XXIV: “ÓBUDA.”
Live from Óbudai-sziget in Budapest, Hungary.
Thursday 22nd December, 2022.
The coverage starts with a high, aerial shot from the back of a helicopter as we sweep high above an island. This island is in the middle of a river, the Danube to be specific, and in the background we can see the picturesque city of Budapest: the colossal houses of parliament, the peculiar fisherman's bastion, and the castle looming on the hill, all lit up for this breathtaking opening shot.
Rod Sterling: "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Hungary, for the twenty-fourth episode of FWA: Meltdown. We're coming to you live from Obuda Island in Budapest for a night of F1 action!"
We cut from our helicopter shot to one of the stage as a series of hot pink and gold rockets are sent up into the night's sky. The crowd are loud and hyped for the show, Meltdown's opening theme continuing to play in the background as the pyro ends and we sweep across the audience.
Anzu Kurosawa: "We're finishing with Pool A tonight, with two huge matches that could seal the fate, one way or the other, for Vampyra and Alyster Black. The Dark Huntress prepares to take on Michelle von Horrowitz, whilst the world and X champion will hope to run the board with a win over Tommy Bedlam in our main event."
Rod Sterling: "But we're starting off in Pool B here tonight. Later on, Cyrus Truth and Gerald Grayson will face off with their futures in the tournament hanging in the balance, but first…this!"
The camera settles on the stage again, just in time for…
There's a mixed reaction on the island as Chris Peacock's music hits, and shortly afterwards Disco's Last Warrior walks out onto the stage. He looks confident and assured as he begins his walk down to the ring.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall, with a thirty minute time limit, and is a Pool B match in the F1 Climaxxx tournament… introducing first, from Boogie Wonderland by way of New York City, and weighing in at two hundred and ten pounds… CHRIS PEACOCK!!"
Rod Sterling: "After a strong start with back-to-back wins, Peacock tasted his first defeat in the F1 last time out when he was defeated by Bryan Baxter. That leaves Peacock in a dangerous position, where another loss here tonight could take things out of his hand going into the Climaxxx's climax in the new year."
Anzu Kurosawa: "He looks confident this evening, though. But then again, Chris Peacock it is a confident guy generally speaking. I'm sure our Golden Opportunity briefcase holder recognises the high stakes heading into this crunch encounter."
Peacock slides into the ring and takes a moment to pose on the second turnbuckle, his briefcase clutches in his hands. He takes a look over the crowd assembled upon the island, his music fading out as he hops down from the turnbuckles and nods his head self-assuredly. Then, we hear…
There's a huge cheer on the island as Lizzie Rose walks out onto the stage, and she's backed up tonight by her partner-in-crime Joe Burr. Rose waves excitedly at the audience before beginning her walk down the ramp, where she high-fives the front row fans as she goes.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "And his opponent… accompanied to the ring by Joe Burr… from Brooklyn in New York City… she weighs in tonight at ninety nine pounds… this is 'The Rave'... LIZZIE… ROOOOOOSE!!"
Rod Sterling: "A typically loud and positive reaction here for Lizzie Rose, who goes into this match-up holding a 1-2 record. Her losses to Cyrus Truth and Bryan Baxter counteract her win against Phillip A. Jackson, although a win here tonight will draw her level with Chris Peacock."
Anzu Kurosawa: "And, perhaps importantly, it'll put her ahead of Disco's Last Warrior according to their head-to-head record. Lizzie Rose is very much still in the hunt for a spot in those semi-finals."
Lizzie climbs into the ring whilst Joe Burr waits on the outside, applauding his friend as she takes her moment amping up the fans from the second rope. The Hungarian crowd seem to be firmly on her side, raining down adulation as she hops down from the corner. Her music fades out as she locks eyes with her opponent, the official making his final checks and - when he's content that we're good to go - calls for the opening bell…
As soon as the bell rings, Lizzie Rose lets out an astoundingly loud battle cry and charges across the ring at her opponent, looking to take his head off with a massive lariat… which Peacock wisely ducks beneath, going into a rear waistlock. He bundles Lizzie forward into a nearby set of ropes, looking to take her backward with an O'Conner Roll. Rose has other ideas, though, and hooks onto the top rope with her arms to check her momentum, causing Peacock to roll back without her… and then he eats a spinning heel kick!! Peacock goes down clutching his face, and Lizzie immediately hoists him back up. She reels off a quartet of knife edge chops, and then gets into position for a back suplex. She attempts to heave Peacock up… but he doesn't budge at all!
Rod Sterling: "Lizzie can't lift Peacock up here, I'm not sure this is the most intelligent strategy for the Rave."
Anzu Kurosawa: "A few too many mince pies this festive period for Peacock, eh?!"
Peacock has regained his wherewithal after the spinning heel kick, and realising Lizzie can't lift him he transitions into a side headlock, and then takes Rose down with a headlock takedown. Chris still has his grounded headlock in, and Rose momentarily spends a few moments trying to reach the ropes with her legs, but when she realises she's too far away she instead brings both legs up to Peacock's head and yanks him off the headlock with a head-scissors! The hold from Rose is tight, and Peacock finds that he can't escape, so instead he has to drag Lizzie over to the ropes and place a foot on the bottom one. The official asks for a break and Lizzie (obviously) does so immediately. Peacock gets back up to his feet and looks to start circling the ring, but Rose lets out another ear-splitting battle-shriek and charges right at him again, taking Peacock off his feet with a shotgun dropkick! Chris rolls under the bottom rope, maybe hoping to take a few moments to catch his breath, but Lizzie is in perpetual motion now. She hits the ropes… and takes Peacock out with a suicide dive! Rose goes between the bottom and middle rope and takes Peacock to the ground, getting up to a huge cheer from her adoring fans.
Lizzie Rose throws Peacock back into the ring and begins to climb up to the top rope. She notices that her opponent is already getting back to his feet, and so perches on the top rope as he does. Once Chris has regained his vertical base and turns to face her, Rose leaps off the top turnbuckle and takes him down with a shoulder block!! The extra impact from coming off the top is enough to knock the bigger man off his feet! Not for long, though, with Peacock once more struggling up to his vertical base… only to be wiped out again by a spinning back elbow!! Peacock drops to the mat, and Rose nails him with a senton splash before hooking the far leg.
ONE… TWO… NO!
Kickout from Peacock! Rose tries to contort the arm that Peacock used to kick out into an arm bar, but Peacock immediately scrambles over to the ropes and hooks onto the bottom one again. Once more, the official enforces a break, and Lizzie releases straight away. Peacock rolls beneath the bottom rope to catch his breath, but Lizzie is on her feet and tries a slingshot plancha to the outside…
Rod Sterling: "Chris Peacock steps out of the way!!! An ugly landing there for Lizzie Rose!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "I think Chris Peacock is the only person on this island who enjoyed that… listen to the boos! And look at Joe Burr! He's getting right in Chris Peacock's face!!"
Peacock laughs at Burr, and then - with the small man puffing out his chest and challenging him to throw hands - Peacock just pushes Burr backwards. Joe stumbles and then falls over Rose, who is on all fours behind him! Burr sprawls to the ground, eliciting more laughter from Peacock, who then picks Lizzie up and throws her back into the ring. He follows her in, hosting her onto her feet in a front facelock and then connects with a snap suplex! Followed by a standing leg drop! Pinfall attempt by Peacock…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Lizzie thrusts the shoulder up! Peacock looks momentarily frustrated, but this levels out into amusement when he sees that Joe Burr is up on the apron giving him an ear-full. Peacock listens to the small man and nods his head, a snide little smile on his face, as Burr sticks his finger in Chris' face in admonishment.
Rod Sterling: "Joe Burr has gotta be careful here… if he gets too agitated he could end up costing Lizzie Rose this match!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Looks like Peacock's got a little back-up himself… Allen Price is currently striding down the ring ramp with a face like thunder!"
Rod Sterling: "Get back to Fallout, Allen!"
The audience are giving Price a negative reaction as he storms down the ramp, seemingly to negate the influence that Joe Burr is having on the match-up. He reaches the ring apron where Burr is standing and, without Joe realising he's there, Price pulls his leg so that the smaller man falls down from the apron… and then Price slugs him with a right hand!! The audience can't believe it, and neither can Joe Burr… who promptly takes Allen down with a double leg takedown, and then he's on him with right hands!!
Rod Sterling: "This… isn't the fight that we want to see here, folks! Chris Peacock is keeping a close eye on his associate and the brawl going on outside the ring… and seems to be a little amused by it!"
Indeed, Disco's Last Warrior has a half-smirk as he watches Price and Burr go at it. The smile matures to a chuckle as Peacock watches a trio of security staff racing down the ramp with the intention of breaking it up. He shakes his head as one of them drags Burr away from Allen…
… and doesn't see that Lizzie is now up to her feet behind him…
Rod Sterling: "SCHOOLBOY ROLL-UP!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "That's Allen Price's favourite move!!"
ONE… TWO… THREE!!
Rod Sterling: "She got him!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Chris Peacock kicks out shortly after the three is counted, but it's too late! Lizzie gets the W!!"
Lizzie rolls out of the ring as Peacock fumes in the official's direction, reuniting with Joe Burr as The Key, The Secret hits again.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Here is your winner… LIZZIE ROSE!!"
Joe Burr has a massive shit-eating grin on his face as he backs up the ramp with Lizzie, holding her arm up in recognition of the victory.
Rod Sterling: "And that win blows Block B wide open, folks! Lizzie Rose joins Chris Peacock on a 2-2 record, hot on the heels of Cyrus Truth, who is due to face Gerald Grayson in our next contest."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Truth has the chance to put daylight between him and the chasing pack, or Grayson could make it a four-way tie on 2-2. The race to the semi-finals is heating up!!"
The camera shows one more shot each of Lizzie Rose celebrating on the stage with Joe Burr, and then one of Chris Peacock berating both the match's official and Allen Price for his intervention. We fade on the image of a frustrated Peacock staring up the ramp at a victorious Lizzie Rose.
We cut to the back, and to a close-up of Todd Salum. But it's not the usual chipper and professional Todd Salum that we all know and sort of like. Instead, it is a very frustrated, tired, and generally pissed off looking Todd Salum. He is currently massaging his temples, as if he's trying to relieve some tension from just behind his eyes, and stares past the camera blankly.
Todd Salum: "I'm not supposed to be doing this. It's in my contract. They know I'm not supposed to be doing this."
Cameraman: "Um, Todd… we're live."
Salum attaches his game face, and looks down the lens with the slightly stern expression of a respected and knowledgeable reporter. The camera pans back to reveal his guests as he introduces them.
Todd Salum: "Ladies and gentlemen, I was asked at this time to conduct a brief interview with the current FWA World Tag Team Champions, but as you can see I am only joined by one of them… as well as a large number of hangers-on. Please welcome at this time Cthulhu's Nephews."
He almost sighs the last word, and by now the camera has planned back enough to reveal the Nephews standing in a horseshoe around Michelle von Horrowitz, who is holding her belt on her shoulder. We can see Uncle, Thomas, Harry, Quiet, the Avatar, the Maid… even Alphonse the Swiss Sherpa has made the short trip, given that the show is in Central Europe. But as alluded to by Todd, there's no sign of Gerald Grayson.
Todd Salum: "So, I guess my first question is the obvious one… where's Gerald?"
MvH: "Yes, Todd, your first question is the obvious one. And I imagine your second and third ones will be just as obvious, too. Gerald is preparing for his match, of course. He's up next. I wish him all the best. The idea of another Cyrus Truth match in the knockout stages isn't exactly mouth-watering."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "Dreamer and the Daredevil are just getting a little space from one another right now, Todd. It's needed in any relationship. Like ours, remember? We were perhaps a little too forward in expressing our admiration for you, and you needed a little bit of space. Now, not everyone feels the need to get a court of law to grant them that space, but you do you, Todd. I just think it's wonderful that we can work together again."
Todd stares back at Uncle, blankly.
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "Go on, ask your next question."
Todd Salum: "Well, you mentioned that Michelle and Gerald are spending some time apart right now but… is that really a wise thing to do just forty eight hours before Mile High Massacre?"
Thomas West: "What do you suggest? They spend a load of time apart after the match, like all the teams in last year's Mile High Massacre did? Because none of them survived more than three months after the match. Cabin fever is real, especially when you're locked in a cage together."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "The Nephews are an open book, Todd. An extremely interesting, one-of-a-kind, instant classic, self-published episodic weekly periodical of tremendous worth and value."
Maid of Death: "Worth and value mean the same thing."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "You're right, Nephew. Let me start again. The Nephews are an open book, Todd. An extremely interesting, one-of-a-kind, instant classic, self-published episodic weekly periodical of tremendous value and worth."
Maid of Death: "You said the same two words again."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "Ah, but I switched their order! What a cunning orator I am. But let me make my point. We Nephews don't try to hide our lives. We live them out in the open, for we have no secrets. Everyone has the capacity to be a Nephew, and as such I wish to hold nothing from them. Michelle and Gerald's recent difficulties are but a chapter in this open book… strife and tension to add to the drama, to increase the spectacle of their eventual and inevitable triumph."
All eyes turn to Michelle, who has been listening to her stable-mates with a passive expression.
MvH: "Don't worry about Gerald and I, tulip. We've been here before, and I don't doubt that we'll be here again. We have heard these questions and answered them in the ring time and time again, like we'll do again on Saturday night. There's no team left here that have been through what Gerald and I have. What exists between us is stronger than any of you know, and doesn't shake or weather as the season changes."
Von Horrowitz folds her arms, and it's clear that she's done. Todd tries anyway.
Todd Salum: "Any word on your opponent tonight, or the teams who will challenge you on Fallout?"
Michelle just shrugs. Harry reaches over and pulls the microphone in his direction.
Harry the Sane Wizard: "I've got something to say about one of those flimsy Fallout challengers, and it's a simple one… Blair, Celestia: this town ain't big enough for the both of us. And I say both, because I'm considering you as a unit. I hearby challenge these inferior mages to a Conjuring! You pretenders pick the time, pick the place… I'll show you how we do things in the dimension I was kidnapped from…"
Todd cocks an eyebrow.
Todd Salum: "What exactly do you mean by that last part?"
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "No time for that, Todd! Our beloved GiGi wrestles soon, and it'd crush him if we didn't watch…"
With that, he bundles Harry out with an arm around him, and each of the Nephews follow in turn. Salum doesn't bother passing it back to the announcer's booth, instead just dropping the microphone and walking out of shot in the opposite direction.
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Meltdown moves on with yet another match in the F1 Climaxxx. This time around we will see Cyrus Truth take on Gerald Grayson. Truth moved up 2-1 in the Climaxxx with a win over Lizzie Rose last round while Grayson recorded his first win in the tournament when he defeated Phillip A. Jackson.”
Rod Sterling: ”This is a must win situation for Grayson because he faces possible elimination. Meanwhile, a win for Truth will move him one step closer to the semi-finals of the tournament.”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Grayson has his plate full this week with not only this match, but defending his tag team championships alongside Michelle von Horrowitz in a Mile High Massacre match on Fallout in just two days. Surely that’s weighing on Grayson’s mind but he’ll have to not think about that and focus on Truth if he wants any chance of moving on in the tournament.”
