The X-Division Xtravaganza Xclusive -airing from The X-Nation Complex on Navassa Island- We see a roaming camera shot of a ferry taking roughly 500 hundred rabid wrestling fans across the strait of water from Cuba to Navassa Island on the 6th of March edition of Xplosion. “As the frenzied fans made their way southwards from Cuba, the X-Division stars were already hard at work.” Cut to intercutting shots of the various competitors in the tournament working out with rudimentary equipment on the barren island. “Tempers already grew thin.” Footage of Consequences Creed and Eric Young going head to head beside a set of monkey bars. A raggedy looking sign saying “The X-Nation Complex” is visible. “Plots already began to form.” Grainy, muted footage of Prince Devitt speaking to Laredo Kid away from the other competitors. “Mysteries already reared their head.” A still shot of “Suicide” followed with some shaky footage shot by a fan aboard the ferry to Navassa Island of two rogue looking men who have their faces obscured by bandanas. “Who will emerge victorious?” Rapid-fire headshots of all the competitors in the tournament. “Who will survive the island?” A silhouette lifting The X-Nation Trophy above his head. “Who will be the same man they were when they entered?” Black. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* The eight competitors sit around what looks to be a desolate shack. They seem worn already; fatigued faces, unkempt hair, specks of dirt on their ring gear. A voice booms out from seemingly nowhere and informs them that they have FIVE MINUTES to talk tactics before they must enter The X-Nation Complex for the FIRST STAGE where the team captains will be decided. A few seconds pass by with the competitors looking at each other before ERIC YOUNG stands up and clears his throat. The other men locked in the shack turn to look at him. Eric Young: “This goes without saying, but I’m sure you’re all aware of the conspiracy against me in the company ever since Paul Heyman took over and started sinking the ship that we worked so hard-” Stevie Richards: “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow your roll there, E-Y! What’s this crap about sinking ships? This company has been BOOMING ever since Paul took over.” Eric throws STEVIE RICHARDS a look that could kill. KID KASH sneers at Stevie. Kid Kash: “Of course you’re gonna say that! Y’all go way back to ECdubya days, don’t cha? You’re gonna stick up for your boy no matter what.” Stevie Richards: “Hold up a second - I seem to remember it was Paul that gave YOU your start back in ECW.” Kid Kash spits on the ground and swallows hard. Kid Kash: “And it ain’t me complainin’ about Paul! I ain’t say I gotta problem with Heyman now, did I? I’m just pointin’ out that maybe you ain’t the wisest guy to listen to about ‘em, eh Cool? I reckon we let Eric here say his piece.” Eric Young: “Thank you. As I was saying… there is a conspiracy here against me, it’s plain as day, you can all see it. To get those of you up to speed on what’s been going on around here, let me list just SOME of the misdemeanours against me: I was stripped of my TNA Legends Championship for NO REASON WHATSOEVER, then I had to enter a 16-man tournament to just get a SHOT at the championship that replaced it, finally, in a thinly-veiled effort to appease my ever growing protest against my HORRENDOUS treatment in TNA, I was given a spur of the moment SpikeTV Championship match that I had absolutely NO TIME to prepare for!!! It’s a downright disgrace! You there!” Eric points a shaky finger at LAREDO KID. Eric Young: “You’re new, your mind hasn’t been corrupted yet, what do you think of this? It’s no way to treat a TNA Original, right?” Laredo Kid slowly looks up and shrugs his shoulders at Eric, speaking in broken English. Laredo Kid: “You… you fight match? You… lose, no?” Eric looks livid as a few of the other men begin chuckling. JERRY LYNN laughs for a second and then cuts a serious figure. Jerry Lynn: “I think, Eric, we’d all appreciate it if you could, you know, get to the point.” Eric Young: “The point? THE POINT!? The POINT is, Jerry, that these injustices have gone on FAR too long! You all have a chance to set this right, at least, in some small way.” Jerry Lynn: “And how do you propose we do that?” Eric Young: “Well, it’s simple; at the VERY LEAST, I deserve to be a captain in this tournament, so when we go out for Stage One, I propose that you all voluntarily exit the ring and allow me to be captain.” Uproar. Tempers flare as every man in the room hollers to be heard. Finally, a strong Irish accent cuts through all the voices. PRINCE DEVITT stands up, half-shouting. Prince Devitt: “LET’S CUT THIS SHITE OUT RIGHT NOW! We’re going out there in less than two minutes and we have no fuckin’ idea what