As we return to the arena, Lindsay Monahan has taken up position in the centre of the ring, microphone in hand. The crowd are pumped, from the action that's gone before and what lies ahead.
Lindsay Monahan: "Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for your main event!”
CWA World Heavyweight Championship - Main Event
Jon Snowmantashi [C] vs
Michelle von Horowitz
The atmosphere heightens again as the bell rings, and all eyes are turned to the entrance ramp. Roy Orbison's 'In Dreams' begins and the audience is on the challenger's back before she's even arrived. She is brought out onto the stage on a simple, makeshift bed, borne by eight muscular men dressed in black underpants and alternating comedy/tragedy masks. They hold her on top of their shoulders by a wooden beam running either side of the mattress. The boos reach fever pitch as she is carried down the ramp and slid beneath the bottom rope. She awakens and ascends to the second turnbuckle, the bed borne away again by her silent keepers, and traces the line of an invisible championship belt around her waist.
Jim Taylor: "What a pompous entrance by our number one contender there, but what should we expect?”
Tim Coleman: "Oh, please, Jim - the streak this woman's been on, she's entitled to a little bit of luxury.”
Jim Taylor: "You’re right about her momentum, Tim, but all it's brought with it is a sense of superiority.”
Tim Coleman: "If she wins tonight, it'll be more than just a 'sense'...”
Jim Taylor: "But that's a big if Tim, because standing in her way...”
As if on cue, Orbison dies away as MVH takes a seat on the top rope. There is a period of silence that follows, the intensity of the crowd's roars growing and growing until it feels as if they might take the roof of Madison Square Garden clean off. There's a 'SNOW-MAN-TASH-I!' chant circulating around half of the audience, whilst most of the remainder are screaming 'KAIJU' at the top of their lungs. The silence goes on, the latter chant winning out until it feels like eighty thousand people are willing his arrival...
Jim Taylor: "Just listen to this, Tim!”
Tim Coleman: "It's hard not to... Typical New York loudmouths, if you ask me.”
Finally, 'Sword of Destiny' rings out around the arena, and the crowd loses their shit. It's only a short amount of time before Snowmantashi is standing on the stage, championship gold hanging from his shoulder. He pauses for a second at the top of the ramp, surveying his fawning fans, before his eyes lock onto the woman standing in the ring. He begins a swift stride down towards the ring, ignoring the fans either side of him just desperate for a touch from the champion. He climbs through the ring ropes, never once taking his eyes off his challenger, lifting the belt high above his head.
Tim Coleman: "These two have been at each other's throats the last month or so.”
Jim Taylor: "Yes indeed, Tim. What started off as a war of words matured into a skirmish in a pair of tag matches, and then an all-out battle last week on Adrenaline Rush.”
Tim Coleman: "And if tonight is anything like last time these two brawled, we might have a new champion.”
Jim Taylor: "But it won't be, Tim. What we saw last week was a vicious sneak attack. Tonight is a wrestling match, and I'm giving the edge to the champ.”
The bell rings and the crowd simmers down as Monahan lifts her microphone back to her mouth.
Lindsay Monahan: "This next contest is scheduled for one-fall with a sixty minute time limit, and is for the CWA World Heavyweight Championship!”
Polite applause, though the general feeling is of impatience. The crowd just wants the two of them to start kicking lumps out of one another.
Lindsay Monahan: "Introducing first; the challenger. In the corner to my left, from Rotterdam in the Netherlands and wrestling out of New Orleans, Louisiana. She weighs in at 71 kilograms and stands at 170 centimetres tall. The winner of the 2016 Wrestle Royale, Dreamer, Michelle von Horrowitz!”
The crowd greets the introduction with boos. Michelle hops down from her perch on the top turnbuckle, and then shifts from foot to foot, cracking her neck twice, limbering up for the match.
Lindsay Monahan: "And in the corner to my right, from Tokyo, Japan and wrestling out of Los Angeles, California. He weighs in tonight at 290 pounds and stands six feet, five inches tall. He is the reigning, defending, undisputed CWA Heavyweight Champion of the World... kaiju, Jon Snowmantashi!”
Most of the introduction is inaudible through the enormous amount of cheers that the man's presence is generating. He lifts the heavyweight title into the air, still staring intently at his opponent. He hands the championship to the referee, who parades it around the ring, before handing it to Monahan on the outside. She takes her seat in the timekeeper's area as the bell is rung.
Tim Coleman: "Here we go, ladies and gentlemen, your Five Star Attraction main event! It really doesn't get any bigger than this!”