Rod Sterling: ”That’s easier said than done for Gerald given who his opponent is, Anzu. Cyrus Truth is hellbent on winning this entire tournament, and if Gerald loses focus for a second then Truth will do anything he can to take advantage as long as it benefits him..”
Katie Lynn-Goldsmith: ”The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a 30-minute-time-limit! Introducing first, from The Long & Winding Road and weighing in at 227 lb…he is The Exile…Cyrus Truuuuuuth!”
Truth makes his way out as his theme music plays out loud for all to hear and Truth looks as focused as ever. Perhaps more focused than usual given the circumstances at stake in regards to the result of this match.
Gerald Grayson makes his way out on stage and he seems hyped up as he tries to get the fans hyped up as well. The fans oblige him and cheer as they groove along with his catchy theme music.
Katie Lynn-Goldsmith: ”And his opponent, from Raleigh, North Carolina and weighing in at 220 lb…he is one half of the FWA Tag Team Champions…FWA’s Resident Daredevil…Gerald Graaaaaayson!”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Grayson is certainly fired up for this match and he’s got the fans rallying behind him as well.”
Rod Sterling: ”He’s going to need a lot more than that, Anzu, and don’t discount the fan support for Cyrus Truth. If I were to make a guess, I’d say that the fan support will be pretty evenly split between the two.
Rod Sterling: "Lizzie can't lift Peacock up here, I'm not sure this is the most intelligent strategy for the Rave."
Anzu Kurosawa: "A few too many mince pies this festive period for Peacock, eh?!"
Peacock has regained his wherewithal after the spinning heel kick, and realising Lizzie can't lift him he transitions into a side headlock, and then takes Rose down with a headlock takedown. Chris still has his grounded headlock in, and Rose momentarily spends a few moments trying to reach the ropes with her legs, but when she realises she's too far away she instead brings both legs up to Peacock's head and yanks him off the headlock with a head-scissors! The hold from Rose is tight, and Peacock finds that he can't escape, so instead he has to drag Lizzie over to the ropes and place a foot on the bottom one. The official asks for a break and Lizzie (obviously) does so immediately. Peacock gets back up to his feet and looks to start circling the ring, but Rose lets out another ear-splitting battle-shriek and charges right at him again, taking Peacock off his feet with a shotgun dropkick! Chris rolls under the bottom rope, maybe hoping to take a few moments to catch his breath, but Lizzie is in perpetual motion now. She hits the ropes… and takes Peacock out with a suicide dive! Rose goes between the bottom and middle rope and takes Peacock to the ground, getting up to a huge cheer from her adoring fans.
Lizzie Rose throws Peacock back into the ring and begins to climb up to the top rope. She notices that her opponent is already getting back to his feet, and so perches on the top rope as he does. Once Chris has regained his vertical base and turns to face her, Rose leaps off the top turnbuckle and takes him down with a shoulder block!! The extra impact from coming off the top is enough to knock the bigger man off his feet! Not for long, though, with Peacock once more struggling up to his vertical base… only to be wiped out again by a spinning back elbow!! Peacock drops to the mat, and Rose nails him with a senton splash before hooking the far leg.
ONE… TWO… NO!
Kickout from Peacock! Rose tries to contort the arm that Peacock used to kick out into an arm bar, but Peacock immediately scrambles over to the ropes and hooks onto the bottom one again. Once more, the official enforces a break, and Lizzie releases straight away. Peacock rolls beneath the bottom rope to catch his breath, but Lizzie is on her feet and tries a slingshot plancha to the outside…
Rod Sterling: "Chris Peacock steps out of the way!!! An ugly landing there for Lizzie Rose!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "I think Chris Peacock is the only person on this island who enjoyed that… listen to the boos! And look at Joe Burr! He's getting right in Chris Peacock's face!!"
Peacock laughs at Burr, and then - with the small man puffing out his chest and challenging him to throw hands - Peacock just pushes Burr backwards. Joe stumbles and then falls over Rose, who is on all fours behind him! Burr sprawls to the ground, eliciting more laughter from Peacock, who then picks Lizzie up and throws her back into the ring. He follows her in, hosting her onto her feet in a front facelock and then connects with a snap suplex! Followed by a standing leg drop! Pinfall attempt by Peacock…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Lizzie thrusts the shoulder up! Peacock looks momentarily frustrated, but this levels out into amusement when he sees that Joe Burr is up on the apron giving him an ear-full. Peacock listens to the small man and nods his head, a snide little smile on his face, as Burr sticks his finger in Chris' face in admonishment.
Rod Sterling: "Joe Burr has gotta be careful here… if he gets too agitated he could end up costing Lizzie Rose this match!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Looks like Peacock's got a little back-up himself… Allen Price is currently striding down the ring ramp with a face like thunder!"
Rod Sterling: "Get back to Fallout, Allen!"
The audience are giving Price a negative reaction as he storms down the ramp, seemingly to negate the influence that Joe Burr is having on the match-up. He reaches the ring apron where Burr is standing and, without Joe realising he's there, Price pulls his leg so that the smaller man falls down from the apron… and then Price slugs him with a right hand!! The audience can't believe it, and neither can Joe Burr… who promptly takes Allen down with a double leg takedown, and then he's on him with right hands!!
Rod Sterling: "This… isn't the fight that we want to see here, folks! Chris Peacock is keeping a close eye on his associate and the brawl going on outside the ring… and seems to be a little amused by it!"
Indeed, Disco's Last Warrior has a half-smirk as he watches Price and Burr go at it. The smile matures to a chuckle as Peacock watches a trio of security staff racing down the ramp with the intention of breaking it up. He shakes his head as one of them drags Burr away from Allen…
… and doesn't see that Lizzie is now up to her feet behind him…
Rod Sterling: "SCHOOLBOY ROLL-UP!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "That's Allen Price's favourite move!!"
ONE… TWO… THREE!!
Winner: Lizzie Rose via pinfall at 08:12.
Rod Sterling: "She got him!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Chris Peacock kicks out shortly after the three is counted, but it's too late! Lizzie gets the W!!"
Lizzie rolls out of the ring as Peacock fumes in the official's direction, reuniting with Joe Burr as The Key, The Secret hits again.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Here is your winner… LIZZIE ROSE!!"
Joe Burr has a massive shit-eating grin on his face as he backs up the ramp with Lizzie, holding her arm up in recognition of the victory.
Rod Sterling: "And that win blows Block B wide open, folks! Lizzie Rose joins Chris Peacock on a 2-2 record, hot on the heels of Cyrus Truth, who is due to face Gerald Grayson in our next contest."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Truth has the chance to put daylight between him and the chasing pack, or Grayson could make it a four-way tie on 2-2. The race to the semi-finals is heating up!!"
The camera shows one more shot each of Lizzie Rose celebrating on the stage with Joe Burr, and then one of Chris Peacock berating both the match's official and Allen Price for his intervention. We fade on the image of a frustrated Peacock staring up the ramp at a victorious Lizzie Rose.
We cut to the back, and to a close-up of Todd Salum. But it's not the usual chipper and professional Todd Salum that we all know and sort of like. Instead, it is a very frustrated, tired, and generally pissed off looking Todd Salum. He is currently massaging his temples, as if he's trying to relieve some tension from just behind his eyes, and stares past the camera blankly.
Todd Salum: "I'm not supposed to be doing this. It's in my contract. They know I'm not supposed to be doing this."
Cameraman: "Um, Todd… we're live."
Salum attaches his game face, and looks down the lens with the slightly stern expression of a respected and knowledgeable reporter. The camera pans back to reveal his guests as he introduces them.
Todd Salum: "Ladies and gentlemen, I was asked at this time to conduct a brief interview with the current FWA World Tag Team Champions, but as you can see I am only joined by one of them… as well as a large number of hangers-on. Please welcome at this time Cthulhu's Nephews."
He almost sighs the last word, and by now the camera has planned back enough to reveal the Nephews standing in a horseshoe around Michelle von Horrowitz, who is holding her belt on her shoulder. We can see Uncle, Thomas, Harry, Quiet, the Avatar, the Maid… even Alphonse the Swiss Sherpa has made the short trip, given that the show is in Central Europe. But as alluded to by Todd, there's no sign of Gerald Grayson.
Todd Salum: "So, I guess my first question is the obvious one… where's Gerald?"
MvH: "Yes, Todd, your first question is the obvious one. And I imagine your second and third ones will be just as obvious, too. Gerald is preparing for his match, of course. He's up next. I wish him all the best. The idea of another Cyrus Truth match in the knockout stages isn't exactly mouth-watering."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "Dreamer and the Daredevil are just getting a little space from one another right now, Todd. It's needed in any relationship. Like ours, remember? We were perhaps a little too forward in expressing our admiration for you, and you needed a little bit of space. Now, not everyone feels the need to get a court of law to grant them that space, but you do you, Todd. I just think it's wonderful that we can work together again."
Todd stares back at Uncle, blankly.
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "Go on, ask your next question."
Todd Salum: "Well, you mentioned that Michelle and Gerald are spending some time apart right now but… is that really a wise thing to do just forty eight hours before Mile High Massacre?"
Thomas West: "What do you suggest? They spend a load of time apart after the match, like all the teams in last year's Mile High Massacre did? Because none of them survived more than three months after the match. Cabin fever is real, especially when you're locked in a cage together."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "The Nephews are an open book, Todd. An extremely interesting, one-of-a-kind, instant classic, self-published episodic weekly periodical of tremendous worth and value."
Maid of Death: "Worth and value mean the same thing."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "You're right, Nephew. Let me start again. The Nephews are an open book, Todd. An extremely interesting, one-of-a-kind, instant classic, self-published episodic weekly periodical of tremendous value and worth."
Maid of Death: "You said the same two words again."
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "Ah, but I switched their order! What a cunning orator I am. But let me make my point. We Nephews don't try to hide our lives. We live them out in the open, for we have no secrets. Everyone has the capacity to be a Nephew, and as such I wish to hold nothing from them. Michelle and Gerald's recent difficulties are but a chapter in this open book… strife and tension to add to the drama, to increase the spectacle of their eventual and inevitable triumph."
All eyes turn to Michelle, who has been listening to her stable-mates with a passive expression.
MvH: "Don't worry about Gerald and I, tulip. We've been here before, and I don't doubt that we'll be here again. We have heard these questions and answered them in the ring time and time again, like we'll do again on Saturday night. There's no team left here that have been through what Gerald and I have. What exists between us is stronger than any of you know, and doesn't shake or weather as the season changes."
Von Horrowitz folds her arms, and it's clear that she's done. Todd tries anyway.
Todd Salum: "Any word on your opponent tonight, or the teams who will challenge you on Fallout?"
Michelle just shrugs. Harry reaches over and pulls the microphone in his direction.
Harry the Sane Wizard: "I've got something to say about one of those flimsy Fallout challengers, and it's a simple one… Blair, Celestia: this town ain't big enough for the both of us. And I say both, because I'm considering you as a unit. I hearby challenge these inferior mages to a Conjuring! You pretenders pick the time, pick the place… I'll show you how we do things in the dimension I was kidnapped from…"
Todd cocks an eyebrow.
Todd Salum: "What exactly do you mean by that last part?"
Uncle J.J. JAY!: "No time for that, Todd! Our beloved GiGi wrestles soon, and it'd crush him if we didn't watch…"
With that, he bundles Harry out with an arm around him, and each of the Nephews follow in turn. Salum doesn't bother passing it back to the announcer's booth, instead just dropping the microphone and walking out of shot in the opposite direction.
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Meltdown moves on with yet another match in the F1 Climaxxx. This time around we will see Cyrus Truth take on Gerald Grayson. Truth moved up 2-1 in the Climaxxx with a win over Lizzie Rose last round while Grayson recorded his first win in the tournament when he defeated Phillip A. Jackson.”
Rod Sterling: ”This is a must win situation for Grayson because he faces possible elimination. Meanwhile, a win for Truth will move him one step closer to the semi-finals of the tournament.”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Grayson has his plate full this week with not only this match, but defending his tag team championships alongside Michelle von Horrowitz in a Mile High Massacre match on Fallout in just two days. Surely that’s weighing on Grayson’s mind but he’ll have to not think about that and focus on Truth if he wants any chance of moving on in the tournament.”
Rod Sterling: ”That’s easier said than done for Gerald given who his opponent is, Anzu. Cyrus Truth is hellbent on winning this entire tournament, and if Gerald loses focus for a second then Truth will do anything he can to take advantage as long as it benefits him..”
Katie Lynn-Goldsmith: ”The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a 30-minute-time-limit! Introducing first, from The Long & Winding Road and weighing in at 227 lb…he is The Exile…Cyrus Truuuuuuth!”
Truth makes his way out as his theme music plays out loud for all to hear and Truth looks as focused as ever. Perhaps more focused than usual given the circumstances at stake in regards to the result of this match.
Gerald Grayson makes his way out on stage and he seems hyped up as he tries to get the fans hyped up as well. The fans oblige him and cheer as they groove along with his catchy theme music.
Katie Lynn-Goldsmith: ”And his opponent, from Raleigh, North Carolina and weighing in at 220 lb…he is one half of the FWA Tag Team Champions…FWA’s Resident Daredevil…Gerald Graaaaaayson!”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Grayson is certainly fired up for this match and he’s got the fans rallying behind him as well.”
Rod Sterling: ”He’s going to need a lot more than that, Anzu, and don’t discount the fan support for Cyrus Truth. If I were to make a guess, I’d say that the fan support will be pretty evenly split between the two.
DING! DING! DING!
Grayson and Truth don’t miss a beat and they immediately lock horns while the crowd is buzzing with excitement. Grayson backs Truth into a corner and he goes for a chop, but Truth ducks it and he switches spots by putting Grayson in the corner. Truth wastes no time driving a few forearm smashes to Grayson’s skull, but Grayson manages to block a strike and swaps places with Truth this time. Grayson unloads on Truth with a barrage of european uppercuts that leaves Truth in a slight daze, and Grayson mounts Truth in the corner and rains down 10 consecutive forearm strikes to Truth’s head while the fans count along with each strike.
Grayson hops down off of Truth and he removes a dazed Truth from the corner and sends him flying across the ring with a monkey flip! Truth lands hard on his lower back, causing him to wince while clutching at it but Grayson keeps him down with a low running dropkick to the face, and then Grayson follows that with a running shooting star press into a pin!
One…two…NO!
Truth rolls over on his side to try to regain his wits about him but Grayson doesn’t give him time for a reprieve and he brings him up in a front facelock, but Truth had the wherewithal to trip up Grayson by taking him down by the legs and flipping him over into a pin!
One…two…NO!
Grayson kicks out and looks like his life just flashed before his eyes after nearly getting caught with a nearfall like that. He shakes that off though as he rolls through and springs back up on his feet, and so does Truth, who charges toward Grayson but Grayson is able to duck underneath a clothesline and he sends Truth off to the ropes with an irish whip but instead Truth returns with a stiff discus punch that nearly knocks Grayson off his feet! Grayson is still stunned though and Truth takes him down with a bridging fishermans suplex!
One…two…NO!
