the FANTASY WRESTLING ALLIANCE
proudly presents
Live from the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Sunday 3rd September, 2023.
Only on the WCNetwork.
Entering the Kensington Oval with an establishing shot over the calm night’s sky in Barbados, the camera rushes down inside the stadium and we hear the sounds of the capacity crowd of 28,000 making their voices heard. As music plays through the speaker systems and fireworks shoot up from both the stage, the turnbuckles and even from the stadium roof, we hear Jean-Luc Watkins’s voice for the first time in the evening.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Tonight is as historic a night as any for the Fantasy Wrestling Alliance, as we come together as a company to celebrate eighteen glorious years at the pinnacle of professional wrestling! Myself - Jean-Luc Watkins - along with my broadcast colleagues from Meltdown, Rod Sterling and Anzu Kurosawa, will be on hand to guide you through all of the-”
Allen Price: “Hey! What about me, Jean-Luc?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “My apologies, Price. It is hard to remember that you’re here with us when you are actually not here with us.”
For clarification purposes, things cut to a shot of the commentary table where JLW, Sterling and Anzu are seated, all dressed to the nines. Then the shot zooms out slightly to reveal a large perspex box. Inside of which is another, smaller desk and sitting at it is Allen Price, who is wearing a hideous lemon yellow tuxedo.
Anzu Kurosawa: “You’re not seriously going to sit in that all night, are you, Allen? This seems like a bit of an overreaction.”
Allen Price: “A threat was made against my person, Anzu! This is a necessary safety precaution. We all saw how much of a mess Fallout was when I left the other night, Jean-Luc could barely hold the show together!”
Rod Sterling: “Don’t rise to that, Jean-Luc. I think our time would be better spent talking about the amazing show that we have coming up tonight. We’re going to see advancements in the tournaments to decide the next Television Champion and the next challengers to the Trios Championships. Tommy Bedlam defends the X Championship against XYZ and in tonight’s main event, the FWA World Championship will be on the line in a Steel Roulette Match! Chris Peacock defends against five challengers inside the hellacious structure!”
As Sterling talks, we are shown the Steel Roulette structure, which is being suspended above the ring on a canopy supported by several steel trusses, ready to be lowered down later on in time for the main event.
Allen Price: “Phenomenal rundown, Rod. Chris Peacock does defend one of his TWO championships inside the Steel Roulette. Such a brave and fighting FWA World Champion we have, don’t we?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Wrestling fans, we have an absolutely packed show for you all tonight, so there is no need to stand on ceremony… let’s get going with the first of our nine matches!”
The crowd is at first unsure how to react as the unknown music begins to play and the stadium descends into darkness. With each loud burst of instrumental music, a line of fireballs shoot up from the stage. As the baritone voice begins to sing, three figures can be seen on the stage. The two on each flank are of a ‘regular’ height with the third being much shorter in comparison. As the music begins to settle into a determined rhythm, the trio are revealed to the crowd, who cheer very loudly upon seeing them.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall, with a twenty minute time limit! Introducing first, accompanied by Epsilon and at a combined weight of four-hundred and forty-two pounds… ‘The Mad Wizard’ Konchu Hao and ‘The Exile’ Cyrus Truth… they are… THE DARK ROADS AAAALLLIAAANNNCEE!!!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “The Dark Roads Alliance? I do not think you could get a much more bad ass tag team name for these two guys if you tried!”
Rod Sterling: “This is all BALLER, yo! We saw on Fallout that Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao seem to have set their sights upon the FWA World Tag Team Championships which are currently held by Chris Peacock and Alyster Black and a victory tonight against the team that FTN recently defended the titles against themselves would seriously boost their credentials.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That it would, Rod. After what happened at Back in Business, it was clear that Cyrus Truth needed some sort of ally and he found one in the form of ‘The Mad Wizard’... speaking of what happened in Mexico City, you seem a little quiet over there, Price?”
It is evidently clear that the men approaching the ring are the reason as to why Allen Price has chosen to shield himself in the box at ringside and he should consider himself lucky that Truth and Konchu have a match to focus on; otherwise they would likely be dismantling it to get their hands on the cowardly commentator.
Cyrus Truth enters the ring and shoots a disapproving look in the direction of Allen Price, but then turns his attention back to Konchu and the pair bump fists, showing that they are definitely on the same page and willing to make a go of this whole tag team thing.
As The Dark Roads Alliance’s opponents make their entrance, Allen Price is shown to be just as concerned given his transgressions against them also. Aka Manto forgoes the majority of the theatrics which usually accompanies their entrance, and it is clear that both Aka and Keiko are furious about the events of Fallout 032. They march towards the ring together.
Kurt Harrington: “Their opponents… at a combined weight of two-hundred and forty-six pounds… the team of Aka Yurei and Keiko Hirabayashi… AKA MAAAANNTOOOOOO!!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Another team which will feel hard done by due to the actions of Allen Price and FTN-”
Allen Price: “You think we were ever worried about the toilet ghost? Come on, Anzu!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Dude, I will come in there and beat the brakes off of you myself. Shut up. Aka Manto will be wanting another chance to get some revenge on FTN and a win tonight would cut the legs out from underneath Cyrus and Konchu and put them back to the front of the line.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “We’ve got some real clashing of styles in this one, and really somewhat of an unofficial number one contender’s match!”
Aka Manto enter the ring together and appears to share the same disdain and anger towards Allen Price as both Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao do. They shout at Price in Japanese from inside the ring and then Keiko makes a crude hand gesture towards him. With both teams in the ring, referee Gracelynn Guerrero seems to have everything in order, and she calls for the bell.
FIRST MATCH | 1/30.
Aka Manto [Aka Yurei and Keiko Hirabayashi] vs.The Dark Roads Alliance (Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao).
Tag Team Match.
Match writer: Man.
The match gets underway and the crowd are excited to see that it will be Cyrus Truth starting off the match with Aka Yurei, and ‘The Exile’ attempts to initiate a lock up with Yurei, but she avoids it. Aka tries to swing her fist back and catch Truth, but he blocks the strike with his forearms and then brings her in for a tight Side Headlock. Aka backs Truth into the ropes and tries to shoot him off across the ring, but Cyrus turns it around and Aka goes across instead.
Upon her return, Truth tries a shoulder block, but Aka drops down and slides through his legs, and she manages to get a tag into Keiko, who was already half in the ring ready to accept the tag. Keiko charges in at Cyrus and slides down, trying to bring him down with a Drop Toe Hold, but Truth prevents her from doing so and rolls through himself. As he gets to his feet he realises he is in the Aka Manto corner. Keiko approaches from behind, but Truth catches her with an elbow upon approach.
Cyrus grabs Keiko and sends her into Aka on the apron, which the official counts as another tag, but this seems to have been missed by Truth. The collision did not knock Aka from the apron, either. Truth manages to hook Keiko in a Full Nelson and he drops her with a Dragon Suplex! Truth bridges for a pin, but Guerrero doesn’t count! As the referee attempts to explain what happened to Truth, Aka is back in the ring and she knocks him flat with a Jumping Hip Attack!
Rod Sterling: “Cyrus Truth has accomplished a great many thing in his career, but being a successful tag team wrestler is not one of those things as he prefers to operate alone. We saw some of that lack of experience right there, as he didn’t realise he forced an Aka Manto tag.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That’s a great point, Rod. It is no secret that Cyrus doesn’t play well with others and well, if he hopes to make some waves in the tag team division alongside Konchu, that needs to change.”
Truth gets up from the mat and Aka seems to anticipate a tag to Konchu which does not come and this actually allows Truth to take advantage of her positioning and he sends her into a neutral turnbuckle. ‘The Exile’ holds Yurei in place with one arm and looks around the arena… Knife Edge Chop across Aka’s chest! Immediately, a red mark appears on Aka’s collarbone and she drops to her knees, clutching her front.
Noticing Epsilon at ringside motioning towards Konchu, Truth realises that this is a good time for a tag to his partner. The crowd cheers and Truth walks over to his corner and tags in Konchu Hao. On the outside, Epsilon applauds and jumps up and down at his master entering the match. However, at the same time, Aka Yurei has been able to tag Keiko Hirabayashi into the match.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Epsilon calling the shots down there at ringside. He could be a really valuable asset for the Dark Roads Alliance.”
Allen Price: “You’re not wrong, Jean-Luc. Someone should do something about that, in the interest of fairness...”
Anzu Kurosawa: “What is he talking about now? Wait, Allen! What are you doing?”
As Keiko and Konchu size each other up in the ring, the camera cuts to Allen Price, who has left his protective booth… AND PRICE TAKES A CHEAP SHOT ON EPSILON, KNOCKING HIM DOWN WITH A BOOT TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD! The crowd absolutely shits on the commentator and Epsilon falls to the side, and unsurprisingly, both Cyrus and Konchu are INCENSED!
Price manages to make it back inside the booth before Cyrus can reach him, and ‘The Exile’ instead decides to check up on Epsilon, helping him up. Konchu Hao stands on the bottom rope, pointing and shouting at Price, cursing him in every way that he can… but this leaves him open for Keiko to roll him up from behind!
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
‘The Mad Wizard’ gets out of the pin at the last moment and when he gets back to his feet he swings at Keiko with a wild punch, but she ducks it and scores with a Dropkick to Hao’s chest, which sends him falling down to the floor next to Cyrus and Epsilon. Keiko quickly tags Aka back into the match and together Aka Manto run the ropes and they both leap over the top rope… crashing down onto all three members of the Dark Roads Alliance at once!
Rod Sterling: “Aka Manto takes them all down! It seems the more experienced tag team has the control in this one, and well, I suppose they have a certain someone to thank. What are you playing at, Price?”
Allen Price: “I am merely making sure that this match runs fairly and smoothly. You saw Epsilon there getting involved. It isn’t his place to give instructions out to the competitors. He doesn’t even speak English!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, despite dubious at best circumstances, Aka Manto are in a good position. Aka brings Konchu back into the ring and now she and Keiko can work on breaking ‘The Mad Wizard’ down.”
Indeed, Konchu is back in the ring courtesy of Aka Yurei, and she has him pinned up against the bottom turnbuckle in the Aka Manto corner and drives her knee into his face to hold him in position. Keiko crouches down and holds Konchu back by hooking one of his arms, leaving him in prime position for a Running Hip Attack in the corner from Yurei! The replays show his head snapping back violently upon impact.
Aka Manto make a tag and Keiko steps back through the ropes, and she slowly measures Konchu from the second rope after Yurei lays him prone… and Keiko dives from the second rope and drops an elbow down across his chest! She hooks a single leg;
ONE… TWO… NO!!!
It is a powerful kick out from Konchu and he sits up, only to be kicked in the chest. This knocks him back onto his back and a stomp from Keiko to his chest keeps him there. Both Aka and Keiko share a nod and Aka tags back into the match as Keiko climbs up the turnbuckle. Aka lifts Konchu up onto her shoulder, but he manages to fight out of it and he lands onto his feet.
However before Konchu can reach Cyrus from the other side of the ring, Keiko flies from the turnbuckle and lands on Konchu’s neck and takes him over with a Diving Poisonrana! The crowd gasps as Hao is spiked on the top of his head and now it seems that Aka Manto are ready to go in for the kill - Allen Price’s involvement still paying dividends for them - and once Keiko is back on the apron, Aka makes another tag.
Aka hooks Konchu up and pulls him up into a powerbomb position with Keiko’s help… AND THEN AKA MANTO HIT KONCHU WITH THE END OF LIFE!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Aka Manto could be about to do it here, just like that! Here’s Keiko with the cover!”
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
CYRUS TRUTH BREAKS UP THE PIN FALL!!!
Allen Price: “Hey, he can’t do that! Is this referee blind or something?!”
The crowd are pleased that the Dark Roads Alliance is still in the match, but there is a look of concern etched on Truth’s face as he is forced back onto the apron by Guerrero. In the middle of the ring, despite Epsilon’s best efforts, it seems that Konchu is barely with it and he is helpless as an angered Hirabayashi lifts him from the mat… BUT KONCHU DROPS HER WITH A DESPERATION BACKDROP DRIVER!!!
Another loud cheer goes up, but Konchu drops to his knees after hitting the move, unable to get the tag to Cyrus Truth that he desperately needs. In an unfamiliar move to him, Truth attempts to get the crowd going by stomping his foot on the mat, and Epsilon slaps the ring apron to keep in time and get the crowd going. The cacophony of claps is enough to inspire Konchu to crawl to Cyrus and he gets the tag to ‘The Exile’!
Cyrus Truth comes in just as Keiko also gets a tag to Aka, but as soon as Aka enters the ring she is flattened by a Running Elbow Smash from Truth. She rises up and Cyrus is on hand to put her back down with another immediately. Keiko, not out of the ring herself, does not escape Cyrus’s wrath, and she cops an Elbow Smash of her own too!
Anzu Kurosawa: “This is what the fans wanted to see, Cyrus Truth coming in like a house on fire!”
Allen Price: “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
With Keiko knocked back, Truth has his attention back on the legal person in the match, Aka Yurei. With her down against the same turnbuckle she smushed Konchu’s head into earlier, Cyrus starts stomping at her with The First Five Steps! After the fifth stomp is delivered to Aka’s head, Keiko charges across the ring and jumps on Cyrus’s back… but Konchu Hao grabs her by the leg and pulls her off of his partner.
Keiko swings with a kick towards Konchu, which he avoids… and THEN CASTS BABA VANGA’S ILLUMINATION INTO KEIKO’S EYES!! Keiko is blinded… WHICH LEAVES HER AS EASY PREY FOR RASPUTIN’S REVENGE!!! With one Aka Manto member thoroughly neutralised by Konchu Hao, Cyrus Truth is free to lift the other one up and he scoops Aka onto his shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry, which he transitions into THE JOURNEY’S END!!!
The fans are all on their feet and Cyrus gets on top of Yurei for the pin;
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
Epsilon joins both Cyrus and Konchu in the ring and The Dark Roads Alliance seem content with their victory, although it would seem that not everything went as planned as Konchu did receive somewhat of a beating from Aka Manto. What will please them though is that both joshis are down on the mat courtesy of two of the most devastating finishing moves in the world today. Gracelynn Guerrero raises both Cyrus and Konchu’s arms to a rousing reception from the crowd.
Kurt Harrington: “Here are your winners… THE DARK ROADS ALLIANCE!!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “A successful maiden voyage for Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao as a team and well, they’ve got their sights set on FTN ans those tag titles… your boys must be worried, Price.”
Allen Price: “Come on, Jean-Luc, be realistic. What do they have to be worried about? These guys are nothing. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Rod Sterling: “Well, two very dangerous competitors for a start-”
The celebrations in the ring come to a screeching halt as the attention of Truth, Konchu and Epsilon turns to the stage where ‘Slick’ Rick Vance and Santino Dongarelli - known of course as the Diamond Dogs - walk out from the back, dressed in street clothes.
Allen Price: “These are two dangerous competitors, Rod.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, the Diamond Dogs are heavily connected to the FWA World Tag Team Champions and Chris Peacock in particular. The cretins have a microphone, so there’s obviously something that they want to get off of their chests.”
Both Sonny and Rick have possession of a microphone and they wait for the music to fade out before motioning to the men in the ring.
Rick Vance: “Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao, everybody! Come on, show them some love!”
The crowd responds in kind, cheering loudly for the victors as they have been throughout the show so far.
Rick Vance: “Now, a little birdie tells me that the two of you are planning on making a run at the FWA World Tag Team Championships… currently held by our close personal friends Alyster Black and the FWA World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Peacock.”
Flipping from cheers to boos, towards Peacock in particular, the crowd make it clear that they do not approve of the current tag champions.
Santino Dongarelli: “Winning a tag team match is a pretty good way of boosting those creds, it is just a shame that the team you barely beat has lost to FTN not just once, but twice. You know, it is kind of like a singles victory over Cyrus Truth, it doesn’t really mean much.”
In the ring, Cyrus Truth seems to be using every available ounce of restraint one can have to stop himself from storming up the ramp. Epsilon is on the ropes, shouting at the men on the stage.
Rick Vance: “So, we wanted to give the two of you an opportunity. It isn’t a golden one, but we can call this a diamond opportunity. The two of you can show just how serious you are if you’re able to defeat a real tag team.”
Santino Dongarelli: “Us!”
An eye roll from Rick makes it clear that is what he was implying. The crowd seem to be in agreement and Truth and Konchu nod their heads, but Epsilon still seems to be very animated.
Rick Vance: “Ey, ey… calm down, little dude. You want in on this? That’s fine with us, dawg. Let’s make it a Trios match. We can find a partner pretty easily, although to make it fair on you, Cyrus, we won’t ask Chris Peacock.”
Santino Dongarelli: “Yeah, because that would mean you’d have even less of a chance of winning than you do already! In fact, we’re so confident that we can beat the three of you chumps that it doesn’t matter who our partner is. Fuck it, you can even choose our partner for us! We don’t care!”
It seems that the gravity of the stipulation he just laid out has not being realised by Sonny D, as he retains a smug look on his face. Rick Vance has his face in his hand and the realisation soon sets in as Cyrus Truth’s gaze slowly switches from the Diamond Dogs to ringside and in particular the perspex box next to the commentary table.
Allen Price: “Why… why is he looking at me like that? N-n-n-n-no…. No… NO! NO! NO!”
The nodding from Cyrus Truth makes it clear that he has made the choice and it is a very easy one… and Allen Price looks like he has just voided his bowel. The Dark Roads Alliance’s music begins to play once again and on the stage Sonny finally understands what he has done and Rick shakes his head and slaps him on the back of his head before they stare the men in the ring down.
Anzu Kurosawa: “It looks like Allen Price is going to find out! A slip of the tongue has opened a very big opportunity for Cyrus Truth and well, it seems like whether they care to admit it or not, The Dark Roads Alliance is in the heads of the FWA World Tag Team Champions!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, there is the confirmation that on Fallout 033, it will be Cyrus Truth, Konchu Hao and Epsilon taking on both Diamond Dogs and our very own Allen Price. Price, anything you care to add?”
Allen Price: “...”
There’s a muted reaction within the Kensington Oval as the debuting Simon Smythe appears on the stage.
Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall with a twenty minute time limit… introducing first, weighing in at two hundred and thirty five pounds… Simon… ‘the Surgeon’... SMYTHE!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Here comes the first of our debuting talent at the 18th Anniversary Show. Simon Smythe is taking the leap from the surgeon’s room to the wrestling ring. Quite the career change."
Allen Price: "Quite symbiotic, if you ask me. He can break them down and then fix them right up!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "… Stay in your box, Price."
Smythe rolls into the ring and proceeds to limber up in the corner, awaiting the arrival of his opponent.
A louder but still mixed reaction circulates in Bridgetown as Sawyer Xavier walks out onto the stage. He doesn’t halt in his momentum, immediately striding down to the ring towards his opponent.
Kurt Harrington: "And his opponent… from Savannah, Georgia… he weighs in tonight at one hundred and seventy six pounds… Sawyer… XAVIER!"
Rod Sterling: "We saw Sawyer Xavier return to FWA television three weeks ago, where he was defeated by one third of the Trios Champions in Trixie Bordeaux."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Xavier will be hoping to rescue some of his momentum here at the expense of the debuting Smythe."
Sawyer is in the ring and occupies his corner, staring across at the Surgeon as he removes his light blue scrubs in preparation for the match. Smythe wears a pair of blood-splattered trunks underneath, loosens up using the ropes, and then waits for the bell…
SECOND MATCH | 1/20.
Sawyer Xavier vs. Simon Smythe.
Singles Match.
Match writer: SS.
<< 00:00. >>
After circling the ring, the pair come together in a collar and elbow tie-up. Smythe, the larger and stronger man, initially begins to push Xavier back towards the corner, but Xavier shows his speed in slipping underneath into a rear waistlock. Sawyer grabs an arm and wrenches it up into a hammerlock, Smythe reaching through his own legs to grab one of Xavier’s and escaping with a single-leg takedown. Smythe immediately goes for a Figure 4, but when trying to step through Sawyer reaches up and catches him with a small package!
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Smythe kicks out! Almost a disastrous start to his FWA career!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Both men scramble to their feet, and Xavier looks to follow up by charging at him… but Smythe wipes him out with a clothesline!!"
The snap roll-up seems to have annoyed Smythe, who appears to see himself as something of a technical maestro, and he picks Xavier up before slamming him back down with a kneebreaker! Xavier rolls into a corner, with Simon following up with a series of quickfire stomps whilst holding onto the top rope.
Rod Sterling: "Simon Smythe exhibiting a mean streak here, the official having to come between these men and start a count…"
The referee gets to four before Smythe finally stops stomping, and he gives Xavier a helping hand out of the corner, dragging him into the middle of the ring and hitting a snap neckbreaker! Smythe with the cover, a forearm pressed into Xavier’s face…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Sawyer kicks out, but Smythe is able to settle into a rhythm…
***
<< 05:12. >>
Smythe rocks Sawyer with a shoulder breaker, Xavier remaining grounded after the move but the Surgeon not going for a cover directly afterwards. He instead stalks Xavier from the corner, waiting for the younger man to rise and then coming towards him and placing him in a full nelson.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Simon Smythe going for his patented dragon suplex here, maybe a prelude to his dragon sleeper, one of the many ways in which the Surgeon can make you tap…"
Allen Price: "BUT SAWYER XAVIER LANDS ON HIS FEET!! Incredible athleticism on display by Sawyer Xavier!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "I don’t think Simon Smythe even realises Xavier is upright. The Surgeon gets to his feet with a sinister smirk on his face… and then turns into an enziguri from Sawyer!!"
Rod Sterling: "Followed up with a hammerlock DDT! Sawyer goes for the cover…"
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Kickout from Smythe! Sawyer backs away into a corner, waiting for the Surgeon to get to his knees before coming at him for a shining wizard. Smythe, though, sidesteps the move, scrambles to his feet, and rocks Xavier with a hard forearm strike! Sawyer is dazed, and Smythe gathers him.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Simon Smythe is looking for that dragon sleeper! He calls this Anaesthesia, and i don’t like Sawyer’s chances if he’s able to lock this in…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But Sawyer Xavier is resisting… and he reverses with a standing sliced bread!!"
To his credit, Smythe gets back up for some more… but Sawyer is waiting for him, and when the Surgeon is on his knees and facing away from him Xavier runs through him with a knee to the back of the head!!
Rod Sterling: "Brain squasher!! Smythe might be out cold!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Xavier keeps coming… GENESIS OF TRUTH!! HE HAS IT LOCKED IN!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Simon Smythe has no choice but to tap! This one’s over!!"
Savier lets go of the hold once the bell is rung and, a look of relief on his face, climbs up to his feet to allow the official to lift his hand.
Kurt Harrington: "Here is your winner… SAWYER XAVIER!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Exactly what Sawyer Xavier needed here at the Anniversary Show. A tough loss on Fallout 032, but he bounced back with a win here in Barbados."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Sawyer has spoken about wanting this latest FWA run to be different and more meaningful than his previous ones, and this victory sets him back on the right path. What’s next for Sawyer Xavier?"
Rod Sterling: "That remains to be seen, Anzu. But now, this…"
Princess Nova: “Ooo, this is different. Keres, are you in there?”
In front of the TORN Angel is a single wooden door, illuminated by a bright light behind it, yet not casting on any other surface in a vast darkness. The door stands alone, with nothing around to support it.
Knock, knock, knock
Princess Nova: “Hellooooo, Kereeess. Are you ok? I did like you said, I haven’t said anything to anyone since you and Elizabeth had your awesome match! But, people are worried about her, they’re asking a lot of questions. Everything’s been so dark in here since that match ended. I really want to see the tree again… The TORN Universe being like this is actually a little unsettling.”
Creeeaaaak, the door opens slightly. It opens just enough for a small amount of smoke to sneak out from the crack. Princess Nova reaches her hand forward towards the lightly oxidized brass doorknob…but she can’t touch it. Two of her fingers hit an invisible barrier with a significant thud. From where her finger touches the barrier, a sudden and quick moving crack moves across the door, shoots across every direction of it, and covers the entire blackness around Nova.
Princess Nova: “Oh, well I guess it’s time!”
The darkness around Nova loudly shatters and becomes dust-like as it flows through the air of a very familiar scene.
Princess Nova: “Ah, there’s the tree!”
The TORN Universe has woken up. The grayscale world with splashes of beautiful purple-colored foliage and radiant yellow sunflowers greets Princess Nova as she stands in the garden. In the center, also awakening from her slumber, is the Daughter of Demise, Keres. She finally appears after a time of non-existence following her win within the Garden of Eden. She sits beneath the purple-leaved tree of the TORN Universe.
Princess Nova: “Keres! How are you feeling?”
Keres: “Pain.”
Princess Nova: “Oh… Well, I’m sure you’re going to feel better soon!”
Keres: “I always feel pain. It is my natural state. Torment is my happy place.”
Princess Nova: “Duh, of course, silly me!"
Nova has a child-like giggle.
Princess Nova: "Soooo, I’m glad you’re finally awake. It was dark for way too long!”
Keres: “The TORN needed time to rest and adjust. This period of depression has strengthened it and allowed it to account for the newest member of our family.”
Princess Nova: “She’s here already? Honestly, I thought it would take a little longer. Were you more right than we thought?”
Keres: “I was exactly as correct as I knew I would be. Our newest sister has… become one with our world. I can feel it. The TORN has grown around her and morphed her into what she is meant to be. Although, I have yet to fully gaze upon her transformation. I have, however, experienced sensations new to me in this land.”
Princess Nova: “New sensations? What do you mean? Like, something physical happened to you?”
Keres: “Not at all. Listen.”
Keres snaps her fingers and the gray sky of the TORN Universe turns to a blood red and the clouds in the sky move in a pattern that is similar to a physical beating heart.
Princess Nova: “Woah, that’s new! And really pretty! But listen for what, I don’t hear anything?”
Keres lightly chuckles to herself and then moves to stand on her feet. It is here that we notice her outfit is still the shredded mess it was at the conclusion of the Garden of Eden match. Keres looks down at herself and snaps one more time, almost instantly returning her appearance to its natural, perfect state.
Keres: “Come. You’ll hear her. Let me show you.”
Keres grabs Nova by the hand and they walk towards a puddle by a patch of sunflowers. Once Keres’ foot touches the puddle, the TORN Universe rotates around her and Nova as they stay perfectly in place and continue their walking motion. They have gone through the puddle and into an entirely different area of the TORN Universe… a completely new area.
Princess Nova: “Where… where is this? Is this something new that you made?
Keres: “Yes and no. The same way that your fantasy world, your castle, your wishes and desires were manifested by the TORN, so too has Elizabeth’s world. The crimson skies, the fiery air, and the burning beat of-”
Princess Nova: “Keres, what beat? I don’t hear anything except… screaming? I mean that’s not unusual here, but what am I missing?”
Keres: “This screaming is different. These screams come from demons that dance to the beat of their past mistakes. A beat only they, and I, can hear. Although, I hear it for the… fun of it. Soon you will as well. Elizabeth has found her power within the TORN. And it sounds like hell.”
Suddenly, a loud and all-encompassing voice overshadows the conversation of Keres and Princess Nova. This voice belongs to none other than Elizabeth Rose.
Elizabeth Rose: “Shut the fuck up, god. Who the hell told you, you could come into my room?”
Keres’ eyes open wide and she darts them to look out in the distance behind her. It's clear that Lizzie, or rather, Elizabeth, has already had her personality warp in the time she has been in the TORN Universe.
Princess Nova: “Was that Elizabeth?”
Keres: “Did she tell me to… shut… up?”
Nova puts her hand on top of Keres’ head.
Princess Nova: “Now Ker-”
Keres: “I’m going to kill her.”
Princess Nova: “Wait, wh-”
Snap
Keres and Nova appear right behind the former Lizzie Rose. The three ladies are standing on an extremely tall black platform in front of an enormous crowd of tortured souls. Amongst these souls are elegant looking figures in ball gowns and fancy suits that are completed with masquerade masks. There are also some comically dressed, era-distinct, muscle-bound wrestlers, and a multitude of faceless beings with tattered bodies that resemble enemies and opponents from the past of all three women. On the platform, in front of Elizabeth, is a very large and intricate DJ setup.
This setup is almost otherworldly in appearance with its multitude of buttons, knobs, screens, lights, and dials that are all moving without Elizabeth needing to touch them. All of these figures are dancing to the music being played from Elizabeth Rose’s setup… but only they, Rose, and Keres are hearing it at the moment. Clad in red and black gear that seems a lot more revealing than what we’re used to seeing her in. Her face is now pale and gaunt as a cigarette dangles between her lips. She goes on with her DJing while looking very over it and bored.
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh. Joy. Let me guess, she's going to jabber about spooky bullshit again?”
When Elizabeth speaks her Brooklyn accent is much more pronounced than it ever has been before. Keres' eyes literally, not figuratively, produce a small spark of fire as she stares at Elizabeth. Yet, Elizabeth seems unmoved. She takes a draft from her cigarette before continuing.
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh don't fuck me around Wednesday Adams. That whole ‘Please be afraid of me’ act gets old fast.”
Keres storms forward but is stopped a few feet from Elizabeth as two lightly oxidized suits of armor point swords towards Keres.
Keres: “What is the meaning of this?”
Elizabeth Rose: "Urgh, fucking idiots... one sec."
Elizabeth Rose rolls her eyes and spins a disc on her setup and suddenly the entire crowd stops dancing… or moving whatsoever, almost as if they were statues… or puppets, perhaps. Elizabeth lets out an annoyed sigh before turning around to look at the backs of the oxidized knights. She flicks her arm down at her side, as if she is revealing a hidden blade, but instead out comes the very same staff once used by Eternal as a way of getting in her head. She now happily owns and wields it herself.
Elizabeth Rose: “Hey! Assholes! I said annoy her-”
Elizabeth bashes one of the oxidized knights in the head, sending the helmet flying out over the crowd.
Elizabeth Rose: “Nobody gets to hurt my weirdo of a sister except me. Oh, or Nova, because she's....way less annoying than anyone else.”
It seems to physically pain Elizabeth to say anything remotely positive about anyone else. A far cry from the endlessly positive Lizzie Rose. Princess Nova puts on a big and happy smile. Keres touches the other suit of armor and instantly renders it nothing but ash in the wind as she angrily stares at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh no. Keres is angry. Whatever will I do?”
The sarcasm in her tone is incredibly obvious.
Princess Nova: “That’s our sister, haha!”
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh! Nova, I heard demon-seed saying that you couldn’t hear my playlist. My bad, let me tune you in so everyone can hear it.”
Elizabeth turns and winks at the… camera?
Keres: “What are you winking at? Do not patronize me.”
Elizabeth Rose: “One sec, Nova.”
Elizabeth turns back to her table and messes around with the different mechanisms on it. The lighting of this new area of the TORN Universe gets darker but everything around them begins to brightly glow in contrast. The sky itself has become a giant black-light.
Princess Nova: “Woah! This looks so cool!”
Elizabeth Rose: “And just… like… that!”
Rose presses one final button and in an instant everyone can hear the music as the crowd starts dancing again.
Elizabeth: “So, I figured out a couple of things, sissies.”
Keres: “....Sissies?”
Elizabeth Rose uses her hands to give herself a little boost up in order to sit up near her setup. She puts one boot on the table and lets the other hang down.
Elizabeth Rose: “So like you can see in that video-”
Keres: “Video?”
Elizabeth Rose: “Hush, hush sis.”
Keres screams internally. She balls her hands into fists.
Elizabeth Rose: “Anyway like I was saying, I figured out a couple of things. So, one, I picked up the nickname ‘Blacklight Knight’. It’s badass. It works because, you know, I’m like Eternal’s knight, and well, this is a blacklight rave.”
Nova claps, smiling.
Princess Nova: “That’s so clever!”
Elizabeth Rose: “Two… well, people are idiots. Stupid, perverted, selfish, ego-driven idiots. I didn't see that until recently. I tried so hard. So damn hard. But turns out, people just don't give a shit. Gabby didn't give a shit. Joe Burr didn't give a shit. Devin Golden didn't give a shit. Brooklyn didn't give a shit! All they wanted was to keep on taking from me. Every second of every day, and when I asked for something back? Nah, never happened. You know what I say now? Fuck that noise. If they don't give a fuck about me. I don't give a fuck about them, and if they get to torment me. I get to torment them. I don’t give a shit what they think. But yeah ever since I've been here? I figured out, after so many years of people controlling me like a puppet, now I'm the one in control."
Elizabeth turns to the DJ set.
Elizabeth Rose: "Which brings me to thing number three. When I play my music? They finally listen to me. They don't got a choice. They have to… sick, right? And, like, I can choose specific people to hear it all. Which is why you couldn't hear it at first Nova, but that was sort of just a mistake, my bad sis.”
Princess Nova: “It’s okay! I can hear it now and it’s really good!”
Elizabeth Rose: “Even better, I can influence and control large groups of people at one time. Well as long as they can hear whatever song I’m playing, but it goes super far. And as long as our emo sister uses her weirdness to make sure people hear it, then I can have a concert anywhere I go.”
Keres: “I am going to kill you.”
Elizabeth Rose: “You'd court me to be your babysitter for six months just to kill me? Thought you were meant to be smart, dipshit. Besides, you already did that, and look what it's gotten you. Another big sister to take care of you! Kill me if you want. Hell, you'd be doing me a favor by keeping me away from mouth breathers. But we both know you won't. You wanted a big sister to make you and this place more powerful. Here I am. But hey, you do you, sis.”
Elizabeth takes a deep draft from her cigarette and flicks the bud at Keres.
Princess Nova: “Awww, you two are so cute! I just knew that the three of us together would be perfect!”
Even while keeping the normal evil look on her face, Keres is unable to hide the fact that her cheeks are now a flush shade of red. Keres’ gaze darts to Nova, who feels her stellar level of fury in the air. Princess Nova nervously turns back to Elizabeth.
Princess Nova: “Well, it looks like you started a party here, so why don’t we keep it going, Elizabeth! What do you think, Keres?”
They both turn to Keres.
Elizabeth Rose: “Well? Gonna kill me or what?”
Keres: “Your gift of gab is fairly impressive, Elizabeth. Fine. Proceed with fighting those demons. Strip them for all their worth.”
Elizabeth Rose: “Weird way to say ‘let’s dance’, but whatever. Come on Nova, let’s rock this shit!”
Nova gives her new sister a hug. Elizabeth rolls her eyes, but doesn't seem to fight the show of affection. Elizabeth switches the song to something Nova would love and starts playing some Evanescence, to which the two of them start dancing to, as Keres puts on an evil smirk in the background and slightly nods her head to the beat.
The crowd begins to boo as Al Blizzard’s music hits. We see him stroll out onto the stage being accompanied by his brother Jason Quinn as well as Robert Steel. The trio stand on the top of the stage, soaking in the negative reaction.
Kurt Harrington: "The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a twenty-minute time limit and is a TV Championship Qualifier Match! !!! Introducing first, from London, England, weighing two-hundred and forty-six pounds. He is accompanied to the ring by Jason Quinn and Robert Steel... He is ‘The Perfect Storm’... AAAAALLLLL BLLLLIIZZZARDDDD!”
The crowd boo as Al begins to make his way toward the ring followed by Quinn and Steel.
Anzu Kurosawa: "At Back in Business, we saw Blizzard join up with his brother after being defeated. This is our first time seeing him in action since then."
Jean-Luc Watkins: “We’ll see a different side of Al Blizzard under the guidance of his brother. It was Quinn’s persuading of Russnow that got him this opportunity.”
Rod Sterling: "And what a great opportunity to bounce back for The Perfect Storm. The winner of this match will advance to Lights Out's match for the vacant Television Championship."
Al Blizzard enters the ring and stands in the middle of the ring, cracking his knuckles while he awaits his partner.
The music begins to play and darkness has engulfed the Kensington Oval and smoke begins to billow out from the stage. Vengador emerges through the smoke and the lights come back on while Vengador stands on the stage and he scans the crowd. He is met by a fair amount of cheers from the Bridgetown audience.
Kurt Harrington: "And his opponent, from The Realm of Despair and weighing in at 250 lb…he is the winner of Ground Zero Season 4… This is VVVVVVEEENNNGGGGAADDOOOOORRRR!!!!
Rod Sterling: "And speaking of someone looking to bounce back from a loss at Back in Business, Vengador is certainly in the same boat.”
Anzu Kurosawa: "That’s right… it was a hard fought effort by Vengador at Back in Business when he took on his Ground Zero coach, Katsu… but on that night, teacher bested the student.”
Allen Price: “Boy, sounds like we gotta a buncha losers in this match… why are they even getting a title shot?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, Price, clearly they impressed Russnow even in defeat.”
Allen Price: “Eh, I suppose. I guess not everyone can impress in victory like Chris Peacock, now can they?”
Vengador climbs up the steps, stepping through the ropes to enter the ring. He locks his eyes in on Blizzard as they both now await the third competitor in the match.
There’s a decidedly mixed reaction for Kleio De Santos as she walks out onto the stage followed by the Ravenwood sisters, Celestia and Blair, who each are sporting their trios titles.
Anzu Kurosawa: "The Coven certainly are riding high right now and probably can’t relate to Blizzard and Vengador’s Back in Business blues.”
Rod Sterling: "They have definitely been one of the hottest acts here in FWA, capped off by Celestia, Blair, and Trixie becoming the inaugural FWA Trios Champions.”
Allen Price: “Yeah but those victories are not attributed to Kleio De Santos, are they?”
Rod Sterling: "Well, that is true. But with a win tonight, Kleio will be one step closer to joining her Coven sisters with some gold of her own.”
Kleio walks with a purpose down to the ring with Blair and Celestia following behind her. She slides under the ring and looks ready for action as the match is about to get underway.
THIRD MATCH | 1/20.
Vengador vs. Al Blizzard vs. Kleio De Santos.
Triple Threat Match - winner qualifies for the TV Championship match at Lights Out.
Match writer: Dubb.
<< 00:00. >>
The bell rings as the three competitors eye each other cautiously, waiting to see who wants to strike first. Al Blizzard’s face shows his confidence while KDS, despite being outweighed by both competitors by over 100 pounds each, does not seem too concerned. Unfortunately we cannot see Vengador’s face to get a glimpse into his psyche but you can imagine he’s eager to bounce back from his tough loss at Back in Business.
So eager, in fact, that it is he who makes the first move. Deciding to be the aggressor as he charged at both KDS and Blizzard, looking for a double clothesline, but both of his opponents duck the attack and each strike the masked man with a knee to the midsection at the same time. From there’s it’s an elbow strike from Kleio followed up with a right hand from Blizzard. Back and forth, KDS and Blizzard take turns striking Vengador before Kleio strikes him with a snap side kick which sends Vengador stumbling back into a Samoan Drop!
Blizzard sits up to his knees, smirking with pride only to be struck with a front snap kick from Kleio!
Rod Sterling: "While they started the match out with some teamwork to take Vengador down, Kleio shows that there are no teammates in this match.”
Allen Price: “Ah ha, yes, except for their actual teammates are actually at ringside.”
Rod Sterling: "Right.. Sure…”
Kleio wastes no time as she pounces on Blizzard and begins to unleash a flurry of punches, ground and pound style… but all the while, Vengador SITS UP!
The masked man sneaks up behind Kleio as she is unloading on Blizzard, grabs her by her hair, and pulls her up to her feet and lights up her chest with an open handed chop! And one more! Vengador works her to the ropes, driving repeated knees into her midsection as Blizzard begins to get to his feet.
The Perfect Storm charges in, looking to attack Vengador from behind… but the masked man moves out of the way and Blizzard instead clotheslines Kleio over the top rope, his own momentum sending himself over the ropes as well! Both crash down to the floor. Celestia and Blair come over to try and help Kleio up while Jason Quinn and Robert Steele check on Blizzard…
But Vengador is waiting for any of them as he DIVES OUT OF THE RING with a Somersault Suicide Dive onto EVERYONE AT RINGSIDE!
<< 04:46. >>
After some ringside shenanigans, the action returned to the ring with Vengador in control, working over Al Blizzard in the corner with a combination of punches and kicks before pulling him out of the corner and hitting a snapmare to send Blizzard to the mat. The Perfect Storm sat up on the mat as Vengador ran to the ropes to hit a rolling neck snap, but he’s tripped up at ringside by Jason Quinn! Vengador spins around and glares at Quinn, but it allows Blizzard to recover and come in with a running knee strike as Vengador turns back around!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Vengador takes his eyes off the ball and pays for it there.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He’s at quite the disadvantage in this match with both Kleio and Blizzard having associates at ringside.”
Allen Price: “You gotta have friends in this business! I should know - mine are the best!”
Vengador falls back into the ropes, coming back at Blizzard who ducks a clothesline on the rebound, and then scores with a German Suplex into a bridge!
ONE! TWO! KICKOUT!
Rolling back to his feet after the nearfall, Blizzard quickly goes back on the attack, stomping Vengador’s back before he can recover. He continues to target the back of the masked man with stomps before pulling him and setting up for a piledriver, but Kleio comes in out of nowhere with a running superman punch!
Blizzard drops to the mat as KDS turns her attention to Vengador, taking him down with a hip toss shoulder throw before locking in a Kimura Lock! Her opponent struggles against the submission, but using his strength advantage he’s able to get back up to his feet, but ultimately the hold is broken up by Blizzard who charges in with a running big boot to Kleio!
Looking to get back into the driver’s seat once again, Blizzard rocks Vengador with a pair of forearms smashes before hitting a boot to the midsection and drops Vengador with a sitout powerbomb! He looks for the pin again.
ONE! TWO! NO! Broken up by Kleio!
<< 08:03. >>
After sending Kleio into the corner with an Irish Whip, Blizzard charges in but KDS moves out of the way! Blizzard crashes into the turnbuckles, staggering out into a knee from Kleio into a sweeping loin throw to take the Perfect Storm down to the mat, still holding onto his arm as she locks in a bar choke!
The referee is in position, checking in on Blizzard to see if he is going to submit. Blizzard seems to be hanging in strong, but Vengador comes in with a running knee drop to Kleio to break up the submission!
Vengador lifts Kleio up onto his shoulders for a Fireman’s Carry, but she escapes down his back, locking in a rear choke and begins BITING his neck while doing so!
Rod Sterling: "Kleio looking to do whatever it takes to get into the TV Title match at Lights Out! Her teeth are sinking in deep to Vengador’s neck!!”
Allen Price: “I thought biting was a vampire thing, not a witch thing.”
Some blood trickles down from the bite, but Vengador manages to break the hold by overpowering Kleio, snapmaring her over his shoulder to the mat before hitting the rolling neck snap! Blizzard staggers up to his feet but is quickly met with a superkick from Vengador that sends him falling back into the ring ropes. He uses the ropes to help hold himself up, but Vengador runs in with a dropkick that sends Blizzard through the ropes to ringside!
Vengador turns back around and is surprised by a round house kick from Kleio! Vengador falls to a knee as Kleio grabs him by the head - DDT!
Vengy’s own momentum pops him right back up after the DDT, but Kleio quickly strikes with a boot to the midsection..