we’re doing. Eric, mate, it’s not going to happen, so get this stupid idea out of your head right now - nobody is lying down for ya! However, I do have a proposition…” Prince Devitt looks around at the men in the room, his gaze lingering on Laredo Kid slightly longer than the other. Prince Devitt: “I’ve a proposition for one of ya. There’s gonna be two captains, yeah? If you help me in the first deciding match… I’ll return the favour in the second.” Jerry Lynn: “That’s a crock of shit, we don’t know what type of match we’re going to be in or if you’ll even be ABLE to help someone become the captain. Besides, anyone can say what you just did.” Devitt turns and glares at Lynn. Prince Devitt: “Well, I’m the only one who bleedin’ said it, amn’t I?” Jerry Lynn: “Listen here and listen good, you little-” BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! A long drawn out buzzer signals the end of the five minutes and an announcement is made that all competitors must make their way to The X-Nation Complex immediately. The men all clear out except one; sitting in the corner of the room having not said a word for the entirety of the five minutes is SUICIDE. The masked man shifts in his chair and turns his head from side to side before slowly walking out of the shack and toward the complex. *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* STAGE ONE The crowd cheers loudly as the entrants make their way to The X-Nation Complex, a piece of sandy wasteland in the middle of Navassa Island, around it are raised platforms which house bleachers that hold the 500 or so rabid fans in attendance. The bleachers aren’t the only thing elevated as a wrestling ring is on a platform 10 feet high in the air. An announcement booms out informing the competitors that the first match to decide the first captain is a battle royal match with the last man standing declared the first captain. Standard fare… aside from the fact that being eliminated in THIS battle royal will likely see you plummet the 10 feet from the ring set-up to the sand below. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! As a bzzzzzz emits from the speaker system, the men immediately couple off and begin throwing fists: Kid Kash and Stevie Richards, Prince Devitt and Jerry Lynn, Eric Young and Consequences Creed, a shrugging Laredo Kid and Suicide. After a few moments of fighting, Suicide hoists Laredo Kid up for a power-bomb, shakily bringing him towards the edge of the ring, when Prince Devitt chopblocks Suicide’s knee from behind, saving Laredo Kid. Laredo Kid manages to twist his body as Suicide falls, effectively hurricanrana’ing him over the top rope. Prince Devitt comes hurtling in like a steam train and explosively dropkicks Suicide off the edge of the ring apron. The velocity of the move sees Suicide easily clear the small platform on which the ring is set and tumble the 10 feet to the ground below. The crowd pops loudly, despite Devitt’s alignment. SUICIDE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED The action momentarily stops as Suicide takes a few seconds to move on the ground below, but he isn’t long about getting to his feet and dusting himself off to a round of cheers. The action is just as quick returning, with Laredo Kid being the clear highlight reel and meshing well with Stevie Richards being a very solid base for him. Eric Young momentarily teams with Kid Kash to double-team Creed, but after less than two minutes, Kash has enough of Young’s incessant ranting and headbutts him, leaving the path clear for an out of nowhere Stevie Kick to send him tumbling over the top rope. E-Y desperately clings to the small piece of platform outside the ring to avoid falling down but Jerry Lynn soon sends an unsuspecting Kid Kash over the top and his impact ends up sending both he and E-Y plummeting. ERIC YOUNG AND KID KASH HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED Down to five, the showcase for Laredo Kid continues as he bounces around the ring utilising the ring ropes to springboard at every available opportunity. One of these moments goes awry as he springboards into yet another out of nowhere Stevie Kick that is sure to be replayed countless times on highlight videos in years to come. Consequences Creed tries to pick up the pieces and dump Laredo over the top rope but he skins the cat and hangs on just as Prince Devitt charges up and topples Creed over the top rope and to the floor. Laredo Kid glances in Devitt’s direction - that’s twice he has saved him now. CONSEQUENCES CREED HAS BEEN ELIMINATED Jerry Lynn and Stevie Richards look at each other and then towards Devitt and Laredo. Lynn and Richards bump fists which elicits an ‘ECW’ chant from the fans and what transpires is basically a fast-paced tornado tag match. Lynn and Richards