Grayson gets a shoulder up and Truth grabs that arm and he begins to wrench back on it! Grayson winces as he does his best to fight free, and he turns the tables on Truth as he counters into a roll-up while Truth still has that arm bar locked in…
One…two…NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Truth had Grayson where he wanted him, but smart play by Grayson that forces Truth to relinquish the hold by kicking out!”
Rod Sterling: ”All of these back and forth nearfalls will do more harm than good in the long run. Both of them will be running low on stamina sooner or later if they keep it up.”
Truth is on his knees catching his breath after kicking out and after taking in some lungfuls of air, he rises up as Grayson is as well and Truth charges toward Grayson but Gerald catches him with a powerslam! Truth cringes upon impact from the powerslam and he slowly crawls over to the nearest corner for refuge, but it’s short lived as Grayson levels him with a high knee into a running bulldog! Grayson hits the ropes with a springboard and lands a picture perfect lionsault to Truth and into the pin!
One…two…NO!
Grayson brings Truth to a vertical base and looks to send him to the ropes, but Truth counters with an arm drag! He follows up with another arm drag and then as Grayson is rising up, Truth takes him down the Broken Path with a stomp to the back of the knee followed by a running big boot to the dome!
Grayson rolls underneath the bottom rope to the apron and Truth reaches over to bring him up, but Grayson knocks him back with a forearm strike! Truth stumbles backward a little while Grayson sizes him up and he leaps off with what looks like a springboard crossbody, but Truth manages to catch him mid-air and he hoists up Grayson on his shoulders…
Rod Sterling: ”Cyrus has Exile’s Edge on his mind for Grayson!”
Grayson scrambles out however as he slips behind Truth and he applies a rear waistlock and he hits a bridging german suplex!
One…two…THREE-NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Truth escapes defeat after a nice counter by Grayson! This is still anyone’s match to win!”
Rod Sterling: ”Grayson isn’t wasting time though it seems because he’s ascending to the top rope, perhaps aiming to put Truth away with Sky High!”
Grayson leaps off the top rope…but Cyrus Truth gets his knees up in time! Grayson rolls over in clear agony after getting knees to the midsection. Meanwhile, Cyrus gathers his bearings, and shakes off lasting effects from the previous german suplex before lifting up a vulnerable Grayson…Journey’s End! Truth hooks the leg for the pin…
One…two…THREE!
Katie Lynn-Goldsmith: ”The winner of the match, Cyrus Truth!”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”A much needed win for Cyrus, who moves up a notch in the standings and he’s now 3-1!”
Rod Sterling: ”While Gerald Grayson drops down to 1-3 and I think it’s all said and done for Grayson in the tournament unfortunately”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”The loss is disappointing but Gerald can’t let that get him down for too long because he has a big title defense coming up in just two days over on Fallout with Michelle von Horrowitz.”
The screen flashes through various news reels, keeping a picture of various current events. News shows have various talking heads in suits, trying to give a summary of the latest headlines.
“Breaking News, inflation reaches new highs.”
“We have ongoing updates of the War in Eastern Europe. We will give you the latest of recent casualties as millions are displaced.”
“Another shooting in the United States today, targeting a school. 17 are pronounced dead, more are wounded. This attack, according to authorities was-”
And so on and so forth. The feed slowly becomes fuzzy with the image quality and the audio footage becomes distorted. Zooming out, we see a flat-screen television on the wall of a cozy room which hangs over a fireplace. The television plays through the newsreel. The hand of a woman gently touches the side of the screen. It is covered with a silver satin glove. A delicate and childish voice speaks. Princess Nova.
Princess Nova: “The world’s a scary place, isn’t it? So much dread and bad news. Reality can be harsh, can it?”
She has a giggle. The hand moves down towards one of the buttons on the screen.
Princess Nova: “Over time it can be quite tiring, very draining. Don’t you wish that at some point you can just-”
She presses the button and the television feed fades.
Princess Nova: “-tune it out.”
Going on the screen, we see Princess Nova standing in the light. As usual, she has a lavish appearance with a long, flowing dress. It has a dark blue design with a golden trim, a bow around her waist. Her long black charcoal hair flows down to her shoulders as a golden tiara rests on her head. She has a slight tilt of her head, her lipstick a soft pink.
Princess Nova: “Imagine. Imagine a place where you tune out the noise. Your self hate fades, the pain from your loved ones disappears. The injustice in the world can become just a distant memory and you won’t feel guilt. You won’t feel guilt over a problem you alone can’t solve. The cruelty of the world will no longer be a weight on your shoulders. Reality is bleak, merciless, vile. So I…"
She has a gentle laugh before the smile on her face fades. WIth a hint of coldness under her voice, the TORN Angel proclaims…
Princess Nova: “I reject it.”
Then she changes back to her more whimsical self, letting out a giggle.
Princess Nova: “Instead I choose a world of my design. One where I make the rules. Instead of being what others want of me I can be anything I want. I have become my ideal self. I can be happy. I can be safe. The power comes to me, instead of letting it be beyond me. I can invite my friends and create new ones. Best of all, I never need to leave and why would I?”
The Princess lets out a giggle. She moves her hands to the side.
Princess Nova: “So, go head. Reject pain. Reject suffering. Reject weakness. Reject reality. Embrace happiness. Embrace warmth. Embrace your strength.”
Showing a devious smirk, Princess Nova leans her head down.
Princess Nova: “Embrace… your greatest fantasy.”
The feed cuts to static.
There's a positive reaction on the island as Michelle von Horrowitz walks out onto the stage, alone and with her championship belt on her shoulder. She surveys the setting approvingly before beginning at a stride down the long ramp, a look of focus about her as she walks.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following Pool A contest is scheduled for one-fall, with a twenty minute time limit… introducing first, representing Cthulhu's Nephews… from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, she is one half of the current FWA World Tag Team Champions… Michelle von HORROWITZ!!!"
Rod Sterling: "MvH will look to bounce back tonight after that loss to FWA World Champion Alyster Black last week on Fallout 023. She's in a precarious position, with one win and one loss now in the F1."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Another loss here tonight would leave Dreamer on the precipice of elimination, which probably explains the look of focus on Michelle's face as she heads to the ring."
Rod Sterling: “But once more, von Horrowitz finds herself booked on both shows this week, with that huge tag team Mile High Massacre match scheduled for in just forty eight hours in Belgrade. We'll see just how focused she is on tonight's encounter when the bell rings, I'm sure."
Von Horrowitz climbs into the ring and holds her championship belt above her head in one hand, eliciting another cheer from the Hungarian audience. She hands her belt out to the timekeeper's area before taking her customary seat in the corner with her head propped up against the second turnbuckle. Her music fades out and is replaced by…
The dramatic opening to "Vampire" by Versailles plays and the lights of the arena dim. After about fifteen seconds, the camera zooms towards the entranceway as the lights start flashing different shades of purple, red, and pink. We see a masked woman, cape flowing behind her. Vampyra has arrived. A noticeable feature, though, is the knee brace upon her knee. Her hands are out with her elbows on her hips. Covering her regular mask for matches is a more elaborate entrance mask with horns. Hanging almost like a sash across her shoulder is the FWA Television Championship. Puffs of fire shoot up on both sides of the stage.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "And introducing her opponent, representing MAYHEM's YOKAI Death Squad, from Osaka, Japan, the FWA Television Champion, the Dark Huntress, Vampyra!"
Putting her hand down, the YOKAI Queen holds out three fingers to form an M then does a small throat slashing gesture with her pointer finger. She walks slowly down the ramp, once again putting her hands to her side. The fire on the stage continues to spark up occasionally, adding a glow in the arena. At the end of the ramp, Vampyra motions for the camera to come near here. She takes off her extra entrance mask, holding it in her hand. Vampyra shows a wicked smirk before doing another small throat slash and walking around the ring.
Rod Sterling: "Here comes Vampyra for her penultimate match in the F1, and she is looking for her first points in that tournament… but despite that, her confidence and momentum are both high following her victory over Phillip A. Jackson for the FWA Television Championship on Fallout 023…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "It's not only that championship belt that she earned in that match, the knee brace is also a result of the persistent targeting of that body part from PAJ during the match, and who could forget the vicious assault from Shawn Summers and his slugger following the main event?"
Rod Sterling: "I'm sure Vampyra won't be forgetting that any time soon…"
Unclipping her cape, she slides onto the apron, taking her championship belt off of her shoulder to place it on the apron. Hooking her legs on the top she hangs upside down, arms crossed like a bat, placing her extra mask next to her. After a few moments, she swings herself into the ring, grabbing her FWA Television Championship. goes up to the corner turnbuckles. Putting one foot on the top rope, she does another "throat slash" with her finger, sticking out her tongue, before she puts down the MAYHEM "M" and holds up her championship belt.
Concurrently, MvH uses the top rope to pull herself up from her seated position in the corner, Versailles fading out as the two women eye each other up from across the ring. The official makes his final checks as the two champions size each other up in silence, and then he calls for the bell…
Grayson and Truth don’t miss a beat and they immediately lock horns while the crowd is buzzing with excitement. Grayson backs Truth into a corner and he goes for a chop, but Truth ducks it and he switches spots by putting Grayson in the corner. Truth wastes no time driving a few forearm smashes to Grayson’s skull, but Grayson manages to block a strike and swaps places with Truth this time. Grayson unloads on Truth with a barrage of european uppercuts that leaves Truth in a slight daze, and Grayson mounts Truth in the corner and rains down 10 consecutive forearm strikes to Truth’s head while the fans count along with each strike.
Grayson hops down off of Truth and he removes a dazed Truth from the corner and sends him flying across the ring with a monkey flip! Truth lands hard on his lower back, causing him to wince while clutching at it but Grayson keeps him down with a low running dropkick to the face, and then Grayson follows that with a running shooting star press into a pin!
One…two…NO!
Truth rolls over on his side to try to regain his wits about him but Grayson doesn’t give him time for a reprieve and he brings him up in a front facelock, but Truth had the wherewithal to trip up Grayson by taking him down by the legs and flipping him over into a pin!
One…two…NO!
Grayson kicks out and looks like his life just flashed before his eyes after nearly getting caught with a nearfall like that. He shakes that off though as he rolls through and springs back up on his feet, and so does Truth, who charges toward Grayson but Grayson is able to duck underneath a clothesline and he sends Truth off to the ropes with an irish whip but instead Truth returns with a stiff discus punch that nearly knocks Grayson off his feet! Grayson is still stunned though and Truth takes him down with a bridging fishermans suplex!
One…two…NO!
Grayson gets a shoulder up and Truth grabs that arm and he begins to wrench back on it! Grayson winces as he does his best to fight free, and he turns the tables on Truth as he counters into a roll-up while Truth still has that arm bar locked in…
One…two…NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Truth had Grayson where he wanted him, but smart play by Grayson that forces Truth to relinquish the hold by kicking out!”
Rod Sterling: ”All of these back and forth nearfalls will do more harm than good in the long run. Both of them will be running low on stamina sooner or later if they keep it up.”
Truth is on his knees catching his breath after kicking out and after taking in some lungfuls of air, he rises up as Grayson is as well and Truth charges toward Grayson but Gerald catches him with a powerslam! Truth cringes upon impact from the powerslam and he slowly crawls over to the nearest corner for refuge, but it’s short lived as Grayson levels him with a high knee into a running bulldog! Grayson hits the ropes with a springboard and lands a picture perfect lionsault to Truth and into the pin!
One…two…NO!
Grayson brings Truth to a vertical base and looks to send him to the ropes, but Truth counters with an arm drag! He follows up with another arm drag and then as Grayson is rising up, Truth takes him down the Broken Path with a stomp to the back of the knee followed by a running big boot to the dome!
Grayson rolls underneath the bottom rope to the apron and Truth reaches over to bring him up, but Grayson knocks him back with a forearm strike! Truth stumbles backward a little while Grayson sizes him up and he leaps off with what looks like a springboard crossbody, but Truth manages to catch him mid-air and he hoists up Grayson on his shoulders…
Rod Sterling: ”Cyrus has Exile’s Edge on his mind for Grayson!”
Grayson scrambles out however as he slips behind Truth and he applies a rear waistlock and he hits a bridging german suplex!
One…two…THREE-NO!
Anzu Kurosawa: ”Truth escapes defeat after a nice counter by Grayson! This is still anyone’s match to win!”
Rod Sterling: ”Grayson isn’t wasting time though it seems because he’s ascending to the top rope, perhaps aiming to put Truth away with Sky High!”
Grayson leaps off the top rope…but Cyrus Truth gets his knees up in time! Grayson rolls over in clear agony after getting knees to the midsection. Meanwhile, Cyrus gathers his bearings, and shakes off lasting effects from the previous german suplex before lifting up a vulnerable Grayson…Journey’s End! Truth hooks the leg for the pin…
One…two…THREE!
Winner: Cyrus Truth at 12:58
Katie Lynn-Goldsmith: ”The winner of the match, Cyrus Truth!”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”A much needed win for Cyrus, who moves up a notch in the standings and he’s now 3-1!”
Rod Sterling: ”While Gerald Grayson drops down to 1-3 and I think it’s all said and done for Grayson in the tournament unfortunately”
Anzu Kurosawa: ”The loss is disappointing but Gerald can’t let that get him down for too long because he has a big title defense coming up in just two days over on Fallout with Michelle von Horrowitz.”
The screen flashes through various news reels, keeping a picture of various current events. News shows have various talking heads in suits, trying to give a summary of the latest headlines.
“Breaking News, inflation reaches new highs.”
“We have ongoing updates of the War in Eastern Europe. We will give you the latest of recent casualties as millions are displaced.”
“Another shooting in the United States today, targeting a school. 17 are pronounced dead, more are wounded. This attack, according to authorities was-”
And so on and so forth. The feed slowly becomes fuzzy with the image quality and the audio footage becomes distorted. Zooming out, we see a flat-screen television on the wall of a cozy room which hangs over a fireplace. The television plays through the newsreel. The hand of a woman gently touches the side of the screen. It is covered with a silver satin glove. A delicate and childish voice speaks. Princess Nova.
Princess Nova: “The world’s a scary place, isn’t it? So much dread and bad news. Reality can be harsh, can it?”
She has a giggle. The hand moves down towards one of the buttons on the screen.
Princess Nova: “Over time it can be quite tiring, very draining. Don’t you wish that at some point you can just-”
She presses the button and the television feed fades.
Princess Nova: “-tune it out.”
Going on the screen, we see Princess Nova standing in the light. As usual, she has a lavish appearance with a long, flowing dress. It has a dark blue design with a golden trim, a bow around her waist. Her long black charcoal hair flows down to her shoulders as a golden tiara rests on her head. She has a slight tilt of her head, her lipstick a soft pink.
Princess Nova: “Imagine. Imagine a place where you tune out the noise. Your self hate fades, the pain from your loved ones disappears. The injustice in the world can become just a distant memory and you won’t feel guilt. You won’t feel guilt over a problem you alone can’t solve. The cruelty of the world will no longer be a weight on your shoulders. Reality is bleak, merciless, vile. So I…"
She has a gentle laugh before the smile on her face fades. WIth a hint of coldness under her voice, the TORN Angel proclaims…
Princess Nova: “I reject it.”