LETTERS TO KLEIO!
Kleio hooks the far leg as she makes the pin..
ONE! TWO! THREE!
NO! BLIZZARD BREAKS IT UP!
<< 012:17>>
Kleio manages to survive a flurry of offense from Blizzard, reverses a DDT attempt into an armbar takedown before striking him back down with a jumping scissors kick.
With Blizzard down, Kleio begins to climb to the top turnbuckle before she comes off with a Flying Elbowdrop…
BUT Blizzard rolls out of the way! Kleio crashes to the canvas!
Both wrestlers are slow to recover… but its Blizzard back up first and he scoops up Kleio, lifting her up onto his shoulders…
AL CUTTER TO KLEIO!
He’s slow to recover after hitting his finisher, but as he does begin to set up..
HE’S HIT WITH A JUMPING BIT BOOT FROM VENGADOR!
The masked man grabs Blizzard and begins to lift him back up to his feet… but Blizzard reaches into the eye holes of the mask and pokes Vengador in the eyes! That creates some separation as he now lifts Vengador up into a fireman’s carry as well…
Anzu Kurosawa: “He’s taken out Kleio with that Al Cutter… and now one is in Vengador’s future as well. Al Blizzard has the TV Title match in his sight!”
Jason Quinn and Robert Steele are both watching with approval as Blizzard looks to finish off Vengador…
But Vengador fights it off! He hits a pair of elbows to Blizzard’s head and he escapes down the back, where he’s able to place his head underneath Blizzard’s armpit, lift him up into the air… SPINS HIM AROUND…
JUSTICIA!
Rod Sterling: "Blizzard is SPIKED on his head! What a quick turn of events! The tables are turned and this is Vengador’s chance!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Not if Blizzard’s associates have anything to say about that!”
Before Vengador can go for the pin, Robert Steel is on the apron, distracting the referee! Vengador walks over to confront Steel, but is attacked from behind by Jason Quinn!
Quinn hooks Vengador’s arms from behind… lifts him up… WOLF’S BITE TO VENGADOR!
Blair grabs Robert Steel and pulls him down off the apron as Celestia SPRINGBOARDS INTO THE RING and hits Quinn with a flying headscissors takedown! Both roll out of the ring… leaving Kleio and Blizzard both getting up to their feet…
KICK TO THE MIDSECTION FROM KLEIO..
LETTERS TO KLEIO!
But Vengador is back up to his feet again…
And he gets a boot to the midsection as well!
ANOTHER LETTERS TO KLEIO!
She drops to her knees and makes the cover on Vengador!
ONE! TWO! THREE!
Celestia and Blair quickly rush to the ring and help Kleio to her feet, celebrating with her in victory.
Kurt Harrington: "Here is your winner… KLEIO DE SANTOS!!"
Rod Sterling: "Maybe there’s some witchery going on, but The Coven continues their winning ways here in FWA! Kleio is the first to punch her ticket to the Lights Out FWA Television Championship match!”
Al Blizzard regroups at ringside with Jason Quinn and Robert Steel, the group none too pleased with the outcome of the match, while Vengador stares them down… from ringside as they head up the ramp.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Vengador may have a bone to pick with Jason Quinn after that attack that perhaps prevented him from winning this match, and I don’t think anyone would blame him!”
While the losers have no choice but to suffer the agony of defeat, inside the ring, The Coven stands tell, Kleio having each of her arms lifted in victory by one of the Ravenwood sisters.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “It’s a big win for Kleio De Santos and later tonight we’ll find out who her opponent at Lights Out will be!”
-= MEANWHILE =-
Somewhere in the backstage hallways, not too long ago, Nate Savage steps out of the Undisputed Alliance locker room, letting the door swing closed behind him. He exhales, pulling out his phone and glancing at the screen.
Nate Savage: They were supposed to be here an hour ago, what gives? Is it that hard to find some good interns these days? Christ.
???: "Mr. Savage!"
???: "Sorry we’re late, Mr. Savage!"
Two voices shout from offscreen, and Nate glances up from his phone with a gruff sigh, as Kung Fu Karl & Jimmy Boom-Boom step into frame, each carrying a truckload of bags with them. Panting, faces red with exhaustion, Kung Fu Boom pause, collecting their breath as Nate stares at them, a disappointed frown crossing his face.
Nate Savage: "You two were supposed to be here an hour ago."
Kung Fu Karl: "Sorry, Mr. Savage-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "We just got caught up with-"
Kung Fu Karl: "It’s not our fault, there was this guy-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "This giant raccoon thing-"
Kung Fu Karl: "Some kinda man-sized possum in the dumpster-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "Had to show him who’s boss-"
Kung Fu Karl: "Who’s in charge-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "And teach him not to mess with you, or Jackson-"
Kung Fu Karl: "Especially Jackson."
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "ESPECIALLY Jackson!"
Kung Fu Karl: "You’re welcome, boss!"
Karl & Jimmy beam proudly. Nate blinks, having not heard a single word of the inane rambling, as Karl & Jimmy talk over each other pretty much non-stop. He simply gestures impotently.
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "But anyway, we got your bags, got your gear here before your matches, so no harm done, right?"
Jimmy puts a hand on the handle of the door, only for Nate to overtake it and yank the door closed.
Nate Savage: "Hey hey hey. It’s a big night for Jackson tonight."
Kung Fu Karl: "… Yeah?"
Nate Savage: "Which means, no distractions."
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "… Okay?"
Nate Savage: "… Say it with me. No distractions."
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "No distractions."
Kung Fu Karl: "No distractions."
Nate Savage: "Not quite in tune, but it’ll do. So what I need you to do, is get this whole… Raccoon nonsense out of your head, this weird obsession you two have with a talking dumpster or something, I don’t know, take it out. Alright? I don’t care about it, and Jackson doesn’t need the distraction. Got it? Go take a walk for a bit, and when you come back here, I don’t want to hear another word about some kind of talking rodent that only you can hear. Any questions?"
Kung Fu Boom glance at each other.
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "But the bags-"
Nate Savage: "Just put them on the floor here, alright? Drop ‘em, and take a walk around the block or something."
With a shrug, Kung Fu Boom drops the bags to the floor, with a loud ‘THUMP.’
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "You’re the boss."
And with that, Kung Fu Boom back away. With a sigh, Nate picks up one of the bags, shaking his head.
Nate Savage: "Interns nowadays…"
He retreats into the locker room.
Meanwhile, Kung Fu Boom aimlessly walks through the halls, exiting out the back door, to the alleyway behind the arena. They glance at each other, then at the inconspicuous dumpster parked beside the arena wall.
Kung Fu Karl: "… You heard the boss, right?"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "Yeah. Take out the ‘distraction.’"
Smirking, the two high-five, before Jimmy Boom-Boom kicks the dumpster. Meanwhile, Kung Fu-Karl picks up a discarded trash can lid.
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "Hey, Garbage Rat!"
Jimmy hammers on the wall of the dumpster, his blows echoing on the steel, as it’s internal occupant makes a grand noise of annoyance.
???: "Oi! This ain’t a concert, quit the drum solo! What’s the matter wit ya?!?"
The lid of the dumpster is pushed open, and the annoyed visage of a giant possum pokes his head out, scowling, before rolling his eyes at the sight of Jimmy Boom-Boom & Kung Fu Karl.
Trash Mammal: "Well, if it ain't Evil Kneivel an' Jackie Chan’s stunt doubles. What gives?"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "NO DISTRACTIONS!"
Trash Mammal: "Beg yer pardon?"
THWACK!
Kung Fu Karl strikes with the garbage can lid, bouncing it off of Trash Mammal’s head! Trash Mammal slumps with a groan, and as Karl holds him in place, Jimmy Boom-Boom slams the dumpster lid on him! Kung Fu Boom high five, pleased with their handiwork in ensuring that an oversized rodent with a penchant for interviewing people has been taken out of commission, and thus, won’t be a distraction tonight.
Kung Fu Karl: "Mr. Savage is going to be so proud of us!"
The two confidently re-enter the arena, as the twitch of Trash Mammal’s hand signals a fade to black…
There’s cheering around the Kensington Oval as the Menage appear on the stage. They each look excited but somewhat apprehensive, with Wild Jerry leading the way towards the ring, all three slapping the hands of the front row fans as they go. XYZ, leader of the XYZites, brings up the rear, showing encouragement towards his three followers as he does.
Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall, and is a semi final match in the Trios Eliminator Tournament, where the winners will receive a shot at the Coven at Lights Out. Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by XYZ… Wild Jerry, Christian Howard, and Sierra… they are… THE MENAGE!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "The Menage surprised many folks by surviving deep into the Trios Battle Royale at this year’s Back in Business, eventually finishing in fourth place behind the Undisputed Xperienx, the eventual winners the Coven, and the YOKAI Death Squad."
Anzu Kurosawa: "And it’s the last of these that the Menage will face off against here in Barbados. They may have picked up a win last week over Triple J Security, but they face much tougher opponents here in the semi-final stage."
Rod Sterling: "I think Sierra, Howard, and Jerry are well aware of that, Anzu. Would explain the look of apprehension on their faces."
The Menage and XYZ retreat to a corner, where they exchange last minute strategy in hushed whispers. Their music eventually fades out and is replaced by…
The lights of the stage flash a mixture of neon green, purple, with occasional flashes of red to the music. The screens flash an 8-bit skull logo repeatedly. After about eighteen seconds, the YOKAI Death Squad Trio makes their way out. Katsu keeps her hand to her side, cape flowing behind her. Ririko runs to one side of the stage, amped up, as Cali Hayama hops in place. Ririko joins her partners in the middle of the stage as there are sparks of pyrotechnics. Standing next to Katsu, Ririko spins around and holds up the MAYHEM M, her mask's tongue flopping around. Katsu crosses her arms in front of her, holding her hands in a fox head gesture as Cali Hayama kneels down in front of them, pointing her hand out like a sideways gun. The Canadian jumps up as all three begin to head down the ramp.
Kurt Harrington: "And their opponents… representing MAYHEM, the Sky Devil, Cali Hayama, the Crazy Ghost, Ririko and the Kitsune Warrior, Katsu… YOKAI DEATH SQUAD!!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "A huge night for one of these three women in particular, as she hopes to take home the biggest prize of them all in the main event. I’m talking, of course, about the Steel Roulette match for the FWA World Championship, where the Kitsune Warrior will battle with five of the company’s best."
Anzu Kurosawa: "But she can’t look past this particular match-up if she’s serious about progressing in this tournament alongside Hayama and Ririko. The Menage may be inexperienced, but they’ve already shown a willingness to learn and quick progress in their two previous performances. I’m sure Katsu’s partners will be hoping she can put tonight’s main event out of her mind for the next twenty minutes…"
The three wrestlers head down the ramp before Katsu makes a break for the hard-cam side of the ring. The former FWA Television Champion opens her cape as she slides onto the apron. Cali Hayama jumps onto the apron and jumps over the top rope as Ririko slides into the ring. Katsu quickly does the spits and slides into the ring. Ririko and Katsu head to parallel turnbuckles as Cali Hayama hooks her leg on the top rope, removing her half mask and showing a smirk. All three put down the MAYHEM ‘M’ before they all jump off. The three head back to the middle of the ring and exchange a triple fist bump before heading to their corner.
FOURTH MATCH | 1/20.
YOKAI Death Squad [Katsu, Ririko, and Cali Hayama] vs. The Menage [Christian Howard, Wild Jerry, and Sierra].
Trios Match - Eliminator Tournament semi-final.
Match writer: SS.
<< 00:00. >>
We start with RIriko and Wild Jerry into the ring. It appears as though they’re going to come together with a collar and elbow tie-up, but Ririko skilfully steps beneath it and into a hammerlock. She transitions into a wrist lock, and then throws Wild Jerry back into his corner with an arm drag! Jerry looks up from his seated position in his corner at Ririko, before promptly tagging in Christian Howard and sliding beneath the bottom rope.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Perhaps that’s the sizable experience difference between Ririko and Wild Jerry coming to light. Let’s see if Christian Howard fares any better."
Howard climbs into the ring and offers Ririko a high hand, suggesting a test of strength. It looks as though Ririko is going to accept it, but as soon as their fingers are clasped she connects with a stiff kick to the side with her right boot… and then one with her left! Still with a hold of the wrist, Ririko uses her free hand to connect with a trio of stiff forearms, followed by an elbow strike that rocks Howard back, causing separation. Ririko then knocks him back into the Menage’s corner with a standing dropkick!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Ferocious strikes on display from Ririko, there. Showing her versatility in the opening exchanges of this one, as Sierra tags herself in to take her turn with the Crazy Ghost."
Sierra climbs into the ring, but before she can do anything at all she’s nailed with a big European uppercut, turning her around so that Ririko can grasp her from behind. She clasps both her arms and takes her over with a tiger suplex, bridging for the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Sierra kicks out and both are quickly up, but Ririko ducks the attempted lariat and slaps on a full nelson… followed up by a dragon suplex! Ririko again bridges for the cover…
ONE… TWO…. TH – NO!
Another kickout from Sierra! She’s much slower to get up this time, but - showing some resilience - she manages to do so. Ririko is waiting for her when she does, though, connecting with a boot to the midsection…
Rod Sterling: "Stalling vertical suplex from Ririko! She goes for another cover. This might be it for Sierra!"
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
This time, Sierra needs a little help from her friends, with Jerry and Christian reaching in from the outside of the ring and dragging Sierra out under the bottom rope! They support her on the outside, the three and XYZ quickly entering a confab whilst they weigh up their next move. Ririko isn’t about to let them do that, though, hitting the opposite set of ropes…
Anzu Kurosawa: "Ririko’s about to fly! She’s looking for a vaulting cross-body! Incredible air time!!"
Allen Price: "BUT THERE’S NOBODY HOME!! The Menage scatter in all directions and Ririko crashes and burns!!!"
It is indeed a bad landing for Ririko, and the Menage waste no time in capitalising on this sudden advantage. Sierra recuperates against the barricade whilst Jerry and Christian lay into Ririko with stomps!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Here come the rest of the YOKAI Death Squad! Jerry and Howard want nothing to do with Cali and Katsu, scarpering back towards their corner."
The official is out to try and maintain order, and he tells Hayama and Katsu to head back towards their own corner, Sierra finally having recuperated enough to scrape Ririko up and throw her under the bottom rope. She goes for a cover, the official sliding in to make the count…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Kickout from Ririko, but the Menage are able to isolate her in their corner as best they can…
***
<< 07:10. >>
We rejoin with Wild Jerry laying into Ririko with stomps, his back between her and her teammates on the opposite side of the ring.
Rod Sterling: "It might not exactly be the prettiest approach, in fact I’d describe it as bowling shoe ugly, but it’s been effective for the Menage over the last few minutes."
Allen Price: "Gotta get the job done any way you can, Rod!"
With Ririko scrambling up to her feet, Jerry places her in a front facelock and then spikes her onto her head with a DDT!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "I guess we know what XYZ taught these three in class this week. I think that’s the fourth DDT we’ve seen from the Menage this match…"
Jerry goes for a cover…
ONE… TWO… T – NO!
More resilience on display from Ririko, who’s had to show a lot of that, and Jerry proceeds to tag in Sierra. She comes into the ring and watches on as Ririko scrambles up to her feet, doubling her over with a boot to the midsection and then putting her in a front facelock…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Another DDT?! The Menage are relentless here…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Maybe not, Jean-Luc. Sierra hooks the arm, maybe looking to branch out with a suplex?!"
Indeed, it looks that way, but when Sierra tries to wrench her opponent up and over, Ririko anchors her weight down and then blocks the move by placing her boot behind Sierra’s calf. Sierra huffs and puffs and heaves, attempting the lift a further two times, but she has no luck… and then Ririko reverses with a snap suplex of her own!!
Allen Price: "This could be the opening that Ririko needs! She crawls towards her corner… and tags in Katsu!!"
Katsu leaps over the top rope and begins by taking Sierra down with a lariat! Then an arm drag! Sierra appears to be crawling to her corner, attempting a tag, but Katsu drags her into the middle of the ring and connects with a scoop slam! Katsu points to the top rope, nodding her head as the crowd cheers her ascent. She straightens out on the top rope as Sierra climbs to her feet… and the Kitsune Warrior connects with a hurricanrana! Sierra is sent hurtling into her corner, and Jerry - showing some courage - reaches over to tag himself in. He climbs into the ring and charges at Katsu… but she ducks the attempted cover, goes behind into a rear waistlock, and hurls Jerry over with a release German suplex!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Katsu picking up a head of steam, here, and this might be exactly the boost in momentum she needs ahead of her main event encounter. This doesn’t look good for Wild Jerry!"
Katsu waits for Jerry to rise and then hits the ropes… but Christian Howard is waiting there, reaching beneath the bottom rope and grasping at her legs! It’s not enough to knock her down, but she turns around to face Howard, who promptly backs away. Katsu turns to face Jerry again, who makes full use of the distraction, running through her with a shoulder block! Wild Jerry wasted no time in collecting the Kitsune Warrior, dragging her to the middle of the ring, and connecting with another DDT!! He goes for the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Allen Price: "Katsu kicks out, but once more the Menage use a little guile to recapture the advantage…"
***
<< 12:30. >>
Christian Howard is wearing Katsu down with a sleeper hold, to the point where the official has to come in and check the Kitsune Warrior’s arm. It falls the first two times, the audience showing their support for the joshi as the referee dramatically lifts it a third time…
Anzu Kurosawa: "This might be it!"
Allen Price: "NO! There’s still life in Katsu yet!"
She clenches her hand into a fist and then begins to fight up to her feet, Christian Howard at first attempting to desperately maintain his sleeper. When in a standing position, she reels off with a series of elbows to the midsection, Howard first transitioning into a side headlock and then turning into a front facelock…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Looks like Christian Howard is going for the Menage’s eleventh DDT of the match… but reversed by Katsu! Northern Lights suplex, with a bridge!"
ONE… TWO… TH – NO!
Howard kicks out, and both competitors scramble up to their feet. Katsu ducks underneath Howard’s frantic, wild clothesline, and then catches him on the turn with a hurricanrana!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Finally, Katsu is able to get in some offence, and both competitors are now desperate for a tag…"
Rod Sterling: "And both competitors get one! Here comes Jerry! Here comes Cali!"
Cali begins by taking Wild Jerry over with a spinning wheel kick, and then - after he rises - drops him once again with a standing dropkick! She has less fortune with an elbow strike, Jerry blocking it and then returning a forearm strike of his own. Cali is staggered, and Jerry collects her in a front facelock, looking for a snap DDT… but Cali stands up straight, and…
Anzu Kurosawa: "Standing Spanish fly!! Beautiful from Cali Hayama!"
Sierra maybe feels the match slipping away, and climbs into the ring. She charges at Cali, attempting to bowl her over with a lariat, but Hayama ducks beneath it. Sierra continues her momentum… right into Ririko, who knocks her down with a back elbow! Ririko throws Sierra under the bottom rope, where XYZ checks on her, before hitting the ropes…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Vaulting cross-body!! This time Ririko connects, onto both Sierra and XYZ!!"
Allen Price: "Little favour from YDS to Tommy Bedlam!"
Meanwhile, in the ring, Cali is stalking Jerry from behind, the XYZite slowly getting to his feet. She comes in for the kill…
Rod Sterling: "ETHER CALAMITY!!!"
Cali gets all of the Destino, and is quick to hook both legs…
ONE… TWO…
Christian Howard makes a desperate charge into the ring… but Katsu is there to wipe him out with a superkick!!
THREE!!
Cali rolls off her defeated opponent, a mild round of applause circulating around the Kensington Oval. She allows Katsu and the returning Ririko to help her up, where she dusts herself off and soaks in the victory.
Kurt Harrington: "Here are your winners, progressing to the finals of the Trios Eliminator Tournament… Ririko, Katsu, and Cali Hayama… the YOKAI Death Squad!!"
The triumphant trio each get their hands lifted in a line by the official, the Menage looking on from the outside and licking their wounds. XYZ offers them some words of sympathy and support before the defeated trio head back up the ramp.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "We’ll see XYZ again later on tonight when he faces off against Tommy Bedlam for the Cowboy’s FWA X Championship, but for now he and his followers leave the arena in disappointment."
Rod Sterling: "They won’t be getting any further in this tournament, but the YOKAI Death Squad have now progressed into the finals. We’ll find out who they’ll face later on tonight, when the Undisputed Xperienx go head to head with the Lumberjacks."
Anzu Kurosawa: "The job’s not finished yet, but the YOKAI Death Squad are one step closer to that climactic showdown with the Coven that they’ve been hoping for. But before then, one of its members has a main event to worry about…"
The camera shows Katsu and her determined expression as she climbs out of the ring, the other two celebrating their victory whilst the Kitsune Warrior begins her walk to the back to prepare for her second match. We fade from the scene.
-= EARLIER TONIGHT - PRIOR TO THE SHOW =-
Somewhere within the vast backstage hallways of the arena, a familiar masked man rests his clenched fists against the brickwork of the arena wall, silent but for the shallow exhale of his breath. He places his head between his fists, leaning on the wall, his all-black outfit standing out from the slate-grey walls around him. Alyster Black was quiet, uncharacteristically so, the weight of tonight’s main event clear in his posture, his FWA Tag Team Championship laying discarded on a crate next to him.
That is, until a slim, pale arm reached into view, carefully gripping the belt and picking it up, to no response. The arm, presumably with a rest of a body attached to it off-screen, tilted the faceplate in it’s direction, with a hum.
???: “I thought you were supposed to be able to see your reflection in these belts.”
Zoom out, and if the voice isn’t familiar, the bob and sway of a ridiculous bright green mohawk on the woman certainly is. In jeans and a leather jacket, Violet Dreyer inspects the faceplate of the belt, squinting, as she holds it up to the light. She makes a face one would usually associate with a particularly flattened piece of roadkill, and a bemused hum.
Violet Dreyer: “I mean, christ, look at the smudges. You tryin’ to fingerbang this fuckin’ thing?”
No response from Alyster. Idly chewing on a piece of gum, Violet dropped the tag belt back onto the crate, before leaning against it with a huff.
Violet Dreyer: “Eh. I bet Disco Balls’ title is cleaner. You’ll have to show me tonight, after you win it.”
That got his attention. Breaking the spell, Alyster turned a head, glancing at Violet. Expression hidden, but there’s a slight pause, as if he wasn’t sure she would even be here tonight. He straightens, fists falling to his side, one hand falling onto his tag title belt. There’s a tilt of the head, Violet’s words clearly echoing within him, before he clears his throat instead.
Alyster Black: “You made it.”
Violet makes a half-shrugging gesture of ‘duh.’
Alyster Black: “Almost didn’t think you would.”
Violet Dreyer: “What, and miss out on seeing you legally murder a bunch of chucklefucks en route to taking back the top prize? Nah. Ain’t like I got anything better to do, might as well watch my guy murder it down, violent-style.”
Alyster nodded in acquiescence.
Violet Dreyer: “Besides, I was here the first time you won that strap, it’s only fitting I’m here for your second. Right? You’re welcome, hotshot. You got this.”
She holds up a fist, in a rare display of camaraderie. Alyster doesn’t hesitate before punching it, and Violet tries and fails to hide the flash of pain that goes through her hand.
Violet Dreyer: “Fuck’s sake, save it for Peacock.”
???: “Save what for Peacock?”
Both Black and Dreyer turn to see that Ricardo Vance and Santino Dongarelli have arrived onto the scene and there seems to be a playful manner about them and they exchange fist bumps with Black as well as Dreyer, who seems more reluctant to dap them.
Alyster Black: “What’s going on, guys? Come to wish me luck?”
Santino Dongarelli: “Alyster, you know we love you, buddy, but you know tonight we’re pulling for ‘The Cock’. If Chris gets hit by a bus on the way to the arena though? We’re backing you all the way, dude.”
Ricardo Vance: “What he said. Plus, we’ve got some business to attend to ourselves. Not sure if Chris shared the details with you?”
Black shakes his head and grunts. It is clear that he seems slightly annoyed that Chris has gone behind his back on something, albeit he does not know what it is.
Ricardo Vance: “That weird freak Konchu and that loser freak Cyrus? We heard that they’re gunning for those tag titles, man. We can’t let that happen.”
Santino Dongarelli: “Not that we don’t know you and Chris would smoke those fools, but because they don’t even deserve a damn shot after you two have been sonning them every chance y’all have got!”
Violet Dreyer: “Where do you two dolts come in, then?”
Santino Dongarelli: “They won’t get to FTN, because they won’t get past us Diamond Dogs.”
Alyster Black: “Then what?”
The Diamond Dogs take a step closer to Black, and Dreyer instinctively gets in between them and her close ally.
Ricardo Vance: “Then? We find out once and for all who the best tag team in this little group of ours is. That sound good to you?”
Alyster Black: “Sounds great.”
There seems to be an air of understanding between everyone involved, and as Rick and Sonny leave, Black is left wondering whether their appearance here may have been a way to throw him off of his game, courtesy of his partner.
The crowd get to their feet in anticipation of the recently returned Chris Crowe. First out walks his friend and manager, Crazy Harry. Harry plays to the mostly positive reaction from the fans before finally Chris Crowe walks out, decked out in a AC/DC T-Shirt with cut off sleeves, jean shorts, black boots, and a knee brace on his right leg.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a twenty minute time limit. Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Crazy Harry… hailing from The Bad Lands… weighing in at two hundred fourty pounds….”THE SHOWMAN” CCCHHRRRISSS CCCRRRRRRRRRRROWE!”
Rod Sterling: "The fans here in Barbados are excited to see The Showman making his way down to the ring tonight, in his first singles match since returning to the FWA.”
Anzu Kurosawa: "A lot of anticipation for this for sure. Chris Crowe seemed like a rising star in FWA after capturing the North American championship but before we could even begin to see what Crowe was capable of, he was gone but now he’s back and ready to pick up where he left off.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "We saw a tease of just that on Fallout. Current North American Champion Bryan Baxter seems to think there’s no challengers for his title, but Crowe certainly took issue with that. And I think that’s a match we’d all like to see.”
Rod Sterling: "I think we can all agree with that. But first, Crowe has his second run in with The Coven since his return, after he and his Deathswitch partner, Tommy Bedlam, defeated Celestia and Blair on Fallout.”
Harry and Crowe slowly make their way down to the ring before Crowe climbs up onto the apron, steps into the ring and tosses his hands up into the air to cheers from the fans in Barbados.
The crowd continues to be on their feet and give Trixie Bordeaux an equally warm response as she walks out with a big smile on her face, her FWA Trios Championship wrapped snuggly around his slim waist. She begins to walk out and is joined by her trios partners, Blair and Celestia, but Trixie turns to them and seems to let them know she would handle this on her own, sending her partners back to the back.
Kurt Harrington: “And his opponent, representing The Coven… from Baton Rouge, Louisiana… weighing in at one hundred twenty pounds… she is one third of the FWA Trios Champions… TTTTTRRRRIIIIIIIXXXXXXIIIIIIIEEEE BORDEAUX!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Earlier tonight, we saw Kleio De Santos pick up a big win so Trixie will be looking to continue the Coven’s winning ways here but has quite the tall task ahead of her.”
Rod Sterling: "I wouldn’t count Trixie. While going up against The Showman is certainly an unenviable task for anyone, we’ve seen the kind of heart and determination this young girl has.”
Allen Price: "Hahaha! That’s a good one.”
Rod Sterling: “I’m sorry, was something I said funny, Price?”
Allen Price: “What? Oh no, I have no idea what you said. I was reading a text from Chris. You wouldn’t get it but trust me, it’s hilarious.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Focus, Price! There’s a match about to get underway!”
Rod Sterling: “Yes, right… and Trixie is looking to avenge The Coven’s loss to Deathswitch here… a match that saw Trixie delivering her patented “Pee-Pee Punch” to Crazy Harry during the match, but at the same time was on the receiving end of Crowe’s Closing Act as well.”
Trixie skips down to the ring before sliding in. With enthusiasm, she climbs the turnbuckle, removes her title and holds it up to the fans for another pop. Finally she jumps back down, hands off the title and gets ready for the match.
FIFTH MATCH | 1/20.
Chris Crowe vs. Trixie Bordeaux.
Singles Match.
Match writer: Dubb.
<< 00:00. >>
The bell rings to officially start the match. Trixie eyes up Chris Crowe, who licks his lips as he makes his way to the middle of the ring as he eyed down the young blonde, a bit uncomfortably so. Trixie slightly grimaces as the looks she’s receiving from The Showman. Her uneasiness perhaps makes it easier for her to avoid his advance, as he looked for a grapple, but Trixie instead ducks under his arms and runs to the ropes! Trixie bounces back and ducks a clothesline from Crowe. Back off the opposite ropes, she ducks another clothesline. She bounces off the ropes once again and third time was not the charm for Crowe as this time Trixie floats over his clothesline attempt into an arm drag takedown!
The Showman is quick back up to his knees, a smile on his face as perhaps he was a little impressed with the spunky Trixie’s quick start. He gets back up and Trixie meets him with a slap to the face, but Crowe is unphased. Trixie’s eyes grow wide as she begins a flurry of punches to Crowe, but they are absorbed by the bigger wrestler before Crowe seems to now grow annoyed with her, grabbing her by the head to stop her attack and just unceremoniously shoves her to the mat!
Crowe actually gets some scattering of boos for his dismissing of Trixie’s offense, but the determined “hex girl” gets right back up to her feet as Crowe encourages her to “bring it on,” seemingly daring the girl to come at him again.
To her credit, Bordeaux walks right back up to The Showman and delivers another stiff slap across his face… this one with even more oomph behind it, the force actually sending Crowe’s head sideways!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Now we’re talking! You have to admire that fire from Trixie. She is showing no fear!”
The smile on Crowe’s face disappears as he turns back to Trixie, but she quickly strikes by raking his eyes and then pulling him into a headlock! However, Crowe overpowers her and shoves her off into the ropes. Coming back off the ropes, Bordeaux leapfrogs over Crowe and heads to the opposite ropes, leaping into the air as she comes back with a cross body..
BUT SHE IS CAUGHT BY CROWE…
FALLAWAY SLAM!
Trixe clutches her back as she rolls to her side on the canvas, Crowe walking over, stalking over her…
***
<< 06:11. >>
It’s been the Showman in complete control over his opponent as swings her back to the mat with a swinging neckbreaker. Crowe presses down on her shoulders for a rather nonchalant lateral press.
ONE! TWO! KICKOUT!
Allen Price: "It would appear Crowe is toying with her right now!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "After a fiery start from Bordeaux, The Showman has certainly been in the driver’s seat.”
Crowe seems unconcerned as he grabs Trixie by her blonde hair to pull her back up to the mat and sends her into the corner with an Irish Whip. Crowe charges back in for a corner clothesline, but Trixie manages to get her leg up… Crowe charging face first into her boot!
With the Showman momentarily staggered, Trixie tries to take advantage of the situation as she runs out of the corner with a bulldog! She quickly goes for the pin!
ONE! KICKOUT!
Crowe begins to get back to his feet but Trixie strikes with her Shotgun Dropkick that sends Showman falling back into the corner! With the crowd solidly behind her, Trixie runs to the opposite corner and charges in with the Bundle of Fun cannonball!
Bordeaux rolls back up to her feet as Crowe slides under the ropes to the apron. Trixie plays to the crowd as Crowe begins to try and use the ropes to pull himself up on the apron… but Trixie charges in..
SPEAR THROUGH THE ROPES!
Both competitors spill to ringside!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Trixie putting her own body on the line, sending both of them out of the ring and I’m not sure who took the worst of that spill!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "She’s got to be careful now though as outside the ring is going to be an even bigger advantage for Crowe’s style.”
Trixie shows signs of life first as she grabs the ring curtain and begins to pull herself up and then back onto the apron. Crowe gets back to his feet but is surprised as Bordeaux runs the apron and LEAPS onto him with a Thesz Press to take him back down! She begins to go nuts on him with a flurry of slap and headbutts mixed in with some bites!
Concerned about his friend, Crazy Harry comes over and grabs Trixie, trying to pull him off of Crowe, but Trixie turns around and RAKES HARRY’S EYES! She actually seems somewhat surprised by her own actions as she acted out of instinct. But no time to worry about that as she turns back to the recovering Showman…
HEADBUTT TO CROWE!
The force of the headbutt seems to have actually effected Trixie just as much as Crowe, as she staggers backwards, dazed from the attack.
Allen Price: "You might say she was really using her head there! Well.. maybe not…”
She shakes off the cobwebs and grabs Crowe by the arm, attempting to whip him into the ringpost…
BUT CROWE REVERSES IT!
Trixie crashes into the steel head first! Crowe immediately grabs her by the hair and SLAMS her head first into the post again and then slams her head first into the ring steps!
With Trixie now in trouble, Crowe lifts her up onto his shoulders outside the rings… AND FLINGS HER INTO THE RING POST!
Crowe smirks as he pulls a clearly struggling Bordeaux up and rolls her back into the ring. Crowe takes his time as he climbs to the apron and then climbs to the top turnbuckle and comes off with a flying elbow!
Crowe hooks the leg!
ONE! TWO! THRE– NO!
Trixie gets her shoulder up and the match continues!
***
<< 10:23. >>
Death Valley Driver!
Chris Crowe lays out Trixie right in the center of the ring and goes for another pinfall, this time much more assertive and hooking the far leg while doing so.
ONE! TWO! THREE!
NO!
Trixie still somehow finds some life to get her shoulder up!
Rod Sterling: "Another kickout by Bordeaux! What’s it going to take for The Showman to keep her down!?”
Frustration begins to become evident on the face of Chris Crowe as he gets to his feet and delivers a few stomps to Trixie’s back. He then drags her over to the corner, pulling her up and slamming her backward into the corner turnbuckles. He rakes at the eyes of the Trios Champion, eliciting some more scattered boos through the audience but none of that seems to bother the Showman.
He lifts Trixie up and places her on the top turnbuckle, before beginning to climb up himself. He positions himself on the top turnbuckle wiith Trixie… and it’s..
HIGHWAY TO HELL!
Top Rope Powerbomb… IS REVERSED INTO A HURRICANRANA FROM TRIXIE!
Both crash to to the canvas!
Rod Sterling: "What a counter! Trixie pulling out a desperation reversal to the Highway to Hell!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "But so much damage has been done… can she capitalize?!”
It’s a standing ten count with both competitors down. At the seven count, Trixie begins to get up to her feet, but Crowe starts to show signs of life as well. Unable to make a pinfall attempt, Trixie tries to strike first and hits a bulldog legdrop to Crowe as he is getting up!
This time Trixie is able to make the cover!
ONE! TWO! THR–KICKOUT!
Crowe keeps the match going but Trixie wastes no time going back after him, attempting to hook him for a DDT, but Crowe blocks it and runs with Bordeaux, slamming her back first into the turnbuckles once again!
This frees Crowe as he now is able to back up… and he charges in looking for a boot into the corner, but Trixie moves out of the way! Crowe’s boot connects with the top turnbuckle as Trixie leaps up..
HOCUS POCUS TO CROWE!
The crowd is on their feet with a mixture of shock and awe as they witness Trixie laying out the Showman with one of her finishing maneuvers! But Trixie is unable to make the cover as the desperate nature of the move had left her down as well.
Meanwhile, a frantic Crazy Harry climbs to the apron, distracting the referee! Trixie gets to her feet, noticing Harry on the apron and knowing she can’t make the pin… she heads over and trades some words with Harry…
Before performing a SPLIT AND PUNCHING HARRY BETWEEN THE LEGS!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "It’s another LOW BLOW to Crazy Harry!”
Allen Price: “It’s the Pee-Pee Punch, JL!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "I am not calling it that.”
Rod Sterling: "But completely legal because Crazy Harry is NOT in this match!”
Harry grabs his crotch as he falls down to the floor from the apron as Trixie looks down at Crowe… and then looks to the top turnbuckle. Trixie begins her ascent and perches the top turnbuckle..
WHISTLING TRIXIE!
KNEES UP FROM CROWE!
Both competitors are down once again as Trixie’s high risk didn’t pay off! Both very slowly begin to stagger to their feet..
KICK TO THE MIDSECTION FROM CROWE..
CLOSING ACT TO TRIXIE!
He drops down and makes the pin..
ONE! TWO! THREE!
“Come As You Are” plays once again as Chris Crowe staggers up to his feet. The referee lifts up his arm as Crazy Harry comes into the ring, quite gingerly, to celebrate with Crowe.
Rod Sterling: "Chris Crowe seems to have picked up right where he left off before his hiatus, back to his winning ways.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “A valiant effort from Trixie Bordeaux as the Coven come up short against Deathswitch again here tonight… but for Crowe, I think we all know what he’ll be looking for next…”
On cue, Crowe’s music is interrupted…
In the ring, Chris Crowe’s victory celebration is cut short. He smirks as the FWA North American Champion walks out from the back, not dressed to wrestle since he had the night off. Instead Baxter is decked on in jeans with a black tee shirt. The FWA championship propped up on his left shoulder while he held a microphone in his right hand.
Bryan Baxter: ”Well done. Congratulations!”
Baxter sarcastically offers up a round of applause for Crowe, who seems unamused in the ring.
Bryan Baxter: ”I know you rudely interrupted me on Fallout, but I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. My name… is BIG. BRYAN. BAXTER. Or, you may elect to call me Big Bryan Bastard… because when I step into that ring, that’s exactly what I become. And your name is?”
Baxter pauses but really never has any intentions of letting Crowe respond for himself.
Bryan Baxter: ”Of course I know who you are. I suppose your reputation precedes you. You came onto the scene here in FWA like a wrecking ball. You took the world by storm. No one saw you comin’ and you left a path of destruction in your path. And along the way you picked up the FWA North American Championship and had yourself a dominant title reign.”
“Hmm.. that… sounds… familiar. Who.. else does that describe?”]
Baxter once again stops, and taps his index finger on his chin, as if pondering his own question.
Bryan Baxter: ”Oh right, it describes… ME! But there’s a couple SIGNIFICANT differences between me and you, Showman. Number one… you don’t have this title right now… I DO!”
“And while, yeah sure, you were never defeated for the belt… neither have I. But you know something… that’s not entirely true. Sure… you weren’t defeated in the traditional sense of the word. Someone didn’t pin you in that ring. No one made you submit. But you were defeated. Weren’t you, Showman? You were defeated by your own vices. Your own addictions. Your own personal demons.”
“AND BELIEVE ME - I’VE BEEN THERE! I know exactly what that’s like. But you were WEAK. Which brings me… to the other difference between you and me, Crowe. And that’s this. I defeated my vices. I defeated my addictions. I DEFEATED MY DEMONS. But I can see it in your face. I can see it in your actions. You’re still dealing with all the same shit that kept you away from FWA for the last year.”
“And I know what you want. I know you plan on waltzing right back here into FWA a year later… walk right up and just get yourself a title shot because… you never lost the title. You want this right here. You want my belt. You want… a MATCH. YOU WANT BAXTER… VERSUS CROWE!”
“BASTARD versus SHOWMAN.”
“Is that what you want? IS THAT WHAT THESE PEOPLE WANT?!”
The reaction from the crowd makes it evident that they want to see it, while in the ring, it’s a solemn nod from Crowe who echos the thoughts of the crowd.
Bryan Baxter: ”WELL THAT’S TOO FUCKING BAD!”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Bryan Baxter: ”Because the fact of the matter is this, - you did lose this belt. Because if you didn’t… you’d still be champion. It was your own poor decisions in your life that led you away from FWA. It led you away from this title. You chose to abandon this company and this title. So yeah, you lost. And as far as I’m concerned, you are owed…”
”Nothing.”
“You want a shot at this title? So does everyone else.”
“Join the club.”
“If you want it… real simple… Showman… you’re gonna have to… earn it.”
Baxter tosses the microphone down as the crowd let him have it with a sea of boos, but the Bastard simply laughs as he turns his back to Crowe and walks back behind the curtain, while int he ring, Crowe actually continues to smirk and can be seen saying off mic, “That’s fine… I’ll earn it alright.”
We cut away from the live action inside the Kensington Oval for a pre-taped segment from earlier this weekend. We find Sir Stache, roaming the beautiful Caribbean coast wearing his usual white mask featuring a prominent mustache on it along with a white collar shirt and khaki pants, not too similar from the type of clothes we’d see Jeremy Best himself wearing.
Sir Stache: “Gaaahhh… where is he?”
The frustration is evident in the typically meak voice of the man we have come to know as “Krash” over the last several months. The “he” in question becomes evident as he spots the person he is looking for… another masked man… who is leaning back in a beach chair, sipping on a beverage featuring an umbrella. This man is shirtless with floral themed swim trunks on. It is a man perhaps known to some from LCW and the Lucha Libre scene as Mejor Amigo, a man we recently learned had befriended Jeremy at some point as well. A man who agreed to join Sir Stache in a quest to find Jeremy Best, whose whereabouts after the Back in Business Buried Alive Match remain unknown. Amigo greets Stache with a friendly wave, calling him over.
Sir Stache: “What are you doing?”
Mejor Amigo: “Hola amigo! I’m just enjoying some of this countries fine amenities. Did you know that Barbados is the birthplace of rum! And it makes a very delicious cocktail, my friend!”
Sir Stache:: “What? No! Not that! You’re supposed to be helping me in my Best Crusade to find Jeremy!”
Mejor Amigo: “Si, si! Of course I am! But it doesn’t hurt to get a little R&R in, am I right?”
Sir Stache: “The only ‘R’ we have time for right now is RESCUE.”
Mejor Amigo: “Don’t be silly, my friend. What is it you’ve been saying… What Would Jeremy Do? WWJD.”
Sir Stache: “He’d be going to the ends of the Earth to find his missing friend. Just like he did for Krash!”
Mejor Amigo: “Si, this is true. BUT - he’d also want us to have fun along the way, would he not? Remember all the adventures he had with Bryan Baxter and XYZ during his own search?”
Sir Stache: “I… suppose you have a point.”
Mejor Amigo: Ah ha! That’s it mi amigo! Come! Let us enjoy this paraíso together!”
Sir Stache nods before we are treated with a montage of the two masked friends enjoying their time in Barbados - including snorkeling (with their masks on of course) and swimming with some turtles in the crystal blue waters, partaking in a rotisserie chicken dinner at R. A. Mapp Bar, sitting beachside as they clink their fruity beverages together and sip from the cup, and finally we see Mejor Amigo burying Sir Stache in the sand.
The montage comes to a close with both standing on the beach, Sir Stache brushing the sand out of his khakis.
Sir Stache: “Okay, you were right… that was a lot of fun… but can we get back to business now.”
Mejor Amigo nods.
Sir Stache: “Great! Let’s get back to it… Jeremy… we are coming for you buddy!”
Stache and Amigo begin running across the secluded sandy beach, fading off into the distance as we head back to the live action.
Kurt Harrington: “Your next contest is a trios match scheduled for one fall with a 20-minute-time-limit!”
