TOW 19: STRYCHNINE VS MERRIC - LIVE
Dec 13, 2023 14:44:01 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Steve Awesome, and 5 more like this
Post by Cross Recoba on Dec 13, 2023 14:44:01 GMT -5
PRESENTS
TAP OUT WRESTLING 19: STRYTCHNINE VS MERRIC
Date: 10th December 2023
Venue: Lansky Ballrom, The Sands Casino and Hotel & The Gamblers Den, Las Vegas, Nevada
Attendance: 8500 (Capacity: 10000) / 34000 (Capacity: 40000)
We open up as the crowd loudly cheer, the cameras panning around the Lansky Ballroom. Ahead of the night’s main-event the cameras linger on the Corporate box adorned with a Merric banner, the occupants in full swing of enjoying their night and likewise, the Strychnine box where fans lean over the barrier into the camera.
As the shot swings around the Ballroom we see five signs that stand out:
VEGAS > LA
CAR > BALDUR'S GATE 3
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW SUCH A MEDIUM SIZED MEDIA MARKET CAN SUPPORT TWO FEDERATIONS (BUT I'M GLAD)
I LOST MY SOUL IN THE DINO BONES TAR PIT!
CAPONE, THUGS AND HARMONY!
We cut to ringside where Steve Morrison and Cross Recoba stand-by.
Steve Morrison: Welcome, fans, to Tap Out Wrestling 19 where not only is it the first Openweight defence for Aiden Merric but the inaugural Oscar Goodman Cup!
Cross Recoba: On that, seven cup matches: three here with us in the Lansky Ballroom, four in the Gamblers Den of Sin City Championship Wrestling but all of them available for you to watch without having to move a muscle!
Steve Morrison: Will it be Tap Out or SCCW that keep the cup as we see heavyweights of the ring like Jason Long, Hyperion, Jack Diamond, Raiden Ishimori, SKY Force, Sam Sawyer, Nelly Angel and more compete to bring home the glory for their companies!
Cross Recoba: Topped off with a hell of a match between Aiden Merric and Tommy Strychnine as they fight for the Tap Out Openweight title!
Steve Morrison: We saw what happens when these two share a ring way back at Tap Out Wrestling 10 and with the stakes so much higher tonight, it could well be the match of the night!
Cross Recoba: Whoever wins knows that waiting for them at next month’s XHF Supremacy event is NOMAD who won the contenders match in our main event last month!
Steve Morrison: It’s also the last chance saloon for those fighters wanting to be at Supremacy to challenge for the X*Crown. Cross, as you hold the title, can you let us know where the board are leaning for our own representative?
Cross Recoba: I’d love to but I’ve recused myself. Why rally against a closed shop and then seemingly cherrypick one of my opponents?
Steve Morrison: Diplomatic, but some might say naieve.
Cross Recoba: Have they held the X*Crown?
Steve Morrison: Well…Laura Messier’s in the ring, ready to introduce our first match!
Laura Messier: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO TAP OUT WRESTLING NINETEEN!
Cheers ring out across the Ballroom.
Laura Messier: Your opening match is the first match in the Oscar Goodman Cup and is a tag-team match, scheduled for -
She pauses, the crowd doesn’t disappoint.
Crowd: ONE FALL!!
There’s a moment of silence inside of the arena as the crowd awaits for the next match, but then the lights inside of the arena dim to darkness and the crowd sit in silence, but then they hear the words speaking through the P.A. System and that signals for them to begin booing upon knowing who it might be:
“YOU’RE NOT THE REAL HEROES, I’M THE REAL HERO.”
The crowd inside of the building began to cheer loudly as the vocals of “Superhero” begin to play through the speakers, the lights beginning to spiral around the arena before bringing them all around onto the stage where The Last Breathing Mercenary steps through the curtain, a large grin along his face as he stops at the top of the ramp and looks around the arena. The camera pans closer toward the man as he began his slow walk down to the ring, soaking in every second that the crowd show their love for Long.
Steve Morrison: Maverick always has the capacity to turn a match in an instant!
Cross Recoba: That’s going to be useful in this match where he faces a cohesive and solid team.
Long finds himself at ringside, taking a moment to stand there and take a deep breath before turning to walk over to the steps and head up along them to get onto the ring apron. From there, he brushes his feet along the apron, removing his ring jacket and steps through the ropes.
Steve Morrison: Do you think there might be a grudge from last month?
Cross Recoba: Sawyer might think so and Long is on a rough patch of form going into this.
Long heads into the furthest corner and steps onto the second ropes, keeping himself up high as he looks out through the crowd– which only brings a large smile along his face, slightly laughing at the crowd, before leaping off of the apron and staying within the corner to prepare himself for the match.
Steve Morrison: Can the Best Bout Machine turn it around tonight?
Cross Recoba: Long’s made a career out of being able to turn it on whenever the odds are stacked against him!
The lights quietly turn a soft peach color as “Violence” slowly fades into the arena.
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen a change in Sawyer lately…
Cross Recoba: It could be them maturing inside the ring or it could be what they see as the only way to get ahead.
Sam walks out onto the stage, their face stern, and starts walking towards the ring. Ignoring the fans' outstretched arms, they seem to have a stoic air except for their eyes which burn with hostility.
Steve Morrison: They put a hell of a showing in last month but couldn’t quite get the pin, is that going to be playing on their mind tonight?
Cross Recoba: That all depends, but Sawyer will have that win over Merric from earlier in the year in the back of their mind.
Once they reach the ring they skip up the steps and climb through the ropes. They get into a corner, looking impatient and ready to go.
Steve Morrison: Tap Out need to start out strong, are these the two to open the account with a win?
Cross Recoba: On paper, you’d say so but tag-team wrestling is different to singles competition. Knowing what your partner is doing or is going to do is worth its weight in gold.
“Record Player” by Daisy the Great starts to play across the Ballroom as the crowd erupt into cheers. Sister Valerie appears first, their religious-style robes trailing across the floor while the camera frames her face to capture the glowing red eye. Ayaka joins her partner at the top of the ramp as the crowd noise grows.
Steve Morrison: SKY Force are one of the most iconic teams on the Network!
Cross Recoba: Despite the many members, they all share a high degree of skill inside the ring.
They make their way down the aisle as they tag the outstretched hands from the fans at the barricades.
Steve Morrison: Highly decorated too…even Charles!
Cross Recoba: Be glad that Sanderson’s on the other side of the Strip!
Valerie slides onto the apron before using the ropes to get to her feet. Conversely, Ayaka slowly walks up the ring steps. They consider their options before stepping through the ropes.
Steve Morrison: I’m expecting slick teamwork when that bell rings.
Cross Recoba: Ayaka and Valerie have shown what they can do in SCCW, translating it to Tap Out is the easy part. They’re the smaller team, it’s up to them to make their chemistry working together work towards the victory!
Laura Messier: Introducing your first team…representing Tap Out Wrestling. With a combined weight of three-hundred-and-seventy-eight pounds…THE LAST BREATHING MERCENARY!! JASON….LONG!!! AND HIS PARTNER - SAM SAWWWWWYEEERRRR!!!
The Tap Out team don’t entirely look on the same page.
Laura Messier: And their opponents, representing Sin City Championship Wrestling and weighing two-hundred-and-forty-seven pounds….SISTER VALERIE…AND THE MEGA BRUISER….AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAKAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
SKY Force talk strategy, their eyes never leaving the disjointed team opposite them.
OPENING MATCH
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
TAG-TEAM MATCH
Jason Long / Sam Sawyer (TAP OUT) vs SKY Force [Sister Valerie / Ayaka] (SCCW)
Steve Tyrell watches Laura Messier leave the ring before calling the teams into the center of the ring. Both teams remain vigilant as the instructions are being explained to them.
Steve Morrison: Tyrell’s going to want to make sure that the Oscar Goodman Cup kicks off with a match that isn’t marred in controversy!
Cross Recoba: You’d argue that only Long has a reputation for bending the rules…
Sending the teams back to their corners, we see that SKY Force debate amongst themselves as to who should start, watching Saywer and Long before deciding who should start the match.
Steve Morrison: Valerie and Ayaka looking to pick the right fighter to start the match.
Cross Recoba: It’s a smart move. Ayaka is known as The Mega Bruiser but both the SKY Force members are outweighed by their opponents.
Sawyer isn’t cowed by their larger partner, Sam jabs their finger into the chest of Long before pointing to the apron!
Steve Morrison: You get the feeling that Sawyer hasn’t quite forgiven Jason for taking the loss at the last show and costing them the shot at Supremacy.
Cross Recoba: That’s an issue they’re going to have work through to get anything from this match!
Long shakes his head in disbelief as he steps between the ropes. Seeing that it’s now Sawyer that’s starting the match, Ayaka nods at her partner as she steps through the ropes.
Steve Morrison: Experience not being something Sawyer wants to take on board.
Cross Recoba: Sawyer’s seemingly more focused, more serious. They’re not going to want to take the match out of their own hands unless they have to!
Seeing that both teams are ready to start the match, Steve Tyrell calls for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
Sawyer is quick to come out from the corner, they look to engage the Sin Eater but Valerie seems reticent, sizing up Sam from a distance.
Steve Morrison: Valerie wanting to establish her range.
Cross Recoba: She’s similar in some respects to Random. She’ll be looking to find an opening to target a limb and then exploit it.
SAM CLOSES THE GAP AND CHARGES AT SISTER VALERIE BEFORE UNLOADING WITH A FOREARM!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer waiting for no such grace as they land a huge forearm!
Sawyer grabs the head to stop the proto-Russian from being able to fall back into their corner and brings them into the center of the ring. A huge clubbing blow to the back of the neck drops Valerie to her knees as the crowd starts to boo the former favorite of the Lansky Ballroom.
Cross Recoba: Sawyer could be one of the strongest members of the roster, pound-for-pound. This match allows them to showcase that!
The Tap Out wrestler grabs the SKY Force member by the head and hooks a front-facelock before lifting their knee into the sternum of their opponent. And another! Sawyer lifts them over with a suplex from the front-facelock and transitions to a seated headlock.
Steve Morrison: Smooth chain-wrestling from the Texan!
Bearing their weight down on the lighter wrestler, Sawyer pushes them down to the mat.
Cross Recoba: It’s too early to tell but Sawyer seems more forceful in the match, pushing where they want their opponent to be rather than leaving it to chance.
Lifting an arm, Sawyer drives an elbow into the trapezius of Valerie.
Steve Morrison: Pointed elbow to the shoulder of the Russian!
A second elbow is driven with the point finding the gap between the joints.
Cross Recoba: Clinical execution!
Moving their body, SAWYER DRIVES A KNEE INTO THE TOP OF VALERIE’S BACK!!!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer switching their offense at will.
Cross Recoba: It looks like they could be leaving it open to go for the Sawyer Lock that beat Zolothatch in FIRESIDE!
Swiftly changing it up, Sam scoots around to grab the legs of Valerie but the Sin Eater slips a leg out and uses it to sweep the base out from Sawyer. They grab one of Sam’s legs and turn them onto their stomach…
Steve Morrison: Valerie wriggles out of it and goes for the STF!
Sawyer grabs the ropes before the hold can be applied!
Cross Recoba: Smart thinking from Sam!
Sam plays the rules of the contest and uses the ropes to get to their feet, their gaze fixed on Tyrell until he backs the SKY Force member away from the Texan wrestler.
Steve Morrison: What can they be thinking…
Seeing that the Match Official is doing their bidding, SAWYER CHARGES IN BEHIND HIM…VALERIES SEES THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE…LARIAT…NO!!! VALERIE CATCHES THE ARM AT THE ELBOW AND WHEELS THEM AROUND…ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!!
Steve Morrison: Cheap shot from Sawyer cut down by Sister Valerie!!
Ayaka leans through the ropes and makes the tag!
Cross Recoba: SKY Force using their experience as a unit to get back in this!
Still in the hold, Sawyer gets caught with their arm between the legs of the submission specialist. Valerie gets the crossface and lifts the head of Sam up….AYAKA CHARGES IN WITH A KICK TO THE HEAD!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A KICK!
Cross Recoba: They know exactly where the other one will be!
Valerie rolls out of the ring as Ayaka makes the pin…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT FROM SAWYER!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer’s down but not out yet!
Cross Recoba: That was less an attempt to end the match and more a reminder that they can put Sam in that position!
The Mega Bruiser takes Sawyer’s raised arm and DRIVES HER FOOT DOWN ATOP IT!
Steve Morrison: Ayaka’s style the complete contrast of her partner’s. Vicious strikes are the order of the day!
Reaching out to grab the stamped hand, Sawyer leaves themselves open for Ayaka to grab the limb and twist around it - La Mahistral Cradle…
Cross Recoba: Another pin?
Tyrell drops down for the pin but Ayaka transitions from the pin to grab the legs of Sawyer and roll them over into a Boston Crab!
Steve Morrison: Working that back, taking away the power base perhaps?
Cross Recoba: The Mega Bruiser going back to their Young Lion days!
Before Sam can respond, Ayaka walks them to the SKY Force corner and Valerie tags herself back in!
Steve Morrison: SKY Force utilizing those double-teams it seems…
The Sin Eater goes back to the Crossface!!
Cross Recoba: Sawyer HAS to be in agony!
Long enters the ring…STEVE TYRELL STOPS HIM AND USHERS HIM BACK TO HIS CORNER!
Steve Morrison: Long tries to intercede but he’s cut off by the referee!
Cross Recoba: And extending the amount of time Sam’s trapped in that double submission!
Protesting his case, Maverick points behind the Match Official to alert him to the double-team but Tyrell is adamant that Long has to leave the ring.
Steve Morrison: SKY Force have Sawyer bent like a U!
Switching from the double submission, Ayaka fires Sawyer into the corner…
Cross Recoba: They’re not finished…
AYAKA WHIPS VALERIE INTO THE CORNER…LEAPING BACK ELBOW! AYAKA FOLLOWS IN WITH A SPLASH!!!
Steve Morrison: HUGE DOUBLE-TEAM!
Sawyer stumbles from the corner…Valerie hits them with a basement dropkick!
Cross Recoba: SKY Force determined to keep their opponents out of a rhythm!
The Sin Eater flips over, grabbing the arm…BRIDGING FUJIWARA ARMBAR!!
Steve Morrison: What a move! Teed Sawyer up perfectly!
Cross Recoba: Now Sawyer needs to work an escape out because the submission expert measured them perfectly!
Realizing immediately the trouble they find themselves in, Sawyer is quick to swing a leg on the bottom rope to break the hold!
Steve Morrison: A quick escape!
Valerie measures the rise of Sawyer…SPINNING BACK KICK!!!
Steve Morrison: Divine Smile!
Cross Recoba: Sam got set up!
With her opponent doubled over, the Sin Eater whips them to the ropes…SAWYER COMES BACK WITH A FOOTBALL TACKLE!!!
Steve Morrison: DUMPED ON THEIR HEAD!
Cross Recoba: Sergio Parisse inspired!
Steve Morrison: Who?
Cross Recoba: Italian rugby legend!
Unloading with stiff forearms that land true on the face of the SCCW star, Sawyer looks possessed with fury.
Steve Morrison: Whether Sawyer knows who he is, they’re peppering the face of Valerie with killer blows!
Looking to Long, they whip Valerie into the corner. Tag made to Long!
Cross Recoba: Maverick can make hay in this situation!
The Icon enters the ring and picks up Valerie from the corner…Inverted Atomic Drop….SAWYER LEVELS THEM WITH A SPINNING BACKFIST!
Steve Morrison: Teamwork on display but is their trust?
Cross Recoba: Long made his name in tag-team competition, you’d HAVE to trust him!