Then she changes back to her more whimsical self, letting out a giggle.
Princess Nova: “Instead I choose a world of my design. One where I make the rules. Instead of being what others want of me I can be anything I want. I have become my ideal self. I can be happy. I can be safe. The power comes to me, instead of letting it be beyond me. I can invite my friends and create new ones. Best of all, I never need to leave and why would I?”
The Princess lets out a giggle. She moves her hands to the side.
Princess Nova: “So, go head. Reject pain. Reject suffering. Reject weakness. Reject reality. Embrace happiness. Embrace warmth. Embrace your strength.”
Showing a devious smirk, Princess Nova leans her head down.
Princess Nova: “Embrace… your greatest fantasy.”
The feed cuts to static.
There's a positive reaction on the island as Michelle von Horrowitz walks out onto the stage, alone and with her championship belt on her shoulder. She surveys the setting approvingly before beginning at a stride down the long ramp, a look of focus about her as she walks.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following Pool A contest is scheduled for one-fall, with a twenty minute time limit… introducing first, representing Cthulhu's Nephews… from Rotterdam in the Netherlands, she is one half of the current FWA World Tag Team Champions… Michelle von HORROWITZ!!!"
Rod Sterling: "MvH will look to bounce back tonight after that loss to FWA World Champion Alyster Black last week on Fallout 023. She's in a precarious position, with one win and one loss now in the F1."
Anzu Kurosawa: "Another loss here tonight would leave Dreamer on the precipice of elimination, which probably explains the look of focus on Michelle's face as she heads to the ring."
Rod Sterling: “But once more, von Horrowitz finds herself booked on both shows this week, with that huge tag team Mile High Massacre match scheduled for in just forty eight hours in Belgrade. We'll see just how focused she is on tonight's encounter when the bell rings, I'm sure."
Von Horrowitz climbs into the ring and holds her championship belt above her head in one hand, eliciting another cheer from the Hungarian audience. She hands her belt out to the timekeeper's area before taking her customary seat in the corner with her head propped up against the second turnbuckle. Her music fades out and is replaced by…
The dramatic opening to "Vampire" by Versailles plays and the lights of the arena dim. After about fifteen seconds, the camera zooms towards the entranceway as the lights start flashing different shades of purple, red, and pink. We see a masked woman, cape flowing behind her. Vampyra has arrived. A noticeable feature, though, is the knee brace upon her knee. Her hands are out with her elbows on her hips. Covering her regular mask for matches is a more elaborate entrance mask with horns. Hanging almost like a sash across her shoulder is the FWA Television Championship. Puffs of fire shoot up on both sides of the stage.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "And introducing her opponent, representing MAYHEM's YOKAI Death Squad, from Osaka, Japan, the FWA Television Champion, the Dark Huntress, Vampyra!"
Putting her hand down, the YOKAI Queen holds out three fingers to form an M then does a small throat slashing gesture with her pointer finger. She walks slowly down the ramp, once again putting her hands to her side. The fire on the stage continues to spark up occasionally, adding a glow in the arena. At the end of the ramp, Vampyra motions for the camera to come near here. She takes off her extra entrance mask, holding it in her hand. Vampyra shows a wicked smirk before doing another small throat slash and walking around the ring.
Rod Sterling: "Here comes Vampyra for her penultimate match in the F1, and she is looking for her first points in that tournament… but despite that, her confidence and momentum are both high following her victory over Phillip A. Jackson for the FWA Television Championship on Fallout 023…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "It's not only that championship belt that she earned in that match, the knee brace is also a result of the persistent targeting of that body part from PAJ during the match, and who could forget the vicious assault from Shawn Summers and his slugger following the main event?"
Rod Sterling: "I'm sure Vampyra won't be forgetting that any time soon…"
Unclipping her cape, she slides onto the apron, taking her championship belt off of her shoulder to place it on the apron. Hooking her legs on the top she hangs upside down, arms crossed like a bat, placing her extra mask next to her. After a few moments, she swings herself into the ring, grabbing her FWA Television Championship. goes up to the corner turnbuckles. Putting one foot on the top rope, she does another "throat slash" with her finger, sticking out her tongue, before she puts down the MAYHEM "M" and holds up her championship belt.
Concurrently, MvH uses the top rope to pull herself up from her seated position in the corner, Versailles fading out as the two women eye each other up from across the ring. The official makes his final checks as the two champions size each other up in silence, and then he calls for the bell…
The match looks as though it is going to kick off with the obligatory collar and elbow tie-up, with both women looking for an opening as they close in on one another… until MvH lashes out with a slap across the face! The surprise of it more than anything caused the masked woman to stumble, and Dreamer follows up with a trip of forearm strikes, backing Vampyra up into a corner. She tries to whip her into the opposite set of turnbuckles, but the TV champion is able to reverse it and send MvH across the ring instead. Vampyra charges across the ring, looking to hit a cornered clothesline, but von Horrowitz ducks beneath it and lifts her over onto the apron with a back body drop… before connecting with a triangle dropkick, knocking Vampyra off the apron!
Michelle watches Vampyra rise to her feet and then hits a baseball slide, sending the masked woman into the announcer's table. Michelle takes Vampyra by the scruff of the neck and throws her down face first onto the desk! Vampyra slumps into a heap, allowing Michelle to hit a series of stomps whilst she's in a seated position.
Rod Sterling: "An aggressive start to this match from Michelle von Horrowitz, who rolls in and out of the ring to break up the ten, perhaps hoping to keep things on the outside where she feels quite comfortable…"
MvH lifts Vampyra up and connects with a European uppercut, before taking her by the wrist and attempt an Irish whip into the steel steps… only for the television champion to reverse! Dreamer is sent into the steps instead, hitting them hip first and landing on a head on the other side!
Anzu Kurosawa: "But the momentum shifts quickly! I don't imagine Vampyra is a stranger to battling on the outside, either…"
Vampyra hoists Michelle up before planting her on the outside with a scoop slam. She then backs up around the steel steps, charging up them before leaping off to meet the rising MvH with a head-scissors takedown! She throws MvH under the bottom rope before following her in for a pinfall attempt…
ONE… TW – NO!
Michelle kicks out, and the TV champion instantly goes back to work, first hitting a standing moonsault before transitioning from that smoothly into a grounded head-scissors. Michelle at first struggles to move at all in the move, but ignores the official's verbal enquiries as to whether she wants to submit. She eventually manages to perform a headstand, before escaping the head-scissors and hitting a dropkick to the seated Vampyra! Both women scramble to their feet, and Michelle is able to connect with a spin kick to the gut. She hits the ropes, maybe looking for a swinging neckbreaker… but Vampyra explodes towards Michelle and hits her with a shotgun dropkick! Michelle slumps down, but the masked wrestler hoists her up immediately, and turns her around with a roundhouse kick… followed by a rear waistlock and a German suplex! Vampyra bridges for the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Michelle is able to kick out again! Vampyra rolls off her and grabs both of Dreamer's legs, perhaps looking to turn MvH over with a Boston crab. Von Horrowitz has other ideas, and fights out with a series of forearm strikes from her grounded position. She wriggles a leg free and lashes out with a boot to the face, connecting with Vampyra flush in the face and taking her back. MvH rolls backwards and onto her feet, and looks to run through her opponent…
Rod Sterling: "MvH going for a busaiku knee kick… but Vampyra sidesteps it, and she has that rear waistlock again…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Vampyra going for the German again here, but it's back to the same well too many times. MvH over rotates and lands on her feet, and Vampyra turns into a discus forearm!"
Vampyra is staggered, and Dreamer throws a headbut at her! The masked woman goes to one knee, but Michelle wrenches her up in a front facelock…
Rod Sterling: "MvH with the brainbuster!! Vampyra is dropped on her skull, and MvH goes for the cover…"
ONE… TWO… T - NO!
Vampyra kicks out! But she's seemingly able to do little more than that, and Michelle gets up before focussing a series of stomps on the knee that has a brace on it. The masked wrestler winces at each strike, which spurs Dreamer on, as she follows Vampyra around the ring almost with stomps to the knee. Vampyra grabs onto the ropes to try and enforce a break, but Michelle grabs both of her legs and drags her into the middle of the ring. She steps through, and turns her over with a sharpshooter!!
Rod Sterling: "MvH beginning to hone in now on that injured knee, now! The work of both PAJ and Der Basterd two weeks ago used to her advantage here!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Vampyra cries out in pain! Michelle is wrenching back on that sharpshooter, Rod, and she's sundered in the middle of the ring!"
It seems as though she's a long way from the ropes, but incrementally Vampyra is able to crawl towards the bottom one… until she reaches it, garnering a reasonable pop from the crowd in recognition of her resilience. Dreamer wastes no time, though, and lifts Vampyra up to her feet and then into a fireman's carry… before connecting with a Death Valley Driver! MvH hooks the far leg…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Vampyra throws a shoulder up! Michelle doesn't let it bother her, and lifts Vampyra up and backs her to the ropes with knife edge chops, before whipping her into the opposite set. Von Horrowitz goes beneath and then leapfrogs, then attempting a standing dropkick on the masked woman… only for Vampyra to hook onto the ropes with her arms, checking her momentum and sending MvH crashing to the mat! MvH staggers to her feet… but Vampyra connects with a spiking hurricanrana driver!!
Rod Sterling: "She calls that one Death-Strike! But no cover attempt from Vampyra, instead she's going up to the top…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Maybe thinking about her Nightfall finisher already? But that knee is making it slow going for the masked wrestler already… Dreamer is on the rise before she can find her footing…"
Rod Sterling: "And von Horrowitz connects with a forearm, knocking the Television Champion off balance! Michelle follows her up, applying a front facelock, maybe looking for a superplex…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Or even a top rope brainbuster? Either way, the Dark Huntress senses her peril and begins to fight out with right hands to the side… and then a headbutt of her own causes some separation!"
Indeed, MvH teeters, almost seems as though she might fall off… but Vampyra grasps her and then shifts her so that Dreamer is seated on the top turnbuckle. Vampyra is standing on the second rope, then springboards up to the top, jumps and turns…
Rod Sterling: "Hurricanrana! All the way from the top!!"
Michelle does her best to fight up to her feet using the ropes to help her, but the masked woman hits her in the chest with a roundhouse kick, and then a step up enziguri sends MvH down with her throat draped over the second rope. Vampyra immediately hits the opposite set, connecting with a tiger feint kick that sends Michelle sprawling back into the middle of the ring.
Anzu Kurosawa: "MOONLIGHT KICK!! Vampyra is building up a head of steam, here!"
Rod Sterling: "MvH struggles up to a vertical base in the ring whilst Vampyra sizes her up from the apron… springboard cross-body!!! The Dark Huntress connects, and now she hooks the far leg…"
ONE… TWO… T – NO!
Michelle's shoulder comes off the mat! Vampyra grabs both legs, looking for the Boston crab for the second time in the match, but Dreamer again lashes out with a boot to the face, causing separation. She tries to scramble up to her feet, but the Huntress is there waiting. She charges in with a jumping clothesline! And then a running dropkick! MvH thinks better about getting up a third time, instead rolling beneath the bottom rope and shaking loose the cobwebs there. Vampyra, though, is perpetual motion. She hits the ropes, and takes Michelle down with a suicide dive!! She goes through the middle and top ropes, but lands on her feet with Dreamer at her feet.
The crowd applaud Vampyra's aerial antics, and with Dreamer trying to crawl away the Huntress follows her with a series of stomps that chase her onto the ramp. Then, Vampyra hoists Michelle up in a front facelock, looking out over the crowd on the island… and taking Dreamer down with a lightning spiral!!
Rod Sterling: "DARK LIGHTNING! On the ring ramp!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But the official is already on five, here, the last thing Vampyra wants to do is get counted out… and note that she's dragging Dreamer to the ring, also. I think she wants to beat the two-time world champion properly here tonight."
Rod Sterling: "Would send a message… but dragging Michelle to the ring isn't an easy task with an injured knee. The official reaches eight!"
Vampyra throws Michelle in and then rolls in after her. She clutches her knee for a moment before limping over to Dreamer, finally thinking about a cover…
… But Michelle rolls her up with a small package!!
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Kickout from Vampyra!! The masked woman is first up, but only just, and Dreamer is able to duck the first clothesline attempt. Vampyra catches Michelle's boot when MvH goes for a superkick and throws it to one side, turning Michelle around. The Huntress attaches a rear waistlock, looking for another German, but von Horrowitz anchors her weight down. Vampyra changes tact and bundles Michelle forward into the ropes, and then an O'Connor roll! Michelle's shoulders are down!
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Dreamer kicks out! She thinks twice about charging in again, instead backing herself up to the ropes, positioning her torso behind the top one as Vampyra comes at her. The official is between them to force a break, and the Huntress lifts up her hands as if to observe the clean break…
Rod Sterling: "Rake of the eyes from Michelle!!"
The official admonishes Michelle for her underhanded tactics, but she sidesteps him and proceeds to double Vampyra over with a boot to the midsection. She hoists Vampyra up into a powerbomb position, standing in one corner…
Anzu Kurosawa: "RUNNING LIGER BOMB!! Vampyra's shoulders are down!!!"
ONE… TWO… THRE – NO!!
Rod Sterling: "SHOULDER UP!! VAMPYRA WITH THE SHOULDER UP!"
Michelle immediately goes back to the knee that is braced up, lashing out at it with a trio of stomps, before sliding out of the ring. She reaches under the bottom rope to collect Vampyra’s boot, proceeding to drag her towards the steel ring post by it. Emulating PAJ during the Fallout 023, she wraps Vampyra’s knee around the post… not once, not twice, but three times! Each time the official tells Michelle to get it back into the ring, and more pained yelping is heard from the Huntress. Michelle finally heeds the officials call, rolling back in and dragging Vampyra back into the ring by her injured leg. She holds her by the boot whilst repeatedly kicking the injured knee, a half-dozen times… and then she drops the elbow onto it!
Anzu Kurosawa: "STRETCH MUFFLER!! Michelle has got the stretch muffler locked in, and Vampyra's body - and most pertinently her knee - are contorted to despicable angles! Surely she'll tap?!"
For a moment, it looks like the Huntress is going to. She has her hand outstretched over the mat, palm towards it, thinking about giving in… and then she makes a defiant fist, before beginning to drag herself again out of the centre of the ring! The crowd are mixed, most probably just about wanting her to tap, but there's a sizeable contingent who are on Vampyra's side in the struggle…
… And then MvH begins to rain down stomps onto the back of Vampyra's head! She still has the stretch muffler locked in, and the additional strikes paint a sorry picture for the Huntress… but she grits her teeth, and continues on, and makes it to the bottom rope!! MvH utilises all of the five count, managing to get in three more stomps before finally letting go.
Vampyra is very slow in using the ropes to help herself up to her feet, and von Horrowitz comes at her again… only for the TV champ to drop down again, yanking the top rope down too and sending Michelle tumbling out onto the outside! This gives Vampyra some much-needed time to rest, with her staying on the inside in a seated position, adjusting her knee brace. She is finally able to get up again, and watches on as MvH slowly rises on the outside, shaking loose the cobwebs and finally rolling into the ring at seven.
