AWF Presents: Road to Victory! Live from... where?

[ForeverKuroi]

Felix: Terry, what's taking so long? Is the key broken or something?

The scene opens to Terry Bradshaw at the front door of a beautiful and large mansion. He begins to mess with the door mechanism, obviously a lot more involved than simply opening a door with a key, but Felix is at the driveway and can't closely see what Terry Bradshaw is doing.

Bradshaw: Yeah! The knob is just a little... rusted! But I got it!

Felix: Terry, I can see the door from here. This house is beautifully maintained, like it was just built yesterday. There's no way that this is rus-

Felix is interrupted as Terry Bradshaw angrily shoves an iPhone in his chest.

Bradshaw: HIT PLAY JERK-OFF, THAT'S WHAT WILL BRING THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER! THAT SONG IS THE KEY!

Felix hits play on the iPhone, and Super massive Black Hole by Muse begins to play. Terry jerks at the door one last time and falls back. The door swings wide open.

Bradshaw: Well what the fuck are you waiting for, Nervous Nancy? It's time for Victory Road! I didn't kill that band for nothi- I mean, they didn't disappear for nothing! They dedicated this song to us! It's our song forever now! 

Felix: It's Road to Victory, and are you sure we got permission? And I mean for both the venue and the song rights?

Terry Bradshaw walks up to Felix. He holds Felix's head between his two hands.

Bradshaw: Zikky, would I lie to you?

Felix: Yes! I don't think you've ever been honest with me a day in your life! In fact I'm pretty sure you're a murderer!

Bradshaw: OH MY GOD. I CAN'T WORK WITH SOMEONE SO UNTRUSTING. I THOUGHT WE WERE A TEAM. YOU HEAR THE MUSIC DON'T YOU? "OOH BABY DONT YA KNOW I SUFFER. OOH BABY I'M A FOOL FOR YOU."

Felix: ITS A DECENT SONG BUT IN THIS CONTEXT IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE I'M THE FOOL FOR LISTENING TO YOU. LIKE I'M THE ONE WHO HAS TO SUFFER.

Terry puts a finger on Felix's lips and shushes him.

Bradshaw: Woodstock, baby. 

Terry Bradshaw looks to the camera and we get the feeling that he enjoys knowing that nothing he said made any sense to poor confused Felix. The camera pans where hundreds of people wait.

Bradshaw: ...LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!

---

Live from Mongo's House in [REDACTED], Minnesota
3/25/18
Capacity: Undetermined, but a few hundred are in attendance.

---

Romano: And here we go! Live and direct from Mongo’s hallway... never thought I’d ever say that…
Taylor: It’s all good! With a popup ring in this enormous hallway, what’s not to love about the change of scenery! Let’s just hope that nothing gets damaged or we might be in some trouble with the XHF owner!
Romano: I think it’s too late for that! Anyway...the first match of the night is sure to be one to get you moving in your seats, as Jack Diamond returns to singles competition against a new and rising star here in the AWF, Zeze Taborda!
Taylor: I have been watching Zeze for some time now and I gotta say, I love his style and flair. The man oozes confidence.
Romano: Well going up against one of the Icons’ founding members, he will need to bring all the confidence he has!

The lights of Mongo’s enormous hallway dim and red strobes begin to flash as "Ace of Spades" by Motorhead fills the room. Diamond emerges from a doorway at the top of the huge double staircase, a temporary gorilla position for this match. Wearing his leather jacket and diamond shaped sunglasses, he smiles at the crowd gathered around the hallway.

Jessie Love: Introducing first, from North Carolina and weighing in at 190 lbs... Jack Diamond!

Some boo, others chant "Diamond Club" as the Ace of Spades makes his way down the stairs to the ring. He rolls under the bottom rope and quickly pops up and throws his hands in the air in a diamond champ, again to some cheers and some boos.

Taylor: Not the best reaction for Diamond tonight, guess they are still remembering how the Icons have made it to power.

Jessie Love: And his opponent, from Portugal and weighing in at 228 lbs...Zeze Taborda!

Zezé Taborda comes out at the sound of his Portuguese music, adjusting his beloved beard and spreading his arms out with a weasel smile on his face. He swaggers down the staircase to the ring, interacting a lot with the crowd but getting negative reactions. He shows respect to the wrestling gods by pointing to the sky before climbing the ring steps. Once on the apron he cleans the sole his shoes before entering. He enters the ring and spins to the ropes where the camera is focusing with his arms open once he reach the ropes he grabs the top rope and he does fist pump and screams, TABORDA!!!! Afterwards he climbs the 2nd rope opening his arms like the living legend he feels he is.

Taylor: See the confidence? The sheer brass balls?
Romano: Looks like an ego to me…
Taylor: Well my money is on the Portuguese Stunner. Taking all bets!

---

Jack Diamond vs Zeze Taborda

---

As the bell rings to start the match, the two men stay across the ring from each other. They start to circle one another before they close in to lock up, but Diamond lands a quick kick to the mid-section of Taborda. He follows up with a couple more kicks before hitting a snapping him toss. Zeze hits the mat and begins to bounce back, but Diamond catches him in a DDT right away.

Romano: Looks like the seasoned pro is taking the jester for a ride!
Taylor: Whatever, I’m still going with Taborda.

Diamond is up first, and pulls Zeze to his feet but quickly drives a knee to his ribs. He irish whips Zeze to the corner, which snaps him from the impact. Staggering out, Diamond follows up with a running clothesline and takes down Taborda. He quickly covers him for the pin;


ONE…


TWO…


EARLY KICKOUT!

Romano: Too early for the pin, but I like where his head is at.
Taylor: Diamond is crazy, Taborda is not going to go down so easily.

Angrily, Diamond gets to his knee and pulls Taborda up to a sitting position, before quickly locking in a rear naked choke hold. He applies it tight, and Zeze begins to frantically strike out, trying to get loose. He pushes until his gets to his side, then slowly to one knee, then slowly to one foot.

Taylor: Zeze is getting up, and shaking off the hold!

Finally on both feet, Diamond is barely holding in the lock, and allows enough room for Zeze to land an elbow strike to the midsection of Diamond...then another. Then another, causing Diamond to let go. Finally free, Zeze runs to the ropes and rebounds back but Diamond forecasts it and jumps for a dropkick...but Zeze stops short, avoiding the attack! Confused, as Diamond is rolling to his feet, Taborda lands a heavy boot kick to his face!

Romano: That’s just uncalled for!
Taylor: That’s the game, baby!

Climbing to his feet, Diamond receives a swinging neckbreaker and goes down hard. Springing back to his feet, Zeze catches the rising Diamond in a hip toss and brings Diamond down harder this time. Winded, Diamond rolls over slowly but Macho Latino is faster, and locks in an arm triangle choke hold.

Romano: Taborda is returning the favor to Diamond now and taking control of this match.
Taylor: You bet your bottom dollar he is. It’s time for this crazy kid to spice things up, and it looks like Diamond might be in trouble here!

With the submission hold fully locked in, Diamond slowly loses his control of the match and starts to weaken. Held in position under the weight of Taborda, he is unable to get to the ropes or shake off the choke hold. With his own right arm choking him, the referee lifts up Diamond’s left arm to test the choke hold…

ONE FALL…

Romano: This does not look good for Diamond!

The referee picks up the arm again, and once more..

TWO FALLS…

Taylor: Looks like Taborda is going to steal this win!

The referee takes the arm of Jack Diamond once more, raises it and lets it fall…

THR-

No! Diamond doesn’t let it drop! He holds his arm fully in the air!

Romano: Looks like Diamond isn’t ready to call it a night on this opening match!

Fighting back, Diamond uses his legs to arch his back, and takes Zeze’s weight off his body. With Zeze now in a side locked position, Diamond has enough left in the tank to roll over Taborda, breaking the lock and managing a sideways mounted position! He starts to rain down elbows to the face of Taborda, plus hammer blows with his other arm to his midsection.

Taylor: Diamond is building back momentum here, and I have to say it’s nice to see him back in the ring.
Romano: ...switching up your vote so soon?
Taylor: ...never! Zeze for the win! He just...right now he’s...screw off Cassius!

Taking back the match, Diamond fully beats down Taborda and manages to get up first, bringing up the Latino with him. He locks in a suplex and hits a nice quick snapping vertical suplex, but he doesn’t release! He holds it in place and goes once more for another snapping vertical suplex. Staggering, Taborda finds the ropes and makes his way to his feet. Diamond is right on him, with a belly to back suplex, completely flooring Zeze!

Romano: So, any last minute bets?
Taylor: ...I hate you already.

Diamond signals to the fans that something big is coming, and pulls Zeze up to his feet by his hair. He irish whips him into the corner, running right behind him and lands an immediate huge body splash! Zeze’s neck nearly breaks from the impact!

Romano: The Diamond Splash! Which means we might see the Stacked Deck right now…

With Zeze staggering out of the corner, Diamond whips off the ropes and runs to grab Taborda in his signature cutter! But no, Taborda pushes him off at the last moment and spins Diamond around right into a double handed lifting spine drop!

Taylor: No! Diamond has countered, and front kicked Zeze away!

With Taborda pushed off, Diamond rolls to his feet and forecasts a running clothesline from Zeze. He ducks the clothesline and spins around, right into a cutter!

Taylor: Stacked Deck! Taborda is down! This is terrible!
Romano: This is amazing, Diamond saw an opportunity and took it! He's now sweeping the leg for the pin...


ONE…


TWO…


THREE!

Jessie Love: Your winner of the match - Jack Diamond!

Romano: Yes! What did I tell you!
Taylor: I...I can’t believe it! Zeze Taborda has lost! He has been beaten by Jack Diamond!
Romano: I should have taken your bet after all! The atmosphere and excitement here is insane, as the crowd are loving the return of the Icon! A huge win and a big upset for Taborda, ending his winning streak. Casa del Mongo is on fire!
Taylor: ...I hope not, I need this job!

---

After the conclusion of the last match, a door busts open into the conjoined dining room being used as a locker room. She looks like...



She looks left and right, looking specifically for something. Jackson Steele steps up next to her. He gives her a smile.

Jackson: I don't normally sign autographs but for you, I can make an exception.

Woman: Get bent. I'm not here for you. Where's Felix?

Jackson: Felix? The CEO? What do you want with him?

The woman turns to Jackson and gets nearly nose to nose to him.

Woman: Asking pointless questions isn't an answer to my question, so I'll ask again and you better give me an answer. Where is Felix?

Jackson finds himself biting his bottom lip, liking a strong woman.

Jackson: Even better, I'll bring him here.

Jackson leaves and returns mere moments later with Felix Ziko. Upon seeing the woman, Felix's eyes go wide open.

Felix: Danica? What are you doing here?

Jackson: Wait? You know her?

Felix: She's my wife.

Jackson's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

Danica: Not for much longer. I hear that you're doing pretty good for yourself. You finally got some money back after living like a piece of shit for years after the XHF closed and living like a scrub. You can't take care of your woman, and you call yourself a man. I want a divorce.

Felix: I had medical bills. You know this. I was suffering in the hospital with third degree burns. Look, I thought you said you wanted to separate so we can have some time apart before we rebuild our marriage?

Danica: Look at the little girl over here with a little burn and you still bitch about it ten years later. I stuck with you because I thought you could get your money back and you decide to do fucking something with your life AFTER we separated. We might have gay marriage legalized in the US but I'm not going to remain married to a little woman over here.

Felix: DANICA!

Danica lightly elbows Jackson Steele on the arm.