Jim Taylor: "That's right, and a truly international feel to this contest. The man from Asia takes on the woman from Europe right here in the good ol' US of A!”
Tim Coleman: "That's why it's the world championship, Jim... And here we go!”
Snowmantashi charges over to MVH, who is quick to back away and take refuge by ducking between the second and third ropes, legs still in the ring. The referee stands in the champion's way, but he's uninterested in pursuing her anyway, knowing that she'll have to stand her ground eventually if she's to take his title. Michelle moves back into the centre of the mat and the two begin to circle the ring. They seem to be shaping up for a collar and elbow tie up, but when they're moments away from locking, the challenger again scarpers to the refuge of the ropes.
Jim Taylor: "It looks to me as if von Horrowitz wants nothing to do with the champion.”
Tim Coleman: "It's just strategy, Tim... It would be plain idiotic of her to go in for a test of strength with Snowmantashi.”
The referee admonishes MVH, telling her to get back into the ring and fight. She glances at the man in black and white and then slowly, tentatively climbs back into the ring. She approaches Snowmantashi, looking as if she's going for another collar and elbow tie up. The champion can't help but let out a snicker, and he beckons her onwards, preparing to lock it up. MVH pauses at the last minute and hits a kick to the side of Snowmantashi's right calf, and then a second. She follows up with a low drop kick to his right knee, before planting a shoulder in his midriff and driving him back into a corner.
Jim Taylor: "And now we finally get going...”
Tim Coleman: "von Horrowitz with a surprising show of strength there, backing the big man into a corner, and she's following it up by driving that shoulder into his abdomen.”
Jim Taylor: "But Snowmantashi isn't having any of that, he swats her away as if she was a fly, and MVH falls back into the middle of the ring.”
She's back up to her feet quickly, grabbing onto the top rope to stop the oncoming Snowmantashi. But he's lost patience and, as the referee begins to count towards five for the rope break, he unleashes a pair of stiff kicks to the challenger's side, and then follows it up with a wicked knife edge chop. Michelle hits the mat and quickly rolls under the bottom rope.
Jim Taylor: "Snowmantashi doesn't seem like he wants to wait it out tonight. He came here for a match and by God he's going to get one!”
Tim Coleman: "Come on, Jim! He cheated, plain and simple! That should’ve been a clean rope break!”
Michelle walks around on the outside for a moment, hands on her hips, sizing up Snowmantashi with apprehension. As the referee's count reaches five, she begins to climb up the ring steps and walks across the apron. The champion, not content to wait for her, charges over and nails her with a knife edge chop. The force would've been enough to send her rolling to the outside again if he hadn't a firm grasp on the back of her neck. He quickly sets her up and brings her back over the top rope with a suplex. He manages a couple of stomps to the challenger's head before she crawls back to a corner, the referee again coming in for the rope break. Snowmantashi is bored of this, though, and he Irish Whips her across the ring. Von Horrowitz's neck hits the turnbuckle hard, and she bounces back towards the centre of the ring, where the champion is waiting with a huge clothesline that almost takes her clean out of her boots.
Jim Taylor: "von Horrowitz folded up by that lariat, and there she lies in a crumpled heap in the middle of the ring.”
Tim Coleman: "I don't think she'll be doing much running away now!”
Snowmantashi lifts his opponent up from the mat and doubles her over with a boot to the midsection before hoisting her up into a fireman's carry...
Tim Coleman: "The champion perhaps looking to end this one early with the Hailstorm.”
Jim Taylor: "But no, there's still life in the challenger, she reels off a pair of elbows to the side of Snowmantashi's head, slips out the back, and nails him on the turn with an enziguri!”
Tim Coleman: "But look at Snowmantashi, the big guy's only down to one knee! That kick would've floored any man!”
Jim Taylor: "The KAIJU said it himself last week - he is more than just a man!”
MVH follows up the kick with a pair of forearms, before charging to the ropes. Snowmantashi rises from one knee and attempts a lariat, but the challenger ducks it and – whilst the big man’s back is turned – hits a chop block to the back of his right knee. Again, the champion is down to one knee, and the challenger charges to the same set of ropes, hitting a shining wizard upon her return.
Jim Taylor: "And Snowmantashi down on the mat for the first time of the match-up, and von Horrowitz straight away goes for the cover.”
ONE… T- NO!
Jim Taylor: "Snowmantashi up almost instantly – this one’s still early and the champion has a lot left in him.”