Von Horrowitz stands to her feet but is clocked with alternating forearms and knife edge chops from Vampyra, who is almost hopping around on one leg. The strikes succeed in backing MvH up into the corner, and Vampyra takes her by the wrist and whips her HARD across the ring, the impact with the turnbuckles causing the tag champion to stumble back into the middle of the ring. Vampyra, meanwhile, has quickly hopped out onto the apron, and she steadies herself as MvH staggers into position…
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra with a springboard flying forearm smash!!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And she uses just one leg on the springboard, incredible poise on display from Vampyra!"
Rod Sterling: "But there's no pinfall attempt here… Boston crab!! We've seen Vampyra going for this several times during this match-up, and she's finally got MvH turned over!"
Michelle is sundered in the middle of the ring, and Vampyra is sat high on her back at an ugly angle. The official is in close, asking von Horrowitz if she wants to give in. She says no but there is pain etched all across the face… but she defiantly begins to drag herself across the ring… almost at the ropes, only centimetres away…
… And Vampyra drags her back into the middle of the ring!!!
Rod Sterling: "The tables have really turned, here! It's seemed on more than one occasion that Michelle von Horrowitz was close to a submission victory over Vampyra… but now Dreamer is seriously close to tapping!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Those ropes seem a long way away, now! Michelle is going to have to think of something else… she's going for that knee brace, Rod!!"
Indeed, Michelle is reaching back and yanking down Vampyra's knee brace, the masked woman looking panicked but deciding to keep the hold locked in… until MvH succeeds in uncovering Vampyra's knee, and then unleashes with back elbow strikes from her position in the crab! The fifth forces Vampyra to finally relinquish, and she limps over to the corner to sort out her brace whilst von Horrowitz drags herself up. Vampyra has to abandon her re-positioning of the knee brace when she sees MvH charging towards her with a discus forearm attempt… but the Huntress ducks beneath it and Dreamer bounces off the ropes chest-first, and Vampyra hits her with a deadlift German suplex!!
Michelle struggles up to her knees, and doesn't see Vampyra charging at her from behind…
Rod Sterling: "THE BITE!!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Vampyra adapts the move into a single knee strike to the back of the head!! Equally devastating!!"
Vampyra struggles to push von Horrowitz over onto her back, and hooks the leg.
ONE… TWO… THRE – NO!!
Rod Sterling: "MvH kicks out!! Vampyra can't believe it!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "I think it's going to take one more killer blow!"
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra senses that, too! She points to the top turnbuckle!! Up she goes!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But the progress is slow, Rod! Vampyra has taken more damage to that knee during this match-up, and climbing up those ropes looks like a difficult business for her…"
It does indeed seem to take an age for Vampyra to get up to the top, but eventually she manages it, and she steadies herself on the top rope. She takes a deep breath, and then flies through the air with her twisting frogsplash attempt…
Rod Sterling: "Knees up from Michelle von Horrowitz!! Vampyra crashes and burns on the Nightfall attempt!!"
The Huntress skids off Michelle and into the centre of the ring, but to their credit she does her best to stagger up. Only, she's facing the wrong way, allowing MvH to come from behind for a vicious chopblock!! To the injured knee!! Vampyra is doubled over, and Michelle turns her round and pulls her head into position between her legs. She hooks both arms and hoists Vampyra up…
Anzu Kurosawa: "TIGER DRIVER '98!!"
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra spiked onto the top of her head!! And now Michelle hooks the leg…"
ONE – NO!!!
Anzu Kurosawa: "VAMPYRA KICKS OUT!!"
Rod Sterling: "AT BARELY EVEN ONE!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Michelle is dumbfounded!! And Vampyra's portion of the crowd comes alive again!!"
Von Horrowitz watches on as the Dark Huntress slowly endeavors to rise again, but the going is difficult for her. She is slow, and by the time she turns to face MvH, the tag champion has already hit the ropes…
Rod Sterling: "BUSAIKU KNEE KICK!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Incredible resilience from Vampyra… but von Horrowitz taking control, now!"
And MvH's sections of the crowd win out, too, as Dreamer drags Vampyra up and puts her in pumphandle position. She hoists the Huntress up…
Rod Sterling: "PYSCHO DRIVER #2!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Gotta be it…"
ONE… TWO… THREE!
Michelle rolls off Vampyra, but doesn't get to her feet immediately. It's clear that the match has taken its toll on her, too, and she takes a few laboured breaths in a seated position before finally dragging herself up.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Here is your winner… Michelle…von… HORROWITZ!!"
Dreamer allows the official to lift her hand in victory, but snatches it away when she sees her tag team championship being offered to her from outside the ring. She takes the belt and climbs to the top rope, lifting it up to applause for the fans. Meanwhile, we see Vampyra roll under the bottom rope, the official checking on her and judging that she might need some help from the back with her knee…
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra's wheel looks in a bad way, with MvH adding her name to the list of people that have targeted it this month… but the outcome of this story is that Michelle von Horrowitz comes out with the two points."
Anzu Kurosawa: "That takes her record to 2-1, and moves her to second position in Group A behind the undefeated Alyster Black. The world champion faces Tommy Bedlam later tonight, who will hope to match Michelle's record by causing the upset in that main event."
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra, meanwhile, slumps to 0-3, but the record isn't indicative of this young woman's performances since her debut in the FWA. She's come up short against Tommy Bedlam, Alyster Black, and now Michelle von Horrowitz… and the FWA Television Championship we see being handed to her now is a clearer sign of Vampyra's bright future here in the FWA."
Anzu Kurosawa: "She'll none-the-less be disappointed with her winless record in the tournament, Rod. But she has one more chance to change that when she goes up against Gabrielle in the final week of the F1 pool stage."
We see that von Horrowitz has now climbed out of the ring and walks up the ramp with a smile on her face, pleased with the outcome of the night…
The coverage of Meltdown resumes, but we are not upon the island in the Danube where the rest of the show has been held. Instead, we find ourselves on a white-sand beach, the camera pointed towards the azure ocean. The waves gently break into foaming crescents that encroach upon where we, the viewer, are situated. All that we can hear is the gentle waves and a distant birdsong.
The footage cuts away from this idyllic setting for just a second, and those quick on the pause button would note quite a different scene depicted. Inside what seems like the basement of a nightclub or some similar venue, there's a crush against a steel barrier as the loud sounds of German metal is heard. This lasts only a moment, and then…
We are back on the beach, the camera slowly sweeping across the sand. We begin to notice footprints. We think nothing of this at first, until we realize that the imprints in the sand are coated with a thin layer of blood. The birdsong is now accompanied by distant heavy breathing.
Another splice of footage from the basement, where a man falls down onto his knees. The shot is in and out of focus. As the man slumps to the ground, the image is taken up by three turnbuckles in a column and the baying fans in the audience. We hear grunts of exertion, and then the smashing of glass.
On the beach, the sound of heavy breathing is a lot closer now, and the footprints are accompanied by large splatters of blood. We continue to sweep across the white sand, a metre above it, the pace of our movement slowing as the sound of breathing does alongside it.
The camera finally comes to rest on a Crown of Thorns, half-hidden in the sand.
And, next to it, a gold championship belt, a Black X on its plate.
The image fades out, and we see the text:
THE KING OF THE DEATHMATCH.
Saturday 25th March, 2023.
There’s a generally positive reaction from the fans in Budapest as Tommy Bedlam trots out from the back decked out in his cowboy hat, vest, denim blue jeans and cowboy boots. Bedlam is fired up as he throws his arms up to the crowd.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following Pool A contest is scheduled for one-fall, with a thirty minute time limit… introducing first, from Sweetwater, Texas... weighing in at two-hundred forty-four pounds... TTTTOOOOMMMMMYYYYYYY BBBBBBBEDDDDDLAM!"
Rod Sterling: "It’s main event time and this is a huge opportunity for Tommy Bedlam here tonight! Not only is this a crucial F1 match to keep pace with the win by MvH earlier tonight, but its a chance for Tommy to go toe to toe with the FWA World…”
Anzu Kurosawa: "And X!”
Rod Sterling: "Champion. That’s right, Anzu. I think it’s safe to say this is both the biggest match in Tommy’s career but should be his toughest!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "It was a tough F1 loss last time for Tommy against Gabrielle and what better way to bounce back than scoring a HUGE win over Blacky Dos Belts? I dunno Rod, I’m feeling a bit crazy tonight… I think… I think we could witness an upset!”
Tommy makes his way down the aisle, high fiving some of the fans along the way before he climbs up the ring steps to the apron, stepping through the middle ropes to enter the ring. He ascends the turnbuckles and waves his cowboy hat to the cheering crowd before hopping down, removing his vest and awaiting his opponent.
The crowd nearly blows its lid as the notes of Sonne hit the speakers, signaling the entrance of the FWA World and X Champion to the arena. Alyster Black slowly emerges from the entrance, wearing each of his championship belts around one of his shoulders. Black walks out and stands solemnly on the stage as the Budapest crowd is electric.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "And introducing his opponent, from San Dimas, California... weighing in at two-hundred twenty pounds... he is the REIGNING FWA X Champion... AAANNND the reigning FWA WORLD CHAMPION... he is BLACK JESUS... he is BLACKY... DOS.. BELTS... this is... AAAAAALLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYSTER........ BLACK!"
Rod Sterling: "What a reaction for our champion! The fans all around the world, no matter where we go, all have come to love Alyster Black especially during his recent bitter feud with Danny Toner.”
Anzu Kurosawa: "I don’t think there’s a tougher man in this business, Rod, so who can blame the fans for loving this guy! And he just continues to rack up win after win! His rise to the top of FWA has been one for the ages…”
Rod Sterling: "And a win tonight would give him a stranglehold on the F1 Climaxxx Pool A standings… and remember, if he wins the whole thing, HE gets to name his opponent for Grand March!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "And I know I called for an upset… but realistically, I’m not sure there’s anyone who can stop this man right now!”
Rod Sterling: "Flip flopping on your prediction already, Anzu?”
Anzu Kurosawa: "No, no! Don’t get me wrong… anything can happen here in the FWA! And Tommy Bedlam is one tough SOB himself… so this should be a fun one!”
Alyster slowly walks down to the ring, climbing into the ring… keeping his eyes locked on Tommy Bedlam, who in turn is completely focused on the champion as he enters the ring. Alyster walks to the center of the ring and lifts up BOTH titles while continuing to stare Tommy down. Referee Richard Davis retrieves the belts from Alyster as the match prepares to get underway.
Michelle watches Vampyra rise to her feet and then hits a baseball slide, sending the masked woman into the announcer's table. Michelle takes Vampyra by the scruff of the neck and throws her down face first onto the desk! Vampyra slumps into a heap, allowing Michelle to hit a series of stomps whilst she's in a seated position.
Rod Sterling: "An aggressive start to this match from Michelle von Horrowitz, who rolls in and out of the ring to break up the ten, perhaps hoping to keep things on the outside where she feels quite comfortable…"
MvH lifts Vampyra up and connects with a European uppercut, before taking her by the wrist and attempt an Irish whip into the steel steps… only for the television champion to reverse! Dreamer is sent into the steps instead, hitting them hip first and landing on a head on the other side!
Anzu Kurosawa: "But the momentum shifts quickly! I don't imagine Vampyra is a stranger to battling on the outside, either…"
Vampyra hoists Michelle up before planting her on the outside with a scoop slam. She then backs up around the steel steps, charging up them before leaping off to meet the rising MvH with a head-scissors takedown! She throws MvH under the bottom rope before following her in for a pinfall attempt…
ONE… TW – NO!
Michelle kicks out, and the TV champion instantly goes back to work, first hitting a standing moonsault before transitioning from that smoothly into a grounded head-scissors. Michelle at first struggles to move at all in the move, but ignores the official's verbal enquiries as to whether she wants to submit. She eventually manages to perform a headstand, before escaping the head-scissors and hitting a dropkick to the seated Vampyra! Both women scramble to their feet, and Michelle is able to connect with a spin kick to the gut. She hits the ropes, maybe looking for a swinging neckbreaker… but Vampyra explodes towards Michelle and hits her with a shotgun dropkick! Michelle slumps down, but the masked wrestler hoists her up immediately, and turns her around with a roundhouse kick… followed by a rear waistlock and a German suplex! Vampyra bridges for the cover…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Michelle is able to kick out again! Vampyra rolls off her and grabs both of Dreamer's legs, perhaps looking to turn MvH over with a Boston crab. Von Horrowitz has other ideas, and fights out with a series of forearm strikes from her grounded position. She wriggles a leg free and lashes out with a boot to the face, connecting with Vampyra flush in the face and taking her back. MvH rolls backwards and onto her feet, and looks to run through her opponent…
Rod Sterling: "MvH going for a busaiku knee kick… but Vampyra sidesteps it, and she has that rear waistlock again…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Vampyra going for the German again here, but it's back to the same well too many times. MvH over rotates and lands on her feet, and Vampyra turns into a discus forearm!"
Vampyra is staggered, and Dreamer throws a headbut at her! The masked woman goes to one knee, but Michelle wrenches her up in a front facelock…
Rod Sterling: "MvH with the brainbuster!! Vampyra is dropped on her skull, and MvH goes for the cover…"
ONE… TWO… T - NO!
Vampyra kicks out! But she's seemingly able to do little more than that, and Michelle gets up before focussing a series of stomps on the knee that has a brace on it. The masked wrestler winces at each strike, which spurs Dreamer on, as she follows Vampyra around the ring almost with stomps to the knee. Vampyra grabs onto the ropes to try and enforce a break, but Michelle grabs both of her legs and drags her into the middle of the ring. She steps through, and turns her over with a sharpshooter!!
Rod Sterling: "MvH beginning to hone in now on that injured knee, now! The work of both PAJ and Der Basterd two weeks ago used to her advantage here!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Vampyra cries out in pain! Michelle is wrenching back on that sharpshooter, Rod, and she's sundered in the middle of the ring!"
It seems as though she's a long way from the ropes, but incrementally Vampyra is able to crawl towards the bottom one… until she reaches it, garnering a reasonable pop from the crowd in recognition of her resilience. Dreamer wastes no time, though, and lifts Vampyra up to her feet and then into a fireman's carry… before connecting with a Death Valley Driver! MvH hooks the far leg…
ONE… TWO… NO!
Vampyra throws a shoulder up! Michelle doesn't let it bother her, and lifts Vampyra up and backs her to the ropes with knife edge chops, before whipping her into the opposite set. Von Horrowitz goes beneath and then leapfrogs, then attempting a standing dropkick on the masked woman… only for Vampyra to hook onto the ropes with her arms, checking her momentum and sending MvH crashing to the mat! MvH staggers to her feet… but Vampyra connects with a spiking hurricanrana driver!!
Rod Sterling: "She calls that one Death-Strike! But no cover attempt from Vampyra, instead she's going up to the top…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Maybe thinking about her Nightfall finisher already? But that knee is making it slow going for the masked wrestler already… Dreamer is on the rise before she can find her footing…"
Rod Sterling: "And von Horrowitz connects with a forearm, knocking the Television Champion off balance! Michelle follows her up, applying a front facelock, maybe looking for a superplex…"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Or even a top rope brainbuster? Either way, the Dark Huntress senses her peril and begins to fight out with right hands to the side… and then a headbutt of her own causes some separation!"
