GUNS Cyber Monday Special
Nov 29, 2022 21:22:31 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Venom 🕷, and 4 more like this
Post by mosler on Nov 29, 2022 21:22:31 GMT -5
BANG! Brawl. Civil War Games. Oh Violent Night 3. Future at stake. It’s all a lot to take in for the duo known as Los Bang Hermanos, but instead of focusing on what they can’t change, they’re focus is on what’s next.
Kanyon: We need partners if we are going to stand a chance in this match. We need a pair of teammates that will not only help us overcome the odds, but that will totally piss off Spike and Steve. I have an idea, but I’m not sure how it’ll work out.
EC: I have a couple friends, but no one that would get under their skin. Javier has a crazy idea that fits the bill, but it includes the White Devil.
Kanyon: White Devil, Red Devil, I’ll even take the Green Devil if it helps us come out on top!
EC: Are you sure President? The White Devil is dangerous.
Kanyon: I’m sure. I have an idea on another, but I’ll have to go without you or Javier. This is someone who doesn’t like new people, or old people, or people.
EC: Sounds dangerous President. Are you sure you should go alone?
Kanyon: I’ll be fine. We go way back, and I always have Secret Service just in case. You go find the White Devil, whoever that is, and secure him for our team and I’ll go talk my old friend into one more match.
EC: One more match?
Kanyon: One. More. Match.
The GUNS Arena lies in darkness.
Suddenly a large screen above the entranceway lights up.
On the screen is an image of The Final Boss who is sunning himself on a tropical beach. Any more of a tan, and he would start to resemble Pepe Morales. Sitting up in his recliner, Sainovic raises his ray-bans to address the camera.
Zoran Sainovic: Ze digital age has had an immense impact on ze way our sport has been able to engage with our audience, so I see no reason why we don’t celebrate Cyber Monday to ze same degree as Black Friday. Apparently Magnus just enjoys watching clerks get trampled on for door crasher prices. So I have decided to honour our Internet reach with a GUNS Cyber Monday special. When looking for a potential opponent to defend ze X*Crown against... ze zeme continued, with zis seeming ze perfect occasion to collaborate with our fellow XHF affiliate, Sin City Championship Wrestling. SCCW has ze most popular YouTube feed of ze various organizations in our Network, and it is high time zey were acknowledged for zeir continued efforts. Remember, if you’re going to watch a wrestling show in Vegas, if it’s not Sin City – it’s not worth it.*
*This is a not so subtle Tap Out jab.
Zoran Sainovic: So tonight I put ze X*Crown on ze line against Raiden Ishimori. I look forward to a bandwidth testing challenge! I hope ze XHF faithful have a pleasant Cyber Monday, and Ishimori-san... good luck.
On this sign-off, the beach crashes – turning into a green screen. This then continues to Sainovic who starts to digitally fragment, until the screen is a grotesque collection of broken pixels – before suddenly cutting to black. As the screen dies a hundred others throughout the arena turn on. Computer monitor close-ups of XHF fans watching the show online appear on these feeds. The strategically placed monitors reveal GUNS Arena to be empty, replaced by these online viewers. From their living rooms, some fans hold up signs including “Zoran is a Face,” “BEEF fears Fury,” and “I Heart El Rey” – which appears to be held up by his mom. Along with the hundred monitors displaying fans, the production crew digitally adds hundreds of other fan feeds around them – so that the empty venue looks at capacity.
As the zoom infused arena roars to life, the screen cuts to a graphic...
When the image returns to ringside, the arena finally has human elements – as Sam Burton sits at the timekeeper’s table, while in the ring stands referee Chad Westlake. There are clearly camera operators and production crew presents, but they do a good job of staying hidden.
Phillips: Welcome fans to GUNS Cyber Monday!
There is a hollowness to Tom Phillips’ voice that suggest that even the announce crew aren’t on site.
Phillips: A one match presentation, but what a match! Still suffering from physical trauma incurred at End of Days, Zoran Sainovic looks to put his X*Crown on the line against SCCW’s Raiden Ishimori.
Magnus: I’ll miss the X*Crown, but losing it to SCCW is a small price to pay to see Zoran put down.
Phillips: Magnus – I didn’t expect you to join us.
The GUNS owner’s voice sounds even more distant like he’s recording it from the Motel 6 he lives in since losing the mansion to Redmond Fury in the divorce.
Magnus: Of course I’m going to be here – it’s MY show! Besides, you can’t be left alone with minors...
Phillips: The audience is streaming...
Magnus: We also needed someone who knows basic holds.
Phillips: Touché.
Magnus: Now let’s get this started-
Phillips: I alread-
Magnus: Hello fans! Welcome to the Gun Show Cyber Monday Special.
Phillips: ...Not to be confused with Black Friday episode this is a special event.
Magnus: Yeah just a few days after my big event Zoran has to throw himself an episode all for himself.
Phillips: He’s just following the path you laid down when El Rey was X*Crown Champion.
Magnus: You mean copying me.
Phillips: What can I say; everyone wants your job, Magnus. Speaking of which, lets throw it over to Sylvia Starr in GUNS arena for the introductions...
Magnus: I could have done that.
Phillips: This place was a bit of a sausage fest.
Magnus: Too soon.
Phillips: Wait, you lost Sausage Fest in the divorce too? What holidays are left...
Sylvia Starr’s pipes in over the PA system...
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall, has a sixty minute time limit, and is for the XHF X*Crown!!!
The volume rises on the monitors for a thunderous pop from the disembodied audience.
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): Entering first the challenger – representing Sin City Championship Wrestling, he comes to us from Yawata, Kyoto, Japan... stands at 6 and a half inches, and weighs in at 207lbs... please give a WARM GUNS welcome to...
BONE COLD
RAIDEN ISHIMORI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#A cold and empty hole#
#The darkest place I know#
#Is where I hid myself for so long#
The tron shows an image of Jormungandr unmasking, before cutting to a quick montage of Raiden Ishimori’s greatest hits – with an emphasis on his recent Harbinger work. These images are set to the high tempo angst of Pay Money to My Pain’s Resurrection, which pumps over the PA system. On a particular high note current SCCW Double Down champion steps through the curtains. Bone Cold takes a moment to survey the odd set-up to the artificially full arena, but if it phases him – the Harbinger of Pain doesn’t let on. After a beat, Raiden strikes out down the aisle in-sync to his theme.
Phillips: Raiden Ishimori – considering his Double Down partner, Daigo Arakawa’s recent successes with the Junior heavyweight championship, will Bone Cold be the next harbinger to claim a Global championship for SCCW?
Magnus: It wouldn’t be an upset. The man has won Network awards for best star to not have gold, and most likely to rectify that. This is his forth shot at the X*Crown, he has grown a lot since the last time. Hand picking this contender is yet another testament to Zoran’s grotesque ego.
Phillips: I think he just wants the best possible matches for the fans...
Magnus: How’d that work out for his last run?
Entering the ring, Ishimori works out against the ropes, awaiting his opponent.
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): And his opponent, OUR champion... standing at 6’1”, weighing in at 242lbs, coming to us from Atlanta, Georgia – click some like buttons for...
THE FINAL BOSS –
ZORAN SAINOVIIIIIIIIIIIIIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“When the Man Comes Around” by Johnny Cash plays over the PA system. A series of white pyro explode in short bursts making their way up the entrance ramp, the final burst curing occurring just on the line...
