE…
TWO…
THIS TIME IT’S KID CRYPTID WHO KICKS OUT!
Steve Morrison: All four men must be running close to empty!
Both men rise at the same time, Jackalope throws a kick but it’s caught. Capone spins him around and grabs a waistlock….he brings the arms behind him…JAPANESE OCEAN SUPLEX!
Steve Morrison: What a suplex!
Cross Recoba: Could this be it?
Curiously, Capone doesn’t bridge. Instead, he sends Jackalope into the corner and charges in….CORNER LEG LARIAT!!
Steve Morrison: That connected full-force!
Cross Recoba: That might take away some of the speed of Kid Cryptid!
Keeping his opponent from dropping, Capone perches Jackalope on the top rope and climbs to the middle turnbuckle…
Steve Morrison: What could he be thinking?
Cross Recoba: The last time Capone took to the top-rope we saw him hit a top-rope Belly-to-Belly, this could be good….
SAITO SUPLEX FROM THE SECOND ROPE!!
Steve Morrison: JUICY SUPLEX FROM THE MIDDLE TURNBUCKLE! THAT’S IT! THIS HAS TO BE IT!
He covers….
ONE…
TWO…
STRYCHNINE COMES OUT OF NOWHERE WITH A CURB STOMP!!
Cross Recoba: No Whiskey Tango Foxtrot but that was definitely a huge Foxtrot Oscar!
Jackalope crawls to the ropes and looks behind him to see Capone is slowly stirring.
Steve Morrison: Jackalope’s got something in mind and the crowd can feel the energy!
Cross Recoba: He has a knack for the spectacular…
Stepping through the ropes, Jackalope rushes to the turnbuckle.
Steve Morrison: The crowd know what this could be…
MOONSAULT DDT!!!
Cross Recoba: LOOK AT THE HEIGHT!!
WILDCAT JUDO ROLLS TO SAFETY…..YAKUZA KICK!!
Steve Morrison: JACKALOPE JUST GET GOT!!!
With uncertain footing, Capone picks up his opponent and LIFTS HIM UP WITH SPIN…
Steve Morrison: PROTECT YA’ NE-
A RANA CATAPULTS CAPONE ONTO THE MIDDLE ROPE!
Cross Recoba: NO! JACKALOPE HAS HIM READY FOR THE BUCK YOU!
For a second, Jackalope looks like he’s considering a Tiger Feint Kick but instead waits for Capone to rise.
Steve Morrison: He let him get up?
Cross Recoba: I’m confused too…
He charges at him and rolls up the back of Capone AND COMES DOWN WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX!
Steve Morrison: That modified German Suplex he debuted last month when he teamed with Capone now takes Wildcat down to the mat!
Pushing himself to keep up the pace, Jackalope leaps between the middle-rope.
Cross Recoba: He’s hit his rhythm!
SPRINGBOARD REVERSE RANA!!
Crowd: JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE! JACKALOPE!
With a nod to the corner, Strych enters the ring. Jackalope rushes to cut off Merric from entering the ring…GUYVER KICK!!
Steve Morrison: UNLUCKY RABBIT’S FOOT!!
TOMMY GRABS CAPONE FROM BEHIND AND TUCKS HIS HEAD UNDER THE WILDCAT'S SHOULDER. JACKALOPE RUSHES THE ROPES TO PICK UP A FULL HEAD OF STEAM AND LEAPS IN THE AIR, GRABBING THE BACK OF CAPONE'S HEAD AND SPINNING AROUND HIM IN MIDAIR , DRIVING HIM DOWN TO THE MAT WITH A ONE HANDED FACEBUSTER AS TOMMY COMPLETES A WHEELBARROW FACEBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A DOUBLE-TEAM!!
Cross Recoba: WHEELBARROW FACEBUSTER COMBO!!!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!
Quinn calls for the bell as Laura Messier announces the winners.
Laura Messier: Your winners of our opening contest as a result of pinfalll…TOMMY STRYCHNINE AND JACKALOPE!!!
“Big Shot” by Deltarune fills the arena. Quinn lifts both of their arms in victory.
Once Quinn lets go of their arms, the winning duo exchange looks and exit from opposite sides of the ring to the back.
Steve Morrison: A great opener to kick us off on a huge show. We’ve plenty more to look forward to if they follow the trend of our first match!
Cross Recoba: Indeed, but first let’s take some time to remind you all of this month’s CAR show.
Steve Morrison: It’s the last Sippy Cup Qualifier before the now annual Sippy Cup Final in December and it looks set to be a hectic run-in on the 20th November to qualify for the Sippy Cup proper!
Cross Recoba: The Angry Mad Scientists are the best team on the grid.
Steve Morrison: You know that whole brainwashing thing wore off for everyone else a year or more ago?
Cross Recoba: What brainwashing thing? They’re my favorite team in CAR.
Steve Morrison: This month sees CAR celebrate the birth month of Robert Louis Stephenson…
Cross Recoba: Sounds a bit Jekyll and Hyde.
Steve Morrison: Close, this month sees our CARticipants competing on a Pirate-themed track in an homage to Treasure Island.
Cross Recoba: So, that’s going to be canons, a narrow bridge, and a swarm of parrots?
Steve Morrison: I still reckon that Porsche of the MOTHER team would romp it.
Cross Recoba: Find out which one of us is right on November 20th, only on the XHF Network.
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Jackalope is on his way back to the locker room area. A door in the hallway slams into his face. A man in a black and white mask with tattoos all down his arms walks out of the door and smiles at the downed Kid Cryptid. What’s he really look like? See the pic.
Masked Man: Te he estado buscando, amigo.
He pulls up Jackalope, who fights to get the luchador off of him but finds his face smashed into the wall. Fighting back, Jackalope pushes back and lands a back elbow on the Masked Man.
Steve Morrison: He hasn’t even made it back from the ring and he’s being jumped!
Cross Recoba: Hold down the fort.
Jackalope: I don’t know who you are but I can guess who sent you!
Jackalope follows up with a punch to the midsection, but to no avail. The Masked Man grabs Jackalope and drives a knee to the Chaos Bunny’s ribs. He throws Jackalope through the wall and into an unused office inside the room.
The Masked Man laughs as he stands over Jackalope.
Masked Man: Isabella está pagando una prima para que tu trasero esté intacto. Solo ríndete.
Steve Morrison: He wants to bring him in alive to IVK! She’ll go to any lengths it seems!
Leaping to his feet, there’s no spider crawl to telegraph a spear that drives The Masked Man through another wall.
Steve Morrison: Fans, I’ve word that security are on their way to meet Cross backstage to break this up.
Jackalope rolls to his feet and tries to lay the boots into the Masked Man but security restrain him and separate the two men.
Cross Recoba: Is there a particular reason you’re assaulting one of my wrestlers?
The Masked Man pulls out a contract.
Masked Man: I’m claiming the bounty that’s rightfully mine.
Recoba’s face doesn’t change as he thinks through his options.
Cross Recoba: You want him? Beat him in the ring at our next show, but don’t hold your breath; he’s one of our long-term investments…
Steve Morrison: We have our first confirmed match for our December show!
Cross Recoba: For now, security’ll show you to the arena exit. Jackalope, good performance out there. Make sure you follow it up with another next month.
Security surround the Masked Man giving him little option but to comply.
The cameras cut back to ringside.
The lights in the arena go dark… There is a quiet hush as people in the audience mumble about, confused. Some turn on the flashlights in their phone to try and gather what’s going on.
After a brief moment, the screen flashes with static that dissipates quickly to a vintage filter. Beyond that, a poorly lit throne… upon a stage.
Footsteps. Two sets of them tap across the wooden floors… creaking the planks. It is too dark to make out who they belong to as one takes a seat on the throne, and the other stops beside it. The seated figure raises a hand… and snaps. The spotlights shine on the figures properly now.
Both male figures, dressed finely from their black shoes to the suits that cover their torsos…
… and white spandex skin suits hiding their features underneath.
The seated man lowers the hand that was raised before… before pointing towards the camera with a turned hand… He curls a finger inward towards himself… beckoning.
The figure next to him straightens himself up… before his voice could be heard.
The Interpreter: “The Thespian is now taking ‘auditions,’ wrestlers of Tap Out.”
A chuckle could be heard from them both, one normal and one hoarse, as the feed fades to black, and light returns to the arena.
Steve Morrison: I can think of several great match-ups that Thespian could have on our roster right now!
Cross Recoba: No need to imagine them. Like Kingsley Solomon, Thespian will also be in action in December.
Steve Morrison: A great pick-up for Tap Out! One of the people I'd love to see The Thespian do battle with is about to compete tonight. Let's go down to Laura Messier to introduce our second match of the night!
Laura Messier: We now have a match that pitches Tap Out against HardKore Wrestling and it's scheduled for one fall!
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
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: Can you hear that roar?
Cross Recoba: If they weren't before they put themselves on the XHF Network map. Agonizingly close to pulling off the upset against Daigo Arakawa at End of Days.
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: Tonight might just be their fiercest challenge in Tap Out yet.
Cross Recoba: People said the same last month when they faced James Dragon and what happened there?
They climb the steps and enter the ring, now focused entirely on the match ahead.
Steve Morrison: They look ready to go to war when that bell rings.
Cross Recoba: They need to be, Rat Bastard needs no introduction to the XHF audience - they know what they signed up for taking this match.
The lights in the area go out and and red glow comes from the ramp as Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones begins to play through the speakers. As the words come through, the light gets darker.
Please allow me to introduce myself
Im a man of wealth and taste
Ive been around for a long, long year
Stole many a mans soul and faith
And I was round when jesus christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Shadows mix in with the red glow now.
Made damn sure that pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But whats puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
Rat Bastard steps through the curtain, a cocky smug look upon his face, with a tooth pick handing from his mouth.
Steve Morrison: He might be from Vegas but there is no mistaking who the crowd is backing tonight!
Cross Recoba: He won't care, he's made his career without needing the fans to chant his name and he's not likely to start tonight.
I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
Rat takes a deep breath in and runs his hands through his greasy black hair.
I rode a tank
Held a generals rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, whats puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
Rat begins his stalk to the ring, shooting dirty looks of disgust out at the fans.
Steve Morrison: People seem to think that he's only a tag-team specialist these days.
Cross Recoba: He might not be making headlines in REIGN but you NEVER underestimate that man in the ring. He makes up fr the loss of yards in his feet with the ones he makes in his head.
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
I shouted out,
Who killed the kennedys?
When after all
It was you and me
Rat climbs the stairs the ring, slowly climbing inside he begins to point toward the mat, lipping to the fans that he owns this place.
Let me please introduce myself
Im a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached bombay
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But whats puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Steve Morrison: He shoots a look of contempt towards his opponent, could we see this go off tonight?
Cross Recoba: Undoubtedly, Rat'll see Sam as the new guard and want to send a message via them!
Rat Bastard settles into his corner as Laura Messier takes the center of the ring.
Laura Messier:Introducing first, representing Tap Out. They hail from Houston, Texas. Tipping the scales at one-hundred-and-sixty pounds...standing at five feet and six inches....SAM...SAWYER!!
Sawyer looks across the ring at their opponent, trying to work out exactly what makes him tick.
Laura Messier: AND HER OPPONENT! Representing HardKore World...from Las, Vegas, Nevada...he stands at six-feet and four inches and weighed in at two-hundred-and-eighty-five pounds. He was the first ever XHF X*Crown Champion...RAT...BASTARD!!!
Reverting to type, Rat Bastard starts to make gestures towards them that wouldn't make Disney Plus uncensored.
GUEST MATCH
SINGLES MATCH
Sam Sawyer vs Rat Bastard
The ring is now empty, save for the fighters and the match official, “Big” John Quinn. He approaches first, Rat Bastard.
Steve Morrison: You don’t get a name like Rat Bastard without there being some fire behind the smoke.
Cross Recoba: I’ve been inside the ring with him, he loves the image he has. Makes it easier to surprise people when they don’t get what they expect.
Going through the rules that he expects, Rat Bastard nods along and seems to be perfectly compliant.
Steve Morrison: He seems to be relatively relaxed ahead of the bell.
Cross Recoba: He’s been there and done it, he’s been here since the dawn of the Network.
Steve Morrison: Rat is a two-time X*Crown champion, both those reigns occurred however before tonight’s opponent was even born.
Cross Recoba: You don’t want to just rely on the fact that he’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning, he still has a vast bag of tricks that he can pull from.
Heading to Sawyer, who raises a fist to a large cheer from the Vegas crowd before “Big” John starts his talk.
Steve Morrison: It’s only their third match in Tap Out Wrestling but the fans have adopted them as one of their own.
Cross Recoba: They’ve got every reason to connect with our fans. Whilst James Dragon got the pin in their debut, it was Sawyer’s hand raised when the two met last month!
Like Rat Bastard, they comply with everything Quinn says and seem eager to get the match underway.
Steve Morrison: So far, they’ve played by the rules but could we see a mean streak emerge from Sam?
Cross Recoba: They might need it tonight, if you followed her in FIRESIDE you know they have the ability to not hold back. If you didn’t watch it, just see how they dealt with Zolothatch.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer may call themselves unlucky to not be walking into this match as the XHF Junior Heavyweight champion. What showing they put forth at End of Days!
Cross Recoba: They got caught out but left having put themselves on the Network map. That might always be a good thing because they lose the advantage of people underestimating them.
Steve Morrison: We’ll find out if Ratty proves or disproves that take as we’re about to get underway in this match!
Quinn calls for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
Both fighters come out of the blocks at pace. Rat Bastard’s nearly foot height advantage becomes evident as they get closer.
Steve Morrison: It’ll be interesting to see how Sawyer deals with the disparity in height and weight.
Cross Recoba: Their camp must have prepared for this. I know Mason, her trainer, on an okay level. The first thing he’ll have pointed out is that it might take away some of her slams and suplexes but the strikes she uses as a foundation and the agility she has are the best route to a win.
Steve Morrison: Rat Bastard has had a bit of a mixed 2022. Made the semi-finals of Call to Arms and then he and Jack Diamond made it to the Night of Champions. Diamond though had the last laugh that night and did so again at our last show to eliminate Rat from the End of Days tournament at the first hurdle.
Cross Recoba: You’re forgetting that Jack didn’t get any further after that match and The Awesome Bastards were unlucky to fall to Bang! Hermanos. That being said, I’m not even going to disguise the fact that I suspect Ratty may have something planned for Jack. For our sponsors and audience’s sake, I just hope it isn’t before our main-event.
Steve Morrison: Spoken like a true capitalist humanitarian…
Dashing in, Sawyer connects with a Discus elbow to the midsection of her opponent as they spin past him. They follow that up with a stiff looking kick to the back of the knee knocking him down a few inches and this time a spinning elbow to the head of their opponent brings Sawyer once more in front of her opponent.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer utilizing that agility to land several quick shots at the outset.
Cross Recoba: Ratty needs to be careful about that, he must feel like he’s playing GoldenEye against Odd Job!
Steve Morrison: Want to rephrase that with a reference this side of 2000?
Cross Recoba: I came from a poor family, that WAS this side of 2000!
They throw a kick but this time it’s caught by Ratty who spins her round and tries to connect with a lariat but it’s ducked and Ratty McB spins helplessly into a leaping arm-drag that takes him down to the mat.
Steve Morrison: We know Rat likes to mix it up in the ring, though brawling is his strong suit but can he keep up with Sawyer if they take it to the ground?
Cross Recoba: If he can’t keep up, his size will be a great equalizer in it all.
Holding on, the less experienced Sawyer finds themselves in a hammerlock that Bastard uses to get both competitors to their feet and fires off a clubbing forearm to their lower back as he breaks the hold.
Steve Morrison: So far, so evenly matched…
Spotting an opening, Ratty grabs a waistlock and imposes his size on Sawyer to take them down to the mat with a waistlock. Once more utilizing his weight advantage, Rat Bastard pivots and tries to lock on a front-facelock but the Texan escapes before he can apply the hold.
Steve Morrison: This isn’t the start I anticipated.
Cross Recoba: You don’t spend as much time in the sport as Rat and not pick up at least some of the basics of mat-wrestling!
Winning the foot-race to their feet, Sawyer charges in with a series of forearms that land at full-force and shoots Rat Bastard to the ropes with an Irish Whip….RUNNING KNEE LIFT FROM SAWYER!!
Steve Morrison: She knocks the Awesome Bastard down!
Cross Recoba: As long as she keeps the speed in her game, she can keep this up. If she doesn’t? It’ll be bread and butter to Ratty.
Their opponent prone on the floor, Sam drives a pointed knee into the lower back of Rat Bastard…and another!
Steve Morrison: Each knee delivered with full-force!
Cross Recoba: This what I’d do in their shoes, try and take away Rat’s ability to lift them as soon as I could!
Lifting Ratty to his feet, Sawyer tries for a snap-suplex but her opponent doesn’t budge. She tries again to no avail. A third time is countered by a knee-strike to the abdomen from the REIGN star. He now hooks them for his own suplex, he lifts them up AND DROPS TO THE MAT SLAMMING THEM FACE-FIRST INTO IT!
Rat Bastard: EAT THAT!
Steve Morrison: We’ve just seen the power that Rat can summon at will, this could be a long night for Sam!
Cross Recoba: Rat knows that if he can nullify the speed, that agility that Sawyer has then he is in prime position to walk out of here and back to REIGN with a win!
Steve Morrison: Jackalope drew with Dino Bones, Danni Anderson suffered a defeat against MYŌJIN. Sam could become the first Tap Out fighter to walk out of one of these guest matches with a win!
Not letting the former FIRESIDE Wildfire Champion get to their feet, Ratty starts to lay the boots into them. The stomps land on a target on their lower back.
Cross Recoba: Rat isn’t going to make it easy for them. Those strikes of theirs won’t be as effective without the solid base that he’s attacking right now.
Sawyer scrambles to their feet but the inaugural X*Crown Champion lifts a knee to catch them in the head as they rise!
Steve Morrison: Rat continues to impose his size on his opponent.
Ratty keeps hold of Sam’s head. He throws a stiff punch that would surely have knocked them to the mat if everyone’s least favorite Bastard didn’t prop them up. He follows up with an uppercut….ROARING ELBOW!!
Steve Morrison: A well-practised combo from the former X*Crown Champion!
Cross Recoba: You see the way he pivoted round to connect with the Roaring Elbow? Kids, if you’re in or thinking about joining a wrestling school - there are far worse ways to study that move than watching a Rat Bastard match!
Reaching down, he applies a front-facelock to bring them to their feet. VERTICAL SUPLEX…HE THROWS THEM BACKWARDS AT THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE LIFT!!
Steve Morrison: Modified release Suplex from the REIGN star.
Cross Recoba: It was pretty comparable to a Fallaway slam. The impact though was square on the base of Sawyer’s spine.
Rat Bastard goes for an early pin..
ONE…
T-
Sawyer kicks out but finds themselves smothered by the body of Ratty.
Steve Morrison: It seems that The Awesome Bastard has found another way to impose his size advantage on Sam.
Cross Recoba: He’s using it to control where they go in the ring. It’s a smart move from the Vegas Native.
Steve Morrison: This might be his hometown but he hasn’t had a hero’s welcome here tonight!
Using his size, Ratty brings Sawyer to their feet. He lifts them up for an Atomic Drop and crotches them on the top rope!
Steve Morrison: What can he set-up here?
He takes a couple of steps back…LARIATOOO TO THE OUTSIDE!
Steve Morrison: DID YOU HEAR THAT SLAP?
Cross Recoba: Rat’s been embroiled with Donzig lately in REIGN, he’ll want to use this match as a way to send a warning back to REIGN that he isn’t done with him yet!
“Big” John Quinn starts the count.
ONE!!
TWO!!!
Sawyer starts to get up.
Steve Morrison: Rat doesn’t look like he wants to head to ringside.
Cross Recoba: He’s most likely confident that he can control the match inside the ring.
THREE!!
Rat Bastard leans over the ropes.
Rat Bastard: You givin’ in?! Can’t say I blame you!
Steve Morrison: Will Sawyer give in to the mind-games of their opponent?
Cross Recoba: I’d hope not, Mason runs a tighter ship than that. He’s deliberately hard on the rookies who join to flush out the time-wasters. If Sawyer can handle that, they should be fine here.
FOUR!!
Sawyer climbs onto the apron. They grab the top rope to grab a quick breather.
Steve Morrison: Maybe not the wisest place to try and recover.
Cross Recoba: Ratty isn’t going to stand for it…
Rat Bastard uses the top-rope to catapult them into the ring.
Steve Morrison: They land flat on their back again!
Once more, the REIGN star picks up his opponent and wraps his arms around them…
Steve Morrison: Is this a bear-hug?
Cross Recoba: I’ve not seen Rat use a bear-hug before, it’s not to say it isn’t one but I’d wager it’s a belly-to-belly supl-
SAWYER FIRES BACK WITH A MONGOLIAN CHOP!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer cuts him off!
Ratty hangs on but another Mongolian Chop loosens the hold….
Steve Morrison: Another one smashes against the shoulder blades of their opponent!
Cross Recoba: Out of the hold how can she follow this up?
SAWYERS LANDS WITH A HELLA STIFF FACE SLAP!!
Steve Morrison: GET FUCKED!
The crowd fall silent as the slaps connects.
Cross Recoba: The slap that silenced a thousand people…
Ratty tries to fire back with a punch but it’s blocked and Sawyer counters with a kick to the body. Another Bastard punch is stopped and a knee finds its way into his body. Sawyer grabs the arm and goes for an Irish whip but it’s reversed.
Steve Morrison: They hit the ropes…
Ducking his head for the back-body drop, Rat Bastard leaves himself open…SNAP DDT!
Cross Recoba: They planted Rat square atop his head!
Crowd: LET’S GO SAWYER, LET’S GO! LET’S GO SAWYER, LET’S GO! LET’S GO SAWYER, LET’S GO! LET’S GO SAWYER, LET’S GO! LET’S GO SAWYER, LET’S GO!
Steve Morrison: It certainly pumped the crowd up!
Feeding off the crowd, Sawyer measures Ratty as he rises…BUZZSAW KICK!!
Steve Morrison: Another striking kick from the Tap Out fighter, they put Rat on his back.