The alluring vocals of Janet Jackson’s “That’s The Way Love Goes” begins to play as the mood lighting in the arena dims to a sultry shade of red. Walking out onto the stage, through a steady cloud of smoke, are two people wearing pink, glittery, skin-tight full body suits. The back of one suit says “Antonio” in white and the back of the other says “Monica” in white. They each hold one furry cone shaped object in their hands as they slowly move and vibe to the music while standing on either side of the entryway. After a few seconds, out saunters Xperienx Xtacee, looking as flashy as ever with a matching velvet cloak and holding a rhinestone-encrusted cane. Soon, Xtacee is joined by Jackson Fenix and Nate Savage as they stand behind him with Bubbles the Clown as well. He motions Monica and Antonio with the cane, signaling them to come over and kiss him on either cheek. Xtacee puts on a very satisfied smile and holds his cane with both hands, pointing it in front of him, as Monica and Antonio stand at his side and point the furry cones at him. In unison, Xperienx Xtacee thrusts with the cane as his lovers tap the back of the cones, causing golden confetti to come shooting out of all three objects.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, making their way to the ring, being accompanied by Monica, Antonio, and Bubbles the Clown. They weigh in at a combined weight of 656 pounds, the team of Xperienx Xtacee, Jackson Fenix, and Nate Savage…The Undisputed Xperienx!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “It’s always an Xperienx when these three make their out to the ring!"
Rod Sterling: “I see what you did there Anzu, and I would be inclined to agree. They make a formidable trio in the ring, and from what I’ve heard through the grapevine, they know how to have a good time outside of the ring, if you catch my drift.”
Allen Price: “I don’t catch your drift.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Shocker.”
Xtacee shares a kiss with his lovers Monica and Antonio before he enters the ring. Jackson hugs Bubbles the Clown and alongside Nate, he joins Xtacee in the ring and the three men posture for the adoring fans.
Allen Price: “Look at Jackson Fenix! Look at how he carries himself! That’s not the look of a champion. Now, Chris Peacock, that’s a champion! You don’t see Chris keeping company with a clown!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He keeps you around so I beg to differ.”
The positive reaction continues for The Lumberjacks and their sister, Lucy Lupone. Lucy seems more eager to interact with the fans while Dan and Doug mean business as they march down to the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Their opponents, from The Yukon, Canada and weighing in at a combined weight of 750 lb, the team of Dan, Doug, and Lucy Lupone…The Lumberrrrrjacks!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Both of these teams are coming off of big wins on the last cycle, but only one of them can move on to the semi-final before they get their match with the current trios champions, The Coven and Trixie Bordeaux.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Dan and Doug with their strength and power, then throw in Lucy’s speed and energy and you have yourself quite the exciting trio!”
Rod Sterling: “That Lucy seems a bit out there but she is a firecracker once that bell sounds!”
SIXTH MATCH | 1/20.
The Undisputed Xperienx [Jackson Fenix, Nate Savage, and Xperienx Xtacee] vs. The Lumberjacks [Doug LuPone, Dan LuPone, and Lucy LuPone].
Trios Match - Eliminator Tournament semi-final.
Match writer: Jimmy King.
DING! DING! DING!
<< 00:00 >>
The match begins with Jackson Fenix and Dan Lupone. Jackson tries to go in for a lock up but he quickly senses it was a mistake due to the size difference when Dan swats him away. Fenix pops up after being shoved to the mat and he begins to hip thrust at Dan, who looks confused by the entire situation. Dan starts to grow annoyed by Fenix’s games and goes to clobber him with a discus clothesline, but Fenix sees that coming and he ducks out of the way in time and spins behind Dan and he nails Dan behind the knee with a stomp! Dan nearly topples to one knee but he keeps his balance. Not for long though as Fenix clips him from behind with a chop block! Fenix starts to fire away repeated forearm strikes to Dan’s dome, and Dan is backed into enemy territory in the corner.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Fenix chopped Dan down like Dan would do to a tree and now he has him where he wants him in the corner!”
Rod Sterling: “Fenix is secretly a lumberjack confirmed.”
Xtacee tags himself in and along with Fenix, the two of them start to vigorously thrust their hips while delivering strikes to Dan Lupone. Eventually, Dan gets the better of the duo and he grabs both men by the throat and shoves them away. Dan quickly turns his attention to Savage on the apron and knocks him off for good measure! Dan comes roaring out of the gate and takes down both Fenix and Xtacee with a double clothesline!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Dan Lupone isn’t having any of Xtacee and Fenix’s games it seems, and he levels both of them in one swift but powerful motion!”
Allen Price: “You wouldn’t catch Chris slipping like Jackson Fenix just did there!”
Dan brings Xtacee up and locks Xtacee in a bear hug! Xtacee has nowhere to go while Dan ragdolls him around in a vice-like grip in his arms! Dan transitions that into a fallaway slam on Xtacee and he goes for the pin…
ONE…NO!
<< 04:10 >>
Dan tags in Doug and Doug charges toward Xtacee, who is getting up, and Xtacee has enough instinct to run underneath Doug, leaps on the top rope, and he quickly leaps off and hits a diving meteora on Doug and he hooks both legs in for the pin…
ONE…NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Xtacee putting his speed and agility to good use but Doug found a way to power out of it!”
Xtacee tags in Fenix and Jackson charges Doug, but he eats a spin kick for his troubles!
Allen Price: “He chopped him down like a redwood!”
Rod Sterling: “Anzu already used a tree analogy, keep up Price.”
Doug lifts Fenix up from the mat and tosses him in the corner. Doug then crushes Fenix in the corner with a running splash! Doug tags in his brother and the two behemoths have ill intentions in mind for Fenix, and they’re about to go on a chopping spree but Fenix rolls out of there in time and tags in Nate Savage!
Savage comes in hot and he starts trading lefts and rights with Dan Lupone. Nate gets the better out of the exchange and he whips Dan into the ropes, but Dan comes back with a shoulder tackle that knocks Nate right off of his feet! Nate doesn’t look pleased and he jumps up and tries to take his large opponent down but he winds up shoving Dan into the corner. He drives home some shoulder thrusts to Dan in the corner, and Nate is feeling it now as he hurdles toward Dan but Dan moves out of the way and Nate bounces off the corner, and he groggily turns around right into a big boot from Dan Lupone! Dan makes the cover…
ONE…TW - - NO!
Dan tosses Nate into the corner and tags in Doug. The brothers have a chopping spree on Nate Savage!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Nate Savage is in a bad spot right now!”
Allen Price: “What? What’s going on?”
Rod Sterling: “Are you on your phone, Price?”
Allen Price: “I was making plans for a party to celebrate Chris’ inevitable win later tonight in the main event”
Rod Sterling: “Oh brother!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That’s rather presumptuous, don’t you think?”
Allen Price: “Have you seen Jackson Fenix in there right now? There’s no way he’s beating Chris later!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Can we focus on the match, please?”
Bubbles the Clown gets near Allen’s box and he stares at Price without Price’s knowledge at first. Allen senses something and looks over at Bubbles staring at him.
Allen Price: “Jeez, that clown scared the hell out of me! Get away from here, shoo!”
<< 08:20 >>
Monica and Antonio look at Price in disgust before leading Bubbles away from Price’s box. Meanwhile, back in the ring, The Lumberjacks have gone to town on Nate Savage. They tag in their sister Lucy and as Nate groggily stumbles out of the corner he’s taken down with a float over DDT by Lucy! Lucy looks over at Dan and Doug and gives a nod. Her brothers enter the ring and knock both Xtacee and Fenix off of the apron. Dan then takes Nate in a powerbomb position and lifts him up. Doug then comes down with a double ax handle before Dan finishes him off with the powerbomb, and from the opposite corner, Lucy comes flying off with a diving splash! Lucy hooks the leg!
ONE…TWO…THREE!!!
Kurt Harrington: “The winners of the match, The Lumberjacks!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “A fair effort on the part of Undisputed Xperienx, but The Lumberjacks proved to be too much for them to overcome and now we’ll see The Lumberjacks go on to semi-final.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Jackson Fenix can’t let that get him down too much because he still has the main event later tonight.”
Allen Price: “Haha, oh brother, like he has a shot at winning that!”
Fenix, Xtacee, and Savage collect themselves on the outside while The Lumberjacks celebrate inside the ring. Savage shakes off the effects of the match and he overhears Allen’s rude comments. Savage marches over and starts to shake Allen’s box and hits it a few times.
Allen Price: “What is your problem?! You sore loser! Get him out of here!”
Xtacee, Monica, and Antonio get Nate away from the box while Fenix stares at Price.
Allen Price: “What are you looking at, huh?! That’s right, leave, take a hike!”
Xtacee urges Jackson to ignore it and they leave the ringside area. Allen composes himself and sees his colleagues staring at him like he’s lost his mind.
Allen Price: “What?!”
Anzu and Rod shake their heads in disbelief while Jean-Luc audibly sighs into his headset.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “More action on the way, wrestling fans.”
The stadium goes into a brief lull. Then - darkness. Anticipation. The unknown. Suddenly a drum beat is heard, perhaps familiar to some. A few in the audience know and start to cheer. But when the song, Dropkick Murphys "The Gauntlet", hits he comes into view things erupt.
There stands Ashley O'Ryan for the first time in years. He wears black converse, slim black jeans, and a white and green Flogging Molly t-shirt partially covered by a black jacket. His hair is longer than the last time he was seen and slightly whiter.
He makes his way down to the ring with a smile as he poses on the turnbuckle and takes a microphone...
“For those of you who don't know who I am, my name is Ashley O'Ryan.
I am the Irish Switchblade.
I am a Saint and a sinner.
I am the bastard son of a bastard son of a bastard son.
I am the Vodka that went with the Venom that tore this place up noit after noit to become one if not THE most formidable tag teams the world of wrestling 'as EVER seen.
I am a triple crown champion and a 'all of Famer.
I 'ave fought alongside and with wrestlers who 'alf you whelps in the back boots you couldn't even lace.
Chris Kennedy, Devin Golden, Stu St.Clair, G-Rich, Ryan 'all, Matt Boudreau, Ewan Edwards, Jillian De Silva, Wolf, and more.
I was 'ere when this place was a fledgling company. I saw its growing pains at it became one of the best Wrestling organizations in the bloody world.
Frankly, just standing in this ring after all these years brings up so many emotions, so many memories. Both sweet and bitter.
Regrets, triumphs. Wins, losses. Friendships gained and friends lost.”
Ashley briefly looks to the heavens.
“Miss you Chris.
But you may be thinking, didn't this bastard retire? Is this just another old timer trying to wax nostalgia in the ring for a cheap pop and nothing more?
Aye, I retired. A long time ago.
I 'ad a lot to deal with. Despite all the great men and woman I 'ave fought in this ring the greatest foe I've beaten was not in this ring. It was with myself. With my own body. With the demons that lurked in me.
But after five years of sobriety, after surgery after surgery, after more time in rehabilitation and gyms to help me mind body and soul, I got an itch. A deep seeded addiction that I 'avent fed in far too long.
The addiction of coming down the ring to my music, hearing you beautiful bastards cheering as I enter this ring to see me do what I DO BEST!
MY NAME IS ASHLEY O'RYAN.
And I've come home.”
Returning to the show, Kurt Harrington is in the ring, with a microphone once again.
Kurt Harrington:Ladies and Gentlemen, this match is for the FWA X-Title! Introducing first, the challenger, hailing for Sitka, Alaska, X…Y…Z!
A good portion of the crowd stands to their feet, showing their support for XYZ who comes to the ring alone. As he makes his way down the ramp, the wild eyes in his look evident, XYZ stops at the edge of the ring apron and pulls out a trash can full of weapons, throws it into the ring, climbs in himself, and waits for the champion.
Jean Luc Watkins:I kind of expected The Menage to be with XYZ for this match. Interesting that he’s choosing to go this one alone.
Allen Price:Oh, he’s not going it alone, you moron. You know that merry band of misfits is lurking around here somewhere.
Kurt Harrington:Now introducing, hailing from Sweetwater, Texas, the FWA X-Champion…Tommy Bedlam!
The members of the crowd who didn’t throw their support behind XYZ jump to their feet and start singing along with Tommy’s theme song.
Tommy stands at the top of the ramp, the FWA X-Title proudly around his waist. He takes off his signature black cowboy hat and tips it to the crowd. He makes his way down to the ring, high-fiving the fans who hang their arms over the security barrier along the way. He too stops at the edge of the ring and grabs a second trash can that appears to be full of weapons and tosses it into the ring toward his waiting challenger. As Tommy climbs into the ring, he steps up on the second turnbuckle, throws his long, leather duster back, and points down toward his X-Title, throwing the crowd into another frenzy.
Rod Sterling:The crowd is certainly torn in this one. Both of these men are beloved by the FWA universe, even if it’s for different reasons. The crowd likes Tommy’s blue-collar nature, but they also like the enigmatic XYZ.
Allen Price:I didn’t expect Randi to be out here with Tommy, she has to be about to pop by now. It seems like she’s been pregnant forever. But where’s Rocco Sullivan? I thought he’d be out here.
As Tommy hands his duster and the X-Title to a ringside attendant, XYZ doesn’t waste any time, charging at Tommy from behind, delivering a dropkick that knocks Tommy halfway through the ropes.
SEVENTH MATCH | 1/60.
Tommy Bedlam [c] vs. XYZ.
X Rules Match for the FWA X Championship.
Match writer: Tommy.
Not wanting to give the champion a chance to get to his feet, XYZ immediately goes over to one of the trash cans and pulls out a kendo stick! As Tommy’s feet kick helplessly while his waist is bent over the second rope, XYZ begins delivering a flurry of blows to his back with the stick. The sickening crack of the kendo stick fills the arena, further tearing the crowd.
Anzu Kurosawa: It’s important to remember that XYZ isn’t breaking any rules here. There are no rules!
As the kendo stick flies apart, leaving XYZ with nothing but a small wooden nub in his hand, Tommy finally manages to free himself from the ropes and falls onto his stomach near the edge of the ring.
XYZ climbs to the top turnbuckle and delivers a brutal double stomp to Tommy’s upper back and neck, he quickly goes for the pin.
One..
Two…
Thre…NO!
Tommy kicks out.
XYZ walks over to one of the garbage cans that have been thrown into the ring and dumps it out, revealing a multitude of weapons. The crowd erupts, anxious for the amount of chaos that they’re sure to see in this match. Meanwhile, Tommy is slowly getting to his feet, pulling himself up by the ropes, welts already clearly visible on his battered back. As XYZ pours the second garbage can full of weaponry onto the mat, Tommy charges in and delivers a crushing big boot to the back of the challenger’s head!
The blow drives XYZ to the mat as Tommy kicks through the cacophony of weapons in the ring. He finds a kendo stick of his own and begins returning the favor, delivering shot after shot to XYZ’s chest and ribs! Tommy snaps the kendo stick over one of his knees, mounts his fallen opponent, and begins swinging both arms wildly, smacking the wooden sticks against any part of XYZ he can get his hands on!
Tommy slides under the bottom rope and flips the ring skirt up, presumably looking for more weapons to introduce into this already chaotic environment. After a few moments of searching around under the ring, he pops up with a lantern in his hand.
Jean Luc Watkins: Is Tommy going camping?!
Tommy walks toward XYZ who is just starting to stir again in the corner, pulling himself up to a knee. Tommy spins around in a circle, swinging the lantern around and picking up momentum. On the third spin, he slams the lantern over XYZ’s head!
Rod Sterling:Bedlam just crushed XYZ’s skull with that lantern! The challenger is busted open, and he may be out cold!
Tommy looks around at the crowd with a devilish grin on his face, inhales deeply and blows out the light burning inside the lantern. He quickly takes advantage of his fallen opponent, rolls him over and goes for the pin.
One…
Two…
Thre…
NO! XYZ manages to kick out. Tommy raises up to his knees, pushes his hair out of his face, a look of obvious desperation on his face. What is it going to take to keep the enigmatic one down?!
Tommy once again slips under the bottom rope looking for more weaponry. The crowd begins to chant:
WE WANT TABLES! WE WANT TABLES! WE WANT TABLES!
Tommy shrugs his shoulders, and slides a folding table from underneath the ring, giving the people what they want. As they cheer, he reaches back under the ring and pulls out another table! The crowd erupts into a frenzy, and Tommy, who is really starting to feel the energy of the FWA audience, grabs a third table from under the ring!
He sets up the first table, and quickly throws the second table up on top of it. Once he has the two tables stacked near the ring apron, he hops up onto the apron and moves toward XYZ. XYZ delivers a blow to Tommy’s midsection. Then another, and another, staggering The Cowboy a bit.
Anzu Kurosawa: XYZ will not stay down!
With Bedlam staggered, XYZ unloads a bevy of kicks to his thighs and his shins.The small size advantage that Tommy has over XYZ is becoming nullified with every kick. XYZ irish whips his limping opponent into the ropes, but Tommy ducks under a clothesline attempt on the run-by. As he bounces off the ropes closest to the stacked pair of tables, XYZ delivers a beautiful standing dropkick that knocks Tommy over the top rope and he’s landed on the tables that he stacked up!
The half of the crowd that has thrown their support behind XYZ and his quest for X-Division gold stands to their feet as the Alaskan madman gets a wild look in his eyes. He climbs to the top turnbuckle and stares at his fallen opponent.
XYZ jumps straight into the air, bounces off the top rope, and hits a springboard moonsault that drives Tommy Bedlam through both tables. The referee quickly jumps from the ring to check on both men who are lying there in a heap of rubble.
Jean Luc Watkins: Oh my God! Oh my God! XYZ may have just killed Tommy Bedlam.
Allen Price: He may have. But the moron may have killed himself in the process. These guys have lost their minds, doing all this to try to make these bloodthirsty dimwits in the crowd happy.
Anzu Kurosawa: Easy to bash these two competitors and the FWA audience when you’re tucked away in your little box there, isn’t it Allen?
Both XYZ and Tommy Bedlam are still lying on the ground, surrounded by the remains of two broken tables as a second referee has come down to ringside to help check on the opponents. Somehow, XYZ begins to stir first, but he’s not moving much. Tommy finally begins to show some signs of life, inching his way toward the announce table to try to pull himself up.
XYZ is back to a vertical base first, and he walks over toward Tommy, grabs him by the air and rolls him into the ring. He hooks a leg and goes for the pin.
One…
Two…
Thre….
NO! Tommy kicks out. Where did he find the strength to kick out?!?!
Anzu Kurosawa: I’m honestly not sure what else these guys can throw at each other. We’ve seen kendo sticks, a lantern, tables, what else is left?!
Filled with both rage and frustration, XYZ begins furiously stomping on Tommy’s head and chest. When he finally stops, Tommy is bleeding heavily from his nose and mouth. Both men are busted open in this X-Title match.
XYZ, bloodied and battered climbs to the top rope. He looks to the crowd, and they know what’s coming. He’s going to go for the front-flip springboard leg drop. But before XYZ can make a move to the top rope, Tommy climbs up to the second turnbuckle and delivers a crushing right hand, then another, and another!
Tommy climbs up one level higher, standing on the top turnbuckle along with XYZ. This is unfamiliar territory for the champion.
Rod Sterling:Tommy Bedlam is not a high-flyer. I’m not even sure I’ve ever seen him on the top rope before.
Tommy delivers a gut shot to XYZ, driving the wind out of the challenger and doubling him over. Tommy grabs XYZ’s head, sticks it under his arm and hooks both of his opponent’s arms behind his back, still precariously perched on the top rope. He looks over his shoulder and sees an open garbage can sitting upright behind him.
Tommy hoists XYZ up by his arms, leaps backwards off the top rope and delivers a Bullseye DDT off the top rope, driving XYZ head first into the open trash can!
The can falls over onto its side with XYZ’s upper body still inside. Tommy climbs onto the trash can, further collapsing it, and hooks XYZ’s leg.
One…
Two…
Three!
DING! DING! DING!
Kurt Harrington:Here is your winner…AND STILL FWA X-Champion, Tommy Bedlam!
Rod Sterling:It looks like Tommy Bedlam is getting used to these X-Rules matches, folks. This is what, the third one he’s had in his career? The Cowboy holds onto the X-Title for another night!
After the match, Tommy gets back to his feet slowly. As he holds the X-Title high over his head, the referee and a member of the FWA medical team are checking on XYZ. As the challenger starts to stir, Tommy walks over toward him. Both of the FWA officials back away slowly, as no one knows exactly what’s happening. A heavy tension fills the arena.
Tommy holds out a hand toward XYZ, who has reached a seated position on the mat. The crowd cheers at the display of sportsmanship being offered, but XYZ certainly appears hesitant to take Tommy up on it. After a moment of thought, XYZ grabs Tommy’s hand as Bedlam helps him up from the mat.
In a moment of pure respect for the challenger, Tommy holds XYZ’s hand high in the air as the FWA universe shows their support for both men. As Tommy lets go of XYZ’s hand, the challenger grabs one end of the strap of the FWA X-Title.
Tommy latches on to the other end of it and the two men find themselves nose-to-nose once again. After a few seconds, XYZ relinquishes his hold on the X-Title as Tommy throws it over his shoulder, climbs out of the ring and makes his way up the ramp.
Kurt Harrington: “The next contest is a triple threat match scheduled for one fall with a 20-minute-time-limit!”
After the intro and song kicks into gear, Blake Taylor saunters out on stage to a chorus of boos. Taylor relishes in the crowd’s disdain for him and feeds off of their negative energy. He postures a bit before walking down to the ring, making stops along the way to trade barbs with rowdy fans.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada and weighing in at 215 lb, he is The Prodigal Son…Blake Taaaaaaylor!”
Allen Price: “This guy looks a lot like someone familiar but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
Rod Sterling: “I’m fairly certain that joke has been done, Price.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Blake Taylor is a former MMA and boxing prodigy, holding records for the fastest knockout in boxing history and fastest submission in MMA history.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That’s impressive but he’s certainly not endearing himself toward this crowd.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “His solipsistic attitude has ruffled its fair share of feathers.”
The stentorian theme fills the stadium and jeers continue for Jack The Clipper. The apathetic Jack looks around at the thousands of fans showering him with their disdain. He remains stoic as he makes his way down to the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing his opponents, first, from White Chapel, London and weighing in at 273 lb…Jack The Clipperrrrrrrr!”
Allen Price: “This guy gives me the creeps!”
Clipper walks around the ring and he gets close to Allen’s box, then he pulls out a pair of scissors and stares at Allen in a threatening manner while clipping the air with the scissors.
Allen Price: “Oh my god! Get this guy away from me!”
Rod Sterling: "Are you sure you don't need a haircut, Price? Maybe a little off the top?"
Allen Price: "No way!"
Clipper sneers at Price and then enters the ring where Taylor is already eager to get this going but referee Matthew Dean keeps him at bay.
The more upbeat music begins to play and Madison Gray steps out on stage to a decent ovation from the fans. Despite the warm reception, Madison doesn’t seem to notice as she’s more focused on the match.
Kurt Harrington: “Their opponent, from Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth and weighing in at 125 lb…she is The Young Lioness…Madison Graaaaaaaaaay!”
Rod Sterling: “The fans clearly have chosen their favorite for this one but I don’t think it matters to her by the looks of it.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “If you recall back on Fallout 032: Beach Brawl, Madison stood up to Jack The Clipper after his match, so I take it that the fans liked that Madison showed that kind of courage.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “If you also recall, Blake Taylor also made his presence felt during that and that erupted into a scuffle perpetrated by Jack, who slithered away while Taylor and Madison duked it out which has led to this match tonight. The winner of this match will face Kleio De Santos at Lights Out for the Television Championship.”
EIGHTH MATCH | 1/20.
Blake Taylor vs. Jack the Clipper vs. Madison Gray.
Triple Threat Match - winner qualifies for the TV Championship match at Lights Out.
Match writer: Jimmy King.
DING! DING! DING!
<< 00:00 >>
The match starts with Taylor trash talking both of his opponents and right off the bat, Madison Gray isn’t having any of that and she lashes out at Taylor with a flurry of strikes that have Taylor backed into the corner. Gray puts her keen striking skills on display as she dishes out punishment for Taylor, not having forgotten her previous encounter with the man. Gray relinquishes her attack and turns around right into a big boot from Clipper! Taylor shakes off the effects of Gray’s attack and he makes a beeline for Clipper, but Clipper catches Taylor by the hand and he goes for The Fade as he brings Taylor in close, but Taylor has the wherewithal to nearly avoid disaster as he ducks and spins behind Clipper.
Taylor starts to chop Clipper down to size with various kicks to the back of his legs before he spins Clipper to front facing position and he hurls Clippers across the ring with a t-bone suplex!
Rod Sterling: “Impressive strength from Blake Taylor to take Clipper off his feet and send him flying across the ring with that t-bone suplex!”
Gray is back and she charges at Taylor, but Taylor catches her and counters with a judo throw! Taylor starts to taunt Gray and he urges her to get back up, to which Gray obliges and she manages to avoid a spinning roundhouse kick by Taylor. Gray then catches Taylor with a feint roundhouse followed by a leg sweep! Clipper comes roaring back but this time Gray is ready for him and she takes him down with a leg sweep! Gray assists Taylor to his feet only to hit him with a half nelson bridging suplex!
ONE…TW - - NO!
Broken up by Clipper!
Clipper takes Gray up to her feet, spins her around, and does a series of slaps to the back of the head! He then takes Gray by the hand and goes to whip her across the ropes, but he viciously pulls her back in for The Fade!
Allen Price: “That's more than a little off the top!"
Rod Sterling: “She’ll be feeling that in the morning!”
Clippers drops down for the pin but it’s quickly broken up by Blake Taylor, who stomps on Clipper before bringing him up and Taylor drives home a few forearm smashes to the face before unloading on Clipper with a combination of punches followed by a spinning back elbow! Taylor is in the driver’s seat now and he takes Clipper for a ride with a belly-to-belly suplex! Taylor isn’t through yet though as he urges Clipper up to a knee and Taylor plants his knee at full force squarely on Clipper’s jaw! Clipper drops down and Taylor makes the pin…
ONE…TWO…NO!
Clipper’s foot is on the rope but upon further inspection it’s The Scissor Sisters giving the assist to Jack after they put his foot on the rope!
<< 04:40 >>
Anzu Kurosawa: “Surely Taylor had Clipper dead to rights with that knee strike, but The Scissor Sisters have paid dividends for Jack once again!”
Taylor is irate and he’s berating the official while hurling verbal abuse at the sisters, and all the while, Madison Gray sneaks up behind Taylor and she catches him with a roll-up!
ONE…TWO…NO!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Blake Taylor’s irreverence toward the official nearly cost him the match there but he stays in it!”
Taylor kicks out and he springs back up, ducks a spinning heel kick from Gray, and he locks her in a rear waistlock and goes for a german suplex, but Gray manages to flip out of it and she catches an unsuspecting Taylor with a snap dragon suplex! Taylor is up and about though, but he’s not quick enough to counter Gray coming in hot and she takes him down with an armbar before locking in the Way of The Lioness!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Gray with the fujiwara armbar expertly applied and Taylor is in quite the quagmire!"
Gray wrenches back on the hold while Taylor is refusing to quit! Taylor is howling in pain but he’s showing no signs of giving up despite the referee’s constant need to check in. Gray torques back even more on the hold, almost like she’s trying to rip Taylor’s arm from its socket but it’s broken up by a stomp from Clipper! The crowd lets Clipper hear their indignation for him but he doesn’t seem to care.
<< 07:05 >>
Clipper continues to stomp a hole into Taylor before picking him up and he has Taylor in a bad spot in the corner. He clatters Taylor with a few open hand palm strikes to the chest. Clipper drags Taylor forward and he goes to hoist Taylor up for The Clipper Cutter, but Taylor has an answer for that after a few block attempts. Taylor falls forward, still facing Clipper, and he unleashes a flurry of strikes that has Clipper reeling and Taylor strikes with a roundhouse kick that knocks Clipper off his feet! Clipper rolls to the apron where The Scissor Sisters check on him. Taylor is feeding off of the negative energy from the crowd and he turns around right into The Disappointed Master from Gray! The spinning back elbow clobbers Taylor and he’s knocked right off his feet, which allows Gray to drop down for the pin…
ONE…TWO…THREE!!!
Kurt Harrington: “The winner of the match, Madison Gray!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That was a fast paced, hard-hitting, back and forth match by all involved but Madison Gray managed to squeak out the win!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Madison Gray will now face Kleio De Santos at Lights Out for the FWA Television Championship!”
Madison Gray meets up with her personal fitness trainer, Sydney Northstar, who congratulates her on the big win. Meanwhile, Jack The Clipper is irate and he’s taking out his frustrations on Barbara and Dyeanne by verbaling berating them, while the referee checks on Blake Taylor.
Inside the stadium, the crowd are excited to see that the Steel Roulette structure is being lowered down into place, accompanied by ominous music. Once the structure has been secured on the floor, a spotlight shines on Kurt Harrington in the middle of the ring and he is prepared to make the announcement that the crowd have been waiting for all night.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is your main event for the evening and it is a Steel Roulette Match for the FWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!”
The crowd don’t seem to be best pleased as it dawns on them that the FWA World Champion entering first means that he will not be one of the two competitors that will be starting off the Steel Roulette Match in the ring and not in one of the four adjoining pods.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, from Boogie Wonderland by way of New York City… weighing in at two-hundred and ten pounds… he is ‘Disco’s Last Warrior’... ‘Dreamer’s Nightmare’... ‘The King of Dong Style’... he is the current, reigning and defending FWA World Champion… CHRIS PEEEEEAAAACCOOOOOOOOOCKKKK!!!”
Chris Peacock walks out from the back with a smirk on his face, his FWA World Championship around his waist and his half of the FWA World Tag Team Championships over one of his shoulders. There is a bonking sound heard through the headset as Price goes to stand up to applaud his client, but bumps his head on the ceiling of his pod.
Allen Price: “Damn it to hell. This… is your FWA World Champion, people. Now and forever more, this is the man who has picked up the pieces of this company and the shambles that was the main event scene for three years and he picked up those pieces and turned it into a dynasty. Who else would willingly step up and defend the title against five other people? All people want to do is try to put him down - STILL - when they should really just accept the cold, hard reality that this is our champion.”
Rod Sterling: “You may disagree with his methods, but one thing that cannot be argued with is the record books and they say that since Saint Sully, no one has held the FWA World Championship for longer than Chris Peacock.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “There is no denying that reigning as both the FWA World Champion and one half of the tag team champions has resulted in Peacock’s confidence skyrocketing. However, he has seemed completely reluctant to acknowledge the re-emergence of newly-minted FWA Hall of Famer, ‘Rockstar’ Randy Ramon…”
Before Peacock enters the Steel Roulette, he passes his championships over to one of the referees on the inside. Dropping the cocky smirk for a moment, Peacock takes a deep breath and enters the chamber, deciding to take up his position in the pod closest to him. He watches as the door is slid shut and locked, only to be opened when his time to enter the match arrives.
There are some good cheers in the stadium, in contrast to Peacock’s entrance, as Jackson Fenix walks out from the back. Notably, Fenix is completely alone - no Nate Savage, Xperienx Xtacee or any of their other associates - and he wears the same attire as he did in his match earlier on tonight. There is a determined and uncharacteristically serious look on the face of Fenix, ready for the biggest match of his career.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing his opponents… First, representing the Undisputed Xperienx… from Las Vegas, Nevada and weighing in at two-hundred and ten pounds… ‘The Sin City Bad Boy’ JACKSON FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNIIXXXXX!!!”
Rod Sterling: “Listen to this support for Jackson Fenix! One would not be forgiven for thinking such an ovation for Jackson Fenix would be unthinkable just a mere few months ago; but this attitude shift in the former FWA World Tag Team Champion is something that the FWA fans have appreciated and this support could well propel him to the FWA World Championship.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Well, he has the benefit of not starting the match in the ring, but in one of the pods instead. It gives him a chance to scope out the opposition and also avoid injury, especially important due to him already competing tonight.”
Allen Price: “Yeah, in a match he LOST, Anzu. You really think a guy not capable of beating a few lumberjacks can win the world title? Give me a break!”
As Fenix enters the chamber, he meets Chris Peacock’s eye, and the FWA World Champion looks to engage in some mind games with Fenix, miming a chainsaw in his hands. Fenix ignores this and enters the ring through the ropes, making his way across to the pod next to Peacock. What this does though is put him right in front of Allen Price in his own pod, and Price continues to mock and taunt Fenix as he did earlier on.
Suddenly, the lights are turned off for a brief period as a demonic voice speaks out to all who are in attendance. While this intro plays, a bright red spotlight pops in the centre of a smoke filled stage.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “This is most unusual…”
Kurt Harrington: “Umm… introducing next… I assume… from the depths of Hell and weighing in at two-hundred and forty-three pounds… DEATH WALKERRRRRRRRRR!!!”
However this time, The Death Walker's entrance seems to be different. No one appears to be on the stage, not The Dark Guardian or The Terrors of Darkness. But this music continues to play and...
...then the house lights are brought back on. Everyone is watching the stage in a perplexed manner…
Allen Price: “AAAAAH! There he is! H-h-how did he get in there?!”
Alerted by Price’s screams, everyone then notices that Death Walker is already inside one of the empty pods! Death Walker is dressed to compete, no sign of his cloak or paladins. Inside his pod, The Dark Traveler seems to be more focused on looking at the dirty fingernails on his right hand rather than the fans or his opponents right now. Then he drops his hand by his side and simply stares back unfazed, at all who look in his direction. On the outside of the Steel Roulette is The Dark Guardian and numerous other individuals…
Anzu Kurosawa: “I’ve no idea how Death Walker found himself sealed inside one of the pods already, but we know he has brought some company with him in the form of The Dark Guardian and these Terrors of Darkness.”
Rod Sterling: “These disciples cannot enter the Steel Roulette structure itself, but their presence could be enough to distract the other competitors in the match.”
Already, it seems the tactics are paying off as both Fenix and Peacock seem somewhat uneasy due to the presence of Death Walker’s acolytes. One tries reaching through to touch the FWA World Champion, and a stern word and a promise of a broken arm is enough for Peacock to retain his pod as sanctuary for himself.
In a stark contrast in entrance, the lights flash inside the stadium as the intense entrance music of Katsu begins to play. After a few seconds once the beat drops, ‘The Kitsune Warrior’ walks out from the back alongside Cali Hayama and Ririko. Together, YDS pose on the stage and then Cali and Ririko wish Katsu luck for the match and she thanks them before making her way down towards the ring. The former Television Champion shakes out her wrists and nods her head as she approaches the steel structure.
Kurt Harrington: “Next, representing the YOKAI Death Squad… from Osaka, Japan… she is ‘The Kitsune Warrior’... KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTSSSSUUUUUUUUUUU!!!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Katsu will take the final vacant pod inside the Steel Roulette match; her first. The same can of course be said for everyone else in the match apart from Chris Peacock… and her first opportunity to become the FWA World Champion.”
Rod Sterling: “Katsu has experience of facing some of the best that the FWA has to offer with her time spent in the F1 Climaxxx late last year and a fourth place finish in her first Carnal Contendership. Winning tonight may not be as big of a leap as I suspect you imagine it to be, Allen.”
Allen Price: “At least she won her match earlier tonight, unlike Jackson Fenix. I think Katsu would be better off focusing on those trios titles, no one cares for double champions anyway from what I understand, which is bullshit, by the way.”
Katsu makes sure to get a good look at each of her opponents also inside pods as she is escorted to her own, and she occupies the final empty one adjacent to both Peacock and Death Walker and opposite Jackson Fenix.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “With the four pods taken up, we now know just who will be starting this match off in the ring for the first five minutes…”
The reaction is definitely mixed, but leaning on the side of cheers as Reagan Cole walks out from the back. Cole stands on the stage without his maroon jacket and wearing a black t-shirt with the words ‘The British Apprentice’ on the front. He lifts up the t-shirt and removes it, throwing it on the ground next to him. This reveals another black t-shirt with the words ‘Wrestling’s Survivor’ on the front, which gets a good cheer from the crowd, as Cole makes his way towards the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Next, from Essex. England and weighing in at two-hundred and fifteen pounds… he is ‘Wrestling’s Survivor’... REEEEAAAGAANNN COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLE!!!”
Rod Sterling: “There you see it - Wrestling’s Survivor, Reagan Cole. He is going to need to survive all five of his opponents if he wants to walk out of this match as the FWA World Champion. He’s done well enough to survive everything that Jeffry Mason has put him through - I’d back him to make it through this as well.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think in his own twisted way, Mason believes that everything he has put Cole through is to get him ready for this moment. Inside the Steel Roulette, Reagan is going to get hurt, he is going to get beaten up and he needs to have the skills to survive and thrive in a match like this. That is what Jeffry Mason is trying to achieve with Reagan Cole.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, it is sink or swim time for Reagan Cole now. Either that work from Mason is going to pay off, or it isn’t.”
Cole enters the Steel Roulette and feels the gaze of everyone else in the Kensington Oval on him. He, along with everyone else, now has to wait for the final entrant in the match.
A huge reaction emanates around the Kensington Oval for the sixth and final competitor, with Alyster Black walking out onto the stage with a collection of trinkets weighing him down. Around his waist is his FWA World Tag Team Championship, whilst on his shoulder is the CWA equivalent, and he uses his golden Tentacle of Justice as an ornamental walking cane. He pauses on the stage, surveying the packed arena, his expression hidden behind his mask.
Kurt Harrington: "And your sixth and final participant, currently residing in San Dimas, California and weighing in at two hundred and twenty pounds… he is one half of the FWA World Tag Team Champions… ‘Black Jesus’ ALYSTERRRRRRR… BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaACK!!!"
The camera shows each of the wrestlers in their pods, staring up the ramp towards the arriving Black Jesus. The montage culminates in a long, lingering shot of Black's tag team partner - and the current FWA World Champion - Chris Peacock. The champion has an inscrutable look on his face as he considers this final challenger.
Rod Sterling: "I don't think we need to go into detail about the relationship between this man and the one he shares the FWA World Tag Team Championships with. There might be six people in this match, but the showdown between Alyster Black and Chris Peacock is one that many FWA fans are looking forward to in this Steel Roulette match."
Anzu Kurosawa: "That's if it even comes to pass, Rod…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "That's true: with Chris Peacock safely stowed away in his pod and Alyster Black entering this match first, Black Jesus could be eliminated before the champion even enters the match. He'll first have to contend with Reagan Cole, who has been equally unlucky with the draw. It's main event time, wrestling fans!"
Alyster Black is finally done surveying the arena, his five opponents, and the huge, demonic structure that now envelopes the ring. After one more deep breath, Alyster begins at a slow pace down the ramp…
THWACK!!
Rod Sterling: "ALYSTER BLACK IS BLINDSIDED WITH A STEEL CHAIR!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "And from behind! Black Jesus is laid out on the ramp! And it’s…"
The crowd is freely booing the tag champion’s assailant, who looms over their downed foe with a steel chair in their hand.
Allen Price: "… who is it?!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "… what is it?!"
The camera pans up from the downed Black, who is now beginning to stir and (slowly) engage in the process of returning to a vertical base, revealing his attacker…
Rod Sterling: "It’s… it’s weaselperson!"
The audience’s derision continues to rain down as Alyster gets to his knees, lifting his head to face the interloper. The assailant, in response, lifts the chair high above them, bringing it crashing down with a sickening thud over his cranium!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "But… correct me if I’m wrong, that’s not the same weaselperson that left Back in Business with a litany of injuries. They’re half a foot shorter and maybe a hundred pounds lighter, but their antipathy towards Alyster Black appears to have remained constant…"
We see weaselperson drop the chair onto the ramp next to them and notice a suggestion of femininity beneath the thick, shaggy, brown weasel suit. A quick cut away shows Chris Peacock in his pod, arguing with an official about his temporary release from captivity and then banging on the glass and kicking at the surrounding chains in frustration. It’s all useless, though: he is locked in, and all he can do is watch as the suited assailant watches the plucky Black fight to his feet again.
Rod Sterling: "It doesn’t look like weaselperson is through with this assault, they’re stalking Alyster Black here…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "… and then they connect with a… that was a Busiaku Knee Kick!!!"
Allen Price: "Was it? What does that mean?"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Familiar!"
With Alyster Black now face down at the foot of the ramp, only a few feet away from his tag team partner in an adjacent pod, weaselperson saunters towards his downed form. After a quick glance at the fervent, caged champion, they wrap both of Alyster’s leg around their left one before reaching down for his wrists…
Rod Sterling: "weaselperson looking to add insult to injury with a curbstomp here, one of Alyster Black’s own moves…"
Allen Price: "An utter disgrace!! Someone should get out here and do something about this!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "You’re free to leave your pod at any time, Price…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Not sure he’ll have to! Here comes Violet Dreyer, flanked on either side by the Diamond Dogs!"
The trio of reinforcements appear on the stage, quickly charging down the ramp towards the interloper, who is alerted to their presence by a loud pop in the arena. They quickly release Black’s wrists, abandoning the attempted curbstomp, and - as Violet, Santino, and Ricardo swarm the area - hops over a nearby barricade. They escape through the crowd, who spew vitriol in her direction as she backs away from Alyster’s saviours.
Rod Sterling: "The cavalry arrives to prevent any further damage being done to Alyster Black, but weaselperson certainly got their licks in before the save. And we’ve still got a main event, of which Alyster was due to take a starring role…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Indeed, Black is about to begin this Steel Roulette, and his initial opponent Reagan Cole has been watching carefully as this encounter played out. That’s if Alyster is even still able to compete…"
After we see weaselperson leaving through one of the exits amongst the audience, we cut back to one of the medical team trying to ascertain the answer to the very question Anzu just asked. Black, now seated, pushes the doctor away and then climbs resiliently to his feet.
Allen Price: "I don’t think that was ever in doubt, Anzu…"
As Alyster, encouraged by Dreyer and the Dogs, slowly begins to walk on towards the chamber, the doctor reapproaches. The professional looks as though he’s pleading with Black to allow him to continue with the examination… AND GETS A FOREARM FOR HIS TROUBLES!
The doctor hits the ramp, the crowd roars, and Alyster climbs the steps towards the chamber, the doors held open by a pair of hesitant FWA officials.
A close-up of Alyster Black shows him taking a deep breath, and what appears to be blood trickling from an opening in his mask, before he climbs through the ropes and into the ring. Peacock continues to slam his fists on wall of his pod, trying to give whatever help he can to Black, but it seems that ‘Black Jesus’ is not willing to listen to his partner.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “The doors will close behind Alyster Black, but it could be a short period of time until they’re opened once again… because Reagan Cole is as fresh as a daisy and we’ll see if that ruthless streak instilled in him by Jeffry Mason can rear its head and he takes out one of the big hitters immediately. Larry Stevens is the man in the chamber along with the six competitors… and he calls for the bell!”
NINTH MATCH | MAIN EVENT | 5/-.
Chris Peacock [c] vs. Alyster Black vs. Katsu vs. Reagan Cole vs. Death Walker vs. Jackson Fenix.
Steel Roulette Match for the FWA World Championship.
Match writer: Man.
The bell rings, and the differential in status between Reagan Cole and Alyster Black is evident. Black, unflinchingly defiant, stands with his hands up, ready to fight the experienced brawler from England. But Reagan Cole seems hesitant.