#There's a man goin' 'round takin' names#
#And he decides who to free and who to blame#
#Everybody won't be treated all the same#
#There'll be a golden ladder reachin' down#
#When the man comes around#
A single gunmetal grey gloved hand holds back the curtains. Zoran Sainovic exits through them to a surprising number of cheers. The former commissioner is decked out in a white Armani suit, a jewel encrusted lapel pin representing his X*Crown status over the treasure trove of world titles belts. The flash photography against the pin is almost blinding. His left arm is still in a cast, heavily fortified, and wrapped to his body with an industrial brace and sling, that match the colour of the suit.
Phillips: We hope you fans are enjoying the long weekend, for the champion it has been a VERY long weekend. This is his third defence in four days!
Magnus: With all the white and decent behaviour, he tries to act like an angel – but you know who else had wings? Icarus. And Zoran is testing his luck against the sun one too many times!
The Final Boss enters the ring, cuing a final volley of white pyro.
#When the man comes around...#
Reaching up with his good hand, Sainovic removes the lapel pin that represents the titles – handing it to referee Chad Westlake. Westlake holds the pin up to Ishimori, before handing it to timekeeper Sam Burton. Though on monitors the crowd are at a fever pitch, as Sainovic and Ishimori stare across at each other.
DING! DING! DING!
The two men circle each other at a methodical pace, trying to feel one another out. Ishimori starts to shoot in, but pulls back as Sainovic shifts his posture. The circling continues with a few more teases.
Phillips: Raiden the superior technician, currently sizing up the champion’s reach – seeing just how mobile he is with one wing.
Magnus: I bet the arm isn’t even really injured.
Phillips: Why would Zoran subject himself to an obvious disadvantage like that if he didn’t need to? What possible reason could he have to trick all of us?
Magnus: Just to be a dick.
Phillips: You’ve lost the plot, Magnus.
Raising his gunmetal grey glove in the air, Zoran calls for a one handed test of strength. Ishimori complies, only for the larger man to muscle into a headlock. Quick to slide out, Bone Cold gets Sainovic from behind with a waistlock – only for Zoran to break it with a wild elbow. The two circle again, going for a would-be bow-and-collar tie up that only looks slightly awkward due to Sainovic only having the one available arm. Despite the weight advantage on Sainovic’s part, it doesn’t take long for Ishimori to turn it into a headlock of his own. Reaching up, Sainovic tries to force the break – but Ishimori pivots away from these grasps, applying more pressure from an increasingly awkward angle on Zoran’s neck. Grabbing a half-waistlock, Zoran attempts an improvised belly-to-back suplex – hoisting Ishimori up in the air, only for Raiden to shift his weight to maintain control and get his feet back on the ground. Again brought to a knee, Zoran lays some forearms into Ishimori’s back – loosening the grip, until he can fire him off into the ropes. Ishimori returns with a closeline, which Sainovic absorbs to slap on another headlock of his own. Grabbing an ankle, Ishimori yanks the leg out – breaking the lock, and sending Sainovic to the canvas. Hanging onto the leg, Raiden pulls back to hyperextend it, then pulls a second time. Sainovic sits up, trying to bat him off with a forearm smash, only for Ishimori to turn it into an inside cradle. This gets a 1 count, before Sainovic shifts his weight to reverse it into a cradle of his own. This also gets 1. The two roll around the canvas trading different pinning techniques for 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2! The chain wrestling sequence ends with Ishimori seeing an opening for a cobra clutch, only for Sainovic twist away and turn it into another headlock. This seems to be a point of pride for him.
Phillips: Never thought I’d see Zoran chain wrestling, just chain smoking.
Magnus: Don’t let the dozen pin attempts fool you, this match is still in its infancy and the smoking is going to catch up with him.
This time Raiden exits the headlock with a belly-to-back suplex, the angle of which SPIKES Sainovic on his head. This gets a 2 count. Grabbing Zoran’s raised arm, Bone Cold applies a hammerlock armbar – and uses it to pull the older man to his feet, before taking him over again with an armdrag. Landing on his feet, Sainovic turns, trying to hit a haymaker – only for Ishimori to tie-up the arm and take him over with another armdrag. With Sainovic in a seated position on the canvas, Ishimori extends the arm then drives his knee into it – rolling through for a second knee, before transitioning into a cross armbreaker.
Phillips: A lot of Sainovic’s opponents this month have focused on the damaged arm, but Ishimori content to work over the other one.
Magnus: If Zoran thought his amputee act was drawing sympathy, wait until Ishimori turns him into a double amputee.
Phillips: So hot.
Magnus: Shut up.
Rising to a knee, Sainovic puts his weight into Ishimori turning him on his shoulders for a pin – it gets to 2 before the armbreaker is released. Stretching his arm to return circulation, Sainovic keeps Ishimori grounded with a thrust kick to the head. Still working through the pain in his good arm, Zoran decides to follow up with another kick right to the jaw. A third effort proves fruitless, as Ishimori catches the foot and takes Sainovic over with a dragonscrew legwhip. Raiden tries to hang onto apply an anklelock, but Zoran mule kicks him off. Both men rise for another flourish grounded in amateur wrestling, that ultimately ends with Ishimori going for a cobra clutch, but Zoran spinning out and nailing a forearm smash. A follow-up forearm is hooked into another armbar by Bone Cold. Sainovic tries to pull out, only for Ishimori to once again apply the hammerlock to it. Leaning into the armbar, Sainovic shouldertackles Ishimori into the corner to break the hold. Even after the hold is broken, Sainovic delivers a second shoulder to Ishimori’s abdomen. Fired up, Ishimori comes out of the corner with a series of spinning elbows. Sainovic responds with a pressure point, only for Ishimori to duck under the devastating shotei variation and pop-up with a gutwrench suplex that again drops the champion on his neck. Not wanting to show pain, Zoran is actually the first to his feet – looking to repay the stiff head drop with a hellacious closeline – only to have it turned into another armbar. Since becoming a nice person, Zoran tries not to swear in public, but the response to this development is audible.
Phillips: I’ve never seen Sainovic move so quickly to the ropes.
Magnus: Referee giving Raiden a five count to break – he leaves it on till 4. I tell you since he aligned with Hunter Storms, Ishimori has really ramped up the intensity – and there is no one I’d rather see it unleashed on than our pathetic former commissioner.
Not appreciating the delayed break, when Ishimori finally does let go – Zoran shoves him hard. Raiden quickly shoots back in, but Sainovic comes off the ropes with a Yakuza kick. Seconds after Ishimori hits the canvas, Sainovic is on top, stretching the younger star with the Interrogator ’08. This time it is Bone Cold who rolls it over into a pin – getting a 2 count before Zoran releases it. The two engage in another series of amateur counter wrestling, a little awkward due to Zoran’s injury but still move for move in a chain sequence.
Phillips: With his latest X run, we’ve seen Sainovic avoid his usual plunder – trying to focus on fundamentals over flying guillotines. Prove that he is more than a knife.
Magnus: That posturing is going to cost him. Zoran might be able to avoid winning with eye gouges and sickles against other brawlers, but you don’t try that cute technical shit against Bone Cold – Raiden’ll break your arm in six places then find a way to nicely compartmentalize it up your own ass. Like Tetris. As XHF technicians go, the man is a SCARY machine!