Long makes the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT FROM THE SIN EATER!!
Steve Morrison: Valerie keeps the match going as they refuse to be pinned!
Tyrell marshalls Sawyer out of the ring leaving Long inside the ring with the Russian.
Cross Recoba: Long isn’t known for being a powerhouse but he could sure be one in this match!
Picking them up by the head, Long sends them to the ropes…it’s reversed. Long hits the ropes as Valerie heads to the ropes to her side…FACECRUSHER TAKES DOWN THE IRISHMAN!
Steve Morrison: The Sin Eater caught him out there!
Valeries turns to grab Jason but he judo rolls out of the way and measures her…Roundhouse kick to the head is ducked…Drop toe-hold!
Cross Recoba: He can’t seem to find a rhythm.
Transitioning, the Sin Eater grabs a HEEL HOOK!!
Steve Morrison: That might be discounting Valerie who now has the Best Bout Machine in peril!
Long reaches for the ropes but they’re too far. He presses up but Valerie tightens the grip on the heel forcing him back to the mat.
Cross Recoba: She could be putting Long in an extremely difficult situation. If she locks that hold in then it could be game over!
Tyrell drops to the mat to ask Long if he wants to submit but the Irishman pushes up with a roar…HE FLINGS HIMSELF TOWARDS THE ROPES TO GET A BREAK!
Steve Morrison: Maverick just about escapes injury!
Valerie releases the hold before the Match Official can start the count. Long gets to his feet but the Sin Eater has already hit the ropes…BASEMENT DROPKICK TAKES THE ICON’S LEGS OUT FROM UNDER HIM!!
Cross Recoba: I’m impressed by how SKY Force have adapted to their opponents tonight…
Going back to the ropes, SISTER VALERIE LEAPS…
Steve Morrison: HIP ATTACK!!
LONG CATCHES HER….
Cross Recoba: NO!
DEADLIFT GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: HUGE show of strength from the Last Breathing Mercenary!!
He bridges…
ONE…
TWO…
AYAKA BREAKS UP THE PIN!!!
Steve Morrison: The Mega Brusier keeps SKY Force in the match!
Tyrell ushers the Mega Bruiser out of the ring while her partner gets to their feet. Long leaps…SCHOOLBOY ROLL-UP!
Crowd: ONE….TWO!!
Maverick looks around to see Ayaka still not fully out of the ring, Steve Tyrell trying to impress his will not able to make the count.
Steve Morrison: Maverick could have had the match sewn up!
Long pivots….SCHOOLBOY SUPLEX!!!
Cross Recoba: As graceful as that looks it doesn’t sacrifice form for impact!
With Ayaka finally out of the ring, Tyrell turns around to see Long with a Double Underhook Lift….PILEDRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: CROWN TUNDRA!!!
Long goes for the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
AYAKA MAKES THE SAVE AT THE LAST MOMENT AS THE CROWD GASP!!
Steve Morrison: We could have had an end to the match but The Mega Bruiser once more keeps her partner in it!
Backing away, Ayaka manages to put the referee between herself and Jason. The Icon debates going after her but chooses to focus on the legal fighter. He bends down to pick up Valerie.
Cross Recoba: Smart move from the Icon.
AYAKA CHARGES PAST LONG AND GRABS A WAISTLOCK, TAKING HIM BY SURPRISE!! O’CONNOR ROLL….SHE ROLLS BACKWARDS AND LEANS INTO THE ROPES AS SHE STANDS…DASHING SOCCER KICK TO THE HEAD OF THE IRISHMAN!!
Steve Morrison: Ayaka with a devastating act of interference!
Cross Recoba: She might be giving up weight but that punt kick would drop an Ox!
Long snaps back to the canvas holding his head. Ayaka grabs the arm of her partner and drags her to their corner. The Mega Bruiser tags herself in!
Steve Morrison: Now Ayaka is the legal fighter!
Sprinting to the corner, Ayaka leaps between the ropes and climbs to the top rope. Long starts to rise….THE SKY FORCE BRUSIER CATCHES HIM WITH A FLYING CLOTHESLINE!!
Steve Morrison: LARIAT FROM THE TOP!
Crowd: LET’S GO SKY FORCE! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* LET’S GO SKY FORCE! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* LET’S GO SKY FORCE! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Cross Recoba: Clearly have a large section of SCCW fans in attendance…
Spurred on by the fans, Ayaka mounts the second rope….VADERBOMB CONNECTS!!!
Steve Morrison: Long’s in danger!
Tyrell drops for the count…
ONE…
TWO…
THR-
MAV SWINGS A LEG ON THE BOTTOM ROPE!!
Steve Morrison: JASON ESCAPES AT THE LAST!!
Ayaka bangs the mat in frustration but carries on. Reaching down, she grabs the head….LONG DROPS TO THE MAT WITH AN OVERHEAD KICK THAT STAGGERS BACK HIS OPPONENT!
Steve Morrison: Pele kick!
The Best Bout Machine rolls forward…HE MAKES THE TAG!
Cross Recoba: Sawyer might be the freshest fighter in the match!
Sawyer comes into the ring with purpose! Ayaka eats a forearm! The Mega Bruiser sends one back! Sawyer answers with another! Ayaka gives as good as she gets! SAWYER SWINGS A HEADKICK…IT’S DUCKED….THE SKY FORCE MUSCLE NAILS THE TEXAN WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer fighting with a level of intensity we’ve not seen from the young wrestler!
Scrambling back to their feet, Sawyer looks as if a caged animal has been unleashed! Ayaka rushes in with a lifting knee to the sternum of the Texan, the Japanese wrestler grabs the head of Sawyer…SICKENING HEADBUTT! Stumbling backwards, Sam can’t stop Ayaka from grabbing her wrist…SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE!!!
Cross Recoba: This is turning into a slugfest!!
Peeling her opponent off the mat, The Mega Brusier scoops up Sawyer…
Steve Morrison: MEGA BRUISER BOMB!!
SAWYER PUSHES OFF THE THE BACK…BRIDGING DRAGON SUPLEX!!!
Cross Recoba: GREAT ESCAPE FROM SAM!!
Tyrell drops to count…
ONE…
TWO…
T-KICKOUT!!!!!
Steve Morrison: AYAKA ROLLS A SHOULDER UP!
Cross Recoba: Sawyer looks possessed!
Sawyer’s face is still one of anger. They get to their feet AND START TO UNDO THE TURNBUCKLE COVER!
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen a lot of out of character moments from Sawyer lately but this has the potential to be brutal!
Sam reaches down and GRABS THE HEAD OF AYAKA….THEY RAM IT INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL!
Cross Recoba: No more fanfare for Sawyer, this is vicious!
AND AGAIN!!!
Steve Morrison: Are they out for the win or to put their opponent on the shelf?
The Lansky Ballroom turns into a chamber of boos!
Cross Recoba: The fans seemingly turning their back on the once favorite of the crowd!
A THIRD BLOW FROM THE TURNBUCKLE STEEL!!!
Steve Morrison: Tyrell needs to step in!
Sawyer throws Ayaka from the turnbuckle, sending her spinning. HUGE SLAP!!!!
Steve Morrison: GET FUCKED!
Sam hooks an arm and lifts….
Cross Recoba: Could it be…
BRAINBUSTER!!!!
Steve Morrison: Vertical drop!
They make the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
VALERIE RETURNS THE FAVOR WITH THE SAVE!!!!
Steve Morrison: SKY Force seemingly only in this still through teamwork!
Sawyer looks thunderous at the intrusion and pops to their feet. They try to get at the Sin Eater but Steve Tyrell blocks their path!
Cross Recoba: Rabid comes to mind.
AYAKA MAKES THE TAG!!
Steve Morrison: It might have cost them the advantage as Valerie reenters the fight!
Pushing Tyrell out the way, Sawyer cuts off the incoming Valerie with a huge shot to the forehead! A stiff kick to the midsection doubles over the Russian until a pointed boot to the knee drops the SKY Force member to their knees….BUZZSAW KICK!!!
Cross Recoba: Clinical execution!
With no room to recover, Sister Valerie is wrenched to her feet and sent to the ropes…A FLAPJACK SENDS VALERIE INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL!!!!
Steve Morrison: NO REMORSE SHOWN BY SAWYER!!
Dazed and possibly concussed, Valerie tries to step out from the corner, blood starting to run down her head…Sawyer gets a front-facelock….SPIKE DDT!!!
Cross Recoba: Another vertical drop!!!
Sawyer sits up and looks contentfully at the fallen wrestler.
Steve Morrison: Something’s not right…
They make the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
AYAKA RUSHES IN BUT A SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK FROM LONG CUTS HER OFF!!!
Cross Recoba: Has to be!
THREE!!!
Tyrell calls for the bell!!!
DING! DING! DING!
“Violence” by Grimes and i_o starts to play as Sawyer rises to their feet.
Laura Messier: THE WINNERS OF THE OPENING MATCH OF THE NIGHT, MAKING IT ONE TO ZIP FOR TAP OUT WRESTLING….JASON LONG….AND SAAAAAAM SAWWWWYERRRR!!!!
Tyrell grabs their arm to raise it. Sawyer begrudgingly lets him do so but only for an instant before pulling it down shortly.
Steve Morrison: What has gotten into Sam Sawyer?
Cross Recoba: I’m sure we might find out before too long but nothing changes the facts: Tap Out draw first blood in the Oscar Goodman Cup!
Steve Morrison: SKY Force put on a good show but Sawyer wasn’t leaving this ring unless they won or got disqualified!
Ayaka checks on her partner as medics enter the ring to examine the cut.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer didn’t seem enamored by Long in the match and the next time they’re in the ring, I can only see the gap between them growing!
Cross Recoba: Sam doesn’t seem to be the shy and happy-go-lucky fighter we signed!
Steve Morrison: This could be one to watch going forward, fans! Now though, we say Good Evening to our opposite number in Sin City, Aleister Mayfield as the Oscar Goodman Cup continues!!!
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
SINGLES MATCH
Nelly Angel (SCCW) vs Chris Sanderson (TAP OUT)
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
TAG TEAM MATCH
Kenneth Casper & Travis Monroe (SCCW) vs Cliff Clinton? & Wildcat Capone (TAP OUT)
Steve Morrison: Hello, everyone we’re back in the Lansky Ballroom but there seems to be some trouble brewing over in SCCW.
Cross Recoba: Wildcat Capone and Cliff Clinton? still haven’t left the ring and things are getting heated.
The Tapout Tron lights up and sure enough, we spot Wildcat Capone and Cliff Clinton? in each other's faces and talking trash to each other. They are poking each other's chests and shoving each other. Alister Mayfield and a few road agents are in the ring trying to calm the situation, but neither man seems to want to listen.
Steve Morrison: Cliff Clinton? remains calm and stern and Wildcat Capone is a bubbling kettle of rage…Alister Mayfield’s caught in the middle trying to regain order.
Cross Recoba: Not a place Alister should be if this thing pops off. Cliff and Capone have been all over each other on socials after Capone mugged Cliff on the streets of Vegas. Cliff offered Capone a chance to talk things out but I think we are way past words here.
Capone gets heated and slaps Cliff directly across the face and the big man staggers backward. Capone follows up by telling him to “get his fat ass out of his face”.
Steve Morrison: Oh boy. Capone made Cliff angry.
Cross Recoba: And Cliff is over a foot taller and weighs a hundred pounds more. Making Cliff angry is a decision you make when you’re either stupid or crazy. Capone could be both of those things.
Steve Morrison: Alister Mayfield has seen enough. He wants order in his arena and he wants it now!
Capone isn’t phased by Mayfield and starts to back down the SCCW announcer. The crowd boos and shouts at Capone to leave Mayfield alone!
Cross Recoba: Capone’s in Mayfield’s face now. Does IRN FST have any respect for anyone?
Capone hauls back to strike but he suddenly finds a fingerless gloved hand wrapped around his throat. Cliff Clinton? with a look of rage in his gentle eyes quickly pushes Capone into the corner and starts to throw some stiff right hands.
Steve Morrison: The Gamblers Den comes alive as Cliff Clinton? starts teeing off on Wildcat Capone.
Cross Recoba: A little revenge from when Capone and his gang roughed him up in the park.
Steve Morrison: Oh and now Sin City Security has stormed the ring at the behest of Alister Mayfield.
Cross Recoba: You can’t blame him. Our broadcast colleague has been trying to regain order this entire time.
The security storm into the ring and split Cliff and Capone apart. Cliff goes peacefully to one corner with four guards while Capone struggles and rants and raves in his corner with three guards.
Suddenly, Capone spots an opening and rushes through the three guards and leaps into Cliff while his back is turned. Capone’s leap takes out some of the guards that were around Cliff. Capone lands a few more right hands that drill Cliff on the side of the head. Cliff gets Capone off him and they start swinging punches. Each man going for haymakers wherever they thought they could land it. Cliff starts to get the upper hand when suddenly Capone hits an incredibly stiff forward thrust kick straight into Cliff’s knee. The big man screams out in pain and collapses down to one knee.
Steve Morrison: UGH! A painful kick directly to the knee evens the odds in this brawl.
Cross Recoba: That is the type of kick that can hyperextend the knee. Dirty and effective.
Steve Morrison: Now what does Capone have?
Capone reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pair of brass knuckles! Cliff tries to get up but his knee buckles. Capone measures up, pulls back and blasts Cliff right in the middle of the face! The shot echoes in the arena and Cliff collapses to the ground like a sack of bricks. The crowd gasp, Alister Mayfield is completely stunned and the security guards are frozen with shock.
Steve Morrison: I…I think we are going to need EMTs over in the Gamblers Den.
Cross Recoba: Oh god, his face!?
Capone grabs a handful of Cliff’s hair and pulls his head up. Almost as if he decapitated him. You can see the graphic open wound going diagonally across his eye, nose, and cheek from where the brass-knuckled punch struck him. The blood poured out and started to soak Cliff’s beard.
Wildcat Capone: You think this is a game!? You think the streets is a game to me!?
Capone hits a couple of clubbing blows to the open wound. Cliff is still completely unconscious.
Wildcat Capone: When you wake up and you see what I did to you, ask yourself if I’m a motherfucker you should be playin' with!
Another couple of clubbing blows to the gash on Cliff’s face.
Wildcat Capone: These are MY STREETS MOTHERFUCKER! And when I’m done with you Cliff, there will be One…Less….BITCH….walkin on em!
Capone lets go of Cliff's hair and the big man’s face splashes down into the pool of blood below him.
Capone is warning the guards not to touch him as he slowly backs away and out of the ring. Alister Mayfield is yelling at him. “You’ve done enough Capone! Get the hell out of my ring!” Capone slithers out of the ring, big smile and angry-eyed, as he walks to the back.
SCCW medical rushes the ring and start helping Cliff Clinton? as Mayfield stands by. The feed from the Gamblers Den is cut.
Steve Morrison: What a terrible assault on Cliff Clinton? by the hands of Wildcat Capone. We will keep you updated on Cliff’s condition as we receive it.
Cross Recoba: I’m not surprised that it happened but I am incredibly shocked at what degree it happened. That assault with the brass knuckles was heinous and something I won’t condone. There will be some consequences for those actions.
Steve Morrison: We’ll keep you all posted on how the situation develops but right now, Laura’s standing at ringside for our next match between Random McConalogue and Jimi Coulson as the score stands at two-to-one in Tap Out’s favor in the inaugural Oscar Goodman Cup!
Steve Morrison: Thanks, Aleister! With the scores at two to one in Tap Out’s favor, this next match is crucial for both sides.