Danica: And this little bitch over here is acting like he's the victim. His penis is so tiny, I actually had to ask, "Is it in yet?" If he ever had a big cock, it was when he was a newborn and it hasn't grown an inch since then.

Steele immediately throws his hands over his mouth and tries to keep himself from laughing in front of his boss. Danica, however, doesn't hide it.

Danica: So what is it that I want, Felix? I want a divorce.

Felix: Oh come on. You really don't want that, do you? You don't want to work on our marriage at all? You want to give up and go back to your maiden name?

Danica: No, Felix. We both know that when we were living together, I was the one wearing the pants. You never fucked me. I fucked you, and you cried afterwards. If anyone goes back to having my maiden name, it's you. But what I'm doing is unless you want to lose all your money and everything you own to me in the divorce settlements, you're going to do exactly what I say. Luckily for you, there's only one thing of note that I really want from you now, and it's not money. It's investment, power. It's stock. Felix, I see that you became big enough to split your roster into two. It's good to see your big enough in some areas of your life, but anyway. I'm going to be the boss of Prestigious-

Felix: -Prestige

Danica stands up on her tip toes and SLAPS Felix so hard that CSI teams could find her fingerprints on his face.

Danica: You NEVER talk back to me, you half-man. I'm the boss of this Prestige-Prestigious, whatever the FUCK you call it and if I want something, whether it's to call a match or you to make me a cup of coffee, you do it. And I make 50% of whatever this show makes.

Felix's eyes grow wide.

Felix: Oh come on. That's a lot. Can't you-

Felix stops as Danica raises her hand high up in the air. Felix sighs as he sulks down.

Felix: ...Yes, ma'am.

Danica: Good. Now get me a Jack and Coke. I get thirsty just looking at you - and no, not in that way.

Felix scurries off. Danica looks to Jackson.

Danica: You. Give me a foot rub.

A smile starts to form on Jackson's face. He winks to her.

Jackson: Yes, ma'am.

The camera cuts to the next match.

---

Romano: And welcome back! We are just getting underway with tonight's jam packed card, with another huge clash coming right up.
Taylor: Indeed, we get to see the Dark Apostle himself take on the Undisputed Icon, and this will be a matchup people will talk about for years!
Romano: Ezriel has been out of sorts as of late, with his slow disappearance from the AWF affecting those around him. From title contendership to running the Order and its legions of followers, things sure have taken a turn for Ezriel.
Taylor: Hyperion booting him from the Order was just the beginning, and then the slow collapse of the Church along with Hyperion’s disappearance...Ezriel is flying solo tonight and really needs to show the world what he’s got!
Romano: Well he definitely has an uphill battle ahead of him, as MGK is sure to light up the ring once more!

"Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done."

A low trembling voice in a whispered tone floats through the room as the lights fade to a pitch black.

Silence.

"Bleed" by Meshuggah pulsates from the speakers around the audience, the bass vibrating the ground, as the camera spirals up the stairs past many flickering bright white strobe lights. It pans up to the doorway where a dark shadowy figure raises their hands above their head and gazes up at the ceiling. After a few seconds he tilts his head forward and brings his hands down by his side. He is in full body paint and is sporting blood red tights with a small cross printed on either side. He stares intensely ahead of him as the vocals from Bleed kick in. He points once more to the sky as he begins to make his way down the stairs.

Taylor: I can’t wait to see this match! Ezriel always creeps me out in the ring, the man is literally a monster!
Romano: I’d hold your tongue Tommy, as it looks like Ezriel isn’t moving!

As he gets to the bottom of the staircase, a fan from the crown grabs his arm, holding him in place. Ezriel tries to shrug them off but another fan grabs him too, then another. They all tug on his coat and hold him on the spot as he tries to shake them free. Then, from nowhere...SMASH! Someone cracks a lamp over his head!

Taylor: What the hell, these fans are all over him! Maybe we shouldn't have packed so many civilians into a cramped hallway…

Ezriel is staggering about, when another fan comes from nowhere, and connects him with a steel chair! Ezriel drops down to one knee, his forehead bleeding already! Two more fans converge on him from behind, both grabbing him under the arms and lifting him to his feet. The fan with the chair takes this opportunity to ram him into the stomach and ribs with the chair, viciously taking the air from his lungs!

Taylor: We should call security, or the police. Or Mongo!
Romano: I don’t think this is a matter for them...I’ve seen these faces before. Those people attacking Ezriel are members of the Church!
Taylor: The Church of Hyperion??
Romano: Former Church now, I believe. Without Hyperion to guide them, or Ezriel to lead them, I guess they have had enough of waiting around!

The beatdown continues on Ezriel, with several ex-Church members continuing to beat him relentlessly with household items and whatever makeshift weapons they can find. Suddenly…

"Throat Full of Glass" by Combichrist begins to play over the speakers, beckoning a loud mix of both cheers and boos. As the vocals to his theme kick in, MGK makes his way out from the room at the top of the stairs. He stands at the top of the staircase for a moment, watching the attack on his opponent below.

Taylor: Here comes MGK! Hopefully to save the day!
Romano: …
Taylor: One can be optimistic, Cassius!

MGK slowly makes his way down the stairs, letting the beatdown of his opponent take place. The ex-Church followers make light work of the Dark Apostle, breaking apart once MGK arrives. Not knowing really what to do, he shouts at them to roll Ezriel into the ring and they happily oblige. MGK pushes his way through to follow them, and climbs the stairs of the ring. Ezriel is battered in the ring, rolling around on the mat. As MGK enters the ring, the bell finally rings to start the match.

---

M.G.K. vs. Ezriel

---

DING DING!

Romano: Well I guess we still have a match to watch!
Taylor: This isn’t a match, this is going to be a massacre on Ezriel!

MGK circles the ring, letting Ezriel makes his way to his feet on his own accord. It takes some time, but finally Ezriel manages to get to one knee, then one foot, and eventually up to a standing position. With his back to MGK, he staggers and turns around slowly, right into a vicious superkick from the Undisputed Icon!

Romano: And that is that!

MGK walks over to Ezriel, laughing, and places his foot on the chest of the Dark Apostle…


ONE…


TWO…


THREE!

Taylor: A very easy victory for MGK tonight! Shame on how it went down for Ezriel though!
Romano: Hopefully this won’t be the last we see of Ezriel, I really want to see this match in full swing some night!
Taylor: That’s up to these fans I guess, as they look to be hungry for more!

The ez-Church followers drag Ezriel’s limb body from the ring, and between them they carry him around the ring and announcers table, and right out the front door of the house!

Romano: Well there goes Ezriel! Hope to see you again some time!
Taylor: ...if they let him live…

Jessie Love: Your winner of the match - M.G.K.!

"Throat Full of Glass" by Combichrist plays again, as MGK makes his way out of the ring and out through a side door in the large hallway.

---

Backstage Charles Akiyama is walking around, apparently lost within Mongo's house.

Akiyama: ...it was just right here!

He looks around the fluorescently lit halls, turning his head back and forth. Just off camera we hear a door open and shut.

Akiyama: This corner…

He steps around the corner and bumps right into ‘Smokin’ Jay Cutter, apparently exiting the office of Felix Ziko.

Cutter: Excuse me?

Akiyama jumps back and covers his face cringing as if he is about to be hit. Cutter looks at him impatiently while he reaches for his pack of smokes. As he lights it, Akiyama slowly lowers his hands.

Akiyama: Usually you people hit me if I accidentally bump into you…

Cutter: What kind of pig does that? If you make a mistake, own up and apologize. No harm in that.

He exhales a puff of smoke right into Akiyama’s face.

Akiyama: Oh! I’m sorry for bumping into you.

Cutter: Not a problem.

Jay Cutter turns to walk off. Akiyama collects himself and taps him on the shoulder. Cutter turns back around and exhales another cloud of smoke.

Cutter: Did you need something?

Akiyama: Well... you’re back!

Cutter: Get to the point, sport.

Akiyama: We are live on Road to Victory. Do you have a match tonight?

Cutter takes another drag of his cigarette and exhales again.

Cutter: Did you see me booked on the card?

Akiyama: Well...no.

Cutter takes another drag and then flicks the cigarette away as he exhales.

Cutter: I just spoke with Mr. Ziko. I have been cleared to wrestle, and he has agreed to give me a match next week.

Akiyama: Oh, who will you be facing at Prestige?

Cutter reaches down into his pocket and grabs the pack again. He shakes it, thinks better of it, and puts it back.

Cutter: Not Prestige. You see, I am man enough to know when I am not good enough. I wasn’t ready for the competition the AWF had to offer. I’ve been healed for awhile. Mr. Ziko graciously reached into his own pocket and sent me to a school in Chicago. I am grateful for his charity, and humbled that he would invest in me.

Akiyama: Wow, I didn’t know.

Cutter: It was our secret. Mr. Ziko has done a lot for me these past 6 months. Now I am here to return the favor. I told Mr. Ziko that I am ready to compete. But, I want a fresh start. I want...Rise Up. Yes, I will be competing on AWF Rise Up for the time being. Mr. Ziko tried to give me my spot back on Prestige...but with all due respect I declined. My father did not raise me to take handouts. My father raised me to be a man.

Cutter reaches up behind his ear to pull out a cigarette he had tucked there.

Cutter: I will repay Mr. Ziko for all his kindness by competing at a high level, and earning my place in the AWF. In other words…

Cutter brings up his flip lighter and produces a flame.

Cutter: Rise Up... will become... Rise Up in Smoke.

He lights the cigarette and takes a long drag, savoring the flavor, and then exhaling it all in Akiyama’s face. By the time he blows the smoke away, Cutter is halfway down the hall.

---

Jessie Love: Ladies and gentlemen the following contest is a fatal-four-way match, and it will crown the first XHF Phoenix Championship!

The shot changes to show Corndog Wallace and Mike Morales sitting behind a beautifully detailed 17th-century antique table on the other side of the "arena".

Mike Morales: Hello and welcome everybody to the Rise Up portion of the show! We've got a tremendous fatal-four-way coming right up and we're going to crown our first XHF Phoenix Champion tonight!
Corndog Wallace: First title of the night, Mike! I'm excited! I'm getting 'Nam flashbacks!
Mike Morales: You were in 'Nam?
Corndog Wallace: Oh yeah. 1982. Went for two weeks on vacation.

Unveil Raze's "The Phoenix Reigns" blasts over Mongo's home entertainment system and the crowd go wild as Damien Young bursts through the curtain.

Jessie Love: Introducing first - from Des Moines, Iowa, and weighing 202 pounds - Damien Young!

Young runs down the aisle as he slaps hands with the fans, before rolling into the ring and stripping off his "JUST ANOTHER F#CKING DAY" T-Shirt, throwing it into the crowd as the girls all go crazy.

Mike Morales: Tremendously popular young talent, Damien Young, and you have to wonder about that theme song. "The Phoenix Reigns" - will that prove prophetic tonight?

The opening riffs of Sekai No Owan's "Anti-Hero" begin as we pan around the arena and soon focus on the stage. Kira Izumi comes out from the back. He looks around before he starts walking down the ramp.

The rules and laws and countries come up with
In front of me, they're all shit
Cause there are people that I've gotta protect
And if you get in my way, you're dead.

Jessie Love: And the opponent... from Shinhidaka, Hokkaido, Japan and weighing in at 200 pounds - Kira Izumi!

He walks around the ring slapping hands of his fans and aging on the fans who hate him. He goes around the entire ring before walking up the steps. He pause a minute and looks around before entering the ring.

"I'm gonna be the anti-hero
Feared and hated by everybody
I'm gonna be the anti-hero
So I can save you when the time comes"

He climbs up to the top rope and makes an "X" pose with his arms. He looks around at the crowd before he gets down and repeats the process at the other three turnbuckles. He gets down and heads off to the center of the ring where he beats his chest and puts up an "X" again.