Indeed, MvH teeters, almost seems as though she might fall off… but Vampyra grasps her and then shifts her so that Dreamer is seated on the top turnbuckle. Vampyra is standing on the second rope, then springboards up to the top, jumps and turns…
Rod Sterling: "Hurricanrana! All the way from the top!!"
Michelle does her best to fight up to her feet using the ropes to help her, but the masked woman hits her in the chest with a roundhouse kick, and then a step up enziguri sends MvH down with her throat draped over the second rope. Vampyra immediately hits the opposite set, connecting with a tiger feint kick that sends Michelle sprawling back into the middle of the ring.
Anzu Kurosawa: "MOONLIGHT KICK!! Vampyra is building up a head of steam, here!"
Rod Sterling: "MvH struggles up to a vertical base in the ring whilst Vampyra sizes her up from the apron… springboard cross-body!!! The Dark Huntress connects, and now she hooks the far leg…"
ONE… TWO… T – NO!
Michelle's shoulder comes off the mat! Vampyra grabs both legs, looking for the Boston crab for the second time in the match, but Dreamer again lashes out with a boot to the face, causing separation. She tries to scramble up to her feet, but the Huntress is there waiting. She charges in with a jumping clothesline! And then a running dropkick! MvH thinks better about getting up a third time, instead rolling beneath the bottom rope and shaking loose the cobwebs there. Vampyra, though, is perpetual motion. She hits the ropes, and takes Michelle down with a suicide dive!! She goes through the middle and top ropes, but lands on her feet with Dreamer at her feet.
The crowd applaud Vampyra's aerial antics, and with Dreamer trying to crawl away the Huntress follows her with a series of stomps that chase her onto the ramp. Then, Vampyra hoists Michelle up in a front facelock, looking out over the crowd on the island… and taking Dreamer down with a lightning spiral!!
Rod Sterling: "DARK LIGHTNING! On the ring ramp!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But the official is already on five, here, the last thing Vampyra wants to do is get counted out… and note that she's dragging Dreamer to the ring, also. I think she wants to beat the two-time world champion properly here tonight."
Rod Sterling: "Would send a message… but dragging Michelle to the ring isn't an easy task with an injured knee. The official reaches eight!"
Vampyra throws Michelle in and then rolls in after her. She clutches her knee for a moment before limping over to Dreamer, finally thinking about a cover…
… But Michelle rolls her up with a small package!!
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Kickout from Vampyra!! The masked woman is first up, but only just, and Dreamer is able to duck the first clothesline attempt. Vampyra catches Michelle's boot when MvH goes for a superkick and throws it to one side, turning Michelle around. The Huntress attaches a rear waistlock, looking for another German, but von Horrowitz anchors her weight down. Vampyra changes tact and bundles Michelle forward into the ropes, and then an O'Connor roll! Michelle's shoulders are down!
ONE… TWO… THR – NO!
Dreamer kicks out! She thinks twice about charging in again, instead backing herself up to the ropes, positioning her torso behind the top one as Vampyra comes at her. The official is between them to force a break, and the Huntress lifts up her hands as if to observe the clean break…
Rod Sterling: "Rake of the eyes from Michelle!!"
The official admonishes Michelle for her underhanded tactics, but she sidesteps him and proceeds to double Vampyra over with a boot to the midsection. She hoists Vampyra up into a powerbomb position, standing in one corner…
Anzu Kurosawa: "RUNNING LIGER BOMB!! Vampyra's shoulders are down!!!"
ONE… TWO… THRE – NO!!
Rod Sterling: "SHOULDER UP!! VAMPYRA WITH THE SHOULDER UP!"
Michelle immediately goes back to the knee that is braced up, lashing out at it with a trio of stomps, before sliding out of the ring. She reaches under the bottom rope to collect Vampyra’s boot, proceeding to drag her towards the steel ring post by it. Emulating PAJ during the Fallout 023, she wraps Vampyra’s knee around the post… not once, not twice, but three times! Each time the official tells Michelle to get it back into the ring, and more pained yelping is heard from the Huntress. Michelle finally heeds the officials call, rolling back in and dragging Vampyra back into the ring by her injured leg. She holds her by the boot whilst repeatedly kicking the injured knee, a half-dozen times… and then she drops the elbow onto it!
Anzu Kurosawa: "STRETCH MUFFLER!! Michelle has got the stretch muffler locked in, and Vampyra's body - and most pertinently her knee - are contorted to despicable angles! Surely she'll tap?!"
For a moment, it looks like the Huntress is going to. She has her hand outstretched over the mat, palm towards it, thinking about giving in… and then she makes a defiant fist, before beginning to drag herself again out of the centre of the ring! The crowd are mixed, most probably just about wanting her to tap, but there's a sizeable contingent who are on Vampyra's side in the struggle…
… And then MvH begins to rain down stomps onto the back of Vampyra's head! She still has the stretch muffler locked in, and the additional strikes paint a sorry picture for the Huntress… but she grits her teeth, and continues on, and makes it to the bottom rope!! MvH utilises all of the five count, managing to get in three more stomps before finally letting go.
Vampyra is very slow in using the ropes to help herself up to her feet, and von Horrowitz comes at her again… only for the TV champ to drop down again, yanking the top rope down too and sending Michelle tumbling out onto the outside! This gives Vampyra some much-needed time to rest, with her staying on the inside in a seated position, adjusting her knee brace. She is finally able to get up again, and watches on as MvH slowly rises on the outside, shaking loose the cobwebs and finally rolling into the ring at seven.
Von Horrowitz stands to her feet but is clocked with alternating forearms and knife edge chops from Vampyra, who is almost hopping around on one leg. The strikes succeed in backing MvH up into the corner, and Vampyra takes her by the wrist and whips her HARD across the ring, the impact with the turnbuckles causing the tag champion to stumble back into the middle of the ring. Vampyra, meanwhile, has quickly hopped out onto the apron, and she steadies herself as MvH staggers into position…
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra with a springboard flying forearm smash!!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "And she uses just one leg on the springboard, incredible poise on display from Vampyra!"
Rod Sterling: "But there's no pinfall attempt here… Boston crab!! We've seen Vampyra going for this several times during this match-up, and she's finally got MvH turned over!"
Michelle is sundered in the middle of the ring, and Vampyra is sat high on her back at an ugly angle. The official is in close, asking von Horrowitz if she wants to give in. She says no but there is pain etched all across the face… but she defiantly begins to drag herself across the ring… almost at the ropes, only centimetres away…
… And Vampyra drags her back into the middle of the ring!!!
Rod Sterling: "The tables have really turned, here! It's seemed on more than one occasion that Michelle von Horrowitz was close to a submission victory over Vampyra… but now Dreamer is seriously close to tapping!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Those ropes seem a long way away, now! Michelle is going to have to think of something else… she's going for that knee brace, Rod!!"
Indeed, Michelle is reaching back and yanking down Vampyra's knee brace, the masked woman looking panicked but deciding to keep the hold locked in… until MvH succeeds in uncovering Vampyra's knee, and then unleashes with back elbow strikes from her position in the crab! The fifth forces Vampyra to finally relinquish, and she limps over to the corner to sort out her brace whilst von Horrowitz drags herself up. Vampyra has to abandon her re-positioning of the knee brace when she sees MvH charging towards her with a discus forearm attempt… but the Huntress ducks beneath it and Dreamer bounces off the ropes chest-first, and Vampyra hits her with a deadlift German suplex!!
Michelle struggles up to her knees, and doesn't see Vampyra charging at her from behind…
Rod Sterling: "THE BITE!!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Vampyra adapts the move into a single knee strike to the back of the head!! Equally devastating!!"
Vampyra struggles to push von Horrowitz over onto her back, and hooks the leg.
ONE… TWO… THRE – NO!!
Rod Sterling: "MvH kicks out!! Vampyra can't believe it!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "I think it's going to take one more killer blow!"
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra senses that, too! She points to the top turnbuckle!! Up she goes!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "But the progress is slow, Rod! Vampyra has taken more damage to that knee during this match-up, and climbing up those ropes looks like a difficult business for her…"
It does indeed seem to take an age for Vampyra to get up to the top, but eventually she manages it, and she steadies herself on the top rope. She takes a deep breath, and then flies through the air with her twisting frogsplash attempt…
Rod Sterling: "Knees up from Michelle von Horrowitz!! Vampyra crashes and burns on the Nightfall attempt!!"
The Huntress skids off Michelle and into the centre of the ring, but to their credit she does her best to stagger up. Only, she's facing the wrong way, allowing MvH to come from behind for a vicious chopblock!! To the injured knee!! Vampyra is doubled over, and Michelle turns her round and pulls her head into position between her legs. She hooks both arms and hoists Vampyra up…
Anzu Kurosawa: "TIGER DRIVER '98!!"
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra spiked onto the top of her head!! And now Michelle hooks the leg…"
ONE – NO!!!
Anzu Kurosawa: "VAMPYRA KICKS OUT!!"
Rod Sterling: "AT BARELY EVEN ONE!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Michelle is dumbfounded!! And Vampyra's portion of the crowd comes alive again!!"
Von Horrowitz watches on as the Dark Huntress slowly endeavors to rise again, but the going is difficult for her. She is slow, and by the time she turns to face MvH, the tag champion has already hit the ropes…
Rod Sterling: "BUSAIKU KNEE KICK!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Incredible resilience from Vampyra… but von Horrowitz taking control, now!"
And MvH's sections of the crowd win out, too, as Dreamer drags Vampyra up and puts her in pumphandle position. She hoists the Huntress up…
Rod Sterling: "PYSCHO DRIVER #2!!"
Anzu Kurosawa: "Gotta be it…"
ONE… TWO… THREE!
Winner: Michelle von Horrowitz at 16:51.
Michelle rolls off Vampyra, but doesn't get to her feet immediately. It's clear that the match has taken its toll on her, too, and she takes a few laboured breaths in a seated position before finally dragging herself up.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Here is your winner… Michelle…von… HORROWITZ!!"
Dreamer allows the official to lift her hand in victory, but snatches it away when she sees her tag team championship being offered to her from outside the ring. She takes the belt and climbs to the top rope, lifting it up to applause for the fans. Meanwhile, we see Vampyra roll under the bottom rope, the official checking on her and judging that she might need some help from the back with her knee…
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra's wheel looks in a bad way, with MvH adding her name to the list of people that have targeted it this month… but the outcome of this story is that Michelle von Horrowitz comes out with the two points."
Anzu Kurosawa: "That takes her record to 2-1, and moves her to second position in Group A behind the undefeated Alyster Black. The world champion faces Tommy Bedlam later tonight, who will hope to match Michelle's record by causing the upset in that main event."
Rod Sterling: "Vampyra, meanwhile, slumps to 0-3, but the record isn't indicative of this young woman's performances since her debut in the FWA. She's come up short against Tommy Bedlam, Alyster Black, and now Michelle von Horrowitz… and the FWA Television Championship we see being handed to her now is a clearer sign of Vampyra's bright future here in the FWA."
Anzu Kurosawa: "She'll none-the-less be disappointed with her winless record in the tournament, Rod. But she has one more chance to change that when she goes up against Gabrielle in the final week of the F1 pool stage."
We see that von Horrowitz has now climbed out of the ring and walks up the ramp with a smile on her face, pleased with the outcome of the night…
The coverage of Meltdown resumes, but we are not upon the island in the Danube where the rest of the show has been held. Instead, we find ourselves on a white-sand beach, the camera pointed towards the azure ocean. The waves gently break into foaming crescents that encroach upon where we, the viewer, are situated. All that we can hear is the gentle waves and a distant birdsong.
The footage cuts away from this idyllic setting for just a second, and those quick on the pause button would note quite a different scene depicted. Inside what seems like the basement of a nightclub or some similar venue, there's a crush against a steel barrier as the loud sounds of German metal is heard. This lasts only a moment, and then…
We are back on the beach, the camera slowly sweeping across the sand. We begin to notice footprints. We think nothing of this at first, until we realize that the imprints in the sand are coated with a thin layer of blood. The birdsong is now accompanied by distant heavy breathing.
Another splice of footage from the basement, where a man falls down onto his knees. The shot is in and out of focus. As the man slumps to the ground, the image is taken up by three turnbuckles in a column and the baying fans in the audience. We hear grunts of exertion, and then the smashing of glass.
On the beach, the sound of heavy breathing is a lot closer now, and the footprints are accompanied by large splatters of blood. We continue to sweep across the white sand, a metre above it, the pace of our movement slowing as the sound of breathing does alongside it.
The camera finally comes to rest on a Crown of Thorns, half-hidden in the sand.
And, next to it, a gold championship belt, a Black X on its plate.
The image fades out, and we see the text:
THE KING OF THE DEATHMATCH.
Saturday 25th March, 2023.
There’s a generally positive reaction from the fans in Budapest as Tommy Bedlam trots out from the back decked out in his cowboy hat, vest, denim blue jeans and cowboy boots. Bedlam is fired up as he throws his arms up to the crowd.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Ladies and gentlemen, the following Pool A contest is scheduled for one-fall, with a thirty minute time limit… introducing first, from Sweetwater, Texas... weighing in at two-hundred forty-four pounds... TTTTOOOOMMMMMYYYYYYY BBBBBBBEDDDDDLAM!"
Rod Sterling: "It’s main event time and this is a huge opportunity for Tommy Bedlam here tonight! Not only is this a crucial F1 match to keep pace with the win by MvH earlier tonight, but its a chance for Tommy to go toe to toe with the FWA World…”
Anzu Kurosawa: "And X!”
Rod Sterling: "Champion. That’s right, Anzu. I think it’s safe to say this is both the biggest match in Tommy’s career but should be his toughest!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "It was a tough F1 loss last time for Tommy against Gabrielle and what better way to bounce back than scoring a HUGE win over Blacky Dos Belts? I dunno Rod, I’m feeling a bit crazy tonight… I think… I think we could witness an upset!”
Tommy makes his way down the aisle, high fiving some of the fans along the way before he climbs up the ring steps to the apron, stepping through the middle ropes to enter the ring. He ascends the turnbuckles and waves his cowboy hat to the cheering crowd before hopping down, removing his vest and awaiting his opponent.
The crowd nearly blows its lid as the notes of Sonne hit the speakers, signaling the entrance of the FWA World and X Champion to the arena. Alyster Black slowly emerges from the entrance, wearing each of his championship belts around one of his shoulders. Black walks out and stands solemnly on the stage as the Budapest crowd is electric.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "And introducing his opponent, from San Dimas, California... weighing in at two-hundred twenty pounds... he is the REIGNING FWA X Champion... AAANNND the reigning FWA WORLD CHAMPION... he is BLACK JESUS... he is BLACKY... DOS.. BELTS... this is... AAAAAALLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYSTER........ BLACK!"
Rod Sterling: "What a reaction for our champion! The fans all around the world, no matter where we go, all have come to love Alyster Black especially during his recent bitter feud with Danny Toner.”