Cross Recoba: A win here could put it out of Sin City’s reach, not mathematically but it’s pressure on every Sin City fighter from here on out!
Steve Morrison: Lets find out whether SCCW can even the scores up here as Laura stands by, ready for our next match!
Laura Messier: The following contest is part of the Oscar Goodman Cup and is scheduled for one fall!
The lights of the arena flicker into something resembling a seascape, with blues and greens flowing and shifting. In this light, an aqua dot appears on the Titantron, surrounded by curves, movement, and change. The dot seems to delight in this freedom before a whistled tune is heard… The very same Poena has become so linked too. The dot seems to panic as red angles and squares cut in, stabbing into it and holding it in place as a turquoise terror moves in.
Rannnndooommm…
The view zooms out, revealing that the whole tableau had taken place in Poena's multicolored eye—an eye that was glaring from behind the hand clasped around the camera lens.
What will you see in the Hand of God?
A vision within Poena’s palm, wavering, immaterial...
the vision looks grainy, oversaturated and bleached. Poena rolling into a ring as the spotlights turn to brightest white, the audio distorted and abrasive as the gloomy, shadowy green glitch cuts interject
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER: AN INTRUSION
and resolve into a shadowy image of Random stretching out her arms, with another shadow across a ring from her?
TAG-TEAM MATCH
Jason Long / Sam Sawyer (TAP OUT) vs SKY Force [Sister Valerie / Ayaka] (SCCW)
Steve Tyrell watches Laura Messier leave the ring before calling the teams into the center of the ring. Both teams remain vigilant as the instructions are being explained to them.
Steve Morrison: Tyrell’s going to want to make sure that the Oscar Goodman Cup kicks off with a match that isn’t marred in controversy!
Cross Recoba: You’d argue that only Long has a reputation for bending the rules…
Sending the teams back to their corners, we see that SKY Force debate amongst themselves as to who should start, watching Saywer and Long before deciding who should start the match.
Steve Morrison: Valerie and Ayaka looking to pick the right fighter to start the match.
Cross Recoba: It’s a smart move. Ayaka is known as The Mega Bruiser but both the SKY Force members are outweighed by their opponents.
Sawyer isn’t cowed by their larger partner, Sam jabs their finger into the chest of Long before pointing to the apron!
Steve Morrison: You get the feeling that Sawyer hasn’t quite forgiven Jason for taking the loss at the last show and costing them the shot at Supremacy.
Cross Recoba: That’s an issue they’re going to have work through to get anything from this match!
Long shakes his head in disbelief as he steps between the ropes. Seeing that it’s now Sawyer that’s starting the match, Ayaka nods at her partner as she steps through the ropes.
Steve Morrison: Experience not being something Sawyer wants to take on board.
Cross Recoba: Sawyer’s seemingly more focused, more serious. They’re not going to want to take the match out of their own hands unless they have to!
Seeing that both teams are ready to start the match, Steve Tyrell calls for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
Sawyer is quick to come out from the corner, they look to engage the Sin Eater but Valerie seems reticent, sizing up Sam from a distance.
Steve Morrison: Valerie wanting to establish her range.
Cross Recoba: She’s similar in some respects to Random. She’ll be looking to find an opening to target a limb and then exploit it.
SAM CLOSES THE GAP AND CHARGES AT SISTER VALERIE BEFORE UNLOADING WITH A FOREARM!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer waiting for no such grace as they land a huge forearm!
Sawyer grabs the head to stop the proto-Russian from being able to fall back into their corner and brings them into the center of the ring. A huge clubbing blow to the back of the neck drops Valerie to her knees as the crowd starts to boo the former favorite of the Lansky Ballroom.
Cross Recoba: Sawyer could be one of the strongest members of the roster, pound-for-pound. This match allows them to showcase that!
The Tap Out wrestler grabs the SKY Force member by the head and hooks a front-facelock before lifting their knee into the sternum of their opponent. And another! Sawyer lifts them over with a suplex from the front-facelock and transitions to a seated headlock.
Steve Morrison: Smooth chain-wrestling from the Texan!
Bearing their weight down on the lighter wrestler, Sawyer pushes them down to the mat.
Cross Recoba: It’s too early to tell but Sawyer seems more forceful in the match, pushing where they want their opponent to be rather than leaving it to chance.
Lifting an arm, Sawyer drives an elbow into the trapezius of Valerie.
Steve Morrison: Pointed elbow to the shoulder of the Russian!
A second elbow is driven with the point finding the gap between the joints.
Cross Recoba: Clinical execution!
Moving their body, SAWYER DRIVES A KNEE INTO THE TOP OF VALERIE’S BACK!!!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer switching their offense at will.
Cross Recoba: It looks like they could be leaving it open to go for the Sawyer Lock that beat Zolothatch in FIRESIDE!
Swiftly changing it up, Sam scoots around to grab the legs of Valerie but the Sin Eater slips a leg out and uses it to sweep the base out from Sawyer. They grab one of Sam’s legs and turn them onto their stomach…
Steve Morrison: Valerie wriggles out of it and goes for the STF!
Sawyer grabs the ropes before the hold can be applied!
Cross Recoba: Smart thinking from Sam!
Sam plays the rules of the contest and uses the ropes to get to their feet, their gaze fixed on Tyrell until he backs the SKY Force member away from the Texan wrestler.
Steve Morrison: What can they be thinking…
Seeing that the Match Official is doing their bidding, SAWYER CHARGES IN BEHIND HIM…VALERIES SEES THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE…LARIAT…NO!!! VALERIE CATCHES THE ARM AT THE ELBOW AND WHEELS THEM AROUND…ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!!
Steve Morrison: Cheap shot from Sawyer cut down by Sister Valerie!!
Ayaka leans through the ropes and makes the tag!
Cross Recoba: SKY Force using their experience as a unit to get back in this!
Still in the hold, Sawyer gets caught with their arm between the legs of the submission specialist. Valerie gets the crossface and lifts the head of Sam up….AYAKA CHARGES IN WITH A KICK TO THE HEAD!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A KICK!
Cross Recoba: They know exactly where the other one will be!
Valerie rolls out of the ring as Ayaka makes the pin…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT FROM SAWYER!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer’s down but not out yet!
Cross Recoba: That was less an attempt to end the match and more a reminder that they can put Sam in that position!
The Mega Bruiser takes Sawyer’s raised arm and DRIVES HER FOOT DOWN ATOP IT!
Steve Morrison: Ayaka’s style the complete contrast of her partner’s. Vicious strikes are the order of the day!
Reaching out to grab the stamped hand, Sawyer leaves themselves open for Ayaka to grab the limb and twist around it - La Mahistral Cradle…
Cross Recoba: Another pin?
Tyrell drops down for the pin but Ayaka transitions from the pin to grab the legs of Sawyer and roll them over into a Boston Crab!
Steve Morrison: Working that back, taking away the power base perhaps?
Cross Recoba: The Mega Bruiser going back to their Young Lion days!
Before Sam can respond, Ayaka walks them to the SKY Force corner and Valerie tags herself back in!
Steve Morrison: SKY Force utilizing those double-teams it seems…
The Sin Eater goes back to the Crossface!!
Cross Recoba: Sawyer HAS to be in agony!
Long enters the ring…STEVE TYRELL STOPS HIM AND USHERS HIM BACK TO HIS CORNER!
Steve Morrison: Long tries to intercede but he’s cut off by the referee!
Cross Recoba: And extending the amount of time Sam’s trapped in that double submission!
Protesting his case, Maverick points behind the Match Official to alert him to the double-team but Tyrell is adamant that Long has to leave the ring.
Steve Morrison: SKY Force have Sawyer bent like a U!
Switching from the double submission, Ayaka fires Sawyer into the corner…
Cross Recoba: They’re not finished…
AYAKA WHIPS VALERIE INTO THE CORNER…LEAPING BACK ELBOW! AYAKA FOLLOWS IN WITH A SPLASH!!!
Steve Morrison: HUGE DOUBLE-TEAM!
Sawyer stumbles from the corner…Valerie hits them with a basement dropkick!
Cross Recoba: SKY Force determined to keep their opponents out of a rhythm!
The Sin Eater flips over, grabbing the arm…BRIDGING FUJIWARA ARMBAR!!
Steve Morrison: What a move! Teed Sawyer up perfectly!
Cross Recoba: Now Sawyer needs to work an escape out because the submission expert measured them perfectly!
Realizing immediately the trouble they find themselves in, Sawyer is quick to swing a leg on the bottom rope to break the hold!
Steve Morrison: A quick escape!
Valerie measures the rise of Sawyer…SPINNING BACK KICK!!!
Steve Morrison: Divine Smile!
Cross Recoba: Sam got set up!
With her opponent doubled over, the Sin Eater whips them to the ropes…SAWYER COMES BACK WITH A FOOTBALL TACKLE!!!
Steve Morrison: DUMPED ON THEIR HEAD!
Cross Recoba: Sergio Parisse inspired!
Steve Morrison: Who?
Cross Recoba: Italian rugby legend!
Unloading with stiff forearms that land true on the face of the SCCW star, Sawyer looks possessed with fury.
Steve Morrison: Whether Sawyer knows who he is, they’re peppering the face of Valerie with killer blows!
Looking to Long, they whip Valerie into the corner. Tag made to Long!
Cross Recoba: Maverick can make hay in this situation!
The Icon enters the ring and picks up Valerie from the corner…Inverted Atomic Drop….SAWYER LEVELS THEM WITH A SPINNING BACKFIST!
Steve Morrison: Teamwork on display but is their trust?
Cross Recoba: Long made his name in tag-team competition, you’d HAVE to trust him!
Long makes the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT FROM THE SIN EATER!!
Steve Morrison: Valerie keeps the match going as they refuse to be pinned!
Tyrell marshalls Sawyer out of the ring leaving Long inside the ring with the Russian.
Cross Recoba: Long isn’t known for being a powerhouse but he could sure be one in this match!
Picking them up by the head, Long sends them to the ropes…it’s reversed. Long hits the ropes as Valerie heads to the ropes to her side…FACECRUSHER TAKES DOWN THE IRISHMAN!
Steve Morrison: The Sin Eater caught him out there!
Valeries turns to grab Jason but he judo rolls out of the way and measures her…Roundhouse kick to the head is ducked…Drop toe-hold!
Cross Recoba: He can’t seem to find a rhythm.
Transitioning, the Sin Eater grabs a HEEL HOOK!!
Steve Morrison: That might be discounting Valerie who now has the Best Bout Machine in peril!
Long reaches for the ropes but they’re too far. He presses up but Valerie tightens the grip on the heel forcing him back to the mat.
Cross Recoba: She could be putting Long in an extremely difficult situation. If she locks that hold in then it could be game over!
Tyrell drops to the mat to ask Long if he wants to submit but the Irishman pushes up with a roar…HE FLINGS HIMSELF TOWARDS THE ROPES TO GET A BREAK!
Steve Morrison: Maverick just about escapes injury!
Valerie releases the hold before the Match Official can start the count. Long gets to his feet but the Sin Eater has already hit the ropes…BASEMENT DROPKICK TAKES THE ICON’S LEGS OUT FROM UNDER HIM!!
Cross Recoba: I’m impressed by how SKY Force have adapted to their opponents tonight…
Going back to the ropes, SISTER VALERIE LEAPS…
Steve Morrison: HIP ATTACK!!
LONG CATCHES HER….
Cross Recoba: NO!
DEADLIFT GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: HUGE show of strength from the Last Breathing Mercenary!!
He bridges…
ONE…
TWO…
AYAKA BREAKS UP THE PIN!!!
Steve Morrison: The Mega Brusier keeps SKY Force in the match!
Tyrell ushers the Mega Bruiser out of the ring while her partner gets to their feet. Long leaps…SCHOOLBOY ROLL-UP!
Crowd: ONE….TWO!!
Maverick looks around to see Ayaka still not fully out of the ring, Steve Tyrell trying to impress his will not able to make the count.
Steve Morrison: Maverick could have had the match sewn up!
Long pivots….SCHOOLBOY SUPLEX!!!
Cross Recoba: As graceful as that looks it doesn’t sacrifice form for impact!
With Ayaka finally out of the ring, Tyrell turns around to see Long with a Double Underhook Lift….PILEDRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: CROWN TUNDRA!!!
Long goes for the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
AYAKA MAKES THE SAVE AT THE LAST MOMENT AS THE CROWD GASP!!
Steve Morrison: We could have had an end to the match but The Mega Bruiser once more keeps her partner in it!
Backing away, Ayaka manages to put the referee between herself and Jason. The Icon debates going after her but chooses to focus on the legal fighter. He bends down to pick up Valerie.
Cross Recoba: Smart move from the Icon.
AYAKA CHARGES PAST LONG AND GRABS A WAISTLOCK, TAKING HIM BY SURPRISE!! O’CONNOR ROLL….SHE ROLLS BACKWARDS AND LEANS INTO THE ROPES AS SHE STANDS…DASHING SOCCER KICK TO THE HEAD OF THE IRISHMAN!!
Steve Morrison: Ayaka with a devastating act of interference!
Cross Recoba: She might be giving up weight but that punt kick would drop an Ox!
Long snaps back to the canvas holding his head. Ayaka grabs the arm of her partner and drags her to their corner. The Mega Bruiser tags herself in!
Steve Morrison: Now Ayaka is the legal fighter!
Sprinting to the corner, Ayaka leaps between the ropes and climbs to the top rope. Long starts to rise….THE SKY FORCE BRUSIER CATCHES HIM WITH A FLYING CLOTHESLINE!!
Steve Morrison: LARIAT FROM THE TOP!
Crowd: LET’S GO SKY FORCE! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* LET’S GO SKY FORCE! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* LET’S GO SKY FORCE! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Cross Recoba: Clearly have a large section of SCCW fans in attendance…
Spurred on by the fans, Ayaka mounts the second rope….VADERBOMB CONNECTS!!!
Steve Morrison: Long’s in danger!
Tyrell drops for the count…
ONE…
TWO…
THR-
MAV SWINGS A LEG ON THE BOTTOM ROPE!!
Steve Morrison: JASON ESCAPES AT THE LAST!!
Ayaka bangs the mat in frustration but carries on. Reaching down, she grabs the head….LONG DROPS TO THE MAT WITH AN OVERHEAD KICK THAT STAGGERS BACK HIS OPPONENT!
Steve Morrison: Pele kick!
The Best Bout Machine rolls forward…HE MAKES THE TAG!
Cross Recoba: Sawyer might be the freshest fighter in the match!
Sawyer comes into the ring with purpose! Ayaka eats a forearm! The Mega Bruiser sends one back! Sawyer answers with another! Ayaka gives as good as she gets! SAWYER SWINGS A HEADKICK…IT’S DUCKED….THE SKY FORCE MUSCLE NAILS THE TEXAN WITH A GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Steve Morrison: Sawyer fighting with a level of intensity we’ve not seen from the young wrestler!
Scrambling back to their feet, Sawyer looks as if a caged animal has been unleashed! Ayaka rushes in with a lifting knee to the sternum of the Texan, the Japanese wrestler grabs the head of Sawyer…SICKENING HEADBUTT! Stumbling backwards, Sam can’t stop Ayaka from grabbing her wrist…SHORT-ARM CLOTHESLINE!!!
Cross Recoba: This is turning into a slugfest!!
Peeling her opponent off the mat, The Mega Brusier scoops up Sawyer…
Steve Morrison: MEGA BRUISER BOMB!!
SAWYER PUSHES OFF THE THE BACK…BRIDGING DRAGON SUPLEX!!!
Cross Recoba: GREAT ESCAPE FROM SAM!!
Tyrell drops to count…
ONE…
TWO…
T-KICKOUT!!!!!