This time it’s Sawyer who goes for the cover…
ONE…
T-
KICKOUT FROM RAT BASTARD!!
Cross Recoba: Still too early to get the drop on Rat.
Staying on the offensive, Sawyer lands a hard thrust kick to the body that catches Rat Bastard off balance. They throw a dropkick that twists the body of the Awesome Bastard and sends him to the ropes….BRIDGING DRAGON SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: They used his momentum against him!
ONE…
TW-
ONCE MORE RATTY KICKS OUT!!
Cross Recoba: It was a good attempt, great technique, and once more it’s weakening the neck and back of their opponent…
They both rush to their feet with Sawyer being marginally quicker, they catch Rat Bastard at half-balance…RATTY THROWS AN UPPERCUT THAT STUNS SAWYER…BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: There’s that suplex he went for earlier!
Cross Recoba: It’s one of the best on the Network, you can’t take that away from him!
The adrenaline kicking in, Sawyer gets to their feet almost on instinct…RATTY SCOOPS THEM UP FOR A POWERSLAM!
Steve Morrison: He drove them through the mat!
ONE…
TW-
SAWYER GETS AN ARM UP!!
Steve Morrison: Sam showing all their resilience and fighting spirit to kick out of that one!
Using his vast experience, The Awesome Bastard grabs the raised arm of Sawyer and twists it. He presses a knee against the head of Sam as he extends the arm away from their body.
Steve Morrison: Interesting, he’s slowing the pace right down with this hold.
Cross Recoba: It’s wearing down Sawyer. Their stamina, being seventeen and under half the age of their opponent is that they can go for hours inside the ring. Even without Rat’s ‘diet’, he’s on a loser thanks to time in that regard.
Looking for an escape route, the teenager sees the ropes and swings a leg. She lands it on the bottom rope. “Big” John begins the count…
Steve Morrison: Sayer finds an out.
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!
If anything, Ratty is yanking the arm further.
Steve Morrison: He’s seeing how far he can push Quinn.
Cross Recoba: You NEVER release until you have to!
FOUR!!
He grinds his knee against the head and neck of his opponent as he releases the hold.
Steve Morrison: Finally, Ratty releases the hold!
Cross Recoba: He’s trying to take away the power their technique can generate, he didn’t break any rules there!
Steve Morrison: Hmmm….
Letting Sawyer get back to her feet, Rat momentarily relents on the assault. As soon as they’re back to a vertical base, the REIGN star peppers their head with overhand rights! He whips them to the corner with such force their knees nearly buckle. He rushes in…BIG ELBOW IN THE CORNER!
Steve Morrison: Rat Bastard appears to have stepped up a gear, unloading with those huge right hands and following up with an elbow that must have dazed Sawyer!
Cross Recoba: It’s all down to what they can pull out of their locker and the sooner the better if you’ve any money on the Houston native.
ANOTHER BIG IRISH WHIP, RAT FOLLOWS THEM IN…SHE LEAPS TO THE TURNBUCKLE…SAWYERSAULT….
Steve Morrison: MOONSAULT!
RATTY CATCHES AND HOLDS HER ABOVE HIS SHOULDERS…
Steve Morrison: HE CATCHES THEM AND WE COULD BE SEEING BLACK OUT DRUNK!!
Cross Recoba: That’s the definition of the high-risk in high-risk moves!
THEY SLIP DOWN THE BACK AND A QUICK DROPKICK TAKES OUT RAT BASTARD’S KNEE….SHINING WIZARD!!!!
Steve Morrison: What a counter!!
Cross Recoba: Whether they’ll be as lucky next time…
Sawyer looks for the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
THE AWESOME BASTARD KICKS OUT AGAIN!!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer can’t quite put him away!
Cross Recoba: This next stage is crucial….
Trying to stay on top of their opponent, Sawyer sprints to the top turnbuckle. RATTY CUTS HER OFF WITH A RUSHING FOREARM TO THE HEAD.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer finds themselves in trouble…
He climbs up and scoops them up…
Cross Recoba: This could be it…
AVALANCHE FALLAWAY SLAM!!!
Steve Morrison: HE THREW THEM ACROSS THE RING!!
Sawyer skids to a stop, aided by the bottom turnbuckle. Cutting them off before they can recover, Rat lifts them up and whips them to the opposite corner. HE CHARGES IN WITH A LARIAT THAT SENDS THEM STUMBLING FROM THE TURNBUCKLE.
Steve Morrison: Ratty is in control here as Sawyer might not know where they are!
The Awesome Bastard climbs to the middle turnbuckle…DIVING BULLDOG!!
Steve Morrison: He plants them face-first on the canvas!
Cross Recoba: You don’t see him heading up top often but that was the definition of how that move should be hit!
He makes the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
TH-
SAWYERS GETS AN ARM UP!!
Steve Morrison: Sam remains in the fight but only just.
Cross Recoba: They need to get back to basics, if they can grab an opening they need to take it and bring the match back to their own style.
The camera catches the level of disgust painted on Rat Bastard’s face at the teenager’s temerity to not stay down. He wrenches them to their feet and tucks their head between his legs…he lifts them up…
Steve Morrison: Could this be the Plague?
SAWYERS USES THE MOMENTUM TO COUNTER WITH A SPIKE DDT!!!
Steve Morrison: They stay in the game!
Cross Recoba: How much did that period of dominance from Rat take out of them though?
Rat Bastard is out in the center of the ring.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer’s on their feet but what can they do to capitalize?
Spotting their chance, Sawyer leaps to the top-rope…
Cross Recoba: They need to get this right…
THEY COME OFF THE TOP WITH A SPLASH!!
Steve Morrison: THEY NAIL IT!!
ONE…
TWO…
T-
KICKOUT!!!
Steve Morrison: The Bastard of REIGN is showing why he’s still going strong after all these years!
Cross Recoba: Not hooking the leg may cost them.
Steve Morrison: They’re already back to their feet….
Sawyer rushes the ropes…LARIAT!!! RAT BASTARD DUCKS OUT THE WAY!
Steve Morrison: Quick evasion from The Awesome Bastard.
He spins them round and thrusts a kick into their gut….
Cross Recoba: We know where this is going…
FALLING CRUCIFIX POWERBOMB!!
Steve Morrison: HE HITS THE PLAGUE!!
Cross Recoba: This could be all over.
He drops to his knees to cover but Sawyer rolls to the apron!
Steve Morrison: Smart move from Sam!
The REIGN star reaches to the apron but Sawyer drives a shoulder into his midsection, they use the ropes to flip over his back and hit the ropes…
Cross Recoba: This needs to connect and in a BIG way!
RAT BASTARD CUTS THEM OFF WITH A HUGE BIG BOOT!
Steve Morrison: He nearly decapitated them!
The crowd wastes no time to express their displeasure at the move.
Rat Bastard: YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE STARS LIKE ME EVERY MONTH!
Steve Morrison: He’s not making any friends in his hometown tonight
Cross Recoba: He doesn’t need to, what he needs to do though is put Sawyer away now.
Rat Bastard leans over the ropes and starts to taunt the fans in the front row, only increasing the ire of the crowd.
Steve Morrison: Almost showboating…
Returning to his opponent, The Awesome Bastard stands over them and reaches down.
Steve Morrison: Is he going for a choke lift?
Sawyer goes for broke, they place their legs between the knees of Ratty. They lean forward and grab his ankle. A leg goes to the hip, the other behind the knee…THEY TRIP HIM!
Cross Recoba: Excellent footwork from Sawyer!
THEY ROLL THROUGH INTO A FIGURE-SEVEN.
Steve Morrison: They could snap the leg of Ratty with this.
Cross Recoba: They’re not finished…
They place the other leg over their knee and turn Ratty McB by his heel…
Steve Morrison: Is she going for it?...
They throw themselves back into a bridge…MUTA LOCK!!!
Steve Morrison: SHE IS ! SAWYER LOCK!! SHE WON THE FIRESIDE WILDFIRE TITLE WITH THIS MOVE!
The crowd come to life as they cinch in the hold.
Crowd: SAW-YER LOCK! SAW-YER LOCK! SAW-YER LOCK! SAW-YER LOCK! SAW-YER LOCK!
Cross Recoba: Can they repeat the finish tonight? It’s locked in but does Ratty have the answer?
Struggling against the hold, Rat finds himself tied up by the Estacas Indias with the bridged inverted headlock.
Steve Morrison: All those kicks to the back, targeting it were to set up this hold!
“Big” John asks him if he wants to quit but Ratty isn’t out yet.
Cross Recoba: They need to really exert the hold to get the submission!
The camera shows Saywer increasing the arch to crank up the hold.
Steve Morrison: With each degree they arch their back, the pressure on Rat’s neck and back increases with it. How much more can he take?
In an immense show of power, Bastard can be seen to be moving the hold towards the ropes.
Cross Recoba: He can spot safety…
HE GETS HOLD OF THE ROPES!!
Steve Morrison: He lives to fight on!
Cross Recoba: It might not have been more than a couple of minutes but you wonder how much damage has been done in the hold.
Sawyer breaks the hold immediately.
Steve Morrison: Great show of sportsmanship from Sam, will they live to regret it?
Cross Recoba: Ratty’s biggest in-ring strength is the guile and cunning he possesses. It’s what makes The Awesome Bastards so formidable, people forget that Rat Bastard isn’t to be underestimated!
Rat Bastard uses the ropes to get to his feet but Sawyer pounces and pushes him into the ropes. Irish whip…Sawyer brings him back and connects with a back elbow!
Steve Morrison: Short-arm back elbow!
Cross Recoba: They’ve stunned him!
STO!
Steve Morrison: THIS CORROSION!!
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen them use this to set-up that moonsault finish of theirs.
The crowd noise grows as Sawyer points to the corner.
Steve Morrison: The fans know that too!
Crowd: SAWYER LOCK! SAWYER LOCK! SAWYER LOCK! SAWYER LOCK! SAWYER LOCK!
Cross Recoba: They need to get this decision right, they went for this earlier and managed to stay on the offensive but I doubt they’ll get the rub of the green twice…
THEY COME OFF THE TOP WITH A MOONSAULT!!!
Steve Morrison: SAWYERSAULT! THEY GOT ALL OF IT!
Popping up, they look back at Rat Bastard and leap to the top rope once more…
Cross Recoba: They’re not done, they’re making sure but once again - will the risk pay off?
ANOTHER MOONSAULT!!!
Steve Morrison: THEY NAIL IT!!
THE PIN
Cross Recoba: Ratty needs to use all that experience and resilience to keep himself in the match!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!
“Big” John calls for the bell!
Laura Messier: Your winner of this match, as a result of pinfall. SAMMMM….SAWYERRR!!!
Dua Lipa’s “Physical” fills the Lansky Ballroom. Quinn helps Sawyer to their feet and raises their arm in victory. Rat Bastard sits up and leans against the ropes, taking stock of how he lost the match.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer extends their unbeaten run to three on the trot!
Cross Recoba: If you’re in the Openweight tournament, you will ignore Sawyer’s rise at your peril!
Steve Morrison: With both Long and Diamond guaranteed a month off from the tournament next month, could we see Sawyer be pitted against one of them?
Cross Recoba: They’re options, we’ll see what comes together once this show is in the books.
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen a veritable smorgasbord of events since our last Tap Out show with End of Days culminating with Zoran Sainovic once more standing tall in the ring after defeating Steve Awesome to once more hold the XHF’s Crown Jewel, the X*Crown.
Cross Recoba: Now with everyone gunning for him, he’ll want to keep that title at least until January when Supremacy comes around. I can think of a few people who’ll want to keep him busy until then…
Steve Morrison: You’ve been active yourself, now on the Hardkore World roster.
Cross Recoba: That’s right, and let me tell you - I saw a war in the main event of their Hardkore Helloween event!
Steve Morrison: For those of you who missed the event, don’t forget you can find it on the XHF Network. If you’re planning on watching it, look away now…
A series of clips are shown.
Marty catches himself getting worked up and takes a deep breath.
Marty Donovan: Sorry gang! I got wound up.
Kilroy Evans: It's all good, though. I know that we're going to blow the roof off the sucker, because this match will be infused with the greatest magic of all: friendship.
Kilroy holds his hands up, putting them together to make a heart shape, smiling warmly into the camera.
Marty Donovan: In my younger days I consid..ered Kilroy Evans my best friend. I was just being used.
Kilroy Evans: ...you still have Kilroy...
Kilroy finishes approaching uncomfortably close to the camera. His smile returns. Impossibly large and toothy.
Kilroy Evans: You'll always have me.
Marty Donovan: I was just being used.
Kilroy Evans: I'll do right by you. As I always have.
Marty: I’m still the same humble, grounded person I always have been.
Kilroy Evans: You can't kid a kidder, Marty.
Marty Donovan: Two decades in and I finally have a match in Boston. I can’t even enjoy it because I have to see you. Don’t show up. You’ve never had to deal with a hostile crowd before. Your only skill is feeding off the fan's energy and they will all be firmly behind the boy from Jeffries Point. Most of all, don’t show up because I will take it personally. Kilroy Evans, I hate your guts. If you step one foot in my city, in my ring, I will fucking murder you.
Kilroy Evans: That's it, isn't it? You've finally done it and the people you really want to settle up with and rub it in the faces of are gone. But you still have Kilroy, don't you?
The screen fades to black before:
Marty Donovan slingshots himself over the top rope and lands on Kilroy’s shoulders then backflips into a reverse hurricanrana on the floor that pops the crowd. Marty slaps the hands of some of the people reaching over the guardrail towards him
Guillermo O’Bannon: Marty now back in the ring and runs into the ropes. He flips over the top rope and strikes Kilroy with a somersault senton!!
Kilroy’s back hit’s the railing, and Marty sails over into the crowd. The chants of “MARTY!! MARTY!! MARTY!!” are now deafening
Guillermo O’Bannon: Disney’s Marty Donovan now pulls Kilroy up and tries to drag him over the guardrail with him out into the first row, but Kilroy headbutts him over and over!
Marty staggers back as the fans give him room. He turns around to escape Kilroy, but Kilroy steps up onto the railing and jumps off with a reverse thez press to his back, driving him facefirst into the concrete
Guillermo O’Bannon: The Piggyback out in the audience! Kilroy pulls Marty’s head into his legs for a piledriver but gets superkicked out of nowhere!!
Guillermo O’Bannon: Disney’s Marty Donovan now on the apron. He hops onto the middle of the second rope and backflips into an asai moonsault DDT onto Kilroy Evans in the second row!! River City Ransom!
The MGM Music Hall comes unglued as they surround Kilroy and Marty lying amongst the chairs and beer cups. AVB once again helps Marty to his feet, and he pumps his fist into the air
Marty Donovan: “I love DISNEY PLUS!!!”
The fans pat him on the shoulders and back while Marty pulls Kilroy up and tosses him over the railing back into the ringside area. Meanwhile, Alexander Von Blankenship is waiting for them while he sets up a table
Phillip Blauer: (rubbing his hands together) Oh here we go.
Guillermo O’Bannon: Come on, this is two on one. Donovan proving he will go to any length to keep that Hardkore World Heavyweight Championship.
Phillip Blauer: Exactly, it’s the Hardkore World Heavyweight Championship and around here the guy with the toughest friends runs the territory.
AVB now loading Kilroy Evans onto that table at ringside while Marty Donovan climbs to the top turnbuckle. The audience gets louder and louder in anticipation
Guillermo O’Bannon: Tuxedo Mask runs up the turnbuckles and takes Marty Donovan over into the ring with his double underhook sunset flip tigerbomb!! Moonlight Waltz!
Guillermo O’Bannon: Kilroy Evans now biting Marty again!
The crowd boos as Marty kicks his legs out in a vain attempt to escape, then finally pushes him away. Donovan staggers to his feet, but Kilroy puts his head under Marty’s chin and drops down into a jawbreaker, then catches his legs and turns him over into a texas cloverleaf
Guillermo O’Bannon: Jawsome! Wait, now Tuxedo Mask has the mic!
Tuxedo Mask: (singing) “Let's get down to business
To defeat the Huns
Did they send me daughters
When I asked for sons?”
Phillip Blauer: What’s he doing to that Mulan song? He’s further torturing Marty while he’s in that Jawsome by mangling a beloved Disney classic! This should be an automatic DQ!
Guillermo O’Bannon: Meanwhile inside the ring, Kilroy Evans sits nearly on the back of Marty’s head, bending him into a U shape.
Tuxedo Mask: (singing) “You're the saddest bunch I ever met
But you can bet before we're through
Mister, I'll make a man out of you!”
The MGM Music Hall drowns Tux out with boos as he leaves
Guillermo O’Bannon: Donovan slingshots himself over the ropes into a corner basement dropkick!!
Phillip Blauer: Sweet Sassy Molassy!
Kilroy rolls around the mat, clutching his face while Marty motions for everyone to get to their feet. He steps out of the ring and waits for Evans to get to his feet
Guillermo O’Bannon: Marty Donovan slingshots himself onto the middle of the top rope and springboards off into a tornado DDT but Kilroy turns it into a spinebuster!!
The MGM Music Hall at Fenway rocks with boos. The impact pops Kilroy up and then he makes a cover
…ONE!
…TWO!
…Marty Donovan kicks out!
“The Punisher” Dan Stein walks down the aisle and the crowd gasps with shock and boos
Phillip Blauer: What?? It’s…no!
Guillermo O’Bannon: It’s former Hardkore World Heavyweight Champion “The Punisher” Dan Stein!! He’s back!
Marty finally sees Dan Stein walking down to the ring, and blinks in disbelief. Dan stands on the apron and glares at Donovan
Guillermo O’Bannon: Dan Stein has been in The Society of the New Breed since he, Cobryn, and Lucifer Jones re-formed it in 2005, he never forgave Marty for losing his title match against Syberus he got from beating Stein in their Helloween match in 2006, and he looks to be tired of The Anointed and their interference!
Marty drops to his knees and begs for mercy as the hulking Dan Stein seethes with anger over him
Guillermo O’Bannon: “The Punisher” Dan Stein military presses a terrified Marty Donovan over his head!
Greg Jin: “Twenty Nine Minutes Have Elapsed. 1 Minute Remaining.”
Phillip Blauer: Unhand him!
Marty begs to be put down as the fans boo
Guillermo O’Bannon: Dan Stein throws him up in the air and lets him fall face first on…Kilroy?!?
…ONE!
…TWO!
…THREE!
Greg Jin: “At 29 minutes 11 seconds; THE WINNER OF THE MATCH, AND STILL HARDKORE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION…DISNEY’S MARTY DONOVAN!!!”
Guillermo O’Bannon: What? Why did he do that?
Marty Donovan gets up cautiously and looks at Dan Stein who is still giving him that intense stare. Dan’s arms slowly raise at his sides, and Marty goes in for a big hug and the Boston crowd reacts like The Megapowers just shook hands
Guillermo O’Bannon: What??
Phillip Blauer: You failed to mention that Marty and Dan were two time SWAT World Tag Team Champions as the Sun & Pun Connection or some such name.
“The Punisher” Dan Stein lifts Marty on his shoulder like Savage did Elizabeth as Donovan holds the Hardkore World Heavyweight Championship. Alexander Von Blankenship slides into the ring
Guillermo O’Bannon: AVB now back in the ring and stomps Kilroy Evans until he falls out of the ring. “High Roller” Wesley Crane has seemingly escaped Syberus and is now in the ring with The Anointed as they celebrate their Hardkore World Heavyweight Championship win, with more interference than I’ve seen in any match in quite a while!
Phillip Blauer: You’re right, Hardkore World is back baby!
Guillermo O’Bannon: See you in Albuquerque!
Steve Morrison: HKW looks set to go to war and when they come to New Mexico in a few weeks, you’ll see their tag-team titles defended in a six-man tag-team match! Will Evans lead the Society of the New Breed to a victory that’ll retain the titles or will Donovan add to his gold as he joins his Annointed partners in that main-event?
Add HKW Albuquerque to your watchlist
Cut to a simple room, lit in gloomy teal-greens. a small table, topped in green baize in front. A figure, not that short, but maybe under six feet, behind it. Wrapped in a velvet hooded cloak to match the lights, they hold a takeaway cup, then take a polite sip.
A cardboard tab dangles on a string, trapped by the lid. The gloom and the shadows make it hard to distinguish a face. This has definitely been post processed, there's a glint of green-grey eyes, nothing more
Random McConalogue: Come roll the dice if you fancy...
the voice, sounds lightly Scottish, feminine and cold. She hands the cup off camera and has something in her closed hand.
Random McConalogue: ...I promise you they're not loaded...
...that means it'll hurt more when you lose...
She tilts her head, her face still hidden by the shadows of her hood.
Random McConalogue: ...and you'll have no excuses...
She brings both hands together and rests them on the table.
GLITCH CUT to scuzzy clips. not even 720p. grainy. some oversaturated from colour transfer, some desaturated and almost black and white. snappy rolling cutters, by a girl in fractal tights. one dude has orange hair in two big bunches. they all go down, splat. Smooth.
CUT back to the room, we still can't see her face yet.
Random McConalogue: ...because the only certainty with a fair dice roll...
She places her hand on the table again, and turns to leave. The camera pans in and there are two dice, both white. One shows seven black dots on top, in a neat hexagon. The other... is showing a blank face.
The woman wanders out of shot, the cloak swaying casually, almost serenely as she continues to speak
Random McConalogue: ...is it always comes up Random...
...I don't fancy your chances.
The camera lingers for about three seconds too long, and we fade to a teal-green blank screen. White helvetica font, plainest text you ever saw. three lines
"this isn't fate
this isn't luck
...it's just Random"
We cut back to ringside in full-resolution.
Steve Morrison: We’ll be sure to see more of…
Cross Recoba: Random McConalogue…
Steve Morrison: Random McConalogue next month as she makes her debut.
Cross Recoba: I’d love to tell you who she’ll face but we’ve got a couple of options.
Steve Morrison: A lot of new faces.
Cross Recoba: What I can tell you is that she brings a European style to the ring. She’s a cult figure in Belgium and Karl Gotch himself would approve of how she looks to win matches. You just saw that Rolling Cutter and I can tell you now, that might be the way she finishes matches but she puts on clinics to get there!