Sainovic starts to go for another headlock, when Bone Cold gets behind him. Ishimori begins to go for a cobra clutch, only for Zoran to buck him with an ipponzei. This time it’s Raiden to hits the canvas hard. Sainovic slaps on the high angle half-Boston which he has begun calling the Interrogator ’22 – only for Ishimori to scramble for the ropes. As Sainovic lets go of the hold, Ishimori pulls himself out to the floor – trying to walk off the damage. Not wanting to give him the breather, Sainovic follows Ishimori to the outside catching him from behind with a kneelift that sends the younger star into the guardrail. Sainovic tries to follow it up with a running hip attack, but Ishimori sidesteps it – leaving Zoran to crash so hard into the guardrail that he goes over – smashing into one of the fan representing monitors. Sima from Calcutta explodes in a hundred pieces of glass, as her stand falls back to the floor.
Phillips: Even with a virtual audience, no one is safe from GUNS action!
Magnus: If anything these fans are more fragile.
Using the guardrail to pick himself up, Zoran tries to shake the broken glass from his hair. Chad Westlake is already up to 5 on a 10 count. There are a few trickles of blood from tiny scratches on Zoran’s forehead, but all things considered – this was relatively easy on the consequences. This momentary distraction is just the opening Ishimori needs – who hooks the champion by the throat. Spinning him around, Raiden drags Sainovic back to the ringside of the guardrail with a bulldog. Trying to prevent this from happening, Zoran grabs one of the monitor stands – only it’s not that firm, and he ends up dragging Johan from Amsterdam’s monitor over with him. As the bulldog plants Sainovic on the concrete floor, Johan makes his way next to him before exploding in another shower of glass. Hearing Westlake up to 9, Ishimori slides under the bottom rope to reset the ten count – then returns to his prey.
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Phillips: CHALK OUTLINE!
Bone Cold drives the X*Crown champion face first into the concrete floor with his patented snap reverse DDT variation. The only thing cushioning Zoran’s head is the glass from the monitor. Legs spasming like Apollo Creed, Sainovic has a four inch gash across his forehead. The crimson mask that is forming made all the uglier by the fact that his white suit is still relatively untouched. That won’t last long. Grabbing the unconscious champion by the belt, Ishimori slowly drags him back towards the ring – rolling him under the bottom rope.
Phillips: Sainovic is completely out of it, and Bone Cold gets him back in the ring – there’s a hook of the leg, and the cover-
ONE!!!
TWO!!!
TH-kickout!
Looking to finish it, Ishimori starts to drag Sainovic up – only to apply a cobra clutch. Bone Cold attempts to ground it – effectively locking in his Last Dance Lullaby – but Sainovic has the presence of mind to put on the breaks. Ishimori tries to put his weight into it, but the more he tries to pull off the grounding – the more Sainovic’s instincts kick in. Eventually Ishimori has to give up on Lullaby, and instead drags Sainovic head first into canvas with a cobra clutch suplex.
Magnus: Cobra Clutch Suplex, bridging into a pin-
ONE!
TWO!
T-drat!
Phillips: Fistful of ropes! Despite appearances, still a lot of fight in the champion! It looked like Raiden was trying to finish things with his Last Dance Lullaby, but Zoran has it well scouted.
Clutching Zoran’s arm, Ishimori pulls it off the ropes before applying a standing wristlock. Sick of the arm attacks, Sainovic turns, then rolls through until he’s able to pull Raiden over with a SPIKED small package. This gets a 2 count, with Ishimori letting go of the wristlock to get a shoulder-up. Before Zoran can retract his arm, however, Ishimori applies another cross armbreaker. The sleeve of the suit gives a little wiggle room, allowing Zoran to press down getting a thumb to the throat for an Oriental Spike. Ishimori coughs but doesn’t let go, so Sainovic reaches down further – grabbing the throat and lifting him for a makeshift chokeslam. Still doesn’t break. A second semi-chokeslam! Still nothing. A third with surprising elevation finally gets Ishimori to let go. Shaking his arm to get the sting out, Sainovic falls back on Ishimori with a standing senton for an admittedly sloppy pin.
Phillips: Repeater chokeslam to force the break, and here’s the pin-
ONE!
TWO!
Magnus: What an arrogant cover, Sainovic leaving himself open to a BACKSLIDE!
ONE!
TWO!
Phillips: BIG KICKOUT! Both men racing up to their feet – Sainovic jumping into Ishimori with a GUNS FC Special! Raiden with the presence of mind to bring his arms up to block, if that had connected? Goodnight! It didn’t knock him out, but it was still strong enough to knock him over – and Sainovic with the pin-
ONE!
TWO!
THR-
Magnus: HA! Ishimori punching Zoran’s arm to make him give up his own pin!
Before Raiden can recover, Zoran nails him with a thrust kick to the head – splitting his lip open. A second thrust kick is slower, allowing Ishimori to weave under, only for Sainovic to turn it into a triangle choke. Giving his arm a rest, Zoran clamps the leg choke in hard. Ishimori tries to spin out, but Sainovic has it locked in. Raiden tries to grab the ropes, but Sainovic twists – turning the younger man away from them. Ishimori tries to push Sainovic into a pin for the break, and gets a 2 count before Zoran turns – breaking the pin, but keeping the hold applied. They repeat this for a 1, 2, 1, and 1 count – with the ring positioning of each pin attempt almost letting Ishimori reach the ropes only to drag him away. The canvas is also covered in blood from Zoran’s forehead, and Ishimori’s lip. Ishimori looks like he’s going to try for one more pin, only instead of following through he leaps earlier – finally getting a toe on the bottom rope for the break. Both men slowly get back up. Ishimori looks like he’s fading from the extended period in the choke. Sainovic charges in for another GUNS FC Special – only for Bone Cold to side step at the last second and turn it into a overhead gutwrench backbreaker back flipped into a DDT!
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Phillips: CASTLES FALL!!!
Magnus: What a REVERSAL – if this was a game, I’d swear he was counting frames!
Phillips: There’s the cover-
ONE!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!
THREE-
Shoulder up at the 2.99999999 mark. Ishimori immediately covers again for a 2 count. Looking less than pleased, he rises stomping away at Sainovic’s arm – before nailing a T-bone suplex. Rather than go for the pin, Bone Cold applies another armbar. Fighting up to his feet, Sainovic breaks it with a rapid fire headbutt – the glass lodged in his forehead further opening up Raiden’s lip.
Phillips: This match has been going a while for all the blood that’s flowing.
Magnus: Well, if I was involved in the production of the show we’d have paramedics and blood transfusions waiting in the wings – but since Zoran wanted to make it his own, maybe they’ll give them both a rusty safety pin to patch up with?
Sainovic whips Ishimori out of the corner, only for Bone Cold to reverse it – shooting The Final Boss hard into the opposite corner. Fortunately Zoran is able to bring his hand up to soften the hit, unfortunately his working arm is basically in agony, and using it to block just makes the situation worse. Sainovic staggers out, only to eat a dropkick to the arm. Sainovic pulls the right arm away from a second dropkick, which hits him in his casted arm – not actually an improvement. The force of kick sends Sainovic back into the corner. Grabbing the right arm, Ishimori wraps it around the top rope, hyperextending it – then pulls back as he hits a facewash. This ends with Bone Cold driving his foot into Sainovic’s throat, choking him while extending the arm. Westlake gives a 5 count before forcing the break.