Steve Morrison: AYAKA ROLLS A SHOULDER UP!
Cross Recoba: Sawyer looks possessed!
Sawyer’s face is still one of anger. They get to their feet AND START TO UNDO THE TURNBUCKLE COVER!
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen a lot of out of character moments from Sawyer lately but this has the potential to be brutal!
Sam reaches down and GRABS THE HEAD OF AYAKA….THEY RAM IT INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL!
Cross Recoba: No more fanfare for Sawyer, this is vicious!
AND AGAIN!!!
Steve Morrison: Are they out for the win or to put their opponent on the shelf?
The Lansky Ballroom turns into a chamber of boos!
Cross Recoba: The fans seemingly turning their back on the once favorite of the crowd!
A THIRD BLOW FROM THE TURNBUCKLE STEEL!!!
Steve Morrison: Tyrell needs to step in!
Sawyer throws Ayaka from the turnbuckle, sending her spinning. HUGE SLAP!!!!
Steve Morrison: GET FUCKED!
Sam hooks an arm and lifts….
Cross Recoba: Could it be…
BRAINBUSTER!!!!
Steve Morrison: Vertical drop!
They make the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
VALERIE RETURNS THE FAVOR WITH THE SAVE!!!!
Steve Morrison: SKY Force seemingly only in this still through teamwork!
Sawyer looks thunderous at the intrusion and pops to their feet. They try to get at the Sin Eater but Steve Tyrell blocks their path!
Cross Recoba: Rabid comes to mind.
AYAKA MAKES THE TAG!!
Steve Morrison: It might have cost them the advantage as Valerie reenters the fight!
Pushing Tyrell out the way, Sawyer cuts off the incoming Valerie with a huge shot to the forehead! A stiff kick to the midsection doubles over the Russian until a pointed boot to the knee drops the SKY Force member to their knees….BUZZSAW KICK!!!
Cross Recoba: Clinical execution!
With no room to recover, Sister Valerie is wrenched to her feet and sent to the ropes…A FLAPJACK SENDS VALERIE INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL!!!!
Steve Morrison: NO REMORSE SHOWN BY SAWYER!!
Dazed and possibly concussed, Valerie tries to step out from the corner, blood starting to run down her head…Sawyer gets a front-facelock….SPIKE DDT!!!
Cross Recoba: Another vertical drop!!!
Sawyer sits up and looks contentfully at the fallen wrestler.
Steve Morrison: Something’s not right…
They make the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
AYAKA RUSHES IN BUT A SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK FROM LONG CUTS HER OFF!!!
Cross Recoba: Has to be!
THREE!!!
Tyrell calls for the bell!!!
DING! DING! DING!
“Violence” by Grimes and i_o starts to play as Sawyer rises to their feet.
Laura Messier: THE WINNERS OF THE OPENING MATCH OF THE NIGHT, MAKING IT ONE TO ZIP FOR TAP OUT WRESTLING….JASON LONG….AND SAAAAAAM SAWWWWYERRRR!!!!
Tyrell grabs their arm to raise it. Sawyer begrudgingly lets him do so but only for an instant before pulling it down shortly.
Steve Morrison: What has gotten into Sam Sawyer?
Cross Recoba: I’m sure we might find out before too long but nothing changes the facts: Tap Out draw first blood in the Oscar Goodman Cup!
Steve Morrison: SKY Force put on a good show but Sawyer wasn’t leaving this ring unless they won or got disqualified!
Ayaka checks on her partner as medics enter the ring to examine the cut.
Steve Morrison: Sawyer didn’t seem enamored by Long in the match and the next time they’re in the ring, I can only see the gap between them growing!
Cross Recoba: Sam doesn’t seem to be the shy and happy-go-lucky fighter we signed!
Steve Morrison: This could be one to watch going forward, fans! Now though, we say Good Evening to our opposite number in Sin City, Aleister Mayfield as the Oscar Goodman Cup continues!!!
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
SINGLES MATCH
Nelly Angel (SCCW) vs Chris Sanderson (TAP OUT)
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
TAG TEAM MATCH
Kenneth Casper & Travis Monroe (SCCW) vs Cliff Clinton? & Wildcat Capone (TAP OUT)
Steve Morrison: Hello, everyone we’re back in the Lansky Ballroom but there seems to be some trouble brewing over in SCCW.
Cross Recoba: Wildcat Capone and Cliff Clinton? still haven’t left the ring and things are getting heated.
The Tapout Tron lights up and sure enough, we spot Wildcat Capone and Cliff Clinton? in each other's faces and talking trash to each other. They are poking each other's chests and shoving each other. Alister Mayfield and a few road agents are in the ring trying to calm the situation, but neither man seems to want to listen.
Steve Morrison: Cliff Clinton? remains calm and stern and Wildcat Capone is a bubbling kettle of rage…Alister Mayfield’s caught in the middle trying to regain order.
Cross Recoba: Not a place Alister should be if this thing pops off. Cliff and Capone have been all over each other on socials after Capone mugged Cliff on the streets of Vegas. Cliff offered Capone a chance to talk things out but I think we are way past words here.
Capone gets heated and slaps Cliff directly across the face and the big man staggers backward. Capone follows up by telling him to “get his fat ass out of his face”.
Steve Morrison: Oh boy. Capone made Cliff angry.
Cross Recoba: And Cliff is over a foot taller and weighs a hundred pounds more. Making Cliff angry is a decision you make when you’re either stupid or crazy. Capone could be both of those things.
Steve Morrison: Alister Mayfield has seen enough. He wants order in his arena and he wants it now!
Capone isn’t phased by Mayfield and starts to back down the SCCW announcer. The crowd boos and shouts at Capone to leave Mayfield alone!
Cross Recoba: Capone’s in Mayfield’s face now. Does IRN FST have any respect for anyone?
Capone hauls back to strike but he suddenly finds a fingerless gloved hand wrapped around his throat. Cliff Clinton? with a look of rage in his gentle eyes quickly pushes Capone into the corner and starts to throw some stiff right hands.
Steve Morrison: The Gamblers Den comes alive as Cliff Clinton? starts teeing off on Wildcat Capone.
Cross Recoba: A little revenge from when Capone and his gang roughed him up in the park.
Steve Morrison: Oh and now Sin City Security has stormed the ring at the behest of Alister Mayfield.
Cross Recoba: You can’t blame him. Our broadcast colleague has been trying to regain order this entire time.
The security storm into the ring and split Cliff and Capone apart. Cliff goes peacefully to one corner with four guards while Capone struggles and rants and raves in his corner with three guards.
Suddenly, Capone spots an opening and rushes through the three guards and leaps into Cliff while his back is turned. Capone’s leap takes out some of the guards that were around Cliff. Capone lands a few more right hands that drill Cliff on the side of the head. Cliff gets Capone off him and they start swinging punches. Each man going for haymakers wherever they thought they could land it. Cliff starts to get the upper hand when suddenly Capone hits an incredibly stiff forward thrust kick straight into Cliff’s knee. The big man screams out in pain and collapses down to one knee.
Steve Morrison: UGH! A painful kick directly to the knee evens the odds in this brawl.
Cross Recoba: That is the type of kick that can hyperextend the knee. Dirty and effective.
Steve Morrison: Now what does Capone have?
Capone reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pair of brass knuckles! Cliff tries to get up but his knee buckles. Capone measures up, pulls back and blasts Cliff right in the middle of the face! The shot echoes in the arena and Cliff collapses to the ground like a sack of bricks. The crowd gasp, Alister Mayfield is completely stunned and the security guards are frozen with shock.
Steve Morrison: I…I think we are going to need EMTs over in the Gamblers Den.
Cross Recoba: Oh god, his face!?
Capone grabs a handful of Cliff’s hair and pulls his head up. Almost as if he decapitated him. You can see the graphic open wound going diagonally across his eye, nose, and cheek from where the brass-knuckled punch struck him. The blood poured out and started to soak Cliff’s beard.
Wildcat Capone: You think this is a game!? You think the streets is a game to me!?
Capone hits a couple of clubbing blows to the open wound. Cliff is still completely unconscious.
Wildcat Capone: When you wake up and you see what I did to you, ask yourself if I’m a motherfucker you should be playin' with!
Another couple of clubbing blows to the gash on Cliff’s face.
Wildcat Capone: These are MY STREETS MOTHERFUCKER! And when I’m done with you Cliff, there will be One…Less….BITCH….walkin on em!
Capone lets go of Cliff's hair and the big man’s face splashes down into the pool of blood below him.
Capone is warning the guards not to touch him as he slowly backs away and out of the ring. Alister Mayfield is yelling at him. “You’ve done enough Capone! Get the hell out of my ring!” Capone slithers out of the ring, big smile and angry-eyed, as he walks to the back.
SCCW medical rushes the ring and start helping Cliff Clinton? as Mayfield stands by. The feed from the Gamblers Den is cut.
Steve Morrison: What a terrible assault on Cliff Clinton? by the hands of Wildcat Capone. We will keep you updated on Cliff’s condition as we receive it.
Cross Recoba: I’m not surprised that it happened but I am incredibly shocked at what degree it happened. That assault with the brass knuckles was heinous and something I won’t condone. There will be some consequences for those actions.
Steve Morrison: We’ll keep you all posted on how the situation develops but right now, Laura’s standing at ringside for our next match between Random McConalogue and Jimi Coulson as the score stands at two-to-one in Tap Out’s favor in the inaugural Oscar Goodman Cup!
Steve Morrison: Thanks, Aleister! With the scores at two to one in Tap Out’s favor, this next match is crucial for both sides.
Cross Recoba: A win here could put it out of Sin City’s reach, not mathematically but it’s pressure on every Sin City fighter from here on out!
Steve Morrison: Lets find out whether SCCW can even the scores up here as Laura stands by, ready for our next match!
Laura Messier: The following contest is part of the Oscar Goodman Cup and is scheduled for one fall!
The lights of the arena flicker into something resembling a seascape, with blues and greens flowing and shifting. In this light, an aqua dot appears on the Titantron, surrounded by curves, movement, and change. The dot seems to delight in this freedom before a whistled tune is heard… The very same Poena has become so linked too. The dot seems to panic as red angles and squares cut in, stabbing into it and holding it in place as a turquoise terror moves in.
Rannnndooommm…
The view zooms out, revealing that the whole tableau had taken place in Poena's multicolored eye—an eye that was glaring from behind the hand clasped around the camera lens.
What will you see in the Hand of God?
A vision within Poena’s palm, wavering, immaterial...
the vision looks grainy, oversaturated and bleached. Poena rolling into a ring as the spotlights turn to brightest white, the audio distorted and abrasive as the gloomy, shadowy green glitch cuts interject
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER: AN INTRUSION
and resolve into a shadowy image of Random stretching out her arms, with another shadow across a ring from her?
A STOLEN ARTEFACT
Laura Messier:-nner-... -...isqua-... -...tion... ...-OM M-... aLOGG-...
The audio is harsh and abrasive, dropping syllables, as the visual glitching stablises and zoomes out resolving into a bird, blac-... no wait, blue? pink? It's indistinct and wavering in hue, suddenly drowned out a fine turquoise mist, that fills the screen as the distorted, glitched voice of
Cross Recoba: e las-... -...to beat Poena?You bet-... -...ppy-...
THE WARPING OF REALITY, THE BENDING OF CAUSALITY
The bird is further from view, but somehow growing, envelvoping the view with feathers that liquify, into the shape of Poena headbutting Jack Diamond's shoulder over and over, the imagery doing a rough impression of Night of Champions 14, but the scratchy audio stutters, as the fluid artefacts obscure the vision and fade to the darkest of greys
Steve Morrison: I can’t quite believe it. I know it happened but POENA JUST BEAT DIAMOND FOR THE TITLE!
And then the audio and video diverge, barely visible outlines of Poena with his Disciples entering, with torn and dysfunctional audio from elsewhere?
Cross Recoba: the form wrestler in Tap Out!
CONVERGENCE OF PEOPLE
The Disciples move as one, much like a hive mind, as Poena drops his arms and slithers toward the ring, Openweight title and rosary in his hands
BUT RANDOM REALISES THE POSITION SHE’S IN AND WALKS HER FEET BACKWARDS, ARCHING HER BACK TO PUT PRESSURE ON CRAFT’S SHOULDERS…
The Disciples move as one, much like a hive mind, as Poena drops his arms and slithers toward the ring, Openweight title and rosary in his hands
BUT RANDOM REALISES THE POSITION SHE’S IN AND WALKS HER FEET BACKWARDS, ARCHING HER BACK TO PUT PRESSURE ON CRAFT’S SHOULDERS…
Cross Recoba: she’s in the driving seat for a title shot being the last person to beat Poena
AND DESTRUCTION
the vision yellows and breaks, like a slow fractal resolving into cuboids on cuboids, a never ending destruction ship, somewhere in space, before the zoom envelops the nightmare fractal in a dark void, ghostly monochrome imagery barely visible
the vision yellows and breaks, like a slow fractal resolving into cuboids on cuboids, a never ending destruction ship, somewhere in space, before the zoom envelops the nightmare fractal in a dark void, ghostly monochrome imagery barely visible
Close Collins swings Random’s body backwards… SPIDER GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
the frames are scratchy, incomplete pixels fading when they're not replaced, the vision growing lighther and redder and yellower, the audio clipped and from a different show
Steve Morrison: HYP-... -...YPASS!!-
in the messy distortion, the vague shape of Sam Sawyer throwing Random off their shoulders, and a huge slap! Get Fucked Lariat!
The distorted flames start to look hot, burning, barely distinct, but enough to show the switch to Random on top of Tommy Strychnine
The distorted flames start to look hot, burning, barely distinct, but enough to show the switch to Random on top of Tommy Strychnine
Steve Morrison: WHISKEY BOTTLE TO THE HEAD!
Cross Recoba: And with the referee unsighted
Cross Recoba: And with the referee unsighted
The glow gets hotter, yellowre and whiter as Poena's voice returns once more, the image flickering like a flashover about to happen
IN AID OF WHO YOU KNOW ALL ALONG
an image arises, a surface, its colour distorted by the heat of the vision. Dice, showing 1 and 0, and a final die, just as the vision starts to falter and slow...
The camera lens creaks as Poena adds more pressure to his grip, laughing as cracks spider web over the view…
I KNOW.
...the images darken and fade, then pulse into bright, eye-splitting saturation before bleaching themselves into a pure turquoise sea as we cross fade to the screen in the venue, Random still on the ramp, confused...
WHEN THE SECOND DENT ARRIVES, HER UNIVERSE COLLAPSES TO NOTHING.
CRUNCH
The tron glitch-cuts, and for a second there's a drawing. Photorealistic, it shows a gloomy, empty tea room with junk, and dice strewn about. Everything looks need and proper, but the dice... Random shudders viscerally, looking down at the ramp in sudden disgust and fear.
Steve Morrison: That flash frame... that was...
Cross Recoba: That unsettling artwork... I think that's the tearoom, That's where Random's films promos!
Misshapen dice with spots in odd positions, and weird scribbles for numbers. Irregular shapes with a vague ambiguous hints of edges, like mutated fruit. Vaguely in the right ball part of solid objects with markings. Mutant dots and unviable digits. The rest of the tearoom is perfect. The image disappears as Random stares, barely registering it's now cut back to the shot of her watching the screen. The audience remains silent, unsettled by the image but not sure how it fits.
Steve Morrison: ...I think it's unsettled Random McConalogue more than anyone...
Cross Recoba: Any attention from Poena's disturbing from the word go.