Mike Morales: The last time Kira Izumi was in a four-way match for a new championship in AWF, he came out of it holding the gold. The first-ever Prestige Class Champion will be hoping that history repeats itself tonight for the Phoenix Championship!

Jim Johnson's "Unstable" rocks the house (literally) and The Cosmic Warrior speeds out through the entranceway, making short work of the makeshift aisle to the ring and circling the ring several times before he jumps up onto the apron.

Jessie Love: From THE UNFATHOMABLE REACHES OF THE COSMOS, weighing 280 pounds - The Cosmic Warrior!

Warrior shakes the ropes so hard that they look like they might break at any moment. He leaps over the top rope, and then runs from one side of the ring to the other, never tiring, never stopping - a cameraman climbs up onto the apron to get a better angle and Warrior changes direction, bumping into the cameraman and sending him crashing to the floor.

Corndog Wallace: I love this guy! I hope he wins!
Mike Morales: I thought Damien Young was your pick?
Corndog Wallace: He's my pick based on heart, and guts, and sheer ability, but this guy's my pick based on pure adrenaline!

The theme song from "Nightmare on Elm Street" sends the room into a chilling silence, as the robed Nathan Thunder strides out through clouds of dry ice.

Jessie Love: And the final competitor, from Elm Street and weighing in at 345 pounds - "The Nightmare" Nathan Thunder!

Thunder stalks menacingly to the ring and climbs the steps, glaring at his three opponents in the ring. He steps through the ropes and removes his robe, never breaking eye contact, never showing any signs of trepidation.

Corndog Wallace: This guy gives me the willies!
Mike Morales: He's certainly earned his nickname of "The Nightmare", Corndog, and at nearly seven feet tall, 345 pounds, he is by far the biggest man in this matchup. Cosmic Warrior dwarfs Kira and Young, and Nathan Thunder absolutely dwarfs the Warrior!

Referee Nate Biggs is the official for this match, and he reveals the prize that these men are competing for;



Mike Morales: That is a beautiful belt, isn't it?
Corndog Wallace: Why does it say River City Wrestling?
Mike Morales: Ignore that bit. Just focus on the Phoenix.

---

XHF Phoenix Championship

(The winners from each of the 4 First Round Matches will compete in a Fatal Four Way)
Damien Young vs. Kira Izumi vs. The Cosmic Warrior vs. Nathan Thunder

---

The bell rings and the match is officially underway.

Mike Morales: This is it, folks! Crunch time! And straight off the bat the competitors pair off, Kira Izumi going after Warrior, Nathan Thunder picking on Damien Young!
Corndog Wallace: He'll crush him! Oh god, he's gotta be at LEAST three times his size!
Mike Morales: Thunder's trying to get a hold of Young but "The Gun" slips away easily, goes behind Thunder - Thunder's got him scouted though! Young making good use of his speed advantage, keeping himself just out of arm's reach-
Corndog Wallace: And he's got a pretty impressive reach on him, Mike!
Mike Morales: He does indeed, but Young's not making it easy for him! Oh! Young just stunned him with that high kick and now he's heading up top - gonna fly...
Corndog Wallace: Thunder caught him!
Mike Morales: Thunder caught Damien Young in mid-air! He went for the cross-body and... big fallaway slam by the giant! Thunder goes after him, makes the cover-


ONE!


TW-

Kira Izumi turns away from beating on Warrior in the corner and breaks up the pin! Thunder looks up at Kira with fury, Kira turning away from the big man-

He gets flattened by a CLOTHESLINE! Warrior comes out of the corner and takes Kira's head off!

Thunder tries to steal the pin!


ONE!


TWO!

Damien Young rolls over and interrupts the count!

Mike Morales: Two close calls from Nathan Thunder in the opening moments of this match, and two examples of just how hard it can be to score a fall in this sort of environment - not just because you have to work on putting your opponent down for the three count, but because there are two other guys on top of that who don't want you to make the pin!
Corndog Wallace: Exactly right, it's first-fall-wins in a fatal four way and you've gotta have eyes in the back of your head to keep watch over all of your opponents!

Warrior roars and beats his chest as Nathan Thunder stands up and comes face-to-face with him. Thunder roars back... but before they can come to blows, Kira and Young both get to their feet and resume their initial pairings. Young jumps onto Thunder's back and practically rides him as he tries to get him in a sleeper hold, while Kira knocks Warrior into the ropes and then gets him into a tarantula submission!

Mike Morales: Kira Izumi going down the submission route and I should point out that there are no rope breaks in a fatal four-way match, so this is all legal! If Warrior was to tap out now, Kira would be champion!

Damien Young has Thunder in a headlock and his small size makes him surprisingly - and frustratingly, for Thunder - difficult for "The Nightmare" to get a hold of. But Young spots Kira's submission on Warrior, he jumps off of Thunder's back and pushes him to the corner and slides out of the ring, then thwacks Kira in the head which causes him to break the hold, and Kira falls awkwardly off of the apron to the floor.

Mike Morales: Kira Izumi took a nasty fall there but Damien Young's not gonna go easy on him! Drags him up and- oh my! Runs him into the barricade!
Corndog Wallace: Kira Izumi was the one who threatened to take this match hardcore but looks like he's had his thunder stolen by Young!
Mike Morales: Speaking of Thunder - he's about to try and pin Warrior now!


ONE!


TWO!

Warrior powers out! Having been weakened momentarily in the tarantula, he almost fell to Thunder but managed to get his shoulder up. Warrior powers straight back up to his feet, as does Thunder, and the two of them stand nose-to-nose, snarling and growling.

Corndog Wallace: Are we gonna see these two get it on? Or are they gonna fight?

Outside the ring, Young scrapes Kira's face along the top of the barricade, stands him up and gives him a couple of chops to the chest, and then a big clothesline over the top!

Mike Morales: Kira's been sent over the railing by Young and- he's climbing in after him Corndog!
Corndog Wallace: I don't get it! He can't win the match out there!

Young hops over the guard rail and goes after Kira. Meanwhile, Thunder and Warrior are having a shoving match in the middle of the ring, each man trying to prove themselves to be the strongest.

Warrior gives Thunder one hell of a shove, and the 345-pounder goes tumbling backwards, rolling up to his knees and looking up at Warrior, who beats his chest and bares his teeth. Thunder scowls, stands up, and Warrior CLOTHESLINEs him back down to the mat! Thunder isn't gonna take that lying down though - he gets up, and takes another CLOTHESLINE!

Mike Morales: Warrior laying in these big clotheslines and I'm not sure how he's taking such a big guy as Thunder down so easily!

Thunder hits the deck hard but just as quickly gets back up again, this time he blocks the next CLOTHESLINE attempt by Warrior, laying a big knee into his gut and then hitting him with a brutal gutwrench powerbomb!

Mike Morales: Oh my god! I think the ring just moved with the force of that impact!

Thunder tries for a cover again!


ONE!

But Warrior is having none of it!

Corndog Wallace: Straight out at ONE! Can you believe this guy?
Mike Morales: Thunder can't! And he is furious! Both men back to their feet now - Thunder swings and catches Warrior! Doesn't go down though, he's throwing them right back at Thunder! These two are just unloading on each other right now, and that's exactly what we thought we would see between Thunder and Warrior, there was never gonna be any technical wrestling here!

Thunder and Warrior go blow-for-blow until Warrior suddenly grabs Thunder's arm and whips him across the ring - both men go for the clothesline at the same time though and lay each other out!

Mike Morales: It's like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object! Both men are down! Nobody with an opportunity to capitalize!
Corndog Wallace: If Damien Young was in the ring instead of chasing Kira through the crowd he might have been able to steal a quick pin!

Young whips Kira with what looks like a belt - it's not clear if it's his own or one that belonged to a fan - and Kira crawls through the crowd as he tries to simultaneously escape from Young's assault and also make it back to the ring. Kira makes it to the barricade and goes to climb over but Young catches up with him. Reaching out and grabbing Kira, Young spins him round - and takes a plastic cup of beer right to the face, after Kira steals it from a fan on the front row!

Corndog Wallace: That's one way to make sure your opponents are staying hydrated!

Kira grabs the belt off of Young and wraps it round his neck - hopping the barricade he pulls Young down so his throat is on top of the steel railing, pulling down and choking the life out of Young!

Mike Morales: This is hideous! Kira's gonna kill him! He'll kill Damien Young!

As Young starts to turn purple, Nate Biggs senses the danger he is in and rolls out to confront Kira - he wrestles the belt away from him and throws it away, admonishing Kira for his actions.

Mike Morales: Good call Nate! This match might be technically free from disqualifications, but there still have to be some limits! And trying to choke your opponent out on the barricade is not within the spirit of the competition!

Kira cusses Biggs out in Japanese and turns back to the ring, where both Thunder and Warrior are down but beginning to stir. He slides under the bottom rope, and takes up a position in the corner as he tries to pick who to go after first.

Nathan Thunder is first to get up - and Kira goes in looking for a Shining Wiazrd, but gets caught up into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by the big man from Elm Street!

Mike Morales: Oh my! Thunder just broke Kira in half!

Kira rolls across the ring and cries out in pain as Thunder stalks after him - Thunder doesn't get to follow up though as he gets spun round - and hit with a beautiful SUPLEX by The Warrior, who makes a cover;

Mike Morales: Wait a minute! Vertical suplex outta nowhere!


ONE!


TWO!


THR- But Thunder isn't done yet! He kicks out!

Corndog Wallace: Close, but no cigar!
Mike Morales: I thought Warrior had it won there, for sure! I think everybody did!

Warrior jumps up and grabs the ropes, shaking them rapidly as Kira struggles to his feet. Damien Young weakly flops himself over the barrier and re-enters the ringside area. Thunder rolls to the edge of the ring underneath the bottom rope.

Kira heads in towards Warrior - VERTICAL SUPL- No! Kira reverses it at the top of the arc, drops down behind Warrior and then hits him with a Pele kick! Warrior drops to a knee but doesn't go down... Kira rebounds off the ropes and hits him with a big Bome Ye!

Mike Morales: Kira Kira Knee! That might be all she wrote!

Kira covers:


ONE!


TWO!


THR- Nathan Thunder breaks up the pin!

Corndog Wallace: Kira might be about to find himself in a whole world of hurt now, Mike!

Thunder pushes Warrior out of the way with his boot as he follows Kira, who tries to get away from the hulking menace. Kira finds himself unable to get through the ropes in time as Thunder wraps a big arm across his throat, applying a sleeper hold!

Mike Morales: He calls that the Lullaby! And it could very well be night-night for Kira Izumi right now!

The color drains from Kira's face as Thunder's massive arms cut off the circulation of blood to his brain. Nate Biggs gets up close to Kira to check on him, see if he can continue. He lifts Kira's arm and it falls.


ONE!

Mike Morales: Thunder could be about to win this by TKO!

Biggs raises the arm again, lets go, and it flops down by Kira's side.


TWO!

Mike Morales: One more and Thunder wins!

Biggs raises Kira's arm - but right before he can drop it, Damien Young speeds back into the ring and clocks Thunder with a huge single-leg dropkick!

Corndog Wallace: Damien Young is back! And he might be about to steal this match!

Thunder staggers and falls out through the ropes! Young looks around him and sees that the Warrior is still down from the Boma Ye, and makes the cover on Kira!


ONE!


TWO!


THR-

But Nate Biggs suddenly leaves the ring! Backwards!

Mike Morales: What the-
Corndog Wallace: Hey, wait a minute!