Phillips: Ishimori letting go of the arm, but leaving the boot – wait –
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Phillips: AGAIN SAINOVIC SLAPS ON THE INTERROGATION ’22!
Magnus: Way too close to the ropes, it didn’t take long for Ishimori to get into them, forcing the break.
The Final Boss stops the half-boston, but then still holding the leg drags Ishimori away from the corner and reapplies it. Westlake argues that it wasn’t a clean break, and he needs to let it go. A five count later, he does. Ishimori tries to shoot in for a takedown, but Sainovic stops it with an axe kick. Grabbing the ankle again, Sainovic pulls off a one-handed giant swing. The problem with this approach, along with how dangerous it is, that the free leg can defend – so it’s of no surprise when a mid-air Ishimori manages to hit a makeshift enzguri after the tenth rotation. This forces Sainovic to let go, but as Zoran slumps to his knees – Ishimori is sent careening through the air – hitting the corner post HARD. Zoran crawls over to cover for another very near fall.
Phillips: Sainovic really favouring his GOOD arm, looking to end things with a Blade Storm-
Magnus: HA! Going to the spinning well a little too often - Ishimori getting under the first knife-edge and – there’s a TIGER SUPLEX – BRIDGED!
ONE!!!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THRE-!
Sainovic manages to get a shoulder up. Ishimori starts to apply a cobra clutch, but the moment that Sainovic feels the familiar cross, he gets a foot in the ropes. Turning Zoran, Raiden knees him in the stomach, and tries to hit a DDT – but Sainovic grabs the ropes to put the breaks on – leaving the challenger to fall to the canvas. He then follows it with a spinning elbow – which causes Zoran as much pain as Raiden. The Final Boss stomps away at Bone Cold, assessing the damage to his arm. Reaching down, Sainovic locks on the Interrogation '01. Westlake asks Raiden if he submits, but Bone Cold is defiant. While trying to keep Ishimori away from the ropes, Sainovic leaves himself open to a rolling cradle that gets 2.5. They both scramble back up with Ishimori starting to go for a Modern Misery, but Sainovic avoiding it with a Pressure Point for 2.7. Sainovic tries to follow it up with a one-armed variation on his sickle clutch, but Ishimori reverses into a fireman’s carry before hitting a TKO for 2.8. A bridging Dragon Suplex gets 2.9. Again Ishimori starts to set-up the Last Dance Lullaby – but Sainovic knocks him off with a glassy headbutt, then hiptosses Raiden hard into the ring post. A Boss Rush gets 2.9. Frustrated, Zoran locks on an Interrogation ’13.
Phillips: Ishimori still looks woozy from that Boss Rush, which might be the only thing numbing the pain from that Interrogation!
Magnus: Ishimori has danced with Hyperion in barbwire, to go through that kind of physical trauma – do you think he’d ever give up in a match with the crown on the line?
Repositioning closer to the centre of the ring, Sainovic transitions into his Interrogation ’18. As Westlake checks on Ishimori, the camera notices that in the virtual arena, the seats that had been occupied by Sima & Johan’s monitors now have El Combatiante and Javier sitting in them.
Magnus: What are they doing here?
Phillips: Probably scouting talent for Team Kanyon in the upcoming Civil War Games – and from the heart we’re seeing tonight, the former President would be lucky to recruit either of these men.
Magnus: Get a room!
With Ishimori showing no signs of quitting, Sainovic changes approaches – hitting a Tornado DDT. Barely able to use his good right arm at this point, Zoran cringes, dragging Raiden to the centre of the ring – then takes position.
Phillips: Zoran calling for the Crescent Moon Killer!
Magnus: WAKE UP, RAIDEN!
Phillips: We saw that bicycle kneestrike take out Dinosaur Bones at End of Days...
Magnus: Yeah, that’d do it. Ugh. I can’t watch.
Once again Sainovic starts to go for his Crescent Moon Killer kneestrike-
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-but Ishimori ducks under – again catching Sainovic with his patented cobra clutch, only this time the downward momentum of the would-be strike allows the challenger to ground it.
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Phillips: LAST DANCE LULLABY!
Magnus: NEW Champ!
Phillips: Ishimori has it locked on in the middle of the ring, no where to go, no chance for a rope break – but with the title on the line, I can’t see Zoran submitting!
Magnus: He doesn’t have to tap, just sleep! Like he’s been sleeping on Ishimori!
With his one arm, Zoran desperately reaches for the rope – too far. Ishimori responds to this by choking the life out of him, until the arm starts to drop. Chad Westlake asks Sainovic for the submission, but gets a half-hearted no. Just when it looks Sainovic is knocked out, the Final Boss gets his legs out – shoving against the canvas to put his weight down against Ishimori in an awkward enough angle to get the shoulders down.
Phillips: No way out, but still manages to get a pin-
ONE!
TWO!
T-
DING! DING! DING!
The chatter from the monitors is decidedly confused.
Magnus: NEW CHAMP! NEW CHAMP!
Phillips: Did Zoran submit... or was there a three count?
The bell rung, an exhausted Ishimori lets go of his clutch, letting Sainovic roll to the canvas next to him. Referee Westlake confers with Sam Burton who is acting as the time keeper, before Sylvia Starr’s voice pipes in to make it official.
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): Ladies and gentlemen, sixty minutes have elapsed – so the match has been declared a draw. Therefore, Zoran Sainovic retains his X*Crown.
Magnus: Motherf-
Both wrestlers look disappointed by this decision, but are too exhausted to do anything about it – despite chants of “five more minutes” coming from the various monitors.
Phillips: A spirited defence, but despite his insane schedule, Sainovic digs deep and goes the distance to successfully retain.
Magnus: Luckiest bastard ever! Ishimori had him!
Phillips: I tell you with Hyperion throwing his hat into End of Days, I think everyone was expecting the Titan to stay on a global stage and finally claim the crown... but after what we just saw? SCCW would be insane not to give Ishimori the Supremacy nod, ...he was so close!
Reattaching his lapel pin, Sainovic turns to the disappointed Ishimori and offers him a handshake. Still hurting from the result, Ishimori takes a minute – but finally accepts. Chants of “five more minutes” soon turn to applause for both men’s efforts. Sainovic raises the challenger’s arm, and points to him as the applause loudens. Javier starts to rise from his seat in the audience, but El Combatiante puts a hand on his manger’s shoulder – not wanting to interrupt the competitor’s moment.
Phillips: This is Zoran’s forth defence in November – at this rate, if El Rey doesn’t confront his fears, Sainovic is going to overtake the former champion’s record for most defences.
Magnus: Don’t worry; Venom would never let that happen. And besides, he was obscenely lucky to scrape past Raiden – don't think the damage that the Harbinger of Pain did tonight didn't shorten the run immensely. Sainovic's championship days are numbered.
Phillips: Well for tonight at least, another celebration! As the champion praises the challenger’s skills in the ring, this is GUNS thanking SCCW for the allowing Ishimori to appear, and wishing all of you a happy Cyber Monday!