She turns and closes her eyes, composing herself as the tron cuts back to the tearoom shots of her entrance video and gently flaps her arms and taking a nice deep breath as the music cuts back in where it left off, the video now slightly out of sync.
Steve Morrison: This has got to affect her going into this match!
Cross Recoba: All she can do now is ground herself for Jimi Coulson and help us win the Oscar Goodman Cup, and forget that AI can't draw dice.
music and lights judder back to the ethereal guitars and gloomy light. She flaps her arms lightly, and then opens them, taking a breath and walking purposely to the ring, trying to hide her repulsed, shocked expression.
The lights in the building dim, and a series of heavy guitar strings ring out over the speakers. Light red lights circle the in the crowd and up the stage. White, yellow and orange lights flash in time with the beat as the drums kick in. A video of two wild horses running along an empty field of dirt. A dark red-orange sun is setting over the horizon. A spotlight follows The Man From Waco out from the curtain as he makes his way out.
THE MIRAGE... OF DEL RIO...
IT WAS BURNIN'... IN HIS EYES...
AND SLEEP... HAD ESCAPED 'IM...
TOO CONSUMED... BY HIS PRIDE...
Steve Morrison: The cowboy comes to Tap Out!
Cross Recoba: I’ve stepped in the ring with Jimi and he has the ability to turn the match on its head in an instant!
The Man From Waco stands proudly on the stage as the house lighting returns to normal, but retains a red-orange tint that floats around. He begins unbuttoning his leather vest and as he undoes the last button he throws one arm up in the air and gets a reaction from the crowd. Satisfied he begins a confident stride toward the ring, slapping the hands of most of the fans that outstretch their arm to him as he passes. He nears the ring and circles around to the stairs. He climbs them up onto the apron and drapes on arm over the ropes as he walks down the apron until he reaches about the centre. He pauses and looks to the crowd with a smirk.
JUST THEN... TEARS OVERCAME HIM...
AND HIS HEART... BEGAN TO DROWN...
THE MAN FROM WACO
Steve Morrison: High-flying offense mixed with Texan hard-hitting brawling, can he continue the wretched streak of McConalogue tonight?
Cross Recoba: Wretched by her own standards, you mean? Coulson has been putting people down around three key moves - the piledriver, the superkick and that Knee Trembler of his. He lands any one of those three and the match could be done!
As a swell of trumpets rise, and satisfied by his timing, Coulson goes between the ropes and into the ring where he makes his way to the opposite corner which he climbs to the second buckle and gestures out to the audience, getting another, louder reaction. He climbs down and begins undoing his entrance chaps and removing his entrance vest.
Steve Morrison: A crowd favorite in SCCW, he’ll be hoping the fans that cheered on SKY Force earlier tonight will be as vocal for him
Cross Recoba: One thing that Coulson never struggles with is getting the crowd on his side!
Laura Messier: Introducing first, representing Tap Out Wrestling… Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland. They made weight at one-hundred-and-forty-three pounds and stand five-feet nine tall. RANDOM.....MCCONALOGUE!!!
The Scotswoman tries to focus but the manner of their entrance appears to linger.
Laura Messier: Her opponent, representing Sin City Championship Wrestling…standing an even six feet and weighing in at two-hundred-and-twenty-five pounds. THE COWBOY….JIMI…COULSON!!!
The former Jamrocker seems focused as his name is called.
IN AID OF WHO YOU KNOW ALL ALONG
an image arises, a surface, its colour distorted by the heat of the vision. Dice, showing 1 and 0, and a final die, just as the vision starts to falter and slow...
The camera lens creaks as Poena adds more pressure to his grip, laughing as cracks spider web over the view…
I KNOW.
...the images darken and fade, then pulse into bright, eye-splitting saturation before bleaching themselves into a pure turquoise sea as we cross fade to the screen in the venue, Random still on the ramp, confused...
WHEN THE SECOND DENT ARRIVES, HER UNIVERSE COLLAPSES TO NOTHING.
CRUNCH
The tron glitch-cuts, and for a second there's a drawing. Photorealistic, it shows a gloomy, empty tea room with junk, and dice strewn about. Everything looks need and proper, but the dice... Random shudders viscerally, looking down at the ramp in sudden disgust and fear.
Steve Morrison: That flash frame... that was...
Cross Recoba: That unsettling artwork... I think that's the tearoom, That's where Random's films promos!
Misshapen dice with spots in odd positions, and weird scribbles for numbers. Irregular shapes with a vague ambiguous hints of edges, like mutated fruit. Vaguely in the right ball part of solid objects with markings. Mutant dots and unviable digits. The rest of the tearoom is perfect. The image disappears as Random stares, barely registering it's now cut back to the shot of her watching the screen. The audience remains silent, unsettled by the image but not sure how it fits.
Steve Morrison: ...I think it's unsettled Random McConalogue more than anyone...
Cross Recoba: Any attention from Poena's disturbing from the word go.
She turns and closes her eyes, composing herself as the tron cuts back to the tearoom shots of her entrance video and gently flaps her arms and taking a nice deep breath as the music cuts back in where it left off, the video now slightly out of sync.
Steve Morrison: This has got to affect her going into this match!
Cross Recoba: All she can do now is ground herself for Jimi Coulson and help us win the Oscar Goodman Cup, and forget that AI can't draw dice.
music and lights judder back to the ethereal guitars and gloomy light. She flaps her arms lightly, and then opens them, taking a breath and walking purposely to the ring, trying to hide her repulsed, shocked expression.
The lights in the building dim, and a series of heavy guitar strings ring out over the speakers. Light red lights circle the in the crowd and up the stage. White, yellow and orange lights flash in time with the beat as the drums kick in. A video of two wild horses running along an empty field of dirt. A dark red-orange sun is setting over the horizon. A spotlight follows The Man From Waco out from the curtain as he makes his way out.
THE MIRAGE... OF DEL RIO...
IT WAS BURNIN'... IN HIS EYES...
AND SLEEP... HAD ESCAPED 'IM...
TOO CONSUMED... BY HIS PRIDE...
Steve Morrison: The cowboy comes to Tap Out!
Cross Recoba: I’ve stepped in the ring with Jimi and he has the ability to turn the match on its head in an instant!
The Man From Waco stands proudly on the stage as the house lighting returns to normal, but retains a red-orange tint that floats around. He begins unbuttoning his leather vest and as he undoes the last button he throws one arm up in the air and gets a reaction from the crowd. Satisfied he begins a confident stride toward the ring, slapping the hands of most of the fans that outstretch their arm to him as he passes. He nears the ring and circles around to the stairs. He climbs them up onto the apron and drapes on arm over the ropes as he walks down the apron until he reaches about the centre. He pauses and looks to the crowd with a smirk.
JUST THEN... TEARS OVERCAME HIM...
AND HIS HEART... BEGAN TO DROWN...
THE MAN FROM WACO
Steve Morrison: High-flying offense mixed with Texan hard-hitting brawling, can he continue the wretched streak of McConalogue tonight?
Cross Recoba: Wretched by her own standards, you mean? Coulson has been putting people down around three key moves - the piledriver, the superkick and that Knee Trembler of his. He lands any one of those three and the match could be done!
As a swell of trumpets rise, and satisfied by his timing, Coulson goes between the ropes and into the ring where he makes his way to the opposite corner which he climbs to the second buckle and gestures out to the audience, getting another, louder reaction. He climbs down and begins undoing his entrance chaps and removing his entrance vest.
Steve Morrison: A crowd favorite in SCCW, he’ll be hoping the fans that cheered on SKY Force earlier tonight will be as vocal for him
Cross Recoba: One thing that Coulson never struggles with is getting the crowd on his side!
Laura Messier: Introducing first, representing Tap Out Wrestling… Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland. They made weight at one-hundred-and-forty-three pounds and stand five-feet nine tall. RANDOM.....MCCONALOGUE!!!
The Scotswoman tries to focus but the manner of their entrance appears to linger.
Laura Messier: Her opponent, representing Sin City Championship Wrestling…standing an even six feet and weighing in at two-hundred-and-twenty-five pounds. THE COWBOY….JIMI…COULSON!!!
The former Jamrocker seems focused as his name is called.
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
SINGLES MATCH
Random McConalogue (TAP OUT) vs Jimi Coulson (SCCW)
SINGLES MATCH
Random McConalogue (TAP OUT) vs Jimi Coulson (SCCW)
Steve Morrison: This is an interesting match-up between two very different types of competitors.
Cross Recoba: It sounds like a bad joke. A cowboy and a mathematician walk into a ring…
The bell rings and Random McConalogue and Jimi Coulson begin sizing each other up. The crowd cheers as Jimi challenges Random to a test of strength. Random just looks at him like “Really?” before throwing a quick calf kick that lands with a satisfying smack that elicits some boos from some of the crowd and some “woos” from some others.
Steve Morrison: This is a smart strategy by Random. She knows she can’t beat Jimi in a straight fistfight so she’s staying mobile and working a body part.
Cross Recoba: But why the leg?
The two wrestlers circle each other. Jimi lunges forward but Random side steps and lands another calf kick to the same leg, once again getting another reaction from the crowd. This time it’s all “woos” and no boos. Jimi turns and swings with a wild haymaker. Random ducks and delivers another calf kick.
Crowd: Woo!
Jimi turns and faces Random. Random tries to throw another calf kick but Jimi scouts it and steps back out of range. Jimi runs to ropes and bounces off looking for the lariat but Random ducks underneath. Drop-toe-hold by Random, smoothly transitioned into the heel hook on that leg she’s been blasting.
Steve Morrison: And now we’re seeing Random’s strategy come together.
Cross Recoba: It won’t work.
Jimi screams in pain as Referee Rhod Williams asks him if he wants to give up but Jimi shakes his head “no”. Jimi rolls over to his belly and, with all his might, manages to reach the ropes. The ref calls for the rope break and begins to count. Random let's go at 4.
Steve Morrison: Don’t say it.
Cross Recoba: Told you so.
The ref forces Random to step back and allow Jimi to get to his feet. As soon as he does Jimi shoots forward like a rocket and drives her into the mat with an explosive double-leg takedown. Jimi wastes no time in taking mount and absolutely laying into Random with a barrage of mounted punches. After a few moments of this Jimi pulls back to cock a big haymaker and take in the cheers from the fans. This is all the time Random, who’s now bleeding from her mouth and nose, needs to begin to slip his mount and when Jimi fires his shot she catches him and counters with an arm-bar.
Jimi roars in pain and frustration as he forces himself to his feet. Random refuses to let go and she maintains the hold for dear life until Jimi can muster the strength to get her up and slam her down with a huge one-arm powerbomb. Jimi covers.
Steve Morrison: What a move! There’s that farmboy strength coming into play.
Cross Recoba: Jimi tosses bales of hay that are bigger than her.
1…
2…
Shoulder up at two and a half by Random. The crowd breaks into a dueling chant.
Crowd: LET'S GO JIMI! LET'S GO RANDOM! LET'S GO JIMI! LET'S GO RANDOM! LET'S GO JIMI! LET'S GO RANDOM! LET'S GO JIMI! LET'S GO RANDOM! LET'S GO JIMI! LET'S GO RANDOM!
Jimi grabs Random by the head and pulls her up. He applies a headlock and snaps his hips. Snap-suplex! Jimi maintains the headlock and brings her back up for another snap-suplex. He covers.
1…
2…
Another kick out at two and a half by Random!
Steve Morrison: Another close call.
Cross Recoba: Open your eyes Rhod! That was three!
Jimi looks flustered. He stands up, holds up a finger and shouts “One more!” and hooks her head. He pulls her up but this time holds her in the air. Suddenly his leg gives out for a second allowing Random to slip out of the suplex. Random lands behind Jimi and immediately jumps onto his back looking for the rear-naked choke but before she can get it cinched all the way Jimi drives her, back first, into one of the turnbuckles, causing her to let go.
Jimi turns and delivers a stiff shot to her head. Random stumbles out of the corner looking punch-drunk. Jimi steps back and signals for the Bullseye. He fires off the Bullseye with his good leg but at the last second Random ducks and hits a super quick single-leg takedown on the injured leg. This time she’s able to transition into the Total Perspective Vortex.
Steve Morrison: This is it. Total Perspective Vortex locked in!
Cross Recoba: Get out of there Jimi! Get out!
Jimi tries to roll onto this back to get out of the deadly hold but Random keeps the hold locked in and rolls through so that Jimi lands back on his belly. With no other options, Jimi taps out.
Laura Messier: The referee has called a stop to the match. Your winner…by submission…”Mostly Harmful” Random McConalogue!
Steve Morrison: A cowboy and a mathematician walk into a ring and they have one hell of a match!
Cross Recoba: I need to call my bookie. I just lost $500!
Steve Morrison: You might have bet against your own wrestler but the fact remains, as we head to the interval, Tap Out still lead in the cup three to one! Hang on a moment!
Random McConalogue climbs out of the ring with her towel, hands behind her head to get the oxygen into her lungs. The towel hangs down from her hands like a second pony tail when Steve Morrison appears in shot with a microphone
Steve Morrison: Random, sorry for the quick turnaround, do you have a moment...
She stops, lets her hands drop and turns slightly, the camera framing them at the bottom of the ramp.
Steve Morrison: First up, how's it feel finish the year with a win?
Random nods, glancing towards the ramp, then jumping straight in.
Random McConalogue: A win's always good, just got to keep up with the positive momentum, as long as ...happenstance stuff...
Her lips start to curl into frustration, but she cuts herself off, silently sighing
Steve Morrison: A lot of folks watching are confused, do you know what he's getting at?
Random glances at the floor, then the stage, apprehensively
Random McConalogue: Is he here tonight? Is he at the Den wi' Sam...? Is he aboot the strip?
Steve Morrison: Nobody's seen Poena all weekend, just that one video tonight... Now, the word Dent has come up again, and we know that's a literary reference... Can you tell us what that means to you right now?
she takes a breath, looking around, composing herself breaths
Random McConalogue: Yeah well, there's a book-... sort of book. There's a man who lost his home, and a girl who ends up destroying the whole world... a lot of worlds... by accident... she's called Random Dent...
She trails off into a nervous, fidgety smile and pauses. Morrison opens his mouth to ask a follow-up
Random looks stright at the camera, composing herself
Random McConalogue: This isnae about simple allegories though. This is about how much he's learning. What Poena actually wants, that's a huge sample space, right? Who knows how much of it actually involves me...
I'm no' naïve either, I'm learning on my own as well...
She begins to trail off again, glancing all round and down the space, checking for threats, retreating inwards
Steve Morrison: How is this going to affect your headspace into the holidays through January?
She fidgets, adjusting her towel in her hands, avoiding the camera for a second
Random McConalogue: Yeah well... right now I've picked up a win I really need. I've had a bad autumn and my winter's about.
Her posture slowly relaxes
Random McConalogue: ...regressing back to the form I had in the summer. It's always summer somewhere, ask Aiden Merric aboot that. January can be summer or winter, but it's all about calendars rolling over and looking in two directions. Past and future, Janus watching over.
My past's unstoppable and went straight through Poena. Two matches with Sam, that's where it wobble. Poena's past goes from who-knows-what-trauma to what now? NOMAD, Jack and then me?
Steve Morrison: You've seen how he gets into the heads of people, you're confident he won't get into yours?
The Ethereal Mathematician takes a calming breath, her voice softening
Random McConalogue: I'm confident he'll get lost in the process, and what I do isn't going to land how he wants. There's no Janus, there's no two-faces, and no double heads here. There's no false duality and everything's still up in the air.
The future's all up in the air, my face is still perfect and I don't see a dent in that. Poena can bring his questions and his father and be the face of ordered sadomasochistic exuberence, but this is Las Vegas. This isn't the place for deterministic double-headed, two-faced thinking. This is the ephemeral city that's always in the present, and what dominates the aether is ruled by two faces...