Allen Price: “Oh, Reagan! This isn’t the time for a crisis of conscience, buddy! In a match like this with everything on the line, now isn’t the time to want to do the right thing.”
Rod Sterling: “We know that Reagan Cole likes to identify himself as lawful good, but this could just be naivety here, guys. Alyster Black is right there for the taking… oh… here’s someone who may be able to speak some sense into Reagan Cole…”
As Alyster Black motions for Cole to bring the fight to him, Cole looks over Black’s shoulder and sees an incensed Jeffry Mason stomping towards the ring, to a loud negative reaction from the fans. Mason shoves over the same doctor that Black had decked and pushes his face against the chained wall of the Steel Roulette, and he orders Cole to go on the offensive and not waste this opportunity!
Still, there is some reluctance from Cole to go on the attack but after a final piece of angry advice from Mason, Cole steps forwards… but Alyster Black meets him with a Headbutt! The hesitance of Cole costs him and Black is not confident on his feet due to the blow to the head. Cole checks his forehead for blood and then snaps out of his friendly trance and cuts Black off with a knee to the midsection. With Black doubled over, Cole grabs him by the head with both hands and starts laying into the former X Champion with a series of Headbutts of his own.
The repeated blows to the head puts Black down on the mat and Chris Peacock is shown watching helplessly as Black has little in the way of defence. Jeffry Mason backs away from the chamber and starts to walk up the ramp, content that Cole is now in the correct headspace to approach the match in the manner that he wishes. Reagan Cole has Black on his front and then lines him up, and he drops a knee down across the back of Black’s head, and into the first cover of the match;
ONE… TWO… THR-NO!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Just there, you can see the effect of that attack from the weaselperson. Something as routine as that can almost eliminate Alyster Black from this match. It might not take much more on the part of Reagan Cole to finish Black off, here.”
‘Wrestling’s Survivor’ smartly stays on top of Black after the kick out and he mounts Black’s chest and cradles his head with one hand and starts driving his forearm repeatedly into Black’s head, targeting the area where the blood is coming from under Black’s mask. Cole then applies a Front Facelock and brings Black up to his feet, trying to move him towards the corner, but Black shoves Cole away! As Cole looks to follow up, Black manages to flail his arm and catch him in the cheek with a backhand.
This creates separation required and Black then grabs Cole and throws him over the top rope - and the Brit has a nasty landing on the steel floor in between the pods! Both Chris Peacock and Jackson Fenix look on with a keen eye as Black slowly steps through the ropes to follow up on Cole, who has a hand across his back after the hard landing. Black stomps down on Cole’s back and then attempts to hook both of his arms up behind him…
Anzu Kurosawa: “Alyster Black is going to go for the Curb Stomp on the steel floor out there, and look at how much Chris Peacock is enjoying this!”
Allen Price: “Yeah, come on, Alyster! Oh no, Cole is fighting out of it…”
Frantic wriggling of his body on the part of Reagan Cole is enough to allow his wrists to slip out of Black’s grasp, and he manages to kick Black back towards the ropes to escape. Cole pulls himself up to his feet and Black charges in towards him, but Cole ducks the forearm strike and hooks Black up from behind… BACK SUPLEX ONTO THE STEEL FLOOR!! Black holds his head in his hands and Cole was not immune to a bad landing either, as he arches his own back too.
It is Cole that gets back to his feet first and he briefly shares eye contact with Fenix, who looks on without reacting much to what is happening. However, when Cole turns around towards Peacock, the FWA World Champion is seething and swearing vengeance. Reagan ignores this and brings Black up from the floor and sends him back into the ring through the ropes, and Black rolls towards the centre.
Instead of entering the ring himself, Cole scales the turnbuckle in front of Fenix’s pod from the side and positions himself on the top rope, using the pod to support himself. Cole waits for Black to slowly get to his feet and he takes flight, looking for a Diving Clothesline, but Black catches him with a punch directly to the midsection, which sends Cole flipping over onto his back! Black stumbles forward and slumps onto the turnbuckle.
Rod Sterling: “There's still some life in Alyster Black, and Cole really needs to be doing more to take advantage of this situation, if you ask me.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “It isn’t long until the third entrant will be entering this match and if that person is Chris Peacock, Reagan Cole will not want to be stuck in there with the FWA World Tag Team Champions!”
Black turns around and starts lining Cole up as ‘The British Apprentice’ gets back to his feet and begins to face his opponent. Getting as much momentum as he can BLACK LOOKS FOR THE ONE SHOT KILL - BUT COLE DUCKS IT! As Black’s momentum causes him to continue onwards, COLE CATCHES UP WITH THE RHINO’S RAGE - BUT BLACK CATCHES HIM ON HIS SHOULDERS - DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!
After hitting the DVD, Black is unable to make a cover and both men are down on the mat as the lighting dims for a moment, and a spotlight begins to shine on all four of the pods…
Allen Price: “Here’s my favourite part! Who is it going to be?”
The lights flitter from one pod to another, before they land on the one occupied by Death Walker!
Rod Sterling: “This is an opportune moment for Death Walker to come in with both Alyster Black and Reagan Cole down on the mat in the ring. Wait, Death Walker hasn’t left his pod yet, what is going on?”
Sterling is right; Death Walker stands still in his pod despite the door sliding open to allow him entry to the match. Death holds out a hand and one of the Terrors of Darkness slips something through one of the gaps in the wall of the chamber… and Death Walker finds himself in possession of a lead pipe! The crowd gasp, some cheer, at the sight of ‘The Dark Traveler’ with the weapon in his hand, and it is at this moment that Death chooses to exit his pod.
Slowly, Death Walker steps through the ropes where Reagan Cole is the first to meet him and Reagan looks to avoid the pipe, striking Walker with several clubbing forearms to the chest which do not seem to be having much effect. Reagan reverts to kicking at Death Walker’s legs, but Death manages to catch Reagan’s foot with his spare hand… and he SLAMS THE PIPE DOWN ONTO COLE’S LEG!! Cole hobbles around on one foot for a moment and Death Walker lines him up… AND WALKER CRACKS COLE IN THE FACE WITH THE PIPE!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Some may want to cry foul, but there is absolutely nothing forbidding Death Walker from using weapons provided to him by his disciples on the outside of the chamber for use inside. Reagan Cole looks to be in a very bad way after that strike to the face with the pipe, though.”
Allen Price: “Well, there’s no way that Alyster Black is going to allow himself to fall victim to something like that. He’s the longest reigning X Champion in history; if there was anyone who knows his way around a weapon, it is him.”
Alyster Black watches from his knees as Death Walker turns around after laying out Reagan Cole. A shot of Cole’s face shows that the blow with the pipe busted him open on his forehead and blood drips down onto the mat from the cut as Cole looks around trying to remember where he is. ‘Black Jesus’ is forced to roll out of the way to avoid Death Walker attempting to slam the pipe down onto his head. The pipe strikes the mat and Death Walker turns around to a barrage of forearm smashes from Black, directly to the face.
The strikes initially have not much effect, but Black’s determination allows the sixth and seventh blows to stagger Walker back a couple of paces. Black manages to wrestle the pipe from Death Walker and he swings it, aiming for the midsection of ‘The Dark Traveler’, but Death catches it with both hands. This leaves him open for Black to strike him with a Headbutt directly across the bridge of the nose and Walker falls back into the corner against the turnbuckle.
Chris Peacock is shown cheering on Black from inside his pod as ‘Black Jesus’ takes a moment to look around at the fans in the arena before inviting Death Walker to a VIOLENCE PARTY! Black strikes Walker with chops, punches, elbows and kicks in the corner in an attempt to wear down the Hell-dweller. They seem to do the trick as Death Walker stumbles down to a knee in the corner and some stomps from Black knocks him down into a seated position.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Alyster Black has Death Walker in a good spot, he could be thinking about a Face Wash here?”
Black takes a moment to catch his breath and then measures Death Walker against the turnbuckle before he runs the ropes and looks to come back with a Face Wash - BUT DEATH WALKER SPRINGS TO LIFE AND RUNS THROUGH BLACK WITH THE WRIGHT WAY!! It is a knee strike similar to the one that Black took before the match had even started, and Death Walker slides him towards the middle of the ring and goes for a cover; forcing both shoulders down with his hands…
ONE… TWO… THRE-NO!!!
Allen Price: “This Death Walker is a monster! It is no wonder that he beat Cyrus Truth, although I know that’s not as much of an accomplishment as it sounds like. You know, because-”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Why don’t you go back to worrying about how you are going to beat Cyrus Truth? In the meantime, the rest of us can get on with our jobs. Death Walker got close with that one and well, I think he could be looking for some assistance from one of his Terrors of Darkness once again.”
Stepping through the ropes, Death Walker gestures to one of the Terrors of Darkness on the outside and it seems that they all have something that they wish to provide their leader with. Death has the option between a light tube and a hammer, but he selects the third option. The crowd gasp in horror and anticipation as Death Walker is passed a baseball bat from his disciple on the outside, but this is no ordinary baseball bat…
Anzu Kurosawa: “THAT’S A BASEBALL BAT COVERED IN BROKEN GLASS!!!”
Rod Sterling: “We’ve seen baseball bats used in these matches before, but never one like this. Reagan Cole is still out cold it would seem and Alyster Black came back into the match hurt after weaselperson’s attack… the Steel Roulette is nothing more than Death Walker’s sadistic and twisted playground right now!”
The entire bat is covered in jagged shards of glass with the exception of the handle end which Death Walker holds, and he stands over Alyster Black with the bat in hand. From inside his pod, Chris Peacock is slamming on the glass and swearing as many obscenities as he can in an attempt to discourage Death Walker. In a show of defiance to the FWA World Champion, Death directs Black’s face in his best friend’s direction and kneels down over him with the bat in his hand.
Using his free hand, Death Walker lifts up Black’s head, almost as if he is applying a Camel Clutch and Black looks right into Peacock’s eyes as DEATH WALKER DRIVES THE BAT INTO BLACK’S FACE!! Black’s mask acts as an insignificant layer of protection and the tag champion screams out in pain and calls for his partner’s help. Peacock attempts to slam through the door, unable to watch his partner get mutilated in such a horrific fashion.
Allen Price: “This is barbaric! This must be awful for Alyster, bringing back memories of what that crazy bastard Devin Golden did to him two years ago.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Alyster Black needs Chris Peacock more than he ever has before… and he could be getting him, because it is time for the fourth entrant in this match to make themselves known…”
As Death Walker continues to drive the glass into Black’s forehead, the lights dim and the spotlight decides which competitor is going to enter next…
Rod Sterling: “Much to Chris Peacock’s frustration, he is not going to have a chance to save his tag team partner, but Katsu is coming into the match now and we’re about to see what she makes of Death Walker’s maiming of Alyster Black…”
Katsu wastes no time exiting her pod and making her way into the ring where she surveys the bloody scene with Alyster Black refusing to submit to the torture that he finds himself in courtesy of Death Walker. Death Walker himself appears completely oblivious to Katsu’s entry into the match and he continues gouging through Black’s mask into his forehead with the glass. Despite Black being in an awful way thanks to Death Walker’s handiwork, Katsu sees her opportunity with Death Walker’s back turned and SHE CRASHES INTO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD WITH THE BURNING ARROW!!
Death Walker falls down onto his front and the pressure is finally relieved on Alyster Black, and Katsu makes sure to kick the bat away under the ropes where it lands in front of Chris Peacock’s pod. She then turns Death Walker over with some struggle and leans back, pinning him;
ONE… TWO-NO!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That was an opportunistic strike from Katsu on Death Walker, but not enough to put ‘The Dark Traveler’ away. Katsu is going to try for a pin on Alyster Black now as well!”
Jumping from Walker to Black, Katsu hooks both of Black’s legs…
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
Alyster Black kicks out and he immediately bolts up into a seated position and the fans watching are horrified to see the state of his face; his mask has been almost shredded above his eyes but all that is visible underneath is blood. Katsu hops back up to her feet and delivers a straight kick across Black’s chest that knocks him down onto his back, but he sits back up, defiant. Therefore Katsu is left with no other choice but to deliver a Roundhouse to Black’s head, which knocks him down.
As Katsu tries to wipe Black’s blood from her arm and shoulder from the pin attempt, she is grabbed from behind by Death Walker, who attempts to lock in a Sleeper and take Katsu over for the BEDTIME STORY - BUT KATSU LANDS ON HER FEET! Death Walker turns around and Katsu charges forward, connecting with a Bicycle Knee strike straight to the face, which knocks Death Walker back towards the ropes.
There is no let up from Katsu, as when Walker comes back towards her, she scores with a Superkick straight to the jaw of the larger man, which causes him to spill through the ropes to the outside.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Katsu is being relentless here, and she knows that it is necessary against the Death Walker. These are familiar opponents due to their previous battles over the Television Championship.”
Death Walker does not stay down for long after being knocked to the outside, but Katsu is ready for him and she waits in the ring. Once Death Walker turns around, Katsu slingshots herself over the ropes and looks for a DDT… but Death Walker catches her up on his shoulder! Katsu is unable to transition into anything else and is therefore at Death Walker’s mercy… AND HE THROWS HER STRAIGHT INTO HER NOW EMPTY POD!!
Katsu bounces off of the pod and then lands on the floor in a heap. Death Walker stands alone once more and extends his arms in defiance… BUT REAGAN COLE SMACKS HIM IN THE BACK WITH THE STEEL PIPE!!! Death Walker falls forward and drops to a knee, and a bloodied and pissed off Reagan Cole stands over him with the pipe.
Allen Price: “When did Reagan Cole turn into a badass, guys?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “It does not seem like Reagan was happy about being struck with that pipe, and he’s ready to get some sort of revenge here on Death Walker!”
Cole doesn’t strike Walker with the pipe, instead he leans down and puts the pipe across Death’s throat and begins to start choking him out with the pipe! Death Walker reaches back and tries to grab Cole, but he cannot and Cole seems set on choking the life out of the man who bloodied him with the pipe a few minutes ago. The determined look in Cole’s eyes shows that he is not content on being Death’s whipping boy and as Walker starts to sputter, Cole drops him and then throws the pipe across the chamber.
Death Walker falls to the floor next to the wall of the chamber, and once again one of the Terrors of Darkness is there to pass something to Death Walker, but Death keeps it hidden under his body. Reagan starts measuring Death, motioning for him to get up. Death Walker pulls himself up and walks towards the ropes, trying to create a bit of separation between himself and Cole, but it does not stop COLE STRIKING DEATH WALKER WITH THE COLE BREAKER!!!
Rod Sterling: “Reagan Cole got him! We could be seeing the first elimination here, if Reagan Cole can just get across to make the cover!”
The bloodied and weary Cole reaches out for Walker, but cannot get to him as Walker has shuffled under the bottom rope and into the ring. Cole shakes out some cobwebs as he follows him in and then with Death Walker on the mat, Cole grabs his foot and seems to be wanting to lock in THE FIRE OF COLE! Cole tries to grapevine his leg… BUT DEATH WALKER PUNCHES HIM IN THE FACE!
The sheer power behind the punch causes Cole to let go of Walker’s leg and he falls back onto the mat, holding his nose. When Cole moves his hand, it is clear that his nose is absolutely gushing with blood. A shot then shows that Death Walker has a steel chain wrapped around his wrist!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That punch looked like it was loaded - and it is because it was! We’ve seen Death Walker employ a steel chain before and he’s put it to good use again here tonight.”
Death Walker is clearly impeded by Cole’s offence and he is slower up to his feet than he has been in the match thus far as Cole does the same, his nose dripping a constant stream of blood. Cole motions for Walker to bring it, and he avoids the incoming punch and lands a couple of his own… BUT THEN DEATH WALKER SCORES WITH A HUGE CROSS JAB TO COLE’S NOSE!!!
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think he’s broken his nose!”
Reagan Cole drops to a knee and has his fist up still, although his face has taken an absolute pounding from Death Walker. Walker removes the chain from his hand and the crowd gasps as he wraps it around Reagan Cole’s neck. Death Walker puts his foot in between Cole’s shoulder blades and then pulls back on the chain, choking the life out of Reagan Cole!
Larry Stevens is down to ask Cole whether he is going to submit, but Cole indicates that he isn’t, but his face is starting to go blue. His nose injury makes it even harder for him to breathe and as the colour ebbs from his face, Cole looks back as far as he can towards Walker and throws up a middle finger… before he passes out. Larry Stevens declares that Cole can no longer continue!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Despite a valiant effort and definitely evidence that he is ‘Wrestling’s Survivor’, Reagan Cole is the first to be eliminated from this match and it begs the question as to whether anyone can stop Death Walker?”
The door to the Steel Roulette is opened to allow Reagan Cole to exit, although medical personnel have to retrieve him from the ring. Death Walker stands alone in the ring, as the lights dim again and one of the final two competitors in the match is about to be unleashed into it.
A loud cheer goes up as the door to Fenix’s pod slides open. A shot of the FWA World Champion shows Chris Peacock laughing that he has been able to secure the final spot in the match for the second year in a row. Fenix enters the ring with some trepidation as Death Walker is standing in the middle of the ring waiting for him. Death wraps the chain around his knuckles once more in anticipation, hoping to cause similar damage to Fenix as he did Cole. The two face off in the middle of the ring, with the crowd firmly in support of Fenix. Fenix points out to them with both hands and then does a crotch chop directly at Death Walker!
This causes Death Walker to swing at Fenix with a punch with the chain, but Fenix ducks it and KATSU CATCHES WALKER WITH A SUPERKICK! Katsu, back after being sent into the pod by Death Walker, watches as Walker drops to a knee after the kick. Fenix wags his finger at Katsu almost to say “this is how you do it”... AND FENIX DRILLS WALKER WITH A SUPERKICK, DROPPING HIM DOWN TO THE MAT!
Rod Sterling: “Superkick Me Baby One More Time! If there is anyone in this match that knows how to throw down a Superkick, it is ‘The Sin City Bad Boy’!”
Allen Price: “It seems like they’ve finally gotten Death Walker down, so let’s see what these two can do. Idiots are going to wear themselves out just before the final entrant gets into the match. Fortune favours the bold and Chris Peacock has been smiled upon two years in a row - this is a good omen.”
With Death Walker dealt with, Katsu removes the chain from his hand and throws it up on top of one of the empty pods to prevent Walker - or anyone else for that matter - from getting the chain to use to everyone else’s detriment. Fenix allows her to do this, but then he is in place to lock up with Katsu. Fenix gets the better of it, and he tries running Katsu back into the corner, but she manages to slide through his legs.
Katsu jumps into the air, looking for a Dropkick, but Fenix palms her feet away and she lands on her front. Fenix then drops down and tries to drop an elbow down across Katsu’s back, but she rolls out of the way and springs back to her feet. She cartwheels over Fenix and then springs back, looking for an Arm Drag, but Fenix blocks it and holds onto Katsu. Looking to elevate her up into the air to slam her back down, Fenix is caught off guard when Katsu floats over and lands on her feet. The two of them stop with their fists up, and the crowd cheers.
There is a moment where Fenix and Katsu take a moment to acknowledge the crowd’s appreciation, but this is when Jackson Fenix strikes and cuts Katsu off with a boot to the midsection!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Hey, I guess some things may just come naturally to Jackson Fenix, but with the FWA World Championship on the line, who can really blame him?”
Fenix scoops Katsu up and drops her onto the mat with a Scoop Slam. As Katsu gets back to her feet, Fenix measures her and he attempts to hook her up and drop her with a Front Suplex, but Katsu brings her knee up/down and lands it on Fenix’s head. This allows her to get down and she lands on her feet behind him. She shoves Fenix forward and he turns around into an Enziguiri from Katsu, which takes him down to a knee. With some separation between herself and Fenix, Katsu runs towards the ropes and looks to come back with a Springboard Crossbody… BUT FENIX CATCHES HER WITH A SUPERKICK IN MID AIR!!!
Despite Katsu being airborne and at an awkward angle, Fenix found his mark and he quickly drops down on top of her to make a cover;
ONE… TWO… NO!!!
Before Fenix can do anything though, he feels a hand on the back of his head, which grabs his hair very tightly. As Fenix is brought up to his feet, he sees an irate Death Walker with his hand on his hair and before Fenix can do anything, DEATH WALKER BRINGS HIM UP AND DRIVES HIM DOWN ON TOP OF KATSU WITH THE HELL’S FURY!! Both Fenix and Katsu are down and stacked up to boot after that move, and Walker stands in the middle of the ring, alone.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “They got him down, but now he’s back up and it does not look like anyone is going to be able to put Death Walker away at this rate. Although he seems somewhat distracted, like he is looking for something.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He wants that chain again; it has already brought him a lot of luck in this match so far and helped him eliminate Reagan Cole and there’s no reason why he can’t do the same thing again!”
With help from The Dark Guardian on the outside, Death learns that his chain is on top of one of the empty pods; the one opposite the last occupied one. With a nod, he begins to climb up onto the turnbuckle to enable himself to reach the top of the pod… BUT ALYSTER BLACK CLUBS HIM FROM BEHIND!! The crowd cheers as the bloodied Black is back in the mix, and he lays into Death Walker with several strikes to the back and the back of the head.
With Death Walker on the middle turnbuckle, Black decides that he is going to scale it too and this is when he notices the chain which Death Walker was looking to retrieve. Black decides to make it his mission to get it as well. He strikes Death Walker several times and even stands on his shoulders to get the chain from the top of the pod. Black grips it in his hand and tries wrapping it around his knuckles as Walker had done himself, but Death Walker strikes Black in the midsection several times. Death Walker, facing the ring, tries to get Black up onto his shoulder…
Allen Price: “He’s not going to try and hit him with the Blackout from up there, is he?!”
It seems like that is exactly what Walker is fixing to do, and as he struggles to get Black in position, the lights dim for the final time! The spotlight flickers around but lands on the last pod, belonging to the FWA World Champion!
The crowd boo at Peacock entering the match, but he does not care as his goal immediately upon entry is to stop Death Walker from finishing Alyster Black off. As Peacock exits his pod, he stands on the same glass-covered baseball bat which Death Walker used on Alyster Black and he takes it in his hand as he gets into the ring… AND PEACOCK SWINGS THE BAT STRAIGHT INTO THE MIDSECTION OF DEATH WALKER!!! The blow causes Death to hunch down and hold his stomach as some blood emerges from the wound inflicted by Peacock. Peacock drops the mat and catches Aly Black, and the FWA World Tag Team Champions have a quick hug and Peacock then pulls Death Walker down from the turnbuckle and he lands in the middle of the ring. Peacock lines him up from the corner and CHARGES IN, HITTING DEATH WALKER WITH THE STRUT!!! Peacock with the cover;
ONE… TWO… NO!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Peacock got in there at just the right time as far as Alyster Black is concerned, and now the fresh man can take it to Death Walker on his own, but Death Walker kicked out of The Strut; it took three of those for Peacock to put Jeremy Best away last year.”
The FWA World Champion has finishing off Death Walker as his top priority in the match and he once again takes up a position in the corner and he waits for Death Walker to rise. When he does, Peacock sprints across the ring, looking for the ROLLER DISCO - BUT DEATH WALKER BLOCKS IT! The large man plants his feet which prevents Peacock from charging him into the turnbuckle as the first part of the Roller Disco sequence, and Peacock continues to push, but Death Walker sledges the champion across the back.
However, before Walker can do anything, HE IS STRUCK BY STEREO SUPERKICKS FROM KATSU AND JACKSON FENIX! Peacock then bursts back into life and charges Walker into the corner… ROLLER DISCO CONNECTS!!!
Peacock does not go for a cover, though, as he hears a shout from Alyster Black who takes Death Walker’s chain and wraps it around his arm which he has outstretched as he stands against the ropes. Death Walker, despite everything he has taken in this match, seeks to rise one more time… AND BLACK FLATTENS HIM WITH A ONE SHOT KILL, USING THE STEEL CHAIN! Black jumps on top of Death Walker - so does Peacock AND Katsu AND Fenix! Larry Stevens counts the fall for the bundle;
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
A cheer goes up for the #teamwork by the now four remaining participants in the match and they all get off of Death Walker and back away as ‘The Dark Traveler’ is encouraged to leave the Steel Roulette. Walker seems willing to try and stay in, but under advice from The Dark Guardian on the outside, he leaves and starts walking up the ramp, with The Dark Guardian and the Terrors of Darkness following him.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Four left in the match, all to various degrees of fatigue. We have Chris Peacock who is still as fresh as a daisy, but at the other end of the scale, Alyster Black is still in quite a bad way.”
Rod Sterling: “But what Alyster Black does have in there is a friend. I don’t think we’ll see Peacock going after Black at this juncture and as a result, Katsu and Fenix should probably think about buddying up, perhaps.”
The same thought seems to be running through both Katsu and Fenix’s heads. They see Peacock helping Black up to his feet, but it is clear that ‘Black Jesus’ is not even close to one hundred percent and when Fenix and Katsu attack FTN, Black falls easily upon Fenix barging him down but Peacock starts trying to throw hands with Katsu, but Fenix gets him from behind with a Chop Block! The crowd start to cheer as Fenix and Katsu work together to stomp and strike Peacock down until he is on the mat, and they don’t stop even then!
Peacock does his best to protect himself, but the mugging soon catches up with him and even though he tries to fight through, a stiff kick to the back from Katsu cuts him off. Fenix shoves Peacock down onto his back and then drops a leg across his throat, and Katsu follows up with a Standing Moonsault! Katsu then covers the champion;
ONE… T-NO!!
Quickly rising to his knees, Peacock grabs Katsu by the head and then drills her with a forearm strike to the face to create a bit of separation. Fenix then approaches Peacock and looks for a punch, but Peacock blocks it and rocks Fenix with one of his own. The FWA World Champion strikes with another snap jab to the face and he does a twirl, looking for a third, but Fenix ducks it. Peacock turns around and Fenix hooks him up and drops him with a Snap Dragon Suplex! Peacock ends up on his knees and Fenix RUNS THROUGH HIM WITH A BICYCLE KNEE - THE DOUBLE SHOT!
With Peacock dazed following the quick one-two, Fenix drags him up and looks to hit him with CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ - Peacock spins out of it! The FWA World Champion looks to follow up with a Clothesline, but Fenix ducks and Katsu is on hand to Dropkick Peacock straight in the face! The impact knocks Peacock back and he slumps down against the middle rope. Fenix looks to follow up, but Katsu motions for him to stand back and she charges forward… SAKURA KICK!! Fenix then motions for Katsu to stand away…
Allen Price: “What the hell is this?! They can’t just work together like that! Cowards!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Peacock may be the freshest person in the match, but Katsu and Fenix are doing everything in their power to wear him down, and it looks like Fenix could be ready to finish him off!”
The fans cheer loudly as Peacock then staggers away from the ropes into Fenix’s path… THIS TIME FENIX DOES HIT PEACOCK WITH CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’!!! The fans cheer as Fenix then gets on top of Peacock, closing his eyes and leaning back;
…
ONE!
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
THREE-NO!!!
BROKEN UP BY ALYSTER BLACK!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Let me guess, Price. You don’t have any objections to Alyster Black stopping Jackson Fenix from ensuring that there would be a new FWA World Champion, though?”
The fans aren’t best pleased as Black bundles into Fenix to get him off of Peacock and prevent his tag team partner from being eliminated from the match. Fenix is not happy about it at all, and he rises to his feet along with Black and shoves him in the chest, arguing that it is every person for themselves and Black should have just let him eliminate Peacock. Black is not interested in hearing it and he chops Fenix across the chest, which sends ‘The Sin City Bad Boy’ back a few paces.
Katsu arrives on the scene, but Black flails his hand towards her and catches her in the mouth with it. The FWA World Tag Team Champion then switches between chopping Fenix and then Katsu in an attempt to wear them both down at the same time, but both Fenix and Katsu deliver a kick to Black’s midsection at the same time, which doubles him over. Both of them wring one of Black’s arms, but there is a miscommunication and Black pulls his arms together, sending them into each other.
Grabbing Fenix, Black delivers a Snapmare to him but before he can follow up, he blocks a strike from Katsu and does the same, leaving her in a seated position next to Fenix. Black takes a moment to adjust his tattered mask and then jumps into the air, Dropkicking both Fenix and Katsu in the back of the head at the same time!
Rod Sterling: “Despite everything that he has been put through since the beginning of this match, Alyster Black is still in there and still fighting. Here he is with a cover on Fenix;”
Black shoves Fenix down onto his back;
ONE… TWO-NO!!
He then moves over to Katsu and covers her;
ONE… TWO-NO!!
‘Black Jesus’ clears some blood from his eyes under his mask and then stands up, noting that Peacock is still down on the outside of the ring after taking Fenix’s finishing move, but is stirring in his attempt to recover from California Dreamin’. With it being just up to him for the time being, he lifts Fenix from the mat… Saito Suplex! It takes Black a couple of seconds to get to his feet, by which time Katsu is back up once again and she cuts him off with a chop across his chest, but Black absorbs it and returns fire - dropping Katsu down to the mat!
Black sees Jackson Fenix rising to his feet near the ropes and he charges in, as Peacock enters the ring behind Fenix… BLACK GOES FOR THE ONE SHOT KILL - FENIX DUCKS - AND BLACK NAILS CHRIS PEACOCK WITH IT!!! The crowd cheer for the miscommunication between the tag team champions and Peacock is completely out of it after the strike and Black stands with his head in his hands.
Allen Price: “ALYSTER WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Come on, Chris! Get up! Get up!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, Alyster Black can’t believe what he has just done, but he’s got to get his head back into the match because Jackson Fenix is right there, ready and waiting!”
As Black shows his regret at hitting his partner with the errant One Shot Kill, he fails to notice that behind him, Jackson Fenix is crouched down and ready to strike, waiting on Black to turn around. Black does… STRAIGHT INTO A SUPERKICK ME BABY ONE MORE TIME!!! Black drops to the mat like a stone on his back, and both FTN members are down now. Fenix reaches down to follow up on Alyster Black… BUT KATSU SNEAKS UP ON HIM FROM BEHIND AND ROLLS FENIX UP!!!
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
Anzu Kurosawa: “WOAH! Katsu got him! It seemed like an alliance of sorts had come together between Katsu and Fenix, but she saw her opportunity and took it!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “And just like that, we are down to three! Katsu, Alyster Black and Chris Peacock are all that remain-”
Allen Price: “Katsu must think that she’s SOOOOOO smart right now, huh? Is she stupid? She does realise that she has now just left herself in there ON HER OWN with the FWA World Tag Team Champions and super best friends, right?”
The crowd are shocked and show their frustration at the fan favourite Jackson Fenix being eliminated and he looks at Katsu in disappointment, moving his hair from his face and shaking his head. As Fenix leaves the cage, Katsu seems to show some remorse, but as Fenix himself berated Peacock about, it is every person for themselves in this match and there was nothing against the rules about what Katsu did.
However, as Allen Price did point out, Katsu is now all alone in the Steel Roulette with the FWA World Tag Team Champions and One Shot Kill aside, two people who have shown that they are willing to work together in order to ensure that one of them leaves as the FWA World Champion. With Peacock still down from the One Shot Kill, Katsu knows that she needs to finish Alyster Black off if she stands a chance of winning the match. She lifts Black up from the mat off of Fenix’s Superkick and props him up - and then delivers one of her own, but Black does not go down.
With the tag champ seemingly out on his feet, Katsu measures him up again and this time lands the Superkick directly to his jaw, knocking him down onto his back. Katsu, nearing twenty minutes in the match herself, heads towards the turnbuckle. She slowly pulls herself up.
Rod Sterling: “Katsu needs to do everything she can to put Black away; she must fancy herself against Peacock on his own, but she is up against it. If Peacock makes it back up from that One Shot Kill before she can eliminate Black, it could be over for her.”
Katsu rises to her feet on the top rope and turns around, taking a deep breath. She sees that Chris Peacock is almost back to his feet, and the FWA World Champion watches on as KATSU TAKES FLIGHT… AND LANDS ON TOP OF ALYSTER BLACK WITH NIGHTFALL!!! She holds her stomach and watches as Peacock gets to his feet and slowly steps between the ropes. Katsu has her eyes firmly locked on Peacock as she leans back and goes for the cover on Black, hooking a leg…
Anzu Kurosawa: “I-Is Peacock going to let her pin him?”
There does not appear to be any sort of interference by Peacock and Larry Stevens gets down to count the pin…
…
ONE!
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
…
THREE-
NO!!!
PEACOCK HAS A CHANGE OF HEART AT THE LAST MINUTE AND RUNS THROUGH KATSU WITH THE STRUT!!! The crowd boos, excited to see Peacock potentially turn his back on his tag team partner, as they have been anticipating for some time. Katsu is seemingly out of it, as she took the blow straight to the face and Peacock lifts Black up from the mat and slaps him a couple of times to rouse him. He points down at Katsu and motions for Black to pick her up.
Despite his absolutely beaten state, Black lifts Katsu from the mat and then puts her head in between his legs and lifts her up into a Powerbomb position. Katsu is unable to fight back as BLACK DRIVES HER DOWN TOWARDS THE MAT AND PEACOCK CATCHES HER WITH A LUNGBLOWER ON THE WAY DOWN!!! The tandem move from FTN has Katsu down and out on the mat.
Allen Price: “They call that move the Load Blower!! It is over for Katsu now, people!”
After that move, Black drops down and covers Katsu and Peacock watches on;
ONE!
…
TWO!!
…
…
THREE!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, it is down to two, and of course it was always going to be these two; Chris Peacock and Alyster Black. The FWA World Tag Team Champions and supposedly best friends… if there was ever a test of that friendship it is now- PEACOCK ROLLS BLACK UP!!!”
As Black rose to his feet following Katsu’s elimination, Peacock got in behind with a Schoolboy!
…
ONE!
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
THREE-NO!!!
Black kicked out at the last second and immediately after, both members of FTN rise to their feet and push their foreheads together. Black is not happy about Peacock trying to get a quick and cheap victory there and Peacock seems annoyed that Black would question the fact that he would not try and retain his championship by any means necessary.
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think it is all starting to boil over, guys…”
Rod Sterling: “That move from Peacock was very reminiscent of the Golden Opportunity match from two years ago; Peacock rolled up then-friend Randy Ramon after they had worked together to eliminate Alyster Black’s then-partner Krash!”
The crowd are on tenterhooks waiting for the inevitable explosion of FTN; what they have been waiting for ever since Black and Peacock shacked up together several months ago. The tension brewing between the partners since Back in Business seems to be coming to the surface, and the crowd becomes unglued when the two of them begin to unload on each other with wild punches!
Both Black and Peacock have the other’s head cradled and they lay into each other with repeated blows to the head and face. Both begin to fade at the same time after roughly twenty seconds of unleashing shots on each other. Black’s strikes are too strong and Black is too weakened to be able to sustain a prolonged assault. They drop down to their knees in the middle of the ring and Black rears back and cracks Peacock in the face with a punch. Peacock does not punch Black back… BUT PIMP SLAPS HIM INSTEAD!
That gets an “OOH!” from the watching crowd, and Peacock rises to his feet to assert some form of dominance, but Black gets up too, riled up by the disrespectful move from his best friend. Peacock goes to Pimp Slap Black one more time, but misses and over rotates, and this allows Black to trap his arm and hit him with a Ripcord Rolling Elbow!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That could be a message sent to the Dark Roads Alliance - because that looked a lot like a Rasputin’s Revenge to me, wrestling fans.”
With Peacock down on the mat, the fans find themselves getting behind ‘Black Jesus’; the objectively more likeable member of FTN and also the man who has been in the match since the beginning and been put through hell by almost everyone else in it. Black lifts Peacock from the mat and he places Peacock’s head under his arm. Black pauses for a moment and lifts Peacock up into the air… SATAN’S SPIKE - BUT PEACOCK LANDS ON HIS FEET BEHIND BLACK! Black turns around and Peacock kicks him in the gut… Disco Thriller Stunner!
The Stunner finds its mark, but leaves Black on his feet but very much stunned… and Peacock then runs the ropes and comes back towards Black, and cuts him in half with a Spear! The crowd begins to boo as Peacock gets up and starts beating his chest, starting to sense that this could be the beginning of the end.
Allen Price: “These guys are both my clients - this is a win-win for me - but this is the man who I have been with since the start. This is the FWA World Champion!”
The crowd continues to jeer and hiss at Peacock as he takes up a position in the corner, waiting for Black to get to his feet. Despite the love he has for the man across the ring from him, Peacock knows that he has to do what he has to do in order to win this match and keep his reign intact. As Black gets up to his feet, Peacock charges in… HE RUNS BLACK INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER AND THEN SLAMS HIM DOWN INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE RING WITH A SPINEBUSTER - THE ROLLER DISCO CONNECTS!!!
Peacock thinks about going for a cover, but decides that he is not going to. He shakes his head and makes it clear that he knows that it takes more than that to keep Alyster Black down.
Anzu Kurosawa: “He’s going to go for another.”
Rod Sterling: “Chris Peacock wants to make sure. He knows the kind of man he is dealing with and he knows that Black is not going to lay down for just anything. Another Roller Disco - a second - will surely do it.”
It takes Black quite a while to stir and pull himself up from the mat. Peacock wants to hit the Roller Disco, but it is clear that the champion is getting impatient. Therefore, he instead waits for Black to sit up… AND PEACOCK TRIES TO HIT BLACK WITH THE STRUT INSTEAD - BUT BLACK BLOCKS IT AND CATCHES HIS FOOT!!!
The crowd cheers and Peacock looks down in shock, and Alyster gets back up with Peacock’s boot in his grasp and then forces his partner back into the corner AND BLACK DISHES OUT A VIOLENCE PARTY!!! Even though it is his best friend in front of him, Black does not hold back with any of the strikes. He peppers Peacock all over his body, and Peacock seems to be wanting to just find a way to get away from Black.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “These will be Alyster Black’s final energy reserves… he is hitting Peacock with everything that he has left and I’m not sure how much more if it Peacock can take.”
Chris tries to push Alyster away, but he can’t. Nothing Peacock does to resist the Violence Party is doing anything to stop the onslaught… so his only resort is to back up onto the turnbuckle. Chris steps on the bottom turnbuckle, then the middle and then the top… and Alyster follows him. Eventually, both FTN members are perched on top of the top rope using the adjoining pod to maintain their balance. Black grabs Peacock by the head and slams his partner’s face into the pod!
Unable to respond with a return of fire, Peacock’s daze causes him to make a potentially catastrophic decision. He pulls himself up onto the top of the pod, and Alyster is left looking up at him. Peacock takes a moment to gather himself in his seemingly safe position… that is until Black also climbs up to the top of the pod. Peacock rolls onto his front and then gets to his knees as Black stands over him, and he uses Black to pull himself up. Both men are on uneven footing atop the pod, and a punch from Peacock to Black causes Alyster to teeter back, almost falling from the top of the pod, but he stops himself.
Rod Sterling: “This looks like a final stand if I have ever seen one…”
Black holds onto Peacock’s head to keep his balance, but Chris cuts him off with a knee to the midsection and he tries to throw Black from the top of the pod, but Black does everything in his power to stop him. Repeated elbows to the ribs of Peacock cause Chris to let go. Black kicks Peacock in the chest and Peacock slams back-first into the chamber wall, causing the champion to wince.
There is then a moment where Black and Peacock stare at each other. Peacock has his back against the wall and Alyster is in the danger zone with his back facing the mammoth drop down into the ring below. Alyster slowly shakes his head, knowing what Peacock is thinking of doing.
Allen Price: “Alyster… please believe that this is going to hurt Chris as much as it is going to hurt you.”
Peacock seems to be welling up and he looks straight at Alyster and quietly utters, “I’m sorry. I have to.”... and PEACOCK RUSHES FORWARD AND TACKLES BLACK…
AND BOTH MEN FALL FROM THE TOP OF THE POD INTO THE RING BELOW…
AND THEY BOTH GO THROUGH THE CANVAS!!!!
Anzu Kurosawa: “OH MY GOD!!!!”
Rod Sterling: “I can’t hear myself think! These fans have gone insane with noise! Peacock just sacrificed himself and his best friend! Get a camera in there now!”
As the crowd go ballistic in the stadium, Larry Stevens in the ring circles the hole into which FTN disappeared. The camera finally catches up and Alyster Black is knocked out cold, on his back in the hole. Chris Peacock is next to him, breathing heavily and completely in shock over what he just did… but Peacock slowly… drapes an arm across his partner’s chest. Larry Stevens has to make the count for the pin;
…
…
ONE!
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
THREE!!!
As unhappy as the fans must be about the result of the match and the fact that Chris Peacock has retained the FWA World Championship, they are still completely shellshocked by what they just witnessed. Peacock’s music plays, but a shot of the champion’s face shows that he is not actually sure where he is or what is happening. He shakes involuntarily, his hands trembling and he looks over to his left and sees Black still unconscious. Immediately, he wraps his arm around Black’s head, cradling him.
Kurt Harrington: “Here is your winner and STILL the FWA World Champion… CHRIS PEACOCK!!!”
Allen Price: “Are they alright? I can’t watch this…”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “The son of a bitch has done it again. Chris Peacock is still your FWA World Champion, but he had to break his own heart in order to do it tonight. Alyster Black fought through all manner of punishment both before and during the match; his efforts simply must be commended, but on the night, it was Chris Peacock that was willing to do what he had to.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “We don’t know whether Alyster Black would have done the same thing to Chris Peacock. I’d like to think that he probably would have. For FTN’s sake, Chris Peacock must hope that Alyster understands why he did it. Why he had to.”
The FWA World Championship is passed to Peacock, who turns onto his back and demands that the tag titles are brought to him. Doctors rush the ring in an attempt to see to both competitors, but Peacock tells them to leave them alone. As the tag titles are handed to him, he places one on Black’s chest and sees that Black has woken up and Black, whilst disappointed, pats Peacock on the head in congratulations. Peacock asks for a microphone, and Kurt Harrington passes him his.
Chris Peacock: “Aly… we’re doing that again. Lights Out.”
A big cheer goes up and Peacock and Black both close their eyes, breathing heavily. If the Eighteenth Anniversary Show didn’t kill FTN…
Lights Out just might.
proudly presents
Live from the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Sunday 3rd September, 2023.
Only on the WCNetwork.
Entering the Kensington Oval with an establishing shot over the calm night’s sky in Barbados, the camera rushes down inside the stadium and we hear the sounds of the capacity crowd of 28,000 making their voices heard. As music plays through the speaker systems and fireworks shoot up from both the stage, the turnbuckles and even from the stadium roof, we hear Jean-Luc Watkins’s voice for the first time in the evening.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Tonight is as historic a night as any for the Fantasy Wrestling Alliance, as we come together as a company to celebrate eighteen glorious years at the pinnacle of professional wrestling! Myself - Jean-Luc Watkins - along with my broadcast colleagues from Meltdown, Rod Sterling and Anzu Kurosawa, will be on hand to guide you through all of the-”
Allen Price: “Hey! What about me, Jean-Luc?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “My apologies, Price. It is hard to remember that you’re here with us when you are actually not here with us.”