Biggs is pulled out of the ring and he turns round - to come face-to-face with Furanku Furetcha! Biggs yells at Furanku who just shrugs, and asks him what he's gonna do.

Mike Morales: Frank Fletcher watched Kira's match at the first Rise Up and now he's come to his aid in this one, making sure he doesn't get pinned!
Corndog Wallace: Damien Young is livid! And with good cause!

Young goes to the ropes and leans over, asking Furanku what the hell he thinks he's playing at - the crowd start to become restless and suddenly Young finds himself rolled up from behind by a groggy Kira Izumi!

Mike Morales: Kira rolls him up!

Furanku alerts Biggs to the pinning attempt and the ref slides back into the ring;


ONE!

Corndog Wallace: He's got a handful of tights!


TWO!

Mike Morales: New champion!

THR- Warrior makes the save! Furanku throws his hands up on his head, jumping up and down in frustration.

Mike Morales: Crucial save from Warrior there! I thought Kira had this match won for sure!
Corndog Wallace: I think we all did!

Kira looks sluggish as he gets knocked off of the pin but he makes his way back up to his feet, confronts Warrior - he gets picked up for a gorilla press slam - but manages to free himself, almost staggering as he hits the canvas but he regains his footing... he springboards - and hits a lionsault on Warrior!

Mike Morales: #FlipKira! I don't know how he's doing this!
Corndog Wallace: He's practically on auto-pilot right now!

Kira hooks a leg:


ONE!


TWO!


Kick out!

Corndog Wallace: So close! Kira almost had the title right there!
Mike Morales: Warrior's a tough opponent though!

Furanku shouts encouragement to Kira, and then notices Young getting back to his feet - he reaches under the ropes and drags him out of the ring!

He gives Young a stinging chop to the chest and then throws him against the solid commentary table, Young's back crunching against the edge. Furanku hits him with another chop, then pulls back for a third but Young lashes out first, stunning Furanku.

Young hits a second chop, then his eyes widen - he pushes Furanku as he ducks out of the way... and a furious Nathan Thunder grabs Furanku round the throat with both hands, picking him up and delivering a devastating "Silent Night" Chokebomb right through the table!

Mike Morales: Oh god! Oh god oh god oh god! Not the table! Not Mongo's irreplaceable 300-year old antique table! Oh god!
Corndog Wallace: That's it. We're dead. I mean it. Mongo finds out about this, we're just dead.

Thunder beams a huge evil grin as the crowd go wild, and then slides back into the ring, giving Young a shove into the apron as he passes him. Warrior and Kira - especially Kira - are both looking pretty beat up. Thunder picks up Warrior and gives him hard scoop slam, before picking up Kira...

Mike Morales: This is it, goodnight Kira!

Thunder picks Kira up, facing him in preparation for another Silent Night... but right at that second, Warrior explodes into life and dashes across the ring, hitting them BOTH with a CLOTHESLINE and sending them tumbling out of the ring!

Corndog Wallace: Hold on! DOUBLE Clothesline! Both men go down! There's nobody for Warrior to pin!
Mike Morales: Wait!

Warrior turns and beats his chest but- BOOM!

Big time diving foot stomp from Damien Young knocks Warrior down and forces the wind out of him!

Mike Morales: Fall Of Time by Young! And he might steal it!


ONE!


TWO!


THREE!

A HUGE cheer goes up from the crowd!

Corndog Wallace: He did it! By God he did it!

Jessie Love: Here is your winner and the first XHF Phoenix Champion - Damien Young!

Young falls to his knees and throws his arms up, head back, completely lost in the moment as the crowd scream and cheer for his victory.

Corndog Wallace: When Thunder had Kira getting him ready for the Silent Night I thought it was all over! And I suppose I was right, I just got the wrong guy!

Nate Biggs brings Young the championship belt and he hands it to him. Young stares at the gold plate for a few seconds, shaking his head with disbelief. He stands up, Biggs raises his right arm and at the same time Young throws the belt up in the air, held in his left hand. Confetti rains down from the ceiling.

Mike Morales: It was a hard-fought battle and the road was not easy for Damien Young, but he upset the odds and beat three other guys tonight - FOUR if you include Frank Fletcher getting himself involved!
Corndog Wallace: Fletcher tried to interfere on Kira's behalf and he bought him a bit of time to survive, but he couldn't help him win the championship!
Mike Morales: And he got driven through this solid oak table for his trouble! He'll feel that in the morning!
Corndog Wallace: Damien Young though, what a performer! We aid before that this guy was a shoo-in to wear gold in TGK, and he's kicked off his AWF career with a bang by becoming the first-ever Phoenix Champion of the new XHF age!
Mike Morales: Congratulations Damien Young, a well-deserved victory!

---

The camera cuts to the backstage area where we see MGK walking down the hallway taking his tape off his wrists as he walks when from around the corner Jason Justice comes walking out with the AWF State of Ohio Championship strapped across his chest.

Jason: Oh hey sorry, in my own head before my match ya know.

MGK: Yeah sure kid whatever.

Jason: Hey that was a good match out there with Ezriel, I wouldn't mind getting in there with you and learning a thing or two sometime.

Jason smiles and offers him his hand, MGK looks down at it and shakes it.

MGK: Sure I'll give you a lesson someday kid.

We hear a southern voice come from behind MGK.

"Kid don't need to learn how to be a junkie, needs to learn how to be a wrestler."

MGK's face goes white and drops as if he's heard a ghost, his shoulders slump and he takes a deep breath, Jason doesnt let go of his hand however.

Jason: Sorry.

MGK: Huh...

MGK turns, only to be greeted with a size 13 black and white Chuck Taylor's covered foot to the jaw with a crack, MGK crumbles to the ground in a heap from the superkick when we see a pair of the shoes stand next to him, covered by some faded jeans, we can see the person kneels down and there is a buzz in the arena. The camera pans out slowly to revile that is none other than MGK's brother James Franklin Karn! JFK is here in the AWF and the arena is going absolutely insane. He doesn't look down at his brother, just out to the distance, he slowly turns his head down and shakes it.

JFK: Really Mikey? One superkick is all it takes these days to put you on your ass?

JFK slaps MGK lightly across the cheek a few times to make him stir.

JFK: You and me, we have unfinished buisness boy. Be seeing you around.

JFK goes to stand, MGK reaches out to grab his ankle lightly but JFK kicks it away.

JFK: That'll be the last time you touch me before I'm ready to deal with you.

JFK punts him in the ribs for good messure as he walks towards Jason.

JFK: I'll meet you at the hotel later tonight and we'll go over our plans for what's next with you. Good luck tonight.

Jason: Huh, yeah thanks...should...should we leave him laying there like that?

JFK waves a hand dismissivly as he walks towards the exit.

JFK: He's passed out in worse. He'll be fine.

And with that JFK leaves, Jason looks down at MGK once more.

Jason: Truly am sorry. But...I got a title defense, gotta go.

---

The intro for Goldfinger's Superman starts playing over the speakers, "So here I am, doing everything I can, holding on to what I am, pretending I'm a Superman" Jason Justice storms out from behind the curtain with a huge smile on his face, and the AWF State of Ohio Championship across his chest, he makes his way down towards the ring then circle around the ring slapping hands with all the ringside fans, he'll hand his hat off to one of the kids in the crowd before taking the stairs to the ring, he stands on the apron looking back out to the crowd with a huge smile, he then spring boards up over the top rope but lands on the 2nd turnbuckle, he holds the AWF State of Ohio Championship high in the air, he drops down hands the title over and prepares for his match.

Taylor: Here's the AWF State of Ohio Champion in all his glory! He's ready, Cassius! He's ready to make history!
Romano: That's right, Tommy. One win from him is all it takes before he breaks history and becomes the longest-holding champion in AWF history, beating Jackson Steele with his AWF Champion reign!

The lights go out as "Cathedral" plays through the speakers. As the lights come back, the clock ticking intro ends, and Maverick stands at the stage looking out to the crowd with no expression on his face. He slowly walks to the ring, continuning to look out to the crowd. He gets to the ring and walks up the steps, getting into the ring through the second rope. Maverick walks to the centre of the ring as the lights go out again and the spotlight shines down on him, with his head down and eyes closed. He raises his arms and head up slowly and stretching his arms out as they are raised, as he stops moving he opens his eyes and the lights come back on.

Taylor: And here's the man who has plagued Jason Justice for the better part of the man, Maverick.
Romano: And he has been gaining steam as of recently. He is becoming very dangerous. If I was Jason, I'd be really careful.

---

AWF State of Ohio Championship
Jason Justice © vs. Maverick

---

The bell finally rings. The Mercenary Maverick, the challenger who has been steaming up is finally set to go against Jason Justice, currently tied for the longest reigning champion of the AWF, tied with the inaugural champion, Jackson Steele. It's a pivotal moment to a prestigious honor, but Maverick is looking to change it. I mean, he's an Icon and Icons are the ones who set records. The two finally physically engage. They are in a collar and elbow lock-up. Bad move for the challenger as the champion, Jason Justice, is an accomplished tactician. He lowers himself to lift Maverick over in a fireman's carry. Maverick goes over and Jason Justice is quick to capture Maverick in a headlock. Maverick grasps and claws at Jason Justice's arm. He's trying to get himself free but Justice holds him tight. After all, this is for the championship, and this isn't a match that either competitors are taking lightly. Senior Referee Gabe Valentine is asking Maverick if he's giving up. Not only is Maverick saying no, he's screaming it.

Taylor: Take a look at this energy! This passion! Maverick wants to be champ!
Romano: Well the road to championship is not an easy one. It takes pain. It takes courage. It takes sacrifice.

Maverick's face is red. His veins are popping out of his neck, but he manages to grab the neck of Jason Justice and pulls him forward for a take down. Maverick has learned his lesson before and isn't going technical anymore and going on the floor is a very dangerous place to be when you're against someone who was on the home wrestling team. Maverick instead decides to go to his strengths, which involve striking and being efficient in his damage. He moves forward and decides to whip his foot HARD against the back of Jason Justice's back. He arches his back hard and screams out loud. Maverick moves forward again. And a third time! Each strike is more painful than the last and Jason Justice is rolling out of the ring. He needs to make a tactical retreat before he can move forward and find a way to come back and win this thing. He rolls out of the ring, the side closest to the entrance which is near the dining room. But there's someone there - AWF Champion Bobby Barratt! He's looking at Jason Justice dead in the eyes with his AWF Championship belt on his shoulder. He's sticking his index finger in the air, wagging back and forth. Jason Justice may be good, but he's no idiot. He knows he can't defeat two men, especially when one of them holds the highest belt in the AWF. He turns around and doesn't have the time to register the threat that is Maverick right next to him, as he grabs him and throws him against the steel staircase. The people gasp and boo.

Taylor: Ref! Ring that bell! Ring that damn bell! Interference AND weapon use?
Romano: Technicalities but Bobby Barratt didn't touch Jason Justice and that steel staircase is part of the ring. They technically haven't broken any rules!

At this time, the referee count is at three. Maverick is a lot of things, but no one can accuse him of being inefficient. Maverick quickly pries him off the cold and unforgiving steel to throw him back in the ring. He gets himself into the ring before the six count and he goes for the pin. Referee Gabe Valentine wastes no time as he goes for the pin counts:


...ONE!


...TWO!


...TH-KICKOUT!