She flips her imaginary coin and stares straight at the camera and shrugs
Random McConalogue: Fortuna's and mine, we're only heads about half the time...
She shrugs playfully, turns and leaves, expression momentarily dropping to apprehension as she walks off
Steve Morrison: Thanks for the time, Random McConalogue, time I got back to my seat...
HALF-TIME SHOW
CHANGE
Oh, as I fade away
NOMAD (VO): I had to become a monster to fight the monsters of the world.
The music plays softly under his voice as it echoes.
NOMAD (VO): That’s how I used to justify it. It was me against the world. Was so used to thinking everyone and everything was out to get me that I couldn’t see it any other way.
The fluorescent light above him hums gently and lightly flickers every now and then.
NOMAD (VO): I used to be so full of anger, so full of hate. It was a fire inside me that burned and kept me warm. Problem with that is it runs the risk of burning you up. Exactly what it done to me.
He pulls open the drawer beside him and digs through the various items in it until retrieving what he was searching for.
NOMAD (VO): I'll be honest, I was completely checked out on ever wrestling again. My adopted family of degenerates, outcasts, and misfits changed all that. They changed me and sometimes that is all you need.
A short, satisfying click is heard. A soft electrical whirring follows.
NOMAD (VO): I have dedicated so much of my time, and I have spilled so much of my blood, to let someone like Poe write me off. I'm a fighter, I've always been a fighter. You can change a lot of things but you can't change nature.
In the break, the little electric whir turns into a harsh buzzing.
NOMAD (VO): The guy I was? That was a guy who was so blinded by his own rage that he'd never allow himself to succeed. I was the type of guy who would always make an enemy even if it meant making an enemy of myself.
The whir turns to a buzz again as he looks at his reflection, mangled by the cracks in the broken mirror.
NOMAD (VO): And sometimes you gotta cut a piece of yourself off, no matter how much it may hurt…
NOMAD guides an electric razor through the remains of his thick hair, letting the clumps fall onto the base of the sink below him. As the last strand of hair falls, NOMAD clicks the buzzer off and lets it fall from his hand.
The scenery changes to the interior of an empty loft. In the corner on a large road case sits a now freshly shaven NOMAD.
NOMAD: …In order to grow.
NOMAD leans forward with a stern look on his face.
NOMAD: So, whether it's Tommy or it's Aiden, they are walking into Supremacy with something that I want. Something that I've wanted for a long, long time. ‘Cause I’ve come up in this business alongside some of the true greats. Guys who I have an undying respect for. Guys like Scott Fargo. Guys like Nathan Cage. Guys who have gone on and become World Champions. It’s not a question of whether those guys are better than me or not, it’s about the fact that time and time again I have stood in my own way. Those guys, same for whoever walks into Supremacy with the TAPOUT Openweight Championship, are the best of the best. So, to me, Supremacy is about burying my demons and finally proving that I am better than the best. Because now?
He flashes a confident smirk.
NOMAD: Now I'm fuckin' ready.
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
SINGLES MATCH
Vincent Draven (SCCW) vs Julius Fristik (TAP OUT)
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
SINGLES MATCH
Hunter Storms (SCCW) vs Jack Diamond (TAP OUT)
Steve Morrison: It’s all to play for now! It comes down to this, our final match as the scores are even at three to three.
Cross Recoba: We knew it was going to be tight but with Tap Out leading three to one earlier on in the evening, you can’t help thinking that they let their opponents back into the competition.
Steve Morrison: Hunter Storms showed just why he’s the most decorated SCCW wrestler going and before that, Casper and Monroe took advantage of the dissension in the ranks between Cliff Clinton? and Wildcat Capone!
Cross Recoba: It all falls on Raiden’s shoulders now as he takes on Hyperion…
Laura Messier: It’s time for your CO-MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING! THE FINAL OF THE OSCAR GOODMAN CUP!!
Oscar Goodman is shown at ringside next to the trophy.
The first few haunting strums of "A Match Made In Heaven" by Architects seizes the speaker system, the lights dimming down as the song gradually transitions into its opening line while two figures walk out onto the stage.
"TELL ME WAS IT ALL WORTH IT TO WATCH YOUR KINGDOM GROW?"
"ALL THE ANCHORS IN THE OCEAN HAVEN'T SUNK THIS LOW!"
As the following "BLEGH!" comes and goes, the lights hastily return to their bright setting, revealing both Raiden Ishimori and Kingsley Solomon standing tall on the stage: Kingsley with his hands behind his back, bearing a smug grin while Raiden coldly stares out into the sea of fans that loudly boo their arrival, adjusting his black sleeveless hoodie.
Steve Morrison: A huge opportunity for Raiden tonight!
Cross Recoba: He’s familiar with Hyperion and if he carries off the win for Tap Out? I’m sure his people will be lobbying at my door come tomorrow morning!
Rolling his neck for a brief moment, Raiden leads the two of them down the ramp, ignoring the people that jeer them during their trek down to the ring.
Steve Morrison: He’s giving up a lot in weight though.
Cross Recoba: But that’s never stopped him before. What makes Raiden so accomplished is that he can cancel out his opponent’s strengths.
Raiden climbs up onto the apron while Kingsley circles to the far side of the ring, Bone Cold entering through the ropes, and not bothering with entertaining the crowd, simply makes his way to the far corner. Peeling off the hoodie, he hands it off to Kingsley before leaning back into the corner, waiting for the starting bell.
Steve Morrison: Could he throw the match for SCCW?
Cross Recoba: I’m not even entertaining that suggestion..
As the opening chords of 'Gently' begin to play, the arena lights darken completely. The crowd reacts in a mixture of cheers and heckles to the melody of Hyperion's entrance; the darkness blanketing everyone.
Steve Morrison: The Mad Titan makes his Tap Out debut!
Cross Recoba: His reputation precedes him. He was a phenom in Ascension Wrestling and he’s carried that on into Sin City Championship Wrestling!
Hyperion appears from a distance, walking through the crowd, tall and fierce. A single golden spotlight shines on him as he makes his way to the ring until he climbs over the barrier and approaches the ring steps. He pauses at the side, looking into the crowd with a scowl on his face, before raising his fist over his head to more shouts from the audience.
Steve Morrison: Do you think Raiden will have been fed inside knowledge on him?
Cross Recoba: I have no doubt that Ishimori is at every taping of SCCW.
He enters over the top rope and stares down Raiden Ishimori.
Steve Morrison: Hyperion will surely use a win tonight to make a play for SCCW’s slot in the X*Crown match at Supremacy…
Cross Recoba: Then I need Raiden to win more than I did before!
Laura Messier: Representing Tap Out Wrestling. Hailing fromawata, Kyoto, Japan. He stands at six-feet even and weighed in yesterday at two-hundred-and-seven pounds...BONE COLD...RAIDEN...ISHIMORI!!!!!!!!!!!
Ishimori cracks his neck as his name is called.
Laura Messier: His opponent, representing Sin City Championship Wrestling! He stands at six-feet-and-eight inches and made weight at three-hundred-and-forty-five pounds. HE IS…THE MAD TITAN. HYPEEEEEEEEEEEERIOOOON!!!!!
Hype’s gaze has at no point left Raiden as he awaits the bell.
OSCAR GOODMAN CUP
SINGLES MATCH
Raiden Ishmori (TAP OUT) vs Hyperion (SCCW)
SINGLES MATCH
Raiden Ishmori (TAP OUT) vs Hyperion (SCCW)
The towering Hyperion takes four massive strides towards the centre of the ring. He raises an arm into the air as if offering an impossible to reach lock up to the much smaller Raiden Ishimori. The Bone Cold Killer keeps his body low, shuffling around to fin a decent angle of attack on The Mad Titan, knowing that he is totally outmatched in the power game. As quick As a flash, Raiden darts in, firing a low kick that arcs around behind Hype’s tree trunk like left leg, the Father of the Sun barely registering the impact. Raiden rushes the ropes but Hyperion is surprisingly light on his feet as he spins to intercept, forcing Raiden to go low to avoid a meaty fist and as he would hit the far ropes, Raiden slides out under the bottom rope to take a breather on the outside.
Steve Morrison: Raiden taking a break already?
Cross Recoba: When you’re giving up a hundred pounds and nine inches you have to pick your spots. Raiden knows he can’t out brawl Hyperion so he’s taking the smart option in picking his spots.
Ishimori walks calmly around the ring, making sure there is enough space between himself and The Titan King so he can slide lithely back inside without getting immediately clobbered. Keeping light on his feet, The Harbinger of Pain dips in and out of Hype’s monstrous range, tagging him with rapid roundhouse kicks but on his third kick attempt, Hyperion catches the kicking leg. Raiden shakes his head while trying to wriggle free but Hyperion throws a big skillet like hand, slapping Bone Cold on the chest, sending a noise like the crack of a thousand thunder clouds out into the arena and leaving a huge red welt on Raiden’s chest straight away. Raiden backs up and rolls to the outside straight away, breathing a little heavily.
Steve Morrison: I can’t imagine what it feels like to be hit with a strike like that.
Cross Recoba: It’s never pleasant. I’ve had three hundred plus pounders hit me before. It’s not for the weak willed or the faint hearted.
Again Raiden is careful about picking his spot to re-enter the ring. Ishimori keeps his fighting stance wide as he attempts to sidle his way into range. Hyperion draws back, ready to throw a ham hock sized fist and Bone Cold sees this as a moment to strike. Raiden throws a mighty shotei uppercut, looking to catch Hyperion under his chin but it’s The Mad Titan thinking one step ahead and he takes a half step backwards and grabs Raiden by the wrist. The Mad King twists his body and sends Ishimori hurtling towards a corner at speed, following quickly afterwards and raising a titanic boot up to cave Raiden’s skull in with a massive boot… but Ishimori Flair Flips onto the ring apron causing Hype to whiff and hang his leg out over the rope. Thinking quickly, Raiden hops off the ring apron, hooks Hyperion’s other leg out from mat level, sending the Titan clattering down to mat level and then grabs hold of that leg by the ankle and slams it into the ring post a couple of times.
Steve Morrison: And there’s Raiden taking an advantage.
Cross Recoba: Every part of the ring is a weapon. Sometimes you need to think outside of the twenty square feet for those little advantages.
With a vicious little smile, Raiden Ishimori sees an opening and a chance to play up to his Harbinger of Pain moniker. Raiden pulls Hyperion so his leg is dangling off the ring apron and grabs hold of The Mad Titan’s ankle, spinning down to the ring floor and wrenching on Hype’s leg, Dragon Screw style. Hype grunts in pain and Bone Cold senses he’s onto a winning line, dragging the leg a little further out so it hangs over the apron a little further before leaping up and applying a leg lace, grabbing hold of He Who Walks On High by the ankle and hanging on upside down, letting gravity add to the pressure of the hold. Referee Big John Quinn puts on a five count to this HIGHLY illegal hold…
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIV… Raiden breaks the hold, dives back into the ring and hooks the undamaged leg, making the kickout harder…
ONE!
TWO!
TH… Hyperion kicks out.
Steve Morrison: Raiden Ishimori is vicious when he has a targetted limb.
Cross Recoba: The best wrestlers are. And picking the leg of a fighter the size of yperion is a very smart call.
Raiden goes for the injured leg, starting to turn it over and looking to drag Hyperion down into the Undertow. But the massive size of the Mad Titan makes him so difficult to shift. Hype tucks his good leg into Bone Cold’s ribs and unfurls like a massive coiled snake, sending Raiden flying across the ring and crashing down into a crumpled heap. Hype stands, clearly favouring the leg Raiden has been targeting but The Mad Titan brits his teeth and begins to stomp over towards Bone Cold, evil intent crossing his face.
Steve Morrison: Raiden Ishimori is in for it now.
Cross Recoba: I think Hyperion is annoyed. That’s bad for everyone. Especially his opponent.
Reaching down, Hyperion hauls Raiden up and throws the Japanese Pain Bringer over his massive Titanic shoulder. Hype breathes in, shaking out his hurt leg a couple of times before kneeling down, powering Ishimori off into a hard impact with the canvas with a brutal powerslam. Hype quickly gets back to a vertical base and grabs an arm of his opponent, dragging Raiden up and slinging Bone Cold into the ropes. As Raiden rebounds, The Mad Titan gets his arms in position to snag Ishimori out of his stride and spin around a hundred and eighty degrees, dropping Ishimori to the mat with a swinging side slam. Hyperion stays down to cover…
ONE!
TWO!
THR… Raiden raises a shoulder.
Steve Morrison: Hyperion hammering down with some big power offence.
Cross Recoba: Hype has been called a lot of things. Insane. Powerful. A Madman. A God. The one thing he’s never been called is subtle.
The Mad King stands once more, throwing a couple of stomps with his stronger leg to keep the pressure on Raiden. Hype hooks a massive arm under Raiden’s armpit, drags the smaller athlete to his feet and hits an unfathomably high biel throw that sends Ishimori arcing through the air across three quarters of the width of the ring. With a few massive strides, The Mad Titan closes the distance and leaps a little, extending his leg out and dropping it across Raiden’s chest. Hype uses his body weight for the simplest of pin covers…
ONE!
TWO!
THRE… Raiden kicks out.
Steve Morrison: That was so close. Hyperion almost won this match for SCCW!
Cross Recoba: Maybe, with a better leg hook, he would have.
Unsatisfied with not getting the pin, Hyperion stands again, manhandling Raiden up to his feet. With unearthly power, The Mad Titan whips Raiden into a corner, the thud of Bone Cold’s back on the turnbuckle pads being loud enough to be picked up by the commentators’ mics! Hype steels himself and charges, raising a boot that connects flush with Raiden’s face. Ishimori staggers out of the corner, only for Hyperion to duck a little and jack him up into a military press, doing reps with Raiden’s body as if he’s pressing the world’s lightest weight bar. Finally Hype dropes Ishimori face first onto the top turnbuckle…
Steve Morrison: SNAKE EYES!
...before backing away and raising one arm to the sky, making a claw with his fingers. Raiden lands roughly on his feet and turns, slowly, only to be INSTANTLY SNAGGED INTO HYPERION’S GRASP! With Raiden successfully throttled, Hyperion lifts him into the air, suspending Ishimori by the neck in a single handed choke…
Steve Morrison: THE HIGH ONE!
...but with the last of his energy and the full knowledge that Hyperion’s massive body is obstructing the referee’s view, Raiden swings a dangling leg up, RIGHT INTO HYPERION’S SOUTHERN LOWER ABDOMINAL AREA! HYPERION COLLAPSES TO THE MAT!
Steve Morrison: NO!
Cross Recoba: KINTAMAGIRI! KINTAMAGIRI! KINTAMAGIRI!
Raiden falls down into a pin cover…
ONE!
...and smartly places his feet on the bottom rope when he knows referee Quinn is concentrating on Hyperion’s shoulders…
TWO!
THREE!
DINGDINGDING!
Laura Messier: The winner of this match…AND CLINCHING THE OSCAR GOODMAN CUP FOR HIS COMPANY…..RAIDEN…ISHIMORI!!!
Steve Morrison: HE STOLE THE WIN!!
Cross Recoba: WE…We stole the win!
Steve Morrison: You can’t be happy about this?
Cross Recoba: A Harbinger, a member of the stable to define SCCW, wins with a Kintamagiri? It’s beautiful.
Steve Morrison: Calling it by a Japanese name doesn’t change the fact it’s a low blow!
Cross Recoba: Does Oscar Goodman care?
