Post by Dave D-Flipz on Nov 9, 2023 23:58:06 GMT -5
POENA STAGGERS BACKWARDS BUT MERRIC GRABS HIM BY THE HAIR….BURNING LARIAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crowd: LARIAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Morrison:WALL HANGER CONNECTS!!!!!!!
Almost collapsing to the floor, Merric makes the cover and hooks the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
QUINN CALLS FOR THE BELL!!!
Cross Recoba: I DON’T BELIEVE IT!!!
Steve Morrison: MERRIC HAS DONE IT! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER, MERRIC CAPTURES THE TOP TITLE IN THE COMPANY!!!
DING! DING! DING!
The opening riff of “Unstoppable” by Disturbed plays over the PA as Merric is lifted to his feet, his arm raised by Quinn. The blood now coating his face like war paint as he manages a smile to savor the moment.
Laura Messier: The winner of this match…AND THE NEEWWWWWWWWW TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION….THE WONDER FROM DOWN UNDER…..AIDEN….MERRRRRRRIIIICCCC!!!!
Looking at Poena, Merric takes the title and rolls out of the ring with the TOW Openweight title clutched to his chest. Erin joins him as the two back down the aisle, making sure the disciples of Poena remain where they were.
Crowd: LARIAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Morrison:WALL HANGER CONNECTS!!!!!!!
Almost collapsing to the floor, Merric makes the cover and hooks the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
QUINN CALLS FOR THE BELL!!!
Cross Recoba: I DON’T BELIEVE IT!!!
Steve Morrison: MERRIC HAS DONE IT! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER, MERRIC CAPTURES THE TOP TITLE IN THE COMPANY!!!
DING! DING! DING!
The opening riff of “Unstoppable” by Disturbed plays over the PA as Merric is lifted to his feet, his arm raised by Quinn. The blood now coating his face like war paint as he manages a smile to savor the moment.
Laura Messier: The winner of this match…AND THE NEEWWWWWWWWW TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION….THE WONDER FROM DOWN UNDER…..AIDEN….MERRRRRRRIIIICCCC!!!!
Looking at Poena, Merric takes the title and rolls out of the ring with the TOW Openweight title clutched to his chest. Erin joins him as the two back down the aisle, making sure the disciples of Poena remain where they were.
*Aiden looks down at the belt in his hands. He looks back up at the ring, Poena’s demonic gaze trying to pierce the very soul of the hunter. Luckily, the jury is still out on whether the Aussie possesses a soul to pierce. He smirks … then smiles … then cocks his head back and laughs. He stumbles to his ass and sits at the top of the ramp with Erin standing behind him, arms on his shoulders. Poena’s glare deepens and the venom can almost be felt, seen, TASTED by everyone in attendance. Aiden laughs like a maniac, or a man concussed. Blood trickles down his face as he grabs the back of his neck in pain as he keeps laughing. He looks back at the belt, staring at his reflection. He kisses the belt, kisses it again. He then pushes to his feet and throws his hands (and the belt) into the air as the fans don’t know whether to cheer that Poena has been toppled or boo because the hunter clearly used some nefarious tricks to get where he is.*
Erin: Hey, go crazy later. We need to get out of here.
Merric: I did it. I did it. I knew I could do it. My prize, my trophy, my rewards, my spoils … my precious.
Erin: Right, you hate Lord of the Rings. Getting you checked by the doc.
Merric: Just one ring, Erin. That ring. My own slice of Outback in Vegas. MY RING! MY TITLE!
*Erin drags the cackling hunter to the back to avoid the looks that most definitely could kill coming from the ring.*
LATER THAT NIGHT:
Tucker: Ya bloody bafoon! Ya went and got him right good and cheesed off! I’m frankly gobsmacked ya made it out alive, I am. Ya daft cunt.
*Aiden sits in the lounge of his mobile hunter’s lodge, in the parking lot of the arena in Salt Lake City. Tuck sits in the driver’s seat, ready to pull them out and head towards Vegas. He has on a stiff neck brace and bandages over his head, frozen peas wrapped around his noggin. And an irremovable smile pasted to his face.*
Merric: I did it. I had him falling arse over tit to kill me and he fell into the trap. I am the best. Around! NOONE’S EVER GONNA KEEP ME DOWN!