For clarification purposes, things cut to a shot of the commentary table where JLW, Sterling and Anzu are seated, all dressed to the nines. Then the shot zooms out slightly to reveal a large perspex box. Inside of which is another, smaller desk and sitting at it is Allen Price, who is wearing a hideous lemon yellow tuxedo.
Anzu Kurosawa: “You’re not seriously going to sit in that all night, are you, Allen? This seems like a bit of an overreaction.”
Allen Price: “A threat was made against my person, Anzu! This is a necessary safety precaution. We all saw how much of a mess Fallout was when I left the other night, Jean-Luc could barely hold the show together!”
Rod Sterling: “Don’t rise to that, Jean-Luc. I think our time would be better spent talking about the amazing show that we have coming up tonight. We’re going to see advancements in the tournaments to decide the next Television Champion and the next challengers to the Trios Championships. Tommy Bedlam defends the X Championship against XYZ and in tonight’s main event, the FWA World Championship will be on the line in a Steel Roulette Match! Chris Peacock defends against five challengers inside the hellacious structure!”
As Sterling talks, we are shown the Steel Roulette structure, which is being suspended above the ring on a canopy supported by several steel trusses, ready to be lowered down later on in time for the main event.
Allen Price: “Phenomenal rundown, Rod. Chris Peacock does defend one of his TWO championships inside the Steel Roulette. Such a brave and fighting FWA World Champion we have, don’t we?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Wrestling fans, we have an absolutely packed show for you all tonight, so there is no need to stand on ceremony… let’s get going with the first of our nine matches!”
The crowd is at first unsure how to react as the unknown music begins to play and the stadium descends into darkness. With each loud burst of instrumental music, a line of fireballs shoot up from the stage. As the baritone voice begins to sing, three figures can be seen on the stage. The two on each flank are of a ‘regular’ height with the third being much shorter in comparison. As the music begins to settle into a determined rhythm, the trio are revealed to the crowd, who cheer very loudly upon seeing them.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall, with a twenty minute time limit! Introducing first, accompanied by Epsilon and at a combined weight of four-hundred and forty-two pounds… ‘The Mad Wizard’ Konchu Hao and ‘The Exile’ Cyrus Truth… they are… THE DARK ROADS AAAALLLIAAANNNCEE!!!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “The Dark Roads Alliance? I do not think you could get a much more bad ass tag team name for these two guys if you tried!”
Rod Sterling: “This is all BALLER, yo! We saw on Fallout that Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao seem to have set their sights upon the FWA World Tag Team Championships which are currently held by Chris Peacock and Alyster Black and a victory tonight against the team that FTN recently defended the titles against themselves would seriously boost their credentials.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That it would, Rod. After what happened at Back in Business, it was clear that Cyrus Truth needed some sort of ally and he found one in the form of ‘The Mad Wizard’... speaking of what happened in Mexico City, you seem a little quiet over there, Price?”
It is evidently clear that the men approaching the ring are the reason as to why Allen Price has chosen to shield himself in the box at ringside and he should consider himself lucky that Truth and Konchu have a match to focus on; otherwise they would likely be dismantling it to get their hands on the cowardly commentator.
Cyrus Truth enters the ring and shoots a disapproving look in the direction of Allen Price, but then turns his attention back to Konchu and the pair bump fists, showing that they are definitely on the same page and willing to make a go of this whole tag team thing.
As The Dark Roads Alliance’s opponents make their entrance, Allen Price is shown to be just as concerned given his transgressions against them also. Aka Manto forgoes the majority of the theatrics which usually accompanies their entrance, and it is clear that both Aka and Keiko are furious about the events of Fallout 032. They march towards the ring together.
Kurt Harrington: “Their opponents… at a combined weight of two-hundred and forty-six pounds… the team of Aka Yurei and Keiko Hirabayashi… AKA MAAAANNTOOOOOO!!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Another team which will feel hard done by due to the actions of Allen Price and FTN-”
Allen Price: “You think we were ever worried about the toilet ghost? Come on, Anzu!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Dude, I will come in there and beat the brakes off of you myself. Shut up. Aka Manto will be wanting another chance to get some revenge on FTN and a win tonight would cut the legs out from underneath Cyrus and Konchu and put them back to the front of the line.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “We’ve got some real clashing of styles in this one, and really somewhat of an unofficial number one contender’s match!”
Aka Manto enter the ring together and appears to share the same disdain and anger towards Allen Price as both Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao do. They shout at Price in Japanese from inside the ring and then Keiko makes a crude hand gesture towards him. With both teams in the ring, referee Gracelynn Guerrero seems to have everything in order, and she calls for the bell.
FIRST MATCH | 1/30.
Aka Manto [Aka Yurei and Keiko Hirabayashi] vs.The Dark Roads Alliance (Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao).
Tag Team Match.
Match writer: Man.
The match gets underway and the crowd are excited to see that it will be Cyrus Truth starting off the match with Aka Yurei, and ‘The Exile’ attempts to initiate a lock up with Yurei, but she avoids it. Aka tries to swing her fist back and catch Truth, but he blocks the strike with his forearms and then brings her in for a tight Side Headlock. Aka backs Truth into the ropes and tries to shoot him off across the ring, but Cyrus turns it around and Aka goes across instead.
Upon her return, Truth tries a shoulder block, but Aka drops down and slides through his legs, and she manages to get a tag into Keiko, who was already half in the ring ready to accept the tag. Keiko charges in at Cyrus and slides down, trying to bring him down with a Drop Toe Hold, but Truth prevents her from doing so and rolls through himself. As he gets to his feet he realises he is in the Aka Manto corner. Keiko approaches from behind, but Truth catches her with an elbow upon approach.
Cyrus grabs Keiko and sends her into Aka on the apron, which the official counts as another tag, but this seems to have been missed by Truth. The collision did not knock Aka from the apron, either. Truth manages to hook Keiko in a Full Nelson and he drops her with a Dragon Suplex! Truth bridges for a pin, but Guerrero doesn’t count! As the referee attempts to explain what happened to Truth, Aka is back in the ring and she knocks him flat with a Jumping Hip Attack!
Rod Sterling: “Cyrus Truth has accomplished a great many thing in his career, but being a successful tag team wrestler is not one of those things as he prefers to operate alone. We saw some of that lack of experience right there, as he didn’t realise he forced an Aka Manto tag.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That’s a great point, Rod. It is no secret that Cyrus doesn’t play well with others and well, if he hopes to make some waves in the tag team division alongside Konchu, that needs to change.”
Truth gets up from the mat and Aka seems to anticipate a tag to Konchu which does not come and this actually allows Truth to take advantage of her positioning and he sends her into a neutral turnbuckle. ‘The Exile’ holds Yurei in place with one arm and looks around the arena… Knife Edge Chop across Aka’s chest! Immediately, a red mark appears on Aka’s collarbone and she drops to her knees, clutching her front.
Noticing Epsilon at ringside motioning towards Konchu, Truth realises that this is a good time for a tag to his partner. The crowd cheers and Truth walks over to his corner and tags in Konchu Hao. On the outside, Epsilon applauds and jumps up and down at his master entering the match. However, at the same time, Aka Yurei has been able to tag Keiko Hirabayashi into the match.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Epsilon calling the shots down there at ringside. He could be a really valuable asset for the Dark Roads Alliance.”
Allen Price: “You’re not wrong, Jean-Luc. Someone should do something about that, in the interest of fairness...”
Anzu Kurosawa: “What is he talking about now? Wait, Allen! What are you doing?”
As Keiko and Konchu size each other up in the ring, the camera cuts to Allen Price, who has left his protective booth… AND PRICE TAKES A CHEAP SHOT ON EPSILON, KNOCKING HIM DOWN WITH A BOOT TO THE SIDE OF THE HEAD! The crowd absolutely shits on the commentator and Epsilon falls to the side, and unsurprisingly, both Cyrus and Konchu are INCENSED!
Price manages to make it back inside the booth before Cyrus can reach him, and ‘The Exile’ instead decides to check up on Epsilon, helping him up. Konchu Hao stands on the bottom rope, pointing and shouting at Price, cursing him in every way that he can… but this leaves him open for Keiko to roll him up from behind!
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
‘The Mad Wizard’ gets out of the pin at the last moment and when he gets back to his feet he swings at Keiko with a wild punch, but she ducks it and scores with a Dropkick to Hao’s chest, which sends him falling down to the floor next to Cyrus and Epsilon. Keiko quickly tags Aka back into the match and together Aka Manto run the ropes and they both leap over the top rope… crashing down onto all three members of the Dark Roads Alliance at once!
Rod Sterling: “Aka Manto takes them all down! It seems the more experienced tag team has the control in this one, and well, I suppose they have a certain someone to thank. What are you playing at, Price?”
Allen Price: “I am merely making sure that this match runs fairly and smoothly. You saw Epsilon there getting involved. It isn’t his place to give instructions out to the competitors. He doesn’t even speak English!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, despite dubious at best circumstances, Aka Manto are in a good position. Aka brings Konchu back into the ring and now she and Keiko can work on breaking ‘The Mad Wizard’ down.”
Indeed, Konchu is back in the ring courtesy of Aka Yurei, and she has him pinned up against the bottom turnbuckle in the Aka Manto corner and drives her knee into his face to hold him in position. Keiko crouches down and holds Konchu back by hooking one of his arms, leaving him in prime position for a Running Hip Attack in the corner from Yurei! The replays show his head snapping back violently upon impact.
Aka Manto make a tag and Keiko steps back through the ropes, and she slowly measures Konchu from the second rope after Yurei lays him prone… and Keiko dives from the second rope and drops an elbow down across his chest! She hooks a single leg;
ONE… TWO… NO!!!
It is a powerful kick out from Konchu and he sits up, only to be kicked in the chest. This knocks him back onto his back and a stomp from Keiko to his chest keeps him there. Both Aka and Keiko share a nod and Aka tags back into the match as Keiko climbs up the turnbuckle. Aka lifts Konchu up onto her shoulder, but he manages to fight out of it and he lands onto his feet.
However before Konchu can reach Cyrus from the other side of the ring, Keiko flies from the turnbuckle and lands on Konchu’s neck and takes him over with a Diving Poisonrana! The crowd gasps as Hao is spiked on the top of his head and now it seems that Aka Manto are ready to go in for the kill - Allen Price’s involvement still paying dividends for them - and once Keiko is back on the apron, Aka makes another tag.
Aka hooks Konchu up and pulls him up into a powerbomb position with Keiko’s help… AND THEN AKA MANTO HIT KONCHU WITH THE END OF LIFE!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Aka Manto could be about to do it here, just like that! Here’s Keiko with the cover!”
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
CYRUS TRUTH BREAKS UP THE PIN FALL!!!
Allen Price: “Hey, he can’t do that! Is this referee blind or something?!”
The crowd are pleased that the Dark Roads Alliance is still in the match, but there is a look of concern etched on Truth’s face as he is forced back onto the apron by Guerrero. In the middle of the ring, despite Epsilon’s best efforts, it seems that Konchu is barely with it and he is helpless as an angered Hirabayashi lifts him from the mat… BUT KONCHU DROPS HER WITH A DESPERATION BACKDROP DRIVER!!!
Another loud cheer goes up, but Konchu drops to his knees after hitting the move, unable to get the tag to Cyrus Truth that he desperately needs. In an unfamiliar move to him, Truth attempts to get the crowd going by stomping his foot on the mat, and Epsilon slaps the ring apron to keep in time and get the crowd going. The cacophony of claps is enough to inspire Konchu to crawl to Cyrus and he gets the tag to ‘The Exile’!
Cyrus Truth comes in just as Keiko also gets a tag to Aka, but as soon as Aka enters the ring she is flattened by a Running Elbow Smash from Truth. She rises up and Cyrus is on hand to put her back down with another immediately. Keiko, not out of the ring herself, does not escape Cyrus’s wrath, and she cops an Elbow Smash of her own too!
Anzu Kurosawa: “This is what the fans wanted to see, Cyrus Truth coming in like a house on fire!”
Allen Price: “BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
With Keiko knocked back, Truth has his attention back on the legal person in the match, Aka Yurei. With her down against the same turnbuckle she smushed Konchu’s head into earlier, Cyrus starts stomping at her with The First Five Steps! After the fifth stomp is delivered to Aka’s head, Keiko charges across the ring and jumps on Cyrus’s back… but Konchu Hao grabs her by the leg and pulls her off of his partner.
Keiko swings with a kick towards Konchu, which he avoids… and THEN CASTS BABA VANGA’S ILLUMINATION INTO KEIKO’S EYES!! Keiko is blinded… WHICH LEAVES HER AS EASY PREY FOR RASPUTIN’S REVENGE!!! With one Aka Manto member thoroughly neutralised by Konchu Hao, Cyrus Truth is free to lift the other one up and he scoops Aka onto his shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry, which he transitions into THE JOURNEY’S END!!!
The fans are all on their feet and Cyrus gets on top of Yurei for the pin;
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
Winner: The Dark Roads Alliance by pin fall at 10:26.
Epsilon joins both Cyrus and Konchu in the ring and The Dark Roads Alliance seem content with their victory, although it would seem that not everything went as planned as Konchu did receive somewhat of a beating from Aka Manto. What will please them though is that both joshis are down on the mat courtesy of two of the most devastating finishing moves in the world today. Gracelynn Guerrero raises both Cyrus and Konchu’s arms to a rousing reception from the crowd.
Kurt Harrington: “Here are your winners… THE DARK ROADS ALLIANCE!!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “A successful maiden voyage for Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao as a team and well, they’ve got their sights set on FTN ans those tag titles… your boys must be worried, Price.”
Allen Price: “Come on, Jean-Luc, be realistic. What do they have to be worried about? These guys are nothing. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Rod Sterling: “Well, two very dangerous competitors for a start-”
The celebrations in the ring come to a screeching halt as the attention of Truth, Konchu and Epsilon turns to the stage where ‘Slick’ Rick Vance and Santino Dongarelli - known of course as the Diamond Dogs - walk out from the back, dressed in street clothes.
Allen Price: “These are two dangerous competitors, Rod.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, the Diamond Dogs are heavily connected to the FWA World Tag Team Champions and Chris Peacock in particular. The cretins have a microphone, so there’s obviously something that they want to get off of their chests.”
Both Sonny and Rick have possession of a microphone and they wait for the music to fade out before motioning to the men in the ring.
Rick Vance: “Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Cyrus Truth and Konchu Hao, everybody! Come on, show them some love!”
The crowd responds in kind, cheering loudly for the victors as they have been throughout the show so far.
Rick Vance: “Now, a little birdie tells me that the two of you are planning on making a run at the FWA World Tag Team Championships… currently held by our close personal friends Alyster Black and the FWA World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Peacock.”
Flipping from cheers to boos, towards Peacock in particular, the crowd make it clear that they do not approve of the current tag champions.
Santino Dongarelli: “Winning a tag team match is a pretty good way of boosting those creds, it is just a shame that the team you barely beat has lost to FTN not just once, but twice. You know, it is kind of like a singles victory over Cyrus Truth, it doesn’t really mean much.”
In the ring, Cyrus Truth seems to be using every available ounce of restraint one can have to stop himself from storming up the ramp. Epsilon is on the ropes, shouting at the men on the stage.
Rick Vance: “So, we wanted to give the two of you an opportunity. It isn’t a golden one, but we can call this a diamond opportunity. The two of you can show just how serious you are if you’re able to defeat a real tag team.”
Santino Dongarelli: “Us!”
An eye roll from Rick makes it clear that is what he was implying. The crowd seem to be in agreement and Truth and Konchu nod their heads, but Epsilon still seems to be very animated.
Rick Vance: “Ey, ey… calm down, little dude. You want in on this? That’s fine with us, dawg. Let’s make it a Trios match. We can find a partner pretty easily, although to make it fair on you, Cyrus, we won’t ask Chris Peacock.”
Santino Dongarelli: “Yeah, because that would mean you’d have even less of a chance of winning than you do already! In fact, we’re so confident that we can beat the three of you chumps that it doesn’t matter who our partner is. Fuck it, you can even choose our partner for us! We don’t care!”
It seems that the gravity of the stipulation he just laid out has not being realised by Sonny D, as he retains a smug look on his face. Rick Vance has his face in his hand and the realisation soon sets in as Cyrus Truth’s gaze slowly switches from the Diamond Dogs to ringside and in particular the perspex box next to the commentary table.
Allen Price: “Why… why is he looking at me like that? N-n-n-n-no…. No… NO! NO! NO!”
The nodding from Cyrus Truth makes it clear that he has made the choice and it is a very easy one… and Allen Price looks like he has just voided his bowel. The Dark Roads Alliance’s music begins to play once again and on the stage Sonny finally understands what he has done and Rick shakes his head and slaps him on the back of his head before they stare the men in the ring down.
Anzu Kurosawa: “It looks like Allen Price is going to find out! A slip of the tongue has opened a very big opportunity for Cyrus Truth and well, it seems like whether they care to admit it or not, The Dark Roads Alliance is in the heads of the FWA World Tag Team Champions!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, there is the confirmation that on Fallout 033, it will be Cyrus Truth, Konchu Hao and Epsilon taking on both Diamond Dogs and our very own Allen Price. Price, anything you care to add?”
Allen Price: “...”
There’s a muted reaction within the Kensington Oval as the debuting Simon Smythe appears on the stage.
Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall with a twenty minute time limit… introducing first, weighing in at two hundred and thirty five pounds… Simon… ‘the Surgeon’... SMYTHE!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Here comes the first of our debuting talent at the 18th Anniversary Show. Simon Smythe is taking the leap from the surgeon’s room to the wrestling ring. Quite the career change."
Allen Price: "Quite symbiotic, if you ask me. He can break them down and then fix them right up!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "… Stay in your box, Price."
Smythe rolls into the ring and proceeds to limber up in the corner, awaiting the arrival of his opponent.
A louder but still mixed reaction circulates in Bridgetown as Sawyer Xavier walks out onto the stage. He doesn’t halt in his momentum, immediately striding down to the ring towards his opponent.
Kurt Harrington: "And his opponent… from Savannah, Georgia… he weighs in tonight at one hundred and seventy six pounds… Sawyer… XAVIER!"
Rod Sterling: "We saw Sawyer Xavier return to FWA television three weeks ago, where he was defeated by one third of the Trios Champions in Trixie Bordeaux."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Xavier will be hoping to rescue some of his momentum here at the expense of the debuting Smythe."
Sawyer is in the ring and occupies his corner, staring across at the Surgeon as he removes his light blue scrubs in preparation for the match. Smythe wears a pair of blood-splattered trunks underneath, loosens up using the ropes, and then waits for the bell…
SECOND MATCH | 1/20.
Sawyer Xavier vs. Simon Smythe.
Singles Match.
Match writer: SS.
<< 00:00. >>
After circling the ring, the pair come together in a collar and elbow tie-up. Smythe, the larger and stronger man, initially begins to push Xavier back towards the corner, but Xavier shows his speed in slipping underneath into a rear waistlock. Sawyer grabs an arm and wrenches it up into a hammerlock, Smythe reaching through his own legs to grab one of Xavier’s and escaping with a single-leg takedown. Smythe immediately goes for a Figure 4, but when trying to step through Sawyer reaches up and catches him with a small package!
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Smythe kicks out! Almost a disastrous start to his FWA career!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Both men scramble to their feet, and Xavier looks to follow up by charging at him… but Smythe wipes him out with a clothesline!!"
The snap roll-up seems to have annoyed Smythe, who appears to see himself as something of a technical maestro, and he picks Xavier up before slamming him back down with a kneebreaker! Xavier rolls into a corner, with Simon following up with a series of quickfire stomps whilst holding onto the top rope.
Rod Sterling: "Simon Smythe exhibiting a mean streak here, the official having to come between these men and start a count…"
The referee gets to four before Smythe finally stops stomping, and he gives Xavier a helping hand out of the corner, dragging him into the middle of the ring and hitting a snap neckbreaker! Smythe with the cover, a forearm pressed into Xavier’s face…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Sawyer kicks out, but Smythe is able to settle into a rhythm…
***
<< 05:12. >>
Smythe rocks Sawyer with a shoulder breaker, Xavier remaining grounded after the move but the Surgeon not going for a cover directly afterwards. He instead stalks Xavier from the corner, waiting for the younger man to rise and then coming towards him and placing him in a full nelson.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Simon Smythe going for his patented dragon suplex here, maybe a prelude to his dragon sleeper, one of the many ways in which the Surgeon can make you tap…"
Allen Price: "BUT SAWYER XAVIER LANDS ON HIS FEET!! Incredible athleticism on display by Sawyer Xavier!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "I don’t think Simon Smythe even realises Xavier is upright. The Surgeon gets to his feet with a sinister smirk on his face… and then turns into an enziguri from Sawyer!!"
Rod Sterling: "Followed up with a hammerlock DDT! Sawyer goes for the cover…"
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Kickout from Smythe! Sawyer backs away into a corner, waiting for the Surgeon to get to his knees before coming at him for a shining wizard. Smythe, though, sidesteps the move, scrambles to his feet, and rocks Xavier with a hard forearm strike! Sawyer is dazed, and Smythe gathers him.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Simon Smythe is looking for that dragon sleeper! He calls this Anaesthesia, and i don’t like Sawyer’s chances if he’s able to lock this in…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But Sawyer Xavier is resisting… and he reverses with a standing sliced bread!!"
To his credit, Smythe gets back up for some more… but Sawyer is waiting for him, and when the Surgeon is on his knees and facing away from him Xavier runs through him with a knee to the back of the head!!
Rod Sterling: "Brain squasher!! Smythe might be out cold!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Xavier keeps coming… GENESIS OF TRUTH!! HE HAS IT LOCKED IN!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Simon Smythe has no choice but to tap! This one’s over!!"
Winner: Sawyer Xavier via submission at 07:30.
Savier lets go of the hold once the bell is rung and, a look of relief on his face, climbs up to his feet to allow the official to lift his hand.
Kurt Harrington: "Here is your winner… SAWYER XAVIER!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Exactly what Sawyer Xavier needed here at the Anniversary Show. A tough loss on Fallout 032, but he bounced back with a win here in Barbados."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Sawyer has spoken about wanting this latest FWA run to be different and more meaningful than his previous ones, and this victory sets him back on the right path. What’s next for Sawyer Xavier?"
Rod Sterling: "That remains to be seen, Anzu. But now, this…"
Princess Nova: “Ooo, this is different. Keres, are you in there?”
In front of the TORN Angel is a single wooden door, illuminated by a bright light behind it, yet not casting on any other surface in a vast darkness. The door stands alone, with nothing around to support it.
Knock, knock, knock
Princess Nova: “Hellooooo, Kereeess. Are you ok? I did like you said, I haven’t said anything to anyone since you and Elizabeth had your awesome match! But, people are worried about her, they’re asking a lot of questions. Everything’s been so dark in here since that match ended. I really want to see the tree again… The TORN Universe being like this is actually a little unsettling.”
Creeeaaaak, the door opens slightly. It opens just enough for a small amount of smoke to sneak out from the crack. Princess Nova reaches her hand forward towards the lightly oxidized brass doorknob…but she can’t touch it. Two of her fingers hit an invisible barrier with a significant thud. From where her finger touches the barrier, a sudden and quick moving crack moves across the door, shoots across every direction of it, and covers the entire blackness around Nova.
Princess Nova: “Oh, well I guess it’s time!”
The darkness around Nova loudly shatters and becomes dust-like as it flows through the air of a very familiar scene.
Princess Nova: “Ah, there’s the tree!”
The TORN Universe has woken up. The grayscale world with splashes of beautiful purple-colored foliage and radiant yellow sunflowers greets Princess Nova as she stands in the garden. In the center, also awakening from her slumber, is the Daughter of Demise, Keres. She finally appears after a time of non-existence following her win within the Garden of Eden. She sits beneath the purple-leaved tree of the TORN Universe.
Princess Nova: “Keres! How are you feeling?”
Keres: “Pain.”
Princess Nova: “Oh… Well, I’m sure you’re going to feel better soon!”
Keres: “I always feel pain. It is my natural state. Torment is my happy place.”
Princess Nova: “Duh, of course, silly me!"
Nova has a child-like giggle.
Princess Nova: "Soooo, I’m glad you’re finally awake. It was dark for way too long!”
Keres: “The TORN needed time to rest and adjust. This period of depression has strengthened it and allowed it to account for the newest member of our family.”
Princess Nova: “She’s here already? Honestly, I thought it would take a little longer. Were you more right than we thought?”
Keres: “I was exactly as correct as I knew I would be. Our newest sister has… become one with our world. I can feel it. The TORN has grown around her and morphed her into what she is meant to be. Although, I have yet to fully gaze upon her transformation. I have, however, experienced sensations new to me in this land.”
Princess Nova: “New sensations? What do you mean? Like, something physical happened to you?”
Keres: “Not at all. Listen.”
Keres snaps her fingers and the gray sky of the TORN Universe turns to a blood red and the clouds in the sky move in a pattern that is similar to a physical beating heart.
Princess Nova: “Woah, that’s new! And really pretty! But listen for what, I don’t hear anything?”
Keres lightly chuckles to herself and then moves to stand on her feet. It is here that we notice her outfit is still the shredded mess it was at the conclusion of the Garden of Eden match. Keres looks down at herself and snaps one more time, almost instantly returning her appearance to its natural, perfect state.
Keres: “Come. You’ll hear her. Let me show you.”
Keres grabs Nova by the hand and they walk towards a puddle by a patch of sunflowers. Once Keres’ foot touches the puddle, the TORN Universe rotates around her and Nova as they stay perfectly in place and continue their walking motion. They have gone through the puddle and into an entirely different area of the TORN Universe… a completely new area.
Princess Nova: “Where… where is this? Is this something new that you made?
Keres: “Yes and no. The same way that your fantasy world, your castle, your wishes and desires were manifested by the TORN, so too has Elizabeth’s world. The crimson skies, the fiery air, and the burning beat of-”
Princess Nova: “Keres, what beat? I don’t hear anything except… screaming? I mean that’s not unusual here, but what am I missing?”
Keres: “This screaming is different. These screams come from demons that dance to the beat of their past mistakes. A beat only they, and I, can hear. Although, I hear it for the… fun of it. Soon you will as well. Elizabeth has found her power within the TORN. And it sounds like hell.”
Suddenly, a loud and all-encompassing voice overshadows the conversation of Keres and Princess Nova. This voice belongs to none other than Elizabeth Rose.
Elizabeth Rose: “Shut the fuck up, god. Who the hell told you, you could come into my room?”
Keres’ eyes open wide and she darts them to look out in the distance behind her. It's clear that Lizzie, or rather, Elizabeth, has already had her personality warp in the time she has been in the TORN Universe.
Princess Nova: “Was that Elizabeth?”
Keres: “Did she tell me to… shut… up?”
Nova puts her hand on top of Keres’ head.
Princess Nova: “Now Ker-”
Keres: “I’m going to kill her.”
Princess Nova: “Wait, wh-”
Snap
Keres and Nova appear right behind the former Lizzie Rose. The three ladies are standing on an extremely tall black platform in front of an enormous crowd of tortured souls. Amongst these souls are elegant looking figures in ball gowns and fancy suits that are completed with masquerade masks. There are also some comically dressed, era-distinct, muscle-bound wrestlers, and a multitude of faceless beings with tattered bodies that resemble enemies and opponents from the past of all three women. On the platform, in front of Elizabeth, is a very large and intricate DJ setup.
This setup is almost otherworldly in appearance with its multitude of buttons, knobs, screens, lights, and dials that are all moving without Elizabeth needing to touch them. All of these figures are dancing to the music being played from Elizabeth Rose’s setup… but only they, Rose, and Keres are hearing it at the moment. Clad in red and black gear that seems a lot more revealing than what we’re used to seeing her in. Her face is now pale and gaunt as a cigarette dangles between her lips. She goes on with her DJing while looking very over it and bored.
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh. Joy. Let me guess, she's going to jabber about spooky bullshit again?”
When Elizabeth speaks her Brooklyn accent is much more pronounced than it ever has been before. Keres' eyes literally, not figuratively, produce a small spark of fire as she stares at Elizabeth. Yet, Elizabeth seems unmoved. She takes a draft from her cigarette before continuing.
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh don't fuck me around Wednesday Adams. That whole ‘Please be afraid of me’ act gets old fast.”
Keres storms forward but is stopped a few feet from Elizabeth as two lightly oxidized suits of armor point swords towards Keres.
Keres: “What is the meaning of this?”
Elizabeth Rose: "Urgh, fucking idiots... one sec."
Elizabeth Rose rolls her eyes and spins a disc on her setup and suddenly the entire crowd stops dancing… or moving whatsoever, almost as if they were statues… or puppets, perhaps. Elizabeth lets out an annoyed sigh before turning around to look at the backs of the oxidized knights. She flicks her arm down at her side, as if she is revealing a hidden blade, but instead out comes the very same staff once used by Eternal as a way of getting in her head. She now happily owns and wields it herself.
Elizabeth Rose: “Hey! Assholes! I said annoy her-”
Elizabeth bashes one of the oxidized knights in the head, sending the helmet flying out over the crowd.
Elizabeth Rose: “Nobody gets to hurt my weirdo of a sister except me. Oh, or Nova, because she's....way less annoying than anyone else.”
It seems to physically pain Elizabeth to say anything remotely positive about anyone else. A far cry from the endlessly positive Lizzie Rose. Princess Nova puts on a big and happy smile. Keres touches the other suit of armor and instantly renders it nothing but ash in the wind as she angrily stares at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh no. Keres is angry. Whatever will I do?”
The sarcasm in her tone is incredibly obvious.
Princess Nova: “That’s our sister, haha!”
Elizabeth Rose: “Oh! Nova, I heard demon-seed saying that you couldn’t hear my playlist. My bad, let me tune you in so everyone can hear it.”
Elizabeth turns and winks at the… camera?
Keres: “What are you winking at? Do not patronize me.”
Elizabeth Rose: “One sec, Nova.”
Elizabeth turns back to her table and messes around with the different mechanisms on it. The lighting of this new area of the TORN Universe gets darker but everything around them begins to brightly glow in contrast. The sky itself has become a giant black-light.
Princess Nova: “Woah! This looks so cool!”
Elizabeth Rose: “And just… like… that!”
Rose presses one final button and in an instant everyone can hear the music as the crowd starts dancing again.
Elizabeth: “So, I figured out a couple of things, sissies.”
Keres: “....Sissies?”
Elizabeth Rose uses her hands to give herself a little boost up in order to sit up near her setup. She puts one boot on the table and lets the other hang down.
Elizabeth Rose: “So like you can see in that video-”
Keres: “Video?”
Elizabeth Rose: “Hush, hush sis.”
Keres screams internally. She balls her hands into fists.
Elizabeth Rose: “Anyway like I was saying, I figured out a couple of things. So, one, I picked up the nickname ‘Blacklight Knight’. It’s badass. It works because, you know, I’m like Eternal’s knight, and well, this is a blacklight rave.”
Nova claps, smiling.
Princess Nova: “That’s so clever!”
Elizabeth Rose: “Two… well, people are idiots. Stupid, perverted, selfish, ego-driven idiots. I didn't see that until recently. I tried so hard. So damn hard. But turns out, people just don't give a shit. Gabby didn't give a shit. Joe Burr didn't give a shit. Devin Golden didn't give a shit. Brooklyn didn't give a shit! All they wanted was to keep on taking from me. Every second of every day, and when I asked for something back? Nah, never happened. You know what I say now? Fuck that noise. If they don't give a fuck about me. I don't give a fuck about them, and if they get to torment me. I get to torment them. I don’t give a shit what they think. But yeah ever since I've been here? I figured out, after so many years of people controlling me like a puppet, now I'm the one in control."
Elizabeth turns to the DJ set.
Elizabeth Rose: "Which brings me to thing number three. When I play my music? They finally listen to me. They don't got a choice. They have to… sick, right? And, like, I can choose specific people to hear it all. Which is why you couldn't hear it at first Nova, but that was sort of just a mistake, my bad sis.”
Princess Nova: “It’s okay! I can hear it now and it’s really good!”
Elizabeth Rose: “Even better, I can influence and control large groups of people at one time. Well as long as they can hear whatever song I’m playing, but it goes super far. And as long as our emo sister uses her weirdness to make sure people hear it, then I can have a concert anywhere I go.”
Keres: “I am going to kill you.”
Elizabeth Rose: “You'd court me to be your babysitter for six months just to kill me? Thought you were meant to be smart, dipshit. Besides, you already did that, and look what it's gotten you. Another big sister to take care of you! Kill me if you want. Hell, you'd be doing me a favor by keeping me away from mouth breathers. But we both know you won't. You wanted a big sister to make you and this place more powerful. Here I am. But hey, you do you, sis.”
Elizabeth takes a deep draft from her cigarette and flicks the bud at Keres.
Princess Nova: “Awww, you two are so cute! I just knew that the three of us together would be perfect!”
Even while keeping the normal evil look on her face, Keres is unable to hide the fact that her cheeks are now a flush shade of red. Keres’ gaze darts to Nova, who feels her stellar level of fury in the air. Princess Nova nervously turns back to Elizabeth.
Princess Nova: “Well, it looks like you started a party here, so why don’t we keep it going, Elizabeth! What do you think, Keres?”
They both turn to Keres.
Elizabeth Rose: “Well? Gonna kill me or what?”
Keres: “Your gift of gab is fairly impressive, Elizabeth. Fine. Proceed with fighting those demons. Strip them for all their worth.”
Elizabeth Rose: “Weird way to say ‘let’s dance’, but whatever. Come on Nova, let’s rock this shit!”
Nova gives her new sister a hug. Elizabeth rolls her eyes, but doesn't seem to fight the show of affection. Elizabeth switches the song to something Nova would love and starts playing some Evanescence, to which the two of them start dancing to, as Keres puts on an evil smirk in the background and slightly nods her head to the beat.
The crowd begins to boo as Al Blizzard’s music hits. We see him stroll out onto the stage being accompanied by his brother Jason Quinn as well as Robert Steel. The trio stand on the top of the stage, soaking in the negative reaction.
Kurt Harrington: "The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a twenty-minute time limit and is a TV Championship Qualifier Match! !!! Introducing first, from London, England, weighing two-hundred and forty-six pounds. He is accompanied to the ring by Jason Quinn and Robert Steel... He is ‘The Perfect Storm’... AAAAALLLLL BLLLLIIZZZARDDDD!”
The crowd boo as Al begins to make his way toward the ring followed by Quinn and Steel.
Anzu Kurosawa: "At Back in Business, we saw Blizzard join up with his brother after being defeated. This is our first time seeing him in action since then."
Jean-Luc Watkins: “We’ll see a different side of Al Blizzard under the guidance of his brother. It was Quinn’s persuading of Russnow that got him this opportunity.”
Rod Sterling: "And what a great opportunity to bounce back for The Perfect Storm. The winner of this match will advance to Lights Out's match for the vacant Television Championship."
Al Blizzard enters the ring and stands in the middle of the ring, cracking his knuckles while he awaits his partner.
The music begins to play and darkness has engulfed the Kensington Oval and smoke begins to billow out from the stage. Vengador emerges through the smoke and the lights come back on while Vengador stands on the stage and he scans the crowd. He is met by a fair amount of cheers from the Bridgetown audience.
Kurt Harrington: "And his opponent, from The Realm of Despair and weighing in at 250 lb…he is the winner of Ground Zero Season 4… This is VVVVVVEEENNNGGGGAADDOOOOORRRR!!!!
Rod Sterling: "And speaking of someone looking to bounce back from a loss at Back in Business, Vengador is certainly in the same boat.”
Anzu Kurosawa: "That’s right… it was a hard fought effort by Vengador at Back in Business when he took on his Ground Zero coach, Katsu… but on that night, teacher bested the student.”
Allen Price: “Boy, sounds like we gotta a buncha losers in this match… why are they even getting a title shot?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, Price, clearly they impressed Russnow even in defeat.”
Allen Price: “Eh, I suppose. I guess not everyone can impress in victory like Chris Peacock, now can they?”
Vengador climbs up the steps, stepping through the ropes to enter the ring. He locks his eyes in on Blizzard as they both now await the third competitor in the match.
There’s a decidedly mixed reaction for Kleio De Santos as she walks out onto the stage followed by the Ravenwood sisters, Celestia and Blair, who each are sporting their trios titles.
Anzu Kurosawa: "The Coven certainly are riding high right now and probably can’t relate to Blizzard and Vengador’s Back in Business blues.”
Rod Sterling: "They have definitely been one of the hottest acts here in FWA, capped off by Celestia, Blair, and Trixie becoming the inaugural FWA Trios Champions.”
Allen Price: “Yeah but those victories are not attributed to Kleio De Santos, are they?”
Rod Sterling: "Well, that is true. But with a win tonight, Kleio will be one step closer to joining her Coven sisters with some gold of her own.”
Kleio walks with a purpose down to the ring with Blair and Celestia following behind her. She slides under the ring and looks ready for action as the match is about to get underway.
THIRD MATCH | 1/20.
Vengador vs. Al Blizzard vs. Kleio De Santos.
Triple Threat Match - winner qualifies for the TV Championship match at Lights Out.
Match writer: Dubb.
<< 00:00. >>
The bell rings as the three competitors eye each other cautiously, waiting to see who wants to strike first. Al Blizzard’s face shows his confidence while KDS, despite being outweighed by both competitors by over 100 pounds each, does not seem too concerned. Unfortunately we cannot see Vengador’s face to get a glimpse into his psyche but you can imagine he’s eager to bounce back from his tough loss at Back in Business.
So eager, in fact, that it is he who makes the first move. Deciding to be the aggressor as he charged at both KDS and Blizzard, looking for a double clothesline, but both of his opponents duck the attack and each strike the masked man with a knee to the midsection at the same time. From there’s it’s an elbow strike from Kleio followed up with a right hand from Blizzard. Back and forth, KDS and Blizzard take turns striking Vengador before Kleio strikes him with a snap side kick which sends Vengador stumbling back into a Samoan Drop!
Blizzard sits up to his knees, smirking with pride only to be struck with a front snap kick from Kleio!
Rod Sterling: "While they started the match out with some teamwork to take Vengador down, Kleio shows that there are no teammates in this match.”
Allen Price: “Ah ha, yes, except for their actual teammates are actually at ringside.”
Rod Sterling: "Right.. Sure…”
Kleio wastes no time as she pounces on Blizzard and begins to unleash a flurry of punches, ground and pound style… but all the while, Vengador SITS UP!
The masked man sneaks up behind Kleio as she is unloading on Blizzard, grabs her by her hair, and pulls her up to her feet and lights up her chest with an open handed chop! And one more! Vengador works her to the ropes, driving repeated knees into her midsection as Blizzard begins to get to his feet.
The Perfect Storm charges in, looking to attack Vengador from behind… but the masked man moves out of the way and Blizzard instead clotheslines Kleio over the top rope, his own momentum sending himself over the ropes as well! Both crash down to the floor. Celestia and Blair come over to try and help Kleio up while Jason Quinn and Robert Steele check on Blizzard…
But Vengador is waiting for any of them as he DIVES OUT OF THE RING with a Somersault Suicide Dive onto EVERYONE AT RINGSIDE!
<< 04:46. >>
After some ringside shenanigans, the action returned to the ring with Vengador in control, working over Al Blizzard in the corner with a combination of punches and kicks before pulling him out of the corner and hitting a snapmare to send Blizzard to the mat. The Perfect Storm sat up on the mat as Vengador ran to the ropes to hit a rolling neck snap, but he’s tripped up at ringside by Jason Quinn! Vengador spins around and glares at Quinn, but it allows Blizzard to recover and come in with a running knee strike as Vengador turns back around!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Vengador takes his eyes off the ball and pays for it there.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He’s at quite the disadvantage in this match with both Kleio and Blizzard having associates at ringside.”
Allen Price: “You gotta have friends in this business! I should know - mine are the best!”
Vengador falls back into the ropes, coming back at Blizzard who ducks a clothesline on the rebound, and then scores with a German Suplex into a bridge!
ONE! TWO! KICKOUT!
Rolling back to his feet after the nearfall, Blizzard quickly goes back on the attack, stomping Vengador’s back before he can recover. He continues to target the back of the masked man with stomps before pulling him and setting up for a piledriver, but Kleio comes in out of nowhere with a running superman punch!
Blizzard drops to the mat as KDS turns her attention to Vengador, taking him down with a hip toss shoulder throw before locking in a Kimura Lock! Her opponent struggles against the submission, but using his strength advantage he’s able to get back up to his feet, but ultimately the hold is broken up by Blizzard who charges in with a running big boot to Kleio!
Looking to get back into the driver’s seat once again, Blizzard rocks Vengador with a pair of forearms smashes before hitting a boot to the midsection and drops Vengador with a sitout powerbomb! He looks for the pin again.
ONE! TWO! NO! Broken up by Kleio!
<< 08:03. >>
After sending Kleio into the corner with an Irish Whip, Blizzard charges in but KDS moves out of the way! Blizzard crashes into the turnbuckles, staggering out into a knee from Kleio into a sweeping loin throw to take the Perfect Storm down to the mat, still holding onto his arm as she locks in a bar choke!
The referee is in position, checking in on Blizzard to see if he is going to submit. Blizzard seems to be hanging in strong, but Vengador comes in with a running knee drop to Kleio to break up the submission!
Vengador lifts Kleio up onto his shoulders for a Fireman’s Carry, but she escapes down his back, locking in a rear choke and begins BITING his neck while doing so!
Rod Sterling: "Kleio looking to do whatever it takes to get into the TV Title match at Lights Out! Her teeth are sinking in deep to Vengador’s neck!!”
Allen Price: “I thought biting was a vampire thing, not a witch thing.”
Some blood trickles down from the bite, but Vengador manages to break the hold by overpowering Kleio, snapmaring her over his shoulder to the mat before hitting the rolling neck snap! Blizzard staggers up to his feet but is quickly met with a superkick from Vengador that sends him falling back into the ring ropes. He uses the ropes to help hold himself up, but Vengador runs in with a dropkick that sends Blizzard through the ropes to ringside!
Vengador turns back around and is surprised by a round house kick from Kleio! Vengador falls to a knee as Kleio grabs him by the head - DDT!
Vengy’s own momentum pops him right back up after the DDT, but Kleio quickly strikes with a boot to the midsection..
LETTERS TO KLEIO!
Kleio hooks the far leg as she makes the pin..
ONE! TWO! THREE!
NO! BLIZZARD BREAKS IT UP!
<< 012:17>>
Kleio manages to survive a flurry of offense from Blizzard, reverses a DDT attempt into an armbar takedown before striking him back down with a jumping scissors kick.
With Blizzard down, Kleio begins to climb to the top turnbuckle before she comes off with a Flying Elbowdrop…
BUT Blizzard rolls out of the way! Kleio crashes to the canvas!
Both wrestlers are slow to recover… but its Blizzard back up first and he scoops up Kleio, lifting her up onto his shoulders…
AL CUTTER TO KLEIO!
He’s slow to recover after hitting his finisher, but as he does begin to set up..