Steve Morrison: There we have it, Random McConalogue makes her Tap Out debut on the 11th December at Tap Out Wrestling 9!
The camera cuts to ringside where Laura Messier stands in the ring, waiting to introduce our next match.
Steve Morrison: We’re going back to the ring for a match that could well be the sleeper hit of the night!
this isn't luck
...it's just Random"
We cut back to ringside in full-resolution.
Steve Morrison: We’ll be sure to see more of…
Cross Recoba: Random McConalogue…
Steve Morrison: Random McConalogue next month as she makes her debut.
Cross Recoba: I’d love to tell you who she’ll face but we’ve got a couple of options.
Steve Morrison: A lot of new faces.
Cross Recoba: What I can tell you is that she brings a European style to the ring. She’s a cult figure in Belgium and Karl Gotch himself would approve of how she looks to win matches. You just saw that Rolling Cutter and I can tell you now, that might be the way she finishes matches but she puts on clinics to get there!
Steve Morrison: There we have it, Random McConalogue makes her Tap Out debut on the 11th December at Tap Out Wrestling 9!
The camera cuts to ringside where Laura Messier stands in the ring, waiting to introduce our next match.
Steve Morrison: We’re going back to the ring for a match that could well be the sleeper hit of the night!
Laura Messier: Up next, we have the first of THREE Tap Out Openweight Title tournament matches this evening!
Lights out. White flashes in time with a screeching ringing sound. Three times... Three more...
DRYWALL!
A hulking figure bursts through the curtain into the view of the crowd as the lights flash on and off. The masked NOMAD stands there, bobbing slightly to the drumbeat.
Steve Morrison: Still yet to be pinned or submitted, NOMAD has to be seen as the favorite tonight.
Cross Recoba: He lost his cool against Long and it cost him but with double-elimination in effect, he can still live up to his billing as the tournament favorite.
IN PAIN, ASK FOR ASPIRIN.
THAT'S DRYWALL, THEY'LL COME BACK AGAIN.
NOMAD takes his time in surveying his surroundings before he begins making his way toward the ring, ignoring the hands that reach or swipe at him from over the barriers. He climbs the closest set of stairs and kneels at the top while the song builds.
Steve Morrison: The blend of power and mat-skills he brings to the ring have so far proven to be highly effective, this could well be Close's toughest challenge yet.
Cross Recoba: Undoubtedly, NOMAD might pay him more respect than he did Cochrane but he's still going to want to come out of this match proving that he has a claim to be the best wrestler in Tap Out.
KEEP YA STILL, PILLED UP, FUCK IT ANOTHER DRILL, ANOTHER DEAL
ANOTHER KILL, DEGRADATION OF THE KIDNEY WHEEL
He jumps up, then walks along the apron and steps between the ropes, whipping the balaclava off as he does. He approaches the center of the ring with arms outstretched, holding the mask in one hand. Then he simply makes his way to the near corner prepares for the match to start.
The record scratches.
The drums count in and the thumping bass line of June Bug by Melvins starts to rattle the speakers. Blue, black and orange lights flash through the arena.
At about 25 seconds in, the drums pick up and Close Collins comes stepping through the curtain. He’s dressed in his ring gear and a zip up hoodie with the hood up. No nonsense, his fists clenched, his eyes focused on the ring, he just storms down the aisle as the bass rips and the drums solo. His father Tuff Collins not too far behind.
Steve Morrison: Close knows that if he comes out of this match with a win, he'll have far exceeded what the pundits were saying prior to the tournament.
Cross Recoba: This is going to be a test of how tough he is mentally. Tuff is going to earn whatever fee his son gives him for his services tonight.
At about 40 seconds the guitar plays a very simple yet melodic riff. Close takes a moment to slow down and look around the arena. He stops before the ring steps and says a few words to his dad/manager Tuff. Close takes a good look at the ring and bows in respect.
Steve Morrison: We've seen him unleash pure hell with suplexes but tonight he might not be able to go to that well given the size difference.
Cross Recoba: He's going to need to wrestle an intelligent match, if he can get him down to the mat he can put the Last Call on him but he can't use the same gameplan we've seen him use in his last few matches.
At 56 seconds all the instruments start killing it and Close aggressively storms up the steps and into the ring. Straight past his opponent and/or ring announcer and referee and pops up onto the second turnbuckle and roars with intensity for the crowd. Then pops back down keeps his back facing the middle ring, refusing to look at his opponent. Tuff Collins stands on the apron promoting his son and client. The back of Close’s hoodie reads “IT'S TIME FOR LAST CALL”
Steve Morrison: Tuff's surely delivering every ounce of experience he can in that pep talk.
Cross Recoba: He knows what it's like to feel overmatched, now his son needs to learn from it and turn it to his advantage.
Laura Messier: To my left, with a record of five and one. From Colville, Washington...He stands at six-feet-and-five inches and tips the scale two-hundred-and-eighty pounds!!! HE IS THE VIOLENT WANDERER!!!! NOMAD!!!!
A cheer breaks out around the ring. NOMAD ignores it, focusing purely on the man who stands on the opposite side of the ring.
Laura Messier: To my left, accompanied by Tuff Collins...fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska. He stands at six-feet and one inch and weighed in at two-hundred-and-ninteen pounds...CLOSE...COLLINS!!
Another cheer breaks out, Collins raises an arm in acknowledgement but he remains acutely aware of the eyes of the Monster of the World staring back at him.
TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT MATCH
SINGLES MATCH
NOMAD vs Close Collins
With Laura Messier exiting the ring, Steve Tyrell calls the two men to the center of the ring and starts to outline his expectations from the pair for the match.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD looked the more confident man during Messier’s announcements.
Cross Recoba: That might not be a good thing, I’ve seen many a man think a victory is in hand before the match has started and then find themselves outmatched.
Steve Morrison: Yet to be pinned or submitted, NOMAD can be allowed to feel slightly confident.
Cross Recoba: Close refound the form that brought him a debut win against Long when he put Gordon down for the count. If I’m NOMAD? I’m fighting the match knowing that if I lose, I’m out of a tournament I was the top seed for.
Close listens intently, knowing that a win here would put him closer to the unthinkable in February, a shot at becoming the first ever Tap Out Openweight Champion in his first year as a pro. He nods when asked if he understands.
Steve Morrison: Collins’ being a rookie at least knows that the match official’s word is final.
Cross Recoba: Always pay attention, it makes a good first impression for the night…and you get to work out the grey areas to work within.
NOMAD betrays little emotion, his body language tells the world that he’s not here to listen to Tyrell wax lyrical. He looks not to the referee but at the rookie in front of him. Collins tries his best to not let the bigger, more experienced man intimidate him.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD looking to try and scare Close…
Cross Recoba: Small actions can bring large rewards. Sorry to sound like a Chinese Fortune Cookie but it’s true. If Collins doubts himself or second-guesses himself at any point, it’s a precious second or two that leaves him open to an attack or a counter.
Tyrell asks NOMAD if he understood and receives a solitary grunt in his direction for his troubles.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD has been around the world and likely heard this sermon more times than he cares to count.
With that, the match official calls for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
The two men circle each other with Collins setting the pace.
Cross Recoba: Close needs to remember that whilst he has a disadvantage in size, the amount of oxygen needed to pump blood around the larger frame of his opponent means that the quicker the tempo of this match, the quicker that body’ll tire. When you’ve got a move like The Last Call submission it’s a potential route to success.
They meet in the center of the ring and lock-up. After jostling, NOMAD pushes away the smaller wrestler sending him rolling into the ropes.
Steve Morrison: NOMAD quick to show his opponent that he can throw him around at will.
Getting to his feet, Close once more engages with NOMAD as they lock-up in a collar and arm tie-up. Like the first time, the Violent Wanderer pushes Collins off his feet and this time into the corner.
Cross Recoba: Close needs to think outside the box.
Tuff can be seen in the background, he leans into Close as he gathers himself in the corner.
Tuff Collins: He’s not buying you as a threat, turn it against him.
Pulling himself to his feet by the middle ropes, Close rushes back to his feet and once more ties-up with NOMAD.
Steve Morrison: Collins is trying to hold back a NOMAD who wants to walk him to the ropes…
For a third time, the Violent Wanderer looks to push Close away but Collins holds on and brings him over with an arm-drag.
Cross Recoba: He’s got plenty of options to build from here.
Holding the arm tight, Collins works the armbar, NOMAD tries to use his size and power advantage to escape the hold but Close adjusts his body weight to bear down directly onto the shoulder of the Monster of the World.
Steve Morrison: It looks like he’s trying to wear down his bigger opponent.
Cross Recoba: I’m not sure that’s the move I’d make right now…
Fighting to a seated position, NOMAD throws a wild punch that connects with the jaw of Close, loosening the hold.
Steve Morrison: It isn’t pretty but that clubbing blow managed to allow NOMAD to escape.
Seizing the window of opportunity, NOMAD manages to shake the armbar and takes Collins over with a headlock takedown. Close is wise to the move and slips out the back into a hammerlock. The Monster of the World is only in the hold for a moment as he once more powers up to a seated position and reaches around to deliver a snap mare to Collins.
Cross Recoba: This is one of the reasons why NOMAD has been so dominant in Tap Out, at his height and weight you don’t expect someone with a solid technical base.
Wrapping his arms around the head of his opponent, he tries to apply a chinlock but Close adapts it to a side-headlock and times rising to his feet.
Steve Morrison: Good use of his agility there.
Cross Recoba: He needs to up the tempo and keep it there…
Collins manages to back NOMAD into the ropes and sends him off the ropes…DROPKICK STAGGERS NOMAD!!
Steve Morrison: That dropkick nearly took NOMAD off his feet…
Close rushes forward and hooks on a front-facelock but he can’t lift the larger man. NOMAD CONNECTS WITH A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT THAT COMES CLOSE TO KNOCKING THE ROOKIE OFF HIS FEET!
Steve Morrison: Collins just about remaining on his feet!
Cross Recoba: He needs a plan for what’s coming…
The Monster of the World charges off the ropes and comes back with a Spinning Heel Kick that takes Close down to the mat.
Steve Morrison: What agility!
Cross Recoba: He uses it sparingly but that kick is going to pack more punch than your average Spinning Heel Kick!
Using Collins’ hair to pull him to his feet, NOMAD drives an elbow into the back of his opponent before grabbing a double-underhook hold…BUTTERFLY SUPLEX!!
Steve Morrison: Once more, NOMAD subverts appearances with a textbook Butterfly Suplex.
Cross Recoba: He’s been around the world a couple of times, he realizes that if he can take away Close’s ability to suplex, it leaves him without a large chunk of his arsenal.
Wrapping a front-facelock on the grounded Close, NOMAD lifts Collins to his feet and then raises him above his head AND BOUNCES HIM OFF THE TOP ROPE AND OVER - SLINGSHOT SUPLEX!!
Steve Morrison: Another suplex but he declines the float over.
Cross Recoba: It’s too early to look for a pin…
Tuff starts to bang on the ring apron from the outside in an attempt to rouse his progeny.
Steve Morrison: Tuff has a front-row view but right now there’s little he can do to help his son.
Cross Recoba: You know that Tuff will have managed his fight camp and helped mould his plan for the match. Knowing Tuff, I’d be astounded if they haven’t got at least an attempt to rectify this.
The Violent Wanderer lifts his opponent back to his feet to continue his assault, he whips him into the corner with a thud.
Steve Morrison: For now, he can only watch as his son was hurled into the turnbuckle!
NOMAD RUSHES IN BUT CLOSE MOVES…NOMAD STAGGERS BACK…GERMAN SUPLEX!!
Cross Recoba: Smart move, he used NOMAD’s momentum against him to take him over!
Rolling to his feet, NOMAD can’t reset himself before Close has a headlock applied…HEADLOCK DRIVER!!
Steve Morrison: Another move that’s going to weaken the neck of his opponent.
Cross Recoba: It’ll also scramble your thoughts even if it is only temporary.
The Rookie covers…
ONE…
T-
NOMAD PRESSES THE ROOKIE OFF HIM!
Steve Morrison: Impressive show of power once more!
Getting to his feet, Omaha’s favorite Son sprints towards NOMAD who raises a boot but Collins rolls under it…LEAPING INVERTED BULLDOG TAKES HIM DOWN!!
Steve Morrison: A page out of Bret Hart’s book there!
Cross Recoba: But, like I said, this higher tempo is only going to benefit the Collins Camp.
The rising NOMAD is once more caught out of step…JAWBREAKER…JUMPING NECKBREAKER!
Steve Morrison: A quick one-two takes NOMAD down and Close isn’t quite finished.
COLLINS HOLDS ONTO THE NECK AND ADJUSTS…KNEELING DRAGON SLEEPER!
Cross Recoba: Now a nod to Fujinami but does he have it locked in and can he control the strength of NOMAD?
NOMAD struggles in the hold as Tyrell asks him if he wants to quit but he declines.
Steve Morrison: Having never been submitted, NOMAD will do everything he can to keep that record going.
Once more going back to his size advantage, NOMAD powers up so that both men are now standing. NOMAD MANAGES TO ESCAPE THE HOLD!
Cross Recoba: Being able to weave out of that hold comes with experience, Close can learn from NOMAD’s escape when he rewatches the match.
Collins throws a punch but it catches nothing but air…SIDEWALK SLAM!!
Steve Morrison: NOMAD brings the tempo back down to his level!
NOMAD CAREENS OFF THE ROPES…PENALTY KICK!!
Cross Recoba: He threw that kick like Roberto Baggio at USA Ninety-Four!
Steve Morrison: Pardon?
Cross Recoba: He tried to kick his head into outer-space!
He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT BY CLOSE!!!
Steve Morrison: The rookie showing he might be down now but he’s far from beaten.
Looking irritated, NOMAD lifts the rookie to his feet and whips him to the ropes….BLACK HOLE SLAM!
Steve Morrison: My previous statement might be invalid…
Cross Recoba: You don’t need to major in physics to see the velocity with which Collins hit the mat!
He once more covers Close…
ONE…
TWO..
TH-
COLLINS GETS AN ARM UP IN THE NICK OF TIME!!!
Steve Morrison: What a show of resilience from the rookie!
Cross Recoba: There’ll come a time though when there’s nothing in the tank to kick out with. Tuff must know that and must have told his son!
NOMAD can be seen visibly shaking his head, he yanks Close to his feet and whips him to the corner…CLOSE LEAPS UP TO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AND LANDS A WHISPER IN THE WIND ON THE ONCOMING NOMAD!!
Steve Morrison: CLOSE COUNTERS WITH FUTURE’S CALLING!!
This time Close tries to get the win…
ONE…
TWO…
AGAIN NOMAD BODY PRESSES HIM OFF!!
Cross Recoba: That might tell you where NOMAD is in regards to how much strength he has left.
Close, looks towards his opponent and sees them dashing towards him…HE DUCKS THE LARIAT…ANGLE SLAM!!!
Steve Morrison: Much like in boxing, Collins finds joy working the counter game!
Tuff Collins: Cover him!
Following his orders, Close once more tries to put away the yet to be pinned Tap Out Star.
ONE…
TWO…
T-
NOMAD GETS AN ARM UP!
Steve Morrison: NOMAD not able to kick out until later. Cross, you’ve always said pins work as they make your opponent work to escape the pin.
Cross Recoba: I’ve wondered what it’ll take to put down NOMAD and I’m not sure the nickel and dime approach is the best way…
Close, his eyes wide, gets back to work on putting away NOMAD. He lifts him up but NOMAD RISES WITH AN OPEN-HANDED UPPERCUT TO THE JAW THAT ROCKS COLLINS INTO THE ROPES!
Steve Morrison: VICIOUS STRIKE THAT NEARLY SENT CLOSE OUT OF THE RING!
Cross Recoba: NOMAD’s rushing him…
NOMAD follows up with a knee to the gut…FOLDING POWERBOMB!
Steve Morrison: CRUMBLING TOWER!!
Releasing the pinning position, NOMAD takes several steps back and measures his mark.
Cross Recoba: I’d have gone for the cover…
Collins gets to his knees…KNEELING BIG BOOT!
Steve Morrison: HE GOT ALL OF THAT!
NOMAD COVERS FOR THE WIN SURELY!!!
Cross Recoba: This is it…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE..
WAIT! TYRELL SPOTS A LEG ON THE BOTTOM ROPE!!
Steve Morrison: Close hangs on!
Cross Recoba: I’ve got to give him credit. In his first year to have the awareness to know where the ropes are after taking repeated big shots to the head is a great sign of things to come for Close!
Tuff once more bangs on the apron.
Tuff Collins: YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR MOVE!
Whether Close heard him is debatable, he rolls to the apron to try and find time to adjust his match-plan.
Steve Morrison: Can he keep that distan-
NOMAD denies him the space and knees him in the midsection. He looks to lift him for a vertical suplex into the ring…CLOSE FLOATS OVER AND ROLLS BACK INTO A PIN!
Steve Morrison: Modified cradle…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT SENDS COLLINS OFF THE ROPES….CRUCIFIX PIN!
Cross Recoba: Keeping the match at the right tempo but if this doesn’t put him away, he need to up the ante!
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!!
Steve Morrison: What more does Close have in his locker?
Cross Recoba: Whatever it is, he needs to find it and fast!
Turning around, Collins is thrown into the air before being caught on the shoulders of his opponent…
Steve Morrison: Is he going for Hatred from Death Valley?
Cross Recoba: If he is, Close is almost certainly out of the tournament…
HE DROPS DOWN INTO A TAZMISSION!!
Steve Morrison: LAST CALL!!
Tuff Collins: HOOK IT IN!!
Wrapping his legs around the body of the Monster of the World, Close cinches the hold in as tight as he can!
Cross Recoba: He’s got to work with NOMAD’s attempts to escape, adjusting all the way but still applying pressure. After some of the punishment he’s gone through, it’s a big ask but not impossible.
NOMAD is fighting against it but the Tuff Collins signature is now expertly applied by his son.
Steve Morrison: And fight NOMAD does!
Letting out a monstrous roar, NOMAD ROLLS TO HIS KNEES!
Cross Recoba: Steve, this is where you need to decide if you can lock it in harder or if it’s better to just bail out…
Collins’ expression changes now as NOMAD gets to his feet. He takes two steps into the center of the ring, the hold quickly unravelling….NOMAD KICKS OUT HIS LEG AND PANCAKES THE ROOKIE ON THE MAT!!!
Steve Morrison: HE FLATTENED HIM!
Cross Recoba: He chose…unwisely.
Declining to pin the Number 6 seed in the tournament, NOMAD lifts him up in a waistlock…he pulls the arms to spin him round…
Steve Morrison: He’s almost certainly looking to end this with Nihilus…
COLLINS ROLLS OUT THE WAY….ENZIGURI CONNECTS WITH THE HEAD OF NOMAD….LAST CALL SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: THE SAME MOVE HE USED TO SET-UP THE END FOR ERIN GORDON!!
LIKE HIS LAST MATCH, CLOSE HOLDS ON!!! THE CROWD NOISE BEGINS TO SWELL!
Cross Recoba: He hangs on to it!
TYRELL ASKS IF NOMAD WANTS TO SUBMIT BUT HE GETS NOTHING FROM HIM BUT GRUNTS!
Steve Morrison: If you were to poll 100 Tap Out fans, ‘proud’ would be in the top 10 words to describe NOMAD. He’s going to fight this all the way.
Cross Recoba: It’s Collins’ job to make sure it’s for naught.
Steve Morrison: Can he hold on this time though?
FIGHTING TO BREAK THE HOLD AGAIN, NOMAD STRUGGLES BUT CLOSE HAS THE SUBMISSION LOCKED IN!!! THE VEGAS CROWD ARE REACHING A CRESCEDO!
Steve Morrison: Just listen to the noise inside the Lansky Ballroom!
Cross Recoba: I am but look at how Collins has those legs like hooks on the hips of his opponent!
Reaching with his arms, NOMAD can’t find anything to grab hold of as Close weaves his head.
Steve Morrison: Great headwork from Collins as the panic button must have been pressed inside NOMAD’s head.
Again, Steve Tyrell asks him if he wants to give up but NOMAD weakly shakes his head.
Tuff Collins: YOU’VE GOT THIS…
Close wrenches the hold for all he’s worth.
Cross Recoba: He can’t survive in that hold for much longer, Close must know that he’s within touching distance of the win.
Steve Tyrell picks up an arm….IT FALLS!
Steve Morrison: Collins takes another leap forward.
Cross Recoba: He can’t get complacent now. If he can keep up this pressure, he’ll have another big scalp to join Gordon and Long.
THE CROWD NOW ARE ON THEIR FEET!
Steve Morrison: The Tap Out crowd have been behind him since our first show where he made his professional debut. They’ve seen how far he’s come in such a short time.
Once more he picks up the arm of NOMAD…IT FALLS AGAIN!!
Cross Recoba: NOMAD looks bereft of ideas, surely it’s just a matter of time.
Tuff is struggling to stop himself from climbing in the ring, waiting for victory to be assured.
Steve Morrison: Tuff seems to share your opinion, Cross.
Steve Tyrell lifts up the arm for a third time….IT FALLS AND STEVE TYRELL CALLS FOR THE BELL!!
Steve Morrison: HE PASSED OUT! I DON’T BELIEVE IT! NOMAD HAS BEEN BEATEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS TAP OUT CAREER!
Cross Recoba: NOMAD HAS ACTUALLY LOST DECISIVELY!
Tuff Collins is in the ring before the final bell has sounded!
Laura Messier: The winner of this match and advancing to the Tap Out Openweight Losers’ bracket semi-final….CLOSE…COLLINS!!
Father and Son embrace in the ring as Close pulls off his most impressive victory to date. Tap Out Medics stand by to check on NOMAD.
Steve Morrison: What an achievement and with NOMAD out of the competition at the hand of Collins, does that mean he’s the man to beat on this side of the bracket?
Cross Recoba: This will give him a massive lift in confidence in his abilities. If he can make it back to face Diamond, that might prove the decisive factor that he was lacking in their first two fights!
Tuff and Tyrell lift the arms of Close in victory to a huge roar from the crowd for the homegrown wrestler.
Steve Morrison: As we go to our half-time show, Poena and Isabella may well have to take notice of the rookie from Omaha, Nebraska.