The final image shows Sainovic and Ishimori standing tall amongst the cheering fans, before the image digitizes to black.
Kanyon: We need partners if we are going to stand a chance in this match. We need a pair of teammates that will not only help us overcome the odds, but that will totally piss off Spike and Steve. I have an idea, but I’m not sure how it’ll work out.
EC: I have a couple friends, but no one that would get under their skin. Javier has a crazy idea that fits the bill, but it includes the White Devil.
Kanyon: White Devil, Red Devil, I’ll even take the Green Devil if it helps us come out on top!
EC: Are you sure President? The White Devil is dangerous.
Kanyon: I’m sure. I have an idea on another, but I’ll have to go without you or Javier. This is someone who doesn’t like new people, or old people, or people.
EC: Sounds dangerous President. Are you sure you should go alone?
Kanyon: I’ll be fine. We go way back, and I always have Secret Service just in case. You go find the White Devil, whoever that is, and secure him for our team and I’ll go talk my old friend into one more match.
EC: One more match?
Kanyon: One. More. Match.
BOOM! BANG! POW!
The GUNS Arena lies in darkness.
Suddenly a large screen above the entranceway lights up.
On the screen is an image of The Final Boss who is sunning himself on a tropical beach. Any more of a tan, and he would start to resemble Pepe Morales. Sitting up in his recliner, Sainovic raises his ray-bans to address the camera.
Zoran Sainovic: Ze digital age has had an immense impact on ze way our sport has been able to engage with our audience, so I see no reason why we don’t celebrate Cyber Monday to ze same degree as Black Friday. Apparently Magnus just enjoys watching clerks get trampled on for door crasher prices. So I have decided to honour our Internet reach with a GUNS Cyber Monday special. When looking for a potential opponent to defend ze X*Crown against... ze zeme continued, with zis seeming ze perfect occasion to collaborate with our fellow XHF affiliate, Sin City Championship Wrestling. SCCW has ze most popular YouTube feed of ze various organizations in our Network, and it is high time zey were acknowledged for zeir continued efforts. Remember, if you’re going to watch a wrestling show in Vegas, if it’s not Sin City – it’s not worth it.*
*This is a not so subtle Tap Out jab.
Zoran Sainovic: So tonight I put ze X*Crown on ze line against Raiden Ishimori. I look forward to a bandwidth testing challenge! I hope ze XHF faithful have a pleasant Cyber Monday, and Ishimori-san... good luck.
On this sign-off, the beach crashes – turning into a green screen. This then continues to Sainovic who starts to digitally fragment, until the screen is a grotesque collection of broken pixels – before suddenly cutting to black. As the screen dies a hundred others throughout the arena turn on. Computer monitor close-ups of XHF fans watching the show online appear on these feeds. The strategically placed monitors reveal GUNS Arena to be empty, replaced by these online viewers. From their living rooms, some fans hold up signs including “Zoran is a Face,” “BEEF fears Fury,” and “I Heart El Rey” – which appears to be held up by his mom. Along with the hundred monitors displaying fans, the production crew digitally adds hundreds of other fan feeds around them – so that the empty venue looks at capacity.
As the zoom infused arena roars to life, the screen cuts to a graphic...
GUNS CYBER MONDAY
When the image returns to ringside, the arena finally has human elements – as Sam Burton sits at the timekeeper’s table, while in the ring stands referee Chad Westlake. There are clearly camera operators and production crew presents, but they do a good job of staying hidden.
Phillips: Welcome fans to GUNS Cyber Monday!
There is a hollowness to Tom Phillips’ voice that suggest that even the announce crew aren’t on site.
Phillips: A one match presentation, but what a match! Still suffering from physical trauma incurred at End of Days, Zoran Sainovic looks to put his X*Crown on the line against SCCW’s Raiden Ishimori.
Magnus: I’ll miss the X*Crown, but losing it to SCCW is a small price to pay to see Zoran put down.
Phillips: Magnus – I didn’t expect you to join us.
The GUNS owner’s voice sounds even more distant like he’s recording it from the Motel 6 he lives in since losing the mansion to Redmond Fury in the divorce.
Magnus: Of course I’m going to be here – it’s MY show! Besides, you can’t be left alone with minors...
Phillips: The audience is streaming...
Magnus: We also needed someone who knows basic holds.
Phillips: Touché.
Magnus: Now let’s get this started-
Phillips: I alread-
Magnus: Hello fans! Welcome to the Gun Show Cyber Monday Special.
Phillips: ...Not to be confused with Black Friday episode this is a special event.
Magnus: Yeah just a few days after my big event Zoran has to throw himself an episode all for himself.
Phillips: He’s just following the path you laid down when El Rey was X*Crown Champion.
Magnus: You mean copying me.
Phillips: What can I say; everyone wants your job, Magnus. Speaking of which, lets throw it over to Sylvia Starr in GUNS arena for the introductions...
Magnus: I could have done that.
Phillips: This place was a bit of a sausage fest.
Magnus: Too soon.
Phillips: Wait, you lost Sausage Fest in the divorce too? What holidays are left...
Sylvia Starr’s pipes in over the PA system...
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall, has a sixty minute time limit, and is for the XHF X*Crown!!!
The volume rises on the monitors for a thunderous pop from the disembodied audience.
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): Entering first the challenger – representing Sin City Championship Wrestling, he comes to us from Yawata, Kyoto, Japan... stands at 6 and a half inches, and weighs in at 207lbs... please give a WARM GUNS welcome to...
BONE COLD
RAIDEN ISHIMORI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#A cold and empty hole#
#The darkest place I know#
#Is where I hid myself for so long#
The tron shows an image of Jormungandr unmasking, before cutting to a quick montage of Raiden Ishimori’s greatest hits – with an emphasis on his recent Harbinger work. These images are set to the high tempo angst of Pay Money to My Pain’s Resurrection, which pumps over the PA system. On a particular high note current SCCW Double Down champion steps through the curtains. Bone Cold takes a moment to survey the odd set-up to the artificially full arena, but if it phases him – the Harbinger of Pain doesn’t let on. After a beat, Raiden strikes out down the aisle in-sync to his theme.
Phillips: Raiden Ishimori – considering his Double Down partner, Daigo Arakawa’s recent successes with the Junior heavyweight championship, will Bone Cold be the next harbinger to claim a Global championship for SCCW?
Magnus: It wouldn’t be an upset. The man has won Network awards for best star to not have gold, and most likely to rectify that. This is his forth shot at the X*Crown, he has grown a lot since the last time. Hand picking this contender is yet another testament to Zoran’s grotesque ego.
Phillips: I think he just wants the best possible matches for the fans...
Magnus: How’d that work out for his last run?
Entering the ring, Ishimori works out against the ropes, awaiting his opponent.
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): And his opponent, OUR champion... standing at 6’1”, weighing in at 242lbs, coming to us from Atlanta, Georgia – click some like buttons for...
THE FINAL BOSS –
ZORAN SAINOVIIIIIIIIIIIIIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“When the Man Comes Around” by Johnny Cash plays over the PA system. A series of white pyro explode in short bursts making their way up the entrance ramp, the final burst curing occurring just on the line...