Anzu Kurosawa: "I don’t think there’s a tougher man in this business, Rod, so who can blame the fans for loving this guy! And he just continues to rack up win after win! His rise to the top of FWA has been one for the ages…”
Rod Sterling: "And a win tonight would give him a stranglehold on the F1 Climaxxx Pool A standings… and remember, if he wins the whole thing, HE gets to name his opponent for Grand March!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "And I know I called for an upset… but realistically, I’m not sure there’s anyone who can stop this man right now!”
Rod Sterling: "Flip flopping on your prediction already, Anzu?”
Anzu Kurosawa: "No, no! Don’t get me wrong… anything can happen here in the FWA! And Tommy Bedlam is one tough SOB himself… so this should be a fun one!”
Alyster slowly walks down to the ring, climbing into the ring… keeping his eyes locked on Tommy Bedlam, who in turn is completely focused on the champion as he enters the ring. Alyster walks to the center of the ring and lifts up BOTH titles while continuing to stare Tommy down. Referee Richard Davis retrieves the belts from Alyster as the match prepares to get underway.
The bell rings and both competitors walk to the center of the ring, going toe to toe. They exchange some words before Black seems to point to his face, perhaps daring Tommy to strike first. Bedlam looks up for the challenge tonight as he answers Black’s challenge by hitting a right hand to the champ! Black staggers back but gets back to a firm vertical base. He gives Bedlam a simple finger wag in response. A snarl crosses the cowboy’s face as he swings another right hand - but Aly blocks it and responds with a stiff knife edge chop across Bedlam’s exposed chest. Bedlam comes back with another blow… and another, while Black retaliates with some forearm shots. Back and forth they go, the crowd enjoying every minute of watching these two tear into each other to start the match.
Rod Sterling: “These are a couple guys who just love to fight! I think we’re going to be in for a real treat for this one!”
The two continue to exchange blows - Bedlam throwing punches and Black throwing forearms until the champ breaks the pattern by hitting a surprise headbutt to Bedlam that rocks the cowboy backwards! Black takes advantage as he runs in with a big rolling elbow strike that sends Bedlam backwards into the corner. Aly heads into the corner and continues on the attack, delivering a trio of knife edge chops to Bedlam’s check that send a chorus of “OOOOOs” through the crowd and leave big red hand prints right across the chest of Tommy Bedlam.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Ow! Look at those marks! I bet Tommy’s family back in Sweetwater, Texas felt those chops!”
But the chops seem to fire up Bedlam and he begins to fight his way out of the corner with some punches to create some separation before he reverses Alyster into the corner instead! He unloads with a flurry of right hands to Alyster before transitioning into some shoulder thrusts into Black’s midsection.
Tommy backs away from the cornered Black before charging back in for a clothesline, but Black moves out of the way! Bedlam collides with the turnbuckles before staggering backwards as Black surprises him with a leaping enziguri! Black staggers and falls over, falling through the middle ropes and down to the ringside floor! Tommy begins to pull himself back up on the outside… but Alyer runs to the opposite ropes and dives through the ropes…
ELBOW SUICIDA! It connects and the crowd roars in approval.
Anzu Kurosawa: "Alyster Black is not afraid to put his body on the line and he takes flight there!”
Rod Sterling: “And now outside the ring… things could get dangerous but this is not an X Rules match so both need to keep that in mind out there!”
Black goes to work on Bedlam on the outside of the ring, first stomping across the back of Bedlam’s head as it rests against the safety rails. He then pulls Bedlam up to his feet and goes to whip him towards the opposite rails, but Bedlam reverses it and sends Black crashing into the railing instead! Bedlam charges in with a running clothesline onto the railing and then shows off his size advantage over the champ as he lifts Black up onto his shoulders… runs with him and then drops him chest first across the railing on the other side of the ringside area!
Rod Sterling: “Outside the ring is usually Alyster’s domain… but Bedlam is no stranger either and he’s getting the upper hand on Black Dos Belts out there!”
Some fans at ringside actually start to give the usual fan favorite Bedlam some boos due to the overwhelming popularity of Black, and Bedlam exchanges some words with one fan at ringside in an Alyster Black mask, but this just allows Black to start to pull himself up on the outside… but Bedlam charges in at the champ…
SPEAR INTO THE SAFETY RAILING!
Those few scattered boos go away as the crowd responds with a roar of cheers, giving their appreciation for the spot as Tommy is slow to recover himself. Referee Richard Davis’s count was up to seven, so Tommy staggers over and rolls back in and out to reset the count before heading back over to Black. Bedlam grabs the recovering Black. He wears Black back down with a couple more right hands before lifting the champ up into his arms, carrying Black around the ringside area…and then hitting a POWERSLAM onto the floor!
Anzu Kurosawa: "A Powerslam onto the hard ringside floor! Tommy Bedlam has the champ in trouble!”
Rod Sterling: “Bedlam has taken firm control of this match now as he sends Alyster back into the ring.”
Rolling back into the ring after sending Black in through the bottom ropes, Bedlam made the cover.
One… Two… Kickout!
Tommy continues on the offensive, dropping a pair of elbows down across the back of Black before locking in a Camel Clutch submission! Richard Davis is there to check in on Black, who shakes his head definitely that he’s not giving up. Bedlam will eventually release the hold but as he does, he jumps up and brings all his weight down across Black’s back!
Bedlam grabs hold of Alyster’s mask to pull him back to his feet… and Black strikes with a forearm shot but Bedlam immediately comes back with a knee to the midsection to slow the champ back down. Irish Whip into the ropes… Black DUCKS a clothesline from Bedlam! Black bounces back off the opposite ropes and charges back in… but Bedlam catches him off the ropes.. SPINEBUSTER drills Black right into the center of the ring!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Spine on the pine! Bedlam is going for another pinfall attempt! We could have an upset here!”
ONE… TWO… THR… NO!
Tommy sits up on his knees, wiping away the sweat as Black clearly isn’t going down that easily. He gives Black a few stomps before pulling him back to his feet and trying to continue his impressive offensive outting as he sets up Black in the powerbomb position. He lifts him up… and Aly flips over Bedlam’s head, landing on his feet behind the cowboy! He comes in, hooks the arms of Bedlam..
DRAGON SUPLEX! Black bridges for the pin!
ONE… TWO… NO!
Bedlam rolls back to his feet but Black is up first and spins around with a rolling elbow to rock Bedlam! Tommy shakes it off and spins around and strikes with a discus lariat! Down goes Black once again!
Rod Sterling: “I thought Alyster Black had turned the tables on Tommy Bedlam but just like that, the cowboy slams the door shut back on Black!”
Tommy pulls Aly up by the mask once again, this time holding onto the mask to score with a swinging neckbreaker to take the champion back down to the mat! Bedlam rolls over and hooks the far leg for the pinfall.
ONE… TWO… THR- NO!
Despite another kickout, Bedlam is undeterred as he goes back on the attack. He brings Black back up to his feet and drives a knee back into his midsection again and he goes for the Rough Ride… but Black flips over and lands on his feet! Tommy turns around into a stiff HEADBUTT from Black. Tommy stumbles backwards but charges back in looking for a clothesline…
But Black ducks and lifts Tommy up onto his shoulders into a fireman’s carry and DROPS HIM WITH A DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Death Valley Driver out of almost nowhere by Alyster Black! What a difference maker and a way to change the momentum of the match!”
Rod Sterling: “It felt like a desperation move from Black as he is unable to immediately take advantage!”
Alyster Black is slow to recover but he does finally roll over and get the cover on Tommy.
ONE.. TWO.. SHOULDER UP!
Black begins to get to his feet but Tommy was stirring as well but Aly strikes with a kick to the midsection, hooking Bedlam for a DDT… but Bedlam drives some elbows into the side of Black and pushes him back into the corner, sandwiching Aly into the turnbuckles to counter the DDT.
Tommy backs up, shaking off the cobwebs before charging in looking to SPEAR Black in the turnbuckles… BUT BLACK DODGES IT! Tommy sails through the middle turnbuckles and his shoulder collides with the ring post!
Black stumbles over and pulls Tommy away from the ring post and pushes him back first into the corner. Black plays to the crowd, garnering support…
Anzu Kurosawa: "“Are you ready for this, Rod? It’s time for a… VIOLENCE PARTY!”
Black unleashes his flurry of corner combination attacks that eventually sends Bedlam down onto his butt in the corner of the ring and Black finishes it off with a running fasewash to the seated Bedlam!
Rod Sterling: “What a furious comeback by Alyster Black! And now Tommy is the one in a world of hurt in the corner!”
Bringing Tommy away from the corner, Black scores with a Russian Leg sweep to plant Bedlam back on the mat before Black looks to get aerial. He heads to the corner, climbing up to the top turnbuckle…
DIVING MOONSAULT TO BEDLAM!
But TOMMY GETS HIS KNEES UP!
Alyster rolls over onto the canvas, clutching his midsection as Bedlam slowly begins to pull himself up to try and take advantage. He grabs Black as he is trying to get to his feet..
SITOUT POWERBOMB with pinning attempt!
ONE… TWO… THREE - NO! Shoulder up by Alyster!
Some frustration begins to set in as Tommy punches the mat but he gets back to his feet and leans against the ropes, catching his breath while letting Black begin to pull himself up. Tommy begins to measure up Black before moving in for THE BUCKSHOT - but Black ducks! He hooks Tommy from behind and scores a release German Suplex!
Rod Sterling: “Tommy keeps throwing everything he can at the champ but Alyser Black just takes it and battles back!”
Black drops to a knee and is slow to go back on the offensive, but he does get to Bedlam as he’s trying to pull himself up. Black pulls back on Tommy’s head and brings him down to the mat with the Saka Otoshi and transitions it into the Bulldog Choke submission!
Rod Sterling: “He’s got the Bulldog Choke locked in! This might be it!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “It was a valiant effort by Bedlam but it looks like he’ll be coming up just short on Alyster Bla…wait no, look at the strength of Bedlam! He’s going for the ropes!”
Tommy pulls himself up onto his forearms, using his power to muscle his way over to the ropes… and inch by inch while Black yanks back more on the neck, trying to apply more pressure… but Tommy finally reaches out and is able to grab the bottom rope! Richard Davis is there to break up the hold, warning Black with a five count as Black releases.
But once releasing the hold, Black runs to the ropes and as Tommy is getting up to his knees at the ropes, Black hits a running forearm smash to Bedlam. He then pulls Tommy up by his ahir and hooks him by the head…
SATAN’S SPIKE…
NO! Tommy fights free and turns the tables on Alyster and locks Black’s arms into a double underhook…
THE BULLSEYE…
NO! Black fights free with a series of forearms to Tommy’s midsection! Tommy staggers backwards…
ONE SHOT KILL OUT OF NOWHERE!
BUT TOMMY DUCKS IT AS WELL!
Tommy comes back with the BUCKSHOT superkick to respond!
BUT BLACK DUCKS IT!
ONE SHOT KILL!
This time… IT CONNECTS!
Bedlam drops to the mat as Alyster immediately drops down and hooks Bedlam’s far leg..
ONE.. TWO… THREE!
Alyster Black sits up, breathing heavily as he assesses the fallen Tommy Bedlam, who himself begins to stir. Alyster climbs up to his feet and throws his arms up in the air to a big reaction from the supportive crowd.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Here is your winner… Alyster… BLACK!”
Rod Sterling:“What a closing exchange between these two and what way to close out Meltdown tonight!”/color]
Anzu Kurosawa: “Tommy Bedlam put it all on the table tonight and was so close on multiple occasions of pulling off an upset over our FWA World and X Champion… but Alyster Black continues to be on one of the most remarkable runs we’ve ever seen here in FWA!”
Rod Sterling: “We can take a look at the updated standings but with this win tonight… we can guarantee that we will be seeing Alyster Black in a semifinal showdown on Fight Night!”
Rod Sterling: “But before we can get to Fight Night… Alyster Black has something even bigger on his plate… he has a date with Devin Golden with that FWA World Championship AND Golden’s career ON THE LINE!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "But for tonight at least, Alyster Black can celebrate. The double-champion is through to the final four!"
Alyster Black holds up both championships – the FWA World Championship and FWA X Championship – shining under the lights of the venue and the subject of hundreds of cell phone cameras snapping pictures.
Then, there’s a crackling sound, like a TV cable not connected correctly.
“ZOOOOOOOMBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
“Zombie” by The Cranberries grabs the entire audience’s attention away from our dual champion in the ring to the stage. Aly Dos Belts also darts his neck and eyes 45 degrees to the right to look at the entrance.
The expected figure slowly emerges from the black of the backstage to the light of the arena. “The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden offers a trademark slow strut with each step dramatic and lengthy, like a member of a marching band high-stepping, but much slower.
Golden has a black top hat, a handlebar mustache, a 5 o’clock shadow, a black T-shirt with a black tie around his neck, and a walking cane he does not need gripped in his right hand.
Rod Sterling: “Here we goooo. It’s ‘The Rotten Gold’ and the next challenger to Alyster’s World Championship."
Anzu Kurosawa: “I’ve been waiting for this all night! You can’t have an Alyster Black celebration ending without Golden coming to ruin it! He always brings the fireworks, whether you love or hate him."
Golden stops at the top of the stage this time, waiting for his music to end. The crowd begins trading off with “ALY-STEEER! ALY-STEEEER!” and “GOOOOO-LDEN! GOOOOO-LDEN” chants.
Golden has a microphone ready as he plants the walking cane into the metal floor of the stage.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “Aaaaaaalyster BbbbbLACK! Ha-HAAAAAAAAH!"
The crowd cheers as Golden smiles widely.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “I’d be rude … if I did noooooot … begin with a thank you. Thank yoooooou … for accepting my chaaaaallenge. I am … thrilled … that we’ll dance … one more tiiiiiiime."
Golden twirls the cane in his right hand as he struts atop the stage.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “But I have … oooooooone … ameeeeendum … for you."
Golden smirks as he turns and looks towards the ring at Alyster.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “There is … a match … of loooooore … in the hiiiiiistory … of the FWA. And there is another match … of loooooore … in the hiiiiiistory … of … me … siempre.
A steel cage … many feet high … but that’s not all. Atop that caaaaage … a second one … many feet high … and atop THAT cage … a third one. And hanging … above that thiiiiird cage … the prize."
The crowd begins buzzing.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “The infamous … triple cage match … has only happened two other tiiiiiimes. Jillian de Silva … won the first … and Shane McLean … won the second. It has been nearly a decade, but Alyster, I can think of no better time to bring it back … than my last dance with you.
But … it would not be fitting … for us … to not implement the other match."
A pause.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “Theeeeere’s … a scar over your heart … Alyster … a scar that I gave you … with a shard of glass. Shaaaaaards … of glass … have symbolized me … siempre … at times. So … you, Alyster Blaaaack … will face this past … and this embodiment … of Devin Golden … one more time.
We will taaaaaape up our hands … and dip … our hands … in a bucket of glue."
The crowd’s volume rises as some fans catch on.
Rod Sterling: “Oh no…"
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “And in that bucket of glue … will be … huuuuuuundreds … of glass shards…"
Anzu Kurosawa: “OH YES!"
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “And then … we will punch one another … with FIIIIIISTS … COOOOOOVERED … in GLAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS!!!"