HE’S HIT WITH A JUMPING BIT BOOT FROM VENGADOR!
The masked man grabs Blizzard and begins to lift him back up to his feet… but Blizzard reaches into the eye holes of the mask and pokes Vengador in the eyes! That creates some separation as he now lifts Vengador up into a fireman’s carry as well…
Anzu Kurosawa: “He’s taken out Kleio with that Al Cutter… and now one is in Vengador’s future as well. Al Blizzard has the TV Title match in his sight!”
Jason Quinn and Robert Steele are both watching with approval as Blizzard looks to finish off Vengador…
But Vengador fights it off! He hits a pair of elbows to Blizzard’s head and he escapes down the back, where he’s able to place his head underneath Blizzard’s armpit, lift him up into the air… SPINS HIM AROUND…
JUSTICIA!
Rod Sterling: "Blizzard is SPIKED on his head! What a quick turn of events! The tables are turned and this is Vengador’s chance!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Not if Blizzard’s associates have anything to say about that!”
Before Vengador can go for the pin, Robert Steel is on the apron, distracting the referee! Vengador walks over to confront Steel, but is attacked from behind by Jason Quinn!
Quinn hooks Vengador’s arms from behind… lifts him up… WOLF’S BITE TO VENGADOR!
Blair grabs Robert Steel and pulls him down off the apron as Celestia SPRINGBOARDS INTO THE RING and hits Quinn with a flying headscissors takedown! Both roll out of the ring… leaving Kleio and Blizzard both getting up to their feet…
KICK TO THE MIDSECTION FROM KLEIO..
LETTERS TO KLEIO!
But Vengador is back up to his feet again…
And he gets a boot to the midsection as well!
ANOTHER LETTERS TO KLEIO!
She drops to her knees and makes the cover on Vengador!
ONE! TWO! THREE!
Winner: Kleio De Santos by pinfall at 15:21.
Celestia and Blair quickly rush to the ring and help Kleio to her feet, celebrating with her in victory.
Kurt Harrington: "Here is your winner… KLEIO DE SANTOS!!"
Rod Sterling: "Maybe there’s some witchery going on, but The Coven continues their winning ways here in FWA! Kleio is the first to punch her ticket to the Lights Out FWA Television Championship match!”
Al Blizzard regroups at ringside with Jason Quinn and Robert Steel, the group none too pleased with the outcome of the match, while Vengador stares them down… from ringside as they head up the ramp.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Vengador may have a bone to pick with Jason Quinn after that attack that perhaps prevented him from winning this match, and I don’t think anyone would blame him!”
While the losers have no choice but to suffer the agony of defeat, inside the ring, The Coven stands tell, Kleio having each of her arms lifted in victory by one of the Ravenwood sisters.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “It’s a big win for Kleio De Santos and later tonight we’ll find out who her opponent at Lights Out will be!”
-= MEANWHILE =-
Somewhere in the backstage hallways, not too long ago, Nate Savage steps out of the Undisputed Alliance locker room, letting the door swing closed behind him. He exhales, pulling out his phone and glancing at the screen.
Nate Savage: They were supposed to be here an hour ago, what gives? Is it that hard to find some good interns these days? Christ.
???: "Mr. Savage!"
???: "Sorry we’re late, Mr. Savage!"
Two voices shout from offscreen, and Nate glances up from his phone with a gruff sigh, as Kung Fu Karl & Jimmy Boom-Boom step into frame, each carrying a truckload of bags with them. Panting, faces red with exhaustion, Kung Fu Boom pause, collecting their breath as Nate stares at them, a disappointed frown crossing his face.
Nate Savage: "You two were supposed to be here an hour ago."
Kung Fu Karl: "Sorry, Mr. Savage-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "We just got caught up with-"
Kung Fu Karl: "It’s not our fault, there was this guy-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "This giant raccoon thing-"
Kung Fu Karl: "Some kinda man-sized possum in the dumpster-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "Had to show him who’s boss-"
Kung Fu Karl: "Who’s in charge-"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "And teach him not to mess with you, or Jackson-"
Kung Fu Karl: "Especially Jackson."
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "ESPECIALLY Jackson!"
Kung Fu Karl: "You’re welcome, boss!"
Karl & Jimmy beam proudly. Nate blinks, having not heard a single word of the inane rambling, as Karl & Jimmy talk over each other pretty much non-stop. He simply gestures impotently.
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "But anyway, we got your bags, got your gear here before your matches, so no harm done, right?"
Jimmy puts a hand on the handle of the door, only for Nate to overtake it and yank the door closed.
Nate Savage: "Hey hey hey. It’s a big night for Jackson tonight."
Kung Fu Karl: "… Yeah?"
Nate Savage: "Which means, no distractions."
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "… Okay?"
Nate Savage: "… Say it with me. No distractions."
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "No distractions."
Kung Fu Karl: "No distractions."
Nate Savage: "Not quite in tune, but it’ll do. So what I need you to do, is get this whole… Raccoon nonsense out of your head, this weird obsession you two have with a talking dumpster or something, I don’t know, take it out. Alright? I don’t care about it, and Jackson doesn’t need the distraction. Got it? Go take a walk for a bit, and when you come back here, I don’t want to hear another word about some kind of talking rodent that only you can hear. Any questions?"
Kung Fu Boom glance at each other.
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "But the bags-"
Nate Savage: "Just put them on the floor here, alright? Drop ‘em, and take a walk around the block or something."
With a shrug, Kung Fu Boom drops the bags to the floor, with a loud ‘THUMP.’
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "You’re the boss."
And with that, Kung Fu Boom back away. With a sigh, Nate picks up one of the bags, shaking his head.
Nate Savage: "Interns nowadays…"
He retreats into the locker room.
Meanwhile, Kung Fu Boom aimlessly walks through the halls, exiting out the back door, to the alleyway behind the arena. They glance at each other, then at the inconspicuous dumpster parked beside the arena wall.
Kung Fu Karl: "… You heard the boss, right?"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "Yeah. Take out the ‘distraction.’"
Smirking, the two high-five, before Jimmy Boom-Boom kicks the dumpster. Meanwhile, Kung Fu-Karl picks up a discarded trash can lid.
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "Hey, Garbage Rat!"
Jimmy hammers on the wall of the dumpster, his blows echoing on the steel, as it’s internal occupant makes a grand noise of annoyance.
???: "Oi! This ain’t a concert, quit the drum solo! What’s the matter wit ya?!?"
The lid of the dumpster is pushed open, and the annoyed visage of a giant possum pokes his head out, scowling, before rolling his eyes at the sight of Jimmy Boom-Boom & Kung Fu Karl.
Trash Mammal: "Well, if it ain't Evil Kneivel an' Jackie Chan’s stunt doubles. What gives?"
Jimmy Boom-Boom: "NO DISTRACTIONS!"
Trash Mammal: "Beg yer pardon?"
THWACK!
Kung Fu Karl strikes with the garbage can lid, bouncing it off of Trash Mammal’s head! Trash Mammal slumps with a groan, and as Karl holds him in place, Jimmy Boom-Boom slams the dumpster lid on him! Kung Fu Boom high five, pleased with their handiwork in ensuring that an oversized rodent with a penchant for interviewing people has been taken out of commission, and thus, won’t be a distraction tonight.
Kung Fu Karl: "Mr. Savage is going to be so proud of us!"
The two confidently re-enter the arena, as the twitch of Trash Mammal’s hand signals a fade to black…
There’s cheering around the Kensington Oval as the Menage appear on the stage. They each look excited but somewhat apprehensive, with Wild Jerry leading the way towards the ring, all three slapping the hands of the front row fans as they go. XYZ, leader of the XYZites, brings up the rear, showing encouragement towards his three followers as he does.
Kurt Harrington: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall, and is a semi final match in the Trios Eliminator Tournament, where the winners will receive a shot at the Coven at Lights Out. Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by XYZ… Wild Jerry, Christian Howard, and Sierra… they are… THE MENAGE!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "The Menage surprised many folks by surviving deep into the Trios Battle Royale at this year’s Back in Business, eventually finishing in fourth place behind the Undisputed Xperienx, the eventual winners the Coven, and the YOKAI Death Squad."
Anzu Kurosawa: "And it’s the last of these that the Menage will face off against here in Barbados. They may have picked up a win last week over Triple J Security, but they face much tougher opponents here in the semi-final stage."
Rod Sterling: "I think Sierra, Howard, and Jerry are well aware of that, Anzu. Would explain the look of apprehension on their faces."
The Menage and XYZ retreat to a corner, where they exchange last minute strategy in hushed whispers. Their music eventually fades out and is replaced by…
The lights of the stage flash a mixture of neon green, purple, with occasional flashes of red to the music. The screens flash an 8-bit skull logo repeatedly. After about eighteen seconds, the YOKAI Death Squad Trio makes their way out. Katsu keeps her hand to her side, cape flowing behind her. Ririko runs to one side of the stage, amped up, as Cali Hayama hops in place. Ririko joins her partners in the middle of the stage as there are sparks of pyrotechnics. Standing next to Katsu, Ririko spins around and holds up the MAYHEM M, her mask's tongue flopping around. Katsu crosses her arms in front of her, holding her hands in a fox head gesture as Cali Hayama kneels down in front of them, pointing her hand out like a sideways gun. The Canadian jumps up as all three begin to head down the ramp.
Kurt Harrington: "And their opponents… representing MAYHEM, the Sky Devil, Cali Hayama, the Crazy Ghost, Ririko and the Kitsune Warrior, Katsu… YOKAI DEATH SQUAD!!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "A huge night for one of these three women in particular, as she hopes to take home the biggest prize of them all in the main event. I’m talking, of course, about the Steel Roulette match for the FWA World Championship, where the Kitsune Warrior will battle with five of the company’s best."
Anzu Kurosawa: "But she can’t look past this particular match-up if she’s serious about progressing in this tournament alongside Hayama and Ririko. The Menage may be inexperienced, but they’ve already shown a willingness to learn and quick progress in their two previous performances. I’m sure Katsu’s partners will be hoping she can put tonight’s main event out of her mind for the next twenty minutes…"
The three wrestlers head down the ramp before Katsu makes a break for the hard-cam side of the ring. The former FWA Television Champion opens her cape as she slides onto the apron. Cali Hayama jumps onto the apron and jumps over the top rope as Ririko slides into the ring. Katsu quickly does the spits and slides into the ring. Ririko and Katsu head to parallel turnbuckles as Cali Hayama hooks her leg on the top rope, removing her half mask and showing a smirk. All three put down the MAYHEM ‘M’ before they all jump off. The three head back to the middle of the ring and exchange a triple fist bump before heading to their corner.
FOURTH MATCH | 1/20.
YOKAI Death Squad [Katsu, Ririko, and Cali Hayama] vs. The Menage [Christian Howard, Wild Jerry, and Sierra].
Trios Match - Eliminator Tournament semi-final.
Match writer: SS.
<< 00:00. >>
We start with RIriko and Wild Jerry into the ring. It appears as though they’re going to come together with a collar and elbow tie-up, but Ririko skilfully steps beneath it and into a hammerlock. She transitions into a wrist lock, and then throws Wild Jerry back into his corner with an arm drag! Jerry looks up from his seated position in his corner at Ririko, before promptly tagging in Christian Howard and sliding beneath the bottom rope.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Perhaps that’s the sizable experience difference between Ririko and Wild Jerry coming to light. Let’s see if Christian Howard fares any better."
Howard climbs into the ring and offers Ririko a high hand, suggesting a test of strength. It looks as though Ririko is going to accept it, but as soon as their fingers are clasped she connects with a stiff kick to the side with her right boot… and then one with her left! Still with a hold of the wrist, Ririko uses her free hand to connect with a trio of stiff forearms, followed by an elbow strike that rocks Howard back, causing separation. Ririko then knocks him back into the Menage’s corner with a standing dropkick!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Ferocious strikes on display from Ririko, there. Showing her versatility in the opening exchanges of this one, as Sierra tags herself in to take her turn with the Crazy Ghost."
Sierra climbs into the ring, but before she can do anything at all she’s nailed with a big European uppercut, turning her around so that Ririko can grasp her from behind. She clasps both her arms and takes her over with a tiger suplex, bridging for the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Sierra kicks out and both are quickly up, but Ririko ducks the attempted lariat and slaps on a full nelson… followed up by a dragon suplex! Ririko again bridges for the cover…
ONE… TWO…. TH – NO!
Another kickout from Sierra! She’s much slower to get up this time, but - showing some resilience - she manages to do so. Ririko is waiting for her when she does, though, connecting with a boot to the midsection…
Rod Sterling: "Stalling vertical suplex from Ririko! She goes for another cover. This might be it for Sierra!"
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
This time, Sierra needs a little help from her friends, with Jerry and Christian reaching in from the outside of the ring and dragging Sierra out under the bottom rope! They support her on the outside, the three and XYZ quickly entering a confab whilst they weigh up their next move. Ririko isn’t about to let them do that, though, hitting the opposite set of ropes…
Anzu Kurosawa: "Ririko’s about to fly! She’s looking for a vaulting cross-body! Incredible air time!!"
Allen Price: "BUT THERE’S NOBODY HOME!! The Menage scatter in all directions and Ririko crashes and burns!!!"
It is indeed a bad landing for Ririko, and the Menage waste no time in capitalising on this sudden advantage. Sierra recuperates against the barricade whilst Jerry and Christian lay into Ririko with stomps!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Here come the rest of the YOKAI Death Squad! Jerry and Howard want nothing to do with Cali and Katsu, scarpering back towards their corner."
The official is out to try and maintain order, and he tells Hayama and Katsu to head back towards their own corner, Sierra finally having recuperated enough to scrape Ririko up and throw her under the bottom rope. She goes for a cover, the official sliding in to make the count…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Kickout from Ririko, but the Menage are able to isolate her in their corner as best they can…
***
<< 07:10. >>
We rejoin with Wild Jerry laying into Ririko with stomps, his back between her and her teammates on the opposite side of the ring.
Rod Sterling: "It might not exactly be the prettiest approach, in fact I’d describe it as bowling shoe ugly, but it’s been effective for the Menage over the last few minutes."
Allen Price: "Gotta get the job done any way you can, Rod!"
With Ririko scrambling up to her feet, Jerry places her in a front facelock and then spikes her onto her head with a DDT!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "I guess we know what XYZ taught these three in class this week. I think that’s the fourth DDT we’ve seen from the Menage this match…"
Jerry goes for a cover…
ONE… TWO… T – NO!
More resilience on display from Ririko, who’s had to show a lot of that, and Jerry proceeds to tag in Sierra. She comes into the ring and watches on as Ririko scrambles up to her feet, doubling her over with a boot to the midsection and then putting her in a front facelock…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Another DDT?! The Menage are relentless here…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Maybe not, Jean-Luc. Sierra hooks the arm, maybe looking to branch out with a suplex?!"
Indeed, it looks that way, but when Sierra tries to wrench her opponent up and over, Ririko anchors her weight down and then blocks the move by placing her boot behind Sierra’s calf. Sierra huffs and puffs and heaves, attempting the lift a further two times, but she has no luck… and then Ririko reverses with a snap suplex of her own!!
Allen Price: "This could be the opening that Ririko needs! She crawls towards her corner… and tags in Katsu!!"
Katsu leaps over the top rope and begins by taking Sierra down with a lariat! Then an arm drag! Sierra appears to be crawling to her corner, attempting a tag, but Katsu drags her into the middle of the ring and connects with a scoop slam! Katsu points to the top rope, nodding her head as the crowd cheers her ascent. She straightens out on the top rope as Sierra climbs to her feet… and the Kitsune Warrior connects with a hurricanrana! Sierra is sent hurtling into her corner, and Jerry - showing some courage - reaches over to tag himself in. He climbs into the ring and charges at Katsu… but she ducks the attempted cover, goes behind into a rear waistlock, and hurls Jerry over with a release German suplex!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Katsu picking up a head of steam, here, and this might be exactly the boost in momentum she needs ahead of her main event encounter. This doesn’t look good for Wild Jerry!"
Katsu waits for Jerry to rise and then hits the ropes… but Christian Howard is waiting there, reaching beneath the bottom rope and grasping at her legs! It’s not enough to knock her down, but she turns around to face Howard, who promptly backs away. Katsu turns to face Jerry again, who makes full use of the distraction, running through her with a shoulder block! Wild Jerry wasted no time in collecting the Kitsune Warrior, dragging her to the middle of the ring, and connecting with another DDT!! He goes for the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Allen Price: "Katsu kicks out, but once more the Menage use a little guile to recapture the advantage…"
***
<< 12:30. >>
Christian Howard is wearing Katsu down with a sleeper hold, to the point where the official has to come in and check the Kitsune Warrior’s arm. It falls the first two times, the audience showing their support for the joshi as the referee dramatically lifts it a third time…
Anzu Kurosawa: "This might be it!"
Allen Price: "NO! There’s still life in Katsu yet!"
She clenches her hand into a fist and then begins to fight up to her feet, Christian Howard at first attempting to desperately maintain his sleeper. When in a standing position, she reels off with a series of elbows to the midsection, Howard first transitioning into a side headlock and then turning into a front facelock…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Looks like Christian Howard is going for the Menage’s eleventh DDT of the match… but reversed by Katsu! Northern Lights suplex, with a bridge!"
ONE… TWO… TH – NO!
Howard kicks out, and both competitors scramble up to their feet. Katsu ducks underneath Howard’s frantic, wild clothesline, and then catches him on the turn with a hurricanrana!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Finally, Katsu is able to get in some offence, and both competitors are now desperate for a tag…"
Rod Sterling: "And both competitors get one! Here comes Jerry! Here comes Cali!"
Cali begins by taking Wild Jerry over with a spinning wheel kick, and then - after he rises - drops him once again with a standing dropkick! She has less fortune with an elbow strike, Jerry blocking it and then returning a forearm strike of his own. Cali is staggered, and Jerry collects her in a front facelock, looking for a snap DDT… but Cali stands up straight, and…
Anzu Kurosawa: "Standing Spanish fly!! Beautiful from Cali Hayama!"
Sierra maybe feels the match slipping away, and climbs into the ring. She charges at Cali, attempting to bowl her over with a lariat, but Hayama ducks beneath it. Sierra continues her momentum… right into Ririko, who knocks her down with a back elbow! Ririko throws Sierra under the bottom rope, where XYZ checks on her, before hitting the ropes…
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Vaulting cross-body!! This time Ririko connects, onto both Sierra and XYZ!!"
Allen Price: "Little favour from YDS to Tommy Bedlam!"
Meanwhile, in the ring, Cali is stalking Jerry from behind, the XYZite slowly getting to his feet. She comes in for the kill…
Rod Sterling: "ETHER CALAMITY!!!"
Cali gets all of the Destino, and is quick to hook both legs…
ONE… TWO…
Christian Howard makes a desperate charge into the ring… but Katsu is there to wipe him out with a superkick!!
THREE!!
Winners: YOKAI Death Squad via pinfall at 14:58.
Cali rolls off her defeated opponent, a mild round of applause circulating around the Kensington Oval. She allows Katsu and the returning Ririko to help her up, where she dusts herself off and soaks in the victory.
Kurt Harrington: "Here are your winners, progressing to the finals of the Trios Eliminator Tournament… Ririko, Katsu, and Cali Hayama… the YOKAI Death Squad!!"
The triumphant trio each get their hands lifted in a line by the official, the Menage looking on from the outside and licking their wounds. XYZ offers them some words of sympathy and support before the defeated trio head back up the ramp.
Jean-Luc Watkins: "We’ll see XYZ again later on tonight when he faces off against Tommy Bedlam for the Cowboy’s FWA X Championship, but for now he and his followers leave the arena in disappointment."
Rod Sterling: "They won’t be getting any further in this tournament, but the YOKAI Death Squad have now progressed into the finals. We’ll find out who they’ll face later on tonight, when the Undisputed Xperienx go head to head with the Lumberjacks."
Anzu Kurosawa: "The job’s not finished yet, but the YOKAI Death Squad are one step closer to that climactic showdown with the Coven that they’ve been hoping for. But before then, one of its members has a main event to worry about…"
The camera shows Katsu and her determined expression as she climbs out of the ring, the other two celebrating their victory whilst the Kitsune Warrior begins her walk to the back to prepare for her second match. We fade from the scene.
-= EARLIER TONIGHT - PRIOR TO THE SHOW =-
Somewhere within the vast backstage hallways of the arena, a familiar masked man rests his clenched fists against the brickwork of the arena wall, silent but for the shallow exhale of his breath. He places his head between his fists, leaning on the wall, his all-black outfit standing out from the slate-grey walls around him. Alyster Black was quiet, uncharacteristically so, the weight of tonight’s main event clear in his posture, his FWA Tag Team Championship laying discarded on a crate next to him.
That is, until a slim, pale arm reached into view, carefully gripping the belt and picking it up, to no response. The arm, presumably with a rest of a body attached to it off-screen, tilted the faceplate in it’s direction, with a hum.
???: “I thought you were supposed to be able to see your reflection in these belts.”
Zoom out, and if the voice isn’t familiar, the bob and sway of a ridiculous bright green mohawk on the woman certainly is. In jeans and a leather jacket, Violet Dreyer inspects the faceplate of the belt, squinting, as she holds it up to the light. She makes a face one would usually associate with a particularly flattened piece of roadkill, and a bemused hum.
Violet Dreyer: “I mean, christ, look at the smudges. You tryin’ to fingerbang this fuckin’ thing?”
No response from Alyster. Idly chewing on a piece of gum, Violet dropped the tag belt back onto the crate, before leaning against it with a huff.
Violet Dreyer: “Eh. I bet Disco Balls’ title is cleaner. You’ll have to show me tonight, after you win it.”
That got his attention. Breaking the spell, Alyster turned a head, glancing at Violet. Expression hidden, but there’s a slight pause, as if he wasn’t sure she would even be here tonight. He straightens, fists falling to his side, one hand falling onto his tag title belt. There’s a tilt of the head, Violet’s words clearly echoing within him, before he clears his throat instead.
Alyster Black: “You made it.”
Violet makes a half-shrugging gesture of ‘duh.’
Alyster Black: “Almost didn’t think you would.”
Violet Dreyer: “What, and miss out on seeing you legally murder a bunch of chucklefucks en route to taking back the top prize? Nah. Ain’t like I got anything better to do, might as well watch my guy murder it down, violent-style.”
Alyster nodded in acquiescence.
Violet Dreyer: “Besides, I was here the first time you won that strap, it’s only fitting I’m here for your second. Right? You’re welcome, hotshot. You got this.”
She holds up a fist, in a rare display of camaraderie. Alyster doesn’t hesitate before punching it, and Violet tries and fails to hide the flash of pain that goes through her hand.
Violet Dreyer: “Fuck’s sake, save it for Peacock.”
???: “Save what for Peacock?”
Both Black and Dreyer turn to see that Ricardo Vance and Santino Dongarelli have arrived onto the scene and there seems to be a playful manner about them and they exchange fist bumps with Black as well as Dreyer, who seems more reluctant to dap them.
Alyster Black: “What’s going on, guys? Come to wish me luck?”
Santino Dongarelli: “Alyster, you know we love you, buddy, but you know tonight we’re pulling for ‘The Cock’. If Chris gets hit by a bus on the way to the arena though? We’re backing you all the way, dude.”
Ricardo Vance: “What he said. Plus, we’ve got some business to attend to ourselves. Not sure if Chris shared the details with you?”
Black shakes his head and grunts. It is clear that he seems slightly annoyed that Chris has gone behind his back on something, albeit he does not know what it is.
Ricardo Vance: “That weird freak Konchu and that loser freak Cyrus? We heard that they’re gunning for those tag titles, man. We can’t let that happen.”
Santino Dongarelli: “Not that we don’t know you and Chris would smoke those fools, but because they don’t even deserve a damn shot after you two have been sonning them every chance y’all have got!”
Violet Dreyer: “Where do you two dolts come in, then?”
Santino Dongarelli: “They won’t get to FTN, because they won’t get past us Diamond Dogs.”
Alyster Black: “Then what?”
The Diamond Dogs take a step closer to Black, and Dreyer instinctively gets in between them and her close ally.
Ricardo Vance: “Then? We find out once and for all who the best tag team in this little group of ours is. That sound good to you?”
Alyster Black: “Sounds great.”
There seems to be an air of understanding between everyone involved, and as Rick and Sonny leave, Black is left wondering whether their appearance here may have been a way to throw him off of his game, courtesy of his partner.
The crowd get to their feet in anticipation of the recently returned Chris Crowe. First out walks his friend and manager, Crazy Harry. Harry plays to the mostly positive reaction from the fans before finally Chris Crowe walks out, decked out in a AC/DC T-Shirt with cut off sleeves, jean shorts, black boots, and a knee brace on his right leg.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a twenty minute time limit. Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Crazy Harry… hailing from The Bad Lands… weighing in at two hundred fourty pounds….”THE SHOWMAN” CCCHHRRRISSS CCCRRRRRRRRRRROWE!”
Rod Sterling: "The fans here in Barbados are excited to see The Showman making his way down to the ring tonight, in his first singles match since returning to the FWA.”
Anzu Kurosawa: "A lot of anticipation for this for sure. Chris Crowe seemed like a rising star in FWA after capturing the North American championship but before we could even begin to see what Crowe was capable of, he was gone but now he’s back and ready to pick up where he left off.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "We saw a tease of just that on Fallout. Current North American Champion Bryan Baxter seems to think there’s no challengers for his title, but Crowe certainly took issue with that. And I think that’s a match we’d all like to see.”
Rod Sterling: "I think we can all agree with that. But first, Crowe has his second run in with The Coven since his return, after he and his Deathswitch partner, Tommy Bedlam, defeated Celestia and Blair on Fallout.”
Harry and Crowe slowly make their way down to the ring before Crowe climbs up onto the apron, steps into the ring and tosses his hands up into the air to cheers from the fans in Barbados.
The crowd continues to be on their feet and give Trixie Bordeaux an equally warm response as she walks out with a big smile on her face, her FWA Trios Championship wrapped snuggly around his slim waist. She begins to walk out and is joined by her trios partners, Blair and Celestia, but Trixie turns to them and seems to let them know she would handle this on her own, sending her partners back to the back.
Kurt Harrington: “And his opponent, representing The Coven… from Baton Rouge, Louisiana… weighing in at one hundred twenty pounds… she is one third of the FWA Trios Champions… TTTTTRRRRIIIIIIIXXXXXXIIIIIIIEEEE BORDEAUX!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Earlier tonight, we saw Kleio De Santos pick up a big win so Trixie will be looking to continue the Coven’s winning ways here but has quite the tall task ahead of her.”
Rod Sterling: "I wouldn’t count Trixie. While going up against The Showman is certainly an unenviable task for anyone, we’ve seen the kind of heart and determination this young girl has.”
Allen Price: "Hahaha! That’s a good one.”
Rod Sterling: “I’m sorry, was something I said funny, Price?”
Allen Price: “What? Oh no, I have no idea what you said. I was reading a text from Chris. You wouldn’t get it but trust me, it’s hilarious.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "Focus, Price! There’s a match about to get underway!”
Rod Sterling: “Yes, right… and Trixie is looking to avenge The Coven’s loss to Deathswitch here… a match that saw Trixie delivering her patented “Pee-Pee Punch” to Crazy Harry during the match, but at the same time was on the receiving end of Crowe’s Closing Act as well.”
Trixie skips down to the ring before sliding in. With enthusiasm, she climbs the turnbuckle, removes her title and holds it up to the fans for another pop. Finally she jumps back down, hands off the title and gets ready for the match.
FIFTH MATCH | 1/20.
Chris Crowe vs. Trixie Bordeaux.
Singles Match.
Match writer: Dubb.
<< 00:00. >>
The bell rings to officially start the match. Trixie eyes up Chris Crowe, who licks his lips as he makes his way to the middle of the ring as he eyed down the young blonde, a bit uncomfortably so. Trixie slightly grimaces as the looks she’s receiving from The Showman. Her uneasiness perhaps makes it easier for her to avoid his advance, as he looked for a grapple, but Trixie instead ducks under his arms and runs to the ropes! Trixie bounces back and ducks a clothesline from Crowe. Back off the opposite ropes, she ducks another clothesline. She bounces off the ropes once again and third time was not the charm for Crowe as this time Trixie floats over his clothesline attempt into an arm drag takedown!
The Showman is quick back up to his knees, a smile on his face as perhaps he was a little impressed with the spunky Trixie’s quick start. He gets back up and Trixie meets him with a slap to the face, but Crowe is unphased. Trixie’s eyes grow wide as she begins a flurry of punches to Crowe, but they are absorbed by the bigger wrestler before Crowe seems to now grow annoyed with her, grabbing her by the head to stop her attack and just unceremoniously shoves her to the mat!
Crowe actually gets some scattering of boos for his dismissing of Trixie’s offense, but the determined “hex girl” gets right back up to her feet as Crowe encourages her to “bring it on,” seemingly daring the girl to come at him again.
To her credit, Bordeaux walks right back up to The Showman and delivers another stiff slap across his face… this one with even more oomph behind it, the force actually sending Crowe’s head sideways!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Now we’re talking! You have to admire that fire from Trixie. She is showing no fear!”
The smile on Crowe’s face disappears as he turns back to Trixie, but she quickly strikes by raking his eyes and then pulling him into a headlock! However, Crowe overpowers her and shoves her off into the ropes. Coming back off the ropes, Bordeaux leapfrogs over Crowe and heads to the opposite ropes, leaping into the air as she comes back with a cross body..
BUT SHE IS CAUGHT BY CROWE…
FALLAWAY SLAM!
Trixe clutches her back as she rolls to her side on the canvas, Crowe walking over, stalking over her…
***
<< 06:11. >>
It’s been the Showman in complete control over his opponent as swings her back to the mat with a swinging neckbreaker. Crowe presses down on her shoulders for a rather nonchalant lateral press.
ONE! TWO! KICKOUT!
Allen Price: "It would appear Crowe is toying with her right now!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "After a fiery start from Bordeaux, The Showman has certainly been in the driver’s seat.”
Crowe seems unconcerned as he grabs Trixie by her blonde hair to pull her back up to the mat and sends her into the corner with an Irish Whip. Crowe charges back in for a corner clothesline, but Trixie manages to get her leg up… Crowe charging face first into her boot!
With the Showman momentarily staggered, Trixie tries to take advantage of the situation as she runs out of the corner with a bulldog! She quickly goes for the pin!
ONE! KICKOUT!
Crowe begins to get back to his feet but Trixie strikes with her Shotgun Dropkick that sends Showman falling back into the corner! With the crowd solidly behind her, Trixie runs to the opposite corner and charges in with the Bundle of Fun cannonball!
Bordeaux rolls back up to her feet as Crowe slides under the ropes to the apron. Trixie plays to the crowd as Crowe begins to try and use the ropes to pull himself up on the apron… but Trixie charges in..
SPEAR THROUGH THE ROPES!
Both competitors spill to ringside!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Trixie putting her own body on the line, sending both of them out of the ring and I’m not sure who took the worst of that spill!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "She’s got to be careful now though as outside the ring is going to be an even bigger advantage for Crowe’s style.”
Trixie shows signs of life first as she grabs the ring curtain and begins to pull herself up and then back onto the apron. Crowe gets back to his feet but is surprised as Bordeaux runs the apron and LEAPS onto him with a Thesz Press to take him back down! She begins to go nuts on him with a flurry of slap and headbutts mixed in with some bites!
Concerned about his friend, Crazy Harry comes over and grabs Trixie, trying to pull him off of Crowe, but Trixie turns around and RAKES HARRY’S EYES! She actually seems somewhat surprised by her own actions as she acted out of instinct. But no time to worry about that as she turns back to the recovering Showman…
HEADBUTT TO CROWE!
The force of the headbutt seems to have actually effected Trixie just as much as Crowe, as she staggers backwards, dazed from the attack.
Allen Price: "You might say she was really using her head there! Well.. maybe not…”
She shakes off the cobwebs and grabs Crowe by the arm, attempting to whip him into the ringpost…
BUT CROWE REVERSES IT!
Trixie crashes into the steel head first! Crowe immediately grabs her by the hair and SLAMS her head first into the post again and then slams her head first into the ring steps!
With Trixie now in trouble, Crowe lifts her up onto his shoulders outside the rings… AND FLINGS HER INTO THE RING POST!
Crowe smirks as he pulls a clearly struggling Bordeaux up and rolls her back into the ring. Crowe takes his time as he climbs to the apron and then climbs to the top turnbuckle and comes off with a flying elbow!
Crowe hooks the leg!
ONE! TWO! THRE– NO!
Trixie gets her shoulder up and the match continues!
***
<< 10:23. >>
Death Valley Driver!
Chris Crowe lays out Trixie right in the center of the ring and goes for another pinfall, this time much more assertive and hooking the far leg while doing so.
ONE! TWO! THREE!
NO!
Trixie still somehow finds some life to get her shoulder up!
Rod Sterling: "Another kickout by Bordeaux! What’s it going to take for The Showman to keep her down!?”
Frustration begins to become evident on the face of Chris Crowe as he gets to his feet and delivers a few stomps to Trixie’s back. He then drags her over to the corner, pulling her up and slamming her backward into the corner turnbuckles. He rakes at the eyes of the Trios Champion, eliciting some more scattered boos through the audience but none of that seems to bother the Showman.
He lifts Trixie up and places her on the top turnbuckle, before beginning to climb up himself. He positions himself on the top turnbuckle wiith Trixie… and it’s..
HIGHWAY TO HELL!
Top Rope Powerbomb… IS REVERSED INTO A HURRICANRANA FROM TRIXIE!
Both crash to to the canvas!
Rod Sterling: "What a counter! Trixie pulling out a desperation reversal to the Highway to Hell!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "But so much damage has been done… can she capitalize?!”
It’s a standing ten count with both competitors down. At the seven count, Trixie begins to get up to her feet, but Crowe starts to show signs of life as well. Unable to make a pinfall attempt, Trixie tries to strike first and hits a bulldog legdrop to Crowe as he is getting up!
This time Trixie is able to make the cover!
ONE! TWO! THR–KICKOUT!
Crowe keeps the match going but Trixie wastes no time going back after him, attempting to hook him for a DDT, but Crowe blocks it and runs with Bordeaux, slamming her back first into the turnbuckles once again!
This frees Crowe as he now is able to back up… and he charges in looking for a boot into the corner, but Trixie moves out of the way! Crowe’s boot connects with the top turnbuckle as Trixie leaps up..
HOCUS POCUS TO CROWE!
The crowd is on their feet with a mixture of shock and awe as they witness Trixie laying out the Showman with one of her finishing maneuvers! But Trixie is unable to make the cover as the desperate nature of the move had left her down as well.
Meanwhile, a frantic Crazy Harry climbs to the apron, distracting the referee! Trixie gets to her feet, noticing Harry on the apron and knowing she can’t make the pin… she heads over and trades some words with Harry…
Before performing a SPLIT AND PUNCHING HARRY BETWEEN THE LEGS!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "It’s another LOW BLOW to Crazy Harry!”
Allen Price: “It’s the Pee-Pee Punch, JL!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: "I am not calling it that.”
Rod Sterling: "But completely legal because Crazy Harry is NOT in this match!”
Harry grabs his crotch as he falls down to the floor from the apron as Trixie looks down at Crowe… and then looks to the top turnbuckle. Trixie begins her ascent and perches the top turnbuckle..
WHISTLING TRIXIE!
KNEES UP FROM CROWE!
Both competitors are down once again as Trixie’s high risk didn’t pay off! Both very slowly begin to stagger to their feet..
KICK TO THE MIDSECTION FROM CROWE..
CLOSING ACT TO TRIXIE!
He drops down and makes the pin..
ONE! TWO! THREE!
Winner: Chris Crowe by pinfall at 16:31.
“Come As You Are” plays once again as Chris Crowe staggers up to his feet. The referee lifts up his arm as Crazy Harry comes into the ring, quite gingerly, to celebrate with Crowe.
Rod Sterling: "Chris Crowe seems to have picked up right where he left off before his hiatus, back to his winning ways.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “A valiant effort from Trixie Bordeaux as the Coven come up short against Deathswitch again here tonight… but for Crowe, I think we all know what he’ll be looking for next…”
On cue, Crowe’s music is interrupted…
In the ring, Chris Crowe’s victory celebration is cut short. He smirks as the FWA North American Champion walks out from the back, not dressed to wrestle since he had the night off. Instead Baxter is decked on in jeans with a black tee shirt. The FWA championship propped up on his left shoulder while he held a microphone in his right hand.
Bryan Baxter: ”Well done. Congratulations!”
Baxter sarcastically offers up a round of applause for Crowe, who seems unamused in the ring.
Bryan Baxter: ”I know you rudely interrupted me on Fallout, but I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. My name… is BIG. BRYAN. BAXTER. Or, you may elect to call me Big Bryan Bastard… because when I step into that ring, that’s exactly what I become. And your name is?”
Baxter pauses but really never has any intentions of letting Crowe respond for himself.
Bryan Baxter: ”Of course I know who you are. I suppose your reputation precedes you. You came onto the scene here in FWA like a wrecking ball. You took the world by storm. No one saw you comin’ and you left a path of destruction in your path. And along the way you picked up the FWA North American Championship and had yourself a dominant title reign.”
“Hmm.. that… sounds… familiar. Who.. else does that describe?”]
Baxter once again stops, and taps his index finger on his chin, as if pondering his own question.
Bryan Baxter: ”Oh right, it describes… ME! But there’s a couple SIGNIFICANT differences between me and you, Showman. Number one… you don’t have this title right now… I DO!”
“And while, yeah sure, you were never defeated for the belt… neither have I. But you know something… that’s not entirely true. Sure… you weren’t defeated in the traditional sense of the word. Someone didn’t pin you in that ring. No one made you submit. But you were defeated. Weren’t you, Showman? You were defeated by your own vices. Your own addictions. Your own personal demons.”
“AND BELIEVE ME - I’VE BEEN THERE! I know exactly what that’s like. But you were WEAK. Which brings me… to the other difference between you and me, Crowe. And that’s this. I defeated my vices. I defeated my addictions. I DEFEATED MY DEMONS. But I can see it in your face. I can see it in your actions. You’re still dealing with all the same shit that kept you away from FWA for the last year.”
“And I know what you want. I know you plan on waltzing right back here into FWA a year later… walk right up and just get yourself a title shot because… you never lost the title. You want this right here. You want my belt. You want… a MATCH. YOU WANT BAXTER… VERSUS CROWE!”
“BASTARD versus SHOWMAN.”
“Is that what you want? IS THAT WHAT THESE PEOPLE WANT?!”
The reaction from the crowd makes it evident that they want to see it, while in the ring, it’s a solemn nod from Crowe who echos the thoughts of the crowd.
Bryan Baxter: ”WELL THAT’S TOO FUCKING BAD!”
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Bryan Baxter: ”Because the fact of the matter is this, - you did lose this belt. Because if you didn’t… you’d still be champion. It was your own poor decisions in your life that led you away from FWA. It led you away from this title. You chose to abandon this company and this title. So yeah, you lost. And as far as I’m concerned, you are owed…”
”Nothing.”
“You want a shot at this title? So does everyone else.”
“Join the club.”
“If you want it… real simple… Showman… you’re gonna have to… earn it.”
Baxter tosses the microphone down as the crowd let him have it with a sea of boos, but the Bastard simply laughs as he turns his back to Crowe and walks back behind the curtain, while int he ring, Crowe actually continues to smirk and can be seen saying off mic, “That’s fine… I’ll earn it alright.”
We cut away from the live action inside the Kensington Oval for a pre-taped segment from earlier this weekend. We find Sir Stache, roaming the beautiful Caribbean coast wearing his usual white mask featuring a prominent mustache on it along with a white collar shirt and khaki pants, not too similar from the type of clothes we’d see Jeremy Best himself wearing.
Sir Stache: “Gaaahhh… where is he?”
The frustration is evident in the typically meak voice of the man we have come to know as “Krash” over the last several months. The “he” in question becomes evident as he spots the person he is looking for… another masked man… who is leaning back in a beach chair, sipping on a beverage featuring an umbrella. This man is shirtless with floral themed swim trunks on. It is a man perhaps known to some from LCW and the Lucha Libre scene as Mejor Amigo, a man we recently learned had befriended Jeremy at some point as well. A man who agreed to join Sir Stache in a quest to find Jeremy Best, whose whereabouts after the Back in Business Buried Alive Match remain unknown. Amigo greets Stache with a friendly wave, calling him over.
Sir Stache: “What are you doing?”
Mejor Amigo: “Hola amigo! I’m just enjoying some of this countries fine amenities. Did you know that Barbados is the birthplace of rum! And it makes a very delicious cocktail, my friend!”
Sir Stache:: “What? No! Not that! You’re supposed to be helping me in my Best Crusade to find Jeremy!”
Mejor Amigo: “Si, si! Of course I am! But it doesn’t hurt to get a little R&R in, am I right?”
Sir Stache: “The only ‘R’ we have time for right now is RESCUE.”
Mejor Amigo: “Don’t be silly, my friend. What is it you’ve been saying… What Would Jeremy Do? WWJD.”
Sir Stache: “He’d be going to the ends of the Earth to find his missing friend. Just like he did for Krash!”
Mejor Amigo: “Si, this is true. BUT - he’d also want us to have fun along the way, would he not? Remember all the adventures he had with Bryan Baxter and XYZ during his own search?”
Sir Stache: “I… suppose you have a point.”
Mejor Amigo: Ah ha! That’s it mi amigo! Come! Let us enjoy this paraíso together!”
Sir Stache nods before we are treated with a montage of the two masked friends enjoying their time in Barbados - including snorkeling (with their masks on of course) and swimming with some turtles in the crystal blue waters, partaking in a rotisserie chicken dinner at R. A. Mapp Bar, sitting beachside as they clink their fruity beverages together and sip from the cup, and finally we see Mejor Amigo burying Sir Stache in the sand.
The montage comes to a close with both standing on the beach, Sir Stache brushing the sand out of his khakis.
Sir Stache: “Okay, you were right… that was a lot of fun… but can we get back to business now.”
Mejor Amigo nods.
Sir Stache: “Great! Let’s get back to it… Jeremy… we are coming for you buddy!”
Stache and Amigo begin running across the secluded sandy beach, fading off into the distance as we head back to the live action.
Kurt Harrington: “Your next contest is a trios match scheduled for one fall with a 20-minute-time-limit!”