#There's a man goin' 'round takin' names#
#And he decides who to free and who to blame#
#Everybody won't be treated all the same#
#There'll be a golden ladder reachin' down#
#When the man comes around#
A single gunmetal grey gloved hand holds back the curtains. Zoran Sainovic exits through them to a surprising number of cheers. The former commissioner is decked out in a white Armani suit, a jewel encrusted lapel pin representing his X*Crown status over the treasure trove of world titles belts. The flash photography against the pin is almost blinding. His left arm is still in a cast, heavily fortified, and wrapped to his body with an industrial brace and sling, that match the colour of the suit.
Phillips: We hope you fans are enjoying the long weekend, for the champion it has been a VERY long weekend. This is his third defence in four days!
Magnus: With all the white and decent behaviour, he tries to act like an angel – but you know who else had wings? Icarus. And Zoran is testing his luck against the sun one too many times!
The Final Boss enters the ring, cuing a final volley of white pyro.
#When the man comes around...#
Reaching up with his good hand, Sainovic removes the lapel pin that represents the titles – handing it to referee Chad Westlake. Westlake holds the pin up to Ishimori, before handing it to timekeeper Sam Burton. Though on monitors the crowd are at a fever pitch, as Sainovic and Ishimori stare across at each other.
XHF X*Crown Championship
Zoran Sainovic (c) vs. Raiden Ishimori
DING! DING! DING!
The two men circle each other at a methodical pace, trying to feel one another out. Ishimori starts to shoot in, but pulls back as Sainovic shifts his posture. The circling continues with a few more teases.
Phillips: Raiden the superior technician, currently sizing up the champion’s reach – seeing just how mobile he is with one wing.
Magnus: I bet the arm isn’t even really injured.
Phillips: Why would Zoran subject himself to an obvious disadvantage like that if he didn’t need to? What possible reason could he have to trick all of us?
Magnus: Just to be a dick.
Phillips: You’ve lost the plot, Magnus.
Raising his gunmetal grey glove in the air, Zoran calls for a one handed test of strength. Ishimori complies, only for the larger man to muscle into a headlock. Quick to slide out, Bone Cold gets Sainovic from behind with a waistlock – only for Zoran to break it with a wild elbow. The two circle again, going for a would-be bow-and-collar tie up that only looks slightly awkward due to Sainovic only having the one available arm. Despite the weight advantage on Sainovic’s part, it doesn’t take long for Ishimori to turn it into a headlock of his own. Reaching up, Sainovic tries to force the break – but Ishimori pivots away from these grasps, applying more pressure from an increasingly awkward angle on Zoran’s neck. Grabbing a half-waistlock, Zoran attempts an improvised belly-to-back suplex – hoisting Ishimori up in the air, only for Raiden to shift his weight to maintain control and get his feet back on the ground. Again brought to a knee, Zoran lays some forearms into Ishimori’s back – loosening the grip, until he can fire him off into the ropes. Ishimori returns with a closeline, which Sainovic absorbs to slap on another headlock of his own. Grabbing an ankle, Ishimori yanks the leg out – breaking the lock, and sending Sainovic to the canvas. Hanging onto the leg, Raiden pulls back to hyperextend it, then pulls a second time. Sainovic sits up, trying to bat him off with a forearm smash, only for Ishimori to turn it into an inside cradle. This gets a 1 count, before Sainovic shifts his weight to reverse it into a cradle of his own. This also gets 1. The two roll around the canvas trading different pinning techniques for 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2! The chain wrestling sequence ends with Ishimori seeing an opening for a cobra clutch, only for Sainovic twist away and turn it into another headlock. This seems to be a point of pride for him.
Phillips: Never thought I’d see Zoran chain wrestling, just chain smoking.
Magnus: Don’t let the dozen pin attempts fool you, this match is still in its infancy and the smoking is going to catch up with him.
This time Raiden exits the headlock with a belly-to-back suplex, the angle of which SPIKES Sainovic on his head. This gets a 2 count. Grabbing Zoran’s raised arm, Bone Cold applies a hammerlock armbar – and uses it to pull the older man to his feet, before taking him over again with an armdrag. Landing on his feet, Sainovic turns, trying to hit a haymaker – only for Ishimori to tie-up the arm and take him over with another armdrag. With Sainovic in a seated position on the canvas, Ishimori extends the arm then drives his knee into it – rolling through for a second knee, before transitioning into a cross armbreaker.
Phillips: A lot of Sainovic’s opponents this month have focused on the damaged arm, but Ishimori content to work over the other one.
Magnus: If Zoran thought his amputee act was drawing sympathy, wait until Ishimori turns him into a double amputee.
Phillips: So hot.
Magnus: Shut up.
Rising to a knee, Sainovic puts his weight into Ishimori turning him on his shoulders for a pin – it gets to 2 before the armbreaker is released. Stretching his arm to return circulation, Sainovic keeps Ishimori grounded with a thrust kick to the head. Still working through the pain in his good arm, Zoran decides to follow up with another kick right to the jaw. A third effort proves fruitless, as Ishimori catches the foot and takes Sainovic over with a dragonscrew legwhip. Raiden tries to hang onto apply an anklelock, but Zoran mule kicks him off. Both men rise for another flourish grounded in amateur wrestling, that ultimately ends with Ishimori going for a cobra clutch, but Zoran spinning out and nailing a forearm smash. A follow-up forearm is hooked into another armbar by Bone Cold. Sainovic tries to pull out, only for Ishimori to once again apply the hammerlock to it. Leaning into the armbar, Sainovic shouldertackles Ishimori into the corner to break the hold. Even after the hold is broken, Sainovic delivers a second shoulder to Ishimori’s abdomen. Fired up, Ishimori comes out of the corner with a series of spinning elbows. Sainovic responds with a pressure point, only for Ishimori to duck under the devastating shotei variation and pop-up with a gutwrench suplex that again drops the champion on his neck. Not wanting to show pain, Zoran is actually the first to his feet – looking to repay the stiff head drop with a hellacious closeline – only to have it turned into another armbar. Since becoming a nice person, Zoran tries not to swear in public, but the response to this development is audible.
Phillips: I’ve never seen Sainovic move so quickly to the ropes.
Magnus: Referee giving Raiden a five count to break – he leaves it on till 4. I tell you since he aligned with Hunter Storms, Ishimori has really ramped up the intensity – and there is no one I’d rather see it unleashed on than our pathetic former commissioner.
Not appreciating the delayed break, when Ishimori finally does let go – Zoran shoves him hard. Raiden quickly shoots back in, but Sainovic comes off the ropes with a Yakuza kick. Seconds after Ishimori hits the canvas, Sainovic is on top, stretching the younger star with the Interrogator ’08. This time it is Bone Cold who rolls it over into a pin – getting a 2 count before Zoran releases it. The two engage in another series of amateur counter wrestling, a little awkward due to Zoran’s injury but still move for move in a chain sequence.
Phillips: With his latest X run, we’ve seen Sainovic avoid his usual plunder – trying to focus on fundamentals over flying guillotines. Prove that he is more than a knife.
Magnus: That posturing is going to cost him. Zoran might be able to avoid winning with eye gouges and sickles against other brawlers, but you don’t try that cute technical shit against Bone Cold – Raiden’ll break your arm in six places then find a way to nicely compartmentalize it up your own ass. Like Tetris. As XHF technicians go, the man is a SCARY machine!