The challenger keeps up the pressure, going straight into a head scissors. The champion attempts to wrench himself free, but the hold is locked in and instead he decides to reach out for the bottom rope with a leg. He makes it, but von Horrowitz nails a handful of elbows to the top of his head whilst the referee makes the count for the rope break. She released at four and rolls away, weighing up her next move carefully.
Tim Coleman: "Smart strategy by von Horrowitz here, targeting that right leg when the big man is standing, and instantly going for the neck at every chance she gets.”
Jim Taylor: "Maybe thinking Ankle Lock or Double Arm Underhook DDT…”
When the big man is up, MVH charges towards him and goes for another kick to the side of his leg, but this time the champion catches in. He pulls von Horrowitz towards him by her leg and knocks her down with a short arm lariat. The challenger is straight back up, but she runs right into a headbutt, which takes her down again. She rolls beneath the bottom rope, but the champion moves towards her immediately. Von Horrowitz thrusts a shoulder through the middle and top ropes, doubling him over, before using the leverage of the ropes to springboard over him, charging onwards towards the opposite set of ropes. She goes for a running forearm and connects, but seems to bounce off the champion. He laughs merrily and pounds his chest, before launching off the floor and hitting a standing drop kick.
Jim Taylor: "Michelle von Horrowitz goes down again, and this time Snowmantashi doesn’t give her chance to run away, staying on her with a trio of head stomps.”
Tim Coleman: "And now he lifts her back to her feet, driving her into the corner with that shoulder thrust into her abdomen.”
With von Horrowitz’s back against the turnbuckle, Snowmantashi drives a series of stiff fists to her stomach, following it up with a pair of kicks to the side. He backs away and charges in, hitting a clothesline in the corner that sends the challenger down to a seated position. The champion grabs her by the hair and drags her onto her feet and – in the centre of the ring – puts her back on the mat with a uranage slam. He bounces off the nearest ropes and nails a grounded diving headbutt, going into the cover…
ONE… TWO… - NO!
He drags her back to her feet, again by the hair, and places her in a reverse waist-lock, driving the air out of her lungs before taking her overhead with a belly-to-back suplex. Snowmantashi follows up with another pair of stomps, before driving an elbow into her chest. He stands up and backs away, watching the challenger from a corner, willing her back onto her feet and, when she’s there, he takes her right back off them with a charging lariat.
Jim Taylor: "This is bad news for the challenger, with Jon Snowmantashi beginning to make his size and power advantage felt.”
Tim Coleman: "But did you see the big man hobble out of that corner? I think von Horrowitz’s game plan is paying dividends.”
Jim Taylor: "But for the time-being, Snowmantashi has the advantage and he goes for the cover.”
ONE… TWO… - NO!
Snowmantashi picks his challenger up and again puts her in a waist-lock, this time going for a German suplex. He lifts her up and over, but von Horrowitz is able to rotate 360 degrees and land on her feet. The champion turns into another low dropkick, and MVH follows it up with a running neckbreaker.
Jim Taylor: "von Horrowitz is giving the champion all she has, and he’s up to his knees mere moments after she is.”
Tim Coleman: "I think she’s going to have to settle into a rhythm and wear the big man down. He swats high impact moves away as if they were flies…”
The challenger backs the champion up into a set of ropes and attempts to Irish Whip him across the ring, but Snowmantashi reverses it and sends MVH running herself. She goes for a clothesline upon return, but the big man ducks. Michelle carries on running, bounces off another set of ropes and puts Snowmantashi into a sleeper hold.
Tim Coleman: "Something we haven’t seen from von Horrowitz before, but probably a good move. There’s no way she’ll be able to keep Snowmantashi down for three until she’s worn him down.”
Michelle is able to climb up onto Snowmantashi’s back whilst locking in the hold, and the champion staggers around the ring. He attempts to throw the challenger off, and then backs her up into each of the four corners in turn, but the move is in tight. Eventually, after a couple of minutes, the champion goes down to one knee, clawing for air.
Jim Taylor: "I must say I’m surprised, Snowmantashi appears to be fading fast here. The referee moves in to check the arm, there it falls - - no! Snowmantashi is still in this!”
The champion nails a couple of elbows into von Horrowitz’s abdomen, and fights his way back to two feet. He powers out of the sleeper and puts the challenger into a rear waist-lock, before sending her overhead with a huge German Suplex. MVH fights back to her feet, more through instinct than anything, goes for a forearm, but the champion ducks it and sends her flying again with a T-Bone. Michelle gets caught up in the ropes and hits the mat hard, landing on the top of her head.