Maverick gets up and looks to the ref, who holds up two fingers! His eyes are wide open and he looks like he couldn't believe him. Maverick looks to Bobby, who has a less than pleased expression on his face. He goes up to Jason Justice and begins to get him up to his feet. As soon as Justice gets to his knees, he throws a fist to Maverick's stomach, causing him to bend forward. Jason Justice follows up with a European uppercut, which forces the Irishman to back up a few feet. Maverick moves back to Jason Justice who captures him in position for his High Angle Uranage, that Jason Justice calls Final Judgment! He lifts up Maverick high in the air... and Maverick somehow reverses it to a hurracanrana! Jason Justice goes down and he remains the hold so that the referee, Gabe Valentine, can go for the pin count once more:


...One!


...Two!


...Th-Kickout once again!

Maverick gets up and he's simply in denial about all of this. He has been able to out-power Jason Justice and out-wit him and despite all of this, he's just not staying down! He decides enough is enough. He slides out of the ring. Bobby approaches him and asks him what he's doing and Maverick gestures that he has it and that Bobby shouldn't worry about it. Maverick looks underneath the ring for something. Bobby is telling Maverick that the referee is right there and watching. Maverick shakes his head as he finally pulls out a steel chair. He slides it into the ring. He sets up the chair in the ring and puts Jason Justice's head on top of the chair. He then backs up.

Taylor: What is he doing, Cassius!? Obviously if he gets caught using that as a weapon, he'll be disqualified!
Romano: Oh... I don't like what's happening, but I think I know what's going on. It's not even just about the match. Sure, he'll be disqualified, but Maverick is looking to end the career of Jason Justice! If he breaks his neck, Jason Justice will not longer be able to compete! He'll have to vacate the title and Maverick may be able to just cut out of his competition and get the belt that way!
Taylor: WHAT!? Is he mad!?
Romano: No. He's an Icon.

Jason Justice looks tired as hell. Completely out of it. Maybe it's the concussion he may have gotten from the steel chair or maybe it's the marijuana affecting his brain cells, but he doesn't look like he even knows where he is. Maverick, however, climbs to the top of the turnbuckle. He turns around. Is he about to do it? Yes! Inverted 450 Splash that he calls Mercenary's Delight! He does it! WAIT - Jason Justice pulls himself out of the way and Maverick himself slams his head against the chair! The two go down! Both wrestlers are on the mat. Neither know where they are or if any bones are broken in their body. Everyone in the audience? They're stunned. For all they know, one of the competitors is dead. Suddenly, Jason Justice gets his head up. He looks around, looking to see where Maverick may be. He initially does not see him.

Taylor: Jason Justice doesn't even see Maverick! For all we know, he merely fell off the chair instead of actively dodging it!
Romano: This is exactly who Maverick is, though. With all the skill he has, he tends to go off... not luck, but fate. Either he takes his opponent down, or he takes himself down.

Bobby Barratt is at the side of the ring closest to Maverick. He keeps calling to him. "Come on, Maverick! Get your ass up!" Maverick is stirring a little bit but unfortunately, Bobby's encouragements is causing a side-effect. Jason Justice turns around and he sees Maverick. He begins crawling up to him. He manages to slide his body over that of the challenger's for the pin count:


...One!



...Two!


...TH-The referee stops counting as Bobby Barratt climbs up on the ropes. Gabe Valentine runs up to Bobby and begins arguing with him.

Taylor: Damn it, Bobby! Get out of the ring! Jason's about to win!
Romano: I think that's exactly why he's there!

While the referee has his back turned, Maverick finally stirs back to reality. (Oh, there goes gravity!) He grabs the head of Jason Justice and shoves his head back... to the chair! Maverick ignores all the pain and torment that his body is giving to him rolls him over. He goes for the pin count:


...One!


...Two!


...THREE!

Jessie Love: Winner and the NEW State of Ohio Champion: Maverick!

Taylor: This is cheap! This is cheating! Maverick doesn't deserve that belt!
Romano: And yet, they got away with it! Jason has only been able to tie Jackson. He hasn't be able to top him!

---

Jessie Love: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the AWF Prestige Class Championship!

The lights go out as "We are Family" by Sister Sledge starts to play. A rainbow of different colored lights come back on flashing throughout the enormous , lavishly furnished room.

Jessie Love: Introducing first, the challenger. From Belleview, Missouri, and weighing in at 280 pounds - "The Family Man" Danny Ray!

The Family man walks through the large mahogany doors shaking hands who line the route as he heads towards the ring. He slowly walks up the ring steps as he looks out among the crowd waving as he enters the ring and stands in his corner.

Romano: Danny Ray, the former Prestige Class Champion, has had a lot on his mind of late. Not only does he want to regain the championship he lost at Prestige XI, but his wife suffered the unfortunate loss of their unborn baby last week- out thoughts and prayers go out to the Ray family.
Taylor: If you ask me, he shouldn't be out here tonight. He should be with his family supporting them!
Romano: Well if you'll recall it was Danny's wife who wanted him to come here. To try and slay his demons and get back to his fighting best by winning the championship.
Taylor: It's not right. Randy Angel was right about that. I don't see how he can call himself "The Family Man" if he's not willing to be at their side through these troubled times to give them the support they need.

*Jet's "Rip it Up" starts pounding out of the PA system as Nelly Angel steps cautiously throught the curtain, his brother and manager Randy Angel holding his championship belt.

Jessie Love: And his opponent - from San Francisco, California and weighing 180 pounds - he is the AWF Prestige Class Champion, Nelly Angel!

Nelly slowly walks the route to the ring as fans try to slap hands with him, but Randy shoos them back. He never takes his eyes off Danny, who paces round the ring.

Taylor: Nelly looks a bit nervous to be facing Danny, and for good reason - he doesn't know what Danny Ray is going to throw at him today. Danny went to a dark place in his video message to his fans and Nelly doesn't want Danny to drag him down with him.
Romano: Will you stop? Danny has been going through a crisis of confidence recently, yes, he's been questioning his faith. But I'm sure that he is going to put his heart into this match, give us something special tonight.

Nelly walks up the steps and into the ring, handing his belt to the referee and still fixing gaze on Danny. Danny walks towards Nelly and extends his hand. Nelly looks at it, unsure what to make of it. He looks to the crowd as if asking their opinion.

Romano: Nelly's taking his time accepting Danny's handshake and don't forget, this match is to be contested under Prestige Class rules - if he doesn't shake Danny's hand then he'll forfeit the match - and the title!

Nelly backs off to confer with Randy, still keeping a keen eye out for his opponent who offers his hand again. Randy says something to Nelly, inaudible over the noise from the crowd, but it looks like he's telling him he has to suck it up and shake his hand.

Taylor: Nelly is right to be wary. I wouldn't trust Danny Ray as far as I could throw him and that's not very far at all.
Romano: Aren't you supposed to be an amateur wrestler? Surely throwing people is the entire idea of what you do?
Taylor: Stop splitting hairs. You know what I mean.

---

AWF Prestige Class Championship
Nelly Angel © vs Danny Ray

---

Nelly takes a step towards Danny, slowly getting closer until finally he puts out a hand and shakes Danny's hand back. The bell rings, and Nelly immediately pulls Danny close and punts him right in the stomach. Danny falls flat on his back and curls up in a ball.

Romano: Well that's not the double-cross I think you were expecting, Tommy!

It soon becomes apparent whose idea the kick was as Nelly looks back towards Randy who is giving a huge thumbs up.

Nelly Angel: I told you I didn't want to do that!

Randy Angel: He would have only done it to you if you didn't do it to him first! You've got him where you wan him! Now cover him for God's sake!

Nelly throws himself down and pushes Danny onto his back;


ONE!


TWO!


Kick out by Danny Ray!

Taylor: Well it's a start but he'll have to do more than that!

Nelly locks his arms round Danny's waist and tris to pull him up, but his 280 pound weight proves too heavy for him to lift and Danny easily drags him down, mounting him and throwing big ol' soup bones into his face. Nelly kicks and struggles and somehow manages to get Danny turned over and he starts throwing punches back. They're not as effective against the heavyweight, and Danny shrugs them off pretty easily before throwing Nelly off of him.

Romano: These two men are somewhat throwing out the spirit of the Prestige Class Championship with those hard punches to the face but the referee's happy to let them get on with it.
Taylor: Danny Ray should be disqualified for starting it! You can't do that!
Romano: Well look on the plus side, at least those blows won't make Nelly look any worse.

Both competitors get to their feet and circle each other, then come together for a lock up. Danny gets Nelly in a headlock and hits him with a stiff punch to the to of the head and Nelly goes flying back as the referee gives Danny a warning. Nelly gets back to his feet and he throws himself at Danny, flinging overhand blows that don;t do a lot of damage but they do succeed in taking Danny off balance - Nelly runs the ropes and rebounds, taking Danny down with a tilt-a-whirl DDT that gets a good pop from the crowd before trying another cover;


ONE!


TWO!


THR- Kick out by Danny!

Romano: Nelly Angel is trying to get this match over and done with as early as he can!
Taylor: And I don't blame him! He took him down with a beautiful DDT aand it almost got the job done!
Romano: Nelly comes back with an armbar attempt! But Danny overpowers him, good Lord look at the strength as he picks him up with one arm! Gonna try and turn this into a powerbomb- no! Nelly lets go, drops down - stiff knee to the gut doubles Danny over and Nelly comes off the ropes... famouser!
Taylor: That had to hurt more than Danny's pride!
Romano: Another cover by Nelly!


ONE!


TWO!


Kick out!

Danny powers out of the cover and gets up with Nelly in his sights - the champion runs at him and he turns it into a swingout sidewalk slam! He chances his arm with a cover of his own;


ONE!


TWO!


THR- Kick out!

Romano: Oh so close! Danny almost reclaimed the championship right there with that big power move!
Taylor: Nelly Angel's got a lot of heart, Cassius. It's what got him this far and he's gonna have to dig real deep to overcome someone as strong and unstable as Danny.

Nelly looks to have taken a big knock from that slam, he splutters as he tries to get air back into his lungs. Danny controls him by his head, pulls him up to his feet and lays into him with a big European uppercut, knocking Nelly back down. Danny drops and elbow - but Nelly moves, and Randy slaps the canvas to try and re-motivate him.

Randy Angel: Come on, Randy! Do it for Happy! Do it for his memory!
Nelly Angel: Happy's not dead...
Randy Angel: But just imagine he is! Use him like Danny uses his sick wife!

Danny grabs one of Nelly's legs and Nelly flips over, pushes him away and then leaps up to his feet. He flies in looking for a clothesline but Danny ducks it, spins round and kicks Nelly in the midsection. Nelly doubles up and Danny hits him with a crushing sitout powerbomb and stays on top of him for the pin;


ONE!


TWO!


THR-

But Nelly still kicks out!

Romano: Danny Ray breaking out the high-impact power moves tonight, you can see he really wants this! But Nelly still manages to hang onto his championship!

Nelly crawls away from Danny and he looks to be sucking wind hard after getting all the air knocked out of his lungs. He pulls himself up on the ropes and Danny comes at him looking for another standing side headlock - but Nelly plants a shoulder into him and somehow manages to lever him up and over the top rope, and Danny goes crashing down to the floor! Nelly collapses from the huge effort involved and there is a lull in the action.

Romano: I don;t know how he did it but Nelly Angel somehow just threw Danny Ray out of the ring!
Taylor: He's not known for his power but he's a very resourceful competitor, Nelly Angel!
Romano: And now referee Steve Tyrell will begin the count for both men; Danny out at ringside and Nelly down on the canvas!


ONE!


TWO!


THREE!

Taylor: Neither man is moving! And if they both stay down for the ten, Nelly will retain his title!


FOUR!


FIVE!

Danny and Nelly both begin to show signs of life, and Danny crawls over to the ringside barrier as Nelly slowly gets up in the ring.