Erin: And that’s the mild concussion singing.
*Erin Gordon strolls into the room from the bathroom. She is shaking her head … though it would be impossible to miss the smirk on her face, seems glory is contagious around here. He passed the ultimate test. He overcame the toughest of odds. He took the fight to the monster demon of the ninth circle of hell. And he came out on top.*
Merric: Already got Cross making me the replica for my wall. A wall hanger for real! I’m chuffed as fuck right now. Need me a VB.
Tucker: Doc says no booze!
Merric: I gotta make a call! There’s a special lady that needs to hear about this.
*Erin wrinkles her nose*
Erin: Run that by me again?
Merric: Need my celly! There’s an important lady out there who is going to shower me with adulation!
Tucker: … Ya daft cunt.
*Erin slowly walks to him and hands him his phone. Aiden oblivious to the fire in the eyes of the Oncoming Storm. He begins to dial. But his concussion is getting to him.*
Merric: Oye … maybe I’ll call after bed … suddenly very knackered.
Erin: You do that …
NOW:
*Aiden stands in the middle of the expanded Lansky Ballroom. He soaks it all in. He may not be in the main event at the first expanded show … but the subject of the entire second half is all on him. The main event determines who faces him at Supremacy. The penultimate match determines who is his first sanctioned hunt where the trophy is HIS to defend. And the match prior is his own. He soaks it in.*
Merric: It’s a new era here in Tapout. Since day one … it’s been the usual suspects at the top of the rankings. Icons, Poena, maybe Nomad and Erin in the very beginning. Same names. And here in November … we can all rightly give thanks. For the … just … ace situation we find ourselves in Sheilas and Blokes. Tapout’s owner is the X*Crown champion, and the new star atop the card, ushering in the Outback Era, is Main Event Merric. Three matches all about me to headline the first card from this glorious new showcase showroom. I’d be lying if I said I was expecting this treatment. But I’d also be lying if’n I toldja I didn’t know this was coming. Cross signed me to the first big money deal outside the initial roster loadup. Sure he paid good cash to get Erin in from AWF and Poena from Fireside. He took some risks on Jackalope and NOMAD. He shelled out the big bucks for some ICON headliners. But I was the second wave. I was the one he personally headhunted. And now … that faith in me has resulted in the inevitable. I am … unstoppable.
*He breathes in deep, the neck brace is now a small ring, clearly just for safety before the next Tapout show*
Merric: Poena took his best shot. He came off stunning wins over the Icons. But he wasn’t up to the task of the big game hunter. And now I get to watch eight fighters compete for two spots. For the glory of being bitchslapped back down the ladder by the champ. Oh sure, there’s some good names in those ranks. It would be fantastic fun to take on the icons I was running with for a bit. Couple of grade A fellas there. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’d love to take that NOMAD on at Supremacy on the global stage. Let the world witness a knock down drag out donnybrook. And then Sawyer … well I owe them one. I ain’t forgotten you putting me on my back with my own style of move. I aims to return the favor. But first there’s Random and Tommy. To be honest, I don’t think either of them DESERVE a chance at my title but, they pay me to put these people down, who am I to buck at the chance for a first defense.
*He strolls around the room until he begins to find his way to the luxury boxes.*
Merric: Hmm, good vantage … might need a better view for those two contender’s matches. Need them all to see the prize and be jealous.
*He strolls into one of the boxes and whistles in amusement.*
Merric: Gonna have to get Erin a spot in one of these. Anyhow … your boy Aiden is out to be up to his old tricks again. Because I’m getting my first taste of the champion life by mentoring a young up and comer full of piss and vinegar. Against a fan favorite and a … well … I don’t right now a thing about Mr. Sanderson. Can’t say I studied his past, or his dad. I suppose I know his uncle. Good ol’ Spike. Good fighter, hits like a truck. Kid if you are anything like your uncle, you might keep me entertained for longer than an episode of Bluey. Why not start with the former Junior Heavyweight champ then. Chris, listen up. I ain’t got nothing against a man trying to one up his old man. After all, what are we if not better than our old men. Papa Merric was a piece of shit anyway. And hey! Another thing in common. My pops is also feedin’ the worms. Course, my pa prolly ain’t some kind of zombie revenant. And frankly you shouldn’t want your pops to be either. Revenants suck. Last thing anyone wants is to be New Jimmy. Or Rob Garcia. Or … the other one nobody cares about.