The champion doesn’t let her lie in peace, charging back over and dropping down to the mat with a head-butt. He gets back on his feet before nailing another head-butt immediately afterwards. He repeats this four more times, and when he stands after the sixth grounded diving headbutt he walks away from the challenger with his arms in the air.
Tim Coleman: "Don’t get cocky, kid!”
Jim Taylor: "Snowmantashi has reason to be cheerful, though. I don’t think von Horrowitz really knows where she is.”
Snowmantashi shakes von Horrowitz back to life and drags her to her feet. He doubles her over with a boot to the midsection, and hoists her up into the air, perhaps looking for a sit-out Powerbomb. Michelle von Horrowitz, sensing her impending doom, reels off a trio of right hands to the big man’s head, and manages to slip over the top into a sunset-flip roll-up…
ONE…. TWO… - NO!
Von Horrowitz is straight back on the offensive, hitting a dropkick to the seated Snowmantashi’s torso. He’s quickly back up onto his knees, but MVH hits a pair of stiff kicks to either side of the champion, which doubles him over, and she nails the kneeling Snowmantashi with a double-arm underhook DDT.
Jim Taylor: "Why isn’t she going for the cover? That move has put numerous competitors away here in the CWA.”
Tim Coleman: "But she’s never faced a man like Snowmantashi. I think she’s beginning to realise just how much this might take.”
Jim Taylor: "Instead she’s climbing to the top rope, maybe thinking 450 splash, but Snowmantashi’s already stirring. He charges over and hits a forearm to von Horrowitz, who’s precariously balanced on that top rope.”
Tim Coleman: "Oh no, Snowmantashi’s not thinking… ? He’s climbing up too, maybe looking for a superplex from that second rope…”
Jim Taylor: "Second rope?! It looks like the champion is heading to the top rope!”
MVH again senses danger, and is able to hit a pair of forearms to the side of his head. Snowmantashi gives up on the superplex for a moment and hits a trio of headbutts to von Horrowitz, who fires back with a knife edge chop. Then, she kicks the legs of the champion from underneath him, and Snowmantashi quickly finds himself wound up in the tree of woe. Von Horrowitz carefully stands on the exposed shins of the champion and hooks the top rope with the fingers of both hands, pulling and wrenching to apply additional pressure on Snowmantashi’s legs.
The referee starts his count for the rope break, and at four MVH hops over the champion and into the centre of the ring. She takes a moment to curtsy (much to the fans’ ire) before charging at the champion, nailing a low dropkick. The champion tumbles out of the tree of woe and onto the mat, and von Horrowitz instantly ties up his legs, pulls back his arms, and crunches the champion’s face against the mat with a Dragon-style curb stomp.
Jim Taylor: "Devastating strike there from Michelle von Horrowitz, but the cover is proving more trouble than usual here…”
Tim Coleman: "She’s struggling to heave the big man over onto his back, all two hundred and ninety pounds of him.”
Eventually, she manages it…
ONE… TWO… - - NO!
Snowmantashi forces a shoulder up and von Horrowitz rises to one knee, catching her breath as the big man begins to stir again. She moves over to the opposite corner and begins to ascend the turnbuckle again. She beckons Snowmantashi upwards, and when he’s on his feet, she dives off, attempting to catch him with a diving cross body…
Jim Taylor: "What strength! Snowmantashi plucks her out of the air as if she was nothing!”
Tim Coleman: "And now he hoists her into a fireman’s carry. Could it be… ?!”
Jim Taylor: "HAILSTORM! He nails it! Straight into the cover…”
ONE… TWO… … …
Jim Taylor: "The referee’s stopped counting! Why has the referee stopped counting?!”
Tim Coleman: "Her foot, Jim! It’s on the bottom rope!”
Snowmantashi can’t believe it, and he just looks at the referee in frustration, who looks terrified and points at Michelle’s foot by way of an apology. The champion shakes his head before dragging the challenger into the centre of the ring. He heads to the corner and begins to climb it, facing away from his competitor…
Jim Taylor: "We’ve seen this before, and if two hundred and ninety pounds of Jon Snowmantashi crashes onto you with a moonsault then that’s it…”
He steadies himself before leaping off, soaring and rotating through the air…
Tim Coleman: "NO! The big man crashes and burns! Michelle rolls out of the way!”