SIX!


SEVEN!

Romano: We're getting perilously close to the ten-count and Danny Ray is in a losing predicament here, Nelly is almost to his feet but as you rightly said, even if he's counted down then he'll keep his championship!

Nelly gets up, Danny stands against the barrier and looks into the ring. Nelly looks at Danny - and the crowd start to cheer. Suddenly Nelly races into the ropes behind him, rebounding across the ring and then hurling himself over the top rope and into Danny Ray and both men crash to the floor!

Romano: Oh my god! High-risk maneuver by Nelly Angel pays off as he lays Danny Ray out at ringside!


ONE!


TWO!

Nelly hops up and pumps his fist as the crowd get behind him, Randy comes round to pat him on the back and bring him back down to earth, reminding him that the match isn't over yet. Nelly takes a hand and heaves Danny up to his feet, before putting in a big effort to Irish whip him into the side of the ring. Danny hits the apron and staggers back, and Nelly gets him with a backstabber!


THREE!

Romano: This match is turning into an all-out war but that's NOT the sort of match that Nelly wants to find himself in with Danny Ray!


FOUR!

Danny rolls over onto his front and Nelly gets him in a front face lock, Danny pushes back and Nelly goes crashing over the ringside steps!

Romano: That's just what I'm talking about! He may be hurt!


FIVE!

Danny follows Nelly ans he climbs up on top of the steel steps, crashing down on top of him with a big double ax handle. Nelly crumples onto the floor.

Romano: Danny Ray needs to get him in the ring though, he can't win the title out here!
Taylor: Count's still going guys...


SIX!


SEVEN!

Danny suddenly realizes that he needs to have Nelly in the ring so that's exactly where he puts him, rolling him in and then sliding in after him. He goes straight for the lateral press;


ONE!


TWO!


THR- but Nelly kicks out!

Taylor: Good resiliency shown by Nelly Angel to keep his title reign alive!

Danny looks frustrated that the diminutive reporter isn't staying down and he makes an uncharacteristic move as he starts to climb to the top rope.

Romano: What's he doing NOW?
Taylor: Oh my god, don't tell me he's gonna-
Romano: He'll kill him! He'll completely flatten Nelly!

Danny Ray stands on top of the turnbuckles and gives a thumbs up to the audience who cheer in anticipation of this completely unforseen turn of events. He dives off, makes a full rotation, another half turn - 450 splash but nobody's home and Nelly rolls to safety at the last second!

Romano: Oh my word! Danny Ray took the ultimate high risk there but it really didn't pay off!
Taylor: WHat on Earth possessed him to try a 450 splash!?
Romano: We saw him learning the move some time ago in the run-up to becoming Prestige Champion for the first time, but he's never tried the move in a match until now!

Nelly springs into action and pushes Danny onto his back and makes an opportunistic cover;


ONE!

TWO!

THR - near fall but Danny powers out of it!

Romano: Another close call in this match and I think it really could end at any time!

Danny gets up clutching his stomach and Nelly comes up too, he hits Danny with some stiff kicks and keeps him in position before Danny comes at him, driving him into the corner - Nelly uses the middle rope to push off and hits a stunning spinning DDT! Danny gets up again and swings blindly at his opponent - Nelly dodges, going behind and hitting him with an X Factor!

Taylor: Nelly rocking all the 90's finishers! He hooks a leg!

ONE!


TWO!

Kick out! The crowd groan as their hero can't quite finish the job!

Romano: Nelly coming VERY close on a number of occasions now!

Nelly gets to his feet again, he's agitated, excited, hopping up and down on the spot as he implores Danny to get up! Danny does so and Nelly rushes to the ropes again, bounces off, jumps - cross-body block takes Danny down! But Danny rolls through and ends up on top of Nelly!

ONE!

TWO!

Kick out!

Romano: Danny almost stole it! Oh, what a match this is turning out to be!

Danny gets up holding his side and leaning on the ropes as Nelly makes his way back to his feet, Nelly runs at Danny but the Family Man gets a boot in, dobles Nelly up, then gets his arms hooked!

Taylor: Oh no!
Romano: Gonna hit the sitter! Is he- yes! Nails him! New champion!

Danny hits Nelly with his pedigree finisher and rolls him over!


One!


Two!


Three-

Randy puts Nelly's foot on the rope and shouts for the ref, who signals Nelly as safe!

Romano: Come on! Danny had it!
Taylor: I didn't see a thing!
Romano: He put Nelly's foot on the bottom rope! He saved his brother with only milliseconds to spare!

Danny Ray is incensed, he points at Randy, shouts at the referee, and starts to pull and claw at his own hair. He paes around the ring and then drops to the mat, rolling outside and advancing on Randy!

Taylor: Randy you better get out of Dodge!

Randy does get out of Dodge, trying to keep as far away from the impending Danny as possible! Danny seethes as he follows him and then stops, dropping down to his knees halfway along the edge of the ring and then reaching underneath the apron, pulling out a small black bag.

Romano: What's he got?
Taylor: Uh-oh...

The crowd start to sound uneasy but also curious to see what Danny has in the bag. He undoes the strings and reaches his hand inside, pulling something out.

Romano: Oh no, Danny. No no no, don't do it!
Taylor: I can't see what it is. Is it what I think it is?

Danny kneels down and hides his face, appearing to be doing something to his head or his hair.

Then he stands back up.



Taylor: Oh boy, that's the mask that Cazador gave him! For months he's been toying with putting it on or not... now he's finally snapped! Who knows what his mindset is right now! This is NOT a safe working environment for Nelly Angel!

Danny starts mumbling and muttering to himself as he slides back into the ring and he heads over to Nelly, still on the floor. He stomps on his left knee repeatedly, working it over and then grabs the leg, twists it and rams Nelly's knee into the floor. Nelly cries out and Danny grabs him by the hair and pulls him roughly up to his feet. Nelly limps but manages to stand in the middle of the ring as Danny hits the ropes and then flattens Nelly with a chop-block. Rolling Nelly over he goes for a cover;


ONE!


TWO!


Kick out!

Taylor: Not gonna beat him with a chop block, Cass, but I bet Nelly's wishing right now that he had...
Romano: Well he kicked out, whether that was intentional or just reflexes I don't know, but Nelly's not ready to let his title out of his grasp!

Danny laughs and rolls off of Nelly, who stands up gingerly being careful not to put too much pressure on his beat-up left leg. Danny comes back for Nelly and the champion lashes out with a right, then a left, striking repeatedly in a desperate attempt to keep Danny at bay. Danny fires fists back and Nelly starts to slump against the ropes and into the corner.

Romano: Nelly Angel is never gonna win a fist-fight with Danny Ray, he's got to really dig deep and try to pull something special out of his arsenal in order to stand a hope in hell now!

Nelly hits Danny in the forehead with a wicked (but lucky) elbow strike and he momentarily stuns him, Danny's head whips back round to Nelly and he dares him to throw another one. Nelly looks shocked but he throws again, clocking Danny and sending him backwards a little, he steps forward to throw again - but Danny floors him with a brutal clothesline!

Nelly struggles up to his feet and manages to shake off a challenge by the masked man, running into the ropes but Danny catches him on the rebound with a back body drop! Nelly arches his back and sits up, then stands, Danny goes for another chop-block but Nelly somehow gets his leg up and dodges it, before falling on top of Danny and managing to grab him in a body hold.

Danny uses his power to push Nelly up and they twist and turn until somehow, Danny comes up with Nelly over his shoulder! He goes to run him into the turnbuckle - but Nelly pushes off and lands behind him, then hits a big dropkick to push Danny into the corner!

Nelly starts to fire up again, feeling the support from the crowd as he starts on his resurgence - he grabs Danny's head and runs into the turnbuckle with a Sliced Bread #2 setup - Danny wriggles loose and Nelly lands behind him - then jumps to hit him with an enzuigiri that knocks the challenger down!

Romano: Nelly's starting to make a comeback and he almost managed to set Danny Ray up for "The Exclusive!" That didn't pan out but that stiff kick to the back of the head has Danny seeing stars!

Nelly shakes his fists, his whole body shakes in fact, looking like he's either about to explode or pass out - he waits until Danny gets up in the corner again and rushes in with a hard knee strike, repeating the move twice until Danny is firmly ensconced in the corner. He grabs Danny's head once more and looks again for the Exclusive set-up... Danny sees it coming again though and he keeps Nelly in his grasp!

Taylor: Oh god! Danny's just got Nelly held up there like he's a toddler or something!

Nelly kicks his legs, caught up in an awkward position, locked in a 3/4 facelock but with Danny in full control! Danny turns into the middle of the ring and hits him with an atomic drop! Nelly holds onto his tailbone and yells out, and Danny grabs an arm, spinning him round. He whips Nelly across the ring, tries for a pop-up powerbomb on the return - Nelly practically leapfrogs Danny and keeps going! He bounces off the ropes and comes back - Danny swings a clothesline but Nelly ducks it! He keeps going! Nelly hits the next set of ropes Danny hits a drop toe hold and then wraps his legs around the left leg of Nelly!

Romano: There's a kneebar, Danny Ray focused on that leg before and he took Nelly down with the drop toe hold, transitioning expertly into the submission! And submissions are Danny's bread and butter! I think Nelly could be out!
Taylor: Nelly's a submission specialist too though, if anybody knows how to get out of it, it's Nelly!

Nelly yelps in pain as his weakened knee is twisted and punished further by Danny. He looks around the ring and spots the nearest set of ropes, trying desperately to reach them. He's too far away.

Danny wrenches on the knee as Nelly tries to claw his way over to the ropes but Danny is too heavy for the weakened Angel brother to drag behind him. Randy stands at the apron and slams his hands down, shouting encouragement. He tries to reach into the ring to grab Nelly's hand, but is spotted by the referee and cut off before he can affect the outcome again!

Romano: Nelly is in all sorts of trouble here! He would be better off sumitting! Being the champion isn't worth a disability for the rest of your life!

Nally screams out as Danny continues to wrench on his knee. He's too heavy to shift. Nelly plants his elbows into the mat and makes one desperate attempt to get closer to the ropes but... to no avail. With no way out, Nelly taps out.

Romano: Nelly gives! We've got a new champion! The first two-time champion in AWF history!

Jessie Love: The winner of the match by submission - and NEW AWF Prestige Class Champion - Danny Ray!

The referee has to work hard to prize Danny off of Nelly, eventually getting him to relent by offering him the championship belt. Randy drags his defeated brother out of the ring. Danny stands in the middle of the ring, holding the championship belt aloft.

Romano: These two men went through hell but one man who seemed to descend all the way into the ninth circle is Danny Ray... and it earned him the Prestige Class Championship!
Taylor: At the expense of Nelly Angel's left knee!
Romano: Nelly could be seriously hurt... I don't think I've seen Danny Ray finish a match with a kneebar before but perhaps after this result he'll be using it more often - it certainly got the job done tonight.

---

Backstage the manager and tag team partner of Danny Ray, Austin Grant walks down the hallway on the phone. The camera moves in closer and we can hear his half of the conversation.

“I just stepped out to give Danny some space. His match is coming up and he’s in a zone. If he can manage to rise back up and win the Prestige Class Championship tonight then we can focus on our training assuming the Guns accept our challenge...”

He stops in his tracks as he walks upon a sight he wasn’t expecting to see at an AWF show, three members of the GUNS.

“I’ll call you back.”

He says hanging up the phone. He looks at the GUNS studying the smirking faces of Venom and Mueller before addressing the situation.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Well buddy, you see, we’re like Beedlejuice, you say our name enough and we magically appear.”