Cross Recoba: With the top seed out, Poena becomes the highest ranked individual in the tournament. His match versus von Krauss now takes on a different face as they’ll doubtless have banked on facing NOMAD in the next round.
Steve Morrison: Our team are just getting the graphic up so everyone at home can see how this is shaping up.
RECORDED EARLIER
THE VENETIAN, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
[ 13:52; NOVEMBER 13TH, 2022 ]
“But there is one thing you’ve never been able to name yourself…”
A very familiar voice is all we could hear as the camera feed finds us inside of The Venetian, an emptied Lansky Ballroom where just a wrestling ring is, placed in the middle of the room. The speakers overhead are where we hear Jack Diamond’s voice — and standing inside of the ring is the man that Jack Diamond faces later on tonight in the main event. Long stares out into the open, phone in his hand, as he presses down onto the screen and the clip continues, hearing Jack’s voice once more.
“...and that is victorious over Jack Fucking Diamond.”
His voice came through the speakers once again, finishing that sentence. Long stood there, soaking in those words from Jack that were spoken just a couple of days ago, and those are words that haven’t left Jason’s mind ever since he had heard them. The truth is, he’s tried to find the words to counter—but he couldn’t, and it hurted him knowing that it’s a truth he can’t fight back from. It’s something that he can’t break free from unless he does the unthinkable and beats Jack tonight in the main event.
Jason Long: For once, Jack, you were right about one thing.
Long paused for a moment, stepping closer toward the ring ropes and leaning forward.
Jason Long: There’s never been a moment where I’ve been anything victorious over you, there’s never been a day where I’ve had the upper hand on someone like Jack Diamond, and that’s a thought that eats me alive to this very day because I’m walking into this match with everyone backing you. Everyone’s backing you and I’m just the underdog—just like old times, isn’t it? However, you’re keeping that thought process of wanting this match the most, needing this match the most, willing to drop everything to make sure that you become the star that you once were. You’ve got places to be elsewhere, but you’re too focused on trying to become an X*Crown Champion again and then trying to become the TAP OUT Openweight Champion as well, yet, you’ve gotten nowhere near close to either. And the fact is that you’re only here because you’ve had the easiest route given to you.
He began to point to the camera, a slight bit of a stern look in his eye. His finger, then, pointed upward as he began to count up from one. That’s when a smirk started to grow along his lips.
Jason Long: Close Collins. Poena. Fucking hell, you’ve had some piss poor competition leading to tonight, haven’t you? You’ve never been given a real threat until now and I know, somewhere inside of this very fuckin’ hotel here, you’re waking up and you’re wondering if tonight is the night that you’re finally shut the fuck up by someone who’s been by your side for five whole years. This is where the time has come where Jack Diamond is put on the chopping block, forced to come to the realisation as to who he is nowadays, and forced to be shown where his career has spiralled down into. There’s no need to be putting focus onto anywhere else either because after tonight, it’s all done.
There’s a cut-throat gesture made with his index finger.
Jason Long: See, after spending months and months trying to help you back into this business on a more serious standpoint, giving you a platform that’s never been given at all to you before, and now expanding your name to somewhere farther out. I came to the realisation that you’ve only been there, to have a vanity title, and be given a higher placement somewhere when you couldn’t be the X*Crown Champion. I’ve been trying to get you involved more with the promotion that I fuckin’ hired you for and I made sure that I gave you as much creative freedom as possible. All you’ve done is create one clusterfuck match and that’s it—here, in TAP OUT and on the network, has been your main focus and I need someone who’s willing to have their focus on my promotion and not get sidetracked by elsewhere.
His teeth began to grit against one another, anger boiling over.
Jason Long: After today, I’m no longer having someone that’s going to be distracted by their past—hoping to make it become a reality in today’s world—because I am absolutely fuckin’ fed up of this shit, I don’t care if Cross even shows this to the world or whatever, but either it’s now or later at the end of the night, you’re going to know this. You are no longer the commissioner of Infinite Pro Wrestling, you are no longer employed for Infinite Pro Wrestling, because you, Jack Diamond—
A pause.
Jason Long: —you’re absolutely done. You’re fired, end of discussion. I’ll see you later on tonight.
Cut.
HALF-TIME SHOW
Laura Messier: It's time for OUR CO-MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!
Nisi per dolorem potest salvari... The lights go pitch back as the eerie bells and words fill the arena. Each time the choir sings, red spotlights blaze down, revealing Poena standing at the top of the ramp, a black silhouette with his arms raised out to the sides with his palms and face up to the heavens.
Steve Morrison: Perhaps the most disturbed man on the roster.
Cross Recoba: Having seen what IVK put out to promote this match, I'm glad you qualified it with 'man'. We've had to fit trigger warnings to that last video she released.
As the music picks up the red spotlights stay on him as he lowers his arms and walks toward the ring holding his twisted rosary in his hands as if praying as he walks down the ramp, his crazed smile breaking out into an even crazier grin as he does.
Steve Morrison: You know, one journalist said that Poena doesn't worry about wins and losses, just being remembered is enough.
Cross Recoba: I get the sentiment, only NOMAD has walked away from a win over Poena without a lingering injury so far.
He rolls into the ring as the spotlights turn to brightest white, going to his knees in the same pose he held on the ramp with the rosary clenched in his right hand, whispering a silent prayer to himself and yelling “REPENT!” to the heavens before smirking at the crowd and getting up to his feet.
Steve Morrison: It seems as if the further we go into the tournament, the further Poena pushes his limits of violence. Will he step it up tonight?
Cross Recoba: It's a safe bet, he has a target on the clowns heads and if they manage to get his blood boiling then it's only going to hamper IVK!
“Circus Apocalypse” by Vermillion Lies begins playing as Isabella von Krauss walks out from the back. She’s dressed in what appears to be a vibrant black and red ball gown as she heads down to the ring looking like she’s ready for the Prince’s Ball more than she is wrestling a match. She is followed by two clowns, Hohoho and Humhumhum, who are short and scrawny little guys.
Steve Morrison: Walking to the ring like she didn't turn a man into Hamm from Toy Story!
Cross Recoba: That's what a life of privilege does for you. Tonight though she won't be afforded an inch of it and if Poena feels insulted by that stunt? It could ultimately backfire.
They hold down the ropes for her to be able to step into the ring and follow her in.
Steve Morrison: Is her focus entirely on the match or is Jackalope a more pressing concern?
Cross Recoba: I don't think either worries her. With the clowns and a bottomless bank account she'll be certain she can get through this one way or another.
Isabella dances in the middle of the ring, doing a twirl as Hohoho lights the end of her dress on fire. You would think that Isabella would panic, but she spins in place, faster and faster as the flames catch and flash through the entire dress to leave black and red singlet. The twins leave the ring, but remain at ringside as Isabella gets ready for her match.
Steve Morrison: No acknowledgement that Poena is even in the same ring as her!
Cross Recoba: von Krauss is playing with fire here but with only one loss in her Tap Out record, she might have something up her sleeve...
Laura Messier: INTRODUCING FIRST! The number two seed in the tournament when it started. From the Ninth Deep...Standing at six-feet even and weighing a hundred-and-ninety pounds...The Sanctified One....POENA!!!!!!
Poena looks composed, almost sane, as he looks across the ring at von Krauss, planning her downfall.
Laura Messier: AND HIS OPPONENT! She started the tournament as the fourth seed. She hails from Cologne, Germany... standing at five foot six inches tall and weighing in at one hundred and thirty-five pounds... the Daughter of Sin... ISABELLA VON KRAUSS!!!
Never changing, von Krauss looks frankly bored at the rigmarole and pomp required to get to the fun part of embarassing and dismantling her opponent.
TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT MATCH
SINGLES MATCH
Poena vs Isabella von Krauss
Steve Tyrell stands in the center of the ring. He looks to one corner and sees Poena.
Steve Morrison: Poena looks almost zen.
Cross Recoba: It’s what makes him so dangerous. I tried to read him at the Big Fight Night and got nothing before the bell.
He looks to the other corner and sees Isabella von Krauss, the two clowns behind her at ringside in her corner.
Steve Morrison: What havoc can Hohoho and Humhumhum cause tonight?
Cross Recoba: They’re almost on a thankless mission tonight, Poena singled them out in the build-up to this match…but, if they distract him enough for IVK to get the win - they’ve done what’s needed.
He decides against a pre-match briefing, deciding that life is too short to waste your breath. The timekeeper is called upon to start the match.
DING! DING! DING!
Both fighters rush from their corners to the approval of the crowd. Isabella looks for a wild hook but Poena hunches down and grabs her by the waist. He darts forward in the waistlock towards the ropes but she clasps the top-rope to block a roll-up. Undeterred, Poena slings a forearm into the lower back of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: von Krauss managed to avoid a pin attempt or worse, a German Suplex.
Turning around, IVK weaves out the way of a follow-up strike and Poena now finds himself trapped on the ropes. Von Krauss throws a quick uppercut and a rabbit punch before Steve Tyrell steps in and backs off the socialite.
Steve Morrison: Isabella taking a familiar tactic: wrestle until you need to cheat!
Cross Recoba: She’ll have taken an interest in our last main-event and seeing what Poena did to Diamond should tell her to keep her defense up.
With the referee unsighted, von Krauss’ clowns make their move. One clubs Poena in the back of the head causing him to turn. The second Clown grabs his head and drops to the apron, guillotining the Master of Digital Manipulation on the top rope!
Steve Morrison: She doesn’t miss a chance to get them involved!
Cross Recoba: If they can split his concentration then you have to say that Isabella could well be in the driving seat.
Taking advantage of her minions’ work, von Krauss catches Poena as he turns with a flying knee that puts her opponent into the corner.
Steve Morrison: A nod to Sagat with a knee thrown with her full weight behind it.
Cross Recoba: von Krauss needs to keep this match away from the mat. Her strikes can cause damage when they’re on their feet but we’ve seen Poena fight from the bottom to great success.
Working quickly, The Daughter of Sin lands a back elbow to the temple of Poena before thrusting her shoulder into his midsection.
Steve Morrison: The Heiress is trying to contain Poena in the corner.
Cross Recoba: It also keeps him within the grasp of her clowns.
Showing contempt to Tyrell, IVK smiles at Tyrell before wedging her boot into the throat of her opponent. The match official starts the count…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FI-
Begrudgingly, Isabella removes her foot, making a grand display as she does so.
Steve Morrison: She’s pushing her limit there.
Cross Recoba: Those few seconds count though and Poena has shown that his endurance is up there with anyone’s in Tap Out.
Poena smiles as he steps from the corner but the smile is short-lived as IVK karate chops the throat of the Terror from the Ninth Deep. Snatching the opportunity, the Savage Socialite grabs a front-facelock and uses it to drive knees repeatedly into the body of Poena.
Steve Morrison: Isabella seems to have made the brighter start in these opening minutes.
Cross Recoba: It’s playing to her strengths so far.
Dirty boxing now becomes her approach with short uppercuts connecting with the locked head of Poena.
Steve Morrison: Those quick uppercuts land on the jaw of Poena, each one adding up.
Unexpectedly, IVK takes a step back…Poena has pried her hand from his head and is bending back her fingers at an unnatural angle.
Steve Morrison: He has her hand!
Cross Recoba: And this is why we never get a sign-language interpreter in for his promos!
The Terror of the Ninth Deep swings an elbow over her shoulder and takes her to the mat. He quickly stomps on her hand!
Steve Morrison: Smooth takedown from Poena and once more he goes to the hands.
Cross Recoba: It might not be an intentional attempt at mind games but it will stay with you during the match.
Writhing in pain, IVK leaves herself open to a double-stomp to the legs.
Steve Morrison: He came down on the back of her knees with full-force!
Cross Recoba: That’s how quickly he can make an opponent pay for leaving an opening.
Exploiting his weight advantage, Poena pins IVK in place with a knee across the back of her leg and reaches forward.
Steve Morrison: What’s his play here?
Cross Recoba: This might be Poena exerting his opinion on how sadistic he can get…
IVK sees the arm reach over her head and knows where it’s going. She tries to move her hand out of the way but Poena is wise to it and grabs it.
Steve Morrison: He has that hand, we’ve seen what he can do.
Cross Recoba: This might be a far shorter match than people anticipated…
The camera drops to the mat and we see her fingers bend back.
Steve Morrison: He could snap those fingers in a heartbeat…
IVK grabs the ropes. Tyrell immediately starts another count…
Steve Morrison: …von Krauss finds safety!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FI-
Cross Recoba: Notice that he didn’t bend them, he didn’t try and manipulate them. All he did was hold them as if to tell her that he could break them at will.
Poena breaks the hold as Tyrell steps between him and von Krauss to allow the socialite time to get to her feet.
Steve Morrison: Tyrell getting in-between the two fighters now. Trying to keep this match within the rules.
Cross Recoba: He may as well put on a crown and stand on a beach…
The Dark Savior pays no attention to the match official’s words of warning, instead stalking IVK’s movements behind the referee. As soon as Tyrell finishes a sentence, Poena has stepped past him and delivers a stiff shoot-style kick to the back of his opponent’s knee and follows up with a single-leg takedown.
Steve Morrison: He kept her in his sights…
Cross Recoba: You can’t rely on the match official, von Krauss needed to keep moving. Instead, she left herself open.
Poena forces IVK to bear his weight on her leg as he starts to twist her ankle.
Steve Morrison: He’s working her foot, clearly seeing the Krack of the Kharnival as a potential threat.
Cross Recoba: Don’t forget the Slip Kick and those Feet of Despair. Poena warned her he’d be after her legs and that’s why!
With a sharp motion, Poena wrenches her foot and spins his body around her leg as he drops his knee onto the back of hers. The pain hits her as her body shoots forward, Poena grabs the opening and gets to his feet, spinning around the leg.
Steve Morrison: Kneebreaker but now he’s looking for the Spinning Toe Hold.
Cross Recoba: People say it doesn’t look painful but Terry and Dory Funk managed to dominate large parts of the Seventies and Eighties with it.
He continues to work the leg, bending it over his own.
Steve Morrison: He’s really twisting that leg, making sure that the full weight of his body is being carried as he applies that hold.
Cross Recoba: Poena’s working towards a goal in this match, a planned way to win the bout but the added bonus is that he knows how to wear down his opponent so that even if they don’t tap, they’ve less in the tank each time.
Stepping backwards, Poena tries to kick through the thigh of his opponent before flipping her onto her front. He puts a foot on the back of her knee and lifts…SLAMMING IT INTO THE MAT!
Steve Morrison: A wicked knee smash from the Terror from the Ninth Deep.
Cross Recoba: He’s going to try and be methodical it seems.
Pivoting around, Poena grabs a fish hook!
Steve Morrison: He’s still left room for the vicious!
Cross Recoba: Being hooked like this is nothing other than hell…
Using the hook to bring Isabella to her feet, he throws a closed-fist punch which only brings forward another warning from Tyrell which, predictably, goes ignored.
Steve Morrison: Neither competitor is giving Steve the time of day!
Lifting her up by the waist, Poena falls back…Sit-out Shinbreaker!
Cross Recoba: He made sure to drop backwards and hook her legs to drive that knee straight into the canvas!
Showing cat-like reflexes, The Ninth Deep Terror locks up the leg of Isabella with a kneebar.
Steve Morrison: Transitioning to a kneebar, this is more to wear down the opponent than to expect them to tap, right?
Cross Recoba: It is but I also suspect that Poena is going to try and pay Isabella back for what sources in his camp called ‘the insult of her promotional work’.
Steve Morrison: Fans, if you haven’t seen the promotional videos from either of these competitors, I will warn you they come with trigger warnings.
With a mixture of luck and skill, von Krauss manages to grab the ropes before Poena can do any real damage with the hold.
Steve Morrison: IVK can count herself lucky there that Poena wasn’t more central in the ring.
Once more, von Krauss uses the ropes to get to her feet. Poena tries to keep the pressure on BUT VON KRAUSS GRABS HIS FINERY AND DROPS BACK TO THE MAT, GUILLOTINING THE SANCTIFIED ONE ON THE TOP ROPE!
Cross Recoba: She’s no slouch when it comes to the dark arts and she drew him into that one!
In a rare show of a legitimate wrestling hold, Isabella cranks on a ¾ cravate.
Steve Morrison: Now it's Isabella’s chance to show off her technical chops.
Cross Recoba: Smart move. She can reset her approach and work out where she was letting Poena in.
Working the neck, she adjusts her body as Poena fights to break the hold, countering his lateral serpentine movements.
Steve Morrison: Poena knows he has the answer to escape somewhere but with each movement, von Krauss is countering to leave him right where he started.
Poena makes a play to escape but von Krauss uses his momentum against him and brings him over with a snap mare that’s immediately followed by a Penalty Kick to the top of his neck!
Steve Morrison: That boot was driven through Poena!
Cross Recoba: She knows she’s giving up a lot of weight in this bout and she can’t have missed how effective that Anathema Brainbuster is, this makes perfect sense.
Breaking into a sprint, Isabella comes off the ropes with a Rolling Neck Snap!
Steve Morrison: Shades of Curt Hennig with that move.
Cross Recoba: Wrenching that neck as she comes over the top.
On the outside, Hohoho and Humhumhum can be heard whooping with delight at the current status of the match.
Steve Morrison: Of course those two are amped up.
Grabbing her opponent by the hair, she drags him to the edge of the apron. She drives a rolling knee into the stomach of the number two seed in the tournament.
Cross Recoba: I can see where this is going…
Isabella lifts up the legs of Poena…
Steve Morrison: I think everyone can, including Poena…
DECAPITATOR!
Steve Morrison: Poena was driven throat-first into the bottom-rope!
Cross Recoba: von Krauss has made her mark on Tap Out with this kind of brutal offense and she’s only just warming up tonight!
The camera picks up Poena’s face. His hands grasp his throat but his face is contorted into a smile of contempt. He moves his body to be fully in the ring…IVK CONNECTS WITH A KICK WORTHY OF PAT MCAFEE!
Steve Morrison: What a punt kick to the face of Poena!
Cross Recoba: He might not feel pain like any other wrestler would but that has to scramble his brain and put him off-balance!
A stomp connects with the spine of Poena as a prelude to Isabella pulling him to his feet, she applies a front-facelock and lifts….BRAINBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: She snapped that drop! Picture-perfect execution from the Daughter of Sin!
Cross Recoba: In her head, she’s already the Tap Out Openweight Champion. She knows she needs to pull through in this match to fulfil her claim!
For a split-second she considers going for the pin but instead picks up Poena and rises back to her full height with an uppercut that sends Poena to the ropes. IVK connects with an OPEN HAND SLAP!
Crowd: OOOOH!
Tyrell explicitly warns her to back away from the ropes. Isabella runs a seductive hand over the chest of Poena. She steps back innocently….THEN LANDS ANOTHER SLAP TO THE CHEST!
Steve Morrison: Completely unsporting from von Krauss!
Cross Recoba: She’s doing what she needs to to wear down Poena.
Having little choice, Steve lectures the socialite who can only look at her lesser with contempt.
Isabella von Krauss: Just do your job and call the match!
Having seemingly put the official in his place, she returns to Poena…SHE GETS CAUGHT WITH A PALM THRUST TO THE THROAT!
Steve Morrison: The Sanctified One strikes back with a wicket strike to the throat!
Cross Recoba: It’s taken the air right out of her….
Dropping to her knees, Isabella has no defense as Poena charges in and SPIKES HER WITH A RANA!
Steve Morrison: Right onto the top of her head!
Cross Recoba: You’ve got to admire the agility needed to fit that move in at such a low height.
Rolling through, Poena takes her arm to bring her to her feet and slams her into the turnbuckle with an Irish whip that drops her to the mat.
Steve Morrison: Seemingly he’s found another gear to take the match to.
Cross Recoba: The worry for von Krauss is that her opponent can be opportunistic but he can also work five moves ahead. He knows where he wants this to go.
Sliding under the bottom rope, Poena applies a Bow and Arrow, using the ring post to further increase the pain.
Steve Morrison: Isabella’s back is being bent against steel!
Cross Recoba: See how he’s making the post do the hard yards? That’s a smart move there.
Tyrell begins the count…
ONE!
Poena: What do you value now, Worthington!
TWO!
HOHOHO CLUBS POENA…He lets the hold go and BITES THE FACE OF THE CLOWN!!
Pushing the clown away, the camera captures the face of Hohoho. His makeup smeared, blood running down his cheek.
Steve Morrison: His make-up smeared as the blood runs down his cheek!
Cross Recoba: Like an influencer in an apology video!
THREE!
Poena slides back into the ring.
Steve Morrison: He was explicit as to what would happen if the clowns got involved and if anything, they got off lightly there.
Cross Recoba: Crucially, they brought von Krauss time to recover.
Isabella tests her leg as she gets to her feet. Happy it’s okay, she rushes forward but Poena drops to his back and rolls through - SINGLE-LEG BOSTON CRAB!!
Steve Morrison: Further working the back and legs of von Krauss.
Cross Recoba: von Krauss needs to get out of this quickly or she’ll be paying for it for the rest of the match or worse, it’ll be the end.
Poena leans back to further put pressure on the back of his opponent and brings his free hand over the wrapped leg to twist the ankle as he does so.
Steve Morrison: Again, he’s going back to that ankle.
Cross Recoba: It isn’t enough to beat Poena, you have to survive him. So far, only NOMAD has come out without lingering injuries.
Steve Tyrell drops to the mat to see if Isabella wants to quit but she shakes her head.
Steve Morrison: She’s battling through!
HUMHUMHUM SLINGSHOTS THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPE TO DROPKICK POENA IN THE FACE! POENA DROPS THE HOLD AND LURCHES FORWARD…HOHOHO DELIVERS A RUNNING KNEELIFT THROUGH THE ROPES!!
Steve Morrison: The clowns clearly didn’t get the hint earlier!
Not even questioning the good fortune that has befallen her, Isabella goes to the second-rope and waits…CLOTHESLINE FROM THE SECOND ROPE TAKES POENA BACK TO THE MAT!
Cross Recoba: Smart move by Isabella. Some wrestlers go for height for their YouTube reels but she went for power to connect with the maximum force she could!