Von Horrowitz uses the corner to drag herself back to her feet, and the champion gingerly clutches his abdomen. Michelle wills him back to a vertical base, and when he’s up she charges at him, taking him right off his feet again with a savage Busaiku Knee Kick. She wastes no time, climbing to the top rope once more and steadying herself…
Jim Taylor: "450 Splash! Picture perfect!”
Tim Coleman: "Straight into the cover…”
ONE… TWO… TH -- NO!
Tim Coleman: "Snowmantashi kicks out!!”
Jim Taylor: "Von Horrowitz has hit him with everything she has and the champion still kicks out!”
The challenger rolls off the champion, visibly spent herself, and crawls into a corner. Snowmantashi gradually makes his way up to his knees, and uses the ropes to drag himself back up to a his feet. He falls into a corner and uses it for support as the challenger does the same opposite from him. The two stare at each other across the ring, both breathing heavily, ready for the final push…
Just then von Horrowitz charges at Snowmantashi with full speed…
Jim Taylor: "Oh she just drilled him with the busaiku knee kick!”
Tim Coleman: "He didn’t even budge though!”
Jim Taylor: "He is stunned nevertheless…”
Snowmantashi down one knee now looking dazed allowing Michelle to plant his head to the mat with another double underhook DDT! She’s not finished yet though…
Jim Taylor: "Cattle mutilation!”
Tim Coleman: "She has it locked in tight with nowhere for Snowmantashi to go in the center of the ring!”
She keeps her signature submission locked in tight with no intent of letting up as the champion begins to fade away, and just when it looks like all may be lost for Snowmantashi he shows signs of life as he begins to power himself out of the submission hold by countering into a backsliding pin attempt keeping Michelle’s shoulders planted to the mat…
ONE... TWO... - - NO!
Michelle kicked out and the two competitors breathe heavily after such an exhausting encounter. Michelle is up first gathering her wits about on one knee as she beckons the champion to get up…
Tim Coleman: "Shining wizard kick!”
Jim Taylor: "That looks like it took a lot out of Michelle though…”
She collapses to the mat for what seems like several minutes, but in reality only a few seconds before she springs up gingerly on her feet. Then she begins to ascend to the top…
Jim Taylor: "She’s looking for that 450 Splash!”
Tim Coleman: "But Snowmantashi is up already! INHUMAN!”
With Michelle crouched on the top rope, the kaiju unloads with a forearm smash, then an overhand chop… and finally a massive headbutt! She’s rocked on the top rope, her eyes glazed over, on dream street already…
… and then Snowmantashi pulls her away from the turnbuckles in a fireman’s carry…
Jim Taylor: "HAILSTORM!”
Tim Coleman: "He’s not done yet Jim!”
Snowmantashi climbs up top looking ready to end this once and for all…
Jim Taylor: "SNOWFALL!”
Tim Coleman: "My god he may have killed her with that moonsault!”
Snowmantashi hits his moonsault on the now unconscious challenger to his championship, and with his last ounce of strength he drapes his arm over her for the pin…
ONE... TWO... THREE!
Lindsay Monahan: "Here is your winner, and STILL the CWA World Heavyweight Champion, Jon Snowmantashi!”
Snowmantashi lays on the mat for several seconds before slowly rising up to one knee as he's handed his championship.
Jim Taylor: "What a match that was folks!”
Tim Coleman: "There were times that I thought for sure we were going to see a new champion, but Snowmantashi managed to pull out the victory in the end and walk away with the gold in tact!”
Jim Taylor: "Michelle von Horrowitz put a tremendous effort though and has nothing to be ashamed of.”
Snowmantashi looks down at Michelle and helps her to her feet despite her refusal for help. She shoves him away and takes her leave, still showing the effects of the match while Snowmantashi shrugs and looks out at the sea of fans. He then takes his leave and as he's walking up the ramp he stops and the camera pans around to reveal his former friend, Jonathan McGinnis and his new buddies, The Echo standing on stage in front of him...
Jim Taylor: "This can't be good for Snowmantashi, he just went through a grueling match, c'mon guys!”
All McGinnis does is motion for the championship around his waist and mouths the words "I want my rematch" while pointing at the title on Snowmantashi's shoulder.
Tim Coleman: "He wants his rematch that he never did get!”
All Snowmantashi does is nod while the two have an intense staredown before McGinnis and The Echo take their leave leaving Snowmantashi to relish some more in his victory.
Jim Taylor: "Well, that could have ended much worse for Snowmantashi, but tonight he leaves Five Star Attraction still the world champion, good night from New York!”