*He looks up and snaps his fingers trying to think of the answer he clearly knows.*
Merric: Don’t you worry a hair on that hyena hide of yours Chris. Main Event Merric is more than ready for the likes of you and the chaos bunny. I promise I’ll be up to the challenge of beating you two. After fighting Poena? Anything else … cept maybe NOMAD or Erin … is a night off to be honest. You got a pedigree. You got the family connections … and a bit of success around the XHF. But me? I’m the Tapout Openweight champ. And I need to be making an example of upstarts like yourself to make sure people don’t be getting ideas above their station. Tapout is now MY hunting grounds. You ain’t making your name on me.
*He laughs and pats his title as he steps to the glass windows to take in the new look of the place he’ll be wrestling for the foreseeable future.*
Merric: And speaking of daddy issues, Julius! My partner. Listen, you should be honored! A man more dangerous than your pathetic whelp of a pops. And he’s being paid to carry you to the promised land. You just use those aerial skills of yours and the champ here will show you how to be a champion. And maybe, if you pay attention and learn, I’ll teach you how to set some real traps for that lizard of a dad of yours.
Tucker: Aiden, come on, we got media obligations now.
*Aiden laughs and begins to leave with Tucker before waving him ahead. He stops and looks at the camera*
Merric: It sucks doesn’t it? Being responsible for someone’s end. Being a survivor when you feel ya shoulda gone with everyone else. I can’t begin to understand this whole dimensional shit Jackalope. And honestly? It ain’t a factor in this match. This is a wrestling match. Don’t bring yer baggage in there with me. But… I saw that little show. Somehow someone got film of that shit and put it on the network. I’d be shocked but … I’ve seen how deep Mongo’s pockets are. And how big his pants are. Room in there for three of you.
*Aiden sighs* He actually seems to be trying to connect with the chaos bunny*
Merric: I’ll be honest. I respect ya. Everything yer doing? If you gone through half of what you been telling people you have … and still bring it, with that energy and that enjoyment of this business? I ain’t gonna question it. That’s some big man bollocks. But here’s the deal. I ain’t some interdimensional evil, some monster, some bleached supervillain, or some mind controlled wrestling legend. I’m a fairly simple man all things considered. And … you … still owe me a trophy. Another chance to collect. Kid, if you think cuz I can connect with you on some tragic level, that some kind of backstory and history with death and dismemberment will make me go easy on ya? Ya ain’t been payin attention to the bylines. I’m the guy who kills the killers. I’m the one who topples Gods. So Kid Cryptid. Bring your all. The champ is here to collect his dues.
*He laughs and begins to walk away to follow Tucker.*
Merric: Chris, Jackalope … just remember. You both got some shit in your background. Ya best set it aside. I’m the nightmare you’ve been dreaming of. Yer anxiety is more’n justified. Take a deep breath and listen. The sound of your heartbeat? Like a timebomb slowly ticking down. It’s unavoidable. I vow to make an example of you both, for both my new challengers to come. And I always fulfill my vow. Gents? You may be good. But there’s no escape from the hunt … I … am unstoppable.
THEN:
Erin: So … who ya callin’?
*Aiden puts the phone to his ear.*
Merric: Hey there hot momma. How’s shit? Miss me yet?
*Silence. We can’t hear the other end. But we can see Erin’s fist slowly tighten … until*
Merric: BAHAHAHAHA, I put the lessons to good work. Ya know yer one of only two women I actually give a toss about. …… Well the other one’s with me so ain’t much point in calling fer news! … … Alright, I’ll be sure to bring the belt over there fer you to get proof of my ascension. … … Aight Aight. The dogs are yapping in the back, sounds like the dingos’re back. I’ll talk later. Love ya ma. … … HAHA thanks. The wonder from down under indeed.
*Erin’s fist opens up and she smirks and shakes her head at this big goof of a man*