The alluring vocals of Janet Jackson’s “That’s The Way Love Goes” begins to play as the mood lighting in the arena dims to a sultry shade of red. Walking out onto the stage, through a steady cloud of smoke, are two people wearing pink, glittery, skin-tight full body suits. The back of one suit says “Antonio” in white and the back of the other says “Monica” in white. They each hold one furry cone shaped object in their hands as they slowly move and vibe to the music while standing on either side of the entryway. After a few seconds, out saunters Xperienx Xtacee, looking as flashy as ever with a matching velvet cloak and holding a rhinestone-encrusted cane. Soon, Xtacee is joined by Jackson Fenix and Nate Savage as they stand behind him with Bubbles the Clown as well. He motions Monica and Antonio with the cane, signaling them to come over and kiss him on either cheek. Xtacee puts on a very satisfied smile and holds his cane with both hands, pointing it in front of him, as Monica and Antonio stand at his side and point the furry cones at him. In unison, Xperienx Xtacee thrusts with the cane as his lovers tap the back of the cones, causing golden confetti to come shooting out of all three objects.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, making their way to the ring, being accompanied by Monica, Antonio, and Bubbles the Clown. They weigh in at a combined weight of 656 pounds, the team of Xperienx Xtacee, Jackson Fenix, and Nate Savage…The Undisputed Xperienx!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “It’s always an Xperienx when these three make their out to the ring!"
Rod Sterling: “I see what you did there Anzu, and I would be inclined to agree. They make a formidable trio in the ring, and from what I’ve heard through the grapevine, they know how to have a good time outside of the ring, if you catch my drift.”
Allen Price: “I don’t catch your drift.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Shocker.”
Xtacee shares a kiss with his lovers Monica and Antonio before he enters the ring. Jackson hugs Bubbles the Clown and alongside Nate, he joins Xtacee in the ring and the three men posture for the adoring fans.
Allen Price: “Look at Jackson Fenix! Look at how he carries himself! That’s not the look of a champion. Now, Chris Peacock, that’s a champion! You don’t see Chris keeping company with a clown!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He keeps you around so I beg to differ.”
The positive reaction continues for The Lumberjacks and their sister, Lucy Lupone. Lucy seems more eager to interact with the fans while Dan and Doug mean business as they march down to the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Their opponents, from The Yukon, Canada and weighing in at a combined weight of 750 lb, the team of Dan, Doug, and Lucy Lupone…The Lumberrrrrjacks!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Both of these teams are coming off of big wins on the last cycle, but only one of them can move on to the semi-final before they get their match with the current trios champions, The Coven and Trixie Bordeaux.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Dan and Doug with their strength and power, then throw in Lucy’s speed and energy and you have yourself quite the exciting trio!”
Rod Sterling: “That Lucy seems a bit out there but she is a firecracker once that bell sounds!”
SIXTH MATCH | 1/20.
The Undisputed Xperienx [Jackson Fenix, Nate Savage, and Xperienx Xtacee] vs. The Lumberjacks [Doug LuPone, Dan LuPone, and Lucy LuPone].
Trios Match - Eliminator Tournament semi-final.
Match writer: Jimmy King.
DING! DING! DING!
<< 00:00 >>
The match begins with Jackson Fenix and Dan Lupone. Jackson tries to go in for a lock up but he quickly senses it was a mistake due to the size difference when Dan swats him away. Fenix pops up after being shoved to the mat and he begins to hip thrust at Dan, who looks confused by the entire situation. Dan starts to grow annoyed by Fenix’s games and goes to clobber him with a discus clothesline, but Fenix sees that coming and he ducks out of the way in time and spins behind Dan and he nails Dan behind the knee with a stomp! Dan nearly topples to one knee but he keeps his balance. Not for long though as Fenix clips him from behind with a chop block! Fenix starts to fire away repeated forearm strikes to Dan’s dome, and Dan is backed into enemy territory in the corner.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Fenix chopped Dan down like Dan would do to a tree and now he has him where he wants him in the corner!”
Rod Sterling: “Fenix is secretly a lumberjack confirmed.”
Xtacee tags himself in and along with Fenix, the two of them start to vigorously thrust their hips while delivering strikes to Dan Lupone. Eventually, Dan gets the better of the duo and he grabs both men by the throat and shoves them away. Dan quickly turns his attention to Savage on the apron and knocks him off for good measure! Dan comes roaring out of the gate and takes down both Fenix and Xtacee with a double clothesline!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Dan Lupone isn’t having any of Xtacee and Fenix’s games it seems, and he levels both of them in one swift but powerful motion!”
Allen Price: “You wouldn’t catch Chris slipping like Jackson Fenix just did there!”
Dan brings Xtacee up and locks Xtacee in a bear hug! Xtacee has nowhere to go while Dan ragdolls him around in a vice-like grip in his arms! Dan transitions that into a fallaway slam on Xtacee and he goes for the pin…
ONE…NO!
<< 04:10 >>
Dan tags in Doug and Doug charges toward Xtacee, who is getting up, and Xtacee has enough instinct to run underneath Doug, leaps on the top rope, and he quickly leaps off and hits a diving meteora on Doug and he hooks both legs in for the pin…
ONE…NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Xtacee putting his speed and agility to good use but Doug found a way to power out of it!”
Xtacee tags in Fenix and Jackson charges Doug, but he eats a spin kick for his troubles!
Allen Price: “He chopped him down like a redwood!”
Rod Sterling: “Anzu already used a tree analogy, keep up Price.”
Doug lifts Fenix up from the mat and tosses him in the corner. Doug then crushes Fenix in the corner with a running splash! Doug tags in his brother and the two behemoths have ill intentions in mind for Fenix, and they’re about to go on a chopping spree but Fenix rolls out of there in time and tags in Nate Savage!
Savage comes in hot and he starts trading lefts and rights with Dan Lupone. Nate gets the better out of the exchange and he whips Dan into the ropes, but Dan comes back with a shoulder tackle that knocks Nate right off of his feet! Nate doesn’t look pleased and he jumps up and tries to take his large opponent down but he winds up shoving Dan into the corner. He drives home some shoulder thrusts to Dan in the corner, and Nate is feeling it now as he hurdles toward Dan but Dan moves out of the way and Nate bounces off the corner, and he groggily turns around right into a big boot from Dan Lupone! Dan makes the cover…
ONE…TW - - NO!
Dan tosses Nate into the corner and tags in Doug. The brothers have a chopping spree on Nate Savage!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Nate Savage is in a bad spot right now!”
Allen Price: “What? What’s going on?”
Rod Sterling: “Are you on your phone, Price?”
Allen Price: “I was making plans for a party to celebrate Chris’ inevitable win later tonight in the main event”
Rod Sterling: “Oh brother!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That’s rather presumptuous, don’t you think?”
Allen Price: “Have you seen Jackson Fenix in there right now? There’s no way he’s beating Chris later!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Can we focus on the match, please?”
Bubbles the Clown gets near Allen’s box and he stares at Price without Price’s knowledge at first. Allen senses something and looks over at Bubbles staring at him.
Allen Price: “Jeez, that clown scared the hell out of me! Get away from here, shoo!”
<< 08:20 >>
Monica and Antonio look at Price in disgust before leading Bubbles away from Price’s box. Meanwhile, back in the ring, The Lumberjacks have gone to town on Nate Savage. They tag in their sister Lucy and as Nate groggily stumbles out of the corner he’s taken down with a float over DDT by Lucy! Lucy looks over at Dan and Doug and gives a nod. Her brothers enter the ring and knock both Xtacee and Fenix off of the apron. Dan then takes Nate in a powerbomb position and lifts him up. Doug then comes down with a double ax handle before Dan finishes him off with the powerbomb, and from the opposite corner, Lucy comes flying off with a diving splash! Lucy hooks the leg!
ONE…TWO…THREE!!!
Winner: The Lumberjacks by pinfall at 9:06.
Kurt Harrington: “The winners of the match, The Lumberjacks!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “A fair effort on the part of Undisputed Xperienx, but The Lumberjacks proved to be too much for them to overcome and now we’ll see The Lumberjacks go on to semi-final.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Jackson Fenix can’t let that get him down too much because he still has the main event later tonight.”
Allen Price: “Haha, oh brother, like he has a shot at winning that!”
Fenix, Xtacee, and Savage collect themselves on the outside while The Lumberjacks celebrate inside the ring. Savage shakes off the effects of the match and he overhears Allen’s rude comments. Savage marches over and starts to shake Allen’s box and hits it a few times.
Allen Price: “What is your problem?! You sore loser! Get him out of here!”
Xtacee, Monica, and Antonio get Nate away from the box while Fenix stares at Price.
Allen Price: “What are you looking at, huh?! That’s right, leave, take a hike!”
Xtacee urges Jackson to ignore it and they leave the ringside area. Allen composes himself and sees his colleagues staring at him like he’s lost his mind.
Allen Price: “What?!”
Anzu and Rod shake their heads in disbelief while Jean-Luc audibly sighs into his headset.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “More action on the way, wrestling fans.”
The stadium goes into a brief lull. Then - darkness. Anticipation. The unknown. Suddenly a drum beat is heard, perhaps familiar to some. A few in the audience know and start to cheer. But when the song, Dropkick Murphys "The Gauntlet", hits he comes into view things erupt.
There stands Ashley O'Ryan for the first time in years. He wears black converse, slim black jeans, and a white and green Flogging Molly t-shirt partially covered by a black jacket. His hair is longer than the last time he was seen and slightly whiter.
He makes his way down to the ring with a smile as he poses on the turnbuckle and takes a microphone...
“For those of you who don't know who I am, my name is Ashley O'Ryan.
I am the Irish Switchblade.
I am a Saint and a sinner.
I am the bastard son of a bastard son of a bastard son.
I am the Vodka that went with the Venom that tore this place up noit after noit to become one if not THE most formidable tag teams the world of wrestling 'as EVER seen.
I am a triple crown champion and a 'all of Famer.
I 'ave fought alongside and with wrestlers who 'alf you whelps in the back boots you couldn't even lace.
Chris Kennedy, Devin Golden, Stu St.Clair, G-Rich, Ryan 'all, Matt Boudreau, Ewan Edwards, Jillian De Silva, Wolf, and more.
I was 'ere when this place was a fledgling company. I saw its growing pains at it became one of the best Wrestling organizations in the bloody world.
Frankly, just standing in this ring after all these years brings up so many emotions, so many memories. Both sweet and bitter.
Regrets, triumphs. Wins, losses. Friendships gained and friends lost.”
Ashley briefly looks to the heavens.
“Miss you Chris.
But you may be thinking, didn't this bastard retire? Is this just another old timer trying to wax nostalgia in the ring for a cheap pop and nothing more?
Aye, I retired. A long time ago.
I 'ad a lot to deal with. Despite all the great men and woman I 'ave fought in this ring the greatest foe I've beaten was not in this ring. It was with myself. With my own body. With the demons that lurked in me.
But after five years of sobriety, after surgery after surgery, after more time in rehabilitation and gyms to help me mind body and soul, I got an itch. A deep seeded addiction that I 'avent fed in far too long.
The addiction of coming down the ring to my music, hearing you beautiful bastards cheering as I enter this ring to see me do what I DO BEST!
MY NAME IS ASHLEY O'RYAN.
And I've come home.”
Returning to the show, Kurt Harrington is in the ring, with a microphone once again.
[media]
Kurt Harrington:Ladies and Gentlemen, this match is for the FWA X-Title! Introducing first, the challenger, hailing for Sitka, Alaska, X…Y…Z!
A good portion of the crowd stands to their feet, showing their support for XYZ who comes to the ring alone. As he makes his way down the ramp, the wild eyes in his look evident, XYZ stops at the edge of the ring apron and pulls out a trash can full of weapons, throws it into the ring, climbs in himself, and waits for the champion.
Jean Luc Watkins:I kind of expected The Menage to be with XYZ for this match. Interesting that he’s choosing to go this one alone.
Allen Price:Oh, he’s not going it alone, you moron. You know that merry band of misfits is lurking around here somewhere.
Kurt Harrington:Now introducing, hailing from Sweetwater, Texas, the FWA X-Champion…Tommy Bedlam!
[media]
The members of the crowd who didn’t throw their support behind XYZ jump to their feet and start singing along with Tommy’s theme song.
Tommy stands at the top of the ramp, the FWA X-Title proudly around his waist. He takes off his signature black cowboy hat and tips it to the crowd. He makes his way down to the ring, high-fiving the fans who hang their arms over the security barrier along the way. He too stops at the edge of the ring and grabs a second trash can that appears to be full of weapons and tosses it into the ring toward his waiting challenger. As Tommy climbs into the ring, he steps up on the second turnbuckle, throws his long, leather duster back, and points down toward his X-Title, throwing the crowd into another frenzy.
Rod Sterling:The crowd is certainly torn in this one. Both of these men are beloved by the FWA universe, even if it’s for different reasons. The crowd likes Tommy’s blue-collar nature, but they also like the enigmatic XYZ.
Allen Price:I didn’t expect Randi to be out here with Tommy, she has to be about to pop by now. It seems like she’s been pregnant forever. But where’s Rocco Sullivan? I thought he’d be out here.
As Tommy hands his duster and the X-Title to a ringside attendant, XYZ doesn’t waste any time, charging at Tommy from behind, delivering a dropkick that knocks Tommy halfway through the ropes.
SEVENTH MATCH | 1/60.
Tommy Bedlam [c] vs. XYZ.
X Rules Match for the FWA X Championship.
Match writer: Tommy.
Not wanting to give the champion a chance to get to his feet, XYZ immediately goes over to one of the trash cans and pulls out a kendo stick! As Tommy’s feet kick helplessly while his waist is bent over the second rope, XYZ begins delivering a flurry of blows to his back with the stick. The sickening crack of the kendo stick fills the arena, further tearing the crowd.
Anzu Kurosawa: It’s important to remember that XYZ isn’t breaking any rules here. There are no rules!
As the kendo stick flies apart, leaving XYZ with nothing but a small wooden nub in his hand, Tommy finally manages to free himself from the ropes and falls onto his stomach near the edge of the ring.
XYZ climbs to the top turnbuckle and delivers a brutal double stomp to Tommy’s upper back and neck, he quickly goes for the pin.
One..
Two…
Thre…NO!
Tommy kicks out.
XYZ walks over to one of the garbage cans that have been thrown into the ring and dumps it out, revealing a multitude of weapons. The crowd erupts, anxious for the amount of chaos that they’re sure to see in this match. Meanwhile, Tommy is slowly getting to his feet, pulling himself up by the ropes, welts already clearly visible on his battered back. As XYZ pours the second garbage can full of weaponry onto the mat, Tommy charges in and delivers a crushing big boot to the back of the challenger’s head!
The blow drives XYZ to the mat as Tommy kicks through the cacophony of weapons in the ring. He finds a kendo stick of his own and begins returning the favor, delivering shot after shot to XYZ’s chest and ribs! Tommy snaps the kendo stick over one of his knees, mounts his fallen opponent, and begins swinging both arms wildly, smacking the wooden sticks against any part of XYZ he can get his hands on!
Tommy slides under the bottom rope and flips the ring skirt up, presumably looking for more weapons to introduce into this already chaotic environment. After a few moments of searching around under the ring, he pops up with a lantern in his hand.
Jean Luc Watkins: Is Tommy going camping?!
Tommy walks toward XYZ who is just starting to stir again in the corner, pulling himself up to a knee. Tommy spins around in a circle, swinging the lantern around and picking up momentum. On the third spin, he slams the lantern over XYZ’s head!
Rod Sterling:Bedlam just crushed XYZ’s skull with that lantern! The challenger is busted open, and he may be out cold!
Tommy looks around at the crowd with a devilish grin on his face, inhales deeply and blows out the light burning inside the lantern. He quickly takes advantage of his fallen opponent, rolls him over and goes for the pin.
One…
Two…
Thre…
NO! XYZ manages to kick out. Tommy raises up to his knees, pushes his hair out of his face, a look of obvious desperation on his face. What is it going to take to keep the enigmatic one down?!
Tommy once again slips under the bottom rope looking for more weaponry. The crowd begins to chant:
WE WANT TABLES! WE WANT TABLES! WE WANT TABLES!
Tommy shrugs his shoulders, and slides a folding table from underneath the ring, giving the people what they want. As they cheer, he reaches back under the ring and pulls out another table! The crowd erupts into a frenzy, and Tommy, who is really starting to feel the energy of the FWA audience, grabs a third table from under the ring!
He sets up the first table, and quickly throws the second table up on top of it. Once he has the two tables stacked near the ring apron, he hops up onto the apron and moves toward XYZ. XYZ delivers a blow to Tommy’s midsection. Then another, and another, staggering The Cowboy a bit.
Anzu Kurosawa: XYZ will not stay down!
With Bedlam staggered, XYZ unloads a bevy of kicks to his thighs and his shins.The small size advantage that Tommy has over XYZ is becoming nullified with every kick. XYZ irish whips his limping opponent into the ropes, but Tommy ducks under a clothesline attempt on the run-by. As he bounces off the ropes closest to the stacked pair of tables, XYZ delivers a beautiful standing dropkick that knocks Tommy over the top rope and he’s landed on the tables that he stacked up!
The half of the crowd that has thrown their support behind XYZ and his quest for X-Division gold stands to their feet as the Alaskan madman gets a wild look in his eyes. He climbs to the top turnbuckle and stares at his fallen opponent.
XYZ jumps straight into the air, bounces off the top rope, and hits a springboard moonsault that drives Tommy Bedlam through both tables. The referee quickly jumps from the ring to check on both men who are lying there in a heap of rubble.
Jean Luc Watkins: Oh my God! Oh my God! XYZ may have just killed Tommy Bedlam.
Allen Price: He may have. But the moron may have killed himself in the process. These guys have lost their minds, doing all this to try to make these bloodthirsty dimwits in the crowd happy.
Anzu Kurosawa: Easy to bash these two competitors and the FWA audience when you’re tucked away in your little box there, isn’t it Allen?
Both XYZ and Tommy Bedlam are still lying on the ground, surrounded by the remains of two broken tables as a second referee has come down to ringside to help check on the opponents. Somehow, XYZ begins to stir first, but he’s not moving much. Tommy finally begins to show some signs of life, inching his way toward the announce table to try to pull himself up.
XYZ is back to a vertical base first, and he walks over toward Tommy, grabs him by the air and rolls him into the ring. He hooks a leg and goes for the pin.
One…
Two…
Thre….
NO! Tommy kicks out. Where did he find the strength to kick out?!?!
Anzu Kurosawa: I’m honestly not sure what else these guys can throw at each other. We’ve seen kendo sticks, a lantern, tables, what else is left?!
Filled with both rage and frustration, XYZ begins furiously stomping on Tommy’s head and chest. When he finally stops, Tommy is bleeding heavily from his nose and mouth. Both men are busted open in this X-Title match.
XYZ, bloodied and battered climbs to the top rope. He looks to the crowd, and they know what’s coming. He’s going to go for the front-flip springboard leg drop. But before XYZ can make a move to the top rope, Tommy climbs up to the second turnbuckle and delivers a crushing right hand, then another, and another!
Tommy climbs up one level higher, standing on the top turnbuckle along with XYZ. This is unfamiliar territory for the champion.
Rod Sterling:Tommy Bedlam is not a high-flyer. I’m not even sure I’ve ever seen him on the top rope before.
Tommy delivers a gut shot to XYZ, driving the wind out of the challenger and doubling him over. Tommy grabs XYZ’s head, sticks it under his arm and hooks both of his opponent’s arms behind his back, still precariously perched on the top rope. He looks over his shoulder and sees an open garbage can sitting upright behind him.
Tommy hoists XYZ up by his arms, leaps backwards off the top rope and delivers a Bullseye DDT off the top rope, driving XYZ head first into the open trash can!
The can falls over onto its side with XYZ’s upper body still inside. Tommy climbs onto the trash can, further collapsing it, and hooks XYZ’s leg.
One…
Two…
Three!
DING! DING! DING!
Kurt Harrington:Here is your winner…AND STILL FWA X-Champion, Tommy Bedlam!
Rod Sterling:It looks like Tommy Bedlam is getting used to these X-Rules matches, folks. This is what, the third one he’s had in his career? The Cowboy holds onto the X-Title for another night!
Winner: Tommy Bedlam by Pinfall at 15:57.
After the match, Tommy gets back to his feet slowly. As he holds the X-Title high over his head, the referee and a member of the FWA medical team are checking on XYZ. As the challenger starts to stir, Tommy walks over toward him. Both of the FWA officials back away slowly, as no one knows exactly what’s happening. A heavy tension fills the arena.
Tommy holds out a hand toward XYZ, who has reached a seated position on the mat. The crowd cheers at the display of sportsmanship being offered, but XYZ certainly appears hesitant to take Tommy up on it. After a moment of thought, XYZ grabs Tommy’s hand as Bedlam helps him up from the mat.
In a moment of pure respect for the challenger, Tommy holds XYZ’s hand high in the air as the FWA universe shows their support for both men. As Tommy lets go of XYZ’s hand, the challenger grabs one end of the strap of the FWA X-Title.
Tommy latches on to the other end of it and the two men find themselves nose-to-nose once again. After a few seconds, XYZ relinquishes his hold on the X-Title as Tommy throws it over his shoulder, climbs out of the ring and makes his way up the ramp.
Kurt Harrington: “The next contest is a triple threat match scheduled for one fall with a 20-minute-time-limit!”
After the intro and song kicks into gear, Blake Taylor saunters out on stage to a chorus of boos. Taylor relishes in the crowd’s disdain for him and feeds off of their negative energy. He postures a bit before walking down to the ring, making stops along the way to trade barbs with rowdy fans.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, from Las Vegas, Nevada and weighing in at 215 lb, he is The Prodigal Son…Blake Taaaaaaylor!”
Allen Price: “This guy looks a lot like someone familiar but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
Rod Sterling: “I’m fairly certain that joke has been done, Price.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Blake Taylor is a former MMA and boxing prodigy, holding records for the fastest knockout in boxing history and fastest submission in MMA history.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That’s impressive but he’s certainly not endearing himself toward this crowd.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “His solipsistic attitude has ruffled its fair share of feathers.”
The stentorian theme fills the stadium and jeers continue for Jack The Clipper. The apathetic Jack looks around at the thousands of fans showering him with their disdain. He remains stoic as he makes his way down to the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing his opponents, first, from White Chapel, London and weighing in at 273 lb…Jack The Clipperrrrrrrr!”
Allen Price: “This guy gives me the creeps!”
Clipper walks around the ring and he gets close to Allen’s box, then he pulls out a pair of scissors and stares at Allen in a threatening manner while clipping the air with the scissors.
Allen Price: “Oh my god! Get this guy away from me!”
Rod Sterling: "Are you sure you don't need a haircut, Price? Maybe a little off the top?"
Allen Price: "No way!"
Clipper sneers at Price and then enters the ring where Taylor is already eager to get this going but referee Matthew Dean keeps him at bay.
The more upbeat music begins to play and Madison Gray steps out on stage to a decent ovation from the fans. Despite the warm reception, Madison doesn’t seem to notice as she’s more focused on the match.
Kurt Harrington: “Their opponent, from Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth and weighing in at 125 lb…she is The Young Lioness…Madison Graaaaaaaaaay!”
Rod Sterling: “The fans clearly have chosen their favorite for this one but I don’t think it matters to her by the looks of it.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “If you recall back on Fallout 032: Beach Brawl, Madison stood up to Jack The Clipper after his match, so I take it that the fans liked that Madison showed that kind of courage.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “If you also recall, Blake Taylor also made his presence felt during that and that erupted into a scuffle perpetrated by Jack, who slithered away while Taylor and Madison duked it out which has led to this match tonight. The winner of this match will face Kleio De Santos at Lights Out for the Television Championship.”
EIGHTH MATCH | 1/20.
Blake Taylor vs. Jack the Clipper vs. Madison Gray.
Triple Threat Match - winner qualifies for the TV Championship match at Lights Out.
Match writer: Jimmy King.
DING! DING! DING!
<< 00:00 >>
The match starts with Taylor trash talking both of his opponents and right off the bat, Madison Gray isn’t having any of that and she lashes out at Taylor with a flurry of strikes that have Taylor backed into the corner. Gray puts her keen striking skills on display as she dishes out punishment for Taylor, not having forgotten her previous encounter with the man. Gray relinquishes her attack and turns around right into a big boot from Clipper! Taylor shakes off the effects of Gray’s attack and he makes a beeline for Clipper, but Clipper catches Taylor by the hand and he goes for The Fade as he brings Taylor in close, but Taylor has the wherewithal to nearly avoid disaster as he ducks and spins behind Clipper.
Taylor starts to chop Clipper down to size with various kicks to the back of his legs before he spins Clipper to front facing position and he hurls Clippers across the ring with a t-bone suplex!
Rod Sterling: “Impressive strength from Blake Taylor to take Clipper off his feet and send him flying across the ring with that t-bone suplex!”
Gray is back and she charges at Taylor, but Taylor catches her and counters with a judo throw! Taylor starts to taunt Gray and he urges her to get back up, to which Gray obliges and she manages to avoid a spinning roundhouse kick by Taylor. Gray then catches Taylor with a feint roundhouse followed by a leg sweep! Clipper comes roaring back but this time Gray is ready for him and she takes him down with a leg sweep! Gray assists Taylor to his feet only to hit him with a half nelson bridging suplex!
ONE…TW - - NO!
Broken up by Clipper!
Clipper takes Gray up to her feet, spins her around, and does a series of slaps to the back of the head! He then takes Gray by the hand and goes to whip her across the ropes, but he viciously pulls her back in for The Fade!
Allen Price: “That's more than a little off the top!"
Rod Sterling: “She’ll be feeling that in the morning!”
Clippers drops down for the pin but it’s quickly broken up by Blake Taylor, who stomps on Clipper before bringing him up and Taylor drives home a few forearm smashes to the face before unloading on Clipper with a combination of punches followed by a spinning back elbow! Taylor is in the driver’s seat now and he takes Clipper for a ride with a belly-to-belly suplex! Taylor isn’t through yet though as he urges Clipper up to a knee and Taylor plants his knee at full force squarely on Clipper’s jaw! Clipper drops down and Taylor makes the pin…
ONE…TWO…NO!
Clipper’s foot is on the rope but upon further inspection it’s The Scissor Sisters giving the assist to Jack after they put his foot on the rope!
<< 04:40 >>
Anzu Kurosawa: “Surely Taylor had Clipper dead to rights with that knee strike, but The Scissor Sisters have paid dividends for Jack once again!”
Taylor is irate and he’s berating the official while hurling verbal abuse at the sisters, and all the while, Madison Gray sneaks up behind Taylor and she catches him with a roll-up!
ONE…TWO…NO!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Blake Taylor’s irreverence toward the official nearly cost him the match there but he stays in it!”
Taylor kicks out and he springs back up, ducks a spinning heel kick from Gray, and he locks her in a rear waistlock and goes for a german suplex, but Gray manages to flip out of it and she catches an unsuspecting Taylor with a snap dragon suplex! Taylor is up and about though, but he’s not quick enough to counter Gray coming in hot and she takes him down with an armbar before locking in the Way of The Lioness!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Gray with the fujiwara armbar expertly applied and Taylor is in quite the quagmire!"
Gray wrenches back on the hold while Taylor is refusing to quit! Taylor is howling in pain but he’s showing no signs of giving up despite the referee’s constant need to check in. Gray torques back even more on the hold, almost like she’s trying to rip Taylor’s arm from its socket but it’s broken up by a stomp from Clipper! The crowd lets Clipper hear their indignation for him but he doesn’t seem to care.
<< 07:05 >>
Clipper continues to stomp a hole into Taylor before picking him up and he has Taylor in a bad spot in the corner. He clatters Taylor with a few open hand palm strikes to the chest. Clipper drags Taylor forward and he goes to hoist Taylor up for The Clipper Cutter, but Taylor has an answer for that after a few block attempts. Taylor falls forward, still facing Clipper, and he unleashes a flurry of strikes that has Clipper reeling and Taylor strikes with a roundhouse kick that knocks Clipper off his feet! Clipper rolls to the apron where The Scissor Sisters check on him. Taylor is feeding off of the negative energy from the crowd and he turns around right into The Disappointed Master from Gray! The spinning back elbow clobbers Taylor and he’s knocked right off his feet, which allows Gray to drop down for the pin…
ONE…TWO…THREE!!!
Winner: Madison Gray by pinfall at 8:20.
Kurt Harrington: “The winner of the match, Madison Gray!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “That was a fast paced, hard-hitting, back and forth match by all involved but Madison Gray managed to squeak out the win!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Madison Gray will now face Kleio De Santos at Lights Out for the FWA Television Championship!”
Madison Gray meets up with her personal fitness trainer, Sydney Northstar, who congratulates her on the big win. Meanwhile, Jack The Clipper is irate and he’s taking out his frustrations on Barbara and Dyeanne by verbaling berating them, while the referee checks on Blake Taylor.
Inside the stadium, the crowd are excited to see that the Steel Roulette structure is being lowered down into place, accompanied by ominous music. Once the structure has been secured on the floor, a spotlight shines on Kurt Harrington in the middle of the ring and he is prepared to make the announcement that the crowd have been waiting for all night.
Kurt Harrington: “The following contest is your main event for the evening and it is a Steel Roulette Match for the FWA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!”
The crowd don’t seem to be best pleased as it dawns on them that the FWA World Champion entering first means that he will not be one of the two competitors that will be starting off the Steel Roulette Match in the ring and not in one of the four adjoining pods.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing first, from Boogie Wonderland by way of New York City… weighing in at two-hundred and ten pounds… he is ‘Disco’s Last Warrior’... ‘Dreamer’s Nightmare’... ‘The King of Dong Style’... he is the current, reigning and defending FWA World Champion… CHRIS PEEEEEAAAACCOOOOOOOOOCKKKK!!!”
Chris Peacock walks out from the back with a smirk on his face, his FWA World Championship around his waist and his half of the FWA World Tag Team Championships over one of his shoulders. There is a bonking sound heard through the headset as Price goes to stand up to applaud his client, but bumps his head on the ceiling of his pod.
Allen Price: “Damn it to hell. This… is your FWA World Champion, people. Now and forever more, this is the man who has picked up the pieces of this company and the shambles that was the main event scene for three years and he picked up those pieces and turned it into a dynasty. Who else would willingly step up and defend the title against five other people? All people want to do is try to put him down - STILL - when they should really just accept the cold, hard reality that this is our champion.”
Rod Sterling: “You may disagree with his methods, but one thing that cannot be argued with is the record books and they say that since Saint Sully, no one has held the FWA World Championship for longer than Chris Peacock.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “There is no denying that reigning as both the FWA World Champion and one half of the tag team champions has resulted in Peacock’s confidence skyrocketing. However, he has seemed completely reluctant to acknowledge the re-emergence of newly-minted FWA Hall of Famer, ‘Rockstar’ Randy Ramon…”
Before Peacock enters the Steel Roulette, he passes his championships over to one of the referees on the inside. Dropping the cocky smirk for a moment, Peacock takes a deep breath and enters the chamber, deciding to take up his position in the pod closest to him. He watches as the door is slid shut and locked, only to be opened when his time to enter the match arrives.
There are some good cheers in the stadium, in contrast to Peacock’s entrance, as Jackson Fenix walks out from the back. Notably, Fenix is completely alone - no Nate Savage, Xperienx Xtacee or any of their other associates - and he wears the same attire as he did in his match earlier on tonight. There is a determined and uncharacteristically serious look on the face of Fenix, ready for the biggest match of his career.
Kurt Harrington: “Introducing his opponents… First, representing the Undisputed Xperienx… from Las Vegas, Nevada and weighing in at two-hundred and ten pounds… ‘The Sin City Bad Boy’ JACKSON FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNIIXXXXX!!!”
Rod Sterling: “Listen to this support for Jackson Fenix! One would not be forgiven for thinking such an ovation for Jackson Fenix would be unthinkable just a mere few months ago; but this attitude shift in the former FWA World Tag Team Champion is something that the FWA fans have appreciated and this support could well propel him to the FWA World Championship.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Well, he has the benefit of not starting the match in the ring, but in one of the pods instead. It gives him a chance to scope out the opposition and also avoid injury, especially important due to him already competing tonight.”
Allen Price: “Yeah, in a match he LOST, Anzu. You really think a guy not capable of beating a few lumberjacks can win the world title? Give me a break!”
As Fenix enters the chamber, he meets Chris Peacock’s eye, and the FWA World Champion looks to engage in some mind games with Fenix, miming a chainsaw in his hands. Fenix ignores this and enters the ring through the ropes, making his way across to the pod next to Peacock. What this does though is put him right in front of Allen Price in his own pod, and Price continues to mock and taunt Fenix as he did earlier on.
Suddenly, the lights are turned off for a brief period as a demonic voice speaks out to all who are in attendance. While this intro plays, a bright red spotlight pops in the centre of a smoke filled stage.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “This is most unusual…”
Kurt Harrington: “Umm… introducing next… I assume… from the depths of Hell and weighing in at two-hundred and forty-three pounds… DEATH WALKERRRRRRRRRR!!!”
However this time, The Death Walker's entrance seems to be different. No one appears to be on the stage, not The Dark Guardian or The Terrors of Darkness. But this music continues to play and...
...then the house lights are brought back on. Everyone is watching the stage in a perplexed manner…
Allen Price: “AAAAAH! There he is! H-h-how did he get in there?!”
Alerted by Price’s screams, everyone then notices that Death Walker is already inside one of the empty pods! Death Walker is dressed to compete, no sign of his cloak or paladins. Inside his pod, The Dark Traveler seems to be more focused on looking at the dirty fingernails on his right hand rather than the fans or his opponents right now. Then he drops his hand by his side and simply stares back unfazed, at all who look in his direction. On the outside of the Steel Roulette is The Dark Guardian and numerous other individuals…
Anzu Kurosawa: “I’ve no idea how Death Walker found himself sealed inside one of the pods already, but we know he has brought some company with him in the form of The Dark Guardian and these Terrors of Darkness.”
Rod Sterling: “These disciples cannot enter the Steel Roulette structure itself, but their presence could be enough to distract the other competitors in the match.”
Already, it seems the tactics are paying off as both Fenix and Peacock seem somewhat uneasy due to the presence of Death Walker’s acolytes. One tries reaching through to touch the FWA World Champion, and a stern word and a promise of a broken arm is enough for Peacock to retain his pod as sanctuary for himself.
In a stark contrast in entrance, the lights flash inside the stadium as the intense entrance music of Katsu begins to play. After a few seconds once the beat drops, ‘The Kitsune Warrior’ walks out from the back alongside Cali Hayama and Ririko. Together, YDS pose on the stage and then Cali and Ririko wish Katsu luck for the match and she thanks them before making her way down towards the ring. The former Television Champion shakes out her wrists and nods her head as she approaches the steel structure.
Kurt Harrington: “Next, representing the YOKAI Death Squad… from Osaka, Japan… she is ‘The Kitsune Warrior’... KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTSSSSUUUUUUUUUUU!!!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Katsu will take the final vacant pod inside the Steel Roulette match; her first. The same can of course be said for everyone else in the match apart from Chris Peacock… and her first opportunity to become the FWA World Champion.”
Rod Sterling: “Katsu has experience of facing some of the best that the FWA has to offer with her time spent in the F1 Climaxxx late last year and a fourth place finish in her first Carnal Contendership. Winning tonight may not be as big of a leap as I suspect you imagine it to be, Allen.”
Allen Price: “At least she won her match earlier tonight, unlike Jackson Fenix. I think Katsu would be better off focusing on those trios titles, no one cares for double champions anyway from what I understand, which is bullshit, by the way.”
Katsu makes sure to get a good look at each of her opponents also inside pods as she is escorted to her own, and she occupies the final empty one adjacent to both Peacock and Death Walker and opposite Jackson Fenix.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “With the four pods taken up, we now know just who will be starting this match off in the ring for the first five minutes…”
The reaction is definitely mixed, but leaning on the side of cheers as Reagan Cole walks out from the back. Cole stands on the stage without his maroon jacket and wearing a black t-shirt with the words ‘The British Apprentice’ on the front. He lifts up the t-shirt and removes it, throwing it on the ground next to him. This reveals another black t-shirt with the words ‘Wrestling’s Survivor’ on the front, which gets a good cheer from the crowd, as Cole makes his way towards the ring.
Kurt Harrington: “Next, from Essex. England and weighing in at two-hundred and fifteen pounds… he is ‘Wrestling’s Survivor’... REEEEAAAGAANNN COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLE!!!”
Rod Sterling: “There you see it - Wrestling’s Survivor, Reagan Cole. He is going to need to survive all five of his opponents if he wants to walk out of this match as the FWA World Champion. He’s done well enough to survive everything that Jeffry Mason has put him through - I’d back him to make it through this as well.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think in his own twisted way, Mason believes that everything he has put Cole through is to get him ready for this moment. Inside the Steel Roulette, Reagan is going to get hurt, he is going to get beaten up and he needs to have the skills to survive and thrive in a match like this. That is what Jeffry Mason is trying to achieve with Reagan Cole.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, it is sink or swim time for Reagan Cole now. Either that work from Mason is going to pay off, or it isn’t.”
Cole enters the Steel Roulette and feels the gaze of everyone else in the Kensington Oval on him. He, along with everyone else, now has to wait for the final entrant in the match.
A huge reaction emanates around the Kensington Oval for the sixth and final competitor, with Alyster Black walking out onto the stage with a collection of trinkets weighing him down. Around his waist is his FWA World Tag Team Championship, whilst on his shoulder is the CWA equivalent, and he uses his golden Tentacle of Justice as an ornamental walking cane. He pauses on the stage, surveying the packed arena, his expression hidden behind his mask.
Kurt Harrington: "And your sixth and final participant, currently residing in San Dimas, California and weighing in at two hundred and twenty pounds… he is one half of the FWA World Tag Team Champions… ‘Black Jesus’ ALYSTERRRRRRR… BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaACK!!!"
The camera shows each of the wrestlers in their pods, staring up the ramp towards the arriving Black Jesus. The montage culminates in a long, lingering shot of Black's tag team partner - and the current FWA World Champion - Chris Peacock. The champion has an inscrutable look on his face as he considers this final challenger.
Rod Sterling: "I don't think we need to go into detail about the relationship between this man and the one he shares the FWA World Tag Team Championships with. There might be six people in this match, but the showdown between Alyster Black and Chris Peacock is one that many FWA fans are looking forward to in this Steel Roulette match."
Anzu Kurosawa: "That's if it even comes to pass, Rod…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "That's true: with Chris Peacock safely stowed away in his pod and Alyster Black entering this match first, Black Jesus could be eliminated before the champion even enters the match. He'll first have to contend with Reagan Cole, who has been equally unlucky with the draw. It's main event time, wrestling fans!"
Alyster Black is finally done surveying the arena, his five opponents, and the huge, demonic structure that now envelopes the ring. After one more deep breath, Alyster begins at a slow pace down the ramp…
THWACK!!
Rod Sterling: "ALYSTER BLACK IS BLINDSIDED WITH A STEEL CHAIR!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "And from behind! Black Jesus is laid out on the ramp! And it’s…"
The crowd is freely booing the tag champion’s assailant, who looms over their downed foe with a steel chair in their hand.
Allen Price: "… who is it?!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "… what is it?!"
The camera pans up from the downed Black, who is now beginning to stir and (slowly) engage in the process of returning to a vertical base, revealing his attacker…
Rod Sterling: "It’s… it’s weaselperson!"
The audience’s derision continues to rain down as Alyster gets to his knees, lifting his head to face the interloper. The assailant, in response, lifts the chair high above them, bringing it crashing down with a sickening thud over his cranium!
Jean-Luc Watkins: "But… correct me if I’m wrong, that’s not the same weaselperson that left Back in Business with a litany of injuries. They’re half a foot shorter and maybe a hundred pounds lighter, but their antipathy towards Alyster Black appears to have remained constant…"
We see weaselperson drop the chair onto the ramp next to them and notice a suggestion of femininity beneath the thick, shaggy, brown weasel suit. A quick cut away shows Chris Peacock in his pod, arguing with an official about his temporary release from captivity and then banging on the glass and kicking at the surrounding chains in frustration. It’s all useless, though: he is locked in, and all he can do is watch as the suited assailant watches the plucky Black fight to his feet again.
Rod Sterling: "It doesn’t look like weaselperson is through with this assault, they’re stalking Alyster Black here…"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "… and then they connect with a… that was a Busiaku Knee Kick!!!"
Allen Price: "Was it? What does that mean?"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Familiar!"
With Alyster Black now face down at the foot of the ramp, only a few feet away from his tag team partner in an adjacent pod, weaselperson saunters towards his downed form. After a quick glance at the fervent, caged champion, they wrap both of Alyster’s leg around their left one before reaching down for his wrists…
Rod Sterling: "weaselperson looking to add insult to injury with a curbstomp here, one of Alyster Black’s own moves…"
Allen Price: "An utter disgrace!! Someone should get out here and do something about this!!"
Jean-Luc Watkins: "You’re free to leave your pod at any time, Price…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Not sure he’ll have to! Here comes Violet Dreyer, flanked on either side by the Diamond Dogs!"
The trio of reinforcements appear on the stage, quickly charging down the ramp towards the interloper, who is alerted to their presence by a loud pop in the arena. They quickly release Black’s wrists, abandoning the attempted curbstomp, and - as Violet, Santino, and Ricardo swarm the area - hops over a nearby barricade. They escape through the crowd, who spew vitriol in her direction as she backs away from Alyster’s saviours.
Rod Sterling: "The cavalry arrives to prevent any further damage being done to Alyster Black, but weaselperson certainly got their licks in before the save. And we’ve still got a main event, of which Alyster was due to take a starring role…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Indeed, Black is about to begin this Steel Roulette, and his initial opponent Reagan Cole has been watching carefully as this encounter played out. That’s if Alyster is even still able to compete…"
After we see weaselperson leaving through one of the exits amongst the audience, we cut back to one of the medical team trying to ascertain the answer to the very question Anzu just asked. Black, now seated, pushes the doctor away and then climbs resiliently to his feet.
Allen Price: "I don’t think that was ever in doubt, Anzu…"
As Alyster, encouraged by Dreyer and the Dogs, slowly begins to walk on towards the chamber, the doctor reapproaches. The professional looks as though he’s pleading with Black to allow him to continue with the examination… AND GETS A FOREARM FOR HIS TROUBLES!
The doctor hits the ramp, the crowd roars, and Alyster climbs the steps towards the chamber, the doors held open by a pair of hesitant FWA officials.
A close-up of Alyster Black shows him taking a deep breath, and what appears to be blood trickling from an opening in his mask, before he climbs through the ropes and into the ring. Peacock continues to slam his fists on wall of his pod, trying to give whatever help he can to Black, but it seems that ‘Black Jesus’ is not willing to listen to his partner.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “The doors will close behind Alyster Black, but it could be a short period of time until they’re opened once again… because Reagan Cole is as fresh as a daisy and we’ll see if that ruthless streak instilled in him by Jeffry Mason can rear its head and he takes out one of the big hitters immediately. Larry Stevens is the man in the chamber along with the six competitors… and he calls for the bell!”
NINTH MATCH | MAIN EVENT | 5/-.
Chris Peacock [c] vs. Alyster Black vs. Katsu vs. Reagan Cole vs. Death Walker vs. Jackson Fenix.
Steel Roulette Match for the FWA World Championship.
Match writer: Man.
The bell rings, and the differential in status between Reagan Cole and Alyster Black is evident. Black, unflinchingly defiant, stands with his hands up, ready to fight the experienced brawler from England. But Reagan Cole seems hesitant.