eventually get the upper hand and with Devitt caught up in the ring ropes, Stevie lines up for another Stevie Kick but Devitt manages to duck and use his weight against him to force him over the top rope onto the apron and Laredo Kid immediately springboards into a dropkick to send Richards crashing off the structure. The crowd winces as Stevie lands awkwardly and a slight smile creeps onto Devitt’s face. STEVIE RICHARDS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED Jerry Lynn backs into a corner as Devitt starts barking instructions at Laredo Kid who is somewhat struggling to comprehend the Irish man. Devitt indicates they should team up on Lynn but Laredo Kid looks very unsure. Whether he would have or not becomes irrelevant as Jerry fires himself across the ring and nails Laredo with a jumping knee. Devitt tries to attack Lynn but Lynn outwrestles him and hits him with an inverted gory special. Lynn picks up Devitt and tries to oust him from the ring but a recovered Laredo Kid comes from behind and nails Lynn with an enzuirigi. Laredo looks at Devitt on the ground before sprinting at Lynn and sending both men over the top rope and off the structure with a kamikaze-like Cactus clothesline. The crowd boo loudly as both men tumble the 10 feet to the floor. JERRY LYNN AND LAREDO KID HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED WINNER AND FIRST CAPTAIN: PRINCE DEVITT ~~~~~ After a ten-minute interval during which the ring is lowered and the competitors are checked on by doctors the announcement system kicks in and declares that all competitors except Prince Devitt must immediately face off in a twenty-minute scramble match where the last person to have obtained a pinfall or submission when time elapses will be declared the second captain. It is then announced that Prince Devitt must instantly leave The X-Nation Complex and retire to his living quarters. The crowd cheers this announcement and when Laredo Kid looks at Devitt, Devitt simply offers a shrug of his shoulders before taking his leave. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! The seven remaining competitors immediately charge into each other and some of the action falls out of the ring with Creed and Kash tangling through the top and middle rope. The ring clears quickly and Suicide manages to roll Stevie Richards up for a quick three-count. SUICIDE IS THE CURRENT WINNER Eric Young quickly locks his arms around Suicide’s waist, runs him into the ropes, and catches him with an O’Connell roll for a three-count. ERIC YOUNG IS THE CURRENT WINNER E-Y throws his hands up in celebration and this proves to be his undoing as Laredo Kid impressively springboards into an athletic crucifix pin and manages to keep Eric’s shoulders down for a three-count. LAREDO KID IS THE CURRENT WINNER Laredo Kid doesn’t even get to celebrate when there is an announcement made. KID KASH IS THE CURRENT WINNER On the outside of the ring, Kid Kash has Consequences Creed locked in his Kash on Delivery Boston crab submission and Creed is repeatedly tapping his hand against the floor. The quick falls peter out and after a series of high-octane moves, nearly all competitors are laid out in or around the ring. 14:53 REMAINS Consequences Creed is the first to rouse and he immediately makes a bee-line for the man who caused him agony on the outside in Kid Kash. Kash groggily throws a wild hook but Creed ducks with a forward roll, rebounds off the ropes and nails Kash with a enzuirigi. Almost immediately, Suicide comes from behind and nails Creed with a swinging neckbreaker before being kicked out of his boots with a Stevie Kick. Stevie goes for the cover but a mostly inconspicuous-thus-far Jerry Lynn rolls him up from behind and gets the three-count. After Richards pops out of the pin, he glares at Lynn who says it’s every man for himself. JERRY LYNN IS THE CURRENT WINNER Stevie Richards takes it to heart and bundles Lynn to the outside where the two begin brawling. 12:35 REMAINS Consequences Creed and Kid Kash continue their back and forth fighting while Laredo Kid, Eric Young, and Suicide exchange three-way manoeuvers in the ring. The action rages on with all seven men fighting more conservatively, finally picking up on the fact that the closer to the end they pick up a fall, the greater their chances of winning. In fact it is six whole minutes before another fall comes when Suicide nails Laredo Kid with a strangely vicious running DDT and rolls him over to pick up the fall. SUICIDE IS THE CURRENT WINNER 6:14 REMAINS As time ticks further away panic sets in on the face of Jerry Lynn on the outside but it is wiped clear off as Stevie Richars throws a steel chair at him - which Lynn catches - and then knocks him out cold with a Stevie Kick. Stevie jumps on Jarrett to make the pin