“And you and your lover in there have been saying our name a lot lately.”

“It’s my cousin.”

“Really? You’re having sex with your cousin?”

“I’m pretty sure that’s only legal in like two states man.”

“And gay sex is probably illegal in both of them.”

“Enough with the jokes. What do you want?”

“What do we want? Well I want world piece, what do you want James?”

“My own island shaped like breasts.”

“I change my mind, that’s what I want too. Goldy?”

“RAAAAWR!”

Austin Grant jumps back.

“Goldy says he wants bitches.”

“What we really want, though, and what we’re here for is a challenge and we hear you and your partner have thrown out a challenge.”

“So consider this, us accepting your challenge.”

Before he can react both Mueller and Venom strike with a double clothesline knocking Austin Grant to the ground. They begin stomping away at him as he tries to block the blows. His arms start to go limp from the impact and Venom stomps one time on Grant's face. Mueller and Venom reach down and grab him by each arm to pull him up. They whip him right into Goldbear II who locks him in a bear hug. Goldbear II shakes the scrub as he screams for help and finally goes limp and quiet. Goldbear II drops him to the ground. Venom turns and walks towards the camera until only his face can be seen.

“This is what you wanted Danny Boy. This is what a match with the Guns is like. Welcome to hell.”

---

A metal version of Kiss From A Rose plays and Jeffrey Viper walks out. He has a microphone in his hand as he walks throughout the ring.



Romano: I don't ever wonder why Jeffrey Viper is in the ring. I just wonder how long it will be before he walks out of the ring so I can finally enjoy my evening.
Taylor: Jeffrey Viper doesn't need to blow off steam in the ring; he needs to do it in a therapist's office.

Those who get off by making fun of Jeffrey Viper actually stay quiet as they actually don't want to stand five feet near Jeffrey Viper, let alone really fight him. That's when he hears a voice from behind him.



Romano: Dylan Black?! What's he doing here! He's an AXW-employee!
Taylor: I didn't think he'd ever want to spend any more time with his father at all!

Jeffrey Viper's eyes go open as he knows exactly who that person is. It's Dylan Black, Jeffrey Viper's own son. Viper's voice shakes and his pupils dilate as he's stuck in a moment of shock before he forces himself to turn around and go eye to eye with his own biological successor.



Romano: Uh-Oh... Fists are going to fly.
Taylor: Is Viper going to get his ass handed to him again?

Viper is fuming. He pulls his arm back to strike Dylan, but his son is much quicker as he moves forward with a punch who sends his father down, covering his now-bleeding nose. Viper tries to recover, but Dylan doesn't let him as he tackles him down and starts to throw punches, but Viper manages to capture Dylan in a headlock. With his free hand, he begins to give him slaps on his ass in some form of creepy corporal punishment. This doesn't last for too long before Dylan throws a creative punch that allows him to escape the headlock. Suddenly, members of AWF security grab Jeffrey Viper and Dylan Black and pull them away from each other. The two try to scratch and claw to get back together to resolve all these differences, but alas, they both leave the ring and are separated, both leaving the stage in two different rooms.

Taylor: Why did they get separated?! This is a match! This doesn't happen in AWF matches!
Romano: Maybe not, but this isn't an official AWF match. Viper wasn't on the card tonight, and we really don't want to be in the middle of whatever family problems these two are happening.

---

The lights go down as a really familiar beat starts to play. Music fans will recognize it as “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics. As it plays the screen lights up with the image of Terry Bradshaw and Felix Ziko in an office.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something

Terry is angrily pointing at something that has been censored out, probably because it can’t be shown on family television. Felix has his hand over his face shaking his head out of frustration. Terry yells and makes what could be interpreted as lewd gestures.

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

We see images flash of Bobby Barrat with the Icons, Nelly Angel being pulled off to do an interview even though that’s not his job any more, Nathan Thunder looking scary as heck, and Big Black Cat looking like…..well you know he’s dressed in bondage gear right? Anyway he’s also tied up because why not.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something

Jason Justice puts his bags down as he looks around the massive XHF Arena before Supremacy. Zeze Tabora gesticulates wildly at the camera, making kissy faces while pointing to his head like he’s getting into yours. Beanz is eating a can of beans, content because he found what he’s looking for.

Hold your head up, keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on, keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on, keep your head up, movin' on
Hold your head up, movin' on, keep your head up

Quickly we see shots playing from the pre-Supremacy battle royals as man after man is sent over the top rope. Eventually Michael Storm and Hyperion are the victors in their respective battles and their hands are held up.

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

We see in order: Jeffery Viper sitting on one of his opponents, Mad Dog Smith…in bondage gear also(?), Jackson Steele holding a whip in some very revealing clothes flashing his sexy smile, and Copycat curled up on the ground crying.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something

As the chorus starts to play out we see Rev. Thomas Reece preaching then Danny Ray praying, Maverick warming up, shadow punching; and MGK holding up the XHF World Heavyweight Championship a few different times.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something

Speaking of world championships, Jack Diamond has the ICW Championship raised above his head (from an unknown show) and we see Frank Fletcher winning the TGK Grand Championship at the Battle for Everything. Daddy Solokov pets the TIW All Action title and Kira Izumi proudly displays the Prestige Championship (from when he had it)

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody's looking for something

As the song fades we watch as Cosmic Warrior shakes the ropes. That’s all, he just keeps shaking them ropes. This is all, are you waiting for it to cut? It doesn’t. It does fade a little though as words come over the darkening image

HOW WILL AWF FARE AT…

---

---

Jessica Love: Ladies and gentlemen, our next contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the AWF Championship!

Pornosonic's "Spyderpussy" hits and the house lights dim, filtered spotlights cast a warm pink and purple haze on the curtain. At the ten-second mark, eXXXstacy slips seductively through the curtain to a great response from the men in the crowd. She eyes the crowd and then gestures back to the curtain as just as the song kicks in fully - Jackson Steele steps onto the stage to catcalls and whistling from the women - a few men boo him, a few bow down in mock hero-worship. He stretches out his arms and turns a full circle, showing off his toned and oiled body before swaggering down the aisle in time with the music, as eXXXstacy follows.

He takes a meandering course down the aisle, flitting from woman to woman as he ogles, flirts, and even manages to scrawl a phone number across the top of one ecstatic fan's boob before making the "call me" gesture to her. Sliding under the bottom rope he struts alongside one set of ring ropes, gyrating and thrusting his hips and making eye contact with the women who cheer him, before hopping up to the top turnbuckle, once more flexing and posing before giving a "suck it!" Crotch chop.

Jessica Love: First, the challenger! Weighing in at 231 lbs,"X-Rated" Jackson Steele!

Motherfucker of the Year starts playing over the sound system. The lights drop apart from purple spotlights, which appear to swirl around as if they are looking for someone. Suddenly, they all converge on one spot, revealing "The Prodigy" Bobby Barratt standing square in the middle of the ramp. His arms spread wide and his head bacl, drinking in the jeers from the crowd. He slowly makes his way toward the ring, on the whole ignoring the fans reaction.

Hopping onto the apron and wiping his feet, he hops over the top rope, ascending to the second buckle to mouth along with the fans.

Jessica Love: And the champion, weighing in at 195 lbs, "The Prodigy" Bobby Barratt!

---

AWF Championship
Bobby Barratt © vs. Jackson Steele

Romano: Well, this is it Tommy. This is what it all comes down to.
Taylor: Finally this rivalry will get settled!

The referee takes the AWF Championship, stands in the center of the ring, and raises it up for the crowd to see, making it clear that this match will be for this highly coveted championship. The fans cheer as the referee then walks to the side of the ring and hands the title off to AWF ring announcer Jessica Love. Meanwhile, a confident Bobby Barratt takes a step towards the center of the ring, where he mockingly offers Jackson Steel a handshake. Jackson gets the hint and the irony, and simply remains in his corner, glaring at his adversary. Bobby laughs, then lowers his hand and backs up to his designated corner, bouncing up and down waiting for the bell to ring.

Romano: Looks like Bobby is already playing mind games with Jackson.
Taylor: But how effective will they be when Steele knows Bobby so well?
Romano: I suppose we're about to find out.

The referee calls for the bell, and this match is under way! Both men circle around the ring, not taking their eyes away from one another. After some brief hesitation from both men, they lock up and begin to grapple in the center of the ring. After a brief struggle, Jackson is able to catch the arm of Bobby, which he twists behind him in an arm wrench. Bobby begins to slap his shoulder while attempting to slip out of the hold, but is unable to prevail until Jackson shoves him face first into the turnbuckle. Bobby catches himself, just in time to turn and glare at Jackson, who now smirks, waving his hands at Bobby to come and get some more. Bobby nods, and turns to face his opponent. Both men lock up again, and once again, Jackson is able to get the upper hand, this time by using an arm drag, followed by an arm bar. Steele applies pressure to the hold, as Bobby slams his free arm down on the mat in frustration.

Romano: It looks like Steele is taking the offensive here in the early stages of the match!
Taylor: For now. Bobby looks pissed!

After a moment of struggling, Bobby manages to wrap his legs around Jackson's neck in a head scicssors, and as Jackson struggles out and releases the arm-bar, Barratt kips up to his feet, ready to face off against his oppoent. Jackson takes a moment to smirk and nods at Bobby, then comes at him with a clothsline, however Bobby ducks it, and turns to deliver a forearm of his own. Steele is caught off gaurd and stumbles into the ropes, where Bobby leans onto him, and begins to blast him with a series of punches. Meanwhile, the referee yells and urges Bobby to seperate from Jackson. Bobby finally obliges, only to go for a cheap shot, but Jackson sees it coming and delivers a back body drop, launching Bobby over the ropes to the ringside area!

Taylor: Woah! Jackson just sent Bobby flying!
Romano: And now the champion has ten seconds to get back into the ring or... actually, he would retain the championship in the result of a count-out!

Bobby seems to be onto this trick already, as he circles the ring now, fuming and glaring at Jackson.

One!

Two!

Three!

Four!

He steps around the ring, and makes his way to the ring announcers booth, where he grabs the AWF Championship.

Five!

Romano: Is Bobby really going to try to retain his title this way? 

The referee has already reached the count of five as Bobby walks back around to the entrance ramp. Bobby holds the AWF title up, and then begins to walk up the ramp, saying to hell with the match. Jackson glares, and then rolls out of the ring, and chases Bobby up the ramp, nailing him from behind with a clothsline. Jackson quickly picks Bobby up, and tries to irish whip him towards the ring, but Bobby reverses, throwing Jackson directly into the ring apron. Now with the upper hand, Bobby smirks as he has a boost in confidence. He clubs Jackson over the back a couple of times a the referee continues the count.

Six!

Seven!

Eight!

At the count of eight, Bobby rolls Jackson back into the ring and follows, putting an end to the referees count. As Jackson tries to get up to his feet, Bobby begins to stomp away at him, keeping the challenger grounded. Barratt takes a moment to taunt the fans as he extends his arm, yelling "Oldest trick in the book!" before laughing. He turns back to Jackson, who is still attempting to get to his feet. He kicks Jackson right in the gut, causing him to writhe on the ring canvas in pain, as Bobby screams "You think you're better than me?!" Bobby kicks Jackson again, before grabbing Jackson by the leg, and swinging it hard into the ground. He does this twice with each of Steele's legs, and then tries to finally repeat it one last time with the left until Jackson is able to kick Barratt in the face. Barratt stumbles back, and Jackson kicks him again, before using the ropes to pull himself up to his feet. Barratt runs in for a clothsline, but Jackson ducks the move and runs to the opposite ropes himself, leaps forward with a clothsline of his own. but this time Bobby ducks, and spins around in time to dropkick the back of Jackson's right knee. Jackson falls to the mat, and Bobby wastes no time in delivering a stiff enziguri kick right to the side of his head, causing him to collapse to the mat in a heap.