Isabella kicks Poena in the ribs like Michael Vick would a dog and quickly straddles his back. She grabs his arms and puts them over her knees, she wraps her arms around his chin and rocks back…
Steve Morrison: She’s looking for a Camel Clutch…
Cross Recoba: She’s got it locked in! We’ve never seen Poena submit but then, until tonight, we hadn’t seen NOMAD lose cleanly.
Poena’s back is arched unnaturally as von Krauss rocks back further but his expression is more puzzled than pained.
Steve Morrison: The hold is locked in and he HAS to feel it.
Cross Recoba: He almost revels in it.
Steve Morrison: It has to be demoralizing if he’s in a submission but barely showing any discomfort.
Cross Recoba: But what a way to sap their momentum!
Now at full-stretch, Isabella releases an arm AND DRIVES REPEATED POINTED ELBOWS DOWN ONTO THE FOREHEAD OF POENA!!
Steve Morrison: Isabella isn’t used to people not bending to her will and she’s forcing the issue now!
Cross Recoba: Each of those elbows are landing in the exact same spot!
Von Krauss hooks the hold back on fully causing Tyrell to ask Poena if he wants to quit but the dipped head of Poena doesn’t respond.
Steve Morrison: Is he out cold?
Cross Recoba: It doesn’t look good for his hopes of advancing in this tournament.
Poena’s head pops back up!
Steve Morrison: He’s back in this!
He thrashes but he can’t shift the Camel Clutch. He throws an arm out but he can’t quite reach the ropes. He tries to press his body up but makes only a marginal move towards the ropes.
Cross Recoba: Great ringmanship from von Krauss, she’s making him work to gain an inch.
Another attempt to reach the ropes leaves his fingers brushing against the rope but agonizingly too far to grab the ropes properly.
Steve Morrison: Poena can feel the ropes but he can’t grasp them.
Poena lets out a guttural roar and presses up once again and throws his arm…HE GRABS THE ROPES!
Cross Recoba: Isabella needs to be ready for him now…
Taking no chances, Tyrell practically pulls Isabella off of Poena.
Steve Morrison: Neither competitor has paid him any mind at all in this match.
Rushing back to The Ninth Deep Terror, Isabella lifts him up and grabs a headlock. Poena drives an elbow into the ribs of the Psychotic Patrician. He lifts her up….SUICIDE BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX TAKES BOTH WRESTLERS OVER THE ROPES TO THE APRON FLOOR!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Steve Morrison: Both wrestlers spill to the outside but it’s von Krauss who bore the weight of them!
Cross Recoba: This match is going to come down to who wants it more. Poena will be only too keen to face off again against Close. Isabella might see Close as an easier match than she was expecting.
The match official starts the count.
ONE!
Poena gets to his feet, he looks hungrily at the prone Isabella and drags her to her feet. He lifts her up…
Steve Morrison: This doesn’t look good…
TWO!!
HE SLAMS HER KNEE-FIRST INTO THE RING POST!!
Steve Morrison Shinbreaker to the ringpost!
Cross Recoba: IVK’s knee was driven into that post at full-force! She might know Poena’s gameplan but stopping it is another matter!
THREE!
Poena drops her onto the apron and lifts her with a suplex lift….GOURDBUSTER ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!
Steve Morrison: Those steps have no give!
Cross Recoba: He’s taking advantage of the elements and IVK has nowhere to go. The tide’s turning to Poena here.
FOUR!!
Poena rolls into the ring to break the count and back to the apron. He runs…CURB STOMP TO THE LEG OF VON KRAUSS ON THE STEPS!!
Steve Morrison: Poena carries on the assault on von Krauss’ legs!
Cross Recoba: What I like about him is that he’s always looking to evolve in the ring, always adding new moves to his arsenal…
ONE!!
THE CLOWNS COME OUT OF NOWHERE WITH STEREO DROPKICKS FROM THE TWO SIDE OF THE APRON!
Steve Morrison: THEY AMBUSHED HIM!
Cross Recoba: They’ve been a big part of the success that Isabella has had. Cochrane and Jackalope can look to how the clowns influenced the match for why they lost.
Steve Morrison: Jason Long didn’t fall for that, will Isabella get a chance to atone for that loss?
Cross Recoba: She needs to get back on top in the match…
TWO!!
Hohoho lifts up Poena onto his shoulders…BLOCKBUSTER FROM HUMHUMHUM!
Steve Morrison: Impressive move from the von Krauss goons.
Cross Recoba: And again, it’s targeting the neck of Poena. Isabella might be behind in the match but the focus is there to build from.
THREE!!
Isabella gets to her feet and drags Poena up once more. She Irish Whips him and brings him back…SHORT-ARM STUN GUN TO THE STEEL STEPS!!
Steve Morrison: She just planted him face-first onto those steel steps!
Cross Recoba: In Isabella’s mind, she’s the champion already and I’d be very surprised if she didn’t pull out all the stops !
FOUR!!
POENA IS BUSTED OPEN!!
Steve Morrison: That’s a huge cut! How can Isabella take advantage?
Cross Recoba: That cut’s now just a target for her. Every strike, every move - that’s the bullseye. Poena might not feel pain like the rest of us do but it’s going to obscure his vision and it could mean he doesn’t see an incoming punch for a split-second more and that’s might be the difference tonight!
FIVE!!
The clowns roll Poena onto the apron whilst IVK rolls into the ring to break the count.
Steve Morrison: Isabella’ll take the assist.
Cross Recoba: She’s already back to her feet.
Grabbing the head of The Demon of the Ninth Deep, von Krauss drives a knee into his skull. She lifts him up for a suplex….SPIKE DDT!
Steve Morrison: ELEVATED SPIKE DDT!
Cross Recoba: She’s leaving nothing on the shelf tonight.
She covers…
ONE…
TWO…
POENA GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!
Steve Morrison: A hooked leg and Isabella was through!
Cross Recoba: Good spot but if IVK wants a positive, that DDT planted Poena straight on his head. She’s been targeting it all match and after that move? Poena might struggle to hit some of his power-based moves.
Steve Morrison:She’s not taking the two-count well…
Reacting in the only bratty way she knows how, Isabella starts to explain how to count to Tyrell.
Isabella von Krauss: Think you can handle that…Stevie?
Tyrell decides not to even acknowledge her, Isabella decides that he’s an imbecile. Von Krauss rushes to the ropes as Poena rises…HAIR PULL HANGMAN OVER THE TOP ROPE!!
Steve Morrison: Right out of Randy Savage’s playbook! Poena’s head just snapped back!
Landing on her feet, von Krauss rolls through but we see her leg buckle momentarily as she climbs onto the apron.
Cross Recoba: That move might have done her some damage on that already injured leg…
She ascends to the top….
Steve Morrison: She wants to end it with the Krack of the Kharnival…
TOP ROPE TOMAHAWK CHOP….POENA SIDE STEPS IT AND HOOKS A ROLLING ANKLE LOCK ON HER!!
Steve Morrison: He had it scouted!
Cross Recoba: Can he lock it in?
Adjusting the position of his body, The Master of Digital Manipulation advances his leverage on the hold, the expression his face twisted further by the Crimson Mask. IVK can be seen in agony!
Steve Morrison: She could tap!
Cross Recoba: If you’re a wrestling student, how Poena is making her carry his weight in the hold is textbook! IVK needs an escape but where from?
Tyrell once more checks on Isabella…THE CLOWNS ONCE MORE ATTACK POENA, CATCHING HIM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HEADS WITH RUNNING KNEES SIMULTANEOUSLY!!
Steve Morrison: The clowns!
Cross Recoba: Isabella needs to make this distraction work to her advantage.
Breaking the hold, Poena turns his attention to the clowns.
Steve Morrison: Look at his expression!
Cross Recoba: The clowns need to get out of the ring now!
They back off as they realize that perhaps the Bear has been poked one too many times.
Steve Morrison: It’s only just dawned on them the world of hurt that awaits.
He headbutts Hohoho and then grabs his hand….
*SNAP*
Cross Recoba: He didn’t even hesitate!
The clown rolls out the ring, Humhumhum increases the speed he backpedals but trips.
Steve Morrison: That trip might just be the worst thing to happen to him all year…
His arm raised, Poena makes quick work of it…
*SNAP*
Cross Recoba: You’d argue they got off lightly given the threats of violence Poena said were theirs for getting involved.
Isabella is now back to her feet but Poena pushes a kick down on the top of her knee-cap, her leg buckles.
Steve Morrison: Pointed kick…
…MONEY CLIP!!
He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
THE CLOWNS PULL HER TO THE APRON!!!
Steve Morrison: They still get involved!
Cross Recoba: They know that they need to help von Krauss advance to the next round!
For just a moment, the anger inside of Poena is evident on his face, he uses his tongue to clean some of the blood that drips down his nose and around his mouth.
Cross Recoba: Isabella needs to take advantage here. Poena can let his bloodthirst get in the way of his chances in a match. My take on his loss against Diamond was that he was too fixated on causing Jack lasting harm over putting him away!
Reaching over the ropes to grab her, he leaves himself open for a shoulder-thrust…SUNSET FLIP!!
ONE…
TWO…
TH-
POENA KICKS OUT BUT VON KRAUSS ROLLS BACKWARDS TO HER FEET AND HITS THE ROPES…RUNNING HOOK CLOTHESLINE!!
Steve Morrison: Great adaptability from the socialite!
Favoring her leg as she stands up, von Krauss tucks the head of her opponent between her legs…
Steve Morrison: Could she be looking for a powerbomb or piledriver?
Cross Recoba: In her shoes, I’d go for the piledriver. Poena’s campaign on her legs is taking its toll.
POENA TAKES HER LEGS FROM UNDER HER….FIGURE-FOUR LEGLOCK!!!
Steve Morrison: And back he goes!
Desperately fighting to stay in the match, von Krauss looks for options but Poena is nearer to the ropes than she is.
Steve Morrison: When you find your opponent has you in a hold and is ropeside, what can you do?
Cross Recoba: Every situation is different. IVK has two options, pivot towards the ropes to her left or try and reverse the hold and I’d say the latter option is the better one of the two.
Piling on the pressure, The Sanctified One lifts up a leg and SLAMS it back down across the leg of von Krauss.
Steve Morrison: IVK letting out a howl of pain as Poena planted his leg straight down onto her shin!
Cross Recoba: He wants to end it here and now. With Close Collins waiting in the next round, he’ll resent the fact that it was Collins who took out NOMAD and not him.
Steve Morrison: For now, he needs to put away von Krauss who’s looking close to being forced to give up the match.
Steve Tyrell is wasting no time in seeing he she wants to submit but she shakes her head in defiance!
Steve Morrison: Isabella showing just how far she’s willing to go in her quest to truly become the first Tap Out Openweight Champion.
Cross Recoba: Let's hope that stubbornness pays off.
Shifting tact, Poena drops his back to the floor and starts to bridge-up from his neck to heighten the pressure, the blood from his forehead running through his hair and onto the mat. Isabella screams in pain but uses a hand to wave away Tyrell from pestering her to submit.
Steve Morrison: That bridge is pushing even more force onto the hold and Isabella could be out here.
Cross Recoba: It’s getting to the point where a leg-break would be her preferred way out. She’s not going to submit to someone she sees as wholly beneath her!
Putting more pressure on the bridge, Poena moves his body. ISABELLA TAKES ADVANTAGE AND TRIES TO ROLL HIM OVER!!
Steve Morrison: She goes for it!
Blocking the reversal, Poena sits up. Isabella meets him AND JABS HER FINGERS IN HIS EYE!
Cross Recoba: NOW’S YOUR CHANCE!!
Releasing the hold against his will, Poena now looks evil incarnate with his hair now matted with his own blood.
Steve Morrison: She rolls back…
IVK FURTHER OPENS THE WOUND ON HIS HEAD WITH A RUSHING KNEE TO THE SEATED POENA!!!
Steve Morrison: She tried to decapitate him!
Cross Recoba: Notice how she used her non-dominant leg to hit that knee though!
She tucks his head between her legs again…SPIKE PILEDRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: SHE NAILED HIM!
Cross Recoba: She’s hooked the leg!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
NO!!! STEVE TYRELL TELLS THE CROWD HIS SHOULDER WAS UP AT THE LAST!!!
Steve Morrison: Isabella was milliseconds away from booking her place in the next round!
Cross Recoba: She needs to focus on how to make that millisecond up…
The Daughter of Sin lifts up Poena and sneaks a European Uppercut in as he rises, knocking him off-balance. SHE HITS A SERIES OF PRESSURE POINT STRIKES!!!
Steve Morrison: DEADLY CONSEQUENCES!
BACKFLIP KICK!!
Cross Recoba: We know where this is going…
ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD!!
Steve Morrison: FEET OF DESPAIR!!
Hohoho and Humhumhum can be heard cheering on their Mistress as they sense victory is close.
Cross Recoba: She’s going to the corner but those kicks might have hurt her too…
IVK climbs to the top….SHE LEAPS…
Steve Morrison: KRACK OF THE KHARNI-
POENA MEETS HER WITH A FRONT DROPKICK TO HER KNEES!!!
Cross Recoba: Without that damage to her legs, she hits that!
He throws her to the ropes and rushes to the opposite set…FLYING LARIAT!!!
Steve Morrison: PERSONAL JESUS!
Cross Recoba: IVK’s in real danger here.
Letting out a guttural roar, The Dark Savior drapes her leg over his neck and lifts her up into an OVER THE SHOULDER SINGLE-LEG BOSTON CRAB SLAM!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A MOVE!
We got to a picture-in-picture replay of the move.
Cross Recoba: Look how it jolts her leg as she hits the mat!
Keeping the leg behind his head, he grapevines the other….
Steve Morrison: THE JUDAS CRADLE!!
IVK IS IS AGONY!!!
Cross Recoba: He’s got her wrapped up in it! That leg being pushed further and further away from its natural position.
POENA PUSHES THE LEG FURTHER…
Steve Morrison: She can’t take much more of this, surely?
HE STRETCHES IT FURTHER STILL!!
Cross Recoba: Any further and it’ll end her year!
Steve Morrison: Tyrell is there to ask her!
IVK HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO TAP!!!
Steve Tyrell calls for the bell.
Steve Morrison: Poena goes through!
“Malleus Maleficarum” starts to play, Laura Messier stands up at ringside.
Laura Messier: The winner of this match, and advancing to the Semi Final of the Losers’ Bracket…..POOOOOEENNNNNAAA!!!!
Steve Tyrell tries to raise the arm of the victor but The Terror of the Ninth Deep shakes his arm away and rolls out the ring in a hurry.
Steve Morrison: Well, that now sets up next month where Poena will be facing off against Close Collins!
Cross Recoba: In the Main Event!
Steve Morrison: You heard it here first, Tap Out Wrestling 9: Poena vs Collins II!
Cross Recoba: What a match that was all the way back in March!
Steve Morrison: Close could almost touch the win!
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Poena kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Not enough!
Close looks at the referee in desperation and disbelief. He turns back to Poena and summons the last of his strength to haul up Poena, wincing in pain. He locks in a front chancery, steels himself and goes to lift Poena up for his signature brainbuster…
But he just can’t manage it.
Close tries again. AGAIN he can’t get Poena up.
CLOSE TRIES A THIRD TIME. EVERY SQUARE INCH OF HIS FACE IS WRACKED WITH AGONY. AND JUST… JUST… JUST…
LIFTS POENA UP AND DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD WITH A BRAAAAAAAAAAINBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: Now’s your chance Close!
Collins knows that he needs a definite finish, and he walks over to the turnbuckles. Up one step. Uo another step. His progress is walking through molasses levels of slow but Poena appears to be down. Close steps up to the top and looks over his shoulder. Poena is slowly standing. Close crosses himself and changes plans, leaping off backwards, flipping and pirouetting mid air to crash into The Sanctified One.
Steve Morrison: THE FUTURE’S CALLING!
Cross Recoba: But at what cost?
The howl of pain from Collins as his back hits Poena’s body is loud and anguished. Both men are down and the referee puts on a ten count for a double knockout…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE! Poena is up…
SIX!
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
NINE!
TE…. CLOSE COLLINS IS UP! HE TURNS TO FACE POENA! And Poena, having noted the referee is resetting position after being down to check the double down… KICKS HIM SQUARE IN THE NUTS. Close stumbles forwards…CROSSED LEGGED SUPLEX LIFT. DROPPED STRAIGHT DOWN, THE CENTER OF CLOSE’S SHOULDERS CRASHING RIGHT ONTO POENA’S KNEE. POENA COVERS…
Steve Morrison: ANATHEMA! NOT LIKE THIS!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Steve Morrison: Damn you, Poena. Close tried everything. But a low blow was the difference. Damn you.
Steve Morrison: Can Close right the wrong from his second-ever match?
Cross Recoba: He’s improved with every match but Poena has grown more cruel and vicious each time we see him!
Steve Morrison: It’ll be a hell of a match to close out 2022 but now, both men will watch on to see who will face them in the final of the Losers’ bracket in January and who might be waiting for them when XHF Supremacy 2023 comes around!
We cut to the backstage area where we can see none other than Spike Kane standing in front of a large TAP OUT banner, dressed in his ring gear he smirks up at the camera whilst in the arena there's a pretty decent pop for the God of Xtreme showing up on the screen.
Spike Kane: Oh, it's nice to hear that....just listen to them? Those people? They know what is in store, they know what is coming, and the roster here in Tap Out? Well, if they don't already know...
He takes a few steps closer to the camera, as if he's letting everyone in on a secret.
Spike Kane: They're soon to find out. Because the newest member to the Tap Out roster, is none other than yours truly. The God of Xtreme, The Spiked One, The Blood God...and the funny thing is, I have more championship reigns than I do nicknames, and if you know Spike Kane? You'll know I'm always looking to add to that collection. I know I'm far too late to take part in the Openweight Tournament, but there's no harm in scouting some competition, no?
Now he begins to roll his fists in his hands.
Spike Kane:: I could stand here and tell you all how you're never going to match up to me. I could list the "Tale of the Tape" if you will, and run down two and a half decades of competition at the highest calibre in this business, and coming out on top more than any other person who has ever done this, but I won't....because whilst I'm always looking to add to my collection, always looking to capture that top prize and cement myself at the peak of an industry?
He smiles, a big, broad, happy smile.
Spike Kane:: I'm also here to cause pain. To hurt people, and do what I do better than anyone on the planet. Cause chaos, and wreak havoc...
He leans into the camera now.
Spike Kane:: It'll be interesting to see who doesn't get the fuck out of my way.
He chuckles to himself as the camera fades away.
Steve Morrison: FOUR SIGNINGS?
Cross Recoba: It’s been a busy month and with matches like the one we just saw between Poena and Isabella, we’re a physical company.
Steve Morrison: A fourth signing and our third X*Crown member of the roster!
Cross Recoba: He’s proven himself across the Network and when a wrestler of his calibre comes on the market - you HAVE to take it.
Steve Morrison: He’ll want to make an impression in as short a time as possible but does the fact that the tournament is taking out some of the stand-out performers for the next couple of shows make that easier for him?
Cross Recoba: It’s all down t-
Steve Morrison: I hate to cut you off but we’ve gotten word that our cameras captured something that happened just moments ago!
We cut to the footage.
NOMAD walks toward the exit of the building, looking to get back on the road that he loves so dearly. He’s already lighting a cigarette, hand cupped in front of his face to protect the flame, when a sledgehammer arcs into view and slams hard into his chest.
Poena: YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM HIS CHOSEN!? YOU THINK TO DEFY HIS WILL?!
The sledgehammer comes down on NOMAD’s back as he leans forward to try and recover from the first blow, the impact making a sick THUD as it lands. Poena walks into the frame, brandishing the sledgehammer and still whipped up into a frenzy from his match.
Poena: You think you can defy Him and then get away! He knows where you are! He’s told me it’s time for you to PAY!
Steve Morrison: POENA JUST JUMPED NOMAD!!
Cross Recoba: What a Pearl Harbour!
Steve Morrison: He could put him on the shelf for good with that sledge hammer!
The sledge arcs down into the back of NOMAD’s knee, getting a pained grunt from him, the following shot to his hand getting more of a scream from the normally stoic NOMAD.
Poena: That’s right! Scream for Him! Give Him your pain! Pay your debts, heretic!
Poena slams the sledge down into NOMAD’s elbow before yelling and tossing it away. He moves NOMAD around and locks him into Penance, his face shifting into a sadistic, righteous glee.
Poena: This is how it would always have ended! It was prophesied! You were doomed from the start!
Steve Morrison: He has him in Penance! This isn’t to make a point, this is to get even!
Cross Recoba: With NOMAD out, Poena didn’t want to wait til the New Year to make his point!
Poena yanks NOMAD’s arms together in front of him, then laughs maniacally as he shifts his grip to put even more pressure on the hold, crossing his own arms and pulling with all his might. After a moment or two, a sickening ripping sound is heard, with NOMAD letting out a muffled scream as both of his arms pop out of joint, dislocated and likely broken. Road agents are finally arriving on the scene, horrified by the broken man left on the floor as Poena gets up and glares bloody murder at them with his red eye glowing.
Poena: Jugular 5:7-9 “And lo, look upon the results of defying His will! The blind and the ignorant shall bleed and break till they see the truth! No one can escape His gaze! "
Poena laughs his soul-chilling laugh as the road agents hesitate, the laugh seeming to skip like a record before Poena is suddenly gone... leaving what is left of NOMAD to be recovered.
Steve Morrison: We need medics now! NOMAD could well be on the shelf for months after that!
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen how vicious Poena can be inside the ring, outside of it he’s a danger to everyone!
The scene cuts away to the crowd.
Steve Morrison: Fans, what you saw was shocking. We can only inform you that NOMAD is getting immediate medical attention.
Cross Recoba: It will all, of course, be paid for by Tap Out Wrestling.
Steve Morrison: To move on quickly, Laura Messier is standing in the ring to introduce our Main Event!
Laura Messier: It's time FOR YOUR MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! THE ICONIC CIVIL WAR!!
A loud cheer echoes around the Lansky Ballroom.
The sounds of a siren playing in the background of the whispers of a voice, the lights become dark inside of the arena as the titantron lights up with a feed of static, showing multiple shots of Jason Long holding a collection of championships over the past five years.