Sainovic starts to go for another headlock, when Bone Cold gets behind him. Ishimori begins to go for a cobra clutch, only for Zoran to buck him with an ipponzei. This time it’s Raiden to hits the canvas hard. Sainovic slaps on the high angle half-Boston which he has begun calling the Interrogator ’22 – only for Ishimori to scramble for the ropes. As Sainovic lets go of the hold, Ishimori pulls himself out to the floor – trying to walk off the damage. Not wanting to give him the breather, Sainovic follows Ishimori to the outside catching him from behind with a kneelift that sends the younger star into the guardrail. Sainovic tries to follow it up with a running hip attack, but Ishimori sidesteps it – leaving Zoran to crash so hard into the guardrail that he goes over – smashing into one of the fan representing monitors. Sima from Calcutta explodes in a hundred pieces of glass, as her stand falls back to the floor.
Phillips: Even with a virtual audience, no one is safe from GUNS action!
Magnus: If anything these fans are more fragile.
Using the guardrail to pick himself up, Zoran tries to shake the broken glass from his hair. Chad Westlake is already up to 5 on a 10 count. There are a few trickles of blood from tiny scratches on Zoran’s forehead, but all things considered – this was relatively easy on the consequences. This momentary distraction is just the opening Ishimori needs – who hooks the champion by the throat. Spinning him around, Raiden drags Sainovic back to the ringside of the guardrail with a bulldog. Trying to prevent this from happening, Zoran grabs one of the monitor stands – only it’s not that firm, and he ends up dragging Johan from Amsterdam’s monitor over with him. As the bulldog plants Sainovic on the concrete floor, Johan makes his way next to him before exploding in another shower of glass. Hearing Westlake up to 9, Ishimori slides under the bottom rope to reset the ten count – then returns to his prey.
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Phillips: CHALK OUTLINE!
Bone Cold drives the X*Crown champion face first into the concrete floor with his patented snap reverse DDT variation. The only thing cushioning Zoran’s head is the glass from the monitor. Legs spasming like Apollo Creed, Sainovic has a four inch gash across his forehead. The crimson mask that is forming made all the uglier by the fact that his white suit is still relatively untouched. That won’t last long. Grabbing the unconscious champion by the belt, Ishimori slowly drags him back towards the ring – rolling him under the bottom rope.
Phillips: Sainovic is completely out of it, and Bone Cold gets him back in the ring – there’s a hook of the leg, and the cover-
ONE!!!
TWO!!!
TH-kickout!
Looking to finish it, Ishimori starts to drag Sainovic up – only to apply a cobra clutch. Bone Cold attempts to ground it – effectively locking in his Last Dance Lullaby – but Sainovic has the presence of mind to put on the breaks. Ishimori tries to put his weight into it, but the more he tries to pull off the grounding – the more Sainovic’s instincts kick in. Eventually Ishimori has to give up on Lullaby, and instead drags Sainovic head first into canvas with a cobra clutch suplex.
Magnus: Cobra Clutch Suplex, bridging into a pin-
ONE!
TWO!
T-drat!
Phillips: Fistful of ropes! Despite appearances, still a lot of fight in the champion! It looked like Raiden was trying to finish things with his Last Dance Lullaby, but Zoran has it well scouted.
Clutching Zoran’s arm, Ishimori pulls it off the ropes before applying a standing wristlock. Sick of the arm attacks, Sainovic turns, then rolls through until he’s able to pull Raiden over with a SPIKED small package. This gets a 2 count, with Ishimori letting go of the wristlock to get a shoulder-up. Before Zoran can retract his arm, however, Ishimori applies another cross armbreaker. The sleeve of the suit gives a little wiggle room, allowing Zoran to press down getting a thumb to the throat for an Oriental Spike. Ishimori coughs but doesn’t let go, so Sainovic reaches down further – grabbing the throat and lifting him for a makeshift chokeslam. Still doesn’t break. A second semi-chokeslam! Still nothing. A third with surprising elevation finally gets Ishimori to let go. Shaking his arm to get the sting out, Sainovic falls back on Ishimori with a standing senton for an admittedly sloppy pin.
Phillips: Repeater chokeslam to force the break, and here’s the pin-
ONE!
TWO!
Magnus: What an arrogant cover, Sainovic leaving himself open to a BACKSLIDE!
ONE!
TWO!
Phillips: BIG KICKOUT! Both men racing up to their feet – Sainovic jumping into Ishimori with a GUNS FC Special! Raiden with the presence of mind to bring his arms up to block, if that had connected? Goodnight! It didn’t knock him out, but it was still strong enough to knock him over – and Sainovic with the pin-
ONE!
TWO!
THR-
Magnus: HA! Ishimori punching Zoran’s arm to make him give up his own pin!
Before Raiden can recover, Zoran nails him with a thrust kick to the head – splitting his lip open. A second thrust kick is slower, allowing Ishimori to weave under, only for Sainovic to turn it into a triangle choke. Giving his arm a rest, Zoran clamps the leg choke in hard. Ishimori tries to spin out, but Sainovic has it locked in. Raiden tries to grab the ropes, but Sainovic twists – turning the younger man away from them. Ishimori tries to push Sainovic into a pin for the break, and gets a 2 count before Zoran turns – breaking the pin, but keeping the hold applied. They repeat this for a 1, 2, 1, and 1 count – with the ring positioning of each pin attempt almost letting Ishimori reach the ropes only to drag him away. The canvas is also covered in blood from Zoran’s forehead, and Ishimori’s lip. Ishimori looks like he’s going to try for one more pin, only instead of following through he leaps earlier – finally getting a toe on the bottom rope for the break. Both men slowly get back up. Ishimori looks like he’s fading from the extended period in the choke. Sainovic charges in for another GUNS FC Special – only for Bone Cold to side step at the last second and turn it into a overhead gutwrench backbreaker back flipped into a DDT!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Phillips: CASTLES FALL!!!
Magnus: What a REVERSAL – if this was a game, I’d swear he was counting frames!
Phillips: There’s the cover-
ONE!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!
THREE-
Shoulder up at the 2.99999999 mark. Ishimori immediately covers again for a 2 count. Looking less than pleased, he rises stomping away at Sainovic’s arm – before nailing a T-bone suplex. Rather than go for the pin, Bone Cold applies another armbar. Fighting up to his feet, Sainovic breaks it with a rapid fire headbutt – the glass lodged in his forehead further opening up Raiden’s lip.
Phillips: This match has been going a while for all the blood that’s flowing.
Magnus: Well, if I was involved in the production of the show we’d have paramedics and blood transfusions waiting in the wings – but since Zoran wanted to make it his own, maybe they’ll give them both a rusty safety pin to patch up with?
Sainovic whips Ishimori out of the corner, only for Bone Cold to reverse it – shooting The Final Boss hard into the opposite corner. Fortunately Zoran is able to bring his hand up to soften the hit, unfortunately his working arm is basically in agony, and using it to block just makes the situation worse. Sainovic staggers out, only to eat a dropkick to the arm. Sainovic pulls the right arm away from a second dropkick, which hits him in his casted arm – not actually an improvement. The force of kick sends Sainovic back into the corner. Grabbing the right arm, Ishimori wraps it around the top rope, hyperextending it – then pulls back as he hits a facewash. This ends with Bone Cold driving his foot into Sainovic’s throat, choking him while extending the arm. Westlake gives a 5 count before forcing the break.