Indeed, the cup’s namesake is in the ring presenting the trophy to Raiden on behalf of Tap Out Wrestling.
Cross Recoba: You’d argue that Raiden might see this as proof he should leapfrog others and be the first shot for whoever leaves Supremacy with the title!
Oscar Goodman and Raiden pose for a press shot as Hyperion is shown being ushered out in the background before he can fully process his loss.
Steve Morrison: You might be right but could we see repercussions from Sin City or Hyperion himself in the New Year?
Cross Recoba: Only one way to find out…
Steve Morrison: Fans, we’re going to take a quick break but we’ll be back shortly with our main event to find out who will face NOMAD at XHF Supremacy!
Laura Messier: IT’S TIME FOR YOUR MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!!!! IT’S A SINGLES MATCH SET FOR ONE FALL AND IS FOR THE TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TITLE!!!
The arena goes completely dark, and for a moment all that can be heard is the murmurs of the crowd. Suddenly lights can be heard coming up and the stage is washed in white light. Someone brings out a stool and places it in the spotlight, then another crew member places an old-school boombox on the stool. The camera pans in on the boombox, and a hand appears to press the play button.
”Do you really wanna? Do you really wanna taste it?”
The stage explodes in pyro when the music starts and, when the smoke clears, Tommy Strychnine has taken the place of the makeshift plinth, dressed in a spiked purple zebra-striped leather jacket, matching skintight leather pants, atrfully torn ‘Tommy Strychnine half-shirt over a mesh under and a gold kneepad with a cartoon pair of lips emblazoned on it.
Steve Morrison: Tommy pulled off what many called an upset at our last show when he beat Random McConalogue for the shot!
Cross Recoba: Strych has made a habit of making people eat their predictions. Here’s a man who holds victories over Vincent Draven, Random McConalogue, Dakota Jennings and they’re just the headlines!
He struts his way across the stage, playing to the crowd, and he takes his time before finally making the journey down the ramp, pausing to taunt the crowd along the way, really working them up into a cacophonous chorus of boos.
Steve Morrison: He came within a cigarette paper of unseating Diamond at the start of the year, can he make amends tonight?
Cross Recoba: That’s in his hands but if he shows the focus he did in his last match? I’d be a worried Australian!
When he reaches ringside, he takes a lap before stripping off his jacket and draping it over the timekeeper’s table. He rolls into the ring and makes his way over to the turnbuckle, climbing it and miming tossing dice into the crowd, before backflipping off and landing in a powerslide as pyro fires from the ring posts.
Steve Morrison: It all comes down to this, the last match of the year and could we see our fourth champion of the year?
Cross Recoba: It’s a possibility.
The opening thumping guitar and drum riff of "Unstoppable" by Disturbed hits the arena as an imitation sandstorm is created in the entranceway. After 10 seconds of storm, Aiden Merric emerges from the billowing sands chewing nicotine gum and wearing a smug ass smile on his face with the Tap Out Openweight title slung over his shoulder.
Steve Morrison: Merric watched on with interest on commentary in last month’s main event. How much do you think he learned in the match?
Cross Recoba: It’s always the best way to scout your opponents and Merric’s approach in hunting isn’t much different to how he approaches wrestling.
He spits the gum and puts a patch on his arm before stretching and walking to the ring with a purpose. He nods along with the theme song as he jabbers with the crowd and keeps moving. He stalks around the ring to the far side and nods at the commentators before he rolls into the ring and stretches on the ropes.
Steve Morrison: At Tap Out Wrestling 10, he managed to get the upper-hand over his opponent tonight. Who’s made the most progress since then?
Cross Recoba: That match, for me, is where Merric made people sit up and notice. He was brutal in the way he put away Strych!
The referee stops him and removes his various blades, ropes and other hunting equipment as he smirks. As the first chorus ends at roughly 65 seconds in, Aiden is set free to his corner. He then cracks his neck, waiting for the bell as his music fades and the storm subsides.
Steve Morrison: He knows that if he loses tonight, he could go to the back of a very long line.
Cross Recoba: One with Diamond, Poena, and Raiden in the way and Poena is definitely not someone you want to face more times than you have to!
Laura Messier:Introducing first, the challenger. From Louisiana, New Orleans..Standing at five-feet and ten inches, weighing in at one-hundred-and-seventy-five pounds...He is the Rock 'em, Sock 'em Rocker....TOMMY...STRYCHNINE!!!
Tommy looks amped up for the match, leaning into the ropes and wrapping his arms around them.
Laura Messier: From Coober Pedy, South Australia. He stands at six-feet and two inches and weighed in yesterday at two-hundred-and-twenty pounds...THE WONDER FROM DOWN UNDER...AIDEN...MERRIC!
Merric seems self-assured as his name is called. He undoes the title and examines it before passing it to “Big” John Quinn.
MAIN EVENT
TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TITLE
SINGLES MATCH
Tommy Strychnine vs Aiden Merric (c)
TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT TITLE
SINGLES MATCH
Tommy Strychnine vs Aiden Merric (c)
“Big” John Quinn lifts the Tap Out Openweight title above his head to show to the crowd before handing it off to the ringside crew.
Steve Morrison: There it is, one of these fighters is going to walk out of here with that title around their waist!
Cross Recoba: NOMAD is going to be watching this match with the winner of this match obligated to defend the title on the twenty-eighth of January at XHF Supremacy 2023!
He brings the Champion and Challenger into the center of the ring and starts to deliver his expectations for the match. Merric casually scratches the back of his neck as Quinn addresses him.
Steve Morrison: Is Quinn missing a trick? We’ve seen what Merric keeps in that mullet of his!
Cross Recoba: “Big” John isn’t going to be fooled.
Tommy barely suppresses a laugh but manages to keep a straight face as “Big” John points towards the corner where a bottle of Jack Daniels sits. The Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Wrestler shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly as Quinn continues to lay down the law.
Steve Morrison: We’ve seen the challenger unleash the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot to win matches in recent months.
Cross Recoba: Again, the Match Official and ring crew here are well-versed in how to deal with foreign objects!
A ringside crew member removes the sourmach whiskey and passes it to the timekeeper as Quinn sends the two fighters to their respective corners.
DING! DING! DING!
Steve Morrison: We’re live!
Tommy tears out from the corner and immediately closes the gap on the Champion. He fires off a rapid succession of right and left hands that pepper the body of the Australian. Merric returns with an overhand right that sets Strych back a few steps and then follows up with another punch that sends Strych back.
Steve Morrison: Both men looking to slug it out at the outset!
Cross Recoba: Tommy can brawl with the best of them but if I were him, I’d be looking at other avenues to get on top.
Closing down the space, the Challenger finds himself trapped into a corner. Merric grabs the head of the Rocker and connects with a headbutt!
Steve Morrison: The Champion showing he can hold his own in a brawl.
Cross Recoba: Merric’s offense is heavily weighted towards tactics that wouldn’t be out of place in a bar-room brawl!
Strych answers with a lifting knee to the ribs and immediately grabs a double-leg takedown on the Bounty Hunter. The New Orleans wrestler switches tact, omitting throwing a punch and instead grabbing the legs of Merric….HE DRIVES A KNEE INTO THE BIG GAME BAIT!
Steve Morrison: LOW BLOW FROM STRYCH!
Quinn admonishes Strych but he keeps hold of the Champion’s legs and leaps…ELBOW DROP CONNECTS WITH THE KISSER OF MERRIC!
Cross Recoba: Keeping Aiden off his feet, away from his stand-up game is key for Tommy.
Steve Morrison: But it’s keeping him there that’s the challenge.
Cross Recoba: Tommy’s a triple-threat opponent. Brawling, wrestling on the mat, and aerial assaults make up his arsenal!
His opponent momentarily incapacitated, Tommy drops another knee onto the face of Aiden before unloading with a quick salvo of jabs that find their mark on the temple of the Australian.
Steve Morrison: Tommy’s charged up! Unleashing with abandon on the Champion!
Quinn once more lays down the law to Strych who stops and protests his innocence…
Cross Recoba: I know this trick…
Steve Morrison: What tri-
The Match Official realizes where Tommy’s knee is!
Steve Morrison: He’s cutting off the windpipe of the Champion while protesting his innocence!!
He starts the count!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
STRYCH THROWS HIS ARMS UP IN INNOCENCE!
Cross Recoba: Tommy’s milking the break!
FOUR!!
FI-
Tommy relents!
Steve Morrison: The Challenger a blink away from being disqualified!
Merric raises his head and looks to push back to a vertical base with his arm but Strych grabs a headlock and tightens it as he leans his body weight on top of the Australian.
Cross Recoba: He’s trying to wear down the bigger fighter, taking away his ability to stand and bang.
Steve Morrison: He’s cranking down on that headlock.
Cross Recoba: He needs to keep it on the mat.
Merric grabs the hair of Tommy but Quinn is quick to stop him from doing so.
Steve Morrison: “Big” John quick to stamp out any dirty tricks…
Switching his idea up, Aiden pushes to his feet but the headlock remains in place.
Cross Recoba: I’d be looking at contingencies at this point.
Merric pushes Strych to the ropes but the Rocker plants his feet to put the brakes on.
Steve Morrison: Tommy’s wise to the counter…
If you can’t go left, go up…MERRIC LIFTS UP STRYCH AND DUMPS HIM BACKWARDS!!!
Steve Morrison: HUGE BACK SUPLEX!
Tommy scrambles to his feet but Merric beats him to his feet and meets him with a rushing shoulder block that takes him to the mat.
Steve Morrison: SHOULDER TACKLE TAKES THE CHALLENGER BACK DOWN!!!
Aiden hits the ropes and Strych keeps to the mat. Coming back towards the Challenger, Merric finds Tommy jump out the way with a leapfrog. Tommy sprints to the side of Merric and tries to catch him with a shoulder block of his own…Merric doesn’t move!
Steve Morrison: Tommy being out of his depth if he’s matching his opponent for strength!
Cross Recoba: That’s the precedent, keep to what you know best!
Aiden raises a hand and with a gigantic sound to accompany it, lands an overhand slap to the chest of Strych that buckles his legs!
Steve Morrison: WHAT A CHOP!!!
The Champions grabs the arm of Tommy and uses it to whip him into the corner!
Cross Recoba: Once Aiden builds up a rhythm, it’s extremely difficult to get back in the match!
MERRIC STEAMS IN WITH A CORNER CLOTHESLINE…NO-ONE’S HOME!!! STAGGERING BACK, MERRIC WALKS RIGHT INTO …..
Steve Morrison: Escaped by the skin of his teeth!
SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX!!!!!
Steve Morrison: TOMMY PLANTED THE CHAMPION SQUARE ON HIS HEAD!
Cross Recoba: Work that neck, you look at Tommy’s offense, it’s all leading up to a headshot!
A snippet of a smile flashes across the face of Tommy before he dashes forward…A DROPKICK TO THE KNEE TAKES MERRIC BACK DOWN BEFORE HE CAN ADJUST BACK TO A STANDING POSITION!
Steve Morrison: He’s keeping the pressure on!
Rolling to his feet, Strych comes back off the ropes…AN AXE KICK DRIVES MERRIC BACK DOWN TO THE MAT!!
Cross Recoba: MEASURED HIM!
The Champion, knowing the momentum isn’t with the, battles to his feet but only gets as far as a knee….STEP-UP ENZUIGURI ROCKS HIM!!
Steve Morrison: What a connection!
Merric battles to stay up on a knee, wavering slightly as he does so.
Cross Recoba: Aiden’s in a world of trouble…
TOMMY LEAPS FORWARD….SHINING WIZARD SENDS MERRIC TO THE APRON!!!!
Steve Morrison: Merric might just have saved his title by rolling under the ropes!!
Crowd: FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU!FUCK YOU, TOMMY, FUCK YOU!
Cross Recoba: Smart instincts from the Bounty Hunter!
Aiden grabs the middle rope to stand up…TOMMY LEAPS OVER THE ROPES…NECKBREAKER TO THE APRON!!!
Steve Morrison: WHAT. A. NECKBREAKER!!
Crowd: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
The smile of Tommy returns, this time painted with pure confidence.
Cross Recoba: Strych’s showing he’s not the only one with ring smarts! Very few people on Network would attempt that move let alone nail it!
The Challenger grabs Merric’s head and sets him up…HE DRIVES THE NECK ONCES MORE INTO THE APRON AS AIDEN ROLLS TO THE FLOOR!
Steve Morrison: A snap neckbreaker takes Merric from the ring to the floor!!!
Peeling the Australian from the ringside floor, Strych drives him into the ringpost!
Cross Recoba: Tommy’s using his environment to his advantage!!
Stepping back, Strychnine measures him and darts forward…..TOMMY MISSES THE LEAPING KNEE AND FINDS ONLY THE STEEL OF THE POST!!!
Steve Morrison: Too much confidence from the challenger with the V-Trigger!
Cross Recoba: Did you SEE how his body snapped around that post?
Quinn starts the count…
ONE!!
Tommy tries to get to his feet but a reenergized Aiden lifts him in an Atomic drop…
Cross Recoba: This isn’t going to end well for Tommy…
MERRIC FOLDS THE KNEE AND RUNS IT BACK INTO THE RINGPOST!!
Steve Morrison: The Champion drives Strych knee-first into that post!
TWO!!!
Setting down the Rocker, Merric grabs his arm…HE WHIPS HIM INTO THE BARRICADE!!!
Steve Morrison: Unrelenting in his attack, he’s giving the fans a close-up of just how vicious he’ll be to keep that title around his waist!!
THREE!!!
Unrelenting, Aiden croches Tommy on the barricade, folding the knee. HE CHARGES IN WITH WITH A KICK THAT FORCES THE KNEE INTO THE STEEL!!!
Cross Recoba: He could snap the knee!
FOUR!!!
Tommy hangs precariously from the barrier, the knee still bent over the top of the railing. MERRIC DRIVES A KICK FORWARD INTO IT! HE FOLLOWS UP WITH A STOMP!
Steve Morrison: No mercy shown by the Champion!
FIVE!!
Strychnine falls to the floor and tries to pick himself up but his knee looks to be unsteady, dropping as he tries to put weight on it.
Cross Recoba: Merric knew what he was doing! He might well have taken away a large part of Tommy’s offense!!
SIX!!!
MERRIC CHARGES IN….TOMMY CONNECTS WITH A V-TRIGGER!!!!
Steve Morrison: NO-ONE TOLD STRYCH THAT, CROSS!
SEVEN!!!!
AIDEN LAYS FLAT ON HIS BACK, TOMMY HANGS OFF THE BARRICADE BY HIS ARM AS HE TRIES TO FIND A SECOND WIND!
Cross Recoba: He’s treading gingerly, he’s not putting more weight on that leg than he needs to!
EIGHT!!!
TOMMY FORCES HIMSELF FORWARD AND PICKS UP MERRIC, HE ROLLS HIM UNDER THE ROPES AND BACK INTO THE RING.
Steve Morrison: Tommy moves the match back into the ring.
NINE!!!
REALIZING HE HAS NO TIME TO REGROUP, STRYCH ROLLS HIMSELF INTO THE RING TO BREAK THE COUNT!
Cross Recoba: How much damage has he done to himself though when he took the match to the outside?
Merric, now back to his feet, beats Strych to his feet and lifts a knee into the sternum of his opponent. He throws a punch that drops Strych to a knee.
Steve Morrison: Aiden finds himself on top in the match more through his opponent overreaching than what he’s done himself.
Cross Recoba: It doesn’t matter, if he retains that’s all the record books will show!
Grabbing the Challenger by the hair, Merric measures him for a punch…STRYCH ESCAPES AND KICKS THE BACK OF MERRIC’S KNEE…SLEEPER!!