As the opening synthwave beat to ‘Kingslayer’ begins to play over the speakers and echoing throughout the arena as it erupts the crowd, a singular spotlight separates itself from the rest and shines down onto the entrance curtain. With the vocals from Oli Sykes kicking in, the figure of Jason Long steps out from behind the curtain to a loud ovation, with a large smile resting on his face as he stops at the top of the ramp.
Steve Morrison: There walks a man who wants to be King!
Cross Recoba: He knows that a win here sends him right to the final at XHF Supremacy. That's a comforting prize because the loser has to win at our January event and then have a reduced camp going into that final match!
The King glances down onto the camera looking up towards him, a cocky smile being given towards the camera before opening up his jacket and pushing it behind him– beginning his walk down to the ring, mouthing off to the camera as he does.
Steve Morrison: In Mav's mind, he's the true Icon of the stable.
Cross Recoba: He made no bones about the fact that he stayed whilst Diamond and Bobby were out and when you look at his title record, he makes a good case.
With the lights all focusing down onto the ringside area, Jason moves along the floor and hops up onto the apron - on the side where the hardcam can get a good look at him - as he leans back against the ropes before entering through the middle ropes. Jason heads into the closest corner to him and climbs up onto the second rope, looking out into the crowd.
Steve Morrison: He didn't get the win at Global Dominance but now, four years later, he can right that result
Cross Recoba: To qualify for the tournament, Long went for a nuclear finish with his top-rope Kingslayer. To get to this match, he used his wits to beat NOMAD but tonight, he's going to need everything in his locker to get past his fellow Icon...
Jason out-stetches his arms wide and roars out to the crowd, keeping a smile on his face as he does. He removes his leather ring jacket and throws it down to the ringside area before hopping down off of the ropes and leaning back against the turnbuckles.
The house lights go out as the crowd continues to buzz.
Top, to the top, ain't never gonna stop
To the top, to the top, ain't never gonna stop
Pyro explodes as the chorus of "Legendary" by Skillet begins to play and the crowd erupts into cheers and chants begin to break out of "Icons" and "Diamond Club".
Jack Diamond emerges on the stage with a huge grin on his face, nodding his head to the beat of the music. He adjusts his leather jacket and soaks in the moment. He mouths the word "Legendary" and begins to make his way to the ring acknowledging the fans as only Jack Diamond can do.
Steve Morrison: Diamond's camp was keen to stress that whatever injuries he took during his war with Poena are now fully healed.
Cross Recoba: I'd take that with a pinch of salt, our medical team cleared him but we're not looking for a full bill of health to pass. If I'm Long, I'd be keen to see just how healed that arm of his really is.
As he gets to the ring, he climbs the stairs and walks the apron over to the far turnbuckle. He ascends the outside of the corner and plays to the crowd as more pyro goes off.
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, legendary
Steve Morrison: Diamond knows that all that stands between him and a slot in the tournament final is the man he mentored, took under his wing.
Cross Recoba: We know what winning the belt means for him, now he needs to put aside any friendship or comradeship and focus on the prize.
Jack jumps down into the ring and heads to the center before throwing up the Diamond sign to loud cheers. He removes his leather jacket, handing it to the timekeeper before heading to his corner and stretching and preparing for the match.
Steve Morrison: He showed just how much punishment he could take against Poena, can he put away Long without taking so much damage tonight?
Cross Recoba: It's not an easy ask. Since Long lost to Close in our first show, he's been one of the most consistent and high-performing wrestlers on the roster. Whoever comes out with the win tonight, they won't have it easy!
Laura Messier once more returns to the center of the ring.
Laura Messier:Introducing first … wrestling out of Wexford Town, County Wexford, Ireland and weighing in tonight at one hundred and ninety-five pounds… HE IS THE LAST BREATHING MERCENARY… THE KING OF WRESTLING… THIS IS JAAAAAASSSOONNNNNNNNNNN LOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!!
Long raises a fist and splits the crowd in their support in doing so.
Laura Messier: AND HIS OPPONENT! Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Cherokee, North Carolina. He made weight at one-hundred-and-ninety-five pounds...THE ACE...OF SPADES!!! JACK.....DIAMOND!!!
Diamond steps out from his corner and raises his own fist. The lines in the crowd have now been drawn.
Steve Morrison: You can feel the tension all through the Lansky Ballroom tonight!
Cross Recoba: Like any Civil War, friends fight friends and families are divided. Just look at our crowd tonight!
MAIN EVENT
TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT MATCH
SINGLES MATCH
Poena vs Isabella von Krauss
Steve Tyrell stands in the center of the ring. He looks to one corner and sees Poena.
Steve Morrison: Poena looks almost zen.
Cross Recoba: It’s what makes him so dangerous. I tried to read him at the Big Fight Night and got nothing before the bell.
He looks to the other corner and sees Isabella von Krauss, the two clowns behind her at ringside in her corner.
Steve Morrison: What havoc can Hohoho and Humhumhum cause tonight?
Cross Recoba: They’re almost on a thankless mission tonight, Poena singled them out in the build-up to this match…but, if they distract him enough for IVK to get the win - they’ve done what’s needed.
He decides against a pre-match briefing, deciding that life is too short to waste your breath. The timekeeper is called upon to start the match.
DING! DING! DING!
Both fighters rush from their corners to the approval of the crowd. Isabella looks for a wild hook but Poena hunches down and grabs her by the waist. He darts forward in the waistlock towards the ropes but she clasps the top-rope to block a roll-up. Undeterred, Poena slings a forearm into the lower back of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: von Krauss managed to avoid a pin attempt or worse, a German Suplex.
Turning around, IVK weaves out the way of a follow-up strike and Poena now finds himself trapped on the ropes. Von Krauss throws a quick uppercut and a rabbit punch before Steve Tyrell steps in and backs off the socialite.
Steve Morrison: Isabella taking a familiar tactic: wrestle until you need to cheat!
Cross Recoba: She’ll have taken an interest in our last main-event and seeing what Poena did to Diamond should tell her to keep her defense up.
With the referee unsighted, von Krauss’ clowns make their move. One clubs Poena in the back of the head causing him to turn. The second Clown grabs his head and drops to the apron, guillotining the Master of Digital Manipulation on the top rope!
Steve Morrison: She doesn’t miss a chance to get them involved!
Cross Recoba: If they can split his concentration then you have to say that Isabella could well be in the driving seat.
Taking advantage of her minions’ work, von Krauss catches Poena as he turns with a flying knee that puts her opponent into the corner.
Steve Morrison: A nod to Sagat with a knee thrown with her full weight behind it.
Cross Recoba: von Krauss needs to keep this match away from the mat. Her strikes can cause damage when they’re on their feet but we’ve seen Poena fight from the bottom to great success.
Working quickly, The Daughter of Sin lands a back elbow to the temple of Poena before thrusting her shoulder into his midsection.
Steve Morrison: The Heiress is trying to contain Poena in the corner.
Cross Recoba: It also keeps him within the grasp of her clowns.
Showing contempt to Tyrell, IVK smiles at Tyrell before wedging her boot into the throat of her opponent. The match official starts the count…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FI-
Begrudgingly, Isabella removes her foot, making a grand display as she does so.
Steve Morrison: She’s pushing her limit there.
Cross Recoba: Those few seconds count though and Poena has shown that his endurance is up there with anyone’s in Tap Out.
Poena smiles as he steps from the corner but the smile is short-lived as IVK karate chops the throat of the Terror from the Ninth Deep. Snatching the opportunity, the Savage Socialite grabs a front-facelock and uses it to drive knees repeatedly into the body of Poena.
Steve Morrison: Isabella seems to have made the brighter start in these opening minutes.
Cross Recoba: It’s playing to her strengths so far.
Dirty boxing now becomes her approach with short uppercuts connecting with the locked head of Poena.
Steve Morrison: Those quick uppercuts land on the jaw of Poena, each one adding up.
Unexpectedly, IVK takes a step back…Poena has pried her hand from his head and is bending back her fingers at an unnatural angle.
Steve Morrison: He has her hand!
Cross Recoba: And this is why we never get a sign-language interpreter in for his promos!
The Terror of the Ninth Deep swings an elbow over her shoulder and takes her to the mat. He quickly stomps on her hand!
Steve Morrison: Smooth takedown from Poena and once more he goes to the hands.
Cross Recoba: It might not be an intentional attempt at mind games but it will stay with you during the match.
Writhing in pain, IVK leaves herself open to a double-stomp to the legs.
Steve Morrison: He came down on the back of her knees with full-force!
Cross Recoba: That’s how quickly he can make an opponent pay for leaving an opening.
Exploiting his weight advantage, Poena pins IVK in place with a knee across the back of her leg and reaches forward.
Steve Morrison: What’s his play here?
Cross Recoba: This might be Poena exerting his opinion on how sadistic he can get…
IVK sees the arm reach over her head and knows where it’s going. She tries to move her hand out of the way but Poena is wise to it and grabs it.
Steve Morrison: He has that hand, we’ve seen what he can do.
Cross Recoba: This might be a far shorter match than people anticipated…
The camera drops to the mat and we see her fingers bend back.
Steve Morrison: He could snap those fingers in a heartbeat…
IVK grabs the ropes. Tyrell immediately starts another count…
Steve Morrison: …von Krauss finds safety!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FI-
Cross Recoba: Notice that he didn’t bend them, he didn’t try and manipulate them. All he did was hold them as if to tell her that he could break them at will.
Poena breaks the hold as Tyrell steps between him and von Krauss to allow the socialite time to get to her feet.
Steve Morrison: Tyrell getting in-between the two fighters now. Trying to keep this match within the rules.
Cross Recoba: He may as well put on a crown and stand on a beach…
The Dark Savior pays no attention to the match official’s words of warning, instead stalking IVK’s movements behind the referee. As soon as Tyrell finishes a sentence, Poena has stepped past him and delivers a stiff shoot-style kick to the back of his opponent’s knee and follows up with a single-leg takedown.
Steve Morrison: He kept her in his sights…
Cross Recoba: You can’t rely on the match official, von Krauss needed to keep moving. Instead, she left herself open.
Poena forces IVK to bear his weight on her leg as he starts to twist her ankle.
Steve Morrison: He’s working her foot, clearly seeing the Krack of the Kharnival as a potential threat.
Cross Recoba: Don’t forget the Slip Kick and those Feet of Despair. Poena warned her he’d be after her legs and that’s why!
With a sharp motion, Poena wrenches her foot and spins his body around her leg as he drops his knee onto the back of hers. The pain hits her as her body shoots forward, Poena grabs the opening and gets to his feet, spinning around the leg.
Steve Morrison: Kneebreaker but now he’s looking for the Spinning Toe Hold.
Cross Recoba: People say it doesn’t look painful but Terry and Dory Funk managed to dominate large parts of the Seventies and Eighties with it.
He continues to work the leg, bending it over his own.
Steve Morrison: He’s really twisting that leg, making sure that the full weight of his body is being carried as he applies that hold.
Cross Recoba: Poena’s working towards a goal in this match, a planned way to win the bout but the added bonus is that he knows how to wear down his opponent so that even if they don’t tap, they’ve less in the tank each time.
Stepping backwards, Poena tries to kick through the thigh of his opponent before flipping her onto her front. He puts a foot on the back of her knee and lifts…SLAMMING IT INTO THE MAT!
Steve Morrison: A wicked knee smash from the Terror from the Ninth Deep.
Cross Recoba: He’s going to try and be methodical it seems.
Pivoting around, Poena grabs a fish hook!
Steve Morrison: He’s still left room for the vicious!
Cross Recoba: Being hooked like this is nothing other than hell…
Using the hook to bring Isabella to her feet, he throws a closed-fist punch which only brings forward another warning from Tyrell which, predictably, goes ignored.
Steve Morrison: Neither competitor is giving Steve the time of day!
Lifting her up by the waist, Poena falls back…Sit-out Shinbreaker!
Cross Recoba: He made sure to drop backwards and hook her legs to drive that knee straight into the canvas!
Showing cat-like reflexes, The Ninth Deep Terror locks up the leg of Isabella with a kneebar.
Steve Morrison: Transitioning to a kneebar, this is more to wear down the opponent than to expect them to tap, right?
Cross Recoba: It is but I also suspect that Poena is going to try and pay Isabella back for what sources in his camp called ‘the insult of her promotional work’.
Steve Morrison: Fans, if you haven’t seen the promotional videos from either of these competitors, I will warn you they come with trigger warnings.
With a mixture of luck and skill, von Krauss manages to grab the ropes before Poena can do any real damage with the hold.
Steve Morrison: IVK can count herself lucky there that Poena wasn’t more central in the ring.
Once more, von Krauss uses the ropes to get to her feet. Poena tries to keep the pressure on BUT VON KRAUSS GRABS HIS FINERY AND DROPS BACK TO THE MAT, GUILLOTINING THE SANCTIFIED ONE ON THE TOP ROPE!
Cross Recoba: She’s no slouch when it comes to the dark arts and she drew him into that one!
In a rare show of a legitimate wrestling hold, Isabella cranks on a ¾ cravate.
Steve Morrison: Now it's Isabella’s chance to show off her technical chops.
Cross Recoba: Smart move. She can reset her approach and work out where she was letting Poena in.
Working the neck, she adjusts her body as Poena fights to break the hold, countering his lateral serpentine movements.
Steve Morrison: Poena knows he has the answer to escape somewhere but with each movement, von Krauss is countering to leave him right where he started.
Poena makes a play to escape but von Krauss uses his momentum against him and brings him over with a snap mare that’s immediately followed by a Penalty Kick to the top of his neck!
Steve Morrison: That boot was driven through Poena!
Cross Recoba: She knows she’s giving up a lot of weight in this bout and she can’t have missed how effective that Anathema Brainbuster is, this makes perfect sense.
Breaking into a sprint, Isabella comes off the ropes with a Rolling Neck Snap!
Steve Morrison: Shades of Curt Hennig with that move.
Cross Recoba: Wrenching that neck as she comes over the top.
On the outside, Hohoho and Humhumhum can be heard whooping with delight at the current status of the match.
Steve Morrison: Of course those two are amped up.
Grabbing her opponent by the hair, she drags him to the edge of the apron. She drives a rolling knee into the stomach of the number two seed in the tournament.
Cross Recoba: I can see where this is going…
Isabella lifts up the legs of Poena…
Steve Morrison: I think everyone can, including Poena…
DECAPITATOR!
Steve Morrison: Poena was driven throat-first into the bottom-rope!
Cross Recoba: von Krauss has made her mark on Tap Out with this kind of brutal offense and she’s only just warming up tonight!
The camera picks up Poena’s face. His hands grasp his throat but his face is contorted into a smile of contempt. He moves his body to be fully in the ring…IVK CONNECTS WITH A KICK WORTHY OF PAT MCAFEE!
Steve Morrison: What a punt kick to the face of Poena!
Cross Recoba: He might not feel pain like any other wrestler would but that has to scramble his brain and put him off-balance!
A stomp connects with the spine of Poena as a prelude to Isabella pulling him to his feet, she applies a front-facelock and lifts….BRAINBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: She snapped that drop! Picture-perfect execution from the Daughter of Sin!
Cross Recoba: In her head, she’s already the Tap Out Openweight Champion. She knows she needs to pull through in this match to fulfil her claim!
For a split-second she considers going for the pin but instead picks up Poena and rises back to her full height with an uppercut that sends Poena to the ropes. IVK connects with an OPEN HAND SLAP!
Crowd: OOOOH!
Tyrell explicitly warns her to back away from the ropes. Isabella runs a seductive hand over the chest of Poena. She steps back innocently….THEN LANDS ANOTHER SLAP TO THE CHEST!
Steve Morrison: Completely unsporting from von Krauss!
Cross Recoba: She’s doing what she needs to to wear down Poena.
Having little choice, Steve lectures the socialite who can only look at her lesser with contempt.
Isabella von Krauss: Just do your job and call the match!
Having seemingly put the official in his place, she returns to Poena…SHE GETS CAUGHT WITH A PALM THRUST TO THE THROAT!
Steve Morrison: The Sanctified One strikes back with a wicket strike to the throat!
Cross Recoba: It’s taken the air right out of her….
Dropping to her knees, Isabella has no defense as Poena charges in and SPIKES HER WITH A RANA!
Steve Morrison: Right onto the top of her head!
Cross Recoba: You’ve got to admire the agility needed to fit that move in at such a low height.
Rolling through, Poena takes her arm to bring her to her feet and slams her into the turnbuckle with an Irish whip that drops her to the mat.
Steve Morrison: Seemingly he’s found another gear to take the match to.
Cross Recoba: The worry for von Krauss is that her opponent can be opportunistic but he can also work five moves ahead. He knows where he wants this to go.
Sliding under the bottom rope, Poena applies a Bow and Arrow, using the ring post to further increase the pain.
Steve Morrison: Isabella’s back is being bent against steel!
Cross Recoba: See how he’s making the post do the hard yards? That’s a smart move there.
Tyrell begins the count…
ONE!
Poena: What do you value now, Worthington!
TWO!
HOHOHO CLUBS POENA…He lets the hold go and BITES THE FACE OF THE CLOWN!!
Pushing the clown away, the camera captures the face of Hohoho. His makeup smeared, blood running down his cheek.
Steve Morrison: His make-up smeared as the blood runs down his cheek!
Cross Recoba: Like an influencer in an apology video!
THREE!
Poena slides back into the ring.
Steve Morrison: He was explicit as to what would happen if the clowns got involved and if anything, they got off lightly there.
Cross Recoba: Crucially, they brought von Krauss time to recover.
Isabella tests her leg as she gets to her feet. Happy it’s okay, she rushes forward but Poena drops to his back and rolls through - SINGLE-LEG BOSTON CRAB!!
Steve Morrison: Further working the back and legs of von Krauss.
Cross Recoba: von Krauss needs to get out of this quickly or she’ll be paying for it for the rest of the match or worse, it’ll be the end.
Poena leans back to further put pressure on the back of his opponent and brings his free hand over the wrapped leg to twist the ankle as he does so.
Steve Morrison: Again, he’s going back to that ankle.
Cross Recoba: It isn’t enough to beat Poena, you have to survive him. So far, only NOMAD has come out without lingering injuries.
Steve Tyrell drops to the mat to see if Isabella wants to quit but she shakes her head.
Steve Morrison: She’s battling through!
HUMHUMHUM SLINGSHOTS THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPE TO DROPKICK POENA IN THE FACE! POENA DROPS THE HOLD AND LURCHES FORWARD…HOHOHO DELIVERS A RUNNING KNEELIFT THROUGH THE ROPES!!
Steve Morrison: The clowns clearly didn’t get the hint earlier!
Not even questioning the good fortune that has befallen her, Isabella goes to the second-rope and waits…CLOTHESLINE FROM THE SECOND ROPE TAKES POENA BACK TO THE MAT!
Cross Recoba: Smart move by Isabella. Some wrestlers go for height for their YouTube reels but she went for power to connect with the maximum force she could!
Isabella kicks Poena in the ribs like Michael Vick would a dog and quickly straddles his back. She grabs his arms and puts them over her knees, she wraps her arms around his chin and rocks back…
Steve Morrison: She’s looking for a Camel Clutch…
Cross Recoba: She’s got it locked in! We’ve never seen Poena submit but then, until tonight, we hadn’t seen NOMAD lose cleanly.
Poena’s back is arched unnaturally as von Krauss rocks back further but his expression is more puzzled than pained.
Steve Morrison: The hold is locked in and he HAS to feel it.
Cross Recoba: He almost revels in it.
Steve Morrison: It has to be demoralizing if he’s in a submission but barely showing any discomfort.
Cross Recoba: But what a way to sap their momentum!
Now at full-stretch, Isabella releases an arm AND DRIVES REPEATED POINTED ELBOWS DOWN ONTO THE FOREHEAD OF POENA!!
Steve Morrison: Isabella isn’t used to people not bending to her will and she’s forcing the issue now!
Cross Recoba: Each of those elbows are landing in the exact same spot!
Von Krauss hooks the hold back on fully causing Tyrell to ask Poena if he wants to quit but the dipped head of Poena doesn’t respond.
Steve Morrison: Is he out cold?
Cross Recoba: It doesn’t look good for his hopes of advancing in this tournament.
Poena’s head pops back up!
Steve Morrison: He’s back in this!
He thrashes but he can’t shift the Camel Clutch. He throws an arm out but he can’t quite reach the ropes. He tries to press his body up but makes only a marginal move towards the ropes.
Cross Recoba: Great ringmanship from von Krauss, she’s making him work to gain an inch.
Another attempt to reach the ropes leaves his fingers brushing against the rope but agonizingly too far to grab the ropes properly.
Steve Morrison: Poena can feel the ropes but he can’t grasp them.
Poena lets out a guttural roar and presses up once again and throws his arm…HE GRABS THE ROPES!
Cross Recoba: Isabella needs to be ready for him now…
Taking no chances, Tyrell practically pulls Isabella off of Poena.
Steve Morrison: Neither competitor has paid him any mind at all in this match.
Rushing back to The Ninth Deep Terror, Isabella lifts him up and grabs a headlock. Poena drives an elbow into the ribs of the Psychotic Patrician. He lifts her up….SUICIDE BELLY-TO-BACK SUPLEX TAKES BOTH WRESTLERS OVER THE ROPES TO THE APRON FLOOR!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
Steve Morrison: Both wrestlers spill to the outside but it’s von Krauss who bore the weight of them!
Cross Recoba: This match is going to come down to who wants it more. Poena will be only too keen to face off again against Close. Isabella might see Close as an easier match than she was expecting.
The match official starts the count.
ONE!
Poena gets to his feet, he looks hungrily at the prone Isabella and drags her to her feet. He lifts her up…
Steve Morrison: This doesn’t look good…
TWO!!
HE SLAMS HER KNEE-FIRST INTO THE RING POST!!
Steve Morrison Shinbreaker to the ringpost!
Cross Recoba: IVK’s knee was driven into that post at full-force! She might know Poena’s gameplan but stopping it is another matter!
THREE!
Poena drops her onto the apron and lifts her with a suplex lift….GOURDBUSTER ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!
Steve Morrison: Those steps have no give!