but Consequences Creed comes flying over the top rope with a plancha to take both men out and break the pin to a large pop. Laredo Kid is next up as he jumps onto the top rope, balances, and then does an awe-inspiring shooting star press to the outside landing flush on the celebrating Creed. Laredo barely has time to recover before Kash comes somersaulting over the top rope with a catapult senton which leaves all five men down on the outside and the crowd going crazy. Suicide looks up to the cheering fans and then at the men on the outside. Feeding off the crowd, he prepares to run, but Eric Young kicks him square between the legs and spins him around for a vicious piledriver. Eric grins manically as he drops down and hooks the far leg tightly for the pinfall. ERIC YOUNG IS THE CURRENT WINNER 3:54 REMAINS E-Y plays defensive as the men on the outside slowly recover, breaking up any pin attempt and not letting someone else take the winning fall. Creed and Stevie Richards tangle on the outside and while Eric is breaking up a Kid Kash pin attempt on Laredo Kid, Consequences Creed rolls up Stevie on the outside for an out of nowhere fall. CONSEQUENCES CREED IS THE CURRENT WINNER Stevie Richards pops out of the pin and immediately nails Creed with a Stevie Kick and robs the pinfall back. STEVIE RICHARDS IS THE CURRENT WINNER 2:12 REMAINS Pandemonium breaks out as the wrestlers realise there is only two minutes left in the match. A Laredo Kid kamikaze dive wipes out Stevie and Creed on the outside and Kid Kash falls victim to Jerry Lynn, Eric Young, and Suicide taking it in turns to Piledriver him in an insane spot. Young and Suicide quickly double clothesline Lynn to the outside and begin teeing off on each other. Eric Young manages to take Suicide down and lock in a Figure-4 Leglock on Suicide. Suicide fights for a long time but then with nowhere to go and nobody coming to the rescue, pounds his hand on the mat tapping out. ERIC YOUNG IS THE CURRENT WINNER 0:54 REMAINS Young releases the hold to look up at the countdown timer indicating he has less than a minute to see out his victory and that proves to be his mistake as Suicide locks Eric Young in a Figure-4 of his own. Eric strains and fights for his life as the timer ticks towards zero but eventually he succumbs to the pain and taps out. SUICIDE IS THE CURRENT WINNER 0:14 REMAINS Suicide immediately breaks the hold and looks out around at the bodies strewn all around the outside but doesn’t see Jerry Lynn come up behind him and crack him in the the back of the head with a chair. Suicide crumples, Lynn DIVES on Suicide, nearly pulling the referee to the ground with him. He makes the count… … … … JERRY LYNN IS THE CURRENT WINNER 0:01 REMAINS Jerry doesn’t even roll off Suicide. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! WINNER AND SECOND CAPTAIN: JERRY LYNN The crowd loudly cheers the old veteran as he is helped to his feet by the match official and declared the winner and second captain. Commentary hype the action we saw tonight and briefly talk about Lynn and Devitt being captains - they say they did whatever it took to get into those positions… but will it have a cost? Find out next week on Xplosion as we are back LIVE from Navassa Island for Stage Two of The X-Division Xtravaganza! *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* STAGE TWO It’s the second week, and that means the two team captains have a say in who their team-mates will be for the final stage. The way it works is that a captain gets to pick any two men to face off in a fifteen-minute trial match and when the bout is over, the captain will get to pick which of the men he wants on their team. Since PRINCE DEVITT was the first announced captain, he gets to pick the first trial match. Devitt steps on to the ring apron with the raucous fans cheering in the temporary bleachers - The X-Nation Complex is a slightly different, more grounded vibe than the previous week’s elevated structure - around them. Prince Devitt: “Last week I said that whatever man helped me into this position would be in turn helped by me. Laredo Kid, ya stepped up, bud. I’m pickin’ you on my team and I want ya fresh for next week so your trial match is against that little fool there.” The majority of what Devitt says seems lost on LAREDO KID but the man he is pointing at understands every single word. CONSEQUENCES CREED seethes and takes a step toward Devitt. Consequences Creed: “And what the hell makes you think I’m going to let you talk to me like that, Devitt? You think this is just going to be a tune-up match for Laredo?” Creed turns to Laredo Kid and gives him a death stare. Consequences Creed: “I’ve no issue with you, but HE-” Creed thumbs over his shoulder at Devitt. Consequences Creed: “Is manipulating you. If you can’t