Romano: Holy hell, did you see that brutal kick from Barratt?
Taylor: Which one? The one that took out Jackson's knee or the one that knocked him out?
Romano: He's still moving, so I doubt he's knocked out just yet Tommy.

Barratt smirks as he grabs Jackson by the hair and begins to pull him to his feet. He screams "Consider this a gift from the Icon!" before delivering a stiff spinning clothsline to Jackson that takes him out on his back. Bobby continues to sneer as the then steps out of the ropes onto the ring apron. He looks around at the fans, taunting them, before the grabs the top rope, leans back, and then leaps into the air, bouncing off the top and delivering a springboard leg drop right across the chest of Jackson!

Romano: Bobby seems to have Jackson right where he wants him, but will this be enough to keep him down?

Bobby seems to have the same question in mind as he pins Jackson, hooking the leg. The referee counts.

One!

Two!

Jackson kicks out at two! The fans cheer, as Bobby leans back on his knees, not totally shocked but also slightly agitated. He nods his head, and begins to pull Jackson to his feet again. He hooks an arm around Jackson's neck, and then delivers a snap suplex to Steele! Bobby stands up and nods to himself in confidence, before circling around to Steele's lower body, where he begins to repeatedly stomp back and forth on both of Steele's legs.

Romano: As brutal as this is Tommy, it's strategic. If Barratt can keep Steele off his legs, he won't pose nearly as much of a threat.
Taylor: Sure, but it's still hard to watch.

As Jackson writhes in pain, Barratt smiles, and finally steps away, turning his attention to the turnbuckle. He gets onto the ring apron, then slowly begins to climb to the top, taunting the fans as he does. Once he reaches the top turnbuckle, he slowly rises up to a standing position, and then dives off, going for another leg drop! This time however, Jackson is able to roll out of the way! Bobby screams out in pain, as Steele grips his right leg, trying to get the stregnth to climb to his feet.

Taylor: It seems Jackson has bought himself some time, but while he be able to take advantage of the situation?

As Bobby, with one hand against his own back in pain, begins to pull himself up to his feet using the ropes, Jackson also pulls himself up. It appears the two men will rise to their feet at the same time, however, when Bobby tuns around to face Jackson, he finds himself blindsided with a swinging neckbreaker! The fans cheer as Jackson mounts himself on top of Bobby, and begins to punch him repeatedly. After a moment, the referee pulls Steele off off Barratt. Steele shrugs, and then limps to his opponent, lifting him to his feet. Steele, as he lifts Bobby up, tucks Barratt's head under his arm, and appears to be setting up for a DDT, but at the last possible moment, Bobbly swings his arm behind the knee of Steele, taking out his leg and sweeping him to the canvas. Bobby, clutching his neck, gets up, and again, begins to stomp both knees of Steele again.

Taylor: Cassius, Jackson has a history with knee issues, and this certainly isn't going to help.
Romano: That's probably why Bobby is focusing on Steele's lower half so much.

After one last decisive stomp, Bobby grabs Jackson right leg, and drags him to the center of the ring. He leans over Jackson and yells "This his how a real champion does it!" He then locks Jackson up in a Figure Four Leg Lock!

Romano: Figure Four! This is a move we are more accustomed to seeing Jackson do!
Taylor: What a slap in the face to Steele, if he were forced to tap out to this!

Bobby begins to jerk back on Steele's leg, applying more and more pressure.

Taylor: Jackson has to tap out! He's in the center of the ring, miles from the ropes!

Jackson yells out in pain, as Bobby maintains pressure. Running his hands through his hair, Jackson begins to pound the ring canvas with his fist, both in an expression of pain and anger. Glaring at Steele, Bobby screams "Tap out, Jackson! TAP. OUT!" But it is at this time that Jackson is able to turn the tables... literally, by turning over onto his stomach! This takes the pressure off of Jackson, and instead reverses it so that Bobby is now the one screaming in pain! The fans cheer as Bobby scrapes away at the ring canvas, before finally pulling himself out of the hold and releasing it. Both men begin to stand up, and Bobby growls before running at Jackson... who catches him out of nowhere with a superkick! Bobby collapses in his tracks, and Steele falls right on top of him for the pinfall.

One...

Two...

Thr-

No! Bobby kicks out! Steele rolls his eye as he falls back off of Bobby and begins to get to his feet. Bobby, meanwhile, still seems to be in shock from the superkick that Jackson got off earlier. Jackson tries to give his opponent no time to think, as he pulls him up, hooks a leg, and delivers a Fisherman's suplex. Steele bridges the move for another pin, and the referee counts.

One...

Two...

Bobby once again kicks out! Steele continues to look annoyed but not deterred as he climbs to his feet. He gets behind Barratt who is still a bit shuffled, and tries to lock in a rear naked choke, but Bobby swings his head back, headbutting Jackson in time to prevent the move. Jackson grabs his nose, which has been busted open from the back of Bobby's head, and stumbles backwards. Bobby takes the opportunity to run up against the ropes, and comes back with a huge dropkick to the knee of Steele. Steele falls to the mat in pain, and, perhaps, by no intention of his own, rolls under the bottom rope to the outside of the ring. Bobby gets up and smiles, while still rubbing his neck, an after effect of the suplex from earlier. Bobby doesn't wait for the referee to begin his count, as he follows Steele to the outside of the ring. Here, Bobby, lifts Jackson to his feet, and then delivers an irish whip into the steel steps!

Romano: Bobby is back on the offensive and as aggressive as ever!
Taylor: Yeah, and it looked like Jackson's knee slamed into those steel stairs just as hard as the rest of his body did. Doesn't look good for the challenger!

Steele slowly begins to turn his head... only to be taken down completely with a devastating IconBreaker! The fans go crazy as Barratt gets back to his feet, grinning down at Steele. He then picks Steele up, and rolls him back into the ring. Following, Bobby gets on top of Jackson and pins him.

One!

Two!

Thr-

No! Jackson kicks out! This time, Bobby looks straight pissed off as he gets back up to his feet. He begins to relentlessly stomp away on Steele's legs. Bobby lifts up one of Steele's legs, presumable to kick it, but while he takes a moment to mug at a fan, Steele leans in, and manages to catch Barratt in a small package!

One!

Two!

The referee quickly counts to two, but Bobby and Steele roll out of the move at the same time, neither men seem to be focused on a pin attempt as they attempt to get back to their feet. Bobby, enraged, runs at Jackson, but gets caught in mid air! Instead, he finds Jackson driving him into the mat with The Pop Shot! However, as the fans go crazy, both men are down too long for Steele to go for a pin. Steele instead opts to climb to his feet. As he attempts to get the drop on Bobby, Barratt also climbs up to his feet. Jackson steps forward, and Bobby goes for a Distortion Kick! However, Jackson catches Bobby's boot! Jackson yells something in Bobby's face, then swings him around by his leg, before catching him, and driving Bobby into the mat with a Gonzobomb! The fans are going crazy, as Steele still doesn't go for a pin! He uses the ropes to climb up to his feet, and this time he pulls Bobby up with him, only to deliver a second Gonzobomb in the center of the ring!

Taylor: Two Gonzobombs in a row! I don't know if even Bobby Baratt can kick out of this!

The referee counts!

One!

Two!

Thr- NO!

The fans are going insane, as Bobby Barratt somehow managed to kick out of two consecutive Gonzobombs. Steele falls back in shock, breathing heavily, as Barratt is still down. Steele gets up, and takes a few moments, gathering his strength and bracing his legs. He then springs across the ring towards Bobby, only to be caught with a Distortion Kick! The fans erupt into more cheers at the continuation of the match! However both men remain down, having beaten the hell out of each other.

Taylor: Both men are down!
Romano: Now, as we often hear, it may just come down to whoever gets up first.

Slowly, Steele and Bobby both begin to get to their feet. As Steele springs at Bobby, Bobby manages to wrap his arm around Jackson's neck, before running up the turnbuckles with precision, before attempting to nail The Prodigal Arrival! However, Jackson is able to wrangle out of the move at the last moment, breaking free from Bobby's grasp in mid-air. Bobby lands on his feet, and turns around... into another Gonzobomb from Jackson! Jackson goes for the pin, and the referee counts...

One!

Two!

Three!

Taylor: Oh my God! He did it! Jackson did it!
Romano: Jackson has finally beaten Barratt! And more importantly, he is the first ever two-time AWF Champion!

Jessica Love: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner by pinfall, and NEW AWF Champion, Jackson Steele!

The fans go absolutely crazy, as Jackson rolls to his knees, almost in shock of his own. The referee hands him the AWF Championship, as confetti begins to pour down from the ceiling.

Romano: Win or lose, you've gotta give to both men. This was one hell of a defense, and Jackson earned every piece of the win!
Taylor: Not to take anything away from Bobby, who kicked out of two Gonzobombs in a row! I don't think I've ever seen that before!
Romano: Regardless, tonight is Jackson's night!

As Bobby stares at the ring canvas in shock, Jackson Steele limps over to the corner turnbuckle, and climbs to the the middle note, proudly holding the AWF championship high over his head with pride. The fans cheer the new AWF champion.

---

Jackson Steele's music cuts out and instead, we hear a lady's voice.

We cut to the stage as the titanron comes on. 

Woman: "Konbanwa mina! Yuki Sakaraba desu!"

The lady that's popped up on our screen is Yuki Sakaraba, The first lady of the AWF and the woman who holds a contract that she can cash in on any title any time anywhere! She has a smile on her face that quickly turns to a deadly stare as she gets her brief case into the shot.

Yuki Sakaraba: "Steere-San congraturations... reary but... don't forget about dis!"

She lifts up the case and pats it a few times.

Yuki Sakaraba: "Any uhere... eh, sorry i'm going to be speaking in Japanese for a minute. (Any where, any time... Any place. I hope you haven't forgotten about this or me. Not like management. Don't worry fans The Kawaii Supernova is always waiting for the prefect chance to cash this in. Soon? Maybe next week, maybe next month? No! you'll know when... you'll know when the time is right. But as for now, go on and celebrate while you can... Because it might not last for long...)"

She winks at the camera.

Yuki Sakaraba: "Oyasumi Steere~Kun!)"

she winks again and blows a kiss to the camera before a thunderous roar bellows throughout the hall.

Taylor: What the heck is that?
Romano: It's... Oh no...

One of the side doors opens and in comes Mongo The Destroyer, the XHF Network Owner himself, fuming with such fury.

Mongo: WHAT IS EVERYONE DOING IN MY HOUSE!?

Several of the audience members are trembling. Many are already beginning to leave. Mongo starts running through the room, physically intimidating everyone inside.

Mongo: GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! GET OUT NOW BEFORE I CALL POLICE! OUT!

Taylor: Well that's our queue to get out of here. From all of us here at Road to Victory, we wish you a good night.
Romano: AWF will be back this Friday with our second episode of Rise Up. We, however, will return on April 6th with Prestige 14! Good night, and we'll see you so-
Mongo: GET OUT NOW!

The final moments of Road to Victory show people running in panic. A random attendee hit the camera as it falls over. The screen cuts to static.

[Dackle]

#highwayrobbery

[Hyperion]

Those video promos are sweet!

[Mav.]

Mar 26, 2018 13:18:13 GMT -5 Hyperion said:

Those video promos are sweet!

They came out better than I expected!

I'm glad they made the show.