Cross Recoba: He’s taking advantage of the elements and IVK has nowhere to go. The tide’s turning to Poena here.
FOUR!!
Poena rolls into the ring to break the count and back to the apron. He runs…CURB STOMP TO THE LEG OF VON KRAUSS ON THE STEPS!!
Steve Morrison: Poena carries on the assault on von Krauss’ legs!
Cross Recoba: What I like about him is that he’s always looking to evolve in the ring, always adding new moves to his arsenal…
ONE!!
THE CLOWNS COME OUT OF NOWHERE WITH STEREO DROPKICKS FROM THE TWO SIDE OF THE APRON!
Steve Morrison: THEY AMBUSHED HIM!
Cross Recoba: They’ve been a big part of the success that Isabella has had. Cochrane and Jackalope can look to how the clowns influenced the match for why they lost.
Steve Morrison: Jason Long didn’t fall for that, will Isabella get a chance to atone for that loss?
Cross Recoba: She needs to get back on top in the match…
TWO!!
Hohoho lifts up Poena onto his shoulders…BLOCKBUSTER FROM HUMHUMHUM!
Steve Morrison: Impressive move from the von Krauss goons.
Cross Recoba: And again, it’s targeting the neck of Poena. Isabella might be behind in the match but the focus is there to build from.
THREE!!
Isabella gets to her feet and drags Poena up once more. She Irish Whips him and brings him back…SHORT-ARM STUN GUN TO THE STEEL STEPS!!
Steve Morrison: She just planted him face-first onto those steel steps!
Cross Recoba: In Isabella’s mind, she’s the champion already and I’d be very surprised if she didn’t pull out all the stops !
FOUR!!
POENA IS BUSTED OPEN!!
Steve Morrison: That’s a huge cut! How can Isabella take advantage?
Cross Recoba: That cut’s now just a target for her. Every strike, every move - that’s the bullseye. Poena might not feel pain like the rest of us do but it’s going to obscure his vision and it could mean he doesn’t see an incoming punch for a split-second more and that’s might be the difference tonight!
FIVE!!
The clowns roll Poena onto the apron whilst IVK rolls into the ring to break the count.
Steve Morrison: Isabella’ll take the assist.
Cross Recoba: She’s already back to her feet.
Grabbing the head of The Demon of the Ninth Deep, von Krauss drives a knee into his skull. She lifts him up for a suplex….SPIKE DDT!
Steve Morrison: ELEVATED SPIKE DDT!
Cross Recoba: She’s leaving nothing on the shelf tonight.
She covers…
ONE…
TWO…
POENA GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!
Steve Morrison: A hooked leg and Isabella was through!
Cross Recoba: Good spot but if IVK wants a positive, that DDT planted Poena straight on his head. She’s been targeting it all match and after that move? Poena might struggle to hit some of his power-based moves.
Steve Morrison:She’s not taking the two-count well…
Reacting in the only bratty way she knows how, Isabella starts to explain how to count to Tyrell.
Isabella von Krauss: Think you can handle that…Stevie?
Tyrell decides not to even acknowledge her, Isabella decides that he’s an imbecile. Von Krauss rushes to the ropes as Poena rises…HAIR PULL HANGMAN OVER THE TOP ROPE!!
Steve Morrison: Right out of Randy Savage’s playbook! Poena’s head just snapped back!
Landing on her feet, von Krauss rolls through but we see her leg buckle momentarily as she climbs onto the apron.
Cross Recoba: That move might have done her some damage on that already injured leg…
She ascends to the top….
Steve Morrison: She wants to end it with the Krack of the Kharnival…
TOP ROPE TOMAHAWK CHOP….POENA SIDE STEPS IT AND HOOKS A ROLLING ANKLE LOCK ON HER!!
Steve Morrison: He had it scouted!
Cross Recoba: Can he lock it in?
Adjusting the position of his body, The Master of Digital Manipulation advances his leverage on the hold, the expression his face twisted further by the Crimson Mask. IVK can be seen in agony!
Steve Morrison: She could tap!
Cross Recoba: If you’re a wrestling student, how Poena is making her carry his weight in the hold is textbook! IVK needs an escape but where from?
Tyrell once more checks on Isabella…THE CLOWNS ONCE MORE ATTACK POENA, CATCHING HIM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HEADS WITH RUNNING KNEES SIMULTANEOUSLY!!
Steve Morrison: The clowns!
Cross Recoba: Isabella needs to make this distraction work to her advantage.
Breaking the hold, Poena turns his attention to the clowns.
Steve Morrison: Look at his expression!
Cross Recoba: The clowns need to get out of the ring now!
They back off as they realize that perhaps the Bear has been poked one too many times.
Steve Morrison: It’s only just dawned on them the world of hurt that awaits.
He headbutts Hohoho and then grabs his hand….
*SNAP*
Cross Recoba: He didn’t even hesitate!
The clown rolls out the ring, Humhumhum increases the speed he backpedals but trips.
Steve Morrison: That trip might just be the worst thing to happen to him all year…
His arm raised, Poena makes quick work of it…
*SNAP*
Cross Recoba: You’d argue they got off lightly given the threats of violence Poena said were theirs for getting involved.
Isabella is now back to her feet but Poena pushes a kick down on the top of her knee-cap, her leg buckles.
Steve Morrison: Pointed kick…
…MONEY CLIP!!
He covers…
ONE…
TWO…
THE CLOWNS PULL HER TO THE APRON!!!
Steve Morrison: They still get involved!
Cross Recoba: They know that they need to help von Krauss advance to the next round!
For just a moment, the anger inside of Poena is evident on his face, he uses his tongue to clean some of the blood that drips down his nose and around his mouth.
Cross Recoba: Isabella needs to take advantage here. Poena can let his bloodthirst get in the way of his chances in a match. My take on his loss against Diamond was that he was too fixated on causing Jack lasting harm over putting him away!
Reaching over the ropes to grab her, he leaves himself open for a shoulder-thrust…SUNSET FLIP!!
ONE…
TWO…
TH-
POENA KICKS OUT BUT VON KRAUSS ROLLS BACKWARDS TO HER FEET AND HITS THE ROPES…RUNNING HOOK CLOTHESLINE!!
Steve Morrison: Great adaptability from the socialite!
Favoring her leg as she stands up, von Krauss tucks the head of her opponent between her legs…
Steve Morrison: Could she be looking for a powerbomb or piledriver?
Cross Recoba: In her shoes, I’d go for the piledriver. Poena’s campaign on her legs is taking its toll.
POENA TAKES HER LEGS FROM UNDER HER….FIGURE-FOUR LEGLOCK!!!
Steve Morrison: And back he goes!
Desperately fighting to stay in the match, von Krauss looks for options but Poena is nearer to the ropes than she is.
Steve Morrison: When you find your opponent has you in a hold and is ropeside, what can you do?
Cross Recoba: Every situation is different. IVK has two options, pivot towards the ropes to her left or try and reverse the hold and I’d say the latter option is the better one of the two.
Piling on the pressure, The Sanctified One lifts up a leg and SLAMS it back down across the leg of von Krauss.
Steve Morrison: IVK letting out a howl of pain as Poena planted his leg straight down onto her shin!
Cross Recoba: He wants to end it here and now. With Close Collins waiting in the next round, he’ll resent the fact that it was Collins who took out NOMAD and not him.
Steve Morrison: For now, he needs to put away von Krauss who’s looking close to being forced to give up the match.
Steve Tyrell is wasting no time in seeing he she wants to submit but she shakes her head in defiance!
Steve Morrison: Isabella showing just how far she’s willing to go in her quest to truly become the first Tap Out Openweight Champion.
Cross Recoba: Let's hope that stubbornness pays off.
Shifting tact, Poena drops his back to the floor and starts to bridge-up from his neck to heighten the pressure, the blood from his forehead running through his hair and onto the mat. Isabella screams in pain but uses a hand to wave away Tyrell from pestering her to submit.
Steve Morrison: That bridge is pushing even more force onto the hold and Isabella could be out here.
Cross Recoba: It’s getting to the point where a leg-break would be her preferred way out. She’s not going to submit to someone she sees as wholly beneath her!
Putting more pressure on the bridge, Poena moves his body. ISABELLA TAKES ADVANTAGE AND TRIES TO ROLL HIM OVER!!
Steve Morrison: She goes for it!
Blocking the reversal, Poena sits up. Isabella meets him AND JABS HER FINGERS IN HIS EYE!
Cross Recoba: NOW’S YOUR CHANCE!!
Releasing the hold against his will, Poena now looks evil incarnate with his hair now matted with his own blood.
Steve Morrison: She rolls back…
IVK FURTHER OPENS THE WOUND ON HIS HEAD WITH A RUSHING KNEE TO THE SEATED POENA!!!
Steve Morrison: She tried to decapitate him!
Cross Recoba: Notice how she used her non-dominant leg to hit that knee though!
She tucks his head between her legs again…SPIKE PILEDRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: SHE NAILED HIM!
Cross Recoba: She’s hooked the leg!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
NO!!! STEVE TYRELL TELLS THE CROWD HIS SHOULDER WAS UP AT THE LAST!!!
Steve Morrison: Isabella was milliseconds away from booking her place in the next round!
Cross Recoba: She needs to focus on how to make that millisecond up…
The Daughter of Sin lifts up Poena and sneaks a European Uppercut in as he rises, knocking him off-balance. SHE HITS A SERIES OF PRESSURE POINT STRIKES!!!
Steve Morrison: DEADLY CONSEQUENCES!
BACKFLIP KICK!!
Cross Recoba: We know where this is going…
ROUNDHOUSE KICK TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD!!
Steve Morrison: FEET OF DESPAIR!!
Hohoho and Humhumhum can be heard cheering on their Mistress as they sense victory is close.
Cross Recoba: She’s going to the corner but those kicks might have hurt her too…
IVK climbs to the top….SHE LEAPS…
Steve Morrison: KRACK OF THE KHARNI-
POENA MEETS HER WITH A FRONT DROPKICK TO HER KNEES!!!
Cross Recoba: Without that damage to her legs, she hits that!
He throws her to the ropes and rushes to the opposite set…FLYING LARIAT!!!
Steve Morrison: PERSONAL JESUS!
Cross Recoba: IVK’s in real danger here.
Letting out a guttural roar, The Dark Savior drapes her leg over his neck and lifts her up into an OVER THE SHOULDER SINGLE-LEG BOSTON CRAB SLAM!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A MOVE!
We got to a picture-in-picture replay of the move.
Cross Recoba: Look how it jolts her leg as she hits the mat!
Keeping the leg behind his head, he grapevines the other….
Steve Morrison: THE JUDAS CRADLE!!
IVK IS IS AGONY!!!
Cross Recoba: He’s got her wrapped up in it! That leg being pushed further and further away from its natural position.
POENA PUSHES THE LEG FURTHER…
Steve Morrison: She can’t take much more of this, surely?
HE STRETCHES IT FURTHER STILL!!
Cross Recoba: Any further and it’ll end her year!
Steve Morrison: Tyrell is there to ask her!
IVK HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO TAP!!!
Steve Tyrell calls for the bell.
Steve Morrison: Poena goes through!
“Malleus Maleficarum” starts to play, Laura Messier stands up at ringside.
Laura Messier: The winner of this match, and advancing to the Semi Final of the Losers’ Bracket…..POOOOOEENNNNNAAA!!!!
Steve Tyrell tries to raise the arm of the victor but The Terror of the Ninth Deep shakes his arm away and rolls out the ring in a hurry.
Steve Morrison: Well, that now sets up next month where Poena will be facing off against Close Collins!
Cross Recoba: In the Main Event!
Steve Morrison: You heard it here first, Tap Out Wrestling 9: Poena vs Collins II!
Cross Recoba: What a match that was all the way back in March!
Steve Morrison: Close could almost touch the win!
ONE!
TWO!
TH.. Poena kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Not enough!
Close looks at the referee in desperation and disbelief. He turns back to Poena and summons the last of his strength to haul up Poena, wincing in pain. He locks in a front chancery, steels himself and goes to lift Poena up for his signature brainbuster…
But he just can’t manage it.
Close tries again. AGAIN he can’t get Poena up.
CLOSE TRIES A THIRD TIME. EVERY SQUARE INCH OF HIS FACE IS WRACKED WITH AGONY. AND JUST… JUST… JUST…
LIFTS POENA UP AND DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD WITH A BRAAAAAAAAAAINBUSTER!
Steve Morrison: Now’s your chance Close!
Collins knows that he needs a definite finish, and he walks over to the turnbuckles. Up one step. Uo another step. His progress is walking through molasses levels of slow but Poena appears to be down. Close steps up to the top and looks over his shoulder. Poena is slowly standing. Close crosses himself and changes plans, leaping off backwards, flipping and pirouetting mid air to crash into The Sanctified One.
Steve Morrison: THE FUTURE’S CALLING!
Cross Recoba: But at what cost?
The howl of pain from Collins as his back hits Poena’s body is loud and anguished. Both men are down and the referee puts on a ten count for a double knockout…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE! Poena is up…
SIX!
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
NINE!
TE…. CLOSE COLLINS IS UP! HE TURNS TO FACE POENA! And Poena, having noted the referee is resetting position after being down to check the double down… KICKS HIM SQUARE IN THE NUTS. Close stumbles forwards…CROSSED LEGGED SUPLEX LIFT. DROPPED STRAIGHT DOWN, THE CENTER OF CLOSE’S SHOULDERS CRASHING RIGHT ONTO POENA’S KNEE. POENA COVERS…
Steve Morrison: ANATHEMA! NOT LIKE THIS!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Steve Morrison: Damn you, Poena. Close tried everything. But a low blow was the difference. Damn you.
Steve Morrison: Can Close right the wrong from his second-ever match?
Cross Recoba: He’s improved with every match but Poena has grown more cruel and vicious each time we see him!
Steve Morrison: It’ll be a hell of a match to close out 2022 but now, both men will watch on to see who will face them in the final of the Losers’ bracket in January and who might be waiting for them when XHF Supremacy 2023 comes around!
We cut to the backstage area where we can see none other than Spike Kane standing in front of a large TAP OUT banner, dressed in his ring gear he smirks up at the camera whilst in the arena there's a pretty decent pop for the God of Xtreme showing up on the screen.
Spike Kane: Oh, it's nice to hear that....just listen to them? Those people? They know what is in store, they know what is coming, and the roster here in Tap Out? Well, if they don't already know...
He takes a few steps closer to the camera, as if he's letting everyone in on a secret.
Spike Kane: They're soon to find out. Because the newest member to the Tap Out roster, is none other than yours truly. The God of Xtreme, The Spiked One, The Blood God...and the funny thing is, I have more championship reigns than I do nicknames, and if you know Spike Kane? You'll know I'm always looking to add to that collection. I know I'm far too late to take part in the Openweight Tournament, but there's no harm in scouting some competition, no?
Now he begins to roll his fists in his hands.
Spike Kane:: I could stand here and tell you all how you're never going to match up to me. I could list the "Tale of the Tape" if you will, and run down two and a half decades of competition at the highest calibre in this business, and coming out on top more than any other person who has ever done this, but I won't....because whilst I'm always looking to add to my collection, always looking to capture that top prize and cement myself at the peak of an industry?
He smiles, a big, broad, happy smile.
Spike Kane:: I'm also here to cause pain. To hurt people, and do what I do better than anyone on the planet. Cause chaos, and wreak havoc...
He leans into the camera now.
Spike Kane:: It'll be interesting to see who doesn't get the fuck out of my way.
He chuckles to himself as the camera fades away.
Steve Morrison: FOUR SIGNINGS?
Cross Recoba: It’s been a busy month and with matches like the one we just saw between Poena and Isabella, we’re a physical company.
Steve Morrison: A fourth signing and our third X*Crown member of the roster!
Cross Recoba: He’s proven himself across the Network and when a wrestler of his calibre comes on the market - you HAVE to take it.
Steve Morrison: He’ll want to make an impression in as short a time as possible but does the fact that the tournament is taking out some of the stand-out performers for the next couple of shows make that easier for him?
Cross Recoba: It’s all down t-
Steve Morrison: I hate to cut you off but we’ve gotten word that our cameras captured something that happened just moments ago!
We cut to the footage.
NOMAD walks toward the exit of the building, looking to get back on the road that he loves so dearly. He’s already lighting a cigarette, hand cupped in front of his face to protect the flame, when a sledgehammer arcs into view and slams hard into his chest.
Poena: YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM HIS CHOSEN!? YOU THINK TO DEFY HIS WILL?!
The sledgehammer comes down on NOMAD’s back as he leans forward to try and recover from the first blow, the impact making a sick THUD as it lands. Poena walks into the frame, brandishing the sledgehammer and still whipped up into a frenzy from his match.
Poena: You think you can defy Him and then get away! He knows where you are! He’s told me it’s time for you to PAY!
Steve Morrison: POENA JUST JUMPED NOMAD!!
Cross Recoba: What a Pearl Harbour!
Steve Morrison: He could put him on the shelf for good with that sledge hammer!
The sledge arcs down into the back of NOMAD’s knee, getting a pained grunt from him, the following shot to his hand getting more of a scream from the normally stoic NOMAD.
Poena: That’s right! Scream for Him! Give Him your pain! Pay your debts, heretic!
Poena slams the sledge down into NOMAD’s elbow before yelling and tossing it away. He moves NOMAD around and locks him into Penance, his face shifting into a sadistic, righteous glee.
Poena: This is how it would always have ended! It was prophesied! You were doomed from the start!
Steve Morrison: He has him in Penance! This isn’t to make a point, this is to get even!
Cross Recoba: With NOMAD out, Poena didn’t want to wait til the New Year to make his point!
Poena yanks NOMAD’s arms together in front of him, then laughs maniacally as he shifts his grip to put even more pressure on the hold, crossing his own arms and pulling with all his might. After a moment or two, a sickening ripping sound is heard, with NOMAD letting out a muffled scream as both of his arms pop out of joint, dislocated and likely broken. Road agents are finally arriving on the scene, horrified by the broken man left on the floor as Poena gets up and glares bloody murder at them with his red eye glowing.
Poena: Jugular 5:7-9 “And lo, look upon the results of defying His will! The blind and the ignorant shall bleed and break till they see the truth! No one can escape His gaze! "
Poena laughs his soul-chilling laugh as the road agents hesitate, the laugh seeming to skip like a record before Poena is suddenly gone... leaving what is left of NOMAD to be recovered.
Steve Morrison: We need medics now! NOMAD could well be on the shelf for months after that!
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen how vicious Poena can be inside the ring, outside of it he’s a danger to everyone!
The scene cuts away to the crowd.
Steve Morrison: Fans, what you saw was shocking. We can only inform you that NOMAD is getting immediate medical attention.
Cross Recoba: It will all, of course, be paid for by Tap Out Wrestling.
Steve Morrison: To move on quickly, Laura Messier is standing in the ring to introduce our Main Event!
Laura Messier: It's time FOR YOUR MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! THE ICONIC CIVIL WAR!!
A loud cheer echoes around the Lansky Ballroom.
The sounds of a siren playing in the background of the whispers of a voice, the lights become dark inside of the arena as the titantron lights up with a feed of static, showing multiple shots of Jason Long holding a collection of championships over the past five years.
As the opening synthwave beat to ‘Kingslayer’ begins to play over the speakers and echoing throughout the arena as it erupts the crowd, a singular spotlight separates itself from the rest and shines down onto the entrance curtain. With the vocals from Oli Sykes kicking in, the figure of Jason Long steps out from behind the curtain to a loud ovation, with a large smile resting on his face as he stops at the top of the ramp.
Steve Morrison: There walks a man who wants to be King!
Cross Recoba: He knows that a win here sends him right to the final at XHF Supremacy. That's a comforting prize because the loser has to win at our January event and then have a reduced camp going into that final match!
The King glances down onto the camera looking up towards him, a cocky smile being given towards the camera before opening up his jacket and pushing it behind him– beginning his walk down to the ring, mouthing off to the camera as he does.
Steve Morrison: In Mav's mind, he's the true Icon of the stable.
Cross Recoba: He made no bones about the fact that he stayed whilst Diamond and Bobby were out and when you look at his title record, he makes a good case.
With the lights all focusing down onto the ringside area, Jason moves along the floor and hops up onto the apron - on the side where the hardcam can get a good look at him - as he leans back against the ropes before entering through the middle ropes. Jason heads into the closest corner to him and climbs up onto the second rope, looking out into the crowd.
Steve Morrison: He didn't get the win at Global Dominance but now, four years later, he can right that result
Cross Recoba: To qualify for the tournament, Long went for a nuclear finish with his top-rope Kingslayer. To get to this match, he used his wits to beat NOMAD but tonight, he's going to need everything in his locker to get past his fellow Icon...
Jason out-stetches his arms wide and roars out to the crowd, keeping a smile on his face as he does. He removes his leather ring jacket and throws it down to the ringside area before hopping down off of the ropes and leaning back against the turnbuckles.
The house lights go out as the crowd continues to buzz.
Top, to the top, ain't never gonna stop
To the top, to the top, ain't never gonna stop
Pyro explodes as the chorus of "Legendary" by Skillet begins to play and the crowd erupts into cheers and chants begin to break out of "Icons" and "Diamond Club".
Jack Diamond emerges on the stage with a huge grin on his face, nodding his head to the beat of the music. He adjusts his leather jacket and soaks in the moment. He mouths the word "Legendary" and begins to make his way to the ring acknowledging the fans as only Jack Diamond can do.
Steve Morrison: Diamond's camp was keen to stress that whatever injuries he took during his war with Poena are now fully healed.
Cross Recoba: I'd take that with a pinch of salt, our medical team cleared him but we're not looking for a full bill of health to pass. If I'm Long, I'd be keen to see just how healed that arm of his really is.
As he gets to the ring, he climbs the stairs and walks the apron over to the far turnbuckle. He ascends the outside of the corner and plays to the crowd as more pyro goes off.
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, legendary
Steve Morrison: Diamond knows that all that stands between him and a slot in the tournament final is the man he mentored, took under his wing.
Cross Recoba: We know what winning the belt means for him, now he needs to put aside any friendship or comradeship and focus on the prize.