see that, maybe getting knocked around the head with The Fists of MontiCristo will wake you up.” Laredo briefly looks at Devitt and then back at Creed before slowly speaking. Laredo Kid: “Enough… talk. Fight. Nosotras peleamos!!!” The predominantly Spanish-speaking crowd cheer Laredo Kid despite his budding alignment with Prince Devitt and they are split between Kid and the usual crowd-favourite Consequences Creed as the first trial match begins. Consequences Creed has the bit between his teeth as he fights Laredo Kid in a match that wages on for the fully allocated fifteen minutes. A fired-up Creed takes it to Laredo Kid throughout the first ten-minutes of the contest but as the bout enters the latter stages, Laredo Kid proves to have superior condition and really takes control. Creed seems to have a point to prove following Devitt’s comments and survives a late onslaught from Laredo Kid. Laredo, for his part, will be seething that the timekeeper called for the bell just as he was perching himself on the top turnbuckle with Creed eagle-spread on the canvas. A critic might ascertain that Laredo Kid had already done enough to secure the win and maybe would have secured the win rather than the time-limit draw had he not once again taken to the top rope. Prince Devitt enters the ring and looks at both men - Laredo cutting a frustrated figure while Creed breathes heavily in a seated position in the middle of the ring. Devitt has a slight scowl on his face as he looks at Laredo Kid. Prince Devitt: “We need to work on yer finishin’, no doubt about that, bud. But that can be worked on… I can’t work on a piece of shite like that!” The crowd boo as Devitt points at Creed who instantly gets to his feet. Prince Devitt: “Well it’s the feckin’ truth, isn’t it? I’m pickin’ you, Laredo, don’t let me down.” Creed grabs Devitt by the shoulder and spins him around, obviously still angry at Devitt’s comments, but Laredo Kid comes flying across the ring with a running dropkick that sends Creed tumbling out of the ring through the middle and bottom ropes. The crowd boos loudly with Devitt smirking at Laredo Kid before we segue to the next part of the YouTube exclusive… ~~~~~ JERRY LYNN sits in the ring on a steel chair with a microphone in his hand. Creed, by default a member of Lynn’s team now stands behind him in solidarity but glares out at Devitt and Laredo. Jerry Lynn: “I’m gonna keep this short and sweet, boys… who wants it? I’m not playing any games here; who wants to come in and wrestle for a spot on my team? I need guys that WANT to be here and WANT to win - show me that.” STEVIE RICHARDS immediately stands up and pulls off his black tee-shirt. Jerry looks at him as the crowd claps Stevie’s eagerness. Stevie Richards: “Put me in, Jerry.” Jerry looks over at Creed who gives him a subtle nod of approval. Jerry Lynn: “Aight… you want it, Stevie? You got it. Now, who is going to-” Kid Kash: “Ahahahahaha! You’re kiddin’ me, right?” The crowd boos as Kash gets into the ring, laughing his ass off. Kid Kash: “I was gonna wait until the end and pick off whatever good for nothin’, son of a gun was left, but geeee wizz, this is as good as a goddamn lay-up! I ain’t gonna get an easier match all tournament! No backin’ out now, Stevie-boy!” Jerry doesn’t even need to look at Stevie’s eyes burning with rage to know Stevie WANTS this match. Jerry simply nods at both men and he and Creed leave the ring as the match official enters to watch on from ringside. Kid Kash: “Jerry, JERRY! Hold up, ya forgot this!” Kash runs over to the steel chair Jerry was sitting on and folds it up before going over to the ringside where Jerry stands. Kid Kash: “Wouldn’t want ya puttin’ out your back or somethin’ old - AAAAARRRRRRGHHH!!!” THWAAAAAACCCKK!!! The crowd boo ferociously as a sprinting Kid Kash wraps the steel chair around an unexpecting Stevie Richards head immediately knocking him out cold. Kash laughs loudly as he positions the steel chair in the middle of the ring and pulls Richards to his feet before spiking him with a Money Maker on the exposed steel. Kash rolls on top of Richards and looks at the referee expectantly. The referee appears uncomfortable but drops down and counts the three as EMT’s immediately swarm the ring. Kash again laughs loudly and gets on the microphone. Kid Kash: “Wooooo-eeeee! Now THAT’S how ya take care of business, ya heard? When’s the rest of you yellow cowards gonna learn what type a thing we got goin’ on here? It’s the X-Division Xtravaganza! Say it with me loud and clear folks: there are NO rules. Y’all be doin’ your team a damn favour if you step aside and let ME take over as captain, Jerry. I’mma win this whole damn thing and if you behave like the good lil doggie that you are, Jerry, maybe at the end I’ll throw ya a freakin’ bone! I see Consequences there noddin’ his head! Atta boy! Way I see it, Jerry, me and Creed, that’s two to one and that means I’m the NEW captain!” Creed is indeed nodding his head but Jerry’s smile is what is the real indicator that something is off to Kid. Jerry Lynn: “The captain of my team? You’re not even ON my damn team.” Kid Kash: “What in the blue hell are you talkin’ about - I just won my damn match!” Jerry Lynn: “But I don’t have to pick you.” Kid Kash: “You mean to tell me you’re gonna pick this piece of crap right here-” Kid Kash turns around right into a gigantic Stevie Kick that sends him into the ropes from a furious, blood-dripping Stevie Richards. The pop is pretty loud, one of the loudest Stevie has gotten in TNA and he shakes the ropes, fired up like a madman, as Kash somehow untangles himself and then stumbles around the ring, punch-drunk. Stevie picks up the chair Kash attacked him with and throws it at Kash’s face - Kash catches it but that’s exactly what Stevie wanted as he follows it up with another huge Stevie Kick which knocks Kash clean out cold and gives him a busted nose. After somewhat evening the score by bloodying the man who bloodied him, Stevie drops down and rolls under the bottom rope and hugs Jerry Lynn before knuckle-touching Creed. Richards is defeated but looks delighted with his new team-mates as Devitt and Kid share a worrying glance as Kash crawls across the ring towards them… ~~~~~ In a change-up from the first two trials, the final trial match begins straight away between SUICIDE and ERIC YOUNG as the captains don’t have to say anything: they are the only two competitors left AND the caveat is the winner of this match gets to choose his own team rather than a captain choosing them. The match is technically crisp, though there is little in the way of high-flying, as Suicide and Eric Young battle in a far more grounded affair than we have seen previously. The “highlight” in terms of high-flying comes when a somewhat wobbly Eric Young teeters on top of the turnbuckle before delivering a huge double axe-handle to the outside on top of Suicide. The crowd are into the back-and-forth action and cheer loudly as Eric and Suicide repeat their Figure-4 reversal spot from the previous week with the difference being that this time, it’s Eric who comes out on top. Eric has the hold cinched in tight when two sinister-looking figures clad in balaclavas obscuring the lower-half of their faces push their way to the front of the crowd. They back off as Suicide manages to get his left hand clasped around the bottom rope of the six-sided ring. Eric Young, however, continues to take control with a superplex that shakes the ring but with the two men staring him down, his paranoia gets the best of him. He immediately grabs the referee and starts hollering incoherently about the conspiracy against him while pointing at the two men in the crowd. The referee doesn’t know what to do with the rambling E-Y and thankfully, for his sake, doesn’t have to figure it out as Eric turns around into a running DDT from Suicide, who spikes Eric’s head on the mat with gusto before rolling him over for the pinfall victory. Prince Devitt immediately hits the ring, sweet-talking Suicide alongside Laredo Kid and Kid Kash, hoping to win him over as an ally. Jerry Lynn, Stevie Richards, and Consequences Creed look worried at ringside, wondering how they would potentially deal with the loose cannon, conspiracy nut that is Eric Young on their team. Devitt is all grins as Kash and Laredo nod their head encouragingly at Suicide who looks towards the crowd. Devitt sticks out his hand to shake and Suicide slowly begins to extend his own hand towards him before hesitating. He looks at the crowd, then at the trio on the outside, then directly at the two men clad in balaclavas. They give subtle nods and Suicide pops the crowd by turning his back on Devitt’s team and rolling to the outside to shake Jerry Lynn’s hand! Team Jerry Lynn celebrates enthusiastically as Team Devitt gets an earful from the now awake and newest member of their team Eric Young… *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* STAGE THREE There is a split screen shot of Team Devitt and Team Lynn sitting in their respective quarters, eyeing each other up, bouncing their feet nervously as they await an announcement. PRINCE DEVITT sits beside LAREDO KID and KID KASH harshly pulls on a rolled-up cigarette as he eyes a pacing ERIC YOUNG who is muttering inaudibly to himself. On the other side of the split screen shot, SUICIDE sits alone with his head pointed downwards as STEVIE RICHARDS, JERRY LYNN, and CONSEQUENCES CREED chatter quietly. Suddenly a booming announcement rings out informing them that in one minute, Team Devitt would begin their portion of the third