Allen Price: “Oh, Reagan! This isn’t the time for a crisis of conscience, buddy! In a match like this with everything on the line, now isn’t the time to want to do the right thing.”
Rod Sterling: “We know that Reagan Cole likes to identify himself as lawful good, but this could just be naivety here, guys. Alyster Black is right there for the taking… oh… here’s someone who may be able to speak some sense into Reagan Cole…”
As Alyster Black motions for Cole to bring the fight to him, Cole looks over Black’s shoulder and sees an incensed Jeffry Mason stomping towards the ring, to a loud negative reaction from the fans. Mason shoves over the same doctor that Black had decked and pushes his face against the chained wall of the Steel Roulette, and he orders Cole to go on the offensive and not waste this opportunity!
Still, there is some reluctance from Cole to go on the attack but after a final piece of angry advice from Mason, Cole steps forwards… but Alyster Black meets him with a Headbutt! The hesitance of Cole costs him and Black is not confident on his feet due to the blow to the head. Cole checks his forehead for blood and then snaps out of his friendly trance and cuts Black off with a knee to the midsection. With Black doubled over, Cole grabs him by the head with both hands and starts laying into the former X Champion with a series of Headbutts of his own.
The repeated blows to the head puts Black down on the mat and Chris Peacock is shown watching helplessly as Black has little in the way of defence. Jeffry Mason backs away from the chamber and starts to walk up the ramp, content that Cole is now in the correct headspace to approach the match in the manner that he wishes. Reagan Cole has Black on his front and then lines him up, and he drops a knee down across the back of Black’s head, and into the first cover of the match;
ONE… TWO… THR-NO!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Just there, you can see the effect of that attack from the weaselperson. Something as routine as that can almost eliminate Alyster Black from this match. It might not take much more on the part of Reagan Cole to finish Black off, here.”
‘Wrestling’s Survivor’ smartly stays on top of Black after the kick out and he mounts Black’s chest and cradles his head with one hand and starts driving his forearm repeatedly into Black’s head, targeting the area where the blood is coming from under Black’s mask. Cole then applies a Front Facelock and brings Black up to his feet, trying to move him towards the corner, but Black shoves Cole away! As Cole looks to follow up, Black manages to flail his arm and catch him in the cheek with a backhand.
This creates separation required and Black then grabs Cole and throws him over the top rope - and the Brit has a nasty landing on the steel floor in between the pods! Both Chris Peacock and Jackson Fenix look on with a keen eye as Black slowly steps through the ropes to follow up on Cole, who has a hand across his back after the hard landing. Black stomps down on Cole’s back and then attempts to hook both of his arms up behind him…
Anzu Kurosawa: “Alyster Black is going to go for the Curb Stomp on the steel floor out there, and look at how much Chris Peacock is enjoying this!”
Allen Price: “Yeah, come on, Alyster! Oh no, Cole is fighting out of it…”
Frantic wriggling of his body on the part of Reagan Cole is enough to allow his wrists to slip out of Black’s grasp, and he manages to kick Black back towards the ropes to escape. Cole pulls himself up to his feet and Black charges in towards him, but Cole ducks the forearm strike and hooks Black up from behind… BACK SUPLEX ONTO THE STEEL FLOOR!! Black holds his head in his hands and Cole was not immune to a bad landing either, as he arches his own back too.
It is Cole that gets back to his feet first and he briefly shares eye contact with Fenix, who looks on without reacting much to what is happening. However, when Cole turns around towards Peacock, the FWA World Champion is seething and swearing vengeance. Reagan ignores this and brings Black up from the floor and sends him back into the ring through the ropes, and Black rolls towards the centre.
Instead of entering the ring himself, Cole scales the turnbuckle in front of Fenix’s pod from the side and positions himself on the top rope, using the pod to support himself. Cole waits for Black to slowly get to his feet and he takes flight, looking for a Diving Clothesline, but Black catches him with a punch directly to the midsection, which sends Cole flipping over onto his back! Black stumbles forward and slumps onto the turnbuckle.
Rod Sterling: “There's still some life in Alyster Black, and Cole really needs to be doing more to take advantage of this situation, if you ask me.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “It isn’t long until the third entrant will be entering this match and if that person is Chris Peacock, Reagan Cole will not want to be stuck in there with the FWA World Tag Team Champions!”
Black turns around and starts lining Cole up as ‘The British Apprentice’ gets back to his feet and begins to face his opponent. Getting as much momentum as he can BLACK LOOKS FOR THE ONE SHOT KILL - BUT COLE DUCKS IT! As Black’s momentum causes him to continue onwards, COLE CATCHES UP WITH THE RHINO’S RAGE - BUT BLACK CATCHES HIM ON HIS SHOULDERS - DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!
After hitting the DVD, Black is unable to make a cover and both men are down on the mat as the lighting dims for a moment, and a spotlight begins to shine on all four of the pods…
Allen Price: “Here’s my favourite part! Who is it going to be?”
The lights flitter from one pod to another, before they land on the one occupied by Death Walker!
DEATH WALKER at 5:00
Rod Sterling: “This is an opportune moment for Death Walker to come in with both Alyster Black and Reagan Cole down on the mat in the ring. Wait, Death Walker hasn’t left his pod yet, what is going on?”
Sterling is right; Death Walker stands still in his pod despite the door sliding open to allow him entry to the match. Death holds out a hand and one of the Terrors of Darkness slips something through one of the gaps in the wall of the chamber… and Death Walker finds himself in possession of a lead pipe! The crowd gasp, some cheer, at the sight of ‘The Dark Traveler’ with the weapon in his hand, and it is at this moment that Death chooses to exit his pod.
Slowly, Death Walker steps through the ropes where Reagan Cole is the first to meet him and Reagan looks to avoid the pipe, striking Walker with several clubbing forearms to the chest which do not seem to be having much effect. Reagan reverts to kicking at Death Walker’s legs, but Death manages to catch Reagan’s foot with his spare hand… and he SLAMS THE PIPE DOWN ONTO COLE’S LEG!! Cole hobbles around on one foot for a moment and Death Walker lines him up… AND WALKER CRACKS COLE IN THE FACE WITH THE PIPE!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Some may want to cry foul, but there is absolutely nothing forbidding Death Walker from using weapons provided to him by his disciples on the outside of the chamber for use inside. Reagan Cole looks to be in a very bad way after that strike to the face with the pipe, though.”
Allen Price: “Well, there’s no way that Alyster Black is going to allow himself to fall victim to something like that. He’s the longest reigning X Champion in history; if there was anyone who knows his way around a weapon, it is him.”
Alyster Black watches from his knees as Death Walker turns around after laying out Reagan Cole. A shot of Cole’s face shows that the blow with the pipe busted him open on his forehead and blood drips down onto the mat from the cut as Cole looks around trying to remember where he is. ‘Black Jesus’ is forced to roll out of the way to avoid Death Walker attempting to slam the pipe down onto his head. The pipe strikes the mat and Death Walker turns around to a barrage of forearm smashes from Black, directly to the face.
The strikes initially have not much effect, but Black’s determination allows the sixth and seventh blows to stagger Walker back a couple of paces. Black manages to wrestle the pipe from Death Walker and he swings it, aiming for the midsection of ‘The Dark Traveler’, but Death catches it with both hands. This leaves him open for Black to strike him with a Headbutt directly across the bridge of the nose and Walker falls back into the corner against the turnbuckle.
Chris Peacock is shown cheering on Black from inside his pod as ‘Black Jesus’ takes a moment to look around at the fans in the arena before inviting Death Walker to a VIOLENCE PARTY! Black strikes Walker with chops, punches, elbows and kicks in the corner in an attempt to wear down the Hell-dweller. They seem to do the trick as Death Walker stumbles down to a knee in the corner and some stomps from Black knocks him down into a seated position.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Alyster Black has Death Walker in a good spot, he could be thinking about a Face Wash here?”
Black takes a moment to catch his breath and then measures Death Walker against the turnbuckle before he runs the ropes and looks to come back with a Face Wash - BUT DEATH WALKER SPRINGS TO LIFE AND RUNS THROUGH BLACK WITH THE WRIGHT WAY!! It is a knee strike similar to the one that Black took before the match had even started, and Death Walker slides him towards the middle of the ring and goes for a cover; forcing both shoulders down with his hands…
ONE… TWO… THRE-NO!!!
Allen Price: “This Death Walker is a monster! It is no wonder that he beat Cyrus Truth, although I know that’s not as much of an accomplishment as it sounds like. You know, because-”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Why don’t you go back to worrying about how you are going to beat Cyrus Truth? In the meantime, the rest of us can get on with our jobs. Death Walker got close with that one and well, I think he could be looking for some assistance from one of his Terrors of Darkness once again.”
Stepping through the ropes, Death Walker gestures to one of the Terrors of Darkness on the outside and it seems that they all have something that they wish to provide their leader with. Death has the option between a light tube and a hammer, but he selects the third option. The crowd gasp in horror and anticipation as Death Walker is passed a baseball bat from his disciple on the outside, but this is no ordinary baseball bat…
Anzu Kurosawa: “THAT’S A BASEBALL BAT COVERED IN BROKEN GLASS!!!”
Rod Sterling: “We’ve seen baseball bats used in these matches before, but never one like this. Reagan Cole is still out cold it would seem and Alyster Black came back into the match hurt after weaselperson’s attack… the Steel Roulette is nothing more than Death Walker’s sadistic and twisted playground right now!”
The entire bat is covered in jagged shards of glass with the exception of the handle end which Death Walker holds, and he stands over Alyster Black with the bat in hand. From inside his pod, Chris Peacock is slamming on the glass and swearing as many obscenities as he can in an attempt to discourage Death Walker. In a show of defiance to the FWA World Champion, Death directs Black’s face in his best friend’s direction and kneels down over him with the bat in his hand.
Using his free hand, Death Walker lifts up Black’s head, almost as if he is applying a Camel Clutch and Black looks right into Peacock’s eyes as DEATH WALKER DRIVES THE BAT INTO BLACK’S FACE!! Black’s mask acts as an insignificant layer of protection and the tag champion screams out in pain and calls for his partner’s help. Peacock attempts to slam through the door, unable to watch his partner get mutilated in such a horrific fashion.
Allen Price: “This is barbaric! This must be awful for Alyster, bringing back memories of what that crazy bastard Devin Golden did to him two years ago.”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Alyster Black needs Chris Peacock more than he ever has before… and he could be getting him, because it is time for the fourth entrant in this match to make themselves known…”
As Death Walker continues to drive the glass into Black’s forehead, the lights dim and the spotlight decides which competitor is going to enter next…
KATSU at 10:00
Rod Sterling: “Much to Chris Peacock’s frustration, he is not going to have a chance to save his tag team partner, but Katsu is coming into the match now and we’re about to see what she makes of Death Walker’s maiming of Alyster Black…”
Katsu wastes no time exiting her pod and making her way into the ring where she surveys the bloody scene with Alyster Black refusing to submit to the torture that he finds himself in courtesy of Death Walker. Death Walker himself appears completely oblivious to Katsu’s entry into the match and he continues gouging through Black’s mask into his forehead with the glass. Despite Black being in an awful way thanks to Death Walker’s handiwork, Katsu sees her opportunity with Death Walker’s back turned and SHE CRASHES INTO THE BACK OF HIS HEAD WITH THE BURNING ARROW!!
Death Walker falls down onto his front and the pressure is finally relieved on Alyster Black, and Katsu makes sure to kick the bat away under the ropes where it lands in front of Chris Peacock’s pod. She then turns Death Walker over with some struggle and leans back, pinning him;
ONE… TWO-NO!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That was an opportunistic strike from Katsu on Death Walker, but not enough to put ‘The Dark Traveler’ away. Katsu is going to try for a pin on Alyster Black now as well!”
Jumping from Walker to Black, Katsu hooks both of Black’s legs…
ONE… TWO… THREE-NO!!!
Alyster Black kicks out and he immediately bolts up into a seated position and the fans watching are horrified to see the state of his face; his mask has been almost shredded above his eyes but all that is visible underneath is blood. Katsu hops back up to her feet and delivers a straight kick across Black’s chest that knocks him down onto his back, but he sits back up, defiant. Therefore Katsu is left with no other choice but to deliver a Roundhouse to Black’s head, which knocks him down.
As Katsu tries to wipe Black’s blood from her arm and shoulder from the pin attempt, she is grabbed from behind by Death Walker, who attempts to lock in a Sleeper and take Katsu over for the BEDTIME STORY - BUT KATSU LANDS ON HER FEET! Death Walker turns around and Katsu charges forward, connecting with a Bicycle Knee strike straight to the face, which knocks Death Walker back towards the ropes.
There is no let up from Katsu, as when Walker comes back towards her, she scores with a Superkick straight to the jaw of the larger man, which causes him to spill through the ropes to the outside.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Katsu is being relentless here, and she knows that it is necessary against the Death Walker. These are familiar opponents due to their previous battles over the Television Championship.”
Death Walker does not stay down for long after being knocked to the outside, but Katsu is ready for him and she waits in the ring. Once Death Walker turns around, Katsu slingshots herself over the ropes and looks for a DDT… but Death Walker catches her up on his shoulder! Katsu is unable to transition into anything else and is therefore at Death Walker’s mercy… AND HE THROWS HER STRAIGHT INTO HER NOW EMPTY POD!!
Katsu bounces off of the pod and then lands on the floor in a heap. Death Walker stands alone once more and extends his arms in defiance… BUT REAGAN COLE SMACKS HIM IN THE BACK WITH THE STEEL PIPE!!! Death Walker falls forward and drops to a knee, and a bloodied and pissed off Reagan Cole stands over him with the pipe.
Allen Price: “When did Reagan Cole turn into a badass, guys?”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “It does not seem like Reagan was happy about being struck with that pipe, and he’s ready to get some sort of revenge here on Death Walker!”
Cole doesn’t strike Walker with the pipe, instead he leans down and puts the pipe across Death’s throat and begins to start choking him out with the pipe! Death Walker reaches back and tries to grab Cole, but he cannot and Cole seems set on choking the life out of the man who bloodied him with the pipe a few minutes ago. The determined look in Cole’s eyes shows that he is not content on being Death’s whipping boy and as Walker starts to sputter, Cole drops him and then throws the pipe across the chamber.
Death Walker falls to the floor next to the wall of the chamber, and once again one of the Terrors of Darkness is there to pass something to Death Walker, but Death keeps it hidden under his body. Reagan starts measuring Death, motioning for him to get up. Death Walker pulls himself up and walks towards the ropes, trying to create a bit of separation between himself and Cole, but it does not stop COLE STRIKING DEATH WALKER WITH THE COLE BREAKER!!!
Rod Sterling: “Reagan Cole got him! We could be seeing the first elimination here, if Reagan Cole can just get across to make the cover!”
The bloodied and weary Cole reaches out for Walker, but cannot get to him as Walker has shuffled under the bottom rope and into the ring. Cole shakes out some cobwebs as he follows him in and then with Death Walker on the mat, Cole grabs his foot and seems to be wanting to lock in THE FIRE OF COLE! Cole tries to grapevine his leg… BUT DEATH WALKER PUNCHES HIM IN THE FACE!
The sheer power behind the punch causes Cole to let go of Walker’s leg and he falls back onto the mat, holding his nose. When Cole moves his hand, it is clear that his nose is absolutely gushing with blood. A shot then shows that Death Walker has a steel chain wrapped around his wrist!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That punch looked like it was loaded - and it is because it was! We’ve seen Death Walker employ a steel chain before and he’s put it to good use again here tonight.”
Death Walker is clearly impeded by Cole’s offence and he is slower up to his feet than he has been in the match thus far as Cole does the same, his nose dripping a constant stream of blood. Cole motions for Walker to bring it, and he avoids the incoming punch and lands a couple of his own… BUT THEN DEATH WALKER SCORES WITH A HUGE CROSS JAB TO COLE’S NOSE!!!
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think he’s broken his nose!”
Reagan Cole drops to a knee and has his fist up still, although his face has taken an absolute pounding from Death Walker. Walker removes the chain from his hand and the crowd gasps as he wraps it around Reagan Cole’s neck. Death Walker puts his foot in between Cole’s shoulder blades and then pulls back on the chain, choking the life out of Reagan Cole!
Larry Stevens is down to ask Cole whether he is going to submit, but Cole indicates that he isn’t, but his face is starting to go blue. His nose injury makes it even harder for him to breathe and as the colour ebbs from his face, Cole looks back as far as he can towards Walker and throws up a middle finger… before he passes out. Larry Stevens declares that Cole can no longer continue!
Eliminated: Reagan Cole by Death Walker at 14:45.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Despite a valiant effort and definitely evidence that he is ‘Wrestling’s Survivor’, Reagan Cole is the first to be eliminated from this match and it begs the question as to whether anyone can stop Death Walker?”
The door to the Steel Roulette is opened to allow Reagan Cole to exit, although medical personnel have to retrieve him from the ring. Death Walker stands alone in the ring, as the lights dim again and one of the final two competitors in the match is about to be unleashed into it.
JACKSON FENIX at 15:00
A loud cheer goes up as the door to Fenix’s pod slides open. A shot of the FWA World Champion shows Chris Peacock laughing that he has been able to secure the final spot in the match for the second year in a row. Fenix enters the ring with some trepidation as Death Walker is standing in the middle of the ring waiting for him. Death wraps the chain around his knuckles once more in anticipation, hoping to cause similar damage to Fenix as he did Cole. The two face off in the middle of the ring, with the crowd firmly in support of Fenix. Fenix points out to them with both hands and then does a crotch chop directly at Death Walker!
This causes Death Walker to swing at Fenix with a punch with the chain, but Fenix ducks it and KATSU CATCHES WALKER WITH A SUPERKICK! Katsu, back after being sent into the pod by Death Walker, watches as Walker drops to a knee after the kick. Fenix wags his finger at Katsu almost to say “this is how you do it”... AND FENIX DRILLS WALKER WITH A SUPERKICK, DROPPING HIM DOWN TO THE MAT!
Rod Sterling: “Superkick Me Baby One More Time! If there is anyone in this match that knows how to throw down a Superkick, it is ‘The Sin City Bad Boy’!”
Allen Price: “It seems like they’ve finally gotten Death Walker down, so let’s see what these two can do. Idiots are going to wear themselves out just before the final entrant gets into the match. Fortune favours the bold and Chris Peacock has been smiled upon two years in a row - this is a good omen.”
With Death Walker dealt with, Katsu removes the chain from his hand and throws it up on top of one of the empty pods to prevent Walker - or anyone else for that matter - from getting the chain to use to everyone else’s detriment. Fenix allows her to do this, but then he is in place to lock up with Katsu. Fenix gets the better of it, and he tries running Katsu back into the corner, but she manages to slide through his legs.
Katsu jumps into the air, looking for a Dropkick, but Fenix palms her feet away and she lands on her front. Fenix then drops down and tries to drop an elbow down across Katsu’s back, but she rolls out of the way and springs back to her feet. She cartwheels over Fenix and then springs back, looking for an Arm Drag, but Fenix blocks it and holds onto Katsu. Looking to elevate her up into the air to slam her back down, Fenix is caught off guard when Katsu floats over and lands on her feet. The two of them stop with their fists up, and the crowd cheers.
There is a moment where Fenix and Katsu take a moment to acknowledge the crowd’s appreciation, but this is when Jackson Fenix strikes and cuts Katsu off with a boot to the midsection!
Anzu Kurosawa: “Hey, I guess some things may just come naturally to Jackson Fenix, but with the FWA World Championship on the line, who can really blame him?”
Fenix scoops Katsu up and drops her onto the mat with a Scoop Slam. As Katsu gets back to her feet, Fenix measures her and he attempts to hook her up and drop her with a Front Suplex, but Katsu brings her knee up/down and lands it on Fenix’s head. This allows her to get down and she lands on her feet behind him. She shoves Fenix forward and he turns around into an Enziguiri from Katsu, which takes him down to a knee. With some separation between herself and Fenix, Katsu runs towards the ropes and looks to come back with a Springboard Crossbody… BUT FENIX CATCHES HER WITH A SUPERKICK IN MID AIR!!!
Despite Katsu being airborne and at an awkward angle, Fenix found his mark and he quickly drops down on top of her to make a cover;
ONE… TWO… NO!!!
Before Fenix can do anything though, he feels a hand on the back of his head, which grabs his hair very tightly. As Fenix is brought up to his feet, he sees an irate Death Walker with his hand on his hair and before Fenix can do anything, DEATH WALKER BRINGS HIM UP AND DRIVES HIM DOWN ON TOP OF KATSU WITH THE HELL’S FURY!! Both Fenix and Katsu are down and stacked up to boot after that move, and Walker stands in the middle of the ring, alone.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “They got him down, but now he’s back up and it does not look like anyone is going to be able to put Death Walker away at this rate. Although he seems somewhat distracted, like he is looking for something.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “He wants that chain again; it has already brought him a lot of luck in this match so far and helped him eliminate Reagan Cole and there’s no reason why he can’t do the same thing again!”
With help from The Dark Guardian on the outside, Death learns that his chain is on top of one of the empty pods; the one opposite the last occupied one. With a nod, he begins to climb up onto the turnbuckle to enable himself to reach the top of the pod… BUT ALYSTER BLACK CLUBS HIM FROM BEHIND!! The crowd cheers as the bloodied Black is back in the mix, and he lays into Death Walker with several strikes to the back and the back of the head.
With Death Walker on the middle turnbuckle, Black decides that he is going to scale it too and this is when he notices the chain which Death Walker was looking to retrieve. Black decides to make it his mission to get it as well. He strikes Death Walker several times and even stands on his shoulders to get the chain from the top of the pod. Black grips it in his hand and tries wrapping it around his knuckles as Walker had done himself, but Death Walker strikes Black in the midsection several times. Death Walker, facing the ring, tries to get Black up onto his shoulder…
Allen Price: “He’s not going to try and hit him with the Blackout from up there, is he?!”
It seems like that is exactly what Walker is fixing to do, and as he struggles to get Black in position, the lights dim for the final time! The spotlight flickers around but lands on the last pod, belonging to the FWA World Champion!
CHRIS PEACOCK at 20:00
The crowd boo at Peacock entering the match, but he does not care as his goal immediately upon entry is to stop Death Walker from finishing Alyster Black off. As Peacock exits his pod, he stands on the same glass-covered baseball bat which Death Walker used on Alyster Black and he takes it in his hand as he gets into the ring… AND PEACOCK SWINGS THE BAT STRAIGHT INTO THE MIDSECTION OF DEATH WALKER!!! The blow causes Death to hunch down and hold his stomach as some blood emerges from the wound inflicted by Peacock. Peacock drops the mat and catches Aly Black, and the FWA World Tag Team Champions have a quick hug and Peacock then pulls Death Walker down from the turnbuckle and he lands in the middle of the ring. Peacock lines him up from the corner and CHARGES IN, HITTING DEATH WALKER WITH THE STRUT!!! Peacock with the cover;
ONE… TWO… NO!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Peacock got in there at just the right time as far as Alyster Black is concerned, and now the fresh man can take it to Death Walker on his own, but Death Walker kicked out of The Strut; it took three of those for Peacock to put Jeremy Best away last year.”
The FWA World Champion has finishing off Death Walker as his top priority in the match and he once again takes up a position in the corner and he waits for Death Walker to rise. When he does, Peacock sprints across the ring, looking for the ROLLER DISCO - BUT DEATH WALKER BLOCKS IT! The large man plants his feet which prevents Peacock from charging him into the turnbuckle as the first part of the Roller Disco sequence, and Peacock continues to push, but Death Walker sledges the champion across the back.
However, before Walker can do anything, HE IS STRUCK BY STEREO SUPERKICKS FROM KATSU AND JACKSON FENIX! Peacock then bursts back into life and charges Walker into the corner… ROLLER DISCO CONNECTS!!!
Peacock does not go for a cover, though, as he hears a shout from Alyster Black who takes Death Walker’s chain and wraps it around his arm which he has outstretched as he stands against the ropes. Death Walker, despite everything he has taken in this match, seeks to rise one more time… AND BLACK FLATTENS HIM WITH A ONE SHOT KILL, USING THE STEEL CHAIN! Black jumps on top of Death Walker - so does Peacock AND Katsu AND Fenix! Larry Stevens counts the fall for the bundle;
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
Eliminated: Death Walker by Alyster Black, Chris Peacock, Jackson Fenix & Katsu at 21:58.
A cheer goes up for the #teamwork by the now four remaining participants in the match and they all get off of Death Walker and back away as ‘The Dark Traveler’ is encouraged to leave the Steel Roulette. Walker seems willing to try and stay in, but under advice from The Dark Guardian on the outside, he leaves and starts walking up the ramp, with The Dark Guardian and the Terrors of Darkness following him.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Four left in the match, all to various degrees of fatigue. We have Chris Peacock who is still as fresh as a daisy, but at the other end of the scale, Alyster Black is still in quite a bad way.”
Rod Sterling: “But what Alyster Black does have in there is a friend. I don’t think we’ll see Peacock going after Black at this juncture and as a result, Katsu and Fenix should probably think about buddying up, perhaps.”
The same thought seems to be running through both Katsu and Fenix’s heads. They see Peacock helping Black up to his feet, but it is clear that ‘Black Jesus’ is not even close to one hundred percent and when Fenix and Katsu attack FTN, Black falls easily upon Fenix barging him down but Peacock starts trying to throw hands with Katsu, but Fenix gets him from behind with a Chop Block! The crowd start to cheer as Fenix and Katsu work together to stomp and strike Peacock down until he is on the mat, and they don’t stop even then!
Peacock does his best to protect himself, but the mugging soon catches up with him and even though he tries to fight through, a stiff kick to the back from Katsu cuts him off. Fenix shoves Peacock down onto his back and then drops a leg across his throat, and Katsu follows up with a Standing Moonsault! Katsu then covers the champion;
ONE… T-NO!!
Quickly rising to his knees, Peacock grabs Katsu by the head and then drills her with a forearm strike to the face to create a bit of separation. Fenix then approaches Peacock and looks for a punch, but Peacock blocks it and rocks Fenix with one of his own. The FWA World Champion strikes with another snap jab to the face and he does a twirl, looking for a third, but Fenix ducks it. Peacock turns around and Fenix hooks him up and drops him with a Snap Dragon Suplex! Peacock ends up on his knees and Fenix RUNS THROUGH HIM WITH A BICYCLE KNEE - THE DOUBLE SHOT!
With Peacock dazed following the quick one-two, Fenix drags him up and looks to hit him with CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ - Peacock spins out of it! The FWA World Champion looks to follow up with a Clothesline, but Fenix ducks and Katsu is on hand to Dropkick Peacock straight in the face! The impact knocks Peacock back and he slumps down against the middle rope. Fenix looks to follow up, but Katsu motions for him to stand back and she charges forward… SAKURA KICK!! Fenix then motions for Katsu to stand away…
Allen Price: “What the hell is this?! They can’t just work together like that! Cowards!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “Peacock may be the freshest person in the match, but Katsu and Fenix are doing everything in their power to wear him down, and it looks like Fenix could be ready to finish him off!”
The fans cheer loudly as Peacock then staggers away from the ropes into Fenix’s path… THIS TIME FENIX DOES HIT PEACOCK WITH CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’!!! The fans cheer as Fenix then gets on top of Peacock, closing his eyes and leaning back;
…
ONE!
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
THREE-NO!!!
BROKEN UP BY ALYSTER BLACK!!!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Let me guess, Price. You don’t have any objections to Alyster Black stopping Jackson Fenix from ensuring that there would be a new FWA World Champion, though?”
The fans aren’t best pleased as Black bundles into Fenix to get him off of Peacock and prevent his tag team partner from being eliminated from the match. Fenix is not happy about it at all, and he rises to his feet along with Black and shoves him in the chest, arguing that it is every person for themselves and Black should have just let him eliminate Peacock. Black is not interested in hearing it and he chops Fenix across the chest, which sends ‘The Sin City Bad Boy’ back a few paces.
Katsu arrives on the scene, but Black flails his hand towards her and catches her in the mouth with it. The FWA World Tag Team Champion then switches between chopping Fenix and then Katsu in an attempt to wear them both down at the same time, but both Fenix and Katsu deliver a kick to Black’s midsection at the same time, which doubles him over. Both of them wring one of Black’s arms, but there is a miscommunication and Black pulls his arms together, sending them into each other.
Grabbing Fenix, Black delivers a Snapmare to him but before he can follow up, he blocks a strike from Katsu and does the same, leaving her in a seated position next to Fenix. Black takes a moment to adjust his tattered mask and then jumps into the air, Dropkicking both Fenix and Katsu in the back of the head at the same time!
Rod Sterling: “Despite everything that he has been put through since the beginning of this match, Alyster Black is still in there and still fighting. Here he is with a cover on Fenix;”
Black shoves Fenix down onto his back;
ONE… TWO-NO!!
He then moves over to Katsu and covers her;
ONE… TWO-NO!!
‘Black Jesus’ clears some blood from his eyes under his mask and then stands up, noting that Peacock is still down on the outside of the ring after taking Fenix’s finishing move, but is stirring in his attempt to recover from California Dreamin’. With it being just up to him for the time being, he lifts Fenix from the mat… Saito Suplex! It takes Black a couple of seconds to get to his feet, by which time Katsu is back up once again and she cuts him off with a chop across his chest, but Black absorbs it and returns fire - dropping Katsu down to the mat!
Black sees Jackson Fenix rising to his feet near the ropes and he charges in, as Peacock enters the ring behind Fenix… BLACK GOES FOR THE ONE SHOT KILL - FENIX DUCKS - AND BLACK NAILS CHRIS PEACOCK WITH IT!!! The crowd cheer for the miscommunication between the tag team champions and Peacock is completely out of it after the strike and Black stands with his head in his hands.
Allen Price: “ALYSTER WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! Come on, Chris! Get up! Get up!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, Alyster Black can’t believe what he has just done, but he’s got to get his head back into the match because Jackson Fenix is right there, ready and waiting!”
As Black shows his regret at hitting his partner with the errant One Shot Kill, he fails to notice that behind him, Jackson Fenix is crouched down and ready to strike, waiting on Black to turn around. Black does… STRAIGHT INTO A SUPERKICK ME BABY ONE MORE TIME!!! Black drops to the mat like a stone on his back, and both FTN members are down now. Fenix reaches down to follow up on Alyster Black… BUT KATSU SNEAKS UP ON HIM FROM BEHIND AND ROLLS FENIX UP!!!
ONE… TWO… THREE!!!
Eliminated: Jackson Fenix by Katsu at 28:02.
Anzu Kurosawa: “WOAH! Katsu got him! It seemed like an alliance of sorts had come together between Katsu and Fenix, but she saw her opportunity and took it!”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “And just like that, we are down to three! Katsu, Alyster Black and Chris Peacock are all that remain-”
Allen Price: “Katsu must think that she’s SOOOOOO smart right now, huh? Is she stupid? She does realise that she has now just left herself in there ON HER OWN with the FWA World Tag Team Champions and super best friends, right?”
The crowd are shocked and show their frustration at the fan favourite Jackson Fenix being eliminated and he looks at Katsu in disappointment, moving his hair from his face and shaking his head. As Fenix leaves the cage, Katsu seems to show some remorse, but as Fenix himself berated Peacock about, it is every person for themselves in this match and there was nothing against the rules about what Katsu did.
However, as Allen Price did point out, Katsu is now all alone in the Steel Roulette with the FWA World Tag Team Champions and One Shot Kill aside, two people who have shown that they are willing to work together in order to ensure that one of them leaves as the FWA World Champion. With Peacock still down from the One Shot Kill, Katsu knows that she needs to finish Alyster Black off if she stands a chance of winning the match. She lifts Black up from the mat off of Fenix’s Superkick and props him up - and then delivers one of her own, but Black does not go down.
With the tag champ seemingly out on his feet, Katsu measures him up again and this time lands the Superkick directly to his jaw, knocking him down onto his back. Katsu, nearing twenty minutes in the match herself, heads towards the turnbuckle. She slowly pulls herself up.
Rod Sterling: “Katsu needs to do everything she can to put Black away; she must fancy herself against Peacock on his own, but she is up against it. If Peacock makes it back up from that One Shot Kill before she can eliminate Black, it could be over for her.”
Katsu rises to her feet on the top rope and turns around, taking a deep breath. She sees that Chris Peacock is almost back to his feet, and the FWA World Champion watches on as KATSU TAKES FLIGHT… AND LANDS ON TOP OF ALYSTER BLACK WITH NIGHTFALL!!! She holds her stomach and watches as Peacock gets to his feet and slowly steps between the ropes. Katsu has her eyes firmly locked on Peacock as she leans back and goes for the cover on Black, hooking a leg…
Anzu Kurosawa: “I-Is Peacock going to let her pin him?”
There does not appear to be any sort of interference by Peacock and Larry Stevens gets down to count the pin…
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ONE!
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…
TWO!!
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…
…
THREE-
NO!!!
PEACOCK HAS A CHANGE OF HEART AT THE LAST MINUTE AND RUNS THROUGH KATSU WITH THE STRUT!!! The crowd boos, excited to see Peacock potentially turn his back on his tag team partner, as they have been anticipating for some time. Katsu is seemingly out of it, as she took the blow straight to the face and Peacock lifts Black up from the mat and slaps him a couple of times to rouse him. He points down at Katsu and motions for Black to pick her up.
Despite his absolutely beaten state, Black lifts Katsu from the mat and then puts her head in between his legs and lifts her up into a Powerbomb position. Katsu is unable to fight back as BLACK DRIVES HER DOWN TOWARDS THE MAT AND PEACOCK CATCHES HER WITH A LUNGBLOWER ON THE WAY DOWN!!! The tandem move from FTN has Katsu down and out on the mat.
Allen Price: “They call that move the Load Blower!! It is over for Katsu now, people!”
After that move, Black drops down and covers Katsu and Peacock watches on;
ONE!
…
TWO!!
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…
THREE!!!
Eliminated: Katsu by Alyster Black at 31:22.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “Well, it is down to two, and of course it was always going to be these two; Chris Peacock and Alyster Black. The FWA World Tag Team Champions and supposedly best friends… if there was ever a test of that friendship it is now- PEACOCK ROLLS BLACK UP!!!”
As Black rose to his feet following Katsu’s elimination, Peacock got in behind with a Schoolboy!
…
ONE!
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TWO!!
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THREE-NO!!!
Black kicked out at the last second and immediately after, both members of FTN rise to their feet and push their foreheads together. Black is not happy about Peacock trying to get a quick and cheap victory there and Peacock seems annoyed that Black would question the fact that he would not try and retain his championship by any means necessary.
Anzu Kurosawa: “I think it is all starting to boil over, guys…”
Rod Sterling: “That move from Peacock was very reminiscent of the Golden Opportunity match from two years ago; Peacock rolled up then-friend Randy Ramon after they had worked together to eliminate Alyster Black’s then-partner Krash!”
The crowd are on tenterhooks waiting for the inevitable explosion of FTN; what they have been waiting for ever since Black and Peacock shacked up together several months ago. The tension brewing between the partners since Back in Business seems to be coming to the surface, and the crowd becomes unglued when the two of them begin to unload on each other with wild punches!
Both Black and Peacock have the other’s head cradled and they lay into each other with repeated blows to the head and face. Both begin to fade at the same time after roughly twenty seconds of unleashing shots on each other. Black’s strikes are too strong and Black is too weakened to be able to sustain a prolonged assault. They drop down to their knees in the middle of the ring and Black rears back and cracks Peacock in the face with a punch. Peacock does not punch Black back… BUT PIMP SLAPS HIM INSTEAD!
That gets an “OOH!” from the watching crowd, and Peacock rises to his feet to assert some form of dominance, but Black gets up too, riled up by the disrespectful move from his best friend. Peacock goes to Pimp Slap Black one more time, but misses and over rotates, and this allows Black to trap his arm and hit him with a Ripcord Rolling Elbow!
Jean-Luc Watkins: “That could be a message sent to the Dark Roads Alliance - because that looked a lot like a Rasputin’s Revenge to me, wrestling fans.”
With Peacock down on the mat, the fans find themselves getting behind ‘Black Jesus’; the objectively more likeable member of FTN and also the man who has been in the match since the beginning and been put through hell by almost everyone else in it. Black lifts Peacock from the mat and he places Peacock’s head under his arm. Black pauses for a moment and lifts Peacock up into the air… SATAN’S SPIKE - BUT PEACOCK LANDS ON HIS FEET BEHIND BLACK! Black turns around and Peacock kicks him in the gut… Disco Thriller Stunner!
The Stunner finds its mark, but leaves Black on his feet but very much stunned… and Peacock then runs the ropes and comes back towards Black, and cuts him in half with a Spear! The crowd begins to boo as Peacock gets up and starts beating his chest, starting to sense that this could be the beginning of the end.
Allen Price: “These guys are both my clients - this is a win-win for me - but this is the man who I have been with since the start. This is the FWA World Champion!”
The crowd continues to jeer and hiss at Peacock as he takes up a position in the corner, waiting for Black to get to his feet. Despite the love he has for the man across the ring from him, Peacock knows that he has to do what he has to do in order to win this match and keep his reign intact. As Black gets up to his feet, Peacock charges in… HE RUNS BLACK INTO THE OPPOSITE CORNER AND THEN SLAMS HIM DOWN INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE RING WITH A SPINEBUSTER - THE ROLLER DISCO CONNECTS!!!
Peacock thinks about going for a cover, but decides that he is not going to. He shakes his head and makes it clear that he knows that it takes more than that to keep Alyster Black down.
Anzu Kurosawa: “He’s going to go for another.”
Rod Sterling: “Chris Peacock wants to make sure. He knows the kind of man he is dealing with and he knows that Black is not going to lay down for just anything. Another Roller Disco - a second - will surely do it.”
It takes Black quite a while to stir and pull himself up from the mat. Peacock wants to hit the Roller Disco, but it is clear that the champion is getting impatient. Therefore, he instead waits for Black to sit up… AND PEACOCK TRIES TO HIT BLACK WITH THE STRUT INSTEAD - BUT BLACK BLOCKS IT AND CATCHES HIS FOOT!!!
The crowd cheers and Peacock looks down in shock, and Alyster gets back up with Peacock’s boot in his grasp and then forces his partner back into the corner AND BLACK DISHES OUT A VIOLENCE PARTY!!! Even though it is his best friend in front of him, Black does not hold back with any of the strikes. He peppers Peacock all over his body, and Peacock seems to be wanting to just find a way to get away from Black.
Jean-Luc Watkins: “These will be Alyster Black’s final energy reserves… he is hitting Peacock with everything that he has left and I’m not sure how much more if it Peacock can take.”
Chris tries to push Alyster away, but he can’t. Nothing Peacock does to resist the Violence Party is doing anything to stop the onslaught… so his only resort is to back up onto the turnbuckle. Chris steps on the bottom turnbuckle, then the middle and then the top… and Alyster follows him. Eventually, both FTN members are perched on top of the top rope using the adjoining pod to maintain their balance. Black grabs Peacock by the head and slams his partner’s face into the pod!
Unable to respond with a return of fire, Peacock’s daze causes him to make a potentially catastrophic decision. He pulls himself up onto the top of the pod, and Alyster is left looking up at him. Peacock takes a moment to gather himself in his seemingly safe position… that is until Black also climbs up to the top of the pod. Peacock rolls onto his front and then gets to his knees as Black stands over him, and he uses Black to pull himself up. Both men are on uneven footing atop the pod, and a punch from Peacock to Black causes Alyster to teeter back, almost falling from the top of the pod, but he stops himself.
Rod Sterling: “This looks like a final stand if I have ever seen one…”
Black holds onto Peacock’s head to keep his balance, but Chris cuts him off with a knee to the midsection and he tries to throw Black from the top of the pod, but Black does everything in his power to stop him. Repeated elbows to the ribs of Peacock cause Chris to let go. Black kicks Peacock in the chest and Peacock slams back-first into the chamber wall, causing the champion to wince.
There is then a moment where Black and Peacock stare at each other. Peacock has his back against the wall and Alyster is in the danger zone with his back facing the mammoth drop down into the ring below. Alyster slowly shakes his head, knowing what Peacock is thinking of doing.
Allen Price: “Alyster… please believe that this is going to hurt Chris as much as it is going to hurt you.”
Peacock seems to be welling up and he looks straight at Alyster and quietly utters, “I’m sorry. I have to.”... and PEACOCK RUSHES FORWARD AND TACKLES BLACK…
AND BOTH MEN FALL FROM THE TOP OF THE POD INTO THE RING BELOW…
AND THEY BOTH GO THROUGH THE CANVAS!!!!
Anzu Kurosawa: “OH MY GOD!!!!”
Rod Sterling: “I can’t hear myself think! These fans have gone insane with noise! Peacock just sacrificed himself and his best friend! Get a camera in there now!”
As the crowd go ballistic in the stadium, Larry Stevens in the ring circles the hole into which FTN disappeared. The camera finally catches up and Alyster Black is knocked out cold, on his back in the hole. Chris Peacock is next to him, breathing heavily and completely in shock over what he just did… but Peacock slowly… drapes an arm across his partner’s chest. Larry Stevens has to make the count for the pin;
…
…
ONE!
…
…
TWO!!
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…
THREE!!!
Eliminated: Alyster Black by Chris Peacock at 38:19.
Winner: Chris Peacock at 38:19.
As unhappy as the fans must be about the result of the match and the fact that Chris Peacock has retained the FWA World Championship, they are still completely shellshocked by what they just witnessed. Peacock’s music plays, but a shot of the champion’s face shows that he is not actually sure where he is or what is happening. He shakes involuntarily, his hands trembling and he looks over to his left and sees Black still unconscious. Immediately, he wraps his arm around Black’s head, cradling him.
Kurt Harrington: “Here is your winner and STILL the FWA World Champion… CHRIS PEACOCK!!!”
Allen Price: “Are they alright? I can’t watch this…”
Jean-Luc Watkins: “The son of a bitch has done it again. Chris Peacock is still your FWA World Champion, but he had to break his own heart in order to do it tonight. Alyster Black fought through all manner of punishment both before and during the match; his efforts simply must be commended, but on the night, it was Chris Peacock that was willing to do what he had to.”
Anzu Kurosawa: “We don’t know whether Alyster Black would have done the same thing to Chris Peacock. I’d like to think that he probably would have. For FTN’s sake, Chris Peacock must hope that Alyster understands why he did it. Why he had to.”
The FWA World Championship is passed to Peacock, who turns onto his back and demands that the tag titles are brought to him. Doctors rush the ring in an attempt to see to both competitors, but Peacock tells them to leave them alone. As the tag titles are handed to him, he places one on Black’s chest and sees that Black has woken up and Black, whilst disappointed, pats Peacock on the head in congratulations. Peacock asks for a microphone, and Kurt Harrington passes him his.
Chris Peacock: “Aly… we’re doing that again. Lights Out.”
A big cheer goes up and Peacock and Black both close their eyes, breathing heavily. If the Eighteenth Anniversary Show didn’t kill FTN…
Lights Out just might.