Jack jumps down into the ring and heads to the center before throwing up the Diamond sign to loud cheers. He removes his leather jacket, handing it to the timekeeper before heading to his corner and stretching and preparing for the match.
Steve Morrison: He showed just how much punishment he could take against Poena, can he put away Long without taking so much damage tonight?
Cross Recoba: It's not an easy ask. Since Long lost to Close in our first show, he's been one of the most consistent and high-performing wrestlers on the roster. Whoever comes out with the win tonight, they won't have it easy!
Laura Messier once more returns to the center of the ring.
Laura Messier:Introducing first … wrestling out of Wexford Town, County Wexford, Ireland and weighing in tonight at one hundred and ninety-five pounds… HE IS THE LAST BREATHING MERCENARY… THE KING OF WRESTLING… THIS IS JAAAAAASSSOONNNNNNNNNNN LOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!!
Long raises a fist and splits the crowd in their support in doing so.
Laura Messier: AND HIS OPPONENT! Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Cherokee, North Carolina. He made weight at one-hundred-and-ninety-five pounds...THE ACE...OF SPADES!!! JACK.....DIAMOND!!!
Diamond steps out from his corner and raises his own fist. The lines in the crowd have now been drawn.
Steve Morrison: You can feel the tension all through the Lansky Ballroom tonight!
Cross Recoba: Like any Civil War, friends fight friends and families are divided. Just look at our crowd tonight!
MAIN EVENT
TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TITLE TOURNAMENT MATCH
SINGLES MATCH
Jason Long vs Jack Diamond
You could cut the tension in the air with any choice of random bladed implements as Jason Long and Jack Diamond approach each other. The electricity in the building, the excitement is palpable as the two former Icons try to gauge which man will open the contest, both being extremely cagey with an opponent they know oh so well. Jack reaches a hand out, feeling for a loose limb but Long grabs him by the wrist and quickly transitions to a rapid standing wrist lock, then round behind The Ace of Spades to a hammerlock which he drops for a back waist lock, looking maybe for a German Suplex. Jack feels for when the grip goes looser in an attempt to switch it to a more lifting motion and slips out and round, hitting a standing switch. Long tries to worm his way loose so Diamond drops the subtlety and drives both palms into the small of The Man Who Won’t Die’s ack, firing the Irishman off into the ropes. Long chest bumps the ropes to shed some momentum and turns into a beautiful arching enzuigiri but Diamond hops out of position backwards to make Long whiff. The Best Bout Machine gets quickly back to his feet for the reset.
Crowd: IIIIII-CONS! IIIIII-CONS!
Steve Morrison: When two wrestlers know each other as well as this pair it’s hard for either man to gain any sort of an advantage.
Cross Recoba: I’ve been in this situation before. It’s a different experience fighting a former partner. There are no secrets to your game. It’s all on execution to win this sort of match.
Jack Diamond has his range finding on point as he waits for Jason Long to stray into his range before lashing a vicious kick into the side of the former Maverick. Long grunts and drops back into a more vertical stance, firing back with a round kick of his own against the ribs of Diamond. Diamond closes the distance with an arcing overhand right which Long raises an arm to block and then fires back with a forearm which causes an arc of sweat to fly off Diamond's head. Diamond throws a looser overhand strike to make Long raise his arm to block before stepping in again to drive a knee lift into Long’s midsection. The King jolts backwards and composes himself quickly, throwing a vicious looking head high kick but Diamond flattens himself to the mat and hooks a leg, dropping Long flat onto the mat and stacking the Irishman in a high cover…
ONE!
Long fires out his legs to either side of Diamond’s body, rolling the pair over with a leg scissors and placing himself on top of the pile…
ONE!
Jack postures up, throwing Maverick off him and gaining control of the stack, pushing down with a double leg press…
ONE!
Long swings his own body forwards, levering Jack back to the mat and applying the pin cover with his legs…
ONE!
Jack squirms out of the predicament, both men stand and face off again to a round of applause from the crowd!
Crowd: THIS IS WREST-LING! THIS IS WREST-LING!
Cross Recoba: Smart crowd we have in here tonight. This is wrestling. Good wrestling. Maybe even great.
Steve Morrison: It’s going to take a lot to separate this pair. A mistake, perhaps.
Cross Recoba: You can wait all night for a mistake between these two competitors. This is going to need a manufactured opportunity.
Again Diamond flashes a kick at Jason Long’s sternum but the Irishman grits his teeth and steps in, relying on the power of his forearm to force an opening. Long connects forcefully with Diamond’s jaw, rocking the Ace’s head back with the force of the blow. Diamond hasn’t got the room to throw his more expansive strikes as Long presses him but a couple of short punches at least slow his former partner’s assault down a little. The Best Bout Machine goes for the overhooks, looking to trap Diamond in a Muay Thai clinch but Diamond is sharp to that and ducks backwards out of Long’s reach, making the younger wrestler lunge forward, a little off balance and Jack simply hops backwards onto the balls of his feet before cocking his rear leg back and UNLEASHING A HUGE SUPERKICK THAT DROPS JASON LONG TO THE MAT INSTANTLY!
Steve Morrison: ICONKICK! ICONKCK! ICONKICK!
Diamond drops to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Long kicks out!
Cross Recoba: Either man in this match can hit that Iconkick out of thin air. It’s fast and if you’re not prepared for it, it’s going to knock you out of your boots straight away.
Now, with a little breathing space, Jack Diamond backs off to the ropes. He hangs off the top rope for a few seconds, catching his breath a little before charging in and driving the point of his elbow right into Jason Long’s rib cage. Knowing that the Stacked Deck is as much an attack on the opponent’s sternum from how they land for a height as it is on the skull, Jack has a look of grim determination on his usually genial face as he rolls back up to his feet again and backs to the ropes before heading in again and dropping a second pointed elbow. This time Jack stands in place and starts laying the boots into the prone form of Jason Long, viciously attacking the ribs of the Wexfordian. Diamond backs off and considers his option for a second as Long lies there with a pained expression crossing his youthful face.
Steve Morrison: Jack Diamond giving no quarter to his former stablemate.
Cross Recoba: It’s as much a sign of respect as anything else. Jack knows he can’t go easy on Jason Long and he’s not going to patronise him by holding back.
Steve Morrison: Or give him any favours.
Cross Recoba: Not with a place in the final, with advantage, on the line.
Picking it up a gear, Diamond just hauls Jason Long off the mat and quickly traps The King in a back waistlock. Long still has enough about him to flash a back elbow at Jack Diamond’s head but the wily veteran bobs out of the way and arches backwards, throwing the Loch Garman Legend backwards with a steepling German Suplex. Jackie Boy gets back to his feet quicker than a hiccup and reaches down to grab an arm of the Best Bout Machine, dragging Long to his feet and slinging Long to the ropes in one motion. As Long rebounds, Jack squats down a little and pushes up and into Long’s ribs, forcing him HIGH into the air with an enormous flapjack. Jack has a long way to fall as he drops flat from out of the sky in a heap on the canvas. Meanwhile Diamond has backed off to a corner, keeping his eyes on exactly where the former Maverick is laying. There is a break, a pause in the action as Diamond waits for Long to get back to a vertical base and as the dazed Jason Long turns slowly to face the corner Jack Diamond is standing in, DIAMOND GETS A FULL HEAD OF STEAM UP AND LAUNCHES HIS ENTIRE PERSON LIKE HE’S SHOT FROM A TREBUCHET, SQUASHING JASON LONG DOWN TO THE MAT WITH HIGH SPEED A CROSS BODY BLOCK! Diamond stays down to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Long lifts a shoulder from the mat.
Steve Morrison: That was very close. Jack Diamond can taste the final!
Cross Recoba: There’s a reason Jack can smell victory. You don’t go through this many matches without defeat unless you’re confident in your own ability.
Crowd: LET’S GO JA-SON! LET’S GO JACK! LET’S GO JA-SON! LET’S GO JACK!
Jack Diamond has victory well in his sights as he grabs Long’s arm again. One more uncomfortable wrench to his feet and Long is set up to be launched at full force into the corner. Diamond backs off a few steps before CHARGING ACROSS THE RING AND LEAPING INTO THE AIR, LOOKING TO CONNECT RIBS TO TARGETED RIBS…
Steve Morrison: DIAMOND SPLASH!
...BUT LONG GRABS ALONG THE TOP ROPE AND HAULS HIMSELF OUT OF THE WAY OF JACK’S BODY WHICH SPLATS INTO THE TURNBUCKLES! LONG GOES TO A FAMILIAR PLACE AS HE QUICKLY DRAWS HIS LEG BACK AND SUPERKICKS JACK IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD AND JACK DIAMOND DROPS TO THE MAT!
Steve Morrison: NO! ICONKICK FROM LONG!
Long drops to his knees himself, suffering from Diamond’s offense and it takes him a few seconds to scramble over and cover his former stablemate…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Diamond kicks out.
Steve Morrison: The Iconkick! The move that slayed a God!
Cross Recoba: Superkick. Iconkick. Call it what you will, it’s always effective.
Steve Morrison: Calling Card?
Cross Recoba: I’d prefer if you didn’t call it... that.
With Jack Diamond temporarily stunned, Jason Long has a chance to gain the momentum within the match. He gets to his knees and just paintbrushes the back of The Ace of Spades’ head with some short palm strikes, designed to disorient as much as to do real damage. Long looks up towards the corner and shakes his head, instead just using the ropes to lever himself up to a vertical base. Long kicks away at Jack’s supine form, jabbing the point of his boot into Diamond’s ribs three, four, five times before using the ropes to lift himself up a little to ass some extra height to a knee drop. The Wizard from Wexford wraps Jack Diamond in a North/South head lock and Gator Rolls away from the corner before slowly drawing his knees in and keeping the headlock in tight as he forces the pair to stand. Long flooks out to the crowd for a second and draws breath before lifting Jack Diamond up into a vertical suplex before sitting out, SPIKING JACK DIAMOND’S HEAD STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE MAT.
Long covers…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Jack kicks out.
Steve Morrison: BRAAAAAAAINBUSTAH! But it’s not enough.
Cross Recoba: Jason Long looks like he’s about to get rolling in this match. I feel the tide has turned here.
Steve Morrison: Interesting that Long thought about going to the top rope there.
Cross Recoba: Going to the top rope against Jack Diamond is a risk. Don’t set yourself up for your opponent’s finisher if you can avoid it.
Jason Long lets out a loud, “C’MON!” and pumps his fists to the joy of the crowd. He creates a little space from the fallen Diamond, eyeing up an avenue for his lethal striking game to take hold. Diamond stands, unaware of his opponent’s position and Jack charges, arm extended and WIPES JACK OUT WITH A HUGE, VICIOUS, PRECISELY DELIVERED LAAAAARIAAAATOOOOOO!
Steve Morrison: BLAAAADE RUNNAH!
Following up quickly, Long opts not to go for the cover and lets Diamond get to his feet and fires off a HUUUGE KNEE STRIKE TO JACKIE BOY’S FACE! Diamond staggers backwards. A SECOND KNEE STRIKE! Jack is on wobbly legs! MASSIVE SWINGING BACK ELBOW! Jack is forced right back to the ropes!
Steve Morrison: KING SLAYER! AND A SECOND! STARDUST BREAKER!
Jason Long cocks his leg back one more time… HUUUUUUUUUUGE ICONKICK TO THE FACE OF JACK DIAMOND….
NO SOLD! JACK DIAMOND RESPONDS! ICONKICK OF HIS OWN!
NO SOLD! BOTH MEN GO FOR ANOTHER ICONKICK! THEY CONNECT AT THE SAME TIME! BOTH MEN DROP TO THE CANVAS!
Steve Morrison: IT’S RAINING ICONKICKS IN LAS VEGAS TONIGHT!
The referee comes over and starts the count as both men are down…
ONE!
TWO!
Crowd: LET’S GO JA-SON! LET’S GO JACK! LET’S GO JA-SON! LET’S GO JACK!
THREE!
FOUR!
Steve Morrison: What a contest this has been so far! Both men are down.
Cross Recoba: These two competitors have been impossible to separate in this match. It’s been a shockingly even contest.
FIVE!
SIX!
Jason Long gets to one knee…
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
Crowd: LET’S GO JA-SON! LET’S GO JACK! LET’S GO JA-SON! LET’S GO JACK!
NINE!
Jack Diamond uses the bottom rope to lift himself off the mat…
TEE… AND JASON LONG GETS OFF THE MAT AS WELL!
Steve Morrison: BOTH MEN ARE UP! THIS MATCH WILL CONTINUE!
The two combatants, groggy and showing the signs of wear and tear from the match walk slowly, carefully towards each other. Their eyes lock and that tense energy and atmosphere from the start of the match is back. Two competitors who know each other so well, still evenly matched. Jack Diamond strikes first, throwing one of his looping strikes that crashes against the temple of Jason Long. Long stumbles backwards.
Crowd: JACK!
Long composes himself and returns fire by stepping in and blasting Jack Diamond across the face with one of his ever dangerous elbow smashes. Jack stumbles backwards a couple of steps..
Crowd: JASON!
Now it’s Jack who has to show some steel and he’s certainly able to deliver it, throwing a punch that has an unearthly amount of fire for this stage in the match, again staggering The Catalyst.
Crowd: JACK!
Jason Long is not one to let himself lose a striking exchange and he steps in confidently after regaining his balance and his elbow crashes against Diamond’s skull once more!
Crowd: JASON!
This time Jack Diamond steadies himself quickly and the pair close to the shortest of distances, each man overhooking with their left arm and THROWING A BARRAGE OF SHORT DISTANCE ELBOW STRIKES, NEITHER MAN RELENTING, NEITHER MAN GIVING A DAMN INCH!
Crowd: IIIII-CONS! IIIIII-CONS! IIIII-CONS!
Steve Morrison: This is turning into a total epic!
Cross Recoba: And the crowd is lapping it up.
The two men separate and suck wind for a few seconds, both flat out tired from the recent flurry of effort. Jack goes back to the basics and feels out again, looking for a loose limb. Jason Long, as he did at the start of the match, instantly reverses it, craftily switching to a hammerlock. Jack again standing switches but the former Maverick has learned that trick and instantly switches AGAIN. Long feels for the arm and spins Diamond out… AND THEN DRAGS HIM BACK IN, RAISING HIS ARM FOR A RIPCORD LARIAT…
AND DIAMOND DUCKS! HE KEEPS HOLD OF THE ARM AND WITH ALL THE MOMENTUM IN THE WORLD HE IRISH WHIPS MAVERICK INTO THE CORNER WITH A THUD! JACK FOLLOWS IN IMMEDIATELY, JUMPING INTO THE AIR LOOKING TO PRESS THE KING OF WRESTLING AGAINST THE TURNBUCKLES! LONG GRABS THE TOP ROPE TO HAUL HIMSELF OUT OF THE WAY AGAIN BUT JACK HAD CHANGED HIS ATTACK ANGLE SO HE ENDS UP HITTING WHERE JASON LONG HAD MOVED TO INSTEAD OF WHERE HE WAS!
Steve Morrison: DIAMOND SPLASH! DIAMOND SPLASH!
Not wanting to waste a second of time, Jack quickly grabs Jason Long around the waist and hoists him up onto the top rope. The Ace of Spades reaches up and locks up Jason Long’s head. JACK DIAMOND DRAGS JASON LONG OFF THE TOP ROPE IN A THREE QUARTER FACELOCK, CRASHING THE IRISHMAN INTO THE MAT…
Steve Morrison: STACKED DECK!
...BUT JASON LONG KNOWS HOW TO TAKE THE MOVE! HE SWINGS HIS LEGS FORWARDS WITH THE MOMENTUM OF BEING HAULED OFF THE ROPES AND THROWS HIS LEGS AROUND JACK DIAMOND’S BODY TO BLOCK THE IMPACT OF THE STACKED DECK!
Steve Morrison: NO!
Cross Recoba: WHAT… A… COUNTER!
With Jason Long stuck to his back like a limpet, Jack Diamond simply falls backwards, splatting Jason Long’s body onto the mat in an uncomfortable back press…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… NO! LONG GETS A SHOULDER UP! Long wriggles to reposition higher up Jack Diamond’s body as The Ace of Spades grits his teeth and gets slowly to a knee. Then to another knee. Bearing the full weight of Long, Jack JUST FLOPS BACKWARDS TO THE MAT, CRASHING JASON LONG DOWN AGAIN!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE… NO! JASON LONG GRABS ONTO THE BOTTOM ROPE AS THE PAIR ARE STILL NOT FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE CORNER!
Steve Morrison: OH MY GOD THAT WAS CLOSE!
It’s back to the well once more as Jack Diamond stresses and strains, Long not giving up the vice-like grip despite being repeatedly dropped flat on the mat. Diamond slowly, ever so slowly peels in his other foot before staggering backwards, Long’s weight feeling like a 400lb behemoth to the tired Ace of Spades. Jack tries to jump backwards again…
BUT JASON LONG REACHES UP AND AROUND AND SNAGS JACK DIAMOND’S HEAD! DIAMOND JUST DROPS TO HIS KNEES IN ANGUISH AS JASON LONG STARTS TO APPLY PRESSURE WITH A HEAVILY MODIFIED DRAGON SLEEPER! JACK DIAMOND COLLAPSES SIDEWAYS TO THE MAT, LONG GRASPING HIM, COBRA LIKE…
Steve Morrison: SANCTIFICATION! SANCTIFICATION! SANCTIFICATION!
Diamond is fading, and fading fast. Long’s eyes are almost glazed over, his focus purely on holding on to the submission rather than the noise and everything else going on.
JACK DIAMOND IS OUT OF OPTIONS!
JACK!
TAPS!
OUT!
Steve Morrison: JACK TAPS! JASON LONG HAS WON T|HIS ABSOLUTE WAR!
Crowd: THANK YOU BOTH! THANK YOU BOTH!
Laura Messier: Your winner of this match… AND GOING TO THE FINAL OF THE TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TOURNAMENT…THE BEST BOUT MACHINE….JASON….LONG!!!
Crowd: THANK YOU TAP-OUT! THANK YOU TAP-OUT!
Cross Recoba: We always aim to send the crowd home happy. And after that epic, I think we’ve succeeded.
With the crowd still applauding, Long offers a hand up to Jack Diamond.
Steve Morrison: After all they've just been through, will Jack take it?
Diamond looks at the hand and considers his options BEFORE TAKING IT AND GETTING TO HIS FEET!
The two men shake hands for a fight that will easily make the shortlist for Tap Out Match of the Year. The Lansky Ballroom erupts once more.
Crowd: I-CONS! I-CONS! I-CONS! I-CONS! I-CONS! I-CONS! I-CONS!
Long raises Diamonds arm along with his own!
‘Sanjuro’ by Denzel Curry fills the arena, the crowd still applauds the main event they just witnessed.
Steve Morrison: With the night now over, Cross, what was the Match of the Night?
Cross Recoba: It’s hard to look past what we just saw here and it seems the rest of the committee agree.
Steve Morrison: Diamond now pulls ahead of Poena with a total of four Match of the Nights making up over a third of his eleven points on the board.
Cross Recoba: Like we always say: Every. Match. Counts.
Steve Morrison: And with one match already on the card for December what else can we expect to se-
Morrison stops mid-sentence as the crowd in silenced horror watching Poena sliver under the ropes and into the ring…HE DROPS DIAMOND BACK TO THE MAT WITH A CROSS-LEGGED KNEEBREAKER BRAINBUSTER!!
Steve Morrison: HE JUST HIT ANATHEMA ON THE ACE!
Long now engages with Poena and he seems to be getting the upper hand as the two trade rights and lefts across the ring.
Cross Recoba: With Diamond facing either Poena or Close in the New Year it seems that The Scourge of Sanity wants to make sure he’s remembered!
Poena lands a liver shot to make Bas Rutten proud and lifts him up for a Money Flip…LONG LANDS ON HIS FEET!
Steve Morrison: Look who’s just come through the crowd and over the barrier!
Cross Recoba: We knew he’d try and get to Diamond if he could!
Rat Bastard can be seen climbing into the ring as Long leaps onto the middle-rope - SPRINGBOARD EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Steve Morrison: He connects with a Death Beam but Diamond looks vulnerable!
Indeed, Jack is seen using the ropes to get to his feet and doesn’t see the rushing back elbow of Rat Bastard!....SPINEBUSTER!!
Steve Morrison: Long’s in no place to help his one-time mentor!
Cross Recoba: Both men have gone through hell in their match, this is like watching jackals on the serengeti!
Jason and Poena are neck and neck as Poena, from the corner, evades a strike and traps the Best Bout Machine in his place. He throws vicious pointed elbow strikes into the throat of his man.
Steve Morrison: Poena has already taken out NOMAD and put away IVK, he’s looking for a hat-trick if he can get past Long!
Racing down the aisle, Merric runs to the ring and slides under the bottom rope.
Cross Recoba: We know that Poena and Aiden have already run into each other but Merric and Rat Bastard aren’t likely to be exchanging cell numbers anytime soon!
Rat Bastard has Diamond set up a Crucifix Powerbomb. The crowd noise increasing doesn’t tip the hat of the Awesome Bastard. MERRIC CLUBS HIM IN THE HEAD FROM BEHIND…RIPCORD LARIAT!!
Steve Morrison: TARGET NEUTRALIZED!!
Ratty gets to his feet on adrenaline alone but it’s clear he’s only with us physically…LEAPING STACKED DECK FROM DIAMOND!!
Steve Morrison: The roof is threatening to come off here in the Lansky Ballroom!
Long manages to catch the rising knee of Poena and hits a Leg Dragon Screw on Poena who rolls through. Diamond goes for the ICON KICK….
POENA DUCKS OUT THE WAY AND ROLLS OUT THE RING BUT THE TAP OUT ROAD AGENTS KEEP HIM BACK. ANOTHER SET OF TAP OUT OFFICIALS STAND BETWEEN THE ICONS AND MERRIC AND RAT BASTARD…
Steve Morrison: IT’S CHAOS AT THE TOP OF THE EVENING!
Cross Recoba: What an end to the night!
Steve Morrison: The Icons end the show with the Match of the Night but they must surely know that they’ve got multiple targets on their backs! We’ll be back on the 11th December with Tap Out Wrestling 9: Poena vs Collins II!!