Steve Morrison: TOMMY GRABS A SLEEPER OUT OF NOWHERE!
Adjusting for the slight height difference, Tommy steps back until he can lean his body weight over Aiden.
Cross Recoba: He’s slowing the match down, letting himself get back into the swing of it. That step back though is genius and he does it every time!
Quinn checks to see if Aiden is still conscious and seems satisfied. In response, Tommy tightens the hold and continues to drag his opponent back, changing the angle to further cut off the air-supply.
Crowd: DON’T TAP, MERRIC! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* DON’T TAP, MERRIC! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* DON’T TAP, MERRIC! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* DON’T TAP, MERRIC! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP* DON’T TAP, MERRIC! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*
Confident that Merric’s on his last legs, Tommy changes it up and spins him around as he tucks his head between his leg. He lifts….PILEDRIVER!!!
Steve Morrison: HE SPIKED HIM!!!
Merric looks out for the count.
Cross Recoba: We could be seeing a new Champion!
Tommy sits up but the smile is now replaced by a grimace, his hand reaching to his knee.
Steve Morrison: How much did that move take out of him?
He drags himself over for the cover.
ONE…
TWO…
TH-
MERRIC KICKS OUT!
Cross Recoba: That hesitancy from his knee cost him!
The Rocker looks put out as he sits up and exhales deeply. Turning around, he picks up Aiden and rakes his eyes causing the Champion to step back as he holds his eyes. Tommy backs him against the ropes and grabs an arm…Irish whip…
Steve Morrison: What can the challenger pull out of his bag of tricks now?
Tommy tries to catch him with a back-elbow but it’s ducked….MERRIC LEAPS FORWARD WITH A CHOP BLOCK TO THE DAMAGED KNEE!!!
Cross Recoba: Expertly targeted by the Champion!!!
Smelling blood, the Bounty Hunter unleashes a rapid series of stomps that are targeted exclusively to the knee of his opponent.
Steve Morrison: Aiden’s showing no mercy for that damaged leg, using it as the target in his sights!
Grabbing a leg, Aiden rolls over the Rocker and puts a boot on the back of the knee…He lifts AND DRIVES THE KNEE INTO THE CANVAS WITH HIS FOOT!!!
Cross Recoba: Some would target that leg with an Indian Deathlock or a grapevine, even a Cloverleaf but for Merric - what better way than trying to stomp his boot all the way through it?
Tommy rolls in agony as he clutches the knee but the Champion gives him no time to regroup. The Australian grabs him by the hair and throws him into the turnbuckle.
Steve Morrison: The Champion moving to his next stage of breaking down his opponent in his first defense of the title!
Grabbing the leg of Tommy, Merric sets it on the middle rope and steps back…HE TAKES A RUN-UP BEFORE PUNTING THE KNEE!!
Cross Recoba: JOHN EALES SPECIAL!!!
Unhooking the leg, Merric punctuates it with a headbutt before pushing the Challenger back into the center of the ring.
Steve Morrison: Tommy’s helpless in the middle of the ring!
AIDEN CHARGES AT HIS OPPONENT WITH HIS ARM OUTSTRETCHED….
Steve Morrison: Could he be looking at using NOMAD’s Nevermind Clothesline as a message to him?
TOMMY THROWS A BACK ELBOW TO CUT HIM OFF!!
Cross Recoba: DESPERATION MOVE BUT WHAT CHOICE DID HE HAVE?
Tommy turns around and fires off a forearm to the temple of Merric and follows up with a European Uppercut…NO! AIDEN RABBIT PUNCHES HIM IN THE THROAT!!! URANAGE BACKBREAKER!!!!
Steve Morrison: We know where this is leading as Quinn has no time to admonish him for the rabbit punch!
A HAYMAKER SENDS TOMMY OFF THE KNEE OF MERRIC!!!
Steve Morrison: Trap Trick!
Now it’s the Australian who shows a confident smile as he reaches down and grabs the wrist of his opponent.
Cross Recoba: He makes a point of gaining wrist control…
HE PULLS THE CORD…STRYCH DUCKS THE LARIAT AND PULLS THE CHAMPION BACK…RAIN TRIGGER!!!
Steve Morrison: A BICYCLE KNEE THE ONLY THING THAT’S KEEPING TOMMY IN THIS!!
With urgency, Tommy grabs a waistlock…GERMAN SUPLEX INTO THE TURNBUCKLE COVER!!! TOMMY FOLLOWS UP WITH A SENTON IN THE CORNER!!!
Cross Recoba: We’ve seen this sequence before…
Dragging Merric from the corner, Tommy sets him in the center of the ring. He makes a beeline for the corner but noticeably favors his leg.
Steve Morrison: Is he slowed down by his leg?
Cross Recoba: Of course he is but it’s risk versus reward in these moments…
Tommy forces himself to get to the top rope….REVERSE-FACING DIVING SENTON!!!!
Steve Morrison: STAGE DIVE!!!!
Leaning back, Tommy makes the cover…
ONE…
TWO…
TH-
MERRIC GETS A SHOULDER UP!!!
Cross Recoba: Tommy might well have used the last of his chances up there…
Strychnine looks shell-shocked!!
Steve Morrison: I think he knows it!
Cross Recoba: He needs to rally through this because if Merric sees that doubt in his eyes, it’s over!
Tommy pulls the Champion to his feet and sends him into the corner.
Steve Morrison: Aiden hits the turnbuckle with a thud!
With a noticeably deep intake of breath, Tommy begins his sprint….HANDSPRING DROPKICK….NO!!!!! NO ONE’S HOME!!!
Steve Morrison: MERRIC GETS OUT OF DODGE AT THE LAST!!
Cross Recoba: Like a well-laid trap!
Staggering out from the corner, Tommy’s blindsided by Merric who jumps and rolls…KNEE BAR!!
Steve Morrison: THE SNARE!!!
Tommy screams out in agony as the hold’s applied. He reaches out for the ropes but finds nothing but air behind him
Steve Morrison: Strych’s reaching for an escape but can’t find one!
Cross Recoba: We’ve not seen The Snare in Tap Out before but Merric’s used it strategically tonight!
“Big” John Quinn asks the Rocker if he wants to submit but whatever Tommy said wouldn’t meet the censor’s approval.
Steve Morrison: Fans, that was a definite no!
Merric looks confident as he works the hold.
Cross Recoba: Aiden might not be a technical wrestler but a submission is very similar to hunting in the outback, patience and adaptation are your two best friends!
Tommy once more looks for an escape route but doesn’t find one immediately available.
Steve Morrison: Strychnine’s fighting to keep himself in with a chance at walking out as the new Tap Out Openweight Champion.
The noise in the Lansky Ballroom rises as the crowd sense an imminent end to their main event.
Cross Recoba: The crowd can sense it…
STRYCH ROLLS THE HOLD OVER AND SEES A ROPE IN SIGHT!
Steve Morrison: Tommy continues the fight to keep in this!
Merric fights to keep the hold in place!
Cross Recoba: Can Merric keep the hold locked in?
Tommy reaches for the ropes but finds himself just inches short!
Steve Morrison: Just one more push..
Merric manages to make the distance an even foot as he fights back.
Steve Morrison: MERRIC DRAGS HIM BACK!
TOMMY MAKES A LEAP AND GETS THE ROPE!!
Cross Recoba: Aiden must have loosened the hold when he shifted backwards!
Quinn tells Merric to break the hold but no action is taken, he starts the count:
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!!
Merric relents and stands up, Quinn backing him up.
Steve Morrison: But what use is that knee going to be now?
Tommy struggles to his feet, using the ropes to get back up.
Cross Recoba: If Strych wins this, he’s got six weeks to rehab the knee before the fight with NOMAD…
MERRIC RUSHES AT STRYCH AND GRABS A WAISTLOCK!! TOMMY FIGHTS TO KEEP HOLD OF THE TOP ROPE!
Steve Morrison: TOMMY FIGHTING FOR ALL HE’S WORTH TO STOP MERRIC GOING FOR THAT RIPCORD LARIAT!!!
AIDEN GAINS WRIST CONTROL!!!
Cross Recoba: HE’S GOT THE WRIST!!!
MERRIC PULLS THE CHALLENGER FROM THE ROPES…HE PULLS THE CORD…TOMMY BLOCKS IT!!!! HE LEAPS WITH THE KNEE…IT’S CAUGHT!!! OVER THE SHOULDER BELLY-TO-BACK PILEDRIVER!!!!!!!!
Steve Morrison: KRYPTONITE KRUSHER!!!
Merric makes the cover, hooking the leg.
Cross Recoba: He hooks the stronger leg!
ONE…
TWO…
THRE-
STRYCHNINE ROLLS A SHOULDER UP!!!!
Steve Morrison: Somehow Tommy fights on!
Cross Recoba: He couldn’t have kicked out with that leg…
Merric lifts up Strychnine and hooks an arm as he lifts….BRAINBUSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Morrison: THE CHAMPION DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD!!
The Australian picks up his opponent and lifts him once more….TOMMY SLIPS DOWN THE BACK!!!! INVERTED USHIGOROSHI!!!!!!
Steve Morrison: HOLY DRIVER!!!!
Tommy sits up and reaches for his knee once more. He glances at the Champion and slams his hand down on the mat.
Cross Recoba: He can’t lose his focus, it’s all he can rely on right now!
The Rocker rolls to the apron.
Steve Morrison: I have a feeling we know what he’s aiming for.
Merric gets to his feet unsteadily.
Cross Recoba: Will his knee let him?
TOMMY FLIPS HIMSELF OVER THE TOP ROPE AND LEAPS FORWARD…
Steve Morrison: NOVEMBER RAINMAKER!!!!
SUPERMAN PUNCH OUT OF NOWHERE FROM THE CHAMPION!!!!!
Steve Morrison: NO! AUSSIE RULES CONNECTS!!
Both men collapse to the floor!
Cross Recoba: Merric showed what being a Champion is about, pulling out all the stops to keep the title around his waist!!
Quinn has little choice but to start the count:
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
FOUR!!
Merric forces himself to his feet!
Steve Morrison: Aiden wanting to win the footrace.
The Champion reaches down to pick up Tommy…
Cross Recoba: Aiden needs to go for something to end the match, Tommy’s shown time and time again tonight that he can catch him out of nowhere!
He hooks a waistlock and looks to grab the wrist but Strychnine has enough about him still to make it difficult.
Steve Morrison: He’s fighting the Champion’s wishes now!
With a sudden change of tact…MERRIC HITS A GERMAN SUPLEX!!!
Cross Recoba: HIGH ANGLE GERMAN SUPLEX FROM MERRIC!! That’s not going to hurt the damaged knee of his opponent but it’s going to make him pause to think where his legs are!
Using the waistband of his opponent, Aiden pulls Tommy to his feet…
Steve Morrison: He looks for Target Neutralized once more…
MULE KICK FROM TOMMY!!!
Cross Recoba: Right in the cobbers!
Strych turns around and throws a huge forearm shot to the temple of Merric!
Steve Morrison: Tommy’s not going down without a fight!
Merric answers with one of his own!!
Cross Recoba: Both men throwing for all they’re worth!
Tommy THROWS A HUGE KNIFE-EDGE CHOP!!!
Crowd: WOOOO!!!!!!
AIDEN FOLLOWS UP WITH A REPLY!
Crowd: WOOOO!!!!!
TOMMY THROWS A EUROPEAN UPPERCUT!
Steve Morrison: Strcyh ROCKS the Champion!
AND ANOTHER!
Cross Recoba: HE’S GOT THE CHAMPION UNEASY ON HIS FEET!
RAPID FIRE EUROPEAN UPPERCUTS…..A LEAPING BICYCLE KNEE FROM THE CHALLENGER SEND MERRIC TO THE ROPES….
Steve Morrison: V-TRIGGER CONNECTS!!!
CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL!!!!!
Crowd: LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
The Champion makes the cover…
Steve Morrison: CONTRACT FULFILLED!!!!
ONE!!
Crowd: ONE!!!!
TWO!!!
Crowd: TWO!!!!!
THRE-
Crowd: THREE!!!!
NO!!! STRYCH WEAKLY CLUTCHES THE BOTTOM ROPE WITH HIS HAND!!!!
Cross Recoba: I DON’T BELIEVE IT!!
Merric can’t believe it!
Steve Morrison: I don’t think ANYONE believes it!!
The Champion grabs Strych…TOMMY RAKES HIS EYES!!! KOTARO CRUSHER!!!!
Steve Morrison: Strychnine REFUSING to be put down!
Tommy gets to his feet, his hand instinctively holding his knee as he rises.
Cross Recoba: He’s running out of having much input in that case!
Strych climbs through the ropes.
Steve Morrison: He’s going for it…
Merric gets up but his legs and brain seem to be on different pages!
Cross Recoba: He’s one bad impact on that knee from Quinn throwing the match out!
Tommy steels himself before FLIPPING HIMSELF OVER THE ROPES…BUCKSHOT LARIAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve Morrison: NOVEMBER RAINMAKER!!!!
MERRIC CUTS HIM OFF WITH A WESTERN LARIAT THAT TURNS TOMMY INSIDE OUT!!!!
Steve Morrison: CONTRACT FULFILLED OUT OF NOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merric makes the pin…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!!!!!
“Big” John Quinn calls for the bell!!!
DING! DING! DING!
Laura Messier: THE WINNER OF THE MATCH….AND STIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TAP OUT OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION! THE WONDER FROM DOWN UNDER….AIDEN…MEEEEEEEEEERRRRRIIIIICCCC!!!!!
“Big” John Quinn raises the arm of Merric as “Unstoppable” by Disturbed resounds around the Lansky Ballroom.
Steve Morrison: What a first defence from the Champion!
Cross Recoba: Tommy didn’t make it easy for him, he once more comes within touching distance of the big win!
We see Tommy sitting up and reaching for his knee as Merric leaves the ring with his title.
Steve Morrison: Merric goes on to face NOMAD at Supremacy!
Cross Recoba: We’ll be revealing the stipulation for that match at our first show of the year on the 14th of January!
Steve Morrison: We sign off our last show of the year with a hell of a main event but Cross, have you got the Match of the Night for us?
Cross Recoba: Literally just received it, the board are already in talks with Sin City about next year’s Oscar Goodman Cup. Match of the Night goes to the war between Hyperion and Raiden Ishimori!
Steve Morrison: Well deserved! As always, fans, the vote is already open for your Move of the Night and a reminder that half a point can make all the difference in the rankings! We’ll see you on the fourteenth of January but until then, from Cross and I, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
CREDITS & THANKS
MATCHES
Long/Sawyer vs SKY Force - Bailey
Angel vs Sanderson - Hunter
Casper/Monroe vs Capone/Clinton? - Hunter
Random vs Coulson - Lurker
Draven vs Fristik - Hunter
Storms vs Diamond - Hunter
Raiden vs Hype - Teeps
Strychnine vs Merric - Bailey
SEGMENTS
Capone and Clinton? go to war - Kira/Steve
Random Entrance glitch - Random/Poena
Random interview - Random
NOMAD remade - Jimbo
MATCHES
Long/Sawyer vs SKY Force - Bailey
Angel vs Sanderson - Hunter
Casper/Monroe vs Capone/Clinton? - Hunter
Random vs Coulson - Lurker
Draven vs Fristik - Hunter
Storms vs Diamond - Hunter
Raiden vs Hype - Teeps
Strychnine vs Merric - Bailey
SEGMENTS
Capone and Clinton? go to war - Kira/Steve
Random Entrance glitch - Random/Poena
Random interview - Random
NOMAD remade - Jimbo