stage. Devitt looks out at his team before talking. Prince Devitt: “Look lads, there’s no point killin’ ourselves is there? We’ve got the final stage next week and we need to make sure we’re in alright shape, yeah? So, I propose what we do is-” Kid Kash: “Listen here an’ listen good! I ain’t about to let you flap your gums for the next two minutes and waste all of our time! You’re gonna suggest that we let you win, ain’t cha?” Devitt shrugs his shoulders and then nods his head at Laredo Kid. Prince Devitt: “He’s already in. Defy us and we’ll make sure it’s you and not Eric out first.” Kash’s eyes bug out, being the first eliminated would mean that he would be the first person from his team to wrestle the Xscape The X Nation match. Eric Young: “Me? ME!?!? You’re all in on this, aren’t you? You’re all in on Paul’s conspiracy against me! Well… I’m not freaking having it! No, no, no, no, no! I’ve been screwed enough times. If you two are teaming up… then so are Krash and I!” Kid Kash: “Kash…” Devitt shifts his weight from one foot to the other, eyeing up both men. He sucks air in between his teeth. Prince Devitt: “Alright, alright! Fair enough then, every bleedin’ man for hims-” BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! The time for talking is over and Team Devitt makes their way out to another unique set-up in the X-Nation Complex. The fans are at ground level, swarming the immediate outside of the ring like you might see at a well-attended independent show but the real difference is the ring itself. It is not a traditional six-sided TNA ring, the canvas area is MUCH larger and in place of the three sets of ropes we are used to, there are FOUR sets of ropes, the top one stopping just below the neckline. The men look quizzically at each other but the fans are here for it - more space to fight and a bigger height to jump from. The bell sounds and, perhaps surprisingly, Devitt is true to his word and immediately locks up with Laredo Kid. Seeing this, Kash and Eric Young begin teeing off each other and we get effectively two singles matches for the opening portion of the match. The first elimination comes when Eric nails Kash with a wheelbarrow facebuster and Laredo Kid and Prince Devitt halt their chain-wrestling in a suspiciously quick fashion. Eric gets up from the move and gets sandwiched with a double enzuirigi from the duo. Devitt points at E-Y, allowing Laredo Kid to pin Eric and eliminate him. When Kash comes around, he realizes that Devitt and Laredo’s “fighting” was essentially a ruse and they are in the exact same position as they had planned to be. Kash fights valiantly but it doesn’t take long before Devitt drills him with a super-elevated Bloody Sunday from the top of the fourth rope. The huge move gets a sizable pop and Devitt once again allows Laredo Kid to pin Kash and eliminate him. Laredo and Devitt dance around the ring for a few seconds, teasing an actual bout but in the end Laredo drops to the canvas and allows Devitt to gently pin him causing much anger amongst the fans present. WINNER: PRINCE DEVITT Xscape The X-Nation Entry Order Eric Young Kid Kash Laredo Kid Prince Devitt ~~~~~ The announcement is made that Team Lynn will begin their portion of the third stage in one minute and the members of the team all stand up and begin shaking themselves out - except for Suicide, who still sits with his head down. Jerry grabs Stevie by the shoulders. Jerry Lynn: “Go out there and prove to everyone watching that you are THE most underutilised talent of the last decade. Show them all that you SHOULD have been given more, should have had better opportunities, should have been at the top of the game. And you…” Jerry turns to Creed, placing his free hand on his shoulder. Jerry Lynn: “You show everybody that you are READY. It doesn’t matter how young you are, it doesn’t matter if they say you need more time, you show them that you are ready to go NOW. Don’t do what me and Stevie did, don’t let this shit pass you by, you’ll never forgive yourself if you do.” Creed and Richards both look fired up to the high heavens and enthusiastically nod their heads at their captain’s speech. Jerry Lynn: “I have no plots, no plans, no plays… we go out there and tear the damn house down and whoever’s left standing is left standing, alright? Next week… we have each other’s back… all of us… that includes you.” Suicide gingerly lifts his head and looks at the trio in front of him for a moment before slowly nodding which causes Lynn to break out into a huge grin. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!! It takes a while for the four men to get adjusted to the unfamiliar ring dimensions and set up but once they do, they go absolutely all out in trying to put on the best match they possibly can - exactly what the crowd needed after Laredo Kid lay down for Prince Devitt. Creed nails Lynn with a MontiFisto, Lynn nails all three men on the outside with a plancha after a QUADRUPLE jump springboard, and Suicide nearly breaks Richards in half with an explosive belly-to-belly into the elongated turnbuckle. After an all-action opening ten things finally breakdown a little bit and Big Stevie Cool treats the fans on Navassa Island to a Stevie Kick party; he first nails Suicide, then catches a diving Lynn flush on the chin, before popping the crowd huge by catching a springboarding, corkscrewing Consequences Creed square in the face. He makes the mistake of taunting too long and turns straight into that vicious running DDT Suicide has been utilising during The X-Nation Xtravaganza. Suicide doesn’t pander to the crowd at all and quickly covers Stevie eliminating him. Suicide finds himself shocked when Consequences Creed ducks his clothesline, lights him up with a MontiFisto, and hoists him up and spins him out for a fireman’s carry cutter. Lynn has pulled himself to his feet and for a split second looks like intervening but ultimately stands down as Creed covers and eliminates Suicide. Creed and Lynn bump fists and have a five-minute sprint, showcasing the best of their respective arsenals before Jerry Lynn comes out the better of an exchange with a sunset bomb and uses his legs to keep Creed’s shoulders pinned down for the three. The fans applaud all four men’s efforts in the near thirty-minute spectacle and there seems to be no hard feelings between Team Lynn as they all - even Suicide - climb back into the ring to congratulate their captain… WINNER: JERRY LYNN Xscape The X-Nation Entry Order Stevie Richards Suicide Consequences Creed Jerry Lynn !!!TUNE IN TO DESTINATION X TO SEE THE THRILLING CONCLUSION TO THE X-NATION XTRAVAGANZA AS TEAM LYNN BATTLES TEAM DEVITT IN THE BARBARIC XSCAPE THE X NATION MATCH!!! *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* STAGE FOUR | 25/3/10 DESTINATION X Xscape The X Nation Confined within a gruelling steel enclosure, the starting participant from each team will go one-on-one until somebody picks up a pinfall or submission. The person who takes the fall is instantly eliminated and the winner will to face the second participant of the opposing team immediately. This will continue until one team is fully eliminated. But… there can only be one winner. Any remaining people on the winning team will continue to enter in order and they will face their own teammates and continue fighting until there is one winner. When we get down to the final two competitors, regardless of whether they are teammates or not, the only way to win the match is by escaping the steel enclosure. The overall winner gets the first-ever X-NATION TROPHY and a guaranteed shot at the X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP at any event of their choosing. DESTINATION X Xscape The X Nation Team Lynn (Order of entry: Stevie Richards, Suicide, Consequences Creed, Jerry Lynn) vs Team Devitt (Order of entry: Eric Young, Kid Kash, Laredo Kid, Prince Devitt) QUICK RESULTS Stage One Prince Devitt d. Jerry Lynn, Suicide, Kid Kash, Consequences Creed, Eric Young, Laredo Kid, Stevie Richards Jerry Lynn d. Suicide, Kid Kash, Consequences Creed, Eric Young, Laredo Kid, Stevie Richards Stage Two Laredo Kid draws with Consequences Creed Kid Kash d. Stevie Richards Suicide d. Eric Young Stage Three Prince Devitt d. Eric Young, Kid Kash, Laredo Kid Jerry Lynn d. Stevie Richards, Suicide, Consequences Creed |
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ohhhhh dayum that feels good. Life got really busy (graduating and getting a full time job in teaching) around the time of the last update and I kept long fingering this project. I swore to myself I'd return by the end of Summer 24, then it was before the end of 2024 in general, and finally I promised myself I would NOT let this thread go a full YEAR without an update. Next month was the year mark so I'm superrrrr happy to get this out. Rust will probably show and it was a bit of a slog to get through but I'm overall happy with this as my "flavour" piece for the cycle. Destination X is being jammed out with no hiccups so far, I always find the results easier to write than the flavour pieces I do, but due to not being presented in a weekly style, I like doing the flavour pieces each cycle so yeah... they won't be going anywhere lul. Anywaaaaaaaaaaaaays, GREAT to be back, I'm aiming for TUESDAY for Destination X results and after that we'll be looking towards our SECOND PPV - Victory Road. Thank you so much to anyone who checks this shit out, I'll be posting a prediction contest for Destination X on the post just below this! Love ya all ~ Tig
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