The crowd is aghast at the suggestion.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “A taipei … death … triple … caaaaaaaage … match.
Let’s call it … Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinter … Waaaaaaaaaaaastelaaaaaaaaaaaand.
And let it be knoooooooown … there is no … cooooooming … baaaaaaack … from this."
Golden lowers the microphone as Alyster Black raises both the FWA World Championship and FWA X Championship belts in the air. The crowd cannot believe what has been proposed, and neither can Rod Sterling nor Anzu Kurosawa, although they have a dichotomy of reactions from petrified to thrilled.
The scene ends with Golden holding up his walking cane – the one he does not need – pointed to the heavens and smiling at Alyster Black, who holds his double-title pose.
“HA-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
Rod Sterling: “These are a couple guys who just love to fight! I think we’re going to be in for a real treat for this one!”
The two continue to exchange blows - Bedlam throwing punches and Black throwing forearms until the champ breaks the pattern by hitting a surprise headbutt to Bedlam that rocks the cowboy backwards! Black takes advantage as he runs in with a big rolling elbow strike that sends Bedlam backwards into the corner. Aly heads into the corner and continues on the attack, delivering a trio of knife edge chops to Bedlam’s check that send a chorus of “OOOOOs” through the crowd and leave big red hand prints right across the chest of Tommy Bedlam.
Anzu Kurosawa: “Ow! Look at those marks! I bet Tommy’s family back in Sweetwater, Texas felt those chops!”
But the chops seem to fire up Bedlam and he begins to fight his way out of the corner with some punches to create some separation before he reverses Alyster into the corner instead! He unloads with a flurry of right hands to Alyster before transitioning into some shoulder thrusts into Black’s midsection.
Tommy backs away from the cornered Black before charging back in for a clothesline, but Black moves out of the way! Bedlam collides with the turnbuckles before staggering backwards as Black surprises him with a leaping enziguri! Black staggers and falls over, falling through the middle ropes and down to the ringside floor! Tommy begins to pull himself back up on the outside… but Alyer runs to the opposite ropes and dives through the ropes…
ELBOW SUICIDA! It connects and the crowd roars in approval.
Anzu Kurosawa: "Alyster Black is not afraid to put his body on the line and he takes flight there!”
Rod Sterling: “And now outside the ring… things could get dangerous but this is not an X Rules match so both need to keep that in mind out there!”
Black goes to work on Bedlam on the outside of the ring, first stomping across the back of Bedlam’s head as it rests against the safety rails. He then pulls Bedlam up to his feet and goes to whip him towards the opposite rails, but Bedlam reverses it and sends Black crashing into the railing instead! Bedlam charges in with a running clothesline onto the railing and then shows off his size advantage over the champ as he lifts Black up onto his shoulders… runs with him and then drops him chest first across the railing on the other side of the ringside area!
Rod Sterling: “Outside the ring is usually Alyster’s domain… but Bedlam is no stranger either and he’s getting the upper hand on Black Dos Belts out there!”
Some fans at ringside actually start to give the usual fan favorite Bedlam some boos due to the overwhelming popularity of Black, and Bedlam exchanges some words with one fan at ringside in an Alyster Black mask, but this just allows Black to start to pull himself up on the outside… but Bedlam charges in at the champ…
SPEAR INTO THE SAFETY RAILING!
Those few scattered boos go away as the crowd responds with a roar of cheers, giving their appreciation for the spot as Tommy is slow to recover himself. Referee Richard Davis’s count was up to seven, so Tommy staggers over and rolls back in and out to reset the count before heading back over to Black. Bedlam grabs the recovering Black. He wears Black back down with a couple more right hands before lifting the champ up into his arms, carrying Black around the ringside area…and then hitting a POWERSLAM onto the floor!
Anzu Kurosawa: "A Powerslam onto the hard ringside floor! Tommy Bedlam has the champ in trouble!”
Rod Sterling: “Bedlam has taken firm control of this match now as he sends Alyster back into the ring.”
Rolling back into the ring after sending Black in through the bottom ropes, Bedlam made the cover.
One… Two… Kickout!
Tommy continues on the offensive, dropping a pair of elbows down across the back of Black before locking in a Camel Clutch submission! Richard Davis is there to check in on Black, who shakes his head definitely that he’s not giving up. Bedlam will eventually release the hold but as he does, he jumps up and brings all his weight down across Black’s back!
Bedlam grabs hold of Alyster’s mask to pull him back to his feet… and Black strikes with a forearm shot but Bedlam immediately comes back with a knee to the midsection to slow the champ back down. Irish Whip into the ropes… Black DUCKS a clothesline from Bedlam! Black bounces back off the opposite ropes and charges back in… but Bedlam catches him off the ropes.. SPINEBUSTER drills Black right into the center of the ring!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Spine on the pine! Bedlam is going for another pinfall attempt! We could have an upset here!”
ONE… TWO… THR… NO!
Tommy sits up on his knees, wiping away the sweat as Black clearly isn’t going down that easily. He gives Black a few stomps before pulling him back to his feet and trying to continue his impressive offensive outting as he sets up Black in the powerbomb position. He lifts him up… and Aly flips over Bedlam’s head, landing on his feet behind the cowboy! He comes in, hooks the arms of Bedlam..
DRAGON SUPLEX! Black bridges for the pin!
ONE… TWO… NO!
Bedlam rolls back to his feet but Black is up first and spins around with a rolling elbow to rock Bedlam! Tommy shakes it off and spins around and strikes with a discus lariat! Down goes Black once again!
Rod Sterling: “I thought Alyster Black had turned the tables on Tommy Bedlam but just like that, the cowboy slams the door shut back on Black!”
Tommy pulls Aly up by the mask once again, this time holding onto the mask to score with a swinging neckbreaker to take the champion back down to the mat! Bedlam rolls over and hooks the far leg for the pinfall.
ONE… TWO… THR- NO!
Despite another kickout, Bedlam is undeterred as he goes back on the attack. He brings Black back up to his feet and drives a knee back into his midsection again and he goes for the Rough Ride… but Black flips over and lands on his feet! Tommy turns around into a stiff HEADBUTT from Black. Tommy stumbles backwards but charges back in looking for a clothesline…
But Black ducks and lifts Tommy up onto his shoulders into a fireman’s carry and DROPS HIM WITH A DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!
Anzu Kurosawa: "Death Valley Driver out of almost nowhere by Alyster Black! What a difference maker and a way to change the momentum of the match!”
Rod Sterling: “It felt like a desperation move from Black as he is unable to immediately take advantage!”
Alyster Black is slow to recover but he does finally roll over and get the cover on Tommy.
ONE.. TWO.. SHOULDER UP!
Black begins to get to his feet but Tommy was stirring as well but Aly strikes with a kick to the midsection, hooking Bedlam for a DDT… but Bedlam drives some elbows into the side of Black and pushes him back into the corner, sandwiching Aly into the turnbuckles to counter the DDT.
Tommy backs up, shaking off the cobwebs before charging in looking to SPEAR Black in the turnbuckles… BUT BLACK DODGES IT! Tommy sails through the middle turnbuckles and his shoulder collides with the ring post!
Black stumbles over and pulls Tommy away from the ring post and pushes him back first into the corner. Black plays to the crowd, garnering support…
Anzu Kurosawa: "“Are you ready for this, Rod? It’s time for a… VIOLENCE PARTY!”
Black unleashes his flurry of corner combination attacks that eventually sends Bedlam down onto his butt in the corner of the ring and Black finishes it off with a running fasewash to the seated Bedlam!
Rod Sterling: “What a furious comeback by Alyster Black! And now Tommy is the one in a world of hurt in the corner!”
Bringing Tommy away from the corner, Black scores with a Russian Leg sweep to plant Bedlam back on the mat before Black looks to get aerial. He heads to the corner, climbing up to the top turnbuckle…
DIVING MOONSAULT TO BEDLAM!
But TOMMY GETS HIS KNEES UP!
Alyster rolls over onto the canvas, clutching his midsection as Bedlam slowly begins to pull himself up to try and take advantage. He grabs Black as he is trying to get to his feet..
SITOUT POWERBOMB with pinning attempt!
ONE… TWO… THREE - NO! Shoulder up by Alyster!
Some frustration begins to set in as Tommy punches the mat but he gets back to his feet and leans against the ropes, catching his breath while letting Black begin to pull himself up. Tommy begins to measure up Black before moving in for THE BUCKSHOT - but Black ducks! He hooks Tommy from behind and scores a release German Suplex!
Rod Sterling: “Tommy keeps throwing everything he can at the champ but Alyser Black just takes it and battles back!”
Black drops to a knee and is slow to go back on the offensive, but he does get to Bedlam as he’s trying to pull himself up. Black pulls back on Tommy’s head and brings him down to the mat with the Saka Otoshi and transitions it into the Bulldog Choke submission!
Rod Sterling: “He’s got the Bulldog Choke locked in! This might be it!”
Anzu Kurosawa: “It was a valiant effort by Bedlam but it looks like he’ll be coming up just short on Alyster Bla…wait no, look at the strength of Bedlam! He’s going for the ropes!”
Tommy pulls himself up onto his forearms, using his power to muscle his way over to the ropes… and inch by inch while Black yanks back more on the neck, trying to apply more pressure… but Tommy finally reaches out and is able to grab the bottom rope! Richard Davis is there to break up the hold, warning Black with a five count as Black releases.
But once releasing the hold, Black runs to the ropes and as Tommy is getting up to his knees at the ropes, Black hits a running forearm smash to Bedlam. He then pulls Tommy up by his ahir and hooks him by the head…
SATAN’S SPIKE…
NO! Tommy fights free and turns the tables on Alyster and locks Black’s arms into a double underhook…
THE BULLSEYE…
NO! Black fights free with a series of forearms to Tommy’s midsection! Tommy staggers backwards…
ONE SHOT KILL OUT OF NOWHERE!
BUT TOMMY DUCKS IT AS WELL!
Tommy comes back with the BUCKSHOT superkick to respond!
BUT BLACK DUCKS IT!
ONE SHOT KILL!
This time… IT CONNECTS!
Bedlam drops to the mat as Alyster immediately drops down and hooks Bedlam’s far leg..
ONE.. TWO… THREE!
Winner: Alyster Black at 16:32.
Alyster Black sits up, breathing heavily as he assesses the fallen Tommy Bedlam, who himself begins to stir. Alyster climbs up to his feet and throws his arms up in the air to a big reaction from the supportive crowd.
Katie-Lynn Goldsmith: "Here is your winner… Alyster… BLACK!”
Rod Sterling:“What a closing exchange between these two and what way to close out Meltdown tonight!”/color]
Anzu Kurosawa: “Tommy Bedlam put it all on the table tonight and was so close on multiple occasions of pulling off an upset over our FWA World and X Champion… but Alyster Black continues to be on one of the most remarkable runs we’ve ever seen here in FWA!”
Rod Sterling: “We can take a look at the updated standings but with this win tonight… we can guarantee that we will be seeing Alyster Black in a semifinal showdown on Fight Night!”
Rod Sterling: “But before we can get to Fight Night… Alyster Black has something even bigger on his plate… he has a date with Devin Golden with that FWA World Championship AND Golden’s career ON THE LINE!”
Anzu Kurosawa: "But for tonight at least, Alyster Black can celebrate. The double-champion is through to the final four!"
Alyster Black holds up both championships – the FWA World Championship and FWA X Championship – shining under the lights of the venue and the subject of hundreds of cell phone cameras snapping pictures.
Then, there’s a crackling sound, like a TV cable not connected correctly.
“ZOOOOOOOMBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
“Zombie” by The Cranberries grabs the entire audience’s attention away from our dual champion in the ring to the stage. Aly Dos Belts also darts his neck and eyes 45 degrees to the right to look at the entrance.
The expected figure slowly emerges from the black of the backstage to the light of the arena. “The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden offers a trademark slow strut with each step dramatic and lengthy, like a member of a marching band high-stepping, but much slower.
Golden has a black top hat, a handlebar mustache, a 5 o’clock shadow, a black T-shirt with a black tie around his neck, and a walking cane he does not need gripped in his right hand.
Rod Sterling: “Here we goooo. It’s ‘The Rotten Gold’ and the next challenger to Alyster’s World Championship."
Anzu Kurosawa: “I’ve been waiting for this all night! You can’t have an Alyster Black celebration ending without Golden coming to ruin it! He always brings the fireworks, whether you love or hate him."
Golden stops at the top of the stage this time, waiting for his music to end. The crowd begins trading off with “ALY-STEEER! ALY-STEEEER!” and “GOOOOO-LDEN! GOOOOO-LDEN” chants.
Golden has a microphone ready as he plants the walking cane into the metal floor of the stage.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “Aaaaaaalyster BbbbbLACK! Ha-HAAAAAAAAH!"
The crowd cheers as Golden smiles widely.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “I’d be rude … if I did noooooot … begin with a thank you. Thank yoooooou … for accepting my chaaaaallenge. I am … thrilled … that we’ll dance … one more tiiiiiiime."
Golden twirls the cane in his right hand as he struts atop the stage.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “But I have … oooooooone … ameeeeendum … for you."
Golden smirks as he turns and looks towards the ring at Alyster.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “There is … a match … of loooooore … in the hiiiiiistory … of the FWA. And there is another match … of loooooore … in the hiiiiiistory … of … me … siempre.
A steel cage … many feet high … but that’s not all. Atop that caaaaage … a second one … many feet high … and atop THAT cage … a third one. And hanging … above that thiiiiird cage … the prize."
The crowd begins buzzing.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “The infamous … triple cage match … has only happened two other tiiiiiimes. Jillian de Silva … won the first … and Shane McLean … won the second. It has been nearly a decade, but Alyster, I can think of no better time to bring it back … than my last dance with you.
But … it would not be fitting … for us … to not implement the other match."
A pause.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “Theeeeere’s … a scar over your heart … Alyster … a scar that I gave you … with a shard of glass. Shaaaaaards … of glass … have symbolized me … siempre … at times. So … you, Alyster Blaaaack … will face this past … and this embodiment … of Devin Golden … one more time.
We will taaaaaape up our hands … and dip … our hands … in a bucket of glue."
The crowd’s volume rises as some fans catch on.
Rod Sterling: “Oh no…"
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “And in that bucket of glue … will be … huuuuuuundreds … of glass shards…"
Anzu Kurosawa: “OH YES!"
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “And then … we will punch one another … with FIIIIIISTS … COOOOOOVERED … in GLAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS!!!"
The crowd is aghast at the suggestion.
“The Rotten Gold” Devin Golden: “A taipei … death … triple … caaaaaaaage … match.
Let’s call it … Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinter … Waaaaaaaaaaaastelaaaaaaaaaaaand.
And let it be knoooooooown … there is no … cooooooming … baaaaaaack … from this."
Golden lowers the microphone as Alyster Black raises both the FWA World Championship and FWA X Championship belts in the air. The crowd cannot believe what has been proposed, and neither can Rod Sterling nor Anzu Kurosawa, although they have a dichotomy of reactions from petrified to thrilled.
The scene ends with Golden holding up his walking cane – the one he does not need – pointed to the heavens and smiling at Alyster Black, who holds his double-title pose.
“HA-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
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