Phillips: Ishimori letting go of the arm, but leaving the boot – wait –
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Phillips: AGAIN SAINOVIC SLAPS ON THE INTERROGATION ’22!
Magnus: Way too close to the ropes, it didn’t take long for Ishimori to get into them, forcing the break.
The Final Boss stops the half-boston, but then still holding the leg drags Ishimori away from the corner and reapplies it. Westlake argues that it wasn’t a clean break, and he needs to let it go. A five count later, he does. Ishimori tries to shoot in for a takedown, but Sainovic stops it with an axe kick. Grabbing the ankle again, Sainovic pulls off a one-handed giant swing. The problem with this approach, along with how dangerous it is, that the free leg can defend – so it’s of no surprise when a mid-air Ishimori manages to hit a makeshift enzguri after the tenth rotation. This forces Sainovic to let go, but as Zoran slumps to his knees – Ishimori is sent careening through the air – hitting the corner post HARD. Zoran crawls over to cover for another very near fall.
Phillips: Sainovic really favouring his GOOD arm, looking to end things with a Blade Storm-
Magnus: HA! Going to the spinning well a little too often - Ishimori getting under the first knife-edge and – there’s a TIGER SUPLEX – BRIDGED!
ONE!!!!!!!!!!
TWO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THRE-!
Sainovic manages to get a shoulder up. Ishimori starts to apply a cobra clutch, but the moment that Sainovic feels the familiar cross, he gets a foot in the ropes. Turning Zoran, Raiden knees him in the stomach, and tries to hit a DDT – but Sainovic grabs the ropes to put the breaks on – leaving the challenger to fall to the canvas. He then follows it with a spinning elbow – which causes Zoran as much pain as Raiden. The Final Boss stomps away at Bone Cold, assessing the damage to his arm. Reaching down, Sainovic locks on the Interrogation '01. Westlake asks Raiden if he submits, but Bone Cold is defiant. While trying to keep Ishimori away from the ropes, Sainovic leaves himself open to a rolling cradle that gets 2.5. They both scramble back up with Ishimori starting to go for a Modern Misery, but Sainovic avoiding it with a Pressure Point for 2.7. Sainovic tries to follow it up with a one-armed variation on his sickle clutch, but Ishimori reverses into a fireman’s carry before hitting a TKO for 2.8. A bridging Dragon Suplex gets 2.9. Again Ishimori starts to set-up the Last Dance Lullaby – but Sainovic knocks him off with a glassy headbutt, then hiptosses Raiden hard into the ring post. A Boss Rush gets 2.9. Frustrated, Zoran locks on an Interrogation ’13.
Phillips: Ishimori still looks woozy from that Boss Rush, which might be the only thing numbing the pain from that Interrogation!
Magnus: Ishimori has danced with Hyperion in barbwire, to go through that kind of physical trauma – do you think he’d ever give up in a match with the crown on the line?
Repositioning closer to the centre of the ring, Sainovic transitions into his Interrogation ’18. As Westlake checks on Ishimori, the camera notices that in the virtual arena, the seats that had been occupied by Sima & Johan’s monitors now have El Combatiante and Javier sitting in them.
Magnus: What are they doing here?
Phillips: Probably scouting talent for Team Kanyon in the upcoming Civil War Games – and from the heart we’re seeing tonight, the former President would be lucky to recruit either of these men.
Magnus: Get a room!
With Ishimori showing no signs of quitting, Sainovic changes approaches – hitting a Tornado DDT. Barely able to use his good right arm at this point, Zoran cringes, dragging Raiden to the centre of the ring – then takes position.
Phillips: Zoran calling for the Crescent Moon Killer!
Magnus: WAKE UP, RAIDEN!
Phillips: We saw that bicycle kneestrike take out Dinosaur Bones at End of Days...
Magnus: Yeah, that’d do it. Ugh. I can’t watch.
Once again Sainovic starts to go for his Crescent Moon Killer kneestrike-
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-but Ishimori ducks under – again catching Sainovic with his patented cobra clutch, only this time the downward momentum of the would-be strike allows the challenger to ground it.
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Phillips: LAST DANCE LULLABY!
Magnus: NEW Champ!
Phillips: Ishimori has it locked on in the middle of the ring, no where to go, no chance for a rope break – but with the title on the line, I can’t see Zoran submitting!
Magnus: He doesn’t have to tap, just sleep! Like he’s been sleeping on Ishimori!
With his one arm, Zoran desperately reaches for the rope – too far. Ishimori responds to this by choking the life out of him, until the arm starts to drop. Chad Westlake asks Sainovic for the submission, but gets a half-hearted no. Just when it looks Sainovic is knocked out, the Final Boss gets his legs out – shoving against the canvas to put his weight down against Ishimori in an awkward enough angle to get the shoulders down.
Phillips: No way out, but still manages to get a pin-
ONE!
TWO!
T-
DING! DING! DING!
The chatter from the monitors is decidedly confused.
Magnus: NEW CHAMP! NEW CHAMP!
Phillips: Did Zoran submit... or was there a three count?
The bell rung, an exhausted Ishimori lets go of his clutch, letting Sainovic roll to the canvas next to him. Referee Westlake confers with Sam Burton who is acting as the time keeper, before Sylvia Starr’s voice pipes in to make it official.
Sylvia Starr (V.O.): Ladies and gentlemen, sixty minutes have elapsed – so the match has been declared a draw. Therefore, Zoran Sainovic retains his X*Crown.
Magnus: Motherf-
Both wrestlers look disappointed by this decision, but are too exhausted to do anything about it – despite chants of “five more minutes” coming from the various monitors.
Phillips: A spirited defence, but despite his insane schedule, Sainovic digs deep and goes the distance to successfully retain.
Magnus: Luckiest bastard ever! Ishimori had him!
Phillips: I tell you with Hyperion throwing his hat into End of Days, I think everyone was expecting the Titan to stay on a global stage and finally claim the crown... but after what we just saw? SCCW would be insane not to give Ishimori the Supremacy nod, ...he was so close!
Reattaching his lapel pin, Sainovic turns to the disappointed Ishimori and offers him a handshake. Still hurting from the result, Ishimori takes a minute – but finally accepts. Chants of “five more minutes” soon turn to applause for both men’s efforts. Sainovic raises the challenger’s arm, and points to him as the applause loudens. Javier starts to rise from his seat in the audience, but El Combatiante puts a hand on his manger’s shoulder – not wanting to interrupt the competitor’s moment.
Phillips: This is Zoran’s forth defence in November – at this rate, if El Rey doesn’t confront his fears, Sainovic is going to overtake the former champion’s record for most defences.
Magnus: Don’t worry; Venom would never let that happen. And besides, he was obscenely lucky to scrape past Raiden – don't think the damage that the Harbinger of Pain did tonight didn't shorten the run immensely. Sainovic's championship days are numbered.
Phillips: Well for tonight at least, another celebration! As the champion praises the challenger’s skills in the ring, this is GUNS thanking SCCW for the allowing Ishimori to appear, and wishing all of you a happy Cyber Monday!
The final image shows Sainovic and Ishimori standing tall amongst the cheering fans, before the image digitizes to black.